Seconds

It doesn't take a year, a month, a week, a day or even a half hour to change your life. It only takes seconds for a doctor to tell you, you have cancer. Seconds for the man of your dreams to ask you the question that will make you his for eternity. Seconds to look at that tester to see if there's a line to tell you your going to become three. Seconds for your lover to tell you goodbye forever. The after effects of these mear seconds last lifetimes.

I Love Photos

I wish I could say I have a better camera, but I don't. A good camera is an investment and it's one I can't afford to make right now. I know what I would get...or at least I knew what I would get 2 years ago, but technology with gadgets like digital cameras, cell phones and computers changes so rapidly you can't keep up.
Anyway, a facebook friend recently posted some fun (might I even dare say "quirky") abstract like pictures of objects and it got me to thinking about photos I have previously taken and how I would like to take more. Unlike some people who dream up ideas about making photography their career, I do it for me. I'm just an all around creative person in general whose most creative passion lies in acting. I'll give you an example of why I say I like photography for me. Being creative, I also like to paint. Mind you, I'm not painting faces and stunning masterpieces, but fun colors in abstract pieces of work. I painted one such painting a few years ago in autumn colors of browns and oranges. That autumn I went out taking snap shots of the fall foliage. I'm a huge autumn fan!! Two of the photos I hung up on opposite side of my painting coming down my staircase in my townhome at the time. So when people were over and commented on the art in my home I could take great pride and say, "Thanks! I painted that myself and took those photos and had them framed."
My art work is MINE. Why have only others art work in your home. It is after all your home. And it can be whatever you feel comfortable with like metal art, wood carvings, sketches, poetry neatly printed on parchment paper and framed in the hall, etc.
Well, I'm going to share previous photos I have taken and then I hope to soon set out on a little Jenn adventure like I used to do with much more frequency and take some new snap shots to add to my portfolio.

Speaking of art work, I took a couple pictures of some of my favorite pieces at our local art gallery a few years back:

The latter photo, Lion, was constructed of pentelic marble in 325 B.C. in Greece. He guarded a cemetery in the countryside of Athens over 2,000 years ago. The Lion weighs in at 3,000 pounds! and it is approximated that he was carved in six months to a year. What I find truly fascinating is the incredible detail in the muscular structure of the statue. There are protruding vein lines and strong curved edges throughout his body. It's truly a magnificent piece. 

The previous photo is another favorite piece of mine that has an unknown name, but I tend to call it the fallen angels. The museum refers to this piece as Fall of the Rebel Angels, constructed sometime in the early 18th century. It is made of ivory. Again here, the detail is even more astonishing then that of the Lion. So intricate on such a small scale. I can't imagine the patience on the artist of this work. I also love that it tells a story, one every Christian is familiar with. It suggests a sense of "loosing ones faith", falling into damnation and struggling with temptation. 

These two pieces at my local museum are two extremely powerful creations. They both have been at the museum for quite a while and I always look forward to seeing them and studying them and learning more. 

I don't feel I need to justify my photos, but I will say I like the sense of both 

movement and being stationary in this photo taken during our local 

Oktoberfest celebration. 

I never paid close attention to what was actually happening in this statue

until I took this photo.

"Fading Time"

"White Switch"

"First Signs of Autumn"

"Small Town American Pride"

"Rear View"

Entertainment Update!

Ok, so I've mentioned a few times here that I am an actress and model. I love all things creative. I haven't done it in a while since I'm in a small apartment now, but I used to paint from time to time. Pretty abstract, I'm not good like that to paint faces and such, but it's fun and in the end I have something to show for it just for me.

Anyway, I know I mentioned my shows at the end of last year that all overlapped in some way. I was in hell week then performance of A Flea in Her Ear at a dinner theatre, while beginning blocking and being fitted for my costume for A Woman in Black that showed the weekend after 'Flea' closed and I also was starting read throughs and blocking of Farndales version of A Christmas Carol. Whew! What a crazy three months that was on top of working two jobs, walking in 3 runway shows, having numerous photo shoots, family events, breaking up with my boyfriend of 7 years!!! and moving days before Christmas!
And even then I only took a week and half break having auditioned for Premiere! prior to the holiday and being cast with blocking to begin right after New Years. Following Premiere's performances in February, I auditioned for and was cast in Dixie Swim Club as Jeri Neal, the nun turned mother, turned cougar.
I had a couple weeks rest with one of those weeks being spent on Lido Island off the coast of Sarasota, FL then I came back to one night a week rehearsals for just three short weeks prior to this Saturdays One Act performance over the course of the day during a towns Art Festival.
Also in the middle of this I spent a day filming the easiest parts of the short film, My Own Words, in a small town nearly 2 hours away. The rest of the film will be shot over a weekend in late June.
I had a shoot this past Sunday and the only other one I have scheduled so far is in mid-July so after stage acting this weekend and filming later this month, I don't have much else on my plate aside from work and family.
In a way it's bittersweet. I know I need a break. I haven't had a real break for a year and a half and I'll admit I've been slacking. I need to recharge and go back to acting with all the passion I do really have for the craft. Unfortunately for me, acting is a side gig, hobby, strict passion as I'm not currently making a living off of it. So it's easy to get burned out in general when you also have a full time job and other commitments. I've neglected seeing my family as much and so now is the time to visit with them.

In the fall there will be plenty of acting opportunities in local theatres and I'd like to be jazzed up for those.
I'll never quit acting altogether. It's my breath, it's my life, my soul and I'll always seek out opportunities to get on stage. I do wish it could be my living, but even if it's not I'll keep on performing. We do it because we love it!

Back From Vaca :(

So I went to the sunshine state...the one that kind of looks like a gun. Yes! Florida!
My Mama and I spent a glorious stress free week on an island in the Gulf of Mexico off the coast of Sarasota. We stayed in like a condo type deal, complete with a kitchen and living room. We did go more inland Sunday to visit family on Mother's Day. I brought a card and set it on Mom's purse before we left.

Victory! She teared up! That's the goal. Christmas, birthdays, etc it's a goal in our family to make mothers cry. It's the best feeling when you make your mother happy cry. You feel like, wow, she gives a shit about me. Maybe she was just kidding when she said I was the cause of all of her grey hairs.

Tuesday we went on a kayaking trip that I planned. It was the only activity, aside from the fam visit, that was planned ahead of time. I told Mom this was her Mother's Day gift, to which she replied rather unenthusiastically, "oh goodie". Guess what though? She loved it! Now I'll admit, at first we started off a little rough. I was in the back as I was the stronger paddler and we went in a tandem kayak. It was Mom's first time. She's never even canoed! So we kept going to the left. Then I would have to over compensate to the right. As a result I now have a scab that was previously a blister on my left thumb. I kind of lost it and started dropping F bombs. Finally we got more of a hang of it and really enjoyed the trip. We learned about the different kinds of mangrove trees, held sea creatures, and maneuvered through the mangrove tunnels complete with black crabs. (I'll post pics soon)
That was at 10am and we were done around 12:30 so we got in some beach time afterward. Oh yeah, wear SPF.

Ok, I totally got out of the blogging mood. I'll come back to this later. Something on my mind. Time to research.

Dermalogica: Clearing Mattifier Rescue

I really like this product from Dermalogica: Clearing Mattifier. I have oily skin (generally, sometimes it has dry areas, especially depending on the time of year) and I have had issues in the past with acne. Nothing real severe, but annoying all the same (as all pimps are). This product helped with both my acne and oily skin. I still may need to blot late in the day, but I so notice a difference if for some reason I get in a rush and forget to apply the mattifier before my make up. So anyway, there's my facial product shout out. I buy mine at Beauty Brands.


http://www.dermalogica.com/us/html/products/clearing-mattifier-48.html

It's a Fabulous Life

So much has happened since my last post.

A. I'm single for the first time in about a decade.
B. I closed one show - auditioned and was cast in another
C. I've been in 3 fashion runway shows
D. Had 2 photoshoots
E. I'm moving...starting today (get my keys in less than 2 hours)

Yes, it seems I've started a new chapter in my life. I didn't seek it out, but it has fallen into place that way and I'm not hatin' it.

I was a cast member of The Farndale Avenue Housing Estate Townswomen's Guild Dramatic Society's Production of A Christmas Carol, which closed the first weekend in December. I played Felicity, but as it was a 'play within a play', I had many other roles as well. One of the most fun and terrifying being The Ghost of Christmas Present. I stood on a rolling chair, of sorts, and was pushed out onto stage by a fellow cast member who was underneath my red cloak with me. My mom said she, along with the rest of the audience, laughed until the cried when I was rolled out on stage with a giant lump behind me. The other actor actually said the lines while I, being the visible one, mouthed along. It was a silly play and generated a ton of laughter. 


I auditioned for the role of Becky in Premier and was cast! Tuesday evening was our first read through and was it ever fun. This group of people are a second family for me. I love them dearly. Rehearsals will begin January 3rd and the show runs for two weekends in mid February. That should help keep me busy over the Valentine's Day-ness. 


In November I walked for Inner Hippie designs at the FARCU show. It was a little crazy, but a lot of fun. In fact, the second set of runway shows were in black light so I was sprayed and painted to reflect that light down the runway! 
This past Sunday, at the Hooligan Holiday Weekend festivities, I walked the runway for Bunker in two different fun and funky outfits. This event was very organized and not rushed. I met some great people and saw some others that I had previously worked with. 
Last night I walked for three different designers at the Faction Magazine V6 release party and holiday market. The designers were Arizona Trading Co., We Are Tribe and Donna's Dress Shop. For each look all of us models had our hair and makeup changed, but again this was very organized and not hurried at all. We also had a nice space to keep our things, change and get styled in. Jessie Artigue styled each of us and kept things running very smoothly. I loved having someone like Jessie there to keep us on track and make sure our looks were complete. Again, I met some incredible people and made some contacts. I can't wait to be a part of another show! Also, I checked out the magazine and it was fabulous. 


The sunday before Thanksgiving I had a photoshoot through House of Style. That morning I actually did a promo gig that was set up through them at the football stadium. Then on to the shoot! I got to wear some wonderful designs from Oblivion Clothing Design and from Jamilah Knight's collection. I shot with three photographers and then had a little impromptu shoot with the director of the shoot before heading home. 
A week ago I shot with Rick Davenport After Six Photography, whom I had met at a House of Style shoot over the summer and over 200 miles away from were I live, only to find out we live 20 miles from one another. Including that HOS I have shot with Rick three times. A friend of mine who was looking to start a portfolio and I shot with him shortly after our first meeting. I joked that we got in most of the holidays in this shoot as we covered Christmas, Valentine's Day and I shot wrapped in an American flag so you can guess which holiday we captured there. ;) 


Shortly, I will be signing my lease and picking up the keys to my new home. What a time to move, right before Christmas, but that's the way it worked out. I can't wait to decorate! No one can complain because I'm the only one living there. See - new chapter. 


XOXO

Coffee Break Bitch

May I take a moment to rant?

Good, thanks.

One of my bosses is a baby. He has to have everything done for him and what makes it worse is he's a procrastinator. He treats his wife, from what I can tell from phone conversations and when she's come in, like crap. He's always in a hurry to get off the phone with her even before he's picked up the receiver. "I'm working", he says. What he means is I'm on facebook, you tube looking up stupid videos to show my colleagues, going to the gym, eating, etc. I wonder how he is at home with her and their daughters. He puts things off and expects everyone else to run around in cramped time doing his bidding. He annoys me in these phases.

There is a woman in our office today, and not an old lady mind you, perhaps late 30's, who reeks!!! She has on the most hideous perfume and she has submerged herself in it!! I can't breathe. They left the conference room door open so when I took in some stuff, I closed the door. Procrastinator immediately went in said door and left it open thus emitting this hideous odor into the rest of the office. Would it look odd for me to suddenly get up and close it again?
I sort of understand old people not being able to smell nearly at all so they squirt way more than necessary their perfume/cologne (why a child, grandchild, super market clerk hasn't informed them of their stench is beyond me), but a younger woman??? And why hasn't her husband, children, co-workers complained to her that she not only wears too much perfume, but that the scent is in fact horrid!?!

That's it! I'm going to start informing people of their odor. It's for their own good and for man kinds good, for their noses at least. This stinky woman annoys me.

Another guy in our office who has no backbone and directs all of his calls to voicemail, washes his hands randomly. Some suggest he has OCD, but it's odder than that. After having used the restroom in which there is a perfectly working sink and paper towels he will head to the kitchen to wash his hands! Why? The soap is the same! Is it a difference of brown paper towels v kitchen paper towels? It's not just after the bathroom. He'll get up from his desk and go "rinse" his hands. I say rinse because he has no time to actually wash them as he's only running the faucet for a second. So I'm ruling out OCD and suggesting crazy. What he does sitting behind his desk that he feels he needs to "rinse" his hands suddenly, scares me. Psycho hand "rinser" annoys me.

I feel a little better now. My nose is still suffering however.