lost in translation

i had to go to the doctor the other day for a “physical” sort of check up for work. basically i just needed a signed document from the doc that stated i was in good enough condition to be working. anyway. so, a trip to the doctor… sounds pretty normal, yeah?

rewind back to tuesday…

i hailed a taxi and once i got in, i pulled out my google map (that i had printed out) of the location of the hospital. i showed it to the driver while smiling the smile that says, “i know you can’t help but like me.” he seemed to understand where to go from the map, and i knew where the hospital was located because i had passed it before – which meant that we were an unstoppable force, right? wrong.

about the time we started turning into a neighborhood, i realized we were not at the hospital… nor were we close. this was 1) my fault because apparently i got caught up in whatever i was thinking about and was not paying attention and b) his fault because he had the map. so i tried saying the name of the hospital over and over to him (because there’s so many in the same vicinity?), and he didn’t seem to understand. i also tried words like “doctor” and “medical” but those did not work either. he then took another, very close, look at the map and somehow, all of a sudden, it clicked. and he said, “Ohh Paolo?” to which i said, “yes.” because that’s the name of the hospital i had been saying to him. so now that the location was finally settled, i apologized that i wasn’t paying attention, while gesturing to myself because i knew he didn’t understand english. and then he got a concerned look on his face and said “ohhh.” it took me a moment, but i think since he finally figured out he was taking me to the hospital, paired with the unknown words i had just spoken and the gesture to myself… he probably assumed i was ill. and/or also crazy.

but my fun day wasn’t over yet.

taxi man ended up dropping me off at the emergency room entrance. not a problem, i’d just figure out where to go from there. as we pull up and i start getting out, i am quickly ushered in by a waiting attendent. my first thought was, “my, what service.” my second thought was, “oh geez. they probably think i have an emergency.”  so i get into the building and a nurse promptly approaches me and i say to her, “Hi. I need to get a check up for my work permit.” she responds with, “Ohh, here to check on friend? Is that them?” and while she is saying this she is leading me toward a body laying on a hospital cart thingy and all i can see is feet sticking out from under a sheet! well something in me kinda freaked out, right – so i stop her and say “No no no, no friend no friend.”

she finally figures out why i am there, and directs me toward where i actually need to go. i then fill out some papers and afterward i had a personal assistant type of person leading me around. when i was getting my blood pressure taken, she said that i looked like a doll and that i was so cute. that made me feel… seven. and flattered because it was some sort of compliment? i think it’s because dolls tend to have big eyes… and i tend to look younger than i am. i digress.

so i finally see the doc and all he does is listen to my heart and tap around on my stomach… and due to that thorough examination, i was deemed in excellent condition to work. people! i could be bleeding internally right now and i wouldn’t know! or i could have water on the left part of my brain! or i could have calcium deposits on my hip bone (which is connected to the knee bone), and i’d have no clue!

in all honesty, it was a pleasant experience and the Thai staff at the hospital were incredibly friendly and helpful. and the time i spent in the hospital was actually less than the time i spent in the taxi.

i actually have more random stories like this (from this week alone), but that one was kinda long. so if you’ve made it this far… “you get nothing! you lose!” (anybody? anybody?)

and hey, have a good thursday :)

a partially opened book.

i’m unable to sleep. i’m not tired. and i blame either the hot tea i drank tonight and/or the bad spanish wine that i’m still, currently drinking… even though it’s not very good; hence why i referred to it as “bad.”

i just received an email about auditions for Peter Pan at Covedale… a role i would be going out for if i were in the States right now… i’ll refrain from expressing frustration.

you know how a child can watch the same movie over and over and over again? well, when i find a song, movie, album, musical (basically any form of media), that i really really like – i become obsessed. but i have found that obsession only occurs when i stumble upon it myself; versus having been introduced to it by someone. that being said, i have a current obsession… it’s a musical composing duo: Kerrigan & Lowdermilk. my obsession with them stemmed from my obsession with a song they wrote – and i actually made reference to this song in the post before last (though i never stated the name of it). anyway… one thing captivating about the songs contained in their shows is that they are sooo incredibly honest. which brings me to something i’ve been thinking about…

part of me wishes i was able to be vulnerable in this blog. not that i am unable – i just choose not to. and even if i kept a journal not found in a public setting, i still don’t think i’d divulge my plethera of deep, dark secrets. i applaud those who are able, really i do. but honestly, i’m not exactly willingly vulernable in real life either. i think there’s a lot of things that i would rather push to the very far back parts of my mind than discuss (family stuff, for one. tons of other stuff, for two). and it’s not that i’m necessarily in denial about anything. i mean, i give people honest answers if they inquire about my life and i really am a partially, opened book once you get to know me… i just don’t tend to initiate vulnerable type of conversations. is that bad? ryan and i sometimes talk about this because it is an ongoing obstacle for me, even with him. and whether it is bad or not, it makes me feel bad.

it’s just… i don’t know. sometimes i feel like… like i’m trapped inside a house of mirrors. and i’m surrounded by all these people that look and talk and move and smell like me… and each one of those people have escaped and have made themselves visible to so many over the past 24 years… that now i’m not sure who the real one is.

anyway.

it’s past 2am here. i’m still not tired but i kinda want to go dream with my eyes closed now…

“a ride on a rainbow”

i have two stories. one i don’t feel like telling right now, but it involves me taking Charlie to the vet today; a traumatic experience for both of us. [insert: sad, motherly face]

i do feel like telling the following though:

on my last day of middle school, there was a girl that i knew of but she was not currently a friend of mine (we never had any classes together). we happened to be standing by each other in the lunch line and we admitted that we had “friend crushes” on each other and vowed to be friends once we got to high school. the girl: barb scott. the vow: accomplished.

we didn’t have many classes together, but we were both theatre nuts and did shows together. my favorite will always be when she played the Nurse when i was Juliet (in Romeo and Juliet), OR when she was Puck in A Midsummer Night’s Dream. that was pretty brilliant, but our characters didn’t have much interaction. for the record, she was, by faaar, a better actress than myself. and it was through barb that i became exposed to a variety of musicals and movies (like Clue!). and aside from being in shows, we also became good friends outside of the stage.

one day during our senior year (i think), we somehow started talking about how we both had to keep “journals” when we were in elementary school for writing, and how we still had them. so we each brought ours in and swapped. my notebook was from when i was in 2nd grade and it was full of stories i wrote during “writing time” in class. i can’t remember what grade barbs was from; nonetheless her stories were freaking hilarious. hello… elementary school mentatlity and imagination…

moving on… i still have barb’s notebook (packed away in the States), and she still has mine. we’ve agreed that at our 10 year reunion we’ll return the notebooks back to each other and write a letter to the other on the last page of them. [awwww] i know, right?

i bring all of this up because she sent me a facebook message yesterday and mentioned how she read my notebook again the previous night. not only that, she took the liberty of including her favorite story that i wrote – and you all are about to be exposed to it… brace yourself.

September 27, 1991
(this is typed exactly as written)

A Ride on a rainbow.
One day I was riding my bike and then something was liften me up and I was so a fraid and I looked down and I saw a rainbow and I didn’t no what to do so I just kep riding my bike and then I saw lots and lots and lots and lots and lots and lots of rainbows and I said to my self I think this is rainbow land and there was a lot and lot of gold and water and so I took a swim in the water and it was so warm and it took me to coco land and then there was all the 1nd and 2nd graders and so then I went to lala land and everyone there sunged la la la la la and my head started herting and then I went to play land and every botte was playing and thay singed a song calded play land and then I went to a place cald no no land and then thay kept saying no no and I asked them if I could come in and thay said no no

[End story]

so… hilarious, no? don’t judge me… i was seven. but the ending was kinda funny, right!? right? no no? fine.

what i can’t escape…

as an artist (of the theatrics), i have moments where i feel truly inspired (which do not happen often, mind you). but over the course of the past 36 hours i’d say, i have felt inspired – mainly due to a youtube video i watched of someone performing a song.

before leaving for thailand, i purchased a book. i knew i would read it at some point… and that some point was today. it’s called “the power of the actor.” having studied acting, i’ve learned/heard much of what i’ve read so far, but it’s been good to have it reiterated and there is always more to learn.

some might disagree with me, but i think it takes a certain type of person to be an actor, and be good at it. to quote the book,

“People who have chosen show business as a career often have an array of vices to choose from. It’s nothing to be ashamed of. It’s what makes you an artist.”

someone, whom i hold in high esteem, once described me as “complex” to a friend of mine. there have been a lot of words used to describe me, but that was never one of them. but the more i thought about it, the more i realized how right they were. the interesting thing about them describing me as such, was that i did not have a lot of one-on-one interaction with them; they drew that conclusion on their own. and the person that said it was a director i once had. and since it was a director, i understood what they meant by “complex” because it was coming from a theatre point of view. the meaning would be quite different if it came from a family member or even a friend.

to go back to being inspired simply by seeing a song performed well… musical theatre…ly speaking, when i see someone sing a song, if they don’t “perform” it and there’s no emotion – i could honestly care less if they have a good voice. one time when i was at an audition, this one girl sang “tell me on a sunday,” which is a pretty emotional song. this girl did not have a great voice – or perhaps i should say… singing was not her strength. but she acted the heck out of that song! she was soo incredibly believable that i actually put aside her voice and saw her playing a character. i have been to many auditions, and out of all of them, this is the only audition performance i remember someone else doing. ever.

it’s things like that which inspire me and allow me to fully appreciate what musical theatre is all about; thus challenging me to better myself. anytime i am not performing, i feel like i’m not living up to my FULL potential. and unfortunately, there is zip theatre opportunity here. so instead of pouting, i’ve decided this is a good time to really cultivate my talents. it’s like i’m in the off-season and i’m conditioning for what is to come.

i just keep realizing that though i am capable of many things… i am an actress. i’m a performer. i’ve known it since the eigth grade, and i haven’t been able to escape it (i’ve tried). performing is truly and absolutely the one thing in my life that makes me feel like i am utilizing 110% of what God has given me. and on stage or off, i can’t help but perform. it is something that is sooo deeply rooted in me, that it’s harder to deny and repress it than actually let it flourish.

my mischievous mutt.

so listen… i was planning on doing the “day in the life of danny” blog today… but i’ve got dog issues. and i need to talk.

charlie. my dog. charlie goes to work with me everyday and is always pretty well-behaved. and then last friday happened.

our company ceo is currently in the country (he’s usually in australia), and last week was his first time meeting charlie. luckily, the meeting went well and they like one another. also, when mr. ceo is here, he enjoys moving our lunch table out into the garden/patio area because “lunch is more enjoyable under open skies.” that’s fine, yeah? yes of course. except for… that’s where charlie usually plays/runs around during lunch (so he doesn’t disturb anyone).

so on monday, everyone agreed that it would be fine to keep charlie out there with us as we ate – and for the record, he was perfectly fine. and as tuesday, wednesday and thursday rolled around, he was a “very good boy.”

and then friday happened (she said again).

imagine for a moment, if you will, a garden/patio area with a quaint pond of big, colorful fish to the right, and foliage everywhere… and a table that seats 15ish people in the middle. on this day, there was a hose running from one side of the garden to the other; ending in the fish pond. also on this day, charlie was a bit more rambunctious (i think that’s the first time ever i have typed that word), than usual.

there is a sliding door that leads from the inside to the outside, and you have to step down when going outside. charlie likes to start running on the inside and, in jason bourne movie fashion, leap out into the garden. sounds cute, right? you bet your bottom dollar it is.

except…

this time when he jason-bourned-leaped… he ended up knocking the (turned on full blast) hose from the fish pond. which then, from it’s force, started spraying everywhere. and on everyone who was still out there. including mr. ceo. so then mr. ceo gets up to tame the hose (that’s what she said), and in his attempts to control it, it started spraying into the garden/patio area of the building next door… where people happened to be sitting at that exact time. so the innocent bystanders ended up getting wet. people from my company who were sitting at the table (including mr. ceo), got wet. and my dog got wet.

ironically, i happened to be on the inside watching when all this occurred.

so…

luckily, no one was mad. they were actually more concerned for charlie because all the commotion gave him quite a fright.

but i tell ya, it was certainly a sight to see.

i miss…

naturally, being away from the States for five months has caused me to miss some things:

1. the obvious, family and friends (and Carter, my cat).

2. driving

3. COLD WEATHER!!

4. certain food places: Chipotle, Panera, Taco Bell, Steak N Shake, Texas Roadhizzouse

5. Reality Tuesday Cafe (this gets its own number in the list)

6. being on stage (especially with Covedale’s current season. ugh).

7. being able to eavesdrop on people’s conversations. i mean… being surrounded by a language i understand.

8. my kitchen aid mixer

9. magazines: Vanity Fair, Elle, and Vogue – they are all SO expensive here! nearly $15.00!

10. american television: the Office, Jeopardy (leave me alone, i’m good at it…sometimes), American Idol

11. manhattan – but i think i’ll always miss nyc

12. cheese (also terribly expensive here, though i did just by some Feta for a salad).

13. did i mention cold weather? yes? okay… well… chilly weather.

14. hmm, what else…

15. oh! this is slightly random: florists. back in the States i loved having fresh flowers in the house, but it’s tricky to find florists here.

16. good wine (that doesn’t cost a trillion dollars per ounce [okay, maybe that's a slight exaggeration])

17. stick gum… for some reason gum only comes in the chicklet shapes here

so… that’s not a whole lot, huh? and even though i am in dire need of cold weather (and Panera), it doesn’t make me miss home to the point of returning quite yet. which is a good thing because it means i love it here and am feeling purposeful (as does ryan).

…but a day under 80 degrees would be nice… i’m just sayin.

AGENT MEO: CIA

i went to the “american” grocery store today. it’s not as close but i like it better and it’s not as crazy crowded. it’s called Villa Market and they carry stuff like marshmallows and dryer sheets and their cereal selection is a lot bigger. and guess what cereal i purchased? that’s right, Cap’n Crunch. and guess how much i paid for it in american dollars? ooo you were close… the correct answer is: nine bucks. but listen, it’s a really big box… and the Cap’n was taunting me in that blue sailor suit…

i was reminded of how much i watched (and still enjoy), the movie Tommy Boy. i was going to include a youtube video, but i don’t think it’s necessary. because in all honesty, there are some of you reading who know that movie as well as, if not better than, myself. and there are probably, oh, one or two of you, who put that movie on as background noise while doing other activities.

the other day, i mentioned to ryan how i’d make a good C.I.A. agent. here’s how THAT convo went:

ryan: [with a perplexed look on his face] “why?”

me: “easy. i’m stealthy, clever, i can get people to tell me things, i’m manipulative… AND unsuspecting.”

ryan: “ohhhh.”

me: “wait. what does C.I.A. stand for again?”

ryan: “central intelligence agency.”

me: “intelligence? well… maybe i’d be better in the mafia.”

ryan: “what??”

me: “you’re right. too much blood. but intelligent or not, i would so make a good secret agent person.”

and despite what my husband thinks… i really would. i wonder if they’re hiring…

in conclusion, the movie Baby Mama was pretty funny. it makes me want to… be tina fey (or amy poehler). what… did you expect me to say that it makes me want to have a baby? pshh. i still don’t even know how to fold the fitted mattress sheet OR make mac and cheese without carefully reading the instructions – i don’t think i’m ready for 4 kids yet (shh… ryan thinks it’s only going to be 3). though… i am voted “best mother (potential)” on facebook. and hey, if it’s on facebook, it’s true.

waaahmp waaahh

(that’s a sound effect)

it’s also how i’ve been feeling today… like a sicky mc sickerton. i’ve laid in bed most of the day watching season one of ugly betty (on dvd). charlie seems to really like this show, it’s strange – ya know, since he’s a dog.

i really wish i could find campbell’s chicken and stars soup. it’s so much better than chicken noodle soup, and it’s what i ate in the States when i was feeling not so hot.

i did take a walk to the nearby gas station though and i realized something… even when i don’t feel well, i still like to wear an accessory. how lame is that? i couldn’t decided between this bracelet my friend lauren made for me or my watch. i chose the watch. actually, here’s a confession of just how lame i can be: a few years ago i had a watch i really liked and the battery ended up dying… and i definitely still wore it anyway because it went with certain outfits (and it didn’t really matter that it was dead because it always takes me a few seconds to figure out the time on an analog watch).

interruption: ryan just called and it was the weirdest thing because i seriously almost answered the phone, “reality tuesday cafe, this is danny.” what the!? how random is that, right? also, he’s picking up a movie and i voted for “baby mama.” i highly enjoy tina fey, so here’s hoping it’s good. we’ll see.

i digress.

while walking earlier, i thought about how i miss cold weather sooooo so so much. autumn and winter are my favorite seasons, and my favorite time of year in general. though, part of it may be that i just really enjoy wearing sweaters and scarves and boots.

i feel whiny, do i sound whiny?

i need a shower, but now it’s evening time so i might as well wait until tomorrow.

i miss the smell of cold air.

joe biden reminds me of my eigth grade science teacher, mr. frinsthal – and that makes him slightly endearing.

and also, everything in malaysia went very well. though, i think i was hit on by a malaysian security guard as i walked through the metal detector thing… he asked me my name and then asked if i was a miss or a ma’am. maybe he wasn’t hitting on me, maybe he thought i was a menace to society.

i should go.

in malaysia

ryan and i are currently in malaysia. it’s not as humid here which makes it feel not as a hot which makes me feel grrrrrreat.

this morning we went to the thai embassy to drop off our documents and then tomorrow we go back to pick up everything. as we waited for our numbers to be shown, i felt intimidated… like, really hoping everything would go without a hitch. then i realized that the application called for two photos, and ryan and i only had one a piece. so i told one of the guys working that i only had one and asked if that was a problem. he said, “let me see your passport.” so i pulled it out and as i started to flip to my photo, he said, “wait, are you american?” and i was like, “fo sho.” which means i just said, “yes,” as i attempted to bat my eyes. and then he quickly said, “one photo is fine. you should have no trouble.” so… whew.

the hotel where we are staying has the BEST cheeseburgers i have ever had! i’m not kidding. i don’t know if it’s because they put cucumbers on them or what, but they are definitely delish. i’ve already had two in the past 24hrs. which causes me to point out that, contrary to popular belief due to my petite size, i eat a TON.

our hotel is located in a downtown area, so we are surrounded by big buildings – which i thoroughly enjoy. and as we were on our way to the embassy today, i noticed a lot of (what i thought were) american flags. i kept thinking “wow. they really must support us.” that’s when i realized… the malaysian FLAG is pretty darn similar to the american flag. so… my bad.

in other news, i was secretly hoping that i would be able to leave facebook video comments using the hotel’s wifi; assuming it would work properly for me in another country. i was way wrong. it seems the curse has not been lifted yet… drats.

annnnnd i have been asked to write a blog on “a day in the life of danny meo.” so, stay tuned for that in the near future (it won’t bore you, i promise).

an actual update?

ahhhh! this is the longest i’ve gone without blogging (as some of you have pointed out to me).

i would say i’ve been busy, but i think the term “preoccupied” is more fitting.

at work i have been training my “understudy” or rather, a new voice over artist that we hired. her name is rebekah and she is fantastic (and from america, mind you). we hung out this weekend – i dragged her to my fave Greek restaurant that i cannot get enough of, and we had some din-din and wine and lots of girl talk. we have similar personalities which means wit and laughter are main components of our conversations. (side note: rebekah, if you are reading this [which you should be because you want to steal my identity and it's way obvious], you should know i totally thought of Wit professing his love to you today as i typed the word “wit.” have fun on your date. sucker.).

hmm… what else…

ah. ryan and i will be in malaysia until thursday (we fly out tomorrow afternoon), because we are finally able to get our non-b visas which will then allow us to get an actual work permit/visa. and for the non-b visa to be valid, we have to fly to another country, go to the thai embassy in that particular country, and then fly back to thailand. the whole thing is slightly confusing to me, but i do understand – it’s just difficult to explain. nonetheless, we are excited to travel (briefly) again.

charlie will be staying with rebekah while we are gone. i’m so relieved she was kind enough to watch him. secretly though, she wants to use him so she has an excuse to walk around the garden of the princess’ palace. i wish her luck.

in closing, i would like to say that after having an “off” week, i feel… oddly rejuvenated. and encouraged. and peaceful. thank goodness.

enjoy the cold weather for me!