Facebook A love/hate story

More than a billion people have been seduced by the convenience of facebook. It has replaced absence in each others lives. It has reconnected long lost childhood friends. It has reconnected old romances. It has given opportunities to people that may have never have happened without Facebook. I have booked acting jobs from audition posts thanks to Facebook. Some of us have made new friends on facebook with out having met in person. We chat, connect and highlight our most exciting and saddest moments. There’s great recipes and funny jokes. People share their meals which I think we can all agree is overkill.
I have experienced all of the above.
Today I am going to meet with a lady who I don’t know personally. She messaged me on Facebook and said “I think I live in a house you previously lived in (Canyon Lake, California). I have some belongings of yours ” My mom did previously live in Canyon Lake and like lots of children I use her home as a free storage facility.
We began corresponding. I wanted to know what was left behind incase it was junk my mom left on purpose. She said “record albums….lots of Madonna, Bananarama, Duran Duran and more! Your report cards, your school reports, a trip to Egypt and

Europe diary, a name tag from Robinson’s department store! I just couldn’t get rid of it until I found you! Funny thing…. I have a friend who thinks she did stand up comedy with you……It’s like 6 degrees of Kevin Bacon or something!”
I am completely touched by this. Heck yeah I wanted my albums. I spent my allowances and then some on those. It ended up being a treasure chest of memories from my childhood. I always loved writing and it had so many school reports on all the things I still love- France, surfing, beauty and etiquette. I have since visited France a couple times. My cat is named Gidget. I ended up working as in educator in beauty industry. So going back and reading these is pretty amazing.
Also in the box was the playbook of first real production I was cast in- The Diary of Anne Frank. Souvenirs from my earlier trips to Holland, Vienna, Catalina, Egypt and more.
It shows Facebook really has some great qualities.
I admit I often hate Facebook.
As a struggling actor and comic it often feels like everyone else is getting booked while I am sitting at home on Facebook. I hear this a lot. Friends say “this is why I don’t go on Facebook.” I call it Fakebook. It reminds me of those awkward years in Jr High. Who’s popular and who’s unpopular? Now as a grown adult we have to relive those feelings? As adults we still get our feelings hurt. If it weren’t for my work I would definitely close my account. I should anyways because I could probably get more jokes written if I wasn’t so busy self promoting on social media. It takes up A LOT of time. Not to mention the selfies and filters we choose to make things look perfect. I could use a selfie class. I refused to take selfies for the longest time, but once you start its addicting. Its just easier. I love when people say “You take the best pictures” I reply “You mean I post the best pictures. I pitch the ugly ones ”
The ugly side of Facebook is it promotes a lot of negativity. When the tragedy happened in Paris on November 13th people changed their profile pics to have a temporary French flag filter to show their support. Beautiful. However, I saw a lot of false, ignorant and hurtful statements that “friends” share to show their “support.” Discriminatory posts which in reality are “opinions” on what they thought was the root of all the evil in the world.
Facebook has become a school of untruths.
Learn the facts if you are going to share random things you know nothing about.
Here’s another example and true story about the Fakebook world. I was recently in New York with a broken heart. I love every minute I am there, but I could not waste an opportunity to post how exciting my life is. Wink wink. Mostly since most of my travels and adventures were before I was on Facebook. I had the waitress pose with me in a picture and it really looked like I was having fun. I was. It just looked better with people around.
As a comic I share this and will make a joke out it. From now on I will do this as “my thing” Real friend or Fakebook friend? It’s funny but sad because we live in a very pretend world.
I share this with people so they don’t feel alone. Don’t believe everything you see.
Use Facebook for the good but remember its only what people want you to see. Some of us don’t post our sadness, fears or ugly pictures.
Kimmie is my new friend because of Facebook. She was able to return these priceless belongings to me. She could have thrown them out. She was so determined to find the owner and she did thanks to Facebook.
Her kindness has left me more grateful and reminded of the good in others.
Including my friend Facebook.
You have redeemed yourself to me.

I Found Love

It’s going to be 4 years in January since I took a brave step that changed my life.
I thought it would be a good idea to take the stand up comedy class to help me over come my nerves in auditions. Everyone asks “did it?” Not at all. I did fall in love with the rush you get from the laughter and immediately got hooked. However I found myself nervous more than ever because I perform on a regular basis. You have to to get better.
I still get nervous. I can’t talk to people before a show. If they are talking to me I have a blank stare, smile and really don’t hear a word they say. Shhhh don’t tell anyone ; )
As I look back it has helped me in many ways though. I do find I have more confidence when auditioning and performing. Once you can go onstage and humble yourself to open up in front of a room full of strangers you can’t help but change.
I grew up in Southern California, in a very superficial world. I was a child beauty pageant queen, a cheerleader and model. I spent most of my life trying to “look” perfect. On the inside I had no real confidence. My life choices didn’t help with that either. I dated men who really wanted me for looks and fun. I spent 20 years caring about expensive clothes and maintaining a certain weight. I must admit the confidence I have found from getting on stage and trying to make a room full of strangers laugh knowing sometimes they are going to sit silently and just glare has helped me overcome the need to be perfect. I feel I get more laughs if I don’t look so good. Even in the beauty industry I work in I feel women were more drawn to me as I put on a few pounds. Maybe its in my head. I think we need to spend more time living and enjoying life than trying to look like the Hollywood image of what we should look like. Plus its a lot more fun.

I am now single and living on an actor/comic budget so I can’t afford the things I used to have and do. I ditched the sugar daddies and freed myself from unhealthy relationships and I’m making it on my own.
It feels amazing!!!
If you told me 5 years ago I would be doing stand up comedy I would have laughed in your face and said you should do comedy. I am not promoting it as something you should do. Believe me it is brutal at times not to mention addicting. Its not a bad addiction. I have been addicted to worse things. This is more of a thrill seeking adrenaline rush.

Comedy is becoming my passion. I didn’t want to want to do it full time but it keeps sucking me in! I have worked harder this year than previous years and can really see the benefits. The best and really only advice people give you is “Get out there. Get on a mic as often as you can.”
Its true. I have emceed at the 3 major comedy clubs in Michigan and am booked on several great shows these days. Even if I need to take a break for work, vacation or exhaustion…… I really miss it.

Isn’t that when you know its the one? So I have found LOVE.
I told you eHarmony was a waste of time and money, but least its given me 10 minutes of great material.