Update

So, sorry for the long delays between posts. Many many things have been happening recently, most of which I either couldn't talk about, or didn't have time to.

One of them was work, which has been going badly for a long time, but of course blog-law says not to talk about it. Tomorrow is my last day, and I've just been gutting it out. These past couple have been sooooo hard -- I've started my new show, which is paid, last week I was nannying, also paid, started a new job - to cover this one, since I could see the handwriting on the wall for the current one, and starting production meetings for the movie I'm costuming this week. It has been insanely busy (following almost a solid month of inactivity, Teri, because of the pass closure, and all my money being tied up in moving), but getting less each week. Three weeks from now should be lovely.

I realized again today how much music can affect me. As I've spent the last few days forcing myself to not walk out - as I desperately want to, I've been listening to the "cool favorites" station at work. It's not a bad channel. In the evenings I can't stand it because the DELILAH show (gag!) is on, but during the day they play a lot of pleasant music. Somehow, when I think I can't last one more minute, the Cranberries song from You've Got Mail plays, or that Hawaiian "Over the Rainbow" (also in You've Got Mail), or something else fun, and for that three minutes life is ok again, and I'm not fuming over how much I loathe this job, and how much I have to do today that I'd rather be doing. But tomorrow is it.

I've had one week of Alice in Wonderland, and the shows have got well. The kids, as always in this genre, always give me a run for my money, and I never know what they'll say or do or laugh at. It's different every day. Thursday I had to do the show blind, as my eyes have completely wigged out again from using my contacts the first two shows. It's fun to prance around in a frilly blue dress and pinafore for a few hours a day, acting young and emphatic, and watching my fellow actress play the other six characters.

Life at the new job is so far slow, but doable. My manager and I need to have a talk though. She keeps putting me on the schedule when I'm not really needed just to "give me hours." I finally had to let her know yesterday that I have plenty of "just hours" elsewhere, what I need here is just a couple of nights or days good serving. The other three or four jobs (soon two or three) can take care of "hours" and I'd rather have the time right now. I'm going in tonight to waitress.

I'm costuming a film for the 168 project this week, which is very exciting, and I'm having a great time working out how to reproduce my designs, but since its for a competition, I can't discuss anything at all until the film is finished.

And now I'm off to nap. Last night there was great upheaval and crashing about in the middle of the night, which, as it turned out, was my roommate getting hauled off to the hospital by four EMTs. Very exciting stuff.

So much to do, so little time

So much going on, don't even have time to breathe, much less write. My life seems to go through phases of nothing, followed by phases of anything-that-can-be-packed-in. Right now, it's packed in. I've been slated to nanny this week, on top of barista-ing for a while now. Then I got into a show that has rehearsals this week before I open as Alice next monday. Then, realizing I was never going to make it financially on my hourly pay, filled out an application to waitress, got hired after the shortest interview ever, and started right away, which also happened this week. So. I go from one thing to the other, often changing clothes in my car at stoplights.

The TPS general audition was this week (read - cattlecall!). I did my two minutes in between Nanny-Field-Trip Day and 2nd-Day-of-New-Work. I think it went well. I did a monologue from Proof, and my song from The Music Man -- that one usually goes well for me.

I also had another interesting audition this week, for a childrens theater company. I almost didn't go - since I'm so busy now I don't know where I'd fit something in. But I'm finding with acting, you never really know what'll happen next, so best to be overbooked in the short term, with continuous employment in the long term, than have to do the auditioning round in a panic after your show ends. Other than finding myself very interested in their next season of shows, they also caught a typo in my resume that would have gotten me blacklisted in Seattle had I not changed it (The typo listed my current show as the "Children's Theater" not "Children's Museum" - two separate entities. That could have been BAAAAAD!

That's all I've got time for. Tomorrow is a three job day. Then, I hope, I'll have Saturday night off -- at least, I do so far.

The House of Coffee

It's an interesting cultural quirk of Seattle - it's love of coffee. In no other city could there be this many independent places, right next door to national chains, and holding their own. Because coffee is a pastime here. It is not uncommon to start the day with a latte, and have several more throughout the day. Some friends of mine buy mocha on their morning walk, then make a pot of coffee to carry to work with them.

My roommates and I, in a household where we have a designated toaster corner - where, when I brought in my toaster oven another had to make it's way to storage because the corner was crowded - have a coffee maker apiece. We have one krupps duo coffee/espresso maker, one coffee maker with two refillable cups attached, and one barista style espresso maker.

I would be snarky, but the duo is mine, which, when I left all of my other belongings behind in a storage unit, remembered to pack my coffeemaker.

Alice's Wonderland

Guess who just got cast as Alice in Alice's Wonderland at the Children's Museum?

Just one of her genetic gifts

It's just one of her genetic gifts

Juno is amazing. I bought the soundtrack today I like it so much. Of course I've always been a sucker for odd quality folk music. It's similar to the O Brother Where Art Thou soundtrack, but more contemporary. The majority of the songs are by various members of the Mouldy Peaches.

I had an audition Monday and an audition this morning. The one this morning felt good, but they've still got to see a few people. I hear they'll let me know this weekend sometime. The other one, well, it's hard to say. I never know how to judge film auditions since I'm not sure what to do in one. I think I'm slowly figuring out the balance of showing emotion without getting theatrical, but I'm not there yet. My new book, Acting for the Camera, should help.

I spent today after my audition shlepping around downtown Seattle, refilling everyone's TPS Guide coffers. I had half a box left from the first round, so I went around to all the hotels and handed them out to Concierge. They were all pleased. It makes their lives easier. Then I went to Sephora and bought some Babecake, walked to Pike's Place and dropped off the last of them in the free stuff kiosks, and went to Ivars on the waterfront for fish, which I ate, and chips which I fed to the million seagulls that clustered around my head.

I was tired, by then, of walking round in 3" heels, so caught the free bus to the monorail and rode it back to the Space Needle. Then I went home in the driving rain. (Sidenote: Everyone I talk to in California starts every conversation with 'how's the weather?' I live in Seattle. It's February. Doesn't it go without saying?)

I spent the afternoon working on answering emails, ordering headshots, and working on more of my script I'm doing for practice -- or really -- to see if I can do one. It's not original. I'm just adapting, but it's fun so far.

I headed over to Miles and Becky's to steal their guitar and learn to play two songs from the Juno Soundtrack. One of the songs has two chords and one has three, so not too hard, but the strumming pattern is too difficult for me to sing along, and I don't know all of the words yet anyway.

Much to do for my last day off of the week tomorrow. But I got laundry done, so I won't have to spend the day in my bathrobe. Probably will anyway. It's comfy.

Little Ghost Girl

A little ghost girl is in my head today.

Running ahead of me, she turns back to look at me.

Impish.

With dark sleek hair pulled back in a clip.

Tiny white teeth bared in a grin that is almost a grimace.

Her nose wrinkles.

My little ghost girl wears a dress perfect for twirling.

She runs across the grass on a sunny day.

The world isn't too big for all the adventures she's going to have.

She reminds me a little of a face I see every day.

My little ghost girl, bright and witty.

My little ghost girl, laughing and unafraid.

My little ghost girl, I can see her,

silhuetted between earth and sky.

Another Day Off

Another day off, finally. I've been juggling three jobs all week, and am very tired. I woke up late (8:30 - who'd have ever thought that would be sleeping in someday?) and have lain in bed reading and updating my reading/film journal.

It's a lovely journal. It's bound in red, pink and maroon ribbons, with endless clean sheets of white paper to fill. It ties with ribbons. I've long had my little quote book with a geisha on the cover, but someone recommended once, I've forgotten who, to write down every book I read. Necessary since sometimes I've forgotten if I've read something, and bought or checked it out again. A year or so ago I realized that I was doing the same think at Blockbuster, so I turned my journal upside down and began my film list upside down in the back.

This play is almost over, and I don't have another one to do. I've had no word from My Fair Lady, so I'm assuming at this point I didn't get it. Keeping up hope seems the workings of madness. There have been a few other auditions, but not many I'd be right for, and most now cut through the week I'm taking the kids I nanny to florida. So that's out.

I do have two costuming jobs coming up shortly. That will fill my time. The TPS general auditions are in three weeks. I have my song picked out, but need to decide whether to go modern or classical on my monologue. I need to practice like mad to make sure my shops are in shape again. I've also applied for a costuming job with a local theater company for their next two shows. I haven't heard back, but I've only just submitted myself.

I'm in my new apartment, and yesterday I went exploring 'round the area. There's a lot nearby, and the restore just down the road. Also a Goodwill and Value Village, for all my clothing needs. Minus underwear. I refuse to wear second hand underwear.

Note to self: in future productions aim not to be the one having to say the "N" word at an integrated school with "racial problems." At three consecutive shows.

Today

Today am very tired. Worked 5:30am to 7pm with 2 hours off in middle.

Check hasn't come in yet from acting job. Want to be able to eat. Being paid for partial accumulated hours at bookstore paid for gas for trip to Tacoma for three shows tomorrow. Possibly last shows. Might have one more on February 1st.

Day after tomorrow I work another double, then four days off to go back to Yakima and finish moving. Maybe haul more things back. Must go once more to Portland for filming.

TPS general audition posted. Have time. Must print out 50 heashot/resume combos.

Going home

I got to sleep in today. Until 5:15. It feels, well, strange that 5am is sleeping in for me, when I'm normally a go-to-bed-at-midnight-wake-up-at-nine sort of girl.

After work I'll unload the props and my sewing machines from the car, and head back to Yakima. Dad's birthday was a few days ago. And I've got to go spend quality time with my cat. I'm bringing him back with me this time (as per the original plan) come hell or high water.