Audition? What Audition?

It’s happening again where I get really busy right before an audition to the point that I have absolutely limited to no time to prepare for it and I go in feeling like I’m winging it. Or I get 10 second’s notice of the audition and I go in and I’m winging t. Why do I always feel like I’m winging it? Why am I making excuses? Maybe what I need to do is always be preparing for auditions even if I don’t have any auditions coming up. Hum. (Crickets). Am I late to the party again? Probably. Here’s my problem – let me know if this is what you deal with or if I’m alone out here – I have trouble getting motivated to prepare for an audition unless I already have one coming up (I know – the first part of this post was all about having trouble doing THAT too but bear with me). If I don’t have a goal right in front of me, it’s harder to get motivated. But if I do have it right in front me (such as a callback) I’m the best and most astute artist ever. I’m researching, doing backstory and even finding backstories of the backstories in case the director asks me a “let’s see if we can throw her off” type of question for which I will not only know the answer but the answer’s answer. Obviously, this isn’t the best way to go about motivation. I’m really trying to work on this. Has this happened to anyone out there or do you know some techniques to battle this?

Veteran’s Day

This is such an important day. Men and women across our country over the span of hundred’s of years have fought to, first fight for, and then keep, our freedoms. The freedom to pursue our happiness and to make our own choices to live the life we choose to live. At my office, we have a VP who has served several tours in Iraq. I always thank him each year for what he has done and continues to do, not just for us, but for himself and his family. To defend our rights and protect us. I always thank him.

Podcast Alert

I just heard a great podcast from the Everything Acting Podcast website, which I absolutely love and I’ve blogged about before.  We are all actors, so singers will still find great value in these podcasts.  They always by chatting with each other and about what is going on in their lives and then gives some words of wisdom before going in to an interview with an industry professional.  On Episode 114, our lovely hosts talks about the critical role that your inner voice and inner beliefs play in your every day life that can serve you or sabotage you with your auditions and your career.  Be sure to bookmark this site.  I always come away with something positive and inspiring.  Their mission is to “inform, inspire and de-mystify the actor’s journey” – Love that!

Monday!

Things that have made today a typical “Monday”

Had a loooong day at work. Let’s just leave it at that.

So busy that I forgot to pay online bills today.

Didn’t realize I was wearing a turtleneck AND a top sweater, BOTH with holes in them, in visible places seen by others and not places where I could hide them and stretch the wearing a little longer.

So busy that I’m finding audition preparation has taken a back seat when it should be driving the car and that makes me sooooo ANGRY.

Having said that, I’ve:

Had a good hair day
Got a workout in
Realized that the transit strike is over!

Fall Bike Ride

Today, hubby and I went on the best bike ride at Valley Forge.  I love this time of year although I am one to resist it as long as possible as the last of the summer slips away.  Summer is my favorite time followed by Spring.  But Fall?  Well, that’s at the back of the pack.  It only gets beat out by Winter because I love ski season.  Today we did a 2+ hour ride and now hubby is making Chili.  That, and Sunday night football to follow – great way to spend a Sunday.

Next Sunday, I have an audition for Carousel.  I’ll let you know how that goes.  Carousel is a great musical and I’m excited for the audition and hopeful for a callback.  Once again, it will probably come down to type and my height.  We will see!

Fall ride, hubby

Go State!

Today is the first of the last 4 Penn State games (sniff) of the season.  I have a confession.  I didn’t graduate from Penn State, I graduated from the University of North Texas so now you know why there would be no reason whatsoever to follow UNT

Yep - this was a sweet victory.

because they kind of suck.   Yes, you are supposed to stand by your team no matter what but…..yeah.  My husband, on the other hand, graduated from Penn State, played in the Blue Band and is a fan’s fan.  By marriage I was brought into the fold and I’m so glad I’m here.  I love it!

Hat, beer.

We are.....Penn State!

Friday Fermata – The Payoff

I’m not one to say that one should work just for the sake of reward but should enjoy the growth that one gets from the process.  That the reward doesn’t matter. 

But sometimes – it does….

On my way to a wedding after singing a concert.

Week of Tweets and a Photo

On the bus to NYC to sing at Carnegie Hall

First off, my mother in law actually saw me on television because I was standing in one of the long lines during the transit strike that I’ve been complaining about.  I knew the camara man would zero in on me because I looked royally pissed.  But now, tweets for the week!  And a photo!

I’m listening to “Out Of Town” by Zero 7 (http://bit.ly/Ja2c7) #pandora3 minutes ago from Pandora Delete  

@Cecilyk you’d better spill it!about 5 hours ago from mobile web Delete

Septa, I spit in your general direction. #fb4:09 PM Nov 4th from mobile web Delete

Watching live big band and having a beer. #fb9:01 PM Nov 3rd from mobile web Delete

Dear Septa, thank you for making me stand in line for an hour so you can fight for another pay increase. #fb5:15 PM Nov 3rd from mobile web Delete

Listening to Morphine on the ride home. “whisper” #fb6:06 PM Nov 2nd from mobile web Delete

@supermaren I’m jealous! Won’t be getting mine until March.5:13 PM Nov 2nd from mobile web Delete

Should never told the office that I brought the leftover candy, but bowls are empty. #fb5:03 PM Nov 2nd from mobile web Delete

Dear ants in the kitchen, we are ON to you! Don’t make me release the spiders! #fb5:01 PM Nov 2nd from mobile web Delete

Daylight savings transit to work song: No Quarter: Zepplin #fb6:58 AM Nov 2nd from mobile web Delete

@thebloggess forget it for the love of….see other tweets.6:57 AM Nov 2nd from mobile web Delete

@The Bloggess third time’s a charm – but who cares about the buttons now. ugh6:56 AM Nov 2nd from mobile web Delete

@TheBlogess please take twitpics of said buttons!6:55 AM Nov 2nd from mobile web Delete

TheBloggess please take some twitpics of buttons!6:54 AM Nov 2nd from mobile web Delete

Good morning – Halloween candy in transit to work where it will be safe from my hands. #fb6:53 AM Nov 2nd from mobile web Delete

NaBloPoMo National Blog Posting Month – 1 blog per day! starts today!- http://www.nablopomo.com/# #fb10:43 PM Nov 1st from mobile web Delete

It’s not about what happened but how we felt about it.

The NaBloPoMo could not have gotten off to a worse start. My home town has been snarled for 2 days in a horrific transit strike that has made my commuting life a mess (and that’s using my nice person word). This morning was Day 2 and I hopefully boarded my morning train only to be stopped 10 miles down the line, for 2 hours because a train ahead of us caught on fire. I should know better to not believe rumors upon first blush, but at the time, we were told it was foul play.

What weirded me out about this were the reactions of people in our car when we heard the news. People were laughing and joking or not reacting at all. It was a strange reaction to observe and then it hit me: people are getting used to it. Nothing is shocking us any more. I shutter to think at what will. An entire train car was on fire – on our line, and it could have been us. It was only when we passed the charred and smoking train car (where you can see the emergency windows people had kicked out), did people become quiet.

Later we found out that the train was just old and the engine overheated. Um….that’s also bad!

I promise to post more positive stuff but after 2 work days of 2+hour commutes each way, I’m just drained.

Tuesday Top 10 – Top 10 Unexpected Advantages to getting healthier.

I weighed myself after dinner at the end of the day where one might think one would be heavier – just to see – 148! This is huge. I haven’t seen those numbers since first moving here, fresh from the hiking, biking, and skiing of Colorado. Hello, numbers, it’s good to be back, which brings me to this week’s Top 10 unexpected advantages to getting healthier.

1. Choice was what I needed all along – I just had to stop and realize that everything was a choice and that I just had to make the right one. Looking back, was it really incredibly hard once I committed to making the right choices? To dealing with why I had made the wrong ones and then to stop? No, it wasn’t and it’s hard to wrap my head around that because we all make poor choices and we don’t have to.

2. Justifies my clothing, pack-rat nature. And increases the wardrobe! I am not afraid to throw crap away – accept for clothes. I keep those. Now, what is weird about my weight gain over the past decade is that I’m tall, so I never went up a size. Still a 10 but on the high, muffin top, uncomfortable-if-I button- or-bend-in-any-way side of 10. So, those clothes I would keep. Now, I’m on the loose side of 10, flirting with an 8 IF I caught a stomach flu, so I’ve gained another 2 pairs of pants!

3. Headshots-Finally, I can get these done. I have to wait until Spring, come in to some money, or have a fundraising concert (any ideas there?) But I can get them done now because I feel like I’m “me” again!

4. Energy-Yep. More of it. This may be because of the better eating.

5. Fit modeling-There was an article about this in a past article in Classical Singer magazine. There are specific fit model measurements from like 4 to 18 but you had to have the right measurements. I think I have those now – up to $100 an hour? Sign me up!

6. Looking younger at auditions! I need all of the help I can get.

7. Muscle tone-Remember to eat your protein if you are experiencing weight loss so you continue to maintain muscle and only lose fat. Since I’ve been doing this, and losing the fat layer, the muscles are coming through. Can’t wait to wear sleeveless again!

8. Endurance -I started writing this post this morning and now, this afternoon, after waiting in line for an hour, because of the Septa strike, don’t even get me started, I found that I have better endurance and disposition.

9. Self-Esteem – one of the most important virtues. It’s not the weight either, or the way it makes you look, or even the way it makes you feel physically. What I’m talking about here is the way you feel after being met with a challenge and overcoming it, following through and being successful.

10. Learning the value of consistency and ritual- Making a good habit stick can be hard. Any successful person you observe has things that they do every day to get to their goal.