funny/weird face

For those of you who still might doubt that I am able to do funny/weird faces, here is the proof. My friend Heidi Edwards took this pics of me during my school event: May Fair 2006. Which one is the funniest/weirdiest of all? Enjoy

My issues with hot spicy food

This is the last week before I start teaching again. I decided to treat myself. I bought more RAM memory for my desktop computer and I went to Chinese restaurant (Big Bowl) for lunch. I never really like my food to be spicy or hot spicy. Most people are suprised when they hear this because they think we, "latinos", ALL like hot spicy food. This stereotype probably comes from the fact that most of the latino population in the states is Mexican. And most Mexican, but not ALL, like spicy food. But anyway, I don't usually go to ethnic restaurants either. I just don't want to think too hard about food. I just want to eat. With the help of waiter I order some corn dish with chicken that was not spicy at all, according to her. When they brought it to me it looked great! A really big place full of rice, corn, chicken and vegetables. Unfortunately, it was spicy for me. I really try to eat it but after a few minutes it was just too much for me. I wonder if I have become to sensitive to spicy food and if there is a way to change that? I didn't want to waste all that food but the waiter was very nice and changed my plate for another dish. Some orange chicken with rice. This was not spicy at all. The chicken was breaded and cooked with soy sauce so to meet it had an interesting take, but at least I was able to eat it without thinking if it was going to upset my stomach or me! :-)

Elvis and I @ Madame Tussaud's Museum

Have you ever felt like a superstar? Or have you ever seen one (on the street, at a bar, etc.)? Or have you ever taken a picture with superstar?
A visit to Madame Tussauds Las Vegas (or any other location for that matter) can give you a little bit of that. Except that all the famous people you'll find there won't interact much with you since they are made of wax. They are very well made, though. And you can take as many pictures as you want with them :-)

I really liked the museum. I went there Sat 8/12. It was very interesting for me to imaging how all these famous people would look like in real life. Most of them are very short :-)

A few years ago I personified Elvis Presley in the play "The Ballroom" at the Theatre de la Jeune Lune, so I was very excited to have a picture with the King!

Las Vegas, LA, San Francisco and Sacramento

Last Saturday I took a plane from Minneapolis to Las Vegas and stayed there until Monday. Now I am in LA until tomorrow, when I head to San Francisco for the weekend. Monday and Tuesday (8/21 and 8/22) I will be working with Diamela Wetzl (an experience Waldorf teacher) in Sacramento and then get back home.

I am taking tons some pics (some good, some not so good) and collecting many stories. I'll write more when I get back to Minneapolis.

Fringe Festival 2006

Minnesota Fringe Festival 2006 started 2 days ago. Since I didn't see any shows last year I forced myself to see a few this year by buying a 5 tickets pass. Yesterday I did a mini-marathon and saw 4 shows in a row:

Die, Clowns, Die!
Presented by Joseph Scrimshaw

To the Winners
Presented by Wilson Loria from St Petersburg, FL

Dance Hall Days
Presented by Christopher Street Dance

Miss Margarida's Way
Presented by Teatro del Pueblo

I liked them all and I was going to write audience review for all of them. That way I could feel part of this year Fringe a little more. But I haven't gotten inspired to write 4 reviews yet. I know.. I've been very lazy this summer :-)
I have worked with Teatro del Pueblo before so I'll start with their show.

Excellent choice
* * * * *
Teatro del Pueblo couldn’t have done a better job choosing a play for the Fringe. This is a very incisive, strong and controversial show. Miss Margarida uses devices such as repetition (or more like drilling!), provocative comments and direct insults to the audience while explaining her unique teaching methods. It’s hard to miss the underlying political statements and many metaphorical insights. I attended the Saturday 8/5 at 10:00 PM performance. I thought the actress did a very good job but some hesitancy in her delivery made me wonder if she was not completely comfortable with the role yet or if the show was a little under-rehearsed. The apology given by her at the end of the show led me to think it was a little bit of both. I say, “Don’t worry, even if we look like eighth graders to you, we are adults and we can take it. Bring it on!” Bravo! And keep it going!—paulino brener

New project: One Square a Day (c)

Finally! I have (at last) written most of the description of the project to open it up to anyone who wants to join it. It might need some editing but at least it's out there and I hope to start getting contacts from all over the world soon!!! :-)

visit the blog http://onesquareaday.blogspot.com/

A small change...

I have decided to make a small change in the title of my new play. Now it's called:

"barcos de papel - paper boats"

4th of July fireworks

Yesterday my friend Mark and I went to see the 4th of July fireworks by the riverfront in Minneapolis. He took lots of pictures. I posted some of my favorites. They look very artistic.

Fun at the lake!

Today it was an unusual Sunday for me. A friend took me to the lake to spend part of the afternoon. He had just changed the oil in his jet-ski so he was excited to try it again. I was scared. Well.. not really scared scared.. But like that type of scared you get at an amusement park. You feel a mixture of nervous and afraid (at least I feel that) but you enjoy it! I haven't been to a lake for a long time and I have never being on a jet-ski. This one was a pretty good one and I was afraid it would go too fast... too fast for me. :-) He took me for a ride and I must say it was quite enjoyable. Again, as much enjoyment as you can get for a ride at a park. Now, if you have ever been on the back side of a jet ski (or a motor bike for that matter) you probably know that there are not many places to grab on. There was a handle on the back but I didn't think it was very safe. I put my arms around his chest and grabbed (very firmly) from his life jacket. The fastest he went and the more waves we jumped, the tightest was my grip. He was lucky I didn't break any of his ribs. Although I think he complaint about some bruises on his chest, oooops! But he didn't seem to mind my occasional screaming either. AAAAHHHH!!! But it was a lot of fun. We also tried some tubbing (an inflatable tube attached with a rope to the back of the jet ski). That was kind of fun, too, but I had a strange grip and I was so tense that I think I hurt my shoulder a little. Finally, I insisted I wanted to try to water ski, why not? After 4 failed attempts I declared that my experience was complete and I was very satisffied with my water adventures. It was, indeed, a very fun afternoon. Well, at least I had a lot of fun. We'll see when I ask my friend to take me for a ride in his jet ski again if my idea of fun was shared.

It has a title!

I've been having a real bad artist block lately. For the last several weeks I was supposed to work on my new play, another one-man-show. This one will feature several folktales from different countries in their language of origin. Don't ask me how people will understand! :-) I know that will be a challenge and that's exactly why I've been having a mental block. It has been difficult to find a good structure around it. Last night I was talking to a friend about different issues (not about the play). He was down and I was a little down, too. We talked for a long time and very late at night. When we ended the converstion I think we were both feeling much better. I attempted to go to bed but it was impossible to sleep. Then many ideas just came to my head, like rain, like a cascade, like a big storm. I immediately went to the computer and started to put all that down. I ended up with
1) A title for my play: "barquitos de papel - paper boats"
2) A draft of the dramatic framework for it
3) And a picture for postcard and promotion, here it is
More updates about my new play soon...

Signing more and more

I love my ASL 1 class. Sometimes it feels like we are moving a little slow, but it’s just that I have learnt other languages before and I like to go faster. I am trying to be a patient student though. I haven’t met any deaf people yet (other than my teacher). In the next few weeks we have to do some activities outside of class and that will give me more exposure to deaf culture. I can’t wait!

See more progress on: Learn ASL

Juana again!

Today I went to the Cedar Cultural Center in Minneapolis to see a Juana Molina concert again. I saw her last time in November at the Walker Art Center. My friend Vessela was with me this time. It was fun! The night started with a cool band called PSAPP and Juana followed them. She is great. She makes all her music live even though it might sound like it's pre-recorded. This time I was able to get a picture with her.

New project coming soon...

Last day of school

Yesterday was our last day at Spring Hill School. We had a long but lovely closing ceremony. Each class did at least 2 things in Spanish. Sixth grade presented a short simulation of a Mexican market and the other grades did verses and songs. I was very proud of all of them!

Have you ever danced so much your legs gave up?

What a weekend! I was invited by my friend Vessela to June Camp. An International Folkdance Camp in Beloit, WI. We went there in Mary's van together with Anna and Dennis. We had quite a fun trip, although Vessela didn't seem to enjoy much my signs (I was studying ASL for part of my trip).
The Camp was a lot of fun. We had a free party on Friday night with different dances that people requested. All day Saturday and Sunday morning we had workshops. The teachers were Michael Ginsburg and Belle Birchfield -Balkan dance; and also Daniel and Gaylen Beal -Scandinavian dancing. I loved all the dances and I particularly enjoyed Michael's style of teaching.
Workshops and dance parties happened in a big gymnasium, a short walk away
from the dorms. After class Saturday, everyone (except me because 1) I don't drink and 2) I was having a nap) relaxed at the "Happy Two Hours Plus", which included culture sessions, impromptu
song and music sessions, and dancing, all in a lovely lounge setting. Then, after dinner, some people dressed up in their ethnic best for Saturday
evening's dance party, which featured the great music of Orkestar Sloboda. The late night Ice Cream Social refueled our energy for the nightowl
request dancing, which continued until very late (we are talking about 4 am here)
Mary and the rest of the people in her van returned to Minneapolis right after Sunday lunch but I stayed for the big review. Unfortunately I could review visually since my legs gave up by then. I was soooooooooooo tired but I had a really great weekend. Besides all the dancing that I did, on of my most fond memory was the image of the (approx.) 130 participants dancing together in a big circle or spiral at the gym. The power of a dance tradition with a strong community building function. All ages, all sizes, all colors and walks of life united by the enjoyment and passion for dance.

The Prince of Fun! Presents...: THE ABSOLUTE MINIMUM YOU *NEED* TO KNOW!

The Prince of Fun! Presents...: THE ABSOLUTE MINIMUM YOU *NEED* TO KNOW!

Somehow I ended up being the director of this show.. don't ask me how! :-) But take a look at it!

The power of silence

Yesterday I started an ASL at MCTC. I was thrilled. I did a short community ed course back in Rochester, NY about 6 years ago but I have always wanted to take a class. I don't know what took me so long to get to it. I almost cried after the class. That's how strong I feel connected to this particular language. I love languages in general but I know ASL will be of special significance in my life. We had an interpreter (and we'll have her for one more class) but I can't wait for the next classes when no-voice instructions will be emphasized. The teacher, Holly, is hilarious. Two of the things she said, well... signed, really hit me hard and have been in my mind all night:
1) "Now you are my babies". I always incorporate changes and adventures in my life, but this new beginning, this new class definitely feels like a re-birth (more on this on # 2). This will be the only class that I will take this summer.
2) We (hearing people) have lots of "tools" to convey our emotions, specially with our voice: different tones, delivery, pitch, etc. In sign language that is shown by many things. Hand gestures is just a part of sign language. You need to use body posture, facial expressions and mouth movements. You need to "bring your emotions out". And that's something that has been really hard for me for a long time. That's why I feel that I will renew myself with this class.
Time to get it out...

Noche Hispana DOS

This last Friday (19) and Saturday (20) I had the pleasure to be curator and MC at Patrick's Cabaret one more time.
I have put together a all hispanic show including the following artists:

Sentir Venezolano
Chile sin fronteras
Wendy Everett y Lorena Duarte
Teresa Ortiz
Pachamama Band
José Curbelo y sus amigos

The show was very varied and people were very pleased with it. Many asked me when I was going to do it again. But I think I am going to rest for a little while.

Next time I will be just performing at Patrick's. It should be fun!

One of those big days in your life

We cannot tell what big adventures life will bring to us in the future. But we certainly hope that our lives will be full of great surprises.
When we look back and examine our past, we can't help but remember very vividly some days better than others. Those big/great moments when something happened and left us without breath. Those days we know will leave a mark (or a scar).
One of the purposes of writing this blog if to share my life, ideas, etc, with friends and family. But there are things, feelings, events, etc. that are still too personal for me to share. Some of them are so precious that I chose (selfishly, yes I know) to keep to myself and enjoy them and savor them in my mind. Some of them so hurtful that I also chose to keep for myself and oppress them or find better ways to deal with them.
Today was one of those BIG days. I can tell. And all I can share is that I learned a lot about compassion, connection and as usual... taking and giving care.
As I usually say: "I am not a magician by trade, but I love the magic of life". And it's so great when a lot of magic happens in one day.

dancing, dancing, dancing

Saturday was a full day: class in the morning, garden party in St. Paul early afternoon, helping Felix make a skirt for Vessela and then dancing at Tapestry Folkdance Center.
It was there Black and White Gala and there were all sorts of dancing: folkdances (obviously), swing, contradance and latin. I got to enjoy a little bit of all. It was so much fun. Not only to dance but also see all those people having such a great time together, being social and dancing! I can get high dancing. Is there such a thing as "too much fun"?