Good TV

I don't know if I just haven't watched a lot of TV over the past couple of years or if TV really has sucked but recently I've found so many new shows that I like!

 

Bates Motel (A&E)

This show had its pilot season this Spring and it did very well. The writing and acting are superb and I feel like there are so many places that the storyline could go, I am very excited to see what they come up with in the next season. If you haven't had a chance to check it out you definitely should it was a short 10 episode season so it won't take too long to catch up before season 2!

 

Graceland (USA)

 

Yes, another cop drama...but it's not what you think. This show is funny, the writing is witty and they have a good storyline going and the actors are all very good. I know what you're thinking, "She just likes Aaron Tveit.". Yes, I do and that is what originally drew me to this show but the show itself really got me hooked. It is a refreshing new show to watch this summer while everything else is boring and underdeveloped. Watch it Thursdays at 10pm on USA. Only a few episodes have aired so you can still catch up!

 

 Under the Dome (CBS)

 

Now, I haven't read the novel but it seems like a lot of people who have are very upset about the changes between it and the series. I like the series, Stephen King had a hand in the changes that were made and that should be enough for the complainers. Anyhow, I really like this show so far (there have only been two episodes) I really like the concept and I feel like there are lot of places that the plot could go. This is the first non-reality show on CBS that has been pretty decent in a while. I am excited about it's potential. Check it out Mondays at 10pm on CBS.

 

 

 

These are the only new shows I've checked out so far. I've been told that Nashville was pretty good as well but I will have to wait until the first season is released on DVD to watch it. The only other new show that I checked out was Hannibal, I feel like the show had so much potential but was really lacking compared to it's competition. I stopped watching after a couple of episodes.

 

If anyone knows of any other new shows that are good let me know! I have been staying in a lot more to save money which means more time for TV!

That Guy...Who Was in That Thing

It's no secret that I want to be an actor. Why? Well, because it's what I love to do.

I've already kicked myself from shying away from it for so long. In high school I did theatre and was on the forensics team (competitive acting team) and it was my intended major in college but I had a horrible teacher in one of my first classes that scared me away from it, so I switched my major and ended up getting a degree in Broadcast and Cinematic Arts with a minor in Cinema Studies.

Since then, I have regretted my decision to stop acting and after a while in the "real" world I have realized that I will never be completely happy doing anything other than acting.

I know the odds of "making it" and while every actor's dream is to make it big and be a star, I know that if I could at least make a living as a working actor (which is really freaking hard to do) I will feel so fulfilled. So that's what I am going to attempt to do.

I have absolutely nothing to lose so, why not?

Anyway, there is this Showtime documentary called "That Guy... Who Was in That Thing." It is a must see for anyone who wants to be an actor. This documentary details the career ups and downs of sixteen working actors. These people are not leading actors but once you see them, you will recognize them as "Oh, it's that one guy!"

These men give it to you straight. How they started, the audition process, the pay scale, how often they are and aren't employed and everything they have gone through to get where they're at now. It is very informative and a little scary for someone like me who wants to do this and is on her way to try and make it happen. But I feel like it is very encouraging, these guys have been through it all and are still happy with their chosen career.

I know it's not going to be easy or glamorous but as I said before, I have nothing to lose and nothing to hold me back.

Even if you don't want to be an actor, I highly recommend this documentary. Here is a link to the IMDB page if you want to check out more info: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt2402200/

I watched this for a second time today so it was still fresh in my mind and wanted to share! :)

So many changes!!

Well I didn't exactly lie when I said that I would start updating more. I've just been super busy making shotgun changes in my life.

First off, I'm moving to Los Angeles. That change isn't exactly new. I made that decision a few months ago but that did prompt the other recent changes.

My original plan was to move out of my apartment when my lease was up on May 31st and move into a place less expensive to help me save money. Well I started going through mt finances and checking out websites on tips for moving to LA and being the anxiety-ridden worrier that I am, I started to freak out that I wasn't going to be able to save up enough money.

I don't know what my job situation is going to be like when I move out there. My plan is to start looking for a job in about 6 months. Ideally, I would like to be able to keep my current job and work remotely out there, if that is an option. But I'm really not sure so I want to save up as much as possible so if in a year from now I don't have a job lined up yet I want to have enough of a pad in my bank account so that I can actually survive out there until I can get a job of some sort.

That being said, I planned out how much I can save from now until next June with the cheaper apartment and other bills I was going to cut down on and I didn't feel comfortable with the amount I was going to be able to save up.

So naturally I freaked out and called my mom stressing. I then in the heat of the moment asked her if it would be a possibility for me to live with her and my dad so I could save more. My parents agreed as long as it wasn't a permanent move.

I have been living on my own, away from my parents for the past 6 years and living alone without a roommate for about two and a half. Moving home doesn't exactly appeal to me. I love my parents but I feel like it is a step backwards, a Redford curse if you will for people my age to be living at home going nowhere. The only difference is that this is a step for me to go in the right direction, to make it possible for me to personally be happy and get out of this state.

Don't get me wrong, I love Michigan but honestly, there isn't anything here for me. And in order for me to feel personally fulfilled and have a chance at a happy life, I need to do this. Plus it will get rid of my least favorite thing about Michigan...winter!

So I have cancelled the lease on the apartment I was going to move into and since moved into my parent's house. I am paying them a small rent but still saving $545+ per month since I don't have utilities other than my car insurance and cell phone bill.

It will give me a nice cushion for when I make "the big move" in 6-12 months.

Now all I have to stress about is the job situation, the living/roommate situation once I get to LA and building up my resume in the meantime. More to come on all of that.

Working On My Fitness

One of my current goals is to get in excellent shape. I want to have a killer body. In high school I took for granted what I had...a high metabolism. I could eat 7-11 hot dogs and pizza bread and I would still be thin and fit. I didn't work out too much. I danced from age 3 to age 12. I played softball throughout middle school. In high school I was a cheerleader for a very short time but really in junior and senior year I wasn't all too active other than a gym class or two and the dancing I did for the musicals.

Still somehow I ate a ton and still looked great. Then college happened. I had no exercise other than walking to class and sporadic trips to the gym. Yeah that freshman 15 got me. Then I was in a relationship for just shy of four years and got really comfortable and towards the end of that relationship I realized "Holy Hell, I got fat." Now I wasn't "fat" as you would stereotypically categorize someone but for my size and shape and compared to anything I had been in the past, I was fat.

I went through a short time when I decided "I'm going to be a vegetarian!" Yeah I quickly changed my mind. I love meat. I can't go without it and the fake meat stuff is nasty.

As Denis Leary said:

I tried eating vegetarian. I feel like a wimp going into a restaurant. "What do you want to eat sir? Broccoli?" Broccoli's a side dish, folks. Always was, always will be, okay? When they ask me what I want, I say, "What do you think I want!? This is America. I want a bowl of raw red meat right now. Forget about that. Bring me a live cow over to the table. I'll carve off what I want and ride the rest home!"

and he also said:

Because not eating meat is a decision. Eating meat is an instinct! Yeah, and I know what it's about. "I don't want to eat the meat because I love the animals. I love the animals." Hey, I love the animals too. I love my doggy. He's so cute. My fluffy little dog, he's so cute... There's the problem. We only want to save the cute animals, don't we? Yeah. Why don't we just have animal auditions. Line 'em up one by one and interview them individually. "What are you?" "I'm an otter." "And what do you do?" "I swim around on my back and do cute little human things with my hands." "You're free to go." "And what are you?" "I'm a cow." "Get in the fucking truck, okay pal!" "But I'm an animal." "You're a baseball glove! Get on that truck!" "I'm an animal, I have rights!" "Yeah, here's yer fucking cousin, get on the fucking truck, pal!"

God, I love Denis Leary.

Anyway, I can't do the vegetarian/vegan thing. I have boosted my metabolism with the use of green tea pills that is how I initially lost my weight and have worked hard with exercise and portion control to keep it off. I will rarely take the green tea pills now since my body isn't used to the caffeine and freaks out.

I have struggled with my weight for a while. Between 2007 and 2012 it has yo-yo'd quite a bit.

2008 vs 2010:

 

 

 2009 vs 2012:

 

I've been doing pretty well at maintaining myself. I am working really hard and I hope it continues to pay off. I want to be the person someone looks at and goes "I want a body like that!" I don't want to be lollipop-head skinny, that isn't attractive. Your thighs should not be the size of my calves. It's gross.

 

I like my curves, I like having a big butt, I like having hips and boobs I just want to tighten up.

 

 

I want to be fit. Like this only more toned:

 

That was me at the end of September before the Warrior Dash. I still generally look like that just a tiny bit softer and squishier. Hey, here in Michigan you have to put on weight like a polar bear to stay warm in the winter! (another good reason to move someplace warmer)

 

I have a lot of motivation to get fit and stay that way with my career choice and my best friend's wedding coming up. I think it may be easier to stay on track if I document my progress, so I will update here as needed.

 

Wish me luck!

 

 

 

Long Time, No See

Hello again! I have been a terrible blogger but I am going to blame that on the lack of interesting things happening in my life. I went back and deleted a few posts that never should have been written and I am back to my semi-normal self.

There still isn't anything too exciting happening in my life but I hope to change that. I am preparing to embark on an adventure that will take me 2,300 miles outside of my comfort zone.

I'll admit that most of this will be boring preparations for my big move and my thoughts and reflections as I start on this journey... but hey, someone may find it interesting.

I am going to try to start up on my movie blogging again, which failed in 2010 when I tried to start but I'm more motivated now.

That's all for my little re-introduction. More details to come!!