Favorite Movies and a Dance

It is Day Nine at Kickin' it Old Skool blog-a-thon, and today's prompt is to share our favorite movies.This is a terrible question for me. While I enjoy movies occasionally I don't watch a lot of them, and when I do I can't remember much about them. I need the help of people I've seen movies with to recall much about them. That said, I might mention a couple of guilty-pleasure, old-fashioned movie musicals and also some random ones I happen to think of right now. My list would for sure be different a week from now, and not because I'd seen a new film, but because I can't remember what I've seen!

Movie musicals
Singing in the Rain
Funny Face  (Audrey Hepburn, Fred Astaire)

Only now, while putting up the IMDB links did I find out these were by the same director, Stanley Donen. And, I just learned that he directed the movie musical version of The Little Prince that I recall from my childhood! I must put that on my Netflix list pronto.

And then a couple of movies I can remember adoring:
Smoke Signals and Moonrise Kingdom

And a movie I found gripping and human and complex:
Black Book


And now today's entry, part of my "teensy bit of writing each day in December." I went dancing yesterday afternoon and...

First Dance

He invited me to the floor, and I didn't know him, nor did I recognize his face as familiar in my years of moving through Argentine tango salons. I was barely aware until we began that the music would be the uptempo and energetic milonga. Had I known, I would have hesitated. It's a good thing the way he invited me felt reassuring, and with the first steps he removed the worries I have of dancing a milonga with a partner before I know how he dances the tango. Milonga is a tricky dance to make enjoyable. Most leaders have a less fluency in this dance, limited vocabulary of moves and even less the musicality of phrasing in their bodies, legs, feet. I could feel his thin frame moving, hear his breath in my ear. That's what I noticed first. When I write these things it makes it seem the tango is a very intimate dance, and while two human bodies are very close it is not about that at all to me. It is about the collaboration and improvisation: how two people can listen closely to the music and to each other while navigating through a crowded room.

From Where I Sit

It is Day Eight at Kickin' it Old Skool blog-a-thon, and today's prompt is to share where we blog.

There is a desk in my home but it is tucked away in a corner not near the windows. I sometimes work from there, or the kitchen table, but not lately. This is where I prefer to create and write and, as you can see, knit.

Today, I began my day with meditation and movement, and as I danced some gestures caught my attention and inspired this bit of writing. Here is today's little piece (as I continue my teensy bit of writing each day in December):

I pull them out, out of my mouth, and they keep coming. My arms working hard now, clutch the words in my hands, yank and let them fall around me. Like entrails, turning myself inside out, I keep pulling and ropes upon ropes of thoughts made into words lie at my feet. How much is in here? How many feet, yards, miles? This was what they wanted to hear, what I held muffled and dark inside, and I am pulling it all out of me. I look down to find piles around my feet and my angry feet kick them away. No more. Give me space to dance some new light.

What's really weird is that as I typed "new light" a lamp bulb blew. I find that when I am going through phases of dramatic new learning and growth, or more intense emotions, lights have blown out in my home. Coincidence?

One sentence

It is Day Seven at Kickin' it Old Skool blog-a-thon, and today's prompt is to capture my day in one sentence. And in the spirit of economy this sentence will also serve as my teensy bit of writing each day in December. Here it is:

Today is to be luxuriously filled with relaxation, and capped by delicious dinner with a dear friend.

Looking back at my first blog post

It is Day Six at Kickin' it Old Skool blog-a-thon, and today's prompt has us share our first. Blog post, that is... "Whether you've been blogging for 5 years or 5 days, share with us your first post and what you've learned or how you've changed since then."

Here is my first post (from July 8, 2009) in its entirety which was accompanied by the photo above:

"It caught my attention at the flea market. Something about that repurposing of an obsolete machine spoke to me. As time marches on, fewer and fewer of us can count ourselves among those who have used a manual typewriter and know its particular quirks. I searched through the trays of jewelry, all embedded with recycled typewriter keys, wanting to find something that told a story. No, a simple letter wouldn't do. Who would know where that nugget came from? It would have to be @ and ¢ stacked, or 1/2 and 1/4.

And then I saw it. I've declared it my talisman. As I begin exploring the world of blogging, of following my inner creative urges, it urges me on. To color outside the lines. To let go of the bounds of old patterns. To be free."

I don't think I've learned much over the years about how to write for a blog, because all along I've assumed my blog is something very few people read. My writing was and is not targeted at any particular audience. It's for myself. Occasionally I'm proven wrong, particularly when I'm participating in a book club or blog-a-thon (like this!). I get a chance to know that others actually read what I write, and the visiting and commenting back and forth is so much fun.

Primarily, I remain motivated by writing for myself and nothing has changed in that department. Maybe it has to do with my recurring assumption that I have nothing to teach anyone, no new insights, no new information, nothing of value to offer others. I still write as if I am writing privately in my journal, even if I am aware that what I'm writing is made public. Four years into blogging I still feel like a newbie, but then again newbie-ness is a constant anxiety of mine. I'm always feeling that I'm not quite ready for primetime. Has that changed in any way? Now I know my patterns, so at least I have a chance to see them and move on. It's okay. Right now, I don't have a great need for a huge blog readership. Maybe someday it'll be more relevant, maybe not. What else has changed in my blogging? I'm less hesitant to dig into the HTML to make the post look better. But it's been a haphazard learning process -- someday I hope to more systematically learn HTML.

And now today's entry, part of my teensy bit of writing each day in December. This one appeared during my movement practice. I began with the first two lines as images and words, and during movement the third line came. I am a Sagittarius so it's interesting to think about that interpretation as well as others.

Take this child seriously, follow her.
And take down the dictator.
The archer appears.

Ten Things About Me

It is Day Five at Kickin' it Old Skool blog-a-thon, and today's prompt has us tell ten things about ourselves.

I have to admit that this is pretty hard for me to do, and hence the late posting today. Anyway, here goes:

1. My earliest childhood memories are of playing with my brother in the back of my parents' Chinese hand laundry
2. One guilty pleasure of mine: classic movie musicals.
3. I'm mostly a tea drinker, but I love coffee and indulge occasionally.
4. About ten years ago I began my love affair with dancing Argentine Tango, and I only have five pairs of dancing shoes, two of them in red.
5. It's hard to see my pupils because my eyes are a very dark brown, but when you can see them my pupils are tiny. Red-eye in photos is never a problem for me.
6. I love being at the beach, and any photos of me at a coastline show me at my most blissful.
7. I almost gave up playing violin, but being in a rock band saved me.
8. Knitting became a part of my life three years ago, and my hand-knit tea cozies, gloves, hats, sweaters and scarves continue to find their way into the lives of my family and friends.
9. I am an adventurous eater and love trying new foods and finding deliciousness from cultures of the world.
10. I am an introvert and I love performing.

Now, for my teensy bit of writing each day in December, a note to myself based on two words on my dreamboard:

NEVER HIDE.
You are what you are, and that is enough.
Creation, flowers and fruit, potential.

Weather Wednesday

When I write about the weather I want to be dramatic. It is boring to write about a day that is mild with blue skies and light breezes, but that's just the kind of day we have in New York City. Boring to write about but wonderful to walk about in and enjoy!

I like living in a temperate climate, where there is always another season to look forward to, another change if you're getting tired of one thing. Perhaps that is the drama I'm looking for. When I step back and look at the weather from the standpoint of years of living in this city, there indeed is drama and change. We complain about the freak snow storms, and also about it not snowing like it used to. I remember blizzards as a child with huge piles of snow that were a few feet above my head. This year we've had pretty mild weather for December. That's okay, winter's bitter cold will come, even if it only visits us for a week.

What I love about the weather is that it changes. It gives me hope.

And now for my continuing practice of a teensy bit of writing each day in December, this one a memory:

Blue skies over my big city,
Perfect palettes for enjoyment,
Will always remind me now
Of the day when perfection was slashed,
Grey smoke, and the horrible tragedy.

Sharing Colors

I am continuing my quest to do a teensy bit of writing each day and participate in the Kickin' It Old School blog-a-thon for the month of December.

First, the tiny bit of writing:

She began to laugh, more from the heart than she had felt in a long time. Great ripples of vibration upon vibration shook her chest. Tears pooled in her eyes and her shaking grew so strong that the hill she sat upon began to shimmy and sway, bringing the last dry leaves clinging to branches to tumble down in a soft rattle.

Jamie and Shannon had so many color questions for us today!

RED

1. What's the first thing you think of when you think of red? Boldness, passion.
2. Closest red thing to you? Christmas ornaments.
3. What is the last thing that made you angry? Reading about another attempt to take women's rights to choose to bear a child or not.
4. Are you a fan of romance? Real life romance and caring yes, storybooks no.
5. Do you have a temper? Nope.

GREEN

1. What's the first thing you think of when you think of green? Living plants.
2. Closest green thing to you? My knapsack.
3. What's your favourite green environment? Fort Tryon Park's Heather Garden.
4. Are you jealous of anyone right now? Nope.
5. Are you a lucky person? Lucky, no. Fortunate, yes.

PURPLE

1. What's the first thing you think of when you think of purple? Grapes.
2. Closest purple thing to you? The oxalis houseplant.
3. Do you like being treated like royalty? I like being pampered, but I don't know what it's like to be treated like royalty.
4. Do you like mysterious things? Absolutely, mystery keeps us interested.
5. Are you intuitive? Perhaps mildly intuitive.

BLUE

1. What's the first thing you think of when you think of blue? The night sky.
2. Closest blue thing to you? My jeans.
3. Are you good at calming people down? I think so.
4. What's your favourite body of water (i.e. lake, ocean, etc)? The ocean.
5. What was the last thing that made you cry? It was recent but I don't remember, perhaps a video on youtube.
6. Are you a logical thinker? Certainly, maybe too much so.

YELLOW

1. What's the first thing you think of when you think of yellow? A drop of golden sun.
2. Closest yellow thing to you?  The cover of a book, Talking Music, Conversations with Five Generations of American Experimental Composers, by William Duckworth.
3. What was one of the happiest times of your life? Being on tour with Invert for a month, driving across the US.
4. What's your favourite holiday? I have a love-hate relationship with it, but probably Christmas.
5. What makes you happy? Being in the moment of creation, with an audience present or not.

PINK

1. What's the first thing you think of when you think of pink? Little girls.
2. Closest pink thing to you? My pajamas.
3. What sweet things do you like? Dark chocolate, apple crumble, cheesecake, Chinese egg tarts.
4. Are you sensitive? I don't think I am, but on the other hand I find it hard to watch scary or suspenseful movies or shows.
5. What is your favourite flower? Right now, perhaps peonies are edging out orchids for first place.
6. Does you have a crush on someone? I love someone, but no crushes right now.

ORANGE

1. What's the first thing you think of when you think of orange? Um, an orange. Sorry.
2. Closest orange thing to you? The cover of a book, Creative Sparks, an index of 150+ concepts, images and exercises to ignite your design ingenuity, by Jim Krause.
3. Do you dress up for Halloween? Very rarely.
4. What gives you the warm fuzzies? Spending time with my honey.
5. What would your superpower be? I wish I could blink myself from location to location, just like Jeannie in the old show I Dream of Jeannie.

BROWN

1. What's the first thing you think of when you think of brown? Earth.
2. Closest brown thing to you? A brown bear plush puppet.
3. What is your favourite type of chocolate? Dark chocolate, maybe with orange, ginger or raspberry.
4. What makes you feel grounded? Lying on the floor, walking at the beach or in the woods.
5. Paint the wood or always leave it au naturel? You stumped me here. It depends?

WHITE

1. What's the first thing you think of when you think of white? Purity.
2. Closest white thing to you? The windowsill is white. Ish.
3. Do you always try to keep the peace? Either that, or I avoid the conflict and walk out, depending on whether I am involved or not. I don't walk out if I am part of it, but I do if it's not my business.
4. Do you like to play in the snow? For only a moment, before I get too cold.
5. Are you afraid of going to the doctors or dentist? I put it off, so I guess I'm a tiny bit afraid, but I am pretty relaxed when I am in the office.

BLACK

1. What's the first thing you think of when you think of black? Drama.
2. Closest black thing to you? A phone.
3. Are you sophisticated or silly? Absolutely both.
4. Do you have a lot of secrets? Only a few. Period.
5. What's the new black? I want to say fuchsia, but it's really brown that's the new black.