When we were little, my mother took us to movies from around the world. She was a psychologist who, when I was young, specialized in sex therapy. While most of my friends’ mothers were making them Halloween costumes, mine was on a local TV show talking about sexual dysfunctions. So I learned at a young age that sex was nothing to be ashamed of, people’s differences are nothing to be afraid of, and neither are subtitles.
I always liked reading and writing, and my sixth grade teacher told my mother I’d be writing novels by the time I was eighteen. Well, guess what, that didn’t happen. But I did get a BFA at NYU Film School, freelanced in theater, on commercials, music videos, short & feature indie films, worked full-time at video production companies where I got involved with all phases of production including writing the proposals that got us the jobs. So I understand the script is a blueprint, not a holy piece of literature. I understand filmmaking is a collaborative process and the joy comes from everyone working together to make the best possible movie. And I know it's all about being flexible and finding solutions rather than focusing on problems. 
But an "artiste" can't just sit in the garret all day composing verse — she's got to get out in the world and get her feet wet. Some of my secret identities (clockwise from left): An outcast in Florence, Italy (where I thought it would be cool to get my hair dyed red but soon found out, in that town, it wasn't); a happy video producer in Englewood, New Jersey (down the street from Eddie Murphy's house); as Boy George at a Halloween party in New York; a La Jolla surfer chick (I really was faking it); as a Brazilian Carnival-goer in San Francisco; and a punk rock photographer's model undercover at the San Diego airport.
I know what you’re really curious about is the unusual life of my familiar, my pal, my little 3-footed baby... 
Handsome Hook Lost a Foot. Well, actually, he was born that way. He was very handsome but the other cats in the litter, and even his own mother found him lacking. He developed a habit of hissing to defend himself, or perhaps just to express his hurt feelings. 
But that hiss was pretty ferocious and it was decided that he should go away. I'd had a "special needs" cat in New York who had a balance problem, so I was a logical choice to take him. Hook was flown from San Diego and I picked him up at the San Francisco airport. It took awhile, but eventually his sweet side began to emerge. Everyone remarked on the changes over the years. Now they say things like "He let me pet him!" and "He seems more confident and friendly since you moved to L.A."
Now Hook only hisses occasionally — usually at little kids. I have to admit he's made more than one little girl cry when she was only trying to be friendly. I try to help them understand it's because he feels threatened — in his mind he's the kid and he's afraid of getting replaced. 
One friend even immortalized him as a doll, although if you look closely, you'll realize it's missing the wrong foot.
People tease him by saying he has three legs but that's not true. He's only missing a foot! 
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