Thursday, August 29, 2002



it is so hot today. it's kinda like a day in san esteban, ilocos sur. it is hot, sticky and muggy and i find solice in my house, lounging in a big huge shirt, sipping on the perfect combination of lemonade and tea.

but i much rather be in the beach.

my skin is not as dark as i want it to be. it has not been kissed by the sun for more than 5 years. i take in the sun in small doses. the sun is alot like wine to me. sometimes i can take it and be fine. other days, one glass of reys would be too much for me to handle and i am at home, on the couch, practically passed out.

i was diagnosed with lupus years ago. lupus is a condition where i have a great immune system, only it attacks me if i am not careful. my immune system views my "good" cells as foriegn objects and try to annihilate them causing an imbalance in my body. i am basically my own worst enemy. flare ups can occur at anytime but i can aggravate it by getting too much sun or if i am stressed.

luckily i am not diagnosed with the deadly kind. the kind where my internal organs are attacked.

i suffered from a flare up about two years ago. it was right after my dot com laid off 4/5 of their staff ( they were heading towards bankruptcy and only way they viewed they can salvage it is to lay off everybody but but 5 people). it came in the worst time because i was just trying to redefine myself and start off a new life after breaking up with my longtime bf of 9 years just six months prior.

the flare up was terrible.my skin burned as if there were invisible long lines of scratches dipped in salt water. i had absolutely no energy. the sun was extra venomous and i spent two months home-ridden, and only found energy from the moon. ( and trust me, it was lonely for nobody was upto having dinner with me at 3am in the morning).

what is worst is the medication involved. many prescriptions out there is to treat the symptoms and not the ailment. you end up with temporary relief but still suffering from the underlying ailment. and the perfect panacea for all symptoms? steroids. steroids for pain. steroids for skin. steroids for asthma. steroids for lupus. the symptoms you get from these steroids is just as bad if not, WORSE than the symptoms you get from the original sickness.

it is ridiculous how many medical practices out there are trying to gouge their patients with prescriptions, pumping them with medicine. some medicine is needed. but i want a solution to my sickness. i want to attack it so i won't have to deal with it, even after my prescription is done. i want to be healed. not numb to the pain.

it is so important for us to practice PREVENTION. holistic practices are so much better because these doctors want to find the wellness in you. they take time with you and you are not just a number in their waiting room. i supplement my medical business with holistics measures. i would much rather find foods in nature, herbs, and acupressure to release the toxins in my body to PREVENT a flare up than to take steroids to lesson the pain in one.

i found out that the steriods i took years ago, stayed in my nervous system for almost a year and have damaged my liver. i am still trying to detoxify my body in order find that balance in my temple once again.


i .. need...sleep....
today, i feel

The current mood of the Internet at www.imood.com

Monday, August 26, 2002

on rotation: pennywise "full circle"
sippin': a bottle of sobe green tea
burning: spearmint oil for energy
wishing: that my dog feels better


whatta weekend. okay, i can finally breathe. i have been getting worked up about my performance piece this whole last week.last friday night, i was a wreck. i literally was too nervous to even rehearse. i sat there on the couch watching 20/20 and how studies show that looks do actually matters in society. i was thinking,"hmm, if i look cute during my shows, when i mess up, it won't matter..." BAH!

but as i was meditating it all came to me.i have to FEEL my piece, savor each moment, savor each word,savor each movement. think of interpretive performance art as rubbing your tummy, patting your head, humming a tune and tapping your foot. yes, all these elements are being into play and you have to make them connect and flow at the same time. it is storytelling at many levels and layers.

had GREAT feedback. very encouraging. i had to stay for a discussion panel and the feedback given to me by veteran artists and audience was awesome! i definitely look forward into doing it again!

i saw wyclef and erykah badu last night at the hollywood bowl. my inpiration level it at an all time high. moonlight, basslines, cherry filled smoke, dashiki and badu... (( sigh ))

miko emailed me! yaaaaaaaaaay! i miss her so much. venice drum circles. soy lattes on a sunday afternoon. shopping at some obscure shop on 3rd street. gossiping over spicy scallap rolls. playing tetherball.. (yes, we go way back). she is in seattle right now working at their paper. ( hey, miko, i got the reblogger so you can comment since i never got your messages. and now it is down. stinks huh?)

i realized that i need to be a better friend. i am the worst at calling people back.i periodically get the "alfie, where are you? just checking up on you. you worry me..." calls more frequently. i feel so horrible. i really dont get home until after 11pm every night and they only way to get a hold of me is if you are online at 1am in the morning. i need to be with the people who helped shaped me into the person i am today. i need to hang out with flo and be better acquainted with her baby. i need to call cree and have that movie date we were trying to have months ago. i need to go to church with shavonne. i need to call khalil and speak about tai chi, chinese herbs, and metaphysics. i need to go to see seattle and miko. i need go to an arcade with jedi. i need to go paint pottery with hazel. i need to go cd shopping with zurick.i need to go have soy lattes with mom. i need to take a road trip to arizona and see pop.

basically, i need to get in touch with myself...