Is that even how you spell epiphany? Eee-piff-ugh-knee. Whatever you get it.
There's this thing about Thanksgiving that I love and cherish so much. It's all about being thankful and such, and family is great too but honestly, if you want the honest truth here, what I look forward to the most is the Macy's Thanksgiving Parade. Come on, this is the most cheesy parade known to man, they really coated it on think with that cheese but seeing Santa Clause at the end makes me feel like a 4 year old girl again. This has gone back many and many of years and I really never knew why until yesterday. So of course I wake up bright eyed and bushy tailed knowing that I was about to watch the parade. I make the green bean casserole as I'm watching it, I get my breakfast and I got to my room for the last hour. Finally that Jolly man with the rosey cheeks and tummy like bowl full of jelly comes out. I start to clap, and my eyes well up with tears. I love it, I feel so childlike all over again and for those 5 mins he's on I don't worry about paying bills, wondering how I'm going to survive in Cali, if that hot guy at the office really likes me, none of that matters because in these 5 mins I'm allowed to be naive and carefree.
So me and my dad talk about going to New York to see the parade live next year and I can see the excitement in his face as he talk about it. I realize that I get all these emotions from him, oh how I am my father's daughter. I mention how it's always been wishful thinking to go to New York during Christmas time to see the big tree, go ice skating and shop till I drop. Then my dad says "maybe next year you'll be filming a movie there during Christmas and you can fly us all there." Not a bad goal at all.
If you don't know yet I was just casted in an indie film that's hopefully going to SXSW and to Sundance. oh la la. Acting is a huge part of my life and probably the only thing that i've ever been really good at. No matter how much I try to break free from acting it just always comes back to me so I decided to give in completely and pursue it professionally. Since I've made that decision everything has been falling into place. It's so weird how it worked out. So I'll be filming this movie in January then I'll be flying to Cali to pursue it even more.
Hearing my dad say something about my acting I guess just confirmed how this is my true destiny. My usually non supportive family has also given in to my dreams as well, which was something that I've always struggled with. But now I'm over that hump and moving on to my other challenges. But now I know that this is what I was put on the world to do, and I'm not going to be satisfied until I do it. Happy Turkey day!
Friday, November 23, 2007
Thursday, November 15, 2007
Audition run-down part 2.
Originally posted on Myspace Nov. 12, 2007
I had my last of the audition trifecta yesterday afternoon. I feel pretty damn confident about this one, whether I get a callback from them or not, I feel like I did a good job. Not only that, I learned that I'm a damn good cold reader. That's something I don't think I've ever been before, and then suddenly this power came over me. lol. Here's how it went... *easy moving melody music begins*
I head for Austin around noon just to give myself some time but of course I'm freaking out cause I think I'm cutting it close. *accelerates* 70.....75..... 80.... 85. Oh i'll get there all right, and I'm bring all of the Texas finest Police Officers with me on my coat tails. It'll be a big party!
Anyways an hour later I end up in Austin and I have to stop by Walgreens to pick my headshots again, cause I forgot to order an extra the last time. I pick it up, off to the Music Lab on Oltorf for the audition. I get a nostolgic when I get there, remebering when I would jam with my buddy Marc. They were good times, *sigh* ok enough of that. Back to the task at hand.
So I get to the Music Lab and I confirm which studio it's in, I walk over there and the door is closed. Hrrmmmm... Well I don't want to open the door and barge in on someone in the middle of their audition so I just kinda loof around the hall for about 10 mins, studying all the posters on the wall, the flyers, and any other propaganda lying around. Finaly, I get bored with it all and I make the executive decision to walk in. I listen closely by the door for a moment, take a deep breath and I open the door. Without missing a beat a tall guy opens the second door and greats me with a "HEEY!! You must be Valarie, we've been waiting for you!" Oh god, they were waiting for me? But I was early, like 20 minutes early. I just inform them that I was waiting around outside the door debating on barging in on someone or not. Glad I did.
So I meet the other two gentlemen in the room and I sit down and we chit chat. They ask me the usual, how old are you? where do I work? Availability? Will I marry him? What?? Just wanted to throw that one in, oh and by the way ladies... he was a very handsome fella, easy on the eyes which helped during the audition. We begin to discuss which characters I wanted to read for and I stated that two I wanted. So discuss a third that I didn't even think to read for, and he gives me the script with her dialouge and one of the two characters I orginaly was preparing for. Caught in the moment, I was trying to read the script and I couldn't even understand the words I was looking at. I saw letters, but they were all forgein to me that I couldnt peice together the words they were forming. I looked at all 4 pages worth of dialouge and "acted" like I was reading a script. Finaly I gave up and said, I'm ready. Let's do this. Then he started the scene out.
I played the first character a bit soft and demure. She obviously has a crush on the lead so I wanted her to sound "giddy but masking her giddiness with her insecurites", does that sound weird? Cause I really didn't think it is weird, isn't that what all of us girls do at some point around a guy we like. Especially in high school. lol. I finished that scene and I felt good about it, then it was on to the next character.
This is what I love about acting... as I was about to start the next character I felt that little switch inside go off. I shifted my weight in my chair because this character wouldn't sit the way I was originaly sitting, and I gave even more eye contact to the writer. My voice lowered in tone, and I had a more aggressive snap back in my dialouge. I even laughed hard and in character, in the scene.
I ended up doing some great work in this audition and it just proves that the more you do something the better you get. If you were to compare this audition and my first audition on Thursday... HUGE difference. I wasn't that nervous, I was actually a bit relaxed which is good and it allowed me a chance to really showcase a bit more.
Before I left one of the guys asked that if I would be able to go back and read with other people, so he can get a feel for the way we bounce off each other. I replied "No, are you crazy... Never!!" Just kidding, of course I said Yes! So I don't know if that means anything, I dont' know if he was saying that they will call me back. I just don't know. But it was good.
Ok so I expect that if I were to get a call back from any of my auditions I would probably hear from people either next week or the week after. So cross those fingers, limbs, hair whatever you can cross.
I'll let you know if I hear anything.
I had my last of the audition trifecta yesterday afternoon. I feel pretty damn confident about this one, whether I get a callback from them or not, I feel like I did a good job. Not only that, I learned that I'm a damn good cold reader. That's something I don't think I've ever been before, and then suddenly this power came over me. lol. Here's how it went... *easy moving melody music begins*
I head for Austin around noon just to give myself some time but of course I'm freaking out cause I think I'm cutting it close. *accelerates* 70.....75..... 80.... 85. Oh i'll get there all right, and I'm bring all of the Texas finest Police Officers with me on my coat tails. It'll be a big party!
Anyways an hour later I end up in Austin and I have to stop by Walgreens to pick my headshots again, cause I forgot to order an extra the last time. I pick it up, off to the Music Lab on Oltorf for the audition. I get a nostolgic when I get there, remebering when I would jam with my buddy Marc. They were good times, *sigh* ok enough of that. Back to the task at hand.
So I get to the Music Lab and I confirm which studio it's in, I walk over there and the door is closed. Hrrmmmm... Well I don't want to open the door and barge in on someone in the middle of their audition so I just kinda loof around the hall for about 10 mins, studying all the posters on the wall, the flyers, and any other propaganda lying around. Finaly, I get bored with it all and I make the executive decision to walk in. I listen closely by the door for a moment, take a deep breath and I open the door. Without missing a beat a tall guy opens the second door and greats me with a "HEEY!! You must be Valarie, we've been waiting for you!" Oh god, they were waiting for me? But I was early, like 20 minutes early. I just inform them that I was waiting around outside the door debating on barging in on someone or not. Glad I did.
So I meet the other two gentlemen in the room and I sit down and we chit chat. They ask me the usual, how old are you? where do I work? Availability? Will I marry him? What?? Just wanted to throw that one in, oh and by the way ladies... he was a very handsome fella, easy on the eyes which helped during the audition. We begin to discuss which characters I wanted to read for and I stated that two I wanted. So discuss a third that I didn't even think to read for, and he gives me the script with her dialouge and one of the two characters I orginaly was preparing for. Caught in the moment, I was trying to read the script and I couldn't even understand the words I was looking at. I saw letters, but they were all forgein to me that I couldnt peice together the words they were forming. I looked at all 4 pages worth of dialouge and "acted" like I was reading a script. Finaly I gave up and said, I'm ready. Let's do this. Then he started the scene out.
I played the first character a bit soft and demure. She obviously has a crush on the lead so I wanted her to sound "giddy but masking her giddiness with her insecurites", does that sound weird? Cause I really didn't think it is weird, isn't that what all of us girls do at some point around a guy we like. Especially in high school. lol. I finished that scene and I felt good about it, then it was on to the next character.
This is what I love about acting... as I was about to start the next character I felt that little switch inside go off. I shifted my weight in my chair because this character wouldn't sit the way I was originaly sitting, and I gave even more eye contact to the writer. My voice lowered in tone, and I had a more aggressive snap back in my dialouge. I even laughed hard and in character, in the scene.
I ended up doing some great work in this audition and it just proves that the more you do something the better you get. If you were to compare this audition and my first audition on Thursday... HUGE difference. I wasn't that nervous, I was actually a bit relaxed which is good and it allowed me a chance to really showcase a bit more.
Before I left one of the guys asked that if I would be able to go back and read with other people, so he can get a feel for the way we bounce off each other. I replied "No, are you crazy... Never!!" Just kidding, of course I said Yes! So I don't know if that means anything, I dont' know if he was saying that they will call me back. I just don't know. But it was good.
Ok so I expect that if I were to get a call back from any of my auditions I would probably hear from people either next week or the week after. So cross those fingers, limbs, hair whatever you can cross.
I'll let you know if I hear anything.
The Run-down of my Audition Thursday...
Originally posted on Myspace Nov. 09, 2007.
So if things couldn't be any better, I got a migraine. Those pounding the right side of your head and about to pop out your eyeballs type pain. Light was hurting it more, sound made me want to crawl into a ball and cry and all I wanted to do was throw up.... NO WAIT!!! IT'S AUDITION THURSDAY!!!!!!! *throws hat in the air like Mary Tyler Moore*
Back to reality.. I leave work around 2 so I could pick my headshots from Walgreens where I made copies, and I wanted to get some food. I get to Austin around 4:15ish and I drive to my "spot" where is near my first audition. I sit in the parking lot near a baseball field, put on a Fiona Apple cd and try and get outside myself as much as possible... did I mention the migraine? In the anticipation of everything, I forgot to take something at the office and I was left to tough it out. Grrreat. I sit in my car with perfect sunlight coming through so I decide to fix my face. Not surgically, just with makeup. 30 mins later, I'm all dolled up so I start vocal warm ups and stretches. I decide to get to the audition about an hour early so I could get in line. Not so much, I was the first one. I sit in my car for another 30mins trying to close my eyes cause my head hurts so much.
Once inside, I use the little cowgirls room and freshen up a bit more. Headshots in tote, a little bit more lip gloss, and I adjust my Target version of Spanx. Hey if it holds in Oprah's gut, it should hold in my gut too. I look around the art center at the walls adorned with "anti-war" paintings, "fuck you" to the government murals, collages, mirrors... yep, I'm in Austin. I notice that while in the bathroom another lady has beat me and I am now the second person in line. There's goes my joke, my one-liner I could tell the casting agent, "Oh, am I first? Wow, that means everyone is going to be compared to me!" lol. Of course I hear myself say this now and I'm so grateful those words didn't come out of my mouth. Oh but let me tell you what did...
Once they called my name to go in, I walked into the room awkwardly holding my bag with my headshots about to spill out. I'm such a mess, an awkward mess. I close the door and the casting agent immediately starts to introduce herself, but I'm not listening.. I'm concerned with my bag that has just partially spilled out on the floor. Then she introduces the screenwriter. "Congratulations on the script!" Is what I should of said, instead.... it went like this. "Oh I'm Anne, and this is John (names changed) who is the screenwriter", and I respond "Congratulations." WTF?? What did I mean? Congratulations on being John? Oh god, I'm such a moron! I quickly made small talk to kind of ease over the asshole brush off I just gave to the writer of the movie that I'm auditioning for.
Then we very briefly go through the characters I'm reading for, quick rewind...... when I signed in Anne looked us over and gave us who we were going to read for. I assumed I was going to read for a "ditzy watiress" no sweat. Well she looked me over and gives me the waitress and another character, who happens to be similar to Shannon Elizabeths character in American Pie. Ok, let's imagine this... shannon elizabeth..... me..... I don't carry a single characterisitc of that "hot, wannabe supermodel" type at all. I know this, I never try to front that I do, but when she handed me the script to read for her. Not gonna lie, I got a little freaked out. Sexy? Can I pull it off? Only one way to find out...
Back to where we were, we discuss this supermodel character briefly and then we begin.. Suddenly all my fears of playing sexy, beautiful just faded away and I tried to convey as much hotness as possible through my eyes (cause I couldn't do it with my body). Luckily I memorized it as much as I could when I was waiting cause I couldn't turn the page to get the last of my dialouge mainly cause I was nervous, hands were shaking and then the worst happened... I felt all the blood just rush up to my head and my face turned bright red. REALLY!!! NOW!!! The scene ended, and I just played it off like I got really into the character and that's what she would have done. Whether they bought it or not (which I doubt they did), didn't matter. I got some amazing feedback, they really enjoyed the way I potrayed her. Score!! I felt really good about that one.
On to the second character (side note-- this is the first audition where I get to read for 2 different roles). This character was described as Jennifer Aniston in Office Space as the waitress. They told me that she had to be played as a ditzy/bitchy waitress who is fed up with her job. I read through it twice, and they said it was good (being polite) but I don't feel I nailed it like I did with the first one. Overall I left the audition feeling really good about myself. I was so glad to get rid of that inital audition. This was my first film audition in I don't know.... 5 years. Dang.
Onto the second audition. I'm driving around in the dark in what looks like one of the seadiest neighborhoods in Austin. I'm completely lost and all the lights from cars arn't helping my headache at all. I was really tempted to call it a night and just go back to San Antonio, but low and behold I found the studio. I was so tense by this point, my headhurt, my neck everything. So I needed a breather. I sat in my car in the parking lot for a bit, closed my eyes to put myself together. Once I calmed down, I went in. I waited around for a while went over my lines... remember this is the role where I have to do a jazz routine/mexian hat dance. lol. So I tried to block out the overly talkative ladies and tried to focus. I was the last.... the very LAST person to go in. Awkward moment 2 begins right after this brief re-cap..
In the audition classes I've taken, they always told us, don't talk to the casting directors, don't try and shake their hands, just walk in hand your headshot/resume and wait for instructions before you start. So I guess I still carry that militant mentality today. Back to awkward moment...
So the guy calls my name and we walk down the long hall to the room, he says that he's the guy that wrote the script and I was amazed that it was him running the whole show. What I should of noticed was his hand out to shake mine, but I didn't... cause I'm a moron which we established in the first awkward moment. Finaly I see his hand is out and I knew I had to shake it, but I hesitated... what if I did and he just pulls it away at the last second? "Ah Ha!! That was a test to see if you would touch me!! You failed... no part for you!!!" or maybe "Psych!!! You thought!!" But that's too 5th grade, anywho I shake his hand in an awkward angle because half of me was already in the room and he wasn't, so I did this 45 degree angle handshake while my back is facing him... yea, it was bad. Obviously I need to learn social skills, or to take a fucking chill pill and relax!
So I look at where I'm going to rehearse, a large green screen with a a single chair in the middle of the floor. No biggie. I sit down and notice a lady off in the corner taking notes.... hrrm. Then he says, well go ahead and read all you lines, I'm not going to feed any lines I just want you to read everything by yourself and tell me when you're done. "Are fucking serious?" Was what I wanted to say, but instead I said "Ok, no problem." Thank god, the awkward sensors were up and blocked that one. So I start my lines, and he starts looking at other headshots and writing stuff down. He wasn't looking and it made me nervous, which I seriously should of blown off but I let it get to me and I missed a line. I had my script in my hand so I was able to recover, then it was onto the dance sequence. NAILED IT!!! I was so freakin' happy, and I made him look up and he watched with a smile on his face. I delivered my final line to him dead in his eyes too. So it may not of started good but, I sure did finish strong.
Overall I don't know what to think of that audition, I'm happy with my performance but I don't know if the rocky start will effect his decision in anyway. But I feel good, even if I don't get a callback it's ok cause I just tackled the hardest thing ever. The audition process. It's a killer. But I have one more left on Sunday and I think that may be it for November. I'm just really happy that I'm branching away from Friday Night Lights and finding other projects to work on. It's tough sitting in the back away from the camera, it's really frustrating for me cause I know I have talent and I just want to showcase it.
Cross your fingers for a callback!!
So if things couldn't be any better, I got a migraine. Those pounding the right side of your head and about to pop out your eyeballs type pain. Light was hurting it more, sound made me want to crawl into a ball and cry and all I wanted to do was throw up.... NO WAIT!!! IT'S AUDITION THURSDAY!!!!!!! *throws hat in the air like Mary Tyler Moore*
Back to reality.. I leave work around 2 so I could pick my headshots from Walgreens where I made copies, and I wanted to get some food. I get to Austin around 4:15ish and I drive to my "spot" where is near my first audition. I sit in the parking lot near a baseball field, put on a Fiona Apple cd and try and get outside myself as much as possible... did I mention the migraine? In the anticipation of everything, I forgot to take something at the office and I was left to tough it out. Grrreat. I sit in my car with perfect sunlight coming through so I decide to fix my face. Not surgically, just with makeup. 30 mins later, I'm all dolled up so I start vocal warm ups and stretches. I decide to get to the audition about an hour early so I could get in line. Not so much, I was the first one. I sit in my car for another 30mins trying to close my eyes cause my head hurts so much.
Once inside, I use the little cowgirls room and freshen up a bit more. Headshots in tote, a little bit more lip gloss, and I adjust my Target version of Spanx. Hey if it holds in Oprah's gut, it should hold in my gut too. I look around the art center at the walls adorned with "anti-war" paintings, "fuck you" to the government murals, collages, mirrors... yep, I'm in Austin. I notice that while in the bathroom another lady has beat me and I am now the second person in line. There's goes my joke, my one-liner I could tell the casting agent, "Oh, am I first? Wow, that means everyone is going to be compared to me!" lol. Of course I hear myself say this now and I'm so grateful those words didn't come out of my mouth. Oh but let me tell you what did...
Once they called my name to go in, I walked into the room awkwardly holding my bag with my headshots about to spill out. I'm such a mess, an awkward mess. I close the door and the casting agent immediately starts to introduce herself, but I'm not listening.. I'm concerned with my bag that has just partially spilled out on the floor. Then she introduces the screenwriter. "Congratulations on the script!" Is what I should of said, instead.... it went like this. "Oh I'm Anne, and this is John (names changed) who is the screenwriter", and I respond "Congratulations." WTF?? What did I mean? Congratulations on being John? Oh god, I'm such a moron! I quickly made small talk to kind of ease over the asshole brush off I just gave to the writer of the movie that I'm auditioning for.
Then we very briefly go through the characters I'm reading for, quick rewind...... when I signed in Anne looked us over and gave us who we were going to read for. I assumed I was going to read for a "ditzy watiress" no sweat. Well she looked me over and gives me the waitress and another character, who happens to be similar to Shannon Elizabeths character in American Pie. Ok, let's imagine this... shannon elizabeth..... me..... I don't carry a single characterisitc of that "hot, wannabe supermodel" type at all. I know this, I never try to front that I do, but when she handed me the script to read for her. Not gonna lie, I got a little freaked out. Sexy? Can I pull it off? Only one way to find out...
Back to where we were, we discuss this supermodel character briefly and then we begin.. Suddenly all my fears of playing sexy, beautiful just faded away and I tried to convey as much hotness as possible through my eyes (cause I couldn't do it with my body). Luckily I memorized it as much as I could when I was waiting cause I couldn't turn the page to get the last of my dialouge mainly cause I was nervous, hands were shaking and then the worst happened... I felt all the blood just rush up to my head and my face turned bright red. REALLY!!! NOW!!! The scene ended, and I just played it off like I got really into the character and that's what she would have done. Whether they bought it or not (which I doubt they did), didn't matter. I got some amazing feedback, they really enjoyed the way I potrayed her. Score!! I felt really good about that one.
On to the second character (side note-- this is the first audition where I get to read for 2 different roles). This character was described as Jennifer Aniston in Office Space as the waitress. They told me that she had to be played as a ditzy/bitchy waitress who is fed up with her job. I read through it twice, and they said it was good (being polite) but I don't feel I nailed it like I did with the first one. Overall I left the audition feeling really good about myself. I was so glad to get rid of that inital audition. This was my first film audition in I don't know.... 5 years. Dang.
Onto the second audition. I'm driving around in the dark in what looks like one of the seadiest neighborhoods in Austin. I'm completely lost and all the lights from cars arn't helping my headache at all. I was really tempted to call it a night and just go back to San Antonio, but low and behold I found the studio. I was so tense by this point, my headhurt, my neck everything. So I needed a breather. I sat in my car in the parking lot for a bit, closed my eyes to put myself together. Once I calmed down, I went in. I waited around for a while went over my lines... remember this is the role where I have to do a jazz routine/mexian hat dance. lol. So I tried to block out the overly talkative ladies and tried to focus. I was the last.... the very LAST person to go in. Awkward moment 2 begins right after this brief re-cap..
In the audition classes I've taken, they always told us, don't talk to the casting directors, don't try and shake their hands, just walk in hand your headshot/resume and wait for instructions before you start. So I guess I still carry that militant mentality today. Back to awkward moment...
So the guy calls my name and we walk down the long hall to the room, he says that he's the guy that wrote the script and I was amazed that it was him running the whole show. What I should of noticed was his hand out to shake mine, but I didn't... cause I'm a moron which we established in the first awkward moment. Finaly I see his hand is out and I knew I had to shake it, but I hesitated... what if I did and he just pulls it away at the last second? "Ah Ha!! That was a test to see if you would touch me!! You failed... no part for you!!!" or maybe "Psych!!! You thought!!" But that's too 5th grade, anywho I shake his hand in an awkward angle because half of me was already in the room and he wasn't, so I did this 45 degree angle handshake while my back is facing him... yea, it was bad. Obviously I need to learn social skills, or to take a fucking chill pill and relax!
So I look at where I'm going to rehearse, a large green screen with a a single chair in the middle of the floor. No biggie. I sit down and notice a lady off in the corner taking notes.... hrrm. Then he says, well go ahead and read all you lines, I'm not going to feed any lines I just want you to read everything by yourself and tell me when you're done. "Are fucking serious?" Was what I wanted to say, but instead I said "Ok, no problem." Thank god, the awkward sensors were up and blocked that one. So I start my lines, and he starts looking at other headshots and writing stuff down. He wasn't looking and it made me nervous, which I seriously should of blown off but I let it get to me and I missed a line. I had my script in my hand so I was able to recover, then it was onto the dance sequence. NAILED IT!!! I was so freakin' happy, and I made him look up and he watched with a smile on his face. I delivered my final line to him dead in his eyes too. So it may not of started good but, I sure did finish strong.
Overall I don't know what to think of that audition, I'm happy with my performance but I don't know if the rocky start will effect his decision in anyway. But I feel good, even if I don't get a callback it's ok cause I just tackled the hardest thing ever. The audition process. It's a killer. But I have one more left on Sunday and I think that may be it for November. I'm just really happy that I'm branching away from Friday Night Lights and finding other projects to work on. It's tough sitting in the back away from the camera, it's really frustrating for me cause I know I have talent and I just want to showcase it.
Cross your fingers for a callback!!
Audition marathon. Ready? GO!!!
Orginaly posted on Myspace Nov. 07, 2007
So I'm pretty nervous right now, not gonna lie. I have 3 auditions coming up and well... I'm nervous. I am rusty and I need to get my butt into a class or 2 to shake it off, but no time for that now.
Two of those auditions are tomorrow, wow! One is at 6pm, and the other is at 8:15pm. Let me tell you a little about them. At the 6pm audition, I'll be reading for the part of either a ditzy waitress, or one of three friends that are trying to kidnapp another friend. Hrmmm... I have no script and it's pretty much gonna be a cold read. I've been trying my best to get ready for that, everything I read I try and read it as "Actress Val" not normal just reading something Val. I put emotion and feeling into every sentence so I can get used to pulling out the core or the meat of it all. I sound like a loony right? oh well.
At the 8:15 audition, this is where I get to really stretch myself out. I'm auditioning for the part of "Valarie", what do you know? But the what is interesting about this movie is the character is more developed in the male leads daydreams. My audition peice consists of having to be a bitchy snob to a small jazz dance then break into a Mexican hat dance then to a Novela type scene and back to normal time. WTF?? Yea, I'm not nervous about the bitchy snob, it's the dancing where it's gonna be a stretch for me. I know what your thinking? But, Val you love dance... oh yea, you bet I love to dance (and I don't do it well) but what you forget is I'm not playing me. I'm gonna have to act like someone else who's going out of there box and dancing in a daydream sequence. I can pull off the dance spot, as me... but it's staying in that other character is where it's harder. I think I'm gonna work on this one all night. Possibly at a club of some sort, hey I am a method actor. lol.
Audition 3 isn't till Sunday and I haven't been given a time yet. This is the audition that I was originaly excited about cause I haven't gotten one in so long. The female roles are pretty minor but the storyline I think is really good. Pretty much it's about a guy that goes against a pool shark and loses a bet, and has to find a way to pay his debt. The parts I'm going to read for are the ex-girlfriiend of the guy that loses the bet (she is now dating his roomate, drama!), and also a friend of the guy that loses the bet that has a big crush on him. awwww, que cute.
So I've had a lot to work on this week, and I'm still doing finishing clean-up touches on my monologue, and choreography. haha. Just send my happy thoughts ever so often, good karma and such.
I'll let everyone know how it goes on Friday.
So I'm pretty nervous right now, not gonna lie. I have 3 auditions coming up and well... I'm nervous. I am rusty and I need to get my butt into a class or 2 to shake it off, but no time for that now.
Two of those auditions are tomorrow, wow! One is at 6pm, and the other is at 8:15pm. Let me tell you a little about them. At the 6pm audition, I'll be reading for the part of either a ditzy waitress, or one of three friends that are trying to kidnapp another friend. Hrmmm... I have no script and it's pretty much gonna be a cold read. I've been trying my best to get ready for that, everything I read I try and read it as "Actress Val" not normal just reading something Val. I put emotion and feeling into every sentence so I can get used to pulling out the core or the meat of it all. I sound like a loony right? oh well.
At the 8:15 audition, this is where I get to really stretch myself out. I'm auditioning for the part of "Valarie", what do you know? But the what is interesting about this movie is the character is more developed in the male leads daydreams. My audition peice consists of having to be a bitchy snob to a small jazz dance then break into a Mexican hat dance then to a Novela type scene and back to normal time. WTF?? Yea, I'm not nervous about the bitchy snob, it's the dancing where it's gonna be a stretch for me. I know what your thinking? But, Val you love dance... oh yea, you bet I love to dance (and I don't do it well) but what you forget is I'm not playing me. I'm gonna have to act like someone else who's going out of there box and dancing in a daydream sequence. I can pull off the dance spot, as me... but it's staying in that other character is where it's harder. I think I'm gonna work on this one all night. Possibly at a club of some sort, hey I am a method actor. lol.
Audition 3 isn't till Sunday and I haven't been given a time yet. This is the audition that I was originaly excited about cause I haven't gotten one in so long. The female roles are pretty minor but the storyline I think is really good. Pretty much it's about a guy that goes against a pool shark and loses a bet, and has to find a way to pay his debt. The parts I'm going to read for are the ex-girlfriiend of the guy that loses the bet (she is now dating his roomate, drama!), and also a friend of the guy that loses the bet that has a big crush on him. awwww, que cute.
So I've had a lot to work on this week, and I'm still doing finishing clean-up touches on my monologue, and choreography. haha. Just send my happy thoughts ever so often, good karma and such.
I'll let everyone know how it goes on Friday.
Monday, October 15, 2007
Valarie's allergies, ugh-mongst other things.
I just want to sit down, tilt my head back and pour contact solution into my eyes, they burn so bad. I was driving to work this morning and I felt that sting coming on in my right eye, so i thought... I'll just rub my eye and move my contact a bit that should get it feeling better. WRONG! I tried just moving my contact a smidge and that thing was suckered onto my pupil, just the movement sent a burning surge throughout my eyeball and I quickly teared up as if my puppy just died. So here I am driving, it's early so I'm already sleepy and I can't see out of my right eye, top it off with the stinging sensation that makes me want to close my eyes compeltely... but I'm driving. I must of looked crazy, squinting for no reason. I looked like I was trying to take a vision test without my contacts. This is all probably allergies, but it could also be the fact that I've been wearing these contact since late June. hrrmmmm..
Yesterday I was having many breakthroughs. This whole moving to California thing is becoming more and more real as the days go by. The think the countdown is now 81 days till I leave. For those of you who don't know, well... yea, I'm moving to San Diego on January 3, 2008. It's a year later then when I planned this originaly but hey... better late than never right? I'm hoping to leave with about 3 grand saved up and I already know I have a place to live. As far as job is concerned well I don't have that yet, and I'm not scared. I know, it sounds super immature to just go without any job but that's why I've saved up so I can bide some time to come up with a back up plan. Also I'm practing this line over and over, "Hi folks, welcome to Chili's I'm Valarie and I'll be your server today." Sound good? I've been working on it for a while now.
But isn't this how life should be? Spontenous? Or maybe it's Immature Valarie talking again, but I don't want to work for the "Man" anymore, I wan't to be The Man. I'm tired of working here everyday for someone else, doing someone elses work, for otheres. I want to know everyday I'm working for me, doing what I need to do, when I want to do it. Sure I could do that here in San Antonio but I know if I do, I won't be half as motivated to do anything. I need to get out of my comfort zone and acutally do something for myself. Am I making sense? I tend to think that my ramblings are really jumbled into a big Barrel of Monkeys type of mess. I guess that's the glory of having a blog right?
One last observation. So I saw a preview to a new reality show, America's Best Psychic or something along those lines. I was floored... really? A show about who's the most psychic in Amercia. Wow. Then I thought, if you get a bunch of psychics in one room registering for the show, once they sign up wouldn't they get like a vision or something and see who the winner is? I imagine a bunch of people in line each signing away then they all turn to one person and start congratulating him/her. That would be one show. One episode and it should be done. But the fact that they have to make an entire season to see if someone is psychic is just shocking to me. Can I read your mind? No. The end.
Yesterday I was having many breakthroughs. This whole moving to California thing is becoming more and more real as the days go by. The think the countdown is now 81 days till I leave. For those of you who don't know, well... yea, I'm moving to San Diego on January 3, 2008. It's a year later then when I planned this originaly but hey... better late than never right? I'm hoping to leave with about 3 grand saved up and I already know I have a place to live. As far as job is concerned well I don't have that yet, and I'm not scared. I know, it sounds super immature to just go without any job but that's why I've saved up so I can bide some time to come up with a back up plan. Also I'm practing this line over and over, "Hi folks, welcome to Chili's I'm Valarie and I'll be your server today." Sound good? I've been working on it for a while now.
But isn't this how life should be? Spontenous? Or maybe it's Immature Valarie talking again, but I don't want to work for the "Man" anymore, I wan't to be The Man. I'm tired of working here everyday for someone else, doing someone elses work, for otheres. I want to know everyday I'm working for me, doing what I need to do, when I want to do it. Sure I could do that here in San Antonio but I know if I do, I won't be half as motivated to do anything. I need to get out of my comfort zone and acutally do something for myself. Am I making sense? I tend to think that my ramblings are really jumbled into a big Barrel of Monkeys type of mess. I guess that's the glory of having a blog right?
One last observation. So I saw a preview to a new reality show, America's Best Psychic or something along those lines. I was floored... really? A show about who's the most psychic in Amercia. Wow. Then I thought, if you get a bunch of psychics in one room registering for the show, once they sign up wouldn't they get like a vision or something and see who the winner is? I imagine a bunch of people in line each signing away then they all turn to one person and start congratulating him/her. That would be one show. One episode and it should be done. But the fact that they have to make an entire season to see if someone is psychic is just shocking to me. Can I read your mind? No. The end.
Friday, October 12, 2007
Friday Night Lights extra, part 4.
Let me just start this by saying that I can't wait till we experience our cool weather. I'm not talking about lower 80s fall weather, no I want the lower 70s to be upon us already. IT'S OCTOBER!!! Shouldn't the leaves be changing colors, kids playing outside in fair isle sweaters, bobbing for apples... autum/fall stuff like that. Instead it's hot, I wear a light sweater and immediately get sweaty pits. I say this every October, I'm over this Texas heat!
So we start the day as I drive into Austin, and my "check engine" light turns on. Great, I still have a ways to go before I get to set, so I pray the car engine Gods that I at least get there. Success! Both ways. I end up getting there about an hour early so I sit tight in my car with the AC, coating on some extra makeup, listening to Austin radio stations which actually blow as much as San Antonio radio, read a book, but I was people watching too much to pay attention to my readings. I watched as wardrobe selected the outfits for some other extras, saw the main actors walking around talking on their cell phones, walking their dogs, it was pretty cool to watch the "background" of it all.
Finaly it was time for me to go check in, and then go to wardrobe myself. The nice lady told me to wear my sweater option that I brought and I though, lovely.... let's wear a sweater in this heat. Needless to say, I didn't feel to cozy but hey what was I going to do, "Um, excuse nice wardrobe lady but I'm hot so I need you to get me a short sleeve shirt or else I'm going to be sweaty." Suuuure, that's gonna fly. I change in the port-a-pottys, which oddly enough are extremly clean. Not like I could just sit in there like it's a cozy seat or something, but compared to the ones at like a concert, these are 4 star hotel Port-a-potties. I change, dump my extra crap in the car and head back to our holding kenel, at least there's AC. Not for long, they shut it off as soon as I sat down to enjoy it. greeeat.
I sit down and little by little my table starts to fill with people, a nice lady and a young couple. We all chit chat, hear each other stories, learned how we got to this point today. It's really awesome when you think about all the people that you meet at these things. I've met struggling actors, actual working actors, people who just want to see their face on T.V., everything... and to hear their stories is amazing. The young couple at my table are regional Theater actors, so they move where ever there's work. If they get a touring play in New York, they move there and travel all over the nation with their play and when it's done, it's off to the next state where they can find work. Isnt' that awesome! You don't know where you will be in 6months but you know that ultimately you will be doing what you love the most. I could work this lame 8-5 job everyday till I die, but I would die unfullfiled and unsatisfied with life. I would choose to be a starving actor anyday, ok... well not starving. haha. But you know what I mean, why spend your life working for someone, when you can work for yourself? OK ok ok... I need to stop and get back to the blog at hand here.
Back to the day, So we wait a while in the (no)AC holding pen and finaly they tell us that we can go to Applebee's for the scene, oh wait I forgot to mention. I'm playing an Applebee's customer for this scene. So we actualy have to drive to the set, I'm a bit worried cause the whole check engine light mess but I'm off to my destination. We get there (in traffic) and the crew is setting up the scene, they place us at our table and then give us drinks. Score! Now people, I'm not talking about Drinky drinks, just your regualar ol' soda and tea. Imagine a bunch of extras all hopped up on liqour on set. It would of been a bit reckless. So anywho, then they start piling on the food. And we got a lot of food! First it was a kids meal, and chicken wings.. then the brought out the steak and shrimp (my plate), then some tex-mex chicken plate, and a chicken salad type deal.
So we have all this food on our table and we had to pantomine the entire time eating. Really you put a bunch of food in front of hungry people and you want us to pantomine eating... ppppsshhhhhhhh. We were wolfing down that food, we were so starved. (I guess I am a starving actor after all). We weren't supposed to talk really but our table was so giggly and giddy with edible delight I think we stood out a bit. Awesome. Then like any grammer school they separated us, which really wasn't because of our voices or gorgeous smiles... they just needed to fill some space on the other side. So me and another guy go over there. We shot maybe two or three takes then they wrapped us. It was such a short day, kinda bummed but then I enjoyed driving back to san antonio at a reasonable time.
Today was a lot of fun, I enjoyed it a lot. But I realize each time I do this that being an extra... well it kinda sucks. Let's be honest, you're waiting for hours in the heat (of course, temp depending on location and time), you get placed in a scene and depending on where that place is... you get on camera, no thought put in if you're a talented actor or not, you just get stuck somewhere and hope that when your family sits around the screen you can get a glimpse of your elbow. Now with all this in mind, would I do it again.... I would do it over and over if I can. Of course, that's hoping that it would lead to actual speaking parts.
I wouldn't trade in that feeling that I get at the end of the day knowning that I just did something I love to do, with anything in the world. Sure I just sat in an Applebee's resturant for a couple of hours with no camera time what so ever, but I was still working on the set of a hit NBC television show. I can say that. It's an awesome feeling. I can't wait till my booking!
So we start the day as I drive into Austin, and my "check engine" light turns on. Great, I still have a ways to go before I get to set, so I pray the car engine Gods that I at least get there. Success! Both ways. I end up getting there about an hour early so I sit tight in my car with the AC, coating on some extra makeup, listening to Austin radio stations which actually blow as much as San Antonio radio, read a book, but I was people watching too much to pay attention to my readings. I watched as wardrobe selected the outfits for some other extras, saw the main actors walking around talking on their cell phones, walking their dogs, it was pretty cool to watch the "background" of it all.
Finaly it was time for me to go check in, and then go to wardrobe myself. The nice lady told me to wear my sweater option that I brought and I though, lovely.... let's wear a sweater in this heat. Needless to say, I didn't feel to cozy but hey what was I going to do, "Um, excuse nice wardrobe lady but I'm hot so I need you to get me a short sleeve shirt or else I'm going to be sweaty." Suuuure, that's gonna fly. I change in the port-a-pottys, which oddly enough are extremly clean. Not like I could just sit in there like it's a cozy seat or something, but compared to the ones at like a concert, these are 4 star hotel Port-a-potties. I change, dump my extra crap in the car and head back to our holding kenel, at least there's AC. Not for long, they shut it off as soon as I sat down to enjoy it. greeeat.
I sit down and little by little my table starts to fill with people, a nice lady and a young couple. We all chit chat, hear each other stories, learned how we got to this point today. It's really awesome when you think about all the people that you meet at these things. I've met struggling actors, actual working actors, people who just want to see their face on T.V., everything... and to hear their stories is amazing. The young couple at my table are regional Theater actors, so they move where ever there's work. If they get a touring play in New York, they move there and travel all over the nation with their play and when it's done, it's off to the next state where they can find work. Isnt' that awesome! You don't know where you will be in 6months but you know that ultimately you will be doing what you love the most. I could work this lame 8-5 job everyday till I die, but I would die unfullfiled and unsatisfied with life. I would choose to be a starving actor anyday, ok... well not starving. haha. But you know what I mean, why spend your life working for someone, when you can work for yourself? OK ok ok... I need to stop and get back to the blog at hand here.
Back to the day, So we wait a while in the (no)AC holding pen and finaly they tell us that we can go to Applebee's for the scene, oh wait I forgot to mention. I'm playing an Applebee's customer for this scene. So we actualy have to drive to the set, I'm a bit worried cause the whole check engine light mess but I'm off to my destination. We get there (in traffic) and the crew is setting up the scene, they place us at our table and then give us drinks. Score! Now people, I'm not talking about Drinky drinks, just your regualar ol' soda and tea. Imagine a bunch of extras all hopped up on liqour on set. It would of been a bit reckless. So anywho, then they start piling on the food. And we got a lot of food! First it was a kids meal, and chicken wings.. then the brought out the steak and shrimp (my plate), then some tex-mex chicken plate, and a chicken salad type deal.
So we have all this food on our table and we had to pantomine the entire time eating. Really you put a bunch of food in front of hungry people and you want us to pantomine eating... ppppsshhhhhhhh. We were wolfing down that food, we were so starved. (I guess I am a starving actor after all). We weren't supposed to talk really but our table was so giggly and giddy with edible delight I think we stood out a bit. Awesome. Then like any grammer school they separated us, which really wasn't because of our voices or gorgeous smiles... they just needed to fill some space on the other side. So me and another guy go over there. We shot maybe two or three takes then they wrapped us. It was such a short day, kinda bummed but then I enjoyed driving back to san antonio at a reasonable time.
Today was a lot of fun, I enjoyed it a lot. But I realize each time I do this that being an extra... well it kinda sucks. Let's be honest, you're waiting for hours in the heat (of course, temp depending on location and time), you get placed in a scene and depending on where that place is... you get on camera, no thought put in if you're a talented actor or not, you just get stuck somewhere and hope that when your family sits around the screen you can get a glimpse of your elbow. Now with all this in mind, would I do it again.... I would do it over and over if I can. Of course, that's hoping that it would lead to actual speaking parts.
I wouldn't trade in that feeling that I get at the end of the day knowning that I just did something I love to do, with anything in the world. Sure I just sat in an Applebee's resturant for a couple of hours with no camera time what so ever, but I was still working on the set of a hit NBC television show. I can say that. It's an awesome feeling. I can't wait till my booking!
Monday, September 10, 2007
Diary of a Friday Night Lights extra part Duex
Diary of a Friday Night Lights Extra part Duex orginally posted on Myspace Sept 7, 07
So I woke up at 4am... yes, 4 in the freakin' AM! I got ready at home and made the nice scenic drive up to Austin. Call time was at 7:30am and I made it with like 20mins to spare. We wait around a bit and they serve us breakfast. The actor that plays Buddy Garrity (the head cheerleaders dad) was eating breakfast with us in the tent. Little after that the wardrobe girl comes around to see what clothes we brought and to approve our outfit. She ends up liking the blue shirt I was wearing so I didn't have to change in the make shift changing tent with 2 inch cracks that you can see right through. Win, win.
So once everyone is changed and ready we wait for the guys in charge to split us up in our scenes. I'm in the second group, which was pretty much everybody and we get in van and taken to set. It was a Chevrolet dealership turned into Buddy Garrity Motors. THe scene we were filming was set-up for the Hog Day Sale and the guys let us know that there's going to be about 5 real pigs on set. Sure enough we saw... (smelled) the pigs. The scene called for one of the new football players to wrestle the pig. Of course they had an animal watcher lady on set to tell us when to stop filming so that the pig doesn't get tired. haha, i want to be that lady. Imagine, hey what do you do for a living? Oh, I make sure that pigs on movie sets don't get tired while filming. awesome!
Ok i'm losing you, sorry. So we're at the set and see all the actors, folks let me just say Kyle Chandler (lead, plays the coach) is a Hottie McDottie. Ladies, one look in those eyes... swoon. Haha. Anywho, so the guys split us all up in our areas. I'm standing with this other lady by some picnic tables and they start setting up the scene. I notice that the camera is kinda pointing in our direction, but I don't say anything. Then the guy in charge of us, I forgot his name sorry guy but he was cool, tell us that when we start the scene they're going to focus on us then focus on the action behind us. Our action was to talk to each other then walk to the table and pick up plate of food and then walk passed the coach and to another picnic table. Awesome! We definetly got some camera time there.
We do that a few times then we go on to the next scene, which was the actual hog wrestling. The (hot) actor that plays the new "tight end" on the show had to jump the gate and wrestle the pig. So the guy in charge of us extras tells the lady and I to go from the back where we standing to the front when they realease the pigs, and not only do we have to go to the front we go to the gate and watch from there. And what do I see them setting up right in front of us, yup.. the camera. So they said action and we walked up and watch this hotty sweaty guy wrestle a pig and I acted my heart out like I was a huge fan of Hog Wrestling. So we do this scene quite a few times then we got to do one with no sound, yea I got to put my pantamiming skills to the test. I think I found my next calling, Miming. lol.
So what would a fun day on a set be without making a fool of myself... a wasted day that's what it would be. So I'm standing off to the side waiting to do the hog wrestling scene, did I mention I'm just standing and not moving at all? Yes, so i'm standing i'm hold my plate that consists of a hotdog (hotdogs at Hog wrestling.. hrmm?) and some porkgrinds (porkgrinds at Hog wrestling, too much pork for one day) next thing you know, i just drop my plate. And I could of gotten away with it but of course in embarrassment I yell, MAN DOWN! The group next to me claps and so I bow to the audience, the guys in charge of us screams out, FIVE SECOND RULE!!! So I pretend to eat the very stale, covered in dirt, hotdog and I hear some ladies gasp so I said I'm just kidding and pick up my porkgrinds off the floor in embarrassment. I swear I'm a Clutz-a-saurus Rex.
They wrapped us early like around 12:30. I guess after my incident with the hotdog and the pavement, I got peoples attention cause when I was leaving a lot of people were telling me bye and would smile when they saw me. So I guess I did something right. I may of had my zipper down but I don't know. haha. I was gonna go to the next filming at 1pm but I wasn't booked for it and I didn't want to just show up and they turn me away. That would of been embarrassment numero dos and I was hella sleepy so I just turned around and drove home.
El fin. I'll write more when I get more work! lol.
So I woke up at 4am... yes, 4 in the freakin' AM! I got ready at home and made the nice scenic drive up to Austin. Call time was at 7:30am and I made it with like 20mins to spare. We wait around a bit and they serve us breakfast. The actor that plays Buddy Garrity (the head cheerleaders dad) was eating breakfast with us in the tent. Little after that the wardrobe girl comes around to see what clothes we brought and to approve our outfit. She ends up liking the blue shirt I was wearing so I didn't have to change in the make shift changing tent with 2 inch cracks that you can see right through. Win, win.
So once everyone is changed and ready we wait for the guys in charge to split us up in our scenes. I'm in the second group, which was pretty much everybody and we get in van and taken to set. It was a Chevrolet dealership turned into Buddy Garrity Motors. THe scene we were filming was set-up for the Hog Day Sale and the guys let us know that there's going to be about 5 real pigs on set. Sure enough we saw... (smelled) the pigs. The scene called for one of the new football players to wrestle the pig. Of course they had an animal watcher lady on set to tell us when to stop filming so that the pig doesn't get tired. haha, i want to be that lady. Imagine, hey what do you do for a living? Oh, I make sure that pigs on movie sets don't get tired while filming. awesome!
Ok i'm losing you, sorry. So we're at the set and see all the actors, folks let me just say Kyle Chandler (lead, plays the coach) is a Hottie McDottie. Ladies, one look in those eyes... swoon. Haha. Anywho, so the guys split us all up in our areas. I'm standing with this other lady by some picnic tables and they start setting up the scene. I notice that the camera is kinda pointing in our direction, but I don't say anything. Then the guy in charge of us, I forgot his name sorry guy but he was cool, tell us that when we start the scene they're going to focus on us then focus on the action behind us. Our action was to talk to each other then walk to the table and pick up plate of food and then walk passed the coach and to another picnic table. Awesome! We definetly got some camera time there.
We do that a few times then we go on to the next scene, which was the actual hog wrestling. The (hot) actor that plays the new "tight end" on the show had to jump the gate and wrestle the pig. So the guy in charge of us extras tells the lady and I to go from the back where we standing to the front when they realease the pigs, and not only do we have to go to the front we go to the gate and watch from there. And what do I see them setting up right in front of us, yup.. the camera. So they said action and we walked up and watch this hotty sweaty guy wrestle a pig and I acted my heart out like I was a huge fan of Hog Wrestling. So we do this scene quite a few times then we got to do one with no sound, yea I got to put my pantamiming skills to the test. I think I found my next calling, Miming. lol.
So what would a fun day on a set be without making a fool of myself... a wasted day that's what it would be. So I'm standing off to the side waiting to do the hog wrestling scene, did I mention I'm just standing and not moving at all? Yes, so i'm standing i'm hold my plate that consists of a hotdog (hotdogs at Hog wrestling.. hrmm?) and some porkgrinds (porkgrinds at Hog wrestling, too much pork for one day) next thing you know, i just drop my plate. And I could of gotten away with it but of course in embarrassment I yell, MAN DOWN! The group next to me claps and so I bow to the audience, the guys in charge of us screams out, FIVE SECOND RULE!!! So I pretend to eat the very stale, covered in dirt, hotdog and I hear some ladies gasp so I said I'm just kidding and pick up my porkgrinds off the floor in embarrassment. I swear I'm a Clutz-a-saurus Rex.
They wrapped us early like around 12:30. I guess after my incident with the hotdog and the pavement, I got peoples attention cause when I was leaving a lot of people were telling me bye and would smile when they saw me. So I guess I did something right. I may of had my zipper down but I don't know. haha. I was gonna go to the next filming at 1pm but I wasn't booked for it and I didn't want to just show up and they turn me away. That would of been embarrassment numero dos and I was hella sleepy so I just turned around and drove home.
El fin. I'll write more when I get more work! lol.
Day in the life of a Friday Night Lights extra.
Day in the life of a Friday Night Lights extra.. --
orginally posted on Myspace Tuesday August 28th.
Let me paint a pretty picture for you. It's hot, hell hot by the way and your put in a closed tent with about 100 other extras taking up your oxygen. The air conditioning vents are being hogged up by a family who got there early enough to snag the table right by the big tunnel looking vent. Just to fill out the voucher so you can get paid, you break into an uncontrable sweat. So the day begins.
Now for the fun stuff. The head guy in charge of us lowly extras marched us to the football field, which I later learned was built merely for the show. Rad! He begins to sit us in the bleachers and I don't mean like he picked me up and sat me down like toddler, I mean he told us ok everyone fill up the first row then start the next row kind of stuff. So what row did I get? Yup,you guessed it... I was up front and personal. Front row, 40 yard line couldn't get better seats if I paid for them. hehe. Row by row the bleachers filled. Well there wasn't that many extras so we only filled like half the bleachers.
Let the games begin! So pretty much it went like this, ok we started off shooting somewhere in the first quarter we were on the opposing team (not the Dillion Panthers that FNL fans love) we were the Westerby Chaparals woot woot!! Go Westerby High! When they said rolling, the head guy Tony started a chat to get us all the football game spirit. Let me tell you this was a full on football game, minus the opposing side and no marching band, tisk tisk. BUt there were cheerleaders, all the football players, trainers, coaches it was really cool.
Anywho, so they said rolling and Tony started a chat "Go Chaps Go!" We screamed that out till they yelled CUT. Rolling... GO CHAPS GO!!... *touchdown* WHOOOOOOO CUT. Rolling... GO CHAPS GO!!!! fumble BOOOOOOO CUT So we do for hours. Tony starts moving us around to fill in holes in the crowd depending on what is being seen on film. Rolling... GO CHAPS GO!!!! touchdown WHOOOOO. fumble BOOOOOOOOOO. yellow flag WHAAAAT!!!!!
Every emotion that I've never felt towards football I had to express. It was fun. I kinda wanted to see the entire game but we kept cutting and breaking to move around, and no those aren't new dance moves. Next thing you know it's midnight and I can't stop yawning. I'm thinking this will end soon, and it did. About and hour and half later. By the end I couldn't yell anymore, I barely had any energy to shake my pom-pom and by pom-pom I don't mean my dairier. So after a few takes of the final shot they dismiss us and we're hauling, and I mean hauling behind (now I'm reffering to my dairier) to the tent so that we can check out. Once we do that we're treated to some of the finest dining eaten with plastic utensils. I was a hungry hungry hippo cause I inhaled everything. lol.
Let the games begin! So pretty much it went like this, ok we started off shooting somewhere in the first quarter we were on the opposing team (not the Dillion Panthers that FNL fans love) we were the Westerby Chaparals woot woot!! Go Westerby High! When they said rolling, the head guy Tony started a chat to get us all the football game spirit. Let me tell you this was a full on football game, minus the opposing side and no marching band, tisk tisk. BUt there were cheerleaders, all the football players, trainers, coaches it was really cool.
Anywho, so they said rolling and Tony started a chat "Go Chaps Go!" We screamed that out till they yelled CUT. Rolling... GO CHAPS GO!!... *touchdown* WHOOOOOOO CUT. Rolling... GO CHAPS GO!!!! fumble BOOOOOOO CUT So we do for hours. Tony starts moving us around to fill in holes in the crowd depending on what is being seen on film. Rolling... GO CHAPS GO!!!! touchdown WHOOOOO. fumble BOOOOOOOOOO. yellow flag WHAAAAT!!!!!
Every emotion that I've never felt towards football I had to express. It was fun. I kinda wanted to see the entire game but we kept cutting and breaking to move around, and no those aren't new dance moves. Next thing you know it's midnight and I can't stop yawning. I'm thinking this will end soon, and it did. About and hour and half later. By the end I couldn't yell anymore, I barely had any energy to shake my pom-pom and by pom-pom I don't mean my dairier. So after a few takes of the final shot they dismiss us and we're hauling, and I mean hauling behind (now I'm reffering to my dairier) to the tent so that we can check out. Once we do that we're treated to some of the finest dining eaten with plastic utensils. I was a hungry hungry hippo cause I inhaled everything. lol.
Overall I give it a B-. The "-" is merely cause of the late hours, I think I could of hooted and hollered all day long but I was just too damn tired after midnight. But it was hella fun I tell you. I can't wait to do it again!! And no, I did not meet any of the actors, they weren't at this shooting. Perhaps next time. Goals for me - do more filming to eventually be a featured extra. I hear that title come up often and it sounds pretty, even prettier on a resume I suppose
I'm letting my little blogspot get away from me.
I'm going to post a bombardment of all my blogs that i've been posting on my Myspace on here. I dont' know why I haven't put them on this site, lazy I suppose but oh well. I'll put the original date and such so you'll know around the time that these incidents or thoughts actually occured. Alright let me get to it son!
Tuesday, July 3, 2007
Night in the ol' hospital.
Ok before I tell you this story let me just say that I'm going leave a good chunk of the grossness out of this just for my own sake. Leaving this out may cause confusion as to the severity of my illness, but as long as I don't feel embarrassment I'm ok.
So let me start it out this way and your minds can wonder...
I walk out of the bathroom completely freaked out and still in pain. *pause for your imagination to create something magical*
You see this all started out on Tuesday with an annoying little pain at the top of my stomach, no big deal. By the end of the day I was feeling a sharp pain on my lower right side almost like someone just shanked me and the knife was left there. Ok, I can handle this. Wednesday a little less of the shanking and now i have this pressure/pain feeling in my lower back Kidney region. Hrmm... something doesn't seem right. Then the bathroom incidents. Enough said there.
So yesterday my back was killing me. Then came this overwhelming stomach ache, followed by the nauseas gonna throw up all over the place feeling. Fast forward to opening statement. "I walked out of the bathroom completely freaked out and still in pain". Now this is when I started to scare myself, my mom told me it might be my gall bladder and I may surgery. Part of me thinks that she just wants to see me scared and knows just how to do it. So she mentioned surgery and of course cause I've never experienced any type of surgery procedures I freak out and start to cry like the 4 year old I suddenly become. I don't know, hospitals, surgeries, why not just throw a 5 foot penguin in the mix too!
So off to the hospital I go. First hospital, Methodist Emergency Room. As soon as we drive up first thing I see is a lady having a really bad sezure, we're talking she shaking violently and she threw up on the concrete and everything. We walk in and wait for someone at the check-in area, there are two older ladies on the other side of the glass obviously waiting for someone as well. One lady says to us, "If you need a nurse, I think we got you beat." She lifts her arm and there is this huge gash just gushing blood. I look further in and she sitting with her arm over a trash can that she's obviously bleeding into. The nurse arrives and says its gonna be at least 10 hours and we should go to a different hostpital.
We end going to the Methodist Transplant Hospital, I was the 3rd person there. I probably waited in the waiting room for about 20 mins before I got my bed in the back. I had strip down to my skivvies and put on the gown that's like 12 sizes to big and only has two ties in the back.
OH WAIT. Check this out... when the murse (male nurse) was checking me in, he had to check off if I suffer from heart diesease, diabetes, you know all that stuff. So he checked off no on everything and you know what this asshole checked YES on.... OBESITY!!!! WTF!!! I just lost 30 lbs, my doctor told me I was no longer obese and this duche bag murse with a fanny pack says I am. Jerkface!
Anywho, next my nurse came in to hook me up to an IV and take blood. When I went to the hospital back in 1999 with food posioning the lady rolled my vein and I was bruised for almost a month. So my fear of IVs and taking blood has continued.
So this lovely lovely nurse whom I shall call Susie began the slicing and dicing process in my hand. She shoved what can only be described as some sort of samarai sword in my right hand and moved it around a bit. Nurse Susie then told me that I have to many valves in my hand, next thing you know she rips the needle out of my hand and tells me she almost blew my vein. Great. She began the slicing and dicing process in my arm, holy crap the pain was unreal. The IV gets hooked up after a couple tries and I become really woozy, my mom was standing over watching me being tortured with glee and I had to tell her to step back cause I was feeling claustrophobic all of sudden. My lovely Nurse Susie says she was going to give me morphine. I decline just cause I've never taken morphene before and I was kinda scared about how my body would react. She gave me some other drug. I was so fussy by this point and fidgitey and I just couldn't sit still but let me tell you once that medicine started to course threw my veins I knocked out! Snoozeville.
I wake up as the doctor comes in and I have to explain my symptoms for like the umpth-billionth time. Then he starts feeling my stomach all over. I was being silly and thought, well i'm starting to get some definition in my abs why not flex em. So I show this 60+ yr old doc what this obese girls abs feel like. hahaha! After awhile I stopped cause I got tired. He ordered all tests from head to toe. CT Scan, Pregnancy test (whoa!), Piss test, Spelling Test (i kid), everything!
I probably had to wait about 2 hours to get the CT Scan done. Let me tell you there was some wild things going on around me. They wheel in some hot guy in a strecher and put him the bed next to me. SCORE! Not so much, all the EMTs started explaining what was wrong with him. "This is so-and-so and he just took 15 pills of *painkiller* and his friend said that he just snorted *amount* of crack and then followed with smoking meth, He is on suicide watch." Then all the nurses start asking him why he took so many pills but he was too groggy to answer, so they just hooked him up with an IV. After a bit he wanted to leave and a murse came by and was like "if you leave now you'll never get help." Man it was so an episode of Grey's Anatomy, but minus the McDreamy and insert the McSenile.
I saw a guy that was all handcuffed and with 4 bald cops go in, and I saw this gorgeous tall skinny blonde female cop , you don't see cops look like her in San Antonio. Anywho I think got shot at but luckily she had a bullet proof vest on. You could see the red spots where bullets hit her left side of her upper chest. Crazy!
Around 1am I got all my results back... nothing is wrong. I am the prime example of supreme health. Which is good to know since I haven't had a physical of some sort in well over 6 years. Next came the doctor and his many theories of what might be wrong with me. Everything from I'm just ovulating to it could be my intestines, gall bladder, hemeroids, bad taste in music, anything that popped into his head he told me.
So needless to say, I left feeling a little better when I went in thanks to the meds but I love going to doctors and they have no clue how to diagnois me. Oh when the murse was checking me, I guess they have to ask "What is your goal for us today?" huh? Seriously? So I simply replied, "Cure Me." Is that too much to ask? I didn't think so.
I finally left around 2am, what a long night and to top it off I was wide awake and didn't go to sleep till around 4am. I could barely wake up this morning for work. Oh what a day. I wonder what's wrong with me?
Tuesday, June 19, 2007
Saved by the Bell "The Single Years"
I realized last night that all my friends have passed me up and are in relationships. How did I miss this memo? Did I drop it accidentially when I was going through all my Rolling Stone mags? Either way I missed it and here I am, single as usual. So all this realization comes to me at the Black Keys concert last night as I see my ex with his current girlfriend. Then I have my friend telling me how she's going to move in with her boyfriend, thinking of my other close girlfriends and how they are in serious relationships and I wonder how did I get this independence? I didn't ask for it, I too would like to bask in the giddiness of young love again but I think I just created this invisible wall around me. I don't let anyone in, at all. But then even if I am able to let someone "in", how do I even go about getting someone remotely interested in me?
I sound like I'm whinning now. Not what I wanted to do with this blog. I want to be able to live in that Sex and the City, New York, fast paced, and non-judging to the relationship challenged lifestyle that I see on T.V. I hate being that one girl in the group that will forever be the 5th wheel in everything. I hate the dreaded So are you seeing anyone question that I hear all the time. Man that's almost as bad as the so what do you plan on doing now question that I got when I graduated college. That question still sends chills down my spine.
I think I noticed a trend in the males that I've come faced with. They always perceive me as their alternate plan. For instance, the few that have shown a slight interest in me will like me untill they meet someone else. Then they decide to persue that girl, but if it doesn't work out they know good ol' single Val will be there. Ten times out of ten, their relationship lasts and I am slowly and surely erased out of their minds. Happens all the time. This is where you throw in your advice like, oh Val that guy wasn't worth it, your so much better than him. OH YEA!!! IF I'M SO MUCH BETTER.... WHY CAN'T I HAVE HIM!!!!
So now your looking at completely numb Val. I don't approach guys, and I can no longer tell if guys are even giving me the time of day or not. I just stopped noticing. But also I've become filled head to toe with this odd shyness towards the opposite sex now. I get ridicously insecure and I feel like I'm a moron. I hate this! I just want to meet someone where I can be my dorkish self. I can wear my glasses and retainer and he won't judge me. I want to be able to laugh so hard that I snort and he thinks it's cute. Ok I need to lay off the Lifetime Movie Network cause the liklihood of that happening is really slim. You know what's a good movie by the way, Bridget Jones Diary. Thank you! Thank you for making a movie where the girl is awkward but still has that sex appeal that every woman wants. She has meat on her but she will still wear that sheer top and mini skirt to work. She looks great in a dress but is wearing some massive granny panties underneath. Thank You for being a real woman with quirks and bad habits and still can get that guy. Alright, I think I just motivated myself.
Raise your martini glasses all you single ladies with character!!
Your pal,
-val-
I sound like I'm whinning now. Not what I wanted to do with this blog. I want to be able to live in that Sex and the City, New York, fast paced, and non-judging to the relationship challenged lifestyle that I see on T.V. I hate being that one girl in the group that will forever be the 5th wheel in everything. I hate the dreaded So are you seeing anyone question that I hear all the time. Man that's almost as bad as the so what do you plan on doing now question that I got when I graduated college. That question still sends chills down my spine.
I think I noticed a trend in the males that I've come faced with. They always perceive me as their alternate plan. For instance, the few that have shown a slight interest in me will like me untill they meet someone else. Then they decide to persue that girl, but if it doesn't work out they know good ol' single Val will be there. Ten times out of ten, their relationship lasts and I am slowly and surely erased out of their minds. Happens all the time. This is where you throw in your advice like, oh Val that guy wasn't worth it, your so much better than him. OH YEA!!! IF I'M SO MUCH BETTER.... WHY CAN'T I HAVE HIM!!!!
So now your looking at completely numb Val. I don't approach guys, and I can no longer tell if guys are even giving me the time of day or not. I just stopped noticing. But also I've become filled head to toe with this odd shyness towards the opposite sex now. I get ridicously insecure and I feel like I'm a moron. I hate this! I just want to meet someone where I can be my dorkish self. I can wear my glasses and retainer and he won't judge me. I want to be able to laugh so hard that I snort and he thinks it's cute. Ok I need to lay off the Lifetime Movie Network cause the liklihood of that happening is really slim. You know what's a good movie by the way, Bridget Jones Diary. Thank you! Thank you for making a movie where the girl is awkward but still has that sex appeal that every woman wants. She has meat on her but she will still wear that sheer top and mini skirt to work. She looks great in a dress but is wearing some massive granny panties underneath. Thank You for being a real woman with quirks and bad habits and still can get that guy. Alright, I think I just motivated myself.
Raise your martini glasses all you single ladies with character!!
Your pal,
-val-
Thursday, May 31, 2007
What I dreamt in an hour.
My alarm goes off at it's usual time of 5:30am. I do my routine I jump up in a panic that I'm horribly late, then I see it's only 5:30 and of course... I fall back asleep. This time, I dream...
I dreamt that it was my senior year of college and I'm right back at OLLU. Only this time I have the "what I know now" knowledge under my belt when I return. I remeber walking to my class I was looking around and this time really appreciating my school, studying the old architecture, looking at all the old desks, as if I'm going antique shopping. Oh, this peice would look great next to my new sofa.
Anywho, I walk into my class room and I sit down. I see my old friend Darlene and you can tell she's in a panic about our empending graduation. I tell her, don't stress.. your gonna walk the stage, I know. I was there, or... I mean I just know you will. I didn't really see many people I knew, but there was a handful of faces that I hadn't seen in a while including this really nice guy that passed away a few years back. I didn't freak out when I saw him, I just kinda played it cool. I smiled, he smiled and it was left at that. The teacher walked in and gave us our lesson. The entire time though I was looking at my graduate plan and seeing how many hours I had, and what I was going to end with when I graduated.
I think in reality I actually ended with 133. I took a lot of 18/19 hour classes, not to mention those fun electives. Aerobic Kick Boxing!!! lol. Anywho, so in my dream I started to ask myself the question that I kinda fussed with back when I was getting ready to graduate. I remeber looking at the course book under the Theater section and noticed that I needed 2 theater classes, a Spanish class then I would of double majored in Psychology and Theater. At the time, I wanted out of school so bad that I opted not to take the extra semester. In my dream though, knowing what I know now I jumped at the chance.
My classmates were stunned by my decision but I didn't care, It was what I should of done from the get-go. So instead of going to the graduation rehearsal I walked to a little t-shirt shop and did what any girl who made a big decision would do... I shopped. lol. I met the store owner/DJ of some nightclub and he was giving me hints on how to make the t-shirt print that I'm designing. It was really helpful and I was able to incorperate this really awesome stich too. He had really awesome bag designs as well that he helped me with.
After a while it was dark, and I knew I had to eat something but I didn't want to go alone. Suddenly I see this guy that I used to like in highschool, and he was really adament about taking me out. So I hopped in his Jeep and off we drove. As soon as I get in, I get a surge of all these old feeling for him all over. We immediately started to kiss and it was one of those really strong, you feel the earth move, planets align, an earthquake could happen cause our lips connected. It was amazing! No, sorry to dissapoint it didn't turn dirty or anything. He continued to give me sweet little kisses and told me "I just cant stop kissing you, I love you so much." My heart was on fire. We never really got food, just kinda drove around. He showed some great spots where you could see the whole skyline, I didn't want the night to end, much less the dream.
He took me back in the morning, I don't know where I slept but it was morning. I'm walking through the courtyard and I see him again, but this time I pretend I don't see him. I just keep walking and completely ignore him. WTF? Why would I do that? I saw him talking to his friends, and I could of easly just gone over gave a quick hello and left, but no. I choose to just walk away. I saw out of the corner of my eye that he looked up, but nothing. I walked inside this building and I didn't look back at him. He didn't ask me out after that. The end.
So I woke up, it was 6:45 and I jumped up and got ready for work. While driving over here I kept thinking about this dream and how it really reflected my life. I want to do so much, entirely to much. I want to continue acting, I want to start my own T-shirt business, I want to feel passion!! But it's me. I stop myself from doing so many things. I had the opportunity to double major and I didn't take it, I HAVE the opportunity to start my t-shirts but my own lack of motivation is holding me back. And of course, I've passed up some amazing guys in my life because of my own stupidity, and pride. Pride? What do I have to be so proud of? I'm nothing special, and I don't mean that in a I'm so depressed kind of way, no but seriously. I'm really nothing special. I'm just another dime a dozen here. But I think the fact that I can admit that, should say something right? Who knows?
I guess this is part of the ol' figuring myself out process. Oddly enough this is the same place I was my senior year in college. I wanted to do so much, but I held myself back. I was in a relationship that we both knew wasn't gonna go anywhere, but I didn't care. I held on to something that didn't exsist. I wanted to change but I didn't make the effort. At least this time I willing to do all the work that it takes to get myself to where I want to be. Where ever that is.
Don't you love it when your dreams make you question your entire reason for being?
I dreamt that it was my senior year of college and I'm right back at OLLU. Only this time I have the "what I know now" knowledge under my belt when I return. I remeber walking to my class I was looking around and this time really appreciating my school, studying the old architecture, looking at all the old desks, as if I'm going antique shopping. Oh, this peice would look great next to my new sofa.
Anywho, I walk into my class room and I sit down. I see my old friend Darlene and you can tell she's in a panic about our empending graduation. I tell her, don't stress.. your gonna walk the stage, I know. I was there, or... I mean I just know you will. I didn't really see many people I knew, but there was a handful of faces that I hadn't seen in a while including this really nice guy that passed away a few years back. I didn't freak out when I saw him, I just kinda played it cool. I smiled, he smiled and it was left at that. The teacher walked in and gave us our lesson. The entire time though I was looking at my graduate plan and seeing how many hours I had, and what I was going to end with when I graduated.
I think in reality I actually ended with 133. I took a lot of 18/19 hour classes, not to mention those fun electives. Aerobic Kick Boxing!!! lol. Anywho, so in my dream I started to ask myself the question that I kinda fussed with back when I was getting ready to graduate. I remeber looking at the course book under the Theater section and noticed that I needed 2 theater classes, a Spanish class then I would of double majored in Psychology and Theater. At the time, I wanted out of school so bad that I opted not to take the extra semester. In my dream though, knowing what I know now I jumped at the chance.
My classmates were stunned by my decision but I didn't care, It was what I should of done from the get-go. So instead of going to the graduation rehearsal I walked to a little t-shirt shop and did what any girl who made a big decision would do... I shopped. lol. I met the store owner/DJ of some nightclub and he was giving me hints on how to make the t-shirt print that I'm designing. It was really helpful and I was able to incorperate this really awesome stich too. He had really awesome bag designs as well that he helped me with.
After a while it was dark, and I knew I had to eat something but I didn't want to go alone. Suddenly I see this guy that I used to like in highschool, and he was really adament about taking me out. So I hopped in his Jeep and off we drove. As soon as I get in, I get a surge of all these old feeling for him all over. We immediately started to kiss and it was one of those really strong, you feel the earth move, planets align, an earthquake could happen cause our lips connected. It was amazing! No, sorry to dissapoint it didn't turn dirty or anything. He continued to give me sweet little kisses and told me "I just cant stop kissing you, I love you so much." My heart was on fire. We never really got food, just kinda drove around. He showed some great spots where you could see the whole skyline, I didn't want the night to end, much less the dream.
He took me back in the morning, I don't know where I slept but it was morning. I'm walking through the courtyard and I see him again, but this time I pretend I don't see him. I just keep walking and completely ignore him. WTF? Why would I do that? I saw him talking to his friends, and I could of easly just gone over gave a quick hello and left, but no. I choose to just walk away. I saw out of the corner of my eye that he looked up, but nothing. I walked inside this building and I didn't look back at him. He didn't ask me out after that. The end.
So I woke up, it was 6:45 and I jumped up and got ready for work. While driving over here I kept thinking about this dream and how it really reflected my life. I want to do so much, entirely to much. I want to continue acting, I want to start my own T-shirt business, I want to feel passion!! But it's me. I stop myself from doing so many things. I had the opportunity to double major and I didn't take it, I HAVE the opportunity to start my t-shirts but my own lack of motivation is holding me back. And of course, I've passed up some amazing guys in my life because of my own stupidity, and pride. Pride? What do I have to be so proud of? I'm nothing special, and I don't mean that in a I'm so depressed kind of way, no but seriously. I'm really nothing special. I'm just another dime a dozen here. But I think the fact that I can admit that, should say something right? Who knows?
I guess this is part of the ol' figuring myself out process. Oddly enough this is the same place I was my senior year in college. I wanted to do so much, but I held myself back. I was in a relationship that we both knew wasn't gonna go anywhere, but I didn't care. I held on to something that didn't exsist. I wanted to change but I didn't make the effort. At least this time I willing to do all the work that it takes to get myself to where I want to be. Where ever that is.
Don't you love it when your dreams make you question your entire reason for being?
Thursday, May 24, 2007
My diet updates and such.
I just got back from my weekly weigh in, and I offically lost 25lbs. WOW! It feels really great to be able to say that. I LOST 25LBS. Plus it's only been 2 months, and I was able to lose that much weight.
Well it came with a lot of hard work, as a few of have noticed and commented to me is that you don't see me out as often. Very true, I had to cut my drinking to practicaly non exisitant which means no going out for me. Yes, I had to stop going out cause I'm easily tempted to down 6 beers like nothing. Unfortunately it's not like that anymore. I hung out with Anabel on Monday and i started buzzing after 1 beer. 3 beers later little old me was drunk. But that's ok, as long as I don't have that beer gut to prove that I can drink I'm alright being a lightweight.
So I've noticed a dramatic change in the way my clothes fit me. You see i'm gauging my weight by what year I wore certain jeans. I was in my 2005 jean for quite a while, but I noticed that those were starting to look loose and like I took a crap in my pants so I tried on a pair of jeans I bought on Dec. 31, 2004 and guess what... they fit! I remember the date cause I needed dark jeans for my outfit that night New Years Eve. I tried on another pair of jeans that were my all time favorite of 2004 and those fit me as well. I looked a bit sausaged into them, but they fit. I think i'll wait a couple more weeks before I give them a go ahead. My ultimate goal is my all-time favorite jeans from 2003. Almost there kids, almost there.
So 25 lbs down and I want to lost about another 40 or so. I know, I know that sounds ridiculous, it really does. But people you don't realize how much weight i gained. I gained sooooo much weight after college, I would say an easy 70lbs. I guess once I finished school, I stopped being active all together. I didn't phathom that I could actually continue playing soccer after college. I'm a moron, I know. But that's changed dramatically, I'm on the treadmill everyday (except Friday and Sundays) I find myself wanting to do more. I told my dad that I wanted to buy a mountain bike and go bike riding somewhere in the wilderness. Of course I got that crazy look from him, then he said that we should have a bike somewhere. Excellent... my next venture. Bike riding.
I want to spend my weekends outside playing sports doing things more athletic. Did you know I played soccer for 8 years? Not many people know that about me, not many see me as athletic but I actually am. I think I felt like I needed to hide it or something casue my mom always told me that sports weren't for girls, I shouldn't be playing sports instead I should study. What? Are you serious!?! I played basketball too, oddly enough I was really good but I liked soccer too much eventually focused my time on that instead. I think I just let the lazy me take over, but no more! New and Improved Val from now on.
Wow I kinda went on a tangent with this blog. I think I'm just going through this whole turning point in my life. This weigh-in (I sound like I'm on celebrity fit club or something) really meant a lot. I looked at my pics from SXSW this year and I was just utterly disgusted with the way I looked and I told myself from that moment on I was going to change, and I did. I've improved myself economically when I got a different (so much better) job, now I'm really focusing on the physical part and up next... the dreaded emotion portion. Ha I kinda rhymed.
I'll diffenetly keep posting all my weight updates, what year jeans I'm wearing and such. Maybe we can go do something, outside, where we can get a tan. Let me know!
Well it came with a lot of hard work, as a few of have noticed and commented to me is that you don't see me out as often. Very true, I had to cut my drinking to practicaly non exisitant which means no going out for me. Yes, I had to stop going out cause I'm easily tempted to down 6 beers like nothing. Unfortunately it's not like that anymore. I hung out with Anabel on Monday and i started buzzing after 1 beer. 3 beers later little old me was drunk. But that's ok, as long as I don't have that beer gut to prove that I can drink I'm alright being a lightweight.
So I've noticed a dramatic change in the way my clothes fit me. You see i'm gauging my weight by what year I wore certain jeans. I was in my 2005 jean for quite a while, but I noticed that those were starting to look loose and like I took a crap in my pants so I tried on a pair of jeans I bought on Dec. 31, 2004 and guess what... they fit! I remember the date cause I needed dark jeans for my outfit that night New Years Eve. I tried on another pair of jeans that were my all time favorite of 2004 and those fit me as well. I looked a bit sausaged into them, but they fit. I think i'll wait a couple more weeks before I give them a go ahead. My ultimate goal is my all-time favorite jeans from 2003. Almost there kids, almost there.
So 25 lbs down and I want to lost about another 40 or so. I know, I know that sounds ridiculous, it really does. But people you don't realize how much weight i gained. I gained sooooo much weight after college, I would say an easy 70lbs. I guess once I finished school, I stopped being active all together. I didn't phathom that I could actually continue playing soccer after college. I'm a moron, I know. But that's changed dramatically, I'm on the treadmill everyday (except Friday and Sundays) I find myself wanting to do more. I told my dad that I wanted to buy a mountain bike and go bike riding somewhere in the wilderness. Of course I got that crazy look from him, then he said that we should have a bike somewhere. Excellent... my next venture. Bike riding.
I want to spend my weekends outside playing sports doing things more athletic. Did you know I played soccer for 8 years? Not many people know that about me, not many see me as athletic but I actually am. I think I felt like I needed to hide it or something casue my mom always told me that sports weren't for girls, I shouldn't be playing sports instead I should study. What? Are you serious!?! I played basketball too, oddly enough I was really good but I liked soccer too much eventually focused my time on that instead. I think I just let the lazy me take over, but no more! New and Improved Val from now on.
Wow I kinda went on a tangent with this blog. I think I'm just going through this whole turning point in my life. This weigh-in (I sound like I'm on celebrity fit club or something) really meant a lot. I looked at my pics from SXSW this year and I was just utterly disgusted with the way I looked and I told myself from that moment on I was going to change, and I did. I've improved myself economically when I got a different (so much better) job, now I'm really focusing on the physical part and up next... the dreaded emotion portion. Ha I kinda rhymed.
I'll diffenetly keep posting all my weight updates, what year jeans I'm wearing and such. Maybe we can go do something, outside, where we can get a tan. Let me know!
Tuesday, May 22, 2007
second-song-a-phobia
I think I'm a bit morbid. I assume the worst in situations at times. So i'm driving along, in my own world and I hear "Get Back" the Aerosmith version and i'm zoned out. Next thing you know they start playing "Dream On"... wait, why another Aerosmith song? What happened, did they die? Did they crash into the mountains and burn to a crisp somewhere? I think this way, everytime. I hate listening to the 5 o'clock Rock Blocks on KISS cause I automatically think the worst, even though I know that they are going to play more than 1 song from the same artist. It just freaks me out. I'll call this, double-song-a-phobia, second-song-a-phobia. Wait, I don't fear the two songs, I think I fear the outcome of two songs. I fear the reason why they play the two songs.
I remember being in the 8th grade and on the way home I kept hearing Nirvana being played on the radio. Not really listening to anything that the DJ had to say I spaced out just listening to every song singing along in my head. I got home and my friend Leslee called me and I could hear in her voice that something was wrong. Then she said, "Did you hear what happened?" I reply kinda in a little girl gossip mode, "No, what?" She answered almost feeding into the silly middle school drama that we were so ingrossed in, "Nirvana died!" I stopped. My first reaction was shock of course, the whole band was dead? (We obviously didn't have the whole story and learned shortly after that it was just Corbain who's life had ended). I imagined the entire band burning in a fiery plane crash along the Rocky Mountains. Wild imagination I suppose, so I check where any 13 year old would get music news, MTV. Sure enough Kurt Loder informs us of Cobains suicide. (But if you ever watch the Documentary Kurt and Courtney, you may think his suicide was anything but that).
Anywho, fast forward to the next year. My mom was driving me home again and I noticed that Selena is blowing up on the airwaves. I got this weird feeling in my stomach (no not gas) and listened to everything the DJ had to say. Sure enough, she was shot and died later in the hospital, hence the heavy airplay.
So no wonder why I get a little weirded out now by radio. Not that I was a huge Selena fan, Nirvana yes, and their deaths didn't have a major impact on my life or anything. I was still the same person that I was the next day. Tragic yes. But I guess it was the way I found out. Listening to their music, feeling at ease then boom. THIS JUST IN... THEY'RE DEAD. I just recently started listening to radio again and I still cringe everytime the dreaded second song comes on. And it's usualy the classic rock bands that get the double play songs, and I guess in my head since they are "classic" it makes me think even more that they croaked somewhere. I need to start listening to books on CD. Any recommendations?
I remember being in the 8th grade and on the way home I kept hearing Nirvana being played on the radio. Not really listening to anything that the DJ had to say I spaced out just listening to every song singing along in my head. I got home and my friend Leslee called me and I could hear in her voice that something was wrong. Then she said, "Did you hear what happened?" I reply kinda in a little girl gossip mode, "No, what?" She answered almost feeding into the silly middle school drama that we were so ingrossed in, "Nirvana died!" I stopped. My first reaction was shock of course, the whole band was dead? (We obviously didn't have the whole story and learned shortly after that it was just Corbain who's life had ended). I imagined the entire band burning in a fiery plane crash along the Rocky Mountains. Wild imagination I suppose, so I check where any 13 year old would get music news, MTV. Sure enough Kurt Loder informs us of Cobains suicide. (But if you ever watch the Documentary Kurt and Courtney, you may think his suicide was anything but that).
Anywho, fast forward to the next year. My mom was driving me home again and I noticed that Selena is blowing up on the airwaves. I got this weird feeling in my stomach (no not gas) and listened to everything the DJ had to say. Sure enough, she was shot and died later in the hospital, hence the heavy airplay.
So no wonder why I get a little weirded out now by radio. Not that I was a huge Selena fan, Nirvana yes, and their deaths didn't have a major impact on my life or anything. I was still the same person that I was the next day. Tragic yes. But I guess it was the way I found out. Listening to their music, feeling at ease then boom. THIS JUST IN... THEY'RE DEAD. I just recently started listening to radio again and I still cringe everytime the dreaded second song comes on. And it's usualy the classic rock bands that get the double play songs, and I guess in my head since they are "classic" it makes me think even more that they croaked somewhere. I need to start listening to books on CD. Any recommendations?
Monday, April 30, 2007
my night with Elvis Perkins NOT trippin' on shrooms.
Do you realize how long I have been waiting for this night? I'm sure you read my other blog about how excited I was. Anywho so Saturday had finally arrived. I get up remotely early just to get a head start on my day. But of course whenever I have something I need to do I have to do for my family first. Had to take my brother (or as I speak of him now, my son) to some school festival thingy to meet my mom (or as I call her now, my annoying younger sister). So I drop him off around noon and I head to Target for some retail therapy to get my day going wonderfuly. Stop off at Sally Beauty supply and purchase a new flat iron. The jury is still out whether I like it or not. But we'll see.
So I head back to the house, to shower and wash some clothes. I get home and instead I succomb to the comfort of my bed. I watch Elizabethtown for like the 10th billionth time. I enjoy all of Cameron Crowe's films, I guess cause of all the music. But I still don't like Kristin Dunst and this movie just makes me not like her more... but I digress. Next thing you know, my mom (annoying younger sister) reminds me that I need to take my brother (son) to work. Dang, I have like an hour to shower, get ready, wash clothes, take my brother to work. This wasn't going to happen. I hear my brother get into the shower. I'm screwed. You know what... this is the boring stuff. Let me fast forward to actually being in Austin.
Guillermo, I'm sure there's details in here that you had no idea but I felt like it would fall onto deaf ears if I tried to explain them to you that night.
I drive into Austin and call Guillermo over and over cause I don't know where I'm driving too. Luckily I still had his address on my phone when he gave it to me the week before. I've driven to Austin enough times and found his house with the quickness. But I couldn't seem to find his house though. Oh well, I was running low on gas so I stopped at a gas station to fill up. Around that time Guillermo texts me back to give me the address again, but I was already aware of where I was going. Finally he called me back and I swear as soon as I heard his voice I knew something was strange. I told him I couldn't find his house and he began to describe it to the best of his ability. Then shared with me the fact that he's on a bunch of mushrooms, and wasn't even at home. GRRREAT! Top it off, he didn't know where he was at. *sigh* A bit frustrated by this point cause I knew the show was going to start soon. I began my mission "Find Guillermo in Austin". He asked a random hippie and she told him that he was on N.Lamar and 24th. Fine, to N. Lamar i'll go!!
I drive down N.Lamar going down street by street... 40th, 39th, 38th... by this time he tells me that he's on 12th. And he keeps asking, do you know where Austin Java Shop is? ughhh... no. Come on, that's like asking someone not from San Antonio hey do you know where Thai Taste is? So I continue my quest on N.Lamar. Finally I find him! He hops into my car and we're off. He checks his GPS navigation system and we're .6 miles away from Elvis Perkins.
We park and we're off to Stubb's. I go through Will Call get out tickets and have to go through the security check. I hear the guy tell this girl, if you have a camera you have to take it to your car you can't bring it in. CRAP! I feel my camera in my bag so without anyone noticing I slip it into my pocket since they weren't patting anyone down and I put my big bag against my leg so when the guy checks my bag he doesn't see the buldge in my pocket, and no I was not happy to see him. He goes through my bag and sees an almost empty bottled water and screams "no water bottled waters allowed". I tell him "oh, no sweat" cause you don't know what I have in my pocket! And we're in!
First thing we hit up, like any red blooded American... the beer booth. Two Tecates each and it's time to find a spot amongst the crowd. We stand for a bit and share our last experiences of when we were at Stubb's when just at that moment... ELVIS PERKINS WALKS RIGHT PAST ME!!!!!!!! Holy Crap! I freeze as I watched him walk away. Oh my god, oh my god... he just walked past me. *take a deep breath* Guillermo senses my inner raging super fan-dom seep out of my pores. I don't care.. I'm geeking out by this point. A minute or so later, he's on stage and we move closer.
Elvis Perkins starts off by himself on stage and begins his set with "While You Were Sleeping", one by one the rest of the guys from the group join him on stage and it's just magical. The entire show is set to that hazy purple lighting and for one song it's bright yellow. The guys from Clap Your Hands Say Yeah join them for "Doomsday", and make a song about such tragedy of Sept. 11th into an upbeat and melodic sing-a-long. Of course I'm a sucker for "All the Night Without Love". That was for sure the highlight of the show for me. I knew I was going to enjoy the show but I didn't realize just how much I would. *geeking out now* I felt literaly carried away by his voice, and when he would sing a bit higher and louder I was intranced. The upright bass was amazing, the keyboard/accordian (not to sure of the exact name) was a great touch, and the large bass drum that the drummer threw on his shoulders and danced around with was awesome. I couldn't of enjoyed a show anymore. Too bad all the younglings in the crowd were talking a lot and the crazy security searching the crowd for some random "hoodlums" kinda took away from it, but for the most part it was just me and him. *swoon*
During the last song though, Guillermo tells me that he's ready to go somewhere where he can let his hair down and dance. OK I added the "let his hair down" part for mere comedic purposes. But Clap Your Hands hadn't even gone on yet, I wasn't ready to go. At all. I tell him, I have two missions. Mission #1 Meet Elvis Perkins, Mission #2 Dance to "Satan Said Dance" come on, song is Satan said dance... I have to do what Satan says. Anywho, fairly simple missions if you ask me. But those were my conditions.
We grab another tasty beer beverage and we being Mission #1. I assumed Elvis would be by the merch booth, nope. We stand by the entrance to the band area. I see everyone in the group except him. Clap Your Hands goes on stage. (side note - the lead singer to Clap Your Hands is a lot shorter than what I thought he was) We walk all around Stubb's then like two lovers seeing each other from across a crowded room, I spot Elvis Perkins. Of course, he doesn't notice me.. at all. But I notice him, not noticing me.
So we're standing by him for a bit he has some friends talking to him, his girl friend keeps a watchful eye on him so I decide if I'm going to approach him it's going to have to be short, but sweet. Then Guillermo starts moving in to talk to him, I grab him with the quickness. No way Jose, I was not going to let him slur any words to my Elvis Perkins. But nothing could of perpared me for what was about to happen. A little after my "Satan Said Dance" song started, out of the corner of my eye I see Guillermo say something to Elvis Perkins. I stood in fear, shock, embarrassment. I heard Guillermo utter, I don't usualy like Folk type music slakdjlkjsd, but I like bassist.... blaksjdlf bassist. Elvis looked at him, and said "Up-right bass... we'll that's exactly what we were on stage". You could tell Elvis was annoyed with what Guillermo had to say, so I tried to be the best damn Damage Control out there and I extended my hand and I told him It was a great show, Elvis merely shook my hand and said Thank You. The damage was done, my entire plan of how I was going to tell him that Ash Wednesday was one of my favorite albums, how his sound was something that I had been searching for my whole life, gone as quickly as Guillermo could slur any alcohol/mushroom induced words. I hung my head. Guillermo, asked if I was ready to go. I just wanted to leave out of embarrassment.
The entire time we head to 6th street he kept saying how Elvis Perkins was a dickhead, but I understood where he was coming from. If you were a talented muscian and had some billigerent guy mumble stuff to you while your talking to your friends I would be annoyed too. I guess it just comes with the territory, but I saw how he was talking to other fans and he seemed really nice. I think I'm still bitter. Anywho, so we head to El Casino and I eat an Eggplant sandwich of some sort and some dos equis. Then we head to The Jackaloupe and grab more beers. By this time I'm totaly exhausted and a bit drunk and I just want to go to bed. So we head back to my car. On the way, we pass by Stubbs and we see that Men Women and Children played that night as well. FUCK! I missed them too. I get bummed all over again. What a night.
We get back to Guillermo's place to watch Science of Sleep and I just want to do just that... Sleep. After a few distractions, and without finishing the movie I finaly doze off. I still want to finish watching the movie though. I think I'm gonna buy the DVD. Anywho, how would I rate the evening...
The entire night minus Guillermo's intoxicated conversation with Elvis Perkins = A++
The entire night with Guillermo's intoxicated conversation with Elvis Perkins = D-
Till next time.
-val-
So I head back to the house, to shower and wash some clothes. I get home and instead I succomb to the comfort of my bed. I watch Elizabethtown for like the 10th billionth time. I enjoy all of Cameron Crowe's films, I guess cause of all the music. But I still don't like Kristin Dunst and this movie just makes me not like her more... but I digress. Next thing you know, my mom (annoying younger sister) reminds me that I need to take my brother (son) to work. Dang, I have like an hour to shower, get ready, wash clothes, take my brother to work. This wasn't going to happen. I hear my brother get into the shower. I'm screwed. You know what... this is the boring stuff. Let me fast forward to actually being in Austin.
Guillermo, I'm sure there's details in here that you had no idea but I felt like it would fall onto deaf ears if I tried to explain them to you that night.
I drive into Austin and call Guillermo over and over cause I don't know where I'm driving too. Luckily I still had his address on my phone when he gave it to me the week before. I've driven to Austin enough times and found his house with the quickness. But I couldn't seem to find his house though. Oh well, I was running low on gas so I stopped at a gas station to fill up. Around that time Guillermo texts me back to give me the address again, but I was already aware of where I was going. Finally he called me back and I swear as soon as I heard his voice I knew something was strange. I told him I couldn't find his house and he began to describe it to the best of his ability. Then shared with me the fact that he's on a bunch of mushrooms, and wasn't even at home. GRRREAT! Top it off, he didn't know where he was at. *sigh* A bit frustrated by this point cause I knew the show was going to start soon. I began my mission "Find Guillermo in Austin". He asked a random hippie and she told him that he was on N.Lamar and 24th. Fine, to N. Lamar i'll go!!
I drive down N.Lamar going down street by street... 40th, 39th, 38th... by this time he tells me that he's on 12th. And he keeps asking, do you know where Austin Java Shop is? ughhh... no. Come on, that's like asking someone not from San Antonio hey do you know where Thai Taste is? So I continue my quest on N.Lamar. Finally I find him! He hops into my car and we're off. He checks his GPS navigation system and we're .6 miles away from Elvis Perkins.
We park and we're off to Stubb's. I go through Will Call get out tickets and have to go through the security check. I hear the guy tell this girl, if you have a camera you have to take it to your car you can't bring it in. CRAP! I feel my camera in my bag so without anyone noticing I slip it into my pocket since they weren't patting anyone down and I put my big bag against my leg so when the guy checks my bag he doesn't see the buldge in my pocket, and no I was not happy to see him. He goes through my bag and sees an almost empty bottled water and screams "no water bottled waters allowed". I tell him "oh, no sweat" cause you don't know what I have in my pocket! And we're in!
First thing we hit up, like any red blooded American... the beer booth. Two Tecates each and it's time to find a spot amongst the crowd. We stand for a bit and share our last experiences of when we were at Stubb's when just at that moment... ELVIS PERKINS WALKS RIGHT PAST ME!!!!!!!! Holy Crap! I freeze as I watched him walk away. Oh my god, oh my god... he just walked past me. *take a deep breath* Guillermo senses my inner raging super fan-dom seep out of my pores. I don't care.. I'm geeking out by this point. A minute or so later, he's on stage and we move closer.
Elvis Perkins starts off by himself on stage and begins his set with "While You Were Sleeping", one by one the rest of the guys from the group join him on stage and it's just magical. The entire show is set to that hazy purple lighting and for one song it's bright yellow. The guys from Clap Your Hands Say Yeah join them for "Doomsday", and make a song about such tragedy of Sept. 11th into an upbeat and melodic sing-a-long. Of course I'm a sucker for "All the Night Without Love". That was for sure the highlight of the show for me. I knew I was going to enjoy the show but I didn't realize just how much I would. *geeking out now* I felt literaly carried away by his voice, and when he would sing a bit higher and louder I was intranced. The upright bass was amazing, the keyboard/accordian (not to sure of the exact name) was a great touch, and the large bass drum that the drummer threw on his shoulders and danced around with was awesome. I couldn't of enjoyed a show anymore. Too bad all the younglings in the crowd were talking a lot and the crazy security searching the crowd for some random "hoodlums" kinda took away from it, but for the most part it was just me and him. *swoon*
During the last song though, Guillermo tells me that he's ready to go somewhere where he can let his hair down and dance. OK I added the "let his hair down" part for mere comedic purposes. But Clap Your Hands hadn't even gone on yet, I wasn't ready to go. At all. I tell him, I have two missions. Mission #1 Meet Elvis Perkins, Mission #2 Dance to "Satan Said Dance" come on, song is Satan said dance... I have to do what Satan says. Anywho, fairly simple missions if you ask me. But those were my conditions.
We grab another tasty beer beverage and we being Mission #1. I assumed Elvis would be by the merch booth, nope. We stand by the entrance to the band area. I see everyone in the group except him. Clap Your Hands goes on stage. (side note - the lead singer to Clap Your Hands is a lot shorter than what I thought he was) We walk all around Stubb's then like two lovers seeing each other from across a crowded room, I spot Elvis Perkins. Of course, he doesn't notice me.. at all. But I notice him, not noticing me.
So we're standing by him for a bit he has some friends talking to him, his girl friend keeps a watchful eye on him so I decide if I'm going to approach him it's going to have to be short, but sweet. Then Guillermo starts moving in to talk to him, I grab him with the quickness. No way Jose, I was not going to let him slur any words to my Elvis Perkins. But nothing could of perpared me for what was about to happen. A little after my "Satan Said Dance" song started, out of the corner of my eye I see Guillermo say something to Elvis Perkins. I stood in fear, shock, embarrassment. I heard Guillermo utter, I don't usualy like Folk type music slakdjlkjsd, but I like bassist.... blaksjdlf bassist. Elvis looked at him, and said "Up-right bass... we'll that's exactly what we were on stage". You could tell Elvis was annoyed with what Guillermo had to say, so I tried to be the best damn Damage Control out there and I extended my hand and I told him It was a great show, Elvis merely shook my hand and said Thank You. The damage was done, my entire plan of how I was going to tell him that Ash Wednesday was one of my favorite albums, how his sound was something that I had been searching for my whole life, gone as quickly as Guillermo could slur any alcohol/mushroom induced words. I hung my head. Guillermo, asked if I was ready to go. I just wanted to leave out of embarrassment.
The entire time we head to 6th street he kept saying how Elvis Perkins was a dickhead, but I understood where he was coming from. If you were a talented muscian and had some billigerent guy mumble stuff to you while your talking to your friends I would be annoyed too. I guess it just comes with the territory, but I saw how he was talking to other fans and he seemed really nice. I think I'm still bitter. Anywho, so we head to El Casino and I eat an Eggplant sandwich of some sort and some dos equis. Then we head to The Jackaloupe and grab more beers. By this time I'm totaly exhausted and a bit drunk and I just want to go to bed. So we head back to my car. On the way, we pass by Stubbs and we see that Men Women and Children played that night as well. FUCK! I missed them too. I get bummed all over again. What a night.
We get back to Guillermo's place to watch Science of Sleep and I just want to do just that... Sleep. After a few distractions, and without finishing the movie I finaly doze off. I still want to finish watching the movie though. I think I'm gonna buy the DVD. Anywho, how would I rate the evening...
The entire night minus Guillermo's intoxicated conversation with Elvis Perkins = A++
The entire night with Guillermo's intoxicated conversation with Elvis Perkins = D-
Till next time.
-val-
Friday, April 27, 2007
server shmerver!!
Our server was down for the past 3 days here at work. Dang, I was out-of-my-mind bored! 10 years ago I never wen't on this thing called internet. I never owned a computer till I was a freshman in college, and when I got on the internet for the first time it was mearly to chat on all the yahoo chat rooms. Lame right? Yea, we'll I guess Myspace is my new Yahoo chat room. It's the first thing I log onto when I get on the internet, and probably the last thing I check before I turn of my computer. Sad, I know.
Anywho, so It's Friday and pretty much everyone is gone from the office except yours truly. *sigh* A receptionist job is never over. I hardly get any calls on Friday though, especially on the day of the Battle of Flowers Parade. God forbid if they make someone in San Antonio actually work on this day! Yea so I think I've only answered a total of maybe 6 calls. It's 1:30 and I've been here since 8am. I don't get my next bombardment of calls till 2-3pm but that only lasts about a 10 min period. O.K. I think i'm starting to sound like an SAT question, given this information how much free time do I have today? Just Kidding.
I'm boring myself with this blog. I'll write more when I have something more meaningful and worth reading.
Anywho, so It's Friday and pretty much everyone is gone from the office except yours truly. *sigh* A receptionist job is never over. I hardly get any calls on Friday though, especially on the day of the Battle of Flowers Parade. God forbid if they make someone in San Antonio actually work on this day! Yea so I think I've only answered a total of maybe 6 calls. It's 1:30 and I've been here since 8am. I don't get my next bombardment of calls till 2-3pm but that only lasts about a 10 min period. O.K. I think i'm starting to sound like an SAT question, given this information how much free time do I have today? Just Kidding.
I'm boring myself with this blog. I'll write more when I have something more meaningful and worth reading.
Monday, April 23, 2007
Elvis Perkins in Dearland...
is magnificent. period.
I think I'm officaly in the "freak-out" mode, because I'm going to see him on Saturday. You have no idea how long i've been waiting for this moment. I couldn't see him at SXSW cause his day show was on Thursday and I had to work, and well I didn't have a badge/wristband to see him at La Zona Rosa that night. So here we are.... it's Monday and I'm gonna see him at Stubb's on Saturday.
Is there a raging super fan code that I need to follow? I don't have that memo or read that article yet, I don't want to go up to him like a pre-pubscent teen going up to manufactured singer in a boy band who's posters cover my walls. I want to be cool, hip and smart. How does this sound... "Hey Elvis. Good show man!" I don't say man, I never say man. How about... "ELVIIIIIISSS!!!!" Nah, that's too Elvis-has-just-left-the-building crazy. See how I'm over analyzing all this.
Seriously if you don't own Ash Wednesday by now, you need to hurry up and go get it. This album as seriously changed my life. I'm a big Bobby Dylan fan, can I call him that? And Perkins really does remind me of Dylan's younger days in a strange way. I will definetly post more about him, especially after the show because I have a feeling i'm going to come back in love him music and want him to sing to me every night before we fall asleep. What? I know, I'll stop.
Friday, April 13, 2007
one last thought.
EBAY IS SLOWLY DESTROYING MY EVERY BEING.
If I get outbid for an xylophone again I'm canceling my ebay account. I honestly think people on this site don't really care about buying something they just want to outbid everyone and jack up the prices higher and higher. An xylophone people COME ON!! What do you want with this particualar Xylophone that you haven't gotten outta the 257 items that you've already purchased on this site. raaaaaaaaaaaawww!!!
ok one last auction and I think i'm done.
-val-
If I get outbid for an xylophone again I'm canceling my ebay account. I honestly think people on this site don't really care about buying something they just want to outbid everyone and jack up the prices higher and higher. An xylophone people COME ON!! What do you want with this particualar Xylophone that you haven't gotten outta the 257 items that you've already purchased on this site. raaaaaaaaaaaawww!!!
ok one last auction and I think i'm done.
-val-
how long does it take to post a new blog?
So much to go over, so little time.
I spent pretty much Easter weekend indoors cause of the End-Of-World weather change. It was all gloomy and cold. I did help my mom decorate cupcakes to look like little easter bunnies. omg, they came out really great. I hate getting excited about things like that, because it makes me realize my age more and more.
Anywho my cousins came over to the house on Easter and we all watched Stranger Than Fiction. This was actually the first time I ever saw it. Can I just say that I never saw Will Ferrell as a cute, romantic kinda guy. But now that I saw this movie, I'm like... well hello there Mr. Ferrell. This seriously was a really good movie. It was cute, witty, dark, and intricate with all the computer details. I wish I knew the actual name of the computer program, maybe I wouldn't sound so generic when I say "computer details". Oh well.
Back to Easter, we did the obligatory Mexican cracking of the cascarones on each others head. Who started this weird and violent tradition, I have no idea. Perhaps when Jesus was resurrected the Disciples couldn't believe it was him standing for before them, so they had to crack something on his head to see if he was real or not. I bet Jesus with his sense of humor did that ol' "Ouch that hurt! PSYCH!!!" Gave those Disciples a bit of a scare, but then they all laughed and crack things over each others head, which we do now with egg shells filled with confetti. Oh to be the historian who writes down all these traditions.
Jump to Monday... JURY DUTY!! dun dun dun.
What an exhausting day at court. First there was well over a hundred of my fellow jurors waiting with me. Then the judge came and gave her shpeil about being a juror. yada yada yada... The moderator lady starting calling the names in the first panel and who do you think got called. Yup, yours truly. Well at least it was the first panel and I didn't have to wait in the big room that long. Well they line us up in our number order. I was lucky number 27. Is that even lucky, who cares? They take us to our court room and the lawyers in the case ask all these questions and if we want to answer yes we raise our number. It's kinda like being at an auction and we're gonna bid on an item, except here the item we're bidding on is a seat as a juror i this case. Well they tell us that they're only chosing 6 out of our group of 30. Ok, the odds me being in the jury were leaning a bit more in my favor. We go through a good two hours of questions and they finally select. No folks I was not chosen. Instead we were realeased to the big room and then eventually they released us for the day. Thank god. I'm officaly 4 dollars richer. It should of been 6, but I had to pay 2 bucks for parking. LAME.
I literaly came home drained. I think jury duty sucked all energy and life out of me through my ears. Painful? Oh yes it was.
This week at work as definetly been a long one. Not cause I have so much work to do, blah blah. No it's boring, time drags or as I like to say stands still. My boss is gone *breath a sigh of relief*, actually all bosses will be gone for a week. Its a good break. Honestly, I can't complain about this job. I get paid to sit here and check my Myspace, blog to you fine people, hotmail, craigslist, ebay. I definetly can't complain what so ever. I have my tiny stresses here at work, some guys can be a bit rude and talk down to me. Fine, I realize you engineers make the big bucks I'm just merely your servant Receptionist answering your calls. If I were making big cheese I guess I would walk around with my chest puffed out as well. One day.. some day.
Ok so I told myself that I have to really try and post a blog either everyday or every other day. I signed up for this, so I have to do it. Kinda like having a gym membership, I have to go... no wait. Bad analogy, I'm not paying for this site. ugh, whatever. I'm done for today.
Till next time.
-val-
I spent pretty much Easter weekend indoors cause of the End-Of-World weather change. It was all gloomy and cold. I did help my mom decorate cupcakes to look like little easter bunnies. omg, they came out really great. I hate getting excited about things like that, because it makes me realize my age more and more.
Anywho my cousins came over to the house on Easter and we all watched Stranger Than Fiction. This was actually the first time I ever saw it. Can I just say that I never saw Will Ferrell as a cute, romantic kinda guy. But now that I saw this movie, I'm like... well hello there Mr. Ferrell. This seriously was a really good movie. It was cute, witty, dark, and intricate with all the computer details. I wish I knew the actual name of the computer program, maybe I wouldn't sound so generic when I say "computer details". Oh well.
Back to Easter, we did the obligatory Mexican cracking of the cascarones on each others head. Who started this weird and violent tradition, I have no idea. Perhaps when Jesus was resurrected the Disciples couldn't believe it was him standing for before them, so they had to crack something on his head to see if he was real or not. I bet Jesus with his sense of humor did that ol' "Ouch that hurt! PSYCH!!!" Gave those Disciples a bit of a scare, but then they all laughed and crack things over each others head, which we do now with egg shells filled with confetti. Oh to be the historian who writes down all these traditions.
Jump to Monday... JURY DUTY!! dun dun dun.
What an exhausting day at court. First there was well over a hundred of my fellow jurors waiting with me. Then the judge came and gave her shpeil about being a juror. yada yada yada... The moderator lady starting calling the names in the first panel and who do you think got called. Yup, yours truly. Well at least it was the first panel and I didn't have to wait in the big room that long. Well they line us up in our number order. I was lucky number 27. Is that even lucky, who cares? They take us to our court room and the lawyers in the case ask all these questions and if we want to answer yes we raise our number. It's kinda like being at an auction and we're gonna bid on an item, except here the item we're bidding on is a seat as a juror i this case. Well they tell us that they're only chosing 6 out of our group of 30. Ok, the odds me being in the jury were leaning a bit more in my favor. We go through a good two hours of questions and they finally select. No folks I was not chosen. Instead we were realeased to the big room and then eventually they released us for the day. Thank god. I'm officaly 4 dollars richer. It should of been 6, but I had to pay 2 bucks for parking. LAME.
I literaly came home drained. I think jury duty sucked all energy and life out of me through my ears. Painful? Oh yes it was.
This week at work as definetly been a long one. Not cause I have so much work to do, blah blah. No it's boring, time drags or as I like to say stands still. My boss is gone *breath a sigh of relief*, actually all bosses will be gone for a week. Its a good break. Honestly, I can't complain about this job. I get paid to sit here and check my Myspace, blog to you fine people, hotmail, craigslist, ebay. I definetly can't complain what so ever. I have my tiny stresses here at work, some guys can be a bit rude and talk down to me. Fine, I realize you engineers make the big bucks I'm just merely your servant Receptionist answering your calls. If I were making big cheese I guess I would walk around with my chest puffed out as well. One day.. some day.
Ok so I told myself that I have to really try and post a blog either everyday or every other day. I signed up for this, so I have to do it. Kinda like having a gym membership, I have to go... no wait. Bad analogy, I'm not paying for this site. ugh, whatever. I'm done for today.
Till next time.
-val-
Monday, April 2, 2007
it's all apples and oranges..
My coffee was really disgusting this morning. I usualy look forward to nice hot cup of coffee but for some reason it tasted awful, like a spoiled rotten after taste in my mouth. I don't use milk or cold cream in my coffee just that dehydrated creamer. How could it spoil? Maybe it was old coffee, who knows.
Anyways, so I decided that this week will be the week that I purchase the Xylophone that i've wanted to buy since returning from SXSW. I'm on a mission to play the xylophone in a band now, it will happen... oh yes, it will. Then I'm watching a rerun of SNL on well.. Saturday and the hillarious Rainn Wilson was hosting with musical guest Arcade Fire. Let me just say that Arcade Fire is an amazing band and I really want to see them live. So I'm watching them perform on SNL and one of the guys in AF was playing what instrument.... A FREAKIN XYLOPHONE!!! See folks, it's meant to be. I am going to be a hardcore xylophone player. I will rock and roll with those cute little plastic mallets. Who's with me?
Also I want to learn to do a Rubicks Cube in like 2 minutes. Do you think I can learn that in a month? I looked online to find cheat sites to learn how to do it, and the one that I found was crazy Algebreic in solving it. I just want to know that if i turn it 3 times to right and twist once left i'll get one row. That's not to crazy, I can memorize that. Not when your solving for X before you turn a row, jeeze. That's just nuts.
Another thing I want to accomplish this month is make a shirt. I have my sewing machine collecting dust and I have some cute material now all I need to do is put it all together and make something fancy. I'm tired of going shopping and not liking anything I see, or look at something and want to motify it in everywhich way possible. I just need to make my own clothes, that way I wont be at a bar and a girl will have the same top on as me. Believe me it's happened before. I joked to her like, wow... what an amazing top. She wasn't having it, she rolled her eyes and left the bathroom. Oh yea, we were in the bathroom. So to prevent freak accidents like that, I need to make my own clothes. When I was little and my aunts or grandma would make me clothes I would die of embarrassment, now I long for the originality of something made with love. I'll wear that plaid jumpsuit Grandma!! I will!
I want new cd's. What do you reccommend? Oh speaking of new music, sorta. I was watching Subterriean last night which is usualy where I get to see all my "indie" like music videos for one day during the week for just one hour. Lately I've noticed that Jim Shrear the host of the show is missing... completely. Instead it's a band hosting, which can be cool and they just play music videos over their ramblings at some resturant. LAME-O! After a bit of research on the old Inter-net I learn that the entire staff of MTV2 was fired and instead they are just going to re-run all the horrible show that you see on regular MTV and now Subterriean is host-less. Now not that I was a raging super fan of Jim Shearer however you spell his last name, but I did like the fact that it was hosted. I knew that he was going to interview a cool band at some point in the show and throw out some tidbits of useless music info that I needed to get through that week. But now... nothing. I couldn't even understand the band that was on last night so eventually I found myself switching channels on and off. And so ended 120 minutes, Headbangers Ball and probably soon too Subterrianen.
OK I just got busy here at work. I'll write more in a bit.
Saturday, March 31, 2007
Somethings got to give!
My brother moved out today. OK well not exactly moved out, most of his stuff is still here but he's out of the house indefinitely. Being a child of this family as well, I understand all pains and stress being a "Sanchez". When I was my brothers age I always stressed out to the point that I ulcers. ULCERS!! I was in high school, what could I possibly be so worked up about? But of course, we think that our world is going to change if we don't get to go to a party or something so lame like that when we're a teenager.
Anyway, I think the whole situation with my brother is very melodramatic and played out. I would go into detail but just for sake of my folks I'll just keep it hush. Pretty much, my brother is fed up with my dad and he left to go stay with his friend and at his grandma's apartment. Fine. I can sit back and relax cause there is no more tension in the house. WRONG! Now I'm going to be the one their going to unleash the beast to. I'm going to get the rough end the stick now. OK so I know I'm 26 and what can they tell me? You obviously haven't lived in this house, I'll probably be married with 3 kids and still have my parents breathing down my neck and telling me how I messed up. If it were up to my parents they would keep me in my cage (room) and never let me come out, at least I'd know I would have a place to stay.
I've dealt with the very over-protective tendencies that my parents use, and at 26 it can be a bit, oh who am i kidding... VERY RIDICULOUS!!! Seriously, If I want to go out It's an entire process. I put on barely any makeup so I won't look like I'm trying to get attention, that's for my dad. I try and wear the most casual outfit so I don't look like a Jezebel of the night, that's for my mom. I wear good bra and undies, that's for me. I open my door, walk down the hall and by this time they hear my shoes and know I'm leaving so i get the 200, not 20 question about where I'm going, what I'm going to be doing and lastly I get the "You better not be drinking.." lecture and "Don't come home late.." Oh God, I just want to be able to walk out of my house for once without all that. This is why I don't go out as much as I used to since I've moved back home.
Can I just say that I'm stressed out. Like how I was in high school, stressed out. I have my brother telling me how he's upset with my folks, I have my mom telling me how she's upset with my dad and my brother and I have my dad telling me how he's upset with my mom and brother. So who wants to listen to me?!?!
Welcome to my blog.
Anyway, I think the whole situation with my brother is very melodramatic and played out. I would go into detail but just for sake of my folks I'll just keep it hush. Pretty much, my brother is fed up with my dad and he left to go stay with his friend and at his grandma's apartment. Fine. I can sit back and relax cause there is no more tension in the house. WRONG! Now I'm going to be the one their going to unleash the beast to. I'm going to get the rough end the stick now. OK so I know I'm 26 and what can they tell me? You obviously haven't lived in this house, I'll probably be married with 3 kids and still have my parents breathing down my neck and telling me how I messed up. If it were up to my parents they would keep me in my cage (room) and never let me come out, at least I'd know I would have a place to stay.
I've dealt with the very over-protective tendencies that my parents use, and at 26 it can be a bit, oh who am i kidding... VERY RIDICULOUS!!! Seriously, If I want to go out It's an entire process. I put on barely any makeup so I won't look like I'm trying to get attention, that's for my dad. I try and wear the most casual outfit so I don't look like a Jezebel of the night, that's for my mom. I wear good bra and undies, that's for me. I open my door, walk down the hall and by this time they hear my shoes and know I'm leaving so i get the 200, not 20 question about where I'm going, what I'm going to be doing and lastly I get the "You better not be drinking.." lecture and "Don't come home late.." Oh God, I just want to be able to walk out of my house for once without all that. This is why I don't go out as much as I used to since I've moved back home.
Can I just say that I'm stressed out. Like how I was in high school, stressed out. I have my brother telling me how he's upset with my folks, I have my mom telling me how she's upset with my dad and my brother and I have my dad telling me how he's upset with my mom and brother. So who wants to listen to me?!?!
Welcome to my blog.
Friday, March 30, 2007
to tea, or not to tea that is the question.
Last Tuesday (March 20) I went to the doctor and was put on this diet that only allows me to eat 1200 calories a day. So I'm not allowed to eat anything, well that's good. Which brings me to my favorite drink, nice good old fashioned Southern Sweet Tea with Lemon. Yum yum! Now i don't know how the Southern part makes a difference, but just for story sake stay with me. So on a usual day I could drink about 5-6 glasses of sweet tea in a day. Sometimes it would a whole lot more, and some times a least 2, but my point being is that I would consume an ungodly amount of sugar drinking all this tea. Imagine how much sugar is in one glass full, then 5 a day, imagine a week... month. Get it?
So now I sit here drinking UNSWEET tea. I started this actually a while ago, not added sweetner if it was sweetened already and I was doing good. But when I got home I new there was a full pitcher of it just screaming my name. Well it's been an offical week and half since the sweetness has touch my lips and oddly enough I'm doing alright. So I'm getting used the unsweetned tea, honestly.. it's just water with a little aftertaste. And not like that mineral like aftertaste, a brewed fresh taste that's so familar to me. OK I'm sounding like a weirdo now, but now you know how big a role Iced Tea plays in my life.
Fave Tea - Bill Millers, McAllisters lots of lemon in both!
Not so Fave Tea - Chinese Resturants where they refill it like 20 times in one sitting.
Rain rain go away... come again another day.
So I'm at work and it's just utterly disgusting outside. It won't stop raining and it just puts me in this gloom and doom mood. I would much rather be laying down in bed watching everything that i have DVRd for the week. I think i have a weeks worth of Oprah, The Black Donnelly's, that new show October something. I forget now what it's called. Anywho, but laying in bed just vegging out sounds a bit more entertaining than being a drone here at work waiting for the phone to ring.
You see folks I'm a receptionist a respectable engineering company, but the only thing is I started working here when it became ridiculously slow. So my entire 8-5 shift is basically spent on Myspace, EBay, Google and whatever else is entertaining on the Internet. I bought XM satellite radio but I haven't purchased the home dock and speakers so i can listen to it here at the front desk. In fact I haven't even installed it in my car so I basically have it still in the box sitting my room. I was real quick to activate it but i guess I'm not so speedy to install. So i stare at my Cd's that I've listened to over and over again here at work, and I realize that I have horrible taste in music and I want to start over fresh.
If my job was more like the NBC show The Office where I sit in the front facing everyone that I work with, maybe time would go by a bit faster. Instead my desk is in the front of the building and everyone sits in cubicles in the back. *sigh* I have my boss to talk to, but who wants to do that? Everyday? All day? That why I figure that a blog would be a great thing to start. I can just post everything that happens all day long for you reading enjoyment and I'll feel like i have accomplished something worthwhile in my day besides the usual transferring of calls, making copies, faxing.
Looks like this one will be short and sweet, but there will be more to come, soon... possibly within the next couple of hours so keep an eye out.
You see folks I'm a receptionist a respectable engineering company, but the only thing is I started working here when it became ridiculously slow. So my entire 8-5 shift is basically spent on Myspace, EBay, Google and whatever else is entertaining on the Internet. I bought XM satellite radio but I haven't purchased the home dock and speakers so i can listen to it here at the front desk. In fact I haven't even installed it in my car so I basically have it still in the box sitting my room. I was real quick to activate it but i guess I'm not so speedy to install. So i stare at my Cd's that I've listened to over and over again here at work, and I realize that I have horrible taste in music and I want to start over fresh.
If my job was more like the NBC show The Office where I sit in the front facing everyone that I work with, maybe time would go by a bit faster. Instead my desk is in the front of the building and everyone sits in cubicles in the back. *sigh* I have my boss to talk to, but who wants to do that? Everyday? All day? That why I figure that a blog would be a great thing to start. I can just post everything that happens all day long for you reading enjoyment and I'll feel like i have accomplished something worthwhile in my day besides the usual transferring of calls, making copies, faxing.
Looks like this one will be short and sweet, but there will be more to come, soon... possibly within the next couple of hours so keep an eye out.
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