Very nice Saturday- called in to audition for a pilot, which was great balm for not being able to attend the Gotham Stakes at Aqueduct. I don't think I was what they were looking for, but I felt good about what I did and felt that I took control of the audition- asking to redo a take because I knew I stumbled in the middle section. I know actors get told not to restart an audition, and I think that's very true for monologues, but less so for film and television, where the audition is being recorded anyway. These days it's all digital and it's so easy to redo the take; why not try to leave with your best one?

On the racing front, I'm highly annoyed that the potential Kentucky Derby field is still such a mess. I have no idea. None. Thinking there won't be any fillies this year, though, with Blind Luck's 2nd place finish yesterday in the Santa Anita Oaks.

Oh, okay- I'm still kinda on Dublin's bandwagon. I have a soft spot for the Afleet Alex's, what can I say?

Note to self- tinker with your Actors Access photos only after 7PM. As it could just happen that your beloved manager might just be submitting you for something on Law & Order at the exact moment you take down the photo she wants to use to submit you.

Not that anything like that just happened to me or anything. I am seriously punching myself in the face right now.

Finally, the new headshots are in hard copy and in my hands. I think the reason actors put off headshots is not just the despair of seeing in 8X10 full color (formerly black-and-white) that you're getting older. I think it's as much that it's such a long process. I've had relationships that took less time than getting new pictures. I've been blessed with terrific headshot artists throughout my career (well, except for my first ones, but the less said about them the better. Nothing like going into an audition and having the casting director say, "Oh. I thought you'd be fat.") but every time I've had to move to an new photographer it's caused great anxiety. Headshots are expensive as all get-out, by the time the session, the makeup, the test prints, the retouching, the printing, the uploading to Actors Access, etc. are all done, and if you're not happy... well, again, it's like a relationship. In this case, one you know isn't working, but you're already living with the person and so you have to accept that to get out, you'll have to give up your half of the security deposit and start all over.

That said, this time was again a lovely experience (my 2nd) with the fantastic Chia Messina, and the very talented Jody Formica did my makeup. And when it all goes well, new headshots are like your birthday come early. Your birthday back when it was still the most awesome, you-centered day EVER and not an occasion for a "what the heck am I doing with my life" panic attack. Right now, I feel just like I did when I turned 10 and got just what I wanted, the Breyer model of Yellow Mount, Famous Paint. Looking forward to the next few years of this relationship.