Anna suggested I write a blog post in the voice of Marley, my adorable rasta mut.  So here we go with Marley's view on being alone....

Mom left me again; she leaves me everyday. 

I wish she'd come back so we can play.  

Then again, mom's not home,

Now so many places to hide my bone. 

When she's not here I get to sleep,

In places I know would make her freak.

On the couch I rest my head

After attempting to rip my bed to shreds.

I've destroyed my babies, cotton is out

When mom comes home, she'll wonder what it's about.

I eat all day and pee on the porch

Mom likes to cuddle, she's such a dork.

If I be good, she loves me more

But I still get sad when she shuts the door.

So I TP her room, run wild for fun

When the TP is out my job is done.

I am almost certain this is what Marley's blog post would be about.  Yes she talks in couplets.

There is NOTHING like...

Seeing your absolute favorite band

Play their first LA Show.

I found myself at the Troubadour on Santa Monica Blvd sandwiched between men that are too tall for me to stand next to and Justin Long, anxious to experience what I figured would be THE BEST show of my life.  My lofty expectations were met.  The Head and The Heart is the band to keep on your radar.  With only one self-produced album of merely 10 songs, they stirred up the crowd with their clean sound.  When you can pick out every single instrument and follow its notes in your head while being able to isolate any other sound (of the other instruments, of clinging beer bottles and groupies yelling the band's name), you know that the music is as pure as it can get.

La Vu's view on Music:

There are two, non-necessary things in the world that every single person on this earth enjoys: Movies and Music.  Both are subject to endless judgment but neither is particularly prejudice.  People's attraction to genres of music and one particular band over another is as random as our diverse population.

I want to say that when asked "What's your favorite kind of music?", the usual response is, "It depends on my mood."  So is it the mood that determines the music?  Or is it the music that determines the mood?  How are they so interlaced and so relevant to each other?  Feeling epic? There's a song for that. Feeling sad and sorry for yourself?  There's a song for that too.  Feeling like you've got to dance, like you've got to belt out a song in the car, like you've got to punch someone?  There are songs...JUST for that.  I came across an interesting online music platform called stereomood.  Internet radio is not at all new to our generation, but what makes this one different from the rest is that users pick from moods and activities to find a playlist perfectly suited for that moment in time.  Feel like crying?  There's a song for THAT!

What's more?  According to a post on Lemondrop.com, "music can make you smart...or dumb."  Apparently, a study was conducted comparing people's favorite music as listed on Facebook to their SAT score.  While I was highly amused by the fact that people who listed "Lil Wayne" on Facebook had the lowest SAT scores while those listing "Bob Dylan, Sufjan Stevens" had the highest, I hardly believe that music affects intelligence.  It might actually be the other way around.

This song epitomizes me, how I feel, how I am and how I will ALWAYS be.

I am a total YOGINI.

I've been practicing the art of yoga for almost 10 years off and on now, and for the past 2 years, I've often said (for the most part, in jest), "Yoga is so rewarding to the mind, spirit and body; it would be cool if I could teach yoga!"  Somewhere between Chaturanga Dandasana (Plank pose) and Halasana (Plow pose), I realized that what I've been saying all along shouldn't be in jest, and that a dream shouldn't just be left as a dream.  

Why not make it reality?  Here I am, sitting at my desk at work hunched over the keyboard wishing I could flip myself into Halasana.  My body craves yoga; it craves the spiritual enlightenment and physical challenge of contorting my body into awkward positions and craves a steady flow of conscious breathing to try to ease the awkward sensation of contorting my body into awkward positions. 

So here I am, making a statement.  Starting this week, I will give myself 6 months to get into tip-top yoga shape.  I will have practice everyday perfecting every angle, rotation and bend to the best of my ability, familiarize myself with the sanskrit language, and save money to afford putting myself through a school that will get me certified by Yoga Alliance.  It'll take time, it'll take patience.  But that's what yoga is about. After the six months of getting into shape, I'll apply to and start teacher training.  I can enroll in a program that will take anywhere between 3 and 6 months.


At the end of that road, I intend to teach, to share, and to show.  I am most passionate about Ashtanga (power) yoga and acro yoga.  Ashtanga, which means "eight limbs" in Sanskrit, is a fast-paced, intense style of yoga.  In other words: it burns.  Your limbs will fill with FIRE.  A set series of poses is performed (Flow), always in the same order. Ashtanga practice is very physically demanding because of the constant movement from one pose to the next.  Acro yoga uses yoga, thai massage and Aerobatics to form the foundation of a unique new practice that cultivates trust in a partner, connection and playfulness.  Sounds like me, right?

 

I figured it would be a cool side gig...teach a class early in the am to get people out of bed, to make sure their days are off to a great start.  Go to my career job during the day, then perhaps teach another class at night.


To the dream even further, once I've developed experience in teaching and have a following, I could open my own studio.  But not just "another yoga studio".  Something special, holistic.  A lifestyle studio where anyone can study themselves, emotionally, spiritually, physically, and adapt a lifestyle that will lead them to healthier, brighter lives.   

Life, Style, Study Inc. (c)  
I just came up with the name of my studio. 


Sounds like too much?  Tell me it does.  I'll prove you wrong.

DECEMBER goals...

It just hit me.  It's December!  That means my birthday MONTH celebrations start today.  And that means I have one month to accomplish all that was on my New Year's Resolutions list that have yet to be fulfilled--problem is: I don't remember what I put on my New Year's Resolutions list in the first place.  So I'll press the restart button and set just a few for this month.

In the month of December, I would like to:

• Get in the best shape possible in preparation for Xmas feasting and New Year's Eve shenanigans.
• Research all possible YouTube videos on how to snowboard.  I might've forgotten how and I will be boarding for 4 days saying buh-bye to this year and hello to the new.
• Maintain a steady sense of peace despite hectic schedules, long lines at malls for xmas shopping and being just a tad bit sad that there's no romantic love interest to share this holiday with.
• Practice yoga at least 3 times a week.  If I want to be totally ambitious, wake up every morning at 6am to catch the early morning yoga classes at Urth Yoga every weekday morning.
• Run at least 3 times a week (dreading this thought).
• Really start studying for the GMAT.
• Possibly start training to becoming a certified yoga instructor?
• Clear out all closets and dressers of old clothes I will never wear.  Shoes too.  I can donate to Goodwill.
• Somehow, this still doesn't seem like enough...
• Get rid of bad juju relationships.
• Try to restore damaged old ones.
• Love, love, LOVE!  Maybe I'll push that back to next year.

Showcasing the cuisine of American tradition at 50 Plates

I recently came across a post on a restaurant called 50 Plates located in Seattle, Washington.  Coming from a family of tradition based on the dining table, I've had a long-time dream of opening a boutique restaurant featuring dishes of a traditional palette with a touch of flare.  50 Plates beat me to it, and I will definitely be stopping by when I visit for the first time next year.

The kitchen specializes in all those homemade meals your mama or grand mama made for you growing up.  We're talking everything of Californian style to the good 'ol Southern style of comfy food.  The best way they can define their cuisine?  AMERICAN.  Chef Patrick Miller and his team are also committed to using locally grown, sustainable and humanely raised food products (not surprising, since the business is in Seattle, an area quite known for it's sustainability and eco-friendliness.) 

That reminds me...it's time to hit the Farmer's Market!