i am the biggest nerd ever...

i've always been a geek. there, i said it.

over a year ago, i don't even remember where i heard about it from, but i saw or someone mentioned to me this awesome awesome new video by someone who i perceive as an independent artist, who had a really cool video out:

 

now, can i just say....i love this video. if you've never seen it, please go watch it. it's worth it, i swear, i will wait....
...
..
.

back? okay, good. i work attached to a marketing department, although i sort of consider myself the geek attached to all these creative geniuses. i have spent a lot of my life contemplating largely useless things. things like color, colors by themselves and in combination, color creation, composition, space, how to create positive and negative space, how we interact with our world, one-two-and-three dimensional space, things like that. many people have, and many people have just a little too much time on their hands. that would be me, apparently. i also love how technology adds to this mix and how innovative, creative and awesome mixed-media stuff can be.

so, i've had this video saved on youtube for over a year. occasionally with youtube, one must go through and clean out their stuff, because some stuff you had bookmarked or saved violated someone's copyright, causing the dreaded infringement, so videos have been removed, or moved into a category called vevo where youtube can make you watch a commercial for each video you want to see. LAME...but that's another talk for another time...in watching this video again, near the end, there's a little red bubble that says "watch 'Her Morning Elegance' behind the scenes", and it's a hyperlink, so i click on it:

 

turns out, once the video was made and got a lot of attention for it's ingenuity, those taking the original still photographs broke down the video again into its component parts of 2096 individual photographs. now, they are selling them, only one copy of each photograph will be sold world wide. this speaks to me on so very many levels! it makes my little geek heart go squeeee! now, i have no idea if i will be able to come up with $250 for a single art print. as art goes, that's not overly expensive, but when yer a poor brown girl just trying to keep her house some days and saving for world domination travel, i don't know. but....i will pick one out, and keep my eye on it. perhaps the fates will smile upon me and i will end up with one.

how small our world has become that people in all different parts of the world can own a piece of this amazing, innovative video. i SO want to own a piece of this historical undertaking! here's a link to the site that's organizing it: Her Morning Elegance Gallery (link opens in new window).

yeah, i know.

i've reached new levels of geek.

and i'm okay with that.

peace, and happy friday, next week is thanksgiving, what are you thankful for?!?

Updatin'

So, the Hazards of Love is going amazing. I feel incredibly privileged to be a part of this group of amazing performers and people. Here's some youtube-age if you are interested in what we have done with things...

When moving this post, I discovered that the old Hazards videos were gone. I don't know if Jill removed them because they were not the most current iteration of the show, but I loved those videos, they were a moment in time and a memory. I am sad, but no one can take away the pictures. See below...it was a beautiful show I was proud to be a part of....(added 4/21/15 when transferring)
 
Life is very busy work-wise for me, too. I have been doing event staffing/security stuff for Lawlor Events Center and UNR Football and Basketball, and that's been more fun than I thought it would be. This weekend will be a cold game, outside, during the day. It's supposed to snow. BUT, I bought these groovy new gloves that I can give a blow job to and they will warm my hands. I will let everyone know how that works out and might even follow-up with pics...

Last weekend, I was lucky enough to get to see, arguably, three of Tribal/Fusion Belly Dances most famous, talented, amazing artists. Rachel Brice, Zoe Jakes and Mardi Love, who form The Indigo, brought Le Serpent Rouge to Reno. It ended up being a sold out show, which was very cool. I hope some promoters take that to heart and realize Reno can support such cool events =)

Here's the graphic:

It was a really, really good show and I have a new hero in Mardi Love. She was amazing. She wore this skirt that I wondered how it stayed on her body, but stay it did, she looked awesomely hot and she was very, very good. Here's a pic of her, taken by my friend Lisa Fisher:

Photo by Lisa Fisher

Truly a Goddess!

Here is one of my favorite "poses' if you will, from Hazards. This is Ms. Sharon, cradling Lindsy, who plays Margaret, but it's one of the things that struck me from the first time I saw the show run through. Beauty in motion!

Photo by Edward Hennessey

Even exhausted, I am so lucky to have my life. All these moments mean so much....life is amazing! This is a rough time of the year for me....as it gets closer to the time when my mom passed away. I can't believe it's been four years! I still miss her every single day, and I hope she would be proud of me, living this life.

For the rest of this week.....practice Thanksgiving, Football, more Hazards, dancing, and more more more beauty!

Peace!

The Decemberists...

So, I have this friend. She's a really awesome friend, and I've known her for over 30 years. We lost a lot of time in the middle there, but we spent some time together just yesterday and talked about how easy it was to talk to each other just because we both seem to "get" the same things =) This friends name is Jill, and she is producing a show that I agreed to stage manage for...

I won't pretend that I'd really heard of the Decemberists before she started talking about doing this show, but after seeing a rehearsal, I am excited about what this will be like. I am excited about working with Jill, and I think this show is going to be amazing. Here is the poster:

And here's the press-release-y information about the show:

Hazards of Love- A Tribute to the Decemberists.     Produced and Performed by  The Juxtaposeurs:  Jill Marlene and Company

The Hazards of Love is a Folk Rock Opera written by the incredibly diverse and virtuosic Indie band "The Decemberists" and it is being staged and performed live by some of Reno's premier musical and dance talent. Hazards of Love is an Mythical tale of two lovers who meet by chance through the veil that separates the mundane from the Magical. In a dark forest, called a Taiga, the heroine, Margaret, ventures beyond the safety of her village into the strange mystic woods where she happens upon a wounded creature. As she stops to help, the creature transforms into a man and they fall instantly in love. There is - as there always is in the darker fairy tales - a deadly twist. The lovers must face the jealous wrath of the great forest queen and the lust of the bold and remorseless villain.

The Show is staged with full ballet including aerial silks, classical and some modern movement. All music is live and features a wide variety of studio performers, professional musicians and a few extremely precocious youth. Part of proceeds will be given to the Reno High School Orchestra for instrument acquisition, repair and replacement.

Audiences are encouraged, should they so desire to dress in "old timey" or Steampunk attire... just for fun.

Directed and Produced by Jill Marlene, Musical Direction by Raymundo Silva and Chris Nelson, Choreography by Lindsy Roberts and Company.

November 12th, 13th 18th and 19th at 8 pm.~ Doors at 7
November 21st at 3 p.m. doors at 2 

All Performances at The Great Escape in the Sports West Plaza
Tickets are $10 and are available by calling 775-225-4421 At Prism Magic clothing and gifts or at the Melting Pot World Emporium

Cast:
Music~
Director, Producer, Voice of "The Queen"~ Jill Marlene
Musical Direction, Keyboards, Voice of "the Rake"~ Chris Nelson
Musical Direction, Recording Engineering and Bass Guitar- Raymundo Silva
Drums and Recording Engineering~ Tom Gordon
Guitar, Banjo, Co-production and Voice of "William"~ Gabriel Hiiton
Keyboards, Bass Clarinet, Creative Consultation and Vocals~ Kaitlin Oki 
Voice of "Margaret"~ Mary McNeill
Violin~ Bryan Macauliffe
Guitar, Mandolin and Banjo Instruction~ Doyle Wayne Stewart 
Electric Guitar~ Steve Widmer

Children (vocals and movement):
Charlotte~ Elaina Joy Snyder
Dawn~ Elsa Robison
Isaiah~ Ethan Robison

Cast (Movement)
All movement was largely choreographed by the cast under the supervision of Lindsy Roberts

Margaret~ Lindsy Roberts
William~ Nathan Robison
The Queen~ Erika Tauchen
The Rake~ Rory Dowd
THE FOREST~
Brave Legend
Lara St. John
Michael Enns
Kat Rosen
Sharon Neville
Teresa Moiola.

Stage Manager~ Danielle Gann-Lind

Post Performance entertainment~
12~ Mark Earnest,
13th~ the Electric Catfish
18th~ Michelle Pappas
19th~ Todd South
21st~ Gabe Hilton followed by the Grups.

It should be a good time.

You should come.

Really.

Peace.

gender politics...

before i go further let me just say that while pursuing my college degree, i got a minor in women's studies, so gender politics and such have always interested me and been absolutely fascinating to me.

so, in examining what's been happening in the world lately, we recently celebrated national "coming out" day (October 11th in the US and October 12 in the UK). sort of on the heels of that, in my mind, is the recent campaign by some media outlets championing the "it gets better" campaign, after a rash of suicides from young people who were either bullied or victimized because of their sexuality or something about them in general, often the perception or actuality that they are gay. honestly, people, who cares? at any rate, here are a couple of recent really awesome thoughts on the subject....

this was posted to the "women of khaki" email list, which is a list who's members are all female black rock rangers, and it's a blog about a mom who got some serious crap because her five year old son wanted to be Daphne for Halloween:

My Son is Gay

The second thing are two videos that I very much admire for the message they send as part of the "it gets better" campaign. Tim Gunn of Project Runway fame, and President Obama. I am sure there are other admirable videos, these are just two that struck me.

Tim Gunn:

President Obama:

 

I love that this is an issue that people like our president and prominent public figures feel is important enough to create public service announcements for. It's stuff like this that gives me hope.

 Peace.

AUTHENTIC Reno Celtic Celebration...

First, a little background information...a couple of years ago, I began reading these books. These books are about Celtic people in general, and Scottish Highlanders in particular. I am here to tell you, NOTHING has captivated my interest in a long time, like these books. The books are by Diana Gabaldon, and it is the Outlander series. Jaime and Claire are two of my hero's, and I can't wait to see what happens to them next! Hunky Highlander!

I have, at many times in my life been an absolutely avid reader, but I am one of those people that once I read a book, I cannot reread it. Until Diana's books. There is so much to them, and there is so much detail and HISTORY in them, that one cannot help but reread. The first time, you want to know what's happening in the STORY. Subsequent times show you what you missed. Not intentionally, but skimmed over because you were worried about WHAT CAME NEXT. These books are awesome! My geek-love for Diana reached unknown boundaries when I began to participate in an online forum she also frequents, the Books and Writers Community, originally through Compuserve, purchased by AOL, yadda yadda. I've interacted with Diana a few times, and she seems like a pretty cool person. Anyway, moving on...

I began to learn and absorb things about Celtic culture. I was raised by mom, my dad died about a month before I turned seven, so what little family traditions and such we grew up with, came from her. Her background is Hispanic and Native American, but there was NO NA influence in our lives. At the time my mom came of age, people with Native blood learned to be VERY ashamed of it.

What I never thought about until this couple of years ago, is that the other half of my heritage is IRISH! I am half Celt too! Hey, that's ME!! I think. We didn't keep in close contact with whatever was left of my dad's family, so I am not 100% sure, but my dad looks like an Irish guy. Red hair, never tanned, super white skin, and from stories told, he definitely handled the drinking gene. I began to get interested in Celtic things and learn what I could.

For the second year now, at the beginning of October, I spend a weekend getting some serious Geek on. Our local folks hold a Celtic Celebration, and last year was my first one, although I understand they've been doing it for awhile. This year, I got to see amazing things, and meet really cool people. One of the most AMAZING things I saw was HIGHLAND COOS!!

They were so cute! I wanted to take them home, but I don't think that would have been good. Although their pens were about the size of my backyard, I don't think they would have liked it much =)

Saturday, we had an awesome day! We met amazing people and it was BUSY! Sunday was just as amazing, but moreso because we had AUTHENTIC WEATHER:

Folks who know how seldom it rains in Reno know what a site this was! It was beautiful! To me, it made the celebration that much more special! I also got to meet an amazing and awesome Scottish couple from near Edinburra (Edinburgh). There son was giving some sort of talk, and his mom said "He's a good laddie". It was awesome. Then there was the Irish guy who walked up and said "Do ye take crrrrreeeedit cccaaarrrds?" None of the other folks working the front could understand him, and I did! So I got the pleasure of telling him where the ATM machine was, but he could have burrrrred at me all day and I would die a happy woman!

At one point, a small group of three young men strolled to the entrance gate, where I was working, one of them had a plaid on, bare legs and what looked like knee high Jack boots. The boots were playa-fied, so I said to him "Those boots look playa-fied". "Yep," he says, "In fact, this whole outfit was gotten for Burning Man". We laughed and I wished him an enjoyable time at the Festival.

The quote of the day came at the very end. A piper came down the hill, past the front gate and returned a little while later with some friends, who asked "We heard you were giving away free t-shirts. Is that true?" Well, we had discounted the t-shirts, but weren't giving them away, so we said so. A little while later, this same man drives towards the gate, ready to leave, and rolls down his car window to see if we are giving away t-shirts yet. He's driving a very nice, if slightly damp, newish BMW 5-series car. Hmmm. The guy in the kilt who was a burner and his friends were walking behind the guy in the Beemer and says "You're driving a BMW for Fuck's Sakes, pay the Five Dollars for a t-shirt".

I love my life.

Peace.

seasons change...

it's really only been in the last few days that fall seems to have arrived in the truckee meadows with finality. we had some rain, and it was cold for a little bit after (and DURING) the migration home from the playa, but then it warmed again and we were treated to near-idyllic days with cool/chilly mornings and warm days/afternoons...

Photo by Kristen, Ranger Social 2010

another year of burning man has passed, and a friend of mine, scotto, makes it a point to reflect after each burn and codify what lessons he learned. i think that's a pretty nifty idea, so here is what i learned from burning man 2010:

• sometimes less really is more, especially when it comes to working on the playa!
• always be willing to take advantage of opportunity when it knocks, sometimes wonderful things happen to good people.
• friends are the family you choose, and the importance of that family during vacation, survival in harsh desert environs and thru dust storms and drama is not to be undervalued.
• be good enough at what you do to realize your shortcomings and brave enough to let go when someone who CAN do what you were tasked to do comes along to take over. the importance of knowing when you've found your replacement is cannot be overstated.
• men look cute in tutu's also!
• b1rd's can do GREAT on the playa, if you care about them enough to give them adequate care and lots of love and attention. chickens? not so sure...
• some people should not give lap dances; some stuff just CANNOT be scrubbed from the retinas.
• massages on playa are sublime!
• double rainbows are ALWAYS the bomb!

Photo by Twita2005 on Flickr http://www.flickr.com/photos/twita/

i am pretty sure i've done this before, in another venue. if i find those posts, i may bring them here. not sure yet, as burning man is undeniably a part of my history.

i was going to write something about teaching SEED's in this post. this has been an amazing experience for me, so far. in many ways, i feel like i've failed my daughter for some of the rough times she went through, and i can't count the amount of time i've spent reparenting myself to correct wrongs of my past. adolescence is a traumatic and confusing time, and i wasn't sure how i'd respond to helping others through it...

Used under creative commons license. http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Pomegranate_opened.jpg

i have become very attached to the seedlings in our program. they make me smile, i am awed by their grace, willingness to learn, their bravery and their ability to be candid. i can't wait to see where this year takes me!

that's what i am up to. it's time, at the time, to become introspective, as it always is when the wheel of my own persona year turns. i experience "new year" somewhere between the end of burning man and samhain =) my pagan heart says samhain, but so much of my year culminates at burning man, i think the older i get, the less absolutes i have in my world, the better =)

i've recently been participating in some "open to love pujas"....ceremonies given by a friend once a month at a local yoga studio where people learn to connect on many different levels. there's one thursday and man, am i looking forward to it. i have been feeling adrift and a tad sorry for myself of late. but never, NEVER so sorry that i would wish to be anyone but who i am, experiencing the life i have. my blessings are so great that i wonder every day at how lucky i am.

peace.

going, going gone....

that could be my brain, i'm not sure yet =) the summer has flow, and compression is done. i went in to this compression saying this would be my last one, and then it was the most successful i've done. and then politics got involved, which i don't want to muddy this post with, and things got ugly. as it stands now, i will do compression again. i will be a part of compression until people under 18 are legally allowed to practice the art of fire spinning at the festival. i've said to many people this year that one sure-fire way to make sure i do something until the end of time is to tell me that i can't. and here we are =) here's a slideshow of the festival that represents some favorite pictures of the day:

one of my favorite parts of the day were the amazing volunteers that showed up and gave their all for the festival, working only for food, water, our thanks, and a t-shirt:

so very much has changed. for the first time ever, i almost have empty next syndrome. my kids are gone, on their own, and dan's son, dan, is living with us. it's been a real joy getting to know him. he's a great kid. 

after 22 years, my husband is no longer attached to the army. i thought it was a really good thing and i was looking forward to it, but i had no idea it would create such internal strife for him. i feel for him, i wish there was more i could do, and at the same time, i know this is a path he must walk alone and something he must work through. it hasn't been easy, though. i meditate constantly for patience and fortitude to get through these times. 

my sis, my friend, no longer lives with us. in the end, i think it was a good thing for her. she was in a serious rut. she's on the playa now and i am not, but i think that's amazing and good. i am sometimes lonely right now. 

we also got through our first teaching experience with SEEDS. the very first was a short program we did for dilworth middle school, then we did our two week summer institute. both were amazing and made me feel humbled, jaded but also made me have hope and warmed my heart that i could share the dance i love with others. there are pictures that should be added here, but time is of the essence, so they won't be, yet. 

i am not sure i will get here again before the playa, i shall try. i try to fit everything in, and it's not working so good for me. 

i've also gotten another job, which should cut down a lot on all other activities except work. that should work great for both weight loss and spending/saving money. here's hoping. security guard here i come! 

my son went on his mid-deployment liberty to columbia and survived the experience. he says the time had was grand and one of the best times he remembers. he deserves it after being in the desert for the time he has. it's best not to say more about that =) 

that's all for now, just a quick update. 

peace.