** Edit**
My appointment is scheduled for 5:30 AM (central time) Tuesday. I can't remember how long the procedure should last but I'm fairly certain I'll be awake by 8. I don't know if I'll feel well enough to post an update tomorrow, but if you don't hear from me tomorrow you should hear from me Wednesday!
**Edit**
I had my pre-op appointment for my sinus surgery today. A doctor stuck a camera up my nose, and I felt it regardless of the anesthetic spray. It was without a doubt the strangest experience I ever had. On the upside, I got to see my vocal chords and my epiglottis along with a lot of other interesting things in my head, including the skin that lines the skull on the other side of the inside of my nose, at which point the ENT said "and on the other side of that is your brain", and I got a little freaked out. Something got knocked around in the process and I am VERY sore in the nasal area, and I can't seem to stop sneezing!
My actual surgery is on Tuesday, though I don't know what time yet (I will by the time most of you read this post I guess). The doctor said it will get a lot worse before it gets better, so I'll be on pain pills and antibiotics, and I have to pack ice on my cheeks after the surgery. I will definitely be out of commission this week (I take a while to heal), so it is a very good thing that I don't have a job right now. One of those would be very nice soon though, I would very much like to generate income and have insurance.
Prayers will be appreciated.
On a side note, I have a funny work story. I'm working at the church nursery this week while they do pre school teacher inservice. I have eight three year olds, and I think I'm in love with them. One little boy in particular is just hilarious. He has somehow developed a New York accent though we live in Texas. We were playing with a toy with a pull-string voice box, and the voice box didn't work. I told him that maybe the doll was "tired of talking" and he liked the phrase so much that he repeated it over and over throughout the day. "Toired of toawking" chorused from his no-nonsense mouth repeatedly throughout the day and set me to giggles. He also told me after we crashed the toy cars we were playing with that that was why "We don't hit or pinch the cars." He said something else about that was why we wear helmets when we ride our bikes, but I can't remember. Tomorrow (Friday) is my last day with these kids and I'm going to miss them! I wasn't too happy that I got threes at the beginning of the week, but this summer has really taught me that all ages of children have very delightful qualities if you get to know them. I'm slowly eking my way out of ageism. Next I may tackle pre-adolescence. Shudder. I don't know if I'm ready for that.
Friday, August 29, 2008
Tuesday, August 19, 2008
Dance, where has the artistry gone?
Recently I became slightly obsessed with Tracy Chapman's songs, "Behind the Wall" and "Fast Car". Being the former dancer I am, I decided to look for videos of dances done to these songs on YouTube.
Granted, these dances are mostly from studios and not professional companies, and these kids performing these dances can barely grasp the themes in these songs. However, I think that the point of dance (especially LYRICAL for goodness' sake!) is being missed, and that it has been relegated to a mere athletic exercise.
I don't know how to put Youtube videos straight into my blog, so you'll have to click on them.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MTszeTw3x10
This performer looks like she can't be more than about thirteen. Already we get into an emotional maturity issue. Here we see an overly-literal interpretation of this song, as the performer slams herself against a "wall", using the prop a total of about seven seconds throughout the entire routine. This dance is what I like to call "circused up", with as many technical elements and as few artistic elements as possible. This is rather common in dance competitions that I've seen. From the extremely erect way this dancer holds herself, it's clear she doesn't get the raw nature of this dance. A song as emotional as this calls for more "getting into the floor". This might be more the choreographer's fault.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MU_tCnT8aQY&feature=related
Okay, so she's not competing, she's obviously practicing in the studio. This routine is better (I could do without the cheerleader butt-swings) even though it's apparent that this dancer isn't as advanced technically as the first one. She understands the movement needed for this song. Notice the body rolls and the floorwork. If I could see her face more I would like it better, and if I could see her in costume I would be able to get the whole effect, but overall THIS routine is better than the first. It contains maybe three technical elements (and the leap isn't that great), but focuses more on the meaning and emotionality of the dance.
Now, on to "Fast Car"
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zHZxjOhW1Eo
I can't tell but it looks like this was done with a stop-motion camera! From what I can tell, the dance does a good job of telling the story, it's not a trick show, but it has technical elements seamlessly blended into the rest of the routine (no "watch me as I run to the back corner of the stage, do a huge tombe, pas de bourre, chase, leap combination because it's the only way I know how to do a leap with any height" element). I think the choreography and her performance lend it to be upbeat for most of the routine, which is something I've never understood about dancing to sad songs (I did a lyrical routine to "Every Breath You Take" by the Police, yes, the stalker song to end all stalker songs, and we were told to smile). Maybe she's trying to pull off the optimistic feeling. All in all though, she DOES manage to capture the mood of the song.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H_DiglJNnDs
I'm waffling on this one. The first thing I would like to point out is that it is danced by fifteen year olds with their hair piled on top of their heads and ridiculously skimpy tops. "Fast Car" does not mean "Fast Women". Okay, I will grant that it is GOOD choreography. It doesn't really tell the story of the song, which is a shame, but in general it is danced well and has good choreography. Now about these dancers' attitudes. Look at how they walk on and off of the stage and how they work the beginning of the routine. This song is all about hurt and lost chances, it implies some vulnerability. These girls strut around like they're performing with the Pussycat Dolls (who have some pretty neat choreography), they're haughty, strong, sassy. Not quite what I would be doing right before I started a dance like this.
Now I'm sure randomly I will hear from some person who randomly found my blog about "oh yeah, well what would YOU do with it?" So I will tell you.
With Behind the Wall, I see a couple, probably like a fiance relationship, not quite husband and wife yet. The woman in the dance is basically telling him what she heard behind the wall and he's trying to comfort her. It's hard to explain the moves exactly, but the audience would know where the "wall" was without the use of an actual wall. It would be more about sharing the helpless feeling about wanting to help but not being able to.
With Fast Car, I picture more of a slow hip hop (see Tabitha and Napoleon from So You Think You Can Dance). Female solo, more street and into the floor than a "ballet lyrical". Kind of like the second performance for "Behind the Wall". The challenge is to make sure the dancer and choreographer don't get caught up in the upbeat tempo and make this a "happy" dance.
OR with Fast Car you can go down the whole literally acting out the story bit, depicting a woman wanting out of her situation and a man who seems to be the answer to all her problems until he becomes the problems himself. The challenge here would be in not going too literal (I'm sure unless you were joking you would not choreograph the man "driving" around the stage...it's awkward enough in context for "Waiting for Life" in "Once on this Island"). An emotional story can be told without the distraction of gratuitous props or the cheapening effect of melodramatic literal interpretation.
Granted, these dances are mostly from studios and not professional companies, and these kids performing these dances can barely grasp the themes in these songs. However, I think that the point of dance (especially LYRICAL for goodness' sake!) is being missed, and that it has been relegated to a mere athletic exercise.
I don't know how to put Youtube videos straight into my blog, so you'll have to click on them.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MTszeTw3x10
This performer looks like she can't be more than about thirteen. Already we get into an emotional maturity issue. Here we see an overly-literal interpretation of this song, as the performer slams herself against a "wall", using the prop a total of about seven seconds throughout the entire routine. This dance is what I like to call "circused up", with as many technical elements and as few artistic elements as possible. This is rather common in dance competitions that I've seen. From the extremely erect way this dancer holds herself, it's clear she doesn't get the raw nature of this dance. A song as emotional as this calls for more "getting into the floor". This might be more the choreographer's fault.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MU_tCnT8aQY&feature=related
Okay, so she's not competing, she's obviously practicing in the studio. This routine is better (I could do without the cheerleader butt-swings) even though it's apparent that this dancer isn't as advanced technically as the first one. She understands the movement needed for this song. Notice the body rolls and the floorwork. If I could see her face more I would like it better, and if I could see her in costume I would be able to get the whole effect, but overall THIS routine is better than the first. It contains maybe three technical elements (and the leap isn't that great), but focuses more on the meaning and emotionality of the dance.
Now, on to "Fast Car"
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zHZxjOhW1Eo
I can't tell but it looks like this was done with a stop-motion camera! From what I can tell, the dance does a good job of telling the story, it's not a trick show, but it has technical elements seamlessly blended into the rest of the routine (no "watch me as I run to the back corner of the stage, do a huge tombe, pas de bourre, chase, leap combination because it's the only way I know how to do a leap with any height" element). I think the choreography and her performance lend it to be upbeat for most of the routine, which is something I've never understood about dancing to sad songs (I did a lyrical routine to "Every Breath You Take" by the Police, yes, the stalker song to end all stalker songs, and we were told to smile). Maybe she's trying to pull off the optimistic feeling. All in all though, she DOES manage to capture the mood of the song.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H_DiglJNnDs
I'm waffling on this one. The first thing I would like to point out is that it is danced by fifteen year olds with their hair piled on top of their heads and ridiculously skimpy tops. "Fast Car" does not mean "Fast Women". Okay, I will grant that it is GOOD choreography. It doesn't really tell the story of the song, which is a shame, but in general it is danced well and has good choreography. Now about these dancers' attitudes. Look at how they walk on and off of the stage and how they work the beginning of the routine. This song is all about hurt and lost chances, it implies some vulnerability. These girls strut around like they're performing with the Pussycat Dolls (who have some pretty neat choreography), they're haughty, strong, sassy. Not quite what I would be doing right before I started a dance like this.
Now I'm sure randomly I will hear from some person who randomly found my blog about "oh yeah, well what would YOU do with it?" So I will tell you.
With Behind the Wall, I see a couple, probably like a fiance relationship, not quite husband and wife yet. The woman in the dance is basically telling him what she heard behind the wall and he's trying to comfort her. It's hard to explain the moves exactly, but the audience would know where the "wall" was without the use of an actual wall. It would be more about sharing the helpless feeling about wanting to help but not being able to.
With Fast Car, I picture more of a slow hip hop (see Tabitha and Napoleon from So You Think You Can Dance). Female solo, more street and into the floor than a "ballet lyrical". Kind of like the second performance for "Behind the Wall". The challenge is to make sure the dancer and choreographer don't get caught up in the upbeat tempo and make this a "happy" dance.
OR with Fast Car you can go down the whole literally acting out the story bit, depicting a woman wanting out of her situation and a man who seems to be the answer to all her problems until he becomes the problems himself. The challenge here would be in not going too literal (I'm sure unless you were joking you would not choreograph the man "driving" around the stage...it's awkward enough in context for "Waiting for Life" in "Once on this Island"). An emotional story can be told without the distraction of gratuitous props or the cheapening effect of melodramatic literal interpretation.
Sunday, August 10, 2008
Wednesday, August 6, 2008
This is bordering on insane...
Okay, to my friends reading this, know now that I am incredibly happy for you and know it is the right time.
That being said,
I have 22 friends on facebook who are engaged. 22. And only six of them are both sides of the couple (so I guess to be fair and only count the girls, I have 19 friends on facebook who are engaged). I have around five weddings to attend next summer, one in November, and I think one in September.
I know we're getting to that age where everyone is getting engaged, but I never thought everyone WOULD get engaged!
It is so strange to me that people my age are ready to take that step in their lives. I'm nowhere near ready for that! I have so many things to do! I'm turning 22 in a little over a month, and I cannot imagine having my life set before me so definitely. I mean, I don't even know where I'll be in the next few months, where I'll go to grad school in the following years, where I'll end up after grad school...
This past school year I was very upset because I seemed to be surrounded by relationships, and I hadn't been asked on a single date. Now, I cannot imagine being in a relationship then. I'm not saying that if someone asked me out I would say no, because unless he's just a definite "never in your life" type, I'll probably say yes. But I can really appreciate the fact that my life is a lot less complicated since I don't have yet another tie holding me to a certain place or track.
I mean, imagine that I had been in a relationship, and that we were planning on getting married, I don't know, in late spring of 2009 or so. How could I ask someone to pick up and move with me to whatever state had a school for art therapy and accepted me? And how could someone expect me to give up my dream simply because he couldn't leave his job/family/hometown?
Again the thought struck me that many of my friends have had a relationship for only about a year. Thinking about those timelines, I could meet the man I will marry tomorrow, then be engaged by February, and have my wedding in August (though I wouldn't because I think a couple of my friends are getting married then). I very much doub t that will happen! Thing like this ARE unpredictable. It's just strange thinking about how things change, how people change, how lives change so quickly.
At the beginning of my freshman year in college, a girl in her junior year sat down with me at the cafeteria. We were joking about how "no men seemed to be on the horizon". I ended up going to her church. That February, a guy started showing up at the church with her every Sunday. That November, he landed a helicopter on the quad and asked her to marry him. They were married that June, and have been together just over a year now. Some of these things seem to go so quickly!
I feel much too young to be 22. I think I'll go back to 19 and a half.
I can't believe I graduate on Saturday.
That being said,
I have 22 friends on facebook who are engaged. 22. And only six of them are both sides of the couple (so I guess to be fair and only count the girls, I have 19 friends on facebook who are engaged). I have around five weddings to attend next summer, one in November, and I think one in September.
I know we're getting to that age where everyone is getting engaged, but I never thought everyone WOULD get engaged!
It is so strange to me that people my age are ready to take that step in their lives. I'm nowhere near ready for that! I have so many things to do! I'm turning 22 in a little over a month, and I cannot imagine having my life set before me so definitely. I mean, I don't even know where I'll be in the next few months, where I'll go to grad school in the following years, where I'll end up after grad school...
This past school year I was very upset because I seemed to be surrounded by relationships, and I hadn't been asked on a single date. Now, I cannot imagine being in a relationship then. I'm not saying that if someone asked me out I would say no, because unless he's just a definite "never in your life" type, I'll probably say yes. But I can really appreciate the fact that my life is a lot less complicated since I don't have yet another tie holding me to a certain place or track.
I mean, imagine that I had been in a relationship, and that we were planning on getting married, I don't know, in late spring of 2009 or so. How could I ask someone to pick up and move with me to whatever state had a school for art therapy and accepted me? And how could someone expect me to give up my dream simply because he couldn't leave his job/family/hometown?
Again the thought struck me that many of my friends have had a relationship for only about a year. Thinking about those timelines, I could meet the man I will marry tomorrow, then be engaged by February, and have my wedding in August (though I wouldn't because I think a couple of my friends are getting married then). I very much doub t that will happen! Thing like this ARE unpredictable. It's just strange thinking about how things change, how people change, how lives change so quickly.
At the beginning of my freshman year in college, a girl in her junior year sat down with me at the cafeteria. We were joking about how "no men seemed to be on the horizon". I ended up going to her church. That February, a guy started showing up at the church with her every Sunday. That November, he landed a helicopter on the quad and asked her to marry him. They were married that June, and have been together just over a year now. Some of these things seem to go so quickly!
I feel much too young to be 22. I think I'll go back to 19 and a half.
I can't believe I graduate on Saturday.
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