Showing Up...Isn't that Half of Success?

Here's the African American Art and Culture Complex in San Francisco where I auditioned for a new play by Bernard Norris, "The 91 Owl." This is only a piece of the outstanding jazz mural facing the parking lot. Had it not been for that fancy schmanzy Black and White Ball featuring Tony Bennett and KD Lang that caused the Saturday closing at 1 PM of Van Ness Avenue creating gridlock all around town, I might have had a shot at making it there - across town from most everywhere - on time. No worries, everyone was late. I got to read for three different roles - a businesswoman, an older Mexican woman, and a gal named Marge whom I knew nothing about, so made her up as I went along. Lots of fun! Two terrific actors also read, one for a drunk with PTSD and the other, a seasoned comic, for the role of a guy without legs. This promises to be a rip-roaring comedy about life in our hard times as seen frm the vantage point of people waiting for the late-night bus in San Francisco. They still need a couple of folks to read for the roles of Latino youth, in case you know anyone.

Afterwards, I had lunch at one of my favorite real food joints on Geary, Mel's Diner. Yes, well, Character Actress Lunching.

My waitress, Anna, was adorable. Told me I am a happy person. Yes, as a matter of fact, I am.

Then, a few hours later, I attended Miss Kathleen's birthday dinner at Khan Toke, the great old Thai place where you take off your shoes and sit in a well, and the waiters can carry 30 plates at once and rattle off jokes, without missing a beat - or losing your shoes.

Photos by Lisa Carlson.