My taiko group is performing at First Night tonight at The Sheldon, and I'm pretty excited. I'm playing our signature song (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3id_MMUFhyU) and some other good ones. It's going to be a workout. This is probably our second biggest performance of the year, so I'm glad I'm actually playing in it this time. It helps make up for my absence at the Japanese Festival.
Speaking of First Night, I was listening to (recently-discovered) theradio.com and came across this song by Monica: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=86gNefVZ03w. I love it! I barely remember it from back in the day, but now I am sort of obsessed with it. Plus, this is totally my style of dance--laid back, kind of sassy hip hop. I could spend all day on theradio.com without getting bored, since it has so many types of music. I listened to 90's #1 songs all day at work yesterday, and that was pretty awesome. It brought back memories of dance recitals, skating rinks, sleepovers, and everything else that comes with growing up. R&B makes up most of my favorite music from the 90's (Usher, TLC, Boyz II Men, Mariah Carey, Toni Braxton, Lauryn Hill, Brandy, Monica, Aaliyah, etc.), and it's still one of my favorite genres. Here's a flashback of some 90's classics that I still really like:
Usher "My Way": http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e8otWyLx6IQ
Boyz II Men "Water Runs Dry": http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hxCiAXJpk_4
Mariah Carey "Always Be My Baby": http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3QapwJpAe7w
Aaliyah "Are You That Somebody?": http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XHnzjV8SaEY
Toni Braxton "You're Making Me High": http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sAbY3caYkpM (wow, never saw this video before, although I do remember a dance to it)
TLC "Waterfalls": http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m-n-jZJhpT4 (I know this rap! R.I.P. Lefteye)
Brandy & Monica "The Boy Is Mine": http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H1MsvKmgKKc
Aah, it's hard to stop! Okay fine. Well, Happy New Year!
Wednesday, December 31, 2008
Tuesday, December 30, 2008
Oh what a year
I will definitely have to write a final reflection on this crazy year at some point, but I'll just start with this:
Where did you begin 2008?
Janice and Jesse's house
What was your status by Valentine's Day?
single
Were you in school (anytime this year)?
nope, unless you count some online classes
Did you have to go to the hospital?
yeah, broke my hand
Did you have any encounters with the police?
yep, after the break-in :(
Where did you go on vacation?
Australia, New Zealand, and Hawaii (a bright spot in the year)! Also Baltimore, Nashville, and Chattanooga. A lack of a job is conducive to traveling...well, sort of.
What did you purchase that was over $500?
a replacement macbook pro
Did you know anybody who got married?
yes, in April. they're going to have a baby any day now!
Did you know anybody who passed away?
yes
Did you move anywhere?
to my aunt's house
What sporting events did you attend?
baseball and hockey, my sister's powder puff game...hmm, I think that's it.
What concerts/shows did you go to?
John Mayer, Steve Miller Band, Maroon 5, Eric Hutchinson, Rick Springfield, a few things at The Muny (does that count?), random other small concerts
Where do you live now?
st. ann
What's the one thing you thought you would never do but did in 2008?
bungee jump...I wasn't necessarily opposed to it, but I didn't think the opportunity would come up. everyone should do it, though!
What has/have been your favorite moment(s)?
well, the bungee jump is up there...that whole trip, I guess. also the obama thing
What's something you learned about yourself?
i'm all grown up and pretty comfortable with that
Any new additions to your family?
no
What was your best month?
November
What music will you remember 2008 by?
"Miss Independent" by Neyo, "The Show" by Lenka, "I Kissed A Girl/Hot 'N Cold" by Katy Perry (didn't kiss a girl, but it's a big 2008 song), "Dead & Gone" by T.I./Justin Timberlake, "You Found Me" by The Fray, "It's A New Day" by Will.i.am...okay I'll stop.
Made new friends?
yeah
Favorite Night[s] out?
Rebecca's birthday party and the night I wandered Hawaii
Any regrets?
killing myself at work for no reason
What do you want to change in 2009?
well, a full time job in design and my own place top the list
Overall, how would you rate this year?
ha, definitely the worst in terms of january-december (both grandmas dying 6 months apart in 2000/2001 would have to be the worst)
What would you change about 2008?
a lot of that stuff was out of my control, but i wish they wouldn't have happened
Other than home, where did you spend most of your time?
uh...hard to say, it varied
Have any life changes in 2008?
absolutely...several
Change your hairstyle?
bangs? don't know when i started them
Get a new job?
yeah, rather unfortunately
Do you have a New Year's resolution?
haven't thought too much about it
Did anything embarrassing?
tripped on my pants and broke my hand, for starters
Buy anything new from eBay?
i've never bought anything from ebay
What was/were your favorite purchase[s]
my computer
Get married or divorced?
no
Get arrested?
no
Be honest - did you watch American Idol?
not much, maybe a couple
Did you get sick this year?
nothing of significance, thank God
Start a new hobby?
flamenco and belly dancing
Been snowboarding?
no
Are you happy to see 2008 go?
DEFINITELY
Drank Starbucks in 2008?
yeah, Aaron works there
What are you wishing for in 2009?
a full-time job that i like, my own place, stability
Where did you begin 2008?
Janice and Jesse's house
What was your status by Valentine's Day?
single
Were you in school (anytime this year)?
nope, unless you count some online classes
Did you have to go to the hospital?
yeah, broke my hand
Did you have any encounters with the police?
yep, after the break-in :(
Where did you go on vacation?
Australia, New Zealand, and Hawaii (a bright spot in the year)! Also Baltimore, Nashville, and Chattanooga. A lack of a job is conducive to traveling...well, sort of.
What did you purchase that was over $500?
a replacement macbook pro
Did you know anybody who got married?
yes, in April. they're going to have a baby any day now!
Did you know anybody who passed away?
yes
Did you move anywhere?
to my aunt's house
What sporting events did you attend?
baseball and hockey, my sister's powder puff game...hmm, I think that's it.
What concerts/shows did you go to?
John Mayer, Steve Miller Band, Maroon 5, Eric Hutchinson, Rick Springfield, a few things at The Muny (does that count?), random other small concerts
Where do you live now?
st. ann
What's the one thing you thought you would never do but did in 2008?
bungee jump...I wasn't necessarily opposed to it, but I didn't think the opportunity would come up. everyone should do it, though!
What has/have been your favorite moment(s)?
well, the bungee jump is up there...that whole trip, I guess. also the obama thing
What's something you learned about yourself?
i'm all grown up and pretty comfortable with that
Any new additions to your family?
no
What was your best month?
November
What music will you remember 2008 by?
"Miss Independent" by Neyo, "The Show" by Lenka, "I Kissed A Girl/Hot 'N Cold" by Katy Perry (didn't kiss a girl, but it's a big 2008 song), "Dead & Gone" by T.I./Justin Timberlake, "You Found Me" by The Fray, "It's A New Day" by Will.i.am...okay I'll stop.
Made new friends?
yeah
Favorite Night[s] out?
Rebecca's birthday party and the night I wandered Hawaii
Any regrets?
killing myself at work for no reason
What do you want to change in 2009?
well, a full time job in design and my own place top the list
Overall, how would you rate this year?
ha, definitely the worst in terms of january-december (both grandmas dying 6 months apart in 2000/2001 would have to be the worst)
What would you change about 2008?
a lot of that stuff was out of my control, but i wish they wouldn't have happened
Other than home, where did you spend most of your time?
uh...hard to say, it varied
Have any life changes in 2008?
absolutely...several
Change your hairstyle?
bangs? don't know when i started them
Get a new job?
yeah, rather unfortunately
Do you have a New Year's resolution?
haven't thought too much about it
Did anything embarrassing?
tripped on my pants and broke my hand, for starters
Buy anything new from eBay?
i've never bought anything from ebay
What was/were your favorite purchase[s]
my computer
Get married or divorced?
no
Get arrested?
no
Be honest - did you watch American Idol?
not much, maybe a couple
Did you get sick this year?
nothing of significance, thank God
Start a new hobby?
flamenco and belly dancing
Been snowboarding?
no
Are you happy to see 2008 go?
DEFINITELY
Drank Starbucks in 2008?
yeah, Aaron works there
What are you wishing for in 2009?
a full-time job that i like, my own place, stability
Monday, December 29, 2008
Bucket List
This started as a list of things to do before I turn 30, but that seemed rather ambitious. I decided to make a "bucket list" instead, not necessarily in any particular order. The first part is all about travel--I've been to most major parts of the U.S., but not much outside of it. After that, it's just (mostly) whatever came to mind. I figure it's good to have ambitions, even if I don't get to do all of these things. I plan on making a substantial dent, anyway. Maybe I should start now...
1. Visit Italy (particularly Rome, Venice, Florence, maybe Milan) and Athens.
2. See Big Ben, Buckingham Palace, and Stonehenge.
3. Explore Bauhaus design and history in Germany.
4. Visit the Louvre, Moulin Rouge, and the Eiffel Tower.
5. Visit New York City during Christmas time.
6. Surf in Hawaii.
7. Road trip without a particular destination in mind.
8. Learn a second language and use it in the country of origin.
9. Walk the Golden Gate Bridge.
10. Take a bicycle tour or go backpacking somewhere.
11. Ride a donkey to the bottom of the Grand Canyon.
12. Take a cruise.
13. See Machu Picchu and Mayan ruins.
14. Visit Dubai.
15. Travel to the 9 U.S. states I have missed (Alaska, Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont, Massachusetts, Connecticut, Rhode Island, Oregon, Idaho).
16. Immerse myself in the center of a big city for at least two months.
17. Swim with dolphins.
18. Sleep under the stars.
19. Go white water rafting.
20. Go up in a hot-air balloon.
21. Rock climb on actual rocks.
22. Skydive.
23. Exhibit my photography at an art gallery (not a student one).
24. Sing a karaoke song by myself.
25. Compose a taiko song.
26. Minor in dance.
27. Dance or play in the pouring rain.
28. Flash a stranger once, like at Mardi Gras (oh well, why not?).
29. Spend a night in a haunted house.
30. Ride a motorcycle.
31. Ride a jet ski.
32. Ride a horse along a beach.
33. Learn how to golf.
34. Join a bowling league.
35. Protest something important.
36. Smoke weed, just to try it.
37. Learn a new skill at least once a year.
38. Shower in a waterfall.
39. Get married.
40. Have a child (or 2).
41. Run for office of some kind (even if it's just alderwoman).
42. Take a sick day when I'm not sick.
43. Serve at a soup kitchen.
44. Fly in a helicopter.
45. Go inside the White House.
46. Teach a dance class.
47. Hang glide.
48. Own a dog.
49. See an active volcano up close.
50. Bust out my real dance moves in a public setting.
1. Visit Italy (particularly Rome, Venice, Florence, maybe Milan) and Athens.
2. See Big Ben, Buckingham Palace, and Stonehenge.
3. Explore Bauhaus design and history in Germany.
4. Visit the Louvre, Moulin Rouge, and the Eiffel Tower.
5. Visit New York City during Christmas time.
6. Surf in Hawaii.
7. Road trip without a particular destination in mind.
8. Learn a second language and use it in the country of origin.
9. Walk the Golden Gate Bridge.
10. Take a bicycle tour or go backpacking somewhere.
11. Ride a donkey to the bottom of the Grand Canyon.
12. Take a cruise.
13. See Machu Picchu and Mayan ruins.
14. Visit Dubai.
15. Travel to the 9 U.S. states I have missed (Alaska, Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont, Massachusetts, Connecticut, Rhode Island, Oregon, Idaho).
16. Immerse myself in the center of a big city for at least two months.
17. Swim with dolphins.
18. Sleep under the stars.
19. Go white water rafting.
20. Go up in a hot-air balloon.
21. Rock climb on actual rocks.
22. Skydive.
23. Exhibit my photography at an art gallery (not a student one).
24. Sing a karaoke song by myself.
25. Compose a taiko song.
26. Minor in dance.
27. Dance or play in the pouring rain.
28. Flash a stranger once, like at Mardi Gras (oh well, why not?).
29. Spend a night in a haunted house.
30. Ride a motorcycle.
31. Ride a jet ski.
32. Ride a horse along a beach.
33. Learn how to golf.
34. Join a bowling league.
35. Protest something important.
36. Smoke weed, just to try it.
37. Learn a new skill at least once a year.
38. Shower in a waterfall.
39. Get married.
40. Have a child (or 2).
41. Run for office of some kind (even if it's just alderwoman).
42. Take a sick day when I'm not sick.
43. Serve at a soup kitchen.
44. Fly in a helicopter.
45. Go inside the White House.
46. Teach a dance class.
47. Hang glide.
48. Own a dog.
49. See an active volcano up close.
50. Bust out my real dance moves in a public setting.
Wednesday, December 24, 2008
Wake up call
I have been sort of distracted and reclusive since Sunday. The son of my good friend, Dave (from my old work), passed away in his sleep from unknown causes. He left behind a wife and 5-month-old son...on his 26th birthday, too. An untimely death always brings up a lot of questions and no good answers, and it once again makes me rethink all kinds of things.
I'm going to bypass the tricky "Why would God allow this to happen?" thing on here in favor of something a little easier: the law of karma. I used to believe in karma, but I'm beginning to think it is more of an exception than a rule. No one should have to go through anything like this, especially Dave. He is just an all-around good person and he could not have done anything to deserve this. (To make matters even worse, Momentum laid him off about a month ago.) My heart goes out to him, and it really bothers me that he is in so much pain.
I went to the wake because words just weren't enough, and I remembered how much that little gesture meant to me when my grandmas passed away. As a child, my parents used to drag me to the wakes of people that they knew but I usually didn't (living relatives of those people), and while I hated it at the time, it taught me to appreciate and understand the sentiment. Dave and I talked a little, but mostly hugged for quite a long time. He was basically my second father at work, the one who got my foot in the door there. He sent me a quick message on facebook tonight saying that it meant so much to him and apologizing that we didn't get to talk more (the line was ridiculously long!). I have been especially bemoaning the situation since then, and it has been on my mind all week, anyway. I can't imagine what he's going through.
It also puts things in perspective. His son had no history of problems, he was close to my age...it could happen to anyone. Even though 2008 has been one of the hardest years of my life, I have been constantly reminding myself that it could be worse. Sure, my timing was terrible, I lost "important" material possessions and in many ways, shed my old identity, but I still have so much to be thankful for. For starters, I'm still here, and so are you.
"You don't get to choose how you're going to die. Or when. You can only decide how you're going to live. Now."~Joan Baez
I'm going to bypass the tricky "Why would God allow this to happen?" thing on here in favor of something a little easier: the law of karma. I used to believe in karma, but I'm beginning to think it is more of an exception than a rule. No one should have to go through anything like this, especially Dave. He is just an all-around good person and he could not have done anything to deserve this. (To make matters even worse, Momentum laid him off about a month ago.) My heart goes out to him, and it really bothers me that he is in so much pain.
I went to the wake because words just weren't enough, and I remembered how much that little gesture meant to me when my grandmas passed away. As a child, my parents used to drag me to the wakes of people that they knew but I usually didn't (living relatives of those people), and while I hated it at the time, it taught me to appreciate and understand the sentiment. Dave and I talked a little, but mostly hugged for quite a long time. He was basically my second father at work, the one who got my foot in the door there. He sent me a quick message on facebook tonight saying that it meant so much to him and apologizing that we didn't get to talk more (the line was ridiculously long!). I have been especially bemoaning the situation since then, and it has been on my mind all week, anyway. I can't imagine what he's going through.
It also puts things in perspective. His son had no history of problems, he was close to my age...it could happen to anyone. Even though 2008 has been one of the hardest years of my life, I have been constantly reminding myself that it could be worse. Sure, my timing was terrible, I lost "important" material possessions and in many ways, shed my old identity, but I still have so much to be thankful for. For starters, I'm still here, and so are you.
"You don't get to choose how you're going to die. Or when. You can only decide how you're going to live. Now."~Joan Baez
Monday, December 22, 2008
I have a song!
My sister found this "Hey Julie" song (by the "Stacy's Mom" guys). Um, someone please sing this to me. :) This is just a student video, but I figured I'd post it because I kind of am this Julie (the song starts 40 seconds in). Doesn't this sound eerily similar to those freecreditreport.com commercials, though?:
This discovery sparked my curiosity some, and I decided to see if there were any other Julie songs. Apparently I'm popular in reggae music (and horrible, fake Ali G. reggae music) and an old country song by Porter Wagoner. In that last one, Julie's a party girl that runs away with a stranger, so Porter decides he's going to shoot them all. (By the way, if you do insist on singing me a Julie song, don't sing that one, please.) Hmm...this one is maybe a little more realistic and poignant, though more depressing than my actual life:
Lyrics | Levellers lyrics - Julie lyrics
This discovery sparked my curiosity some, and I decided to see if there were any other Julie songs. Apparently I'm popular in reggae music (and horrible, fake Ali G. reggae music) and an old country song by Porter Wagoner. In that last one, Julie's a party girl that runs away with a stranger, so Porter decides he's going to shoot them all. (By the way, if you do insist on singing me a Julie song, don't sing that one, please.) Hmm...this one is maybe a little more realistic and poignant, though more depressing than my actual life:
Lyrics | Levellers lyrics - Julie lyrics
Thursday, December 18, 2008
Sock and awe
An Iraqi reporter threw his shoes at Bush in a news conference Sunday, after shouting, "This is a gift from the Iraqis, this is the farewell kiss, you dog!....This is from the widows, the orphans and those who were killed in Iraq!" (Throwing/hitting things with shoes is a sign of contempt in Iraqi culture.)
In case you haven't seen it: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kELXEA7CoRE. Good reflexes! I'm actually glad the shoes didn't hit Bush, but I can't blame the guy that threw them. Bizarre, yet almost appropriate. I mean, throwing shoes is just a step above peaceful protest, anyway. Now we can all get in on it, too! sockandawe.com (Forty-six million hits and counting, but I can't seem to get above an 11!)
The Bush administration has been a bad joke, anyway. I have to admit, I'm fairly content that I get to watch Bush dodge shoes in his final days, both in real life and in a popular computer game. Fairwell, indeed.
And who throws a shoe, honestly?
In case you haven't seen it: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kELXEA7CoRE. Good reflexes! I'm actually glad the shoes didn't hit Bush, but I can't blame the guy that threw them. Bizarre, yet almost appropriate. I mean, throwing shoes is just a step above peaceful protest, anyway. Now we can all get in on it, too! sockandawe.com (Forty-six million hits and counting, but I can't seem to get above an 11!)
The Bush administration has been a bad joke, anyway. I have to admit, I'm fairly content that I get to watch Bush dodge shoes in his final days, both in real life and in a popular computer game. Fairwell, indeed.
And who throws a shoe, honestly?
Tuesday, December 16, 2008
This fortress
Mr. Gorbachev,
This is not a wall.
This is a fortress
Decades in the making.
Built out of deception and disappointment
And reinforced with fear and doubt,
Protecting me from something I can no longer define.
I am the guard
Of my own prison.
You cannot tear this down yourself,
But you can do some damage.
I am already under siege
And on my last line of defense,
Stalling for time
My entire life.
Opening up to the outside
And contemplating surrender,
In spite of myself.
This is not a wall.
This is a fortress
Decades in the making.
Built out of deception and disappointment
And reinforced with fear and doubt,
Protecting me from something I can no longer define.
I am the guard
Of my own prison.
You cannot tear this down yourself,
But you can do some damage.
I am already under siege
And on my last line of defense,
Stalling for time
My entire life.
Opening up to the outside
And contemplating surrender,
In spite of myself.
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