....And Do The Harlem Shake

I will dance to just about anything, and just about anywhere.  This is likely no surprise to those that personally know me.

I was the "inventor" of dance parades and dance parties at my hospital.  The main focus of the project was to get patients out of bed, to have fun in a hospital setting, and to see their doctors, social workers and nurses boogie.  I won a nation wide award recognizing my care for my patients, and the entire unit threw me a dance party to celebrate!  The dance parties have become known hospital wide, and it even made it onto the local news (I'm still working to get on Ellen!).  I am not claiming to be a good dancer, I dance to have fun. 

The more absurd the dance, the more I gravitate to LOVING it.

For example, remember that time I did the Gangnam Style (horribly) in the middle of a park in St Louis?  In case you may have blocked the images from your brain, let me refresh your memory....


Then the Harlem Shake came along, and it was even more ridiculous, and more approving of my horrendous dance moves.  It was a dance that encouraged outrageous and discombobulated movements to form a successful dance.  Wikipedia has an entire HISTORY behind the Harlem Shake (...and I don't know about you, but Wikipedia is most definitely a reliable source in my book...like ALWAYS). 

After watching what seemed like 873 versions of the Harlem Shake I decided that I needed to do it.

We had some time to kill in Abu Simbel, Egypt, and with a laptop in hand, I somehow managed to get my guide to log onto You Tube to watch the Harlem Shake.  He became obsessed.  We both looked at each other, and then looked around to find our future Harlem Shake victims.  Muhahahahaha.  Victory is mine!

My group was not difficult to persuade, partly because we were all nuts that were void of any ounce of attention growing up, and now we were seeking attention from anyone and everyone.

I mean, just look at us.....


Our first Harlem Shake attempt was on the Nile River on top of our support boat.  The "support" boat had the least supportive side rails ever created.  The side rails would probably fail to protect a gnome from being pushed overboard.  Somehow during the dance I found myself surrounded by three sweaty, shirtless men bouncing in every direction. It almost sounds like the beginning of a kinky porn flick, but think more horror flick.   I started screaming "DON'T PUSH ME GUYS!!!!!!!"

Thankfully I didn't get pushed into the Nile, but I'm sure that would have made for a good video.

Our second Harlem Shake was while we were heaps drunk at our resort on the Red Sea.  We had been to Cairo the day before and practically cleared out an entire bottle shop! We had two days to drink our entire alcohol stash before leaving on a boat to Jordan.  Our livers were aaaaangry with us those two days.

Because we were beyond intoxicated, we were a little off on the timing of our Harlem Shake.  None of us were even remotely sober enough to even recognize.  Oh and yes, I call the guy humping the pillow, and subsequently beating it up, my friend.

It was ridiculous.  It was fun, and it made some great memories with new friends.

How many of you guys can say you did the Harlem Shake on the Nile River?  How many of you probably would never want to (admittedly) say you have? 

Date Accomplished:  March 24th, 2013

Practice Tai Chi

Dancers in Chengdu

Going to a park or large public space early in the morning to practice Tai Chi is all the rage in China.

Tai Chi is a style of Chinese Martial Arts, however, Tai Chi has completely modernized in China and has become more like Tai Chi aerobics!

The best way to explain it to you is to actually SHOW you.....


During an early morning in Xi'an, just before heading off to see the Terracotta Warriors, a few of us bundled up in some of our warmest clothes to practice Tai Chi with the locals. Our guide told us that the locals love to share their love of Tai Chi with foreigners, and would likely welcome us with open arms. She was right. The lady in the purple jacket in the video was so welcoming and cheered us on as we tried to learn the steps.

I felt like I was doing the Chinese version of the Cupid Shuffle and Electric Slide. For me, that's not such a bad thing since I am the first one up on the dance floor when these songs play at weddings.  As you can clearly see from the smile on my face, I had a fantastic time!

As you can imagine, a group of foreigners dancing Tai Chi creates a big wave of attention, and in a matter of minutes our once small group transformed into a flash mob worthy dance crew.

We did encounter one man practicing more traditional Tai Chi and decided to join him for a few minutes just so we could experience both popular forms.

I also just realized it has been almost a year since I left for my trip to China, and I have barely scratched the surface of all the amazing things I did while I was there!  When you write a life list blog, you know you are doing life right when you have so much to write about!

Date Accomplished:  March 11th, 2012

Go To The Ballet

Technically I went to the ballet 10 years ago, but I have very little recollection of the event.  All I could remember was the long line to the bathroom during intermission, and that I was so exhausted after just finishing another set of finals.  So I kinda don't even count it.  I am such a cotton-headed ninnymoggins sometimes!

When Groupon offered $25 seats to The Nutcracker I was smitten, here was my opportunity to go to the ballet, and hopefully to remember the experience this time.  I snatched two tickets so that I could also take my mom to her first ballet.

 
The Nutcracker is a ballet that started in 1892 that includes a famous score by Tchaikovsky.  It is performed by hundreds of ballet companies all over the world during the Christmas season. 

Prior to the show we grabbed some lunch and arrived to the San Diego Civic Theater 45 minutes early.  It allowed us some time to walk around, and take photos....including one with a nutcracker....

SON of a NUTCRACKER...he's GINORMOUS!!

This nutcracker is not alive.....yet.

The Nutcracker is divided into two acts.

In Act I you meet Clara, a little girl who's family throws a Christmas Party.  During the party she is given a Nutcracker that her brother breaks.  Heartbroken, she falls asleep, and wakes up to find that the nutcracker is alive and life size.

A war ensues between an army of soldiers and a group of rowdy mice.  Both Clara and the Nutcracker retreat into a forrest, and the nutcracker is transformed into a prince.  The most famous song of this act is titled March.  If you have ever seen ELF, it is the song that is playing when he decorates the store for "Santa's" arrival.  Yep, I admit it, I love Elf!

 Intermission time! 

Personally, Act II was the better of the two acts.  During Act II, Clara and the Prince travel to the Land of the Sweets.  She is welcomed by a variety of dances performed by the lovely people of the land.  The music during Act II was amazing, look it up on iTunes and I guarantee you will recognize most of them.  My favorites were  Trepak (Russian Dance), Dance of the Reed Pipes, Waltz of the Flowers, and Dance of the Sugar Plum Fairy.

The music alone would make me go again! 

I think this time I will remember the experience.  ;)

Since I'm in the Christmas spirit, I just want to wish everyone a Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays!  I hope Santa gives you everything you wanted, plus more!

My visit with Santa this year (Psst...also one of the best doctors ever!  Watch out Patch Adams!)

"I'M SINGING....I'M IN A STORE....AND I'M SINGING."

The best way to spread Christmas Cheer, is singing loud for all to hear.

Date Accomplished:  December 23rd, 2012

Take Dance Lessons

The Class.  Our instructor is on the right.

I will be the first to admit that I have two left feet.  I've always wanted to take part in some sort of dance class.  So when the owner of my bed and breakfast suggested I take a Tango Class I knew I had to do it, afterall Buenos Aires is home to the Tango.  I took a taxi and was dropped off at Complejo Tango, and I sat patiently waiting as other students came in for the one hour class.

Some of the students in my class dancing. This is when we started dancing with our partners. It got only more complicated...

We were brought into a dance studio, and we were split up by sex.  We each learned our moves, and after we got those moves down, then we danced together.  The ratio between male and female was a bit one sided, so the women had to patiently wait to get to dance with the men.

 Me with my certificate of completion

It was HARD, and it didn't take long to learn that I lacked major coordination!  I would like to announce that I will forever be retiring from Tango, solely for the sake of every person that would have to witness me attempting it. 

Date Accomplished:  October 24th, 2009