Thank you 2008, Welcome 2009!

2008 is coming to an end in the US. In other parts of the world, it has already ended and 2009 is already here.

I just wanted to take this opportunity to thank everyone who has made this year amazing for me in so many ways. 2008 was amazing and so much better than 2007. 2007 was a rough year for me and 2008 brought about so many good moments, blessings and opportunities in my life that made me remember how lucky I truly was and how strong I have become to overcome the major obstacles that I faced in 2007. Reflecting back on this year, I was reminded in so many ways how many people all over the world in the US, in the Philippines, in Japan truly love me and honestly, that feeling is mutual. I really feel like I am reflection of all those amazing individuals that are in my life, those who have passed and come before me, and am anticipating the ones I have yet to meet. Everyone's energy has been so amazing and I have many good memories for 2008 to make me feel happy with the life I am living.

We are in very rough times in the US and throughout the world, but I am still holding on to that piece of hope, that piece of positive change that 2009 will bring also many new opportunities, surprises, and changes that are still in store. I hope for the best and that extends to all the people that I love and care about in my life.

So along with the goals for 2009 that I will be posting on my wall soon with my lunar calendar, and my 2009 calendar, I will uphold a theme for 2009 as I did for 2008. For 2008, my goal of the year was honestly, "to be funnier". Now, even better, my goal for 2009, is "to be sexier". So watch out for that! It's going to be my year of embracing my feminine side, my strengths, and reclaiming what it means to be a woman.

Justin Timberlake couldn't have said it even better. Even though I'm not a huge fan, I can't knock him when he says "I'm bringing sexy back!" Watch out 2009, "I'm coming out!" ;)

Happy New Year everyone! Feliz Ano Nuevo! あけました　おめでとう！

I Love The Beatles

Tonight was a Beatles night for me. I watched "Across the Universe" again and listened to some of my Beatles records. This song was the one that reached out to me for some odd reason. I hope you can listen to it and enjoy it also.

We are a reflection of those that surround us

I slept over my parents' house last night and I slept in my old room that I grew up in. I looked around at the pictures on my wall and the things that I used to do and collect growing up, and I tripped out on the person I used to be. Before I fell asleep, I thought to myself, when I was 10, I had no idea who I was going to be when I was 25, and when I am 40, it will be the same thing. This time of year always makes people reflect on their lives, what they had or did not accomplish in this past year, and what they would like to achieve in the next year. Going home for me, always reminds me of who I used to be and always shows me how far I've come. Both good and bad memories come up during this reflective period, but the trajectory is always an amazing thing to reflect on, how I've developed and the person that I have become today.

I can't believe how much I've accomplished and experienced in the first 30 years of my life and can only imagine what else is in store for me.

I looked at my high school dance pictures and some of my friends have children, some are married, some have moved away, and some have made it big! One is a professional dance choreographer now doing choreography for Mariah Carey, Kelis, etc., another is doing makeup for fashion runway models all over the world, it's amazing to see where people you grew up with end up. These two moved away from home and went big. I've been in LA my entire life, and now, I am wondering if I will have to do the same to go big and follow my dreams. 2009 will be a new year that may reveal that to me and bring about that change. We will just have to see.

I look at my circle of friends some times and I am amazed at who is in my circle and who I know. They are really amazing people! I am very lucky and they are constant reminders of the potential I have to always go beyond myself and become better than who I am today. I will keep striving for more and keep finding the best of myself and in 10 years, l would be interested to see the person I have become.

The World in Pictures 2008 from the BBC News website

This morning, I spent over an hour watching the news on video, reading articles, and breezing thru pictures throughout the world. As much as we have so many blessings and things to be thankful for, we must not forget the ongoing struggles that are going on throughout the world every minute of everyday: the India-Pakistan conflict, the anti-government protests in Thailand, the destruction of the Amazon forest and all environmental changes occurring in the world, the on-going war in the Middle East, cholera outbreaks in Zimbabwe, worldwide global economic crisis with recession in the US, Europe, Japan, and more.

2008 turns into 2009. Cuba celebrates the 50th anniversary of the Cuban revolution on January 1, 2009 and in the Philippines the Communist Party celebrates it's 40 years of resistance and corruption against the Philippine government and US military and political presence.

Please send your thoughts and/or prayers to the individuals throughout the world who are battling for life on the day to day and as you face your day, let these pictures be a reminder of the change that still needs to take place in this world. I hope that you discover your personal role and responsibility in contributing to that change, as we are all agents of change.

Support fam, support Bam!

Mcees with something valuable to say these days is a rare thing. Filipino mcees with something to say these days, is even more rare.

Bambu, is a good friend and community organizer who wages war and inspires many with his words. Always a good person to watch and listen to on stage and even in the community. Glad to see he's on okayplayer.com now with this video. If you haven't seen it, check it out and support a friend, a father, a community organizer and a warrior. Introducing Bambu:


Bambu "Crooks & Rooks" Music Video (Broadcast Version) from Xylophone Films on Vimeo.

Emiko & the jump roping phenomenon

Emiko and SANO were over last night. We were going thru You Tube and Emiko said this is how she used to jump rope at 6 years old. Imagine her now! In fact, she said, this is how a lot of Japanese kids used to jump rope in elementary school. Amazing! Watch out Rocky, I think you have some competitors!

Single jump rope was not my specialty, but I will join you in some double-dutch. In fact, that was my favorite in elementary school. Recess got out, and I was doing double-dutch or always next to the big jump ropes. That or hop skotch. Taking you back?

Shoot, bring out the jump ropes! I'm wondering if I still have it in me?

Dancemasterz.net: Kito (NY freestyle dancer) and History of House Music

As with anything, it is important to know your history to help you to understand where you're going.

So it is also with dance.

Spending my night reading up on history and watching videos to help me understand where I'm going.  I've known about this website for almost a year now, but wanted to share it with those of you who are in love and want to learn like me also.  So check out the website, explore, and enjoy!

www.dancemasterz.net

Here are a couple videos from the website that I wanted to share with you.  Enjoy!

End of the year cleaning

I'm really glad that I started this blog.  I realize how much I miss writing.

It's that time of the year, when cleansing is necessary.  Out with the old and in with the new.  I feel like I need to make room for change in 2009.  I feel inside that there will be some changes coming so I want to make sure that even in my living space, I can get rid of things that are no longer useful to me to make room for things that will take it's place.

So definitely, the end of the year cleansing has begun and I hope to approach the new year feeling lighter, fresher, and ready for more positive change.  Sectioning off my apartment and taking things one step at a time.

Religion, politics, and art

Yesterday's visit to SGI prompted a good discussion on religion today with Emiko and SANO after our Japanese/Nihonggo class.

I had to say straight out, that I usually don't like to talk politics or religion with anyone, unless I feel that I am close to them, or that I trust them enough to open myself up about these two topics.

I have had my share of good and bad experiences especially when it comes to politics and religion.

It has been a long process for me for both topics and the beginning of this process I would have to say started when I was 17 and went to college.  That was a critical time for me because it was the first time I was out of my parent's house and the first time that I could truly develop my individuality and how I defined culture, politics, religion, identity, etc.  This is of course, a constant journey, but that is the time when I remember the deep soul searching began.

When I was in college, I double majored in Sociology and Social Sciences with a concentration on Multicultural Studies.  So I studied social groups, organizations, society, different cultures, mainly African and Asian American culture, because growing up in Los Angeles, where Latino/Chicano culture is prominent, I felt that I had a good grasp already with that history and culture.  But most importantly, what came out of this was I tried to take every class on Philippine and Filipino American culture that was available.  I took classes on religion and I took classes on politics and these were my best classes.  Not only academically, but what I learned from them and how they contributed to my personal development.  There was a balance of what I learned in the classroom and what I experienced from the day-to-day, comparing my past experiences growing up, being raised in a Filipino household in America, and how that made up my identity today or even when I was in college.  I spent so many afternoons in the huge park in the middle of my college campus by myself on so many afternoons, meditating and writing about my life and the things I was learning about myself.  Fortunately, when I started to have access to travel, it opened my mind even more and what I thought was me was transforming, my beliefs, my perspective on life, my views on things, started to expand thru conversations with others, myself, and even personal experiences.  This is what contributed to the creation of how I see politics, identity, and religion today.  Because this has been over a 10 year process, it is also indeed a personal one.

So where does the art come in?  Because I define myself as an artist and artists are constantly creating, I too had to create what religion, politics, and identity meant to me.  Asides from what we are told from the media.  Asides from what my religion was because it was my parent's religion or the dominant religion of my culture.  Asides from the politics that were taught to me because I was living in America.  I had to ask myself on numerous occasions what does all of this mean to me and how is it that I want to live my life according to what defines me and not what is defined by an institution or another individual.

They say ignorance is bliss and it is also an easy way out because research and going deeper into yourself is not always an easy process, in fact, it was a very difficult one for me but a rewarding one in the end.  It helped me define how I saw the world, what kind of job I wanted to have, what kind of people I wanted to associate myself with, on my terms by what I believed in.  It brought about a lot of tremendous growth, and it still is.

Bottom line for me, if it divides and causes destruction, then I am not about it.  I would rather build and connect.  That is one of the sole purposes of my life and is how I want to live it.

Everything has good, everything has bad.  With religion and politics, I have learned to take what I define as good and as an artist, I have created it into my own.  When people ask what religion I am, I say I am spiritual and not religious.  What people ask me about my political beliefs, that may envoke a longer conversation, but nevertheless, I can tell you where I am at.  Whether you choose to agree or disagree is your opinion, in the long run, I hope we can connect and build from what is good between us.  That is all that matters to me.

The Nicholas Brothers and the reason why I'm taking tap dancing

Lindy Hop dance from the 1940s until now

RackGaki - Japanese Graffiti Documentary 2006

Venice Beach during dusk

Sunsets always remind me that there is such a thing as a beautiful ending.

What I like about watching the sunset over the ocean is the multiple layers of color within the sky.

After SGI, I took Tsuto to Venice Beach because he had never been there.  After arriving in LA recently in September, I thought it was a must do/see.  We were able to catch the tail end of the sidewalk performers, the sunset, the shops, and the drum circle.  I was able to inform him about some of the most famous dancers, especially poppers, starting off and performing on the sidewalk of Venice Beach, among other types of performers.  I was also able to connect him to the roots of skateboarding and their origins at Venice Beach.  

After all these years of living in Los Angeles, I can still find my appreciation for Venice Beach.  It is one of the places that I still find pride in, when it comes to LA, and from these pictures I'm sure it will help you to understand why.

SGI bookstore

The SGI bookstore was the best part of my experience there.  There were so many books that I came upon that were very inspirational, just by the titles alone.  They reminded me of my values and my world beliefs that I try to uphold and maintain.  It also challenged my initial hesitancy in exploring their religion and opened up my mind to the positive beliefs that their religion offers them.

I'll keep my words short here and let the pictures speak for themselves.

SGI religious center

After we ate Ethiopian food, I went with Junko and Tsuto to the SGI religious center.  I have to admit, when Junko mentioned it this morning, I was really hesitant at first, because I have had some interesting religious experiences in the past from Christian to Buddhist, and some that were not always the greatest. Growing up, being forced into Catholicism, didn't really help me either.  So I wasn't too excited when she invited me at first, but I realized that I shouldn't close my mind off to something that I have never encountered yet, therefore, I decided to accompany them since I had no plans for the day.  Located on the corner of Venice Blvd and Fairfax Ave., I went with them to a multi-ethnic room of people chanting in Japanese.  It was awkward at first, but I did my best to keep an open mind, and I also found time to meditate while they chanted. (to be continued - Part 2 bookstore)

Ethiopian food with Tsuto and Junko

Today, I took Junko and Tsuto to eat Ethiopian food in Little Ethiopia on Fairfax.  I hadn't eaten it for a while and it was their first time trying it.  I was going to check out this religious place with them afterwards and it was near by, so we decided to stop by.

They loved it!  It was the first time that they had eaten food with their hands and we were all SO hungry that we ate it all up!  Of course, I always order the Asa Tibbs, my favorite, and Yedoro Tibbs.  Yeah, Merkato!  This was the picture, I took of them afterwards =D

Christmas Eve

Christmas eve is when my family celebrates Christmas.  I try to tell my non-Filipino friends that Christmas is the bigger holiday for Filipinos.  I grew up never really celebrating New Years with my family.  My parents would retire early after watching the count down and wake up early on New Year's Day to watch the Rose Parade on TV while my cousins and aunt would sometimes come over.

Christmas eve was so crazy at my cousin's house this year though.  My cousins friends were over and our family is growing bigger and bigger each year.  Everyone has children and everyone is getting married.  We have over 20 people at our family parties now, yet still SO much good Filipino food!  This year, the hard liquor was brought to the party, and then some other stuff, so a lot of people were outta their minds.  We took Patron Tequila shots and my cousins took shots of a lot of other stuff that once it turned 12am for people to open their Christmas presents, I had a niece that were knocked out in bed after throwing up all over herself, haha.  Christmas is always fun with my family though because there's so many games we play now and money is usually the prize from guessing the color of my cousin's underwear, to finding Christmas stickers in the house.

Good times shared by all.  This is a picture with me and my cousins' children.  Happy Holidays!

Paroles

In the Philippines, they make "paroles" around this time of year.  When I was driving down Temple Street in Historic Filipinotown, Echo Park, last week, I had to take a picture of the paroles that they have up against the light posts because it really reminded me of the Philippines.

They are much more elaborate than these but for those who have never seen them, I hope this picture gives you an idea.

FREE New Year's Day party with the Do-Over Crew

FREE Root Down party tonight - must RSVP by 6pm!!

Hope to see you there!  Why not, right?  It's FREE!  RSVP ASAP!

Approaching the end of the year and the beginning of a new one

Approaching the end of 2008 makes me want to go thru my apartment and do a thorough cleansing.  I want to sort thru things and get rid of the things that are no longer needed to make room for a new year of new things and new experiences.  That will be the goal in these next few days.  Good thing I am on my vacation and do not have to return to work until January 12.  There will be plenty to do and lots of people to catch up with =) 

Last night, Emiko, SANO and Richie were over and we were talking about going to the mountains.  First, the talk of New Year's made us want to have a nabe party, perhaps on the 2nd or 3rd if we can find someone willing to host it.  But secondly, Emiko had brought up that she wanted to go to the mountains which was a great idea.  Maybe, the next mission will be looking for a cabin, finding people to help pitch in, and the consideration of an affordable snowboarding trip this season.  All great ideas, I agree.

In the meantime, I wanted to share with all of you the meaning of "namaste".  My yoga teacher that I assist at UCLA had shared with us the meaning of "namaste".  She always ends every class with this word, but one time, she brought for us the meaning, which I thought was a beautiful one, enough to share it with all of you:

Namaste

I honor the place inside of you where the entire universe resides,

the place of love and light,

of peace and truth

where when you are in that place in you

and I am in that place in me

We are in the same place.

Of course, this is one person's interpretation of the word, but yet, in my opinion, it's a very beautiful one.

Have a beautiful day and share that positivity with others =)

Holiday dance card for you all! Enjoy!

Send your own ElfYourself eCards

Merry Christmas everyone!

Good times had by all.  Christmas, to me, is the time to focus on the abundance, rather than the lack.  In fact, everyday should be a time to focus on the areas in our lives where we are abundant and blessed.

These warped pictures were taken from my computer thru the program Photo Booth.  If you are not familiar with it, then you should definitely have fun with it.  For all the MAC computer users, you already know what I'm talking about and for all the non-MAC users, you gotta ask a friend who owns a MAC or get one yourself if you can and have fun with it!  It is SO much fun!

In these pictures, Junko, Tsuto, and Akiko (Left to Right) after our locking practice last night.  We had so much fun after practice!  This is what life is about!  Good times shared by all!

I hope you all have a good time, wherever you are with your friends, loved ones, and your family.  As this year is quickly closing and coming to an end, while we reminisce on the experiences that have shaped us this year, a new door opens in 2009 with greater memories ahead and greater possibilities of change and opportunity.  Manifest your desires, focus on the abundance in your lives, ask, and it shall be given =)

SOL of Hip Hop presents: DJ Source and DJ Rel

Check out another mix from DJ Source and DJ Rel for your listening pleasure:

http://solofhiphop.podomatic.com/

For more info. and mixes from SOL of hip hop, make sure to check out:

www.solofhiphop.com

New mix from DJ Rhettmatic of the Beat Junkies

Just click on the links below, download, and enjoy:

KHRYSIS ON THE BOARD WITH HEAT 2 - http://www.zshare.net/download/52829790608e06d6

KDAY MIX1 - http://www.zshare.net/audio/522111292b41142a/

KDAY MIX2 - http://www.zshare.net/audio/522105309134d436

and if you wanna check out J-Rocc's stuff as well, here is his blog site link:

http://www.stoneyjackson.blogspot.com/

Enjoy!

Tortured Soul is coming to Tokyo and Yokohama!

For all my Japanese friends in Tokyo and Yokohama,

It is rare to see live house bands these days, so if you find the time to escape from family and catch this band, you will definitely not want to miss them.  They are coming from NY/Brooklyn and are so worth seeing.  They are one of my favorite house bands, so if you like house music, you should try your best to catch them.  Sugoi!!

Clink on the links for more info:

http://www.bluenote.co.jp/jp/sp/246.html

http://www.motionblue.co.jp/top.html

Merry Christmas everyone!!

Sayonara Takashi

Takashi is leaving tomorrow, so tonight is the last night of celebration.  In this picture, Takashi is the bottom center person with the funny face =).  He is from Yokohama.  This picture was taken last night after the battle so everyone is really tired here.  From left to right (top row first): Hiroto, Tsuto, Akiko, Kumsae, Ken.  (bottom row): Junko, Takashi, and Takeshi.

We had a good time last night.  After hanging out at Akiko's place, we went to DEEP and ran into all these dancers that were there from the battle and even some that were not at the battle but were there because a lot of people did not have work the next day, and also because it was FREE.  The music was great the entire night!  90s house music mostly to more current selections.  The dancers definitely represented, and I got my dance on as well =).

Today I was able to wake up late and relaxed now that I am on vacation.  I am starting to prepare for Christmas and am getting all my gifts ready slowly, but surely.  My brother and I are not exactly on the best of terms right now so this Christmas will be a bit different than the last.  He'll be around for a week, and I won't.  I'll definitely be around Christmas eve though, and even though tension is there, he'll still get a Christmas present from me.  The rest is history, and time spent with family on my end will have to take place after his return to San Francisco.

Going back to Takashi, it was a pleasure meeting him.  I remember when I first met him at Homeland over the summer before I went to Japan.  I just had some visitors from Japan and he was one of the first Japanese guys I ran into at Homeland in Long Beach.  I invited him out to a club the following week, and it was thru him that I met Junko.  I met him and Takeshi at the same time.  I knew his stay was short, but man, does time flies.  That's the bitter sweet struggle I have of meeting all my Japanese friends.  It's exciting to meet people that are visiting LA or temporarily staying but there is also that one day when they will have to depart.  That is the sad part, but the beautiful thing is that the connections are made and there are more people for me to see and visit the next time I make it to Japan.  That is yet another chapter in my life that will take place someday, hopefully soon.

Tsuto's friend, Taka, also returned to Japan on Sunday, after staying in LA for one week.  He said he had a lot of fun out here and will hopefully return again someday.

Tonight is the last night of celebration at Carbon in Venice with all the poppers, lockers, and lovers of funk music.  Once again, for FREE!

Gambatte Takas!  Hope to see you again in LA someday =)

Lazy afternoon

Today, I woke up around 12pm.  That's pretty late but my body was so tired.  Last night, I went to Funky Soul, which has moved to a club that is only a 2 minute drive from my house, with Tsuto and Taka.  The best part of it was that it was FREE.  It was packed and so many dancers came out: b-boys and lockers.  Some of the lockers who were getting ready for today's battle. 

This morning, I started to clean around my apartment and get rid of the ants that have decided to invade my cupboards.  Then I received a surprise phone call from my friend Nickki, who I haven't seen in about 2 months.  She is an awesome popper and has been practicing so hard.  We both have so we keep missing each other, but it was good to touch base and have lunch with her and her sister, Lex, this afternoon.

I wanted to go to the battle, but I was so tired and I felt like I haven't really been home in weeks.  So I focused on cleaning and finishing up my holiday gifts.

I ended up watching more dance videos on YouTube: Rennie Harris' Pure Movement performance, Gwen Stefani's Harajuku girls, Nicholas Brothers, along with some good James Brown.

Now, I'm just resting getting ready for another night of house dancing at DEEP.  FREE again.  Can't beat that during these hard economic times, but still, I gotta keep on dancing =)  

Tsuto, Shuffle Crew (Tokyo) and Taka

This picture is of Tsuto, "Big T", Shuffle Crew (Tokyo) and his friend, Taka, who was living in Tennessee, and was visiting on his way back to Japan.  

Tsuto, is one of my current locking teachers and mentors.  These pictures were taken this past Tuesday, December 16, in my small apartment after we had a huge dinner of Soon Du Bu from BCD Tofu House.  Yummy!  

Dance pictures from waacking/voguing/locking classes

The first picture above was taken from Kumari's waacking/voguing class.  Guest instructors were: Tyrone "The Bone" Proctor (Soul Train and The Outrageous Waack Dancers Group) and Aus Ninja (G-Style, House of Ninja, House of Waack) on Saturday, December 13, 2008 @ International Dance Academy, Hollywood, 4-5:30pm.  

In this picture: Top row (left to right): ?, Yoko, me, ?, Tyrone Proctor, Ra, Sayaka, ?, Junko Sasaki, Akiko, Angelo, ?.  Bottom row: Onisha, Aus Ninja, Hiro, Asia One, and Kumari.

The picture below was taken from Anthony Thomas' (Janet Jackson, Rhythm Nation Tour) locking class on Thursday, December 18, 2008 @ Debbie Reynolds Dance Academy, North Hollywood, 8:30-9:30pm.  

In this picture: Top row (left to right): Tsuto, Yoko, Anthony Thomas, Taka, Ace & Tiffany. Bottom row: Mel, Shockwave, me, and Junko.

These are some of the people that inspire my world of dance and continue to push me to become better.  Thank you =)

Winter vacation has officially begun

It's my last day of work today and then I get to have 3 weeks of vacation and catch up on some much needed rest and personal time.

Times have been scary economically in California. People have asked me if I am going to travel during this vacation. I would have loved to take a trip like I usually do, but we have been informed that our job is uncertain and we are at least guaranteed until July of next year. Then after that, the future is unclear. When I first heard this news three weeks ago, I have to admit, I was a bit stressed out. But, now I have come to accept this as another progression in my life. It is true what someone had told me, when one door closes, another opportunity opens. July is 7 months away, and so I take each day one step at a time and use this period to really save for a possible storm that may be coming.

I'm still trying to maintain my positive outlook on life at this point. In fact, I told another friend of mine who may lose her job in January, much sooner, that when times are tough economically, creativity heightens. The most creative things have come from the poorest neighborhoods or the places where money was not abundant, all over the world. From art work, to dance, when people do not have much, then they discover creative means of survival. It is in these moments that we are asked to look inward and examine our true strengths and skills in order to survive.

It is scary, when the unemployment and homeless rate is rising, jobs are more competitive, and businesses that have been open since I was a child are filing for bankruptcy and closing down. Nevertheless, we cannot focus on the gradual losses, and it is an even more important time to focus on what can arise from the ashes.

Therefore, I have to remember to find the blessings that arise every day in my life. Today, I had a student that thanked me for the jacket that he received because I had recommended him for a program to get free clothing. His backpack was falling a part and he did not have new clothes to wear to school everyday. This really affected how he saw himself. These are things that we often take for granted when we don't realize what some of us have, and many people in the world lack. So, when he thanked me for his new jacket and smiled genuinely, I couldn' t help but recognize the simplicity and utmost gratitude that he held in his words yet also the power and influence of my job on his life. These are lasting moments that will always leave a mark in my memory.

I'm on 4 hours of sleep but 7 hours of fun times last night hanging out with my dancer friends from NY and Japan. Why focus on the potential loss ahead, when the present time presents many different people and experiences that surpass any material value and are well worth being thankful for.

A Dancer's World

My legs are sore.  I should have stretched before taking Emiko's house dance class tonight.  Even better, I'll just stretch after a warm shower before I go to bed.

I feel blessed as I reflect upon my week.  I can't believe how many great dancers have entered my life and are still entering my life.  I have to stop myself and ask, "how and when did this all happen?"  But of course, I do it with much excitement.  Emiko, is my house dance teacher and great friend.  Kumari, is my waacking/vogue teacher and good friend.  Anthony Thomas is my popping/locking teacher and motivator.  I am now training with Tsuto, from Shuffle crew, with my locking and all in one night, I find myself taking class with Peppa (b-girl) and having dinner with Asia One and B-girl Wendy.  This Sunday, Emiko and I get to hang out with Tiffany, my first locking teacher, and also good friend.  On Monday, I was hanging out with Richie, a good friend of mine who is an awesome house dancer and b-boy as well.  Dancers, all around me?  When did this all come about?  It's so amazing and so inspiring to be surrounded by such passionate individuals and artists.  I feel like I'm coming home.

Taking a class with Aus Ninja, from the House of Ninjas in New York and learning waacking from Tyrone Proctor, also from New York, Kumari's teachers.  They were in town for the Soul Train Reunion.  Inviting, Onisha, who is another awesome dancer, and hanging out with her man, Angelo, another awesome house dancer at DEEP as we danced to DJ Spinna.

I am in my happiest moments when the spirit takes me and my body follows the beat and the sound of the music as it escapes the speakers and enters my eardrums.

I can't even tell you how much dance saves me and how powerful it has been transforming days that sometimes start bad, but always end up good.

I am addicted.  I am in love.  I am home.

Lessons learned

This morning I had a difficult situation at work that I had to address.  It was an error on my part and it escalated into something larger with different individuals involved.  Nevertheless, it was handled professionally, and in the end, everyone felt satisfaction with the outcome.

One important thing I realized from all of this is that: it is our mistakes that make us stronger individuals and not fools if we are able to learn the lesson from that mistake and move on, so that when we are dealt with a similar situation in the future, we will have the knowledge and experience to remedy the issue and surpass that challenge.  This is when our mistakes transcend into our strengths.

During the entire experience, it was not necessarily a smooth ride, but nevertheless, in hindsight the outcome is positive because new knowledge was learned, new approaches, working with different personalities, and for me, learning that wording, approach, timing, and patience is indeed, everything, especially when conflict arises.

Welcome to my new blogsite!

So this is my new blogsite.  I will do my best to make postings regularly since I am rediscovering how helpful it is to make habitual written reflections in my life.  Thank you for partaking with me on this journey to exploring the inner depths of my soul and personal development as I travel thru the different realms that make me, me.  I hope you too can join me on this journey and maybe alongside we can find commonalities in which our souls can travel together.  I'll do my best to make this blog a bit more interesting with photos and images as well along the way.  Without further due, welcome to my world =)