me and my peeps

i stopped at a nearby (non-trader joe's) grocery monday afternoon (as in christmas eve day), thinking there'd be lots of soy nog, pie, and out-of-work elves on sale. instead, i found cottonelle toilet paper for $6 for 9 rolls and a plethora of peeps. valentine's day peeps. and not just any, but the sugar-free, splenda-full kind. it's not even new year's yet, guys! remember when peeps looked like cute little yellow chicks? 'cuz chicks go "peep peep"? me, too. i think that's an era long gone. peep.

made in the usa

i received this error message when trying to post a review recently at criticaldance. it's best if read aloud!

Information

Mistake! There was an attempt of an automatic insert of the message in a forum. Your message is sent to hell. Try still times who knows - can it will turn out? Still probably, that you too long wrote the message - then pass to page back, copy the text, update page, insert the copied text and press button "Send".

Nutcracker, SF Ballet

Ninety mi-nut-es of holiday magic
"Nutcracker"
San Francisco Ballet at the War Memorial Opera House
Dec. 18, 2007

Sparkly fuschia-colored life-sized dolls, dancing snow, and squeals of tiny children’s joy stir up memories of early dawn on Christmas morning, which is just what Helgi Tomasson’s maturing “Nutcracker” aims to do at each and every performance. Tuesday night was no different, with tots dressed up in their best frocks and suits, sitting at the edge of their seats, and gaping at every turn and leap. “Mom! She just got so tiny!” exclaimed one little child behind me as the tree rose high above the stage. “Ooh! Snow fairies! Hee!” piped another as Snowflakes danced out of the wings. And if I had thought about it less, I probably would have giggled with glee right along with them!

Act I plopped us in the middle of 1915 San Francisco, and the character dancers, supers, and company dancers looked right at home. The party at the Stahlbaums’ passed with ease--a group dance here, children running there, and a graceful Jessica Cohen as Clara--, and it all flowed quite well into the dancing dolls. Rory Hohenstein played the flexible and somewhat dopey harlequin, and Clara Blanco, who’s returned to SF Ballet after a one-year hiatus in England, shined as the spinning, flexedfoot dancing doll.

For more, go here.

Photo © Erik Tomasson

Margaret Jenkins Dance Company @ Project Artaud Theater

The proof is in its brightness
“Other Suns”
Margaret Jenkins Dance Company
Project Artaud Theater
December 8, 2007

Inspired by her time in spent in Asia, Margaret Jenkins premiered the first part of “Other Suns,” which is set to be a trilogy examining symmetry and asymmetry. Prior to the event, my mind flashed back to my days of geometry and proofs. Would there be iscosoles triangles? Perhaps an investigation of parallel vs. perpendicular lines? No. Of course not. But there was proof that Jenkins’ work is well grounded, and that there’s still quite more to come.

For more, go here (but don't be alarmed by the missing header. hopefully, it'll be restored soon).

he's making a list and checking it twice...

i saw these in the prudential center when i was in boston last week and the only thing that came to mind was, "what large, shiny balls!" guess i'm getting coal in my stocking this year...


p.s. each one is about 6 feet tall...

linked in

the former mary ellen cook (my old ballet buddy) is livin' large while trying to be a good samaritan. good to know that a pine crest education will get you somewhere! meanwhile, a colleague's portrayed a 50's style non-super hero in a lower-than-low budget flick. elvish fun. and lastly, double-decker buses might just make their way to SF!

dress up, dress down.

i've been searching for a cute little dress for the holidays. you know, something i can wear to a birthday or new year's dinner, to the office holiday party, to the movies on christmas, etc. i enlisted todd's help, and we hit the mall the weekend post-thanksgiving, but while i found cute dresses, they definitely weren't office party friendly. "hi CEO, please meet todd, my long-time boyfriend/laundry partner-in-crime and my twins, bah and joonga." yeah, not quite what i had in mind.

before leaving for boston, i tried out nordstrom's "personal touch," which was billed as a personal shopping service, but that pretty much sucked. the woman, in her mid to late 50s, had asked me a slew of questions over the phone, but decided not to "act on my responses" until she saw me... then she dragged me all over the store to find the right colors for me (no, i'm not a warm person! silver, lady, not gold.), and then she kept pushing me toward stepford wife-type dresses. you know: big belt, poofy skirt, black mesh on top, and flippy hair. apparently that look is in again. on mars.

so that effort failed immensely. while here in boston, and with the weather so cold that my mascara froze within a 10 minute walk (to a delicious little bakery/cafe), i've decided to try (via the wide warm web) to find the most hideous dress i can. at least i'll be noticed.

example a

laundry by design bubble dress, $425, bloomingdales

because when you want to dress up and have fun, nothing says it best than "gee, you look pregnant!" better than this lovely poof.

example b

a.b.s. pintucked shirt dress, $298, nordstrom
clowns, oversized men's shirts, and satin. just what i wanted!

example c

a.b.s. bronze pleated bubble dress, $138 ($230 retail), bluefly
'cuz i've always wanted to be one of those metallic performers down at the warf! brrp, zswoosh, surp.

example d

vera wang pocket dress, $660 ($1,100 retail), bluefly
using my boyfriend's pockets says "lipstick management," but having my own screams "independence!"

example e

rachel roy bloom dress, $1,207 ($2,013 retail), bluefly
it's like tinkerbell's gone goth.

example f

zac posen silk bonnie dress, $2,200, eluxury
because whirling dervishes are making a comeback.

example g

jean paul gaultier babydoll dress, $495 (what a deal!), eluxury
it's like you're 5 and taking a cruise through mexico. maracas not included.

example h

marc jacobs wave dress, $2,400, eluxury

i've always wanted to wear a dress inspired by windex.