home, New York City

Inspired: Goodbye to the Upper West Side of Manhattan

Our favorite blocks on the Upper West Side look like this

The Upper West Side of Manhattan has been my home for almost 7 years and I have loved it here. The community, the peace, the people. It was always my dream to live in this neighborhood. This was always my New York. I learned so much here, about myself and about the world. This is a time that I will always be grateful for, a time that I will always remember with a lot of affection. It wasn’t always easy, though I wouldn’t trade a day of it for anything. As my friend, Moya, recently said, “This is the end of an era.” She’s right.

Of course, I’ll be back. I still teach my yoga class for seniors over here every week. I have a feeling Phin might continue to want to trot over here on our walks now and then to say hi to our old building’s staff with whom he shares a close bond—mostly because they adore him and he loves the treats they always have for him! However, it won’t ever be the same. I’m closing the book on this chapter, and there’s some sadness in that. I’m comfortable here. I love my life here. If I could, I’d stay. But I can’t, so I won’t. I’ll miss it, a lot. I miss it already.

To be honest, I’m not ready. And to be even more honest, the universe doesn’t care that I’m not ready. It’s decided that I will start a new journey now and it won’t tell me exactly where I’m going. Just that I’m taking a trip.

Alright, universe. I hear you. I’ll go. Show me what it is you have to show me. Teach me what it is you have to teach me. In your own twisted way, you’ll lead me to exactly the place I’m meant to be. Just let Phin and I take one more spin around this afternoon. Let us walk by all our favorite haunts and greet all our neighbors as we’ve done so many times for so many years.

Thanks for the memories, Upper West Side. We’ve loved playing our part in your history, and we’ve loved having you as a part of ours. It’s a place we will not soon forget.

action, adventure, change

Inspired: Trading Habits for Intentions

From Pinterest
From Pinterest

My habits are being shaken to the core right now: I’m moving to a new apartment in a new neighborhood and my workload and career are shifting. My play, Sing After Storms, is about to go into rehearsal, and that will drastically change my schedule. I have the feeling that I’m at the start of a very exciting and very long journey, and I don’t know exactly where it will lead nor what turns in the road to expect. I do know that I will have to navigate it purposefully and by intent. 3 cheers for self-made change!

action

Inspired: Better than Possible

From Pinterest
From Pinterest

Is there anything better than the exhilaration we feel when we stand in the light of possibility? Yes, there is. It’s called getting things done. Possibility is at our doorstep every single day so grab it. Chase down that dream.

action, adventure, change, choices, decision-making, time

Inspired: The Only Time You Have is Now

From Pinterest
From Pinterest

I’ve been talking to a lot of friends about big life changes. Moving, relationships, jobs, creative projects. It’s too easy to say, “I’ll get to that later.” Later never arrives. If you have something you really want to do, something you want to try, take the plunge. Give it a whirl. Grab the opportunity. There’s no good reason to put off anything you really want to do. You deserve the very best shot at exactly the life you want. I support anyone and everyone willing to take any kind of chance. Go for it!

passion

Inspired: The two most important days of your life

From Pinterest
From Pinterest

“The two most important days in your life are the day you are born, and the day you find out why.” ~ Mark Twain

Celebrate your birthday and celebrate the day when you find your calling; they are equally important. The first is destiny and dictated by Nature; the second is a choice only you can make.

action, adventure, future

Inspired: This is How We Roll

From Pinterest
From Pinterest

Don’t worry about the storms ahead. The winds are always on the side of the ablest navigator. Sail on.

action, creativity

Inspired: The Best Kind of Triple Threat

From Pinterest
From Pinterest

My favorite triple threat: Have ideas. Get things done. Have a heart.

action, adventure, future

Inspired: Let the Future Be Dangerous

From Pinterest“It is the business of the future to be dangerous.” ~ Alfred North Whitehead

We have to stretch further than we think we can to find out just how far we can go. Lately, my future feels a little dangerous to me. I feel like I’m skating across very thin ice. I’m taking on new, big, exciting endeavors that I’ve never tried before now that demand a lot of my time, energy, and attention. Sometimes I sit straight up in bed in the middle of the night and my only thoughts are, “What have I done? What am I going to do? Who do I think I am?”

And then I take a deep breath. I go back to the beginning, like I’ve done so many times before. I remind myself why I started this improbable journey and all of the beautiful things that have fallen into place through hard work, dedication, and my steadfast belief in the power of a community united behind a common goal.

“I need more sleep,” I think to myself. It’s almost dawn. In a few hours, I’ll need to be up and about looking danger in the face without flinching. Better to live in the now. The future will be here soon enough, and when it arrives, I’ll be ready for it.

 

health, healthcare, meditation, social media, Twitter, writing, yoga

Inspired: Yoga and Meditation for Caregivers

an AFA publicationI am honored to have an article I wrote about yoga and meditation for caregivers appear in this quarter’s issue of care ADvantage magazine, a publication of the Alzheimer’s Foundation of America (AFA). To dovetail with the article, I was also the invited guest host for AFA’s monthly Twitter chat on this same topic.

The article is available online at http://www.alzfdn.org/Publications/care_advantage/issues/CASP14.pdf

The transcript of the Twitter chat is available at https://storify.com/alzfdn/careadvantagechat

Happy to answer any and all questions related to this topic!

theatre

Inspired: Meet the Cast of the New Play, Sing After Storms

Without further ado, I present to you the wildly talented and jaw-droppingly stunning cast of Sing After Storms. They’re also featured on our website at http://singafterstorms.com/our-cast/. Tickets for friends, family, and fans are now available for $10 by visiting http://www.eventbrite.com/e/sing-after-storms-friends-family-and-fans-discount-tickets-11129220799. Show dates are June 18, 21, and 22.

**In order of appearance**

Joe Laureiro – Jack Young

Joe Laureiro Joe is a native of Yonkers, NY, and has been working in film and theater in the New York metropolitan area for the last ten years. He received his formal training at the Lee Strasberg Theater Institute, and the many stages he’s been fortunate enough to grace over the last decade.

Favorite recent credits include: Greg in Neil LaBute’s ‘Reasons to be pretty’, and Andrey in Chekov’s “Three Sisters”, but with The Red Monkey Theater Group.

Jaclynn Baynes – Joyce Titus

 JaclynJaclynn Baynes is a graduate of the American Academy of Dramatic Arts in NYC. Her theater credits include: Grace- One night stands(Avery Shriber), writer/director/multiple acting roles-gift of a grip top sock(Ensemble Studio Theatre), Ann- Ann Frank(AADA), Courtesan- The Comedy of Errors,  Stephanida- The Russian Samovar(AADA),  Cicila- Fefu and her Friends (AADA), Jenny- The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie (AADA), Martha- Maybe Tuesday (AADA), Muriel Boggs- Holy Ghosts (AADA). FILM:Jennifer/Lead w/Tiny Lister-The Distracted, Jane/lead- Scalp, In love couple- Date Night(Shawn Levy), a love story. T.V credits include: young mom-On the case with Paula Zahn, Self- Life of an actress, etc. Commercials include: UL security systems, Oral Flow.

Jaclynn has a strong improv comedy background as well as sketch writing. Contact her at JaclynnBaynes@gmail.com and/or follow her on Twitter @JaclynnDoucette

Kate Flynn – Catherine Young

KateA recent graduate of the William Esper Studio in New York, Kate has been an admirer of actors ever since she was a child. As sports became an important role in her life, it wasn’t until after graduating college that she was able to delve into the craft fully.

After receiving her BA in Studio Arts with a concentration in photography from the University of Colorado and (unsuccessfully) trying to move to Italy, she finally found what she had been missing–work that was meaningful. She is thrilled to set out on this journey with the cast and crew of Sing After Storms.

Please visit her website at www.katecflynn.com

Elliot Coy (Oheri) – Police Detective Jason Dennehey

OheriOheri is an writer/actor pursuing a voice over career in New York City. With a great sense of being on stage and in front of the camera, Oheri knows what it takes to be in front of a microphone as well as.  Graduating with a Bachelors of Science in Advertising, Oheri is also familiar with writing copy. This unique attribute has helped him understand which copies require personality types. It also makes Oheri easy to work with and always ready to learn.

Although Oheri’s background suggests a deep root in the world of advertising, his real passion lies in the world of gaming; where he expects to have a hand, or in this case, a voice in several games during the course of his career.

Mia Fraboni – Pearl Young

MiaMia Fraboni was born and raised in Queens. She is a recent graduate of the Mason Gross School of the Arts BFA Acting program at Rutgers University. There she played Celia in As You Like it, Sister James in Doubt: A Parable, Christina in Dancing at Lughnasa, as well as many other roles. Her most recent credits include Maria in Twelfth Night with Allentown Shakespeare in the Park, and Donna in the independent filmCreedmoria. 

She will be playing the part of Michelle in the upcoming webseries Yo Taxi!. Many thanks to family, QCCBU, and friends for all the love and support.

Brianne Higgins  – Grace Doyle

BrianneBrianne Higgins has appeared in numerous stage productions around Florida, New York and New Jersey. Her most notable roles include Rose in Dancing at Lughnasa at Antrim Playhouse, NY, Sister Amnesia in Nunsenceat The Daytona Theater Center, FL and Mrs. San Bernardino in Mrs. California at Centenary Stage Company, NJ. She is the Co-Founder of Ship of Fools Productions and Co-Creator of the acclaimed Antics Roadshow- All Original Sketch Comedy which recently premiered at the Triad Theater in NYC.

As a Stand-Up Comedienne, she has taken the stage at Caroline’s Comedy Club, New York Comedy Club, Comic Strip Live and most recently at Levity Live in West Nyack.

She has several films to her credit; currently in production:  Anthony Puglia’s film, Spit Boys, Michael Kelberg’s, The Lavatory and Jim Ormond’s Documentary, Rip Van Winkle which will be aired on The Local History Channel. Vist her website at www.briannehiggins.net

Amelia Huckel-Bauer – Susan James

AmeliaAmelia moved to New York to attend NYU’s Tisch School of the Arts, attaining a B.F.A. in Acting and she just graduated with a Master’s in Educational Theatre, also from NYU.  The Lee Strasberg Theatre and Film Institute was Amelia’s primary studio at NYU, and she also spent a semester studying in Dublin, Ireland and a year at Stonestreet Studios, a film and screen acting conservatory. When asked, she will say there is nothing like performing on stage, yet something special about the intimacy of film.

Amelia is truly an actress who can rise to the heights of a huge house, as well as draw an audience closer from in front of the lens. She is thrilled to be joining a wonderful team of talented artists for this production!  Visit her website at www.ameliahuckel-bauer.com

Brittany McDonald – Carol Titus

BrittanyBrittany McDonald has been in New York for a whopping year now and she is pumped to play the role of Carol. She graduated with a BFA in Acting at UW-Milwaukee and is currently taking classes at ESPA-Primary Stages.

Some of her favorite parts so far are Fabiana Aziza Cunningham in Last Days of Judas Iscariot (Main Stage Theatre)Speed in Two Gentleman of Verona (Milwaukee Parks)and Rudolph in Who Killed Santa (Carte Blanche theatre/Underground Collaborative theatre). She cannot thank her family enough for their support.