My Blog

Thank you.....

SOOZ — Sat, 07 Feb 2009 22:07:06 GMT

Hey y'all.....i realized the last time i blogged i was in a pit of despair.....truly.....but since then my life has had ebbs & flows as always but i never got over all the love, cyber hugs, support, concern, advice, that i received on here, myspace and in personal e.mails!!!! 37 comments!!!!! I was stunned at the response!!! My inbox was overflowing!!! Just amazing! I was hoping to respond to y'all with a deep and meaningful blog posting but realized that what I needed to do was to just respond and say....thank you! Still working on "me".......have the incredible support of my wonderful husband.......beautiful wise friends who give of themselves to me......i'm verrrry restless right now creatively.......still sooo in love with my ATS, don't get me wrong........... or maybe i'm just.......restless. As always, thanks for listening. Namaste y'all!

Tears of a Clown......

SOOZ — Wed, 26 Nov 2008 14:45:56 GMT

i'm taking a cue from Bo (thanks sweetie!) and asking for what i truly need right now.........reassurance that i'm going to be o.k. thru this nightmare.......life is really hard right now.......my heart is aching and breaking.........i am at a loss for words.........

Buh Bye Tribe......

SOOZ — Sun, 28 Sep 2008 23:42:34 GMT

Y'know I've put it off long enough.......talk about denial.........and like everyone's been saying....it's only a matter of time.......and the thought of losing touch with all the great people that i've met on here.....all 1,000 of you on my friends list.......and I do know all of you whether in person or just in the virtual sense..........it makes me truly sad.........so..........if you want to stay in touch with me..........my info is below........if you don't, well, it's been fun knowing ya........... e.mail: tribalsooz@yahoo.com website: www.tribalsooz.com myspace: http://www.myspace.com/tribalsooz I'm also on Facebook.........Ning........WAYN..........etsy........ebay.........Yahoo!groups.........but not nearly enough and don't really to plan to be......e.mail or myspace is the best way to stay in touch with me............ So in those immortal words of Carol Burnett and that sweet lil' song she would always sing at the end of her show back in the '70"s.....yeah....i'm that old.......... i'm so glad we had this time together just to have a laff or sing a song seems we just get started and before you know it comes the time we have to say.... so long...

I'm on YouTube....

SOOZ — Sat, 10 May 2008 03:57:37 GMT

with my good friend and dance partner, Rachael Gollub! When we dance together in our duet, we're called Mirabelle! Since she lives in Idyllwild and I live in Fullerton (we're talking hours away!), we NEVER get to practice with eachother so since we both teach ATS, we're able to just pick some music and meet onstage and improv! It's sooo exhilarating after every performance because we haven't been rehearsing and practicing with eachother week after week......I wish we could but when we get onstage, it's just electric! Such fun! I am soooo lucky to have found such an amazing dance partner in Rachael! I love and cherish her friendship and am honored to share the stage with her each and everytime! Enjoy watching the video's! HOLLA!!! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N-_Z2kfMAmA (part 1) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZDHMlsIL9OI&feature=related (part 2) Namaste y'all!

Me own tribe!

SOOZ — Sat, 03 May 2008 02:57:46 GMT

Tribal Sooz! wanna join? http://tribes.tribe.net/sooz I sent out a ton of invites but if I overlooked ya, it's probably because there was several of your name or you're using a nickname and I went.....huh? Come on to the dark side that is TribalSooz....muuuuwahahahhaha!

Back From the Mothership!

SOOZ — Sun, 23 Mar 2008 06:31:42 GMT

It's been over a week already and only now, am I able to gather my thoughts together and tell of my adventure in San Francisco to do the Teacher Training at the FatChanceBellyDance studio! And what an adventure it was! I'll go day by day, k? Here we go: Friday: Got up at 4 a.m. to leave Orange County by 5 a.m. to make it up to SF by at least noon! I did! Couldn't believe it! AND was able to take a 1/2 hour nap in between all that driving! And I was tired! Well, parking in the city is for sh*t! And I was just soo excited to be there and get to the FCBD studio that I grabbed a parking space, loaded up my suitcase & my laptop to take in with me (I learned to take belongings in after my car was broken into in San Diego of all places! Took all my clothes that I had just packed for a 3 month tour! But I digress....) Got into the studio and was just blissed out because I couldn't believe I was actually there!!! It was the last day of the General Skills week and I was dropping in on the last day. It was soo great to see all the girls getting their certificates at the end of the day, the giddy excitement of achievement in this dance! By this time it was 5:30 p so I decided to go out to my car to have the sandwich I packed..... wait...... where's my car?!?!? Uh.....you guessed it....IT GOT TOWED!!!! Long story short...... $10 cab ride to impound yard, $240 to get my car/towing expense, $60 violation ticket, I was a wreck! But most of all I wanted to take class there and thought I had missed it! Isn't that funny!??! Priorities. Decided to stay to take class with Anita teaching and I was very surprised for a Friday nite, those classes were filled! WOW! Had a great time, learned alot and Anita is a great teacher! Afterwards, Quinn (from Gypsy Fire, Bend, OR) & Sharon "Shay" (from Infusion Tribal, Seattle, WA) and I went in search of eats! Found a cool place by their hotel and ate yummy food, drank wine & cosmos and laffed our asses off! Then, it was finally time for me to check in to my place that I would be staying for the duration and I was very lucky to be invited to stay at Frederiques house in Oakland! How cool was that!?!? Her and her man just moved in and it is the most adorable 4-plex with so much charm inside! I had my own bedroom & bathroom and they made an extra key for me because they knew that I was basically there to hang my hat. But hopefully would be able to visit with them at some point, which we did! I literally melted into bed that nite! Saturday: Started off with a great breakfast with Fred & Jason outside in the sun! Then I was off to Rakkasah to help out at the Geisha Moth booth and also at the Tribal Bazaar booth. GM had over 14 assistants I think over the weekend and Tribal Bazaar was basically Paul & Yasemin! OY VEY! It was the first year in the new venue with my personal favorite change: the stages are equal in size so no more conference room or Titanic stage difference! I was there from 3 p.m. to close at 11 p.m. I was exhausted but had so much fun running between buildings, watching great performances like FatChance, who rocked the house!!!! Their set was just beautiful as always with lots of great formations & new combos! Sunday: this was a LONG day at Rakkasah for me. I got there right at the opening, 11 a.m. to work the GM booth and then worked at the Tribal Bazaar booth basically being crown control! it was a madhouse in there! Saw more stunning performances, a personal fave being Domba (or the group formally know as Domba) and Ava Fleming teaming up for an amazing show!!! WOW!!! It was like watching the Moulin Rouge!!! And of course, sister troupes of FCBD, Red Lotus & Nefertem! Both stunning! Closing time and I helped out GM for a bit and then headed over to the Tribal Bazaar booth and oh my goodness!!! You never know how much stuff a vendor has until you help them pack up!!! WOW!!! Had no idea! The event ended at 8 p.m. I was outta there at 11 p.m. Can't wait for my teacher training to start and for the mystery to be revealed..... Monday: Headed over to the FCBD studio to begin Teacher Training. (you'll be happy to know I found a parking lot that was safe & legal!) Carolena has this training down to a science, both the GS & the TT! She is so organized & Zen about it all! I just love it & marvel at the same time. We got our TT manuals and went thru it with a fine tooth comb, being able to ask her anything & everything about teaching the moves, running a class, etc. And then the thing I was dreading but also looking forward to: having to teach a move in front of her and the other Teacher trainees who were instructed to listen as students & not one who knows the moves already. That was fun! It was sooo great to see the other dancers teaching styles and to listen to Carolena's critiques and suggestions. We're sooo lucky to have this and to have the creator of this amazing dance doing this for us! It was a mixture of emotions for all of us: tense, excited, happy, scared, nervous, intimidated, but the bottom line being we wanted to do good soooo bad and wanted Carolena's approval ultimately! She told us to study our manuals for the next day and to be prepared for a pop quiz and to choose 2 moves that we wanted to teach. I chose mine and floated out to my car, once again inspired all over by her and this dance called ATS. I was fortunate to be able to visit with Fred & Jason and their friend, Tom, over mexican food and a pitcher of margaritas! A great way to decompress after an amazing but mentally exhausting day! Tuesday: We arrived, us Teacher Trainees, knowing what to do but not knowing what to expect...if that makes any sense? We dove right into teaching our moves to eachother, getting feedback from Carolena and the class, different ways to approach teaching a move, etc. So illuminating! We were 11 strong in there so by the time we got done, we didn't have time to teach our 2nd move so we opened it up to discussion, Q & A with eachother, good stuff!!! And then came our graduation! Again, so humbled yet sooo proud! group photo with certificates in hand. And at Suzanne Elliot's request, being able to dance with eachothAnhyer! I didn't want to leave just yet....none of us did but some of us had to go to the airport to catch flights home or stay and attend class that nite. As much as I wanted to attend class that nite, I had to celebrate! So Quinn, Sharon, Karla & Kari & I went out to dinner in the Castro district at this cool restaurant called Tangerine. I highly recommend t his place! great food, great service & all beautifully presented! Lots of wine & lots of laffs! talk about decompressing! Then we went to Nickie's to listen to DJ Cheb I Sabbah spin and danced, drank, laffed, and just had an amazing time being with eachother one last time. Intense shared experiences like this are so special & unique that it's sooo hard to leave eachother and this was over 2 days! But all of these women were so wonderful and were just like me: cared enough about ATS to want to learn it right, teach it right and to keep it pure! Wednesday: I was expecting just to get up and leave for da OC but had some unexpected surprises happen! Quinn & Sharon invited me to breakfast at Boogaloo's and then shopping in the Haight and at 5 & Diamond! That was alot of fun! We went to 2 cool stores and bought some really neat items! And I had planned the day before to meet with Carolena at a new tea bar that had opened up nearby. So I was able to meet, one on one with Carolena, over pots of tea, to discuss something that I was really keen on happpening: becoming a Sister Studio. We had such a great talk and 2 1/2 hours later, I was on my way home, with Carolena's blessing of being a Sister Studio in Orange County, CA and to preserve and uphold the integrity, work ethic, language, that is, ATS. I'm soooo honored! I remember telling some of the other girls that I feel like the prodigal daughter. I started in ATS back in 2003 and then soon after started performing and started doing more & more choreographies, and doing tribal fusion, and everything but ATS. But after taking the GS in 2007, I realized that's where my bliss is. I like dancing with a group and I like tribal improv! I love jamming, never knowing what we're going to create but trusting that it will be fun and amazing as it always is!!! Thank you Carolena for giving us this dance! Words cannot express what this dance has meant to me. Long live ATS!!!!

Bow afterglow.....

SOOZ — Sat, 16 Feb 2008 12:35:55 GMT

I had thee most esteemed privilige to dance with 2 members of FatChance at Tribal Fusion Faire last December, calling it an ATS collaboration. Once again showing that if you know the original ATS steps & cues, you can dance with anyone with little or no rehearsal and still perform an amazing show, no one the wiser! Well, after our performance, came of ourse, our bow. We grabbed hands and I instinctively went to just raise my arms and take a bow, and dance off. But wait....I was with FatChance....This meant I got to take : a Fat Chance Bow!!! Ohhhhhh yessss! Not just any bow...noooooooooo. The best bow: a Fat Chance bow!!!!! I have always admired the way the ladies of FatChance take a bow. Lemme tell you....they give good bows! They take their time, like a fine wine, they let it breathe..... First their arms are extended heavenward, as if to say "victory is mine!". Then they join hands and triumphantly strut (yes, strut!) downstage just to the apron of the stage. That's the best part for me: THE STRUT! Love the Strut! Then, while scanning the audience do the ladies bow ever so languidly, rise back up (in sync of course), and just when we think they're done.....we hear their zils once again as they whirl off......leaving us breathless as they depart......***sigh*** Yes....I was a part of that and it was a beautiful thing! Thanks to Marsha & Sandi for giving me that opportunity at Tribal Fusion Faire 2007!!!! OTRA!!! OTRA!!!!

Now you tell me!

SOOZ — Tue, 22 Jan 2008 02:56:38 GMT

Finding out what you're good at & then working to get better at it is a much more efficient use of your time & energy than trying to become a star in an area where you may not have much talent to begin with! huh......

Like Watching Paint Dry.....

SOOZ — Wed, 29 Aug 2007 07:26:09 GMT

If any of you know me, ya know I will almost always say this phrase if it pertains to 2 things: Baseball & certain movies. AND I tend to like those kind of movies! "Like watching paint dry...." I mean, think about it. Imagine sitting in front of a fence that's just been painted.....just sitting there....or standing, if you like.....and just watching the paint....on the fence....for hours....as it dry's.....takes a long time don't it? So do some baseball games. But don't get me wrong; I love baseball players! Those guys are hot! I didn't realize those men were so tall! My hubby was a baseball player in high school and was really good at it too! You should see his forearms....mmmmmmmmm! O.k....where was i? Oh yeah, baseball.... I like certain games when something is on the line, like a playoff spot, world series with the Angels, but other than that.....baseball games can be torture! Like......well, like, watching paint dry! Strangely enough, I love love love most baseball movies! You name it: The Natural, Eight Men Out, Bull Durham, Pastime, A League of their Own, etc. Not all movies about sports, mainly baseball because they usually get right to the action whereas baseketball, hockey, football...it's ALL action! But back to watching that paint dry.....the movies. I'll give you a list of some of my most favorite ones: ** A Slipping Down Life: Guy Pearce...nuff said! ** Harold & Maude: I saw this when I was 11, 12, with my mom, in the theatre, fell in love with Bud Cort, & this movie! ** Pastime: Baseball movie that moves as slowly as some games, but sweetly, profoundly, a gem! ** Raise the Red Lantern: Great Chinese foreign fim; great character study! ** Wings of Desire: Beautiful German Film filmed in B&W and color. American Version was City of Angels with Meg Ryan..boy they ruined it! See this version---they got it right the FIRST time! ** Why Did Bodhi Dharma Leave For the East?: Not a favorite really, but this is serious rock-garden-sand-raking-Zen-watching paint dry movie! Put a pot of coffee on....you're gonna need it! ** The Station Agent: This came out a couple of years ago, little independent film that could....and does! This is really just a sampling! If you've seen any of these movies, y'know what I'm talking bout by now but if you haven't and still going huh?Think of any BBC drama (Jane Eyre, Pride & Prejudice, North & South) and I'm talking the BBC versions, not the hollywood versions because they get in the way and always seem to muck it up! It's like they don't trust the audience to make their own choices, symbolism is a good thing sometimes. Also, you can always count on a good independent film to just wander scene by scene, taking it's time and sometimes, yeah, it's bad editing and pacing but sometimes, when it's done right, it's great directing in character study. And I love when an actor can bring that to the screen, unselfconsciously, uninhibited, truthfully, showing that honesty & vulnerability that makes us go "oooo, i've been there". Gives me chills....

Inconsolable....

SOOZ — Mon, 09 Jul 2007 06:12:50 GMT

It's been a week since we had to put our beloved kitty, Yin Yang, down. He was only 10 years old. I took this picture bout a month ago. I love how he looks.....so peaceful......i'm really going to miss him....

Who's to blame?

SOOZ — Tue, 26 Jun 2007 01:17:10 GMT

As we begin to truly understand that the world outside of us is a reflection of the world inside of us, we may feel confused about who is to blame for the problems in our lives. If we had a difficult childhood, we may wonder how we can take responsibility for that, and in our current relationships, the same question arises. We all know that blaming others is the opposite of taking responsibility, but we may not understand how to take responsibility for things that we don't truly feel responsible for. We may blame our parents for our low self-esteem, and we may blame our current partner for exacerbating it with their unconscious behavior. Objectively, this seems to make sense. After all, it is not our fault if our parents were irresponsible or unkind, and we are not to blame for our partner's bad behavior. Perhaps the problem lies with the activity of blaming. Whether we blame others or blame ourselves, there is something aggressive and unkind about it. It sets up a situation in which it becomes difficult to move forward under the burdensome feelings of shame and guilt that arise. It also puts the resolution of our pain in the hands of someone other than us. Ultimately, we cannot insist that someone else take responsibility for their actions; only they can make that choice when they are ready. In the meantime, if we want to move forward with our lives instead of waiting around for something that may or may not happen, we begin to see the wisdom of taking the situation into our own hands. We do this by forgiving our parents, even if they have not asked for our forgiveness, so that we can be free. We end the abusive relationship with our partner, who may never admit to any wrongdoing, because we are willing to take responsibility for how we are treated. In short, we love ourselves as we want to be loved and create the life we know we deserve. We leave the resolution of the wrongs committed against us in the hands of the universe, releasing ourselves to live a life free of blame. ___________________________________________________________________________________________________________ I, again, did not write these insights that i'm sharing with y'all. They're delivered to my e.mail everyday as part of my DailyOM. Some of them just resonate with me and i just want to share with you and i thank all of you for reading, sharing, empathizing. I love reading about your experiences too. I sooo sooo wish I had you with me when I was growing up because I didn't start opening up until I was in my late 20's, early 30's and even then I was sooo embarassed and ashamed of my life experiences as if I did something wrong or that I was to blame.....there's that word again! Interestingly enough it rhymes with another word I'm not all that fond of: shame. Such wasted energy on these two words and the emotions they bring up. I find it all sooo.....lame! (**can you find me in the picture?**)

This is sooo Tribal!

SOOZ — Tue, 19 Jun 2007 14:08:05 GMT

....or at least what the tribal community should be and sometimes strays from.... June 19, 2007 Women’s Support Becoming Our Own Role Models As women embrace the fullness of who they are as individuals, they may find themselves supporting other women, helping others to reach the level of inner comfort and outer freedom that they themselves have found. Among those who are less sure of themselves and their place in the world, it may be more common to criticize other women than to seek their help. But there are things that a woman can only learn from another woman, as there are things about being a man that can only be learned from other men. We all recognize that we have much to learn from each other regardless of gender, but sometimes we could use a supportive role model that gives us a more precise example of what and who we can become. There was a time where women stood together in a bond of sisterhood, women supporting women. It is only natural that the pendulum swings out of balance for a while so that we may have the experience of what we do not want. It is up to women to bring the pendulum back into balance and bring back the sacred sisterhood we yearn for at our core. If we envision a world where women support each other and help each other find their place in an ever-changing world, then we can become the change we want to see. Jealousy, envy, criticism, and judgment are refuges for the insecure. As we help others to become self-assured, we create a world in which all people help each other, regardless of gender. Only women can make the change in how women are seen and understood, not just by other women but by the world at large. The way we speak about each other to other women and to the men in our lives informs everyone to treat us with the respect that all women, and all people, deserve. _______________________________________________________________________________________________________ I didn't write the above text. It came in my e.mail as part of my DailyOM. The reason I got into tribal bellydance was of course because of the dance but the other benefit was the sisterhood. I wasn't expecting that at all. I loved it....still do! It's still there. But I think when people saw that there was "money to be made" in this dance (workshops, tours, see the world on someone else's dime, be ultra-liked!), boy did the atmosphere change! I still find that great spirit of unity and stick with the peeps in that community. It's not all bad. Tribal still rocks my socks off!!!

Catholic Schoolgirl's Revenge!!!

SOOZ — Fri, 15 Jun 2007 02:21:37 GMT

Yes. You read that right! I had thee most amazing opportunity to go back to my elementary school, which happens to be a Catholic school, and perform as a bellydancer for the 8th grade graduation dance! My chiropractor was the one who got me the gig! I guess every year they've been doing a theme, last year was a pirate theme, this year was a Moroccan theme. So my chiropractor thought having me bellydance as atmosphere as the students arrived would be perfect! And it was! I had a blast! And I actually got to see an old classmate whose son was graduating! Alot of the parents couldn't believe that we went to school together; they thought I was a college student! HA!!! I got to show my chiropractor my class picture in the hallowed halls of the school--class of '77! WOW!! That was a trip! It was so nice to be able to come back to a place that held good memories for me but also some not so good ones as wel. I was more of a tomboy back then. I tried to be girlie, believe me but ended up being more, well, dorky! Braces, bad perms, and no sense of style due to the fact that you didn't have to worry bout that cuz of the uniform which was a good & bad thing. Tribal bellydance changed my life in such a profound way and to be able to go back to this "place of guilt" was mind-blowing & gratifying at the same time. Having my husband there, standing where I used to play on the blacktop & had crushes on boys who could only ridicule the mexican in return, was so comforting & special for me. I wish everyone could have such an experience in their life. This is right up there with me missing my 25th High School Reunion because I was doing something I loved. But I got to put an entry in the "Where Are They Now" memory book. I could hear the jaws dropping all nite that nite! Namaste!!!

Gandhi?!?!

SOOZ — Tue, 12 Jun 2007 14:10:20 GMT

O.kay I've been tagged by my bud, Sandi of FatChanceBellydance (name dropping, I know) Fun little thing... 1. grab the nearest book 2. open book to page 28 3. find the 3rd sentence 4. post the text of the next three sentences in your blog along with these instructions. Do not look for your favorite book, the cool book, or the intellectual one: pick the CLOSEST book. 5. tag 5 other peeps to do the same. "This was, for me, an object lesson in Ahimsa. Then I could read in it nothing more than a father's love, but today I know that it was pure Ahimsa. When such Ahimsa' becomes all embracing , it transforms everything it touches." from Gandhi: An Autobiography-the story of my experiments with truth (I know, name dropping again) Lesseee....I tag Geisha Moth, Kashmir, Zahira, Teresa, & Ariellah! Namaste y'all!

To My Husband...

SOOZ — Thu, 15 Feb 2007 00:54:20 GMT

This past weekend, the amazing Mary J. Blige was a big winner at the Grammy's and when she performed she tore up the stage! Phenomenal! This lady has overcome so much so it was with great empathy that I watched her accept her awards with such humility and pride and strength. So great to see a survivor! I read a great article about her that really resonated with me. She was telling how she met her husband and the obstacles that she had to overcome, mainly learning how to trust this man. I could totally relate. Had to share.... "When I finally called him up he said, 'Mary, I've got something to tell you that's going to hurt but it will help you heal'. Guys didn't ever talk to me like that. 'You're scarred inside, he said, it's like you have a cut and it's infected. You have to let me put proper medicine on it so it can heal'. I thought, "what in the world am I getting into". But the real me reached out tho this man because he cared about me. he didn't want anything from me. He wasn't using me. He's a great man--very smart and full of love, because his parents gave him love. I treated him so badly for awhile, because I'd never experienced real love before. I was suspicious. It seemed too good to be true. After I met him, everything changed in my life. he was the first person to ever challenge what I did: 'Why are you doing that? Why do you hate yourself? You don't need to be around people who tear you down. You're beautiful Mary.' He was the first man to ever tell me that." **************************************************************************************************************************************************** I couldn't of said it any better Mary! We indeed have very amazing partners in our lives! I am so lucky and so blessed to have Dave in my life. Everyday is Valentines Day with him.. Not a day goes by where we don't give eachother a hug, a kiss and say I love you. And I just wanted you all to know that. Oh, and Dave, too. I love you honey!

Hidden Talents!

SOOZ — Mon, 05 Feb 2007 01:23:29 GMT

My husband's coolness factor went thru the roof for me when he agreed to do this student video with his best friend. And I'm supposed to be the performer in this family! He puts me to shame!!!!! Check it out! I just put it up in my profile!

Got Skills?!?!

SOOZ — Sun, 14 Jan 2007 01:58:31 GMT

I can't believe it's been a week since my incredible weekend with Carolena Nericcio and the FatChanceBellyDance General Skills Workshop! I'm still inspired, exhilarated, giddy, amazed, and rejuvenated about this beautiful dance called tribal. Lately I had become so disillusioned with the dance and not being motivated to drill. The only time I would dance is if I was teaching or rehearsing and even then I was having to deal with choreographies. I was in a word: bored. But then I signed up for the workshop and not really thinking it was going to change my perception or anything but boy was I wrong! From the first handout that she gave us, I just got so excited! We all did! We were so hungry to dissect these moves and really wanted to learn how to execute them correctly. And then we danced....with Carolena leading us and then leading eachother...the thrill....it made me fall in love with tribal, ATS to be exact. all over again. And I told Carolena in class in front of everybody, "You are the reason I started dancing this dance and I'm so grateful for that" and she was so gracious & humbled by that remark...i'll never forget that. I came back to my students armed with new found knowledge and they were so excited seeing my certificate and were not at all annoyed that they had to learn the Basic Egyptian all over again...the right way. It felt great! Sadly, it seems that American Tribal Style as we know it thru Fat Chance is not what everyone is learning to begin with when they start this dance. With the advent of fusion styles, true improv is going the way of the album! As Carolena said at the beginning of the workshop, we are now the disciples of this format and can now go out and spread the word! And to that I say, Hallelujah!

I'm a Yule Log!!!!!!

SOOZ — Sat, 23 Dec 2006 19:31:41 GMT

***You Are a Yule Log*** While you do have holiday spirit, you have a secret, heathen past. What Holiday Food Are You? http://www.blogthings.com/whatholidayfoodareyouquiz/ (can you imagine my excitement when they revealed what I was!?!!? I can now die happy!)

My very own Website!

SOOZ — Tue, 08 Aug 2006 04:13:07 GMT

Check it out! www.tribalsooz.com Soooo exciting!

GONG 'EM!!!!

SOOZ — Tue, 01 Aug 2006 20:33:47 GMT

www.break.com/index/finalcountdown.html OY VEY!!!!! (Disclaimer: the picture of Rachel's nose has nothing to do with this, it's just a funny pic!)

TUGGED...I mean TAGGED!!!

SOOZ — Mon, 26 Jun 2006 21:33:28 GMT

O.k. alot of people have tagged me and i was waiting for the tagging to stop and seems to have so now i will divulge useless chit about me and hopefully you'll laff your ass off or just roll your eyes or it may just make you say....huh?!? 1. I love the sound of creaking leather! (and the smell for that matter) Mainly the sound. I worked at Knott's Berry Farm for many years and was around those cowboys and when i would hear their holsters and boots and.....OY....just thinking bout it is making me....swoon....and those long coats... 2. BUT...(and that's a big but) I don't like the sound of someone taking off their leather belt! Childhood memories of my father taking his off and beating the crap out of us. That's a whole nuther blog entry that i might share one of these days. My husband comes home and takes off his belt....yuck....that horrid sound of the clanging of the buckle....he knows i hate it and he will make me laff right away bout something else because he loves me so much. 3. I hate tags sticking out of people's shirts! I'll be standing in line anywhere--the bank, store, amusement park, etc. and i will just flip that puppy back inside where it belongs! Total strangers...the looks i get of either shock, amazement, what the.... 4. I'm one of the the only people i know that doesn't mind the sound of nails on a chalkboard. I used to pretend in school that it would bother me because it seemed to bother everyone else....maybe that's when my acting skills kicked in. Scratch all you want....just keep your belt on dammit! 5. I love squirrels! I collect all things squirrel related. And they're hard to come by! It used to be cows but then that became so easily collectable and people wouldn't just give me the jersy and hostein, black & white, brown and white they would give me blue, pink, stupid looking cows. So now it's squirrels....and beavers....wooodchucks....Smokey the Bear...woodland creatures basically. Ah...my husband is one lucky guy (HA!). 6. I was a virgin until i was 27...or 28...because i don't really recall when exactly i lost it....HA! Long story that and another blog entry that i may get around to sharing if i watch enough Oprah. 7. I wanted to be in a an all-girl band. I knew how to play piano and this was the time when the Go-Go's put out their first album and i found out they didn't know how to play their instruments when they started and look at where they got! So i thought i'm halfway there...put out an ad in the recycler...met alot of weird people...ended up in strange guys houses (how i never got raped is beyond me!) and never got in that band...played in some other kinds of bands...christian...zombie (Halloween Haunt--a great memory that)....40's....but never that all girl Beatle loving, 60's/70's pop band with beautiful harmonies and catchy hooks. So i became a tribal bellydancer and finally got into my all girl band.....tribe....y'know. 8. Speaking of piano, which is how i make my living, while playing piano at Knott's at the Bird Cage Theatre melodrama i accidently and unknowingly broke the tip of my pinky and had to play a shift later that nite and played a private party with my broken pinky...pain only my enemies should know....i now have this croooked Ichabod Crane looking pinky....it still gives me problems in the colder months. It was 8 right? I'm not sure who i'll tag back but there you go. peace. 6.

It is time Grasshopper....

SOOZ — Thu, 20 Apr 2006 21:35:51 GMT

As many of you may or may not know, I am finally taking the plunge and will be starting to teach tribal belly dance classes in a few days! On my own. WOW! I never thought I would ever get to this point in my dance, then again I never thought I would ever perform this dance in public when I first started. I thought I would be just a weekend warrior, trying to get the nerve up to somehow dance at a hafla somewhere during an open dance. This dance has taken me to places I had never dreamed of! And I have so many people to thank for that, male & female. Musicians & dancers. But there is one that I need to thank above all: my dear friend, mentor, dance partner and teacher: Rachel Lazarus Soto. This lady changed my life in so many ways. She was my first tribal teacher and still the best teacher I have ever had. She has taught me so much, not only in dancing but in life as well. She is generous to a fault with her wisdom and never ceases to inspire me. It has been a privilige to dance with her and I hope to continue on this journey with her for years to come. I will forever be grateful that she saw in me something that I didn't see in myself. She literally transformed me from a scared, insecure, and frustrated performer and allowed me to be....me. She trusted that it's okay for me to be funny onstage and to bring a much needed smile to tribal. We have shared many a laugh and have shed many a tear together. So many great talks about our fears, goals, likes & dislikes, and many a great cup of chai (mmmmmm!). I cannot wait to start this chapter in my life. I am beyond excited and also a little nervous. I have some big ol shoes to fill. I come to this venture armed with so much knowledge, respect, and joy and I can only hope that I will be able to inspire somebody, just a little, thru this dance that I love sooo much. The way Rachel did for me. Who I also love soo much... Thank you so very much Rach and yes, I'll see you in class....as always.

Shut the %@#& up!!!!!

SOOZ — Sun, 01 Jan 2006 00:39:23 GMT

O.k. so my hubby and I love going to our countrys national parks and monuments whenever we get the chance and this past week we've just returned from our annual holiday getaway after the craziness that is the holidays (being working musicians it gets crazy!). Whenever and wherever we go, we always look forward to seeing the stunning beauty that this country has to offer but especially the peace and quiet being away from the city. NOT SO MUCH!!!! OY! the chatter! YAK YAK YAK YAK YAK! And I'm not talking little kids running around the Grand Canyon unsurpurvised oh so close to a death drop. I'm talking adults here! BLAH BLAH BLAH BLAH!! When we go to these places, we act as if we're going to a place of worship if you will, with reverence and respect, or even just going to your local library for crissakes (but who go's to there local libraries anymore when you can go to your local Starbucks or Barnes & Noble!). Case in point: we just got back from exploring Sedona, AZ. Not our first visit there but our first time truly exploring the surrounding areas. I expected there to be lots of peace & quiet here what with all the vortex's plus this town's known for people making pilgrimages here for spiritual enlightenment, meditation & yoga tours, etc. YAK YAK YAK YAK YAK YAK YAK YAK....om....YAK YAK YAK YAK.... Well you get the picture. The only time we haven't experienced this onslaught of noise has been at the lesser known places which I'm almost afraid to list here because I want to keep the foot traffic and chatter to a minimum but it would be a shame to hide such beauty. I'll let one slip: Dead Horse Point, Moab, UT. I think one of the reasons it's so quiet here is because on first site of this place you're literally rendered speechless! It's breathtaking! Even in our one nite in Vegas, the hallway outside our door sounded like new years eve had started already! YAK YAK STOMP STOMP BURP CHORTLE YAK YAK GUFFAW! etc. Ah well, we scored some beautiful tsinga bells and an amazing antique tibetan singing bowl so I can meditate the chatter away! Oh, and I also got a royal flush on video poker. I won $1,000. Happy New Year indeed!

Yuletide Yuks!

SOOZ — Sun, 25 Dec 2005 17:55:02 GMT

So I'm flipping the channels, like you do, and I run across this: that infamous site of a fireplace with christmas music playing in the background, for those of you who don't have a real live fireplace, watch this! BUT (and that's a big but!) the best part was the description when I pressed the menu guide button! 6 a.m.-10 a.m. Footage of a log burning. That totally made my day! Merry Krimble everyone!

Just Do It!

SOOZ — Fri, 02 Dec 2005 02:43:08 GMT

"I think too many people today give up too easily on becoming what they really want in life. I am a firm believer that if you want to do something bad enough, there is always a way to do it. You just have to want it bad enough. Sometimes you have to give up a lot of other things to get where you want to go. There are risks. And with risks come rewards. I hate to hear someone say, 'I can't.' Usually what they are really saying is 'I don't want to.'" Vincent Falcone, Local 369 Conductor/accompanist for Frank Sinatra