Naimaland State of the Union October 2012

I really wanted to name this post, "How a Can of Oil Paint Almost Ruined My Marriage." But that would be an exaggeration. But only slightly.

I started repainting the sewing/dance/guest room at the beginning of September during some vacation days. My vacation was interrupted when I was selected and served for jury duty. (Not guilty in case you're curious.) That whole experience set me back, at least mentally, and work on the room slowed to almost a halt. Costuming and practice also slowed down. Time spent painting was time not used for dance stuff. Time spent working on dance stuff was time not spent getting the room painted.

One month and three colors of paint later (beige, white, and blue/gray,) I finally finished painting. Never mind the "oil paint fiasco." I'll just say oil paint is the devil and should be avoided at all cost. And, despite my best efforts to remove light switch plates and tape all of the base boards and windows there are paint marks (pink, purple, and some sort of aqua,) left by previous tenants. Which makes me think maybe the walls are possessed, kind of like the "blood wall" in Johnny the Homicidal Maniac, and it demands repeated sacrifices of time and paint.

Meanwhile, I figured why not slap some paint on other things. I re-purposed an old pair of teaching sandals that I never wear and combined them with a bottle of nail polish that I also never wear. Followed by an empty coffee can that I spray painted silver and decorated with a sharpie marker.

I also took on the task of organizing my dance files. Workshop and class notes are easy. The hard part is my own personal notes, everything from costume doodles to driving directions to choreo notes scribbled on post-it notes. That will remain a work in progress.

Then, less then a week after getting the room painted, we took care of an intoxicated groom on the night of his bachelor party and he peed on my serger. More like he peed at my serger as it was on the floor next to my sewing table waiting to be set back up. Luckily it had the cover on it so most of the pee was in the carpet and under the serger instead of in it. Unfortunately, the whole room smelled like urine for about a week while we patiently cleaned the carpet.

By the way, use hydrogen peroxide to properly clean and disinfect human urine. Here is a links for a homemade cleaning recipe.

http://www.ehow.com/how_8765725_use-peroxide-old-urine-stains.html

I personally used a 1 part peroxide to 5 parts water mix, (after testing on a small patch,) as to not bleach or discolor my carpet. I completely saturated the area, waited about 20 minutes, and blotted up the access liquid with a towel. Then allowed the carpet to completely dry. I also sprinkled on some baking soda and vinegar for the odor. I have finally gotten back use of the room but it still is not completely back in order. I have changed my goal for having this room ready for business to sometime around 2015. That way I can be presently surprised when I finish ahead of schedule.

~N

Did I mention the wall is textured?

This is where I usually practice.

Beware nail polish fumes.

Nail polish plus old shoes equals awesome shoes.

Shiny!

 I store hair flowers and beads in re-purposed (plastic) coffee cans.

 All my hair flowers smell like fresh coffee, especially the ones with feathers.

 Beware spray paint AND permanent marker fumes.

Do you have a map of Egypt in your dance files?...also, "got hips?"

BONUS PIC:

The Husband person, a.k.a. prop master at our most recent photo shoot.

A side project.

I've been sitting on this for over a year. Not BD related.
A side project here.

~N

Now listeing: Damien Rice
mood: a better hollandaise sauce

Dance Space

Frantically starting to add a little choreography to my number for Saturday. Nothing concrete, just some direction.

I usually practice in my bedroom in a 3ft-ish square space in front of the dresser mirror. It is more of pantomime than practice. I was just practicing and got to a part I wanted to do some spins. So, I ran into the kitchen, practiced the spins, then ran back to the bedroom to continue the rest of the song.

You would wonder why I just don't practice in the kitchen.

Sometimes, I take my cheap $5 "closet mirror" into the hallway and practice 3-step turns down the length of the hall. That usually ends poorly.

Anyone else have the an outstanding practice space like I do?

~N

Now watching: Invader Zim
mood: bread (we ran out last Friday)

Meanwhile

Dance post and pics from Saturday coming soon. Meanwhile, watch this. =)

~N

now playing:Invader Zim
mood: waffles

I like my coffe black just like my metal

This video always makes me smile. Shut Me Up directed by Jhonen Vasquez.

I heart JV.

Does anyone remember Bree Sharp's "David Duchovny"?



I would write a song like that about JV but I can't think of anything to rhyme with Vasquez

"Jhonen Vasquez likes to eat green pez."
"Jhonen Vasquez looks bad in a fez."
"Jhonen Vasquez casts a spell so he can re-rez."
"Jhonen Vasquez doesn't care what I sez."
"Jhonen Vasquez is fo shizzle...wait"

o.O

~N

Em's Nerdy-Thirty No Talent Lip Sync Contest Extravaganza

(Click for full size)

Now playing: more Invader Zim (with the commentary on, thank you very much).
mood: chocolate ice cream w/hot fudge (it should follow this bacon and mustard sandwich nicely).

Yeah, so my name isn't really Naima... but it's not really Em either, HAHAHA!

Although, "Hey You!" works too.

Anyway, for my birthday pleasure this year, I have commanded a Lip Sync Contest in my honor with fabulous useless prizes. The contest is sure to be a riot and shenanigans will ensue. I especially like the "no talent" contest part, thank you Jman.

So if you're itchin' to show off your Milli Vanilli skills I will see you on July 5th. That should be plenty of time to get an act together.

~N
err...
Em...
err... whatever

Naima Workshop in One Month!

(click for full size)

May 17, 2008 - Buffalo, MO
Sisters of the Moon Middle Eastern Dance Academy presents
Naima

9am-3pm
O'Bannon Community Center
315 E Ramsey St
Buffalo, MO

$30 pre-register by May 10, 2008
$35 at the door.

6pm Hafla - $5 (free for dancers and workshop attendants)
$20 for DVD of show

for more info call Chris at 417-849-7661


Find music for the workshop choreography here, Faten Salama's Best of Egyptian Dance 2005.

We're gonna have fun! I'll tell bad jokes and make funny faces (just kidding). It will be great!
I will also have choreography handouts and some other BD goodies I'm willing to part with for cheap!

OMG I love hairpin lace! I crocheted together a few pieces and liked it so much I've completely ripped out another project I've been working on for weeks to redo in hairpin lace.

~N

Now playing: Invader Zim season 1
mood: "meats of evil"

Burr

Now Watching: Invader Zim season one
mood: Fried Chicken, corn on the cob, tators 'n gravy

Hola!

Hope everyone had a good Christmas holiday. We went to the in-laws and returned to find out furnace not working. It appears to be a blown fuse. All the stores were closed on Christmas night so we've spent the past hours bundled up with the electric heater. It's not too bad. It is a lot like the basement bedroom at the in-laws, cold, but definitely tolerable.

This Saturday is Sashi's workshop. I'm going to scrounge through the "Money Pumpkin" in hopes of enough cash to go. Maybe I will see some of you there. =)

~N

CHALLENGE!

Now playing: Shut Me Up video directed by Jhonen Vasquez
mood: crunchy nuggets (brand of generic cereal that is like grape nuts, but called crunchy nuggets. is more fun to eat like that)

I was "tagged" by Natalia to list 8 things about myself that people don't commonly know. At least I think that's what I'm to do. I'm not all hip on how these things work, ya dig? I had never heard the term meme until the tag and now I've seen it twice in less than two days.

Things you never wanted to know:

1. When I was in junior high, I assigned genders to numbers during math class. There is no rhyme or reason other than numbers are male or female just because. 1-male, 2-female, 3-female, 4-female, 5-male, 6-female, 7-male, 8-female, 9-female, 10-male, 11-male, and so on. There is one exception, 0 - is pretty gender neutral but leans toward male. They (the numbers) also sometimes do and don't get along, as in they are friends or don't like each other. (Don't ask, I just don't know).

2. I have a slight obsession with Jhonen Vasquez's work. Not in a creepy stalker way, but in a creep fan-boy way. I have all of JtHM (with a signed issue 1 that I bought online), the JtHM directors cut, Squee, I Feel Sick, and all 3 seasons of Invader Zim, 2 JtHM shirts, 1 Gir sweatshirt, and a Gir lap blanket. (I even had the stinkiest air freshener known to man with Zim and Gir on it before I sold my car.) I read Jhonen's blog, which he RARELY ever posts to. I've also listened to all of the director commentary for Invader Zim for all 3 seasons. Just 2 days ago, I watched an hour long homemade video on Youtube of his panel discussion at the 2005 Comicon. I even quote lines from the previously mentioned works in my everyday life such as "Head pigeons" and "Wobbly-Headed".
Like, I would totally buy an "I Heart Jhonen Vasquez" shirt and wear it every day. Ok, so maybe in a creepy stalker kinda way =\

3. Dead things don't bother me. As in dead people, gore, guts, murder scene photos, mutilated and/or decomposing bodies, horror movies, skin diseases, animals hit by cars, that kinda of stuff. I can sit and eat while looking at stuff at Rotten.com (not pretty, don't go there). Doesn't gross me out at all. I'd probably make a good mortician. I should donate my body to Body Worlds some day. However, on the flip side, I watched a show about cosmetic surgery with a women getting a face lift, where they scraped her face skin loose from her skull, stretched it back and stapled it back on...BLUHG! icky. I also get queasy when getting shots or having to give blood. Needle pricks make me nauseous.

4. DavidLeeRothobia - When I was 5 years old I would wake up before my parents and go downstairs to watch TV (I think we were living in AR at the time). We only had a few channels and I would watch Mtv for lack of cartoons. There were 2 very popular videos at the time. Michael Jackson's Thriller, which I would turn off and sit in silence for a few minutes, turn the TV back on and continue watching the channel (it was scary and I woke mom up once and she told me not to watch it if it scared me). The other video was Van Halen's, Jump. This video also scared me only different. I would watch fixated as David Lee Roth made out with the camera doing pelvic thrusts and high splits in slow motion. Ever since I have been royally creeped out by his pervy faces and red spandex tights.
Eddie Van Halen's face kind of creeps me out when he does his guitar/keyboard solo thing too.

5. When I was in junior high, I decided the "perfect" guy for me was tall with dark hair and light skin with bedroom eyes. I drew a notch with a pencil on the edge of my closet door where no one could see that marked the height of my imaginary dream guy. You know, I marked how tall I was and then how tall he should be so I could pretend I was looking up into his eyes and we would have the perfect man-woman silhouette. Well, he turned out to be 6'4", little taller than I had figured for my 5'3" frame. But hey, don't we look like rock stars?

6. When I was 8 years old my step dad taught me to ride a 3-wheeler (AKA an All Terrain Vehicle -ATV). I spent many MANY hours of my childhood riding on a 3-wheeler, 4-wheeler or some such around our house in the country and through the surrounding fields. We even used to go riding where we would pack the bikes on a trailer and go to the Mississippi River levy and ride the trails. I haven't ridden an ATV in, well, 17-18 years I guess. I miss it very much.

7. Educational videos, field trips, and museums are awesome! I was probably the only kid in class who got excited when we had to watch a film. History, Literature, Science, Math. I love them all! I LOVE things like PBS and NOVA, the Discovery and History Channels (at least before they started doing the stupid reality knock-offs). I dig going to museums and science centers and pushing the buttons to hear the narrator come on and tell me about statistics and dates of things. Staged historical scenes with mannequins. Touring historical sites like Mt. Vernon and old plantation homes converted back to the way they were when they were built. I will stand and stare at each and every piece of artwork in a gallery. I'm like the robot from Short Circuit, "More input!"

8. I would give up the ability to dance for the ability to sing. I'm no ballerina but I at least have rhythm. I can't carry a tune to save my life. You know at birthday parties when you sing Happy Birthday and there is always that one person who is off key. That's me. I have always been deeply moved by lyrical song. The amount of feeling you can understand in the way the human voice can sound. I've always wanted to be able to express my emotions that way but just can't. And it pains me. So if you ever see me at the cross roads you'll know why I'm selling my soul to the devil.

Ok, now I think I'm supposed to tag someone else and such. But I spent so much time writing this up, and I have to go pay the rent.
Consider yourself lucky.

~N

"Things He Do"

Now playing: Counting Crows – August and Everything After
Mood: Sunchips (any flavor) and some Aquafina

So, I’ve been meaning to post a bit about Naima’s bellydance customs and product use. I hesitate to call these tips as they are more just things I currently do until I change my mind.
First, in preparation for summer bellydancing, I have begun the arduous task of using tanning lotion. I do not go to a tanning bed, lay out, or recommend such practices. While I like my pasty white skin it is somewhat “problematic.” So a bit of color goes a long way to disguise my less than perfect skin.



I am trying out Aveeno’s self tanner this summer. I use other Aveeno products regularly due to their non-irritating benign nature. So far, so good. I did not take a before picture, but as you can see, I have a slightly more tanned (albeit slightly hairy) arm as compared to the control, aka “white piece of paper”.

Interjection: OK! My left upper eyelid keeps having muscle spasms! This happens to me every so often, always my left side. I looked it up once, and best I can tell is caused by stress. I am currently in a happy non-stressed mood, but just goes to prove my “big eye-little eye crazy” theory. I must be joining the club ;) <-see twitchy left eye.

Bellydance Triage
I also take my BD emergency kit (or some form of it) with me to every performance. Must haves include:
Safety pins (I also keep a couple of these pinned to the inside of my cover up for that last resort emergency)
Lipstick
Eyelash glue (can also be used to fix broken jewelry or snags/runs in costume)
Bobbie pins (or some form of hair widget)
Head med (for headaches and such)
Chewable Gas X (mostly handy at workshops or performance in which food directly before/during/after performance is involved)
Travel size sewing kit (for sewing the bra strap that breaks back on right before a performance. Been there, done that.)

What started out and a medium size plastic tub (that Sa’dia put together) transformed into my 3 tier pink Caboodle. Yes, it is an original Caboodle from the ‘80s that I received as a birthday gift back in the day. (I actually have 2 of them ‘cause I’m so awesome.) I even sent away for the little gold name plate that attaches to the lid, which until very recently, was still attached. Over all, my Caboodle is pretty much a glorified tackle box with a built in mirror. Since there is plenty of room I have included make-up, my rhinestone costume jewelry, toothbrush and paste, body glitter, handy wipes, hair spray, and various other beauty supplies.

Sa’dia’s original kit included this handy plastic box (with labels) that holds medicine, pins, ear plugs, band aides, etc. that fits neatly into the bottom of my Caboodle. I also reuse old plastic film cases to hold safety pin, fake eyelashes, and such. While all of this is overkill for most BD needs, there have been enough freak things come up, either for me or my fellow dancers, where my BD kit has been much appreciated. Not to mention, with just about everything in one place I save time by not having to tear the house apart looking for supplies. In the end, it comes to: costume on, cover-up on costume, shoes on feet, music in right hand, BD ER kit in left hand, and I’m ready to go.

Next: A comment on Dance shoes.

(The title to this post, "Things He Do," is an Invader Zim quote... unrelated, I love Dib!)