Spirituality; Wellness; Recovery; Education; Parenting; Politics; Environmental Biology & Environmentalism; Animal Welfare & Rescue; Child Advocacy; Feminism; Literature/Literary Art (Reading, Writing, Spoken-Word Poetry); Theatre; Dance (Ballet, Tap, Modern, Choreography, African, Odori, Street); Three-Dimensional Design (Metalsmithing, Jewelry Design, Ceramics); Mosaicking; Art History; Architecture; Photography; Videography; Scrapbooking my son's mementos; Genealogy; Theology; Bushido - The Way of the Warrior (Samurai Philosophy/Code of Conduct); Kung Fu; Karate; Shaolin Kempo; Numismatics (I am the second of three generations of numismatists.); Entrepreneurialism; Basketball; USC Trojans Football ("Fight On"); Thoroughbred Racing (Triple Crown); Archery; Chess; Yoga; Swimming (especially with my son); Surfing (Longboarding); Pocket Billiards; Cooking (only for my son - He smiles and says, "Oh, thank you, Mommy, thank you!"); Crocheting (The Hook-Up); Living; Learning; and Laughing
I'd like to meet:
It does not interest me to meet anyone for the simple sake of meeting them. My intent is to look beyond the exterior, discard the superficial, and converse in depth. I have an affinity for those who have something significant to say.
A selection of people I'd like to converse with in heaven:
Jesus of Nazareth;
Michelangelo Buonarroti - my favorite artist;
Albert Einstein;
Leonardo da Vinci - the most fascinating person and my favorite intellectual;
Socrates;
Viktor Frankl;
Issac Newton;
Linus Pauling - the only Nobel Laureate to have been awarded two undivided Nobel Prizes (1954 Nobel Prize in Chemistry and 1962 Nobel Peace Prize);
Leo Buscaglia;
Tupac Amaru Shakur;
Mattie Stepanek;
Moses;
Rameses II;
Noah;
John the Baptist - whom Jesus considered the greatest man ever born;
Siddhartha Gautama - the founder of Buddhism and the man whom became Buddha;
Ralph Waldo Emerson;
Abraham Lincoln;
Martin Luther King, Jr.;
Mother Teresa;
Audrey Hepburn - UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador;
Jonathan Larson;
Bill Wilson;
Bob Smith;
Ehrich Weiss aka Harry Houdini;
my paternal grandfather;
and any of my ancestors, especially samurai whom I ultimately respect because of their seven virtues:
gi (rectitude, honesty and justice),
yuu (heroic courage, valor),
jin (benevolence, compassion),
rei (respect, polite courtesy),
makoto (honesty, veracity, complete sincerity),
meiyo (honor), and
chuugi (devotion, duty and loyalty)
People I'd invite to dinner:
Tenzin Gyatso, the 14th Dalai Lama;
Afeni Shakur;
Barack Obama;
Mr. "Guess Who's Coming to Dinner" himself, Sidney Poitier;
Bill Russell;
Saul Williams;
Rob Dyer;
and perhaps you
Others: Koko, the gorilla (It would be fascinating to converse with her in American Sign Language.)
I shall heed my father's warning, of a quarter-century ago, opposing bozos. His advice has always been correct. I have an aversion to cliches, yet "father knows best". (The above sign of caution is permanently posted outside of my heart and home.)
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FlyTune International © 2007 - Hiroshima to Los Angeles
Music:
Genres: Hip Hop; R&B; Gospel; Classical
Instruments: Piano; Taiko
Songs: "Canon in D" by Johann Pachelbel; anything sung by my son - i.e. "Rent"; "Give Up the Funk (Tear the Roof Off the Sucker)"; "VeggieTales Theme Song"; "His Cheeseburger"; "Can We Fix It?"; "Thomas' Anthem"; "Dani California"; "Stronger"; "Rehab"; et cetera
Composer:
Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart
Artist/MC:
2pac aka Makaveli
Hip Hop Group:
Public Enemy (Chuck D. was the most socially-conscious rapper of his time.)
Old School Hip Hop Group:
Grandmaster Flash & the Furious Five
Hip Hop Duo:
Outkast
Spoken-Word Artist:
Saul Williams
R&B Band:
Earth, Wind & Fire
R&B/Motown Group:
The Temptations (the David Ruffin era)
R&B Duo:
K-Ci & JoJo (I like K-Ci's deep, raspy voice; especially on 2pac tracks.)
R&B Artist/Songwriter:
Babyface
R&B/Motown Artists:
Stevie Wonder;
Marvin Gaye
Christian Band:
Third Day (the nicest musicians I ever met)
Gospel Artist:
Kirk Franklin
Reggae Artist:
Bob Marley
Rock Band:
The Eagles
Rock Artists/Songwriters:
Elvis Costello;
Don Henley
Female Group:
TLC
Female Artists:
Alicia Keys;
Mary J. Blige;
Gwen Stefani (because, at age 2, my son said, "Gwen Fani my girlfriend.")
Taiko Group:
Kodo
Soundtrack:
Rent (1996 Original Broadway Cast) - "La Vie Boheme"
"I'm Angel!"
"One 'FlyTune' to have black and white vibe in one room" - from "Music" by Erick Sermon
Movies:
Crash - It made me laugh. (Peter and Anthony called all Asians "China men", when there weren't any Chinese people in the film.) It made me cry. (Daniel clutches his daughter in excruciating anguish, when it appears she had been shot after running into his arms.) Best of all and most importantly, it was a catalyst for introspection. (The character I would be least likely to associate with, in life, is the one I developed the most compassion for.)
On the Waterfront - I have fond memories of watching this film, for the first time, with my father. That is part of what makes it so special to me.
Harold and Maude - Prior to graduating from high school, I was required to watch and critique this film, by my marvelously avant-garde multi-subject (Honors English, Creative Writing, Poetry, Shakespeare, English Literature, Psychodrama, Current Affairs, et cetera) teacher. It was an immediate favorite and has remained one ever since. (Another requirement, prior to graduation, was to know how to play chess and to build a chess set.) I am so grateful for everything she required of me.
Seabiscuit - My father fostered my fondness of thoroughbred racing. Although Seabiscuit lived before my father was born, of all the racehorses I have ever cheered on, he is my favorite.
Juice - because Roland Bishop triggered my love for Tupac
Slam - This film introduced me to my favorite spoken word artist and treasured MySpace friend, Saul Williams. His work influenced me to transform my poetry into performances, as a spoken word artist.
Good Will Hunting - This film depicts a life too familiar. I am fond of this movie because the genius of Will and the circumstances of his life remind me so much of my father.
Samurai Cinema:
Kozure Okami (Lone Wolf and Cub) series - The most memorable scene, for me, is when Daiguro finds a way to bring food and water to his ailing father, Ogami Itto. Young Daiguro's ability as a caretaker, his offering in exchange for food, and his ingenious method of transporting water impressed me as a child. Becoming a caretaker myself, I have not since forgotten.
Shichinin no samurai (Seven Samurai)
The Last Samurai
Television:
Television is for watching basketball.
Los Angeles Lakers Basketball - "This game is in the refrigerator: the door is closed, the lights are out, the eggs are cooling, the butter's getting hard, and the Jell-O's jigglin'!" (I miss Chick.)
USC Trojans Football - "Fight On!" (Reggie Bush was the most exciting player to watch.)
Chappelle's Show - "UNITY!" (Episode four of season two is the funniest thing I have ever seen on film or television.)
Books:
Any book of the Holy Bible, especially
The Book of Psalms - My favorite and most frequently read chapter is the 103rd Psalm by David, which contains the words I meditated on as an expectant mother and cancer patient. My most frequently quoted verse: "May the LORD bless you from Zion all the days of your life" - Psalm 128:5 (NIV) I ♥ Zion! I ♥ Zion! I ♥ Zion!
Man's Search for Meaning by Viktor E. Frankl
The Giving Tree by Shel Silverstein - My favorite childhood book
Kindred by Octavia Butler
the book beneath this cover
Heroes:
Jesus, the Α and Ω - No one has endured nor given more.
Moses, the divinely-inspired writer of the Pentateuch and leader of the Exodus
My father, the polymath and raconteur - To merely call him a genius would be understating his intelligence and virtuosity. He is, by far, the most intelligent person I ever met. He is a brilliant man of supreme human intellect. He has all the answers, no matter what the question. He is a chemist by profession, yet an expert in many other fields. He is an extraordinarily talented artist and designer. I consider him my own personal da Vinci. Obversely, he is the original lowrider. He has survived numerous trials, while maintaining a positive attitude and displaying incredible perseverance. He is kind and generous. He has a great sense of humor and is extremely witty. He is a great narrator of facts and details, many of which are hilarious. He makes me laugh. We have a tremendous amount of fun together. I'm Daddy's girl. I cannot imagine my life without him.
My son, my love and my lifesaver - He has literally saved my life. (It is an absolutely awe-inspiring testimony of God. However, it is too lengthy to narrate here.) He is my greatest miracle and my purest blessing. His existence supplies me with strength, motivation, encouragement, and inspiration. He is like my father in many ways. He is a brilliant boy. He is highly intelligent, extremely humorous, and outright hilarious. He is immensely kindhearted, compassionate, and loving. He is fantastically active, agile, and athletic. He is my leading entertainer. He has outstanding comic timing. He continually makes me laugh and smile. No one has ever brought me more joy. He is the best reason I have to celebrate life and express my gratitude. I had no comprehension of my capacity for love, until he arrived. I am forever altered and in love. He is Mommy's boy. I am completely honored and tremendously grateful to be his mother.
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