Where'd 2013 Go?

My first NFL game was a very good time - I think I like football.  Tailgate partying which included a lot of beer and tipsy salsa dancing in the morning ... people watching while buzzed in the stands ... a suspenseful game to the end ... basically all the ingredients required for a great experience. Even as a neutral Canadian.  Okay maybe I was a bit biased - I was in Dolphins territory after all.

The next day I burrowed through the travel wormhole, which took me from plus 30 degrees to minus 30 degrees and PLOP! I'm back in real life Edmonton.  I slid gracefully back into scarves and gloves, brushing snow off my car, piles of drawings and spreadsheets at work and even finishing up my Christmas shopping.  A magical trick: avoid the craziness of the big malls and stick to City Centre.  A measly 3 bucks for parking on the weekends and there's a Jugo Juice to keep you going while you shop (I prefer Mighty Kale smoothies).  Added bonus: since it's not so chaotic, the salespeople are pleasant and stress-free.

Time is crazy.  I can't believe 2013 is ending already (hey, that rhymed).  And what a jam-packed and fulfilling year this was!  New travels.  Accomplishments in work and dance.  The last half of the year got so busy that I didn't have much of a "life"... but I sure did feel alive :) Now that my schedule is winding down, it's a treat to be able to catch up and spend quality time with folks.  I am lucky to have patient and supportive loved ones.  Including a big strong handyman who puts up with my schedule.

I am incredibly blessed period.

My heart goes out to those who are suffering so much at this time.  Haiyan victims ... refugees fleeing Syria and Sudan ... the list is too long.  If only every being right now could be clean, well-fed, safe and warm.  That's what I would ask for if Santa crashed through my window right now.

That and changing the length of a day to 40 hours instead of a piddly 24 :)

And it's Done.

Made it to semi-finals but not finals. Happy to be in tenth place for now, considering it's my first time and most of the team is new (we've only practiced altogether as a group for less than four months).

It was a privilege to experience competing among the world's best and to see them practicing backstage. Stuff like that can't be youtubed. To see how precise, how powerful (and sometimes how crazy) these dancers are on and off the stage is breathtaking. From South America to Europe to Asia ... They all share the same type of focused discipline.

Makes one realize what the human body and spirit is made of and what it can push through. 

Makes one hungry for more :)

Happy highlight tonight: during the social dancing part of the evening, a dancer mistook me for one of my favouritest dancers ever - Alien Ramirez! Totally made my night :)

Here's to my lovely teammates, who busted their asses in such a short amount of time to get to this experience. 

We Qualified Tonight.

After weeks of 6-days-a-week practices, we were able to qualify at the World Latin Dance Cup in Miami tonight :) Competing is definitely a different breed of performing.  The panel of judges, the high calibre of other competitors from all over the world ... It's pretty amazing and inspiring and overwhelming all at the same time.

It's 5am Miami time.  The rest of the team is asleep after a champagne hot tub celebration and I am about to hit the sack myself despite still having a nest of hairspray in my hair and faded bits of eyeliner that won't completely wash off. 

I'm excited to finally sleep in.  I'll need the sleep for a day of more practicing and fine tuning of our routine to prepare for semi-finals on Friday.  Plan B (if we didn't qualify) would've been to enjoy just watching the semi-finals and finals while squeezing in beaches and mojitos and dances.  And then there is the dessert after Plan A or B: my first NFL game on Sunday before heading back to our colder northern home.

Here's to my team: a bunch of beautiful and positive folks who continue to push and help each other in creative and crazy ways.

Leader, Symbol, Hero, Hope, Grace, Courage, Justice ... You Name It. He Embodied It All.

R.I.P. Mandela.

One of humanity's greatest, who left this world a better place.

I was deeply saddened when I found out he passed away today while I was driving home from work.

I was initially rushing home so I could get ready for a performance, but somehow time stood still for a bit and I had to think about this great man and his life.  What were his last thoughts of?  CBC said he passed away peacefully and surrounded by his family and friends.  May his legacy live on.

Memoir Binge.

I did end up reading the Solomon Northup's memoir, which was a surprisingly easy read.  I can't pinpoint exactly why I assumed it would be more complicated.  Maybe it was the impression that someone writing from the 1800's would use much more different English than today.  It's still definitely a more formal English (just like the movie), but the story flows so easily.  There is just so much dignity and grace in this man despite having been to hell and back.  How do you keep from being bitter and hateful after being treated that way and seeing so much brutality and horror?  Maybe it helps to have a cause to fight for.  Maybe that's why he survived. 

Mindy Kaling's memoir.  Hilarious.  What's not to love?  Immigrant family stories.  Nerd girl morphs into superstar pioneer brown girl of comedy.

Orange is the New Black was something my sister got me into.  I watched it on Netflix while I was at home coughing up a storm.  Again, I broke my read-the-book-before-the-show rule but I read the book anyway.  The book opened a whole new world for me.  I googled the real Piper Kerman and found out there was some flak about her being a privileged white woman who merely got to dip her toe in the prison world and easily jump out, while thousands of underprivileged women of colour are stuck in prison for smaller crimes.  I'll have to go with the creator of the show (Jenji Kohan) regarding this one.  I think that even though Piper's story sold well because she is indeed a privileged white woman, at least it generates discussion (and hopefully, progress) about this hidden and forgotten world.  Piper strikes me as another person with a quiet dignity, even though she is on the other end of the spectrum.  She is fully aware of her privileges but empathic towards those who clearly do not have the same advantages.  I felt like I was humbled right along with her while I was reading.  Empathy, people!  Get some.

Now that I think about it, I honestly don't know how I had time to read all this.  Maybe sick time helped.  Now I'm back to dancing every day.  And performing as much as possible to get into the performing groove to prepare for competition time in Miami (I leave in a week - whoa (c) Keanu).

And somehow I will squeeze in another book, which I've started already.  I'm taking a break from memoirs and jumping on Malcolm Gladwell's latest book about underdogs. 

Yes, I Say "Yes" Quite a Bit.

Just realized that while reading previous posts. The tendency seems to increase in proportion to how riled up I am.

I'm learning how important rest is (yet again) and am trying to shake off this cough by taking a break when my body tells me to - even if I am sad about missing practices. Seems to be working! Energy levels are on the upswing again. 

Going to make myself lie in bed now, but wanted to gush about who I got to meet this weekend: Margaret Atwood!! At the Festival of Ideas this year, Alanis Morissette and Margaret Atwood were brought together to chat onstage at the Winspear. It was fun to watch ... Especially since Ms. Atwood is one of my favourite authors. 

Even in her seventies she is vibrant and lovely and eloquent and full of wit. And a wearer of hot pink. AND promoting her latest novel (the third in the Oryx and Crake trilogy). My copy of MaddAddam is now signed and I can't wait to read it!

Okay gushing over. Bedtime!!

Just Saw 12 Years a Slave.

I was so unsettled that I had to stop eating during the movie.  I kept thinking that it was based on a true story, which kept me going through vicious cycles of awe, fury, pity and disgust.   

The performances were powerful and the scenes chilling and unforgettable.  Down to the sheer discomfort during the scenes where whites become sickeningly inhumane and psychotic in their treatment of slaves.  It is mind-blowing that there were people who actually thought this was normal and idealistic.  When I watch movies like this or read books like this ... I am reminded of why I will never be okay with using the "N-word."  Yes, words have power.  And this one carries behind it one of the worst faces of mankind in its history.  Of course black people have the right to own it and do what they want with it.  Yes, I like songs that happen to contain the word.  But no one else should be messing with that word today.  No one.  It just feels innately wrong!  I remember once being around a Filipina and a white girl who used the N-word as a term of endearment with black athletes (yes, they were groupies) and I cringed so bad I wanted to erase the memory forever (fail).  Plus I was especially (and instantly) embarrassed because of the Filipina girl.  Ugh I'm cringing right now. 

But I digress. 

There is no one big theme or message in the film.  There is no Hollywood emotional manipulation.  Instead you get a sense of the comings and goings of days, nights, hours, minutes ... in this mundane nightmare that is a slave's life.  One female slave in particular - Patsey - broke my heart (Just googled and it was captivating actress Lupita Nyong’o).  She was in the worst lose-lose situation.  There is no safe haven when the master wants you and hates himself and you for it.  And then of course his wife just plain hates you. 

So difficult to understand and believe that this evil existed not that long ago on this continent.  But it did, and this movie makes it so real it's scary.  Steve McQueen did an amazing job directing this.  The lead part, a free man who got kidnapped into slavery, was played by Chiwetel Eljiofor and he definitely mesmerized.  I smell Oscars :)

Again, I broke my rule and I didn't read the book before the movie, but I do plan to read Solomon Northup's memoir now. 

And I just discovered that the memoir is available for free online :)

 
Mind Farts
-Canada now fast tracking visa applications to help out Haiyan victims :)
-i remember racist white kids calling me "[N-word] Lips" in elementary (yes, kids were that racist even in elementary school. thankfully Edmonton's more diverse and multicultural now).  as an immigrant kid, that was my sad introduction to this stupid word.  so yeah, white people using it = not cool
-having full lips is not a problem nowadays
-another kid's parents called me a derogatory word for Aboriginal people.  seriously, what was wrong with the neighbourhood I grew up in?  it's bad enough that people didn't care enough to get my ethnicity right ... but even adults slamming a 10-year old with racial slurs - really?

-my kids will definitely be going to a ethnically diverse elementary school.  mandatory!  as you can tell, this movie got me all fired up

Richard Pulga.

This young man caught my eye when his interview popped up in the New York Times.  While trying to save his house, a coconut smashed into his leg.  His main worries during the interview revolved around the well-being and survival of his wife and kids.  He, a farmer, was their breadwinner.  Despite being injured, you can tell from the photograph that he was a healthy and handsome man prior to the typhoon.  While reading the article, I remember feeling a surge of hope that he would make it even though a doctor was pretty much dismissing the case, saying that the prognosis was poor.

Even if it was only a broken leg.

Unfortunately, the doctor was right.  Nutrients and antibiotics did not make it to Mr. Pulga soon enough and he very recently just passed away from infection.  Probably in intense pain, since painkillers apparently didn't make it to him either.

Now his biggest fears have been realized and his family is without a breadwinner.  What's even worse is that after the picture of his body next to his wife was taken, his body was unable to be found.  Most likely, it was taken to a mass grave.

R.I.P.  Mr. Pulga.. and all the others who have had to suffer unimaginably or leave this world because of problems with logistics and what's looking more and more like a Philippine government that is not able to properly take on the immense task of getting the victims food, water and medical help in a timely manner.  I know, I know ... this is an issue that can bring on debates for days.  I myself haven't been to the Philippines since 2004 plus I lack the knowledge to make a detailed and thorough judgement.  My first impression however is to side with Anderson Cooper on this one.  The government was not able to get on its feet fast enough.  Reading the comments proved how much Filipinos (both local and abroad) agree.  The public personalities that are pissed at the "negative" coverage need to face the painful reality and DO something about it instead of whine about being portrayed in a bad light.     

Life and death - days apart.  Photos from the New York Times

I can't even complain about all the snow that's falling in Edmonton right now.  How lucky am I that I can work, dance and eat when I please?   And that my family and friends are safe?  I'm one effing lucky bugger. 

Mind Farts
-thank you Shaw for making Filipino channels free during this time.  the news updates were brutally heartbreaking, but so important
-this obsession with the typhoon has brought about the realization that i need to be more connected with my country of birth.  i need to read more, understand more.  i mean, i love to read and how many Filipino novelists have i even read recently?  zilch. nada. zero.
-the realization may also have started to awaken in Hawaii, where i saw so many Filipino faces and saw the intertwining and similarities going on between Hawaiian and Filipino culture
-speaking of culture - i have a thing for first/second generation immigrants with stories to tell.  i love comparing notes about the awkwardness and difficulties of trying to adjust to North American life as a child.  just read Mindy Kaling's memoir and found it delightful and hilarious
-more laughter courtesy of Toronto mayor Rob Ford - how is he still in office?.  wow, just wow. i don't have any words

Leyte.

I can't stop thinking about the devastation of Typhoon Haiyan.  I know that it's the hot news topic of the moment.  I know that most of those around me are donating and concerned.   

There is still such an overwhelming sense of helplessness when I check news updates.  I have huge urges to help, and I'm almost ashamed that the only way I know how help is to donate money.  If I was a doctor or some kind of logistics expert then I could fly over there and contribute face-to-face.

Otherwise I'd just be yet another mouth to feed and yet another body to house, clothe and protect.  

Really though, I should just feel extremely fortunate that I can donate from the comfort and safety of my own home.

But I see the Filipino faces on the news and I can't help but think about my family.  If I was trying to save them and failed ... if I had to search for them amidst the destruction.  It hurts to even begin to fathom it.

I was told that my ancestors on my mother's side came from the province of Leyte (where the completely demolished Tacloban is).  The story is that they migrated down to Mindanao and cleared the land and founded Unidad, where my mom was born and raised.  She grew up by the sea, and slept in a hut and lived off the land.

So yeah, parts of my DNA come from Leyte.  If those ancestors decided to stay put, maybe there'd be a different version of me there somewhere.  Hungry and surrounded by death and destruction.

Maybe this extra connection is an extra contributor to my urges to keep checking for news about this tragic disaster.  And scrolling down to the bottom of the articles and reading the comments.  Over 90% of the comments are heartwarming and filled with empathy and goodwill, but there are those few that I absolutely cannot relate to.  The ones that justify the suffering based on the corruption in the Philippine government.

Guess what morons, it's a freaking Third World country.  What the hell do you think makes it Third World?  We all know that the government could use a lot of work.  But that doesn't mean you have to ignore the thousands who are in dire need.  If anything, this makes them even MORE helpless.   

Have a heart.  Seriously.

Dollar for Dollar.

The Canadian government will match you dollar for dollar if you donate to a registered charity to help out the victims of Typhoon Haiyan/Yolanda.  Thank you Canadian government.

Thankfully my family there is safe. Some property damage, but at least they are safe.

Thousands were not so lucky.

Help if you can.

That and Rememberance Day is on my mind today. Thanks to those who have served and sacrificed and continue to do so. 

I'm at work today, but it doesn't mean I won't take a moment to remember and give thanks.

Update: Canada is sending a DART team out to the Philippines even before an official request is made :)

More reason to be grateful to those who serve.  Doesn't have to be wartime.

[Insert Swoon Here] I Love Son.

Not "son" child,

but "son" music.  "Son" the traditional old-school dance.  Fedoras.  Smoky clubs.  Elegant suits.  Soft dresses.

I didn't realize it would ever come in handy!  I love learning choreography to it.

Totally takes me back to Cuba :)

two-three-FOUR ... six-seven-EIGHT ...  I'm gonna sleep with that rhythm in my head tonight :)

Now let's see if I can figure out how to fix a leaky faucet spout ... yikes.  Maybe a big strong handyperson can help me ;)

Back to Reality...

Back from yet another beautiful outdoor wedding.  Sunflowers, golds, yellows, oranges, trees.. everything was so pretty and autumnal.  Unfortunately for the first time ever, my phone completely shut down and I have no pictures of the event :(  A Filipino sin!!!

So no pictures to prove it, but I did have a blast.  Way more drinking than expected (pre-wedding, wedding and post-wedding) and I made new fun friends in different area codes.  Majority of whom, by the way, were lefties!  And artsy.  I have to say ... as much as I get teased about how "strange" it is that I'm not doing the baby-mama with a house thing yet ...

... it is kind of nice to be able to freely go and party with the single folks on the fly :)   

On the flip side, my cousins have the most adorable daughters.  I had a blast hanging out with them as well.  There's nothing like going for a nature walk with chocolate wine in hand, slightly buzzed, while surrounded by a cluster of energetic and hilarious little girls that love to play and have a ton of imagination.  Insects and plants become a fun new world of discovery: "Auntie Angel you're the BEST!! We LOVE this nature walk!"  That, along with the buzz, made me real warm and fuzzy inside.

Aunt and Uncle are doing well.  Cousins are doing well.  Cousins' kids are doing well (even the newlyweds' little one, a preemie, is looking healthy - complete with a killer smile).  Houston distant relatives are doing well.  It's nice to see my Texan relatives happy and in good health.  If only plane tickets were cheaper!  Or the distances shorter.  

Now it's back to my local grind: the almost wholly bi-coloured pie-chart that's 40% work and 40% dance with maybe 20% social and personal time.  I have officially been given more responsibility at work, which will let me practice some leadership'ing.  And there will be no leaving Edmonton until it's salsa competition time in Miami - which is a tad mind-boggling when I think about it too much!  My vacation days will be in the negative, but thankfully my boss and my company have some flexibility there.  Plus I foresee a lot of overtime hours next year to make up for it.

Mind Farts
-i might have several personality doppelgangers.  this is maybe the fourth time that someone has told me that i remind them of their quirky Filipina best friend :)  or maybe this is a goofy Filipina genetic thing?
-Texan shots must be doubly strong.  either that or being vegan also means getting drunk faster
-rest really is important.  i was scared all these days off would affect my ability to keep up with practices, but my body actually feels refreshed from the break
-a measly 3 months of maternity leave is a horrible American joke
-humble pie.  try some.  step one: genuinely listen to people.  you'll find out where they have come from and what they have gone through.  one of the guys i met this most recent trip showed me the neighbourhood where he grew up.  i thought he was joking about the ghetto.  he wasn't.  another one of the guys survived freaking chemo and now does martial arts on the side
-want to cover your butt?  stay organized.  or at the very least keep verbal agreements documented and dated.  it's saved my ass countless times.  countless!

-stereotypical but still true: a man that is handy = hot
-seriously.  why can't i go to bed before midnight?  fail, Angel, fail.
-i'm going to try sleeping in a weird frog position tonight to improve my center splits (a tip from my dance teacher after class tonight)

A New Edmonton?

So we now have a vibrant thirty-something-year-old young mayor.  He had my vote.  As per usual, I didn't get a chance to do my research until last minute (a couple of hours before I went to vote).  He seems like a curious, intelligent and extremely well-spoken guy who loves this city and is a bit of a nerd (a quality I admit I have a soft spot for).  I feel an excitement in the air for this place :)  This oily, multicultural-y, industrial-y, crisp-air-y spacious place.

Had to nap after voting and was late for practice - whoops!  This is why I shouldn't nap and why I should just make myself get decent amounts of night sleep.  I just don't know where the time goes!  

I did have a proud timing moment this weekend: I was able to bake a lentil loaf (easy recipe from the Vegan Stoner), recycle a costume and make it to a Halloween potluck party in a record breaking time of 1.5hrs! While running on 4hrs of sleep.  Big accomplishment for me!  And thankfully, the lentil loaf ended up being liked and eaten (I hadn't tried out the recipe before).

It was refreshing to catch up with a miscellaneous collection of people at different stages in their lives. Always gives perspective. I admire others and their abilities to juggle work and family and hobbies and chores. Relative to them, my life pie chart consists of big chunks of work and dance.  It's embarrassing, but sleep and chores have crashed on my list of priorities.  I can maintain around 5 hours of sleep and laundry and keeping the dishes washed, but that's about it.  Maybe I can use the Christmas holidays to pay more attention to my condo.  And sleeeeeeep.
 

At least I did leisure travel recently :)

Instagramming my Hawaii pics makes me miss the place.  Can you tell I'm digging collages right now?

But at least fall in Edmonton is pretty - that helps!

Plus I head out for Texas in 1.25 days.   No Austin (a.k.a. Vegan Heaven) this time but I'll get to hang with my Texan relatives at my cousin's wedding and it'll be nice and warm.

Speaking of which, I should get some packing done ...

Mind Farts
-the winter tires are baaack!  here we go.  i'm ready for you, snow!  okay maybe after Texas.
-poachers killed hundreds of elephants in Zimbabwe with cyanide - it breaks my heart :(  i love these intelligent and beautiful gentle giants 
-just because i'm nice doesn't mean creeps get to be creepy.  i'm getting less and less tolerant of this behaviour (probably a symptom of being in one's thirties)
-i can't seem to get sick of veggie maki
-Gravity was awesome.  it's tough to make deus ex machina fit beautifully, but i feel it really worked here.  i used to want to be an astronaut when i was younger.  now i'm not as excited about physical risk.  i'd still want to check out space if it ever got as safe as plane travel though
-Hawaiian royal history is fascinating - i can't get enough of it.  and i love the old pictures and royals' distinct Hawaiian faces in contrast with their European clothes - it tickles my brain

Oyster Slaves :(

Another cool shot from Justin:

I truly am mesmerized by conveyor belt sushi.

No, the food line up was mainly seafood, but at least I was still able to score salads and tofu and veggie rolls while everyone else enjoyed their sashimi and shrimps.

Speaking of non-vegans, I did something non-vegan in Hawaii without even thinking about it. 

I bought pearls :(

The inspiration came after seeing some sweet octopus Tahitian pearl jewelry in a Na Hoku ad. Then I started thinking about how pretty colored pearls are.

Then I bought some simple colored pearl jewelry without thinking twice about where a pearl actually comes from.  I mean, I knew it came from an oyster but I didn't really think about the whole process.

Then I googled it today.  Vegan fail indeed. Poor little things. 

Maybe this is taking it too far (carnivores).  Maybe it's not taking it far enough (hardcore vegans). I do realize I seem to be getting more and more "anti-cruelty" and it's seeping outside of just my eating habits. Yes, I am changing.  No, I don't want to preach to people, but I also know I am in control of my own choices.

No more buying pearls. Yes I might recycle ones I already own or inherit, but that's it!  There are other shiny colorful things in this world I can adorn myself with :)

Yup, I Love Hawaii.

Just as expected.  Now I'm back in cool, crisp, autumnal Edmonton.  Goodbye, tropical breeze and ocean sounds ...

The wedding was intimate and beautiful.  And I love the way my best friend Cherry and her now-husband combined their last names! 

Some amazing photos courtesy of Justin, the groomsman-slash-ring bearer:

I still need to upload my own photos.

Trying to recover from the 4-hour time difference, lack of sleep on the plane as well as going through withdrawal right now. Tomorrow's 7-hour double practice will be a tad challenging!

So Sweet :)

At my first practice this morning I was greeted with an early birthday surprise after stretching.  I *heart* the people I dance with :) 

Haha and I love the card:

So perfect too - I burned off that chocolate cake with several hours of dancing.  

After the second and last practice for the day my body is deliciously run down.  It hurts soo good. My legs and torso have been bent in ways I never imagined possible.  Strange how I now use pain as a gauge.  Currently doing laundry and packing.  Verrrrry slowwww laundry and packing.

Can't complain too much about this past year.  Work is still challenging in a very good way, with coworkers that also like to work hard and play hard.  Dancing has doubled and I love training in two styles of dance that compliment each other so well.  There was a bit of travel and even camping thrown in the mix, and now there will be double destination October (yes!)

As I delve further into my thirties, more and more I notice people becoming surprised at my age once they find out.  I'd like to think they are saying I have good genes, but there are also references to my lack of a house in the suburbs as well as lack of 2.5 kids and accompanying baby daddy.  

I can understand that point of view.  All the same, I'm realizing now that I am capable of being happy in many different scenarios.  I was drunkenly told once: "as a career woman, you gotta grow balls and figure out what you want, not just at work but especially in your personal life."  I drunkenly listened but I do still remember. 

I want a lot :)  It's just a matter of sorting out in what order!  In my case, the "sorting out" part tends to get pushed aside by what happens to gallop into my path at miscellaneous life moments.  And to mix things up even more, sometimes I don't realize I want something until I encounter it in a mindblowing experience kind of way.  It's entirely possible that I will end up purchasing a pony and then discovering a new obsessive hobby that takes up 80% of my time and then have 1.5 kids and then maybe it doesn't work out with the baby daddy so I buy another pony and then write a book and then come across another baby daddy at my book signing and then finally end up in the suburbs.  By the beach.  Near a vegan restaurant.      

Some Dignity, Por Favor.

Just saw the NY Times photos of the terrorist attack at Westgate mall in Kenya. They were amazing photos but I am saddened at the photos of the bodies. You never see Westerners pictured this way when tragedy strikes our side of the world.

When was the last time you saw a white person portrayed this way after a horrific event?

What if that was your loved one laying on the ground in his or her own blood? And having the picture splattered all over world media?  The thought makes me sick.

Just saying. 

I am all for exposing the truth. Without pictures of Syrian chemical warfare casualties, would the emotional impact on the rest of the world have been less? 

I don't know where the line should be drawn. It is such a freaking fine line though. 

Keep Doing What You Don't Understand!

Feeling nice and loose, but need to stretch my feet.  The big toes are migrating outwards.. noo pronation noooooo!  This what I learned from a three-hour stretching workshop tonight.  High heels are not the best for me, but I am going to try to work around them with all this new info.

Before Pilates class last night I helped teach a beginner salsa class after work. I love the energy of beginners - it makes me recall falling under the salsa spell.  Awesome guy to girl ratio too! Nice to see more males putting themselves out there, despite the fear of looking funny or awkward.

If they do it to meet girls - hey, I can't knock it.  There are a lot of confident, flavourful women in salsa.

If they do it because they can't help it and don't really know why, then even better!

I say if you keep doing something and you're not exactly sure why, then all the more reason to keep doing it.  It's the universe trying to tell you something.  (Disclaimer: does not apply to murder, hurting others and stealing).

Reading ... writing ... dancing ... not eating animals ... not killing animals ... good karma ... these things feel "right" to me.  I've stopped questioning why and have learned to just go with it.

It's not all about fun and games either.

Does getting up early for practice feel great after a late night of drinking and dancing?  Do I have easy morning wakeups after staying up late reading?  Do I stay pain-free as my toes and legs are being bent in unnatural ways?  Do I enjoy being made fun of just because I choose to stick to a plant-based and cruelty-free lifestyle?

Not really.

But overall I feel the best I've ever felt.  I admit that one challenge is trying to find others that relate.  I can find many that relate to one or two of the things I am inexplicably drawn to.  Fellow dancers who love to read!  Fellow engineers who love to dance!  The one exception is being veggie.  Not many of those around here.  (I did however find a pseudo-unicorn - a male dancer who is trying to go more vegan.. but I don't know if "trying" counts)

There's gotta be a vegan mecca out there.

PETA says the Number One Top Vegan-Friendly City of 2013 is ... *drumroll* Austin, Texas!  Heyyyyy, I'm going there next month!  October will be double wedding month for me.  And happy happy joy joy - the bridesmaid dresses aren't tacky :)

Now I'm even more excited to go to Austin.  It won't hurt to scope out vegan mecca ;)
But first things first: double wedding month will kick off with Honolulu (which I already know I will LOVE).

Before I go lay in bed with a book (I swear one of my big pleasures is taking my physically worn out body to bed and lying there with a book until I pass out), I want to share something funky ... a talented friend painted a quick portrait of myself and another friend :) 

September Mountains.

Despite recent change of plans to go camping for the long weekend, a very nice gentleman was able to secure a sweet camping spot for us over the long weekend.  By some magical fluke, we got to set up tent near this:

Fresh air, spectacular views and appreciating the effort it takes to put together shelter, food and fire -  I understand this part of camping.  Hey, as long as I have access to a toilet and running water.. I can handle a couple of days.  Gimme access to a shower and I believe I can go even longer.

Third world parents (mine included) tend to think of "roughing it" as a societal fail.  To actually pay to escape indoor plumbing and a safe warm bed must indeed be puzzling to those who have had to bust their asses to enjoy their right to a comfortable home.

Then again, I think almost any hustling, bustling city person can understand the peaceful lull that the wilderness brings.

The Rockies = Alberta's majestic side.  We hiked Parker Ridge and the very windy top offered a lovely view.  So windy that my eyes were tearing and my hair was whipping in every direction.  Not a cloud in the sky so we were able to take cool blue sky pictures:

It's September now but the weather is still fabulous.  Maybe I should be sad that summer is leaving soon, but it feels like my schedule will still be the same anyway.  The only difference will be having to wear more layers outside as I rush to/from the car and having less sunlight each day as I'm driving around.

Speaking of which, must sleep already and join the real world in the morning.  Unpacking and laundry done :)

So Fresh, So Clean (c) Outkast

When I get a field markup from a male and it's extremely neat and precise ...

Highly highly appreciated :)

And a "Heinz 57" Canadian male at that!

For some reason many North American men have chicken scratch for writing and it's always been a mystery to me. There have been times where I've actually been able to pinpoint someone's ethnicity from his handwriting alone.  For instance, Philippine-bred Filipino males have beautiful "drafting standard" writing.  My dad included :)

Ok back to work. Was so refreshed that I just had to put that out there!

Warm Fuzzies :)

I was doing my regular late night trolling for groceries when something happened that made me warm and fuzzy inside.

I was waiting in line.  The pleasant Filipina lady at the front was exasperated to find she had left her wallet in the car. And what did the guy in front of me do?

No, he didn't roll his eyes.

No, he didn't sigh and mumble swears under his breath.

He paid for her groceries!!

She frantically ran to her car and back to get her wallet so she could pay him back, but he wouldn't take anything.  She finally forced him to take a twenty.  She was extremely grateful.

All of us in line couldn't help but smile.  A lot.  The cashier too.

When things like this happen, I want to hug Edmonton. 

Randomness: sometimes, internet searches take me on a detour and I discover an inspiring woman.  For instance, I was reading a IEEE article on Edison inventing the technical term "bug" and ended up finding out about Grace Hopper, computer scientist extraordinaire and inventor of the compiler in programming.  Plus she served in the Navy.  IN THE FRIGGIN 1950s!! What female does that in the fifties?!?!  An amazing groundbreaking one.

She retired with rank of commander at 60, but served again and retired involuntarily when she was 79.

Kudos to you Ms. Hopper :)

Going Green.

Pros:

-an ice cream truck comes to the office on Wednesdays now

-we get free ice cream courtesy of the company

-a bunch of office folks feel like kids again

Cons:

-extra calories

-I don't do dairy if I can help it, so I go for a popsicle instead

-the popsicle is green

Me thinks I should keep a toothbrush in my desk at work.

Oh well, at least I burned the popsicle off with a couple of dance classes and a mini-practice after work.  The first class was quite intense and parts of my ribcage that I didn't realize existed got sore.  The legs are a little mad at me right now.   But I'll be going to bed with chanting and drums in my head tonight :)

Oh - I read a Ryan Gosling's "A Tiny Cage is Not a Life" article in the Globe and Mail and thought he was vegan for a short while ("Maybe male vegans aren't really unicorns after all!  Is this what all those hey-girl memes are about?").  Turns out he's not a vegan but he is an animal rights activist.  I can definitely dig that.  Especially since I still have yet to meet a male vegan in my social circles anyway.  Or even female vegan.  Female vegetarians, yes.  Male vegetarians, yes.  Vegans?  Former vegans that are female, yes.  Male vegans?  The unicorns of Alberta.

Hello, Planet Tired.

Guess who had her first Afro Cuban performance? 

Si.
Moi.
Talaga!
Yay!

Plus I got to share the moment with loved ones :)

Next one up is Calgary Expo Latino.

Quite a happy opportunity for me, especially considering just even earlier this year I would've never guessed I'd be able to perform such a beautiful and soulful dance form.

For a little while I thought the performance wasn't going to happen because out of nowhere, it started raining really hard.  And then HAILING.  In August.  I was walking to my car and getting pelted in the head with hail for the first time (I know, eerie that it hasn't happened before in my Canadian life).  This was just about an hour before the performance was scheduled.

But sure enough Alberta-style, the weather quickly switched back to clear and sunny and the Latin Festival was back in full swing. 

I finally managed to tire myself out this weekend.  Apparently the price of my ticket to Planet Tired consists of consecutive weeknights of four hours of sleep and at least three hours of sweaty activity each night.  Even though I finally managed to get a decent amount of sleep last night I'm still deliciously sluggish on this double-practice Sunday.  I even had a nap just now while trying to catch up on laundry.  Ahhhh.  So. Good. To. Take. It. Slow.  I've been bouncing around even more than usual lately: working overtime but still able to dance doubletime or swing kettlebells in the evening.  No tiredness until yesterday. Yup, I still definitely 'blame' veggie power.

I'm trying to round up enough energy to cook my lunches for the rest of the week.  I'm thinking low fat vegan Pad Thai but in rice form since it's too much effort at the moment to get out of my condo and buy noodles.  It's nice to at least have the base ingredients handy in my kitchen (insert moment of pride here).  Hopefully almond butter is a sufficient substitute for peanut butter!

Mind Farts
-i don't think steel cut oats are friends with my intestines.  or maybe i don't cook them well enough.  either way, i'm staying away from now on!  a breakfast that takes more than 10 mins to make won't work for me anyhoo
-amazing local vegetarian discoveries: fake ginger beef on rice at La Pagode and fake lemongrass chicken on vermicelli at Veggie Garden
-oh, and Costco sells a yummy rice-based Gardenburger as well - who knew?!
-met my new financial adviser this weekend.  the Ethiopian accent is pretty, precise and sharp.  the rolling of the R's and the pointy T's?  scrrrrrumptious to listen to
-grew some balls and agreed to see the Conjuring with my sister (only because Rotten Tomatoes said it was going to be worth it).  spent half the movie staring down at my lap and still got freaked out.  sheesh - it's so much worse when it's based on a true story!
-got to see a famous Cuban salsa star and his band perform here in good ol' Edmonton (the very same one I got to meet in Cuba back in November).  it was sweaty and amazing, as predicted, just like a mini slice of being at Casa de la Musica in Havana again

Sucker(s) for Punishment.

I *heart* animals. 

 

Even if I don't really know what they are.  I think the one above is a gopher.  

Panorama is pretty!  Rained a bit - not enough to ruin the wedding fortunately - but it was nice to do not much else but celebrate and drink and eat baked ketchup chips (which is what I lured the gopher with).

There was a gondola right by my room.  I discovered it while getting ready in the morning. Seeing people fly by in the mirror reflection is always a good wake up.

Speaking of wake up calls, the couple that lives across from me is having a domestic dispute again.  She seriously needs a reality wake up call.  From the sounds of the fighting, it seems like she is supporting a deadbeat boyfriend who cheats on her while she's away working her butt off.  Fail.

I'm toe stretching again.  My toes are on a whole new level today.  My teacher bent them the complete opposite of the way toes naturally bend (the ballerina way) at practice today and that was super killer.  At times, the suffering actually made me nauseated.  But maybe I'm a sucker for punishment, because I am still fascinated with Afro Cuban dance and so I keep on. 

Mind Farts

-the Oatmeal is one guy?!?  and hilarious and a dog-lover :)  he wins in my books!

-oh Cuban rum ... you never fail to soothe

-a talented dancer had to quit dance training because of her jealous significant other.  le sigh.  that makes me sad.  it's such a waste!  since when did ultimatums = love?  i understand that ultimatums are at times necessary ("please give up crack cocaine"), but i don't know about asking someone to give up something he/she loves to do - especially if it doesn't harm anybody.  makes me grateful that i don't have to feel guilty for my hobbies

-beans and rice make me happy

-so do veggie maki rolls

Toe Stretch!

Yum. Cauliflower 65.  My favourite dish at Taste of Edmonton this year.  Yay for veggie dish hunting!  The story behind the "65": this was appetizer number 65 at a popular restaurant in Mumbai.  It's like an Indian sweet and sour dish.  I haven't checked out many Edmonton festivals this summer.  Missed K-Days and will be missing Heritage this weekend because I'll be in Panorama for a wedding.  I really should be packing right now.

I am currently stretching my toes for the sake of my poor feet.  This week included kettlebells, double practices and workshops and social dancing. Double practices mean I have been training with an Afro-Cuban group in addition to my "regular salsa" group.  It's awesome - I've loved Afro-Cuban dance ever since I first saw Cubans do it.  Difficult though.  Even the warm up with the group is difficult.  It is one of the toughest physical things I've done.  Talk about pushing limits!  There's some ballet and contemporary thrown into the mix (which I've never done) and my respect for ballet and contemporary dancers just shot up even more.  If I was ever looking for a new challenge, this is it.

I did end up getting a copy of Chimamanda Adichie's first book Purple Hibiscus and it was a beautiful read, just as I expected (despite hyping her up in my head so much).  The writing is so simple and unpretentious yet it captures so much.      

I also read Lean In by Sheryl Sandberg and enjoyed it.  Partially because it's so relevant to me.  Partially because I can feel her energy jumping off the pages.  One might take a look a the book and think "oh, a powerful woman leader trying to lift up other women" but it is so much more than that.  That's the thing - feminists don't have to strictly be angry women who refuse to shave or wear bras (even though I thoroughly respect that).  Being a feminist female means that you want to be able to do your own thing without being held back or judged.  And yes, of course a man can also be feminist.

Unfortunately, men can get judged for being modern thinkers too.  Just because you are okay with being the primary stay-at-home person doesn't make you any less manly. 

Maybe you can't have it all, but in this day and age I believe it is possible to have a whole lot :)

Says the woman who is packing and toe stretching after 2AM.

Mind Farts
-i'm in love with Allen Stone's voice.  i'm still amazed that he looks like a regular white dude in a toque
-there are some lazy ass engineers out there!  fortunately not at my office, but i recently encountered one that made me wonder how the heck he even made it through engineering school
-just because a man can dance doesn't mean he's less manly either.  shirtless professional dancer vs. shirtless beer belly ... mmhmm ... just saying
-baked ketchup chips nom nom nom nom

A Quiet Sunday Jog.

Just me and the river valley :)

I am a Writer's Groupie.

I have a lady crush on Chimamanda Adichie. While eating my pre-jog oatmeal, I stumbled upon an interview with her on CBC and she is delightful!  With her velvet voice and her casual laughter and her witty insight on worldly women in a sometimes not so worldly America.

Personal reminder to myself: pick up some of Ms. Adichie's work :)
And watch her TED talk too. 

Now off to pound the sidewalk in the sunshine for a bit before my jam-packed Sunday.

Focus and Perspective.

It's been a full couple of months.

Performed again at the Saskatoon congress.  My best and not-so-best performance at the same time.  Seconds into the routine, I started to notice my fake eyelash in my vision and started to panic, thinking my costume was falling apart.

Quickly realized that my eyelash was not connected to my costume and attempted as quick a recovery as I could.  My partner was amazing and totally stayed calm and kept it together, keeping me together in the process. The rest of the routine was fine.  But there's nothing like a capture of your moment of non-synchronization to keep as a reminder of a lesson learned:

I'm glad it happened.  It's a lesson in focus.  Must keep it together no matter what!  Eyes on the prize.  And that prize is the moment :)

Came back to my first ever slashed tires incident, which strangely enough was a silver lining: I was forced to fix my steering, suspension and alignment.  I probably put more into the car than its selling value.  When it rains it pours, because my condo was also smacked with a special assessment.  Bills, bills, bills in my face!  I can't complain, because the condo just south of me is suffering from a special assessment ten times larger. 

I was still rewarded with a uberfun trip to Vegas for bachelorette party, where sleep was replaced with dancing and alcohol and high heels.  In the picture below I am running on exactly zero hours of sleep.

So worth it!  Met some lovely and interesting folks.  I'm still streaming dance music because of that trip.

Again, I gulped down veggies whenever I had the chance.  Again, recovery as a veggie lover was fantastic.  Same with coming back from Saskatoon. Was at work the next morning for both trips despite arrivals after midnight.

Managed to squeeze in some mind enlightenment too.  Went to my first TEDx event (I *heart* TED talks).  This one was in Edmonton.  The theme was "The Future of ... "

Met Fred Penner :)  He talked about the future of children.   I really enjoyed the talk about the future of sabbaticals by author Todd Babiak.  There was even a talk about the future of food, by a *gasp* male vegan!! Only in his 30s, and CEO of a plant-based food research company handpicked by Bill Gates.  I am fascinated because male vegans are like unicorns in Edmonton.  I have yet to meet one (I know, I know ... it is Alberta after all).  Even my male friend beside me joked around about throwing a steak at the vegan CEO. Le sigh.

It's beyond crazy what's been happening in Southern Alberta.  I went from 40 degrees in Vegas to a tornado warning in Edmonton and now there's been massive flooding in Calgary and Southern Alberta.  Even my office is affected - the majority of our client headquarters are in Calgary.  I've resorted to using the delays to catch up on a bunch of work (mini silver lining).  When I see the pictures and the footage of the flooding, it's such a mind trip to think about it being so close to home.  

Mind Farts

-for a good time, walk into a salsa after party on your dance partner's arm while he is wearing a thrift store faux fur coat with fedora. haha thanks Macklemore  

-for an even better time, steal the coat and fedora:

-my knees are in decent shape again!!  after just TWO treatments from a neuromuscular therapist.  it's amazing what better alignment and awareness can do for you

-i did some heavy deadlifts with a barbell for the first time.  it was kind of awesome, i managed to do accidental 140lb deadlifts

-i still love my Nexus 7.  the size and feel still really works for me

-i received the most beautiful, creative and funky wedding invite from one of my bestest friends - a lime green Canada passport and boarding pass housed in lovely carry-on luggage and accompanying red Hermes wallet ... felt like a very spoiled maid of honour! :)  Hawaii here i come!

-i am semi-obsessed with a child talk show host in the Philippines. that's right! child talk show host. she's not even 8 yet but she's witty and can work the crowd. she's like a real life Dora!

-get well soon Mr. Mandela ... the world is praying for you

-i need to go to bed earlier.  like, seriously.  like, now.  ok, i'm out

Juice!

Made it to practice this morning in fairly good shape despite a ladies night out.  I find that as long that as I don't drink too too much alcohol and if I gulp down at least three glasses of water before going to bed, I'm good to go the next morning.

Now it's laundry + cook my work lunches time.  My winter tires are off and it's finally gorgeous outside (hellooo spring!) but one can enjoy sunshine from inside too (although I did manage to enjoy a bit of patio time after practice).

Exciting news - I found a 700W juicer for 40 bucks!  At XSCargo, magical discount store of randomness.   I even found an ab wheel for a few dollars.

I admit I was skeptical about the juicer being so cheap but lo and behold - it works!!  I even attempted pseudo banana bread using the juice pulp.  The bread tasted good, but crumbled too much (this might have been because I accidentally poured too much applesauce in - my own fault because I'm an "eyeballer" - I never measure everything out perfectly).  So far pineapple and apple are my favourite sweeteners for juicing.  Makes kale, spinach and carrots taste fantastic.  Today I am debating on whether or not I should try to save juice pulp and make something again.  Maybe in muffin form, so crumbling is not such an issue.

Okay I just re-read the above paragraph and weirded myself out. So grown-uppy.

Mind Farts

-"Che" mojitos at Rouge Lounge are awesome!  that place is underrated

-uh oh, bursitis has left my left knee and seems to have attacked my right knee.  i think my tendons and ligaments need to "catch up" to my muscles (been reading about it).  another tip was loading up on omega 3's.  i've graduated to flaxseed oil instead of fish oil.  Superstore has definitely stepped up its natural foods game.  i love that they have sprouted chia and flaxseed powder, vegan snack bars and even Vega protein

-my dad is now 62!  looks like he has my grandma's age genetics.  he definitely looks younger than his age.  Filipino genes, i guess.  hope they work for me too!  last night younger men thought i was 10 years younger, which was flattering (or maybe they just know how to flatter women in their 30's ... haaaa! smart!)

-my worlds are colliding - took some coworkers to a Salsa Thursday night and we all suffered Zombie Friday the next day.  they did enjoy the night, which was fun to see.  round two is in the works.  this is the result of an influx of new people at work who are still single and child-free

Nerd Shopping Complete!

Red case and USB cable are now here. Time to play during my lunch and see what I can do with an old school calculator!

Performing.

It still feels good :)  Hadn't done it in awhile and I was a tad concerned it might not be the same anymore, but it's definitely still an amazing rush for me.

Yay for the Calgary Salsa Congress! (and associated after after after parties)

BTW ... becoming more vegan = shorter recovery time from salsa congress.  I usually need a full day to recover, but I was back at work right away with no repercussions.  

Nerd Fun.

I just shopped for accessories for my good ol' TI-89 calculator. Items bought:

-translucent red sliding cover (5 bucks!!!)
-USB data cable so I can update my calculator as well as download the EE*Pro app (who knew that old school calculators had downloadable apps?)

Thanks Texas Instruments. Speedier transformer and line calculations here I come!!

A Surreal March.

Crazy snow! It's spring - supposedly.

About to leave work.. Let's see how long this takes, judging from how parking lots nearby look.

Sniff, sniff.

66 emails. That's what happens when you have to send your work laptop away for two days (even though the silly thing decides to start working again once the IT person takes a look at it).

I've started to chip away at the emails but the tantalizing scents of other people's lunches keep distracting me. When you work with mainly Indian and Chinese engineers, you can bet on being surrounded by delicious smelling lunches!!

I should eat my lunch now that my stomach's wide awake.

In the meantime, I leave you with Instagrammed cinnamon apples.

I'm Late.

With Instagram. I mean knew about it before, but I didn't realize how addictive it is!

Here is my first pair of pro grade kettlebells Instagram-style.

I've been using cheaper bells at home until today.  Renegade rows on unstable bells = bad idea.  My left wrist is mad at me now :( Hence the mini-splurge on some nice solid stable bells.

Colour!

I continue to crave even seafood less and less. I'm reading some Joel Fuhrman and appreciating my current food lifestyle more and more. As my love affair with veggies ensues, I get excited about new bright colours.

Check out this purple potato from my mom! I believe it is a Filipino dish. Mmmm work lunch for tomorrow :)

Que?

Fortunately the Earth wasn't obliterated by the Friday asteroid.  Went to Calgary this long weekend to see the beautiful crooner that is Prince Royce.  Gorgeous voice - he sounds just like his albums.  One of us (the birthday girl) got pulled on stage, which just topped off the experience. Plus I managed to survive almost getting trampled by a herd of lovestruck Latinas!

Mind Farts
-i really need to learn Spanish already.  we were in the front and Prince Royce called us out for not knowing his lyrics - haaa!
-no snow in Calgary (lucky bastards) = relaxing day hanging out in the Kensington area - pretty!
-beet salads are fabulous
-hurray for long weekends!  finally cleaned my floors and about to finish up laundry :)

I am Will Power Master.

Success! I resisted Mr. Valentine Donut for over 8 hours :)

Now off to night class without danger of sugar coma.

Temptation.

Happy Valentine's Day.

I'm trying to see how long I can resist this lovely sugary gift.

Total elapsed time so far: 5 hours.