| Jiggety Jig |
[Jul. 17th, 2008|03:25 pm] |
| [ | mood |
| | chipper | ] |
| [ | music |
| | whirring fans | ] |
Some things to be grateful for:
The Gulf Stream -- keeping Orkney and the Highlands amazingly temperate and richly verdant ... Global tilt -- making for 19 hours of daylight at those latitudes ... Flexible schedule -- allowing random adventures and frolics ...
Some things to puzzle over:
Scottish Parliament building - a grand architectural statement - in garbled Pig Latin ? ... During the Cambrian era, Scotland was in the southern hemisphere, on a totally different continent from England ...
Something to watch out for:
Humped zebras. Didn’t see any, but warning signs suggest that they run wild and cross streets randomly.
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| Petrol |
[Jun. 21st, 2008|03:26 pm] |
Playfulfordian just posted a brief comment:
"This is just to say...
...that I am now in Seattle where gas is about $4.40/gal..."
Just to add perspective, I am now in Lichfield, England. It is about 60 degrees and drizzling steadily.
Petrol here is 1 pound 19 pence per litre -- with the dollar worth 50 pence, it comes out to about $9.50 per gallon. People think twice before driving 2 miles to the store ...
Very rudimentary attempt to post a few photos at :
http://scottsrandomnotes.blogger.com
{and I'm only briefly perched on a free wifi connection between workshops .. so no time to get links and all that worked-out properly -- sorry.}
Better dancing here that I was led to expect (fairly energetic for an average age well north of 60), but folks really do want to stop after 7-9 rounds of a dance -- keep their partners and stay in the same longways set ready for the next dance ! (they sit down with their spouse/partner after every two dances. It's tough to get partners here ...)
Once I get to Scotland the forecast is more cool damp weather ... but also
Actual sunrise/sunset time 4:26 AM 10:03 PM
Civil Twilight 3:24 AM 11:06 PM
Length Of Visible Light: 19h 41m
Even an owl like me should get enough daylight. |
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| May ! |
[May. 5th, 2008|11:41 pm] |
Renegades in bloom -- Bryn Mawr 5/4/08 |
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| Spring ! |
[Apr. 11th, 2008|01:41 am] |
| [ | mood |
| | upbeat (anacrusis ?) | ] |
| [ | music |
| | Graceland | ] |
I enjoyed an idyllic hour and a half this afternoon at Chanticleer. Cherries and star magnolias peaking, daffodils fading, pieris japonica wafting delicate fragrance ... such delights are a real perk of my flexible schedule.
It's less than 15 minutes from here, and I go frequently (open Wed-Sun). My season pass lets me take guests. So ... if it would recharge your "batteries" to stroll through a beautiful garden, let me know some time.
http://www.chanticleergarden.org/index.html
Happy Friday ! |
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| Fine times at Bryn Mawr |
[Mar. 30th, 2008|12:38 am] |
| [ | Current Location |
| | Mosshaven | ] |
| [ | mood |
| | wired | ] |
| [ | music |
| | Thunderhead -- cool segue 6/8 - 7/8 | ] |
So .. it was just a modest contra dance (two small sets) at Bryn Mawr tonight, and we struggled to integrate some novices who arrived (and danced together) during the second half, and the sound system had a busted main speaker, and ....
It was still a really fine time !
Yes, we missed ![[info]](http://l-stat.livejournal.com/img/userinfo.gif) chlomar and playfulfordian, who were playing in Bethlehem. But it was great to see and dance with springiswrath and galoshtjuv (yes, dancing with them at least in passing -- joining in for the last 1/3 of a couple of dances always raises my spirits). And this year I have gotten to know and enjoy quite a few of the students at BMC and Swat (in addition to the 6 Renegades). And then Tom and Clare arrived with Sierra !
An extra bonus: on Tuesday, I taught a couple dance workshop at Swat -- one of the themes was to learn to polka so the students could go careening around the floor when the band plays one at the end of a Ball. (file this under the category: cultivating more playmates) So ... with a bunch of that crowd present tonight, I gave them advance warning, and asked the band to play a polka to start the second half. Mayhem ! (yes, that's a strongly positive comment in my admittedly-warped view of the world). Once enough people are galloping about, others feel like it's ok to give it a try, too, even if they're not so sure.
So we did another polka at the end of the last waltz. And the evening concluded with about 15 people sitting on the floor for 10 minutes or so, scrubbing black scuff marks away with paper towels and cleanser (it was really scary when we saw all the marks -- and then they wouldn't rub off with just water. We were worried that we might never get back into the space ...).
A night of varied adventures -- with fine music, fun dancing, and a delightful group of high-spirited and community-minded folks. |
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| Weighing on my mind ... |
[Feb. 2nd, 2008|01:18 am] |
| [ | mood |
| | impotent | ] |
| [ | music |
| | "Vincent" | ] |
(Maybe it's a truly bloggish post ?)
My mother and my sister are going through painful times.
Imagine yourself 15+ years older, still tangled in some snarly issues -- insisting that your mother stop trying to control your life.
Or, (harder) imagine yourself 45 years older -- baffled and hurt that your daughter rejects your efforts to reach out to her.
No good guys and bad guys. Two people I love, caught in an all-too-common web of sticky emotions. In hours on the phone and in person, I hear the accusations, the excuses, the accumulation of years of tension ... and the tears. At least (at the moment), they are sometimes checking with me before sending their barbed messages to each other. When you're hurting, it's sorely tempting to say hurtful things back ... sometimes without even realizing it.
Ouch. |
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| Snow ! |
[Jan. 26th, 2008|07:16 am] |
(AApologies to AAM)
Now we are 22. Now it is 6. Nothing really to say, but "down time" here and not much focus for something substantial.
'Twas a long drive to get here, but they do indeed have the promised snow. A fresh batch gently flurried around us for the last 10 miles of our drive (and it is still coming down - 12 hours later).
People are in fine spirits, we ate very well, and there was enough energy to empty the living room of furniture for dancing. The "Snow Flakes" (Josh, Jane, and Terry) were joined by sit-ins Ed Leypoldt and Don Kent. Some ECD, some Scottish, even a contra. It being Friday, we weren't even overcrowded on the "dance floor" -- many folks were content to unwind with conversation in the kitchen.
It was still "prime time" for me as folks drifted away to bed, but I managed to gather some interest for a late night stroll in the snow. Too cloudy for the moon to shine through, but a fair number of street lamps keep We return around midnight, and that's the end of the social day.
It's just after 7:00am now, and the early shift are taking showers, Geoffrey is sitting at the table with me grading papers, Don Kent just emerged. I should try to get some sleep (only managed about a 3 hour nap from 2-5) .. but I'm just feeling more awake as people get moving, so … it isn't going to happen.
Cecily just appeared, bearing maps of the trails and enthusiasm for planning. Lots of snow and fun (and grogginess) ahead ! |
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| Summer ! |
[Jan. 4th, 2008|04:06 am] |
| [ | Current Location |
| | mosshaven | ] |
| [ | mood |
| | busy | ] |
| [ | music |
| | Rachmaninov - Vespers | ] |
Sure, it's cold and blustery -- but I'm all absorbed in thinking about August. Probably much *too* absorbed in these plans -- but they're starting to jell !
Take a look ... http://eaweek.com/
(yes, it's crude ... and please alert me to any weirdness of display that you experience ...)
Lots of folks have been asking me about these plans. Other than the staff and Advisors, you guys are the first to see the details of this -- please pass along to anyone who may be interested. Thanks, and Happy Friday !
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| voracious sneezeguards |
[Nov. 29th, 2007|04:55 am] |
| [ | mood |
| | frustrated | ] |
| [ | music |
| | Heart - Dog & Butterfly | ] |
A cautionary googlewhack for food enthusiasts who daydream at the salad bar.
(... ugh, silly time-wasting ... getting discouraged about PW hiring ...)
Fun to see so many folks at Merion last night -- whets my appetite for a fabulous weekend !
Hope to see many of you dancing Friday, Saturday, and/or Sunday ! |
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| Calling all Fiddlers !? |
[Nov. 7th, 2007|08:18 pm] |
| [ | mood |
| | swamped! | ] |
| [ | music |
| | Bonny Grey-Ey'd Morn - B.N. | ] |
So, I'm in the thick of planning/hiring for Pinewoods Englaish/American Week for 2008.
We had several music workshops this past summer, and I'm hoping to repeat that "theme" in 2008.
Question: who would you be *particularly* excited to see on staff and to have a music class with ?
Notes:
1- sorry ... Martin Hayes is not on the list -- Scottish and Irish fiddlers are not quite right for this context
2- This is NOT just limited to fiddlers, but I'm particularly looking for guidance there.
2- this list below is just intended to stiomulate your appetite -- please add anyone you think woud be good
Andrea hoag
Barbara greenberg
Becky tracy
Daron douglas
Dave langford
Mary lea
Pete sutherland
Rodney miller
3- THANKS ! Early replies are the most relevant ... |
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| Home again ! |
[Oct. 17th, 2007|12:56 pm] |
| [ | Current Location |
| | Back at the computer | ] |
| [ | mood |
| | dazed | ] |
| [ | music |
| | Selva Negra - Wiesler (such friends !) | ] |
So … four weeks and 10,000 miles later …
Some Highlights:
Delos - (site of photo) a sacred island for literally thousands of years … Siena - gorgeous cathedral with breathtaking "library" featuring old illuminated music scores and Renaissance frescoes … Rome - bustling, gritty, grandiose, exploitative, amazing art and history … Crete - mind-boggling Minoan civilization, spectacular scenery …
Random observations:
Boats are a *great* way to travel -- except when high winds keep you stranded in port…
Thoughtful presentation of ancient artifacts is very difficult - balancing "authenticity" with providing an understandable context. Crowds don't help: Knossos and the Acropolis just didn't succeed for me …
Driving in Greece and Italy keeps the adrenalin flowing !
Disappointment:
An annoying Italian virus has me coughing and snorting … couldn't go to the Scottish jam last night ... and must miss the contra on Thursday ...
Looking forward to:
Singing on Sunday, and Dancing at Perdue's ! |
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| Miss Bianca spared ! |
[Jul. 23rd, 2007|06:39 pm] |
| [ | Current Location |
| | Western Hemisphere | ] |
| [ | mood |
| | relieved | ] |
| [ | music |
| | lots of wind in the trees | ] |
(Oh … maybe you didn't know that my van has a name …)
Anyway, after a very anxious weekend, I finally learned this afternoon that they will be able to fix her broken axle for about $400. I would probably have invested $700 to keep her on the road, but more than that would have been doubtful (In good running condition, Edmund's lists her trade-in value at $263, and private sale value at $511).
Not that I'll be mobile very soon -- no progress today, possibly none tomorrow. They promise to have repairs done so I can get to GCD on Wednesday night.
In the meantime, I do have a fireplace here ... with all the recent HP excitement, do you know of some place to order an express shipment of floo powder !? |
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| Since the 20th of May … |
[Jul. 5th, 2007|02:04 am] |
| [ | Current Location |
| | Mosshaven | ] |
| [ | mood |
| | contemplative | ] |
| [ | music |
| | Dixie Chicks, Malcolm Dalglish, Janacek | ] |
Boring: busy with dull work projects right now -- it pays the bills and leaves room for future play …
Connecting: took the Cressons to Pastorius Park for the free Philadelphia Orchestra concert on Monday - in collaboration with Leslie. Emlen is moving slowly with a walker, but there is no diminution in his abilities as raconteur and general enthusiast. Ruth enjoyed some focused conversation (will they ever move out of their house ?) with Leslie.
Stretching: the June contra dance tour was crazy. DC on Sunday, then Asheville (475 miles away) on Monday. Then north again, then back to Asheville. Thursday's Asheville dance had a couple hundred contra dancers (80% under age 25), and a big influx of *total* novices at break -- quite a wild scene !
Singing: was stressful (out-of-my-depth as organizer and host) but truly joyful ! A cheerful and diverse group, including one person I only met 3 days before at the Haverford music library.
Random: A memorial service served to stir lots of quiet thoughts (and resolutions) … A *cool* salon/concert event inspired me to connect with more adventurous music … And it's now just one month until E&A Week ! |
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| Clan dynamics ? |
[May. 20th, 2007|01:07 pm] |
So … I feel the need to do a bit of head-scratching and grumbling, so people don't get that idea that everything is sunshine and light !
Last night's Inverarity party was well-attended, and the music was very good, but it was very difficult to get people downstairs to dance. We started (25 minutes late) with a dance for 3 people. I think at our peak there were 10 dancers, and more than once we "raided" the band to fill out a set to dance.
And … I'm still pondering my reaction to the scene described below -- probably the underlying reason why I never took a "certificate," and don't attend many Scottish events (although I *love* the dancing !).
We're in the middle of Generic Unfamilar Dance "X," and the new top couple just cast into middle place. They start their hand turn to head to corners, and a loud authoritative voice rings out "NO - that's LEFT hand !" So, of course, being obedient dancers (and feeling properly chastised for the egregious error of using incorrect hands), they awkwardly scramble to shift hands and direction in mid-stream, arrive late at their corners, and stumble through the rest of that dance with regular prompting by the "experts" in the set for each move (clearly, once you have made a mistake, you have established a lack of competence -- and everyone else in the set then feels a responsibility/compulsion to "help").
Tone of voice makes a difference. I know what it *sounds* like when someone is trying to gently guide a 'lost' dancer, to help them succeed with a dance (e.g., "Over here … Face Sally and set …"). Even in a split-second, there are careful choices of words, decisions about things to "let go", and adjustments to accommodate … None of that was apparent in this case. The tone of each command was flat, imperative, superior, and dismissive. "That's RIGHT hand ... Turn your first corner ... " The clear message was "I know you're going to mess things up unless I tell you what to do each step of the way."
This is at a dance party in a private home. All the dancers are demonstrably competent, although not all equally able to 'digest' a steady program of unfamiliar dances ( a different topic for grumbling …).
Why do dancers put up with this …. stuff ?
Sure, I've seen similar scenarios hundreds of times in various settings. For whatever reason, this occasion struck me more strongly than usual (perhaps because there were so few dancers and it seemed important IMHO to help folks enjoy themselves and continue dancing !?).
What is the inferiority/superiority model that people accept as part of the RSCDS package ? I never hear anyone reply "Ah, shut up, Dursley, yeh great prune !"
What are the payoffs for those who choose to be the enforcers of correctness ? How is that behavior tacitly reinforced by the larger community ?
How does the RSCDS group prosper or dwindle as Natural Selection weeds-out people who respond poorly to this model ?
Sorry ... I too-quickly incline toward abstractions and generalities ... |
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| Being in love ! |
[May. 12th, 2007|11:36 am] |
| [ | Current Location |
| | Boston | ] |
| [ | mood |
| | giddy | ] |
| [ | music |
| | chickadees | ] |
We all experience the excitement in our own ways, for me, it is ...
A feeling of fullness -- pressure inside, an ache in the chest that pushes to expand ...
A feeling of agitation -- strong internal vibration, almost quivering …
A feeling of being slightly off-balance -- but euphoric rather than dizzy …
When I spoke with Rick M on the phone and mentioned that I felt ridiculously upbeat and happy, he said, "It sounds like you're in love."
I said, "You're right ... But it's not just one person."
I'm in love with springiswrath, chlomar, nullsurface, playfulfordian, stowaway_geek, flammifera, asmanyaswill, AS, TR*2, AF, AA, SG, BQ, ES, LT, JW, CN, RS, SM, JA, JR, RM, NM, OM, LR, LF, JS, KA, DD … there's no end to the list !
Sharp-eyed observers may note that this Spring's morris dancing was surely a catalyst -- but the effect spreads much further.
I'm gently stroking the new leaves of beech trees (then climbing them !), burying my nose in lilacs, delighting in the fresh colors of blossoms …
And this is just the diluted version ! I carefully avoided posting immediately after May Day festivities, when the flow of euphoria was running strongest.
Still, it is worth celebrating such magical times. When your beloved's most irritating habits appear like charming idiosyncrasies. When the external wrapper becomes translucent, and you catch glimpses of a person's "inner light." When nostalgia brings only sunny memories, and each connection in the present is tinted with appreciation and gratitude.
Troubles, challenges, fears, and endless lists of things that "need" to be done … they don't go away. But they lose their power to compel and to overwhelm.
This blessed good fortune seems unfair.
Why not someone more deserving -- or at least in greater need ?
I have been wandering through the Elysian fields. My visa is sure to expire soon. Here's hoping that your turn comes next ! |
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| May Day !! |
[May. 1st, 2007|10:23 am] |
| [ | Current Location |
| | Mosshaven | ] |
| [ | mood |
| | Glowing ! | ] |
| [ | music |
| | Breezes through the new leaves | ] |
Happy May Day !!
Dawn on Belmont Plateau was beautiful, and illuminated the faces of a delightful group.
My attempts at photographs mostly did not turn out, but Renegade's May Day debut just after sunrise gives a glimpse of the good spirits that prevailed.
More fine folks (and LJ friends) than there is time (and focus) to list right now.
All these things we take delight in, while we are together. |
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| In the Metro Station ... |
[Apr. 12th, 2007|12:26 am] |
| [ | Tags | | | culture | ] |
| [ | Current Location |
| | mosshaven | ] |
| [ | mood |
| | chipper | ] |
| [ | music |
| | Barracuda - Heart | ] |
I finally found time today to follow a link that AJS (of Rapper fame) sent in an email.
The gimmick is a good one: put a world-famous violinist (with his priceless Strad) in a subway station, seed the violin case with a few dollar bills and coins, and then see how many passersby recognize that they are hearing something fabulous, and pause for a minute or two. Warning -- it's a rather long article, you can get the gist in a minute, but the full story is drawn out with lots of details.
Metro Story
And, since we're on the topic of public transit, a Greyhound sale just came to my attention (a crazy cousin of mine got a month-long pass and traveled the country) .. PHL-NYC $20 roundtrip
The Hounds
I have several traveling weekends ahead ... but none by bus. |
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| March Mayhem |
[Mar. 20th, 2007|12:27 am] |
Just because you're all dying to know ...
We had a great Morris practice tonight !
10 dancers, 4 of them totally new to morris.
AMAZINGLY FAST LEARNERS !
We did a complete dance (Balance the Straw) at the end of our 90 minute practice -- with high energy, confident geography, and *excellent* sticking (this is a musical crew).
It's only going to get better when chlomar and nullsurface join us next week. |
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| Gasping for air |
[Mar. 5th, 2007|03:19 am] |
| [ | Current Location |
| | vaguely upright | ] |
| [ | mood |
| | sick | ] |
| [ | music |
| | Bartok string quartet #1 | ] |
Warning: explicit and gross fantasies indulged below -- skip over this if you're squeamish !
…
…
…
So, it is now day 7 of this "bug," and I'm really tired of not being able to breathe ! Usually for me, colds come on gradually, progress through sore throat and sniffles, and end with a couple of days of gunk in the lungs, which clears out fairly quickly to close the story.
This time, gunk arrived on day 1.5, and just settled in -- gack !
Wadded-up Puffs with lotion fill every waste container in the house. I must be on box #20 …
So this apparatus I've wanted for some time keeps floating up in my mind - SCUMBA gear (Self-Contained Under Mucus Breathing Apparatus) !
The goal of SCUMBA gear is similar to SCUBA -- delivering good air to the oxygen-starved organism. Rather than forcing air IN through the mouthpiece, the SCUMBA mechanism operates by sucking the gunk OUT (preferably not through a mouthpiece -- one of the details that remains to be worked out …). Ideally, the vacuum pressure would gently but effectively clear all passages (and lungs) of the accursed phlegm, depositing the gunk in an appropriate stainless steel tank. Perhaps toxic waste sites could be equipped with pump-out facilities -- that way the tanks could be re-used, rather than encased in concrete and sunk offshore to form artificial reefs …
Envisioning offshore dumping makes me think of something less mechanical … like those amazing microbes that are unleashed after crude oil spills, gobbling-up the gunk and excreting some innocuous fluid in its place …. Hey there, biologists ! Couldn't a bit of gene-splicing create a version that would work on mucus ? A little puff up each nostril and the little critters swarm to their task, tunneling vigorously through all obstacles and leaving a discreet mint or citrus aroma in their path …
High-tech: Nano-technology robots ?
Low-tech: Easy-Off ? Liquid Plumber ?
Specialized DustBuster attachments ?
Things are getting desperate …. |
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|
| Afterglow |
[Feb. 13th, 2007|02:52 pm] |
| [ | Current Location |
| | Mosshaven | ] |
| [ | music |
| | Bach cello suites - Gendron - sublime ! | ] |
About the afterglow: feeling sunny and happy inside. It's a very fine thing in February, or any time !
Monday was pure madness -- it's fairly easy to have a few guests here, but 12 for dinner requires a major construction project to devise a workable dining room table, plus shifting everything around in the living room to clean sufficiently well that all furniture can go out for dancing. Then planning the meal and shopping (two stores were *out* of my key ingredient) and cooking … and somewhere in there finding time to organize the dances (all unfamiliar) to present and finding suitable alternative recordings to use for dancing … maybe next time I'll try to plan ahead more than 24 hours !?
It was a delightful gathering - with unexpected bonus people to add spice. We took a while to assemble, but that gave people a chance to pitch-in and take care of various lacunae. Many, many thanks are due … and I think folks were genuinely happy to help. Fine fun was had along with all the thinking and effort.
The interesting thing is comparing this happy glow (after a success based on lots of hard work) with the happy glow of Sunday. (a tough life, this, analyzing my various happy states to consider parallels !).
Scottish dancing is my "pure" recreation. This is not conscious design, but a certain liberty I allow myself. In almost every other dance situation I am responsible for something: calling, sound, organization, schlepping, set-up … whatever. When I go Scottish dancing, I just put on my kilt, take ghillies and a tea item, and walk out the door. It doesn't matter to anybody if I am a few minutes late, or if I leave part-way through (not something that is likely to happen). What a luxury !
Anyway, the 37th (!!) English Scottish Ball was a blast. The alumni/ae photo must have 60 people in it -- a tremendous turnout. The program was well-suited to the crowd.
I was irresponsible and self-indulgent - only got to the sidelines to find partners 2 or 3 times, and danced at least 85% of the time in the "upper" half of the hall. We all fit into different places along the spectrum of what constitutes "responsible" dancing …
Enjoyed a series of random partners for couple dancing at the break … and then later had good luck at finding playmates for after-the-Ball waltzes, hambos, and zwiefachers (Levi Jackson never quite jelled). I helped a bit with sound takedown, then with schlepping gear to the Community Center, but was mostly just frivolous. In all, my spirits seldom get higher !
And Sunday had a lovely afterglow.
By all rights, I should feel better about the "high" that resulted from Monday's hard work, creative effort, and the rewards of producing something unique. I'm not sure that one high feels much different from the other, although perhaps the second (with lasting reminders as I put the house back together !) will be more long-lasting … |
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