Bits and Pieces

In order to catch up, here are some random other events from the past week:

-I got to have lunch at Katz Deli (of When Harry Met Sally fame) with Megan Chenovick and Natalie Backman. It was great to see them and our waiter was very fun - he loved giving me a hard time about eating a cheeseburger when I should be having the pastrami. We sat at the very table they filmed at - there is a sign above it commemorating the event. It says, "We hope you're having what she's having."

-I had some great auditions for Papermill Theatre and Barter Theatre this past week. Also took a wonderful class with Justin from Telsey. It was really nice because he divided up the time so everyone got 12 minutes so you felt like you really got some good coaching in. I'm really excited about some of the ideas he gave me so I have to work on incorporating them into the songs.

-I got to go to a super swank Christmas party hosted by Mo's boyfriend and randomly ran into Steve Booth from Pippin in Coeur d'Alene! It was awesome to see Mo and catch up and I was thrilled to get the latest Christmas CD installment. =)

-I was able to join VP and some friends at the Jason Robert Brown concert at Birdland - we had amazing seats and it was fun to watch him do a concert that was so stripped down. He did stuff that he doesn't normally do and it was a really great time.

-I got to hang out with Mickey, whom I adore. We had mexican food and then went to 16 Handles, this really fun frozen yogurt place with a bunch of flavors and toppings where they charge by weight.

-Thanksgiving II was had. Betsy and fam had me over for another Thanksgiving meal since Randy was in town and was going to miss both Thanksgiving and Christmas. He wanted to eat that meal! So we did and it was great.

-My friend Corey had me over to his adorable apartment in Queens where he cooked me the tastiest meal. Love him! He also lent me another sweatshirt since it was freezing and I'm kind of in love with it. Now I'm going to have to make him take me where he got it. =)

LESSON OF THE DAY: I am getting to do WAY too much cool stuff in New York. I am a lucky girl. =)

Honeymoon In Vegas

On Thursday, Joel and I got to go to an invited reading of Jason Robert Brown's new show, "Honeymoon in Vegas". Marc Dela Cruz was in it (he was fabulous of course!) and he got us on the list. It's always fun to be on "the list". =) We had a great time and I practically ran over Jason Robert Brown on my way out of the bathroom before the show - haha! And afterward, we practically ran into Audra McDonald! How awesome is that?

LESSON OF THE DAY: It pays to know people. Like Marc Dela Cruz. =)

KARAOKE

On Thursday night, I got to do a karaoke gig at a club over on 29th and 12th. I had met a guy at Pulse Karaoke while out with my friends after the Balikbayan concert and we had exchanged contact info. I got an e-mail out of the blue asking me to do a holiday party with him and a few others. I was a little nervous because I don't usually do karaoke and I am not always up on contemporary pop/rock music but I have been needing to work on that part of my book so this seemed like a sign. The gig was super fun and we got fed, free drinks and dessert and got to dance the night away. I sang RESPECT ala Aretha Franklin and backup on a few others songs - super easy fun gig and I got paid! I'm hoping this will work out as a nice side gig. We shall see!

LESSON OF THE DAY: Always exchange contact info with people who are interested in you, you never know what it could lead to - like employment!

THE NETWORK

I had an appointment with Paul at The Network last week - I auditioned for him and then he gave me a list of agents that I should specifically target for appointments. It went well and it was nice to get a step that I can take toward my 90 day action plan. VP knew half of them so that gave me a nice personal angle as well - here's hoping someone gives me a chance!

LESSON OF THE DAY: No matter what it is, write it down on your 90 day action plan. Somehow, someway, someone or something will show you how to accomplish it even if you have no idea where to start.

Banana Mash

So, yesterday my day got off to a bad start - I had dropped off my coat at the dry cleaners on Monday which meant I had been FREEZING MY TUCHUS OFF ALL WEEK IN NEW YORK. The coat was supposed to be ready on Friday so I went to go pick it up only to find that it hadn't actually been cleaned when I got it home. ARRRRRGGGGGHHHHHH!!!!!!!!! I had taken it in and told the man that I had a banana in my pocket and then forgot about it and ended up with nasty banana mush all over the pocket and around it. Disgusting. He's a very sweet man but English is not his first language and it didn't seem like he knew what a banana was. I thought about acting out a monkey but that seemed offensive. So I just pointed to it and said "Food".

LESSON OF THE DAY: Sometimes, if people don't really speak English, it's just not gonna work out the way it should. I need to find a new dry cleaner. Wah wah.

Christmas Break!

Right now I am sitting in the Oklahoma City Airport waiting for my husband to join me for Christmas with his family. I am exhausted - I didn't go to bed last night, just went directly to the airport at the crack of dawn this morning. So sleepy. I'm way behind on my blogging yet again. This past week was awesome because Joel was here visiting! We had a blast yesterday - met up for some Lucky Burgers and then did some Christmas deliveries for VP. We walked probably 70 blocks of Manhattan and had a great time! I couldn't have done it without him - so much to carry and heavy too. Then he got us student tickets to In The Next Room, or The Vibrator Play which I was thrilled to see again since I loved it sooooo much! It was just as amazing the second time which is saying something. Typically, I don't like to watch anything more than once! He loved it and I gave him his Christmas present (a program signed by the whole cast). I was also happy that he got to see my place and my fake dog while he was in town (he loved her of course!)

LESSON OF THE DAY: Good friends are worth more than anything. And sometimes, the yucky early flight works in your favor - for example, today when a blizzard was scheduled to hit New York which would have prevented me from going home.

Yes James, I was wrong =)

On Friday I went and saw Dr. Small (sports medicine) to see if he can get my shoulder back in working order. Six months ago I injured my right shoulder while playing softball for an afternoon with the cast of Stunt Girl. At first I thought it was just a sore/pulled muscle but it has persisted much too long despite going to the chiropractor forever. Once I found out that our insurance works here, I made an appointment to see Dr. Small. I feel very foolish for not having gone to a doctor sooner but what can I say? You hope your body will heal itself, etc. Anyway, the good news is that with physical therapy it should be healed in a few months. I was terrified that he would tell me I'd need surgery (another reason to be scared of going). So, now I am doing daily exercises and will call the PT office on Monday to set up sessions. He also gave me exercises for my bum hip (from dance). Hooray!

Friday night I got to go to a makeup class taught by my friend Pamela Bob. We had a great time catching up and she is sooooo talented as a makeup artist. It was great to get some personal consultation on application, products and color palette. The Motives cosmetic line is really great - I've used some of their products and really liked them so I was happy to try some others and found them equally wonderful. Plus, Pamela told me she is pregnant! So exciting! A truly wonderful night.

LESSON OF THE DAY: Go to the doctor immediately - it will save you time in the healing process. Don't be an idiot.

Sleepy Girl and the Filipinos

Thursday morning James had to head to the airport (boo) so we headed down to midtown at 6 am so that he could get to the airport in time and I could get in line for The Addams Family EPA at Telsey. We grabbed some breakfast and then I saw him off - turns out he picked the slowest cab driver in Manhattan and almost missed his flight by seconds! I went over to the Telsey offices and there was only a small line formed so we sat outside for another half hour and then we were let in the building at 8:00 a.m. I tried to read but I was so tired that I just closed my eyes and tried to rest. Unfortunately, I lost the script I had been reading because I forgot to put it back in my bag! I was able to sign up to go fourth so that I could run over to another audition afterward. I was desperately hoping to be done with both auditions by 1:00 so that I could run home for a nap before going to my friend Brian's benefit concert that night. The Addams Family call was fun - they were looking for rock in an Avril Lavigne style so I dressed the part as well - black nails, red and black striped fingerless gloves, black skinny jeans and motorcycle boots. Very fun! And I ran into Mo's boyfriend, Justin, who was headed into another audition in the studio next door. He came up and gave me a big hug and kiss on the cheek - he is so sweet. It was so nice to see a familiar, smiley face in the waiting room for an audition! =) After I finished, I ran over to the other studio to audition for understudy positions for the new play "A Behanding In Spokane". There were far more people at this auditions but I still managed to get out of there around noon which was awesome! This audition was reading sides from the play - the side was a little confusing since I hadn't been able to read the play in advance but I decided it was still a good chance to practice cold reading and to just make a big choice. So, I felt fine about it - it's harder for me to judge how it went as I am not accustomed to auditioning for plays. I always know how I did on a song but this is much trickier for me to tell.

Then I ran home and Violet (the sweet dog I am nannying) and I took a two hour nap - so delightful and much needed. Then I went downtown to go to the VIP cocktail party before the benefit concert. The concert was held at the Philippine Embassy. The concert was so wonderful! Why are Filipinos so beautiful and talented? =) I had a great time and my friend Marc Dela Cruz was on it as well which I wasn't aware of until the day of the concert. After the concert (which raised over 2 grand for rebuilding after the typhoons) we went and grabbed some food from Baja Fresh because we were starving and poor Brian had been working so hard on the videos for the concert all day and hadn't eaten much. Then we went to join the other performers at a karaoke bar called Pulse. Usually I hate karaoke but I ended up having a blast! They made me sing so I did "Natural Woman" ala Aretha Franklin and they loved it. Everyone was so fun and welcoming. I headed out around 1 am since I had an appointment in the morning with the sports medicine doc.

LESSON OF THE DAY: At times, karaoke can be fun. And Filipinos are beautiful.

Warning: Santa Spoiler - Do Not Read If You Believe In Santa

On Wednesday, James and I went and visited my dear friend Mickey who is currently a Macy's store Santa - so adorable! We got to get our picture taken with him - unfortunately, there was a glare on one of his eyes so he looks like Pirate Santa - arrrr!

That night I had my first Best of the Best class through The Network. This week was a masterclass with Merri Sugarman of Tara Rubin Casting. I was thrilled not to be as nervous as I was at my first class. It was great and I felt like I got wonderful positive feedback which is always nice. Merri was very cool - passionate and intelligent. I love strong women! =)

LESSON OF THE DAY: Santa really does know everyone's name.