03-03-10

Today I enjoyed a bit of a slowdown. I applied for jobs, read magazines and relaxed. Then I took Frankie on a nice long head clearing and refreshing walk.

After that I took a nice soak in the tub and Frankie came in and laid down on the bath mat while I soaked to keep me company. Some might call this co-dependent, I call it devoted. :) I think that he finds the idea of me voluntarily soaking in the tub mystifying. He hates baths. He kept looking at me weird and softly whining as if to say "I don't know why you are being punished, but I will stay here with you while you endure this torture." because, like I said, he's devoted. ;-)

After my soak I got ready and ate dinner and then Curtis came to get me and we headed over to a friend's house to watch "The Hurt Locker". It was good. Sad and disturbing, but good and I really, really hope that Kathryn Bigelow wins best director at the Academy Awards. That would be quite the historical moment for women in this industry!

My photo is one that Curtis took. It's experimental and we were trying to capture the feeling of "The Hurt Locker". I don't know that we succeeded but I think it is kid of cool. If you look carefully you'll see I have two faces. Photography is fun!

Then we stayed up late talking and by the time I left I had a killer sore throat. I went home and sucked on the last of my Australian Eucalyptus and Honey lozenges and made some tea and honey then went to bed.

03-02-10 Curtis's Birthday

Yup. Our Anniversary is the day before Curtis's birthday. We are 9 days apart in our birthdays so, it starts to become celebration central around here towards the end of February and into March. :)

Today we spent a lovely day together. We woke up somewhat early to get ready to go see our friends perform in "Imagination Machine" at my sister in law's school. Imagination Machine takes stories that kids write and performs them a the school. It's really neat for the kids and they all really enjoy it. It was fun to see both our friends be funny as well as the kids' reaction to the show!

After that we grabbed some coffee and headed over to The Garden Walk. We browsed around and looked in some stores and then had a lovely lunch at The Cheesecake Factory there. It was yummy!

Then we walked around some more, I bought a couple of cheap tops at a little store there and then we headed out.

Our next stop was Downtown Disney. Curtis wanted some new cologne for his birthday and there is a Sephora There. I browsed a few other stores as well and Curtis tried on some very comfy shoes that he intends to go back and purchase with some birthday money.

Then it was off again to Knott's Berry Farm. Spending the day at Knott's had been our original plan for the day but we couldn't find cheap tickets and neither of us felt up to spending the full ticket price when it is so close to the price for an annual pass. We might actually get the annual pass soon, but we're just not sure. So, instead we got a 45 minute shopper pass (you give them a credit card to charge if you break the rules but as long as you are out in 45 minutes the don't charge you anything) and went inside to get Curtis's traditional Funnel cake and Boysenberry Punch. It was so very deserted at Knotts! It kind of made me sad that we hadn't gone for the day because it would have been a nice, no lines for rides, no crowds to deal with kinda day. But apparently it's often like that on weekdays in the off season. So, maybe we'll go another day.

The funnel cake was delicious but we couldn't really make that big of a dent in it. We got through about half of it. We still had more birthday cake coming so we decided not to push it.

Then we went home and Curtis went to teach. Yup, even on his birthday. While he was gone I walked the dog and took a much needed nap. After his class he picked me up and we headed to our friend Dean's house for our weekly group viewing of "Lost". Because if was Curtis's birthday the group had a little party for Curtis complete with hats and Funfetti Cake! Funfetti cake is one of our favorite cakes! It's a white cake with confetti like spots of color in it and it tastes delicious and just seems more fun!

It was a great day and night and I am happy that Curtis and I got to spend the day together!

03-01-10 Anniversary Spent at the Silver Screen!

Today was me and Curtis's 3 year anniversary! Hooray for us! That's the longest I've ever made it with a boyfriend! ;-)

To celebrate he took me to the movies to continue our quest to see as many of the Oscar nominated films we can before the Oscar ceremony next week! Today we saw matinees of "Precious" and "Crazy Heart". My picture for today is of us outside the theater in between films. It was a lovely day today. Almost a shame to spend it in a movie theater. But it was a great day for us! We enjoyed both films. "Precious" wasn't quite as dark as I thought it would be but it was still quite high on the "ickiness-ometer" for me. I am not a fan of movies about incest or sexual abuse, especially of children. It's just too hard for me. But this movie was more imaginative than I thought and I was very impressed with how the story was told. The acting, directing, and writing were wonderful. I can appreciate all that she had to overcome in life and her strength, determination and perseverance. Still though, even though the end is supposed to be a bit hopeful, it was just overall VERY sad to me.

"Crazy Heart" on the other hand was awesome and I found it to be a bit more uplifting. It's about a washed up, alcoholic former country star played by Jeff Bridges who meets a girl and is inspired to get his act together. Jeff Bridges is usually somewhat under rated as an actor and I am really excited that he got a best actor nomination for this role. I loved this film and I loved his acting in it. Apparently I can handle alcoholism as a theme in a movie much better than I can incest. Without giving anything away, this movie ends on a truly hopeful and somewhat happy note but doesn't seem too "perfect" or simple or overly sweet. It's real, but it's a good ending. It also has Colin Farrell in it and I just love him. He plays an American country star who was mentored by the Jeff Bridges character and is much more successful. He did a great job and I really bought him as a country star!

Then Curtis went to work and I rested a bit because I feel a bit run down after the last couple of weeks activities! Then I took Frankie to the school that Curtis teaches acting at because they were having a little party for his birthday. It was nice for Frankie to take a ride with me to see his dad, and also to meet the kids. Frankie loves people and he really loves kids. Curtis was happy and surprised to see us and it was just a really good time.

All in all a great day! Tomorrow is his actual birthday so, I am not sure what we are gonna do yet. But it's his day, so he gets to choose! :)

02-28-10 Last show.

Today was our last performance. I am kinda sad about that. It was a really good run and I really liked our cast, crew and director. I loved playing sheila. Loved it! And the audiences seemed to really really love her back. That was a really great feeling. There's more than one reason I love to act but getting that feed back from audiences is definitely one of them. It's an indescribable feeling to work so hard to bring a character into fruition and to have people respect, admire and be entertained by what you did with it.

My brother and sister in law came to this show as did my friends Jeff, Ami, Kristin and Jim. I was very glad to see all of them. I don't think my brother had seen me perform in anything in over 10 years so, it was really good for him and my sis in law to be able to see what I love to do. This audience was also GREAT and I had to pause for applause twice in the middle of my scene and they also applauded at the end of my scene and I still have to say that is a rush like no other for me. This play has been a wonderful experience for me. It's helped me to grow as an actress and to become more confident in my abilities and in the fact that this is what I have chosen to do with my life. It's just been really, really wonderful and I am so glad I had this opportunity! It was also great to see Jeff, Ami, Kristin and Jim who are always so supportive of the shows that Curtis and I are in and I appreciate that as well. It's so nice when your friends can make it out to support you.

Obviously, not everyone is going to be able to make it to every show, so it's understandable when not everyone can make it. However, it's always SO nice to feel like you have your loved one's support for what you are doing with your life. To have them take the time, make the drive and pay the money to see you is like a little investment in their faith in you. Even if it is "just community theater".

A lot of people tend to think that community theater is not that great. Or is something to be scoffed at or not taken seriously. But that is not always the case. I've seen some very moving, very well done community theater. I've also seen some very badly done community theater. But hell, I've seen really good and really bad professional theater as well. Theater is theater, whether the people are being paid or not, you have about a 50/50 shot of it being something you love or something that leaves you going "Eh...". I feel that in places like Southern California where there is such a high concentration of actors, even community theater is bound to have some really talented people and I have seen many GREAT performances within the community theaters in my area to back that up. Of course, I'd love to eventually work my way into professional theater and into doing some more films and such as well. But for right now, I feel like my path back into acting and performing is going along quite nicely. I need to build my resume up again and so, the small role I had in "The 7 Year Itch" last summer, followed by the role of Sheila in "Jake's Women" which was a bigger, better role, but still not a leading role, have been nice stepping stones for me. I'm proud of the work I did in both shows and given the choice I really wouldn't have changed a thing. It really is true that there are no small parts, just small actors. :)

After the show we had to strike the set so I ended up moving furniture and using power tools to take scenery apart and that was kind of neat though, I am now sore in place like my forearms from moving furniture around. :)

Then Curtis and I met up with Jeff and Ami for a drink and then headed over to the cast party at our director's house. He's a great guy who also makes very interesting documentary films!

While at the party we watched the DVD of the show. I hate to watch myself but I couldn't NOT watch. I was curious as to how I looked and how the scene looked. It's just so odd to see yourself on screen. I may never get used to it. :)

All in all though, it was a GREAT day. I'm sad to see "Jake's Women" end, but glad I got to be a part of it and looking forward to the next show! :)

02-27-10 Wet Wedding and Another Show!

Today was a Saturday and my friend Crystal got married today. Today it was also storming. And her wedding ceremony site was outdoors. I was unaware of this as shown by my poor choice in footwear. :) Overall though, it was a lovely wedding. A bit wet, very cold, but lovely just the same. The bride and bridesmaids looked beautiful and it was a very touching ceremony. I couldn't go to the reception though because I had my show so, unfortunately I missed out on that. I did get to sit with two of my "Joey & Maria's Comedy Italian Wedding" co-stars and friends Brooke and Diana at the wedding though, and that was very nice! The bride, Diana, Brooke and I all met through that show. It was a fun show to be a part of for so long. I was in it for about 8 years. Brooke was in it a little less than that and Diana was in it much longer than me! Good times in deed!

After that I went home to prepare for my show. Didn't want to forget my make up again. ;-)

I had friends coming to that show as well. Curtis's parents and my family friends Kimberly and Brian.It was a REALLY good show and the audience was GREAT! I gotta say, an audience can totally affect a perfomance as their energy is something we performers somewhat feed off of. I got clapped off of my scene again too! So great! And Curtis's parents had brought me birthday cake balls before the show and they were a big hit backstage! They are essentially balls of cake mixed with icing and then covered in chocolate. SO GOOD. The stage manager said "Wow! These are AMAZING. These are the best thing to happen to the ball form!" I found that humorous. :) They were realy good and I am honored that Curtis's mom went to all that trouble for me.

After the show I was surprised to see that my friend Ryan, who is an amazing director and who is the boyfriend of my friend Leslie who is an amazing actress, was there as well! It was a nice surprise! He even mentioned "I think we were a really great audience." and yes, they totally were! Leslie was doing her show "Our Town" at the Long Beach Playhouse so she couldn't be there but it was so great of Ryan to come! I also took a photo with my friends kimberly and Brian but it didn't really turn out, but their support of me and my whole family is lovely and wonderful and they are good friends and good people!

02-26-10 Interviews, errands and a show!

Today was another crazy busy day with a long to do list. I woke up early to get a jump on things. I had an interview at 12:30 in Costa Mesa and then another interview in Irvine very near to the first interview at 5:30. And in between those two interviews I had to workout, mail a check, go to another store to get some more grocery shopping done, clean a bit more, walk Frankie and then get ready for my show.

I worked out before the first interview. That interview went pretty well. Then I went to the store and then home. I did some cleaning, tried to get a little rest in, and then went on a walk with Frankie. Then I got cleaned up again for the next interview grabbed my stuff for my show and hit the road again. The second interview was odd. The man who was supposed to interview me left before I got there but didn't notify me. So someone else interviewed me. He was nice and it seemed to go well, but it was a little awkward for him I think.

Then I went to my brother and sister in law's house for a visit before my show. I got to my show earlier than normal and was just kind of relaxing and hanging out with the cast and then I realized that I had forgotten my make up bag in my haste to leave the house to get to the interview! Crap! I had friends in the audience that night and I wanted to look good so I grabbed my wallet and ran out to the local Rite Aid to pick up some replacement make up. It wasn't as cheap as I'd have liked but I had been wanting two sets of make up so I could leave one set at the theater whenever I am in a show so, now I have two sets.

The show went pretty well. My friends seemed to like it. I was really glad they came out! Thanks to Karen, Curtis and Dean for coming out tonight!I love you guys and gal! ;-) Your support means so very much!

02-25-10 Whew!

Today was one of those days where I thought I could just kinda relax and catch my breath a bit. I did briefly in the morning. This pic is of Frankie and I chillin in bed while I type. But then Curtis called, he needed my help with a class he teaches that night. I said yes and so the race to get my rather long to do list done was on! I had to clean my room and bathroom, do some laundry, workout, apply for jobs, make some phone calls, go to the store, pay some bills and walk Frankie all in about 4.5 hours.

Somehow, I did it! It ended up being a very busy, very tiring, long day but in the end it was a good day.