Me time in Hawaii recap (late post)

08.03.15

this time last week i was wrapping up my week in hawaii.  i'm totally having withdrawls.  but i couldn't have asked for a better vacation.

my only real planned event while i was out there was mayjah rayjah.  and after island reggae fest i totally couldn't wait.

i arrived late wednesday night.  shay invited me to go to his rehearsal.  so, i dropped off my luggage freshened up a bit and got dropped off at his rehearsal.  i got to meet spawnbreezie, and btw got to witness some of his musicality at work.  amazing to be in that environment.  and as i panned the room and smiled and waved to the band. i haven't seen any of them since april.  i noticed behind spawn was kaipo.  eeeee.... omg hi! keep your fan girl inside.  totally have a lightweight crush on him.

so, i got to speak with spawn for a little bit after his rehearsal time ended.  there was a little break and i got introduced to kaipo.  and i of course got to chat it up with the band.  and then i got to sit on kaipo's rehearsal.  it was quick but i was blessed enough to witness him singing first hand in a little room.  so basically my own little concert.  lol don't laugh that's how it was playing out in my head. lmao

the next day, shay picked me up, we had breakfast and chilled for a little.  i got to watch one of his gigs, which i loved btw.  i love watching him work.  it's like i can see the gears moving in his head and then the smile on his face when he figures out how he's gonna add on with his musical influence.  and then it was off to rehearsal with sammy j!  YEAY!!! omg, so sammy j, is my FAVORITE.  he was at island reggae and i thought for some reason i would get the chance to meet him there.  nope didn't happen.  so i told everyone that my goal was to meet him in hawaii.  ummm hi!!! wish granted.  not only did i get to shake his hand and say hi, i was sitting in his rehearsal.  an up close and personal interaction with him.  we also chatted and we found out that we would be hiking up koko head the next morning.  and what do you know, we saw each other there too!  anyway, i digress.  i got to witness this man at work.  his runs....OMG!  so effortless and can go for days.  WOW!

and then of course who am i sitting next to?  kaipo is singing back up for sammy.  along with josh tatofi who is also an amazing singer.  so kaipo and i chatted a little between songs.  we laughed and he got me in trouble with sammy.  lol definitely a story i will remember forever.  ask me about it when you see me.

after sammy's set, kaipo rehearsed again.  and i got to see his gears tick too.  i love watching music develop and see how things all come together.  damn maybe i need to be back in the music scene for a living.  lol and can i say, the way that they all just switched instruments and were GOOD on everything they touched.  i couldn't help but feel a tad bit inadequate and unworthy of sharing the room with these guys.  lol  but glad i was there to soak it all in.

i don't know if you can read it in my words.  but WOW!  the musical talent that i was surrounded by in the first 2 days i was on the island.  i could have left completely satisfied if i only had those 2 days there.  luckily for me, that was only the beginning.

friday morning, my girl kristina from college picked me up and we went for a hike up the kokohead stairs.  it was a pretty challenging incline.  and the stairs are not consistent so you are definitely working and skillfully planning out each step be fore you take it.  oh and i know i mentioned it earlier, but while we were there, sammy j and messaged me on ig telling me that they were there.  and we actually got to see him and his friends on the trail.  that's were i took my second picture with him.  and i actually took some of their pictures at the top. anyway, it was great to catch up with my friend during the hike and over breakfast.  sooo glad i was able to spend some time with her while i was there.

later that day was mayjah rayjah!  candy and mana picked me up, and then we all enjoyed a night of good vibes and even better music.  so everyone asked me how it was.  and i can't even begin to describe it.  all i can say was it was soooo good.  and if you've been to irf, it's that times 10!  i loved every minute of it.  after the concert mana had to head to bed b/c he had work the next day, but candy and i decided to go to the after party and play a little while longer.  the line was sooo long.  luckily for us we ran into kaipo and i mustered up enough courage to ask him to help us get in.  i told him that we would pay, we just didn't want to wait in that disneyland line.  lol  well well... lucky us, he got us in and we didn't have to pay. 

so candy and i had a few drinks we and we got to enjoy the sounds of nesian nine!  whoa the music vibe is just not stopping.  woo hoo for me.  but, the night was getting long and candy and i decided we would call it a night.  butttt...as we were standing in front of the hotel deciding on if we were going to go back to the hotel or hit another bar, kaipo came down and convinced us to join him.  honestly it didn't take to much convincing. lol so the rest of the night was spent with him.  definitely, an eventful night to say the least. lol

the next day, candy and i spent on the beach for the most part.  and that night i met up with my roomies for the week at a club.  and the next day we spent on the beach again.  definitely a smile on my face.  and that night kaipo took me out and we danced and i drank the night away.  lol i do not know who i thought i was that night drinking that much.  lol 

the next day was my last day in hawaii.  i met up with a close friend from childhood.  and we had lunch at his hotel.  i wasn't feeling the best but i was glad i got to spend time with him.  and then i spent the day with my roomies at lanikai.  such a beautiful last day.  

the next morning, i finally got to pig out and boots and kimos and it was off to the airport. 

needless to say i had an amazing time! i'll post pics and maybe even video's later.

Coachella 2012 Weekend 2

this year i finally got to experience COACHELLA!  and an experience it was.  we went to celebrate jill's dirty thirty and i can't even explain to you how fun, HOTTT, exhausting, and FUN it was.  but i did take some footage b/c i wanted to take you guys along with me.  so enjoy!!!

Cream of Beat Nov 2011

i know i know!!! i super duper lagged on putting this up. but, here are some snippets that i got. enjoy!

colbie caillat at harlot - july 8, 2011

last friday, colbie caillat did a free happy hour concert at a bar in the city called harlot. luckily for us, some of our friends were in line since about 330pm. so, we were some of the first to walk in and this is how i got such a good spot to watch her.

here are some snippets of the songs she did. there's just something about live music that makes it so much more for me. i hope you enjoy...

Ms L Boogie, Lauryn Hill

i was gonna write a blog about how AMAZING this concert was, and how i was brought to my special place watching, hearing and just experiencing her presence. but, i decided to simply post the snippets of her show that i took with my iphone and let you feel it for yourself.

Black Star

these pictures are from their concert held on July 31st, so this post is wayyyyy over due. but i'm not gonna say too much, i just want to keep this simple and say that i'm sooo appreciative of artists like mos def and talib kweli who still make music with substance, music that stands for something and speaks to the soul.

please excuse the picture quality, these were taken from my phone. yes, it's an iphone, but i have the VERY FIRST version...enough said, i already know i'm due for an update.

DJ MR.E (Miguel opened up for them)

i know it's blurry but for some reason i like this picture

Nas & Damian Marley

Tuesday afternoon, I had all intentions to go to the gym...that is until I got a text from one of my favorite people in the world (ahem...THANKS TONE!) that I was going to the Nas & Damian Marley concert. Can you say super duper excited?!

I hadn't been to a concert in so long and this is exactly what I needed. The energy and the music was all I needed to put me in euphoria. As always I was lost in my little musical world. Needless to say, this is one the bests concerts I've been to in awhile!

I can't say much more to describe it. If you were there you know what I'm talking about.

Melanie Fiona

We all know that I'm a music LOVER! Last night I got to enjoy another GREAT music night. I've been up on Melanie Fiona for some time now. No, not because we have the same name! The first time I heard "Give it to Me Right" I was on it. The song had a good beat, had me moving, and her voice was amazing. So, being the person that I am, when I'm passionate about something I'll look it up. And look her up I did. I found video after video on youtube. Lots of backyard stuff, so you can really hear her pure voice. The second song I heard is what really got me, "Somebody Come get Me." OOOHHHH CHILD! That one had me! I followed her instantly on youtube.

"Give it to me Right" was playing more and more on the radio. Woo hoo for me, but people still didn't know who she was. So, whenever anyone would ask me who was singing b/c trust me I was screaming the words along with it, I would give them my schpeel on how they really need to know who she is b/c SHE IS AMAZING! (And, I'm sure you've seen me post her videos on my fb page.) Lucky for me she was visiting KMEL! HOOLLLERRR! I don't know who made the initial call, but I got to be instudio when we came and sang on air. Her voice was even more amazing in person, a capella. Really, it brought tears to my eyes (that I had to hold back), gave me goosebumps, and made each hair on my body stand on end....yes it was that moving. Phil and I got to hang around after and I got to meet her. We even talked for some time. She asked me if I was a singer too b/c of my voice. I even asked her about "Somebody Come get Me," she was surprised I knew about it. She's a really down to earth person, which is what makes me love her even more.

On to last night!!! I heard Melanie Fiona was coming to town and of course I HAD to make the call or text. lol Happy early birthday to me. I got the confirmation that I was IN!!! I invited a few of my close friends and we got to watch her interview with Chuy, and sing the night away. She only had a few songs to sing...but we (the crowd) yelled so many of her songs that she did a little medley. Of course I was yelling along to each one she did sing! But, the one I wanted her to sing most, and she did was "Sad Songs." Oh man how that song speaks to my soul. It's bringing me to tears even thinking about it. Hearing her sing it in person was sooo much more powerful than the CD. The CD has nothing on her skills in person. OOOhhh and she sang the clincher song for me, "Somebody Come get Me." It's not on her CD, and the person in front of me must've heard me singing (aka yelling) along it b/c she turned and asked me what it was called. hahaha!

Needless to say, I enjoyed myself. I wish we would've stayed longer so I could take a picture with her again. But, I received her personal notes for the evening, so I'll be happy with that.

THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU! Tone, great early birthday gift!

Oracle Open World

Last week, Oracle had their big yearly event, Oracle Open World. Basically, we offer classes on how to use the products we have, announce new products coming out, etc etc. If you need something to compare it to, I would say, it's like Apple's MacWorld.

Every year that I've worked for Oracle I've worked in the Oracle Open World bookstore. And, every year, I hear about the concert that Oracle provides for their partners and costumers. I think one year they had Earth, Wind and Fire. I never paid too much attention b/c I never got to go. Well this year, I had the privilege to enjoy myself. I heard that Aerosmith was performing, which was cool, I was just excited to be invited. Then, I seen the line up...

THE WAILERS were on the bill. THE WAILERS! OMFG! I GET TO SEE THE WAILERS. (For those of you that are a bit slow...Bob Marley and the Wailers...insert "ooohhhhhhh" here...) Now I was amped!

This whole Oracle Open World concert is HUGGGEEEEEE! It was on Treasure Island, enough said. There were 2 concert stages, a beautiful huge outdoor one, and a concert tent, carnival rides and games, food tents, beverage bars with beer and wine...oh and did I mention EVERYTHING IS FREEEEEEE!

The first thing we did when we got in was ride this ride like Drop Zone in Great America. We positioned ourselves to see the stage b/c Aerosmith was already performing. OMG! I could not believe my eyes. The view from the top was spectacular. If I could be up there long enough to take a picture, it would have been amazing.

So, we ate food, drank a little bit and wandered around. I made sure to be close to the outside stage b/c that's where the Wailers would be performing. I managed to wiggle myself all the way to the front. And, I'm sure glad I did. It was the best raggae performace I have ever seen in my life. I was brought to my perfect euphoria...dancing and being lost in the music. Needless to say, this goes down in my life recordbook.

The outdoor stage

View from the front

The Best Reggae Performance of My Life

MUSIC MAKES ME HIGH....

ok this blog is lonnnnnnnng over due. my past two weekends have been filled with GOOD COMPANY and AMAZING MUSIC! two things in my life that i can NOT live without.

last weekend was D2S (http://distortion2static.ning.com/) celebrated their 8 year anniversary. If you don't know about them check it out. It's a locally produced hip hop show that has come a very long way. i remember seeing the show when it first launched and thought to myself that i really wanted to be a part of that. unfortunately, that didn't happen. but, i am glad to say that i do know all of you and we've shared many fun nights. CONGRATS!

tia and me @ the D2S celebration

sunday was time to have fun at "Doing it in the Park." t, zay, drea, nala, gizelle, jess, and i got together and enjoyed the sun and good vibes at golden gate park. we got our blankets set up in a sunny area on the grass and basically chilled. the djs as always were not disappointing. THANK YOU TRIPLE THREAT AND MR E. when i wasn't catching up with people i haven't seen in forever, i was dancing in my own world. "what a day, what a day, what a day"

then, it was off to "Doing it After Dark" a continuation of "Doing it in the Park." Get it? "Doing it in the park, doing it after dark." It's a song for those of you that don't know. anyway, mike, arther, joey, mae and i made it out there pretty early b/c we didn't want to wait in line. this also gave a chance to get some drinks at the bar before the line would be RIDICULOUS. but as always, the great music had me on the floor the whole night. i was looking forward to this event all week, and i was definitely not let down.

me, geezy, tea and nikki enjoying ourselves

this weekend i was looking forward to TRIPLE THREAT'S 10 YEAR ANNIVERSARY. omg what a line up! goapele performed and although i've seen her many many many times, her performace on saturday had me really going. zumbi from zion-i also put on a good show. and then it was miguel's turn, that would be mr. e for all of you that follow the dj scene. i've heard him dj before but i never really got to soak it in. OMG...I WAS AMAZED! his first set was ALL VINYL, and really had me movin. hit after hit after hit! i can tell you that i was sooooooo proud to say that he calls me "coach." i was yelling my head off for him. and then...the moment that i was waiting for thriple threat comes on and does what i've only seen on screne. i've seen scratching before and i've been to a few competitions, but i've never seen triple threat do their thing in person. omg...droollllll! I WAS IN AWE! completely astounded, i was entranced by their skill, and lost in the music (which for me, is the best place in the world). apollo, shortkut, and HOLY MOLY vinroc. everyone knows that shortkut hands down has got to be my favorite dj ever. like i said, he never fails me. but, i have to give love to vinroc. HE KILLLLLLEDDDD IT! me = mouth wide open.

being IN-LOVE with music, i totally appreciate GOOD dj's. and i MUST highlight GOOD dj's. the ones that know how to look at the crowd and know what to play for them. andddd...adjust so the floor doesn't clear. (side note: to all you wannabe dj's out there...if the floor clears it's a big red flag to change your song selection. you have to learn that you are there for them, you have the power to make or break a night. floor clearage is a BIG NO NO! ok ok, not that i'm a dj, so why would you take advice from me, but i'm just sayin.)

i can truely say i was in the company of not good dj's but EXCELLENT dj's. i am still dumbfounded by what i witnessed and moreover, ENJOYED!

tea, me, and mae (aka aga)

lots to be happy about

so i've been in a funk lately that comes and goes. and i'm trying to do everything that i know makes me happy so this funk can permanently GO AWAY! if you've been up to date with my blogs you know i've been pretty good about my running routine, going at least 3 times a week to the lake aka lake merced. and that's been going really well! (wait for the run review) i've also been trying to go out and listen to good music b/c music always has the ability to change my mood and when you add that to dancing, woo hoo!

i felt like i was waiting for saturday night all week long. i knew shorkut was gonna be spinning at milk and like i always say...he NEVER fails me. i took my cousin, mae with me. and we both danced the night away. for both of us, our worries melted away for the evening. we got to enjoy each other company and dance out our frustrations. thanks miguel, for providing a venue to do so and putting us on the guestlis that you didn't give to mae. lol it's ok i know her so she just let us in. and THANK YOU SHORTKUT for always feeding my soul the music it thrives to hear.

sunday was our long awaited for fam bam. we ate and talked and laughed all day long. we introduced new cousins into our little circle and simply enjoyed life. what more is there to explain...I LOVE MY FAMILY!

here goes the long awaited running report...dun da da dahhhh!!!

so saturday morning...i woke up bright and early to see mara. =) i came back home for a little nap, got a little something in my system and it was off to the lake. the goal for the day was to push myself even further. run the whole lake with even more intensity than last time and then go a little further. soooo i ran the whole lake (4.5 miles) in 57 mins, WOO HOO NEW RECORD! i've been averaging at about 58 mins. i treated my car as a water stop and refilled my water bottle and i was off again, i ran 7 mins out and 7 mins back to my car, a little over an extra mile. needless to say the run felt great...i accomplished a new record and even did a little over a mile afterwards.

yesterday, mae and i took another trip to the lake. i was feeling a little sluggish and i had a good run on saturday, so i decided that i was just gonna run the lake and i'll add more miles later in the week. we got our stretches out of the way and started our run. i was feeling sluggish and kept having to push myself harder and harder. at the end of the run i looked at my watch and was amazed to see that i finished in 53 minutes! whoa! that's 7 minutes faster than when i first started running the lake again! i felt sooo proud of myself. i just hope i can keep up with that time lol...it might have been the candy i had to taste test earlier. =)

my weekend events

so you all already know how my thrusday night went. GREAT! i love how inspiring music can be and how much joy it can bring. the weekend continued on with CREAM OF BEAT! i've been wanting to go this weekend's cream of beat, but didn't have anyone to go with. i hit up my girl sony, and i had a date. woo hoo! so we along with her cousin and her cousin's friend went. the night was EVERYTHING I WANTED IT TO BE. i haven't danced that much in FOREVER. hit after hit after hit. it was sooo hot in there i could have lost at least 5 lbs, but the music kept me on the dance floor. besides the few times i went outside to cool down/dry off (gross i know, but it was soo good and such a rarity to have good music like that) i was on the dance floor. sony...thank you thank you thank you for coming with me and driving. and thank you to all the dj's that made all my worries disappear for the night. i appreciate what you do as artists and am and always have been amazed at how much you can make or break a mood. needless to say my mood was great and my spirits high!


SATURDAY HAPPY 4TH OF JULY!!!
so saturday we went over to uncle jr's house for a family bbq. i've been watching my portions, but i definitely PIGGED OUT! it's ok we were all with family and the food was irresistible. i swear i always travel back to the food when ever we have parties like that. so the cousins chatted away, and then darrin, jackie, and i traveled upstairs to the bathroom. we had our own little conversation in there. lmao! the bathroom was soooo small i ended up standing in the shower. and then knock knock, nikko comes to join us. so then now me and jackie are standing in the shower, darrin is sitting on the toilet, and nikko standing in front of him. omg we are such a random family. but you had to be in there b/c it was sooooooooo freaking hilarious. i can't stop laughing as i type this.

ok off to the fireworks. so as a family we all go outside to watch some illegal fireworks. oh we had some safe n sane ones for the kids. and actually they were pretty nice. very good quality and very pretty for legal ones. so they are launching some illegals and needless to say they are all very pretty. and then they are looking for some kind of stand for this rocket. you should have seen all the uncles playing. i envisioned that this is what they were like in their heyday. like it was reminiscent in their childhood. the smiles and sneaky motions were sooo childlike, it was hilarious. so some how they decide to use the the jack for the car, they place the rocket in the handle and use the handle for a post. all of a sudden, all i hear are screams and the all the uncles running at us sheilding us from i don't know what. and then i see it, the rocket was a dud, it doesn't launch and it blows up right where they left it. i turn around to see that everyone has lined up in the garage, like a firedrill on a cruise. no one was hurt, and the air was filled with non stop laughter. we caught all the sound on camera, it was hilarious!



then it was off to big bang at 111 minna. jackie, darrin, keeks, and i indulged in some drinks and dancing. i had a great time dancing to shorkut's set. i have to say he never let's me down. there are very few dj's that can keep me on the dance floor non-stop b/c somehow regular dj's tend to throw in some whack mainstream song that just turns my mood. but i can truely say, he is one of the VERY FEW that keeps me there all night (all weekend in this case, he was at cream of beat too). and for that i thank you!

great weekend with family and friends...i have to say without any of you, life just wouldn't be! LOVE YOU!

my first and long awaited experience at yoshi's

where do i begin? i have so many emotions and so much inspiration running through me right now, i don't even know where to start. i'll just start with getting off of work b/c really that's when picking up the pieces of my lost soul really begins. when the daily routine is done and i am left with finding myself again and the searching doesn't cease. thank lord i have my friends and family to fall back on. the ones that can somehow bring me back to home base. and slowly but surely i am finding my way. i actually reconnected with some old friends, and one of them made a comment to me that really hit home. i don't even remember what exactly was said, but i do remember how it made me feel. and like i told him, it may have been just words between friends to you, but you made me remember a part of me that i somehow forgot.

ok seeee i told you, soooo many emotions running through me, that i don't know which conversation to start. lol. enough with the tangent, on with my night.

so my night began with cooking sinigang for my family and gizelle. my mom announced the night before that she was making sinigang, i volunteered to make it. so i did, and gizelle came over to eat. sorry i couldn't stay girl, i already had plans. then juv and i were off to dinner. always a good time with a REALLY close friend. we caught up and then it was off to meet with tiffany and priscilla.

i was really excited, i've been wanting and waiting to go to yoshi's to take in a good jazz show. being a music minor, i got study a little about the genre and immediately was drawn to it, but it was such a short part of the course, that i didn't get to fully indulge. well last night was what i was waiting for. the performances from BAYONICS, BIG BROOKLYN RED, and JAGUAR WRIGHT had me in a trance, had me dancing in my seat, my mind wondering in the art and found a connection to my soul. yes all of the above!

bayonics were great. big brooklyn red was awesome. JAGUAR WRIGHT was sooooo freaking AMAZING!!!! she's definitely on my must see list every time she's by me.

i find myself attracted to artists (of any form) that just let it all hang out. that are sooo moved by their own pieces that it moves me. the improvisation, the passion, the soul are what always takes me to a place in my mind that i feel sooo connected with them and the art that nothing around me matters. i swear in my past life i must have been some sort of performer, i love watching and critiquing dance, mostly professional forms. do i dance? no. but i find it funny that i feel like i have a trained eye. i can see where they need to point their toes (probably b/c of cheer), and where the technique needs to have a little more umph, and where the applause is worthy. i love all types of music, as long as the artist can take me to that place in my mind, either with the words, the quality of their voice, or simply a melody or beat of the background music. spoken word! oh how i love the feeling it brings. ok ok i can go on and on about the art i like. i think you can see where i'm going with the "i think i was a performer in my last lifetime."


tiffany! thank you thank you thank you for showing me a great night and making me feel like i've found a missing part to my soul.

had to vent

if you know me, you know i'm really into my music. i even have a minor in ethnomusicology. when i moved back home after college, i had the privilege of working at my FAVORITE radio station. i was elated! unfortunately, my life situations didn't allow me to stay.

so here i am in bed, pissed at the current situation. every so often, the powers that be try to switch things up at the station. they try to rock us (the station and it's faithful listeners) on it's side and try to aide the rival station and make them #1 status. soooo frustrating! the first time i remember this occurring was in high school when they hired the dumbass baka boys for the morning show. they let go of one of my favorite morning shows for a second rate show that was on the side of irritating. the station continues to let me down with lame syndicated shows like the big tigga show on the weekends. but i simply try not to listen at that time.

today, i've found out that they have done it again! they let go of one my favorite personalities. such a disappointment. the show was very entertaining and even had #1 ratings. i guess being #1 doesn't mean anything to the powers that be. especially when they are trying to promote the rival station. a station that can never achieve the heights and status of my favorite. my favorite station is sooo reknowned and known by artists all over. there are so many times when i hear artists mention the station, stating that we helped in shaping hip-hop as culture and bringing it to the forefront.

i don't understand why the powers that be can't simply keep the #1 shows on and run with the success. why do they feel the need to bring the #1 station down and promote a station that strives for a higher status with little results every time?

all i have to say is BIGGGGGG mistake! i'm starting to lose my faith in radio...