I spent all last week moving the rest of my stuff out of the apartment or doing things for taiko, and I'm practically living at MoBot for the Japanese Festival this weekend. It's an entire weekend devoted to playing taiko and drinking beer, basically. My taiko group has had 3 shows so far this weekend, and our last one is tomorrow. I was supposed to play taiko on more than half of the songs, and of course now I can't do any of that with my broken hand--I'm limited to the transitions between songs and background instruments. I can't stand whiners, but every so often, I think whining is acceptable. This would be one of those times. Stupid hand! It is really hard to wait backstage while everyone else plays, and it gets harder with each performance. Still, I want to share this weekend with the group. Even if I don't really get to play, I enjoy the experience. We work so hard all year and this is by far our biggest event.
I have come a long way in my 2 years of playing (1 1/2 in the group officially), and I actually want to show people what I can do now; not just strangers, either, but people that I know! That doesn't happen very often, with anything. What amazes me is that a handful of friends, my cousin, and my parents still came to a performance, even though I told them not to bother. I sure can't complain about that.
Sunday, August 31, 2008
Monday, August 25, 2008
Dance fever
I have the itch to dance again (still?), and I blame it on "America's Best Dance Crew" this time. I happened to catch a rerun of the finale tonight. It reminded me that I have to start getting my dance crew together! Right. Oh, I can dream.
I actually think that I could learn and perform those dances, though, as long as there weren't any breakdancing moves involved. Ha, maybe I should watch the clips again and start teaching myself. That's how I learned the dances to music videos back in the day. The first videos that come to mind are all Britney Spears and 'N Sync videos. Hey, don't judge! They had some great choreographers. I mean, they had to do something besides sing (mostly badly). This dance orgy has some of my favorite moves: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kuZKbXNGDs4. I just know the dance sequence that starts around 1:20, but it's pretty fun. You should try it, no one's looking.
My personal choreography might be similar to that, actually, because I'm big on contrasting flowy/sharp arm movements and body/hip motions. I don't do as much with the feet. You know who else is big on that stuff? Okay, belly dancers, and...hula dancers! After Hawaii, I thought about taking lessons, and then I realized that I don't really want to learn the hula, I want to learn Tahitian! I thought it was the same, but it's not. Tahitian is hula dancing on crack: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6nAiiXNDvhs. I think this dance only works in Hawaii.
So that settles it. I've got a fever! And the only prescription is more Hawaii...and of course, more cowbell.
I actually think that I could learn and perform those dances, though, as long as there weren't any breakdancing moves involved. Ha, maybe I should watch the clips again and start teaching myself. That's how I learned the dances to music videos back in the day. The first videos that come to mind are all Britney Spears and 'N Sync videos. Hey, don't judge! They had some great choreographers. I mean, they had to do something besides sing (mostly badly). This dance orgy has some of my favorite moves: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kuZKbXNGDs4. I just know the dance sequence that starts around 1:20, but it's pretty fun. You should try it, no one's looking.
My personal choreography might be similar to that, actually, because I'm big on contrasting flowy/sharp arm movements and body/hip motions. I don't do as much with the feet. You know who else is big on that stuff? Okay, belly dancers, and...hula dancers! After Hawaii, I thought about taking lessons, and then I realized that I don't really want to learn the hula, I want to learn Tahitian! I thought it was the same, but it's not. Tahitian is hula dancing on crack: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6nAiiXNDvhs. I think this dance only works in Hawaii.
So that settles it. I've got a fever! And the only prescription is more Hawaii...and of course, more cowbell.
Saturday, August 23, 2008
Temporary insanity
I've been packing almost all day and I need to take these breaks to keep from going insane...I just hope that it's not too late. Here are some quick impressions of my state of mind:
I just need to take out the trash, but there's a mutant grasshopper inside the front door and a huge spider outside the front door. (Of course, I am the only one that ever sees this massive spider camped out under the overhang; it hides from my roommate, who isn't afraid of him.) Our door has guard spiders, basically. They just keep building webs up and down the door frame and in the corners. It almost looks like we decorated for Halloween. I would definitely think twice before breaking and entering here. Hell, I can barely leave!
I never considered myself to be a collector of anything, but after packing up my room, I realize that I collect plastic and paper bags. Bags from grocery stores, retail stores, wherever. I can't bring myself to throw them away, and I never remember to recycle them. I think I own the entire collection of Kohl's bags from the past year, to the point where I can see the design evolve. And how much do you think my limited edition Bath & Body Works bag will cost in 20 years?
Sometimes, though, these bags have prizes in them. For instance, I found 2 brand new pairs of shoes (bought them in the off season), 2 lotions, and a t-shirt! Oh, and $200 in Junsei money (fake Japanese festival money with a taiko member's face on it). It's almost like Christmas.
In the past few years, the highs in my life have been really high and the lows have been really low. I feel like I'm in a high-stakes game of poker and I'm all in.
Yes, I tripped on my wide-legged jeans, but skinny jeans are not the answer--for anything, ever. Well, not for me, anyway.
Joe Biden? I don't know, Obama. Yeah he's old ("experienced") and has more foreign policy background, but he seems like a bit of a bigot. I heard McCain might run with Mitt Romney, though, in which case disregard my previous accusation. Please America, don't even think about a McCain/Romney ticket. I'm warning you now.
I almost have to laugh at the absurdities of my life these days, because crying sure won't help. I figure life goes in these up and down phases, and even when things seem really bad, they could always be worse. Sometimes you're the bird, sometimes you're the statue...and sometimes, you get to shoot those Damn Birds: http://www.mofunzone.com/online_games/damn_birds.shtml#. HaHA!
Okay, back to work.
I just need to take out the trash, but there's a mutant grasshopper inside the front door and a huge spider outside the front door. (Of course, I am the only one that ever sees this massive spider camped out under the overhang; it hides from my roommate, who isn't afraid of him.) Our door has guard spiders, basically. They just keep building webs up and down the door frame and in the corners. It almost looks like we decorated for Halloween. I would definitely think twice before breaking and entering here. Hell, I can barely leave!
I never considered myself to be a collector of anything, but after packing up my room, I realize that I collect plastic and paper bags. Bags from grocery stores, retail stores, wherever. I can't bring myself to throw them away, and I never remember to recycle them. I think I own the entire collection of Kohl's bags from the past year, to the point where I can see the design evolve. And how much do you think my limited edition Bath & Body Works bag will cost in 20 years?
Sometimes, though, these bags have prizes in them. For instance, I found 2 brand new pairs of shoes (bought them in the off season), 2 lotions, and a t-shirt! Oh, and $200 in Junsei money (fake Japanese festival money with a taiko member's face on it). It's almost like Christmas.
In the past few years, the highs in my life have been really high and the lows have been really low. I feel like I'm in a high-stakes game of poker and I'm all in.
Yes, I tripped on my wide-legged jeans, but skinny jeans are not the answer--for anything, ever. Well, not for me, anyway.
Joe Biden? I don't know, Obama. Yeah he's old ("experienced") and has more foreign policy background, but he seems like a bit of a bigot. I heard McCain might run with Mitt Romney, though, in which case disregard my previous accusation. Please America, don't even think about a McCain/Romney ticket. I'm warning you now.
I almost have to laugh at the absurdities of my life these days, because crying sure won't help. I figure life goes in these up and down phases, and even when things seem really bad, they could always be worse. Sometimes you're the bird, sometimes you're the statue...and sometimes, you get to shoot those Damn Birds: http://www.mofunzone.com/online_games/damn_birds.shtml#. HaHA!
Okay, back to work.
Float like a butterfly, sting like a bee
I broke my hand barely over a week ago, and it is starting to feel better already. I can open and close all my fingers fairly comfortably. Since I have a removable brace instead of a cast, I am tempted to do things that I really shouldn't be doing yet. Namely, play taiko. Even the thought of hitting a drum with this hand hurts, but I can still pretend to hit a drum, right? Once I am able to hold the bachi, at least....maybe just for tsurugi? Oh, I'm losing my own argument.
Last night I met someone who had a sister with the same thing. He said it should only take 4 weeks to heal, which could mean that I don't have to skip all of taiko in September! He also said that she had random pains in her hand for about a year after that, but I'm going to assume that she has a low pain tolerance. She went to the ER 4 hours later, after the shock of the car accident wore off; I went to the doctor 60 hours later, when insurance was settled and I didn't have other plans. I play taiko, bitches. Pain comes with the territory.
This is called a "boxer's fracture," and for all you really know, this could be what I do when I get angry. I don't punch drywall, I punch solid wood. The door frame won this one, but trust that I would have kicked the wall's ass. Watch out, you could be next. :-P
Last night I met someone who had a sister with the same thing. He said it should only take 4 weeks to heal, which could mean that I don't have to skip all of taiko in September! He also said that she had random pains in her hand for about a year after that, but I'm going to assume that she has a low pain tolerance. She went to the ER 4 hours later, after the shock of the car accident wore off; I went to the doctor 60 hours later, when insurance was settled and I didn't have other plans. I play taiko, bitches. Pain comes with the territory.
This is called a "boxer's fracture," and for all you really know, this could be what I do when I get angry. I don't punch drywall, I punch solid wood. The door frame won this one, but trust that I would have kicked the wall's ass. Watch out, you could be next. :-P
Thursday, August 21, 2008
Mirror image
Stop hiding from me, from everyone. I see who you are, who you are becoming, who you could become. Quietly concealed just under your skin, occasionally coming up for air in flashes of brilliance. Sinking into your depths again almost as quickly. Waiting to be exposed to the world, to the people who know you. The people who thought they knew you. If you only let them in.
Your eyes hint that you have so much more to tell me, that I still have only scratched the surface. They dare me to dig deeper, to figure you out. Almost unintentionally, reluctantly. You don't fool me. I would know that look anywhere. I have seen it before, in the mirror.
Your eyes hint that you have so much more to tell me, that I still have only scratched the surface. They dare me to dig deeper, to figure you out. Almost unintentionally, reluctantly. You don't fool me. I would know that look anywhere. I have seen it before, in the mirror.
Tuesday, August 19, 2008
Happy birthday to me
My birthday is not exactly "happy" this year. I broke my left hand (metacarpal of my ring finger)and I am left-handed. I guess the pressure of my fall just snapped it. That explains the popping noise. Yuck. I am so disappointed and feeling maybe a little defeated right now. When will this madness stop?
I can't even think of a worse possible time for this to happen (well, maybe next week when we would have more trouble redoing the taiko set). It's right before the busy season with taiko and our biggest show of the year, and I can't play. I will probably have a cast for 6-8 weeks, which cancels out all of September. On top of that, I am still looking for a job and I really think I'm on the verge of finding something. I use my right hand for design work, at least, but a bum left hand will not help my cause.
Fortunately, I am still able to do most things comfortably with my right hand, and it's because I've had plenty of practice. The world caters to right-handed people and lefties just have to adjust--I guess you could say our right hands have evolved. I've always played sports right-handed. I have no problem using it when I eat, brush my teeth, etc. The only thing I can't do is write. A right-handed person would have a much more difficult time if they had to stop using their right hand, I think.
I can't believe this is happening, but I'll get by with a little help from my friends (*cue song*). I may never get over the fact that my favorite pair of jeans turned against me, though.
I can't even think of a worse possible time for this to happen (well, maybe next week when we would have more trouble redoing the taiko set). It's right before the busy season with taiko and our biggest show of the year, and I can't play. I will probably have a cast for 6-8 weeks, which cancels out all of September. On top of that, I am still looking for a job and I really think I'm on the verge of finding something. I use my right hand for design work, at least, but a bum left hand will not help my cause.
Fortunately, I am still able to do most things comfortably with my right hand, and it's because I've had plenty of practice. The world caters to right-handed people and lefties just have to adjust--I guess you could say our right hands have evolved. I've always played sports right-handed. I have no problem using it when I eat, brush my teeth, etc. The only thing I can't do is write. A right-handed person would have a much more difficult time if they had to stop using their right hand, I think.
I can't believe this is happening, but I'll get by with a little help from my friends (*cue song*). I may never get over the fact that my favorite pair of jeans turned against me, though.
Sunday, August 17, 2008
Sticking it to "the man"
When did apathy become the norm for my generation? Anyone with an independent, informed and passionate opinion about anything of substance (i.e. not Britney and the like) is relatively hard to find. Did our parents spoil and shelter us to the point that we simply lost the capacity to care about serious issues and people that exist outside of our own little worlds?
No, I don't think we can blame all of this on our parents. After all, they were the ones inciting riots and sticking it to "The Man" during Vietnam. They had strong beliefs and a passion for social justice; we have...youtube and video games? Iraq has become our Vietnam, and it seems that we would rather hide behind a computer screen than actually do anything about it.
On top of that, several of my friends didn't even acknowledge any problem until recently! I guess most of us assumed it was someone else's problem and that mommy and daddy would take care of it again. Well, that didn't work this time. The government failed us on a monumental level, and we pretty much sat back and watched them do it; or rather, failed to watch them at all. By the time we started truly questioning them, it was time for the clean-up crew.
Even though I wasn't alive during Vietnam, I echo their sentiments. I want to show my devotion to a cause by joining my peers in protest! I want to go back to a time when music actually meant something important. When, exactly, did that go out of style?
No, I don't think we can blame all of this on our parents. After all, they were the ones inciting riots and sticking it to "The Man" during Vietnam. They had strong beliefs and a passion for social justice; we have...youtube and video games? Iraq has become our Vietnam, and it seems that we would rather hide behind a computer screen than actually do anything about it.
On top of that, several of my friends didn't even acknowledge any problem until recently! I guess most of us assumed it was someone else's problem and that mommy and daddy would take care of it again. Well, that didn't work this time. The government failed us on a monumental level, and we pretty much sat back and watched them do it; or rather, failed to watch them at all. By the time we started truly questioning them, it was time for the clean-up crew.
Even though I wasn't alive during Vietnam, I echo their sentiments. I want to show my devotion to a cause by joining my peers in protest! I want to go back to a time when music actually meant something important. When, exactly, did that go out of style?
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