“EMPATHY” is this week’s buzzword for everyone except (ahem!) Donald Trump. To the shock and horror of the eloquent Mr. and Mrs. Khan (parents of the fallen U.S. Armed Services hero, Captain Humayn Khan) and other Gold Star Families, Democrats, Republicans-brave-enough-to-speak-out, and just about all compassionate Americans old enough to understand, there seems to be no end to the continual insults flowing uncontrollably from the big fat unfiltered mouth of TOUCHY TRUMP.

Trump is our MOST EMBARRASSING Presidential Candidate EVER!

Maybe Trump should try volunteering at my hospital for a crash course in Empathy 101, but there’s no way (NO WAY!) he could intelligently interact with the diverse population of patients and family members who freak out as they deal with physical and mental pain, while stuck in limbo, waiting…

Trump could learn a lot from our ER Staff though…

Boy, what I’d give to see our tightly-wound, uncompromising Triage Nurse Anthony Chan monitor King-of-Tantrums-Trump when his diarrhea-mouth attacks a stressed-out someone who accidentally pushes his buttons. Rule-stickler Anthony Chan may be small in size, but he’s big on principle. When Trump loses it, Chan will lash out at him, wash his mouth out with Purell and ban him from the ER. (Wish he could ban him from the U.S.) Keep Reading»

more hugs less hate

The world is freaking me out! Anxiety levels are at an all time high. Between the pathetic and polarizing politics of Presidential campaigns, gun control debates and less-than-safe safety practices on college campuses, there’s no way to get relief.  Can you imagine being in Orlando right now with all of the tragedy? Haters of love, death at Disney World, a singer gets stalked:  Extremism, Alligators, Stalkers, Mosquitoes… it’s all too much.

Is Any Place Safe?

There’s no way to know what to be afraid of, so we might as well not be afraid of anything. I mean when Anton Yelchin gets killed in his own driveway by his own car, it makes you think why worry? We have no control.

Whatever’s gonna happen is gonna happen. We can’t predict when or why. If it’s our time, it’s our time.

Making The World Better

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An alarming article, “Actors: ‘It’s So Easy to Exploit Them’ in the April 8^th Hollywood Reporter sheds light on a disturbing and accepted new practice in our morally ambiguous industry. Actors are now paying thousands of dollars for the privilege of auditioning in front of casting directors — aka “taking workshops” — with ‘students’ “landing jobs everywhere from ABC to Hulu.”

According to the HR,

“More than two dozen companies offer more than 450 sessions of these “workshops” in a month’s span during pilot season – that many in the industry presume the practice is entirely aboveboard.”

Is The Casting System Ethically Sinking ?!

It’s not above board. In California exchanging money for the prospect of employment is I L L E G A L !

The Krekorian Talent Scam Prevention Act outlaws workshops and casting directors from charging or attempting to charge an artist for an audition or employment opportunity.

Why is Everyone Looking The Other Way?

Why isn’t anything being done? Why are SAG-AFTRA and the Casting Society of America powerless? Why are cost-conscious networks and studios cutting their casting allowances and allowing this illegal practice to flourish? Keep Reading»

Voices in my head keep….

• interpreting warnings from CNN — scaring me about going just about anywhere, any day, any time —
• repeating Trump’s boisterous blunders – reminding me that 40% of the population seems to agree with him —
• warning me that newer, younger, hotter, blond actresses are now on the radar of the Casting Directors who used to champion me —
• cautioning me that I don’t know how to do anything except for Acting, Volunteering and Ubering —
• challenging me to be a little braver and collaborate on a short film or web series so I can gain control my own destiny —
• reminding me that my life of not knowing isn’t nearly as bad as those of the patients who come into the ER and find out really big things to worry about —
• channelling my mom and prompting me to find the funny even when it hurts.

Sunny sunflowers remind me of my mom

The middle of the night is an excellent time to stress about things like: “Will I ever book a great gig again?” or “Am I destined to remain an Uber driver for the remainder of my life?”  Tuesday night provides me with a double whammy worry as I notice an odd looking bump on my neck. My insomniatic issues are compounded as I google “red bumps on necks” and can’t decide if I have a bacterial or fungal infection, skin cancer, or if I’ve just been bitten by a Zika-carrying-mosquito.

Volunteering in the ER —

Hours later during my early morning ER shift, I happen to catch the eye of Dr. A on a never-ending call with a former ER patient stressing about a medication she’s been taking.  He tries and tries to reassure her in the nicest and most calming way, not getting anywhere till — Keep Reading»

“Get away from me!”

I don’t remember much about going to Sunday School other than it was kinda boring and something I was forced to do when I would’ve had way more fun hanging out with my friends or at the very least with my pillow on Sunday mornings. But lately with all of the hate-talk from Trump and the glaring racial injustice broadcast on every news station, email alert, hashtag and newspaper I’m reminded of something my Sunday School Teachers drummed into my uninterested brain —

“Prejudice is Fear.

It’s a definition I’d never heard before or after, but it stayed with me all these years.

Right now it rings truer than ever as —

• Donald the demagogue appeals to the emotions, fears and ignorance of uneducated Americans so he can gain power and promote his political motives.
• Police rookies unintentionally racial profile and shoot-first-think-later.
• Law-abiding citizens and families are being targeted because of their ethnicity or religion.
• Many of us avoid crowds, planes, civic and sports events in order to stay safe.
• We resist protecting the rights of others, worrying that it will diminish our own rights.

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positive thinking!

Every year I post New Year’s Eve and New Year’s Day Superstitions but enough with the scary!  2015 has been depressing and difficult enough with long wars, wicked winds and long-winded wicked politicians. Let’s focus on super simple superstitions that are POSITIVE and bring GOOD LUCK only.

Now break out the kale, coins and cash because…

GOOD LUCK will come to you if you  —

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