If you'd told me when I was in elementary or middle school that I'd ever enjoy getting up on stage in front of hundreds of people, I'd have said you were nuts. I auditioned for my first play in high school, at the urging of a friend in drama club. My knees and my voice were weak and wobbly, and I was cast as an extra. Then several other students dropped out, and suddenly I had lines. I learned that it wasn't as nerve-wracking to be the focus of attention, when you knew what you were going to say and how you were going to say it. I took my first acting class in college, because I wanted to be a film director, and I figured I should know how to communicate with actors. By the end of that first semester, I'd done three shows and changed my major to Theatre Arts. Sometimes my work schedule has kept me from doing any shows, but I get involved on stage and behind the scenes any chance I get.
I've been a fan of the Star Wars movies since I was 12 years old, and I have the collection to prove it. Someday, our 400-square-foot family room will be made over into my collection display room. That room was one of the main reasons we bought this house! I've also made several reproduction costumes to wear to the premieres of Episodes I, II, and III.
The first sweepstakes I remember winning was Star Wars related, back in about 1980. The prize was a patch. In March, 2002, I won my first Grand Prize in a national Sweepstakes: a trip to Hollywood. Big prizes I've won include a trip to New York City, $10,000 in cash, and $5,000 in cash. I also won the chance to make a short film on MTV's dime. You can view Payoff online. It's important to point out, that I enter hundreds of sweepstakes a month that I don't win, and most prizes are small -- t-shirts, posters, DVDs, toys, and the like. It's always nice to get a surprise by mail or UPS, even if it's not a major award.
You can win cash and prizes just by doing searches online. Here are links to a couple of search engines that let you win prizes while you surf. If you join as my friend, log in before you search, and then win a prize -- we both win!!
