Tax Day Fun!

I know Taxes aren't necessarily the most fun things to think about, but their DONE! So let's celebrate and look at some fun stuff I found to commemorate this lovely Tax Day.


Not too far from the truth, eh?


It's kind of hard to see, but there's a 1040 in the cloud


I found this on a Mommy website! Behave ladies!


And finally, the loveable Snoopy. Don't we all wish it was this easy............

~B

Welcome to the Jungle

Finally! I had a callback for a highly reputable company!

Last week I went in for a callback for the touring company of Seussical: the Musical with Theaterworks USA- a company that is known for giving non-equity actors a chance, and their card. The woman in the first audition told me to dress like one of the "plastics" in Mean Girls, but to think Middle School. No Stilettos, Light make-up... Younger. So I went to H&M and bought a few brightley colored t-shirts. I wore a jean skirt, leggings, and cute little flats. I straightened my hair and pinned it back from my face. I did everything she asked for. I looked.... ridiculous.

So I walked into the room- I was more than a little uncomfortable but, by God, I was rocking my best "confidence-face." I put my audition book on the piano and showed the man where I would like to sing, walked to the center of the room where I said "Is this mean girls enough for ya? well, I tried...." and let out an awkward laugh. Little beads of sweat start forming on my forehead. Then I proceeded to start singing during the intro. Crap! I had to start over. I apologized and began again. My palms were sweaty. The song went well. They laughed a few times, right? I looked poised (if not completely in character), right? My voice was a little shakier than normal, but they didn't notice, right? The choices I made were strong, right? There was no lipstick on my teeth, right? ....My mind was filled with these stupid thoughts. It was like a mini panic attack.

The older (and harsher) woman did not have me read the side-an excerpt from script- that I was given which basically means she was done seeing me. Upon looking at the "Special Skills" portion of my resume, she told me that she would love to see my Tarzan yell. I FREAKED OUT! I started giggling and told her "WOW! No one has ever asked me to do that before! You are my FAVORITE!" (you are my favorite?? Really, Briann?) I acted like I was 13 again. As a true sign of confidence I said, "I'm ready. Are you ready? Cause I'm ready." and I let her rip.

*side note: I hadn't done the Tarzan yell since high school when our choir did a version of "George of the Jungle" and I became annoyed with the wimpy cries the boys were letting out because they were afraid of looking stupid. We sang that song at least once every year after Froshman year and guess who was elbowed and encouraged until she yelled..... Another great choice B. Very cool.

Needless to say, a little time has passed since High School and I was nervous. The yell was not as strong as I remember. In fact. It sucked.

After some quick "thank you"s I speed walked out of the room searching for a place to sit down and breathe for a minute and I was confronted by about 5 shocked and slightly horrified faces in the hallway. They all seemed to read "what the eff was that?!" My stomach had that weird bubbly feeling and I walked very quickly and awkwardly past all the faces to the women's dressing room where I put my normal work clothes back on, brushed my hair out, took a couple deep breaths, and thanked the lord that it was over.

So, the J/B household has a new audition to re-inact. I think the modern dance infused "Candle on the Water" and the infamous "schmoo" can take a rest for a while.

Welcome to the Jungle, baby. "AH-AH-AH-AH-AAAAAAAAAH!!!!"

~B

Taking the Good with the Bad

I was getting off the subway today, rushing to get to my new temp job, the million and one things I need to do swimming about in this useless top masquerading as my brain when I was stopped dead in my tracks by one of the most beautiful things I've ever seen. A blind man with a seeing eye dog was getting off a bus and just as he hit the street another dog rushed the two of them.
Now, at first I stopped because I thought the man might need help navigating away from this other dog, however, I soon realized that there was a woman holding his short leash and that the dogs weren't fighting, they had been looking for each other. The owners embraced and kissed in the middle of a busy New York sidewalk in the morning rush. ...and I couldn't stop watching.
I was struck by the abandon with which they were living. They didn't care that it was 9:02, and that every person swarming around them was late because they made the now regrettable decision to stop for coffee. They didn't care that people would be staring at them. They didn't care that the dog leashes were tangling beneath their feet. They were living and taking in that moment. Those dogs had rushed for each other, so excited to have found their counterpart just as their owners did seconds later.
There I was walking down the street, Ipod on to shut the world out, worrying myself to an ulcer about my two minute tardiness, trying to think about the many insignificant, superficial things I MUST get done today - and life smacked me in the face.
I have working eyes, ears, and limbs, the ability to speak and read, a college degree and all of the other accoutrement's of the young and privileged.
Maybe it's time to take a step back and start living a full life instead of a life that is filled with to-do's.

- J