An Update! See Mom, I'm Getting Better.

So it's been a week since I've posted anything and it hit me earlier- a blog? Really, Diana?? You don't even return texts! (For those of you still waiting for responses, my deepest apologies to you. I promise I'm alive and well:) I've also gotten an earful from friends and family about my bad habit of not updating people on what's going on in my life. I figure, people have their own worries and concerns and if they want to know something, they can just shoot me a... text...um...ok I'm beginning to see the holes in my logic. Anyway the following will be my attempt to give a quick update and a few highlights of my time here in this EXTREMELY windy city so far. 
Before I got to Chicago there were a few goals that I had for myself. Some were what some people considered reasonable and others left people giving me the old  insincere "good luck" pat on the back. Don't get me wrong. Almost everyone in my life was supportive of the big move, the rest were just trying to process the information. After all besides mom, the godparents, and a few other close family and friends; most at home only knew about my permanent departure the summer of the big move. So I moved into my apartment on August 1st- Goal One met. I submitted for two to three auditions daily for the first month, went on too many auditions to count, and got a few call backs- Goal Two met. Landed my first role in September for the fall and landed a second role in October for the spring- Goals Three through Ten met:) Simply put- many prayers have been answered. 
While there have been many positives, the move certainly has had its challenges. The primary reason for me wanting to get here on August 1st was for an audition with an agent that I was really looking forward to meeting and possibly working with. I was surprised to find that when I called the office to confirm the appointment that the agent no longer worked there. No one else at the office knew who I was and was less than impressed with my headshot. I did land an interview with a new agent and was even told they would sign me...as soon as I did something about that headshot. Anyone know any Chicago based photographers?:) I also have to second what Whitney said in the last post about actually getting to the auditions. After getting parking tickets that added up to more than a months rent, I had to say goodbye to my car and learn the transit system here. It's not a complicated system but for someone who is as directionally challenged as me, getting places proved interesting at the beginning. Nobody tells you you're going to be winded, sweating, and achy as you run through the audition door  only to be asked not five seconds later, "Are you ready?" There have been so many times when I've wanted to say, "No! No I'm not ready! I forgot to lock my bike up downstairs!" 
Also, who knew finding a part time day job (I call it my survival job) would be so difficult? I know, only the whole country at this point. But you always think to yourself, gee I have a few degrees surely I can be trusted to serve a plate of food or stock a shelf. Well I finally got a part time job at Michaels, the arts and crafts store. haha the interview questions were do you like to decorate cakes or knit because we offer those classes and I'm like well, I like to eat cake and wear clothes. Despite my lack of knowledge in the craft department, I did get the job and I now have the craziest hours ever devised by a boss whose whole life is his job. I didn't want to work evenings because of rehearsals and performances so I, LIKE AN IDIOT, said sure I'll do replenishment at 5am. The result is that I work overnight shifts, the 3am, and the 5am. After working at Michaels for about two months now, and surviving with my survival job I've had to remind myself over and over again that although being able to pay rent is a good thing, I cannot afford to lose sight of why I'm here. I can't wear myself so thin trying to survive that I forget to live. That's been one of my favorite reminders so far. 
At the beginning of this week, I had an audition for an internship with Claire Simon Casting, a fun little  agency that has had a hand in careers like Darryl Hannah and John Cusack. It's a great opportunity to sit in all of the audition sessions for commercials, television, and film and really get a handle on the casting process and how the final decisions are made. I was supposed to hear back by the end of the week. Haven't heard back yet, but tomorrow at 11:59pm is technically the end of the week. Right???
Well, the curtain rises on my first show in Chicago two weeks from tonight. It's called the Shadow Box and its being produced by a brand new theatre company here in the city and we run till December 23rd. During every rehearsal, during every audition, and even during my walks home from a twelve hour shift of surviving (not to worry. those don't happen too often), I'm reminded of how incredibly blessed I am to be doing what I love to do with the full support of those I hold dear. I've always believed that God doesn't just give out talents so people can sit on them. He gives them out on purpose. So I plan on using them on purpose.