Tux, the rascal

DO NOT TRUST THIS FACE! HE'S NOT AS INNOCENT AS HE LOOKS!

Mr. Tux has been a busy kitty. In the last 36 hours he has:

-woken me by sneak attack (not an unusual activity actually)
-fallen paws/chest first into a 'not so clean' toilet
-fought me on getting cleaned up after his toilet dunking
-aimed for the window sill
-missed window sill and I looked over to see him hanging by his front paws...looking at me like..um, what now? then he let go.

i have not laughed like that in a long, long time

-knocked a plant off of a dresser
-knocked a second plant off of a dresser
-broke the pot of the 2nd one, effectively making a big mess
-'explored' the refrigerator
(explanation: he likes to jump in the fridge when we open it. We can't keep him out! So, Mom couldn't get him to come out tonight and decided to just leave him there. I rescued him. Please don't call PETA on us, it was for 15 seconds tops)

It's like having a toddler on speed in the house!

But he's so cute, you can't help but love 'em!

Biding my time

Cathartic writing: COMMENCE!

Some days I just feel like.... "ARGH" in my head. I may not always express it outwardly, but I have those days...and they seem to be getting more frequent. I have lost track of how many positions I have applied for online across America, but I have not heard back from any one of them. I keep my daily application to the Ellen Show going...I'm sure they're 'loving' my stuff coming in every day, and I'm waiting to hear back about a semi-full time job that I applied for locally..but, ugh. I'm just not sure. I know what I really love to do is sing. Should I pursue that? How do I pursue that? I need equipment...and a songwriter better than myself to be involved. For all of these things-you need money. And currently, I am trying to hoard my money, because if you hadn't noticed--it's scary out there! I was looking at some different systems for recording my own music, but I really have no idea what I am doing. I've heard Finale is good..Cakewalk...but what about GarageBand? I mean, i HAVE garageband, wouldn't that be the best way to go? But don't I need something 'nicer'? And, also a real microphone to record it with. Anyways...these are the kinds of thoughts that I get caught up in, and in the meantime-I STILL don't have a job. I know I'm not the only in in America with this problem and that scares me even more. There are a lot of us out there, all looking for new positions, which means there's even less likelihood of getting it because of the hundreds of thousands of people applying for it that have better qualifications and...okay. stop.

deep breath...

another deep breath....


I believe that God is in control and I know that He is teaching me something about waiting and being patient and trusting in Him that He can work it out. It's just that in the meantime, my human 'freakout' side is having a heyday of freakingoutedness. Seriously.


In other news, we had our first read thru for Zombie Prom on Monday evening, it was fun..my character gets to be surly and mean. Love it! =) I won't even have to 'act' that hard! =) Kidding....the scowly faced girl did get the role that I was going for, but it's okay. It turns out I know her from another life..and she's had a really rough life so if she wants to be scowly faced, I'm okay with it.

That's it for now. Cathartic writing: cease!

So, I didn't get the part..but!

I got the call just a few minutes ago from the assistant director. When it was him and not the director I had a feeling that the news was not the one I was hoping for. But I'm getting ahead of myself. So I got the call, and he's like.."we would like to offer you the part of"...and I have to admit I was like...YES! I got the role! YES! and then he said "Ensemble cast" and "Stage Manager of the TV Station" and my heart fell just a bit. Just a wee bit though. I told him yes, I would love to accept these roles, and he said the first read thru would be Monday and I said "See you then!". Yes, as previously pointed out--I am a dork.

Anyways, after my initial disappointment the feeling that followed was relief. If I had gotten the lead role, oh man..I don't know if my nerves would have survived! I have not acted for real since college (graduated in 1999 and the chorus parts with Virginia Opera don't really count), and I really just want to be part of a show again! I think I need to get my feet wet in the chorus before treading the boards (that's theatre talk) in a lead role! So, there it is. Some relief, disappointment, and mostly-excitement. I think the show is going to be a lot of fun and the people I met at the audition are really nice..hopefully they'll be in it!

Okay, now the not so nice thing that I want to say is--I hope that the scowly faced girl did not get the role that I was trying for! She was mean! And she could sing, but not great--but..I have a feeling it's her because her reading really was the best in my estimation. I will find out Monday I guess, and report back of course! I can't wait to post pics of rehearsalw and whatnot. This is going to be fun!

"The Callback"

So tonight was the night! I had my calback audition for "Zombie Prom"! I got there pretty darn early for a 7:30 call, as in, I pulled into the parking lot at 6:57. What can I say!? I like to be on time! For things like this at least. So I sat in the parking lot for a few minutes and waited for more people to come and once they did I went in. So, I was up against three other ladies for the part of Miss Strict (see previous post for character description). Not to sound conceited, but I was definitely the best singer out of all of us. Oh, our part had to go first before all the other parts, which I actually prefer so I don't have to sit there and think about things and get more nervous! So we had to learn a song from the musical and it was pretty darn funny. This musical itself is really funny. I liked the other songs I heard too, it's really clever. After the singing it was a ton of cold readings. This was the thing I was really nervous about. I don't feel that I am that strong of an actor. I like to play around and do improv kind of things and imitate people, but I think acting is different. I tried to take some chances and make my readings unique from the others, but I don't know. There was one girl in particular who had a pretty decent voice that I felt was a better actor, but I might be reading too much into it. We were done by 9:20 and the director said he should let us know something by tomorrow, or Saturday afternoon at the latest.

No matter what happens I am glad that I gave it a shot! You will all know as soon as I know something, promise!!

I am your callaback girl!

Okay, I was trying to be cool there, and tie in a little Gwen Stefani....Hollaback girl...

it didn't work.

Anyways, I got a call yesterday from the assistant director of "Zombie Prom" (I love saying that name) and they want me to come back for the callback tomorrow evening at 7:30! Woohoo! and yikes! =)

I'll keep everyone posted on how it goes.

Now I better go shower...meeting Jenn at Chikfila for lunch in less than an hour!

Braaaaiiinnnsssss!!!!

So, today I have been posting mysterious Facebook status updates. They were the following (and I quote):
"Shawna is trying to decide..."
"Shawna is leaning towards yes, for those who were wondering. And if I do this thing, I promise I will blog about it later"
"Shawna is halfway through the thing she was deliberating earlier. Moo"

So, what was all this mysteriousness about? Is mysteriousness even a word? Why is my blog today labeled "Braaaiinnnss!". Well, my friends, the wait is over What I was trying to decide to do tonight was try out for a musical. I haven't tried out for a musical since....senior year in college? (1999 if anyone is keeping track). I figured 10 years was long enough to keep Shawna away from her first love! MUSIC THEATRE!! (w/an re). So not only did I try out for a musical, but it's a musical with an awesome title. "Zombie Prom". Yes, you read that right. "Zombie Prom". How amazing is that?!?!? Anyone who knows me verrry well knows that I really enjoy zombie movies, especially "Shaun of the Dead". I don't know why I like them..they creep me out just as much as anyone else, but I just like them. I even managed to use Shaun of the Dead as a subject of study in grad school. Isn't grad school great when you get to write about zombie movies?!?! So, this afternoon I called my fellow music theatre friend, Sarah, to see if she would go audition with me, and she said she'd go for moral support, but wasn't sure about the trying out part. She came over for dinner and I managed to convince her to just give it a shot! So, we both did it, I was very proud of us. I sang part of "Baby, I'm Yours" and she did "Chapel of Love". The audition notice called for a doo wop type song or something from like Little Shop of Horrors, Hairspray, etc. Here is the synopsis of the musical, btw so you know what the haps are: (this is from ltvb.com)
About the show:
This girl-loves-ghoul rock ’n roll Off-Broadway musical is set in the atomic 1950s at Enrico Fermi High, where the law is laid down by a zany, tyrannical principal. Pretty senior Toffee has fallen for the class bad boy. Family pressure forces her to end the romance, and he charges off on his motorcycle to the nuclear waste dump. He returns “glowing” and determined to reclaim Toffee's heart. He still wants to graduate, but most of all he wants to take Toffee to the prom. The principal orders him to drop dead while a scandal reporter seizes on him as the freak du jour. History comes to his rescue while a tuneful selection of original songs in the style of 50s hits keeps the action rocking across the stage.

I auditioned specifically for this part: Miss Delilah Strict (30s-40s) - Basically she is Stalin in pumps and a dress. School Principal; icy and hard on the outside with a heart of gold. (Should have good comic timing - think Carol Burnett or Bette Midler)

There was another lady there who I believe was going for the same part, but I think I sang better than her (from what I could hear). Is that conceited? =) Her dancing was more 'in character' though, because I really am NOT a dancer..but I gave it a shot and that's all that they wanted to see.

So, I should hear tomorrow if I get a callback, which will be Thursday at 7:30, and then we'll know if we're cast by Friday. Eek! I hope I get something, at least. I really miss being in a show.

Thanks for sticking with me today on Facebook, I know it drove some of you crazy, but hey--that's what I love to do!! tee hee.

hey, why not...

My friend, Ainsley is giving away a piece of jewelry today and you get a second chance to win it if you post about it on your own blog, so here I am! The jewelry is very beautiful and available at an etsy shop, located here: http://www.etsy.com/shop.php?user_id=6711024. Check it out, and then wish me luck. This is the necklace I fell in love with:

It is official..

So I am writing this blog entry while I wait in my granny's car with my mom. We are waiting for her to come back with prescriptions for Pop. He had some surgery yesterday (please pray that the tumor is benign) and is at home now, napping. Actually, Mom is napping too, in the backseat. Anyways, it is official. I got the email this morning that my degree has been posted. Woohoo. My transcripts are in the mail and diploma will be on it's way soon. I can hardly believe it. I am excited, but also not. It's been tough trying to stay positive while job hunting in these uncertain times. The one thing I am certain of is that God has a plan. Where I fit in that plan is still tbd, but it's coming! I can feel it!

Oh, and I am still applying to the Ellen show almost every day. I hope that is where I end up!

Also, this was all typed on my iPhone. I love technology!!

Panera Day again

So maybe Tuesdays can be my Panera day....? I came last week, and now today..which is Tuesday. I think.

I came to my blog today to write all the crap I've been feeling for the last few weeks...because if a blog up on the worldwide interwebz can't be a cathartic place to write how crappy you've been feeling, then what can I ask you? But when I got here and set up my mac...the gentleman sitting across the way from me decided to involve me in his dialogue on politics and the economy and what did I think about it and blah blah blah...all because I have my 'I voted' sticker on my computer case. So, caught up in an unwilling dialogue, not wanting to be rude--I did subtly not quite pay attention to what he said hoping he'd take the hint, but people like that never do, do they? Anyways, I finally had to gently tell him that I was working on some things and really needed to concentrate. He acted a little bit hurt, but he went away....I'm thinking, hey it's not like I was the one that asked you over here! I am sure that he's just lonely and I should have maybe drawn him towards a discussion about God or something, but honestly I was just tired and didn't feel like it. Sorry, God.

So, instead of writing about how discouraged I am today you get this. I don't know what this is. But I think I'll list some things out that I've been thinking about/doing for the past few weeks:

1) I went to Lynchburg to hang with Shelah for a few days. We had an awesome time of just lazing around watching Psych and going to see movies (Bedtime Stories and Bolt) Love you Shels!

2) I went to see Slumdog Millionaire yesterday. I had wanted to see it before the Golden Globes, but didn't get a chance. After it won 4 I convinced Mom to go with me to see it. It was in a word, amazing. Go see it. Now.

3) I have applied for some more jobs...shocker...

4) So far I have not heard back from any jobs at all

5) Some of the jobs are in England

6) Yes, I'll be okay with moving there

7) I missed getting my application into the Ellen Show yesterday--I've been applying every weekday. I hope they don't hold it against me..missing a day and/or applying every day! lol

8) I need to write the lyrics for my song..and then figure out how to record it...and then do a music video to it..paging Dave Daniels...

9) I finally watched 'Commentary! The Musical" which is the musical commentary track on the Dr. Horrible DVD. I guess listened is a better description than 'watching'. The show is on, but the whole commentary is in musical form. I think the songs are even better than the ones in the original musical. The Whedon brothers are so creative!

10) I'm crushing on Neil Patrick Harris. he hosted SNL this weekend? Did you see it? He's great. Too bad he doesn't like girls...sigh. isnt' that always the problem?


That's about it. Crazy man is now on his 2nd victim (after me). I'm going to be leaving Panera soon...I've gotten enough out of my house today I think.and I have my church job tonight. yay

Oh, I read 1 Cor 8:37 today. well, that whole last part of the chapter really--and it helped me feel better about things! You should go read it.

Don't get me wrong...Tux is great but...

he is insane. It was like he woke up one day and was like..."hmm...i bet that thing that walks around on two legs would taste mighty fine in my kitty mouth. I think I'll take a few nips!"...Or, maybe it was something like.."wow, those two legged walking things really take their appendages for granted-I should attack them so they appreciate them more". These thoughts usually hit him around 10ish at night and 7am in the morning. Good times...sigh.

Here's a pic of his royal highness in mid-bite to give you an idea of how tasty my fingers appear to be.

Tales of the Unemployed...

That title makes this blog seem like something cooler than it really is. Or maybe it doesn't, or maybe I'm cooler than I think. Whatever it is, I was going stir crazy in my house today so I decided to shower (yay) and head out to my local panera (aka free wifi). That way I can still be connected and get things done, but be in the public...where people look at you. So, I've been looking at people, people watching I guess you could say. The guy at the table cata-cornered from me moved b/c the people next to me (and behind him) are really loud. I have my iPod on though, so they're not bothering me. I thought the one lady was blind, but she just has really squinty eyes. Then there's another guy a few tables away that keeps taking his macbook (looks like a pro) with him every time he gets up. Relax, man..we're not ALL out to get you. Only some of us. Who am I kidding? I'd probably do the same. He just looked really funny carrying his open macbook (pro..? or NEW macbook?) with his panera plate and coffee mug. I should take all of these people observations and put them in a book or something one day. Or not. I came here to 'write', theoretically. There's that script that I started for a class that I've yet to finish. I think it could be good...and funny. It's hard to write funny. But, I don't know..I just don't think my talents lie in script writing...I can edit..but coming up with something original to say is really hard. Have you ever tried? A lot of the time for me it just comes out sounding like something I think Tina Fey has already said--and said funnier. So, yeah. This is day three of business days of unemployment. Well, besides my part time job at the church. I have that tonight, and tomorrow night. I keep applying all over the place..I know someone's gotta bite somewhere! I don't even care where. Speaking of, I need to get my daily application in to the Ellen show. It's only been two days in a row so they probably haven't noticed yet. I remain ever hopeful though! OKay...blogspot is acting weird..I better go. I have much more people watching to do..and 'script work'. right.

Late Night Musings...

I got a kitten. It probably wasn't the best decision financially at this time-but Tux has been a great distractor for my life issues. He's adorable and I can't imagine life without him. Here's a pic for everyone to enjoy!

Well, today was my first officially 'unemployed' day. I celebrated it in true style by sleeping in a little late, seeing a movie in the afternoon, and basically (with the exception of aforementioned trip to movies) spent the day in my pajamas. This is going to be really weird. With the holidays it was easy to just think of it as holiday time, but now it's January and people are heading back to work and I'm still flailing. I've applied all over the country (and one out of country-one guess as to where =) and just tonight have updated my monster.com account with a recent resume and cover letter. I've also decided that I'm going to apply to be an intern at the Ellen DeGeneres show like..every day. Seriously, I think she likes tenacious people and I've decided that the worst they can do is get a restraining order out against me! I applied once before, on a whim, while working on my Comp Exam. That was before the eliminated position day though. Now, it's for real and it's no holds barred. I will be relentless!

Speaking of Comp Exams, btw--I passed. And, I got an A and A- in my classes, respectively. All that remains is for the school to process my paperwork and my former coworkers to post my degree and send me the (golden) three final transcripts in the mail...and eventually my diploma...and it's official! That exclamation point is fake. I'm really not feeling it. I won't even walk until May, and really it's been kind of odd. Finding out about my job issues really took away a lot of the joy I was feeling about finally (finally) graduating. Maybe it'll come back when I see that transcript with Master of Arts written across the top.


I'll keep you posted on my job searches. I think I'll probably be either working for a temp agency and/or volunteering at a local Christian organization in the meantime. Plus I still have my church job. So, I'll still be as busy as I have always been, but now I can watch tv or read a book without any guilt!