Allright y’all, I’ve done it. I’ve developed a severe addiction — to AERIAL BALLET.
My roommate, Sarah, and I went to our first-ever aerial ballet class last night. It was amazing. Usually, I’m pretty good at everything I try, especially in the creative realms — dance, art, etc. But aerial is soooooooo hard. It uses muscles that you never knew existed.
The area from my ribs up, including every muscle in my arms and HANDS, is dead…. DEAD, I tell you.
I thought I had pretty good core strength — FALSE.
I knew I had zero upper body strength — ABSOLUTELY TRUE.
Looks like my new venture is going to whip me into shape real fast.
So here’s what we tried last night:
- The basic climb — I never did quite get it, but its a maneuver where you pull yourself up off the ground about 7 or 8 inches, whip your right leg around the silks to catch them on top of your flexed right foot and stand on top of the silks with your left foot. You do this repeatedly until you reach the top of the silk — or you fall, like I did.
- The figure 8 lock — from the climb, you use the “knife edge” of your left foot (you’ve taken it off the silk on your right foot) to push out the silks (and form a triangle with your back as one side, your legs as the base and the silks as the other side. You then maneuver your right foot to form another loop around it, which creates the lock. It’s painful, but it alleviates the need to hold on for dear life.
- The pike mount – (trapeze, yeah…) You hold the bar with both hands, shoulders locked into the sockets, and pull your knees toward your face, then you lean back and extend your legs behind your head. You then are in an upside down pike position… This was a bit rough for me — something about having a bum elbow makes me nervous to hang upside down relying only on the strength of my arms. I will need to get over this.
- The basic hang — from the pike position, you bend your knees to hook over the bar. Then, squeezing feet toward your bum for dear life, let go. This, I loved! Because the trapezes were so low to the ground, I was able to put my hands down on the ground and do a bit of a handstand — a skill I have never perfected.
- The J.LO – I am in LOVE with this maneuver. I had to do it backpack style (kind of a halway step to the real thing) but there is something so lovely about hanging upside down in the fetal position with a silk woven around your legs and bum to hold you up. It figures I would be good at something that uses your butt to your advantage…
Anyways, y’all, I’m hooked. Totally and completely, irreversably HOOKED. Never have I ever wanted to continue so badly with something I really am not good at. But I want to be good. I’ve got the drive, now onto a quadzillion and two push-ups and sit-ups to get me in the air. Stay tuned for updates and pictures!
Thanks for reading… (Sorry it’s been so long)
S
Filed under: Uncategorized | Tags: "In Christ Alone", CRU at UF, God, Identity
Campus Crusade for Christ at the University of Florida is amazing. Rather, the power of God is amazing. And the way he uses Cru for his purpose is amazing.
It doesn’t hurt that nearly 1,100 students pack into one of the oldest buildings on campus — the University Auditorium — with architecture that resembles an old church. I mean, it helps the atmosphere when you don’t feel like you’re in a lecture hall.
But tonight’s worship and message spoke to me. Sure, “In Christ Alone” is going to get me every time… you know, when you’re hit right in the spot it takes to just completely knock you down? Yeah that’s the one.
Jimmy (Trent, UF CRU Team Leader) spoke on what we use to define ourselves, the things we constantly seek to identify our lives.
Our affiliations (sororities, fraternities, clubs, etc)… grades… majors… jobs… whatever.
All of these things we use to define us actually take away from the one thing that CAN define us. And, furthermore, the God who wants to define us.
In Revelation, God says “I know your deeds, that you are not hot or cold. I wish you would be one or the other.”
God wants us to be on FIRE. Not just hot.
Jimmy used going on a long run and taking a hot bath as his metaphor. That one doesn’t quite work for me… I don’t run. Period. So, rather, I will change it to that long hard day — you know the one — where you pour your heart and soul into the project, the paper, the job, the whatever and you’re finally done. But the release isn’t there yet.
That’s when I get in the shower, crank the water to scorching temperature (the degree where you wonder if the heat will melt the showerhead right out of the wall… okay, maybe only I wonder that) and climb in — FAST. Yeah, it scalds your skin for a second. Yeah, your skin turns bright red,and you wonder if it will fall off. But it feels SO GOOD.
That’s what God wants to be for us — our scalding-hot, cleansing shower. He wants to be our release.
Jimmy’s metaphor starts to work again here, when the hot water starts to run out and goes lukewarm. The relief isn’t there anymore. Who comes home from a long day (or Jimmy’s long run) and says “I think I’ll take a good, long, lukewarm shower now.” NO ONE.
I’m making it my goal to be on fire. I’m feeling firey. Perhaps my red hair will aid me in this venture… perhaps not.
Thanks for reading. S
In Christ alone my hope is found,
He is my light, my strength, my song;
this Cornerstone, this solid Ground,
firm through the fiercest drought and storm.
What heights of love, what depths of peace,
when fears are stilled, when strivings cease!
My Comforter, my All in All,
here in the love of Christ I stand.
In Christ alone! who took on flesh
Fulness of God in helpless babe!
This gift of love and righteousness
Scorned by the ones he came to save:
Till on that cross as Jesus died,
The wrath of God was satisfied -
For every sin on Him was laid;
Here in the death of Christ I live.
There in the ground His body lay
Light of the world by darkness slain:
Then bursting forth in glorious Day
Up from the grave he rose again!
And as He stands in victory
Sin’s curse has lost its grip on me,
For I am His and He is mine -
Bought with the precious blood of Christ.
No guilt in life, no fear in death,
This is the power of Christ in me;
From life’s first cry to final breath.
Jesus commands my destiny.
No power of hell, no scheme of man,
Can ever pluck me from His hand;
Till He returns or calls me home,
Here in the power of Christ I’ll stand.
Filed under: Celebrities
I’ve already admitted that I am a celebrity news junkie.
On a good day, I’ve read People.com and Perez Hilton’s blog by 10 a.m. Today, I am a little late. And, dumbfounded.
Am I loving the new photos from the set of Sex and the City (Is it’s name part two?) of Carrie and Big? Abso-f***-inglutely.
Am I, along with the rest of the world, questioning Michelle Duggar’s sanity? Oh, heavens yes. (Not that I wasn’t already. You know, before she announced she’s expecting her 19th child.)
Am I shocked that Chris Brown has somehow turned a domestic violence case into a publicity stunt? No… but I am appalled.
But… I’m going to say it… for the first time I am truly questioning the taste and tact of People.com. I thought they were above the nasty, grimy slums of celebrity sensationalism. I will say, it is likely that People is not the only offender in this situation — and perhaps they are adhering to their journalistic responsibility to present the truth. But, in the wake of the alleged-suicide of DJ AM (real name, Adam Goldstein) I think they’ve gone too far.
The People.com home page features a People Exclusive where an anonymous source has told reporters that AM’s body was found with nine OxyContin pills inside. The source goes on to say “He wanted to die.”
Furthermore, the story reports that authorities found a Valentine’s Day card from AM’s ex, Haley Wood, in the next room along with photos of both Wood and AM. A crack pipe and crack cocaine were also found at the scene.
The story goes on to explain the arrangement of AM’s apartment, contents of his cell phone and even a word-for-word text message from a friend.
The suicide of any person is a tragedy. It has a lasting effect on the lives of many others, and it is not something to be taken lightly. Many celebrity friends of the deejay have made public statements expressing their grief over AM’s death. Who can even comprehend the pain his family is feeling?
I am shocked that any responsible news organization would go so far as to publicise the explicit details of a celebrity suicide. Moreover, I am appalled that a recent breakup would be attributed as the trigger for his death. That poor girl…
Too many people die untimely deaths as it is. But, in the wake of a tragedy like this one, we should do everything we can to protect the family, friends and fans of DJ AM. Having just described myself as “inherently curious” in yesterday’s post, I must elaborate and say that some information just doesn’t belong in the news.
Many journalism teachers and professors will argue that a public figure (Hollywood celebrity or otherwise) agrees to public scrutiny when they put themself in the public eye. In most situations, I would agree. In this situation, I have to default to my own values, morals and sense of right and wrong. I thought more of the journalism industry — no matter the focus area of the publication — that they held the same values.
R.I.P. Adam Goldstein
Thanks for reading. S
For tonight’s discussion, I will bring up a subject I did not mention in my introduction — dance.
I just spent the past two hours in the “multipurpose room” of my sorority house trying out for the annual Sigma Phi Epsilon Surf Frenzy dance competition.
Tomorrow, I will not be able to walk.
No, seriously, I am wondering if my quadriceps will actually revolt and stage a coups d’etat.
Now, questioning my decision to actually do all of those hip rolls and booty-pops (Yeah, I said it. No, I’m not proud.) in rapid succession, I am missing my days of actual, studio-trained dance.
I am not afraid to admit that I have a knack for spending multiple hours on You Tube watching videos from dance competitions, old episodes of So You Think You Can Dance and proud-parent-shot videos of hard-core kickline routines at Texas football games — each minute ticking by stirring up a love and yearning deep inside of me to relive my glory days. If I ever had any, that is.
Now, I’m no Jeanine Mason (this year’s winner of SYTYCD), but I do love to perform… I hope that was visible in each performance.
I figured I would share some of my favorite videos.
First, beautiful choreography by Shannon Mather and performance by Dance Precisions. Dancing to Celine Dion is a feat in and of itself, making it look this good is just magic.
Brandon and Jeanine rocked some phenomenal choreography by Laurie Ann Gibson to “Battlefield” by Jordin Sparks on the final-eight episode of So You Think You Can Dance… I watched this three times the night it aired. Thank God for the DVR.
There’s also this freaking PHENOMENAL creation by one of my SYTYCD favorites, Travis Wall. Take Jeanine, pair her with Jason, set the choreography to one of the greatest songs by Jason Mraz (“If it kills me” from the Casa Nova sessions) and you get a piece of heaven on the stage. Oh and don’t forget that (choreographed?) kiss at the end.
And, now, I know you’ve been waiting for it…. video of my dance team from high school. Unfortunately, I don’t have any video of me doing ballet. But, this is one of my favorite performances… The choreography to Blue Orchid (a cover of the White Stripes’ song) is from a Universal Dance Association (UDA) camp in 2006. Thanks to Tiffany’s mom, Ms. Abalo for uploading us to world-wide fame (eh?) on You Tube.
Enjoy!
Thanks for reading. S
Filed under: Uncategorized
I’m not sure yet if I am cool enough to have a blog. I just felt I needed to put that out there.
I cannot say that I have a focus for my blog… I am interested in and have opinions on too many different things to pick just one. As of right now, however, there are a few things I can tell you will see appear and reappear in anything I write:
My friends… they crack me up, they love me inexplicably and unconditionally, and I love them. Furthermore, they know that by being my friend, they agree to let me talk about them (anonymously, of course) in all things I write. You will meet them as I continue this blog.
My mother, my sister and my grandparents… They are my heart. They are home. They are four of the most phenomenal people I have ever known. They are forces of nature — all four of them. Sometimes they make me crazy. I am forever indebted to them. I can credit all that I am to the four of them. You will hear much about them… not sure yet if it will be anonymous (I am a fan of referring to people in positions of power and authority by their first name; anonymity kind of kills this.)
My faith… Jesus Christ is my Lord and Savior. Period. Thanks for asking. I like to chat about my faith, and I like to share it publicly. Some days all I will have for you is words of wisdom from my daily devotions — those will usually be the days where I have nothing nice to say or what I want to say is inappropriate for the “webanet.”
Celebrities… I have a slight obsession. My professors’ efforts to get me to read the newspaper are lost when I immedietly jump to the “entertainment” or “celebrity” sections. I’m not nearly as witty as Perez, nor will I try to provide information like People.com (Thanks be to God… after all, it is the Gospel) Usually, I will just have some sort of outbursting reaction that I will choose to share.
My questions… I develop a lot of these. I don’t understand everything I hear, see, read, etc., nor will I ever claim to. I am inherently curious. I like information. I like heated debates. Yes, grandma, I love to ARGUE. I am not, however, afraid to politely step down from my soapbox when I no longer know what I am talking about.
Grammar, manners, and common decency… These are things I feel very strongly about. Yes, I will judge you if you speak with incorrect grammar. I am from the South (Don’t even try to tell me Florida is not the South, look at a map, durnit!), raised in the South, and there is probably Sweet Tea (In my opinion this is a proper noun, not an adjective modifying a noun) running through my veins. Down here, we have manners. We hold doors for women and those who’ve gotten on in years. We say ”please”, “thank you”, ”ma’am” and “sir.” And, when Southern women gossip, they do it quietly and without using last names.
Education and Journalism… my two passions. I love children of all ages. The further removed I get from my own childhood, the stronger the urge to find children through which I can live vicariously. I want to teach — what age, I haven’t yet decided, but the time will come and I will choose then. Journalism is the industry for which I was born. I joke that I am a wealth of useless knowledge. The older I get, I find that no knowledge is useless. I crave information. I like to know what’s going on, and I like to tell people about it. It is my life goal to be that old Southern woman who knows everything there is to know, about anything and everything.
I’ll stop there for now.
If you haven’t already figured it out, there will be no rhyme or reason to this blog. I have diagnosed myself with a mild-case of attention deficit disorder, therefore I won’t even begin to predict what I will want to talk about each day. I will promise one thing: I will only write if I have something to say.
Thanks for reading. S
Filed under: Uncategorized
http://emilymarieblake.tumblr.com/
I especially like her take on the New York Times situation here at UF.
Thanks for reading. S
