Oh, what a day. I spent the vast majority of it in Chesapeake, with Chloë.
After I woke up this morning and took a shower, it was time to head out there. She had an audition with Vance Peyton of Advance LA talent agency in Hollywood at noon. He was going to select the top 10 people from her acting school, out of over 200, to be represented by his agency in L.A. Well, once again, he loved her immediately, and she had him in stitches with her antics and acting. He told us to "move out to to L.A. immediately, because she needs to be on television tomorrow." Well, that's hardly likely, but it's exciting to hear! And he wants to sign her right away. When we go out there in January for iPOP!, we'll meet with him and sign contracts if he's the one we want to go with. The ball's in our court now. Very cool.
It was almost time for her acting class after that, so we just went out to the parking lot for a few minutes to tear my van upside-down. I lost my glasses somewhere between the house and John Robert Powers, and I was stuck wearing my sunglasses inside and looking like a total tool. Couldn't find them. We looked everywhere. Dammit! So I brought her back inside and handed her over to Erica, her teacher, and then I drove down the road to LensCrafters at Greenbrier Mall. I could get glasses in about an hour!
So I walk in there (passing through Macy's, but I was good and didn't even take a detour to look at the Fiestaware!) and tell the girl I need glasses "like, now" and she says, "Okay, let's go look over here at Vogue." I asked if they had any on clearance instead, since I plan to find my other two pairs of glasses (yeah, I don't know where a second pair is, either. Heh.), and she practically rolled her eyes. I said, "So, you work on commission, huh?" and she replied, "Yeah, but I'm only going to get about 30 cents from this sale." Klassy!!! So I picked out the least hideous pair after trying on some not-so-great ones (to which she commented, "Well, you can see why they're on clearance...") and ordered them lickety-split. Man, I wish I was doing a mystery shop for this LensCrafters; I have done two LC ones in the past, but not this time. They did a shit-tay job.
Oh, and I bought some totally-granny chain thingies for my glasses and my sunglasses, so I don't lose them again. Between that and sitting around knitting everywhere, I am the queen of hip and cool.
I headed back to JRP and got there just as Chloë was getting out of class. We got right back in the car and went to Moe's Southwest Grill, for a lunch mystery shop. Have you eaten there before? Oh, they are so good. We've gone to the one off of Lynnhaven in Virginia Beach twice, and both are equally great. Lots of food for cheap, and it's delish. I love it almost as much as I love Panera, and y'all know I can't get enough of that. So we hoovered our yummy food and went outside so I could fill out the report form. Then we drove back, once again, to JRP for Chloë's iPOP! workshop.
Yes, it's a lot of acting stuff, but it's only one day a week, and it's only intense right now until we go to L.A. in January. She's really enjoying it and gets so excited to go.
Anyway. So. After she went back in to class, I headed once again to LensCrafters - still avoiding the Fiestaware - to pick up my glasses. They did no better than the first visit. I asked to pick up my glasses and gave them my name. The girl told me where to sit and wait, and I did. She came out a few minutes later, dropped my glasses on the counter in front of me, and walked off. I waited ten whole minutes while she walked around and helped other customers. She never even so much as looked in my direction the entire time. I was so bewildered. Finally, I just left with my new specs.
Walking back through Macy's, I heard, "Melanie!" What? Huh? Who do I know in Chesapeake? It was my friend Christine, who was working at the frangrance counter. She didn't spray me with anything, though, even though I asked her to. Hehe. We hugged and kissed ('kay, maybe not kissed) and talked about the PTA, which is how we know each other. She had customers, though, so I skedaddled and left her to her biznass.
Chloë was still in class when I returned, so I sat in the car and did the phone portion of my PetSmart shop for that evening. Then I got my big ol' knitting bag out and carried it inside. I sat and worked on the baby sweater - no, still not finished, although I'm getting there - and listened to all the gossip around me. I jumped in and asked questions here and there, qualifying it with, "I'm SO nosy!" which made them laugh.
Then Dave C. came in, who was the person to get us into the acting school but who doesn't work there anymore. Chloë absolutely adores him, and I like him a lot too, because he's honest and candid with me about what to do and what not to do. Whom to work with and whom to avoid. He gives me tips and tricks of the trade. He's great. And moving to L.A. himself in a few months. I talked to him for a long time, even after class was over, and he's going to recommend Chloë to local agent Karen Whitlow. She was going to audition with another not-to-be-named local agent next weekend, but Dave shook his head and said no-no-no. Well, we might still go, because every audition is practice and networking, but we'll hold out for Karen. You can have more than one agent, but only if they don't cover the same geographic areas.
So we finally left Chesapeake and drove out to the actual PetSmart store I had to visit for the shop. Oh, they did crappily, too. Terrible customer service. I accidentally shopped the wrong PetSmart last night, and they were way better. Too bad I couldn't report on them.
Then I came home and fell asleep, being completely exhausted and having a huge headache. I slept 'til after 0100, and now I'm widely awake. I just finished my reports and now I'm going to try and snuggle up to My Bob. Arrivederci!
Fin.
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