tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9756769613678501152024-02-18T19:13:13.831-08:00Shattering the FacadeAnonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13617013469397591621noreply@blogger.comBlogger51125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-975676961367850115.post-47442274703297780932016-07-13T11:13:00.000-07:002016-07-13T11:17:13.469-07:00Walking Away. . .<div style="border: 0px; font-family: "open sans", arial, sans-serif; margin-bottom: 1.857em; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="background-color: #b4a7d6; color: white;">This Blog originally appeared on Ms In The Biz. . . http://msinthebiz.com/author/elizabeth-mihelich/</span></div>
<div style="border: 0px; font-family: "open sans", arial, sans-serif; margin-bottom: 1.857em; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="background-color: #b4a7d6; color: white;">Have you ever had an out of body experience, standing nearby, watching yourself in a scenario that you can’t stop from happening and you’re not exactly sure how you got there? That’s how I felt as I watched myself, standing on my porch having a conversation with Mr. Money screaming at me, “You’re not a producer. STOP CALLING YOURSELF A PRODUCER.”</span></div>
<div style="border: 0px; font-family: "open sans", arial, sans-serif; line-height: 31.569px; margin-bottom: 1.857em; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="background-color: #b4a7d6; color: white;">Let me back up a little bit.</span></div>
<div style="border: 0px; font-family: "open sans", arial, sans-serif; line-height: 31.569px; margin-bottom: 1.857em; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="background-color: #b4a7d6; color: white;">About 5 months ago Mr. Money, who I’d been a friend with for 10 years, called and asked if I would help produce his feature that he’d been sitting on for 10 years. He’d donated some money to past short films of mine and was impressed with what I had been able to do with little to no budget. I jumped at the prospect of producing a feature, the next logical step in my producing journey. Bonus, I actually really liked the premise of the film and knew that we could make an amazing movie AND the prospect of working with an actual budget that’s more than $5000? I’m in.</span></div>
<div style="border: 0px; font-family: "open sans", arial, sans-serif; line-height: 31.569px; margin-bottom: 1.857em; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="background-color: #b4a7d6; color: white;">I quickly requested a month off from my restaurant job knowing that once we had shoot dates, I’d really only need 2 weeks off for the actual shoot dates and since he was going to pay me a little, I’d be able to afford at least those two weeks off.</span></div>
<div style="border: 0px; font-family: "open sans", arial, sans-serif; line-height: 31.569px; margin-bottom: 1.857em; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="background-color: #b4a7d6; color: white;">We were a few months into working together when I quickly learned that being a producer means lots of phone conversations with the money man, talking about the process, and juggling lots of different personalities. I’ve always known that, but when there’s one person holding all the cards, aka the money, there’s a bit more dancing to do.</span></div>
<div style="border: 0px; font-family: "open sans", arial, sans-serif; line-height: 31.569px; margin-bottom: 1.857em; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="background-color: #b4a7d6; color: white;">I admit that I was nervous to discuss how much he was going to pay me but knew that we were going to have to do it eventually. One day I hesitantly broached the subject, asking for what I knew I would make at my restaurant gig, praying that he would say, sure, that’s fine. When he came back with double that amount, I was floored. I was also excited and so grateful. Paying me that kind of money meant I could actually afford to take off the entire month to focus on the production! A whole month of NOT being a server, this is a dream come true. It also upped my ante in this game. I immediately knew that I was now responsible for this entire project, to push it through to fruition, to love and care for it as if it were my own.</span></div>
<div style="border: 0px; font-family: "open sans", arial, sans-serif; line-height: 31.569px; margin-bottom: 1.857em; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="background-color: #b4a7d6; color: white;">Mr. Money and I had some difficult conversations. He had a director and cinematographer on board with the project for a few years. When he had a conversation with the cinematographer (who has his own camera, equipment and crew) he was quoted $125,000 for a 14-day shoot. That was almost our entire budget. Talk about tying my hands and not leaving anything else for the project. After some research I discovered that if the full budget is $100,000, you’d have $30-40K to spend on the entire camera department in order to come in under budget.</span></div>
<div style="border: 0px; font-family: "open sans", arial, sans-serif; line-height: 31.569px; margin-bottom: 1.857em; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="background-color: #b4a7d6; color: white;">The director is a first time director who makes his living editing, which is fine, I love that Mr. Money wants to give his friends a chance, and support their dreams. But, when the director wouldn’t commit to the project, I lovingly suggested that perhaps it was time to release him from his role as director.</span></div>
<div style="border: 0px; font-family: "open sans", arial, sans-serif; line-height: 31.569px; margin-bottom: 1.857em; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="background-color: #b4a7d6; color: white;">I was willing to look past that his “audition process” was to meet actors at a café, sit around a table, talk about the project to make sure they “got it” and then declare (in front of the actors) “I think they’re great! You guys?” I was willing to have unending phone conversations that seemed to go in circles. I was willing to accept that we couldn’t send anyone the script and that I couldn’t tell anyone else what the actual budget was. I was not willing to become the verbal punching bag with him screaming at me on the phone.</span></div>
<div style="border: 0px; font-family: "open sans", arial, sans-serif; line-height: 31.569px; margin-bottom: 1.857em; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="background-color: #b4a7d6; color: white;">I hung up from that conversation in tears. I was in shock. Saturday when I had last spoke to Mr. Money on the phone he was over the moon, ecstatic to be moving forward, on Tuesday, he was screaming at me that I was awful. This all stemmed from his inability to get the new cinematographer on the phone. He had after all called him yesterday and emailed him an hour ago and he was yet to return. Not to mention the fact that he had quoted him $60K to shoot the film with all equipment and crew. I knew that he was aiming high, that sight unseen having not read the script; that he would quote higher in order to protect his company. He had assured me we would come in WAY under that and once he got the script would give us an accurate quote. Mr. Money could not understand any of that and because I had caused him to “burn bridges” with two of his friends and move on to other options, this was entirely my fault.</span></div>
<div style="border: 0px; font-family: "open sans", arial, sans-serif; line-height: 31.569px; margin-bottom: 1.857em; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="background-color: #b4a7d6; color: white;">On Friday when I hadn’t heard from Mr. Money I called him. I told him that as my friend he really hurt my feelings and that I wanted an apology. He said, “Fine, as your friend, I apologize. BUT. . .” and proceeded to yell at me some more, this time throwing in that EVERYONE on the project thought I was AWFUL and if they knew he was paying me that they would be appalled.</span></div>
<div style="border: 0px; font-family: "open sans", arial, sans-serif; line-height: 31.569px; margin-bottom: 1.857em; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="background-color: #b4a7d6; color: white;">This is not how I want to be treated as a producer, nor is this the experience that I want to set up to be the norm for my career. I understand that this industry is full of people and situations exactly like this, but they are not ones that I want to be a part of. Walking away from a lot of money that would afford me the freedom to escape the restaurant for a month was not easy. In the end, that’s what I decided to do. I value my connections in this industry too much to put them in a possibly explosive and harmful work environment. I value my own sanity and myself too much to put myself in that situation. Being able to say, “This is a ‘Fuck No’ for me” was and is way more important than any amount of money or experience will ever be. I chose me.</span></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13617013469397591621noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-975676961367850115.post-57350939433517579792016-06-13T09:58:00.001-07:002016-06-13T09:59:59.356-07:00The Correlation between Gun Laws and Drunk Driving Laws.<h3>
In 1981, my Uncle Tim was killed by a drunk driver while he was standing on a corner waiting to cross the street in Greeley, CO. The driver of the car had been drinking in a bar for 12 hours before he got behind the wheel of his car. He was so drunk that he didn't realize that he had run over and killed my Uncle and a friend of his.</h3>
<h3>
<br />This event shattered my family, so much so that I've never really heard the full story about everything that happened. I know that they all suffered through the trial of the guy who ran my Uncle over. There was a whisper once about how when the verdict was read aloud, "A $200? fine and community service" for killing TWO people, that my Grandfather exploded in the courtroom and had to be escorted out. </h3>
<h3>
<br />Knowing the strict laws and punishments that we have now against Drunk Driving, this verdict is hard to imagine. It took a group of Mothers who banded together to change a law that was killing innocent people to effect positive change. MOTHERS AGAINST DRUNK DRIVING (MADD) got its start in 1980 when 21,000 people a year were being killed due to drunk driving. My grandmother, Charlotte Whitmore became a very active member of MADD. She helped push for all of the laws that protect us now. She regularly spoke to groups of DUI offenders so they would remember and feel the impact of what could have happened when they got behind the wheel of their car drunk. <a href="http://www.chiefads.com/import/victim-of-drunken-driver-struggles-to-rebuild-life/article_f0e56167-100c-55c9-a5b5-5b3d910d13d4.html">This article </a>highlights that.</h3>
<h3>
<br />As we witnessed yet another shooting yesterday in Orlando, FL, where a single man took the lives of 50 innocent people and injured 53 others with one weapon in a matter of minutes, the expected and all too common arguments on Facebook began to pop up about those who are calling for gun control and those who are staunchly against it. I got into one of those FB arguments myself and ended up deleting my thread because I felt like I didn't have the energy to sustain that with such sadness on my heart. My Grandma Charlotte would be sorely disappointed in me. She spent the remainder of her life after Tim's passing fighting with sadness on her heart every day.</h3>
<h3>
<br />Here's the thing that struck me the most yesterday, what MADD did is all that we're asking to do with stricter gun laws. When MADD started organizing in 1980 and calling for stricter laws against drunk driving, I'm sure that they were up against some opposition, but it seems crazy that if this were happening today people would speak out against it as adamantly as they do about gun control.</h3>
<h3>
<br />Can you imagine the FB statuses if people used the same argument against MADD as they do for Guns? "You can't take away my car. My car is mine and its my constitutional right to get wasted and plow someone down." "Being able to get in my car and drive drunk so I can get away from all the other drunk drivers is how I PROTECT myself." That seems crazy, but these are the EXACT same things that people ARE saying about their guns.</h3>
<h3>
<br />Would the argument, "Its not BOOZE and CARS who kill people, its PEOPLE who KILL PEOPLE" be thrown around as much as "Its not GUNS that kill PEOPLE, its PEOPLE who kill PEOPLE" is today?</h3>
<h3>
People are dying because of laws that aren't protecting them. </h3>
<h3>
In 2016 so far we have had 23,317 incidents with Gun Violence so far THIS YEAR, and we're halfway through it. In 1980 21,000 people were being killed by drunk drivers. Why was this number such a catalyst for change in 1980 and we barely blink an eye at it today?</h3>
<h3>
<br />No one is saying that they want to take your guns away. What we are saying is please enact some laws that protect innocent people from being killed by Assault Rifles. These were designed for war and no civilian should be in possession of them or be able to get them so easily.</h3>
<h3>
<br />It took a group of Mother's personally affected by Drunk Driving to rally others and convince them that being able to drive drunk was a bad idea. It can be done. Sure, this gun battle, excuse the pun, is much bigger, but things can be done. How about for the first step we start thinking about this rationally?</h3>
<h3>
<br />MADD changed laws and no one lost their ability to drive. They raised the legal drinking age, (so I guess 18 year olds lost their booze (legally) for three years), but that's because we were able to look at the situation we were in objectively, intelligently and deduce, okay, maybe this wasn't such a good idea. We see now the error of our ways. We love our cars. We love to drive. We love our booze. We love to drink. We see now that the combination of those things aren't exactly the best together, lets make the intelligent choice to protect the innocent people in our country from having their lives torn apart or ended.</h3>
<h3>
<br />When will we see the error of our ways? When will we realize that fear mongering, lobbyists, money, lack of mental healthcare for those who need it, violent video games and movies that desensitize us to the loss of human life have led us to where we are now? When will we be as fearless as that group of mothers who stood up for the babies that were ripped out of their lives and taken forever? Does it have to be your SON, your DAUGHTER, your BROTHER, your SISTER, your AUNT, your UNCLE for you to finally open your eyes and take action? We are better than this, we are smarter than this and we owe it the 50 people who lost their lives yesterday while they were dancing, loving, laughing and living life to its fullest to do something about it now.</h3>
<h3>
<br />To learn more about Mothers Against Drunk Driving, visit their <a href="http://www.madd.org/?referrer=http://www.madd.org/drunk-driving/state-stats/Colorado.html">website</a>.</h3>
<h3>
<br />About <a href="https://www.lifesafer.com/blog/the-history-of-drunk-driving-laws-in-the-u-s/">MADD</a>, <ul style="background-color: #f7f9fa; box-sizing: border-box; color: #6b6b6b; font-family: "Droid Sans", Arial, Helvetica, Tahoma, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 15px;">
<li style="box-sizing: border-box; list-style-type: square; margin: 0px 0px 0px 30px; padding: 5px 0px; position: static;">In 1980, Mothers Against Drunk Drivers, or MADD, was founded by Candy Lightner after her 13-year-old daughter was killed on her way home from a school carnival by a drunk driver. The driver had three previous DUI convictions and was out on bail from a hit-and-run arrest two days earlier. When MADD was founded in 1980, more than 21,000 people were killed in drunk driving crashes each year. Lightner and MADD helped to change the public’s attitudes about drunk driving. The group pushed for tougher legislation for those convicted of driving under the influence of alcohol and drugs. MADD also successfully pushed to have the legal drinking age raised.</li>
</ul>
<ul style="background-color: #f7f9fa; box-sizing: border-box; color: #6b6b6b; font-family: "Droid Sans", Arial, Helvetica, Tahoma, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 15px;">
<li></li>
</ul>
</h3>
<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13617013469397591621noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-975676961367850115.post-12440141933916045762016-01-04T10:29:00.000-08:002016-01-15T16:05:25.798-08:00Shattering The Simplest Truth<div style="color: #3d596d; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, 'Times New Roman', Times, serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 25.5px; margin-bottom: 24px;">
Blog originally appeared at <a href="https://litupyou.wordpress.com/">https://litupyou.wordpress.com/</a></div>
<div style="color: #3d596d; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, 'Times New Roman', Times, serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 25.5px; margin-bottom: 24px;">
I've noticed a reoccurring theme popping up in readings and conversations with friends lately. My specialty with my Clairvoyant readings seems to be relationships, specifically romantic ones, most likely because I LOVE LOVE and all things that have to do with love.</div>
<div style="color: #3d596d; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, 'Times New Roman', Times, serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 25.5px; margin-bottom: 24px;">
<img alt="Your-heart" class=" wp-image-30 aligncenter" data-mce-src="https://litupyou.files.wordpress.com/2015/12/your-heart.jpg" height="146" src="https://litupyou.files.wordpress.com/2015/12/your-heart.jpg" style="display: block; height: auto; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; max-width: 100%;" width="234" /></div>
<div style="color: #3d596d; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, 'Times New Roman', Times, serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 25.5px; margin-bottom: 24px;">
During a reading the other day my client, lets call her Not Her Real Name Cathy, asked me to look at the state of her current relationship. She's been "seeing" a guy for about 6 weeks now and the last time we did a reading together, she was pretty over the moon about him. I'll say Not Her Real Name Cathy has made leaps and bounds since our first reading together. She made so many leaps and bounds that by the time we did her second reading, roughly 2 months later, she needed another reading because she was in overwhelm, having successfully brought in a new relationship, new side gig and some acting work! I was amazed with how quickly she and I had been able to manifest everything she wanted. We started her 3rd reading, a quickie, only 30 minutes, to look at the current state of her relationship. They had been seeing one another for about 6 weeks, with neither of them pushing to "label" it or set any boundaries and Not Her Real Name Cathy had reached her limit with this arrangement.</div>
<div style="color: #3d596d; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, 'Times New Roman', Times, serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 25.5px; margin-bottom: 24px;">
When I called up a picture of Not Her Real Name Cathy and her gentleman caller it looked to me like he was still present with her, still standing as close as the last time I looked and his energy was present and flowing towards her. The image quickly shifted from a different point of view and from that perspective, her perspective, he appeared to be further away from him. I listened to her explain why she was worried and how he felt like he was distant, that she wanted to ask for more in the relationship, but didn't feel like he was ready to have "the talk" or if he could handle it.</div>
<div style="color: #3d596d; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, 'Times New Roman', Times, serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 25.5px; margin-bottom: 24px;">
The message that came through loud and clear, that I've repeated to at least 3 other friends since then was this, "Let HIM participate in the relationship." NHRNC had spent so much energy and time trying to figure out what he wanted, what he was capable of and ready for but so far all she was doing about it was guessing. Spirit wanted her to let him have a chance to be a part of the relationship by actually allowing him to participate in it. I encouraged her to ask for what she needed in the relationship by actually verbalizing and making her needs known and to give him a chance to respond with what he needs and whether or not he felt like he could meet them for her. Don't guess. Don't assume. Don't know because one time he said this thing on Facebook about being eternally single #blessed. Give him the chance to decide.</div>
<div style="color: #3d596d; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, 'Times New Roman', Times, serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 25.5px; margin-bottom: 24px;">
This year, 2016, is the year that we all choose to let one another participate. Let's share how we feel when we feel scared, or ask for a hug when we need one. Stop trying to connect with someone, understand them and know them through technology or social media. We've all spent so much time FB stalking, Googling and Tweeting at people in order to understand them, connect with them, and know them, we forget that we could simply ask them how they feel, what they love, who they are.</div>
<div style="color: #3d596d; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, 'Times New Roman', Times, serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 25.5px; margin-bottom: 24px;">
<br /></div>
<div class="wpview-wrap" data-wpview-rendered="" data-wpview-text="%5Bgallery%20ids%3D%2234%2C35%22%20type%3D%22rectangular%22%5D" data-wpview-type="gallery" style="-webkit-user-select: none; border: 1px solid transparent; clear: both; color: #3d596d; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, 'Times New Roman', Times, serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 25.5px; margin-bottom: 16px; position: relative; width: 558.938px;">
<div class="wpview-selection-before" style="-webkit-user-select: text; border: 0px; clip: rect(1px 1px 1px 1px); height: 1px; left: 0px; margin-bottom: 24px; outline: 0px; overflow: hidden; padding: 0px; position: absolute; top: 0px; width: 1px; z-index: -1;">
<br /></div>
<div class="wpview-body" style="-webkit-user-select: none;">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2mwf8mav9Sn1tFEeeY8kn8GA6Z62htp75TjljKRJs9q_W33QrcJ_vv7x8Cw5q1hZecSy4Bf-l6CuhynQRon2wDI2CLHoONjvwR6jUgVai0D_7MEiMmEceGIV3UWFb7c3ZP43Bo1e8TIiz/s1600/the+and.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2mwf8mav9Sn1tFEeeY8kn8GA6Z62htp75TjljKRJs9q_W33QrcJ_vv7x8Cw5q1hZecSy4Bf-l6CuhynQRon2wDI2CLHoONjvwR6jUgVai0D_7MEiMmEceGIV3UWFb7c3ZP43Bo1e8TIiz/s200/the+and.jpg" width="185" /></a></div>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-LzksZRAQ70D4F1rguA91zyxOKrmg1kJReredIl16AtEVcCnbp0fjVXxwmkpV0fDLbzp564OCDLSHYXkJxAWH_9ji3LzX8YjmBoqHdLEk0mjC9aM-dgoyEksKhKdqjzhP9jwgBr9hcUzD/s1600/word-written-sparkle-firework-black-background-60768849.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="133" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-LzksZRAQ70D4F1rguA91zyxOKrmg1kJReredIl16AtEVcCnbp0fjVXxwmkpV0fDLbzp564OCDLSHYXkJxAWH_9ji3LzX8YjmBoqHdLEk0mjC9aM-dgoyEksKhKdqjzhP9jwgBr9hcUzD/s200/word-written-sparkle-firework-black-background-60768849.jpg" width="200" /></a><br />
<div class="wpview-content wpview-type-gallery" data-reactid=".8" style="-webkit-user-select: none;">
<br /></div>
<div class="wpview-content wpview-type-gallery" data-reactid=".8" style="-webkit-user-select: none;">
<br /></div>
<div class="wpview-content wpview-type-gallery" data-reactid=".8" style="-webkit-user-select: none;">
We challenge you to have open, honest conversations, in person, allowing them to participate fully in the relationship that the two of you have built together. Otherwise, why even be in a relationship with someone else? We're guessing that 9 times out of 10 their answer will surprise you and fulfill your needs at the same time.</div>
</div>
</div>
<div style="color: #3d596d; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, 'Times New Roman', Times, serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 25.5px; margin-bottom: 24px;">
It feels like we are craving this kind of honest, open connection. If you haven't checked out The <a data-mce-href="https://fpdl.vimeocdn.com/vimeo-prod-skyfire-std-us/01/4705/5/148525235/451740684.mp4?token=5680b94a_0x2b3ba543b1eb296feb51953df2b5d6250eeb64e8" href="https://fpdl.vimeocdn.com/vimeo-prod-skyfire-std-us/01/4705/5/148525235/451740684.mp4?token=5680b94a_0x2b3ba543b1eb296feb51953df2b5d6250eeb64e8" style="color: #00aadc;">AND</a>, its thrilling and exciting and just true, honest, connection. Or if you want a little help having an open. honest conversation where you actually learn something about your partner, check out <a data-mce-href="http://www.nytimes.com/2015/01/11/fashion/no-37-big-wedding-or-small.html" href="http://www.nytimes.com/2015/01/11/fashion/no-37-big-wedding-or-small.html" style="color: #00aadc;">36 Questions that Lead to Love</a>.</div>
<div style="color: #3d596d; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, 'Times New Roman', Times, serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 25.5px;">
Happy Connecting.</div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13617013469397591621noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-975676961367850115.post-15740859003879594332015-12-08T17:50:00.000-08:002015-12-08T17:50:44.545-08:00The Energetic Reason You Shouldn't Carry Credit Card DebtI've been working on consolidating my credit card debt into a loan so that I can pay it all off once and for all. If you're an avid reader or follower of this blog you know that this is something I've been working on, off and on, for about 10 years. Money is simply an energy and I've been holding on to a few truths about money in my space for awhile now. Mostly that I'm bad with money, can't handle having large amounts of it and that I don't deserve to live a life of abundance.<br />
<br />
While reflecting with a psychic genius friend of mine this morning I had an enlightening AHA! My loan came through this morning and I joyfully spent the morning paying off large chunks of debt with high interest rates! It was joyful, empowering and FUN! Then it hit me. All of the things that I had used my credit cards for were energetically stuck in my space, following me around, making it difficult for me to attract and accept more abundance. Every time I had to use my card out of guilt because I didn't have enough money in my account to buy groceries was stuck in my space. When I had to pay the vet $900 for my little dog who was attacked by a coyote, was doing the same thing! All of that fear, anxiety, terror and GUILT that I let her get attacked was STILL in my space.<br />
<br />
Of COURSE, there were some good memories in there as well. My families trip to Mexico to celebrate my Dad's 65th birthday was a big amount of debt I was carrying that had a positive vibration to it, but it still made it hard for me to find the space in my life to enjoy something like that again.<br />
<br />
I have no doubt that if I used my cards consciously and made sure before each purchase that I did it from a place of abundance, joy and freedom that I COULD make the energy of my credit cards work for me. I know for a fact that I wasn't. <br />
<br />
So why is this loan different? Because I accepted it from a place of power, allowing me the freedom to get my debt under control and be a fucking adult. It carries with it the vibration of all of those things and there is definitely not any guilt attached to it!<br />
<br />
Adulting it up in every part of my life!<br />
<br />
<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13617013469397591621noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-975676961367850115.post-67595954912920767472015-07-18T16:29:00.000-07:002015-07-19T11:21:09.210-07:00Shattering how being kicked off a Harold team almost derailed my comedy world. <div class="MsoNormal">
I remember the day vividly. Okay, maybe not the whole day,
but the actual event I can recall pretty clearly. I can see the blue carpeted
stairs that are oddly shaped and feel like they can at any minute fling you
back down, returning you from the direction whence you came, as I walked up
them to meet with our coach. Our fearless leader who was the expert, that
guided us through rehearsals, gave us loving and direct notes when that ever
elusive Harold we were chasing derailed in front of our eyes, under our feet
and in front of an audience, but still loved us anyway, had called us to a
meeting. Bounding up the stairs excited at the prospect of new information, a
change, who knows what, I entered the loft at iO to find her sitting there
waiting. Oh, this is a meeting between just her and I. Oh. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The rest of it is part blur and part emblazoned in my
memory. “We’re making some changes to the team” and “You’re really the heart
and soul of the team . . . but . . . we’re kicking you off of it” are the
sentences that live in my head still, to this day. I left, devastated, shocked
and so, so mad. I was so mad that I left iO West for almost 10 years. I really
almost left comedy forever, because I felt like my improv family had kicked me
out, abandoned me and declared me not good enough. I know that this sounds
dramatic, but when I first moved to Los Angeles I was only 21 years old. I had
recently graduated from college and packed up my Ford Explorer 2 with all of my
belongings; except for my dance costumes, that my Mom keeps threatening to
throw out, and I just keep saying, “I’m saving those for my daughter or
transgender son!”; and I began a life here in La La Land.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Moving to Los Angeles was a lot harder than I ever thought
it was going to be. I remember sleeping on a couch of a potential new roommate
who had insisted that his current roommate WAS moving out and that I could live
there very soon, he promised, and in the mean time if I wanted to share his
bed, he was A-OK with that.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I left the
next day and moved in with a much less threatening, small Asian girl in Sherman
Oaks, who actually had a room open. The first month I spent a lot of time on
the phone with my best friends, crying, wondering if I had made a huge mistake.
Shortly after that I got a job at Kate Mantilini and found my first family in
LA amongst my co-workers there. Interning at ACME Talent & Literary in 2002
led me to iO West, Improv Olympic West, at that time. My buddy Jason was taking
classes there and after hanging out with me at ACME for a bit declared, you
should try improv! You’d be really good at it. So, I did. And I was. I found my second family here in La La Land. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
My first year at iO was so much fun! I was blessed with a
class full of talented improvisers that went through the entire yearlong
program together. I had amazing teachers like Paul Vallaincourt, Pete Gardner,
Jeris Donovan, James Grace, Craig Cackowski and Bob Dassie, in that order.
There were only 6 levels when I graduated. I learned how to be my best self in
improv. As Paul once said,<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“To improvise
is to become more than human, and yet ultimately utmost human.” I interned at
the theatre, I took classes, I was a part of multiple student groups and I was
on a Harold team! I had done it! I auditioned! I made it! I was placed on a
team we christened “Assisted Living”. It was full of talented players like
Irene White, Mike Coen, David Iserson, and others. We weren’t a perfect team,
we had our troubles, growing pains, we evolved into an almost completely new
group with Chris Garnant, Amy Procacci, Woody Drennan, Maurissa Afanador, Paul
Cross, Jake & Mike. We took pictures dressed like hospital staff, mimicking
the cast of Grey’s Anatomy, in the alley, on film. What I know now is that a
team that undergoes a lot of changes in its players most likely won’t survive,
and its no ones fault. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
Assisted Living</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9Wyr53z5qURxf-CYXYn_ln0INxP3nGg0GY8quDR_M7xVMj3v_W4uRjw3xD-3JtYeGDszA4awH5n17mzXuGOUCgWWvDMt4ro5cJZZ1XWhrnWvFf3GVEF9lQ9NUpKqNcW1_GvO0cK0vBrcn/s1600/FullSizeRender.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9Wyr53z5qURxf-CYXYn_ln0INxP3nGg0GY8quDR_M7xVMj3v_W4uRjw3xD-3JtYeGDszA4awH5n17mzXuGOUCgWWvDMt4ro5cJZZ1XWhrnWvFf3GVEF9lQ9NUpKqNcW1_GvO0cK0vBrcn/s320/FullSizeRender.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I remember going home after hearing that 4 of us had been
kicked off the team and that 4 others would remain a team, getting 4 new
players and a new name, and just laying on my bed in tears. How can you be the
heart and soul of a team and then be asked to leave it? How does that happen? <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I’m not recalling this so that you’ll feel sorry for me, or
I can continue to hold the grudge against my coach, or so that I can re-ignite
my fury. I’m writing it because what I know now, I wish that I would have known
then. I KNOW that Harold teams are fleeting, very rarely do they result in the
magic of King Ten and exist for 10 years. It’s never personal when you get
asked to leave a team. It’s just not working. Its not clicking and something
about the way you play, your personality or maybe even your availability no
longer lines up with the rest of the team. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The lesson that I learned, that you, young improviser don’t
have to, is that improv life goes on and there WILL be another team. I wish
that I wouldn’t have let my emotions and my feelers get hurt so badly that I
just left iO West. I wish that I would have just taken a small break and
returned home to try again. I firmly believe that everything happens for a
reason and I’m exactly where I’m supposed to be, blah, blah, blah, but what I
don’t KNOW now, is what would have happened if I could have picked myself back
up and tried again. Most of the people on that first team are teaching improv
now, still perform on a regular basis and some even have their own shows. I’m
not saying that I would have become a teacher, or sold a TV show, had I stayed,
but I’ll never know. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Luckily, the love for improv wasn’t an easy one to shake. I
continued my studies at Second City’s Conservatory and later performed on a
house Grad Group there as well. I returned to iO West in 2013 and auditioned
for another Harold Team. Walking into iO West again to rejoin the community was
a strange one. I felt like the adult at the kids’ party. Who were all of these
shockingly good looking funny people? When I started improv it was still a
relatively unknown art form that mostly nerds and pretty fat girls did. Now, it’s
huge! Thanks to the success of UCB, Amy Poehler, Tina Fey and every agent in
town insisting that you need improv on your resume, improv is hip now. It’s so
trendy, there’s even an INDIE Improv scene. I laughed out loud the first time
someone told me they were on an Indie Improv group, until I realized that they
were serious.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I walked through the bar
at iO, grateful that Crowley was still behind the bar and that James Grace gave
me a polite wave, and even with all of that awkwardness, I still knew that I
was home.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
To my joy, I was placed on a DCT house team, that named
ourselves DCT (I voted against it, just FYI) and again stumbled into the
awkward, hello, who are you, how do we make our minds meld together to form an
exciting and entertaining 25 minute show, joy that is a new Harold team. I
LOVED this new team and though we were all very different we resolved to be the
best! We were broken up 4 months later. A small blow, but with my maturity and
hindsight in my corner, I saw it coming and was able to shake it off. Next
round of Harold auditions, I was placed on The Dilemma, an existing Harold team
in need of some more people. Another improv milestone, joining a team of
already tight players and trying to find your place, completed. I enjoyed being
on The Dilemma and 8 months later when we were broken up, I left iO West again.
This time I didn’t leave because my feelers were hurt, or I was upset that
James had given us the axe. I left in pursuit of the next thing and I know that
that decision was right at the time. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Being on a Harold team can be exhausting. But when it works,
that magic, when it just so happens that every member of your team pretending
to be a marionette controlled by the same puppeteer on stage all drop at the
same time without looking at one another . . . that . . . ohhhh that, is the
heroine of improv. It’s what keeps us coming back for more, chasing that group
mind high. There’s nothing like it. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
When is the next round of Harold Team auditions? I’ve got a heart
and a soul looking for a home. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
P.S. (I do know that I was blessed with many new comedy
faces at Second City and will be forever grateful that our paths crossed, and
that this alone may be the reason I left iO West. To meet Paul Lirette, Stacy
Adamski, Dustin Sterling, Tomas Urbano, Bridget McManus and Jill of Nothing
Consenual. Or Mike Ciriaco, Allison Summers, Jason Kelley, Dwana White, Tyler
Pratt, Paul Broccolo, Todd Bosley and Nicole Neumann of American Standard. )<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<o:DocumentProperties>
<o:Revision>0</o:Revision>
<o:TotalTime>0</o:TotalTime>
<o:Pages>1</o:Pages>
<o:Words>1271</o:Words>
<o:Characters>7245</o:Characters>
<o:Company>Inspired Idea Productions</o:Company>
<o:Lines>60</o:Lines>
<o:Paragraphs>16</o:Paragraphs>
<o:CharactersWithSpaces>8500</o:CharactersWithSpaces>
<o:Version>14.0</o:Version>
</o:DocumentProperties>
<o:OfficeDocumentSettings>
<o:AllowPNG/>
</o:OfficeDocumentSettings>
</xml><![endif]-->
<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:WordDocument>
<w:View>Normal</w:View>
<w:Zoom>0</w:Zoom>
<w:TrackMoves/>
<w:TrackFormatting/>
<w:PunctuationKerning/>
<w:ValidateAgainstSchemas/>
<w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>
<w:IgnoreMixedContent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent>
<w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>
<w:DoNotPromoteQF/>
<w:LidThemeOther>EN-US</w:LidThemeOther>
<w:LidThemeAsian>JA</w:LidThemeAsian>
<w:LidThemeComplexScript>X-NONE</w:LidThemeComplexScript>
<w:Compatibility>
<w:BreakWrappedTables/>
<w:SnapToGridInCell/>
<w:WrapTextWithPunct/>
<w:UseAsianBreakRules/>
<w:DontGrowAutofit/>
<w:SplitPgBreakAndParaMark/>
<w:EnableOpenTypeKerning/>
<w:DontFlipMirrorIndents/>
<w:OverrideTableStyleHps/>
<w:UseFELayout/>
</w:Compatibility>
<m:mathPr>
<m:mathFont m:val="Cambria Math"/>
<m:brkBin m:val="before"/>
<m:brkBinSub m:val="--"/>
<m:smallFrac m:val="off"/>
<m:dispDef/>
<m:lMargin m:val="0"/>
<m:rMargin m:val="0"/>
<m:defJc m:val="centerGroup"/>
<m:wrapIndent m:val="1440"/>
<m:intLim m:val="subSup"/>
<m:naryLim m:val="undOvr"/>
</m:mathPr></w:WordDocument>
</xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:LatentStyles DefLockedState="false" DefUnhideWhenUsed="true"
DefSemiHidden="true" DefQFormat="false" DefPriority="99"
LatentStyleCount="276">
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="0" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Normal"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="heading 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 7"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 8"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 9"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 7"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 8"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 9"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="35" QFormat="true" Name="caption"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="10" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Title"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="1" Name="Default Paragraph Font"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="11" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Subtitle"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="22" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Strong"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="20" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="59" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Table Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Placeholder Text"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="1" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="No Spacing"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Revision"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="34" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="List Paragraph"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="29" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Quote"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="30" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Intense Quote"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="19" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Subtle Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="21" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Intense Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="31" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Subtle Reference"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="32" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Intense Reference"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="33" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Book Title"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="37" Name="Bibliography"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" QFormat="true" Name="TOC Heading"/>
</w:LatentStyles>
</xml><![endif]-->
<!--[if gte mso 10]>
<style>
/* Style Definitions */
table.MsoNormalTable
{mso-style-name:"Table Normal";
mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0;
mso-tstyle-colband-size:0;
mso-style-noshow:yes;
mso-style-priority:99;
mso-style-parent:"";
mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt;
mso-para-margin:0in;
mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt;
mso-pagination:widow-orphan;
font-size:12.0pt;
font-family:Cambria;
mso-ascii-font-family:Cambria;
mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-hansi-font-family:Cambria;
mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;}
</style>
<![endif]-->
<!--StartFragment-->
<!--EndFragment--></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13617013469397591621noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-975676961367850115.post-18697862272167070202015-05-03T11:40:00.001-07:002015-05-03T11:56:09.613-07:00Those Three Words Are Said Too Much, They're Not EnoughIt's a rare song that connects so deeply with me, invigorates ideas, thoughts, spurs emotions, makes me wonder about things. Chasing Cars by Snow Patrol does this for me. I love the lyrics, but in truth, its placement in Grey's Anatomy as Kathryn Heigl tried to come to grips with Denny's death was the first reason I paid attention to the song. I don't think there's been a more perfect use of a song in an episode of television. I cried, I've watched that scene multiple times over, I've purchased multiple versions of the song and Grey's just reused it in two different episodes as Derek Shepard died. That's how I know this particular song affected a lot of people, not just me.<br />
<br />
The lyric, "Those three words are said too much, they're not enough" are my favorite. I assume they're talking about "I love you" when they refer to those three words. I connect with this on a deep level. It seems as though I love you has become too easy to say, easy to throw around and blurt out in a moment of passion, or a passing goodbye. Which got me thinking, what would I rather hear from my partner, lover, husband, mate, the one, instead of "I Love You"?<br />
<br />
To me, I'm IN Love with you, has always felt bigger, more truthful. Its so easy to love someone, but to be IN love with someone, is breathtaking, life changing. Love is so powerful and to be able to step into LOVE with someone is what we're all hoping to experience in our lives, isn't it? To be IN love with someone intimates that you're in it together, that this is a dual experience, its not one sided, its reciprocated and you're on a magical journey together. Being IN Love with someone is a choice, not just a happenstance. Sure, we like to say I'm falling in love with you, because love can feel like that. Like you're suddenly hurtling towards an unknown experience with the wind in your hair, no control over where you'll land, if you'll land or if it will be a soft or a hard landing. If you're lucky you keep flying, catching bursts of wind that pull you back into the clouds, amongst the stars, dancing together.<br />
<br />
Are there other phrases you would rather hear than I love you?<br />
<br />
Here are some that I thought might be nice.<br />
<br />
I can't breathe without you.<br />
You compliment me better than anyone or anything.<br />
You inspire me.<br />
I don't want to live without you.<br />
You Changed my Life.<br />
<br />
Let's dance.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<iframe width="320" height="266" class="YOUTUBE-iframe-video" data-thumbnail-src="https://i.ytimg.com/vi/tFgk9PfjKF8/0.jpg" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/tFgk9PfjKF8?feature=player_embedded" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe></div>
The scene that started it all.<br />
<a href="https://youtu.be/tFgk9PfjKF8">https://youtu.be/tFgk9PfjKF8</a><br />
<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13617013469397591621noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-975676961367850115.post-89074428793721478282014-10-01T13:12:00.004-07:002014-10-01T13:14:01.195-07:00The Extinction of Unexpected Couples? or How Online Dating is Going to Ruin the Fun for the Rest of Us.<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">Recently, a friend reached out to me with a brilliant idea, she was going to set me up on a blind date with a friend of hers that she thought I would hit it off with. I've never been on a blind date so I thought, what the heck, why not? I've been pretending to online date for the past few years, and I say pretend because I go back and forth between actually following up and putting my energy into it. Which, I get, defeats the purpose, but I can only get so excited about so many people and send them enlightened, enchanting messages, only to never hear back from them all the while receiving messages from the douche bag who leads with, "Want to fuck?" for so long. </span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipEeoWBODjeDB2GXeva7yTwlImShOATRdtD6a-_lL0JZYsoWjqMbz2awUAjz3WLLpXNpIVo5ooaTmFtZUjO5qlpF5Xm71ReDz1JsOaZt1atHX3A3z8WokLGlmL9q4qgB8dJkXgvODJplsm/s1600/online-dating-blows.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipEeoWBODjeDB2GXeva7yTwlImShOATRdtD6a-_lL0JZYsoWjqMbz2awUAjz3WLLpXNpIVo5ooaTmFtZUjO5qlpF5Xm71ReDz1JsOaZt1atHX3A3z8WokLGlmL9q4qgB8dJkXgvODJplsm/s1600/online-dating-blows.jpg" height="133" width="200" /></span></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">Its disheartening, so I immediately jumped at the idea of getting set up by a friend who knows me, knows who I am, what I like and presumably knows the guy she has in mind for me and thought, hey, they'd make a cute couple.</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMcSH-CXomWMFwYoGmsRlkCz4iUDKaTUNGUchFd-QoM1MgggzS9tJFReFEwfuIHftaPVYSBouYUhviq2zMoV9iWCwWw-lAh1Sol4VyYqpw8XvDAppt-N2OnNz7Ovdg_B0DFY2RkTjKdiaG/s1600/670px-Set-Up-Two-of-Your-Best-Friends-Romantically-Step-2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMcSH-CXomWMFwYoGmsRlkCz4iUDKaTUNGUchFd-QoM1MgggzS9tJFReFEwfuIHftaPVYSBouYUhviq2zMoV9iWCwWw-lAh1Sol4VyYqpw8XvDAppt-N2OnNz7Ovdg_B0DFY2RkTjKdiaG/s1600/670px-Set-Up-Two-of-Your-Best-Friends-Romantically-Step-2.jpg" height="150" width="200" /></span></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">My girl texted me and said, "Can I give your info to my friend?" to which I replied, "Of course." "Great, sending it now," she said.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">I never heard from the guy. Naturally, I asked my friend what happened. And she said, "Oh, he only dates Asian girls." and since I am most definitely not Asian, I didn't even get the chance to meet him.</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhj10VMG80BKsllSlPcQYCxfpk7wO9AmYbWp82Izpogq7i6RXw4siEBTzH4RxbgdbDygarFXkvpW9DHRSyuDAFBAOBDNcu2wTivJCkjzB5II4mcFdfs6kH2A7RfF0hWH5GCzN93_ofCt__w/s1600/ca1d21169fcf1f51f26536109b907cae.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhj10VMG80BKsllSlPcQYCxfpk7wO9AmYbWp82Izpogq7i6RXw4siEBTzH4RxbgdbDygarFXkvpW9DHRSyuDAFBAOBDNcu2wTivJCkjzB5II4mcFdfs6kH2A7RfF0hWH5GCzN93_ofCt__w/s1600/ca1d21169fcf1f51f26536109b907cae.png" height="140" width="200" /></span></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">Fine, I don't NEED to waste my time on a guy who does not want to date me from the get-go, but I had an epiphany after this happened. If this, order exactly what you want, down to height, hair color, ethnicity, online dating continues, we are going to see the Unexpected, "Really, THEY'RE together", kind of couples go extinct.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">I may not be Asian, but WHAT IF, the two of us met, sparks flew and we found the love of our lives in an unexpected place? He'd spend the rest of our relationship looking at me, thinking, "Wow. Who woulda thunk it?" And maybe people who knew him would think, "Whoa, I thought he only dated Asian girls, how weird that he would fall for a white girl." (Which boggles the mind on a whole other level, because when do we get to start falling in love with people's souls instead of their packaging? But that's a whole other rant.) And perhaps I would be thinking, "I never thought I'd fall for a guy who's shorter than me, but WOW, just being next to him excites me, challenges me, inspires me. . . it doesn't make sense, but it does."</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqZMRlhUyFFGvUyUBl6D-vhX5hvHAewi-_kI4tre0OM16q47XMNTP0_PUj3UWSt24zJ-oeCVtItKnAxfe-PEejo3aCGyPkozacIYorDC3UWIC_3mJ9Ao5fbwt-YG4A7Aw2dO1w0KOxeDIY/s1600/awkward-couples_319949.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqZMRlhUyFFGvUyUBl6D-vhX5hvHAewi-_kI4tre0OM16q47XMNTP0_PUj3UWSt24zJ-oeCVtItKnAxfe-PEejo3aCGyPkozacIYorDC3UWIC_3mJ9Ao5fbwt-YG4A7Aw2dO1w0KOxeDIY/s1600/awkward-couples_319949.jpg" height="200" width="200" /></span></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">No one understood Mila Kunis dating McCauley Culkin for so long, but something about it worked!</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">Online dating may be expanding our dating pool by giving us access to people we'd maybe never come across, but its also limiting our ideas about what is possible. I've met many guys from Online dating and it is amazing how many times I've been VERY into someone via text and email but the second we got in the same room, face to face and felt one another's energy we were like, Holy cow, this is not going to work and WHY did I send him those racy pics? And vice- versa, walked into a room, made eye contact with a complete stranger, felt that spark, that pull, the magnetism and the knowing that somehow they were going to be a significant part of my life, even though had I come across them online I'd have swiped left.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">Open your minds, open your hearts, get your head out of your computer and be OPEN to the unknown, that, my friends is when life gets FUN!</span><br />
<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13617013469397591621noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-975676961367850115.post-15076131792956805492014-08-23T12:13:00.002-07:002014-08-24T08:27:05.343-07:00Guess what @THR you're part of the problem . . . Sexism in Hollywood.<span style="background-color: #8e7cc3; color: white; font-size: large;">I sat down this morning to read The Hollywood Reporters Emmy Issue. I love the Emmy's, I love television, I love being in the entertainment industry. What I saw on page 88 and 89 of this issue infuriated me.</span><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: red; font-size: large;">ONE AFTERNOON, 24 EMMY WINNERS, 53 YEARS OF TRAILBLAZING TV</span><span style="color: red; font-size: large;">AND ONE WOMAN?????!!!!</span></span></div>
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgq3pPvnjFcQ55XsE3s2AHVETGPZqqkOgAwDLeLNpHgaDgE2SgS16yw3wVcHMyGEofXkUuqyjFykNzVzkll8Uq8QeTPMM5LpEy24K-hV8XgMO195iUmpZNA042NOdMR1aW8iTsl8fmXk_qh/s1600/thr.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="background-color: #8e7cc3; color: white; font-size: large;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgq3pPvnjFcQ55XsE3s2AHVETGPZqqkOgAwDLeLNpHgaDgE2SgS16yw3wVcHMyGEofXkUuqyjFykNzVzkll8Uq8QeTPMM5LpEy24K-hV8XgMO195iUmpZNA042NOdMR1aW8iTsl8fmXk_qh/s1600/thr.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></span></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="background-color: #8e7cc3; color: white; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="background-color: #8e7cc3; color: white; font-size: large;">Are you kidding me? One woman is all you can think of that's left a trailblazing mark on television? Perhaps its because they went through the history of TV and it was a timeline and only recently have women been able to fight their way into Hollywood as show runners, creators and executives? Even the wording of the blurb at the top of the page is maddening, "as drama 'it' boys traded notes with comedy gods" We have IT BOYS and comedy GODS but no IT GIRLS or Comedy GODDESSES? </span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="background-color: #8e7cc3; color: white; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="background-color: #8e7cc3; color: white; font-size: large;">What about Lucille Ball? I Love Lucy? and sure, maybe you had to be alive to be a part of this discussion, and maybe you also had to be a white man? </span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="background-color: #8e7cc3; color: white; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="background-color: #8e7cc3; color: white; font-size: large;">Here are some LADIES that I think deserved to be on this list, in this article, a part of the discussion. </span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="background-color: #8e7cc3; color: white; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="background-color: #8e7cc3; color: white; font-size: large;">LUCILLE BALL -- "I LOVE LUCY" She's THE TRAILBLAZER, one of the first to create her own show as well as her own production company.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="background-color: #8e7cc3; color: white; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="background-color: #8e7cc3; color: white; font-size: large;">TINA FEY -- "30 Rock" -- Wikipedia says. . . </span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="background-color: #8e7cc3; color: white; font-size: large;"><i style="font-family: sans-serif; line-height: 22.399999618530273px;">30 Rock</i><span style="font-family: sans-serif; line-height: 22.399999618530273px;"> was a runaway critical success, winning several major awards (including </span><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Primetime_Emmy_Award" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: none; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; font-family: sans-serif; line-height: 22.399999618530273px; text-decoration: none;" title="Primetime Emmy Award">Primetime Emmy Awards</a><span style="font-family: sans-serif; line-height: 22.399999618530273px;"> for Outstanding Comedy Series in 2007, 2008, and 2009 and nominations for every other year it ran), and achieving the esteemed top ranking on a myriad critics' year-end best of 2006-2013 lists.</span><sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-nbcseriespress_2-2" style="font-family: sans-serif; line-height: 1; unicode-bidi: -webkit-isolate;"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/30_rock#cite_note-nbcseriespress-2" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: none; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; text-decoration: none; white-space: nowrap;">[2]</a></sup><span style="font-family: sans-serif; line-height: 22.399999618530273px;"> On July 14, 2009, the series was nominated for 22 </span><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Primetime_Emmy_Award" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: none; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; font-family: sans-serif; line-height: 22.399999618530273px; text-decoration: none;" title="Primetime Emmy Award">Primetime Emmy Awards</a><span style="font-family: sans-serif; line-height: 22.399999618530273px;">, the most in a single year for a comedy series.</span><sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-22_emmys_7-0" style="font-family: sans-serif; line-height: 1; unicode-bidi: -webkit-isolate;"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/30_rock#cite_note-22_emmys-7" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: none; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; text-decoration: none; white-space: nowrap;">[7]</a></sup><span style="font-family: sans-serif; line-height: 22.399999618530273px;"> Over the course of the series, it was nominated for 112 Emmy awards and won 16, in addition to numerous other nominations and wins from other awards shows. </span><sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-9" style="font-family: sans-serif; line-height: 1; unicode-bidi: -webkit-isolate;"></sup></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="background-color: #8e7cc3; color: white; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="background-color: #8e7cc3; color: white; font-size: large;">WINNIE HOLZMAN -- "My So Called Life", not only did I love this show, but according to Wikipedia, "<span style="font-family: sans-serif; line-height: 22.399999618530273px;">The show was pr</span><span style="font-family: sans-serif; line-height: 22.399999618530273px;">aised for its portrayal of adolescence and the commentary of its astute central character, Angela.</span><span style="font-family: sans-serif; line-height: 22.399999618530273px;"> </span><i style="font-family: sans-serif; line-height: 22.399999618530273px;">My So-Called Life</i><span style="font-family: sans-serif; line-height: 22.399999618530273px;"> </span><span style="font-family: sans-serif; line-height: 22.399999618530273px;">was named the second Best School Show of All Time by</span><span style="font-family: sans-serif; line-height: 22.399999618530273px;"> </span><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/AOL_TV" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: none; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; font-family: sans-serif; line-height: 22.399999618530273px; text-decoration: none;" title="AOL TV">AOL TV</a><span style="font-family: sans-serif; line-height: 22.399999618530273px;">.</span><sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-6" style="font-family: sans-serif; line-height: 1; unicode-bidi: -webkit-isolate;"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/My_So-Called_Life#cite_note-6" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: none; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; text-decoration: none; white-space: nowrap;">[6]</a></sup><span style="font-family: sans-serif; line-height: 22.399999618530273px;"> </span><span style="font-family: sans-serif; line-height: 22.399999618530273px;">It placed No. 33 on</span><span style="font-family: sans-serif; line-height: 22.399999618530273px;"> </span><i style="font-family: sans-serif; line-height: 22.399999618530273px;"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Entertainment_Weekly" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: none; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; text-decoration: none;" title="Entertainment Weekly">Entertainment Weekly</a></i><span style="font-family: sans-serif; line-height: 22.399999618530273px;">'s "New Classics TV" list of shows from 1983 to 2008,</span><sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-EW_7-0" style="font-family: sans-serif; line-height: 1; unicode-bidi: -webkit-isolate;"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/My_So-Called_Life#cite_note-EW-7" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: none; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; text-decoration: none; white-space: nowrap;">[7]</a></sup><span style="font-family: sans-serif; line-height: 22.399999618530273px;"> </span><span style="font-family: sans-serif; line-height: 22.399999618530273px;">and then, in 2012, at No. 9 in that magazine's "25 Best Cult TV Shows from the Past 25 Years," with the praise,</span></span></div>
<blockquote class="templatequote" style="font-family: sans-serif; line-height: 22.399999618530273px; margin-top: 0px;">
<div style="line-height: inherit; margin-bottom: 0.5em; margin-top: 0.5em;">
<span style="background-color: #8e7cc3; color: white; font-size: large;">It was the first teen drama that didn't feel like an after-school special. No one ever learned a very important lesson or uttered the phrase 'I love you, Dad.' Angela acted like a real 15-year-old, with all the crying jags and <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Buffalo_Tom" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: none; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; text-decoration: none;" title="Buffalo Tom">Buffalo Tom</a>concerts that implies. What's even more impressive is that anyone who watched the show back in the '90s, when angst and <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Manic_Panic" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: none; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; text-decoration: none;" title="Manic Panic">Manic Panic</a> felt totally of the moment, can now enjoy it on a very different level. Suddenly, Angela's parents are relatable.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-8" style="line-height: 1; unicode-bidi: -webkit-isolate;"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/My_So-Called_Life#cite_note-8" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: none; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; text-decoration: none; white-space: nowrap;">[8]</a></sup></span></div>
</blockquote>
<div style="font-family: sans-serif; line-height: 22.399999618530273px; margin-bottom: 0.5em; margin-top: 0.5em;">
<span style="background-color: #8e7cc3; color: white; font-size: large;">In 2007, it was listed as one of <a class="mw-redirect" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Time_Magazine" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: none; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; text-decoration: none;" title="Time Magazine"><i>Time</i> magazine</a>'s "100 Best TV Shows of All-<i>TIME</i>".<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-Time_100_9-0" style="line-height: 1; unicode-bidi: -webkit-isolate;"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/My_So-Called_Life#cite_note-Time_100-9" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: none; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; text-decoration: none; white-space: nowrap;">[9]</a></sup> <i><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/TV_Guide" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: none; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; text-decoration: none;" title="TV Guide">TV Guide</a></i> ranked the series #2 on their 2013 list of 60 shows that were "Cancelled Too Soon".<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-10" style="line-height: 1; unicode-bidi: -webkit-isolate;"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/My_So-Called_Life#cite_note-10" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: none; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; text-decoration: none; white-space: nowrap;">[10]</a></sup> and in 2004 ranked it number 16 on its 25 Top Cult Shows Ever list <sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-11" style="line-height: 1; unicode-bidi: -webkit-isolate;"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/My_So-Called_Life#cite_note-11" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: none; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; text-decoration: none; white-space: nowrap;">[11]</a></sup> however the ranking was later withdrawn in an updated list published three years later, saying it "had not withstood the test of time".<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-12" style="line-height: 1; unicode-bidi: -webkit-isolate;"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/My_So-Called_Life#cite_note-12" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: none; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; text-decoration: none; white-space: nowrap;">[12]</a> "</sup></span></div>
<div style="font-family: sans-serif; line-height: 22.399999618530273px; margin-bottom: 0.5em; margin-top: 0.5em;">
<span style="background-color: #8e7cc3; color: white; font-size: large;">Yes, it was only around for one season, but I would argue that it had an effect on many of the shows created after it, like "Freaks and Geeks". </span><br />
<span style="background-color: #8e7cc3; color: white; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="font-family: sans-serif; line-height: 22.399999618530273px; margin-bottom: 0.5em; margin-top: 0.5em;">
<span style="background-color: #8e7cc3; color: white; font-size: large;">SHONDA RHIMES -- I would argue that this is the most glaring omission from THR's list. Shonda is a woman, but she's also a woman of color, she's fighting double the battle and she's created three of the most successful shows for ABC, "Grey's Anatomy", "Private Practice" and "Scandal"! Soon to be a 4th with the premiere of "How to Get Away With Murder". </span></div>
<div style="font-family: sans-serif; line-height: 22.399999618530273px; margin-bottom: 0.5em; margin-top: 0.5em;">
<span style="background-color: #8e7cc3; color: white; font-size: large;"><b>Shonda Rhimes</b> (born January 13, 1970) is an <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: none; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; text-decoration: none;" title="United States">American</a> <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Screenwriter" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: none; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; text-decoration: none;" title="Screenwriter">screenwriter</a>, <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Television_director" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: none; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; text-decoration: none;" title="Television director">director</a>, and <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Television_producer" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: none; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; text-decoration: none;" title="Television producer">producer</a>. Rhimes is best known as the creator, <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Head_writer" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: none; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; text-decoration: none;" title="Head writer">head writer</a>, and executive producer of the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Medical_drama" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: none; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; text-decoration: none;" title="Medical drama">medical drama</a> television series <i><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Grey%27s_Anatomy" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: none; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; text-decoration: none;" title="Grey's Anatomy">Grey's Anatomy</a></i>, its spin-off<i><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Private_Practice_(TV_series)" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: none; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; text-decoration: none;" title="Private Practice (TV series)">Private Practice</a></i> and <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Political_thriller" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: none; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; text-decoration: none;" title="Political thriller">political thriller</a> series <i><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Scandal_(TV_series)" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: none; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; text-decoration: none;" title="Scandal (TV series)">Scandal</a></i>. In May 2007, Rhimes was named one of <i>TIME</i> magazine's <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Time_100" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: none; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; text-decoration: none;" title="Time 100">100 people who help shape the world</a>.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-1" style="line-height: 1; unicode-bidi: -webkit-isolate;"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shonda_Rhimes#cite_note-1" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: none; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; text-decoration: none; white-space: nowrap;">[1]</a> - Wikipedia </sup></span></div>
<div style="font-family: sans-serif; line-height: 22.399999618530273px; margin-bottom: 0.5em; margin-top: 0.5em;">
<sup class="reference" style="line-height: 1; unicode-bidi: -webkit-isolate;"><span style="background-color: #8e7cc3; color: white; font-size: large;"><br /></span></sup></div>
<div style="font-family: sans-serif; line-height: 22.399999618530273px; margin-bottom: 0.5em; margin-top: 0.5em;">
<sup class="reference" style="line-height: 1; unicode-bidi: -webkit-isolate;"><span style="background-color: #8e7cc3; color: white; font-size: large;">JENJI KOHAN -- Literally the biggest trailblazer in television right now could be Jenji Kohan, changing the face of television and what we know about it with "Orange is the New Black" a show where the majority of the cast is female AND ethnically diverse, its also found incredible success on a new platform of television, airing solely on Netflix, she also created "Weeds". </span></sup></div>
<div style="font-family: sans-serif; line-height: 22.399999618530273px; margin-bottom: 0.5em; margin-top: 0.5em;">
<span style="background-color: #8e7cc3; color: white; font-size: large;">Kohan has received seven <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Emmy_Award" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: none; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; text-decoration: none;" title="Emmy Award">Emmy Award</a> nominations, winning as supervising producer of <i><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tracey_Takes_On..." style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: none; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; text-decoration: none;" title="Tracey Takes On...">Tracey Takes On...</a></i>. She shared a <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/CableACE_Award" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: none; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; text-decoration: none;" title="CableACE Award">CableACE Award</a> in 1996 for her work on that show. She received her first nomination for her show <i><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Weeds_(TV_series)" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: none; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; text-decoration: none;" title="Weeds (TV series)">Weeds</a></i> in 2009, for Outstanding Comedy Series. She was nominated for a <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Producers_Guild_of_America" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: none; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; text-decoration: none;" title="Producers Guild of America">Producers Guild of America</a> Award in 2007, and two <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Writers_Guild_of_America_Award" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: none; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; text-decoration: none;" title="Writers Guild of America Award">Writers Guild of America Awards</a>.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-IMDb-Kohan-Awards_23-0" style="line-height: 1; unicode-bidi: -webkit-isolate;"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jenji_Kohan#cite_note-IMDb-Kohan-Awards-23" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: none; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; text-decoration: none; white-space: nowrap;">[23]</a></sup></span></div>
<div style="font-family: sans-serif; line-height: 22.399999618530273px; margin-bottom: 0.5em; margin-top: 0.5em;">
<span style="background-color: #8e7cc3; color: white; font-size: large;"><sup class="reference" style="line-height: 1; unicode-bidi: -webkit-isolate;"></sup></span></div>
<div style="font-family: sans-serif; line-height: 22.399999618530273px; margin-bottom: 0.5em; margin-top: 0.5em;">
<span style="background-color: #8e7cc3; color: white; font-size: large;">In 2014, Kohan was named one of <i><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Time_(magazine)" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: none; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; text-decoration: none;" title="Time (magazine)">Time</a></i><span style="padding-left: 0.1em;">'</span>s 100 Most Influential People.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-Time-100Pioneers-2014_24-0" style="line-height: 1; unicode-bidi: -webkit-isolate;"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jenji_Kohan#cite_note-Time-100Pioneers-2014-24" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: none; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; text-decoration: none; white-space: nowrap;">[24]</a></sup> In 2014, <i><a class="mw-redirect" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Orange_is_the_New_Black" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: none; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; text-decoration: none;" title="Orange is the New Black">Orange is the New Black</a></i> was nominated for 12 Emmys.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-HReporter-CoverStory-2014_1-3" style="line-height: 1; unicode-bidi: -webkit-isolate;"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jenji_Kohan#cite_note-HReporter-CoverStory-2014-1" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: none; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; text-decoration: none; white-space: nowrap;">[1]</a> - wikipedia </sup></span></div>
<div style="font-family: sans-serif; line-height: 22.399999618530273px; margin-bottom: 0.5em; margin-top: 0.5em;">
<sup class="reference" style="line-height: 1; unicode-bidi: -webkit-isolate;"><span style="background-color: #8e7cc3; color: white; font-size: large;"><br /></span></sup></div>
<div style="font-family: sans-serif; line-height: 22.399999618530273px; margin-bottom: 0.5em; margin-top: 0.5em;">
<sup class="reference" style="line-height: 1; unicode-bidi: -webkit-isolate;"><span style="background-color: #8e7cc3; color: white; font-size: large;">LENA DUNHAM -- She's 27 and she's already blazed a trail, whether or not you like Hipsters, she's making a name for herself in TV with "Girls". </span></sup></div>
<div style="font-family: sans-serif; line-height: 22.399999618530273px; margin-bottom: 0.5em; margin-top: 0.5em;">
<sup class="reference" style="line-height: 1; unicode-bidi: -webkit-isolate;"><span style="background-color: #8e7cc3; color: white; font-size: large;"><b style="line-height: 22.399999618530273px;">Lena Dunham</b><span style="line-height: 22.399999618530273px;"> (</span><span class="nowrap" style="line-height: 22.399999618530273px; white-space: nowrap;"><span class="IPA" title="Representation in the International Phonetic Alphabet (IPA)"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Help:IPA_for_English" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: none; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; text-decoration: none !important;" title="Help:IPA for English">/</a></span><span class="IPA nopopups"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Help:IPA_for_English#Key" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: none; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; text-decoration: none !important;" title="Help:IPA for English"><span style="border-bottom-style: dotted; border-bottom-width: 1px;" title="/ˈ/ primary stress follows">ˈ</span></a></span><span class="IPA nopopups"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Help:IPA_for_English#Key" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: none; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; text-decoration: none !important;" title="Help:IPA for English"><span style="border-bottom-style: dotted; border-bottom-width: 1px;" title="'l' in 'lie'">l</span></a></span><span class="IPA nopopups"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Help:IPA_for_English#Key" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: none; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; text-decoration: none !important;" title="Help:IPA for English"><span style="border-bottom-style: dotted; border-bottom-width: 1px;" title="/i/ 'y' in 'happy'">i</span></a></span><span class="IPA nopopups"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Help:IPA_for_English#Key" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: none; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; text-decoration: none !important;" title="Help:IPA for English"><span style="border-bottom-style: dotted; border-bottom-width: 1px;" title="'n' in 'nigh'">n</span></a></span><span class="IPA nopopups"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Help:IPA_for_English#Key" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: none; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; text-decoration: none !important;" title="Help:IPA for English"><span style="border-bottom-style: dotted; border-bottom-width: 1px;" title="/ə/ 'u' in 'syrup'">ə</span></a></span> <span class="IPA nopopups"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Help:IPA_for_English#Key" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: none; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; text-decoration: none !important;" title="Help:IPA for English"></a></span><span class="IPA nopopups"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Help:IPA_for_English#Key" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: none; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; text-decoration: none !important;" title="Help:IPA for English"><span style="border-bottom-style: dotted; border-bottom-width: 1px;" title="/ˈ/ primary stress follows">ˈ</span></a></span><span class="IPA nopopups"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Help:IPA_for_English#Key" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: none; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; text-decoration: none !important;" title="Help:IPA for English"><span style="border-bottom-style: dotted; border-bottom-width: 1px;" title="'d' in 'dye'">d</span></a></span><span class="IPA nopopups"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Help:IPA_for_English#Key" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: none; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; text-decoration: none !important;" title="Help:IPA for English"><span style="border-bottom-style: dotted; border-bottom-width: 1px;" title="/ʌ/ short 'u' in 'bud'">ʌ</span></a></span><span class="IPA nopopups"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Help:IPA_for_English#Key" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: none; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; text-decoration: none !important;" title="Help:IPA for English"><span style="border-bottom-style: dotted; border-bottom-width: 1px;" title="'n' in 'nigh'">n</span></a></span><span class="IPA nopopups"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Help:IPA_for_English#Key" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: none; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; text-decoration: none !important;" title="Help:IPA for English"><span style="border-bottom-style: dotted; border-bottom-width: 1px;" title="/əm/ 'm' in 'rhythm'">əm</span></a></span><span class="IPA" title="Representation in the International Phonetic Alphabet (IPA)"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Help:IPA_for_English" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: none; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; text-decoration: none !important;" title="Help:IPA for English">/</a></span></span><span style="line-height: 22.399999618530273px;"> </span><span class="Unicode" style="line-height: 22.399999618530273px;" title="English pronunciation respelling"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Pronunciation_respelling_key" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: none; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; text-decoration: none;" title="Wikipedia:Pronunciation respelling key"><i><b><span class="smallcaps"><span class="SMALLCAPS" style="font-variant: small-caps;"><span class="NOCAPS" style="text-transform: lowercase;">lee</span></span></span></b>-nə</i></a></span><span style="line-height: 22.399999618530273px;"> </span><span class="Unicode" style="line-height: 22.399999618530273px;" title="English pronunciation respelling"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Pronunciation_respelling_key" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: none; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; text-decoration: none;" title="Wikipedia:Pronunciation respelling key"><i><b><span class="smallcaps"><span class="SMALLCAPS" style="font-variant: small-caps;"><span class="NOCAPS" style="text-transform: lowercase;">dun</span></span></span></b>-um</i></a></span><span style="line-height: 22.399999618530273px;">; born May 13, 1986) is an American actress, screenwriter, producer, and director.</span><sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-3" style="line-height: 1; unicode-bidi: -webkit-isolate;"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lena_Dunham#cite_note-3" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: none; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; text-decoration: none; white-space: nowrap;">[3]</a></sup><span style="line-height: 22.399999618530273px;"> She wrote and directed the independent film </span><i style="line-height: 22.399999618530273px;"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tiny_Furniture" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: none; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; text-decoration: none;" title="Tiny Furniture">Tiny Furniture</a></i><span style="line-height: 22.399999618530273px;"> (2010), and is the creator, writer and star of the HBO series </span><i style="line-height: 22.399999618530273px;"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Girls_(TV_series)" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: none; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; text-decoration: none;" title="Girls (TV series)">Girls</a></i><span style="line-height: 22.399999618530273px;">. She has received eight nominations for </span><a class="mw-redirect" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Primetime_Emmy_Awards" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: none; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; line-height: 22.399999618530273px; text-decoration: none;" title="Primetime Emmy Awards">Emmy Awards</a><span style="line-height: 22.399999618530273px;"> as a writer, director, actress and producer and won two </span><a class="mw-redirect" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Golden_Globe_Awards" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: none; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; line-height: 22.399999618530273px; text-decoration: none;" title="Golden Globe Awards">Golden Globe Awards</a><span style="line-height: 22.399999618530273px;"> for </span><i style="line-height: 22.399999618530273px;">Girls</i><span style="line-height: 22.399999618530273px;">. Dunham is also the first woman to win a </span><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Directors_Guild_of_America_Award_for_Outstanding_Directing_%E2%80%93_Comedy_Series" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: none; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; line-height: 22.399999618530273px; text-decoration: none;" title="Directors Guild of America Award for Outstanding Directing – Comedy Series">Directors Guild Award for Outstanding Director in a Comedy Series</a><span style="line-height: 22.399999618530273px;">.</span></span></sup><br />
<sup class="reference" style="line-height: 1; unicode-bidi: -webkit-isolate;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="background-color: #8e7cc3; color: white; line-height: 22.399999618530273px;"><br /></span></span></sup></div>
<div style="font-family: sans-serif; line-height: 22.399999618530273px; margin-bottom: 0.5em; margin-top: 0.5em;">
<span style="background-color: #8e7cc3; color: white; font-size: large;">MARTA KAUFFMAN --- Maybe I spoke too soon? Marta could be the most glaring omission on this list as the co-creator of "FRIENDS", one of the most successful TV shows of all time? </span></div>
<div style="font-family: sans-serif; line-height: 22.399999618530273px; margin-bottom: 0.5em; margin-top: 0.5em;">
<span style="background-color: #8e7cc3; color: white; font-size: large;"><b>Marta Kauffman</b> (born September 21, 1956) is an American <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Writer" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: none; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; text-decoration: none;" title="Writer">writer</a> and <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Television_producer" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: none; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; text-decoration: none;" title="Television producer">TV producer</a>, best known as the co-creator of the popular <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sitcom" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: none; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; text-decoration: none;" title="Sitcom">sitcom</a> <i><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Friends" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: none; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; text-decoration: none;" title="Friends">Friends</a></i>, alongside <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/David_Crane_(producer)" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: none; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; text-decoration: none;" title="David Crane (producer)">David Crane</a>. Both Crane and Kauffman were also <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Executive_producer" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: none; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; text-decoration: none;" title="Executive producer">executive producer</a> of the show, along with <a class="mw-redirect" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kevin_Bright" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: none; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; text-decoration: none;" title="Kevin Bright">Kevin Bright</a>. Crane and Kauffman have also produced <i><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Veronica%27s_Closet" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: none; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; text-decoration: none;" title="Veronica's Closet">Veronica's Closet</a></i>, starring <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kirstie_Alley" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: none; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; text-decoration: none;" title="Kirstie Alley">Kirstie Alley</a>, and <i><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jesse_(TV_series)" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: none; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; text-decoration: none;" title="Jesse (TV series)">Jesse</a></i>, starring <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christina_Applegate" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: none; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; text-decoration: none;" title="Christina Applegate">Christina Applegate</a>. From 2005–2006 she was an executive producer on <i><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Related" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: none; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; text-decoration: none;" title="Related">Related</a></i>. Both writers were the creators of the 1990 HBO series <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dream_On_(TV_series)" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: none; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; text-decoration: none;" title="Dream On (TV series)">Dream On</a>.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="background-color: #8e7cc3; color: white;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div style="font-family: sans-serif; line-height: 22.399999618530273px; margin-bottom: 0.5em; margin-top: 0.5em;">
<span style="background-color: #8e7cc3; color: white; font-size: large;">MINDY KALING -- Creator of "The Mindy Project" currently in its 3rd season on ABC, Mindy has trailblazed her way as a woman and an Indian American on TV. </span></div>
<div style="font-family: sans-serif; line-height: 22.399999618530273px; margin-bottom: 0.5em; margin-top: 0.5em;">
<span style="background-color: #8e7cc3; color: white; font-size: large;">known professionally as <b>Mindy Kaling</b>, is an American actor, comedian, writer, and producer best known for portraying <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kelly_Kapoor" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: none; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; text-decoration: none;" title="Kelly Kapoor">Kelly Kapoor</a> on the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/NBC" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: none; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; text-decoration: none;" title="NBC">NBC</a> sitcom <i><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Office_(U.S._TV_series)" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: none; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; text-decoration: none;" title="The Office (U.S. TV series)">The Office</a></i> and creating and starring as Mindy Lahiri in the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fox_Broadcasting_Company" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: none; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; text-decoration: none;" title="Fox Broadcasting Company">Fox</a> sitcom <i><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Mindy_Project" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: none; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; text-decoration: none;" title="The Mindy Project">The Mindy Project</a></i>. She is also a co-executive producer, director, and writer of several of the show's episodes. Kaling also wrote, was executive producer for and directed various episodes of <i><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Office_(U.S._TV_series)" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: none; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; text-decoration: none;" title="The Office (U.S. TV series)">The Office</a></i>.</span></div>
<div style="font-family: sans-serif; line-height: 22.399999618530273px; margin-bottom: 0.5em; margin-top: 0.5em;">
<span style="background-color: #8e7cc3; color: white; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="font-family: sans-serif; line-height: 22.399999618530273px; margin-bottom: 0.5em; margin-top: 0.5em;">
<span style="background-color: #8e7cc3; color: white; font-size: large;">A simple Google search and memories of some of my favorite shows led me to 8 WOMEN that could have been included on your list THR. I know there are more. We're not doing enough to make Hollywood a balanced representation of the world. According to this <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/03/06/hbo-diversity_n_4899679.html">article</a> in the Huffington Post only 30.5 percent of TV staff writers are women.</span></div>
<div style="font-family: sans-serif; line-height: 22.399999618530273px; margin-bottom: 0.5em; margin-top: 0.5em;">
<span style="background-color: #8e7cc3; color: white; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Century, Times, serif; line-height: 21px;">"According to the most recent stats from</span><span style="font-family: Georgia, Century, Times, serif; line-height: 21px;"> </span><a href="http://www.wga.org/uploadedFiles/who_we_are/tvstaffingbrief2013.pdf" sl-processed="1" style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: Georgia, Century, Times, serif; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;" target="_hplink">the Writers Guild of America</a><span style="font-family: Georgia, Century, Times, serif; line-height: 21px;">, about 30.5 percent of TV staff writers are women, and about 15.6 percent of TV writers are people of color; both numbers represent modest gains from the past.</span><a href="http://womenintvfilm.sdsu.edu/research.html" sl-processed="1" style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: Georgia, Century, Times, serif; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;" target="_hplink"> San Diego State University's Center for the Study of Women in Television and Film</a><span style="font-family: Georgia, Century, Times, serif; line-height: 21px;">, which uses a different calculation method, puts the percentage of female TV writers for the 2012-13 season at 34 percent.</span></span></div>
<div style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; direction: ltr; font-family: Georgia, Century, Times, serif; line-height: 21px; margin-bottom: 15px; padding: 0px; text-rendering: optimizelegibility; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="background-color: #8e7cc3; color: white; font-size: large;">Yet according to SDSU's most recent study, 27 percent of women bear the title executive producer, and 24 percent are a "creator" -- numbers that have remained stagnant for a long time. In the 2010-11 season, "just 24 percent of the pilots in the pipeline for the season had at least one woman writer attached, while only 9 percent of the projects had at least one minority writer," according to the WGA." </span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIU-nC1G3c2dm55vP9GQxC05dEjaCEHw7l5y-T3KGO-Clt2BV9p03VwSPvwhPj-pkWrdM86ToJszd-5hfAMBsDry7I-2SLTcWDXK7u1fq8jqBSKQtITJ5bXQWsBT5VHiF4axmfgUO1fPB9/s1600/o-PRESENT-AT-THE-CREATION-570.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="background-color: #8e7cc3; color: white; font-size: large;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIU-nC1G3c2dm55vP9GQxC05dEjaCEHw7l5y-T3KGO-Clt2BV9p03VwSPvwhPj-pkWrdM86ToJszd-5hfAMBsDry7I-2SLTcWDXK7u1fq8jqBSKQtITJ5bXQWsBT5VHiF4axmfgUO1fPB9/s1600/o-PRESENT-AT-THE-CREATION-570.jpg" height="400" width="255" /></span></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="background-color: #8e7cc3; color: white; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; direction: ltr; font-family: Georgia, Century, Times, serif; line-height: 21px; margin-bottom: 15px; padding: 0px; text-rendering: optimizelegibility; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="background-color: #8e7cc3; color: white; font-size: large;">What's it going to take for Hollywood to find value in women? Are you helping or hindering the problem? THR, you're definitely not helping. </span></div>
<div style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; direction: ltr; font-family: Georgia, Century, Times, serif; line-height: 21px; margin-bottom: 15px; padding: 0px; text-rendering: optimizelegibility; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="background-color: #8e7cc3; color: white; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13617013469397591621noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-975676961367850115.post-72794969913220387462014-07-01T09:29:00.000-07:002014-07-01T09:30:41.725-07:00Everything AND the Kitchen Sink<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><br />
</span><br />
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">My Approach to Crowd
Funding<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>There were
a few things I knew to expect during my crowd funding campaign on PasserBy and
there were more than a few delightful surprises that I would have never
expected. I knew going into my campaign that it wasn’t going to be easy. Money
is tight everywhere these days and it takes a lot to get people to part with
their hard earned money.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’m a one-woman
show these days, used to creating projects with a collaborative group, this
time around I’m the writer, producer and actress on the project. I’ve chosen to
work with a director that comes with his team of producers, makeup, camera
guys, composer, the whole nine yards. On one hand, this is lovely and amazing,
it makes my job as a producer much easier, but not when it comes to crowd
funding. One of the keys to crowd funding is to appeal to your fans, to spread
the word and reach as many corners of the world that you can. The more people
you can list on your project and crowd funding page, the better chance you have
at reaching your goal. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>I decided
that I would do everything in my power to reach my goal. I threw everything AND
the kitchen sink at my campaign. Here are the things that I did. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>1. Email
Campaign – I sent an introductory email as soon as my campaign <span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>launched on PasserBy using Mail Chimp, a free
email service that allows you <span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>to
track clicks and opens of your email campaigns. I tried not to overwhelm <span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>people with the amount of emails I sent, in
the end I believe I sent 5 emails <span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>over
the course of three months. I lost some subscribers, but you can’t take it <span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>personally, they may just be trying
to stream line their life, or perhaps your <span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>initiative
and drive makes them realize their own lack of drive and initiative <span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>and its too painful to see, you never know, but
you don’t have time to worry <span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>about
that, you’re running a crowd funding campaign!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Using the information <span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>from Mail
Chimp I<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>. . .<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>2. Sent
Personal Emails – Every few days I would send at least 2-5 personal <span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>emails to people who had clicked on the link in
my email or had opened it <span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>numerous
times. I also emailed people that I don’t have on my mailing list <span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>alerting them to my campaign but also asking
them to help spread the word. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>3. Twitter
and Facebook – My Twitter feed and Facebook page are now <span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>covered with my PasserBy link and the
“Tactics” poster. I sent at least one <span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>message
a day for the 90 days my campaign was active, and sometimes twice <span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>a day. It can get annoying, but you
have to remember how fast a Twitter feed <span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>moves
and how often posts can get lost on the Facebook. I’m pretty sure I lost <span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>some “friends” on Facebook due to the
amount of promoting I did, but it <span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>doesn’t
bother me, why would I want friends who aren’t supportive of what <span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>I’m doing?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>4.
Contests! – I decided to see if I could find some prizes that people would <span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>want to win if they donated at least $20 to
my campaign on a certain day.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>For <span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>instance, those who donated at least $20
on April 15-20<sup>th</sup> would be entered <span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>to
win a set of Season 1 DVD’s of the MTV show “Awkward” signed by actress <span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Desi Lydic. Desi and I were in an
acting class together years ago and she was <span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>kind
enough to offer her autograph and she even tweeted her followers the <span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>deal, no small offer, she currently has over
29,000 Followers! <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>5. Press –
I am lucky enough to have a relationship with one of the journalists <span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>at my hometown paper, The Pueblo
Chieftain (thanks to my Mom, the P.R. <span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Maven,
who scored me an interview when my first short film was in the Indie <span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Spirit Film Festival in Colorado
Springs) so I contacted the paper and asked if <span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>it would be possible to write something about
my Crowd Funding campaign. <span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>They
did and a little blurb about my project ran in The Pueblo Chieftain! <span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>6. Thinking
outside the Box – PasserBy’s own Todd Metheny suggested that <span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>we do a Google Hangout and talk about my
project, my experience in the film <span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>business
and as an actress, writer and producer. One Saturday morning, we <span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>connected via the Inter-webs and he set about
asking me some very <span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>insightful
questions. Todd posted the 4 segments of our interview here on <span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>the PasserBy blog and I used them in my Mail
Chimp campaigns as well as all <span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>over my Facebook
and Twitter feed. I think this was one of the most <span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>successful things that we did. It garnered a lot of attention as
well as gave me <span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>a little more credibility
and the opportunity for people to hear me talk about <span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>the project. It gave them some insight into me and who I am
and what I was <span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>hoping to accomplish
with my campaign and in my life! Plus, I’m a firm <span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>believer that any time you can use your own personal energy to <span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>communicate you will always be able to
connect with others easier and on <span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>a
more personal level. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>7. Offer
Credit – I offered to every actor, producer and filmmaker that I know <span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>who are working on their careers,
building IMDB credits and trying to get out <span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>there,
the opportunity to earn an Associate Producer credit. I extended to <span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>them that if they could drive $500 to the
campaign, I would give them <span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Associate Producer
credit on the film! One actor took me up on my offer and <span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>raised <span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>$500 for me! I am happy to give him the credit and it
doesn’t cost me <span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>anything! <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>8. Have a
TV show with a Cult following, major stars and lots of hype – Okay, <span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>this wasn’t a “Tactic” of mine, but
it did prove to be very beneficial for the <span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Veronica
Mars Movie. In the middle of my campaign, I watched as Kirsten <span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Bell and Rob Thomas launched the Kick
Starter for the “Veronica Mars” <span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>movie.
They told fans that if they could raise $2 million dollars, Warner Bros <span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>would let them make a movie! With my
jaw on the floor, I watched as by 11 <span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>am
they had $1 million dollars and less than 11 hours later had their needed <span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>$2 million, with 30 days left to go!
In the end they raised over $5 million <span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>dollars!
This is and will be a game changer for the film industry! I would <span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>expect to see lots of similar
campaigns in the near future! Let’s hope they <span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>have
a little more help and support than poor Zach Braff!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>9.
Cultivate Relationships – Hopefully, this is something that you do in your <span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>life on a daily basis regardless of whether or
not you’re running a crowd <span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>funding
campaign. In the end, most of the donations that I received came <span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>from people that I know, that I respect and
that respect me. I keep in touch <span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>with
people and care about what’s happening in their lives and their worlds. I <span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>help spread the word about friend’s
projects, shows, bands, business <span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>ventures,
etc. as much as I can.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Sharing a link on
Facebook or Twitter can <span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>take two
seconds, but can foster a relationship that may help you for years to <span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>come and lets face it, in Hollywood, your
Facebook friend could be the head <span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>of
Disney in a few years, you never know.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>In the end,
I didn’t quite reach my goal and the perfectionist, competitive side of me is
not very happy BUT I raised $6500 out of my $12,000 goal. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Why $12,000? I set the goal based on the
$10,000 my director budgeted for the film and the $2,000 to cover the cost of
fees. There is A LOT that I will be able to do with the $6500, which after fees
to PasserBy, Pay Pal and Stripe, ended up being around $5500, and I am extremely
proud of what I was able to do but we will most likely have to run another
campaign to raise funds for post production costs. The great thing about
running a second campaign is, I already know what I’m doing AND by that time I
will have a whole team on board, able to help spread the word! <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>The best
part of this whole experience was that I had a great excuse to get in touch
with people that I hadn’t spoken to in years. I got the chance to catch up with
people via personal emails and through Facebook. I learned that I have a lot of
support in the chasing of my dreams. People that I hadn’t heard from in years,
that I knew in college through my roommate or met in an acting class donated. I
would get surprise messages on Facebook from old high school friends expressing
how proud they are of me and how much they admire that I am out there, chasing
my dreams. I was surprised by the amount of money some people donated, $500 with
the request that we work together in the future, considering their donation as
an investment in a future together! Absolutely, I’m on board, if you help me, I
will help you! There is nothing better than helping friends achieve their
dreams, especially if you help me achieve mine. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Follow
Elizabeth on Twitter @AnInspiredIdea or like her Facebook page, www.facebook.com/elizabethlaughs <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<o:DocumentProperties>
<o:Revision>0</o:Revision>
<o:TotalTime>0</o:TotalTime>
<o:Pages>1</o:Pages>
<o:Words>1281</o:Words>
<o:Characters>7305</o:Characters>
<o:Company>Inspired Idea Productions</o:Company>
<o:Lines>60</o:Lines>
<o:Paragraphs>17</o:Paragraphs>
<o:CharactersWithSpaces>8569</o:CharactersWithSpaces>
<o:Version>14.0</o:Version>
</o:DocumentProperties>
<o:OfficeDocumentSettings>
<o:AllowPNG/>
</o:OfficeDocumentSettings>
</xml><![endif]-->
<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:WordDocument>
<w:View>Normal</w:View>
<w:Zoom>0</w:Zoom>
<w:TrackMoves/>
<w:TrackFormatting/>
<w:PunctuationKerning/>
<w:ValidateAgainstSchemas/>
<w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>
<w:IgnoreMixedContent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent>
<w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>
<w:DoNotPromoteQF/>
<w:LidThemeOther>EN-US</w:LidThemeOther>
<w:LidThemeAsian>JA</w:LidThemeAsian>
<w:LidThemeComplexScript>X-NONE</w:LidThemeComplexScript>
<w:Compatibility>
<w:BreakWrappedTables/>
<w:SnapToGridInCell/>
<w:WrapTextWithPunct/>
<w:UseAsianBreakRules/>
<w:DontGrowAutofit/>
<w:SplitPgBreakAndParaMark/>
<w:EnableOpenTypeKerning/>
<w:DontFlipMirrorIndents/>
<w:OverrideTableStyleHps/>
<w:UseFELayout/>
</w:Compatibility>
<m:mathPr>
<m:mathFont m:val="Cambria Math"/>
<m:brkBin m:val="before"/>
<m:brkBinSub m:val="--"/>
<m:smallFrac m:val="off"/>
<m:dispDef/>
<m:lMargin m:val="0"/>
<m:rMargin m:val="0"/>
<m:defJc m:val="centerGroup"/>
<m:wrapIndent m:val="1440"/>
<m:intLim m:val="subSup"/>
<m:naryLim m:val="undOvr"/>
</m:mathPr></w:WordDocument>
</xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:LatentStyles DefLockedState="false" DefUnhideWhenUsed="true"
DefSemiHidden="true" DefQFormat="false" DefPriority="99"
LatentStyleCount="276">
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="0" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Normal"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="heading 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 7"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 8"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 9"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 7"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 8"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 9"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="35" QFormat="true" Name="caption"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="10" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Title"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="1" Name="Default Paragraph Font"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="11" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Subtitle"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="22" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Strong"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="20" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="59" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Table Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Placeholder Text"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="1" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="No Spacing"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Revision"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="34" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="List Paragraph"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="29" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Quote"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="30" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Intense Quote"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="19" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Subtle Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="21" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Intense Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="31" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Subtle Reference"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="32" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Intense Reference"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="33" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Book Title"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="37" Name="Bibliography"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" QFormat="true" Name="TOC Heading"/>
</w:LatentStyles>
</xml><![endif]-->
<!--[if gte mso 10]>
<style>
/* Style Definitions */
table.MsoNormalTable
{mso-style-name:"Table Normal";
mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0;
mso-tstyle-colband-size:0;
mso-style-noshow:yes;
mso-style-priority:99;
mso-style-parent:"";
mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt;
mso-para-margin:0in;
mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt;
mso-pagination:widow-orphan;
font-size:12.0pt;
font-family:Cambria;
mso-ascii-font-family:Cambria;
mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-hansi-font-family:Cambria;
mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;}
</style>
<![endif]-->
<!--StartFragment-->
<!--EndFragment--><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13617013469397591621noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-975676961367850115.post-70099943866935973792014-02-12T10:36:00.000-08:002014-02-12T10:36:00.618-08:00Why now? Why this age? Why am I freaking out?<br />
I have always been proud of the fact that I am a positive person. I can always find the joy, bliss, freedom, silver lining in any moment in my life. Things can be crashing down around me and I can consciously say, "There has to be a lesson in here somewhere", or "This is happening for a reason" and actually believe it. This year has been different and I don't know why.<br />
<br />
Why now? Why 34? Why am I suddenly really angry, frustrated and just plain mad that I don't have everything I want? Not to mention, I feel like a failure.<br />
<br />
I've been living in Los Angeles for 12 years now, pursuing a career in entertainment as an actress, writer and producer, and I am proud of the life I lead everyday. Lately, I haven't been able to see all the fun, wonderful things that I have done and the life that I have created for myself, all I can see and feel is the failures. I haven't booked a role on Television, I haven't been in any films with a wide theatrical release, I've been waiting tables for too GOD DAMN long and I've been on Mother F-in avail for more commercials than I care to admit.<br />
<br />
I'm also 34, single, with no real prospects in sight. I've never felt pressure to be married or start a family before, but 34 has brought this into my world. Is it me just letting myself know that I'm really ready for this? The science of my body saying, "Hey, you ain't getting any younger!" - Rude. Really rude. I'm not getting any pressure from my family, but as I watch my niece and nephew get older, I long for them to have cousins to grow up with and experience life with built in friends the way that we did.<br />
<br />
I personally know people who's journey in Hollywood took 15 years or longer before they hit a level of success where they could quit their "day job" and actually make money acting. Eric Stonestreet of Modern Family was in LA for 15 years before he landed that life changing role. I was working at Kate Mantilini with Kate Flannery, waiting tables every day, when she had trouble letting go of her shifts at the restaurant even though The Office was renewed for a 2nd season and one of the most popular sitcoms on at the time, because she had seen almost successes for so long, it was almost impossible for her to comprehend that this was HER life changing role.<br />
<br />
Sometimes chasing your dreams is hard, lonely, scary, full of doubt, pick your favorite doom filled adjective and run with it. BUT, in the long run there isn't much else I'd like to be doing. I've thought about going home with my tail tucked between my legs, really letting the failure, pity and sadness eek into my life, but that's not who I am. At my core I can find the silver lining and know that when I find my life changing role and the love that is meant to be my partner in crime, that it really will be the right time, right person, etc.<br />
<br />
Bring it on 34, we've got 6 months to find our silver lining.<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13617013469397591621noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-975676961367850115.post-33835195103439609712013-08-27T12:36:00.000-07:002013-08-27T12:50:13.372-07:00An Open Letter to China Grill Management as Asia de Cuba Los Angeles Closes its Doors. The first time I stepped foot into Asia de Cuba in Los Angeles I was blown away, intimidated and excited. I first ventured into ADC in 2004 when I met a friend for dinner. The blonde wood floors, the light, airy design, all the beautiful people that were packed into the small area known as the bar waiting for a table, I immediately felt like I didn't belong, wasn't good enough, not pretty enough, you name it, INTIMIDATED. 9 years later I sit here with the opposite feeling. Asia de Cuba is one of my homes here in Los Angeles.<br />
<br />
In 2005 I found myself looking for a better serving gig, one that would give me the freedom to pursue my acting career, with flexibility of not only time, but my money as well. I remembered what an incredible experience I had had dining at ADC and wandered in off Sunset asking for an application. The universe aligned and a few months later I got a call. I shouldn't have been hired at ADC, not because I wasn't qualified for the job, but because at that time they ONLY hired people that were a direct reference from someone that already worked at the restaurant and I didn't have that. I've never been more excited to hear from a restaurant for a job. I missed the first call and saw the number on our Caller ID, frantic that they wouldn't call again. I anxiously awaited another phone call and when they finally called I was ecstatic. After 5 interviews (they were switching F&B directors so I had to return to meet the new one) I was hired. I spent every week after calling and asking when my training was going to start! Needless to say, the job I left, though full of amazing staff that worked there, was difficult due to demanding clientele and their imminent plan to steal my soul.<br />
<br />
On Day ONE of training at Asia de Cuba I knew I had been asked to be a part of something magical. Each and every one of the 4 trainers embraced this restaurant as if it were their own. I would quickly learn that this is because it is a commandment of China Grill that each and every employee take ownership of their restaurant.
Our feedback was valued, listened to and treated as though we were owners in the company. Not every idea, issue or complaint was handled in the way we thought it should be, but we were heard, respected and valued in your company. I learned not to just wait tables and to serve people but rather to treat them as if they were a guest in my home commanding respect from them, but treating them as though they were very close friends and family members. We were taught not to serve customers, but people. We were challenged to speak up in the kitchen if a dish didn't turn out right, to listen to tables when they said something was wrong, to care enough to take it to the chef and make sure that the quality of food stayed the same. If we had an issue or a challenge we were allowed to speak up in Quality Circles, a bi-weekly forum where each of us got the floor, with no one allowed to respond, and were encouraged to not just complain, but to come up with a solution to the problem first.<br />
The company motto: Have Fun and Make Money! I think this is genius! If your staff is having fun and making money, your guests are having fun and your company is making money! Simple. Logical. Real.
<br />
<br />
I've learned amazing lessons applicable to real life in the
6 Principles we all Live By,<br />
1. We Work as a Team<br />
2. We're Always Looking to Do More<br />
3. We Constantly Communicate with One Another<br />
4. We're Careful<br />
5. We Treat One Another With Respect<br />
6. We Leave Our Personal Problems at the Door.<br />
<br />
I feel that the lessons I've learned her are so incredible I've developed a workshop for improvisers and actors on how to be better servers!<br />
<br />
It is unbelievable that I have become so attached to a restaurant gig. The crazy thing is, I'm not the only one. I've worked here for 8 1/2 years and in some sense, I'm still a rookie. There are people who have been here since the beginning, all 14 years. It's a tough place to leave, not only with consistent money and happy guests, but its like ripping yourself away from family. The family of staff that has kept this thing going for the last 14 years are what have made it magical. They took the guidance, commandments and the 6 principles we live by and ran with them. Thank you for hiring all of the amazing people that I consider family.<br />
<br />
Thank you for providing an incredible eating experience of Asian and Latin fusion, Calamari salad, Char Sui Beef Short Ribs and Cuban Opera. A guest once told me that the quality of food at ADC was better than it had to be (because of the incredible view and ambiance) but it never slipped. I can count on maybe my 2 hands and 1 foot the number of tables that didn't like the food. And in all honesty they were probably crazy.<br />
<br />
To all of the guests that I have had the pleasure of creating memories for, thank you. I'm as devastated as you are that there won't be an Asia de Cuba in the Mondrian hotel anymore. I have overseen numerous proposals, anniversaries, birthdays, celebrations and bachelorette parties (don't worry ladies, your secrets are safe with us). I'm devastated to think of the guests who return every year on their anniversary because, this is where he proposed, who will come next year and find that ADC and their memories will forever only be a memory.<br />
<br />
To everyone who has come in to eat lately and gasped in horror at the news of the closing, saying, "No, I love this place, its one of my favorites." I say to you, Where have you been the last 5 years? Our guest counts have continued to decline and business has definitely slowed down, so its not completely illogical that there would be a change in restaurants here at the Mondrian hotel. Just remember that if you love a restaurant, a store, a movie theatre, patronize it and spend money there or eventually it will go away. This is the reason I buy actual books at physical book stores because I love them so much and I don't want them all to disappear.<br />
<br />
Yes, we move forward and yes I will be a part of Brian Malarkey's exciting new Herringbone in the Mondrian Hotel! I know that everything I learned at Asia de Cuba will make me, make all of us that are continuing on at Herringbone, amazing servers, hosts, bartenders, assistants, runners, and chefs that will enhance and embrace our new home.<br />
<br />
Thank you to each and every one of my fellow ADC Los Angeles Family Members YOU are what made this job magical, fun, exciting and yes, sometimes frustrating, but we always stuck together and managed to hug it out (with much chagrin to Francine the Sexual Harassment Trainer).<br />
<br />
China Grill, Jeffrey, Claude, Neil, Jack, John and Luke know that you have Magic in your hands and the world will be devastated if you don't bring Asia de Cuba back to the masses, OR provide us all with flights to London or Russia to enjoy the remaining Asia de Cuba's! For weeks now we have been experiencing incredible memories and endless compliments of guests who love our food and simply can't imagine a world without Avocado Fried Rice. I am one of them.<br />
<br />
Thank you.<br />
Elizabeth
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPMWojNzHhO-cZhCR66yZ7ucef5B-UrjxajEitwQFKxAHLLLBZ8so4-X8E6S6Z64DyxRBEF861daN-g05gcQdZB58RUH5Wws-LYJYLr_oIp87V9d6DFdrZErj2XwrVH8gzCoufsVHcBv0z/s1600/adc.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="252" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPMWojNzHhO-cZhCR66yZ7ucef5B-UrjxajEitwQFKxAHLLLBZ8so4-X8E6S6Z64DyxRBEF861daN-g05gcQdZB58RUH5Wws-LYJYLr_oIp87V9d6DFdrZErj2XwrVH8gzCoufsVHcBv0z/s320/adc.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13617013469397591621noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-975676961367850115.post-31947664661576638752013-05-15T18:36:00.003-07:002013-05-15T18:50:16.239-07:00#fitchthehomeless Brilliant? Arrogant? Relevant? Satire? Exploitative?<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">This morning as I perused Twitter I noticed a hashtag, #Fitchthehomeless ! Brilliant! I thought.</span><br />
<span style="color: #444444;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">When I first heard that CEO of Abercrombie & Fitch Mike Jeffries has an issue with fat chicks wearing his clothing I was appalled. I remember browsing the racks at A&F when I was in high school, knowing that my size 14 body would never be able to fit into any of their clothes. Pangs of wanting to belong, shame for being bigger than the waif like models all over the store and a desire to be included in the crowd all flicked through my mind. It never occurred to me in that moment that this was intentional because the guy in charge didn't want me to represent his brand.</span></span><br />
<span style="color: #444444;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">The largest women's pants available at A&F are a size 10. I'm willing to bet that this isn't the first time in fashion history that a brand or line has been exclusive. Most high end designers design for models that are under a size 2. Sample sizes are often in a size 6 or lower. I've never heard someone admit that he doesn't want fat people wearing his clothes. The douche-baggery has obviously been handed down to everyone who works there. Also, when clothes are irregular or made wrong, instead of donating them to homeless shelters, they actually burn them. An A&F manager said, <span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: none; color: #444444; font-family: HelveticaNeue-Light, 'Helvetica Neue Light', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; font-size: 20px; line-height: 29.25px;">“Abercrombie and Fitch doesn’t want to create the image that just anybody, poor people, can wear their clothing. Only people of a certain stature are able to purchase and wear the company name.” </span></span></span><br />
<span style="color: #444444; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: none; ; color: #444444; font-family: HelveticaNeue-Light, 'Helvetica Neue Light', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; font-size: 20px; line-height: 29.25px;"><br /></span>
<span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: none;; color: #444444; font-family: HelveticaNeue-Light, 'Helvetica Neue Light', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; font-size: 20px; line-height: 29.25px;">Crazy town. This can't be a good business plan. Back to Twitter. This morning I tweeted </span><a class="twitter-hashtag pretty-link js-nav" data-query-source="hashtag_click" dir="ltr" href="https://twitter.com/search?q=%23fitchthehomeless&src=hash" style="font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px; text-decoration: none; white-space: pre-wrap;"><s style="text-decoration: none;">#</s><b style="font-weight: normal;">fitchthehomeless</b></a><span style="font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px; white-space: pre-wrap;"> is the perfect answer to an awful CEO who only wants rich, good looking people to wear his clothes. Wish I had some.</span></span><br />
<span style=" color: #444444;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">I am someone who considers Twitter somewhat of a game. I'm always surprised what gets re-tweeted and what doesn't, except for my SuperBowl Tweet, "<a class="twitter-hashtag pretty-link js-nav" data-query-source="hashtag_click" dir="ltr" href="https://twitter.com/search?q=%23superbowl47&src=hash" style="font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px; text-decoration: none; white-space: pre-wrap;"><s style="text-decoration: none;">#</s><b style="font-weight: normal;">superbowl47</b></a><span style="font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px; white-space: pre-wrap;"> the only day of the year that people are excited to see the commercials and plan bathroom breaks during regular programming"which was re-tweeted 107 times, because it was brilliant. </span></span></span><br />
<span style="; color: #444444; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px; white-space: pre-wrap;">My #fitchthehomeless tweet has been re-tweeted 38 times and favorited 15 times. It's also elicited some backlash from people who are standing up for the homeless. I'm a bit confused about this. </span></span><br />
<span style="; color: #444444; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px; white-space: pre-wrap;">What is #fitchthehomeless? To be honest when I wrote my tweet, I didn't actually know what it was. I just used deductive reasoning to figure out that people were giving A&F clothes to homeless people because that is the EXACT opposite of what CEO Mike Jeffries has in mind for his brand. Brilliant. How funny. Nothing like bringing light to asinine behavior and helping out people in need at the same time. When I decided to write this blog I googled #fitchthehomeless and discovered that Greg Karber had posted a video to YouTube in which he went to his local Goodwill, the one in Los Feliz, I've been there too Greg, good choice, and purchased all of the A&F clothes he could find. He then drove them to Skid Row and handed them out to people in need. Awesome. I love this even more. </span></span><br />
<span style="; color: #444444; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px; white-space: pre-wrap;">After Tweeting I got this . . . </span></span><br />
<span style="; color: #444444; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span>
</span><br />
<div class="stream-item-header" style="font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px;">
<a class="account-group js-account-group js-action-profile js-user-profile-link js-nav" data-user-id="252387621" href="https://twitter.com/MagpieLibrarian" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><strong class="fullname js-action-profile-name show-popup-with-id">♡♡Ingrid Henny♡♡</strong> <span class="username js-action-profile-name" style="direction: ltr; font-size: 12px; unicode-bidi: embed;"><s style="text-decoration: none;">@</s><b style="font-weight: normal;">MagpieLibrarian</b></span></span></a><small class="time" style="float: right; font-size: 12px; margin-top: 1px; position: relative;"><a class="tweet-timestamp js-permalink js-nav" href="https://twitter.com/MagpieLibrarian/status/334752997076779011" style="text-decoration: none;" title="12:31 PM - 15 May 13"><span style="; color: #444444; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">5h</span></a></small></div>
<div class="js-tweet-text tweet-text" style="font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px; white-space: pre-wrap; word-wrap: break-word;">
<span style="; color: #444444; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><a class="twitter-atreply pretty-link" dir="ltr" href="https://twitter.com/AnInspiredIdea" style="text-decoration: none;"><s style="text-decoration: none;">@</s><b style="font-weight: normal;">AnInspiredIdea</b></a> Why not donate just any clothes? Instead of using homeless people as part of your agenda, why not just do a nice thing?</span></div>
<div class="js-tweet-text tweet-text" style="font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px; white-space: pre-wrap; word-wrap: break-word;">
<span style="; color: #444444; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="js-tweet-text tweet-text" style="font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px; white-space: pre-wrap; word-wrap: break-word;">
<span style="; color: #444444; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">----I actually do donate clothes on a regular basis and often do nice things. . . this isn't my agenda, just an observation. </span></div>
<div class="js-tweet-text tweet-text" style="font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px; white-space: pre-wrap; word-wrap: break-word;">
<span style="; color: #444444; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="js-tweet-text tweet-text" style="font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px; white-space: pre-wrap; word-wrap: break-word;">
<span style="; color: #444444; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">and this . . . </span></div>
<div class="js-tweet-text tweet-text" style="font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px; white-space: pre-wrap; word-wrap: break-word;">
<a class="account-group js-account-group js-action-profile js-user-profile-link js-nav" data-user-id="390931467" href="https://twitter.com/SnarkySmarty" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><strong class="fullname js-action-profile-name show-popup-with-id">Lauren Nelson</strong> <span class="username js-action-profile-name" style="direction: ltr; font-size: 12px; unicode-bidi: embed;"><s style="text-decoration: none;">@</s><b style="font-weight: normal;">SnarkySmarty</b></span></span></a></div>
<div class="stream-item-header" style="font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px;">
<small class="time" style="float: right; font-size: 12px; margin-top: 1px; position: relative;"><a class="tweet-timestamp js-permalink js-nav" href="https://twitter.com/SnarkySmarty/status/334775998518267904" style="text-decoration: none;" title="2:03 PM - 15 May 13"><span style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">4h</span></a></small></div>
<div class="js-tweet-text tweet-text" style="font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px; white-space: pre-wrap; word-wrap: break-word;">
<span style="; color: #444444; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><a class="twitter-atreply pretty-link" dir="ltr" href="https://twitter.com/AnInspiredIdea" style="text-decoration: none;"><s style="text-decoration: none;">@</s><b style="font-weight: normal;">AnInspiredIdea</b></a> Not so much - it's actually pretty offensive when you step back and think about it: <a class="twitter-timeline-link" data-expanded-url="http://bit.ly/16gTlqU" dir="ltr" href="http://t.co/DQ4estIV6j" rel="nofollow" style="text-decoration: none;" target="_blank" title="http://bit.ly/16gTlqU"><span class="invisible" style="font-size: 0px; line-height: 0; text-decoration: none;">http://</span><span class="js-display-url" style="text-decoration: none;">bit.ly/16gTlqU</span><span class="invisible" style="font-size: 0px; line-height: 0; line-height: 0;"></span><span class="tco-ellipsis" style="text-decoration: none;"><span class="invisible" style="font-size: 0px; line-height: 0;"> </span></span></a></span></div>
<div class="js-tweet-text tweet-text" style="font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px; white-space: pre-wrap; word-wrap: break-word;">
<span style="; color: #444444; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="js-tweet-text tweet-text" style="font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px; white-space: pre-wrap; word-wrap: break-word;">
<span style="; color: #444444; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">and this . . . </span></div>
<div class="js-tweet-text tweet-text" style="font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px; white-space: pre-wrap; word-wrap: break-word;">
<a class="account-group js-account-group js-action-profile js-user-profile-link js-nav" data-user-id="86808369" href="https://twitter.com/isabelrae1" style="text-decoration: none; white-space: normal;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><strong class="fullname js-action-profile-name show-popup-with-id" style="text-decoration: underline;">Isabel Rae</strong> <span class="username js-action-profile-name" style="direction: ltr; font-size: 12px; unicode-bidi: embed;"><s style="text-decoration: none;">@</s><b style="font-weight: normal;">isabelrae1</b></span></span></a></div>
<div class="js-tweet-text tweet-text" style="font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px; white-space: pre-wrap; word-wrap: break-word;">
<span style="; color: #444444; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><a class="twitter-atreply pretty-link" dir="ltr" href="https://twitter.com/AnInspiredIdea" style="text-decoration: none;"><s style="text-decoration: none;">@</s><b style="font-weight: normal;">AnInspiredIdea</b></a> it's also the perfect way to make homeless people the butt of privileged people's jokes.</span></div>
<div class="js-tweet-text tweet-text" style="font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px; white-space: pre-wrap; word-wrap: break-word;">
<span style="; color: #444444; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="js-tweet-text tweet-text" style="font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px; white-space: pre-wrap; word-wrap: break-word;">
<span style="; color: #444444; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">I'm curious what you think? Is this exploitative? No one is making money off of the homeless people. In fact, its quite the opposite, they are going to get some pretty nice, if not douchey looking, well made clothes. </span></div>
<div class="js-tweet-text tweet-text" style="font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px; white-space: pre-wrap; word-wrap: break-word;">
<span style="; color: #444444; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="js-tweet-text tweet-text" style="font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px; white-space: pre-wrap; word-wrap: break-word;">
<span style=" #444444; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Today we find ourselves in a world full of bullies, surrounded by trashy tabloids that sell because they rip apart a celebrity for having cellulite and our government has passed laws making declaring that corporations are people too. We've become so apathetic in our lives that all of these things have become tolerated. Hate begets hate and at least Greg is doing something to bring light to this behavior.</span></div>
<div class="js-tweet-text tweet-text" style="font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px; white-space: pre-wrap; word-wrap: break-word;">
<span style="; color: #444444; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="js-tweet-text tweet-text" style="font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px; white-space: pre-wrap; word-wrap: break-word;">
<span style="; color: #444444; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Whether the naysayers above believe it or not Greg is making a difference. He's keeping this story alive, making it relevant by putting it on YouTube and making it fun for people to donate to the homeless while tagging their good deed online with hashtag #Fitchthehomeless. </span></div>
<div class="js-tweet-text tweet-text" style="font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px; white-space: pre-wrap; word-wrap: break-word;">
<span style="; color: #444444; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="js-tweet-text tweet-text" style="word-wrap: break-word;">
<div style="font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px; white-space: pre-wrap;">
<span style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">What do you think? Is Greg in the wrong and just as bad as Mike? </span></div>
<div style="font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px; white-space: pre-wrap;">
<span style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px; white-space: pre-wrap;">
<span style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px; white-space: pre-wrap;">
<span style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">WATCH THE VIDEO HERE> . . . </span></div>
<div style="font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px; white-space: pre-wrap;">
<span style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.youtube.com/embed/O95DBxnXiSo?feature=player_embedded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div>
<span style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="js-tweet-text tweet-text" style="font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px; white-space: pre-wrap; word-wrap: break-word;">
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="js-tweet-text tweet-text" style="font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px; white-space: pre-wrap; word-wrap: break-word;">
<span style="background-color: #f3f3f3; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="js-tweet-text tweet-text" style="color: #333333; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px; white-space: pre-wrap; word-wrap: break-word;">
<span style="background-color: white;"><br /></span></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13617013469397591621noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-975676961367850115.post-50561530737740744292013-04-08T17:46:00.000-07:002013-04-08T17:46:33.014-07:00The Vulnerability of Crowd Funding.Recently I came across a TED talk by Brene Brown on Facebook that one of my friends had posted. I often turn on TED talks while I am doing something else, but Brene's resonated so deeply with me that I quickly found myself just listening to her talk, <a href="http://www.ted.com/talks/brene_brown_on_vulnerability.html">The Power of Vulnerability</a>. I've never heard of anyone like Brene Brown. She actually studies human connection for a living. She investigates vulnerability, courage, authenticity and shame and how they affect human connection. Human connection is something that I think about often and its a driving force behind why I want to make films, act and tell stories. Connection, human connection, is important and the future of humanity is going to rely on it.<br />
<br />
I quickly found Brene's second TED Talk, <a href="http://www.ted.com/talks/brene_brown_listening_to_shame.html">Listening to Shame</a>, which led me to buying her book, "Daring Greatly: How the Courage to Be Vulnerable Transforms the Way We Live, Love, Parent and Lead." I'm only 3 chapters into her book and I've already been blown away multiple times. As I sat and composed another email asking for people to support my Crowd Funding campaign I had an AHA moment. Putting myself out there and asking people to support art that I have yet to create may be the most vulnerable thing I've ever done.<br />
<br />
Vulnerability has got to be one of the most terrifying human emotions. Vulnerability is often perceived as weakness. Brene defines vulnerability as " uncertainty, risk and emotional exposure." In Brene's book, she says, "To put our art, our writing, our photography, our ideas out into the world with no assurance of acceptance or appreciation -- that's also vulnerability." I'm an actor, I write and now I produce projects. I'm used to putting vulnerability out in the world. If you've read my blog at all, you know that I often share things that most people wouldn't tell their best friends. I know that in order to connect you have to be vulnerable. That doesn't make it any easier. I've struggled with it in acting class and had Dee Wallace screaming at me, "If you want to act, you have to bare your soul. The reason people love actors is because they allow real vulnerability to be seen in every moment." (She doesn't scream very loudly and she's actually quite nice.)<br />
<br />
To ask for help is one of the greatest ways to make yourself vulnerable. With my crowd funding campaign for my short film, "Tactics", I've hit the vulnerability jackpot. Not only am I asking for help, I'm asking you to support my art before its become a full fledged vision. Its one thing to make it, put it out in the world, and let people judge it. Its quite another to ask for help before there's anything to show for it. I have the script written, I have a very talented director, J.T. Mollner on board to helm the film and I know that its going to be great.<br />
<br />
That doesn't make it any easier to reach out consistently, daily, numerous times a day to ask for help, to ask people to support your dreams.<br />
<br />
The outpouring of support that I have received has been amazing. I have received donations from people that I would have never guessed would donate to my film. I've gotten amazing letters, notes of support and FB posts from old friends reaching out, telling me they are proud of me, and admire that I'm actually living my dreams, pursuing my passion and honoring my creativity. Its inspiring, comforting and just plain nice to hear.<br />
<br />
Within the support there have also been numerous questions asked by friends, acquaintances, strangers. "Why do you need so much money?" "You can make a short film for less than that." "Why would you pay yourself to make a film that you're asking people to donate money to?" (If I do this as a SAG project, I would technically pay myself as the actress in the film). With every question I have been forced to look at myself and re-evaluate whether I have the right to ask for this amount of money, any money, the ability to make movies at all. I know that some of these questions come from my own hesitations and doubt, from being raised in a family that taught me not to ask for money from friends ever, from the vulnerability of putting myself out to the world and asking for help. I don't like asking for help. I don't like being in a state of weakness, which is how I would have perceived vulnerability before I came across Brene Brown. I know now that asking for help, standing in my power and knowing that my art, my creativity is worth the effort is actually strength and power.<br />
<br />
I made a short film last year that won awards on the festival circuit and actually have that experience under my belt. J.T. has multiple films under his belt that have won mulitple awards and received distribution. I know that I have knowledge and the ability to see this film through to fruition!<br />
<br />
I know that the amount of people that seem to be crowd funding these days can sometimes be overwhelming but the next time you come across some one's crowd funding campaign remember how much vulnerability and risk went into them being able to ask you for help. We live in an incredible world where you can actually contribute to films, albums and art projects that you want to see, that resonate with you or that open your hearts. We are in the midst of watching the world of creativity change! "Veronica Mars", a TV show that has a cult following recently blew everyone away when they set a goal of raising $2 million in order to make the movie version of the TV show and in less than 5 hours they had raised $1 million dollars and in 11 hours hit their goal of $2 million dollars! They currently have over $4.5 million dollars raised and a few days left to go! Incredible!<br />
<br />
Today there are 12 days left in my campaign on PasserBy. I'm almost half way to my goal. I want to hit my goal. I know I'm worth trusting and knowing that I can hit my goal.<br />
<br />
From the bottom of my heart, in gratitude and love, thank you for allowing me to show you my vulnerability and for trusting that I know what to do with it.<br />
<br />
If you want to help "Tactics" and me hit my goal, please donate here! <a href="http://passer.by/films/tactics">Passer.by/films/tactics</a><br />
<br />
Here's to DARING GREATLY!!<br />
<br />
My IMDB page <a href="http://www.imdb.com/name/nm2235318/">http://www.imdb.com/name/nm2235318/</a><br />
J.T. Mollner's IMDB Page <a href="http://www.imdb.com/name/nm2356768/?ref_=fn_al_nm_1">http://www.imdb.com/name/nm2356768/?ref_=fn_al_nm_1</a><br />
"Just Like the Movies" on YouTube <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e9iATP1xMuM">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e9iATP1xMuM</a><br />
<br />
<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13617013469397591621noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-975676961367850115.post-24594326264550137482013-04-02T08:59:00.000-07:002013-04-02T09:04:15.937-07:00Shattering Self- SabotageSelf Sabotage is a bitch. We would never put up with someone else knocking us down right before we crossed a finish line, yet we do it to ourselves all the time. We get so close to a goal we can taste it and then we launch into destructive behavior that enables us to remain in our "safe, comfortable world" that we have been living just fine in. We're not necessarily super happy or thrilled with the safe, comfy place, but we're okay, we're fine, we doing alright.<br />
<br />
Let's look at a journey I'm on right now. About 5 weeks ago I launched a HUGE goal for myself. My acting coach, Michael McCarthy, helped me to understand what a LEVERAGE goal is and its forever changed how I will look at goals. A LEVERAGE goal is one that if you succeed at accomplishing it, you will also knock down other existing goals you have. For instance, if I get down to the size 6 that I have always wanted to be, I will feel great, but I will also be in a clear category as an actress. I have always felt that I confuse casting directors, producers, directors, the people who give me the jobs, because I am too pretty to be the quirky best friend and too big to be the leading lady. I don't think this has to be the truth of me, but it sure seems to be, and I'm at this point in my life where I am READY to book commercials, acting gigs on TV and great roles in incredible little indie films, so why not do everything in MY power to make it easier? Plus, I obviously believe this as a truth, and as someone who creates her own world with her thoughts, it surely has manifested in my life. Achieving my health and fitness goal will then help me achieve career goals, financial goal and fun, travel goals, therefore making it a LEVERAGE goal.<br />
<br />
Being able to see this goal as a LEVERAGE goal has helped me stick to the regime I set up for myself. My goal is to lose 40 lbs in 4 months. This is a completely attainable goal as I only have to lose 2.5 lbs per week. I've been making a menu every week, shopping with a grocery list, and working out 4-5 times a week. The first week I lost 5 lbs. The second week I lost 5 lbs. The 3rd week I lost 2 and the 4th week I lost 1 lb. I lost 13 lbs in ONE MONTH. I'm ahead of the game.<br />
<br />
Week 5 I got a little fatigued from making the menus, the shopping lists, etc (which help in a HUGE way) and I had a lot of leftover food in my fridge, residual behavior from when I used to do monthly shopping for our family of 6 with my Mom, I always buy too much for 1 person. I took a break, I stuck to the diet, but I didn't have a menu or a shopping list, just ate what I had left and didn't worry about it. Then I went out with some friends and had some drinks, some great food and some wine. Too much. BUT we had a lot of fun and I realize that if I'm successful at life I'm going to have to be able to be a human and go out, treat myself and get right back on plan.<br />
<br />
I'm starting to suspect that Self Sabotage is at play here. We're in Week 6 and yesterday I stuck to my plan until I had a little cheese at lunch and then some potatoes at dinner and THEN ice cream. NONE of those things are on the plan.<br />
<br />
Googling Self Sabotage I found this definition:<br />
"Behavior is said to be self-sabotaging when it creates problems and interferes with long-standing goals. The most common selsabotaging behaviors are procrasination, self medication with drugs or alcohol, comfort eating in the face of weight concerns, and self injury such as cutting. These acts may seem helpful in the moment, but ultimately undermine us, especially when we engage in them repeatedly." --- Psychologytoday.com<br />
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;"><br /></span>
Behavior that cuts us off at the knees and stops us from completing our goals. There is also a scientific reason that we self sabotage. our bodies do it for us as an act of protection from the fear of the unknown that we are facing. In the 60's Dr. Maxwell Maltz wrote a book called Psycho Cybernetics exploring why his plastic surgery patients who he had repaired cleft palates or deformities had such extreme reactions to the after result. There were some patients who after he fixed them saw only the ugly deformity that had been there before, while another would have the complete opposite reaction and be thrilled. He quickly discovered that the patients were reacting to their "labels" and the "identities" that they knew of themselves. Your nervous system behaves according to your labels and sets your internal thermostat expecting them to stay at the same level. When we set goals, and begin to push ourselves outside of the comfort zone, your nervous system will activate in order to keep you in the safe and comfortable zone. This explains why when you begin
pursuing a goal, seemingly external and internal forces will align to distract
you from accomplishing your goal, keeping you right in that safe, cozy,
comfortable place you’ve come to know and love.<br />
<br />
I see this type of behavior in my actor friends all of the time. One of them recently went to SXSW film festival because he was the lead in a movie that premiered there. I asked him about his experience and he said that it was overwhelming and exciting and he had very little time to do anything but be interviewed and talk about the movie. He was treated like a true movie star who is the lead in a movie, something he has wanted for a long time. He told me he was relieved to be back at his job, waiting tables, that he was happy there and it felt nice to be back. Luckily, he knew he was in the process of Self Sabotaging himself and recognized that though he was comfortable waiting tables that he wouldn't allow himself to push away all the success from this movie!<br />
<br />
Fear can make us freeze, fear can cause us to play it safe, fear is a bitch, therefore it must be part of self sabotage.<br />
<br />
I do not want to be a waitress forever, I'm tired of having to live paycheck to paycheck and I am SO over getting THIS close to booking a job and having them give it to the other girl. Enough universe, its time to allow me success, abundance, freedom, bliss, humor, love, money and everything this little size 6 heart desires. I will be comfortable being the pretty girl, I will be okay with turning heads and attention that I am not used to.<br />
<br />
The number one thing I've learned to love on this journey already is exercise. I've done made myself addicted to exercising. When I don't go workout for a few days in a row now I feel antsy and bad. I have been active for a lot of my life, but I don't think I ever expected to be addicted to exercising. Its now not something I have to decide if I want to do it or not, its not a choice, its just something that I do as a part of my regular day.<br />
<br />
I'm recommitting to my goal. 40 lbs in 4 months. I know I can do this. I will succeed at it and my cybernetic system can relax, because its gonna go through a change as well!<br />
<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<o:DocumentProperties>
<o:Revision>0</o:Revision>
<o:TotalTime>0</o:TotalTime>
<o:Pages>1</o:Pages>
<o:Words>61</o:Words>
<o:Characters>353</o:Characters>
<o:Company>Inspired Idea Productions</o:Company>
<o:Lines>2</o:Lines>
<o:Paragraphs>1</o:Paragraphs>
<o:CharactersWithSpaces>413</o:CharactersWithSpaces>
<o:Version>14.0</o:Version>
</o:DocumentProperties>
<o:OfficeDocumentSettings>
<o:AllowPNG/>
</o:OfficeDocumentSettings>
</xml><![endif]-->
<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:WordDocument>
<w:View>Normal</w:View>
<w:Zoom>0</w:Zoom>
<w:TrackMoves/>
<w:TrackFormatting/>
<w:PunctuationKerning/>
<w:ValidateAgainstSchemas/>
<w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>
<w:IgnoreMixedContent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent>
<w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>
<w:DoNotPromoteQF/>
<w:LidThemeOther>EN-US</w:LidThemeOther>
<w:LidThemeAsian>JA</w:LidThemeAsian>
<w:LidThemeComplexScript>X-NONE</w:LidThemeComplexScript>
<w:Compatibility>
<w:BreakWrappedTables/>
<w:SnapToGridInCell/>
<w:WrapTextWithPunct/>
<w:UseAsianBreakRules/>
<w:DontGrowAutofit/>
<w:SplitPgBreakAndParaMark/>
<w:EnableOpenTypeKerning/>
<w:DontFlipMirrorIndents/>
<w:OverrideTableStyleHps/>
</w:Compatibility>
<m:mathPr>
<m:mathFont m:val="Cambria Math"/>
<m:brkBin m:val="before"/>
<m:brkBinSub m:val="--"/>
<m:smallFrac m:val="off"/>
<m:dispDef/>
<m:lMargin m:val="0"/>
<m:rMargin m:val="0"/>
<m:defJc m:val="centerGroup"/>
<m:wrapIndent m:val="1440"/>
<m:intLim m:val="subSup"/>
<m:naryLim m:val="undOvr"/>
</m:mathPr></w:WordDocument>
</xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:LatentStyles DefLockedState="false" DefUnhideWhenUsed="true"
DefSemiHidden="true" DefQFormat="false" DefPriority="99"
LatentStyleCount="276">
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="0" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Normal"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="heading 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 7"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 8"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 9"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 7"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 8"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 9"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="35" QFormat="true" Name="caption"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="10" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Title"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="0" Name="Default Paragraph Font"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="11" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Subtitle"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="22" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Strong"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="20" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="59" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Table Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Placeholder Text"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="1" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="No Spacing"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Revision"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="34" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="List Paragraph"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="29" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Quote"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="30" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Intense Quote"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="19" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Subtle Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="21" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Intense Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="31" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Subtle Reference"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="32" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Intense Reference"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="33" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Book Title"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="37" Name="Bibliography"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" QFormat="true" Name="TOC Heading"/>
</w:LatentStyles>
</xml><![endif]-->
<!--[if gte mso 10]>
<style>
/* Style Definitions */
table.MsoNormalTable
{mso-style-name:"Table Normal";
mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0;
mso-tstyle-colband-size:0;
mso-style-noshow:yes;
mso-style-priority:99;
mso-style-parent:"";
mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt;
mso-para-margin:0in;
mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt;
mso-pagination:widow-orphan;
font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:"Times New Roman";}
</style>
<![endif]-->
<!--StartFragment-->
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<!--EndFragment-->Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13617013469397591621noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-975676961367850115.post-56779924397674939252013-02-14T09:26:00.002-08:002013-02-14T09:26:29.590-08:00I LOVE Love. Sorry, I'm NOT sorry!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpek6z_IwTNHeDIUZsFZs7ZUkQQqh6YqTNxNsp5iKlytkquwS1ixAj4cbO_I4Bd-_o43OzRlZ2ctofjuhpk0UKgE_njiFmzCO2MycYxuSkMj2w7PVSSUQIRIvX3H_JGNnF7wa0lAQRkt3s/s1600/hands_making_a_heart_in_the_sunset-t2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="207" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpek6z_IwTNHeDIUZsFZs7ZUkQQqh6YqTNxNsp5iKlytkquwS1ixAj4cbO_I4Bd-_o43OzRlZ2ctofjuhpk0UKgE_njiFmzCO2MycYxuSkMj2w7PVSSUQIRIvX3H_JGNnF7wa0lAQRkt3s/s320/hands_making_a_heart_in_the_sunset-t2.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
I LOVE Love! Unabashedly, un-apologetically and absolutely. The thing is, here's the thing, I think I forgot it for a minute. When you follow love and you think you've found love, you celebrate, I get lost in it sometimes, and you tell everyone, "He's the one!" AND THEN, that thing happens where you discover, ohh, he wasn't the one.<br />
<br />
Where do you go from finding the one to finding they are NOT the one. Logically your heart, soul and mind need a little recovery time. Today is Valentine's Day and until I woke up this morning I wasn't excited about it.<br />
<br />
I have had some amazing love connections, some amazing love stories that you think only happen in the movies. I met a guy on an airplane! We sat next to one another on a flight home to Colorado for Christmas. Our relationship started with witty banter and when we landed I think we both knew that something special had happened.<br />
<br />
I've waited on a guy that I had an incredible connection with and spent the entire time I was working and he was dining with other people flirting, exchanging glances and then numbers.<br />
<br />
I met a guy in a hotel lobby bar, had amazing conversation, spent the night talking and connecting, but never hooking up because he had a girlfriend back home and he actually said the words to me, "Another time, another place and this story would end differently." (or something like that, you get the gist) After our encounter I wrote him a letter, told him thank you and what that night meant to me. <br />
<br />
Once, I walked up to a talented photographer, told him I loved his art, and the SECOND our eyes met I KNEW that we had met before. We looked at one another and just knew each other. THAT time I walked away from that conversation thinking, "I am going to Marry that guy". He is currently engaged to someone else. That stings. How can that be? It is.<br />
<br />
But, here's the thing, I HAD those experiences and they were magical, exciting, exhilarating and thrilling and conversely, they were devastating and heartbreaking and sad because they ended. Particularly not understanding how I could have absolute knowing that I was going to marry my photographer and not have it work out was mind blowing. I know with all my heart and soul that I will find the love that I am looking for and that I know is out there. I trust it, I believe it and I know it! These experiences allow me to know that. I trust the Universe, I trust fate and I trust destiny.<br />
<br />
I am excited for the day that my romantic moment turns into a romantic story into a romantic wedding and continues into a romantic life full of love! I forgot it for awhile, but not for any longer. Love is awesome. Love is amazing and love can and will change the world!<br />
<br />
Start today, start with loving yourself. Go within and have a love affair with yourself because then TRUE love will find you!<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5xsX6S7IJaZ5dmZaRBzcMClJvyeqvfihqCyB37bwWhVIts4mlejhWms3tXXEqXRIjc4IsGt3PAtPx66X6Wq_vy3oeKfEwUAcCyFJOYpQmwmrQ0Xk7oKxmPTc1cPLtAM0Li3IiOfswh4Jn/s1600/images.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5xsX6S7IJaZ5dmZaRBzcMClJvyeqvfihqCyB37bwWhVIts4mlejhWms3tXXEqXRIjc4IsGt3PAtPx66X6Wq_vy3oeKfEwUAcCyFJOYpQmwmrQ0Xk7oKxmPTc1cPLtAM0Li3IiOfswh4Jn/s1600/images.jpg" /></a></div>
Happy Valentine's Day!<br />
<br />
THIS is the kind of love I'm looking for. . . "The best love is the kind that awakens the soul and makes us reach for
more, that plants a fire in our hearts and brings peace to our minds." - The Notebook ---<br />
<br />
and I'm starting by loving myself that way!<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkuaMZFWP_t2Ngc9CVlMTQtnYMZL_qcBB4XxIRn5_UvRV1wHzdRJY0fA-4f2K9ZB7h42lUz17eDhn3Yq3x_tFnBPfafwaLBmRzQiE1PKu8dB3m1jvthOr4L7r6qdVRGRCFLi6Dm7DoZc_4/s1600/The-Notebook-the-notebook-1076909_473_315.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkuaMZFWP_t2Ngc9CVlMTQtnYMZL_qcBB4XxIRn5_UvRV1wHzdRJY0fA-4f2K9ZB7h42lUz17eDhn3Yq3x_tFnBPfafwaLBmRzQiE1PKu8dB3m1jvthOr4L7r6qdVRGRCFLi6Dm7DoZc_4/s320/The-Notebook-the-notebook-1076909_473_315.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
Much Love, Elizabeth <br />
<br />
<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13617013469397591621noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-975676961367850115.post-50856210797134420992012-12-14T13:25:00.002-08:002012-12-14T14:15:36.902-08:00What Does the N.R.A. have to do with it? Dear brother,<br />
You and I have had trouble communicating since you stole my toy at the age of 18 months and our first fight ensued. We simply view the world in different ways, I react emotionally, while you react a bit more logically. I believe I tend to be a bit more optimistic, dreamy and vision board centric, while you are tech-saavy, logic based and gadget-centric. Neither of these outlooks are wrong, they just make us who we are. Colors of different people like your colors and mine are what make our world so interesting, fascinating, inspiring, enlightening and many other "ings" that I can't think of right now.<br />
Today tragedy befell on a place that tragedy should never befall. Too poetic? Some asshole went into an elementary school and opened fire taking 27 souls from this world, 18 of them children. As is expected in this social media world, Twitter and Facebook lit up with opinions of people asking for stricter gun control, using the hashtag #NRA and #guncontrolnow. I was one of them. I posted on Facebook and Twitter, "<span class="userContent">The NRA may not have DONE this, but they sure
make it a lot easier. Please, we don't NEED a gun that can fire 100
rounds in seconds. 18 children will never breathe again, but at least
you have your automatic weapons." You posted, "</span><span class="userContent">There is no sense to be made of this,
Political views or arguments are not going to help the victims and their
families right now." And on Twitter you asked me, "What does the NRA have to do with this?" And our sister replied by posting a video of Kittens, because, well, she has her own colors and way of communicating and we love her for that!</span><br />
<span class="userContent"> I decided to write this because your question, "What does the NRA have to do with this?" got me thinking, do I really know why I want the NRA to back off? So I went to their website. To be honest with you, I was expecting a mission statement of sorts stating what they are about, but couldn't really find it. So I went to wikipedia, and this is what they say about the NRA. </span><br />
<br />
<span class="userContent">"</span>The <b>National Rifle Association of America</b> (<b>NRA</b>) is an American non-profit <a class="mw-redirect" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/501%28c%29%284%29" title="501(c)(4)">501(c)(4)</a> <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Advocacy_group" title="Advocacy group">lobbying group</a><sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-1"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/National_Rifle_Association#cite_note-1">[1]</a></sup><sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-Timewarner.com_2-0"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/National_Rifle_Association#cite_note-Timewarner.com-2">[2]</a></sup> that advocates for the protection of the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Second_Amendment_to_the_United_States_Constitution" title="Second Amendment to the United States Constitution">Second Amendment</a> of the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States_Bill_of_Rights" title="United States Bill of Rights">United States Bill of Rights</a>,
and the promotion of firearm ownership rights as well as marksmanship,
firearm safety, and the protection of hunting and self-defense in the
United States."<br />
<br />
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/National_Rifle_Association<br />
<br />
All of that is fine, and from their website it looks as though they have firearm safety courses and many other educational and positive aspects of their organization. The beef I have with the NRA lies in "The Institute for Legislative Action (ILA) which is the lobbying arm of the National Rifle Association of America" Who doesn't love a good lobbying group? This lobbying arm of the NRA is the exact reason that Political views play into this argument, because the NRA has made this a political argument. They repeatedly make it easier and easier for people to obtain semi-automatic weapons. I understand that there are people in this world who love to hunt and need guns to hunt, that's fine, I personally don't find any joy or pleasure in that hobby, but I don't want to begrudge anyone of their right to hunt. However, I don't think that any hunter goes out with a semi-automatic or an automatic weapon to take out Bambi. In fact in 2004, the NRA opposed the renewal of the Federal Assault Weapons Ban from 1994 which prohibited many features of semi- automatic weapons, they were successful in their opposition and the ban expired.<br />
<br />
The bottom line is that these weapons are too easy to come by. James Holmes, the shooter in the movie theater in Colorado bought most of his weapons ONLINE, according to the Wall Street Journal, "the suspect bought
four guns over the past 60 days, and over the Internet bought 3,000
rounds for an assault rifle, 3,000 rounds for Glock handguns and about
300 shotgun rounds. The suspect also had a 100-round drum-style magazine
for the assault rifle that would have allowed him to fire 50 to 60
rounds a minute." (<a href="http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10000872396390444464304577541032679325726.html?mod=WSJ_hpp_LEFTTopStories" target="_blank">http://online.wsj.com/article/SB1000087239639044446430457754103267932...</a>) ON THE INTERNET, with the click of a button, he bought all of that ammunition. It's just too easy to get your hands on.<br />
<br />
Things need to change, something has to give. It's been over 10 years since the Columbine tragedy and we're STILL having this conversation. What can we do? How can we fix this? How do we make sure that this stops happening? We have to try something different, can't we try the one thing we haven't yet? Stricter gun control. Psych-evaluations for people who want guns. If we just made the process of obtaining weapons a little bit harder maybe we would see less violence of this sort? We won't know until we try.<br />
<br />
I have never liked guns and I probably never will. They freak me out. You often hear, "Guns don't kill people, people kill people." Well, if a gun didn't have the ability to fire bullets at a high rate of speed that tear through bone, skin, human organs, blood vessels, and teeth, sometimes exploding on the inside, or sometimes exiting a body and lodging in a wall, I would say perhaps that argument holds some weight. If a crazed person wants to kill some people chances are they are probably going to kill some people, but its a lot easier to stop a person wielding a knife, a hammer, a handgun, then it is to stop someone who is shooting an assault rifle that shoots 50-60 rounds in a MINUTE. Guns were developed when we needed to hunt for survival, to protect us from war. It's time to evolve beyond needing or allowing the use of guns. A human life has to become more precious than your right to bear arms, or history is doomed to repeat itself over and over again. <br />
<br />
Guns shouldn't launch such emotional arguments, people should not be so attached to their guns and their right to shoot things, animal or human, that when 18 innocent children lose their lives they are more concerned with their right to continue shooting instead of the rights that those 18 children will never have again, the right to live, breathe and go to school in a safe environment.<br />
<br />
Love,<br />
Your Sister <br />
<br />
<div style="background-color: white; border: medium none; color: black; overflow: hidden; text-align: left; text-decoration: none;">
<br /></div>
<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-16"> </sup>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13617013469397591621noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-975676961367850115.post-3057960214739140702012-10-30T08:34:00.000-07:002012-10-30T08:34:26.023-07:00Why not just do it?Instead of asking myself what's with the no blogging? I figured, why not just do it?<br />
<br />
My issue is that I think long and hard about what I want to write, what I want to say and how it can affect the world. . . which I think is getting way ahead of myself. Why not just write?<br />
<br />
I am normally not one to watch the news, yet yesterday I couldn't seem to turn it off as I watched the powerful weather that was Hurricane Sandy make landfall in NYC. My sister lives in Willamsburg and I wanted to make sure that she was okay, but the images of cars floating in parking garages and water flooding the subway system are too unbelievable to turn off. At least all of those movie directors and screenwriters who had to hear, "That would never happen." or " That movie was so unrealistic, water flooding the subway?! No way." are now all sitting smuggly in their damp homes going, "I told you so."<br />
<br />
I am thoroughly amazed that people are even still talking about the election. Granted its in one week and this is supposed to be closing argument time, but COME on people. You think President Obama actually has time to stop and think about his election right now? When millions of people without power, millions of people are trapped on an island and fatalities are being reported hourly that he is going to stop and say, aww man, I wish I was stumping in Ohio right now. That is not the kind of President I want, nor the kind of President that we need. Thankfully, Obama sprung into action and is already offering Federal aid to the states affected by this weather. If Romney were President we'd spend days waiting for Private companies to make the best bid before sending anyone in with aid.<br />
<br />
I long for the day when humanity trumps economy. . . Trump, blech, he's gross, just check out his Twitter feed about how the hurricane is good luck for Obama and will help buy him the election.<br />
<br />
The best news coming out of New York and the hard hit areas is that there has been no looting, no crime and no violence. Instead, reports are flowing in of kindness and generosity offered to those in need. Focus on that, focus on the love, the open hearts, the kindness from strangers and our world will grow up to be the world that everyone knows we can be.<br />
<br />
Sending out love, light, peace, an open heart, and good thoughts to everyone in the storms path, whether you're dealing with destruction or bracing for rain.<br />
<br />
Stay safe, stay warm, stay hugged. Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13617013469397591621noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-975676961367850115.post-24766819091012919222012-10-29T22:12:00.000-07:002012-10-29T22:12:46.362-07:00What's with the absence from blogging?What's with the absence from creating?<br />
What's with the absence from writing?<br />
Why is it that we go through these dry spells if you will?<br />
Why is it that I will sit down and watch TV for a few hours and beat myself up while doing it because I'd rather be writing? (I'm very flexible)<br />
What is it in me that loves to self sabotage?<br />
Am I really just too hard on myself sometime, hey, I said sometime, not all of the time?<br />
I can go through dry spells and then I can go through amazing bursts of creative inspiration.<br />
Lately, I can get a burst of creative inspiration and not be able to write through the inspiration.<br />
It's almost like there are so many ideas that I can't filter and focus on one, so I don't focus on any.<br />
<br />
This is a sure-fire way to remain in this status quo of life that I have created and I have to tell you and me, me, are you listening? I won't stand for this. I won't stand for the status quo. Life is too short, life is too much fun and there's too much of everything to explore to sit inside beating myself up for not doing what my soul is craving to do. Craving to create. Craving to inspire. Craving to conquer success. Craving to make people laugh. Craving to find bliss in every, single, solitary, PRESENT moment.<br />
<br />
I am. Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13617013469397591621noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-975676961367850115.post-31086966496828760322012-07-04T12:57:00.002-07:002012-07-09T08:47:45.622-07:00Celebrating my Freedom of Movement, Health and Wellness!Today marks the One Year Anniversary of when I suffered a trimalleolar fracture of my left ankle. I was home in Colorado for a good friends wedding and was able to celebrate the 4th of July with my family! I usually work on the 4th of July, I usually don't bother too much with plans for the 4th. . . I enjoy, the 4th, but its not usually high on my list of MUST celebrate. As we relaxed in the backyard of my parents, hanging in our above ground pool, I was extra careful because I had a callback for a TIDE commercial the next day that I was so excited about. I was wearing a hat, had on extra sunscreen, just relaxing and enjoying the day. Breaking a bone NEVER crossed my mind.<br />
<br />
We were messing around with a Slip n Slide that my sister had bought over Memorial Day weekend, we were being silly, doing somersaults, cartwheels, sliding on our feet . . . this was my downfall, I did a cartwheel, jumped and slid on my feet, somewhere in that process my ankle decided, eh, not gonna stand for that. I have never experienced pain like that, nor do I want to experience that every again. If I sit and recall the event I can actually feel the emotions, the pain and the panic that I felt that day. Don't worry, I only tried it once. . . like I said, I don't want to experience that again.<br />
<br />
A year later, what did I learn?<br />
<br />
This last weekend I was in Yosemite and as I scrambled up a creek, over rocks, headed towards an awesome waterfall, I had to take a moment to say Thank You. Thank you to the marvels of Modern Medicine, thank you to my body for its incredible healing power and thank you for forcing me to make this realization. . .<br />
<br />
I Love, Honor and respect my freedom of Movement, Health and Wellness so much more than I did before!<br />
<br />
I never realized before I couldn't walk, just how much I love walking. It sounds ridiculous, but its something that I know we all take for granted. I knew that I loved dancing, I knew that I loved swimming, I just didn't know that I LOVE the ability to walk around the block, loved the ability to carry a plate from the kitchen to the living room, and loved the ability to wear two shoes that match.<br />
<br />
I learned that no matter what happens my family is going to be there for me. My parents both flew out to California and spent more than a week with me, taking care of me, making sure I was okay. My Mom was nice enough to fly with me to California so I could shoot a short film I had booked before. I was able to do the shoot on crutches, with a still broken ankle (we had to wait for the swelling to go down before we could do the surgery, so it was ACTUALLY still broken at this time). I made the decision to do the film because it felt like a very important thing that I had to do. It was statement to myself more than to anyone else that nothing was going to get in the way of my dreams and that I would be an actress no matter what. By far, this shoot was one of the hardest things that I've ever done. I tried not to take my pain pills so my head was clear enough to act, but thinking about it today and how hard it was, I'm not sure that I would or could do it again. I've also yet to see the finished product of this film, which is beyond frustrating, but happens more than you would ever think in the Indie film making world<br />
<br />
They supported me financially, emotionally and in every way possible and I will forever be grateful for their help, love and support. Not to mention the incredible speed, knowledge, grace and love with which I was whisked from a wet slip n slide, splinted with a blow up toy and some duct tape, a borrowed dress slipped over my head, a make shift chair carried me to the car that was waiting with pillows and all, ONLY to discover later at the hospital that my cousin Liberty had the wherewithal to grab a change of clothes for me before we left. My family are THE people to be around in a crisis!<br />
<br />
I have a greater respect and love for my body and the incredible machine that it is. I went to Cardio Barre this morning to celebrate that one year later I am able to do most all of the things I did before I broke my ankle. While I was there I decided that I would spend the next four months working out often, going on long walks, taking care of the miraculous instrument that my body is and celebrating my freedom of movement. Four months is the length of time that I was on crutches, unable to put weight on my foot and frustrated.<br />
<br />
Happy 4th of July. I hope you take some time today to remember all of the freedoms you take for granted everyday.<br />
<br />
Love! Elizabeth<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQLaPbDKfm4h1BlAZeXS6-dW6J1V9dAtEYIsWrGad67ZCiM4NBX3QxOcjm6nXcH3jFH86JfovnUGA_SKirkkM139nCYUSgAyO-kwT-gIypM9yv9eq6d3hflGJ385hHie85VHX8iRDq6EzH/s1600/DSCN0328.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQLaPbDKfm4h1BlAZeXS6-dW6J1V9dAtEYIsWrGad67ZCiM4NBX3QxOcjm6nXcH3jFH86JfovnUGA_SKirkkM139nCYUSgAyO-kwT-gIypM9yv9eq6d3hflGJ385hHie85VHX8iRDq6EzH/s320/DSCN0328.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaAdYOQEMgd8v2jJ_ChbGunxnV5iTX5k5mU0YHa9qS9Cg1rcD-qUH71ulSpbMn2g6_m2YDeQvwYzfTh90ozJO0wdxebd5SjhzYn9b-vDtvU0Db-XMMhrLjFMKHtrHzmX1SRWpAL0WiNnWT/s1600/DSCN0309.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaAdYOQEMgd8v2jJ_ChbGunxnV5iTX5k5mU0YHa9qS9Cg1rcD-qUH71ulSpbMn2g6_m2YDeQvwYzfTh90ozJO0wdxebd5SjhzYn9b-vDtvU0Db-XMMhrLjFMKHtrHzmX1SRWpAL0WiNnWT/s320/DSCN0309.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmpkvgu_l0ffD9-7QyKgyI6VYNiKEmwTU4fGI7dbwUae8_kSRAG_GtaHeZowJarHw4tSid_Bnutek4s7BT0KGB5vGAWLiYFWpr-9BSBiujCXyIjdYAC-g3UDEyigt01Is9LIKrD2BKcjaG/s1600/IMG_0181.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmpkvgu_l0ffD9-7QyKgyI6VYNiKEmwTU4fGI7dbwUae8_kSRAG_GtaHeZowJarHw4tSid_Bnutek4s7BT0KGB5vGAWLiYFWpr-9BSBiujCXyIjdYAC-g3UDEyigt01Is9LIKrD2BKcjaG/s320/IMG_0181.jpg" width="239" /></a></div>
<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13617013469397591621noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-975676961367850115.post-71268186337790536342012-04-26T13:15:00.001-07:002012-04-26T13:23:52.119-07:0021 Days of Financial Freedom --- Shattering how to Shift Your Thinking. . .I've lost count on what day I'm supposed to be on . . . oops. No worries, I am just going to keep going.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<object class="BLOGGER-youtube-video" classid="clsid:D27CDB6E-AE6D-11cf-96B8-444553540000" codebase="http://download.macromedia.com/pub/shockwave/cabs/flash/swflash.cab#version=6,0,40,0" data-thumbnail-src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjenm8yrxizMCtMySfHk5u47lLS_r6h3OKvnoZ7JVHWKHsA5CnXn7FoAF4017pL683k9VKHecjm0Y394ZPWcLYu0E1SpEClQP1KCo6Z4aNvtIW6F99xW6cFGoIqFs9D1tZpO3P23T7Mc-Aq/s0/Apr+26%2C+2012.flv" height="266" width="320"><param name="movie" value="http://video.google.com/googleplayer.swf?videoUrl=http%3A%2F%2Fv19.nonxt8.googlevideo.com%2Fvideoplayback%3Fid%3Dd39afdeb7e505199%26itag%3D15%26source%3Dpicasa%26ip%3D0.0.0.0%26ipbits%3D0%26expire%3D1335492860%26sparams%3Did%2Citag%2Csource%2Cip%2Cipbits%2Cexpire%26signature%3D4430F31B784D6F20F8ED92350C91E98B897BC887.9830AC56797CCFAFD8FF3F28533049ECD3B3A048%26key%3Dlh1" />
<param name="bgcolor" value="#FFFFFF" />
<embed width="320" height="266" src="http://video.google.com/googleplayer.swf?videoUrl=http%3A%2F%2Fv19.nonxt8.googlevideo.com%2Fvideoplayback%3Fid%3Dd39afdeb7e505199%26itag%3D15%26source%3Dpicasa%26ip%3D0.0.0.0%26ipbits%3D0%26expire%3D1335492860%26sparams%3Did%2Citag%2Csource%2Cip%2Cipbits%2Cexpire%26signature%3D4430F31B784D6F20F8ED92350C91E98B897BC887.9830AC56797CCFAFD8FF3F28533049ECD3B3A048%26key%3Dlh1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash"></embed></object></div>
<br />
<br />
One thing that has always suffered due to my financial rollercoaster is my commitment to working out and eating right. When I feel secure in my finances and have enough money, I am pretty consistently working out. I love Cardio Barre classes. They are an amped up ballet class that is a total body workout, low impact, core strengthening, great cardio workout! They never get easy, you get stronger, but because your body is the main weight you're working out with, you continue to find the workout challenging. I'm never bored and it makes me feel like a dancer again. I LOVE dancing. (Something else I don't do enough of because I don't have the money to take classes)<br />
<br />
The other day I had an AHA moment. There is one thing I typically don't even think twice about spending money on; eating out and drinking alcohol. Which in all honesty usually isn't something that's all that good for me. I don't make great choices when I eat out. Throw a few glasses of wine down my gullet (I just used the word gullet and wine in one sentence) and my choices in food selection get even worse. The next day I feel terrible about my choices, beat myself up and want to go workout. But, I don't. I can't afford it remember?<br />
<br />
Here's the aha moment. . . what if I took that money I used on eating poorly and drinking wine to pay for exercise classes? I can easily spend upwards of $50 a week eating out and drinking, so why not shift that money to Cardio Barre classes? At $16 a pop that easily covers 3 classes at Cardio Barre. 3 times a week at CB would be ideal and it would be hard, but I would be able to regain the muscle I lost being injured pretty quickly. I would feel better about myself, my skin would glow, I'd have more energy and I'd be in a great mood which would ultimately all magnetize more money, better opportunities and acting gigs into my world. . . a brilliant little circle that seemed like a vicious cycle before!<br />
<br />
Can we talk for a moment about the cost of eating healthy? It's an argument we hear over and over that the reason some people are overweight is because they simply can't afford to buy healthy things. My number one argument to this has become Quinoa. Have you ever MADE quinoa? It's super simple, easy and delicious, not to mention has a ton of protein and great nutrients in it. . . but number one. . . a CUP of quinoa makes a ridiculous amount. You can usually get 2-3 cups out of a package that costs $3.99. Though once its made it provides almost double that. If I had a large family that I was struggling to feed you can guarantee that I would be making that frequently. There are a few other things I can think of that would be easy to supplement into your life that are easy to make as well as provide lots of nutrition. Lentils. Black Beans.<br />
<br />
One of my favorite easy to make and delicious to eat meals can be made in under 10 minutes. I take a medium sized saucepan, toss in a can of Black Beans, Broccoli Florets, tomatoes, chopped asparagus, chopped onion, and any other vegetables I have and want to use. Stir it up. Put a lid on it and cook at a medium heat for 5-8 minutes. The lid provides a little bit of steam which softens the vegetables and mixes the flavors together! Done. High in protein and nutrients from veggies.<br />
<br />
There really are no reasons to not eat healthy and work out, just excuses.<br />
<br />
I read "Crazy, Sexy, Diet" by Kris Carr recently and in it she said, "Think of yourself at a young age, as an impressionable child. How would you treat that child if you were its parent? Of course you would want to feed that child the best food, make sure they got a lot of sunshine, slept enough at night and drank enough water." I'm paraphrasing, but when I read that it just made so much sense. I will definitely be taking better care of my inner child as well as my exterior adult self. It just makes life so much easier!<br />
<br />
Anyone want to do a 21 day adventure cleanse with me? Starting soon! Pick up your copy of Kris Carr's "Crazy, Sexy, Diet" and get ready!! It's an ADVENTURE cleanse! Just sounds fun!Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13617013469397591621noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-975676961367850115.post-66087731689788105542012-04-14T16:04:00.003-07:002012-04-14T16:04:38.332-07:0021 Days of Financial Freedom ~ Shattering Resistance to ChangeDay 5, 6 annnnnnnnnnddddd 7.<br />
<br />
So, it's been 3 days. 3 days since I was going to write everyday. . . and Its been three days since my last blog. Sure, I've been busy, picking up extra shifts, catching up on money and working on being better with my money.<br />
<br />
I am in resistance.<br />
I am in resistance to this process and there's a part of me that's in resistance to moving forward in my life. Why?<br />
<br />
This is not a new thing for me, I've felt myself do this before. I can recognize this. It's manifested in me losing 40 lbs and becoming a size 8, close to hitting my goal of a size 6, and then I get off track and find myself lingering around a 12 again. I was going to say that was probably because I broke my ankle and couldn't work out, but that just feels like an excuse now. And not a good one.<br />
<br />
So, here I am in resistance to looking at my accounts every day and jotting down how this journey is going. The string of hits continue to come and I can't imagine how much more can happen. I can't seem to stop the snowball of bad luck. Just this morning I had to replace a tire on my 1 year old car because there was a massive bolt in it just off the side of the treads, a place they can't repair the tire. . . This is the second tire I've had to replace in the last two months. . . adding itself to the list of expenses that I can't really seem to get on top of lately.<br />
<br />
I've been focusing on my lack of abundance and money a LOT lately and as someone who believes that my thoughts create my life, I better get a hold of the runaway negativity before it gets worse. How do you change your perspective when you're feeling stressed about money? Do you have any tips, hints or ideas? Forcing yourself to focus on the good in your life?<br />
<br />
Maybe for the remainder of this experiment I will try the "Gratitude and Grateful List" at night? You know, the one where before you go to bed you make a list of ten things you're grateful for and three things that went right in your day?<br />
<br />
That sounds like a plan. Starting now.<br />
<br />
10 Things I'm grateful for.<br />
1. My supportive family.<br />
2. My rad, sexy 2011 Black Honda Civic.<br />
3. The cute, quaint, adorable 2 bedroom house I rent in Los Feliz, a kick ass, creative, walkable neighborhood.<br />
4. My ability to walk.<br />
5. A job that provides me with health insurance.<br />
6. A new job with Wine and Canvas that is bringing joy to people's lives and meeting new friends.<br />
7. A loving boyfriend.<br />
8. Great friends who can provide tough love and unending support.<br />
9. The success of my short film.<br />
10. My creative ability to write.<br />
<br />
3 Things that have gone well today so far:<br />
1. I got my hair done in order to look good for the Indie Spirit Film Festival.<br />
2. I took my little dog Audrey for a 40 minute walk.<br />
3. I wrote this blog.<br />
<br />
That actually does make me feel better. Finished up with an affirmation from Jack Plotnick:<br />
<br />
I release and destroy my need to feel unworthy. I know that I am worthy of all the good in life and now lovingly allow myself to accept it. As I repeat this affirmation my outer effect of procrastination fades away and I no longer feel the need to delay my own good.Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13617013469397591621noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-975676961367850115.post-13908657439504697962012-04-10T11:26:00.001-07:002012-04-10T11:27:22.193-07:0021 Days of Financial Honesty -- Shattering Integrity and Your MoneyDay 3 and Day 4.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<object class="BLOGGER-youtube-video" classid="clsid:D27CDB6E-AE6D-11cf-96B8-444553540000" codebase="http://download.macromedia.com/pub/shockwave/cabs/flash/swflash.cab#version=6,0,40,0" data-thumbnail-src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlZoAfagaJA4aElNpV97Q1g80q85DatCHvdfuBvUaonIQx0qnZ_Ghyphenhyphen1QddFOXisY7h4VIFWddjTKK9yhOTJntCjwE1g4haaYMPOpC19EI2XlD3usUWGVtxHmdFghLbGjfzJfFCI88kH-pp/s0/Apr+10%2C+2012.flv" height="266" width="320"><param name="movie" value="http://video.google.com/googleplayer.swf?videoUrl=http%3A%2F%2Fv21.nonxt4.googlevideo.com%2Fvideoplayback%3Fid%3D728cdec7820beb0a%26itag%3D15%26source%3Dpicasa%26ip%3D0.0.0.0%26ipbits%3D0%26expire%3D1334103738%26sparams%3Did%2Citag%2Csource%2Cip%2Cipbits%2Cexpire%26signature%3DD0A594E194381E6360CB682096D4083CE6CC002C.37114A59FAF999E044E294F69DAAACD0C2151FBC%26key%3Dlh1" />
<param name="bgcolor" value="#FFFFFF" />
<embed width="320" height="266" src="http://video.google.com/googleplayer.swf?videoUrl=http%3A%2F%2Fv21.nonxt4.googlevideo.com%2Fvideoplayback%3Fid%3D728cdec7820beb0a%26itag%3D15%26source%3Dpicasa%26ip%3D0.0.0.0%26ipbits%3D0%26expire%3D1334103738%26sparams%3Did%2Citag%2Csource%2Cip%2Cipbits%2Cexpire%26signature%3DD0A594E194381E6360CB682096D4083CE6CC002C.37114A59FAF999E044E294F69DAAACD0C2151FBC%26key%3Dlh1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash"></embed></object></div>
<br />
<br />
So easy to slide back into old patterns, that's why I'm doing this for 21 days, because they say it takes 21 days to form a habit. I did not look at my account yesterday. Doh. Nothing catastrophic happened, but its something I want to put into practice everyday. Not only does it give me more control over my money, but it also allows me to make sure that no one has committed fraud with my Debit card #. Apparently Visa just had a bunch of credit card numbers stolen because just a few days ago I got a new debit card in the mail just in case my # was one of the stolen cards. Looking at my account everyday enables me to make sure that there are no transactions on my account that I did not make. I was actually a victim of fraud earlier this year and luckily the Credit Union was on top of it and called me, right away, on a Sunday to double check and see if I've made three purchases at the KMart in Valencia. To which I would like to say to the people who committed the fraud and copied my debit card, Don't be an IDIOT. . . three purchases in one place, one right after the other is a RED FLAG. . . sheesh. At least they're morons.<br />
<br />
I have recently made the realization that I can not generate abundance in my life if its not on the up and up. That's where the integrity part of this blog comes in today. In 2007 and 2008 I went to a shady tax man. Everyone at my work had utilized him and some had been audited, but it didn't seem like a big deal. I chose to use him for those tax years because I work at a high end restaurant and we used to get paid in cash. While we reported all of the money we made, there was never enough to take out of our paychecks, which consisted only of the hourly $8.25 rate we made for the 25- 30 hours a week we worked. In order to avoid having to pay taxes I went to a shady tax man. BAD CALL. I now know that if my brain knows its not in integrity I will create problems for myself.<br />
<br />
I was audited and am currently paying back over $4000 that I owe to the IRS and the State of California for those years. Here's the thing, it just wasn't worth it. I only got back maybe $600 one of the years and not much more the others. To be honest if I had ended up paying the taxes that i owed it probably would have been a fraction of the money I'm now paying back, but a scorned IRS does not like to play nice. I tried to argue with them for a few years and after sending endless amounts of paperwork back and forth I finally caved and said, forget it, its worth more of my peace of mind to simply straighten it out.<br />
<br />
The tax man was not without fault because besides taking some crazy deductions, that I just didn't pay attention to . . . once again, checked out, disconnected and just HOPING that things would pan out. . . I also think he made a mistake on one of the years and somehow counted my income as $88,000 instead of $44,000. No matter how many times I asked about it he never really understood what I was saying.<br />
<br />
Perhaps I could have gone a different route and hired a tax attorney to help me work it out, but like I said after the two year battle and then constant self-punishment for using a shady tax man I just resolved myself to owning up to it and paying it back.<br />
<br />
A lesson learned that I won't soon forget. If its not in integrity, even if it seems lucrative in the moment and I could desperately use the money, I probably shouldn't do it, because inevitably its going to come back and bite me in the arse.<br />
<br />
<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13617013469397591621noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-975676961367850115.post-3861873622402250772012-04-08T20:15:00.000-07:002012-04-08T20:15:22.334-07:0021 Days of Financial Honesty - Shattering the Overdraft FeesDay 2. Financial Honesty.<br />
<br />
Overdraft fees.<br />
<br />
They make no sense to me. Overdraft fees were something I got when I first moved to Los Angeles and I was struggling to make ends meet and Wells Fargo were complete asses that charged an arm and a leg for each one. I quickly got my act together, left Wells Fargo, joined a credit union and vowed never again.<br />
<br />
To my alarm, as I was gathering my deductions for my taxes I noticed an alarming number at the bottom of my Statement. There at the bottom was a "Year to Date- Overdraft Fee" box. I thought hmmm, I don't remember getting too many. . . shouldn't be that bad. . . $1000. I had over $1000 in Overdraft Fees last year. Do you KNOW how much I could USE $1000 right now?! <br />
<br />
To my chagrin this year has begun much in the same way. I vowed to stop getting overdraft fees in 2012 but my year has not started off that great. I don't know what I was thinking, but in a weird, roundabout way, I thought it was better to pay my bills on time, and just accrue the fees if I didn't have quite enough in my account to cover them. WHAT THE HELL? Most of the late fees on my bills are $15. Here I was getting things paid in a responsible manner but paying a $25 Overdraft Fee at the same time instead of just getting a $5-$15 late fee on the bill. Most of the time if I call the people I owe money to, they just make a note of it, charge the late fee and they wait for the money to show up.<br />
<br />
Also, I hate Overdraft FEES and I think they are mean and do NOTHING to help people who are perhaps struggling to get by. I get it, from a business point of view, but I think they've gotten a little out of hand. I think they are strictly a way for Credit Union's and Banks to make money off of people for NOW GOOD REASON. Most of the time they create a greater problem. This last month, I had to pay my $300 car bill three weeks late because I didn't have the money, but over the last month I was charged about $250 in Overdraft fees! That's almost enough to pay the car bill!!! AHHHHH!! In money I will NEVER GET BACK!!!<br />
<br />
Don't even get me started on the vicious circle of debt that they can create. Watch my video blurb to hear more.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<object width="320" height="266" class="BLOGGER-youtube-video" classid="clsid:D27CDB6E-AE6D-11cf-96B8-444553540000" codebase="http://download.macromedia.com/pub/shockwave/cabs/flash/swflash.cab#version=6,0,40,0" data-thumbnail-src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsDpPn7epEhvtHy-NvfAujdqSbmyOyOkQy7nnf6VEs9sCPFXpayeqiidWOKLm-PTKiIxdutct37gEUL4MNTSmL-1GvWQcbg7RJZSZmcISYVb7zOhSWj1Yur_Cx0QNYxt99QRLk0BUoYfJd/s0/Apr+8%2C+2012.flv"><param name="movie" value="http://video.google.com/googleplayer.swf?videoUrl=http%3A%2F%2Fv1.nonxt4.googlevideo.com%2Fvideoplayback%3Fid%3Da3ec0c0ee6738a00%26itag%3D15%26source%3Dpicasa%26ip%3D0.0.0.0%26ipbits%3D0%26expire%3D1333962637%26sparams%3Did%2Citag%2Csource%2Cip%2Cipbits%2Cexpire%26signature%3D4FBEF072FF59A6F4110402E1746E01A201156D3D.B07646B874625328A204B4CBED1E47058A453879%26key%3Dlh1" />
<param name="bgcolor" value="#FFFFFF" />
<embed width="320" height="266" src="http://video.google.com/googleplayer.swf?videoUrl=http%3A%2F%2Fv1.nonxt4.googlevideo.com%2Fvideoplayback%3Fid%3Da3ec0c0ee6738a00%26itag%3D15%26source%3Dpicasa%26ip%3D0.0.0.0%26ipbits%3D0%26expire%3D1333962637%26sparams%3Did%2Citag%2Csource%2Cip%2Cipbits%2Cexpire%26signature%3D4FBEF072FF59A6F4110402E1746E01A201156D3D.B07646B874625328A204B4CBED1E47058A453879%26key%3Dlh1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash"></embed></object></div>
<br />
<br />
<br />
Now that we've ranted. . . What can I do in my new found Financial honesty to stop getting late fees. STOP spending money that I don't have. Wait until I have the money to pay the bill or get a money order when I have the money and that way, it gets deducted from my account without having to wait for checks to clear or the dust to settle on all pending transactions. I mentioned in my blog yesterday that a lot of this had to do with not keeping track of the money I had spent in my checking account. BIG no, no that I will never do again. I downloaded a simple app on my iPhone called, iCash Tracker to act as an electronic cash register and tell me how much money I ACTUALLY have to spend. I hope this solves my problem because I HATE giving credit unions and banks my money for NOTHING> NOTHING> NOTHING. There are so many amazing places I could go and things I could buy if I just saved that money and never got another Overdraft Fee in my life.<br />
<br />
I'm done getting fees. What about you? Have you sworn fees out of your life? Join me won't you, though the execs at your bank might not be too happy, the money you have left over for a massage will definitely be worth it.Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13617013469397591621noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-975676961367850115.post-16259173014736969992012-04-07T18:18:00.001-07:002012-04-07T18:18:39.050-07:0021 Days of Financial Honesty - Will the SECRET be my downfall?<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<object width="320" height="266" class="BLOGGER-youtube-video" classid="clsid:D27CDB6E-AE6D-11cf-96B8-444553540000" codebase="http://download.macromedia.com/pub/shockwave/cabs/flash/swflash.cab#version=6,0,40,0" data-thumbnail-src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjabiZFY1HyySUTkyhRTMr_WpqeuSfwWt-tUNZBQuPKZWoJFU3kEu0cVR_uCESAh-tQpQpBno7ItwELLE9CY5PgHhedsmCQSir0JJk7rU4GyYTPLC6XLGFKjy4jOTI0Oobd1xdluQ-TboEY/s0/Apr+7%2C+2012.flv"><param name="movie" value="http://video.google.com/googleplayer.swf?videoUrl=http%3A%2F%2Fv10.nonxt4.googlevideo.com%2Fvideoplayback%3Fid%3D166e20519bf71ff9%26itag%3D15%26source%3Dpicasa%26ip%3D0.0.0.0%26ipbits%3D0%26expire%3D1333869334%26sparams%3Did%2Citag%2Csource%2Cip%2Cipbits%2Cexpire%26signature%3DD86E56E54FC5A0D6EA603E47D6B6FCE2814C1291.CF2AF2A2D2FD66F052B1873F0ED340F3EAC6233%26key%3Dlh1" />
<param name="bgcolor" value="#FFFFFF" />
<embed width="320" height="266" src="http://video.google.com/googleplayer.swf?videoUrl=http%3A%2F%2Fv10.nonxt4.googlevideo.com%2Fvideoplayback%3Fid%3D166e20519bf71ff9%26itag%3D15%26source%3Dpicasa%26ip%3D0.0.0.0%26ipbits%3D0%26expire%3D1333869334%26sparams%3Did%2Citag%2Csource%2Cip%2Cipbits%2Cexpire%26signature%3DD86E56E54FC5A0D6EA603E47D6B6FCE2814C1291.CF2AF2A2D2FD66F052B1873F0ED340F3EAC6233%26key%3Dlh1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash"></embed></object></div>
My financial life is in shambles. It is falling apart. I am fully and completely to blame.<br />
<br />
I am a 32 year old woman who prides herself on her ability to work a "support while I make it" job as I chase my dream of being a working actress in film and television. I fully, 100% believe that I create my own reality. . . so how did I end up here?<br />
<br />
Here begins Day ONE of 21 Days of Financial Honesty.<br />
First the facts . . .<br />
I am 32 years old.<br />
I work a pretty good job at a swanky restaurant in West Hollywood that has health insurance.<br />
I lease a sweet 2011 Honda Civic.<br />
I have $50 in my savings account.<br />
I live pay check to pay check.<br />
I rent a 2 bedroom, 1 bath Craftsman house in a really great neighborhood of Los Angeles that I rent with a roommate.<br />
I have $8,000 in credit card debt.<br />
I owe the IRS $3000 because I was audited a few years back.<br />
I had to ask my parents for money.<br />
I am 32 years old. <br />
<br />
I have never been in a financial situation that I was seriously worried about. I'm a little bit worried now. So, what happened? How did I get here? I have lived for 10 years in Los Angeles supporting myself and my dream. I've been blessed in the job department, though the two restaurants that I've worked at are restaurants and not acting gigs as I would like, they are pretty easy gigs, which provided me with a stable (ish) income, great friends and health insurance. The last few years I've been able to work 25-30 hours a week, taking vacation whenever I want to and leaving my days open for auditions.<br />
<br />
Why now? Why does this all feel like the world is crashing around me now? Let's be honest, I haven't had the greatest year, struck down by a broken ankle, I was on disability for 6 months, which, while it provided a pretty good income, it did not cover all of my bills. Turns out I have a pretty high overhead.<br />
<br />
I am going to blog about this for 21 days as I examine WHAT HAPPENED? How did I get here? What can I do? and How can I fix it?<br />
<br />
NUMBER ONE ---- IGNORE IT and it WILL GO AWAY. . . .<br />
This does not actually work in the financial world. As I mentioned previously I believe in the power of the mind to create your own reality, however, the risk of the SECRET is that its almost impossible to believe you have unending streams of abundance if you can't afford to go out to dinner, buy a new dress when you want to, put gas in your car, you get the idea. There is no one in the world who has such control over their thoughts so much so that you can attract abundance as you pray that your car makes it home on the remaining gas fumes you have. ESPECIALLY since they say your feelings are the number one attractor to creating your world.<br />
<br />
I have a horrible habit on NOT looking at the reality of my finances. LITERALLY, looking at my bank account. So, for the next 21 days. I vow to ACTUALLY look at my bank account, everyday, online, so I KNOW what's in there, what I can spend and to make sure that no one else has stolen my debit card and went on a free for all at the KMARTS up in Valencia, which happened to me earlier this year. It really has been one hell of a year.<br />
<br />
I also vow to keep track of all of the purchases I have made on my debit card. Remember the good old days when you wanted to access your bank account you had to actually write a check and then while you were standing in line at the grocery store you could fill out the Check register and write down how much money you spent? Each week you could sit down and subtract all of those transactions and know exactly how much you spent? Do you know how long it took me to remember that that thing was called a "Check Register"? Because we don't use them anymore. . . well, maybe some people do. I downloaded a free app on my iPhone called iCASH TRACKER. ALL it does is track the money in my bank account, I input a starting amount, track when I use my debit card and deposit money and it keeps a running tally for me. So I know that if my landlord hasn't cashed the rent check yet, I ONLY have $50 left to spend, not the $1000 that I THINK I have. . .<br />
<br />
Which leads me to rack up an embarrassing amount of OVERDRAFT FEES . . . which I will blog about tomorrow.<br />
<br />
What about you? How's your financial health these days? We spend so much time focusing on our physical health and the health of the nation, but how's your FINANCIAL health? Are you able to actually attract abundance into your world because you have control of your finances? I'm so jealous of you if you are and aspire to be just like you.<br />
<br />
The other day I got an email from Danielle LaPorte the author of Fire Starter Sessions and someone who KNOWS how to create abundance. According to her website she used to book personal one on one coaching sessions with people for $1000 an hour. This is a woman who knows her value and has her finances worked out! Her Burning Question of the day was, What's the best piece of advice you've been given. . . it boiled down to this.<br />
<a href="http://www.daniellelaporte.com/the-burning-question-series/"><img src="http://www.daniellelaporte.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/01/BQ-for_bloggers-175x175-final2.png" /></a>
<br />
<h5>
"When you 'think' it's a crisis, you've got to ask yourself: <i>is any of this going to matter in three years</i>?" Then you do what you got to do. </h5>
<h5>
When I think about this financial crisis I'm pretty sure it won't even register in three years. But you can be damn sure that I'm going to do what I got to do. </h5>
<code><br />
</code><code></code><br />
<br />
Check out more of her brilliance at www.daniellelaporte.com<br />
<br />
Have you looked at your account online today? I have.Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13617013469397591621noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-975676961367850115.post-32315618034822940532012-03-17T17:49:00.000-07:002012-03-17T17:50:01.291-07:00Shattering what Happened to Integrity, Virtue and the Value of Your Word?!Yesterday on my drive home from work I was listening to the news on NPR. They were talking about the verdict that was reached in the Dharun Ravi trial, the former Rutgers student who used a webcam to watch and broadcast his roommate, Tyler Clementi's romantic night with another man. Shortly after doing this, Tyler Clementi jumped off a bridge to his death. It's becoming an all too familiar story about bullying and gay students giving up on themselves and choosing to end their lives.<br />
<br />
The report said that Ravi had sent Tweets and text messages to fellow students when his roommate asked to be alone in the room, expressing his disgust with his roommates choice to make out with another man. In a Twitter post, Ravi wrote, "Roommate asked for the room till midnight. I
went into Molly's room and turned on my webcam. I saw him making out
with a dude. Yay." He then used the webcam to invite others to video chat him and check out the action themselves as he streamed live from the webcam again. All of this is horrific enough, leading to the fact that it drove Tyler to commit suicide is even more heartbreaking. The thing that struck me the most about this story is that as the reporter wrapped it up they said that Ravi's parents whisked him out of the courtroom, showing no emotion, and that they will be appealing the verdict.<br />
<br />
APPEAL the VERDICT?! How can you possibly? What happened to Integrity? To Virtue? To the Value of your word? Ravi was found guilty by a jury, and there were great amounts of physical evidence that he did all of the things he was accused of. There are text messages, Tweets and evidence that he attempted to delete the damning evidence after Tyler committed suicide. What happened to owning up to a mistake? To saying, I'm sorry, I messed up and to actually facing the consequences of your actions? If its printed in black and white that you actually did these things, you actually wrote all of these hateful things, encouraged others to do the same and it ended in an unfortunate way, WHY WOULD YOU THEN TRY TO APPEAL the sentence? You DID all of these things.<br />
<br />
I don't think that Ravi alone is to blame here. What happened to all of the other people in the world willing to stand up for what's right? What happened to his friend Molly that was in the room when he streamed the live webcam? What were all of those students thinking who tuned in to watch? How is it possible that no one thought that Tyler deserved defending? The breach of privacy alone should have triggered some personal alarms for these college kids shouldn't they? Is this the society that we live in now? Is this what happens when every personal moment is recorded for the entire world to see on FB and Twitter? That a breach of privacy like this seems like its a run of the mill, everyday occurrence? Like violence in video games and movies are we becoming desensitized to how people should be treated? The basic right that what happens behind closed doors stays behind closed doors and not just in Vegas?<br />
<br />
There are so many systems that failed here. As fashion, TV and movies throw back to the retro age, a simpler time, I encourage everyone to remember what Integrity is. To remember what it was to be virtuous. To value your word. I know that its not popular to speak out against your peers but its time to make these old fashioned values hip again. <br />
<br />
Find a way to marry that in your life and then we can worry about whether or not the gays will ruin the sanctity of marriage, because from where I'm standing right now, basic human decency is more important than the sanctity of marriage. It's time to go back to standing up for what's right and speaking up when you see something that is not.<br />
<br />
integrity |inˈtegritē|<br />
noun<br />
1 the quality of being honest and having strong moral principles; moral uprightness : he is known to be a man of integrity.<br />
<br />
virtue |ˈvər ch oō|<br />
noun<br />
1 behavior showing high moral standards : paragons of virtue. See note at goodness .<br />
• a quality considered morally good or desirable in a person : patience is a virtue.<br />
<br />
value |ˈvalyoō|<br />
noun<br />
1 the regard that something is held to deserve; the importance or preciousness of something : your support is of great value.<br />
<br />
Here's a link to a news article referencing what I'm talking about. <br />
http://www.nydailynews.com/news/crime/dharun-ravi-guilty-invasion-privacy-counts-rutgers-spying-case-article-1.1040776<br />
<br />
<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13617013469397591621noreply@blogger.com0