For those 5 or 6 of you who read this thing, I'd like to announce that Pandamonium! is moving! That's right. For the third time, this blog is packin' up and heading back to Blogspot. I'll keep this blog up for a little while, just until I transfer some files, but I've already started building the "new place". So, come on over to the new Pandamonium!

The NEW Pandamonium!

 

Peace,

~Pan

It's really strange when a manager compliments your new haircut and you reply, "Thanks! It's my new interview 'do." You just can't normally do that. But, that has become the normal way of life around here. For those who may not know, I have become another statistic of the economy. -me and about 140 other close friends. Our office will close in December.

Ironically, my work will be packed up and shipped back to CBus. However, I won't be packing up with it. It's not in the cards. And after all, there IS life after The Hill. I've already started the job hunt, but of course, I'm worried about finding something. At this point, if it pays my bills, that's enough.

I'm secretly hoping I have one of those revelations in bed about what I should do with my life, like I watched on Oprah a few years back. She interviewed an attorney who gave up his law career to start a cake business, and he became even more successful than being an attorney. Sadly, I can't bake that well. I can make a pretty good cheesecake, but Rachael Ray I am not.

I suppose for now, I'll just have to put myself out there the old fashioned way and just hope I get some sort of divine inspiration later.

Wish me luck.

~Pan

I just noticed I haven't blogged since May. Either my life has gotten really boring, or really busy. I'm still here. I'll try to be a little better and post some news at least once a week. I think I can handle that! Here's a quick update for now:

Back to Class:
I'm going back to improv class tonight. I started to go last term, but didn't finish. I have 2 classes and 16 weeks left until I finish. I should be able to handle one night a week. Once I'm done, then we'll see where it leads. It could go in one of 3 directions. 1)Start classes at IO; 2)Start taking classes at Second City, which is like taking a 2-year grad school program. The commitment is just as difficult; 3) auditioning for troupes.

As nutty as it sounds, it may behoove me to continue this venture and try to get a voiceover gig or some commercial work. The extra money would be nice. But, we'll have to see. I realize I'm considered old and washed up in this city, but the good part about character acting is there is a niche for everyone. You just have to find it.

Still at Work:
Yeah, I'm still at The Hill. Enough said about that.

Emma:
She's five months old now. WOW! Time is zipping by. She's trying to roll over and she babbles all the time; mostly to her stuffed owl, Hootie.

Other News:
My grandmother passed away at the end of June. It was a very difficult time for me. She was one hip lady at 92 years old! I miss her everyday. I've been thinking about my favorite moments with her, so I'll probably post a story or two about her in the near future.

On a happier note, we did fly to my sister's house over the 4th holiday. We got to visit with my sister, her family, and my parents. Emma got a lot of attention!!

So, that probably brings you up to speed for now. I'll be back soon with more!

~Pan

I’m in a rut. I planned on writing yesterday, but of course, by the time I got home, played with “little piglet”, and ate dinner, I was ready for bed. My rut isn’t about being tired or being a mother. That mothering part really doesn’t make me that tired. I’m in a professional rut. I read an article the other day that makes my rut feel even worse –especially in such a terrible economic climate.

According to the May 25^th edition of Time magazine, we’re all in for a big change in how we will “work” in the future. From what I read, the future is now. I was in line at the grocery store when I looked up and saw the cover. In a few short sentences, I found out that I can look forward to complete “free agency,” NO benefits, and a corporate lattice rather than a ladder. The lattice was the most appealing part of the article.

As we all know, more and more companies outsource work overseas. In the near future, all employees will become contract workers. Gone will be the days of the traditional 40-hour work week, full-time employee. We’ll all be working for ourselves as freelancers. With this shift comes the elimination of a perk that keeps most individuals I know in the corporate world: benefits. That’s right. We’ll be fending for ourselves. I wouldn’t really care about this if I didn’t have a child. That scares me. But after living out here for two years and seeing the amount of freelance workers, I know how to get health insurance if necessary.

The most intriguing prospect of the “new” workplace is the elimination of the corporate ladder. We’ll have a corporate lattice. We will have the ability to move laterally, up, down, and sideways, depending on how we can best fit working into our lives. This means more flexible working schedules, complete telecommuting, or to quote the article, “dialing down,” to work less hours at a little less pay to spend time with family. Employers actually like this idea. It allows them to lower an employee’s pay, pay out less money in benefits, and keep valuable employees. It seems the new generation of 18-34 year-olds have new priorities and they now rule the roost in getting employers to listen. I like their priorities. They value their personal and family time as important. They don’t wish to climb up some ladder at the expense of their sanity.

It made me think about how I value work and personal life. –and then I remembered doing both a while ago…working at a non-profit organization. At that point, the memories came flooding back. I was completely happy and satisfied working for a little less pay to work for a cause I believed in. At the end of the day, I turned off my computer, went home, and had the energy and the excitement to invest in personal hobbies, family time, and anything else I wanted to do. I can recall dozens of times where I went home with a great story from the work day about how I made someone happy or made a difference in someone’s life. I was in the business of cultivating friendships. –and it felt VERY good. My little office of 35 employees was a joy to visit each day. They were/are good people, creating a positive atmosphere, and doing good work.

I remember when a new employee would come in from the corporate world. I knew they were probably taking a pay cut. Their usual response would be something along the lines of “I’ve worked too long in the corporate world. I NEED this change.” Their faces would slowly morph from sad and stoic to happy and relaxed. No wonder I worked there for eight years.

Now, I have a child. When I come home after work these days, my only stories consist of complaints from the day, feeling tired even though I sit all day, and experiencing an overall sense of dread. I realize this is a terrible economic time. I’m not just going to up and quit with no other option. I wouldn’t do that. I have responsibilities. But it does make me rethink how my own personal goals and values should try to align with the work I do. It makes me believe that when they do NOT align with each other, it throws everything out of balance.

Yes, it's that time again! The Hollywood Collector show made another appearance last weekend, and it did not disappoint! For those of you who missed my previous post "Where Celebrities Go to Die," the Hollywood Collector Show occurs every 3 months at the Marriott out in Burbank. Celebrities of time past come to sign autographs and give photo ops. There was one word for this show...CROWDED. The reasons? 1) The complete cast of Buck Rogers, 2) The complete cast of Back to the Future, and 3) The complete cast of Just the 10 of Us. The line for Christopher Lloyd was 5 hours long. -and boy is he an ass. Sorry folks, but if you're a fan, he isn't that nice. Clearly does it for the money, and I guess he needs to do it as well. His house burnt down in the fires last year.  This show was extra special for me because Emma went with us, and Carol Spinney was there signing autographs. If you are not familiar with Carol Spinney, he's this guy:

 

...and this guy...

 

Yes, he is the voice and movement behind Big Bird and Oscar, and he's been doing it for 41 years. He says he would like to do it forever. I don't blame him. What a rewarding job. He was the sweetest man. We talked about old episodes that made an impact on me, like when Oscar's pet worm slimey had a pregnant wife, when Maria (and viewers) finally saw the inside of Oscar's can, and when everyone finally discovered that Snuffy was real. He signed some photos for Emma, and talked to her in Big Bird's voice. I almost cried.

  

 

 We walked around for a while and saw tons of people like Nellie Olson from Little House on the Prairie, the mom from E.T., the big creepy villian from Superman 2, a lot of Penthouse Playmates, etc. I was walking by the Just the 10 of Us table, when Brooke Thiess (played one of the daughters) stopped me to see Emma. We started talking about our babies and I guess I was talking to her for 5-10 minutes because Autograph's friend said "Jesus, are you buds with Brooke Thiess??" Oh well, she was nice.

Emma was a real draw for the celebrities at this show. I was wheeling her by the Back to the Future Table, and "Jimmy Olson" from Superman stopped me and "wanted to take a picture with Emma." So here we are with little Jimmy Olson, now clearly in his 50's...

 

I always have a good time at the show. I know seeing these people in person is new to me. It's old hat for Autograph, but I get a little giddy when I see people like Nelly Olson in the flesh. Stayed tuned for the next show in 3 months. Autograph is helping the promoter, so Emma and I will definitely be there again. I posted the rest of the pictures in my gallery, listed under "Panda Paparazzo",  if you're interested.

 

 

It is now day 3 of my return to work. What can I say but...Eh. I missed my friends/coworkers and the adult conversation is good. But it would be a lie if I said I haven't been buying lottery tickets since Monday. Other than the peeps I work with here, everyone else I know "freelances", or "works from home" most of the time out here. I suppose it's the nature of the biz. How did I luck into getting a desk job?

While I was at home, I was going crazy. Now that I'm not there, I wonder what is going on with the baby and daddy while I'm here. I only check-in once a day by phone. That's only because I miss them, and not because I doubt Autograph's abilities. I also miss enjoying the weather outside my living room window. I don't have a window here. Just 3 cube walls.

I'd much rather be walking in the sunshine, sitting in the sunshine, or reading in the sunshine. I'd rather walk down the street to the 7-11 and buy a cherry slurpie, then say a quick "buenos dias" to the fruit man outside the building. I'd rather be one of the 3 million other people in my neighborhood who don't wake up until 12 noon. I don't know where or how these people live, but I'd like to know.

At least I'm starting my last improv class in two weeks. Maybe that's what I need. Something just for me. Most mothers would probably choose a massage, or a shopping day free of children. I choose 3 hours a week of rolling around on a dirty stage and trying to make a scene out of a suggestion like "eggplant."

So, here I am. Back at my cube. Watching the clock...scratching off my lottery ticket. Damn. not a winner. Oh well. I need to stop for a cherry slurpie on the way home anyway.

 

I'd like to think I haven't turned into an old, out of touch senior citizen (no offense mom) since the birth of Emma. In fact, I think I'm still pretty hip. Yesterday, we took Emma to our hip, cool record store Amoeba. It really is a great place to find everything. They have new and used CDs, DVDs, vinyl, etc. Emma made her first purchase, and daddy and I were impressed.  We found a CD series of lullabies. -Only the best part is they are lullabies of songs from bands like Nirvana, Tool, The Ramones, The Cure, Metallica, and a host of others. We bought the Pixies and Nirvana versions. When we got home, we found even more through iTunes. They sound great! I can actually stand to listen to them at length. I've posted a few songs on my music/tunes page. Take a few minutes and listen. You'll hear "Smells Like Teen Spirit" like never before.

 

 

I found the funniest web site. It allows you to create animated movies. I created this one without the use of sound because Mike's sound card doesn't work on his computer. So, be kind. I have no idea if it works or not. Basically, it is a cautionary tale about dating weirdos in L.A. Oh...and the web site is: www.xtranormal.com