Asa cum am promis o sa va las aici o lista cu cateva din piesele mele preferate de la Dropkick Murphys , Flogging Molly , The Dubliners si The Pogues, Ronan Hardiman, Lord Of The Dance.

Enjoy!

[If you're still keeping count, I've reached October with my reviews.]

Riverdance is a group of (Irish) tap dancers. They’re currently on their farewell tour.

The Show:
Riverdance the Show features about 20 songs, most of which are Irish folk songs and about 20 dancers. They’re mostly tapdancing.

I’ll keep this review short since you either know already what Riverdance is about or you’re not really interested in dancing. Either way, reading a long-ass review will probably bore you.

I liked the show though it had its lengths, especially when they started to sing. The whole thing is interfused with mystic imagery and I wouldn’t have needed that. But I was very well entertained for the duration of the show.

What comes to mind when you think of the polka? (If you’ve never really thought about the polka, this is your chance.) For me it conjures memories of barn dances in the tiny little town of Tripp, South Dakota. As a child I’d travel to Tripp every couple of years to visit my father’s family.

I remember playing gin rummy for pennies, meticulously working on paint-by-number canvases and hitting a nearby barn to dance with my father long into the night. (We took frequent breaks for authentic German sausages and Shirley Temples.) My father is a man of few compliments, but he sometimes lets it slip that he likes two things about my dancing: that I’m good at following a lead, and that I never tire out.

I thought of my grandparents from South Dakota, long ago deceased, when I discovered that the Phoenix Symphony is playing “Strauss: Waltzes and Polkas this weekend (November 27th and 28th at Phoenix Symphony Hall and November 29th at Mesa Arts Center). It’s a rare opportunity to enjoy the dance music of bygone days, and an especially good choice if you have grandparents visiting for the holidays.

If you prefer more traditional holiday fare, you can enjoy Frances Smith Cohen’s The Snow Queen presented by Center Dance Ensemble Saturdays and Sundays December 5^th-20^th at the Herberger Theater Center in Phoenix. Jennifer danced in the Snow Queen for many years, and we always found pure joy both backstage and in the audience.

It’s hard to understate the importance of keeping the joy in dance, which is something Susan Silverman and Frances Cohen do so beautifully during dance classes, recitals and summer camps with Dance Theater West in Phoenix. This is where my daughters first caught the joy of movement (although Jennifer seemed to have an inkling in utero).

When Jennifer and I last hit the Mesa Arts Center, we enjoyed African dance along with the music of Playing for Change. (I’ve never seen more boomers boogying in one place before!) Next month, we can hit MAC to enjoy two holiday dance performances…

First, Christmas Wishes presented by Arizona Desert Dance (December 11^th at 7pm), which features dancers age two through adult. Audience members two and under get in free. Second, Spirit of Christmas presented by The Christian Dance Company (December 17^th at 7:30pm), which features a cast of more than 100 dancers and singers.

If we just can’t wait that long, we can try the AZDance Group’s Christmas Dance Concert on December 7th at 6:30pm at the Tempe Center for the Arts. The event features guest dancer Astrit Zejnat from Ballet Arizona, the AZDance professional dance roster and the Movement E-Motion dance program for “individuals with different abilities.”

If you’re a fan of The Nutcracker ballet, you’ll have plenty of options this year. Consider taking in more than one so you can enjoy the variety of sets, costumes and talented performers. This piece never gets old.

First up is The Nutcracker presented by Ballet and Friends (November 27^th-29^th) at the Herberger Theater Center in Phoenix. These performances benefit the U.S. Marine Corps Reserve ‘Toys for Tots’ program.

This weekend you can also enjoy The Nutcracker presented by Ballet Etudes, which I’ve long admired for its mix of ethereal and whimsical costumes and sets. It runs Fridays through Sundays November 27^th –December 13^th at the Mesa Arts Center. Never mind about the missing theater seat—it’s the one I took home to install in my teen taxi because it was so comfy. Kidding!

Ballet Arizona performs Ib Andersen’s The Nutcracker December 11^th-27^th at Symphony Hall in Phoenix. Music will be performed by the Phoenix Symphony (except for performances on the 26^th and 27^th). The Ballet Arizona box office has special hours today and tomorrow for folks who want to get a jump on securing the best seats. (Ask them as well about their magical Nutcracker Party on December 5^th.)

Lizabeth has danced the roles of bon bon/Mother Ginger’s child, grandfather mouse and party girl—but will be appearing instead this year in a “darker, edgier” version of Oliver! with Greasepaint Youtheatre. (I had a great time working backstage for The Nutcracker but doubt I’ll miss picking all those stray bobby pins off the children’s rehearsal room floor.) Liz was an Arabian Dancer for The Nutcracker Children’s Party. Cute tummy!

An Irish Nutcracker will be presented by the Celtic Dance Academy on December 19^th and 20^th (at the Mesa Arts Center). Kids three and younger get in free for this gig (jig?). Yup—there’s pretty much always something fun going on at the MAC! (Today’s teaser: Think Tupperware meets theatrics.)

This will get you in the mood to see Riverdance when their tour hits Arizona in January. Or to hit Randy’s restaurant in Scottsdale for authentic Irish food come St. Patrick’s Day 2010. Wearers of the green (I married one) can never plan too far ahead.

Finally, you can enjoy the Moscow Ballet’s Great Russian Nutcracker Tuesday, December 22^nd at 7:30pm at the Dodge Theatre in Phoenix (a venue Lizabeth and I enjoyed for Riverdance when she was just a few years into violin studies).

Dancing our way in December are three non-holiday performances that sound seriously intriguing. There’s life beyond eggnog, so let’s talk about these too…

SCC Dance of Scottsdale Community College presents Instinct Dance Corps, SCC Moving Company and the Scottsdale Arizona Jazz Ensemble performing Muscle Memory Implications at 8pm on December 4^th and 5^th at the ASU Studio Theatre in Tempe.

Enjoy an entire weekend of dance by adding another performance to your calendar. Emerging Artists I Resite takes place December 4^th and 5^th from 8pm to midnight at two Phoenix locations. The first night is free, as part of Phoenix’s First Friday program. Tickets are $7-$20 for night number two, taking place at Bragg’s Pie Factory. The event features paint, sound and text created through the Tumbleweed Center for Youth Development.

An annual dance festival—Breaking Ground 2009—with CONDER/dance takes place at the Tempe Center for the Arts December 11^th and 12^th. According to event organizers, it features “diverse high caliber offerings from contemporary choreographers and film makers from across the country.” All I need to know is that I can enjoy the view of lights twinkling over the water from this venue. That pretty much stops me in my tracks.

You could choose just one. But why? Tickets are all reasonably priced, and you might stumble upon some deals if you pay careful attention (signing up for venue/company e-mail alerts is my tried-and-true method of learning about special ticket offers).

It’s not Tripp, South Dakota, of course. But maybe that’s a good thing…

–Lynn

Update:

Paradise Valley Community College (PVCC) presents their Fall Dance Collection Dec. 4th and 5th at 7:30pm at PVCC’s Center for the Performing Arts featuring guest and student choreography, a fusion of modern and jazz dance, acrobatics and more.

Check out www.ticketmaster.com for upcoming holiday dance performances at the Orpheum Theatre in Phoenix, including The Gift of the Magi with DanceMotion (Dec. 12/13) and Nutcracker 2009 with Ballet Academy (Dec. 22/23).

Coming soon: Boys who ballet, Getting that good vibe during voice lessons

Note: For complete details about performance dates/times, ticket sales, etc. please contact the presenting company and/or venue. If you know of another 2009 dance performances for children, teens or families, please use the comment section below to share what you know. Thanks!

Oi gente, tudo bem?

Esse final de semana foi a vez da FUVEST assombrar os amiguinhos vestibulandos, e eis que lhes conto, como foi essa incrível jornada.

Espero que vocês não tenham lido esse post ainda, porque eu publiquei ele agora a tarde, mas percebi que faltou muita coisa ! Então se vocês já leram, leiam de novo.

20/11 – Saída de Cascavel

Tudo já estava meio caótico antes da saída de Cascavel. Minha mãe estava mau-humorada, a mala estava pesada e minha vontade de viajar era praticamente nula. Partindo desse ponto a coisa toda só piorou.

Entramos no ônibus e aquele cheiro característico já tomou conta de mim. É um odor que mistura essência de banheiro, chips de criança e vapor de água. Cheiro de ônibus tem propriedade física de me enjoar instantaneamente então já fui pra minha poltrona com uma certa raiva inicial, que aqui chamaremos de R0.

Passado algum tempo de viagem, cheguei a conclusão de que um senhor, sentado naquelas últimas poltronas, não iria calar a boca. Aqui R já é diferente de 0.

Sei que parece meio rude (meio?) e meio hipócrita (porque quando eu viajo com a angela a gente NÃO para de falar) reclamar desse senhor, mas eu estava me irritando tanto, tanto, tanto, que numa raiva osmótica fiz minha mãe levantar e pedir pra ele falar mais baixo.

Nessa altura do campeonato já tinham ido 2 horas de viagem e eu já sabia mais coisas da vida daquele senhor do que ele próprio.

Mas como o universo é perfeito e a nossa vida não é tanto, num claro exemplo de Murphy não colaborando comigo, veio a vontade súbita de fazer xixi. E como é sabido, fazer xixi em ônibus é sempre um desafio às leis da física.

Você mulher sabe bem o que estou falando. Ao contrário dos homens, é necessário que a mulher estime um ângulo perfeito (diferente de 0°, 90° e 180°) entre quadril, perna e tronco, que permite a saída do xixi sem que você lambuze as pernas, os seus sapatos ou sua própria calça. É claro que você não vai sentar na privada (mais conhecida como buraco de ônibus), porque aquilo ali é simplesmente nojento.

É importante ressaltar que ao contrário dos homens, onde a gravidade altera Vy do filtrado glomerular, as mulheres devem liberar a urina com uma velocidade inicial (Vo) diferente de 0, para que o líquido tenha força o suficiente para não esparramar-se pelas nádegas. (E isso meus queridos, é uma arte)

No mais, o chacoalhar do ônibus não ajuda a manutenção do ângulo e o evento da “bexiga tímida” geralmente não ajuda na manutenção da pressão da uretra. Então, ou você se mija inteira ou nas próprias calças.

Por isso, nunca é um bom negócio ir no banheiro no ônibus. Tricky!

Depois de tudo isso, acabamos parando nos “Três Pinheiros”, fiz xixi, me acalmei e dormi relativamente bem até chegar em curitiba, o que na realidade é um advento, porque geralmente não consigo dormir em ônibus.

***

A chegada em Curitiba

Chegamos na cidade-cinza às 6h da manhã. Ótimo. O meu corpo parecia ter sido pisoteado pelo elenco do Riverdance e como ainda não me curei daqueles problemitchas que tive, meu ouvido continuava trancado e minha cabeça explodia devido a uma conta errada na dosagem e administração do amado rivotril. Adoro.

Pegamos um táxi e fomos para o hotel, que ficava do ladinho-inho da Praça Osório.

Chegando lá (mas que vergonha.. só tinha maconha ♫) o recepcionista do hotel foi categórico em afirmar:

- As senhoras não têm reserva aqui.

Pronto.

Invocaram o Charizard que existe dentro de mim.

Não fiz escândalo, claro, porque sou da burguesia proletária, e não da nobreza mucho loca. Então só fiquei um pouco indignada, mas logo depois o Entei apareceu e ficou tudo bem.

Com tudo resolvido, conseguimos arrumar o quarto, subimos e dormimos loucamente. Eu, particularmente, dormi até o meio dia, depois almoçamos e passei o dia inteiro vendo Lie to Me e depois Glee!

Nessa saída do almoço, quando eu estava indo conferir o meu local de prova, fomos abordadas por um projeto da UFPR para doação de medula. A ideia era se cadastrar para ingressar o banco nacional de doadores de medula, só preenchendo uma ficha e doando um pouco de sangue, para que fossem feitos os exames (de compatibilidade e zás). Fiquei super contentezinha porque sempre tive vontade de fazer isso, mas nunca me desloquei até o banco de sangue para fazê-lo. E

No mais, não saí do hotel. Minha mãe saía, pegava comida pra mim e eu tinha tudo o que precisava dentro do quarto. Quem viu minha mãe trazer a quantidade de lanches que ela trouxe, talvez pensou que ela estivesse alimentando um pequeno boi.

Aí, num surto de responsabilidade, decidi começar a ler alguma coisa de resumo, porque até então estava super calma.

Na realidade, estava calma até demais. Tinha passado o dia super bem, me entupindo de comidas duvidosas e nem estava pensando na prova.

É claro que essa situação começou a mudar mais a noite, e eu já notava alguns sinais de ansiedade, como os pés inquietos, a leitura rápida e vaga, a incapacidade de dormir e as idas constantes ao banheiro.

Por fim, fui dormir loucamente tarde. Gosto de viver perigosamente.

-n

***

Domingo – dia do abate – 22/11

Acordei com sono. Mas também pudera né, fui dormir super tarde porque fiquei lendo sobre a situação africana (que por sinal caiu na prova mais tarde).

Uma das coisas que mais detesto em ficar nervosa é o fato de não conseguir comer direito. O estômago fica intolerável e metidinho, e dessa vez não foi diferente.

Eu não estava MUITO nervosa, mas já dava pra notar aquela coisinha diferente. Fomos tomar café e eu mal comi. (O que refletiu na prova mais tarde, com minha barriga fazendo mil barulhos).

Voltei pro quarto e o esperado era ler um pouco mais, em especial alguma coisa de literatura, só pra revisar. Mas dormi.

Só acordei na hora de ir pro local de prova.

Ok.

Fui. Respirando fundo, com meu relógio no braço e tentando manter a calma.

Lá na frente da Facinter (meu local de prova) já tinha uma GALERA concentrada e aquela típica distribuição de quinquilaria antes da prova.

Dessa vez fiquei feliz, porque ganhei um bloquinho super lindo do Colégio Dom Bosco (que ironicamente usou uma sacolinha do COC para entregar os kits… não me perguntem o porquê).

Fiz prova aqui ó

E eis que numa típica ação curitibana, o céu passou do sol às trevas (uuuu) e aquela ventania fez com que os fiscais abrissem as portas (da esperança?), esperando evitar uma aglomeração maior debaixo de chuva.

E olha, o tempo fechou FEIO hein? (depois posto mais fotos aqui, não to com a câmera agora).

Como vocês podem ver na foto, o prédio da Facinter é uma loucura. Por fora, parece ser construído com o dinheiro do café em 1912, e por dentro, parece um shopping Chinês Pequim 2008. É engraçadissimo e lindamente irônico. Tem uns 6 ou 7 andares (contando os inferiores) todos cheios de escadas rolantes, e um irritante elevador que parava e fazia “Plim” o tempo todo.

Fomos todos pra dentro porque o céu estava caindo, e ainda faltavam uma hora e meia pro início da prova. E poxa, que tempo longo e chato. A relatividade mostrou suas garras.

E como eu sou uma moça sortuda tive o prazer de escolher o melhor lugar pra ficar aguardando.

Do meu lado pararam 2 alunos do Positivo, com suas camisetas amarelas e seus níveis de “Semancol” baixíssimos. E pronto, lá fui eu aguentar aquele “Papo de Vestibulando Prepotente” até liberarem a entrada das salas.

Pra quem não sabe o PVP é aquele tipo de conversa que prioriza:

a) Passar supremacia: Geralmente mostrando que não é a primeira vez que você está fazendo FUVEST, que você está super calmo (mesmo que esteja se mijando) e que você fez 89/90 no ano passado e não foi chamado pra 2ª fase e outros absurdos.

b) Assustar o concorrente: Geralmente contando vantagens dizendo que passou na PUC ou em faculdades fictícias, você assustará o seu concorrente.

E esse estilo de conversa geralmente envolve:

- Falar alto, para que o prédio inteiro te escute.

- Rir, para disfarçar o nervosismo.

- Citar frase de filósofos.

- Citar algumas partes da matéria das quais você tem conhecimento.

- Iniciar alguma frase com “Ano passado na 2ª fase, ….”

E foi isso que eu aguentei até a hora que os fiscais mandaram a gente subir.

E passado todo o lenga-lenga, e eu tentando encontrar alguns conhecidos da “Vestibulandos de Medicina”, entrei na minha sala e tive um princípio de infarto (qqqq).

O fiscal da minha sala era um senhor bem fofo, que sempre é fiscal da unicamp também (sim, todo ano eu o vejo) e é sempre muito gente boa, mas dessa vez ele me assustou.

Cheguei na porta, peguei a identidade toda sorridente e empolgada, até que ele perguntou:

- Trouxe o comprovante de inscrição?

QQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQ

Respondi, quase branca de medo:

- Não??

E aquele momento durou pra sempre. Foram segundos eternos até que ele disse que não tinha importância, e que eu poderia fazer a prova.

De boa gente, eu quase me mijei inteira.

dsjfisdfsodkfdf

mas no fim, sentei na minha carteira e recebi outra supresa (OLOCO quanta coisa).

O WILL apareceu por lá, me deu oi e tal, foi super fofo, e aí me entregou uma carta. QQQQQQ. Uma carta que o Déco escreveu via msn, para que eu lesse antes da prova.

Ai gente, derreti eternamente né?! Já tava abobada de ter conhecido o Willzito, e de repente recebo uma cartinha super fofa, dizendo pra eu ter concentração e zás durante a prova. Awww, achei super bonitinho!

O Déco tem sido uma das pessoas que mais tem me ajudado nisso tudo, e tomara que ele seja meu veterano ano que vem! HUAHAUHA ! Então obrigada eternamente déco. *ABRAÇO VIRTUAL*

Outro abraço pra angela, pq ela acabou de vir aqui no msn pedir pra eu mandar um abraço pra ela via blog.  HDIASHDOASDAJSd BRINKS PARCINHA.

Enfim, voltando…

Demorou mais alguns milênios pro início da prova, e eu continuava com uma calma estranha, que parecia que ia EXPLODIR (e grazadeus não o fez).

Comecei a fazer a prova e ia controlando o tempo com meu relógio do Faustão. E esse meu relógio gigante acabou ajudando um monte de gente, porque o fiscal não podia falar as horas, mas o meu relógio apitava de hora em hora (que nem a telesena qqq)

Não faça como essa moça! Nunca use lápis com apontador na prova. JDISAJDJ é morte, perda de tempo total!

E meu deus, a prova não estava difícil, mas não estava fácil. A prova estava FUVEST de ser. E eu estava excepcionalmente concentrada (mi-la-gre).

Em compensação, eu estava loucamente desastrada. Acho que nunca fiz tanta merda em sala quanto dessa vez.

Derrubei garrafa de água, mudei a carteira de lugar, fiz barulho, comi aqueles mini bis, que eu colocava na tampinha e fazia “PA PAPAPAPAPA PAPAPA”… e todo aquele pessoal olhando torto, e eu tussia, fdjsfj aí eu me virava, mexia a bunda naquela carteira super desconfortável, hfhdsfhdshfs e sinceramente acho que meus concorrentes teriam me LINXADO se não fosse meu relógio salvador. KKKK SEUS INTERESSEIROS.

E a prova foi basicamente o que é a fuvest de sempre.

Caiu tirinha da Mafalda, e gente… Sério… Só D-US sabe como eu odeio a Mafalda.

Se Mafalda fosse minha filha eu a castigaria por ser tão chata, fazendo ela ler o Manifesto Comunista e obrigando-a a calar a boca quando eu mandasse. KKKK ALGUEM DEVIA FAZER ISSO VIU MAFALDA, SUA INSUPORTÁVEL

***

Em Português e Literatura caiu o esperado. Sempre textos, boas questões, onde eu me superei e lembrei de silepse de gênero kkk pqp nao acredito ainda. Caiu também Capitães de Areia, o Cortiço e Vinícius de Moraes, que foram as únicas obras recentemente catalogadas e consequentemente as menos exploradas pelo vestiba.

Em História caiu um pouco de tudo. Desde Cesarismo, sistema de servidão até eleições do Mandela, Apartheid e zás. Achei bem menos difícil do que nos anos anteriores.

Biologia teve questões fáceis, médias e difíceis. Eu detesto aquelas questões que citam 3 afirmativas e ficam fazendo joguinho de combinação na resposta, tipo “I e II estão corretas” , “I está correta” e tal. Então acabei caindo em uma dessas. E claro, num momento Carla Perez meu, acabei ERRANDO a definição de código genético. Facepalm, Bruna.

Matemática foi a minha maior surpresa. Acho que eu dediquei 1h ou mais para a resolução da prova e mesmo assim não consegui resolver algumas. Tentei de tudo, consegui fazer 6 e chutei 4. ASSUSTADORAMENTE, como se o espírito de Pitágoras e Descartes tivesse baixado em mim, eu acertei as 6 que fiz, e 3 CHUTES. Sério gente. Nem eu acredito que fiz 9/10 em matemática. É um milagre.

Química estava muito bacana. Fiquei feliz em ver que os noticiários disseram que era a matéria mais difícil, porque grazadeus eu fui bem. Foi a única matéria que gabaritei (acho) e porra, fiquei muito feliz, porque gabaritar na fuvest é sonho de Ensino Médio. *-*

As questões interdisciplinares estavam chatas. Não gosto. Acho que o vestibular da UEM tem as melhores questões indisciplinares que alguém pode fazer, então acho que essa parte na fuvest fica meio aquém. Caiu desde H1N1 (porre) até cálculo de IMC. E foi nessa parte que enfiaram a porra da Mafalda, pPQPQPQPPQ.

Inglês estava susse. Ta aí um investimento bem feito na vida: curso de inglês, kkk.

E pra finalizar, a Geografia estava IN-FER-NAL como sempre. Não sei se sou eu que não sou lá muito globalizada, mas meu desempenho em geografia é sempre um pé no saco. Errei 2, mas mesmo assim me senti mal. Caiu questão africana (envolvendo expansão do islamismo na áfrica subsaariana e darfur com os janjaweed) assim como algumas coisinhas erradas sobre o Taleban, e outro sobre os muçulmanos no oeste da China (que por um milagre, acertei). Também caiu outra coisa que eu NUNCA acerto (e não foi desse vez que acertei) que é a distribuição de extração mineral no Brasil.

Eu odeio isso. É aquela coisa de associar “Manganês – Maciço do Urucum”, “Alumínio – Carajás”, “Carvão- Criciumajfidjfj” fdsofkdok sei lá sabe.

***

eeeeeeeeeee eu corrigi o gabarito e fiz …. x questões, onde 0 < x < 90.

Não vou falar quanto fiz, porque o olho gordo é brabo ne hufsdhuifhsiduhfs e eu sou tão supersticiosa quanto a dona maria da questão 9 de matemática kkk, mas acho que dá pra ir pra 2ª fase.

Agora é só esperar e estudar como se já tivesse sido aprovada! ♥

E muito obrigada  pra todo mundo que torceu e zás ♥ obrigada mesmo, de coração!

E agora é vamo que vamo, tem UEM, tem UNIFESP e tem 2ªs fases.

Beijos pra todos que conseguiram ler esse versículo bíblico.

Palavras da Salvação.

Respondam todos: Glória a vós senhor.

Jo, det gnälls ju rätt friskt på allt regn som faller så här års, men jag gnäller inte. Ju mer vatten som faller, desto mer simunderlag för gräsänder.

De är så glada nu, de runda hjältarna. I morse såg jag 14 änder stå på rad och dansa riverdance i Gårda. Det var en mäktig syn på alla sätt och vis.

Det är också därför jag älskar gräsänder. Så här års flyr många av de – under sommaren – mest bräkiga och högljudda fåglarna söderut. Andra försöker se neddekade ut och sitter otåligt vid fågelborden. Vad gör gräsänder? Jo, de dansar. Gotta love it.

Alla borde vara som gräsänder. Jag tror världen hade blivit en bättre plats och jag tror att alla håller med om det, möjligen med undantag av den där Michael Flatley.

Confiança, lealdade, aprendizado e determinação são valores mais que especiais presentes em grandes equipes. Felizes aqueles que têm o privilégio de conviver com profissionais que mantém o sincronismo mesmo em épocas turbulentas.

I’m continuing to set up my new home and business. The idea that I actually have a business to run still comes as a great surprise to me, but a pleasant one nonetheless.  I’m still learning a lot about how to do things, in some ways I feel as if I have returned to my newbie days since I have to ask people some very basic questions. I particularly feel for the Mayor, LittleBlackDuck Lindsay, he is on the receiving end of  most of my questions, IM’s and notecards, however he truly is a gentleman and responds with patience and kindness.  At the moment I am trying to decide on wallpaper, SL and RL are the same in that respect, it is very hard to choose.

There has not been much rhyme or reason in my recent SL (is that a surprise) but a bunch of little things stood out in my mind and I wanted to record them because I feel that the little daily pleasures of life are a lot more important than we recognize.

Now that Halloween has passed the next big holiday on the horizon for many is Christmas,  so decorations and other holiday related things are beginning to appear.  Janey and I went on a very pleasant sleigh-ride, complete with jingling bells and commentary, around the Mayfair sim. The sleigh follows a pre-set course so it was safe to let Janey sit in the driver’s seat as we toured the sim and saw the sights.

The Underground Club plays a major role in my social life. It is such a fun and friendly place to go for a laugh and a chat with friends. This week one of the regulars was so inspired that he asked dj Brie Janick to play some Riverdance music and he treated us all to his very own riverdance performance.  How often do you have that experience, RL or SL?

A new café, sensibly named the Underground Club Café, has opened up next to the UGC. It has a pool table, nice little café tables, a coffee machine that refused to serve me but did provide Janey with a delicious looking latte, and a wall for advertising. I was so pleased to see an Ourvirtualtrilogy ad, including a picture of the photogenic Old Bert, up on the wall. I am hoping that Old Bert will decide to pay a visit to Virtual London sometime. Perhaps he will if trivia is brought into the sim, fingers crossed.

Well, not that we didn’t love our other Shanowen friends, but there was a weekend to be had!

The departure of most of the Ohio, Towson, New York (and other) kids left us Seattlites ready to explore some uncharted Dublin territory. Caitlin, Ally, Laura, and I had a plan for the weekend already in the works, and we were with no time to lose, we were off on the Dublin City Bus to the City Centre.

Our plan? The Liffey River Cruise! It was an incredibly touristy thing to do, but hey why not? We boarded the river boat, an usually long boat that’s cabin was half underwater, half out. The sun was shining this beautiful Saturday afternoon, and it was a refreshing day to go on adventures, the the four of us.

on the Liffey River Cruise

After the cruise, Ally and I split off from Caitlin and Laura in pursuit of the majestic and enormous Phoenix Park. The second largest city park in the European Union, we rented bicycles for 5 euro to only get an hour’s worth of the park’s majesty. Majestical. That was seriously the only word I could use to describe the vastly unmatched greenness that sprawled in front of me! “Majestically riding our bikes…..” seemed to be an impromptu theme song that Ally and I belted throughout our time there.

majestically riding my bike

Phoenix Park was an absolute sanctuary. I regret not making the 10 minute bus ride journey there earlier on my trip. We rode in and out of forested roads, gardens, cricket playing fields, giant crosses, and the zoo, and playful children with their families. Ally and I would, as is our tendency, stop every so often and take some gorgeous pictures of the majesty surrounding us.

By the time we went home to Shanowen, it was time to go back out again for the night. After eating a deliciously home-cooked meal, compliments of Chef Caitlin, we surprised Laura… with a fake 21-birthday! We dubbed it her “Irish Birthday”, as a reason to provide with a giant badge and to get potentially free drinks!

pasta and wine

We took her out to our new favorite, Dandelion, and had such a great evening! We even got in without a cover, a special treat for the “birthday” girl!

The next day, after a LATE night out with some crazy blokes, Ally went straightaway to pick up her best friend Jen from the airport! Jen was visiting Ally for out last week, as well as celebrating her own birthday! This could of course, only mean a countless number of adventures to come!

The first thing Ally and I do to welcome Jen into Dublin is take her into the City Centre to catch the DART to the coastal city Howth! I had been looking forward to visiting Howth for just about my entire trip, and the moment was finally here. Jen was so adorable, taking countless pictures and making comments on everything in the city that had since become home to me. It made me think of my first week here, and those memories alone were so great to relive!

A 30 minute ride on the DART later, the three of us arrived in the small seaside town of Howth. There was a Sunday outdoor market taking place, and we all ended up buying rings from local merchants (of not more than one ring, Ally!). There were fat and hungry seals eager for tourists to throw them fishes from the local fish stand nearby, lighthouses, adorable old men, and scrumptious food. It was a wonderful day trip!

We concluded our evening with a pint of Bulmers at Messrs. MaGuire and good conversation. A wonderful week was ahead…

Not all of us enjoy the artistic nature of an interpretive dance. This is why Broadway San Jose is presenting us with amazing broadway musicals that bring us a taste of New York’s finest shows. The next show to grace the San Jose Center for performing Arts is Riverdance. Yes, you read that right, Riverdance. The Irish dance sensation is coming to San Jose and you won’t want to miss it.

Riverdance in San Jose

RIVERDANCE  - 

December 29, 2009-January 3, 2010

The thunderous celebration of Irish music, song and dance that has tapped its way onto the world stage, thrilling millions of people around the globe, will play eight farewell performances in San Jose. It is a phenomenon and an explosion of sight and sound that simply takes your breath away. Discover why nothing in the world compares to the original international phenomenon! Whether it’s your first time or your fifth, you won’t want to miss these farewell performances of Riverdance!

How about a cup of coffee?

Hey, does anyone remember when Riverdance was relevant? Remember back in the day of people actually giving a crap? This commercial is 13 years old. Seriously Folgers, it’s time to get some new commercials. It was fine to ride this train for a few years, but this is ridiculous. There are children who have grown up with this commercial on the air. If you don’t stop this madness now they’ll assume it’s a natural part of life.

Look, I remember the Irish dance craze. The Celtic music, I was enamored of it. I drank the Kool-aid. But it’s time to let go. So the healing can begin.

Riverdance ist eine irische Bühnenaufführung, die hauptsächlich aus traditionellem irischen Stepptanz und keltischer Musik besteht. Irischer Stepptanz zeichnet sich vor allem durch schnelle Beinbewegungen aus, während der Körper und die Arme in der Regel sehr starr gehalten werden. Das besondere an Riverdance ist die Tatsache, dass hier mehrere (teilweise über 20) Tänzer absolut synchron steppen. Riverdance gilt als Ursprung irischer Stepptanzvorführungen, wie z. B. Lord of the Dance.

Wer noch nie irischen Folkloretanz erlebt hat, der sollte hier vorbei schauen!

Nur noch 2 Tage in Wien – also nicht verpassen.

Weitere Infos und Tickets unter www.stadthalle.at

Sejeste hund nogensinde?

I really wish I would have saved this picture:

Can't wait for the Meow Re-Mix

Perviously used in this post, it goes along purrfectly with this edition of Musical Musings.  If you dove into this post willy-nilly without reading the above title, or if you have an aversion to reading large letters in bold typeface, allow me to introduce you to two of the most fascinating felines ever to grace the music scene (not counting Keyboard Cat or Josie and the Pussycats*, ‘natch). 

The Classical Approach:

The Modern Take (wait for the breakdown at the end):

The Interpretive (Canine) Dance:

*It’s a shame, but I forgot how cute Tara Reid actually was, and I really do miss Rachael Leigh Cook.  Wha’ happen to her? And look how young Rosario Dawson, um,  looks.  Eight years really makes a difference, I guess.  And that’s my deep thought for the day.

Christopher Boe is arguably one of the most exciting directors in Europe.  His breakout film Reconstruction in 2003 set the standard, and proved to be a Himalayan benchmark for both Boe and his Scandinavian contempories.  However, after a two year break he came back with a film that conceptually broke the boundaries of even his lofty ambitions.  Allegro is conceptually probably the most exciting film of the last 5 years and is a triumphant return to form from one of Europes most imaginative young directors.

The film is all about pianist Zetterstrom (please forgive the horrible english spelling).  It follows his early career and relationship with a young woman Andrea (played by Helena Bonham Carter, who is suprisingly quite good).  The film then moves to his later life, he has left Denmark and Andrea, and has forgotten everything from his old life.  However, Zetterstrom realises there is a problem when he has no physical recollection of anything before he left Denmark.  He discovers his memories are being stored in an area called the “Zone” in copenhagen.  He has to go back and reclaim his past.

The concept of the film is glorious.  The notion of someone forgetting who they and where they have come from is a perceptive story that even the simplest country bumpkin can relate too due to the continual increasing movement of people.  The film explores the notion that we easily forgot our home and the people who shaped us into being the people we are today.  Something i am sure anyone who has moved away from there childhood home can be found guilty of.

What is disappointing with this masterly concept is the direction that Boe takes the film.  You sense that the film is going to go in one direction (to be fair if they had proceeded down the route you expect it could have made the lord of the rings trilogy look like the short at the begining of Wall e), however it goes in another.  This direction is both short and strangely unsatisfying.  You turn the DVD off feeling as though you have watched a segement of something amazing.  But not as if you have seen the full story. 

The performances are exquisite.  Ulrich Thomsen puts in a performance, that if the Oscars were not the back slapping session for American film they are currently, surely would have put him in the running for one of those golden men.  He turns Zetterstrom into this wonderful polarising figure who divides characters in the film as well as the viewer.  He is brilliantly cold and yet has an inner warmth that grows with every revelation of his past.  The subtleties of the performance make Jamie Foxx’s portrayal of Ray Charles seem like a bull in a china shop. 

A short round of appluase (very short) has to go Helena Christiansen her performance actually makes the model turned actor route seem almost acceptable.  Whilst it has to be made clear Boe keeps her on a very tight leash and her part is only in about 10% of the overall film, she still puts in a perrformane that is both competant and powerful.  Something i am sure her contemporaries would struggle to replicate (anyone who has seen the new advert for D&G will have seen Claudi Schiffer and Naomi Campbell give the worst performances since Walt Disney was defrosted and forced to perform alongside Michael Fatly- deliberate spelling mistake – in Riverdance).

The real plaudits however have to go to Boe.  From his wonderful script to the films visual style, every element of the film has his grubby fingers rubbed all over it.  The films visuals would rival  Minority Report and are frankly more effective.  He strikes a balance between the visual and the narrative whilst not being afraid to percevier with one or other in any given scene.  He is also developing into an auteur of note.  His films are now developing a style that is so synonymous with him you feel like Boe is giving a piece of himself with every scene. 

Overall this is probably the most inventive film of last millenia.  Whilst it is weak in places (largely caused by its decision to tell a simpler story) the thought and ideas the film leaves you with are worth the entyr fee alone.

9/10 – Enchanting

Panic-stricken airline passengers, the majority of which were French, spent several terrifying minutes convinced they were about to about to experience a fate worse than death – only to discover staff had mistakenly on the wrong recording. Around 70 people were on board the Aer Lingus A320 Airbus which took off from Dublin on its way to Paris’ Charles de Gaulle airport, when, approximately 20 minutes after take-off, crew in the cabin accidentally put on the Captain’s favourite Riverdance cassette, and had began broadcasting it to the terrified passengers in the cabin.

Flatley: The Dark Lord of the Dance

The recording was directly followed by another announcement, in French, reasurring everyone that playing Riverdance in mid-air is strictly against all aerospace regulations, and that Michael Flatley, the Dark Lord of the Dance, must be held responsible for this unspeakable crime of terror, which seemed to restore calm to those afflicted. Relaxed-looking English-speaking passengers, who are used to putting up with Riverdance thanks to the inane craze which was popular in the UK during the 1990s, merely smiled and pointed at their fellow French travellers as they covered their ears, rolled around in their ears and begged for the incessant sound of fiddles to stop.

One passenger on the flight explained to us that a Frenchman who had been dozing next to him suddenly woke up looking extremely scared. “The man woke up with an almost primeval look of fear in his eyes. I asked him what was the matter, but he kept shaking and assumed the foetal position. It wasn’t until the guy behind me explained that the French have an unatural fear of the Irish and their Riverdance music, that I put my iPod back on and went back to my book.”

Another eyewitness said: “The woman in front of me was crying. All the French freaked out. It only took the cabin crew a few minutes to realise that there was something wrong as passengers were wailing, but I think it inflicted some severe psychological damage all the same.”

An Aer Lingus spokeswoman has denied that the plane was on the verge of a crash landing but has confirmed that, at least in her opinion, both Riverdance and the works of Michael Flatley are widly overrated.

Stolz und edel steht sie da, nichts kann sie erschüttern. Wartend was da kommen mag, soll es sie durchrütteln. “Da, dort ist er, so ein Narr ist für nichts zu schade, tanzt herum als der zuvor, Männer haben einen an der Waffel.”

Bleisifft, Polychromo und Aquarell auf Skizzenpapier 29,7 x 21cm

A w zeszłym tygodniu byliśmy na ………. RIVERDANCE!!!!!!!! Przedstawienie niesamowite, świetna muzyka, wspaniali tancerze. Po prostu nie do opisania. Zobaczcie sami.

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A fantastic clip from a 2009 performance of Riverdance. Click play to watch.