Acting is a JOB. and I'm applying...

Listening to Tony The Beat by The Sounds.............................<3

Ok so I've had a lot of time to myself the past couple days but never have I been more active in my acting plans. I've been reading "Acting is a JOB" by Jason Pugatch. I am almost done after picking it up this afternoon.

It is mostly about acting in theater and in NYC, but the last half of it goes into film and tv, the unions, to train or not to train, Typecasting (very helpful), starting out in the biz, first impressions, agent interviews, the casting game and learning to never, ever, under any circumstance wear your hair in a ponytail when auditioning.

I am checkingout my test prints of our headshots tomorrow hopefully. I would have had them sooner, but I had no way of calling! (but I should have my new helio by thursday, thank God!)

After I actually recieve new headshots, I intend to get rid of them. as fast as possible. yes, it is still pilot season, and NO, I dont have an agent, but that dosnt mean I can't put my face out there when all the jobs are casting anyway. If someone needs a sassy freckled redhead, they will call me regardless of my union status or agent (I hope). Also I am going to take the advice of a lovely blonde 17 yr old's advice on landing an agent. I am going to Samuel French and getting a huge list of agents and letterheads and sending out my headshots and humble resume' (though I do have to say my resume is much improved from last year's 2 music video extra roles I had :o )

To all the agencies I can find... Ryan too. He is too good of an actor to NOT have an agent by now.

Then, depending on the response I get from that I will do 2 things.

-If I get a huge response (over 5 agencies wanting to meet up with me or sign me) I will move to hollywood as soon as possible and find a killer serving job and a cheap apartment so I can be more available for auditions if I sign with a decent agent. And I will keep my headshot.

-If I get no response (which is honestly what I'm expecting this late into the pilot season) I will get a second job, save up more money, get all new headshots, get them reprinted and get a few more lines on my resume filled up before I send out another mass-mailing of my spiffy new headshot and resume.

My friend Elisa (see pictured-->) moved here from Michigan in September and she already has an agent, by doing just what I laid out. Of course, she is 17. and her mom supports her. So I have that to go against. But I am happy that she had a great support network. It is so needed in this cutthroat biz. My family may think I am throwing my life away and not understand me, but Ryan is my support. He continues to encourage me and build me up when I feel overwhelmed, which is often! Everyone needs someone and I am very thankful that I have an understand boyfriend and supporter.

OH!

I forgot to blog about my filming experience on my first feature indie film!

Morbid: A Love Story!

I filmed allll day in the leading lady's aprmt in encino. Anna, the leading lady is hilarious and a great actress. Elisa, the 17 yr old blonde who plays the innocent best friend (my character countering by being bitchy party-girl) and reminded me alot of my friends back home, still innocent and very UN-LA. It was nice :)

Filming was long, yet we accomplished 12 pages in a day, which seemed great considering they were all different scenes! It was HOT and humid because the refigerator and a/c had to be turned off for noise. (the things you never think about as an actor...)

Anyway! I had a lot of fun and can't wait to film the "party" scene where I lead "Belle" into total debauchery! and I get to do my make up all crazy.

This weekend I get to film "Room For Rent", playing a fresh-out-of-rehab punk rocker looking for a room. that will be fun:)

Oh, and if youre wondering what to do on thursday, I'll be at the beach taking advantage of the perfect sunny weather that only LA gets this early in the year, seriously working on my tan.

good day!

out of reach, but still alive.

Well last week totally kicked my butt.





Friday was high-speed greeting, running in high heels, inhaling very little food and scattering around to find comfortable flats (reasonably priced) in the hollywood and highland complex. This of course AFTER they forgot to tell us we could have worn black flats instead of 2 inch black patent leather heels. I was fortunate enough to find a comfy pair of black ballet flats at ALDO, even though they were NOT cheap. but my ankles were bleeding from pain, so I bought them 7 hours in to the Verizon "Winner's Circle" Banquet. I met a very nice promo girl from Long Beach, who does promo modeling full time, around getting her communications degree. She ALSO survives without an agent. See? Not everyone needs to be told how to get work. She survives on her references and Ed Hardy calls her back just about every week. We both agree having an agent would be nice (for promo work! NOT for acting. I would love an acting agent!) however, a promo agent would not work with, well, having a (social) life, as many events come last minute, and have long hours.





Also, on Thursday, I was trying to take a picture of Ryan and he deflected it by slapping the phone out of my hand, crashing to the floor. Supressing my inner panic-attack about to happen, I pick up the phone and inspect it, TRYING to not yell at my otherwise lovely boyfriend. My beautiful Helio Drift is broken. Snapped shut and off its little tracks. It wont even light up anymore.

Alas, he offered to pay for a new one (thus saving our relationship), as I had insurance on the phone and it would cost 50 bucks to replace it. However, I being the tech-savy actress that I am, yearned for a better version. I craved a faster, better, more useful sidekick of phones. So I upgraded to the Helio Ocean. It is the first dual slider, full numeric keypad and full keyboard. All the capabilities of an Iphone, except the Ipod and touch screen, which drives me crazy anyways. Unlike the Iphone, the Ocean can send Picture Messeges, not just recieve them. It has the same speed and memory as an Iphone, and it is the best mobile reciever to get Youtube and myspace, which come free. So as excited as I am to get my sleek new Helio Ocean (same number, don't worry:) I am tired of being out-of-the-loop. I DON'T EVEN KNOW THE DATE TODAY! I have not spoken to my friends or family, I missed shifts at work because they "called my phone", and I am now set back financially from buying a $200 phone, with speedy shipping, because I just can't take not having a cell anymore. Ah well. I just ate a handful of grapes. I wanted Subway, but I'm gonna have to settle for grapes, because I bought a stinkin new phone. I can't even call Ryan from my house phone, because he has a "long-distance" area code!!


grrr. sorry. just had to vent for a minute..





In other news! I went to church on Sunday with Ryan and quite enjoyed it. The pastor didn't preach, he spoke casually in a way yours truley could understand, all the while keeping my attention! Hooray! Also, my best friend of 8 years, Bekah got to spend Easter in the Holy Land. Lucky!! I want to go to Israel so badly!





Also, today I found 5 Borders gift cards in my purse. I (thanks to Cassie, my little Yoda) went to check out some good reads on acting. I ordered the much acclaimed "Hollywood, Here I come" by Cynthia (something?) and bought "Acting is a JOB" by Jason Pugatch (real life lessons about the biz, and taking your career seriously) also bought "Acting For The Camera" by Tony Barr (I havnt started reading this one yet but I stumbled across it today when it was supposed to be completely out-of-print. It is something I need to read, coming from a strictly theater background.) Even though I am cut out from the world, save gmail and my blog, I am keeping myself very happy playing the starving (literally) actress, alone in her own world of books, art and inspiration. Though I would much rather be at the beach with my friends, which was the original plan for today before the loss of my Helio.


I will let you know how the books are. Also I found a neat little paper-bound book called 200 best comedic monologues 2 mins and under. that has some funny stuff in there, and I almost bought it, but I figure I can always go back to that when I have an actual NEED for a monologue. I havnt, since I've moved out here. How sad.





This week shall go something like this:





Tomorrow: Work at 5ish.





Wednesday: Read for actors in a casting call. I volunteered to read andbe part of the "casting process" that has fascinated me for so long. I want to know what it's like on the "other" side of the table...





Thurs: work at 6ish.





Fri: work at 6ish.





Sat: Filming the short youtube-to-be short film about the strange people you find on craigslist "Room For Rent" ay 10 am, work at 2pm til 8ish?





Sun: work at 10am, unless I can somehow change it to a dinner shift. And I will try.





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xoxo

This week filled up pretty fast!

I picked up an extra shift tonight at work, so thats money in the bank.





Also I am a little excited. Amy and I have been looking around for rooms and apartments and lofts in NOHO (yay!) and Tarzana (egh.) SHe even has a 3rd roommate lined up that is a history major at Pepperdine U. The problem is we all want to live in different areas. I in Hollywood, Amy near Burbank and her friend near Pepperdine (Malibu). So we agreed on NoHo or the Valley near the freeways. With the 3rd roommate having good credit and willing to pay up to $1,000 for her own room, Amy and I will be saving some major money. We have had OK luck on craigslist. We are meeting up tomorrow to make a master roster of available rooms in sensible areas and then going driving around to check them out. If all goes well, and we manage a very cheap room, I might be actually moving out!!! whoo!! Now the problem is finding a job once I get out there that pays BANK. I could go back to extra work but I still don't think Non Union extra work is going to get me anywhere with rent... at least we will be near nice resturaunts so I can get another job doing my FAVORITE thing in the whole world again....waiting tables :(





Good news!


Ryan and I ordered our headshots today and I am very happy with paying 83 bucks for 100 prints! If you need cheap, good headshots printed out, check out http://www.imagexperts.com/ . You can upload your photo online, pick your own rad border and put your name on the bottom in any font/color you like. I chose to pick them up, because I didnt want to pay for shipping. They are right of Sunset Blvd in Hollywood. I'll let you know what they look like printed out.


They also do greeting cards, normal photos and (model and actors) BUSINESS CARDS!





Also I found out what I will be doing on Friday. Thanks to craigslist.org I will be doing promo work on fri. in Hollywood. It's for a Verizon banquet and awards ceremony for the nations top sellers. Its going to be very nice and look like the grammys basically. Me and one other girl will be greeting and handing out awards and looking pretty from 1pm-midnight. a little long, but I wouldn't be doing anything on a friday night anyways. I got a picture of what the girls will be wearing on friday. Its a black outfit with coat tails and a top hat and leggings. I just have to buy some black heels before then. (How do I not own black heels?!?)
<------- my uniform friday. HA!




oh well, looks like I'll just have to go shopping, boo hoo :}





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Tomorrow-


Meet up with Amy to narrow down apartments and drive by prospective rooms.





Thurs-


Memorize lines and Film "Restless" end scene. Meet up with V for CD and prints of the "Trash the Dress" Photoshoot and get me pass to the Magic Castle!!





Fri-


Promo work aaaaaaaaaalllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllll day. 1pm-midnight in heels. eggh.





Sat-


Fiming my scene in "Morbid: A Love Story"!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! yay!!





Sun-


Happy Easter! I'll be closing work.

goodness me oh my

I dont EVEN know.

Lately yours truly has been in an anxious/nervous flutter. However talking to R always helps. That, and I worked a pretty decent 4 shifts in 3 days, sufficently catching me up on my finances. That is, until rent is due :(

I got 1 day scheduled this coming week for work.

I picked up 1 shift on tuesday, possibly friday but I am starting to think I need to get a temporary, second job. I've thought about several options:

• 
  
  working an easy job that I wouldnt feel bad about quitting the day of an audition I couldnt get covered like Sally's Beauty Supply, a candy shop or a flower shop. However they pay min wage without tips.


• 
  
  Going back to extra work mon-wed. Its guarenteed money and its easy and allows time to think and plan and read. However I live at LEAST 45 mins from any studio, and being non-union, its not quite worth the drive or the drain.. and it takes away from audition slots.


• 
  
  Finding gigs on craigslist to do on my days off, like promotional jobs or even go-go dancing. as they both pay extremely well in most cases. However I'm not having much luck with the promo submissions (maybe they only like blondes?) and my laptop isnt reliable. Also I don't know enough about go-go dancing to feel brave enough to audition just yet.

I wish I could just act for a living, however I am not quite there just yet:)

*ANY advice or suggestions on how to save more money while being able to maintain my sanity and acting aspirations, please please do share!!

As for tomorrow, I have the day off and am going to sleep in, then go to the gym and work off all the fat I ate this weekend! Summer, here I come!

Zombie!!

So Michaela came over one night and we were supposed to go see "The Other Bolyen Girl". Well, she was feeling sleepy so I said ok, we can do something else..

Then, after moments of pondering, I turn to my counterpart with a wild smile and ask, "How about you let me play with your face?"

I've been meaning to play around with with my old halloween paint/fake blood/latex.

(Michaela texting away, of course, this zombie comes with her helio attached to the hip.)

So, we spent the night in creating gashes and wounds and zombie make up for fun.

We later drove over to scare her brother in the middle of the night. payback for putting a toad under her bed ;)

Well I must say the blonde one makes a very cute zombie, if that were possible.

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ps- I'll be working from this point on until monday so don't be exasperated when I cant come to you St Patty's Day parties or hang out, bc Im working every night and a lot of doubles this weekend. ITS MONEY MAKIN TIME!

film and music

Today I was supposed to meet up with Naz, the director/writer of thr short film Restless I am in. We were supposed to do a short photoshoot with the other lead actress, so when she dies (sorry, I gave away the ending, lol) I can look at all the "old" photos of us and cry. Well the actress (we have not met yet so I don't know her name) has Chron's Disease, which is basically (IBS with blood problems) very very painful. Her disease flared up and she was hospitalized. We don't know when we will be able to finish filming, because we are waiting to hear back from her. However, I DID go out to Burbank anyways because Naz wanted to at least rehearse my shiny new monologue (Thanks Naz!)




Also I know this dosn't matter much but I have been spring cleaning my room and it looks gorgeous if I don't say so myself.





Yesterday I watched "She's The One" (older 90s movie) and though it was good I'm convinced there is no likeable character in that movie other than the old dad. That, and I am more convinced now than ever that Cameron Diaz is a hoe. Still, worth watching.


FILM UPDATES:


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• I am filming Morbid: A Love Story (my first indie feature film!) next weekend! YAY!


• Tommy Beaver's short dramatic film "The Student's Wife" is on hold while he writes a feature for (potentially) my favorite director of the moment, Jason Reitman (Thank You for Smoking, Juno) Which is fine, because I have a lot of films going on in a short amount of time.


• I got the audition for the youtube/short film about the crazies you meet online called "Room For Rent". I auditioned for serveral roles (Mostly the Valley Girl and The Punk) and I got the call yesterday from Glenton Richards (director) letting me know I got the part of the Punk Rocker!! I'm actually really excited about this because it's really funny and I finally am not typecast as the flippin' girlfriend!!!!!!! :)


• "Restless" the short film will obviously resume within the month, when the actress gets better, or they replace her.
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MUS!C

hey guess what! I have some new favorite bands! No, they're not rap this time... :(

I have found a new favorite genre: indie lo-fi. If you don't know what I mean think The White Stripes meets The Shins. Some good jams I've found that are mostly but not nessicarily "lo-fi" are:

• The Kills-Very european british duo, similar to the White Stripes but with better voices. Check out "Wait"


• Coconut Records- Jason Schwartzman made himself a band! Check out "West Coast".


• The Blow- A (mostly) one-woman-band with a wonderous and childlike view of the world. Addictive tunes. Check out "Hey Boy".

Well, Thats all for now. I have to finish taxes, hit the gym as I am pitifully out of shape and hope hope HOPE that I don't have jury duty tomorrow morning!

xoxo

cassie's last night in LA

Last wednesday was Cassie's last night in Hollywierd.

She is off to travel the country to film her documentary on Purty Balls.

Though I was still sicky, Cassie, Jason and I went to the Hotel Cafe in Hollywood and saw Courtney Jones play live. Courtney Jones is the new Vanessa Carlton, if you didn't know, and she's sweet as a kitten in person.

We had fun, persuring the town and hanging out with some of Cassie's old friends, had a short jam session at Jason's Sar's Bar. Cassie and I mostly hummed along while we admired people who are more gifted in music than we are... Our call in life is definately ACTING. Not singing... lol

Anyway, I am having laptop issuses. I cannot email pictures (it just dosnt show up) or post them on myspace (bc my laptop cant pull up myspace) or facebook (it freezes when I go to photos or make new album). I have been very frustrated trying to post pictures lately, finally, I am able to post pictures (one by one!) on blogger, so Cassie, this post is for you!

And God Speed on filming <3

thoughts.

This post is mainly for me.

I have been out of comission this past.... month? due to a nasty sinus and ear infection that I just recently have found a perfect cure-formula that I follow religiously:

wakeup: take 2 excedrin for pounding headache, lay back down

get up when life-theatening pounding headache subsides, take amoxicillian.

blow nose for hours.

take mid-day amoxicillan.

blownose for hours, feel better. eat soup. throw soup up.

take night time amoxicillan.

blow nose as long as possible and take a heavy dose of Nyquil to fall alseep

Make sure my head is propped up on at least 2 pillows for drainage. fun.

Take 1 honey cold eeze lozenge to stop coughing.

repeat.

good news:

I lost 4 pounds and am feeling much better!!

bad news:

I lost hundreds of dollars by missing a lot of work and having my car fixed and dr bills. I feel completely out-of-wack and useless, not to mention socially unacceptable. I have been the biggest "flake" the past months, I don't even get phone calls anymore. Which is fine, because I really don't have time to "hang out" the only people I want to see are Ryan and my very close friends, or people to network with.

Which brings me to my goals.

This weekend, I can print out Ryan's new headshot from Lisa, which looks AMAZING, and it seems to be the sole joy/relief in my life right now. Also I hope to have Albert send me my new headshot to be printed.

Next weekend I start filming Morbid! YAY!! can't wait!

Tuesday: photoshoot with Naz, the Director of the new short film I am in (oh, yeah, I got the part!) titled "Restless". A man loses his family due to his work and his ego. His wife leaves him and I play the sister in law who breaks the bad news of his wife's untimely death to him at the end. The photoshoot will be pictures of me and my "sister". so when i'm looking at the "good old time" photos of us at the end, they will actually be of us. Shooting for that probably sometime within the next 2 weeks.

Today I had an audition for a short film about the strange people you meet on the internet (about putting an ad on craigslist for a roommate actually, lol). I got there WAY early, but ended up being able to talk to the directors a bit and get to know them. I think I did well, I made them laugh and they asked me to read several different ways and for more characters than I was slated to read for, so i think that is a good sign! We will know by monday...

Ryan got into a car accident yesterday, a fender-bender. He rear-ended a lady going about 10 mph. The damage wasnt too bad, as they were barely moving, but his bumper needs to be fixed. And his insurance will go up again :( I drove him to work (He started back standing-in on CSI) and we got there just in time. I hung out with Amy and her new(ish) boyfriend Nate in NoHo until Ryan finished with CSI around midnight and I drove him home. Hopefully Ryan's car will be back in running order by Monday.

Wednesday Cassie and I went to a concert of friend of hers with Jason and his friend and we met one of Cassie's old friend there who is also a singer. that was a lot of fun. But now Cassie is off to film her documentary in Las Vegas, TN and AL... I'm definately going to miss her while she is gone. errgg...

Happy Daylights Savings Time! Spring Forward! Lose an hour of sleep! Don't be late for work!

I know I want to be!

...coffee is going to be so sweet in the morning...

Restless is right

Today I interviewed for a short film- "Restless".

I met up with the director and the lead actor at a starbucks in the valley. They were very young and sorta quiet, but nice. I think I got the part, but we will see. They gave me the script to look over, but they will let me know if I will get the part on wednesday... ok?
Well the script is very dramatic and is a 10 min short "to be sumbitted to film festivals"...
The director is 18.
He writes, directs and sometimes acts in his productions.
awesome.
Well, IF I get the part... it ought to be a quick shoot, and hopefully they will find it in their hearts to give me a copy sometime, so I can use it for my reel. I can always use crying scenes for a reel!


In other news on the Amber front:
I went shopping with Ryan today before he had to go to work and persuaded him to get a blue thermal shirt from AE. We almost got him some nice shoes too. (Baby steps, people.) It was suprisingly fun and I look forward to spending his money (on clothes for HIM) again! heee...

I started the antibiotics today and they make me a bit drowsy... so now, even though I have been chugging black coffee from starbucks all day, I am restless.

I have really enjoyed the responses on facebook about the headshots. I have gotten some really good feedback. hands down, the vote is for my second one (B) and Ryan's 1st. I emailed Albert to touch them up and he didn't think they were the best choices out of all the images we took!
*sigh*
So, I told him, well, you look at the images and send me a couple of what you think looks best, and ill show them to Ryan and we'll decide between our picks and yours. I just need headshots, but I want them to look good and of course I want my own photographers professional opinion! So after all that I may just use what Albert gives me, but then again, I might not. He told me I could "veto" his choices. So, we will see. Ryan and I are just desperate for headshots right now! We need them touched up and printed out all nice and pretty...

Tomorrow:
Amy the Aussie called me today and I think a reunion is in order. She is working for her mom's music and tv co. She mostly works in Reality tv as I understand, poor thing. But we might just move in together when we can scrape up the money. So we are tenatively set to go out to eat late tomorrow night and catch up.

Wed:
Find out if I made the short film "Restless". and meet up to read through the script.

Thurs:
Kevin's basketball game in the 'Nard. apparently its going to be a family affair.

Fri:
Closing work.

Sat:
opening work. :( Hopefully if Ryan isnt working I can go to Cornerstone Church's college night. Give that one more try.

Sun:
work at 5. Hopefully Ryan and I will be able to check out a new church, The Church of Rocky Peak.

Ryan and I are trying to find a good church we enjoy going to... We need to work on our "vertical" relationship.

Oh, I almost forgot! I thought I would never come, I got the shooting schedule for Morbid: A Love Story yesterday!!! YAY!!! I'm so so excited to start filming this! I start shooting March 15th and 16th and finish around May 3rd. The film will completely wrap in July.


PS-
If anyone needs a roomate in the next few months, send them my way! Looking to live in Hollywood, or as close to it as possible. ;)

hooray!

I finally went to the urget care clinic in Oxnard today. I had to miss another day of work but WHO CARES!?! I HAVE ANTIBIOTICS!!!!!

AHAHAHAHAA!!



sorry *cough*cough* I get a little excited...

I'm just so happy that I can start getting better! Which means I can:

• Go back to work and save money!


• Go to auditions again!


• Finish a list of things I need to get done!


• And have a blossoming social life again!!!

WHOO HOOO!

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In other news, I have been narrowing down our headshots to be touched up and printed.

Let me know what you think.

Exhibit A: a more serious, black Radiers jersey headshot (that has gotten a lot of good reviews, and it wasn't even supposed to be for a headshot!) EXHIBIT A:

Exhibit B: a happier, more commercial, sunny green and white polka-dotted shirt headshot, that still needs to be touched up and cropped. EXHIBIT B:

Ryan's I have narrowed down to three. The first one I like the best, even though I insisted on him wearing the blue shirt one, and making him shave his face, I still like the "bad-ass" black tattoo shirt better (shout out to http://www.wildrosetattooshirts.com/ !) and I like that his face looks kind but serious. RYAN 1:

The second black one is also good, but needs some color correction and touching up still. I like them both. RYAN 2:

The one I originally wanted him to use, in the blue shirt headshot. It is supposed to make him look younger and more likeable, but i dunno. the black shirt ones turned out pretty good. RYAN 3:

Lastly, there is also a really old one of his that I love, but for some reason he dosn't like. All of Ryan's needs to be touched up and or cropped still, but what you think?!?!?

**If you have NEVER commented on my blog before, NOW is the time to do it! I NEED your opinions! you don't have to have a blogger, you can comment under anonymous :)**

Thanks!!

sick, sick. sick-sick-sick.

Greetings good readers of my blog.

Bad news and good news.

Good news is I have a Dr. Appt! (I have been sick with a "cold" for close to 3 weeks now)

I got into the ACE Program for Adults, which isn't quite health care (can't afford that just yet) but it is a beat little program through Ventura county that provides anyone older than 19 (that is independent and not well off) with the ability to see a Dr without having to pay a premium for health insurance, just a co-pay. So my co-pay for office visits are $15. not bad! I can even (supposedly, we will see) get generic perscriptions for next to nothing.

Bad News is the earliest appt. I could get was March 12th. almost 2 weeks from now. egghhhh. Well, I HOPE I won't still be sick 2 weeks from now, but it's worth having it checked out and meeting my first Dr. in 4 years anyway. I've been extremely blessed to have been able to survive without health insurance so long, especially with preivious serious blood and heart conditions that have left me hospitalized... I guess God was right when He said He wouldn't give you anything you couldn't handle...

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CAR:

Well as some of you know, my car died on me last week. I finally got a new battery and alternator, which pretty much used up all my "rainy day" money I had saved up, and then some... so now I'm back to ground zero. Well, maybe even negative a few degrees.

I was looking in the paper this morning (and when I say morning, I mean noon) and found car ads. There are some really good monthly payments deals on civics and yaris'. I really like the yaris so I cut out an ad of it and put it on my mirror to remind me that I need to work etra hard these next few months to be able to make a good down payment on new car this summer. I think I can afford 146 a month! Now if I can just get BETTER so I can get more hours at work...

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Nothing much else is new. Ryan and I are both still sick and completely and misreably M.I.A from anything remotely social.