2008... you were kinda rad

Here I am, standing on the edge of the cliff I call 2008. About 7 months ago I wanted to jump off!
It was a year that began with hope, but quickly dissolved into devastation.
I survived my first real heartbreak, and ...shit.... this was beyond anything I could've imagined.
The painful, terrible realizations and unbearable sadness were so dramatic, I really felt like I was looking in on someone else's story - but it was all mine.
People tell you that time will heal, you'll feel better soon... blaa blaa blaa...
I never thought I would feel better, but I do.
I believe that the Universe sends you messages, and you have to open them up. I do, and they have helped me move forward. All my friends and my Mom and sister may not have known what to say, but just being there for me was pretty momentous.
For my self help, I got a trampoline. I love that thing! You cannot be bummed while jumping on a trampoline - it's just not possible.
I redecorated.
I worked. a lot.
I was Activity Coordinating.
I was also recording 2 Sims games: MySims Kingdom and The Sims 3.
Shit, it was crazy. I cried, I took people on a pub crawl.
I cried, then acted like a 6 year old who speaks some crazy language.
I cried.
... a lot.
But I was busy.
I bought a ticket.
...to Ireland & the UK!
I was feeling better...
I had hope, something to look forward to-
I saw old friends that I adore, and made so many new friends that I hold in my heart ♥ now too.
I went places I have dreamt of my whole life, and they exceeded my imagination. I found myself again; I realized my value and strength.
It brings tears to my eyes when I remember these times, and it makes me so happy that I recognize these meaningful moments to be as special as they are.
I have learned a lot. I went through so many emotions; I grew up even more. I know how it feels to have a broken heart... it sucks, and I dread it happening again ... but NOW I get it. I'm so thankful I'm capable of loving that strong, even when the pain is just as strong (and then amplified by like a gazillion).

The point is, I survived and triumphed.
All by myself.

Time does heal. It's not all
blaa
blaa
blaa

Here's to 2009!

yeeeehaw MySims!

I was just confirmed to start recording MySims 3 next month! I LOVE BEING A VOICE ACTOR! I've been a part of The Sims since 2003 - since I was cast in The Sims 2, my life hasn't been the same. I've met so many amazing people, and it is really fun to have a session where you really work your brain: making up new words, matching the timing of the animations... playing a 6 year old kid! I work with the coolest people at EA too - they work endlessly to make these games as brilliant as they are. I can't imagine editing all that crazy Simlish!
Recording MySims is a bit different than "Original" Sims. The characters are so adorable, but you cannot play them like they are the cutest little Sims ever. When we record regular Sims I keep my energy and my pitch high - but with MySims I have to retain all that energy but keep my pitch low. "Ladytown" is what we call it. hehe
A great challenge, and another reason why I love my job. Learning all these techniques and how to really listen and pay attention has helped me in other jobs I've booked too. Shit, it has helped me outta the booth as well. I'm just so grateful and happy - I really think it's amazing that I get to be a part of something so huge. It's such a rad thing to look forward to. Hurray for 2009! It's gonna be a good year.

To Rapp it up you gotta start somewhere...

It's a rainy day in San Francisco, a lazy Sunday destined for the true comforts of ... laziness! A fluffy blanket, Irish tea(and a Magners- maybe 2?), some tunes and quite shockingly, a little motivation.
My lovely friend Pablo (http://pablorodriguez.co.uk/) has set me up with everything I need to be a blogger. The problem was that I was (am) a big lagger. Like really bad.
Look at me now! A start!
So I am a voice actor living in San Francisco, and everyone is always asking me why I'm not living in Los Angeles. Easy answer really... happiness. For some, it is a land of amusement - all that celebrity fanciness and big money deals. I lived down there for Drama School, and that was enough, I tell ya. I am perfectly happy to be carless, trekking the hills in my Blundstones and watching the fog roll in. Video games are a big market here, and it is some solid, challenging work -- so much fun... I'm gonna do it as long as they let me! I love it and never take it for granted. Plus, I really love being secret.
Things are a bit slow now, but I did have an audition this week. It was for "Alphie", an 8-12 year old robot of undetermined gender. I was emailed the script and a sound file that the producers didn't want us to emulate at all. Oh, and we weren't to sound like a robot either. Ha! It's a funny business knowing what the client wants, but it sure is amusing trying to figure it all out. We'll see what happens!
This afternoon I'm going to this: http://www.ecoholidaysf.com/index.php
It's basically an "eco-mall" with loads of rad sustainable gifts. There's music and chocolate and probably I'll get to babe out a bit too. I have no crushes right now! This is very rare and frankly, a bit sad. So, I need to babe out a bit.
It's one of those days when it's grey and all you wanna do is be in your pajamas. But, I still got some motivation to move, and I gotta thank my buddy Pablo for getting me here. Thanks P.

I don't like to shop, which makes this even more amazing:
Eco Mall, here I come!



and that my friends, is a Rapp :)