work, work, work...

I'm working tomorrow! YAY!

This is a really strange economy we're in at present. Stephen's been applying for this, that, and the other job ever since we got back, and when the pet supply store hired him on part-time hours, he continued looking for something full-time. He's had a handful of interviews, some in person and some over the phone, and they've mostly been pretty discouraging, because he keeps feeling baited-and-switched ("full-time" postings that turn out to be strictly part-time). I've had to encourage him to keep applying, and keep following up when possible, because in this economy the old rule "the squeaky wheel gets the grease" really seems to be highly in play.

Today he went in to work early, which meant he got home from work pretty early, which allowed him to go apply in person at a restaurant that will be opening in the next few weeks. It looks like a "burger and dog" joint, but at the interview, he actually had to take a "fine dining" test, as well as interviewing with one of the managers. So who knows? He left that one in much better spirits than others of late, and he walked around our old neighborhood to see if we maybe need to move out in that direction, once our current lease is up and/or when his mother starts her process of relocating from South Carolina.

Meanwhile, my industry keeps posting gigs for me to apply to (or not, because I definitely don't "fit" what they're looking for). And between the service that books me and my personal submissions, we're finding that I'm actually getting to work twice a week or more, doing what I love and being paid nicely for it.

Yesterday, I was a nurse. Tomorrow, I'll be a nurse. On Thursday, if I'm not booked on set, I'll be back at the personal assisting gig. And one of these days (sooner rather than later, I'm really hoping), I'll get an email or phone call from Warner Brothers asking me to begin my training as a Tour Guide. Work, work, work... YEAH, BABY!

Monday Musings

Last week was busy. On Monday, we both went over to Universal Studios Theme Park for the “Speed Dating Interview” to be Tour Guides. No idea what exactly they were seeking in their new employee pool, but neither of us was it.

Tuesday, I was booked as a nurse on one of those new (?) cancer-themed hour-long dramas. It was an easy day, and I networked with some of the crew, to see if I couldn’t get asked back as either a background nurse or as a Production Assistant. It’s not a short distance from home, but it’s an easy drive for a decent paycheck.

On Wednesday, I sat in Craig Ferguson’s audience and then went to the Warner Brothers Studio Lot to take the “VIP” tour. It wasn’t cheap, but it was worth every penny, both from the POV of a tourist and that of someone doing “research”.

Thursday night, I was booked as a “government employee” pedestrian on another hour-long drama, on the backlot at Warner Brothers. During my tour the day before, we’d seen members of the crew dressing the set, and we weren’t allowed to get close (can’t interrupt actual work going on).

Friday morning, I was back on the WB Studio Lot, interviewing and auditioning for the temporary/seasonal job of TOUR GUIDE. It was scary and nerve-wracking and fun, and according to my friend who was also there, I pretty much aced it. After lunch, I was called into a room where I completed my “background check” forms; barring some unexpected glitch in that system, I should receive an offer of employment within the next two weeks! My friend only had a one- or two-minute interview before she was sent into the “background check” room – so I gave her a ride home, and in the next couple of weeks, we’ll likely be doing a carpool thing for our training! Woot!

Had a couple of free movie passes (that had lived in Stephen’s wallet for the last three years, since they were for a specific theater chain which didn’t exist near us in North Carolina). On Saturday, we walked over to the mall and saw “Cinderella” – the passes were still good (the bar codes were still legible) – YAY!

• Our review: very nice take on the story that we all know. Hadn’t seen many trailers beforehand or had any knowledge of the cast beyond Cinderella herself, so we were quite frequently pleasantly surprised by the appearance of this actor or that one in particular roles. Beautifully done. We’ll likely own the Blu-Ray when it comes out, because I imagine there will be plenty of special features on it, and I’m willing to watch the flick numerous times.

Yesterday, I went downtown to “set-sit” at a soundstage that belongs to some friends of mine, while a small electronic-strings instrumental girl band was shooting their music video. Easy gig that I will feel badly about invoicing my friends for, if they ask. I did nothing related to the shoot or the soundstage while I was there. The production was pretty self-sufficient, and they even fed me a huge burger, just because I was there! I’d always thought being a background actor was the easiest job in this industry, but I guess there’s one job that’s easier: liaison for a small production to the location owner, as long as you’re not actually expected to know or do anything. Caught up on my internets. J

Got back in last night to watch Reese Witherspoon guest-host Saturday Night Live. The new cast (or possibly the new writers, if they are not one and the same) are abysmal. No wonder we don't watch anymore. After that wasted hour, we started Call the Midwife. That one's going to help us recover when we lose Downton Abbey.

TODAY, I’m on set as a nurse again. Same hour-long drama as last week. Got recalled! Shazam! Have spoken with the PA who checked us in and out, and he’s planning on leaving after today! The rest of the industry is officially on “hiatus” but this show is only halfway through its season, which means… they just might need another PA. Which means, I could possibly pick up an occasional day here, at least until I know what the schedule at Warner Brothers will look like.

This was an official “short” day on set, and I’m already home. Since the weather has warmed again, I’m going to hit the pool now, and then check my internets once I’m back upstairs.

In other “news”, we’re getting ready to dump Verizon for a MetroPCS plan that’s half the price. If you live in a large metropolitan area like Los Angeles, what has been your experience with dropping “the best” wireless coverage (with rapidly declining customer service) for a smaller, cheaper company? We have until Saturday to make a decision.

What do I get to do tomorrow? And what have you been up to all week?

Friday Fictioneers

I'm trying something new this week. Maybe I'll do it on a regular basis (maybe not). 100 word fiction, based on the photo prompt - I'd like to thank Kimberly Lynne for introducing me to this linkup, offer thanks to Rochelle Wisoff-Fields for hosting, as well as thank you for stopping by. My entry is 99 words! Woo Hoo!

Drought

I remember. Sometimes it would run blistering hot, but usually it was ice cold (or pretty close).

Little fingers and a high-pitched voice, calling up, "it's 'lefty-loosey, righty-tighty', right, Daddy?" "That's right, Princess. Do you want me to help you turn it left?" Thick fingers would send forth the water, and that little mouth would be all over me, and there'd be a surge of giggles when her dress got all wet. Then that strong grip would slow it to barely a drip. The voices would fade, and I'd be left with nothing.

I miss water. 

Today

I watched a coupla cool celebrities help a few handfuls of contestants try to win $20,000 on a fun game show. I laughed, I danced, I clapped, I walked away with some cash in hand. Good times!

Then I went to Warner Brothers to take their VIP Studio Tour. If you ever find yourself in a touristy position here in Hollyweird, I highly recommend it. And I'm not just saying that because I hope to become a VIP Studio Tour Guide on Friday. I'm saying that because... it's a great touristy thing to do that doesn't involve huge groups of other touristy folks standing in lines for amusement park rides or other attractions like that. Each tour is limited to twelve people, and of those twelve, you might actually know one or two (if you book the tour together, of course)! I was one of only eight, and my guide and myself were the only "locals" - the others were all from countries across the pond, like Romania, Germany, and Italy! Coolness!

It was really a great tour, and I learned a lot, and I feel much better about Friday.

Got home to a lovely meal prepared by Stephen... came online and got BOOKED for tomorrow! I do have some time for personal assistance, but that particular boss-lady doesn't want me to have to rush out, so she's got me postponed until next week.

So again... GREAT GOINGS-ON THIS WEEK! W00T!

Yesterday

all my troubles seemed... no, that's not it.

YESTERDAY, I had a day, and I was going to blog last night, but I got in from my day, and after catching up on all the internets I missed, and filling Stephen in on my day, I neglected to tell YOU.

Yesterday morning, I watched a man on a motorcycle pull over a white cargo van. The man was dressed like a security guard more than like a cop (I'm not sure exactly what the LAPD uniform looks like in comparison to what this man was wearing), although he did have on his utility belt ALL of the accoutrement one would expect of a police officer. His BIKE, although labeled "POLICE" on the gas tank and outfitted with flashing red and blue lights, looked like a barely-street-legal dirt bike. There was no license plate, and it was definitely not the standard-issue BMW bikes that I've seen "normal looking" LAPD motorcycle cops riding. Something was "off". But did I stop, too? No freakin' way.

Then I did a teensy bit of grocery shopping and went through my old neighborhood. The connection between the (highway) 170 onto the (I-)5 now has a designated carpool lane all the way! That didn't used to be there, and it pleased me immensely. Not that I'm likely to get much use out of it - I know it will help with that merging congestion during rush hour.

Got to set early-ish. Got directed to "holding" but did not get checked in until my call time at 12:30. Went back to holding with my new friends, who'd all been waiting outside in the breeze. Turned on the laptop and attempted multiple times to connect to the internets. No dice, so I spent my considerable downtime playing Minesweeper and Solitaire. Broke for lunch. Had a great meal, and recognized the 1st AD from two previous gigs I'd worked with him in the past. Struggled to remember his name... eventually got it (it's LANGSTON, not Langdon or Landon or anything remotely easy like Leonard), and had a brief conversation with him as he was heading back to set. He vaguely remembered me, by association with the instances we spoke of. The rest of us went back to set and waited to be of use.

Eventually worked a bit, and then we all went back to our cold, dark holding area to wait to be used again or wrapped. Paid for eight hours but didn't work that long, and didn't have to fight rush hour traffic to get home. Before I left, gave my contact info to the PA who checked us in and out, in case they'd like to recall me for any gig (remember, I'll do PA work, and this was an excellent crew, so I made that fact known) - networking, Baby!

Did not get submitted for any work today. Did not get a callback to audition today for the Universal Studios Tour Guide gig (that Stephen and I both attended the initial "Speed-Dating Interview" for on Monday). Did not have time in my internets-checking to remember to submit for rush calls. Oh, well.

I'm going to go sit in an audience and laugh, clap, cheer, and dance as soon as I walk away from this post. And then I'm going to take a Warner Brothers Studio Tour so I can have an idea of what that gig is about before my all-day interview/audition on Friday. Maybe I'll book some real work for tomorrow, while I'm doing other things today. Or maybe I'll just go do some personal assistance, as that's what's currently on my docket (for tomorrow). No matter. This week's a full one!

And it really all started with the day before Yesterday...

Welcome, Sri Lanka!

I don't even know where you are on my map, but if you came back and visit me like crazy, maybe I'll see a dark green spot on the map so I can find you. Thanks for stopping by; I'll have a longer, more "me" post at the end of the day today. Until then, won't you peruse the archives?

For Grown-Up Girls Who Can't Remember

I'm not really a "reader". You know this, I've said so before, and I'll likely say it again. But in one of the blogs that I read, I saw a link that was reviewing books, and even though THIS book is not the one the link was linked for, I don't think, I did see the review and the title stuck in my mind. Then I went on with my life, not intending to BUY a book to READ.

Fast-forward a few weeks. I did some bookkeeping for the friend I do that for these days, and while I was making a few copies of some bill or other, I discovered

THIS

 in a stack on the table. I carried it back upstairs with the pages I'd copied, and asked my friend if it were HER book (as in, not belonging to someone else). It was brand new; the cover was pristine. She answered in the affirmative, telling me that her friend had written it. She seemed pleased when I asked to borrow it, and replied again in the affirmative. We'd already made arrangements for me to not return to her bills for a month, so I knew I'd have time for the non-reader that I am to actually read it.

*****

OMG, y'all. My sister, the InnerHippie, had posted on her Facebook wall some meme about crying when a fictional character gets killed, and I was only able to "relate" in that I cry at movies, over the deaths or heartaches or whatever of the fictional characters onscreen (since I don't read). THIS BOOK made me cry. Not that anyone dies or anything. It IS a work of fiction, I think. It reads perfectly autobiographically, which is probably why I enjoyed it so much. When I have, in the past, found time or inspiration to read published works, I tend to head to the autobiographies at the library. It doesn't matter who the author is; I want the voice of the person relaying the stories to be the voice of the person who experienced them in the first place.

Anyway. "Chasing the Beatles" made me laugh and cry. I am not a "girl who remembers" chasing the Beatles - I'm not old enough to be. But I did relate to the girls in their quest, and when one of them gets her heart broken in the third act, I cried and cried and cried.

If you're at all inclined to read a fiction piece that reads like an autobiography, or
If you ever liked the Beatles, or
If you were a hippie kid during the first British invasion, or
If you need to write off another short novel as "research", or
If you appreciate my reviews of anything and therefore trust my judgement,

Then you should somehow acquire a copy of this book and read it! I don't see them turning it into a film. 'K? Go out now and DO IT (or order it online, so you can be expecting a great piece of mail)!