kistha

Writer's weekend went pretty well, and many people have summed it up (with pictures in places) better than I. I did earn quite the reputation by defusing a conflict that went from talk to scream and threats in under 30 seconds.

My disguise panel also went quite well (thanks twilight2000 for the easel and white-board). I left for an appointment at 11AM ( had to run home and get contacts because I'm an idiot and returned without being seen) and after two hours of make-up came down and registered as "Suzie Kain". I went to two panels, and wandered the halls. I then went to my panel, and sat down away from all my friends. I went completely undiscovered, and when Sharon my straight-woman picked me out of the crowd to be analyzed, people asked her to let me sit down after three minutes or so since I was so embarrassed, and 'subconsciously' backing away.

Everyone was very surprised and the rest of the panel went just fine. It took me over 9 Bioré cloths, both sides to get most of the foundation off later. Whoo. People want me to do it again next year, but much like that Daffy Duck and Bugs Bunny cartoon - "I can only do it once".

Hula went well, and the Lilo hula went off with only one serious flub on my part. It was very popular, and I felt very good about my performance. trenchwench, cheriezel,xlana,animegothgrrl,argentyne, dthon and Dr J came as well as the surprise visit by shellyinseattle. I got many, many flowers and Dr J also got me some Ranier Cherries. Sadly shellyinseattle arrived just as we came off from Lilo, and even sadder the husband didn't get a video of the Lilo hula, but H did, so I'll just have to copy hers. She probably also has all the other hulas as well - so that may be better in the long run.

While all of this was very lovely, just before we started the program I asked the instructor if I could move up to the advanced class.

She said (and I literally quote) "No, the advanced class has been doing hula for five years, so you'll have to wait." I squashed the urge to scream like a banshee and asked "Then what is the requirements for the Intermediate class?" "Oh a couple of quarters in beginning, you can only teach the Kâholo for so long."

I wanted to scream and cry and throw shit. Don't need to be well grounded in the basics, which means that every quarter some fresh and shiny barely taught hula dancer/s will be moved up to Intermediate, which will be learning the implements and harder dances. Starting over with new people every quarter who don't know more than two, maybe four hulas. Plus, the no rules has just become stupid rules. If she had said she didn't think I was ready it would have been one thing, but to just decide that five years (in Intermediate with a six months in beginning) is required to move up, can I stand it and put in the time? Basics, while not as 'cool' as the advanced work, are the basis of any dance. Unless you can do, and know the basics you have no ground on which to build the more complex structure. Add into that the myrad forms of word-sign that you also must perform, it makes it even more ridiculous that you only need a brief introduction.

I've been working with the advanced class for rehearsals, and they all want me to stay. When I said I had problems with the intermediate class, they said, "come join us!" When they heard the five year thing one of them said, "I think we've been dancing for three years...maybe she thinks it's five." Which I'm sorry to say, doesn't make me feel any better. And they still think I should stay. I would miss them all SO much.

Class starts tomorrow, and I still have no idea what to do...

The instructor was supposed to bring leis for the Intermediate and Beginner class members since the Advanced Class have matching yarn leis.

Ironically I was also the only dancer who did not get a lei - the unwelcome dancer.

Funny huh? I'm not laughing though.

I am flabbergasted. The two run-through (I only got to do one) rehearsal we did last night is the only scheduled rehearsal.

- See what I mean? We got the list of songs last week, did one quick run through of one of the songs we're doing in class last week and this "rehearsal". And we perform on the 26th. Is this woman mad? I grabbed one of the advanced girls, and asked if we could get together on our own next Wednesday. S said that we could do that, and since no one looked too confident, I didn't feel stupid asking about it. Especially since it turns out I'm doing three hulas.

Pauoa Liko Ka Lehua with the advanced class, which I haven't done since we learned it...half a year ago. Honolulu I am Coming Back Again with "everyone." Which is at least in English, and we've done it a couple of times here and there, but some of the moves have been changed to be 'easier' so I have to relearn sections of the hula. And of course the He Mele No Lilo with H and the instructor approved the Stitch ears. So, I'll be there with my ears on!

Shoot me, please? Pretty, pretty please?

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

The sleep study went surprisingly well, although the first half an hour was hell. The first CPAP was like a mini-oxygen mask over my nose, and on the normal pressure I could feel air hissing out of one ear. (I kid you not - and I don't have a blown eardrum.) The tech got it turned down to the lowest setting, and the ear started feeling clogged. I toughed it out for a half an hour trying to sleep, but felt like I was being suffocated, and that I had to fight to breathe, with my ear all clogged. I called them, and then they tried something that looked like a snorkel for my nose. That worked out much better, and although I woke up every time I had to roll over (hoses and wires oh my!) and the tech had to come in four times to fix my EKG wires it wasn't bad. Follow up will be in early July.

Ironically I may have gotten the tech to come to WW as a fan to see what it's all about. Go me, or something.

Once I got home I of course had a very long nap with kitty accompaniment.

I've missed the purrbox.

( Hula angst it's long, but I'd like opinions please! )

I just don't know what to do. I'm very, very torn.

Opinions gladly received - I'd really like to hear others' thoughts on this.

So, I have finally learned the "He Mele No Lilo" hula for Lilo and Stitch. I learned it in two hours - I missed a class when W&J visited they were up from Long Island, and could only see us on a Wednesday. I also ran out on scarlettina's visit for an hour so that I could learn the last half of the hula. (Still Sorry!)

It's a very nice hula with one difficult bit, and to remember it I'm probably going to have to practice it everyday. Which while that in its self not a big deal, it's irritating to someone who after a couple of dry runs could do the entire dance routine entitled "Commencement" from 93 or 94. That piece is ten times more technically difficult, is six minutes thirty five seconds and doesn't repeat vs. the hula which is less technically difficult, is two minutes and twenty eight seconds, and repeats. Not that I could do the lifts anymore - but still.

One of the funny things about this hula is I asked a long time ago what the phrase "tu lay-lay" was in Hawaiian my teacher didn't think it was actually Hawaiian - and when we got to the end of He Mele No Lilo I said, "there Tu lay-lay!" It took her a couple of playings to hear it, and then she said, I don't know what it is - I speculated that maybe it's "to Lilo"? Well, I was just looking it up and it's actually Kulele and it looks like it might mean "cast forth" or something. I'll ask next class, now that I have it in actual Hawaiian.

But I know it, I love it, and class is moving on. It's sad the Kahiko hula we learned, that I loved, I barely remember. Daily hula practice? Might become necessary if I want to keep any of these hulas in my head. Hula frustrates me SO much some days....

In other news, it's been super busy here, and doesn't show any sign of stopping anytime soon. Everything is accelerating to the cowboy trip - exit date 2/12 at Oh-Dark-Thirty. *shudder* How I love to fly. This weekend we're heading to B'ham to work out some Will provisions for my Mom (no death immanent or anything, just something that needs to get done) and will also start the epic battle of "Who's driving from AZ to NM." Should be lively. I also still have to buy some Wrangler jeans, warm socks and thermal undies.

Wish me luck!

So at the end of this quarter I will have been taking Hula for a year. People always ask me if I like doing Hula, and my answer is "it's complicated."

I don't love to hula, the way I love to dance. It's not my favorite modality, and the only reason I started to Hula, is because of Lilo and Stitch. I loved that movie, and I wanted to be able to dance the "He Mele No Lilo". It was beautiful and I loved the song, and I wanted to do it. So first I tried to learn from the DVD. Trying to learn a hula from a cartoon is a tough one, and the extras with the actual dancers doing the hula wasn't much better.

So I found a class. I joined. And Hula is the first dance I have ever tried that is completely unintuitive for me. For the first two quarters I felt like a stumbling cow windmilling my arms about. You keep your feet flat on the ground, like all the time, and your hands are closed, and flat. How counter intuitive is that? Then I got stubborn, I was going to learn how to do this by the gods, and with any luck look graceful. So I persevered, and I buried the irritation I felt over not really learning to 'grace and perfect repetition' any of the hula's we've learned and the perverse frustration I have with the "Island Time" method of learning.

So at the end of last quarter I was leaning towards the decision that since I knew we would never learn the "He Mele No Lilo" hula, and I really didn't feel like I was going anywhere, I'd give up hula and take either another dance class or Kajukenbo. I mean where the hell would I ever actually spontaneously dance any of these hula's anyway? Then suddenly there was a performance, and I got to see the advanced class do some seriously cool things.

There are two very big different categories in hula "hula `auana" which is a modern* hula done to any form of music and "hula kahiko" which is a formal ancient hula that is done only to percussion and chant. The Kahiko hulas are AMAZING. Watching the tribal, rhythmic, powerful hula, I was sold. I wanted to do THAT. I also wanted to learn to use the stones and sticks. And the Muppet headed rattles are cool, I guess.

I had heard of the chant hulas but until this quarter when they finally added an intermediate class did I get to start to learn one. The hula we are learning is regarded as the very first hula. It's called "Ke Ha'a La Puna" (For the story go here.)These chants and hula were their living oral history - this is what they have left and how hula connects them to their past. It is so cool. And this weekend there is a workshop (which I will be unable to attend, but a classmate will be attending) where the rumor is that the 'Auana class is going to be "He Mele No Lilo" E's promised me that she'll teach me if the rumor is true.

OK, so I guess I like hula. It's a weird relationship, it's difficult for me....but I guess it fills some kind of need, and I do love my classmates, and instructor. They are a lot of fun too.

But this Kahiko Hula? Kicks serious ass.


* "modern" meaning sometime shortly after the English came and imported their music.