Category: Writing

December 3, 2023

Gulping down every ounce of water left in the bottle, my body screams to keep moving forward on the hiking trail rather than stopping every 20 steps.

My lungs fighting for their life, gasping for air; I can see the finish line at the top of Beehive Basin. I can practically taste the feeling of victory as I endured the 3.4 mile hike up the trail in the Spanish Peaks mountain range.  

It was at this moment I was swiftly reminded by my father that I had only conquered the first 0.5 miles, which is not even a quarter of the way through the hike. You see, when getting passed by an elderly man who is promptly tackling this hike like a pro, it is a clear indicator that I, a 21-year-old, need to get my weak self into the gym- LOL. 

Located in southern Montana, the lively town of Big Sky invites locals and tourists to indulge in its mountainous terrain. Travelers of all ages are welcomed into a town to experience leisurely or active pursuits. With the 11,166-foot Lone Mountain overlooking the entirety of Big Sky, recreationists are given an array of outdoor activities, while enjoying a great array of restaurants.  

Whether you are looking to plan a weekend or even longer trip, I’m sharing an abbreviated weekend itinerary from my most recent vacation in hopes that you explore and take in the beauty of Big Sky, Montana during your stay.  

Weekend Itinerary 

Day 1 

7 a.m. 

Rise and shine! Put on your hiking boots and get moving. If you feel compelled to complete a moderate (says my father) hike, conquer Beehive Basin, a 6.9-mile out-and-back trail. Hikers will be taken through wildflower meadows, a forest, and creeks throughout the duration of the hike. While its length seems doable, Beehive Basin’s rapid increase in elevation makes for a more challenging hike. Pack a snack or on-the-go breakfast to enjoy at the top of the trail before heading back down the trail.  

12 p.m.  

Take a moment to gather yourself after the Beehive Basin hike- in case you are dying like I was! Grab your clubs and get ready to play 18 holes of golf. Designed by Arnold Palmer, Big Sky Golf Course sits in Gallatin County, located north of Town Center, a central downtown hub hosting a variety of restaurants and shops for locals and travelers in Big Sky. Whether you want to play 18 or 9 holes, Big Sky GC is open for the spring and summer seasons for membership holders or drop-in tee times.  

5 p.m. 

After an afternoon of golfing, make your way down to Ousel & Spur Pizza Co. in Big Sky Town Center. With pizza and pasta dishes available, Ousel & Spur prides itself on being a family-friendly environment for adults and children to gather on the outdoor patio or indoor seating. Wind down for the evening with one of Ousel & Spur’s house cocktails, beer, and a glass of wine, or house made desserts.  

Day 2 

7 a.m. 

Work off last night’s Italian dishes or pizza with a relatively easy Ousel Falls hike. The leisurely trail is a 1.7 mile out-and-back hike on the Ousel Falls Park Trail gains around 240 feet in elevation. Whether you are 70 or 3 years old, this hike is friendly to all ages. At the peak of the trail, hikers are greeted by paths to gaze at the Ousel Falls Overlook, as well as a separate path that leads you to the base of the waterfall along the South and West forks of the Gallatin River.  

12 p.m. 

Giddy up, we’re going horseback riding! From dawn to dusk, Jake’s Horses invites individuals to get outdoors and take in the stunning scenery of Big Sky, all while connecting with those on your ride and with your horse. Jake Grimm and his team are in the Gallatin Canyon located right off Beaver Creek Road in Big Sky. Rides are available in the winter and summer.  

5 p.m. 

To conclude your packed day exploring mother nature, bring your friends and family to The Riverhouse for true Hill Country barbecue. Come on back to the back porch that overlooks the Spanish Peaks, as well as the Gallatin River. In addition to the outdoor games, bar and live music, locals and those traveling are invited to sit indoors and grab an ice-cold beverage while enjoying food that is good for the soul.  

As your explorative weekend comes to an end, I hope the sights and sounds of Big Sky treated you well. Whether you are in the best shape of your life or holding on for dear life mid hike hiking, the outdoor activities in Big Sky are suited for all walks of life- regardless of age or physique.  

People enjoy the view of the Spanish Peaks at Riverhouse BBQ. Image by Olivia Talkington 

Broadway Swing Performed for The Britney Spears Musical: Once Upon a One More Time

November 5, 2023

Eager to start fresh in the fast paced, electric streets of New York City, Salisha Thomas Weiss swiftly packed up her belongings in California and moved across the country to pursue a career in theater.

At the drop of a hat, her transition to the Big Apple gave her the ability to display her talents on and off the Broadway stage.  

The 30-year-old star made her theatrical debut on Beautiful: The Carole King Musical in August 2015. Simultaneously, she earned her crown as Miss California for Miss World America in June 2016 while on the road during the national tour for Beautiful. She continued her journey under the bright lights and performed as Diana Ross in Trevor: The Musical before rightfully earning her Broadway debut in 2017 in the Beautiful: The Carole King Musical in New York City.  

As the COVID-19 pandemic halted all Broadway productions in 2020, she returned to the stage in 2023 as a Broadway swing on the original Broadway cast of the Britney Spears Musical: Once Upon a One More Time. Playbill editor Mo Brady details a swing’s primary role is understudying multiple ensemble tracks for a show.  

Out of 123 total performances of Once Upon a One More Time, she swung on 68 of those shows for twelve roles as a swing and five roles as a principal stand by performer. Even more, she was one of the four total swings for One More Time– two females and two males.  

Talkington: Paint a picture for me, Salisha, on your days as a college student and early career into theatrical arts.  

Thomas Weiss : I majored in musical theater at California State University, Fullerton. I worked at Disneyland as a character host, then as a vocalist in the show Mickey and the Magical Map as Princess Tiana. One day I wanted more! I secretly went to New York City. I came to the city for 30 days to see if I would like it. As I got off the plane, I instantly fell in love. I gave my notice and left for NYC. The weekend after I moved, I got an audition for the Beautiful musical and got the job.  

Talkington: How did you make it to the Broadway stage? 

Thomas Weiss: After touring with Beautiful for two years and playing Diana Ross in a show called Trevor, I got a text from my agent saying that the role I did on the Beautiful tour opened up on Broadway. I had been wanting to be on Broadway for the last 13 years of my life. And it just came through a text message!   

Talkington: Describe your role as a Broadway swing and a principal standby. 

Thomas Weiss: I started off as a swing, then I got moved to be the principal standby. I covered 12 roles. Being the standby, I am only allowed to cover five roles, all being lead roles or five principal roles. I ended up going on for six roles total. Every role that I played; I got thrown on without rehearsal. I was rehearsed after I had gone on for it in front of a Broadway audience. I have never been stressed out more in my whole life.   

Talkington: How do you memorize all the roles you could possibly perform at any given minute? 

Thomas Weiss: I would watch the rehearsals with the whole cast and learn every step on the side of the room next to them. But remember, I covered 12 people in rehearsals, so whose role do you watch? Who do you look at? You just have to watch everybody and pick one and study them to learn each role one by one. I would basically memorize the whole script, going over everyone’s lines and singing everybody’s lines each day.  

Talkington: In what ways were you taking care of your mental health during such a busy season of life? 

Thomas Weiss: Honestly, I was at capacity. All my energy went into these shows, and I would not know what the crew and cast would ask of me. I am also a newlywed and needed my husband to feel prioritized as well. I realized when I am at capacity, I really do try to put myself first. Whereas when I am not stressed out, it is easy for me to feel like I need to do everything for others and not myself. I needed to take care of myself when I was at my lowest. If I needed a milkshake, I would get a milkshake. If was to turn off my phone for a moment, I would shut it off and only answer the show if necessary.   

Talkington: What are ways that you combat anxieties on stage and in your personal life? 

Thomas Weiss: I imagine my boat. I am floating on the ocean, and I am okay. As soon as I let the water get in the boat, now I am drowning. The water is everyone else’s fears, everyone’s anxieties and worries. But I am an empath. If I allow all their anxieties onto me, now I am feeling what they are feeling, when I am actually fine. I now realize there is a delineation of what am I feeling and what everybody else feels?! Everyone’s worries or priorities are not mine. When I stop caring about what other people think about me, I can show up as my authentic self. 

Talkington: How did your position on One More Time alter your character and change your perception on life? 

 
Thomas Weiss: It is the first time in my life where I learned how to advocate for myself. During my first Broadway show, I was willing to do anything for anyone. But One More Time was a hard show to perform. I drew the line with some of the things the crew asked of me. I was willing to walk away and tell the show that if I were to be thrown on for this role today, you are not going to be pleased, maybe even fire me. Having those conversations opened the dialogue to make things happen in a way that was safe for my body and mind.  

Aside from her theatrical career, Salisha is more than just a Broadway performer. She keeps her followers updated with her life through her lifestyle blog and YouTube channel. She also hosts her two podcasts Black Hair in the Big Leagues and The Salisha Show, while coaching her Masterclass.  

Follow Salisha on Social Media!

Instagram: @salishathomas  

YouTube: @itsmesalish 

April 25, 2023

Norman, Okla.- Native American tribes face a scarcity of Indigenous language speakers.

The absence of language was primarily due to the limited resources many Natives had growing up in American Indian boarding schools; where many were civilized in English and not Native American languages or cultures.

Raina Heaton, Assistant Curator at Sam Noble Museum and Assistant Professor at the University of Oklahoma has shown an effort to digitize Native languages at Sam Noble Museum.

“At the [Same Noble] archive, we have a digitization lab where people can bring in items [such as books, photographs, antiques] they may find, and we can help them digitalize the archives they have found for free. For example, people bring in shoe boxes full of Native American archives they have found [in a home from one’s belongings] and we can make a CD or something to give back to them for a family collection of Native archives,” Heaton said.

Language is perceived as the key to Native Americans’ identity, culture and values. Gordon Yellowman said a detail of his early childhood days with his grandmother, a full-blood Cheyenne Native American, who wanted Yellowman to attend a public school for the best shot at success.

In the end, Native Americans realized that to preserve and retain their Native languages, they needed the space and opportunity to speak and infiltrate their cultures and language into everyday lives, outside of the home.

“My grandmother, who attended the Concho Native American Boarding School for eight years, desired for us to go to a public school,” said Yellowman. “When the Title IX funding came in from the Federal Government in the 1970s, there were language programs in schools that would allow students to take language classes to learn more about the language they were native to. I kept asking my parents why we did not continue to speak our (Cheyenne) language. They would respond with the thought that my grandmother did not want me to experience what she went through [in the boarding school] and the trauma she experienced from the punishments towards her when she spoke her native language and not the English language.”

Published by the National Public Radio, journalist Charla Bear detailed how many Native children disregarded their first language and instructed to be transformed into being civilized in English through education (Bear, 2008). In the present day, language revitalization curriculums and organizations have been created to bring back native languages into the daily lives of native peoples.

Across America, language programs have been established in schools for students to study in-depth identities of Native American tribes. Student-workers, such as Kyrtleigh Snow at the University of Oklahoma, were given the opportunity to work for their Native tribes. Working to support and equip others to live as an Indigenous person.

“I work for the Chickasaw Nation Recruitment and Retention Center in Norman. My position as an Apela, which means “helper” in Chickasaw, is to help support and promote success as a mentor for Chickasaw college students in Oklahoma. Language classes, pronunciation aides, and events are hosted on campus at OU to help promote the Chickasaw ways of life and the language as well,” Snow said.