When It Rains, It Pours

No, this post isn't about rainy weather - there is no such thing in Las Vegas, and if there was the phrase would actually be "when it rains, it floods". I'm actually referring to how busy life can be sometimes and it always comes in a deluge, instead of a slow steady sprinkle. Why is that?

Last week was busy. This week is busy. Usually I have nothing more important than looking after The Graminator. And I'm already behind on Script Frenzy. Maybe it wasn't the best time when I'm prepping for the wedding and a movie shoot in 30 days.

I really want to work on cookies but there are things that are trying to vie for precedence. Thursday was the blocking rehearsal for the movie (this movie is going to be soooooo funny!) Friday we had our final fittings for our dresses for the wedding (mine zipped up easier, but I still need to lose another 3 pounds). Saturday we had a trial run through with the girl who is going to do our hair and makeup for the wedding (see picture below) the very nice Marcy from 'Shag Me' salon (the former Curl Up and Dye salon by UNLV.) It was fun, but it took FOREVER! Mine only took a short while but Val took forever, so they could get just the right style for the wedding (which makes sense because she is the bride.) I thought it would just be a couple of hours but we were there for like four and a half hours. It's a funky salon and they let us watch movies so it wasn't too bad. I had just hoped to get some other errands done as well. Marcy was cool and she gave me some great advice for finding makeup for the movie. We are shooting in High Definition, which magnifies every imperfection. Marcy told me that they now have makeup specifically for HD filming and that they sell it at Sephora. So add that to my list of things to do, because I want to look good in the movie (well, as good as possible anyway.)

Sunday we went to India's Grill for lunch since my brother said he was willing to try Indian food. He decided he wasn't a big fan although he did like the chicken tikka and basmati rice. But he gets bonus points for trying. Meanwhile the waitress and proprietors remembered us from our previous visit and came to talk to us again. Mom and I got the lunch buffet this time (a true bargain at $9.95) and it was so good. I can't even remember all of the choices but the fish curry, chilli chicken, chicken korma and multitude of vegetable dishes were awesome. And I could have all the kheer (rice pudding) that I wanted - the waitress even pointed it out to me, since she remembered how much I liked it last time. I even got a 'high five' as we left from the chef, Freddie. (I love family owned places where your business is truly appreciated). Then mom and I hung some curtains to make sure we like them. They are beautiful and I can't wait to post pictures when the redecorating is complete. We picked a paint color and tomorrow we are going on another shopping expedition for more accessories.

This week? Shopping. Cookies. Making the wedding bouquets and decorating the flip flops. A run to Sephora for Blu-Ray makeup. Oh, and let's throw in some writing too, okay? Blast off for all the events is May first, so 24 days and counting!

Okay, here are the hair/makeup test pictures. What do you think? This is the 'normal picture". The big flower will actually be 2 smaller flowers for the wedding.




And the '09 edition of iLife has a feature where you can put a background behind you. With the flower I felt tropical, so I put myself in an island oasis. If I can't go on vacation for real....well, I can go in fantasy!

This, That and the Other Thing

It's a busy weekend for me. Today we have a table read for YP (That's the initials of the title of the movie I'm staring in...I know I'm not a star but I just love saying that!) and Sunday is Val's bridal shower and I still haven't figured out what games we are playing or what prizes to give for the unknown games. Thank goodness the shower is at the tea house so I don't have to deal with food...except for the two dozen cupcakes currently sitting on my counter waiting to be frosted so I can take them to the table read.

The wedding is six weeks away and I still need to lose five pounds and get a pair of Spanx so it looks like I lost ten pounds. I'm doing Script Frenzy in April. (It's like NaNoWriMo, except that instead of writing a novel in 30 days yo write a script in 30 days). We start filming YP two days after the wedding. Am I crazy? Yes, but we already knew that.

I need Christmas sweaters for the film. Lots of Christmas sweaters. I wear at least thirteen different Christmas sweaters in the film (it may be more but I have to ask my director about a couple of different scenes). I counted them in the script last night. I though that I would need maybe six. But thirteen? I have three that I bought at a local thrift store but when I went back last week to look for more they had changed over to their summer stock and had none. Now I'm getting worried, because I need so many more. So I sent out an SOS last night and I'm pleading to you today, Loyal Readers. Send me your tired, your poor, your tacky. I need any Christmas apparel you can loan me. I'm not picky about size because in addition to having to wear thirteen different sweaters I also have to show off a rack of sweaters that my character paid $10K for. I'm going to hit a couple of thrift stores today in hopes that they might have some hiding way in the back. I'm trying not to panic yet, or worse, think about the fact that I have to wear Christmas sweaters in Las Vegas in the summer...under hot movie lighting...with the air conditioner turned off because it makes noise while you are filming.

Also, Maura, Dyann and I are trying to motivate ourselves in our writing. (I need it way more than they do, since they each have TWO manuscripts already completed.) We are embarking on some writing exercises. So not only will you get to see my posts, Loyal Readers, but you get guest blogs too!

So here is my challenge to you, Maura and Dyann. We are going to play a round of writers tennis. I'm going to start a story, then send it to Maura who will write the middle of the story and then send it to Dyann to write the ending. We will post the finished story on our blogs. (I did reverse alphabetical order of writers this time, we can change it up in the future.) To get started, I found this writers exercise. It gives me the first line of the story to start from and I have to take it from there.

So have a great weekend Loyal Readers. And Maura, I'll send you my part of the story by Monday, so be ready. Here is the first line:

"As the plane slowly backed away from its designated gate Sam realized that..."