17) Take Acting for Camera class enrolled 7/4/07
Last night everyone in class jotted down their first impressions of me (and I of them). Below is what they came up with:
Flexible
Nice smile
Nice laugh
Makes eye contact
Focused
Not shy
Outgoing (2)
Poised
Funny (2)
Social
Nice
A best friend you can have
Shy in the beginning/out going in the end
"Teacher" in later on life
Sympathetic
A happy person but only shows that when she smiles, which makes you wonder when she doesn't
Nice girl
Smart (3)
Sweet
Kind
Shy (2)
Mellow
Directed
Strong in her convictions
Calm
She gets what she wants
I could not trust her
Patient
There is something about her that makes me think she is stressed up
Shy?!
Fresh
Clean
Perky
Deep thoughts
Knows what she wants to do in life
Reads a lot (well read)
Outdoor type: hiking, running
Friendly
Seems like a vegan collegiate
Seems real sweet & friendly & very honest
Fun
A good sport
Young and playful
Intense
Pretty emotional - but in touch w/her feeling which saves a lot of hassle trying to pry it out of her
Dreamy
Supporting actress
Good delivery
Very easy going
Relaxed attitude
I don't see her as shy at all
Down to earth
Joker maybe
Laid back
Confident
Vegan?
Natural
Cares about others
Knows what she'd talking about
Looks like she likes animals
Happy go lucky young lady
Professional and very determined to make things happen
Goal oriented
Self assured to a point, but always lands on her feet
Talented and driven
Eccentric in her own right
Humble
A lot of these things (like 'knows what she wants to do in life') I wish were true, but feel I'm not quite there yet. It's interesting that I'm projecting those things. I told Serena that confidence is gained by acting confident. I suppose other things can be gained that way too.
At any rate, I'm really enjoying the class.
Friday, August 24, 2007
Wednesday, August 22, 2007
Day 139
This morning, after my yoga class, the instructor approached me while I was changing, as I was the last one there. She asked what brought me to Bikram, so I told her a bit about this list, which she raised her eyebrows curiously about (not necessarily in a good way, but ah well). She then asked how long I'd been practicing. "About two months," I told her. She gasped, which was totally flattering, but I confessed to her I'd been doing Pilates for 5 years before that. She seemed satisfied with this news but then asked if I was a dancer. "No no, before Pilates I did, like nothing, and was really inflexable," I said. As I was putting on my shoes she asked what studio I'd taken Pilates at, and was impressed when I told her I'd learned at home. It felt pretty good being marveled at by my teacher 'cause usually it's the other way around. This one instructor, Elizabeth, gave up a 20 year career and 6 figure income to become a Bikram teacher. I feel lucky that I've learned early in life that having a stressful job, however lucrative or fullfilling, just isn't worth your health and happiness.
Friday, August 17, 2007
Day 134
So my yoga marathon lasted a dozen days before my body began to poop out to the point that my practice was suffering. I went last Friday night against it's wishes and afterward was so exhausted I knew getting up @ 7am Saturday wasn't going to happen. I had plans with my friend Anna, who's visiting from Michigan (where she lives with her husband and two kids), that began @ 1030am in Golden Gate Park, so the 8-930a session was the only class I could make that day. I went Sunday, but when Monday came I thought it best to skip that night too since that class is 7-8:30p, giving me little time to unwind before bed @ 10p. I'm strict about getting 8hrs before getting up for the 6:30a class, which I'm not only diligent about getting up for, I'm excited about. In fact I'm disappointed it's only offered Tues-Thurs. I would go every weekday if I could. But doing the night class and then the morning class 10hrs later is not something I plan to do regularly. I do vow to go at least 5 days a week, and start to incorporate Pilates back into my routine too 'cause I miss it.
Since I've been doing Bikram yoga I sleep soundly, hear better, smell better, focus better, am calmer & more content, stronger (like I've never known strength, particularly in my knees!), and in general really AWARE. Obviously, my body looks faboo and I'm more flexible too. My diet fluctuates. Period time still brings cravings for sweets. In contrast, I've acquired a strong desire for soup.
17) Take Acting for Camera class enrolled 7/4/07
Last night was my first Acting for Camera class. It's going to be a lot more intense than I previously thought. It's goal is to prepare you for professional acting. I'm not worried about the work though, I'm really excited about it. I'll get to do two scenes, a monologue, and a classic piece, along with some smaller assignments. Only 11 of the 18 people enrolled in the class showed up plus 2 adds, which the teacher was bothered by. It's a very diverse and interesting group (a typical occurrence at City college). We played all sorts of games after introducing ourselves. In one of them you mold your partner into a given adjective. The guy I was paired with sculpted me into joy, which required me to lean slightly forward with my legs, arms, and fingers spread wide. Then to top it off he formed a huge smile on my face. I had to maintain this pose until the group finished evaluating the rest of the human sculptures. By the time they guessed what I represented, and I could let down my leaden arms, I was quite relieved. Unfortunately, I have a knot in my back today.
74) Participate: 26 Things
This website is no longer there. I'm not going to despair. All I need is a list of 26 things I can then interpret through photographs. Anyone want to make me a list?
Ooh, another thought, maybe I could paint those 26 things instead... or I could do both. I still need a list though. Anyone? Ajectives and verbs are welcome along with nouns.
Since I've been doing Bikram yoga I sleep soundly, hear better, smell better, focus better, am calmer & more content, stronger (like I've never known strength, particularly in my knees!), and in general really AWARE. Obviously, my body looks faboo and I'm more flexible too. My diet fluctuates. Period time still brings cravings for sweets. In contrast, I've acquired a strong desire for soup.
17) Take Acting for Camera class enrolled 7/4/07
Last night was my first Acting for Camera class. It's going to be a lot more intense than I previously thought. It's goal is to prepare you for professional acting. I'm not worried about the work though, I'm really excited about it. I'll get to do two scenes, a monologue, and a classic piece, along with some smaller assignments. Only 11 of the 18 people enrolled in the class showed up plus 2 adds, which the teacher was bothered by. It's a very diverse and interesting group (a typical occurrence at City college). We played all sorts of games after introducing ourselves. In one of them you mold your partner into a given adjective. The guy I was paired with sculpted me into joy, which required me to lean slightly forward with my legs, arms, and fingers spread wide. Then to top it off he formed a huge smile on my face. I had to maintain this pose until the group finished evaluating the rest of the human sculptures. By the time they guessed what I represented, and I could let down my leaden arms, I was quite relieved. Unfortunately, I have a knot in my back today.
74) Participate: 26 Things
This website is no longer there. I'm not going to despair. All I need is a list of 26 things I can then interpret through photographs. Anyone want to make me a list?
Ooh, another thought, maybe I could paint those 26 things instead... or I could do both. I still need a list though. Anyone? Ajectives and verbs are welcome along with nouns.
Friday, August 10, 2007
Wednesday, August 8, 2007
Day 125
8) Eliminate acne Nature's Gate Organics Acne Treatment System purchased 5/3/07; Zinc supplement arrived 6/22/07; started Bikram yoga 6/23/07
According to all the articles I've read on adult acne, the skin should clear up after 3 months of using most topical acne fighting systems. I chose the one I did because I wanted to do it as naturally as possible, plus my skin has grown a tolerance to Pro-active. The skin has cleared completely around my forehead, upper cheeks and nose, but I still get outbreaks once a month (at that time of the month), that last about a week, around my chin, mouth, and lower cheeks. I've been taking the Zinc supplement a bit over a month now to fight from the inside, but whether or not it's helping I can't tell. It seems like my scars have gotten paler though. The yoga should theoretically eradicate acne with the reduction of stress and detoxing. But I worry about the heat and sweat being an irritant. It's possible that my diet is a factor, as when I went off sugar for 7 months it cleared up significantly only to go berserk in the last 2 months. This could have been that I stopped taking birth control at that time, which I was only taking to fight acne by balancing my hormones. I went back on the pill 6 months ago with no effect (accept my PMS is significantly lessened), but now I've stopped that so I can afford yoga. You know, I just don't care what my face looks like anymore. I have to admit that I don't really have control over it, as exerting all the control I do have gets me inconsistent results. The other thing is I keep thinking it's my fault. Like it's being caused by something I just haven't put my finger on, and once I stop doing that thing, or resolve that thing, it'll go away. I've still yet to do acupuncture and a cleanse, but in the meantime I just don't want to think about it.
46) Create a filing system for all your papers 8/5/07
I bought 2 files with 7 deep pockets each, labeled each pocket, and then filed my papers in their corresponding pockets. Voilà!
92) Attend 10 live performances (2/10) SF Mime Troupe: Making A Killing 7/4/07; Aladdin Jr. 8/4/07
This Saturday I joined with a good chunk of my family to see my niece perform in Aladdin Jr. She played one of the guards that chases Aladdin about in the beginning and follows Jafar's orders throughout. I was very amused that both the girl playing the carpet and the guy playing the genie could do flips! The theater was laid out so the stage was center and the seats surrounded it, like a coliseum. The play was much like the movie with a few changes here and there. Delaney (my niece) was very good about staying in character, while some of the others on stage looked bored.
33) Complete 35 books: 5 must be from Banned-books(0/5); 5 must be from Guardian's top 100 books (0/5); 5 you must already own (0/5); Total - (3/35) What Would You Do If You Had No Fear, by Diane Conway 5/2/07; Healing Emotions:Conversations With the Dalai Lama on Mindfulness, Emotions, and Health, Edited by: Daniel Goleman 6/28/07 Bikram's Beginning Yoga Class, by Bikram Choudhury 8/6/07
At the beginning of the week I finished Bikram's Beginning Yoga Class, which I bought thinking I'd do the routine at home. Before even going into the postures Bikram emphasizes the need for a heated room. The heat is there so A) you don't hurt yourself and B) you get the maximum stretch possible. I knew no plausible way to regularly heat a part of my apartment to even 80%, let alone 100%, so I was back in class three days after this book arrived in the mail. Another part of the book that got me... theme I should say, is the one where you do Bikram's yoga everyday for two months. I resisted this request at first, but Maggie was there to over hear me say, "but I'll probably try for 5 times a week." "No," she said calmly, "I think you should do it everyday." Having never experienced a Bikram class herself, I'm sure it was easier for her to commit me to such a daunting task. Nevertheless, I had to step up to the challenge. And here I am 10 days into my yoga marathon. This book stays at my bedside where it can inspire me each night; particularly Mon thru Wed nights, since the following mornings I have to rise at 6am. Granted I could go to the 7pm rather than the 630am class, but when my acting class starts, Tues and Thurs nights will be taken. So, how do I feel? At the moment I'm really tired. It could be physical exhaustion, or it could be that there's nothing to do here at work besides stare at this screen (half the office is on Vac, and August is our slowest month, for similar reasons). Nevertheless I have an overwhelming urge to take a nap. On the plus side I'm totally relaxed, clear headed, and I think I can hear better...
According to all the articles I've read on adult acne, the skin should clear up after 3 months of using most topical acne fighting systems. I chose the one I did because I wanted to do it as naturally as possible, plus my skin has grown a tolerance to Pro-active. The skin has cleared completely around my forehead, upper cheeks and nose, but I still get outbreaks once a month (at that time of the month), that last about a week, around my chin, mouth, and lower cheeks. I've been taking the Zinc supplement a bit over a month now to fight from the inside, but whether or not it's helping I can't tell. It seems like my scars have gotten paler though. The yoga should theoretically eradicate acne with the reduction of stress and detoxing. But I worry about the heat and sweat being an irritant. It's possible that my diet is a factor, as when I went off sugar for 7 months it cleared up significantly only to go berserk in the last 2 months. This could have been that I stopped taking birth control at that time, which I was only taking to fight acne by balancing my hormones. I went back on the pill 6 months ago with no effect (accept my PMS is significantly lessened), but now I've stopped that so I can afford yoga. You know, I just don't care what my face looks like anymore. I have to admit that I don't really have control over it, as exerting all the control I do have gets me inconsistent results. The other thing is I keep thinking it's my fault. Like it's being caused by something I just haven't put my finger on, and once I stop doing that thing, or resolve that thing, it'll go away. I've still yet to do acupuncture and a cleanse, but in the meantime I just don't want to think about it.
46) Create a filing system for all your papers 8/5/07
I bought 2 files with 7 deep pockets each, labeled each pocket, and then filed my papers in their corresponding pockets. Voilà!
92) Attend 10 live performances (2/10) SF Mime Troupe: Making A Killing 7/4/07; Aladdin Jr. 8/4/07
This Saturday I joined with a good chunk of my family to see my niece perform in Aladdin Jr. She played one of the guards that chases Aladdin about in the beginning and follows Jafar's orders throughout. I was very amused that both the girl playing the carpet and the guy playing the genie could do flips! The theater was laid out so the stage was center and the seats surrounded it, like a coliseum. The play was much like the movie with a few changes here and there. Delaney (my niece) was very good about staying in character, while some of the others on stage looked bored.
33) Complete 35 books: 5 must be from Banned-books(0/5); 5 must be from Guardian's top 100 books (0/5); 5 you must already own (0/5); Total - (3/35) What Would You Do If You Had No Fear, by Diane Conway 5/2/07; Healing Emotions:Conversations With the Dalai Lama on Mindfulness, Emotions, and Health, Edited by: Daniel Goleman 6/28/07 Bikram's Beginning Yoga Class, by Bikram Choudhury 8/6/07
At the beginning of the week I finished Bikram's Beginning Yoga Class, which I bought thinking I'd do the routine at home. Before even going into the postures Bikram emphasizes the need for a heated room. The heat is there so A) you don't hurt yourself and B) you get the maximum stretch possible. I knew no plausible way to regularly heat a part of my apartment to even 80%, let alone 100%, so I was back in class three days after this book arrived in the mail. Another part of the book that got me... theme I should say, is the one where you do Bikram's yoga everyday for two months. I resisted this request at first, but Maggie was there to over hear me say, "but I'll probably try for 5 times a week." "No," she said calmly, "I think you should do it everyday." Having never experienced a Bikram class herself, I'm sure it was easier for her to commit me to such a daunting task. Nevertheless, I had to step up to the challenge. And here I am 10 days into my yoga marathon. This book stays at my bedside where it can inspire me each night; particularly Mon thru Wed nights, since the following mornings I have to rise at 6am. Granted I could go to the 7pm rather than the 630am class, but when my acting class starts, Tues and Thurs nights will be taken. So, how do I feel? At the moment I'm really tired. It could be physical exhaustion, or it could be that there's nothing to do here at work besides stare at this screen (half the office is on Vac, and August is our slowest month, for similar reasons). Nevertheless I have an overwhelming urge to take a nap. On the plus side I'm totally relaxed, clear headed, and I think I can hear better...
Wednesday, August 1, 2007
Day 118
I've been so engaged in living life lately I've neglected this blog (in comparison to how I had been attending to it). The main reason is I've had so much to do at work (imagine that). But I finally completed this massive list of all the realtors in the city who use our services (my boss is going to invite them to a party). I had to combine all the contact info we have for them while filling in the blanks with what I could find on the Internet. I ended up with 133 realtors and learned just how corporate real estate is. So here I am with some down time.
17) Take Acting for Camera class enrolled 7/4/07
A couple semesters ago I took a beginning acting class @ City which I thoroughly enjoyed. I enrolled the following spring for this Acting for Camera class, but Maggie went into labor the day of the first class (which didn't go as smoothly as planned), so I decided to postpone it. I'll be taking it this semester every Tues & Thurs night.
31) Take a yoga class - began 6/23/07; 6/25/07; 6/28/07; 6/30/07; 6/1/07; 7/3/07; 7/5/07; 7/7/07; 7/8/07; 7/10/07; 7/12/07; 7/14/07; 7/15/07; 7/17/07; 7/19/07
I finished my $30 dollar month of Bikram yoga having fully taken advantage; so much, in fact, that I bought a book on it thinking I'd continue at home. But once I started reading the book, which stresses doing it in a heated room to prevent injury (among going on and on about it's countless benefits), I realized I wouldn't be able to create so intense an environment in my apartment (which is cool even during heat waves). I got depressed and my body seemed to laugh at the one round of Pilates I did last week. It also kept throwing me into Bikram poses, out of sequence, and not warmed up. I realized after discussing it with my sister, that it's totally worth the $90 bucks a month (though not the $150! for non-students). So Monday evening I forked over the money, almost fainting during the session (having been out of practice for over a week), but I was back there @ 630am the next day!... and again @ 630am today! I feel fantastic, all warm and fuzzy like you do after a long swim, though I hurt all over... it's totally worth it.
36) Visit Disneyland 7/21-7/22/07
Maggie, Randy, Lucy and I had plans to visit my dad and his wife a couple weeks ago that were ruined by my drug addicted half brother moving in with them (who none of us wanted to spend days in the presence of). Please excuse my lack of compassion, but the man has hit on several members of our family including yours truly. The last time I saw him, two X-mas' ago, he was looking me up and down saying, "wow, wow" while also calling me a "little princess" in regard to the amount of presents my father got me. My sister wrote him a letter years before that recognizing the downward spiral he was on, trying to reach out, and he snubbed her. People who blame everyone and everything around them, making no effort to change or take responsibility for themselves, are my pet peeve. In fact they're a huge part of what's wrong with the world.
So Maggie, Randy, and I, in an almost contradictory state of self pity, dejection, and frustration from our father choosing his ill fated son over time with us and his newest grandchild, took a trip to Disneyland none of us could afford. We had a blast, of course, even meeting up with out aunt, Pam, and our brother Steve and his family (they go to Disneyland like most people go to the movies). And it was totally worth it.
55) Take Moira out 20 times (2/20) 4/13/07; 7/14/07
A few weekends ago I used, for the 1st time, a Zoo membership card given to me by Kate, who I worked with at Hollywood Video. It got Maggie, Moira, Lucy and I in, and Randy used one of the free passes that comes with membership. Moira loves animals, so I figured it'd be a good outing for her. She enjoyed touching various critters on the wildlife walk in the Children's Zoo, and was also keen on the Insect Zoo. We took her to her Nana and Opa's house afterwards (my mom and Roger's), and Roger took us all out to sushi. Yum!
88) Attend 10 year high school reunion
The latest correspondence on this one:
Hey Amber,
Have you heard anything more about a reunion of class o' 97?? would you keep me posted if you do. I'd really appreciate it.
Thanks a mil,
Jennifer
My Response:
Hey Jennifer
You know... I haven't, and they're really running short on time, as far as invitations, if it's going to be in August. I'll try contacting that e-mail address Ron gave Trin, but we might have to take matters into our own hands.
-Amber
I write to Ron:
Hi Ron,
Since I posted that bulletin on MySpace regarding the '97 reunion alot of alumni have contacted me. I sent them the e-mail you wrote Trinity in response, but it's now August and no one's received any sort of invitation. Do you know what's going on? How can I help get the ball rolling?
-Amber
Ron's response:
Hi Amber,
I've been out of town for work, so I'm not quite sure what has happened with the reunion planning. I was told by Mr. Rosenblatt that they had people working on it, but let me make a few phone calls, and I will get back to you ASAP.
I know that there is some money to help pay for things with the reunion, so if nothing has happened, I'll be in touch with you so we can get something going.
Hope all is well with you,
Ron
And now we play the waiting game...
17) Take Acting for Camera class enrolled 7/4/07
A couple semesters ago I took a beginning acting class @ City which I thoroughly enjoyed. I enrolled the following spring for this Acting for Camera class, but Maggie went into labor the day of the first class (which didn't go as smoothly as planned), so I decided to postpone it. I'll be taking it this semester every Tues & Thurs night.
31) Take a yoga class - began 6/23/07; 6/25/07; 6/28/07; 6/30/07; 6/1/07; 7/3/07; 7/5/07; 7/7/07; 7/8/07; 7/10/07; 7/12/07; 7/14/07; 7/15/07; 7/17/07; 7/19/07
I finished my $30 dollar month of Bikram yoga having fully taken advantage; so much, in fact, that I bought a book on it thinking I'd continue at home. But once I started reading the book, which stresses doing it in a heated room to prevent injury (among going on and on about it's countless benefits), I realized I wouldn't be able to create so intense an environment in my apartment (which is cool even during heat waves). I got depressed and my body seemed to laugh at the one round of Pilates I did last week. It also kept throwing me into Bikram poses, out of sequence, and not warmed up. I realized after discussing it with my sister, that it's totally worth the $90 bucks a month (though not the $150! for non-students). So Monday evening I forked over the money, almost fainting during the session (having been out of practice for over a week), but I was back there @ 630am the next day!... and again @ 630am today! I feel fantastic, all warm and fuzzy like you do after a long swim, though I hurt all over... it's totally worth it.
36) Visit Disneyland 7/21-7/22/07
Maggie, Randy, Lucy and I had plans to visit my dad and his wife a couple weeks ago that were ruined by my drug addicted half brother moving in with them (who none of us wanted to spend days in the presence of). Please excuse my lack of compassion, but the man has hit on several members of our family including yours truly. The last time I saw him, two X-mas' ago, he was looking me up and down saying, "wow, wow" while also calling me a "little princess" in regard to the amount of presents my father got me. My sister wrote him a letter years before that recognizing the downward spiral he was on, trying to reach out, and he snubbed her. People who blame everyone and everything around them, making no effort to change or take responsibility for themselves, are my pet peeve. In fact they're a huge part of what's wrong with the world.
So Maggie, Randy, and I, in an almost contradictory state of self pity, dejection, and frustration from our father choosing his ill fated son over time with us and his newest grandchild, took a trip to Disneyland none of us could afford. We had a blast, of course, even meeting up with out aunt, Pam, and our brother Steve and his family (they go to Disneyland like most people go to the movies). And it was totally worth it.
55) Take Moira out 20 times (2/20) 4/13/07; 7/14/07
A few weekends ago I used, for the 1st time, a Zoo membership card given to me by Kate, who I worked with at Hollywood Video. It got Maggie, Moira, Lucy and I in, and Randy used one of the free passes that comes with membership. Moira loves animals, so I figured it'd be a good outing for her. She enjoyed touching various critters on the wildlife walk in the Children's Zoo, and was also keen on the Insect Zoo. We took her to her Nana and Opa's house afterwards (my mom and Roger's), and Roger took us all out to sushi. Yum!
88) Attend 10 year high school reunion
The latest correspondence on this one:
Hey Amber,
Have you heard anything more about a reunion of class o' 97?? would you keep me posted if you do. I'd really appreciate it.
Thanks a mil,
Jennifer
My Response:
Hey Jennifer
You know... I haven't, and they're really running short on time, as far as invitations, if it's going to be in August. I'll try contacting that e-mail address Ron gave Trin, but we might have to take matters into our own hands.
-Amber
I write to Ron:
Hi Ron,
Since I posted that bulletin on MySpace regarding the '97 reunion alot of alumni have contacted me. I sent them the e-mail you wrote Trinity in response, but it's now August and no one's received any sort of invitation. Do you know what's going on? How can I help get the ball rolling?
-Amber
Ron's response:
Hi Amber,
I've been out of town for work, so I'm not quite sure what has happened with the reunion planning. I was told by Mr. Rosenblatt that they had people working on it, but let me make a few phone calls, and I will get back to you ASAP.
I know that there is some money to help pay for things with the reunion, so if nothing has happened, I'll be in touch with you so we can get something going.
Hope all is well with you,
Ron
And now we play the waiting game...
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