a breath of fresh air

A Genesis.

2011-09-28T13:33:00.000-07:00

Since embarking on a new journey in May, my life had gone through a genesis, a new beginning. It is now almost October, and I am currently based out of Phoenix, AZ, doing spoken word poetry full-time. I apologize for abandoning this blog, but please continue to follow me on my new site at hosannapoetry.com, and on facebook and twitter: facebook.com/hosannapoetry and twitter.com/hosanna poetry. I have CDs, calendars, and many amazing new stories I'd love to share with you!

"The old has gone, behold, all things have been made new."

Cheers.

Embark.

2011-05-28T22:42:00.000-07:00

75% of my wardrobe: donated. 60% of my books: stored. 100% of my furniture: sold. A week ago, I fit my life into the back of my car, with room to see out the rearview mirror, as I hit the road to drive to Prescott, Arizona, my new home for the foreseeable future. I said from the beginning that this blog would merely be a creative resume, talking of poetry events to come and poetry events passed, and never any disclosure that is too personal, as I like to keep that reserved for myself, my close friends, and the blank canvases of my notebooks. So, I will just leave my journey at that for now. I will say though that the road to get here has been incredible, and my journey into the unknown has me squealing with excitement like a little girl. Experiencing the world of poetry in California has been the time of my life, but now it’s time to take it across state lines. Let’s see if Arizona is ready :)

The winds of change

2011-05-21T08:17:00.000-07:00

If there were words to describe our journey, I'd take the time to intricately convey the wonders that have been writing, traveling, and performing with Danny and Nathan. Being a part of the Spit in the Mud performance team was an unreal experience. With three people passionate about storytelling, writing, and sharing the Gospel creatively, the last year of our lives could not have been filled with more life, more purpose, and more spontaneity. We had no idea how far we would come as a team. Still, as the saying goes, all good things must come to an end, and on May 6th the team and I ended our journey together. From the beginning, Spit in the Mud was a ministry purposed to bringing spoken word to the church and the youth of our generation, as well as advocating and creating a means for unconventional, artistic ways of worship. For the first year of the project, it came in the form of a performance team, the most conventional way we felt we could manipulate the church into listening to spoken word poetry. As I look back upon our journey, I know we succeeded. The stories and testimonies of people inspired from and touched by the spoken word programs we brought are countless. They minister to me and bless my heart to this day. Working as a team with Danny and Nathan provided not only numerous opportunities for spoken word in the church, but also for me to grow as an artist. Spit in the Mud wouldn’t be where it is today without them. From here are on, the core ethics of the SITM ministry will love on, as I am by no means done with all of the dreams I have for slam poetry in the church. As far the boys, Danny is a part of an up and coming worship band with a mutual friend, Jedley, called The Fellows We Are (they are amazing, keep a look out!), and Nathan will be headed to China this August to pursue his passions in teaching and novel writing. All of us, together, achieved something we never dreamed of, and now, together, we are passionately and whole-heartedly diving into the dreams we’ve always had and always supported each other in. I love teaching spoken word workshops and traveling as a solo performer, so I’m glad to take on a new challenge in directing Spit in the Mud. Still, this ending is sad. Who am I kidding? I’m going to miss being a part of this team so much. It was an incredible time, and I’m glad we ended well. On the 6th we spent an entire day together, filled with sushi, movies, and random adventures at stores with gross nasty treats like spaghetti gummies. Then we had our farewell show, where we each performed four individual pieces, and two group pieces. About a hundred people came out, and we are so, so grateful for the community that has supported us throughout this past year. We had an amazing time at our final show, and we look forward to all being raindrops contributing to the Tsunami of the kingdom of God, wherever in the world we end up. If you’ve ever been to a SITM show, thank you for all of your love, encouragement, and support. It really has been the time of our lives.

Check out select videos from the night on the SITM website HERE, or directly connect to our YouTube stream HERE.

Tomorrow's Poets

2011-04-15T12:18:00.000-07:00

What can I say? The next generation of poets is going to trump this generation. Yesterday I had the privilege of teaching spoken word to three 8th grade classes at Tuffree Middle School in Placentia, CA. Three periods, and over 90 kids all together, the experience taught me more than I could have imagined. The students there had far beyond the amount of brilliance I had anticipated, and wrote captivating poems about conventionally practical things like bracelets, pencils, and tomatoes, as well as heartfelt poems about parents, important rooms, and friendships. I loved showing them videos of some of my personal favorite poets Sarah Kay and Daniel Beaty, and had tons of fun exploring creative writing techniques with them through unconventional writing activities. The students seemed to love it, and a few of them are tremendously naturally gifted writers whom I wouldn’t be shocked to see on the mic in the near future. Teaching poetry never ceases to brings a smile to my face and a tear to my eye. I remember the new perspective of life I found when I was introduced to poetry. After yesterday’s workshop, I hope a handful of these students also feel a little more alive.

"In New York, concrete jungle where dreams are made..."

2011-04-03T10:47:00.000-07:00

New York has been nothing short of fantastic. My best friend Kasey and I have spent every waking moment running around amidst the brilliant stores, cafes, restaurants, parks, shows, and even a mass or two (yes, the catholic kind). Without a doubt, the biggest hi-light has definitely been visiting New York’s famous Bowery Poetry Club. Not only is this place dear to my heart because it is in a part of the city where the original Beatniks roamed, but its stage has also featured national slam teams and poetic geniuses Bob Holman, Beau Sia, Moonshine, and many others, but most importantly, a personal favorite, Sarah Kay. She started at this club when she was 14, and is a well-known name around this side of the country, as well as for all spoken word fanatics nationwide.I had been emailing with Sarah prior to arriving in the Big Apple, and had the privilege of performing “Vintage Boots” upon the club’s sacred stage. After the performances, Sarah and I talked about poetry, school, traveling, teaching, and other random things under the sun. It’s truly a marvelous thing to hear a poet’s heart outside of their performed pieces. Ms. Kay in an inspiration for mothers, daughters, poets, and people all over the world, and her organization Project Voice (CLICK HERE for more info!) is an amazing project that should not be ignored. The emotions I felt performing upon this stage are unparallel, and conversing with a fellow female poet who resonates with my passions was very wonderful indeed. Also, Jamaal May was the featured poet of the night and listening in on his workshops and an 8-piece set was beyond remarkable. If you’re ever feeling fly like a Beatnik and happen to be in the NYC area, make a stop at the Bowery Poetry Club. Here exists an extreme amount of history, culture, and powerful truths of life. It’ll be worth your time. It was worth my entire trip to New York City.

"We Are Poets."

2011-03-28T08:55:00.000-07:00

I remember my first big show. I remember the first time I felt so nervous that I was sweating. I remember rehearsing for hours to make sure I did perfectly. Sometimes, beginner poets are the hardest working poets, and their commitment, dedication, and obvious effort reflect this unparalleled passion. SP!!T this past Saturday was filled with that kind of raw fervor. I had such a splendid time sharing the stage with enthusiastic, hard-working poets. Though many of them haven’t been spitting for too long, their zeal reminded me of why I started doing poetry in the first place. When you work with professional poets often, it all sort of becomes routine. I’ve worked with some of the most prideful, self-assured names in the business, and am no longer shocked when people lose their passion for words and replace it with a desire to merely be popular. None of the poets on Saturday were victim to this fame-driven spirit. Some of them, I would deem greater artist then some of my bigwig friends for the simple fact that it’s still art to them. This show was a lot of fun. There were too many great moments to recall. With nutty things taking place backstage, an amazing, engaged crowd, and topnotch performances, I don’t really see how this show could have been any better. There were a few pieces that stood out so much that I was positive that I was in the midst of spoken word’s next big names. I can’t thank my good friend and director, KasiTeYana, enough for the opportunity not just to share my passion, but also to exist in a wonderfully nostalgic flashback, reminding me of the raw enthusiasm I had for slam poetry when I started 6 years ago. The scariness. The sweating. Practicing for forever. I hope to never lose sight of what it feels like to be a true artist. After all, as artists, aren’t we all beginners? As poets, there is no greater expertise than the ability to begin... over & over again.

It's raining Sp!!t... hallelujah!

2011-03-20T16:45:00.000-07:00

Yesterday I hung out with the cast of SP!!T, the second in a series of spoken word shows hosted by Urban Theater Movement. In the archives of this blog are photos and details of the first Spit, which took place in fall of last year. It was truly an amazing event to be part of, and this year it is looking to be just as brilliant. Directed by the lovely KasiTeYana, and with an ecclectic cast of amaeteur and veteran poets, actors, and musicians, it will undoubtedly be a show to remember. Come out this Saturday to Long Beach and enjoy a night of amazing artistic talents...and be prepared for some spit. Umbrellas recommended.

Click HERE for event information! (which you want, trust.)

Beyond the Boots

2011-02-27T12:55:00.000-08:00

*Sigh* Where to begin.... Friday night I hosted a show, Beyond the Boots, based off of my piece, Vintage Boots. If you happened to come across my blog entry a few down from this one, you know the importance of this event, and my pressing desire to take the popularity of this piece and do something purposeful with it... go "beyond" it, if you will. A piece primarily about parents without children, this event would give back in a way to support children without parents. Thus, the show was at Monkey Business Cafe, a non-profit organization that provides employment, homes, and programs for foster children in LA and Orange County. Headlining was some of LA's most well-known poets and my good friends, David Romero, Matt Sedillo, and Francois. Also featuring was KasiTeYana, Alex Alpharaoh, Danny Sugimoto, Nathan McWherter, Nghiem Le, Samantha Park, and Joy Oladoku. There was also a good list of open mic. sign-ups, all which brought the house down! To say the least, the night was incredible. I had the privilege of putting on the show with my best friend Kasey, our second show since The Necessary Project, and had the help of my other friends and roommates Ally, Kylie, Roman, and Delsy. It was very special for me personally to put the show on with the leading ladies in my life. And of course, the bulk of the evening had nothing to do with me. All of the poets and musicians brought their own stories, words of heartache, words of healing, words of comedy, and words of romance. Like every open mic or poetry showcase, the poets built the show themselves. There is no way that there was anywhere in California where a more powerful night of poetry was taking place at the same time as ours. These poets are unparalleled, and I am truly blessed to be surrounded and supported by such a profound group of artist. The cafe was packed; people kept streaming in as the night went on and we were busting at the seems. I wish we had pictures that gave the large resulting crowd justice. With over 100 attendees, and over $500 dollars raised for foster programs, the night was beyond the success we expected it to be. To everyone who came, thank you. I hope you enjoyed a night off of your busy schedules to bask in the beauty of raw, vulnerable, brilliant, and authentic story-telling... through poetry. Now it's your turn to write your own. Whatever circumstance you are victim to, whatever life situations have continued to suffocate you, grab a pen, and exhale. Together, let's do something to go beyond it.

(Six days 'til the Boots) Spotlighting Artist...

2011-02-19T08:16:00.000-08:00

Last Thursday I had the privilege to visit I.E. legend and friend Judah One at his open mic venue LionLike Mindstate in Pomona (check it out HERE). One of the fastest growing open mics in Los Angeles County by far, every time I perform here or just visit, there's always new voices, new DJs, and new eye opening philosophies shot straight to my brain. This night in particular LionLike was featuring Seth Walker, and for anyone who is radical about social change, open minded to new ways of thought, or just a huge fan of ingenious spoken word, you either already know of him or you're going to want to check him out HERE. Currently touring with Lauren Begent, their lyrics and rhythm both together and separate with take you on a road trip through human emotions that are equally profound, hilarious, and real.
On top of experiencing the one and only Seth Walker live, I attended LionLike to touch base with incredible accessories stylist and spoken word artist, Cayenne. She will be selling an array of hand-made jewelry at Beyond the Boots (click HERE for more info), coming up on the 25th, complete with various stones, feathers, and metals that a lot of artists in the I.E. like to rock. Here in the photo, she is only showing a sample of her earring collection, but on the 25th she will also be selling necklaces and rings as well.

Another friend and amazing stylist will also be selling on the 25th, the one and only Meredith, founder of Made by Mere accessories (check her out HERE). Below is a picture of some of her holiday line this past December, but just like the small selection you saw of Cayenne's, this sample photo does not give justice to the brilliance of Mere's art. She has tons of new fabrics and flairs she'll be showcasing at Beyond the Boots, so bring some extra cash and come out and support your local artist!
Remember David Romero, Matt Sedillo, and Francois are headlining, and we have a huge line up of other amazing features, as well as a limited open mic. Hope to see you on Friday! Six days and counting!

UCYC Day 3: Not ready to leave...

2011-02-18T23:58:00.000-08:00

The weekend most definitely went by too fast. Without getting too personal, there were connections and relationships we found with some of the kids that we know we'll hold on to for quite some time. It was hard saying good bye to our new found friends, the wonderful staff, and our relaxing, luxurious cabin. I opened the ending session with a new piece, "Asthmatic." I actually love this piece, and it's one my best friends', Ally's, favorite. It was a blessing to do this piece in front of so many people who I had grown to know and love over the short course of three days. After the session, it was time to say our goodbyes. Saying goodbye to some of the kids was definitely hard, and we tried to prolong our departure as long as possible. We had one last lunch with the camp staff, and then headed back on the road to Orange County. This weekend was phenomenal. It's times like these where I wish I were more liberal with my emotions on the world wide web, so that I could give this past weekend justice. If you'd like to hear any of these more intimate stories, never hesitate to ask me personally, shoot me an email perhaps. To say the very least, it was a life-changing experience. Being on the road with Nathan and Danny, bringing spoken word to a world where many had never heard of it, and meeting new rad people and making new friends was most certainly an experience of a lifetime. Thank you UCYC, the boys of Spit in the Mud, and Trey, our biggest fan by far :) In the pictures you'll see a group photo of the band, sound and stage crew, camp directors, speaker, and Spit in the Mud, as well as a shot of da boyz muggin hard, and a final SITM picture that I shall soon frame and put on my mantle. Stay tuned at www.SpitInTheMud.com for upcoming photos and videos from the weekend!

UCYC Day 2: Prescott is A-Plus

2011-02-18T11:28:00.000-08:00

This day was one of those long days. One of those days that feels like it's going on and on and on, but you're loving every second of it, so as long as it feels, you still don't want it to end. Nathan opened up the session spitting his brand new piece, "Zuckerberg Gospel." The kids loved it, seriously. The speaker, Luke Wright, was spectacular, and was able to play off of Nathan's piece, as well as all of our pieces throughout the week. After the first session, we grabbed lunch with the kids, which in all honesty, some of our best relationships came from communal cafeteria time, and then we had the rest of the day off until the night session where Danny would be performing his solo piece. We decided to be tourists in Historical Old Town Prescott, and what a grand decision it was. It took us by surprise how beautiful this little town was. You hear "Arizona" and you immediately think desert and cacti, but this quaint town seemed more like a product of the east coast, with beautiful brick buildings, vintage shops, chic bars and coffee shops, and beautiful courthouses and libraries. We had a great time letting loose for a few hours, touring around the city, and even ran into a few of the campers around town. We stopped in a cafe called The Raven, where we carried out one of our traditions which is to have a toast with cider. It was a first time toasting with warm cider, but it was some of the tastiest cider I've ever had! We then headed back to camp, where we grabbed dinner and then went to the night session where Danny performed one of his newer pieces, "Serenity" (videos of Nathan and Danny's pieces will be on the Spit in the Mud youtube channel soon). Afterwards was Redneck Bowling Night, where all of the campers and leaders dressed up like hicks and went into town to go Bowling. We had a great time hanging out with all the kids and videotaping for our 4 Second Competition (we asked the kids who could do the coolest thing in 4 seconds and at the end of the weekend we gave the winners Spit in the Mud post it notes). We headed back to our cabin and made pizza and ate It's-Its, listened to Jeff play some sick covers, and then headed off to bed. It was a long day sure, but definitely one to remember.

UCYC Day 1: Arriving to an Adventure

2011-02-18T10:54:00.000-08:00

4 am, rise & shine. Nathan, Danny, Nicole, and I headed off to Arizona, embarking on a journey of soon-to-be wonderful surprises. The drive there was long, but fun, and it was nice having Nicole along the drive until we dropped her off with friends in Phoenix. Once we hit Prescott, the real adventure began. We were greeted by the friendly, welcoming staff of UCYC, and were shown to a gorgeous cabin complete with a large living room, kitchen, and three bedrooms. We shared the cabin with the camp's music director Jeff Dennis, who later defeated me in a rigged game of Old Maid, and sang the boys to sleep with Lady Gaga covers. We enjoyed some quality camp food in the cafeteria and prepared to perform later that night. We met the camp directors, Chris Holohan and Jarred Medlin, and quickly adjusted to the busy camp schedule. The program UCYC had prepared was phenomenal. It was such a privilege to be a part of their elborately-planned weekend. We met all of the camp leaders, introduced Spit in the Mud and our passion to bring spoken word to their youth, and then went off to the main auditorium where we performed our latest 3-in-1 piece, "Seven Degrees." Performing this piece in front of hundred of high schoolers and young adults was such a high. We had a lot of fun writing the piece together, practicing it and fine-finishing all the details, but it's when it all comes together on stage that perhaps it's the most fun. We had a great time getting to know some of the students later on that night, having pizza with some of the staff, and relaxing in our warm, cozy cabin (it was 20 degrees outside). We enjoyed a night of rest because the days to come would certainly require loads of high energy!

On the Road, like Kerouac

2011-02-11T00:58:00.001-08:00

In a couple of hours, Nathan, Danny, and I will be hitting the road for Prescott, Arizona, where we are spitting for four sessions over the course of three days at UCYC... isn't that nuts?! We're exhausted, yes, but mostly so excited to have such an amazing opportunity. We'll of course be bringing our sacred "On the Road" novel to read... on the road... & pay homage to our beloved Beats as we ride upon the road they've paved for us, as well as writers, poets, and adventurers everywhere. We are doing four entirely new pieces and have close to no idea what to expect, and that feeling right there is completely exhilarating to me right now. Earlier today we were privileged to record a piece together, "Our Right, Amplified," on our friends' Jimmy and Jeff's benefit CD. We were in the studio for hardly no time at all, and pulled it off in one take. I am so proud of my team! We even did a freestyle session that will serve as a bonus track for the CD, so be on the look out for that as well! It's definitely been a challenging week for all of us, preparing for UCYC, writing and memorizing, and then managing and preparing for all of the other upcoming shows and events in the midst of work and school, but we are learning so much through all of these experiences, and, most all, each other, and I wouldn't give it up for the world. The piece we're performing Friday night in Arizona is called "Seven Degrees," and it's about God meeting us right where we're at. This piece is very special to us for two reasons, one being that it is the first piece we have written together as a team, and two, because it speaks to our very lives as well as to anyone else around us with a pulse. A line that's really resonating with me is, "God, will You meet me in the chaos? This mess that manifest within all of us?" I'm learning alot through this journey about finding purpose in the chaos, as well as finding peace. I hope you all follow along with our updates about Arizona and the next few months! You can follow us on Twitter by clicking HERE, follow us on Facebook HERE, or follow us on our Blog updates HERE. I should probably head off to bed :) Goodnight Orange County, Good morning Arizona!

The Mexi-Asian Persuasion

2011-01-31T17:42:00.000-08:00

Enchiladas. White Rice. Revolution. Chalupas. All the ingredients needed to concoct a truly amazing night of poetry. David Romero has a way of putting some of the most diverse poets together, and hosting one-of-a-kind, memorable shows. "David A. Romero Presents...A Night of Poetry at Cha & Cafe" was a celebration of different cultures, various backgrounds, and diverse styles, to say the least, fusing together to create something extraordinary: poetry through many voices. How appropriate it was to be set at a Mexican-Asian fusion restaurant, the delicious and delectable Cha & Cafe. Perhaps one of my favorite parts of the night was when David did his famous "Enchiladas" piece, and I followed with a piece called "White Rice," a half spoof and half asian parody on his latino-inspired masterpiece. I enjoyed mimicking one of the most well-known comedic performers of our time...how often do people get to do that? Of course headlining with Matt Sedillo was awesome. Matt is widely known as the hardest, most controversial poet in LA, and he never fails to shock members in the audience, particularly ones who are are new to slam poetry. The prestigious Paul Mabon was the reigning king of the night. Def Jam Poet and actor, this man almost needs no introduction. Featuring in a show with him was surreal, and hanging out with him afterwards with handful of other artists was such a good time. SuperB was also there that night, although unexpected, but always welcomed! And the crazy talented DJ Mike Sincere was the musical stylist of the night. Thank you to everyone who was there last night, it was truly a night to remember; thank you to Cha & Cafe for allowing us to invade your establishment, and thanks to all the poets during the open mic portion of the night, and all my friends who came out and supported. To old friends and new friends, Cheers! Here's to the Mexi-Asian Fusion Revolution!

baby, you're a firework.

2011-01-29T21:02:00.000-08:00

Last night Spit in the Mud had the privilege of featuring at Yorba Linda Friends Church "SHINE" Winter Fest... what. a. blast. Hundreds of Jr. High and High school students flooded the campus complete with three stages, four bounce houses, and a phenomenal set of musicians and artist. I was blown away by the caliber of the set and aesthetics used to make this event really... shine.

Nathan & I performed solo pieces, "Fearless" & "These Little Lights," and after the event in the main building, the crowd moved on over to the Roadhouse Room where renowned Illusionist Danny Ray was to put on one of the most brilliant shows we've ever seen.

The whole SITM team opened up for him with a piece called "It's Magic," featuring guest lyrical maestro, Jay Hewitt. The all-night event (seriously, we were there from 5:30pm to 12:30am, and we left early) was exhausting, yes, as Jr. Highers usually are, but it was worth all of the energy that was sweeping all over Winter Fest. We got to hang with truly amazing bands and artists backstage, have our minds blown by the most incredible magic shown we've ever seen, and of course, do what we love. Thanks YLFC. That was magical.

this birthday goes to the Boots.

2011-01-16T07:43:00.001-08:00

Today is my birthday. What a pleasant feeling. I went to bed last night after a wonderful dinner with friends, rested my tired eyes amidst fresh, clean sheets and woke up this morning to Mumford & Sons and a cup o' tea. It's not even 8am, the sun is shining upon my southern california room covered in windows, and my fuzzy socks are particularly comfy this morning. My friends have a fairly full week planned for me, but this right now might be my favorite part... my me time.
Alright, enough birthday butterflies. Smiles off. This is important. For various reasons, this birthday is particularly special for me, and for those same reasons, it's important for me that my birthday festivities give back this year. I have a piece called "Crazy & Wonderful" that's about living out poetry instead of merely speaking it sans action. After performing it a couple months ago, I started thinking about "Vintage Boots," the piece that took me places, the story that changed me, the nick name that still makes me smirk. I wanted to do something with it. With so recognizable a piece, how could I use that to give back in a way that means something to me?
This upcoming February, my best friends and I are putting on "Beyond the Boots," an open mic benefit for foster children homes and programs. It will be held at Monkey Business Cafe in Fullerton on Feb. 25th at 7pm. The event includes headliners David Romero, Matt Sedillo, and Francois, and features visionary poets KasiTeYana, Alex Alpharaoh, Danny Sugimoto, Nathan McWherter, Nghiem Le, and Gavin Thomas Gordon Topper. Many of the features are paid poets who are donating their time to this show for the cause. On top of the extraordinary poets, we are also featuring two good friends of mine who are also amazing musicians, Samantha Parks and Joy Oladokun. It is looking to be a night of inspiration, good laughs, and an overflowing amount of musical and poetic talent that i'm sure will be seeping through the doors of that homey, red-walled cafe. If you are in the area, I urge you to try and stop by. Admission is $5, and 100% of profits will go directly towards Hart Community Homes, a non-profit organization that seeks to heal, educate, and empower at-risk youth to become healthy, productive, and self-sufficient adults in the community. Monkey Business Cafe is a product of HCH, and I am "beyond" excited for this upcoming event.

It's no longer just about my boots. It's beyond that.
Come celebrate life with us.

Smiles back on.

let's Cha.

2011-01-14T21:30:00.000-08:00

There’s a sea of events coming around the bend, but I’d like to highlight one in particular that’s quickly approaching. On January 30th, def Jam poet Paul Mabon, Matt Sedillo, and I will be headlining for David A. Romero Presents... A Night of Poetry at Cha & Cafe. Matt Sedillo and David Romero are not only some of my funniest, most ridiculous guys I know, they are also some of the most incredible, passionate poets I know. Featuring at one of David’s events is a privilege, as is spitting alongside David and Matt at any given day. Paul Mabon is also a highly esteemed and very experienced artist, and featuring with this incredible def Jam poet is an honor, truly. I’m pretty excited. I’m doing four pieces, three which are fairly new. The flyer’s attached if you’d like to stop by : )

Recently, this year...

2011-01-13T16:02:00.000-08:00

Recently, a friend of mine asked me if I thought it was possible to blog consistently about all past and upcoming events. At the time I said yes, but now I have realized I completely lied. 'Tis impossible a task. Thirteen days into the new year, and there have been so many amazing shows I've been privileged to be a part of, new artists and poets I'm so glad to have met, and exciting events coming up in the near future. Of course, that will be on top of finishing college, having three jobs, and maintaining a personal life :) I wouldn't have it any other way.
Recently, I was able to spit in Boedekker Park in San Francisco (my hometown, what what!) alongside Calvary Street, at Lifehouse Covenant (also in SF), Sunnyvale Art Gallery's "The Canvas" (alongside my friend Nathan), Cal State Fullerton's marketing seminar, and a night of music and poetry at the M Bar in Los Angeles, hosted by BA poet, David Romero. David's also hosting a night of poetry at the end of this month that I'm excited to headline along with def Jam poet Paul Mabon, and poetic beast Matt Sedillo. There's much to come, so stay tuned. 2011 is looking to be quite the adventure.

Photos by Justin Duke Floro & Ally Novell

a new year with Donaldina Cameron

2011-01-01T21:35:00.000-08:00

Donaldina Cameron House has provided faith-based support to Asian women and their families for over 135 years. This New Year's day, fellow SITM member Nathan and I spit underneath it's roof and ministered to a new generation of Chinatown's asain community. My friend Joel has been working at the Cameron House for a few years now, and when he invited me to spit on this special occasion, kicking off the new year, it was such a privilege. Nathan was in town and he was glad to join in as well. The people were very welcoming and we had a great time meeting the children and adults now serviced by Cameron House. Afterwards, we took a tour of the 5 story building, complete with an amazing view from the rooftop, and the heart-aching site of an underground tunnel used to hide refugee asian woman from the government. It was an experience that I'll never forget, as Donaldina Cameron's story quickly became very personal to me. She's one of the most inspirational woman in history, particularly in San Francisco, and to merely walk down walls that her vision built was moving. I encourage everyone to take the time to read the house's history, which I've copied and pasted from the website. Thank you Joel, and the rest of the staff at Cameron House for allowing us to share our hearts at a place where our lives have been changed.

(From CameronHouse.org) "Started by the Presbyterian Church as the Occidental Mission Home for Girls in 1874, it's initial purpose was to intervene on behalf of young, Asian, immigrant females who had become vulnerable upon arrival into the United States.

These women and girls were smuggled into the United States thereby circumventing immigration laws that excluded them. Asian women were commodities that were bought and sold (even by their own family) as property which became known as the 'yellow slave trade'.

Bogus 'contracts' were created to enforce this system of slavery in which Asian women became domestics or prostitutes. The contractual conditions specified insurmountable recourse for women to purchase their own freedom. There are many thousands of Asian immigrant women who have died in enslaved conditions in San Francisco.

Miss Donaldina Cameron came to the Occidental Mission Home as a sewing teacher; she stayed forty years devoting her life as a missionary creating a foundation assisting Asian women victimized by violence and discrimination.

The mission of Cameron House services has evolved over the years resulting in an agency that is a comprehensive family service organization serving low income, Asian immigrants, youth and families in San Francisco.

Recent events in Asia and the Pacific Rim indicate that the influx of immigrants from those areas, particularly into San Francisco and the Bay Area, will steadily increase. The Cameron House reputation throughout the Asian community is one of an organization that is culturally and linguistically accessible to those encountering life crises.

Cameron House is committed to enter the new century in a state of readiness to meet the challenge of assisting new immigrants and others assimilate into a new society and culture."

For more information, visit CameronHouse.org today.

Necessarily speaking...

2011-01-01T21:33:00.001-08:00

(Taken from SpitInTheMud.com) “Six poets, one band, one painter, and a handful of wonderful friends joined forces to put on a night of poetry, music, and community. Over 200 people came together on November 5th at Eastside Christian in Fullerton, CA to support Spit in the Mud's benefit for Solidarity, a non-proft organization that sets to build relationships that impact communites through holistic transformation. The Necessary Project featured guest poets KasiTeYana, Ian DiOrio, and professional slam poet, Francois. Hundreds of dollars were raised for Solidarity's after school programs and teen center.”

It happened. ‘Twas amazing. My first big project to head up couldn’t have had more of a windy road to get through. Luckily, I had hired my best friends Kasey & Ally to help coordinate the project, and essentially co-host it, and of course I had Nathan and Danny of Spit in the Mud to help out whenever they could.

Having said that, all the hard work paid off. After the show, there were stories upon stories of people who came who related to our stories, who had something change in them, who from that night on decided to make a difference. Really, that’s what it’s all about. Though we want to promote the art of spoken word as a whole so others know they have this outlet available, we also want to be effective in our own outlets, leaving insights to human nature, the world, and change. It was truly an incredible night, filled with unexpected surprises and newfound friendships.

If you were there, thank you. If you weren’t, no worries. We have five pieces online, plus full-legnth DVDs :)
Watch a promo here.
Go to Spit in the Mud’s website here.

the calm before the storm

2010-12-27T10:32:00.001-08:00

The Necessary Project was less than a month away. Tension was high, not just among our team, but also among all our relationships, families, friends, and significant others. We were still spitting at youth groups and churches, though we hardly had the time to write and memorize new pieces while also preparing a 25 piece set for the Project.

One of the traditions we set in place for our team in the beginning was to have--what we call, “team date nights.” They are nights where we cook together, eat at out together, go to the movies together, go on a roadtrip together, whatever. They are designated times for us to unwind and be a community together, not just a performance team. No rehearsing is aloud, and business talk is ideally minimal. We’d lose our minds if we didn’t take the time to sit back and enjoy one another. After all, though we had dealt with craziness in preparation for the Project, we all knew the true craziness was yet to come.

In the pictures are Kasey (our coordinator we hired on for The Necessary Project who quickly began to feel like a member of the SITM family) helping me make the boys dinner, then Nathan, Danny, and Steven Pate, after spitting at a youth group in Downey a week or two after, and the team, along with our friend (and Danny’s girlfriend) Nicole, grabbing some sushi as our long night was coming to and end. We love spider rolls.

the poets come out at night

2010-12-27T09:40:00.001-08:00

The weeks following SPIT are almost a blur. Francois asked David Romero, Matt Sedillo, KasiTeYana and I to spit at his fundraiser for Our Baby’s Gone Missing at Cypress College, and it was definitely a different vibe than any of us were used to. Still, not only was it for a good cause, but we had loads of fun. Spitting amongst these poetry geniuses again was an honor. Afterwards Matt and David and I headed down to Orange to spit at The Ugly Mug Cafe, which was yet another completely different vibe, but really an incredible experience. The poets there were very different and diverse in their delivery and content, which was eye opening for me personally. Honestly, the most fun part might have been talking poetry with Matt between each performance, but performing there was great too.

The next weeks we found ourselves at LionLike Mindstate and A Mic and Dim Lights in Pomona, among not only nationally renown slam poets, but also incredibly brilliant youth emerging into the poetry scene. Those poems were probably the most enjoyable; no lie. I'm a big believer in that our generation's youth have the most important things to say.

David made it his lot in life to secretly sign me up on performance lists even when I was going just to sit back and listen. Yes, it was quite embarrassing being called up without informed that I’d be spitting. But although we gave each other a hard time about it, I was glad to have the chance to perform so many times in just a few short months, especially with Matt and David. Whether it was between shows in Orange County, or at Denny’s at 1 in the morning, talking poetry, politics, and life with these poets was definitely worth every off-guard performance.

My best friend Kasey and I were discussing where it was along this journey that I got the nickname the Girl with the Boots. My best guess is that it happened somewhere around here. There was an emcee in Beverly Hills who called me it, right after a performance of Vintage Boots, but it wasn’t until after SPIT in Long Beach that people began to recognize me by that name, particularly people I didn’t know. In fact, I think it was in Pomona that an emcee introduced me as the Girl with the Boots, even though I was doing a different piece that night. So, we’re not 100% sure who started it. But I figured, there are a lot worse nicknames you could get.

Photos by Trish Goodman & Tyree Vance

da boyz.

2010-12-26T21:51:00.000-08:00

As far as the Summer/Fall schedule went for Spit in the Mud, we were pretty busy. Not only were we spitting at main services on Sundays, and youth group services during the week, we were also in the middle of planning our own showcase to occur in November, The Necessary Project. We were writing and memorizing hours upon hours a week, new pieces, old pieces, and each other's pieces. However, in the midst of the chaos, Nathan & Danny stayed their crazy, weird selves and made the whole process fun and easy. Well, almost easy :) Working alongside these guys this year was a ton of fun. Here in the pictures are them dancing, entranced in each other's beauty no doubt, and then caught texting right before sound check. I think we were in Orange, California, at Main Place Christian. They make what we do a blast. So thanks boys. You're strangeness intrigues me.

[spit]acular.

2010-12-26T21:13:00.000-08:00

Smells of cappuccinos and grilled paninis & sounds of revolution fill the air. What a privilege it is to be in the company of extraordinary, visionary artist. SPIT, a poetry showcase headed up by the amazing Amery Ken Thao, was not only the best way, but perhaps the only way to come back to the poetry scene after arriving back into America. After a friend (whom i am very fond of) said he had heard of this show but didn't think I would pass the audition, I got in my car and drove down to Long Beach to try out. This ended up being one of the best decisions of my life. A couple weeks later, the callbacks had rehearsal, and two weeks later, it was showtime. I shared the stage with the most incredible artist on the west coast...some, in the nation. Many of us performed a variety of different pieces throughout the night, mine being "Just to Breathe," "Honestly, With Love," and "Vintage Boots." It was the sweetest thing, being surrounded by great poetic minds, and listening to some of the most ingenious metaphors, world-changing ideas, and interesting rhythms I've ever heard. I was captivated by fellow minds desiring to reach the youth of our generation, to expose the injustices of our world, and to promote expression and vulnerability through the arts. We all shared a purpose; it was like meeting family. SPIT II is coming up in the next few months, and I could not be more thrilled. I have stayed in touch and hung out with a majority of these poets and have even shared the stage with a handful of them since. There at the Cafe Mirage in Long Beach, California, we were all a part of something truly spectacular. It's great being a part of something greater than ourselves.

imagine a world of poets

2010-12-26T19:15:00.000-08:00

Poetry is my heart. When my class finished their curriculum two days ahead of schedule, I was ecstatic at the opportunity to teach them poetry. I taught them simple verse, free verse, haikus, and even played them videos of spoken word artist in America. All of my students said they had never seen anything like it before. What an opportunity! My heart almost couldn't take it. We talked about poetry, public speaking, and about other medias to communicate our -what they called, "heart feelings." They ended up coming up with some of the most magnificent ideas, and were very vulnerable and creative with the assignment. We created a poetry collage of everyone's favorite poems, and they cut out pictures from magazines to go with each of their poems. It was incredible to watch.

I was able to talk on the phone with two of my students earlier this week, both teachers in their provinces, and both of them said they shared my poetry curriculum with their schools in their hometowns, and heard my other students did too. Lawrence Ferlinghetti once said that "Poetry in handcuffs handcuffs the human race." Thanks to a willing, ambitious class of 54 chinese teachers, there are hopes of the students of China being a little more free.

China changed me.

2010-12-26T17:50:00.000-08:00

In July, I went to China to teach English. I was told over and over again that learning English would change these students' lives, but in retrospect, my students changed me. I could never sum up my experience in a paragraph; in fact, not even a hundred novels. But I will say this. At the beginning of the year I was searching for a new beginning, a new outlook on life, and a new adventure. Not only did teaching in China provide all of these things, but it also changed the way I thought of about love. It changed the way I thought about the world. It changed the way I thought about myself. I fell in love in China. I fell in love with people, with life, and with God, all over again. It opened my eyes to other worldviews, poverty, and the struggles of cross-culture ministry. It opened my eyes to true uncertainty, adventure, and happiness. It was the thrill of my life. Some of the must stretching, heart-aching, awful, and wonderful times happened in Beijing, China this past summer, and I will never forget it. The influence of my students, and the other wonderful teachers I worked alongside will stay with me forever. Thanks China, I'll be back soon.

Listen; there's a hell of a good universe
next door: let's go.
e. e. cummings

spit in the mud... oh, my heart.

2010-12-26T16:22:00.000-08:00

March 2010, a grand idea was born. After asking poetic maestros Nathan McWherter & Danny Sugimoto to lend their skills to perform a three-in-one spit skit for a class of mine, J.J. Peterson asked us to perform the piece at an event at our college, Hope International University. Practicing and performing alongside two visionary artists was such a rush, and I pursued them to join me in being a part of a spoken word team. Though common in the secular arena, spoken word teams have been unheard of in the Christian circuit. That is, until now.

After our first performance of "We Will Be Different" in April 2010, Spit in the Mud was officially found. Since then we have gone on to perform at youth groups, churches, and events throughout Orange County. Coming up these next couple of months we have a handful of other church events, schools, as well as camps lined up, some outside of California. We are thrilled to partner together in spoken word ministry, and are excited for all the next few months have in store for us. What began as merely three friends seeking to combine artistic and evangelistic ambitions together has quickly become the experience of a lifetime.

It is my heart's desire to bridge the gap between culture and church, to expose artistic outlets to teens and young adults, and to inspire, motivate, and encourage the broken, the dormant, and the searching. Through Spit in the Mud, Nathan, Danny, and I, are able to expand each of our individual ministries, as well as create an entirely new one together.

Check us out at SpitInTheMud.com. We have a lot of fun.

these boots have taken me places.

2010-12-26T15:52:00.000-08:00

i sometimes laugh at how caught up i get in things. it's been a year since i last visited this blog, but after a persistent woman at the Ugly Mug Cafe in Orange, California convinced me of it's importance, i've decided to start blogging all things pertaining to my poetry... or at least try. those who know me well know i like to keep personal things, personal, but as a slam poet i certainly walk a fine line. this blog will be a nice space for me to log my adventures with my poetry, as this journey has proven to be wonderful & unpredictable, & many times seems to have a mind of its own. certainly, this year has swept me off my feet, and taken me places i'd never dreamed. it will take me time to update on the important adventures of this year, but i hope to highlight some of the most memorable times and memorable people. perhaps, this year would not have been the same had it not been for my vintage boots.

i wrote a piece in november 09 called Vintage Boots. what started as a freestyle that i shared with two friends quickly became the one piece i'd perform more times than i can currently count. i performed it at one venue in anaheim, then got invited to perform it in beverly hills, then pomona, and then, well... the rest is history. this piece brought me back into the poetry world i had once loved so deeply, with a passion only known by fellow artistic souls. it has helped me meet & spit alongside some of the most amazing spoken word artist of our time, and has brought me back home to my passions for performing slam poetry. it's not my best piece, by far, but i owe it's themes of hope, commitment, and love the success of my 2010. not just my success in my pursuit of poetry, but also my success in believing in myself, and surrounding myself with other fellow visionaries.

what began as a message to my daughter has a become a message about myself, one i am proud to pass down to her, and generations to come.

so, thanks, boots. let's keep going.

beauty

2010-01-19T09:12:00.000-08:00

"now is the moment
where time is not allowed
this life may change tomorrow
so i want to hold on to the beauty of now."
-ben glover

all axieties abandoned
fear, a childhood memory
the future i'm certain will be splendid...
when i get there.

i'm captivated by the beauty of now
swept off my feet by this moment alone
life is limitless
and love is endless

i'm glad to be alive right now.

good luck.

2010-01-11T18:51:00.001-08:00

went to chinese with a friend, & got this fortune in a cookie.

i'll take it, thank you.

have a nice day.

Limitless

2010-01-07T07:41:00.000-08:00

I feel limitless..

when i returned from Chicago my mom told me this story. she said that although i didn't know, when i walked into the airport and went through customs, she waited outside the sliding glass doors and watched. she said she was starting to realize, this was how life would soon be... her supporting me, but having to let go of me, and me traveling all over the country, all over the world. she said it made her cry. as she told me this, i couldn't help but shed a few tears myself. she was right.

chicago was the time of my life, but more than that, it was yet another step in an inevitable direction for me. i've always looked forward to the day where i'd travel by myself, explore, learn, and experience. and with everything thats held me back out of my way, the world is mine for the taking.

I've waited my whole life to feel this alive..

this newfound happiness is overwhelming, but this joyous suffication is what's finally allowing me breath. all i see ahead of me is miles and miles of possibilites, and what i feel inside of me is the stillness of peace yet the movement of my feet... i'm going places. places i've never thought possible. & i'm feeling things. emotions i never thought were in my reach.

Oh to be alive!

I'm no longer afriad to feel this way..

WIDE AWAKE.

2009-12-30T23:31:00.000-08:00

"Without new experiences, something inside us sleeps.
The sleeper must awaken."
- Frank Herbert.

i read this quote in the middle of this semester & its one im carrying on with me into the new year. perhaps some of us have become comfortable in our sleeping, predictable lives, quite content with the same stories, same people, & same experiences. but there's a big world out there, & it's ours for the taking. don't sleep through a chance to feel alive.

this year, let's wake up.

friends, happy new years.

a new life together

2009-12-29T23:50:00.000-08:00

shot wedding portraits of my beautiful sister Candace & my new brother-in-law Adonis. taken in november at the palace of fine arts & baker beach. enjoy :)

thanks for the memories, 2009.

2009-12-29T08:41:00.000-08:00

"Another turning point, a fork stuck in the road.
Time grabs you by the wrist, directs you where to go.
So make the best of this test and don't ask why.
It's not a question but a lesson learned in time...

It's something unpredictable
but in the end it's right.
I hope you had the time of your life."

Thanks for the memories, 2009.
Surely you were unpredictable, but still somehow, the time of our lives.

Here's to letting go, moving forward, growing up, but never growing old.

Cheers!

due to Love

2009-12-25T20:40:00.000-08:00

“Here’s the thing about love, I don’t know a thing about love…”

These are the opening lines to a spoken word I wrote for an event about a month ago titled, “The Thing About Love." Initially when I was asked to write for this event, I struggled with it. In fact, I struggled with it for over a month and didn’t even write the piece until the week of the event. Who was I to speak about love? Out of all people, I felt like I was the least inclined to feel anything about love. A reoccurring phrase in the piece stated, “You tell me what I’m suppose to dream of, when I’ve experienced things such as these when it comes to this thing called love.” Having been deceived by loved, led on by love, left by loved, and having seen the death of love, I had no idea how to feel about love.

Fortunately, the winds of change blew through my life that week. And as time has gone on, Love itself has changed for me. At a point I was very cynical about love, feeling like I had given so much and still true love was out of my reach. But the quest for Love is a constant reaching, everyday. And there is a Love to be grasped; I was just reaching for the wrong one.

There is so much love in the world. For most of my life I’ve focused on one. Whether it be that one love from my father, or that one from a boyfriend, or from another boyfriend, or another boyfriend, there’s always been one. This love would define how I felt about love and what I believed about love. But when these loves would reject me or would suddenly leave me, love stopped making sense. This year, God has opened my eyes to the reality of the vastness of love. It’s not just in one person, but it’s in many people. It’s not just in one way, but it’s demonstrated in multitudes. And they’re all a little broken and they’re all imperfect, but they’re beautiful. Oh they are beautiful. And up until this year I have been blinded to the wonders of the intensity of love. I once wrote in a piece titled “Standing Still” that said, “It’s amazing to me, the things you can’t see, when your eyes are looking too hard.” This also portrays a little about what I feel about love. It’s amazing all the love we miss around us when we’re so focused on getting it from one specific place. I’m so glad I’m no longer missing it.

The spoken word I wrote for this event went through my journey with love; my optimism, my ignorance, and my cynicism. In the end, it ended with some realism. This is the reality…

“Here’s the thing about love
He’s all I need when it comes to love
And if you ask me what I feel about love
I’d say I can only still feel because of love
I am standing here only cause of love
I’m alive and well due to love
And the same God that’s given me His love
Is alive and waiting for you to love…

& I don’t know how to love
But still Somebody loves me
I don’t know how to really feel about love
But still Somebody really feels love for me….”

The love of God is different from every love we’ve ever experienced. It doesn’t hurt us, it doesn’t leave us, and it doesn’t give up on us. Instead it heals us, it runs to us, and screams to us how valuable we are. The love of God is all we need. & when we realize that, & truly know that through & through, we’ll see His love manifested through the cracks & creases of our brokenness, as well as through new, marvelous, unexpected things that are just waiting to take place in our lives. Truly, we are utterly surrounded by Love.

It’s amazing how someone can love so much, but not know a thing about love until now.

Let’s love.
We’re loved.

wonderful.

2009-12-16T19:37:00.000-08:00

aromas of cinnamon candles fill the air, the taste of hot cocoa tingle my taste-buds, and the sound of christmas tunes echo off my living room walls... it's the most wonderful time of the year! i spent the evening decorating my house with my little brother, "rockin around the christmas tree," and finding obscure places to put a baby Jesus. i'm not sure what this Christmas season will mean for my family and i. this is only our second Christmas without our dad, and tonight i think it started to hit us a little. we often hear that the holiday season is the season of hope, miracles, love, & about giving and recieving or something else prestigious like that. for some reason, during the month of december, we're suppose to have this new found hope in the world, people, and ourselves. there's such a hype. we wrap up our love and our hope in this hype, tie it up, and seal it with a big red bow. for many, Christmas means something really powerful and life-changing to them. but i dont know. for some, maybe it's much simpler than all that. maybe, just maybe, Christmas time is just about being home, singing silly songs about reindeer with your little brother.

it's a pretty wonderful time.

the rug has been cut.

2009-11-23T00:20:00.000-08:00

Cut the Rug for Cancer was SUCH A SUCCESS! Wow, i'm still in awe! we raised over $200 to go towards the City Hope Cancer Research Hospital, and we had such an amazing turnout, even we were shocked! every little bit really does count, even though we may never realize it. people had cancer victims' names on their arms and even wrote their name on the "in memory of/in hopes for" wall so we could keep those families in our thoughts. LA's Dj Kick Mix was there, we sold tons of awareness bracelets, had food and drinks, and the danceparty was unreal! kylie did such a fantastic job! thank you to all who came, showed support, and cut the rug with us! athletes & hopites alike! "that's what happens when you BRIDGE THE GAP!"

let's never stop making a difference!

"every hill a novel, every home a poem..."

2009-11-21T22:32:00.001-08:00

"San Francisco itself is art, above all literary art. Every block is a short story, every hill a novel. Every home a poem, every dweller within immortal. That is the whole truth." - William Saroyan

tonight was my second night back in the city. after attending my highschool's annual talent show (amazing by the way), i took a drive around the city, & found myself on top of a hill overlooking the most beautiful sight in the world. there was no fog, the city lights were brilliant, and the air was chilly, clear, and wonderful. it was like falling in love for the first time. being home just does something to me. its emotional. its physical. its spiritual. things that used to matter, just dont. here in this city, anything can happen. theres no place like home... if your home is san francisco.

piano keys, epiphanies.

2009-10-09T08:12:00.000-07:00

a close friend of mine & i had a piano jam sess the other day, & showed each other some recent songs we've written. one of her lines i cant get out of my head..

"this is my lot. this is what You've given me.
this is my life. i will not ask for another one."

wouldn't it be amazing if each one of us, the whole world, could look back at each circumstance in our past, and every hardship in our present, and think about our lives and say to ourselves, "i will not ask for another one." wouldn't that be powerful? what will it take for us to get there? i'm not sure what it'll take for me. some days i'm weaker than others, and i find myself blaming God for how some things have turned out. but in the end, this is it. this is my life. for some reason, whatever it may be, i've been given all this. and if my hope & trust is in the Lord, i won't ask for another way; i will not ask for different outcomes. and if there were the chance to trade it all in, not only would i have to give up the hard things but i'd have to forfeit the blessings too, the wonderful people in my life, and all the incredible oppertunities and circumstances that have come from each and every up & down. & i don't know if it'd be worth it. there's alot i wouldn't want to give up.... this is my lot. this is mine.

& in the end, maybe there's something beautiful
in not being in control...

sabrina's new room :]

2009-09-25T13:37:00.001-07:00

as most of you know, my cousin sabrina has leukemia, and currently in the hospital going through chemo, and waiting to get a bone marrow transplant. recently though, she was blessed by the Make A Wish Foundation, that redid her room to create an "Asian/Mulan" feel, and she absolutely loved it! she was able to come home for a weekend to be with family & enjoy her new room. The Make A Wish Foundation is an amazing program that has blessed and "granted wishes" to children and teens with life threatening diseases for almost 30 years. Here are some pictures of what they did to sabrina's room...

please keep sabrina & the family in your thoughts & prayers

audrey speaks

2009-08-27T17:21:00.000-07:00

"For Attractive lips, speak words of kindness, For lovely eyes, seek out the good in people, For a slim figure, share your food with the hungry, For Beautiful hair, let a child run their fingers through it once a day, For poise, walk with the knowledge that you never walk alone. People, more than things, have to be restored, renewed, revived, reclaimed, and redeemed. Remember, if you ever need a helping hand, you will find one at the end of each of your arms. As you grow older, you will discover that you have two hands, one for helping yourself and the other for helping others." - Audrey Hepburn

... i'd have breakfast with her anyday.