Good Sweet Jesus it's a wild trip

Ok so when last the purple panties traveled..I was tossing of an audition for fun only to be told I got the part... time passed and I wasn't sure i even had the part so Off I went to Foothills Ranch a sunny community in the Southland to catch up with my college bud of too many years to recount here GINA!!! and Boy did we have fun. i made her go to Disneyland for my birthday becasue I got in free... She was such a good sport. She grew up around there so it was not the treat for her that it was for me...and wouldn't you know THEY HAVE TO SAY HAPPY BIRTHDAY whenever they see your big flashy button that says IT"S MY BIRTHDAY!! it's like a law.. I think they get beaten by the Mouse if they forget to do it..or something.. so I flashed my left boob in front of every "cast member" in the park to make them fulfill their duty. Gina was very embarrassed and that made my day ;-) . We did some very cool things aside from torturing her I also went to an art class with her (She is not only a successful business woman but an amazing artist --The bitch) And it was an ART and Meditation class that was SO amazing I want it to be done here.. I'm NO artist really I have no illusions there but I LOVED how it felt to create and use colors etc.. and no I was not drunk. anyhoo we spent alot of the week driving and painting.. I say driving becasue you cannot get anywhere with out being on the road for a good hour unless traffic hits then all bets are off.. and THERE IS ALWAYS TRAFFIC!! Ok that just sux. Anyhoo. I love my Gina ..we had the best time and I am so glad we are back in touch. She is a big light and FUNNY as hell. (i'm buttering her up for another visit) I also had the pleasure of seeing LALAINE and C'ANNE Or CAN-EE as she likes to be called..ok no don't call her that ..it's a joke . Say it like Sea Ann. Don't ask me I didn't name either of them. WE had a crazy time at the rainforest cafe in downtown Disney.. I posted pics as each day went by but I gotta say these ladies know how to have a good time with Fudge and icecream. that's all I'm sayin. I missed seeing my beloved JF and DArn it Provenz I was hoping to see you too but alas Next time. NOW about you peeps who didn't show up to lunch grrrr I know crap happens and I get it I would love to see you all soon. Gina teased me that I made you all up SINCE NONE OF YOU SHOWED UP TO I CUGINI!! Ok ok I was a little bummed but IT was still a lovely lunch.. the waitress felt sorry for me and I think she gave me extra bread to comfort...So THEN out of the FREAKIN BLUE DENISE the hurricane hits Gina's home around 11pm after we had given up on her arrival. Deni played RIZZO I was JAN JF was Kinicky and we were all in Grease together my first musical in college!! WHAT A REUNION!! So many memories and stories......ok so I have pics of Deni Gina and i my last night there but I'm gonna hold on to them for blackmail purposes. WE stayed up til 3pm Like the dorm life we knew so well. not a day has passed really we still all look EXACTLY the same..(thanks to ms clairol) And we fell right into our old fun ways. What a blast and a nice send off to a perfect relaxing retreat!

Now I'm home and suddenly I get this call ...I don't recognise the name but WOOHOO good thing I answered.. It was to tell me I got the part of Tina's MOM FOR SURE and they want me to come see the show tonight...What a crazy trip it keeps becoming..so Off I go...Tune in next time when I am horrified to see the purple panties are fraying and I can't find any thread that matches!!

I go the part....I think

OK so this past Sunday I went to an open call for Tony and Tina's Wedding .. A very fun interactive dinner theatre/ improv comedy/play. But I'm not ready to say much more until I hear from them again telling me i got the part. It all happened so fast that I'm not sure what happened but i will share the audition craziness as soon as I can.

Will keep you all posted...

Sergei

NEW YORK NEW YORK

I have such interesting travel karma. I had a quiet flight..crowded and uncomfortable but that's normal. I had an aisle seat which I wanted but this adorable couple realized they were gona be separated and I gave them my seat on the aisle for a dreaded middle seat. Hopefully that was a brownie point for me from the travel gods..and it was... I got off the plane, my bag came out first and I walked outside immediately to find a shuttle about to leave. SWEET. So, we get to Manhattan and I'm informed that the driver cannot drive me to the door of the hotel and dropped me, bags and all, in the center of Times Square to push thru the crowds and walk to a hotel I've never been to before. Hmmm no I look like a native..really, I do. Ok I'm walking , I'm walking... and I see a HUGE Scientology building and I'm thinkin I hope to GOD my hotel didn't suddenly become a church. Now that would be an interesting bait an switch. Anyway, I walked too far, I knew it , but I could not find that damned hotel, so I stopped in front of the BIlly Elliot Theatre sign and an adorable bike and cart driving boy stopped and asked if I wanted a ride. I declined but he said "well,Can I help you ?" Normally I'd decline that too but I was really perplexed about where I was and I was tired. We looked at my literature and he didn't know the hote either.. he told me to get in and he would help me find it.. what a doll! SO I had a lovely open air ride ALL AROUND TIMES SQUARE. It was a blast. He grabbed one of his cart riding buddies to help.. HE couldn't find it.. so we finally hailed a cabbie who told us it was around the corner....my cute driver took us thru an alley to where we had originally met. Here's the Billy Elliot sign again and across the street? MY HOTEL. OMG we both just lost it! Laughed long and hard. His name was Sergei and he will never forget where the Paramount Hotel is ever again! (yeah I tipped him big time for the sweet adventure.

It's a wrap! Mercury retro, PMS and the pitfalls of being PP WOMAN

Well the day started quite early for me.  The location for the shoot was in SF  but I was to be there at 7am.  Because I was sick I didn't sleep much last night and of course when I was taking my nightly meds I discovered how PMS  I actually was all day. (Ladies gimme a holla on that one) but I made sure I was there before the crew.  So THERE ya big mean UNIVERSE!  I got you back! 

We were at an eatery called Park Chow on 9th at Irving and EVERYONE I told about this place was happy to tell me how incredibly good the food was there.  Nice , maybe  they will cater for us.  HA.  I met some of the same actors I worked with before and a couple of new ones too.  And  BAM  we are filming.  I did about an hour's work and they said I was wrapped.  I was shocked, I had to ask again.  Suddenly, I was the recipient of spontaneous appluase .  The crew seemed to clap for a long time... for me! I kinda figured they were thinking " Oh thank God  she's done we don't have to deal with her anymore."  But  it was still nice to be clapped off the set  ;-)  I stayed a bit longer  because I knew I wanted to say goodbye and thank  each crew member and, of course the director.  Maybe apologize again.  While I was waiting and watching I was chatting with the other actors and we talked about getting a copy of this for each of us.  One of the guys got a copy from the last one he did and is going to take us through this crazy process of finding the airdate  then having this tiny Video store in Japantown record it for us.  (nice little idea they have going there- hope it doesn't cost an arm and a leg for a homemade DVD.) Two of the guys, James and Elias,  have worked alot around the City and were too cool to hang out with and chat.  They played the detectives in the story and they looked so LAW AND ORDER  SVU  it was funny.   VEry nice professional guys.  At an appropriate break I had my chance to say thank you to each crew member.  I had stayed in the restaurant and ordered breakfast. ( Hey people kept saying how good the damned place was  Don't judge me! and yes it was fantastic!) As I made the rounds with each person i worked with I was happily surprised to enjoy a hug or two from these quiet serious guys.  So sweet.  Such a great crew of professionals.   Sigh,  I'm still stressed that they might hold the craziness of being late against me and if they do, oh well, what can I do? But what a fantastic first experience. I was treated very well on this set.  I would do it again in a heartbeat.  I'm told this isn't a normal experience-The level of professionalism coupled with the polite friendliness of the people involved.  Actors were telling me horror stories of being yelled at and embarrassed by control freak directors.  So it looks like I've been spoiled on my very first professional gig.  I'll take it!  I'm big into signs and I wondered on such a short day would I see one.  I shouldn't have worried.  As I was carting all my crap up the street to find a cab home (yes a cab , you have no idea how heavy all that luggage was)  I walked by a window that had all sorts of kitchy stuff from plastic robots and silly hats to t-shirts, metal lunchboxes and mugs with LUCY on them.  As I scanned the window A big white square of writing caught my eye.  And I do mean Big.  It was plain and simple.  No plastic, metal or kitch  I'm not even sure what it was  but it was LITERALLY a SIGN

It read:  "Go confidently in the direction of your dreams! Live the life you've imagined. As you simplify your life, the laws of the universe will be simpler." -Thoreau  

 I was and am rendered speechless.

Day three comedy of errors driving school

Ok  Now I'm convinced the universe is putting the squeeze on me to get my license.  I left my house in a cab bound for FAIRFAX at 7am.  My call was at 8am..I thought I'd even be early  since yesterday was so embarrassing to be late.  Mercury is definitely in retrograde because the angels sent me a sweet but stoopid cabbie for the experience from HELL.   First he was all chatty.. now that's nice and all but it's 7am.  At leaset he says he knows where Fairfax is  sO i don't bother navigating  with my google print out just yet.  Then after a half hour I realize I think he has gone to far  so I tell him he needs to turn around.  He is very apologetic and He does so... THEN  he decides I was WRONG and promises me he knows the way and gets us back on the freeway going north towards petaluma.  At this point I'm confused I think it's wrong but he knows better, right?  He even tries to show me on a map but it made no sense to me.  Finally As I'm starting to see cows on the side of the road...he sheepishly and apologetically says  yes  oh we missed it.."WE???"  then drives another 3 miles before we exit off near FREAKIN Petaluma  back to central San Rafael.  My heart is racing ....the time is short and Boom we hit morning traffic going into the city.. TRAFFIC????!!!!!  Holy crap I have to call again to say I'll be late.. the cabbie is all smiles  "aww don't worry...it's ok it's ok"  Like somehow *I* am over reacting.  We get to the place where I know how to find my way to Fairfax.. I direct him to go, now taking more control.  As I take control  I feel sick with stress.  Stress has really affected me in the past.  Today was not gonna be different.  There is a BIG FREAKIN SIGN that says FAIRFAX RIGHT  he decides to get in the LEFT Lane...and even says  "it's to the left  right?  Now I remember." I'm shocked  "no no no  STAY RIGHT!!!!!!!..now we finally get to the house....the crew is trying to get me inside but  the cabbie, sweet and with no sense of urgency says  ok  now you pay me. Over 100 dollars was on the meter...I was furious.. I don't yell but I do stand my ground and I knew I had to do something quick.  I refused to pay that  made him call his manager  and since he refused to give me my luggage in the back seat I CALLED THE FLIPPIN POLICE!  AS he was talking to his manager, he left out the part where he blatantly took me for a RIDE to COW TOWN!!!  So I called my Dad too and I have never had to call in that kind of favor before..But Buddy you got on my last nerve!! Honestly  I think he was a nice enough guy  but he pushed a very bad button in me....So I talked with the manager, myself.  Told my side.  they he got more understanding realizing both stories do not match and I'm calling the police over fraud  not just a missed exit!  Anyhoo, the short of it is, the pricegot  knocked down to where it would have been had he gotten me there on time and they took 10 bucks off for the inconvenience.  Whatever.. I didn't have time to tell him that holding up a TV crew  for a half hour was ultimately more than a 10 inconvenience discount.  Of course  MY worst fear NOW is that they never want to work with me again because they think I can't be on time...HOW COULD I have this new reputation of being late?  (twice in 2 days!!!!  BOTH TIMES NOT MY FAULT)....so  I get in and just start.  They hadn't set up for the scene yet.. I just tried to hold it together and not cry..But i was close to tears.  "Pull it together, Annalisa, Don't Bitch anymore , Let it go and Just Do IT!" So from then on things went very smoothly.

Oh Did I mention I became sick?  I mean, I felt it coming on all day yesterday.   That nagging sore throat, the sneezing itchy watery eyes.. Holy crap my internal monologue is becoming an allergy commercial. (could be worse..could be one of those KY Jelly commercials)  Today I woke up nose and throat congested and sniffly.. Go figure. Like My life could actually be blissful for more than two days in a row before some crap has to challenge that bliss.  Ce La ViE.  All day I was doing the one take thing.  I hope that counts for something!

But because I was feeling so ill I don't even know if I was acting well.  I fear I might have been phoning it in alot today.   When I got home I realized I actually had a fever too.. no wonder i was a wreck.

 "And now  phoning in her performance from Alaska!  Ms  Annalisa Bastiani...."

Oh well The director seemed pleased enough.  and I did catch the director stopping other actors from doing things that were over the top or just not connected.  So I was hoping he just didn't give up on me.  The fabulous Lisa Zomer was back to give me a hideous scar.  That was the sweet spot in my day.  I worked with a lovely older gentleman they cast as my husband.  and a sweet young girl they cast as the daughter who is getting married soon.  (ok THAT WAS SURREAL )  they were both very nice .  The good thing is most of this day my character had a fever and was sick with infection from her surgery.  So I'm thinking that helped my acting a little as I wasn't really acting in those scenes.  WE shot a few bedroom scenes too.  "hi how are you, nice to meet ya.  get in bed and be married."   All in all it was a great tie with everyone again.  But life has a way of teaching  you some tough lessons.. Mine seems to be about letting go of control.  Haha Even when I tried to get control back I felt Sick and stressed.. I remember that feeling well from the past and Oh  I never want to go back to those days again.  This week has been filled with spiritual signs.. yesterday I was so happy fet so on the path and at home  I saw the number 444 everywhere.  For me, that is the number I always see when I'm on the right magical path!!   Today I was waiting in the kitchen to hear "action" before I walked into the living room for the next scene and on the refrigerator was a fortune cookie fortune.  It read   "distressing things happen to make us become better not bitter".  AMEN to THAT!  PP WOMAN Peace Out!

Day 2 a comedy of driving errors.

Ok so as most you may already know I am allergic to the driver's test.  I have been with out wheels all my life "relying on the kindness of strangers" .  Well you heard it here first  I think I'm ready to get it done and over with now.. Seriously, I love that I might be doing more of this work but clearly I'm gonna need to drive outta the damn city to do it.  Today we carpooled to San Jose.  As if getting that set up wasn't stressful enough,  (IE: setting up multiple back up plans),  My partner in crime and I got LOST. I'm 45 minutes LOST.. oh crap... but everyone was totally cool and we were forgiven especially when we wrapped at that place an hour and a half earlier than planned for.  (I am now making it my goal to do it in one take as much as possible)  So  Now w are at this tiny airport.  Cool small planes everywhere.  We get to film in one and I get to look happy  and excited then turn around in the next take and be angry and sad... it's so wild to do this all out of order.  Then  we wrap there and drive all the way back to SF to film scenes with detectives and lawyers  ike a Law and order episode.. THat was a kick  because again it's ME  and thre Very good looking men in suits being cop like and lawyer like.. and I have to be all vicimy and damsel in distress... How fun to flirt ..and or scre these new men on set  wooohahahaha.  They were a blast and we all started giggling we were so punchy by that time.   I got let off early so i will be catching some ZZZZZ's tonight to be ready for tomorrow's adventure.. Hey  at least I wasn't naked today!...until tomorrow.  PP WOman. Peace out.