And So It Is

I started this blog as my journey to life in San Diego was just beginning. Although I moved in 2006, I had basically become an SD resident in 2005 after joining UFX (shout out to TK & An Diep for housing me the better half of 2005 before I officially moved). So it's been a good minute since I've been here. I wrote this as my move down became official:

So I've decided to make the big move down to SD. Dance reasons, social reasons, independence reasons, and next phase in life reasons all contribute to the decision and I'm really excited and anxious to do this. Started training at the new job and although I'm still in that transitionary "where do I fit in here and how do I do my work without fucking up too bad" period, I really like where I'm at. There's a lot for me to learn but I'm eager. And I'm happy to be gettin out of Eilatan. Retail's just not all that crackin. Time to move up. I'm gonna miss the comforts of living at home and of course I'm gonna miss friends/family...but hey I'm not goin too far. Time to move down. (October 2006)

A lot has changed since then. I've accomplished everything I set out to accomplish, and then some. I learned, I grew, I had my bad days, I had my good days, and I had a great time doing it. Today, I sat in my now empty room in unit #25 of Villa Taviana and reflected on my time there. Damn, was I blessed. Maybe I'm being a bit melodramatic considering I'm not moving across country like my sister is next week...but if there's anything you should have learned while reading my blog over the years, it is that I'm a sentimental schmuck, so this transition that's about to take place scares the shit out of me. I realized today that part of what makes this move in particular so hard is because this is the longest I've lived anywhere since my parents split up. I moved into the dorms after high school, and during that freshman year is when the split happened. My parents' separation signified the end of all stability for me. Since then, I haven't resided anywhere beyond 2 years, so San Diego essentially became the constant that my life had been void of for several years. For this reason and for all the amazing people & experiences that SD has blessed me with, it is so hard to leave.

I obviously never really followed through with the "Best of San Diego" blog series I intended to write. My intentions were completely sincere, I just didn't have the time/energy during this crazy month to do it. Or maybe I'm lying and have simply gotten lazy. Maybe since this blog began when life in SD began, it should also end as my life in SD ends. Something for me to ponder. I definitely don't want to stop writing, but I have been less inclined to do so here for some reason. I'm hoping that fire comes back, whether here or anywhere else.

I'm just hoping a sense of normalcy comes back soon. I hate change, I hate having to readjust, and I hate not knowing exactly what to expect - totally one of my biggest faults. Anyhow. So this is it I guess. San Diego (this goes for all the people/places/experiences that come with it), I love you more than I was ever willing to allow you to love me back.

This is the last sentence of this chapter.

It's The 1st Of The Last Month

Today is June 1st. I have 29 days left as a San Diego resident, and I am now realizing just how sad I am about leaving. For nearly a year I've been so caught up planning out my move back home that I forgot about how much I love San Diego, the life I've created here, and the people and events that have filled the last 3.5 years. Some of my best memories in life will be a result of my stint in the whale's vagina, and I am truly heartbroken to see this chapter come to an end. I know, this was my decision and mine only, and I know that moving back home is still what I want/need to do, but the closer June 30th nears, and the closer I get to a very unsure future, the more I just want to yell "nevermind!" and hang my pictures back on these now barren walls.

As the inevitable approaches, I think I'll spend the next month blogging a series of "The Best of San Diego" entries about some of the most fun times I've had here. *Sigh*

Full Circle

In 2005, I auditioned for UrbanFX, one of the most influential professional dance companies in the community at the time. They are the reason I moved to San Diego. I started my life in San Diego with this group of people, and it's all coming full circle now as I end my run here with them as well.

My departure from UrbanFX shortly before the company disbanded was not exactly an ideal or pleasant situation while it was happening. Regardless of that, I've maintained friendships made on UrbanFX, and still consider this team to be the main factor to what made San Diego a home for me. Being on UrbanFX, I was constantly challenged...physically, mentally, creatively, and emotionally. Through all the good times and all the not so good times, I wouldn't change a single thing about my few years as a member of this company.

This Sunday, some of UrbanFX's former members will be getting together for a reunion performance at House of Blues. That night will also commemorate TK's birthday, and he'll be performing again for the first time in 5 years! This will also probably be the last time I perform in San Diego...and I'm so happy that God worked his way into making my last time with the people who were part of my first time. How poetic. We'll be performing a medley of some of our most beloved pieces. There are so many iconic UFX pieces that it's hard to narrow it down to just a handful, but I think the pieces that have been selected do a great job telling the story of UrbanFX 2001-2008. I know that a lot of dancers/dance fans in this day and age probably won't recognize many or any of these routines (which is kind of sad in my humble opinion), but to those who will be at HOB reminiscing with us as we dance these pieces, thank you.

Real shit though, I gotta get my endurance game up cuz dancing 5 pieces in one medley is one thing...dancing 5 old school UrbanFX pieces in one medley is another. How in the world did we used to move so fast?!

Urban FX Reunion 2010 from VictoryNightlife on Vimeo.

Here's a dope little documentary about our upcoming reunion
Video filmed & edited by Garvin Ha

S**T KINGZ

They done done it again.

But I must say, I'm partial to the dude in the white tee & maroon beanie at about the 1:13 mark. :)

Mother Theresa

Do not think that love in order to be genuine has to be extraordinary. What we need is to love without getting tired. Be faithful in small things because it is in them that your strength lies.