Sunday, March 13, 2011

February 2011

February 2011

Love is in the air…not for me personally but definitely professionally. With Nuclear Cowboyz tour, I traveled to four cities this month. First stop of the month was Atlanta, GA where I met up with my high school friend to catch up over dinner. Columbus and Houston were next and great crowds at the shows! The final weekend in February was in Tampa where I hung out with a college buddy and another friend for dinner and drinks.

Of course, I performed in Las Vegas in FANTASY at the Luxor several nights this month. CURVE tradeshow was in town, so I worked as a fit model for Empriente, a french Canadian lingerie company by day. My job was to try on lingerie all day for various clients, super easy! I also booked a Super Bowl gig at the Wynn as a cheerleader and basically hung out with guests and watched the game. While in Vegas, I took a helicopter ride through the Grand Canyon which checked off another item on my “30 Before 30” list. I couldn't believe rock formations were so beautiful.

In addition to the Nuclear Cowboyz weekend tours, I booked a co star role as “Rye Seeger” on CBS’s THE DEFENDERS! I played a Vegas casino host who gets strangled and left to drown face down in the Jacuzzi. I had the most fun on set ever; a wonderful cast and crew to work with! JIm Belushi even demonstrated an upside down trick with a slow slide down the pole…classic!

Between traveling and performing, I managed to take time out of my busy schedule and continued to read to elementary school kids for an hour one day a week through BOOKPALS (www.bookpals.net). I also went to the MAGIC CASTLE for a friend's birthday and enjoyed the laughs and magic of my dear friend, Chris Mitchell (www.chrismitchellmagic.com). I went to an L.A. gun range for another girlfriend's birthday and shot a revolver and shotgun; good times but nothing like shooting automated weapons in Iraq and Afghanistan!

Cheers,

Amber Strauser

www.amberAstrauser.com

January 2011

January 2011

I am finally 30 years old! I am so content personally with being 30 years old; however, professionally, I am terrified, but trying to enjoy the journey! I rang in my 30th birthday in Lakeland, Florida with fellow cast members of the Nuclear Cowgirlz. They kidnapped me and took me to a gaming center. First, they threw me in the kid’s pen with plastic balls. Next we geared up for laser tag-so fun! Then we played air hockey, basketball, and skee-ball. We all had a blast! Thank you ladies for an awesome 30th birthday!

I flew to Baltimore, MD for a couple days of rehearsal followed by the Nuclear Cowboyz first show in 2011. Changes were still being made, but we all still put on a fierce show! Next stop was Dallas. While in Dallas, I had several Nuclear Cowgirlz interviews and appearances. I also visited my alma mater, Arts Magnet High School in downtown Dallas. I caught up with my former dance instructors, and I got to share my dance experiences and offered advice to dance students; it was empowering for myself as well as the students! While in Dallas, I celebrated my 30th birthday over Tex-Mex food with friends and family!

The week before Super Bowl, we had a show in Pittsburgh and the city was full of Steelers support! With snow and ice blanketing the ground, it was very cold and windy. Best part of the weekend was my mohawk created by the talented Nuclear Cowgirl, Victoria Parsons! Girl, you have mad skills and you made me look FIERCE! Be sure to get your tickets in one of the twelve cities we will be touring; you don’t want to miss it! HYPERLINK "http://www.NuclearCowboyz.com" www.NuclearCowboyz.com

During the weeks, I was in L.A. I enrolled for a couple casting director workshops so I could keep up with my acting since I placed my weekly scene study class on hold for two months. I also continued my weekly volunteer reading to 2nd and 3rd graders. Also I auditioned for some dance gigs and I even made some time to go out on dates. It was a good start to 2011!

Cheers,

Amber Strauser

www.amberAstrauser.com

Monday, February 28, 2011

December 2010 Monthly Update

December 2010

Even though I use to live in Milan back in 2005, it was nice to visit again! While in Milan, I attended the ALTERBRIDGE concert because the friend I was traveling with represents the band. Super talented and welcoming, after their concert, my friend and I boarded their tour bus headed for Rome. I was able to sleep 8 hours on the bus and wake up in Rome; a perfect way to travel. It reminded me of cruise ship life only on wheels. While in Rome, I visited the famous Coliseum, Vatican and Sistine Chapel. Not much had changed since last visiting these sights ten years ago. After sightseeing, my friend and I saw ALTERBRIDGE in concert again. Our next stop was Pisa to see the leaning tower. It was a beautiful sunny day, and I couldn’t believe this stone and marble tower was able to exist on such a slant. I climbed to the top to take pictures of the city and then enjoyed shopping and walking around this quaint town. Finally Venice! Aside from the rain and cold, Venice was picture perfect! I LOVED this city!!! I took a gondola ride and loved every minute of the adventure around this stunning underwater city, literally! I had the best time walking around the stone paths shopping and admiring the architecture. I didn’t want to leave, but snowy Prague awaits.

Even though it snowed in Prague, I wasn’t bothered by the cold like I was in Italy. This medieval city was picturesque; I LOVED this city too! I walked around the city viewing the various castles, churches, and historical buildings and even took an underground tour of the Prague catacombs. Unfortunately, Prague catacombs were nothing compared to the Paris catacombs; however, the best story I heard while in Prague was that of the clockmaker. People in Prague hated on this clockmaker who created such a magnificent humongous town clock that they put iron in his eyes so that he could no longer create such amazing clocks…HATERS!

Next stop, Amsterdam! The wind made this country seem the coldest of all. I had been to Amsterdam when I worked on cruise ships eleven years ago, but I didn’t remember Amsterdam as being so beautiful back then. I really enjoyed the city and the best part of this city was my childhood dance friend, Mary, who came to visit me! Of course I stopped of in the “Red Light” district to view the women and male on lookers; however, I did not smoke pot.

Back in LA, my dear friend whom I performed and lived with on cruise ships ten years ago and then we were neighbors in Hollywood for five years, well he performed at the Nokia Club a couple nights on the last leg of his tour and so I went to support. Adam Lambert, I am so proud of you and excited that you are living your dream! You were raw, real, raunchy and I loved every minute of your concert as did the many grandmothers, mothers, daughters, and gays(: You appealed to everyone, not just one type, and I admire your truth and loyalty you have to yourself as an artist! I sure miss you, but I'm glad to have seen you after your show! Keep rockin and it's refreshing to know hard work and determination pays off!

Also while at home in Cali, Nuclear Cowboyz 2011 Tour rehearsal started! I am thrilled to be apart of the Nuclear Cowboyz tour again! There are four dancers returning and four new rookies joining the team. I was appointed dance captain, which means it is my responsibility to make sure the dance routines, are clean, address any issues the dancers may have, and be their voice. The show added six male acrobats as well as another quad and trials rider. There are a few new freestyle motocross riders this year as well as many returning. It will be another magnificent tour!

I booked a few gigs go-go dancing at PLAYHOUSE and CLUB FLAUNT, cocktail waitressed at a private party at THE HIDEOUT and at a poker party, and I got paid to sit as a featured audience member at reality vocal contest show THE SING OFF. Christmas eve night I drove to Vegas and spent Christmas with my dear friend, Brian, before flying to Tampa for a two week Nuclear Cowboyz rehearsal. Unlike last New Years Eve where I was stuck in a terminal at the Las Vegas airport among strangers peering out the window at the strip as fireworks lit up the sky with no alcoholic beverage in hand, this year I was surrounded by friends and double fisted Jack & Diet in one hand and a Jager Bomb in the other! It was the perfect way to end 2010 and to kick off 2011!

Cheers,

Amber Strauser

November 2010 Monthly Update

November 2010

This month was full of action and travel! I was invited by a friend to attend the 100th show of DANCING WITH THE STARS! Wow, what a treat! Plus, there were several fellow Texans in the audience from my past: Emmitt Smith, Michael Irvin, and a former Dallas Cowboys Cheerleader.

I teamed up with BOOK PALS, which is an organization made up of SAG members who volunteer to read to elementary school kids and/or kids in hospitals. I try to dedicate one hour one day a week to read to 2nd and 3rd graders in between all of my traveling, acting and dance classes, and hustling. It is really empowering to me knowing I am inspiring young children. Children have such an innocent and lively energy that is contagious and reading to them weekly is rewarding!

I was able to cross another item off of my “30 Before 30 List;” I went zip lining in Costa Rica! It wasn’t scary at all speeding through dry forests on a chain and pulley. I was also able to unwind and relax before making my monthly appearance in FANTASY at Luxor in Las Vegas. I signed up for Oprah’s “No Phone Zone” which was another item accomplished on my list.

Off to Iraq on my thirteenth military tour with the PURRFECT ANGELZ spending two weeks in country including Thanksgiving Day with the US Troops! I was really excited for this tour because I had choreographed a new routine called “Boots and Boys.” Supermodels strutting on a catwalk and women who rock their own style, were the inspiration behind my flirty routine. It was more about an attitude and spacial patterns as opposed to a plethora of movement. It was a hit! Speaking of hit, the evening before Thanksgiving Day and night of Thanksgiving Day, the base we Angelz stayed at for three nights in Basra was bombed three times; I have to admit, in all my tours, this tour I was actually scared! Waking up in the middle of the night, discombobulated to alarms and a count down till implosion, was a terrifying experience two of the three nights. Granted we each had a bunker to roll out of bed and into during such situations as this, but living this way for months and years at a time was unimaginable. Reality of war really sunk into my soul as I laid under my bunker with my hands over my ears and mouth open (it is not the explosion that kills people it’s the pressure from the explosion internally if the pressure has no way out of the body) listening to a recording over the loudspeaker “Incoming! Incoming!” as the sound of missiles fired and land explosively on base. It sounded like the bombs were right outside. Finally after 10 or more seconds, which seemed like an eternity silence crept over the night until a soldier announced over the loud speaker to make sure everyone was accounted for. Was it over? If I go back to sleep will I be awakened again by such alarms and explosions? Can I even sleep after all of this? Somehow I managed to fall back asleep not knowing that tomorrow night will be much worse.

It was Thanksgiving Day and it was a beautiful day in Iraq. The sun was shining, festive decorations were hung around base, the Troops looked forward to a day full of football and a food feast along with the Purrfect Angelz show later that night. I was in my trailer packing my show bag and sirens went off accompanied by “Incoming! Incoming!” I swiftly dove under my bunker and I assumed the position: hands over ears and mouth open and eyes closed as I prayed to God that all is safe on base and please stop this chaos. Thirty bombs were fired onto base and a building was hit. Fortunately, no one was in the building because all the guys who should have been working decided to leave early, grab a bite of food and get good seats at the Purrfect Angelz show; it’s official we truly are Angelz! In SINGIN’ IN THE RAIN, before his comical “Make’em Laugh” stint, Donald Conner says, “Come rain, come shine, come snow, come sleet, the show must go on!” I say, “Come sand, come shine, come bombs, come heat, the show must go on!” That evening reminded me why I travel to war zones entertaining US Troops twice a year, and I’m looking forward to the many more tours to come!

Aside form the mortar attacks, I met the EOD (Explosive Ordinance Disposal) crews at various bases and I even put on the same suit they wear when detonating bombs. One crew arranged bombs to be detonated by us Angelz for fun, so I pulled the pin linked to a bomb and watched it explode, super cool! I was also excited to have the chance to learn more about these courageous men on a personal level who talked happily about their wives and children and some of their close calls.

Less than 24 hours in L.A. and I’m off to Europe again but for vacation this time! Why didn’t I just stay on that side of the world you ask? Well, I didn’t want to wear show costumes for another two weeks, nor did I have enough space in my luggage to pack for two more weeks in cold, snowy Italy, Prague and Amsterdam. Ahhhhhhh a much-deserved vacation, I cannot wait!

Cheers,

Amber Strauser

October 2010 Monthly Update

October 2010

Call me crazy, but I worked the day after my surgery. I booked a PLAYBOY TV gig in which I wore a bikini and partied all day all the while on vicodin. Then I had an audition for Paula Abdul’s new dance show entitled “Got To Dance,” and of course I attended making sure not to raise my left arm above shoulder level…I wasn’t quite successful at this attempt; however, I booked the job! I filmed three days later and got to shoot the promotion for the show with her and various eclectic dancers! The promo should air around the holidays and Super Bowl! I also attended another dance audition for an Apple industrial and ended up having to cut myself after making it past round 1 because I was not physically healed for partner work including lifts. It was a comical situation because while standing in the line up from shortest to tallest, the choreographer asked who is comfortable doing partner work?” I raised my hand and said, “I am capable of partner work and lifts, but I just had my left breast implant corrective surgery less than a week ago and I’m not really functional right this moment, but I will be healed in time for the performances.” The choreographer suggested I not risk ruining my new breast and jokingly commented “only in LA,” in reference to my acceptable excuse.

Because my surgeon, Dr. Garth Fisher, ordered me to take it easy for the entire month, I did listen to him…kind of. I managed to book a couple non-physical jobs to keep me busy and pay my bills. I was hired as an audience member for the Scream Awards dressed as a Goth chick in a tutu; a super fun event! I filmed an episode of CSI: LA as a bartender dressed scantily clad. (; I even flew to Dallas to hang with family and friends while I healed. While there, I finally attended a Dallas Cowboys game at the new stadium with my mother and her fellow employees. We tailgated before the game and then took our reserved seats since her company did all the electrical work in the stadium. It was really something to see! I also went to a Dallas Mavericks game thanks to my mother's employee who dances for the Mavs! That very same weekend while in Dallas, the Texas Rangers won the Western Division. It was a proud weekend to be a Texan! But like I said, I kind of listened to my doctor by taking it semi easy while go-go dancing at CLUB FLAUNT. I also filmed a TV show pilot portraying a deadly sin by performing my Jessica Rabbit striptease routine; fingers crossed that it gets picked up!

Towards the end of the month, I was cleared to increase my physical activity, so more go-go dancing at rock bar LOADED and at a private Halloween party with my girlfriends. Thank goodness this month of “no heighten activity” was complete, so I can go back to my usual physical life!

Cheers,

Amber Strauser

September 2010 Monthly Update

September 2010

I accomplished more tasks on my “30 Before 30 List” this month. I had my left implant surgically corrected at the end of the month; it was not as painful the second time around. I registered to vote...FINALLY! I plan on taking the time to research and understand politics and actually use my voice in society instead of allowing media to persuade my choices. Unfortunately, I was unsuccessful at donating my eggs because I did not produce enough follicles that turn into eggs to be retrieved after one week of taking the hormone shots. I guess donating my eggs to a couple was not in my plan of life at that given time, but at least I tried.

No matter how much sleep I get, I always have bags under my eyes thanks to genetics. So I decided to get restylan shots under my eyes, very similar to botox. I read a casting about a new reality show called “Pretty Hurts” looking for people who want to get cosmetic corrections without going under the knife. I am not sure when my episode will air, but I am pleased with the results!

I managed to stay busy working on commercial and film sets as a higher based paid extra for another OLD NAVY commercial and feature film titled HOLLYWOO. I performed in FANTASY at Luxor for the 2011 calendar launch. I joined a new pin up dance troupe called DIAMOND BETTYS and we performed in Santa Barbara. I shot a new BENCHWARMER card and had a signature series signing for fans who collect them. I also continued my go-go gigs at VOYEUR, PLAYHOUSE, and added a new club called THE COLONY! An overall successful month because next month, I must rest and relax so my breast will heal successfully!

Cheers,

Amber Stauser

August 2010 Monthly Update

August 2010

A wild month! I went to my third Sturgis motorcycle rally where I bartended and go-go danced for a week. Tune into Tru TV's FULL THROTTLE SALOON to see some of the wild fun! I worked 12-14 hour days and even won a Wild Turkey contest! My goal was to make enough money to pay for corrective surgery of left implant listed on my “30 Before 30 List.” I made my money goal, surgery here I come!

After Sturgis, I flew to Las Vegas for FANTASY at Luxor in the evenings and a tradeshow as a fit model for EMPREINTE, an upscale lingerie company, by day. Also while in Vegas, I shot for the FANTASY 2011 calendar, so keep an eye out for it!

Back to L.A. where I stayed busy go-go dancing at VOYEUR, LOADED, THE HIDEOUT and CLUB FLAUNT, I also worked on completing more of my “30 Before 30 List” such as donating my eggs. Before donating my eggs, I took several tests at a fertility clinic to make sure I was 100% healthy and psychologically healthy to handle the process before even starting hormone shots followed by the egg retrieval. After all the results came back positive, I was given the green light to help make a couple’s dream their reality!

Cheers,

Amber Strauser