Life is a highway...

Wow. June and July have floooown by! I swear I blinked maybe twice and it is August already!? Both were filled with fun times with friends, summer sports, grad school classes and an allergic reaction?! All the best things of summer! But as July comes to a close, I am allergy free, have one more week of summer grad classes, loving softball and mushball not to mention many possibilities!!

Here is a top ten list of my fabulous summer fun times over the last few months!
10. Celebrating friend's weddings: Kristin and Joe and Brynn and Nick

9. Meeting some great new friends and opening a few "doors" ;)

8. Finishing my ESOL worksample and first teaching job in the states

7. Spending a week watching my nieces while my sis and bro n' law enjoyed Hawaii

6. Joining a dance group called Remix to shake my bootie and finding a love for kickboxing!!

5. Visiting my BBFF in San Diego including a weekend of Mariners' and Padres' baseball!

 

 

4. Finding out Alicia is moving back in September and getting a roomie to move out with:)

3. Celebrating my ten year anniversary camping at the Cove Palisades with Jess and her amazing family!

2. Playing Mushball every Monday with a team of super fabulous people!

1. Playing on pretty much the coolest softball team ever!
                                                   (Did I mention we were the Champions of the league?? :-)

Here comes August!

Something beautiful...

I would truly be lost without music in my life. Any song that can bring you to tears one moment and light up your face with a smile as bright as the sun the next is one I can appreciate. Lyrics can be very powerful and I think the following from a song by Needtobreathe, Something Beautiful are prime examples of the emotional response a great song can create. Enjoy and feel free to listen while you read as this song has a special place in my blog:)

In your ocean, I'm ankle deep

I feel the waves crashin' on my feet

It's like I know where I need to be
But I can't figure out, yeah I can't figure out

Just how much air I will need to breathe
When your tide rushes over me
There's only one way to figure out
Will ya let me drown, will ya let me drown

(Chorus)
Hey now, this is my desire
Consume me like a fire, 'cause I just want something beautiful
To touch me, I know that I'm in reach
'Cause I am down on my knees, I'm waiting for something beautiful
Oh, something beautiful


And the water is risin' quick
And for years I was scared of it
We can't be sure when it will subside
So I won't leave your side, no I can't leave your side
(chorus)In a daydream, I couldn't live like this
I wouldn't stop until I found something beautiful
When I wake up, I know I will have
No, I still won't have what I need
(chorus)

Random thoughts for today :)

The itch is back. I'm ready for more traveling and now it is simply about getting my ducks in a row and finishing grad school. There is so much more I want to see and experience in this world and I'm pretty sure this is my time. I still want all the things I have wanted ever since I was younger; an amazing man who has the same zest for life and learning as I do and someday, a family. However, these things seem to be on the back burner for the present time. I actually feel like I'm living my life for me, an awesome feeling after wanting to please everyone for as long as I can remember. It may seem selfish to some, but I know those closest to me can understand where I'm coming from.


Anyways, on a less thoughtful note...school is out for summer! I still have summer classes, but the break is welcomed with open arms. I am making plans for future endeavors...be on the lookout:)

Holes

"The truth is, everyone is going to hurt you. You just got to find the ones worth suffering for." Bob Marley

I've been feeling sad and a bit lonely as of late. There is this hole inside me that I just can't figure out how to fill. I try to distract myself with work, school, time with family, and friends yet there still seems to be something missing. I long for the day when I figure out what that something is. Until then, I find strength in myself, my writing and the people in my life who I feel lucky they decided to stick around.

why NOT be optimistic?

Something to ponder over your morning coffee or evening tea...

"It is very much easier to be tragic than it is to be comic. I have known people to embrace the tragic view of life, and it is a cop-out. They simply feel rotten about everything, and that is terribly easy."

(in part) Canadian novelist Robertson Davies

"Dialogue cannot be carried out in a climate of hopelessness." Paulo Freire

Airplanes

Can we pretend that airplanes

In the night sky

Are like shooting stars?

I could really use a wish right now

Wish right now

Wish right now

Can I get a Remix!

Last night was my first official performance as a member of Remix, a fun salsa and hip hop dance group that consists of six awesome gals. We've been practicing over the past few weeks and it has been a blast! It feels really great to not only be dancing again, but to be a part of something. I haven't been a part of a dance team since college and truth is, I hadn't realized just how much I've missed it.

We performed for the first time all together at a benefit to raise money for cancer put on by a relay for life team at the local high school. It turned out to be a great event raising almost $700!! My best friend, fellow Remix group member and Pacific Dance Academy owner Jessie, had a bunch of her girls from the studio perform and there was also a choral performance. All in all it was a fun night of dancing, singing, laughing, having fun and raising money for a great cause! I even got to ROCK a red tutu! Totally awesome! I can hardly wait for our next performance:)