In the blink of an eye, another year has zoomed by. I can’t say that it has been a good year as aftermath of it was rather bittersweet.

Where work has kind of evened out to become more mundane, the family is gone a bit crazy with the wedding and various shenanigans, as all families do. Looking at what my cousin is going though, I’d rather not trot down the same path if I have a choice.

Friends alternate between driving me crazy with their inexplicable behavior, being their merry selves and blindsiding me with some funky-ass insight. What I am discovering that the relationships that I value oftimes mean much less to others than it does to me. Somehow, I think I could be the last idiot on earth to realize this.

At times, everything is just too overwhelming and tiring. While I would like the luxury of not having to deal with all these issues, to detach and simply walk away, sometimes, I care too bloody much. Walking away is good because it cuts away your problem but it also leaves issues unresolved. Is it too selfish or confrontational to want to iron out differences? I am not proud of how I handle my issues but I am learning. And hell, no one is right all the time. In a perfect world (or at least the world I imagine), things would find a way of working out.

Thanks for biting me in the ass, idealism.

In my line of work, I make plenty of acquaintances but few ever become closer friends. Those who are, I’ve known for a really long time but sadly, that’s not how everyone works. On one hand, people who you thought would behave in one way surprise you by suddenly running away from problems, people who never usually speak up can suddenly offer insight that I’ve never even considered.

It is interesting and sometimes wrenching to see how acquaintances slowly turn into friends and for some friends to become mere acquaintances. I really hate this but it’s an inevitable part of life.

In contrast, what’s amusing to observe and go through is how we are all changing, or rather, growing up. Where some friends have been content to drift along with the times or pretend that they are still teenagers (and there will always be one or two who think so), it is heartening to how the majority are now putting more effort into building a better future for themselves. I mean, can you imagine living like a carefree teenager at 30? Not having a care in the world and just going along because you are too lazy to do anything? Hell NO.

Almost everyone is now investing time, money and effort into improving their lives – and it’s no longer just about defining status it’s about fulfilling an internal wish to be happy or at least content, even if we don’t know what the heck we want to do next.

My resolution, is to manage my expectations (among a host of other exciting things)…and yeah, eventually, let go of things that I cannot change – which is usually easier written than done.

It's been a week since the show's ended and it feels really strange.

I went from going to rehearsals and being sandwiched backstage to not doing anything at all...it's damn weird that I actually have time now to meet the friends who've been neglected, pop into Union and to catch up on much needed sleep and rest.

But. It's odd not seeing the people that you've hung out with everyday for two months...or doing warm ups, rushing around wondering where your dancer's costumes are...and bitching about everything under the sun. It's the people that I miss the most - we've become much closer friends. All the over-the-top antics, the nerves and the endless anticipation before, during and after the show. It's fucking weird saying this but I miss it still...what I don't miss is the Sundays. I never liked rehearsals on the weekends and that is the one thing that I don't miss at all...heh.

All that's left of the show is memories...the good, the sweaty and of course, the triumph that it was one of the best shows that we've put up in years.

Great job guys, now onward to the next advenure!

Christmas time is one of my favourites; a time of festive joy and cheer, where people get together to spread some festive cheer and those who are constantly cooped up in the office are set loose on the unsuspecting public.

Oh my...

I remember a time where my xmas party photos were banned, yes, literally BANNED from the company site. And while there are some gems here, there's nothing too censorious overall.

Thanks, xmas party gang for ensuring that all of us were nicely liqoured up for the night and that half the people didn't remember what happened, let alone how they ended up in such incriminating photos :o)

We will miss mucking about all over the floors, being sauna-ed during the afternoon salsa classes and taking countless hammy photos in front of your full length mirrors.

Adieu.

Time has this knack of passing by so quickly at times, that it just makes you dizzy thinking about it. I was there when LADC did their first big show in 2005, Hope Street Reconstructed. Two years down the road and another batch of dance scholars are ready to show the world (or their world) what they are capable of.

From front of house, I'm now working backstage as a quick changer for Break it Down. Who knew that goes on backstage at a show? It's a facinating, yet funny process:

• Blocking is only meant on stage and not back stage
• It's all about timing, dammit
• No rest for the crew applies throughout - cos once the dancers are offstage, they'll need less than a minute to change and run out for the next item
• No shy people - we have someone dancing on stage in their boxers, man!
• No divas - which is great cos then we can get moving...
• Rehearse, rehearse, rehearse - this week is choc full of rehearsals every, bloody night...
• Rehearsals in different studios - I'll bet $25 that someone's gonna end up in the wrong place, at the wrong time...guarantee

As of this moment, it's 11 days to showtime and things are heating up - well, it's certainly more tiring for the dancers, especialy those who are doing 10+ items (madness, I say) but it's an interesting process to observe, nonetheless...keep your eyes peeled.