Mostly About Pictures
I found this today, thanks to Hans, our Sherpa Guide, and laughed so hard I cried. You know, you LA folks are a truly kooky bunch!!!!!!! And I truly believe it....
The pictures, which were so very critically Dissed by our Miss Kitty Batgirl, have been sent to her, and we will see what she does with them. Then I will post them again. It was weird tho, the way they turned out, there were better ones, but either Emma or I looked dorky. I am SO not good in front of the camera! It's funny actually. When Malena and I shoot she has to talk to me the whole time, and won't let me look at the camera, and she kind of uses me as a prop.
I am making Bat Cookies this week, and half will go to Malena in LA for her Event, and half will go to my gig on Saturday night (Tom's on Main in ST Paul, 9-12) if you can make it to either event, you can have some. There will be frosting. Kitty, my photo Dissing friend MAY or MAY NOT be getting some.
(Holy Cookies, Batgirl, take that!)
Paul has put up a gig report, complete with pictures, over at Paulandlorraine.com
(we will await Batgirls comments on the quality of said pictures.)
(Yeah, I am SO after you Girl!!!!)
(it should be noted for the record that I ADORE Miss Kitty, and we are just having fun with this.)
Speaking of pictures, we SO need some of Venus and Mim in their little purple harnesses out walking. They are getting kind of famous, on our block anyway, and they really love these outings. Mim runs as fast as she can and goes up trees as long as the lead allows, and they are getting the walking idea. Venus is convinced all cats but Mim are evil and when the Kitty next door comes by, she moves into KILL mode. She did the same when I had the brilliant idea to introduce her to Jungle Loves 1&2. KILL, no warning hiss, just KILL.
Tomorrow I plant beans, buy new soaker hoses and start Bellydancing class. No end to adventures here!
Love and Pictures,
Lorraine
posted by FabulousLorraine @ 5:44 PM
68 Comments
68 Comments:
Hooray for bellydancing class! This is me on my one and so far only stage performance before a paying audience. Not that I got paid, mind you... Alas, my teacher dropped the class at a time I could attend, and somehow I never manage to practice without an organized class. It's great fun, tho you will be sore in places you didn't know you had muscled. The costumes are fantastic, though - beads and bells make many things much more fun.
Not only that, the thought of beads and bells (and zills!) seems to have driven all thoughts of anything else I had intended to say straight out of my head!
OK, I don't know if that is real but it is very funny either way. Of course, even funnier if someone has a wild opossum in their house and they really do think it is a cat! Unless of course you are the opossum.
Hello, my name is Gayle and this is my first comment here. Nice to meet all of you.
I went to the Paul and Lorraine show on (when was that?) Sat night. Super amazingly fun and fab! I had such a great time! The music was stirring and everyone was so friendly. I felt welcome like I have not since I moved to MN. Lorraine is beautiful and truly fabulous, Paul is sweet and kind, Dylan rocks and Dan is very friendly. Sorry to say that I didn't actually meet Matt; he was on the other side of the room and I never made it over to introduce myself.
What a great night out! Can't wait to see you all again.
Bat cookies? Where exactly is Tom's? :)
oh my. the last post (66 comments!) was an absolute stitch- the photo dissing war particularly funny (yeah, i have to say i agree with kitty - boss didn't do so hot, tho i don't need to worry bout getting fired :). and i like cookies, batshaped with icing...some could wind their way to portland ore as our class gets nasty little muffins and the class next door gets brownies, strawberries and chocolate. i sense inequity. Hi Gaypet, and welcome, lucky you for living near where Lorraine gigs! She is great, isn't she? Even without yummy cookies. tho with yummy cookies she is Ever so Much More Fabulous...
That poster is funny! I really hope there's not someone in LA with an oppossum in their house being kept as a lost pet. ::shaking head::
That is a beautiful veil, Phiala. I hope you still have it. I had my first public performance this past April at TRAMP (HOT Tribal Bellydance Camp). I danced in memory of a friend who died a year ago who also danced. I managed to get through it without crying...barely. Anyway, it is a lot of fun, and good for self-esteem. Check around, you may be surprised that there are more classes available.
Hi, Gayle! Lucky you, getting to see Ms. Fabulous and Dr. Paul live. :)
Hi Gayle, and welcome!!! You will love this bunch, truly, you belong here! We have a LOT of fun...I'm so glad you came to the show and we got to meet, I'll e-mail you directions to Tom's.
And on the cookies, Gayle, I am making some for my gig and for Malena's show, and people I CANNOT make them for everyone, no matter how much I love you!!!!!
I've done belly dancing before, and do love it. The classes in my little town are very fun, so many different people, all ages and sizes. LOVE the pictures, Phiala!!!!
Ariandalen, I would dance for someone I loved, it must have been one of those things one does not forget.
Kitty SO dissed my photos, didn't she????? We will see what she does with them....
Cute opossum, I feed one that looks just like it, she comes and visits me every evening around 9 pm please post again your events. Dying to taste the Bat cookies! Recipe please.
Welcome Gayle, you'll find a fun and friendly group here. Phiala.. I don't think I said hi yet... so... Hi!! You look lovely in that pic. Nice to see you both here.
I gotta say... I tried a belly dancing class last year but it didn't stick. I ended up skipping a class for health reasons and then I couldn't get back on track. The teacher was intent upon having us learn lots of new step patterns and it really threw me off... because not only am I rather clutzy (so I was concentrating too hard on not running into the others while staying on the my feet)... but I also can't follow dance instructions to save my life.. left foot.. right arm.. left hand.. right foot,.. left arm... right hand... ahhhhh... I don't think I am meant to dance like that. I can shimmy alright... and I do (sometimes)... but belly-dancing didn't work out well for me... I was quite intimidated.
Congrats on your performance Ariandalen
Rubius, that is so sad, that teacher had no business teaching. It is meant yo be FUN and empowering and make you feel good, not about technique . Try another teacher, I am the biggest kluz going and it will make you feel good, trust me...
I think every dancer here would agree, yes?
Here is what i will do with those photos,
HIT DELETE and then stage a RESHOOT.
i know that Boss has a spectacular eye to go with that garden-of-eden mind, so i don't blame him.
it was CRAZY of YOU to post them.
GAME ON, SISTER.
HAHAHAHAHA making my OWN frosting now.
let's see how many hits we can get on THIS entry.
ps Malena will tell you all about her DAYTIME redcarpet event, a little bday gift from ME.
pps. i am jealous about bellydancing.
can me go?
Hi Gayle! I am sorry to have missed you at Charlie's (I was there Friday night) but I am so glad you found a welcoming crowd with P and L!
I hope you'll come to Tom's. It is a great spot and there will be cookies!
I am sorta new to this blog and this circle of people too and I have found everyone to be very friendly and very interesting.
tear. no cookies. sniff. Phiala, lovely pic! Arian, that was a beautiful gesture for your friend, kudos to you, and hope you are still avoiding fifth disease, and your household is feeling better. I couldn't see the pics well on this laptop and was wondering why the poster was funny - duh, now I get it. not a cat. no one ever called me the sharpest crayon in the box. i have never tried bellydancing, i think i am too stiff to shimmy. It looks like fun tho, and I agree with Lorraine, Kristina, try again, most dance teachers don't push so hard, its terrible she made you feel intimidated, sounds as tho she had some issues.
Ho HI Gayle (and everyone that I have not welcomed so far. You know us French people have a reputation for being rude so I am trying to keep in line there, nothing personal or anything).
Belly dancing is the BEST.
I so have to find a class that is reasonably close to my house (or at least easily reachable)...
Try it again, Kristina, I am sure you will love it.
Nice picture Phiala.
LoL on the possum. I saw a similar poster in Rome but it was for a leopard... (did take a picture, I wonder what I have done with it - it's not in my Flickr Rome album for some reason)
Phiala, go you!
Kitty, I can recommend my tribal bellydance teacher -- she rocks! If you don't mind driving to Costa Mesa on Sunday afternoons, that is. (I know, I know, it might as well be Tibet.)And I agree wholeheartedly about the photos: reshoot.
Welcome, Gayle. Glad you had a good time at Paul and Lorraine's show... some of us have not yet been able to see them in person. And are not bitter about that or anything. Ahem.
And Lorraine is right, that teacher was not the most empowering person ever. Epic fail on their part.
good LORD! I leave for ONE day and I miss a HUGE "disagreement". I do have to side with Kitty on this one though. (Being your REAL friend and one who can take a bad photo myself!)They are just candid and don't show you off well. I mean, what do you expect? We DO live in Hollywood. Land of the photoshop'd and home of the liposuction! Ha haaaaaa. The need for Perfection seeps into us like mold spores on poo...
On the way home I saw 6 buses of tourists. You can always tell they're tourists because the women don't look like hookers and don't have "valley girl" accents.
A happy medium in the world would be nice, yes?
All you needed was MALENA to do hair, makeup and posing for...da da da daaaaa, THE FLASH GIRLS!
(Which btw, is the best name of any of the bands you've played with) Lorenna McKennett is sueing us, didn't you know? Yes, Lorraine a' Malena is so similar, she is PISSED!
LOL, too funny! did you see the poster for the lost chiuaua? (spell check that one) Ill see if I can find it..
I am sooooo looking forward to your gig this weekend! Its our 17 year anniversary and I get to pick where we go this year, coming to see you and paul ROCK! Do you know of any nearby hotels?? ( master of booking the best)
Oh, tip for shipping cookies to keep them fresh, put 2 pieces of bread in with them so they dont dry out. And give Malena a heads up so she dont wonder why you sent her bread, hehe.
Hurray for belly dancing!!
Kitty! You're KILLING me! HAHAHAHAHAHA.
Delete and stage a reshoot indeed!
LOL
I'm glad you like the picture - it was a lot of fun! I dyed the veil myself, along with several others. This is a small-enough town that there aren't a lot of options, especially for advanced classes. I may eventually get around to taking the intermediate class that's the only thing now available, but it's at a bad time. I have a selection of DVDs, but dancing at home just isn't as much fun.
Hey, I like those photos, I mean, it's me and Emma!! I think we look great just the way we are. I know, I know, not LA, but I don't think Em and I EVER did hair and makeup for a shoot, we were just us.
I think Kitty is just JEALOUS that we didn't get HER to take them!!!!!!
And if she thinks she can make her own frosting, she is insane!!!!!!
And what's more, I am going to post them AGAIN, so take that!!!!!!!!!!!!!
And further more, this post is going to 80 comments!!!!!!!!!
Danguy, sounds a little like you might be on KITTY's side, as are , seemingly Pantagruel and Malena.
(Who is only on Kitty;s side because I won't tell her what her present is!)
Merry, so cool!!! Glad you can make it!
Bellydancing is going to be some fun. I would take pictures and post them but, who knows how Kitty would stamp on my little heart and soul....
Oh no no no, I know better then to take sides against anyone who cast a shadow onto film like THAT!
Rubius, and anyone else looking, go sign up at tribe.net (it's free) and search for belly dance tribes in Vancouver. If you are interested in Tribal style, you can post in the Tribal BellyDance tribe and ask about teachers in Vancouver. You will probably get more replies than you ever expected. :) I'm with everyone else on that teacher. :P
Ms. Fabulous, check for shows by Tara in the Twin Cities. She is now dancing Tribal Fusion, though she was a Cabaret style dancer for, I think, twenty years. A wonderful dancer and nice lady. She was in my cabin for TRAMP this year, bunked right across from me as a matter of fact. :) In fact, she danced right after me at TRAMP.
I still like Carolena Nericchio's quote regarding belly dance, "Imagine this: there was a time, a long time ago, when the bounce and sway of a woman's hips was considered so beautiful, they put it to music and made a dance out of it."
Ah-ha Danguy! Yes, you are right! I cast long shadows onto film! It's amazing my kind will even show up on film!
Who is Tara? I love the whole tribal thing, tho the Twin Cities is kind of far to go for me on a weekly basis. What a beautiful quote tho!! It's too true.
I love dancing, and love the workout, and thought it was high time I had some social life besides Dog School, hee-hee, tho one of the ladies taking the class, I know from Dog School, she is Cabel's play date's Owner.
Bellydancing can be learned by uncoordinated people? Then sign me up. :-) I do not dance well but I try to have fun anyway.
And Fablo, it's Lookout Mountain I can see from my back porch, and every day I see it, I think of American Gods. And I think all of y'all should come visit *me* so we can have an American Gods walk-through on Lookout Mountain and through Rock City. Sound good?
And my younger sister who does the animal shows at the zoo has a trained 'possum. But then, she can train *anything* (when she was still a student at Ohio State, she trained a turtle to pick out a blue block!!). And in the summer, in our old house, a 'possum would come eat our cat's food and all our cat T.I. would do would look at him. T.I. is *not* a Bengel (obviously!).
Ahah! Found the "lost baby leopard" poster picture
80 comments, eh?
We have some work to do then...
It's funny how the LA contingent are not fans of the photos. ;) Well-spotted, Malena.
Tribal bellydance is my favorite for a couple of reasons. I like the emphasis on it being a dance done by women, for women; and on the energy you raise within your body by dancing. Almost Sufi-like ecstatic meditation. Also, my mother grew up in Morocco, so the Berber influence appeals to me a lot. And it's a style where tattoos, piercings, and dreads are welcomed and appreciated, hurrah! And, it's fun to paint my friends in their costumes. ;)
It's so cool to discover everyone's overlapping interests, here. ;)
Happy Anniversary merryhousekeeper! Wow it is looking like there will be quite a crowd of good people at Tom's this weekend.
It really is amazing how much energy has been generated by the photos of Lorraine and Emma. Maybe that was the idea all along. Part of that whole Bengal conspiracy thing. Hmmmm.
Spacedlaw -- sorry but you have already spoiled the reputation of the French as you are in no way rude.
I would love to come! I remember doing research and finding obscure facts for that book and thinking what a fun visit it would be.
I am REALLY un-coordinated and will never be great at dancing, but it's more for the fun of it.
I wish I lived closer, tho my teacher does something called "Zumba" I think, is that Tribal? Sadly, it is the same night as Dog School, and we can't forget THAT part of my social life, hee-hee
I agree, Spacelaw is NOT rude. Can you translate the flyer for us tho? I bet it is funny....
Last week we formed a Bengal Alliance to take over the world, and now we have mysterious shadowy photos...I think it is all part of the Plan....
Eh? Who? What?
Flyer?
Which flyer?
Oh, THAT flyer...
"Hept me to find my Leo. He's an adorable baby leopard and loves to eat rare steak.
He is really affectionate, curious and loves to play.
If you see him, please contact me."
The site is real enough...
Sipping on Mango Juice... thinking of you Lorraine.
Yes, Nathalie, you have spoiled your 'haughty French' image. You are far too nice.
Hey thanks for the directions Lorraine! As one of my friends would say of my sense of direction, "no wonder your people wandered around in the desert for 40 years!" And sadly it is true. I have been in MN for 11 years and still don't know my way around.
Thanks to everyone else for the lovely welcome. Looking forward to seeing at least a few of you at the show this weekend!
I would love to take belly dancing classes! There is one place in my town that teaches them but I can't ever seem to find the time to get there. You have inspired me to try again.
I am of the Just Do It School, tho I have been meaning to Just Do It for far too long...
Very funny on the flyer, Nathilie, you haughty Frenchwomen!
LA is so foreign to me.
No offense to Yoga Gal and Kitty Cat and any other LA'ers on this blog. But seriously. It just is. I live in Rhode Island.
~Emily
So I am not haughty, then?
Damn.
Can I be arrogant instead?
It is a most noble trait of the French tribes. That and a love for "engueulade" - verbal fights - or even simple fights as anyone who has read Asterix knows. Now that last bit I' have problems dealing with but I am pretty sure I can manage arrogance.
Eh? What do you say?
I have to do something otherwise I might end up stripped of my nationality (then again it would also rid me of Sarkozy... difficult choice).
What's Sarkozy, you Arrogant Frenchwomen????
Emily, LA is another planet, totally, and not one in this solar system.
It's an arrogant French president.
Actually from THAT point of view, he seems to be perfect. I still wouldn't vote for him, but there you go, plenty of other Froggies did.
I thought YOU were the President of France??????!!!!!
no Fablo you Dork, I am not on anyone's "side". It's like me posting photos of myself with no bra in my oatmeal sweatshirt. NOT as cool as when I clean up and get sexy. Very cool that you have enough self esteem to post photos that aren't dolled up though. Love you for that, as do we all.
And might I point out, Many of the comments are yours my dear. YOU and your humor make this blog a buzz, we all know that.
So, where is our Flash Girl reunion concert EMMA!!!! Get off your cute skinny bum and get ta singing girl! You CAN write AND sing at the same time. I sing, act, do readings, write, dance, box, Mother, etc. etc. at the same time. Multi tasking IS a talent all women possess. Men, not so much...except Danguy. Anyone who can dress up as little bo peep for Halloween and look cuter than a girl, is my friend for LIFE!
*raises hand* I liked the photos...
I think Hera does win the Distance Contest. NZ is so beautiful - my brother just came back from working there for a couple of months, and his photos are amazing!
Dancing is great - I've never bellydanced but I'll happily country dance even though I have two left feet and no sense of rhythm. And hair that endangers passersby as I whirl past.
Just because I am arrogant, you should not believe everything I tell - or not tell - you...
Hmmm...
I have now become very confused about what it was that was supposed to be wrong with the photos in the first place. I thought it had to do with lighting and deep dark shadows but appearantly it has something to do with oatmeal.
:puzzles:
It's the evil shadow cast by oatmeal. Zombie oatmeal. I am told it's a speciality - nay, a delicacy even - from around the Twin Cities area.
Asterix! I love Asterix and Obelix! Get rid of Sarkozy, for sure, though. Keep all the other lovely arrogant bits about France. See, it's not arrogance if you can actually pull it off. Then, it's pride.
Dan Guy dressed up as Bo Peep?! This, I must see.
Zombie oatmeal.
Well, that answers any questions about what the Voodoo Wasp/Bengal Alliance eats.
Zombie oatmeal... eeeeeewww!! I'll stick to dried fruit, thank you very much!
And if that's what the Bengal Alliance eats, I'm so joining the Cabal Cabal, change of winning or no. (My wolfie would like that side better anyway, what with the bellyrubs and all.)
I think it was the fault of Zombie Oatmeal, and an Arrogant Frenchwomen, and the sans Frosting Kitty.
I never thought anything about the photos except, hey, cool pics of me and Emma! I don't think self esteem had anything to do with it, actually.
If you are in a business where you have to look a certain way because of what you do and can't post anything but pro shots, that's one thing, but my writing, music and Assistant-ing are not depended on me looking perfect at every moment.
Thank the Gods! Would never work...
It's not winning the Feral Feud that's important to Cabal's Cabal! It's whether or not we fight honorably, and bravely meet our fate, as doomed as we may seem; how many breaks we can take from the fight to spend lollygagging in the sun; and how many bellyrubs we get.
And never having to eat Zombie Oatmeal. Ugh.
You have to include pack-loyalty too, but the rest is both good and comprehensive. Me and the wolfie are all about the lollygagging and the bellyrubs. And the going for walks!
I dunno about the zombie oatmeal - given some of the things wolfieboy eats, I can't imaging him objecting to zombie oatmeal (Cabal either). And then he'd want to lick me.
EEEEEEWWWWWWW!
Cabal's cabal! I am in special need of a bellyrub: I have a new hire orientation tomorrow and I don't know what the hey I'm doing. And am thankful that I don't have to look perfect for my new job either -- cleanliness and neatness I think are all that required. :-) (But then, Malena looks so perfectly lovely no matter *what* picture she's in! A very special talent, that. Whereas I, according to my lovely daughter, look like a serial killer in all my pictures -- it's the deepset crazy eyes and multi teeth that give it away [big grin]).
Pack loyalty! Fighting on tho Doom!! No Zombie Oatmeal!!!!! That's what it is about, and Bellyrubs...
Agaila, let us know what your new job is , when you find out, yes?????
Malena does look good no matter what. I kind of like her in the Oatmeal Sweater. For that matter, we all do, even the serial killer look.
It wasn't what I LOOKED like that was the issue, it was the Freaky lighting, as I recall...I look FINE in the pics, but yes, the lighting went wonky...
Or Something........
Many bellyrubs to Aglaia! Good luck tomorrow! And wolfie is very cute, a great addition to the Cabal. ;)
Yeah, it was the lighting that was tragic, not you, Lorraine. ;)
My first comment, but I have to chime in with, "Yay bellydancing!" I was sucked into almost 5 years ago, with no prior dance experience, and now I'm in a semi-pro tribal improv troupe. Searching tribe.net can yield almost any information you need about local teachers in any style.
This reminds me, I should really get back to updating my dance blog.
Hi Amy, and nice to meet you!!!! I am going to do a blog tonight on bellydancing and my first class....
As soon as I recover...
Feel free to comment away!!!!!!!!
Welcome Amy, wow, a semi pro troupe - how cool! and best of luck Grace on your new job- are you feeling more settled now in your new home? Aren't you teaching now - I kinda remember you saying something about that. Hope all goes well for you! 80 comments? we'd better get cracking cuz Lorraine is threatening a new post tonight! Have fun with you bellydancing lesson! Oh, and Merry, congrats on 17 yrs, have a wonderful evening!
It is so nice to see all the new people here!!! Wow. Very cool.
Thanks for the encouragement folks. I will try that website.
Just did a new post, it is too late, but 60 is pretty good, not bad I say, my chatty dears!
I like all the new people too! Keeping coming back!!!!!
OK wow! A girl goes to work for a day or two, ...er, a week or two, and a lot of reading acculmulates.
First, must agree with Kitty. You do not belong in shadow m'dear, and Emma is so over-exposed, I can practically see her retinas. I look closely and see that you have a pleasant expression, and 'twould've been a great photo had it been properly lit...*sigh* lighting is everything isn't it?
(Oh wait, Pantagruel just said that...sorry for repeating)
What else...my Gods, there's so much backstory here, I feel like I'm reading the Silmarillion(sp?)!!!
Nice photo of you, Phiala! You're right, beads and bells make everything more fun! Congrats on the gig both Ariandalen and Phiala; dance on lovelies! I've retired from performing (I'm pretty sure that's permanent), but lately, I've had the desire to return to class. The Tribal movement has caught my attention as well, and after many years of raqs sharqi, it feels quite freeing. I am looking foreward to learning more about it. There's a special place in Hades for bad teachers, especially for those that would squash any sort of budding creativity. Please don't let that person's inappropriateness stop you from dancing, Rubius, get out there and find someone else who inspires you.
And for that matter, anyone reading this who wants to dance...life is fleeting...dance NOW!
Hi to Gayle, didn't get to the gig this weekend, but always nice to "meet" another local! Will definatley catch up with you at the next one. When is that gig anyway??? Saturday? At Tom's on Main???
Please update this poor airy Gemini who's been too long in the upper reaches of the atmosphere...
OK too much backstory to comment on everything, I'll simply sign off with a goodnight to all!
~Liza
p.s. in the time in took me to write this, edit this, preview this, deal with several child-induced delays, about a dozen more comments came in!!! Wow! Awesome discussion going on here! Hi to all!
Nitey-nite!
Dancing Liza, you are back and that is wonderful! Check out the next post as it is all about dancing and YOU were the one who got me into this and inspired me to dance!!!!!
Sillmarillion, that what this blog is, all about the back story, hee-hee....
How sweet of you to say--I had no idea I was your inspiration. You honor me to say so. Now, I truly must rejoin a class to honor your honoring of me!
Smile.
~L
I lost my goth, cross-dressing sheep.
What can I say?
Just don't start writing bits of this blog in Quenya, like the Silmarillion. ;) Or Sindarin either -- I know how my fellow Tolkien geeks think -- no one will understand it. Hey, wait a minute… that'd be perfect for passing messages amongst the Cabal. Or would be, if our Fearless Leader were not a dog.
Damn.
Danth, should it worry me that you say 'goth crossdressing sheep' and the first thing that popped into my head is that I need to talk to my husband? Maybe the goth part is obvious, and the cross-dressing bit too, as the boys like to wear skirts in this house. The sheep I can explain by saying I have a 2 year old. [insert sheepish grin here, pun intended]
And yay, bellydancing! One of these years I'll take a class and learn it right and proper. Until then, I'll just have to do my silly gothic ballerina swirly dancey thingummy what is sort of inspired by bellydancers in general, tribal and otherwise. I'm jealous.
Ooh, heh, I think I need to update my profile pic, as I took off almost all the hair in it... hrm. Soon.
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