I'm not in the O.C. anymore!

Well, I've been pretty busy with auditions, callbacks, filming, classes, oh and let's not forget about family - my other job! Barely have time to read my emails, but thank you Steve Jobs for the IPAD, made for that "on the go person" so I never miss an appointment!

Whoo hoo! I got a callback for a commercial! I am sooo lucky, the only thing is, it's in Santa Monica so I have to plan my day around it.

Now, most of you know I have two 15 1/2 year old boys, one son and one foster son, that go to two different schools at four different times I know it sounds crazy but I am a devoted one! So, I think; "How am I going to do this?" Got it! Spoiled boys have to go to school at the same time and well, spoiled husband will have to pick them up and take them to the next school AND pick them up! Hmm! So, off to Santa Monica I go! 

But, there is one problem, I have an acting class in Hollywood at 7:15pm. Okay, so you say, well what's the problem Lynnette? I live in Orange County, that's the problem! My callback was for 12:30pm, now do I drive all the way back to the O.C afterwards only to have to leave by 4:30pm to get to class on time or do I stay in L.A.? I'm gonna have ta say no O.C., L.A. it is!

I get to my callback so excited and the CD says, "Gosh, I'm sorry, but you're the third person who's come in and there haven't been any callbacks yet." "WHAT?" I show her my printed out email (so organized) and she tells me that was a mistake. She said that was a general email to all those who missed their audition time. Are you flippin kiddin me??? "Missed their audition time??? REALLY???" Gosh, I learn something new everyday. Hmm! I didn't know you could miss your audition and have the opportunity to try again - how nice! Well, the CD knows I come from the O.C. and she says with a sad face; "I'm sorry but I can validate you parking." UGH! All that way for nothing! Oh well, my motto is, "It is what it is." So, I get to the gate and the guard says that will be $2.00. What, no, I told her my card was validated. She said sternly, "No it isn't". UGH! Well, I didn't have any cash on me so I paid with a credit card - thank you American Express! Okay, so now what do I do until 7:15pm since it's only 1:00pm???

I thought, well, my car needs to be washed so I'll just go to BMW to get it washed (free car wash, gotta save my pennies - gas, ya know). I drive all the way to _________ (well, I won't mention their name) and they tell me, "Sorry, unless you have service we don't wash your car". Okay?! So, then I decide well, I"ll drive to BMW in B_ _ _ _ _ _ I know there they must wash your car for free. But I'm going to be smart this time and call. They don't do it either. "REALLY?" I told them, well I come from the O.C. and the dealerships out there treat you like Queens, wash your car, give you water, they even have free Internet, TV, and a little cafe. Okay so I don't drive a Mazarati, but my car isn't exactly cheap. I guess I'm just SPOILED..

Well, what do I do now??? It's only 2pm? I brought my lunch cuz I'm on a constant diet (thank you HBO, lost 25lbs. so far - whoo hoo!!). So, I decided to drive to class. Beverly Hills is soo beautiful!! So, I get to Hollywood and look for a safe place to park for the next 5 hours and study my lines for my scene.

Okay, so here's the real problem. I HAVE TO GO TO THE BATHROOM! I drive around and look for a nice fastfood place, but everywhere I went there were a bunch of homeless people around. NOW, I am not afraid of them, it's just that, remember, I have no cash and I'm the type of person who wants to save the world (that will be another story) so I felt guilty that I had nothing to give them and I didn't want them to think I was a stuck up snob (Yes, I do care what people think, even the homeless). So, yay, I find a Pavilions, whoo hoo!! By this time I'm ready to pee in a cup!! I run into the store, find the bathroom and it says 25 cents. OMG are you serious?? In Orange County this is, once again - A FREE THING. LOL! Remember, I don't even have a dime, thanks to my children. LOL! So, I think I'll just go buy some Atkins shakes and use my debit card to get cash back. I go to the register and what???? No debit card. Can this day get any worse? So I pull out my handy dandy American Express and ask can I get money back on this so I can use the bathroom? She said I don't know, let's see. Well, of course you know what the answer was - NO! By this time I'm about to cry! So I say thank you anyway and start to walk away. She stops me and says, "You can go to customer service and get a token". Are you serious????? All that trouble and I could've just gone to Customer Service for a token??????

Well, the lesson I learned on that day, was...NEVER BE WITHOUT AT LEAST A QUARTER FOR THE BATHROOM OR DOLLAR BILLS FOR THE HOMELESS and forget about free anything. LOL!

I'M NOT IN KANSAS ANYMORE!    

Well, I've been pretty busy with auditions, callbacks, filming, classes, oh and let's not forget about family - my other job! Barely have time to read my emails, but thank you Steve Jobs for the IPAD, made for that "on the go person" so I never miss an appointment!

Whoo hoo! I got a callback for a commercial! I am sooo lucky, the only thing is, it's in Santa Monica so I have to plan my day around it.

Now, most of you know I have two 15 1/2 year old boys, one son and one foster son, that go to two different schools at four different times I know it sounds crazy but I am a devoted one! So, I think; "How am I going to do this?" Got it! Spoiled boys have to go to school at the same time and well, spoiled husband will have to pick them up and take them to the next school AND pick them up! Hmm! So, off to Santa Monica I go!

But, there is one problem, I have an acting class in Hollywood at 7:15pm. Okay, so you say, well what's the problem Lynnette? I live in Orange County, that's the problem! My callback was for 12:30pm, now do I drive all the way back to the O.C afterwards only to have to leave by 4:30pm to get to class on time or do I stay in L.A.? I'm gonna have ta say no O.C., L.A. it is!

I get to my callback so excited and the CD says, "Gosh, I'm sorry, but you're the third person who's come in and there haven't been any callbacks yet." "WHAT?" I show her my printed out email (so organized) and she tells me that was a mistake. She said that was a general email to all those who missed their audition time. Are you flippin kiddin me??? "Missed their audition time??? REALLY???" Gosh, I learn something new everyday. Hmm! I didn't know you could miss your audition and have the opportunity to try again - how nice! Well, the CD knows I come from the O.C. and she says with a sad face; "I'm sorry but I can validate you parking." UGH! All that way for nothing! Oh well, my motto is, "It is what it is." So, I get to the gate and the guard says that will be $2.00. What, no, I told her my card was validated. She said sternly, "No it isn't". UGH! Well, I didn't have any cash on me so I paid with a credit card - thank you American Express! Okay, so now what do I do until 7:15pm since it's only 1:00pm???

I thought, well, my car needs to be washed so I'll just go to BMW to get it washed (free car wash, gotta save my pennies - gas, ya know). I drive all the way to _________ (well, I won't mention their name) and they tell me, "Sorry, unless you have service we don't wash your car". Okay?! So, then I decide well, I"ll drive to BMW in B_ _ _ _ _ _ I know there they must wash your car for free. But I'm going to be smart this time and call. They don't do it either. "REALLY?" I told them, well I come from the O.C. and the dealerships out there treat you like Queens, wash your car, give you water, they even have free Internet, TV, and a little cafe. Okay so I don't drive a Mazarati, but my car isn't exactly cheap. I guess I'm just SPOILED..

Well, what do I do now??? It's only 2pm? I brought my lunch cuz I'm on a constant diet (thank you HBO, lost 25lbs. so far - whoo hoo!!). So, I decided to drive to class. Beverly Hills is soo beautiful!! So, I get to Hollywood and look for a safe place to park for the next 5 hours and study my lines for my scene.

Okay, so here's the real problem. I HAVE TO GO TO THE BATHROOM! I drive around and look for a nice fastfood place, but everywhere I went there were a bunch of homeless people around. NOW, I am not afraid of them, it's just that, remember, I have no cash and I'm the type of person who wants to save the world (that will be another story) so I felt guilty that I had nothing to give them and I didn't want them to think I was a stuck up snob (Yes, I do care what people think, even the homeless). So, yay, I find a Pavilions, whoo hoo!! By this time I'm ready to pee in a cup!! I run into the store, find the bathroom and it says 25 cents. OMG are you serious?? In Orange County this is, once again - A FREE THING. LOL! Remember, I don't even have a dime, thanks to my children. LOL! So, I think I'll just go buy some Atkins shakes and use my debit card to get cash back. I go to the register and what???? No debit card. Can this day get any worse? So I pull out my handy dandy American Express and ask can I get money back on this so I can use the bathroom? She said I don't know, let's see. Well, of course you know what the answer was - NO! By this time I'm about to cry! So I say thank you anyway and start to walk away. She stops me and says, "You can go to customer service and get a token". Are you serious????? All that trouble and I could've just gone to Customer Service for a token??????

Well, the lesson I learned on that day, was...NEVER BE WITHOUT AT LEAST A QUARTER FOR THE BATHROOM OR DOLLAR BILLS FOR THE HOMELESS and forget about free anything. LOL!

I'M NOT IN KANSAS ANYMORE!   

All You Need Is Love

Well, as the year comes to a close, I asked myself; "What did I accomplish this year?".
This year I have taken in a foster son, donated jewelry to help build fresh water wells in Africa, supported children through World Vision and Dalit Organizations and have given Boxes of Love through my church. As most of you know, I have a strong compassion for the homeless and less fortunate.

Now, I'm not bragging, this is just a a prelude to my story.

I went to an Acting Workshop in Hollywood a while ago and when I got there the only place to park was in front of a sleeping homeless man. The whole time I was in class, I kept thinking about him and was hoping he'd be there when I got out so I could give him some money. Yay! He was sitting next to his camp reading a newspaper. I went over and introduced myself and he told me his name was Lewis and shook my hand. We chatted for a bit, I gave him the money and off I went back to the O.C.
When I got home, I was soo excited to tell my husband about my new friend Lewis and that I had registered for the 3 day intensive that would be starting in 2 weeks. I kept thinking about Lewis and hoping he would be there when I returned.

The day finally approached so I packed up the Lasagne that I made the night before, some water bottles and bread and off I went. Yay! Lewis was still there sleeping so I quietly put the bag next to him with a note that said, "Have a nice day, your friend Lynnette from the O.C.", and went to class. When I got out of class, he was sitting there reading a newspaper. He thanked me for the food (he remembered me :-) ) and he asked me if I wanted him to wash my car. I said no thank you, that I didn't expect anything in return. He laughed and called me a crazy little blonde. You see, Lewis is a 7 foot African American man and here I am little Lynnette, 5 foot 2 eyes of blue..lol We chatted for awhile and I found out that he washed car windows, etc. at local gas stations for money. So, once again I rush home to tell my husband all about my friend Lewis and he thinks I'm crazy too. lol

Day Two: I get up early, pack Lewis a lunch and some cakepops that I had made for my boys (shhh don't tell) and off I go. Yay! He was awake! He shared with me an article in the newspaper about himself and how he was a rising Basketball Star until he lost his temper and had broken the nose of a very important person. He eventually got kicked off the team for repeateded violence and ended up on the streets of Hollywood. (Are you kidding me, this man was a gentle giant) I had to go to class so off I went.

After class he was waiting for me and asked me why I was so nice to him. I told him God loves a cheerful giver. Then I hugged him and back to the O.C. I went. Only this time, I stopped at the 99cent store and bought him all kinds of food, juice, toothpaste, toothbrushes, toilet paper (we all need that), socks (he had holes) and everything to wash a car inside and out.

My final day: I pack up the stuff and the food I'd made from the night before (I love to cook) and off I went sooo excited! I got there and he was sleeping so I wasn't going to leave all that stuff there. I couldn't wait for lunch time so I could surprise him. I told him..."Lewis, I have a surprise for you". He followed me to my car and he was in shock. He said why did you do that I am not needy. (not in a mean way) Because I wanted to...ya know he got tears in his eyes and said I can't accept these things. (Can you believe it?) I told him please and that I needed to get back to class, he just looked at me puzzled and then I handed him a Bible and said this is why I do what I do. It's all for God and perhaps I'm just one of His angels. So he hugged me, took the items and I went back to class. When I got out of class, he had washed my car spotless.

You see Tony Robbins has 6 important keys to life and mine just happens to be Love and Connection and I love to make people feel Special and Worthy of attention. Thank you Tony Robbins and thank you God for my ability to love.

As the Beatles put it "ALL YOU NEED IS LOVE"!!

Oh and I really loved the class too!!!

Happy New Year and may God bless each and everyone of you as He has me.