Summer time...

Oh hello there, dear followers of my Keen Observations...

Whatchu been up to?

1) I've been doing Art Department work and loving every split second. I got lucky that each of the three recent projects has been a period piece, so I get to do great research. I am always blown away by writers who have to research so much as the slang phrases used in different time periods. Rad, dudes. (Coen Brothers= so good at this).

2) Also just went through the entire Star Wars series, old and new...and could watch it again this week. I think I have to revisit the Lord of the Rings and then, of course, Hit up Harry Potter.

3) Gearing up to shoot "Workaholics Anonymous", a short comedy starring the BALLS ON FIRE!

4) Get to go back to the East to see my fam and take my puppy, Asterios, back to LA with me. He was just neutered.

5) Going to try my hand at singin' in a fun rock band this Friday. WOO!

That's all.

Chat soon.

Cleaning House

I have POST _(set? show? busy times?)___depression.

In March, I was in Diamond Bar, CA shooting a suspense thriller feature film with a great group of people (FILM THRU SOUND) in a BEAUTIFUL location. Then, I had to snap back to the reality of L.A. (does reality even exist in LA?)

Balls on Fire had a killer show, and I kept making it through to the next round of the X-Ecution (improv competition), but I lost a sort of spark that I had every day that I woke up in Diamond Bar...

As Far as the X-Ecution, I could have been satisfied with being the last girl left and in making it to the top 4...however, people who know me, know that I am hard on myself...as a result of getting the boot from the competition last Friday and having nothing lined up for a while, I decided to quit the negative...smoking, caffeine, alcohol, and clean house.

DAY 1: Monday... I was ok, excited about starting a new chapter that didn't involve nearly a pack of cigs a day and far too much coffee...

DAY 2: HELL.... HELL...HELLLLL...I had headaches like ya wouldn't believe. Napped (I don't know How to nap)... rocked myself to sleep at 8:30pm... "when will this stop?" I asked my madre.

DAY 3: (today) I feel awesome. No headaches...my eating diet is going well, and I have energy. I ahve also gone to the gym for the past two days. WHAT? I will keep you posted; I have made it to day 3 before and thrown in the towel (quit quitting aka kept smoking). Hope that doesn't happen this time around.

So, spring cleaning, that's what I'm up to. And Painting again. So that's fun. OH, and I intend to start my new short film as soon as I am done with this post.

Supah Fly. Catchya later!!!

BALLS ON FIRE

In November, a group of improvisers that met at LA Connection Comedy Theatre decided to branch out and see how they could push themselves to be better improvisers...

We call ourselves BALLS ON FIRE !!!

Balls have been performing at Theatre Asylum for three months, and are very excited to keep up monthly shows. We do short-form improv, which is shorter games/scenes with many more audience suggestions and more variety than long form. I do love long-form, and have been taking classes at Upright Citizens Brigade to work towards mastering the craft (have a ways to go!).

Working with Balls on Fire has pushed me to excel at acting; each member of the group holds all others accountable for always improving and marketing themselves and the group.

It's a fun family, and living room rehearsals with Miller Light and Tonys Pizza is just a starting point!

CHECK US OUT!

twitter.com/theballsonfire

<3

TwoThree

With yet another birthday rolling near, I think I need to slap myself and step it up.

I've been in this city for a year and a half. Time to shake, rattle, and roll.

For real.

I mean it.

Gilbert Henry Stafford

My dear friend, Gilbert Stafford ("Henry? well, my father left me little else, so I figured I would take his name"), passed away in his sleep on January 1, 2010.

I often told him that he is one person that I was truly glad to have had come into my life. He teased me for my mental breakdowns in the office, and once caught me crying under my desk. "You have to stop alllll this cryinng!!!" He taught me many lessons during our car rides together, our lunch dates at Cafe Audrey, our cigarette breaks at work, and at cocktail gatherings in his gorgeous Downtown flat. He was the life of the party, knew how to throw fantastic queen fits, and gave compliments on an outfit or hairstyle that made you never want to change.

He was crowned the "Gatekeeper of the Night", a title he most certainly deserved. He worked the door of the hottest clubs in NYC, Miami, and at Playhouse in Hollywood, and did so with a regal attitude. Don't even get me started on his wardrobe!!!

Once when I was moving his things into his new apartment Downtown, a stranger walked by, stopped, and turned back..."Gilbert from Miami?! I saw you on TV there!"...but my favorite story of Gil's fame happened at ChinChin on Sunset Blvd for Alex Orlovsky's birthday lunch. A semi-crazy homeless man was skipping down the street, banging on all of the street signs and shouting to himself. As he passed our outdoor table at ChinChin, he stopped, looked Gil in the eyes, and out came a phrase in a calm voice, "Gilbert from Miami, right?" and with a nod from Gil, the man continued on skipping and shouting down the route. WHATTT?!?! How did he know you and what is he doing in LA? Loved it.

Gil will be missed, but I know his party has just begun. He will forever be sporting the most fabulous attire, intricately stitched socks, waving his arms to Mozart with a camel unfiltered in one hand, and goose or jameson on the rocks in the other. I love you Gil, and will see you again when it is time...perhaps a rendez-vous in Paris? Say hi to Franky boy for me, and I promise to stop allll thiss cryinggg <3

YEStwentyten

My New Year's Eve was actually the perfect way to bring in the new decade...I was lucky enough to perform with a fun group-- a good sign for the years ahead.

The New Year's Eve show at LA Connection was sold out. About 100 people came out to watch the 8 o'clock show, and it was so fun having a real audience for once. The energy was great, even if I did kick myself for a few things after the show (that's how improv is for me).

After the show, I got dolled up to go out, and by the time a cab company answered their phones, it was 11:30, and I would miss midnight anywhere I went. So I got a movie, a diet coke, a last-pack-of-cigarettes, and settled in for a relaxing night with the pup. As Jalynne (stand-up comic in my improv troupe) said: what better way to bring in the New Year than doing the thing you love most :)

To be home again...

When I found out that my show on Saturday, December 19th was cancelled, I changed my flights to go home to Massachusetts early...and puppy came too! Asterios and I had a full day of travel, and we were lucky that he got to sit under my seat on the planes.

We were also lucky to have a huge snow storm the first few days in MA! I was worried that little Asterios would hate the snow, but the little devil can't get enough.

So, what else is going on at home? I have been semi-social with college and high school friends, watched some great films that I hadn't seen yet ( Christmas in Connecticut, Christmas Vacation, and Everybody's Fine), and plan to see at least one Christmas flick a day.

the usual: White Christmas, Miracle on 34th Street (original version, duh), It's a Wonderful Life, Elf, Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer, The Grinch... I think those are the must-sees.

I'm also taking my time at home ( as an unemployed, in-debt "actress") to get down to writing. Jenny Holt, my partner in crime, usually entertains me for hours at a coffee bean somewhere, but for this week, we must be long-distance writing buds.

Anywho, I am rambling because there is not much else to do. WooHoo!