Houston, we have PICTURES!

So I still don't GET how to put them in my posts, but at least I have some pretties around the ol' blog. I need to figure out how to resize, but for a start... It spruces the place up a bit. I'm going for the effed-up classics, what do you think? Little Goya, little Bosch to ruin your dinner. I realize there's a head-eating theme developing already. I'll have to pursue that.

I feel like I'm writing a letter to Goatmaiden (check her out! http://bellethecat.blogspot.com/), but that's the self-indulgence that is the internet. Not GM's blog, I mean spewing all this crap, pretending you're talking to "the world," when, if you're me, no one is actually reading it but yourself. Shu'-up, it's fun, OK? Makes me feel all savvy and shit.

I'm working on another music video with I think a few of the guys from the first video I worked on. I can't believe that was May of last year -- eeps, time flies! I have to keep in better touch. These are the "old guys" I really liked -- not to be a user, but I do feel like there's more possibility of future work with them as compared to the "kids" (they're all old guys or kids). On a side note, that's so hard for me! I want to meet people to get jobs, but I don't want me or them to feel like I'm just sucking up to get work. But I've always said this, and now I've actually sort of experienced it: if I didn't want to work with them, I would not be trying to get jobs from/with them. Not that I've worked with anyone I would avoid, but there are personalities I mesh with more than others, and people I could try harder to work with, but I just don't really care to really try for work with some of them. I know I need to get what I can get, but I want to avoid the jobs that will lead to burnout if possible (with people who cause undue stress, for example). And I LIKE the old dudes better -- they're way more fun and easy going (yet somehow 5x as productive), and they're cooler about teaching me stuff. And... I think old guys are more impressed with a female aspiring grip than the kids. Not that I'm in any way the novelty chick-grip -- if I couldn't figure shit out and pull my own weight, no one would be impressed.

Anyway, this dang video shoot keeps getting put off (it was Dec., then Jan., then this weekend, now it's some other weekend in Feb.), but I'm really looking forward to it. It'll also be my first green-screen experience! I don't know what to expect -- I don't imagine there's be a shit-ton of lighting. (Oh GOD, I'll do it if asked, but if I have to be craft services I will CRY) Oh, and NO idea who the band is :) The life of the peon -- sign on for anything willing to take you, who cares what it is. That's how I've had so much variety so far, though. And at least I get paid for this one (about 1/2-1/3 the going day rate, but considering that I'm still doing free shit and learning less, I'm fine with that for now).

So I'm mostly noting this for myself, because I'm going to need an official resume soon (and note to self -- MUST get social security card!):
Dec. 2005: Four Way (no buget short) -- PA (general)
Jan. 2006: Instant Beauty Pageant (cable reality TV) -- Talent PA
May 2006: TC Bridge..../Birthday Suits (music video) -- Grip PA
Aug.-Oct. 2006: Open (low-budget feature) -- PA, key PA, grip PA
Oct. 2006: A Small Adjustment (National Film Challenge short) -- PA
Oct. (Nove?) 2006: Bank Cherokee (TV commericial) -- Grip PA, PA

(I was borderline real actual grip on the Birthday Suits and Bank Cherokee jobs.)

Mind the gaps. I really need to fill in my time more. And quit my doorknob job. That goes without saying. If I don't get out of this job in 2007, I fear there will be no 2008. Repeat after me: QUIT THAT SHIT! QUIT THAT SHIT!

The diet/exercise program is going well. My bodybuilding coworker is helping me figure out what exercises to do and what to eat when. Until the contest ends, I'm 100% about losing pounds, so I'm sticking to mostly cardio (per me, of course he thinks I should lift heavy things). But after that, I'm going on a full weight training/fitness epic. Not to be a gross female body builder, just to really get in shape for the first time in my life. I'm getting totally into eating to support my health (less about how it tastes than what it does for me, plus things like eating a lot more fish -- hell of a lot more protein than I can get in veggies). I'm getting obsessed! It's not enough just to eat veggies, I want to get the right nutrients at the right time of day to fully absorb the vitamins and minerals and optimize my workouts! It's very exciting to change my whole outlook on food. That said, I'm going out tomorrow night and am nervous about what I'll eat. Italian place, so I'm hoping they'll at least have a salad -- I'll eat spinach without dressing if I have to. Of course, still the occasional drink -- red wine, martini. Not so many calories. And I refuse to give up all fun. (Speaking of filmmaking, that's going to SUCK -- nearly impossible to bring a bag lunch, and they do not necessarily feed you with health in mind. That's going to be tough.)

OK, so this is seriously an ashcan ranting. What am I talking about? Nothing...