SCAMMED???????????

Okay, this one is a doosey!!

Now you all know, I am from Orange County, hence the title of my blog.  I am constantly driving back and forth all over God's green earth for auditions, classes, filming, etc. Not that I'm complaining..I love my time to prepare and just be with myself and my music.

So today, I get up at the crack of dawn (a Saturday mind you, a day when most of the world sleeps in) to go all the way to Burbank to an on camera acting class that I've been waiting for foreverrrrrr.

DISAPPOINTMENT 1:

I was supposed to attend this 6 week course with a well known director back in August and he got called to do a last minute job so they postponed the class until today.  Thank goodness I'm on top of things and am constantly checking my emails and texts because they emailed me at around 10pm at night telling me the class had been postponed. UGH!  Thank goodness I didn't drive all the way there to find out there was no class, wasting gas and putting miles on my LEASED car..(you know they only give you so many miles). I mean really, don't you think he knew more than 12 hours before, that he had a job to do on Saturdays. I know casting directors and agents call me sometimes for last minute auditions but that is usually only 1 day.  Normally if I'm going to do a show the Casting Director usually says were are going to be filming on so and so day..at least a month in advance.  But whatever, it is what it is and I waited patiently for the class to begin today.

DISAPPOINTMENT 2:

I go to bed early last night because I have to get up at the crack of dawn, foregoing partying with the girls. (Still a tad sick, but nothing keeps me from my acting..cough cough, sniffle, sniffle) I am soooo excited, this coach is supposed to be really great!!  So this morning I left a little late (so unsual for me..lol) and I was scared to death I was going to be late to class.  Yay, freeway is great (of course, it's a Saturday, duh)  and then all of sudden STOP.  Ugh!  They were working on the freeway..omg!! I just knew I was going to be late.  BIG SAD FACE!  Well, yay, it cleared up and I was speeding all the way there...my car kept saying, "Limit, limit".. and I just said..I knoooowwww.  Well, praise the Lord you will never believe it..I made it 10 minutes early...whoo hoo.  So I get my things together and go to the studio....................

The doors were locked,  (GASP!)mail had been thrown in through the mail slot for days, no chairs, just some random stuff on the floors and walls. Okay now I'm the type of person who gives people the benefit of the doubt and lo and behold, I get an email from the same company talking about another upcoming coach.  Sooooooo, thank you Steve Jobs, (R.I.P.) for making the IPAD 2, I emailed right back!  No answer. But I knew that was coming.

DISAPPOINTMENT 3:

 I had the phone number of the studio since I had taken classes there before, so I thought, well, I'll just call...............................................................

The number had been disconnected..  Are you flippin kiddin ?????????????????????????????

No class and out of a lot of money..........

Soooooo what did I do?????????

I went shopping! :-)

What's a girl to do??????????????

Ticket Day

Okay, so most of you know I drive from Orange County to L.A. " A LOT" for auditions, classes, films, etc., so I am very careful to leave in enough time to get there, get lost (so much for navigation) and find a GREAT parking space! Now that is a profession in itself. So, a couple of weeks ago, I go to an awesome 3 day seminar in Hollywood..

DAY ONE: Got my routine down, left early, got lost, found a great parking space....NO TICKET!
DAY TWO: Left early, got the same parking space (I knew where I was going this time) Come out after class..and behold.....
                                                                            A TICKET!!!!!

So, I think to myself, the sign says it's okay to park here all day on Saturday and Sunday, my Tags are up to date, what on earth could I get a ticket for????? You will never believe it......................................
 
                                   NO FRONT LICENSE PLATE......REALLY???????????

Okay so look at my car! It is a 2010 650i..okay this is the year 2011..don't you think that the people who give tickets would look at the car more closely and realized this is how they make cars nowadays..ugh! Where in the world can I put a License Plate?????? $25 fine..really?? Don't you have something better to do than give out that kind of a ticket???? Do you get a commission????

DAY THREE: Okay, so now I'm not sure if the same parking enforcement person is working on Sunday as well, so I make a copy of the ticket and write this note.
         PLEASE NOTE: MY CAR DOES NOT HAVE A SPACE FOR A FRONT LICENSE PLATE
                                               (I mean come on..isn't it obvious?)
So, I left both on my dashboard. I'm not sure if they came around again but at least I didn't get another ticket.

So, I go home and write a note to the L.A. parking enforcement saying,

"Okay, now I don't mean this to sound wrong but my car is a brand new BMW, made in 2010 and they don't make them to come with front license plates anymore, perhaps you should update your violation codes. Attached please find pictures of my Vehicle showing there is absolutely no place for a front license plate. I have had this car for almost two years now and have never received one of these tickets. I can't put a license plate on the front so can you please advise me on what to do?

So a couple of days ago I get a Notice of Delinquent Parking Violation and they want me to pay the $25! REALLY? UGH!

Soooooooooo, now here's the kicker..Today I get another notice in the mail saying,

"Thank you for your inquiry regarding the citation listed above. You were cited for violation of CA Vehicle Code section 5200, display of front license plates. Pursuant to section 40225 of CVC, you may have the fine reduced to $10.00 per citation by submitting the following items:

A copy of this letter with the proof of correcting verified by a signature from a law enforcement agency or an updated photograph of the front of the vehicle with the license plate properly attached to the vehicle.

Please make your check or money order payable to the City of Los Angeles.

OH MY GOODNESS...WHAT PLANET ARE THESE PEOPLE FROM????????????

Thank goodness I made a copy of the ticket, now I'm going to have to carry that with me everyday!

                             OH MY GOODNESS, WHAT'S A GIRL TO DO?????????????????