Unemployedelicious woot woot..

Oh the perks of unemployment…free time. Time to enjoy NYC because you live in a great city, time to make up words that describe your life like "unemployedelicious" time to...well, you'll see. Thank goodness I don't have a job tying me down! ahaha

So I just got back from a taping of “Late Night with Conan O’Brien.” The man is a genius. My stomach hurts from laughing so hard. I heard that his last taping in the NY NBC studios was gonna be on February 20, 2009 (before he moves to California). Sad. I knew I had to see a taping before he left.

This morning I got up early (not THAT early) and stood in line for a “standby” ticket outside 30 Rockefeller Center (NBC Studios). They don’t guarantee seats but I figured I’d at least give it a shot. I was #11 in line so I thought my odds were pretty good?

I got my standby ticket and was told to come back at 3:45pm to see if I got a seat. So I went home, went to the gym, avoided going outside because of the frigid temperature and serious snowfall and bided my time until 3:45 rolled around.

Well, as you can gather, I got in! The guests were Seth Meyers (SNL), Johnny Knoxville (Jackass), and um a country band. They were good but I forget their name. Crap. Sorry. I got to hear the awesome Max Weinberg and the “Max Weinberg 7” play. They are extremely talented musicians. They kept the audience entertained between taping and played a lot of music. Their trumpeter played one note for like 3 minutes I guess trumpeters have a special long note holding technique (that’s the technical term). It was unbelievable.

Conan came out before the taping to say hey and get us laughing. We laughed. A lot. The interviews were great, and it was neat watching Conan between taping. He was dancing around, all energetic, listening to the band, talking to people. He really seems like a cool guy.

After the taping he sang a song with the band. He called it “The After Show Song that the TV Audience Never gets to Hear.” Did I mention he’s hilarious?

The show airs tonight (2/3/09) so don’t miss it…haha you probably already did. Oh well. Take my word for it: FUNNY. NYC is gonna miss the Conan.

This last weekend I went to a UET Alumni event that they throw for the alums every year in NYC and LA. (UET being the University of Evansville Theatre Department, where I went to college). I’m so glad I got to go this year! I met up with so many friends from school and met several alums that are busy in the theatre/TV/film world. UET Alums are a pretty successful group but everyone seemed so chill at the party. I feel like we picked up where we left off at graduation and were all one big family at a reunion.
It was pretty surreal talking to people who have been on Broadway, on TV, and involved in every aspect of filmmaking. It was encouraging as well. I didn’t feel out of place or like I was lame because I don’t have a sitcom. I was able to glean a few things from those who are “there.” The night was perfect.

Sunday morning I sang with the worship team at church. I thought it went really well. It is such an honor to get to be a part of leading the church in worship. I had a great time singing with the band. This week it was made up of a lot of very professional, talented guys.

After church I had coffee with my friend Kaylie and got ready for the Super Bowl festivities. I ended up going to two parties that night for the game. They were both in the same general area on the Upper East Side so I wanted to visit both. The first party was in Spanish Harlem on the 27th floor of a high rise apartment building. It was at my friend Paul’s place and thankfully they had a balcony because you can’t go up 27 floors and not get a view! There were a lot of people at the party and some serious football snacks to boot. I stayed the first half then trekked over to my friends Allen and Ryan’s place.

On the way I walked past the twin high rise of my friend Paul’s building and there were about 5 fire trucks outside, firemen, police, Red Cross, you name it. Apparently the foundation cracked on the building so they evacuated it and called the firemen to investigate. Sounds creepy. But it was a sight.

I watched the rest of the game at Allen and Ryan’s with some friends from church. I have to admit, I was a little annoyed at the unsportsmanlike conduct of the teams. I think the game would’ve felt a lot better to me had the “pros” remembered that “pros” is short for “professionals.” But I was still entertained and thought the game was quite good otherwise. Now, I will close with my favorite moment of the NFL evening:

(Overheard by yours truly)

Girl at Super Bowl Party: (upon reading the bottom of the TV screen reading, “Super Bowl XLIII”)

“What does Super Bowl Extra Large 3 mean?”

Back to the blogging board.

I’ve been back in the city for about a week now. It’s been a good week looking for work, working out, submitting for auditions, and re-connecting with friends.
I got to JFK late in the evening Thursday, January 22 after having a nearly 3 hour layover in Long Beach, California. That dear little airport is about the size of my hand when I make a fist or a small beverage cooler with about as much entertainment value as either. There were so many people in the baby sized airport I was feeling a bit claustrophobic. Granted, I was able to go outside without exiting the airport and the weather, in spite of the light rain, reminded me of springtime. I got a little taste of it and I really wanted it to magically be spring when I finally got to NY later that day.
One long flight and 100 thru 8 of the top songs of the 1980s on VH1 later, I reached NYC. Thank God for Jet Blue’s TVs; I’m a serious channel surfer.
I’m back! The light snow on the ground I could see out the plane’s window seemed both to taunt and welcome me back. And although I’ve been to JFK’s Jet Blue terminal (5) many a time, I still managed to get on the wrong shuttle train. When you’re tired and just want to get home after a long day of travel it somehow amplifies the annoyed feeling you get when you make a stupid mistake. So I took a spin around the JFK airport. Maybe I should apply for a job as a JFK airport tour guide. Nah.
For the next hour and a half I heaved my mammoth suitcase around Queens before finally arriving home. I dug my keys out and at last was thru the front door. And there stood my roommates with a cake and balloons welcoming me back. Awww. You guys! How sweet! Carrot cake and yellow and orange balloons filled the rest of my first evening back. Aw, I feel loved. (The yellow and orange balloons were not a statement but a matter of economy)
So I’ve had a fairly relaxed week. I’ve been applying for work and sending my headshot/resume combo out for the looking. It’s sort of eerie how little work appears to be out there (across the board). I’ve checked all the good old standbys where one could expect to find job postings and it’s just weird the lack of openings.
However, I have managed to find a couple positions to apply for. One was for an after school tutoring position, seems cool. So I got back “in the saddle” with writing cover letters. That’s a true gift when you can pump out cover letters like a machine. It’s hard! I am not a machine just yet but I believe I’m on the path.
I am proud to say I’ve been working even more on the acting/singing. I’ve got my headshot out there. I have even been to the post office several times this week to mail it out snail mail style. It’s actually a GIANT pain going to the post office just once, but severl times a week? I deserve a medal.
Aw the post office. How is it that there’s always a line that’s 5K long and it moves at about the pace I’d run a 5K. SLOWLY. AAAAA! How does the post office have one guy, ONE GUY, running the counter? (Do you need more help USPS? I’m looking for work!) And of course I feel badly for the fella because he’s always got that one dude who decides that he’s gonna pick a fight, a fight to end all fights, with the poor postal clerk. Yikes. That’s when I dig down deep for a little grace. And somehow the line moves. This poor world is wound so tight…
It’s a small task to endure for the glad feeling I get after mailing out my acting resume. Perhaps I’ll get an acting job before I get a “job job” haha! Right.
On Sunday I went to church. It was so great to see my church family again and some new faces as well! I got such a warm and unexpected “welcome back!” from everyone. I am so glad to be a part of that church. God is doing really great things thru his people there.
I was able to serve on the load-out crew that morning as well. I was given the task of driving our church’s van with all the gear we use at the service to the parking garage. (We meet at a school so we take our stuff with us). I got to drive a big ol' van in Manhattan! I was oh, just a bit scared. I drove from the Upper East Side on the FDR drive (kinda a highway) on the easternmost side of the island of Manhattan down to Chelsea (further south on the island). It was a really pretty, sunny day and I’m convinced that had I not been white knuckling it and in ironclad focus-on-the-road mode, there would’ve been a gorgeous view to take in of the East River and the land across the river (Roosevelt Island, Long Island City, and Brooklyn). Ok, I did sneak a peek once or twice.
I got the van to the garage safely and am proud to say that driving in Manhattan wasn’t so hard or terrifying after all. Maybe I’ll become a cab driver? MmmHmmm.
So I found a new gym to go to here in Astoria thanks to a tip from my roomie. It just opened a month ago and they are having a killer sale on membership. I mean, unbelievable, it’s by far the least I’ve ever paid for a gym membership. How is that!? Love it/Need that in my current state of unemployment. The gym is a short walk from my house, has really fancy equipment (and lots of it), as well as free tanning, and a free massage chair to use. What!? I pretty much love it. I actually look forward to going to the gym and can only hope that feeling lasts. Oh, and the best part, there’s no fine print! Yay!

Which just about brings me to today…

I awoke this morning to an unfamiliar sound. In my initial hazy state I had no idea what it could be. Someone dragging their plastic garbage can around outside my window? No. One of my crafty neighbors fancying himself a carpenter again? No. Sounds like…oh no… Someone shoveling snow! It snowed last night!
Now I should note that I have, just this season, adopted a rather sarcastic attitude toward snowfall. This is thanks to the fact that I was unfortunately snowed-in in Oregon for several days recently and have also seen plenty of snow while in NY to know that it doesn’t equal snowball fights, igloos, and snow angels. No, it means slippery slushy sidewalks and endless invisible black puddles everywhere! Ok, I’ll lighten up a bit, I still get excited about snow, but seriously everyone, when you shovel snow you create an even more slippery surface of ice to try and walk on. Not fun. Deadly. Oh well, the rest of the US has snow, it was only a matter of time, right?
So I’m inside in an attempt to avoid icy sidewalks and catching up on Netflix, reading, and of course, the trusty blog. How’s that for a comeback entry!? It’s a novella! Thanks for reading.

I'm BAAAAAAACK...(and shamelessly making lame movie references)

Wow, it's been a while. I had a bit of a scare with a glance at the negative side of blogging. That, coupled with being really busy with my "part time" job, I neglected to write.

Well enough's enough!

I no longer work for the interior designer (no comment, I'm not walking into that trap). I have freedom to write however I want, whenever I want and I'm going to.

I'm in Oregon now, enjoying some downtime with my family and friends. I'll soon by back in NYC auditioning and doing nearly whatever it takes to pay my rent.

Hopefully you'll continue to be entertained by my shenanigans in the city and perhaps be inspired to start your own blog. Wouldn't that be fun?

Thanks for you patience friends. I'm back!