I still don’t have a steady job because no one is really hiring out here, but I haven’t stopped trying. I call Cheesecake Factory every Friday (they know me by name) and I auditioned for the singing-waiter restaurant out here. I was asked to come back for their May 2^nd mass audition because they had no open spaces available yet. However, I have a feeling I may have a bit of leg up on the competition because #1) I’ve now auditioned there once before & they liked me #2) my friend Grace recommended me (she used to work there) #3) I now know the pianist Jeff. Jeff asked for my number at the audition (work-related). I met up with him and he said he really liked my voice and would like to pay me to record some of the songs he has written. Nothing big, but a paying gig. I said I would, but he hasn’t called me back about that yet. He also recommended me for an audition, which I went to. It was some production of 'Oklahoma' somewhere. It was a non-union gig (& I am union), but Jeff said it was more that, he wanted the director to hear my voice because he casts lots of stuff. The audition went well and so did my meeting with Jeff. It was so nice because he felt like a reincarnation of my Bruce (my former acting/singing mentor). He was so confident about and impressed with my voice, I was almost looking around the room to see whom else he may be referring to. So, that’s that.

Virgo hasn’t called me since the Verizon offer, which fell through, so I signed up for two more Extras agencies (for the $$). I signed with, whom I shall call, “Extras” & “Central.” The two companies work as a team. Central was $25/yr, but Extras is an actually booking agency & they are $75/month (if you get 2 or more gigs). It’s $10/month if you get no gigs, $40 for 1 gig, and $75 if you book two or more. However, my friend said he booked 20 days last month with them for (at least) $64 a pop & that sounds great to a broke New Yorker. It’s not forever. It’s just till things are more financially stable. I’ve even booked my first gig with them tomorrow. I’m playing a paramedic on some show called “Hawthorn.” It’s a 6pm call! That’s a late call. I’ll let you know how it goes.

Today I got a call for a “restaurant” I applied to last month on Craigslist. It turned out to be a filthy, skanky Hookah bar named... El Diablo’s Hookah Bar (“THE DEVIL’S HOOKAH BAR”)!!! LOL, I was like, “I don’t think I should work there.” I went in to find, what looked like, someone’s filthy basement, filled with naked woman paintings (not classy ones) on the walls, filthy couches filled with leering men & various, crusty Hookah paraphernalia for sale behind the counter. The vibe was very “stripper”-esque. I went up to the ghetto counter and said, “Hi, my name is Erin. I’m here for the waitress job, but… I didn’t realize just HOW smokey it would be. I don’t think I’d be able to work in this environment. Thank you SO much through.” Then, I bolted! LOL. No “Devil” employment for me, thanks.

In other random news, I passed my California license test today and should have it in the mail within 3 weeks. I’ve been on 2 auditions since moving here, neither of which I booked, but I was pretty rusty. Ashley, my Chihuahua, had his 2^nd birthday on March 30^th & we had a big party with a dog cake and everything. My brother, who was in town, was even there! I’ve also been practicing my L.A. driving and can now actually drive to the grocery store & back without crying. LOL.

Yes, I’d have to say, I still like it here.

There were many scenes, but the most memorable and fun that I have to tell you about was the Glitter Party. We were in a dark circular room (built on a soundstage) and there was a small black pedestal in the middle. There were 125 of us surrounding this pedestal and a girl in a “diamond” dress on the pedestal. They blasted Beyonce songs and we had to do club dancing while the lights flashed around and then they released pounds and pounds of glitter from the ceiling. It was so awesome. We were dancing to Beyonce in a club setting while glitter poured down on us from the sky. After the first shot a guy in front of me turned around and said, “You have just witnessed the best moment of my life.” LOL. We did take after take of the Glitter Party for about two hours, but it was a lot of fun.

Of course there are other things that aren’t as fun: standing in heals for 12 hours, being chilly in holding (an open, cold, unoccupied soundstage used to hold extras), being treated like an extra (no respect), repeating the same action (fake laugh) over and over again for three hours, eating crappy sandwich lunches (a bun and a piece of meat with a soggy piece of lettuce?). But you know what? I say to myself: I’ve been here two weeks, I’m already on a set making money (pretty good money) and today I may be an extra, but tomorrow I’ll be the lead and I’ll remember and understand how the extras feel. Being an extra is not a career path, but a means to an end. It is a way to make money while I audition for bigger things. I don’t even consider being an extra an “acting job.” I consider it a way to make rent while being in some aspect of "the biz." You never know when someone might approach you with an opportunity to advance.

I got called in for a Verizon Wireless commercial, but I don’t know if I’ll be able to do it because I don’t really have the proper wardrobe. I’m going to try my best. The gig is a 135/12.

Also, I just signed up for another year on Actor’s Access and I submit myself for about 5-10 acting jobs a day. Work is coming. It’s just a matter of time.

I just finished my first California gig. It was a Nascar-related deodorant commercial. Yeah. Granted, I was just an extra, but it was money and it was a gig. I'll teach you a bit of "Extra" lingo that I learned in my two days working for Nascar Deodorant. My gig was a "126/12" - this relates to how much you earned in a day vs. how many hours you worked.

How was my first gig? AWFUL! It was at a racetrack in Pamona, CA and it was FREEZING!! The first day was 49 degrees and it was a "summer" shoot, so we had to spend 12 hours outside in T-shirts & jeans. I've never been so cold in ALL my life!! I seriously shivered so much (and for so long) that every muscle in my body ached by the end. I ran home and took a hot bath. Today was my second day and it was a little better. It rained for the first few hours, so we did nothing, but freeze under some bleachers till noon. Okay, now that I think about it, it was still pretty bad - lol - but the last, like, two hours warmed up and I could momentarily stop shivering. Also, I got smarter today and wore like 5 layers under my T-shirt, as well as, my winter coat from New York.

Today I was offered another two days for a different commercial shoot. My first question was, "Is it outside?" When they said no, I said I'd do it. It's two days at "200/12" and one of my friends is working the gig too!! That'll be fun! It's a commercial for the Sci-Fi channel, so I have no idea what we'll be doing, but the wardrobe is "upscale/sexy." Oo la la.

In other news, I have two auditions this week!! They are for small films, but they are real roles and they are each paid at $100/day. Funnily enough, Will & I got called in for the same film. He for the "boyfriend", me for the "girlfriend." They have NO idea!! LOL! Will was like, "Should we tell them?" I was like, "No!!!" LOL.

We are off to a good start. :)

So, the first week we just spent unpacking and setting up all our utilities. We had a major setback when our electricity blew out due to old, faulty wiring and were without lights for two days. We still don't have lights in our living room. Two weeks later, we are now about 90% unpacked and set up.

Next, there was the issue of finding work. I never thought it would be this hard, but in this poor economy, no one is hiring. I've sent out about seven applications to various places including Barnes & Noble, Cheesecake Factory, Gymboree & even, my arch nemesis, Starbucks. I had two interviews with Gymboree, but it didn't work out because they were very clear about not liking their staff auditioning on the side (aka. interfering with work).

Today, in desperation, I went on Craigslist and applied for some waiting jobs at restaurants that ARE actually hiring (why didn't I think of that earlier?). I also submitted myself for whole bunch of (paying) acting jobs on ActorsAccess. I hope to be able to pay off my SAG & Aftra initiations by Christmas this year!

Now, something cool: a few days ago, I submitted my acting resume to VirgoTalent and was just accepted today for my first acting job in California! It's for a Nascar commercial and I'm sure I'm only an extra, but it's for two days at $126/day, so I'll take it! Wish me luck, here I go!

We got back to NYC from my Dad’s on Wednesday night and stayed up until 3:30am taking apart our furniture and doing the finishing touches on packing. The next day we got the truck and began packing at 10am. I think that was the hardest day we’ve had yet or will have. We spent 8 hours carrying and packing. The truck is packed to the hilt!!

Thursday evening, Friday day & Saturday morning we spent at my Mom’s house. Everyone was there: my Dad, Michael & his girlfriend, Grandma, Caytee & the babies, my Mom. Saturday morning we all went out to breakfast at IHop, then Will & I went to do some food shopping for the trip and we were on our way by 1:30pm.

It took us 10 hours to get to Blacksburg, Virginia (instead of the predicted “9 hours & 12 mins"), but with stops for gas and bathroom breaks, it sounds about right. Tomorrow’s journey should last about 10 ½ hours. One day down and four to go until we are… home. Our new home.

In an interesting side note: my Delocated scene was FINALLY on this Thursday! Figures! If you missed it, fret not, here it is:

http://www.adultswim.com/video/?episodeID=8a2505951fb85149011fb868cf780038

(Note: I am in two separate parts during the 15-min episode. Both are seen on a TV in the episode.)

I am now jobless. After two years of working at Stardust, I had my last day on Saturday the 21^st. It was exactly as I’d hoped it would be. The day went by pretty fast, I made good money, got to spend some nice time with my friends, got to sing all my favorite songs one last time, and got to do my last number ever with one of my best friends. It was great. After the shift, I said goodbye to everyone and went home to get ready for my Goodbye Party at 9pm. There was a good turn out. Throughout the night, probably 20 people came and left. We had a lot of fun. Everyone offered to buy me a drink, but since I don’t drink alcohol, I just nursed a coke the whole night long, lol. Happily, one of my friends, Dono, brought his camera and took tons of pictures so I didn’t have to worry about that. It really meant a lot to me to see how many people came to see me one last time.

Yesterday we set out on Day One of our Pre-Journey. We drove four hours to Boston to see Will’s family and tonight at 8pm we are leaving for Little Falls, NY to say goodbye to my Dad. We will be there until Wednesday night.

In other news, my resume is now officially posted on IMDB.com. I have one accepted credit listed and one pending. I am so excited and proud! I’ve been hoping for a place on IMDB.com for years. Now you can see me at:

http://www.imdb.com/name/nm3307444/