I Learned How to Use Bullet Points, So THERE!

I feel like I should have something interesting to say, but all the big events in my life are taiko-related, so here is the bullet-point version of my life.

• STAGE RE-CONFIGURATION: Last Sunday we had to reconfigure the stage at RCW into riser-seating. This was fun. Well, fun in a masochistic way. We had to take apart the stage and move it. Might I add that the stage, modular as it is, is freakin heavy. Janet handed me and Crissy allen-wrench types of tools and let us get at it. Maybe Crissy and I have a similar sensibility about embracing the whole teamwork-sweat-muscle-and-gristle sort of attitude, but she and I were ripping apart that stage like wolves. Everybody was sweating, and thankfully Janet fed us, and we all sat there quietly inhaling delish sandwiches before our real rehearsal could begin. We get to do it all again this Sunday.
  
• MOSQUITO BITES: Ouchie. I have two. I want my mommy.
• NEW TAIKO CLASS: I have agreed to offer an intermediate version of taiko classes. Part of me is like, why the heck did I sign on for this? and the other part is really relieved because I can focus on the good stuff and work on drills and kata and stick control and new songs without fear of boring my wonderful students. Plus I won't have to start over every ten weeks and teach people which side of their bachi is up and how to stand and reassure them that yes, your leg muscles will get used to standing like this. But I find that I really like doing those first lessons. I like the excitement and challenge of it. I like getting my students excited about it. I'm just glad that my faithful returning students won't have to keep sitting through those lessons and can finally move on. Now I need to start thinking about teaching Mokuyobi, which is a song that is ingrained in every muscle of my body. I have to mentally start over and think about how to teach sticking and timing and stage presence and movement. But I'm excited about being able to teach that song.
• ALLERGIES: I've never had allergies growing up. But each year around this time, I get the sneezies, and they're getting worse as time goes on. I spent all afternoon sneezing and blowing my nose. I know this is not a cold. Why me? On a side note, read Parasite Rex for an interesting explanation of allergies, and trillions of reasons why it is unwise to go swimming in rivers or lakes.
• KASA/MIX TOUR 2008 TO SADO ISLAND: Hooray! I'm going to to study taiko with Kodo in Japan! I finally got the OK from the bosses, so sign me up because I'm ready to taiko my butt off with the best of them. And when I say best of them, I mean, best of them. I still haven't realized the fullest extent of my excitement yet. It will keep growing as time goes on. More updates on that later.
• It's time for dinner! Oyasumi nasai, yo. I'm having pizza.