Lost in the City

Ode to Winter 2012

2012-01-31T19:32:00.003-05:00

Dear Mother Nature,

On behalf of all New Yorkers from Staten Island to the Bronx... THANK YOU for the best January we've experienced since Erin moved to the City!

I felt it was necessary to acknowledge that, while we did have a few bitterly cold days including a couple with snow, this has been the most mild January I've ever endured. The high was 58 for crying out loud!

I seriously reevaluated my life in Manhattan last winter and thought maybe the superficial, botox-injected Barbies of Hollywood might be okay if I gave them a fair shot. Luckily, I hate moving and so I stayed. I think this is God's way of telling me I made a right choice! He loves me that much!

Usually, looking ahead to February (aka the month my singleness is reemphasized by a holiday) is a bleak prospect filled with dread, but the high is 60 tomorrow. YES!!!

I GOT A CALL!!!

2012-01-28T12:19:00.002-05:00

Yes, I received a phone call from a commercial agent yesterday to come in for a meeting! My first meeting in NYC! So grateful! Now let me back up a bit...

For the past couple weeks, I've been taking a workshop organized by commercial casting director, Amy Gossels. She's got quite an extensive resume of projects she's cast, so working with her at all is good exposure. Plus, she's got a very precise, clear way of directing a commercial audition. The class was incredibly helpful and I never felt there was any time wasted! For the final class, she invited two commercial agents to watch our work and receive our headshots/resumes.

The very next day I got a call from one of the agents to set up an appointment to come to their office. We'll have an interview, I'll read a few commercials cold (no rehearsal) and then we'll see. If they like me, I might start free-lancing with them, which could lead to signing with them. Who knows! Either way... its been a good week.

The Nominees

2012-01-24T09:40:00.002-05:00

Very pleased with this years list of nominees for the Academy Awards! Certainly a year for women, but just great work all around. I still have a few films to see before the big night, but I'm proud to state I've seen many of the films with a nomination (yep- spending all my tip $$ on the movies).

Loved seeing Melissa McCarthy nominated for Best Supporting Actress for "Bridesmaids"-- hilarious! Also, surprised to read this is Gary Oldman's first nomination. He's such a wonderful actor! Rooney Mara got a nod for "Girl With the Dragon Tattoo", which I completely agree with, even though she's up against giants like Meryl and Glenn, but she gets to put on a beautiful dress and go to the biggest event for film!

But let's not get ahead of ourselves, because my favorite award show is coming up Sunday evening, the Screen Actors Guild Awards! My mission is to find someone with cable and invite myself over to their house to watch!

Already....?!

2012-01-15T20:29:00.002-05:00

January 15th... did this sneak up on anyone else?

I'm blessed with many things to work on and subsequently overflowing my brain. It's an interesting problem to have and the characters I'm working on are battling for my full attention, but its a good exercise. Hopefully I will work on multiple projects throughout my career!

For starters, I'm in the midst of rehearsal for Anatol by Arthur Schnitzle with City Show Productions. I have the pleasure of playing 'Gabrielle' and getting to verbally spar with the title character, playing with years of suppressed emotion and layers of subtext. Delicious!

Also, I've decided to tip-toe into the world of commercials. Working with the busy commercial casting director, Amy Gossels, I've found I have a knack for this type of work. We meet with agents next week, so we'll see where that might be heading!

I'm also continuing to exercise the acting muscles with Wynn Handman and the uber-talented group of actors that attend his bi-weekly class. It's such a safe place to explore, which is what every actor needs!

Not to mention the full-time, pay-the-bills-for-the-time-being job at The Greenwich Hotel. Speaking of which, my bed is calling to me! The alarm is going off at 5:00 a.m.

2012

2012-01-01T12:29:00.002-05:00

And so it's begun! Our final year (according to the Mayans)! Rumor has it that the world won't end til December, so we've got some time. Phew! Cause I've got plans!

Now, I spent a good portion of my work shift last night brainstorming, in between "ooohhh and ahhh- ing" at guest's fancy attire as they headed out for the evening. I LOVE beginnings. I love the possibilities that exist at the start. I always loved a new school year, new basketball season, new project to rehearse-- because I'm still afforded the opportunity to imagine the result. Then we get a few weeks in and the image inevitably shifts-- good or bad, it shifts.

So here we are at the beginning of a year! This is a pretty big one! I could sit here and spell out a dozen resolutions like: exercise every day, only have candy for dinner once a week, start brewing decaf-- but I'll inevitably fail at some point and feel disappointed in myself. Don't get me wrong, I do have many self-improvement goals in mind that I plan to fail at, but I'm not going to punish myself for them. I'll reward myself when I DO accomplish a little goal. I think positivity will be my theme for the year!

To be frank, I'm not sad to say goodbye to 2011. Learned a lot, laughed a lot, cried a lot-- ready to be challenged by the unexpected opportunities that NYC will present and the miracles the good Lord will show me!

Developments

2011-12-07T12:25:00.003-05:00

Ok, many things have been occurring and I've yet to tell you about any of them... apologies!

I'm going to start with the most recent and work my way backwards...

Last night, I participated in an intensive with an associate casting director for ABC through the Actor's Green Room. Now, let me explain that sentence, as many of you may already be lost. An intensive is a couple hours one night that we (paying actors) get one-on-one time with a professional in the industry reading sides (a scene from a script) and then get feedback and critique. The purpose of these intensives is to allow unknowns, like myself, a chance to show my ability cause at this point in my career I'm probably not going to be seen by them otherwise! Ha! Humility is the key to contentment!

Anyway, the Actor's Green Room is one of many networking establishments in the City (and for my money, the best) who bring the unknown actors together with the casting directors and provide the space and opportunity to connect and work together. The ideal outcome would be for the CD last night to think I was so brilliant that she might call me in for a real audition for pilot season coming up! Oh geez, I just introduced a new term, didn't I?

Pilot Season- 20+ new shows are cast and filmed and presented to the networks to possibly get funded and then put on the air and shown in your home on your TV once a week!

SO- all that to say, I prepared a scene provided by AGR from scripts that were either recently developed or are in development and we bring it in to read for the CD. The set-up was unique in that the waiting room had a monitor showing the person in the room being filmed with audio and everything. So we were all kinda listening in on their audition. I actually loved the set-up because when I was in the room it was just me, the reader, the CD and the camera woman, but while I was waiting I could hear how the CD talked to the other actors, how their voice came across, what was missing in their performance and I just enjoy watching other people work. Now, whether or not that affected my performance, I don't know BUT I went in to read, I did my scene and I felt good about it. The CD told me she had no adjustments, I did a great job listening and reacting, she would send that copy straight to the director!

Now, before I went to the workshop I spoke with an independent filmmaker who I recently took a class with that spanned 3 weeks, meeting once a week. It's design was to simulate working on a film set. First, an audition with just the director. Second, first read-thru with the other actor and director. Third, off-book with blocking and filming the scene. Our conversation last night was a follow-up on the class and to answer any questions I'd had. He was extremely encouraging and he had tried to get me in for an audition for his latest project, but my darn schedule didn't allow it. He assured me 2012 will be a busy year, so he'd keep me in mind for projects. I'd absolutely love to work with him. He's so focused and encouraging and I feel confident under his direction, which is such a huge gift for an actor!

Also, I've been involved with a developing play that should be going up on stage maybe early next year, which has earned me a bit of $$. Now, its not a ton, but its so satisfying when you receive a bit of monetary encouragement for your life's pursuit. And I have a possible second project coming my way for the stage very soon! All good things!

The best recent occurrence, I don't actually want to post but please ask me about it sometime because it may be one of the best small world stories I've personally encountered!

Do you ever feel like you're on a path with absolutely no idea where it leads but you're sure you're heading in the right direction?

A Family Reunion... of sorts

2011-11-28T23:52:00.003-05:00

I'm not gonna lie... I was muy nervosa going in to this evening. First class studying with Wynn Handman. Can I tell you, I felt like I was at a family reunion (hence the title).

Arriving early-- clear sign of a newbie-- I made my way to a safe center seat on the center row, and observed the room. Within moments I was engaged in conversation with several folks around me and moments later I found myself being hugged. True, I had met the person whose arms were around my neck. I must explain the fun, roundabout way I know Dain...

Working as a barista in the fine neighborhood of TriBeCa, I came to know many of the locals. One being a fellow by the name of Paul. Now, Paul would begrudgingly admit that he is well-known around the neighborhood because of his dog Hubert. This animal is large enough to ride weighing in at 110 lbs. So anyway, I know Paul. We talk theatre, film, books and have become good friends. One of Paul's favorite topics is his daughter, Dain. As all fathers do, he raves about her and constantly gives me updates on her acting career-- by the way, I saw her work tonight, and she is truly talented. No nepotism there! So, I remember he'd mentioned she was studying with Wynn and so when I got accepted to study with him as well, he told her and thus I had a friend Day 1!

But back to the class, its just so wonderful to be in an environment that is insanely supportive, nerves are high because everyone wants to do good work, Wynn is like Papa Bear. I mean, I sneezed at one point and 8 people blessed me! I love actors. Its definitely going to be a good place to grow from! Absolutely worth the investment!

"Venus In Fur"

2011-11-13T23:27:00.005-05:00

A new play by David Ives, who is now officially my favorite modern playwright. This play had a successful Off-Broadway run at Classic Stage Company and has now arrived on Broadway. And thanks to Manhattan Theatre Club's 30 Under 30 program, I am able to see this show for an affordable price!

Now, I have been anticipating this show for quite some time! Basically since it's run Off-Broadway, which I regrettably never made it out to! However, this play... I don't even know where to start.

First of all, Ives has such an incredible ability to write with a rhythm that makes his work flow so well. This play is a dance of power. Man! I wish I'd said that in the post-show interview I did! Ha! Yep, after the show tonight, there was a 30 Under 30 party in the lounge downstairs. I did absolutely no mingling, I just chatted with my friend wonderful friend Mel the entire time! Who is incredibly inspiring and was just as moved as I was about this crazy-good play! But we were then interviewed about the play. I was a bit of a bumbling mess and have, of course, come up with many clever and profound things since that I should have said, but whatever! AND I said my age on camera! Actresses are never supposed to do that! Ugh!

Anyway, this play is a woman auditioning for a part in a play. There are many funny theatre/audition references in the play, which makes it extra enjoyable! And Nina Arianda rushes onto the stage with such energy and force that you just let her lead the night. Its either that or get left in the dust! Hugh Dancy plays an excellent counterpart, as the director she's auditioning for, but the show is designed to star her! Its such an exceptional piece with such room to play, I imagine the rehearsal process was extremely inventive and exciting!

If you're in NY, coming to NY, or have ever thought about maybe taking a trip... see this show!!!

11-11-11

2011-11-11T12:24:00.002-05:00

Initially this post was going to be regaling my adventure at the NYC Marathon this past Sunday, which was amazing, by the way. So much emotion, so much life, so many smelly bodies running by, as I desperately searched in vain, for my friend among the 47,000+ runners!

However, I cannot let this fun date pass by without some acknowledgement.

Nov. 11th, 2011- if only I'd written this at 11:11 this morning... drat!

As stated in previous posts, the beginning of this month brought about many new things, but since we're now at day 11 of this 11th month, things have settled down. The holidays are approaching and for the 11th Thanksgiving in a row, I will be absent from my family's table. Not to worry, I have multiple invites to orphan's Thanksgivings around the City AND all the holiday markets are going up all over Manhattan, which justifies the Christmas lights I've recently hung in my new apartment!

Glad to see no Y2K craze happened surrounding 11-11-11, but then again the imminent 2012 is nearly here so I guess the world will end then! Until that time... Happy 11 day!

OCTOBER

2011-10-31T21:51:00.003-04:00

So I thought maybe I was so eloquent in my last post that it might sustain for the entirety of the month! A little audacious? Hmmm, ok how about I wanted to let the memory of my grandmother linger and honor her by not writing during the whole month of October? You're not buying it are you?

Well, truth be told, I have been insanely busy and with acting work as well as "work" work. Quick update on the money-side of work... I started as a Front Desk Concierge at The Greenwich Hotel in Tribeca. Yes, right next to (actually attached to) the restaurant I recently retired from, Locanda Verde. I actually LOVE the job. I get to plan people's vacation and help them get the best NYC experience, which sounds incredibly cheesy, but its so fun! Plus, I'm learning a lot about the City and using my title as Concierge to try some local restaurants at a much discounted rate. Quite nice, I think!

On the acting side of life, lots and lots of auditions. I've booked a couple things and had to decline because I just started this job at the hotel and right now I need $$ over small credits for the rez! I just did a reading of a fabulous new play! For the first time in my acting life, I picked up a brand new piece of material no one had seen before and read it and felt so excited by the potential of the piece. Its hard to describe, but imagine you've just discovered an amazing recipe or song or game or book or movie and you just can't get enough and keep finding more and more things about it that pull you in deeper! That's what its like discovering these characters and their story! Rare and so fun! Also, I recently got into a selective acting class with a fellow by the name of Wynn Handman! Very excited about this one! He's been teaching forever and I know its going to make me a better actor. I'm pretty intimidated but in the inspired way not the scared way!

The biggest news of all is that I'm moving into my 5th apartment tomorrow! Hopefully this will be the last move for a while. I have a very good feeling about this and the way everything fell into place, it really was a NY miracle with Divine intervention! Thank you all for your prayers! I'm hiring movers for the first time ever tomorrow, so that should be interesting! I'm a real New Yorker now! Maybe I'll settle a bit after this and write a little more frequently... maybe!

Pamelia Wheeler Spell

2011-09-24T00:47:00.015-04:00

My dear, sweet Grandmother was the epitome of Southern gentility with a generous helping of playfulness and a heaping dose of humility, topped off with a kind smile that comes from the heart. And like every woman born in the South, she could cook with the best of them, but her favorite was dessert. No meal was complete without dessert. Many times I foolishly ate too much of the insisted second or third helpings of a meal, only to be greeted with a bowl of ice cream and a cookie or two for the finale!

An April baby, like myself, she bounced around in the early years, but settled in Jackson, MS in 1945. There she found 'Jimmy', her high school sweetheart. They would write back and forth while he attended West Point Military Academy and she Sullins College then Univ. of Florida. Luckily, Jimmy was a good writer with excellent penmanship and won her for his bride. He still writes beautifully!

After some time in the Army overseas, they settled in Dallas, TX with their two daughters, Melinda and Melissa. In 1967, a beautiful house became their home and they haven't left. The backyard now displays a beautiful Magnolia tree that provides shade and several branches excellent for climbing, but it was a mere sapling when they first moved in. This house holds so many memories within it's walls from birthday parties, to drill team try-out practice, to first dates, to Christmas with grandkids, to puzzle building, to dress-up, to mac-and-cheese with ham, to CareBears and Go Fish.

On September 19th, 2011 Pamelia Wheeler Spell met her Lord, leaving the place she'd called home for almost 45 years and finding a new home. Her last word heard by her daughter Melissa was "Wow!" I can only imagine what image she must've seen as she left this life. She was a person of deep faith in God and sincere devotion. I will miss her so very much, but I am incredibly grateful for the time I did spend with her and the many memories I will continue to cherish!

9/11

2011-09-12T08:49:00.002-04:00

Ten years ago, I found myself in the weight room completing a morning work-out class, required for all freshman basketball players. We'd fulfilled the grueling morning conditioning and quietly moved around the empty weight room. In the corner television I caught a glimpse of the World Trade Center with smoke pouring out of the side. One month before, my mother treated me to a vacation to the destination of my choosing for graduation and I chose New York City! One of the few places in this world that lived up to every expectation I'd ever held. I fell completely in love with the City and longed to return.> Now, I sat stunned watching a building I had stood on top of weeks before, on fire. I thought the building was simply on fire. Tragic, yes but nothing close to the reality that literally came crashing in as the second plane hit the South Tower.

Dismissed from the remainder of the morning workout, I ran back to my dorm and down the hall to my newest best friend on campus. I knocked on her door, walked in and clumsily said, "I think we're being attacked..." As a dutiful freshmen, we still went to our morning classes still not quite sure what to think or do. On the overheard projector, our professor was streaming the news as they covered the events unfolding in New York. Excused from class and informed that all classes that day were suspended, a dozen of us watched, motionless and silent as the towers came crashing down. I'll never forget that day and the flashes of faces I saw in August '01 on the top floors of the observation level at the World Trade Center.

Ten years later, here I am. I've returned to the City that cast it's spell a decade ago. A different City than the one I first met. Milestones allow the opportunity to reflect and few things cause New Yorkers to pause or even slow down, but this event honors the spirit of the City I love. It's a place where a stranger will grab one end of a stroller and help a mother carry her child up the subway stairs and at the top give a quick glance of appreciation and continue on their way. An elderly woman stumbles to the ground and in moments surrounded by 4 people offering their hand, setting her in a nearby chair, making sure she is okay and then proceeding to their business meeting or workout class or lunch appointment. A businessman asked for directions will be concise but precise and helpful. New York will come to your aid because we're on top of each other. To ignore is to neglect. I'm not so romantic about this place that I miss the harshness, but I try to find what is underneath it. My profession requires I study and soak up human behavior and essence- New York overflows with humanity of every kind. Often called the melting pot of the world, I am still deeply in love with this City and grateful for the opportunity to call it home.

The Day Before That Day...

2011-09-10T14:37:00.002-04:00

Just to quickly follow-up on my last post...
The Agent Night went very well. I'd say 70% enjoyed what I did and I feel a glimmer of hope. There were 10 agents present, 5 in each room. We came in, as our headshots were distributed to those at the table, I found my chair, handed the scene to the reader with me and read the scene. Each agent was given a feedback form, which we received back a few minutes after we exited the room. I was one of the last few people to work in front of them, which could work in my favor or not. They say an agent will know if they are interested in the first 15 seconds you're in front of them. Which is good, cause I hadn't even opened my mouth yet by that point! Now, I'm figuring out the follow-up procedure with these folks! Luckily I have some opportunities to be on stage so I can invite them out!

Also, I had a couple auditions yesterday. One for a web-series, which are becoming increasingly popular! The other was for a student film for NY Film Academy. Both went very well and I really liked each director. Now is the waiting game! The horrible truth is I may never hear from them (which is a rejection...obviously).

Now to the subject of the Title... September 11th is tomorrow! Apparently, NY is under terror watch more so than normal. Both myself and my roommate received calls from our mothers about things up here. I cannot honestly say I've noticed anything different, but maybe that's cause they're being so stealthy! Also, I haven't been in Times Square at all! My roommate works in Times Square so I wished him luck as he left for work this morning! That's kinda the reality up here. Life continues on, despite the threat, the turmoil, the tragedy.

I'm grateful September 11th falls on a Sunday for the 10th anniversary.

Welcome to a new school year!

2011-09-06T14:26:00.003-04:00

Even though I've been out of school for a good 5 years now, I still mark my life by the school calendar. Is that normal? Is it just because I like the idea of beginnings, so I get an excuse in September to start something new? I've adopted the European summer where I take at least one month completely off! This year it was August! I wonder how much longer I can keep doing this!

Now that we're almost a week into September, I must declare I am going to focus this blog more on what happens in my acting life with splashes of everyday life from this brain of mine! This is of course assuming I have stuff to write about, but we shall see! This is, after all, the reason I moved to this City from my happy life in Austin, Texas! So here we go!

The week ahead includes, meeting with agents Wednesday night to impress them with my incredible acting ability all in 2 pages of a scene! Yep, that's how much time I get! Can't say we're inefficient here in NYC! Also, I will be assisting with auditions for the Off-Off Broadway company, of which I am a member. Always a learning experience to be on the auditor side. Its really not as scary as we make it! Ugh! And later I will be going in for a web series. This week is actually a good one!

Luckily, its raining in NYC today, so its an indoor day to write and rehearse! Btw, if you haven't read The Help, pick it up and enjoy! My favorite line in the book just happens to be the author's favorite too (I think we could be friends).

"Wasn't that the point of the book? For women to realize, We are just two people. Not that much separates us. Not nearly as much as I'd thought"

Melting...

2011-07-24T14:18:00.002-04:00

New York City hit a record 104 on Friday, but the heat index was higher! Now, as a native Texan, I know anyone down south will read that and laugh in a casual, "yeah... and....?" kinda way. I've survived the 30 consecutive-100-degree-days that are becoming a staple for Texas summers, however may I remind you all that you travel from your centrally air-conditioned home to your SUV that may take 5-10 minutes for the AC to kick in, then you get out of your ice-box car and walk into an equally freezing store/gym/restaurant.

In New York City... there is no escape. My poor window unit is cranking out as much cool air as it can, but its a little guy, he can only do so much. As soon as I step out of my room, it hits! I'll shower and immediately start sweating, so I'll rush into my room to air dry. But as soon as I step out into the hallway of my apartment, the heat and humidity are present. Walking down the street provides a slight breeze, but there is the inevitable dissent into the subway. The guts of NYC, which today closely resembles the atmosphere inside a body, probably! Stagnant air so thick its difficult to take a deep breath. The thin layer of sweat already covering your body begins to pool into drops that roll down your back. If you're lucky a train will arrive shortly that is, God-willing, air-conditioned. However, on this particularly hot day, the train air-condition cannot keep up, so its a muggy mess inside the car. A traveling sauna makes its way from 145th St down to lower Manhattan.

Lucky for me I'm only riding til 57th St this day, where I'm transferring to make my way to Brooklyn. I'm working on a film shoot this afternoon. Now anyone who has ever had the pleasure of shooting a film knows that any time the camera is rolling, any noise making device must be turned off so as not to interfere with the sound. This includes AC & fans. So the sweating continues throughout the day! Joy! By 5 pm I have sweated through all of my clothes, but its pointless to return home to shower because of the above paragraph. What do I do? I bob over to H&M and buy a new outfit for $10. I love H&M!

I enjoyed a friend's show that night but immediately after I bid them goodnight and raced home dying for a shower! It's a sweaty business living in NYC in July! Glad I'm vacating for August!

Liberation!!!

2011-07-13T10:57:00.002-04:00

Just because I do this often, doesn't make it any easier!

Since moving to New York 3 years ago, I have moved 4 times, held 3 jobs and made $0 in the profession I'm pursuing (acting). And yet, I take another plunge into the unknown fully confident of landing on my feet, because...well... it is New York City!

My most recent job of serving coffee to the rich and occasionally famous clientele of Tribeca ended this past Sunday. After two years in lower Manhattan, I walked away feeling a great sense of relief. I've met so many great folks who are now good friends of mine, shared many stories across the counter and even managed to make some connections in the business and gain some babysitting clients! I do not look forward to having to start paying for my coffee, but I do look forward to not having to work for tips! Yes, I am determined to never return to the restaurant business! Despite its immediate and lucrative return, it makes me jaded toward people, as a whole. Not good. So I leave it behind!

Coincidentally (I don't actually believe in coincidence), my final weekend at work fell on opening weekend for a show in which I'm performing. It's called Dear Brutus written by JM Barrie (author of Peter Pan). A delightful ensemble piece where I get to work with such fun actors. The past month of rehearsing til late in the night, then having to wake up for work, has been incredibly draining, but the hard work has paid off for our run. Such a joy to perform and play on stage! It's actually the perfect transition. Moving from what I had to do to what I love to do! Soon I'll get paid for it, so I can just love my work all the time! I know, I know-- I'm a dreamer!

(heavy sigh)

2011-05-27T01:19:00.003-04:00

Warning: This one is not so cheery, but its honest.

Wednesday could possibly be the worst day in recent memory. I was repeatedly bashed over the head with the reality that no matter what, I cannot do everything I really want to do and subsequently I let people down, I disappoint. I don't mean this to sound in any way arrogant and that I'm so popular I couldn't possibly accept all invitations. NO! I mean the simplest thing, I feel like there are just not enough express trains to get me to everything and I certainly can't afford cabs. I'm not so in love with NYC at this moment.

Wednesday morning, I rose to the humidity trying to slowly begin my glorious day off. However, immediately (and foolishly) I checked my email on my phone and boom 2 hours later my quiet morning is gone. Apparently I had a lot of emailing to do, castings to submit to and things to mail out! Now I'm rushing off to catch a noon yoga class, but because I've only ever been to this studio once (I visit every studio in Manhattan to do their intro special, then never go back- I'm a creative poor person) So I'm running into the class. Having only spared enough time for a banana all morning, my blood sugars is a little low. Needless to say, this was not an easy class.

Upon departing the yoga studio, still sweating from the humidity- and to be perfectly honest, I'm a sweater- I rush off to UCB for my improv class. Now I'm not sure at all how I managed to be a tiny bit late to this class but I was. The magic of navigating an unfamiliar part of Manhattan! Class was fun, but it was one of those "learning" days for me... in other words I didn't feel funny at ALL, which is rough when you're doing improv. Ah, well, shake it off, right? This is where the day really takes a turn for the worse.

Now in my "yes" mentality of life, I have double-booked myself. I'm supposed to have dinner with my dear friends in Brooklyn AND attend an art show with portraits inspired by a theater piece I co-wrote and performed a year ago. I thought maybe if I rush out to Brooklyn for cocktails then I can be back for the show, OH AND I got an email to be a reader for screenplay from a splendid actress from a theater group I've started meeting with! So I'm rushing to the wine shop to grab a bottle to... I dunno... FLY to Brooklyn so I can be back by 7 to Chelsea then midtown by 8. Ambitious, I know. Everything came to a screeching halt when I realized, in my haste to leave UCB after class, I left my sweatshirt with my house keys in the pocket. ________ insert your expletive of choice!

There goes Brooklyn, but maybe I can make the art show. I call my friends in Brooklyn and say maybe I can meet up with them after the reading, if they're still out. This seems to appease them... phew! I then rush back up to UCB only to find my sweatshirt was kindly picked up by one of my fellow classmates. Thoughtful, yes. Helpful, no. Through the wonder of mass emailing, I found out my sweatshirt was safe and sound on the Upper East Side (I live in West Harlem) BUT on the bright side, its with someone.

I rush over to the show and literally walk in, find my gorgeous photographer friend, 'ooooh and ahhhh' at the photographs, kiss her cheek and walk out the door. I had to rush over to East 43rd for the screenplay reading. This part was actually the lone bright spot of the entire day. I just have to pause and give reverence to the part of my day that I loved. We read on top of a 10 story building right by the United Nations overlooking the East River. Despite the dark nature of the screenplay, it was perfect. We had a discussion afterward about the script, which pushed my departure time back to 11 p.m. Still having to go retrieve my sweatshirt from the East 80's, I lamely texted my Brooklyn darlings with my regrets- to which I got no reply, not a good sign.

My dear roommate accompanied me to the sweatshirt safehouse and we decided to venture on a bus for a ride home. Good in theory and maybe at that hour it truly was the fastest way home, but it took us an hour to go from E 86th st to W 140th st. Sheesh!

The only time I felt fully present and not frustratedly out of sorts was on that rooftop, reading a screenplay... is that indicative of something, do you think?

Spring has sprung!

2011-05-18T09:03:00.006-04:00

At last! The NY winter refused to go quietly this year, but the past few weeks have been a glorious reward. Now, for someone who grew up in a land of two seasons (TX=4 weeks of winter and endless summer) spring has grown to become truly a rebirth of my love for New York City, and I appreciate it more with each passing year. Its not just because my birthday is in the spring, which formerly served as my reason for liking spring. After trudging through piles of snow (so many times this winter) and wearing layers upon layers of clothing and the sun setting at 3 p.m. and consuming more coffee than one should simply to stay warm, spring is NY's resurrection!

Sidewalk dining, sunny afternoons in the park, smiles on the faces of New Yorkers and everyone suddenly wants to take their dogs on a walk! I swear the amount of dogs I've seen in the last few weeks has increased exponentially! My mood has also increased exponentially, as has the amount of visitors we've housed in our Harlem apartment. I just had to write to say- Spring, I love you!

TriBeCa Film Festival

2011-05-02T21:09:00.004-04:00

Now, I've worked in TriBeCa for over a year now. Last year I received one free ticket from Bob's office to a premiere and walked the red carpet in my flip-flops (which I blogged about) and it was a fun introduction to the world of film festivals. THIS year, however, after making thousands more coffees & teas for employees of TriBeCa Film, I enjoyed the festival on a whole other level! That's right, it just takes a little time for those early mornings to pay off! :)

Through various connections that I've established across my marble coffee counter, I received every ticket I requested with a couple bonus ones! I had so many tickets I couldn't even use them all and was able to share the wealth with other poor actors! Wonderful! I even got a birthday bonus invite to an exclusive screening & party!

The 10th Annual TriBeCa Film Festival began two days after my birthday! Let this be a lesson to all those shy, passive folks out there... let people know its your birthday!!! Even if you don't want to say how old you are (which you shouldn't care unless you're an actor/model/any profession where that DOES matter), its the one day that you are allowed- nay, expected- to be the center of attention AND people love to tell you happy birthday! So let them! Now, luckily I was able to work on my birthday, which meant my day was full of love! Plus, I got an amazing invite to a screening and after-party during the festival!

Fast-forward to the screening, the film was ok. It was called "The High Cost of Living" starring Zach Braff and Isabelle Blais. An interesting storyline that might have been more believable with a more sympathetic character. Isabelle Blais was lovely and tender in the film, but Zach Braff seemed distant. Anyway, after the screening we headed to the after-party at the Mondrian Hotel Penthouse in SoHo. An incredible view of Manhattan, with a huge terrace (that was too windy to stand on for too long) and a room full of film folks! Love it! I attended this screening/party with a co-worker from the hotel, which meant we knew no one in the room! Great! At first, the sheer excitement of just being in the room and people watching felt sufficiently entertaining, however what kind of struggling actress would I be if I didn't realize the networking opportunity I found myself in!

Across the room I spotted a familiar face, is that... yes, it is! Shawn Hunter from Boy Meets World!!! Well, just for my own wonderful memories I have to go say hi to this fella! So I muster up the courage and just don't care, walk over and politely ask, "Can I just be a teenage fan for one second?" Rider Strong is his real name! And such a gem. He was so gracious and lovely. He then introduced me to his producer, and girlfriend, Alex and then his co-writer and director and brother, Shiloh. They were all so fun and great conversation that we just hung out with them the rest of the party! I found out they had a short film in the festival, which I screened a couple days later!

All in all, this was far and away the best festival I've personally experienced! The films I viewed are listed below with a quick review. Some of them are already released in select theaters in NY. Oh, and I did walk a couple more red carpets this time around, but with close-toed shoes!

"The Bang Bang Club"
~slightly unfocused as they tried to cover apartheid and the group of photographers, so neither were solid

"Higher Ground"
~directorial debut of Vera Farmiga, beautifully told journey of a woman's evolving faith, very tender and relevant

"Last Night"
~will they/won't they? its an interesting look at infidelity and its many layers-- super fun viewing experience, which probably enhanced my feelings toward the film

"Romantics Anonymous"
~quirky French romantic comedy including chocolate- really delightful and charming

Series of Shorts-- all good with varied subject matter, but of course I'm partial to the film by the Strong brothers called "The Dungeon Master". They're very talented and charming, plus Rider is a walking piece of nostalgia for many folks my age, so I think they might do well! I hope so anyway!

Next year I'll be attending the festival as someone involved in one of the films! Won't that be nice!

HALF MARATHON

2011-04-06T12:09:00.016-04:00

The sound of church bells pulls me from my slumber at 5:30 a.m. A calm, gentle chime to transport me from the floating subconscious to the waking world. Sunday mornings usually begin this way, however I am not heading to Tribeca to serve coffee to the brunching stroller brigade. Oh no, this Sunday is all mine! And I'm voluntarily running 13.1 miles in Central Park with about 8,000 other women!

Team Honduras slowly rises to greet the pre-dawn morning. My older sister beside me in the bed and our other teammate, Tiffany, has already popped her head in the room to make sure we haven't accidentally forgotten to get up. Must eat 2 hours before the race, so Rachel gets to work toasting our whole wheat English muffins with almond butter. We decide to wake up the whole house by setting off my overly sensitive fire alarm when toasting the muffins on the stove! Our fourth teammate is Bethany, also team photographer and designated jacket holder for the race! Whom we greatly appreciate!

We manage to catch an express train down to Columbus Circle. Very fortunate considering we lost a few minutes when we got to the subway and realize someone forgot their Metro card (Tiff)! We MUST be at the start one hour prior to start time so we can use the restroom, stretch, use the restroom, check our bag, use the restroom and warm-up! One of the many new experiences this race allows me to experience... Central Park at sunrise. So peaceful!

We make our way to the corral with all the other heifers, waiting for the race to begin. Lots of people have to say a few inspiring words before we start, none of whom I knew or could hear. We did all pause for the singing of the national anthem. And then slowly but surely the thousands of women around me move from a walk to a jog to a run. And we're off!

Let me preface the account of our race with this: Rachel and Tiffany have been training buddies in Honduras since we signed up in January. They're a little hardcore about it and to be perfectly honest, its been a hard winter in New York City, so I have trained as best I could, kind of. All that to say, I was not 100% sure I could even run the whole 13.1 miles, but my sister and I made a deal that if I never walked, she would stay with me the whole time. Thanks Rachie! Tiffany on the other hand left us on mile 2! She also set a personal best, so we're very proud of her! Also, Rachel and I decided we were going to dedicate each mile to someone we loved, which would motivate us a little extra during the race. Oh! And a last minute decision to run with my iphone allows me to document the journey around the park!

Mile 1 is for the parents, who recently celebrated 33 years of marriage!
I am feeling good and quite pleased with my photography skills in mid-stride! The sun is shining! This is going to be a wonderful run. Mile 2 put us on the the UES near the Great Lawn in park. Still able to converse fairly well with my sister and trying not to think about the approaching hills. Stay present. Stay present. Actually the climb by the boathouse wasn't so bad. Mile 3 is for our Air Force brother Zac, who is somewhere overseas flying some mission! We're so proud! Mile 4... dreading! The climb on the top side of the park. A slow, gradual incline that just keeps curving and you can never see the crest. However, due to adrenaline or peer pressure, I maintain a positive, almost happy disposition as we receive encouragement from folks clapping and cheering us on! I think they're angels! Mile 4 is dedicated to my roommate Jacob, so I sent him this picture, which woke him up laughing! This inspired him to get out of bed and come down to Central Park to be my lone supporter! I will love him forever for this!

We continue traveling down the west side of the park thru Mile 5. Did I mention this race was just loops of Central Park? The park is about 6 miles, so we ran a little over 2 loops. As we pass the Delacorte Theatre (where Shakespeare in the Park is during the summer) I do my best to quote a few lines from a sonnet, but my lungs and brain are a bit short on oxygen to I can't get out much. Mile 6 is for my brother Matt, who just recently visited me! Mile 7 is for brother Adam! And Mile 8 for brother Joey! Good thing I have a large family to fill up these miles! You can see the truth start to show in my eyes for these pictures! Mile 9 is for our dear Bethany! And Mile 10 for the Grandparents back in Dallas! Mile 10 is the second adventure with the slow and steady incline at the top of the park! This time I pull the headphones out of my iPhone and allow my sister to be inspired by the tunes! What came on? "Hullaballoo! Caneck! Caneck!" The Aggie War Hymn, which anyone reading this who has never heard of Texas A&M will be ultra-confused, but anyone who knows it and especially is an Aggie will appreciate how brilliant the timing is for this song to play! Definitely got up the hill with that!

The following miles are rollers on the west side and certainly worthy of a great deal of effort. Its amazing how the simplest phrase can really help inspire you through a difficult moment. A woman on the side, maybe even a volunteer, cheers us on with, "Come on ladies! You can do it! Kick this hills ass!" (sorry mom) But it really did help! I thought, "Yeah! Its not gonna beat me! I can keep my legs going!" Which, by the way, each leg weighs 50lbs at this point! Mile 11 is for Krissy, my other roommate. For Mile 12, Rachel and I were a little lost as to who we wanted to dedicate it to. We were out of brothers and parents and grandparents. We decided to devote Mile 12 to my brothers girlfriend, Ashley, whom we love like a sister anyway! And Mile 13, the finale, the home stretch, the coup de gras is dedicated to each other! Awwwww! Aren't we sweet?! Even the last mile is crazy hard! But there are SO many people around for the last couple miles that there is no way I'm stopping to walk here! We make the turn toward the fountain and the race path gets incredibly narrow. Our teammate, Tiffany, had already finished, so she burst through the crowd to scream, "Go Team Honduras" as we made our final push! Maybe the most people dodging of the entire race is there in that last tenth of a mile! How could someone possibly walk now?! I actually speed up! Rachie & I cross the finish line together!

We immediately hit a wall of runners filing through a tiny passage way to receive our medals, apples, bagels, and shiny space capes (not sure what they're really called but this is what I call them). I think a little more planning needs to go into the finish area. Way too narrow! But we did it! I picked up two apples, two bagels and couldn't wait to get my cape!

We snap photos together! Share race stories! Congratulate one another! And bask in the endorphin-induced euphoric state of completing on of the most challenging physical efforts of my life! I am truly surprised I ran the entire race and profoundly awed by what can be accomplished when doubt is shunned and possibility embraced, fully!

The post-race festival ends up being a little lame-o, with not nearly the food we had hoped. We do get a free stretch and on our way out of the park, stop by the bagel/apple station to load up! Delicious & free!

This final image is what I found in my house this morning, three days after the race. Team Honduras has parted ways, with two teammates returning to Honduras and one to Tennessee. Shoes abandoned having surpassed their duties, running more miles than they should through the trails leading to and from Guatemala and the streets of Manhattan. How many conversations do they hold? How many thoughts have they carried? Could there be a better place of rest than laying side by side in the spring sunshine? I sooooo appreciate my sister and Tiffany dumping their old, smelly shoes in my house! Haha! Kidding! I kinda like the memento!

The Final Countdown

2011-03-30T18:20:00.003-04:00

This afternoon Team Honduras was united for the Women's Half-Marathon Sunday. We're Team Honduras because 2/3 of the team are living in Honduras and our race day shirts are Honduras soccer jerseys! It may be confusing as none us look anything like Hondurans, but it matters not!

Presently, the latest arrivals have decided to scope out the race course. I ran an easy 4 miles this morning. I'm absolutely the slowest one on the team, but hey... I'M ON THE TEAM! I will run as far as my legs can carry me and then I will zen out on the run and my legs will keep going and when I rejoin my body it'll be over and I'll be getting free stuff at the finish line! Can't wait!

Ugh... Daylight Savings

2011-03-14T06:23:00.002-04:00

Nothing makes me happier than the thought of longer evenings spent in the warm glow of a late afternoon sun. A time when I can get off work and still have hours to enjoy the bustling metropolis of Manhattan. HOWEVER, that first day after we "spring forward" and are robbed a precious hour of sleep, I reconsider its value.

"Is it entirely necessary to subject our bodies to this every year?" "Other countries don't practice this ridiculous ritual of moving clocks and therefore confusing everyone?" "Why does my phone jump ahead and not my computer?" All these thoughts were circulating thru my mind yesterday morning as I awoke. And it was a long, arduous day of serving brunch to those who did get to sleep in (i loathe them).

To allow my body to adjust to this immense time shift, I came home and went to bed at 6 p.m. Nevermind that I was several hours behind on sleep from this past week. It definitely had nothing to do with that and everything to do with losing one, single, solitary hour due to daylight savings!

p.s. half-marathon is in 3 weeks!

The Unexpected!

2011-03-07T06:23:00.002-05:00

Last night marked the closing night of "A Night of One Acts" with Love Creek Productions (that Off-Off Broadway company, of which I am a member). Unbeknownst to Erin, Sunday night's show began at 7 p.m. not 8 p.m. like the two previous nights. Oops!

As I was en route to the theater last night, I received a text message at 7:10 p.m. from my scene partner saying, "Our show started at 7 tonight". Then I checked my email and at 6 p.m. my director had emailed a reminder saying the same thing. Now, I accept full responsibility for not checking the flyer of the program to double-check start times BUT my director and I had exchanged emails earlier in the day and that might have been a better time to remind me OR my scene partner arrived to the theater at 5:30 p.m. and found out our show started at 7 p.m., so a text message from him would have been helpful too! Again, though, I know it was my own fault and thank goodness this is a relaxed group of people and a night of One Acts is easy to shift around a bit.

So we opened the second half after intermission, which was great cause it allowed us to set the stage. We had our best performance of the run (still with dropped lines) and I felt humbled and embarrassed for my mistake, but no one seemed to care. I love Off-Off Broadway! Good lesson to learn early in my career... no one will look out for you, you must be on top of yourself! I don't think I'll ever be late again!

MARCH

2011-03-04T10:45:00.003-05:00

Hooray! This is the month of Spring! I don't care if it actually gets warmer, the very idea of Spring exists in this month! Spring break for schools is this month! St. Patty's Day is this month (not really sure how much that has to do with Spring). I am very happy to report that this is the final month of training for the half-marathon Rachel (sister) and I will be running! To be perfectly honest, my attention has not been entirely occupied with training so I've got one month to really prepare myself to run 13.1 miles! In fact, I'm heading out to do a lap of Central Park right now. The high today is 34 degrees, but its sunny!

A Life Less Ordinary

2011-02-26T10:54:00.002-05:00

Sometimes, when fighting the gusting winds on 8th Avenue and shivering on the subway platform and drinking coffee to suppress hunger, I begin to question the life I'm living. Then I get a text from my old college roommate sharing news of a baby on the way, and I really start rethinking things. Not to say if I had stayed in Austin and found a nice Southern man to marry and a job I liked and start popping out babies of my own that I wouldn't have a similar feeling at some point BUT I feel its a little different up here.

A quiet life like the one I was raised, seems pretty ideal, especially in the dead of winter. (I will admit this is usually the hardest time of year for me). But when I reflect on the years I've spent in NY pursuing this crazy life of uncertainty I cannot help but smile. Many tears and many laughs I've shared with some of the most extraordinary people here. I have no guarantees about my future, which is exhilarating and petrifying all at once. Lucky for me, I have support and faith.

But if spring could come a little early, I'd really appreciate it!!!

A Week Gone By

2011-02-23T15:35:00.002-05:00

Alright, the writing every day thing was a lofty goal, but one I'm continuing to strive for, just so you know!

I caught a glimpse this past weekend of the madness of pulling together a wedding and trying to appease all expectations of everyone the day is NOT about! My dear friend came in from LA and exhausted herself shopping (very successfully, I might add), finding bridesmaid dresses for her wedding late this summer in Hawaii! Her pains were rewarded bringing together an ensemble of delightfully different dresses while utilizing various shades of her colors. As someone who values comfort over fashion, if the dress fits and I don't look heinous, then it works. So when I tried mine on and waited for her comments, she feared I did not like it! I laughed and said, "Do you?" I suppose it will be my dress so I do need to have an opinion, but its her creation of a vision that is her wedding day, so wherever I fit into that picture, I'm fine. I just don't want to mess it up! Heaven help me when its my turn to make all these decisions for my own day! This is no where close to happening so I have no worries for the time being!

Another milestone was reached this weekend... I ran 7 miles. At least I think I did. Its hard to measure distance in the park. Whether or not I did is secondary to thinking that I did! So hooray for me!

Back to work!

The Art of Busyness

2011-02-17T11:23:00.002-05:00

I assume that is the correct spelling, as spellcheck did not throw a red flag. I call it 'art' because that is a qualifying statement making me feel justified for not writing rather than guilty. Rest assured that despite my few days away from this 'journal' I've been filling my time with worthy activities and reaching levels of exhaustion that could be unhealthy!

On an extremely positive note, the high today is in the mid 50's and I am moments away from packing up my winter gear for good! AND today my dearest friend from Cali arrives, so I get to go on vacation in my City (meaning I will spend more money than normal and get nothing productive accomplished and I don't even care)!

Stupid Sunday Subway Schedule

2011-02-13T22:02:00.002-05:00

Like the alliteration?

Anticipating a typically unreliable Sunday commute, I left my house a tinge early to have time to stop and grab breakfast before heading to work. That means departing my apartment at 6:30 a.m. A gloomy morning greets me, no beautiful sunrise over Harlem today, just gray, but at least its not too chilly. After a long ride on the A (which is local... shocker) I do arrive with just enough time to grab breakfast, rush to the restaurant and clock in. Phew!

However, I learn my wee pitstop was entirely unnecessary and apparently the restaurant is actually using the $2.50/day they take from our paycheck and are providing breakfast for the staff on the weekends (b/c we never get a break due to the crazy brunchers of Tribeca). I had to ask twice if I was hearing my manager correctly, and she just laughed and said yes, they are feeding us! Amazing! Granted this is on the level of Super 8 motels with bagels and cereal, but still a very big step in the right direction, no?

Fast-forward to the end of my day. I will proudly proclaim I ran outside today! Yes! That's right! (I'm typing with enthusiasm, btw) Outside in 40 degree weather AND I didn't even think it was that bad! Could it be? Am I acclimatizing to this Northeastern weather?! It was along the Hudson too! Yep, strong winds off the water! So great! I ran up to Chelsea Piers, where one of my regulars gave me a guest pass to check out, which is very fortunate b/c I've always wanted to visit this gym and I need a place to train when the temperature drops again- cause we all know that's coming!

After my invigorating run, I hopped on the train to go to church, but apparently I got on the south bound train and every station we stopped at did NOT have north bound trains running. Like all New Yorkers, I was jamming with my ipod missing all announcements made in regards to finding a north bound train. It wasn't until I noticed a longer than normal pause in between stations that I realized I was heading to Brooklyn (entirely the opposite direction from where I want to be). C'est la vie! I got off at the Brooklyn Bridge stop (which also did not have a north bound train running) and just decided to walk back over to Manhattan and get on a train that was running! A pleasant evening allowed for a pleasant stroll and a pleasant conversation with my Air Force brother! I wish I hadn't missed church but it was a nice alternative!

BRUNCH... I've missed you!

2011-02-12T22:08:00.002-05:00

Brunching in New York is one of the most coveted times in a New Yorker's life. Now, as a person who pays rent with money earned at a brunch hot spot, I have not had the pleasure of a New York brunch in a very very very long time. However, today that all changed! I FINALLY have Saturdays to fill with activities I choose and this morning... I brunched (surprisingly spell check has not corrected any of my usages of 'brunch' as a verb).

A dear friend, whom I know from my youth in Virginia, met me for a relatively early brunch in Chelsea. Our first spot was packed so we wandered to V*nyl. Delicious and affordable. This restaurant has a couple locations if I'm not mistaken, and despite a forgetful waiter, it was superb. The menus were old record covers, the tables were mosaics of characters ranging from Liza to Homer Simpson (sorry twin, i didn't get a pic). I sipped a mimosa, savored some delicious eggs and chatted away the morning. I love brunch!

Oops!

2011-02-12T08:58:00.002-05:00

Ok, so I missed yesterday... apologies!

I don't recommend taking a multi-vitamin before going into a hot yoga class. You know how the label says take with food? I did take it with a banana thinking it would be alright. So not the case! The label should also include, Do Not Take Before a Hot Sweaty Yoga Class. Let my mistake be your lesson!

Straight after, I had to rush home, change and book it down to a rehearsal and then out to Brooklyn for dinner with friends. We went to this lovely little French Caribbean cafe in Park Slope called Kaz An Nou. Delicious! In all honesty, no marketing done yesterday for myself but that is what today is entirely devoted to! (that and laundry)

What did the Groundhog say?

2011-02-10T13:43:00.004-05:00

Good Afternoon All!

I've completed my training for the day. Unfortunately, the temperature outside is 26 feels like 11 according to The Weather Channel! Also, my trial membership at NYSC has expired and its either join the club or see ya later! As nice as the facilities are... the price is not. I'm counting on an early spring, so here is the plan: try as many clubs in Manhattan that offer a trial membership. Preferably one week trials, but if I get desperate, I'll take the one day trial. I have no moral qualms about this either, for anyone questioning my motivation. I could be in the market to join a gym and I would like to make a thorough investigation before sinking $100+ into a membership! Plus this half-marathon is in April, two months, not worth joining a gym for 2 months! I will learn to run in the cold!

But seriously, is spring coming soon?

"Bird by Bird"

2011-02-09T12:28:00.003-05:00

I've begun many things at the same time in my life, but I would like to attribute that to winter (and A.D.D). Lots of time indoors + many interests = several projects happening simultaneously. Ready for the list?

1. Book an indie film by the end of March (this is a big one, which is why it gets #1 spot)

2. Train for half-marathon April 3rd which I will be running with my incredibly disciplined sister (who doesn't know i'm 3 days behind on training)

3. Write every day-- this one you (the reader) will benefit from and also I feel will help hold me accountable for my other endeavors.

So for the next 8 weeks this will basically be my online journal. Yes, I will still throw in delightful anecdotes about life in Manhattan, but I promise to write everyday! Now I've got to finish going thru my list of casting offices that I will be dropping off my stuff later this week and preparing for my rehearsal this afternoon! Oh, I've just returned home from a yoga class which will count as my training for the day! Gotta balance out the running with the stretching right? And anyone that's done Bikram yoga knows this is hardly a day off!

I will appreciate any support (and gifts) you'd like to send my way, but mostly encouragement and prayers! Thanks in advance! Here we go!

p.s. the title of this entry is a book I'm currently reading by Anne Lamott

A Beautifully Artistic Day in the Throws of Winter

2011-01-29T22:40:00.003-05:00

The feeling of warmth no longer comes from the sun, so during these months its important to find other ways of feeling all warm and cozy. Therefore a day spent practicing one's craft, then reading literature for further understanding, then collaborating with talented peers on new work, then sharing a meal with an adopted family, then entering a world created on stage as the conclusion of one's night... a winter in NYC isn't all that bad, right?

My day began playing in a cold-reading class with one of New York's finest audition teachers, Karen Kohlhaas, who has actually written books on auditions. Actors tend to get a little heady and overly dramatic, so its really refreshing to walk into a class not having to prepare anything. I walk in and just work on instinct, which is very freeing! Makes me want to take improv classes again! Also, highlight of a very bright day, I exchanged pleasantries with Keifer Sutherland on our break during class because he and Chris Noth (whom I chatted with by the elevators last week) are rehearsing a play, "That Championship Season", at the Atlantic Theatre Company.

The ATC is located in Chelsea, which happens to be blocks away from one of my favorite coffee shops in Manhattan, so I popped over there and read a wonderful book about Lee Strasberg and The Actors Studio, until I needed to catch a train to Brooklyn. Myself and two friends had a arranged to start working together on a project... any project! Two incredibly funny women, who I laugh hysterically with, and we want to create work together. This is what makes New York the best place for ambitious, collaborative people. We laughed, we threw around ideas, we did impersonations of each other doing impersonations of each other doing impersonations of other people. Good times! After a quick dinner at a delicious spot, Grey Dog's, back in Chelsea I took myself to the theatre!

A week ago I read a review by Ben Brantley (NY Times theatre critic) on the Fiasco Company's performance of Shakespeare's "Cymbeline". Just read the review and you'll want to fly up here and see it before it closes Sunday! The play was so well done and so simply done. Only 6 actors to fill 15 roles! The first three acts appear to set up a tragedy, but never did I feel an ounce of heaviness from the show. Instead, it had an incredibly light-hearted tone that made even the most desperate moments just that... moments, and then shortly after return to a fun, albeit complicated, story! I've never laughed so much in a Shakespeare play as I did in Act V, where all loose ends are tied up, everything is resolved, everyone leaves friends, family or lovers. But all 6 actors are on stage jumping in and out of different characters that they've portrayed throughout the play, as they all come to a head at the end! So well timed and joyously played out that the audience just loved them for it! Six young actors putting on a brilliant show is incredibly inspiring for this young actor to witness!

One of my favorite days, certainly of this winter! If we get one more blizzard...

Its the Little Things...

2011-01-21T21:56:00.002-05:00

Yesterday, on my way to an audition, I made a friend! A older woman named Gwynn needed a hand with her bag and she looked at me as I walked past at a NY pace and asked me if I'd help her! If you turn down a sweet old woman, you're just asking to get hit by a taxi! It'll come back around to ya! So she and I had a lovely stroll around the corner to the Baptist Church, where senior citizens get lunch for $1.50! Now I don't know what they serve in there, but Gwynn and I both agreed that I was too young, but I told her that the price was right so maybe next time she could sneak me in!

Also, on this freezing NY winter night, I've just returned from a wonderful salon next to my restaurant of employment down in TriBeCa. The owner is a regular and she was in need of a hair model! Luckily I have hair and lots of it and a willingness to let her play with it, so I got a free haircut at a salon well out of my price range! We're going to spend the next few weeks playing around with different looks for the spring! Who doesn't like having their hair played with? Maybe one of my favorite things ever!

All that to say, I love this City I live in, but opportunities like this can appear anywhere. I think the key is to stay present and open to wherever you are and whoever you're in contact with at the moment! So many gifts can be found in each other, we're just self-centered people! That's my two-cents on the matter! Stay warm wherever you are and send warm cozy thoughts to us here! Its painfully cold!

The Way New Yorkers Watch TV

2011-01-12T09:38:00.003-05:00

In light of the new year, or maybe the half marathon I've decided to run in April, I have temporarily joined a gym. This tends to be the case for this Southern gal, because I am not one of these crazy Yankees that can just put on some under armor and gloves and run along the Hudson... madness!
The best part about joining my new gym (New York Sports Club, if you care) is I finally get to watch some television! These are the lengths I will go to watch TV! Anyone that knows me, knows I do not even have a couch in my apartment, much less a television, so what do I do when I wanted to watch the BCS National Championship Monday night? Plan my gym time for the start of the game!
Now my dad cannot call me lazy for watching TV anymore! I've found a loophole!

2011

2011-01-04T08:50:00.005-05:00

Does 2011 sound like a made up number to anyone else? Every time I say the year it feels a little surreal! Maybe it's because I recently watched "Back to the Future- Part 2" and he travels to the year 2015, and that seemed ridiculous at the time. Plus, there were flying cars, instant dry clothes, "Jaws 19" was being released and of course, hover boards, none of which seem to be on the horizon. For a reason unknown to me, I just can't get on board with this decade, yet.

My main resolution is to hydrate more, which I will say I'm doing pretty good. I didn't bother with "no sweets" or "no caffeine" or "gym every day" b/c those are just silly. I serve coffee and pastries for my living and I'm a realist. So I will raise a water bottle to you and whatever resolution you've made to start this new decade and wish you blessings from unexpected places.

Always Lock It Up!

2010-12-30T20:37:00.002-05:00

I went to work and lost $50... aren't you supposed to walk away from work having earned a profit (unless you work on Wall Street). Ironically, the place where I'm supposed to earn my living became the place I lost it. I failed to re-lock my locker at work after brushing my teeth after my lunch break (this is my reward for dental hygiene). I did not discover this until I was leaving work and returned to the locker room and stopped in my tracks at the sight of my unlocked locker.
Upon opening my locker everything looked normal, my bag in the same spot I had set it in this morning, and of course I reached for my wallet first, opened it up and saw no cash inside. For a moment I searched my memory- maybe I didn't bring cash, maybe I had spent it all commuting home last night- but then I remembered I had bought myself breakfast this morning with cash and there was plenty left in my wallet, which was now gone.
Strange, I thought I'd get robbed in my neighborhood in Harlem and where does it end up happening? At work. I've got a couple ideas about how to catch the thief. Will keep you posted if I apprehend the culprit!

Never Make Plans

2010-12-04T22:35:00.006-05:00

A truly enchanted day from start to finish!

Starting with sleeping in (a rarity in my life) and a lazy morning. The only thing missing was a cup of coffee, but I have no coffee table or chair or couch or anything, for that matter, so maybe the lack of a coffee pot is fortunate! (I hope Santa will help with the aforementioned need for furniture).

I decided to make use of my wide open day and try for some tickets to "The Merchant of Venice", starring Al Pacino. Now, for that faithful half dozen of you who read my ramblings regularly, you may recall an extraordinary evening this summer when I was privy to this performance in Central Park. It was such a success that it has been moved to Broadway for a limited run, and is one of the hottest tickets in town [i hate that phrase, don't know why i used it].

Its a particularly chilly day in Manhattan and not too many folks are generally aware of matinee performances, so I thought I had a good shot. After I put my name in for the lottery [i've explained the Broadway lottery in previous posts, so please revisit those for reference] and as I patiently waited for the drawing I overheard a British woman (I love the British accent, so I'm just naturally drawn to listen) with her two sons wondering what would happen if one of them was called and they only would receive one ticket. Let this be a lesson to any solo-theatre-goers out there, if you put in for the lottery ALWAYS request 2 tickets. You find another loner in the crowd and make a deal that if you or they are called, you give the other ticket to them. Just increases the chances. So I politely interject that if I was called, I'd happily give them one of my tickets. As fate would have it, two of their names were called so I got a ticket! YES!!!

Little did I know I was about to sit next to one of the most interesting, randomly met, talented stranger-now-friend I've encountered here in NYC! Time for the cliche: this is why I love NY! Come to find out she is friends with a gentleman in the show, so she and her boys got to go back stage before and after the show, met Al (yes, i'm totally jealous), AND she is doing a show at BAM right now, as in a few hours later!

Naturally between obtaining a ticket and the start of the performance, I used my time wisely, albeit creepily, to google her and learn all I could! Ha! So with Starbucks in hand, I parked myself in the lobby at the Marriott Marquis (don't worry other people were doing it too) and researched my theatre-buddy. May have appeared slightly odd when I showed up at the theatre and knew her resume, but I just think its preparedness! We had lovely chats in between being awed and enraptured by the performances on stage.

*Quick note: Although this post isn't about the show, it was wonderful. Pacino is riveting, Lily Rabe was delightful- different from the summer, but still divine, and the rest of the cast deserves more praise than I am writing now. It was such a clear, precise delivery of Shakespeare that I was NEVER lost and that is saying a lot b/c some days I'm not so quick. Really really lovely!

Back to me though, so after the show we are heading out. Well, I am heading out, they are heading to the dressing rooms. Anyway, I give her my number b/c she is going to check on ticket availability for her show, but is skeptical as it is a sold-out run but we can always hope, right? I leave already loving my day and reveling in such a delightful surprise in flying solo at the theatre only to be met by such an interesting family. I always have loved English folks!

So, not long after I receive a message that there is one ticket left. I call her back and make the arrangements to pick it up. The one seat left, isn't exactly a seat as much as a half chair seated on the stage. Just the back to support you and sitting on a little cushion. It was brilliant actually because I was loving the fact that I was on stage at the BAM Harvey Theater, where a year before I had seen Cate Blanchett do "A Streetcar Named Desire" and previously "As You Like It", two shows I enjoyed immensely.

"Metamorphosis" played out so interestingly! One of the most unique and physical stagings I've ever seen of a play. So creative and stylized. I absolutely loved it. The whole cast was wonderful and I so enjoyed myself. (sorry if it seems i'm gushing over this, but it has been such a special day and i'm still overwhelmed by it... and i take my apology back, i'm not sorry!) I got to go backstage, which is only the second time that has happened in NY, and I got to walk past all these signed posters from shows, and I wish I could linger a bit but I know I'd get lost so I had to keep up with the girl escorting me down. I chatted briefly with my friend, who jokingly referred to herself as my fairy godmother for the theater. She said she'd just escort me all over the City just getting me in to shows. You know what, I'll take it! A theater fairy godmother... yes please!

I headed home grinning ear-to-ear feeling so utterly content with the happy chaos of my life!

p.s. My new friend's name is Kelly Hunter, so check her out, become a fan and come see her when she is back in New York in a few months to perform some Shakespeare herself! She's wonderful!!!

Kiss 'n Fly

2010-11-12T08:05:00.002-05:00

JFK Airport, one of the gateways in to New York City and one of the gateways out.

A very economical way to JFK includes taking the A train ($2.25) and hopping on the SkyTrain totaling ($5). This may not seem like much compared to the flat rate for a cab from Manhattan at $45, but an extra $5 just to say goodbye closer to the plane seems like a waste of money to many.

I recently bid farewell to a dear friend who'd been out for a visit. And as he passed thru the SkyTrain gate, I glanced around. By the window a couple were sharing tearful goodbyes. Across from me two young people just held each other. One staying and one going but neither willing to pay the extra $5 to spend a few more moments together.

The parting is inevitable and in New York the most privacy you can hope for is a corner in a bustling public transit station. Privacy can be achieved if you forget everything around you and focus on the person in your arms. I left the sweet scene when the A train showed up and I slipped back into the City.

You Can See So Much More If You Run

2010-10-08T22:35:00.013-04:00

With an island the size of Manhattan, its quite easy to see several parts of the City quickly.

My mission this particular evening entailed a 4-5 mile run and acquiring a copy of the Brian Friel play "Dancing in Lughnasa". It's an Irish play set in Donegal in the mid 1940's. The plan was to run along the Hudson up from 42nd street, where I'd just seen "The Town" (great movie, btw) and then make it back to the Drama Bookshop on 40th street before they closed.

I've never run up that way, so it was all discovery for me. I love that NY has so much to continually discover. I think the theme of my week for sure! Anyway, the sun was setting and it was just magical. I'd put together a pretty amazing playlist as well, so the run was incredibly pleasant!

I was somewhere up in the 80's when I decided I should look up when the Drama Bookshop closes. The close at 7 p.m. on Fridays and it was 6:15 p.m. I laughed at myself for a minute then began to run very quickly back down to 40th street. Even though I hit every avenue light, I made it with 10 minutes to spare! But they were sold out of the play and will be expecting a shipment Monday! Fantastic!

And so my mission continued to Barnes and Noble on 5th avenue at 46th street. Sadly, they too were out (I bet they don't ever have it) but she said the 66th street store would have it. I just extended my jog a little further only to arrive at another shop without any plays in stock.

I surrendered for the evening, but decided to take advantage of being in that gorgeous part of town and strolled through the Lincoln Center Plaza. The NY Philharmonics and NYC Ballet flanking me as I approached a fountain and looking beyond to the Metropolitan Opera. This is the center of fine arts in NYC and I love it!

Tomorrow I will find the play...

A New Chapter

2010-09-16T08:34:00.002-04:00

Welcome Back Everyone!

After my annual hiatus from the City, life has once again resumed in NYC. My training has concluded as Esper and I embark on a new venture here... trying to work as an actor. I have sought advice from every source available to me about where to seek auditions, how to arrange my resume, etc. The questions are endless and so are the ways of approaching this business. Luckily, I cannot do anything to guarantee success except be unprepared. Why do I say 'luckily'? I'm off the hook! Nothing in me doubts what I am doing presently, I know deep within me I am exactly where I should be, faithfully following a path unknown to me. It's liberating and exciting! I think this is how we're meant to live.

I'll describe yesterday for a more complete example of my life now on days when I don't have to work. First thing, I checked emails/casting notices. I submitted to the projects I was right for and hope maybe one of them will respond. "The first job is always the hardest to get" my acting teacher always told us, because a lot of us don't have much of a resume, so they'd be taking a chance on us. And so I submit and submit and submit...

Now a beautiful gift from God landed in my mailbox the previous evening, and I'd been stalling on making a very important phone call. Through a divine connection, I am now on the radar of a casting director in New York whom I would not know on my own merit for a while, if ever. Just to bring everyone up to speed, casting directors are the middle man to help find the actors the directors/producers are looking for to fill their cast. The more actors they know, the better their chances are to fill the role with the perfect person and then be the best at their job. So to meet as many casting directors as possible and build great relationships with them is kind of essential to my future! I make the phone call and set up a meeting next week. Woohoo!

Busting from nervous energy, I decide to enjoy the continuing glorious weather that is gracing us presently and go for a jog in Central Park. Beautiful afternoon, no so beautiful run. My slothfulness over the past couple months has robbed me of both lungs and muscle. Its never fun getting back into shape. Anyway, back home on the train and grabbing lunch (my first food of the day... maybe that contributed to the difficulty of my run). Quick chat with the roommate, hopped in the shower, and checked my email once more and found another gift!

I've become a member of TheaterMania and I recommend everyone to look it up. For an annual fee, I receive discounts on many Broadway/Off-Broadway and other theater plus free tickets pop up constantly! So yesterday one came up for "Mrs. Warren's Profession" playing on Broadway, which is a Shaw play and one I wanted to see. So I decided to go! I dressed and made my way into the City to pick up the tickets!

On my way to find a bit of food for dinner I decided to stroll east on 43rd street toward Bryant Park (my fav park) and happened upon the marquee lighting for the new Stephen Sondheim theater. Lots of cameras, people, and on stage was the man himself, along with Patti LuPone and Nathan Lane. Maybe I'll perform in there someday.

I made it to Bryant Park and a fall festival of music takes place this week. The Met Opera gave a mini-concert. So I grabbed some soup and sat to listen. Beautiful. After I met my dear friend, Jacob, and we went to the theater for the show. A slightly depressing play, well acted, but one that leaves the audience melancholy and tired. I don't think its going to last long. Not really for a Broadway audience, in my humble opinion.

Being the old, tired, physically exhausted folks that we are, we both yawned our way home on the subway. As I arrive back to my room and prepare for bed, I check my email one more time and another gift. One of the jobs I submitted for has replied to set up an audition for Friday. Que suerte!

So this is my life now!

If You Rain on Us, Do We Not Get Wet

2010-07-24T01:48:00.003-04:00

What would you wait for? What would you sweat for? What would you pay for? What would you cling to hope for, enduring a 6 hour line followed by a deluge?! For me, tonight, it was Shakespeare's Merchant of Venice...

Imagine the feeling of a bathroom after you've taken a steaming hot shower. The air is thick, moist, hot and we-just-sit-in-it! Arriving in pieces to the stand-by line outside the Delacorte Theater in Central Park, we sit on a hope and a prayer (and gravel) waiting for the possibility of snagging a ticket to one of the final performances of the summer's Shakespeare in Central Park.

In total we are seven, probably sitting a good 50 people from the front of the line. Now this line will only receive tickets after the folks with vouchers (some of whom camped out over night) get their tickets, who won't receive tickets until extra tickets are distributed by the box office. Basically, our chances are slim but we're optimistic people. We are actors after all, we live on the possibility of 'what if'! Anyway, knowing all this a pair of fellows walk by offering to sell tickets to the show. Now, you should know that the homeless folks in NYC are quite clever. Some camp out in the line over night, cause why not, and then receive tickets in the morning. Later in the day they sell them to people desperate to see the show and viola! make a little money! Genius! My friend and I perk up and inquire to the amount. $10 he says! After close inspection of the tickets (and assuming, based on appearance, that these guys wouldn't have the means to create fake tickets and then only sell them for ten bucks) we decided to purchase the 4 tickets they held. The seats were in the back row, so we opted to stay in the line to see if we could do better. Never satisfied!

The day continued to drag on but with enough snacks, good company and funny stories the day ended up flying by. Eventually we had purchased enough tickets for the group to be guaranteed a seat. Some were still skeptical about the validity of the tickets but once it became evident that we weren't going to get a ticket in the stand-by line and they were making last calls for anyone with a ticket, we jumped out of line and ran to our seats!

Now I should preface this next section by telling you that the forecast for the evening was heavy/severe thunderstorms with a chance of hail and a tornado watch! Am I back in Texas?! As we sit there is a slight breeze in the air but I am praying that the weather will hold. The play begins and Pacino is fabulous! We make it to the scene where Shylock is approached by Bassanio and Antonio for infamous loan (that whole pound of flesh bit) and the wind has picked up considerably. A gust of wind blows several leaves on the stage and the crowd begins to stir uncomfortably in their seats. A slight spitting kind of rain descends from above but the players go on. I draw my eyes to the sky and my heart drops at the sight of a wall cloud dividing the heavens and moving across to cover us. Then the rain comes... and comes... heavier... and heavier! The players abandon the stage, which is good cause eventually the wind knocks over the sets! The crew scrambles to cover the props as the audiences scrambles to take shelter. Those of us buried in the middle of our row remain stagnant huddling under a pitiful umbrella I may have borrowed from work. With every umbrella-breaking gust of wind, we'd all scream and cheer in defiance!! We WILL stay in our seats and see this show that we waited all afternoon for! One of the most amazing acts of nature I've encountered that closely!

For 35 minutes I bounced back-and-forth between hope and despair, never truly believing the performance would be canceled (little did I know the actors were down below taking off their costumes). The rain slowed bringing forth cries of victory, and as it stopped many of us stood proudly as though we had endured a great battle! Then we swiftly moved down to abandoned seats much closer! As the crew reset the stage, the weaker, more timid theater-goers emerged from their haven under the stands all nice and dry. Honestly, the shower was welcomed after spending several hours in the sweaty heat!

"Three thousand ducats!" and as Pacino delivered the line, the audience erupted. We loved them for coming back on stage and they loved us for staying. The rest of the performance fell under the gaze of the waning moon and ended somewhere around midnight. Portia was exquisite, Pacino played Shylock brilliantly and any issue I may have quibbled over on any other night was forgiven because it was performed. I loved every moment of it because it felt like a gift!

Montauk Triathlon

2010-07-19T20:12:00.008-04:00

4:45 a.m. Is that my alarm? Where am I? Oh Yeah! I'm in East Hampton at David's House (a.k.a. my dream home) and Ana is asleep in the next bed! Thank God I wore my race clothes to bed.

4:55 a.m. No one will care if I steal one piece of oat bread. Should I eat anything else? No, Ironman Archer and wife advised me not to do anything out of the ordinary, which really means no breakfast at all.

5:05 a.m. "Morning David (a.k.a. "coach"/chauffeur/camera man/hero) Thanks again for getting up incredibly early to drive me out to Montauk", while Krissy and Ana (my best friends) sleep in.

5:58 a.m. Where do we go? Should we drop off the bike or the run stuff first. The directions aren't the best. I have no idea what I'm doing. "Oh ok just in here. This must be the second transition point from bike to run. Let me get my run gear stuff ready." Wait, I don't really have any run gear. I'll put the Texas A&M rally towel in my spot to make me smile, cause I think I'll be dying at this point in the race.

6:18 a.m. This is such a long walk. I feel bad for making David come all the way out here. Its such an early morning, but the sunrise is beautiful. So glad to have someone here with me. I have no idea how I'm going to feel during this race. I know I'll get thru it, I just hope I've got some dignity doing it!

6:30 a.m. Ok, so I'll set up my bike like they did. Just hang it? Like that? Huh, cool. Lay out the towel, my shirt, my shoes, socks, helmet, snack, water bottle. Got it. They just announced its 6:30! Ah! I should get to the beach, right? I love that David is here. He is a very calming presence that quietly supports me. This line for this disgusting clogged bathroom is full of 'chatty kathys'. All these women who know each other and are relaxed. I'm dying to talk to someone who is about to race. I really wish I had someone racing with me. I'm surprisingly chipper. Wonder what my heart rate is at right now. Where is David? Ah yes, he's right there. Patiently waiting. A blessing, that one.

6:40 a.m. David just gave me a pep talk. He he! Glad I could laugh before the start. Hope the girls are here when I get back to the shore. I can't believe I'm walking down the beach to swim all this way back! Whoa, look at how huge that dog's head is! Ok, so I'm more than half way finished when I see the camper on the beach with the dog with the giant head. What is that? A St. Bernard? This is kinda far down here. Hmmm, what should I do? Some people are in the water, I should probably at least feel it. AHH!! So cold!!! Ok, now I definitely have to get all the way in, so the start isn't a shock. I'll just sit in the water until everyone else gets out too. Lots of wetsuits out here. Still don't think I need one. I'm not that hard core.

6:55 a.m. Ok, so we just had to get out. Wonder what a 'water start' means. I need to connect with someone here. Must reach out. Oh, he just said it was his first tri. "Its your first one? Mine too. I'm a little nervous. Hi, TJ, I'm Erin. Pat, nice to meet you too." Ok, two names. That kinda grounded me. Oh geez, the Elite group is swimming out. That's what a water start means. Ok, so no bounding into the water. There they go. Oh my goodness, we can get in the water now. Ok, well its about to begin. I wonder how long this will take me. 'Just swim my race. Don't get overexcited and tire myself out. Slow and steady. Just finish.' Oh! He's counting down from 10. Where is the American flag for the turn to shore? I see it... barely.

The race begins for #69 from Texas. I didn't want to discriminate so I incorporated all strokes into my half mile swim: free style, breast stroke, back stroke, doggy paddle, side stroke (strongest one actually). Under the keen eye of the local lifeguards and staff I managed to struggle my way through the murky salt water. Forgot it was going to be salt water until I got a mouth full! BLAH!! Before leaving NYC, I read up on Montauk a bit and discovered the character of the captain in JAWS was based on a shark hunter from Montauk. Great shark hunting off these beaches. Excellent! This helps to fuel my paranoia about losing a limb or a good chunk of myself in the ocean to an unseen creature and here I am voluntarily splashing around, which you're not supposed to do when there are sharks, right? Its like subconsciously I want to give a little nibble. I press on, and focus my attention on the swimmer with the blue wetsuit. Her form is solid and yet I'm keeping pace with her. Ok, stay with blue back. Keep up with her. That is the goal. Eventually overtake her, cause lets face it, you're always saving a little for the end. And a couple buoys before the turn to shore, I passed her! Thats right! I am Ariel! The sea is my home! Can't wait to leave it!

Ok, gotta swim all the way in just to save face. Ah! LAND! Ugh... sand! Not so easy to run in. Ok, lets jog up to the bike. Yeah right. Not happening. Ok, wipe the feet as best we can. Geared up, got the helmet, snack, chug some agua, shirt... ready. My camera man tried to grab a pic of me before I peddled away. Wonder if he got it. Wonder how long it takes to bike 14 miles. I don't even have a ballpark of an idea. Ah well! Apparently, you just keep moving your legs the whole stinkin' time! I was hoping for a little rest on the bike, but somehow failed to ever stop moving my legs for this "rest". I did love the bike part though. If I tried to capture all the things I thought about on that ride, this would go on forever. Its incredible where the mind goes when the body is active. Just an idea, I rehearsed my Shakespeare monologue in several accents, took note of some properties for sale, waved at the locals on their lawns, high-fived a couple cops, chatted with a few fellow racers, ate half a fruit bar then decided I didn't really even want it, took note of the ages of all the folks passing me (they wrote our age on our lower leg). Everyone seemed so intense during the race. Granted some were Olympians but was anyone else doing this for fun? I wonder if I'd trained more I might have been more intense... nah, its not my personality! Its all about F-U-N!

The last 15 min of the bike included a gigantic hill! Luckily there was a dude at the top cheering us on. Definitely gave him a big ole high five! Then it was transition #2. Found my spot, hung the bike, left the helmet and started jogging out to the course. Now I see the girls! Ana and Krissy cheering on #69 as she loosely jogs down the hill and on for the 3 mile run. Once I'm out of their sight and any other spectator, it becomes me and my head again. Maybe the longest mile of my whole life! My legs weighed 100 lbs each at that point. Race tip: stand up on the bike for the last little bit to get your legs moving more like a run. The transition will be easier Definitely the hardest part of the race. My body would not move faster. My lungs were doing their job very efficiently, but my poor legs were ready to be done. Just keep running, just keep running. I took four 10 second walk breaks. I was told I have a nice smile- still enjoying this.

Ok, second to last water stop, no more walking. Finish the race with style. Pose for the camera. Round the corner to the bottom of the hill. I see the lighthouse. I see the finish. Hey, this is almost the exact same incline and length as the street I grew up on back home in Texas. Perfect. I know how to push thru this! All the way up. Use the crowd. Oh, I hear the girls. Almost there! Did they just say 'representing Astoria'? How lame! I should have put Texas on my registration. That would have sounded much cooler running through the finish! Wow! I made it!

*for more photos, check the facebook page!

Out of 700 registered racers, I placed 406th overall, 120th among women, and 12th in my division (women under 34 yrs) with a time of 1 hour, 49 minutes, 35 seconds...
thank you very much!

My Typical Evening in New York

2010-07-10T23:37:00.003-04:00

Upon returning home from a long day of serving lattes and iced espressos to the tourists brunching in TriBeCa, desperately hoping to spot a celeb (pssss... they're all out of town), I returned home to take a little cat nap before a potential subletter stops by. Thats right, I'm vacating the City for August! Some much needed time apart is quickly approaching, which means I need to find a stranger that will not steal things, to basically pay rent for me while I'm away.

I'm shortly off to do a bit of training for my triathlon around dusk, cause its my favorite time to run in Central Park. The fireflies are floating around, the temperature has reached a tolerable level and things quiet down a bit. I paused my run to view a tango dance party at the south end of the literary walk (the famous wide pathway with all the trees over it). The tango is such a sensual dance. I love it!

As always, I ran by the Shakespeare in the Park and as I reached Belvedere Castle I heard them call for Shylock, which meant they were doing Merchant of Venice, which meant Al Pacino had just entered the scene. I stayed and listened to it for while despite having a tiny peak at the stage through the trees. Don't worry, I will do the whole come before dawn and sit in line waiting for the free tickets... and then tell you about it.

On the way home, while waiting for the train at the end of my run, a voice comes over the speaker announcing that, "Due to a police investigation, service on the N train has been cancelled" WHAT? You can't just cancel service!!! Ah! Several trains later I find myself walking toward my house on my street! Thank Heaven!

Quick Update

2010-07-08T08:35:00.003-04:00

Ok Ok I've been absolutely terrible about writing! Somehow at the conclusion of my time at the Esper Studio I've become increasingly busier, when I thought I might have more free time. That is the nature of NYC, and myself. If suddenly more time is available, it will be filled beyond capacity. No excuse though. Apologies (I'm apologizing to myself as much as you)

Now, quick update: The last day of Esper I began a new class at Atlantic Theater Company for monologues with Karen Kohlhaas, who was just voted best monologue instructor here! Not too shabby, I think! Anyway, the class was fabulous and I learned a ton, plus it was nice to know that I can in fact act outside of the world I've known for the past two years at the Esper Studio. Slowly taking baby-steps into the great big world of NYC and the millions of actors that inhabit it!
Currently, I am back at Esper Studio studying Shakespeare with the studio's namesake, Bill Esper, and Nancy Mayans, who has been my voice teacher the past 2 years. Its an incredible class and has only increased my appreciation and desire to perform Shakespeare. Speaking of, Al Pacino is currently doing Shylock in "The Merchant of Venice" in Central Park this summer, so be looking for an entry about how we camped out to get tickets for this free but terribly popular event!
Also on the horizon I am competing (although maybe competing is an overly ambitious word) in a sprint triathlon in Montauk on the 18th! You might be thinking, "Wow, I didn't know you were a triathlete" and I'm not. Signed up for fun and that is precisely what I plan on experiencing, probably along with a little pain and fatigue. Going to start training the swim part today and find a place to air up to tires on the bike I'm going to use! I got 10 days! Wish me luck!

A Couple of Goodbyes

2010-05-26T21:50:00.002-04:00

Two major parts of my life have reached their conclusion, and within two days of each other. Now, those that know me, know I do not watch television apart from one show... LOST. (you may roll your eyes now, and I don't care)

One of best character shows on television presented the 2.5 hour finale on Sunday night and it was the most satisfying ending I could have hoped for. I cried probably 7 times, and I'm not ashamed to admit it. Over the course of 6 seasons, the writers developed characters and relationships that I cared for so deeply, and in the finale were all brought back together in such a clever, beautiful way. I mean, Charlie and Clare, I could cry now if I thought about it too long! I also think about the community I found with the show. Its amazing how a television show can bring people together. Lost nights started in college as "hot dog night", with my best friend Blair cooking up 2 dozen hot dogs and we'd see how many we could eat (the record was 9... with the bun). Over the years my viewing group changed, sometimes it was alone. My family joined in on the fun! And in NY, its such an immediate way to connect with strangers if you somehow stumble upon the fact that you are both Lost fans. Instant kinship. And Sunday night the journey concluded at my amazing friend, Ana's home. Surrounded by dear friends, munching on a much healthier dinner of zucchini pasta with raw pesto sauce, we cried our way through to the end of a 6 year relationship with several dear friends. So, Jack, Kate, Sawyer, Sayid, Hurley, Charlie, Clare, Locke, Sun and Jin and everyone else... miss you already!

The other, more tangible (and some might argue more relevant) conclusion would be my training at the William Esper Studio. Tuesday marked the final day of the two-year acting program, under the tutelage of Suzanne Esper. I cannot describe the transformation that has occurred in me in the past 24 months. It'd be too long to read and I don't want to write that much! Know this, my curiosity of the world exploded to a massive scope. Such a grand statement, I know, but it's the fascination of an actor. I told my buddy, Bob, the other day, the more I learn the more I realize I have to learn... but I love it! Sanford Meisner said it takes 20 years to train an actor. Well, 2 down, 18 to go!

LaVerne Nelson

2010-05-05T00:46:00.002-04:00

One year ago, I was sitting in a hospital room with my dear, sweet grandmother (Gram). I'd flown to Dallas then driven to Waco straight to the hospital. My sister and I stayed the night. I'll never forget looking into her sweet eyes and although she could not speak, the look of recognition staring back at me said it all.
My Gram always had a plate of brownies waiting for me when I would stop by on my way home from college. Her home served as the perfect bathroom break/stretching stop between Austin and Dallas. She used to leave the funniest messages on my voicemail. I don't think she ever got the concept because she would basically have a one-sided conversation with me, complete with questions that would just hang in the air. I miss those.
I think we became the closest when I spent one year coaching basketball in a town just outside of San Antonio. It was a very lonely year for me, and due to the fact that I was working two jobs and lived 5 hours from Dallas, my closest "home" was Waco and Gram's house. I tried new recipes with her and she told me old stories from her past. I miss those weekends too.
Today and every Cinco de Mayo from here on out will always be a bittersweet day of memory.

2010-04-23T22:08:00.003-04:00

The annual Tribeca Film Festival began this past Wednesday! Super exciting for myself, since I work down in that neighborhood! Loads of celebs out and about with the paparazzi close on their heels.

Now, my place of employment just happens to be next door to Tribeca Film, which has turned a bit into their "office" for lunch meetings. However, they were kind enough to bring over some tickets to the international premiere of a film "My Own Love Song", starring Forest Whitaker and Renee Zellweger, directed by Olivier Dahan (La Vie En Rose). I received my tickets that afternoon and spent the remainder of the day trying to find someone who was free at 9:30 p.m. to see a late movie, a task that proved much more difficult than one might think. My Danish friend Tue answered my call!

To my surprise, this was an event! Red carpet, photographers, and all! I was 10 feet from the stars. Its funny how interesting it is to watch them talk to interviewers. I'm not sure if that's because I'm an actor and am fascinated by behavior, or if the spectacle itself is just that intriguing. Anyway, coming in we walked on the red carpet for about 20 yards. And I rocked my flip-flops all the way!

The film received a good reception. Some liked it much more than others. I liked parts, but as a whole I didn't love it. Or maybe as a whole I like it and parts I didn't. Hows that for vague! It certainly dragged in parts cause I got very tired. After the film, Forest Whitaker and Olivier Dahan stayed for a Q&A. And then Tue and I savored our exit on the red carpet, taking tiny baby-steps on the last few feet.

One day...

Next Fall

2010-04-15T23:22:00.003-04:00

Yeah, Erin got to see theatre... for free!!! It's all about who you know (such a redundant, cliche, spot-on statement)

Anyway, back to theatre, I attended the play Next Fall this evening. Story: Individual characters arrive one-by-one to a hospital waiting room. We come to find out "Luke" is in a coma from being hit by a taxi. Present are his father and mother, no longer married and definitely characters; his religious, Bible-toting, estranged friend; his boss who refers to herself as a "fag-hag"; and his boyfriend. However, his parents do not know he is gay and has been living with his boyfriend for 4 years.

The play jumps back and forth, slowly revealing to the audience the relationship these two men shared. The incredibly intriguing element was that "Luke" was a Christian. The play approached the delicate subject matter tactfully and respectfully, I thought, by approaching it from all angles and presenting varying opinions and struggles of a couple with very different religious beliefs directly dealing with their lifestyle choices.

At intermission, my friend leaned over to me and said, "I have a feeling this is going to get very sad." And it did. I heard audible sobs from the theatre and will openly admit I cried... more than once. A very touching play that stayed with me on the subway ride home and made me keep my eyes open long enough to write this. Good nite!

Spring Break Still Exists!!!

2010-03-24T21:54:00.005-04:00

Well, to some degree. For us adults, Spring Break simply comes and goes with little disruption. However, since I'm "back in school" (yes, acting school counts), I return to the reverie of a week in mid-March designated for rest, relaxation and travel. But, still maintaining my adulthood, all the thrilling, irresponsible "me"-time was squished into 24 hours! Maybe the best 24 hours of this decade!

My getaway took place in a little place out on Long Island called, East Hampton. As in "THE HAMPTONS", as in "the place people from the City 'summer' during the hot months", as in... ok I can't think of anything else. We took a late train out and didn't arrive until 11 p.m. so not much going on that evening except a quick tour of the house (nothing quick about this four-story home) and off to bed. It wasn't until the morning that I realized I had discovered my dream house. I didn't even know I had a dream house until I really took it all in. Please view below...

ERiN'S DREAM HOUSE

Let me just take this moment to say, I have never in my life wished for great wealth or possessions or whatever, but I would LOVE to own this house. The size is grand, but even walking the empty halls I couldn't help but imagine it full. Maybe its because I come from a family of 8 and although there are quiet moments in our home, you never feel alone even when you are there by yourself. That is precisely how I felt the morning I spent there.

This "Sleeping Beauty" (as I was called in my friend's note they left me) slept so late they went into town to get the ingredients for our breakfast and left me in my slumber. Another epiphany on my little jaunt, I don't sleep particularly well in NYC (shocker). I had a couple hours of solitude in my new home to explore, and I spent most of that outdoors. Part of its allure is the massive yard surrounding the house! Perfect for football, soccer, tag, croquet, anything! And great trees as well, which I successfully climbed, thank you very much!

When my friends returned we cooked a wonderful brunch, ate, chatted, played in the yard, walked on the beach (which was only 5 minutes away), cooked an amazing dinner with fresh fish caught that day, and ended the day watching Lost on the HD movie theater screen while eating fresh baked cookies. Paradise? I think yes!

Sadly that is where I had to catch the 11 p.m. train back to the City, but I could not have planned a better 24 hour get-away!

Sleepy Hollow

2010-03-06T23:30:00.007-05:00

Yes, as in "The Legend of..." A couple friends from class decided we should rent a car and go visit the famous little village. Only 25 miles from Manhattan, Sleepy Hollow provided every bit of pulse-quickening eeriness that we had hoped for... even the McDonald's was creepy!

Let me explain just a little bit, at present we are working on monologues in our acting class based in a small town. Just about every acting program in the country uses Spoon River Anthology at some point. Each page holds the last thought, confession, profession, raving, love note of members of this small town. Its their last chance to speak before resting forever. Our instructor always says, "If you opened up the casket, what would you get from them."

So, as "research" we decided to trek up north and visit this small town, at night of course. And where better than the Old Dutch Church Cemetery to really get the feel of the work. Classic formula for killer-slasher-horror film, luckily we all survived! Oh, sorry, I gave away the ending!
We also spent a good chunk of time playing with a camera. We discovered we can look very ghost-like by increasing the exposure. Hopefully I can post some of those pictures soon!

I count the trip a total success! We were a little bleary-eyed for class the next morning, but completely worth it and I think Suzanne would actually appreciate our... dedication.

Goodbye February!

2010-02-28T22:03:00.003-05:00

And good riddance!

February is quickly becoming my least favorite month of the year. I am not alone in my loathing (yes, I've jumped to loathing). The holidays are over, Valentine's Day does not count, especially when you're surrounded by a bunch of jaded New Yorkers who work in the service industry! The cold increases and more "wintery mix" delays the MTA and... well... life in general. Everyone walks around with their heads tucked down. And when it snows at work, it becomes hard even to enjoy the sensation that I'm inside a snow globe, because its tainted by the knowledge that my shift will end and I forgot my snow boots!

The one redeeming thing for this February was the Winter Olympics in Vancouver! Thank goodness February is the shortest month of the year!

Does it sound like I need a vacation?

"As You Like It"

2010-02-06T16:22:00.002-05:00

When paying $11 for a ticket to the theatre, one might expect an $11 performance. Luckily, that was not the case at all! Brooklyn Academy of Music's (BAM) 2nd year of The Bridge Project brings "As You Like It" and "The Tempest" to New York. The Bridge Project is a three-year, transatlantic partnership uniting BAM, The Old Vic, and Neal Street Productions. Last year was "The Cherry Orchard" and "A Winter's Tale".

Again, student-rush tickets make theatre possible! Orchestra seating provided an excellent view of this talented performance. Its wonderful to experience a Shakespeare play for the first time when performed by well-trained actors on a professional stage. The young actress playing Rosalind was absolutely delightful. So charming and enjoyable to watch. The actor as Orlando seemed a bit distant for my liking and his voice was so airy I never felt his strength. Overall, the play was a delight and the 3 hours flew by.

As I left the theatre (and had the longest trip home-- there is no fast way from Brooklyn to Queens) I felt stirred in a way that I hadn't in a long time. My heart was still in the theatre. I've felt this many times before. I cannot pinpoint the determining factors that will leave me with this feeling of want, but its a feeling of never wanting it to end because I want to be doing it. I cannot articulate this very well, but if you've felt it you know what I mean. You desire so much to participate in what you're experiencing that simply watching it, enjoying it and applauding it are not sufficient. You must live it! This is why we act!

For a moment... then its gone!

2010-02-02T15:13:00.003-05:00

Our labor of love "Anything to Declare" had the first staged reading Monday, Jan. 25th. The performance was for many of us, our first time on a stage in New York, plus it was a piece we'd conceived and written ourselves. The audience received it, responded to it and applauded it, but I was so connected to the actors I was sharing the stage with that it could have been an empty house and it would have felt successful!

We enjoyed the rest of the evening, receiving encouragement to continue to develop the piece and more importantly we raised good money for Samoa, which was the point of the entire evening. A night when 8 young actors display work that they created together to raise support for someone/something they do not possess the means to support themselves... that is a great night for any artist.

I realized the euphoria of performing, then almost immediately following, the anxiety of trying to get the next thing. I couldn't stay out with the cast too late enjoying our success because the following day I had an audition for a regional theatre. Its that constant struggle to get those moments on stage and if they weren't so richly fulfilling, it'd be impossible to be in this business.

"Anything to Declare"

2010-01-17T17:34:00.006-05:00

Rest assured, faithful readers, although there have been few recent posts I am still writing daily! But my focus has narrowed to a project near and dear to my heart! Let me start at the beginning...

A few months ago I went to lunch with a couple friends after acting class. We were chatting about what we had planned once we finished our program at the William Esper Studio (we're currently in the second, and final year of the acting program). An idea came across the table to put on something ourselves as our own project, cause no one is going to give us a career in this City. If you want to work, what better way than to create it yourself?!

Fast-forward a bit... We decided to construct a piece about the immigrants experience in coming to America. What was their dream of America? How has it changed? Do they miss home? Is America home now? Do they feel accepted? Starting with several core questions, a small group of classmates began shaping this project. From our interviews, we shaped monologues using the text verbatim and have found fascinating stories filled with humor, mourning, strength, wisdom and determination. We are putting the finishing touches on the script and will have it ready for the first staged reading on January 25th, 8 p.m. at La Mama Theatre on the Lower East Side of Manhattan! If you are in the City, please come by.

I should also mention, one of the inspirations for this project was the desire to help the tsunami relief effort for Samoa. In early October a devastating tsunami struck Samoa, so all the proceeds from the show and auction will be donated directly to Samoa, thanks to the Rock Foundation whom we are partnering with in this effort. Tickets are only $15! If you cannot make the show but would still like to donate, you can visit our website and click the link at the bottom! Come support us and Samoa!

www.3rdaverep.org

I love to laugh!

2010-01-06T00:37:00.003-05:00

New experience in NYC: a good comedy club! Prior to this evening, my only NY stand-up comedy experience was last summer when my dad and brother were in town. We foolishly followed one of those street-ticket-selling-comedy club promoters. Being in NYC only a month, I lacked the ability to detect a scam quick enough (i've been training... i'm much better now). Anyway, worst stand-up I've ever experienced in my life! Truly wretched!
BUT TONIGHT... hilarious! A friend from work was invited to perform at a great spot in NYC called Comix Comedy Club. It was "new talent" night, but there were quite a few veteran performers in the line-up as well! One or two comedians kinda bombed, but I must proclaim that my friend, Megan, was the best! So stinkin' funny and so confident. She took care of the audience by owning the room. Soooo hard to do. Especially since there were about 12 of us from work coming to support her AND we were seated in the front! I love that about working the service industry though. I would say just about everyone has something else that they love. And when someone is displaying their talents, we support them b/c we're in the exact same boat! Its a family, of sorts!

Oh Christmas Tree, Oh Christmas Tree...

2010-01-03T21:27:00.006-05:00

I FINALLY visited the tree at Rockefeller Plaza! I know this is post-Christmas and post-New Years AND I chose the coldest night of the year, but I wasn't sure how much longer it would be up.

Nothing makes me smile like watching people ice skate! Free entertainment in a beautiful setting, the only thing missing was a hot chocolate to sip on and a hot man to snuggle with, but who knows what the new year will bring, right?!

Anyway, back to the ice skaters...
- We've got the kid who trousers are covered in ice because he's fallen so much.
- Couples skating hand-in-hand, stopping in various locations around the rink to snap a photo.
- Young mother holding both her daughter's hands as they glide across the ice.
- Grown mother and daughter skating gingerly arm-in-arm (makes me miss my mom).
- Teenagers playing hard to get, nearly knocking over everyone in their vain attempts at flirting
- Over-eager skating rink employees who spot a stumbling skater and see how fast they can skate across to "make sure everything is ok".
- And my favorite... the Olympic figure skating team rejects. You know, those people who are doing spins in the middle, maybe an occasional jump, and just generally skate around like they are there to "practice" and we are fortunate to be on the ice with them. I especially like it when they slip or even fall! Is that wrong? I don't discriminate. I like watching everyone fall!

Anyway, I love being in the City when its decorated for Christmas. Makes me smile, even when my face is numb.

HAPPY 2010!!!

2010-01-02T23:33:00.006-05:00

Goodbye 2009! We close on a joyful note. This is the part where I get sentimental and reflective... brace yourselves! My dear sister and I lived a mere 90 minutes from each other last winter (the closest since we lived at home); I experienced St. Patty's Day in true Irish fashion; I took in amazing amounts of theatre; attended (and missed) close friends' weddings; I drove from TX to CA and back with 3 of my favorite men in the world (brothers!); I attended a fancy ball in NYC; I moved my very own bed in NYC; I discovered that NYC is the most amazing and heart-wrenching place b/c you meet the best people in the world but sometimes they're only in your life for a season; I lost a dearly loved Gram; I witnessed an amazing amount of love unabashedly given through suffering and trials and the healing and comfort found through it; I roadtripped to Canada; I visited the amazing people of Copan Ruinas, Honduras; I reconnected with sooooo many people I absolutely treasure and all 8 Nelsons were able to congregate for a miraculous white Christmas in Texas!

I meet this year with great anticipation, b/c I've been waiting for this year since '06! Why? You might ask. Well, some of you may know that I spent a season of life in British Columbia, specifically Whistler. Some of you might also be aware that Vancouver (and Whistler) is the site for the upcoming Winter Olympics. So 2010 has been on my radar for some time now. Looking ahead to 2010 brings excitement of the unknown paired with a tinge of apprehension/anxiety. I will finish my training at the Esper Studio in June, my bank account is at an all time low, and I'm still living out of boxes! But this is precisely what makes my life in New York so hard, satisfying, unique, rewarding, unbelievable at times, unpredictable always, and entirely not my own.

Thank you for reading my randomness and I have made a resolution to write more.... so hold me to it!

"A Streetcar Named Desire"

2009-12-19T23:38:00.013-05:00

"So much of the play is about the death of poetry and idealism and hope—the fine, delicate things in our lives, the intangible, ephemeral things in our lives—which theater actually represents, doesn't it? It's ephemeral by its very nature. If you're not there, you miss it. It's gone." -Cate Blanchett

Thank heaven I was there! Sitting in my distant seat purchased months ago, second to last row, experiencing a slight case of vertigo... I could still feel the performance. Each member of the cast reached the back wall of the theatre, and BAM Harvey Theater is no small venue! They certainly earned their 6 standing ovations at the conclusion of the performance and took their curtain calls together. Such a beautiful show!

I pride myself on my opinion of performers being something unique and insightful and varying from the popular consensus, but Cate Blanchett may be the best performer I will ever experience in my life. My one regret is that I was so far from the stage I could not see the little intricacies I know were a part of her performance only viewable by those in the orchestra, but what I could not see I heard through her use of vocal fluctuation and intonation. Her accent rang true and the varying octaves she traveled through during the desperate moments of Blanch DuBois communicated every moment clearly to the packed house.

Marlon Brando will always be my Stanley Kowalski, but Joel Edgerton played the part well. His nasal accent was reminiscent of Brando, but I missed the chemistry between he and Blanche (but I was on the second to last row). Robin McLeavy played a sweet Stella.

My one complaint happened in the final moments. Blanche takes the arm of the doctor and interlaces her fingers to his, the theatre is silent as she delivered that brilliant line, "I have always depended on the kindness of strangers," and the idiot playing Mitch decided to take a heaving sob and totally stole an incredibly beautiful moment! Otherwise... no complaints!

"What are you thankful for?"

2009-11-27T22:08:00.007-05:00

"I am thankful for the randomness of New York City that has allowed me to be sitting at this table with you tonight. Truly thankful."

For reasons beyond my control, I've been unable to return home to Texas for the past 9 years to be with my family for Thanksgiving. Each year, I've found myself sitting at a table sharing a meal with whoever I'm lucky enough to know at the time. Many memories, some lonelier than others, but each marks the path my life has taken thus far and I look back on them with nothing but smiles.

This year I found myself in a little neighborhood in Brooklyn, NY... Bushwick! Certainly a unique Thanksgiving, but memorable in so many ways! My dear friend, Brooke, and I had to work that morning (where we served maybe 15 people). So she invited me to be a part of her Thanksgiving, saving me from potentially dining solo... well maybe not. Anyway, we ran all over Tribeca to pick up our holiday meal, which included chicken not turkey, then barely got to the wine shop before they closed their doors, and finally found just the right sweet potato casserole from Boston Market, before we headed out to Brooklyn.

So great to be in a home for this holiday. Don't get me wrong, I love my empty, closet-size apartment but in a space where two people have lived for years, you can find their personalities imprinted in subtle ways around the house. These two women have not only placed their mark in their home, but in the homes around them by reaching out and investing in the lives of their neighbors. New York can easily be a place where you come and go without saying two words to the neighbor you share a wall with, but I was touched and honestly inspired by the community they've created in "the hood", as they call it.

Now, as the food cooked we munched on the normal Thanksgiving appetizers: cheese plate accompanied by cheddar and bacon stuffed jalapenos! Did I mention I was having Thanksgiving with a couple Southern women?! Who eats that on Thanksgiving?! The hottest things ever!!! Went so well with the wine we were drinking!

Anyways, After the Cowboys secured a victory, we sat for our meal. And we didn't get up from that table for hours! We ate, we laughed, we drank wine, we shared stories, and had the most delicious sweet potato pie ever! I will never forget those faces around that table and my night in Bushwick.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~My Thanksgiving Family!~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

"Help Me, Obi-Wan Kenobi..."

2009-11-10T23:12:00.003-05:00

You know the rest. The final phrase uttered by a gifted writer, performer, and self-deprecating narcissist: Carrie Fisher. I was a volunteer usher for the Roundabout Theatre Production of Wishful Drinking, which means that I got to see the show for free!

I found the evening educational, as well as entertaining. I grew up knowing Carrie Fisher only as Princess Leia. I had no idea she was the daughter of Debbie Reynolds, much less all the tabloid scandal. I'm revealing my ignorance, but personally I think it enhanced the evening. Especially when she pulled down a giant blackboard with all the Hollywood marriages that are linked together in her world.

A very comfortable set looking much like a living room, Carrie Fisher chatted with the audience about the craziness of her life. But she did it in a way that refused pity and made you feel like maybe this is part of her therapy and she has somehow lived through all this. A tiny moment near the very end of the piece I feel she briefly dropped her guard when she said, "if I am very still and very quiet, I think I can hear the angels sing."

Laughter is the best medicine, especially when it comes to your own pain. Carrie Fisher has managed to take a life of extraordinary circumstances and experiences, cram it into a 2 hour show and allow everyone to leave feeling like they know the real Princess Leia. And I think everyone, including myself, really loved the final shout-out to...well... herself.

"Help me Obi-Wan Kenobi, you're my only hope."

TO BE OR NOT TO BE...

2009-10-23T00:08:00.005-04:00

Brilliant performance tonight by Jude Law, who is currently playing Hamlet on Broadway.

The first moment on stage, his presence is felt and attention is drawn to him. The physicality of his performance alone is enough of a reason to see this play. He embodied the weight of the character, but held him with such ease that it made the rest of the cast look stiff. Simply astounding to behold. It was as if he were carrying the burden of what is to be discovered and then carried out in the course of the play. Beautiful!

Tonight marked the first time I've seen Hamlet done professionally. This play lasts near 3 1/2 hours. I had already worked a full day on my feet and gone to class and to top it all off, the only tickets available tonight were standing room and I was in flip-flops... but I loved it! The only times I felt the throbbing in my legs were during the scenes Hamlet was absent. Now, lets just be clear, I am not a Jude Law fan. I think he's pretty and he has done good work but I would not praise his Shakespeare unless it was well deserved. It was truly wonderful!

The rest of the cast seemed to be performing their parts in a way as more of a tribute to the piece written, but Jude Law seemed to be living his character. Had he been absent from the production I would have thought it was a very good technical reading of the brilliant writing of Shakespeare, but he was living and moving in such a way that elevated the reality of his world and brought him to a level that sadly was not reached by his supporting cast. I have a new respect for him as an actor and am grateful for his efforts and commitment to such a part.

If you are in NYC before December 6th (closing date), do what you can to see this play, even if you've been on your feet for 12 hours!

Can I just brag about my life for a minute?

2009-10-17T22:13:00.002-04:00

Pardon me but I love the madness with which I am currently engrossed.

Somehow I've managed to get involved with projects in theatre, television and film! Que suerte! I'm serving as Assistant Director for a Master Thesis for the New School (film school in lower manhattan); I'm casting/organizing a reading for a proposal script for "The Office"; I'm working with classmates and other actors to create an original piece of theatre to be performed after the first of the year! And somewhere in there I still make time for class, rehearsal and work. Praise God I'm young and invincible, right?

This is why I love NYC!!! Although I'm barely getting by financially, I'm happy as a clam. So many opportunities for growth are at my fingertips, so I have no excuse for laziness or complacency. LOVE IT!

2009-10-11T21:09:00.004-04:00

Recently, I took in a play. Now, I know some of you money conscious people are thinking, "Erin, you only have $6/day for food, how can you spend that on a play?" Well, some things are just more important than eating!

Actually, a blessing was granted to me (in the form of an unexpected tip) so I decided to support my friend and go see an Off-Broadway show. It was at Theatre Row, which is an amazing, renovated space on W. 42nd street with 6 theatres in one venue. Pretty amazing to have 6 separate works of art being performed simultaneously.

The play is by Tim Blake Nelson and explores the lengths that faith can bring people and the guilt brought on that will make them commit terrible things. I found the piece moving with a heart-wrenching end. Beautifully directed. The sound design was pretty great, as well. A surprisingly moving piece that was definitely worth two-days of food.

Check it out!

Next...

2009-10-07T22:13:00.006-04:00

Thank you everyone for your kind words of comfort and support of boycotting Uhaul!

As usual, focus shifts moment-by-moment. The Uhaul episode consumed me for all of Friday and Saturday, but Sunday was so busy I could not give it a thought. Now its Wednesday and I haven't thought of it in days. Don't get me wrong, I'm still planning to write a very strongly worded letter to Uhaul, but for now my attention is needed elsewhere.

For some reason, my time in NYC this year has been very, very full. I think I'm just more ambitious about building a future here. This demands my time investing in relationships and thinking about my career. I feel stretched personally and definitely financially, but in an invigorating way. Everything I'm involved with fills me with energy and joy, which is such a blessing b/c I don't think I'd be able to get thru it otherwise.

This is just kind of a random post with no real purpose. Below I posted some pictures of the progress of my bed. I'm really so proud of myself. Partially, due to the whole Uhaul debacle, but mostly b/c I had to take it apart and put it back together with no instructions. I feel like I built the bed. I dunno. Its very satisfying to crawl into bed every night. Not only am I exhausted from an extremely full day, but also b/c I have a bed to crawl into every night!!!

Hooray for the boys upstairs who let me borrow their tools!!! I took them cookies as a thank you!

Uhaul....then Upay!!!

2009-10-03T09:38:00.003-04:00

I've always heard, "If a customer has a good experience, they may tell one or two people. But if they have a bad experience they will tell ten." I'm going to tell everyone I know hoping they'll tell everyone they know about my recent, horrible, experience with Uhaul.

Background info:
I agreed to purchase a bed from a friend who was moving into an apartment in the West Village. Her cousin was also moving things from this apartment, so we decided to split the cost of renting a Uhaul truck and move it ourselves. We reserved a 14' truck, which was way more space than we needed, but only a $10 upgrade, plus $2.50 per mile. I had reserved the truck for 3 p.m. Total estimated cost $80-90 split two ways.

Ok, well due to scheduling conflicts we could not get everyone to the apartment until 4 p.m. to move, so I went to the Uhaul depot on W. 23rd (i tell you this so you won't ever go there) to pick up the truck. Upon arrival, at 4:05 p.m., I was on the phone with one of the girls at the apartment to explain the situation. I did not approach the counter at this moment b/c I think its rude to talk on the cell phone while dealing with another person. So I concluded my phone call then got in line (this is important for later in the story). By now there are 2 people in front of me, and apparently it takes 20 minutes to get thru a reservation, maybe because the staff lacks motivation and work ethic. Just a thought. Finally I get to the counter with my reservation. The lady goes thru the contract, noting that if I do not fill up the truck with gas to the amount it started on I had to pay $30 plus $4 per gallon. Ok, sign away. Please go wait at garage D for the dispatcher.

My friend and I wander down to garage D and no one is there. No one is out anywhere. We stand around for probably 10 minutes. I walk back toward the office and see a guy backing a van into the garage and asked him if he was the dispatcher. He said yeah, then looks at me and says, "Where are the keys?" "I don't know. I wasn't given any keys, I thought you would have them." "Nah, the office didn't give you keys? You don't have a little green paper with keys?" (in a tone indicating it was my fault). After lots of back and forth between the garage and office, they finally realize the truck I was assigned had no keys. So he went back into the office and got a new truck/contract for me. He walked us back to garage D and we waited at the edge for him to pull it out. I hear him attempt to start the truck 4 times before it actually catches and he can put it into gear!!! I said, "Are you joking me? You expect me to take this car?" I will not bother recounting the entire conversation, but my friend Jacob can vouch that this guy basically said take it or leave it, and that if I had asked for another truck, again, it would have taken even longer! It was a 1994 Ford truck, 15 years old. The alignment was terrible! I asked if anyone had ever been towed before. He said no, so I told him to wait for my call. (side note: there were plenty of very nice, new truck sitting in this garage. why those weren't offered up is still a mystery)

At 4:45 p.m. I pull away from Uhaul. I have to drive to the West Village (aka the maze) then to Brooklyn then to Queens and back to 23rd street... by 8:30 p.m. as told to me by the girl behind the counter.

Getting to the apartment in Greenwich Village was a driving nightmare, partially b/c of the size of the truck! Yikes! We loaded up and headed out (p.s. definitely didn't need a 14' truck). Drove to Brooklyn, dropped off the girls and their stuff, then out to Queens. Sadly, my staircase is too narrow for my bed frame to make it (its still sitting at the bottom of the stairs. i need to buy a screwdriver today). The mattress made it in! Hooray! We decided to just leave the bed frame because we needed to get the truck back before they closed at 9 p.m.

As always, driving in NY takes forever, so we rolled into the Uhaul depot at 8:45. I drove the truck into the garage. Wrong garage. Pull it out and re-park it. Go inside. I did not have time to take it over to the gas station because I was told I needed to have it back by 8:30 and it was now 8:45. I decided I wanted to contest the gas charge because I was 45 minutes late leaving with my truck. The GM reviewed security camera tapes to see what time I came in and left. She told me that I had come in, was talking on my phone and didn't go straight to the counter, so then I had to wait in line, did not apologize for the truck delay and apparently its my fault anyway because I had originally reserved the truck for 3 p.m. anyway. (so shouldn't the truck be ready and waiting for me?) Basically she kept making me feel like I was at fault and I was lying about being in a rush. She then goes further to say that while she was reviewing the tapes I could have taken the truck to the gas station around the corner and filled it up. I said I thought I had to have the truck back by 8:30 p.m. Again, making me feel I chose to not fill up the truck. I DIDN'T KNOW IT WAS AN OPTION STILL!!! Why would I chose to pay $30 plus $4/gallon if I could take it around the corner for $15?!

The total bill was way more than I expected to pay and in the end I'm kinda wishing I had just gone to Sleepy's and ordered a twin bed to be delivered. It may have cost a little more but wouldn't have stressed me out to this degree! Nothing is easy in NYC, but this was my first experience of truly hating living here.

Luckily, an angel was working at Shake Shack last night. After leaving Uhaul, Jacob and I went to grab dinner. The poor guy asked the standard question, "How are you doing tonight?" And I nearly burst into tears. I said, "I've had the most stressful day. Really, really horrible." He held up one finger for me to wait one second, turned around and in 2 minutes produced a little cup of frozen custard for free! Maybe there are some people in this City who understand how to treat others.

Please Note: the photo is the truck we used and yes that is spray-paint on the side of the truck!

2009-09-16T18:54:00.002-04:00

This is my hippie pad! If that is not the picture of a poor artist in New York City, I don't know what is... maybe if there were a couple other poor souls sharing the room with me it would be a complete picture!

Yes, I have a new residency in the "City that never sleeps". I now live in Astoria (located in Queens). I live with a friend I worked with last year and another roommate, whom I still haven't met yet! We're just too busy with opposite schedules. Not uncommon to go days without seeing the people I live with, especially since we're operating on different time tables.

I chose to accept a position at a restaurant in TriBeCa, which is a neighborhood in Lower Manhattan (basically couldn't be further from where I live). Luckily the trains run very regularly in the morning, so it takes no time at all to get there. Sure, I have to get up ultra-early, but who doesn't like to see the sunrise?!

After a summer of fun with family/friends in TX, a trip to see Mickey Mouse in FL, road trip to Cali with my brothers, another road trip to Montreal with my old roommate, and a jaunt to Honduras to see the amazing work of God, then return to NYC to attend the US Open, find a job, attend a fancy ball and move into a new apartment... I'm very much looking forward to class starting in a couple days! I'm ready to be on a bit of a schedule again. I could not have pictured a more fulfilling summer and I thank everyone who made time to spend with me. I've been so blessed.

Stay with me to hear more crazy stories from the best City in the world...

Picture Tour

2009-08-13T16:42:00.017-04:00

DAY 1

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~White Sands at dusk~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

DAY 2

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~Oliver Lee General Store~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~Joshua Tree National Park~~~~~~~~~~~~

DAY 3

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~Ziggy~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

~~~~~~~~~Brian, Chance & Zoe watching fireworks~~~~~~~~

DAY 4

~~~~~~Atop Runyon Canyon with Los Angeles at our feet~~~~~~~

DAY 5

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~Pacific Coast Highway~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~Sadie & Georgia~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

DAY 6

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~Sandwiches on the beach~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

DAY 7

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~Me vs. the surfboard (the surfboard won)~~~~~~~~~

DAY 8

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~S'mores by the fire~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

DAY 9

~~~~~~~~~~~~Matt & Joey overlooking the Grand Canyon~~~~~~~~~~~

DAY 10

~~~~~~~~~~IHOP Breakfast with ZB in Wichita Falls~~~~~~~~~

A short list of memories for the roadies:

~Roadrunners-- "WHERE?!"
~LAne change
~Nose-picker, Clogger, Poopy-pants
~Ghost towns= bust
~Nature camping (coyotes, mice, deer, bats)
~Incessant licking of Georgia
~Ziggy the wonder dog
~"hey" (whisper)- Brian
~"JOEY! LOOK AT THE BALLOONS!"
~Adam's constant battle with the camera
~Creepy baby tree
~Pigeon casualty

Should We?

2009-08-13T15:57:00.008-04:00

Dad taught us the value of a dollar. Therefore, due to the lack of available campsites on our route home, we decided to drive through the night instead of paying for a hotel room. Are you proud parents? Worry not. We are home, safe and sound sleeping off the 15 hours of straight driving with one pit stop for breakfast with our Air Force brother, Zac (who bought our meal!)

I believe the last time we checked in we had taken the longest route possible to Las Vegas! Now, due to the fact that half of our traveling party is under the age of 21, we stayed safely in the car and simply drove the Strip. Vegas isn't going anywhere. They can come back in a few years.

After a short jaunt outside Las Vegas to take in the Hoover Dam, we headed out on I-15 for the Grand Canyon. Before leaving Vegas, we stopped at what I assume is a west coast chain Del Taco and bought 32 tacos. We have been dining on mostly PB&J or turkey sandwiches for the majority of this trip b/c it travels well, but the boys have had enough. So I yielded and we stopped to change things up a bit. Of course, my wily brothers plot to make this "amazing" shift in diet last longer than one meal. Luckily, these tacos are ultra cheap so they bought a ridiculous amount to save for later!

Full on 59 cent tacos, we made our way to the North Rim of the Grand Canyon. Our handy GPS, Ginny (Genevieve), took us off-roading. We relied mostly on our atlas, but when she suggested we turn right onto a dirt road (not on the atlas) we had to take it! A smaller car would have struggled on this road, but luckily our Honda Pilot handled the rocky terrain with ease as we laughed at the absurdity of the road. Eventually we met up with a highway and continued on to the North Rim.

Having made no reservation, we just crossed our fingers for a campsite. Jacob Lake Campgrounds does not take reservation and only 40 miles from the North Rim, it was an amazing location. A meteor shower graced our night sky and the boys hacked a dried log with a hammer providing just enough wood to have s'mores. One of the best nights camping!

Next morning: Grand Canyon. My, was it ever GRAND! Truly breathtaking. And just like everyone says, pictures cannot possibly capture the scope of this massive thing. We encountered nature, Mattie slipped on the edge (scary), and we rested in the lodge at the top. I recommend the North Rim. Less crowded and a forest surrounds the entrance, which is just lovely but full of deer, which I nearly hit.

Decision time. North route to the Four Corners (AZ, CO, UT, NM) or south route through Petrified Forest. We decided to drive to the Four Corners, forcing us to take small, two-lane highways where we hit ridiculous traffic brought on my construction. At some point along the way, we had three different time zones showing on different little technologies. My phone had jumped ahead to central time, the car clock was on mountain time and Ginny (GPS) was still on Pacific time. We had no idea who was right. When we finally did make it to the Four Corners, we discovered it cost money!!! We were outraged and mostly annoyed, so after stewing by the front gate we paid in quarters out of spite. Aren't we mature? It was a fun random stop, but Adam couldn't let go of his annoyance.

I hopped into the front seat... so foolish. Little did I know I would be driving for the next 8 1/2 hours. Adam spent the next couple hours trying to find a place we could stop that would be far enough down the road that our last day wouldn't be 12 hours of driving. It just wasn't going to happen, so it was suggested to drive through. We're young and invincible, right? After singing along to 4 musicals, I called it quits in Amarillo. I feel I did my part by driving through all of New Mexico!

This trip could've easily exceeded a month had we allotted the proper amount of time for each stop. But due to finances and the packed schedule of life, we shoved a massive amount into 10 days. Tracking 4000 miles and spending less than $200 a piece... not too bad, I believe the true value of this adventure was revealed each time we met up with friends along the way and the hours upon hours in the car we endured, I mean enjoyed, with each other. I love my brothers!

Oh, Route 66...

2009-08-11T03:14:00.006-04:00

Somewhere between San Diego and the I-15/I-40 split, we decided it would be a great idea to take Route 66 because what is a road trip that does not include Route 66? Lame.

7 Hours later we arrive in Las Vegas (2 hours later than planned). Love road trips! We also tried to find a ghost town and made a pit stop to gaze at the stars off Route 66. I absolutely love the night sky and Adam and I were lucky enough to see a star as it fell out of the sky.

Ok, let me back up a bit. San Diego... we arrived at our hotel. Now, we chose a hotel that was far away but cheap, very cheap. A little sketchy, but we survived two nights.

The real purpose for San Diego was to surf. I have one day of surfing under my belt from my trip to Canoa in Ecuador last year. That is it! Naturally we were awful, but we had fun! Our first day was spent at Mission Bay Park and unknowingly plopped ourselves in the middle of the dog beach. It was unique, but fun!

Somehow I forgot to put sunscreen on my legs... my pasty-white legs that have not seen the sun since last summer. Needless to say, I am in pain. However, I continues to surf through the sunburn. Ouch!

Quick rinse in the public restrooms and we hit the road for the longest trip to Vegas! Thank you Route 66!

Traffic, Traffic, Traffic

2009-08-09T02:04:00.005-04:00

The weather almost forgives the horrendous traffic... almost.

My dear friend Zoe set us up for our day in Los Angeles. We hiked to the top of Runyon Canyon to get a beautiful view of the Hollywood sign and all of LA. Beautiful...

I think I'm a fan of LA from above. I loved driving along Mulholland Drive overlooking the city but once we were in the streets driving Hollywood Blvd, Rodeo Dr and all the others it somehow lost its allure. The houses were amazing and gorgeous! We had our mouths hanging open in awe of the size and beauty of the mansions!

We had a stereotypical day in Southern California: Lunch at In-N-Out Burger on Sunset Blvd (it took 15 min to park), Hollywood Walk of Fame, Grauman's Chinese Theatre, Drive through Beverly Hills (we bought a map to the stars... not worth it), Santa Monica Pier.

We managed to find our way out to San Dimas to bum off another good friend who was kind enough to offer their house for these weary travelers.

After experiencing "puffy pancakes" for the first time in our lives, we packed the car and headed for San Diego by way of the PCH (Pacific Coast Highway). Loved the view and all the little shops along the way. Have I mentioned I love the weather here?

ROAD TRIP

2009-08-07T11:09:00.007-04:00

The route: Texas--White Sands, NM-- Irvine, CA-- Los Angeles-- San Diego-- Grand Canyon-- back to Texas! Jealous?

Brothers Matt, Adam, and Joey accompany me on this westward adventure! So far we still like each other, we've spent a minimal amount of money and haven't paid for food yet!
Our first destination was White Sands, NM. Quite possibly the most tranquil place on earth. We arrived just before sunset. The temperature was perfect, not too crowded and it was the most silent place I've ever been. No sound except the occasional car driving through the park or kids laughing in the distance. A wonderful place for us to run around and get out some energy after spending 10 hours in the car! Below are some pictures...

Don't worry there are plenty more. That was just a preview!

We camped at Oliver Lee State Park that night. We decided to camp at the edge of the park at a site completely secluded from everyone else because we liked the view. Keep in mind this park never closes its gates. They're open 24 hours so anyone can come in any time. In other words, we could have died and no one would have known! We're those people in a horror film that you yell at for being stupid! So no need to worry about us. We've got natural survival instincts!

Luckily we survived the night and headed for Cali! Ok, no offense to anyone who lives in Arizone but Wow... what a boring state to drive through!! No fun stories there.

We FINALLY made it to the California state line and before we could let out a cheer, we were stopped at the border and they took our blueberries and oranges! Apparently not allowed to bring those over! I was a bit perturbed! Blueberries are expensive! Not a good first impression!

Our one real stop of the day was at Joshua Tree National Park for dinner. It was more or less an excuse to get out of the car for a few minutes and breathe some fresh air!

Over 11 hours after leaving White Sands we arrived at my sweet friend, Zoe's home in Irvine, CA. The last bit of the drive through the moonlit mountains was incredibly beautiful. The climate here in amazing!!! I love California!

Intermission

2009-06-10T18:43:00.001-04:00

Impossible to summarize a year in New York City. The changes I've personally experienced, but also beyond my own little existence. New York City is truly the most amazing city in the world. The amount of things happening at any given moment is astonishing. I've escaped to other worlds in the theatre but exploring various neighborhoods in the five boroughs.

As I passed thru Times Square beneath the lights on my way to the subway last night, I felt such a love for the City because I have found a home here. One can feel that comfort in a city of 10 million by those 10 or so people closest to them. The blessing of friendship had been imperative in my survival this year. As I dove into myself as an actor and pulled off layers and painfully broke down walls, I shared it with my sweet, loving NY family. Most likely the most eclectic family I will ever find, but so genuine. Whether its a relationship that takes months to plan a brunch together or someone I saw daily at work/class, the pace of this City forces a realness that is so refreshing! I eagerly welcome a break from the madness, but find a tinge of exciting anticipation waiting for me at the end of the summer when I return to the mayhem!

Don't worry, while my summer will slow down considerably, I'm sure I'll have adventures that are worth writing! Thank you for sharing this year with me!

Dance

2009-05-29T00:23:00.001-04:00

Poise. Posture. Power. Point. Process. Pain... I'm out of "p" words. This morning I observed the advanced class at the Martha Graham School of Contemporary Dance. History time: Martha Graham was an innovative dancer, specifically during the 1950's but the woman's career spans decades. Basically developed an entirely new technique all her own that shaped American modern dance. For further info, look it up or ask any dancer.

Back to my story, I snuck into a chair at the back of the dance studio, the accompanist was playing drum and piano as the class had begun their floor warm-up. The straight back of each dancer was contagious and made me sit up in my own chair. The focus each dancer maintained drew me into their movements as well. I found myself swaying with their movements. As they contract, my own core tightened; my head tilts back with them; my toes point and flex with the class; it was all I could do to spring from my chair when they did their jumps across the room! Right.

Knowing so little about dance, terminology, combinations, etc. I found it all the more impressive when the instructor quickly spouted out each exercise, doing half motions herself and then the music started and the class was in sync with each other. My eye continued to follow the same few dancers in the room; the stronger dancers who moved with more control, more full expression and grace. I would watch others but always came back to the same few. Its mesmerizing to watch such grace knowing that there is so much effort behind each beautiful movement. Come to find later that one I had continually spied was in the Martha Graham Company! Nice!

A memorable moment came when the dancers were warming up their jumps across the floor. They would do three little jumps then little kick, springy things moving forward (like my dance vocab?). They did two passes then the instructor stopped and turned to us and asked us if we had a comment. I probably had the most dumbfounded look on my face. I thought I was invisible and now I am being directly addressed with a question about their feet as they move across the floor. WHAT?! I just kinda laughed and said I had nothing to say. I didn't know what I would be looking for. I'm pretty sure anything I would have said would have been WRONG. Nothing like a good dose of humility.

Truly an inspiring and incredible experience! I'm wonder what else in NYC I can observe...

Yoga = Peace (especially in NYC)

2009-05-13T18:42:00.000-04:00

Upon returning to the anthill known as New York City, after possibly the most stressful weeks of the year, I found a rare peace and stillness and joy this afternoon. I know, that is a lot to find in one place. And the truth of it is those things are fleeting, but to truly know them for a few minutes is precious!

Yes, I am sweating my cheese off practicing Bikram yoga. Yes, its that crazy one where the class is 90 minutes in a room heated to 100+ degrees! I'm sure other practices of yoga are equally beneficial. I love the heat! It reminds me of a Texas summer and I feel at home. The small class moved well together and something about suffering the heat and physical strain on the body brings a collective energy to a group. Its a beautiful thing! Forgive my lack of yoga terms, but I was lying in our final relaxation at the end of a 90 minute class feeling so at peace with where I am at this moment. Possibly part of this reflection is b/c we've been given our last scenes for the first year and I'm coming up on my one year anniversary of living in the City (woohoo!) but I wouldn't trade any of it!

Granted I am experiencing the "honeymoon" stage of coming back to yoga, but I love the presence of mind it demands. Last week made me face the undeniable fact that so much of our lives are out of our hands. One of my favorite people in the City (also Bikram yoga instructor) told me the other night, "How does worrying help those you care about?" There is such truth in that! To throw out another quote, "Who by worrying can add a single hour to their life?... Do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will bring its own worries. Today's trouble is enough for today." [Mt.6]

Thank you to my incredible family in TX! It healed me in so many ways to be home for a week with all of you! Thank you my NY family! Your love (and hugs) astound me! ....Ha! This part kinda sounds like the end of people's biographies in the Playbill! Haha! I'm a geek!

Lets Go METS!!!

2009-05-12T23:35:00.002-04:00

First baseball game in NYC! Woohoo!
My bestest, best friend John Blair visited me on this beautiful spring day, and being the baseball enthusiast that he is, proposed we go see the Mets new stadium. Gorgeous! So well designed with the classic brick to make it just beautiful. There was a big, giant #42 inside the entrance. Neither of us knew why, so we made a bet that whoever could figure it out bought the other a Shake Shack shake (redundant?). [side note: just now realizing i won the bet and haven't collected] Its Jackie Robinson, by the way. According the my baseball encyclopedia (Blair) all the ball clubs retired his number this year.
We decided to walk in the opposite direction from our seats so we could look at the whole stadium. In center field we stumbled upon the Shake Shack and waited in a fast line for our yummy, over-priced little burgers. Delicious! Then made our way up to the nose-bleeds. We did the typical "sit in the empty seats until the real owner of the seats shows up and you bump down one". However, the owners of the seats we parked in were a group of middle school Canadian kids who got up every two seconds to go get more food or walk around or do anything but stay in their seat for 2 minutes! It was amazing how often we had to move for them to get out of the row. AH!
The game ended in extra innings with a walk off walk. Did I say that right? It was exciting! Blair and I had made our way down to the lower level in the 9th inning, so we scrambled to peak over heads to see the final innings. As soon as the game was over we literally ran to the subway! Down the stairs, out the stadium, across the parking lot, up the subway platform and onto the train... where we had to wait until the train was full but we did get to sit down. That was one of the most fun parts. Our mad dash to the train! We beat the thousands of people coming from the stadium though!
Go METS!!!

Don't Walk Over the Sidewalk Grates!!!

2009-04-27T00:44:00.002-04:00

SPRING IS HERE!!!

Actually its felt a little summer-ish the past couple days, but you won't hear me complaining. I love sweating! I feel alive! (and in a month i'll hate it again). Anyway, the warm weather has allowed everyone, including myself, to bust out the skirts/dresses/anything other than pantelones! However, one must be cautious! I find it funny when people avoid walking over the subway grates that are on many streets/avenues in NYC. Are you afraid of falling in? Do you think someone might grab your leg? I always walk on them to get around slower walkers on the sidewalk, HOWEVER when one is wearing a skirt its another story! I nearly had several 'Marilyn Monroe moments' walking around the city this weekend! Ooops!

This weekend also marked the opening of the back dining patio at the wonderful Bourbon Street Bar & Grill. Basically this means that due to amazing preparation (i.e. none) we got our butts kicked and made nice money! Its one of those weekends that as I sit and reflect (and count my earnings) I see room for improvement but overall I am pleased. BUT in the midst of a Saturday night rush with no supplies available, demanding tables, slow bar-tending, I hate my life! Ah, the paradox of the restaurant industry! One wonderful aspect of the new back patio is once it is closed and I can step out there alone. The music pulsing inside is muted when the door closes, the potted trees and plants help block out the buildings surrounding me and I can actually see the night sky! I saw the Big Dipper last night. That is honestly the first time the I can say I've seen that constellation since I moved to NYC nearly a year ago. That is huge b/c I absolutely adore the night sky! Although this new seating space causes great stress (and sweat), it is also my brief escape from the City!

St. Patty's

2009-03-19T12:16:00.002-04:00

The one day of the year when everyone is IRISH!!! Lucky for me, my name (ERIN) is Gaelic for Ireland, so I'm extra special. All the folks I served just loved that! Yes, I spent the entire day in a restaurant/bar... but I was working. The morning at Bourbon Street, which is a New Orleans themed place but owned by 4 Irishmen, therefore we decked out the place in Irish decor for the special holiday. Shockingly we weren't that busy. MAYBE ITS BECAUSE WE'RE NOT AN IRISH BAR! Hmmm... puzzling.

Anyway, the second half of my day was spent at job #2, O'Flaherty's Irish Pub. Yes, I am experiencing NY exhaustion on a whole new level since taking on this second job, but I can't complain when unemployment is on the rise everywhere else in the country. In Erin's world there is no recession... or sleep. Back to St. Patty's, O'Flats was much busier. By 5 p.m. we were so full I could not walk through the place without contorting my body in a million different ways just to get around people to deliver drinks and food. My cohorts from Bourbon came down after getting off. I even had a drink with a leprechaun (one of the owner of Bourbon is a short little Irishman who probably wouldn't appreciate me calling him a leprechaun, hehe). The night lasted longer than I thought possible and I was never happier to call it a day and fall into bed!

As a Texan, St. Patrick's Day has never been anything more than a reason to pinch someone for not wearing green. But in New York, I experience holidays on a whole new level!

The Best Ever!

2009-03-01T13:34:00.000-05:00

Please keep in mind that this was the day after Mardi Gras...
The adventure began on a surprisingly gorgeous, sunny afternoon, where else but Times Square at the TKTS booth. The finale of the Texan and Kiwi. Two souls brought together in the melting pot of the world on Restaurant Row, each forever changed by the other. I, of course, am talking about myself and my closest friend Avi, a traveling, wine-loving, surfing, artistic, law school grad leaving March 1st to continue his journey. Ok, the scene is set, the players introduced, and so begins the best day in NYC...
Our mutual friend attends the King's College, which holds class in the Empire State Building. Upon our request, she drags herself from a mid-afternoon slumber to help us bypass the lines and receive a discount to the top! We had tickets to Billy Elliot at 2 p.m. and we didn't arrive to the top until 1:40 p.m. We gave ourselves 10 minutes to look out in each direction over the endless buildings of NYC. Despite the haze, its incredibly freeing to breathe above it all. The City is massive, but manageable up there. With little time to ponder much more, we raced thru the maze of commercialized merchandise one must walk thru when leaving the observation deck. We hit the street at 1:55 and hopped into a cab, b/c we had no other choice. The driver was informed if he could get us there in time for the curtain, there would be an extra tip in it for him. Yikes! Careful when you say that. I feared for the pedestrians. Avi and I were dropped at 45th and Broadway and ran down the street. Some of you may be thinking, "there is no way you'll make it. What's the point?" Well, a little insight for you ill-informed, all Broadway curtains are held until 8 minutes past the hour. However, despite this cushion we came in at the very end of the opening number. Billy Elliot made me cry. The first act final dance sequence blew me away. We loved it!
Next we ventured over for a drink and apps b/c we decided we'd try for the lottery drawing for West Side Story. Not a lot of people have the stamina or interest for two Broadway musicals in one day, which is why Avi is amazing! Ha! We dottle a bit too long at the restaurant and arrived to the theatre as they were closing the entries. I begged the guy to let us enter and amazingly relented. Three names in I heard my name called. Can I just say, if you ever enter a lottery drawing for tickets, please be enthusiastic when you win. So many people are just too casual about it. You get to see a Broadway show, on the front row for less than $30, is a little jumping and screaming too much to ask? That is precisely what I did. What is funny is as we waited inside to buy our tickets, we heard them call Avi's name too! We were just meant to see West Side Story that night!
With two hours to kill, we ventured to the Lower East Side to a bar we'd heard gives free pizza with each drink purchased, even during Happy Hour! How have I not visited this place before? We had our little personal pizza and drink and headed back to midtown arriving at the theatre with plenty of time to spare!
West Side Story has only just begun previews, opening in March. This particular production has Spanish mixed in and I LOVED it! Maybe its b/c I come from a land full of Spanish, but I thought it added something very interesting to the show. Another great performance that added to the magic of our day!
Eager to get out of midtown, we descended to the Village. At this point Avi pretty much took over with directions cause lower Manhattan confuses me. We stumbled upon a cute little Italian place and talked over a bottle of Cabernet. One of my favorite parts of the night. A good bottle of wine, lovely environment, great company and a conversation ended only by the empty bottle and closing restaurant.
We continued the night strolling the lively streets of Greenwich Village. We were invited in to catch the end of a free stand-up show, which I'm often leery of but we decided to check it out. We laughed but doubtful we saw the next Seinfeld. In the bar above, a live bluegrass band was playing. I haven't heard live music in forever, we were all about it. A little dancing, but mostly just listening.
Feeling a bit fatigued, we agreed to leave but we had one more stop before calling it a night. Av wanted to walk the Brooklyn Bridge at night. Now anyone concerned with my personal safety (parents) stop reading now. We hopped into our second cab of the day, which I never take cabs, but we didn't know the nearest subway and were too tired to look for it. We asked him to drop us at the bridge. He told us not to walk the bridge alone at this time of night. Isn't that great?! The cab driver was looking out for us. Of course, we did not heed his advice but thanked him anyway. As unsafe as this may have been, I'll never regret making such a poor decision. We were the only people on the entire bridge all the way across! We sang and danced our favorite songs at the top of our lungs. Incredible!
Falling asleep on the subway, I rehearsed my Shakespeare sonnet to Avi as he dozed. I am extremely grateful for everything that fell into place for this day to happen. A blessing!

From Up Here...

2009-02-01T00:20:00.002-05:00

Weightless. I barely felt the thing move. Slowly we climb. Floating over the Upper East Side just along 60th St. Do you suppose the people that live in the buildings next to the tram notice us flying by? Is it just like living next to a busy street? Do they care we can see into their homes? Did the sales associate mention this special feature when they showed the place? Do they leave their lights on and shades drawn to show-off their apartments? Do they even realize they're on display? Does it bother them that even though they are on the 21st floor, they are still not afforded the privacy one might expect when at such a height? Or is it just a fact of life? This is New York after all.
Its fascinating to note the differences in each apartment dweller's decorative taste. Its essentially the same space but the use is dramatically different. One place I love passing every time... Eloise. I have never seen a living (or non-living) person in the place. But I think, based on the furniture and style of the apartment that we would be friends. Maybe on one of my passes I'll eventually see who lives there. Will keep you posted...

1/20/2009

2009-01-21T00:15:00.000-05:00

Today was a momentous day in the history of the United States of America. I hate to sound like a cheeseball, but I can't help it. The day after Martin Luther King Jr. Day, we inaugurate our first black president. Rather appropriate, I think. Whether you voted for Obama or not, it was a great day for the US.

I happened to be in class this morning, but at the start of class our instructor asked us if we wanted to watch any of it. We all agreed that we would take our usual break, but push it back to noon so we could see the oath. As usual in any good acting studio, we were without a television, so we streamed it on the front office computer. Apparently other classes had decided to take a break for the same purpose, so it was a little crowded. In and around the small 10x12 room, 30 (approx--i'm bad with crown estimation) crammed to catch a peak at the screen. Some were crouched on the floor, others used their neighbors shoulder as a boost to look over heads.

I decided to go around to the front and watch through the glass, so I was facing most of the group. I didn't have a great view of the screen (which was delayed anyway) so I watched everyone else as I listened. It was a beautiful speech and the feeling of hope was tangible. Granted it was a room full of actor's with enduring hope about that next part, next audition, next challenge. A room full of artists propelled by passion watching what many thought improbable a year ago and impossible 60 years ago. Its a contageous ideal... hope. I know it got a little cliche during the campaign, but that is why people are constantly pushing to be better. When you lose hope, you lose ambition, become complacent and life loses its value.
So much of my life is out of my hands, but my hope sustains me no matter what my circumstance. My faith allows me the freedom to hope. Today I think the nation felt it.

Baby, It's Cold Outside

2009-01-16T01:24:00.002-05:00

I'm officially tired of winter. Today it snowed and I was not entranced by its beauty, I was thinking, "I hope it stops before I have to go to class." When living in British Columbia, I never grew tired of the snow. It was magical when it floated silently down creating amazing conditions for snowboarding, which is possibly the missing element here. Snow in the city is simply that... snow in the city. Makes things wet (namely me) and slushy because it only stays on the ground while its snowing. Once it stops it goes away again.
I'll stop complaining about the weather. I'm just a little bitter b/c I walked home from work tonight and it was 8 degrees outside and my face was frozen! The high tomorrow is 16... yikes. I think I want to be a bear!

How Not to Plan an After Party...

2008-12-21T19:36:00.000-05:00

The restaurant I work in was lucky enough to be chosen for the after-party of a reunion benefit for a Broadway show. It was doomed from the start. The catch phrase for the staff became, "no plan is a bad plan!"
For starters, the party was scheduled on the night off for our most capable manager, so we were left with the one who is terrible at handling large numbers of people. How he became a general manager is beyond comprehension. Lovely fellow, terrible manager. The party was due to begin at 11 p.m. We still had "regular" people eating in the restaurant at 10:30 p.m. when the guests started showing up (yes, they were early). Now our hostess staff is dressed to impress b/c there are some big names at this party. We had security at the door with a list, however the guests arrived before the security guys, so who knows actually got in! Madness from the start. As we're trying to rush the normal patrons out, the VIP guests keep pouring in. It doesn't help that it is raining outside, making people pour in that much quicker! In less than 10 minutes, the entire lower floor of the restaurant is packed with people wondering where the coat check is (we don't have one), when are the appetizers being served and when they can order drinks (neither until 11 p.m. when they were supposed to arrive). One poor hostess runs downstairs to inform the manager (who is hiding in his office) that the guests are early and we need instruction. In dramatic fashion, he whips around in his swivel chair, pulls his head away from the phone and yells, "I don't give a ****!!!" Awesome! So we're kinda left on our own for the first bit.When he did finally surface he tried to put a limit of the people allowed in the place. By doing so he kept the cast of the show outside!! Are you kidding me?! That is kinda when the staff decided to take things into our own hands. No longer consult management, just work with the party coordinators and make the party run as smoothly as possible. Luckily, I was friends with one of the planners, so I offered to serve some of the guests on our upper level, where no one had ventured yet.
As I am serving these tables, someone must have shared the info that there was a whole other level to the place with a bar!! All of a sudden the entire floor is full of people and I am left by my lonesome at the service bar as orders are being thrown my way. Yeah! So fun and overwhelming! Especially fun when I started getting tipped. Woohoo! Now I have learned how to make drinks in my months of employment,so I could totally hold my own, as long as everyone ordered stuff like rum and coke. Ha! Luckily the only martini I had to make came at the end of the night! My Kiwi mate, Avi, came to my rescue and worked the bar with me. It was like a dance behind the tiny bar. Despite the chaos happening everywhere, I think we ran our little world pretty efficiently.
Due to the cage of the bar, I was not able to circulate the party and rub elbows with the celebs, but at the end of the night I made more and had a ball! I think the cast and everyone had a good time as well. Its amazing what a very small group of people can do to make something happen. Our owners will probably get the praise for the party, but at the end of the day, we lowly servers, hostesses and runners know how the party really went.

2008-12-03T13:50:00.000-05:00

2008-12-03T13:24:00.000-05:00

Finally I get to see the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade. My dear friend, Kristen, lives in an building at 34th & 6th, so we hung out her bathroom window to watch the parade pass us by. When it was cold or boring, we'd escape into the living room to our coffee and scones. Doesn't that just sound lovely? I'm just going to upload a bunch of pictures from the parade and other parts of NY. Enjoy!

Fun Times On Broadway

2008-11-22T13:26:00.000-05:00

I love the person who decided to start pricing tickets at a lower rate for students. This affords those who cannot afford, a chance to watch some amazing theatre without going broke. I've been averaging roughly 1 show a week. (You are permitted to be jealous now). I've been within spitting distance (please take that literally) from Kristen Scott Thomas, Jeremy Piven, Elizabeth Moss, Harvey Fierstein, I could go on but that would just be boastful.

This past week I recruited a couple foreign friends from work to experience some Broadway goodness. We decided to see the matinee performance of David Mamet's 'Speed the Plow', starring Jeremy Piven, Elizabeth Moss and Raul Esparza. The student tickets we were given allowed us to have seats on the second row and one seat front row center. God bless the foreigners b/c they were not quite aware of theatre etiquette (i.e. arriving with plenty of time to find a toilet, find your seat, and read the entire Playbill before curtain). So, my classmate and I were waiting with tapping feet for my other friends to arrive. Finally my Kiwi friend comes running up 1 minute before 2 p.m. I leave a ticket at the box office for my friend Helen, who has not arrived. As we find our seats I realize the ticket I left for Helen was the one front row center! Had it not been moments before the curtain, I would have ran back to the box office to exchange hers for mine, but time did not allow. Dread was building as the curtain rose and the play began. Brilliant performances took me away for a while, but then I was nudged by my friend to let me know Helen had arrived. The poor girl had to cling to the stage as she stepped over half the row until she landed safely in her seat. The actors on stage were definitely aware of her (how could you not be when she is holding onto the stage?!).
Following the performance the cast remains on stage to talk about a charity donation thing they do every year. Jeremy Piven did the talking. He began by saying, "Thank you very much for coming out to the show, except that girl who was late. Where is she?" The other castmates come to the edge of the stage, fingers pointing at my friend who is sinking lower and lower into her seat! Mr. Piven continues, "I mean you come 45 mins. late to a show? Its only 70 minutes long for crying out loud." He was exaggerating, of course, but this continued for a couple minutes as the theatre filled with laughter. It was hilarious! I've never seen Helen's face so red, but she is a easy-going Irish gal, so if anyone could handle it, she could. SO FUNNY!

Last night, I witnessed one of my classmates perform the lead in Hairspray! She is the understudy for Tracy Turnblad. A small group of us were able to get front row seats and watched her twist and turn and sing her little heart out. It was pretty surreal seeing someone I know on a Broadway stage, like its nothing. She was fantastic. We got to go in the stage door after the performance and I actually got to stand on the stage while we were waiting for her. No bigs... just hanging out on a Broadway stage. When we left we hung out a minute to see her walk out of the stage door and see all the people waiting go nuts and ask for her autograph. What a trip!

"One Cheesesteak, American, With"

2008-11-12T11:06:00.000-05:00

This is the appropriate way to order an authentic Philadelphia Cheesesteak with American cheese and onions. I failed to add the “with” and so I received no onions. However, my first Philly Cheesesteak was delicious! In case you haven’t grasped it by now, I went to PA for the weekend. Actually I stayed in Camden, NJ but it is 15 min. from downtown Philadelphia. My dearest friend, Blair, is with Urban Promise ministries working to start an afterschool program for kids in Copan, Honduras. He lived there last year and has seen a need for these kids to have a place to spend their free time. Such an amazingly wonderful thing and if anyone wants information about how to help get this wonderful program started, please let me know and I’ll forward you the details.

My trip to Camden was a very spontaneous decision made Thursday night. I went to Port Authority Bus Terminal Friday (10/31) after class, and bought a ticket on the Greyhound to Philadelphia. Apparently, there are several buses to take to nearby cities for as little as $1, but we’re talking buses that pick you up at some random corner in Chinatown where they barely stop, no one speaks English, live chickens are onboard… okay maybe not the chickens. I’ve heard funny stories about these buses, so I will try to take one the next time I leave town and tell you all about it, but I didn’t have time to deal with all that. Port Authority is madness! I’ve never experienced a bus terminal of this magnitude. Its just huge and there are so many different buses going to so many different places. I found the Philly (this is what the cool kids call it, so go with it) bus easy enough. The boarding reminded me of a Southwest flight cause there are no assigned seats, its just first come first serve. Once I got in line I didn’t want to leave, but as they started boarding I realized I really needed to use the restroom. What to do?! Leave the line and be left with the least appealing seat on the bus? I stayed in line and 10 minutes into the trip I had to crawl over the sleeping woman beside me (how does someone fall asleep so fast?) and try not to fall into people on my way to the restroom. I swear the driver was trying to knock me over with his swerving!

I arrived to Philly just as the World Series Championship Parade had ended. This simply means that I was the only person in Philadelphia not wearing red & white and I was the only person who was sober… at 4 in the afternoon! What a welcome! Shortly thereafter I hopped a subway to Camden and to the quite of a neighborhood. Blair and his friend Matt were house-sitting for a friend, which meant we had an entire house complete with dogs and a car, all to ourselves for the weekend! Such a blessing! I needed a break from the City. This was the most darling little house with a yard surrounded by a fence and a little swingset in the backyard. I never thought I’d miss yards. I was such a bum cause all I wanted to do that night was enjoy the comforts of a home: laying on the couch watching TV, playing with dogs, walking from one room to another simply b/c there were rooms to walk into. My life exists in one room, so that is why multiple rooms was so exciting. Sad, huh?

Anyway, Saturday we decided to utilize the car and took a road trip to Lancaster, PA (aka Amish Country). As we got closer and closer we started spotting a few Amish folks in their horse and buggy! We’d yell, “Amish! Amish! Amish! Amish!” It was fun. We stopped in a place called Intercourse, PA for some grub, but all we did was buy a Shoo-Fly Pie. Excuse me, a famous Shoo-Fly Pie. Has anyone ever heard of these? I felt like I was totally out of the loop, but no one else in our party had ever heard of Shoo-Fly Pies, so we decided they were only famous in this particular part of PA. We were in search of an authentic Amish experience, meal and buggy ride and all. We drove into Lancaster only to find it exactly like every other small town in PA. We discovered at the Visitor Center that most of the Amish community lives on the outskirts of Intercourse. Does anyone else find this ironic?! It wasn’t even the original name of the town… it was changed to Intercourse!

Anyway, we drove around to several other little stops and picked up various snacks. I couldn’t believe how cheap everything was! I bought an 8” pie for $5! In NYC that would cost $20 easily AND this was homemade. SO much better! We met some very nice Amish folks and I received little verse packets with my purchases. Lovely. We returned to Philly and got some cheesesteaks for dinner and watched Texas play Texas Tech. What a great day!

Sunday, I had to catch the noon bus back for work, but we got up early and went into to Philly to walk around the historical parts. It was beautiful, despite the chilling wind. Philly is a liveable city. I could never live in NY, but I think I could handle Philly. Anyway, we went on the most uninteresting tour of Independence Hall. The tours are free so sometimes the tour guides are less than good. Our guide was not engaging at all and the information she told us was stupid stuff like, “We don’t really know how this was exactly set-up but we think this is how it would be arranged. Of course, all the furniture in here is not from that time period, but is similar in style.” That is the first thing she told us and that is when I stopped listening. We left the tour early.

My weekend holiday from the City was so relaxing and normalizing. If I can schedule one of those every couple months, I think I can maintain my sanity! Next destination is Boston or maybe Upstate NY or maybe Vermont. “It should be lovely this time of year… all that snow.”

Brrrrrrrrr!!!!!

2008-10-28T15:17:00.001-04:00

Pardon the constant comments on the weather... but they're probably going to keep coming! It's cold and rainy. The kind of day that you just want to curl up in some sweats, make hot chocolate and watch romantic comedies all day. Sadly, I live in a city that doesn't stop for anything!

The weather started to change yesterday while I was at work. I went to work in a long, cute skirt, a thin long sleeve and scarf, but by the time I was leaving (@1:30 a.m.) I borrowed a few more layers and had to "borrow" an umbrella from work due to the unexpected rain. However, on my way to the subway I noticed another unfortunate soul waiting under an awning of a restaurant, who I assumed hadn't anticipated rain either. I decided to go with my 'southern' instinct to be friendly to a stranger and offered to share my umbrella. As the man looked up I realized I was speaking to Matthew Broderick! Ha! He smiled and said 'No Thank You' and that he was just planning on taking a cab. He asked if I was headed to the Village (lower Manhattan for you non-New Yorkers). I laughed and said no I was heading to the subway on 6th Ave. I told him to have a good night and went on my way. Of course, I spent the rest of my trip home thinking of all the witty things I should have said and going back and forth between cursing myself for not taking advantage of a rare opportunity but then congratulating myself on being a "real" New Yorker who leaves celebrities alone. Zac and I experienced this when he visited this past weekend. We walked by Ted Danson and Julianne Moore when we were in lower Manhattan. They're just people for goodness sake!
Fun moment I wanted to share! I need to go layer myself before going to work!

Broadway

2008-10-23T12:36:00.000-04:00

Despite my lack of internet connection, I have decided to write an entry and drag my computer across the street to the library to update my dormant blog. Its been silent too long. Apologies.

Its officially fall in New York. I think we hit that day a few weeks ago, but the weather has changed and the warmth is not coming back. The temperature might get up to 60 today, but the wind chill is somewhere closer to 45. In Texas we call this winter! I'm wearing all the clothes that I used to wear during the months of December-February and its only October! Trouble! Luckily the sun still warms me up, but I've been warned that eventually that won't even help! I will try to enjoy it and not fear the cold that darkens my future (dramatic, huh?). Leaves are changing into the most interesting colors, unlike in Texas where they just turn brown and fall to the ground. I remember the season of Fall from my younger years in Virginia and playing in piles of leaves that my dad had just raked in our yard. I just need to buy a good coat, some gloves, hats and scarves and enjoy this time of year!

I've been back in New York nearly two months. Home seems forever ago. I'll hit the highlights and if anyone cares for more details or anecdotes pertaining to one event or another, please leave a comment and I will embelish further. I cannot possibly tell all the stories, but I've had a very eventful two months!Upon arriving to my apartment, my landlady, Karen, was not in town however her daughter and friend were in the apartment. In case I failed to mention, I'm renting a room in an apartment of a woman whose adult children have moved out. Its on Roosevelt Island, which is a tiny strip of land between Manhattan & Queens. Many New Yorkers don't know it exists. Its amazing! Its like a little town, with one grocery store, a little library, pharmacy, church, diner, pizza place, Starbucks! Its safe and so lovely! My only complaint is that we don't have wireless internet in our apartment, but that is because Karen and I can't figure out how to set it up. So, the purpose of my early return to New York (classes didn't start until Sept. 19th) was to find a job. Before I even left Texas, I had a job interview set-up for marketing company to promote Broadway shows in Times Square. I interviewed for that the day after I arrived and started doing that job the following day. I was promoting a show called 'Xanadu'. It was a musical comedy (the two most glorious words in the English language) making fun of the terrible 1980's film starring Olivia Newton-John. Anyway, the job was a huge blessing in disguise. Initially I thought it would just be a job to do until I found a job in a restaurant, but it ended up supporting me enough so I could find a job I actually wanted instead of just taking anything. I interviewed with some weirdos! The job hunt could be an entire entry. Now, did I enjoy wearing a giant, pink sandwich-board sign in the middle of Times Square? Not particularly, but I had fun with it. One of my most memorable days was a Saturday I was positioned at 45th & Broadway. There was one of those sidewalk bands that play the little Peter Pan flutes. Now instead of trying to compete with them by projecting over their music, my friend (who was promoting 'Legally Blonde') and I danced to the music. People were so much more willing to take my fliers when I was dancing. We had so much fun that day and I was complimented on my dancing more than once! Ha! Another memorable day was when they held "Broadway on Broadway" in Times Square, which is the only other time besides New Years that Times Square is shut down. There was a huge stage set up at 43rd between Broadway & 7th, with barracades to hold the crazy fans back. "Broadway on Broadway" is when every Broadway musical performs in some way. Some shows had the whole cast, some had one performer. This is the kind of event that people came out for in the wee hours of the morning to get a good spot. Well due to the fact that I was handing out flyers, it was like an all-access pass. I went wherever I wanted to go. So naturally, I went to the very front. Of course, I did my job for the first part of the day, but once the performances started no one wanted to listen to me talk about my show. My fellow flyerers all agreed that on that day, we loved our jobs. It was pretty incredible! My job with 'Xanadu' allowed me to connect with some theatre folks, I got to work outside TKTS and met several wonderful friends and learn about every show on Broadway, talk to Leonardo DiCaprio and have fun making money.
It ended up working out perfectly... just as 'Xanadu' was closing I got hired at the Bourbon Street Bar & Grill where I currently work. God is good! Bourbon Street Bar & Grill is a beautiful restaurant located on W. 46th (a.k.a. Restaurant Row in Hell's Kitchen). Its owned by four Irishmen, who are lovely. I love the people I work with. Our food isn't all that memorable, but our bar is amazing. Of course it is, being owned by the Irish! Classes are going really well. Its difficult to express what they're like, but they are going well! I cannot think of anything more to write at the moment.

A Finer Night You Know You'll Never See

2008-07-29T13:54:00.000-04:00

Can anyone tell me what Broadway musical that line is from?

Last night was a wonderful wrap up of my 6 weeks in New York! I finally walked the Brooklyn Bridge. It was perfect weather. I was on a journey to find the best pizza in New York at Grimaldi's. This pizza place was picture-perfect! Its not a big place, but extremely popular. Due to the small space, patrons must wait in a line along the street on the sidewalk. Take-out too! A very Italian looking man, who rarely smiles, stands outside and monitors the line. Every so often a muffled voice inside yells something out and the gentleman (we'll call him Tony cause it just seems right) looks at the line and asks, "two?" or "three?" or "take-out?" and those closest to the front must be ready to respond. If there is hesitation he has to repeat himself... and Tony doesn't like to repeat. You gotta be ready. It was finally my turn! I ordered a calzone cause I was told they were amazing, plus I was thinking it would be better than ordering a pizza for myself (oh, there are is a sign on the door that says, "no slices". you gotta order a whole pie...that's what they call it here, a pie). Cash only... of course! I return outside to wait for my calzone. When it comes out I realize that this is definitely not for one person. I feel better about paying $15 but good heavens!
I walked with my 10 lbs. calzone back across the Brooklyn Bridge and take the train to Bryant Park. Last opportunity to watch a movie in Bryant Park. "The Apartment" was about to start when I got over there. I finally open up my calzone to see the enormity of this thing! I laughed out loud. It was amazing! The dough was incredible. I could only eat about 1/4 of this sucker!
A little later I receive a text from some classmates that they are down at Pier 17. I pack up my mammoth calzone and head down to the Pier. Nothing like a bunch of hungry, poor actors sitting in a public area enjoying cheap drinks and reminiscing about class and funny memories. We stayed down at the pier until 2 a.m. They devoured the remaining 3/4 of my calzone and we had a grand time. The thing that made me stay so long is I knew I would most likely never see most of them again. Tragic but true.
One my ride home on the glorious G train, I had my own car! I was in a jovial mood anyway, but that just topped it off. I was singing and dancing around the car! How often does that happen?! So rare! I loved it!

New York has been amazing and I am very excited to come back for the fall! My blog may experience a hiatus during my sabbatical to Texas, so fear not faithful readers... I will return in September!

Ode to the Subway

2008-07-27T13:31:00.000-04:00

Anyone who has ever experienced the Subway system of New York knows it can be a trifle wild. There are so many different lines to take, people move so quickly, and sometimes you end up in a completely different part of New York than you intended to go (like Queens... Dad & Adam).

On a day-to-day basis, I've come to appreciate little things about the subway and absolutely loathe others:

I love when I walk down the stairs to the station, swipe my card and the train is just rolling in. On occasion, my good fortune has continued when I have to transfer and as the doors are opening on the G train, the A or C is coming to a stop across the platform and I just step on and continue to Manhattan. This makes my trip all of 25-30 min. I can count, on one hand, the number of times this has happened to me. However, more often than not I come down the stairs for the G train and step onto an empty platform. That is the absolute worst because that means the train has just left! You can watch people, as they come down to the platform and look around realizing the train has just left. Their entire body just drops in utter defeat.

Nothing is worse than the G train. One can wait forever for the G train. Some New Yorkers nicknamed it the "ghost" train cause it never comes, especially late at night. I've waited for 45 min. for that stupid train. And you can't get mad at anyone or anything cause there is no one there. You just pace frantically back-and-forth or stare with great intensity at the opening where the train is going to come. I sometimes step to the edge of the platform and look in the opposite direction to see the seething, irritated faces of people. It makes me feel a little better to know I'm not alone in my frustration and usually it makes me laugh.

Since its summer, I love that there is air-condition on the subways but I hate when you step into one where the air has stopped working. Once you've committed to that car and the door slide shut you are immediately aware of the stifling, smelly stillness of an un-air conditioned car. You can seek out the coolness and move to another car, or you can just tough it out and pray for no delays.

Another funny bit about the subway is when you sit under the subway map in the car. Every car has one posted somewhere and if I can avoid it I will. When a person sits under the map and another person comes and hovers over them to look at the map, it always affects the behavior of the person under the map. If they are reading, listening to music, or just sitting there. Its funny to watch their different reactions to feeling crowded.

Music is a tricky thing on the subway. Generally, when I start my trip its on a quiet platform so the volume isn't too high (got to protect my inner ear). But when I get on the train, its so loud I've got to crank it up just to hear it at all. However, when we pull in for a stop I have to turn it back down again or everyone in a 10 foot radius will be enjoying my music as well! I don't understand how people just leave their iPod alone the whole time on the train. Either they can't hear it or everyone else can!

Sometimes I miss my car... yes, even that awful Sebring... but then I see the prices for gas...

one more thing...

2008-07-19T22:09:00.001-04:00

My favorite thing and I didn't even tell you about it! There is a place across from the Eugene O'Neill Theatre called the Actor's Chapel on 49th street. I was waiting outside in the line to see "Spring Awakening" and the bells started to chime. Normal for a chapel, but they were playing a tune. It was, "There's No Business Like Show Business". Only in New York! Love it!

"George"

2008-07-19T21:02:00.001-04:00

I've chosen the title for this entry to present a theme for the piece (I'm so calculating). This is truly a city where so many random weird and funny things happen all the stinkin' time. I've been trying to keep track of a few of them and share them with you, but due to my days becoming more and more busy I have not had time to devote to this blog. I just wanted to share with you a glimpse into "the wackness" (new film just released) of the Big Apple...

George is what I have lovingly nicknamed the rat that lives on the "G" train line that I take home everyday. Now, I know there is probably more than one rat and I don't see the same one each time, but I only ever see one and its only ever on the "G" line, so all subway rats are George.

A couple days ago I was walking home from yoga and feeling very loose and open to the world and I walked by a retirement home. So cliche only a little off. Its a pleasant warm afternoon and everyone is outside near the BBQ stands and picnic tables sitting around (some are scooting around in their motorized wheelchairs) and in the background I hear, "It's alright, have a good time cause its alright. Oh, its alright" Great song and such a funny picture! You had to be there, but I laughed!

Now walking on the sidewalks of New York takes agility and quick reflexes. I'm not talking slowly sauntering down the sidewalk chatting with friends. I mean when you have to get 10 blocks in 10 minutes through Times Square. I love it! Its like a racetrack with people. You have to try to predict where the holes are going to be. Sometimes you can see a window closing so you quicken the pace and narrowly slide between two people. Occasionally you don't quite make it and you bumps a woman's purse, which is inevitably followed by a comment or look that you can feel even if you aren't looking at the person. I like the game so much I find myself zipping thru people traffic even when I don't have anywhere I need to be. Its just the way I walk now, but its a game so its fun! Let's face it... I'm a 5 year old! I love games!

Oh! I was sitting in Borders the other day sipping on my Dean & Deluca tea and an Asian woman with a white bucket hat sat down next to me. I was going over a script so I was fairly concentrated but she demanded my attention when she started burping successively. It was the strangest thing ever. She would take a deep breath and then burp about 8 times in a row. Then 5 minutes later she'd do it again! So weird and distracting! Then sitting in front of me was a very old man who had that "old man" curve in the spine where he couldn't sit upright. He had an art book sitting in front of him and a notepad and colored pencils. I was thinking, "oh cute, the little old man is drawing the picture in the book. he's probably pretty good" I don't know. Well, during one of his spontaneous naps his pad tilted toward me and I could see what he had been working on. It was AWFUL!!! It looked nothing like the book. It looked like something a child would draw. A little bizarre, I thought. He sat there longer than I did, and he didn't appear to be with anyone. Very peculiar day at Borders.

Later on the subway I saw a man with dreadlocks down to his ankles. I couldn't help but wonder how old the hair was that was at the end of his dreadlocks. Gross!!

I considered continuing on with a bit about the subways, but I feel that should come later. Ode to the Subway! Should have put the bit about George in there, but I don't feel like editing this now!

And I'm Back!!!!!!!

2008-07-09T22:31:00.000-04:00

First I must thank those of you who have written comments. It just makes me feel good to hear back a little bit, especially from those I haven't talked to in a while.

Ok, internet issue resolved. I know you must all be wondering, "what crazy adventures have been happening to Erin lately?" So many things, but I will not write 1 1/2 weeks worth of info. Even I don't have that much patience! A few highlights though....

I celebrated the holiday weekend by spending all my time as a theater junkie! I saw 6 shows in 7 days!!! I love this city! Ready to be jealous? Wednesday I attended 'Spring Awakening' for $27; I celebrated the birth of our country on the 4th with 'Wicked' front row for $27. Yeah, they spit on me! Then 'Les Liaisons Dangereuses' with Laura Linney, front row (student price); then 'August: Osage County' winner of 2008 Tony Award for best new play (parents CC, hehe); 'A Chorus Line' starring A.C. Slater (who was sadly the best one in the show... not good); and finally 'Gypsy' starring the incomparable Patti LuPone, who was good but Laura Benanti was superb. I just love live theatre!

I very much enjoyed the visit of my dad and twin brother, Adam. I also enjoyed eating more in the past 5 days than I have this entire time in NY. For the record, it is possible to live cheaply here... depending on your will power! You just have to get a little creative. Por ejemplo: I like to do Bikram Yoga, but can I afford this? No way! However, the Good Lord has provided me with a work-study opportunity with a studio. I work one 6 hr shift/week and get a free week of yoga! Lovely! Its like in the olden days when people bartered. I feel like a pioneer woman. Yeehaw!

OH! Best news of all (probably should have opened with this)..... I've been accepted to the 2 years program!!! WOOHOO!!!! Which means that I'm going to freeze my southern cheese off in the winter, but whatever! So, I have a million things to sort out for the fall, but hooray for that! Now you can all start planning your trips to come visit/feed me! Speaking of which, I should probably call home to inform the parents instead of having them read this and find out. It will help smooth over any discussions we might need to have about the financial side of life. Bank of Nelson needs to have loose pockets for daughter #2!!!

Sorry for no posts lately... we are still having issues with our Internet

2008-07-03T11:32:00.000-04:00

And This Is Why I Love NY....

2008-06-26T09:25:00.001-04:00

Hooray for me, I finally saw a show! YES!!! I've officially arrived in the city. If you don't know, I love musical theatre. Love, love, love it! Is it cheesy? Sometimes. Is it realistic? Rarely. Does it require unbelievable talent? In a word, yes.
And what was my first show to see? Young Frankenstein. Ha! So, its not the most groundbreaking new musical to hit Broadway but it was very entertaining and I got to see it for the bargain price of $27! Woohoo! Granted I was in the balcony, but no big deal. I tried for the lottery tickets that allow you to be spit on in the front row, but I was not chosen.
We had a couple understudies but the female leads were there. This included Megan Mullaghly (from Will & Grace), Sutton Foster (from so many Broadway shows, so talented) and Andrea Martin (from My Big Fat Greek Wedding). I had forgotten Andrea Martin was in it and as soon as she walked on stage I wanted to yell, "Joppa!!!!" (how do you spell that?) She was hilarious!
Naturally, being the the theatre dork that I am, I waited by the stage door after the show. I care nothing for autographs, but it stalls the actors long enough to have a brief encounter. During the wait, I chatted with some girls standing behind me. They too had entered the lottery and won front row tickets. Both from Georgia, both lived in the city and one worked for 'The View'. How great is that? Now, I don't imagine many men out there watch that show. Anyway, she said all the women on the show are all genuinely nice people. (she gets to go over 'hot topics' with them in the morning) She gets to chat daily with Whoopi Goldberg, Barbara Walters! Crazy! Anyway, we exchanged email addresses cause we're both theatre dorks and we said we'd try and go see some shows together. I like making new friend!

Funny moment: On the way home, a guy hopped on the subway with his zipper down. I was already in such a good mood from the musical I laughed out loud. Oops! Hope he realized it eventually!

Celebrity Sighting...

2008-06-24T22:13:00.000-04:00

I actually just used that title to grab your attention. I do not at all think this person qualifies as a celebrity, but that title works much better than "person who is on a stupid, teen soap on the CW sighting". Not nearly as interesting. Ok, now who watches "Gossip Girl"? Don't be shy. Its a guilty pleasure for several of you. And for the rest of you, its something you watch and just say how stupid it is... while you're watching it yourself. Anyway, I saw the little blonde girl who plays the younger sister of the sweet, nice guy. As you can see, I have (ashamedly) watched this show but not enough to know names. I saw the girl in Chelsea the other night after dinner. I don't hang out in the right places to see anyone, really. I mean, who come to Brooklyn?
I visited one of NY's fine eateries today... teh Shake Shack in Madison Square Park. This is a burger stand that is only open during the warm months in NY. The line for this place was ridiculously long. I waited for an hour. Luckily I was meeting a new friend (also named Erin), so we had lots to chat about to pass the time. Delicious burgers and we tried a Raspberry Jalapeno custard. Yes, I said Raspberry Jalapeno. Strange but delicious.
It was mom's day out at the park with all their little strollers. I saw one woman pushing an empty stroller. Curious. Oh, and if anyone cares, this park has free Wifi. The whole NY should have wireless anywhere concept actually applied here. I love that! Same with Bryant Park. Just FYI!!! I love technology. Tomorrow I am determined to see a show of some kind. It is my mission!

I found TEXAS in NY!!!

2008-06-22T23:33:00.000-04:00

Ok, everyone... I am pleased to announce that at the conclusion of the weekend I have found accommodation for the month of July. Ready for the best part? I only have to move 20 feet! Not 20 blocks, 20 miles, 20 feet! Monica (a roomie) is moving to Philadelphia for a job. Her friend Morgan was going to sublet her room, but she decided not to so.... I GET IT!!! Woohoo! Really I cannot find a better deal than this, and I've looked. Not sure exactly what the rent will be, but it has AC, Wifi, great roommates and I'm already stinkin' here so I just have to switch rooms (and find a mattress). The call couldn't have come at a better time too. I had just left the sketchiest place I've looked at and I was feeling so defeated I actually walked into a McD's. I know, blasphemy! Anyway, the are serving sweet tea for $1 and I needed some southern comfort. That McD's will forever hold a special place in my heart. I enjoyed my tea with great fervor.
OH! I went into the Plaza Hotel! I've wanted to visit that hotel ever since I saw "Big Business" as a child! Its still under renovation, so there wasn't a whole lot to explore. I was a bit hesitant at first b/c I do not belong in there and I think its quite obvious just by my appearance. Its like walking into Tiffany's (which I still have yet to do). The entire staff watches you like a hawk b/c you don't belong. I did not feel that bad though b/c there were folks in the lobby snapping pictures. I was at least subtle about my intrusion! Sheesh! Some people!
I decided to continue my tour of "hotels that will never be in my price range" and headed over to the Four Seasons. Just wanted to check it out and make sure they were "Getting It Right, Getting Me Right, and Wowing the guests". The property is gorgeous! I walked in with confidence. Who knows, maybe I'm a trust-fund kid who chooses to dress in cheap clothes. I'm an actress, right?! So I stroll in and the lobby escort greets me (check). I asked to be shown to the Concierge. The 3 concierge that are there are each on the phone and one guy has two phones going, one on each ear. Despite their preoccupation, I am greeted quickly (check). I explain that I'm an employee down in Austin and just wanting to see the property and find out about the city. Jenifer (i love nametags) handed me a magazine called Time Out New York with everything I needed to know. It was actually her copy and she gave it to me (i was 'wowed'). Then she took me over to the Front Desk and asked if there was anyone available to show me some of the rooms. An intern (Sarah) took me up to a suite. She would have shown more but they were booked. The room was nice, not huge but the view was incredible! Only $2400/night!
Ok, so today... Sunday! I decided to go down to see the big park here in Brooklyn called Propect Park. I accidentally got off one stop early, but it worked out cause I stopped at a little place for breakfast and guess what they had... Breakfast Burritos!!! Que suerte! Es mi favorito! So for the bargain price of $5.50 I got a massive burrito with black bean salsa (not the greatest, but alright). I enjoyed my breakfast and wandered around to find a nice place to park it for my version of "church". I downloaded the latest sermons from Austin Stone (i love iTunes) so I explored with book of 1 Corinthians so more. There was a group of couples who had decided to meet at the park and have a picnic and play croquet! It reminded me of Grandpa and Grandmother's backyard and how we'd always play back there! Oh and I thought of you, Tricia, cause some at some little kid's birthday party there was a live guitarist and he sang "you can't always get what you want". Do you remember that horribly annoying commercial that used to play constantly when we worked at Blockbuster? Ha! It was a perfect morning. Check out 1 Cor. 1:18. Amazing verse!
So I was due to meet a couple friends from class at a flea market, which was actually located right down the street from where I live. Unfortunately, I was no longer near where I live and there was no simple way up there. Its a little difficult getting around Brooklyn on the subway, especially for someone directionally challenged like me. I walked a lot today. Oh! But I found a Target. Woohoo! I bought some Clif bars (thanks to Pam, i've fallen in love with these). It took me a lot longer to get there and by the time I made it up to the market the girls had moved on to Williamsburg for lunch. Fair enough. I was able to catch them doing some shopping on Bedford Ave. I accidentally got on a train going to wrong direction so it took me a bit longer to meet them, which they don't know, unless they're reading this now... I was meeting Kasia (thats Ka-sha) from Australia and Line (lee-na) from Denmark! This is part of the reason I love NY. Its so international. I love that I got to have an international day!
These girls are great fun and have such a wonderful style! The shops in Brooklyn are really unique and once I have some money to spend I will return and actually make a purchase. During our coffee break we discussed our classes. I was impressed to learn they just had a phone interview and that is all. They just came. Such courage. Denmark is far and so is Australia! What if they hated it? I suppose its only 6 weeks, but still... They are both talented and I love watching them work. Its so interesting to watch the students from other cultures work with this technique b/c I think it just brings a new layer to it. I can't articulate this well, but I always learn from watching one of their exchanges in class.
OH! I haven't told you the best find today... Ok so I had found out about a BBQ place in NY devoted to promoting Texas barbecue from Lockhart and the Austin music scene. Random? A little bit, but so welcome! That is actually what got me out of bed this morning. I saw the posting on Craig's List and immediately wanted to go apply. Of course, I didn't make it over there until after 9 p.m. but what can ya do? It probably worked out better cause I got to meet one of the managers and fill out an application during a very slow, quiet time. I hope they call me. It was nice being there! Very comfortable and it was voted one of the best bbq in town and top 10 bars in town (i might be a little off on some of that). Now I've made it home safe and sound. Tomorrow begins Week 2!

A Day in the Park...

2008-06-21T00:13:00.000-04:00

I must start with an apology... I had planned to finally upload some photos and show y'all my beautiful day in the park but my battery died. This would not have been a problem if I had packed the correct charger! GRRRRRR!!! Frustration! Perhaps I should have checked the label before leaving and I might have realized that I brought a Nikon recharger thing and my camera is an Olympus. I'm gonna try to see if it will charge anyway, but for the time being I'm sorry no photos. Its too bad too cause I took some good ones today, if I say so.
So many fun and funny things happened today, but of course as I sit here and try to recall them all I draw a blank. My housing search took me to a new part of Manhattan... the Upper East Side. The place was alright. A large closet for the bargain price of $725. Only 10 min walk to the park though and probably the best neighborhood I've been in so far. It actually felt like a neighborhood.
I spent the rest of the morning in Central Park. I don't think I've ever been that far north in the park before. Lovely around the big water part. I can't think of the name. I think its named for Jackie O. So much of my "park day" coinsides with my pictures so I don't want to tell you about it without my visual aids. Sorry. Patience.
Class was great today. Tomorrow will be devoted to the housing search. I think I've got 5 places lined up for viewing. I foolishly tried to look at a place in Harlem again. What am I thinking? I'm never going to live up there. I hope to take Sunday off. That will be God's day. Better get some rest for tomorrow though. Sorry about the photos.

I got a FREE cookie!!!

2008-06-19T23:40:00.001-04:00

I am in love with the person who decided to do the $5 footlong promo at Subway! What a deal!!! Sure the choices are a little limited, but you load that puppy up with a ton of veggies and it can last a couple meals worth! LOVE IT!
So, as you might guess, I went to Subway today. Yes, yes, I know how very boring of me to eat at a national chain restaurant when there are so many great places in NY. Well, you know what... it all comes down to money. Surprise, surprise. If the 'mom and pop shops' could offer a similar deal I would go with those. Until I get a job, its Subway or Quiznos (cause they've started a similar promo). Anyway, I was paying for my $5 footlong and the man asked me if I wanted a drink. I said 'no, thank you", but I guess he was feeling flirty or in a good mood so he asked again. I smiled and told him that I was too poor to afford anything more than the sandwich. He told me not to worry, if I start working in the city I won't be poor anymore. I just smiled and said, "well, for now I am poor". So I sat down and ate my sandwich and about 5 min. later he walked by and put a chocolate chip cookie on my table and said, "because you are poor". Ha! And who said nice people don't live in NY?! So what if he was flirting, or trying to get me to come back. You better believe I'll go back to that Subway. Such a nice man. Its little things like that brighten my day.
That is my fun NY story for the day. I've got to get to bed early tonight cause I've got an appt. to look at a place in the morning. Pray that its the one. I'm really sick of this. I'll be back with more soon!
Oh, yesterday I went to the Apple store. The entrance reminded me of the Louvre in Paris. Anyone who has been to both will understand. If you haven't, I'll explain later. Its also across from the Plaza Hotel. Made me think of Big Business. Love that movie. If I hadn't been so scruffy looking, I would have tried to go in the lobby just to look around. Another day...