4:58p Transformation Then Liberation
--The Meek Shall Inherit the Earth, Creature Feature
Back in the beginning of 2002 I picked up the Goddess Life Introduction to Belly Dance VHS. It was pretty bad. Dolphina, the hostess, is a complete New Age flake, and the people directing/editing the video seemed more interested in making pseudo-artistic wank-material for teenage boys. BUT. I was just coming away from a really nasty break-up (the very first in my life that left me upset, rather than relieved) and I wanted to feel pretty. Plus, I'd payed WAY too much money for it. So I plugged along, teaching myself the moves as best I could when what I needed to see where hips and feet, and what I actually got was a screen full of chest.
Once I figured out what I was supposed to be doing, it was actually a pretty good workout.
Although I did the video pretty regularly for a while, eventually my work outs became sporadic, and I'd go weeks, and months between viewings. Somewhere down the road--while on an exercise kick--I picked it up cheap on DVD and, while I was at it, picked up the Beyond Basics or "Warrior Goddess" DVD to go along with it. I only did the Beyond Basics DVD a few times before I once again got bored with my belly-dancing/fitness hobby, but it was a much better work out DVD. As with the first DVD, Dolphina's costumes changed with each set change, but unlike the first DVD, there was only one set for the bulk of the work out, and a similar, but distinctly different set for the cool down. Most importantly, I could actually see what she was doing. During this period of fresh enthusiasm for the Goddess Life work outs, I added the Finger Cymbals and Veils DVDs to my wishlist.
A couple of years ago I received the Finger Cymbals DVD as a gift, but was so out of practice at that point, that I decided to refresh myself on the first two DVDs before I attempted this new one. Good intentions, blah, blah, the road to Hell, blah. I know.
So here I am in Virginia, on a serious exercise and fitness kick, and with big hopes of maintaining said fixation for the rest of my life. I've been biking a lot, as you know, and Micah and I have been rock climbing a goodly bit (although not as much as either of us would like, I think)... but I've also been doing a lot of workout DVDs. I"ve already raved about my new Go-Go Robics DVD, but I've only mentioned the Goddess Life DVDs in passing.
That said, they've been a pretty big part of my day to day life lately. If I'm not working (and therefore biking), I usually either do Go-Go Robics, or both the Introduction to Belly Dance and Beyond Basics DVDs (minus the first cool down and the second warm up). Go-Go Robics is an incredible cardio work out, but I'm seeing a lot more tone and strength building as a result of the Goddess Life DVDs.
In any case, although I did go to work today, I only biked in one direction--a friend was kind enough to give me a ride home, since it was pouring when I would have left. After a somewhat indulgent dinner at a local Ethiopian restaurant (anyone have any clue about WW points values?) I decided that I shouldn't just blow off that extra hour of exercise. I considered doing the first two belly dance DVDs, but I just did those yesterday, and it didn't seem like the best way to use my time today. On the other hand, on this dreary, rainy day, I wasn't at all sure I had the energy or stamina for Go-Go Robics.
In the end, I put on the Finger Cymbals belly dance DVD. It was... well, it began with a Mudra warm-up. It didn't feel like much of a warm up, but what did I know? We were going to be using our hands a lot, so maybe this was important. Maybe my hands would cramp up if I didn't do this. Maybe this is something I should start doing before I go climbing. How as I to know? To be honest, I don't think it made a difference, and I'm willing to bet Dolphina made-up or at least badly butchered their meanings. Next she taught a few rhythms. She did this by associating each pattern to a phrase. Now, for my own money this was irritating and obnoxious... but then again, I've been able to read music since I was eight or nine. I'd much rather learn "one, two-and, three, four," than "I am-a godd-ess" Still, I'm willing to concede that in this context it's an easy way to teach those who may not have any kind of musical background, and makes it easier to refer to each pattern later on. Okay, fine.
At last! The workout. This is really just adding the cymbals to moves that I learned in Introduction and Beyond Basics. Which is fine, and more or less what I expected of the DVD. The work out itself lasts maybe twenty minutes and then it's back to the Mudras for a cool down. All told, the DVD lasted about half an hour and I didn't even break a sweat. I'm glad I have it, and I think I'll see about sneaking the "work out" portion of the DVD between Introduction and Beyond Basics the next time I do it.
I like the idea of including the cymbals since I think this practice will make me a more versatile dancer, but it's just not a work out by itself. I'm hoping that the Veils DVD (when I eventually get my hands on a copy) will be a bit more of a workout, as it seems like there will either be new moves to learn, or at least more practice of old moves to incorporate the veils. Maybe I'm terribly wrong, but it seems like a bigger and more complicated addition that finger cymbals. If I'm right about that, maybe I'll break these two off into their own work out... but for now, at least, I think Finger Cymbals just gets incorporated into my current Belly Dance workout.
current mood: calm current music: Creature Feature - THE MEEK SHALL INHERIT THE EARTH
1:15p
Last night I went to Atlantic City with Kate, Liz and Casey for some convention promotion. They were showing RHPS at The Pool, with no cast. Handing out flyers in costume to the people there seemed to be a good way to garner some interest. Some people were definitely excited about it.
We all went back to Showboat to do a little gambling. I put $900 down at the blackjack table and I walked away with $2225. More than double. Kate doubled what she was betting too. It was a good trip. Made up for Mohegan Sun. I was playing just like I do on the simulator. Had I had a few more hours I am convinced I could have gotten up to 10K. I'm looking forward to next month.
11:34a The Greatest Show Unearthed
On Saturday baronmind and I drove up to the DC area to see Creature Feature. Live. Finally.
There were a couple of opening bands that were good, but not great, and two other headliners: Retard- o-Bot and Tub Ring. The unfortunately named Retard-O-Bot was surprisingly awesome. They had a really unique sound and were excellent showmen--especially the lead singer, Pepper. Definitely crass, and definitely not for everyone--but I really loved them. Tub Ring was also pretty good, but didn't really stand out for me. In fact, the most stand-out thing about their set was when they were saying good night and called Creature Feature "a couple of fucking homos." I'm not sure if this was a misplaced attempt at humor or some sort of passive-aggressive bull shit, but either way I was extremely unimpressed.
Creature Feature themselves were the final act, and kicked so much ass, I can't even begin to tell you. I'm not sure if it was where I was standing (right up front) or if it was the sound system/balance, or what, but I had problems hearing Curtis over the music. This in no way changed the fact that Curtis is unspeakably hot, mind you... and, in fact, Bound and Gagged is a really sexy song when you miss large chunks of lyrics and only get, "Don't Do Anything That You Think You'll Regret ... I'm Keeping Her Bound And Gagged ... Hands Tied Behind Her Back ... Listen Up Now I Won't Repeat Myself, This Is How Everything Is Gonna Go Down ... I'm Keeping Her Bound And Gagged ... Where No One Can Hear Her Scream." Now, in truth, this is a sort of nasty song about kidnapping a young girl... But even knowing that, catching Curtis sing some of those lines out of context was... Excuse me a moment.
They played a lot of songs off of The Greatest Show Unearthed (which is unsurprising, since it's their only album at the moment): Bound and Gagged, A Gorey Demise, Look to the Skies, Aim for the Head, The Greatest Show Unearthed, Such Horrible Things, and Buried Alive. Possibly one or two others, but I'm positive they played those. They also played a song off of the new album they're currently working on. I believe it was called Spook House, although I might be mistaken about that. Whatever it was called, it was really excellent. They also played a few covers, including Erik's arrangement of the Munsters' theme song. Curtis told the audience that we should forgive him if he messed it up horribly because he only sort of knew it, and afterward said, "Well, I sort of remembered that." I'm not sure what he thinks he did wrong, though, because it sounded fantastic!*
After their set, I did the fan-girl thing and waited around to talk to them. I'd brought the CD case from my copy of The Greatest Show Unearthed, and when I handed it to Curtis to sign, he said something along the lines of, Woah, a blast from the past--hey, Erik! He then handed it to Erik who said, Wow, I haven't seen one of these in... It was pretty awesome. You see, I bought my copy before they were with an actual label, and the artwork is entirely different. If you buy a copy today, you'll get something that looks like this The new art is pretty awesome, but having the (unintentionally) limited edition original album art is even better. After a small problem locating a functioning silver sharpie they both signed the front cover, and Curtis told me that they'd sold just enough of these early CDs to get them on the road the first time. He thanked me for my "early support" and gave me a hug. That's right, Curtis Rx hugged me! Okay, yes, he hugs freaking everyone, but I think you're missing the point here.
Sadly, I didn't have the presence of mind to bring (or ask baronmind to bring) a camera, so I don't have a picture of myself with the boys. However, during their set, Curtis said they'd probably be back on the East coast this fall, so next time. Long story short, it was a pretty awesome concert.
*I've never been a big Munsters fan, and (as should be no surprise to anyone who knows me) find The Addams Family to be vastly superior... but the Munsters did have an awesome theme song.
[edit, 12:55 pm: They also played How to Serve Man which, unless I'm mistaken, is only available on the Cannibal Flesh Riot dvd.]
current music: Creature Feature - THE GREATEST SHOW UNEARTHED
11:16a
This morning on the way to work Kate bought me coffee. i asked her to ask them to "not make it so hot". When I got my coffee, written in the "custom" box on the cup "140°"
I never really thought of my coffee temperature preferences in degrees...
The article I link to above is about a man who in the earlier part of the last century, at the height of World War One, was arrested for treason because of a movie he made. The film was actually a patriotic Revolutionary War movie called "The Spirit of '76". Because of The Espionage Act, a wartime law that gave U.S. officials ridiculously broad discretion to jail troublemakers, and because at the time the Supreme Court ruled that movies were not given first amendment protection, this man was thrown in prison for ten years - the enemies in his movie were the British, who happened to be our allies at the time, and this would incite hostile feelings in Americans towards our allies. Thus the film was treasonous.
Definitely a good read. I learned a thing or two I never knew before.
8:33a Burlesque in Western Mass
Any of you MA folks attending Pi-Con? Well, if you're not, you should be. And while you're there you should absolutely check out the White Elephant Burlesque Society's show:
Godzilla. The Original Badass. Congratulations, Mr. Mutated Dinosaur.
Bad News: You tend to have nuclear meltdowns on rare occasions (Godzilla vs. Destroyah) and you have a weakness to this thing called the Oxygen Destroyer. So you're not completely invincible.
Good News: You might as well be though. You've fought every monster out there and you usually come out on top. Sure you had your goofy moments in the 70's but really you are one bad son of a bitch, and everybody knows it. You have a lot of respect and people know when to get out of your way. Congrats, you're like the Fonzie of giant monsters! Oh and you tend to get mad whenever someone screws up the environment so hey good for you.
7:10p To reiterate...
I highly recommend Go-Go Robics II (or even just excessive viewing of Pontani Sister routines) to my friends in White Elephant, and those who are otherwise inspired to dance. The song I was going to perform to at TNE just popped up on a shuffle and my brain immediately fired the thought, "Go-go!"
After listening for a moment longer, I realized that it is, in fact, not really suited for full-on go-go treatment, but I do have some new ideas for that half-finished choreography. My point is that I'd been approaching it almost exclusively from a belly dancing perspective (which it's not really suited for) because that's the way I've a) trained my body to move and b) trained my brain to think about movement.
What I'm saying here is that exposing yourselves to new styles of movement is really a very good idea. Heck, if you have the cash, check out a couple of dance courses. Or, okay, take the Pontani Sister's workshop in Brooklyn (it's only $15 if you pre-register).
In unrelated news: OMFG, I'm going to go see Creature Feature this Saturday! Squee!
4:05p forever leering, forever dashing, forever looking for peers
--Pale Yellow, The Ditty Bops
Emily, a college friend of baronmind's, was in town last night and crashed with us after we dragged her out for Mediterranean food and rock climbing. At one point we got to talking about The Five Love Languages by Dr. Gary Chapman. It's (apparently) written from a very Christian perspective which isn't exactly a great way to sell a book to most of the folks on my friends list, I know. But the basic premise seems really sound, if a bit too intuitive to require a whole book on the subject.
Basically, people express (and understand expressions of) love in five so-called languages: physical contact, quality time, acts of service, affirmations/compliments, and gift giving. The idea is that everyone uses all these languages to some degree, but that we each have one or two primary languages and when our partner's (or partners') primary language is different from our own we don't always adequately express our love for each other. It's not that you're not telling each other, "I love you," it's just that you're, well, saying it in different languages.
I, for instance, am a physical contact person. And no, it's not a sex thing. Don't get me wrong--sex is great--but I've had plenty of hugs that were far more meaningful than, say, most of the sex I had in college. And it's not that I need constant physical contact, it's just that touch is the way I display affection, and the fastest way to communicate affection to me.
On the other hand, I'm not a quality time person. I mean, it's great, and I always enjoy spending time with the people I love (because this is not just about romantic relationships), but for me "quality time" can be watching a movie or rock climbing or even something as mundane as grocery shopping with someone. Whereas for someone whose primary love language is quality time, they may need to sit down over a cup of coffee and talk for hours with the people they love. And that's great too... but I don't feel rejected and unloved if, for instance, Micah and I go a couple of days without a conversation that doesn't coincide with an activity.
Now, having it all laid out like that it's easy to look out and say, "Yes, duh. And?" Still, it's an interesting thing to think about how this applies to the people in my life and my relationships with them.
current mood: contemplative current music: Pale Yellow - The Ditty Bops
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