A Month Has Gone By

Heat Wave. 
The worst Summer I have experienced in Oregon since 1994. 
Had to get a fan.  Could not afford a portable air conditioner. 
I managed to get really creative and find ways to stay cool. 
Went to the mall, saw movies for free with my SAG/AFTRA card, wore cold packs all the time, took cold showers, sprayed myself in front of the fan. 
Did not have much of an appetite.  Probably had a bit of heat stroke. 
Had to plan to do maybe two things a day.  That's it.

Strange fires from California into Oregon.  Dangerous and unsettling.

Stayed to myself most of the time because I was in a bad mood.  Could not breath in my house.  It was like an oven.

Did JAW this year.  It was great.  I did two plays.  "Colchester" and "Miller Mississippi".  I am very proud of my work this year.  I don't normally say such things but I overcame some wonderfully challenging issues.  I never gave up.  I don't anyway but this was something that was a risk and I was up to the challenge even in the middle of a heat wave.  At least the theatre was cool and air conditioned.

Changed my house up a bit.  Redesigned, downsized.  My house feels larger and uncluttered.  So glad I did this.  After "Our Town" my new life starts and I want to be ready for it.  It is a big step and will be for the rest of my life.  That took a lot to type that in right now.   But I am ready.  I am organized and feel confident.
Another big change:  I am getting my very first Smart Phone.  2014 Samsung Galaxy Core Prime.  Had major troubles getting this phone.  Century Link has become a really bad company to work with.  It was a nightmare to unbundle and then the customer service at Verizon was unbelievably bad.  Really bad.  On the FIFTH day of hell I walked out of the Verizon store.  Went home.  Cooled down and then went on line.  Then called Verizon and spoke to this customer service guy.  Within the hour I had my phone.  NO PROBLEMS, everything was explained beautifully.  Wasn't put on hold for over 3 hours.   Wasn't given the run around.  Will be getting the phone  by fed ex.  I will battery up and then be learning how to maneuver in and out of my smart phone.

My Brother has moved to Oregon.  We are going to meet with our Uncle Earl to discuss Mother.  Every day things change with Mother.  I can't keep up with it all.  Her quality of life is what I am concerned with but evidently my Mother is handling the constant pain.

I have been loosing weight.  Slowly.  I am in day 75 of not eating bread or cheese.  It is remarkable how good I feel.  I DON'T MISS THEM AT ALL.  Two of my favorite foods in the world and I don't miss them at all.  Because of this change - I don't eat processed food anymore.  All natural now. Colored and natural.

Pictures of the LAST DAY OF JAW 2015.  Really wonderful plays this year. 

A Warm Sunny Weekend

My lovely Aunt Dorothy's funeral was on Thursday. 
I spent the whole day walking and thinking about her.  I went into a Sear's where she use to work.  Went to the movies where she and my Dad grew up.  Not in San Francisco (where they were born and raised) but here in Clackamas.  Those dark rooms where you can take yourself away into another world just to get thru a day in the life of my Dad and his Sister ~ my Aunt Dorothy. 
They both had such difficult childhoods but grew up with love for each other.   Protective love.  To mask their sadness they both had such great senses of humor.  Truly funny people.  Now they are together making everyone around them laugh in that place we call heaven.

It is Summer here in Oregon.  90 degrees.

Shot a really cool self audition tape for a independent film being shot in July. 
It has become the wave of the future.  Pretty soon we won't need casting directors.  Everybody now is shooting their own auditions more often than you think. 
You still need, somewhat, professional equipment.  You still need another actor to read with you.  You still need the video to look good.  I had people that already knew what they were doing.  I now need to learn how to do it myself.  I don't have a smart phone.  Need to open a YouTube or Vimeo account.  It's not as easy as one might think.  I'm sure someone somewhere is capitalizing on making money = teaching actors how to make your own audition tapes.

As you can see from the photo = we had a great time.  Finding just the right lighting, rehearsing, did several takes, learning how to transfer the video to Vimeo.  My computer is too slow and would have taken 5 hours to upload to Vimeo so they went home and did it all on their, totally advanced, computer. 

Tonight is the TONY'S.  I will be watching a few friends in some of the numbers.  I'm hoping they didn't snub too many of the shows.  I guess in any award show that happens.  You would think I would know better after all of my years in the business. 

Memorial Day

Turned out to be a really lovely day.  The sun was shining and I was lucky enough to be amongst great company.
Hula Hooping, Badminton, Hearty conversation, Fun food, Kid Playing, Balloon making, Chalking on cement stairs, Getting to see my friends fabulous new home and feeling at peace.
I don't get out enough and this was just perfect.
I'm just not good like I use to be at socializing.  I seem to get overwhelmed easily with crowds now.  That never use to happen......or maybe it did and just now I am recognizing and acknowledging it.   Maybe I am really more introverted and just never accepted it.
I have been having a happy and easy time off.  All my efforts with chores and events seem to flow with ease and grace.  No real problems.  No procrastinating.  Seem to be handling Mothers situation calmly and quietly and enjoying the challenges that come my way.
I had an audition = was called back = booked the job.  Start rehearsals in August.  The show closes on my Birthday.  Nice.
My cat, Camille turned 10 months today.  She was born on July 30, 2014.  She is a spicy cat, full of piss and vinegar.  Sure hope that changes in her 12th month of living.  
Going to try to see a dermatologist about taking that thing out of my left arm.  Nobody notices it but me.  I want to feel more confident when I wear sleeveless shirts and dresses.  Who knows ~  it might cause problems as the years go on.   Certainly don't want that.  Have to do it while I still have Insurance.

A Challenging Week

Having a hard time trusting people this week.  I feel like I am fighting a battle all by myself and everyone around me does not want me to succeed.  Then I was in Fed Ex getting ready to mail a package and this woman comes out of nowhere and tells me not to mail the package.  I spent almost 2 hours with this woman named Nora.  A tall strong Russian woman.  It was freaky ~ like she was this angel that appeared to me.  The timing was uncanny.  So I listened and asked questions.  I was overwhelmed with information and I was dizzy trying to grasp all this very important info.  I proceeded forward with knowledge and it helped me for the rest of the week.  I am so grateful.  Strangely happy. 

I have an audition for Portland Center Stage. 

My glorious Aunt Dorothy passed away this week.  Oh how I remember her from my childhood and most of my adulthood.  She is my Father's Sister.  The most remarkable sense of humor - she had.  Wish she had gone into show business.  She would have been an exceptional comedian.  Truly.  But instead - she raised two wonderful children, was very proud to work at Sears most of her adult life.  She must have kept the employees in stitches everyday.  She wore spike heels and tight skirts.  She wore fashion well.  Sharp, stylish woman.  Very bad childhood but made something of herself.  I think, deep down inside, she was unhappy but managed to make a great life for her and her family.  I love her so.

This week was the week to see a few plays.  Some good = some not so good.  I was very grateful when I did not have to pay for a ticket.  Comps mean a lot to me.

I am having trouble not eating correctly.  I have to keep starting over each week.  Start from scratch.  I am exercising (which is very good) but it doesn't help my cause in loosing weight AT ALL.  At least I have another day to start over.  Every day is a new day.  Every single day.  I'm not staying in present.  It would help so much if I did.   

My wonderful Aunt Dorothy with my Father (her Brother).  I don't know what year this was or where this was taken.  I'm just glad they were together.  They looked alike and acted very much alike.  At times I thought they were twins. 
 

Humanity At It's Best

My dear friend Victor Morris went to visit my Mother in San Diego and sang to her.  He has a beautiful voice and we have known each other since 1996.  My Mother and Victor have never met.  Not many friends of mine throughout my life have met my parents.  It is always incredibly special when someone from my adult life meets them.  My very special parents.

My Mother is not doing very well.  Quality of life.  I don't want to write anymore on this subject.  It's a bit to painful at this point in time.

People like Victor make life so worth living.  Unconditional.  Giving.  Pure kindness.  I'm hoping I can pay this kind of generosity forward in the future.  Give myself the opportunity to be aware and open to finding a situation to help someone else.  The simplest of gestures.  I want to be like Victor when I grow up. 

By the way,  my Mother loved Victor.  I wished I was there to have watched him sing to her.  I grew up with voices like Victor in my household.  Opera, Musicals....all kinds of music.  All because of my wonderful Mother and Father. 

Mother's Day

Today a little garden of flowers were delivered to my Mother for Mother's Day. 
On Monday ~ my dearest friend VICTOR MORRIS will be visiting my Mother and SINGING to her.  It is a surprise.  I think she may be too weak but she still might enjoy this kind gesture.  Victor has the most beautiful voice. 
I have known him for years.  Knew him here in Oregon.  Worked with him and we were good friends.  He was not getting enough work in Portland so he moved to San Diego.  His career has been going quit well, ever since.  He has also met some wonderful woman and is newly married.  His two daughters are all grown up and going to college.

This is a picture of my Mother in the early to mid 80's.  I had visited her and Dad during the Summer in Sacramento.  Mother and her Flaming Red Hair.  I was extremely tan.  Stopped doing the Sun Bunny with Oil thing in 1987.  Thank goodness I stopped - doing that - sunbathing. 
I think Dad took this picture. 
Hoping my Mother feels well today.  

Instant Support From A Friend

This remarkable woman's name is:  Carol Ann Wohlumt.  Had a bit of a scare today I posted a little question on Face Book and out of no where she calls me with a supportive conversation.  It's people like this who make this world a MUCH better place to live in.  She is so busy and she took time out to call me.  Because of her I feel 100% better and am going to move forward.  Many people commented with support but she called me.  She called me.  What have I done to deserve these wonderful people in my life?  Thank you God.  The Universe....whatever.  They have helped me change the thought and now the feeling has changed. 

FUN SHOW SHOTS OF "VANYA SONYA MASHA & SPIKE"

JUST A FEW OF THE FUN PEOPLE I HAVE KNIT FOR. 

The Fabulous Director of "The Other Place".  Could not have done this play without him.  He has two amazing little girls.  The most delightful little girls.  The parents aren't bad either.  Nikki and Brian. 

Show shots.  What a roller coaster ride.  Woo Hoo.  It doesn't look like it in these pictures but it was a really great set. "THE OTHER PLACE"

"The Other Place".  Portland Playhouse.  Pretty darn challenging.  So glad I fought thru it.  Love the people at this theatre.  Great environment.  All about the work.  Loving supportive bunch.

I had t-shirts made for the cast. Jon Luc is French and the way he said hello when he walked into the theatre was so cool.  So....that was the way we greeted each other for every rehearsal and every show.  Very special.  We needed to laugh because this show was EXTREMELY DIFFICULT for all of us.

Camille Giget Mclean is now 9 months old.  Her visit to the Vet was good but now something is wrong with her.  She was perfectly fine before she went.  Now she sleeps too much and won't eat.  Very concerned.