La La Land

For now, I am in LA visiting, and it feels so comfortable- like home. I have been living in Minneapolis for five years (minus months here and there) and I still feel like a visitor.

I was afraid I would come here this week and realize I didn't really want to be here, but no- now I can't wait to come back, make my life here, be surrounded by the cornucopia of eccentrics, and leave my MPLS life behind. Or at least bring it with me, but expound on it in a new environment.

It's also good to see Betsy, who I missed.

I got my headshots taken today; Paul took them. Paul the guy who had his little puppy Louis (as in Vuitton) attached to a wire attached to his belt. Paul with the awesome house overlooking the city off of Muholland Drive. Paul who was raised Jewish, converted to Christianity, and is now being talked into Kaballah (judaism) by his used-to-be-catholic friend, and seems to be on a continuous search for spirituality, or some connection. I'll post the pics when I get them. We did everything from Sweet Claudia, to Bad girl Claudia, to Ethnic Claudia, haha.

Betsy and her roomate and me also went to Karaoke on Sunday and met some guys in a band. It sounds exciting telling people I am an artist in Minnesota, or an actor, here it feels like that is what everyone is, and thats because its true, and although I feel I have based myself on more than just my acting career, I think living here will really help to solidify my indentity outside my art- if there is one, heh.

I am excited to move on and away from the Midwest, to change things up, especially after my last six months of continual mistakes.

LA!

Ibanga's moving to India. He'll be gone when I get back.

Today I leave for Los Angeles!!!!

Don't let Bird Flu get you down.

I was at the dentist today, who by the way is such a nice guy, everyone is that office really, and I saw a pamphlet filled with pictures of children with cleft lips, those poor things. And there I am sitting in the Dr's chair having them finish fixing my already fine teeth (I am officially done with the Invisalign process, they removed the four porcelian bracket dots that were making my side teeth look yellow, and even gave me a touch up whitening set for FREE, cause I am going to LA and I need a good smile :-) ) and I couldn't help to remind myself how blessed we are, that we can at least have the opportunity to have good dental hygiene, when there are people out there living in dental pain. Call it a sappy moment, but whatever.

And now a list of things I am thankful for, sans the obvious things ofcourse like parents, food, health, etc:

1. Trader Joe's (I went today, although they do not have good produce, but the rest, yum. and cheap.)
2. The BFA (though normally I am complaining about my acting program they did hook me up with a casting director who just informed me yesterday i have a meeting next week in LA with a manager, and have more meetings being set up as we speak...)
3. Othello, not the character but the game, for providing oodles of fun as I spent some time with a buddy yesterday.
4. Betsy...for calming my nerves.
5. Airborne. brilliant stuff.
6. Harry Waters Jr. I wish he read my blog so he knew this, I'll just tell him tonight.
7. Market BBQ Karaoke night. woohoo!
8. Mom's clients.
10. Dad's Frequent Flyer miles.

P.S. The first case of person to person Avian Flu has been suspected in Indonesia. It is predected that if it spreads, it might be as deadly or worse than the Spanish Flu which killed 40million people worldwide in a year in the early 20th century.

Indentity Crisis.

Today I dropped off my retouched publicity photos at Digigrafix to make copies for my trip to LA next week. They made me choose a font for my name, which has to be printed ont he picture, and all of a sudden it became an issue about identity.
You may not know her, because no one really does, but there is a little actress in Princess Diaries and Raising Helen, who spells her name exactly like me. Which means that when I join the screen actors guild, I have to change my name. ANd because I will be establishing my name, already when I go over to LA next week, I need to have my new name on these pictures.

AN IDENTITY CRISIS.

I like my name. It's solid, and unique, and ethnic. I don't want anything else. So I thought, okay I will just throw in my middle initial (E). But then will people pronounce my name in Spanish but say the initial in English? Becuase saying "E" in spanish sounds a mess.

Mom's helping me come up with a possible new middle name. Dana knows that if all else fails, I will go as Claudia Mexico. And I am not Claudia Mexico. So, any suggestions?

Help me figure out who I am...Name-wise.

A Much Needed Weekend.

I spent this weekend in Chaska, MN at a conference hosted by The White House Project. For three days I was surrounded by strong, aware, willing, and wonderful women, and the entire experience definitely helped to refocus my short term goals, figure some of them out, and rekindle some passions I had let burn low. It gave me a retreat from my Minneapolis life, and allowed me to me ground myself and reflect (and eat a dangerous amount of food.) Just kidding, but it always seems that at conferences, food is incessantly being offerred. Not only did I meet great girls, like my new girlfriends from Wilmar who share my love of Kumbia Kings, but also I saw women that I had met before, mainly met through theatre connections, which was interesting. The woman who started the White House Project is most popularly know for creating "Take your child to work day." In the political world she is known for so much more; she's so in the mix that she got Geena Davis to come talk to us and meet us a for a bit. Here is a picture of Geena and me, who I spoke to very little as I noticed the familiar look in actor's eyes- the one that cries "please be brief, i just got off a plane, I am getting on a plane soon, and though I play a President on television I dont have all answers to your political questions." So we all let her go. She was lovely though.

Me and Marie, thge founder...
Me and the Wilmar
Geena and me looking really really bad.

Puzzle.

I saw Pete's band Puzzle play at the Cabooze tonight. It was awesome. And I got to go with Jenny, one of my best girls whom I don't see often enough. Apparently the band got in some mess wiht management for having a Keg in the party bus out in the back. Heh.
This is apic of me and Taylor doing what I like to call the "Magic Finger Dance" because its what the band does during the song "Magic" except our version is making fun of the drunk girl doing th dance on the stage, not as good as what Pete choreographed.

And also, a pic of Me and Tarlene being sass's.

Oprah knows, but the joggers wanted the red shirt.

New Hero or Her-ess, whatever, hero: Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf...Current President of Liberia.

Today was run into people I haven't seen in a while day.

And Picnic in Powderhorn Park day.

And Going to a friend's concert day.

Oh yeah, and I should've been doing hundreds of other things day.

Cuando se acabara?

I swear, this past month has played out like a movie in my life. Even when I have decided to let go of the mess, and ground myself in my peace, mess seems to appear anyway.

I want my peace again.

I took my headshots today. Very excited about them. The guy who did my makeup has a blog. Check it out at mistermakeup.blogspot.com.

I need a nap, and a vacation.

Lately Selena songs have seemed very fiiting. First, No Me Queda Mas

"No Me Queda mas, que perderme en un abismo de tristeza y lagrimas.....Si tu regreso hoy seria una imposibilidad. Porque esto si fue amor, los mas lindo.. fue el mas dulce recuerdo de me vida. Yo tenia une esperanza, en el fondo de alma, que un dia te quedaras tu conmigo..y aunque vivi enamorada y totalmente equivocada, no me importa."

But now it's, "Si Una Vez"

"Si una vez dije que te amaba, hoy me arrepiento. Si una vez dije que te amaba, no se lo que pense; estaba loca, si una vez dije que te amaba, y que por ti la vida daba, si una vez dije que te amaba no lo vuelvo hacer, ese error, fue cosa de ayer."

Oh Selena.

Ya no.

For those of you who've known me for the past three years, you know that I have had a british boy on my mind for quite some time, and though most of you have advised me from the start to let him go....I didn't, but now, it's over, after an unexpected conversation today, it is over, and now, Peter and I are going to go see a movie.

And I hope that will ease my mind, as I have a busy day tomorrow.

How fitting that this happened the day after I decided to take a break from boys and dating, especially after my birthday night experience with German boy.

Heh.

Oh dear.

Throughout the day I have been slowly remembering things I said last night, that perhaps I wouldn't have said had I not been under the influence of Frambuesa mojitos. Here's a few:
1. To Kurt (while the girl he's seeing is accross the bar) "Kurt, I had a crush on you." This one isn't a big deal I suppose, unless youconsider I work with him, and will see him bright and early and sober tomorrow morning.

2. "They're all finance people." When introducing Taylor, Peter, Nate, and Nate's friend, all of whom are not finance people, but I connected the finance with the fact that I met them through Ibanga who is a "finance person." Peter later came up and said, Claudia, I have a problem with you saying we're finance people, that's not the case at all, I am a musician.

3. "This is Charlie, my neighbor," over and over again when introducing the poor boy. I should've said this is Charlie my friend, haha but my crazy brain pulled "neighbor" out of the bag first. Can't blame me Charlie, though, right? I mean what are you really to me? yes, a "friend" i suppose :-).

4. 'I love you" to everyone and their mothers, including Christine the waitress.

5. Also, a certian piece of info i ended up telling Christine and lots of other people that I probably would've kept secret and not blown out of proportion otherwise.

Geeze, when you try to be a lady. There's a reason I stopped drinking.

Lately I have been saying some things I am not proud of, even when not under the influence. I have gotten in this drama funk that I don't like. Drama in my life has been abounding and I don't like it at all. I want peace. I don't want to try to figure people out, to try to prove myself, to deal with dating a guy, worry about physical illness, or the way one slice of bread will affect my appearance because i am so nervous about taking my new publicity photos, or any other mess. If I have treated you un-good-personly in the past five months, please forgive me, as I have been acting out of character at times, due to the increase of stress and drama. certain drama in particular inolving crazy phone calls to Amanda and Lindsey.

Also, I want to start practicing what the Kabbalists call Equanimity. Equanimity, Lovingkindness, and Moderation.

I want to return to my regular grounded, composed, holistic, and level headed, self.

So I will start by listening more....
So if you need an ear, I am here, my show has closed, and I now have time.

Mom and Me.

This weekend is always about mom and me, because my birthday always falls days before mother's day.
Mami, te quiero bastante.

My mom is constantly being asked what she did to raise two such great girls, cause I must admit my sis and I are some good stuff, and her reponse is usually, I don't know. Then one day we were talking, and I explained to her that i had girlfirends who didnt talk to their mothers, who hated them who didnt have mothers, who were hit by their mothers, and that our relationship as mother and daughter was very unique. I am so thankful for a mother who listens to me, accepts me, supports me in evrything I do even when she thinks I am crazy for constantly changing plans, cities, or hobbies; a mother who treats me like her friend when she needs one, and who advises me when I need wisdom. I am grateful to her for bearing through a difficult childhood and adolescence so that I wouldn't have to. I am grateful that she's given me and Cristina everyhting she couldn't have; I am thankful she was attracted to my father, for heaven's sake, and for putting up with him during his hard days, because both of them together make a powerhouse parenting team. I am thankful she loves to get dressed up, because I took after her. I am thankful she was brought up in ahouse of music, so that I was as well, and that has fueled a lot of my work and career. Mama, I love you girl. Even when I get all snappy at you (gee, I know I get it from dad.) at the airport, cause right after I did I told Ellen I wished I hadn't left you that way. I miss you so much. I miss your presence in my life; thank goodness for phones so we can continue to tlak everyday. And I really hope my life directs me to a place where we can be close again someday, like dad says...just move around with me- I already told you, move to Paris with him and I am there.

All that sappines said, here are pics from my bday dinner!

Bizarre Night.

A good, but bizarre Friday night. I went to Roubal and Andy's Graduation party, not expecting to see a certain person thinking that he'd really broken off speaking to anyone from college. But I am standing in the living room when Nathanial walks in. Nathanial whom I hadnt seen since a year ago last night at my graduation party at the Loring. It had been a year, and we'd grown apart, very very very part, and I really didnt expect to see him, nor did I really want to catch that relationship up because its too much, and I really didnt care to ever meet his gilrfriend, but I did, well I saw her, she was at the party, I never met her met her, she left without saying bye to even him cause she got upset I guess, apparently she's not very welcoming or nice to any of his friends, until recently at least.

I guess what hurt me most is Nate's lack of effort in pursuing our friendship, i mean thats all it ever was, but I never understood how it was so easy for him to let it go. Roubal told me, he still loves you, in my head I thought, yeah sure, I'll start feeling his friendship again and then he'll let go again, as if I never meant anything, saddest part- he isn't aware of what he does. But we ended up talking, and it was like no time had past, except there were holes in the places where he didnt know what was going on with me, or I didnt know who he was anymore really, even though I think I do, and funny how now we both want to go into similar careers. hmph.

But it was nice, and we fell alseep on roubals bed, talking, after having had some drinks. No crazies, nothing happened, it's never been like that with us. At one point I realized what had happened and i woke up in the middle of the night and Roubal was in bed with the both of us. Woke up in the morning, then we all went ot the uptownbar cause i was craving hash browns, and there is when I looked around at me, nate, josh and roubal and asked myself how in the world did this happen, all of us together again, like nothing.

He says he's coming to my show tonight, last year he said he would come see me speak at grad the next day, and he did, so I am sure he will, but then after grad i NEVER spoke to him again, so I wouldnt be surprised if that happened again.

To be fair, there was more to last night too. LIke a really good second to last show, and seeing Jenny and Emily and Dana at the party, and meeting Ryan at the party who was a premi-twin who didnt get a name until he was two weeks old, and mike the violinist, and PAt! haha what a surprise. anyhoo here are some pics.

Me and Ana...

Me and Jenny....

Nate and Josh in the hall...

Ryan the twin and Reina...

Tha girlz...

Josh and Roubal at Breakfast...

Nate at the booth...

Me and Nate

In bed in the morning (mom Roubal's gay and you know Nate, no worries, heheh:-))


Roubal, the host.

National Limerick Day!

In honor of today I am posting all the limericks me and Megan wrote on the Picadilly line tube in London a few years ago. They are limericks about all the members of our BFA theatre company. Here they are:

There once was a girl named Meg
Who drank an entire keg.
She got really drunk
She smelled like a skunk
And woke up with spunk on her leg.

There once was a girl named Claud
Who had a really hot bod.
She worked at a pub
And gave guys a rub
And they gave her a big money wad.

There once was a girl named Court
Who enjoyed a sexual sport.
She played all day long
In her little pink thong
Till she got the disease with a wart.

There once was a girl named Reisz.
Who liked to keep the peace.
She staye din a bubble
To avoid all the trouble
By doing it with the police.

There once was a boy named Will
Who forgot his brith control pill.
Despite this mishap
He still got with a chap
Who continues to give him his fill.

There once was a boy named Nash
Who smoked a lot of hash.
He got into bed
And then gave some head
In return for a lot of cash.

There once was a boy named Wayne
Who had a pea for a brain
Instead of his smarts
he always used farts
So people knew he was play'n.

There once was a boy name Jo
Who got turned on by his toe.
Instead of the girls
He preferred tip toe twirls
Unless they offerred a blow.

Adam was from Lebanon
Who enjoyed to romp with a swan
He didnt knwo why.
She had wings and could fly.
But who cares cause the swan turned him on.

There once was a boy named Holm,.
Who enjoyed his garden gnome.
He held him at night
But gnomes like to bite,
so he covered his pipi with chrome.

We were younger then....

The company with Megan in front, sans Wayne and Mr. Nash.

Meet me in St. Louis, well maybe yesterday.

I have returned from St. Louis where I was performing with Pillsbury House's Breaking Ice Theatre Company, for the Best Buy Road Show. I think it is the Best Show we have done, it was recieved so well, and it seemed to really get them going and discussing things they felt wary abotu discussing. Best Buy hooked us all up with our own rooms at the Renaissance Hotel, it was awesome.

I love the Breaking Ice kids; it's always a hilarious time. I am excited we start rehearsing another show tomorrow. Aahh, it has been busy. Favorite moments: Having an in the dark BBQ picnic underneath the big arch(which is sublime in the David Hume sense of the word.), our arch photo shoot with Heidi (Noah will send me pics I can post.) , Me and Ellen in the hot tub with the other girls, being in the midst of a sea of BB blueshirts, A drunk Taxi driver, and of course, the show itself.

Good show tonight. And another good review in TalkingBroadway.com. search for ten percent of marta solano under the reviews section.

Yours truly also will be shooting on Friday for a spot on target's recruitment website; I will put up a link as soon as I know it's on.

Something is going on in my flat. I get anxious in it, and I have a feeling it has a history. That's the only thing that can explain the wierd things going on.

Also, learned today that a penney costs more than a penny to make, and a nickel more than a nickel.

Very excited about birthdya plans! and moving to LA!!!!!!

Happy Saturday

Without fail, this always happens a month before I leave....


Y, en honor de el dia de ayer que fue la celebracion de los Estados Unidos de la cultura Mexicana, quiero decir esto...

Pobre Mexico
tan lejos de Dios
tan cerca a los Estados Unidos.

Guess who...

Guess who got her hair caught in an electric chair tonight, got it caught and had a chunk torn off... if you're curious ask, or come see my show and you'll know what i mean.

Also, Guess who has a friend who was held up at gun point last night by the university, while she was in the company of three other girls.

Guess who works in an environment where saying "I hate gay sandwiches," and "my dislike for you is organic," is accepted.

Guess who has a brilliant friend Dana who's gonna try ot hook her up with a big reservation at Solera for a bday night celebration.

And guess, who has a date tomorrow night she's very excited about.

Also, guess who felt her friends baby kick today and got all excited, the same day she talked to her mother about how she would go nuts if she even imagined herself having a child any time, and i mean any time, soon.

ANNNNND guess who needs to start writing because she has to have 10 pages done by monday for her residency's final presentation.

well, me. duh.

Guess who this is...



Mami y papi. La mere arrive tomorrow en la nuit.

Claudia's Week

Mom's coming to Mpls this weekend! Very excited to see her, Friday night, except it will cut my date with Brian short. And we were all going ot have a CInco de Mayo festival excursion, but everybody is having these BBQs on Friday and Saturday, so nevermind,

Other things keeping Claudia busy....
Her agent finally called her for some auditions.
Rehearsing for the BB show which will take her to St. Louis for three days next week, woohoo, i mean who else gets to play Red Rover at work.
heh, she went to Smitten Kitten and bought an early bday present.
Andrew has actually been online when it shows he is, heh.
She has been writing again!
She and Nora have been MOA shopping, trying on dresses, and Nora broke Claudi'a Hooters cherry when she made her eat there the other night. (could she have found the perferct job for her in LA, hmm).
SInging Karaoke last night with Andre (Selena's Como La Flor by request.)
Cooking.
Any ideas for what I should do for the bday?

P/S
Crazy things have been happenning in the Vazquez flat.
Like the morning I woke up to someone at the front door breathing into my phone but not answering...This was of course at 730 am, or how about the other night when i hear a big smash of glass breaking and figuring a window broke or something, so I go tup to check, but no windows were broken or open. INstead the glass shade for my little ikea lamp had ended up smashed in the middle of my living room floor with the bar that holds it up placed neatly on the table. weird because I have dropped that shade before and its so ikea durable, it breaks if you smash it hard against the floor. What in the world is goin gon? things come in 3's. I am waiting for the third.