Before Paper Planes....

I would like to give a quick and sincere shout out to my girrrrl M.I.A. With the drop of her new album last fall, she has been getting quite a lot of the attention she deserves. I remember sophmore year of high school when Hallie introduced me to "Galang". For those you unfamiliar with M.I.A. let me tell you a bit about this lady. She hails from Sri Lanka. She spent most of childhood hiding from the Sri Army- her Dad was a head Rebel in the EROS. Her family finally relocated to London England, where she learned english and was exposed to Western Hip Hop. Think-N.W.A, Public Enemy, and Big Daddy Kane. She then studied fine art, film, and video at an art college there in London. She published a rad art book featuring graffiti and other urban art, simply entitled M.I.A. Also while at art school she got into fashion and textiles. Her and her roommate would wear handmade clothes they designed. She then later went on the road with a band, making their documentary. The encouraged her to explore an art form she was least confident in--music. She made a tape featuring "Galang", and dropped it off at XL records. From there she released "Arular" her first full length ablum. But alas, she wasn't noticed by a wide range of audeince until "Kala" her 2007 release featuring "Boyz", and "Paper Planes". The reason I love her so much is she is really not of this world. Her beats are out of control, you would have to be from Sri Lanka to come up with them. Also her lyrics are unatainable at first listen, you really have to listen and then do reaserch to understand where she is coming from. That might just be the main reason...where she is coming from! I think her music has so much power to influence us all to open our eyes, and see past our own backyard...or "Streets". She bring a whole new meaning to "hip hop" and "streets". It is amazing though she has been and seen through so much she still has this girly innocence. I love M.I.A. she  is a true artist(film,music,and visual). ps. M.I.A. stands for Missing In Acton(a Lodon suburd in which her and her family hid.)

Missing Competition

The other day I went to watch a friend participate in a tournament.  Watching her "warm up" brought back so many memories. Then watching her actually play, was almost unbearable. Whenever she would make a mistake she would get frustrated, causing her to try harder. By the end of the night she had lost all her games, and she was so upset. In tears. Although I felt bad that she had lost, I envied her. On the way home she complained of her shoulder being sore and I helped her stretch it, and then we put ice on it when we got home. Now to anyone else loosing games and feeling pain in your shoulder doesn't sound ideal. But for me, it sounds amazing! I miss the time when day in and day out I was working towards something. I was pushing myself to be better. It is amazing, our bodies. The way we are able to condition them, and cause our muscles to memorize movements. How is it that one person has found the perfect equation of movement to get the best spin or hit on a ball? Really is it remarkable. And I used to be apart of this. I miss the tears, the sweat, the lingo, the uniforms, and the way it felt. The way it felt in that moment when nothing else mattered. Nothing but that point and this game. There is so much to be learned from competing in athletics. I miss those learning experiences. I miss the game.