No Sleep for Chris = No Sleep for Allison

So okay, last night I went to bed at 12:30 because I was tired. Only...I couldn't sleep! I was aware that Chris was still up feverishly trying to get his home work done, and so I couldn't seem to relax enough to get to sleep. At 1am, I was still awake when I got a text message from him. Finally, some where around 1:30am I finally fell asleep, only to have DREAMS in which I'm all stressing out because Chris isn't getting any sleep! In the course of the next 5 hours, I woke up 5 times, until Chris sent me a text messsage at 6:30am saying that he was just now getting to bed! By this point, I was so angry at his teacher for assigning him a ridiculous amount of home work that I was too pissed to sleep. Soooo...I got up at 6:30am!
Is that normal? If I know that my boyfriend can't sleep, I can't either? Hmmmm....lol...I don't have time to contemplate this right now, I'm off to work!

I'm Hungry...and Not for Food!

Lately, I've been so dang hungry! Only this time, it's not for food. I feel hungry to learn new things, it's like I have this gigantic urge to go out and learn how to do things I've never done before. I think part of the reason may be that I graduated from college a year and a half ago. And…when you take classes your entire life and then suddenly just stop…it's kind of a shock to the system! Although…I can't say that I have the urge to take classes like economics, accounting, and Middle Eastern history again. I'm talking more along the lines of the fun stuff! I mean, I'm no longer required to take certain classes, so now I can take whatever I want! Things like learning how to make pottery or learning how to cook. I tried a Kung Fu class the other day, and I think I might just have to stick with it! I really enjoyed it, (and being inspired to whoop some serious butt like Uma Thurman's character in Kill Bill has noooothing to do with it = P) I'd also like to learn how to play the guitar, play checkers, (so I can beat Chris one time! Heehee), remember how to make wax candles and Christmas ornaments, (because I used to actually be good at it,) learn more about photography – and oh! Learn how to make delicious home made bread! That's a very important skill to have indeed. AND really good home made cinnamon rolls. Yummm! Speaking of bread and being hungry to learn new things, I really AM getting hungry! Only this time…it IS for food! I'm off!

A Little Bit of Self Love

Ok, finally, after years and years of being insecure about the way I look, I have decided to make a very conscious effort to NOT feel insecure about my appearance. I'll admit that I never thought of myself as "pretty" while growing up. In fact, looking back through old photos, I went through sooo many awful phases when it came to things like fashion and hair styles. But even though I need improvement, I have improved some what over the years when it comes to being comfortable with my appearance. For instance, I used to be so self-conscious about my big forehead. I would do everything I could to make it look smaller, from cutting my bangs to cover it up to using make-up to make it appear smaller. I even knew how to pose in pictures a certain way to make it look smaller. THAT’S how bad it was. I'm proud to say that I got over my forehead's size years ago. Sure, I still poke fun at it occasionally, but I could care less how big it is- and I no longer stare at it in pictures noticing its gargantuan size. To me, it's no longer an issue. But apparently, I still have many more issues to deal with. I've been made aware of these issues a lot during the past couple of months by Chris, who constantly points out how self-conscious I am and how I have no reason to be. Soooo, in order to help myself over come my self-criticism, I'm going to make a list of things I like about myself. Yes, I'm even going to compliment myself. Not to sound or be conceited, but simply to force myself to see past my insecurities. Alright…

First, I have a nice pair of pretty blue eyes. Some times when I see them in pictures, I'm amazed at how blue they really are! My eyes are just like my dad's, and I like that.

Second, I have really thick hair. Some times this can seem like a curse- but it's actually a good thing! It allows me to style it many different ways, and I never have to worry about my hair going "flat."

Okay…I'm doing well so far. But that was the easy part. Now onto the hardest part of all. My…ehem…body. Gulp. Here goes…

I'm really quite happy with my boob size. I've realized that bigger is not always better…a 36 B fits my body well. They're not too small, and not too big. They're big enough to allow some cleavage if I want, yet small enough that they don't get in my way when doing physical activities like running. Plus, they don't "sag." Hehehe =P

My butt. I've never been a fan of it. For some reason…I just can't take it seriously. I mean, who CAN take a butt seriously? Butts are just plain funny when you think about it. And my butt has a little extra "junk in the trunk," IF you know what I mean, lol. However, I have received so many compliments on my butt (at least ½ to ¾ of those compliments from black guys,) that it can't look that bad. In fact, I've been told I have a "J-Lo butt," and everyone knows J-Lo for her great ass. So, I'm trying to consider myself blessed. Plus, my butt provides excellent padding for when I sit, even if it does make finding a pair of jeans that fit extremely hard to find.

My abs are alright. I've been working-out consistently since I was twelve, so I should really be proud of them. Now, by no means do I have a "six-pack," but…you can see some definition dag gummit! And I've worked hard for that definition. = P
Now, I really do pride myself on my shoulders. I think I have nice shoulders. Enough said.

My legs aren't bad either. The other week, a guy came up to me and was like, "Damn! You've got some hefty legs! Daaaamn!...You got a boyfriend?" LOL. To which I responded, "Yes." =) My FEET on the other hand, are another story. As much as I would like to, I just can't bring myself to compliment my feet. They're rather big, and terribly worn from running and working. Last night, both of my big toes started peeling, ouch!!! Eww. Me no like my feet.

I think that's enough self love for today. I think maybe a small improvement has been made in my self-hating ways, heehee. Chris makes me do what I call "therapy" sessions, in which I'm forced to look at myself in the mirror, usually at least half naked. Eww. Well see, now I gave myself a therapy session. After all, the first step to recovery is recognizing you have a problem! =)

Living in Los Angeles

Lately, I've been complaining about how I don't like living in Los Angeles. To some, this might come across as ungrateful, since I do happen to live in a very nice apartment. But having some where nice to stay simply doesn't change the fact that I'm unhappy living where I am, despite all the wonderful conveniences that my current location has to offer, including:
1. My apartment is across the street from the post office, making picking up and mailing packages very easy.
2. My apartment is within walking distance of my bank, so whenever I need to make a deposit or withdrawal some money, it's quite simple.
3. I'm within walking distance of one of my two jobs (Starbucks,) and can walk to work in the morning, which allows me to avoid the awful parking situation all together.
4. A park is also located across the street for whenever I feel the need to go on a walk/run, or to just get a little bit of fresh, smoggy air.
5. My apartment is right next door to "The Grove," a very nice outdoor shopping center that includes stores and restaurants like a nice movie theatre, Barnes'N'Noble, Apple Computer, Nordstrom's, Pottery Barn, tons of various clothing and accessory stores, The Cheesecake Factory, and Starbucks. The Grove is also connected to an outdoor Farmer's Market, which includes more shops, more restaurants, and lots more food to buy.
6. I can also walk to the stores Ross and K-Mart, and if I get the craving for a nice, big coke slushy, all I have to do is walk a few blocks down to the 7-11.
7. I'm smack dab in the middle of everything entertainment, (the Hollywood sign is even visible from my apartment,) so when I go on auditions, most of them are only 10-20 minutes away.

That's a lot of conveniences, isn't it? I'm extremely lucky to live so close to so many places, and I love being able to walk to most of them. So…why am I complaining? What could I possibly not like about living here?
1. Parking. Almost anywhere you try to drive to around here, parking is almost impossible to find. And when you do manage to find parking on the side of the street some where, it's most likely a.) paid parking, b.) 1-hour parking, c.) permit only parking, or d.) no parking whatsoever due to street cleaning.
2. It's crowded. Really, really crowded. Now, I know southern California in general is very highly populated, but I'm right in the middle of one of the most busy, crowded parts of LA. When you go outside, all you can see are buildings upon buildings upon buildings.
3. The people. I've noticed that, not only are the people of course different from the ones in Missouri, but they're also quite different from the people just 45 minutes away in Orange County! They always seem to be in a hurry, they're much ruder, and many are totally stuck on themselves. "Woo hoo! Look at me with my expensive Coach purse, shiny Mercedes, and little Maltese puppy!"
4. You can't trust anyone. Especially here in Los Angeles/Hollywood. Almost everyone it seems, is simply out to take advantage of you in order to get your money, or to use you as a stepping stone to further themselves or their career in some way.
5. The SMOG. Where I am is so bloody polluted, that the air has a nice, thick layer of smog hovering over it. Some times when you go outside, you can take in a nice breath of smog ridden, stenchy air. In 10 years, I'll probably be dead from breathing in all the crap that's floating in the air here.

And there you have it, the pros and cons of my current living location. (Notice how I didn't say living situation, because I simply love my apartment and my roommates.) I guess after everything is said and done, I'll always be a Midwest girl at heart. No matter how long I end up staying here, I'll always prefer the more laid back, residential areas. Some where that has open land, trees, and grass in site. Some where where the sky is a deep blue, and you can actually see stars at night. Some where that isn't so crowded, that it takes half an hour just to find parking. Some where where the people aren't always in a hurry and are so concerned with themselves and having the most expensive possessions. Where you don't feel like everyone is out to get you just so that they can make an extra buck!

DMV = A Series of Unfortunate Events

Picture this: A burning pit of fire with flames spiraling towards the sky as hundreds of poor, tortured souls scream in tourment, trapped there for all eternity. Now, what does this picture sound like? Really, you think so too? You're right! It has to be a description of none other place other than that of the DMV! If you were thinking hell, then you were wrong.

Recently, I have come to the conclusion that not only is the DMV hell, but it is always what causes a downward string of bad events. You can be sure that if you have an appointment at the DMV coming up, you should RUN for your life! Why? Because a series of unfortunate events are soon to follow. You're probably thinking, "What on earth could possibly happen to make me flee from the DMV?" To give you an idea, here's an example of what could happen...

Let's say you move to another state and need to get your vehicle registered and licensed for that particular state. As the end of the month approaches, you realize that the tags on your current plates are about to expire, so it's time to schedule an appointment at the DMV. You show up at your appointment on time, only to find that you don't have all the required documents needed. You then return home and spend the next couple of days collecting those much needed documents, making sure you have absolutely everything you could possibly need. However, after doing so, you realize that the DMV requires that your vehicle have what's called a "smog check" before you can get your vehicle registered. A bit annoyed, you take your vehicle to the nearest auto repair/smog station to have it checked, only to find that the "check" costs $55, not $15. In addition, you are also informed by the mechanic that your check engine light doesn't work. The price to fix it? Oh, just $85. Reluctantly, you tell the mechanic to go ahead and fix the light because you need the light to work in order to pass the smog check. After waiting for two hours, you return to the station expecting to pick up your newly smog checked vehicle, only to be told by the mechanic that "your car is missing a part that is required for the smog check." The solution? You pay $200 for them to order the needed part. Over the next few days while you wait for the part to arrive, you begin to grow anxious about the approaching expiration date of your tags. Finally, you get the call that your part has arrived. You return to the auto repair station to have the part installed, and after waiting for an hour, you are told that it's the wrong part. The mechanic then mentions that the part you need for your car is "impossible" to find, and that your best bet would be to "find it used in a junk yard some where." You simply stand there silently, thinking "what the HELL?" Afterwards, you spend another two hours driving all the way across town in traffic to return the part. Yes that's right, YOU have to return the part. FINALLY, after you return home, you notice that some one was nice enough to clip your vehicle while in the parking lot, leaving scratches and white car paint all over the side of your nice, shiny silver car. Sounding like hell yet? Unfortunetly, hell is just getting warmed up. Later that night, you decide to attend a free kickboxing class in order to relieve some of the stress caused by your car situation. The class goes great as you kick, punch, and sweat your frustrations out. Now feeling much better, you return to your car and find an $80 parking ticket on your windshield. Getting pretty bad, isn't it? Let's just say that you spend the next several days calling car dealers to look for the car part that is "impossible to find," waisting more money, more time, and OH did I mention more money?? And all the while, your tags are about to expire and you can't get your vehicle registered with new ones because you can't get the smog check. Why? Because you can't get the part (that costs hundreds of $'s) that you NEED for the smog check. Why? Because it's supposedly impossible to find!

And THAT my friends, could happen to you. How do I know this? Because it happened to ME! That's right, ME! And it ALL started with a bloody appointment at the DMV. Hence the title of this blog, the "DMV = A Series of Unfortunate Events."

I'm a Newbie!

Hey all!
Since I'm new to this site, (and also to the business of blogging,) I decided I should write my first "official blog" to introduce myself.

My name is Allison and I joined this site because I really enjoy writing, (I just never do it anymore,) and thought that this site would give me the perfect opportunity to share my thoughts, ideas, opinions, and any other random tid bits that I feel like sharing. I also thought this site seemed like a good idea because it appeared to be one of the better "blogging/journal" sites that's absolutely free!

Currently, I live in Los Angeles where I reside in a cute apartement with three cute roommates. I moved to California almost a year ago to further my acting career in film, and have since completed a few short films, one of which will hopefully be going to the Sundance Film Festival this spring.

I spend much of my time trying to make ends meet by making lattes and cappichinos for people at Starbucks and serving yummy food at The Elephant Bar. I also keep busy by going on and submitting for auditions daily, working-out, and spending time working on one of my various hobbies, such as scrapbooking.

I would describe myself as self-motivated, laid back, dorky, friendly, and well-rounded. Self-motivated because I work hard at whatever I do, motivating myself to do the best that I can (I'm some what of a perfectionist, lol.) I'm laid back in the way that I'm pretty darn easy to please, and I won't throw a fit unless I'm really pushed to it, (usually.) I'm dorky because I love Donald Duck cartoons, I snort when I laugh, I love to make random noises, and love to just act plain silly. Some times acting silly can make hard times go by so much easier! Me being described as "friendly" is pretty self explanitory- I'm friendly! (Unless you treat me like complete and utter crap...) And lastly, I call myself well-rounded because I love doing so many different things. I love being indoors and watching movies, but I love being outdoors as well. I love to play the piano, to draw, to read, to learn, and to do about a million other things.

I also love spending time with my friends, my family, and my boyfriend Chris (who is just about the greatest boyfriend a girl could ask for,) - oh! And I love cats. That's me. In a nutshell.