Nonexercise Activity Thermogenesis Week #3

10 months passed since I had taken a modern class. It is expected as dance instructor, to continue taking class while you teach to stay current, in shape etc. Apparently taking class in your hometown is next to committing a serious crime...No less than 30 complaints were made by nosy dance moms, who daughters I did not teach or interact with, and that wasn't even the first time. My employer tried to remedy the situation by offering a class but it was during same time I taught another class. So I stopped everything. For Kung Fu, it was more eventual...but I went less and less.

A month ago I read a book called "Get Up, Why Your Chair is Killing You and What You Can Do About It", and was horrified at what I had done to myself.

The book centers around nonexercise activity thermogenesis or NEAT. NEAT is all energy expenditure that make us vibrant and unique...dancing, swimming, playing the guitar, and even going to work or the mall. I used my NEAT signals to teach, but once the hour was up, I was back at home, sitting down waiting for God or someone to intervene with my life. (According to the DSM-V I was depressed but I still hate Abnormal Psych and am writing this blog instead of prepping for exams.)


 I wanted to increase my NEAT signals.There was no way I was going to stay in my current situation and ever increase NEAT. So that's part of the reason I'm here. (Side note...In statistics they say to NEVER use pie charts but I made one to show reasons why I left.

Once things were settled I set out to increase NEAT. First a hike.

 

I lived here before and never went on hikes. I had no idea what was behind the mountains and it was quite spectacular. Had to do Kung Fu on the mountain as tradition dictates :)

Next, I decided to take myself to the first modern class in almost a year. I felt sick seeing many of my contemporaries...people who I had tired so hard to outperform in the past, who now surpassed me on every level. I absolutely loathed being in the class because of the SAID principle.

In physical/sports/athletic training, the SAID principle asserts that the human body adapts specifically to imposed demands. What you practice you get good at... My body and brain had adapted to teaching 3 year olds for an hour a day, with few other outlets. NEAT was low.

One would assume this class to not only be extremely physically demanding, yet also mentally. 80% of the movement was met with resistance from my brain.

This weekend I decided to try Kung Fu again to increase my NEAT and because I had a dream about it. After almost getting into several car accidents (I think some entity did not want me to go to Kung Fu today) I found a place. This is how it went...

Again because of low NEAT and the SAID principle...I hated it. It was not the same Kung Fu I'd been training and these people were much more vicious to someone on their first day than I expected. I got four blows to the head in the first hour. And the girl giving me the intro must have been a kinesthetic learner... She had me hold up a thin pad...and hit me as hard as she could in the chest. Knocked the wind right out. I felt like I needed to stand there nonchalantly and I cannot remember what the point of that particular lesson was about.

The style is called Wing Chun... they don't really do forms, just fight and train. 

I don't know if I want to commit to their school. There are many things I want to try to increase NEAT. Capoeria, Muy Thai, Fencing, Hip Hop, more hikes... So yup. That sums up the last 2 weeks.

Week #1 - Working the System

It has been a week and 2 days since my arrival. I tried to keep my departure on the DL since I don't like telling people my plans in case I change my mind. Which I did several times, but the choice was obvious...I should go where I best could work the system.

How to work the system?

On the condition you don't drink, smoke, party, wear bikinis and surrender basic privacy... You too can find suitable summer living accommodations for 100$ a month. I never did any of that stuff beforehand and sharing a lunchbox sized room is only minor annoyance.

Buying books to study for your summer classes you are taking? PLEASE. I've never bought a textbook in my life. Professor's will try to scare you into buying their 250$ lastest edition. But most libraries have the book on file or any text book on the same topic will have the same basic info.

Finding a job. I only knew how to find dance and Pilates jobs and anything else seemed out of reach.  But, I happen to know the best geographic location to find a job April-July. So I went there.

Within a week of arriving I have a real legitimate job offer.

I guess that's all the system working I can think of. Week #1 was pretty crappy. I spent 900$ at Costco for membership plus four new tires. I sat on a lawn chair near the frozen food isle while they changed my tires for an hour.

I went to a dance concert. I used to love to go to dance concerts a few years ago. There was a performance every week. I never went for the dance performing, more to revel in the regionally specific awkwardness of unequivocal modern dance styles. lol

And the concert lived up to all my expectations. Lots of butt shots, and flailing and all in line with the regionally specific style.

There was a problem of finding someone to attend the concert with. Most of my friends are pregnant, or married. Pregnant people were out. Then I remembered my awesome Puerto Rican friend from freshman year who def makes the top 10 friend list. So we went together and after the concert got snow cones.

I'm taking stats and abnormal psychology. Statistics is really good. If a job related to finding percentages from distribution curves is out there. Hire me. I love solving those type problems.

Abnormal psych is terrible. I almost dropped regular psych a few years ago because I hated it so much. I got an A thankgoondess considering the suffering. I always laugh in my head when people say they are taking Into to psychology, or Psychology 1 and they think they are going to learn how to analyze people. Nope, nope, nope. You don't do that stuff until Abnormal Psych which is like 3 classes farther. And it's still terrible.

Yesterday we finally got out the DSM-V (The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders). I related back to my friend who swears she has OCD.... in fact, according to the DSM-V,  she does not have OCD. Look at me already diagnosing people. 

The particular school I go to is a stickler for "going the extra mile". Going to class and getting goods grades is just the minimum.  For abnormal psychology, we are required to work in the state hospital which is actually the psychiatric hospital. I ended up in the PT department working...I'm mean volunteering... as a Physical Therapy Aide. That's not exactly the field I want to go in but if you stay long term, the hospital will recommend you and all their long time volunteers have 100% placement rate for grad schools.

Coincidentally the job I was offered is at an adolescent psychiatric boarding school nearby. So really I traded out teaching dance 6 days week to working the psychiatric health circuit 6 days a week. But so far no regrets. 

Fashion Drama

I am so tired of all my clothes. The clothes sold in the USA are cheap and pretty terrible. Here are the harem shorts I bought 2 weeks ago.

Thread bare after 2 weeks.

It's hard to see the pilling (tiny little balls). And they are now completely thread bare/see through. It kind of makes me laugh because almost all women's leggings/cotton pants are completely see through. Heaven forbid I bend over in these lol. I paid 20$ them. I realize they were pretty cheap but considering the quality of them 2 weeks owned, I'd say they are about worth 5 dollars.

This shirt is the epitome of crap you can buy in America.

See all those bally' things? This shirt is a good example of pilling. I saw this sweater and had an immediate connection to it. I paid 23$ for it and wore it twice before it was competely pilled. Needless to say I can't wear this shirt anywhere because it looks terrible

Yay pinning... sarcasm.

I have a large collection of Banana Republic and Loft skirts all of which are pinned. It drives me crazy... Are there no inbetweens of grandma length (mid-calf) to mini skirt (mid thigh)? Would it kill designers to make a skirt that hit the knee?

I bought a watch...20$. I never buy accessies. Because...well cheap, over priced etc. But I really wanted it, so I made the purchse... all plastic. As far as watches go there is a tall-tell way check quality. Cheap watches will have a flat face, better quality will have a concave dome. Flat-faced, plastic, peice of crap.

And while it's in the picture, check out the cheeta print pants. I bought the same pair in black for 23$, but it took a month for it to pill, get thread bare, and eaten by moths (they didn't touch any of my other clothes, just the black.)  I looooooooved those black pants though, and while thrifting found the cheeta version for 3 dollars. Yep they are completely see thorugh, so as loong as I wear nude colored underwear and don't move too much.

Side story. I was online shopping for swimsuits.  I started with my usual shops. And laughed out loud at this little number.

If your daughter ever wears this in public, no matter her age, I think the parents should get a fail award. lol

Then I started to get a little grossed out, bikini model after bikini model. Literally. Had to take a break and look at wetsuits. Just gross.

I couldn't stand it anymore, so I checked out Free People, Anthropologie and Urban Outfitters. And I found the perfect suit for me. It's a surf/swim. But I would totally wear it to the local pool.

I don't care that it has long sleeves. I am just sooooooooooooo tired of cheap crap and bikinis.

I think if I have to shop at Forever 21 or H&M again I will cry. 

Secret Dance Company #1

Secret dance company is now real because I finally got someone to dance for me :)

Link is here if the video does not work - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-CF2j5haijg

Friday at Screenland 2015 - Disney Auditions

So many titles could have gone into place for this post. I decided to keep it to the point, show exactly what happened.

Friday at Screenland Studios - Disney Auditions 

Screenland Studios. Where Disney dreams go to die.

Audition #1 I was 3 inches shorter in height parameters, but "W" was going up for both auditions so I decided to tag along to the early dance audition. 

Apparently (decent pirouettes + pretty good battements)(too short) = cut after 15 minutes

Hipster Coffee shop I lived at for 3 hours

I went to Moby's around the corner to wait out for the next audition later that afternoon. As far as coffee shops go, it blew Starbucks out of the water.

Moby's served a great mango smoothie.

I usually just laugh and shake it off when I'm cut because it happens like 99.9 % of the time. But my pride was a little damaged being cut with the all visibly/noticably awkward people, so I downed my sorrows in a mango smoothie and Nutella for a few hours.

People who want to be princes and princesses.

Audition #2  Disney has heights considered "dead heights" depending on the venue you are performing. My stature of 5'1 was a dead height for the roles they were casting, but as any good audition'er' knows "Go! even if you don't match what they're looking for."

I decided to fudge my height a little taller by slightly standing on my toes and tilting my chin. And they measured me 61 inches exactly. I did the math really quick = 5'1. I seriously can't be a true 5'1.

Next, they gave us an animation task, in which we had to act a scene followed by a 16 counts of ensemble type dancing. I whispered to "W" that I only knew how to perform the acting exercise via modern dance.

The 16 counts of dancing required only basic jazz skills, so I had that all covered.

And yes. Flawless. Even my acting was pretty good.

Then they picked some dreadfully awkward girls to move on, all of them princess height, with big teeth and wide smiles. And they cut me on the spot. 

Bakery of all Bakery's

I decided to go to Portos. It's tradition. It's the bakery of all bakery's. And great for post audition sorrows. "W" and I both got deserts and decided to save them for when we got home.

3.5 hours in LA traffic

Insane traffic happens every time "W" and I go to auditions. I was at my wits end around the 2 hour mark and began to seriously question my friendship with "W". Sitting on the 405 can make or break a friendship.

My Portos cupcake didn't survive the drive home.

We made it home and I dramatically collapsed my self on the living room floor. After a few minutes of quiet reflection I joined "W" at the table and discovered my cupcake hadn't survived.

Reenacting my scenes from the audition.

"W" and I went to beach. It was the happy ending to a pretty terrible day. For the sake of our friendship, I told "W" we shouldn't do anymore Disney auditions together. Our friendship is better suited for beach trips, shopping and food. "W" agreed whole heartedly.

I'm still pretty cool as far as Kung Fu and I go.

It's like I'm back to the beginning. Kung Fu didn't get me into Disney, even though I' d say these auditions were better than the pre- Kung Fu ones. So looks like in addition to fighting Korra style,  I'm going to have to start something new.

                                     

If the Disney’s “The Big Green” was set in 2015

I let "J" watch Disney’s 1995 movie “The Big Green”. I feel bad because it was totally inappropriate for a kid growing up in 2015. Culture has changed A LOT in 20 years and I told "J" to never repeat the behaviors he saw in the movie. 

Disney's The Big Green rated PG

Here is what would happen if the kids in the movie lived in 2015 instead of 1995.

In the beginning of the movie, a group of boys (probably ages 10 to 12) bike around their town of Elma, TX and stop off at the park. 2015 - Boys go to the park by themselves. Adult notices they are unaccompanied by a parent. Police called. CPS investigates each child’s parents. 

At the park, the boys are covering themselves with Cheetos to attract birds because, “There’s nothing to do in Elma, TX”. A concerned teacher sprays them down with a hose. 2015 - Food shaming. How dare you give your children GMO laden Cheetos? Teacher is placed on administrative leave and investigated for abuse, and berated by parents for hosing their kids with water.

At school, Kate has a pocket knife that she flashes repeatedly to the new teacher. 2015 - Kate is arrested and sent to Juvenile Hall. Placed on ADHD, Anxiety, and Anti-Depressant medication. The rest of class is visited by a school counselor, who follows up with those who have traumatic stress from associating with Kate.

The twins say what makes them special is their asthma, and get their inhalers out of their desk. 2015 - Twins have a parent note and doctor’s signature that says they may use their inhalers which are locked up in the nurse’s office. Nurse doesn’t believe they need their inhaler and thinks they are just trying to get out of class when they can’t breathe. (According to “AZ” my sister.)

The boys like to pick on the local Sheriff, so they purposely kick a ball at his windshield. 2015 - Boys kick ball at policeman’s car. Depending on the race of the kid, they will be shot at, or thrown in jail for attacking a policeman. 

The teacher jogs around town in a bare-midriff, red jogging suit, while her students pedal behind her on bikes. The sheriff tries to flirt with the new teacher. 2015 - Teacher makes local news for public indecency after parent complaints, later makes a public apology to school. The teacher reports the sheriff for sexual harassment, who is placed on administrative leave. The story eventually makes national news and feminists blow up twitter with #feministsforchange

While driving the kids to their first game, the sheriff tells the rowdy boys “I will tan your hides.” 2015 - Sheriff is investigated for verbal and mental abuse, with intent to harm  minors. Forced to make an apology to students and their parents. Parent’s sign a petition to have the sheriff removed from the department.

The newly formed soccer team does not have any cleats or shin guards, but play anyways. 

2015 - The is team barred from playing due to the liability of bruised shins.

The team practices soccer in thunder and rain. 2015 - Practice is cancelled at the first sound of thunder. Practice does not resume until several days later after the have fields have dried.

Larry has hallucinations that the the other players are knights, ninjas and zombies. 2015 - Larry is taken to a psychologist and treated for schizophrenia and bi polar disorders. He also receives an IEP at school.

AND THE ABSOLUTE BIGGEST THING (which didn't even happen in 1995, because I played soccer…) Was that they kept score in the games. Everyone knows you don’t keep score in soccer. Everyone is a winner. Especially in 2015. Even the losers and the kids who don’t show up get trophies.

Now let's all be good parents and responsible adults and go write scathing reviews of Netflix for listing The Big Green in the children's section. #removebiggreen 

April Kung Fu and Modern Dance Philosophy

I did some Kung Fu in April. Here is the video.

I don't even know what to say about April. 

My dad bought in to the doughnut business, so everyday is a struggle to avoid the sweet, melt-in-your -mouth- fried dough, that sneaks itself into our kitchen every other day. My dad wants all of us to get into the doughnut business but I get over-whelmed thinking about doughnuts.

On the other hand, I have decided to sneak away and start a new life beginning July 2015. If it doesn't work out though, I've got doughnuts to back me up. 

"They are trying to fatten us up."

I'm going to Boston again this weekend for more BioCored training. I can't stand the thought of other people knowing more than me in BioCored, so I just keep continuing and going and going. I really wish it was not this weekend though. So many important things going on.

I have a great idea for a Kung Fu related dance piece, for the secret dance company Movement Conservatory. I need to know more Kung Fu to accomplish what I need to make it great. 

I later watched some modern dance pieces and decided my own personal philosophy about modern dance. I used to believe in this "dance for art purposes sake". But now I can barely stomach a few minutes of contemporary modern dance. If it's not flinching and flailing around on the floor, it's crotch shots and overly emotional, or underly emotional feeling. 

I decided if you can't get your point across in 3 minutes or less please don't punish your audience. (This idea is the opposite of what they taught us in school - The senior projects were required to be at least 10 minutes. I did a solo, so it was only 4. Two minutes of that project were unnecessary. Seriously. I hope one of them sees this as well) 

This year I did have the opportunity to teach a 45 minute teen modern class.


It's been hard to fit in warming up, technique, conditioning and choreography.  I have one kid that sees me outside of class for conditioning and technique. All the levels are different, but I think it will be fairly decent for a piece of REAL choreography on neuro typical kids.