Monday, July 28, 2008

Bloggin', yes indeed I'm bloggin'!

It has been a long and winding road to find some quiet time to blog. I know that all two of my readers have been eagerly waiting for a post. Of course, they already know what has been going on in my life, so it seems silly to put it into prose. I've not really been in a writing mood lately as I've been doing a lot of writing for my "job" as the Dance Program Coordinator at the NAG. This is not the kind of writing I'd like to do, but it's the kind of writing I've been doing. It's boring, dry and stinky, but it's my job.

I think I do typically have an end of the summer post, which I suppose this is. This summer has been filled with the usual antics: a show to choreograph, esteem to fall, classes to take, classes to plan, election excitement. I'll try to cover them all.

I got the call sometime in March when my defenses were down. It was one of my favorite people in the world, Diane Cloeter. She is the goddess that produces shows for the formerly known as Faribault Area Community Theater. She was calling to see if I wanted to do "Brigadoon" this summer. Deeply respecting and loving this group of people, I said "yes". Boy was that dumb. I didn't even know the show when I accepted. Michael and I frantically checked out the movie from the library. I got a little nauseous while I was watching a very poised Gene Kelly trip through the music and dances. I LOVE Gene Kelly, so this was a painful sight. I also love Cyd Charisse, but her strained accent and pausing looks did not turn me on in this film. I thought I had made a big mistake. A few weeks later I got the music. Oh boy! It was not what I expected at all. It was really difficult to map and to get a hold on, especially not being familiar with the show at all. However, as I listened to it, I started to appreciate it more and realized that the show itself is much different from the movie - in feel and structure. It eventually began to grow on me. Then I learned exactly how many pieces I was going to have to do! ARG! Most of them required extensive re-learning of the Highland Dance that I had so eagerly abandoned in college. I checked out books from Mac on Highland dance, perused the choreography guide by Agnes DeMille, did research online and watched waaaaay too many Expert Village videos done by a very cute UPer whose accent almost killed me. By the time I finished all of the work, I was exhausted and burned out. THEN I had to teach it! The kids and adults were all fantastic! I am always amazed at how willing they all were to take on the crazy challenges I gave them. The result was that I ended up loving "Brigadoon". There were definitely some moments of greatness in the show. No really. The story was typical and sweet, but the outcome was a true labor of love by all of the directors and the people involved. I'm sad to see it go, but glad to be on to my next project. I'll really miss everyone!!

Class has been going very well. It has been consuming a lot of time, but for the most part it's been contained. I really enjoyed the bones class I took in June and got a lot out of my organ work as well. I am now looking forward to our October class on Glands and Singing. Until then I have two more developmental movement classes - spinal and embryonic dances - to get through. I think they will be good - better than when I took one of them last fall. I am eager to find bodies to work on, so if anyone is looking to receive some Global Somatics action, let me know. I'm getting pretty good at it and can't wait to have the full body of knowledge for this wonderful form.

The election has been a huge pain in the ass this time. It was pretty bad last time, but seems worse this time around. I think last time, I was annoyed due to being pregnant and bored with hearing about swiftboats and flip-flops. Negative campaigning is so trite and non-helpful. Of course, I know jack shit about Obama's campaign platform, but I am happy to vote for him based on the fact that he is so darn handsome :) At least Hilary is gone. That was painful! If Obama gets elected, what will we complain about? It would indeed be a sign of some significant revolution in our political system. Let's just hope he doesn't go all "Dream on Monkey Mountain" on us.

So that's about it. I have been enjoying some somewhat restful days lately. Tim came in from LA and we went hiking in Big Woods with him. That was so wonderful. I felt so relaxed after his visit I thought my skin might slide off my body. I am especially giddy about an impromptu visit in early August from my other other half. I feel like a 13 year old girl waiting for Davy Jones to sing "Daydream Believer". I only wish she were staying longer.

There! Is that enough of a post? Oh yeah, and apparently, poop looks like the coral reef. Go figure. Only a three year old who has watched "Blue Planet" waaaay too much would notice that.

Peace. Love. Obama.

Tuesday, February 26, 2008

HA! A Post!!

Weasel!



Doesn't it look like this weasel is just begging someone to pull his finger?

Wednesday, August 22, 2007

OMG! It's a post!

I have about 5 seconds to sum up my summer, so here it is.

Allegedly, I didn't work this summer and yet I have been busier this summer than last summer. That was due in part to directing, which is work, but not work like teaching. It was a relief to not teach every day and mostly fun to direct. Ok, some fun to direct. There was a lot of crap involved in that too. I am a crap free girl. I really just want to run around the park pontificating and not have a stage or makeup or lights or sound or costumes - ok, maybe the costumes, but nothing else. Anyway, I directed "Burial at Thebes", which didn't suck. That's pretty high praise from me. Just ask my RRR kids what I always tell them. So, that pretty much kept me busy most of the summer after I finished up choreography for "Little Shop".

Yeah, that was it. It seems so small written into one paragraph. Lame.

Now, I am getting ready for Jessie Jane's Jamboree II: Kitten Kaboodle. I am very excited to be playing Jessie this year. Woohoo! I've NEVER had a lead in a musical, so this is a thrilling and terrifying experience. I am at once exhilarated and self-loathing. Part of me really wants this and part of me feels I don't deserve it a bit, especially considering the girls who did not get it who are fabulously talented. So, during rehearsals I waver through all of these bizarre emotions until I am on stage and doing my lines or my songs...then nothing matters. I truly have worked hard to get my music and my lines down and am very proud of where I am with both. I just wish I could take some time to really relish this opportunity instead of feeling embarrassed by it. There are just so many fabulous actors/dancers/singers around me that I feel very humbled by where I'm at right now. Oh yeah, and Arianna Bond is seriously gorgeous and young and fabulous and she's playing my nemesis - Kitten - in the play - that may have something to do with it. I just know I am not THAT fabulous!

Aside from that, I am busy with year two of NYC MTW, which is going well. And I'm getting ready to do the High School musical, On the Town. YAY! I'm very excited about that. AND getting ready to teach classes, take a class in the cities and ship Tiny off to Mini-KidsArt at the Guild and possibly circus classes too. ARG! My brain is fried. Basically, don't expect another post for a few more months...

Monday, May 07, 2007

Can't Do Without

I was going to do this on Pat's blog, but thought it was worth a post. Here are my ten "Can't Do Without" songs:


  1. "The State I am In" - Belle and Sebastian: There's something about the sailor friend and being gay and all this other great stuff that really sings to me in this song. I love "Expectations" too, but this song just tops it for me for some reason.


  2. "Y Teimlad" - Super Furry Animals: I don't know what this song does to me, but it makes me happy. When I actually get to do some of my own choreography that is not related to a cheesy musical, I will do THIS song.


  3. "Rio" - Mike Nesmith: You KNEW I was going to have to include at least one Monkees related song on here. This song is dreamy and beautiful and has a killer drum machine beat. Sweet video on "Elephant Parts", too.


  4. Almost anything by Josh Ritter: I listened to Josh Ritter obsessively for the two weeks before my inevitable labor was induced. It really helped my spirits and makes me happy.


  5. "Canada" - Low: No question, this song rocks! Almost everything on this album gets stuck in my head at one time or another. But this one rocks the most!


  6. "Filipino Box Spring Hog" - Tom Waits: Again, almost anything by TW, but this song always makes me want to jam along to the funky wah wah guitar that is not on the album, but was definitely there in concert.


  7. "Fake Plastic Trees" - Radiohead: Thanks to Pat, I love this song. It reminds me inevitably of Los Angeles.


  8. "My Doorbell" or "Hotel Yorba" - White Stripes: I couldn't choose which one of these either. Almost anything on "Get Behind Me Satan" makes me want to kick back with a jug of moonshine and a washboard rhythm section so I can jam with Jack and Meg.


  9. "Dear Doctor" - Rolling Stones: Don't tell Michael, but I LOVE the Stones. This is another song that requires lots of moonshine to really appreciate, but almost anyone can sing it and sound just as good as Mick.


  10. "4th Time Around" - Bob Dylan: It's hard to pick a Dylan song, but this one makes me just want to waltz and play. Of course almost all of "Blood on the Tracks" makes me feel that way too. "Idiot Wind" definitely needs a good dance choreographed to it.



So, I left off Beatles and any actual Monkees' songs and "Pink Moon" and all of those other great pieces of music. Maybe I should have done 15 instead. Oh well. I need to rush off to "Little Shop of Horrors" rehearsal. Yes, it's true, I am actually working with adults! More importantly, the are adults who can dance. Woohoo!! I am waaaay too excited about this. In fact, I may be the only person involved in this show who is really excited. We'll see after tonight if I am so excited...

Monday, April 30, 2007

Another Sophie-ism

"His feet are made of muffins." She sang this at breakfast this morning. I have no clue where this might have even come from, but I thought it might be worth blogging about before I forgot it.

We got a new gazebo last night, two of my shows are now over and I'm getting ready for another one. And I'm finally "self-cleaning" the oven. Woah! Intense. The fun never ends.

Friday, April 20, 2007

Sophie on YouTube!

Here is a video of Sophie telling her jokes. It's not perfect, but she's on YouTube now. Woohoo! A real 21st century baby. Mostly I just wanted to a way to share videos with everyone that didn't involve email. It doesn't come up in the search yet, so I embedded it here!



We'll have a celebration once it hits 1,000 viewers!

Sunday, April 08, 2007

Happy Peeping Easter

Hee hee:



This is my first time embedding and boy does it feel good!