#lt vets

[ushi-la-la]

2015 WOD Industry Awards Recap

I had a blast at the 2015 WOD Industry Awards!!!!  I had about 1 ½ hours of waiting time before my flight back to Houston from Phoenix, so I just figured—why not type out this Recap? Here’s my selfie while I was on the flight from LA to Phoenix on Wednesday:

 ….I think that was plenty of time to type out my Recap (all from memory—no notes)!  :D

This was my first time visiting Los Angeles, & the weather was GORGEOUS outside!!! Here are some pics of my UPGRADED Hotel Room & the views outside of the window:

I was very tired once I arrived in LA, so I didn’t go out much (I wanted to reserve my energy for the Awards Show). Boy did I make the RIGHT     decision…. 0_0

The next day, I got dressed in a purple maxi dress (there are pics of me in it floating around IG via @sankofarida…lol) & headed out to the 2015 WOD Industry Awards with my LT Vets Family. We arrived @ the venue—Avalon Hollywood—@ 6pm, & we were pretty much the first ones in line. They let us into the building @ 7:15pm, & there was a red carpet that ended with a huge WOD back-drop where they were allowing the nominees / presenters to take photos. We waited near the bar-area in the Lobby that was also nearby. Once LT arrived (@ 8:15pm), they ran into Kim Gingras, who's also a dancer that was on Tour with Beyoncé (the hug Lau gave her was SO cute…..awwwwww). They then took plenty of photos on the red carpet, & did an interview (rapping was included) as well. Here are a few pics of them being interviewed by Fik-Shun:

The layout of the venue: basically the 1st floor was reserved for     VIP (nominees/presenters/etc.), & everyone else who purchased a     General Admission Ticket was placed on the 2nd floor (that included me). 

OK…Here Was The Plan: I’m sorry, but I (along with other LT Vets) was NOT about to spend the entire evening on the 2nd floor while all the fun was happening on the 1st floor/VIP area. The way the balcony on the 2nd floor was set-up made it basically impossible to view the main stage from there. I mean, there were flat screens on the top left/right of the venue, but there wasn’t a camera pointed at the presenters/winners on stage (that would have been a good idea to do…that way the people on the 2nd floor can see what was going on by viewing the flat screens). Everyone on the 2nd floor was standing to try & see anything over the balcony. I pretty much just sat down on what seemed like a couch (each sitting area had pillows/cushions that made it resemble a couch). Here’s a picture of the stage from the 2nd floor balcony & also LT downstairs chilling at their VIP Table (a bit blurry, I know….but we were about to make this a better view—up close!):

The first award given out that evening was the category LT were in—but JaJa Vankova won that award (Simple Mobile Game Changer Freestyle Award). We didn’t know if LT would stay around for the entire show after that, but they actually did (WOOP!).

Plan Continued: I told everyone in our group that as soon as the host (Ricky Cole) said the words to conclude the awards show, we would all head downstairs to the rope that opened for VIP Guests only—& stare the bouncer down. We were going to get into that VIP area—& we did!     We all formed a human chain and snaked our way towards LT’s VIP Table (there were about 9 of us)—I just told them to don’t let go of each other’s hands & to keep moving. Don’t stop AT ALL! We all made our way to LT’s VIP table (Leni was there, too :D ), & we got our usually hugs/kisses from the boys (Larry’s kisses on my cheek are always nice—-he smelled great, too). Lau is more spontaneous with his kisses (he kisses you when you least suspect it)—I didn’t get one from him this night…. but read on..

The DJ then started to play some good music to start the After-Party! Larry was having a good time dancing with Harmoniee & Saibra—I think someone got that on video somewhere—-WOOP! Here is a Gif/ a few pics of LT & LT Vets dancing together, including kitamulathamsampier​, jaidenichole​—we were all having a GREAT TIME:

Kim Gingras was dancing w/ Lau et Larry—here’s a pic of her & Lau:

Larry then passed right in front of me where I got him in this pic 0_0 

           Right after this pic was taken, he stuck his tongue out at me, but he was            so close to me, I had to back up a bit…he would have reached my own              lips if I wouldn’t have moved backwards…0_0

Larry et Laurent then created their own cypher, & everyone (including me) crowded around them. There were a few people who were trying to stand in front of me, but——no…so sorry. Here are a few pics of their cypher, & I was able to get some videos, too! Click on 1, 2, or 3 to view cypher videos (notice any other dancers in my videos???  :D  )!

At one point, Lau got very hot. He ended up sitting on the top of a couch with me, sitting to my right. He was fanning himself with his shirt. He then needed to get to his VIP Table (it was located up some stairs, behind the couch I was sitting on), so he got down from the sofa, then squeezed     passed me on the couch b/c it was so tightly packed near us. He placed his hands on my knees as he went by, & I asked him “is there something I can help you with, sir?” Do you know that this tall, French guy SMILED at me…then continued towards his VIP table….LAU! 0_0 

There was a guy that kept trying to vibe with Larry during the end of the   cypher, but I think Larry was getting tired/would rather vibe with Lau.

There was also a time where Larry et Lau separated from each other & danced with separate cyphers—they got back together to dance @ 15 minutes later…lol.

I read somewhere that someone wanted to see Lau flip his new hair—I think I witnessed that about 5 times…his hair kept falling over his eyes….he used his beanie to push his hair back… 0_0

The After-Party ended @ 12am (an hour early), & we all did our regular   farewells with LT (I got another kiss on my right cheek from Larry—but it was more of a wet kiss b/c he was so sweaty from all of that dancing—BUT I’LL TAKE IT!). We also met their friend, Roy (he made an appearance in Video #1 above)—he’s a really nice guy!

We ended the night as us LT Vets & other people that were at the awards show (Fik-shun & Tight Eyes were also there) found a 24-hour diner to get some grub (we were all starving)—then we all headed back to our hotels/homes.

What a great night! I can’t wait to do this again REALLY SOON…wait…did I just give out a clue? Make sure to keep your eyes & ears open…there will be some very good news about an event that’s coming up pretty soon!  :D

 P.S.: How are my Recaps going? Are they any good? Should I continue with these….or nah?

—Ushi

:D

[ushi-la-la]

LT WOD Las Vegas Recap

VEGAS—always buzzing with excitement! Since we had nicer, cooler weather, that made this an even more enjoyable trip! I am going to attempt to type my recap of WOD Las Vegas from memory as I did not get a chance to write anything down/jot down notes… 0_0 :

Vegas: the city that never sleeps. A couple of photos throughout my stay of Vegas (including a mandatory stop at Bachi Burger where I always stop at when I’m in Vegas…& a FREE Upgrade for my hotel room…LOVE those hotel perks! WHOOP!):

I arrived with my LT Vets Family (came to the stadium with 1 other LT Vet….was pleasantly surprised to find 2 other LT Vets waiting at the venue…. :D  ) @ Cashman Center (C.C.) @ 3pm—but there was already a VERY long line. There was a bit of confusion in regards to where people should stand/buy tickets, but security & the WOD Volunteer Staff helped to correct that. It took approx. 45 minutes to enter C.C., & it kind of felt like a mad rush to get inside (people were very anxious to get in). I was able to get a FRONT ROW SEAT—WHOOP! Here is a photo I was able to get from being that close to the stage:

When the program finally began @ 4:15pm, they let us know that the Main Theater was where all of the dance performances would be happening & that another Hall nearby would showcase the All- Styles Battles. I thought that they would announce a specific time as to when the battles would begin, but they did not…more on that subject a little later…

After multiple dance performances & handing out the first round of trophies to winners, they started the Meet & Greet @ 5:45pm. LT was more towards the middle of the table, & they had people sitting in the seats between the middle of them…lol. LT first wanted to sit at the end of the table….that is where you see Lau lying on the table….trying to cover up those last chairs at the end…LOL. This is the best pic I could get of silly Lau (if only those 3 people in front of him would have MOVED…GRRR) & I managed to get a few other pics as I was getting closer to the panel table:

During the Meet & Greet, my LT Vets Family went to the stage together & once again were met with hugs/kisses from LT. Lau practically got up on the table trying to hug kitamulathamsampier 0_0….I wonder if someone got video of that…… 0_0

Since I still hadn’t heard what time the All-Styles Battles were starting, I decided to search right after the Meet & Greet. When I found the Hall for the All-Styles Battles, they were already in the Quarter-Finals Round. :(    I was able to get some video of Larry dancing—click here. I was also able to get video of the Semi-Finals Round with both Larry et Laurent—click here. Note Larry’s face @ 9:10—he is VERY protective over his Bro  0_0

After the winners were announced as to who were going to the Finals Round (& that Round would be done @ the Main Theater Stage where the other dance performances were being held at), Laurent et Larry ran into fellow Veteranz Crew Member Shondra! Here’s a Gif of Larry & Shondra re-united (& it feels so goo-o-o-d):

Lau then looked as if he was about to pass out, so he ran outside to go get some air (it was a bit stuffy in the Hall for the Battles). I went outside with him to make sure he was ok, & he said, “Where’s Larry?” I knew they needed to head back to the Main Theater Stage b/c their performance was coming up. I told him “Larry was still inside the Hall, chatting with other people…did you want me to go get him for you?” Lau said, “Yes, please!” So, I went back inside the Hall, found Larry, & told him that Lau wanted him outside. I grabbed his pocket near his tummy on his sweatshirt….kind of guiding him towards the exit (y’all know I just guide them gently…lol)…& he followed me outside to where Lau was standing. Lau had his SoloWheel, so we all walked/travelled back towards the Main Theater together.

As LT went backstage, My LT Vets Family went back to our seats in the Main Theater…& they were just beginning to introduce each special performance dancer /judges on stage (LT were the very last performance of the night). Here’s my video of their performance. They did the same performance from WOD Honolulu, but their Freestyle parts were different (of course).

Right after their performance, the All-Styles Battle Final Round began. Here’ s a pic & a Gif of LT on stage:

Here’s my video of the final battle. LT were declared the winners! WHOOP! Lau then started to hug the giant speakers on stage….

WOD announced the final winners of the dance performances that evening (LT got an award for winning the All-Styles Battle), & that was the end of the program (& the final WOD of 2014).

Afterwards, The LT Vets chilled in the Lobby as we waited to say our farewells to LT. We saw Larry run from the Backstage area (connected to the main Lobby) out into the Lobby because he saw familiar faces (I recognized those guys from this YouTube Video) & gave each of those guys hugs. Lau followed him, but laid his SoloWheel out in the Lobby area to where someone could trip over it if they didn’t see it (there were a lot of people exiting through the Lobby at that time). I noticed that, & I picked up Lau’s SoloWheel—THAT THING IS HEAVY! WHAT IN THE WORLD?!?!?!??!?!? After Larry et Lau met their friends, Lau came back to the area where he thought he had laid down his SoloWheel. Y’all should have seen his face…LOLOLOLOL!! I yelled out “Laurent…..LAURENT!!!!” He found me holding his SoloWheel, & his face turned from sheer horror to a sigh of relief. He told me “Thank you—you didn't have to do that.” Then I said, "But Lau—I didn't want anyone to trip over it….or take it away from you. I know that SoloWheel was a very expensive item." 0_0 Lau then told us to “stay right there…I find you later on.” So, we continued to chill inside of the Lobby. Security then started to push everyone outside, so we waited outside for LT in the cold weather. About 15 minutes later, they came out front to where we were waiting. They took pictures with fans first, as we are accustomed to greet them last before we headed out. Larry headed out first, but not without kissing each of our cheeks before he left (he was in a rush to go somewhere). Lau spent some more time with us….even asked if anyone took video of the All-Styles Battles b/c he wanted to watch it in his car (Marina had brought the car closer to him….it was cold outside, & she had warmed the car up; Lau was sitting in the front, passenger seat). Lau then noticed that a few of us were shivering from the cold (@ 47 degrees F) & asked if we wanted to sit in the warm car. 2 LT Vets gladly got into the back 2 seats of the car, while Lau asked me if I was cold…& he gave up his seat for me…..awwwww. He then walked around to the driver’s side, asked Marina if he could get in (quoi?) then Marina was squished in the middle b/n Lau & I….Lau is too crazy…LOL! He was watching the Battles on someone else’s cell phone….please note…..LT had a flight to catch @ 1am, & they needed to head back to their hotel to get their luggage. After @ 20 minutes, we all hugged Lau (I think I got about 3 hugs from Lau that evening, & he had a slight smell of sweat from all of that dancing…so I smelled like Lau for a few hours 0_0 ). We said our goodbyes (I hope he caught his flight…it was @ 11:45pm when we left 0_0) ….grabbed some In-N-Out to-go, & headed back to our hotel.

This was my 6th time in Vegas, & each time is totally different than the last time. With this being only my 2nd WOD Event that I’ve attended, all things were great except the small hiccup with the set-up at the beginning (they just needed some help organizing the lines). Their event will just get better & better, just like Lau tweeted a few minutes ago that “he can do better.”

 Not a bad recap—with all of this just being from memory with officiallestwins…. 

Until next time…& I think I need to get my passport for the next event..hint, hint!!!

;)

—Ushi