Los Angeles

You know why I'm not blogging as much as I used to? I think Facebook has taken over as the place I go to post weird comments and humorous anecdotes. Find me on Facebook, I'll be your friend.

I'm here in Los Angeles visiting my dear friend, Kathie. Kathie let me stay on her couch the first four months I lived in Chicago. She is a wonderful friend who was so generous with me when I first moved. Nothing has changed. I'm sitting on that same couch right now and she's shown me what Southern California has to offer. So tempting to move here! Especially thinking about what February weather would be like here versus a Chicago February.

Here are some pictures from my trip! I'm off to Dallas tomorrow morning to see Drewby graduate high school. Thank God for this amazing vacation!

Childbirth Face

Saturday I had an audition downtown for a short film. I arrived just as two other girls my age checked-in. We received a piece of paper telling us more about the film and the audition. After the "perform a two-minute monologue" came this phrase: "You will be asked to show your child birth face." Ummmm....WHAT? We chatted through nervous laughter about this new development. I mean, I knew the character gave birth and all, but... Seconds later we hear screaming from the audition room. Oh no, he's serious about this one.

"NEXT!" I go walking into the audition room and give my monologue. Then the director says, "Okay, now I need you to pretend like you're giving birth." I seriously hope this isn't some crazy fetish that this man concocted so he could get his thrills watching recorded videos of fake deliveries. I just know that someday, at a very inconvenient time, this video will pop up. I better never marry someone who wants to be President.

How did it go? Well, never having given birth before, I guess it went fine. I gave it my all. It's all about commitment. Go hard or go home. I walked out of the room and said, "It's a boy!"

I feel weird.

Give the Picture a Caption

Erin posted this picture of Archer on their blog. It made me laugh. Give the picture a caption. Best caption (chosen by me) just may receive a prize.

Last night's rehearsal was HI-larious. I really wish we had it on tape. That way you could see Magic Whore Lady come to life before your very own eyes.

Andrew's Graduating

I've been so emotional lately about one thing: Andrew is graduating High School. It's mostly a mixture of pride, joy, nostalgia and an overall unbelief that the past 18 years have gone by so quickly.

Andrew has gone from a hilarious, smiley, adorable, cautious, and loving little boy to a hilarious, handsome, courageous, leader, God-loving, family-loving man. But one thing remains the same, he's my buddy. I've always felt a strong bond with Andrew. He is absolutely the biggest blessing to ever happen to our family. Who can imagine life without Andrew? He was a surprise that no one expected but one that God knew we couldn't live without.



I'm so proud of him and all that he's accomplished in the past 18 years. It's fun to look back and see how much he's grown in his stature, his love and knowledge of God, and the wisdom and joy he has with his friends and the people in his life. My prayer for him from day one has been that God would bless him greatly and that he would be a leader for the Lord, have a heart for God and compassion for His people. God is good!

Please feel free to leave little love-notes and words of congratulations for Andrew in the comments section.

Look at our picture from my graduation on May 20, 1994: (yes I realize I need my eyebrows waxed)



Take a look at him now:



I remember taking this picture and thinking, "I should save this picture for when he graduates."15 years later... it's a miracle I still remembered!

Running Photos

I just received my half-marathon pictures through email this morning. Pictures of me running should never be taken. They should all be burned! Who wants to see their butt swaying this way and that? Who wants to see the skin on their face flying up and down? "Why do I keep my head pulled back?! I have a weak chin!" Plus I just look tired, sweaty and red-faced.

The final picture of me, Adrienne and her friend is actually good. I'd had about an hour to cool down.

Not feeling remotely sexy after seeing those pictures. Tyra! You need to do an episode on these kinds of photos.

Confession

I was driving to Indianapolis on Friday and a Miley Cyrus song came on the radio and I cried. I CRIED! I wasn't even hormonal. Don't judge me! I'm looking at you Becky Page. Seriously, have you heard her song, The Climb? Just so you don't think it was a moment of crazy emotions, I heard it on the way back to Chicago two days later - and cried. AGAIN!

What I Learned from Tyra

I actually learned something from watching America's Next Top Model. That Tyra, she's so wise. She told a model never to push her hips towards the camera if she wants to make them appear smaller. She was so right! Case in point:



Um, yeah. I know I've got birthing hips, but seriously. The reflective gear doesn't help much either. Note to self: Do as Tyra does - push those hips AWAY from the camera. Tyra, I can't thank you enough.

H1N1

The Swine Flu is all over the news. I know we're supposed to call it by its technical name, so I did. I had to clarify that it was the "Swine Flu" otherwise no one would know what I was talking about.

I was iChatting with my mom last night when she informed me that my dad's dad (Grandpa from here on out) was not just the oldest of two kids. He was the oldest of six. I had no idea! I thought it was just him and my Uncle Pete (lots of funny stories involving the Happy Birthday song and alcohol). Mom said that Grandpa had three siblings die of the Swine Flu within one week of eachother during 1917 (or some year close to that date). WHAT? I can't imagine how hard it must have been for my great grandmother. It must have spread rapidly. Thank God for the media awareness we have today and great advancements in medicine.

Does anyone else feel a little weird when they say "Swine Flu"? I don't know what it is...

Shedding

When you've been bundled up all winter long in down coats, thick wool sweaters, angora hats and gloves, there's something odd about suddenly wearing a tank top in public - specifically one with spaghetti straps. I have to repeatedly tell myself that I am not a whore and that it's perfectly fine to wear a tank top in public; especially when it's 85 degrees outside (For the first time since October, bee-tee-dubs. It's been a LONG six months!). Am I the only one who feels this way?

Chicago is hopping right now. I spent my lunch hour getting my nails done (lovely Jelly Apple red by Essie) and running to pick up some frames for work. Hello tourists, you are back. But thank you for bringing the warm sunny weather with you! I am so happy it's warm that I don't mind the humidity making my hair frizzy.

EWWWWWW

So I'm walking out of Walgreens Thursday night with Jessie when a woman comes walking towards us. I make eye contact with her. She suddenly stops, looks at me and says, "ew" and then keeps on walking. WHAT?! Jessie and I were laughing so hard. I had to laugh or I would cry. It did help me that Jessie also noticed that the woman was talking to herself before she looked at me and then she continued talking to herself as she walked on by. I'm thinking someone was off her meds. God let that be it!

My mom did ask me, "What were you wearing?" What was I wearing? Do you think she was responding to my outfit? Then she asked, "Well did you at least have on lipstick?" Um, no. I had on black velour sweatpants and my big puffy kelly green jacket. I had also been crying a mere two hours earlier (kick a girl while she's down) and I absolutely did not have on any lipstick. Mom's probably thinking that the lady was correct and that I absolutely deserved her remarks. (for those who know my mom, you know that she would never think these things)

What is up with people making random remarks to me? I went running a couple of weeks ago along the lake and stopped in front of my apartment building to do a few stretches. A man stops me and says, "Can I give you a comment?" I should have looked at him right then and there and said, "NO!" But of course I didn't. Next thing I know, he places his hands on my spandex shrouded buttocks. YES HE DID! "Whoa! Don't do that. What are you doing?!" "I'm trying to tell you something. People up and down lakeshore will make you pay $100 for what I'm trying to tell you. (he proceeds to touch my shoulder, then elbow, then wrist, over and over again) I have to touch you to show you. So..." Then he again places his hands too near my back side. I pull away and said, "Um, DON'T DO THAT! Move along." GEESH! Crazy middle-aged white man who appeared normal at first look. If anyone asks if they can give you a "comment" don't confuse it for "compliment."

Liam Loves Me!

I love this kiddo! Seeing this video made my day. He's a heart breaker already.

Tax Day Freebies!

Happy Tax Day! I was informed that I get screwed on my taxes because I live in a state that has State Income Tax. I was also asked what our state does with this money. I said, "snow plows?" He said he thought that politicians pocket some of it. No! Not in Illinois!

Have you heard the latest? Blagojevich possibly going on a reality t.v. show? Please, make this circus stop!

Not only do you have hope of a tax return (I don't, thanks Illinois), but you also have freebies! Check out this list for participating restaurants.

Remember

Shoot - Day 1

My first day on the film set started last night. I had a call time of 7:00 pm up in Skokie and was told I would be done by 9:00 pm. I've done enough of these to know that 9:00 pm means midnight. And you know what? I was right! I got home just after midnight - on a school night (I have yet to brush my hair this morning). Thankfully we were filming in a house where I could laze about on couch and continue to read about the French Revolution. Is it strange that I always hear Coldplay's Viva La Vida when I'm reading it? The song makes so much more sense to me now.

Anyway, the green dress made it's film set debut last night! Stylishly played with a black three-quarter sleeved cardigan and some colorful jewels it looked smashing! I was feeling bloated. Probably from my binge fest with tortilla chips the night before. I wanted salt and I was paying for it dearly. Thankfully the shot was basically of me and my scene partner sitting in a car. I'll need to be much more careful before tomorrow's long shoot and some full body shots of me in the dress. Perhaps it's time to welcome back my friend - Spanx!

You know what makes me want to fall asleep? Someone putting makeup on my face. Seriously, it's so soothing. Play some ocean sounds in the background and I'm a goner.

Hopefully I'll take some pictures this weekend and post them for you.

Final Four

The Final Four haven't even played yet and I'm the guaranteed loser in my office pool. Fine with me! The person with the lowest points gets their $5 back. I'm going to take my winnings and buy me a three-pack of Orbit gum. I'm thinking cinnamon flavor.

Seriously, my points add up to 61. The next lowest has 83. That's bad. I have no one team in the final four. I'm wondering if I even had any in the elite eight. I don't care about college basketball. Arkansas hasn't been good since the mid-90's. Maybe now that Andrew will be there in the fall, I'll care a bit more.

Random factoid for you today: Sunday night a friend of mine made homemade ice cream. It was coconut lime with a jalapeno infusion. IT WAS SO GOOD! Sweet at first and then it burned you good.

Sunday Morning

I think this is officially the longest I've gone without posting in years. And I haven't even been on vacation! I've been working and rehearsing. That basically sums up my life the past couple of weeks. Oh, and I've been running. The Indy Mini-Marathon is in five weeks. I was supposed to run an 8K today called The Shamrock Shuffle. It's a big Chicago tradition. It was thundering and snowing when I woke up this morning. So I just turned over and went back to sleep. It's too dangerous to run in the slush and snow when I have a race coming up. I'm not broken-hearted about it. I got the free t-shirt.

Last night I had a Playground show. Since everyone was supposed to be taking part in "Earth Hour" we decided to celebrate it with our show. In case you haven't been connected with the real world, it's when everyone is supposed to turn off their lights for an hour last night from 8:30 - 9:30. I, of course, accidentally left on a lamp in my apartment. I don't like coming home alone to a dark apartment. So, there went that idea.

What was I talking about? Oh yes, our show. We decided to have all the lights turned off to perform the show. This is normally called a "Bat" - when you can't see anything on stage and you have to listen. It's a fun form. We decided to all bring flashlights and create our own lighting. It was pretty cool. Some of our scenes suffered because of it, but some really came together. I don't know if the audience liked it, but we thought it was pretty interesting and created interesting atmospheres and situations. I'd totally do it again. This time we will at least have an idea of what we're doing instead of discussing it as we warm up in the theatre bathroom five minutes before our show. That's improv. And I love it.

Hope your day is much sunnier and warmer than ours here in Chicago. I did watch a movie with the rooommates. Happy-Go-Lucky. It was a cute/interesting movie. I was just happy to be relaxing and not running off somewhere.

Renewals

Have I really lived in Chicago long enough to need to renew my driver's license? Seriously, where has the time gone?! Yesterday I was at the bank getting quarters for laundry. I tried to pay with my debit card and he asked for my ID. I showed him and he said, "I'm sorry miss, your license is expired." Wha, Wha, Wha, WHAT? I completely forgot that I needed to renew my license this 33rd birthday. I remember when I first got the license and thought that 2009 was so far away. Now it's here and gone. I wonder if I'll still be here in Chicago in 2014. FREAKY! I just scared myself.

Now onto deeper issues. What should I wear for my picture tomorrow? This photo must stand the test of time. If only I had bought that Medieval Times dress. (shakes fist) I'm just excited that in the "weight" category I may be able to drop it a few pounds. Yeehaw!

We Have a SXSW Winner in the Family!

Congratulations to my brother-in-law, Chris, and Tweet Congress for winning at SXSW this past weekend! They won top honors in the Web Awards' Activism category. Yay Chris!

Let's Joust!

This weekend Jessie and I escaped the insanity of St. Patty's Day crowds (really, I forget how many people live in this city until the weather turns warm) and headed to Barrington. An organization was holding a fundraiser of designer second-hand wedding dresses on sale for $50. We had to go! Jessie wasn't feeling confident of her dress (which is gorgeous and she looks amazing in it) and thought this might be a fun opportunity.

There were some pretty dresses, interesting dresses, and dresses straight out of a 1989 bridal magazine (puff sleeves made of pure lace). As many times as I've gone dress shopping with people I've never been tempted to try on a dress...until this weekend! I found one that was originally $3,000 and on sale for 50 bucks. It looked like it was straight out of a Jane Austen novel - so I HAD to try it. I mean, it was only my duty as an avid fan and thespian.

What do you think? For $50 I should have bought it and put it in my closet for a rainy day or homemade rendition of Sense and Sensability. It was fun to wear, but who has room for something like that in their closet? Let it be known that I would NOT wear a dress like this for my wedding. Unless we were getting married at Medieval Times.