Day 11

It’s time for an adventure!

I know in a former life – like five months ago – I would have taken the events of the last 24 hours to mean I had bad luck, was a cursed person, would never have good things happen to them.

I know better now.

I’ve been trying to get to Toronto for a full day now. The flight from LaGuardia Airport was delayed twice. When we finally left, we were so far behind schedule that I was certain we would miss my connecting flight from Pittsburgh to Toronto. So we landed, and I sprinted down the ramp to the gate only to find that flight had been delayed, and wasn’t leaving for another half hour. Then hour. Then two hours. When that plane was postponed again – from the original 7:30 to 10:40 p.m., I got worried. Around 10:15, the flight was canceled.

At this remote corner of the Pittsburgh airport, the stores were closed by then, most of the gates empty, and one lone US Airways employee trying valiantly to handle a plane full of disgruntled folks who wanted to get somewhere. A handful of them pooled their money, rented a van and drove to Buffalo, figuring they could get a bus or car service or something from there the rest of the way. Not a bad idea: the greyhound from Buffalo to Toronto is 15 bucks.

I talked to my boss though, and she wisely figured I’d be useless to her if I showed up at 8:30 a.m. like I was supposed to but with no sleep and an all night road trip under my belt. The airline rebooked me on a flight to Philly that left at 4:45 p.m. the next day, and eventually through to Toronto around 10:30 p.m. Oy! That’s an entire day late, and an entire day of missed work! So instead I chose an 8 a.m. flight to buffalo, and figured I’d grab a greyhound, which would at least get me there by noon, right? The hotel put me up at a holiday inn, and by the time I collected my bags and got the shuttle and checked in and got to bed, it was nearly 1. I was up again at 6, on the shuttle by 6:30, at the airport by 6:30.

Yes! The flight to Buffalo was canceled! The computers were down. The folks at the counter found a flight to Philly leaving in like 10 minutes, got me on stand-by (that flight apparently had four empty seats), but the computers were such a problem they couldn’t even print me a ticket. They just told me to get on the plane and they’d work it out.

So now I’m in Philly – yes that IS further from Toronto than my house is – and I’m waiting for a 1:11 plane to Toronto. Hopefully, I will be able to clock in to work by 4:30 and get five hours of work in today! And, there was near chaos at the airport last night, the poor attendant threatened to leave she was so upset with the situation and the rude passengers. I was calm and tried to be as positive as I could be, and I could see that I was of some comfort to her, and maybe that’s the entire reason I was there . . .

Day ten:

So what a crazy exhilarating day! I helped Em move, and then got home at midnight determined to find a new power adapter for my old Dell laptop. (The old one fried on wednesday, rendering the computer useless...) So I got on my wife's computer and managed to find a guy on craigslist who was getting rid of one for cheap! and when i emailed him, he was logged on and responded right away! I made plans to get together with him today.

So i got up early and went to the call back for "Smokey Joes Cafe" then went to chinatown to pick up the power adapter and then went home. changed into dance clothes and put my luggage in the car and then went off to my second call back (The Full Monty), hoping they could get me in right away at 3:45 so i could catch my flight to Toronto. Turns out, then let me come in at 2, and everything went so smoothly that by 3:15, i was in the airport and through customs!

So everything worked out! Like I knew it would!

Day nine:

Background work on 30 Rock today... what fun. And what a nice group of folks! Saw some old friends on set, which is always nice, and read a terrific play, The Emporer of Haiti by Langston Hughes. Also helped Em move and juggled plane tickets and planned for hectic friday.

Had a great conversation with my dear friend Shirley too. She's such a good soul and a good heart, and so talented. I think nothing but the very best should come her way. And will!

Day Eight:

Wow, and entire week! And the second one is starting with a heck of a bang. I rocked my auditions today, and got another call back for Friday. So i have to squeeze two call backs into my morning before hopping a plane to Toronto. Oy! And I got a call to do background work tomorrow. So i got a job and two call backs in the same week! Good news!

Day seven:

An interesting day! Lots of mundane housework, a visit to the doctor, more planning for the future.

In all, just pressing on!

Day six:

what a wild day! First i went to check on the car; its packed under the snow and ice of last weekend's storm. It looked like it was gonna be there awhile and we don't own a shovel so I just decided enough show was going to have to melt today. Then i get to my first audition. I ran into two good friends there, and the audition went well. At first, i started to do my usual friday morning quarterback routine where i pick apart every negative aspect of the audition. But then the casting assistant came out of the room and said to me "wow! What a voice! You need to go on American Idol!" Hmm... what a great day already! So i take the train home and counted my blessings for the day.

And when i get home, all the snow in front of my car has melted. Literally. and i just drove straight out of the snow bank. So then i go back into the city, attended an EPA just for fun, and went to my second appointment. There I ran into my good friends Matt and Ronnie, whom I miss because they're terrific people to be around, and the audition went really well, and it feels like a great opportunity if it comes through.

Then I get home and my wife surprised me with dinner! What a great day right?

But wait! Then my agent calls to say i have a call back for an audition i did last week that i didn't think went so well, but clearly i did better than i think. That's scheduled for Friday, right before my plane to Toronto. It feels like things are coming together for me!

I'm so grateful!

Day five:

I'm struck for some reason by the concept of prosperity. I've been working for The Learning Annex and listening to speakers at their Wealth and Real Estate Expos.
It seems to me that the most successful speakers there -- not just in terms of sales but in terms of connecting with the audience and engendering goodwill among attendees -- are the ones who focus not just on the acquisition of wealth, but on the good that you can do when you've achieved some wealth.

And the really good ones, the ones who stick with you, are the ones who say you should start now and give to others, give back to the community give to whomever you can. It makes so mucsense, because I believe humans are hardwired with the desire to be good people and to share with others when they can. Thats what attracts us.

we all want financial security. but what would be great would be enough financial security to help others get it too.....

I have two auditions tomorrow, and i feel they will BOTH be successful! SO send those good vibrations out!

Day four

Words of wisdom from Michael Beckwith:
"I am available for more good than i've ever experienced, realized or imagined before."

I love that!

Today my freelance business picked up a potential client. I have a meeting tomorrow. This is how the world works when you're focused!

I'm visualizing two successful auditions on Monday. And plenty of bliss between here and there! And the pieces coming together for a business venture.