A November to Remember...

Its Ryan's birthday in November and I always enjoy spoiling him. Scott came north to celebrate with us, since his birthday is the day after Ryan's. We all did a barbecue dinner at Baby Blues Barbecue, the best in San Francisco. It was a fun night, family style and everyone just sharing and caring.
The next morning we headed north to Guerneville where we rented a cabin on the river for a couple nights. Its was stunning and fabulous, with a hot-tub and private beach access, a fire place and a fully equipped kitchen. I even baked my first cake, Ouma Quinta style for the birthday boys, a German chocolate coconut cake.It was a huge success and I couldn't believe myself.
Its incredibly gorgeous up there during fall with all the vineyard's changing color.

We finally shot the short Milena and I have been working on the past few months; about a couple living with 'alien' status in the United States and face some challenging choices being far from home. I work with Mauro Pivi and in one day we shot out in the Oakland hills, it was a great day of filming with people that take their craft and work seriously and it was lovely working with Milena Grozeva Levy, a talented director and writer. We are all excited because it could be the first of a trilogy of shorts that really looks at the choices those of us in a foreign country face when life throws is curve balls.

I also finished a run of "Inside Davids Mamet's computer" written by Howard Meehan with me, Tim Talbot and Michael Locke. We performed it at Studio300 Theater downtown San Francisco and had a fantastic weekend and audiences. It was another really good experience of working with passionate people that gets things done. It was a night filled with original work by talented artists, Tonya Foster who wrote "Waiting on Humanity" and Howard Meehan doing stand-up, everyone creating quality work and observing the world we live in. It felt like community coming together enjoying performing art as entertainment.


And...I'm more pregnant by the day, November has been a fast paced month of significant change, physical, hormonal and mental.
I'm enjoying the journey this pregnancy is taking me on, its eye opening and significantly making we aware of the human experience. Everyday is different and as a friend of mine said today its truly nine months that makes us really aware of how different everyday is and how we change in every moment. Not only physically is the growth so rapid and noticeable its also something that forces us to be really present in the moment and aware of the world we live in, since the sense of responsibility sets in and priorities become clear.
I look forward to the festive season and going home to South Africa for a month and also spending some time in New York.
Happy Thanks Giving!

22 WEKE

Somer het uiteindelik aangebreek en dalk bly dit vir 'n dag of twee:) Hier op ons deel van die California kus waar dit al laat herfs is ervaar ons nou eers regtig somer. Ek en jy het Sondag saam met die wonderlike en unieke "Swim-Pod" gaan kuier by China Beach en krap (daai oggend deur Matt gevang) ge-eet van die kole af en toe lekker in die see geswem. Met die warm son was die koue water gladnie erg nie, dit was fantasties. Ek is so lief vir die son! In die laaste week het jy skielik begin beweeg en voel-voel binne my, en dit laat my elke keer glimlag wanneer ek jou ligte aanpor voel. My hart klop vinnig van opgewondenheid deesdae. Gisteraand in my Drama/Sang klas kon ek nie my hart laat bedaar nie, en jou warm teenwoordigheid was baie klaarblyklik en prominent. Ek het so idee dat jy van musiek hou, wie van ons doen nie! Soos iemand gister kwyt raak god is musiek, ons ware essence as mens word uitgebeeld deur musiek.

Ek en Ryan het onder die half maan heerlik op die strand gaan stap nou die aand en die branders het soos 'n lafenis oor al ons besorgdhede geval. Daar is 'n oorweldigende gevoel van warm dankbaarheid vir al ons seeninge. Jy is die wonderlikste seening engel, noe-noe kind.

Ek kan nie wag om eendag hierdie deel van paradys met jou te kom deel nie, gister toe ek saam met Eli, my ander boetie op Baker beach gaan stap slaan die skoonheid van die land my weer weg en terwyl ek in die huis werk en saam met Patience(ons swartste kat) op my stoel sit en koer en uitkyk op my boom met sy inwoner Hummingbird(Kolibrie), weet ek ons het 'n baie spesiale nessie hier geskrop met goeie vriende reg langs ons as bure. 'n Warm son en die lig wat dit bring laat my altyd met liefde na die dag en lewe kyk.
Ons sien uit om ons dae met jou te deel, darling meisie!
Lief vir jou ...

21 WEKE

Ek skryf nou vir jou sodat jy kan weet hoe jy die wereld al van vroeg af affekteer. Ek waarsku jou baie mense sien uit na jou koms en kannie wag om jou te ken en te bederf en lief te he nie. Onder andere SES Oupa's en Ouma's! Ek weet nie hoeveel kinders kan dit se nie. Jou Ouma Salome is die ander een vir wie ek die dagboek skryf, sy hou daarvan om ingelig te wees, so wees nou al gewaarsku, sy kan nie wag om jou te ontmoet nie!
My job vir nou is om jou te help gesond groei, en lus vir die lewe te maak. So ek luister hard na jou en dit is regtig stunning wat ek in die proses leer. So vroeg begin jy al leermeester wees. Ek kan nie aldag die veranderinge in my wese en dae glo of verstaan nie, maar ek geniet my gate uit en kan net dink hoe lekker dit gaan wees as jy eers heeltemal hier is om dit als mee te deel. EK bak skielik koekies en het die naweek selfs vir jou pa 'n verjaarsdag koek gebak, chocolat met coconut, sy gunsteling, en dit was 'n sukses. Amper so lekker soos jou Ouma Quinta sin, sy was die chocolat koek koningin.
Ek kan nie genoeg van Sonya Kitchell, folk en Suid Afrikaanse musiek kry nie, miskien is jy die verskoning wat ek nodig gehad het om selfs meer te indulge maar ek voel hoe jy reageer op sekere musiek en skielik wil ek kitaar leer spieel en wie weet wat anders.
Ek wens daar was meer ure in die dae, dat ek vir ure kon sit en staar en droom oor jou en jou hierwees, nie dat ek regtig gestop word om dit te doen nie, want ek kan myself nie help nie, maar my engel mens se dae vul baie vinnig op, dis snaaks. En dan is daar dae soos vandag wat almal op my kanselleer en ek maar te bly is want skielik het ek die hele dag vir my en jou. Ek kan lees en dalk selfs Chocolat chip coconut koekies bak vir die lekker. Wow, my soet tand is besig om hand uit te ruk en ek probeer om maar matigheid voor oe te hou, (Ouma Quinta het altyd gewaarsku om matigheid te behou) maar dis moeilik om nee te se wanneer Halloween lekkers orals in die huis rond le. Ek handig dit vir almal met wie ek in aanraking kom uit, maar dit voel nie of dit opraak nie, en ek eet heeltemal teveel sweets. Ek belowe ek eet andersins baie gesond en drink my vitaminas, want ek weet jy het al die goeie goed nodig.
Die son skyn vandag en ek het heerlik op die strand gaan stap en sing en maar geglimlag vir almal wat my snaaks aanloer omdat ek hardop sing sonder om te skroom. Ek oefen en jy moet gewoond raak aan my stem. En ek het uiteindelik yoga gedoen saam met Jen, ag dit was lekker en die verskil wat dit maak is ongelooflik. Ek gaan voorneem om elke dag Yoga te doen.
Jy is nou 21 weke oud en jou pa begin al hoe meer met jou praat en ek kan voel hoe jy rustig raak wanneer hy my magie washou en vryf, hy kan meer as enige-iemand nie wag vir jou nie. Hy is soos 'n kat wat volroom melk kry elke dag. Ons is so lief vir jou, BABA, my oe skiet sommer vol trane..

I'm just saying...: A quick update...

I'm just saying...: A quick update...: "I know its been a while. Days, weeks, months fly by me and I feel like a spectator who's neck isn't long or agile enough to keep up. Here go..."

A quick update...

I know its been a while. Days, weeks, months fly by me and I feel like a spectator who's neck isn't long or agile enough to keep up. Here goes a brief update:
Aug/Sept: My 'bestest friend in the whole world' came to visit for 3 weeks. We spent some time in LA and celebrated birthdays, then we did an incredible road trip through Mammoth and Yosemite, holding our breath in awe. Very excited we drove over the bay bridge into the fog city that greeted us with its known face. There is a certain mystique seeing the city hanging in its cloud trying to stay visible. We had a few days to explore SF, its magic, beauty and grit. Then we were of again to roam the big-sky country, Montana and Yellowstone for Labor day. In one day we swam in the lake in the morning, catching our dinner(beautiful rainbow trout), and in the afternoon we were playing in the snow!?!? ... we had an incredible time being together, driving each other crazy and enjoying the discoveries being made daily. Only soul-sisters can hold up such brutally honest mirrors for each other.
Sept/Oct: Since she left I quit being a waitress. I hung that hat and plan to find a more comfortable one. One that inspires and brings joy to my daily existence and those around me.
As actress I had a busy couple months, you know when it rains it pours so we ride the tiger while its around. Sept/Oct we rehearsed and performed a very unique original play by Howard Meehan, "Inside David Mamet's Computer" at the Film Center in San Francisco.
Our little short film; "This is Charlotte King" won best SD film at the San Diego Film festival.
I participated in a couple short films that look at some interesting points of view, I look forward to sharing these with you. I also take part in my first Zombie Flick, "Life is for the living", that had me giggling for days. I think this is probably a San Francisco film actress must, now I can scratch that of my list.
We are standing in the middle of October, elections are around the corner and my observation, (since I can't vote here yet); it's really time for Americans to look up their common sense again and not feed into the buy-outs fed to them daily. Allowing fear to rule is only pushing this beautiful creative people into a corner where they can't seem to breath or think rationally. Giving so much energy to those we blame only empower them, depletes our own way, potential and means. Things change and has to, resisting this constant in life only brings more pain to the moment.
Reconnecting with the self-healing art Metamorphosis has me back on my soapbox about living from our true source without fear, or at least carry "fear" as a friend and not our ruler.

Charaiveti

I did a job for a Canadian French Cheese company and had the opportunity to speak a couple of lines in French. What an interesting and frustrating experience. I learn a lot every time I'm on set and this was no exception. Six hours on set trying to please everyone and making sure I keep my end of the deal. The lesson again is that one cannot please everyone and that we can only do the best we can with what we have in every moment. Staying positive and not allowing the moment to overwhelm me, is the challenge. I did get through it and will be very interested to see the end result.
Never a dull moment.
This year seems to be the year where every one is embracing their power and true path of choice. I watch my days play out and the days of those close to me and the amount of change and dramatic action is astonishing. I see metamorphosis taking place in worlds colliding with mine and its exciting, overwhelming and definitely scary at times. But I say go peeps! "Charaiveti" beloved ones, Charaiveti(keep on moving)!
Patience our new cat is the most beautiful creature. She is pure joy, a great cuddle and a little panther that is always looking for her next prey. I am so happy to have my own patience pay off, to have this wonderful soul enter our household bringing even more life and love to it.
Going for a walk on the beach yesterday I saw only the seals around, I miss the pelicans and dolphins who is not out in the same abundance as previous years. I don't blame them since the weather has been one grey day after another. The light is affecting me and makes me want to run and hide at the same time. I jump in the car with Ryan for a ride along at least once a week to go find the summer. I'm reminded why I had to leave London after a year, not one for the grey light. Plus I love summer and the sun and I'm from Africa for goodness sake...I'm just saying.

"Happy Accidents" written and directed by Brad Anderson was a my favorite movie this week. It's an independent with Marissa Tomei and Vincent Donotrio. Quirky, funny and with a good measure of depth I really loved it and if you're up for something a little different, watch it. I love Marissa Tomei's work and choices and thought the script engaging and good.
I'm just saying...

July!

I'm just saying...thanks to my blackberry!
Without it I would probably be completely disconnected and a little stress ball.
Here's what I think happened; my computer heard me talking about switching to a Mac, abandoning it, a PC. Before I could finish the purchase and make a smooth transition it disconnected on me. So for the whole month of July I could do only the basics and stay in touch via my blackberry, whose little screen can only be tolerated for a limited time. I will admit that a part of me cherished the excuse of being off line. In the event July became a fabulously fun, connected and lucrative month.
I booked a great job with CISCO and had a great day at PUREBRED Studios filming, working with a fabulous crew and the very generous people from Westernized Productions and CISCO.
Auditioning has been a riot and great moments keep happening to me everyday. I'm excited about my career and work.
On an incredible day of seeking sun north in Tomales Bay we ate dozens of oysters and bbq with strangers also enjoying the summer. I spent a weekend in Texas eating ribs at a family reunion in Austin. Basking in the sun and heat, going down fun slides to cool down in the back yard and laying in a hammock enjoying the magic of a fairy garden.

The most annoying thing in my life right now is the weather, seriously boring and grey. No... thats not a word I believe I even know how to spell [boring]. Really, there's always something interesting in every moment to see, hear, taste, feel, sense and it always amazes me when the word boredom comes up and snaps me out of a day dream. Is this maybe because we had to entertain ourselves as kids when on long road-trips when we had only each other and the clouds in the sky to keep us entertained. No mini tv's in the car or endless electronics to get sucked into silently. Mom and dad had to either turn up their music loud or constantly had to turn and ask for some quiet time. I smile thinking of those trips fondly, the bonding and irritation and fun we had and made. I'm thankful for a childhood of dirt, very limited tv time and no cell phones, a lot of freedom to create a world I wanted to be in.

I now own a mac and while I'm still learning, I'm loving it! I feel like a child that get to play in the dirt again with this multi-touch trackpad and fun tools on it that makes me want to create worlds again.

I have been off the couch and so my independent film watching was cut to almost zero. I'll I have been reading a lot and scribbling a ton though. I will have to commit to this one constant in my blog all over again. So: I'll watch a film a week to have something to talk about in case it's all I have to talk about.


Watch this space...I'm just saying.