no turning back

I spent Friday morning pacing around the apartment. I was waiting for a phone call that would decide whether or not I would have to clean the apartment.

At around 10 am, I got a call from a journalist at the CBC, asking for my address. They were coming to my place after all, and around noon. Son of an onion, I had to get cleaning fast.

A few days before, I had been contacted by some people at CBC Montreal, who were looking to do a feature on someone who was auditioning for How Do You Solve a Problem Like Maria, the cross-country casting call for the lead role in The Sound of Music (to open in Toronto in October). I'm never one to turn down a chance to do something unusual, so I agreed to be interviewed. Which brings me to Friday, when I was frantically trying to clean, get dressed, do my makeup, and warm up in case they asked me to sing.

Around 12:30 the journalist and cameraman arrived. They rearranged my furniture a bit to set up the shot, and then started the interview. She asked me all about why I am interested in this show, what I would do if I did or didn't get the part, and why the casting agents should choose me. I tend to squirm when asked to self-promote, and this time was no different. Fortunately they cut the parts where I talked about how my clumsiness and scatterbrained personality could help me relate to the part.

They also asked to interview Brian. He had been trying to remain inconspicuous, typing away in his room, but I dragged him out anyways. He was a great sport, although when I heard some of his answers, I had to stifle my laughter. For example, when asked what his relationship to the sound of music was, he told them "I've known it's existed for a long time."

Talking was the easiest part for me. It was when they asked me to play the guitar along to my singing that I cringed. I didn't even know some of the chords in the song. So I completely faked it. I just put my fingers in random places on the frets, and strummed softly enough that the mic wouldn't pick up the notes.

All in all, it was an interesting experience. Tomorrow, they will be coming with me to my audition. I am extremely nervous, and there is something up with my throat, but hopefully those things will pass by tomorrow. For better or for worse, there is no turning back now.

me, on the cbc

I will write about this experience later today, but in the meantime...

http://www.cbc.ca/video/popup.html?http://www.cbc.ca/ondemand/newsatsix/montreal.asx#

(fast-forward to the 55 minute mark)

barenaked ladies

Is there a biological clock inside one's body that goes off after age, say, 55 that signals "strut naked for long periods of time in change rooms"? What is with ladies getting and remaining buck naked in change rooms?

Today, for example, as I was trying to catch my breath after spinning class, I had a run-in with such a lady. I was yanking my jeans up over my hips (no easy feat after sweating for half an hour--I shower at home). Just as I victoriously buttoned up, I heard a sly voice from behind me:

"Hah, I used to have a pair of jeans that tight."

"Well, they're not usually this tight you see, I just washed them and I'm sweaty and--" I stopped short as I turned around to see a quite nude, cougar-esque woman facing me with one leg up on the bench.

"Uh," I stumbled "yeah...I'm sweaty."

"Oh, I see. I was just thinking of a pair I used to wear in university. I tried them on a while ago, 25 years later mind you, and my husband had to help me do up the fly, but they still fit."

"Wow," I managed, trying to avoid looking at her birthday suit, "impressive."

"Yes, I still weigh the same, although the weight has shifted to different places. Of course, it's pure starvation honey. That's how I kept this figure. Do you know anyone who isn't on a diet?"

Actually I know a lot of people who aren't on diets, like me, who eats chocolate like it's my job. But, at this point, she was running her hands proudly over her bod, and I didn't want to get into a deeper discussion.

"You've got a point!" I replied, laughing awkwardly.

She was still very naked, and walked over to the mirror to start applying her makeup. The girls around me and I all exchanged looks, as if silently vowing to not to become this dame.

The naked older lady is an standard fixture of the change room. Why is it that the oldest ladies in every changeroom have the least shame? Furthermore, why do they always seem to start conversations with you once they've stripped down?

vintage glam

Occasionally, I will work with a model who brings so much creativity and energy to the table that things get really interesting. Skye, pictured here, contributed a lot to the shoot: a fabulous apartment, a really exceptional wardrobe, and natural charisma.

lessons in deception

While signing a sizeable stack of books out at the library today, I was chatting with the elderly man who worked at the circulation desk.

"Isn't it a little early in the semester to be taking out this many books? You must be a hard worker. Or," he added, "you have discovered the art of making it look like you're working hard. A big pile of books can get people off your back, you know."

"Interesting," I replied, "tell me more."

"Well take me for example. I have wasted a lot of time daydreaming or doing nothing at work during my life. The trick is to use props. I can wander around for half an hour, as long as I am carrying a pen, a piece of paper or better yet, both."

"I'm pretty good at procrastinating, but not great at hiding it," I said.

"Well, get good at at least looking like you're working hard. That is the stuff they should be teaching you in school. That is the stuff that gives you time to have fun in life," he said, eyes twinkling.

I thanked him for the tip as he handed me my receipt. Walking away, I was thankful he didn't notice (or at least didn't mention) that half of my big pile of books consisted of audition guides for actors. Maybe I'm better at this than I thought?

january is full of surprises

Today was the end of my two weeks of easy livin' (read: eating a lot of pierogies, watching a season of Flight of the Conchords, sleeping in very late). Since returning to the city, I have accomplished very little of what I'm supposed to be doing. I have, however, been having a damn good time. I'm planning for this year to be full of surprises, and part of that includes surprising myself, and trying new things.

Okay, so maybe drinking a fair amount of Absinthe over the weekend wasn't that much of a surprise, nor was quitting drinking afterwards.

But, I've started spinning classes and ballet, both of which are surprisingly hard.

I surprised myself by enjoying a spontaneous, candlelit tarot card reading with Jess and a psychic named Duncan yesterday.

I was also surprised that I consented to let a new stylist cut inches off my already short hair (it is now much shorter than in the above pics). Having done my own hair for years, I was also shocked by the unfathomably high price it costs to have professionally coiffed hair here in Montreal. Yep, that was a bit of a kicker.

Most of all, I am shocked by how quickly time is passing.

my favourite thing

Today I got a rather unexpected, but very welcome phone call from a certain casting agency reminding me to come out and audition (again) for this. Two weeks to get myself ready!

lost in the mist

The past few days have been shrouded in a thick mist. It's one of those cases where the weather matches one's mental state. This is the week where I have to train myself to work independently, without the obligation of classes. Forcing myself to sit at my desk and work is not easy, especially with distractions aplenty online. Oh Youtube instructional makeup videos and Lost missing pieces, why do you tempt me so?

in the music room

A shoot with Brian's sister, Carolyn, gave me the chance to try out my new toy, a multi-side reflector. For non-photo geeks, such a tool is used to reflect or diffuse light onto the subject. In this case I used the gold side of the reflector, which gives the subject a warm glow and the diffusor, which softens the harsh interior lighting I was using. I can't wait to try it with natural light.

post-holiday wrap up

Of the few weeks I have been home in Ontario, over half of the nights have been spent sleeping on friends' couches. It has been fantastic. I haven't had this much time off since high school. However, it has also left me a little dizzy.

From singing kareoke in Toronto's little Korea, to arguing with my friend Amy over her terrible texting-and-driving habits while staying at her place, to running into old friends at hometown bars, to hosting 20 people at my cottage for a New Year's party (when the septic system stopped working, and we were almost snowed in), to a Lost season 3 marathon, to packing up my only half-unpacked bags.

I've got my list of resolutions in tow, and I'm ready to get back to Montreal tomorrow. It's intimidating facing the year ahead, a year in which I have to:

a) write my thesis
b) find a job
c) decide where I will live after my lease ends
d) deal with all the other decisions that will follow those things

Cheers to a productive year for all of us!