Monthly Archives: February 2013

Strike Dance Rise!

15 Friday Feb 2013

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6d79b8c1a709e1745b_5vm6bnp62Yesterday, Feb. 14th, I took part in the event “1 Billion Rising,” (more info found in an earlier post – http://wp.me/p159Ee-9q) a global strike to refuse to accept continued violence against women. As I mentioned in my original post I don’t have much personal experience to bring to the table but I think it is an extremely important issue and one that deserves all of our support. 1 billion women (1 in 3) hurt by violence is simply unacceptable. I’ll give you a quick walk through of my day then leave you with a video from the founders of One Billion Rising.

Sadly Riggins didn’t join me in protest. First of all, he refused to learn the dance to Break the Chain (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WufjSyE_rK8), which was just lazy on his part. Secondly, he doesn’t like crazy and/or smelly people and I was headed to the heart of downtown Los Angeles. He was better off left at home.
photo (1)Parking at Pershing Square, where the gathering was being held, was pricey so I drove up a few blocks and parked at a cheaper lot (since it is near one of my favorite bars it is also a parking lot I’m familiar with). The jaunt to the event location would not even be a question in NY but here in LA that length of a walk is simply unheard of. I wasn’t in the best area but in the middle of the day the streets of downtown are a 1:1 ration of scary and businessmen/women. I figured being a victim of violence while heading to a rally against violence was simply too on point to actually happen

The gathering I went to was one of the smaller ones in Los Angeles as women (and a few brave men) ducked out of their offices on their lunch break to lend their support. As more image (2)participants came together we all grabbed a cardboard heart to write why we were rising and tied it around our wrists. I REALLY wanted to write that I was doing it for the penguins (why? read – http://wp.me/p159Ee-aM) but this was serious stuff. Not the time or place for an inside joke just to make you and me giggle. I wrote, “I’m rising because love is better than hate …. always.” I ran out of room so the bottom half is unreadable. Still, it seemed more appropriate than the penguin comment.

The event organizers introduced themselves and started things off. First a very nice (I assume. I mean, I didn’t talk to her but I figure she is nice.) women in very tall heels (extra points for dancing in those) sang an original song image (1)she had written. Deep … moving … emotional. Then a dance troop did the Break the Chains dance for us before a quick tutorial. I was very happy I put in the time the night before and earlier in the morning to learn the dance as the tutorial was down and dirty and not much help if you weren’t already in the know. Then we all danced it together. It was FABULOUS! So much fun to just not give a flying freak what anyone thinks and dance with all your might in the middle of Los Angeles. After that they put on more music and just let the dancing continue.

Later that day I went to my Bar Method studio in Pasadena which had donated all their classes to One Billion Rising. With the complimentary class was a suggested donation to the cause. You know I love Bar Method and the fact that it was supporting such a positive message was an extra bonus.

All day it was inspiring to watch online as the videos come in from around the world of women and men rising. If you want to check them out some can be found on V-Day’s YouTube page or the event’s Facebook page (https://www.facebook.com/OneBillionRising). I hope that our global dance party helped bring attention to the horrible issue of violence against women and sparked more discussion and solutions.

As promised — Video

*Trigger Warning* A film by @EveEnsler and Tony Stroebel.

 

 

 

 

I’m Not Okay Living in the Antarctic!

13 Wednesday Feb 2013

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I realize this post will cause me a lot of grief from those located in less desirable weatherdownload locations but I don’t care.  IT’S COLD!  I live in sunny Southern California.  SUNNY being the keyword.  It has been sunny during the day.  I can’t deny that.  You’ve seen all the pictures I’ve posted lately.  Unfortunately, once that sun drops behind Griffith Park my house doubles as an iceberg.  A FREEZING LIFE DESTROYING ICEBERG!

Certainly you can blame my fragile, born and raised in Los Angeles, body.  Anything outside of 68-90 degrees makes me grouchy.  67 degrees is intolerable.  Lately our nights have been getting down to the low 40s and even (gasp) mid 30s.  WHAT THE FREAKIN’ FREAK IS THAT????  I didn’t agree to live in the Antarctic.

I put blame on our buildings.  My house in particular.  It isn’t built for drastic weather swings.  I can spend 1 million dollars on my monthly power bill, have the heater tuned up to 95 degrees, and my house will never reach much higher than the outside temperature.  All my man-made heat will just find it’s way through my walls, under the house and up past the “attic.”  No insulation.  If you go to Minnesota right now and go into a building you can happily take your coat off and enjoy the unnatural warmth.  If you come to my house I suggest you bring a hoodie.

photo (9)Sunday at dinner my good friend from WI couldn’t stop laughing at me.  I was ready for a So Cal cold snap.  I had my dad’s giant down jacket on (he would say I stole it while I say possession is 90% of the law) along with a super comfy infinity scarf my mom knitted for me.  I had thought about long johns but decided they would be too bulky under skinny jeans.  My WI friend demanded to take pictures of me bundled up to show her children how ridiculous I was.  She says ridiculous and I say warm and toasty.  At the same time another friend had the guts to say, “it isn’t that cold you can barely see your breath.”  BARELY.  I CAN BARELY SEE MY BREATH.  EXCUSE ME FOR OVERREACTING.  LET ME GO GET MY BIKINI ON!

Lately I’ve had to add pants to my normal pajamas (tank top and underwear).  Last night I had a one woman protest against the cold and refused to put pants on so that my legs could return to their nightly freedom.  It was so cold under my covers I had to curl up in a ball like Riggins.  Even running in place on my side to help build up friction and heat didn’t help.  I needed to get up and get pants and socks.  I could feel limbs giving into frostbite but as cold as it was under those covers it was colder out of them.  I couldn’t fathom making the 4 feet journey between the foot of my bed and my dresser.  Finally, a light bulb went on and I realized my afghan was on top of my duvet.  Exposing as little skin as possible to the raw air of my bedroom I grabbed the afghan, tucked it under all the covers and wrapped myself up in it like a burrito.  The yarn made a barrier between me and my ice-cold sheets allowing me to sleep.  Bear Grylls would be proud of my survival techniques.

I’m not the only woman who has had to suffer through such ridiculous weather.  Did you see the recent news on Kate Upton‘s photo shoot for Victoria Secret’s swimsuit cover?  Hilarious.  I can’t even make it funnier by interpreting it for you.  Just read it …. http://tinyurl.com/afwux4w.

“‘The penguins kept me going,’ she joked. ‘They’re adorable, and any time I was like, ‘I can’t take any more, I can’t,’ I would look at them and I was like, ‘OK, for them.’’’ – On NBC’s Today Show.

Joking?  You sure about that Matt?  I think she may have been really doing it for the penguins.  She’s a hero people.  She temporarily lost eyesight and hearing for that shot that is so generic and already so heavily photoshopped (http://tinyurl.com/buhkshx) it could have been taken in  my living room right here in “sunny” California.  All icebergs look the same.

The Perfect Family

12 Tuesday Feb 2013

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photo (2)Well before even reading this post you know the answer is going to be Riggins and me right? It’s not! It’s Riggins, me and about 5 other dogs in a nice house in the country. Just kidding …. kind of … not really. Okay. Let’s pretend that I don’t think it’s mentally healthy to become the crazy dog woman from nowhere. Then what would be the perfect family?

Although I’m not in a relationship myself right now I have had some experience and have been exposed to stable families in my lifetime. My mother and father are still together and live in the home I grew up in. My sister and her husband live happily with their two kids. I myself haven’t always lived alone. Out of college I had a female roommate for years and multiple apartments, and once lived with a boyfriend for years, and multiple apartments. Needless to say I do much better with just Riggins and me. The facts would lead you to believe that I’m hard to live with but I’d much prefer to say that any problems were the other persons fault. After all Riggins has no complaints.

Dr. Drew informed me, during one of his brilliant podcast episodes, that there has been studies to say that it is healthier for men and women (or men and men, woman and women, whatever you define as a couple) to sleep in different rooms. That the separation leads to a more restful night. Dr. Drew said he wasn’t really sure if he bought into it. You know what I say? No shit it leads to a more restful night! You needed to do experiments to prove this painfully obvious thesis? Sleeping with someone else is just horrible. If you sleep with someone night after night you have no idea the horror you are living. Space hogs, blanket hogs, cold feet, sweaty parts, SNORING, gag! Now I know I’m hard to sleep with. I’ll admit that. I tend to flop around a lot and even if I’m not doing that I show stress signs while I’m sleeping that can be very off-putting. One thing I do is I’ll sleep on my back with my knees up. Then as I get deeper into sleep my knees fall to one side until my body notices and I yank them back up. I can see where this could be annoying.

Adam Carolla, probably on the same podcast with Dr. Drew, will tell you the key to a happy marriage is money and real estate. To be honest I may be wrong about the money thing but I know for sure he says real estate. He’s right. Real estate is KEY!

Frida and Diego2

Although I’m sure found everywhere. My source – http://caracarmina-atelier.blogspot.com/2011/01/frida-and-diego.html

In yesterday’s post I mentioned Diego Rivera. The very talented artists, Diego Rivera and Frida Kahlo came up with the perfect real estate solution. They had his and her houses with a bridge connecting them. I’m sure you can say, and there is evidence to support, they didn’t really have two independent houses, ignore that. Just focus on the brilliance of two casas in one. Also ignore the fact that the coupling of Rivera and Kahlo wouldn’t really be considered the model for a healthy relationship of security and monogamy. The casa made of two casas. That’s the take away here. Please also overlook the design of their casa(s). It’s hideous.

Two houses fixes so many problems. I don’t have to be nice and try to weave his crap into my colorful and thoughtful room designs. I don’t have to tell the cleaning lady to just skip the extra room because the slob didn’t take the time to pick up before the cleaning lady came (YOU HAVE TO PICK UP BEFORE THE CLEANING LADY COMES. ASK ANY WOMAN,) so I just threw everything strewn around the house into that room. The bathroom smells better. The list goes on and on. SO MANY PROBLEMS SOLVED!

Now here is where I take it further than Frida and Diego. I would love to have children but simply don’t feel I could take on the responsibility (financially, emotionally, time-ly) alone. It would also probably be healthier for the child to have another adult influence beside the crazy sitting here typing. Here is where my brilliance comes in. I’ve always said my casa(s) will be a home for myself, and NPH (Neal Patrick Harris aka Doogie). We could live happily in our duo abodes with the bridge connection allowing us to happily raise our children together at the same time allowing us our privacy to date and live our hetro/homo sexual lives even though we don’t find each other sexual attractive. NPH is adorable, hilarious, and seems like he’d be a blast. Plus I could go to the Magic Castle whenever I wanted!

When the world found out NPH had a serious boyfriend I was crushed, for two seconds, that my dream life had died, but then I thought, “bring him along…. why not?” It takes a village.

Then the world found out that NPH and his ridiculous gorgeous significant other were having children, and my dream died. All I really brought to the party was my uterus and apparently that was no longer needed.

So now my dream home is reserved for Anderson Cooper. Could totally happen.

Crafty (Said as if you were Janet Jackson singing Nasty Boys but saying Crafty instead of Nasty)

11 Monday Feb 2013

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I’ve been on an extra crafty kick the last couple of weeks and wanted to share some of my accomplishments with you.

image (5)TABLE RUNNERS – My mom had made herself a very cute valentine table runner and after seeing it I wanted to make one too.  It looked easy enough but at the same time clean and professional.  I decided I was going to make one for my friend Leslie as a hostess gift for an upcoming gathering.  Off to JoAnns I went with Mom to see what we could find.  After both agreeing that Leslie would like the material we picked out we were on our way.  Back at my mom’s house she took her fancy quilting cutting mat, t-square, and fancy fabric wheel cutter and showed me how to make the pieces perfectly rectangle.  Honestly I didn’t see the need for this step — a thought which would soon come back and bite me.  At home I really did whip up the very pretty table runner in no time.  The hardest part, as my mom had already warned me, was trying to make the two overlapping sides even.  Still I managed to make the entire gift with very little cursing.

The success of that project led me to believe I needed to make another one for the guest of honor at the same social gathering.  Our friend Rachel was going to be visiting us from WI and if that wasn’t enough to earn her a handmade table runner it was also her birthday.  After hiking with the two dogs (http://wp.me/p159Ee-ah) Sunday I cruised on over to the crappy JoAnns in my neighborhood.  Sadly, although not surprisingly, that crappy location was closed and the dogs and I took off in search of another one.  At the new-to-me JoAnns I came upon the most beautiful and colorful fabric ever!  I picked it up and thought, “I guess I shouldn’t go that crazy with the colors for someone’s gift” so I put it back.  Then I found coordinating fabric and it was on!  I grabbed both spools (they aren’t spools — what are they called? ) of fabric and took off to get them cut.  After leaving the store I immediately called my mom to tell her she wasn’t there to stop me from buying they most colorful fabric available!

Remember when I said the first step was to square off your fabric?  Well I didn’t have my mom’s fancy tools this time so I had to make do with what I had.   I really tried to skip that step but the fabric wasn’t laying right together.  So I did what I always do when I need some sort of t-square type measuring device.  I went to my bookshelf with art books to locate something that could be an adequate substitute.  I grabbed the works of Diego Rivera.  Much like the man himself the book is larger than you would expect.  I carefully folded the fabric and laid the book so that it was square to the top seam, drew a line down the side and cut.  It didn’t take long before I realized it wasn’t straight and had to do it all again screaming, “Way to screw me Diego!”  I have a feeling he heard that a number of times during his life.  After extensive cursing at random sewing items and lots of exclamations of “good enough,” I did get the table runner together.  It isn’t as perfect as my first one but my theory is if  you are staring at a table runner long enough to notice it isn’t exactly even, you have bigger problems to worry about!

If you want exact instructions there are a ton of how-tos on Pinterest for the 10 minute table runner (Total lie by the way.  Takes longer than 10 minutes.).  I’m not sure which came first but here is one you can reference if you’d like to make your own – http://tinyurl.com/b3pnavk.

SCARFLETTE – Totally made up name for the scarf like item I made for my friend photo (5)Giovanna’s birthday.  Her birthday was actually a couple weeks ago but the scarflette wasn’t ready yet.  Her birthday card had contained an “I OWE U.”  I was able to finally finish my creation this weekend.  This is the first thing I’ve ever knitted.  EVER!  Pretty exciting.  If I am to be truthful I did cheat and used a Knifty Knitter (http://tinyurl.com/aoowesn).  Despite their lack of electricity and modern conveniences those Amish really hit it out of the park with the knitting loom and fireless fireplace.  I wonder what I could invent if I didn’t watch TV every night.  (Enjoy Morgan modeling his mommy’s gift.)

image (4)GIFT BAGS – This past week my mom send me a picture of some cute owl bags.  When I went to visit her this weekend she happily exclaimed that she had purchased brown bags so we could make the owls.  So we did!  I folded up the table runners I had made and used these cutie bags as their gift wrapping.

This original idea came from Pinterest but I can’t seem to find the original post.  You will just have to pretend there is a link here.

BRACELETS – Last year one of my Christmas presents was a cute little gizmo that let’sphoto (6) you make little round sticker like things to embellish scrapbooks, cards, etc.  I finally had time to check it out and found that I had also received a package of blank charms you could put the round sticker on.  I made my mom (http://wp.me/p159Ee-8G) and Giovanna (it was with her I OWE U so I wasn’t a total looser) both one.  They are now back in my possession as they need to be remade shorter.  Even though they don’t fit … yet, I made them so it counts for this blog!

A BIRD NEST MATERIAL HOLDER THING – Official name that I made up.  I made this for my folks anniversary.  It holds nesting material that the little (or big) birds can use to make their babies a super attractive and comfy home.  I wrote a how-to for my sister’s blog so hop like a bunny over there if you are curious how it is done – http://giveawaytrain.com/bird-nesting-craft-how-to/

Whew.  I’m in awe of my own craftiness.  It isn’t over yet.  I still have a St. Patrick’s Day table runner to make along with my very first quilt (gasp).  I’ll let you know how it goes!

 

 

Weekend Fluff Break

09 Saturday Feb 2013

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I normally don’t post on the weekend but I figured you could use some fluff!  Okay … that was a bold-faced lie.  I know that Sangita’s (http://joshsang.wordpress.com/) children like posts about Riggins and I gotta give my readers what they want!  Maybe that isn’t as much of a bold-faced lie as a little white lie.  Oh well.  Either way I figured you might enjoy some Sat dog fun too.

Sit back and enjoy the escapades of Riggins and Morgan (Riggins’ BFF), Kings of Runyon (a dog park that is a hike up one of the Hollywood hills).

First to the hill!  As my east coast friends posted pictures of mounds of snow on Facebook the boys and I enjoyed a crisp morning hike in the Southern California sun:
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Next stop was my folks house for a visit.  On the freeway I turned around and found them sitting like this (yes I took a picture while driving … it was necessary to capture the moment … I’m an artist):

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Here are the two little cherubs with their best innocent faces.  In reality Morgan spent his time stealing and hoarding all of the squeaky balls and Riggins walked around whining for attention.

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What’s a post about dogs without video?  Useless I say.  Let’s fix that right now!

Morgan showing off for one of his human sisters, Shelby: 

Riggins early morning jealousy: 

Making a run for it: 

There you go!  I hope you enjoyed your fluff break.

Tea Party for Three

08 Friday Feb 2013

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20130208-193529.jpg I’m doggie-sitting Riggins’ BFF for a couple of days. Two dogs + rain = a muddy recently cleaned kitchen floor. Good thing they are cute!

HAVE A FANTASTIC WEEKEND!

1 Billion Rising

07 Thursday Feb 2013

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picstitch (2)Just over a year ago I traveled to India for work.  Our offices were located just outside of Bangalore and the hotel I stayed at was just down the street.  It was pretty easy to get around.  All I had to do was get in a car that was waiting for me and go from hotel to office and back again.  That was part of my problem.  From reading this blog you know that I do a lot of outside exercise.  The back and forth from one artificial environment to the other was making me claustrophobic and just a little more than a little crazy.  At one point I’d had it and I went to the desk to ask them if it was okay if I ran up the road (it was a big loooooonnnnnngggg road) for 2  miles and back.  Just 2 miles and back.  I’m sure I’d make friends with a few street dogs along the way but dogs like me so that was cool.  “Oooooh NO ma’am,” was the answer.  It was said with such certainty and a dash of “are you off your rocker” attitude that I didn’t even question it and instead slowly shuffled off to the hotel’s tiny smelly gym.  Based on recent news stories out of India about gang rape victims I suppose I should send the hotel a gift basket.

Honestly my personal relationship with violence against women is non-existent.  I was lucky to grow up in an atmosphere where women are equal, not possessions, and sometimes even a tad bit smarter than the male sex (wink).  Still, I realize this isn’t true of all countries, of all families, and of all people.

Feb. 14th has been designated the day for one billion to rise up against violence against women ( http://www.onebillionrising.org/).  One Billion Rising is an event led by V-Day, a global activist movement to end violence against women and girls founded by Eve Ensler (author of the Vagina Monologues).  According to the web site:

picstitch“The concept of the campaign [One Billion Rising] is simple. If you take into account the statistic that 1 out of 3 women will experience violence in her lifetime, you are left with the staggering statistic that over 1 billion women on this planet will be impacted by violence. On V-Day’s 15th Anniversary, 2.14.13, we are inviting ONE BILLION women and those who love them to WALK OUT, DANCE, RISE UP, and DEMAND an end to this violence. V-Day wants the world to see our collective strength, our numbers, our solidarity across borders.”

I plan to take part in the event and would love if you would as well.  Visit the event web site to search gatherings that are happening locally.  The movement is global but if there isn’t an event close you can learn the dance to Break the Chain and jump out of your chair midday for a solo dance party! (Video of song with dance is embedded below.  You can also find a how-to video online where Debbie Allen will break it down for you.)

Woman freakin’ rock — and rock hard!

(First set of pictures is of some of my favorite ladies dancing, just because it is fun, in Bangalore.  Second set of pictures is of some of my favorite ladies dancing at Dee Dee’s bachelorette party in downtown LA.)

Don’t Sweat It

06 Wednesday Feb 2013

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I strongly dislike people who don’t sweat. Probably because I’m horribly jealous of them. What bliss their lives must be to not have to worry what kind of fabric covers their arm pits while I have to constantly keep in mind that the material must look the same wet as dry. I can’t even think about wearing white. Pit stains are a bitch.

When I say I sweat a lot it isn’t an exaggeration. Really. Ask anyone. I have to use my napkin to wipe my brow if I eat salsa even a tiny bit spicy. Dancing makes my hair look like it’s soaked mid-wash. Basic life activities can cause my body to cry out of every pore. Can you imagine what I’m like exercising?

I’ve read many articles about Bar Method being a “sweat less” activity. A great thing to do on your lunch break with no need for a shower post work-out. Pisses me off. Within 15 minutes of class sweat is dripping off my nose and plopping onto the carpeted studio floor.

Running. Forget about it. Drenched.

Hiking. I’m a walking salt lick for Riggins.

Swimming. Oh how I love swimming. In the pool we are all equal. No one is starring at me thinking, “wow, that freak is going to die of dehydration.” No one can tell how much I sweat. The pool is the great sweat equalizer and that makes it beautiful!

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