I'm back!!!

So, I took a little time off--well--about a month off--to be a wife. Specifically to travel to France for our wedding anniversary. No, we weren't there for a month, but when you're going to be gone for an amount of time, it necessarily (and in this case, quite definitively) limits your availability for auditions, rehearsals and filming.

I am glad to report it was the best trip ever. We had a wonderful time. And then when I got back, all unmotivated and nicely relaxed by daily chocolate croissants and twice/thrice-daily glasses of wine, I found out I had been given a role in a short film I auditioned for right before we left. And then today, not even a week later, a second role just landed in my in-box, all written for me and ready to go.

So November and December will bring work with new teams of people--I love expanding my Austin circle--and wildly different roles. Class starts up for me again on Tuesday too, so I'm good to go. Back in it and hoping that Cell kicks some serious ass at competitions in both Beverly Hills and Switzerland over the next few weeks.

A moment of grace

So, it's early. I have a travel mug of coffee in one hand and ballet slippers in another. Hair in a messy ponytail. Bag slung over my shoulder. And a voice, my voice, comes into my head--"I am living the life I wanted." Wait, and listen--I am living the life I wanted!

It's true. In a dark time a few years ago, a dear friend pulled me through. One day, she made me write down what I'd be doing if I could do anything. For me, that included a sunny apartment in NYC, a warm mug of coffee, a job that meant exercise, dance and movement classes during the day and performances at night.

And I realized that while the details are not the same, the feelings and emotions and satisfaction that I thought that combination of things would bring to me has come to me. In places and forms I couldn't even imagine when I wrote that fantasy down on paper. Better than I could have imagined, because it includes the comfort of my home, the love of my husband, a city that embraces rather than judges and a mess of friends who love me for me and want me to succeed. Holy shit. There's nothing more in the world anyone needs. It's an embarrassment of riches, regardless of what happens in this biz. The pursuit--the life--is the joy.

And then I got to my ballet class, and it was canceled. And, this morning, the messiness of real life is just fine too.

Still Kickin'

I have this weird in-between feeling right now--have a few weeks in October when I'll be totally out of commission--which leaves me 'dead' time right now. Not enough time to really chew into something. Passing on opportunities that fall too close to those days.

I'm ready to be back in classes, but lots of the fall classes run through those two unavailable October weeks. So...I found a great playwright (new to me) that may be providing me with my new comic monologue. I'm working on that. Finishing up a book on the history of modern indy films. Going on auditions. Following up with contacts. And trying to feel like an actor, knowing sure as anything that two or three things will likely break at the same time!

If you stumble on this, send some positive thoughts out to my extended family. They need 'em, and I'm passing em' on as fast as I can.

Awesome news--I was watching the two filmed in Texas shows tonight--Lone Star and Chase-- and two of the actors from this summer's movie, Favor, were in them--Donny Boaz in Lone Star and Tamara Jolaine in Chase. I love seeing my friends on the big and little screens!!! Great job, guys!

Orbit!

Goodness, it's been a busy few weeks! The weekend after I got back from LA, it was time to hit the set of Orbit--a film directed and written by Jessica Dorfman, a UT grad student. Orbit is her thesis film--a coming of age story about a 13-year-old girl who begins to learn tough lessons about love, loss and growing up while attending her father's wedding to his new wife.

It's been a really cool experience--the wedding in the film is a Jewish wedding, so we've learned all about Jewish traditions in the process of researching and filming. I even learned a little Hebrew for the ceremony! It's been 100 degrees plus for the entire 11 days, and the extras have been amazing--cheerfully dressing up for a wedding every day, day after day, and then sweating through their finery. We've been filming at the Umlauf Sculpture Garden, which is a gorgeous setting for a wedding--they've been so kind and welcoming to us. Really amazing.

Our last day is tomorrow--one more chance to dance the hora, enjoy seriously the best craft services ever (let me know if you need a contact in Austin--this guy is a rock star...) and spend the day with cast and crew. I'm already feeling that bittersweet feeling...

Cell: The Web Series' ITV Fest Red Carpet Premiere

I might be the only one there who didn't know the red carpet was called a step and repeat. And now I understand why! The red carpet is a red mat--it's about the size of a king-sized bed with a pop-up backdrop behind it. You stand in line, squeeze in, have your picture taken and get out of the way! Again. Everyone else probably already knew this...

The party was great--enjoyed meeting everyone, found out about some cool new series (check out Squatters everybody--will hook you up with a link when the ocean isn't beckoning) and all around had a great time with everyone. Had my first taste of El Pollo Loco afterwards and some sips of honey bourbon before. Damn good stuff.

I know I should put down all the details now, but I've been uploading pictures, etc. for the better part of two hours (I'm slow), and now I need coffee and fresh air. Will reflect and post again later. XOXO!!

Clearly Not All LA Yet

How did I prepare for an exciting day at ITVfest? By starting with a healthy breakfast--a bacon, maple, butter biscuit. Nom, nom, nom!

Red carpets and the really important stuff

I'm in LA to tag along with the creator and cast of Cell: The Web Series for its ITVFest premiere. It's been accompanied by the normal internal drama--am I pretty enough? I'm not pretty enough. I could wear this--I don't have anything to wear. What am I going to talk to people about? It sounds shallow, because it is shallow. And I'm not going to lie to you guys--there's nothing like something like this to bring out the inner 14 year old. In me anyway.

My husband is working today, and he had a business dinner this evening, which means I had a lot of alone time to make myself crazy. But, at some point you have to take a break, and that meant dinner.

I found reviews for an Italian market--Bay Cities Deli--that's supposed to have the best sandwiches in town. I drew myself a map, walked over there, found a nice employee to help me order, found a fellow patron to enjoy a pleasant 'waiting for the sandwich' conversation, ordered a caprese, found a bottle of sparkling French lemonade, found some fresh cucidati (Italian date cookies), and decided to have a picnic on the beach.

I have to wear these pants for the next four days, so sitting in the sand was out, but I found a bench, enjoyed my sandwich, enjoyed my lemonade, and enjoyed the people watching. I slogged (literally--not pretty) through what felt like miles of sand to get to the Pacific Ocean. I stood on the edge and let the waves submerge my feet. It felt wonderful. I took pictures of the sunset. I wrote "I love you" in the sand and took pictures of that. I took pictures of my own feet, and the waves, and an abandoned sand castle, and a tree (I think) that looked like a penis, and a path, and a fence, and a statue and before I knew it, my whole brain had reset, and I was blissfully happy.

I had a sunset. A very simple sandwich. The opportunity to travel with my husband. Fresh cherries waiting in the room. A sweater and the cool breeze that necessitated such things. And when I am old, and the only way for you to see the me I am now is through my eyes, I. will. still. have. those. things.

And those are the only things I need.