Obligatory Resolution Post

Year in review:

It sucked.

Okay, that's not true.

Correction: MOSTLY sucked.

Why: Good job (at times), Good Prospects (bright future and all), Good Times (Lindy Focus and other dance events plus traveling to see family and friends) but bad Family Health.

It was the year of the Cancer... and I can only hope things will look better in 2009.

I don't really remember my resolutions other than that one was most certainly "Lose Weight". So I succeeded at least in that one! I'm not at my goal but I'm in a good range so I count that conquered. Let's just hope I can keep it off. Other than that, I personally feel I have matured as far as responsibility and organization goes. Plus I've been consistently learning Spanish and working towards my goals! I'm pretty proud of myself.

So my resolutions for 2009 are:

- Lose the rest of the weight (125lb end goal) and get in shape! Meaning work out AT LEAST once a week and be able to do 15 solid pushups.
- Once the semester ends and I graduated become super serious about Dance with Austin. Meaning competing, choreographing, teaching more and practicing at least 4 times a week.
- Graduate!
- Continue to learn Spanish and become fluent. Go to Spanish meetups.
- Work with Ruby on Rails by the end of spring.
- Work with Python by the end of the year.
- Don't loose my dream to eventually get to Spain.
- Sort my stuff! Finally! This goal will begin once I start the summer.
- Full time job of course...
- Go to at least one all Bal weekend.


Man lots... but I think they are doable. Just got to get up the energy.

EVENTS I'll be at in 2009:

Definates:
- Soflex
- Orlx
- Frankie's 95th/visit family in NY
- Barack's Inaugeration!
- Lavanya Land/Philie

Most Likelies/Hopefullies:
- Southern Belle
-ULHS
- Lindy Focus
- Atlx
- EBC or All Ball?
- Sugarfoot Stomp
-Swing and Soul?

There's more on "my list" but let's focus on those first.

But yes things have been good though and in the end I should feel lucky.

Crazy busy holiday of course plus two dance events. Also, Austin graduated and started a full time job!

IN REVIEW:

Swing and Soul in Atlanta was like no workshop event I've ever been to before. Very much about the experience rather than the workshops per se. The classes were motivational and covered everything from popping to West African Dance. I had a fun time but was dragging due to impending sickness and finals just ending. Also I was not always a fan of the Soul music played. Still a great experience. Got to hang out with Sue before she left. :(

Meanwhile Aline was visiting from Spain. It was very nice to see her and I do miss her already.

Then Austin graduated! Much fun had by all. I can't say that I can be any more happy for him. The family got together and we had a wonderful dinner at Ceviche afterwards. The following weekend we had a party. Once again sangria was prevelant.

Then there was Christmas. Christmas Eve my family and I joined Austin's family at his Aunt's as per his family's tradition. Very nice time and I was happy to see Jason there. The rest of the eve we opened gifts at my parent's house. I got a Wacom tablet and I'm super excited about clearing off my desk and putting it to work! This is definately the next step I need to take towards my graphical career.

Christmas Day me and austin seperated so we could spend it with our respected families. This kind of sucked but it kept the peace. Besides I hadn't spent a Christmas Day with my family in 3 years. Very relaxed, had the turkey dinner we missed from Thanksgiving and got to see my grandparents!

I left that night to get back to Orlando, pack and leave for Lindy Focus VII the next morning! I was there for the next 6 days and had a blast. Only regret having icky knees and once again an impending sickness that kept me from fully enjoying the dances at night. Either way it was nice to get to know people, get some sleep (at an event? Really?), stay in a nice hotel and forget about my worries for a while. I did not compete though ohwells.

The classes were good I got into the highest level, but not always that stimulating. The ones that were good were very good though and elevated my dancing greatly.

Austin won the velociraptoff. I hope there is video.

Met a guy who is doing Graduate Studies on Semantic Web at Emery in Atlanta! This made me plot devious future plans...

Here's to hoping next year they have a teacher training track and that I'm in better shape so my knees don't hurt as much.

So now I'm home. Catching up on teh internet and thinking about what my next step will be.

1. Get better.
2. Practice Spanish.

And thus my year starts - Sheila

P.S. It would be nice if I wrote more during the coming year too...

P.P.S. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TWiXy55OHyY Funny!

Oh Happy Day

Things have been awesome... lets do a quick update:

1. Blues and Soul Experience


Was amazing! Talk about loving friends, good auras and awesome dances. The caliber of dancing was just so amazing and it has been one of the most beneficial dance experiences I have had in a long time.

I don't know if it just came at the right time for me... what with me being gone from dance for the last month, and really the general disconnect I have felt from it, but it was the right medicine for my dance "blues". Ha!

I haven't always been a fan or the blues but I really gained a greater understanding appreciation for it. I think it also helps the Orlando Blues scene has greatly matured. I'm gonna try to go to late nights more often.

I only got molested once! ;P

It was just an overall fun weekend.. and super cool that I could sleep in my own bed! Went to every dance except for one due to work. Which made me sad because I wanted to hear the band, Band of Brothers. But duty called. Danced from 3pm to 5am on Saturday!

And the best part of the weekend? And I know I keep on raving about it... but my body due to Yoga was AWESOME! I felt confident, I felt flexible, and rarely sore! Heck I felt Sexy! It's like my miracle drug. I've been getting in to it so much lately and its really been life changing. I barely felt sore all weekend. My knee only hurt a little the last dance due to sticky shoes.

It was just a nice weekend... I got to dance, drink some beer, and just hang out. Pretty stress free and pretty awesome. I needed it :)


My dance is definitely at the next level...

2. General Happiness

Just a lot of good things going on in my life despite the usual day to day stress. Just working out, being productive and reading as much as possible.

Class started today, Flash Game Design. Shall be interesting... I'm not a big fan of Flash. Shall be hard... but necessary to learn better.

3. Random Happenings:

- Tom the roommate made 5 gallons of beer that is yummy.
- Camping for my Birthday.
- Tom the roommate made 5 gallons of wine that is very alcoholic.
- Made stew today! So excited. I've been thrifty in the kitchen.
- Working with one of my freelance client. Going well. Hoping to pick up at least one more before the summer is out.
- Working on designing the ORLX site... I've been a bit stuck.
- doing a hundred pushup challenge.
- EVERYTHING seems to be planned for July 4th weekend...


Really I need to go work on ORLX.

Y.A.W.E.R.S. Meets tomorrow!

- S