The Not-So-Glamorous Life of a Movie Extra

A while back I started to think about how cool it would be to be a movie star. Well, maybe not a star, but to be in a movie. Because let's be honest here, how many people really get to say they were in a movie? I think that's what got me thinking about it. Just being able to do something, and to be able to say "I did that".

Well, a month or two ago, a good friend text me saying that she was put in contact with someone who was planning on filming a movie here in Central Alberta. To say I was happy for her is an understatement. Knowing that she was able to branch out as a makeup artist and build her skill and do makeup for the cast of a movie, well that's pretty damn exciting if you ask me. I had joked with her that I should see if they were looking for extras. Little did I know, they were. And a few weeks after those initial text messages happened, emails were passed between me and the director, and I had myself a role as a zombie extra. In a movie. A real movie.

Now, don't get me wrong, I wasn't one who thought that being on a film set would be glamorous and pampering and stress-free. However, it was a little different then I thought too.

The movie, Masked Maniac VS The Zombies, directed by CJ Hutchinson, is a low-budget film, which had everyone working as volunteers. I arrived on set at 830 in the morning and shortly after was "zombiefied". The makeup process itself was relatively quick and pain-free and soon I was looking like the walking dead. The director was busy shooting scenes all day, but it wasn't until mid-afternoon when the zombie extras were called into play. Which means, it was a lot of sitting outside, waiting, freezing one second, sweating the next - this is Alberta after all that's what our weather does - and once we got going there were lots of "let's try that again", and "lets take a quick break", and by the end of the day, I had one heck of a headache. The joys of what the sun does to me unfortunately. If you asked me Friday night when I finally got home, which was after 730, what I thought of the experience, I would have told you "never again", because of how I was feeling. Unfortunately, you would have be misinformed. Let me tell you why.

Being in this movie, is something that I feel that I was very lucky to be a part of. At any time I could have be asked to leave, or told that I didn't suit the type of movie, but that didn't happen. I was able to sway and groan and act full out zombie right alongside all the other extras. And it is something that I'll never forget.

Would I want to do another zombie film? Let's be honest now. The blood is so ridiculously sticky, and the makeup is a pain to get off, but I'd like to think that if the opportunity presented itself that I would jump on it. As for any other type of movie? Well, now that my headache is gone, I think I can say I would. Why not. I honestly don't see it happening any time soon, or ever, and I don't see myself as being a movie star in this life, or the next, but what have I got to lose. Get a new experience, meet some new people (although I seriously need to work on my shyness, as it is crazy hard to meet people when you choke up) and get to be a part of something, that in the end, is this fantastic piece of work that was dreamt up, wrote out, and actually made to make someones dreams of  being a filmmaker come true.

So although my day was anything but glamorous, I take away with me memories and an experience and something I will be able to tell my girls about and look back on for many years to come. It was completely worth it.

Little Ol' Me

I thought a post about who I am might be fun to write. Just little details about the person that writes randomly on this page. Some are simple facts, some may be a little more complex.

1) I can't whistle. No, really, I can't. I can make this tiny squeal from time to time but really it's just air that comes out of my mouth.

2) I can say the alphabet backwards. Useless ability, but I can, and not too slowly either.

3) I'm married. We have been together for 10 years and married for 1.5 years. It seems like just yesterday we were teenagers starting to date and now we're married and parents and getting older. Which leads to number 4.

4) I am a mom to two wonderful girls. One is almost six the other 5 months. They keep me busy. Boy do they ever. And I know it'll just get busier and busier as they get older.

5) Because of those two girls, I'm tired. So so tired. My baby doesn't really like to nap during the day, so no sneaking in naps for myself. But I make it work. As a result, My house may not be perfect, but it's presentable when it needs to be.

6) I'm overprotective. I know it. I'm the mom who is scared for her child to climb things in case she falls and gets hurts. But she's a trooper and I know I need to back off some, but it's just too hard. At least I know she's safe.

7) I'm shy and this leads into the next few too. Once I become close with someone I am quite open but it's getting to that part that's the hardest.

8) I wish I had more friends. We moved here 6.5 years ago when I was pregnant with my oldest. I have been a stay at home mom ever since. I have found that with no job and not going to school here or anything like that, it is really really hard to meet people. Throw in the shyness, and I spend most of my time with the girls (my husband often works away for a couple weeks at a time).

9) I often feel left out. I found that as soon as I announced that I was expecting this last time that I stopped getting invited anywhere which is sad really. And now with 2, I find it hard to go out without them and often people don't want kids around as they like to escape at some points too. But with a husband working and us having no sitter (again that whole overprotective thing and moving to a place where I knew no one) it leaves me home with just the kids all too often. *please don't take this as me complaining. I love my kids to pieces!!*

10) I've failed at something big in life. My husband tells me I didn't but I think I'll always feel this way. And that's all I'll say about that.

11) I'm scared to put myself out there. Fear of rejection, ridicule, failure. I just don't want to be judged in a negative way and I fear that's what will happen. I know that's not the way to live, but those thoughts are there. I don't believe that anyone wants to fail. That being said...

12) I want to be a published writer. A successful published writer would be better. A writer whose books get made into movies, successful movies, even better. But I'd start with just being published. A dream come true :)

13) I love to read, if #12 didn't give that away already. I use to read like mad, now I read whenever I have some spare time. I suppose I have my whole life to read and I know I will do just that.

14) I want to be fit. I'm working on it! When I can, I do what I can. A little at a time is what is working best for me.

15) Do we need something cheerful? Yellow. I love the color yellow. It's bright and happy. It just makes me smile :)

16) I can tie a cherry stem in a knot with my tongue. It's a little harder now with a lip piercing but I can do it.

17) Yes, I have my lip pierced. I love it. And hardly ever notice it anymore. Sometimes I think about a second on the other side of my mouth but then realize 1 is probably more than enough.

18) I have tattoos. Love them. Want more. Will get more eventually. I try to put lots of thought into them. Don't want to be stuck with something I hate for life.

The stresses of money

Money sucks. Eloquent right?
I'm currently in the process of arranging to pay back all of my student loans. And trust me, there's a lot of them. It's stressful. What's even worse, I'm not using the schooling at all. And won't ever. For multiple reasons that we will just not get into right now.

I didn't get scholarships or bursaries or anything of the sort. What I did get is the pressure to apply for numerous student loans. And I did. I worked very little during college, that you can't even count it. So basically $50,000 thrown away. Ya, fun times. Sense the sarcasm?

My girls both have RESP's set up. And once I finally apply and receive H's birth certificate, both will be getting a savings account set up as well. I want to teach them about money and the smart ways to work with money and save it. I want them to know all about bursaries and scholarships and everything else that will make sure that they aren't paying for student loans for years to come; All the stuff that I wish I knew and was much more educated about. Unless they're gonna be doctors, because I don't know if we could finance all those years ;)

I think there's lots of information out there. You don't need to be a straight A student nor do you need to be living in poverty to receive "free money". It's out there, you just need to look!! Lesson learned.

Almost

730am. I'm blogging. School clothes are on. Breakfast is ate. Teeth just need to be brushed. We're doing good with time today. It helps that H is still sleeping and my sister made toast for B, but hey, we're doing it!

I haven't hit the treadmill in 2 days like I said, however; we went for a km walk yesterday, and on Monday I did a nice little workout. It wasn't much. Took maybe 10 minutes, but it happened! Last night I moved around the foosball table and dropped down the treadmill. So now there is literally no excuse!
One step at a time I suppose :)

That damn foosball table...we really need a bigger basement. Like a lot of men, the basement is his "man cave", when we don't take if over that is. But, I may be one of the few that hopes for bigger to make it better. We have sports stuff, a good TV, and a nice size wet bar that has been very well used in our 4 years here. Now to add an air hockey table - or get rid o the foosball first which I don't see happening because B loves that thing. The main thing i meant to get at with all this bigger basement stuff is that I'd like to have the treadmill accessible without trying to slide this table across the basement. Every damn time.

Ok. On that note. Time to drop this girl off at school!
Have a good one!!

Getting it Together

Look at me go. Two posts in less than a week? I must be sick. Realistically, I'm writing this with H passed out across my chest, and B playing cars in the kitchen. I can't help but think that this must be the norm - moms (or dads) writing with the babies on them in some form. I suppose if I want to write, this is the only way it can be done.

I'm slowly in the process of getting back in shape. When I got pregnant I continued to work out. Not nearly as long as I wanted, but I did. I used the treadmill for a month or two, but then got concerned that I was getting my heart rate to high, and stopped. I started walking outdoors then. Not long distances or anything, just enough to get going. Most times were between 1 and 2km with B, other times we did the longer walk to the library and back which was more along the lines of 3km round trip. We spent loads of time in the pool this past summer too!

Now I have no excuses. Wait, that's a lie. My excuse is laying on me. Three times she's fallen asleep on me today. Three times I've laid her down after crashing. And three times she was awake instantly. Okay two times. The Third was about a half hour, in which B and I made cookies. But, I'm trying not to let her be an excuse. I just did 50 squats with her in my arms. Why? Why not. I'm going to get where I want to be physically, and if it means including H in the work outs, I will.

A few days ago I did some jumping jacks. I pushed out 100, with so many stops. I knew I was out of shape - not being hard on myself, it's true, I just gained and lost 30 pounds in 9 months - but wow. I am lucky to be at my pre-pregnancy weight, which is still higher than I would ideally like it to be, but I'm much softer, and much weaker. I currently have a goal to be able to do 100 jumping jacks, without stopping, by the end of the month. Might sound easy, but after how I felt the other day, I think I've got my work cut out for me.

I wanted to do the Resolution Run here on New Years Eve, but it sold out before I got the "okay" from my doctor. It's really bitter sweet. I hoped to run a marathon in 2012, and wasn't comfortable running one pregnant. Oh well. There's always 2013. I actually registered for the Mud Hero last week. It's not until next August, but I'm pumped. 6km in the mud with obstacles?? Hell yeah! I must be crazy. I've also recently learned of the Rock n Roll Marathon in Vegas that would be wicked. But, doubtful that it'll be next year, but hopefully soon! Either way, I see a lot of training in the future, and I'm okay with that!

I have to start somewhere, and I am. I've been working on my diet. Trying to choose some of the healthier choices, and less of the crappier choices ;) . I'm trying to get moving a little bit more too. And although it's awfully cold outside, and I don't like taking H out in this if I don't have to, I do have the treadmill that has collected dust over the months and is calling my name louder and louder. I'm going to get on it in the next day or two, and hopefully by writing it here, along with the rest of my goals, I'll feel a little more obligated to actually do it!

We're going to Vegas in May for my husbands 30th. I want to look and feel awesome. It's our first time, and from what I've heard, there's a lot of walking to be done, and I want to be able to keep up!!
I also want to be able to keep up with my girls for the next 20+ years, and then my grandchildren - yes, that is SO far away, but it's something I think about.

On that rambling note, B is getting hungry (she just asked for 5 hot dogs, silly child of mine), H is squirming, and my writing time has come to an end.

Craziness

Wow, how life has changed in the last months. We have been blessed with baby number 2, who, after much debate, was born a girl. You never know when both ultrasounds show a different sex. But she was born October 1st, through an uncomplicated c-section. If you know me, you know the stress and tears that were involved when my first daughter was born, so it was wonderful to have a good delivery this time.

I've had people tell me that going from one child to two was simple. I call bullshit. I find myself often overwhelmed, not that I would change it, I love these girls. I'm nursing, for those who care, a baby who eats at least every 2 hours. The other day, she ate 8 times in 8 hours. She also only wants to cosleep (no need to voice opinions on this, I'm very well of the pros and cons of it) and will only sleep at night this way. Kick it off with me being not-so-smart and put B in morning kindergarten, and we are up daily at 7 for this. Might I add that my husband is away for 15 days at a time and then only home for 6??

Now please don't think I'm complaining. I love my kids, I love my husband, and like I said, I wouldn't change it. It's just overwhelming, and most definitely not easy. It's day by day and it is absolutely a learning game.

Christmas has officially come to our house, as evident by the beautiful smelling tree and all the flashing lights - which have also found a home around the fish tank this year. Poor fish. B is very excited for the holidays, whereas H, at 9 weeks old, just stares at the bright lights. Happy baby that she is.

I want to write more. I need to write more. It's finding the time to do so that's the hard part. I've already taken 2 hours to write this as I started when B was at dance and am now finishing as we watch Brave and finish up supper.

I might add that months ago I finished (and I say that lightly) my first story. Now I definitely need to add to it, and edit it, and make it better, but being able to add a period at the end of that last line just filled me with so much joy. I cannot wait to be completely done with it, print it, bind it, and set it on my shelf knowing that I did that. That I wrote something.

And then I can start book 2, with the storyline that is ever in my mind ;)

On that note, back to my busy life I go!

Being pregnant

Pregnancy is funny. I've heard numerous times that every pregnancy is different and I'm finding that to be more and more true.

I had morning sickness with my daughter. If I set the alarm to wake up, you can pretty much guarantee that I was sick almost immediately after moving from my bed. I had no cravings, no mood swings, no emotional breakdowns, apart from one - with a husband that works away, I did my prenatal classes alone, and one bugged me.
I was also fortunate to wear my jeans all the way to the day that my daughter was born.

This time, however, is different for sure. Apart from some intermittent nausea in the first couple months, I'm now a good 7 weeks without really feeling anything. Not once have I "prayed to the porcelain Gods". I am finding I'm more emotional. No full breakdowns, because I'm really holding back, but I feel like I could cry over nothing half the time.
My pants. That's an issue in itself. I pulled out a bunch of shorts yesterday. Two fit. That's it. And probably only for a very short time yet. So ya, I'm having a harder time dealing with my clothes not fitting.

Now let me make sure I word this properly. I'm gaining yet. I'm good with that. I'm excited to have the big baby bump that is already growing. I'm not upset I'm getting big, it's just always sad when your clothes don't fit you.

This is the biggest difference between the two pregnancies for me. With B, I gained around 35, but carried her so high that my pants were never affected (and gained most of it the last 4-6 weeks). This one, I've gained a few so far (I am only 18 weeks, so long way to go & doc thinks I'll gain it all late like last time), I'm just holding much lower already. Which is the direct reason my pants don't want to fit.

Maybe it's a boy!!

It's all worth it in the end :)