| Three month retrospective: Part I |
[Aug. 20th, 2008|10:04 am] |
I am long overdue for a blog post, and by now I have enough material for several. I'll start by backtracking to May.
The month began with my 23rd birthday. At Friday Night Waltz that evening I didn't get an official birthday dance, but Bob roped a few people such as John and Tracey into giving me an informal birthday dance during one of the waltzes -- a nice surprise.
 The next week, Graham returned from Romania and I surprised him at the airport on my way to see KT Tunstall playing in San Francisco. The concert, which I saw with Alex, was lots of fun. KT is a talented singer and songwriter with a charming accent and good stage presence. She played two songs which I liked in waltz from her latest CD, "Beauty of Uncertainty" and "Paper Aeroplane."  A week or two later, Graham and I joined Mummy, Esther, Steve, and Riley for another concert in San Francisco, KFOG's annual KaBoom! live concert with fireworks. It was the foggiest KaBoom I've ever been to (and this is around my tenth year going), but the fireworks were still a good show. Between KT and Kaboom, though, was Stanford's Big Dance, an annual all-night dance party. This year was my "triple crown" -- my third year staying the whole time. Lots of excellent dances over the course of the night with all my favourite dance partners.
While not out enjoying myself with music and dancing, I spent a lot of time at Nana's house. Her cancer returned last year, and she'd been on a steady decline since then. Esther took off her entire spring quarter to care for Nana, and Judy soon joined her when the task proved too much for one person. Nana passed away on May 22, over three years after she was first diagnosed with esophageal cancer. Her fight with the disease was both heartbreaking and inspiring. She was a woman of incredible strength, and remained astonishingly able both mentally and physically until near the end. Refusing to move to a full-time care facility, she stubbornly insisted on sleeping in her own bed and bedroom, even though it meant climbing the stairs every night, which she did until less than a week before she died. No surprise, I guess, coming from a woman who biked to work nearly every day until she retired at age 90.
Even though her deteriorating energy made extended conversation difficult, she continued to read and watch the news, keeping herself informed and educated as she'd done all her life. This made it particularly sad when her short-term memory started to go, necessitating gentle and patient repetition from everyone interacting with her. She always seemed so strong that it was hard to imagine her giving in to anything, but by the end her tumour was the size of my fist. She spent her last six days in bed, constantly attended by her children and grandchildren, on medicating for her pain. On Wednesday night, I visited, and Esther and I sang for her, and though she didn't open her eyes, I like to think she heard us. On Thursday, Esther called and told me they'd done the last rites. I'd originally been planning to attend Faster Polka that night, but had Graham drop me off at Nana's instead.
 I took over from my uncle in the seat at Nana's bedside, joined by my aunt Georgia. Nana's breathing was laboured and erratic, which was harrowing for everyone keeping vigil. Only ten minutes after I arrived, however, she took a breath and then didn't take another. The pause stretched out longer and longer, so we called everyone else to the room, realising it had probably been her last. Seconds later, my mother's car pulled into the driveway, and I ran down and told her she'd better come up right away. Nana's pulse beat just long enough for Mummy to say her last goodbye. Nana seemed so peaceful, and the room was quiet in the absence of her rattling breaths. She couldn't have asked for a better way to go -- in bed at home where she'd lived in for 50 years, surrounded by people who loved her -- and she lived one of the longest, fullest lives I've ever known. No one I've loved as much has died before, and I've never experienced dying and death so intimately. It was, and is, difficult and sad. |
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| Stanford Dance Weekend |
[Mar. 12th, 2008|02:53 pm] |
Just accidentally found out from ![[info]](http://l-stat.livejournal.com/img/userinfo.gif) edge_of_within's blog that registration is now open for the Stanford Dance Weekend, which is June 27-29. I attended the waltz weekend and week last year and enjoyed it very much. All of the teachers are excellent, and they often incorporate variations and techniques that aren't covered in Richard Powers' standard Social Dance classes. If you like the idea of spending a whole weekend dancing at Stanford this summer, you should consider going. To the best of my knowledge, the Weekend has not yet been officially announced, but it does tend to fill up. |
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| Highlights of the week |
[Mar. 10th, 2008|11:19 am] |
Food: On Monday, Nana and Mummy joined me for lunch at Google. We ate at the Pure Ingredient Cafe, which is in my building and one of my favourites. Nana seemed to enjoy her sushi and grilled fish, and Mummy loved the peanut butter chocolate crème brûlée. On Saturday, I made and ate momos, which are a kind of Tibetan dumpling, for the first time. There's a special technique of pinching the dough to make nice-looking round dumplings like this one which I didn't quite master, but they were tasty anyway. On Sunday, Graham and I -- neither of whom really cook much -- successfully made a tofu and vegetable curry with help from Trader Joe's Masala Simmer Sauce.
Dancing: Sadly missed Fasterpolka on Thursday, but did my best to make up for it on Friday. Notable dances include a fun hustle with John to Rick Astley's "Never Gonna Give You Up," an exhilarating polka with Eric to "Siamsa" from Lord of the Dance, a bronco schottishe with Bob, and a Zwiefacher with Jason.
Lots of good friend time with Graham, including Victor Borge, Mononoke Hime, and Shape Note. Got an unexpected face wash from an adorable bichon. Biked to work for the first time in several months. Saw Definitely, Maybe with my aunt, which was surprisingly good. |
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| Artist of the week |
[Feb. 26th, 2008|09:58 pm] |
Sara Bareilles
Age: 28
What's her deal?: Grew up in California (yay). After graduating from college, she started singing in bars and clubs and worked her way up into larger venues. Opened for other artists I like such as Mika and Paolo Nutini. Esther introduced her to me shortly before she became more widely known for her hit single "Love Song." I like her because she writes catchy songs, plays piano, and has a strong, unpretentious voice.
Songs I like: "Gravity" and "One Sweet Love"
Her website: http://www.sarabmusic.com/
FYI, her album is available as mp3 downloads on Amazon. |
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| Social Dance Music |
[Feb. 24th, 2008|09:54 pm] |
As some of you may know, I do a lot of social dancing, and over the last two years I've built up a respectable library of dance music. Since this post just over a year ago, my collection has decupled (increased by a factor of ten). Well, 11.5, actually. Most of this is thanks to extensive sharing with Mike, Jason, and Graham.
Anyway, I spend a lot of time maintaining and updating this collection, so I started a little blog to share my dance music discoveries. If you're interested, you can find it here. |
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| Disneyland |
[Feb. 7th, 2008|12:16 pm] |
Good: Going to Disneyland for free courtesy of your company.
Better: Going to Disneyland for free in the middle of an off-season week.
Better: Going to Disneyland for free in the middle of an off-season week with good friends.
Best: Going to Disneyland for free with good friends when the park is specially reserved just for your company and there are no lines, spectacular fireworks, and free food. |
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| The Invisibles |
[Feb. 6th, 2008|10:34 pm] |
I need to write at least one music-related post, but I'm tired and lazy so instead here's a quotation:
"There's a true sense of mystery with magic. Like you're having a meaningful dialogue with something bigger than you -- bigger than anything you can imagine. It reaches into what we've all agreed are the workings of the world and stirs them around a little, makes a person sit up and pay attention. Not simply to the experience itself, but to everything around them. That's why the great stage illusions -- I don't care if it's a floating woman or someone walking through the Great Wall of China -- when they're done properly, you come away questioning everything. your eyes are opened to all sorts of possibilities."
-from the story The Invisibles by Charles de Lint |
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| (no subject) |
[Jan. 26th, 2008|02:10 am] |
This week was long and stressful work-wise, but it shaped up towards the end thanks in part to lots of dancing. Tonight my tired feet and I are going to sleep cozily and enjoy the rain being outside watering the earth and making a pleasant patter and filling up Lake Lagunita. |
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| Artist of the week |
[Jan. 17th, 2008|08:30 pm] |
Ingrid Michaelson
Age: 27
What's her deal?: Talented young singer/songwriter. If you watch television, you may have heard the song "Keep Breathing" in the Grey's Anatomy Season 3 Finale, or her latest hit "The Way I Am" on Old Navy Commercials. Apparently, after Grey's Anatomy ended, there was a big rush to find her song on MySpace and that's how she got famous. I was introduced to "Keep Breathing" as a lovely waltz, and later liked "The Way I Am" as well. Her songs are melodious and catchy, her voice is pure, and her lyrics are often introspective. I also like her because she comes across as unpretentious despite being so talented.
Upcoming show: next Wednesday, January 23 @ 7:30PM, at Slim's in SF
**I have an extra ticket for this (sold out) show because my mother can't go with me. Anyone want to go?**
Her website |
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| 2007 Year in Review: Music and Theatre |
[Jan. 15th, 2008|11:18 pm] |
One of my new year's resolutions is to write more frequently, so I'm going to start by working around a format I'm comfortable with, the list.
I love attending live music and theatre performances, and usually make it to at least one a month. The following are the shows I enjoyed most in 2007, ordered roughly chronologically.
The Flying Karamazov Brothers
The FKB are one of my absolute favorite performing groups. Their own words best explain who they are and what they do:
We are a continuing experiment in comedy, theatre, music and, of course, juggling. From the beginning, it has been our intention to blend the worlds of performance art, improvisation, word play, harmony, emotion and above all virtuosity into a unique form of theatre and entertainment.
They are amazing jugglers, but beyond that they are also talented comedians and musicians. I particularly like the way they integrate juggling and music. They juggle to music, they juggle while playing music, and they even juggle to make music! For example, one of their classic numbers involves a sort of reverse juggling, in which they bounce balls on top of and underneath a wooden table in time, creating an interesting percussion piece. For another act they have constructed a unique machine called a "jugglatron" which is like a large circular keyboard in which the players stand inside the circle and play the keys with juggling clubs (while juggling, of course). I've heard them play things on the complexity of Bach inventions this way. Finally, in addition the music and juggling, they made me laugh harder than anything else this entire year. They're sharp-witted, relevant, and heartfelt.
Josh Groban
My mother, sister and I attended Josh Groban's "Awake" concert at the San Jose HP Pavilion in March. I don't usually go out for big-name performers in huge venues, but this, like the last such concert I saw (Simon and Garfunkel at the Oakland Coliseum), was completely worth it. Groban has a wonderful voice, which was a pleasure to hear live. He's also endearing on stage -- slightly awkward but sincere and friendly. It was far from an intimate show, but he spiced it up a bit by coming out into the upper parts of the audience to sing at one point. In the past I've sometimes found his music too sappy, but his deliverance of the songs from the "Awake" album was fairly breathtaking. I particularly liked the duets with Ladysmith Black Mambazo.
The Indigo Girls
Easily my favorite female music group, the Indigo Girls always put on great live shows. I admire them for a number of reasons. First, they have great voices. Emily's is the higher voice, and it can be mellow or piercing over Amy's rich, emotional alto. I love women who sing in my voice range :). Second, they're musicians. They write, sing, and play their own music, often with little added accompaniment, so there's not much difference between their recordings and live performances. Third, they are strong women who stand up for the things they believe in. Both Amy and Emily are icons of the LGBT rights movement but also champion environmental and political causes -- I saw them perform this year at the Power to the Peaceful concert in San Francisco.
Guster
If the Indigo Girls are my preferred lady singers, Guster is definitely my top contemporary rock band (contemporary because I'm not sure they top out the Beatles for all-time). Like the Indigo Girls, I hold Guster in high esteem, and in the interest of actually getting this post written I present a list of reasons why:
1. The drummer, Brian Rosenworcel, plays hand percussion including bongos, congas, and djembe. Sweet!
2. They write good music and sing in harmony.
3. They put on great live shows -- and I should know, having seen them at least six times.
4. They're funning and endearing
5. They rewrote a whole album of their songs with "meows" for lyrics, and included a special renditions of the "Carol of the Meows." Yessss.
Cirque du Soleil
What can I say that hasn't been said? Cirque is breathtaking but also touching and fun. Their lithe, acrobatic bodies do things that boggle my mind. It's like watching really good CG or stunts only real and therefore one hundred times as wonderful. The performers have all the skill, strength, and flexibility of Olympic athletes but go above and beyond into the realm of artists. Okay that's as much as I can muster.
Chanticleer
I went with Sandra and Graham to see Chanticleer's annual Christmas concert in Memorial Church. If you've ever heard a recording of theirs you know how virtuosic their voices are. The purity of tone and perfection of harmony they achieve are beautiful, and the resonance and depth provided by Memorial Church can make it otherworldly. Sometimes I worry that they set such a high standard that I appreciate other vocal music less. Highlights of the concert included a piece by Arvo Pärt and Biebl's arrangement of "Ave Maria" which is one of my favorites. But don't get the idea they're perfect; my only complaint is that sometimes the sopranos' voices were a little too shrill, and I think women's voices might have sounded better.
It took me eleven days to get around to finishing this post but it's done and that's what counts, right? |
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| Dancing! |
[Dec. 21st, 2007|08:45 am] |
1 full night's sleep
+ too long without Jammix or FNW
+ finished packing for the holidays
+ listening to dance music at work
+ canceled 9 AM plans for Saturday morning
+ getting to and leaving work early today
-------------------------------------------------------
= very ready to go out dancing tonight! |
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| (no subject) |
[Dec. 20th, 2007|09:11 pm] |
A friend wrote me and said:
"Do you have any gift ideas for a thirteen year old girl who's into reading?
Specifically, I know she likes stories with a strong female protagonist,
and I believe along the fantasy/swordplay genre. Are there any books
along those lines come to mind...age-appropriate in terms of subject
matter, but obscure enough she might not have read them?"
Well, friend, you came to the right place!. I limited myself to 10 not-too-obscure series but could have gone on. Made me want to go and reread all my favorite young adult fantasy books, which are some of my favorite books ever. The list included, in no particular order,
The Abhorsen trilogy, by Garth Nix
The Song of the Lioness series, by Tamora Pierce
His Dark Materials trilogy, by Philip Pullman
A Wrinkle in Time quartet, by Madeleine L'Engle
The Dark is Rising series, by Susan Cooper
The Blue Sword and The Hero and the Crown by Robin McKinley
The Earthsea quartet, by Ursula Le Guin
Harper Hall Trilogy, by Anne McCaffrey
Ender's Game (and sequels), by Orson Scott Card
The Black Magic trilogy, by Trudy Canavan
What'd I miss |
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| (no subject) |
[Dec. 12th, 2007|11:15 pm] |
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Falling asleep with ears, as Sandra might say, "full of happy." |
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| Revels |
[Dec. 4th, 2007|12:31 pm] |
As some of you already know, I'm performing in this year's Christmas Revels in Oakland. It's now my 6th year in Revels, having taken a break while at Stanford. The official blurb about the show -- which opens this weekend! --- is below, but here's a quick summary of the important information.
What: The 2007 California Christmas Revels, this year drawing on 19th century English traditions
Where: Oakland (for those of you who think that's far away, it's really not so bad, especially if you carpool)
When: December 7-9 and 14-16 (shows Friday 7:30 PM, Saturday and Sunday 1 and 5 PM)
How: Tickets are $15-$50 at http://www.calrevels.org/ or via the box office: (510) 452-8800
Discount tickets also available for some performances at http://www.goldstar.com/events/oakland-ca/the-2007-christmas-revels.html
Why:
1) Beautiful, vibrant music and dancing
2) Audience participation - you get to sing and dance too!
3) See me on-stage, in costume, singing and dancing, for the first time in years. For some of you, the first time ever!
4) Geoff Hoyle, a star of this year's show, is a fantastic comedian and really fun to watch.
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| Gratitude |
[Nov. 22nd, 2007|07:26 pm] |
I am grateful for friends both old and new. For old friends to grow and change with, and new friends to share the excitement of discovery.
I am thankful for music both heard and created. For being able to raise my voice one among many in transcendent harmony. For catchy melodies, clever lyrics, and infectious rhythms that make me want to dance.
I appreciate finding, creating, and maintaining shared culture; books, music, and traditions build bridges of common experience and sentiment that remind me how un-alone we are and how much there is in which to take joy.
I give thanks for dance: as expression, as art, as pure pleasure, as something that has brought me in contact with wonderful people, and something that has changed my life in many positive ways.
There is so much else for which to be thankful. Family, cats, laughing aloud, hugs, crawling into a warm bed at the end of a long and happy day... and so much of it comes back to the people I care about. Connections with others are truly what makes my world go around, and something I am thankful for every day.
Happy Thanksgiving! |
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| (no subject) |
[Nov. 21st, 2007|06:49 pm] |
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Do you ever wishfully think of something but not actually expect it to happen? Twice recently I wished, and twice something actually did happen. Talk about a good week. |
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