Happy Holidays, Peace on Earth, Good will to everyone.

Life is a mixed bag and I may be all jumbled up, but I don’t feel bad about it. So I guess that’s all good and good. I did my party and it went really well. Folks are asking me if they can come to next year’s bash. I didn’t know I was doing one next year, but since my hubby said, “ya, plan on it.” I guess it’s going to happen. Would some one please put it on the calendar now and remind me about it in 11 ½ months?

~Happy Holiday’s. Ya they are pretty happy. Like I said jumbled, but happy.

~Peace on Earth. Peace to everyone, in your lives, in your hearts and in your soul. A wish to have peace in your soul. I love that.

~Goodwill to Everyone. This is definitely a good one. How great would it be if we all felt no ill will to anyone. To those we love who inadvertently hurt us, to the drivers who cut us off, to the folks who intentionally hurt us. That would be a learning experience. And would probably lighten the burden of a grudge. Forgiveness should also be included in this batch of well wishes, but put too many things in there and it’s going to sound like a sermon. So perhaps I’ll leave it to those three things: Happiness, Peace and Goodwill.

Holiday Party FUN

From all accounts, my holiday party was a huge success. Lot’s of foodie stuff, desserts, cases of wine, candles, fresh garland, hanging lights, live music, laughter, conversations, seeing old (and new) friends and having what seemed like a bazillion kids. It’s a good sign when your guests say they’re dropping by for a quick hello and end up staying the evening. Some folks came in jeans, some in beautiful party dresses. One family came with their twin 2 year old daughters in matching red and white Christmas outfits. Adorable. (Where was my camera?!) The problem though with being a hostess to a party of this magnitude, is that I didn’t get to visit very long with some of my favorite people. The good thing though, is that I have a ton of rain checks for lunches and get-togethers with said favorite people.

When I look back on the party, I think my favorite memory will be the look on the little kids faces, after having snagged enormous slices of chocolate cake. Absolute triumph and glee. I know they couldn’t possibly eat it all, but they acted like they had won the lottery . What’s not to love about that? What’s not to love about a really fun holiday party.

Tis the Season...

“Tis the Season to be Jolly!” Or something like that. Perhaps, it should be “Tis the season to be Jolly and/or Sad.” When Jolly hits, I’m happily doing the Santa Dance around the kitchen. But when something reminds me of my dad, Sad walks in and sits with me awhile. My Dad’s birthday would have been December 3^rd.

In looking to the future, I have some ideas that I’m cooking up. I’m not going say anything about it right now, but it’s feeling like the right thing to do. Once I have more to show for it, I’ll spill the beans, but be warned, this is something that may take many (Many!) months to get going.

Ps. Thanks to everyone who has emailed me during my absence from this blog. I can’t tell you how much I appreciate your support and kind words.

Hello

The time off has done me good, except now I care less about things. Maybe that’s not a good thing after all. I was supposed to start with this awesome acting coach, but after I gave her the check, I promptly backed out. I still haven’t figured out why I did that, but hopefully she’ll let me start up after the holiday season.

What else:

~I do have the urge to do some major nest building. Already had he carpets in the bedrooms replaced, next week the interior will get repainted, and then hopefully I can finish laying down the lighting and mulch in the front garden. This isn’t exactly riveting news, but thought I’d share it anyway…

~I saw some stills of Kat and Stacy’s “The Worker” on Kat’s blog, and I have to say it looks awesome. Anne looks great and I know from way back, that the story is perfect. I have no doubt it’s going to be an award winner.

~I have a fierce desire to throw a holiday party. Maybe one of those Open House Holiday types and bring in some musicians. I made a tentative list and it topped 100 guests. That may be a bit too much for me, but if I can bring in some help and have some of the main dishes catered, I bet I could pull it off. Of course all of my blog friends would be invited! All five of you. J

~For the first time in 12 years, we have a real Christmas tree. I’m not sure what possessed me to go for a real one this year, but when I looked at the artificial one in the box, I couldn’t bring myself to put it together. Maybe it represented the sameness that has been plaguing my life these last few years, but what ever the reason, there was no way it was going up! So Mr. Hubby and I loaded up the kids and drove over to our local parking lot xmass tree vender and picked out a beauty!

We got it home in one piece and after a lot of irritation on Mr. Hubby’s part (and giggling on my part, which increased Mr. Hubby’s irritation tenfold , etc.), we got the tree to stand up straight. I can’t wait to put the lights on and decorate it. If I throw that party, you can check it out for yourself.

~The Christmas tree is shedding a lot of needles. At this rate, it’s going to be bald and we’ll be having a Charlie Brown Christmas.

~

delete the blog

I’ve been thinking about deleting this blog and I’m surprised at my reluctance. As I got close to the delete button, it felt like I was ending a long term relations ship. The kind where you go, - what was that about? How did I end up here? What do I do now?

It’s not like I want to stop this one because I’ve been eyeing another blog, as if there’s a secret blog fling going on or anything. Or that I have several blogs that I move around in. I guess I’m more of a monogamous blogger. But the idea though, to delete every thing - every picture, word, image and shared memory, feels more like I may not have really existed. O.K., obviously I exist to some degree. I exist to my friends, and family. But it’s still a really odd feeling. Both freeing and sad at the same time.

Time to go

~L~

sigh

For many reasons, I’m very proud of Storie Productions. Here's yet another:

Congratulations! You have been chosen as an award recipient for
the Heroes in the Fight SM program. Through this program, Mental
Health America of Texas along with Partner Organizations Depression
and Bipolar Support Alliance Texas; NAMI Texas; National
Association of Social Workers, Texas Chapter; Texas Council of
Community MHMR Centers, Inc.; Texas Counseling Association; Texas
Mental Health Consumers and Texas Psychological Association is
recognizing you and a select number of individuals who provide
exemplary care and dedication to those affected by severe and
persistent mental illness.

The Heroes in the Fight SM recognition program was established by
Eli Lilly and Company to celebrate dignity, courage, hope, and
recovery in the ongoing treatment of people with serious and
persistent mental illness. Lilly co-sponsors the program with
local mental health organizations in communities across the United
States. The local partner organizations manage the nomination and
selection of honorees in their areas.

We hope you will be able to attend our luncheon as our guest of
honor.

School time ...again.

Oh Bother! I have the End of Summer blues. What else should I call it. My kids have gone back to school and now there’s nobody around to play with, and in fact, there’s no playing at all! The house needs new floors, new paint, a new water heater, and there’s a leak in the wall, which has made the sheet-rock yucky. I want to go back to the beach and play in the sand. I wanna run and jump and shout in the rain storm again. I want to have that “everything is perfect at this very moment” feeling, as I watch my kids play in the surf or snuggle up with me in the beach towel.

I’m not ready for this start of school stuff. This blasting out of the house first thing in the morning only to sit in interminable traffic. Then not seeing my sunny sweet kid faces until 6 or 7 at night. Pooh! I wanna play. I want my kiddies! We still need to do more traveling and exploring! We were just getting warmed up! Now it’s school time.

Oh Bother!

I have been studying and meditating on living in the now. Some people think that it’s a process of letting go of past experiences and future expectations, but for me, it’s understanding that the past and future don’t exist. The past has happened and the future will happen, but right now, they are not here. They don’t exist.
A little before 7 this morning, I was sitting on my driveway, contemplating existence, when a half a dozen deer came up and discovered me. It seems I was in the way of their morning migration. Of course, they could go in a number of directions to get from the green belt to the back yards, and after 15 minutes or so, one of them figured this out and the rest followed. I’m usually not too thrilled with deer. They eat every bloom, rub off the bark from my newly planted trees, and they recently ate several bushes, but still, they are truly beautiful creatures. They have lovely necks that arch up and back and long tapering legs that diminish into tiny black hooves. Hooves that make a delicate clickity-clack as they run across the street. There was one deer that almost made me laugh out loud. He walked behind a bush, craned his neck back and gave me a double take. Then he walked across the street, went behind another bush, reached his neck way out again, and did another double take. I won’t put human notions to his actions, but he was very funny and it made the moment wonderful.

summer ending

Summer is almost over. Some parts of it were so hard, I couldn't get out of the fetal position and off of the couch for a week. Some parts of it were so great and wonderful, I felt I could take the world in long sweeping steps.
Because of the way the county school board, set up the school calender, this has been an extra long summer, but I wouldn't mind if it went on for a few more weeks. I've been enjoying these mellow, languid days, with a house full of silly happy kids. As far as I'm concerned, kids make the months between June and August become the season called "Summer." Soon though, we will be back to deadlines, schedules, homework hassles and waking up while it's still dark outside. I feel as if I'm holding onto the last days of summer, like I'm holding onto my sweet sweet children. Both are changing with the seasons and there's nothing I can do to stop it. Instead, I'll just let myself breath in this very perfect moment.

Clothes Swap

Interesting smart women, laughing/sharing stories, yummy homemade pizza and scrumptious desserts, no agendas, no posturing, no "So, what do you do for a living?" or worse "What does your husband do?"

Just hangin’ out type fun!

O.K. so the agenda was a clothes swap. But what’s not to love about that? And I did bitch a little bit about this one person who took my money, but everyone was good with it. Even supportive. And laughter, lot’s of wonderful silly laughter.

To get away and be a little bit of who I used to be. That evening was a gift.

tag I'm it....
I'm new to this tagging game, but the idea is that the blogger who has been tagged, needs to reveal eight facts about themselves. They also need to post and obey the following rules:
1. We have to post these rules before we give you the facts.
2. Players start with eight random facts/habits about themselves.
3. People who are tagged write their own blog post about their eight things and include these rules.
4. At the end of your blog, you need to choose eight people to get tagged and list their names.
p.s. Don’t forget to leave them a comment telling them they’re tagged and that they should read your blog.

My 8 random things:
1. When I was in high school, I sang in a pool hall and my guitarist was always tripping on acid.

2. I can control what happens in my dreams.

3. My nose has been broken and/or cracked three times. Each time I see stars and it hurts like hell.

4. I fantasize about winning the lottery, but I don't play it.

5. I am the product of a Russian Jew, and a Baptist preacher.

6. In times of extreme danger, I become very calm, in a surreal way and it freaks people out. When the crises is over, I lose my shit.

7. When I was really young, my parents took my three siblings and me, to see the movie Blazing Saddles. I think back then, it was rated R and everyone was giving my folks dirty looks for taking kids to this film. The adult humor was lost on me, but the scene where the cowboys are eating beans around the campfire and farting, was so incredible funny to my brothers, sister and me, that we were falling out of our chairs and screaming with laughter.

8. Until I moved into this house 9 years ago, I never lived in one place longer than two years. Even while growing up. I force myself to stay here.

Now for the tagging part - Everyone I know that I could tag, has already been tagged. I know that sounds pathetic, but it's true. So, I'm going to start cultivating more blogging friends and when I find some, I'll post them. But for now how about this really cool blogger Aaron. I found him via a link from Stacy's blog.

Holy Moly, I've been Tagged!!!!

SHORT FILM - MINE!

A short. I made a real honest to goodness short film. Last time I did one, was about 6 years ago, when I was taking Film 1 with Steve Mims. Back then, my film buddy left me hanging, and to make the film, I recruited a neighbor kid to hold the boom, while I used my own kids as actors. I did it on my own. And even though it’s flawed, I still love it.

This short I just finished is also very flawed , but I love it to pieces. It’s abstract, weird and funny. Funny to me that is, I don’t know if anyone else is going to get it, like it, hate it or what, but I laugh every time I see it. I’m proud of it.

It’s taken me a long time to do another. There has been a lot of “doing for others.”

But through Kat’s film class and her “Damn it Leslie, do it!” I was able to get back to it.

This is a good thing!

Least Happy Mom

Forget the program! Music is greater than one kid, one mom, one program, one town, one country. It is greater than Bach, Schumann, and Mozart. It is an art of expression and more, so much MORE.

I going to make sure my kid understands this and we’ll find new ways to experience the gift of music!.

Least Happy Kid

“You are only as happy as your least happy kid.”

I have lived by this saying ever since I figured it out. When my kids are happy, then I’m happy and when they’re unhappy, my life is down right miserable. Of course I’m not talking about doing everything for them, or that I should manipulate their lives, in such a way, that they don’t experience obstacles, challenges and even failure. For kids (or anyone for that matter) to not experience and overcome difficulties in their lives, would produce unsatisfied, insecure, unhappy adults.

What I’m talking about though, is when your kids face things which are insurmountable. When their developing egos and self esteem take such a hit, that their outlook become dark and hopeless. If I see that, I feel as a parent, it’s my duty to step in. Happy kids, come from secure, supportive, loving homes. My kids have strength, knowing that someone is in their corner.

Obviously, I’m on this rant, because one of my kids is really struggling. I put him into a fancy summer music program, thinking that it would be fun, that he’d meet like minded kids and find interesting ways to experience and play music. Unfortunately, this program has very little of that, it’s very intense, beyond his musical ability, and very confusing. It seems to be extremely performance oriented.

Now, I believe in letting my kids make their own decisions about a lot of things, and I may caution them, but it’s ultimately their choices and they have to live with the consequences (this doesn’t apply to anything dangerous, I totally have total rule on that one, at least for now). But this is a program that I put him into and I know he’ll force himself to stay in it, because he doesn’t want to disappoint me.

Damn, I’m such a shmuck. I have an unhappy kid and it’s all my doing. If he stays in the program will the joy of music be ground out of him? If I pull him out, will he feel like a failure? Nothing like seeing your kid, force a smile through his tears and walk away as if the weight of the world is on his shoulders.

I just sent out the first 36 pages of my screenplay, to my writers group, and I feel like “what the hell have a just done.”

Worked it to death and left it writhing without direction, is probably what I’ve just done. Actually, I’m glad to get it sent off. It’s gotten to the point that I’m sick of looking at it and I’m glad for a few days of not having it stare at me every time I turn on the computer. Now is the time to let it rest. Get some perspective.

…I just hope it still makes sense.

Now on to that short I’m making for class (eek)…

Going over footage for my little short. Not good, not good, NOT GOOD!

Eyes looking at the camera when they’re not supposed to, light bleaching out features, etc.

Argh!.

There is little workable footage, so I’m rethinking options.

Option 1-Reshoot it all.

Option 2 - Make it an experimental.

Option 3 - Turn it into a micro short.

Think, think, think!

ACTION

Shot the first part of my short this evening. All exterior and thankfully the weather was beautiful and the kids were great.
Still need to do a bunch of interior shots, but I'll get them this weekend.
Lot's of "just keep the camera rolling," kind of takes and it's going to be like teasing apart pasta when I get into post.
At least it's moving forward and for that I'm really thankful.

ken's writers group

I am in a writers group!
A real writers group.
We read each others scripts, offered feedback, ideas, encouragement and "just do it."
The writers are interesting, insightful and honest.
Shit, ...this is incredibly cool.

Not that I can afford one, but I'm thinking about getting a boat. Just looking at them makes me feel closer to my Dad. I think of him every day. All the time.

holy geeze

My little kid now says "holy geeze." I think he picked it up from camp. The way he says it though, is what makes me laugh out loud. Like we're living in the bronx, not the middle of Texas.
What will come next...

better

I’m feeling better. Finally! Still a bit bruised, but better than my previous emotional state of the walking wounded.

My kids are home, I made it through my first Father’s Day without my Dad, and I’m more o.k. with the things in my life that are unchangeable. Truthfully - a sense of relief.

If don't get out of this damn depression soon, people will start referring to me as the "unhappy chick" or the girl who's always sad. I hate those stupid monikers, but at this point in time, they fit really well. It's no secret to anyone who knows me that I've been very sad and I appreciate folks caring words.
It's 1:15 am on a Wedensday morning. God, it's going to be a long week! If I can just make it through this week, things will get better.
One good things come of this though, I'm back to working on my feature length screenplay. I may be feeling weak and like shit, but the story is feeling better. And that's good.

Went to a writers meeting this evening. It was a small step, but I got out and even laughed. Forgot the rest of the world for a moment and laughed.

I had a big audition last week and another one this week. Full length feature films. I hate to ever want these things, but God, I hope I get cast. It would do wonders.
Gotta keep making steps.

I have written so much and have deleted them all. Every day and over and over. I'm promising myself that I'm going to post this one. Break the cycle. It's a small step, but at least it's a step.

challenging times

It has been a challenging few weeks. Sometimes it’s been outstanding and at other times I can hardly pull one step ahead of the other. The great parts were going to Atlanta, screening the film for Mrs. Carter, participating in the Forum and seeing my most awesome of old friends - Mr. Henry C.

But this last week I went to Florida and put my Dad’s ashes in the gulf waters where we used to go boating. It was beautiful and surreal.

Saying goodbye to someone you love who has died, is a process that happens over and over again, and each time it is just as delicately painful as the last.

Carter Center

During these last few days, I’ve been in Atlanta with Kat, screening the film at the Carter Center. It was an intense, wonderful, exciting and rewarding experience. My mom and sister came up to be a part of the goings-on as well as Kat’s parents. I got to meet the President and Rosalynn Carter and was absolutely star struck! And the folks who work in the Carter Center’s Mental Health Program, are enthusiastic, positive, people who really help make the world a better place. jumping off bridges screened there on Thursday evening for the public and on Friday as part of the Georgia Mental Health forum. Mrs. Carter introduced the film and I was on the panel for both screenings.

Back to my ol’self again. Not sure what that is, but I’m there again, which I think is a good thing. Paid the bills, stopped by Home Depot and bought some plants (which always make me happy), looked at their patio furniture and daydreamed of BBQ’s and lounging in a screened in patio (I’ll have it some day!), scoped out the sheds and daydreamed (yet again) of an artists/ pottery studio (repeat: some day!).

Went home and did domestic stuff and then the absolutely best part of the day came: I got my Cutie from the bus stop and then got my other Cutie from soccer practice. They make even the worst days better and non descript days wonderful!

A Day

This week will be six months since my dad passed. I have been missing him all over again and last night I had such strong dreams. He was in them, but it wasn't like he was “visiting” me kind of thing. More like a dream of feelings, from memories. While I was dreaming, I knew I was asleep, but I didn’t care, I held on to him with all my heart as if he were real. But then I could feel myself waking up. I didn’t want to but I couldn’t stop it. As the dream floated away, I desperately held his hands and kissed his sweet face, and when I awoke, I cried into my pillow.

I wish I could shake these feelings of missing him so much..

motorcyclist

Saw a motorcyclist smash into a car stopped in traffic. It was right next to me on the highway. I saw him the whole time. He might have been going about 45. I'm amazed he didn't die, only a badly broken arm. But when I saw his body flying through the air and bounce instantly against the back of that small SUV, I thought he was a goner. It looked amazingly like that scene in Meet Joe Black when Brad Pitt's character gets hit by the car. I just saw that part of the film two days ago and changed the channel, but in reality there isn't much channel surfing. At least not while your driving a minivan full of kids, on the highway during rush hour traffic and you think - If this guy is really bad, I'll get out and try to save him, but there are kids in the car, I don't want them to see this, I don't want them sitting in a stopped car on the highway, I don't want to get his blood on me and have to get back in the car. I don't want to see anyone else dead because of a motorcycle accident. And if this guy is still alive, can I help him and still keep all these kids safe?

It's amazing what can go through one's mind in a few seconds.

Fortunately, he held onto the handlebars and rotated through the air and I guess it was his back that hit. I thought he might have crushed his neck, but he was conscious and could move his other arm. It didn't seem to be so bad after all, at least considering how bad it could have turned out. Makes me wonder about the "if's" phenom. One "if" and the whole story changes. If he hadn't been able to hold on to the bike, if he had hit a car or a truck instead. Every other scenario adds up to him being killed, instead of an arm that bent in three places.

When someone has been away from their blog for so long, how do they begin again. Do they do a quick recap of the last several months (Italy, Florida, emotional ups and downs), or do they ignore that they’ve been away and start writing from that point on. Perhaps I can just fill in as I go along. If it’s important I’ll mention it. If not , then let it go. Just let it go.

I'm here, for the most part, and I'll be back soon.
~L~

Carter Center!!!

“jumping off bridges”

is going to have two screenings

at the prestigious Carter Center

in Atlanta Georgia

for the Georgia Mental Health Forum.

The Carter Center!

Ya!

FOUND !

I am very happy to tell everyone that Mallorie Bustos has been found. She is safe and back home with her family. I don't know the details, but I wanted to tell everyone as soon as I found out. Thank you to everyone that searched for her in the woods, who knocked on door after door in apartment complexes and neighborhoods, put up hundreds of fliers, and prayed and hoped for the best.
This is wonderful news!

missing child

I spent part of this stunningly beautiful day searching for a missing 14 year old girl named Mallorie Bustos. She attends Murchison Middle School. She was last seen February 17^th @ The Broadstone Apts on Bluffstone road near 360 and Spicewood Springs Rd. She has black hair and was last seen wearing blue jeans, white tennis shoes and a white t-shirt. She is 5’1 and weighs 120 lbs. She also wears braces.

My search buddy and I hiked through wooded areas littered with trash, poked our poles in mounds of bushes and tree limbs, and searched in water drains caked with slime. We looked for clothing, shoes, even earrings, talked to construction workers, put up posters, and all the time thinking, what would a 14 year old girl have thought, what would she have done, where would she have gone. Where is she? I was one of about 80 people who searched, some of them the entire day, looking for anything that might help. I’m waiting to see if there is another search tomorrow. Her poor mom, I can’t imagine what she’s going through and I hope I never have to find out.

It was upsetting to search for a missing child today, but I’m so glad we didn’t find her in the woods. It leaves room for hope. Like, I hope she’s o.k and she’s coming home.

The Carter Center!!!!

I am more than happy and proud to announce that “jumping off bridges” is going to have two screenings at the prestigious Carter Center in Atlanta Georgia for the Georgia Mental Health Forum. Even though I was thrilled at the DC screening in conjunction with NIMH, I have to admit, this by far takes the cake. I’m not sure if I am able to go, but if it works out, I may get to meet First Lady Roselyn Carter.

I just gotta shout it out it - OMG!

That the film is going to the Carter Center, leaves me positively elated. Just think, I am a part of something that is reaching so many wonderful people. People that the film helps and people that see the potential in the film for helping others. Given that my late father directed his energies to helping others who were often unable to help themselves, the connection to me and this film boarders profound.

I helped make this happen. The Carter Center!

Our mouse died.

She was all white except for a bit of black fur around her back legs which made it look like she was wearing low-rider pants. She was very sweet and gentle. She’d nudge your fingers or shirt sleeve and this earned her the name of “Nudgie.” Her cage was next to my desk and out of respect for my need to work without interruption, she would quietly busy herself staying trim on the exercise wheel, or work on redecorating her living room. If there was a lull in my work though, or I just needed a break (or I had too much coffee) we would converse at length about screenplay ideas, what’s going on with the kids, different actors, or you know, girl talk.

She often liked to sit on the outside top of her cage, and watch me work or look out the window. It was just an understanding between us, without having to say anything, that she didn’t really want to go anywhere, but having a choice to stay or go, was in itself an act freedom. She was like that.

We have another mouse. A golden colored one named Sunny, who is equally as sweet natured. But for some reason, they didn’t get along. I would have thought they would have been best friends. Maybe they were jealous of each other or that one slighted the other and they never moved past it. Who knows with mice, or anyone else for that matter. The thing is, you would think Sunny would be happier to be the queen mouse around here now that Nudgie’s gone, but I have noticed she has been on the sullen side. Less wheel, not too interested in her favorite foods. That sort of thing.

I’m a little sad too.

Good day and great day

Today was a really good day, that was very close to being a really great day.

What started it off on the great side, is that I got to sleep late (8am). The weather was fantastic and I got to ride motocross and see my kids ride. Wonderful family time. What almost made it into a very bad day, was that I didn't realize there was a race today, which I wanted to go to, so I could cheer my friends. I really feel like shit on that one. But then I got to play some soccer with my friends and that bumped the day meter back up to great. Unfortunately, after 15 minutes, I was breathing like a 3 pack a day smoker and I don’t’ smoke! (O.K. back to the gym tomorrow!) One other thing about playing soccer, I’m way too competitive (at least when I can breath)! I was so worried that I would hurt or trample my sweet dear friends. Of course they are all film makers and therefore tough as nails, but still...

Sitting around the tree afterward, talking and spending time, was super good.

Came home and the kids were ready with hugs and kisses and of course that made everything right.

Valentine's Guilt Day

Valentine's Day.

Yet another commercialized, Hallmark card holiday. I think I dislike it so much because its very nature is one of manipulation: Get the cards, buy the flowers, don’t forget the chocolates. I think it should be called Guilt Day.

But here’s the problem. Secretly, I really love it. I love giving lovie cards to my hunny and giving the kids the chocolate covered strawberries. I love getting them too (and let’s not forget the flowers). At my kids school party, it was absolutely adorable to watch all these little kids open their valentine cards and carefully read them, as if each card had been hand made and written in gold ink. Then when I got home, the boys wouldn’t let me come into the other room for over an hour as they worked on my “surprise.” Finally, with great pomp and circumstance, they unfurled a banner proclaiming their love for their mom, in popsicle sticks and sparkles.

Leave it to your kids to totally sweep you off your feet!

So, yes Valentines Day is a manipulative, commercialized holiday. But what’s not to like about flowers, chocolates, and messages of life long love.

Twizzlers!

Of course my little guy is fine now. Only a couple day’s of cold/fever. Which means he missed a lot of school and was totally ready for the weekend. Figures…

So spouse takes the kids for the weekend and I have the house to myself for a whole 24 hours!

What do I do? Movies and Twizzlers!

Finally rented:

Devil Wears Prada – Fun film, made me wish I had more clothes and fashion sense.

Little Miss Sunshine – A very cute and quirky film. Didn’t feel like an “Indie” film though…humm...

Capote – I loved it. Fantastic film!.

Then, what with it being vey late and having stuffed myself with twizzlers (groan), my brain had completely stopped working, and at 1am, started channel surfing between Batman 3 and Taxi Driver. (bad, bad combo) Totally overdid it.

Overall though, a really great Saturday night!

stopping

My littlest one is sick, which means everything stops. No errands, no calls, no major work.

Only snuggling and reading stories and broth in fancy tea cups with toast cut into shapes. It means a sleepless night as I check on a fever and quiet a cough. It means reconnecting to the most important things in my life.

TXMPA

I was really glad to volunteer this evening for the Texas Motion Picture Alliance (TXMPA) event. If you don’t know about it, go to the link and sign up.

Texas Motion Picture Alliance.

It’s a very important organization that works to get film initiatives passed here in Texas. I don’t know how many people attended, may 600?, but everyone there donated money and participated in the very cool raffle. The event was a huge success and there were even a few celebrity sightings!

Now if only the Texas legislation can get firmly behind the incentives to bring more films/TV/gaming here to Texas, millions and millions will be pumped back into the community.

Simply put, Louisiana and New Mexico are getting the business that should be made in or should stay in Texas. It’s time to get action oriented.

feedback on FNL

Got great feedback on my work on Friday Night Lights. Got emails and calls from all over. Talk about positive reinforcement! Thanks!!

What was particularly neat was that my mom got to see it and was just thrilled.

I’m so glad it turned out well.

p.s. I love my agent! Heather Collier is AWESOME!!!

Friday Night Lights

I’m so thrilled with the scene!!

If you want to check out my character in Friday Night Lights, go to this link http://www.nbc.com/Video/rewind/full_episodes/friday_night_lights.shtml .

I’m in the episode “Upping the Ante” and you can see me as Anna the bowling alley waitress, towards the end of Part Three.

(Hopefully one of these days I’ll learn how to put video on my blog)

Filmmaker Magazine

I am so impressed and proud of Ms. Stacy Schoolfield. She is to be published in the upcoming edition of Filmmaker Magazine. Like the writer, the article is honest, straight forward and with humor. In other words, it totally rocks!

Check it out at :

http://www.filmmakermagazine.com/winter2007/line_items/lessons_diy2.php

Friday Night Lights and webgroup

Talk about crazy. I've been getting emails from folks that are part of a web chat group, that are totally into the hit television show, Friday Night Lights.

It seems someone from their group saw my blog about being on the show and now I’m getting email from around the world. Pretty damn cool!

To those of you at televisionwithoutpity or, http://forums.televisionwithoutpity.com/index.php?showforum=884, I really with I could tell you more about what’s going to happen, but that would probably get me into trouble.

I will tell you though that Taylor Kitsch who plays Tim Riggins is as incredibly good looking in person, as he is on TV. Positively smoldering. And he seemed very nice too.

Thanks for all the mail and look for me on FNL in a couple of weeks.

recap

Recap of the last month:12/18/06 to 1/8/07

Last minute helping with school holiday parties.

Last minute crazed holiday shopping

Last minute crazed shopping for snow trip.

Which inevitably lead to…

Got sick…Got bronchitis….still shopping and now packing for snow trip.

Xmas morning = Family opens presents frenzy. No doctors appointments available.

Got sicker…wrangled some meds…feel better.

Pack van for snow trip.

Leave for snow trip…get caught in blizzard.

Think we are all going to die.

Finally make it to Red River New Mexico. Winter wonderland!

Snowed in for days!!

Snow ball fights, angles in the snow, lots of skiing,

Play with friends, have too much wine, beer, wonderful food, laughs, take pictures, shoot video of everyone.

-feels like a real family vacations! –

Over did it, starting to get sick again

Ignore it! More fun

Drive back through blizzards

Think we are all going to die again.

Make it back home in one day. Whew!

Now feel very bad – too much fun? Yup.

But still ignore it.

Get ready for school to begin.

No more mountains of snow, but mountains of laundry.

Now can’t really breath anymore so…must go to doc.

Bed rest – sleep – eat …repeat

Better and already back to auditioning and raring to go.

Had so much fun!!!

Let’s do it again!!!!