The Un-extrordinary Adventures of Fangirl

(Language Warning...) On a Boat

2011-11-22T19:30:00.000-08:00

If you've ever heard even a bit of Lonely Island's "I'm on a Boat" you know that there is some colorful language sprinkled profusely throughout.

However...

This fanvideo set to "I'm on a Boat" is AWESOME! (even if you're not a Doctor Who fan)

I Miss Dancing

2011-10-25T19:08:00.000-07:00

An instructor at Camp Hollywood told students in a beginner's Jazz class that you never knew when you'd need to bust out some moves. He said there was no excuse for not dancing. Not enough partners to go around? Gather a few others who are sitting solo that song and form your own small circle and then... dance. Jazz moves can be done solo or with a partner (as is the case with this duo).

Pumped Up Kicks and Bad Catholic

2011-10-25T18:24:00.000-07:00

When I think "Pumped Up Kicks", this is the version I think of. Actually, it wasn't until weeks after hearing the dubstep version that I heard the original.

This past week, Marc over at Bad Catholic did a post on beauty using this video as an example of what he sees as beautiful. After watching this video, I agree with him. If you've never read Marc's blog, give it a read. Whether you're Catholic or Baptist, Marc gives you his two-cents and leaves you with food for thought. There are times when I read his posts (specifically, the defenses of women) and I have to remember that this is a guy writing so passionately about the effects of culture on the modern woman.

And he has a sense of humor.

Bad Lip Reading

2011-10-20T17:26:00.000-07:00

Every once in a while, something completely random yet addicting will come along.

This.... is one of those things.

If you're a fan of the literal music videos, you will like this. I admit, this particular video isn't one I'd voluntarily watch (given that it's Beiber...) but give it a go.

Photoshop... a video tribute.

2011-10-14T20:32:00.000-07:00

The Story of River Song

2011-10-06T22:16:00.001-07:00

My favorite of the companions, River Song's story is finally told in order (from our perspective, at least).

2011-10-06T22:12:00.001-07:00

Because how can you go wrong when pairing Florence and The Machine with Doctor Who?

2011-10-06T22:08:00.005-07:00

Things I Learned from Camp Hollywood

2011-07-26T19:51:00.000-07:00

I'm back!

Where did I go? Why, Camp Hollywood of course!

I have been thinking and there are a few things I've learned from my extended weekend that have nothing to do with what's done on the dance floor.

1. It pays to simplify.
Packing light, walking instead of driving everywhere, eating in with what you brought instead of paying for overpriced salads even though you're seriously craving salads like nobody's business... yeah. Totally worth it! For starters, the lighter your car, the better the gas milage. Second, the lighter your bags, the less tense/sore/injured you'll be trying to unload/load the car at the hotel. Third, the less you use your car, the more you walk... the more you walk, the more of the city you get to take in. I took a 2 mile walk to the nearest church while staying at the hotel and I saw more of Sepulvida and Century Blvd. than in driving all that time. I really enjoyed it. ...and I didn't need an ap for it.

2. Having more than what is "necessary" isn't bad...and doesn't make you a bad person.
I tend to plan for all occasions. In fact, I have a little kit that is stuffed full of stuff "just in case" I break a shoelace, have sore muscles, get a scratch, have a tummy ache... you name it, I've probably planned for it. Do I need all of that in one carrying case? No... Do I need three pairs of shoes for 4 days? No... Do I need a closet designated for accessories and shoes? No...
Does this make me a bad person? ...no. And I need to get over the idea that having more than the minimum is bad or selfish or greedy because it actually isn't.

3. Know your limits...and respect those limits.
Just because something goes on till 3 am, and you can be awake till 3 am, doesn't mean you should be awake and active at 3 am. Knowing what your body's limitations are (and operating within those limits) will help you prevent injury and burn out.

4. Everyone flubs up; It's what you do AFTER that counts.

30 Day Lindy Hop Challenge: Day 30

2011-07-14T07:15:00.000-07:00

Day 30: Why I Dance

There was a t-shirt on Cafe Press that said in a nutshell the reasoning behind why I dance... alas, I cannot find it.

So why do I dance? Is it for my health? ...Sure. Why not.

To be honest, I have loved dancing since I was little. I still remember being in the back seat of the car begging for dance lessons. Grandma said they were expensive and dance classes were so far away (in the next town over). When he explanations did nothing to dissuade me, she shortened her answer to a simple "no" and left it at that.

But when I dance.... like when I was in the second grade dancing in front of the class, making up my own moves at Dad's house, or doing the running man over an over at the fair... or when we dressed up in mock poodle skirts and danced to a review of music from the 50's and 60's... or high school while competing in colorguard, winterguard, field show competitions, etc... or now, taking lessons and dancing in social settings...

When I dance, I am most myself.

When I dance, I lay aside the weight of worry and responsibility I carry around.

When I dance, I (attempt to) give up control and actually listen in more ways than one to someone else.

When I dance, I am speaking "the language of the soul".

When I dance.... I am truly happy.

30 Day Lindy Hop Challenge: Day 29

2011-07-06T14:56:00.000-07:00

Day 29: (Favorite) Video(s)

I don't have A favorite... but a continuous rotation of videos I love.

I will share two: the first is a video a friend shared with the comment "this is how dancing is done."
...I agree :D

The second is one I share with people who aren't as into dance as I... for they will ALL think it adorable and sit through the whole video.

30 Day Lindy Hop Challenge: Day 28

2011-07-05T07:29:00.000-07:00

Day 28: Events you’re looking forward to

Camp Hollywood at the end of the month!!!!

Also the San Fran lindy exchange... and eventually the Sacramento Lindy Exchange.

...Maaaaaybe SLOx next year.

30 Day Lindy Hop Challenge: Day 27

2011-07-04T14:11:00.000-07:00

Day 27: Your goals for the year

At New Years... my goals were to learn Charleston, Lindy Hop and the Shim Sham

...I think I have that covered.

Next came Balboa, Suzy Q and the Jitterbug Stroll.

I think I've got two of those down...

30 Day Lindy Hop Challenge: Day 26

2011-07-03T07:14:00.000-07:00

Day 26: The level you think you dance at

I will downplay and say beginner. I approach things as though I'm totally a beginner, but give it my best shot at figuring it out.

...but I take lessons at the Intermediate level.

30 Day Lindy Hop Challenge: Day 25

2011-07-02T19:24:00.000-07:00

Day 25: Describe the last night you went dancing

I suppose technically that was Wednesday, as there is a social dance after lessons. Or does dancing in parking lots/down the aisles at the department store count?

If "yes", then the last night was... last night.
Swing out in the parking lot after dinner...
20's Charleston at Ross.

If "no", then class on Wednesday.
Had an hour lesson that was primarily Charleston and exercises to work on my following skills.
This was followed by an hour of swing outs (review from last week) and 20's Charleston.
At the end of the evening... a social dance amongst us learners. Got to practice balboa :)

30 Day Lindy Hop Challenge: day 22-24

2011-07-01T17:46:00.000-07:00

Day 22: Favorite city to dance in

I'd say Sacramento (fun in social settings...) or Fresno (fun at lessons...) but any place where dancing has occured has been fun. Fun at the local Starbucks? Yep! At the annual fair? Sure!

Day 23: A dancer you admire

Kellie (one of our Fresno instructors) and Jean (of Jean and Bromley)

Day 24: Favorite pro performance

Hmm.... there is a Jean and Bromley demo (if you look it up on Youtube, it's the demo in Tuscon) where it seems so nice and easy, as if ANYONE can do this! Then BAM! ...they throw in something tricky!

Barswingona 2003 --Kevin and Carla

and this one...

30 Day Lindy Hop Challenge: Day 19-21

2011-06-26T12:25:00.000-07:00

I may be busy the next couple of days with family arriving. One is someone I haven't seen in a decade, and another has a birthday on Tuesday. Oh, and the pool construction (chronicled on my other blog) is being completed and water will fill it during this time.

Am I stressed?

You betcha!

***

Day 19: That move that eludes you

Fishtails
Suzy Q's
20's Charleston fancy (basic) footwork

***
Day 20: Your swing shoes

I actually have several pair. A pair of Aris Allens, flats, that I literally broke... a pair of cheap flats I decorated that I've worn out, two pairs of jazz dance shoes, black and white oxfords (flats), a new pair of Toms (in white) that I just tried out on Friday, and these...

Day 21: Favorite outfit to wear dancing

30 Day Lindy Hop Challenge: Day 18

2011-06-25T04:58:00.000-07:00

Day 18: That move you love

Funny... On Wednesday during the social dance portion of the evening, a song came on that was a bit faster than we would like for Lindy. "There's always east coast..." and next thing you know, we switched it up to a bit of east coast for the duration of the song.

Two moves in and I say to my dance partner, "Do you know what I miss?"

And low and behold: he signaled for the pretzel. I love the pretzel. I do miss it sometimes.

One other move is something I really REALLY liked when learning it, but never get to do it in a social setting. ...or any setting for that matter.
(skip to 1:05 to see the move I love...and have made my muscles sore with)

30 Day Lindy Hop Challenge: Day 17

2011-06-24T00:17:00.000-07:00

Day 17: Favorite Styling

I mentioned yesterday about lessons...

For five weeks leading up to Camp Hollywood (is it really only five more weeks?!) I'm taking an hour lesson prior to our intermediate class. This was the first of the five weeks. When asked what I wanted to work on, there wasn't any specific moves or stunts (yes, I still want to work up to lifts and dips) but one specific thing I asked for (and have homework related to) were swivels.

One of our instructors, Kellie, has nice swivels...and I'm fortunate that she'll be working with me on those.

What's funny is the fact that when introduced to them, I hated them. I told myself that I'd only learn them if we had to, and that I'd NEVER use 'em. Then, I found myself using them without intending to.

Swivels look pretty, and work your core... so they're a win-win, right?

Other than that... kick ball-change.

:D

Dance With Me

2011-06-23T12:21:00.000-07:00

I love dance movies, and "Dance With Me" is one of my top five. I'd even say top three. I was happy to happen to catch the final third of the movie (the dance competition!) on tv the other day. The following evening, when perusing YouTube for a specific bit from the movie, I happened across this number.

Now, I've watched the rumba (from DWM) many times...

And I've listened to my fair share of R. Kelly's "When a Woman Loves"...

But to slow down the footage of the rumba and pair it with R. Kelly?
Gasp!
...priceless.

My jaw did drop when I watched, so I must share it!

And if the slower songs are not your taste...

30 Day Lindy Hop Challenge: Day 16

2011-06-23T00:01:00.000-07:00

Day 16: Photo of you dancing
I kinda dreaded this one. I don't know...maybe because I'm overly critical of pictures of me mid-dance. I could do one better and post the video wrap-up from yesterday's lesson (I'm in the video... you actually see me dance, not just see a picture of me).
..but no.
You get this...

lol... me.
At a friend's wedding :)

30 Day Lindy Hop Challenge: Day 15

2011-06-22T00:01:00.000-07:00

Day 15: Favorite Classic Clip

Hmm... what qualifies as "classic"? Does it have to be black and white? Or are we talking classic by Etsy standards (20 years old or older)???

Hmm...

How about this?

30 Day Lindy Hop Challenge: Day 14

2011-06-21T00:01:00.000-07:00

Day 14: Your Swing Group of Friends

These guys...

30 Day Lindy Hop Challenge -- Day 13

2011-06-20T00:01:00.000-07:00

Day 13: Your Favorite Dancing Memory

hmm... Dancing in Starbucks and the baristas asking if we need them to make more room for us to dance. Then getting asked (by the people watching us from outside) if we were practicing for something.

Or maybe the first time dancing the Shim Sham after learning it.

30 Day Lindy Hop Challenge -- Day 12

2011-06-19T00:01:00.000-07:00

Day 12: Your swing crushes/favorite pros

Jean & Bromley

They are actually pretty funny (and nice... and spontaneously "Ooh! Let's try that!") in person.

...and who says you need music in order to dance? Or a dance floor for that matter.

30 Day Lindy Hop Challenge-- Day 11

2011-06-18T20:25:00.000-07:00

Day 11: Favorite song(s) to dance to

Oh, ANYONE who reads this blog knows I LOVE (with as much emphasis as I can muster) dancing to "Bei Mir Bist du Schoen" by Janis Siegel.

It's not my only favorite...but I do get fangirly over it. ;)

Other songs I've contemplated:
* "Use Me" (Bill Withers) --Blues
* "Hey Soul Sister" (Train) --Lindy Hop
* "The Passenger" (Iggy Pop) --Bal
* "Bonapart's Retreat" (Kay Starr) --East Coast
* "Music, Music, Music" (Teresa Brewer) --Charleston

Day 12: Your swing crushes/favorite pros
Day 13: Favorite dancing memory
Day 14: Your swing group of friends
Day 15: Favorite classic clip
Day 16: Photo of you dancing
Day 17: Favorite Styling
Day 18: That move you love
Day 19: That move that eludes you
Day 20: Your swing shoes
Day 21: Favorite outfit to wear dancing
Day 22: Favorite city to dance in
Day 23: A dancer you admire
Day 24: Favorite pro performance
Day 25: Describe the last night you went dancing
Day 26: The level you think you dance at
Day 27: Your goals for the year
Day 28: Events you’re looking forward to
Day 29: A clip you love
Day 30: Why you dance

Something That Isn't a Total Spoiler

2011-06-17T18:42:00.000-07:00

I had a video that I really REALLY wanted to share...

It's beautiful and artsy and tells a story and you can actually hear the dialogue... and it's total spoilers.

:(

So here's this one.

30 Day Lindy Hop Challenge: Day 9 and 10

2011-06-17T08:54:00.000-07:00

Day 9: Favorite class
Day 10: Favorite workshop weekend (Lindy Focus, Camp Hollywood, etc) or one you’d really like to attend

I can't say there has been favorite class (some, um... interesting classes have stood out, but not necessarily favorite as a whole or standing out for good reasons...) But the first thing that comes to mind is the intermediate swing workshop taught by Jean & Bromley up in Sacramento last March (Was it March???)

I was incredibly intimidated going into the workshop. They advertised it as intermediate level and that we should have at least three months experience with Lindy Hop prior to the workshop itself. I...did not meet that requirement. But I went and found quickly that I was somewhere in the middle of the group when it came to skill level, and what I lacked in experience I made up for in my ability to learn quickly.

I had a lot of fun, learned a lot and came home not only with a favorite move (that I never get to do :( ...sadly) but with some tips on being a better follow.
I had to dig into my supply of Motrin, Icy Hot and ace bandages for a good week or so, but it was SOOOO worth it! I can't wait for them to return for another workshop in Sacramento. Especially if it means having the chance to dance with Bromley again.

Day 11: Favorite song(s) to dance to

Day 12: Your swing crushes/favorite pros

Day 13: Favorite dancing memory

Day 14: Your swing group of friends

Day 15: Favorite classic clip

Day 16: Photo of you dancing

Day 17: Favorite Styling

Day 18: That move you love

Day 19: That move that eludes you

Day 20: Your swing shoes

Day 21: Favorite outfit to wear dancing

Day 22: Favorite city to dance in

Day 23: A dancer you admire

Day 24: Favorite pro performance

Day 25: Describe the last night you went dancing

Day 26: The level you think you dance at

Day 27: Your goals for the year

Day 28: Events you’re looking forward to

Day 29: A clip you love

Day 30: Why you dance

30 Day Lindy Hop Challenge: Day 8

2011-06-15T08:54:00.000-07:00

Day 8: Your favorite instructor

Fitting, as today is class day...

I'm going to say Chris and Kellie, our instructors in Fresno.

But Jean (of Jean and Bromley) was pretty fun to take a workshop from. I was intimidated going in and she and Bromley quickly set everyone at ease. Some of what Jean said was unintentionally funny, peppered with moments of "Hey... try that again on me. Yeah, that's actually pretty fun. We should remember that one!"

Day 9: Favorite class taken

Day 10: Favorite workshop weekend (Lindy Focus, Camp Hollywood, etc) or one you’d really like to attend

Day 11: Favorite song(s) to dance to

Day 12: Your swing crushes/favorite pros

Day 13: Favorite dancing memory

Day 14: Your swing group of friends

Day 15: Favorite classic clip

Day 16: Photo of you dancing

Day 17: Favorite Styling

Day 18: That move you love

Day 19: That move that eludes you

Day 20: Your swing shoes

Day 21: Favorite outfit to wear dancing

Day 22: Favorite city to dance in

Day 23: A dancer you admire

Day 24: Favorite pro performance

Day 25: Describe the last night you went dancing

Day 26: The level you think you dance at

Day 27: Your goals for the year

Day 28: Events you’re looking forward to

Day 29: A clip you love

Day 30: Why you dance

30 Day Lindy Hop Challenge: Day 7

2011-06-14T07:56:00.000-07:00

Day 7: Something you really want to learn

I say things like "I want to learn aerials" or "West Coast basics" (cause I utterly fail at West Coast) but ultimately it's...

How to be a better follow.

Day 8: Your favorite instructor

Day 9: Favorite class taken

Day 10: Favorite workshop weekend (Lindy Focus, Camp Hollywood, etc) or one you’d really like to attend

Day 11: Favorite song(s) to dance to

Day 12: Your swing crushes/favorite pros

Day 13: Favorite dancing memory

Day 14: Your swing group of friends

Day 15: Favorite classic clip

Day 16: Photo of you dancing

Day 17: Favorite Styling

Day 18: That move you love

Day 19: That move that eludes you

Day 20: Your swing shoes

Day 21: Favorite outfit to wear dancing

Day 22: Favorite city to dance in

Day 23: A dancer you admire

Day 24: Favorite pro performance

Day 25: Describe the last night you went dancing

Day 26: The level you think you dance at

Day 27: Your goals for the year

Day 28: Events you’re looking forward to

Day 29: A clip you love

Day 30: Why you dance

30 Day Lindy Hop Challenge: Day 6

2011-06-13T08:44:00.000-07:00

Is it day 6 already???

Day 6: Your favorite group dance (shim sham, tranky doo big apple, etc)

I only really know one group dance so... Shim Sham!

Day 7: Something you really want to learn

Day 8: Your favorite instructor

Day 9: Favorite class taken

Day 10: Favorite workshop weekend (Lindy Focus, Camp Hollywood, etc) or one you’d really like to attend

Day 11: Favorite song(s) to dance to

Day 12: Your swing crushes/favorite pros

Day 13: Favorite dancing memory

Day 14: Your swing group of friends

Day 15: Favorite classic clip

Day 16: Photo of you dancing

Day 17: Favorite Styling

Day 18: That move you love

Day 19: That move that eludes you

Day 20: Your swing shoes

Day 21: Favorite outfit to wear dancing

Day 22: Favorite city to dance in

Day 23: A dancer you admire

Day 24: Favorite pro performance

Day 25: Describe the last night you went dancing

Day 26: The level you think you dance at

Day 27: Your goals for the year

Day 28: Events you’re looking forward to

Day 29: A clip you love

Day 30: Why you dance

30 Day Lindy Hop Challege: Day 5

2011-06-12T23:49:00.000-07:00

Day 5: Your favorite Lindy Hop variation dance (charleston, balboa, shag)

I was going to say Charleston, and still may say Charleston, but today I was introduced to the world of Balboa.
...I may have to give Bal a shot since now all I can think of is "step, step, hold, step..."

Day 6: Your favorite group dance (shim sham, tranky doo big apple, etc)

Day 7: Something you really want to learn

Day 8: Your favorite instructor

Day 9: Favorite class taken

Day 10: Favorite workshop weekend (Lindy Focus, Camp Hollywood, etc) or one you’d really like to attend

Day 11: Favorite song(s) to dance to

Day 12: Your swing crushes/favorite pros

Day 13: Favorite dancing memory

Day 14: Your swing group of friends

Day 15: Favorite classic clip

Day 16: Photo of you dancing

Day 17: Favorite Styling

Day 18: That move you love

Day 19: That move that eludes you

Day 20: Your swing shoes

Day 21: Favorite outfit to wear dancing

Day 22: Favorite city to dance in

Day 23: A dancer you admire

Day 24: Favorite pro performance

Day 25: Describe the last night you went dancing

Day 26: The level you think you dance at

Day 27: Your goals for the year

Day 28: Events you’re looking forward to

Day 29: A clip you love

Day 30: Why you dance

30 Day Lindy Hop Challenge: Day 4

2011-06-11T22:07:00.000-07:00

Day 4: Your favorite live band

Right now, I'm going to say Phat Cat Swingers... if only because I have yet to see The Tipsy Gypsies live.

I've introduced people who hate my taste in music to The Tipsy Gypsies, and they actually liked it. Of course, telling a teen that there is a song in which fighting off zombies is akin to "diamonds are forever" doesn't hurt either.

Day 5: Your favorite Lindy Hop variation dance (charleston, balboa, shag)

Day 6: Your favorite group dance (shim sham, tranky doo big apple, etc)

Day 7: Something you really want to learn

Day 8: Your favorite instructor

Day 9: Favorite class taken

Day 10: Favorite workshop weekend (Lindy Focus, Camp Hollywood, etc) or one you’d really like to attend

Day 11: Favorite song(s) to dance to

Day 12: Your swing crushes/favorite pros

Day 13: Favorite dancing memory

Day 14: Your swing group of friends

Day 15: Favorite classic clip

Day 16: Photo of you dancing

Day 17: Favorite Styling

Day 18: That move you love

Day 19: That move that eludes you

Day 20: Your swing shoes

Day 21: Favorite outfit to wear dancing

Day 22: Favorite city to dance in

Day 23: A dancer you admire

Day 24: Favorite pro performance

Day 25: Describe the last night you went dancing

Day 26: The level you think you dance at

Day 27: Your goals for the year

Day 28: Events you’re looking forward to

Day 29: A clip you love

Day 30: Why you dance

30 Day Lindy Hop Challenge: Day 3

2011-06-10T22:55:00.000-07:00

Day 3: A description of your favorite partner (and why they’re your favorite)

*sigh*

I'm going to have to go with my friend who writes for One Step Forward, Two Steps Back.

For starters, he's someone who enjoys dancing and can have fun with it. "Lazy Swing" where the follow does all the work? Check! Dancing at Starbucks/In-n-Out/Hooters? Sure! Figuring out a way to go back and fourth between two follows while following/stealing a hat? ...we're working on that one.

Second, he has good taste in music.

Third, he's willing to learn or try new things. Usually, a well placed comment or raised eyebrow is a good indicator of "I foresee throwing in Secret New Move "Q" within the next song" ...and sometimes, I actually listen to him and do whatever it is he's trying to lead me to do.

Day 4: Your favorite live band
Day 5: Your favorite Lindy Hop variation dance (charleston, balboa, shag)
Day 6: Your favorite group dance (shim sham, tranky doo big apple, etc)
Day 7: Something you really want to learn
Day 8: Your favorite instructor
Day 9: Favorite class taken
Day 10: Favorite workshop weekend (Lindy Focus, Camp Hollywood, etc) or one you’d really like to attend
Day 11: Favorite song(s) to dance to
Day 12: Your swing crushes/favorite pros
Day 13: Favorite dancing memory
Day 14: Your swing group of friends
Day 15: Favorite classic clip
Day 16: Photo of you dancing
Day 17: Favorite Styling
Day 18: That move you love
Day 19: That move that eludes you
Day 20: Your swing shoes
Day 21: Favorite outfit to wear dancing
Day 22: Favorite city to dance in
Day 23: A dancer you admire
Day 24: Favorite pro performance
Day 25: Describe the last night you went dancing
Day 26: The level you think you dance at
Day 27: Your goals for the year
Day 28: Events you’re looking forward to
Day 29: A clip you love
Day 30: Why you dance

30 Day Lindy Hop Challenge: Day 2

2011-06-09T18:49:00.000-07:00

Day 2: Your favorite place to dance

Midtown Stomp in Sacramento, CA

It's the first venue I went to, and I love the building itself. Okay, maybe not the walk up the stairs but other than that...

Otherwise, my answer would be "Anywhere and everywhere" because so long as there's music, the right kind of floor and shoes you can swivel in, there's no reason you can't dance!

...and you don't necessarily need the music.

Day 3: A description of your favorite partner (and why they’re your favorite)

Day 4: Your favorite live band

Day 5: Your favorite Lindy Hop variation dance (charleston, balboa, shag)

Day 6: Your favorite group dance (shim sham, tranky doo big apple, etc)

Day 7: Something you really want to learn

Day 8: Your favorite instructor

Day 9: Favorite class taken

Day 10: Favorite workshop weekend (Lindy Focus, Camp Hollywood, etc) or one you’d really like to attend

Day 11: Favorite song(s) to dance to

Day 12: Your swing crushes/favorite pros

Day 13: Favorite dancing memory

Day 14: Your swing group of friends

Day 15: Favorite classic clip

Day 16: Photo of you dancing

Day 17: Favorite Styling

Day 18: That move you love

Day 19: That move that eludes you

Day 20: Your swing shoes

Day 21: Favorite outfit to wear dancing

Day 22: Favorite city to dance in

Day 23: A dancer you admire

Day 24: Favorite pro performance

Day 25: Describe the last night you went dancing

Day 26: The level you think you dance at

Day 27: Your goals for the year

Day 28: Events you’re looking forward to

Day 29: A clip you love

Day 30: Why you dance

30 Day Lindy Hop Challenge: Day 1

2011-06-08T19:30:00.000-07:00

Notes of a Lindy Hopper A tumblr dedicated to lindy hop and lindy hop variation dances. Feel free to submit anything you find that you think is cool and I'll post it.

• College Swing Clubs

• 30 Day Lindy Hop Challenge

• Ask me anything

Thanks to the wonderful lady over at Notes of a Lindy Hopper, I have a new thing to do :D
I figure it would be fun as a way to pass time between now and Camp Hollywood.

Day 1: What got you started in Lindy Hop

Swing wasn't new to me. I still remember cousin Jen and I doing a bit of East Coast in the gymnasium back in eighth grade... In fact, the elements were always there: my passion for the language of the soul, the desire to learn ANY form of dance, the willingness to just go for it (fortunately the tapes of me dancing to NKOTB are secure from the world, though my second grade teacher STILL remembers me entertaining the class via song and dance) not to mention my fascination with the 1930's and 40's. But I'm going to say it was New Years.

Sure... that wasn't exactly Lindy Hop. And yes, I was getting panicky and nearly backed out of going to the New Years shindig... But that was the night that reignited my love of dance (and the idea that "hey, I can actually do this!")

I want to say that within a month, I went with two friends down to Fresno for a lesson in what was called 6-count Lindy, and leaving with the agreement that this particular form was dead to us and would never be spoken of again.

Day 2: Your favorite place to dance

Day 3: A description of your favorite partner (and why they’re your favorite)

Day 4: Your favorite live band

Day 5: Your favorite Lindy Hop variation dance (charleston, balboa, shag)

Day 6: Your favorite group dance (shim sham, tranky doo big apple, etc)

Day 7: Something you really want to learn

Day 8: Your favorite instructor

Day 9: Favorite class taken

Day 10: Favorite workshop weekend (Lindy Focus, Camp Hollywood, etc) or one you’d really like to attend

Day 11: Favorite song(s) to dance to

Day 12: Your swing crushes/favorite pros

Day 13: Favorite dancing memory

Day 14: Your swing group of friends

Day 15: Favorite classic clip

Day 16: Photo of you dancing

Day 17: Favorite Styling

Day 18: That move you love

Day 19: That move that eludes you

Day 20: Your swing shoes

Day 21: Favorite outfit to wear dancing

Day 22: Favorite city to dance in

Day 23: A dancer you admire

Day 24: Favorite pro performance

Day 25: Describe the last night you went dancing

Day 26: The level you think you dance at

Day 27: Your goals for the year

Day 28: Events you’re looking forward to

Day 29: A clip you love

Day 30: Why you dance

Movement Monday: Inappropriate Moves

2011-04-11T13:09:00.000-07:00

This could be fun if your dance style is playful... and you know your partner well enough.

Fun Friday: Steal Dance x2

2011-04-08T00:45:00.000-07:00

I saw these back-to-back and couldn't wait to share!

Two steal dances...

Two VERY DIFFERENT dances...

Enjoy!
;)

Wedding Wednesday: Vows and Speeches

2011-04-06T00:41:00.000-07:00

For the month of April, Wednesday's post will be "Wedding Wednesday" in honor of my good friend 'Dear Abby' and her upcoming nuptials.

What to expect?

What else but dance, Doctor Who, BritComs and all thing wedding related!

Up first... Vows and Speeches

Tuesday Tunes: Basin Street Blues

2011-04-05T00:27:00.000-07:00

Movement Monday...How About MOTIVATED Monday!

2011-04-04T00:28:00.000-07:00

I watch this video of one of the team performances at last year's Camp Hollywood and...

:D

Fun Friday: Only Want to Dance (Strictly Ballroom)

2011-04-01T00:01:00.000-07:00

...'Cause I only want to dance. :D

MonTuesday Tunes + Moves: Sparkling Diamonds

2011-03-30T15:07:00.000-07:00

I can't say anything about this song... I'm too busy grinning. Not only do I love the original (with Ms. Monroe), and the version from Moulin Rouge, but the opening to this one gets me grinning before I hear the first lyric.

Enjoy!

And where do the moves come in? Well... if you can't imagine dancing to Sparkling Diamonds, then give this a watch...

Back on Track

2011-03-25T18:50:00.000-07:00

Finally getting back into the swing of things! To catch you up on the goings-on that goes on when I don't post, here's what's happening:

Recently, I attended a Lindy workshop and I plan on posting some recap videos featuring a few of the moves (and the instructors), but I've held off simply because I wanted to dance along with the video and... I kinda injured myself at the workshop. Maybe injury is too strong of a strong word. I came home and ended up extremely sore in certain areas and limping everywhere when not elevating my leg.

...but it was TOTALLY worth it!
I've been easing back in with East Coast and Charleston moves, and after a couple of weeks, went to a Lindy class and refined some basics. My legs felt it, and I ended up skipping a couple opportunities to dance in order to apply some muscle cream before the allure of the Shim Sham beckoned me.

So before I get back to work, here's what I'm working on right now.... Literally, right now (as soon as this is posted):

What I'm listening to: "Strictly Ballroom" soundtrack. Particularly Doris Day's "Perhaps, Perhaps, Perhaps" which has been featured on this blog before.

What I'm doing elsewhere:
* Completing Day 2 of the 28-Day Boot camp on SparkPeople.com (free workouts, tracker, etc. If you sign up, come find me-- I'm "Hello_Sweetie")

* We're going through a strange cross of Lent and Spring Cleaning. I can't explain it in 25 words or less, but it has been an eye opener so far.

* Taking my camera to the Community Closet. A friend and I have found so many ways to put together a wardrobe that has a retro feel, or is otherwise awesome for swing dance. We want to share :D

Bridging an Educational Gap

2011-03-21T14:29:00.000-07:00

No movement to post today. It's been an interesting week and I'd love to share some of what has gone one but...

In light of the fact that I learned last night of my friend's educational gap in regards to awesome dance movies, I re-share this scene from "Take the Lead"...

Favorite Songs: Sway (part 2)

2011-03-11T00:01:00.000-08:00

Sway... part 2

Favorite Songs: Sway (part 1)

2011-03-10T00:01:00.000-08:00

The last tune to share on my list comes in two parts.

Why two?

Because there are so many artists who've performed this song... all of which are different and just as enjoyable as the next. It's really difficult to choose one over another. Like "Bei Mir Bist Du Schoen", there are versions at differing tempos (and one that has three speeds in one song!)

Speaking of... Are you surprised I featured "Faith" instead of "Bei Mir Bist Du Schoen"? Glad? Incredibly upset and never going to speak to me again until I feature it?"

Don't worry, you'll likely hear it again.

Without further ado...

Sway.

Favorite Songs: Sentimental Journey

2011-03-09T00:01:00.000-08:00

So by now you know a few of my favorite songs:

Ochi Chernye (otherwise known as "Ochi Chernyie", "Ochi Tchernye" or "Dark Eyes")

Faith

The Hunter Gets Captured by the Game

and of course... Bei Mir Bist Du Schoen

There are two more on the short list I'd like to share, and today's song comes from a very talented singer-turned-actress: Doris Day.

Yes... Today's tune is "Sentimental Journey", a song that (when listed on the back of ANY album) prompts me to buy up box sets and compilation albums like candy. I love this song that much. It's true. Of course, I also love "Perhaps, Perhaps, Perhaps" and "Secret Love" (and will sit through the cheese whiz that is "Calamity Jane" just to hear Doris Day perform that little ditty).

In the battle of 'Which song is my favorite?'... "Sentimental Journey" is ALWAYS a top contender.

Tuesday Tunes: "The Hunter Get's Captured By The Game"--Massive Attack

2011-03-08T00:01:00.000-08:00

...actually, it's Massive Attack with Tracey Thorn covering another female singer's song... but it's still awesome. The covers on this album are actually done really well. They are just as good as the originals, but are separate enough from the originals to be their own unique creation. Another example from this same soundtrack... "The Passenger". Original by Iggy Pop, covered on the Batman Forever soundtrack by Michael Hutchence. Actually, just pick a random song from this album. You (almost) can't go wrong...they're that good.

Favorite Songs: Faith

2011-03-07T19:47:00.000-08:00

Yeah, I guess it would be nice...

...if I had the energy to do something and not have it take all day.

I've been incredibly lethargic today and can't seem to get beyond it, so there will be no Monday Movement today (sad, I know). What we need is a fun, peppy song. It just so happens I have just the song on my favorites list!

And BONUS!!! ...a cover!

Favorite Songs: Ochi Chernye

2011-03-05T07:13:00.000-08:00

I first heard this song while watching Jimmy Stewart in "The Shop Around the Corner" (remade later as "You've Got Mail", both of which are tied as my all-time favorite movie). However, in all fairness, I actually have to post two versions of this song.

The first version is the Louie Armstrong version. The tune is jazzed up, lyrics more than simplified (oh, and in English...) and I'd say that others my age would be more familiar with this version than the classic version. This one can be danced to (and was... VERY recently ...though sadly not by me).

The classic version... (music only)

There really is some pretty interesting trivia regarding this song, but 7 am is way too early/late for me to be feeding you facts about it's origins. If you want, comment and I will see about posting some trivia about Ochi Chernye (in all variations of the spelling... seriously) as well as trivia for future "Favorite Songs" choices.

What's Your Favorite Song?

2011-03-05T04:57:00.000-08:00

Apparently, I'm a glutton for punishment and woe.

(okay, I'm being a bit melodramatic here)

I say that I don't have A favorite song, and while I do tend to yell out "I know that song!" or "I love this song!" to a sizable number of tunes (those who have gone swing dancing with me can attest to this)... There is however a short list--rather, a small group of songs that are essentially my favorite. While covered and interpreted in many ways, they are still considered my favorites.

One that I have featured (Bei Mir Bist Du Schoen) is played almost every time we've gone to an event. I've heard it performed at varying tempos, recorded in differing decades, yet I still love this song. I don't think I can dance to the Puppini Sisters version (but I do try to sing along...and fail, erupting into laughter), but if The Andrews Sisters ever come up on a compilation album or box set, you can bet I'm looking to see if this song is listed.

Imagine my surprise when several other songs I thoroughly enjoy (including a chunk of my esteemed favorites) were played mere hours ago! Some of these songs are played so rarely (even on specialty radio stations like Sirius 40's on 4) that when I hear those first few notes, my hand goes to my heart and my breath catches in my chest. Some, as if meeting with a long-lost loved one by chance... have even been known to bring me to tears.

Curious yet?

I've already posted a video with the Janis Siegel version of Bei Mir Bist Du Schoen (go check it out by clicking here). Over the next week (or, over this weekend if I can push myself to exhaustion) I will be posting some of these songs here on UAF.

In the mean time... Leave me a comment and share with me some of your favorites. You check out mine by reading my posts, it's only fair I check out yours.

@)~,~'~~

-Ash

Fun Friday-- Someone Else's Totally Awesome Birthday Edition

2011-03-04T15:37:00.000-08:00

Best birthday ever? or Best birthday EVER!

Tonight, we'll be celebrating a few birthdays by driving into the city and dancing the night away. Aside from the hilarity that will ensue (...my own attempts at getting into vehicles whilst donning a pencil skirt being one such cause for amusement) I'm hoping to get some nice artsy black & white shots of everyone.

We'll see...

If I'm not wielding the camera, I'll be on the dance floor. Preferably to my favorite song... well, okay. I don't really have a favorite, but it's one of my top five and I love nearly every cover I've heard. What song am I speaking of? He he....

Wordless Wednesday: Moments in Music and Dance

2011-03-02T16:01:00.000-08:00

There are moments where words are insufficient.

Moments of sweet spontaneity...

Moments of inhibition...

Moments of honesty and heartbreak...

Moments of awe...

...and moments that unite.

Tuesday Tunes: Single Ladies Get a Bit of Blues

2011-03-01T00:01:00.000-08:00

Yeah... when I heard this cover of Beyonce's "Single Ladies" I knew it had to be shared. In fact, I was so excited so share it, I thought I'd share it early.

Instead, I postponed the song I would have shared today to bring you...

Monday Movement: Being Mislead (or "I'm not listening")

2011-02-27T22:57:00.000-08:00

Note: I realize that at the time of this posting, it's not quite Monday here in the Golden State. Bear with me, I'm a bit tired...

I don't have a video to demonstrate what I'd like to work on this week. The video I'd choose from to best show what my aim is...isn't available on YouTube to share.

Suffice it to say, my "movement" for the week goes back to the basics: "Tension," "Focus" and "Frame"

Frame and tension are two key elements necessary to dance if you want to avoid looking like you have no clue what you're doing. When I dance with certain people, it looks better because I know my partner. I know enough about their style to be clued in to what elements they like to throw in when they dance.

With others...not so much.

Actually, to be honest, even when I dance with people I've danced with numerous times before, I can focus so much on reading the cues they give in order to know where they want me to go that I STILL bump into them or miss what it was they were leading me to do.

So this week I would like to practice some tension drills (learned a few nifty ones from a video that has pretty cool drills), work on my dance frame and practice NOT looking at the floor. I tried starting this Saturday, becoming mindful of when it was I would stare at the floor instead of at or just past my partner's face. While I'd love to take a day and do nothing but drills (especially from the Synergy video... cause they were informative AND looked like fun) I realize that I may just need to find a partner who would be willing to go over some drills as part of a pre-swing warm-up...and that's okay.

Otherwise, what would I like to work on? Blues of course! There is a video (Maybe I'll pull it out next week) that has a nifty crash course in blues. This would make for a fun lesson one week. With blues, it's a matter of getting the basics, then building on it with moves you already know and polishing it up with musicality.

Musicality... that's another area I'd like to work on. Again, I'll save it for another time. For this week..it's back to basics. And by basics, I mean being conscious of my frame, focus and tension.

Tuesday Tunes: "Deuce"--The Cardigans

2011-02-22T18:12:00.000-08:00

I'm thinking songs should be on Song Saturday, or Tuesday Tunes. So this week, I'll try Tuesday. Also, I should refrain from talking so much when there is a song to share.

By the way, this week's selection is in celebration of FINALLY tracking down a hard copy of The X-Files (Fight the Future) movie soundtrack. It arrived in the mail today. Yippie!

Lindy Hop: "Basket Whip"

2011-02-21T07:34:00.000-08:00

I tried this one week in a class and have actually wanted to learn it. Or rather, I want others to learn it with me.

West Coast Swing

2011-02-19T20:36:00.000-08:00

Some people I went to high school with will likely shake their heads or groan (or both) but...

...Remember when we learned how to march? Heel-to-toe, rolling your foot...

:D

Basic Swing: "Tornado"

2011-02-19T20:21:00.001-08:00

Oh, how I look forward to this!

First step: Learn how to perform the movement.
Second step: Learn how to perform movement--without getting dizzy.
Third step: Learn how to perform movement--in heels.

Yeah, it's that awesome!

Lindy Hop: Ladies "Swing Out" Footwork

2011-02-19T19:46:00.000-08:00

One thing we were told was that we (ladies, that is) would be working on swiveling in Lindy...

...and I hated it.

I had only recently become introduced to Lindy Hop ( 8-count and the "dead to me" 6-count). I liked what I learned. What I learned was void of swivels... why change it?

Well, swivels are actually kind of pretty. They're not so bad when you've got slippery shoes, a hard surface, and don't have to travel. This is where I find my weak point: traveling. If I have to move from one place to another (on the dance floor), I feel like I have to take big steps or jump or... get really lazy with footwork so I can make up the distance I'm lacking. Incorporating swivels has been taking away from my travel opportunities. That is the only reason why I'm not liking swivels.

So I should face this head on (as so many articles and self-help gurus have said)... "Feel the fear and go with it!" Thus, a video to help me practice what I have been dreading:

Getting Caught Up With Sweet Moves!!!

2011-02-19T19:32:00.000-08:00

For those keeping up with what we're learning... a convenient list!
Not only a list, but since our local group seems to introduce ourselves to moves before "officially" learning them on Wednesdays, I will be posting some of the videos we (or I) use for practice.

What I'm practicing:
Incorporating swivels in Lindy Hop
"The Tunnel" (Lindy Hop)
Basic steps for West Coast
"Sugar Push" (West Coast)

What I want to practice:
"Basket Whip" (Lindy Hop)
"Tornado" (Lindy Hop)
"Charleston Kick Through" (Charleston)
Getting comfortable with dips

Seriously Saturday: "Teach" and Extras

2011-02-19T18:34:00.000-08:00

Over at my other blog, I posted something that could have easily found its way here. I talked about a comment made that set off a series of thoughts and flashbacks that made me say "Why not!"

Check it out as I'm sure it will make a number of future posts make sense.

As it is, I'm in the middle of a four-day weekend, attempting to make the most of it with extra dance practice and related workouts (ultimately... failing to live up to my own planning). I'm sore, in the best of ways, and catching up with journaling as means of procrastination.

Seriously though... go have fun.

I'm going to hang out here till my thought clear.

Wordless Wednesday: Twilight Time

2011-02-16T00:07:00.000-08:00

Wordless Wednesday will be more about an image or a song, and less about my commentary.

Although... this first installment of Wordless Wednesday could easily turn into an ode to the wonders spewed forth from the speakers on my record player... but I digress.

I finally had the funds to replace my broken player and the first thing I sought out was a recent acquisition: Les Brown and his Orchestra and their rendition of 'Twilight Time' (similar, though different than the version here, but none-the-less equally as exquisite!)

I cannot describe the feeling, hearing the particular sound that can only come from vinyl. It's like being surprised by a loved one with a gift you never expected. It's a shade of love nestled somewhere between

Monday Movement: Swivels and Kicks

2011-02-14T20:26:00.000-08:00

I thought Mondays would be a good time to post a video of something I'd like to work on during the week. UAF readers will know that I would consider myself to be a part of the "Born in the Wrong Decade Club" and have a love for old music. Combine this with a desire, nee... passion for dance that runs deep (is two decades considered deep? Let's say 'yes' on this one) and it would come as no surprise that I'm learning swing dance.

Yeah, after dragging my feet for the first half of the school year, coming up with any excuse NOT to drive up to where I knew (for years) lessons were offered, I now let no excuse keep me from going...well, it seems that way.

So each Monday, I aim to post a video relating to something I am learning and working on, or something I'm learning on my own time via YouTube and others more experienced than I.

So without further ado...

This week I am working on:
Lindy Hop-- Send Out (with swivels)

In this video, it's the first thing the duo demonstrates before showing you how they changed it up with kicks. Why am I going to practice this when we spent last Wednesday working on this already? ...because I let my brain get in the way and I end up NOT wanting to do swivels. That, and we were told we'd be using swivels a lot this semester, so I better get use to them and get over this illogical aversion to something that is actually fun to do.

If you have a suggestion, feel free to comment or post a link to a video (if one is avaliable).

I hope that in the upcoming week or two, the changes made in regards to what and when posts are made avaliable becomes a bit easier to follow. So yes, less Doctor Who, more... doing something.

Long Time, No See

2011-02-07T06:11:00.000-08:00

I realize it's been over a month since you've last heard from me. The truth is, towards the end of the year I was thinking long and hard over whether to continue with this blog or walk away and forget about it.

Over the last couple of weeks, I re-read each post and after a few minor edits (okay, one edit to fix a video and two posts deleted entirely) I decided to keep going.

My fangirlie-ness isn't limited to internet vloggers, science fiction or the adorable awkwardness of Matt Smith's portrayal of the lead on Doctor Who... No. As touched upon way back when, I love vintage finds, old music (well, music from most decades really) and photography.

So this week, I am restructuring things at this and another blog to make it more manageable and ...structured. My aim is for regular posting on my part, and to go back to actually using words to discuss topics as I did in the beginning of this blog.

Stay tuned...

(Christmas) Time Can Be Rewritten

2010-12-24T01:38:00.000-08:00

A snippit of what I have to look forward to...

Eleven 'til Eleven: Pile of Good Things

2010-12-23T01:57:00.000-08:00

If there is one quote so epic, so relevant to life in any circumstance, it is this one:

Eleven 'til Eleven: Respect

2010-12-22T01:44:00.000-08:00

This song has made me dance in my skin for weeks. I love it!

Oh, and the video.... love that too. It's Eleven's p.o.v. regarding the mysterious Doctor/Professor River Song and her lack of awe over his impressive impressiveness.

Title: The Doctor and River - Little Respect
Song: Wheatus "A Little Respect"
Rating: 3.5 out of 5; As much as I love the pairing, the song, and the fact that it's clear whose p.o.v. the song is matched with, I find myself just listening to the song after the first few views. The clips don't always go with the song/story.

A Few Gems: Part 3 (Other/Everything Else)

2010-12-21T16:57:00.000-08:00

Finally, the conclusion of the "Few Gems"... I should call this segment "The sharing of gorgeous videos" post, but I'll let you decide.

First up... Upular. Also known as "that incredibly infectious song"

How many movies can you name from Filmography 2010?

And now animated piece. Either you'll see it as a video about tango, or a video about devotion.

A Few Gems: Part 2 (The Serious Stuff)

2010-12-21T16:45:00.000-08:00

Continuing to pick apart all the saved things on my computer, here are a few of the more serious, emotional pieces...

Did you know I love Jane Austen adaptations? Well, except for Emma. Clueless was okay, but otherwise I really don't care for Emma. One of my favorites is absolutely heart-wrenching from start to finish. First up is a video that does (some) justice to BBC's recent adaptation of "Persuasion"

The first time The Doctor met River Song, he not only learned that they have a long history together that he has yet to experience, but he witnesses River sacrifice her life to save him. For the duration of their entire relationship, he knows when, where and how River will die. In "9 Crimes of River Song" the Doctor meets River for the second time, contrasted with his reflections on his last/first meeting with her.

And from one of my favorite movies... a scene that requires few (if any) words. Two soulmates are finally at the right place, right time. I can't put the whole movie here, but I highly recommend Kuch Kuch Hota Hai. Here is 'the gazebo scene'

A Few Gems: Part 1 (The Fun Stuff)

2010-12-21T12:24:00.000-08:00

It's that time of year when I clean out my in-box, organize my favorites, and sift through all the saved links in an attempt to start the new year off with a freshly-cleaned browser.

Here's some nifties I came across...

First, there's the duo of Barats and Bereta showing us how to make a perfect day! (and in only 10 seconds)

How about an introduction to Rick Castle in 20 seconds?

Matt Smith's awesome awkwardness in under a minute

Hate Mosquitoes as much as I do? Rhett and Link introduce us to a few other mosquitoes that suck.

Eleven 'til Eleven: Ridiculous Miracle

2010-12-21T01:16:00.000-08:00

Two for one today!

First up is the "ridiculous miracle" scene from The Big Bang 2. Following close behind is the song "The Big Bang 2" from Charlie McDonnell who sums up the episode rather well (could use more River Song though).

(No ratings this time... though Charlie's song alone would be around a 4 for me)

Eleven 'til Eleven: Everything

2010-12-20T01:50:00.000-08:00

Oh River Song! The first time the Doctor met you, you died. You may keep your journal a secret, citing "spoilers" as your reason for keeping events from him that he has yet to experience with you, but my dear... the entire time he will have the ultimate spoiler.

River has died for the Doctor...
She can scare his oldest enemy...
She is stubborn, smart, and loves to tease the Doctor.
She also has a killer sense of style and best catchphrases ever.

The story of River and the Doctor is one out of order. He started at the end, she at the beginning, and everything in between is jumbled. Like "The Time Traveler's Wife" except we don't know if she's his wife, and their story is much better than TTTW ever could be.

One video I've replayed over and over (both for the song and editing) is this one from GuardianJupiter.

Title: The Doctor and River: Everything
Song: Lifehouse "Everything"
Rating: 5 out of 5. I never get tired of this song. It's beautiful, the editing is beautiful.

Eleven 'til Eleven: Space Galdalf...the Bloke

2010-12-19T01:42:00.000-08:00

Eleven is a bloke. A bloke like every other bloke. Or Gandalf... Space Gandalf. Take your pick.

A scene that I wish had never been deleted from Series 5, but fortunately was shared after the dvd set came out.

Title: Doctor Who Unreleased Scene from Flesh and Stone and The Vampires of Venice - Bridging the two
Song: n/a
Rating: 5 out of 5? 4.5 out of 5? I can't decide. I'm still caught up in the adorable-ness of "Space Gandalf" to decide.

Eleven 'til Eleven: Funny Moments

2010-12-18T01:43:00.000-08:00

Today is Friday... "Fun Friday" at work if I'm going to call it by its proper name. In honor of Fun Friday, how about a collection of funny moments from series 5 put together by gammaSuite!

Cause that's what you get today.

Title: Doctor Who Series 5--Funny Moments
Song: (none... all are clips w/vocals from series 5)
Rating: 3 out of 5; Has the best bits of the series (in terms of humor), but is lengthy and lacking "beans are evil... bad, bad beans", the fez, and "Look at me! I'm a target!"

Eleven 'til Eleven: Hot

2010-12-17T01:32:00.000-08:00

Yeah, I bet you'd never see me post "Hot" in a title without it being a reference to actual temperature.

It's Fun Friday and I thought what could be more fun than this short um... I'm just going to have to say "short video" because any descriptors I come up with sound strange when I actually try to say them out loud.

Just enjoy.

Title: Eleven--Hot in Herre
Song: "Hot in Herre"
Rating: M for Mature? Um... 3 out of 5. I blush listening, let alone watching clips that I have seen multiple times within context. Can't put it on Facebook... Don't know if others would understand why I watched it more than once (okay, more than three times in a row). I did laugh out loud at parts and yes, part of the appeal is that Matt Smith's portrayal of Eleven (the eleventh Doctor) is incredibly dorky in the best of ways.

Eleven 'til Eleven: Amy's Observations

2010-12-16T01:54:00.000-08:00

There are things Amy Pond says, especially at the beginning of the series, that come across as so insightful. Amy, the girl who waited, dreaming for 12 years about the raggedy doctor who had come to save her.

Amy, who has become a tool for me to throw in an awesome video about another of the Doctor's companions who fancied someone they shouldn't have.

Poor Martha Jones... She too fancied someone she shouldn't have. She and Amy should pop in and have a chat with Sarah Jane about that.

Title: The Nicest Thing--Martha Jones
Song: Kate Nash "Nicest Thing"
Rating: 4.5 out of 5; Love this song. I have it as my ringtone because of this video. It fit's the subplot of unrequited love that prevailed during her time with the tenth Doctor.

Eleven 'til Eleven: Pandorica

2010-12-15T01:25:00.000-08:00

Duuuuude....

This gave me chills! It could easily be an epic trailer. I can't say much more because I'm listening to it on mitsucat2000's channel as I type this and I'm getting goose-pimples again.

Title: Pandorica
Song: (unknown)
Rating: 4.5 out of 5

Eleven 'til Eleven: Welcome!

2010-12-14T01:07:00.000-08:00

I... love... DWaDDLJ! Combining Bollywood with Who? Genius!

In fact, there are soooo many videos by DWaDDLJ that I absolutely love, I may have to choose a few to share today (or just pop over to his channel on YouTube and see for yourself).

But as we're counting down to Eleven's first Christmas special, here's a peppy 'Welcome' to the world of the eleventh doctor.

Title: Doctor Who Series 5: Welcome!
Song: Welcome (from the movie "Welcome)
Rating: 3.5 out of 5; Catchy song, includes many scenes that seem tailored for the song but also includes some scenes that... don't work as well. Overall enjoyable.

Bonus: Here are a few videos featuring the tenth doctor (David Tennant) from DWaDDLJ. Enjoy!

Eleven 'til Eleven: "Our Velocity"

2010-12-13T01:30:00.000-08:00

This video from koloSigma1 was an early favorite. It captures the fast pace of the premier episode "Eleventh Hour" while matching well the clips from the majority of Matt Smith's first year as the Doctor.

Title: Doctor Who: The Eleventh Doctor-- Our Velocity
Song: Maximo Park- "Our Velocity"
Rating: 4.5 out of 5; Would give it a five, but unsure if I could easily share this with others without alienating/confusing them. Still awesome.

Twelve Days Til Christmas (with the Doctor)

2010-12-12T19:51:00.000-08:00

In a funny way, Christmas-related events have taken a peculiar turn of late. Though out of order, the days have become a real-life version of one of my favorite songs: The Twelve Pains of Christmas.

With only twelve days left until Christmas (and the airing of the Doctor Who Christmas special that we viewers in the states will get to see ON CHRISTMAS!), I thought I'd count down the eleven days left before we see Eleven back in action with some of my favorite fan videos created using Matt Smith's first series run as the eleventh doctor. One video each day.

I'll call it "Eleven 'til Eleven"... it'll be awesome!

As today is the twelfth day till Christmas, lets start the fun right now with the Who version of "Twelve Pains of Christmas"

Criminy! An Ode-ish Post to Helga G. Pataki

2010-12-12T00:39:00.000-08:00

There was something about Helga G. Pataki that was... fascinating. From an early age (slightly older than the characters themselves) I knew that the family dynamics of the two leads in the kids show "Hey Arnold!" was by far the most realistic in terms of the unconventional family. Arnold was raised by his grandparents, helping them to run a boarding house. Helga lived with her parents and elder sister, but the relationships between them were anything but healthy. Helga's father was overbearing, expecting perfection from everyone but pursuing selfish interests over connecting with his family. Her mother's behavior was obvious and alluded to an alcohol problem, but never directly addressed. Olga, Helga's sister, was "Miss Perfect" and in her achievements and attentiveness to her parents, won great praise.

That left Helga very much without.

While she had parents, Helga knew from an early age that she would not receive the love and attention from her parents in the same way her sister did. The creators of the series made it perfectly clear the neglect she experienced in her home life. In contrast, Arnold spent the entire series not knowing whether his parents were dead or alive, but was otherwise a mature, well-adjusted and much loved surrogate son to the boarders he lived with.

Years later, I still watch episodes in which Helga's home life and childhood are presented and my heart goes out to her. In a flashback while talking with a child psychologist, Helga touches on a memory that initiated her on-going affection for Arnold. On her first day of pre-school, Helga's parents (showering attention on a teenage Olga), left Helga to fend for herself in the way of making her own lunch and walking herself to school. Scared, soaked from rain and mud, she arrives at the preschool dejected. It is then that an unexpected break in the rain calls her attention to a three-year-old Arnold, holding an umbrella over her.

"I like your bow," he tells her. "I like your bow because it's pink like your pants."

This one act of kindness (likely the first in her life) leaves a lasting impression on the young Helga. Though she has built up a tough exterior to enact some sense of control over the world she is in, her inner world is richly poetic, and a long unrequited love has led Helga to secretly going out of her way to help Arnold time and again. Though she doesn't make it known for all to see, Arnold becomes one of three people she trusts (the other two are legally bound to confidentiality, and are still limited to what they know about Helga). His faith in her hidden 'good side' fuels her creativity as well as her drive to succeed not by the world's standards, but by a true sense of right and wrong.

She isn't the obvious good guy. She makes it hard for others to see her as anything other than a bully (which, as a defense, is how she wants them to see her). But, even if she outwardly criticizes the notion of acting upon an idea because it is the right thing to do, Helga is often the biggest supporter of the moral high ground Arnold takes, and almost-literally moves mountains to ensure that his vision becomes reality.

I love her character. Arnold's too, but Helga was someone I could identify with growing up, and for a kid's show, was one of the most human that could be found.

FYI... Helga does eventually confess her feelings to Arnold (though, she didn't exactly win him over and she threatens to punch him if he brings it up). According to the creator, in the second (unmade) movie, not only does Arnold go in search of his parents, but he tells Helga that he does like her. HA Creator Craig Bartlett said "they were meant for each other." It's nice to know that Bartlett is as much of a romantic as his viewers were.

:)

The Lost Opening Number of Craig Ferguson

2010-12-11T21:55:00.000-08:00

There is something to be said about Craig Ferguson. He's like Graham Norton, only really, really tame.

So to say that his recent Doctor Who-centric episode was awesome is a given. The two guests (current Doctor, actor Matt Smith, and uber-nerd/awesome-extraordinaire Chris Hardwick) were not disappointing and all around, it was a blast to watch.

But as viewers tuned in to Ferguson's normal opening routine (que the musical!)... we were met with a very sad, slightly P.O.ed host as he woefully announced that mere minutes before taping, word came from the producers that they did not have permission to actually use the Doctor Who theme song.

Fortunately, the run-thru was taped and "leaked"... cause it's AWESOME!

If you get the chance, check out other clips from the episode full of freeze-frame high fives, viewer questions, impromptu musical interludes with the guests...and harmonicas!

The Un-Official Fun Friday Song

2010-10-14T22:26:00.000-07:00

Hey, look! I found a video of me... dancing!

Not really...

But I'd like to think that when I dance to my Fun Friday Song that I look like the lady in this video. Only, slightly heavier and significantly less orange. And to be completely honest, I think she stole my moves and polished them up a bit, but I digress.

There is a song that, when played, becomes the official announcement that Friday is here and the weekend has begun. That song is the Hues Corporation's "Rock the Boat" and is very much a disco song.

So without further ado, I declare it to be Fun Friday! (albeit, a good hour and 35 minutes early)

Positive Pranking

2010-10-10T14:54:00.000-07:00

It turned out to be the perfect weekend to pull off some positive pranks. Don't know what a positive prank is? Short of sending you to a YouTube video about it, lets just simplify it down to "planned acts of kindness... with a bit of whimsy thrown in for flavor."

Some pranksters like to reinvent the classics. Ding dong ditch becomes Hostess Ding Dong Ditch where boxes of Hostess Ding Dongs are left on a doorstep as you ring the doorbell and run like mad away from the target house.

TPing a home involves Tootsie Pops (not toilet paper)...

Egging now means leaving plastic eggs (full of candy!) instead of throwing real ones...

In positive pranking, the intent is to brighten some one's day by gifting them with something (instead of damaging or otherwise harming a person or their property). Instead of pranks at the expense of others, you prank to benefit others.

One really good on that has shown up on YouTube involves leaving 100 one-dollar bills hanging from a tree with a written invite to take the free money.

Yes, with positive pranking, you may at first seem anonymous, but you're supposed to leave a note explaining that what you're doing is a good thing and you're not trying to trick/hurt/poison/embarrass the prankee. Most note include the invitation for others to join in and go on their own positive pranking adventures...

...which leads me back to this weekend.

I've had plans for some time (a month at least on one of these pranks) and it happened quite suddenly that the people I wanted to prank first were going out of town just long enough for me to pull off my pranks. One prank didn't go off as planned as my timing was off. I literally walked up to the homeowners, held up a basket of eggs and said "I'm here to egg your house!" Yes, I recreated "egging" to mean "delivering a fresh basket of eggs to some one's house...and NOT throwing them."

The other...well. I have been keeping an eye out on some things that a friend said she needed to get. This past week (thinking we were going to have a yard sale yesterday so she can start getting her needed stuff), I sent messages to my friend updating her on appliances I saw online. What she didn't know is that I found a few second-hand items (like a needed clothes washer) that were reasonably priced and had been making calls on them.

I had originally wanted to surprise her by having an appliance delivered while she was at home... but breaking into some one's garage is so much fun! Phone calls were made and electronic messages sent around to get information on when we would expect her home. Others, who couldn't physically be there or didn't have a truck or travel info sent in messages of love and appreciation.

After some delays, the washer finally made it to town; a memo board with messages from friends and family sits waiting as the decoy surprise. All that is left is to wait out the next hour or so to get my friend's reaction.

How many people have friends that will pull together to pull one over on you in less than 48 hours! I really hope she likes it.

*note: the family I 'egged'... TOTALLY went over well.

The Best Musicals Ever! (that are not really musicals)

2010-10-03T21:01:00.000-07:00

There are some really well done musicals based on popular movies and shows.

These are... not.

These are my favorite fan-made 'musical' adaptations!

Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone--The Musical!

Tenth Doctor: The Musical (Doctor Who musical done very well! I love this one)

The X-Files Musical (If you love ABBA, you'll love this one :D )

Why not 'A Very Potter Musical'? Because it actually is a musical. A very well-done, fan-made parody of the HP series. I highly recommend it if you are a Potter fan.

A Bit of Mulder and Scully

2010-10-03T20:27:00.000-07:00

I use to love watching The X-Files.

...and that's a serious understatement.

When I say I loved The X-Files, I mean I LOOOOVED The X-Files. Now, I just re-watch my favorite scenes every once in a while. Here, to help celebrate the reason I devoted so much time to a show about conspiracies and loose ends that were never tied up... I give you a few of my favorite scenes.

I loved the banter between the lead characters and the evolving relationship that took them through nine seasons and two movies. There are specific scenes I couldn't find like one where Mulder teaches Scully about baseball. Scenes like this, where the duo are not in work-mode and can just relax around each other. Even near the end of the show's run there were things for each to learn about the other and, as it turned out, some things that the viewers learned as well. I mean, did anyone see Scully's pregnancy comming? Not me!

I wouldn't go back and watch them all, but here is a breif list of lighter episodes I'd recommend:
3 (the baseball episode, has that guy from Rent/Law & Order, M teaches S how to bat)
Arcadia (M&S undercover as a married couple)
Bad Blood (vampires, he said/she said, Luke Wilson)
The Ghosts Who Stole Christmas (Ghosts give relationship advice to M&S...Yay!)
Hollywood, A.D. (someone in Hollywood make a movie about M&S, has the famed "bubble bath" scene)
Post-Modern Prometheus (black and white, lots of Cher, modern Frankenstein tale with happier ending)
Rain Man (guy controls weather, high school reunion, Mulder gives dating advice?!)
Small Potatoes (babies with tails, shape-shifter, Luke Skywalker is the baby-daddy)

And for those who don't creep out easily...
Home (I will never hear "Wonderful! Wonderful!" the same way again... probably the creepiest and one of the most well-written episodes)

"Born In The Wrong Decade" Club

2010-10-03T19:20:00.000-07:00

I've been in a sentimental mood. Between incorporating some retro style into my day (I wish I took a picture!) and listening to oldies and goodies, I seem to find myself sighing and searching for my favorite tunes on YouTube.

"Sentimental Journey" and "Secret Love" (from Calamity Jane) both from the wonderful Doris Day. In fact "Sentimental Journey" is one of my all-time favorites to which I cannot stop myself from swaying and singing along to whenever I hear it. This one, however, is known more for being the theme from the show Coupling:

Then there is Rosemary Cooney (aunt to George). "Sway" and "Mambo Italiano" are probably her two most well-known hits. She also sings a mean "As time goes by" and this little number:

Another one of those "I LOVE THIS SONG!" songs is Teresa Brewer's "Music, Music, Music" (1950).

Songs by Sam Cooke, Nat King Cole, the Big Bopper and of course O.C. Smith's "Little Green Apples"

There are way too many for me to name. I just really love these songs, especially those from the 30's and 40's. So I'm going to leave you with this last gem: Johnny Mathis' "Wonderful, Wonderful"

(Did you see what I did there? I snuck in some X-Files in with my awesome music!)

Strong Women, Femme Fatale: A Slightly Altered Repost

2010-09-25T02:32:00.000-07:00

This is a slightly altered (for the better) repost of a topic that was slightly out of place on my other blog, "One Year, Second Chance." I say slightly out of place because it's somethign that would have totally fit right in here if I just add in a few YouTube videos. ...hence the slightly altered bit.

Va-Voom Vintage is having an awesome give away to cap a week of posts on femme fatals. I was looking at the comments, noting the women that commenters would put up as their favorites when I had a sort-of a-ha moment. Looking at black and white films (you know, the really good noir flicks) the femme fatal of the particular movie was gorgeous, charming, intelligent or witty and always dangerous. Yep, hang around the femme fatale long enough and something mighty interesting will happen.

But here's the thing: how I've always viewed these women is not that they were necessarily bad, just that the "dangerous" part of their persona came from fighting against expectation. I'll give you a few examples:

Emma Peel
Emma Peel of "The Avengers" (BBC show, not the animated superheroes), was feisty, wore tight bodysuits, fought bad guys with karate while working for a secret organization.... and intelligent to boot. In fact, in the movie version, she is Doctor Emma Peel. She was anything but conventional, living on her own and doing things that weren't exactly something you'd expect of a woman in the 60's. The only people she was a danger to were evil-doers and people who believed that women couldn't do certain things because they were... well... women.

Marguerite Krux
Yes, I'll admit: Marguerite is anything but innocent. She wormed her way onto a doomed expedition trip to a South American plateau, had her loyalties questioned time and again, was found out to be involved with some tricky espionage during the Great War (not a double agent... but triple!), had a few husbands die mysteriously... and if that weren't enough, it turns out the only reason she helped fund the expedition to the plateau was to find an amulet she needed as a bargaining chip with some seriously underhanded crime bosses.

She doesn't like to be told "no", is incredibly stubborn and is very guarded. As we later learn, her life is one of survival, having a not-so-pleasant upbringing leading into an incredibly adventurous life. She doesn't trust people because she's been hurt and that bargaining chip? She was searching for it to use in a trade... for her birth certificate. Turns out, she really doesn't know who she is, only this hard shell of a persona she's had to create to live the life that she does.
(btw... the song in this video fits the character very well and is one of my favorites)

H. G. (Helena) Wells
Yes, Helena of Warehouse 13 is the H.G. Wells of sci-fi and literary fame. She (yes, she) was inventive, knew martial arts, ahead of her time in so many ways (and in any century) and proved to be very charming. The "is she or isn't she evil" arc of season 2 showed Helena first as a fugitive and murderer, then as a sympathetic and misunderstood woman, later becoming a secret organization field agent-turned traitor. Her eventual end (nearly destroying the world) lead to the apparent downfall of the agent who finally captured her (and had originally trusted and fought for Helena's right to a second chance). With trust being such a big part of this season, Helena manipulated the trust of those around her to position herself well for her ultimate plan of world destruction. She also shattered the self-confidence and sense of safety for those she came in contact with.

There's more, but these characters that I'd call femme fatales were not all bad. Some chose things that were bad, where others were only labeled so because they were a threat to the roles and limits placed on women of their time. I remember growing up and wanting to be like these women, not in the "let's plan on destroying the world" or "I'm sooo going to totally rip-off that mob guy and flee the country" kind of way. But their lives were anything but conventional. When told that women couldn't do something, they went out and did it anyway. They held their own, refused to act less than intelligent when around capable men, and lived as if their world was truly without limits. At times, they were ostracized, ridiculed...but it was only because they were redefining the possibilities in life.
When I look back, I can see that stubborn, fiercely independent streak that gets me heated any time someone says it's not possible for me to do something in life. These women (and more...don't get me wrong, I have a whole list including some upstanding women like Amelia Earhart), challenged not just convention, but themselves. That's what I wanted in life: to take on challenges and never let a "no" stand in between me and my ambitions. By being themselves, by not hiding who they are because of expectations or social stigma, femme fatales inspire me to do the same. Just... without illegal activity of course.

The Fuss Over Mr. Darcy

2010-09-25T01:09:00.000-07:00

When attempting to explain the desirability an acquaintance was experiencing from the opposite sex, I (being female and all) took the Pride and Prejudice approach.

Why do women swoon for Mr. Darcy? What is it about Austen's most recognizable man that could be so appealing as to cause all who meet him to desire a man such as he? While he does possess wealth and is considered to be handsome (in any adaptation, whether scowling or proposing), both of which are common reasons for woman to find someone to be an appealing mate, they would not be reason enough for him to truly stand apart from other men. Remembering back to our (and Elizabeth's) first impression of Darcy, we also have to rule out charm as he paled in comparison to the sly Wickham.

So why Darcy?

Skipping ahead to what is known as the "accomplished woman scene" in the adaptations, it's here where we are given the key to Darcy's attractiveness. In this scene, Caroline Bingley engages in conversation regarding what Darcy would consider to be an accomplished woman (and therefore, up to his standards). By doing this, Caroline aims to squash any competition in Elizabeth Bennet, and remind Darcy that she is the superior woman.

(Though do watch the 2005 version of this scene or this YouTube video of the scene from three classic versions all in one).

It's this scene in which we learn that Darcy doesn't place stock in what is culturally prized, that is, the definition of accomplished according to society (society ladies, rather). What society deems valuable, relevant or otherwise acceptable and popular is fleeting at best. What is "in" and given notoriety does not last. Darcy, in giving weight to (as he says) pursuits that enrich one's life (such as reading), he reveals that he values character over societal standing, knowledge and resourcefulness over talents and tricks. Purposeful, practical pursuits over what are considered to be "accomplishments". When he shows his affection for someone, it carries more weight. Those he chooses to be close to him are not there because it is advantageous to him, but because he truly wants to have a relationship with them. A good example is his best friend, the true-heated and ever-optimistic Bingley. Bingely may not be a stimulating conversationalist, but he earnestly strives to be hospitable and trusting. In return, the more cautious Darcy looks out for Bingley's best interest.

As Darcy says (emphasized in the 2005 version), "my trust, once lost, is not easily regained" (paraphrased of course). Trust, honor, integrity, respect... high ideals that Darcy insists on. For someone to be close to him he must see these in a person. This sets him apart as being the male-version of the Proverbs 31 woman. Any woman he chooses knows they are in a relationship with a good man, and that by being chosen, the woman is seen is prized and unique for who she is and not for what she can do--a boost to anyones self-esteem.

Women want a Mr. Darcy because they want a relationship in which they feel valued and appreciated for who they are. They go for guys who remind them of Darcy when it comes to standards and authenticity. So to those guys out there who really are "good guys... men of integrity" who find themselves the object of someones affection, know that it is because we women know and appreciate how rare and precious you are. That, and that we are secretly hoping that you choose us because you too see something rare and precious in us.

So that in a nutshell is why you, "Mr. Darcy" are finding yourself to be desirable indeed!

The Expendables

2010-09-19T15:07:00.000-07:00

I'm not a person who gets excited about movies. Actually, I'm not a person who voluntarily goes to the movies all that often. So to say that I was excited about The Expendables should say a lot.

I should back up a bit... I have a healthy appreciation for old westerns. I actually enjoy watching an episode of "Cheyenne" or "The Virginian" (not so much "Have Gun, Will Travel" but that's another story). By taking the time to educate myself on the western background of certain actors, I was able to better appreciate the stellar casting of the movie "The Dirty Dozen".

To the idea of a movie as awesome as this, but with action stars of the last 20 years? While I'm not a big action movie fan, I was game for it. And bypassing my review, I give you...

"10 Things I Learned While Watching 'The Expendables'"

1. Jason Statham is pure awesome. And not just because of his accent...

2. Speaking of accents, Statham could speak gibberish and I'd think it cool. He needs more lines!

3. It's hard to kill Dolph Lundgren. But tricking him into thinking he's shorter than he really is... easy peasy.

4. In a battle of creepy old guys (Eric Roberts vs that dude from "The Wrestler")... it's a draw.

5. Jet Li would totally kill in a comedy of Jackie Chan porportions... if only he were more recognizable to American audiences.

6. "The Expendables" is not my generation's "Dirty Dozen". Few in my generation can appreciate it's epicness. To be that epic, "The Expendables" would need that actress from Red Sonja and Cobra (Brigitte Nielsen), Sarah Connor (Linda Hamilton) and at least one scene in which Arnold falls down. Though, I did appreciate the "Demolition Man" reference...

7. Ex-Old spice guy + big gun = "Holy cow! What was THAT!!!"

8. Stallone knows how to direct an action movie.

9. It takes more than fire to bring down Stone Cold Steve Austen; It takes fire AND Jason Statham's fist.

10. The lead female does not have to be a helpless damsel with a pretty face. She can be homely (their word, not mine), strong-willed, a leader, and NOT sail off with the hero at the end of the movie. And the movie will not suffer one bit because of it.

BONUS:
Face it... You just can't kill Dolph Lundgren. Just when you think he's gone, he's back again.

Rick Roll'd

2010-09-10T21:08:00.000-07:00

I don't know why... perhaps it's the a-what-a-whose-it that I'm taking for last weekend's strep throat. Maybe I'm not getting enough calories, enough water (enough oxygen?) in my day.

I'm craving Rick Rolls.

So I've spent the better part of my post-nap afternoon searching out my favorite Rick Astley appearances for you to enjoy. :)

This first video would qualify for my "favorite cover songs" list if the guy covered an entire song instead of crafting this wonderful gem.

Isn't it awesome when memes are performed live!

From best man speeches...

To the President of the United States...

Even my favorite YouTubers get in on the fun. Though to be honest, I love this video for the Geddan at the end.

What's in a Name?

2010-09-06T12:29:00.000-07:00

So do you want to hear something awesome?

I was playing around on a writing site I use to use back in the day when I use to write...

...a lot.

I thought I'd start using it again so I went through the hoops to get my old user name sent to my e-mail. When it arrived I was surprised to find out that it was the nom de plume I last settled on before I attempted to convince myself I'd never write again. It wasn't my first pen name (at one time it was "Kate Parker"... which sounds more like some ace reporter in a comic book) but just saying the name out loud brought to mind stories I wanted to write, ideas about how I'd live my life and what I'd do when I wasn't writing.

Six years ago I was away at college, talking with a fellow hobbyist-poet who was born on the other side of the world. I had notebooks filled with things and words that caught my attention, binders filled with essays and short stories, and right outside my window was a whole new world opening up to me.

Six years ago, I would have never dreamed of the detour my life was about to take. I had good roommates, good times, and somehow found the courage to step away from a path that wasn't my own. Not to say that there weren't bad times, but now I can even look back on those times with fondness. It was a life-changing experience that I will forever be grateful for.

And now that it seems the road has wound it's way back and I've spotted that writer in me where I left her, I realize that I still really want to be her. The hope and ambition that I had for my life had been tucked away, but not lost after all.

It just took a name to remind me.

Things We Never Say

2010-08-29T19:29:00.000-07:00

As it so often happens in movies and television, things left unsaid are never left behind. They travel with the character until they find the courage and opportunity to finally speak their mind. Whenever someone has something they really want to say but hold back, it becomes a long, drawn-out event. You see this in romantic comedies, when one character is attracted to another, but doesn't make their feelings known until the latter half (often the climax or end) of the movie. Even in mysteries, there comes a point near the end when someone reveals a secret that changes how you look at the whole story.

The more we hold onto a secret, the longer we have to wait for a resolution.

Self-restraint isn't a bad thing. There are times when speaking up doesn't help the situation, especially if the words we use are weighed with anger or judgement. But there are times when we fail to speak up when our input is needed or when we have the urge to give more than just a stock compliment. The words "I appreciate you because..." are incredibly difficult to say, not because of the complexity of the words themselves, but because for the duration of that statement we let our guard down and reveal ourselves to be one human being appreciating another for being themselves.

It really is difficult to say what's on our mind or in our heart. We fear what the other will say or think of us. We have reputations, traditions, culturally accepted patterns of speech laced with negativity and cynicism to uphold. We couldn't bear the thought of casting all of that aside and revealing that we have feelings and thoughts, let alone that once spoken, we might find out that others share those feelings. Those thoughts.

If we just chose to open up and share, be honest about ourselves and others, we might find that people will open up and be honest with us. If we said what we meant, we wouldn't have to spend so much time trying to figure out what was actually said.

Look around for yourself. Look in the mirror. Couldn't the world use a little more truth? Clarity of speech? Compliments? Don't just say it, mean it.

"I appreciate you..."

"I value you..."

"I love you..."

Songs Say So Much

2010-08-28T21:18:00.000-07:00

I love how music can take both evoke and amplify an emotion. A song, an intro, a lyric can call forth a memory long forgotten. It can speak to you and for you when no words can.

Pop songs full of sugar and bounce take you up to where you swear your feet are off the ground. When emotions are raw and it's just you and your thoughts, it's the acoustics who do justice to solitude.

Right now, I'm searching in vain for a song to convey what I'm feeling. It's a strange mixture of euphoria and contentment. The day is ending, the sun setting, and while there is so much going on and falling apart... There is this feeling that all is alright with my limited view of the world.

Could it be Coldplay's "The Scientist"? Florence + The Machine's "Cosmic Love"?

Ah...here it is! This acoustic little gem hidden on page 29 of my YouTube search...

John Green's Best Advice (thus far)

2010-08-14T21:36:00.000-07:00

Those who know me (and now you too) know that I love the videos created by the Green brothers, most notably, the advice videos of John Green.

Here, collectively, are some of the best advice videos from John Green.

Health Alert: Bieber Fever

2010-08-14T21:13:00.000-07:00

Work starts up again on Monday and I expect to be bombarded with renditions of a particular Justin Bieber song (of which the only line I know is "baby, baby, baby oooohhhh...").

*sigh*

The start of school (as well as the beginings of pop fame and the concurence of local tour stops) signals an increase in the spread of viruses. One such infectious virus is commonly known as "Bieber Fever."

And what cures Bieber Fever?

According to young adult novelist and vlogger John Green, the cure for Bieber Fever is the music from a band known as The Moutain Goats.

Fiddlesticks

2010-08-07T20:10:00.000-07:00

You know chaos theory?

You know how people use chaos theory in reference to time travel by telling you NOT to touch/say/do anything if you travel to the past because you could inadvertantly change the future?

Yeah, well here's my story of chaos theory in action. It really isn't chaos theory any more than any sci-fi fan's interpretation on the "no-touchy" rule of time travel, but let's go with it anyway.

I got a new computer.

Wait, let me back up in time and start again.

My tower went pfooey and only let me open two word files I had saved on the desktop, and use the internet. This wouldn't have been so bad, but my calculator feature dissappeared (as did System Restore and anything else useful) and I REALLY liked my calculator feature. Long story short, I saved my two files on a backup drive, started my new computer and prayed everything would work for the best.

I forgot about my links.

By changing out my computer (trust me when I say that I can't get the old tower to function again) and NOT finding some way to save my links, I've now lost my super-secret, ultra-awesome link to the page with my three favorite shows (every episode, plus new ones shortly after they air) and now I have to find a tv to watch them on.

Drats.

The whole idea behind me having this link was so I didn't have to fight for a tv to watch my sci-fi shows on, on the occasion I remembered that they were indeed on.

*sigh*

Oh, and I lost every other link I had saved. But I'm really bummed about the link to the cool page. I mean, I love my Warehouse 13, but don't always remember that it airs on Tuesdays (let alone what time).

I Squeal for Good Crossovers

2010-08-06T21:23:00.000-07:00

I finished watching the Warehouse 13/Eureka crossover that aired this week and... let's just say that the chemestry and adorableness in this video is not far from their characters chemistry and adorableness on the shows. Everytime their characters kiss (yes, multiple times) I punched the air.

...and they're not a couple I'd normally root for or invest in.

I can't help but blush and squeal while watching them and hope for more.

...I so want my own Fargo. :D