Friday, August 29, 2014

Friday 1:30 - 2:30 Hip Hop - Carlo and August Totals

This class was packed. It was a $10 class. Bang Bang song… fun…

The best part was watching the awesome kids go off at the end. So many fun dancers working it in this class. 

Saw Sandy on the way home with her son.. at that Sweet Can Sunday restaurant - can't remember the name right now.

August Skate Hours: (783 mins) 13 Hours and 5 minus

August Dance Hours: 10.5 Hours!! YAY! - GOOD GIRL! 

August Yoga Hours: 10.5 Hours 

August Number of Waves: 33 Waves

Friday 12 - 1:30 Contemporary Jazz - Sabrina Phillip (LA Edge)

- legs up lean back legs and arms opposite abs
- balances T to open to retire and develope and hold rise in front, a la second, and derriere. 

- choreo: flowy, rolly, spinny, jumpy - fun - fast - hard - 

Like her :-) 

I was the oldest person in both classes today - I wish my teacher friends would come dance with me!!! 

Friday 9:28 - 9:56 Skate E Spot (28mins)

Friday 6 - 7:30am Bikram Cambie - Stephanie

First time I had this teacher. She has awesome energy, projection and gives a lot of corrections. It was hot but not too hot - great class.

Thursday, August 28, 2014

Thursday 8:36 - 9:09 and 4:07 - 4:41 Skate E Spot (1H and 7mins)

Morning sesh:
I like skating with music better. I get into it faster. I did ollies and fakie ollies. That is it - I did some butt boarding with Christian. He is getting better at not going out of the area. Jonny got an hour of skating in  this morning.

Afternoon sesh:
This afternoon I did some ollies, 180's, and then fakie ollies. I started to play my game but it wasn't going well so I just did ollies and 180's together going faster.


Wednesday, August 27, 2014

Wednesday 9:23 - 9:53 and 3:35 - 4:08 Skate E Spot (1H 3mins)

Morning sesh:
I had a really slow start today. I rolled around for a bit and then did some manuals. Then, I did some ollies. That was it! It was hot.. and I was pooped from yoges.

Afternoon sesh:
I put new music on my runpod but I didn't take enough time doing it and got some songs only part songs. But, I did listen to my the music that worked and that inspired me at the start. However, the boy didn't sit long so when he was released I took my headphones out so we could all interact.

I did some ollies, 180's, and fakie ollies off the nose. It wasn't a day of progress. Tomorrow!

Wednesday 6 - 7:30am Bikram Cambie - Mari

Today I didn't have a good class. It wasn't the head today, but my back was kind of hurting. It is an old hurt that had faded away to the background and wasn't that noticeable and I must have done something to it Monday at dance … cause I can feel it again. So, I decided not to do the postures that were hurting the right side of the lower back. I let it have a little break.

Tomorrow, I will play it by ear. If it hurts I will let it have a break still. If it doesn't - game on!

Tanya was in class this morning and she was standing right beside me. I wish I would have had a better class. She always finishes class early by doing one set of the last few postures. I wonder why she always leaves early? Must be something baby related… or maybe not wanting to talk to anyone about babies in the change room.


Tuesday, August 26, 2014

Tuesday 9:18 - 9:50 and 4:52 - 5:33 Skate E Spot (1H 13mins)

Morning sesh:
Always a slow start in the morning. I did some ollies and 180s and I played my game and won!

Afternoon sesh:
I did some ollies, 180's and fakie ollies. I was trying to get the 180's going faster. I was trying to get the fakie ollies high.

Monday, August 25, 2014

Monday 6:15 - 7:45 Jazz - Moe

Moe did her old warm-up.

We did across the floor:
1: walk walk gb front gb front gb side turn knee in kick flexed across and side chaine """"
2: step jump in retire step foutte from front to back … I forget…
3: jete high jete far jete high step attitude step step second jump facing where you came from..

We did a recycled choreo that I have never done before. I don't think we finished but we ran out of time. It was a nice "dancey" piece.

Week two of my Monday night dance madness routine. Next week there aren't classes because of the holiday - but hopefully I will be able to keep this routine up.

Monday 5:15 - 6:15 Street Jazz - Kelly Kono

We did the same routine as last week. I like that - gives me a chance to dance it and not just worry about what step comes next. She added on a couple more eights at the end.

Monday 9:30 - 10:00 Skate E Spot (30 mins)

I had a slow start this morning. After rolling around a bit I did some ollies. I ollied over the lines. I started to play my game with my first line. It wasn't going too well so I started working on my second line. I just didn't feel like jumping and I was going so slow - it wasn't a great skate morning.

Then, I got to do some but boarding with the boy. That was fun. He is so cute.

Monday 6 - 7:30am Bikram Cambie - Mari

I was worried about class this morning because of Mari's class last Monday but she was very conscious about the temperature and didn't totally cook me. I had a good class. I didn't miss any exercises. I have even been doing the triangle on the left side but not as deep as my right triangle.

Two more Mari classes left to survive this week!

Sunday 9:11 - 9:40, 10 - 10:10 Skate E Spot and Coopers (39 mins)

At E spot I did some manuals. I played my game with my first line once and lost in the fourth round. I did some ollies and 180's. I wasn't too focused or into it. I was just warming up when the boy started skating with us. I played with him and did some but boarding.

There was no one at Coopers when we walked by so I did some nose slides. Those are fun. I slid some of them but I know I really have to get my foot up higher on the nose and lean and push a lot more to get them really sliding far and fast.




Saturday, August 23, 2014

Saturday 8:33 - 9:11am and 4:42 - 5:15 Skate E Spot (1H 11 mins)


Morning Sesh:
I need to change the music on my runpod. I didn't listen to music all day today - or yesterday for that matter. I will have to do that tomorrow nap time.

I am trying to remember what I did this morning…. manuals. Oh ya - I worked on my 180's again. I figured out that if I say 1,2, and really go on three - like down, up and around… they work! I was lingering in the down position for so long waiting to go slow enough - so 1,2, 3!

Afternoon Sesh:
I played my game with my first line - and I did it! I got it five times in a row. I then thought I should see how many more I could get in a row - but that was it! haha.. I failed on the sixth. I thank my 180 practice for being able to win my game.

I started playing the game with my second line - but then ended up changing my second line to: fakie mongo push, fakie ollie, shuv-it, and fakie frontside 180.

Friday, August 22, 2014

Friday 9:28 - 9:59 and 2:48 - 3:31 Skate E Spot (1H 14 mins)

Morning sesh:
This morning I didn't have much focus when I was skating. I just did whatever I felt. The boy was out for half the time so watching him and skating = less focus on improvement and more playing. And, there is nothing wrong with that - cause it is skateboarding and it is supposed to be fun.

Afternoon sesh:
The boy didn't nap as we had hoped today. By the time we walked over to the spot he was asleep. So, we parked him in the shady corner and let him sleep. We skated in the other corner.

I focussed on fakie ollies for a the first bit and then I focussed on my 180's. I think I made some progress.

The boy woke up after a half hour. He fell back to sleep for a little bit on the walk home to get swim stuff. It wasn't much of a nap - but it was a pretty good skate :-)


Friday 6 - 7:30am Bikram Cambie - Roxana

I thought maybe the universe was telling me to stop my stupid counting misses and cheats in yoga and just do the yoga the best you can each day. Tuesday Mari didn't show up and I was so happy that I didn't have to endure the heat of her class. Wednesday and Thursday were baby interrupted. Today - I was so happy to make it to class. I had a great class. I love Roxana!

I might go Saturday at noon to make up for all the classes I missed this week - or I might not. I give up trying to plan anything! hahaha - just got do what you can when you can.

Thursday, August 21, 2014

Thursday 3:30 - 4:13 Skate E Spot (43 mins)

I was so happy to get out of the house and get moving today. I started off with manuals. Just a few back and forths. Then I played my game and got up to the fifth line but messed up the 180. I started playing a couple more times but got bored. Next, I decided to change the order of my line and go back to the one I was working on before LA. I had a lot more success with this one - although it was very slow. I did the fakie mongo push, fakie ollie, shuv-it, push, pivot to regular and then 180 and another shuv-it or two to end it off.

We all got a good skate today. The boy was doing really well too :-)

Now - tomorrow - please - back to yoga… sleep well boy!

Tuesday, August 19, 2014

Tuesday 9:26 - 9:55 and 4:25 - 4:57 Skate E Spot (1h 1min)

This morning when I went to yoga the teacher wasn't there… so I got a free pass!

I was having a good skate when I realized we had to be at the doctor at ten. We would have skated longer … but doctor time. I will have to book those a little bit later next time.

Anywho - second skate I was yapping on the phone with Sofia for the first twenty minutes. Jonny got a super long skate and the boy got a pretty good session in too.

Today I worked on my line most but I didn't really play my game. My 180's were feeling better today.

Monday 3:22 - 3:41 Skate E Spot (19 mins)

Monday, August 18, 2014

Monday 6:15 - 7:45 Jazz - Moe

Yay! I finally got a Moe class. It has been a long time.

Moe did Kelly's class too.

Anywho, we did an ATF cardio section of warm-up. It was one long ATF that we did six times on each side. I didn't have it all in my head the first time we went across but it got in there by the end.

We did the stretching and strengthening that Moe usually does after the ATF cardio part.

Moe taught a shorter than usual choreo. It was nice because my brain was not focussing as well as I wanted it to. I remembered all the movements and was getting into it at the end.

I look forward to next Monday. Although, I am going to remember to bring two sweat towels - cause I was super sweaty and gross. I kept thinking of Jonny hating runners' waft - I had dancers' waft. haha..


Monday 5:15 - 6:15 Street Jazz - Kelly Kono

We did a MJ style routine. It wasn't too long or too difficult to remember. In groups I did it well the first time and the second time I lost my focus and messed it up. I hate that! 

I was so sweaty!! 


Monday 6 - 7:30am Bikram Cambie - Mari

I am going to go to all five 6am's this week and next. This week my goal is do a class where I don't cheat and don't miss any poses. Today gives me a lot of room for improvement!

I counted my cheats and misses today. It was a terrible class. It was SOOOO hot. Mari teaches again tomorrow and then that is it for the week. SO, I should have better classes by the end of the week no matter what. One more hell class left this week. Anywho, I had an awful class - but I didn't remember all of my cheats - there were eleven on them!! And I missed seven poses all together - just too hot. Tomorrow HAS to be better!!


Monday
Cheats 11
Standing head to knee
Standing Bow
Balancing Stick
Balancing stick
Triangle pose
Locust
Bow
Camel
Misses 7
Balancing Stick
Triangle Pose
Triangle Pose
Locust both feet up
Bow
Camel
Rabbit


Sunday, August 17, 2014

Sunday 9:08 - 9:28, 9:36 - 9:57 and 5:46 - 6:17 Skate F, Coopers, and E Spot (1h 12mins)

F Spot:
There was a bum sleeping on the ledge at E Spot this morning - so we skated F spot. I didn't do much. I ollied the grey section and did some manuals.

Coopers:
I practiced my nose slides. This was fun. Sometimes I got to nollie and shut-it out. I had some that slid and more that didn't. I have to lean over more on the nose.

E Spot:
I did some manuals and they are getting a bit more comfortable… but still not long. I started playing my game but got bored of losing - so I just kept practising my line. I started getting my 180's better and faster. That has to be my focus.


Saturday, August 16, 2014

Saturday 10:25 - 10:55am and 4:30 - 5 Skate E Spot (1 Hour)

First Sesh:
This morning we had a slow start. It is still grey in the mornings. It is 1:44 now - and the sun is out a bit - not super out - but out. I hope we get one more blast of summer before it is all over.

Anywho, I didn't feel like jumping today. My legs (and everything else) is sore from yesterday. So, I practiced my manuals. They are pretty tricky. I got them a bit longer but I really don't have them yet. Jonny says it is easier to do them after oiling up something. That seems like it would be harder to me.

The boy and I had fun bum skating today. I kept following him and honking at him and then ramming into him and he would just giggle. Good times!

Second Sesh:
It is so nice to be back to the land of two sessions - although drinking beer in the afternoons in LA was also pretty nice!

I started with manuals and I got some that felt like I was actually doing them. Jonny told me I need to move my weight back and move my front foot more forward on my board.

I played my game with my line and got to five but failed on the last shuvit!! I almost won. I started to play again and kept sucking so I stopped and went back to manualing. I did my kick flips for a bit but wasn't feeling those and went back to manualing… it was a manual day.

The boy and I also did some more butt boarding.

Pretty awesome day…

Friday, August 15, 2014

Friday 12 - 1:30 Contemporary Jazz - Julio - The Mating Game



I am glad I made it to class today. I was really rushed and drinking juice and shoving toast done my throat before class - it has been a full morning. Today is Julio's last day teaching Friday's in August. (I wonder if he will be teaching on Monday nights?) I won't get a chance to take this class again until I have a Friday pro-d - or if the strike continues - but I am thinking positively that it will be all settled by the start of school. 

Anywho - I have done this piece before. There is a roll in the dance that I couldn't get last time and practiced and even put in a dance that my grade 8's did. However, it is so fast in this dance - that I still couldn't get it in time. I was also so sweaty that my leg keep sliding out - so I put on my leg warmers to absorb the sweat and make me stick to the ground - my legs were so warm! The important thing is even though I didn't get it - I kept on trying and I was way closer than last time. Unfortunately, I am going to be black and blue from hurling myself around and upside down on the hard floor. 

Julio - don't look stressed was one of his comments to the class. I think I always look stressed - must relax! 

I looked it up - Kelly Kono is teaching street jazz on Monday for Julio. We are the same age and used to compete in the same category when we were young. Her and her sister always won first!! I will take that class :-) 

Friday 10:12 - 10:31am Skate E Spot (19 mins)

I had a short one today. The boy was not into sitting in his seat and eating his grapes so he was let out early. He was challenging the do not pass line… so I stopped to be the enforcer. He got a little better at listening today.

I did my line and played my game but only got as far as three in a row. I will play on tomorrow!

Friday 6 - 7:30am Bikram Cambie - Roxana

It is on! Back to yoga and dance. I made my little schedule and this time I am going to do everything I planned. I am excited to get back into dance teaching shape.

One of the regular ladies cut her hair into a afro mohawk. I think she looks hot and fierce. She said it is very liberating. Definitely! Ironically, there were a couple of boys with buns in their hair. The gender norms are changing. Not such a bad thing.

I had an ok class. I think that I am going to start recording things I miss and things I cheat on so that I stop the bad habits.. but I will start this Monday… hehe! I didn't do awesome enough day - first day back rights!

So far, I have nothing that hurts. Well, I think tomorrow everything will hurt but you know what I mean. I could feel muscles that I haven't used in a while. I will be feeling super strong and ready to teach in a few weeks - which is good.. cause that is when I start - hopefully!


Thursday, August 14, 2014

Thursday 9:06 - 9:49 Skate E Spot (43 mins)

This morning we went for our first E spot skate in a while. It was nice to be back on the smooth concrete. The morning was grey and cool.

The boy stayed in his chair for about thirty minutes eating grapes and other snacks. I didn't think he would sit that long since when we were away he was skating with us taking turns watching him the whole time.

I made up a game in Venice Beach - I have to do my line three times in a row without making a mistake before I could quit. If I made a mistake I had to go back to one. This morning I changed the game - I had to get my line right five times. The farthest I made it was four. The game is still on. Maybe I will get it tomorrow.

I didn't get to my kick flips today. Hopefully, tomorrow I will.

Wednesday, August 6, 2014

Wednesday 10:30 - 11ish Surf Zuma (3 waves)

This morning was one of those cloudy or misty .. or smoggy?? mornings. It makes it less easy to walk into the cold water.. the water really isn't that cold in the wet suit.. just initially.. for a second.

There was one other girl in the water with me this morning. I laughed because there was a huge crasher.. and we laughed that there is no way we are catching any of these. The large crashers were coming every few sets. The rest was messy mush. It wasn't much fun for my last day at Zuma this year.

Maybe I will get a couple of more surfs in at Santa Cruz.

Wednesday 7:32 - 8:05am Skate Natas Lot (33 mins)

I did the same as yesterday - skipped the ollies and went straight into my line: ollie, 180, fakie ollie, and a shut-it. My 180's weren't that awesome - I gotta get those back. Focus!

The old guy that rides his bike down and walks circles around the edge of the parking lot was there the whole time I was there. I wonder how many circles he does?

One more skate session this year.. at this spot.

Tuesday, August 5, 2014

Tuesday 10 - 11ish Surf Zuma (5 waves)

Yesterday we drove to Zuma and I didn't go in the water because there were some big waves.. so I pussied out. Today, the waves weren't as big but I still didn't have a great day. Tomorrow.. I will try again! At least I got in. One or two more Zuma surfs… till next year.

There are a couple of spots that we pass on the way to Zuma Topanga and … not sure of the name of the other place.. Malibu lagoon?? One day I have to try these two spots. They are busy and the waves look consistent. They are both on points.

Tuesday 7:40 - 8:10 Skate Natas Lot (30 mins)

This morning I took some advice from Jon and didn't do tons of ollies at the start. I got right into my line. This gave me more time to work on it. I did: ollie, 180, fakie oliie, and a shuv-it! It was slow and loser looking - but the more I do it the easier it will be and the faster it will get.

I finished with some kick flips - not landing them yet - too scared.. and they weren't working as well today as they were the last few times.

Time was up- off to the beach to frolic with my boy in water while Jon had his go - it didn't go well for Jonny. He had about five good tries before he hurt his leg a bit. Hopefully, he will feel better enough to land his trick before we leave.


Monday, August 4, 2014

Monday 1 - 2:30 Hip Hop at Edge - Leslie


You can see the Hollywood sign from the studio window - that is pretty awesome. I didn't notice that last time - I was in the same studio (E) - but it was dark. 
My drive to the Edge studio took me about 40 minutes. The parking lot is different than the one from last year. They are doing some construction - but I figured it out. I got parked and got upstairs. I sat behind some dance moms and looked in the window to watch the Jazz 2 class which one of the mom's told me was actually a contemporary class because he was a sub. It looked fun. There were a lot of young kids. I hoped I wasn't going to be the only old person in class.

It was our turn. I got in the studio and some guy said that the teacher was in the bathroom but on her way. I had had thought I wouldn't like this class from the girl's bio and YouTubes - but it fit the time that I wanted to dance - not that I will dance at this time again - TRAFFIC! Anywho - she walked in and she was me a year and a half ago teaching dance - prego! WOW - it brought back memories. She had someone come in and film her dancing so she could explain to her daughter why she came out deformed. Anywho - Leslie had a lot of energy… (she was drinking pink liquid from a extremely huge water bottle with a tube.. and she sweat as much as me!)

Needless to say, I liked her. She tried to make connections with people and learn names. She gave god corrections and tried to interact with a lot of students. It reminded me of Eric… but pregnant.

Anywho - it was a good class. Her most important correction was to free style before the music starts. How many times have I said this to my own students. The other cool thing she is involved with is Addvocates in Dance.  This is dedicated to tackling the hypersexualization of children and youth in our dance culture. That is pretty awesome. She is also involved with: Edify Movement.

So, class went well. It was supposed to be from 1 - 2 but she went till 2:35. Then, I had to drive home. There was some road contraction and I got turned around on Highland and went the wrong way for ten minutes.. which meant I had to go ten minutes back.. through Hollywood at 3pm.. traffic… hardly moving. So, Jonny expected me home at 3 and I wasn't even close. I knew he would be worried. I made it home just before four. I walked in the door and he was so relieved. He thought I was dead. He didn't know how he was going to get to a phone without the stroller. If his phone hadn't broke this wouldn't have been a problem.. but.. it is broken..

Anywho - we celebrated my life after class :-)

Monday 7:53 - 8:29am Skate Natas Spot (36 mins)

Saturday, August 2, 2014

Saturday 5 - 6:30 Bikram Yoga Marina Del Rey - Carrie

I did it. I went to class at the Bikram across from the Jolly Rodger - finally! I went to the $5 community class but I had to rent a matt and a towel - so it cost $11. Still not a bad deal.

Our teacher, Carrie, was very energetic, had good flow, and gave a lot of helpful corrections and advice to a lot of people. One thing she said that I will remember was to shorten your abs on one side and lengthen on the other when doing the head to knee type stuff - she said it a couple of times and it made sense at the time - I will probably think about it again.

The studio was nice. It was hot and sweaty. I think it may be a wetter hot than our studio. I was soaked before we even finished breathing. The class was packed and I had to stand at the front. I didn't like to be that close to myself because my brain kept thinking bad thoughts - but whatever -I am 40! I should be stoked.

Anywho - I went and I had a good class. I look forward to having a visit next year and I look forward to returning to my own studio and getting back into my regular practice.


Saturday 9:30 - 10:30ish Surf Zuma (10 waves)

This morning we took a break from the skate and had a nice breaky walk. It was grey and misty and the first time we have worn hoodies here in Southern Cali. Last weekend we skipped the surf because I remembered the busy activity on the weekends from the year before and today we decided to go for it anyways.

We had to circle around the PCH three times to find a spot to park. (We could pay for parking.. but that is crazy!) There were a lot of cyclists and swimmers out today. There could have been some sort of race or practice race going on.

I didn't feel amped to get in the water as it was still grey and coldish. (What a pussy!!) BUT, I went in and caught some of the small waves. I tried to focus on going diagonal which made me fall down a lot but it has to be done.

I think we will skip tomorrow's surf and just go on our last few weekdays that we have here. We don't want to leave… we love it here!! Oh well, summers will have to do until early retirement!! haha! Keep that eye on the prize.

Friday, August 1, 2014

Friday 10 - 11:15ish Surf Zuma (15 waves)

It wasn't scary today. I had fun in the water. I didn't catch any awesome rides but I got up fifteen times.

Friday 7:18 - 7:49am Skate Natas Lot (31 mins)

Today, I took some time and repositioned my feet on my 180's. Everything else was the same.

(nap time is over!!)