1. Ask and you shall receive, kiddos. (Or more specifically, Erin. And probably Alex).
Original Video – More videos at TinyPic
(WordPress and I are fighting, so I don’t know if that video will actually load or not…if not, just click on the “Original Video” link)
Behold! I can breakdance. NOT WELL by any stretch of the imagination, but I can do it. Sorry you only get to see my freestyle…I don’t like putting up pictures/videos of other people without their permission, and considering that my blog isn’t something I generally bring up in casual conversation, I had no desire to ask Cute Hip Hop Boy if he’d be cool with me posting the whole video. Thus, I’ll only embarrass myself in front of the whole Internet (just imagine everything I’m doing, but more and better. That’s what his freestyle looks like. He’s a much better breakdancer than I am)
2. On Tuesday, all of Chicago was abuzz over this “massive snowstorm” we were getting. AccuWeather kept blowing up my phone with Winter Weather Watches/Advisories, business were closing early, all sorts of snow plows were put on the roads — it was serious business. As it turned out, this storm was the biggest we’ve had of the season. It dumped…5.4 inches on the city of Chicago.
Now, I’ll admit that I was raised on the other side of Lake Michigan, where its magical warm water powers provided us with ample lake effect snow from November through March for much of my formative years, and perhaps this has warped my perspective on what constitutes a snowstorm. But 5.4 inches? Really? Anything less than 10 inches doesn’t strike me as a huge, newsworthy deal, and while I know that any sort of winter precipitation can wreak havoc on the roads, blah blah blah, I’ve got to say that I’m not particularly impressed by this “record-breaking” weather. Remember that one time only two years ago when it Snowpocalypsed?
Yeah. That was impressive. 5.4 inches: not so much.
3. At long, long last, it’s finally book club weekend again! I’m a little unsure on how the timing is going to go for me, as I know I have a 5K that morning and think I’m supposed to shoot photos at another event right after my 5K. I’m hoping to get out of that photo shoot, though. Fortunately, I think everyone in book club is a runner to one degree or another, so hopefully showing up unshowered and in running apparel won’t cause too much judgement if I do have to go to this event 😉
Anyway, this month we read Unbroken.
Unbroken tells the simply incredible story of Louis Zamperini, an extremely fast California runner who ended up serving in the Army Air Force during World War II. Throughout his service, Zamperini survived many obstacles against unbelievable odds.
Unbroken was equal parts heartbreaking and inspiring. Zamperini’s story is just unreal and took me on a huge emotional roller coaster (tears may or may not have been shed on the CTA while reading on my commute). The book really made me think a lot about the devastating effects of war and put a distinctly human face on World War II. I, of course, studied World War II in history classes in school, but there’s a big difference between reading the detached, factual this-is-what-happened textbook account and the emotionally charged, this-is-what-happened-to-these-men-and-their-families biography account. This book really hit me in particular due to the ages of most of the servicemen. A lot of the men in the book are in their early 20s, which was just a terrifying thing to think about as a 22 year old. Every guy I grew up with could’ve been in Zamperini’s position if we had all been born 80ish years earlier, and it was really tough to try to imagine what it would be like if most or all of my guy friends were out fighting in a war where so many people died.
Unbroken is a bit on the long side, but I highly recommend picking it up if you have the chance. It’s a beautifully written book and something I think many people could benefit from reading.
That video is awesome! I’m kind of interested in breakdancing now, except I still have zero upper-body strength..
Thanks! To be honest, a lot of the more basic moves don’t require a lot of upper body strength. Like those freezes I did on the floor? That’s actually all balance, not strength!
I definitely get the lake effect snow here from Lake Ontario. Anything less than 10 inches is definitely nothing. Five inches is a dusting.
Tell me about it! It also drives me crazy how no one in Chicago seems to understand that living by the lake does not mean all our snow is lake effect snow. What can ya do?
OH SHIZZZZZZ girl you made my morning. like nothing can top this. at all. I don’t even know where to begin. you have some mad moves but this makes me want to take a break dancing class even more. when I switch jobs in june I am going to invest in a class if I can find one near me. I swear on my life.
I also realize something, I said when you post a video dancing that means I will. This could be bad. Maybe everyone will forget…
Wooo! Like I said earlier, I aim to please 🙂 GIRL if you take break dance than we can be break dance twinzies, and that would be the best thing EVER. Yes yes yes. Let’s make this happen.
Hahaha I actually had forgotten until you mentioned it! But now I’m eagerly awaiting the day when I’ll get to see your dance skillz.
But that is the thing. I have zero skill. You rocked in this, I am slightly ok a ton jealous
I’m SO glad you posted that video! Look at you! You dance much better than I could ever dream to!
I literally just got Unbroken from the library and started it last night. I’m basically just through the running stuff but I’m really enjoying it. I don’t have big plans Friday night so I’m hoping to put a major dent in it (or gasp, finish the book!) before book club on Sunday.
Haha thanks! I had never danced at all before four months ago, so you could TOTALLY dance like that, too!
Good luck with Unbroken! Fortunately it’s such a good read that it shouldn’t be too hard to get into it on Friday 🙂
I was laughing at the amount of snow too. Although, we got a foot on Tuesday, where I live. I felt bad for my friends up here who had to drive home.
Which 5K are you doing?
I LOVE that vid! You are rockin!
Thank you!
I’m doing the Wacky 5K, and I’m super annoyed that I’m doing it haha. I planned to do this with a friend who’s never run a 5K before, but then she realized she’s not going to be in town on Sunday, but I was like whatever, I have another friend running it so it’ll be all right, but then that friend backed out too! But I had already registered, and I’m not going to DNS just because I don’t want to run the race. If I’m going to DNS something, it had better be because I’m so injured I can’t move haha. Also, the race shirt is HIDEOUS. Like literally wouldn’t even wear this around the house hideous. Rawr. SO. ANNOYED. Haha.
That IS annoying! Did you try getting some other friends to take their bibs?!
Neither one of them even registered! There was a $5 off deal one day so I jumped on it and then was like, “Hey, you guys need to get your registrations in, too!” and they were all, “Yeah…about that….” Bahhhhhh. At least the weather looks good. I’d like to believe I have a PR in me even though I haven’t been training for speed…at all. Or even really training in general, other than my usual Saturday I-run-because-I-like-running runs. Haha. So I guess we’ll see what happens!
I can’t wait to go home and watch you break dance. I love how happy you look in these videos 🙂
Yay! Thank you! I’m glad my intense nervousness came across as happiness, because I was seriously freaking out during all of this haha.
This. Is. Awesome. I’m glad your finger held up long enough for you to show us your skillzzzzzz wowza! I’m not sure I could ever top that. Come to DC/Bmore and you can teach me how to dougie (or breakdance)…
Done. Once again, I’m on my way. (But really though. I need to stop talking about how I need to go to D.C. and actually, you know, go to D.C.).
Nice video! Are your arms like totally buff now from having to do all that stuff? Breakdancing looks like a killer workout.
I don’t care if you aren’t showered. Heck, you can shower at my place if you really feel like you need to. We have lots of towels (and shampoo and soap and shower we never use).
Also, yes, the media made a HUGE deal out of the snowstorm. I think people are just still skittish after 2011.
Killer workout is right. My arms are not nearly as buff as they should be, which is why I’m not nearly as good as some people. There’s one move that involves a lot of jumping, though (not in this video), and when we learned it my teacher was like, “This is gonna kill your legs. You guys are going to be really sore tomorrow.” And I did it and was like …that’s it? Haha. My runner legs are much more suited to those sorts of moves!
I actually might take you up on that shower offer, since I’ve learned that there is no getting out of this other event. We’ll see how gross I am on Sunday 😉
Way to go girl! You are awesome 🙂 I’ve seen this book at a few different times but was never sure if it was something i would enjoy till now…just added to my kindle wishlist…and any true book clubber will care less if you show up smelly and sweaty 😉
Thanks girl! Glad you’ve put the book on your wishlist…it’s SUCH a good read!
Your breakdancing is awesome! I think the only move I would be able to do would be to put my hand down and run in a circle, but not that flipping over thing that you do.(that’s probably a move I just made up in my head). Also I don’t know any breakdancing verbage.
I keep getting worried about these snowstorms because they keep blowing it out of proportion. Yeah, sometimes it is tough to drive in, but when I think big snowstorms I imagine at least 1 foot.
That book was intense I honestly thought he was going to die so many different times throughout that book even though logically I knew he wouldn’t (because how else could the book have been written).
I definitely thought he was going to die at multiple points throughout the book, too! Thank goodness there were always so many more pages to reassure me that he’d keep going!
Haha it’s all good — I didn’t even know breakdancing had verbage until I started doing it 😉
You got some madd skillz! Seriously though, I’m impressed! I would never have the courage to dance in front of a group of people actively watching me. Great job!
I agree, this whole “snowstorm” madness/fear is ridiculous. 5 inches is hardly anything worth worrying about. As you mentioned, the Snowpocalypse was the last time I was genuinely impressed with a snowstorm, and even then I was away at college (2.5 hrs out of the city) so I didn’t even get to experience all it’s awesomeness.
Thanks! Fortunately, a fair number of the audience members have had a drink or two by the time we get up there, so it’s a pretty safe environment to dance in without judgement haha. It’d be a lot harder for me to get up in front of people who actually knew something about dance!
Love the breakdancing!
Thanks girl!
I love the breakdance video. very cool – I’m impressed!
I’m from the southeast and was kind of excited about LOTS of snow. Five inches is fine, but it wasn’t a “crazy snowstorm” like they were predicting; at least not here. I like the snow though, it makes the city look pretty.
So glad you enjoyed the book! Louis Zamperini’s story is so amazing and inspiring.
Thank you! Maybe we’ll get dumped on tomorrow? Literally the first thing I heard when my radio woke me up this morning was “10 inches of snow tomorrow.” Haha happy Monday! 😛 I guess we’ll see what happens!
Pingback: WF Craziness & Book Club | Peace Love & Oats WF Craziness & Book Club |