Dismissed

Hello my suckas! Okay, so yesterday and today I got cut early from work. It's because I had to work this past weekend. I worked 13 hours and was still scheduled for 40 hours this week, and they don't like to pay overtime. So yay, I got to leave early. But boo, it sucks to blow your weekend and not have the overtime pay to show for it. Oh, the early leaver left early today too, I don't know why.

Stairway To Stardom Episode 2

So, I hope you enjoyed the first clip. But wait . . . it just gets better!!

Long weekend

Hello my suckas! Well, I had to work this weekend and it was long and tiring. Although it has been a while since I had a bad weekend so I really shouldn't complain. I got there Saturday morning around 7:45am. The dog I told you about before that had the esophagus surgery was doing poorly all week and died Friday night. That sucks, I didn't really deal with the dog, but the ICU tech and everyone worked so hard keeping that dog alive. Now since we were busy I had help Saturday, Mandy came in and was immensely helpful. She discharged 6 patients and did all the paperwork, I did the treatments on the other 4 patients. But 2 were critical and 1 was just a mean cat, so it took a little while. Plus it was good to have Mandy there as a buffer because the doctor on this weekend, I'm sure he doesn't like me. I have felt this way since I started. So Saturday I left around 1:30. Forward to Sunday. Our receptionist asked if she needed to come in on Sunday and I said no. Really I didn't think we needed to pay someone to page back and say some owner was here to visit or whatever. I got there at 7:45 again, the doctor came in around 8:15 and asked where the receptionist was and then it all went downhill. I got mildly chewed out for saying she didn't need to come and I should have checked with him and the list of reasons went on and on. Well honestly, how the fuck should I know the political fall out of this thing? Apparently we'll catch hell from Pet ER for their receptionist having to page us. It's all so stupid and yes, some of the services in the same building do not get along. Then the doctor was very scattered and didn't give orders for the patients well, I should have reigned him in and made him focus. Then another doctor's patient was supposed to come in for a bandage change. The owner called at 9:40 and said she was supposed to come at 9 but was up all night, can she still come? I said yes as long as it was before 10:30. Well then I really got it from this doctor, again I should have checked with him because the dog needed to be sedated because he has open wounds, blah blah. I said he didn't tell me that, he just said it was a bandage change, so I didn't feel that mistake was my fault. I really don't like this guy. Well we get through the morning, he leaves around 11:30, and I don't know what happened but I didn't leave until almost 3!! I didn't stop moving the whole time but I couldn't get everything done. So on my way home I called Beau Puckett (Michael Sherwood) in California and got a 2 for, Ryan Duncan was there! He was going to the premiere of Grindhouse, the Tarantino film because Tracy Thoms is in it. I would love to go to a fancy red carpet thing like that! So I was off today, yay, back to work tomorrow. I will go with a positive attitude though. Later suckas!

Stairway To Stardom

So, I am starting a new series I found on Youtube called "Stairway to Stardom". It is a public access talent program from the early 80's. Oh man, this good!! enjoy . . .




Stay tuned for the next installment

Reunited . . . and it feels so good!!

So, last weekend we were in Wichita, KS. I had somewhat thought that I had family there, however, it has been so long since I have seen or talked to them that I really wasn't sure. Well, I got a phone call in my hotel room on the hotel phone, which would usually just be another cast member calling. So, the caller said "Is this Chris?", and I said yes, he proceeds to say "Chris, this is your cousin Matt Suchan." Well, needless to say I was caught quite off guard. I haven't seen these cousins since I was 7 and now 20 years later. Well, we caught up a bit on the phone and agreed to have lunch the next day. The next day he picked me up and we went over to my uncle's house. He had 3 kids in the car with him and they didn't really know what to make of me, so I really pushed the friendliness :)!! We get to my uncles and enjoy some Chinese food for lunch. Now, I have 4 cousins from this uncle. Well, one of the cousin's wives came over as well and brought their 5 children, all of them ranging in age from infant to 12 years old. My favorite was Jonah, who said, "Hello (pause) Chris, it is very nice to meet you, my name is Jonah." And then he gave me a picture he had drawn for me "wellcomming" me to Kansas. It was a mad house and so entertaining being surrounded by all that energy, quite overwhelming as well. Well, all in all I saw two of my cousins that day and my uncle, and then another cousin took my uncle to see the show on the next days matinee, so I saw/met her as well. It was so weird and interesting meeting family you really haven't ever met before. My dad was thrilled that we connected and got to hang out some. I had to apologize to my parents, my uncle's family has 12 grandchildren, and my parents have 0. Stephany and I are working on it :)

Also, on a side note, it can be so difficult getting internet on the road and when it takes 5 minutes to load a page, you lose all interest in wanting to blog. So, sorry for the gaps in posting, I am working on it.

A good day

Hello my suckas! So yesterday at work was totally satisfying! I know, amazing coming from me. We weren't too busy at first, but had 2 surgeries added to the schedule. Our head tech was in sort of a bad mood. I think she broke up with her boyfriend, who has been using her for months, so who cares. And the early-leaver was complaining about something stupid, but I was in surgery and missed it, yay. The day was going along fine, and the internal medicine center had a dog that had something trapped in it's esophagus. They have a scope and these long grabby things and were trying to get it out, but we knew this thing may go to surgery. I like watching the scope stuff, we don't have one so it's cool to watch them try to maneuver with it. Well while trying to get this thing out, the esophagus perforated, so now it has to go to surgery ASAP! The owner was on the way to the hospital anyway, so paperwork, blah blah blah, in it went. I was the "room runner". If you have to go into the chest for any reason, the anesthetist has to breathe for the patient the whole time and can't get stuff, so someone has to stay in there to get any instruments, suture, whatever. I was glad because I wanted to see how the got it out. It looked like a piece of those basted bone things you get at Petsmart/Petco. Please be careful!!! This probably $4 treat is now a $4000 surgery! Now our head surgeon's daughter was there yesterday because she was sick in the morning and didn't go to school, and his wife was out of town. After they got the thing out I volunteered to take her home because he was still going to be there for a while and she was probably getting bored and tired. Someone who lives closer to him actually was leaving at the same time, so I did not drive to PA last night. But finally start to finish, the day went well. I'm still thinking of quitting though. The weekend was good. We met my sister and her boyfriend Pete, his daughter, my nephew and 4 of his friends at Dave and Buster's in Rockville for my nephew's birthday. It was fun, then we went to Arundel Mills and did some shopping. I really like the Bass outlet. They have cute socks, comfortable clothes, and usually some great sale. I got a pair of flip flops, some capri pants, and 2 t-shirts. Now I want to go back to Jamaica to wear my new clothes. Sunday we had a huge breakfast then I pretty much sat around all day. It was great. But today, I have to clean. See ya suckas!

A day with Mark

Hello my suckas! Well yesterday I helped my good friend Mark Minnick with auditions he was holding in Rockville for his company, Phoenix productions. I was the monitor, which means I signed people in and got their audition info, and took them into the audition room. Mark told me I had to be nice, and I was. From 10:30-12:00 was children. There were about 10 girls and 2 boys who showed up. They were all cute, polite, no real stage moms there thank god. I think it went pretty smoothly and Mark got to see what he needed from each of the kids. At about 11:40 people started coming in for the adult auditions. It was very busy until about 12:15, just getting people signed in, there audition card filled out, and making sure I kept everyone's forms together. I'm not known for my organization. Then we had to switch rooms because there was going to be a rehearsal in the studio we were in in the morning. So across the hall we go and get started just a little after 12. Mark talked to both the parents/kids group and the adult group before the auditions started about Phoenix and the shows and why they were in Rockville this weekend. Phoenix usually has auditions in New York, but is based in Frederick. The owners and Mark have worked in the area and know there is alot of talent here, but some people can't get to NY to sit around for 8 hours waiting to be seen. So they thought they'd give this area a shot. I think Mark was hoping for a better turnout, about 45 people auditioned. Just about everyone was pretty cool. A few people kind of kept hounding me because they had a class, or rehearsal or something and couldn't stay long. Fine, but don't pester the monitor! I remember you, I know you have to go, but I can't make the auditions go faster. Plus, as I expected, none of these people were called back anyway. Don't act like you are so in demand and I am wasting your time. Lesson, always be nice or just invisible to the monitor, you never know if they are reporting to the people casting you or not. Well, Jeffrey and I were getting hungry, so I told Mark the since Doug is equity he has to have a meal. Mark sent me to Boston Market to get lunch for us. I screwed up and didn't get cornbread with his and Jeffrey's 1/4 white meat chicken meals. I don't know, I don't go to Boston Market! The only really difficult auditionee was this older woman who showed up at about 2 or 2:30 and kept asking why there was no information about the shows, the pay, the tour itinerary, just on and on! Then that old bitch gets in there and can't sing a note! Jesus lady shut up! We were there until almost 6pm doing call backs. I think Mark was very thorough and got what he needed to see and hear from everyone. I'll say, I like working with Mark. When he auditions, he really tries to keep the mood light and fun, he wants everyone to do well, so he has good people to pick from. When he directs and choreagraphs he expects you to work, but it's still fun. He is always prepared, has every dance and everyone's place written down, doesn't just make it up as he goes along. But he'll be teaching and loses his place a lot and says fuck me alot. It's funny. I think the day went well and except for the cornbread incident, I did a good job. We'll see what Mark has to say.
Later suckas!

Something Different

This is what a load out of our show looks like in fast motion. A local crew guy in Portland, Maine did this and I think it's pretty interesting, they do this 2, 3, even 4 times a week!! And we thought acting was difficult! Enjoy . . .

Oh Canada, eh!

So, it has been a while since my last post - sorry about that!! We have been in Canada for the past few weeks and internet access is very limited. But here we are in Saskatoon where the internet is more reliable. So, a couple of weeks ago we were in Edmonton, Alberta, home of the West Edmonton Mall, the largest mall in North America and maybe even the world. The mall was pretty fantastic with a theme park, water park, and live animals. There was a glass encased exhibit of flamingos that was pretty cool!! It was also amusing to walk around in coat and scarf and see people coming from the water park in their swimsuits - those crazy Canadians!! We also taught 5 master classes in Edmonton, so we were pretty busy!!

Stanley Park, with a gorgeous dark sky ready to open up

Next we spent a week in Vancouver, a really fantastic city. So many sights to see, but probably my favorite was Stanley Park, a rainforest within walking distance of the downtown. The park had an aquarium, totem poles, and really beautiful views!!

totem poles at Stanley Park, Statue of "The Girl in the Wetsuit" at Stanley Park, Sun Yat-Sen Chinese Garden

Also, I have this book called "1000 Places To See Before You Die", I know it sounds pretty morbid. Anyway, Vancouver had a few things in the book. One of which was the Sun Yat-Sen Classical Chinese Garden, the first and most authentic Chinese Garden to be built outside of China. Well, I decided to take the guided tour and came to find out I was the only one on it. So the tour guide (an 80 year old woman who sounded like Katherine Hepburn) gave the tour and didn't change anything for a one person tour, so she would say things like "If you'll all follow me" or "Can anyone tell me something about such and such?", it was quite amusing, but very informative!!

Children's entrance and exit to a toy store on Granville Island, where they sell Knotty Things!!

Also, I went to Granville Island where they have a Public Market and shops and things. The book suggested a sushi restaurant as well, so when we found the place where it was supposed to be - it had moved. Still ready for some excellent sushi, we went to the new location only to find that it was closed - ugh!!

Closed sushi restaurant :(

There was so much to see and do in Vancouver, it was exhausting!! The shows went great - some of the best audiences we have had all tour!! Now, we are in lovely Sasketoon, Saskatchewan (do you believe such a place exists?) It is by far the coldest place we have been or will be on tour!! Anyway, Canada is good, but I miss the US and paper currency - Loonies and Twonies can drive you crazy - you look through your change and see you have $15 worth - crazy!! Anyway, until next time . . .

When to quit

Hello my suckas! I know, I said I would be better about posting, well I lied. But this week at work was frustrating and I thought I would share my woes. So Monday I was in ICU which is taking care of any patients in the hospital and any coming out of surgery that day. Well we had no surgeries scheduled, so those techs left at about 4pm, but I had to stay until 6 to round over to the night er tech. No big deal. Tuesday I think we got out about a half hour early, although the person in charge who was scheduled until 5 left at 4. Now this happens alot, GRRR. So Wednesday we are finished early again, and the same person tells me at 4 that she is leaving, but I have to stay and help in receiving and finish paperwork and stuff for tomorrow. Well, I think if they are really that far behind, it wouldn't killl her to stay for a half hour or so and help, instead of leaving an hour early, again! So I end up there until 7. So going back, my friend Helen was in a bad mood Tuesday, so we made plans with another delightful coworker to go out Thursday night because we were all off Friday. So Wednesday night I'm in a bad mood and tell Doug I want to quit. When I tell people what I do, they say that's so cool. The actual surgery part is cool, but all the crap and personalities make it a drag, and there are about 3 or 4 of us that feel like we are always the ones that have to stay late. We are also the ones that never call in sick. That is seriously a problem, I can't believe some of these people are sick so often. In two years I've used 2 sick days. And honestly, both times I was hungover! So when do you decide you can't be there anymore? I mean there is piddly crap with any job isn't there? And for a tech job, this is pretty good and pays comparatively well. Oh well. I'm done complaining. See ya suckas!