Endings. Beginnings.
When I went to audition for the agency:
I read the "sides". Wanted to do my monologue which I had prepared so well. Casting Agent (forgot his name) said, "You don't need to do your monologue. You're GOOD. You're in."
Life is funny. Life's a $#%$# riot!!
So now I have an agent. Who knows? Maybe I'll get a national commercial and make tons of money from residuals. Maybe I'll get a juicy role in a film and make tons of money.
Whatever. I did love being a working actor. I've missed it a bit. Getting back into it would be a blast.
By the way, I am doing yoga next to Jennifer Anniston in the movie that was shot here in Portland - "Management" I haven't seen the movie. It got lousy reviews.
I gave a demo class for seniors in North Portland. Really really old, frail people. Older and frailer than anyone I'd ever taught. A half hour was more than enough. The last part was done sitting in chairs. I found it to be really challenging. It certainly gave me ideas about The Gentle Way to Fitness!
I won't give this class unless more people are interested. It's not practical.
I've asked Jeremy to come with his drums to my Tuesday afternoon class. We'll use the music he created for the first track. I'd like to have it videotaped.
Jeremy's plan is to get all the tracks done in the "demo" form as he did the first track. Then we'll tweak them, add details, make any changes we want.
I'll do the choreography the same way. Have a general sense of it for each track.
So far the first track - warm up - is to just get people to move, wake up their joints, muscles, blood flow, awareness. The name, Indian Sunrise. Oh yeah!
Haven't called Douglas (videographer and editor) in ages. I keep thinking I will and then I don't. He hasn't called or emailed me.
Friday, May 29, 2009
Monday, May 25, 2009
Back in the Saddle Again
Okay, what's the progress on the DVD?
Saturday night we went to hear one of the bands Jeremy's in. The main band playing was "Sneakin' In." Triple wow! Hard rock style. Three guys. One on a mandolin like I've never heard before. The main guy played on a contraption of several instruments and the base guitar player - full of personality as well as phenomenal talent. How do people get this way? Basic talent and inspiration - 1 percent - maybe 2 percent. 99 percent perspiration - practice practice practice.
So all day today, I'm running the lines over and over for tomorrow's rendition of "God" (see previous blog). Whatever I do won't be enough - and it will be enough because it will be whatever it is. I know I've rarely been quite willing or believe in my abilities quite enough to put in the practice practice practice to go through to the end. I see it in everything I do. AND it's OKAY! It's a choice.
Fantasy of putting in the 1001 percent to make this DVD. My fear is that no matter how much I put into it, the basic genius isn't there - that 1 percent.
Don't even want to go there.
So I let myself be okay with the results of the practice I do - the preparation for the performances I'm in, for the classes I take and the classes I teach.
The flip side. It was gratifying to wake up this morning with the task before me. It was getting back into the saddle of the ride I took so many times in the past when I was actively performing in plays etc. It felt good to have something very definite to do - something measurable. I can measure how well I memorize the piece. Check it after each rendition to see if I've got it word for word. I remembered all the techniques I used over the years to prepare for an audition and/or a performance.
Car got a flat tire. It got handled. I'll have wheels to go to the audition tomorrow morning and to teach the Nia class in the afternoon.
Planning to get together with Jeremy for more music creation.
Saturday night we went to hear one of the bands Jeremy's in. The main band playing was "Sneakin' In." Triple wow! Hard rock style. Three guys. One on a mandolin like I've never heard before. The main guy played on a contraption of several instruments and the base guitar player - full of personality as well as phenomenal talent. How do people get this way? Basic talent and inspiration - 1 percent - maybe 2 percent. 99 percent perspiration - practice practice practice.
So all day today, I'm running the lines over and over for tomorrow's rendition of "God" (see previous blog). Whatever I do won't be enough - and it will be enough because it will be whatever it is. I know I've rarely been quite willing or believe in my abilities quite enough to put in the practice practice practice to go through to the end. I see it in everything I do. AND it's OKAY! It's a choice.
Fantasy of putting in the 1001 percent to make this DVD. My fear is that no matter how much I put into it, the basic genius isn't there - that 1 percent.
Don't even want to go there.
So I let myself be okay with the results of the practice I do - the preparation for the performances I'm in, for the classes I take and the classes I teach.
The flip side. It was gratifying to wake up this morning with the task before me. It was getting back into the saddle of the ride I took so many times in the past when I was actively performing in plays etc. It felt good to have something very definite to do - something measurable. I can measure how well I memorize the piece. Check it after each rendition to see if I've got it word for word. I remembered all the techniques I used over the years to prepare for an audition and/or a performance.
Car got a flat tire. It got handled. I'll have wheels to go to the audition tomorrow morning and to teach the Nia class in the afternoon.
Planning to get together with Jeremy for more music creation.
Saturday, May 23, 2009
GOD
There She is in Her chaotic workroom.
2o feet tall
Birkenstock shoes
Denim skirt fastened at the waist with a safety pin
Off-the-shoulder blouse falling off the shoulder
Her hair is streaked with gray and flies about
Her face is glorious
And Her voice is awe inspiring
But Her eyes are distracted
It's no wonder
The orders are pouring in from Earth.
"Make my baby well."
"Stop war."
"That lying, cheating, son-of-a bitch husband. I still love him. I want him back."
"Send rain."
"Stop the rain."
"If you send me a bicycle, I'll stop beating brother."
She's trying desperately to fill the orders, but the fan mail keeps piling in:
"Our Father
Thou art Mighty and Terrible
We fall to our knees and praise Thee."
When will they learn?
She throws it in the garbage-in file along with the complaints and curses.
And She has other things pressing.
That tree She's been working on needs just one more little dab of brown.
And that perfect Ocelot is almost ready to be born
Oops, the tail slipped off again.
Oh well.
She grabs a pile of blessings and scatters them over the Earth.
One of them should land in the right place.
That silly woman down there keeps nagging Her for a perfect mate.
How many have there been already?
God runs her miraculous hands through her spectacular hair.
She sighs and another Jazz group forms.
She checks the time.
"Thank Me, it's time for a break!
Maybe I'll go to one of those church suppers they keep asking me to attend."
She trips over the pile of money she's been meaning to send to that guy who's researching New Energy.
Oh well, tomorrow's another day!
2o feet tall
Birkenstock shoes
Denim skirt fastened at the waist with a safety pin
Off-the-shoulder blouse falling off the shoulder
Her hair is streaked with gray and flies about
Her face is glorious
And Her voice is awe inspiring
But Her eyes are distracted
It's no wonder
The orders are pouring in from Earth.
"Make my baby well."
"Stop war."
"That lying, cheating, son-of-a bitch husband. I still love him. I want him back."
"Send rain."
"Stop the rain."
"If you send me a bicycle, I'll stop beating brother."
She's trying desperately to fill the orders, but the fan mail keeps piling in:
"Our Father
Thou art Mighty and Terrible
We fall to our knees and praise Thee."
When will they learn?
She throws it in the garbage-in file along with the complaints and curses.
And She has other things pressing.
That tree She's been working on needs just one more little dab of brown.
And that perfect Ocelot is almost ready to be born
Oops, the tail slipped off again.
Oh well.
She grabs a pile of blessings and scatters them over the Earth.
One of them should land in the right place.
That silly woman down there keeps nagging Her for a perfect mate.
How many have there been already?
God runs her miraculous hands through her spectacular hair.
She sighs and another Jazz group forms.
She checks the time.
"Thank Me, it's time for a break!
Maybe I'll go to one of those church suppers they keep asking me to attend."
She trips over the pile of money she's been meaning to send to that guy who's researching New Energy.
Oh well, tomorrow's another day!
Memorial Day Weekend
Well it's the Saturday before the Monday we think about the people who have given their bodies to war. Does that include all the people who are still alive with parts of themselves missing or damaged? There must be a way to come to agreement - I don't say "another" way, because I believe war isn't a way - isn't even a beginning of a way.
I've been doing other things besides focusing on creating the DVD. I let my addictive tendency take over - watched hours and hours and hours of a series "RESCUE ME" via Crackle. I watched on the computer. Steve checked in on me several times during the wee hours of the morning. He urged me to come to bed to sleep. I told him I was an adult and would do what I wanted to do - which was give in to temptation. Hah.
In the end, does it matter?
I'm pretty much played out. I didn't watch every single episode. I skipped to the last one thinking it might tie things up the way the last part of a book does. It didn't.
It's a gorgeous day today.
Oh yeah, I have an audition with a theatrical agent to see if I'm worthy of representation. If they deem it to be so, they'll send me out on calls to see if directors of film, TV, voiceovers and prints want to hire me. I used to do this. It's been awhile. The only thing I've done lately is a couple of extra gigs. On one of the gigs I got to do yoga next to Jennifer Anniston in a film that got less than enthusiastic reviews. The name of the film is Management.
For the audition, I'm going to do a piece I wrote. It's part of a little booklet I self-published awhile back - Messages to God and My Other Friends. I'll put it on another post.
I've been doing other things besides focusing on creating the DVD. I let my addictive tendency take over - watched hours and hours and hours of a series "RESCUE ME" via Crackle. I watched on the computer. Steve checked in on me several times during the wee hours of the morning. He urged me to come to bed to sleep. I told him I was an adult and would do what I wanted to do - which was give in to temptation. Hah.
In the end, does it matter?
I'm pretty much played out. I didn't watch every single episode. I skipped to the last one thinking it might tie things up the way the last part of a book does. It didn't.
It's a gorgeous day today.
Oh yeah, I have an audition with a theatrical agent to see if I'm worthy of representation. If they deem it to be so, they'll send me out on calls to see if directors of film, TV, voiceovers and prints want to hire me. I used to do this. It's been awhile. The only thing I've done lately is a couple of extra gigs. On one of the gigs I got to do yoga next to Jennifer Anniston in a film that got less than enthusiastic reviews. The name of the film is Management.
For the audition, I'm going to do a piece I wrote. It's part of a little booklet I self-published awhile back - Messages to God and My Other Friends. I'll put it on another post.
Monday, May 18, 2009
How the @#$#@ do I do this?
So I wanted to get my picture in the title banner. So I got it in as a post. I gotta find a 12 year old to teach me how to do these things!
Sunday, May 17, 2009
Learning How to Use Technology
This old dog is willing to learn new tricks. It took me awhile to get onto this post tonight. Practice Practice Practice.
I'm going to learn how to use an IPOD or an MP3. I actually have an MP3 Steve got at Good Will.
Everyone I ask about these mysteries tells me it's not difficult. Hey, I learned to type on a manual typewriter. My family had one of the first TV's. It's been quite a journey. I was born in 1933. Many of my acquaintances have never heard of Danny Kaye.
It's okay. They say you're reborn at age 52. I met Steve when I was 52. I learned how to use a computer at that age. We moved to Portland, OR when I was 52. Talk about being reborn!
Life is exciting once I get over the fear of all these dang gadgets!
So Jeremy sent me 13plus minutes of music for the first track of The Gentle Way. I think it's lovely. I'm listening to it now. It's very soothing!
I'm going to learn how to use an IPOD or an MP3. I actually have an MP3 Steve got at Good Will.
Everyone I ask about these mysteries tells me it's not difficult. Hey, I learned to type on a manual typewriter. My family had one of the first TV's. It's been quite a journey. I was born in 1933. Many of my acquaintances have never heard of Danny Kaye.
It's okay. They say you're reborn at age 52. I met Steve when I was 52. I learned how to use a computer at that age. We moved to Portland, OR when I was 52. Talk about being reborn!
Life is exciting once I get over the fear of all these dang gadgets!
So Jeremy sent me 13plus minutes of music for the first track of The Gentle Way. I think it's lovely. I'm listening to it now. It's very soothing!
Wednesday, May 13, 2009
Do What You Can and Forget the Rest
Woke up this morning to the news. Intel is being fined billions for breaking the rules. I was hooked. Really upset. What's the matter with people? Expressed my feelings to Steve. Wise wonderful Steve reminded me that it's a useless waste of energy to focus on something beyond my control. The integrity of concern is mine. So I vacuumed the floor and got down on it and did the Nia 5 Stages! I did them in a way that took into account the rug and my creaky morning joints. Adapt and adjust. Don't know yet about floor work on the DVD.
I have a call into Jayne Scott at Beaverton Arts Commission.
I see two more friends on this blog. Jill and Danielle. I think it would be good to figure out a way to really use this blog. Right now it's more of a journal than anything else. So who wants to read my journal?
Is a blog something that other people can benefit from??
Blog - what a funny term. I'd write about that, but I gotta get ready for teaching at Friendly House.
I have a call into Jayne Scott at Beaverton Arts Commission.
I see two more friends on this blog. Jill and Danielle. I think it would be good to figure out a way to really use this blog. Right now it's more of a journal than anything else. So who wants to read my journal?
Is a blog something that other people can benefit from??
Blog - what a funny term. I'd write about that, but I gotta get ready for teaching at Friendly House.
Tuesday, May 12, 2009
Everything Counts
Today I taught a Nia class at Elsie Stuhr Senior Center. The focus was the neck. I gave the women (no men in this class) a great handout with diagrams and information. My students seem to really like handouts with in-depth information on the focus. I did a little bit with Play-A-Weights (something Carlos did for awhile and then stopped). Most of the students appreciated it. One student said it was too much for her and she didn't do as many "repititions." I may or may not include something like this in the DVD.
Thinking about the DVD. I want to make sure that by the end of the workout, all the body parts are given attention. I'm thinking that it will be in three parts: The DVD, the CD and a booklet. Buyers can purchase them separately or all three together with a discount. I was given a name to contact for grant or loan information. I now have a few leads about this. I realize it is important for me to put together an intelligent budget. That will take some research. Sometimes I feel in overwhelm. But then, if I take it step by step, bite by bite, that's the journey. I'm thinking to cut back on some of my other activities - like my art projects. I can certainly limit watching television now that I've joined Netflix.
Working on the insomnia. I think the Network Chiropratic adjustments will be VERY helpful. Also cutting out sugar and eating late at night. Last night I slept SO well. I had great energy all day as a result. Yay.
Thinking about the DVD. I want to make sure that by the end of the workout, all the body parts are given attention. I'm thinking that it will be in three parts: The DVD, the CD and a booklet. Buyers can purchase them separately or all three together with a discount. I was given a name to contact for grant or loan information. I now have a few leads about this. I realize it is important for me to put together an intelligent budget. That will take some research. Sometimes I feel in overwhelm. But then, if I take it step by step, bite by bite, that's the journey. I'm thinking to cut back on some of my other activities - like my art projects. I can certainly limit watching television now that I've joined Netflix.
Working on the insomnia. I think the Network Chiropratic adjustments will be VERY helpful. Also cutting out sugar and eating late at night. Last night I slept SO well. I had great energy all day as a result. Yay.
Monday, May 11, 2009
Acceptance
What I realize after a session of this GENTLE kind of chiropractics is that there isn't any one way. It's a combination. I'm in decent shape, but not perfect. My spine wasn't in perfect alignment. So I must be careful to make a video that does what it can do, knowing that it can't do it all. I want to encourage people to pay attention to nutrition, thoughts, life-style and natural deterioration. It's difficult for me to accept natural deterioration; but I'm learning.
Thinking about the beginning. I usually start my classes with the Walking Exercise combined with awareness and exploration. I will probably do that on the DVD.
Jeremy is working on the first piece. I'm looking forward to free dancing to it to find the choreography. Patience. Patience.
Thinking about the beginning. I usually start my classes with the Walking Exercise combined with awareness and exploration. I will probably do that on the DVD.
Jeremy is working on the first piece. I'm looking forward to free dancing to it to find the choreography. Patience. Patience.
I am going to use the blog as an ongoing journal for myself and for anyone who is interested in how this woman (me) lives an extraordinary life - which I do. I feel so very blessed to be on the planet at this time, in this place, with this family, friends and teachers, with books, films, theater and NATURE. I could spend hours just observing, smelling, listening to and even tasting one tree - drawing it, writing about it, dancing it.
So far today, I made my greens, took vitamins and special woman formula. I did some Body Talk (access technique). Then I followed directions to create this blog. A friend has told me I could add pictures in the title box. ??
Next I'm learning a Nia routine called Amethyst. So beautiful! Somewhat challenging. I should be ready to teach it one day!
This afternoon I have an appointment with a Network Chiropractor, Elliott Mantell. More about that another time.
Back to Nia!
So far today, I made my greens, took vitamins and special woman formula. I did some Body Talk (access technique). Then I followed directions to create this blog. A friend has told me I could add pictures in the title box. ??
Next I'm learning a Nia routine called Amethyst. So beautiful! Somewhat challenging. I should be ready to teach it one day!
This afternoon I have an appointment with a Network Chiropractor, Elliott Mantell. More about that another time.
Back to Nia!
It has begun
This blog will be about a project I am passionate about. We are making a DVD and CD - The Gentle Way to Fitness. As the title indicates, this will be a video which will fill a need. The music is being especially composed for this journey to total fitness of body, mind, emotions and spirit. The "class" will be led by me, Kaycheri. I have had extensive experience in sports, yoga, dance, theater and Nia. I have my Black Belt in Nia. If you don't know what Nia is, check it out on www.nianow.com.
The impetus for making this video came from my students who found other videos too demanding and got discouraged. They wanted a video like the classes I give.
I'm finding out what it takes to make a video.
Skill
Dedication
Passion
MONEY
I have the first three. I am hungry to find out how I can raise the MONEY. I need to create a budget. ALL suggestions are WELCOME! I would LOVE to have someone come forth as an Executive Producer. Any takers?
I am certain that this project has enormous potential. There are thousands, maybe millions of people who want The Gentle Way to Fitness DVD and CD.
The impetus for making this video came from my students who found other videos too demanding and got discouraged. They wanted a video like the classes I give.
I'm finding out what it takes to make a video.
Skill
Dedication
Passion
MONEY
I have the first three. I am hungry to find out how I can raise the MONEY. I need to create a budget. ALL suggestions are WELCOME! I would LOVE to have someone come forth as an Executive Producer. Any takers?
I am certain that this project has enormous potential. There are thousands, maybe millions of people who want The Gentle Way to Fitness DVD and CD.
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