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the high road of silence comes to an end
2010-11-01 00:47:00
How do you make peace with someone that you feel has not only hurt you but has also exploited you? There are those who insist that the higher road is to choose silence.  But is it truly the case that peace is held at bay by time and that healing comes thereafter? I do believe silence is powerful.   Silence soothes heated times.  It prevents careless words of haste to be burned into memories.   It also gives space for words or acts of reconciliation to make a spontaneous appearance. Silence can be like a prayer or blessing placed upon troubled times, feeding a friend in troubled times and choosing conversation that uplifts. But what do you do when that silence becomes imposed in ways that vibe to you to do not ask about their troubles or to ask if things are better?  What do you do with a friend that eats at your table, cannot bring anything to it, and invites questionable people to also dine? Would you recognize that there was a breach in security of your world? Would you cont...
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dancing between the silly and serious
2010-10-29 00:10:00
Something that made me smile.  Life is full of silly and serious. Falling in love, disappointments from false friends, inspiring conversations, cold and cloudy days, flowers from the garden, traffic, and just yesterday… Winning first place at a Toastmaster Competition last night as an evaluator. JNET Hello world.  Jnetsworld has had 66 countries visit.  Canada and the UK currently reading neck to neck. Tagged: favmusicvid, stop acting like a grownup
More About: Dancing , Silly

poem: from jane gault – a reprise
2010-10-21 11:14:00
Inspired by “John Gault’s Radio Address” in Ayn Rand’s “Atlas Shrugged”  I wrote this several years ago…  I bring it forward to encourage a friend… and a reminder to myself that all is not well with the world. Because how you love life passionately is of a different heart. FROM JNET … ie JANE GAULT…. The last of my words I leave to those heros hidden in the world Held prisoner within the beauty of a soul unfurled Of virtue and desperate determination My friends in spirit, keep watch your border For lingering enemies await to bring disorder Hurling hatred upon a path of an honest life Where roads have been laid down with passionate invention and emotions To serve hungry nations of voracious appetites and notions And you are held by means of your endurance As your generousity extends to bear their sorrow and concerns Innocent of their sulfurous hearts as their mind burns A crack on the sidewalk disguishes Their evil in cries of despair And you...
More About: Poem

pas de touche
2010-10-18 23:11:00
The Rue de Cascades piece is my voice for now. The driving bass declares my existence accompanied by a melody that is complex and articulate.   On purpose.  Tiersen contrasts the phrases using dynamics.  There is a loud way to say things and there is a quieter way as well.  The spirit of the piece is my voice… full of sound and fury… yet mindful of the control it takes to execute the piece beautifully. My heart is broken but I refuse to accept the imposed silence.  Playing music reminds me that I am alive… that I have a heart that speaks above the dissonance…. that I love and that passion is never silent. JNET Tagged: being fearless, jnet, music, pistachio

teaching sensitivity
2010-10-15 14:42:00
My student, B is thirteen and he has finally memorized Albeniz’s Capricho Catalán.  We’ve been working on it juxtaposed to Satie’s Gymnopedie No. 1. He favors the Satie piece (not memorized yet) for he plays it with a sensitivity that is remarkable.  It is such a gentle piece with mild dissonances.  He plays it with such intention that the melody floats.  He plays it in such a way that shows me that he is especially connected to this piece. But that sensitivity is not consistent – as if he disconnects from himself a tiny bit during particular measures. The faster and cheerful Albeniz piece needs more detailed study.  It’s busier and perhaps being on purpose and intentional is more demanding.  But how to listen slowly when things are fast?  Such is the dilemma with some.  Slower piece are easier to be present with while faster pieces demand a great deal of attention. He’s already listening in such a way that most grown ups have not trained...
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never deny your own self-respect
2010-10-15 12:35:00
Because there are those who would like you to remain silent in the shadow.  Because there are those who would like to leave you forgotten if you question their accountability. Because there are people who seek out good people to dine at their tables and sleep in their beds but not to share and cherish a memory.  These individuals have a history of broken friendships and a habit of rage to those that question them. Never stay in the shadows and never choose to silence your voice. You are not broken, you are not wrong for loving the wrong person and wanting to be there for them.  You are not a failure for not making it work.  You were a pawn that is now no longer available to the game. You have compassion and love… You are special.  You will love again and you will be loved. You are not alone. JNET This is dedicated to those who step down from the abusive ride of those who forge from destructive wheels of power. Tagged: minding the castle
More About: Respect

oh captain, my captain
2010-10-13 22:30:00
A tale of two leaders… The opportunity of conflict and how one leads to create a resolution brought some insights to me this past week.  I learned that conflict reveals the noble or less than noble character of a leader.  Conflict also reveals one’s value toward something or someone for one is motivated to bring peace and stability to that which one loves and values and as quickly as possible. Would a king sacrifice his queen? By queen, I am not referring necessarily to a literal person but rather a principle or value; something that you stand by and grow with.  And that which you stand by and value defines you as well as your actions. And I’m not talking about some little pet project  or a little nursery rhyme song to arrange.  I’m talking about building a dream; composing a symphony that draws out your heart and soul. This past week, two leaders in my life revealed why I follow one and why I’ve lost feeling any sense of loyalty to another.  I&r...

i was lifted from the shadow
2010-10-11 09:55:00
It takes a very special voice to speak so much and so clearly and richly without being extravagant. I stumbled upon Vlad Yatsina this past week.  I hope he speaks to you as well. JNET Tagged: favmusicvid
More About: Shadow

Peacing Myself
2009-01-15 20:53:00
I am back to a practicing the piano routine, as well as a writing / blogging routine. I have a photography shoot coming up in a few weeks and my dance group is in hiatus.I feel like last year was about painting this huge mural (figuratively). It is now 2009 and I look at the many things I did last year and think... wow... I suppose I was a bit of a mad artist.My piano chops had some fun for a little bit with a spell of intimate concerts at home with a flutist friend who is also a salsa friend. Those little gatherings at home were accompanied with small dance parties . All that sound and music activity gave way to an energy to put into blogging and podcasting. I went a bit extreme in countering my interrupted podcasting life by doing a show everyday for a week or so.. tapering to three a week until dance rehearsals became demanding and coupled with technical difficulties; a break from podcasting was needed.Quieter my life became... summer dance rehearsals kicked salsa off my p...

Odd, Honest, And Beautiful
2009-01-13 23:55:00
Surely there must be others who are living a charmed, odd, beautiful life...It's my flavor.Other flavors I notice from friends,....loves individuality and being outspoken.....loves being supportive and quiet from the sidelines.....loves the obstacle of stressful events to manage and hopefully win over..One can be loud, another quiet... another an adrenaline rush.What's your flavor?JNET
More About: Beautiful , Honest

I Care For No Opinion
2009-01-07 10:08:00
It has been brought to my attention several times that I really ought to watch my thoughts and how I express them.E: Why don't you ask R for his opinion?JNET: If R has something important to share with me, I think he would've shared it by now. Perhaps he trusts my judgement.. And if I really cared for his opinion I would've asked by now.HA: Stay with safe topics and be agreeable. Things will be easier for you, if you take my advice.JNET: You're the only one that seems to have a conflict with my ideas. I don't think you really understand me.HA: You are naive and idealistic. I think I speak for several of your friends. I don't want to mention names and its only for your own good. Get in step.The above is a simple collage of a re-occuring theme. Expressing one's self... even out of compassion and truth doesn't always make perfect landings on everyone....But what if the majority of the people who know me would've never made the conclusions that a slim minority do...
More About: Opinion , Care

PHOTOS: Happy 2009 :)
2009-01-02 21:28:00
I danced into 2008 with reckless abandon. By Spring I was ready to return to the comfort of myself and quiet...I got so quiet that I took a break from writing, salsa dancing, podcasting and playing the piano. Its now 2009 and the most important place to me is the quiet that I find in my solitude.To begin writing again...And being myself again...The borders of jnetsworld have stretched to new horizons. There are not enough words to express who I am now. But perhaps in pictures....Snapshots of 2008...My solitude found a family. (above: E, C and M)My place was no longer only about my music and rehearsals. I danced for pure enjoyment to be with my friends to laugh and play. I am normally not as social as these three have drawn me out and stretched me. These three created the salsa dancer I am today... all great teachers, technique perfectionists, and friends ... who have made permanent marks into my heart and soul.. as well as a permanent home in jnetsworld :)I learned how to m...
More About: Photos , Happy

WORD UP: Unromantizing Christmas
2008-12-17 00:29:00
Madame President, Fellow Toastmasters and Honored Guests:In the spirit of bah humbug, and you don't have a soul sentimentality, I have written for you...Un-romantizing christmas...Friends, we have come to times of great hardship, unsure economic footing, our own car companies running on empty... AND we only have X amount of shopping days to muster a spirit of Christmas , Kwanzaa, Hanukah and Winter Solstice.Now why would I want to unromanticize Christmas in the space of 7 minutes? You've been happily worshiping evergreen trees for generations. Isn't it the season to be jolly, be generous and gift your nearest and dearest while getting absolutely sauced? You have special events and sales at the mall to attend. Doesn't the holiday and year - ending season rush puts adrenaline and calories through your system that count and plan your schedule around?Well I want to one up Mr and Mrs jones... that's why I am going to trump Saint Nick and December 25th in true Hollyday spirit. Y...
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Love Is In The Air... and I Am Feeling Claustrophobic
2008-11-13 08:00:00
My facebook marriages, engagements, and relationships crescendo-ed to a quiet and peaceful single status. Meanwhile my real-time experiments enjoyed some happy practice time with the occasional mess up. I slowly found my un-JNET status of participating in salt shaker activity a bit of a challenge.This silly year has been full of play. The podcasting habit slipped AGAIN, my blog writing routine disrupted - but I can do double turns when I salsa and I've been dancing and performing. Having added Pilates to cross train against dance and yoga, I can continue my ice cream indulgences with E after an evening of dance and then some.And yet, all the ice cream in the world coupled up with fun and affection cannot cover over the growing frustration of having not been productive in my writing and piano practice, leading me to think that dating and a future of salt-shakering... ie pairing up is going to take more mindful thought and discipline. I also entertain the possibility of being a ...
More About: Love , Feeling

Random Thoughts of A Hurried Mind
2008-11-01 10:35:00
2: 35am. Breakfast @ 8am. I'll be missing D's bikram yoga competition. Darn. My piano students. So little quiet time. Busy. And I still can't be still. 2:38am. Dancing salsa @ Sportsmen Lodge was fun. The day was full of serious and silly. Was it really Halloween? Intense over relationship talks with E. Private thoughts intense over things yet to be said. He loves me ... he loves me... and he loves me too. Life is dancing and I linger over the breaks of silence.I only think of you... future... I miss you. Everything is perfect no matter what. Take it seriously but not too seriously. The possibilities are endless.2:45. The adventure. I think of travelling solo and welcome that romance. Sky-diving tandem is fun but jumping alone doesn't fill me with lonliness. I love the excitement of being with myself as I steal into 2:48.2:48. Breakfast with friends. Maybe I can leave a bit later. I'll still miss D's competition. Darn. so hard to be still.... as I remem...
More About: Random Thoughts , Random , Thoughts , Mind

About Kayamanan Ng Lahi :)
2008-09-04 19:16:00
For Immediate ReleaseContact: Ave JacintoAdministrative Director for Kayamanan Ng Lahikayamanan@earthlink.net ~ www.kayamanan.orgPHILIPPINE MUSIC AND DANCE INTERCONNECTUNDER THE STARS AT FORD AMPHITHEATREFour Multi-Disciplinary Folk & Traditional Arts GroupsCollaborate For September 13 Event(Los Angeles - September 4, 2008)The Philippines' rich and diverse culture of dance and music will be presented in celebratory fashion -- under the stars – as Kayamanan Ng Lahi Philippine Folk Arts presents MAGKAUGNAY (“Interconnectedness”), Saturday, September 13, 8 p.m. at The Ford Amphitheatre, 2580 Cahuenga Blvd. East in the Hollywood Hills just off the 101 Freeway across from the Hollywood Bowl.Presented as part of The Ford Amphitheatre's LA Oasis Summer Series, the evening premieres a creative, rarely performed vibrant collaborative numbers featuring a mix of traditional and post-modernist dance accompanied musically by the resounding rhythms of drums and metal gongs, the spellb...

The Stillness Of Me
2008-08-31 06:04:00
Good evening Madam President, Fellow Toastmasters and Honored Guests.My name is JNET and I am presenting my first speech:Seeing me in this dress, you would probably find it hard to believe that I am an introvert. I am someone who romances silence even though I am a musician and teacher. I am someone who appreciates stillness even though I am a dancer.I'd rather hear about you but I have 10 boxes to fill. My ambition tonight is for you to learn a bit about myself by sharing a particular day in my life that occurred, a particular day of the week in my life and how my life is colored thusly. And to also to share in such a way that connects us despite respective cultures, ages, and experience....Firstly, a favorite quote by a wise Jesuit priest...“We are not human beings having a spiritual experience. We are spiritual beings having a human experience.”We are NOT human beings have a spiritual experience. WE ARE SPIRITUAL beings HAVING a HUMAN experience...And what is experien...

Relaxing Within a New York Minute
2008-08-12 20:17:00
I am living the rugged angel life in Los Angeles and it is far from the "relaxed" I'd like to live.Car stress... I do love my bug... unfortunately, a mysterious electrical issue has now stumped TWO specialists. My car is only happy in Los Angeles and totally drains out of juice when it travels over 100 miles.... which means visits to my family in San Diego has been accompanied by a good deal of car stress.I am renting a car tonight instead to head to San Diego.D's mother unexpectedly passed away and I am off to my 4th funeral within the past 24 months. (5th... if you include the little memorial I had for my beta fish at my rose bush). I race back up to Los Angeles to return the rental, teach and go to rehearsal...I am performing at the Ford for their family event series of "edu-tainment" on arts and culture...I'd like to do a million other things to catch up with myself and despite the hiccups of life over car and annoyances, I find I can relax and enjoy random moments. I am ...
More About: New York , York , Relaxing , Minute , New-York

Flying At The Speed Of Joy
2008-07-24 19:23:00
J: "You are very quiet. I don't think you've said ten sentences..."JNET: "It's before noontime. I rarely speak to anyone before then."I stepped out of my world and joined my roommate to celebrate his birthday at Magic Mountain. After several weeks of juggling my schedule, stressing over cars, fitting in family and friends and trying to keep up with rehearsals and exercise, Magic Mountain seemed like a good place to blow my mind.But even the surreal sounds of listening to "It Had To Be You" while being roller-coastered at speeds beyond 80mph, 20 stories above the earth, with pyrotechnics dancing to a mix of heavy metal, didn't blow my mind.Life is already blowing my mind.J: "You are soooo quiet."JNET: "It's noisy in my head."Random conversations while standing in hour plus long lines....Zipping along in roller coasters doesn't do much to scare me. Instead, I am filled with an awe for the engineering and creativity. To enjoy a moment to safely fly and be able to imagine...
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SS: The Accidental Boyfriend
2008-07-09 03:57:00
I'm a bit unravelled.It's a good thing.My current facebook status update: Life and love is interestingly hilarious.I am onto my THIRD facebook marriage of the summer and the only appropriate thing I can think to say to my prospective real time suitors is..."Welcome to JNETSWORLD:)"I do not know how most people do it... living it Noah on a daily basis. Together conversations and together times bumping against the Independent Meditation. Life in the carpool lane is not everyone's experience.It's exciting and un-nerving.Un-nerving because I am happy and wonder what more can I want in having someone's life align with mine. Un-nerving because conversations and thoughts are more demanding. I must balance self ambition and develop a shared dream in order to build possible futures with another person.I feel like I've started a brand new company and I'm not the only president.E: "You are incredibly rational."JNET: "A couple of my guy bestfriends have voted me as such."E: "Don...
More About: Boyfriend

PHOTO: Obituary of a Teddy
2008-07-05 22:46:00
*as written by gordonopolousTEDDY. Passed away July 4, 2008 at the age of one and a half weeks.Teddy was a lifelong Los Angeles resident, born into a modeling career and faithfully served as an inspiration to the Women's group for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, Manhattan Ave branch. With his talent and cute, cuddly looks, he effortlessly won a role as a demonstration for a cake decorating class held at the church. He was then scheduled to travel to an Eagle Rock bowling alley to serve as a going away gift to a friend of the church, but that assignment never materialized due to an error by his creator in which he was inadvertently left behind and forgotten. He never recovered from this traumatic event.After retiring, he served the remainder of his days in nearby Studio City, at the home of fellow Christians, where he became a centerpiece for their kitchen table. His realism and outgoing personality easily won him many friends and he became quite popular in his...
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Life In Wonderland II
2008-07-04 09:44:00
A reflection on a reflection... two years later...Do I change, evolve or pretty much remain the same???**************This is how I feel about Life a lot of the time.My friends endearments make me feel put on pedestals. And though I may throw myself freely into unknowns that stretch imagination and reality...I am afraid of heights and terrified of going to new places sometimes.Though I make friends easily, love how beautiful the world of people is diverse and wild like a garden...I feel incredibly claustrophobic at many times and have a strange wish that I had powers to render myself invisible. I distance myself from others with structures of esoteric knowledge and find my most blissful moments alone.Though I may lead a spontaneous life, finding adventures at strange turns, and wander into new worlds alone..I prefer the serenity and saneness of quiet days with good friends where little needs to be said and nothing is amiss in standing still.Though I am told that I am beautiful, held ...

SS: Composing a Symphony and Not a Jingle
2008-07-01 22:08:00
E: "What are you looking for?"JNET: "Truth... True Love"I've never had a confidant; a someone to share my every day thoughts with. Ever....Ever...ever... ever. And I never craved that type of audience. Being happy with my life never entailed a captured or captivated witness. A full life is difficult to unload every day plus the given divine moment is sacrificed.Every person who's known me from birth knows that I am as happy catching up with a friend once a week as the person I catch up once a year and that I take no offense if time stretches longer than that. If I need to work out my thoughts, I rarely run to a friend.I work out my thoughts alone, at the piano bench, at my yoga practice, in my writing. And then I go to my friends to let them know of my plans of how I intend to handle the situation. At that point I have rehearsed scenarios in my mind in how I would like my life to play out.I am an introvert that finds fuel in the silence of life that practices understandin...
More About: Symphony , Jingle

SS: Salt Shaker Experiment Part TWO
2008-06-27 22:24:00
My roommate asked me if I can marry him for a week.The single click ease of facebook marriages makes for an interesting experiment. It's like running through sugar glass; acting the part with a lowered chance for pain while having the advantage of playing out a scenario.Call it therapy for chronic singles that dread the prospect of coupledumb... I mean... coupledom. The status update is a purposely generated flirtation.... not with each other but rather with the concept. Dare I admit it, I am flirting with the idea of getting married... to someone... someday... at my insanely deliberate pace that is not in step with the common crash and burn world.A part of me wants to be apathetic.Isn't the world of salt shakers a boring dialogue of "what did you do today" "what do you want to eat" "where do you want to go" questions that are repeated ad nauseum until you are entranced or terrorized to bury your self in "partnership"? I want to be inspired. I want to be inspiring... not l...
More About: Experiment , Part , Salt

Feeling Heavy in a Zen Sort of Way
2008-06-27 07:23:00
I go through moments where I am sitting in the chair of emotions and then shortly, visited by lengths of peace. Disappointment and sadness punctuated the hours. The practical side of myself looked at these moments as ego based and in the peace of detachment....I look to the future.I expect a miracle.A miracle? Like a walking across the water miracle? No... but something wonderfully unexpected, gracefully creative, captivatingly honest and inspiring. That's my dream. It makes walking away from anything less, easier.Shall I let myself be free into the unknown to meet truth and my dream or shall I accept less and live a life caged in mediocrity and hopelessness? Sadness had exhausted me over the week. It stole the wind out of my week's dear victories and joys. But I remember the moment when a clearing came to pass. "To be happy is only to have freed one's soul from the unrest of unhappiness"-Maurice MaeterlinckI spent the week in silence, too sad to play the piano, heavy he...
More About: Sort , Heavy , Feeling

SS: Crashing From the Dopamine Or This Thing Called Love
2008-06-26 14:25:00
It was a brain dropping perhaps, the downswing of a dopamine high.For a little while, life seemed perfect. I didn't need to sleep and I was exceptionally happy. Happy to be charmed and outwitted. A fault in theory did not hold up to argument and debate.He could not make a case and I could not hold my regard.I was surprised that I hadn't lowered my head from the clouds sooner. I suppose I can blame it on a darwinian fever; a human nature lending me to feel strongly emotional.A shot blasted through my little heaven and the balance was tilted. I found no landing; no steady ground to stand upon.I fell.For several days now, I've allowed silence to settle in me. I fasted and sought ways to iron out my thoughts from my fantasies. Was I a part of an unfolding miracle or was I simply riding out a chemical reaction?The beauty of it was fleeting. All songs and music over it was muted. And I found myself in a cage, feeling hungry when I have never suffered from hunger... the air ...
More About: Love , Thing

SS: Courting The Dreams of My Mind
2008-06-24 22:02:00
Despite a life spurning salt shaker ritual as plebian, I cannot say that I do not dream of love.Los Angeles can be a very isolating, maddening and lonely place. I listen to those who lament the loneliness of not possessing a partner. I listen to those who hurt for not being possessed. I am only inspired further to seek the uncommon to trump my doubts.JNET: "I'm looking for a king."E: "A king?"JNET: "But a specific type of king. There are many kinds of kings and I am looking for the best one for me."I have crossed paths with many kings and the mathematician was my favorite. But like Queen Sheba who spent a season with King Solomon sharing riddles and wisdom, I had returned to rule my world with lessons from admiring someone so powerful and kind. His deliberateness in silence, word and action amazed me for I never met anyone as mindful and unhindered. He claimed everything in his path. Not many people show such dominion and grace. I usually meet people who'd rather live ...
More About: Dreams , Mind

SS: Practicing Salt Shaker Life
2008-06-12 12:11:00
Notoriously single, I decided to get married the easiest way I knew possible;I married one of my facebook buddies...JNET: "E, do you mind confirming me as your wife? If you don't mind playing along, I'd like to marry you this week."The announcement... specifically, my facebook status update, coincidentially landed during a weekend I was planning to visit Las Vegas for the first time. Predictably, the plan was cancelled.My first hello came from a friend in Kuwait... followed by half a dozen others from around the country...A: "You got married !! OMG !! Congratulations !!! All the best sis :)"Close friends suspected I would be spontaneous enough for a Vegas wedding but the glaring clue that made it questionable was that they all knew I will only marry on a specific date. I also began putting up crazy updates to entertain my friends to clue them in that I was playing a game... such as;"JNET is honeymooning to planet XYZ in an ice cream truck..... JNET is drawing out her wedding ...
More About: Life , Salt

Hate is Good?
2008-06-09 21:54:00
Last month, I went shooting and I checked out a self-defense class.Lessons I learned:If someone points a gun at you, RUN... it's hard to keep your target unless you are a really good sharp-shooter.and...Being able to defend myself is going to take more than a few classes. It is all muscle memory. Like learning music, nothing will play out right unless you practice A LOT...G. attended Krav Maga with me and we left with our respective opinions of the class. After practicing our punches with partners who were holding practice pads, we closed the hour with two 30 second sessions of pelting a bag that each person had to straddle.Having just one 30 second go at punching was surreal and by the time I was at my second punching go, I had to stifle myself from breaking out into laughter. Being aggressive to throw punches on my bag felt very strange and I started to wonder...Would I be assertive enough to protect myself should I come upon a situation that demanded my wits? Fight or fligh...
More About: Hate , Good

Trampled and Doing Alright
2008-06-06 22:15:00
Last Friday evening turned my insides out.E. showed up to my door with a dozen pink roses and a birthday card. He had just flown in from Florida and I was dressed up for an evening out on the toon. After a quick hug, he announced...E: "I just got a call. A is in the hospital. She got trampled by her horse."I put the roses and card aside and grabbed my purse and an ill feeling overtook me. I can't take another death, I thought to myself. I'm still recovering from losing B. last winter and helping her mom sort out her apartment and things. Blast that horse, I knew I should've discouraged her from taking it after it had killed its last owner.JNET: "Let's go."I didn't say much en route to the hospital. A's condition was a mystery. Her friends that were with her didn't give us much to work with. We drove to Thousand Oaks full of worry.A. had become the darling of the emergency room. Considering that her horse had lost its footing while racing at top speed and A had fa...
More About: Alright