Last night at Raven Dancers was amazing. Our dancers wore all their regalia (it's not a costume--ever; it's regalia or an outfit) in anticipation of the arrival of a Tlingit dance group visiting from Alaska that contacted the Raven Dancers to share in an exchange of cultures. There were so many amazing moments over the course of the evening that I just can't paint the full picture. But here are some vignettes:

The Tlingit regalia was striking! Heavy felt blankets in black, white, and red with Tlingit raven, wolf, porpoise, and eagle designs outlined in mother-of-pearl buttons. One young woman had a beaded headpiece with beaded strands that flowed down over her hair and eyes. Nearly conical straw hats with the same types of designs for some, and ancestor masks and headpieces for others, were powerful symbols. Every design on a dancer's regalia represents the ancestors of that dancer. So if a Tlingit dancer turns his or her back on you, it's a way of bringing their ancestors to you.

The drumming is loud, vibrant, and enveloping. As with many cultures, the tradition started with only the men drumming. However, like some areas of powwow culture (particularly Northern style drumming), women drummers are beginning to be accepted. Generally, only the men dance, and only the women sing, not the other way around. The women still have movement, however, in offering honor to the gods and ancestors as they sing. It provides for a visual and auditory feast that keeps your attention bouncing around to make sure you don't miss anything.

One dance was a drum routine, where all the men danced with their drums. I could feel the earth vibrating under me--the heartbeat of the mother is strong.

Here's a story about Tlingit dance and its place in the culture. And here's a description by a 7th grader of what it means to be in a Tlingit dance group. Lastly, here are some pictures of a different dance group. I should have taken pictures and video last night--I would love to share it. But perhaps it will encourage you to search it out on YouTube (there are a few videos of various groups there) or, if a group performs in your area, to go see them. It's worth it!

Our dancers shared some wonderful dances as well--some in the powwow tradition and some that the group has learned from specific traditions, along with one . The Ute bear dance, which Dave loves, was one group dance that we encouraged the Tlingit group to do with our group. They had us dance in one of their dances, too--a circle dance that coordinated nicely with the circle dance style of the "lower 48" tribes.

It's fantastic to be part of this group. I'm excited to learn the dances and to make my regalia. I'm still working on ideas for designs. Dave is going to bead a vest, too, when he's ready to. He is already doing really well at the drum. At one point last night, Bear--the drum leader--turned the microphone a little more toward Dave as they were singing together. I think it's a great place for him and he's going to do really well.

This raises my spirit. It is giving me a new direction to turn my spiritual pursuits--and one in which I think I can thoroughly express my love for my home and for who I am. As the 7th grader above said, it's important to know who you are. But for me, and I suspect for many transplants or descendants of transplants to this country (though certainly not all), it's a little different. I can say that I'm Sicilian, French, English, and German... but I have little real connection to any of those cultures. I've never had the immersion in the background of those cultures that defines me as those things. I have the mish-mash of what it became when my American parents came together with their culture that is separated from their ethnic heritage. I'm all of those things, and none of those things. What I am is an American mutt who is trying to figure out who that might really make me.

As we went around the circle last night, each of us introducing ourselves, we were encouraged to share our tribe or clan affiliation. Those who have no native affiliation pretty much just said they were anglo. When it came to my turn, I said simply, "I was born and grew up here in Colorado." And that's what it really is. In this odd American culture, I feel that I am more connected to where I am, to where I became myself, than to where my family came from. And there has to be a way to express that, to be a part of something that helps me demonstrate that that is who I am. And this is one part of that. I'm glad we found Raven Dancers.

Peace

ETA: I found the name and a MySpace page for the dancers. They're Woosh.ji.een Dancers, and they're performing in Denver today at the Hyatt Regency Denver Convention Center, on the second level, at 2:30. Don't miss it if you can help it! 

The summary:

Well, first you want to check out the photos, here.

Kazha's first experience traveling with us was fun. The first morning there, she encountered her first deer, who then, promptly, decided to encounter her. Yep, the deer followed her through the backyard of my parents' house, as Dave and I watched, very carefully. Kazha then wandered through a gap in the fence to the alley. Wanting to make sure she didn't get too far, I skirted around the observing deer one way, Dave another, and we cornered the dog. As she tried to escape us by dashing back into the yard, she startled the deer, who then bounded backwards and back over the fence. It was rather surprising and funny! We then observed that there were three deer hanging out in the yard. Perhaps the same three that were fawns last year?

Anyway, we wandered around town the first day, just enjoying the view and the relaxation. I got a lot of knitting done that day, and Dave started a new Tony Hillerman book. Mom and Dad read and relaxed, too. We had a nice gazpacho for lunch that my mom made. Yummy! Then we went to Nanda Ghan's, a great local restaurant I'd recommend to anyone, for dinner. After that, we took a great long walk, which is where all the sunset photos came from. This is one of my favorites--the East Spanish Peak with the last rays of pink light on it, and the moon shining above...



The next day, on the 4th, Dave and I went for a hike at Blue and Bear Lakes... a little too crowded for our taste, but storm clouds threatened, so we really couldn't go anywhere farther. Still, I got some nice photos of flowers and Kazha on the trail.





And that gave us enough time to get back into town and go to Art in the Park for the afternoon. That's after my mom and dad went to the Cuchara parade. So we wandered, and we found this artist, R. Wade Brown. He had a wonderful piece we couldn't resist... stark white background with a petroglyph looking bison hunt image on it. Beautiful enough that we couldn't resist it. We're working on paying him in installments over the summer to purchase the piece. Hooray for layaway! Another artist there was Barbara Kowalik, who makes shields. She says the symbols are common ones, but she learns the common meanings and then interprets them herself in her works. Take a look at the bottom right of this page to see one, which is one of Dave's favorites. We'd each like to have one that represents each of us, someday. Carla Romero is another painter with works we would love to have someday... when we have a lot of room and more money. :) But admire her work, because it's very striking.

So then, on Saturday night we had barbecued ribs with my dad's homemade sauce (yum!) and baked potatoes and corn. And then everyone was exhausted, so Mom and Pop went to bed early and Dave and I stayed up to read, knit, and chat in a hush. Kazha was not thrilled with the fireworks, but she did okay, considering we didn't have her rescue remedy with us.

Sunday was a nice egg breakfast and then another long walk, this time up through the golf course. That's where I got the lovely bright daylight photos of the Spanish Peaks--Wahatoya. Seeing the clouds roiling over the peaks brought to mind the concept that local NDN tribes had that all weather for the whole world originated with the peaks. The lifeblood of the plains in the area comes from the clouds that have their start over those mountains. It's awestriking. Heh.



We bought our artwork on Sunday before having a last serving of gazpacho and a sandwich and heading back to Denver. A little bit north of Walsenburg, we ran into one of the worst storms I've encountered--and the worst one I've ever had to drive through. We had to pull over while the nearly golf-ball size hail pounded our car while lightning flashed around. The hail was strong enough that we couldn't hear thunder. We saw a few motorcyclists huddling in the high grass as we were able to start off again. We later learned that many bikers found shelter in the cars of other generous people. We'd have done the same if they'd been anywhere near us when we stopped. That hail had to hurt...

When we finally got going again, we encountered a serious accident, with one car that had flipped over, with the top crushed. Everyone else seemed okay, but we know people were trapped in that car. We saw one person's foot near a window, moving. Our prayers went and go out to those people in hopes that they are alright. Many had stopped to help, and we didn't want to be excessive help that would likely hinder, so we kept on. One of those who stopped was a truck driver, so we feel certain he probably radioed the accident in, while several others were directing traffic and trying to comfort those who were trapped. Still, I wish I could find news of the accident to know if the people are okay. I can't find any word...

We traveled on, going through two more storms that seemed much less intimidating, and finally got home to safety with a slightly spooked dog, arriving to find a cat desperate for attention. And, well, that's pretty much it. Nice break. Not long enough, but certainly nice.

Blessings to all our loved ones and anyone else who stumbles here--hope your weekend was as nice, whether or not you had a holiday to celebrate.

Peace

Just a taste of what's coming...



Peace

Today was my second time attending the Raven Dancers' meeting, and I still had a lot of fun. I watched and pitched in a bit as one woman's dress for the women's Southern Traditional Cloth was designed. Then we started talking about my design. I need to start looking at colors and patterns and developing my ideas. Does anyone have creative ideas on how to incorporate a moon design and a wolf design without it being too cliche or too common? I was thinking at first that the slim crescent with the glow around the rest of the moon would be interesting, but I do want to be unique while at the same time reflecting my connections. In any case, I'm going to be learning the Jingle Dance, so my dress will be something like these... as you can see, there's lots of variety in the designs, so this doesn't entirely narrow it down, but it gives you an idea of what I'm working for.

Those who know me well will understand why I chose the Jingle Dance. It's a healing dance... I've loved it since I was little.

In any case, I'm excited to learn. And the group was interested to see what I'm doing with the wedding blanket. Of which, by the way, I have some recent photos...

This is the whole blanket as it is so far. I'm a little more than two-thirds done. I have a lot to do in the next two weeks...



This is how the pattern looks on the currently unfinished blanket:



And once the blanket is finished and blocked (knit-speak for dampened and made to dry in the correct shape), it will look like this:



The best part of the whole thing is that it's working. It's really working! I hope my friends will be pleased with it for their wedding ceremony.

Two weeks... ack!

Anyway, that all being done and said, this is completely involving me now. I have no time or patience for work, so I get frustrated when I'm there and have to do it. On the other hand, I have one more day of it before we head down to our lovely little La Veta, in southern Colorado, to escape it all. Whew! We plan to do some nice hiking with the doggie, and some relaxing and knitting and reading and hanging with my parents... We're both looking forward to the escape.

In the meantime, I hope all my dear loved ones are safe and that my American friends will enjoy their Fourth of July. And Happy Canada Day today, for those I know up there. And happy Bastille Day to my French friends on the 14th...

Blesswings and goodwooshes and luff to everyone. I'll be sure to post pictures if I can from my remote location, to let you know how our little break goes.

Peace

Spent a bit of time during my walk break today trying to capture a good ladybug photo. There were three just enjoying the shade on these little thistles... Tell me that you think!

Peace

It's great to wake up to good news on a Monday morning...

Awoooooooooooooo!

Peace

So, I changed my LiveJournal theme, as you can see, to one of the new green themes they built. I was having fun building my own themes on top of the one I had before, but I decided I want to be green for a while, reflecting some new things in my life and some new goals I'm setting.

It's summer, first of all, and for the first time in a long time, Colorado is more green than brown. We've had a lot of rain (odd rain for our state though... it's felt more midwestern than Rocky Mountain) and the plants we thought might suffer from the long cold we had in spring have held out and burst forth. Green seems the color of that moment, certainly.

Green is for the Iranian people, too, who are trying to determine their destiny apart from what their leaders might tell them they want. Simply the act of wearing green has gotten professional soccer players banned from the game for life in their country. It's gotten 17-year-old students arrested and beaten. It has gotten people killed. In solidarity with them, green is the color of that moment, too.

When a plant greens, puts forth buds, and flowers (or spores, or cones, or whatever it happens to do for itself to reproduce), it is signaling hope for a future. It's working toward becoming something new. For my part? With the continued downward spiral I've had at work, and that I'm watching my coworkers go through, I am greening in that way, myself. I'm tired of this world, and these petty politics, and this exhausting battle for executive/managerial supremacy that makes life miserable for the people who work under it. I'm done.

So I'm growing up--and out. Looking for new life, working on new paths toward my ever present goals, I'm going to start working with a voice teacher, go to more auditions, and get the roles that pay and that will move me steadily toward the career I've always really wanted. I'm not even going to say yet that it might not work, because I need to focus on making it happen. I'm going to flower forth and bear fruit and make life a little greener.

In the meantime, I will keep working on my other crafts--writing and knitting and gardening and whatever keeps my brain alive and processing new things every day. To that end, tonight will be my first time attending the Raven Dancers meeting. I hope to learn to jingle dance or perhaps traditional dance, as Dave is learning to drum and sing. And perhaps I can learn beading as well, to make my own moccasins, to make my own deerskin dress... whatever. I am looking forward to immersion in new learning. And I hope to gain a wider view, a deeper understanding, and... well, more connection outside myself. Truly, a greening of the soul.

So, here's to green. May it always grow.

Peace

Kazha sitting with Dave, waiting for him to finish his frozen custard so he can pet her...

Peace

No matter the old adage... the grass IS always greener on the other side of the sealed office window.

*sigh*

Peace?

This is my band, performing at a local nightclub/ restaurant.

Peace

Okay, so as many of you know, I've totally geeked out on you. I have this great new iPhone killer, a Samsung Omnia running Windows Mobile software. And, as a result, I can keep up with and post to my Facebook and Twitter accounts wherever I go.

With Facecrack, it was easy--they have a smartphone site that accesses most everything without a separate app required. But Twitter was not quite the same. Enter Twikini, which is great.

The layout is simple, but enables the same level of access I'd get from my desktop. So, I can tweet and retweet and reply and keep up with @BrentSpiner with no problem--which I couldn't do from my phone without it. Yay! Believe me, keeping up with @BrentSpiner is worth it alone.

It even looks neat and clean, and I can still see avatars. And there's a variety of color layouts, though I wish they were customizable.

Like it. Found it at http://www.trinketsoftware.com/twikini

Okay, done geeking out now. I return you to your regular Rambles.

Peace

(I'm on the left--Snoopy in You're A Good Man, Charlie Brown, from high school freshman year.)

Alright, for all you who have class reunions coming up who might be hesitant, and for those who asked, here's my reunion update.

Friday night was the cocktail hour and dinner at Cool River Cafe, a nice little place. It was thunderstorming, so I wasn't entirely pleased, but when I got in I immediately saw a familiar face I was hoping to see--Lisa J.--who promptly fell into conversation about what had happened in the intervening 20 years since I saw her last. She introduced me to her new hubby (they are obviously quite in love, and it's sweet to observe) and we chatted a bit until Andy W. and Jason M. showed up with their lovely wives.

It was great to catch up with them, too. I'd had a bit of a crush on Jason for a while (like many of the girls in my class--he was a soccer player and had legs to drool for) and it was good to see he was settled and happy. We discovered the coincidence that he had moved to Boston the same year Dave and I did, where he met his wife. Andy is here on Facebook and was another handsome devil from our class., and it was nice to hear about his update, too.

Amy L. also showed up--I have been fairly connected with her since a few years ago when she came to Boston for a friend's wedding and stayed with us. Her mother is still here in Denver and I hear things of her now and again. It was great talking to Amy. We also sat around with some of the people we didn't know as well and had some interesting conversations about life around different parts of the country.

The conversation was great, and the people nice to see again, but I had a busy Saturday coming up. Extracting as close as I could get to a promise that people wouldn't leave the following night's festivities until I got there, I finished my glass of wine and went home. The prime rib was fantastic, though.

So on Saturday, after attending a farmer's market and "tho' down brawnch" event hosted by friends Ravel and Kent, and after making a brief appearance at the golden anniversary party of other friends, I went to be part of the class photo in front of our school. Aside from a few new trees, the school hasn't changed much from the outside.

There, the first person I ran into who I hadn't seen the night before was Lisa Z. The big coincidence there, which I had learned the night before from Lisa J., is that Lisa Z. and I have worked at the same company for about the same amount of time. She's in Denver, and I spent my first 6 years in Boston, but for the last 4 years we've been working in the same place and didn't even know it. Well, no wonder--we both have different last names, and there are 1,400 people in the Denver office, so it's not that likely we'd run into each other. But even if we had, would we have figured out that we knew each other in high school? She hasn't changed much, and she says I haven't, but who knows? Out of context, you just can't be sure.

Other folks I got to see there include the awesome Maylan T., who was also in drama some, and Rondell M., who I remember well as having dressed as a bag lady one Halloween. A couple other familiar faces I didn't know as well stood out and said hello, and it was nice to catch up with them some, too. Then it was off for a quick nap after the photos, and on to my Saturday night G&S performance.

So, after the show (at about 10:30), which, by the way, was probably our best one of the weekend, I ran over to Dave & Buster's to try to catch everyone before they turned into pumpkins. Silly people who have kids and can't stay up past 9 in their own time zones, let alone 10:30 in mine... Seriously, though, I was pleased to see that a few had stayed around, including Jason and Andy and Amy, as well as Maylan and the Lisas. Added to the mix were Mimi S., Miguel O., and Ben F., all three of whom I've had at least some level of contact with since school. Mike S., who I had hoped to see, had left only a few moments before I got there--a fact that disappointed me, as I would have liked to catch up with him. But, ah well. Didn't have a lot of time to talk with Mimi and Miguel, sadly, but I'm connected with them here, so perhaps we'll catch up.

Talked quite a bit with Maylan and Amy and, pleasantly, Ben--he and I also went to the same college, though I had lost track of him after the first couple of years. It's nice to know he's doing well, too--he's always been a far better person than I think he ever thought he was, and he deserves a good life. We went briefly to another friend's house afterwards, where I learned more about details of Amy's and Ben's lives. But again, I had to get up early Sunday for another busy day, so called it a night before the conversations were really over.

And that was it for me, because my show time on Sunday precluded my being able to attend the picnic.

Many of these people became a bit like family while we were in school together (with everything that those relationships imply--good and bad). We were in a rather insular educational program that bonded us together while often disconnecting us from the rest of the school at large. Those are relationships that I think we often go back to for reference, even when they're long over. That make us wonder how that person turned out.

What did I learn? That people do grow up and become pleasant. That it's nice to catch up and see the humans teenagers all become. That insecurity is part of life no matter how old you get. That if your spouse is shy or not outgoing with strangers, maybe it's better not to make them go (I didn't make Dave go, and that was a good thing). That it's worth it to take time to revisit the connections we've made. That it's heartening to be reminded how far we ourselves have come in life.

And, that if you have a chance to do all of that, and you remotely think you'd enjoy seeing some of those people again, you should. Just my opinion, from my experience. (Besides--for all of you from the class of 1990, even though you're not my class, I'd love to see you again, too. We had something similar, didn't we?)

Peace

More storms today. I'm working from home, and the poochy has been curled up by my feet under the table for safety. In the meantime, the kitty is sleeping on the doggie's bed. Ha!

Peace

But a lovely double rainbow outside my house.

Dave was home for Kazha. It worked out.

Peace

Kazha's at home alone, and there are severe storms moving through. Our thunder sensitive pup is going to be so freaked out!

Wish I could go home to take care of her. Of course, my astraphobia doesn't help much, here.

Peace

I love this picture I took of my Sasha this morning.

Cutie pie!

Peace

Ha! I can now post using my phone. That's beyond cool!

Hoping to attach some photos I took while walking near the office today...

ETA: Obviously didn't get photos added from the phone. I'll figure that out eventually. But it's still cool. ;)

Peace

I don't care if Ken Salazar did go to my alma mater. He's officially off my "hoping for the best" list.

He had already started to suck a few weeks ago when it was announced, and a few days ago when it happened: he went against last year's court decision and removed the gray wolf from the endangered species list.

If that hadn't been enough to get him on my gustatory waste list (which it was), this is.

He's dirt. He's worse than dirt. He's the bacterial infestation of worm excrement.

Such comes of selecting a rancher for Secretary of the Interior... er, INFERIOR. Grr.

Not much peace, at present.