Sometimes it rains

... and sometimes it pours. It's been raining in Barcelona for two days. In that time we've barely left our hotel room because first Jason got sick and then I quickly followed. We're not sure if it was the stomach flu or food poisoning, but combined with jet lag it hit both of us pretty hard.

Everything happens for a reason so maybe this was to get us to slow down and rest before the next two and a half weeks of our trip. I'm going to be positive about it and take it as a gift of much needed rest. Besides, touring in the rain can be pretty miserable anyhow! And this city is so spectacular when the sun is out!

Now that we're on the mend we'll slowly see what we can this morning and then head for our cruise ship around noon.

The people of Barcelona have a been so kind to us while we were sick. At our hotel and at restaurants - feeding me not only gluten free food but gluten free sick food - broth and rice. Things that weren't on their menu.

I love this city - it's one of my absolute favorites and I hope that next time we
Come back we'll be able to explore.

So - adios Barcelona! Tomorrow? Provence!

Barcelona Gluten Free

This is my first trip to Barcelona since I went gluten free. The last time I was here I was with my friend Karenanna, and I swear I lived on Sangria, Bocadillos (sandwiches - usually ham and cheese - on a crusty baguette), paella, and tapas.

I love Barcelona. I was so excited to come back here for a few days and understandably nervous about what I would eat this time.

So I did my homework, coming up with lists of places other gluten free travelers had had successful eating experiences.

All that goes out the window though when your husband gets sick on the plane ride over.

We flew all night last night and while I managed about three hours of sleep (thank you earplugs and unisom) Jason did not get any. On top of that, his airplane meal did not sit right with him.

Still though, we got in early, dropped our bags at our hotel and hit the pavement until Jason was feeling too terrible to keep truckin'.

When your husband is sick as a dog and exhausted you generally end up on your own. All plans go out the window and you try to find somewhere close to the hotel that understands and can accommodate your dietary needs.

I was so relieved to wander into the Bar Estudantil across from the university of Barcelona. The waitress knew exactly what gluten is and provided me options of what I could have for dinner. (There were only two choices but I was grateful to be understood and eat a meal without fear of being glutened!)

So I had my sangria (excellent by the way) and grilled Chicken breasts with a salad. And I sat there listening to Catalan and Spanish flying around me. This is surely contentment - a full belly, rockin' sangria and life happening all around me.

Plus, how could life be bad with this little guy watching you from the next table?

So - here are a few tricks for finding a non touristy place to eat:

-Get away from the tourist zones. a block or two makes all the difference in the world!

-find a place that's PACKED with locals. If they're all speaking the language native to the country you're set

- don't be afraid to ask about specific dietary needs before you sit down

-And when in Spain... Drink Sangria!

Black Holes

One of the things that I've never liked about auditioning are the black holes that always pop up. A black hole is an actor or actress (or other type of performer) who spends all of their energy in the waiting room making sure everyone else knows how amazing they are, and tries to psyche others out of their focus. I have always hated these black holes - for their vanity, insane self confidence and negative energy they put out in an audition room. More than once, I've let them psyche me out of the quality audition I should have given. They make me crazy!

I'm back to auditioning this week after a year and a half hiatus. There have been plenty of black holes, that's for sure. The difference this time is that I don't care. I'm not intimidated, I don't question my abilities, I don't let it throw me off my game. Maybe it's age, maybe it's self acceptance, maybe it's sheer fed up-ness (there's a new word for you!), but I've been able to finally ignore it enough to get my work done. I still notice it, though, and am now seeing the extreme insecurity that comes with it.

Moral of the story? Don't be a black hole in anything you do. Those around you will be grateful not to have the big, self centered, energy sucking void around. Try tome positive energy instead and see how far it takes you!

My week of auditions and interviews is coming to an end. As with anything, there was lots of good and a little bit of bad. I'd say that it was a pretty good week. But I am soooo ready to drive to Atlanta tomorrow and get ready for our European extravaganza! I'm hoping to post from Europe at least a few times, so be sure to check back here!

Another Ending

We're here. I cannot believe it, but a year and a half after the adventure began it is changing. At the end of March, 2011 we left our lives in California, headed to Yellowstone Country in Wyoming. A year and a half later we're done - and we have both been forever changed by our time here and the people we've met. We leave in the morning, early. It will be dark when we go and I we won't be able to see this incredible place as we leave. But I know that we will always tell stories about the two summers we spent in Wyoming - an entire year of our lives - and that neither of us will ever regret our time spent here. For our marriage, for us as individuals, this time has been defining - and I expect we won't realize the extent of it until we're away.

I have always had trouble coping with big changes. I am hugely sentimental, and quick to tears. For someone who has trouble with change, I have surely sought out more change in the last 15 years than most people I know. And always, ALWAYS change is a good thing - but it is so difficult to say goodbye for now. Yet that is exactly what I'm doing right now - saying goodbye for now - and trusting that what comes next will be just as incredible and defining as this has been.

But for now, there are tears. Tomorrow morning there will again be tears as we drive away. And then later the excitement will come - the hope of the unknown - and the tears will fade. But I know this with all that's inside of me:

Our adventure continues, and what an incredible journey it has been so far.

Speedy September

September is flying in a blur, just like I figured it would! Not much time today but wanted to share: here are some of my favorite pictures from this month!

I love to snipe photos of Jason while he's shooting. This was in Yellowstone on Sunday!

Actually, from August and not July. I just love this photo of us in front of the Chuck Wagon. Yes, there is an antique chuck wagon at the ranch. It's pretty freaking cool.

We got to spend some time with Dad and his pal Jerry while they were fishing in West Yellowstone. So fun!

My dad is awesome. And the Farrell gene pool runs strong - see the resemblance?

Moose sighting! There aren't many Moose left in the area - the wolves have decimated their population - so it's very exciting when we see one close to the ranch. This lady was chowing on some grasses right by the ranch where I take Yoga!

That's the Hawkeye - all those trees, sitting there in the Valley. We've lived here since April of 2011.

Now that the guests are gone, I get to go riding again! Here I am on Poco, trying to keep her from chowing on grass. :)

My Time

We're in the last week and a half of our time here on the ranch. The end is easier for Jason because he'll be back here for two weeks of work after Thanksgiving. For me, well, we don't really know when I'll be able to come back. Hopefully sometime. It's weird and sad and exciting and humbling and terrifying and thrilling all at the same time. Mostly, though, I'm really looking forward to being finished with cleaning up after other people and after mice (we are way out here, and yes, there are mice), and sad to be leaving this beautiful place and my yoga ladies. So there you are.

Because we're so close to "the time", I've started preparing. I have two auditions lined up immediately after we arrive in Orlando, before we head to Europe. After we get back from our trip, I have an audition lined up with the Orlando Philharmonic, who are hiring singer/actors/dancers for How to Succeed... Fingers crossed for that one - if I book it, it could lead to more work down the road.

I'm also in the process of submitting to talent agencies in Orlando. Trying to finally find an agent who is a good fit for me and ready to help me book big jobs. Did you know that in all my agency booked auditions in Los Angeles, I was called back or held on 75% of them? That's 3 out of 4! But I never booked once through my agent, and part of that was the fact that I wasn't matched up with the right agent for me. This time around, I'm doing it right. I'm waiting for the right fit and signing with someone who is ready to help me make both of us some money. (And of course, help me chase my dream.)

After a year and a half off (with the exception of my awesome surprise caroling season last year), I am so, so, so ready to make my dreams come true. To perform. To work. To make it happen. It feels so strange to be back here in this place again - submitting, booking auditions, chasing the dream. But if anything, this time in Wyoming has clarified that for me. So I'm dusting off the headshots and resumes - getting them ready to go. Thank God I haven't changed in our time away. And I'm charging forward head first. I know how to do it. I just have to get back into the habit of it.

So, this is my time. I can feel it in my gut.

Time

I often get hung up on the passing of time. Especially at times when I know change is coming soon. So here's a list of times that have been on my mind this week:

-Two weeks exactly until we leave the Hawkeye. We'll have lived here for exactly one year out of the last year and a half.
-One month and one day until my 30th birthday. Wow. I feel like I was just excited to turn 13, 16, 21, 25... Now 30 is here.
-One month and one day until I spend my 30th birthday in ROME. Yes... Rome!
-2 1/2 weeks until our 2nd wedding anniversary. What a HUGE couple of years we've had!
-4 weeks since I started training with Caleb and 2 weeks since I kicked up my workouts with extra cardio and ballet barre.
-2 weeks of training with Caleb left to go.
-8 days until I hope I get to meet up with my dad in West Yellowstone.
-Almost two months since baby Oliver was born and I still haven't been able to snuggle him.
-About two months or so until I hopefully get to see Mom, Dad, Kelli, Jeff, Solange, Nik, Caity and Olly.
-Twenty days until I have my first Orlando Audition. Hence, the kicked up cardio workouts.
-28 days until we embark on our Med cruise in Barcelona!
-3 1/2 months until my mom celebrates a big birthday!
-7 years - Our sweet dog Indy is SEVEN today! He has graduated to Senior dog food!
-3 Days until our last group of guests for the season leaves. Wow.

And I'm sure there are more I'll be stewing on today. But man... you blink and time just FLIES!