I Don't Wanna!

Janet makes me do things I don't want to do. And no, I don't mean that she has me stealing other kids' lunch money or is making me do her algebra homework for her. For instance, the other day she wanted to show off our shekere skills to her friend and she asked if I was ready to throw the shekere, and I was like, no I'm too scared!, but she started tossing shekeres around anyway, and you know what? I caught them every time and it was actually really fun. And last night we were working on solos and I was like, oh I don't have a matsuri solo down yet canweworkonsoloslater? And of course she wouldn't let me get away with that so we traded solos around, and I figured since we were noodling around, why not ask how she does spins, because I'm so bad at spins, and so scared of spins, so she gave me some spinning technique pointers and I hope to throw one or two of them in my solo. She told me this story of how one time she did a spin and wound up on the other side of the stage, so that made me feel better, because that's where I'll probably end up anyway.

Ok, so maybe it's not that she makes me do things I don't want to do, but she makes me do things I don't think I can do. So, here's a story. Several years ago, I went on a retreat/group bonding thing at a ropes course. If you've never been on a ropes course before, basically they harness you up and have you move over different obstacles, like on tight ropes or the like, usually high up in the trees. I think the idea is that people are afraid of heights and/or afraid of falling, so everything is mental, because you're not reallly gonna fall because of the harness. Anyway the last task was to climb what amounted to a telephone pole, stand on the (purposely) rickety, dinner plate-sized platform on the top, and jump and catch a trapeze. It doesn't sound that hard, but it was 30 feet up in the air, and while I'm not particularly scared of heights, I am scared of falling. I remember thinking that logically I just need to try to jump and catch the trapeze and if I don't then, eh, I'm harnessed up. That's easy to say when you've got two feet planted solidly on the ground, because when I got up there, I kept hesitating, and the whole logic thing wasn't working, because I was awfully high up there, and I was thinking, I know I can do this, so why then can't I do this? Everyone of the ground was like, come on! You can do it! And the trapeze was so far away, and the platform was very rickety, and did the ground just move? Long story short, I jumped, missed the trapeze, the harness caught me, and I did it. Afterward when they were unhooking me and getting the next person harnessed up, the ropes course guide pulled me aside and gave me a 10-second recap of what she saw, and basically she said that I know I can do it, but I hesitate and that I just need to take the risk. Not just on the ropes course, but in my life in general. What she said made a lot of sense to me, and I've never forgotten it. It's just that not until recently have I really tried to take those risks.

So what if I fall? I mean, isn't it the falling part that makes the story interesting? So what if I spin uncontrollably off stage? I'll find my way back. So what if I drop and break a shekere? I'll learn how to glue it back together. I need to stop thinking that falling is a scary thing. And I guess I'm really lucky that there is someone out there willing to throw stuff at me and send me spinning off into orbit. Makes for a more interesting blog anyway.

Productivity at Work and a Really Good Fish Story

In preparing for last year's big concert, I found myself playing a lot of "desk taiko." Desk taiko is wonderful because you can compose solos and work on the sequence of those complicated songs and when someone walks in and asks you if so and so's final high school transcript came in, you just stop tapping and look up innocently and no one will know that what you've been doing is playing a wonderful, error-free version of Kai to Ryu or whatnot. In one of my rare flashes of brilliance, I decided to improve on the whole desk taiko idea and designate certain sections of my desk with post-it's. I'm working on a 2-shime, 2-josuke song, so each post-it symbolizes each. Brilliant! I love post-its! Disclaimer: Oh, and of course I only play desk taiko on breaks and at lunch.

Last night we went to the new space with drums and played there for the first time. It was boomy and the old broken-out windows rattled, but there was good energy there. Just put up some curtains and finish the construction, and what you'll have is a wonderful community center.

And because this post is turning out to be so random, here's a really great fish-story my Dad told me:

Just got back with a dorado (Mahi-Mahi) fish. It was a great trip; Eloise, the lady who invited Mom and I to go on the Lake Powell trip [a week-long houseboating adventure] was there. This was the first time she came out fishing with us because of back trouble. Anyway [a neighbor of ours] was celebrating his 50th wedding anniversary. I ordered Hawaiian Leis for his family. It really added a nice touch especially when they decided to go informal--Hawaiian shirts. They gave me one of the leis to wear, and later when I went fishing I took it to give to Eloise. She liked it very much and later suggested we throw it in the ocean for Mom. We did just that and guess what? Later I watched as a really big fish bit her line. It was a 101 pound Striped Marlin. With the aid of the deckhands and the skipper she was able to land it. I can't believe she took it home whole; it was about 6' tall and barely fit in her mini-wagon.While she was fighting the fish everyone stoppped fishing to watch her battle this big fish--what a show. Remember she's around 65 years or older.

Did I ever tell you about how my Mom had these strange powers? Like if she really wanted something to happen, she could will it. Or if she really disliked someone or a situation, her powers somehow found a way to rectify the situation or (gulp) the person. For instance, when I was waiting for college acceptance letters, I really wanted to get into UCSC, and my Mom told me that she was working on it, and guess what? I got in. And stranger things too. Ok, so you don't have to believe me, but I think her powers are still at work, and she's not really that far away. She was probably thanking Eloise for inviting her to go on that houseboating trip. Sometimes I can't help but wonder if my life is going so well because my Mom is pulling some strings up there or what. I know it's far-fetched, but I believe it.

And here's some pics. Warning: graphic images. Do not look if you are offended by sashimi.



And my Dad's Mahi Mahi:


Pretty cool, huh? I'm getting hungry for sushi now . . .

Thanks K.B.!

Holy Flying Shekere, Batman!

I've had 4 shekere lessons and last night we were practicing throwing them to each other. It's like I'm in one of those intensive Spanish language courses where you learn two years of stuff in one 6-week course in Mexico City or something. So not only am I trying to get a decent sound out of the thing, but I'm playing patterns, stepping, learning the sequence of a piece, and now, throwing. And I'm not talking about tossing it up in the air and catching it (which is hard enough in itself) but throwing shekeres back and forth. I toss mine, I catch hers. We went outside to practice this, but because we're always up for a challenge, we were doing this in the dark--oh, and did I mention one of the shekeres was black? I'm having problems with my timing because I hesitate. Wouldn't you hesitate? My biggest fear is breaking one of them, so flying, colliding shekeres are on my mind when I'm in the dark tossing a black shekere at someone who says, trust me, I'll catch it (but drops it once anyway). I need to get over that. I was thinking of bringing over basketballs or something to practice with. One time I was wathing a PBS show about people who train to be in the secret service, and they learn how to do all kinds of fancy defensive driving in sports cars. The theory is is that if they learn how to do these complicated maneuvers in really nice cars, then they can do them in those heavy clunky presidential vehicles. Basketballs aren't exactly Mustangs, but at least they don't break when you drop them.

But I'm not complaining. I'm so excited to be learning the shekere! Everyone go learn the shekere!

Step AWAY From the Couch

Not much time to blog today, as I have to run off to a staff retreat, but wanted to get this down. In my last post I hinted about how I had tons of hard work coming my way, and last night all the hard work suddenly hit me and boy, is it a lot of fun! I have a million things to learn, and another million to work on. Last night alone we worked on shekere (I'm going to spell it with an 's' today), a couple of six-patterns, a funky-funky song, and a new twist on the traditional matsuri. Just last night! I'm learning how to toss the shekere (in time) while stepping on the downbeats. I was practicing the tosses while standing over a couch in case I dropped the shekere, and after a while she looked over and asked me, do you want to step away from the couch now?, and in my head I was like, you mean we can't take the couch with us to performances? But really, it's a lot of fun. And the six patterns are way cool. I'm starting to like this whole six pattern thing despite all the stressing out I do here on this blog. She was teaching me this new pattern and then left me on that groove while she played shekere (you see how things connect and come together?) and then she was playing some other patterns and I had to try to ignore her, but at the same time I was thinking, that sounds so cool! And then we worked on the matsuri piece, and while the patterns are familiar, the kata and energy is all different. I have to do this really fast movement and I don't know how she does it so fast. I wacked myself pretty good trying to get my hand in the right place at the right time, but eh, par for the course. Oh, and I have to come up with a solo for that. And then funky-funky song. I know that one day we will be able to play it and make it sound good, but it's gonna take some work. The work will pay off, but I'm so not there yet. Ack! And I have to have that sherkere stuff down by tomorrow, and work on my horse-beat and be able to solo on that tomorrow and also work on a couple of other songs! I'm telling you, it sounds really crazy right now, but I love it!

It's the Little Things

I walked into my office the other day and was greeted by this little treasure:


It's my Mom's miniature African Violet and it's in bloom! Finally! After caring for it for the past 8 months, it's finally strutting its stuff! And her other two violets are just pregnant with unopened blossoms, so I'm really excited about that. I also have some of her aloe, and for a while it looked like it was on the verge of death, but it sprouted new baby shoots and is looking lively again. And I've also been looking after another plant of hers that for the longest time I couldn't identify. Turns out it's an orchid, and it's growing new leaves all the time, and I can't wait for it to grow a flower--it'll be a suprise because I have no idea what color or shape it will be.

Remember when I had that perpetual rain cloud following me around all the time? I don't want to jinx anything, but I think I've managed to give it the slip. My Mom's flowers are opening, and so is my life. There are new and exciting things coming my way. It's going to be a lot of hard work, but the best kind--I'm so focused and inspired right now (more on that later). You know, sometimes you just need to give things a little time and care and attention, and they'll come back around and surprise you--often when you least expect it. And if you really think about it, having a rain cloud follow you around for a little while actually helps things grow.

Co-duh-oh-ordination

I think of myself as a pretty coordinated person. I can walk and chew gum at the same time--heck, I can even ride a unicycle and chew gum at the same time. But I always short-circuit when I'm trying to play a rhythm with my hands while stepping the downbeats on my feet. Last night we were working on playing bell pattern on chekere (sp.?) and I was trying to get my feet to step on the downbeats and I was just having such a hard time. Why is that? Is it because as taiko players we are so often reminded to make sure we are firmly grounded in our kata that it becomes a monumental task to unground ourselves? I know I can do it--was even beginning to get it, but it feels like I'm trying to rip my legs out of the earth like one of those giant Ents. But the cool thing is that I'm going to work on it today and I'm gonna get it, and then I'll be able to play it forever, and then everywhere I walk I'll be playing chekere/bell pattern. And there is something about pulling my legs up off the ground that is very liberating for me. Yes, it's great when you're in good playing position and receiving all that energy from the earth, but there is also a wonderful feeling when you're dancing, and you can jump and be free and fly. And it's just so fun when you fly and touch down and pull all the energy up from the ground and then set off again. That's what it kind of feels like when I can do the stepping thing. I'm like a birdling, or a chicklet or whatever baby birds are called--just learning how to spread my wings and taking baby steps and tiny flights. But just you wait, I'll be soaring soon.

P.S. (Added Later)

Note to self: While you may not be able to whip out the chekere during your lunch break and practice inside an empty classroom, you can, in a pinch, get a pretty good approximation and feel of a chekere out of a tin of half empty Altoids (flavor optional). I'll have to remember that.

Sp.?

Is it spelled shekere or chekere??

Chekere Land

So yesterday I went roaming around campus looking for a good place to practice the chekere. I didn't want to be near anyone, and I didn't want to get too close to the dorms, or the President's house, or the security building, or the offices. I eventually ended up in one of the far reaches of the campus, past the swampy mosquito-laden lake, up an embankment, over a drainage ditch and right next to the freeway in a grassy/wooded area that looked like the dumping grounds for giant slabs of concrete. Kind of cool in a desolate/urban kind of way, but also kind of creepy since there was absolutely no one around to hear me scream, for instance. But it was here that I found the peace and quiet and isolation I wanted to practice.

Now, I knew the chekere was loud when we practiced inside, but outside, it's even louder. I was getting major echo-age just off the trees, and I had to put on earplugs. Oh, and did I mention it's hard to play? It took me a while just to get a feel for it, but once I was starting to get a sound out of it, it was kind of cool. And then I started getting into it, and was beginning to think about some form stuff--like how to hold it, and where to put my hands, and how to extend my fingers and which muscles to use. And then I remembered that I shouldn't be holding it too close to the middle part because that's where it's weakest and it could break, and then I started to get worried that I'd break it, and how bad I'd feel if I broke it. And then I kind of lost the momentum I had, but also came to the realization that what I really ought to do is get my own chekere, and then I too can become a chekere master! Or something like that--we'll see.

Shake Your Booty

Guess what? I'm learning the chekere!! It's so freakin' awesome. I'd seen Janet play and I always thought it was so cool. And then I saw her play it with two other people at Drum Camp and I was thinking: I so want to learn how to play that! And then right afterwards she asked me if I wanted to learn, and I was like, YES!!! And now I'm learning!!

For those who don't know, a chekere is a gourd (or a synthetic version of one) with a net of beads tied around it that you shake to produce a very sharp sound. You can make swishy or clacky noises. But the cool thing is that it frees you up from the confines of a taiko so you can dance around or have other types of movement along with it. Janet is trying to work me up to the point where we can play at the same time and eventually toss them back and forth. Right now I'm just happy learning how to get a sound out of it. She had me work on trying to play the bell pattern on it, and she was saying that that was kind of a difficult thing to learn first thing, but then she said, "Well I know you're gonna practice it." And I am! I totally am! She actually let me borrow one of her chekeres. She wanted me to borrow her unbreakable chekere, but then she changed her mind and had me borrow a nicer one. I'm so scared of dropping or breaking it. Last night I even dreamed I was practicing with one and the whole top of it broke off, and then I had another dream where I cracked it. Oh, but I'm so excited to be learning this! The only hard thing is that my apartment has paper-thin walls, and I was messing around with it last night and then I heard a baby in the house next door start crying, so I stopped. I'm gonna try to find some secluded niche here at work and practice after hours.

My life is so cool!! I'm learning the chekere, people! How cool is that!!!?