Gaga for Elton John

Yes, that's right.  Lady Gaga and Elton John paired for an incredible duet during the 2010 Grammy Awards.  After completing a rendition of her song "Poker Face", she continued by playing an accompanying piano with long-time legend, Sir Elton John.  Their duet seamlessly integrated her new song, "Speechless", and his song, "Your Song".  Amazing.

Now, I am both an Elton John and Lady Gaga fan.  I grew up listening to Elton John with my parents and sang along to his cranked up music in the car.  I will admit that.  I will also happily admit that I am completely obsessed with the new wonder woman herself.  Whilst she did not win any Grammy Awards herself that night, her coupling with the legend himself introduced a new era for the singer, proving she is not only a capable performer - holding her own both vocally and instrumentally on the piano - but also an icon who has proclaimed herself as here-to-stay.  I may also suggest that, having collaborated with Sir Elton John at the Grammy's may signal that others in the music industry also expect Lady Gaga to have a long-lasting and influential career.

Her other performances of the night included "Bad Romance" and an array of ever changing, camera-worthy outfits. (personally, I would not have enjoyed sitting behind the ice hat).  Lady Gaga will not only influence the music industry, (she recently released her own brand of headphones, "Heartbeats", a collaborative effort of herself and Dr. Dre), but she will extend her influence into fashion.  Maybe when I have $99 to spend on them, I will follow up with how well they work (unless, of course, someone wants to voluntarily get me a pair?? Anyone?  Anyone???)

Either way, theirs was a much enjoyed performance.  .....I wonder when the duet will be available on iTunes.  Then, I can listen to it with my new headphones.  :-)

Here's to you Mr. Steven Colbert

I sadly don't watch the Colbert Report on Comedy Central as often as I should or would like, but having been reintroduced the other day to his "Manifest Density" script, I found my love for his show prefectly renewed.  Thus, in the spirit of "Bud Light Presents", here is my ode to Steven Colbert and the writers of the Colbert Report:

Today, we salute you, Mr. Steven Colbert

(Mr. Colbert Report Man)

You boldly deliver messages Americans need to hear

And we readily respond to everything you say

(we call that laughter) 

You boldly stand apart from all the single digit channels who try to sell us depressing news stories. Instead, you break tradition and bring satire and irony and truth with your "daily word", like the Jesus of Comedy Central News

(it would help if we were literate) 

After all, America needs a real voice to tell us "how it is" and stand up to today's issues

(or in your case, sit)

So, crack open an ice cold budlight, Mr. Voice of the disgruntled American,

keep your suit pressed and your glasses clean because you never know which political monster you may have to take on tomorrow

(Mr. Colbert Report Man) 

Puppeteering Life

How many things do you do a day?  How many things do you do for you, and how many do you do for others?  How many of those things do you actually have control over?  


If you're like me your answers are something like:  

"Um, a ton" 

"it all depends on the day"

"Ha! control?  what's that?"

It can often feel like instead of being the boss of our lives, we're often left to the whims of others.  We don't always set our own schedules.  Sometimes we relinquish ourselves to do things that are necessary instead of pleasurable.  And, truthfully, that's part of life.  Life isn't a fairy tale lived through rose-colored glasses.  However, it is important to remember that we need a coping mechanism throughout life's craziness, because we don't always get to be the puppeteer.  Sometimes we are left dangling by strings, our life turning in response to someone else's command.


Today, for example, I felt as though my life changed hourly.  This whole week is filled with events controlled by others.  My schedule is based on students, directors, dance instructors, and I exist merely to serve them.  While I love everything that I do, at times like these the strings holding me become stressed, frayed, and thin.  I wait for the one movement to agitate the carefully held together puppet strings enough to make one snap.  And today at 7:05 one did.  


It's hard, falling - the crashing down of a, up to that point, very carefully held together you.  Granted, you don't fall completely because the other strings hold you in place.  But nonetheless, you are left slightly discombobulated and irregularly composed.  Tired and frustrated, it seems easier to quit at that moment, blowing things fully out of proportion, than slowing down and reassessing the situation.  However, it is a reassessment - a readjustment of life's strings if you will - that should happen instead.  A deep breath and moment of quiet holds miraculous healing power.  It refocuses you, centers you, and can set things back in perspective.


Do we ultimately have full control of our lives?  Of course not.  Life is a game of balance - of keeping your strings secure and your weight as evenly distributed as possible.  A momentary fall is inevitable, but rather than severing the connection of the other parts of your life and creating a greater, fuller fall, stop.  Breathe.  Take a moment to reevaluate what you're doing, where you're headed, and the purpose of the things that you do.  Reattach your string, and dance confidently as life moves you.  You may never become a master puppeteer, and that's okay.  Just do your part to keep yourself from falling:  keep your needs light and minimal, be flexible to life's constantly changing directions, and stay focused on the big picture instead of the one broken string.  You'll be back up and dancing sooner than you think.

Movie nights

Movie nights.  Middle of the week.  Spur of the moment because plans fall through.  These nights are the best because they come as a true treat, and allow you the privilege of enjoying your evening instead of running around trying to check every last thing off your to do list.

The best kind of movies?  Comedies.
Tonight's current channel?  HBO.
HBO movie?  Role Models.

Role Models is quite the new age cameo.  The king of the mystical realm in Role Models was also the gay asian man in The Hangover.  The owner of the Sturdy Wings Big/Little program has also been in 40 Year Old Virgin and Best in Show.  Stifler from American Pie came back to play one Wheeler, and Paul Rudd, who was in movies like I Love You, Man, 40 Year Old Virgin, and Anchorman, plays Danny.  This killer cast leaves you laughing at every turn because of awkward situations coupled with inappropriate scenarios and commentary . . . . like Wheeler waking up buck-naked in the woods, a 8 or 9  year old child saying "fuck" and "boobies" almost every other word . . . and the program director can never form a fully cohesive sentence.

Perfect Tuesday night movie.

Tale of Two Tongues

I love Spanish.  I teach Spanish.  I listen to music in Spanish.  I studied in Spain twice, and I  occasionally even dream in Spanish.  In short, I am obsessed with Spanish.  So when my job asked me to serve as a translator / interpreter for meetings and conferences for some of the Spanish families I, of course, jumped at the opportunity.  What a perfect way to continue using, practicing, and bettering my Spanish!

Today was one such day.  The conference wasn't long, which, as many of you may know, isn't always typical of conferences or meetings.  It was, however, concise, to the point, and informative.  And, in Spanish! . . . at least on my end.  I translated for the parent in the meeting, and had to translate back to the staff when the parent responded to comments.  To say it was a brain workout would be an understatement.  Just like with English, dialects and accents can vary greatly by region, making it difficult for the "outsider" to understand easily or instantaneously.  Case in point:  Take someone from the Bronx and stick them in rural Kentucky.  Or take a Texan and leave him in the most northern part of Minnesota.  Or, even better, take an American and sit him next to a Scottish person.  All the same language, all very different accents, and one very tiring conversation for both parties, due to the focus and attention required.  This, in short, was how I felt during my meeting.

Again, it was a wonderful experience, and great practice for me, especially being in a situation where different vocabulary is required from that of my standard classroom grind.  The icing on the cake?  The parent complimented me on my accent, noticing that it was Spanish (as I did study in Spain twice and have consequently picked up the infamous Spanish "lisp"), and that I was a wonderfully fluent speaker with a firm grasp on the language.  A gold star slapped across my forehead wouldn't have instilled as much pride and sense of accomplishment in me as this parent's comment.  I left the meeting feeling like my unexplainable love for the language held purpose.

It is rewarding to be complimented and commended for the talents we possess, especially when the talent and work lies in a true passion of ours, whether it be language in my case, or cooking or finance or art or rhetoric.  A compliment reinforces our efforts and hard work, and acts as a gold star on our heart.

For me, I hope this "Tale of Two Tongues" is only the beginning.  French and Italian are next on my list of languages to learn.  Who knows?  Maybe someday my love for language and traveling will lead somewhere.  For now, I am content to know that my passions made the difference to someone, even if it was just one "someone", and that I had the opportunity to continue to use my Spanish.  The point?  Unexplainable passions are there for a reason - we just have to figure out how we are meant to use them in our lives.

Soup du ....Salt?

I love soup.  Mmm soup.  Especially in the winter.  It's a wonderful comfort food, easy meal, or pick me up.  Yes, I definitely love soup.


I don't, however, love salt.  In fact, the only time I ever put salt on anything is when I'm in a Mexican restaurant eating chips and salsa.  It's really not very healthy for you and it tends to make you bloated.  Therefore, I tend to use it as sparingly as possible.  


You can imagine my surprise, then, when I stepped on the scale this morning after living on soup for a week, to see I'd gained 3 pounds.  I was stunned!  The soup was delicious - a box of roasted red pepper soup mixed with squash and green onions and ground turkey and garbanzo beans.  And it was healthy! . . . or so I thought.  Turns out, even though I created my own "soup du jour", with some wholesome and healthy add-ons, I had unknowingly also created a version of my own worst nightmare:  a sodium time bomb just waiting to explode on my scale.  Now, I'm far from perfect, and there were definitely M&Ms and chocolate bits in my diet this week too, but there was also a lot of running. I am sincerely trying to be healthier.  Yet, this morning, my scale became my enemy.


So, I looked for some answers.  As it so happens, I discovered that soup contains sodium, and not just normal amounts of sodium, but high quantities of sodium.  Sometimes it can be as bad as 40% or higher in just one serving!  Tricky little canned/ boxed bastards!!  Even though I was bummed and upset, I refused to let this minor setback win, so I'm turning it into a learning opportunity.  The strategy?  Next time, dilute it with water and/or add more veggies.  Less straight soup.  Less sodium.  Less weight gained.  Overall, one happier girl.  


Now. . . I just need to find a spoon.

Life's Goals by Number

We all make lists.  Lots of lists - lists about what we have to do during the day, lists for what we need at the store, iPod lists of our favorite songs, lists of reasons why we do or don't want to do something.  Lists can be so commonplace that they almost seem trivial.

But what if we made just one list?  The list.  Our most important list.  What if we made a list of the things we wanted to accomplish most?  Maybe it's what we want to accomplish most in life.  Maybe it's what we want to accomplish by the time we're 50, or 30, or 75.  Maybe it's what we want to accomplish before we have kids or get married.  Regardless of the parameters or technicalities, this list is the hardest, most important, and most valuable list we can make.  Why?  Because it shows us the true nature of our deepest desires and goals in life.  

      

This book addresses such a list.  I discovered this book during a mad Barnes & Noble reading rampage I went through this past summer.  Being 24, I found this book appealing because it the story about the things a girl (Marissa) wants to accomplish before she's 25 years old.  The twist?  Marissa dies in car crash and June, the other girl in the car, makes the commitment to accomplish all 20 things on Marissa's list before Marissa's 25 birthday.  It's fun, witty, an easy read, and a book that makes you reflect on your own goals in life.  It's a truly wonderful book.

So, I ask you, do you have a list?  Have you taken the time to really think about what you want most out of life?  Are you on the path to accomplishing your dreams?  If you lost your way or haven't started a list, maybe you should.  Take a moment to be honest with yourself, reevaluate your life, and learn about those things that make you who you are and make you proud to be you.  I made one.  I actually made it before I even knew about this book, but I made one.  It's saved, a reminder to myself of the directions in which I want my life to go, especially in those harder or more trying times in life.  But regardless, it's there, all nice and numerically arranged. 

It's like paint by number, except for your life.  So here's to the greatest "1,2,3"s you'll ever write!

Frank the Dog's Journey - Cloud Computing

***VIDEO: Frank the Dog's Journey Explained***

Meet Frank.  Frank is a dog, a dog who goes on a magical journey through computer cyber-land.  No, this isn't the result of a narcotic high.  This is the result of computer-age technology and the wonders of a world I have yet to fully understand.

A friend of mine today was explaining to me how his business works.  Now, usually it takes about two or three go-arounds before the concepts really stick - my brain just does not work on "business" mode - but I was having a much more difficult time understanding the concept of CLOUD COMPUTING than both of us would have imagined.  As a result, he sent me a visual tutorial.  Hence, Frank.

The overall idea is that uploading photos and information bytes is actually you storing your information in data systems all over the world, which then allow you to go back and access the information from any other computer you log onto.  Think Facebook pictures, email attachments, youtube videos....this blog even.  All of these allow you to upload something in one place and then access it wherever else you go.  Hence, the very basic overall idea of cloud computing.  Apparently some of the major companies (Google, Amazon, etc) have started creating these huge data hubs, so the competition is beginning in terms of which company will "rule the clouds", so to speak.  We may have another Zeus on our hands here pretty soon.  However, until that point, people still have their doubts about different companies capabilities.

Again, all this is very new to me and a lot to understand at once, but thanks to Frank the Dog, I understand it more.  Things now are a little....cloudier :-)

The soul of Andalusian gypsies

Flamenco,  the heart and south of southern Spain - Andalusia.  Or, as the natives say:  Andalucía. (an da lu THEE ah.....yes, this includes the famous Spanish "lisp")

Maria Pages - Acapella Flamenco Video (WATCH ME!!!)

This art form is not Sevillana - the dance with castenets (the finger "clankers" that most people associate with flamenco).  Flamenco, traditionally, is a gypsy dance performed with the music of the shoes and a guitar or drum.  There is usually a singer too who's voice is deep and raspy and the infamous Spanish guitar is right by his side.  It is just a drum in this video, but all of the above are traditional staples of the dance.  Not much is known about the true origins of flamenco, so I won't bother you with a history lesson.  However, my bone-deep passion for both Spanish and dancing makes this art form a high priority on my list.


In fact....fun fact...when I was lucky enough to study in Spain in college, I had the privilege of taking beginner flamenco classes.  When you watch this video you will realize what she does is far from easy.  Within 5 minutes my friends and I discovered arm and hand muscles we didn't know existed, and, while it may have only taken 5 minutes to create the pain, the pain hung around for a good 3 days.  


The footwork isn't a piece of cake either, but anyone who has danced before or done tap could pick it up quickly enough.  It's definitely a fun workout and hey, learning flamenco is a way to feel powerful and sexy all at the same time.  Win-Win!  

"JPDOOP"

JPDOOP - player, winner, Buffalo Wild Wings Trivia extraordinaire.

Yes, that's right, JPDOOP received a high score of 4,326 points, beating out the competition by the smallest margin of only 200 points. Thanks to Buffalo Wild Wings, this name will forever be immortalized as the winner of the 15 question trivia game competition on January 18, 2009 at 3:00pm. A small accomplishment to some, maybe, but to my 3 friends and myself, a ego-boosting win, demonstrating hard work, concentration, and quick bbq sauce-covered fingers on a Monday afternoon. Who said lunch had to be boring?

For those of you that still haven't had the privilege of experiencing the awesomeness that is Buffalo Wild Wings, this sports-bar inspired restaurant is made famous for it's buffalo wings with 14 different sauce options and flat-screened, sports-bar atmosphere. And for those of you that maybe aren't a sports-fanatic at heart, there's always the option of getting in on the interactive games: trivia, and, at the Willowbrook restaurant, card games like Texas Hold 'em and Black Jack. These games can bring together or create competition between friends and, dare I say, other restaurant goers regardless of if you're completely sober or have maybe had one beer too many.

For my friends and me, there was only one option: Winning. #1, "gold medal" status, trivia playing champions, and we weren't leaving until we succeeded. My friend's quick-fingered tactics won her "recorder" status, and she sat clenching the game console as we all pushed our brain powers to the limit with each breaking question. Do you know which US state has the most tundra? Or what about the company that makes the Turanza EL 400? Or maybe you'd fair better with the questions: Terry Kath, a member of which band, died of a self-inflicted gunshot wound? or Panama borders Columbia and what other country? These are just a few questions to rattle the brains of trivia players this afternoon.

And let me tell you, when you get the answer right, for all 1000 points possible, to one of those really tough questions, a question that makes the difference in either 1st or 2nd place status, or within a table-wide competition amongst friends, you let out a shout of triumph. It's a "no holds bars" celebration. The hands go up, the shouting sounds, and the victory "finger pointing" lets loose. And you may even find yourself on an ego trip when you get more points on a question than the table next to you.....even if it is a table of 12 year olds. Victory is victory. And ours today was "honey bbq" sweet.

10 Minute Home Spa Vacation

Once upon a Sunday, there was a girl who needed a vacation.

Ok...so maybe life isn't a fairytale, but every now and again a little personal vacation is needed. A getaway. A reminder to take time for ourselves because we're worth it. Now, I don't have money for a spa visit or hours of self-indulgence, so anything that makes me feel like $100 in 10 minutes, for less than $100, is fair game. Plus, I have extremely sensitive skin, so when I find a product that works, I keep it around.

What are my two top skincare picks? Shiseido's White Lucent Intensive Brightening Mask and Borghese's Fango Active Mud mask for face and body. I use Shiseido's mask in the winter to turn my dull skin into luminous skin and the Borghese mask in the summer to help unclog my pores and recharge my face.

Shiseido's Brightening masks runs about $68 for a pack of 6, although I tend to buy mine off eBay if I can find it cheaper. Additionally, they recommend using it once weekly, but I find that once a month produces good results as well. Then they last me all winter!

Borghese's Active mud mask is thick and cool to the touch. It creates a tingling sensation which lets you know it's working. Because it's so thick I recommend washing it off with a sponge or in the shower. It can be a little messy, but it's wonderful. It runs you about $61, but lasts forever.

Enjoy your personal spa day. Here's to feeling beautiful all year for a fraction of the spa costs.

Starbucks Gets a "Health" Conscience

That's right, the land of Venti Double-Chip Frappuccinos, Caramel Macchiatos, and Blueberry Scones rethinks their dining experience. I walked into the Starbucks on the corner of 75th and Lemont in Darien, IL, to have coffee with my dad, and was immediately welcomed by 3 new food displays. Apparently Starbucks, now a coffee shop/café, wants to ensure the availability of well-rounded meal options for their customers.

Is this a complete surprise? No. Starbucks has been slowly introducing new foods to their menu for the past few years, including breakfast sandwiches and "Signature Oatmeal". However, its true health food has often been relinquished to the drink department: Organic Horizon milk, Naked fruit juice, and the Vivannos (a protein and banana smoothie made popular last year). Today, I was pleasantly surprised to see their new options have expanded to food "bites" and not just food "sips".Four new hot sandwiches line their menu including a Ham and Swiss panini, all of which sounded and smelled wonderful and are around 400 calories (so they claim). Yum.

The other displays included new, what I call Whole Foods inspired food: Two moms in the Raw granola bars, Kind fruit and nut bars, dried fruit packets, sweet potato crisps, and organic chocolate.

I highly recommend the Kind Almond and Cashew bar. 180 calories, 4 grams of fiber and protein, and absolutely delicious. It's the perfect snack with a cup of coffee or Starbuck's full leaf teas. Eat on and live well. Thanks Starbucks!

Music - Reminder to slow down

One of those days - where everything moves so fast you forget to breathe, and suddenly it's dinner time and you're wondering where the day went, or where your "To Do" list and "Top 400 Reasons Why I'm Stressed" list run on loop all day, reminding you that you really don't have any time for anything other than what you had set out to do initially. Yup. That kind of day.

Therefore, come dinner time, (and tonight's dinner time was more like a 5:15 quick food-into-mouth shoveling marathon) I stood in my kitchen looking annoyingly into my cabinet and fridge for something to eat. I had crackers but no PB, salad but no chicken or salad "toppings", some potatoes, oatmeal and frozen dinners arranged "tornado style" in my freezer, and nothing sounded appealing. As I stood there, eating a whole cucumber while trying to decide my "gourmet dinner" options, my heart started pounding faster and faster out of sheer frustration. My head ticked away the seconds like a marching band drum beat just further reminding me I had no time to idle and ponder dinner. I needed decisions, and I needed them now. So, in defeated fervor I grabbed the potato to quickly microwave to discover, alas, my potato (purchased 3 days prior) had fuzzy white mold on it already. I actually "grrr"-d out-loud, slammed the potato into the trash, and leaned against the pantry door as my blood pressure rose 20pts.

Completely ready to eat whatever unfortunate food-ling lay in my path, my iTunes, which had been playing in the background the whole time, suddenly panned to "Love of the Century" by the Elders - a well known Irish band. The slow guitar picking, violin, and accordion broke through the air like a mother's lullaby, and for just a second, my heart stopped and I exhaled. His voice wrapped around my heart and I leaned my head against the pantry door, eyes closed, and breathed. In one second, my heart stopped pounding, my blood pressure returned to normal, and the incessant "to do" lists ceased to run on "loop" in my head. All I could hear was the music, and life's reminder to stop and recharge.

It only took a moment, but that one moment undid a day of stress. Music holds untold powers, and today it helped to change my mood and reset me back to "happy". Thank you.