A great Monday

Today is the last day of Spring Break at Spring Hill School, last day to make use of some free time that I don't usually have. I taught 3 classes today, but also had some fun, too.
I got to have lunch with a friend. This is very rare during week days because I am always working. It happens during some weekends, though. So, it was fun for a change to share lunch with a friend on a Monday. We had to change our initial plan to eat at Figlio in Uptown and had to do a little search before finding a place open (and serving lunch) at 11 am. OH, urban life! Anwyway, food was not a very important factor. I had a great time and very good conversation and that's all that's matters. Although the Creme Bulee I had for dessert was very tasty. :-)
In the afternoon, after my classes, I went to MCTC (Minneapolis Community and Technical College). I am registered as a non-seeking degree student at the moment, so that I can start taking some classes this summer. I will finally start getting some credits towards a BA in USA. I did a short orientation and pick up some form, nothing too important, yet.
In the evening I had not plans, but I wanted to be spontaneous (as usual). I called my good friend David, who happened to have no fixed plans either. Well, I think he did have some plans, but he is usually spontaenous and willing to be flexible. We had a small bite at Anodyne in south Minneapolis and then he suggested to go for a walk around the lake (instead of his usual visit to the gym). Weather was not very good and it looked like it was going to rain again. David suggested to go to the Mall of America instead, and off we went!
I haven't been at MOA for a long while now. I must say that I have never gone to MOA just to walk. It's a great place for people watching (I am not much in to window watching or shopping). After walking around 3 or 4 times around the mall (different floors, though), I started to get a little dizzy. Not like I was going to collapse or that I needed to stop, but kind of dizzy. I was not sure what it was. May be the meal (a great three cheese omellette with a salad) was too small for me. May be it was the overstimulation from the mall. The odd combination of colors, music, smells and lights everywhere flashing at me was a little too much. At least I know that... now. Next time it's about to rain, I will suggest going to the YWCA track (where I ususally do my walking). Before finishing our walk I had some frozen yogurt, and that helped a little. All in all it was a lovely night and I got back home ready to go to bed and get a nice rest to start school the following morning.

Spring Break almost over

Tomorrow (Monday) is that last day of my Spring Break at Spring Hill School. I really appreciated the extra free time at this time of the year (I was still teaching my ULC classes). I was also happy to accomplish many things this week:
* More time going out with friends.
* My appartment if finally a little more organize. Some boxes put to storage.
* As part of the appartment organization, I arranged a low table exclusively for my yarn and knitting projects! So I hope now I will be able to do more projects and finish some that I started.
* I am finally registered at MCTC (Minneapolis Community Technical College) to take classes. This summer I will finally start taking classes towards a BA in USA.
* I took a Master Dance Class in CUNNINGHAM technique. It was awesome. It was a beginners class but I was very motivated by it. I'd like to start taking dance classes again!

Today I saw "Pulse", a movie made by the creators of STOMP. It featured musicians and dancers from around the world. I could barely keep my feet still. Another reason to continue dancing and keep movings.

Future projects:
* I will continue working on a one-man-show for children about Don Quijote.
* I might start dancing tango again.

Me, bald 04/17/05

The usual radical change

Those who have known me for a while know that I usually make some radical changes, specially to my hair and facial hair. Arter keeping my short-long crazy hair and goatee for a while for my character of Don Quijote, I decided to take it all out.
Yesterday I returned from Duluth at around 6 pm. I went there with Patricia to do a puppet show about Benito Juarez. It went quite well, although I was not very pleased with it. It's the perfectionist inside me. The trip was amazing, I always enjoy going up and down Minnesota. The view is awesome and you can't avoid to feel at peace surrounded by nature (even though I was in the car for more that 2 hours :-)
At night I had a great desire to go dancing. Most people would spend quite a time decided what to wear, hair style, perfume, etc. etc. I rarely do that... but when I do it means that it's a very special event (usually just for me) or that I am in need of some change. As I looked into the myself I found that I liked that Don Quijote look I was seeing, since I enjoyed that character very much. But I was not watching the real "Paulino". It was without hesitation that I grabbed the trimmer and took it all out! Completely out! Both hair and goatee! I also went ahead and shave it all with a raizor after that. When Javier (my new friend from Santa Fe, AR) came to go dancing, I asked to finish shaving the back of my head.
A few people where a little shocked or intrigued, although that wasn't the purpose of doing it (or was it? :-)
There is something liberating in cutting my own hair and also feeling lighter. In a way it's like preparing to get new ideas and process older ones with more clarity.
This week I am not teaching at Spring Hill School (Spring break), and I bound to do some serious thinking in the extra free time.

New cell phone and new communications

Yesterday I got a new cell phone. My number will remain the same, it's just the T-Mobile is upgrading their system and I needed a new handset to be able to receive text message and voice messages. Anyway, it was free, it has color screen and new features. Not that I needed that but oh well...
This week has been intense. But now that I am done with "Kijotadas" and having Spring break next week, I think I will be able to relax a little more.
A new phone, but the same number... In a way I also feel that I have been challenged with communication from different people at school, old friend, new friends and family. But may be it's part of my stress that doesn't allow me to communicate freely or easily.
Talking about stress...geez! Most people know that I don't usually get stressed or at least I don't acknowledge it (which is not very healthy). Yesterday I could feel it. Terrible headache and some sort of mental confussion that makes certain things hard to handle or gives me lack of clarity.
Luckily, I got an invitation from my friend David to go for a walk around the lake Nokomis. That was a savior! The night was warm enough to walk without a jacket. The sky was cloudy, so it was not the usual dark blue or black sky one expects, but that grey roof was nice, too. So, this combination of exercise (walking), a good chat with a friend and a nice night was the perfect combination to get the so much needed relaxation to easy my stress.
This weekend I am getting out of town. Patricia and I are doing a puppet show in Duluth (North of Minnesota) and spending the night there. It will be good to change air for a little while.

Follow up from International Women's Day

International Women's Day (8 March) is an occasion marked by women's groups around the world. This date is also commemorated at the United Nations and is designated in many countries as a national holiday. When women on all continents, often divided by national boundaries and by ethnic, linguistic, cultural, economic and political differences, come together to celebrate their Day, they can look back to a tradition that represents at least nine decades of struggle for equality, justice, peace and development.
International Women's Day is the story of ordinary women as makers of history; it is rooted in the centuries-old struggle of women to participate in society on an equal footing with men. In ancient Greece, Lysistrata initiated a sexual strike against men in order to end war; during the French Revolution, Parisian women calling for "liberty, equality, fraternity" marched on Versailles to demand women's suffrage.

Last Saturday, during a conversation about diversity with school people, the value of women in society was reiterated by the person conducting the training. A view that I've always shared. That's why I go to yWca (instead of yMca), there misssion is "eliminating racism, empowering women".

March 8th, this year was a Tuesday, I was at the coffee shop in my usual break before teaching at Spring Hill School. Suddendly I remembered it was Int's Women's Day and since my mom (and other women in my life) are so far away, I decided to buy flowers and give them to every woman I found my way. And so I did.

Today, at the same coffee shop, one of those women, recipient of my flowers, let me know how much she appreciated that gesture from me. He mentioned that she took the flower to her office, and it lasted for 3 weeks and made her days different (hopefully better) in a way. I was very touched by this comment. Sometimes you never know how your actions will affect people's lives.

Paulino as "Don Quijote" (Intermedia Arts 4/9/05) 

After Kijotadas glow

Yeah! We made it! We had our two shows of "Kijotadas" at Intermedia Arts. There is capacity for about 110 people in that theater. We had 65 people on Friday and about 110 on Saturday, full house!!! I was very excited. Both shows went really well, specially the Saturday one (some tech issues were solved by then). Lots and lots of my friends came to see me, and that was awesome! I always give my all and my best in each performance, but when my friends are there, it feels that I give more. After the show I shared a special dinner with my good friend Kika (from CLV summer camp), her mom, her husband and another CLV friend, Marcus. I feel very "Quijotesco" this weekend!!!

In the streets, promoting Kijotadas :-)

Spring and rain

And of course, Spring could not just come and delight us only with some warm weather but some rain as well. This has been a week of weather changes, I am still adjusting to that. I finally was able to leave my big winter coat at home. But I guess now I need to get a rain coat :-)

Paulino Brener (Don Quijote) and David Schmitt (Sancho) in "Kijotadas" 

Spring Friday and French Saturday

And Springs keeps coming in more and more into my home and into my life. Yesterday I went to Steeple People Surplus store and bought a base for my flowers. This place it's about 3 blocks from my apartment so I went there walking and that was the only reason for going out. Just to get that item. Later that afternoon I realized, when I was getting ready to take a bath, that I didn't have the salt I use ("Bath therapy"). So I made another walking trip to the Wedge Coop to get some. Again, a short walking trip just to get one item. This reminded very much of my native Santo Tome (Santa Fe, Argentina) where you can go and get some basic goods in at small store in your neighborhood.

Saturday was a nice change of pace. I finally made it to this Weekly French group that meets at Expresso Royale in DT Minneapolis. Even though I am not usually shy or overwhelmed but big groups of people, I was a little intimidated by this room packed with french speakers. May be it was my anxiety of practising a language that I haven't practise in a long long while. It was fine, though, I bought my italian soda (just to add some diversity :-) and easily mingled with the group. After 2 hours and half of non-stop speaking and listening ONLY French, I decided I had enough (for a first time), and I was hungry, too. It was an amazing experience! I hope to go back there more frequently.

Spring inside my home. 

Spring

Although snow still melting down here (Twin Cities, MN) and there is not much green around, I have made a conscious decission to bring Spring into my life. Finally, after 6 months living here, I decided to find some storage space in the building. I found it and I started to take many boxes out of my modest efficiency. Boxes have play a important part in my life, since I've been moving to and from many places... always hauling my boxes around. It seems like all my life is in those boxes. I am also going to swim (to the local YWCA) more frequently. Being in contact with the water energizes me. Although I do feel tired most of the time, since my work load and activities has increases. Still teacher Spanish to teaching, also preparing for a new play (where not only I am the lead, "Don Quijote", but also I am in charge of the production in Minneapolis) http://www.kijotadas.info. At school I am also helping with our Transition Site Committtee, trying to find a place to house my school (Spring Hill Waldorf School http://www.springhillschool.com) for the nest 5 years or so. I am also very inspired by my artistic work that I decided to put together my own show. I am not sure yet if it's going to end up being a one-man show, I hope so since it makes things easier (specially decission making... hmm... or not). All I know for now is that it's going to be a play for children about Don Quijote. I have to profit from the creative energy of incarnating that character in Kijotadas. I am also growing a goat-tee for that role, so I must just use it a little longer. My first graders are always very intrigued why I keep "forgetting" to shave part of my moustache and beard.
Another way I brought Spring into my life (and into my apartment literally). I got a very nice bunch of flowers from school. Now tomorrow I need to go thrifting and find a nice base for them.

First audio blog

Blogging and Kijotadas, new adventures

A new beggining, a new adventure.

So, here I go, starting the adventure of blogging at the same time I experiencing the adventure of "Kijotadas" (http://www.kijotadas.info), a play where I represent Don Quijote, a dream come true!

Today is a very snowy day in Minneapolis. Winter wants to leave his last mark with a grand finale. I am fine with that. Nature has those gracious ways of making herself be noticed (specially in Minnesota!). But Spring is close, I can feel her presence.

Take and give care.