Photo by Moses Pendleton
I believe I’ve posted this photo before, but the blog has been looking a little drab lately, so here it is again. I know. I know.
I’m sorry that I haven’t been able to post a new blog entry each day, these past few weeks. I’ve been a little busy. It actually makes me uneasy all day, if I haven’t posted a blog. I would say that it makes me feel as if I left my bed unmade, but in fact, leaving my bed unmade doesn’t make me uneasy at all. I do it all the time. But I will try to blog each day, even if it’s short.
I recently came across this baby photo of Miss Holly:
Look at her now. Six months old tomorrow.:
Still a wee mite.
And I’ve been spending some time in a barn on a hill, watching dancers audition for Momix. Such a perfect way to spend an afternoon, surrounded by these beautiful young men and women who have trekked up from the city to audition. I love watching Moses and Cynthia constantly collaborate and improvise with the dancers, even in this, the auditioning process. I’m going to write about it later, but I always enter that barn a little strung-out from writing, and when I leave, I’m filled with a sort of joyous energy. I can’t believe I lived here for so many years without knowing what Moses and Cynthia were up to. So strange to think that I drove past that old barn, day after day, unaware that inside it was just pulsing with music and electric energy – that people were challenging the boundaries of gravity and space and seemingly defying the biomechanical limitations of the human form, just to create beautiful images and narratives with their bodies. Just for beauty.
Imagine cultivating beauty for a living every day.
And here’s a poem. Ever since I switched to new blog format, I can’t copy text without it looking different from the rest of blog.
EROTIC ENERGY
by Chase Twichell
Don't tell me we're not like plants, sending out a shoot when we need to, or spikes, poisonous oils, or flowers. Come to me but only when I say, that's how plants announce the rules of propagation. Even children know this. You can see them imitating all the moves with their bright plastic toys. So that, years later, at the moment the girl's body finally says yes to the end of childhood, a green pail with an orange shovel will appear in her mind like a tropical blossom she has never seen before.
Lucky you, Ann, getting to watch the auditions for Momix. I do envy that!
Loved the poem.
Ann, don’t ever feel burdened by the need to post something new. As you have seen, we can talk among ourselves quite well while you are out and about. You should be off enjoying the dancers auditioning in the barn. We have the luxury of hearing about your adventures, and for that, I am grateful.
Holly is a super-sized bowl of precious.
Ann, you imagine what it would be like to cultivate beauty for a living, everyday. I imagine what it would be like to have readers that are so fond of my words, that they wish for more, everyday.
You, Ann, do cultivate beauty with your words. I really don’t know how you have done this for 2 years, on such a regular basis. Don’t beat yourself up over not posting a fresh blog everyday. I’m grateful that you continue to maintain a blog. You inspire me to focus on words and literature.
Well it is rather apparent that you are addicted to the blog and us, got to have it! I know I feel that way too. How would I know what to books or movies to reserve at the library without you guys??? I do envy you in the barn watching all the dancers and MP/CQ, so very cool.
Great pictures of Holly. They grow up so fast!
I loved your description of the dancers. When I was three, my mother took me to my first ballet. She was worried that I’d be fidgety, but when the lights dimmed and the curtain rose, she says I sat perched on her lap and did not move or take my eyes off the dancers throughout the entire program. Dance still has that effect on me. One day I hope to see Momix live.
Fantastic pictures. I can’t recall the MP photo, but I love it. The photos Moses takes of his sunflowers inspired me to buy some sunflower seeds for my own garden this year – right now they’re sitting in Jiffy Pots on my windowsill, getting a head start in our warm house (instead of drowning outside). I’ll have some photos of them up on my blog, however, if I did it now, you’d just be looking at dirt.
The thought of dancers coming out here, to the country, from the City (or elsewhere) to audition is just so cool! And in a barn, no less. I can imagine how uplifting it is.
Holly is the cutest. Puppy. Ever.
Although I love your blog posts, don’t feel pressured if you miss a day or two. You have an effect on all of us as we go about our daily lives, not just when we’re on your site. For me, I’m reading books I’d not come across otherwise, plant sunflowers, visit Italy via Antonio’s blog, try to write daily myself, and see the beauty in the every day.
Oh, and of course, get a dose of doggie since we don’t have one here…yet.
Great pictures and lovely poem!
Catherine, I also love the image of you sitting on your mom’s knee, engrossed in the production of the dance. It’s so sweet.
Ann -
This is my absolute favorite Moses photo – just amazing! Wish I could figure out a way to print it so that it would be frameable.
Can’t believe Holly is 6 mos. old! She is just adorable and such a good girl. So glad you brought her into your pack.
How wonderful to be able to see the Momix dancers rehearse in a barn in the country. I know the feeling of joyous energy you described after watching them. I’ve had the same feeling when SF Ballet is rehearsing in the opera house and I slip out of my office to watch. It’s such a privilege to see these amazing dancers and what they are able to do with their bodies to create such beauty. I hope to see Momix live someday.
It’s nice that you care so much about the blog to want to post every day, but don’t stress about it. There’s plenty for us to talk about, as you can see from past blogs. We are all very grateful to be part of this wonderful blog and all the pleasures you bring to it.
Linda S.
Thanks Colleen. It’s a happy memory for me, for sure. Also, I just finished “The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society” last night and absolutely loved it! Thanks again for recommending it!
KC, can’t wait to see your sunflowers bloom
Linda S, I’m so jealous you can just pop over and watch the SF Ballet dancers. Nice perk! If I time it just right I can pop down to our lobby and see the over 80 set practice their tai chi.
Ann, we love whatever you post, whenever you post it.
The ‘spastic’ is clearing…
And the photos of Holly are adorable….
Where she is with a stuffed animal, she seems to be thinking to herself: Dies ist nicht meine Schwester
(this is not my sister).
Soooooooo freaking sweet. I love her! And her running around to things or events….
Catherine, the over 80 set. LOL! Love it!
Ann,
Lovely. Thank you. Pleaase don’t stress…(And perhaps re-read Cynthia’s comments (number 8) if and when you do!
Best to you all!
I love the baby pictures of Holly! How sweet to see her cuddling with a little toy. Oh, they grow up so fast!
Love any and all pictures by Moses.
Ooops, that’s Cynthia—the eighth comment—NOT the emocomment(!?)—I have NO IDEA how that got there! Sorry, Cynthia!
Ann, I concur with my fellow bloggers: don’t get stressed out feeling that you have to post a fresh, new entry every day. On occasion, some of us here get concerned about your well-being when we don’t hear from you for two or three days in a row (You don’t write! You don’t call!); but we recognize that you actually do have a life outside of this blog. So, we won’t worry if you won’t worry.
Of course, I like to imagine that, during one of your extended absences, DL will take it upon himself to pinch-hit for you here. (Believe me, I didn’t write that last sentence with a straight face….)
Cultivating beauty is wonderful — getting paid to do it, a little trickier! *:o)
Darn, my emoticon didn’t work. I’ve been trying to figure the clown out ever since a friend used it in an email about his acting career.
Anyways, I can’t “second the emoticon”, but I can “Second That Emotion” http://music.aol.com/video/i-second-that-emotion-soul-revue-at-sxsw/smokey-robinson/bc:74515274001
Not sure how this AOL video link will work, but it does show that Smokey has still got it. B)
After two days, I think I finally have “To Sir With Love” out of my head. Some singers just seem to get better with age, and Lulu is fantastic. I love Dusty Springfield, Petula Clark, and Cilla Black, too . . . but I’ll always remain partial to our own Dionne Warwick.
I truly think Holly is one of the most cutest puppies I have ever seen.
Okay, I’ve flunked “Emoticon 101″ — so I’m going to ask for help. Alan, Lynne, and others — what is the secret!
I did find this amazing version of Dionne singing “Alfie” — get out your hankerchiefs, even if it is to try to wipe the vaseline off the camera lens. This is a very odd video, and the beginning is cut off, but all and all if you don’t get choked up when she gets to the “even something non-believers can believe in” lyric, you might want to check your pulse.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gY7Fh8jdBCc
Ann:
I agree with Alan that DL should pitch in… I mean, he does not have to be in the same spot you are or anything.. but he uses his laptop (right?), and that, pitching in would help all… me thinks. Unsure how royalties fit in there… or if other contracts stop him from doing it?? but I am only voicing that NOPE, just as you do not feel guilty on the bed making chores, there is no need to feel guilty about NOT posting, although we DO miss you when you do NOT, and WE worry that something DID go wrong, and we wonder… and I do not know how to tweet even… there.
What’s that song about ketchup?
“Anticipation…is makin’ me late…” I find it’s all the sweeter when we DO hear from you after a pause. You always have something interesting to share. A poem, a movie, a book, an experience many of us are not likely to have.
On a more serious note… This blog gives me a lift every day. I am empowered to stretch myself and grow. The most important thing I learned from the cancer session, was to ask, “How are you managing?” As I age more and more people I know are suffering or troubled. One does not always know just the right thing to say. It is so easy to be stunned and silent. I appreciated this suggestion and will remember it.
Mary Lynn, sorry to say that I came up dry for you on this one.
I’m guessing that some of the “specialty” emoticons – like the clown face you referred to – will only work within certain programs, e.g., Microsoft Messenger or AIM. Others, like the smiley face, are apparently more generic.
On the other hand, I figured out how Lynne accidentally created the smiley face with sunglasses.
It’s the number 8, followed by a dash, followed by a right parenthesis. LIke this: 
Okay, back to our regularly scheduled programming.
Thanks Alan and Lynne!
I used to avoid emoticons like the plague
, but they are fun — and the clown was a real turning point for me. A lot can get lost in translation, but music, laughter (and clown faces) are a universal language.
So, I’m flipping between Idol and DWTS. I do so love the routines, costumes, comedy, and band for DWTS. If I could work on any TV show, I think that would be my choice. I’m sure it is a ton of work to get it all together, but what fun! For the most part, anyways . . . I wouldn’t wish Kate Gosselin on my worst enemy. I hear (true to form) Maks is dating his partner!
So, I was inspired by Moses’ photo, and I thought some Freesias and a full moon might make a pretty picture, I just couldn’t make it work. So I tried this poem about what happened on my way to get the mail earlier this evening, and I didn’t have any more luck. Some things are definitely best left to the professionals.
Going out like a lamb,
blossoms and gentle breezes
tube top dresses, and all is well
until a bird with a broken wing
trembles and tries to escape,
the best intentions of
children of three different ages.
A washcloth for a blanket
from the trunk of a parked car,
when I return they are all gone
and I see them walking and cradling and wondering
what to do . . .
I wonder too.
How the heck do you punctuate poetry?
Ann, this is the first time I’ve seen that particular Moses’ creation. Stunning! Enjoyed hearing about your chance to watch the Momix auditions. Lucky girl!
I agree with Cynthia, you cultivate beauty for a living too. With words and pictures and poems and actions
. Holly is beyond cute. Happy BD to her tomorrow – or actually, since it’s after the midnight hour, it’s today!
As a relative newcomer to the blog, there are so many fascinating articles to read here that if you miss a day or 3, there’s lots to catch up on. We do miss you, but don’t stress. We’re happy whenever you appear.