Thursday, February 23, 2006
over two thousand hits!
My blog went over two thousand hits today; some of these were me, of course, whenever I log on or work on the blog, but the majority of the hits have come from readers. Thank you all for visiting here!
Sunday, February 19, 2006
Saidi stick dance
There's nothing like having to go to dance practice relatively early in the morning to rid one's self of mental cobwebs and recent unpleasantnesses. My troupe leader and three members of our
troupe (including myself) are working on a Saidi stick dance (which is basically folkloric steps, but using a pretty large and heavy wooden cane for a prop, sans the curved handle; the cane is whirled stylistically and hit on the ground at certain intervals--it's hard to describe, but it's akin to martial-arts movements). I'm getting better at it, I think.
I am still rather disturbed about the two blog tattlers I seem to have accumulated. I find it very weird that anyone with ill intent towards me would go on my blog and try and find things to upset and anger someone I know. I realize people do these things because they're acting out of fear, or because it's easier to focus on things outside themselves instead of their own problems. It's possible to have a certain amount of compassion for behavior like this, but strange when it comes to call. I don't know if these people really understand the consequences of their behavior, either--I think there are just certain folks who just simply take some weird pleasure or sense of power, in trying to rile people up, or they have no way to put their actions in check.
At any rate, I was really glad to be back with my troupe today, laughing, working really hard, learning to master something new to me, and knowing that I am safe among these women. I have had a lot of betrayals, pretty much all my life, from women, and it is only now, in my later forties, that I have begun to forge better and healthier friendships, and have let go of relationships that were becoming deeply destructive and toxic. It's hard to let go something that just really is not working, but it can be done.
And that's all for today from a gal who dances with a sword on her head and wields a big stick!
troupe (including myself) are working on a Saidi stick dance (which is basically folkloric steps, but using a pretty large and heavy wooden cane for a prop, sans the curved handle; the cane is whirled stylistically and hit on the ground at certain intervals--it's hard to describe, but it's akin to martial-arts movements). I'm getting better at it, I think.
I am still rather disturbed about the two blog tattlers I seem to have accumulated. I find it very weird that anyone with ill intent towards me would go on my blog and try and find things to upset and anger someone I know. I realize people do these things because they're acting out of fear, or because it's easier to focus on things outside themselves instead of their own problems. It's possible to have a certain amount of compassion for behavior like this, but strange when it comes to call. I don't know if these people really understand the consequences of their behavior, either--I think there are just certain folks who just simply take some weird pleasure or sense of power, in trying to rile people up, or they have no way to put their actions in check.
At any rate, I was really glad to be back with my troupe today, laughing, working really hard, learning to master something new to me, and knowing that I am safe among these women. I have had a lot of betrayals, pretty much all my life, from women, and it is only now, in my later forties, that I have begun to forge better and healthier friendships, and have let go of relationships that were becoming deeply destructive and toxic. It's hard to let go something that just really is not working, but it can be done.
And that's all for today from a gal who dances with a sword on her head and wields a big stick!
Saturday, February 18, 2006
I AM SO SICK OF THIS!
I have gotten word that ANOTHER person (different than the other tattler) has gone on my blog, looking for things to tattle about. Two different people, all looking for information about the same person! God, I can't believe anyone's life would be so uneventful that they would spend any time whatsoever looking through this blog for whatever minutiae they can find. If I knew how to put pix on this thing, I would post a picture of a lice comb, 'cause that is what they'd need, and nit-combing is what this all reminds me of. Dear Tattler, I think I have recently mentioned an ex-boyfriend who was a writer. This isn't who you are thinking of, unless you have decided to get upset about things I say about James Frey, Kate O'Beirne, or Dr. Bronner.
Also, there was some talk of the "weird pseudonym" I use. Since this current tattler probably does not know this, I have a book I am finishing called The Strega's Story, thus I call myself Ms. Strega. I choose not to use my real name, even though I would love to (so I can promote my book and my other writing through my blog like my other writer-friends and artists can). Unfortunately, I feel the very strong need to avoid folks who try to go on my blog and pick through it like this. It would be a lot better if I could use my real name to publicize my writing and the book I am working on, but my safety feels more important to me right now. When my book is published, I plan to go public with my name, but by that time, I doubt I'll have the same issues I have now with my current life situation.
At any rate, here is an open letter to both Tattler #1 and Tattler #2: I have the right to blog, to promote my book, and to use whatever pseudonym I care to as I pursue my writing and my life. I would like to say to the current tattler, and all past and future tattlers, that I have the right to post my thoughts here; I am very much against censorship and people using what I say to try and rile other people up. In my opinion, it's silly and it's better to focus on your own problems and try to remedy them, rather than come to this blog for what I feel are negative purposes. The person in question for whom you are trying to find information is someone I am trying to get along with, too, and it is destructive to that effort. I personally don't have the time, inclination, or desire to curry people's blogs for weaponry, so it's always a bit of a shock when I discover this in other people.
And that's all I want to say, for now.
Later:
I think what's most disturbing about this is that I live a life in which these kind of weirdnesses don't happen very much. I move in circles of women who have, as dance teachers, friends, and colleagues, pushed me to do things I never hoped or believe I could do at my age--including being a performing dancer in a very well-respected troupe. I have a circle of women friends who meet at the new moon; we bless each other as a circle, offer up our prayers for the month, and tell each other, "May you never hunger. May you never thirst." This is what I want, on some level, of all my friendships; people who come into my life seeking only to harm and betray have no place here.
Yes, I do have a sarcastic view of the world at times--a world at times so dangerous to life, to creativity, to freedom of expression and hope that it does rile me. I can't and won't close my eyes to these things or be silent about them. There are people who have problems with the fact that I consider myself a hereditary strega, using whatever I can take, honestly and healthily, from my childhood faith, and blending this with my great-grandmother's beliefs, which are deeply rooted in the Italian culture in which I was raised. I was very fortunate to have been raised with this kind of background and am not ashamed to honor it. I guess that, right now in my life, I've created a world of safety and refuge for myself, as well as healthy friendships with people, and when craziness comes to call, it's really weird and shocking--but at least my entire life is not like that at all.
Also, there was some talk of the "weird pseudonym" I use. Since this current tattler probably does not know this, I have a book I am finishing called The Strega's Story, thus I call myself Ms. Strega. I choose not to use my real name, even though I would love to (so I can promote my book and my other writing through my blog like my other writer-friends and artists can). Unfortunately, I feel the very strong need to avoid folks who try to go on my blog and pick through it like this. It would be a lot better if I could use my real name to publicize my writing and the book I am working on, but my safety feels more important to me right now. When my book is published, I plan to go public with my name, but by that time, I doubt I'll have the same issues I have now with my current life situation.
At any rate, here is an open letter to both Tattler #1 and Tattler #2: I have the right to blog, to promote my book, and to use whatever pseudonym I care to as I pursue my writing and my life. I would like to say to the current tattler, and all past and future tattlers, that I have the right to post my thoughts here; I am very much against censorship and people using what I say to try and rile other people up. In my opinion, it's silly and it's better to focus on your own problems and try to remedy them, rather than come to this blog for what I feel are negative purposes. The person in question for whom you are trying to find information is someone I am trying to get along with, too, and it is destructive to that effort. I personally don't have the time, inclination, or desire to curry people's blogs for weaponry, so it's always a bit of a shock when I discover this in other people.
And that's all I want to say, for now.
Later:
I think what's most disturbing about this is that I live a life in which these kind of weirdnesses don't happen very much. I move in circles of women who have, as dance teachers, friends, and colleagues, pushed me to do things I never hoped or believe I could do at my age--including being a performing dancer in a very well-respected troupe. I have a circle of women friends who meet at the new moon; we bless each other as a circle, offer up our prayers for the month, and tell each other, "May you never hunger. May you never thirst." This is what I want, on some level, of all my friendships; people who come into my life seeking only to harm and betray have no place here.
Yes, I do have a sarcastic view of the world at times--a world at times so dangerous to life, to creativity, to freedom of expression and hope that it does rile me. I can't and won't close my eyes to these things or be silent about them. There are people who have problems with the fact that I consider myself a hereditary strega, using whatever I can take, honestly and healthily, from my childhood faith, and blending this with my great-grandmother's beliefs, which are deeply rooted in the Italian culture in which I was raised. I was very fortunate to have been raised with this kind of background and am not ashamed to honor it. I guess that, right now in my life, I've created a world of safety and refuge for myself, as well as healthy friendships with people, and when craziness comes to call, it's really weird and shocking--but at least my entire life is not like that at all.
Friday, February 10, 2006
with sword firmly upon head
My troupe leader is all afire about getting us to do a balancing dance--not with a nice little basket or a tray, either; we're learning to balance a full-sized bellydance sword. I work with mine for five minutes a day to build up my neck strength, because that sucker is HEAVY. I never imagined I could move an inch with it (it has all kinds of momentum and I can't seem to keep my head perfectly still). On Wednesday night, my teacher told us to bring our swords, had us balance them (with the tips of the swords inserted into styrofoam so we don't tear up the dance floor if something drops), and turned on the music for the balancing dance (which we've practiced without swords since September). I said, "I can't believe we're doing this"--and then, somehow or other, I managed to follow the entire dance (which involves turns, a lot of hip work, body waves, and balancing on one foot, among other things), without dropping the sword or doing any other damage. The sword rocked like an SOB, though, and I took tiny, mincing steps, like a geisha at first. The second time dancing with it was better, and I was able to pull off one of the traveling steps without feeling like I was going to stab somebody. The more experienced sword dancers in the troupe told me that there is a wide range of motion with these swords and they can rock, move, and do all kinds of scary-feeling things, and the trick is to get used to them and get used to keeping the head perfectly still (NOT easy when you're turning). And all this while smiling at the audience as if balancing a giant sword on my head is something I do every day of the week!
Mr. Strega can balance the sword perfectly and dance extremely well, by the way, though his lack of hair is bothersome. He attributes this to years of rock-climbing and indeed, he has far more balance than I do. Of course, the sword is great temptation to my youngest son, but he's only allowed to balance it, not pretend to fight enemies with it.
Mr. Strega can balance the sword perfectly and dance extremely well, by the way, though his lack of hair is bothersome. He attributes this to years of rock-climbing and indeed, he has far more balance than I do. Of course, the sword is great temptation to my youngest son, but he's only allowed to balance it, not pretend to fight enemies with it.
Wednesday, February 08, 2006
Dr. Bronner's Revenge
My friend Julie kindly commented on this blog that all my links seemed to be leading to the Dr. Bronner Label Generator (which is on my sidebar)! I had no idea this was happening, as my browser (Mozilla) showed that all my links were fine when I tested them. Turns out, when I checked my template, that I hadn't typed in some necessary code-thing (sorry, Ms. Strega was born long before there were things like html; Mr. Strega looked at my template, scratched his dear head a few times, then typed a couple of things in to fix it). Please comment or email me if things keep leading to Dr. Bronner (I don't publish an email address for those of you who don't have it, but you can comment and I will read it).
Well, I must say, it's fit revenge on Dr. Bronner's part, because I tend to poke fun at him a lot; I've been using this brand of soap for 20+ years. Once, my former brother-in-law Terry visited with my sister; Terry used Dr. Bronner's in the shower, came out (fully dressed, of course) and said, "What's with that soap label--it keeps going on about "tortured-blinded-Master-Marxist-slave!" (to say nothing of Dr. Bronner's "assisting" of poems like "If" by Rudyard Kipling). Apparently, the real Dr. Bronner talked very much like his labels--I read an interview someplace in which he was described as answering questions quite lucidly for a bit, then veering off into talking about "the eighteen uses" and "the Moral ABC." It seems that Dr. Bronner has exacted his revenge on Ms. Strega's making fun of him for twenty years by gathering up all her links in his capable (yet soapy) hands and showing her that things really are "all-one!"
Well, I must say, it's fit revenge on Dr. Bronner's part, because I tend to poke fun at him a lot; I've been using this brand of soap for 20+ years. Once, my former brother-in-law Terry visited with my sister; Terry used Dr. Bronner's in the shower, came out (fully dressed, of course) and said, "What's with that soap label--it keeps going on about "tortured-blinded-Master-Marxist-slave!" (to say nothing of Dr. Bronner's "assisting" of poems like "If" by Rudyard Kipling). Apparently, the real Dr. Bronner talked very much like his labels--I read an interview someplace in which he was described as answering questions quite lucidly for a bit, then veering off into talking about "the eighteen uses" and "the Moral ABC." It seems that Dr. Bronner has exacted his revenge on Ms. Strega's making fun of him for twenty years by gathering up all her links in his capable (yet soapy) hands and showing her that things really are "all-one!"
Sunday, February 05, 2006
Betty Friedan, in memory
“A woman has got to be able to say, and not feel guilty, ‘Who am I, and what do I want out of life?' She mustn't feel selfish and neurotic if she wants goals of her own, outside of husband and children.''--Betty Friedan, The Feminine Mystique.
Femnist icon Betty Friedan has died. I had no idea that The Feminine Mystique was published in 1963! Friedan had an amazing life; I admired her willingness to refine her philosophies, tackling issues of ageism as she herself entered her last years. The Los Angeles Times has a good piece on her. Thank you for fighting the good fight, Betty!
Femnist icon Betty Friedan has died. I had no idea that The Feminine Mystique was published in 1963! Friedan had an amazing life; I admired her willingness to refine her philosophies, tackling issues of ageism as she herself entered her last years. The Los Angeles Times has a good piece on her. Thank you for fighting the good fight, Betty!
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