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!
Wednesday, January 12, 2011
Tuesday, January 4, 2011
2011
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.
Thursday, December 30, 2010
Always Lock It Up!
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!
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!
Saturday, December 4, 2010
Never Make Plans
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 parti
cularly 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!!!
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 parti
cularly 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!!!
Friday, November 12, 2010
Kiss 'n Fly
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.
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.
Friday, October 8, 2010
You Can See So Much More If You Run
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...
Thursday, September 16, 2010
A New Chapter
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!
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!
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