Grossly Negligent and Barf-Inducing

Yes, I Tumble, or whatever the cool kids are calling it. Am I one of the cool kids yet??!

http://angelinascene.tumblr.com/

And follow me on Twitter, bitches. I'm sorry. You're not bitches, Party People. I don't know what came over me. Please follow me on Twitter, that's what I meant, yep:

http://www.twitter.com/angelinascene

Also, I'm almost at 6000 pageviews of all time on this blog! I'm really wondering who's actually reading this mess of run-on sentences, depravity, self-abashing, too much information, tongue-in-cheek, over-exaggerated, under uniformed, over-the-top, drama queen'ed, overly comedic, grossly negligent, barf-inducing, take-no-prisoners, no-holds-barred, diarrhea festival that is my life. All I talk about is Los Angeles, my kids, what people do that annoy me, and who I find attractive. Thank you for reading but not telling me how much of an assbag I must look like in these writings. In my defense, I write these a lot of the time at night while Bry is talking to me and we're watching Glee. And then, I don't go back and read them. That's probably for the best. I like being open about my life, whether or not I have fans. And if it's only my family reading these...hi mom, aunts and Kecia! lol

Laterz.

(ending "later" with a 'z' instead of an 's' is douchey, right? Or is it cool? Comments, opinions?)

Where They Get this From

I'm having a pretty good week. I woke up early this morning, before hubby had to start getting ready for work, and decided to go to Intelligentsia, this nice coffee bar in Silver Lake, which is not too far from my house. I got up, went there, found parking on the street and sat there drinking my chai latte and talking to my mom about why she's afraid to move to California. Okay, I get it, the earthquakes, the wildfires the mudslides, I get it, I really do. Those things are part of the reason why I never moved here before, truthfully. But in Chicago, I was afraid to drive around! I was afraid to go into the city for auditions and for my acting classes. I still did it, but I really got to the point of being terrified of getting shot in the face. Nobody wants to get shot in the face. Not to say that it couldn't happen here, because obviously, crime happens in L.A. too, duh! It just got to a point where people I grew up with were getting killed back to back. I lost two old friends in a month period! One in December, right before Christmas, and then again in January! The gang violence just got out of control and it wasn't just in one area, it was all over. It got dangerous to go downtown. I still love Chicago, I really, I do. I love it for its beauty and I love it because of its history and because of Second City and the amazing people that have come out of there and made great things of themselves. I'm just a little afraid of getting shot in the face. That's all.

But, in hindsight, there was an earthquake here today. A relatively small one, so small I didn't feel it and wouldn't even had known about it if it wasn't for the fact that it was a top story on Yahoo. So for a few hours after reading that, I thought I felt the floor shaking. At one point, Anneka's water bottle fell off the counter and hit the floor. I jumped like "what was that?" and Ani was like "I don't know". I was like "did you feel the floor move?" and she goes "No!" looking at me, like I'm crazy.

These kids...I'm sitting here trying to write this blog, and I've had to stop like 7 times. They're supposed to be eating dinner, and I'm at the table with them, but they're clowning around. I don't know where they get this snizz from. Clownshoe babies. Everything is a joke to them. Absolutely no clue where they get this from...

Yes, this is really how they are at dinnertime. I probably should be all "Knock it off! Have better table manners!" But whatever, they're little kids. And it's funny!

Your Beauty is My Muse

So we're driving through Griffith Park, going up into the hills, blasting Sucre's new album, and realizing that I belong here. I've never been this happy. All of the hard work, sacrifice, arguments and positive thinking finally got us here. We drove up to the Griffith Park Observatory, where parts of Rebel Without a Cause was filmed. Now I want to watch it again and relive that magical first time I saw that film and it changed my life. The first time I really saw Natalie Wood and just fell awesomely in love with her. After that film, I decided she was my favorite actress and saw "Love With the Proper Stranger", which is now one of my favorite films of all time.
And James Dean. My God. James Dean. To find out years later that we share a birthday (February 8th). What an amazing actor he was. He was so compelling in that film.

I'm writing a film right now that I think is going to change my life. I have so much hope and faith in the idea and I think I'm doing my best writing to date. I'm obsessed with it. I spent hours listening to Sucre in the bedroom the other day with Bry, and I was sitting up in bed with my laptop open and just writing and writing, and checking notes that I had written a few months back when I first began writing this script. And I can see it. It looks like a completed film in my mind. I feel like this could be the script that finally garners attention for me. It's going to be the story that gets me my house on a hill in Silverlake or Los Feliz. It's going to be the story that changes my life. And I'm halfway done with the first draft. I'm not going to talk about what it's called, what it's about, blah blah blah yet. I'll get there, at some point. Right now, I'm just concentrating on the journey.

These experiences that I'm having gives me these beautiful ideas. Looking from the Griffith Observatory and realizing we were so high up that we could see the Hollywood sign and pretty much all of Los Angeles, just inspired me. L.A., your beauty is my fucking muse.

When we went to Santa Monica pier last week, and we were driving along the freeway and realized that there was this thick fog covering the area and the temperature began to drop drastically and we were cold, but yet I still got out of that car and walked across the sand and put my feet in the ocean. That was the first time I'd ever been to the ocean. And yes, it was cold, and yes, I had a two year old on my hip who thought she would have to get wet too...(I told Mia "I'm not putting you in the water...I'm your mommy, don't you trust me??" and my gorgeous girl said "No"! LOL) I just let the water wash over my feet a couple of times, and that was good enough to get me just a little emotionally. I'd finally made it here. I finally made it to L.A.

These experiences are leading up to something. And there's still a lot left to explore. There's still Venice Beach! There's still Zuma Beach! There's Malibu! Pacific Coast Highway! A bunch of things left to explore in L.A. Can't wait!!!

Mia, at the observatory today. Love my girls!

Afraid to be

I have this habit of trying to be a people-person, though people frighten the hell out of me. I'm always afraid I'm going to say the wrong thing, hurt someone's feelings, rub someone the wrong way. So I sometimes do this thing where I tell people what they want to hear. I'm sorry for that. I'm sorry for telling you what you wanted to hear all the time, instead of telling you that you and your actions scare the hell out of me. I'm sorry that we've spent so much time together that your phone calls and texts started to bother me so much that I found myself turning my phone off or intentionally not answering them. That makes me a liar. I'm not perfect. I hate confrontation. In recent months when I tried to tell you what was wrong, I got attitude. I got yelled at a few weeks ago because you misunderstood something I said in a text, so I lied and said "I didn't mean it that way", because I didn't want to upset you. I didn't want this to happen.

I am also sorry that I'm not the only one who feels this way. I'm sorry that I felt, again, for the billionth time, that I couldn't talk to you. I felt like if I told you ANY of the things I was feeling, I'd be the horrible person. I'd be the bitch. Then you would go tell all your friends "Angie is horrible, Angie intentionally said these things to hurt me". I'm also sorry that you felt so much like family that I felt like I had to take your shit constantly and not say anything and that I was stuck. But during all of this, I've had these epiphanies that you were not there for me through the most important things that happened to me, you were only there to hear about it later. Where were you when my grandmother died? Where were you when my husband and I were separated? Where were you when I had a miscarriage? Oh right, you started a fight with me a week afterwards and I didn't talk to you for months and then I find out you were dogging me to everyone who would listen, including mutual friends. Where were you after you pushed away our other friend with your actions? Where were you when my husband was across the country for two weeks?

When I've tried to tell you that your behaviors scared me, or maybe something you've done that was unsafe, you called me judgmental. Is it really considered judgmental to tell someone you love that what you're doing can lead to bad things for them? Isn't that what a real friend does? So I kept my mouth shut lately. I don't say anything. Because if I speak up, I lose you. Well, I spoke up this time. I said I felt like you were taking advantage of my kindness. I tell you you're causing arguments between me and my husband because you keep asking for favors. You don't care. I tell you I'm stressed because I'm trying to keep both of you happy and apparently failing at it. I let you borrow our car and kept it from him! That was wrong! You didn't care.

I don't care about airing the dirty laundry right now. I don't care if this makes me look like a bad person putting my shit out there like that. I'm sick of being a liar. I'm sick of biting my tongue. I don't care if you tell everyone who'll listen that I'm a judgmental bitch who just said things to hurt you. The truth of the matter is, you made my life way more stressful lately than it had to be. I should not have had to have the conversation with you mother about how we worry about you, when I know I'm more worried because I know what you actually do all the time. And your secrets are safe with me, because whatever you do, I'm not going to go around telling everyone who'll listen exactly what you're doing, with who and when. And I'm just blogging about this now because I'm hurt and stressed and perhaps just a little self-destructive, so I'm not thinking clearly.

Now I'm going to go drink a glass of wine and get a massage from my husband. It's amazing he stays married to me, I know. For everytime I've hurt him and we've figured it out, I'll never understand it. For everytime he's hurt me in the past and he's made up for it. I'll never understand it. I really really really hope you find a friend who will be honest with you like I wanted to be but was too afraid to be.

The Excitement of Live Theater!

Still promoting "Reservoir Bitches"! Did I mention that this was my first play? The excitement of live theater is incomparable! I mean, I've done my own web series, I've done other people's films, but seriously, this is just indescribable! There is no second take! And you either got it down or you don't...or you wing it! And the adrenaline...I'm really looking forward to our second show tomorrow night! I don't need to jump out of a plane, I do live theater!

Come see us do our thing!

"Reservoir Bitches"
Trestage Theatre
1523 N. La Brea Ave
Hollywood, CA
Thursday thru May 31st @ 8PM
Admission: $20

And don't forget to like my new Facebook page!!! www.facebook.com/angelinagraceactress

and my twitter:

www.twitter.com/angelinascene

Later Bitches!

(lol...see what I did there? Cause the play is called "Reservoir Bitches"?? It's a joke! Get it? It's a play on words...bitches...you got it?? Nevermind. Geez)

Promoting the Shit Out of It!

Me and Carmen Barton backstage at "Reservoir Bitches", opening night April 12th, 2012.

So as of right now, I'm promoting the shit out of this show! I'm like "I'm doing this show at the TreStage Theatre, Hollywood, 1523 N. La Brea, every Thursday through May, blah blah bloop" and hoping we get a huge crowd! I think all of us were just so jittery about opening night, we didn't advertise it as much as we should have. Our bad. I'm really big on Twitter...I mean, seriously, I'm in love with Twitter. Keegan-Michael Key said the play title was hilarious, but he's out of town until May. So I tweeted back at him to tell him the play runs until May 31st. I haven't heard anything back, but I'll remind him in May. How exciting. I've loved that man since I saw him on MadTV in the Taco Bell sketch and this fool, playing a Mexican immigrant, called a Chalupa a "little boat" and called the menu the "Raping Menu". I died. Love that guy. And of course, I watch the fuck out of his show "Key and Peele".

It's really friggin' awesome though that Saj Golde from "The Real L Word" said she'll come check it out this Thursday! I love that show so friggin' much. I recorded it every Sunday night, and really looked forward to it. And yes, I developed a crush on Kelsey (don't tell my husband I was crushing on a girl...oh wait...he knew! LOL) But I really, really liked Saj. She was so real and so down to Earth. She seemed like somebody I'd like to know in real life. And then, I found her Twitter, started tweeting at her, and she would tweet back! Kelsey would tweet back too, but Saj seemed to be always on Twitter, so she would tweet me right back, usually. Once I told her "Damn, you tweet as much as I do" and she went "What, should I not tweet so much...would that make you happy?" just joking around with me. That was hilare. What cool peeps. I spoke to a few other of the girls from the show on Twitter also. Made me love the show more!

I'm happy she's going to come, and hopefully Kelsey will too. I invited her also. And a few casting directors, including one who retweeted me! And of course, my kids' manager Michele Large' of Epic Talent Management, who I hope to impress the fuck out of!  LOL

Oh, did I mention I wrote "Local Couple Wins Lottery" as a full-length stage play?? I'm thinking about putting it on at the TreStage Theater...yep.

Opening Night!!!

Last night was the opening of "Reservoir Bitches", an all-female version of "Reservoir Dogs" that I'm in. I play Ms. Brown, Quentin Tarantino's character. I was super nervous last night before going on stage. I knew my lines, but I was afraid I was going to get out there, freak out and freeze up. Okay, that didn't happen. We all prayed together before going out there, and then I threw up an extra prayer like "God, please help me remember my lines so I don't screw everybody else up".

Obviously, I went out there, and I did well. I remembered my lines, everyone else did, and the entire play was really good our director said. I don't get to see the entire thing because I'm only in the first half. After that, I was backstage texting and Facebooking and helping out the occasional girl who needed something between scenes. I was mostly a bottle of nerves because the play starts with ME saying the first lines! That was nerve wrecking. And then I had so many lines right out the box. Oh, and did I mention and I hadn't even had the script a week?! I guess I did pretty good considering. And I came into this like "A play full of chicks?? Is this going to be beauty school all over again??" But these girls were amazing. They were sweet and supportive to me also. They kept telling me "you'll be okay, you'll do great!". I'm so glad I got cast in this particular play. And I'm glad I got to meet the girls. Some of them are stand-up comedians, which is cool and might make me suck up my fear and do it once and for all.

Also, I was really happy Jontynise was there for me. I saw her before the play began and she gave me a big hug and got me to calm down. I was like "dude, nerves!" and she was all "Dude, woo-sahhhhh"! Then she really got into the play! I heard her from time to time either laugh and make a comment. She was rolling during my scene. It really helps to have the audience react to what you're saying, especially when you're being funny and people are laughing their asses off! Then her and I drove to Burbank and got some fries!

So for those of you in the L.A. area, my play, "Reservoir Bitches" runs through April and May for the next 7 weeks at the TreStage Theatre, 1523 N. La Brea in Hollywood. I tried inviting famousy people, like Thomas Dekker from Secret Circle, that show on The CW. He didn't show. I'll invite him again. Wouldn't that be cool if he came?! Or Josh Hutcherson! He's always hanging out in West Hollywood, he could show. Maybe. Perhaps?!

Chicks With Guns

I've been uber busy, so I haven't posted on Angelina's Scene in a few days. My bad. My bizz-nad. My bizzad. Okay, I'm through with that. I really don't even have time to be posting on this shizznit! Truthfully, I'm supposed to be learning my lines! Remember that audition I went on Friday?? Yeah, I ended up getting a part in another play, that actually opens tomorrow night! What?! I'm in a play in Hollywood! Right off of Sunset! It's at Trestage Theatre! Every Thursday night, I'll be playing Ms. Brown in "Reservoir Bitches", an all-female cast version of "Reservoir Dogs"! I know, cool right? And it's my first play, and yes, I have the butterflies! All of the butterflies!

It's okay though, because I joined the cast late, exactly the same week as the opening, but I die halfway through the play. But get this, I start the play! The first lines are from me! And I play Quentin Tarantino's character, so everyone who's seen the film knows I get killed. I have like 4 scenes, but the first scene, I have a decent amount of dialogue, so I'm brushing up on it. I haven't had that much rehearsal. I rehearsed Monday, today, and then tomorrow right before we open. And I'm doing mad promotion for it too. The guy who casted me, Michael, has been really nice and understanding over the fact that I hadn't learned all my lines yet because I just got the script Saturday, but tomorrow, no excuses! Oh, and "Like" my Facebook page:
www.facebook.com/angelinagraceactress

Now the kids are in bed, so I'm going to go learn my lines!

Toodles!

And if you're in L.A., come see my fucking play! "Reservoir Bitches", Trestage Studio Theatre, 1523 N. LaBrea in Hollywood. It's $20, and I promise you, it's really cool to see a bunch of chicks with guns!

Wish Me Luck

I have an audition today, an audition tomorrow. I'm super nervous. I'm not totally sure why. I mean, I always get nervous right before an audition, but hours before? Maybe it's because it's an L.A. audition, not a Chicago audition. Maybe because it's in Hollywood. Obviously, I'm not going to let fear or anything get in the way of what I need to be doing, but I probably won't be able to eat for the rest of the day. I mean, at least until after the audition!

It's for a play at a theater in Hollywood. Pretty exciting stuff. I really hope I get it! Wish me luck!

L.A. Looks Good on Me

So I had a busy day. Went to Intelligentsia with Jontynise today in Silverlake! Then we walked around, went to vintage shops, and met Chris Masterson. He was cute and nice. We talked to him for a few minutes and then continued to walk around. Then I got home, ate really quick, showered, then went to the movies to see "The Hunger Games" with Bry. That movie was amazing and touching and exactly like I pictured it when I read the book! I read all three books in a two-week period. I might re-read them too. And God, Josh Hutcherson...wow. He's an amazing actor and so handsome. Wow.

Anyway, I can't believe how much weight I'm losing! My clothes don't fit, and then clothes I haven't been able to wear for a long time fit now! L.A. looks good on me, eh?!

Oh, and I have my first audition in L.A. tomorrow! Really excited about that too. Wish me luck!

Really Can't Complain

Mia, Ani, Laila at the playground today

Hubby's coming home...I submitted my headshot and resume for acting jobs all around town, and I'm starting to check out and planning to go visit some acting schools here in L.A. Yep, things are starting to look really, really good!

I had a few complaints about the new apartment, initially. That has been my main problem, truthfully, other than Bry being back in Chicago, of course! When we moved in, I was told that our current manager was only a temporary manager and they had hired someone new, a husband and wife team, to takeover a week after we'd moved in. I complained about a few things to the temporary manager, including the fact that the second bathroom's toilet would run unless you jiggled the handle and the fact that we were promised a storage space, but we hadn't been assigned one! Oh, and the stove...old as balls and two of the pilots wouldn't light. I was like, this is a nice neighborhood in the valley, why does the apartment seem so ghetto?! And it looks nice as hell...new dishwasher, new carpet, new tile in the kitchen and both bathrooms...new vertical blinds, an assigned parking space, etc.

So then the sink stops up, and is leaking underneath! The new manager comes and fixes it right away, but then the garbage disposal stops working! I tell them this Thursday, a guy comes in on Monday, today, and replaces the garbage disposal with a brand new one! That's megacool and all, but did they not fix anything between tenants, only put in new flooring?! Whatever. The toilet got fixed the same day after it overflowed, the garbage disposal is new, but we still don't have a storage space! Ugh. But the new managers are nice. Really nice.

I try not to complain too much, though. Because I get to live in this beautiful place, with these amazingly beautiful people (Bry, Ani, Mia, Laila), and I get to be among lots of different people who are friendly and smile at me when I walk down the street. And, last week, I got to drive down Sunset Blvd to take my daughter to an audition for a tv show!

Yeah, life is pretty fucking awesome. Overflowing toilets and all.

A poem based on a film I'm writing...

This is a poem I wrote based on a screenplay I'm writing entitled "Hello Again". I'm afraid to talk too much about it, fearing someone will steal the idea, but it is about reincarnation and past lives. I just just wrote this, so I don't even have a title yet? Suggestions??

I've dreamt of lights in the sky
On fire and blazing
So beautifully, burning bright
As I did that day staring into the sun
Why do you seem so sad?
As if wishes were meaningless
You've dreamt too
Staring at the sky
Burning bright and full
With my eyes closed,
Wondering
No roof to my sky
No palace to hide
No shame to set aside
I told you my secrets
You shared yours with me
And I felt myself die
Just a little,
Melting into your arms
And eyes
As I have withered
As I have died
I'm full of dramatics
I'm full of lies
But never once did I cry
Or once did I die
Or once did I lie
While staring into your eyes.

Be Strong for her...

Okay, so I'm usually afraid to drive anywhere. Like, seriously, I was afraid to drive a mile away to the grocery store the other day! I was even afraid to drive 2 miles to the nearest Target...which I ended up not doing. So, what's the deal, you might say? A 31 year old woman afraid to drive places...how ridiculous does that sound? I mean, maybe it does sound a little weird, especially considering I'm not a new new driver. I got my license in 2008, so that's long enough to have shaken off any driving jitters, right? I mean, most of the time, I only drove a short distance, around the southwest suburbs of Chicago. I only went out in the morning time or late evening, really. I rarely went out when there was heavy traffic. So why am I afraid to drive?

It's the probability thing. The more you do something, there's more of a chance of it going wrong at some point, right? I don't even want to talk up on things, but I have to shake this shit off! I came to Los Angeles to WORK! Not to sit in the house and overly worry about if something is too far to drive to. And both my husband and best friend drive EVERYWHERE! They've driven across state line, gone on road trips, had to drive very fucking far for work. When is their tenacity going to rub off on me?! Maybe perhaps it's because my mom doesn't drive and always talked about being too nervous of a driver to pursue getting a license. Maybe because my aunts don't drive also? That's really no excuse. My grandmother drove. My uncle drives. My cousin drives. My brother drives! These are all people who I've always seen driving! I shouldn't be scared.

And I can't be scared. Especially now. Because Anneka, my 5 year old daughter, has a very important audition tomorrow in Hollywood and I have to suck this shit up and be strong for her. It's not even that far from where we live, and I don't even have to take the freeway. So I should shut up and just do it, right?! I shouldn't be afraid of the twins getting motion sickness, because that usually only happens after being in the car a long time and going on the freeway, nonstop. And if they do get motion sickness and throw up, I should come prepared with a change of clothes and towels. They're usually fine right after throwing up anyway. And yes, I'm afraid of parallel parking. I never really had to do that in the suburbs. Tomorrow, I have to find parking on the streets of Hollywood. Am I going to freak out over this?! A little. Yeah, maybe people will stand around and point and laugh, watching me move this big ass minivan back and forth, trying to squeeze into a spot that's probably big enough. But I have to be strong for Anneka. Don't even let her know her mommy is freaked.

And by the way, we got the sides for the audition (that's actor-speak meaning the few lines she has to learn for the audition)...and my baby already has them memorized! What an awesome kid. She's so excited. She drew her talent manager a card. How cute!

Not at that Studio!

Had a tiring day. Took the kids to Albertsons to get some food. We were completely out of milk and juice as of this morning! I love that we're not that far from any store, especially grocery stores. Just a quick drive away. I got everyone in the house, got them lunch, then came and laid down on the couch while they were laying down in their room. And by laying down, I mean they were supposed to, but instead were up playing around and giggling loudly. I yelled once or twice "get back in bed!" but whatever. They didn't listen. But at least I got some quiet time on the couch, until Bry started calling and texting me. He wanted to get on Skype and see us, so I got the girls out of the room so they can see their dad on the computer. Skype is a really good thing because it's keeping us from missing him too much. He may not be here physically, but his presence is. That's definitely good.

I have an appointment tomorrow with a talent manager. It's mostly for the girls. Ani keeps saying "I want to dance on a stage". She saw a small part of the show "Dance Moms" yesterday and now she's sure she wants to go take dance classes. I said "Not at that studio!" Haha!

Later.

Out.

I Haven't Seen the Ocean Yet

It's been a rough week, with Bry in Chicago and me in L.A. with the kids. Then on top of that, the twins locked themselves in their bedroom last night at bed time. Talk about panic for a minute there! I was able to talk them into just turning knob and opening it, but right after that I taped the part that goes into the wall! I will be replacing those doorknobs this week! First, I have to find a hardware store...or a Home Depot.

I've had time to work on some things, though I haven't been sleeping really well without him. You have to understand, though we've had our problems in the past, this is someone I spend a shitload of time with. I'm not just afraid to be on my own with 3 kids, especially in California, far away from family, I just really miss him. He and I spend time joking around and watching t.v. and even cleaning with him can be fun.

But whatever, I'm okay, trying not to overthink things, and he'll be home sooner than I know it. I have a very important business dinner this Tuesday night. Kinda nervous about it, though I've met with this person before. It's a talent manager who is interested in signing the girls, and perhaps me. So we'll see how this goes.

Ani is bugging me right now, playing Angry Birds on my Kindle while she awaits her bedtime. I send the twins to bed first, then Ani 30 minutes later. If I send all three to bed at the same time, silliness ensues. They get a little overexcited being around their big sister sometimes.

Other than the stress of being away from my husband of 7 years, I've enjoyed living here. The sun shines so bright, the people are so friendly, and I'm loving walking the girls to the playground. It's such a nice, safe, clean neighborhood. I can't wait until Bry gets back and we can go out exploring! I haven't seen the ocean yet!!!

A Really Nice Place with a Great View

It's kinda hard moving across the country, getting things in order, finding your way around a new city, and being sick all week. I believe I got sick first, just a sore throat and stopped up nose. Then, going through Hollywood in my best friends' car, on the way back, Mia throws up, then is running a fever. Then Laila threw up in our van a few days later. Now Bry is sick. And it's chilly in L.A. right now! Oh, and it's warm as crap in Chicago right now! Talk about luck...

But we got all of our stuff, we went to Ikea and Target and got a new dresser, bookshelves, hangers, etc. and Bry has been putting stuff together. It's a really nice place with a great view!

Oh, and did I mention Bry has to go back to Chicago temporarily?! Yeah, it's making me all suicide-y.

I'm not going to dwell on that right now. We're watching "Breaking Bad", which is an amazing show! Laters.

Sick or Not

Listening to Eisley's "Lights Out" while nursing this 100.3 degree temperature. Worst yet, Mia threw up in Jontynise's car this afternoon. Yeah. Thank God I saw it coming and said to Bry "Put that sweater on her lap". And she got it on her bunny. That was messed up. So we watched her play and act silly all afternoon, after that and then right before bed, after turning down most of her dinner, was running a fever of 100.5. Great, right? We've been in L.A. for 3 days, 3 days! And guess what, me and one of the twins are sick! It's okay, though. I packed smart and had the Children's Advil in my bag that I checked...and some ibuprofen for me.

But I checked Mia a little while ago, and her temp was 98.4, and she hasn't thrown up again (knock on friggin' wood). What's cool is that my family saw the Hollywood sign today, and the Walk of Fame! The twins had fallen asleep, but Ani saw it, and we went through the hills, and it was amazing!

I'm so glad to be here! Jontynise and her kids are over and we're sitting in my dining room on the rug, sans all of our furniture (it'll be here in a few days), and we're talking about everything. We've talked about filming a new web series that I wrote, and going on adventures! We have this idea of just hopping a bus in L.A. and just seeing where it goes, and you find new places!

So much to do here. It still seems too damn good to be true. And this amazing view.

And Bry and Jontynise are having this conversation and he makes a joke saying "I fart on your crap!" I'm not sure what the hell he's talking about, but I'm laughing my ass off!

Okay,  I'm going to bed. I sickity. Eisley is making me feel better. I feel so blessed right now. Sick or not.

Btw...mom, if you read this before I call you in the morning...don't freak out! Me, the girls and Bry are just fine! Lol

Because now...I live in L.A.!

The view out of my living room window!

I live in L.A.! It's about time, right?! How long have I been blogging about and tweeting about moving here? We finally did it yesterday! It was a long flight, with 3 kids...a flight we almost missed...I mean, we had to literally run to the gate, and were the last people on the plane! People were complaining! Then we couldn't all find seats together! It was a horrific experience, but we figured it out, and after all of the worrying about if the girls would freak out being on a plane for the first time, my girls actually found it exciting! And the 4 hour trip really wasn't that bad considering they had a movie to watch, they had Leapsters, which is this hand-held learning game, and they had snacks. The twins even took a nap! And then Ani took a nap in the cab on the way home from LAX. It was dark by the time we got to our new neighborhood, so things didn't get really real until this morning when I woke up with all of this sunlight in my windows and seeing the houses on the hills around us.

The other great thing is being this close to my best friend, who now lives 7 minutes away, as opposed to when we lived in Chicago and she lived in the northwest suburbs and I lived in the southwest suburbs. It was a pretty long drive!

Anyway, I'm tired from the move, the flight, the agitation of all of this, but guess what?! It was so worth it! Because now...I live in L.A.!!!

Things are getting really real

Sitting here on my couch, surrounded by boxes, watching "Entourage" and charging my video camera right next to me...things are getting real. Things are getting really real. Seriously, I've wanted to move to L.A. since I was a little girl, maybe early teens, and now it's really happening. And yes, I've been stressed and worried about all the things that could possibly go wrong, but I think I'm going to be okay. I will be okay once that plane touches down at LAX, and we're there, safe and sound, in the California sun! How long before Anneka starts harassing us to go to the beach, I wonder...or the playground! I might take them to the playground that day because they haven't been able to go in so long! And there is a playground down the street from our new place!

My mother is having a going-away party for us on Sunday. My cousin took the day off work to drive us to Midway. I really will miss my family. It's going to suck because everyone was just a short car drive away...now they're a  $100-$200 plane ride away. I'll get used to it, and I'm sure people will fly out, and we will fly back perhaps for a major holiday or two.

Also, I started writing a screenplay this week, that I'm currently totally obsessing over. I've been writing notes, wrote an outline, and telling Bry every idea I have for the movie. He's been giving me feedback like crazy. It's a fantasy film about dreams and past lives, but it's also a comedy and romance. I want to star in it with Adrian Grenier and I want Edgar Wright (Scott Pilgrim vs the World, Shaun of the Dead) to direct. I've been tweeting at him, but no response. Once I'm done with the script, I'm going to start stalking at him. Okay, that's all I'm going to say on this. I feel weird showing my hand!

Meanwhile, I'm supposed to be up and packing and cleaning and feeding the girls breakfast. Going to go wash some strawberries!

Later gators.

A Week Away from L.A.

A little over a week now...I'm dreaming of sunshine, beaches, the walk of fame, the Hollywood sign...doing a film with James Cameron...ahhhh...about to live the dream, right?

But what if I get there and never get any work? My mom keeps saying "When you're famous"...there's a good chance that'll never happen, I'm aware. I think I'd be happy just acting regularly...maybe? I don't know. Some people need the fame...do I?

I've had a shitty week, which started with a tooth problem that was apparently caused by my toothpaste (Burn in hell Crest Pro Health!), then a cold I caught from the kids, then a really bad migraine yesterday. I was curled up on the couch like a baby, with no one to baby me because hubby was at work and the kids wanted juice and Goldfish crackers. Sucky week. On the plus, we're a week away from L.A.! Oh yeah! Come on, do a dance with me! Are you dancing?! Dance dammit! I would dance for you! That's better. Thanks!

Yeah, so that makes me feel better. That, and my bestie Jontynise Smith passed her exam to get her California cosmetology license (she already had her Illinois one), and that apartment now out there is so good and ours! Oh, and the new Eisley EP "Deep Space"! It moves my heart and my soul. It's romantic and beautiful and haunting and it's so amazing I feel lucky to know Sherri Dupree. Never did I think I could know someone who I thought so fondly of as a musician. It's like knowing Jeff Buckley to me...minus the whole been-dead-for-years-part.

It's after midnight. I should probably jump on the sleepy train while I still can. My aunt and I were having conversations about family secrets and earthquakes, then she ate one of my protein bars and I almost threatened to slap her eyes.

Laters lovelies!