My last day in NY. I get breakfast in Harlem, shoot down to the Village to find a hat and some earrings and back up to the Samuel Beckett Theatre to see my friend Gillian Foss in a play. It was a wonderful piece by Mike Leigh titled "Smelling a Rat", also in the cast were Michelle Williams from "Dawson's Creek" and Eddie Kaye Thomas from "American Pie 1 & 2". Gillian and I worked together at The Harley Davidson Cafe. I got to speak with her briefly after the show and off to Newark International Airport I was.

My birthday was yesterday the 28th and my NY friends Genine & Chanel took me to see R&B singer Teena Marie to celebrate. While she was buying the tickets I stayed in the car since it was double parked on 42nd Street. Right at that moment a limo pulled up, I thought it might be Teena coming in for her sound check. It was and I got a photo with her. Yesterday, I also got to hang out with a fellow cast member of the play I was in back in '97, Marcuis Harris.

Today I went to the site of the World Trade Center. To say it was unbelievable would be putting it mildly. To actually be in the space that I've seen in such a tragic way was something I can't even describe. I can't even imagine what it was like 8-9 months ago. I got off at the Brooklyn Bridge stop on the 4/5/6 subway line and was walking toward the memorial hearing the typical "sounds of New York". Ya know the hustle, the bustle, the confusion, the tension. As I approached the memorial all of that stopped. It seemed like that city block, in the middle of downtown NYC, was protected. There was a feeling of calm in the air that was something I had never experience before in such a normally frenetic place. Once I actually got to the site of the many buildings that were no longer standing, I was speechless. My older brother used to work in one of the towers; I had been in the towers and have a photo that I took from the top of one of them. I hope we, human beings, never have to experience anything so tragic ever again.

YES!!! This morning I am on my way to the Big Apple! Yeah!! New York City! It's been almost 2 years since I have been there. Kazarian-Spencer & Associates (KSA), my commercial agency in LA, just opened an office in NY. I'll stop by to say "hi", I just want them to know who I am because you never know. I really want to keep a solid connection to NY. I also stopped in to see my former NY theatrical agent, Penny Luedtke of The Luedtke Agency, just to say "hello" and see how she is doing. This trip to NY is also to see some old friends that I haven't seen for a while, some of which I worked with at the, now defunct, Harley-Davidson Cafe in mid-town Manhattan. I have very fond memories of living in New York and may one day again in the future. Oh yeah, I got a ticket on Orbitz.com for 85 bucks traveling from Virginia to NYC. WHAT!!! That is cheaper, faster and just better all the way around than the Greyhound bus I usually take.

Twice this week I visit my former acting teachers classes. I normally stop in to get a dose of the early Meisner exercises and watch scenes being performed. It is always a good experience and it brings back fond memories. Since I have New York and LA experience, many of the students wanted to ask questions of me. It's kinda weird being in the hot seat with people actually listening to what I have to say.

Okay I'm back home and ready to rock & roll. I contact the two agents in town, that I know of, one of them has a "Bell South" audition for me the following Tuesday. It's in North Carolina at the regions most important casting office, but it's 300 miles one way. It kinda felt like it was a cattle call so I declined. The other agency never called me back.

YES!! I am out of here!!! I'm on my way to LAX to go home to Virginia for damn near a month. This is what I have been working for, to be able to do exactly this. Go home and spend time with my family. I am probably staying a little too long because there is still work to be had in LA, but I need a break. I routinely burn the candle at both ends.

Monday morning and I want my mommy!!! No, seriously my arm has gone absolutely nuts. I go back in to the doc first thing and he sends me to a specialist a Cedars-Sinai Hospital. They check to see if I have any blood clots in my arm. I seem to check out okay and by the next day the swelling has subsided. Whew!!! Not cool. Doctor appointments mess up my damn schedule!! Anyway, thankfully it seems to pass.

WHAT!!! Okay it looks like I have to go to the doctor, my arm is out of control. Seriously. So I go in and, believe it or not, the process was pretty painless. The doctor didn't really know what it was; he thought that I had been bitten by something. They X-rayed my elbow, which was fine and put me on medication. The doctor tells me to come back on Monday or at least call.

Also, I have audition for "Pizza Hut" today. The interesting thing is that it is same CD and director as the "IBM" spot I recently booked. Rumor has it that they use a lot of people over and over and don't do a lot of callbacks. Cool!! That's why they were on my target list.

Okay, I have to know if anyone else has ever experienced this before. I grew up in Virginia Beach, VA; and around dusk we could count on bats coming out. We would throw things in the air that they would chase. Probably not too smart, but when you're twelve you do what you gotta do for fun. I always thought it was weird that we never saw one of these bats up close, meaning like road kill or something like that. We would see squirrels & birds, but never bats. I was always fascinated by seeing bats on any animal program. In reality, maybe I didn't "really" want to see them up close but.....The question is this: Has anyone ever had a bat fly into their apartment or home? How can I have never seen a bat up close growing up, but I move to Hollywood and it happens twice? YES!! I'm like freaking out, between the earthquakes and the bats I'm a mess. It happened the first time back in early '99; the second time was last night.

Around 2:00 am, I'm busy doing research on my computer and I get up to get a drink. I live in a studio, so there aren't a whole lot of places to go. The only light on was the one on my desk. As I walk back to my work this thing flies past my face. WHAT!!! I hit the deck!! I jump up and turn on the light and see it again. I dive out the door to gather my wits. I prop the door open hoping it would fly out, but it didn't. After a while it ran into a wall and fell; I ran in got the broom and held it hostage. I could think of nothing else but rabies, lockjaw, foaming at the mouth and getting shots in my a**. I called a friend to come over and help. Finally I put a cup over it, let it go out the window and it flew away into the darkness. I have to know that this same thing has happened to others. Or maybe, I will indeed, be the next Batman. Also, last night I noticed that my left arm was swelling up. I didn't know why, but it was getting worse by the minute. Looks like I might have to take advantage of the SAG insurance I have worked so hard for.

Nice surprise! My mom calls me to tell that I am on "Frasier" right now!! WHAT!!! It's not even Tuesday night, I guess it was filling in gaps for some shows that have been cancelled. I liked that episode; maybe they'll bring me back one day.

I just got released from the "Apple" industrial that is shooting in San Francisco. Oh well, it felt good to get that close for something that I didn't have an appointment for. WARNING TO ALL APPOINTMENTS: If you don't come to me, there is a good chance I will come looking for you!! BEWARE!! LOL!!

YES!!! My commercial agent calls this morning to inform me that I am on avail for the "Apple" industrial. It is a 3-day shoot that would travel to San Francisco. This would be really nice right before I go back East for summer vacation.

Today I had my meeting with the writer from the AngelCiti Film Festival back in November 2000. We met at Swinger's, a local eatery in town. As soon as I saw him I remembered talking to him and that he was from Florida. We got to know each other a bit and discussed the script. If and when it does come together it could be up to a year away. He seems to be really interested in having myself in the lead role. I would really like to be a part of this project. I really liked the script and it would be a great vehicle for me. So we'll see what happens.

In my continued hustle to get more commercial opportunities, I drop off my H/R to the many commercials facilities around town and see what is going on. Occasionally, I am able to actually get seen for whatever is being cast. The way I figure it, I'm not going to get an appointment for everything that I am right for and it's nobody's fault. I can try though and try I do. The beauty of it all, for me, is that most people are going to hesitate in pursuing their career. Since I know they are casting projects everyday that I am right for, it is up to me to try my best to get seen. Today I was able to get seen for an "Apple computers" industrial. It went well; I think I am really right for it so hopefully I'll get a callback.

The other day I received an e-mail from a writer whose screenplay I read at The AngelCiti Screenplay Festival 18 months ago. We played phone-tag for a couple of days and finally got to speak. First, he tells how hard it was to find me. I'm thinking that I am very easy to find. The kicker was that he didn't know my name. He had seen an "Icehouse" beer commercial that I did a while back and recognized me. He mistakenly though it was a "Dominos" spot and still didn't know my name. He has a friend that works in commercial casting and mention this to her. He was able to tell her what my dialogue was in the spot and she vaguely remembered it. By coincidence, the office that she works for cast the spot!! So he starts watching all these tapes and finds it and then me.

When we finally talk, he tells me that he's written a new script that is in pre-production. Based on reading his short 18 months ago at the AngelCiti Screenplay Festival there is a part for me in his new feature. So he is sending it to me to read and then meet this week. You never know how these things will show up your life.

Okay, I got to shoot it. Of course I missed another audition while I was there, but my wonderful agents at KSA got me rescheduled for the following day.

The shoot was great; it's a really funny spot. Me as a 'hardcore rapper' is hilarious in itself. Hopefully it will actually run. Yeah Mr. Pytka is a bit abrasive, but I didn't have any problems with him. I think he is so good at what he does that he just gets impatient. I mean, I would like to think that I would never treat anyone that way no matter how successful I become, but that's just me. I even got to shoot hoops which I haven't done in a while. Joe has a portable basketball court at every shoot he is on, that is something that seems to really make him happy. So a great experience all the way around and on to the next thing whatever that will be.

Since pilot season has finished I have been concentrating on commercials like a mad man. While working on a couple of things last month I missed several commercial auditions, one was an avail. Ouch! I have never taken my commercial appointments for granted, but I understand that I'm gonna miss things from time to time.Yesterday morning my agent calls with an appointment for that afternoon for a spot that was to shoot this week. When I got to the casting office they said it was to be booked that night and work today (Wednesday). It called for a 'hardcore rapper' for IBM to be directed by the legendary Joe Pytka. I have been targeting this office/director for some time with drop-offs, postcards, etc.

I didn't get the call last night so I figured they moved on without me. This afternoon I was dropping off a new photo to my agent and joking with them about all these callbacks and avails with few bookings. This evening I get the call that I've been booked on the spot. Me as 'hardcore rapper'? Thankfully I didn't have to rap!! Anyway, it's IBM Worldwide, national & internet. I think I've heard all of the Pytka stories. My agent even cautioned me of his abrasive style. I can't wait!! He was my #1 target of commercial directors to work with. Now let's hope they don't change their mind in the next 12 hours. LOL!!

Well, its official "Good Morning Miami" & "Life With Bonnie" are on the Fall Schedule. Unfortunately, "So Downtown" didn't get picked up by the WB. If it all works out, I'll be appearing on both shows this fall. We'll see.

Okay, well it looks like McDonald's moved on without me. That's okay; I'll get 'em next time. Today is the day that NBC announces their fall schedule. I know that "Good Morning Miami" will be on it, but what I am not sure about is "The Bonnie Hunt Show". I saw the pilot and I think it has a really good chance. Plus ABC has a lot of space for new programming. Rumors has it that it will be on the schedule, we'll know officially tomorrow.