My little scribbles

Its Been a while

Lucinia — Thu, 28 May 2009 21:39:47 GMT

but I'm still here... Have a Happy Day! :)

Do Dee Dum dumm

Lucinia — Tue, 03 Mar 2009 18:03:24 GMT

Heh, Got my music, got my coach. Life is bliss...............

Ooooooops

Lucinia — Thu, 26 Feb 2009 05:21:50 GMT

I did it again. Since Lillies of Valley is canceled. Looks like I'll be entering Wiggles of West Competition. I'm only two months behind in preparation and have no idea what to wear for a costume.... but I'm a smart gal and I'll figure it out....

email list (Workshop Series)

Lucinia — Mon, 19 Jan 2009 22:30:44 GMT

I am putting together an email list to promote my classes/workshops and events I'm sponsoring. If you would like to be on it. E-mail me at aratia@msn.com with your email address and I will put you on the list if I have not sent you an email already to Opt out... I don't want to be sending my info to people who are not interested.. I am currently developing a workshop series Titled: The Art of Belly Dance. and will soon be starting with my first workshop titled: What it takes! What it takes is inspired by the Actor Frank Langella and his philosophy on Acting. His beliefs can be directly applied to the art of dancing... This was a big AHHA moment for me and I am excited to share this information and apply it to belly dance..... Other workshops for this series in-development are for Fusion dancing, musicality interpretation, Creative dance. and tools for developing choreography's. Unlike most workshops these workshops will be limited to smaller number of people based on content of workshop. I feel it is more important to teach and apply concepts to smaller groups so dancers can walk out of the workshop with practical knowledge and appliance of principles. If that makes sense. Any hoooo if you would like to be on the list let me know.....

Its that time of year again (Artist's Way III)

Lucinia — Wed, 14 Jan 2009 19:09:33 GMT

Every year at this time, I begin the journey a new by doing the Artist's Way. This will be my third time going through the book and exercises. Each year it gets better and better. I am looking forward to the new discoveries and seeing how much I've changed or not changed. This year I am going to read my Morning pages from the previous two years. I have never read them so it will be exciting to see how my dance and life has progressed or not progressed. Either way it will be a growing experience... :)

What a strange morning

Lucinia — Mon, 12 Jan 2009 21:08:01 GMT

Sunday morning was very strange. I woke up at 3:00 am and my mind became flooded with a lot of information. It started first with my own personal development and improvements on my defects of character. I am going to keep that information private and all my thoughts and realizations which it pertains to, but it brought back into my mind a self help book that had read many many years ago. I can not recall the name of the book at this moment but in it, it describes how Benjamin Franklin also became aware of his short comings and how he made a plan to improve and change his bad habits. I am now instituting his concept into my life. I consider that the most important information i received for a solution to my current life problems. The flood of information wasn't just about personal character development, it was also about my dance and about instructing and doing workshops. I was given ideas for subject matter and content for workshops. I soon realized that all this information was just to important for me to turn over and go back to sleep. So I got up, and began writing it all down on paper. I was flooded with information how to improve my dance, workshops, adding to and or changing the structure of my lesson plans. Ideas for analogies for describing movements, I was given ideas for new dance combinations. Important tid bits of information which was given to me by my instructors which I over looked or had not applied and now taking some of that information to the next level and applying it on a broader spectrum. I spent three and half hours of just writing it all this information down on paper and could have written much much more, but when I finally looked up at the clock and it said 6:30 am, I had to force myself to stop and say enough. I needed to get my proper rest so I could teach my first belly dance class. I owed it to myself and my students. Giving a class when your tired and exhausted from the lack of sleep is not the way to be a good instructor so I forced my self to go back to bed. This has never happened to me before. I believe everything I received was the universe, God, giving me the answers to my prayers. So shall you ask, so shall you receive.

Facebook

Lucinia — Thu, 08 Jan 2009 21:52:06 GMT

if you are on Facebook please add me as a friend. It is more friendly for posting events/sending messages than Tribe. You can find me as Angela DiCaprio on facebook.

Warning beware what you pray for

Lucinia — Fri, 02 Jan 2009 22:11:58 GMT

So feeling lonely last night I prayed for someone to enter my life. Today's Horoscope: Someone may come storming into your world today. From out of the blue a relationship I had resigned to give up comes back into my life. She found my number and got the nerve up to call me. We had a nice chat... Should be seeing each other soon. hmmmmmmmmmmmmm

My Baby Girl

Lucinia — Fri, 26 Dec 2008 17:15:18 GMT

Is officially Engaged!!! Woo Hoo!!

Free Introductory Multi-level Workshop

Lucinia — Mon, 22 Dec 2008 21:41:23 GMT

Free Introductory multi-level workshop. Come find out what Angela DiCaprio is all about. Saturday January 3rd 2009 from 1:00 PM to 3:00 PM at Euphoria Studios 1235 SE Division St. Portland, Oregon. To Celebrate the New Year and Celebrate the new Instructor At Euphoria Studio, Angela will be giving a Multi-level workshop to Introduce all the levels she teaches. This is a chance to check her out and see what she is all about! What you will need for this workshop. Bring your sagats/zills and a Yoga Mat. Dress for this this class is yoga/workout pants, short skirts above the knee is acceptable, hip scarves but none with Beads or Coins. Pre-registration is Highly recommended. Class size will be limited to 30 participants so no guarantee space will be available for Drop-ins. To Register E-mail Angela at bellydancer97208@yahoo.com or Call 503 819-5047.

I'm loosing my motivation

Lucinia — Fri, 12 Dec 2008 07:02:30 GMT

to perform, I'm really not seeking out performance opportunities. If you noticed my schedule I have nothing scheduled. I really don't want to schedule anything. I'm also loosing my desire to compete this year, though there is an aspect of what I would like to perform but if I do perform it at a competition I know I will not place, cause I would not be conforming to the rules of the competition and will not be doing what the judges expect you to do. My desires have shifted away from restaurant dancing and more towards the artistic performance. More on that in a bit, but the last time I performed it was the usual performance with nothing new to show. Same old comments, from the same old people, and I felt like I was in a rut doing the same old moves I've been doing for the last two years. Nothing new, nothing dynamic to here an Oooooooooo or aaaaaaaaaaah from the audience. I'm growing tired of the same old music... and limited song choices. They just don't inspire me. If I dance to tamra henna I don't want to dance to the second part which is popular I want to dance to the first part which is unpopular. I have even lost my desire to go to shows. I see the same dancers doing the same thing with nothing new. They haven't added to or changed their style and I can just about tell you what move they are going to do next based on their previous move cause they haven't changed in over two years; and frankly I don't want to be stuck in that rut.... I feel like I am. Thus my desire not to perform in the same old restaurants. Now this is the odd thing I have noticed about my dance. When I dance in a new place I dance totally different. I break out of that old mold. I do the exciting ooooooooo and aaaaaaaaahs and do here them from the audience. Then dancing is fun and exciting for me. Dancing in a new place with a new crowd. I don't understand why this is so different and why i'm more open and more expressive and why I can bring out that fancy technique I learned in class or why I'm able to dance to my full potential... Just something about the new enviroment changes me... For the competition, I have choosen Enta Omri III by Hossam Ramzy. Its a very sad and emotional song about heart break. I've studied the lyrics and in all actualilty the entire song is about heart break and sadness but some versions are more up beat. The version I've choosen is not, So if I performed this at a competition I would get low marks and the frequent comments of smile more!!!! Well in this version there is nothing to be smiling at? So if I did I feel that I would be loosing the artistic value and meaning of the song and I do not feel the judges would give me high marks on artistry on a more truer representation of the song. I would not be covering the full use of the stage so low marks on that. I would not be pulling out all the stops bells and whistles for this piece and it would be very egyptian, very Oum Kathloum. As my former coach use to say, you have to play by their rules if you want any chance of placing and I'm not sure I want to do that. So the competition scene this year seems a little bit out of place for me. The only thing that inspires me this year for competition then would be in the alternative category for some belly metal..... Now cause of some of these artistic differences, I am mulling it over in my head to produce my own competition based on artistry. choreography and technical skill. Something that was inspired by my Instructor, but which details I need to keep silent about for the moment til I make my final decision. I need to speak to her and get her permission since it was her idea and I won't see her until April. Now you all know all these changes in my goals and prespective is her fault. She was the one to tell me not to limit my self to any one style or music. Infact now I'm begining to listen to hip hop and R & B for artistic inspiration... I love these changes.....

Heh

Lucinia — Wed, 03 Dec 2008 01:49:15 GMT

I did it... yep yep yep..... I'm the New Instructor at Euphoria Studio's. Sunday classes begin January 11th. promptly at 2:30 pm. Be there or be square.

Its 8:45 PM

Lucinia — Sun, 30 Nov 2008 06:03:22 GMT

and I should be home relaxing instead of blogging. Unfortunately for me I'm stuck here at work. A co-worker called in sick and they are unable to find a relief for me, so I will end up working an unwanted 24 hour shift. I just pray the person in the morning shows up. The next few days are going to be rough. I am scheduled to work a 20 hour sprint starting at 10 PM Sunday night and ending at 7 pm Monday night. On Turkey day I worked a 20 hour sprint and spent my day off Friday recovering from it. I had to start accepting doing these back to back shifts with different companies to try and make up for the slow down which has effected my job market. I'm hearing more and more on how other workers in my field are being laid off or their hours cut. Normally I would just work a day shift on my day off and it would not be so stressful and I could keep up my drilling and practicing routine. Now I'm not as able to keep up my routine cause a twenty hour day takes a lot out of me. Don't get me wrong, I'm willing to work hard to meet my goals so I'm really not complaining about these long shifts. My only complaint is working this unwanted 24 hours shift. I should be at home right now drilling and practicing. My other 20 hour shifts are strategically placed so I can keep a balance in my routine. Now my routine is thrown off. Grrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr

Comments?

Lucinia — Mon, 24 Nov 2008 23:29:44 GMT

Well since I don't have a pro photo shoot I'm going to use this for my advertising of my classes. Tell me what you think. Image is actual size of post card. Ooooops so its a little bit small here than actual size but its close

I'm getting a bit depressed

Lucinia — Wed, 19 Nov 2008 20:52:43 GMT

This sucky economy is starting to hit me hard. I am unable to get extra work. I find this unusual since my field is usually in high demand. What it tells me is a lot of people are working overtime and not calling in sick. Hopefully this is cause of the holidays and people want extra money for christmas presents; Hopefully things will pick-up again after the holiday season is over. My extra income is based on a shortage for Nursing Assistants right now with everyone working overtime there is no shortage. I am going to have to delay my tattoo work and I am now stressing on my ability to meet my expenses for the next level two workshop. I already paid for the workshop but need to cover expenses for travel and lodging. Last Saturday evening after work I went straight to bed. I was exhausted from not sleeping the night before during my six hour marathon practice session. Sunday I took an easy day and just went to troupe rehearsal and dance class that was 2 and half hours. I have not been feeling well, maybe a touch of the cold; achy body, runny nose, and my lower back has been in a lot of pain; so I did not do any personal practice on Monday or Tuesday. I just laid about and slept a lot eating Aleve and muscle relaxers like candy for my back pain. Today, I am feeling a little bit better and no back pain. I plan on working out here at work and do some drilling at my make shift barre soon as I finish eating my cantaloupe. Then, later tonight when I get home I will practice again. I know it has not even been a month yet since the last level two but I want to make sure that I'm fully prepared for the next one. Its important to me to test and pass this next go around in April. One thing that is bothering me is I have not been practicing the drum solo for the test. I need to start practicing that on a daily basis. There is one spot in it that I'm weak in and that is cause my brain is having difficulty processing the V.s and Pryramids. I learned these differently by muscle contraction and not visual. So my dyslexic brain is struggling and not wanting to give up the old way I was taught. Its almost like it is reversed. V's are pyramids and pyramids are V's... (grrrrrrrrrrrrr) its frustrating......

Obsessive compulsive disorder (long post)

Lucinia — Sat, 15 Nov 2008 18:08:19 GMT

Yes I've had one of those days and nights. Will get to that in a moment. I had the day off last Tuesday and it was a no belly dance day. I just laid around the house playing on the computer and being a boob in front of the TV with lot of naps during the day. It felt good to do nothing. My artist needed it. Did a performance on Wednesday night at the pizza parlor. Danced totally improv to music I was unfamiliar with. It was not one of my stellar performances but I did kick butt with the sagats. Jamila's training is paying off and I'm rather proud of myself. As for the performance, I got through it. Since I did not know the music and I could tell that the audience could tell. I got that famous of compliments, "nice costume" <ugh and faint> The drum solo was horrid, I just don't understand the madness of the drummer. We just don't click for some reason.... Thursday I decided to pass on supporting a friend and her new venue. I just felt that my time was better spent on practicing and I can go to her venue any week since it is a weekly event. Plus to be honest, my pocket book is hurting. I'm not getting all the hours I need. So I stayed home and practiced Thursday night. Did the attempt of my shimmy drill in straddle sit. The 20 min one with singles full time down beat on the right. Guess what? My attempt was a total win! I did it! Woooo Hoooo!!!!! What made the difference was that I was a little more loving to myself. So at ten minutes when my tendons start to scream cause of the extended stretching? I loved myself and relaxed the stretch. When the pain subsided I leaned on it again. So doing the full 20 Min's was easier to accomplish. Oh don't get me wrong, I still struggled with keeping the timing consistent. My glutes did become numb, but I got through the whole 20 minutes. Woooooo Hooooooo!!!!! Did my ab work and managed to do 30 bicycle crunches and then had to modify the last 20. As expected my lower abs were worn out and I attempted my 50 bum raises. Well attempt is a good choice of words cause I was not even able to lift them off the floor once. So it turn into an isometric exercise with 50 reps. I tried my best with every attempt but them bumms would not lift. After that I did 50 leg extensions and 50 upper ab crunches. Maia, I took you up on your suggestion. Broke out the college books and worked on calf raises. Did 30 using the books. Then 20 flat footed. Then another 20 with toes in and a set of 20 in first position and 10 in second position. Then attempted 10 rep each foot in arabesque. My calves were and are really really sore. Woo Hoo! I like sore.... The rest of the evening was spent on Pas De Boure´es traveling backwards with no hip work. started flat footed then attempted them in releve but my calves were burnt out so flat footed was the drill. I did nothing but Pas DE Boure´es traveling backwards for 30 minutes. I'm going to get them on auto pilot if it kills me. I must say that it was a boring drill after about ten minutes but I just kept doing them and just focused on things like posture, being lifted and being tall. I then added slow arm movements but I did not stop until my 30 minutes were up.... Yesterday, morning I woke up to Pas de Boure´es traveling backwards. I was dreaming about them in my sleep and in my dream I was trying to figure out what the timing would look like full time and double time. Those were my waking thoughts. (geeesh I've never dreamed so much about belly dance and technique in my life) I didn't receive any work assignments so had another day off and laid about and napped during the day. I had thought about going to the gym, but it was just a passing thought. hehehe I need to get motivated and get my butt there. After all I'm paying 30 dollars a month for a membership I'm not even using. Got a late start on my practice session last night cause I was playing computer games, so I didn't begin til 9:00 pm. This was a good session with a lot of little successes. One being I was able to do a full three minutes and 30 seconds in straddle squats while doing presses and alternating left and right foot in releve. I didn't have to break from position and that made me extremely happy. After that it was presses in second position for another four minutes. I was dripping sweat off my fore head at that point and my thighs were burning. My second success which I'm really really stoked about. I can do the splits with left leg forward! Wooooo Hooooo!!! I'm finally back to where I was a year ago when the hamstring tore!!! Woooo Hoooo!!!! <does the happy dance over and over again!!!!> Now if I can just learn how to balance with my arms in fifth position, Then I would be ready to do them in performance and I will have another way to get down to the floor to do a floor routine. Yah! I'm really stoked about this. Plus I'm that much closer to my level three certification... Another hurdle out of the way... This is big, big big BIG!!!!! Cause you cannot certify level three if you can't do the splits. What a weight that has been lifted off my chest... I've been working at this for two years and had my doubts if I would ever be able to do them especially after that tear of my hamstring. It set me back a good year. Now I know its just a matter of time to be able to do them with the right leg forward. Of course I did my ab work, this time I began with bumm raises and did 50. They actually came off the floor!!! It makes a difference when you don't do the bicycle ones first. Oh and I did the bicycle crunches but only managed 20 then had to modify for the last 30. Did more calf raises. This time 50 on the books and 50 in jazz first. Yes they are extremely sore. I also discovered that my right foot turn out cause the outside of the calf is weak. As I concentrated on not turning it out the outside of my calf was screaming in pain. It did not take much to wear that muscle out. I also discovered that my right calf is so weak that it cannot actually go into a full releve. I maintain releve by position of bent knees not by muscle strength to get into releve. So I can lock my foot into position but I am not doing a true muscle contraction to get into it if you know what I mean. Now the left leg is fine and has the strength but the right need improvement. Now I know all these little details may seem boring to some, but I think its important to discover these things about your body. Mainly because it has to do with injury prevention. Most injuries are caused by an imbalance in muscular strength and also having weak muscles. A lot of knee injuries and ankle injuries are caused by this. Find a person who has bad knees and you will find someone that has either weak leg muscles and or imbalance in strength which is usually weak hamstrings. Easy way to find out, if the muscle cramps when doing strengthening exercises. That is the muscle that is weak. I use to be plagued with leg cramps when I danced now days I hardly ever get a cramp in my legs. It was because my legs were weak. Okay moving on. So last night after warm ups I did another 20 min glute drill in straddle sit full time down beat on the left this time. Yep had to change things up and I kept loving my self and let up on the stretches when the ligaments were becoming painful. This drill was harder, cause I was layering chest locks half-time down beat in the back. When that left glute goes numb I'm not sure if its still going or done gone then i loose count on the chest lock it all becomes a mess. Worked on hip locks, Suhaila's favorite double time down beat in the back. That is a big challenge. I just don't have the speed yet and also found that i'm bouncing at the knees when I try to do double time. So to correct that I went to the wall and put my arm out against it to help stablize my body as I worked on double time hip locks. As I got frustrated I lowered them down to full time and then did the speed up double time and slow down full-time alternating back and forth. Did this for about 30 - 45 mins. Worked on Double time singles on the up while walking flat footed full time and cross touch half time and left and right side full time. Worked on alternating squares full-time while walking full time down beat on the right foot. Double time singles on the down walking full time flat footed. For some reason it is harder flat footed than in releve. I sure feel it in my glutes and my legs. So I ended up drilling til I got this incredible craving for Popsicle's.... It was so hard of a craving that I had to stop. Then I noticed it was half past midnight!!! I had been practicing and drilling for 3 1/2 hours!!!! I was in the zone til this incredible craving. So hopped into my car to get popsicles. Ugh!!! They don't sell them in quickie marts well at least not in Vancouver. I drove from one to the other and could not find Popsicles in four stores I went too. Finally I found an AM/PM and settled on a 32 oz Slurpee. OMG it tasted wonderful. Then I had another craving after that for ICE water and downed another 32 oz of ICE Water.... Talk about weird.... Anyway after that craving was done and over I went back to drilling hip locks double time.... Finally at 3:30 in the morning I told myself I needed to sleep. I have to be at work at 7 am... I didn't want to quit cause I was in the training zone. Obsessive and compulsive.. throw out the craving episode and I practiced and drilled six hours. So reluctantly I went straight to bed and jumped in. HA HA HA.... Silly me forgot to turn off the stereo. So there it was in the back ground and as I tried to go to sleep I kept hearing the music and not thinking about it being on. Laid awake choeograping the music in my head. Ugh!!!! Needless to say, I did not sleep... and now here I am at work and I'm still pumped up and in the zone and all I want to do is do anther warm-up and drill some more while here at work.... Lord help me!!!!!

Yippie Yie Cai aiiiiiiii (As Bruce Willis would say)

Lucinia — Tue, 11 Nov 2008 02:28:50 GMT

I finally got my new zagats. Bought them from Suhaila yesterday at the workshop and I must say they are far far better than my old ones. So as soon as I got home last night, Jamila and I went to work on my skills. Those 4's with five singles kick my butt cause I didn't realize until last night that they switch hands, back and forth. God I love that CD and work book.... Lots of Kudo's to Jamila for creating it. As for the workshop, it was totally rad. She kicked our butts with some heavy duty level three/four choreo.. What I liked is that she allowed us to tone it down for our skill level. Believe me I took her up on her advice. It was difficult doing 8's front to back full time while doing three count turns. I was able to get the first and the last one in but not so sure I got counts 2 or 3 in. I did my best, and I'm happy with that. Oh and trying to keep you interior hip circles going while doing a demi arabesque was over the top. I loved it!!!! My biggest frustration right now are those darn Pas de Boure´es traveling backwards. I can't seem to get them on auto pilot. Every time I try layering with hip work I mess up on the Pas de Boure´es. I have more success in place and traveling forward but backwards just kicks my butt.... I also learned at the workshop that my calf muscles are not strong enough. She had us perform Eleve while in arabesque. I could only manage to do about three on my left leg and four or five on my right. So need to work on building up the strength in my calfs. This would explain why I have trouble with keeping my balance during spins. My ankles are weak and wobble. Funny thing is I am fine in releve maybe cause my weight is evenly spread on both legs but alone on one leg my ankles wobble. Oh and another confirmation, my calfs are stiff and sore today. So its another thing I need to work on. Ugh! <faint> I can't wait til February when she returns for another workshop. I'm already registered for it. Woooooo Hooooo!!!!

I'm at home

Lucinia — Sat, 08 Nov 2008 04:36:21 GMT

and have made the decision to give my self a break from belly dance til my workshop with Suhaila. Sooooooo, no practice or working out tonight or tomorrow. I'm trying to squash the mood for being creative, I am tempted to just put on music and dance. I am going to do my best to fight this urge. Oh and speaking of creative. I did practice my zagats last night and invented my own pattern. I'm very impressed with my self. Try 3 1 4 4 full time. Now if I could just find a song to use it in..... So far as it stands in this current moment and time, I might have the day off tomorrow. Sooooo I'm thinking of coming up to Seattle a day early and spend time with friends and family and possibly a prospective hunny. Which, I should use my best judgement and avoid, but I'm feeling a little frisky, (blush) . Have an urge for adventure, (snicker snicker.) I just realized I still have not unpacked my suit cases since my return from california. Which was like three weeks ago? Does Anyone in Seattle feel like to hooking up Saturday night? If so give me a call. 503 819-5047......

This is why (edited)

Lucinia — Fri, 07 Nov 2008 21:33:07 GMT

I don't do charts. It is my attempt to get everything on paper and I still didn't have room to add more timing and down beats for chest work then add arms and head not to mention then add double hip layering on top of it all..... Ugh! The possibilities in this format is endless..... I love it. I will finish it and end up taping the two charts together but I doubt I will have the room to put the full chart up on-line as one solid chart. In order to read this you will need to go to my photo section and select it and then choose full size view.... (I edited this is photo it now shows page one. Page two to be uploaded in minutes but is incomplete.) I was disappointed with myself last night. I was not happy with my practice session if you can even call it that. I struggled with the straddle squats. I don't think I lasted more than 2 minutes before I had to stop. I could feel that my tendons were over worked cause they were stiff and painful in the inside groin area and my legs felt extremely week. So I stopped and lay on the floor on my back debating with myself. Do I love myself and say give it a rest you've been over doing it and your body needs to recuperate? Or? Do I buck-up and push myself and do the best I can. I really don't know which train of thought is right. So I tried to buck-up and do the hard work and managed to resume another three minutes in straddle squats. When I could not do that anymore I went into second position and did presses for another three minutes. My legs were shaking or something was vibrating. I just can't figure out which it is. When I was done and went to stand up, took about three steps and then my energy level dropped like a rock to the floor. I could literally feel the energy go from my chest to my lower pelvis. It was like a big heavy weight was trying to pull me to the floor. That is when I said, I don't care. I'm done and going to bed. As I tried to determine the cause of all this last night, I drifted off to sleep but now as I sit here, I hear that voice in my head. Rachel's voice giving me the third degree. "Are you drinking water? How much water did you drink today? Are you eating? When was the last time you ate? What did you eat today?" Then the scolding voice, "Your not drinking enough water and your not eating enough!!!!! " If we were in class she would be throwing me some food and water to me to eat as we warmed up. That is probably the answer... I'm not drinking enough water and I'm eating but not eating the right foods I know I should be eating and not eating frequently enough. Okay, problem solved. Time to go grocery shopping. I also debated the ugly possibility of I'm getting older. I'm 47 going on 48. The experts say you loose muscle mass, energy, skin thins and reaction time slows and all that crap with aging. I decided, I will be the exception. I will not allow myself to grow old and weak without a fight.

Training Day continues

Lucinia — Thu, 06 Nov 2008 19:15:01 GMT

Bruce Lee used a chart to track his training. Me I use my blog to track mine. I'm just not into charts though I might try to develop one. Then I wouldn't have to bore my readers with all the little statistics. When I got home last night I managed to keep the boob tube off and got down to business. Went through my level two warm ups. My left hamstring was tight and painful, Maybe I over did it when I did my workout at work. Changed the ab exercises to bumm lifts and upper crunches. Did 50 of each. Attempted to do this funky hamstring exercise they showed us at the workshop. You lay on your belly in a frog position with the bottoms of your feet touching and you lift your legs up using your glutes and hamstrings. I'm not sure if anything moved but I made ten attempts. I guess I will name this frog lifts. Also did another hamstring exercise where you lay on your back with one knee bent the other leg is held out straight and you lift your bumm off the floor. Rachel showed us this one after she came back from a level three workshop. It really works the hamstring where it connects to your glutes. She says if your hamstring cramps it means that they are weak. Anyway, I did 20 reps each leg and no cramps. Then it was onto a more regular routine with tricept push ups (20) and 10 NYC ballet style as Suhaila showed us. When that was done I attempted my 20 min stamina drill in straddle sit. Glute squeezes full time DBR. It was pain-full after about ten minutes into the drill. My tendons were again tired of stretching, so I tried to ignore the pain and just focus on keeping time. As my Jr High school coach use to say, no pain no gain. I lasted till 17:40; I could no longer bear the pain and it took me about a minute just to get out of the position. My tendons were stiff and screaming in pain. I lay on the floor for about another five minutes till the pain finally subsided. I wanted to cry. 17:40 is a new record for me; I believe that is at least a three minute improvement over my last attempt. Woo Hoo!!!! That makes me happy. I'm going to get that 20 min mark even if it kills me. When that was done, I was done. I did not sleep well the previous night cause I ran out of my sleeping pills. Picked up my refill on the way home last night. So I decided to get some proper sleep and went to bed at 8:30. Jamila (zagats) could wait another day. Suhaila stated at the workshop that as dancers we are also responsible for taking proper care of our selves. Eating right, (I need to work on that) getting 8 hours sleep, (I'm close to that,) getting deep tissue massages at least once a month,(I need to work on that,) and pedicures. I do them myself.

Grrrrrr

Lucinia — Wed, 05 Nov 2008 23:00:17 GMT

This is the part that is frustrating. Finding music to dance to for the competition. I have lots of music on my computer compliments of my Rhapsody music service, As I was making my rough choices, half way through I hit the wrong button and deleted them all. Grrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr. So back to the begining, Grrrrrrrrrrr double grrrrrrrrrr rrrrrrrrrr. I can't take these twelve hour shifts. Sitting here infront of the boob tube waisting time away, while my patient sleeps all day long. Sooo I moved some furniture and am getting my work out in. At least I can do some ab work and drilling in releve at the counter, and practice my glute work. I'm going to put this dead time to good use. I can't wait til Sunday. Thats when I get see Suhaila up in Seattle. Woooo Hoooo! I hope she kicks my butt!! I crave, yes I said crave for my body to ache. For my muscles to be sore. For some reason they just won't ache. I try, I try to push my self so they will be sore the next day but I guess they are getting use to the abuse. They wear out, burn, but won't give me that painful statisfaction the next day. :( I know, I probably sound like a masochist but when they don't ache I feel like i'm not doing enough or pushing my self enough. Whats a girl to do? Well I delayed finishing the blog. I broke down and made a space and went through the level two warm-up. I am sooooo soooo close to doing the splits. That hamstring that tore about a year ago? seems to be holding up pretty good. I am the closest I've ever come since tearing it. It still give me problems, and it still hurts on occassion but it doesn't feel like it is going to tear again. I can see myself succeeding in the splits by the time I'm ready for level three. Did straddle squats with presses for four minutes then went to second position and kept the presses up for another five minutes. Something was vibrating, I was wondering if it was the glute vibration? It didn't feel like they were vibrating it felt more like my legs and was wondering if it was the IT band vibrating. This is all new to me never vibrated before so I don't know what to expect. Did 20 tricept push- ups then ten military style. I did 40 bicycle crunches... Woooo Hooo! Thats a new record! Then did 100 leg extensions, but the bicycle wore out my abs so had to do them in 5 sets of twenty. :( boo hoo.... tried doing my glute squeezes in straddle sit for some reason my right thigh kept engaging with the right side. So I slowed them down to a crawl, Quality over quantitiy is my motto.... Anyway I get to do this all over again when I get home tonight. I am happy that I've broken that barrier and am starting to work out while at work.,... Now I don't feel as if a day in my life is waisted....

Feeling nervous

Lucinia — Mon, 03 Nov 2008 20:24:28 GMT

cause I finally quit one of my three jobs. That means I only have two. I hope and pray this wasn't a mistake. I like the security of having three jobs, but the truth be told. I really do need to have more time for my self and taking care of my Artist.... Which by the way could use another week long level two. hehehe Anyway, I took the day off from my personal practice yesterday. Giving my body some needed rest and repair time; however, I did go to troupe rehearsals. Can't miss to many of them and I'm feeling bad that I will be missing my third this coming Sunday for the Suhaila workshop in Seattle. Now, I'm not sure if this is syncronicity working in my life, but for several years I've wanted to write childrens books. After troupe practice I gave one of the members a ride home. We were talking about her schooling, She is in college studying business management when some how the conversation turned to journalism. I had mentioned that my college professor wanted me to become a writer cause he thought I was an excellent writer. I told Ana my troupe mate the only interest I had in writting were childrens books. She stated that she likes to draw then says to me, "Lets team up!" I'm like...... thinking and says the only thing that came to mind, "Okay!" So I guess I'm going to write a book and she is going to be my illustrator..... I figure why not, lets just do it for fun and see what happens. So now I'm trying to decide what kind of childrens book I want to write and what kind of characters I want to develop. Oh goodness can't believe I am also going to take this on.

Its been decided

Lucinia — Sun, 02 Nov 2008 23:06:44 GMT

We are going to do this stained glass peacock to cover up my old tattoo's. Work on my arm will begin in December. It is going to take several months to complete the tattoo. I 'm excited and I'm also a little apprehensive. Excited to be doing something to cover these out dated tattoos but at the same time apprehensive cause this is going to be a full sleeve on my arm. That means possibly doing a full sleeve on my left arm to give me balance....

Training Day (day two) and other stuff

Lucinia — Sun, 02 Nov 2008 09:14:12 GMT

It never seems to fail me. I get home and have no energy or motivation to practice. Not in the mood but still I go through the paces and then it happens. Your in the mode and now you don't want to stop. You wish you could just keep on practicing and you know you need to go to bed. Well its been one of those evenings. I didn't do as good today in straddle squat with the presses. Had to take a break here and there. For some reason my back is bothering me. Suhaila's little chat from one of her DVD's came to mind. Where some days you just need to listen to your body. This evenings practice session was just that. I listened to my body and didn't press the issue. I am okay with that. I also have this one tendon in my right leg that sometimes does not want to get into a certain position and nothing I do will tell it different. Practiced my glute squeezes and started off slow as if I were teaching a beginners class. So I talked to my imaginary students called out the drills for quarter time and half time. I figure this is good practice for me. Then I ended class and drilled full time and double time. Worked on the abs, tried doing the bicycle crunches I avoided yesterday. I was able to do 30 of them then my back started hurting and I started crying. There is so much emotional junk involved with my back pain. The trauma I went through when I had my two surgeries, the way I was miss treated by the nursing staff. Being helpless and alone at home and some rather deep humiliation my friends had to see who helped me through it all. Its all held in my lower back and when it hurts all that emotional pain comes to the surface. So I rested my back and changed my ab routine and kept on strengthening them. Upper chest crunches, lower leg extensions and some modified bicycle crunches. I'm going to beat this thing and I will build the strength to do the 100 bicycle crunches Suhaila has us do at the workshops. Spent a good 30 Min's at a barre. hip locks, alternating interior hip circles, alternating squares, pyramids and v's full time, 1/2 and quarter time. Yes I said quarter time. Usually when I get that low of tempo its cause I'm not happy with something. I wasn't happy with my alternating squares. I find that when I do them at full time I am not letting my hips come back to neutral when I lock front. I am holding either the right or left glute and then not really having the ability to engage it since its already engaged. So 1/4 time to practice my release and letting my hips come back to neutral. Yes I did the barre work in releve and in releve jazz passe and with grand plie's... I ended my session with another 45 minutes with Jamila. Jamila has also piqued my curiosity. I had some questions about the music notations in her patterns. So I did some research on the web on how read music. I use to know how to read music when I was a singer I just forgot how to use that muscle. (the brain hehehe) Found some excellent sites and spent a couple hours refreshing my memory. Since I am going to be teaching basic music composition (rythm) to my students. I felt that I could use the refresher. Which also lead me to looking up sites for how to read music for drummers and of course found some excellent resources. I knew that Drummers use different notations than regular sheet music and I thought I should also know how to write music for drummers. Why? This you may ask. Cause it also fills my desire to know how to write music. As I have mentioned in the past, I have this music in my head that I want to produce. So now with the refresher I know how to write sheet music so musicians can play it. With this knowledge I decided tonight to set a new goal for next year. I am going to write two classical egyptian style songs and one drumm solo and I am going to produce a mini CD. Hossam Ramzy has a CD or is it Jalilah? No its Jalilah that has three songs on it named after dancers. They are dance sets. So I want a song or dance set named after me, which will be composed by me. Now all I need do is get me one of those electronic keyboards that have memory features so I can compose my music, but its not going to be electronica I want the real orchestra sound thus the need to know how to write sheet music. I'm going to give it a shot.... I also have reached a new decision. I am going to quit one of my jobs. I need more me time, I need to have my Artist's dates. I need to have more time to put into my dance practice. So on Monday I am quitting at least one of them. Yesterday I received replies to my enquiries. There is a dance studio that is excited to have me as an instructor and there is a club that is excited to have belly dance shows. So I will meet with them either this week or next and get things set up. As my mantra states from the Artist's way. I am deserving of Gods sources and riches of abundance and God will open doors for me. Oh and one more thing. Yes I know this is long and your wondering when will she shut up, but I also reached a decision and I am going to enter the Emerald Rain competition in the Alternative and Professional category. OH oh oh, and I just decided this minute that I am also going to put on my first dance workshop. The subject? music composition, how to map your music for choreography. It will be a two hour work shop. All I need do now is select a date and reserve a place to have it. Bring pencil and pen. I'm thinking I'll call it basic musicality for dancers. hmmmmmmmm Since I have my first choreography written and mapped already from my first competition at BDUSA I can use that info to work from for the workshop. This all stems from someone asking me to teach my musicality to her and her students. She says she likes my style..... :)

Back to training. Woo Hoo!

Lucinia — Sat, 01 Nov 2008 19:19:37 GMT

Last night I was in heaven and back to some serious training. I was quite surprised how strong I have become after the workshop. Five minutes in straddle squats while doing presses seemed quite easy for me. In my earlier days we didn't do the presses, it makes a big difference with them. I struggled with this at the workshop and now it seems a lot easier. Lunges seem easier too. Oh and another thing the Bumm raises were easier. I don't know their real name but your laying on your back with legs straight up and you contract your lower abs to raise your bum off the floor. So Bumm raises is what I call them. Did 120 of them. At the workshop I wasn't able to even lift my bumm off the floor. I think I know why. I left out an exercise so my abs were not worn out. hmmmmmm Goodness I dislike those cross touch bicycle crunches. That was the difference. Need to work on building my endurance for glute squeezes. My goal was going for 20 min to the song stamina full time down beat on the right while in straddle sit. Did okay for the first 8 min. Then mentally struggled try to keep my focus. It became a mental exercise. At twelve minutes I began struggling the squeezes, my bums were getting numb. At fourteen minutes I had to stop, the pain in my legs became to great and my tendons were tired of stretching. The pain was radiating down into my ankles. So I am quite pleased with my first attempt. Practiced my Zagats for about an hour and half. Jamila kicked my butt again. I was drilling right hand dominant up to Moori then started from the beginning left hand dominant. I highly suggest that anyone who desire's to learn Zagats should get this CD and book. Jamila makes me feel like a beginner all over again; though I had considered my self some what accomplished, I now realize I know nothing. I am truely humbled with this series.....