8 posts tagged “update”

I had 8 hours of rehearsal on Thursday, Friday AND Saturday. Each.  So, if you haven't heard back from me, that's why.

I have been somewhat beside myself with ...okay, I don't know how to talk about this.  Prepare yourselves for some hippy-dippy dancer crap. But, here's the deal: I am rediscovering the joy of dancing lately, just letting all the tension and the bullshit run away in the face of my body's intelligence and energy.  As clumsy as I am, as poor as my balance is, as tight as my muscles are, my body knows things. It catches me when I (inevitably) trip (let's ignore for the moment the body/mind dichotomy I'm rocking today). I love feeling myself get better at things, and I love remembering what it's like to really push for one specific thing--a long balance, a solid turn, a good deep knee bend, etc.  Some of this manifests as a strong desire to take all my old classes (jazz, tap, hip-hop, etc.) and some of it manifests as a desire to take contact improv constantly.

It boils down to this: It feels awesome to move around, and it feels crappy to sit at a desk for 8 hours.  As I danced less and less, I seemed to feel less antsyness, but as I am dancing more, I feel more urge to get up and move around.  If we hadn't had people over last night, I probably would have danced my way through the Godfather II, whatever that even MEANS (I think it means rolling around on the floor like a nerd).  So that's great, except for how it has made me more sensitive to the hours of sitting at a desk, to the slouching, to the carpal tunnel, et cetera.  I'm getting desperate.

ANYWAY.

My family is coming to see our show!  Have I mentioned this?  I never get to see them as much as I want to.  Plus we are taking a trip to the Boundary Waters when the show closes.  Hooray for The Nature!  Any suggestions for awesome things to do in the Cities are welcome.  I have a big list but I like hearing other folks' favorites.

Okay, back to work.  If you're waiting on a call/email from me, please know that I'm trying and failing to keep up.

The show I was in all month closed last night.  We sold out every show, and thus I have completed my longest run ever (12 shows total). 

I'm having a bike crisis, because Lysander is in the shop and they are full of bad news about braking surfaces and chain cassettes and other things.  I've been thinking about getting another bike because every time I'm riding lately, it's not the usual, "GOD MY LIFE IS AWESOME" feeling.  It's more the, "God, my back hurts.  My butt hurts.  My knees hurt. Did I mention that my wrists hurt? Wow, is my neck stiff" feeling.  It seems like I could use a more casual riding position (and a wider seat, dang).  Totally struggling on the anti-consumerism vs. comfort question. I haven't talked to the bike shop about it yet and I'm frustrated that they're talking about $400 worth of work on a bike that cost $350 in the first place.  I am anxious and worried.  It's great.  I'm tired of feeling both suspicious and frustrated by bike shops.  I have FIVE bike shops within walking distance of my apartment, and somehow I can't seem to find one that will take the time to get things right. 

Paul and I decided we wanted to keep some of our herbs indoors, so in the last month, we've gone from one plant (a kind of ill-looking palm) to twelve plants: A small bamboo, a bay tree, basil, parsley, spearmint, cat grass, dill, oregano, 3 giant bamboos, and an aloe vera.  I'm suddenly addicted to house plants, although we saw what happened to the fern I tried to grow (let us not speak of the ivy my mom bought me, or the cacti, or the flowering things...).  The outside garden is also thriving.  Plants are good and TOTALLY entertaining.  I spend a lot of time rotating them and looking at their new leaves growing. 

My family is coming for the show. This inspires excitement (HOORAY they are visiting Minnesota! I get to show them around!) and fear (OHGOD our show is crap what the hell they're all flying out to see the worst show yet).  We did a showing yesterday that was oof rough! The feedback was great but dang the showing itself was hard.  We only have a little bit of time to work on it and I'm....panicked would be a good word.

 

• I haven't been biking much.  I haven't done push-ups.  I haven't been writing or even reading as much as I'd like. 
• On the other hand, I am making a lot of progress on Christmas gifts.  I'm knocking down some big scary boogeymen (also known as boxes of miscellaneous paperwork) that have been giving me the hairy eyeball for months (years?!)  It's reassuring to make more or less permanent improvements in our apartment (instead of just dishes, laundry, etc.)
• Has anyone ever used www.rememberthemilk.com?  It looks like a lot of work to set up and not a lot of work to maintain, but if you have used it, I'd love to know what you think.  Oh, the internets--you know more about me than I do.
• Finally went to Mill City Farmers Market.  Last day of the season, naturally.  I'll try to upload pictures if any of them turned out, but at the very least let me say: Farmers' market beets RULE.
• Upsidedowndogs.com makes my day:
  

Seriously.  Maybe you hoped and dreamed that I had forgotten.  Actually, if you hoped and dreamed that you wouldn't have to read about it, maybe you should read someone else's blog.

As of August 1, I will be 365 days into the allotted 1001, 36.5% done. 

Newly Completed Items

Try 50 local restaurants/stores I haven't tried before. (50/50) 

I finished it!  I expanded it a bit from its original format (restaurants only), because the spirit of the thing was to learn about new local businesses that deserve my cash.  There are still 41 restaurants I'd like to try, but it's officially done.  Particularly delightful discoveries (I am or will be or wish I could be a repeat customer):

• Welna II Hardware on Franklin
• Common Roots
• Namaste Cafe
• Hard Times Cafe
• Victor's 1959 Cafe
• Lentil as Anything (Melbourne)

Go to Chicago.
Go camping (with a tent).
Travel to a new country.
Travel outside of North America.

Chicago was easy and I'm going back this weekend.  I had no idea which new country I'd be visiting, but I'm sure by now my choice is obvious.  Australia hadn't even been in consideration, but dang! It wins! I had a great time! I still haven't edited any of my photos!  And now I own a tent.

Total completed: 18 (17.8%)

In Progress
Let's face it.  I am running behind.  Thankfully a number of the items left are quick one-offs. But here are things I am chipping away at:
 

Get 10 massages.                                                                                         20%
Read 17 nonfiction books.                                                                            24%
Contact 10 friends whom I have "lost touch with".                                       50%
Write 2 complete pieces.                                                                             50%
Finish 3 knitting projects.                                                                             66%
Write a poem a month.                                                                                6%
Make a list of 20 fiction books I've been wanting to read and finally read them.      5%
See 25 non-dance concerts                                                                          64%
Read all the books I own but haven't read, or give them away.
Make ice cream six times.                                                               Technically 0%, but I have ingredients.
Write six letters when something goes wrong.                                              83%

The Plan
A lot of these goals go together, so I'm going to try to concoct a plan that combines some of them.  Hmmm...plans.  I love plans! 

Two minute whirlwind rundown:

• Phillip Island: I love it!  I would like to live there pls!
• Penguins, wallabies, platypus (es?), kangaroos, kookaburras, Tasmanian devils, echidnas, wombats, frilled lizards, and so on.
• Couchsurfing: rules!  Now I have the nicest Aussie friend! 
• Melbourne: Totally moody and beautiful.  Really tall building.  Great food. 
• Hostel: Overwhelming and full of grouchy backpackers.
• Karaoke: Not present in Melbourne.  I know this because Trista and I drunkenly walked all over downtown Melbourne searching for some for three hours.  This ended in the most hilarious fight of our lives.
• Dancing: Mad King Thomas has OFFICIALLY premiered internationally!  Nine people saw my solo and also said nice and useful things about it.  I met a sweetheart by the name of Jade and ah--I love it when networking is nice and not skeezy.
• No sunburn to speak of!
• Currently in Uluru and suffering slightly from shock in the transition from rainy, cozy, urban Melbourne to bright, shiny, vaguely dangerous, insanely expensive Uluru.
• Next up (in a few days): Cairns, the Reef, Port Douglas, then (stunningly) home.

1. Paul is teaching me to cross-stitch.  I'm planning all sorts of stupid patterns filled with juvenile humor.  There totally won't be a market for it, and all my friends will be too humiliated to display anything I choose to show them, but dang it, I am excited.
2. THE SISTER HAS LANDED.  She arrived in Brisbane earlier today and I have no idea what she is thinking or doing, but I am so excited for her and CANNOT wait to go visit.  I don't know how I will manage.
3. I am doing my 101in1001 goal of archiving and printing all my journal entries, starting in February 2000.  Jesus Aitch, it ain't pretty.  More on this as I approach completion in a few weeks...I'm doing three months a day, and I tell you what, I was PROLIFIC.
4. I totally have to cut my hair off.  That's it!  It's over!  Goodbye, Protein of 2003!
   

• Last week I finally broke 30mph on my bike (downhill, obviously).
• On the same commute, I made it home in 25 minutes, beating my previous record of 29 minutes.
• I attribute these mad skillz to the fact that I forgot my sports bra, so now I don't wear one and it's awesome.
  
• The fern is sprouting little green stalks of joy, amidst the carnage of its former growth.  Thanks to Paul for solving that one.
• I am experimenting with my inner Martha Stewart by buying curtains.  So far the experience has taught me that I don't have an inner Martha Stewart.
• I am awaiting some VERY exciting packages.
• I'm trying to figure out when it doesn't make sense to hang onto old clothes that fit poorly, even though I'm exercising a lot so probably they'll fit again soon.
• I drove to work yesterday for the first time since December and it did not lure me back into a life of car-centered hedonism (I feel more hedonistic riding my bike all the time anyway).
  
• I realized that I don't think I've ever won a game of Twilight Struggle, and yet, I always want to play it.  I think this means it is my favorite game.
• Paul just called from Prague!
• According to Harvard, I have above average chance of melanoma (yup), breast cancer and stomach cancer (too much salt!), but surprisingly, below average chance of developing diabetes or osteoporosis or having a stroke.  I know this whole Vox is perpetually about my bike, but can I just say, biking rules!  The osteoporosis and diabetes results are definitely related to all the exercise I've been getting. Check it out for yourself:
   
  

A general update:

• Yep, first-time karaoke!
• Paul, Trista and I all dressed up as mimes for a great party in honor of Monica and Cara.
• Queertopia was great and we took some photos to celebrate it. Monica got a huge smooch from the spectacular Morgan Thorson. 
  
• Trista took me to get my first pedicure. I am sort of ashamed of the whole thing but it was actually really nice, even though I don't understand about French tips and also I cut my toenails too short so she was basically filing off my skin.  And of course the real reason dancers don't get pedicures (aside from cutting our toenails so damn short) -- it is already ruined!  But I don't care because the real point of the thing was chillaxing with Trista and letting some lady slather my feet in blue goop and then wrap them in a hot hot towel.
• I took the sister to the airport for her return home.  Now it's just back to me, Paul and Caesar.  Maybe I cried a little bit on the way back from the airport.  Maybe I wept like a baby.  Guess you'll never know, huh? 
• My bike went 26.2 mph yesterday!! Downhill, yes.  But even so, that's as fast as a car! Plus, I am on my bike pretty much every day now!