Drama that Comes With the Holidays

My parents are coming to town in 2 days. It doesn't feel like Christmas because I'm not going back to LA for the holidays. This year it will sort of feel like we skipped Christmas and 2009 will start. I feel completely ambivalent and emotions are just a big jumbled mess. C'est la vie, no?

My parents and I will be driving to Maryland, then to Williamsburg, VA, and then back up to Shelton, CT to spend Christmas Day with the Karg's. I have no idea why we're doing this, I'm just tagging along. Most of all, I'm at a total loss as to why we're going to Williamsburg, VA and I'm not sure if we're going to colonial Williamsburg, or actual Williamsburg. My mother is kinda eccentric. In any case, let's hope I can get through spending an entire week in a car with her.

In other news, Noel and I are doing okay. I spent a month falling apart, but it looks like we'll definitely be able to become friends when I get back to CA. It'll be difficult but I think with time we'll pull through. He is, and was a great person for me to be around and I'm thankful that our break up wasn't any worse than it was. It's interesting to find, though, that after a month, I realized that I don't want the relationship to continue either. I think I've been bitten by the "single bug" or something. Basically my attitude has been "I'm free!". Haha. Adding to my jumble of emotions is that I also met someone else out here - already. I know ... for some reason my life gets slightly dramatic when I'm not exclusively dating someone. I'm a bit sad to be leaving the new guy because I'm a die-hard romantic and I always want to see where things go. Well, as they say, if it's meant to be, it's meant to be, right? There is no way in Hell that I'll be doing another long distance relationship. I think 5 years of doing long distance has filled my long distance quota for life. If anything, I need to keep reminding myself that men will come and go, but I will always have my career - and I am moving for my career. Ah, the adventures of the young and single. Someone shoot me. It's really not all that fun. Haha. 

Heartbreak is fun...

I hurt. It's been 5 happy years and it's over now. Suffice it to say, I hurt - a lot.

Lots O' Stuff!

Soooo ... this entry might be long ...

I'm moving back to LA in two months!!!!!! For real, this time!!!! I can't stand it here anymore! Actually, this past week has been a bit of a rough one. I think one of the things I have to work on is taking a stance and not allowing myself to be so easily influenced by others. I have taken a stance on moving back to Los Angeles, withstood objections from various advisers, and I feel great about it! It'll also be a good career move, since NYC is DEAD right now. Also, my coach told me that my legit agent out here probably won't submit me for film or tv. She usually submits her clients for theater - which again, kind of made me want to punch my coach. (Then again, I try to remind myself that my coach is a New Yorker, who, like many other New Yorkers think that NYC is the greatest place on earth and can't understand why anyone would want to leave it.) My landlord is letting me go without paying any fees or having to find someone to sublet my place, and my agent in LA is very happy that I'm moving back. I believe his exact quote was, "Smart move!" I have a feeling though he said that for his own benefit too. ;0P Essentially, everything is pointing to the fact that moving back home is the right choice. My actual departure date is Dec. 31st. So all New York friends, we will definitely hang out and if anyone wants my furniture, let me know!

I also got new headshots taken last week. I'm still sorting through them so I can decide which ones I want. So I will share those when I have them. In the meantime, the photographer was nice enough to take a picture of Noel and me:

I also finished a book. This book helped me get through those mornings when I would sit outside the Actors' Equity Center at 6:30am to try and get an audition for any stupid Actors' Equity show:

I think there's a bit too much hype over this book. I mean, it was a good book, but I wasn't inspired or moved by this story. I found it interesting though. I mean, almost everyone can identify with a broken heart and who isn't curious to hear how another woman found a way to heal? So would I recommend this book? Yes, but it didn't grip me like an addiction, and that's what I like books to do.

This is my current book:

I haven't gotten very far with it yet, but it's pretty damn funny thus far. As you know, many of the stipulations in the Bible are quite ridiculous and nonsensical in this day and age. But, according to the "ponderings" of A.J. Jacobs, they all made sense at one point and there has to be a reason why they're in the Bible. So if he followed the Bible as literally as he could for a year, he might become more in touch with his religious side and perhaps become enlightened. Hey, did you know that there's a city called Intercourse, PA??? No joke!!!! More random Biblical tidbits to come from this book, I'm sure.

I guess last but not least, I'll do a little bit of political banter. Note, I try not to be political because I think it's rude and I know that some of the people who read this don't always agree with my views. What ever political comments I have made on this blog, while they may not be 100% objective, they are small things that I think have humorous aspects that appeal to both liberal and conservative sides. So that being said, no, I will not be commenting on whether I voted for McCain/Palin or Obama/Biden. I sent in my vote via absentee ballot a week ago so there is no point in anyone trying to send me anymore propaganda. Speaking of which, it is propaganda that has pushed me to write down some of my thoughts here. What I wish to comment on are two propositions in the California ballot: Proposition 4 and Proposition 8.

• Proposition 4 proposes the waiting period and parental notification before termination of minor's pregnancy. Please click on the link to read the whole summary - which is short! because I don't really care to list it here.

• Proposition 8 eliminates the right of same-sex couples to marry.

I am strongly against both of these propositions. Dealing with Prop 4 first, I have nothing against those who are pro-life. I am pro-life as well, because as all women know, getting an abortion is like taking a walk in the park. I totally want to put myself at risk for sepsis, infections, damage to my cervix, other internal organs, etc. No, that was sarcasm. But on a serious note, who in God's name really wants an abortion?!? Personally, I would never put myself through this process, but I cannot deny this option to other women. I refuse to listen to those who support Prop 4 on a religious basis. The only people I will listen to on this topic are those who have been in a position where they have been raped, molested, sexually assaulted, or have found themselves in the position where they actually might have to have an abortion. If you will send me anymore propaganda on this issue or dare to tell me that I am going to Hell for my opinion, let me tell you this:

1. On more than one occasion, I have been grabbed/touched inappropriately by men I do not know while walking on the street. One time my father was walking right next to me.
2. I have been cornered by men in the subway station late at night.
3. At 17, I found myself in a sexual situation that I honestly did not want to be in.

Has any of that happened to you? Have you ever been in a situation, as a woman, where you are terrified for yourself because you have no control over what is happening to you??? So religious, ignorant, unsympathetic fanatics, LAY OFF! Oh yes, one of my very "Christian" high school classmates said to me, "Well that's why it's important to let the parents of a minor girl know about all of this, so that they can step in and help." Are you kidding me?!? I was one of those teenagers who had "everything going for her". A pregnancy would've killed everything that I had been working for. The last thing I wanted at that time was to let my parents know. (Thankfully, I never had to have an abortion, but I can sympathize.) I had enough on my plate dealing with my own crap and I didn't want to deal with my parents who, understandably, would've been livid. I eventually told my parents, but on my own time and on my own terms. I'm fine and I think I've grown into a functioning young adult. So for those who support Prop 4, fine, go ahead and vote for it. But don't you dare try to guilt me or tell me that I support the murder of babies! I support the safety of women and no one ever said survival was fair.

I know that I'm probably talking to people who agree already with me, but this is my response to the propaganda I've been getting from various high school classmates.

Moving on to Prop 8, and this is in response to the propaganda I've been getting from my fellow Mormon friends. I forgot where I read this, but apparently the Mormons in Utah are the ones who have jump started all the funding and propaganda for "YES on Prop 8". My response to that is, "What the fuck, Utah?!? Worry about your own state!!!!" There is a very strong chance that this proposition will be passed and I cannot in good conscience, vote for a ban on gay marriage to be added to the state constitution. I have several gay friends. Actually, I'm in an interesting predicament. I have two best friends from high school, one is Mormon and the other is gay. Hell, they're good friends!!!!! So I don't get it! How can you deny your good friend, a person you supposedly love, the right to something that is automatically granted to you because of sexual orientation???? It's like the world denying me the opportunity to pursue an acting career because I'm Asian. It makes no sense!!!! I had written a note on facebook about how I felt and one of my Mormon friends responded with this:

"Marriage is not primarily a contract between individuals to ratify their affections and provide for mutual obligations. Rather, marriage and family are vital instruments for rearing children and teaching them to become responsible adults.

Hence, regardless of whether marriages were performed as a religious rite or a civil ceremony, married couples in almost every culture have been granted special benefits aimed primarily at sustaining their relationship and promoting the environment in which children are reared. A husband and a wife do not receive these benefits to elevate them above any other two people who may share a residence or social tie, but rather in order to preserve, protect, and defend the all-important institutions of marriage and family. When a man and a woman marry with the intention of forming a new family, their success in that endeavor depends on their willingness to renounce the single-minded pursuit of self-fulfillment and to sacrifice their time and means to the nurturing and rearing of their children. Marriage is fundamentally an unselfish act: legally protected because only a male and female together can create new life, and because the rearing of children requires a life-long commitment, which marriage is intended to provide. Societal recognition of same-sex marriage cannot be justified simply on the grounds that it provides self-fulfillment to its partners, for it is not the purpose of government to provide legal protection to every possible way in which individuals may pursue fulfillment. By definition, all same-sex unions are infertile, and two individuals of the same gender, whatever their affections, can never form a marriage devoted to raising their own mutual offspring."

There are so many things wrong with what he just said that I'm not even going to attempt to dissect it. Honestly, if you do have a facebook account, I'd recommend that you check out the note and everyone's comments on it. I was extremely impressed with how everyone (Mormons and everyone else alike) disagreed, yet stayed civil and polite. It's also interesting to read because it gave me a chance to see things through the Mormons' point of view - which I still disagree with. Regardless of whether one thinks gay unions should be called "marriage" or something else, I don't think the option should be banned. So please stop this propaganda! I don't believe in oppressing others. And MORMONS IN UTAH, KEEP YOUR NOSES THE FUCK OUT OF CALIFORNIA'S BUSINESS!!!!!! 

And scene. I'm done. If you're reading this, I applaud you, because all the above is a frickin' lot to read.

This Is How My Boyfriend Treats Me

As I fly back to NYC today, I will leave you with a moment that depicts how Noel treats me:

Me: "The early worm gets the bird! ... wait ..."

Noel: "Shhhhh! Just sit there and look pretty."

Rat bastard.

A STD Commerical Audition!!!

Noel and I had this conversation a few nights ago:

Noel: "It'd be really funny if you got one of those Herpes commercials. 

*Imitates*

Girl: I have herpes.

Boy: I do not.

Girl: And we want to keep it that way.

Hahahaha!"

Simmone: "Well, let's think about this Noel. If I did do a commercial like that, you'd be the boy who was WITH the girl with herpes."

Noel: *Pause* NO!!!! You're not allowed to do STD commercials!!!

Mwahahaha!

Simmone: 1  Noel: 0 

And as fate would have it: I have an audition for a Hepatitis C medication commercial on Monday. Yup, I'd be the girl with Hepatitis C. Noel's not too pleased. Hahaha!