101rsmith

I’ve been working on this in the background for most of this year. 10 years ago, my mom and stepdad made me spend my winter semester off from college studying for a MTA conductor’s test. I spent 3 months studying, being told that this would secure me a job after college in case acting didn’t take off for me. I took that test on April 30th 2016 where I’d rather had been with my best friend at the time for her birthday. I passed the test with an 87.5 where my stepdad told me I’d be put on a list based on how high I scored and how fast I had registered for the test. He told me the list would stand for 5 years.

5 years passed, we’re in the thick of COVID, that best friend was long gone and I was as far away from acting as you could get. I was trying to do everything to survive the pandemic, the world and how much I had hated myself for failing with that friend. I figured the list had expire and that I was on my own to make it as a semi functional adult. Another 5 years climbing and navigating the landscape of security and I get my phone blown up by MTA accepting me for a job. I don’t know if the list got frozen due to COVID or what but here we are.

5 months of long and annoying processing and I got the job. It’s crazy that something I did 10 years ago actually mattered. Having most of my life being told I don’t matter or being told how insignificant I was compared to others, it’s difficult to believe the other side. It wasn’t that birthday or that friend that mattered, it was the work I put in to survive and being a worthwhile person that mattered.

When your poodle decides to pack some heat for their birthday

Ohio, you have yet to disappoint me. Another great weekend at making new friends and memories. 50,000 people can be a bit overwhelming, but everyone has each other’s backs and it’s an adventure.

Some high quality edits of th other night with and with and

First time back at the barricade in 2 months for and last night. I had a blast seeing thr girls and I’ve been dying Bloodywood at least once since an old friend put me on to thek 5 years ago. was a joy to watch and killed it despite some technical hiccups at the start. I also met some awesome neurodivergent people that I hope to see and talk to again.

Took a quick trip to Maryland yesterday to see and . I wanted to see them at MSG but they wanted $350 for nosebleeds seats. This whole trip including eating and a round trip bus was $150. These dynamic prices and location value are getting scary

I love my Axe-Fx 2, there’s some many options and gear in here than I could dream of (and will probably never own). However, I needed something more compact and without the original footswitch is a pain to manage scenes and presets live. I had a Line 6 Helix that I liked but I’m still not sold on the Helix Stadium, I’m waiting for the bugs to be worked out. I decided to get a Quad Cortex for the smaller compact nature and ability to try out captures of other gear.