Still sleeping on the air-mattress

I hadn't realized a whole week had gone by since my last entry. I
suppose its because whenever I get any free time with the Sidekick I
spend it searching Craigslist for apartments.

My current roomies are moving to a highrise in a "safer" part of town.
Safer=expensive. This neighboorhood is already pretty "safe" as it is.
Everyone else I know who is living in Chicago past August is already set
on where they'll be so I'm starting to worry. I wouldn't mind living at
the hostel. I've stayed there so many times now it has a sentimental
quality to it. But it would be nice to have a semi-permanent address to
put on my tax forms when I get hired.

Speaking of getting hired, I got a part time job at Curves. My first
day was today. Its not enough to pay the rent, but it will keep me from
getting deeper in the hole. Starbucks stopped returning my calls. I
totally thought my interview went well, but whatever. I was only using
them for their health insurance anyhow.

I'm really sorry to say this, but I'm getting sick of The Cubs. They've
played home games every day this week, and its really exhausting trying
to go ...anywhere or do ...anything when theres a home game. I even get
caught in traffic on my bike. The only way to beat them is to join them
but the tickets are so expensive. The cheapest I've found were $20 even
halfway into the game.

I was talking to a guy at IO last night who used to work on a cruise
ship. Maybe I should just go ahead and do that. Room and board paid
for, nothing to do but work my ass off and save up some money. I'm so
tired of oweing people money.

Dear Weggie:

"weggiemalsh: update your blog bitch!"

Ok.

Another Weekend

I've had 3 job interviews in the past 2 days. Man getting a job in
Chicago is tough. I've had a lot of different jobs in my life and I
don't think I've ever been interrogated like this in my life. Everyones
got a list of preset questions to ask me. And these are all
"preliminary" interviews. Back home I think I got offered every job I
ever interviewed for. I started taking for granted the fact that if I
could just get in the door I would be employed within a week. But
things are different in Chitown.

I took some fun pics of my improv team at a free jazz show we went to in
Millenium Park last night. I wish I could just email them to the blog
from the Sidekick, but I still haven't found a way to do that yet. So
you will have to wait till I can get to SCREENZ.

One of the students from another improv group at IO organized a
vollyball tournament today. I was sad that one of my interviews
conflicted but now that I'm done I think I should be able to catch the
end.

I suck at volleyball anyway. But there's nothing better than chillin in
the sun with improv peeps.

For the Actors Back Home

Actually you don't have to be an actor...

Central Casting Open Call 3 Feature Movies 7/19

Central Casting will be holding an open call July 19 from 4pm- 9pm at
the Crystal City Sports Pub at 529 S. 23rd Street, Arlington, VA 22202.
We will be looking for people to fill many background roles, stand-ins
and photo doubles for a few different productions. In July and August,
we will be casting for "Flags of Our Fathers" (Clint Eastwood/ Steven
Spielberg), "The Sentinel" (Michael Douglas/ Kim Basinger/ Keifer
Sutherland) and "Failure to Launch" (Matthew McConaughey/ Sarah Jessica
Parker).

Anyone who attends the open call, should come with a photo of
themselves. It does not need to be a professional headshot. A regular
snapshot will do. Also, anyone interested in being an extra in "Flags
of Our Fathers" needs to be available August 8 as well as one day from
July 27-30 for about an hour for a wardrobe fitting.
This scene takes place in 1954 and everyone needs to have a look that
can translate to 1954 Washington. Therefore… no heavily colored or
highlighted hair and no obvious tattoos or piercings. We will be
looking for many types of people. Specifically, we will need a lot of
Military types.

We hope to see everyone there next Tuesday!

Mandy Sprinkel
Casting Director
Central Casting
623 Pennsylvania Ave., SE
Washington, DC 20003
202.547.6300
mandy@centralcastingusa.com

I've had a little touch of homesickness this weekend. The guys at Urban Theater Co. have done their best to distract me from it and are quickly becoming my window into a new theatre family in Chicago but I can't help it. I get this nervousness in the pit of my stomach... wondering if I'm in the right place. I get those panic attack - am I dying - am I forgetting something - is something wrong - awful feelings. I would get them at home but only at night when it was too quiet in my house. Now I get that feeling anytime I stop to breathe.


nevermind... mel's got a serious craving for some ColdStone... since Food equals Love I'm sure I will be right as rain in no time.

Rumbling busses

Sometimes when I'm on the bus and it meets at a cross street at the same
time as another bus I get all excited because I feel like the busses are
going to fight. I really want MY bus to win. So I hold on to my seat
and say go bus go! But then the light changes and the busses obey the
traffic signals and nobody gets hurt. I wish my bus wasn't such a
pansy. Why don't you pull out a shiv and rumble? Why are you such a
poser, Bus?

I miss my friend Wendy Buss.

Terror of Polish Food

I think if terrorists wanted to hit Chicago they would do it during a
Cubs game. That would be the worst. I made the mistake of trying to
leave my apartment as the game was letting out. Bad idea. And the Cubs
lost so people were grumpy as well.

You know when you're typing Cubs and you hit the A that's right next to
the S, it spells Cuba. So I almost told you a story about the Cuba
game.

Working... Sort of

So right now I'm backstage at Urban Theatre Company's production of
"Short Eyes."

Why am I backstage? Because I'm in the show sillies. I play a man
dressed up as a woman. Its always been a dream of mine to be a drag
queen and now I get to do it and meet cool Chicago theatre people at the
same time. Everyone is really great. My part only lasts like 20
seconds but afterwards the cast comes by and says what a good job I
did. Maybe since I was a last minute addition they are just grateful to
have someone in the part at all.

Still no day job yet. I never thought it would be harder to find a day
job than an acting job.

Improv classes are going well. Mel, Zach, and I all ended up in the
same class! Everyone in the class is great. We're like a big
dysfunctional family.

Miami or Illinois?

I'm confused. I thought I was in Chicago, but today as I'm riding my
bike along Lake Michigan I feel like I'm back in Miami or Venice Beach.
There are SO many people here, I have had several near accidents on the
bike dodging other cyclists and pedestrians. There was this bicycle gang
wearing matching shirts that said "Chicago Cruisers" and blasting latino
rap from a huge speaker with "Me Encanto Puerto Rico!" stickers all over
it strapped to an adult tricycle. I joined in with them by default for
a couple miles. This path is really cool. It goes along the water like
the GW Parkway path at home, except this is so close to the city that it
can be easily used by commuters. Its almost like a highway just for
bikes.

I rode almost all the way to The Loop (downtown) but I just had to stop
in the breezy shade and admire the sailboats as far as the eye can see,
and marvel at the beach decorated in crowded umbrellas like a Seurrat
painting in the shadow of some of the tallest buildings in the world.
This is pretty damn cool.

P.s. If you're wondering how I got a bike, Zach got into town last
night. Finally the trio is complete, even though we all went our
separate ways today. Tomorrow class starts and we are all pretty damn
psyched.

Wouldn't

I wouldn't be scared if you hadn't told me to be.

Its too damn early.

The Terror Won't Find Me Under the Snow.

So in case you haven't been paying attention I'm still in Chicago...
Anyways... This morning getting on the L I got interviewed by local news
lady. She asked if I had any reservations about getting on the L "in
light" of recent events. I hate how the words "in light" are always
used in reference to terrorist attacks. Ugh.

I said I hadn't even thought about it until you just mentioned it. "So
you're not afraid?" Well we all have to get to work. I have to get to
where I'm going - unless you're offering me a ride to the airport?
"Um..no, so you're not bothered by the additional security?" Well I'm
from D.C. so I feel pretty safe in Chicago.

If I can ride the Metro every day in the most hated city in the world,
then I'm sure I can ride the L a day after an attack across the ocean.
I mean Chicago's only crime against the world would be feeding people
too well. Besides Al Queda always attacks at 9am-ish and I have to be
at the airport by 7:30.

She really wanted me to be scared. Evil representative of the media -
you guys are the real terrorists. Now I'm over-thinking it and feeling
claustrophobic in the tunnels under the tallest building in the world.
I would be scared if you hadn't told me to be.

Mmm... I smell popcorn

I'm at the SCREENZ internet cafe today and I managed to upload some pics from my camera. They aren't that exciting but you can have a glimpse of my awesome apartment.

First Couple days in Chicago

Taste of Chicago

Today Mel and I wandered aimlessly around the city and ended up at a
Moby concert eating chocolate covered frozen bananas.

"There's money in the banana stand."

Things about Chi

1. My roomies like it COLD. My blanket is not arriving until Zach
drives up next week.

2. The cost of living is much lower than in LA.

3. The food is awesome.

4. So far nobody in my circle of aquaintences owns a car.

5. Apparently I live in "boystown" there are lots of boys with tight
shirts any tiny dogs.

6. I seem to have a lot less clothes at my disposal than I thought I
would.

7. Zach has all my warm clothes and my laundry basket and other stuff I
need, Mel and I keep cursing him under our breath whenever we realise he
has something we want. Get here soon, man! There's room on the couch!

8. Melissa and I are sharing a huge bedroom with hardwood floors and a
window that faces a stone wall.

9. The El ride to get to our apt takes longer than the flight.

10. My roomies are awesome, from VA, are obsessed with movies and have
HBO. So much for being active and never at home!

So Mel and I might be going to a free Moby concert downtown today, but
we'll just see where the wind takes us.

I have arrived!

I'm in chicago... The bathrooms in O'Hare are great but I'll write about
them later
- Megan

So it's reallllllllly happening. I leave for Chicago in less than 12 hours! I feel completely unprepared... but since I'm going to study improvisation, I think I can make it work. So everyone say a prayer to the Patron Saint of Employment that I find something lucrative very quickly so I can make this move stick for a change!

Hey L.A. folk... I'm going to be an ENTIRE time zone closer!!!

Holy Hormones Batman!

So I made an interesting discovery today. One that I won't really talk about with men in the room, but I would just like to sheepishly apologise for any havoc I may have wreaked in the past few days.

Next time I have insomnia I might just go through my archives and see if my "freak-out" blogs happen every 28 days or so... hmmm... I should set a timer... Put a warning label on the page that says, "DON'T listen to a SINGLE thing this crazy woman says between the 27th and the 30th."

Well I'm going to go find some ibuprofin and make a cup of tea... you all just have a good little chuckle to yourselves and I'll see you later.

And now a word from the Department of Imperialist Propaganda no wait I mean Homeland Security.

Support Our Troops!

Ok, I know this is rediculously sacreligous...but it was SO funny. Maybe its deliciuosly sacrelicious... http://bigguyinthesky.blogspot.com/

Shama-lama-casting!!

If you don't match the description of any of the principle characters
then I highly recommend just mailing your stuff in to the Philly
address. It'll probably get to the right place faster than some intern
dropping it in a box at an open call. SHAMA-LAMA-LAAAAAAAN!

- Megan

LADY IN THE WATER
Writer/Director: M. Night Shyamalan (SIXTH SENSE, SIGNS, THE VILLAGE)
Producers: M. Night Shyamalan, Sam Mercer
Associate Producer: Jose Rodriguez
Casting Director: Douglas Aibel
Location Casting Director: Deedee Ricketts (o) 267.238.3706 (f)
267.238.3715
SAG Feature Film/Big Wheel Productions LLC
Shoots: August 2005/Philadelphia

Mail in (only-no drop off) submissions for local casting to:
REBELLION CASTING
1735 Market Street, Suite A-532
Philadelphia, PA 19103 – 7502
REBELLIONCASTING@yahoo.com
*There is an open casting call THURSDAY 6/30 2PM-3PM Sag members,
General call 3PM - 7PM @ Wyndham Washington D.C., 1400 M Street, NW,
Washington, DC, 20005
Readings will be scheduled at a later date.

*****OPEN CASTING CALL*****

Now CASTING principal roles & extras for the new M. Night Shyamalan
feature film; "Lady in the Water" - set around an eclectic group of
tenants who all live in an apartment building in Philadelphia.
SEARCHING for ALL ethnicities with acting experience & an urban
character look for background. SEARCHING for PRINCIPAL roles:

African American boy 10yr – 12yr,

Caucasian boy & girl 8yr,

Korean woman 55yr+,

Spanish speaking Latino man 55yr+

Spanish speaking Latina women in their 20's
Thursday 6/30 from 3PM – 7PM SAG members only from 2PM – 3PM
(please bring current SAG card)

LOCATION: WYNDHAM WASHIINGTON D.C.
1400 M Street, NW
WASHINGTON, D.C. 20005

Come dressed casual, plain and simple & we will take your picture –

If you are unable to attend an Open Call, you can mail a photo -
include name, phone numbers, age and availability:

REBELLION CASTING
1735 Market Street, Suite A-532
Philadelphia, PA 19103 – 7502
CASTING HOTLINE 215.552.8880

********************************************************************

#11 I finally opened the pics my friend Heather took backstage at Second City LA before the show. I look GOOD! I added a couple of them to my LA Album.

This is the LA Meegs:
http://www.kodakgallery.com/I.jsp?c=6edps95.ba7yaep9&x=0&y=-6kdshj