Wednesday, March 02, 2011
Friday, February 18, 2011
Wednesday, February 09, 2011
Self, are you trying to tell me something?
Last night I had yet another dream about tap-dancing. This time, I was looking for my tap shoes to see what condition they were in and if they still fit. They looked little different from when I last saw them…oddly they were the shape of booties with taps added to them, not at all what I remembered having. The taps on the bottom of the soles were a little loose so I tightened them up. The booties had ribbon laces on them and were a little dusty, and even though they didn't look like my shoes, it mattered not, only that they would fit me, and I was apprehensive that they wouldn't. But they fit! I recall feeling so happy that I would be dancing again and the feeling stayed with me when I awoke this morning…
…so much so, that I decided today was the day. This is now the third dream in a week. Is my subconscious self trying to tell me something? "Self, it's time to start tap dancing again because it makes you so happy and it fills your soul with joy. Today is the day!"
I went into my closet to look for my shoes…this time they were the ones I recall and love so much. They are black Mary-Janes, still in very excellent condition even after all these years living unused in the darkness of my closet and my mind and they still fit! The taps were a little loose so I tightened them and smiled to myself and started to cry a little in anticipation. Today is the day I start dancing again and my first class is tonight!
Friday, January 28, 2011
What's for Dinner?
What's for dinner?
How many times have you said that? How many times has your parent, friend, spouse or roommate said that to you? It's become such a commonplace phrase that commercials and advertising campaigns use even after it had already been absorbed in our cultural lexicon for many many years.
Last night I dreamed I had found a vacant ballroom and realized that what I really missed in my life was tap dancing. So I pulled out my tap shoes and put them on, mentally going over steps I could still remember as I tied my laces…all the while thinking how lucky I was to be able to dance again, that my shoes still fit, that I had found a space to dance in…and I noticed I was wearing black and white stripe leg warmers which made my smile broader.
Then suddenly, a group of women entered, all with tap shoes on. To my surprise there was a class about to start and I asked if I could join. The instructor obliged me, but then began a sort of rant about her dislike of our society and continued on and on about everything that was wrong with us culturally and politically, and as she continued her words became uglier and uglier. I found that my joyous mood was promptly overrun by the instructor's personal rants and issues that had nothing to do with our class, and I noticed how not only it disrupted my mood but the mood of the other women present. That was when I spoke up and countered her rant.
"What's for dinner? How often have we said that on our lives? Do we even know or acknowledge how blessed and fortunate we are to even ask this question when millions of people in the world have only one question to ask, 'will I eat today?'
" If you are blessed enough to be able to ask 'what's for dinner?' that means you are fortunate enough to be able to have the options of what you wish to consume this evening. Whether it's steak or pasta or a simple salad with the dressing on the side…these are beautiful gifts each of it's own. When was the last time you took a moment to realize how many millions of people wish and wish they could have this simple choice? The simple choices to us in our world.
" I implore you the next time you find yourself angry at the world, or having a bad day, or arguing with your best friend over politics, that you take a step back and ask yourself 'what's for dinner?' This simple phrase has also become an acknowledgement of the blessings you have in your life every day."
And there was my rant. I awoke soon after this dream and lay awake for another three hours thinking about it.
On my way to work today, I saw an old homeless man drinking beer. He was there yesterday, and had appeared again this morning. Again I thought to myself, "what's for dinner?". For even though I struggle to pay my bills every month, I still have this beautiful luxury. I know where I will sleep tonight and I can ponder over what I would like to eat today…
How many times have you said that? How many times has your parent, friend, spouse or roommate said that to you? It's become such a commonplace phrase that commercials and advertising campaigns use even after it had already been absorbed in our cultural lexicon for many many years.
Last night I dreamed I had found a vacant ballroom and realized that what I really missed in my life was tap dancing. So I pulled out my tap shoes and put them on, mentally going over steps I could still remember as I tied my laces…all the while thinking how lucky I was to be able to dance again, that my shoes still fit, that I had found a space to dance in…and I noticed I was wearing black and white stripe leg warmers which made my smile broader.
Then suddenly, a group of women entered, all with tap shoes on. To my surprise there was a class about to start and I asked if I could join. The instructor obliged me, but then began a sort of rant about her dislike of our society and continued on and on about everything that was wrong with us culturally and politically, and as she continued her words became uglier and uglier. I found that my joyous mood was promptly overrun by the instructor's personal rants and issues that had nothing to do with our class, and I noticed how not only it disrupted my mood but the mood of the other women present. That was when I spoke up and countered her rant.
"What's for dinner? How often have we said that on our lives? Do we even know or acknowledge how blessed and fortunate we are to even ask this question when millions of people in the world have only one question to ask, 'will I eat today?'
" If you are blessed enough to be able to ask 'what's for dinner?' that means you are fortunate enough to be able to have the options of what you wish to consume this evening. Whether it's steak or pasta or a simple salad with the dressing on the side…these are beautiful gifts each of it's own. When was the last time you took a moment to realize how many millions of people wish and wish they could have this simple choice? The simple choices to us in our world.
" I implore you the next time you find yourself angry at the world, or having a bad day, or arguing with your best friend over politics, that you take a step back and ask yourself 'what's for dinner?' This simple phrase has also become an acknowledgement of the blessings you have in your life every day."
And there was my rant. I awoke soon after this dream and lay awake for another three hours thinking about it.
On my way to work today, I saw an old homeless man drinking beer. He was there yesterday, and had appeared again this morning. Again I thought to myself, "what's for dinner?". For even though I struggle to pay my bills every month, I still have this beautiful luxury. I know where I will sleep tonight and I can ponder over what I would like to eat today…
Tuesday, January 18, 2011
Tuesday, January 04, 2011
Monday, January 03, 2011
Friday, December 31, 2010
Monday, December 20, 2010
Quote of the Day
"Life has taught us that love does not consist of gazing at each other but in looking outward together in the same direction."
- Antoine de Saint-Exupery
Wednesday, December 08, 2010
Tuesday, December 07, 2010
Yes.... the Washboard HAS Become Electrified... Woogie!
Wow, so glad to have this sent to me! I was hoping someone caught the washboard jam...
Saturday, December 04, 2010
We Wish You A Merry Christmas (hi def rec)
A north Mississippi style blues twist to an old Christmas Carol. Good Tidings y'all! Thanks to David S. White for making the vid... Ed Soltis for recording me... And yes I am playing and singing and I arranged the music as well. Thanks for listening!
Sunday, October 31, 2010
The Statue Wins Best Louisiana Short at The N.O. Film Fest
My first indie short filmed last October, The Statue, won Best Louisiana Shot at the New Orleans Film fest last weekend! The film was directed by Andrew Bryan and starred myself and Gideon Hodge as the title character. Click on the blog title if you want to ch-ch-check it out (it's also in my "news" section of laolga.com).
Synopsis
A lonely, 'living-statue' street performer in the French Quarter of New Orleans tries to win the heart of a nearby street musician.
2010 New Orleans Film Festival Award Winner
Louisiana Short
Synopsis
A lonely, 'living-statue' street performer in the French Quarter of New Orleans tries to win the heart of a nearby street musician.
2010 New Orleans Film Festival Award Winner
Louisiana Short
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