My last Blog, Its time to Graduate!!

So this is my last blog for the class and time for me to graduate in two weeks, which is completely freaking me out. I cant believe its been four years and its time to move on to something else. This class has been a lot of fun and a lot of work I have to say but I enjoyed it either way. To my friends Tatiana and Joan I love you girls, you made the class fun and Prof. Proctor, if I was a pain I’m sorry but I really liked your class. So thank you.

At the same time I’m really excited for SENIOR WEEK, which is going to be a blast and just pure craziness all around. And May 16th is the day of days where we leave Mville with Forest Whitaker as our keynote speaker and for me having my family they’re to support. Lets talk about our key note speaker, this is an major actor in such film “The last King of Scotland,” and many other so I have to say that if President Berman wanted the class of 09 to go out with him in a blazing glory than he found it.

I can’t wait to have my family their too, having my mom, grandma and so may other family member is going to be great, I just hope the quad is big enough for my family and the rest of the families attending graduation. In a very personal note, I can’t wait to go home after because 4 years ago my uncle (located in the middle of the picture above) who can’t come unfortunately said to me that his biggest wish and hope is to see me graduate and become a professional before he dies and I cant wait to go home and show him he got his wish and that I kept my promise to him. Making him and my family proud doesn’t hurt either. LETS GO SENIORS 09, WE ROCK!!!!

This is an old pictre from Freshman Year:

Tao Te Ching, Master Chung Style

Tao Te Ching is a simplified version of Tai chi also known as Laozi. This semester I took a class in tai chi with Professor Schulman and the short style of tai chi taught by his master Chung. During the semester we learn many techniques used in the form like Push Hands, Repelling Left and Right, and so many other that I have a hard time remembering. Initially I saw tai chi as a meditational art that was later used for martial arts, as are many rituals in Asian religions such as Buddhism. What was interesting was that I found myself feeling some changes as I was practicing these forms. For one my walking felt different due to the fact that in tai chi you feel where you step before you put your weight as opposed to how we walk where we put our weight first and let the legs catch up so my walk seemed easier and I felt less tired when I exercised.

Watch this video of the Great Master Cheng Man Ching, grandfather of master Chuan who is the master of the Professor who taught the Tai Chi class:


Now the funny thing is that my friend Tatiana Rodriguez wrote a piece on this subject with more about the religion. This one is more me trying to get more students to take this course. I also took Asian Religions so I understand the daoist way of thinking and how they see the world which is why this course would be great for a student especially when finals come and they can de stress and see things a little differently. For me as a musician, this is helping me with my discipline and done wonders for my stress and stamina when playing. Great class, great form, great style, take the class

4 Years!! Looking Back.

It’s been 4 years since I came from Puerto Rico and started as a freshman at Manhattanville College. Now, its time to graduate and I have to say the feeling is a little weird to say the least. Looking back at all the crazy times with my friends, all the stupid times the guys and I just shot each other with nerf guns to now looking for a job in the real world seems unlikely and incredible. It’s really easy to forget how comfortable this college is and to leave is a scary thought and exciting at the same time.

I remember in freshman year it was my friend and I playing pool every night no matter the work and calling ourselves the “Spellman Loungers.” In sophomore year I was living with one of my best friend who was also a complete slob, making my first CD and starting to get used to New York. The last two years have been a roller coaster of changes from working with Atlantic Records, being in 4 theaters production here and figuring out what to do next and whether to stay in NY or go back home.

I’m sure many of my fellow seniors feel this way are trying to figure out what to do and are looking back at these moments, but I will cherish them so much. Together with my friends that leave with me: Justin Moran, Caitlin Corvini, Michael Lunapiena, Margaret Micucci, Chelsea Callahan, Tony Baptist,Vinny Liquory, and the Spellman Loungers I leave with friends that have become family and a bottle of champagne at graduation and wine glasses with their names on it.

No videos this time, these are better:

The Last Jam at the Quad!!

Well, it’s a week after Quad Jam and I think I’ve recovered and so has everyone else where I can recall and reminisce about my last quad jam. It was an amazing day to begin with after so much cold weather, there was good music, alcohol, friends and of course the fun at mville. Oh yeah and Pitbull. So the day was full of drinking and people just enjoying the sun but at least for me what made it so much fun was spending with my friends and enjoying or playing music. THAT’S RIGHT, my band “Who and Why” played and it was a lot of fun. Being our last performance we went out with a band with our set of Save Tonight by Eagle Eye Cherry and Sweet Child of Mine which requires no introduction.

See what I mean, this aint my band but we are that good:

The day had a lot of events that included “Class Wars,” which I thought was pointless, bull riding, and other which for some reason ended early. In any case, for the most part everyone just wanted to relax in a warm day until night fall came and night life began.

At night, the fireworks began and I saw so many seniors huddled together to watch the last firework from Manhattanville, it was a special thing to see. Of course afterward Pitbull came on and all hell broke loose and everyone is dancing and going crazy, it was so much fun. I have to say that at least for me, the last quad jam was very good, the night ended well with some well needed bed time after a day with my friends. Of course bed time was 4am but that was fine with me.

Im in a New York State of Mind?

I really think Billy Joel wasn’t to aware about the New York weather, because if he was in the kind of weather we were all in this past winter he would be joining me in saying I’m in a Caribbean state of mind instead. I don’t know what happened to that groundhog but he was sleeping on the job and if he did come out than we must have all been blind.

Jokes aside, we all know that this as been an incredible long winter at least for me and I’m so glad that while I’m writing this I see the sun shinning right on me. It couldn’t come at a better time. Three days before quad jam, the sun and warm weather started coming out and it’s so great. It’s almost as warm as Puerto Rico which I would love to be there right now.

I’m not sure what my point is with this blog but all I know is that it’s sunny and it better stay that way. A funny thing though is that during this long winter you don’t see many people and are only exposed to your friends so it is hilarious to see how crowded its has gotten and how many people you see that you never knew went here. Also, I find it outrages how much time some students have in their schedule by sitting in the quad for the majority of the day. I try to think what they were doing during the winter and I hope the entertained themselves because now all I see is the same people in their bathing suites soaking up the sun and I’m joining them!!

Here is Billy, so listen and see if you agree:

When Animals Attack!! Correction, When People Invade and PISS OFF Animals!!

So here I am, getting on the number twelve beeline bus heading to White Plains and I find my old friend and Ra of my building Chelsea Callahan. So we start talking about how school is ending and what are we going to do after when we start talking about our writing for the media with Prof. Proctor. We directly go into the blogs when Chelsea tells me about a blog she wrote about a woman who quite literally climb into a polar bear sanctuary, swam towards them during their feeding time and she got attacked by them. I guess she thought she could pet them like if they were puppy dogs. WHAT!!!!!!!!!!!!

Who in their right mind would go into a zoo, think a polar is cute, (I mean cute enough to go pet) jump into their home, swim to them and expect a warm welcome. Apparently she did but instead got mauled by one. The story is still being updated but thankfully she is okay. Upon researching the story I found other reports of people who think that it is okay to bother these animals in the zoo and in the wild. I will say this right now, animals don’t want t be bothered, they have their own things to do and with all the destruction we have caused to this planet it doesn’t seem they are to fond of us at this point. All animals are majestic, and should be treated with respect not with the thought that they are cute and would never hurt me. In reality they wont but if you invade or instigate than get ready cause gloves are off at that point.
Here is the video of this event:



P.S. Common sense says stay away from claws and jaws that can reap you to shreds.

The Watchmen: "GIVE ME BACK MY FACE"

On March 6, 2009 “The Watchmen” came out in theatres and is sweeping the nation. This movie is based on the Grammy winning novel and considered the best graphic novel ever. Now this isn’t an educated venture into the movie, instead it is me venting about what an amazing movie this was. The graphic novel which is a must see is a rather realistic/ pessimistic view of the world and the fictional world created in the novel. It is a world before the superheroes and in fact it symbolizes the end of the masked heroes and introduces the super powered avengers of justice.

I went a few weeks ago and I went alone simply because this is a movie to be enjoyed with someone who as read the novel as well, or at least that is my opinion but since I could not find anyone I went alone. It was worth it! The movie was solely and exactly based on the novel, in fact when I was watching the movie I felt as if the novel itself was coming alive right in front of me. Now of course, the movie is filled with symbolisms, some satirical on the old government of the world and human nature, others are sad and very graphic such is the movie but to put it simply this was a movie filled with a realism and humanistic element that blew me away. This feeling was not something I thought was part of the novel when I first read it. The only objection I had to the movie was the beginning sequence that didn’t seem to fit either because of the music or the way they did it, I still can point it out. Go see it if you haven’t already.

Here is the trailer, enjoy: