You knew this, of course. Here's the latest from the charming troglodyte:

Instead of my usual workout, yesterday I took advantage of the sun to take a walk around my new neighborhood.

	Our apartment complex exploded with hydrangeas a few weeks ago.
	The pond in the development behind ours. The place is lousy with ducks, geese, and frogs.
	The other side of the pond, which is now lined with Queen Anne's Lace.
	A thicket off to the side of the walking trail.
	Furry!

So, I had originally planned to just applique the major motif of the Rolly Crump pattern onto the back and cuffs of my Leota dress.





Now I'm thinking that pattern should probably be a major theme of the bodice and maybe the overskirt as well. Anyone here done screenprinting at home? Or maybe I should make iron-on transfers? Thoughts?

I spent this weekend immersed in the Seattle bellydance scene, by way of the Mediterranean Fantasy Festival, a.k.a. Medfest.

The festival has been produced for the last twenty years by the Babylonian Ensemble (http://www.babylonianensemble.com/), to take the place of Fantasia, the previous belly dance festival behemoth that took place in the PNW. (Just before we left Tucson, Jon bought me a stash of belly dance mags advertised in the local paper, and they turned out to be mostly Fantasia Magazine, so I got to learn a lot about the PNW dance scene in the early eighties.)

The festival is huge: two days of activities, two stages of performances running continuously from eleven in the morning until seven at night, dance workshops, and vendors, vendors, vendors. I was not going to miss this. The dancers in my Whidbey workshop reminded me of the festival and, though I had missed the deadline, I sent in a registration request anyway, hoping to get a standby slot. Lo and behold, I landed a spot on Sunday afternoon. I was committed.

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Apparently, fans of "Dr. Steel" are convinced that Joss Whedon has ripped off the totally original Mad Scientist theme from them, as well as the concept of a musical, I guess, and are boycotting. The free. Dr. Horrible. Episodes.

Internet, sometimes you give me the greatest gifts. Bet there will be a throwdown at Comic-Con.

I'm also not a Joss Whedon Fan. I guess it would be more correct to say that I am even less of a fan of people who tell me, oh, you HAVE to see Episode X through YZ of [insert series here], THEN YOU WILL GET IT.

Tried it, nuh-uh. I only watched the Buffy eps I did for Anthony Head. Whedonites are worse than Espies.

That said, Dr. Horrible is awesome. I AM a fan of Neil Patrick Harris even since his turn on Law and Order. And the names of the villians in the credits was a cute touch.

So, if you haven't seen it yet, do.

Wander over to the Planned Parenthood site, won't you?

http://www.plannedparenthood.org/issues-action/birth-control/stop-president-bushs-massive-sellout-womens-health-care-21522.htm

Bush is trying to extend Title X funding to "crisis" pregnancy centers.

edited to add: here's some other attacks on women's health you may be interested in, courtesy of naamah_darling, who has an appropriately rage-filled entry in her journal about it.

The Department of Health and Human Services' proposal to redifine contraception as abortion, thus making it possible for federal grant recipients to refuse contraception to their patients:
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/cristina-page/hhs-moves-to-define-contr_b_112887.html

We know there are numbers of pharmacists who refuse to dispense contraceptives due to their moral objections to it. Apparently there are also EMTs and ambulance drivers who are refusing aid to women who need them on the same grounds. In at least one state, if a woman dies (say, because some ambulance driver won't take her to get help when her pregnancy goes wrong) that service provider can't be held responsible for denying her services on the basis of "moral refusal":
http://www.dailykos.com/story/2008/6/17/174534/045/226/536744

This is all in addition to the other bullshit we've dealt with thus far.
The spike in the cost of birth control due to the loss of federal funding to college clinics.
The closure of abortion clinics and the obstruction of services at the remaining clinics, meaning that many women have to travel across state lines to obtain basic medical services and health care.
The mandatory waiting periods and "counselling" required before abortion services can be rendered in many states -- which, besides being insulting, cause a severe financial hardship to women who may not be able to afford the procedure itself, much less the travel expense or an overnight stay.

Again and again, the theory that women are not intelligent enough or important enough to control their own fertility and sexuality and basic health is being legislated more and more thoroughly.

A lot of people respond to this news with "a good reason to move to (insert place with less insane healthcare here)"

FUCK THAT.

This sort of thing, the othering of a population, the removal of basic rights, goes against the founding principles of our country. These are principles that, as citizens, we are responsible for upholding. You can duck and run if you want, or you can stay and fight.

Pay attention to what your elected representatives stand for. Make informed decisions. Support the causes that need you. And when your reps seem to be going astray, be sure to let them know you've noticed.

Since I've been unemployed (yay!) I've been taking the opportunity to try and get into a daily practice routine. I'm hoping that once I get used to it, I will continue once my schedule fills up again. I decided a few days ago to try and make it a little more efficient and focused, so I'm just making a few notes for myself here to think about.

I start with a warmup and some work with a video. This is 15 to 30 minutes (or 45, if I feel I really want to) of either Aziza's Workout Companion (I break it in half and do the warmup + hips and chest/ warmup + arms and shimmy); Rachel Brice's Tribal Fusion video (which is already broken into handy 15/30/45 minute practices); or parts of Rachel Brice's Arms and Carriage video. I was using the Suhaila series but they're just not resonating with me. I'm thinking of getting the Michelle Joyce Drills DVD to add some variety.

Once I'm warmed up, I spend at least 5 minutes, preferably 10, drilling something I feel needs work. Presently, it's 3/4 hip shimmies on the down. Drilling means working with the shimmy at various speeds, both stationary and travelling/pivoting. Once the strength is back in my knees I will add some level changes. I need to remember to add layers of chest lifts/drops as well.

Once drilling is over, I run through a few choreographies. Right now, I do the piece I plan to use for MedFest a few times to polish it up; I also run through the minute and a half I learned from Aziza to try and nail it down, and if I feel like it I run through the first section of the choreo I wrote for my workshops. Once MedFest is over I will shift focus to writing the second section of that choreo.

That done, I will spend some time trying to stretch my hamstrings and hip flexors, since they are super tight on me, and then pop in a video to watch while I run through some iteration of my PT exercises (clamshells, leg lifts in four directions, balance exercises) and do some situps (trying to do a different kind each day, or at least every couple of days).

Then I'll go back to the original video I started with to use the cooldown sequence.

Things I want to add: some intricate layer/travel combinations; work with finger cymbals since I haven't used them much lately and want to include them in the next workshop; and upper-body strengthening.

You've filled my life with nothing but good things, and I love you more than any lj marquee tag could express.

Happy Birthday, Baby!

A friend of mine (the same one who brought you the 3-legged pirate kitty) is asking for help in finding a TEMPORARY home for several cats while their human finds a home for herself.

Their owner is getting out of a dangerous relationship and will reclaim the cats just as soon as she can find herself a place. They are relocating to LP Michigan, near Lansing. She can't leave the pets where they are for fear her ex will harm them.

Anyone up near there, or know someone who is, who can give three kitties a temporary crash pad?

Here's a link to my friend's journal:
http://naamah-darling.livejournal.com/338619.html

This weekend, my incredibly supportive husband took us to Portland, so I could take a workshop with my fave dancer, Aziza.
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The PNW heard me grumbling about the monsoon and sent thunder last night, and several pleasant light storms this morning. They were perfect -- like the aftermath of a Sonoran monsoon, a couple good cracks and a lot of rumbling, complete with several downpours. People went out on their balconies to soak it up.

Much better.

snagged from venedotia:

http://www.holytaco.com/2008/06/27/the-douchiest-phone-message-in-history/

It's amazing.

I called my doctor's office Friday morning to switch gears and try to get an ultrasound scheduled and they have not called me back. The best part was when I explained the situation to the receptionist and there was a long pause before she said, "um, what's a hysteroscope?"

JESUS.

As of today, I have been bleeding in one way or another for THREE WEEKS. I guess now that I know about the little fuckers, my fibroids are gonna party hard while they still can.

Edited to add:
I am scheduled for the sonohystogram (the ultrasound)...a month from now. They could either work me in THIS WEDNESDAY (when I have a dance event this weekend that I have been looking forward to for months and want to try not to ruin with hysterics of any kind) or...on the day that is supposed to be start of my next period. AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAARRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRGH.

*sigh*
At least this will give me time to check with my insurance company to make sure this stuff is covered.

I witnessed my share of Rocky proposals. But this one actually made me cry. I love Janet's recovery at around 6:20.

I need input. Cut for more talk about uteri than you'd even hope to see.

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Poll #1211538
Open to: All, detailed results viewable to: All

So, whaddaya think?

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Two of my LJ friends have done this and it was much more interesting than I expected, so, here you go. I'd actually love to hear you all go on about yourselves.

You know how sometimes people on your friends list post about stuff going on in their lives, and all of a sudden you think, "Wait a minute? Since when are they working THERE? Since when are they dating HIM/HER? since when???" And then you wonder how you could have missed all that seemingly pretty standard information, but somehow you feel too ashamed to ask for clarification because it seems like info you should already know? It happens to all of us sometimes.

Please copy mine below, erase my answers, putting yours in their places, and then post the result in your journal. Please elaborate on the questions which would benefit from elaboration! One-word-answers seldom help anyone out.


1. Name: Kate. I was known as Katie until I was twelve (I also had long braids, freckles, and buck teeth, I looked like I should have been wearing overalls and painting a fence, for chrissakes), and would turn venom on anyone who insisted on calling me "Kathy" (it happened a lot, apparently my nickname was old-fashioned at the time). Within the last year or so, I've met a few people who were completely unable to grok my name and would insist on calling me "Katie". Since they were people I only had to deal with tangentally for business, I didn't feel I needed to invest the energy to tell them they were wrong, but it still rankled. Seriously, I am too old for "Katie".

I chose my LJ handle because of the literary reference, but also because of the irony, because I am pretty fucking far from dainty.

2. Age: Too old to be called "Katie". I'm 37, and it is freaking me out more than a little bit, which is embarassing. Then I remember that I freaked out about being 28, and I had an anxiety attack on the eve of my sixth birthday (it's true! I wrote a college entrance essay about it!), so I guess I'm just staying the course on that one.

3. Location: as of April, western Washington state.

4. Occupation: currently, I am identifying as a dancer, and that feels awesome and weird.

Before the move, I was an accounting clerk for a title company. I spent my days reconciling over a dozen bank accounts for title offices in two metro areas. It seems innocuous, but I was part of the first line of defense against fraud committed by escrow officers, which due to the state of the market until recently, could be pretty lucrative for them, so I felt like a spy.

Before that, I headed up an escrow services department: we did data entry and gruntwork for the escrow officers that contracted us. I loved doing the gruntwork. I hated being the management.

Before that, I was the display manager for a major middle-market retailer. This could have been cool with the support of store management. Without it, it was hellish and soul-sucking.

None of these things relate in any way to my college education, which I'm sure gives my mother fits.

5. Partner: I am insanely happily married to calamityjon. We met in high school, started dating in college, and were together for nine eight years before we got married; this year will be our ninth anniversary. He will deny it six ways from Sunday, but I am very lucky to have him.

6. Kids: No thanks. One nice thing about being 37 is that people have stopped making noises about Am I Sure I Don't Want Kids. I had a very distinct moment of insight and relief when I was in college when I realized I didn't HAVE to have them, and that was a huge flashing neon sign to me that hey, maybe I shouldn't.

I feel that a lot of people pop kids out automatically because it is expected of them -- this mindset was thrown into high relief by the reactions of people I knew casually when they found out I didn't have or want any. There would be a lot of stammering and blank uncomprehending stares; some of them would try to badger me into admitting I would change my mind, or that I should reconsider so my husband wouldn't leave me (!).

I think they are great, and I think people who have them thoughtfully are great. People who say "I've always known I wanted to be a mother" often make me feel a little itchy.

7. Brothers/Sisters: I have one brother, twelve years my elder. My mom and dad had to go through several miscarriages between us; there are four little markers in a cemetery in New York that have my last name on them.

The space between my brother and I was a blessing and a curse. He was old enough when I came along that he was happy to finally have a sibling and tolerated my little-sisterness really, really well. But he moved out before I hit adolescence, and we are different generations, Boomer and Xer. Given that my parents were born in the late twenties and thirties, respectively, I was a throwback and felt like a fucking Mennonite whenever I would hang out with friends my age when I hit high school.

My brother has four kids and was one of the people who kept insisting that One Day I Would Want Some. I tried to explain to him once that, even if I did, I hoped for zero population growth and he effectively had his allotment of kids AND mine, thanks for asking, but he didn't get that, either.

8. Pets: not right now. Jon wants a dog more that he wants to continue breathing. Effectively I have partial interest in my mom's dog, a completely insane unsocialized red Queensland Heeler, who could be a good dog if my mom a) would ease up on him, and b) would train him. As it stands he is nearly consumed by anxiety and barks pretty much constantly.

In college I had a pair of hooded rats, one black, one fawn, named Insh'ullah and Y'allah. I really wanted rats (my roommate and I had a pair before I transferred schools) and somehow Jon was able to convince my parents to let me keep some (I lived at home, and my parents were not keen on vermin). I know now that I did everything wrong with them but they still lived at least three years, which is venerable for rats. It was great to come home after a long day at school to see two tiny creatures that would hear my voice and immediately run to the edge of their cage and beg to be taken out and petted. Seeing them die, however, has put me off rat ownership (it's hard to find good vets for them, the ones I went to had NO IDEA how to treat them) so now I just coo over pictures of baby dumbo rats on the internet.

9. List the 3-5 biggest things going on in your life:
Getting settled in a new community;
Finding a dance niche within that community;
Dealing with my family long-distance; and
Figuring out what kind of job to look for, when I start looking.

10. What did you go to school for? I entered college completely expecting to become A Writer. I was accepted into the Honors English program immediately and got to work honing my craft, at which point I realized that, while I did well on assignments, I didn't have the fire in the belly. I didn't live to write; I didn't write if there was no assignment given.

About the same time I took an Intro to Linguistics course and fell in love with it. I transferred schools and changed majors. I ended up graduating magna cum laude with a degree in Linguistics and a dual minor in English (all my old major's credits) and Speech and Hearing Sciences...which means I worked retail for nine years afterward.

I wonder sometimes about getting a post-secondary degree but I feel like it would be more like an incredibly expensive lark than anything else. I would like to take some anatomy/kinesiology classes to inform my dancing and improve my teaching.

11. Parents: My major source of anxiety and have been for a good long time. My dad died in '96 of heart failure; he had been a smoker since he was twelve and by the time he quit, it was too late. His death was huge for me. Sometimes people will try to be cute when they smoke around me and throw out that Dennis Leary line about yeah, smoking cuts years off your life but they are the crappy ones at the end, and I tell them if my dad had those crappy ones back he could have danced at my wedding. I don't have a lot of patience for people who rationalize their addictions, and I don't pity smokers one bit.

I love my mom. Anything else about my mom usually goes into a f-locked post, because the internet at large does not need to hear it.

Also, he's a fucking pro-life nutball, but this is much more catchy.

I know that I have seen a lot of stuff, nature-wise, that other people haven't, by dint of my growing up in the Sonoran desert. A lot of people find cactus pretty exotic, and I've pulled them off of my dogs, and seen roadrunners, coyotes, javalinas, gila monsters, sidewinders and rattlesnakes, all out in the wild. I didn't see him, but we had a puma prowling through our neighborhood one hot summer. That sort of thing.

But growing up down south, you're not exposed to the reality the rest of the U.S. is. So a lot of the tropes I saw in cartoons and picture books when I was a kid just didn't ring true for me.

Stuff I saw in the last two days:

-- an actual, snail-shaped snail (I know we have brown garden snails in AZ, but I'd ever seen was the decollata). He was firmly glued to the asphalt in the parking lot. I picked him up and set him in the wet dirt near the base of a plant where he wouldn't get stepped on or harassed by birds. When I came back a little later he had his little horns out, explorin'.

-- when Jon dropped me off for parade practice yesterday, there were a couple robins investigating the lawn near the parking lot. While I watched, one of the robins actually grabbed a worm and pulled it up out of the ground and ate it. This was some serious Ranger Rick shit going on. Jon and I let out a simultaneous whoop.

-- a fat, sleek squirrel running full-tilt along a low-hanging power line.

-- not a U.S. universal, but still neat: seeing a huge goose standing nonchalantly in a parking space. He looked delicious.