"Anything to Declare"

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!

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...

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!!!

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!