Stupid money

I am an actor.  That is how I view myself, I have a high level of professional training in the field of theater, and many years of experience in both theater and film.  I love it.  Sadly, acting is a profession that very few people make much money doing. 

So I embark on a journey, a quest if you will.  To find a job that both pays the bills (I don't need a lot of money, just enough to get by) gives me the time to do theater, and makes me feel like I am doing something important.

I just applied for a job that would do just that, and I'm super qualified for the job.

I've been unemployed for about five months and I'm starting to get really disenchanted with the job market.  I know I am a good employee.  I am smart, well educated, and have some experience, but I'm not available 24 hours a day, I don't seem to have every single requirement that they are looking for.  It is starting to seem like employers are looking for "A purple dinosaur"  That perfect employee, and until they find them, no one else even gets a second look.

I want to get a job that allows me to use my skills, and makes me happy.  Is that so much to ask?

You're going to do WHAT now?

So I have come to the conclusion that I might be a little nuts.  Do not fear though, it's the good, creative kind of nuts.  =D  I am participating in this as well as doing a whole bunch of other stuff this summer.  Though I went to school for acting (yes, I know, INSANE) I have always liked telling stories.  I think it is why I decided to be an actor, it's another medium for storytelling.  So I am pushing myself to tell more stories, and it will help my writing skills if friends and I ever decide to create a web series.  So that's my crazy scheme.  This on top of:

• Two consecutive weekends of renaissance faire, in Tahoe, where I will be camping
• A job hunt, 'cause I can't live off unemployment forever
• Acting in Pride and Prejudice (Thank god I'm not the lead)
• Maintaining a full-time relationship with a very patient young man
• A Trip to Comic-Con (more later)
• Various sewing and crafting projects
• Did I mention a job hunt?
• Figuring out a plan for the marketing for said young man's webcomics, I get business cards (and yes that is going on my resume) plus I will get to put my work under the same banner, think art collective for comics, writing, films, and other wonderful stuff.  It is mighty exciting.
• MORE RENAISSANCE FAIRES!
• Quality time with family and friends (super important!!!)

I think I'm going to have a busy summer.  However I think I have found the silver lining to loosing the crappy retail job.  I now have the time, energy, and mental capacity to figure me out.  I am doing good.

You, Con-ho!

I'm writing this from Sacramento.  Yes you read that right, Sacramento.  I am at a comic and anime convention that the boyfriend is showcasing his comics at. We were at image expo in Oakland last "weekend so I've been up to my eyeballs in nerddom.

The differences in nerds from comic nerds to anime nerds is palpable. Comic nerds are far less likely to dress up as their favorite characters. The anime crowd also seems to be younger. There are so many more teenagers here than at image. I am Mindoro saddened that these kids are not reading comic but I think they will get there eventually.  I am however thrilled that kids are coming out and supporting small comics.

So if you're in Sacramento today come out and support your local nerds and help save me from the fanboys.

Adventures in Agriculture

I live in San Francisco.  I am surrounded by cement on a daily basis.  This clashes greatly with my desire to eat food that was grown locally, is in season and is (hopefully) organic.  I grew up very lucky in that my mother made sure the produce we were eating was as fresh as possible.

I started looking into community gardens, but was saddend to discover most of the fruits and veggies I want to eat will not grow in this part of my fair city.  Stupid fog...

Some of my friends have had very good experiences with CSA boxes (community supported agriculture) that are delivered to their doors.  I looked into it, and most were too pricey for my budget.  However I managed to find one that I liked and signed up. Specifically this one.  I'm also pleased to find we can exclude things we know we are not going to eat, like mushrooms.

So far we have received two boxes chock full of organic produce grown relatively locally and I am very pleased.  There have been stir-frys, salads, the best zucchini I have had in years, and really tasty fruits.  However I have gotten a couple of things I don't know what to do with.  Like Persimmons.  I don't really eat them, Xander doesn't really eat them, and neither of us want them to go to waste.  So I have been searching the internet for recipes for stuff like Bok Choy and Arugula.  I found this website, (Potentially NSFW, no nudity, but possibly inappropriate) and it cracks me up, while broadening my dinner repertoire.

I have made some tasty, tasty things, sorry there are no pictures, we ate before photography could happen.  :) If anyone has any recipes they recommend, comment or e-mail.

Note: I have not been compensated in any way by Farm Fresh to You, I'm just pleased with their service.

Happy

I have been a little too negative lately so I'm going to try and change that.

Today I made waffles, they were delicious, and making them made me happy.  I'm watching the deleted scenes for Thor right now, they are awesome.  I live in one of the most vibrant cities in the world with my wonderful, supportive boyfriend and two of my very good friends. 

Change makes my a little uneasy and I know I can focus on the things that are bad, but I have to remember to see the good as well.

Oh and the waffles turned out REALLY good.

Rare Occurance

As I live in sunny California (Where it's always 72 and sunny) it is rare to have extreme weather.
 Granted I live near San Francisco, I put on a sweatshirt to go to the beach, but the unique climate makes it so our winters are generally pretty mild and our summers are warm,but not too hot, and rarely sticky.
That being said, the local weather casters are predicting the possibility of SNOW tonight around the Bay Area.  SNOW!!!  AT SEA LEVEL!!!  This California girl is VERY excited, though, I'm sick so I probably will sleep right through it. (Aided considerably, I'm sure by Ny-Quill)

Don't get me wrong, snow around here is not unheard of, but it usually limits itself to around 2000 feet, the local high elevations get an inch or so generally every year, but the last time it snowed at sea level here was 1978, my mom was in college.  This is a BIG DEAL.

However, if it does snow, the snow most likely won't stick, it hasn't been cold enough for that, and it probably will be less than an inch.  Still I'm excited.  I may have to drag my sad, sick butt out of bed at some unholy hour of the morn,but it will totally be worth it.

Plans

I have been really bad about posting, even though I told myself that I would post more this year.  I am about to change that my friends.

I have not been crafting a lot, but I recently purchased an XBox 360 so I have been playing more video games.  I just started playing Dragon Age Origins, and I LOVE IT!  It is an incredibly expansive and deep world, and I really can't get enough of it. 

I am teaching a friend of mine to knit, and I do have some sewing projects waiting in the wings.  There is hope on the crafting front.

In other news, I am officially out of bookshelf space, especially after I hit the store closing sale at the Borders on Union Square this Saturday.  For anyone who is not aware, Borders Books has filed for chapter 11, and they are closing a whole bunch of stores.  My friend Sam and I hit the sale on Saturday, and made out like bandits, the Sci-fi and graphic novels sections will never be the same.  : D

I have come to the realization that although I kindof like my job, and it pays well, I am not particularly happy in an office environment.  So today I took my first steps to find a better work environment for me, and I'm, with not too much hope, keeping my fingers crossed. I want this to go well, but I also don't want to get my hopes up.  If anything I knew I would kick myself for not trying, so I put my name out there.  Sorry if this is cryptic, I just don't want to give too many details.

My plans are in a state of shift, and I don't know what will happen, but I am looking forward to the journey.