Goon Tower

Here is a wonderful waste of time I found link-hopping today. Can you spot the pop culture? Well if you're a movie buff, sci-fi, geek, gamer, underground and pop culture junkie you can.

Goon Tower

Enjoy!

Now playing: Farscape season 2
mood: PO-TA-TOES! mix'em, mash'em, stick'em in a stew.

Sa'dia's Zill Muffs

I made Sa'dia a pair of crochet 3"zill muffs. They seem huge in my hands and turned out way cuter than my pair of muffs did. They look like flowers.

Sa'dia has also started blogging here. You should check it out and encourage her to post more.

I'm still getting used to my labret piercing. In the morning when I look in the mirror, I briefly wonder at what point in the night I rolled over into a tool box and got stuff stuck to my face. Then I remember I paid good money for it and proceed to the kitchen for coffee.

~N

Now playing: Farscape season 2
mood: Bart Simpson (it is a spicy chicken noodle dish...don't ask)

Happy Anniversary!

This month marks 9 years of bellydance in my life.

I used to think the ladies who had been dancing this long were old hats at it. But now I know that's not really true, lol!

I wonder who I would have been otherwise.

~N

Now playing: Farscape
mood: steak and fried tators

Blurry Dancing Girl

I was stuck waiting at my appointment to have my labret changed for an extra 30 mins Saturday. By the time I made it across town I had missed all but the last minute of the zill duet and then Ananya closing the show. Here are some blurry pics to show I made it at the last second.

There was a really good crowd for the BD this year and I heard people talking about how they liked the variety of different BD represented (cabaret, fusion, tribal, etc).

And now a handful of unremarkable Visoncon pics.

Notice I hang with pirates and monkeys.

















Now watching: Farscape season 1 into season 2 today
mood: corn dogs with yellow mustard and a coke

Doh

I opened a Goth-Industrial Bar and all I got was this...ink pen?...DOH!

Now that the utilities are closed out on GX I am tackling the end of year paper work. Soon to be followed with taxes.



I know you are in envy of my filing system shown above. It is very high tech and takes a lot of training to master. The wearing of house shoes and leg warmers are a requirement when using such scientific methods.

~N

Now watching: Farscape season 1
mood: either all you can eat pancakes or some of K's best tacos in the world. Maybe both. Tacos and pancakes....mmmm.

PS Next Greek Night is scheduled for March 7, 2009 @ Galloway Station

Can a country have a conscious shift?

"Can a country have a conscious shift?" I heard this on the news this morning. An interesting question to ponder today.

I am tuned in on msnbc.com listening to newscaster chatter until Barak Obama's inauguration. (It's funny, the spellcheck doesn't recognize Barak Obama's name. I wonder how long it will be until his name is part of the built in spelling checks in computer software.)

Swearing in will be around Noon Est/11am CST. I am excited to witness this. I hope you are too!

~N

Now watching: history
mood: hopeful

Can we actually be a "United" States now? I'd like to think so.

Bellydance @ Visioncon next Saturday

Jan 23-25th, 2009 is Visioncon, the comic/sci-fi/gaming convention at the Clarion Hotel in Springfield, MO.

Scheduled Bellydance events are:
Saturday, 4pm performance (not sure of the line-up)
Saturday, 5pm Panel Room 2 (class/discussion with Karen C.)

Check out Visioncon.net for prices, events, etc. I will be there as volunteer staff at registration from 5pm-close (tentatively) on Fri and Sat.

On a personal note, I ripped my labret out last night brushing my teeth. I pulled the stud straight through my lip into my mouth (the gem is really small). Kinda gross, I know. It bled a little but I got it back in ok and it seems fine. Going to see my piercer Sat. to make sure it's all good. Sort of ruined my evening =(

On This Day

From Ice Storm

On this day, two years ago, we where shacking up at the sister-in-law's house during "Ice Storm 2007". Here is a pic from that day when the sun broke through the clouds. It's almost pretty.

From Ice Storm

The reality was something more like this pic. Over half the city and surrounding area was without power. We were only out of power for 5 days. Click the images to see my Ice Storm photo album taken during Jan 14, 15, &16, 2007.

Right now the high is 11 degrees with light flurries. Which for Missouri is both odd and normal. (Missouri is the toilet bowel of over night weather changes). Thank God for heat!

~N

Now playing: Farscape season 1
mood: all you can eat pancakes @ IHOP

Bellydance Simplicity

Jman sent me links to Simplicity's "Belly Dancing Costumes". While the promo pics are pretty cheesy, the patterns aren't too bad. Especially, nice if you are doing troupe costuming on the cheap because of the multiple sizing. Click on the "Front Back View" of the patterns' menu for details of everything the patterns include.

Misses Belly Dance Costume
http://www.simplicity.com/dv1_v4.cfm?design=2941

Misses Folkloric Belly Dancing Costumes
http://www.simplicity.com/dv1_v4.cfm?design=3832

~N

mood: Mos Burger - the burger of choice after the Husband Person proposed to me under Tokyo Tower. Jman knows, he was there. Mmmmm... Mos Burger....

Alive & Well Hafla Pics

Here are the "best" crappy pics I took at the hafla on Friday. I took at least twice this many. My lens was pretty dirty too. I should just start doing stick-figure renditions of the events I attend. They would come out better.

Attention Springfield Area Teachers

The Every Body Pilates studio in Ozark, MO. is interested in a bellydance teacher offering classes at their location. Contact Heather Crosby at www.everybodypilates.info for more info.

When Young Drunk Greek Men Have Nothing Better to Do

I was link hopping from a friend on Youtube and found these videos. I couldn't help but giggle. The videos are tagged as "comedy" and the second one is called "House Club". I have no idea what they are doing or saying. But it involves beer and music, you get the picture...CHEERS!



And for a bonus...This last video looks something like an impromptu block party and lots of fun. And they make a gap for "Santa" to drive his car down the street, OMG that's too funny.
Is there any particular reason why the men all have their shirts off? Not that I'm complaining.

So Greece it is! Who's coming with me?

~N

mood: sweet potato fries

How to Barter in Egypt

Many dancers at some point decide to make a trip to the mecca of bellydance - Egypt. One of the main reasons for going, aside from classes with Egyptian teachers, is shopping direct from the source. I found this article on eHow.com about how to barter in Egypt.

I for one, would probably suck at this considering I don't like to talk to strangers, (especially on the phone), but seeing as how I don't have plans to go to Egypt any time soon I should be able to keep my money in my pockets.

How to Barter in Egypt
Shopping in Egypt can be a culturally gratifying experience and a lot of fun. Expect to barter on goods and prices at the markets or khans catering to Egypt's tourists. This is an excellent opportunity to chat with the locals, enjoy a good cup of tea, and grab a great bargain. Below are the basic steps to the bartering system in Egypt.

Step1
Greet the shopkeeper or store assistant in a friendly manner and immediately begin browsing. A look of slight disinterest should give you the breathing space to browse before the assistant begins to inquire after your needs.

Step2

Find an item that you like and consider what would be a fair price for its purchase. Whether you manage to get a 5 percent, 10 percent or 20 percent discount, remember, you are still getting a bargain after considering the exchange rate. Ensure your price bid will be fair and not insulting.

Step3

Converse with the assistant, throwing in a few flattering remarks about the establishment before inquiring as to the price of the item. Reject the price with a polite laugh and move on to another item.

Step4

Reply absentmindedly to the assistant's inquiry as to how much you would be willing to pay for the item under discussion. Choose a price lower than your fair price and offer it in an inquiring, almost apologetic tone to the assistant.

Step5

Ask the assistant what would be a fair price after he/she has dramatically claimed the original offer was impossibly low. Whatever the offer, respond with your fair price. More back and forth, along with a cup of tea and a chat may be required for larger items of buying in bulk; over bartering for cheaper items is impolite.

Step6

Agree on the price with a firm handshake, nod and smile. This is another opportunity for flattery, usually ending with a return invite to the store, introductions and more tea, all of which indicate a successful exchange.

Step7

Close the deal by exchanging item for money, saying thank you several times and leaving the shop. Lingering will result in more tea and more bargaining. Return visits usually result in further discounts and further socializing which can only enrich your Egyptian experience.

Tips & Warnings

• Don't rush through your transaction, take your time and adopt a very polite yet conversational tone. Egyptians do not like to rush through anything and have a great respect for the process.
• When vendors suggest outrageously high prices, practicing the Egyptian method of dramatic disgust is often very helpful.
• Bartering should be kept to markets and street vendors. Attempts to barter in local shops or large stores is considered extremely presumptuous and impolite.
• Make friends with some locals to help steer you towards fair trading prices.

~N

Now playing: Dead Like Me season 1
mood: chicken and broccoli

Poke

Now playing: Evanescence – The Open Door

Mood: chocolate shake with hot fudge

So you remember this big long post last April when I got my navel pierced and I was talking about how I find piercings and tattoos distracting on BD'ers? Well, I am a little addicted to piercings now. Looking at all of the cool jewelry is addictive, like shoe shopping. I got my lip and ear (industrial) pierced with my Christmas money over New Year's weekend. Surprisingly, my ear hurt way more than my lip and is currently scabby and unattractive. My lip, however, is making eating a big ordeal. Not because it hurts but because of the placement and long length of post I have for any swelling issues. I have to wait a few weeks before down sizing it. In the meantime, it clicks the ledge of my gums where they meet my front teeth. I have to hold my lip in precarious potions away from my teeth so I can chew without catching it. Picture me holding my lip out, mouth hanging open, chomping, spitting, and slurping while trying to chew. Makes the husband person laugh. Then I laugh. Which hurts. And then we laugh more. Endless cycle ensues.

So anyway, I don't know why I was quite so opinionated and distracted by piercing/tattoos and body mod before (especially on Bdancers). The more of it I see the more I appreciate it. Like art. The more museums, paintings, architecture you see the more you understand and appreciate the art. (The same with how I view BD. I feel silly just realizing this now.) I thought of this National Geographic pic of a skeleton unearthed in Herculaneum wearing gold rings and that got me thinking about past cultures, wondering what kind of body mod they did. Unless they drew a picture of it on a wall or something you wouldn't really know. Once in a while they find a mummy with tattoos on the skin but otherwise all of the skin decomposes so you never know what ancient people really did. Kind of like we don't really know what color dinosaurs where. These are my random thoughts of the day.

~N

Goodbye GX

(Marius of Cynergy 67, Me, and the Husband Person, last night at GX, pic by Vicky)

GX is closed, packed into boxes, and stored in my house with big thanks to our close friends who helped make it all happen. I will refrain from sappy thanks, etc. I just don't have it in me.


Everything is packed, cleared away, and like a dream.

Hey, remember that "Gingerbread Coffin" costume I made? I used the scraps to convert it into a complete dress. Go me!

~N

Amir Thaleb

Here is a video of Amir Thaleb dancing in Cairo 2006. Some of the most articulate shoulder and chest work I've ever seen.

The live orchestra is fan-f*cking-tastic! If you have the time after watching once, go back and watch the drum solo section again. Only this time watch the drummers, how they all interact. Is pretty cool.



For less shoulders and more shimmy watch this video. I love how even though he is doing Oriental Dance you can catch the South American influence in his chest circles and "rounded" shimmies (see the Zaar section around 4:20).

~N

Awesome Gifts and Other Holiday Adventures

(pic of hip wrap spread across a double bed)

I don't normally receive BD related gifts. Instead I get money to buy what I want. But this year I got a huge red skirt length hip wrap and a beaded head piece. The hip wrap is so long I will have to take up the bottom row so it doesn't drag the floor.

During our next to last show Saturday night at GX, I remember looking at the stage at this dude who from the side, from a distance, if you squinted a looked like Justin Timberlake. He even had the white shirt, hat, and vest thing going on.

<-Justin Timberlake

He was singing Neil Young's Rocking in the Free World, off key, and I thought to myself, "This is kind of weird."



Then, I totally traded some porno for a Knife*Death pint glass on Saturday. The porno didn't really belong to me. It was something I acquired. But, SCORE! (no pun intended)

~N

Now playing: Damien Rice - O
mood: Rice Krispy Treats

BTW, I think if I have any more baked goods, pies, or rolls I may vomit. And then prolly have another helping.

Ran out of year...

Sorry, behind on posting. I have 2 unfinished drafts. Got some pics to upload, etc.

Got a flyer for the next Purple Camel Bizarre Bazaar on Feb. 7th, 2009, in Kansas City
contact info at http://www.sihamali.com.

Must work now. Happy New Year!

~N