This weekend I beat the heat by staying in some A/C at the local chapter of the American Red Cross, while I co-taught my first First Aid/CPR class.  I was pretty nervous and felt like I hadn't spent enough time preparing, but guess what:

it was so fun!

It feels natural to be a leader, to share information, to support and empower people.  Better yet, it feels amazing to know that my time with those participants on a hot summer Saturday could lead to people's lives being saved - probably many! - within my own lifetime.  How awesome is that?

I celebrated by participating in my fourth World Naked Bike Ride that night, and an afternoon of sweaty outdoor family friendly park dancing at Playground.  Can't wait for next year!

I'll be playing alongside iLko midnight-1am on Sunday night/Monday morning!

...my set at the Heartbeat Silent Disco at What the Festival this weekend!  I've got my equipment primed, my set prepped, inventory taken... and now I'm just waiting with anxious excitement to actually be on the festival grounds.  Also: avoiding packing.  This is part of the process.

It's been an exciting and transformative few months (nay, years).  Having the opportunity to attend this festival for the fourth year in a row is a lovely chance to reflect on my year, how I've changed, how my approach to, and perspective of, my life has changed... and of course, to see a festival and its population grow and morph into something familiar and yet totally new.  I hope to see you there!

When heat waves strike like the one we're having in Portland (unseasonably hot for June indeed!) I find that it's difficult to keep up my normal routine of activity, inspiration, and self-motivation. In fact, sometimes I'm mostly motivated to get a margarita.  

But now that I've got vast loads of amazing music at my disposal, it's been a treat to discover that I can have my margarita and drink it too; but after that, when it's cooled down, I can hang out in my dance studio mixing funky music and dancing, or I can log in to Datura Online to take a short dance segment outside of the stuffiness of a class full of people.

What do you do when heat melts your motivation?

Feast your eyes upon my homepage, where you will see that I'm getting some really fun things lined up for myself (and for you, if you'll join me!) this summer.  I'll be DJing in Bend, teaching dance at Human Nature festival in July, and coming very very soon - I'll be DJing at the Silent Disco at What the Festival!