It has been an interesting few days. My sister and the kids came down for Thanksgiving. I had pulled out my entire Harry Potter series for Spencer, and all of my old Barbie furniture for the girls. My brother in law over the last couple days has been reading the books more than assisting my sister with the 3 little terrors that are their kids. Spencer was about half way through the first book when they left this morning....

Benjamin came for Thanksgiving this year. I can not begin to say just how happy this made my family. Particularly my sister and I. We love the boy and he's been adopted into the family as one of our own. He'd hurt himself a day or two ago and that just set my mother, my sister, and myself into overbearing mothering mode worrying about his health, his health insurance, and seeing that he gets to a doctor. Wound up taking him to urgent care on Friday to be sure that it was just an ankle issue and not another blood clot, as he's already had one near fatal incident...He says he appreciates the worry and the concern, though my mother's inherent Italian mother in her has managed to scare him a little. I need to call him tomorrow to be sure he's alright....

Christopher and I had a long, really good talk the other night. I think that boy is ready to move on with his life in terms of us. He'd been holding onto it for so long, but from what he had to say I'm glad to hear that he feels ready to try and start being social again and meet new people. He can't hang with my crowd forever, and I'd moved on well over a year or so ago....We are and probably always will be extremely good friends. It makes me relieved and extremely happy though that he is making an effort to expand his lifestyle a bit down here and not rely on me entirely.

I am in love with the new pandora.com station I created around Seal. I already had one for Sting and a lot of the songs are the same, save for the inclusion of Dido and Sade...its very mellow and I'm totally chill. Just what I needed. Its my new favorite aside from my Heart station with Stevie Nicks...

I have an interview tomorrow morning with a temp agency. Hoping something comes of that. I've been submitting resumes like crazy to drum up some extra work. So far no bites save for a potential gig at Michael's. Waiting to hear on that one...

Shok just got back in town tonight. This makes me happy. Having both of my "brothers" in one spot makes me very happy. Now I just need to arrange for a hangout/smoothie day and all will be good. Heck, I need to make sure that these 2 meet. Ben is skeptical of Shok, but Shok is a good person to know if he intends on moving into the area, particularly his building. That shocked me when Ben was expressing interest in it. I don't even think there are any open units....

My little guy's tail feathers are growing in finally which makes me happy, I've been worried about my little stub tailed budgie...

*contented puddle*

Working on a show called Land of the Tigers currently. Its interesting. Not SF interesting, as Chris was asking me this evening, but it still makes you think a little. And the absurdity of some of the music is just...odd. At least I think I've made a lasting connection with the company and the producer, so it'll lead to more work down the line. That would be awesome as theater is my passion.

Looking for more stable work as Universal is at a stand still right now. I have an interview with Michael's in the morning. Meh. But a few dollars is a few dollars. And I owe my folks money. My folks think I'm in some crazy financial trouble due to a credit card bill they accidentally opened. Not entirely. I was paying it off. Trips to NY will set you back a few...Long story short, they flipped, helped me out, but also got rid of the cards. I can deal. For now....but I do need 1 card. Can't live without it. Cash goes only so far with the work schedule I got right now. And its been hell cause my mother is on my case about finding decent work etc. I refuse to get back into legal. No more anxiety and panic attacks since I quit. My health is better and I'm a happier person. I'm not going back.

Ben is in town now and I'm just trying to visit with my "big brother" as much as possible while he's here. TMZ has him here on a trial contract through mid December. Then they decide if they're going to keep him or send him back to NY. He's been my rock lately with all the crap I've been dealing with parents wise so its been nice having him around.

Caught the sinus infection that's been going around and caught up with me due to the hours I keep during October. My house has not been a quiet one as all three of us had some form of it or another, though thankfully mine was only minor, both of my folks are on antibiotics of some sort. Other than that, I keep getting asked if I have the flu. Ah swine flu, how you've managed to freak out the general public. For good reason, but oi!

Early morning, or I'd write more.

So active work ends for me on Saturday. I've been applying like crazy to everywhere I can think of and just waiting for something to bite. Its been a good run though. Made new actor friends, got closer to some other friends....weeded out the weaklings from the newbies that are working....honestly...tech curtain calls...unprofessional....but I digress...

Folks were back East for 2 weeks. I had the run of the place. So it was nice and quiet. I basically sat around like a bump on a log and slept. During the month of October I don't get much of anything productive done except sleep. And that's due to the long hours of HHN that I keep. Its a paycheck and I love it, so I do it, but my social/extracurricular life comes to a standstill until November. I did get to Disneyland last week though, awesome pumpkins everywhere and Ghost Galaxy Space Mountain did make me jump. And the fireworks, oh man, that was an awesome show....

Shok leaves for a week to go back East, but like me, when I left for NY, he needs the trip. Lots going on with him. I'll miss him, he's one of my best friends at work, and I've not been able to do much hanging out with him minus the sound booth at work, and I don't do that often, as a) I don't want to get him in trouble and b) I don't like it back there....but at least...

Ben is in L.A.!!! And he's agreed to come to dinner! I am excited, I adore him so much. He's residing out by the Grove though and that's a bit of a drive, but thankfully, I'm all for drives.... I'm contemplating a road trip to NorCal after the New Year....I finally have a car to do it in, and I miss you people!

Its been a zany month...complete with incidents at work and all sorts of insanity.

I need another job...what else is new.....

my sleep schedule for October, as usual, has been up down and side ways....bed before 2....what's that?

I love Bill and Ted's. I may take the job a touch too seriously, but we are "professionals" and its a "professional" show. So no crazy high school esque antics during the last show, hear us newbie?! We almost made her cry....

I just got up....wee

Let's see....

Currently dealing with Halloween Horror Nights at work. I have yet to venture out of the venue as my show keeps us busy, as do little incidents such as this:



All is well minus a couple holes in the proscenium and slider...rehearsal tomorrow as they've scratched the whole opening and need to rework the pyro as the fire marshal won't let us use certain pieces now. I don't want to venture too far out into the park anyways. I hate the chainsaw wielding scaractors, and as much as I want to see the front of the park, I can hold out.

Applying like crazy for some other work, in the meantime enjoying the amount of overtime and penalty the company has to pay us for working these hours...yet I have just recovered from the lack of sleep only for it to begin again tomorrow....

Folks leave for Boston in a few days. I can't wait. Quiet. And meeting up with some folks I haven't seen in forever so I'm happy.

Bill and Ted's this year is focusing on the uber fanboy one might find at ComicCon

They're totally defaming all that is holy in the name of the Peanuts franchise...
By having the two main Twilight characters enact the whole Schroeder Lucy thing...and then have a "sleestack" (I never saw Land of the Lost....) do the Snoopy dance to Linus and Lucy....

I find it cute, but also in poor taste...
Then again my reaction to our Michael Jackson tribute is, Enough Already!
I find Cobra Commanders lack of vision due to his helmet and constant walking into things highly humorous though....
And new Kirk vs. Old Kirk....silly...
I don't get the emergence of Kahn.....I believe he's from the 2nd Star Trek movie....

We're using $100 a piece "lightsabres" in the opening number.....

Its another odd year.

When I go to NY on Monday, it will be in the middle of Fashion Week. Ben is already hinting at parties, which is making me rethink my entire wardrobe. I love the guy but I do sometimes wish he wasn't so image conscious. But I guess that's what happens when you've been a fashion journalist for so many years. It makes me second guess everything, as well as keep on top of trends, but mostly freak out if it involves him directly.

In the meantime I can't wait for my trip. Mandatory visits to the Met and Strawberry Fields are in order, there's a walking tour I'm looking into and I think the winner for musical to see is Rock of Ages.

*giddy with excitement*

Judging by the direct message I got on Twitter from Shok...the boy needs a ride tomorrow. Well, he's just going to have to do without his chauffeur for the day. Its my day off. And I offered it today and he decided to call in sick. He really needs to fix that scooter...

Instead I'll be home waiting for the cable guy (makes me think of the Jim Carey movie...hated it). I guess the folks are switching phone service or something.

I just created a station centered on Heart on Pandora....

Angie is feeling very chill...

Toto's Africa is oddly soothing this evening....

Maybe its because this is one of the rare Sunday's I'm not out tearing up the town with Shok and the rest of the crazy Hollywood Hipster Goth Artistic Musician types that are his friends.

How I mesh in that crowd.....confounds me still....but they are awesome....

Normalcy...and Verde's love....that's been my day today...and work in the morning...

Shok says I need to move to NY for a year and just experience life....

Last person who said such a thing wound up phoning my sister for my number so that they could apologize profusely for stepping out of line.....and yet Ben and I are still close and I'm going to see him finally, and I can't wait.

Shok might have a point. But unless Ben is willing to have a roommate that won't be able to afford even a smidge of the rent unless something miraculous happens...Not happening.

I'm going, I'm vacationing. I'm going to see things I haven't seen yet and others I love seeing over and over...and if I scrounge up any leads...maybe do a little job hunting....

One of the SM's suggested renting a car and going to Upstate New York. Uh, no. The cabbies...or dear lord the cabbies....and everyone else driving around in that city. Bleh!

I hate being scared, yet I work our Halloween Horror Nights...and willingly walk the streets and snap photos of the scareactors....mind, I'm snapping and walking away really fast...or running in some cases....

Working auditions this week for Rocky Horror, a new show for us...Vampire dancers...and Go-Go Dancers....from Hell! I kind of feel sorry for those gals, but the concept intrigues me: Greed and Lust, dancing on a 7 ft. high stage while "flame cannons" shoot 20ft. tall flames in the air, wearing nothing but a bra, panties...and a ton of blood. And shoes if they're lucky....Our casting director today, "Hopefully none of you will catch on fire..." O.o

I am anxiously awaiting my assignment. I want to know so that I'll be prepared when I get back from NY. And what to expect...more or less, as Rocky is easy to figure, but B&T is still being written.

But yeah...this is what you get when you work for a studio that pioneered the horror film genre...

http://www.halloweenhorrornights.com/hollywood/gallery.html

Concept art for this years Scareactors and dancers...I pray I don't have to go my department offices on Parisian street during the event, as the "Freak" characters look particularly menacing...and they will follow you, regardless of being an employee or not....but then again, I've had them come up to me...notice my name badge...and then walk away...

Been extremely busy with work this summer. Unfortunately its been working on a show that has little staying power. I spent part of my shift yesterday in the catwalks refilling confetti cannons while trying to eavesdrop (literally, as I was up in the eaves) on the C.E.O.'s conversation with the head of Entertainment, Creative, as well as a few other in regards to the shows longevity, which they were holding in the house. From what I could gather, they were tossing around the possibility of rewrites and lyric changes...my dad likes to theorize that they were trying to decide if the guy who came up with the idea should get sacked. I believe the creators are an outside company and we've got a contract of at least 3 years with them on this...

In the meantime trying to not stress out over Halloween assignments and focus on the impending trip to NY (YAY!). Benjamin is in L.A. actually for meetings...of course he tells me after the fact and that he's at the Beverly Hills Hotel (!!!). He got a particularly wordy email back in regards to letting me know in advance. Even my dad was like, and he's not going to visit? He always does this...I'm just surprised he's flying so soon after being hospitalized for blood clots more than likely a result of his plane trip to and from Spain.

Went to my stage combat class last night. I love that class. And I adore the teacher. And due to some unfortunate questioning on his part last week (ask me if Shok and I are living together, will ya?!) which left my head spinning I decided to pester him about some rumored issues, worded as delicately as possible that is. Poor guy's wife just served him with divorce papers....he's only a few years older than me...Awesome class though. Me and the other student spent the hour "cutting and punching" each other. I get a sword lesson and acting class in one....My folks are thrilled I'm so into these classes, yet worried that I'm getting too "old" for the type of work....ah, you gotta love Hollywood....Oi!

Thinking I may take a trip up North in a few months as I now have a car which would allow me to do so. I miss fencer Paul and my old coach, as well as all you guys.

Exploring the prop house route again. In an effort to locate non union one's I've dug up that it would benefit that I become a member of Local 44. Its freakin' impossible to get into any Local these days unless you are either grandfathered or just luck out on working a union feature that its a necessity for. My dad and I are thinking of pulling the Legacy card. Last time I registered with 33, the "brothers" were talking freely to him about the union and what was going on with things currently. Going to try that with 44...its a matter of flashing the card...once again...ah, Hollywood. Mind, compared to some of the others I work with, at least I've got a general understanding of how things work in this system as well as the hell that's required to make it and get vested. Others just want it to fall in their lap and not do all the grunt work/unpaid work necessary at times to just get an in...

Going to register with a casting agency out here to get some background work hopefully to help cover me during the off season and start down that path...cause I really need to keep the work flow up and not rely solely on unemployment.

Planning ahead...and I got bills and payments...

The one thing about looking for a decent flight to NY that I am finding...is that all of the cheapest ones are the red eyes. Understandable, but the earliest I'm willing to depart from LAX is 7am, and thus be in NY by 8 pm. Its exhausting

Irked with the lady across the street. Made a comment to my mother the other day along the lines of, "Oh Angie's car isn't here. Did she finally get a job?" I've had a job for 2 years, granted I'm home a lot, but it does help me scrape by and so she happens to be home when I'm always home...I'm not the one who refuses to get an alarm system after their house has been broken into twice, once while she was IN it....she caught the ladies(!) and they ran....nearly every home on the block has a system, I only know cause periodically a neighbor's house goes off due to overly sensitive wiring or some such which disturbs the whole neighborhood....

As for my Jeep. It is no longer. Went down to the major dealership nearby and traded it in for the whole Cash for Clunkers program. Dad and I are irked cause it turned out to be $1,000 less than the first quote from the government by 1 MILE to qualify for the full $4,500. Either way, its a really good deal we got and I am the happy owner of a brand new Ford Fusion. Even my mother's impressed. That's hard to do. So an entire day at the dealership gawking at cars souped up by GAS, one of the shop's on Pimp My Ride, getting a comped lunch at the dealership's restaurant (yes, they have their own restaurant, its that big), and getting glassy eyed when the salesmen and my dad were haggling and trying to keep me in the mix, and keeping my dad from hurting the finance guy at one point. And now he wants a Shelby Mustang....those thing are souped up expensive monsters....give me my sister's old '66 hardtop he restored....Anywho, I got a shiny new car in the driveway and I'm happy. Now to afford the payments....

And with this car, I could easily make trips up north. My dad brought this up and I may just have to some time after the new year. I've got my NY trip pretty much planned out, just got to make sure Ben is on the road to good health. He was in the hospital recently for a week with a blood clot in both lungs! Poor guy! And book my ticket. He's expecting me, but I don't want to be a nuisance if he's still in bad shape.

Its been a LONG day!

After doing some research, I have discovered that my car qualifies for the Cash for Clunkers program that the government is running. I would be needing a new car within the next few years anyways as my Jeep is getting on in years and to put more money into the car than its worth...doesn't appeal to me or my wallet.

So now I'm looking to see what's available that is reasonably priced. As of right now, I would very much prefer not going for a Corolla. Mainly because everyone has a Corolla. Nor a VW Bug or Mini Cooper. Those one's are just way too small. Civics are promising, Focus' as well, I'm considering the VW Rabbit, but need to see one up close as even their decent sized cars run a tad small... I think my dad's pushing for a Chevy, and their Cobalt's and Aveo's look neat, and the specs are fairly decent. I love VW Jetta's, but I believe they are out of my price range, so that's a no go.

Thank goodness for my dad, he at least knows the drill when it comes to car specifications and engines and the like.

I've come up with some new terminology...I call it UCLA Syndrome. I work with a chick that recently graduated from there. I admire the fact that she's so determined and dedicated to get ahead, but the way in which she plans on doing it is not going to work in this company and with the way that our union is run. Sure, go ahead and apply to what's available. I do that all the time. However, making it seem that you are going to attempt to run over everyone ahead of you in the process....forget it. She was asking my advice in regards to Halloween work, which I'll give, but don't make it seem like you are determined to get MY job. I blame it on UCLA. One of the main reasons I didn't even consider applying to that school is the sheer number of undergrads that attend. You are merely a number in a system. Got to jostle to get noticed. That doesn't cut it here....

I'm looking into entertainment positions on cruise lines currently. With the rumors flying around in regards to Creature, I'm hot on the job hunt again and this would be an interesting line of work to pursue. Get to travel and do what I love to do and the benefits are pretty good. So working on that on top of everything else I've got going on.

These cakes crack me up...

http://iteachkdg.blogspot.com/2009/07/email-of-day_27.html

2 rather strong rum and cokes and a Miller Lite (ick!, but the waitress got my order wrong, and I figured, eh, what the hell?!)

My ears are still ringing from the band I saw tonight....

Angie is still somewhat drunk...and yet coherent enough to write this.

To bed. I have to be up in 6 hours for work....

O.o