The IZZY Ex~perience: DAKOTA

Dakota was (literally) a starving artist and an aspiring filmmaker. For our anniversary dinner, he took me to Pup 'n' Taco. Here's how that went down:

"Where else can you get food this delicious for under $1.29?" I was trying to be a good sport about my hot dog, salsa, and cheese inside a hard taco shell.

"$1.29?" Dakota asked.

"Yeah."

"Oh no."

"What's wrong?"

"I thought it was under one dollar."

"That's for the pup or the taco."

Dakota emptied his pockets of all of his change. "I'm sorry, Izabela. I didn't bring enough. This was supposed to be my treat."

This solidified my decision to become a yuppy and subsequently leave Dakota behind. Do you want to know how he turned out? Dakota is an eight time Academy Award winner for special effects. And, no, he never once thanked his ex-girlfriend, Izabela Paisley (me), from film school.

The IZZY Ex~perience: HUGH

I met Hugh on my first day of work at an L.A. advertising agency in 1983. I told him I was going to be a screenwriter. He asked what I had written. "I'm in the hunting and gathering stage," I replied.

"Meaning you've written nothing. Until now. I can visualize this movie. It stars me. Taking over the agency one client at a time. Vice president by the time I am thirty. . .two. Buying a house in the Hollywood Hills. Doubling my investment on the resale. The L.A. real estate market is a surefire home run, Izabela."

"Wow. I think I have my screenplay," I said.

"You can be in it. I meet you years later. On Sunset Boulevard. You look like one of those aging starlets from a bygone era. I am about to get into my Lamborghini when you call to me. . . (In a creaky high pitched voice) “'Hey, Mister. I was a famous screenwriter.'”

I should have known, right then and there, because I am that old lady and I still write.