Flash Mob Orlando - Mall at Millenia 1.29.10

This past weekend I participated in a flash mob that took place at the Mall at Millenia to promote tourism.  What is a flash mob you ask.....well here is a quick breakdown thanks to Wikipedia: 

A flash mob (or flashmob) is a group of people who assemble suddenly in a public place, perform an unusual and pointless act for a brief time, then disperse. Flash mobs are organized via telecommunications, social media, or viral emails.

This was actually my 2nd flash mob to participate in. The 1st took place last April in the form of a pillow fight. An invite went out on FB to show up at a certain place at a certain time on a certain day with your favorite pillow in hand.  At first I was a little skeptical about it but a group of us decided to go and I am so glad we did. For four minutes a group of complete strangers pounded the crap out of each other in one massive pillow fight.  You saw people of all ages and pillows of all shapes, sizes and colors.  Rumor is another one will be taking place this year again for International Pillow Fight Day and you better believe I will be there!


Anyway back to this past weekends flash mob :) What a blast this was! Now I will warn you that you have to be committed if you want to be a part of one of these events as they involve practice beforehand and you being able to keep a secret.  This particular flash mob had 2 parts to it...one where you participated in the big dance routine and one where you participated in the umbrella routine. I opted to take part in the umbrella portion which involved me bringing a brightly colored umbrella riding up and down an escalator twirling said umbrella.  To take part in any part of the flash mob you had to show up to at least one of the 3 practice sessions held but you were encouraged to definitely show up for the final rehearsal at the actual location taking place the night before the event. 


Friday night rehearsal last 2 hours as we had to make sure we had everything perfect for the next day.  Let me just say umbrella twirling is not as easy it looks. lol! First you have to make sure you open your umbrella at the exact moment you step on the escalator making sure you don't trip getting on the escalator.  Then while riding up the escalator you have to constantly spin the umbrella while making sure to not hit the person in front of you or behind you which can be quite tricky.  Then you have to pay attention to when you are reaching the end of the escalator as to not trip and fall while still twirling your umbrella around.  It gets tiring keeping an umbrella constantly twirling!!


All of that practice and tiredness paid off though when the actual flash mob took place on Saturday at 2pm at the Mall at Millenia.  To see it all come together and how excited the people at the mall were to watch what we had done was amazing.  I will admit I was a little nervous right before it all started.  What if I couldn't get my umbrella to open, what if I dropped the umbrella going up the escalator, what if I tripped but once that music came on and we started up that escalator nervousness turned into a rush of excitement.  If you have never participated in a flash mob before I highly recommend it.  It's something you will remember forever.  Below is the official video from our flash mob.  Fingers crossed it goes crazy viral....in just one day we have had almost 30,000 views. Woo hoo!!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YciKgsLWRsA

(look for me at 3:50 - pink shirt with the purple umbrella)

One of the great way to take your mind off things....

What is this great method you ask???

  Plopping your butt down at a Starbucks and enjoying a yummy beverage while playing on your computer, reading a good book, studying or just plain old people watching.  You will be surprised how easily it puts a smile on your face and lets you relax :)

So next time you need a quick break from everything but unfortunately can't go far...try the Starbucks way!

Another great song by Sugarland for some inspiration.....

Something More by Sugarland

Monday, hard to wake up
Fill my coffee cup, I'm out the door
Yeah, the freeway's standing still today
It's gonna make me late, and thats for sure
I'm running out of gas and out of time
Never gonna make it there by nine

Chorus:
There's gotta be something more
Gotta be more than this
I need a little less hard time
I need a little more bliss
I'm gonna take my chances
Taking any chance I might
Find what I'm looking for
There's gotta be something more

Five years and there's no doubt
That I'm burnt out, I've had enough
So now boss man, here's my two weeks
I'll make it short and sweet, so listen up
I could work my life away, but why?
I got things to do before die

There's gotta be something more
Gotta be more than this
I need a little less hard time
I need a little more bliss
I'm gonna take my chances
Taking any chance I might
Find what I'm looking for
There's gotta be something more

Some believe in destiny, and some believe in fate
I believe that happiness is something we create
You best belive that I'm not gonna wait
'Cause there's gotta be something more


I get home 7:30 the house is dirty, but it can wait
Yeah, 'cause right now I need some downtime
To drink some red wine and celebrate
Hey, Armageddon could be knocking at my door
But I ain't gonna answer thats for sure.
There's gotta be something more!


There's gotta be something!


There's gotta be something more
Gotta be more than this
I need a little less hard time
I need a little more bliss
I'm gonna take my chances
Taking any chance I might
Find what I'm looking for
There's gotta be something more

Got to be,
Got to be,
Got to be something more!

Another great concert attended....

The Script at the HOB Orlando....now I just need to convince Danny that he and I are MFEO :)

Taking a leap....

Today I did something a little scary yet exciting at the same time....I registered for the class Medical Terminology which means I am officially going back to school.  I will now start the process of obtaining my 3rd degree this time being a AS in Radiology.  Am I crazy?...probably but I'm hoping in the end it is worth it.  Deep down it feels like the right decision so I'm throwing caution to the wind and seeing what happens.  I hit a big fork in the road after being laid off from SeaWorld. One path is a semi smooth route that leads me straight back into the work force doing who knows what but earning a living.  The other path is a slightly bumpy one with twists and turns that leads me to a whole new career change and really a life change.  It's time to start a new chapter in my life and do something challenging.  Going back to school while trying to juggle real life is definitely going to do that for me.  Bring it!!

Shine the Light.....amazing song by Sugarland

When you walk into the edge of those
dark and lonely woods, and when I ask how was your day
and you answer not so good,
and when nothing seems to be working out,
quite the way it should; I will shine the light.
When the skies up above you fill,
with grey and stormy clouds.
And there's not a single face you know,
in the maddening crowd.
When you know that you don't make your way
but you just can't see how. I will shine the light.
I will shine the light.
I will shine the light.
I will hold you in my arms,
until everything's alright.
I will shine the light
When your worries, they won't let you sleep,
and rob you of your days..
And you've looked in all directions but you
still can't find your way.
When you just need someone to remind you that it's
all gonna be ok, I will shine the light.
I will shine the light.

I will shine the light.
When you're staring down your demons,
weighing in your darkest night,
I will shine the light.
Sometimes we jump into the great unknown.
Sorrows we all will have to walk alone.
Waiting there in the end, is a heart that calls you a friend.
That's me, clapping the loudest, welcoming you home.
So when your heart is heavy, like a stone,
from carrying its load,
and you look into the mirror and see someone you don't know
When the shadows are closing in on you like a hand around your throat,
I will shine the light.
I will shine the light.
When you've given into your fears,
when you've lost your will to fight,
let me know what I can do,
let me try to make it right.
I will shine the light.
I will shine the light.
 ~Sugarland

Becoming a vegetarian...

One year ago today I decided to become a vegetarian. All of the time I get asked by people "don't you miss meat?" and "are you sure you don't want to go back to eating it?" My answer every time is the same...no. There hasn't been a day that has gone by where I have regretted my decision or where I have wanted to go back to eating meat. To me it feels like I have been a vegetarian my whole life.

The other question I am asked all of the time is "why did you become a vegetarian?". Becoming a vegetarian was something I had been thinking about for about a year before I actually did it. I had already started weeding meat out of my diet bc I realized how the animals were being treated before becoming my dinner and it upset me. Then I read the book Skinny Bitch and that sealed the deal. I highly recommend reading the book but be warned you may not go back to eating the way you are used to after reading it. Shortly after becoming a vegetarian I read the book Eating Animals. This book just served to reaffirm I had made the right decision. This is another book I highly recommend but you definitely will not go back to eating meat after you read it.

So do I regret becoming a vegetarian? Hell no....one of the beat decisions I have ever made!

Goodbye 2010....Hello 2011!!!

Here's hoping 2011 turns out to be a much better year than 2010. Definitely glad to see 2010 go!

Happy New Year!!