Last summer I went to Chicago for training with a voice coach from LA. He was hilarious, gave great insight and was worth every penny.  About midway through our session, I was going through a script, a little voiceover spot for a major retailer, and as I got ready to record, the easy, free-flowing way I spoke turned awkward and halted.  Inside my head sounded like this: Do I seem like an actor?  Am I remembering my technique?  Am I smiling on my inhale?  He stopped me, gave me some pointers and we tried again, but lo and behold, I was awkward and over-rehearsed once more.  Am I relaxing my tongue?  I'm reading copy for the role of a mom, do I sound like a mom? Do I want to sound like a mom?  Maybe if I succeed at this, I will book a big job and then I won't feel like such a phony.  As he stopped me, he said, "You have to stop trying so hard to control it, and just let it be."

Not a Griswold Family Vacation

It's Turks time!  Finally! At the end of March, my parents rented a beautiful home on Chalk Sound on the island of Providenciales in Turks and Caicos, and invited my band-of-wildlings sisters, our husbands, our Gracie, and a Schuette cousin to join them in paradise. I'm so excited to share these glorious photos and wonderful memories with you, my loyal readership. Before we get there, you should know that this post will function as a giant thank you to my parents for their generosity and accommodation.  We have all contributed some thoughts and a few favorite memories that wouldn't have been possible without the benevolence of Tami and Hanser, aka Mimi and Papa.