The last straw (this one's for you, Maria)

An early morning moment photo by the PA of Lisa as the Latina doc, on Day 2 of a challenging production.

Because this actress playing the doctor for Big Hospital has to keep her make-up perfect, and this includes her luscious, but serious lips, she must drink from her water cup using a straw, just like her 96-year-old mother. This straw sippin' kept me alive for two long days of Spanish tongue twisters, and at the bitter end, on Day 2, I finally said yes to the tiny Diet Coke with straw - yes, the same Diet Coke I had produced all the soundtracks for in the early 1980s as New York A-V producer, for the New York bottlers' meeting, starring Bobby Short, seated at a grand piano, who emerged from the floor at Radio City Music Hall, back in the days of those big-budget extravaganzas for corporate America! ("Introducing Diet Coke!") But, over the course of the morning yesterday, I realized I had thrown away the straw, provided by make-up magician Maria, along with my imported cappuccino, and had to retrieve the straw out of the garbage! Because - well, you guessed it, this was the last straw Maria had brought with her, as part of her total-care make-up kit.

Maria, thanks for your wonderful work, kind encouragement, for the straw, and for being such a lovely lady to hang out with during this demanding shoot.

Fab make-up artist Maria Anderson. Photo by Lisa Carlson.