word.
Today is all about the big clean. My landlord has warned that on Jan 1st, all apts are fair game to be shown by realtors, so let the panic spiral begin. I think I must have vacuumed up one tiny favorite earring – THIS IS WHY I DON’T CLEAN.
this is not me.
Also, I must address the issue that will most likely cause much stress in the new year:
You see, I live in a studio apartment. Luckily it’s not a one-room situation, but there is still no door on my bedroom. If a realtor were to, say, show the apartment unannounced… and someone was naked… yea. I’ll keep you posted on those fun times.
don't look so proud of yourself, i'm naked over here
Until then, enjoy the snow falling on the blog (for you GoogleReader peeps, come on over to the real deal) – I know a lot of WordPress blogs are doing this but I like it SO DEAL.
It’s over! What a semester. Thanks to my sicknasty dancers whose sweat and attitude made this come together in just a few months. And of course, a huge thank you to Max Tannone whose genius created Jaydiohead.
I don’t know how else to put this – I struggle with my identity as a dancer. I trained very seriously in classical ballet until rather traumatically abandoning it at 17 – giving up for fear of failure (amongst other things) before I could achieve much beyond the pre-professional realm.
Though that is a decision I must live with, it is frequently haunting, and I still like to claim some sort of ownership of my experience. I feel that I “know dance” in a way that others do not, whether or not I am actually entitled to that opinion, being a “failed” dancer, as it were.
As I have found styles of dance outside of ballet that I enjoy, it is unfailingly emotional to return to the memory of ballet in any way. I can’t bear to attend performances, watch videos, or (most of all) attempt any ballet classes. Nevertheless, a new film has piqued my curiosity. While I’m not sure how I would fare watching it, it appears to be a more faithful look at ballet than any previous attempts in film (Center Stage comes to mind), except for maybe Etoiles.
The documentary is called La Danse, by Frederick Wiseman. Perhaps because I was trained by a former member of the Paris Opera Ballet, I feel a sort of awe and sadness. Bear in mind that this is the world of French classical ballet – not American and certainly not Balanchine. The Paris Opera Ballet is arguably the most esteemed in the world at this style. So, let me say from my possibly unearned sense of righteousness: if you are interested in the “real” gold standard for classical ballet, let this documentary be your guide.
Update: It should be noted that while the Paris Opera Ballet is famous for classical ballet, they obviously perform other styles by a wide variety of choreographers, as you will see in the trailer.
These are some people I hold near and dear to my heart, doin their thing.
This epitomizes my day:
Cappuccino foam at the bottom of my cup. Nothing with which I can reach it. Blarghh!!
Sad Panda.
What do you do when your week starts off on the wrong foot? How do you recover and not let the bumming spread to the days ahead?
But seriously, how?
I had a wreck of a week, and I condemned it as such on Monday. That’s no good. Tues-Fri had no chance.
What’s your strategy? Bestow your wisdom upon me, readers.
For those of you who have not had the fortune of following this saga, the above image is of Sad Panda. Catch up on the story here.
Ostwald Helgason for ASOS
booty shot!
My personal favorite.
Something has happened. I’ve gone geometric-leggings wild.
The above examples are by Ostwald Helgason at ASOS.com: dream leggings. Pure fantasy.
I mentioned in my previous post that I didn’t have time for a DIY with gargantuan earrings – that’s in part because I already have a massive DIY project that has me convinced I could never make it on Project Runway.
Let’s just say that the costumes for my piece this semester will be… haute couture.
For better or worse.
Why, hello. Before we continue, a note: I am a dreadfully impulsive purchaser. It leads to predicaments. Let us begin.
Observe exhibit A. These were intended to be a gift to the dancers in my piece – to wear onstage and off. Unfortunately, I did not read the size description closely enough, nor did I take into consideration “FINAL SALE.” These babies are MASSIVE. As in, nearly the size of my palm (will post picture later).
UPDATE: picture of actual item below:
On the “bright side” (which I am not able to see at the moment), they have openings which make them easily sewn onto other things – that is, they would make for great source material for an ambitious DIY, on bags, clothing, or even shoes. Behold:
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- “Diva Crystal Stone Earrings” (Exhibit A)
Actually, finding all these pictures has made me sort of want to have an embellished item myself, but I just do not have the time. Bottom line: I think you creative types could do something cool with these, and I’d love to get at least some of my $ back. I have 6 pairs, and I paid $6.80 each for them – let me know if you have any interest in ANY of them, I do not need to sell them as a lot of 6. I’d ideally like to get $5 per pair, or $25 for all 6 pairs. Though obviously faux and over-the-top, they do not look horrendously cheap. They have never been worn/used, and will come in their original packaging. Let me know if you’re interested, and we can work something out through PayPal.
Help!
Thanks to the genius of my favorite KG (check out her blog here), I have been entertained by these “30 dumb inventions” presented by LIFE magazine. Here are a few of my favorites:
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- A nanny supervising a baby suspended in a wire cage attached to the outside of a high tenement block window. The cages were distributed to members of the Chelsea Baby Club in London who have no gardens, or qualms about putting a child in a box dangling over a busy street. Photo: Reg Speller/Getty Images Jun 23, 1937
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- This mechanical cat can meow ten times a minute and the eyes light up each time. The device for scaring rats and mice is from Japan and is powered by a two-watt motor. Photo: Keystone/Getty Images Sep 01, 1963
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- A woman adjusts her stocking by the light of the Goodyear’s illuminated tires. The tire is made from a single piece of synthetic rubber and is brightly lit by bulbs mounted inside the wheel rim. Photo: Douglas Miller/Getty Images Oct 16, 1961
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- Photo: Yale Joel/Time & Life Pictures/Getty Images Jan 01, 1962
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- It was a bad idea then, it’s a bad idea now. Sorry, Kanye. Photo: FPG Jan 01, 1950
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- Inventor Hugo Gernsback with his T.V. Glasses. Photo: Alfred Eisenstaedt/Time & Life Pictures/Getty Images Jan 01, 1963
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- Photo: Jacobsen/Getty Images Jan 01, 1955
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- American science fiction writer and founder of the Church of Scientology L. Ron Hubbard uses his Hubbard Electrometer to determine whether tomatoes experience pain, 1968. His work led him to the conclusion that tomatoes “scream when sliced.” In this photo: L. Ron Hubbard Photo: Evening Standard/Getty Images Jan 01, 1968
I am in a very femme-power mood this week! Not sure if it’s from the strong dances I’m rehearsing this semester or the scene I’m working on, but I’m nearly ready to put on my skates and join the roller derby – I said nearly. In reality, that would not be pretty OR badass in the least.
Here’s hoping this carries into the weekend!
