So What Next?

If you ask yourself this repeatedly chances are that sooner or later you'll spend all of your time missing out on the present in order to plan on the future.

If I had done that then I wouldn't get to live in the present moment of some fantastic happenings in the last two months.

In the month of February 2014 I achieved Off Broadway status at the age of 26 years old, Sound designed a harrowing production of Bent at the Provincetown Theatre (and got paid!), is just about to be accepted into grad school at Cal-Arts, and has unlocked a new passion storytelling passion of promoting queer personalities in film.

In just a few days I'll begin my life online by creating a diary channel/ a movie channel/ and writing for Autostraddle.

I can't wait to get started on making 'The Girl Who's Kombucha Took Over BK'. I also can't wait to discover a much better name to give this project.

As far as money goes I've been fortunate enough to start getting adequately paid for my efforts in theatre and look to expand my skill set as the time goes on.

The future is promising at the moment and I can't wait to get to work and show ya'll what I can do.

Here's to happiness for the sake of happiness!

P.S. I'm doing an experiment based on the teachings of the Secret. I 'm asking the universe for $10,000 and to meet Lena Dunham. So far nothing but I'm not giving up hope :-P

Ta
S.

Nostalgia, some say it's a pleasant reprieve from a harrowing reality while others claim that it's better not to dwell on the past so that you can focus on the present moment and pursue a more malleable future. I've been finding though that part of moving to a new city entails thinking about what has been happening in the one I just left and wondering how the world continues to spin on there. So while stalking  checking in on a few Bostonian friends Facebook pages I came across this site of amazingness that both pleases me greatly and has me kicking myself for not coming across it sooner. C'est la vie!

I present for your perusing pleasure, Bikeyface!

One amazing blog that I look forward to reading more of in the future. It encompasses so much of what I want in life, bicycles, art, progressive environmental thinking, intelligence, and most importantly positivity. 

If I continue on my path concerning bicycling and art I'd want to definitely collaborate with the site's author, the very talented Bekka Wright, in the future and one day maybe we can shake things up and get the masses on bikes and out of vehicles.

Updates from 2014!

Hello From February 2014!

This has been an exciting and interesting year so far with some new risks being taken and a positive outlook projected at every turn. As you're aware I recently moved to the Big Apple to begin a new chapter of my life and so far thing have been very roller coaster-esque but are beginning to level off. I am making contacts in the theatre industry and still working as a sound tech which is aces. 

More importantly I have begun taking tumbling and aerial classes at the Lava Dance Center in Brooklyn. I've exchanged some of my skill set in order to take free classes as a work-study and I gotta say those cats over there are pretty amazing. I look forward to helping them out and getting to know them in the time to come.

I've also begun seriously practicing Bikram Yoga again at Bikram Yoga Lower East Side. One adjective that I can use to describe this place is definitely intense. Some other secondary descriptors would be lively, community oriented, and rock and rollicking!

I've met some great people there as well and am very curious to see where my involvement in this community will lead.

Thirdly, to supplement my income I've been riding as a freelance bicycle courier with Postmates NYC. This has got to be one of the most freeing, health beneficial, and grinding jobs that I've had. I love it as a secondary income while my theatre career in NYC gets off the ground. Hey, it beats sitting behind a desk all day that's for sure. 

Finally! I submitted to Cal Arts to pursue an MFA in Sound Design! Everything is in and now all I have to do is wait on their decision. It's definitely the next step I feel that I should take in my theatre career if I can do so without any debt and you can bet your bottom dollar that if I get in I will avidly pursue all grant and financial aid opportunities that do not involve loans. If it doesn't work out too I'm still in a good spot to continue working in my field as I feel that I have a significant amount of experience under my belt to keep making those connections and work and learn as I go. 

All in all life is taking an exciting turn and if I can keep riding the positivity wave exciting things are to come!

Check it out, no really check it out!

Lean and Mean 2014

Coined by my mother I think I will use this as a motto for the year to come.

2013 was a year defined by really incredible highs and lows some of which I will never want forget and some which I wish I could erase forever. But such is life. The pendulum swings both ways and the search for balance continues.

This year finds me starting off in a new city, surrounded by new people, and inspired by a new quest in life. I've been doing some deep soul searching and sharpening the fuzzy lines of what is most important in my life. I've been trying to focus on what life endeavors I want to hone and as one Steve Jobs once said;

 “People think focus means saying yes to the thing you've got to focus on. But that's not what it means at all. It means saying no to the hundred other good ideas that there are. You have to pick carefully. I'm actually as proud of the things we haven't done as the things I have done. Innovation is saying no to 1,000 things.”

I can greatly identify with this as it feels at times that my brain will explode with all of the possibilities and ideas that pop into it. But as I sat on the subway the other night perfecting my unfocused, unassuming, zombie like subway gaze it occurred to me that these ideas, these great plans and numerous possibilities for the future were all inside my head. To be able to actualize them is where the real effort comes.

So with that in mind I intend to apply myself to pursuing these ideas this year and see where my risks will lead. "Well behaved women rarely make history" right? So here's to a new year worth writing about!

Happy Thanksgiving

I am so grateful for all that I have in my life but sometimes during life's struggle's I admit that it's hard to remember that I am so blessed. I am blessed though and when I take the time to think about it I'm humbled by how good I have it. So here's a list of just some of the many things in my life that I am incredibly grateful for.

I'm thankful first and foremost for my family because when it comes down to it they are kind, loving, and supportive of me and my aspirations and have provided me with the courage, determination, and drive to achieve whatever I want to set my mind to..

I'm thankful to have a roof over my head. 

To be able to eat everyday. 

To live in such an incredible city where opportunities abound. 

To have a supportive friend community. 

To be able to work and persevere in the entertainment industry. 

For musicals.

To have met some really amazing people while in school who have guided me on my journey and have instilled in me the love of many things including storytelling, craft, and theatre

For technology to enhance our connection and collaboration.

For the sun, the moon, and the stars.

For our differences, our beliefs, myths, and stories that we can share with one another to learn and grow from one another.

For music.

For oceans and mountains.

For sports.

For dogs and cats and domestic pets.

For my bicycle.

For a sense of humor.

For the fact that I am alive and healthy and able to be with my family today.

There are numerous things to be thankful for, my list could go on. But to recognize this fact for only one day of the year isn't enough, I hope to continue to practice this in the days to come because sometimes I need to remind myself that it's not the things that you don't have that matter it's what you already have in your life that's most important.

"Shoot for the moon. Even if you miss, you'll land among the stars."- Les Brown

"Go big or go home" was a constant phrase I often heard growing up and playing sports . That mentality of playing to win, putting your all into every endeavor, and never giving up was ingrained in me from the moment I started competing. So with this in mind I thought I knew in my heart that I would complete this journey as planned. But sometimes life doesn't go according to plan and you realize that you are a human being with limits and try as you might sometimes recognizing these limits might just be the best thing you can do for yourself.

After a week of cycling alone I not only had bent my back tire from the weight of my pack, but also a full understanding that maybe trips of this nature shouldn't be taken alone. I wasn't looking forward to hitting the open road every day as time went on and yearned for a companion or two to share the joys and burdens of the road. Traveling alone was not for me.

So after a talking with my parents and some very awesome friend's I have decided to make a stop in NYC for the moment and figure out my next move from here. I'm looking at finding an apartment with a friend and staying at least until the summer while working in the theatre scene here. And while it's not San Francisco right now I think that this city will be good to immerse myself in and see how I do. I have a pretty solid base of people here at the moment all working on some incredible projects and I want in!

I want to thank everyone who has supported me in this process because without your belief in me I would have never been able to bike as far as I did. (Hey Provincetown to NYC?! Not a bad distance if you ask me.) And you know, I tried, that's the best thing I can ask of myself. But without your enthusiasm for this crazy endeavor and your love and support I surely would not have pushed myself past Commercial St.

I also want to thank my parents for allowing my to try this despite the fact that they were worried out of their minds about it. I would like to state for the record that they were right in advocating for me to find a group or companion to join me on this but in allowing me to learn my own lesson they taught me something about what it takes to be a parent. I count my lucky stars that I didn't have to learn this lesson the hard way in some dangerous situation and now see that I can still fulfill my dreams but don't have to risk my safety to do so.

All of the money I have raised will go directly to the Save the Ta Ta's cause and hopefully take their researchers one step further into discovering a cure. To all of the people who have donated I give a hearty THANK YOU and big hugs are coming your way when I see you next.

So, here I am, in the city, figuring out the next step. It feels exciting, overwhelming, and like a freefall but I think with the support of my friends and family I will continue to pursue the path of the theatre artist and create some good work and do well here.

My will for my work is strong and this is only a small bump in the road of life. I'm taking it one day at a time and we'll see how this new adventure goes.

Until next time!
-Sam S.

From Providence to NYC: a Three Day Journey

Leaving Providence was hard I'll admit. The day was a cloudy rainy one and after having such a good time in the city I postponed my departure for a good 3 hours until I finally made it out by noon.

That day of riding wasn't too though. The scenery continued to be beautiful once I was out on the country roads. There were pockets of showers here and there but the temperature was a solid 65 -70 degrees and made for temperate riding. It wasn't an eventful day as far as interactions with people go but here were a few impressive scenes I had to stop and take pictures of.

A gray day to be certain but that wasn't stopping me from enjoying the ride or the view!

 This is a view from Butts Bridge :-D

 (sometimes I don't know if I'm 25 or 5)

Connecticut has some really beautiful scenery, I still can't get over it. 

Towards the end of the day though the hills started to pick up but luckily I was able to make it to my campsite (Witch Meadow) by about 7 or so and camped out in the soggy mist. The total milage for the day was 62

The next day was an early one and I started on the road at about 7am. The hills continued to roll but I was looking at a 40 mile day if I made it to New Haven and got started on the East Coast Greenway, 60 miles if I made it to Bridgeport.  

After an hour and a half of riding I was lead to a river where the only way to cross at that juncture was on the Chester-Hadlyme ferry, the second oldest working ferry station in CT. 

I admit that I was confused as to what to do at that point as the ferry wasn't there but after looking around I noticed that there was a"Call Ferry" button very similar to the "Press to Walk" buttons at cross walks and about 3 minutes or so after I pressed it the ferry was on it's way to pick me up.

Here are some pictures from the ferry.

It was fun to use that as a way to cross the river, made me think of the Oregon Trail, except I couldn't caulk my bike and float it across to avoid the fee.

At about 9:45 or so I stopped in this cute little town of Chester CT and had some breakfast at this place.

I ate outside at one of those tables and had an excellent greek omelet. There were also several towns folk out front who were eager to ask me about my travels and to talk about the town. They had all been on their various journeys before whether sailing, hiking, or by car and we swapped stories for a good hour or so. The town kind of reminded me of Stars Hollow from the Gilmore Girls, where everyone knew of everyone and the buildings looked as if they were meant to be on a movie set. It was very cute and I would definitely try to visit there again to walk around if I could.

But after an hour and a half of resting and recharging it was back to the road where I would take on more hills.  However I will say that the best reward for my efforts was even more beautiful scenery than before.

At about 4:30 or so I made it to New Haven just before the wind started to really pick up and my attempt to continue on to Bridgeport was cut short. I ended up staying at a Super 8 Motel that night to avoid the pending thunderstorms and had just checked in when the sky opened up and rained cats and dogs.

The next day, after a good night's sleep in a bed, I began the journey to NYC at around 10 and made my way onto the East Coast Greenway.

It wound me through some interesting towns and while it started out as a bike path it then followed the roads through Bridgeport, Norwalk, and Darien. I stopped to eat lunch at about 2 near Fairfield at this little haven where there were rows of cars with their drivers sleeping inside taking what looked to be a lunch time nap. 

After another 2 hours or so of riding during that day, and this being my third day straight of CT hills, I was very tired and burned out. So after assessing that it would take me well into darkness to continue on with the 40 miles of road before I hit NYC I respected my body's messages to stop riding and hopped onto the train into the city.

I made it to Grand Central Station at about 5 pm and road up to the top of Central Park to meet with my friend Lacy who I am staying with in the city. I had forgotten how crazy awesome it is to ride in the city and the energy this whole place has. When I entered Grand Central terminal a huge smile spread across my face and I felt at home again. I've decided that I'll be staying here for a couple of days to rest to visit friends and celebrate my birthday and hopefully see some shows as well. (Pippin!?) 

So until next time!