In Like a Lion

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Happy March 1 -- I like March, I like the saying In like a lion and out like a lamb. My birthday is in March so I've always looked forward to March. However, growing up in northwestern Ohio the weather was always horrible with snow and ice everywhere. How is a kid supposed to have a nice birthday party with snow everywhere? Oh well. There are many famous people born in March such as Liza Minnelli and other famous Pisces are Elizabeth Taylor. I think she was born in February,though.

So March is here and before you know it, it will be June. Trust me that is how quickly time flies by. So in March I will be filming two movies: One is my final scenes for the indie flick, "Attack of the 30 Foot Chola" and the other is a small role in a feature film, "White T". You can look me up on www.imdb.com

I look forward to more auditions in the month of March. I was interviewed yesterday for an online local publication. And I will be doing a radio interview for Disabled Radio on March 23. I am enjoying being a part of the disabled community and I working towards being an advocate for hiring the disabled. My agent has several disabled actors that she represents and that is a wonderful thing. I don't know if I can help anyone but I hope to inspire folks to concentrate on what you can do and not what you can't do. My goodness, if I worried about all the things I can't do, I would never even get out of bed in the morning.

I really enjoy being a writer, sitting at my laptop and conducting telephone interviews. It's great. I can do my research, set up interviews and connect everything for telephone interviews. When I did my personal interview yesterday, I was thrilled to go back to the theater where I had so many beautiful memories. I remember hearing about the building of the theater and what groups would be allowed to perform there. And I knew that I would be performing there someday and I did. Such happy times!

Well, off to start my day on this first day of March. Like a lion, I am ready to roar -- start my day -- and head off into the jungle.

What's Wrong With Asking for Help?

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There is so much uproar going on in the world right now from Unions and Wisconsin to Libya and gas prices. One can get truly overwhelmed and I am feeling a need to get away from computers, cell phones and Facebook. I want to get back to nature, family, my cats, and making some home cooked meals.

I have had a hectic time lately of LA, Santa Barbara, Las Vegas and everywhere in between. I love working but sometimes it can get crazy. I reconnected with some friends through acting classes and it feels good to learn again and create. I am challenging myself more and more and although I did not book every job I hoped to book, I am still working and that is a good thing.

I got to thinking though about asking for help. Awhile ago I was down in a funk and not knowing where to turn, I asked for help. A friend of mine who is a pretty well known actor told me that I should not be asking for help. I wondered why the hell not? There is nothing wrong with asking for help. Some may think that it is too needy, that I am showing that I am too vulnerable. Asking for a job is one thing. Asking you to solve my life's problems is something entirely different.

We all get in times of strife where it does seem hopeless. And there are times when financially you cannot get new head shots, or pay for an acting class even though you know it would be beneficial. Being an actor takes a financial commitment. It takes classes and training. Head shots and promotion. I am a writer too, so I need to keep up those skills as well. I don't like it when someone asks me for a job. But sometimes you have to speak up if you need money to pay for a place to live or for a meal. You have to earn that money, not just have someone hand you some cash.

What I don't have respect for is the person who wants a free meal, free room and board and wants to tell you how to live your life. Excuse me? Everything I own in my home has been paid for by my hard work. I have worked in hospitals, temp agencies, banks, government offices, small companies and large corporations. I have sold cosmetics, jewelry, shoes and mortgage loans. Believe me, I know how to work.

Ask for advice if you need it. Ask for help if you need it. But ultimately you are where you are because of the decisions you have made in your life. Surround yourself with positive, uplifting people. Eliminate bad people, negative people from your life. You'll be much happier at the end of the day.

Back to Work

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What a day yesterday was. I don't think any of us anticipate death and yet there it is. Life is so much better. So I have dried my tears and come to terms with a family loss. Back to work!

I had jury duty on Monday and then dealt with the loss of our Uncle on Tuesday and Wednesday. I may have an audition tomorrow, will have to wait and see.

I am trying to get into the Christmas spirit but it is difficult this year. I have not had a steady job this year at all and acting jobs have been too few and far between. I did however, have a wonderful opportunity to work as a production assistant earlier this year. And I did some television filming. I also got to meet several celebrities and have been offered several writing assignments too.

I am going to concentrate on family for the remainder of the year. I know that my children look to me for guidance and while it has been a trying year for everyone, life goes on. And there have been tough times in the past and we have weathered the storm and we will do so again. And hopefully, we will have learned some valuable lessons like always save for a rainy day. And hold those that you love dear to your heart. You never know when you may not see them again.

It cracks me up when people call me to interview them just to promote a new movie they are doing or because they are getting themselves out there. Well, I am an actor too and getting yourself out there is part of the job. I am amazed how many times I will meet an interesting person and I will ask for their card only to have them tell me that they don't have one with them. Really? And you are promoting yourself? I learned a long time ago to have 4 or 5 head shots in my car at all times. And I always have my card which is a business sized head shot with my phone number and email address on it. You never know who you'll meet and you may not have the time to really chat. So I always say, I'd love to stay in touch. May I give you my card? See simple stuff that I learned when I was a Mary Kay consultant.

Okay, now you know my secret to staying young looking and beautiful. It is my Mary Kay products! I love them and I always pamper my Mom, sisters and girl friends when they come to visit me. We do facials and I teach them how to care for their skin. Everyone should moisturize, even men!

So I have applied to several jobs, one at a local casino. And I submitted 4 applications to Warner Brothers studio. Wouldn't that be awesome to work at Warner Bros??? I have worked as an actress at Universal Studios, Paramount, Sony but have not yet worked at Warner Bros. I have a background in Administration and in Finance in case you were wondering. And my major in college was Communications. Communications is a wonderful field and goes hand in hand with the dwindling degree of Journalism.

Well, I am going to stay optimistic because I am a glass half full kinda gal and win or lose, we must keep going forward. I just know that there is a good job out there with my name on it, good supervisor, good pay and a place where I can spread my wings and fly. Come on, Universe bring it!

R.I.P. Uncle Ted

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It is with sadness dear reader that I tell you about the loss of our Uncle Ted. He was the great Uncle of my husband and he was 88 years old. I first learned about Uncle Ted when we first married. He was the Uncle that lived in San Diego. My husband's grandmother Ann was Ted's big sister. She was 11 years older than Ted and very protective of him.

He was the youngest of many children and was only a baby when they all came over on the boat from Poland to Ellis Island. He said his older brothers and sisters were much older and they were always shooing him away. He had a good full life with two previous marriages, one son and two grandsons.

He was a professional musician for much of his life and a health problem deterred him from serving during WWII. After a failed first marriage he left his wife and young son and headed out west to Phoenix. As a head waiter he saved enough money to buy a home in La Jolla. He told us he brought his home with his tip money!

He was pretty happy with his second marriage which lasted 12 years. They enjoyed travelling, boating, and he lost his wife to leukemia the year that we moved to California in 1993. He was very instrumental in helping us choose a place to live in nearby Poway. Great school district and low crime!

He was a realtor for the last 30 years of his life and retired a few years ago. He enjoyed working out, cooking on his patio. He hated getting older and seeing his friends pass on one by one. He always said why am I the last one? Why do I have to see all my friends go?

I didn't know until recently that when his wife passed, she died in his arms in their bed. He knew his health was failing but he didn't want to go into a nursing home. I figured out that he wanted to die in his home too. We asked him to come and live with us but he didn't want to.

He loved jazz music and the big bands. He loved having visitors. He loved living in San Diego. He was not a perfect man. No one is perfect. But he had a plan for his life and that did not include getting old and having your health deteriorate. He hated that.

When we picked him up from the hospital that last time, he told me how much he loved my husband and I said he loves you too. He told the nursing staff, I don't know what I would do without these guys (meaning my husband and me).

I was filming all week in LA and was happy to be home on Saturday. I told my hubby we should go see Uncle Ted on Sunday. We both had a lazy morning and watched TV. Before we knew it, it was 5 pm and too late to visit. We called him earlier today to check in on him and his friend, Marie answered the phone.

She told us that Ted had taken a spill and had fallen. The next part is sketchy but some how she was notified that he had fallen. They took him to the hospital on Sunday. On Monday around 4 pm he passed. No one had called us. If we had not called him today, I don't know when we would have been notified.

We are both so shaken that this happened on Sunday and feel somehow that had we been there perhaps he would not have fallen. Everything is up in the air for now. I am saddened for us but I know he died where he wanted to die, at home. He is in a much better place now, that I know for sure. His heart and his kidneys were failing him.

After his release from the hospital, we brought him to our home to recover. He asked me if I thought he would get better. I told him no, I didn't think he was getting better. I told him his head nurse told us his two major organs were failing him and it was just a matter of time. I hope I did the right thing by telling him the truth. I held his hand as I told him and he looked like oh, okay. And then he wanted to go home. And yesterday he went home to our Lord.

I Booked it

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Yay, I booked two jobs. I went on an audition last week for another episode of I Didn't Know I Was Pregnant. I received a call on Friday to put me on avail and just received a call that I got the job. I work on Thursday and Friday.

And then I booked another job as a featured extra on a television show which works on Wednesday. I need the work and praise the Lord now I have two jobs.

I notified my agent and she is very proud of me. So I will have the casting directors contact my agent and clear my schedule for the rest of the week.

I was a little nervous about finding employment this time of year but the only thing I can do is try and audition as much as possible. And now my prayers have been answered. Thanks to everyone who said a little prayer for me.

I hope everyone had a wonderful Thanksgiving. I had a nice time and am trying to stay warm. My goodness where did all this cold weather come from?

Well, thanks for reading. Hopefully this is an indication that things are looking up. Does anyone need a full-time production assistant? I have excellent references and good experience. I am sending resumes to Warner Brothers and Universal Studios. Background in Finance but would rather work on films. Let me know!

Can't Sleep

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It's funny how sometimes when you can't sleep the weirdest things pop into my head. Right now I am thinking of redheads. You know, like Annette O'Toole, Ann Margaret, Rita Hayworth, Julianne Moore. Remember Bridget Fonda in Single White Female? Loved her cute little bob haircut. I do not look good as a redhead. Just doesn't look good with my skin or eyes and there are only certain clothing colors you can wear. Nope, don't want to be a redhead.

Big weekend planned. Palm Desert, Palm Springs for the Los Angeles Women's Theatre Project. I am looking forward to art all weekend! Concerts and parties, workshops and meeting Janis Ian! I will take photos and upload them when I return.

Haven't heard anything more on the recent auditions. It was cool auditioning at CBS. And my Agent has submitted me for many upcoming projects. Oh, I need a national commercial big time! The commercial I did last week was just background. So I need a leading role in a national commercial. That would be awesome.

I saw an old movie today that I really liked, The Turning Point with Anne Bancroft and with Shirley Maclaine (another redhead). Why aren't there more roles like that with two women friends? The dialogue is great and the ballet dancing. Ah!!! I never tire of that film.

Did you ever dream of meeting someone really famous? I mean, like really pined over someone and read every interview, knew their birthdays, their favorite color, their favorite food? And then you pray and pray that someday you'll meet that person? And then wonder of wonders, you actually do meet them? Well that is what happened to me on more than one occasion. And each time, I was not prepared. Because it seems to happen as a fluke and you are not prepared. But maybe you wanted it so badly that the universe just opens up and gives it to you when you least expect it. I met Joel Gray. I met Esai Morales. I met KD Lang. I met Keiko Matsui. I met Jay Leno. I met many more show biz folks! Sometimes I have to remind myself to breathe! Breathe, Lisa! And they are just folks like us, well maybe not exactly like us.

So anyway, I guess my point is this. Believe in yourself. Believe that you are worthy of good things happening to you. Because what you think about, you will bring about. Now I am thinking of writing the next great screenplay that actors will fight to be in my first film. How's that for thinking big? It wasn't that long ago that I was riding around in my police car writing parking tickets in Ohio. I knew that I was wasting my time. I knew that I should be in California. I knew I was an actor and should be acting. I would carry yellow legal pads in my trunk. I would take my 30 minute lunch time and pull under a shady tree and park. I would write and write. I didn't know how I was going to get from Ohio to California. I just knew this was where I belonged. And lo and behold, here I am. Again, the universe opened up and gave me this opportunity.

Did it just happen? Or did I bring this about? You know the mind is a very powerful tool. That is why we must stay positive. If you think negative things, then that is exactly what will happen in your life. If you think positive things, you will get positive things. I am very picky about my friends. I am very picky about how I spend my time, the books that I read, the films that I watch. There is so much negative stuff going on and I refuse to be around it. So I know, I just know that this weekend will bring about some very positive things in my life.

I am excited, so excited in fact that sometimes I can't sleep. Okay, glass of wine I know you want me to drink. And so I shall. You are cool and tart, light and aromatic. You beg me to drink more and so it will be. We have shared many a lonely night together. You have helped me through some tough times and sad times. You have kept me home when I felt like wandering. You have kept me sane when I wanted to scream. You have filled my belly when I wanted to eat something. You have calmed the little girl in me that screamed out for revenge. You have given me balls when I was scared. Yes, I can say you have been a loyal friend. And loyal friends are hard to come by, especially in Hollywood.

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