Here's to the last of it

I can hear the neighbors in my grandmother's apartment complex whooping and having fun in the final remaining hours of 2008. The immediate neighbor is playing a piano, and gram is on the phone with an uncle who phoned earlier, just as we sat down to eat.

Man! Who'd a thought these senior citizens could make so much noise...or even stay up this late!

I walked to the little produce market this afternoon - it's just a few blocks away - to grab some things she needed, and wanted. Things she had been poo-pooing me not to worry about getting, but then would mention over and over again.

Let's hear it for manipulation tactics.

I guess she thought it would take me the better part of the year to get there and back, but it only took half an hour. About what I figured. I carried just under 14 lbs of apples, bananas, creamer, sweet potatoes, etc., but the fresh air felt good and so did really stretching my legs.

When I got back to the apartment building she was still sitting in the lobby yakking it up with a couple of the folks in her building. It was cute, in an odd way, to see that interaction...yet, somehow I felt supremely disconnected to the woman I was observing. I told her I was going to head upstairs to start dinner and she said, "No, I'm not hungry, and I am going to be here a while talking."

So, I headed upstairs to relax and warm up, put things away and settle in to watch an episode of CI that I had NEVER seen. Yippy! Hubba hubba.

It was 4pm when I sat down, and about 25 minutes later gram came through the door and began to peck about getting dinner in the oven. It wasn't going to take long, and all of a sudden I am getting nagged. Aaarrgh!! I wasn't about to argue with her, but I wasn't happy with her quick change.

We began eating dinner well before 5:30 and she made a crack about being done eating before the national evening news (which was hours away), and then about not eating at eight at night.

We have never eaten at eight. The second night we had dinner around seven, but that was because she was ambivalent about being hungry and when she wanted dinner.

"Hey, what are we mad about?" she asked.

I couldn't talk to her. I wasn't going to rehash...and I wasn't about to point out her demanding and silly 'argument'. Nor was I going to question her sudden change in insisting dinner be in the oven...right now, 'cuz it just wasn't worth it. But her little comment: "See, you could have been sitting here watching your show instead of being in the kitchen missing it," was smarmy.

I want to go home. I need to go home. I miss my sons, my bed, my cats, my routine, my computer. I miss the quiet and the lack of planes coming and going at all hours. I miss my bag of mint M&Ms and my wide comfy couch. I miss my 1/2% milk and a glass of orange juice, my cooking utensils and spices. I miss my sewing machine and stereo.

So, here's to the last of it. I love my grandmother, but I'm tired and I wanna go home.

See you next year.

The things we do for love

Sounds like the title of a song, doesn't it? If I'm not mistaken, it's ELO. Of course, once I am off of this site I will fact check that just to be certain.

After being here (in Livonia), sitting "duty" with Gram over the holidays, I have come to a decision (I think) about the whole PC versus Mac debate I have been running over and over again with my big mental bus.

For those of you unaware, I have been pondering the merits and downfalls of each machine as far as an investment in my future - and my needs. For those of you not wondering, the debate still rages...although I am much closer to making the decision and consequently making the purchase/investment. And yes, the PC seems to be the winner.

I think.

I have had the opportunity to use a Mac on numerous occasions and PCs, and I have to say I believe a PC is the wiser choice. For me. At this time.

Yes, Macs are the only thing capable of running Final Cut Pro (unless you have a mac clone), but I can live for the time being without working on FCP...maybe. I have learned Premiere CS3 and am now excited to get my hands on CS4 and delve deeper into that realm. Apply myself to also learning AfterEffects or (at the very least), getting my hands wet...up to the elbow; perfect and cement my skills before I get too rusty to be able to do myself any good.

Premiere is so like FCP that making the transition to using FCP in the future won't be tough, just a little cumbersome navigating the keyboard the first few times back in front of FCP and a Mac. Also, Avid is still used in many places (while FCP is not), so while Avid may be the "dinosaur" of editing suites - as Specs would have us all believe - I can't get my foot in the door without some of that software knowledge, too.

Besides, PCs are update-able and easier to modify. Also, they afford more user functionality over Macs with the software, while Macs are limiting in what can be done with the editing tools. And yes, I do know that Macs are not as prone to needing debugging if used online, unlike PCs, which seem to be susceptible to catching viruses and Macs are more (if not completely resistant) tp those types of troubles. So, I won't use the editing PC online. Easy-peasey. [washing hands]

Anybody have two cents to throw in?

But, let's get back to the whole idea of what it is we do for love.

I am grandma-sitting in order to relieve the aunts and uncles, so that they may enjoy a holiday or two. And as I have no job - and no prospects looming on the horizons - I was the perfect candidate.

I first arrived at Hacienda Adeline 7pm Christmas day, relieving Steve and Nancy; also meeting the newest second cousin in the Schaffer clan. He's a robust, attractive little monkey, and I think somewhere about 8 months or so in age. The parents seem pleased and completely unaware of what is to come.

Ah, I miss being a young naive parent.

Anyhow, my sons dropped me off and went back home, I busied myself with stowing my belongings in the room I was to occupy, and the departing visitors loaded their belongings into their autos. I acquainted myself with the routine for gram and where things were kept, etc., and made myself at home. Gram had a phone call or two from various children, a neighbor stopped by to check on her and they sat for quite a while visiting and watchimg TV. Finally the night drew to a close and gram headed off to bed. The next day and a half (right now) are going along pretty much the same way until Deb, Tom and Justin make it to town, relieving me for a very quick night and day.

Brian will pick me up late in the afternoon, and I have a bit to do before heading back here to finish out the holidays.

Stay tuned, I will update the comings and goings once or twice before year end.

Merry Christmas 2008!

That's it, pure and simple......

Merry Christmas to one and all!

Fa la la la la...la la la la!

Ah, it's snowing, again

I would be loving this, but we can't get out of the driveway.

Though, even if we could get out of the driveway, there's no guarantee about being able to get out of the sub - the streets are that bad off the mains. And the neighbors with friends who have snow plow blades...who block others in by pushing snow in front of drives that were hand-cleared...are crap heads. Yes, I said it...doody-brains! Take that, you thoughtless booger-mongering wingnut!

That's right, Moobs, I'm typing in your direction. I pointed out your inconsideration (and your doody-headed friend's error) when it happened, and all you would do was look at it and say, "Oh, uh sorry."

And did you call your friend back to right the wrong? No. Did you come over with a shovel or your handy dandy snow blower? NO! You just looked at it and walked away.

You'll get yours, you turkey squat.

That said, let me only add, aside from the misfortune of that episode, here comes that white Christmas everybody seems to dream so sweetly about.

Happy holidays and shovel that snow carefully. ;^)

Long lost mail from RTV 09-07

Well, good day!

A while back I wrote and asked what the RTV folks were up to...what was happening in [your] lives...where you were doing your thing...what four corners of the planet had we all flung ourselves off to? After a short wait I received some pretty great emails - some with news, some responses just to say "hi" - but a small sampling of the RTV-09-07 crew.

Since hearing of Ray's death, I thought I should take the opportunity to share the responses I did get, just in case you were as curious as I am about our classmates.

Jill Beitzel sent an incredibly detailed report of her goings-on, and included tidbits here and there of some others. I edited here and there to make the reading ABC (points if you can remember what that stood for):

HI BETHHHHHHH. Here's the scoop... I still have my internship at 106.7 the FOX but [edited - 'it isn't all I expected it to be']. I haven't been active with it for the majority of the summer because my dad is still in the hospital in California battling leukemia. There hasn't been much progress on the subject but hopefully soon. I'm in fact in Cali right now filling this out in a hospital room haha. Starting September 2nd I will be attending Madonna University going for my Bachelors in Arts. My major is Broadcast Cinema Arts and minoring in Journalism. It may take a little while to complete but that's my ultimate goal. I'm hoping a new internship will come out of that.

In case Matt Dlugokinski doesn't reply his butt moved to Israel!!!!!! He visited over the summer and decided he loved it so he moved there. He said it's only temporary though, and thinks he'll be back in a few months or so.

Bridget and I still talk often and she has an internship with 93.9 the River and I keep making plans with her but they never fall through, I'll take fault for that.

Brenden just text me the other day because he just got unlimited text messaging on his cell phone, we talked about meeting up sometime when I get back, he still has the same girlfriend he did when we graduated. I'm happy for him! I still talk to Mark and Ed as well, Mark is still with his gf Lisa and seems to be doing well, he keeps yelling at me to follow through with plans I make with them but they just live so far away.

Ed is still working at the bowling alley and keeping in touch with me. Nothing to newsy on his end I don't think but he'll probably respond to you, he's good at that.

Also another funny, slightly ironic story, my best friend Heidi... her boyfriend is Colin, well his family went on craigslist to find a dog, and they found a girl who was giving away her dog because she was moving and couldn't take care of her anymore. Well his parents met up with this girl and she told them how she just recently graduated from Specs Howard and moved to BFE (Cadillac, MI - if your catching where I'm going with this) to be an over-night producer for a tv station out there. Well Heidi gets back to me and asked me on the slight chance that out of the hundreds or thousands of students from Specs Howard, I just might know this girl. She tells me that her name is Sarah and that she has red hair. I thought there was no possible way but just for the hell of it, I logged onto Myspace and pulled up Sarah VanRaden's and as crazy as it was it was her haha she had pictures of the dog and everything. I thought it was pretty cool!

My sister is now attending Specs Howard and just got to the point where she's had enough of the Will Allen types haha. I'm sure you wish that I had much more to say, so you're brain can go into complete way-to-long-email overload haha, but I'm all out! I'm sure in a week I'll have more. It was great to hear from you though! XoXoXo! Love Ya! –Jill

It was wonderful to hear from you, Jill, and I hope you don't mind I included so little of your note. ;^) She did a great job segueing to the next several people, so without further ado, I give you Bridget Clarkson -

Hi Beth!! Sounds like your doing great getting your foot and nose right where you want to be! It is taking me a minute to get the ball rolling as well but it is rolling. My internship has just ended with Fox2 and that was unbelievably informative and fun. Ive gotten a good feel for what I really like and really want to get into. Im in the process of locating equiptment to create a new and improved 'shooters' demo so if you have any suggestions Id appreciate them. I visited Specs and they really didnt care so I wasnt able to get any ideas from them...or a copy of my last demo (can you believe DD didnt know where it was!) I went to Colorado at the beginning of the month for a wedding and made my rounds to all of the prospective newsrooms and landed an interview and ultimately a part time entry level stage directing/ equipment operator position with CW2 in Denver. I am very stoked. I am attempting to keep my position at FedEx since it pays the bills so the guy is working with me really well and I have a few months before I relocate and begin. Im a little nervous because I want to be doing something in the time I have before I go so I am trying to get involved.

I have become great friends with alot of the Fox people and have helped create a movie for the Detroit 48 hr film festival. You can check it out at youtube under motown showdown. Its the first one! I am not in it but for a split second as an extra but I was busy helping direct, running camera and due to crunch time I was pretty much just a spectator for the editing but it was fun. We placed second and I am hoping to get involved with more of those.

So lets see...I feel like all that has ended and I need to find something to keep me going for the few months I have before I leave and begin out there...so I am just networking and getting out some resumes- again let me know if you have any great ideas, you usually do. Sarah and I keep in very good touch. She probably will write you back as well but she is doing great. I think she gets a little lonely up there all alone sometimes but we are working to get her mixed in with her co-workers and such. She loves her job. Because of my affiliation with Fox we sometimes get to chat and work on the same packages. We try to meet up every couple of weeks or so.

I think I have covered all my bases and am so glad you reached out. Keep in touch I love hearing from you. Take Care Bridget

See! You people are amazing! I was so glad to hear from Bridget as well, and I did let her in on a few ideas for getting some equipment for another bunch of demo footage, but I never heard back as to whether she managed to score some camera time before heading home to CO. I certainly hope she did.

Both Jill and Bridget mentioned Sarah VR, and she wrote, too. Up next is the vivacious producer, Sarah VanRaden.

Hey Beth! Thanks for remembering what I was doing. Here's my update: I live in Cadillac where I'm producing the morning show for 9&10 News. It's called Michigan This Morning. Here's the link if you're interested: http://www.9and10news.com/mtm. I'm heading into my fourth month there. I work overnights, which I actually really like. Overall, I really love my job and I think it suits me perfectly. And congrats to you, lady! Anchoring the news?? Way to go! It sounds like you've been really busy. I would definitely like to see your show somehow, so when you find out how to show me, let me know. Bridget and I made a trip to Specs last Friday. I was really excited to see everyone...only when we got there all the professors blew us off! They were all standing there and only Jose said hi, and while he was talking to us the others ran away! Jerks, I tell ya. Oh well, I understand they go through a lot of students and probably didn't remember us. Oh, and if you ever want your demo tape be prepared because Double D said "they were buried somewhere and he couldn't get them." At first, he said "they were long gone." Then, he said they were buried under a bunch of boxes of junk in his office and said to come back the next week to get it. I guess it's easier for Bridget because she lives closer, but for us folk that live far away, that's bull! He told us he'd keep them for at least a year, right? It was just frustrating. Needlesstosay, I was very disappointed in Specs on Friday. So, I'm glad to hear things are going well for you and I hope they continue to! Stay in touch. Sarah

Thanks, Sarah, I have lots of time on my hands, so I will have to get back in touch soon. I did send her a quick set of questions back in October to prepare for a job I was sending a resume package out for, but never/haven't gotten a response, so I may try again some day. And no, I didn't get the job, either, but I did receive the fastest ever 'thanks - don't-call-us-we'll-call-you note as a way of answering my $12 postage investment. Grrr.

I heard from Scott M several times, every time I send him a note, I get something - even if it is a line or two. He let me know he was going on an interview for a prospective NON-intern job with WYCD...and guess what!? Nope, you're going to have to read it yourself:

Hey Bethany I got the job at WYCD, yea it took awhile but my first night of training was last night. I'll be board oping at wycd and their net station phyic radio so thats realy cool. I finnly cought up with you blog, I knew you did some stuff with wolf man mac, but I still never seen it, it's weird I don't know mac personly but I used go to creepy clyde shows back when i was in high school, not to mention we have a few mutal friends, like all them guys doing wolfman's comic yea I know all of them (i'm still such a geek) good ppl and artists we're all in the same comic geek club and I know Tony Miello was on an ep as a lounge singer and he's got that cast in his internet comic gapo the clown, right now. wow casting director for Ren Fest that must have been cool, I love going there. I'm thinking since I'm only working part time I'm gonna go back to school, as much as I'm scared to, I gotta admit I don't see a reason not to. I'm gonna wait like a month or to before i start setting things up for school though i wanna do some more research first, like what school should and can I go to. I Talked to Tishena last week, she's working in health care again and Pregant, like 6 months pregant well keep in touch Toodles, Scott

Keep in mind this was written back in the beginning of October, so he has been there over 2.5 months! Very cool! Congrats, Scott.

Last, but certainly not least, I heard from Charles Belau in September, and I had to dig through a lot of movie-related email to find it, but here it is...a word from Charles:

Hey Beth...its Charles, aka " Peach Schnapps", haha. finally read the message you sent out. i read your blog a little to...sorry to hear you had to leave the Midnight Sinama, my uncle was friends with all of them. but im working for the city of Romulus right now, hopeing for better things. what are you up to?

Thanks, Chuck.

Just a note, I regretted having to end the stint with Nightmare SINema, too, but it was necessary for my survival. I would go back in a heartbeat if the situation ever righted itself, and I had a spot to go to.

At any rate, that's the news from the RTV group. Aside from A little gossip I was passed about a month ago. It seems [sic: nobody important] has gone and gotten himself engaged! I certainly hope all the t's are crossed and i's are dotted, and that he knows this girl as well as he knows himself before the big day arrives. [NOTE: It appears as though the couple can't read or understand writing style versus interpretive style, so let me make this clear. This was a congratulatory announcement...NOTHING else. The phrasing regarding "i's and t's" was nothing more than a carry-over from a conversation we had in class one day regarding "...marrying again someday." Somebody is getting their panties in a bunch, and that's your problem...not mine. If I continue to get unsolicited email, it will be forwarded to the proper authorities and you will be dealt with from a legal aspect. And this includes email from "the couple" as well as any other source.]

Hope this satisfied your reading itch for the day, cuz this is it for me...I have things to do.

Neither rain, nor snow, nor sleet, nor dark of night...my asterisk!

It's now just past one o'clock, the mail carrier went by around half an hour ago (maybe a touch more), and the area in front of our mailbox is clean enough for the mail courier's little mailmobile to pull up to the box and deliver her goodies for today...as well as those from yesterday's non-attempt. She hasn't been back by yet for her little excursion down the even numbered side of the street.

I want my mail! I know you have Christmas cards for me...gimme my mail!!!

Pardon me while I pull on my Elmer Fudd combat gear and hunt me down a wascally mail lady.

2:57p.m.

Thank you!

That's more like it...the mail lady finally delivers, and oh! was it a boxful, too. I can relax, now.

While I waited and watched, I saw a dad pulling two small kids around the neighborhood behind his SUV with tow ropes attached to the vehicle. The kids were lying on their stomaches the first go'round, and one of the little chipmunks was getting a snow facial with the taller ridges of snow! The second time past, they were sitting up and going at a pretty good clip. I tried to get a video of the last time they cruised by, and I couldn't get the camera on fast enough to get the entire ride, but here you go: [will update once I get the photo to download]

Addendum: Brian came home from work earlier than he should have, sick as a dog due to chemical food poisoning from one of the little cafe eateries in the mall. People, be careful about eating out there...if your food preparers are also handling the money or are cleaning as you walk up, and they do not wash their hands before also getting your chow together - RUN AWAY!

Good morning

Parents must be ever-vigilant, tough as nails, willing to be fallible, anxious for success but capable of remaining poker-faced, always knocking on wood, mindful of praying for our children despite their wishes or misguided beliefs, ready to shoulder the burden for lack of preparedness, willing to accept blame and criticism whether actual or perceived, capable of standing firm when your convictions and house rules are tested and pushed to the limits, tough and forgiving, protective, loyal but not pushovers or patsies, conscientious and in the shadows, always two steps ahead and standing right behind.

And this is why I am sitting in the library, waiting for a phone call from Brian, to either tell me he is stuck in the sub at one of the hairpin corners, or that he made it to work. I am dressed for weather and work - pushing and shoveling. My boots already on and laced up tight; knit pants on under blue jeans; a long-sleeved T on under a sweater, and my coat and gloves placed at the door for easy access and a quick get-a-way.

The mall is opening early this weekend (no, there won't be early hour shoppers after the storm of yesterday, nor anyone with money to spend...but still, they open) because that's what malls do days before Christmas. Brian is driving my car back and forth to work - for many reasons - so of course I am concerned...for him and for my car! Don't laugh, if you were out of work for over a year and a half and you needed the vehicle you had to not be unavailable for any reason, you would be chewing your nails, too.

8:12a.m.

This is going to be one of those days where the unmotivated, least holiday-oriented, bored to tears, have-a-million-things-to-do-and-don't-know-where-to-begin-so-I-don't-feel-guilty, tired-of-rejection parts of me have to be prodded into action.

Bought one of those converter boxes so the government can make another damned dollar from the unemployed masses who want to watch their "free" TV shows. Yes, I hooked it up, and no, it isn't all that great. Yes, the pictures that do come in without effort are crystal clear. They aren't many, and I am woefully unimpressed. And it turns out that static is static - meaning, this static is now cubist in nature and not all 'snowy'. You also have to work 4 times harder to retrieve the two or three channels you did manage to get in after you try to adjust the rabbit ears to get in the rogue recepted one.

No, I don't care if my made up words interfere with your understanding of my tale. Get up and adjust the antennae! Geez.

Even worse, in order to enhance the few stations we may get in, we had to hook up the box with the RF and the red/yellow/white cords from the VCR unit. Now, I can't watch movies!!!

Waaahhhhhhhhhhhh.

Then Brian told me when I get a job, we could get real basic cable to eliminate this whole hassle. Guess what I told him. /;^P

No, go on....guess. LOL

11:27a.m.

Karl finally got up (hey, take care of the garbage, kid), and I have decided to do the dishes. Last night we had spaghetti and green beans, and the dishes are now taunting me. Cleo has been sitting with me watching an animal habitat show (Marty Stouffer, I think). There were lots of great shots of birds doing their thing, and Cleo was on the edge of her seat for most of the time. At some point she completely lost track of the fact that she was sitting on the sofa watching the TV and not a window view. She actually tensed up a time or two thinking she had a chance to pounce!

A Tribute to Ray Cato

Sad news from Maria, something she received via Tawana Heard at Spec, about Ray. Lung cancer took his life at the tender young age of 35.

A short video from class with Ray being Ray is available on the blog, if you go to 2007 in the history, then click on December. He is participating in a group project towards the end of Q2, and he is funniest at the very end. Look for the entry of December 17th, and then play the entry "Winners" - Ray is on the far right getting his groove on.

God love you, Ray. Rest in peace - we will miss watching you rise to the top.

Mutual admiration and respect

I was cleaning out my email box recently - boy, things can get messy when you aren't looking, eh? - and I came across a note from a dear friend, which started me thinking about so many things from just over the past year, both successes and misses. I nosed my way into and onto projects and short-lived 'jobs', made contacts and taken chances, asked for jobs and been told "no" too many times to count. I have had several interviews (mostly over the phone) and prayed for second in-person interviews which never came. I've done great work wherever I had been allowed to ply my skills this past year...and I was even asked back to help in the audio end of the BQT project again this fall. (I am even getting a small stipend this season - tah-daaahhh)

Now, Maria, she's no slouch. She retired from the Detroit Police Department after (approximately) 30 years, somewhere around our half-way point through the Specs program. I can't imagine how she mentally kept herself upbeat and ready for her A-game at school every day after spending hours on the force. Wow! However, always the beautiful soul and perveyor of passing along a smile and a positive thought, this is what I found in one of her blog entries:

Let me give a big "HELL YEAH!! To Bethany! She's really doing good, she's keeping the dream alive by staying involved in the business. Before you know it her name will be going across the silver screen in bright lights! Keep up the good work you are an inspiration to us all.

Shucks, Maria. You are my inspiration, and I want to say thank you for always reaching out and always maintaining a lovely attitude.

Not for nothin', but Maria enrolled in a continuing ed program as we were ending our time as RTV 09-07 to (wisely) use the credits earned from SHS to go on to earn her Bachelors. Now who's the inspiration?

I know I will eventually get a job...I know I will. There is something out there God has planned for me, I know it. How do I exercise the patience and willpower to not give in to the blues and woe-is-me vibe that floats all around me while I am waiting for that new door to open?

Grant me the peace, oh Lord, to accept the things I cannot change, to work harder and more steadfastly to change the things I have the power to change, and to always thank You for the gifts You have provided to prepare me for my challenges & battles.

Be well and happy, people.

Here you go, Jude - three entries collecting dust

I hope you enjoy the three new additions which I had not completed or posted until now.

Once you get to the bottom of this page, and the end of the December entries, you will have to click on "Older Posts" just to the right below the entry. That will get you to November and the late entries there.

;^)

Quilting progress - This is a Double Nine Patch

Please remember, all quilt blogging and photos are now at: www.truenorthquilter.blogspot.com

Ok, I know. I need to take a photo or two of the dog quilt, but for the time being here is the cat quilt I have been working on off and on.

This is where it begins - choosing colors and the pattern, of course. I always seem to go back to primaries, although I have a hard time making myself stick with a limited palette.

That is to say, I do love a scrappy-looking quilt, so I used at least 3 to 5 calico's and prints of blue, red, green, yellow and orange with this quilt. Then, I began to realize it really needed the punch of purple, so I added a huge assortment of prints from the deep purple end of the spectrum. I punctuated it with solid, inky black and multiple faded or very petite white-on-black prints.

I then begin to assemble the patches on the wall and step back to look at the balance. As I stitch the 1.5" cut pieces (and the 3.5" larger nine patch pieces) into blocks, I begin to fill in with row ends and corners so that I can reward myself with a vision of what the end result will be. The trick is making certain to assemble these in the correct position as I lay them out. I do sometimes get distracted and end up sewing something out of order - or in this picture, forgetting one of the cut pieces in the layout. Can you see the omission?

Once enough blocks can be sewn into rows, I begin the real assembly process, and it starts to get exciting.

I ended up having to turn the quilt upside down to be able to work on it more easily. The little dots are pins keeping the blocks and rows in place against the material farm behind it. Yes, America, that is my stash.

The addition of two interior borders (a 3/4" black border for separation from the color blocks, and the multi-striped jungle grass) is always the most nail-biting time for me. Why? I am always trepidacious to commit to cutting borders...afraid I will choose the wrong width and doom the poor quilt to an odd look. I don't want the border(s) to overwhelm the rest of the work. I want the border to finish the look of the whole piece, and enhance the interior where the bulk of the piecing was done. It should be a beautiful frame, and I am always fearful of over-, or under-doing it. But as a matter of pride, I would like to point out that I once again mitered the corners for each of the three borders.Before the final black border was added to finish off the top, I worried over how wide to make each one. I am too much a perfectionist - but I am learning to cope with this aspect of myself.

As I neared this point, I began to ponder the quilting style/motif I would use, and came up with the idea of FISH. Maybe I will add a bird or two here and there...but it will be simple and fast in the multi-colored nine patch blocks using grid (ditch - maybe) quilting, with the more elaborate critter motifs along the borders and solid black areas. We shall see.

For now, I need to get it stretched and pinned so that I can start quilting it.

Thanks for looking in.

And so another year slips away

Unbelievably enough, 2008 is nearly over. Can you believe it?!

I don't think that it has anything to do with my age...you know, that whole theory about the older you are the quicker the days pass.

Yeah. No. That's not it.

No, being a non-working person I have far too much time on my hands to be able to notice and dwell on this whole day progression thing. Hours into days; days into weeks; weeks into months...you see where this is going. Likewise, people with too much on their plates (either by design or their work/lifestyle) also notice the days slipping by too quickly. Well sure! When you aren't giving yourself time/permission to notice life happening around you...what do you expect?

At any rate, welcome December. Welcome, welcome, welcome. Come on in and pull up a chair. It's been a month since registration began for the winter session at the local community college and my sons are completely unaffected by my pleading, ranting, cajoling and threats. Nope they still have not chosen any classes. Argh! Hey, boys...I don't care if you don't know what you want to do...just do SOMEthing. Get off of your butts and out of your rooms and out from in front of your PC's and do something life altering and/or self-improving. At some point in time while you are stretching your brains and improving yourself in small (or large) ways, life will happen and revelations will occur to you! I promise. Do it now while you are young and your potential is vast.

Do it or I'll kick you in the head.

Do it or you'll find your belongings scattered across the front lawn. I promise!

It is my goal that 2008 will not pass without something to show for itself - in a positive way - for my family and myself. Slow down a little, Mr. December, please.

Let's take a moment to breathe deeply, enjoy the glow of the lights hung all around, wonder at the simple elegance of snow falling softly. Why not sit in a comfy chair and look outside on a sunny day and marvel at the beauty of sun reflecting off of snow covered trees. While you're outside, look down and notice animal tracks in fresh snow. It's winter's version of stopping to smell the roses.

It's still progress...forward momentum, if you will, but on your terms. A smile and lower blood pressure is not a waste of time.

Don't let this month slip away, taking the last of 2008 with it. Grab it in your hands and release it slowly as you enjoy each moment one at a time.

Turkey day...not my favorite holiday

Happy Thanksgiving, to one and all!

So I suppose you are wondering about that headline. No, I am not a turkey suffragette. I am not a fowl-sympathizer; nor one of those tree-huggers who goes too far in protecting all of nature. Let's face it...some of nature is pretty doggone delicious, and I am not ashamed to strap on a napkin and belly-up to a packed table full of victuals...fork and knife at the ready, to eat from the carcass of a beautifully roasted turkey. Yum yum!!

No, I would not feast at the expense of a lion or horned owl, or any other protected/endangered critter...I am simply saying I AM NOT A VEGETARIAN. Ohhhhhh, yuppy ding dong. You betcha. I am a meatatarian, and my meat headed sons and I are soon on our way to a lovely (albeit small) family feast.

As a matter of fact, I have just put apple dumplings in the oven to take to my grandma's for T-day dinner. (Got the recipe online, and I need to revise it a bit to make it work for another go-round.)

Nope, my dislike of this particular day - or, time of year, really - is that unemployment for me seems to be 'the thing'. Pervasive, in fact, right around the holidays. Those of you who really know me, know that I have been unemployed for quite a while now. Believe you me, I have been working on correcting the unemploymentedness. And I am going to do it without the aide of any government or state agencies - MOSTLY because they don't help, and don't really know how to. They simply exist so that the gov't/state can pay someone to have a job (other than myself) and they can say to themselves: "My, aren't we wonderful politicians and statesmen. Harrumph, harrumph, harrumph."

Yes, I know how crazy that sounds, but I have tried to look at this from so many viewpoints and I can't figure out how it is that a single mom of two, without a completed college education can jump through all of the mandated hoops from all of the unemployment office-type dealios, be identified as best performing certain jobs, and then not get any sort of monetary help from those agencies - or the state - to obtain said training?!?!?!?!

Sadly, now that I am joined by so many thousands more on the unemployment line, I have less of a chance of getting work, let alone any $ help for further training or sustainance. And this always seems to be a thing for me at this time of year.

Hey, somebody call a friend or relative with a job available and give them my name, PLEASE.

I thank you.

Happy Thanks Giving day to one and all!

Happy Birthday, Big Brother!

(Hunting for an appropriate photo)

Because you asked

Yes, I did end up going to the stylist schmoozing night at Michael Angelo's Spa in Royal Oak. It wasn't the easiest place to find in the dark (and in the rain), but it was a very pretty place up-the-stairs and inside. Industrial chic.

After finding a parking spot (which was no easy feat), we wandered over to Main Street and travelled north, following the addresses to find 108 N. Main.

Just above a coffee house sat the target. The signage wasn't particularly obvious, so finding the location based on landmarks provided by the radio intern was necessary. LOL ...Should have remembered to bring the notes with me!

The food was picked over by the time we arrived, and the speeches from the plastic surgeon and stylist shop-owners was under way, but the wine was flowing and the massage chairs were empty, so we had ourselves a glass and a seat. Boy, sometimes a massage can take the edge off - but this was not one of those times.

Not long after we arrived, one of the owners walked up to me and said 'Laura was hoping to have a word with me about [my] hair.' Hmmmmm. Who was Laura, and what word could she possibly want to share with me in regards to my hair? I sat in the swivel chair I was guided to, and eventually a blond woman still wearing her Halloween eggplant costume bounced over and grabbed my head, daring me to gaze into the looking glass on the wall with her as she buffeted me with delightful questions.

Of course my answers were equally delightful :^) - and by the end of it, we agreed my perm was a travesty of justice...a blot on the social register...a laugh and a half, and it had to go!

For the next half hour or so we listened to, and watched, drawings for $45 gift certificates while she spritzed and brushed and tamed my tresses. Although, embarrassingly, I also won one of those prizes right in the most hideous portion of my comb out! The 'before' photo is going to appear very unflattering - to say the least!

Ah well.

It was a good night out, although I do wish I had followed my instincts and stayed home instead. Now, though, I have a free hair cut and style coming from that cute little spa in Royal Oak, so I may be heading down that way in the next week or so. Too bad I will still be wearing the same face to go with the new hair. LOL

Just in case you are wondering, the woman who won the grand prize of $18,000 in plastic procedures decided to have a breast reduction. Now she's going to have to learn to swim!

Live well and be happy, everyone - and be kind to yourselves, and to one another.

Another strange turn of events

Isn't it funny how things happen? I think you know what I mean.

I was cruising through several websites late last week (or was it earlier this week?), when I came upon this contest happening in conjunction with my radio station - WMGC 105.1:

WMGC-FM “Reinvent Yourself Make-Over” Contest Rules

The contest runs from Monday, October 13th through Friday, November 7th, 2008; contest entries must be received by 12:00 pm on Thursday, November 6th. Listeners will register to win by logging on to the contest page at http://detroitmagic.com/ and submit their story of why they would love to be reinvented with a make-over from Dr. Karaca! Enter by going to the contest page at http://detroitmagic.com/ for further instructions. All entries must be received by 12:00 p.m. on Thursday, November 6th, 2008. On Friday, November 7th, 25 finalists will be chosen at random to join us for a special VIP event at Michael Angelo Salon located at 108 S. Main Street, Suite A in Royal Oak, MI on November 14th (date pending). At the conclusion of the party, the grand prize winner will be announced, along with 14 runners-up. The Grand Prize winner will be selected from the 25 finalists by Dr. Karaca and his staff based on the stories submitted; selection is in the judges’ sole discretion. Runners up will be selected by random drawing from finalists.

Well...guess who's going to the party next Friday evening? Go ahead - guess! LOL All I really wanted to register for was to attend a business breakfast meet and greet, but I missed the boat on that one, and on a lark I typed up a quick reinvent-me-quick logic entry (1000 characters or less) to explain my need for help to look younger as the way to get a job in this town hinges on whether you look as young as you feel.

Something I wrote must have tickled somebodys' funnybone. I got the telephone call right around 5pm, and I am so flabbergasted. I know darn well that 105 always generates a huge response to any of their contests and events...so I am in the 25 finalists!

I will keep you updated. LOL

Hmmm...another year older, and blah-dy blah-dy blah

I am working once again with the Bible Quiz Time show for the cable access stations well south of home. Acting as the Audio Tech and helping to instruct technically minded broadcast wannabes from the parochial schools who want to learn how to work the equipment and get a leg up in their early years.

I think it very cool that this is being made available to children in Jr and Sr high schools...this was never a consideration when I was their age. I had a yen to learn - certainly the curiosity was there - but girls were not encouraged to think about such idealistic careers in the seventies. Hey! Wait a minute! Mary Tyler Moore's character did - but she had to go to MN to make it happen! LOL

Boys! Pack your rooms up, we're headed west.

Wonder if I will have a cool apartment and a find myself a 'Rhoda'?

In fact, I wanted to be an architect when I was younger, but was told by the girls in my class that only boys and lesbians went into that class. Since I was neither (and naive), I stayed out. What a fool I was!

At any rate, if I had been told 'yes, go learn how to DJ' or to shoot and edit for the news, where would I be today? Oh, so far from where I am, I can tell you with so much certainty. But wherever I would be, and however far up the ladder I would have chosen to climb, I would be the exact same perfectionist, striving to tell the stories accurately and fairly, succinctly and intelligently, humanely and clearly, so that the reflection of the story would not be of me but of the life or situation under the magnifying glass.

So now I am working on my do-over. If the economy were a little better off I would stand a fighting chance...but right now things are a little tight and hard to squeeze into, so I am going to continue trying and pushing and asking and meeting and cajoling and learning and improving and and and. The minute my new boss figures it out, we all will breathe a big sigh of relief. Until that happens, I will repeat my activities and share my sage knowledge for another season of volunteerism.

Blah-dy blah-dy blah.

Be healthy and happy, y'all.

Get out and VOTE, America!

That's all. Get out there and vote, or quit your yammering and sputtering and stone-throwing!

The boys and I piled into the car and went to our polling site together. As a mother, it was a proud moment for me to see my two boys in the line ahead of me...together, as first-time voters. It put a lump in my throat. And yes! there would be a photo, but Karl turned to me as we stood in the last few feet awaiting our time behind the curtains, and said: "And no pictures, mom!"

So, despite my inclination to the contrary, I did not whip out my little Pentio and capture the moment.

No matter who wins this election, I feel as though I am the victor...my sons and I sharing in a very historic moment!

Good luck, America. Don't let this election year be the first and last push for a CHANGE in our future.

Did you remember to turn your clocks back?

Hop to it! Here's an extra hour to waste...don't waste the gift.

Hello, November...see ya next year, Halloween

Well, well, well...Halloween came and went just like that [snap!], and I am still having a hard time processing that we seemed to have skipped right from cold, soggy winter to late spring/early summer, with no sign of a segue from early spring to summer heat. I mean, where did our gradual seasonal changes go, anyway?

Not one to disappoint, though, Mother Nature is rewarding us with a beautiful Indian Summer.

So, thank you, Mother Nature!

If you've wedged yourself under a rock to bypass the cold dreary weather of late you will no doubt miss out on the sunshine and gorgeous temps which have come our way. Yesterday was a blast - 60+ degrees and not a cloud in the sky - and today is a repeat! Thank you!!!

Being the first Saturday of the month, the neighborhood is filled with the smell of burning leaves, and I imagine this will continue throughout the rest of the next few days. The forecast for our area of MI is phenomenal, with warm daytime temps and clear nights expected right on through the middle of election week...so, no complaints here.

I am going out to the garage to clean up a bit and rearrange the contents so that I can park my car in it over the winter! LOL Why waste this lovely day sitting inside...night will come soon enough, and I can do my indoor activities then. Let's not waste this gorgeous day!

Get outside...I'll meet you in the yard with a rake.

Another quilt offering

Just in case you've been wondering if I've been working on any quilting, lately. Why yes, I have.

Thank you for asking.

These photos will show you where I am, progress-wise, with the latest pet quilt offering. As you can see I have returned to primary color studies with black. The contrasts really get my creative juices flowing and I feel less like I am drowning in other areas of my life.

Apologies for the yellowness of the photos...I didn't take the time to adjust these before posting.

Oh, SNAP!

Well, timing IS everything...oui?

I was looking over the MAB web site, and located the description for WNEM, and when I read to the bottom of the description guess what I found.

Are you going to guess?

Oh come on...guess.

Fine, I'll tell you. The deadline for the submission of 'goods' to them for the trainee position was before I found out about it.

ROTFLOL LMFAO

Ah well. I can only hope and pray that my connection helps to get my foot in the door, and that I am thrown a huge bone.

If not, it's back to the grindstone. Actually, I haven't left the grindstone, I just haven't been really applying myself to the whole search-and-send-resumes-thing. But I now know I have to get back to it full time.

Oh, if only somebody paid me to continually search for work and send in resumes to prospective employer interviewers.

If wishes were horses, we'd all be eatin' steak.

Stay tuned, and keep in touch.

Day 23 of 24

Yup...the DOOD has turned the page on my last day on set with the film.

I have been "working in film", the cheap way for a production company to get more on-screen people without paying the cost. However, it has allowed me to stay working for the last several days...and my mug will be in the film - depending upon how it is edited.

At any rate, it has been a great experience, and an eye opener! Still, all-in-all, I would like to work on another picture if given the opportunity.

Stay tuned and stay happy, and we'll see you in the movies.

Day 23 of 24

Oh my gosh, can it really almost be over?

Pre-production seemed to take so long to finish before getting to the meat of the thing, and now that there are only two days to go in production, I feel incredibly sad that the hullaballoo will be over in the blink of an eye.

Once I get some sleep, I will fill you all in.

Thanks for your patience, and your questions...I will be in touch VERY soon.

I lost September & my chance to wish my beautiful Brian a blogging Happy Birthday!

I feel like the worst mom in the world. How could I have let the time pass so far beyond Brian's birthday before sitting down to say it here?

Waaaahhhhhhhhh! [insert mental image of Cathy tears here]

I know he knows I love him, and both of the boys are aware of the $ straights I am in since May of last year, but it doesn't seem right that I should have let the free thing I could have managed to do fall by the wayside.

Brian has been experiencing his own issues lately, but we are crawling forward. Always forward.

On his birthday, I shanghai'd him to work on the set with me as an extra. He was supposed to be a dweeb in a sword fight, but that was scrubbed by the time we arrived that morning. Word was they would shoot it another time....never happened. As a matter of fact, there are quite a few scenes which are not even being shot, now, and they were quite funny (and I think integral) to other scenes (and to carry the story line).

Ah well.

It is all about the money, or the lack thereof.

Any who...he was positioned during one scene, to sit within a few yards of Christina Ricci! Afterwards, he came up to me and said he was so over the Ricci! HA! I will post photos another time.

For now, it is late, and I have things to do before heading to day #21 of 24. We begin night shoots this evening, and after the last few days of day/night splits, I am only going to be a little discombobulated! The weather this evening will be tolerable, but will be dipping into the 40's for the remainder, along with some rain overnight. Not cool. So I will keep you posted.

I am looking for work...anybody have a job for me? :^)

Peas out!

Just a little review of the weekend

Oh yes.... long and very warm. Lots of walking. LOTS of walking.

Of course, it's fall in MI (or nearly so), and the weather will do as it must, but we all know, if I had my druthers, it would be the lovely fall temps and the colors changing all year.

Actually, I would like it to be spring and early-/mid-fall all of the time. But you take what you can get, right?

So, we are still on the prowl for people to populate our crowd scenes during the week during filming, plus in high gear to find dancers (witches) and little people (don't ask), but since neither scene is on paper (still stuck in the minds of those who thought them up), we are at a loss - spinning our wheels and using valuable time in a non-productive way.

The weekend was spent scrambling around the MRF grounds with a camera and a clip board to get names, photos and contact info...and it was fun for the most part. My fear is that these people all think they are going to be stars. I feel rotten for getting their hopes up, but I guess this is a part of the schtick, right?

Anyhow, I am usually wiped out by the end of each day, and they are getting their cheapo $100/day's worth of my time and energy. Some days are 14 hours long, with expectations which extend beyond the realm of polite.

Hey! throw a little more doh-re-me at me and I may be happy to go non-stop. But the union says no more than 6 days in a row...and no more than 12 hours for each.

I have quickly learned my loyalties are to MYSELF!

Love to you, and please stay in touch. My ability to correspond (and try to catch up) will be very limited for a while. But I do intend to return email. Ciao!

Goals for 2009

Rather....A goal for 2009.

Since I missed my opportunity this year to create a post at 8:08 (a.m. OR p.m.), I am going to make certain I do it in 2009.

Yesterday was day #2 as a casting director, and man...it is everything I thought it would be, and I am certain that there is more. Once this bit is over (the how-would-you-like-to-be-in-a-movie search), come this Thursday, we will begin having people read, and that will take this into a whole other realm of wackiness.

Holy cow-a-roo!

I am having fun, though, so no complaints. More later. For now I have to get in the car and head north to the fair for the start of a whole new day of "hi there".

Peas out. (Yes, that was supposed to be funny...I know I typed "peas".)

:^) :^P

Yea! Houston, we have contact!

Can't believe how late it is already! I have been awake for the better part of two hours, but only just peeled my lazy arse out of bed...and the cats are trying to tell me it's breakfast time! LOL

As I sit here reading email and blogging, I can't help but smile at how cool things have become only recently. Even though this may be short-lived (God, please let this become something), it is still very cool to think about years from now - 'cuz I am a young, vibrant chic - being able to look back and tell my grandkids that granny once worked in the movie industry!

I opened my gmail account and was tickled pink to find two more replies to my note to Specs classmates. Hello, Sarah and Jill! I heard straight away from Bridget Clarkson and Scott M. Hello, you two! Then, I received word from Sarah VanRrrrr and Jill. Sarah is doing well as a producer - going on 4 months at the station which signed her on before we even left Specs. Jill is currently in CA with her father, who is fighting leukemia, however she also still has her internship with 106.7 the FOX. Jill sent me a lot of news on many of the folks I never even copied on the first send...so it was good to hear from her for a number of reasons. Scott is going for an interview - but I won't jinx it by saying where or when until he let's me know how it all turns out. Go get 'em, Scott! And of course, Bridget is busy as ever, burning that candle at both ends. Moving back to her home state shortly, but trying to cover lots of ground in the mean time. She has a job in CO to move home to, and impressive as all get out!

I am genuinely tickled by all of your accomplishments, and would love to continue hearing from you.

Please, if you noticed I missed folks in the alphabet, please forward the email to them if you would be so kind.

I know I didn't send to Mark and Brenden team...but mostly because I think I annoyed them in the last quarter and my email wouldn't have been well received. I think I annoyed most people...LOL...but I am quite annoying, so it's understandable. I also know I missed Carlos and Andrew Cuyula (sp), and I hear Matt D is in Israel of all places. Watch out Wailing Wall! I didn't locate an e-addy for Bridget Corkum, and my buddy Tisheena's email came back as no longer working. Waaah! However, please let these peeps know we want to read from them. Oh! and while I am at it, please let me know if I may post some of your information in here from time to time. NOT the crazy stuff which may make you blush and want to run me down with a car...but the stuff that fills in the cracks of where are they, what are they, how are they...you know what I mean?

Any how, I must shake my shaggy tail feathers and get moving. I need to stop by a printer to get fliers for handing to select people at the festival all weekend. We are in search of and doing open casting for core and extras for the film, and will be there to get names and photos, etc. So stop by, say HI and get your mug in my face. We want people in costume and not in costume...but you have to have availability. So do it!

Will post more later, but for now I have to scoot. Love to you out there.

OMG! Who'd believe it? Me...anchoring the news

Well, Channel 19 is now psuedo-broadcasting over the internet, and since they were the first community cable channel to sign up for the HD thing, they are now available to view on cable TV if you look for the station (somehow...I don't know how it works...we don't have cable here). But, I will find out and let you all know!

What I do know for certain is, we can be seen from Port Huron to the far western side of Monroe County, and from southern Lapeer County to the MI/Ohio border.

I am hoping the powers that be see the value in extending what it is we read on air, and what we cover. So far the scope is naught but Leonard, Oxford/Oxford Twp and Addison Township. [Yawn]

I first read the primary election news early in August, and have been getting more to read as others aren't available on the once a week news date. Also, I have been moved from camera work to reporting on the weekly "Our Community Access" program. I am the producer, camera person (at times), and editor for that show. Kinda funny, huh?

Ah well, gotta start somewhere, right? Watch if you can some time. As I said, I will find out how people can view from outside of the Oxford area and will post the solution here.

Until then, thanks for stopping by, and I'll see you in the funny papers!

Who's Ass Do You Have to Kiss? AKA: "OK...so miracles do happen!"

Holy cow! I finally have confirmation and a "report to" for my second production!

In case you haven't heard: for the last 3+ months, I have been working at the Michigan Renaissance Fair offices in the marketing department. It's been...well...it's been a nightmare. I took the VERY low-paying "internship" (yes, they called it an internship to get out from having to explain the poor wages) as a way to at least get some money coming in once the unemployment wages ceased to exist. Also, I had thought that the internship moniker would help on my resume - although I do not wish to be in marketing or sales! Yeesh!

Although, it turns out the owner is simply a cheap little b*stard who doesn't pay much more than $8.50 per hour to anyone he doesn't have to - and that's pretty well everyone in the offices and grounds crew...and on and on.

I have continued to look for work, to go on spartan interviews (those are tough to get around MI any more), and conduct phone interviews - when you can get them at a decent time of day (where it doesn't interfere with the darned hours of the poopy job). It has been nerve wracking, and that's putting it mildly.

I have also taken a VERY part time position as a studio assistant for a community access cable channel in Oxford. It pays even less than the "internship" [picture me making HUGE air quotes there] - minimum wage, in fact - and you cannot work any more than 20 hours in a week! LOL

My work is superior in several ways to what it is they are used to. My big problem is that I can't stop doing my particular brand of work and dumb it down to their standards...I just can't And I am getting a talking to shortly about it. LOL I know I should give them the value of their $7.40 pay...but it's my work and name which is being viewed. What should I do?

ANYwho......

Getting back to the great part: I have been hired to work as the assistant casting person on "Ye Olde Times", being shot at the Renaissance Festival in Holly! I accosted the producer (one of them) as he was exiting the building on Tuesday, and he smiled and said bye as he passed. I smiled, excused myself to the caller on the other end of the phone, put my phone down and asked: "Who's ass do I have to kiss to get a job?"

He laughed, then asked if no one had gotten in touch since we had first spoken. I told him no and that I had contacted everyone laid in my path...but no use.

Scott turned to his assistant and said, "Go find Cynthia - we have her aide. And get Beth's contact info again." Scott went out the door - poof! And his asst stuck by my side til Cynthia stopped at my desk.

Voila!

I know my mom would be cringing, but it worked. My crass question was well met, and I am now working for the production! YEA!!

The pay is far better than I have made recently, but I do have to reserve some to pay taxes at the end of the year.

With these types of jobs, everything is done with 1099's. Get used to it!

The hours will be uproarious...but I am gaining knowledge, insight, credit for my resume and possible avenues into other productions. Better than a stick in the eye! Plus, people in the loop are gonna see my work and come to know me...what better references could I hope to get?

I am totally geeked.

Of course, I still need to continue looking for work in the mundane world, too. Something to fill the coffures as the production work for this movie is only 4 - 5 weeks of pay, maybe 6...but definitely not going to last. I must always think like the ant and not the grasshopper.

So, be happy for me, and think good thoughts. I still need a job (or to win the lottery). Or, to marry a sugar daddy...hmmmm.

Please write and let me know how your worlds and stars are colliding out there. Miss you. Be happy.

It's been a year and a day...where are we now?

OK, I know...it's been a year and 2 days! After all, this is a leap year. ;^)

RTV-9-07 began its trek last August...a class of hopefuls. Freshly graduated many of us (from high school), or finishing one degree and making a decision to move off in another direction. Or, simply taking time to wander the road less traveled but often ruminated over.

So here we are (wherever that is), a year from the time we commited to learning something new, or to learn more of something which we had a taste of in school (my high school, back in the day, did not have these lovely new media centers to work with). Wanting to take flight in a new direction - whether it be for fame, or the fun, or what is perceived to be $$$ generating.

Some of my classmates had the money (or parents with money) to have the equipment necessary for this new future made available to them at home. Hurray for you! I wish I were so fortunate. I certainly hope you know just how blessed you are to have parents who can do this for you. My other great desire is to know that your parents have heard words of thanks from you for these opportunities and blessings.

I will have to be more frugal and crafty in how it is I get my hands on equipment and software.

But, it still makes me wonder how many are using what they've learned, and how many are going on to use it in a career move? How many have decided to continue with schooling to further themselves? How many have left the state to pursue a career?

Where are you, class of RTV 09-07?

It has been a busy time...

For good and for bad, I have been busy - but not in the getting-paid-great-amounts-for-the-time sort of busy. I am, however gaining great experiences and skills. Learning new editing tools and working with other cameras.

I have been enjoying my time with most of the folks at Channel 19 in Oxford, but there are always a few bad apples. To those people I suppose I am the bad apple, but I am not a time waster...and I am progressive and creative...they are stagnant and unmotivated. They get together in little sets and kvetch, and go online and monkey around, but never really do much useful work. The time spent in the studio is mainly blowoff time, and stroke their own ego time, while I don headphones and try to muddle through.

There is a huge need for these folks to hear themselves talk in spite of the fact they say very little which is pertinent to the tasks at hand. They interrupt thoughtful work time for "hey, c'mere and look at this" tomfoolery...or get into heavy-handed discussions of non-sense and (again) non-pertinent work matters, and then attempt to derail my thought processes to make themselves seem/feel/whatever more important.

But why?

If you are good at what you do, and do the things you say you will do - can do - then simply do it. Those things you can help others do - when asked - simply instruct, watch to be certain they are getting it, then leave them to their own devices.

Ah well. I don't suppose there are any areas of employment that won't be filled with prima dona's (and 'don's'), wannbe's and tremendously huge ego's. Everyone is so concerned about making themselves seem better than everyone else, or covering their asses for mistakes made instead of making certain something works and then commiting and owning the finished product, that they can't be happy when someone else creates work which is not so shabby and gets a little attention.

Don't feel threatened! Feel happy the team is stronger.

Sadly, this group is run by another person who may or may not have the skills he hires others to use to the station's benefit. He leads by example, and it is not a stellar one. So, this is why my excellent learning opportunity is tempered with caution and dismay. I am being paid minimum wage to work no more than 20 hours in a week...but it is becoming rapidly stagnant and disgruntling...and I had hoped the shine of a very creative new future would not wear off so quickly.

Take care of yourselves and be happy - I am still wearing my smile.

August, already....and I still do not have a job!?!?

This is what I have been up to, how about you?

TV PRODUCTIONS Oxford Community Television, Channel 19 Camera Addison Twp Supervisory Board Meeting, June 2008 Oxford Library Retirement Garden Dedication Shake, Rattle and Roll Car Cruise, June 2008 – b-roll and interviews Lapeer Symphony Orchestra, 2008 Independence Day Concert, July 2008 Yule Love It Lavender Festival, July 2008 – 2 day shoot Classic Car Show / Celebrate Oxford, August 2008 – b-roll On Camera - Interviews / MOS “Great Lakes Mercantile,” Our Community Access, August 2008 - interview “Celebrate Oxford,” Our Community Access, August 2008 – interview/MOS "Grizzly Bear in Hadley," Our Community Access, August 2008 - interview Editing “Yule Love It Lavender Festival” “Our Community Access,” August 2008 Nightmare SINema hosted by Wolfman Mac Writer - Film inserts - Commercial copy Lawton School Renderoni's Pizza and Deli Company Detroit Custom Poker Chips - Skits V.O. Work - Commercials World of Pole Lawton School Renderoni's Pizza and Deli Company Production Coordinator (Training) Editing On Camera Talent Lighting (1 show to date) P.A. (It’s a small crew) INDIE FILM PRODUCTIONS Red and Blue Marbles Art Department P.A. - Created draperies and set decoration - Painted sets - Still Photographs during pre-production

Goodbye, July....

Well, my mother had her birthday on Monday, the 28th, and Gram celebrated her 97th year on the planet mid-month. So, between my mom, son number 2 and grandmother, July was a month full of possibility and birth...if you can follow my logic.

July found me still working for a pittance as an intern at the RenFest office; sending out resumes and hoping for word on work in the production beginning there soon - or a positive outcome to one of many interviews I have had. Truthfully, the interviews haven't been numerous so much as secondary ones for an employer who thinks it funny to amuse themselves with multiple appts on my dime. And no, it didn't pan out. I even received a VERY late 'no thank you o'gram to a position I interviewed for over a month and one half ago. I had written that one off weeks back, and was surprised to finally get the "we went a different direction" note.

Really? Please don't bother.

Pardon my cynicism, I am just feeling defeated and scared and I am running out of time (and $). My possibilities are growing slim, and I am running in circles wondering what to do next.

Stay tuned for August, where I hope to be writing some happy news! Be well.

Happy Birthday, Karl! 19 does not seem possible, kid.

So, my youngest turned 19 - yesterday! Sorry, K-dub, that I didn't write this 24 hours ago. I am an awful person, but the fact that you spent your day in the sun working, and then going to see Gram and Great Gram will always be a great memory for me of how you've grown and how far you have come.

I am proud of you, and I hope that as you grow older you can feel pride in yourself.

I love you so very much.

Happy birthday!

Oh, and just so you won't forget, as you turned 19, your great gram Schaffer had her 97 birthday!

So, I've made my decision

I am letting go of the Wolfman Mac experience. I can't continue to give as much time to that as they require. I really have no job to speak of...all things being equal, and the RenFest internship is more of a detriment than anything else. I need an income that will actually help to pay the bills and help to finish the house in the event I have to sell it.

Mark has been remarkably charitable in driving me down to the production, but they want Tuesdays and Thursdays, and suddenly they were asking for Sundays for make-up shoots and writer's meetings, and evenings to go to appearances...who really has that time and money!? Seriously, if I were less worried about the car breaking down and the cost of gas and the freaking mileage needed to get to WARREN and all points SOUTH, maybe I wouldn't have had to choose this option.

But in all seriousness - and this has all been serious - I have been making myself sick over the inevitable choice.

I missed half a day's pay (at a shitty $8 per hour before taxes) because the shoot didn't get done until nearly three a.m AGAIN. By the time we dropped off another production person south of the studio and headed back home, it was 3:40 am by the time I made it home! Other people live much closer to this production person's location, and Mark was schlepping her home!!?!???

Really?

Too much in-fighting and squabbling. Back-stabbing and effort wasted. When I would contribute a character or script idea, I was told there was already something like it. But then, something would go (inevitably awry) and I would be asked at the last minute to actually do the character, it was so very last minute, so nothing was prepared - costume-wise, prop needs, etc.

When I was asked to do something, it was usually requested when I was at work! I am watched, you know! Hellooooooooooooo. I have hours I have to adhere to, and when I am at work, I am supposed to be working! What do you do at work?

And when the she-demon would want something done, it always has a 4 hour turn-around time frame (or less). I need to get to sleep. I need to have time....and I do not have the equipment some of them do to work with. To write a commercial is not hard, but I need all of the information you can provide and that the customer wants given. To ask me to write something and get it back to you while I am getting paid to work at my job - during the work day - is wrong! And calling me to hound me and ask after the status DOES NOT HELP! You waited until the last minute, you have to give me time!!!! Damn it!

I wanted to fix the audio screwed up in production on a commercial, but of course, it wasn't something that could be fixed. Even though it wasn't a me thing, I still felt as though I had let Mac down.

I find very few of the people involved have had training with their equipment...they just have the money to be able to purchase the cameras and the sound gear, etc. But do they know how to use it? NO, they do not (for the most part)! Do they accept constructive comments or questions...NO, they DO NOT! Why wouldn't we use the good mic as a boom and mic Mac for the spots that way? Geez there is a lot a wasted time and energy there.

Does the show look as though it were shot by monkeys in the dark? Yes, a lot of the time, it does. White balance!! Doggone it.

Are there ego's in the way of turning out potentially great stuff? Oh yeah, baby!

Are they taking too much time getting dumb extra shots that won't be edited in....oh you better believe it! Hey! I know that on FILMS a lot of material is shot and never used. Or, shot, edited in, and then for time, taken out. BUT YOU ARE NOT A FILM or a big $ production! We are volunteering our time and sometimes money to make this run. Did Mark ever get repaid for the $40 bucks or better in McDonald's he contributed to one late night session? NO!

This stuff happened all of the time, and she knows who she is who needs to get her crap together.

Hey, Martin Scare-sezzi (no Mac, not you), it's a cheesey, late night, b-flick production. Three cameras shooting the SAME scenes (from essentially the same angle) are a waste of time, tape, money and effort. Not to mention, all of the extra people standing around IN THE WAY!

Too much indecision, too much last minute EVERYTHING, too much drama. Oh, and not for nothin', but when you finally decide to send a note asking for people to print their own copies of the script and bring them to the shoot (which some of us already did - you're welcome), I would think ATTACHING A COPY TO READ AND PRINT would have been a good idea. Oui!?

As John Lennon said: I just have to ----- let it go.

Lots to report, but nothing earth-shattering

In my head I hear the little martian from the Bugs Bunny cartoons asking "Where's the earth-shattering kaboom?"

Sorry, little fella. And sorry to you, dear readers.

While I have been busy, and there is always a carrot of hope/excitement dangling j-u-s-t out of reach, there is nothing concrete and 'wahoo' to report at this time.

For the past month or so, I have been working at the Renaissance Festival business office as an intern in the Marketing Department. No, it's not cool, and NO it's not glamorous....or anything else you may want to think working in a Marketing Department might be. By calling the position an "intern" spot, they are justified in paying $8 freaking dollars an hour. The dangling carrot with this opportunity has been the advent of a movie being filmed on the grounds during the season!

Yes, a movie. Follow the link to "Ye Olde Times" info, listed under Jack Black in the IMDB. Lindsey Lohan had been cast to play opposite JB, but has since been booted and it's our understanding Hillary Duff has now been signed - we shall see.

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1034090/

I was able to meet with the pre-production people when they came to the grounds to walk around and speak with the manager about what they were hoping to do, etc., and was told this would be a union movie, with very few non-union jobs. The RenFest folks said I would be the 'liaison' between the production folks and the MRF, but since it doesn't pay anything different (and why would it?), I was still only going to get $8 an hour from the festival side, and not able to work more than 8 hours per day...so you can see the issue becoming sour and uneventful right away, can't you.

I was terribly excited at the whole prospect, but have since been looking at my bottom line (bank account, mortgage payments, additional bills, etc.), and know that while it seemed fortuitous that I was dropped into the path of this gem of an opportunity, the fact that it is to start so far from now has me wondering what am I supposed to do in the meanwhile, waiting for the possibility of getting a maybe payed non-union spot on this project? I still have to make payments and meet obligations from June to August or September. And as much as I would LOVE to work on a major motion picture - this is all of my training and desires for the future - how am I to support my family and cover my bills waiting and waiting and waiting?

I have to keep looking for work elsewhere, but of course, this means taking myself out of contention for working with the film team as I would (hopefully) have a full time job and not be able to get away from it for the time needed to work on the film during the festival. Production companies shoot movies Monday through Friday, just like any other type of job (and on weekends as well). The hours are longer and grueling (not 9 to 5) - and the work I have done on other things has been great fun and great learning experiences...and while you are in the midst of it, you hardly notice the time reeling past.

In SOME instances, that is. When you are getting paid you mind it less than when you are 'volunteering' your time and being taken advantage of. But I digress.

I need the time I would happily put into a production of this nature, and the pay would me enough, but it would only be for a very short time - 2 weeks to 4 weeks, depending on the shoot schedule, pre-prod work and all - and then it would be done. Poof! I would then have to look for work again...still...until I found something. The "internship" with the RenFest is only temporary as well! It ends with the festival schedule in September.

So, if I were in my twenties and had no house or kids to think of, no huge worries or obligations, I would become a production gypsy. As it is, I cannot even contemplate it.

Thoughts, suggestions, comments - anyone?

I thought not. HEllo...communication is a two-way street. I guess I know which of us has found the gas pedal, eh?

Uh oh....

My apologies, Maria, if you took my comment in last blog entry too seriously. :^) Just thought I would try a nudge of a different sort. Once you began to make regular entries, I was enjoying reading them, but then I was sad to find I couldn't get in.

Waaahh.

I am too sensitive for my own good.

And one more thing, while I am at it...

Hey! Montana Mama! Thppbbbbt! You locked me out of your blog?

Harsh!

The fourth of June...ALREADY!?

When the heck did that happen? Seriously.

I haven't posted here in some time (half a month, by the looks of it), and to anyone who visits from time to time...well, I apologize.

The long and the short of it is, I am deeper in the dolldrums and depression than I have been in some time. STILL looking for work, and done with unemployment. ACTUALLY...unemployment is done with me. After a year, you are through whether things have improved for you or not! And believe you me, things are not improved.

I had an interview today for a preschool secretarial position, and it was a sad thing to be sure. Nice people, but as the job and the conditions, etc., were explained to me, I began to lose hope/interest.

At first, I thought this would be the ideal position, as spring and summer would be available for me to take the sporadic PA gig and work on as many production jobs as I could get onto - thus building a work rep and gaining experience. But then, reality began to set in, and I saw the $12 per hour as nothing, really. There would be very few days of work from this point until the new school year, and I at least have 40 hours a week with the Ren job (at $8/hr - OUCH!) until something comes along.

Something with more hours...something with MORE pay...something at least in my new field?

Am I asking too much?

Apparently so.

On the brighter side, there may be an exciting development at the Ren grounds this summer, and it may lead to something production-like for me (in two different ways). I will keep you updated on this as I am allowed to let the cat out of the bag...right now, it just wouldn't be a good thing. However, it is exciting, so please keep your fingers and toes crossed, and good thoughts in your heads for me.

Meanwhile, it is time to get back to other things. But here's a funny or two for your amusement, since you've been very patient whilst I sorted through my snarky cloud.

Hey, it's back on TV20 - TONIGHT!

What do you mean, "What's back?"

Haven't you been listening? I know a lot of you have been asking about it.

It's a HOWLING good time on My TV20 - Fox 20, in Detroit.

Watch it! I dare ya!

Another thing I dare you to watch...this video by the Swamp Sisters. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MOa3fTmYfno

See you tonight at 12:30am, for the return of Nightmare Sinema with Wolfman Mac. Oh, and notice the new opening - you can't help but love it!

And watch for the homemade commercials in between the movie and the real thing (no, not Coke ads...our SPONSORS!!)... you'll see ME, as Maude Balmer (that's Mrs. M. Balmer, thank you).

ENJOY!!

OK, time to cast a vote, give me some help, please

So, yesterday I had an interview, directly after taking a call from one of the producers of the little indy film I was to be working on. What a crunking mess!

I mean, what would you do?

Let me lay it out for you.

The indy "job" is sporadic AT BEST, but when I initially spoke with Fred (indy producer), it was going to be 3 SOLID weeks of work...mostly at night. Mind you, "solid weeks" are comprised of 6 days, Monday through Saturday, from 10 to 12 hours each day. So, I can do that. I was looking at the experience and the chance to say I worked on a real movie production as a PA in the Art Department. Cool, right?!?!

But now, Fred is saying I may work Monday the 19th, sewing draperies, and not actually on the sets. Doggone it! Still, it is credit.

Here's the rub...I had an interview with the marketing people for the Michigan Renaissance Festival. Much closer to home. MUCH! So... less gas expended. It is a definite M-F job - everyday, from 8:30am to 5pm. It starts right away, and runs longer than 3 weeks - all summer, in fact.

Of course, the pay is less. Well, is it really?

Hmmmm.... let's do the math.

At $8 per hour, multiplied by 8 hours per day, that's $64 a day - pre-tax. Taking out estimated taxes, I figure take-home pay about $256 per week x 4.3 weeks in a month = roughly $1100 to pay bills, get food, etc.

HOWEVER...if the production job did give me 2 full weeks of pay - no matter WHAT the hours...that would equal $900 bucks. Since they don't take out taxes (you get a 1099 at the end of the year - and you pay the tax amount, SS$, etc. to the gov't), it would be that amount in pocket right now as I need it.

Again, though, keep in mind, there is no confirmed schedule I can expect to work with the production. Fred even said I may not use you all six days of any one week. So, I may only work one day the week of the 19th, and that's it! $75 one time....and I burned up eight to ten dollars in gas! Not to mention, I still don't know if they intend to pay me for the day I was called down (and went) to the apartment set to paint.

Question marks all around.

I realize that this is the nature of the production beast. My difficulty is that I have responsibilities to deal with. A mortgage and bills and a family to care for financially. I need the exerience and the good street cred, but I also need to find a balance until I can do what it is I really want to do - AND THAT I AM GOOD AT!!!

What would YOU do? Right now, it appears there may be conflicts, and it's not good.

Anybody want to weigh in with an opinion? Thanks!

Has it really been a week?

Wow, these last few weeks have really flown by. With nothing to occupy my time other than to look for work, send out an endless stream of resumes, have an interview here or there, look for work, clean and sort through papers/files, send out more resumes, beg for work, follow-up on interviews and previously sent out resumes...it's just flown by.

Look out!

DUCK! There goes May!

Has it really been a week since my last entry? Holy Spam-chops, Porkman-do!

I mean, I know it's only just begun, but it seems May is going to be an SST of a ride. There are only 2 more unemployment checks before it runs out, and then things are gonna squeak if I can't find something to pay the bills.

Dear Lord, please help me get to a paying job that will cover the bills and mortgage.

And while I am praying, please keep our family and friends in your loving care:

JOYCE, who is just beginning the next phase of her cancer treatment, and who also needs to be strong for a procedure to fix some trouble with her heart. She needs her strength for chemo, beginning next month. Help JEAN, who needs to keep her eyes on the prize and her spirits up, during the big D crap she is experiencing just now. She can do it! BRIAN, my oldest, who needs faith and determination. HE could do with a swift kick to the kiester to motivate him into ANYthing just now. With his recently printed artwork in an international horror story mag, he needs to accept that sometimes you really have to apply yourself to get somewhere. KARL, my youngest...please put on some sunglasses and come into the lighted/lighter areas of the world! Plan a future, or at least...think about working towards one. My brother, ANDY, he is also going through some trevails physically and job-wise. Carry him to some relief, please.

In Jesus name, I pray. Amen.

Oh! One more thing

Happy CINCO de MAYO, everyone!

And Happy UN-anniversary to a friend who needs to un-remember things, now. It starts off hard, but trust me...you'll get there.

One week later...

...and it's May!

Still applying for jobs...still following up on letters of interest, researching known companies and sending, sending, sending out those resumes. Aaaarrgh!!!

The one true bright spot is that I did get a 3-week gig with a production company, which begins the 19th of May! By the same token - I got a 3-week gig which begins the 19th...what happens if fortune and God open "the door" and hand me a job which begins before the production thing ends?!?!

Wouldn't that be just exactly what you'd expect to happen? LOL

The job I landed is a PA role in the Art Department - set dec and props!! Very cool, I know! Good experience and a real movie production role, so I am psyched. The biggest trouble issue could be the hours - 10 to 12 hours per day/6 days a week...working from sundown to sunrise. LOL Three weeks ought to be enough to make a real mess out of my sleep cycle, oui?

I have told the kindly folks at Nightmare Sinema that I will be absent for a few weeks for writer's meetings and a few tapings, and they were alright with it.

Hhmmmm??..................

Oh! one neat thing...I was asked to do a voice over for a "World of Pole" commercial to air on the Nightmare Sinema. No, it didn't pay, but it is exposure...so I will take it and run. Run like a sea monkey. I will be heard and identifiable, so there! Listen for it, as it should air either the 17th or the 24th.

Between that, and the 'Mrs. M. Balmer' character on the show, I am having fun and gaining experience and valuable resume time. Oh, and the "M" stands for "Maude." Hey, it was either that or "Marigold." Some of the others love the nagging bitch ability, and it appears as though she may be on every once in a while.

Look at him...you'd nag, too. Ick!

Sunday the cast and crew spent the afternoon at the Ford-Wyoming Drive-In in Dearborn, filming a good portion of the new opening for the show. The premise is: Wolfman Mac comes to own an old drive-in next to a cemetery, so of course the theater has some ghostly issues...or, should I say 'monstrous' issues? If people only knew how much fun working with a bunch of stiffs can be. I even pitched a bit (an idea) for one of the zombies to try and get a "gumball" from a dispenser, which turned out to be an eyeball...which he chased across the floor.

12 members from Hearse Clubs across the area joined us for the afternoon, lending their beautiful autos to the production. It was a perfect day, and it seemed to go about as smoothly as you would expect for chaos.

Naaaaw, really, it was pretty well-run considering the scale of the project and the ground to cover, versus the size of the production team.

Enjoy the pictures that follow.

Another year older and deeper in poo

For my birthday, the girls caught a mouse!

I don't know when the fun began, exactly, but right around first light, Flop followed the quarry noiselessly to the lower level. Despite her big cottony feet she made enough sound trying to move the furniture to get to the little Mickey-wanna-be, that I was awakened and very curious. Flop was desperate to get to the bugger, and of course, the little coward (mouse, that is) took the most direct path to the sewing area...and THAT'S when the fun began.

Eventually, Cleo joined the fray, and the real entertainment began! Between the two of them, the mouse was too scared to move more than a couple of feet. Once I moved some storage bins from their slots in the Ikea funiture tower (see a previous quilting entry for photo), there was pretty good access to the little rat fink...at which point Cleo poked it in the butt, and the mouse took off like a shot!

There was a darn good chase around the living area, culminating in the capture and release program held in the weight room.

Then Hobbes arrived.

She had that thing in her little vice-like jaws and upstairs before the other two knew what had happened. Hobbes does not monkey around!

So happy birthday to me...I got a mouse, and a DVD version of Love You to Death, a chocolate cake from my mom ("remote control delivery" via grandson number one), a gift certificate to JoAnn Fabrics, and lovely green buds on trees and shrubs! Who could ask for anything more?

Well....I could. May I have a full time, PAYING job, please?

Thanks for tuning in. More PRODUCTION NEWS soon. In the meanwhile, pray for a job, please.