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I live in LA, and we are blessed with amazing weather year round (with occasional rain like right now). But this is a question that affects all of America, should grown men actually drive convertibles?

When I see a guy cruisin’ down the street, sunglasses on, a fresh tan on his face and the top down…it just doesn’t feel right. His masculinity blew out of the car as soon as that roof was retracted.

Like any rule, there are exceptions. But if you don’t fall under any of these, just know you look like a cheese-ball.
1. You’re a teen and you are lucky enough to have your first car be a convertible Camaro, ‘Stang or whatever car you were dreaming about for the past two years.
2. It’s a classic muscle car. These are completely exempt. You get masculinity points for every foot-pound of torque.
3. Your car is over 150K. I know this sounds snobby, but BMW 6 Series, Aston Martin, Porsche 911, Bentley, Ferrari, etc… are all okay. Just know that if you drive one of these cars you may not look cheesy, but you are walking a fine line to being a douche bag.
4. You are a proud gay man
5. You’re driving your girlfriend’s car, and she is sitting next to you

Otherwise, sorry but you look silly.

Xoxo
Ashlan (a proud convertible driver)

Written by: Ashlan Gorse

In college, I wanted to volunteer at the animal shelter. I grew up with Siberian Huskies, Yukon and Klondike, and they were my best friends. So what better way to give back than help animals in need.
At the shelter in Chapel Hill, they had volunteer orientation the first Monday of every month. I was so excited! I couldn’t wait to go and play with the dogs and cats who were lonely, and to no fault of their own, were left with out a family.

So I got dressed after class and drove to the animal shelter. I parked my car, checked my hair in the mirror, but as I reached for the car door handle I was overcome with this wave of sadness thinking of the sad animals who had been abandoned by their owners, these sweet loving creatures who are now counting down their days in a jail, with cold wet floors and no one to play with. I couldn’t move. There I sat in my car hysterical for thirty minutes. I missed the orientation and drove home with tears in my eyes.

The next month, I was going to do it. I was going to go in and volunteer. The whole month I psyched myself up and thought of all the good I would be doing making those animals happy and loved if only for a few hours. I got dressed, drove the shelter. I parked the car, and reached for the door handle… This time I was calm. I got out, locked the car and walked to the building. “I’m doing good”, I say to myself!!!! I opened the door to the shelter to some smiling faces, and that’s when it hits me: the smell of the shelter. Not a bad smell but not good either. Its just fur and bleach. At this I completely lose it. Tears are streaming down my face, I can’t breathe. The volunteers look at me with fear in their eyes, as I look like I am about to pass out. I reach in my wallet, find a twenty dollar bill and throw it at the girl sitting at the front desk. I run back to my car and do a wheel-ie pulling out of the parking lot.

I have to go back. “I’m doing a good thing, I’m a strong person, I can handle this,” I tell myself. So the next month I go, park the car, walk to the building and this time I make it in. I sit through orientation were they show a video of the worst cases they have seen ( I will spare you the horrific details) but I’m okay. I make it through the movie and now its time to see the animals!!!!!! I’m so excited, this is what I wanted. We walk through and see the cats all cute and playful. There is a litter of fluffy puppies who are happy and just want to eat your fingers. Then I walk past a cage that looks empty but something makes me turn around. Huddled in the back of the cage is an older hunting dog. She is shivering and scared, so scared that when I walk closer and talk to her, she defecates on herself. I’m crushed. I know this dog, who is most likely the subject of abuse, will never get adopted. She doesn’t trust people anymore. I feel all the blood drain out of my face, then out of my chest and stomach. I can’t control it. I’m hysterical, can’t breathe and can’t even stand. The volunteer leader comes over and tries to comfort me. She says all we can do is just make their time at the shelter as comfortable as possible. At this I lose it ever more. “Ma’am, we have to ask you to leave, you are upsetting the animals” she says.

Yes, I was kicked out of volunteering at the animal shelter.

Till this day, I still can’t walk into a shelter without crying, I just did it again this Sunday. Now why this story, why today???? Well the LA Times is reporting that Michael Vick is getting an eight episode docu-series about his life and childhood.

All I can say is that I truly hope I get to interview him for his new show, because I have some questions I want answered.
And I honestly hope I don’t punch him in the face…because I really, really want to!

Ashlan

Written by: Ashlan Gorse

I love to travel! For many years my parents, sister and I set out on yearly vacations. Many of them were spent driving around Europe in a tiny Fiat (keep in mind we are a very tall family) and my Dad still holds the nickname of “Sparky” for ordering us five omelets in France instead of fries and sandwiches.

I’m lucky that my job sends me to some cool places and you can imagine my surprise when I found out I was going to Bora Bora for the new Vince Vaughn movie, “Couples Retreat”.

The plane ride out was completely booked, 8 hours on an airbus…not so fun. And we couldn’t land in Bora Bora that night as the runway lights had been turned off. The airport workers decided to start their weekend early, and left work! So I had to stay the night in Papeete, the capital of Tahiti.

Besides the travel glitches and the monsoon that over took the island while I was there, the trip was amazing. We stayed at the St. Regis where I had my own over-water bungalow. There were windows in the floor so you could look down under your feet and see the fish swimming by. And I have to say the room had the best shower ever, I think I took three a day.

The movie is hilarious and great for any couple, married or dating. It’s in true Vince style so even if you are a single, you will laugh. And on the subject on Vince, I have to say he is very charming. I had a sprained ankle and every time he saw me he would make sure I was elevating it and send someone to get me ice. “We need first string in, so don’t make me bench you” he joked. If he wasn’t doing interviews or razzing me about my injury, he was online checking his fantasy football team.

So go see “Couples Retreat”, love Vince and if ever get the chance to go to French Polynesian take it.

Manuia,
Ashlan
Written by: Ashlan Gorse

Emmy Day was a blur, a fabulous blur, but still a blur none the less.
Woke up at 7am to shower and make sure I had everything. Then at 8am, off to downtown to get ready. Hair, make-up and wardrobe we did on site. And everyone is getting ready together, Catt Sadler, Sal Masekela, Kristin dos Santos, Jay Manuel and me all running around laughing.

In positions at 12:30pm on the red carpet then live for two hours. I love being live. You have to be ready for anything and think on your feet. It’s a rush.
I interviewed Oscar Nunez from the Office, very funny guy. And I also got to interview Padma Lakshmi. I was very surprised at how tall she is. Now I am 5’11”, very tall for a lady but I’m a giant in Hollywood. And because of a sprained ankle, I was in flats but Padma was tall and curvy!!!!! One thing I love, a woman who has an hourglass figure, not a willowy boy frame…and she was super nice.

After the pre-show wrapped and Seacrest took over I went home for a little R&R, then headed to the HBO after-party. The carpet wasn’t too busy. A lot of good people showed up but they just wanted to go inside and get a drink. So after the carpet was over, we went inside to a great band, good people and a chocolate bar (I think the latter was my favorite part). Then at the stroke of one, I had to rush home, ice my ankle and go to sleep to be at work at 8am…ah, the crazy day of awards

Take that Cinderella!!!

xoxo
Ashlan
Written by: Ashlan Gorse

I just got back from the Toronto Film Festival, and it was star central.

“The Informant” is hilarious and the star, Matt Damon, is just as funny in person. It still throws me off when you meet a true A-lister and they are funny, charming and more importantly sweet. Matt is truly a down to earth guy who likes to drink beer and loves his family. And don’t forget, he went to Harvard. That’s an A+ in my book.

Next up was Jennifer Garner, for “The Invention of Lying”. Now I had never interviewed her and didn’t know what to expect. But she has such a tender smile and the personality to match. We talked about Ben, and Matt, and the kids, just like two girlfriends at lunch. I wonder if she needs a new friend???

Drew Barrymore finished directing her first movie, “Whip It”. She was so excited the whole time we talked. She is a funky cool girl, who likes to just be herself. She told me the first thing she did when the movie was finished, was go out and get wasted. Now that’s the kind of director I would want.

The last night I was there, I interviewed OPRAH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! And you know what, she is normal. O was nice and listened to my questions; she made you feel like you were the only one there. At the end of the interview, we high fived…just hope I now turn to gold.

Thanks Toronto.

Xoxo
Ashlan
Written by: Ashlan Gorse

My Mother once told me, “What’s the point of having nice jewelry if you don’t wear it?”
This is just one of my mother’s golden nuggets of advice, but one that I truly take to heart and so should you.
It’s NEVER too nice to wear. And by it, I mean jewelry, shoes and clothes.

Here is a good example; I know a guy who has impeccable taste in clothes and his closet full of Gucci, Prada and Dolce & Gabana. But he doesn’t wear half of it. Why? Because he is afraid it will get ruined.
That fear keeps his clothes safe in his bedroom where only he (and sometimes me) can go in and stare at its beauty…such a waste of fine fashion.

It is understandable; all of us have had a favorite piece ruined in our lives. Some have fallen victim cigarette burns, an exploding pen or maybe even the dreaded full glass of red wine. But what’s the point of having something nice (which you spend a lot of cash on) only to have it sit in the dark, cold corners of your closet.

Now I’m not saying you should rock a Gucci shirt to the gym, or wear your Grandmother’s antique Sapphire necklace to Trader Joes, but don’t be afraid to wear your nice things if the event calls for it.

Please, don’t hide your Burberry suit in the closet. Take those Louboutins out of the shoebox. Fabulous things should be shared with the world!!!!
Just maybe drink white wine while wearing them.

Xoxo
Ashlan
Written by: Ashlan Gorse

I have to see a lot of films for my job, some good, some really bad.  So when I go to the movies for fun, I am really picky. 

I like Quentin Tarantino, but to be honest some of his films are way too gory for me.  I loved Pulp Fiction but Kill Bill, could have used 10 gallons less of blood.  I had heard mixed reviews for the Anti-Nazi film, so I went into Inglourious Basterds with an open mind.

And full discloser, I went to see Brad Pitt.  Every time I interview him, Brad is cool, calm and a little standoff-ish.  But as soon as he relaxes this big smile comes over his face and his wit comes out.

The film was great.  I loved the characters and the story development.  Brad deep Southern accent is a bit distracting (and I have a discerning ear being raised in North Carolina).  But I got over it in the first 30 minutes and found myself cheering for the misfit group know as the Basterds

But I was completely blown away by the acting of Christopher Waltz, whose portrayal of Col. Hans Landa is just amazing.  You hate this character from the deepest part of your soul, as he lives up to his nickname of the Jew Hunter, but you still find this evil man human and hilarious.  I found myself lost in him.  We will definitely be seeing more of the Austrian born actor in the States. 

So go see this film for Pitt and Waltz!!  And we can all wish history ended the way the film did.

 xoxo