Hail the conquering Hero!

I had a mass audition yesterday at the CITA conference. We had a meet and grett for an hour where the various theaters told us what they were looking for. Then we had our audition. I sang one song and did my monologue. Then they turned us right around and posted callbacks. I had four! So, the cities interested in me were Pennslyvania, Houston, San Diego, and one touring company of the Southwest. I was very glad. I thought I woudln't even get one. The opportunity to chat with other Christian performers was great, and the heads of the theaters were very kind at the callback interviews. The first part was pretty much like a normal audition -- their heads were buried in my audition packet. But there's no way to avoid that.

Drea met me down there. We got lost on the way back up, and our trip home took us until 3 am. I'm very tired, but so happy!

And Cai brought in two lizards today. Two days ago I saw one on the floor and figured I'd get around to it later. I needed a cup of coffee first. I came back and it was gone. That night I climbed into bed and heard Cai batting something around the bathroom. I got up to take the poor thing away from him, but IT was only a barette. I climbed back into bed, looked down, and there was the lizard: on the leg of my pajamas. I shrieked. I collected myself and took it outside, trying to act normal because Cai was eyeing me with interest. I've had a lot of things in my apartment, but never on me. As my mother would say, it gave me the heebie jeebies.

Oh boy, did I get a lot done today. I was awoken at 8:30 with Wendy in my apartment to steal cat food for her daughter's dog. She had left town without buying dog food. Teenagers. *grin*

I took out money, bought hair dye and hairspray, filled my car with gas for the trip to LA, washed my car, picked up the mail, bought more invitations, went to Drea's, made copies of the application, put together heashot packets, made two accompaniment tapes with Bill, went home, dyed my hair, practiced my monologue. Now I'm going to play cashflow to get my mind off my looming audition for C.I.T.A.

I had the worst day at work. Yesterday I got next week's schedule. I have three night shifts and three day shifts, six total. I had nine shifts this week. They gave one girl five of the shifts I usually work. And they've hired two new cocktail waitresses. I'm so discouraged. I've tried to be available. I'm cross trained in three departments. I should be working more than I am. The shifts I have bartending are mostly the slowest days. Today they told me I was to train the girl that's taking over the waggin tongue next week. We were busy. She is very nice, but very flaky. She doesn't see what needs to be done, and spent the day telling me how she thought drinks should be made. Who was training who? (whom? I'm so upset I can't remember grammar) So I'm trying to do my job, train her through hers, and it was a very hectic day. I'm stressed. I feel like management today backed me into a corner. I don't know what I'll do if this keeps up. I need to make enough money this summer for my next move. And we won't even get started on the guests. I can't work for them much longer. I brought my Corinthians 13 sign today and posted it by the soda gun. Charity lasted about thirty minutes into the shift. After that I was in fight or flight mode. Which is funny, because I do very well under pressure normally. But today it was all I could do not to give the idiot look to the woman who asked "is this where we inquire about popcorn, or next door." I held myself down to, "The popcorn machine is right there, let me finish this drink and I'll get you some." What I would have liked to have said was, "Do you SEE a popcorn machine? Right. I guess this is the place." I'mm being very rude and unkind. Sorry. Just needed the vent....Off to bludgeon myself with a blunt object.

Andrea and I had a Cashflow Marathon last night. It's a game by the guy who wrote Rich Dad, Poor Dad. I won three, she two -- which brings our total to an even 3-3. She won the game we played a few nights ago. The game is kind of like monopoly. More true to life. You can make investments in real estate and the stock market. You hit "unexpected expenses," downsize, and have children. You also start the game with credit card, retail, and auto loans, student loans and a mortgage. It's great. The strategy seems to be to pay off the loans to lower your cost of living, and increase your passive income (like having rental property that pays the real estate mortgage leaving you with money per month leftover). When your passive income is greater than your expenses, you're out of the Rat Race.

I had a letter from Adventures In Odyssey yesterday. I'd sent in my resumee asking how I might be considered. I'm to make a voiceover demo, and send it in. I think I'm going to have to research that option. Voiceovers....

Alright, day two in a row! I got a bunch of stuff done yesterday. Today I have to make an accompaniment recording for my audition on Wednesday, print out ten headshots/resumees/applications. And my grandma is moving one of her keyboards down on Sunday so I can stop being a lazy bum and practice like I'm supposed to. Now if only I can get over my inhibition of practicing in front of people...which in effect is what I'll be doing. Walls are thin here. And we live very close together.

Reagan's death, while nationally huge, is more so here. His ranch is just over the hill from the Alisal. The Reagan center had a memorial service in Santa Barbara yesterday, and his burial is on Monday, I think. The Parkers will be heading down. Fess apparently knew him very well from their mutual Hollywood days, and his daughter was an intern. On a personal note, he was the first president I remember.

Its a C.S. Lewis weekend. I read That Hideous Strength again, Screwtape Letters, The Great Divorce, and parts of Mere Christianity. My fix for the month...

Ahhhhh! Two days off! I have a list of things to do as long as my arm, but I have plenty of time to do it!

Wendy and I are down to the last installment of Pride and Prejudice. We've been watching it a movie a night --except last night. We couldn't very well leave the Darcy thread hanging.

And we're halfway through L. M. Montgomery's the Blue Castle. If anyone liked the Anne of Green Gables Series, this is better! Well, that's sacriligious, but it's wonderful. Valancy has less spunk, but more wit than Anne.