Stuff and things
Sep. 26th, 2005 10:07 am![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
dancerjodiThe wedding we went to Friday night was fun, and interesting on many levels. Carrie grew up on the same street as I, and the whole family went (though brother bailed out before dinner). It was neat seeing neighbors I hadn't seen in forever, seeing that Carrie is the same as she's always been, and seeing the interesting mix of people. Her family is very Irish and has always been the stereotypical jovial social (drinking) types at past functions I've been at. His family is Greek. Friday there was a Catholic ceremony and a reception at the Colonnade Hotel (swanky). Sunday would be a Greek ceremony and another reception in CT. Carrie's gone to many upscale private schools and attended Boston College, so the average wedding guest seemed to demonstrate the stereotypes that those things convey. It was very much a 'Sex in the City meets The Wedding Crashers' vibe. Still, we had a good time, the place was lovely, food was decent and I got some dancing in (both some ballroom with Dad and some ‘white man overbite’ with my increasingly drunk sister and her boyfriend).
Saturday brought an amazing ballet class and we saw The Corpse Bride. I was having a hard time with one particular turn that was new to me last year and I just haven't gotten a handle on. Going down the floor I totally flubbed it, trying to think too much about what I was doing and not just letting it happen. Peggy Ann told me to go back and start again, and not think about it. "Just dance it, stop thinking!". Well it worked, and she smiled, saying quietly as I made it down that end of the floor for a second time that given my experience I should just let go with the new stuff and let it happen (because it will). After a lot of time together doing random things Brian and I saw "The Corpse Bride". Schmoopy! I love Tim Burton always, but it was nice to see an animation/puppet/stop motion work again. Johnny Depp and Helena Bonham Carter were excellent people to play their roles, and the Victorian setting was very sweet.
Sunday would bring sleeping late, bumming around the house a bit, getting some things done, and checking out the Hurricane Hafli . Performances were very varied and everyone was quite talented. It was fun to hang with friends and see my old dance teachers for a bit. I was wondering how bumping into them would be, seeing how I'm not going back to take lessons this fall. Everything was fine. I think going to the event was good for me, because it helped me put into thoughts (and words) more why bellydance though fun just isn't for me in terms of serious dance development. Though technique can improve, props can change, and themes of a routine can be creative there just isn't as much variability in choreography as I'm used to (or as I want). There's not as much moving around the floor as in other forms that I've studied and love. Watching seasoned performers that were very good and very entertaining do a lot of the same stuff between dances (and things I learned in the first 2 or so years of lessons) seemed to illustrate that its not that I wasn't learning the advanced things with my teachers. Advanced seems to come with improved technique, style or more complicated props more than an increase in steps, moves, etc. Its a completely alien thing to someone used to the complexity of a ballet, tap or jazz routine that's quite varied, and where after taking lessons for 28 years I'm still learning new things. Its definitely food for thought!
Last thoughts for the weekend - the diet and fitness note. After 1 week of using the Self Magazine website Goal site to track workouts and food I've gained an appreciation for how I'm eating. On an average day I eat a balanced diet and get the right amount of calories, fat, etc. On a unique day I end up exceeding these guidelines. For example, there were 3 days last week that I didn't hit nutritional targets. On one we had a baby shower for my boss and I had a piece of really rich chocolate cake. On the second I went to a swanky wedding where we were fed in multiple courses over a period of a couple of hours. On the 3rd day Brian and I ate out for both lunch (subs) and dinner (Italian). I think what I've got to work on is being cognizant of how much these things can put me over the edge, and choose more wisely at parties or restaurants. Once in a while isn't going to kill me, but we tend to have these 'once in a whiles' every weekend. It’s definitely something to ponder! Exercising has been going well. I'm hoping this week to get in another cardio workout somewhere, schedule willing.
Saturday brought an amazing ballet class and we saw The Corpse Bride. I was having a hard time with one particular turn that was new to me last year and I just haven't gotten a handle on. Going down the floor I totally flubbed it, trying to think too much about what I was doing and not just letting it happen. Peggy Ann told me to go back and start again, and not think about it. "Just dance it, stop thinking!". Well it worked, and she smiled, saying quietly as I made it down that end of the floor for a second time that given my experience I should just let go with the new stuff and let it happen (because it will). After a lot of time together doing random things Brian and I saw "The Corpse Bride". Schmoopy! I love Tim Burton always, but it was nice to see an animation/puppet/stop motion work again. Johnny Depp and Helena Bonham Carter were excellent people to play their roles, and the Victorian setting was very sweet.
Sunday would bring sleeping late, bumming around the house a bit, getting some things done, and checking out the Hurricane Hafli . Performances were very varied and everyone was quite talented. It was fun to hang with friends and see my old dance teachers for a bit. I was wondering how bumping into them would be, seeing how I'm not going back to take lessons this fall. Everything was fine. I think going to the event was good for me, because it helped me put into thoughts (and words) more why bellydance though fun just isn't for me in terms of serious dance development. Though technique can improve, props can change, and themes of a routine can be creative there just isn't as much variability in choreography as I'm used to (or as I want). There's not as much moving around the floor as in other forms that I've studied and love. Watching seasoned performers that were very good and very entertaining do a lot of the same stuff between dances (and things I learned in the first 2 or so years of lessons) seemed to illustrate that its not that I wasn't learning the advanced things with my teachers. Advanced seems to come with improved technique, style or more complicated props more than an increase in steps, moves, etc. Its a completely alien thing to someone used to the complexity of a ballet, tap or jazz routine that's quite varied, and where after taking lessons for 28 years I'm still learning new things. Its definitely food for thought!
Last thoughts for the weekend - the diet and fitness note. After 1 week of using the Self Magazine website Goal site to track workouts and food I've gained an appreciation for how I'm eating. On an average day I eat a balanced diet and get the right amount of calories, fat, etc. On a unique day I end up exceeding these guidelines. For example, there were 3 days last week that I didn't hit nutritional targets. On one we had a baby shower for my boss and I had a piece of really rich chocolate cake. On the second I went to a swanky wedding where we were fed in multiple courses over a period of a couple of hours. On the 3rd day Brian and I ate out for both lunch (subs) and dinner (Italian). I think what I've got to work on is being cognizant of how much these things can put me over the edge, and choose more wisely at parties or restaurants. Once in a while isn't going to kill me, but we tend to have these 'once in a whiles' every weekend. It’s definitely something to ponder! Exercising has been going well. I'm hoping this week to get in another cardio workout somewhere, schedule willing.
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Date: 2005-09-26 02:42 pm (UTC)Did you mean "Catholic Ceremoney"?