And I'm Up!

Well, one of the problems with crashing right around dinnertime is that you wake up at 4AM like I just did. Well, some might call it a problem but it isn't really. It just means that my sleep schedule is out of whack a bit and I'll be knackered as the Brits say about dinnertime tomorrow - or tonight I should say. But that's okay. I can stay up a bit or take a short nap after work no problem.

I am a night owl, really. My normal sleep schedule is to stay up all night and go to sleep with the dawn. That's mainly so because there really is nothing much to do around here - especially because I don't have my own car and can't easily drive places so I usually end up spending lots of time on my laptop. I actually do not have any friends in my home town where I can just go and hang out. I was teased a lot as a kid here and that made me more isolated and I turned to books and animals. It also made me not a big chatterbox IRL. I know some who might read this would be shocked at that considering online I chat with anyone and everyone but it's true. Normally I'm the quiet one with the book or laptop who minds her own business. I think it's because I'm much older than most of the students, it's the way of most people to mind their own business, and I just don't relate too well to most of them - interests so different and all.

It was only when I went away to school in Edinboro PA about 6 years ago now that I made my first group of true friends. IRL I don't make friends easily but when I make them they tend to stick. Some of you have met one of them - Christina. She's part of my cast in Gaia. She plays Clematis AKA Gimpy. Gimpy is actually her nickname IRL cause she keeps having to use crutches and getting into trouble. I dragged her into the VA world and she's actually doing pretty good when she does Gimpy's voice without passing out! There's also Ken Arnold who I tried to drag into our world but it didn't quite work out. He's the neurotic but very creative actor/Broadway encyclopedia. Oh and the Star Trek encyclopedia too. And there's Traci - the more than slightly loopy music major who wants to marry the Steelers quarterback. And there's me. There used to be two other big additions to the group but life happened and they sort of went on their own ways.

We all had our own Star Trek show once. I don't mean an audiodrama but our own show. Ken and Herman (one who went his own way but who knew EVERYONE in the Star Trek universe from doing convention security) dreamt up a Star Trek show and Herman actually told Kate and Roxann about it and for awhile things seemed REALLY cool. We would all get together at lunch and plan all sorts of things and talk about episodes and such - you all who have their own shows know how it is. And we'd never know what Herman would come up with next. It was a fantastic time that really changed my life simply because I had never had those sort of friends before - you know, the type that will stand by you no matter what. Our show fell through, of course, but it was an incredible ride.

And now, I'm the one with the show - well three of them though I only write Little Moccasin Foot - and I'm going off to LA. It's kind of funny really. We always thought it would be Ken who would do it but I stumbled over Defiant at Pendant and one thing led to another and now, here I am with my own shows and cast of fantastic actors - Gaia and Yorkieman are a dream team and THANK YOU ALL! In my spare time I get to play in outer space and now the Moors of Yorkshire and Fairyland. Pretty damn cool! I never get over the thrill of hearing people bring my characters and stories to life. Gaia's the prime example since Yorkieman lines are JUST starting to come in. I'm mixing Gaia 4 right now and my cast literally DOUBLES in this episode with some fantastic people. I tend to say fantastic a lot but it's true. You'll hear me go on at length about the newcomers eventually but I'm not now cause it'll be spoilers but you'll want to listen at the end of the month. Gaia 4 is where the story REALLY begins.

But orginally this blog was going to be about 4AM. I kind of got off topic didn't I? I actually really like the early morning hours. I have some good friends who are often on this time (at the moment who are asleep for a change), a feisty puppy and a sweet kitty (who is curled up at my feet), and... it's quiet. My family is asleep and it's just me in the house and I can relax. Most of the world sleeps and if you go outside and look up you can hear the stars sing. It's just a more peaceful time. I'll probably start missing it when I get out of Cleveland and out to LA. I don't mean LA just for my quick visit but LA to live. I hope to graduate (FINALLY) from college this spring and California is a good place for Grad anthropology programs. UCLA actually has a really good Archaeology Masters and PhD program. And if I get residency then it costs a lot less. So, going to apply at Disney (sell my soul to the Mouse as Rene puts it) and perhaps see if I can substitute teach or what kind of jobs I can get with my Bachelors and if I get a job where I can affoard an apartment with or without a roomie then I'm heading out there ASAP this summer. If I can save up the money I MIGHT even get there in time for the Pendant picnic. So, watch out LA Pendulums! I'm on my way! If I get out there there will probably be much to do and see during the day and I shall have to give up my night owl ways. But, for now, I'll enjoy 4AM.

Time for mixing! Goal for this weekend is to finish Gaia 4 and then torture my two actors who STILL have not gotten me in their Gaia 5 lines!