Friday, December 25, 2015

The Tallest Candle on the Tree

And today for my Christmas poetry musings, here's my newest work, "The Tallest Candle on the Tree" - I speak from the unconventional Christmas views and experiences of not really having a blood family to want to talk to, my roommates are with family, my sister is with her boyfriend, I'm off work, etc. Instead of dwelling about being alone on Christmas, I decided to use it as a day to celebrate myself instead (I never grew up celebrating Xmas either). So Merry Holidaymas to everyone and with that, my poem is below!


It’s Christmas! 
When I woke up in the morning, 
There were no bells singing,
Reindeers running through my apartment,
Or Santa answering to milk and cookies at my doorstep.

Everyone’s either with family or their partner.
Love is in the air,
As we all want to catch a stare at this holy point in the year.
Here I sit on my big blue comfy couch,
With my laptop blocking the view of the holiday bush in my apartment,
Writing this poem in the same solitude I see from 9-5 in my grey box with no windows.

Oh how I yearn to have a clan to spend the holidays with,
Dress up nice,
And share a victory feast with.

Only this year is different than other years.
If fifteen was my lucky number,
Why would I be alone on Christmas?

Only this year is different than all other years.
It’s a common cliche only until it’s actually true!
Because this year, the Shamash candle, the central and highest-standing candle in a Menorah, has been lit every day for all of December
To signify the creation of a new beginning and newly found sense of self worth.
The Shamash candle also acts the keeper for the core central flame gathered when I visited my other star warriors, aka my second family.

Instead of feeling the need to celebrate with others all the time,
How about taking this day to celebrate myself on the only day of the year I’m not tied down to 8000 commitments or people because everything is either closed or canceled.
Or how about telling myself, “hey, you’ve worked your ass off for the past 350 something days and your roommates are gone for a few hours, go relax and have some me time because you’ve definitely done way more than enough to deserve it!”

People should take more days to honor themselves
And appreciate each day spent on earth,
Not in a hospital bed.
I don’t need some day in the calendar dictating when I’m supposed to see my loved ones just because I never grew up celebrating Christmas, I dumped a boyfriend for being a douchenwaffle and value my dignity and finding myself over being in a relationship, and these communities I have become a part of in my adult life are more my family than my blood family;
It’s better to be surrounded by your own warmth and knowing you’re loved than to be in an environment clouded by toxicity!
That way, you can realize the only way to see the light on the tree is to take your laptop off your lap!

If fifteen is my lucky number,
I can surely name 15 people I’ve helped this year and 15 things I’ve accomplished this year!
Here’s to everyone being happy and healthy on this extra warm holidaymas!

Thursday, December 24, 2015

Never Ever Give Up Pride

I have a bunch of song lyrics I wrote within the past few years (not too many new ones currently), and this is one of them. I generally write songs for metal music. All words enclosed in caps, **, and !!!!! mean the word is meant to be emphasized and screamed. Enjoy the more harsh side of me!

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Dear God,
Please hurry up!
Just make this world a better place to live in.
Open your eyes and see what people are suffering through!
This pit of pain needs to go away!

Is change as difficult as it seems?
While trying not to give up,
It’s difficult to overcome the feelings of being on a sinking ship
As life and time turn the page.

Why do people seem to never understand
Who us “different people” are trying to represent…
However, challenging society as one of those “different” people
Comes with a large price and an even greater reward.

The evil spirits are terrorizing us,
Causing countless casualties to the colored.
Bliss seems to be in distant lands.
Some may even be crazy enough to embark on these journeys alone while never giving up

*PRIDE!!!!!*

It’s what we see in our minds.
Everyone wants a glimpse of this beautiful victory.
Sometimes there are people down on their luck
*screams* Look past it,
Get over it,
It will be over soon.
*Never let those fuck ups pry into and destroy your glorious chant*
We all analyze society
And how much of a hot mess it is,
But we continue to roll along in lala land
On the painful march towards the glory road of life
*AND LOVE!!!!!*

Throughout our youth,
We’re oh so sheltered and think our destiny is as small and direct as an acorn.
I was told you need to do xyz, go to school, get a job, and off you go goodbye!
It’s such a bust…
When the adventures take shape,
The field of vision morphs from an acorn to an ocean!

Some wonder why
People want to toss the towel in so soon.
All it does is hinder your life.

Patience is your ultimate virtue
Don’t rush into the current of the tide
Or you will drown.

When you’re stuck on the ground,
Don’t frown
Because there are always ways around.
Once you make it to the top, 
People will see you as a guru and use you as an example.
Keep your head in the game
And be the one to go out of the line to get straight to the top.

While society brainwashes itself with excuses,
There is a select few who decide to look for the secret levels across the fire pit.
It’s scary,
Be wary,
Keep going… and never ever give up

*PRIDE!!!!!*

It’s what we see in our minds.
Everyone wants a glimpse of this beautiful victory.
Sometimes there are people down on their luck
*screams* Look past it,
Get over it,
It will be over soon.
*Never let those fuck ups pry into and destroy your glorious chant*
We all analyze society
And how much of a hot mess it is,
But we continue to roll along in lala land
On the painful march towards the glory road of life
*AND LOVE!!!!!*

It’s scary,
Always be wary,
But keep on going… and never ever give up

*PRIDE!!!!!*

(This was written in August, 2013 and revised January 6, 2016)

Tuesday, December 22, 2015

Mom's Easy Recipes

I found these old things on one of my flash drives. My mom made these dishes all the time. They're not the most healthy, but they're super tasty. Here are the 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

Meanwhile in short poem land... Sail at the Shooting Star! I wrote this to represent my desires to feel like I'm making it in this world!

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Whenever I see people who’ve climbed to the top already,
I wonder why I haven’t reached the peak yet…
I’m sure there are plenty of people who go through the routine of waking up, doing whatever in the bathroom, eating breakfast, going to work, coming home, eating dinner, watching TV, and going to bed.
But I want more, even if it means losing my sanity a little.

When my eyes see the light each morning, I feel like I end up writing the same thing in my journal,
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?

Being forced to fly on the isle of my creators,
I had to navigate the stormy skies alone,
Thinking there’s no finish line,
While still sailing away.

Resilience guides me through each sorry letter thrown in the shredder,
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!

The goal is near,
Just keep plugging away
Because when resilience wins,
You win!

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 :)


Lyrics:

Hello my name’s Rebecca and I’m hailing from Chicago!
I’m 24 years old searching for that once in a lifetime opportunity 
To spin the rainbow wheel!

Calling letters,
Solving puzzles,
Conquering the bonus round
While trying to to keep my cool,
I cross my fingers for uncle moneybags to smile on me today!
But no matter what, I’ll just laugh a lot! *hehehehehe*

On my quest to find the key to enormous fortune
And saying my greetings to the world,
I’d get to hang with the oh so lovely Pat and Vanna for a bit
As this gameshow of awesomeness is always a hit!

Today is forsure my lucky day;
Once the million dollar wedge is by my side,
I’ll shout, “victory is mine!”
I cannot hesitate,
I need to spin the wheel!

I’ll ensure my lettered plays are correct,
Otherwise I’ll be a wreck.
Because it’s all fun and games.
And in the end, 
I will always know it’s my destiny
To spin the wheel of fortune!

Maron's Gloving, Orbiting, and Light/Finger Show Videos

Maron Gloves (and Glove Dances and Regular Dances) To:

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

Thursday, December 10, 2015

Winning Badassery's Emblem

This is the journey leading up to my black belt test (starting a few days before the test) and my journey of the black belt test itself. Enjoy!

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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

The journey to me finally earning my black belt (as an adult instead of at 18) in Shotokan Karate. Enjoy!

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After a journey of about 14 years and 3 months, I finally earned my black belt in Shotokan Karate. It definitely wasn’t the same experience as most people in karate have, where they start as a child, progress to their black belt, and go from there. I had to experience having a bad test, finding my identity and myself, and realizing how worthy I am of achieving my goals.

The first day I walked into the dojo, the day after September 11, I was a 10 year old little girl looking for the sport I was to excel in as a child. I tried soccer, ice skating, gymnastics, swimming, dance, and much more. My mom recommended I try karate and I figured it couldn’t hurt, especially with my bullying history, even at the tender elementary school age. I did karate from 5th grade until the end of my junior year in high school with my twin sister. At that point in our lives, we did the same activities together. We also scored the same on every single exam. When we did karate together, I feel like I didn’t take karate as seriously as I should have; each time we’d get partnered together, I wouldn’t exert my full effort. By the time we reached the end of our junior year in high school, we were third degree brown belts (three belts away from black) and needed 2 more black stripes (there’s 4 black stripes to a belt when you’re under 18) to move up to second degree brown belt. After third degree brown belt, there’s just second degree brown belt, first degree brown belt, and then black. We took our exam, returned to class to receive our results, and the instructor pulls us aside and told us we got one stripe. My sister felt super discouraged and ended up quitting. About two or three weeks later, I felt uncomfortable going to the class by myself without her and stopped attending classes myself. Unfortunately, I had a looming cloud over my head, feeling guilty for quitting because I knew in my heart I quit because I followed her and didn’t fully want to quit.

Once I reached my junior year of college, I realized I needed to establish my own identity outside of being an identical twin. Going to the same school as my twin sister, having the same major, and even sharing most of the same friends, my senses and sources were telling me to break free. After I went on a group trip to Israel with her, seeing as I could tell she didn’t want me around, I knew I needed to pave my own way. Once I returned from Israel, I began shaping my identity by becoming very involved with the IT department club and even ran it my senior year. Unfortunately, once college was over, I had lost my high school sports body and became overweight. Oops! When I realized being in karate was when I was in the best shape of my life, in addition to feeling bad about quitting due to following my sister, my heart told me return and get my black belt. I called the ISKC (Illinois Shotokan Karate Clubs) to sign up for classes again the September after I graduated from college, but missed the start of the session and had to wait until January to start. I had also just missed the testing cycle, which would mean the cycle would start over and I would be on track to test right away after 6 months. In January 2014, I stepped back into the dojo, as a clueless third degree brown belt wearing a white belt due to forgetting 70 percent of everything. Except this time, I was to walk into the dojo, alone, while paying for classes and such with my own money.

During this almost 2 year journey, I needed to restore my confidence, my health, and gain a sense of self. About a week and a half before my karate exam, I went to visit my second family for the holidays in the lovely Davenport, Iowa. While in Iowa, I was not only showered with love, but told how worthy I am of making life progress, facing my fears, and achieving my goals. After my trip to Davenport and another week of work, I ventured to a sensory deprivation chamber in Lincoln Park at a place called Spacetime Tanks, to seek further direction and positive energy towards passing my karate exam. My senses told me I needed to acknowledge my past, accept my past happened and is over now, and leave feeling revitalized. The only thing to possibly hold me back from passing my test is to not believe in myself.  I complete the last week of karate classes and get my “test permission slip” signed and go to take my exam. Prior to the test, I had a feeling I was going to have to test for the instructor who gave me the bad grade; surely enough, I did. I told myself to give it everything I have and do my best. It also meant more to me because I wanted to show him I was a mature adult who now fully understands and embodies the meaning and values of Shotokan Karate. *describe karate exam*

When I left the exam, I knew I had a good day. I was the loudest at screaming and huffing and puffing, the oldest one in the room taking my test, I aced all of my Japanese vocabulary this time instead of missing one, I didn’t drop my foot during the front kick to the front, side thrust kick to the front exercise, and left knowing I had done my best and needed to await my results. I even had a dream of me passing my test as I was becoming super sentimental when finding out I passed my test. When I arrived to receive my test results, I, to not much surprise, found out I passed and had finally earned my black belt. The other irony is one of my instructors from my childhood who was taking over for my current instructor on a brief leave for a few weeks, delivered my results to me. Despite seeing much career failure during my time in karate, this was the victory I needed to tell me I am worthy at succeeding at my true passions and even succeeding in general. We are all worthy of success, even when experiencing darkness and/or failure in other areas of life. If you tell yourself you can do it and really set your mind to it, you’ll be unstoppable and see light farther ahead than in distant planets!

Sunday, December 6, 2015

Check Out DJ Event Solutions!

DJ Event Solutions is a premiere event production company in the Chicagoland Area, specializing in weddings and private events of all natures. Founded by Jake Neild, it is an up and coming company with a great track record, and economic packages for events of all sizes.

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.