March 28, 2005  Spirit of Brazil Performance 2005

The Spirit of Brazil Performance last weekend went really well. We sold out all three nights! Thanks so much to everyone who came and supported the event. You being there really meant a lot to me and you are the peeps who know how much I put into Capoeira and how important it is to me. I was so nervous opening night it was ridiculous. Saturday and Sunday was much more chill (for me) and I think overall each performance went well, although the last show on Sunday felt like the strongest of the three. The crowd was really into the show and we got a lot of amazing feedback. I am hoping we do more performances like this in the future- there is a plan too and I would love to be a part of it. Here is a group shot taken backstage before Sunday's matinee show. It was so great to see everyone looking their best! And here is a photo of guest artist Boa Voz and Mobilia and my Mestranda Marcia in the middle.

March 16, 2005  Our Patio

I just got a spray tan for the capoeira performance this weekend. The verdict is still out on how it looks because you have to wait four hours before you can shower and rinse off the initial bronzer. They promise that you won't go orange. We shall see. My friend Royce at work think it looks good and he would tell me if I looked silly.

I just got over an infection AND a nasty sinus cold and am just starting to feel better. Just in time for our last 2 rehearsals and performance. I am pretty nervous but excited about the event. There are many variables that can go wrong, but I think overall it is pretty forgiving and will be entertaining to anyone watching. At least I hope so.

Through all the training and being busy with work lately I realized that I have been neglecting my friends and family. Sorry if you haven't heard from me or seen me lately. I promise to be in touch within the next few weeks. Of course, always feel free to call or email me. I miss you!

February 17, 2005  1984

My dad sent a cd with some images on it. We're talking 1984. We're talking Traverse City, Michigan folks. Here we go. This is the lake our cottage was on. That's our boat and the little floating raft I would swim out to. This is the back of our cottage. I'm there (red suit) with my mom and my friend Lynn. Ok, this one is especially funny, and I'm really surprised my dad sent it since he is sporting a perm in it. I think I look like Corey Haim. My brother looks happily, um, 'enhanced'. And here is one with my mom. And here is my brother and I at our house in Warren. That dress was made of FELT. So lame.

February 10, 2005  Keys

Not too long ago, my niece turned 15 and my nephew turned 17. You can only imagine how old that makes me feel, especially since I remember them being tiny little babies, crazy toddlers and bratty kids. Now they are teens nearing adulthood and I live far far away from them. It sucks. I miss them (and everyone in my family) a lot. I don't get to see people back home very often, mostly because it is too expensive and people are just too busy with their lives to come out and visit.

For a few years when we first moved to San Francisco, my sister Jill and my niece Brittanie (the one who just turned 15) would come out to ski at Tahoe. That was really great. And this last year my parents finally made it out and brought my 11 year old adopted little sister and my 26 year old niece. They stayed for a week- it was really a laugh. But other than that, no one has been able to come out, and we only go back to Detroit every other year or so. To be honest, Detroit kind of depresses me and I only have a few close friends who live there anymore (hi Heather!). And now that I have a 'job' I'm hellbent on NOT using my vacation time to go to Detroit.

Back to my nephew, Tommy, who applied for college this year. I wish he would come over here to Berkley (he's a smart one) or I'd even take SFU or something, but he decided to stay in Michigan, like they all do. Sigh. It would be cool to have him over here. Maybe I can try Brittanie when she graduates. After her is Michelle - but that is like 7 years away. And the other 3 nieces are far too young to plan for yet.

So, like most transplanted San Franciscans, I have taken it upon my close friends here to fill the family roll. I'd like to take a moment to give a shout-out to all my peeps out there who've I've come to rely on...especially recently. You know who you are. Thank you- you are like family to me.

January 31, 2005  No More Alcohol

Was going to update my 'recommended' section today, but I am having problems writing reviews. I can't seem to focus on my thoughts. I stopped drinking alcohol (stop laughing- it's true) about two weeks ago and while the affects aren't as dramatic as I had anticipated, I seem to have lost control of a) the ability to formulate ideas and have them come out of my mouth and make sense, b) typing and/or spelling without the excessive use of the 'delete' key, and c) the ability to drive or navigate anywhere in the city (and with that - problems keeping my middle finger in line with the rest of the digits on my hand).

And getting dressed today was comical. I sewed a pair of jeans that had a rip in them last night. I put them on this morning. I bent down to answer the phone and they ripped apart. Since all of my pants where either wet or wrinkled (requiring ironing) I decided I had to wear a skirt. My legs are all banged up and bruised from training and/or snowboarding (or drunken clumsiness) so I needed hosiery. Found one pair and as I was putting them on they ran- just a little at the top- but now it is 2:45 pm and the runs are all up and down my right leg. Nice. Real nice. Good thing I am wearing tall boots, but it still is super trashy. My friend Royce was being sweet and told me it was 'hot'. Um, yeah. Ok. Can I go home now?

January 24, 2005  Cinch

Tahoe was great this weekend- mostly because I got new bindings. Behold the K2 Cinch binding. My Flow bindings were great, but I think I have outgrown them. When I would go really fast my board would buckle underneath my feet and I would feel really unstable. I also had problems with my toe edge because the Flows didn't have micro-adjusting for my long ass narrow board. Both problems seem to be fixed withe the new bindings- the results being speed and comfort while still allowing me to have a rear entry binding that cranks right down to my boot. Very happy.

Work has been kind of slow but I have been keeping busy with a few new side projects, and the house is always demanding some sort of attention. Spoke to my mom today (gasp!) about my little sister's birthday coming up. She is turning 11 (she's adopted) and I wanted to get her this kids digital camera. It's a Barbie camera so I wanted my mom to tell her that I didn't get it because it was Barbie and to just ignore that part of it. Michelle isn't into Barbie- just like I wasn't as a kid. Both of us prefer video games or electric cars! It's also my nieces birthday soon- she will be 15. Oh god how time flies. I suddenly feel old.

January 10, 2005  CUBE Life

Going from freelancing for 7 years to having a 'job' takes some adjusting. Mostly this involves my social life. I spent the majority of my freelance years working in different offices, but I also spent a lot of time working on my own from home. This meant I had a very different social set up than I have now. I feel more like a weekend warrior since starting full-time- going out on Friday and Saturday evenings rather than during the week. Training capeoira makes going out during the week difficult. So I find myself 'working for the weekend' these days.

Had some good talks with old friends last week. It was so good to get in touch and catch up. I am seriously bad at that communication thing, but I want to start talking to my non-sf based friends more often. I miss them dearly and crave chatting to them. I may not be one for talking on the phone, but when it is the only real way to chat with people I care about I will talk for hours.

The house is still amidst plumbing disasters. We are currently on plumbing issue number 4- the kitchen drain. Supposedly it was easy to fix and the home owner's warranty covered it, so no sweat. We also have a mysterious leak in the garage coming through a wall. The plumber thinks it is from the rain, Tom thinks it is from the plumbing going into the washer. I am under suspicion that the previous owners come over in the night and sabotage our house, but I keep these things (mostly) to myself.

January 3, 2005  After the Break

Hope everyone had a great holiday. I sucked at keeping in touch this year. I feel like all my peeps are so scattered that it is hard to keep track of everyone- so if I missed ya- I will be in touch!

Back to work after the break. Went to Tahoe for a few days after Christmas and got some riding in before the big storm. We would have liked to have stayed and hit up some powder, but we had some things to take care of in the city and didn't fancy getting stuck when the roads closed up. All in all it was a good time away!

New Year's eve was pretty mellow and nice. We had dinner at Chenery Park and then went to a friends for a toast and a few drinks. I didn't even have a hang over the next day! Imagine that.

s Not much one for resolutions, but I am looking forward to training more capoeira this new year. And of course, snowboarding lots.