4/5/11 Food. Again.

I made dinner tonight with fancy mushrooms. I usually get just the regular white, button mushrooms, but the small size Portabello Mushrooms were the same price at the store so I bought those instead. They are so delicious. How exciting to have a meal that tastes a little more gourmet.

I am thankful for Portabello Mushrooms.

kk

4/4/11 From the Top

Today was round two at the PATA auditions. I did the "Actor's Who Move" audition and then my singing audition after. I'm glad I did the Actor's Who Move rather than the Dance call. It was a true dance call and I haven't danced in over a year since I've been in shows and stuff. I heard that people didn't do so well at that. Phew. Good choice. The Actors Who Move audition was more for people who would be dancing in musical theatre and that is definitely what I would be looking for. We did a dance to the music intro of the movie Austin Powers. It was really fun. Then, each group was going to be surprised by a piece of music that we had to imrpov dance to. I was terrified for this. What was I going to do if I got Country or Heavy Metal? Argh! Plus I was in the first group. Hooray for my Pink Panther surprise music. It was goofy and fun and I enjoyed that much better than what some of the other groups got. It was a good experience and I felt much better about dancing well in an Actors Who Move audition compared with a possible bombing in the Dancers Call.

I am thankful for my audition today.

kk

4/3/11 Time Flies

Today is the last day of Spring Break. I have gone on a gastronomical tour of Portland and eaten some delicious food. I think Torro Bravo was our favorite. Great food and great value. I have been able to be outside and inside. Though, mostly inside. :( Watched movies and relaxed. Tomorrow I start the grind again.

I am thankful for my Spring Break.

kk

4/2/11 Would You Like to Buy My Younger Sister?

Even though she tried to sell me at church when we were small, today is my older sister's birthday. She is very artistic and very creative. She is very smart and is successful. She was someone who always made me work hard is school since she did so well. She did well scholastically and the teacher's loved her. She played a lot of sports that made me want to try them when I went to junior high. She left a legacy behind that made me work really hard. I think she's smarter than me so I never did quite as well as her, but I did pretty good so I think the high standards she set for our family were good for me. Instead of being mad that all the teachers were excited to know that I was her younger sister and comparing me to her, I was hopeful that I would be liked just as much. I think I was. I don't think I was a teacher's pet specifically but I liked going to school and learning. I liked participating in class and having meaningful talks with the teachers. I was respectful and "mature for my age." How could they not like me too when we were both such good students? I was delighted to hear that my younger sister heard about how we both had been so great to have. I wonder if that sucked for her though. Being compared to two older siblings must be hard.

Barb is naturally talented in all things art. I think so at least. She can do anything and have it turn out amazingly. Her artistic talent is something I am jealous of. I can't draw at all. I'm pretty crafty I think. Give me directions and a picture of what it should look like and I can do a pretty good job of making it. But coming up with the idea is super hard for me. And actually even if I had a picture of something I was supposed to draw I don't think my hands would be able to copy it very well. I think I'm ok at stick figures. Rocks. Clouds. Actually I think I can draw palm trees. Jennifer Steele taught me in fifth grade and I can do those ok, but everything else is not so great. Kind of like a kindergartner. Oh well. I really want art to be a part of my life and I still continue to try and do artsy things. I think the ease at which she is able to do things makes me work hard at trying to improve. I know it will never come easy for me but I keep working at stuff. The one thing that is lame is that she doesn't do anything artsy for her work. Maybe she is satisfied with it being more of a hobby for her and that's great. Maybe I'm biased since I'm related, but I don't think so. I think she should be selling her stuff. Oh well. She still does a great job.

I am thankful for Barb.

kk

4/1/11 A Room With a View

Today I went on the first of three auditions for PATA, the Portland Area Theatre Alliance. People go into a room filled with directors and artistic directors from around town and show their stuff. This isn't an audition for any specific show or theatre company, but rather a way to "introduce" yourself. A person has 2 minutes to deliver two contrasting monologues. It amounts to something like six sentences per. It is really not very much time. It is very stressful and a bit overwhelming. But I went today and hope that it went well. We'll just have to see. Even though it is stressful and seems to be a nebulous situation it is nice that there is this kind of opportunity in town. Twenty directors seeing you all at once.

I am thankful for my opportunity at PATAs.

kk

3/31/11 Signed, Sealed, Delivered

Taxes are done and Federal have been mailed. Happy to be getting a return. I will hold on to my State until the last minute since I owe them. This gives more time for the Federal return to come through and more time for me to continue to earn interest on what I owe.

I am thankful I am done with my taxes!

kk

3/30/11 Wow!

First time. My first Leverage audition I got a callback. There were only about 4 or 5 of us women calledback so I feel pretty good about making it this far. And getting calledback on your first one is pretty impressive. It was terrifying. They are all business in that room, which is fine, but not what I was expecting. And after we had read the scene the director asked if I was fluent and could ad lib stuff. I said yes, depending on what it was. He said it was more of the same and then barreled on to how he'd seen enough. I was wondering if I'd said the wrong thing because now I was second guessing my response. I'll just have to wait and see.

I am thankful I got a callback.

kk

3/29/11 French Woman

It pays to have taken so many languages. Today I had an audition for Leverage, the show on TNT that films here in Portland. I had to translate my lines into French and then audition that way. I'm not sure why they didn't just five us the lines already translated. Shouldn't the writers figure that out. well, anyway I did it and I think I did ok. It was my first audition for Leverage and I hope I either book this or get called in for another episode later. They were looking for a 1940's delicate, fragile, fluent French speaker. I am not quite 1940's delicate and fragile, and I am not fluent. I can translate it and I sound ok, but a friend of mine was also there and she fits the look I think and was a French major in college. So if she gets it, I won't have any hard feelings. Tomorrow and Thursday are callbacks so we'll see what happens.

I am thankful for my Leverage audition today.

kk

3/28/11 Popcorn and a pop cost how much?

Movies are insanely expensive now. Not only are the ticket prices high but the cost of the food stuffs is exorbitant. Wow, I sound old. But for two of us to go it is like 40 bucks. Ridiculous. The movies themselves aren't that great either. Definitely not $40 worth. But the experience of going is fun.

I am thankful for movies. Now if I could only be in one...

kk

3/27/11 Visitors from above

Not like aliens above, but Seattle above. My very dear friends Jennifer Steele and Caroline Howe, now Toy, from high school and their husbands drove down from Seattle for a date weekend to come and watch my show. They came last night and today we all went for brunch at Papa Hyden's before my matinee. Jason was able to come to brunch too and we all had such a good time eating delicious food and visiting. I miss them. I wish they lived here. I am trying to convince them but for now they have small children and free childcare from happy grandparents so I think I'm not going to win any time soon. I still try to come up with plans so if you have any good ideas, let me know.

I am so thankful that I was able to have a delicious brunch and such a good time with friends who came to visit.

kk

3/26/11 Show me your range

Commercial auditions are a bit ludicrous. I am so thankful to be going on them and please Dennis, still send me out on them, but they are ridiculous. Today I said "Johnny, why didn't you cover your mouth?" I was asked to say it in a number of ways to "show my range." Whew, that's some acting. How do I show my range with that? The other day I got to say. "I want my rewards card. I want my fuel discount. I'm filling up a(n) ____ gas station." I forget the name of the place even. But it cracks me up every time when he says "ok, now say it a different way to show your range." I'll keep trying. Hopefully I land one of these auditions one of these times. And then I'm ready for the snowball.

I am thankful for the commercial auditions I have been going on and I hope I book one soon!

kk

3/25/11 Anchovies

I don't necessarily want them on my pizza but they are very good in Caesar Salad. I went to the Paragon restaurant once and my salad came with a little anchovy right on the top. Reminds me of how I used to eat sardines out of the can with my dad. I think it totally grossed out my mom. I haven't had one in ages. I can't actually remember the last time I've eaten one. I wonder if I would still like it. I did like the anchovy on my salad. I might. Hmmm. Anyway I don't want a salad that is too strong fishy taste, which many anchovies are, but with just the right amount it is super delicious. I would probably eat a Caesar Salad everyday if I could. But then I may not like them very much because they wouldn't be special and may become very mundane. So perhaps I will not eat them everyday. I will make sure to enjoy them when I have them. Hopefully it will be again soon.

I am thankful for Caesar Salads.

kk

3/24/11 Here's what's delicious:

Chocolate with hazelnuts.

I am thankful for hazelnuts surrounded by delicious chocolate.

kk

3/23/11 Holden Vespers

Today I went to the Lenten evening service, The website for the church said 7:30. I guess that was the time last year. It is now 7:15 so Jason and I were late. Actually there ended up only being about 5 minutes left. Their pastor is out of town so they didn't have a message for the evening, they just sang straight through. I was so sad because I really like the Holden Vespers. They are my favorite and I make an extra effort to go to Wednesday night services during Lent because I like them so much. Oh well, there's always next week. The people there were very nice and I was very glad that Jason went with me.

I am thankful for Holden Vespers

kk

3/22/11 Dr. Hazard

Perhaps a scary name, but my dentist is the best. She always compliments my teeth and tells me what a good job I am doing taking care of them. And the hygienist did such a nice job cleaning them. I love going to the dentist and getting my teeth cleaned.

I am thankful for my nice clean teeth.

kk

3/21/11 Day One

So what to do on my first day of break. Jason and I were able to find stuff to do for most of the morning and early afternoon and then we were like "Now what?" Plus it was cold outside so we didn't want to do anything in the icky weather. I had heard about a place you can rent hot tubs by the hour from a few different friends at a few different times. I always thought it sounded totally gross even though they assured me it wasn't. Well, today was the day I did some more research. When I get so cold in my core there is nothing that really warms me up other than being submerged in hot water. I've taken hot showers before and they just aren't enough. So I found Portland Tub and Tan online and read about what they had to offer. Today was definitely a hot tub day and I don't own one. They have a frequently asked questions section on their website. It seems they are often asked about the cleanliness of their tubs. Other people think it may be skeezy too. They have some crazy amazing filter that provides the tub with completely newly filtered water every 17 minutes. If you go in before 6 you get $5 off the hour. So for only 40 bucks we went to the little bit fancier room and warmed up. They have around 100 different music stations to listen to, a tv, a bathroom, shower, and "resting bench" in each room. They also have a shower and a mister over the tub so you can cool off. Our tub wasn't quite hot enough but it was a good experience so I am sure I will go back at some point. They have outdoor tubs with fireplaces too and it seems like that might be fun for a group of people.

I am thankful that I gave the hourly rental at Portland Tub and Tan a try. I had a good experience.

kk

3/20/11 Good Conversation

Today I had a double header. Matinee performance at 2pm and then an evening performance at 7pm. We were not being fed in between shows so I went with a fellow castmate, Elizabeth Young, for dinner at Noah's Bagels. We had some good food and I had a great time talking to her and getting to know her better. I found it quite funny that we were there with our stage cake make-up on. I think we both had our false eyelashes on too. We must look like streetwalkers out in the real world. But at least there are two of us. And we were wearing normal clothes so I am hoping that people don't think we actually wear that much make-up everyday.

I am thankful for my time with Liz today.

kk

3/19/11 Opening Day

Today was the opening day of the Farmer's Market on the park blocks at PSU. Jason and I took the max into town and walked around looking at the different vendors and their wares. We had some Chicago style pizza, a crepe with nutella, some horrible coffee and hot chocolate. We watched kids run around in circles, listened to a didgeridoo player, and then walked down to the Saturday Market and looked at stuff there. It was a great day.

I am thankful for the Farmer's Market and their fresh produce. I can't wait to come down here again and then make some kind of fabulous food.

kk

3/18/11 That's it

Today was the last day of school for the quarter! All the finals have been taken and proctored. I've been excused for a two week Spring Break. I am very much looking forward to taking some time off, catching up with people I haven't been able to see since I've been busy with work and the show, and relaxing. Spring Break's Gastronomical Tour awaits!

I am thankful today was the last day of the quarter.

kk

3/17/11 Hooray!

A break in the weather meant I was able to go spend some time out in the garden weeding. I am tired of rain. I don't mind it most of the time, but come on already Portland!

I am thankful for my time outside today.

kk

3/16/11 Revelations

Date night with Erin found me at the Alvin Ailey dance company performance in downtown Portland. They were amazing and their performance of Revelations was amazing. I've seen it on video but it isn't the same as live. We had plans on getting dinner which wasn't able to happen tonight since Erin had a callback but we still got to go to the show. It was my Christmas present from her and I am glad that I got to go. What a great gift.

I am thankful for being able to attend the performance tonight.

kk

3/15/11 Here!

I was planning on driving to Newport today to visit Jason while he is there for work. But that ended up not being able to work out so instead of taking today off from work as originally planned and working crazy long hours the rest of this week I decided to go in. It was a good day to go in too since we are celebrating. Finals week means food buffet. Yum. Today we celebrated Irene, Katie and Sarah. Irene and Katie are a year older and Sarah will be leaving us and moving across country for school.

I am thankful for all three of them.

kk

3/14/11 April 15th

My taxes have become a nightmare. Last year I was working on them with my mom until something like midnight on the 14th. It was horrible. This year was still hard but I've been able to tackle it earlier and my mom has agreed to help me again this year. It was still a 3-hour long process to complete most of it. Then I had to come home to find missing information and finish filling them out. However, I am getting smarter this year and explaining where all these random numbers are coming from. Last year it took us forever to figure out what went where. This year was a little better and I am expecting next year to go smoothly. It only took me three years to learn... But with a job in Washington that doesn't take out Oregon State Income Taxes, working for two different Sign Language Interpreting Agencies, and Acting, it takes a lot of forms and figuring out. Luckily I wasn't alone in trying to figure everything out. Thank you mom!

I am thankful for my mom helping me navigate the confusing-ness that is my taxes and helping me!

kk

3/13/11 Groupon

About six months ago I purchased a groupon. Today I cashed it in. I went to Elements Glass in Northwest Portland and spent about a half an hour blowing glass with a professional. I made a glass float. Like the kind found on the beach. Mine is not perfectly spherical. It has a little oblong-ness to it. I have always wanted to take classes. I have looked into them several times. They are very expensive. But today I got to play around for very inexpensively. I had fun and I am thinking about going in again around Easter to make an egg. Then fall brings a pumpkin making class. That would be fun. I could really get into this...

I am thankful for my experience today blowing glass and hope to do some more in the future.

kk

3/12/11 Honey-do list

Yay Steve Stoll! Renee and Steve came down today to take a look at some projects I have around my house. Apparently Steve really enjoys projects and tinkering and there are no more to be had at their house. Unless he were to add a second story and Renee has said no to that so far. I have some small things that need to be done and I don't know how to do them so they are going to come down and help me do them. Today was fix the leak in the flashing around the chimney that rains in the garage. What an easy fix. But it required getting on the roof, knowing what to look for and then using tar to seal the nail holes. Simple. It didn't take too long and now my garage will be dry and I don't have to worry about the wood in the roof rotting.

I am thankful for Steve Stoll who fixed my roof leak and will come down and help me with more projects soon!

kk

3/11/11 Here we go!

Tonight is opening night. After six weeks, we've made it. I love the excitement of opening night. It is fun to finally have an audience. Well, I suppose we had audiences the last two nights during dress rehearsal but this is an actual paying audience so it is always a little different. I am glad that we have made it this far with such success. We haven't had any major problems that have come up that make it worrisome to open tonight. No big set or costume changes that haven't made it and "we'll just hope it works tonight". Phew. I am having a lot of fun with this show and I hope that it is well received.

I am thankful for great opening nights.

kk

3/10/11 20 years

When I did my first play in junior high, we were required to bring in a button up make-up shirt. We didn't have anything like that at home so my grandpa gave me one of his old work shirts. I have had it ever since and worn it to put on make-up for every show I've done. It is getting very thin and the cuffs are starting to come off. They are barely holding on. I am missing two buttons. There are lots of safety pins holding it together. But I wouldn't trade it in for anything. It is as close to a good luck charm I have I guess. I really like the idea of having it and it makes me smile when I wear it.

I am thankful for my make-up shirt.

kk