Diary of an Extreme Cowgirl

Every cowgirl has an Extreme Story. So What's Yours?

I am working on many updates. I apologize for being MIA.
I had a very tragic event, Feb 2009, and I seemed to shut down with writers block.

Follow along as I dust myself off after being paralyzed from a broken neck.
Are you an Extreme Cowgirl?
Soon you can add your story to http://www.extremecowgirls.com/

Sunday, February 22, 2009

America's Next top Model

Posted by Extreme_Cowgirl

No I am not going to be on the show lol not tall enough lol
But I do work on Film and Tv in the SF Bay area. A friend called me up to see if I was feeling up to working as a Production Assistant on American Next Top Model.

The show is having open casting calls at the Westin Hotel  in San Francisco, Ca.

I will be in charge of making sure all the applicants have all the paper work filled out, Photos and copies of identification. Paper clips, staples, Skinny girls oh my.

My movie buddie picked me up and were are off to SF at about 5 am




It is pouring down rain and there is a line around the hotel 2 times. Oh boy this is going to be a long day.

Thankfully I am working inside all day :)
I do feel sorry for the guys outside handing out applications to those that did not print them out at home.





So as the potential models come in, they are told to sit in our waiting area. This area is filled with chairs, about 400 chairs. I believe we refilled this area at least 15 times throughout the day.

I then went row by row.
"Ok this row, please pass me your completed applications and photos, do not hand me any photos you won't let us keep"

Then I stapled the photos to the application. Do you have any idea how many times I was asked "when do we get our pictures back?" or they actually handed me their Social Security card..... Duh.... I also was asked a million times "which photos should I use" to which I would reply "I can not pick for you, use the photos that you think show who you are at your best" ...



I think at the time this was taken I had processed about 1000 models.. my brain had gone on vacation lol

Though I have to say, I think I look good for just out of a neck brace :)







For a while I got to be in the casting room with the film crew. Where each girl was asked a few questions on camera and height measured. Yes we made them take off their shoes and measured.








It was a ton of fun hanging out with my film crew buddies.

But wow was I tired
There is talk going around about two TV shows coming to the bay area..
Hope so because this may be the only work I will get. My buddies will look past the neck and give me a chance.

But no more stunts for me :(

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Wednesday, February 11, 2009

Adventure in Chinatown

Posted by Extreme_Cowgirl

Or adventures out of a neck brace. For an almost paralyzed person even though I was a quadriplegic for only about 24 hours, anyone that has been paralyzed or close to it knows that any time walking or waving is a blessing and never to be taken for granted.


So... Saturday Feb 7 I had a big day. My new head shots seem to be doing wonders. Or producers want to see the girl that is indestructible because I have never had so many calls for auditions before so close together. I had 2 auditions on Saturday alone. I have another one for a feature film, speaking role, this coming Monday.

Because I still can't drive I took Bart. You have to love Bart in the Bay area. Its great and you don't have to worry about parking. So first audition was in Hayward, CA. Took Bart and walked 10 min to site. I rocked the audition and hope hope hope to get a call in a week or two. They have another round of auditions next weekend so have to wait. One of the guys auditioning for a rock star in the tv show was also filming a PSA in SF that afternoon and offered to drive me in so I didn't have to ride on Bart. Movie people are so nice, besides I knew him so don't worry I don't always get in strangers cars lol.

Second audition was in SF, I was 2 hours early lol but hey that's my reputation in the biz. Early and super helpful. I had to do a 3 monologue which I suck at but I did Ok. They sprung that bit on me the night before so they weren't expecting greatness. Whew. but on the cold reading I rocked as always, cold readings are acting a scene from the movie your auditioning for without seeing the script ahead of time.

After the auditions were over and I was walking to a Bart station I realize that the Chinese new year parade is that day. So the brilliant idea comes to me to walk to china town. lol well after walking right up Powell st which is up and up and up lol I realized I forgot where china town is lol But I found it in the end. I had fun looking at the shops, bought some food and shocked some Chinese people with my mad chopstick skills.

I have family that are from japan and china lol.. so picture this. An obvious non asian girl walking while eating Chinese food with chopsticks and wearing a back pack and a lasso rope coiled around my neck and shoulder. lol

one of the auditions was for a cowgirl that could rope so I brought my own lol.. The looks I got lol. awesome lol....

So walking back to Bart I see the parade and stop to watch Then rode Bart home and felt the beginnings of leg pain.

Well I thought I would be hurting, but the next day was super funny.

I realized that 4 months of forced relaxing can really make you out of shape lol
In the morning I stood up out of bed and hello.... I couldn't lol my legs went on strike. I couldn't straighten them because I over did the muscles in the back of them, But in the end I had a freakin awesome day. sorry that some pictures are out of focus. I forgot my camera, which is a rare thing, and my good camera phone broke so I had my old phone with me.

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Monday, February 09, 2009

planning a funeral

Posted by Extreme_Cowgirl

We are planning the funeral for March.
So many people want to come and say goodbye.

Police have been stopping by all night and day to visit with the family.
People getting ready to retire are sharing stories with us of Grandpa when he was their mentor in the rookie years. He meant so much to many people.

All agree that the police force is a much different place now, but when grandpa was on the job he was very intimidating without having to do much yet still had a kind heart. He would give people a chance but he remembered everyone and you didn't get another free pass.

I miss him already. I have some auditions in a few days. Need to find a way to keep going.

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Sunday, February 08, 2009

Tragic Loss

Posted by Extreme_Cowgirl




Tonight the healthiest and most active person I know has passed away.
My Grand Father golfed every week and was at the Car Races every weekend as a Pit Crew Member. Yes you heard me. My 80 something grandpa was still out there in the pits putting race cars back to together.Always on the move and up for showing me how to fix my car or truck so I didn't spend a fortune at the repair shop.

I have learned so much from him. Replacing water pumps, breaks, break lines, cables, starter, fuel pump... you name it he showed me how to fix it. When my car would break, sure it annoyed me to no end, but it meant I got to hang out with grandpa.

There is too much about him to say right now.. Give me time.

A veteran of a war and local police force, His passing has come as a shock to everyone. A few wouldn't believe us. The local Racing world is in shock and speechless.

I for one lost it at the hospital. There I am standing there looking at what was my grandpa. I in my braces near screaming at the world.

I get a second life. I died and came back when many others in my place don't.

Grandpa is the second person I have lost, within weeks, that I believe deserved another life.

Why am I here?

He felt no pain from a brain aneurysm. We lost him in seconds.

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