Pop Songs!

This is what I'm feeling about tonight! Tonight is my first staged reading with my new company and couldn't be more excited!  There's all these new things happening, well, they aren't new they've just been "dormant" in my life for a bit and it's such a rush to be working these muscles again.  There's also an aspect of fear...but that's what we do best as actors, we embrace fear and use it to our advantage.  We make it beautiful on stage.

I read all these articles and columns about how to be a better actor - to ward off the fear of acting - to overcome obstacles...bottom line, it's different for all of us.  I had a conversation with a friend of mine a long time ago, in which we talked about getting there was half the battle...it was when I moved to NYC, I was there.  Then things shifted and changed and I was existing there and working and acting and creating.  Then things shifted again and I was in LA.  Figuring it all out again...starting over at 29.  I don't know what's going to happen next or where this is supposed to go but I feel excited about it again.  I feel like the wheels are starting the move, the cogs are getting oiled.  Like I was recently told, "you haven't 'lost' any time...time doesn't matter, you just have to do something." Baby steps.

Here's to new beginnings.  Here's to ACTUALLY setting goals and accomplish-able ones.  Here's to re ignition.  Here's to blowing oxygen on an open flame...

Also...here's to just doing work and not being so over dramatic.

so much so much so much

I have so much to fill you in on.  Right now, however, I can't...but I will, promise.  But a friend through my CSA posted this and I felt the urge to share.

We had a proposition on our CA ballots this year.  Prop 37, it was to label GMO foods.  Sadly, it didn't pass...but there's a movement behind it so it's only a matter of time. I found this article/list interesting. ... food for thought, esp. those who opposed it.

Organic Brands/Companies That Have Financially Supported the California Initiative to Require Labeling of GMO Foods  

• Alex Bogusky — Fearless Revolution ($100,000)
• Amy’s ($100,000)
• Annie’s ($52,000)
• Baby’s Only ($2,500)
• Baker Creek Heirloom Seeds ($4,000)
• Burroughs Family Farm ($5,000)
• Clif Bar ($100,000)
• Cups Organic cupcakery ($25,000)
• Dr. Bronner’s ($290,000)
• Eden Foods ($10,000)
• Earth Balance ($34,000)
• Earthbound Farm ($10,000)
• Frey Vineyard ($35,000)
• Glutino ($33,000)
• Good Earth Natural Foods ($25,000)
• Health Force ($10,000)
• Late July Organic ($12,500)
• Lundberg Family Farm ($200,000)
• Mercola.com – Dr. Joseph Mercola ($1,100,000)
• Michael Funk - CEO of United Natural Foods ($50,000)
• Mintwood Media Collective ($1,250)
• Mom’s Organic Market ($10,000)
• Mother’s Market and Kitchen ($20,000)
• Nature’s Path ($600,000)
• New Chapter Organics ($10,000)
• Nutiva ($50,000)
• Organic Consumers Association ($40,000 Association/ $730,000 fund)
• Organic Valley ($50,000)
• OrganicVille ($7,500)
• Pacific ($10,000)
• Presence Marketing ($20,000)
• Sambazon ($10,000)
• Stonyfield Organic ($500,000)
• Straus Organic ($2,500)
• Sunfood Super Foods ($3,000)
• Tofurky ($5,000)
• Traditional Medicinals ($5,000)
• Udi's Gluten Free Foods ($33,000)
• Uncle Matt’s ($2,500)
• Whole Foods, Hain Celestial and Chipotle (endorsement only, no financial backing

Read more: http://www.motherearthnews.com/real-food/gmo-foods/zw0z1209zkin.aspx#ixzz2CbUAGsZX

Organic Brands/Companies That Have Financially Supported the California Initiative to Require Labeling of GMO Foods  

• Alex Bogusky — Fearless Revolution ($100,000)
• Amy’s ($100,000)
• Annie’s ($52,000)
• Baby’s Only ($2,500)
• Baker Creek Heirloom Seeds ($4,000)
• Burroughs Family Farm ($5,000)
• Clif Bar ($100,000)
• Cups Organic cupcakery ($25,000)
• Dr. Bronner’s ($290,000)
• Eden Foods ($10,000)
• Earth Balance ($34,000)
• Earthbound Farm ($10,000)
• Frey Vineyard ($35,000)
• Glutino ($33,000)
• Good Earth Natural Foods ($25,000)
• Health Force ($10,000)
• Late July Organic ($12,500)
• Lundberg Family Farm ($200,000)
• Mercola.com – Dr. Joseph Mercola ($1,100,000)
• Michael Funk - CEO of United Natural Foods ($50,000)
• Mintwood Media Collective ($1,250)
• Mom’s Organic Market ($10,000)
• Mother’s Market and Kitchen ($20,000)
• Nature’s Path ($600,000)
• New Chapter Organics ($10,000)
• Nutiva ($50,000)
• Organic Consumers Association ($40,000 Association/ $730,000 fund)
• Organic Valley ($50,000)
• OrganicVille ($7,500)
• Pacific ($10,000)
• Presence Marketing ($20,000)
• Sambazon ($10,000)
• Stonyfield Organic ($500,000)
• Straus Organic ($2,500)
• Sunfood Super Foods ($3,000)
• Tofurky ($5,000)
• Traditional Medicinals ($5,000)
• Udi's Gluten Free Foods ($33,000)
• Uncle Matt’s ($2,500)
• Whole Foods, Hain Celestial and Chipotle (endorsement only, no financial backing)

Read more: http://www.motherearthnews.com/real-food/gmo-foods/zw0z1209zkin.aspx#ixzz2CbTzt5p1

Organic Brands/Companies That Have Financially Supported the California Initiative to Require Labeling of GMO Foods  

• Alex Bogusky — Fearless Revolution ($100,000)
• Amy’s ($100,000)
• Annie’s ($52,000)
• Baby’s Only ($2,500)
• Baker Creek Heirloom Seeds ($4,000)
• Burroughs Family Farm ($5,000)
• Clif Bar ($100,000)
• Cups Organic cupcakery ($25,000)
• Dr. Bronner’s ($290,000)
• Eden Foods ($10,000)
• Earth Balance ($34,000)
• Earthbound Farm ($10,000)
• Frey Vineyard ($35,000)
• Glutino ($33,000)
• Good Earth Natural Foods ($25,000)
• Health Force ($10,000)
• Late July Organic ($12,500)
• Lundberg Family Farm ($200,000)
• Mercola.com – Dr. Joseph Mercola ($1,100,000)
• Michael Funk - CEO of United Natural Foods ($50,000)
• Mintwood Media Collective ($1,250)
• Mom’s Organic Market ($10,000)
• Mother’s Market and Kitchen ($20,000)
• Nature’s Path ($600,000)
• New Chapter Organics ($10,000)
• Nutiva ($50,000)
• Organic Consumers Association ($40,000 Association/ $730,000 fund)
• Organic Valley ($50,000)
• OrganicVille ($7,500)
• Pacific ($10,000)
• Presence Marketing ($20,000)
• Sambazon ($10,000)
• Stonyfield Organic ($500,000)
• Straus Organic ($2,500)
• Sunfood Super Foods ($3,000)
• Tofurky ($5,000)
• Traditional Medicinals ($5,000)
• Udi's Gluten Free Foods ($33,000)
• Uncle Matt’s ($2,500)
• Whole Foods, Hain Celestial and Chipotle (endorsement only, no financial backing)

Read more: http://www.motherearthnews.com/real-food/gmo-foods/zw0z1209zkin.aspx#ixzz2CbTzt5p1

Organic Brands/Companies That Have Financially Supported the California Initiative to Require Labeling of GMO Foods  

• Alex Bogusky — Fearless Revolution ($100,000)
• Amy’s ($100,000)
• Annie’s ($52,000)
• Baby’s Only ($2,500)
• Baker Creek Heirloom Seeds ($4,000)
• Burroughs Family Farm ($5,000)
• Clif Bar ($100,000)
• Cups Organic cupcakery ($25,000)
• Dr. Bronner’s ($290,000)
• Eden Foods ($10,000)
• Earth Balance ($34,000)
• Earthbound Farm ($10,000)
• Frey Vineyard ($35,000)
• Glutino ($33,000)
• Good Earth Natural Foods ($25,000)
• Health Force ($10,000)
• Late July Organic ($12,500)
• Lundberg Family Farm ($200,000)
• Mercola.com – Dr. Joseph Mercola ($1,100,000)
• Michael Funk - CEO of United Natural Foods ($50,000)
• Mintwood Media Collective ($1,250)
• Mom’s Organic Market ($10,000)
• Mother’s Market and Kitchen ($20,000)
• Nature’s Path ($600,000)
• New Chapter Organics ($10,000)
• Nutiva ($50,000)
• Organic Consumers Association ($40,000 Association/ $730,000 fund)
• Organic Valley ($50,000)
• OrganicVille ($7,500)
• Pacific ($10,000)
• Presence Marketing ($20,000)
• Sambazon ($10,000)
• Stonyfield Organic ($500,000)
• Straus Organic ($2,500)
• Sunfood Super Foods ($3,000)
• Tofurky ($5,000)
• Traditional Medicinals ($5,000)
• Udi's Gluten Free Foods ($33,000)
• Uncle Matt’s ($2,500)
• Whole Foods, Hain Celestial and Chipotle (endorsement only, no financial backing)

Organic Brands/Companies That Have Financially Supported the California Initiative to Require Labeling of GMO Foods  

• Alex Bogusky — Fearless Revolution ($100,000)
• Amy’s ($100,000)
• Annie’s ($52,000)
• Baby’s Only ($2,500)
• Baker Creek Heirloom Seeds ($4,000)
• Burroughs Family Farm ($5,000)
• Clif Bar ($100,000)
• Cups Organic cupcakery ($25,000)
• Dr. Bronner’s ($290,000)
• Eden Foods ($10,000)
• Earth Balance ($34,000)
• Earthbound Farm ($10,000)
• Frey Vineyard ($35,000)
• Glutino ($33,000)
• Good Earth Natural Foods ($25,000)
• Health Force ($10,000)
• Late July Organic ($12,500)
• Lundberg Family Farm ($200,000)
• Mercola.com – Dr. Joseph Mercola ($1,100,000)
• Michael Funk - CEO of United Natural Foods ($50,000)
• Mintwood Media Collective ($1,250)
• Mom’s Organic Market ($10,000)
• Mother’s Market and Kitchen ($20,000)
• Nature’s Path ($600,000)
• New Chapter Organics ($10,000)
• Nutiva ($50,000)
• Organic Consumers Association ($40,000 Association/ $730,000 fund)
• Organic Valley ($50,000)
• OrganicVille ($7,500)
• Pacific ($10,000)
• Presence Marketing ($20,000)
• Sambazon ($10,000)
• Stonyfield Organic ($500,000)
• Straus Organic ($2,500)
• Sunfood Super Foods ($3,000)
• Tofurky ($5,000)
• Traditional Medicinals ($5,000)
• Udi's Gluten Free Foods ($33,000)
• Uncle Matt’s ($2,500)
• Whole Foods, Hain Celestial and Chipotle (endorsement only, no financial backing)

Read more: http://www.motherearthnews.com/real-food/gmo-foods/zw0z1209zkin.aspx#ixzz2CbUAGsZX

Organic Brands/Companies That Have Financially Supported the California Initiative to Require Labeling of GMO Foods  

• Alex Bogusky — Fearless Revolution ($100,000)
• Amy’s ($100,000)
• Annie’s ($52,000)
• Baby’s Only ($2,500)
• Baker Creek Heirloom Seeds ($4,000)
• Burroughs Family Farm ($5,000)
• Clif Bar ($100,000)
• Cups Organic cupcakery ($25,000)
• Dr. Bronner’s ($290,000)
• Eden Foods ($10,000)
• Earth Balance ($34,000)
• Earthbound Farm ($10,000)
• Frey Vineyard ($35,000)
• Glutino ($33,000)
• Good Earth Natural Foods ($25,000)
• Health Force ($10,000)
• Late July Organic ($12,500)
• Lundberg Family Farm ($200,000)
• Mercola.com – Dr. Joseph Mercola ($1,100,000)
• Michael Funk - CEO of United Natural Foods ($50,000)
• Mintwood Media Collective ($1,250)
• Mom’s Organic Market ($10,000)
• Mother’s Market and Kitchen ($20,000)
• Nature’s Path ($600,000)
• New Chapter Organics ($10,000)
• Nutiva ($50,000)
• Organic Consumers Association ($40,000 Association/ $730,000 fund)
• Organic Valley ($50,000)
• OrganicVille ($7,500)
• Pacific ($10,000)
• Presence Marketing ($20,000)
• Sambazon ($10,000)
• Stonyfield Organic ($500,000)
• Straus Organic ($2,500)
• Sunfood Super Foods ($3,000)
• Tofurky ($5,000)
• Traditional Medicinals ($5,000)
• Udi's Gluten Free Foods ($33,000)
• Uncle Matt’s ($2,500)
• Whole Foods, Hain Celestial and Chipotle (endorsement only, no financial backing)

Read more: http://www.motherearthnews.com/real-food/gmo-foods/zw0z1209zkin.aspx#ixzz2CbUAGsZ

Organic Brands Not Financially Supporting the Effort to Label GMO Foods (Hain Celestial) or Their Parent Company is Actively Contributing Funds Against the Initiative (*).

• Applegate Farms
• Newsman’s Own
• Trader Joes
• Alba Botanica (Hain Celestial)
• Alexia (Conagra)*
• Almond Dream (Hain Celestial)
• Arrowhead Mills (Hain Celestial)
• Avalon Organics (Hain Celestial)
• Bear Naked (Kellogg)*
• Casbah (Hain Celestial)
• Cascadian Farm Organic (General Mills)*
• Celestial Seasonings (Hain Celestial)
• Daily Bread (Hain Celestial)
• Danival (Hain Celestial)
• DeBoles (Hain Celestial)
• Earth’s Best (Hain Celestial)
• Ethnic Gourmet (Hain Celestial)
• French Meadow Bakery (Rich Products)*
• Gardenburger (Kellogg)*
• Garden of Eatin’ (Hain Celestial)
• Greek Gods (Hain Celestial)
• Hain (Hain Celestial)
• Health Valley (Hain Celestial)
• Honest Tea (Coca-Cola)*
• Horizon Organic (Dean Foods)*
• Imagine (Hain Celestial)
• Izze (PepsiCo)*
• Jason (Hain Celestial)
• Kashi (Kellogg)*
• Larabar (General Mills)*
• Linda McCartney (Hain Celestial)
• MaraNatha (Hain Celestial)
• Morning Star (Kellogg)*
• Muir Glen (General Mills)*
• Naked Juice (PepsiCo)*
• Odwalla (Coca-Cola)*
• Rice Dream (Hain Celestial)
• Rosetto (Hain Celestial)
• R.W. Knudsen (Smucker)*
• Santa Cruz Organic (Smucker)*
• Sensible Portions (Hain Celestial)
• Silk (Dean Foods)*
• Spectrum (Hain Celestial)
• Sunspire (Hain Celestial)
• Terra Chips (Hain Celestial)
• Westbrae Natural (Hain Celestial)
• Westsoy (Hain Celestial)

Companies Financially Opposing the Initiative to Label GMO Foods.  

• Abbott Nutrition ($3,918)
• Bayer Cropscience ($1.5 million)
• Biotechnology Industry Organization ($250,000)
• Campbell Soup Co ($179,545)
• Coca-Cola ($1.2 million)
• ConAgra Foods ($1 million)
• Counsel for Biotechnology Information ($375,000)
• Council for Responsible Nutrition (CRN)
• Dean Foods ($253,000)
• Dog Agrosciences ($815,200)
• DuPont ($4 million)
• General Mills ($520,000)
• Godiva Chocolatier ($30,666)
• Grocery Manufacturers Association (GMA) ($375,000)
• H.J. Heinz ($10,445)
• Hershey ($283,753)
• Kellogg ($632,500)
• Kraft Foods ($34,405)
• Land O’Lakes ($59,322)
• Mars, Incorporated ($100,243)
• Monsanto ($7.1 million)
• Morton Salt ($14,879)
• Natural Products Association (NPA)
• Nestle ($1 million)
• Ocean Spray Cranberries, INC. ($60,546)
• Pepsico ($1.7 million)
• Rich Products ($225,000)
• Sara Lee Corporation ($246,766)
• Smuckers ($387,000)
• Sunny Delight Beverages Co ($93,795)
• Syngenta Corporation ($178,700)
• WM. Wrigley Jr. ($116,866)

Sometimes it's not worth a picture

So, tonight I cooked.  I was in the mood for pasta but had an acorn squash to use...with a little help from the Kitchn I discovered this: Penne with Acorn Squash and Pancetta. (here) Not having everything, I did my typical I substituted, which as we know is typically fine.  But tonight, something happened....the meal I got excited for failed me.  It wasn't bad it just wasn't awesome and, you know I expect awesome 9 times out of 10.  I think my squash was over cooked, I used too much bacon, my spices didn't have enough of a punch...something.

At the end of a very rich and filling meal I decided I don't like cured meats and winter squashes - I like them each with other things, just not each other.  I almost feel a cardinal sin happening when I say that but it's true!  Such is the kitchen sometimes.

On another exciting note - last week two things happened that felt like I was finally finding my footing again, like Jordan was stepping back into her skin.  I had an audition for a theater company called the Vagrancy.  A handful of young New Yorkers (not all of them are NYCers) transplanted to LA for various reasons who all found each other.   They have all decided to work towards the company's mission:  

The Vagrancy creates visceral work that seeks to touch the human spirit. We embrace fear, vulnerability, and embarrassment - inviting the audience to experience a communion. We hope to spark a dialogue of questions and compassion, exposing a shared universal truth. We forge new, lesser-known, and classical works with that ineffable something. Duende.

When I was done with my audition, I felt good.  I felt like I stepped back into the room with my head up and ready to play.  It was a great feeling, regardless of what the outcome was going to be.  Fast forward to Thursday and I got asked to join the company!  So, I'm excited to announce that I am a new company member of the Vagrancy and can't wait to start playing again.

Also on Thursday, I went to a yoga studio.  It's been ages, AGES since I've been in a studio.  Yoga is my jam.  It's my balance.  It's my peace and it's been out of my life for a very long time.  Here I was committed to walking back into the classroom.  And what a class I walked in to!  I got my ass handed to me.  I don't think I've ever sweat that much from a non-hot class.  I don't know if it was my ego getting in the way or what but it was a very, very hard class and I left in pain.  I learned that my body has tightened up with lack of stretching and too much tense driving and computer sitting.  My body was yelling to move and move it tried.  I went again today and loved it.

What I guess I'm trying to acknowledge is being back to a familiar.  Or at least beginning to explore the familier in a new way and new place.  It's always a new lesson so we'll see how I learn it this time.  I'm coming up on my 2 year mark and there's no time like the present to move and explore things.

Hope you're voting tomorrow.  I don't care who you vote for (I mean, I do but I won't pressure you) I just want you to vote. 

Hope your weeks gotten off to the right foot!