What a year. They say, who ever "they" are, that once you get out of college and high school, once you enter the "real world" as it were, your life begins to move in a flash - the days become weeks and weeks to months and months to years and next thing you know your 70 and you feel like last week you were 22. And while there are days when I think "It's ---- already, where does the time go?" This year has been SO full, so eventful, both in the good and the not so, that I cannot help but begin by being thankful that I enjoyed every single day - not all to the very limit that I could have but I don't look back at this year with much regret at all. Which is the best way, I feel, to look back at the year.
The start of 2007 was filled with much joy - Bree and I were new members of SAG, Bree signed with a new agent (Venture IAB and Todd Justice) and booked her first (of what will be many in her career) Guest Star/Top of Show on CBS's Cold Case. I began my long string of commercials and callbacks for my SAG spots and we both got big paychecks for acting gigs! A wonderful way to start the new year.
As the weeks clocked by, we continued to audition - Bree for many pilots, Without a Trace and many other great shows. Myself mainly for commercial work, though I did have my first TV audition this year - since I don't have a theatrical agent (really) it was for a Co-star on Ghost Whisper. I worked on a short film with Doug and we started rehearsals for a play we had done last year.
The spring saw alot of changes to our life. We went home to see Brian (Bree's brother) move from Junior High to High School, Nick and Megan got pregnant, married and moved out, Bree and I downsized to our own place and my grandmother passed away.
The summer was not without its ups and downs - we worked on Doubting Thomason, even thought I hadn't really been working as actor I was more burned out than ever and really fought my way thru every day working on the show. I had a little bit of a breakthrough once we hit opening, but it never lasted. The show itself, was the best version we had done yet. I was having a hard time with not working, and when I was all I wanted to do was sit on the couch. Communication with Nick had fallen to dead silence and summer seemed to drag on forever. We began taking CD workshops at AIA and Reel Pros and started to make all kinds of new acting friends.
Then as fall came, Scott and Kel came out to visit in LA and fell in love with the town (it has that effect on people) and they are moving out here in the summer of 2008. Auditions kept coming and a large paycheck that was over a year overdue came from my first paying gig in LA back from 2005. More auditions and more "almosts" followed. Bree, Steve and I saw Lear with Ian McKellen, went to a bunch of screenings and enjoyed the beginning of fall in LA. I started classes with Steppenwolf West and my love for acting started to take flame again. Then came my class with The Geffen Playhouse and my Guthrie Audition. Nick's first born came into the world.
Winter began and we started planning for Christmas at home. Bree went to her first RAW event with Brian, Sam, Russ and Dara. I hit the one-year mark at The Grill in Hollywood. Then the WGA strike hit. And right before heading home to see our friends and family, Bree and I got engaged.
While it was sad that my grandmother passed away this year, Bree and I were given the gift of her diamond for Bree's ring, which is now a 3rd generation family heirloom. This was truly one of the greatest moments of my life. I have messed up in big ways, and blown some big moments for friends and loved ones, and while there are times when I feel like I don't deserve someone as wonderful as Bree is, I could not be more thankful to have someone like her in my life. She is the perfect person for me, and the only one I would ever want to share my life with.
We then headed home for Christmas and saw friends and family. I didn't get to see my parents as much as I would have liked and next year things will be very different. My parents are doing good and were very happy to see us. But the person that made me smile the most was Bree's Dad, who seemed to be beaming when we told them we were getting married. I felt so proud that they cared about me and thought I was good enough for their daughter. We went to Steve's Wedding with Beth and Corey, saw Jenn and her new bo Adam, had burgers and boots of booze with the Levans, Kim and Mike and The Smiths. We had hot dogs with Neil and Noelle and got to see Brian before his band played on the South Side. We watched Superbad with the Pavey's, Halo'd with my Dad and John and saw Colleen and Jaeden. My grandpa was very happy for us and so sad when we told him about Bree's ring. And somewhere in here we went to IN to see Bree's Mom and Nanny, I got a speeding ticket and we hung out with the Lansu clan. And I spoke to Nick for the first time in months and I was very happy to hear his voice - he and the West Coast Clan are doing well.
And before we left Bree lost her agent (on the night we got engaged) and got him back today as Jabez went under the knife (he is healthy and doing well and will return home tomorrow - he had to have a series of stones removed) - never a dull momemnt in our house.
We've now been back in LA a few days, and while I am sad and miss everyone from home more this time than ever before, I cannot be looking forward to 2008 more. This is going to be a big year for Bree and I - not only can I feel it but I know it. I am driven and ready to work 24/7 to reach every goal I set and blow past every marker I place for myself... but more on that in the next post.
Thank you to everyone that I call family or friend. Without you, I would have no reason to be, to dream and to live. Thank you for all the memories of 2007 and years past and I cannot wait to see what next year holds for all of us. We love you always and Happy New Year to you all.
J.
