Welcome To The Parker!

I'm one of a very few people who will openly admit that I really enjoy reality television. I also have a life-long love of the desert oasis known as Palm Springs. So, when my good friends at The Parker invited us to the screening party for their new Bravo series, how could I say no? The event was everything a screening should be: relaxed, fun & decidedly "hip". My favorite part about going to screenings is seeing how people in the show/ film react to seeing their friends / themselves on the big screen. They laugh, they cheer, or in the case of the Parker crew they collectively "boo" at a rather obnoxious food critic. We watched the show from a comfy, cushioned circular lounge chair right in front. Although they weren't serving my favorite Kobe Beef Sliders, I munched on my snacks of choice (Junior Mints & Reeses Pieces). We also got to see the second episode of the series, which I enjoyed even more than the first. Check out the show, it's fun to see the chaos that goes on behind the scenes at an upscale resort. By the way, only in Palm Springs will you attend a screening with the Mayor sitting cross legged on the floor in front of you!

On The Road Again

Here I am, 2 weeks post-op & all I can say is that I'm overwhelmed & humbled by the outpouring of love & support that I've received. Surgery went great. I was in superb hands: my surgeon was my long term doctor, who delivered my 3 youngest children. My scar is really low, so I can still wear a bikini (& I did yesterday!). The hardest part of the recovery is actually taking the time to heal. Luckily I have the most wonderful family, who've taken amazing care of me. I'm the proudest mom in the world to see what loving, compassionate children I've raised. When my doctor told me it would take six weeks to be back to 100%, I wasn't quite sure what that meant. I knew I wouldn't be able to do an hour on the stairmaster, but I didn't know that I wouldn't be able to walk up a flight of stairs (or even 2 stairs!). I decided it wouldn't be smart to "post" on Percocet, but I'm totally off all medication now & I'm feeling really good. I'm allowed to start driving tomorrow.
Before my surgery, I made a commitment to attend the Hollywood Collectors Show in Burbank this Friday & Saturday, http://hollywoodcollectorshow.com/Burbank.htm , & I WILL be there. If you're in town stop by to say "Hi".
I don't know if I'll ever be able to respond to all the e-mails, cards & messages that I received (I'm going to try), but please know that your thoughts & prayers are truly appreciated.

Medical Update

Sometimes morning TV keeps you up to date on current events or the latest in fashion and Hollywood gossip & sometimes it provides information that can save your life. The other morning while watching Live With Regis and Kelly, they talked about the funeral of Claudia Cohen (pictured). WHAT? Didn't I just see her on TV a week ago? When did Claudia Cohen die? For those who haven't heard of her, she was a regular on Regis & Kelly and had been the gossip columnist at New York's Page Six for years & was probably just as well known for being the ex-wife of Ronald Perelman. She was diagnosed with ovarian cancer and sadly left a young daughter behind.
The conversation about her death continued on The View where I learned that her only symptoms were sudden weight gain & bloating. Hey, I'm a little boated. I jumped on the scale & to my surprise, I'd gained seven pounds in 2 weeks. It must be the Sprinkles cupcakes (I don't think I've mentioned it, but I'm obsessed with the red velvet ones). To be safe, I called my doctor to schedule an appointment. Well, it turns out that I have a tumor the size of a grapefruit! After further tests, they found two other smaller tumors. I go into the hospital for surgery on Tuesday. Luckily, I'm by the beach, so I'll be able to watch 4th of July fireworks from my hospital room. I really debated writing this post. I certainly don't want anyone to worry about me. But if you read my blog regularly, you know that I'm a big supporter of promoting awareness (AIDS, Autism, etc.). If reading this post encourages even one person, who is experiencing symptoms and ignoring them, to seek medical advice & diagnosis, it's easily worth giving up my lack of privacy.
On the positive side, I may be posting more in the next couple weeks. I'll be on bed rest, so what else do I have to do? I'll be better soon & I've got some fun TV projects lined up for August!

Parentpedia

I worked on a really fun project this week for Disney.com / Family.com called Parentpedia. I'm sure you've all heard of Wikipedia, an online resource for information on just about anything (I'm even a category!). Well Parentpedia is an online resource for parents. One of the segments we shot involved me explaining that Parentpedia can help you with just about anything that family life can throw at you. This was illustrated by all sorts of things being "thrown at me". The script called for me to dodge a bowl of spaghetti & ends with me catching a soccer ball. Luckily it was decided that spaghetti wouldn't "read" well, so instead they threw a lamp at me. After a couple takes, the binky that had to bounce off my temple was replaced by a stuffed animal. You'd be surprised how much a pacifier can hurt when it hits you in the head. Parentpedia should be up and running in July. I'll keep you posted.
http://family.go.com/parentpedia/

Wayne Newton

I'm back! I know it's inexcusable that I haven't written in so long, but I'm officially back on my regular blog schedule. My computer decided to melt a series of charger cables & despite the fact that the battery is on the recall list, Hewlett Packard hasn't replaced it yet. I'm not happy HP! I'm certainly no computer expert, but when a "laptop" starts burning my thighs, we've got a little problem. I'm trying to transition to an Apple Macbook. I'd always heard they were easier, but after years of "right clicking", I'm not sure how to use the mouse. I'm sure I'll figure it out soon (I've purchased the Macbook for Dummies book, but haven't had time to read it). So, I'm posting today from the kids' computer.
So much to say, so I guess I'll start with our weekend trip to Vegas. My husband was already there for selection day for his Verge development (that'll have to be another post), so I drove 5 hours across the desert with a van full of kids to meet him. Immediately upon arrival my darling hubby surprised me with tickets to a show! Would it be Elton? Prince? Nope...Wayne Newton! I can honestly say the only Wayne Newton song that I could think of was Danke Schoen (& I only knew that one from Ferris Bueller's Day Off). I also had visions of Wayne sweeping me off to his horse farm (remember Vegas Vacation?).
Well to my surprise, I LOVED the show! We weren't the youngest people in the room, but it was close. Wayne's show was a fun combination of his songs, covers of other hits & comedy. I was the only person in the room who knew that the 2006 Academy Award winning song was It's Hard Out Here For a Pimp (& I felt a little embarassed shouting that title out considering the audience). But they asked if anyone knew the title & then they performed it! One of Waynes' singers told him who I was & we took photos with Wayne & various others. I'll post them if I can ever figure out how to scan.
I'd highly recommend the show: Old school Vegas at it's best!

Memorial Delay

Sorry for the lack of posts. I try to keep my blog upbeat & lighthearted (much as the way I live my life). Unfortunately, we had a death in the family recently & that, combined with Memorial Day has left me at a loss about what to write. Without getting into any discussion about political beliefs or thoughts on the war, I'd like to say that I think of myself as a very patriotic person. I'm very proud to be an American. My Grandfather was a fighter pilot in World War I & my Father was in the Army in World War II. On this first day of Memorial Day Weekend, I sit at home, surrounded by my loving family, & quietly support our troops.

Myspace & My First Frenemy

Well, I'm about a week into my myspace experience & I finally understand the appeal. My 300+ friends are made up of a fun mixture of real friends, old friends that I'd lost touch with, people I've met or worked with, people I'd like to meet & a group I guess could best be described as people who'd like to meet me. My myspace philosophy is simple: If you ask to be my friend, I'll accept your friendship. I look at everyone's profile first, but haven't turned down any requests. I might be a little concerned about my "friend" who likes "kinky balloon play"; but perhaps only because I'm not sure what that is. I'm also flattered by the handsome, famous guy who asked me out & then apologized when he read my bio & saw that I was happily married.
I did have to delete one friend. In two days he filled my bulletin board with over 100 messages. He responded to his elimination from my friend list by informing me that there are much "cooler" people than me to chat with. I'm sorry Naked Shower Guy (a description of his online photo, not his screen name), but you're right, there are much cooler people.

Teacher Appreciation Day

Tomorrow is National Teacher Appreciation Day. They've taken a survey & by an overwhelming majority, the teachers have said that the gift they most appreciate is a heartfelt letter from their students or parents. Teacher Appreciation Day makes me think of all the teachers I've had over the years: the Good, the Bad & the just plain...Odd. For the Good, I immediately think of Mr. Alexander, my 6th grade teacher who told fascinating stories & read O. Henry books to the class. I also think of Ms. Girault, my favorite teacher ever (English in Junior High) who encouraged me to write & let me babysit her beautiful daughters (with equally beautiful names: Genvieve & Giselle). I didn't even complain when she only paid me 75 cents an hour (way below the going rate of $1). For the Bad, no one compares to my junior high art teacher, Ms. Costello, who brutally told me that I had no artistic ability & was wasting my time & her time! All these years later I still think she was awful! Just goes to show how biting comments can stay with you. For the Odd, I automatically think of one of my College Instructors who taught the oddly named course: Challenges Of Leisure. A typical class involved an evening field trip to a dark side of town where we'd hang out with prostitutes and drug dealers. I'm still not sure if he was promoting that as an appropriate way to fill our free time or perhaps just an alternative. In retrospect, I guess I'm lucky that the tabloids didn't run an article suggesting that I was turning tricks!

Be My Friend!

I know I'm way too old and not cool enough to be on MySpace, but one of my dearest friends set up a profile for me and I'm going to use it.

So the next step is getting friends (since that seems to be the "goal" on MySpace). Most folks seem to have thousands of cyber friends & I currently have 1. If you're familiar with MySpace, you probably know that my first friend "Tom" isn't even a real person. Well, I suppose he's a real person, but he's not technically my friend. But I think on MySpace, the word "friend" is used rather loosely.

But with that said, please be my MySpace "friend".

http://www.myspace.com/erin_murphy

10,000!

Today my little website will have it's 10,000th visitor!

http://www.starwebsites.com/erinmurphy/

That may not seem like much by celebrity standards, but for me it's huge! Thanks for taking the time to stop by.

Hats Off To William Shatner!

Frequently when a celebrity lends their support to a charity you hear about it everywhere. But I think just as often, anonymous checks are sent or good deeds go unnoticed. Well, right here in my own backyard, William Shatner has quietly been hosting a charity horse show for the last 17 years! We had the pleasure of attending & it was truly inspiring (& really fun too!). The kids loved the stunt riders & I got teary as a beautiful little girl with Down's Syndrome did an equestrian routine to Wind Beneath My Wings. Usually (despite the best intentions) only a portion of the proceeds at these events actually make it to the recipient. But Mr. Shatner has been able to get everything donated so every penny that comes in, goes right back out. The recipients are Ahead With Horses: a therapeutic riding program that provides services for children with disabilities and developmental disorders & Camp Max Straus: an amazing facility that provides a camping experience for underprivileged children.

You might wonder which of Bill's celebrity friends showed up...Leonard Nimoy? James Spader?

Nope. In no particular order: Scott Hamilton (One of my favorite ice skaters, & I'm not embarrassed to admit I have favorites!), Gary Busey (http://imdb.com/name/nm0000997/), Rick Dees (http://imdb.com/name/nm0214418/), Jimmy Kimmel (http://imdb.com/name/nm0453994/) & Karen Black (http://imdb.com/name/nm0000947/)

HGTV: Rate My Space!

HGTV has a fun new feature on their site where you can upload photos of your home & readers will "rate" it! You can show off your interior decorating skills or ask questions like "What color should I paint my walls?" If you're shy about sharing, you can also browse rooms for inspiration.

http://ratemyspace.hgtv.com/SNC/Main.aspx?pguid=6db6be3f-1720-4ba3-a081-999042c09b6b

Hooray for HBO!

HBO really knows how to do original programming. The Sopranos, Big Love, Rome, Entourage, Curb Your Enthusiasm & Sex and The City...Love them all! Great acting, original scripts & new episodes this week for Sopranos & Entourage. Plus, Rex Lee who plays Ari's assistant has the distinction of being the most intoxicated person I've ever had a conversation with...although I'm SURE he doesn't remember!

The Joy of Motherhood!

People are always asking me what my license plate means. SC actually stands for several things. I love Southern California, I love USC college football (Fight On!). I'm also fond of Santa Claus & sugar cookies, but more importantly I LOVE six children!

But occasionally children can do things that make even a loving parent a little upset. You know the incident will eventually be a funny family story, but it hasn't quite made it there yet. When I was a kid, I loved the story about how when my Uncle Jimmy was a little boy he thought he was a magician & made all the clothespins disappear in the toilet. I'm sure it wasn't so funny for my grandparents who had to dig up all the pipes in their front yard. Well, one of my children (who shall remain nameless) recently discovered the "magic toilet" & made one of my favorite necklaces (pictured above) vanish. Somehow, the clothespin story no longer seems so amusing.

Terms of Endearment!

Confession time: I like McDonald's. Most of my friends would describe me as healthy. I always have fruits & veggies in the fridge. I choose water over soda. Sushi is my favorite food. But, I still have a special place in my heart for Micky D's. I've been going there my entire life (I remember when burgers were a quarter!). I did a commercial for McDonald's when I was a young teen (sadly no food was consumed). They also have really great happy meal toys & the best fast food fries. I always order a hamburger happy meal (with just ketchup on the burger, barbecue sauce to dip my fries & a diet coke). But my fondness for the place has nothing to do with this post. I'm writing about the boy (I'm pretty sure he's under 18) who works the register & occasionally takes the orders outside. We go there about once a week, so I've seen him fairly regularly over the last 6 months. He always refers to me by a rather odd string of greetings (No, "Thank you, Ma'am, or even Miss for this young man). He's called me "Hon, Baby, Sweetie, Babe, Dear & even Toots"! I'm never sure how to react. My kids always look puzzled & as we drive away say "Do you KNOW that guy?

AIDS Awareness

If you're in Vegas this Friday, I'll be hosting the Fashion Fling Event to benefit Aid for AIDS of Nevada. http://thefashionfling.com/ Stop by, it should be fun!
I thought you also might be interested in reading my answers to a magazine interview regarding the Hollywood Graffiti Gown & my experience modeling.

1. What was the experience like modeling during Fashion Week?
I had a wonderful time. I'm a huge fan of fashion, so it was fun participating in a show rather than being a spectator. I had already convinced myself that I was going to fall (and accepted that fact) so when I didn't fall, it was a huge relief!

2. What was your favorite part of the show?
Besides the whole "not falling", my favorite part was seeing the Graffiti Gown. It was truly inspirational that AIDS awareness can come about in such an unconventional way. Plus, since I love fashion & TV, it was exciting to see all the Jeran gowns with television history.

3. What was the most challenging aspect of modeling?
I think the most challenging part was trying to look taller. I'm only 5'4" & some of the girls that I was modeling with were 6'. I watch America's Next Top Model, so I thought it wouldn't be a problem faking a runway walk, but I came out to Material Girl & the designers wanted me to dance like Madonna. I wiggled around a little & waved & blew kisses to the audience (probably more like a 6 year old than a sexy superstar!).

4. Based on that experience, if you could would you want to model for a living? I have fairly strong opinions & have a hard time keeping quiet. When I watch the show Project Runway, it makes me want to design clothes & explain them, not model them.

5. Has that experience altered your perception of fashion models? I worked as a makeup artist & stylist for years, so I've worked with lots of models. This reinforced my opinion that models are very hardworking, young, pretty & tall!

6. What was your impression of the Hollywood Graffiti Gown?
Noted above. It's really something you should see in person. It's very thought provoking. I provided my signature to be added to it. I'm honored to be included & have written about it in my blog (in hopes that any mention allows more people to not only know about the gown, but also the underlying issue : AIDS awareness).

8. Which signature was the most impressive to you and why?
Mother Teresa. As much as folks seem to admire actors, I have to give my admiration to a great humanitarian.

9. If you could have any woman—living or dead—sign the gown today who hasn't already, whom would it be and why? Elizabeth Montgomery. She was such a big supporter of AIDS research. After she passed away she donated her clothing to the AIDS Healthcare Foundation in Los Angeles. We had a fashion show fundraiser & I modeled in that as well. She would have wanted to be a part of this project.
http://www.hollywoodgraffitigown.com/

I-Tunes: Free Means Free!

I was late to the whole i-pod thing. My introduction to i-pods came when I won a video i-pod at my sisters' company holiday party (a fact that didn't seem to please the actual employees). My i-pod holds 30G (which I think is higher than my computer). How in the world could I ever fill it?
I-Tunes to the rescue! Every week I-Tunes offers free downloads (songs, TV shows, short films, etc.). This week, 6 episodes of Sesame Street are free (TV shows are normally $1.99).
The big secret (at least to i-pod novices like myself), you don't need an i-pod to receive the free downloads, just a computer. You never know when you might need to entertain a toddler!

Moving On Up!

Let me start by saying that I HATE moving! Sorting the closets crammed with stuff that somehow seemed important enough to keep. Packing, unpacking, trying to decide where everything goes. It just seems easier to stay where you are. But, this summer we're going to take a leap. We found a home that makes the move worthwhile: big enough for the kids & animals to run & play, amazing schools, close to work & check out the view!

Fashion Update & Exciting VH1 News!

Here's a photo backstage at the fashion show wearing Jeran Designs "Playboy" gown. I'm pictured with one of the designers, Jerry Skeels. No negative comparisons to Joan Collins please (I didn't have the benefit of airbrushing).
Exciting News!
I just got a call that I'm shooting a pilot in a couple days for VH1. No details yet (I don't want my possible future employer mad at me).

Another Day, Another Gown

I just had the pleasure of modeling the spectacular gown that Jeran Designs created for Joan Collins to wear on the cover of the 1983 Christmas issue of Playboy magazine. I learned insider info that before posing, Joan had gone on a strict diet of...champagne & caviar! The dress went on to be the inspiration for the famous "Jessica Rabbit" dress in Who Framed Roger Rabbit. I walked the catwalk to the tune "Material Girl" & the designers asked me to utilize my "dance training" & move like Madonna. Dance training (??)...Could they mean the tap lessons I had when I was 6?