So, try as I might, I couldn't recover my initial Stagekiss blog. I had Blogger Help trying to figure it out with me, but....no dice. I was actually slightly flattered that my little lost blog stumped some of the Blogger genius tech help...that is, until I gave my confession, that I had deleted my blog 3 years ago. AH! That cleared the mystery, which they then, basically gave me a sympathetic cyber pat-on-the-back, that my blog was long gone after 3 years...which shocked the hell outta me! Aren't Google servers nearly infinite in their capacity of space? You coulda knocked me over with a feather when I heard my blog was gone.
*Sigh*
In a way, I'm glad it's gone. It had become a conduit to vent my frustration over Sonoma State, where I earned my Bachelor's Degree in Theatre, ALTHOUGH, I've recently been told by Sonoma State University (SSU for short), that I didn't actually earn my BA yet...that I still have some credits missing. WTF?! Credits "missing"? You mean, like the kids that are "missing" and show up on the backs of milk cartons? THAT kind of "missing"? REALLY? Since when, SSU? When I am afforded some free time in September, I plan to challenge this assertion, in person, because as far as I know, the degree that sits in one of my boxes in storage, in its pretty little cover, is good as gold. But, more on this later. I'll be sharing more about this missing BA in Theatre degree from SSU in a later blog. Let me just say that I will fight tooth and nail to prove that I earned my degree from SSU, because I will not let that little eyesore of a "university" steal one more red cent from me. In fact, my friend Jocelyn fought them over their bullshit, that they said she didn't earn her BA degree (they said to her, as well, that she didn't have enough credits), and won! I plan to do the same. AND, I'll be sharing the good, the bad and the ugly on my blog. If any of you want to know my candid feelings on SSU, and my experience with it, I'd like to encourage you to read over my Yelp reviews, which you can handily find by typing in LeAnne Rumbel, on Yelp.com
But again, more on that later.
Rashly, I put the kabosh on my first Stagekiss blog, after I had some uncomfortable run-ins over blog posts I made (and here I thought no one would give a rat's ass what some little nobody in San Francisco thought...who knew?). I decided to strike my blog, hang up my hat and step away from Blogger for good....but like any writer who loves the idea of self-publishing, and sharing a bit of their perspective with the world, blogging is a delicious fit. And you know what? While some of my blog posts WERE, admittedly, a bit controversial, I LOVED the fact that I had a fan in Indonesia! INDONESIA! Someone cared enough to read what I was musing about, and make a comment or two, from INDONESIA.....c'mon, how great is that?!
Of course, some hate mail from past SSU peers of mine, the brush-off I received from a few SSU instructors I've had, and an awkward moment between a local critic in Marin and myself I could've done without, but it was also invigorating to know that I had, with my little blog, provoked some people, while allowing me to free myself from my resentment(s) I've held onto, and had a forum to speak my mind, to vent and scream out that I was mad as hell and I wasn't gonna take it anymore! (Ten points if you can name the film that quote comes from)
And so, here we go again. STAGEKISS IS REBORN, and I have to say, I'm pleasantly surprised that www.stagekiss.blogspot.com was not taken! In fact, I was shocked! Since I put the kabosh on my first Stagekiss blog, Madonna kissed Britney onstage at the MTV music awards (I know, I know, ancient history by now...but it was a Stagekiss, after all), countless stage kisses have been shared, the words 'stage kiss' continues to draw thousands of google traffic hits, AND Sarah Ruhl wrote a play called 'Stage Kiss'. I thought FOR SURE, when I finally accepted the hard truth that my first Stagekiss blog was gone to the ethers, that some lucky SOB had snapped up Stagekiss. Nope. Now, Stagekids? Whoo boy, you have no idea how long gone that blog name is. But Stagekiss? Is still my baby.
It's good to be back.
Stagekiss was never gone, just on an extended hiatus. Had the same experience at SJSU by the way. They cost me my first job as the company checked my references and graduation and SJSU turned me down. I had the diploma and all the bells and whistles. So pissed off I went to the records office and almost was thrown out for insubordination. Campus police show up and start giving me grief. In the end I prevailed and eventually became gainfully employed. Still, wonder what my life would have been if I got that first job. Doesn't really matter what could have been but what really is. I still believe in what Mr. Wizard said, "Be what you is and not what you is not! Folks that is what they is, is the happiest lot!" Welcome back
ReplyDeleteAh, Gideon, there it is! I was riding on my disappointment that I'd lost my blog, when actually, it wasn't gone at all, just on hiatus! Thank you, sweet one!
ReplyDeleteAnd you bet, I'm not going to take this laying down or sitting still. I EARNED my damn degree, and I'm out to prove that I have graduated, and THANK YOU for your inspiring story. If I have to, I'll cause a scene, if they tell me "no". I guess I've always been afraid to cause a scene and pull attention to myself, which actually makes NO sense, as I'm an actor, fer crissake. I'm happy to hear that everything turned out for the best for you. Bravo! Please cross your fingers for me, as I'll attempt to show SSU that YES, I did indeed graduate. And YES, I'll cause a scene if I have to!
LeAnne, how many people do you get along with that speak out to protect themselves? I don't know many that I like. I know many that do that, make a scene, get what they want, don't let themselves get stepped on. Usually they are a pain in the ass and so concerned that they aren't taken advantage of, that they take advantage of others. Someone mess with a sibling, a friend, someone being bullied, I will speak, no I will jump up to their defense. I understand that actors need to approach things from a perspective that they are acting and not themselves. How else can someone who isn't bitchy be that way? I don't think I could be an actor. I don't have the ability to step out of who I am, and be someone I am not. Can you really cause a scene? “What the fuck happened to my diploma? I WANT MY DIPLOMA AND NOW!” Go for it LeAnne, make a scene, but do it quietly. Write a letter and back-up your facts. That is what I ended up doing after i let out some very uncharacteristic words from me to a clerk. A student at that. Almost made her cry. Felt like a total ass. I kind of like to snap every now and then. Especially when getting screwed by someone who takes more authority than they deserve. Then you let them have it. I remember going to a bar and getting charged double for drinks because I miss read the poorly written drink special. Rather than 6 dollars, they wanted to charge me 18. “No f'ng way”. The bartender just looked at me, stunned. Called his manager, told the manager the same thing. They fumbled. I guess no one had every refused to pay a bar tab in such a vocal way. I got up and left. Bouncer put his hand on me. I so much wanted to be macho then, puff up my chest and kick in his knee or something that I have seen on a movie. Tell him to take his hand off of me if he wants to keep it. I almost chickened out and I wanted to just go back and pay the fucking tab. But I had had it. I looked at this guy that outweighed me by 100 lbs and could take my arm off with a simple twist. I looked at him and I did the only thing any self-respecting person would do. I started to cry. I could not believe it. I started to cry like a little kid. I was so shocked. SO was the bouncer. I must have been having one of those male PMS days. He let go and I walked out. I have never been back. And it is a bummer because I really liked the bar. But i just cried. Big tears, and nose running and all that stuff. What the hell happened to me I don't know. So, make a quiet scene unless you don't mind breaking down and crying and losing any last vestment of self-respect. To this day I don’t know what happened to me. I cried. Wasted good tears that I could have saved for a rainy day. I love walking in the rain, 'cause then no-one knows I'm crying. . What a fucking baby I was that day. Truly a PMS episode for me. (Painful Memory Syndrome.)
ReplyDeleteHi Gideon,
ReplyDeleteWow, what a comment! I deeply appreciate your raw honesty, and the kindness you possess, to open up like this on my blog! I hardly expected anyone to post, let alone find a blogger like you that I could truly relate to. No, you're absolutely right. I don't want to cause a scene, and the times I have, I've embarrassed myself, and like what you said, I made an ASS of myself. It wasn't me, and I was acting against my own character, by doing that.
Now, like you, I battle the bullies. OMG BIG TIME. If someone is bullying a friend of mine, a family member, me, or when I've seen bullies picking on someone who, you can tell, won't fight back, I will step in. Bullies are a big ol' trigger for me. It stems from being bullied myself, when I was in grade school.
BUT, I can TOTALLY understand your reaction to being asked to pay WAY more than what you thought you were going to. I think that's a perfectly honest reaction, and I think the emotional reaction came from hitting your tolerance threshold. What I mean by that is, we can all deal with a certain amount of crap. We deal with that everyday. But when we were promised something, like a promise to pay $6 instead of $18, it feels like we're being f**ked, on the spot, and NOBODY wants to feel like they've been the victim of bait & switch. You were then further confronted by the big bouncer, that I think, sent off your fight or flight alarm, and to deal with it, you broke down and cried. I think that was a VERY honest reaction to the stress you were dealing with, at the moment. Just alike our crap management threshold, we also have a stress threshold, and anything beyond that, will have an emotional reaction to our threshold(s) being breached.
I'm REALLY sorry that happened to you *big sad sigh*
And yes, Gideon, you made a very salient point: often it's better to walk quietly and carry a big ol' stick, especially when my college degree is at stake!
And one more thing, about being an actor/actress: With every role I tackle, either onstage or in front of the camera, I am still bringing myself into it. I cannot divorce my being LeAnne, when I'm doing my work. Think of it like being a storyteller, which I consider myself to be: the storyteller is taking on a role or roles in the story they share with their audience, but they are still themselves...does that make sense? If they completely divorced themselves from who they were while taking on a role, they would be both psychotic and dangerous. The business of acting is a controlled art form, as I still LeAnne when I'm playing, let's say, Maggie the Cat from CAT ON A HOT TIN ROOF or Norma Desmond from SUNSET BOULEVARD.
Not sure how you did it, but you did put down what I was experiencing. really loved Cat on A Hot Tin Roof. Elizabeth Taylor, what a doll she was. Always can find a reason to fall for older women when they have a past that brings that back to age. I look at some of the actors and am shocked when I see that they were younger than me and seem so damn mature. Must be the make-up, the camera angle, the hair style. I want it all, just for a day. I want my own photo shoot with all the trimmings. Hair, make-up, cloths with style and someone to tell me that I look hot, and all the other stuff that goes into creating an image. Just once..Could not tolerate the set-up but would love the results. But it would be for the moment. Then off comes the make-up, I give back the clothes, my hair gets blown by the wind, and presto chango I am back to me. Not that it is a bad thing to be who you are, but every now and then, get in that man girdle, away goes the muffin top, a little style in my hair and an outfit that i don't pick. That would be a dream. I imagine you get all dolled up and face the camera. Bright lights are brutal, but a nice figure shines, hair glows and make up covers up the scars that brutal cousin gave, bags under the eyes that late nights made, a little start of a jowl in honor of tricky dick. That is a business plan, come in and we will make you look like the guy that is a sample in your wallet window. The guys that come with picture frames. I sometimes want to buy the frame for the picture. Put it up on the wall and when people ask, "Who is that?", that's my mean cousin Hector, or that is my younger sister or some other story that makes up a character in life. Watch out, I will be giving out 1/2 coupons. Will need some one who could bring out the inner beauty of us. Make us look glamorous and sexy. Don't we all want that?
ReplyDeleteNeed to come up with a business name. Any suggestions? need to get back to work. I am having too much fun.
Take care LeAnne and have a great weekend.
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ReplyDeleteGideon, hi! I'm sorry this comment is so damned delayed. I've been headlong in 'life stuff', and I've been woefully behind in keeping this blog up, which I vowed to do from the beginning. Yep, I'm beginning to see why skipping Motherhood was a splendid idea, especially with all my 'go-get em'!' energy that would come when I found out I was preggers. Soon, that energy would fall second in line to my own stuff going on....gads, I could just see it now:
ReplyDelete"Mommy, can you bake me some cupcakes for my school's bake sale?"
Me: "Yeah, not now, honey. Can we schedule that in for a later time in the year, when Mommy's schedule is more flexible?"
"But Mommy! It's the only bake sale of the year!"
Me: "Sorry, sweetheart. It'll have to wait, then, won't it?"
So, here I am dusting off my blog, and away I go again!
Gideon, I have a fantastic idea for you, to fulfill your desire to be an 'actor for a day' (which I think is fantastic); basically, to see what it's like to step into the shoes of an actor, particularly one who will get all dolled up for a photoshoot: Now, there are MANY photographers in town who have connections on costumes, and would be happy to shoot you in character. Often, these same photographers will have hair and makeup person(s) they work with, or have connections with hair & makeup geniuses, who they like to work with, and can style you appropriately. If you would like any referrals/recommendations, just let me know. I know a few peeps who know a few peeps....
Then, at the end of your shoot, you'll have some fantastic shots from your 'Actor For A Day' photoshoot. Then, the lights dim, the makeup washes off, the wind blows your hair out....but oh so sexily....and WAH-LA! You've had a day when you stepped into an actor's shoes.
And you know....you might just get bitten by the acting bug, from your big day. And if that happens, I also know a few peeps who know a few peeps...just sayin'.
Glad that you are alive and kicking. Thought you might have disappeared as you have been silent for a bit. Not sure what has been going on in your life but it sounds like it has been very full. Motherhood is for life and I can see why you opted out. Was rather surprised that this popped in to your blog as some might construe that you were preggers. I actually hate bake sales. Give the kid the damn $20 that the box choco cake with blue frosting would fetch.
ReplyDeleteI hae been busy with life stuff also. Work life, troubles and solutions. Makes for a busy time and life is full without any additional issues. Not sure if I could pass off as a model/slash actor, so I am not sure if I would make the commitment. What would it cost to try yo ne a model for a day? Would be interested to give it a try….would be fun. As an interesting aside, my SO instructed me to have my hair styled in a sexually manageable style, so she could have something to hold on to when... um...well use your imagination (or mine for that matter)……HaHaHa. Could not bring myself to use that as a style description, but I should have to see the reaction.
So,, maybe with my next bonus (after the budget is balanced), I will take the photo shoot, send my shots to an agent and start my new career.
Bouncing around your blog and came across your teeth shots. Your will look uber sexy with your diastema.
Hey Gideon!
ReplyDeleteYes, I'm getting ready for surgery next week, so it's been incredibly busy on my end. I'm about to post a new blog entry, and share all of what's been going on. I must say that, I've learned how important it is for me to write, and to keep writing, even when I feel I have nothing to say.
Yeah, I'm a commitment-phobe Gideon, so becoming a Mom would fly in the face of my phobia and have me screaming for the hills!
Gideon, if you look around and do some internet searching, as well as cross referencing your finds on review sites like: Yelp, Citisearch, etc, you'll find a photog who will fit your needs. I don't know where you live, but the other thing you could do is call up your local EQUITY and/or SAG offices, and ask them for recommendations on model/actor photographers they could recommend.
Gideon, you can't put a dollar sign on an incredible haircut, that makes you feel sexy, inside and out. I spend a small fortune on my hair every year, but I don't see the cost, I see the investment, of how it makes me feel, and the reaction I get from the world around me. And so, if your hair stylist hits the motherlode on finding a fantastic cut for you: CONGRATS! That is worth it's weight in gold. And your SO is onto something: we gals LOVE a sexually manageable style in our mates *wink wink wink*
Thanks for your compliment on my diastema! From what I hear, you'll be able to drive a small pick-up truck through my diastema :-( I mean, a small space is fine, but a Hello-Hillbilly space? YIKES!