Virtual Hyperbole

Ego is a funny thing, isn't it? It comes on unbidden, to the best and worst of us. It has many flavors. Sometimes it's called self-esteem , and it reminds us that we actually are pretty great. Go a little further down that road and you run into self-importance , which makes others want to punch you. Keep going until dawn and you enter megalomania ... a hateful land where nobody will come visit. Backtrack and head the other direction and pretty soon you'll find pride , which is a nice place to visit but you wouldn't want to live there. And make sure you don't take a wrong turn into self-righeousness ! Winding through the entire land is the river of insecurity . I loved mixed metaphors. Oh shit, I forgot I had a point. Don't go yet! I have a very small part in this play. So small that even though I play 3 parts, it's still small. I'm just about 37 years old (years young , rather - YEAH!). I've been around this town for almost 15 years, an...

The facts, in cold hard numbers. Numbers do not lie, my friends. 11 = days I've belonged to a mainstream membership gym. 8 = days I've worked out at the gym since joining. 3 = days I didn't feel like working out, but did anyway. 1 = days I didn't feel like working out, and went home instead. Not freakin' bad, if I do say so myself. Oh, and I do -- as often as possible. I miss Cody terribly, of course. It's a lot easier when there's someone there pushing you and expecting things from you. But I'm proud thus far that I've stuck with it all on my own.

The facts, in cold hard numbers. Numbers do not lie, my friends. 11 = days I've belonged to a mainstream membership gym. 8 = days I've worked out at the gym since joining. 3 = days I didn't feel like working out, but did anyway. 1 = days I really didn't feel like working out, and went home instead. Not freakin' bad, if I do say so myself. Oh, and I do -- as often as possible. I miss working out with Cody terribly, of course. It's a lot easier when there's someone there pushing me and expecting things from me. He's there in spirit, though. Some days what gets me into the gym is the fact that I don't want to have to tell him that I slacked off. Also, what would all that money and hard work have been for if I'm just going to dump it? I make deals with myself: "I don't want to go work out." "I know, but you'll feel better." "Not today, I won't. I really think I should take the day off." "Alrig...

FACT: There are more female actors than male. FACT: There aren't as many parts written for women as men. FACT: The pecentage of "quality" roles narrows down the field even farther in comparison. Every actress in every city in every format in every genre knows this line up & down. Most of the time, we (actresses) know each other through auditions - and, of course, almost always reading for the same roles. Can you imagine the company meeting the first day? There was about 100 people in the room, introducing themselves and what they do. "Peggy Gannon, actress." 16 of us out of 100, "So-and-so, actress." Not an "actor" to be found. I cannot tell you how thrilling it was ... you don't know you've been missing it until you get it. And in spades, baby! Sixteen beautiful, talented women, most of whom I've watched and admired for countless years. I've been very lucky in this regard - I've been in several all-female shows in th...

Cody and I are taking a break. I know, right? Don't cry. Actually, I just started rehearsals for a professional theatre show in addition to holding down my day job (with the blessings and help of an incredibly accommodating job-share partner). The fact is, no matter how much I adore working out with Cody, I simply do not have one day free until mid-October. In a lot of ways, the timing of this has worked out brilliantly. I was starting to feel like I needed to stumble out of the nest to see if I'd fly on my own. Not whether I can fly, mind you, I know I can. But would I? Or would I rather just choose to land on my couch with a bucket of cheese ? Well, now I guess I get to find out. Sink or swim, baby! Sink or swim. * *I can preliminarily report that I'm actually more like treading water right now than sinking or swimming. Not bad, but I gotta step up my groove. I got big plans. More soon.

I started rehearsals Tuesday for my first professional show in ages. Saying this, naturally, makes me want to tangentially debate myself regarding the use of the word "professional" when applied to the theater, but I will leave that for the bar -- presumably after a few drinks. For simplicity's sake, I mean a decent wage-earning acting contract at a large Equity theater. Obviously, I've given up giving up acting . Well, who can blame me ... how else am I going to get rich and famous? Anyway, it's The Women , at ACT Theatre . It's a huge play, and it's going to be all kinds of Gorgeous. It's also going to be a technical mule. But other people who are really good at what they do get paid to worry about that, so I just get to enjoy the acting process. Or not enjoy it, as may be on some days. I adore first rehearsals -- the same way I adored the first day of school. There's often food, and a company meet'n'greet , and paperwork to wrap up, and ...

1. Now that we're not kids anymore, is there an adult alternative to the terms "boyfriend" and "girlfriend"? Partner = too clinical. Significant other = blech. Lover = ew. Sweetheart = it's what I currently use, but it's cutesy. 2. What's with drooling in my sleep on a regular basis? It's new, and I don't approve. 3. Am I the only women left who bikini waxes but doesn't want the "landing strip" look? Just clean up the natural "V" please.