We Are United In Our Differences.....

Man today was one of those days and as I sit here sipping on my mango margarita I reflected and smiled.

I had one of those days that I thought was perfect! 

You try to decipher. 

Tuesday August 27, I got up at about 10:30am which is pretty early for me considering that I usually get up about 1pm if I am lucky and about 3pm if I really don't have to work. So that should have been a clue that it wasn't gonna be an easy day.

Ok fast forward to evening time and I was feeling relaxed. I knew I didn't have to work so I made plans with ma girl to go to yoga! Fun!

Now I should tell you that my phone has been dead since Monday seeing as though I left my charger at work on Sunday. I know I was gonna be in the city later so I would just get my charger then, right? 

There are two lessons to be learnt today and I got a full class. 

Lessen one:

I went to yoga and it was wonderful, got to work to get my charger and it was closed so I did what any normal being would do after a good yoga session and that was collected my charger and kept it moving. Got back to Daphnee's apartment because we were gonna have dinner and chat.  Charged my phone and the messages kept pouring in.

So something you have to know now, living in 2013, is that if you don't have your phone on you or if your phone is dead you are presumed dead to the rest of the world. So not only was Maya searching all over the place for me she started to Facebook message everyone that she knew in my life and have them searching for me. I was like what??? Why??? Really?? This is too much. Now you got the guy downstairs ringing my doorbell and shit? I mean it's just a day! but I guess shit happens right?

But I appreciated it and I hope you guys don't think this is my wolf moment and should anything happen to me for real no one will come a calling.

So lessen two:

Now on the way from the train to Daphnee's house she asked me why I was an activist for HIV. I literally told her why aren't we all activists? Ha ha that's the Jamaican in me, always answering a question with a question.

She then said I know,  but why HIV? (Daphnee likes to analyze things, so she will asked you a question and then follow that question up with a similar question as the first question to understand your answer) I told her because I think people are not talking about it enough and they feel that because now you can pop a pill and live longer, that it's not a death sentence anymore, but truly because of the stigmas and the hush hush about it, it's now becoming a life sentence. I told her if I can get one person asking me about one post or just liking one post I feel like I helped someone. 

Fast forward to her apartment and was checking my messages and low and behold I got a message from a friend and it goes a little something like this:

Do you have HIV?

Now that's all sorts of wrong. That is not the way you want to go about asking that question and I would have thought that people were aware of the 'other' groups of people such as myself that actually fight for things they believe in not because they are INFECTED but because they are AFFECTED. I know too many people with this disease, and when I try to educate myself about it, from their experiences, they know nothing of the sort, AND, they are living with it! So my goal is, if I can help myself and others from not being infected, and to open up the conversations and keep it flowing, then it will help in this epidemic in which there is no known cure, today and for the future. I mean I can go on and on about this, but honestly I am happy that I can trigger such reactions. 

Shouldn't we all be united in our differences AND, for our differences?

It's just like the time I was asked, again, on Facebook if I was a lesbian because of a similar post about human rights. I mean come on people grow up!  I am an activist for HUMAN RIGHTS! I don't have to be gay or have a certain disease to fight for something in a world where people are being discriminated against. I mean not long ago, because I am black, a lot of opportunities weren't afford to me, but because of people like me, today I can enjoy some luxury without having to worry if I will get beaten or lynched! 

Think about it. What are we waiting for to ACT UP? Say something so you can create a better world for the next generation!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wwhFS1mUaVY  How to survive a plague!

Stop talking about celebrities and their useless boring lives. I don't give a fuck. That's not why I am here, to help the fortunates? I am here to lend a voice to the ones who can't speak but wants to. My future children and their friends and the ones who have passed on and didn't get to finish their work. 

I mean it's all good and fine that I am been ask these questions, but I say do it in a forum that others can join in and not a private message. I don't care if you think I am gay or have every diseases known to man. My goal is to get you talking and to keep you talking and I have to say the mission is slowly being accomplished.

Be blessed, I love you! Sat Nam!

Sleepless

Something about just knowing when its right...............

I believe in soul mates.

Call me crazy.


I believe that there is one person out there for everyone. Will everyone get to meet that person? Sure, at some point in their lives, whether they get together or not. Are they always destined to stay together? Not really, because one person's soulmate can be someone else's  husband or wife. There's a great wonderment that happens, when expectations meets reality. Its never always as how we think. Expectations are how we perceive a situation is going to be. Reality is what happens when we are busy expecting the perceived outcome.

I have a theory and it might be true. I believe everyone gets to meet their soulmate at some point. I believe it does happen and we always know.

I know a story of this lady who was in a kinda sorta relationship with this guy when he had to move pretty much halfway across the country. They were destined to make it work, but as we all know long distance relationships are never possible, and the ones that do make it are exceptions not the rules. So anyways she happened to be on the train one morning and for some reason the train stops. A stranger started to exchange small talks with her and she spoke back to him lightly as not to be rude. The train started, she rushed off but not before the stranger asked for her number, to which she gave him her business card and got off the train, not really thinking much of it. She went on to visit her so-called boyfriend all the way across the country. He was doing well and she was doing well. Weeks later she had to leave work early because of an emergency. This usually never happens. She was on the platform getting off  the train, when she spotted the stranger on the other side. He waved and they continued with their evenings. It was not until the third time they ran into each other that he finally asked her out. She accepted because she was trying to give something else a chance for once. He was usually not her type and when they went to dinner they  had a great time so much so that she called the long distance boyfriend and called it quits. They are married today, That was about five years ago. The funny thing about how this all came about. She asked her now husband why he didn't call her after the first meeting. He told her that he thought she was trying to brush him off by giving him her card. She told him she was late for work because of the train and she was just trying to get out of the train at her destination. She also asked him why he didn't come after her on the platform. He said he didn't want to seem weird or like a stalker. The he said, "Did you know we were gonna get married when we met?" She said, "No, I was dating someone at the time who was completely my type, but was living all the way across the country and I actually was seeing him at the time of our first date."  She said, "why, did you?" He said, "Yes! From the very moment I saw you on the train." She told me the story and you can tell that they are still in love. Don't we all wish we can have these rom com moments? They do exist but you have to be a romantic, gullible fool, who is willing to believe.

I believe!

Then there are stories like this.

I know another lady who thought she had met the love of her life, over some ten years plus. The one thing was he was in a committed relationship. This said woman was so sure of it that even when the guy got married she kept in touch because she has never felt this way about any guy before.Well anyone for that matter. Was this love? Are they soul mates? I am not quite sure. I also believe that there is such a thing called unrequited love. This is when one person is completely enamored with another, whom will not return such a love. This is very tricky and it can make you feel like this is your true love and that one day he/she will wake up and realized all the things that you knew all along. This is the making of a bad rom com and usually you get so build up on the friendship road that you waste most of your flirting days pining away for someone who is never gonna love you, and even if you finally get together. You were always their second or third choice. That is not cool and shouldn't be practiced. But to each their own.

They say when you meet the ONE you will know. You will just know!

No one can really describe that moment, but you can always tell the people who are spending the rest of their days with their soul mates. I read this thing once a long time ago. I don't quite remember where I got it from but it always stuck with me. It said, marry someone you have great conversations with, because when you are older that's all you have to look forward to. I'm not quite sure how I feel about that now. That was all fine and deep when I was in my twenties. But now I am in my Thirties I want it all. I want the passion, the conversations, the fun, the excitement, the sports lover, the music lover, the quiet times, the sensitivity, the emotions, the physicality, the father, the husband, the human, THE MAN!. I want it all. I have waited this long and not settling so I think I deserve it. Well at least that's what my oldest sister wish for me and you know what, she is mostly never wrong.

So how do you spot your soulmate? I say you don't, you will just know when the time is right.

We were at a restaurant the other day and the owner proceeded to come over to tell us a cute story. I don't know, maybe he was drunk, or maybe we look like the kinds of people in need of a cute story.
He said he was out one night and he met this girl from South Korea.  Now he was from South Africa. He said she actually told  him that he was going to be her husband and he thought that was strange given that one, she was Asian and two, women don't usually speak like that, well, not to him at least. But fours years later they are engaged. He seems to be happy and again I wasn't quite sure why he felt the need to share that story with us, but what I am trying to say is that when you know you know.  It's like that feeling you get after seeing an ex and you know you are over him/her when you can look at that person and think to yourself. "Eww I had sex with you, what was I thinking?

There's something about knowing when it's right!

I am a hopeless romantic and I like it that way. I am that person that will jump over the moon for love if my heart tells me to. This is why I take my time with love, because I am trusting that when I know I will know and because there is no need to hurry when I am making up my mind.

As rainy as it is now,
Sleepless.

iF yoU 'see' Kay You!

Now the world don't move to the beat of just one drum and why should it? I learned a long time ago that if all the birds in the forest were to be singing, then what a dull forest that would be. People should be themselves no matter what. So why is it that we live in societies where everything that makes us individuals and humans are shunned? Who came up with this concept and why is it still going on?


I hate hate, even though at times I wish I could hate the law makers. They are such bulshiters and nobody breaks the law more than the people who burn sweat and tears to implement them. Now don't get me wrong, I am all for rules and guidelines, but that's all they should be, GUIDELINES, not a basis to dictate how a person should live. I get really hot blooded about this whole marriage act and marriage equality thing. Why is this even an issue to begin with? I am in awe that a country who's  motto is in God we trust, is doing everything furthest from. If you really trust in God, then you would know that not one of the ten commandments say anything about abolishing the equal rights of humans. I should know I own a bible. Be careful, Thou shall not take the name of the lord in vain, because God will not hold him guiltless that taketh his name in vain.

I am all for same-sex love, hetero love, animal love, because as long as we are loving that's all that should matter, right? Why shouldn't we take love over any other thing any other day? Why are we shunning some love and accepting some? Where does it say that in your bible? My bible clearly states that we should love everyone as we love ourselves. So in all fairness, it is safe to say that the people who are so gung ho on abolishing any form of love other than "straight" love, hate themselves?  Isn't. That. Just. Sad? Isn't that the problem and shouldn't that be the issue we focus on, as oppose to telling two tax paying, law abiding citizens that it is illegal for them to show their true colors, so to speak, in public?

Such Bulshit!

I mean, if we are gonna hate, how about we hate the people who think guns should be legal? How about them coo coo ca choos? What sane person would still be all about guns after all the damages it caused? I say, if we went all the way back, waaaay before guns were even thought of, and silence the first guy, cause I am sure it was a guy, who came up with the idea to let's make a gun, so many innocent lives would still be here today, and we would have to come up with a better solution to punish the people who wronged us, so to speak. Yea why are the Lawmakers so vocal about sticking with the guns, but they can't come up with a simple solution to Immigration? Is this even plausible, that you would look at a nation, that WAS founded upon immigration, that wouldn't even BE a nation if it wasn't for immigration, to tell others that, "Well see the thing is, say, now that we are here, say, you are not welcome here, say."

No seriously, such BULSHIT!

Oh and all the starving kids in the world, why IS it such a fucking hassle to adopt a kid to give them a good home? See I get the point that if I take your kid, and raise that kid, you can't or don't get to come back and just take that kid. I get that part. But isn't a quick sign off of papers enough? Why all the bulshit back stories? And don't even get me started on mothers who can't even take care of their kids, but get racist or bigoted when a gay couple wants to adopt. I mean if you can't get it together to raise your child, the one you enjoyed sex to have, the last thing you need to be is racist. Because clearly you fornicated and the last time I checked, that is also a no no in the bible.

I mean, come on people get it together! Stop all the BULSHIT and just love one another. How come I got that from the bible and you guys didn't? Oh, I see, I got the special edition, and there was only one copy and it was in my house?

Gosh.....

And while I am venting, Fox News, really! Really?

As always,
Sleepless.

Are we there yet?

What is it really we search for in life? Are people truly happy? If so is it available for everyone or just a few?

I often asked myself these questions while I am trotting to the subway, or if I am walking through a park, or just sitting in my window looking out on the different kinds of people going about their lives and living. I mean it may sound like I am trying to be deep or come up with a deeper solution to something I  want to manifest, but honestly I am really curious as to what the answers to these questions might be.

Are we there yet?

I often wonder if the people who professed their love on social medias are the happiest or is it the ones who are busy being in love and trapped in their heavenly bliss, evolving, enjoying, grasping onto that every moment? I am sure it's the latter.

Are we there yet?

I often remembered that when I am having such a feeling. The feeling of being utterly in love.  I am always too engulfed in it to even notice anything else. I could be on fire and wouldn't even care because it's moments like those you know you have lived, if the thought of dying would satisfy you.

Are we there yet?

I was having a conversation the other day with my sister. One of many conversations that we have had a million times and one of which I will soon to have, again. This is the one conversation every coupled women feel the need to have with every single women. This is usually the question to which they think you are the one in control of your love destiny, and if you will yourself enough, you will magically find someone perfect for you. As if to say the person that they are with is perfect for them and if that is the case then I AM REALLY HAPPY FOR YOU! Yes this is the conversation that I am sure every single gal, in every singles bar, asked themselves, on every single drunken nights. The never ending conversations as if to say this is the key to true happiness and even if it is, are we suppose to be forced into it? It's like that damn question "what comes first, the chicken or the egg?" My question for those questions is, who the fuck cares?

Are we there yet?

Yes the ever so stupid question, that I am sure single men don't get quite as much, because quite frankly it is always assumed that when a guy is ready he will just produce a mate for better or for worst.

Are we there yet?

When are you gonna try to find somebody to settle down with? When are you gonna settle into a relationship? Don't you want to get married? Soon you will be old and alone blah blah blah blah blahs!!!!!!!

Really? Really? Are we there yet?

Now honestly I think there is always something wrong with the concept of just settling. I was never a big fan of the word, hence I tend to run away from it. Kinda back to my question, is it what that is? Are most people just settling into a life? Is it why we are mostly so unhappy? Is that why we produce such unhappy offsprings? Is it me or are our children now becoming murderers before they even move out of the house? Is this the result of settling? Are we mass producing a generation of settlers? Is it ever gonna stop? When is it gonna stop?

ARE WE THERE YET?

I made a promise to myself along time ago, a promise that I hold dear to my heart. Its kinda like that old saying "if you hate your job, quit." And so on and so forth. If you hate your life, quit. Stop meddling in mine because until I am there, and fully there, I am gonna be right here just being!

As Always,
Sleeples.

Believe in miracles..........

It's always the perfect thing, when you are feeling some sort of way, and then a person come at you from left field. He has been listening to the song in your heart, to say just enough of what you should be listening to, to set a clear path. Total strangers will get you like this sometimes. What is it about them that makes you actually listen, even though close friends and families say the same things all the time?

I believe in timing and miracles.

Life is wonderful, I just happen to be looking away for most of it. I am feeling a kinda way these days. Not sure what it is, but it seems like a change is coming and I am gonna love it. I have these butterflies that won't go away. I feel like I am constantly high and these waves of emotions are here to stay.

I have the sudden urge to sing Big Girls Don't Cry, by Fergie. (Hmm, wonder what that's all about?)

Or to just break out into 'Listen' by Beyonce. I am not even a fan. But it feels, the people I am a fan of, aren't that inspiring at the moment, so I have to switch tunes (pun intended) for a minute. Same goes for a lot of the things that are around me.

I am bored and uninspired.

I find meeting up with old friends and conversing with strangers helps.

Yoga and walking clears my head.

It's weird and I never thought I would say this, but, I miss the heat. I miss the sweat of the 100 degrees, and the nice cool breeze is just a reminder that the year is almost over. Summer is gone and it's only just began. This seem to be a trend. I guess it's true, nothing last forever, and there's never any time, so....


....I need to be with myself and center?

Damn! There goes that Fergie again.

I'm all alone at a crossroad....

These songs just wont let me be.


So until next time,

Sleepless.

These are the moments I thank God that I'm alive..........I'm feeling good!

I am not a victim, I am a survivor. I keep remembering this even when times are hard, and I feel like I can't breathe. I can't be mad or even apply the energy to give up, because that statement for me is true.

The day before your life changes is just an ordinary day. How awesome that feeling can be? And that is true for all the awesome things that happens, come what may. 

It's just so great to be existing in a state of perpetual bliss, where everything that goes wrong points to better opportunities. From the drunken old pervert on the subway early saturday evening, to the lovely couple kissing goodbye, to the baby trying to open its eye or to keep from falling asleep, the dog peeing on the side of the road, to the heat and the cold. I cherish these moments because they are inspiring and they are why life is so damn good!

Cue to the Nina Simone! Da dan, da dan!

I had such the moment about two Saturdays back. This is one of those moments that still gives me butterflies and it's just a silly moment that was just meant to be for me.

Have you ever been in a crowd of people but somehow your soul searches for the eyes you should connect with?

I am in awe with moments like these and I wish more of life's bliss would be centered around that, but then again it wouldn't be so special.

Let me take a moment, (no pun), to reflect. 

Ummm........:) Sigh!

So as I was saying, it can only be described as something left to the imagination, only it was  as real and in color. 

Imagine sitting in a crowded backyard eating tacos and drinking champagne. Now imagine the weather is perfect. Kinda like one of those great spring afternoons in July. Now imagine a setting so loud filled with people just conversing. Talking about their day, week, month or year. Now imagine me just barely tuning in, because there was too much to focus on or maybe not enough. It suddenly felt like my soul was connecting with another being and then the grand finale. Our eyes connected and atlas a smile. We both looked away and then back at each other, more smiles. He was beautiful in the nerdiest way possible, with a heartwarming, butterflies fluttering in your belly, smile. Before I had any moment to  think he muttered 'Hi' and waved!

I mouthed 'Hi' and waved back. All the while smiling and biting my lips trying to stay cool. It's so beautiful that no matter how old you get, moments like these still makes you weak in the knees. Just asked SWV!

He mouthed "How are you?"

I mouthed back "I'm feeling good'

We both smiled and went back to the conversations at hand.

It left such a feel good feeling about me, around me, within me! I now carry that moment with me EVERYWHERE. So if you should ever see me in a moment of total bliss on a crowded subway smiling, in a bar chilling, in a 100 degrees weather smelling roses. Thats the moment I am remembering and I feel alright!

As always,

Sleepless

The Samaritan Sensation! Paying it forward...........

People say NYC can be the meanest place on earth but I beg to differ.  In fact I think some of the nicest people in the world lives here.

Take for instance,

It was a Saturday, May the 25th to be exact, and I happened to find myself uptown.

Well it wasn't  all the way uptown, more like west 55th St. (but then again anything passed 14 St. is uptown to me) and I didn't happen to find myself, I was leaving the last session of my acting class and feeling good from a job well done and ready to face the world, when I stepped outside only to be had by  one of the worst downpour I had seen in a long, long time.

Spring as some may say!

Now a little back story about NYC weather.

It is very unpredictable!

I decided I couldn't wait it out and the train station was only a few blocks. I ran, in the rain, to the train station at 50th st only to find a red tape and a note saying no train will be running here today. UGH!!!!!

What the....?

Now the next train station was all the way on 42nd st, so you can imagine my dilemma.  At this point my shirt was soaking wet, so now not only was I about to put on a show for passersby, but I was a few raindrops away from the flu.

As I was pondering what to do I hear a voice from nowhere,
'Is the train not running today?'
I said no and I turned to see a petite caucasian female with an umbrella. She said ' Come on, let's walk to 42nd' as she extended her umbrella over my head and we proceeded to walk. Eight blocks later and as if she was an angel, she got me to the train stop, said goodbye and walked away. We didnt keep in touch, we didn't have to. I just knew I had to pay it forward...



Nothing good every happens after 2 am, think again!

Fast forward two months later.

Now a little back story about the trains in NYC and the service after 12am. They run every 20 mins. So if you miss the train you pretty much have to wait 20 mins, and 4 of those are usually with the drunks and bombs sleeping in the train station or is up being crazy!

So there I was timing the train. I knew that if I leave my job at 2:30 am it would afforded me enough time to walk to the train station, refill my metrocard and was still on time for the 2:37 (L) train.

Wrong!

As I got into the station the metro guys were refilling the machines and there wasn't a 24hr saleperson. The machines take about a min to reboot when I heard that annoying lady saying, 'The next L train is now arriving on the Brooklyn bound track, please stand away from the platform edge'
I could die and the lady infront of me was putting coins in the other machine. I could hear the doors of the train opening. If you live in NYC, you know the sound I am talking about and you know the amount of time it will stay open until it closes and the train would leave the station. My heart dropped! She was done and she rushed down the stairs and unto the train (or at least that's what I thought).  Out of nowhere I heard her yelling saying, ' I will hold the train for you hurry up, don't worry I am holding it.' Music to my ear. So I filled up my card rushed down the stairs and told her to keep holding because there was another lady behind me. We all made the train. What seems like hours was probably a mere, adrenaline rush filled second. I made it home before 3am.  Because I caught that train, I was right intime to connect to the G.

Whew!

I mean let's face it. Most of the people that live around here, are not from around here, and we bring with us to this wonderful city our self value, generosity and self worth.

As always,
Sleepless.

Meet: Nedra Gallegos

Oh Nedra! Where do I begin? Probably from the beginning, but I am still coming off my high from a spectacular performance that Nedra had yesterday in her one woman rendition of Laughing Wild.

Now if you  guys are not familiar with Christopher Durang's Laughing Wild then it's a must read. It was definitely one of those awful rainy nights in the city that just makes you wanna crawl up in bed with a lover or a good movie or both.  but I decided to brave the rain and head into the city, coz nothing was gonna make me miss what was about to put me in a state of awe, and, it did me good. Possibly better than any movie would but just in second place to a lover.

So let me tell you how I came into being with the likes of Nedra. It was a few years ago and I was working at a little Italian joint on Bedford Ave, Bedstuy. Whuut?. The food was lovely, the atmosphere was great, the boss, well, let's just say he was Italian in every form of the word. * Cough (Napoleon), can I get an Amen! I remembered the day Nedra walked in. She was unlike the other ladies I was forced to train, she knew the business well and was ready to work. Long story short we worked together for about two weeks and then Nedra called it quits! *Cough (Napoleon)! So we kept in touch!

Nedra is possibly one of the most amazing person I have ever come into close contact with, to date, and when I say amazing, I mean it's just oozing from her veins. She is a very dedicated hard-worker with a brain and creativity on her that will last a lifetime. I mean, this is a woman that sprain her achilles while doing a 15 hour shoot for an independent film, in the 14th hour, and what did she do? In true Nedra style, she finished the scene. (She was playing a cop chasing a kid, btw). She was actually out of commission for three months. While she was bed resting, she created and co-wrote the most hilarious Web Series that I have ever come across, and I am not being bias because she wrote a character in there for me. I am pretty confident that the work is gonna speak for itself and speaks volume in many a languages to come.

The web series is called OFF THE G! and there's still time to donate but hurry coz the expiration day is nigh!     http://www.indiegogo.com/projects/off-the-g--2?c=home

Nedra is so awesome that when she puts on a show all her friends come out to support her. I have yet to meet anyone that has a bad thing to say about her. She is always on point and a stand-up lady. She works for what she believes in and will help you fight for what is yours. She wears her heart on her sleeve for her friends, BUT don't be alarmed if she is not quite ready to buy into your bulshit.

She is a gal that is going places with her writing, her acting and her creativity. She humbles herself in ways only a lady knows how. She IS a star in my eyes.......

I am talking way too much.

Let's meet the wonderful being behind this blog,

Name: Nedra Gallegos

Age: Old Enough to Know better

Status: Intrigued

Zodiac Sign: Libra

What do you do: Actor/Writer/Educator

Hail from: Military Brat- Mostly Cali by way of Texas, Taiwan, Nebraska and Japan

Where ya bed at: Bed-Stuy

Why Nyc: It's one of those places where you feel the energy rolling off of it as the plane lands. It's a city of intensity, when things happen there is not a lot of middle of the road. They are more often than not amazing or tragic.

Best Place to eat in the city: Dogmatic on 17th Street  in Manhattan-always and right now I am addicted to the pork belly sandwich at Putnam's Pub in Clinton Hill on Myrtle Ave.

When's bedtime: Depends, some of my teaching gigs start tragically early so those nights I'm lucky if I make it to 11. But the nights when I can play or work on something I'm excited about 3am is a nice time to wrap it up. 4 seems downright debaucherous  and 2 seems too tame but 3am makes me feel edgey and,  yet I still feel I can pull myself out of bed the next morning at a decent enough hour to accomplish things. 

What was the last gig you did: Just closed a show Laughing Wild  with Moss Roberts and I am still working on producing my web-series Off The G. Which I came up with the concept for and co-wrote with Carla Briscoe. 

What's the one thing you have to have with you at all times: Lipstick, chewing gum and something to read. (Oh Nedra I did say one thing ;) ).

How old would you be if you didn’t know how old you are: God- sometimes 70 sometimes 13.

If happiness was the national currency, what kind of work would make you rich: What I'm doing. Creating, working with kids, and in my free time hanging with people I love.

Would you break the law to save a loved: Yup.

Next 3 years: Bi-Coastal-writing on a great kids cartoon and making enough to support my theatre habit.

Has your greatest fear ever came true: Time and again, people die , relationships end, jobs are lost. My greatest hopes have also come true. It's been a mixed bag but I can honestly say I do 95 percent of it over again.

If you could tell the world one thing:  wow, ...love your neighbor ...a lot..I think it's our only hope.

Favorite thing you have ever done with a friend: Met one of my Besties Brenda Sue in the 2nd grade and still we make each other laugh..I have another, Virginia, whom I met in grad school, we drove cross country twice, that was amazing. 

Where are you gonna be when you die: Surrounded by people I love, with a really good sound track playing.

Tell me the love affair  you have with acting and performing: I love the immediacy of it and the shared experience between you and your audience.

If you could only have dinner with three people for the rest of your life, who: Yuck, I can barely bare the thought of eating with myself for the rest of my life....Someone with a Piano who can play it very well so um---Herbie Hancock ( I hear he's a little intense so let's say this is a large dining room.) My future dog and um---Louis CK.

What's next for you: Shooting an amazing Web- series and getting out to LA and writing on an amazing animated series. http://www.indiegogo.com/projects/off-the-g--2?c=home

What do you hate about the city: Sometimes there's so much going on I forget to be present, I let myself be overwhelmed. It's hard sometimes to remember to find the quiet. 

So there you have it folks, she came and she brought it. Look out for this one and her web series. Its Nedra's year whether you want to get on board or not.

Til then, rest well.

Sleepless.

Off The G http://www.indiegogo.com/projects/off-the-g--2/x/3025760

off the

So this is awesome!!!!!! There is an amazing web series that is currently in production and we want to make this the funniest and greatest web series of 2013 or on the internet, whichever comes first. It will be filmed on location in Bed-Stuy Brooklyn and we need your help to get the ball rolling.
http://www.indiegogo.com/projects/off-the-g--2/x/3025760

A little about this project:

Off The G is a comedy Web series written and directed by two hilarious gals, Nedra Gallegos and Carla Briscoe: two local actors who crack each other up, a lot, and now have decided to share their rare wit with the world. They have written six funny, salty and smart webisodes about Bed-Stuy Brooklyn, a neighborhood experiencing much change these days. Off the G looks at the challenges that take place when a variety of cultures, races and socio-economic groups converge, and pokes fun at it all. Nedra and Carla are commited to not only creating a quality Web series, but a quality work environment, hiring the actors and the crew locally and making sure they're paid fairly. Which is where you come in. For $25 dollars you can make this happen. We did the math. If we can get 700 people to donate $25 dollars each we will meet our goal. We have Fiscal Sponsorship through Fractured Atlas – a nonprofit arts service organization – so donations are tax-deductible. Oh boy!
* But there's more!
For a mere $10 dollars, you get an Off The G button; for $25 dollars, an Off The G button and magnet. For $50 dollars you get a button, magnet and signed Off The G DVD of all the episodes. For $100 dollars you get a button, magnet, Signed DVD, and an Off the G T-shirt. For $500 dollars you get a button, magnet, signed DVD, T-shirt and a walk-on part in our dance and musical extravaganza final episode. And for $1000 dollars you get everything above and Executive Producer credit.
If we fall short of our funding goal we will still produce half the webisodes to insure that everyone is still getting paid and treated fairly, and we'll continue to works towards our goal of funding and finishing all six.

Your $25 dollars will go towards creating work for local actors and a local film crew, and  an extremely funny Webseries will be made and many people will smile and laugh.  What a great thing to accomplish for only $25 dollars.
Thank you for watching our video and reading our pitch. Please tell bunches of people about this and feel free to share our link with many family members, friends, aquaintances, or even to "Hey I just met you but you seem excessively cool, insightful and fun, just the kind of person to donate to this webseries, Off the G" people. You can do all this by word of mouth, e-mail, phone call or by using Indigogo's own handy dandy share tools.
Thanks again! You're beautiful in advance.

*All donations are tax deductible except for cost of perk. 
SO minus $2.00 for DVD and $6.00 for T-shirt.
 http://www.indiegogo.com/projects/off-the-g--2/x/3025760


The Cast and Crew:

Series Creator and Producer, Show Runner
Nedra Gallegos

Series Writers
Nedra Gallegos
Carla Briscoe

Series Producers
Nedra Gallegos
Carla Briscoe

Theme Song
Carla Briscoe

DP, Director
Sveva Costa Sanseverino

Sound
Steve DeSeve

Production Manager, Assistant
Jessica Ritter
A.J. Urias

Contributing Writer
Mike Ritter

Cast:

Nedra Gallegos     Susan
Carla Briscoe        Daphne
Percy Ritter          Lucas
Sean Carvajal       Jesus
Jeremy Burnett     Tyrell
Taniesha Brown    Alex
http://www.indiegogo.com/projects/off-the-g--2/x/3025760

So there you have it folks. Off the G is gonna be off the chain or should I say track? Well you know what I mean. Don't forget to check out the INDIEGOGO page and donate.
http://www.indiegogo.com/projects/off-the-g--2/x/3025760
Don't forget to check out the facebook page. It's Offtheg bedstuy for daily updates and more ways to donate.

Until then,
Sleepless

So I model now?

It was such a great night! Lots of happiness, fun, laughter, tears and of course great people. We came and brought it.

But before all that we had to go through the ringer. It was my first fashion runway show and not only that I was walking. I mean I have done fashion shows in the past, but I was doing makeup for the models and as much fun as that was, it's quite never the same as having to walk a runway.

It all came to fruition the day before the actual DAY!. We all met on one of the hottest rooftop on one of the cooler days in September  and to be honest I was still a little sleepy, but who could sleep when we have so much work ahead of us? We all showed up wanting to work and making the most of it. I'm not sure about anyone else but I was excited and got to the practicing of the walking. Boy was it hot on that roof! ha!.

We did some exchange of showing how we were gonna make it happen on the stage and then we ate, we changed and did a run through and everyone scurried to there jobs. We felt decent enough for the next day. Exciting!

So to be honest I was actually, after being a lil late for hair and make up, thinking it was gonna be one of those days where I was gonna be nervous and tired but the energy was overwhelming to say the least backstage. What I saw made me happy and excited. IT WAS A FASHION SHOW and yes IT WAS A BIG DEAL. There were models and designers and make up artist and hairstylist everywhere.

I was there to model for Black Cabinet.

I had a lil rough start because I wasn't expecting the huge afro which I was about to get, but after a lil tandrum and a lot of  headache I saw the end result and it was muy caliente! So now all we had to do was wait. We were the second to last act so I guess you could say Black Cabinet is kind of a big deal and if you didn't know bout the two lil designers, Chrissy Hagen and Jason Derek North, who now resides in Clinton Hill, Brooklyn, after Friday night you will know them. Seek them out and buy their stuff and pressure them to make more interesting pieces that will make any outfit pop. After all they turned me into a runway model!

It was one of the best gathering I had the pleasure, and not to use loosely, to be at this year 'side from my Birthday and my trip to the Addydocks.

As Always,
Sleepless.