I flew back from Cannes to Atlanta. A very nice couple is renting my gorgeous loft and so I stayed in a hotel. That is so weird: being in a hotel in a city that was your home for almost 20 years. But when I walked out the front of the hotel to walk Tulea (who I was reunited with the moment I got off the plane the first morning, I heard someone call, “Hi Jane!” and I looked up and there was a dear friend in a passing car. See, that’s one thing I love bout Atlanta: it is a big-ish city with all the culture and goings-on of a really big city, but you run into friends all the time. It’s manageable. You can wrap your heart and mind around it. I got a little home sick there for a few days. I also got real sick. Maybe it started with the pollen and turned into a major upper respiratory deal. Who knows. I was pretty tired and run down after Cannes and it is harder to get over jet lag at my age (wish I could remember that when I accept to fly places) so I was vulnerable. By the time I got back to L.A. I as feeling really rotten but I had these interviews and photo shoots and stuff to catch up on. I got onto antibiotics and got well and then I flew to San Francisco for a fundraiser for the First Annual Food Day in DC next Oct (more about that coming up!) and it was 50 degrees there and I got sick again. Then I had an amazing, high fashion photo shoot for Harpers Bazaar that will come out this fall, I think. OMG the clothes were spectacular. Especially a Stella McCartney dress, all black but with a wide, sheer panel up one side with large black polka dots on it. Wait till you see!

Speaking of McCartney, I can’t forget to tell you something truly special: Paul McCartney and his fiance, Nancy, came for dinner at Richard’s and we had the best time!!! The evening ended with Paul playing Richard’s Art Deco piano (from the Queen Mary Cruise ship in the 1930s). Richard fortunately had it tuned that very afternoon. It (and Paul) sounded terrific. In spite of being sick, I had a really great time and thoroughly enjoyed talking to Nancy.

The next day, I taped Oprah’s program, Master Class, for OWN which will air sometime this fall, I’m told. I so wanted it to be good. (You’ll tell me if it was good when the time comes!) The producer and director told me it was good. As you may (or may not) know, Master Class, is a program in which someone chosen by Oprah, who she feels has life lessons to pass on, talks for an hour, straight into the camera, in close-up. The conversation is interspersed with photos, film, home movies, things that illuminate what the person is saying. I watched a number of them to prepare myself. I was especially moved and illuminated by the ones done by Maya Angelou and Sidney Poitier. Needless to say, I felt honored that Oprah asked me. I did my best although I was not feeling well and then, straight from there, I went to the Beverly Hilton to receive the UCLA ICON Award. Jennifer Lopez presented it to me which really moved me as I know how busy that woman is. It meant the world to me that she took time to do that. At my table were (besides Richard) my BFF Paula Weinstein, her daughter, Hannah Rosenberg (my goddaughter), my brother Peter and his fiance, my step-mother, Shirlee Fonda, Jason Alexander (who was MC), George Segal and his wife (we did “Fun with Dick and Jane” together), a wonderful retrospective of my film clips was shown and a lot of money was raised for UCLA’s Longevity Center.

“Entertainment Tonight” Video Clip: Jennifer Lopez presented Jane Fonda with the UCLA Longevity Center Icon Award (click to play)

“Extra” video clip: Jane Fonda honored at UCLA’s Longevity Center event (click to play)

I was supposed to fly to New York today for Eve Ensler’s birthday party and a big V-Day event. Eve is one of my closest and fiercest friends and I am on the board of V-Day and the last thing I wanted to do was miss this. And the board meeting tomorrow. But I knew, and my doctor told me, I must not fly for awhile till I am all well. Well—that’s all for now. Sorry about my absence.

LOS ANGELES, CA - FEBRUARY 9: Actor Colin Farrell (L) and cast member Jane Fonda (R) pose backstage after the opening night performance of "33 Variations" at Center Theatre Group's Ahmanson Theatre on February 9, 2011 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Ryan Miller/Capture Imaging)

LOS ANGELES, CA - FEBRUARY 9: (L-R) Cast member Jane Fonda, cast member Zach Grenier and Playwright/Director Moises Kaufman pose during the party for the opening night performance of "33 Variations" at Center Theatre Group's Ahmanson Theatre on February 9, 2011 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Ryan Miller/Capture Imaging)

LOS ANGELES, CA - FEBRUARY 9: Cast member Jane Fonda (L) and Cher (R) pose during the party for the opening night performance of "33 Variations" at Center Theatre Group's Ahmanson Theatre on February 9, 2011 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Ryan Miller/Capture Imaging)

LOS ANGELES, CA - FEBRUARY 9: (L-R) Cast member Jane Fonda, brother actor Peter Fonda and Parky DeVogelaere pose during the party for the opening night performance of "33 Variations" at Center Theatre Group's Ahmanson Theatre on February 9, 2011 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Ryan Miller/Capture Imaging)

LOS ANGELES, CA - FEBRUARY 9: Actress Anjelica Huston (L) and cast member Jane Fonda (R) pose during the party for the opening night performance of "33 Variations" at Center Theatre Group's Ahmanson Theatre on February 9, 2011 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Ryan Miller/Capture Imaging)

LOS ANGELES, CA - FEBRUARY 9: (L-R) Actors Carla Gugino, Anjelica Huston and Rosanna Arquette pose during the party for the opening night performance of "33 Variations" at Center Theatre Group's Ahmanson Theatre on February 9, 2011 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Ryan Miller/Capture Imaging)

LOS ANGELES, CA - FEBRUARY 9: (L-R) Cast member Jane Fonda, actress Carla Gugino and actor Ben McKenzie pose during the party for the opening night performance of "33 Variations" at Center Theatre Group's Ahmanson Theatre on February 9, 2011 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Ryan Miller/Capture Imaging)

LOS ANGELES, CA - FEBRUARY 9: (L-R) Cast members Grant James Varjas, Samantha Mathis and Zach Grenier pose during the party for the opening night performance of "33 Variations" at Center Theatre Group's Ahmanson Theatre on February 9, 2011 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Ryan Miller/Capture Imaging)

LOS ANGELES, CA - FEBRUARY 9: Cast member Jane Fonda (L) and son Troy Garity (R) pose during the party for the opening night performance of "33 Variations" at Center Theatre Group's Ahmanson Theatre on February 9, 2011 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Ryan Miller/Capture Imaging)

LOS ANGELES, CA - FEBRUARY 9: Cast members Samantha Mathis (L) and Greg Keller (R) pose during the party for the opening night performance of "33 Variations" at Center Theatre Group's Ahmanson Theatre on February 9, 2011 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Ryan Miller/Capture Imaging)

I had an opportunity to tell Jennifer how incredible I thought she was in the film she did several years ago with her husband, Mark Anthony, “El cantante.” I missed it when it came out but Richard and I watched it the other night. She is as fine as I’ve ever seen her. Her considerable acting talent in full force as a tough, sexy (gorgeous) Puerto Rican woman , the partner of the Puerto Rican singing idol, Héctor Lavoe, played well by Mark Anthony. She blew my mind in the role. If I was still producing, I’d find a project for her with a role that allowed her to play this sort of character. Oh yes, and the subject of “American Idol” came up as well! I think she is good in it.

I also got another chance to tell Michelle Williams, again, how fantastic she is as an actor. Always, but especially in Blue Valentine.

Tonight is the last preview before tomorrow’s opening. I am not nervous. More excited than anything. Cher is coming, and Lindsey Lohan, Colin Farrell, Angelica Huston, Chelsea Handler, Rosanna Arquette, Carla Gugino, Christian Slater, Peter Fonda, John Glover, Ben Vereen and many other friends and family.

Throw out a little “Break a Leg” for me. Thanks!

Richard Perry, Shirlee Fonda, me, Parky DeVogelaere, Peter Fonda

Richard, Shirlee Fonda, me, Parky, Peter and Laura Turner Seydel, Ted’s daughter

me hugging Rosario Dawson. Her mate, Mathieu, behind looking at Richard

The outdoor stage was lovely with an huge depiction of GAIA—the spirit of our planet. The show opened with Native Americans singing and dancing.

Olivia Munn came out to host with Jason Ritter. She was dressed in full Rainforest regalia and was hysterically funny.

Kenny Loggins sand some of his best hits.

We all had dinner afterwards at Morton’s Steak House. Simone took the photo. On the left you see Laura Turner Seydel, then Ted’s date, Sally Ranney, then Ted. Across from them you see Rob Wolders, Eva Mendes and Troy. Out of sight (but very much present and enjoying were Alan, Cindy and their magnificent daughter, Cassidy, Richard, Shirlee and me. It was a very special 'reunion' dinner.

Laura and Simone

Troy and Eva Mendes

Laura Turner Seydel and Cindy Horn

Parky DeVogelaere, My bro Peter and Rosanna Arquette

Singer/actor, Olivia d'Abo, her husband, music producer and pianist, Patrick Leonard, actor/director Rosanna Arquette, me, Peter, Parky and Richard

Songwriter supreme, Diane Warren with friends

Trying to be funny on their laps

Diane, me, Rosanna

Then, I just got back from a full day’s work doing the two exercise programs I am developing with a wonderful group of boomers and seniors who volunteered to be my guinea pigs. We all had a really good time and I learned a lot from them about what works, what needs tweeking, etc. They were a wonderful group, randomly picked to come into Darren Capik’s studio. ET and People Magazine stopped by to watch and film and I was interviewed and I am wiped!!! I think I’ll go take a hot Epsom Salts bath before we go out to dinner.

me talking with producer/director Darren Capik

torso twists

Using the band

doing wall squats

The fact is that my Workout programs were initially not aerobic at all. Only one of them, “The Workout Challenge,” had an aerobic component and because it was so challenging, not many people purchased it. When I actually got into producing aerobic videos they were of the low-impact variety and were supervised by sports physiologists. As for my exhortation to  ”Go for The Burn,” that came with strength building-working the particular muscle group long enough to feel the burn that results from the build up of lactic acid. This has nothing to do with aerobic activity which is where the “pounding” comes in.

Genes, my friends, are the culprits, not my workouts,