Move it and Lose it

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Yes, I have joined Dr OZ's weight loss program. I really enjoy his television show and I like how he breaks everything down so that I can understand. I am not particularly fond of diets and I have tried a few but nothing seems to work. I have gained weight over the last three years and I seem to have reached a plateau. I will lose a pound or two or gain another two pounds and still hover around the same weight. This year will be different.

The plan is very simple and it should take about one year to get to my goal weight. The meals are very sensible. And they encourage physical activities to get into shape. Now I have to be sensible and not injure myself. I have decided to use resistance bands one day and the next day I will do Yoga. The following day I will see if I can walk 20 to 30 minutes. I miss playing tennis. I have my rackets but no one to play with. So maybe later this will be an exercise that is something I will be able to do. In addition, I was given a caloric intake amount for my height and weight. I must log everything I eat and drink and it adds up the calories. It is amazing how one little flour tortilla is over 300 calories! Yikes!

The other thing going on right now is I missed an audition for Jesus Christ, Superstar. Now, I love that show and have always wanted to be in it. However, it is at our local community theater and I just don't have all that time to put into a show that is not paying anything. I talked to my agent and she told me what I already knew. Theater is good training for an actor. However, I am at the point in my career where I want to make some money and I can do that in television and films. I have missed opportunities to go on good commercial auditions because I was doing a play. I can't miss anymore opportunities like that. That means making the tough choices in my career. But this is my career and I have to take it seriously.

My clown classes are coming along nicely. I have received some good make up tips, learned how to make some animal balloons and am working on my character. I look forward to my other upcoming classes.

I received a letter from AFTRA. I am now an AFTRA must join. I have worked on several jobs last year at the union rate. That was great. And now I am eligible to join the union. The television shows are either AFTRA or SAG. For the first time ever, the majority of television shows are now AFTRA. So once I join, I will be eligible for submitting to AFTRA projects. I'm so excited. I remember when I received my letter from SAG that I was SAG eligible. It was so exciting. Joining both unions was a goal of mine and now it is within grasp.

Things are coming together for me and this is a very exciting part of my life right now. Believe me, this is such a competitive business. I remember all the people that encouraged me to keep going. If people only knew you have to go on ten auditions before you get one role. There is so much rejection. But if you keep your eye to the prize and do the work that it takes, you can move forward. I have several upcoming programs on television and it is nice to receive those checks in the mail. It is even more exciting to audition and win a role, and then perform it. I sent out thank you notes to all the casting directors that hired me last year. I want to thank them and remind them that I am ready and available to work for them as a professional actor.

My new business cards have come in and I am ready to hand them out. I am working on a new, healthier me and my bod will look better too. I am connecting with my girlfriends and looking forward to 2011.

Happy New Year

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Happy New Year to everyone out there in cyber space. I am so excited because I read in my horoscope that I will have a good year and this will be followed by 12 more years of prosperity. It also said that the last two years have been difficult (true) and that my hard work will finally come to fruition this Spring. That sounds good to me and so far this is true.

In Hollywood it is difficult, but not impossible to make your dreams come true. One of my favorite actors is Mark Ruffalo. I never thought I would ever meet him and I certainly never thought I would ever work with him. However, two years ago I received a phone call from Rich King casting. They wanted to know if I would be interested in working as a featured background person in Mark's new film. The project was a SAG film and would soon be submitted to the Sundance Film festival. Of course I said yes and that is how I got my third SAG voucher. He was particularly looking for performers with disabilities. Now how often does that happen? Oh yes, the film is called "Sympathy for Delicious" and I got to be in a scene with Orlando Bloom. When we finished shooting the scene and we wrapped for the day I told Mark, "I am a big fan of yours". And he said, now that I've seen your work, I am a big fan of yours, too! And he hugged me and kissed me on the cheek. See, dreams do come true. I just saw "The Kids are Alright" and it was so good. I was invited to the screening last Fall and wouldn't you know it, I got really ill. I had two tickets reserved at the Arclight theater. My friend, Andy Arias was going to be my guest and the tickets were in my name. Andy went anyway and he got to talk to Mark. I was so upset but it was one of those bad days when my legs were not working and I was sitting at home pouting.

I am very excited for the new opportunities coming my way, some are in the works as we speak. Keep the faith, people! You will be seeing more and more of me in person, in print, on television and on film. I am getting better and better as I hone my craft and encouraging those that I meet along the way.

I am sad that we lost some friends and relatives last year. However, I know they would want us to continue living and loving those around us.

How Can Anyone Be Afraid of a Clown?

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Well, Christmas is over and I am glad. So many people driving like crazy fools for the past few days. They wait till the last minute and then shoppers everywhere and people fighting for parking spots.

The holiday dinner turned out really good and we still have some leftovers. The cookies were excellent and I'm so glad that I made them. I handed some away as gifts too. A pretty quiet holiday. My brother was going to visit from Las Vegas but the rains were so bad that he decided to stay home after all. I don't blame him. In this weather, better to fly.

I talked to a few people who said they were afraid when they saw me dressed as a clown. What? How can anyone be afraid of a clown? But some are and that is so strange to me. Clowns make you laugh, they are so goofy and funny. They give you animal balloons, they ride around in little cars. They have big feet. I love clowns and love being a clown. I am going to learn to juggle and paint faces and do animal balloons. I can't wait!

I've given my writing a bit of a rest during this holiday time although I should probably pick up on it a bit. I cut all my nails off which helps me type faster and I love this. I usually write not on a computer, but on yellow legal pads. I have them everywhere. Whenever I'm working on a project or getting stuff out of my head, it goes right on the paper. I guess different writers use different techniques. This works for me.

I read Water for Elephants in one day. It was so good that I reading it all over again. This is one book that I definitely want to keep so I guess I will be going to Barnes & Noble to pick up a copy for me and one for my Mom. She is an avid reader too so now I know that I take after her in that regard.

For some reason I am craving chicken. Perhaps I will make some fried chicken. I make it the best. Really, I have yet to go to any restaurant that makes it as good as mine. I have a taste for some greens too. A nice tossed salad, biscuits, potatoes and fried chicken. And then, come New Year's Day, time to diet again.

Ugh! But I must unless I want to be a little roly poly clown. And that will not do. Oh no, that will not do at all. I must admit that I am looking forward to the New Year. New adventures, a new job and better opportunities. I know that things will be looking up.

Christmas is Around the Corner!

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I know that Christmas is on December 25 and somehow I am never prepared when it comes around. I guess I just don't want the year to end and I always drag my feet. Ironically, I do like New Years Eve and New Years Day.

I finally have my Christmas tree up and decorated. It looks lovely, a 6' tree. Not a real one but like so many things in California, it looks real and that is the important thing. There are many decorations including the little red cable cars that I purchased in San Francisco several years ago. I love those as it brings back fond memories.

I am in the kitchen baking some Christmas cookies. Now this is a first for me. I do bake good cakes but I am not usually known for my cookies. I'm actually having a good time. I am baking oatmeal, peanut butter, thumbprint and finally sugar cookies. The house smells really good too.

Thank goodness the rain has stopped for now. So sad to hear so many people lost their homes and are stranded. We have been very fortunate. I try to stay out of the elements when the weather gets bad. No use killing yourself over an audition. There will be other auditions.

So I finished reading one book and decided to read another but I didn't want to buy another book. So I called our local library and yes they had it. I took my grocery list with me, stopped by the library to pick up the book. I went to the grocery store and picked up the cookie items.

The book I picked up is "Water for Elephants". You may have seen the promos for the film which is coming out soon. The film stars Reese Witherspoon. It is a film about the circus. This man has some financial problems during the Great Depression and he jumps on board a train at night to get away. He doesn't realize until morning that he has boarded a circus train. His life changes in so many ways. It is wonderful. I don't know if I am glad that I read the book before seeing the film.

Now that I am working as a clown I wish I had learned about the casting of this film earlier. I remember seeing some breakdowns earlier in the Spring but I didn't know anything about this project. Shame on me for not finding out ahead of time. See what I mean about opportunities? You must stay on top of this stuff. It would have been amazing to be in this film. Oh well, I will see it when it comes out nevertheless.

I am very excited about some upcoming opportunities. Can't say anything more at this time. But I just wanted to thank everyone for reading my posts and encouraging me to keep going as you have. You know this business is not for the faint of heart. Every time someone kicks you down, you have to get right back up again. Sometimes I need to remind myself of this.

Stay well, don't shake too many hands as there is the flu bug going around. Be careful when you are shopping at night. Be aware of your surroundings. Don't chat or text when driving. Stay tuned to the local channels for current weather and road conditions. Be safe so you'll be around for next year!

Childrens Hospital on Cartoon Network

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Well, I had a blast on the television show Childrens Hospital. This started out as a webisode, turned into a television show on the WB and then got picked up by the Cartoon Network. This program pokes fun at all the serious hospital shows like ER, Grey's Anatomy, etc. The show stars Henry Winkler, Megan Mullally and others.

I am excited because I told my family I want to be a clown. It was in the back of my mind and I walked into our local thrift store. And lo and behold there was this beautiful little red hat just calling out to me. Price $2. I tried it on and it was a perfect fit. I went home, had this costume hanging in my closet and came up with my clown outfit.

I practiced with the make-up till I found something I really liked and ta da! Now to get some stockings, underwear and gloves. Did you know that there is clown etiquette? It is true. There is clown etiquette. As a clown you cannot show any skin. Nada! So I even have makeup over my ears, neck and throat.

I have been an elf and now a clown. Yay! Very excited because I am going to learn to juggle and of course, make the balloons for the kids. I would love to visit hospitals, go to the library and entertain the children.

I was in a room full of 13 other clowns and we had a blast. There is nothing like a room full of clowns entertaining each other and the crew. There is nothing like the look of a child when they see a clown. Their whole face lights up. I love it.

We took a lunch break and we were starving. I didn't think anything about it until I heard a small child say there are so many clowns! And sure enough he looked like he was 5 and his face was so happy. He probably never saw so many clowns in one place.

I wish I were more agile and could do somersaults and stuff like that. But alas, with this polio I am happy to walk.

I am looking forward to the movie, Water for Elephants about the circus. If I had my photos with the casting agencies perhaps I would have been chosen too for this film. Ah! coulda, woulda, shoulda. But you live and learn with this business!

Be a Clown

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Be a clown, be a clown all the world loves a clown. Some of you may have noticed that I changed my profile photo. Yes, I did. Well there was an audition notice that I received and they were looking for clowns. Apparently some folks who are not clowns submitted themselves. And the notice went out again for real clowns.

So I put on my full clown attire including all makeup and sent in some lovely photos. The project is for a television show and this is an AFTRA job. Yay! Today I received the phone call that I have been selected. No audition necessary! This is a featured role and I am so excited. I am packing my items because I have an early call time tomorrow and must be in full clown attire and on the set.

Of course the rest of my week has been dead and then I get an email from my agent that I have a big audition for a really big project. And the audition is tomorrow! Why does everything happen at once? Ugh! It never fails. The audition couldn't be Saturday or Monday. It has to be tomorrow after I already accepted the clown job.

Now in case you are wondering what the protocol is, once you accept the job it is yours. And you cannot or should not even try to get out of it. It is considered bad form to leave one job for another. And in all fairness, tomorrow is an audition it is not a job. And besides, I already accepted the job.

Now I love being a clown and have never been a clown on television. I have auditioned as a clown on several other projects but was never selected. I am an actor not a model so doing photos is difficult for me. But, I have been watching America's Next Top Model and I have been learning what to do and what not to do from that show.

And guess what? It really helped. The models only have a few moments to get into character and then strike a pose. The same with acting. Our head shots are our calling cards. To a certain degree you can make yourself look better. But you have to start out with a good face, a good pose and good clothes. Sometimes if you get nervous, it will show on your photo. So the good thing about being a clown is most of your face is in clown makeup. But the camera still sees your eyes. And that is where being in the moment comes in.

I had a really good time getting into character with a doll, an umbrella, using my hands, and making faces. Well, apparently they liked what they saw because I got booked from my photos. I report to the set early tomorrow for a long day of filming. I'm so excited! We shoot in North Hollywood and let me tell ya, this job could not have come at a better time.

Cheers!

December is almost over!

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My goodness, where has December gone? I can't believe that half the month is here already. My month has been busy and I have several writing assignments. I am writing for a newsletter and I have started writing a book. The book is about our family. I have written three chapters and so far, so good.

I was thinking of getting a puppy for Christmas but I have decided against this idea. I do so much travelling that I don't think it would be fair to the new puppy. I already have three cats and they are well cared for when I travel. Perhaps later when I have more time at home.

I sure hope that next year is better than this year has been. I've been thinking of several friends and relatives and it seems that most of them are having a hard time too. I wonder how they are keeping their spirits up. I have been reading some of my previous posts and it seems that I have been up and down. I can't help it. It's not that I worry all the time because I don't. I don't worry about things. I just ride it out. In this industry, you can be really down and then you get a call for a job or you do a really great audition and then I am working again and all is well.

I have been more worried about my health. I did get my CPAP machine and have been using it. I did notice a big difference in my sleeping habits now. I am actually starting to dream again. I guess I am getting the good sleep that I need. I am not yawning all the time as I once did.

Things will get better, they will! I know they will. I believe in the abundance theory and I know that good things are around the corner for me. My brother is coming to visit me for Christmas and I am really looking forward to seeing him. I actually was going to invite myself to his home in Las Vegas but he is coming here. I can't wait to see him again! After losing an Uncle it really makes you glad that I have more relatives.

I would like to thank you, dear reader for sticking with me this year. It has been ups and downs but that is the way life can be. I do want to get more organized. I did miss some events this year because I did write them down and then forgot about them. Yikes! I can't do that anymore. My schedule is too important to miss important events. I am getting very particular about which events I attend.

There are still Christmas cards to mail out and gifts to send. I look forward to another turkey dinner surrounded by family and friends. I am keeping my fingers crossed for an audition on a SAG project. They were looking for clowns so I put on my clown outfit and sent in my photos. Wish me luck!