6/15/11 Yee-Haw!

I got my official letter in the mail from GMAC today congratulating me on my modification becoming permanent. Now, they only gave me a few days to sign the paperwork, get it notarized, and return certified funds, but with the help of my mom and the bookstore at school I will be able to get it done!! It is finals week at school and I am tied to the office. Luckily, the bookstore will notarize so I can go there on my lunch. All banks will be closed when I am available so mom is going to get the certified funds for me on her lunch. And then I shall go to fed ex the next morning and overnight it. So big hip hip hooray!

I am thankful for my modification becoming permanent!

kk

6/14/11 Back and Forth

Swings are great. I'm glad that I live by several parks that have them available for my use. I find them calming and relaxing when I'm sad. But not too high because I get scared. Just nice and easy. Maybe its the rhythm of it. Maybe its the rocking motion of the back and forth the same way that people try to sooth babies. Who knows. Although I did not need them for this purpose tonight, it was still fun to go on them.

I am thankful for swings.

kk

6/13/11 Annie go Get it

I was not cast in Annie Get Your Gun. I found out last Wednesday that it had been cast and I was not one of the cast members. I was very sad. I felt that I had done well, and it was a production, and a production team, I really wanted to be involved with. I thanked the director for his feedback, wished him the best, and expressed my desire to be involved with him and this show and said if anything happened with any of the other cast members I would still be interested in working with him. I'm not sure what transpired but I got a call today offering me a role! I'm not sure exactly how it is working in but I am delighted to have the opportunity to work with Ron again. Jason had gone in to read earlier this evening and Ron called him offering him a role before asking him to pass the phone off to me. So we will be in the show together! It is very exciting. I am ready to work my butt off as promised. Then we had delicious Caesar Salad and pizza at Apizza Scholls! What a great night.

This was especially nice since I started off the evening breaking down on the phone with Jason. I have been a little overwhelmed with the news from this weekend, being at school for the first time with everyone since we heard the news, trying to figure out all the work I have to do and trying to figure out when to do it. Jason called with great news about a possibility of a big commercial shoot. The only problem was that it might fall on out camping dates. Which we worked really hard to coordinate. So even though it was great news and I was happy I was also disappointed. Even though I know that will be our lives as professional actors and I can think about alternatives rationally later, at the time I couldn't handle it. I was supposed to go to the Drammy's tonight, an awards ceremony honoring local theatre talent, and couldn't muscle the attitude to go. I didn't want to have to try to put on a happy face and go to a party. So instead Jason and Ethan came and cheered me up. Which they did. And then Ron called. And then we had good food. So today ended well after all.

I am thankful for being cast in Annie Get Your Gun for this fall

kk

6/12/11 Alex Montoya

Today I received a call from my boss informing me that our dean, Alex Montoya, was killed in a tragic auto accident yesterday afternoon. It was a fluke accident and is very devastating. I just saw him at Spring Thing on Friday. He was across the way eating while I was standing in line for food so I didn't say anything to him and didn't see him later. Now I wish I had said Hello. It wouldn't have changed anything I suppose. But I really liked him and feel badly that I didn't get a chance to talk to him. It is a shock for everyone and we are all trying to figure out how to deal with the news. He has four children and his twins were just born 6 months ago. His oldest daughter is 16; his oldest son is 13. He was very involved with the students here and was a coach for one of the local sports leagues. He was dedicated to learning and higher education and very involved and supportive of all the students he came in contact with. This loss is having a huge effect on our campus and will for the community as well. I pray for his family.

I am thankful I knew Alex.

kk

6/11/11 Spreading My Wings

Today was my first solo shift at VRS. I had two phone calls that lasted quite a long time each so the shift just flew by. I feel good about the work I did and am thinking this is going to work out great. Phew.

I am thankful my shift went well today! I've been so nervous. (For years!)

kk

6/10/11 Spring Thing

Today is the annual Spring Thing celebration on campus. Katie and I don't work today and we both came special just for the day and met up with Laura. Although it was disappointing that there were no airbrush tattoos this year. We look forward to that. We had pulled pork sandwiches with macaroni cheese and salad. Fruit snacks were for dessert, followed by ice cream bars. I went down the blow up slide and we listened to the steel drum band. And we got our pictures taken in the photo booth. I did not ride the mechanical bull this year or do the rock climbing. Laura and Katie didn't want to do the bungee racing or the obstacle course with me so we just watched people. It is a fun day. Really it's the reason I work here, if the truth must be known. :)

I am thankful for Spring Thing.

kk

6/9/11 No More Rings

Today is the last day of classes! I took down the final ring on my chain. Now all that is left is finals week. I know I can make it to the end of the term now. I see the light at the end of the tunnel.

I am thankful that today was my last day of classes!

kk

6/8/11 Brasserie

Jason and I are very excited that Ethan arrives tomorrow. We know that we will be spending a lot of time with him and therefore, tonight was date night. Go somewhere fancy, somewhere that takes time to eat, and somewhere that isn't necessarily kid-friendly. We went to the French restaurant downtown. I had a very good fish dish. Although it came out with the head on the plate. This is very fancy, in case you didn't know. But it does make it a little harder to look at. When I was in Roatan I had a whole fish dish at the restaurant off the hotel that had the head still attached. It was the first time. It was very exotic at the time. Not that it isn't now. But it was a surprise to me then and I think that helped me feel better about it this time. You definitely have to get past the eyes and gaping mouth looking at you. But it was still delicious. Light and tasty. Both of them were. We had some desserts from Papa Hayden's and called it a night. It will be our last dinners that require several hours for the summer.

I am thankful for our fun date night.

kk

6/7/11 They're Going to Let Me Loose Now

Today was the last day of VRS training. Man, it was a lot of information. I took some calls this morning. They surprised us with that which I did not like. But I did ok. I took some calls solo this afternoon and I feel good about how I did. I know where my panic bell is at and how to call for a team so I feel confident going forward. Ask me how I feel about that later though. :)

I am thankful to be done with training.

kk

6/6/11 Sage!

I had the outside of my house painted and today it is finished! It looks great. So much better than the brown and tan it used to be. It is now Sage Green with Cream trim and a Burgundy Red door. Very exciting! I am really happy that the house is becoming something more of a home than just a structure I reside at. I'm working at the inside paint and the outside flower beds. To have to outside painted really helps the whole thing look like new.

I am thankful for my exterior house painting project being completed today!

kk

6/5/11 To Market, To Market

During lunch today I went to the Vancouver Farmer's Market and had some fish and chips. I looked at some beautifully arranged flowers and sampled some wares. It was fun to walk down the row and see all the different things available. It is obviously time for asparagus. They were everywhere in big pretty green bunches. It was fun to see the different people working there as well as walking around. I think next time I shall have to try the miniature doughnuts.

I am thankful for the Vancouver Farmer's Market for lunch today.

kk

6/4/11 Sunscreen

Today is beautiful. Actually this whole weekend is supposed to be lovely. I will be inside for 8-hour training days instead. Sigh. But at least I did get to spend lunch outside today. I sat in the sun and soaked up some rays. It was very nice.

I am thankful i was able to enjoy the sun on my lunch break today.

kk

6/3/11 A Positive for Vancouver

I have a new job in Vancouver. I have to pay for parking now. Parking on the street is $.50 an hour! In Portland it is $1.60. At fifty cents it almost feels like parking for free! That is one thing that does make Vancouver rock.

I am thankful for the street parking prices in Vancouver.

kk

6/2/11 Thank You for Staring

Today during class I got the hiccups. It is hard trying to voice for the student and trying to alter it in a way that you can try to hide your hiccups. Having the hiccups makes you very noticeable and makes what you are saying about you, not about the student. It was very hard and mostly unsuccessful. Students in the class as well as the instructor made comments about it and tried to tell me different ways to get them to stop. Can we all just move along please? I actually like the hiccups myself, though. I haven't had them for hours, months, or years. I think if I was one of those people in the Guinness Book of World Records I would go crazy. But I think they are funny and so they make me laugh.

I am thankful for hiccups.

kk

6/1/11 Please Sir, May I Have Some More

There is nothing better than good leftovers. You don't have to prepare anything. Fantasticness!

I am thankful for leftovers.

kk

5/31/11 Pixar

Today I watched the movie "Up" for the first time. What a great movie. I've wanted to see it but it just hasn't worked out. I've heard only good things about it. People loved it. Usually there ends up being so much hype that when I actually see the movie I am disappointed. Well, this movie was great. I'm glad that it didn't let me down after coming in with high expectations.

I am thankful for the movie "Up."

kk

5/30/11 Picnics

Today mom, Erika, and Scott came over to have a Memorial Day lunch on my back deck. We enjoyed our delicious spread and each other's company. Scott had a lot of homework so it was nice that he was able to take a break and spend part of it with us.

Last summer Jason and I had a picnic at the top of Mt. Tabor as we watched a Shakespeare in the Park performance. We used the picnic basket Barb had gotten for me and sat out on the blanket with some Caprese Salad on bread and other yummy items.

I really like the idea of eating outside in the summer in a park on a blanket. Picking up fried chicken or making sandwiches. I'd like to do that more. Now if only the weather would cooperate...

I am thankful for picnics.

kk

5/29/11 Holiday

I am happy to say that although today is Sunday, I do not have work tomorrow.

I am thankful for long holiday weekends.

kk

5/28/11 Le Petit Provence

Croissants are hard to make right. Anything that you buy from Fred Meyer or Safeway are hard to even choke down. But when made right, they are so delicious. The French restaurant and bakery by my house knows the secret for sure. They have good pastries and bread and especially croissants. I am sure they are terrible for me but they taste so good!

I am thankful for good croissants.

kk

5/27/11 Cxld - Billable

Glorious! I had several freelance jobs lined up for today. My first two ended up being cancelled this morning. Since I now didn't have anything until the afternoon I was able to walk around downtown and have lunch with Jason. Pretty fantastic.

I am thankful for my surprise morning free that was spent doing something fun instead!

kk

5/26/11 Leah Yorkston

Today is Leah's, a fellow actor, birthday celebration. We met at Sky High! for some trampoline fun. I had never heard of it but it was super fun. A giant warehouse full of trampolines. Including a place to jump off the walls. I had a great time and think I shall have to bring Jason and Ethan here...

I am thankful for my fun evening at Sky High!

kk

5/25/11 Today's the Day

Tonight I had my callback. I felt really good about the dance combination and my singing. We'll see what happens.

I am thankful for my callback.

kk

5/24/11 So Quiet

I love newly paved roads. They are so smooth. They just redid the part of the highway that goes from 205 to 14 in Washington. It sure makes that section nice to drive. I always get excited about newly paved sections of road. I think others find me weird but it really is very nice.

I am thankful for newly paved roads. So nice.

kk

5/23/11 Party Hearty

Tonight was the party for all the people who had been involved in shows at A.R.T this season. Jason had worked on "Superior Doughnuts" so we went tonight and mingled with some great actors and fellow people in the biz. I had a lovely time seeing people I knew, meeting new ones, and eating food. Who wouldn't like eating free, delicious food? It was a good night all around.

I am thankful for being able to attend the season party tonight for A.R.T.

kk

5/22/11 You never know

I did not feel prepared for my Acting on Film class tonight at all. I hadn't memorized my lines yet and hadn't had much of a chance to even look over the script. I didn't want to go but I am in 2 out of 3 scenes and I had people depending on me being there. So I went. I ended up having a super great class. I felt like I did really well and was able to get into character and remember my lines more than I thought I would. I think having my costumes really helped me. It was nice to be able to feel good about my work especially after going into it not really feeling that great about the suspected outcome.

I am thankful for my work tonight in class.

kk

5/21/11 That was fast!

I had an audition today that I felt really good about. Immediately after I sang I was asked to come to callbacks this coming week. Hooray! It is always nice to have such a fast response.

I am thankful for being called back.

kk

5/20/11 Flash Mob

Today I had the fantastic opportunity of performing in a Flash Mob. I have always wanted to do one since I saw the first one on You Tube several years ago. For those of you who are not familiar, a Flash Mob is a group of people that blend in to an event as normal participators. They have all learned choreography and at some random point a person will start dancing. Slowly but surely more and more people join in until there is a big dance group performing in the middle of a train station, in the mall, at a company meeting, etc. It is much fun.

Today Channel 12 was having a company meeting at a McMenamins to look at what they had produced over the last year and to announce the upcoming line-up for fall. In the middle of a video they were showing there were "technical problems" as it was trying to be fixed "Walking on Sunshine" started playing over the speakers and one of the waiters started dancing. Then he went over and tried to get someone from the audience to join. She refused to get up and then finally she joined in and magically she knew the choreography. Then more waiters joined in and then the rest of us came in from different entrances and surrounded the room in a fun dance. I think they really enjoyed it. I know all the participants had a super fun time. My dear friend Erin Shannon choreographed the dance and she did a great job. What a fun day!

I am thankful to have been able to participate in the Flash Mob today.

kk