Testing The Waters

I am a huge fan of the real-life, Crime/Cop shows (basically everything on A&E) 48 hours, Cold Case Files, DEA, Forensic Files... and also this new show on OWN called "Disappeared".  It wasn't until recently that a haunting thought came over me, as I watched the crimes on these shows it was like de ja vu, I realized that in my life I've had similar experiences. Seriously, it rocked me to my core how similar. I also realized that BUT FOR what my brother taught me I wouldn't alive today. This is me and my bro - after training one day My brother has been a Martial Artist ever since he could walk and swing Nunchaku. We grew up in the projects on the Lower East Side of Manhattan and because we lived in a tough neighborhood my brother taught me self defense and I am here today because he cared enough and had the patience to teach me some skills that saved my life.   AWARENESS OF YOUR SURROUNDINGS I was in High School and was 15 years old. It was after ...

 2010 was a weird year for my husband and I - relationships in all areas of our lives were tested (Personal Friendships to Business relationships) - it was a painful experience but all the profoundly, life changing experiences always are... So Last New Years Eve me and my hubby chose to take this experience and use it to spot light all the areas in our lives. Our lives are constantly talking to us - telling us what is working  and what doesn't work for us - its up to us (each individual) to listen to our lives and do something about it. We did - we listened  and you know what??? 2011 was one of the MOST fulfilling years for the both of us - Spiritually and Professionally - we created an amazing year for ourselves.  If you're ready to do something about your life here's my suggestion - instead of making a lengthy list of resolutions this year why not try doing what me and my husband did last year - its simple and it was a powerful experience that created amazi...

With 2012 fast approaching I find myself looking back on 2011. What an incredible year.  I closed it by booking my first Network Gig.  Its a really fun role on "SOUTHLAND" (The episode is called "Identity' and it airs Feb. 7, 2012 on TNT) You really know you've made it when you have your own trailer with your name on the door (Yes, it was written on masking tape and I gotta say... I was so excited to see it) Okay... so I was a bit scared of my wardrobe (yikes - it was 40 degrees outside people) but having my own personal space did help assuage my fear of the cold... I booked and shot "LYLA WOLF: Infractus"   Its an Action/Adventure/Sci Fi short - in it I play Mariela, a woman who was raped and has a split from reality. Working with everyone on this production was incredibly inspiring. I went to a screening  and The final film looks amazing - it will be hitting the festival circuit soon... I booked my first musical - YES...

When you have been victimized as a child it takes a tremendous amount of courage to speak out and talk about the abuse.  In the last month the reports of Sexual Child Abuse have dominated the news, victims are coming forward and speaking out in record numbers. Their courage is creating a healthy, open environment and it is allowing others to gain the courage to do the same. As a victim of abuse myself I personally know I've kept silent about the abuse as a way to deal with it. I felt that if I didn't say anything it was like the abuse didn't happen, my silence was a form of denial.  I know now that this "Conspiracy of Silence" creates more harm because it lays the blame on the victim. Talking about the abuse is the first step towards healing. Breaking your silence will lay the blame back where it belongs - on the Perpetrator. I've begun my healing process by pouring my personal experience into a script. The title of the script is "A Life, Taken, its a...

I've been writing for most of my life - journaling, short stories, comedy sketches, poetry and even a number of scripts. Not too long ago I found I script I wrote when I was about 12 years old... (it is filled with so much drama the writers for General Hospital would be jealous... lol) But I've never let anyone read my writings... this blog is really the first time I've shared my writing with anyone other than my husband. I just never felt what I had written was good enough to warrant anyones time reading it - that is - other than my amazing husband (which is one of the reasons why when ever I write about him I always preface it by acknowledging him as AMAZING... because he is) The insecure feelings about my writing began to shift after completing my latest script. I began writing it in February 2011 and it just poured out of me. The first draft came within a week and I had the final draft within THE MONTH! I literally looked at that Final Draft in amazement - I mean I...

Who says you can't learn anything from watching films??? I know that personally I've learned so many life lessons from them. For this Blog I'm going to focus one film:  THE WIZARD OF OZ (Confession: I still have yet to read any of L. Frank Baum's novels that is on my Life's To Do List) I love, love, love "The Wizard of Oz". I remember the first time I watched it, I sat MESMERISED!  I distinctly remember being pulled into Dorothy's experience the second she opens the door and her world is transformed from Black and white into glittering technicolor. As the audience we can each identify with at least one of the characters and their journey in the film. The genius of "The Wizard Of Oz" is that by films end each character finds that what they were looking for was in fact not outside of themselves but inside, "they had it all along". It's the act of taking ownership of it that makes it accessible. WHEN EVER I WATCH TH...

Just "Be Yourself" Has anyone said this to you before? I know I've heard it many times. The earliest that I can recall is the first time I went to Summer Camp, I was enrolled in the "Fresh Air Fund". This amazing organization would take us "City Kids" and send us to stay in the homes of families that lived in the "Country". I vividly remember the first summer - I was going to stay on a farm. YES a fully functioning farm... it was so FUN. I learned how to milk cows, get the eggs from the hens, take care of the horses in the stable - this is where my love affair with Horses began... The day I was leaving to go stay on the farm I was excited and a little scared because this was the first time I was going to be away from home. So, my Grandmother and I said our good-byes but what I distinctly remember is her saying to me... "Be Yourself" . Since that day I've heard "Be Yourself" a lot throughout my li...