And she surveyed all that she had accomplished, and pronounced it good.

I know budgets are tight, but please take a moment to donate to NaNoWriMo. The Office of Letters and Light is enabling, encouraging, and empowering writers like me all over the world. They do good work, and it would be awesome if they were around in 2009 to keep doing that work. $10 from everyone who reads this blog - and is able to spare $10 - would make a world of difference to them. (I'm going to send them $10, and Lord knows I have no money.)

If you leave a comment saying you donated, I'll send you a personalized photo of something spectacular and fun. You tell me your favorite color, food, and book (and address, obviously), and I'll take a nifty, artistic photo just for you! Please donate!

Oof

I ate a lot yesterday. I'm paying for it today.

I hope everyone was able to eat to their heart's and stomach's content. I was blessed to share Thanksgiving with two new friends and laugh a lot.

I hope you've all been watching my word count meter over there. I am a little under 7000 words away from my goal of 50,000. This is not normal NaNo behavior for me. In past years, I've been at 30,000 (or less) and pushed through to the end or given up. I'm going to finish, dear reader, and it will be glorious. Will the story be finished at 50,000? Maybe. The plot is unwieldy, but I could scare up an ending for it.

All righty. Coffee, then library.

It's gone.

My free Internet is gone. A new network popped up on the list of networks, and it's locked. I think they're on to me.

I've considered knocking on my neighbors' doors and offering to pay 1/2 of their monthly bill. It's worth a shot to not have to go through the trauma of setting up my own.

In other news, I did some investigating last night, and I think I found the Jumping Roach's ingress point and sealed it up. More on that when I can post photos.

Happy Thanksgiving!

And...done.

I played a steakhouse waitress today. Rockin'.

It amazes me how much time is spent on the minute details that won't be seen or noticed in the final product. I'll expound on that later, but my brain has turned to mush from two nights in a row of four hours of sleep.

ALSO, a roach jumped on my bed this morning. I wasn't in it, thankfully. But it *jumped*. I saw it *decide* to jump, then spring from the Christmas light bulb onto my bed. It didn't fall, it JUMPED. I tried to squash it but it escaped under my bed.

And now I'm stressed, because this is the second daytime antenna-wearing buddy in the last four days, and they don't seem too afraid of me. And there is a non-killed roach in my apartment, possibly hiding under my bed, and if I go home and take a nap it might CRAWL on me, but I'm so tired and that's just adding to my stress.

I'm writing a letter to the landlord (yes, the one whose office is in the same building) and airing every single one of my grievances, then sending it via certified mail for documentation. This has gone on long enough.

On Set Again!

Working again as background today, and very grateful to be here.

Amazing!

We're wrapped!

I fully expected to be here until into the night, but after lunch, we wandered around for a bit until they let us go.

Sweet. Time for sleep.

Lord Have Mercy

Why do I agree to do exterior shots? Why??

Oh yeah. I need money. Booooo.

What? Oh.

It's almost 7:00. I've already been up for three hours. That's ridiculous. Normally, I'm in bed for another two hours at this time. There are, like, 200 people here.

I'm glad we're getting paid to chat and sit on our butts!

Working

I was halfway through an awesome blog yesterday. I was writing it on my phone. My phone rang. I lost the entry. I decided not to post one.

I'm writing late today because it's Friday and I have to get up at 4:45 on Friday mornings to go do work study (if I haven't mentioned that before). So, just know that Friday entries may be late or non-existent. Mmmkay?

I am voraciously looking for employment. I ask everyone I know if they know of anything, and I've been at the Actor's Work Program offices almost every day this week. I know that good things will come of all this energy I'm expending, but it's sometimes difficult to remember that when my bank account is hemorrhaging all over the place and I don't have a needle or thread to sew up the wound, or even any of those cloth wads the nurse uses to soak up the extra...

Um.

Yeah.

That metaphor is out of control.

Anyway. I'm looking, but having to be patient, and possibly take less than the ideal. I don't mind making less money as long as I don't hate my life while I'm there. That's not too much to ask, is it?

So if you're reading this and you have an awesome job for me? Drop me a line and I'll send you my fabulous, new, totally renovated resume!

Oops

Oops
Originally uploaded by AdiaMichelle

I rearranged last night. I moved my desk so that it faces the window. The motivation was less "I need something new" and more "I want the heat to actually radiate into the room and not just the side of my desk."

It's chilly outside. 30 degrees. I'm really boring today, kidlings. I think my novel has stolen all my words and ideas.

Actually, no. What happened is that I haven't been filling the well. Julia Cameron encourages artists to keep replenishing their "well of creativity." We can't keep running on empty, churning out work without suffering the consequences, i.e. burnout, writer's block, addictive behaviors.

The workshop was a source of creative energy for me, and now that it's over, I have to go elsewhere for creative juice. I haven't been doing that. I've been freaking out about my financial situation. I'm going to stop doing that now.

For today's refill, I think I'll walk in Central Park. (Yes, it's cold, but I'm from Minnesota and I'm not scurred.) I would love to watch a dance class, but you can't get into the dancing area of Broadway Dance Center without paying for a class. Maybe I could go to Port Authority bus station, go up to one of the upper levels and watch class at Alvin Ailey. Eh. Too much work. I would also like to bake something, but my oven is still not functioning. Poop.

What are you doing to fill your creative well?

List

It's a beautiful day outside. The downside is that it's below 40 degrees and will stay there for the rest of the day.

I was really productive yesterday. Today, I don't know where to begin.

I'm only three days behind on my novel. Which equals 5001 words. Which is doable; if I felt like doing anything other than descending into a vegetative state and munching popcorn.

I'm the old lady of my building: I actually poked my ceiling with a broom handle to remind my upstairs neighbor that he either needs to walk more softly or buy a rug.

Despite the lack of sound-proofing and the occasional antenna-wearing invaders and the smell of other people's food, this isn't a bad apartment. I'm thankful that I'm indoors now that it's cold, and that the heat isn't my financial responsibility.

Which leads me to the flip side, yet again: how will I afford to keep living here if jobs that pay a living wage are so elusive? It's exhausting to look at page after page of job ads that pay $10, $11, or $12 an hour, or even less than $10.

News flash! The economy sucks.

I pat myself on the back for being diligent about checking in weekly with my temp and permanent placement agencies.

I sigh when they write back "Thanks!" instead of "Here's a job!"

Anyone want to hire a brilliant, creative, problem-solving, computer savvy writer and admin genius?

My bamboo looks unhappy.

I just had an idea that could be lucrative, if I could get my idea to the people who need it. Hm... I need a marketing genius.

I really want a pet. I look at icanhascheezburger.com and every other picture I say, "Awww!" I pass Pocket Pooches NYC and I always stop and stare at the teeny tiny balls of fluffy puppy goodness and my heart breaks that I can't have one. Yes, yes: animals are expensive and messy and aggravating. The same can be said for children, and people keep having those anyway. The moment I reach financial solvency, I'm getting a pet.

Some bubbly, perhaps?

Some bubbly, perhaps?
Originally uploaded by AdiaMichelle

That glass of champagne is also being raised to my fellow "The Less We Talk" workshoppers. Thank you for an extremely fun and educational process. I wouldn't have learned as much if you all weren't as fearless and supportive as you were! See you soon!

***************

I was thinking about networking a few days ago. I'm looking for another job and I tell EVERYONE, knowing that I can get information and leads from friends and acquaintances. It doesn't matter whether or not they directly have something for me. They may know someone who knows someone who knows someone, and that's better than nothing.

I really appreciate that sense of sharing information and helping everyone at the same time: you have a job, I'm looking for one. If I fit, you fill your job, and you think highly of the friends that helped you find the right candidate. Win-win!

What I don't appreciate is when people are hesitant about sharing information with me because they don't think I can help them. I remember one instance, riding home from a dinner party organized by a Minnesota friend, two other attendees were exchanging business cards. I already had the business card of one of them, and I asked the other if I could have one as well. He hesitated, obviously reluctant to give me one. I almost wanted to say, "Wow. Were they expensive? You don't have to waste one on me if you don't want to," but I held my tongue and smiled.

I learned something in that moment. I learned that, personally, I'm happy to give people my contact information. I never know what projects you'll be up to in the future, and you never know what I'll be up to in the future. I may need your skill set exactly, and in five years time you may get a call out of the blue from me saying, "Hey, you're the only one I know who can do this. Can you?" Every interaction is a chance for both parties to advance, to live the principle of "win-win" rather than "win-lose."

So, "win-win," people! Help each other. It really doesn't cost you anything unless you let it.

This Feels Weird

It's my third day in a row being out of the house from morning 'til night. I'm almost ALWAYS home for a good portion of the day.

I came to the Equity lounge to write and ended up paging through Backstage and eavesdropping on old actors instead, hearing them discuss the actor obituaries and how they're running out of friends and contemporaries. I take it for granted that my actor friends will be around for years, even if we're not in contact. For these guys, losing people is an accepted fact of life. One man said, "You know what? I'm not going to get any more phone calls, except for you." I can't even imagine.

Audition last night was ok. My nerves got the better of me and I couldn't play the song I'd planned on playing. After I relaxed a bit, it went better. Do it and forget it!

Note to Self

DO NOT over-caffeinate before an audition. You will be jittery and nervous when you need zen-like calm.

Also, don't want it too much.

Metro

Metro
Originally uploaded by AdiaMichelle

I have orange pulp between two of my molars. Ugh. Time for floss.

For not having done that particular monologue in months, my audition went well. I didn't walk out feeling like I "should have done X!" and the director said "That was very nice." I'll take it.

I tried something new in that audition. Normally, I only have about five seconds of silence before I start talking, if even that. But because of the work we've been doing in this workshop, I decided to "see and be seen" before I moved into the meat of the monologue. It's a clown term that basically means let the audience see you and you connect with them before you start doing anything. Obviously I don't want to make eye contact with the auditor (too confrontational), but I can enter the space that I've created, let him look at me and take me in, and then start the monologue. So there was a good 30 seconds of silence at the top of my audition piece. And it felt good. So using that again.

Back in the Swing

Currently sitting in the Actors Equity Auditon Center hoping to be called off the alternates list for an audition. This is what happens when I sleep in Equity members can get appointments, but only if they show up early enough. I set my alarm for 7:30, but due to not sleeping for an hour or more at 2:30 am because SOMEONE in my building decided to BURN POPCORN at that hour, I didn't get up when my alarm went off. (I'm debating sleeping with nose plugs.)

I do have an appointment this afternoon at 4:50 for another theatre company. I hadn't planned on auditioning for them, but I figured if I was down here and they had an appointment available, why not?

Another audition tomorrow, and I get to play the guitar for it! Yay! My miscellaneous skill is useful!

Seriously, though. Still not over the burned popcorn at 2:30 in the morning. Jerks.

Coliseum in the Sun

Coliseum in the Sun
Originally uploaded by AdiaMichelle

Hey! I'm back.

Sorry. I've been sniffling, sneezing, moaning and moping about the house for the last few days; when I wasn't shooting a music video or workshopping or catering, that is.

SO. I watched the episode of Life On Mars for which I was an extra. I am there, I am visible. It was cool to know that thousands of people had watched that episode. Granted, no one was looking at me in the background, but it was still cool.

I have a confession to make, though. There was an additional scene that involved all the BLA members sans me. That was, um, hard to watch. It was cool to see all the people I'd hung out with for two days, but I couldn't help wondering I had done something wrong in that I wasn't invited back for another day of work. Had I not behaved myself? Did I totally suck? Was I pulling focus? What did I do?

And in the end, I'll never know. There's no reason for me to beat myself up over it. No actor mind taffy!

Speaking of acting, things may, um, be changing for me. I may or may not have a full-time job come, oh, tomorrow. Which means that acting would be relegated to evenings and weekends. That's how I started in Minnesota. Not a bad way to start over here. But, once again, nothing is set in stone. I'll keep ya posted.

UPDATE: Yeah, no full-time job. I had it, and then I let it go. I kind of convulse into a laughing fit whenever I think about it. Mostly because turning it down makes no sense. But then again, chasing a dream never makes sense looking forward. Looking backward, though:

As we look back and survey the terrain to determine where we've been and where we are in relationship to where we're going, we clearly see that we could not have gotten where we are without coming the way we came. There aren't any other roads; there aren't any shortcuts. There's no way to parachute into this terrain.

-The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People

Hey there!

I'm sick.

I have a cold.

Don't feel like writing.

Feel like sleeping.

Zzzz...

Il Coliseo

Il Coliseo
Originally uploaded by AdiaMichelle

I liked visiting the Coliseum. I was in a bit of a funk when we got there (for whatever reason; something trivial, I'm sure), but it was awesome to tromp around in there walking in the footsteps of ancient people. Always supa cool.

I woke up with a sore throat this morning. It was with me yesterday, but I thought it was because I hadn't had enough water. Nope. It's the scratchy kind that announces that unwelcome visitor: the virus. So I stayed in bed as long as I could. (I got released from the catering gig last night at 12:30 am, didn't get home until 2:15 am due to track work and wonky trains and waiting waiting waiting.)

I fear that my novel may suffer if I start suffering from a cold, so I will employ a strategy that seems to work well: sleep as much as possible right away to keep the ick from dragging out for days.

News flash: W00t! I just scheduled an audition for next week for a company I auditioned for in the spring. Yay! I love when that happens.

Adia Makes Her Small-Screen Debut!

The episode of Life On Mars that I worked on will be airing TOMORROW. You can play Try to Spot Adia!

(If I don't make it into the episode, at least I'm in the previews. Go watch the Life On Mars promo on ABC! They're the little tiny videos in the player on the right. Thanks for the tip, Stephanie!)

Mere moments afterward...

Mere moments afterward...
Originally uploaded by AdiaMichelle

Speechless.

The Forum

The Forum
Originally uploaded by AdiaMichelle

The civic center of ancient Rome over there.

Now go do your American civic duty (and hard-won privilege, let's not forget the people who have given and are still giving their lives for our right to make our voices heard) and GO VOTE. Don't forget, don't let the time get past you, don't let yourself get busy with other things.

VOTE.


UPDATE: I voted. It was good.

21 Questions

NYMag.com has a regular feature on their Daily Intel blog called "21 Questions." They ask various people the same set of questions, but most of the people they ask are, shall we say, not of the underclass. (Every now and then they interview someone who more recently was "normal". Whenever I read it I think, "Hey, NYMag.com. How about you ask me those 21 questions and see what someone who's not a member of the glitterati has to say?" They'll never ask, but I have a blog of my own, and can therefore take their 21 questions and ask them of myself. So here we go.

Name: Adia
Job: Actor/Cater Waiter/Wannabe novelist and photographer
Age: 195
Neighborhood: BK

Who's your favorite New Yorker, living or dead, real or fictional? Kermit.

What's the best meal you've eaten in New York? "Free" tastes better than anything else.

In one sentence, what do you actually do all day in your job? Wait for the phone to ring or an email to pop up that says, "Here's some work."

Would you still live here on a $35,000 salary? Wow. $35,000 sounds like incredible wealth to me.

What's the last thing you saw on Broadway? Hairspray. My sister was in town.

Do you give money to panhandlers? See question 4.

What's your drink? Coffee. Always coffee.

How often do you prepare your own meals? Every day. Eating out is RARE.

What's your favorite medication? Aleve. Two of 'em, even though the box says one.

What's hanging above your sofa? I have a collage and a piece of newsprint paper with sayings from my "7 Habits of Highly Effective People" daily calendar hanging above my desk. There's no room for a sofa in here.

How much is too much to spend on a haircut? I have a pair of scissors specifically crafted for cutting hair.

When's bedtime? Whenever I fall asleep with the lights on and an unwashed face.

Which do you prefer, the old Times Square or the new Times Square? I wish Times Square would fall into a wormhole and appear elsewhere as some other dimension's urban headache.

What do you think of Donald Trump? When I meet him and he's signing a million dollar check over to me, I'll let you know.

What do you hate most about living in New York? The list is long. I hate: how expensive it is to live here, how people who make significantly more money than I do gripe about not having any money when I'd kill for their "poverty line" $40,000/year, roaches, ignorant fools who drop garbage everywhere when they're two feet from a trash can, how self-centered everyone is, the lack of indoor spaces that are open past 5pm that don't pressure you to spend money, and how easy it is to let weeks go by without seeing your friends.

Who is your mortal enemy? Gainful employment, apparently.

When's the last time you drove a car? July. I went to a wedding in California. I got a Mustang as a rental car. That was fun.

Who should be the next president? Senator Barack Obama.

Times, Post, or Daily News? I read the NY Times when I can stand to read the news.

Where do you go to be alone? No one's ever alone. There's always some kind of critter nearby.

What makes someone a New Yorker? Tunnel vision.

Crest Ad

Crest Ad
Originally uploaded by AdiaMichelle

Hey Crest! Hire me!

New shots of me on the tail-end of this photo set. I'm considering using one or two of them as a current headshot. Lemme know here or there which ones you like, please?


*The date is for November 1st so this blog stays up top long enough for YOU to weigh in on the fo-toze.