I've decided that I'm going to celebrate June by celebrating friends. Each day I will tell you a bit about a friend that I love and why they are so awesome. It could be that they are awesome just because they are awesome. I think you'll think the same. No rhyme or reason to which friends I pick. No order. Just random picks. If I leave someone out, it means we broke up and I'd like my pants back.
Deirdre Lorenz came into my life like a Christmas Angel. (That's us last year at the epic 400th live recording of my podcast COMIC NEWS INSIDER at Hourglass Tavern). It was Christmas time in 2009 and I was working the bar. In she came with a Santa hat on and a jingle bell around her neck. If you know me, you know what a Christmas nerd I am. When she settled in at the bar, I just had to tell her how much I appreciated that she was fearlessly dressed in her Christmas splendor. And we immediately became good pals because of it! She started popping in more often and we would have the best chats. She's such a positive ray of light and always has the nicest things to say. Often cheering me up even when she didn't realize I needed it. She's a pretty amazing person. I already know that but you probably don't. So check it.
- Okay. You got me. Maybe I didn't at first notice the Santa hat and jingle bell. She's ridiculously stunning. I thought then (and still do) that she resembled the strikingly beautiful Yvonne Strahovski (from one of my fave recent TV shows Chuck). Sooooooooooooo purty. SO PURTY!
- If you haven't guessed it. Yes, she's a model. And has done some amazing shoots including magazine covers and all sorts!
- Not just a pretty face and pin up body...she's a fine actress as well! She's worked on shows like The Sopranos and Law & Order. But her pride and joy is a film she wrote, produced and starred in called Santorini Blue. It has been on the film festival circuit for some time and is finally available to purchase. It also stars her friends Richard Belzer and Ice T!
- She's been a big supporter of the podcast and even came on to co-host one time. We loved her so much that she is the voice you hear in many of the segment intros!
- I've established that we both are Christmas nerds. What solidified me knowing we'd be friends for life was the following. She came up to record the podcast back in 2010. It was back when we recorded at Producer Joe's place (he was still co-hosting then). I had walked to the kitchen to grab drinks and came back in the room. We were randomly chatting and I asked what was her favorite movie. She replied, "It's A Wonderful Life". I fell out of my chair at first, then figured I had been set up. I thought Joe had told her that was my fave movie as well. They all insisted it wasn't the case and I believed her when we started nerding out over the film. Seneca Falls, the town that the film was based on, is upstate in New York and they hold a festival every December where they turn the town into Bedford Falls like in the movie. We keep talking of going one year and it's gonna happen one day! We should do an It's A Wonderful Life photoshoot some time as well. Heck, maybe we'll put on the radio play version of it. Any backers interested?
- She knows how important birthdays are to me and attends each year. I knew how gutted she was last year when she had a family emergency that prevented her from attending. Of course, she let me know right away about how sorry she was for missing. Even though she had more important things to worry about. Just shows you how she always thinks of others.
- That's just it. She's one of the kindest people I've ever met. While we aren't besties by any means, we have had occasion to hang and chat often. She's never...NEVER...had a bad word to say. Always so positive and happy and full of light. Ties in with that whole being my Christmas Angel hypothesis.
- She's an avid runner and has run a few marathons. I get winded just typing that but she's an inspiration. She even went to Tanzania in Africa to run a race there. While visiting, she visited a child care center and made some great donations. An active and caring spirit!
- Recently, I have been thinking of getting back into acting. I hadn't talked to her about it yet but suddenly got a text from her last month saying she had a role for me in her new web series. She must have felt a disturbance in the force.
Even though we live in the same city, I don't hang out with Deirdre that much. Our lives are both quite busy and schedules opposite. But when we see each other, it's always a fun catch up. She genuinely cares about my life and I've a feeling she's always rooting for me. The fact that she asked me to be a part of one of her projects really means a lot. She always said that she'd put me in something if she could and she's true to her word. Not many people follow through like that. I look forward to working with her and have a few acting ideas for us to do as well. (No, not just kissing scenes, ya pervs!) She's a special person and I'm so glad that she was my Christmas miracle. Just be careful when you're around her. If you hear a bell ring, that means she's getting her wings. And she's got SOOOOOOOOOOOO many wings now. Atta boy, Clarence.
Around Christmas 2010 with a friend of hers.
Pretending we're taking a prom picture at the CNI 400th live recording.
Recording the podcast with me and Joe.
At my birthday party in 2011.
Another birthday, I believe.
Another shot at the CNI 400th recording with my pals Melissa and Katelan along with one of her friends.
Enjoying some fine champagne!
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