Tuesday, August 25, 2009

Coyote Rep Fundraiser Pics







Monday, August 24, 2009

Yahooo, Coyote Rep benefit!!!!

Just got word from Donnetta that the benefit in NYC was amazing. I just can't believe that some 6 months ago (or so), Donnetta approached me about writing a play based on the plight of the young survivor. I cannot tell you how thrilled I am that, slowly but surely, we have been heard. That the plight of the young survivor will be common-place (work, babies, dating, boobies, sexual dysfunction, youth, gay, straight, asexual, adopting, divorcing, marrying, black, white, Asian, Latina, alien ...), is a dream for me.
I'm incredibly blessed to have so many amazing folks in my world. So, so many of them have gone out of their way(s) to donate money, time, space, and talent to the breast cancer cause.
I'm, now, awaiting more news and the actual video of the event.
Cannot wait to see the people that are fighting for us. Those that I've never met in person.
I was nervous as a Mama dear tonight for everyone. Just wished I could be there giving hugs and kisses or martinis or anything...
Thank you, thank you Donnetta for putting us on the map. Thank you Coyote Rep and all the amazing folks involved in this beautiful venture for making this a reality for us young survivors.
And, I'd like to send my love to the YSC gals of NYC that came out! Cannot wait to hear about it girls!
Again, thank you Donnetta for being such an amazing friend and inspiration. You have no idea how much that means.
xoxo
Anna

Friday, August 21, 2009

Perfect Storm...

Greetings this lovely Friday evening. I've spent the past week house sitting for a dear girlfriend while she and her family are partying at Lake Chelan. They have been having a ball. I, personally, have been having a ball on the memory foam bed in their master bedroom. Is it just me, or are those things like a large (and foamy) piece of non-smokeable crack? I've found myself finding ANY excuse to climb into the damned bed ... just to get sucked into a soft molding of my own body. It's become a bit addictive, honestly. I, personally, do not have the means to buy one of these "crack mattresses." But, many of my peeps own them. So, don't be surprised if you wake up, on any given morning, and find me and my drool snuggled up beside you. I'll find a way to keep up this habit.
I've been seeing pictures, lately, that my friends in the South have been taking of these amazing clouds and storms. I SO miss those. The blue/grey/green clouds hovering over the horizon and the air as thick as honey. Storms and rain are definitely one of my favorite things on this earth. I miss storms. I miss the beauty and drama and smell of them. They make your senses perk up. They are almost sensual in that way.
Here in Seattle, it pisses rain. It dribbles. It weeps. It sprinkles.
Back home it rages. It howls. It thunders. It screams. It is one of the most perfect dramas I've ever seen. So, sultry and passionate ...
I miss those perfect storms. I miss the smells left behind. Clean and sweet.
Keep up the pics, folks. I'm loving them and can feel the humidity every time I see them.
xoxo
Anna

Saturday, August 15, 2009

Long, long night...

Well, it's been a long evening because I took a 3 hour nap late this afternoon. For those of you that know me well, you know that I'm not a very good napper. Tend to have the attention span of a Tsetse fly. Funny thing: just found out, via "google" that they are the main cause of "human sleeping sickness". So, it makes sense that I'm still awake and typing. The "irony."
We spent the evening watching "I Love You, Man." Save yourself some cash and some snores. Not a good flick. The actors were fine. The script ... not so much.
Last night was spent with some of my dear ladies from the Young Survival Coalition affiliate here in Seattle. We met at Havana, the venue where we are hostessing our big fund raiser on October 3rd. We walked through the space, chatted about the logistics of what and who goes where, talked money, talked about our procuring silent auction items (what we have so far is amazing), talked press, talked about the future of YSC-Seattle. Oh, and we laughed ... a lot.
I'm amazed at how many women go through the trials of this disease without anyone, that has walked the same path, holding their hand. I cannot imagine never having met these women after being diagnosed with breast cancer. I assure you that I would not have the strength that I now have without having spent the last few years amongst these brave, lovely, and damned hilarious young women that are walking this unknown road with me.
Oh wait ... we're young thangs: we prefer to skip, hop, and cartwheel down said path!
xoxo
Anna

Friday, August 14, 2009

Money=Huh?

Quoted from the Huffington Post:

"Whole Foods CEO John Mackey penned an op-ed on health care reform in Tuesday's Wall Street Journal in which he pressed, amidst more standard conservative talking points, a "simple" solution.

"Recent scientific and medical evidence shows that a diet consisting of foods that are plant-based, nutrient dense and low-fat will help prevent and often reverse most degenerative diseases that kill us and are expensive to treat."

As TPM's Brian Beutler put it: "Translation: Whole Foods is the solution to all of America's health care woes."

However, for those of you who are tempted to follow Mackey's advice (and can afford it!) be warned: not all of the foods found at Whole Foods will actually make you healthy. As Mackey himself admitted last week, "Basically, we used to think it was enough just to sell healthy food, but we know it is not enough. We sell all kinds of candy. We sell a bunch of junk."

Funny thing: today John Mackey is getting shit for saying that he doesn't believe that universal health care should be provided to the people of America and that the constitution reflects that. I, personally, wonder if he missed The Preamble to The United States Constitution (I had to memorize it in 5th grade):
"We the people of the United States, in order to form a more perfect union, establish justice, insure domestic tranquility, provide for the common defense, promote the general welfare, and secure the blessings of liberty to ourselves and our posterity, do ordain and establish this Constitution for the United States of America."

"promote the general welfare", to me, was written in an extremely vague manner FOR A REASON. "The GENERAL welfare" is so very open and vague for a reason. Our brilliant predecessors, obviously, had the intelligence to know that what they wrote would be the standard for years to come. They, obviously, knew that times would change and the words that they wrote would have to withstand such. But "general welfare", to me, means that it applies to the general populous of our country and the welfare of that group of people.
So, our health care system ain't cutting it.
Mr. Mackey is an enigma to me. I'm still astounded at his words.
It's a shame that he is using our Constitution to further his ignorant cause.
It's a shame that he's choosing to shit where he eats, as those progressive folks that are the life-blood of his business are, now, the same people upon whom he is shitting.
Why is it so easy for people to forget?

xoxo
Anna

Saturday, August 8, 2009

August is a big month...


Happy Saturday to all.
Many folks are working overtime, lately, to bring awareness to the breast cancer cause.
Donnetta and my peeps over at Coyote Rep have organized an AMAZING benefit on August 24th in NYC for the project that they have so tirelessly been working on. Here's a link to the benefit that anyone in the NYC area should attend. These are new friends and old-school friends of mine from the College of Charleston. They are busting their arses to get this project up and running (Broadway, baby ... or a bit off). So, please help support them in this cause. They are a force of nature. Or craziness...

http://southbend.broadwayworld.com/article/Coyote_Rep_Hosts_Summer_Rising_Moon_Fundraiser_824_20090806

The newest affiliate of the Young Survivor Coalition is right, smack dab, here in Seattle. YSC-Seattle will be holding a benefit on October 3rd at Havana Nightclub on Capital Hill. I'm so thankful that my dear friends Angela and Jeff (and the other partners at Havana) have so warmly welcomed us there to throw our benefit. Hats/boobs off to ya'll.
There will be a silent auction, food, drink, DJs (Masters Jeff and Sandi), laughs, pretty people, and awareness for a great cause.
Hope everyone is enjoying the weekend and is able to sleep in for 5 more minutes tomorrow. As a Mama, I know the pain.
xoxo
Anna

Sunday, August 2, 2009

Blast from the past...

Studying acting afforded me so many opportunities. Namely, the exposure to great, great works of literature and theatre. Of course, one of my favorite playwrights is The Bard ... William Shakespeare. He will, forever, be one of the most brilliant writers on this planet. Simply amazing.
I was just flipping through a book of his plays and the page fell to The Tempest.
I had the honor, in college, to be a part of a beautiful production of The Tempest.
I, of course, was cross-cast (female playing a male role) ... as the comic relief. I played Stephano. At the time, it bothered me that I was always getting the roles that would make the house laugh, but never the role that would always make them cry.
I, now, appreciate it. I understand comedy and what it takes to make it work. It's an honor to be the person counted on for that "comic relief." Thanks Todd.
In any case, in doing The Tempest, I began to realize that The Bard had so much to say ... and in such a gorgeous manner. To be limited to prose when writing is quite limiting. However, I've never witnessed a moment in his writings that reflect that constraint. He continues, throughout time, to surprise and inspire artists so easily and flawlessly. It's amazing.
So, back to The Tempest. It's a great play. Chock full of adventure and laughter ... mystery and truth ... honor and love.
And the basic point ... once all is said and done ... is that everything that was written or seen will disappear as soon as it had begun.
And, one of my favorite quotes from Shakespeare appears in one of Prospero's monologues:

"Our revels now are ended. These our actors, As I foretold you, were all spirits, and Are melted into air, into thin air: And like the baseless fabric of this vision, The cloud-capp'd tow'rs, the gorgeous palaces, The solemn temples, the great globe itself, Yea, all which it inherit, shall dissolve, And, like this insubstantial pageant faded, Leave not a rack behind. We are such stuff As dreams are made on; and our little life Is rounded with a sleep."

And I love that. I love the final quote: "We are such stuff as dreams are made on; and our little life is rounded with a sleep." I remember it being a motto of mine in college when I was feeling overwhelmed with studies and money and in thinking about my future. And, it still holds true. But, now it holds true in a different way.
I see the quote now and all I can feel is that I need to learn a lesson from the very same lesson posed to me when I was a senior in college. Enjoy it: life. It's not forever. It's not perfect. But, it's there ... for a moment. And that moment will end. So, make the most of that damned moment. I'm gonna milk that shit like a Jersey Cow.
xoxo
Anna