Gifts

My personal mission as a dance-maker includes financially supporting my dancers. You see, a dancer is a rare bird of selfless giving that way. Our work tends to reach a tiny audience (a post for another time), therefore the box office proceeds (if any) tend to get swallowed up by the producer, the production costs themselves, and basic overhead costs of the company. The dancers themselves are left with little or no financial reward for their efforts. Many times in my past I've been able to offer artists decent compensation for the extent of their tenure with me, despite the above hurdles.

That all changed when the recession hit. I owe my dancers from last season still. Everyday I wake up thinking about letting down the very people who inspire me to create. Everyday I do something to rectify the situation.

Today, I am asking you to support our current project: THE GIFT


It is one of the best concerts I've had the pleasure of making. It has taken the creative talents of the entire company to bring to fruition. It is good. Very good. It will be excellent by opening night. I feel it in my bones.

Please, visit our indiegogo campaign and support these dancers. A little goes a long way, and it means so very much.
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Tiny Walls

Tiny Walls of stone
Invasive plants out
Stepping-stones in

Building a path
One river rock
at a time

Sunburnt back
scraping trowel

tap, tap of a stone
being placed

Tiny walls of stone
Building a path
Home


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Things my mom says...

Me: don't worry about the grapes. I can freeze them. They make good ice cubes.

Mom: Only when you inject vodka.

Sensations

Sometimes I feel like my eyes are my entire face. I lose awareness of the nose I have for smelling, the mouth I have for tasting, the ears I have for listening and the skin I have for touching.

Closing my eyes, swimming in awareness and filtering out what I see; remembering 4/5 of the experience lies elsewhere.


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Me Time

a.k. (theoldspiceman) is out. I have me time. ME TIME. So far this night has included a dinner I made, a rare treat I'll not name here, wine, and a bubble bath. Once upon a long time ago, I would have taken this night to be OUT. And I mean OUT. Dancing with friends, making new ones, and just getting lost on the floor.

Now? Well... I was thinking about that very thing. When did I stop wanting to break the floor? Maybe I'll return to it; but, at this moment, it sounds, well... silly.

It's not silly at all! It used to be a primal need.

I needed to get lost in the beat and dance until my blisters popped and I couldn't feel my pinky toes.

Something tells me it's time to re-visit the old stomping grounds in a new way. Earlier, with a babysitter, and wearing practical shoes.

OH, HELL NO! (To the shoes part. Breaking the floor involves an old saying, "Beauty knows no pain.")

And, let's face it ladies: we look better in heels.

I suppose it's time to plan an outing. Who's in?!

And, just to complete the loop, the contentment in having the "me time" to think about and write this little note is beyond compare.

My shoulders just dropped an inch.

Thanks a.k. :)


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The Great Negotiators

Who knew? A lot of you, that's who. Those of you who've had 'em for your entire post-adolescent lives. You know what I'm talking about: your "Great Negotiators"! Your BOOBS!

They are AWESOME. I had no idea how powerful and marvelous they can be... of course, as a dancer, I was thrilled not to have them. As a mostly retired dancer, BRING THEM ON!

On a serious tip, it's been a long and shitty week in both business and preggo land. I needed something silly and joyful to think on for a bit. Boobs, you did it. Thanks again for being the luscious mounds that you are... even if you're - dare I say it? Starting to sag under your own weight.

Oh, dear.

What now?

Riding the Metro. Or not.

I rarely ride the metro. When I do, it's due to car repairs or lack of public parking at my final destination. I would love to be a regular rider, but it's not realistic with my parenting world right now.

However, this week gave me pause - would I love to be a regular rider? Now, I'm not so sure.

My car was in the shop, so I was on Metro for two days. Two days = 4 trips = $9.30. Plus, the RED LINE ALWAYS HAS TRACK DELAYS. Seriously. Last night, I waited 30 minutes for a train. There was a break-down on the tracks between Ft. Totten & Brookland/CUA.

Even if I wasn't 8 months pregnant and dead-tired from a long day of work, I would have been upset. It just doesn't make economic sense for our public transportation to be more expensive than driving AND less reliable.

Is this the best we can do in the DMV? Really?! Grrs.