Saturday, August 11, 2002

The Dream (13:00 AST, The ShanMonster)

I dreamed I was watching a special on Yul Brynner with my Mom. Yul was a hottie, as usual, and Mom had just given me a delicious ice cream sundae with peanuts and cherries. Then the phone rang and woke me up. It was Julie, and she wants to go out for ice cream (but not Yul Brynner).

Don't Forget to Write (11:22 AST, The ShanMonster)

Just because it's scrolled off the page doesn't mean it's not still on. Get your entries in for the 3-day novel contest! Also, we're still looking for judges. If you're interested in doing either, write to f00.

About Last Night (11:11 AST, The ShanMonster)

I arrived late at Electrobash, just in time for Jet Project Labs (JPL). The last couple of times, I just couldn't get into JPL's stuff, but this time around, I really did enjoy it. Perhaps, like dulse and beer, it's an acquired taste. In any case, the visual show is engrossing, with its samples of wushu, riots, Metropolis, and digital effects.

I missed Pimp-T, but he was called back for an encore after my performance with Drums and Machines. I'm really glad, too, because he's very entertaining! I had a great laugh at his exaggerated hiphop rapping and naughty dancing. If you ever have an opportunity to see him, and you're not a prude, check him out.

For the first time, Gary Flanagan wasn't there. I heard he hasn't been well, so I hope he's feeling better soon. I really enjoy his shows.

My own performance was meh. I was decidedly lacking in energy, despite my efforts. I know it's because I'm sick, and also partially because I was reacting very badly to some incense burning on stage. f00 put it out for me, thankfully. My eyes were tearing up and my nose began running about the third song in. Although my break wasn't supposed to be until the seventh song, I had to leave the stage at the sixth song because I could not see and thought one of my contacts had fallen out with all the tearing.

Luckily, it was still there. It had rolled back behind my eye or something. At one point, I realized my left hand was trembling uncontrollably, so I worked it into the dance. I didn't do any tumbling, and my floorwork was also minimalistic, but I was scared I'd fall down if I tried anything too strenuous. I haven't reviewed the recording yet, but doesn't it just figure that when I finally do get a recording, my dancing is far subpar? Ah well. Considering how earlier in the day, my throat was swollen up and I felt dizzy just walking around or sitting down, I think I did pretty well.

The audience was small but appreciative. Some approached me afterwards to tell me how much they enjoyed it, but I know the ones who had seen my last performance in Saint John were probably wondering what the heck happened this time. Still, one guy told me the combination of lighting, shadows, and my movements brought tears to his eyes. I'm sure he meant that in the good way, so that was really nice to hear. Also, another guy, who was obviously tripping out, was pretty entertaining to me. He kept ducking down behind a table as I danced, his eyes big as saucers. Later on, he told me that at one point, he had to run away for a bit to get ahold of himself, but came back to watch the rest.

Saturday, August 10, 2002

Spindle's End (21:04 AST, The ShanMonster)

Spindle's End is the first book I've read by Robin McKinley since Deerskin. I prefer it to Deerskin, but I also prefer The Blue Sword to Spindle's End. Like Deerskin, Spindle's End is the retelling of a fairy tale. This time around, it's about the sleeping beauty.

McKinley takes all sorts of liberties with the tale. All the main elements are there: a beautiful princess, an evil fairy, a handsome prince, good fairies, magical sleep, and an enchanted castle blocked by thorns. However, that's about where the similarities end.

At the onset, I thought the main plot twist would be the homosexuality of the princess, but it just didn't shape up that way despite the hints of tribadic inclinations. Nonetheless, the ending isn't as straight as traditional tellings of the tale would have it.

I liked the cute little references to other stories and folktales, such as King Arthur and Queen Guinevere, Christianity, and The Blue Sword.

Plenty of talking animals show up, but this isn't gratuitous anthropomorphics. It all fits in with a vital plot element: magical abilities possessed by someone who should have none.

The book is slow to start (the first chapter or so is mostly scenery), but takes off when the evil fairy Pernicia makes her appearance. That's when the action begins, and the characters become more engaging. Near the end, I had a difficult time understanding what was going on, but at least the characters in the book seem to know what they were doing....

Preparations (17:46 AST, The ShanMonster)

I've spent the day getting ready for Electrobash III. Originally, I had planned on wearing gold spandex pants and my multi-coloured gold velvet choli. However, upon taking a closer look at the chainmail bra and belt f00 had constructed for me, I thought that something really interesting could be done with them. And so, I shall instead be wearing silver: silver spandex pants and top beneath a silver dress beneath steel belt and bra cinched at the front with more chainmail. And, to make it have movement, we've attached a whole heap of gold, silver, green, and iridescent purple chains and rhinestone strands. It looks very flashy. I just have to remember not to wear this amongst the audience, because a sudden whirl could whip someone ouchily. I think I'll wear some fancy bindis, for good measure. Hopefully, they won't fly off as I dance. They probably will, once I start sweating, though.

We're videotaping this performance. I'll be using veils, swords, and lit candles as props. I'll have to watch my space, because the venue is much more compact than Electrobash II in Saint John.

Now I'm about to have a power nap, because I feel dizzy. I think I might be getting sick. This sucks on many levels.... Here's hoping I can give a kickass performance in spite of my wooziness.

Friday, August 9, 2002

Schtuff (11:23 AST, The ShanMonster)

First off, to get you in a bizarre frame of mind, you really ought to watch Leonard Nimoy's Bilbo Baggins. The LotR/ST combination is surreal, but I think the bit that particularly gets me is the dancing. Whoa. WTF is that?

Live fast, consume mass quantities, die young, and leave fucked-up remains. Check out more abnormal physiques at Weird Skeletons in Mankind's Closet.

Then there's flying snakes. My mom would have a fit....

I enjoyed reading about the Doctors of Doom, which is a write-up on some of the less-famous Nazi doctors. These aren't necessarily the doctors who did inhumane experiments in concentration camps. No detail goes into Dr Josef Mengele. More information goes on various quacks and physicians within the Third Reich. I was intrigued by the downfall of Dr. Ferdinand Sauerbruch. He started off admirably, but by the end, when he was suffering from brain problems, he was dangerously incompetent.

Have you ever had a Fr-ooze Pop? Wink wink, nudge nudge, you know what I'm sayin'....

Update (09:39 AST, The ShanMonster)

Added Headmaster flees as hysteria grips school to The Witching Hours.

Thursday, August 8, 2002

Blackberry Dancer (22:06 AST, The ShanMonster)

Tonight, I picked more blackberries, but this time, I got a lot more. The bushes are laden with big, juicy berries, and this time, f00 was picking with me. We picked about four cups in about a half hour. I'll have to go back again tomorrow with a bigger container. I want to make all sorts of yummy stuff! Maybe I'll make a blackberry pie. That sounds absolutely decadent.

f00 seems to think I should be able to sell berries, but for the money I'd get for them, I think I'd much rather just eat 'em. Once the blackberries are cleaned out, I'll go for the raspberries. There are plenty of those to be had, as well.

I'll have to take my Walkman with me so I can get Saturday night's music set stuck in my head. I want to know this music inside out and backwards so that my dancing is more in line with the rhythm changes. Of course, Rod (the musician) will be playing live drums, and sprucing it up as he goes, so maybe the changes are moot. Performing with live musicians is very organic. We feed off one another's energy, and also off the energy of the audience.

Tonight, though, I'll be feeding off those blackberry bushes. Yum!

Be There--I Will! (20:06 AST, The ShanMonster)

Update (18:12 AST, The ShanMonster)

The second series of Brian Atkinson photos is up!

Morning (13:27 AST, The ShanMonster)

This morning, f00 woke me by having Princess Tubby scamper all over my face. I was too asleep to open my eyes, but I knew it was her because of her size. Silly f00. Silly Tubby.

Later on, I met with Brian Atkinson so he could show me the newest set of photos taken at the graffiti wall. They're amazing! Everything is blue, blue, blue! Even my sword and the tops of my gold earrings are blue. Ok, so maybe my gold and black costume (one of my alltime favourite homemade outfits) isn't blue, but everything else is. I don't have time to scan them right now, but here's a sneak preview:

Right now, I'm off to meet f00 for some sort of scientician stuff. It involves 8 mm film, robotic hands, and fake typing or something like that.

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