On a steamy, sweaty summer sunset evening, I sauntered up the street to visit a place I'd never been before. Little did I know my life would change forever...
Sounds like a romance novel, no? Anyway, FlyWheel has become such a unique source of joy that I never anticipated. This summer I decided to do my concierge duties and research exercise options in the neighborhood for our guests at The Greenwich Hotel.
If you recall, I broke my foot in February in such a way that I needed a plate & 5 screws to repair the bone. Go big or go home, right?! This was two weeks before opening Cupid & Psyche, a play that I loved with my whole heart and I was a title character, so not exactly replaceable at that point. I've said it before but it's amazing what can be accomplished when "no" is not an option. The play was performed in a walking boot--we just added a line & the audience forgot about it!
The day after we closed, surgery happened then my world became very very simple. Get to work. Get home. The end. NYC on crutches is not something I wish on my worst enemy! Very humbling. Needless to say, my arms got strong and my waist got squishy. Crutches turned into walking boot, walking boot turned into gimpy walk, gimpy walk turned into a sassy saunter :) But to this day I have yet to go for a run, which used to be my meditation, my escape, my freedom. I'd plug into my music and let the rest go. I missed that so so much!
Kait, the TriBeCa studio manager, brilliantly offered us at The Greenwich classes so we could share our experience with our guests. Smart lady. Well, I got hooked immediately, even took a couple 5:30am classes with Lindsey before my 7:00am shifts and I do NOT consider myself a morning person!
When I saw the FlyWheel Instructor audition on Playbill's casting page, I wanted to attend so much but I feared my foot wouldn't be able to handle that much spinning. When the FlyWheel Challenge was announced, I saved all my pennies and decided to find out if I could push my body like I used to and if my foot would come along. Ecstatic to say not only is my foot flying fine, but it's helped me release the mental limitations I had placed on myself since the injury.
My body is my instrument. FlyWheel helped me remember how to play notes I'd forgotten.
Sunday, November 23, 2014
Sunday, November 2, 2014
Nudges
I'm perfectly happy to admit I need direction in this life. Nothing thrills me more than when I get some help navigating my decisions. This happened today in a very subtle way, but definitely pertaining to my question.
First of all, I should say I'm not a person who believes in coincidence. I believe something greater than myself exists that shapes the patterns of my life. Many people call it many different names, I call it God. This afternoon I asked for help deciding if I should pursue an opportunity to work for a different company. It's a change I've been contemplating for several months and one I'd really enjoy. This evening I got two very different but wonderful confirmations that I am exactly where I need to be. My favorite face of Tribeca stopped by for a brief chat. A man I met on my first day as a barista at Locanda Verde and a man I made coffee for 2 years before moving over to his hotel. Then a family in town for the marathon stopped by to tell their stories from their glorious day! Yep, I'm happy here.
True, this is not a job I want to do forever. This is no secret, the GM of the hotel knows this, but until that time comes when I need to leave, I remain content. Never complacent, but content.
First of all, I should say I'm not a person who believes in coincidence. I believe something greater than myself exists that shapes the patterns of my life. Many people call it many different names, I call it God. This afternoon I asked for help deciding if I should pursue an opportunity to work for a different company. It's a change I've been contemplating for several months and one I'd really enjoy. This evening I got two very different but wonderful confirmations that I am exactly where I need to be. My favorite face of Tribeca stopped by for a brief chat. A man I met on my first day as a barista at Locanda Verde and a man I made coffee for 2 years before moving over to his hotel. Then a family in town for the marathon stopped by to tell their stories from their glorious day! Yep, I'm happy here.
True, this is not a job I want to do forever. This is no secret, the GM of the hotel knows this, but until that time comes when I need to leave, I remain content. Never complacent, but content.
Tuesday, October 28, 2014
FLY
I have decided to tip-toe into the world of bourgeoisie. Yes, I consciously, non-impulsively took a big financial hit and I am totally fine with it.
I've decided to take the FlyWheel Challenge. What is FlyWheel? You might ask. Well, it's an incredibly expensive but amazing form of burning a maximum amount of calories while mentally escaping into a room for 45 minutes on a stationary bike where I can close my eyes and the only focus is breathing and enjoying the music.
Due to the lingering issue with my right foot, I explored the joys of spinning this summer when the FlyWheel studio in Tribeca offered us a free month. Super smart, cause not only have I told numerous guests about the studio, but I'm now addicted. C'est la vie. I'm able to push myself to exhaustion with minimal impact on my wee foot. Hoorah!
What does this Challenge entail? (Do you like how I capitalize it b/c it's important?) Anyway, we did get a 28 day eating plan with a super-fance nutritionist. She looks like Barbie but has a realistic approach and seems very practical. I'm modifying the plan based on my budget and schedule. Oh, but I may have won the lottery tonight. One second... Nope.
We also get 16 classes-don't worry I did the math and if I were to buy 16 classes, I'd be spending more than the cost of the challenge. I will not tell you how much each class is because I will not be judged by you! Plus, you can just look it up online if you're very curious.
Very little is ever in my hands. I have a job that tells me when to work, they tell me how much they will pay me, my job is to help other people figure out what to do in the City, my other profession is only possible when other people give me the opportunity to perform for them, I rarely get to act lately and I've been feeling rather sad about that. This is my remedy. If I let myself go down the path of 'woe to me' too long, I start really building up stories about how lost I am. Truthfully, I'm not lost at all. I know this. And I am taking a financial leap with this venture.
I've decided to take the FlyWheel Challenge. What is FlyWheel? You might ask. Well, it's an incredibly expensive but amazing form of burning a maximum amount of calories while mentally escaping into a room for 45 minutes on a stationary bike where I can close my eyes and the only focus is breathing and enjoying the music.
Due to the lingering issue with my right foot, I explored the joys of spinning this summer when the FlyWheel studio in Tribeca offered us a free month. Super smart, cause not only have I told numerous guests about the studio, but I'm now addicted. C'est la vie. I'm able to push myself to exhaustion with minimal impact on my wee foot. Hoorah!
What does this Challenge entail? (Do you like how I capitalize it b/c it's important?) Anyway, we did get a 28 day eating plan with a super-fance nutritionist. She looks like Barbie but has a realistic approach and seems very practical. I'm modifying the plan based on my budget and schedule. Oh, but I may have won the lottery tonight. One second... Nope.
We also get 16 classes-don't worry I did the math and if I were to buy 16 classes, I'd be spending more than the cost of the challenge. I will not tell you how much each class is because I will not be judged by you! Plus, you can just look it up online if you're very curious.
Very little is ever in my hands. I have a job that tells me when to work, they tell me how much they will pay me, my job is to help other people figure out what to do in the City, my other profession is only possible when other people give me the opportunity to perform for them, I rarely get to act lately and I've been feeling rather sad about that. This is my remedy. If I let myself go down the path of 'woe to me' too long, I start really building up stories about how lost I am. Truthfully, I'm not lost at all. I know this. And I am taking a financial leap with this venture.
Wednesday, October 15, 2014
"Goodbye, my old friend..."
BIG change in my 'stable' world of work at The Greenwich. My manager and friend, Kai Gilsey, left his post as front office manager. Although a few years my junior, his maturity far surpassed mine in many ways and most his own age, which accounts for his success. He's a man of integrity & vision. His whispery voice & tall, Ken-like features will be missed at the desk... especially by all those middle-aged female guests.
As an actor, I've become accustomed to growing very close to strangers very quickly and creating believable, deep relationships. Then promptly bidding them farewell once the show closes or the film wraps. But my other world, my "real life", I depend on those relationships for support and consistency. It didn't hit me until I was faced with saying goodbye that I realized how much I'm going to miss this guy. These people are harder to lose. We'll try, I'm sure, to see one another but in a city of 9 million, it's more difficult than you realize.
I always thought I'd be the first to leave for a better opportunity. I wish him only good things! Heaven help us at The Greenwich :) Bring on the holiday season!!
As an actor, I've become accustomed to growing very close to strangers very quickly and creating believable, deep relationships. Then promptly bidding them farewell once the show closes or the film wraps. But my other world, my "real life", I depend on those relationships for support and consistency. It didn't hit me until I was faced with saying goodbye that I realized how much I'm going to miss this guy. These people are harder to lose. We'll try, I'm sure, to see one another but in a city of 9 million, it's more difficult than you realize.
I always thought I'd be the first to leave for a better opportunity. I wish him only good things! Heaven help us at The Greenwich :) Bring on the holiday season!!
Friday, September 19, 2014
My broken, bleeding, sad little heart
It was inevitable. This day had to come. I just didn't realize it would hurt so much!
Little Miss Erin has decided to take advantage of her new work schedule and wake up early to try to get into EPA auditions that will ultimately change her career. Ok, I'm stopping this third person writing- it's annoying.
This morning I got up at 7:00am, took the train to NOLA studios, found the audition room and hoped someone might show up for the official sign-in sheet before I had to leave to attend my dear friend's FlyWheel class on the UWS. Sadly, this did not happen, but I wasn't about to miss out on a free class (normally $34) that would burn over 700 calories and enjoy a bit of Britney in the morning!
After class, I shower and race back down to NOLA studios. Many more folks have shown up but I'm still only #15 on the non-Equity list. Things are looking ok. Then the hours start flying by! Only when you have somewhere you're required to be, do the hours fly by! If I didn't have anything to do today, those hours would've ticked by with every single solitary second. Dreadful! But Nooooooo, not today. All of a sudden, it's 11:00AM, then Noon, then 1:00PM.
I hear the monitor tell the most recent Equity actor to saunter in that they can either go right away in the next group or any time after lunch. Repeat. Any time after lunch. This means from 2:30pm until they conclude at 6:00pm the field is wide open! The monitor then fills the rest of the audition slots with EMC actors, leaving only 2 on the list to come back after lunch.
Let me explain this to anyone (family) who may not understand why this is heartbreaking. The first folks seen at an Equity Principal Audition (EPA) are Equity members. I am not this... yet. Then the folks with points towards joining the union, also known as Equity Member Candidates (EMC), are called into the room. THEN us lowly non-equity folks, who've been waiting for hours will get in the audition room. Often, Non-Eq actors are not seen and we wait in vain. But today- yes today- I would've definitely been seen.... if I didn't have to come in to work.
The ironic part is if I'd been working my old schedule of 7am-3pm, I would be able to attend the audition and get in the room. Zinger!!
Little Miss Erin has decided to take advantage of her new work schedule and wake up early to try to get into EPA auditions that will ultimately change her career. Ok, I'm stopping this third person writing- it's annoying.
This morning I got up at 7:00am, took the train to NOLA studios, found the audition room and hoped someone might show up for the official sign-in sheet before I had to leave to attend my dear friend's FlyWheel class on the UWS. Sadly, this did not happen, but I wasn't about to miss out on a free class (normally $34) that would burn over 700 calories and enjoy a bit of Britney in the morning!
After class, I shower and race back down to NOLA studios. Many more folks have shown up but I'm still only #15 on the non-Equity list. Things are looking ok. Then the hours start flying by! Only when you have somewhere you're required to be, do the hours fly by! If I didn't have anything to do today, those hours would've ticked by with every single solitary second. Dreadful! But Nooooooo, not today. All of a sudden, it's 11:00AM, then Noon, then 1:00PM.
I hear the monitor tell the most recent Equity actor to saunter in that they can either go right away in the next group or any time after lunch. Repeat. Any time after lunch. This means from 2:30pm until they conclude at 6:00pm the field is wide open! The monitor then fills the rest of the audition slots with EMC actors, leaving only 2 on the list to come back after lunch.
Let me explain this to anyone (family) who may not understand why this is heartbreaking. The first folks seen at an Equity Principal Audition (EPA) are Equity members. I am not this... yet. Then the folks with points towards joining the union, also known as Equity Member Candidates (EMC), are called into the room. THEN us lowly non-equity folks, who've been waiting for hours will get in the audition room. Often, Non-Eq actors are not seen and we wait in vain. But today- yes today- I would've definitely been seen.... if I didn't have to come in to work.
The ironic part is if I'd been working my old schedule of 7am-3pm, I would be able to attend the audition and get in the room. Zinger!!
Tuesday, September 9, 2014
Milestone
I've finally shot a TV show in NYC! Yesterday, I spent the afternoon in a townhome in Harlem. Pretty amazing location, actually. Often any brownstone has been renovated to make each floor an individual unit to be rented by different tenants. This building remained intact from top to bottom. 5 floors, all one home. I think it may serve as a Bed and Breakfast now, but it was very cool to get a feel of old New York.
The TV show is "Most Evil" with Discovery ID. Basically a show all about these demented killers. My character actually survives the attack of the serial killer and helps the cops set up a sting operation, only to have him escape. Don't worry, he is caught in the end, but this poor woman had quite an ordeal! It should air in December.
Such a fun experience and definitely a box to be checked off on my list. It's the equivalent of booking an Under 5 on Law & Order. Every actor in New York will most likely get the opportunity at some point. Mine was especially fun, as the director played the theme of "Halloween" to help facilitate the creepy vibe on set. Great experience & good stuff for the reel!
The TV show is "Most Evil" with Discovery ID. Basically a show all about these demented killers. My character actually survives the attack of the serial killer and helps the cops set up a sting operation, only to have him escape. Don't worry, he is caught in the end, but this poor woman had quite an ordeal! It should air in December.
Such a fun experience and definitely a box to be checked off on my list. It's the equivalent of booking an Under 5 on Law & Order. Every actor in New York will most likely get the opportunity at some point. Mine was especially fun, as the director played the theme of "Halloween" to help facilitate the creepy vibe on set. Great experience & good stuff for the reel!
Wednesday, July 30, 2014
9/11 Memorial Museum
August 2001: I will never forget standing at the top of the World Trade Center. My mother whisked me off to New York City for a mother-daughter trip to celebrate graduating high school. This is when I fell madly in love with NYC. Atop the highest observation deck in the world, my strongest memory is the power of the wind!
One month later, it would be gone.
This evening I revisited the 9/11 Memorial. It's been a few years since I walked around that beautiful tribute. An offer to concierges for free tickets to the museum found it's way to my inbox, so I jumped on that one. The museum opened in May this year & is a mere 15 minute walk from The Greenwich.
I could sit at the memorial site all day. The two enormous footprints from the North and South towers with the cascading water produces such a sense of peace. As you enter the museum, a long staircase descends into the heart of the space. Some iconic images and remnants from that day greet you and set the tone for museum. Next was a little history helps you appreciate what the World Trade Center was for lower Manhattan. Did you know it had it's own zip code?
We made our way through what I'm going to call the cube of faces. All the victims from the attacks line the walls of this square space. Pictures ranging from wedding day photos to super grainy web images. Some had none at all. Looking at all these faces initially felt distant and general. But the longer we stayed in there and really looked at their eyes and their expression, my eyes go a bit misty. We could only get through halfway before my friend and I decided we needed to move on before both bursting into tears.
Then, I stopped cold in my tracks. We entered the historical portion of the actual day. A webcam had caught the first plane crashing into the WTC. I haven't seen any footage from September 11th in years and I could not move. The memory of that whole day came rushing back and I started to feel a weight on my chest and lump in my throat.
I did a pretty good job holding myself together watching the news cast from Sept. 11th and remembering how everyone thought it was an accident at first. Hearing phone calls of people from the other tower talking to significant others about how they were ok. But then I stumbled upon this tiny alcove with a few quotes on the wall and a few images. It was about the people who decided to jump. It was so heartbreaking.
The portion devoted to Flight 93 is very honoring and very moving.
The most surreal moment happened as I watched footage of the South Tower collapsing as I stood on the site where it fell. That brought the whole event to an incredible deep place. Tears flowed freely as I stood there alone watching the footage loop through the 10 seconds it took to collapse.
I moved through the rest of the museum in a silent dreamlike state and ultimately finding myself walking into a cool summer night next to the footprints of the towers again. Truly a gorgeous memorial and remind me of a time when everyone was so desperate to help. Not just in New York, although New York bolted into action, but all over our country. I remember the night of September 11th, 2001 gathering at an upper classman's dorm as a basketball team and just being together. No one did anything that whole day except be with each other. Nice to be reminded.
One month later, it would be gone.
This evening I revisited the 9/11 Memorial. It's been a few years since I walked around that beautiful tribute. An offer to concierges for free tickets to the museum found it's way to my inbox, so I jumped on that one. The museum opened in May this year & is a mere 15 minute walk from The Greenwich.
I could sit at the memorial site all day. The two enormous footprints from the North and South towers with the cascading water produces such a sense of peace. As you enter the museum, a long staircase descends into the heart of the space. Some iconic images and remnants from that day greet you and set the tone for museum. Next was a little history helps you appreciate what the World Trade Center was for lower Manhattan. Did you know it had it's own zip code?
We made our way through what I'm going to call the cube of faces. All the victims from the attacks line the walls of this square space. Pictures ranging from wedding day photos to super grainy web images. Some had none at all. Looking at all these faces initially felt distant and general. But the longer we stayed in there and really looked at their eyes and their expression, my eyes go a bit misty. We could only get through halfway before my friend and I decided we needed to move on before both bursting into tears.
Then, I stopped cold in my tracks. We entered the historical portion of the actual day. A webcam had caught the first plane crashing into the WTC. I haven't seen any footage from September 11th in years and I could not move. The memory of that whole day came rushing back and I started to feel a weight on my chest and lump in my throat.
I did a pretty good job holding myself together watching the news cast from Sept. 11th and remembering how everyone thought it was an accident at first. Hearing phone calls of people from the other tower talking to significant others about how they were ok. But then I stumbled upon this tiny alcove with a few quotes on the wall and a few images. It was about the people who decided to jump. It was so heartbreaking.
The portion devoted to Flight 93 is very honoring and very moving.
The most surreal moment happened as I watched footage of the South Tower collapsing as I stood on the site where it fell. That brought the whole event to an incredible deep place. Tears flowed freely as I stood there alone watching the footage loop through the 10 seconds it took to collapse.
I moved through the rest of the museum in a silent dreamlike state and ultimately finding myself walking into a cool summer night next to the footprints of the towers again. Truly a gorgeous memorial and remind me of a time when everyone was so desperate to help. Not just in New York, although New York bolted into action, but all over our country. I remember the night of September 11th, 2001 gathering at an upper classman's dorm as a basketball team and just being together. No one did anything that whole day except be with each other. Nice to be reminded.
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