Once in a rare while I miss those days when I thought of myself as a "dancer." I always moved well and sort of fell into that path by default. I was a male and could fake my way through it enough that it landed me work. I don't fool myself that I was every the right body type or the most limber. That does not mean that I didn't love the convergence of music and how it brought my body to life. Here are two videos that continue to inspire me. What dancers do now is so far beyond what the expectations were even 15 years back. One is the University of Minnesota Dance team that continues to dominate the national competition stage. I have never been a big one into the arena of dance lines with generic white princesses and years of studio training. But I have to admit I have been sold by their sheer audacity and how they manage to bring an emotional element in conjunction with their amazing technical skills.
The other is from Ellen who everyone loves. Her kindness is authentic. She recently had a dance off where people submitted videos of their work. And here she is crowing a winner in Sam Pickhart out of Seattle. He is amazing and infectious himself.
I know that I have had 1 or 2 posts on Mister Rogers over the years. I have been a late bloomer in regards to his legacy. I certainly grew up with the man, but I think I was always more interested in the Land of Make Believe than his cardigan sweaters and life stories. Only now, with wisdom, do I really see the value and worth that was obvious in each episode. Maybe I was too cocky and mature at the time and thought it was namby pamby to resonate with me.
I read a recent article that looked at his take on Civil Rights. At first glance it would seem that he was passive and such a hot button issue would not hold sway with him. Putting it in perspective now - his show was just surfacing during the unrest of the late 1960's. Maybe I was shielded from it all in my childhood? But he smartly chose to introduce Officer Clemmons, who was a black, kind, responsible authority figure. We should be so lucky to associate with such a role model now. Instead of confrontation and protest, the two "neighbors" resorted to some quiet solitude with their feet in a small wading pool in Fred Rogers back yard. Cardigan sweater and police uniform side by side. Their friendship continued for an amazing 25 years of television episodes. And when it came time to retire Officer Clemmons, the two finished it up right back where they had started in the small pool, bare feet in the water in silence. I'm not one to pontificate a lot, but maybe this is the sort of reaction to much of the fear and hatred prevalent in our daily news feeds. I know I would sure value the serenity and companionship instead of anger.
In this cold and frigid winter respite that we are forced to take, it can also be a great opportunity for us to take personal inventory. I know I was just bitching about having to put $600 into the car for repairs, but come a few weeks later with the arctic drop - I sure am grateful to have a heater that works and a windshield that can defrost.
Thus a look back at some American vernacular phrases that have come to be commonplace. All of them have roots in the poverty of the dust bowl when life was much harder and things were certainly never taken for granted. "Piss Poor" or "Didn't Have a Pot to Piss In." Did you know that human urine was then used to tan animal hides for clothing and other uses. These two terms were meant for those lowly families that could not even afford a pot to take it to the tanneries. How about "Don't throw the baby out with the bathwater?" Back then a daily shower was not a given. Often cleansing was even a monthly task and a single tub served for multiple family members. The baby was the last one to bathe and by then the tub was often dirt black. Speaking of daily bread - we assume that it is a staple of life. But bread was also often divided by status. The wealthy got the best cuts and the poor were destined to burnt ends or crusts - thus the term "Upper Crust." Check out this informative blog post with great photos and tons more Americana verbiage.
Although my blogging has not been as prolific as it used to be, that does not mean that I am not constantly perusing my daily feeds to get the posts of others. I am not sure if that is due to lack of interest on my part of time. Just say that I am mindful of it moving forward. But Colossal always had captivating posts that scour the globe that verge between science, history and art. Here is a compilation of their top 15 stories this year based on audience response. They spotlight urban tree houses, lunar table lamps, vintage color photos, and dystopian theme parks. Take a few minutes and revisit them as well. Colossal Top 15
New Years is an annual renewal for me and a rite of passage I look forward to every bleak winter. I use the energy of the holiday season to either reinvent myself or jump start my lazy old ass - whichever seems most necessary. I begin each new year with great intentions even if the resolutions are met in failure only weeks later. It is the thought that counts right? I also get caught between traditions and new discovery. Jeff and I tried something new in a Christmas brunch at the casino - great bargain, good food and plenty to choose from without making nary a mess at home. I can't say that we would do it again, but we ventured... So a week later I am also trying resolutions with a twist.
I always rack my brain and come up with a major shopping list of things to achieve. More than is genuinely possible. So I started thinking this year about the minimal trend and taking only what I could handle. But the conundrum was, which to trim from the multiple ideas I came up with. I decided to keep the entire kitchen sink of chores, but to back off of some of the pressure from the achievement end. I am going to call them New Year's possibilities. All great thoughts and worthy of an attempt. We shall see if this shift in ideology helps. In no specific order, here they are.
Wear a tie once a week - I have a great closet full of clothes, and in the corner a dashing tie rack which is never noticed. Certainly one a week might brighten the wardrobe!
Baking - I love flour and sugar tasks in the kitchen and am always eager to play. I had once said to bake once a week, but this now lifts the burden to whenever I feel the urge and craving.
Game nights - these just have to happen. An excuse to gather friends, the sport of the game and always a competitive edge!
Letter a week - I drift in and out of this one, but have great efforts. I am trying to override the social media campaigns and make real connections to friends and family using the US Post Office and a thoughtful letter with a stamp.
Genealogy - a decade back I invested hours into the family tree and my heritage. Perhaps it is time to dig again and see what new secrets I can find in the virtual world to uncover more of my roots.
Yoga/ Nightly work outs - I really enjoy this. It is simply a matter of time and priorities and I shall try to bump them up on the list.
Breakfast - I am terrible when it comes to food and meals. I exist of fumes most of the day and then start to pass out come mid afternoon. I simply need to tell my mind my stomach is hungry and eat on the go if needed.
Meditate - I did some wellness coaching a few years back and this was crucial to my Virgo tendencies which are non stop. So I must unplug for a mere 5 minutes every day for a mandatory reset. Easy Peasey. And before bed does not count, the reboot by then is useless.
Spanish lessons - I found a great app last year called Duolingo that was clever, fun to learn; but I didn't keep up with the training. So I shall give it a second go.
Scan pictures - I am always a photo hound. I used to be very good at hard copies and sorting them all out in boxes and albums. But now with digital I really should be dealing with not only the new photos, but going back into 50 years of archives and getting them in JPG form. #TBT on Facebook - hold me to it.
Two solo Cabaret gigs - I keep pushing myself on this one. I have one set in stone for Feb. and want to make sure that I can find time for another before the year finishes up.
Three Household projects - this old home needs so much work and care. I really should get hands dirty and accomplish 3 grand things this year.
