Back in action!

The last two weeks of skating have just been so-so. Asi asi. Comme ci comme ca. Still fun, but lacking that je ne sais quoi. But this week, that quoi came back, in the form of backwards crossovers! A challenge always makes things more fun. Also, the instructor, who is 21 years young, was on GLEE tonight, as one of the skaters. If you see the skating scene, that was shot at Moonlight, where I skate. Awesome.

Robert shouted my name from across the rink tonight. I was taken aback, thinking no one I knew was going to show up. Turns out, he just has a very good memory. I said hello back, and then we chatted as though we were old friends, instead of strangers who just are very good at remembering each other's names. He also gives me little tips on the rink, like "bend your knees more" and "shake your bootay." That last one makes me blush, because I try to do it and like in hip hop dance classes: my hips don't lie, they just don't move that way.

Also there are these old men there that show up every week. Often times there'll be fresh meat there: young pretty girls who are skating for the first time since grade school, dressed in short shorts and knee highs, more interested in how they look while skating, than how they actually skate. (I call them amateurs.) I'll notice the old men give these pyt's (pretty young thangs) tips and mini lessons, hold their hands for balance as they try to backwards skate, etc. I haven't found it pervy really (not yet at least), more like old men wanting the attention of pyts, but who wouldn't want that. Except tonight I suddenly realized, these old men never tried to teach me a thing or two or tried to hold my hand!! I've been going there for weeks! They recognize me by now. But none of them have approached me! Even when I was just starting out. Sigh. So then I realized I am not a pyt, was mentally mildly offended, and continued to skate backwards with my butt sticking out. Must be the duck resemblance...

But I just have to remember that, my handsome italian gay boyfriend at work proposed proposing today during lunch. When we got our fortune cookies, he said, the cookie will tell us what to do. Guess what his cookie said? "Keep your plans a secret for now." Whoa whoa. Crazy cookies. He suggested that "we can get married and live by the beach!" That way he could stay in the country, we could make beautiful babies, and I requested two goats. But then while I was skating I realized that if I was pregnant I wouldn't be able to skate for like 9 months. So I think we all know where this is going. I had to inform him via text that the deal was off. So the world is deprived of our inevitable beautiful babies. So I don't get my goats. But I get to skate!

~Szuicide.


PS: To all you negative nellies: for your information, I did go to derby TWICE. I fell on my ass. I skated the bank track. I slid on my knees. I sweated in other people's gross sweaty loaner gear. So yes I will give myself a skate name. And besides, you're suppose to say that once you get a kickass name, it is the gateway to the beginning of derby. I guess you negative nellies didn't get that memo. Forgiven.

Just another manic monday...

If you ever are wondering what to get me as a gift, consider this spicy ginger ale. Ever since I had it a few days ago, I cannot stop thinking about it. I think I will order myself a few. I wonder if they have this at bevmo. I shall call and ask.

Also, I had a coolhaus ice cream sandwich yesterday, and I can't stop thinking about that either. The right amount of ice cream to cookie ratio. Cookie is perfect, the way i like it, not too crunchy hard, not too soft. Just right. And the mint n chip flavor is made from ACTUAL mint leaves. Not the artificial kind (even though i'm not knocking artificial mint). It tasted like a mojito with chocolate chips. All the right textures and flavors combined to make a good taste party in my mouth. I'm a little obsessed.

Also, forgot to update everyone: I am now skating in the advanced class. Whoo whoo! I don't think I've improved that much, even though Morgan seems to think I have. At least not as much as I want to. The excitement of skating has died down, but I still love it and look forward to it. I was with some friends telling them i need a mean dirty skate name. Someone came up with Szu-icide...Ha. I like it, but i feel like there is something better and meaner out there. Ever since I got these bangs, my toughness has dwindled down to a -2. So maybe you guys can help me. Here are some examples:
Janis Choplin
Demolicious
Suzy Snakeyes
Trixie Biscuit
Judy Gloom
Ghetto Stilleto

You get the idea. Now get crackin!

Orchestra update!

Turns out it panned out pretty well, so far! Rehearsal tonight went really well! So excited to be back playing my instrument again. Need to practice more, definitely.

Orchestra

Got an email the other day that orchestra is starting back up. I was really excited at first, until I read the rest of the email.

This is the gist:
This is a new orchestra. Basically, some of the people who have been flaking or not as good I guess, have been uninvited. Now it's just a smaller core group of people who have been coming to every rehearsal, practicing, whatnot. (Me me!)

There is a concert at the end of may. Not many rehearsals before that. Also we will be playing much harder music. But it should and will be a really great show. Soloists, celebrity host, whatnot.

But there will be paid professionals joining the orchestra, for the last three rehearsals. This will make the orchestra sound much better, and bigger. Also, in order to pay for these professionals, there will be fundraisers, that we can choose to help out with, or not.

This last part was the part that bothered me. To me it seems like once you start paying professionals to join in, it's not really a community orchestra anymore. They're not there because they really want to be, maybe they do a little bit, but they're there because they're being paid. It's kinda like cheating. And it separates the group between the have and have nots. The good players and the bad players. To me it just seems to defeat the whole purpose of having a community orchestra. I mean, if you're going to do that, why not just raise a bunch of money and just hire professionals for a full orchestra?

This kind of thing is done all the time. I've been in other orchestras where professionals have been brought in for rehearsals before a concert, and play with the orchestra during the concert. It's nothing out of the ordinary i guess. But for some reason, I'm already jealous of these paid players. I don't know why.

I just feel like when we started, we were just a group of people that wanted to get together and play with other people, no matter how good or bad you were. We were donating our time and energy because we wanted to make music. And if we had a good concert (like our last one), it's because we'd improved over the courses of our rehearsals. But now that paid professionals are in the picture...it just seems different.

And then to put more time and energy into fund raising, in order to have these professionals? What about fund raising for the orchestra? For stand lights or performance space rental, or...red converse sneakers? (I always thought it'd be cool if the whole orchestra was dressed in typical black concert attire, but had red converses on...so red...so rad!)

I know i'm just complaining. And venting. It'll be great, it really will be, I have no doubt that our conductor will put on a great show, he always does. But I'm wondering how this new way of doing things will affect the main reason we get together in the first place. I'll just go with it for now, and see how it pans out....

Thoughts?

Downtown LA

This weird thing happened tonight that I didn't quite know how to handle...
Went to a festival party downtown tonight and left w two friends.  Unfortunately they parked closer than I did, but I felt the area was safe enough for me to walk to my car which was only a little further down the street.  I said I was fine, and went on my way.  There were still plenty of people out and about walking the streets so I didn't feel like it was too dangerous.  Suddenly I hear these footsteps behind me.  But it's happened before where you think someone is following you but they're just walking behind you.  I've even had conversations with male coworkers that have said they felt weird when walking behind a girl because they don't want to seem like they're following her.  I take note of these footsteps but since I was passing other random people also walking on the street I wasn't too worried.  

Until these footsteps got a bit too close and suddenly there was a guy next to me asking for my name.  I ignore him and try to walk faster. But he keeps asking for my name.

Now I'm sure to you readers it's obvious what I should do at this point, but I really had no idea.  I didn't know what to say to him to get rid of him, and I also didn't want to say anything to him to make it easy to start a conversation.  So I just kept ignoring him and walking.  But the persistent little bugger kept asking my name and now, he goes and grabs for my hand.  I shake him off really quickly and said, excuse me don't touch me, and kept walking and ignoring him while he's still asking my name.  I wasn't TOO scared at this point because, like I said, if he had done anything, there were enough people around that if I screamed someone would've heard.  Plus i got a glimpse of him and he is smaller than me so I think I couldve taken him down. But I was just at a loss for what to say to him to get rid of him.  And really, grabbing for my hand?  Even the bums on the street don't go that far.  They try to talk to you but they don't try to touch you in any way.

Finally I get to my car as he's  walking away.  He seemed like he mightve been a bit drunk.  But really guy, what are you thinking?  Do you think I'll go home with you just because I give you my name?  What makes you think any girl would give some creepy guy her name in the first place when he's following closely behind her???  Boggles my mind.  What would you guys have done/said??  

And then I had to go through a sobriety check stop on my way home.  Again, wasn't too worried, since I only had a third of a small cocktail (followed by coffee, then tea) but there was a slight moment of panick.  But it ended up being nothing, and I went through just fine.               

Tuesday night.

So for those of you who haven't seen or heard, my hair now looks like this:


Except, think less caucasian and less crooked smile. And not as cute...I wish I was as cute as katie, but lo and behold, I am not, and I'm ok with that.

The hairstylist gave me what I asked for: side bangs. But by the time i got home, washed my hair and restyled, it was not to my liking. I felt like a big nerd with side bangs. I paced around the apartment wondering if I should fix it. And I did. Something came over me, and I grabbed the scissors and cut my own straight bangs. There was a lot of hair in the sink. And now I have this do. This do which would be cool as a wig to wear for three days and be different and fun but after a while may turn into a don't. We'll have to see.

Also tonight i was able to finally put the new skates to the test, and they're awesome!!! I got skate envy from Morgan, who usually doesn't make too much conversation with me, but tonight we had a really long conversation about my skates. He seemed duly impressed. I have to say, they're pretty rockin. And Evelyn thought my skates were so pritty. Tonight I also made friends with Robert in the advanced class, who, for a big guy, can stretch and bend in ways I can't. I introduced myself with my full first name (rather than the usual cop out "Sue"), and he said goodbye to me using my full first name. :) I think we'll be good friends. Robert also was the only one from class who noticed my new do, since he is a hairstylist and all, and complimented me on it, and THEN encouraged me to "skate...skate like your hair!" Ha. Funny guy. But also I think he said I skated like a duck earlier on in the night, but it was a skate by and I didn't quite hear him, so I will just ignore it and not wonder what kind of a duck I look like when I skate (peking, howard, roasted, or any other fowl varietals?). *crossing fingers*

I feel more legit now with new skates but...tonight I kind of hit a wall. Not sure where to go from here. I think next week I will try to join the advanced group and see how that goes. Wish me luck. Mohawk has still not been mastered. Boo.

i want to BE this

More wonderfulness

I'm in such a good mood this morning and it's only 11am. Yay!

First of all, I conquered Week5 Day1. Ok, not conquered persay, but I survived. Still having some shin issues that I'm trying to work through, but it was mostly good. But hard.

So finishing is probably the source of my good mood: runner's high, endorphins, what not. But then I went to get coffee.

I go in, and I see this family sitting and having breakfast. This good looking family. I look at the pretty mom. Then turn to the dad...who is Shepard Fairey. My eyes go wide. I do a double take. I get in line but turn around. I scan the room to see if anyone notices, which nobody seemed to. I order my coffee. While I wait for it I watch them some more. Since no one is making a fuss I start thinking maybe I'm mistaken. But I'm not!! I just saw him in the film I watched last night. I can't be mistaken.

Usually when I see celebrities, I think it's kind of cool, but have nothing to say to them so I make a mental note and move on. Not that he is a celebrity at all really, since no one seemed to know or care he was there. But this time, I wanted to chat!! I wanted to tell him I just watched the film JUST last night and how much I loved it. I wanted to ask him about the main character and talk to his wife and ask her what she thinks of her husband's profession. I mean, this guy is big time, and here he was, just sitting and eating breakfast with his beautiful family. But instead I left them alone. I didn't want to draw attention. If other people sitting around him knew who he was, they sure weren't drawing attention to him either by talking to him....so I just left them alone. Took one last glance as I left the door.

But gosh, this is why I love LA so much. You can watch a great movie one night, and run into the people in said movie a few hours later. Also, the movie took place mostly in LA, and it's always cool to see LA on the big screen, and the places you know and have been to. The whole time I was watching the movie I was thinking, "wow, I live in these people's neighborhood. I can run into them any day."

But other than running into him, I just really love my neighborhood so so much. The other day some old friends had a get together at a bar, and I WALKED there. That's right. And walked home. It was so cool. I can't wait until it gets warmer and I can skate around the neighborhood. I just love it.


Ok wow, I'm never this chipper this early. Must be the combo of caffeine and endorphins. Maybe I need to go run off this caffeine and endorphin rush. And cap it off with another cup o joe? Wahahahahaha. Seriously.

Hope y'all have a great saturday!!!

Wonderfulness

I've been following the miners' story throughout the week. It's been the top story whenever my alarm radio goes off. Finally a few minutes ago, as I was parking my car outside, listening to the radio, the story finally ended...they found the bodies. It was really sad. All this buildup, all this effort, all this hope, just...gone. At least though the families have some sort of closure now I guess.
Sad.

Anyway, this post wasn't suppose to start off on such a sad note. It's suppose to start like this:

Title: They're Here!!!!!!

I got my skates today. Finally. They're sweet! Of course they were way more than I wanted to pay for them, but I just said to heck with it, and forged ahead. The old man was telling me alllllll these technical things about them I didn't quite get it all. I'm justifying it by thinking that I'm helping out a small local business, which helps out the economy in general. They fit great. I just spent the last few minutes skating around my apt. The title of this blog was suppose to be: Check out these beauties. But now when I look down, they're not really beauties...persay. They're big and bulky. They make my feet look and feel like I'm wearing 2 bricks, like I'm some sort of hobbit. A tall hobbit though, they make me feel really tall. The wheels, despite it being my favorite color (purple!), they have this weird pic of a girl on them, making them look kind of juvenile...not really my style. But still, they're beautiful in the way they roll. They feel different than rental skates already. I can't wait to try out these babies on the rink!!! I don't know if I can wait til tuesday...



Tonight I went to a screening of this really great movie...Exit Through the Gift Shop. Once in a while I see good movies and it restores my faith in the industry I'm in. Ever since I did some work for a graffiti documentary a few years back, I've been interested in the scene. Can't say I know too much about it or keep up with it, but I've definitely seen a lot of things I liked, and it sure keeps you thinking about things like private/public space, what is art, art is great, art is bullshit. Those kinds of thoughts. It was such a great compelling story, you all should all check it out if you are into street art, or get a chance! (limited theaters.)

I'm a superstar!

Tonight, I was able to do the mohawk. Yes, there is a move in skating called the mohawk. It's when you're skating forward and kind of do a plié with your feet and knees and suddenly you have completed a turn and are skating backward. I couldn't quite get this down last week, but got some one on one coaching at the end of our lesson today with the old man, and was able to do it!! Except, I couldn't really do it around the rink. I was only able to do it on this one side of a wall. I'm blaming it on the skates. I'm still on rental skates...hoping to get some real skates by the end of the week. Since the universe doesn't seem to want me to have them yet, I'll just be patient. But I'm getting really antsy. I imagine I'll be a golden superstar with real skates next week. Can't wait!

Made some friends tonight, Evelyn, Mark, Marvin, and two other guys whose name I can't remember. The two guys invited me to one of the guy's 50th birthday party, to be held at, where else, the skating rink. I don't think I can make it due to the film festival, but oh how I want to go!!! There'll be drinking, our instructor will teach for 30 min, there'll be disco and disco attire, and some guy I just met today will be turning 50, which means there will be CAKE. :) Maybe if I can book it fast after the film fest...maybe...

Tonight I also worked on not doing the chicken when skating backwards, which I think I'm getting better at. The backwards chicken dance should only be saved for weddings. Right?

So this short film that me and the collective made a year ago just got into this film festival. On one hand, it's kind of exciting. On the other hand, how many film festivals are there every single weekend in LA, and in every little podunk town around the USA. It's a small festival, and mostly for comedy, so it seems like more of an excuse for comedians to get together and network, rather than for films and filmmakers themselves. Oh well. It's our first, and is still kind of exciting nonetheless. Good thing I got my new business cards yesterday!

Because we moved buildings at work, and had to re-set up our phone system as well, everyone had to get their business cards reprinted. Apparently there was an email that went out to everyone, to proof their cards and approve them. For some reason I never got this email, so I never saw proofs for my card, nor approved it. Of course when it came, my title was not there. Merely my name and email, but no title. Usually, this would not be a huge problem, as I don't give out many cards, but I just felt like well if I'm going to have all these cards around, I should hand them out to everyone I meet, and it should have my title so people know what I do. So then there was a whole process of trying to get them reprinted WITH a title, and suddenly I'm feeling like a diva, even though I never approved it in the first place. Anyways, so now I have the right business cards, 500 of them, along with 800 more that aren't wrong persay, but just don't have my title. Maybe I can make a house out of them...or something.

Next time I see you, remind me to give you a card. Or maybe three or 20. It's not like I'll run out anytime soon. Maybe I can give them out at the film festival and get some work out of it. Or maybe at least just get some viewers for our show that nobody's watching.........yeeeeesh.

Carrie On

It's so incredibly girly, but I just saw the first trailer commercial for Sex and the City, and my ears perked up, and my eyes grew wide, and everything in the world didn't exist for 30seconds except these four girls. Sigh. They have some sort of pull on me. Actually it's not so much them, as it is all the bling and prettiness that comes with them. I can't wait til may!

Friday Banters

I just had a really healthy dinner, I'm very happy with myself.

1 piece of cod topped with salsa and half an avocado, with sauteed broccoli, mushrooms, and green onion. Strawberries with honey for dessert. Yum.

So I lost my klean kanteen. You know how sometimes when you're parking your car, and you think back and you have no recollection of that drive home or how you even got home? Yea, it was kind of like that. One minute it was in my hand, the next minute it was gone. I've even tried to re-trace my steps and went to different places looking in their lost and found, but nothing. Gone. So today I went to COSTCO and bought 3 imitation klean kanteens which included little canteen cozies for each one, for much less than what i paid for for 1 klean kanteen. Go figure. At least now when I mysteriously lose one, I'll have two more to lose!

The universe is trying to stop me from buying rollerskates. The first time i tried, i drove all the way down to long beach only to wait around for an hour for them to open, which they never did. This time i tried somewhere much closer, but of course, the old man didn't have my size. Sigh. Next Tuesday. They were ordered and will come in on Tuesday. Hopefully. I want to get as much use out of my skates before I no longer care to skate anymore, and they're just sitting in my storage closet taking up space. I hope that doesn't happen.

Yea, so my taxes still aren't done. I should be doing them right now. I carved out tonight to do them. But I did everything else I possibly could instead of taxes. And now it's time for sleepy town. Tomorrow. Tomorrow those taxes will get done!!!!