I love learning new words!

After this post on the UO blog, I had to look up the meaning of esoteric. I'm so glad I did. I was familiar with the word, but not its definition. I feel like it would be a very useful adjective to have on hand:

es·o·ter·ic (ěs'ə-těr'ĭk) Pronunciation Key
adj.

1. 1. Intended for or understood by only a particular group: an esoteric cult. See Synonyms at mysterious.
   2. Of or relating to that which is known by a restricted number of people.
   3. Confined to a small group: esoteric interests.
   4. Not publicly disclosed; confidential.
2. 1. Confined to a small group: esoteric interests.
   2. Not publicly disclosed; confidential.

[Greek esōterikos, from esōterō, comparative of esō, within; see en in Indo-European roots.]

es'o·ter'i·cal·ly adv.

Feel free to practice using it in a sentence right here.

The Office is Closed.

Perspective from the writers on strike.

"And be thankful." (Colossians 3:15)

Fun in the South.

Went to the show at the coffeehouse last night. This girl and this guy played together and they were absolutely great. So enjoyable. I ended up going by myself. The 'rents & grandpa stayed home, Kev & Keith dropped me off and went to do active-competitive-man things. I just sat in an arm chair, sipped my cinnamon spice tea and soaked it up. Perfect.

Tonight we all went to see the Rockets in the Radio City Christmas Spectacular at the Opry. I had never seen these famous kick-line tap dancers, and didn't quite know what to expect. But it was good. It exceeded my expectations. Lots of dancing, which I really love to watch. I love dancing. Wish I did it more.

This morning Keith and I went to the local Waffle House for breakfast. We love Waffle Houses. They are a vacation treat for both of us. There's something so charming, even magical about them; so dirty and artery-clogging and so friendly and comforting. Those classic yellow squares with black letters that haven't changed. The tiny interiors: booth or counter? A hard decision. The grits. Where do I eat grits Up North? I don't. The 50-something waitresses with raspy voices and too much makeup who always call you "hon". "More coffee, hon?" Eggs cooked just right. Pecan Waffles.

It almost makes me love America.

We're in Music City; we may as well.

Going to see if I can convince Keith & his fam to go see some live music at a local cafe tonight.

Also, it turns out that one of my agents lives here in Nashville on the weekends and he sent me a long list of cool stuff to check out here. Very excited about that.

In Nashville.

We're at Keith's brother's for the week. Keith's parents & grandpa were making the trip, and we decided to ride along. The last time we visited Kev down here was four years ago.

We left our cell phone at the place we had lunch in Indiana.

They have it there, and we'll get it back when we drive back through next Friday.

So in the meantime, we'll be able to check our voicemail, but no texting. A little texting fast for me.


Any Nashville recommendations welcomed.

Rue Royale show.

We're going to Nashville next week but if we're back in time, we're so there.

So they're still claiming me.

It was sweet of Elite to mention my recent opportunity on their myspace and in the press/news section of their website.

Disclaimer.

With all of this excitement, it's good to remember that there's always the possibility of any scene getting cut from a movie. In every film they have to leave out so much good material so it will fit into the time frame that audiences want, and you never know what will make the final cut....

And honestly, I probably will not find out until I go see it in the theater.

Either way, it's amazing that I got to do it and it will be such a good film!

(And if I don't make the final cut, we can always rent the DVD and look for me in the deleted scenes. ;))

Elise's new website is launched!

Check it!

I had to leave early the day of that shoot (for no good reason, it turned out...long story), but I'm so glad I got to be a part of it! Aren't the dresses and the photography beautiful??

And her Spring 2008 Fashion Preview is this Thursday!

Still trying to decide if this has all really happened to me.

Today went so well.

So well.

We did more footage of the same scene. So many more angles, including the closeup of me saying my line.

Shia and I chatted a lot more today, sharing more about ourselves, and even our views on God and faith and religion. Very cool conversations--he's open & genuine & contemplative. We're buddies. At least we were today.

The sketch we used in the scene--they let me keep it, and someone had him sign it for me (which I was already considering requesting anyway). He wrote to me: You're awesome! Thanx 4 helping us out! SHIA.

He's so precious. Such a great guy. He's definitely going to have a great career.

And the director, D.J., was so wonderful, too. I got to work with a lot of really cool people. The extra sitting beside me on the train was D.J.'s 12 year-old son, Brandon. Also extremely precious. We're buddies too.

So I'm done shooting. For now. And I absolutely loved it.

Only God knows what the future will hold.

If it's more acting...I would be thrilled.

Today I acted in a feature film.

Today went so well.

And they want me back tomorrow.

"We're definitely going to want you back tomorrow."

That wasn't planned. They want me back tomorrow.

So, in the scene: Shia's sketching the picture of me as we exchange a series of (flirtatious) glances, and then after a while I'm the one who gets off the train, not him. So I'm leaving the train, he hands the sketch to me, I look at it and say "What about the rest of me?", he says "Next time.", I get off the train, give him one last look & smile, and cut.

And partway through shooting, Shia writes his character's name and a phone number on the sketch. So now my character has his character's phone number. And they want me back tomorrow.

Pray for me.

I just want to be faithful with whatever God has for me.

I just want to love him and bring him glory and love people.

I am just in awe of what is going on.

The biggest news of my career.

I have gotten a one-line role in the feature film Eagle Eye.

!!!!!

I don't know where this came from.

Except God.

The audition was Monday, I got the call saying that I booked it Monday afternoon, the wardrobe fitting was Tuesday, and I'm shooting it tomorrow.

My character is a girl riding on the el train in Chicago. One of the main characters, played by Shia Labeouf, is sketching a picture of me. When he hands me the picture he's drawn, I say "What about the rest of me?" because it's incomplete. I think he has to cut off the drawing because he realizes he's being followed/chased. That's because he's been unjustly framed as a terrorist. The movie is a terrorist thriller. It's being produced by Steven Spielberg. He also wrote the story. The release date is in October 2008.

This is my first acting job ever. And it's a speaking part in a feature film. And I'm basically playing myself: I am the "girl on train" in real life. (Every time I go to Chicago I spent 7 hours round trip on Amtrak, not to mention taking the El all around Chicago once I'm there.) That's who I am! I do not think I could have dreamed up a more perfect entrance into the acting world. Even if this is the first and last acting job ever: how amazing.

On Tuesday after the wardrobe fitting I had to meet up with the director so that he could take some photos of me to sent to the sketch artists in L.A. for them to get the portrait ready to use in the scene.

Is this seriously happening?

This whole process has felt so spirit-led. This is not about me. I am no one. All the glory is God's. I am his.

Where do I start?

There has been so much going on inside me and around me over the past few weeks. I don't even know where to begin, and I am not prepared to write it all out now.

Pray for me, please.

More to come.