Showing posts with label Dance. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Dance. Show all posts

Tuesday, October 5, 2010

Grateful NOT Dead

I am grateful for my NAMI Family-to-Family class. It's proving to be extremely informative and supportive. I highly recommend that anyone who has a loved one with mental health/brain disorder issues or has mental health/brain disorder issues themselves to check out NAMI at www.nami.org and take a class or two. There are classes, support groups, seminars and resources available for everyone. NAMI is a group that I will support for the rest of my life.

I am grateful for my children because I am a better person because of them. Under the category of children, I am grateful for my grandchildren, too. I can go on and on about all of them, but let's just say that I love them, am proud of them, and am happy that I was blessed with them.

I am grateful for many generations of a good family. I consider myself lucky to have such wonderful grandparents and parents.

I am grateful for second, third, fourth... chances. Sometimes it takes me a while to learn what I need to learn, so I am grateful that life has afforded me so many opportunities.

I am grateful that I have a working bicycle because riding is one of my favorite things to do. I'll keep you posted on my progress.

I am grateful for music, dance and all the arts because through them I find joy. I'm looking forward to dancing more. I'll keep you posted on that one, too.

I am grateful that my Unemployment check should be in my account tomorrow because we need groceries, and bills need to be paid. I plan on buying good food specifically focused on eating at least five times a day because I want to lose weight and be healthier.

I am grateful that my Financial Aid should be in my account by next week because there are more bills to pay, and a cushion will be nice to have again. It will also allow me to get the Mac that I need for my school work and future professional work.

I am grateful for this blog because it provides an outlet for my creativity and insight. It has also proven to be an excellent exercise in consistent writing which is proving to be very beneficial.

I am grateful for those who listen to me and allow me to express myself. Today I a few wonderfully nice and intelligent men let me say a few sentences to him that helped me a lot. I have continually thanked them for their understanding, support and patience.

I am grateful that I have decided to treat myself to a movie on Friday night. I am going to see "Secretariat" because he is one of my heroes. He holds a very special place in my heart, and I can't wait to learn more about the people who were around him. I love horses and have started looking for jobs around horses as a result. I need to smell the beasts and be around them again. I'll keep you posted on this one, too.

I am grateful for lots of things, but mostly, right now, I am grateful that it is time to go to bed and get some much needed rest. I have had a long hard day and need to replenish my body and my spirit.

Here's to tomorrow and all it may bring. I am truly starting over in my life. The totality of this event is mind-boggling, but I'm a plucky sort who manages to find a way to carry on even it I do annoy the crap out of a ton of people. :D

OH! AND YES! I AM GRATEFUL FOR THOR HUSHOVD! :D

Thursday, June 24, 2010

78 is GREAT!

What the hell did you expect on my 78th post?

Yeah, 78 is great. Why? Because it was the year I left my home town for the first time and graduated from high school, in that order.

I've been listening to Coldplay since shortly after I got up and got on the computer today. Hit a mix list and let YouTube do it's magic. Thank God, 'cause I discovered that my X&Y and Viva la Vida CD's are gone. FUCK! Like I meant to say, "Thank FUCKIN' God for YouTube!"

The word of the day is F U C K. Why? Because I said so. It has nothing to do with liking you.

While The Beatles were my childhood personal gurus and a series of bands followed, Coldplay captured my heart when "Yellow" hit the airwaves. I only found out about Coldplay because of a Black Lab, Pitbull mix that my daughter brought home after a road trip to Oregon.

"So have you decided on a name?"

"No, and stop asking," she snapped.

"We really can't keep him."

"We're keeping him."

"Are you prepared to take care of him?"

"YEAH!"

"So what's his name?"

"Shut UP!"

Yep. Some stupid Oregon woman dumped an innocent puppy with my daughter. My daughter probably told her that her mom would help. Oh what fun we had.

So one day, I'm driving home and see my daughter and one of her friends carrying the puppy up the street. Naturally, I stop to say hello and inquire about their plans. Not-So-Innocently, I ask if my daughter has named the puppy, yet.

"Yellow," spouted my daughter's friend.

"Hey!" my daughter objected.

I smiled, "Oh, like that song?"

"NO!" my daughter scowled, "NOT after the song. DEFINITELY Not after the song. Hate that song. Stupid song."

"Oh. 'Cause he's a Black Lab?"

"No! Gees," my daughter grumbled, rolled her eyes, lifted her shoulders up to her chin and her palms to the sky, "Anything else?" she finished with her perfect evil, sarcastic smile and cock of her head to the left.

"No. Have fun."

I found dear Yellow a home with a military family who had just had to put the dad's longtime companion down. This young military dad was awesome. There were two or three kids. I never saw the mom. When I went back a couple of weeks later because I missed Yellow and wanted to check on him, I was very warmly welcomed.

"Hi. He's a runner. I've never had a runner before," said Young Military Dad.

I winced, acknowledging that I knew, "Yeah. Are you OK? Is he?"

"Oh yeah. I'm just keeping him on a leash for now. It would be nice to let him run at the beach, but we'll get there. He's great with the kids, and is learning to listen. Still a puppy," Young Military Dad laughed.

I took a seat and held back. Yellow was very excited and jumped on the sofas. Dad and kids told him to get down and went over to him, grabbed his collar and firmly showed him the way off the couch.

When the kids plopped down on the sofa facing me, I watched as Yellow jumped up behind them and snuggled along their backs. They giggled and pushed him to the edge of the couch without getting mad. Dad didn't get mad either.

After Yellow was evicted from the children's couch, he came over to me. He jumped up and started snuggling my back. I did the same as the children had done, but held his head for a brief moment and told him, "You've found a good home where you're going to be very happy. Stop running away from these people and listen to them. They love you."

Yellow snuggled up to my legs and we had a wonderful Good-Bye hug. I never went back to check on him. Oh, and they changed his name to something that I've forgotten.

It wasn't the first time that I'd had to find a home for an animal, all of whom I grew to love in whatever short time we had together. It's never gotten easier.

As a result of Yellow, though; I learned what the band's name was that sang the song. I looked at pictures. I listened to more of Coldplay's music. I fell in love.

(Now "Yellow" is playing on the Parachutes CD. It sounds so much better on the stereo than on YouTube. I used to sing "Yellow" to Yellow all the time and cry because I knew that I'd have to find another home for another pet and lose another love. I hadn't found Kaylynn, yet.)

I'm wiped. I don't know about you, but that's an emotional story for me.

Still haven't folded any laundry, but I did clean up my finger nails. Toes are looking good, and I've got some clothing options hanging on one of my hooks in the office. You know, prep for one day of work tomorrow.

I have no idea what this will do to my Unemployment Benies, but Fuck It! Remember, the word of the day is F U C K. I Don't Care Anymore! I refuse to give in to my fears. If everything gets turned off and we can't make rent - Fuck It! The one thing I know is that I'm prepared to be homeless rather than go back to my home town. Just test me, God. Just test me. I'll die before going back there to live. Gladly.

One a different note, the house is clean because I can hear and picture SA from last night informing BB and I of our Rules of House Maintenance. She's so funny when she's mad. I love pushing her buttons.

Some of the choicest lines were:

"There's ONLY TWO of You! It was cleaner with a crew of twelve in here than it is with just You Two!
"What? I'm related to royalty. I delegate."

"Honestly, SA. You're being very Polish. We're Norwegians. No worries. We'll conquer you, too."

"NO! That's Wrong! What do I have to do? Come over and clean for you?"

"If you're so inclined."

"That's it! I'm cleaning the kitchen!"

"You don't have to."

SA & BB cleaned the kitchen in about ten minutes. BB couldn't possibly let SA clean up the kitchen alone like I could. She's his girlfriend, and the mess was at least half his.

SA even insisted on cleaning up the dollhouse. I took the mats apart.

I went back to sitting in my chair. BB went back to the computer.

SA re-entered our living room and said, "There's only two of you. Use a dish and wash it. How hard is that?!"

"By hand?"

"Load the dishwasher."

"Oh, but what do we do if the dishwasher is full of clean dishes? BB?"

"We unload it."

"Oh, so you'll do that?"

BB nodded his head. SA witnessed it, and I'm narcing HERE!

Of course much cavorting went on with SA throwing herself on the floor at my feet and everything. We laughed so much. So in respect of the laughter and work done, I've been cleaning up after myself today and have even eaten a proper lunch. Think I'll run the dishwasher and not use another dish. That means BB will have to unload it when he wants to put his dirty dish in the dishwasher; or maybe, I'll unload it, too.

I've got Italian Sausage defrosting. I'm going to make some thing with vegetable, Italian Sausage, chicken, and rice or pasta for dinner. Haven't a clue what it will be like.

Oh to be able to get paid to do this everyday. Well, this and more. OK, time to go put on the Rush of Blood to the Brain" CD.

AND what does all of this have to do with 78 being Great? Well, like I said, "It was the year I left my home town for the first time and graduated from high school, in that order."

"Yeeeeaaahhhhhhh! How long must you wait for... uh for it!"

"I was scared. I was scared. .... "

OH YEAH! Scared doesn't begin to say what I'm feeling about my decision about tomorrow. FUCK IT! FUCK! FUCK! FUCK! FUCK! FUCK!

All I gotta do is drive my fat ass down to the location and listen. That's all. What's so hard about that. You'd think there were machine guns involved or something.

It will be Saturday's post that may be interesting or short. We'll see how tired I am. Friday's will have to be early. Saturday's a big day, too!

Let's hear it for everyone who overcomes some sort of fear and lives to tell about it. It's really kinda thrilling, if you choose to think about it that way.

CARPE DIEM! To The Pain! Coldplay's really rocking it, GOTTA GO DANCE!

Wednesday, June 16, 2010

Tired and Content

Sitting and staring at walls and walking through my clean house sounds like just the thing for today, but the nagging inside my head won't let me completely enjoy the moment of peace. There are three more days of shooting and the weather is supposed to get very hot. Add lighting to the mix, and I'm worried. Can the A/C be on between takes? Where to plug in everything. Are the lighting set-ups figured out; so that, they can be quickly set-up and tested? Are all the camera angles established for the same reasons?

HOLD IT! This is a SA/BB Production. Of course the lighting and camera set-ups are set. Of course they're going to work as quickly as possible. Of course they know where they're plugging in everything. Of course they're thinking about the weather, too. We'll talk at some point today and pool our thoughts because I'm fully committed to being a quality Location Manager and they're committed to being the best they can be, too.

I may not be getting money for this experience, but it is something to put on my resume. It's more than that, though. It's fun.

There are so many things I like about productions. Weaving my way through people, furniture and equipment is one of them. Don't know why, really. It's just fun. It's exhilarating to wind through my house full of people all focused on getting stuff done in a calm, professional way. The space necessitates that people work together to get things done quickly.

From my limited working experience, I've never found a profession that places so much emphasis on being nice. Now, I know that not all successful film professionals are nice. I just know that the best productions that I've worked on have been nice. This has resulted in the projects getting done most pleasurably. I even think the quality is there. I could go on and on about all the nuances of making a production successful, but well, I'm feeling really lazy this morning. Besides, I have stuff to do.

I'm off to write lists, fold clothes, put away dishes, and DO MY BACK EXERCISES! My left achilles is sore from the way I sat yesterday while writing. Bad posture habits are getting to me. At least I had enough dance training to counter my bad habits.

OK, off to do stuff. Also want to mention that it is my only siblings birthday today. Today's post isn't dedicated to him because I didn't dedicate the blog to my daughter or my niece on their birthdays, so I'll stick with that for now. Course this means that I won't be dedicating my blog post to BB's birthday on Friday, either ... or will I?

Take care of yourselves. You are loved.