I just post about whatever I want on this lovely blog! My writing on here spans from providing useful advice to writing poetry, freestyle writing, or anything else my heart desires! I am a musician, lyricist, poet, and technical writer! Music, writing, and IT are my life! I also love cooking and enjoying a healthy lifestyle! I write from the heart!
Friday, December 25, 2015
The Tallest Candle on the Tree
Thursday, December 24, 2015
Never Ever Give Up Pride
Tuesday, December 22, 2015
Mom's Easy Recipes
Toffee Cookies
1 cup butter
1 cup brown sugar
1 egg yolk
2 c(ups) sifted flour
1 tsp vanilla
4 hershey bars (king sized)
1 bag chopped nuts
Cream butter and add sugar. Add beaten egg yolks and mix thoroughly. Add flour, beating well. Add the vanilla and then spread the batter onto a greased cookie sheet. Heat the oven to 350 degrees and once heated, put the cookie sheet in the oven for 25 minutes. Once ready, put the chocolate on top of the hot cookie and spread it around the cookie to melt it. Then sprinkle the nuts on top and cut cookies into whatever size you want
Green Bean Casserole
2 9oz packages of frozen cut green beans, thawed and drained (OR 2cans (16oz each) cut green beans, drained
3/4 cup milk
1 can (10 3/4 oz) condensed cream of mushroom soup (Campbell’s brand)
1/8 teaspoon (Durkee brand) Ground Black Pepper
1 can (2.8 oz) (Durkee brand) French Fried Onions
In a medium bowl, combine beans, milk, soup, pepper, and 1/2 can french fried onions, pour into a 1 1/2 quart baking dish. Bake, uncovered at 350 degrees Fahrenheit for 30min or until heated through. Then top with remaining onions, bake uncovered for 5 minutes (or until onions are golden brown). Makes 6 servings
Rice Pilaf
1 stick butter
2 bag extra fine egg noodles (Manishevitz brand)
1 cup minute rice (Uncle Ben’s brand -- maybe -- a red box) optional
2 cans of 98% fat free chicken broth (cottage inn or Jewel/generic brand)
1-2 chicken flavored bullions (bullion cubes)
1/4 cup water
On the side, boil the water and the bullion cubes. In a large pan, put the butter in it to melt it. Cook the egg noodles until browned in the pan. Add the cup of (dry) minute rice over the noodles. Carefully dump in the chicken broth. Simmer everything (on 10watts or low setting) in the covered pan for 20-25min. Then, dump the bullion water on top and recover and continue to cook (the same way) for 20-25 more minutes
Monday, December 21, 2015
Sail at the Shooting Star
I wonder why I haven’t reached the peak yet…
But I want more, even if it means losing my sanity a little.
As I travel merrily on my way to nowhere.
Is there really a yellow brick road this movie speaks of, to lead me to the land of destiny?
The place where I pave my own path,
Acknowledge my accidents,
And move forward frequently?
I had to navigate the stormy skies alone,
Thinking there’s no finish line,
While still sailing away.
And each match lost with no damper in my spirits.
I will never accept a knockout,
Even if every ounce of me is broken.
The warrior’s spirit tells me not to be like Violet,
Otherwise I’ll turn into a giant exploding blueberry sentenced back to start.
My guru tells me if I wait for the shooting star, I'll be able to snap the right photo!
Just keep plugging away
Because when resilience wins,
You win!
Wednesday, December 16, 2015
Tuesday, December 15, 2015
Rebecca Duxler Auditions for Wheel of Fortune Again 2015
Two and a half years, negative 60 pounds, and a polished lyric poem later, here's video #2! Enjoy :)
Maron's Gloving, Orbiting, and Light/Finger Show Videos
Bassnectar 2017
Spontaneous One Take Fingershow
Electroswing Friend Like Me Remix Dance
Free Fingershow Flow Gets Ruined By Commercial
Deadmau5 Dance
Twenty One Pilots
The Floozies Fingershow
Random EDM Mix Finger Show
All I Need Glove Dance
Odesza Finger Show
Deadmau5 Glove Dance
Sun Models Odesza Dance
Haywyre Flow Show
N*Sync Fingershow Part 2
N*Sync Fingershow Part 1
Unboxing Chroma Ctrl Gloves
Hydrocity Zone Act 1
Hydrocity Zone Act 2 Remix Glove Dance
Bassnectar Finger Show
Electroswing I Wanna Be Like You Dance
Christina Grimmie Glove Dance
Another Random Finger Show
Muse Finger Show
Taylor Swift a la Trap
Trying to be the Next WCIU Star
Some Trap Music
Random Finger Show
Paramore With Gloves on Hands/Feet Plus Epic Poem
Finger Show to the Car Radio
Muse (with singing)
Three Days Grace/Apocalyptica
Paramore (with singing)
Periphery
Crossfade
Tank (Cowboy Bebop)
Odesza
Skrillex
Halsey
Science Fiction a la Bassnectar
Maron Orbits To:
Miley Cyrus
Ghastly
Big Girls Cry
Demi Lovato
Odesza Again
Bassnectar
Odesza
Chillstep Mix
8Bit Electro Remix
Blue Remix
The Floozies Flow
The Paracosm (Bassnectar)
Electroswing Friend Like Me
Twenty One Pilots Sans Lights
Some Trap Music Part 2
Some Trap Music
Being in Freestyle Land
Maron Glorbits To:
Haywyre (Live Performance)
Mija
Super Mario Bros. Dubstep Remix
Super Mario Bros. 2 Overworld Remix
Close Range Video to Pompeii Remix
Excision
Korn N Skrillex
Odesza Remix
Jason Derulo
Nujabes
Ill.Gates Part 2
Ill.Gates Part 1
Also Being in Freestyle Land
Thursday, December 10, 2015
Winning Badassery's Emblem
=======================================================================
It was the week before my black belt test and I sat isolated at my grey, windowless cubicle each day quivering with anxiety about whether or not I'll pass. My roommates were cheering for me, all of my friends were cheering for me, and everyone in my karate classes were cheering for me. I had to make sure I cheered for myself, too!
I had been waiting to test for my black belt since the day after September 11, 2001, and the day has finally come. I needed to make sure I was in the proper mindset for the test. On the last class before the exam, since in my classes on Thursday nights, we do a “formal bowing ceremony” prior to starting the class called “sei-za”; there’s a meditation portion within this bowing sequence and the instructor decided to emphasize it in class. While meditating, it occurred to me to work from home the next day in order to prevent myself from staring blankly at my computer having thoughts saturating in my head of anything regarding the karate exam. I sought spiritual guidance and direction from a trip to a sensory deprivation tank. When I arrived at the tank, I stripped my clothes off, lied in the neutral bath of Epsom salt water, and opened my arms to take in the world’s positive energy. When you’re in the tank, you feel like you’re having dreams when you’re not actually in “sleep mode”; instead, you’re in more of an induced meditative state. One of the dreams I had was passing my karate exam and becoming super emotional. Once the hour of the float elapsed, my energy was restored; I was forsure ready for my exam and worthy of earning my black belt.
December 5, 2015 quickly approached. I spent all day at home relaxing, practicing a little, refreshing my memory on Japanese terminology, picking up my gi, and picking up one of my roommates from work thanks to him being oh so kind enough to watch my exam. When I arrived at the testing venue, I frantically applied my essential oils for mental balance, chugged water, and waited to be placed in line to test. I was of course the oldest one in my testing session, but that’s because being a 20 something isn’t a very popular demographic in my karate club. While I was waiting for my name to be called, since there were less people than usual in my testing group, I was to either test in front of the dojo owner or test for the most senior instructor who I tested in front of when I tested poorly prior to taking a 5.5 year karate hiatus at the end of my junior year in high school. Testing for the senior instructor would be my redemption to show him how much I’ve grown in the 7+ years since the last time I saw him. When my name was called, it was no surprise to I’d have to test in front of the senior instructor.
It was time to kick some ass and take some names. I took a deep breath and waited in my ready stance for the test to start. “Downward block assume!” was called. The fire was lit. As we were doing warm up punches and kicks down the floor, of course my contact decided to almost fall out; doing front kicks forward and backward down the floor while having one functioning eye felt like a half blind man trying not to bump into walls. My contact eventually popped back in. “Inward block reverse punch”; “Downward block reverse punch”; “Knife hand block”; “Front kick, spear hand thrust”. I was desperate for water and gasping for air. It also felt weird when the judges were staring at my loud breathing, but I’d rather be breathing loud than not show any fighting spirit. My “kiai” spirit yells were louder than the sound of hearing a firetruck siren from your house. Once the basics portion of the test was done, it was time to do our katas. Before beginning the kata, you announce the name of what you're performing; “Bai Sai Dai”, channeled from my heart through my mouth. The executed kata was successful. Next, it was time for the colored belt katas. Thankfully, we had to do these katas for the tournaments; I completely spaced on having to do those katas for the first degree brown belt going on black belt test… oops! “Heian Godan” gets called and it went very well too of course. After katas were performed, it was time for target tests, to see if we could punch a target and escape in time and kick a target. I hit the focus mitt with as much drive as I could with plenty of accuracy. Once the target tests were over, we were asked Japanese terms and needed to execute the move corresponding to the Japanese term called out. “Kosa Dachi”; “Shuto Uke”; “Mawashi Geri”. All of those were called out correctly. We were then asked how many classes we attended, if we went to any tournaments, and if we went to the kickathon service event fundraiser to raise money for charities involving helping sick children. For the final portion of the test, it was time to do one point sparring, meaning each person goes to the front of the line and does a block/counter technique to the person throwing the attack. When it came my turn, I was luckily presented with opportunities to catch people’s round kicks, spin them around, and followup with a punch. By the time the test was over, my legs were ready to collapse faster than an olympic sprinter who just won first place.
The day after the exam, I performed my testing kata one last time for an audience in a Chicago all women’s variety show called “Beast Women Rising”. Feedback from my karate was thankfully very positive. One long day of work while anxiously awaiting my results elapsed, and it was time to receive my results. I arrived at my class, and it was announced in front of everyone I had earned my black belt. I pictured myself in my dreams crying my eyes out in the middle of class, but instead, I wasn't surprised. Since I went into the exam feeling confident and telling myself I’m worthy of earning my black belt, the results were returned as expected. Victory is mine and I am now worthy of the official title of badassery!
Tuesday, December 8, 2015
Black Belt Status
Sunday, December 6, 2015
Check Out DJ Event Solutions!
Contact jakeneildfb@gmail.com for bookings and be sure to like our facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/djeventsolutions
Thursday, December 3, 2015
The Positivity Garden Exercise of Reflection: Seeing the Stars
This ended up happening thanks to my recent serious endeavors to give my past the finger and walk away... mainly towards poor relationships (with men), being treated poorly period, my toxic relationships with my blood family, and my professional non successes.
The Positivity Garden Exercise of Reflection: Seeing the Stars - take a few minutes to write down on a piece of paper what you are... in the same way SpongeBob writes his "what I learned in boating school is" essay. I am _________ - thanks to my super awesome friend Daniel Whited for the idea :) Because in the end, you are worth it!
#inspiration #motivation #success #optimism #positivity #exercise #positivitygarden #mindsight #believe.
Tuesday, November 24, 2015
Find Treasure in the Red Zone 2015
On the streets, I am not a black belt, contact sport artist, or badass;
I am a small, vulnerable little girl, hungry for life’s adventures.
How would I end up in the red zone more than the green?
While I bury my baggage under my bed for me to know and no one to ever find out;
It digs a pit into my heart of which I am trying to fill with love.
But I am a strong warrior princess who must feign being fine.
Why would attempts at kindness from men turn into my body acting like the fire alarm is going off?
I need to turn into an animal to make sure you don’t turn on me.
I wear a smile every day
While turning the red into inspirational quotes drawn on post it notes
To prevent myself from ending up needing to curl into a fetal position.
How childlike you make me feel.
I can’t have a positive connection with my woman creator;
As a result fear my own gender while befriending men who think wanting to “chill” has a further assumed meaning than watching TV and talking.
Who’s scared to death of her first kiss,
Because being violated so many times
Makes me see affectionate touch is a warzone instead of a safe haven.
In the same way you reset a video game when you’re about to get a game over
So you don’t lose your progress when you’re about to beat the game.
I want to feel pure again, unharmed like a healthy newborn baby,
Releasing the balloons and walking towards the rainbow.
After finding music at a big dance concert at the Aragon to spread the sands of love
And hearing the resilient saxophone player roaring at 4am at the Green Mill to drunk people,
I have come to realize love is right in front of me;
I don’t have to search extra to find it unless I want to end up in shady town each time.
It has helped me channel the warrior’s strength to make my baggage feel like a 5lb weight being carried with one finger.
I’d realize being in the red doesn’t mean game over;
It means I’m experiencing life fully and learning a lesson.
As I have been on more roller coasters and in more states in the last five months than I’ve been in my entire life.
Red is the universal color for love;
I just need to know it’s in my heart and in the stars the entire time.
I will look in mirror to confidently say “I love me and am worthy of love”!
For that, I shall be thankful!
Friday, November 13, 2015
Black Friday the 13th: Breathe in the Sun
Walking down the Chicago South Loop sidewalks
As the blistering wind sucks my face dry of warmth,
I look at the sky, seeing the sun has still risen.
Imagine being stuck in a hospital bed indefinitely,
Struggling at lifting your head while constantly being shuttled around with by screaming sirens all the time;
Instead of telling everyone about your life story
About the mom or hard worker or amazing chef you are,
You’re telling them about the list of illnesses you have.
Like those people who get beaten to the ground by cops
Just for blowing a red light
And not being the color of society.
It seems like anything other than plain white
Is always scrutinized,
And I sometimes think I’m unlucky.
I tried buying concert tickets for my favorite band,
Failed for the fourth time in a row, and ended up paying 3x the price to not wait several more years.
I should be thankful I could even afford this astounding experience.
I haven’t completely figured out what I want to do for the rest of my life,
But meanwhile, I’m still trying to fully comprehend what “adulting” is,
Because college never taught me about not making my wallet cry or about cheap, healthy gourmet 101.
Buzzing with a zoo of love, 2 kitties, 2 ferrets, and 2 of the only people I can hand my sand grains of trust to.
I’m in a safe space with my biggest issues being what I want to do for my career,
But some people can’t even find a place to sleep at night.
Which means holiday season is near.
Not everyone has a family or a place to go for Thanksgiving;
Some people even have to work,
Or be forever away being real life superheroes overseas in a war zone.
But here we are,
Painting humanity with hate,
Using toys as weapons instead of play,
And spending time complaining about lame Starbucks cup designs,
When we could be figuring out a way to fight veteran homelessness on Veteran’s day.
Why do we spend our time complaining instead of taking action?
Why would people commit themselves to destroying what is divine while promoting the art of dying?
Some people are pinned to the confines of outside or cement boxes;
In another world, my dear friend and I can walk around the Lincoln Park Zoo at 5am seeing stars through human pollution.
The hydrogen and oxygen fill my lungs with bliss
While the sun radiates its love.
Make sure to give yourself a well-deserved break after your adventures,
Because floating free of senses will enable you to holistically thank nature for its smiling skies!
But for now, let’s just be thankful and consider ourselves lucky for this beautiful life!
Thursday, November 12, 2015
Post It Graphics
How do you decorate your post it notes? Use the hash tag on social media #postitgraphics to show the world! Peace, love, and smiley faces! :)