Monday, October 30, 2006
Maize is Indian for Corn
Catching up on the happenings, a week ago we headed to Thurmont "Gateway to the Mountains," MD, for the corn maze you see above. Yes, it was big. Take-a-map-with-you-and-still-get-lost big. And we did it in the dark. MOSI was in town and our competitive streak took over as we quickly began racing through to finish first--so that we might dispatch with some other items on our "to do" list. Save for it commemorating the Civil War, fun was had by one and all abolitionists in our party. It wasn't nearly as muddy as the previous year, but still muddy enough to make me happy I saved my shoes from the prior year.
I love a good maze! October just might be my favorite month. Damn you, November. Damn you.
Sunday, October 29, 2006
56K ain't much of a clip
Oh dear LORD I miss the internet of 2006! Currently, I am strolling along with the internet of 1994. Well, the speed of 1994, while the things it tries to download are current. Even Grace was shocked when she called me for something online to discover that my internet access had been dramatically retarded.
So, I have loaded everyone's blog in my browser, and I will take and read them offline today, as we venture from St. Louis to Columbia, MO.
In the meantime, I added a userpic a little while ago (not as good as Maryment's) that I got from La, but I deleted that part of my template, so now you can't see it unless I post a comment. *sigh* Here it is, just for fun.
So, I have loaded everyone's blog in my browser, and I will take and read them offline today, as we venture from St. Louis to Columbia, MO.
In the meantime, I added a userpic a little while ago (not as good as Maryment's) that I got from La, but I deleted that part of my template, so now you can't see it unless I post a comment. *sigh* Here it is, just for fun.
Friday, October 20, 2006
Red is my Blood
And so upon her request, I blog. I'm seeing MOSI tomorrow night for a maize maze. I also saw him last night, but it was because we got back to DC at 3am. Ug. Today I was exhausted. Drop dead, old man, exhausted. But, I also had an interview for a promotion. Yes, despite blogging over a year ago about wanting to work for DRS, I instead am staying with TCR, and desperately want to be the Project Manager. And I think it is mine. Even though everyone else on the team has applied for it, and is older than me and paid a higher rate. Why? Cause I rock. Give me a few weeks to figure it out.
Otherwise, I am going to pass out now, and wait for tomorrow with MOSI (after convincing DRS not to sue us, for unrelated reasons). Ha! He's so cute, that I'll easily prevail any challenge in the way...
Otherwise, I am going to pass out now, and wait for tomorrow with MOSI (after convincing DRS not to sue us, for unrelated reasons). Ha! He's so cute, that I'll easily prevail any challenge in the way...
Monday, October 16, 2006
In PIT in Bed with MOSI
Hopefully there won't be a lot of blog activity from me this week. I'm pleasantly distracted.
Shortly I will have been in Pittsburgh for 48 hours, having left my parents house at 3 a.m. on Saturday morning and arrived here in time to climb back into bed with MOSI and sleep the morning away. 48 hours later, and that is about all I can report we did for the weekend. Of course, that made for a perfect one. Even better, I am still here, with work engagements all day Tuesday and Wednesday. And it won't stop there--on Thursday I bring him back home to come out and play Thursday or Saturday (or both).
Now, if I could just figure out a way to make this permanent...
Shortly I will have been in Pittsburgh for 48 hours, having left my parents house at 3 a.m. on Saturday morning and arrived here in time to climb back into bed with MOSI and sleep the morning away. 48 hours later, and that is about all I can report we did for the weekend. Of course, that made for a perfect one. Even better, I am still here, with work engagements all day Tuesday and Wednesday. And it won't stop there--on Thursday I bring him back home to come out and play Thursday or Saturday (or both).
Now, if I could just figure out a way to make this permanent...
Monday, October 09, 2006
Rize up and Krump
Ms. Write Again Soon, thirsty for something to distract herself from her drunken weekend, has pointed out to me that the WP had a review of a performance by Tommy and the Hip Hop Clowns on Saturday which I caught with Ms. Blue Like Mine and TraniLuver. I do want to talk more about all the great concerts I've been to, so I guess this is a good time to cover something I've just been to.You can't be down on Tommy the Clown. I mean, it's almost enough that he wears a rainbow wig the size of a cumulus cloud, a signature look of candy-colored puffiness that telegraphs warm and fuzzy love.
But not only does Tommy dress like a child's dream of fun, with the hair and the face paint and the baggy, spangly clothes (and a few sleight-of-hand tricks up his big sleeves), he's the role model for kids who need it most. Nearly 15 years ago, Tommy the Clown, ne Thomas Johnson, grew his hip-hop-centric birthday-party act into the dance phenomenon known as krumping. He'd invite the kids he'd meet in the worst parts of Los Angeles, where he was based, to turn away from violence and join him in dancing their aggressions away. As krumping grew, with its blend of hip-hop and b-boy (break dance) moves and an added jolt of fierce emotional release, Tommy became a benevolent godfather to prospective gangbangers, offering his "crew" as an alternative to South Central's Crips and Bloods.
On the first, the performance was dead-on. I forgave him (almost) for the preaching and praying, and was happy to pay the impressive $50 admission for orchestra seats to support his cause. What he has done for a legion of youth was and is wonderful.
As for the dancing itself, I'm content to turn back to seeing Rize again, which captures the mood, energy, and emotion stunningly. Where David LaChappelle has always had a knack at making succulent pop images and music videos, dripping with excess, he's not much of a documentarian. I left the movie riveted, but asking fundamental questions ("So, if I drove through South Central, would everyone have face paint on?") that left me wishing PBS or NPR had given him a hand.
Still, Rize remains high on my list of movies for those seeking to expand their cultural literacy by exposure to that which is far from familiar. Plus it is highly entertaining and beautiful to watch.
Thankfully, Tommy saved the show with the second half, which finally took on some air of a performance, recreating a Battle Zone dance-off originally done in LA. Finally, the Hip Hop Clowns had a chance to really strut. The audience played in well, and I can only imagine it would have been better if the house were packed.
My favorite, of course, was Casper, the one white member of the group. He was attractive, playful, and above all else very good at his trade. [I think this is him on youtube.] And of course, it brought back memories of the battle dancing we (and La on a Stick) were such fans of at Nation before it closed its doors.
Tommy's attempt to tell the story of Krumping (and of his dancers) ultimately failed. As the self-appointed founder and leader of the movement, he walks the line of too much self-praise that skews his perspective. I can't say I know any better, because Rize was equally weak in that regard.
This was apparently their first performance on the road. Hopefully they will have a chance to turn their show into what it really needs to be--a fully entertaining performance. A better choice of venues (Strathmore as a modern performance hall is a bit snobby for what they were trying to accomplish; and Bethesda, the lap of posh, shouldn't be the crowds they are seeking to entertain), more affordable tickets, and some better community outreach could go a long way.
Until Nation has an adequate replacement, if interested, check out the movie (or perhaps my Halloween costume).
Still, Rize remains high on my list of movies for those seeking to expand their cultural literacy by exposure to that which is far from familiar. Plus it is highly entertaining and beautiful to watch.
Thankfully, Tommy saved the show with the second half, which finally took on some air of a performance, recreating a Battle Zone dance-off originally done in LA. Finally, the Hip Hop Clowns had a chance to really strut. The audience played in well, and I can only imagine it would have been better if the house were packed.
My favorite, of course, was Casper, the one white member of the group. He was attractive, playful, and above all else very good at his trade. [I think this is him on youtube.] And of course, it brought back memories of the battle dancing we (and La on a Stick) were such fans of at Nation before it closed its doors.
Tommy's attempt to tell the story of Krumping (and of his dancers) ultimately failed. As the self-appointed founder and leader of the movement, he walks the line of too much self-praise that skews his perspective. I can't say I know any better, because Rize was equally weak in that regard.
This was apparently their first performance on the road. Hopefully they will have a chance to turn their show into what it really needs to be--a fully entertaining performance. A better choice of venues (Strathmore as a modern performance hall is a bit snobby for what they were trying to accomplish; and Bethesda, the lap of posh, shouldn't be the crowds they are seeking to entertain), more affordable tickets, and some better community outreach could go a long way.
Until Nation has an adequate replacement, if interested, check out the movie (or perhaps my Halloween costume).
Thursday, October 05, 2006
Disappointed
No new posts until more people tell me where to go!
I was going to talk about recent concerts I have been to, but now I am boycotted you all. Only ONE suggestion? Shesh. But for interests sake, I'll at least share the artists I'm tracking now to see, see again, or hopefully see in the near future:
I was going to talk about recent concerts I have been to, but now I am boycotted you all. Only ONE suggestion? Shesh. But for interests sake, I'll at least share the artists I'm tracking now to see, see again, or hopefully see in the near future:
- Sia
- Tilly & the Wall
- The Weepies
- Ray LaMontagne
- bitter:sweet
- Imogen Heap
- Corinne Bailey Rae
- The Bravery
- Damien Rice
- The Go! Team
- Lizzie West
- Maria Mena
- Out Hud
- Rachael Yamagata
- Venus Hum
- Tegan & Sara
- The Be Good Tanyas
=-P
Update:
- The Decemberists
Labels: Concerts
Monday, October 02, 2006
What's goin on?
I haven't written in two weeks. I recognize that. Other than all the working, I haven't been up to much. I did get to visit MOSI in Pittsburgh, at last, which was wonderful. But this isn't going to be a place that I recount my daily rituals, nor will I air my relationship with MOSI. He is ridiculously important to me, and the rest is between us.
For a hot minute, I thought I was going to blog about things to do in life. I was in Georgetown last week for the first time in a while, and found a cute book on 101 things to do before you die at Urban Outfitters. It reminded me of Ms. Write Again Soon's 50 things, which jealously reminded me that I started a list during the blizzard of 1996 (God, am I dead yet?) which I never finished compiling and have long since misplaced (have you seen my closet?). But I left the book in my friend's purse, and now all I can remember is "Milk a Cow." Oh, and I have always wanted to "Learn to Sail." I guess that's a start.
But the other progress lately is the reduction of my credit card debt. I'm doing so well, that I'm ready to start planning some international travel--I haven't been out of the country since 2002! I fly out of National for work, so I'm often on American; Hilton and Marriott credit me with American miles; and i just signed up for an American miles credit card. So I'm racking those miles up.
Here's the interactive part: WHERE SHOULD I GO? I'm down for non-Europe. Ideally I'd like to spend some time outside of an urban area (that is, driving through some ancient countryside sounds nice). I'd also like to have some relaxation (perhaps living in a hut on a southeast Asian beach or in the mountains of Tibet). I really have no idea what's out there, so what do you suggest? I never hear about big terrorism in Latin America--is that just because they don't tell us? Well, chime in!
Afterthought: I'm also curious where I should go in the states that I haven't been. Work keeps sending me around the country, and I just sit in my hotel room. Where should I take a few days and explore?
For a hot minute, I thought I was going to blog about things to do in life. I was in Georgetown last week for the first time in a while, and found a cute book on 101 things to do before you die at Urban Outfitters. It reminded me of Ms. Write Again Soon's 50 things, which jealously reminded me that I started a list during the blizzard of 1996 (God, am I dead yet?) which I never finished compiling and have long since misplaced (have you seen my closet?). But I left the book in my friend's purse, and now all I can remember is "Milk a Cow." Oh, and I have always wanted to "Learn to Sail." I guess that's a start.
But the other progress lately is the reduction of my credit card debt. I'm doing so well, that I'm ready to start planning some international travel--I haven't been out of the country since 2002! I fly out of National for work, so I'm often on American; Hilton and Marriott credit me with American miles; and i just signed up for an American miles credit card. So I'm racking those miles up.
Here's the interactive part: WHERE SHOULD I GO? I'm down for non-Europe. Ideally I'd like to spend some time outside of an urban area (that is, driving through some ancient countryside sounds nice). I'd also like to have some relaxation (perhaps living in a hut on a southeast Asian beach or in the mountains of Tibet). I really have no idea what's out there, so what do you suggest? I never hear about big terrorism in Latin America--is that just because they don't tell us? Well, chime in!
Afterthought: I'm also curious where I should go in the states that I haven't been. Work keeps sending me around the country, and I just sit in my hotel room. Where should I take a few days and explore?
Labels: 101 Things, Travel
