Friday greetings!

Fabulous line-up to share today on the last day of this week.

Steph’s off this week.  She’s super busy and will be back soon with more tips and tricks to share with us!  Steph sends all of us her “hello”!

The stand-in for STEPHANIE’S CHIC ON THE CHEAP today is a fun blast-from-the-past read from the archives of Katiedid Langrock titled, “Twister Coming.”

I find the “Twister Coming” column amusing.  I did see “Twister” – the movie – but apparently I missed Helen Hunt’s wardrobe.  Perhaps, I need to give it another watch.  And then – bust out my white tank top and khakis and be in Ninja combat tornado mode!  It’s definitely tornado season around these parts.  Ha!

QUICK QUESTION
My favorite flower?  Hmmmm – that’s a tough one because all flowers are so pretty to me.  Including dandelions.  Yep, I just said dandelions.
I will say at first thought – sunflowers – especially the big, tall ones with their giant faces as big serving plates.  You?

FILM CREW 101
TRANSPORTATION DEPARTMENT
Behind the scenes is a peek-a-boo to those who don’t or haven’t worked in the film business.  Teamsters aka TRANSPORTATION DEPARTMENT is a ya didn’t know — but now ya do — read.
Peter and I wrote this in our book years ago.  I ran it by my brother-in-law, Greg, (who worked Transportation in the Film Industry for years – as Coordinator and Captain) and I asked if what was written was correct.  He offered a few little changes to make – which I have.

Greg also added that depending on the size of the show — he was in charge of anywhere from 30, 60, 100 drivers/trucks — and orchestrated all trucks + equipment to get to where working crew needed them to be fast, so all crew could jump quickly on task for the next set-up/shots/plans for the day.
I assure you, PATIENT film production would be an oxymoron.

JAPANESE STEAK ROLLS + GARLIC LIME RICE RECIPE
Comes from Justin, head caterer, on the set of Salem.
Imagine this — the caterers, as we all do, make it happen.
The caterers are no slackers — they cook, bake, make and present so many food offerings every day at breakfast-time and lunch-time for hundreds of people  (and they prepare all of the delish out of small trailers on location)  Think a buffet/smorgasbord on steroids, presenting their foods on multiple tables, draped in white table cloths, serving platters + steamers, etc … appetizers, bread, beef, chicken, fish, pasta, potatoes, veggies, salads, desserts set up in a dining area/catering tent.
And, we as Crew, grab a tray and multiple plates and pick and choose like royalty.   Absolutely fabulous!!  We’re talking china plates and silverware. Not paper plates and throw away eating utensils.
And when the crew is finished eating, Catering also takes care of washing the bazillion dishes + silverware.
They work long, hard hours and are masters of their craft.  Hat tip!

Anyway, I asked Justin this one particular day about the Japanese Steak Rolls and Rice and might he give me his recipe.  SOOOOOO outstanding!
Justin absolutely did.  He wrote the recipe on a yellow piece of legal pad paper – and downsized it for me to make at home – instead of a crowd size recipe – which they, of course, produce.

Justin wrote, “With just a few ingredients and quick cooking, this easy pair demonstrates simplicity and produces amazing results.”

So, there ya go.  Thanks, Justin!

READY?
SET?
Here we go.
Enjoy the read!

TWISTER COMING
BY KATIEDID LANGROCK

“Twister” came out when I was in junior high.  I loved that movie.  It had action, suspense and heart, and it defined my wardrobe for the next 18 months or so.  I became obsessed with Helen Hunt’s white tank top and baggy khaki cargo pants.  It was the epitome of independent adventurer, and I wore that outfit as many times as I could get away with each week, being told I looked uncool and was dressed in “the colors of an onion.”

What did they know?  Clearly, they hadn’t seen the magic that was “Twister.”

Besides fashion inspiration, I had three other major take-aways from that movie.

As the daughter of a psychologist, I thought the sex therapist’s relationship with her patients seemed highly unhealthy.  Two – Bill Paxton was my first man crush.  And three, tornadoes are awesome!

For years afterward, I wanted to be a storm chaser.  The thrill of getting to be in a tornado (possibly even having my house destroyed!) filled my imagination.  It was the same gleeful ignorance that makes all kids wish they could break an arm so friends could sign their sweet neon orange cast.

More often than not, it’s the movies that breed these absurd notions of awesome.  Basically every Disney movie made me wish for the early demise of my parents so I could go on some epic adventure.  The moment Clara learned to walk again in “Heidi,” I knew that my life would never be complete unless I became wheelchair bound.  Similarly, “The Wizard of Oz” and “Twister” made tornadoes a bucket list experience.

I went to college in Ohio, potential tornado country, and recall being disappointed when I graduated without a single raucous storm.

Perhaps this is why we were completely unprepared when just after putting our children to bed, my husband and I were greeted by an ear-piercing bull horn sound radiating from our phones.  “TORNADO WARNING,” the message read.

Huh.  OK, Good to know.  I clicked off the alarm, sat on the couch and turned on Netflix.

It took a full minute until I thought that perhaps a storm notification accompanied by an eardrum-bursting sound should be responded to with more than just a “huh.”

I took to Facebook.  It may be a hotbed of Russian-created propaganda, but it was the best place to see pics of circling skies headed directly toward your house.  I checked on the page of a neighborhood that is closer to downtown.  People reported hearing tornado sirens being blasted, something we can’t hear all the way out in the wild.

I asked whether this means we have to go to a basement.  In a matter of seconds, about a dozen responded simply, “Yes!”

Huh, OK.  Good to know.

But now, what to do?

Perhaps it was because of my love for Bill Paxton and for Helen Hunt’s fashion choices that I had never prepared for a tornado despite moved to tornado country.  When I lived in L.A., my house was as earthquake-ready as one could be.  Everything was fastened to the walls.  I kept sneakers next to the bed.  I had an earthquake kit in every room and had mapped out endless escape routes and hiding places.  But for a tornado?  I dunno.  Isn’t there something about a bathtub?

We reluctantly woke the kids and took them down into our scary unfinished basement, which is known for mice, spiders and snakes.

You know that moment in every slasher film when the good guys are running from the machete wielding maniac and they somehow find themselves in a shed full of more machetes?  That’s kind of what this felt like.  Boxes strewn about, blocking every path.  The floor covered in shattered glass.  Creepy-crawlies lurking in every corner.  The kids were definitely not going back to sleep.

We did our best.  I found an old portable crib and put both kids inside.  We tried to turn it into a game.  Huddled together, at the bottom of the basement stairs, we waited for the swirling winds to pass.  And they did, with zero damage.

I think I’m over my desire to be in a tornado now.  But I am absolutely busting out my white tank top and cargo pants.  I have earned them,

KATIEDID LANGROCK
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