Dancing, Bashh, Running, Hiking, Typical Weekend

When I was six years old I started dancing for my elementary school dance team; I did that until I was eleven. Within those years I was able to meet one of my favorite dance teachers who unfortunately, due to school budgets, only taught my team for a year. I ran into her a couple years later. I was about 13 when started taking ballet with her dance company (Fusion Dance Company) while taking guitar lessons. And like that Katy Perry song, "I chose guitar over ballet." My sister now dances for Fusion Dance Company with our dance teacher. I'm so proud of her she is such a talented dancer. I myself have considered on and off again to become a dancer again. I even sometimes take classes at her studio just for a nice work out, but I'm thinking right now isn't the time.

My sister had a dance performance this weekend for a showcase entitled, BASSH (poster on the left). I unfortunately wasn't able to go attend the show because it sold out so quickly. What I did attend was the cast party, which was different than your typical party. So basically everyone there was a dancer skilled in different types of dance (Jazz, Contemporary, Swing, Salsa). I literally walked in and everyone was swing dancing, it was like walking into a 1920s club. I really enjoyed it because the meaning of real dancing has been fading away this generation. Next thing you know the music and the mood changes and my dance teacher invites me to salsa on the dance floor. What an experience it was! I'm considering taking some salsa lessons now, well I did meet a salsa instructor.

I also went for a run with my friend on West beach, by school. It seem like the temperature was heating up on that run and we didn't drink enough water before; so lesson learned. Always drink two bottles of water before running! Fortunately, we stopped under a shady palm tree to stretch and relax. It turned out I am still quite flexible from my dancing days (To the right my handstand on a palm tree, excuse my sickle feet).

Again, I was able to run at my old jr. high to walk my dog and I ran into our graphic designer from our blogging site; She was walking her dog as well. Since my sister was here my family and I went hiking. We up tunnel trail to Inspiration Point (On the left: my older sister, Jasmine and I)This probably the hundredth time we've done this, okay I'm over exaggerating haha. We do hike a lot. A few summers ago I used to hike four times a week and run during the days I didn't hike. It was intense. Anyways, my family and I really love hiking because it all about becoming aware of your natural surroundings and keeping your mind off things. Since, I've been working out lately it wasn't challenging at all.   

Hopefully I'm not to sore tomorrow from all the exercise I've done. Its a great lifestyle you know? (on the right: That's where SBCC should be by the tiny cruise ship)
 
I hope you guys had a fabulous weekend, time to get back into focus. Let's make Monday a great day! That was meant to be enthusiastic :)

- KIKI REYES

PS. Random fact today 4 years ago Paramore released their Brand New Eyes Album...

Radioactive, Cover, Imagine Dragons, Friday

Here's a video of me covering a Imagine Dragons song.... "Radioactive"

I promise I'll post more videos of me playing guitar. :)

-KIKI REYES

Hope your having a fabulous Friday!

Stressing, Music, Paramore, Zedd, More Stressing, Paradise

I have to admit I was sort of stressing a couple days ago and I had to take a moment. It was not like those snickers commercials where they're like need a moment? Eat a snickers. It was sort of serious I was feeling overwhelmed from  TOO much pressure; so instead I took a step back and thought about where I wanted to be in a year. After I came to a conclusion, I ran to my guitar and sang my heart out.  I seriously don't know where I'd be without music and I'm so content that many people can relate to this passion of playing or listening to music. (Left: me and my guitar Photocredit: https://www.facebook.com/cejaephotography)

Speaking of music my favorite song at the moment is my "Stay the Night" by Zedd featuring Hayley Williams. If your a fan of the alternative rock band Paramore (my Paramore vinyl on the right)  than you'll like this song. If your into the mainstream techno movement that's happening in this time period you'll like this song. The music video to this song is the most artistic and unusual video I've ever seen! It features two talented contemporary dancers as well as the artists themselves. (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i-gyZ35074k)

Anyways, I'm feeling much better like I can achieve anything, cliche right? For those of you who are feeling the pressure and stressed out of your minds you should go to the "Stress Management" workshop on December 5th  in the CAI Lab 2 in the LRC from 1:00 -1:50 p.m. I know December is many weeks away but time goes by so quickly! I think we've been in school for about five weeks already thats insane! The day after my little meltdown everything went well and I decided I wanted to make amends with people I've stopped talking to because: one) most of them were a huge part of my life two) because I'm going to be transferring soon and who knows when I'll ever seen them again.

Today was pretty good too. I got my midterm back and I was pretty happy with my score. I was able to take a nice walk around campus with my friends I just met the beginning of this semester. It's amazing how you can meet someone here and feel so connected to them right away. So literally we walked in a circle around campus, while walking I was thinking I can go to school in paradise. Its like what my friends and I say to each other when we seen tourists, "We live where they vacation."
(Left: The Garden on the East Campus; Right: My friends Skylar, Theresa, and I)


I'm happy to share Santa Barbara with everyone as long as they admire it and take care of it as us natives do. :)

-KIKI REYES

P.S: Yesterday I was able to meet my fellow co-bloggers.
These people have some very unique personalities and you should make sure to tune into their lives as well: http://www.sbcc.edu/socialnetworks/studentstories/

Procrastination, Evening Walks and Runs, Running Playlist, Songwriting

 
 So I've been trying so hard not to procrastinate.  I have a bunch of reading due on tomorrow and it seemed kind of  impossible to have it all done by then- its about 100 pages of reading I need to get done from different subjects (Creative Writing, American Lit, History 101, Sociology). Its a challenge I was willing to accept, and I managed to get half of that reading done. I also have an essay due by 9pm tomorrow morning, lucky I finished it earlier today (my Essay on the right... its a draft). I guess moving away from procrastination really makes you less stress. ...C'est La Vie!  

With my extra time, I was able to go on a walk and a run every evening this week. Its so relaxing. Especially with the fall weather is present now, not to hot not to cold, its perfection. I could feel the cold air brush gently through my skin like a whispers being told cautiously in ones ear. That's my poetic description of how amazing it was. I take my dog for a nice run at my old Jr.High and later in the evening I walk to the grocery store, than I get back to homework.
(On a Walk at my Jr High W/ Cookie on Left and a sunset on the right) 

Also good music= good run. My running play consists of a lot of alternative/Indie music such as:
1. "Reptilia" - The Strokes
2. "Perfect"- Flyleaf
3. "A Certain Romance"- Arctic Monkeys
4. "Radioactive" Imagine Dragons
5. "Stay the Night (feat. Hayley Williams of Paramore)" - Zedd
6. "Something Good Can Work"- Two Door Cinema Club
7. "Supersoaker"- Kings of Leon

Anyways my songwriting is taking off again. It seems to be during fall when I write my favorite songs. I recently wrote a song called "Still and Always," I was inspired about past events that occurred and as well as my friend's experiences. The best thing about writing a song is that it doesn't always have to be about a person, it could be a general thing or something that should of occurred. It can be pure imagination. Here is my song your interested in listening: https://soundcloud.com/kikisrey/still-and-always-original-kiki
those of you who aren't maybe my running playlist will interest you. :)

Monday is the start of a new week hopefully I wont embarrass myself too much tomorrow.

-KIKI REYES

People Watching, Pants, Clichés

This semester's work load its pretty challenging. I think its mainly because of all the reading from my two English courses, but it is something I am enjoying. And coincidentally the historical period in my American Literature class is basically what I'm learning in my online History class. I didn't do that purposely, it just happened.

 I've noticed the weather is finally cooling down because I happened to be shivering under the shade today, while I was sitting down on the West Campus' Café. It was a great day for people watching, and according to my Creative Writing textbook "...good fiction writers are usually good people watchers" (Starkey 118). I didn't really mind sitting alone. I mean I was accompanied by friends, that I met today, before they went to class. I was reading from my History book, but at the same time trying to become aware of my surroundings to see if I can get inspired for a song or story or anything really. Its awesome to say that you can basically see the beach anywhere your sitting. I could see many people sitting on the grass reading, eating, and napping. Its weird to think that you won't be able to meet everyone on this campus.
(Left: My American Literature book) 


That's one of my goals, to just randomly jump into conversations with strangers at school. For example today I had to stop at a table by the IDC building, next to the library, to fix my pants. I folded them so they were capris, but awkwardly while I was walking one was lop-sided. There was a guy listening to his iPod and doing his homework. I went to the table next to him and he watched me, I told him "I'm just fixing my pants." He took one earphone out of his ear and he laughed. I fixed my problem and said "Have a nice day!" The other day I sat next to random people at a table for about an hour and after I found out their names and their majors.



Another one of my goal is to do well this semester, as cliché as that sounds. Another, Another goal I have is to stop using clichés, especially since I'm going to be a writer.

(Picture toward the right was taken this morning, while I was getting dropped off at school. That's Cookie, my dragon)


-KIKI REYES

Critiques, Creative Writing, CSU Channel Islands, Foxes

I recently wrote a poem called "Holy Water." In my Creative Writing class I signed it up to be workshopped, and of course I went under anonymous so nobody would know I wrote it. Its weird after many years of writing I still get afraid of people's reactions towards my work. So I missed the day my poem got work shopped and I have no idea what my classmates said about my scandalous poem (Until now)... Well its not that scandalous. I do express my view of religion and respect in this writing piece and its something I'm really proud of. And now everyone knows I wrote and I owe up to my words. I got my scraps of critiques back today, it wasn't entirely bad.

(Picture on the right the actual scraps of paper from my creative writing class)

Also this weekend I was able to visit my sister at her school, CSU Channel Islands.(Left picture) It was nice getting the whole college experience because I was able to stay at her dorm and meet some of her friends. My sister gave me a tour of her school, while I was there and one thing I loved the most was the library. It has three stories of shelves filled with knowledge, it was masterpiece. I noticed that this school has a friendly laidback vibe, but I was pretty skeptical when we went up to her friend's dorm and saw him and his roommates watching cat videos on YouTube. Luckily, they decided to meet up with us later on my tour of Channel Islands and we walked around for a couple of hours. They were telling me that they have hiking, running, they go ghost hunting ( I don't recall its haunted) and kayaking as well. There's a lot to do there, I guess when I went the students were just in the need of relaxing rather than exploring.

Wanna know something I learned while I was at CSU Channel Islands? What sound the fox makes... This is quite embarrassing:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jofNR_WkoCE
(the best part of this song is that it had the potential of being a very good song, but not anymore)
Enjoy!

-KIKI REYES

Awkward 19 /A Preview of my Songwriting Life

I  just celebrated my 19th birthday last week and my friends were able to persuade me to do something that evening. I had been indecisive for weeks saying I didn't want anything then saying we should do something, so I'm glad I have friends who make me realize that you only turn 19 once and its really an awkward age to turn, so why not celebrate my awkwardness? (Picture below my friends, Billy and Alexia and I)

It was an incredible day, but I had work (I work at a driving school as a secretary). I had many phone calls that had to be answered, appointments to be set up, and I couldn't get the day off because the other employee was sick and my boss went fishing. Well, I mean he's at the office every day of the week so I didn't mind it, I guess I was not meant to have the morning off. A few people called me that morning including my grandma from mexico and my teacher from my old high school. I received one of my favorite albums as a gift from my best friend. Its a vinyl record, I have been listening to it a lot its  been inspiring me with my own music.

Lately I have been noticing a change in my songwriting, luckily my genre is always the same. I recently wrote a new song called "Dearest Stranger" it was inspired by the song "Girl With The Red Balloon" by The Civil Wars, which is off the album I got for my birthday(On left). I will record it once I have some time. I also wrote another song called "One-Sided Love" which is a sarcastic song played on my ukulele. Everything on Uke sounds happy, which is why I love to play it because after many years of writing serious ballads I think exposing myself to writing happy music is very challenging.

I remember I was watching VH1 a few years ago and they interviewed Jason Mraz. He said in this interviewed something I would never forget. He said he likes writing happy songs because no one really does and its challenging. That man is a genius.

-Kiki Reyes
P.S Here's the link for my music page: https://www.facebook.com/kikisrey

Adjustments

I wouldn't say I was on a extremely long vacation this summer because I decided to enroll in summer classes. Yes most would dread it but I decided this after my last final during the spring semester. I remembered walking across to the beach and realizing it wouldn’t be entirely bad, after all my ideal summer would be staying here in paradise. It was quite distracting because of the perfect days, but fortunately I was able to push through and finish off hard in my classes. I  can now say I have finished my math and english requirements and it only took a year and a half. So after many weeks of summer school I finally had my vacation... I had an audition for Rising Star USA-which is a singing competition I was able to gain audition experience from, I ran with a group of friends at Run or Dye (image to right: my

good friend Billy and I), I went kayaking (image to your left: my friend Jack, My sister Jasmine, and I) and paddle boarding with my friends, and all of this spontaneous activity helped me prepare myself for this fall semester and what it has to offer.   

So far it has offered us a few more weeks of summer because of the unbearable heat. Being a Santa Barbara native, I have seen this occur several times before and its not something we natives are used to.This weather is not helping my concentration so I'm resisting its power of its warmth that can be so heavy it can put us all of asleep. My first week of school I noticed on the East campus many students sitting on the grass under palm trees reading pages from their class textbooks as well as sleeping-this was by the gateway building. So since I had an hour until one of my many classes I joined them. It was very refreshing; I could feel the wind lift my concerns for school away.

           My concerns circle around the idea of not transferring on time and because of this fear I have become a full time student at SBCC with a part-time job. I'm trying to get as many credits as I can this semester as well as to save enough money to transfer. And  I'm sure there’s many people around this campus that are like me, an English major, a musician, a writer. (This point was beyond proven in my Creative Writing class) Hopefully this semester exceeds past our expectations improvements,school wise (glad be apart of a smoke-free campus) and academic wise.

            And as always heading into our second week of school my birthday falls into that week. I've been talking about for a week now to everyone (for example I told the cashier at the SBCC Bookstore who circled the return date on my receipt which happened to be my date of birthday. At least he said "Happy Birthday: to me right?). Of course its all just adjustments, school schedule, work schedule, a new age, a new outlook, a different routine, you could say its overwhelming but I'm sure changes like these happen to everyone.  

- Kiki Reyes