I suck at blogging

A lovely day out in Pasadena!

Took a trip to Old Town Pasadena, where adventure and hilarity ensued. Learned how to make soap...yes, really, spent time in a beautiful art and jewelry shop, sampled some delicious cupcakes and happened upon a wonderful art exhibit (unplanned MJ art sightings rock my world!) I met some wonderful arties named Jebtha and Alistair...perfect art guy names, right? They were taking down an exhibit and I poked my head in anyway and they invited me and Lee Anne in and actually unpacked a beautiful $75,000 piece by Monfils who was so moved my the work of Michael Jackson that he put all of his record collection into one piece. Literally, all of his records were carved into six paintings of his face. It was beautiful!! This was all after a random suggestion from the owner of the art and jewelry shop. Random! He didn't even know I was a fan. By the way, Lee Anne bought a WONDERFUL new ring...made from the inside of vintage watches. Amazing!

Lee Anne and I had lunch at delicious Sushi Roku, where we had my favorite dish...YELLOWTAIL CARPACCIO!! It is simply tantalizing. Then came the wonderful cupcakes at Dot's Cupcakes. Let me just say, the mint chocolate is to die for. Chocolate mini-cupcake with mint icing with crunchy chocolate balls on top. Muy delicioso. Then came the Soap Kitchen, an adorable little nook we happened upon where we met the store owner. We were asking her questions about the soap and she offered to take us on back to the kitchen and she showed us how to make soap. All I gotta say is she is getting a good Yelp review from me ;)

Football...Soccer...Futbol.

http://www.villageidiotla.com/

Really loving all this World Cup stuff. Such a sense of togetherness and patriotism! Viva world! Go USA! The above is one of my regular stomping spots in LA and it happens to have a fantastic World Cup atmosphere...love it.

Going to a fabulous pub called Ye Olde King's Head in the morning for a 7am fest! Should be amazing to be there with a bunch of USA fans AND England fans. Woot!

http://www.yeoldekingshead.com/

The Full Plate

After a mild and friendly scolding from a lovely soul, I've realized I should probably make it more of a habit to blog more...even if only 3 people read it ;)

It's been a long month or two...in a good way!

There has been travel, business and leisure, weddings, songwriting, recording, and beautiful moments shared with the people I love the most...I don't mean to gloat, I just feel so lucky!

On the music front:

The song I co-wrote and recorded is finally mastered! Now, they have asked me to do a second song, which I am SO excited about. The first song is uptempo pop/ R&B. I really love it and loved everything about the process. It pushed me to challenge myself not only with writing, but with writing outside my comfort zone. This next one will be more soul and smooth...a chance for me to really get to the heart of things. I still feel so blessed with this opportunity and am loving every minute of it. I go into the studio this Thursday! I will post the songs as soon as I have them ready.

On the adventures in travel front:

May started out with a bang. The Nick came out to LA and we drove to Vegas for the weekend as per my boss's invitation to celebrate her boyfriend's birthday. It was also a good excuse for me to celebrate my birthday...again. I like to draw it out. Self indulgent? Nah. It was a BLAST...at check-in I was told I had a gift at the concierge...Mandy had gotten me a HUGE fruit basket...so sweet. Anyway, it was Vegas and it was amazing. Mandy's brother-in-law treated the whole group (about 16 of us!) to bottle service at one of the clubs. I will say this, I am not a big clubber, but if I were...that is the way to do it! Don't get me wrong, I will cut..a..rug just a bout anywhere...the club scene in LA can just be really expensive and lame, so I'd rather just dance wherever I am, be it at a bar, club, or my kitchen. Yep...that happens.

The next weekend I went up to Indianapolis with Mandy for 5 days, which was amazing. Her business partner and good friend lives up there and we went up to visit. I got to go to the practice week for the Indy 500! FUN!

The day after I got back, I flew to Birmingham for the 2010 WEDDING EXTRAVAGANZA! Nick was able to be in bammy at the same time as me so that is NEVER a bad thing ;) I, of course, got almost no sleep...I get way to excited about seeing so many people I love...I'll sleep when I'm dead. Nick's sister got married--which was so lovely!! Then the next weekend, I had the estute honor of being Mary Kathryn's maid of honor. I've said it once and I will say it again...it was one of the most amazing evenings I've ever witnessed or been a part of. Speaking of cutting rugs...I don't think I've ever danced my face off as much as I did at that wedding. GEEZ! Amazing!! Congratulations, Wilkersons and Papaioannous!

Once I got back, I was about over trains, planes and automobiles. I had one more plane to catch and it was to Austin to see Nick before he deployed. So worth the trip...to say the least! We had a very special weekend, but I won't get into all of it, but if I had to sum it up: gratitude, fun, special, poignant.

...also, we had to air conditioning in the car in the middle of Texas in June. Pretty gross. Also, no music, so we sang to each other...it was pretty in so many ways.

Mandy was gone to South Africa for 2 whole weeks in which I had plenty of time to work on this new song. I also had lots of time to spend too much money, eat too much, and have too much fun ;) I have found that where I live by frolicking around with friends and living in the moment, no matter what that moment is, I vastly prefer having a full plate. That is what made the 2 weeks really experiencing LA in a different way so wonderful.

This past month has been a whirlwind...but I am learning every day...learning who I am, who I want to be, and just how important it is to really appreciate what we've got...from my favorite little green corner in the middle of a huge city, to conversations with good friends, to tasting my favorite beer and burger, I prefer a full plate. And damn it, I will savor every last bit of it.

Time to get on the saddle again...

As well you may have noticed, I haven't been diligent in my blogging as of late. Where I have had a lot going on (which may have contributed to the lack of blogging), I now feel inclined to share.

First I want to say this: blogs can become quite self-indulgent. And where it may seem that this is just me sitting here applauding myself. Its not...its a means of therapy, and a way for my family and friends to see what I'm up to. Life intervenes sometimes and we can't all be as in touch as we'd like. Just a thought...

A few months ago I went through a bit of a bump. I was very much in a "Where am I? who am I?who do I want to be? kind of place. I wasn't sure, for a while there. Where I wasn't "depressed" or anything like that, something wasn't quite right. I needed a change. I had discovered inspiration in many things, mainly revolving around music. I knew this meant something. When I talked about music, I was excited...my heart would beat a little quicker, and I felt fed. That was just TALKING about it. I was also finding the importance of quiet time, prayer, and meditation. Now, I'd never be preachy...it's more of a spiritual calmness that I have in which I have found serious value for myself. One day, I was just like "WHAT DO YOU WANT ME TO DO?!"...the next day, an opportunity came. I met a songwriter who I soon auditioned for, and am now working with her on some original songs to be a demo singer for. Apparently, somebody up there thinks I should be singing. I would have to agree. I realized that I wasn't using something that I had been given. Silly, right?

So, I decided to take voice lessons. I take from a FABULOUS woman here in LA who has inspired me in many ways. Her balance of technique and connection to feeling and the soul is perfect. The voice is connected to everryyyything in the body, by the way. Ladies, by doing a certain hummm we can get rid of cramps...just so you know. ;) Back on track...long story short, I love it and her. I feel more fed and more alive when I am singing...a sign that I'm doing something right for myself? Methinks. Where I have never and will never abandon my love for acting, I now know that we have to use what we've got to our advantage. If you are really hilarious and great and comedy, would you only focus on soap operas? Its not that you shouldn't exercise those muscles, but in order to get into entertainment, I have learned that you first have to identify your forte and go for it. That is exactly what I am aspiring to do here. It just turns out that I have realized that my dream my entire life has been to sing and hopefully touch people with my voice. Then, I will be able to open more doors to do more things I love, like acting!

Last week, I submitted myself for an audition for an artist development agency. What's that, you might ask? Basically, I have been putting myself out there for anything and everything I can sing for. An artist development agency takes on new artists and helps "develop" an image, sound, and following for that artist. I had the audition on Friday, and got the call on Saturday that I had made it. They chose a couple artists from the pack and I was lucky enough to be one of them. Needless to say, I am ecstatic.

I also had my first gig in LA last week. I sang with a jazz band. It was very exciting. Therapeutic. I'm happy.

Personally, things couldn't be better. I am very blessed with loving family, friends, and a wonderfully supportive boyfriend. I am constantly striving to be better, live better, and to be more aware of the good things in life. I've learned a lot. I'm loving it.

If you have taken the time to read this, thank you. If not...no big ;)

I send my love out!!

New attitude...

After a lot of soul-searching, thinking about my career, my personal life, my personal goals and dreams, as well as what I want to use whatever success I come upon in my career for, among many other things, I am feeling peaceful...at ease, yet plunging ahead to fulfill my dreams and my purpose for being here...yes here, on Earth. Sounds big, huh? Well, it is. And I have found it to be so important for us humans to take a moment to evaluate our lives and who we want to be, what we want to achieve, and how we can best use the gifts we have been given in life.

There are amazing things all around me. Wonderful artists, opportunity, nature...everything seems to be right here. And it is...I feel as if I am exactly where I am supposed to be. In Los Angeles, California. I needed to write that out, because it is easy to overlook how incredibly fortunate I am to be able to pursue my dreams with the support of people who love me. Now, the purpose of this blog is not for me to pat myself on the back...just to get it all out ;) A couple of months ago, I had a tough time...in a good way. Oxymoron? naaaah...its how I go through things. I have learned that about myself over the years. Its like a hard workout session. I'm running uphill, so hard, and it hurts...but then at the end it pays off and becomes a very positive thing for me. It feels so good. So, from time to time, I really take a look at myself and what I want to make better. At this point, I am feeling very ready. Ready to sing. Ready to act. Ready to use the gifts I have been blessed with to the fullest.

My first year in retrospective:

**I moved into an apartment by myself and was able to get a job to support.

**I have spent the first year here in LA getting on sets doing extra work, or background, which is such a good first step, I think. I still do it from time to time, because I think it is fun! Some people here don't like it, but it can be looked at as a great learning experience...and a way to get some extra cash. One of the highlights of my extra work days so far was when I was able to be on my favorite show's set for several days: Glee. It is my goal-show, for sure! So it was cool to see how it works.

**I've also been in an AMAZING acting class for six months. The support that circulates through that room is wonderful. It is a major part of my week, and I have developed some true friendships as well as contacts from it. I feel myself improving every week, which is saying something! Not every class hits home with people...I got really lucky. :)

**Auditions have become a more regular thing: which I am so excited about! Commercials, a feature produced by the American History X team, and pilots and webisodes. Every single one is a learning experience, no matter what. I actually LIKE to audition now! Pshh, never thought I'd say that.

**Independent feature supporting role in August of this year. A great learning experience.

**Casting director workshops--so helpful, in my opinion.

**Made a commitment to volunteering at Children's Hospital a few hours a week :)

What's next:

I have decided to cut a vocal demo to put in my package. After a lot of prayer and meditation, I found that music is so supplementary to my life. My voice has been warming up for this my entire life...and, like I said before, my goal would be to be on a show like Glee...where I can implement my two loves: singing and acting, and tap into my show-choir love!!!

I have been working my ass off at the gym and have been eating better to just become healthier in general.

At the beginning of the year, I will be putting together my reel so I can have that for agents and managers. Its time. I am going to go ahead and pay for it myself and have friends and director contacts for good cameras.

So, 2009 was a learning year...in many many ways. I've learned a lot about myself, who I am, who I want to be, and how to best use my abilities in singing and acting. Now its onward..here goes...

Sending love, as always.

Its finally freezing (drr..well, it's cold)

Ahh, just when I begin to think I live in a weather-wise abyss of perfection, it rains! And it's cold! And there is snow on the mountains in the distance! I live on Earth! Now, one might ask: why wouldn't you want sunny 70 degree weather every day?? My answer is this: everything in moderation. I like to feel the seasons from time to time, and where I am so grateful for the sunny California weather that sets in nine months out of the year, I do enjoy my 4 days of rain per year and right about now, I love bundling up in my sweats. Feels like snuggly home.

I worked my ass off today. Pshh, well, I've been busting it every day it seems lately. Which is an amazing feeling. I don't thrive well off of a scant plate. I find if I am listening to good music, I can do just about anything. Music=invincibility.

Currently on my playlist: Anything Michael Jackson. Gah! What a man...

I've got a casting director workshop tonight, which at its end next week I will be auditioning for three different commercial casting agencies. I've got an audition tomorrow for a webisode series. Yay! And I am, of course, trying to be more active. This town just does that to people...its kinda awesome.

Loving life, pretty much.

Countdown to flying to Birmingham for holidays: 13 days. woot woot!

So much love,

Katie

wow...its been a while.

What have I been doing since July?

Well, I am still in acting class, loving it more and more every week (that's a good sign!). I'm learning and growing constantly. I filmed an independent feature in August which was a wonderful learning experience...everyone had a voice in it because everyone was learning!

You know what? Why harp on the past? This is where I am now...and I'll be better at this blog thing. As I said, I'm loving acting class. My weekly dose. I am auditioning!!! I've learned to treat it as a performance. I have to. Its my chance to act for an audience, essentially...and it is the only way to make it to where I will actually be working. Even if I get 100 no's before I get one yes, the audition room is where I am a performer, other than when I am in class. Auditioning is so surreal. Its like you're not even there. On the ones that I've been on, I can't remember a THING I did in the room. Maybe its my mind's way of protecting me from overanalyzing. Thanks, mind! So all is well. I'm working on my skills and putting myself out there. I really would love to get back on my singing. I am always singing anyways...but mainly just around my apartment. I reallllyyyyyy miss singing in public. :(

On a non-professional note...I wrote a friend an email a few weeks ago telling them about things I've been thinking about...I'll take a little bit from that and put it here. Obviously, some of the private details will be taken out.

Recently, the inevitable question has entered my mind: why am I here? Other than the tugging at my heart that pulled me here in the first place...and has yet to lead me another way, I feel that whatever success I have here, small or large, will be so that I can give to others. And I don't mean to sound like some kind of martyr or something. I'm real...and I do have things that I will want to do in my life (for myself, my family, my loved ones, etc) with whatever success I have as well. A part of this evaluation period I have been in has been accepting that a lot of the people I love are really far away from me...therefore I send love really far away. Solution: find a local outlet for that energy as well! I have discovered a part of me that I think deep down I always knew was there. I have tapped into it in the past. Through several different avenues of inspiration, which I would love to go into at a later time (too much to explain in one email), I have decided to place that energy into spending time with kids at the Children's Hospital here in addition to sending it all over the country to my other loved ones. So I acted on that, applied, and I am going to an orientation this month! I already feel so much better. I am also looking into Big Brothers Big Sisters. So there :)

So that's kinda where I am..As usual, my thoughts are longwinded and I am always soul searching...especially lately. I'm very thankful as well...for everything I am able to do and for everyone in my life. :)

I'm bad at this lately...

Seriously...its been like 3 months since I've written anything substantial...but here I am! Weee! 

The past few months have been crazy! 

I'll take it back to May.

Ashleigh came to town in early May and we celebrated my birthday with friends on my rooftop. So fun! It was nice to have Ashleigh here to spend some one on one time with her. She spoiled me and bought me about 87 presents...including a George Foreman which I often put to good use. Kabobs are neat. She also helped me add to my ever-growing cameo collection. Love 'em! We visited The Abbey, both of our first times. This is a fabulously gay club where there is a very convincing transexual who performs there every monday. Makes the $14 mojito worth it, right? Anyway, so that has become one of my favorite places in the city. Its on Robertson and Santa Monica Boulevard in West Hollywood...the heart of "Boytown". Gah, I love this city ;)

Nicholas came to town in late May!! We had such a great time. We went to XIV, a super trendy new restaurant on the Sunset Strip and had happy hour specials on the patio. Amazing! I love date night. We walked around Silver Lake  (one of my favorite areas of town) and had some great times together. Met my LA friends at The Abbey later on in the trip. These are all pretty mundane details but thats why I can't wait this long to post. BAD KATIE! 

Last month, me and Ashleigh and Scott met in Austin with Nick and Erik. REUUNNIIIOOONNN. We had silly times. Floated down the river with beer. Class all the way!!

I started taking acting classes!!!!! Stan Kirsch is my teacher and I love the class! It is so all encompassing. He used to work with Leslie Khan, who is a very reputable school in this city, so I was excited to get cracking with him. When I went to my initial consultation, the first thing he did was teach me something I had never heard before. good sign, eh? Then, I went home that night and watched my ritual episode of Friends and HE WAS ON IT! Ahh star alignment. So I took a leap of faith and signed up. I've learned SO much. I realized that I really NEED to be in class. Get the rust off, ya know? It's definitely a necessary step for me. So I am happy with that. Understatement!!!

Work has been slow, but I have recently joined a few casting groups and have really been putting myself out there. And last week, I got a call from someone whose friend I gave my business card to 7 months ago and he cast me in a feature film!!! Independent. For festivals. I'm excited! I need to get in front of a camera asap. I am going to a read-through today! 

 

Boring post,  but its something! More thoughtful post later :) 

Slap on the wrist!

I've really been slacking here. Tooooo bussyyyy to blogggg. Updates soon. Promise. Mom and Dad are in town now :) So next week...

In short...

More to come later...but here's the jist...

I started my first acting class in LA last week. It was bumpy but my rusty wheels are re-greased! I am in it! Rehearsals are underway full-force. Classes are Thursday nights and last about 5 hours! LOVE IT! 

I got stuck in a Scientology commune for 12 hours last Saturday. It was interesting for sure. No, I am not a Scientologist now. 

Been working a lot and studying for this class. It feels SO good to have a script in my hand again. 

Loving life. Missing the bf daily, missing friends and family. 

OH. MY. GEEEZ.

So...I have worked-count 'em- 24+24+24+14+24+24 hours since last monday...that's 8 days. Lets tally that up: 134 hours oooohhhh myyyy. Hey, its money I suppose. I am due for some ME TIME! I start my acting class on Thursday, so I am preparing for that as well...while I work. :) I am so excited! More later. Gotta go WORK!

Also, I would like some unique flute glasses.

Online social overload!

Wow...

Now I am on twitter, facebook, AND blogging. Something is bound to be neglected, but I shall do my best. I am working A LOT this week...and I am talking 82 hours. I'm a hustla. I picked up 3 extra shifts this week so I am going to be WIPED OUT!!! worth it for the moolah. So this week is work work work, but I'm sure there will be adventures to be written about. Have a lovely Friday. Six Flags Magic Mountain and then rooftop mimosas/brews on Saturday for Mark's bday celebration! Wee!

Homemade goodness...

I made a pizza...from scratch! at work today :)

Unpaid work=payoff later

Research Research Research...

I've decided to take matters into my own hands! This so-called "industry lull" is doing nothing for me...so I've got to do stuff for myself. Use it to my advantage! So I've been researching all kinds of classes and casting director workshops. Work work work!!! It does make me feel so much better to be productive! I've got a meeting with Stan Kirsch, a fabulous teacher, on Thursday! Wish me lots of leg breaking :)

Yowza, it's been a while...

Here's the lowdown....

I went to Vegas 2 weeks ago and it turned out the club I went to had a "special guest" who turned out to be JAY-Z!!! say whaaaaat?! I climbed into someone's VIP section and was-I'd say-20 feet from him and P-Diddy. I was unenthused about "Diddy" (saying any of his 18 nicknames makes me uncomfortable), but seeing Jay-Z was cool (his nickname doesn't bother me. He doesn't impose it on people...jigga what?) So that is the highlight of the trip but it was pretty amazing. I had lots of drinkies...free drinkies. 

Then it was my birthday last monday...wee!! I had to work that night but that didn't stop my weeklong festivities. I love my birthday. Is it a little self absorbed? mmm, probably. But I don't care! Excuse to go out and "rage" a little bit as Californians say. Ashleigh came to town Thursday and we did lots of fun things...beach time, rooftop vino and LOTS of giggling, The Abbey-the most fabulous gay bar I have ever experienced topped off the weekend. By the way, this is the extremely abridged version. 

I'll add photos later-for now you will have to just enjoy my beautiful words. 

The past week...

Soooooo....

I went on a movie set last week, and you never really know who will be there, and who else did I see but Andrew Keegan. Where is my Bop Magazine?! haha it was fun. I played a drunk girl. Stumble-stumble.

Thursday, I flew to Austin to see me my man-fellow-boyfriend. Loved it. It was pretty fantastic seeing the Nicholas again. Three months since last time I saw him in person. He took me out for my birthday on Saturday night at a Cuban restaurant. We proceeded to party our little tushies off on 6th Street in downtown Austin. I had the best chilidog of my life. And I met a sawweet little puppy!!! That's all in a nutshell, but basically I had a great time. And I got to see Erik and Scott! And I spent mucho time with my fellow. Lucky lady. 

LAX to AUS

Alrighty...

So I am on my way to Austin to see my manfriend, which has hit its overdue date by far. I am on the plane listening to a little Radiohead, a little Placebo. Strange, I am so excited and in such a good mood but all I want to listen to is dark shhtuff. And I really need to use the designated lavatory. I have a window seat. Here goes this song and dance. Something that always weirds me out a little about using those spacious little powder rooms is that I can see every single person, man or woman, short or tall, large or small, knowing that their naked little (or not so little) rump is sharing the same porcelain. I like to give the benefit of the doubt. Maybe they all hover. Hmmph. Riiiiight. 

Anyways, so yeah, I realllly have to go. So the woman next to me sleeping soundly. It would not be very neighborly to wake her up, so I'm like "Ok, I'll just wait till she wakes up." Aisle seat guy seems quite alert on his laptop. Why don't I take this time to strategize. The ever bewildering conundrum: crotch or butt? Which is the better way to scoot? I generally go butt, but I discovered that there is a hole in my leggings near, err, there which caused me to strategically choose my undergarments. Oops. So crotch it is. My sleepy neighbor wakes up. Time to make my move. I unbuckle. And then...noooooo...laptop guy fell asleep, laptop very conveniently placed on his tray table. Damn. Guess I'm holding. Then I had a thought. A mildly silly one. What if there were rest stops off exits in the highway in the sky? It's kinda Jetsons, yes, but if we can travel in a flying bubble from continent to continent in mere hours, it doesn't seem like that big of a stretch. Ahh, what I would give for a 7-11 at 35,000 feet.

I never got to go to the bathroom.

Okay, so I got a boo-boo today. I was running in Hancock Park (my usual chosen route) and I passed this really nice-looking older man eating an apple and walking a very large puppy. I passed him, with a wave and a smile, rocking out to shuffle mode on my iPod. About half a block later...it happens. (cue: ominous cinematic music). I lose my stepping. And literally, fall on my face...as in, I scraped my chin. And, as the picture suggests, scraped my knee like a second grader. I wish I had a video. It was one of those moments where I got up like, "okay, I got lucky, no one saw." Oh,  but alack and alas. The man I had just passed and his puppy were running up to help me. It was so sweet, and it was one of those very genuine "oh my god, are you ok? what can I do to help?" things rather than an "OH SHEEIT, YOU JUST BUSTED!!! HAHAH" kind of moment. but I just kind of hopped up, waved and smiled again, this time a bit more awkwardly, thanked him for being so nice and ran away. It was one of those moments where I uncontrollably giggled when I tried to replay it in my head. So not only did I bust my ass, err-face, on pavement, but now I am the girl that's running and laughing at the same time...Things that make you humble.