jademermaid: (Unstable and bitchy)
jademermaid ([personal profile] jademermaid) wrote2006-10-16 01:50 am

(no subject)

It's been a long weekend.

Of course the Durga workshop was on Friday, and I nearly made it to the end, but the recent temperature changes have been rough on my knees. I do hope to work on Ariellah's mini choreography, I've not heard back from her, but I know that they need to get to a place that has internet, not to mention have the time to check email. I miss being young and on the road. I really enjoyed it and I admit I am somewhat jealous of those two!

After the workshop Corey made a bonfire, and a few people came by to hang out, even Tempest and Ariellah hung out with us, which was uber cool of them, I know they were probably really tired, but we enjoyed fangirling with them while they were here. I really expected more people to come to the house, it being a Friday night, but maybe they felt weird about going to a house they didn't know, or maybe they thought I was weird, whatever. The cool kids stayed until about 2 in the morning, and then I felt my eyelids closing, so I picked up the munchies and folks started clearing out.

The next morning I got up early so I could make breakfast for Corey, who was an angel and did lots of stuff around the house for the get together. But he decided to sleep late, so I got myself ready to go, I had to teach a beginner bellydance class at Pagan Pride Day. I knew it was going to be poorly attended, there had been some problems as always with the administration of it--getting pagans organized is like trying to nail jello to a tree. But the folks that were there were cool. [livejournal.com profile] twistedtulip was kind enough to give me a ride out there, but we all sort of wished we could have stayed in Lebanon that day and go to the bikers against child abuse gathering at the local coffeehouse.

I made it through class, though it was far from my best. I found it hard to focus and it was a bit chilly, which wasn't good for the old bones. We left after my class, though normally I would have hung out and danced to the Love Drums music, they are always good fun and like me, get roped into doing PPD every year.

This morning, I woke up with a sneezy headcold, probably from dancing in the cold weather, or maybe from being around lots of humans at once, that always makes me sick, LOL. I've spent most of the day watching old movies on cable and doing my Latin homework, and brooding.

I've been carrying some insecurity with me kind of pissed off all week, because after setting up a friend with the contact for a drum workshop, she completely dissed me and is asking other dancers to perform at the show after the drum workshop. Of course the girls she is asking are young pretty and skinny, which only serves to make me more depressed. Of all the people I would have thought would respect experience and talent over cute and thin, she really surprised me, and I'm having some trouble dealing with it. It burns me even more because I never hesitate to support her music project at the haflas we host, it just really hurts, you know? Today on my friends list, someone linked to an awful post where a thin and pretty girl has said atrocious things about plus sized women, and acts as though it is completely fine to spew the hatespeak--in fact, she chides others above a size 10 as huge, saying that her size zero is healthy and fat chicks are disgusting.

I was never skinny, but I was a size 7 in high school, and I remember swearing to myself that I would never get fat, that I would simply stop eating if I got fat--I mean why didn't fat people just stop eating so much? It is so easy to throw stones when you are standing on a pile of them. Now I know that getting older, quitting smoking, injuries and hell, life can slowly add pounds when you aren't looking, but what good is it to try and tell people that when all they see are young and pretty and skinny, and everything else is crap? Maybe it is some form of karma return, though I really don't believe is such things. In any case, I'm feeling fat and old and ugly lately, and it's causing me to have some hate toward cute and skinny and young people right now. It's not your fault.

[identity profile] alexisyael.livejournal.com 2006-10-16 03:08 pm (UTC)(link)
Oh Heather, this makes me so sad, I can barely express it. Not performing? You? That's not fair! Everyone needs to see your light, girl -- let it shine!!!!!

(Which is not to downplay your emotions -- I know you struggle with this a lot, and I know I can't really understand it, not fully. But here's the thing -- you RAWK! Both you and Jill. TOTALLY and UTTERLY. And I wish you could see yourselves the way I see you.)

[identity profile] myrrhdusa.livejournal.com 2006-10-16 03:08 pm (UTC)(link)
I sometimes don't know what keeps me going, but I don't think I will stop dancing unless I physically can no longer manage it, and at that point I hope to be a decent drummer so I can still be near it.

I completely understand how she feels though, and I know you are missing the dance right now too. I think that I have lost my spiritual connection to my dancing that I never even questioned before. I mean I usually don't give a fuck what anyone thinks about me, and I'm feeling oddly superficial.

[identity profile] myrrhdusa.livejournal.com 2006-10-16 03:10 pm (UTC)(link)
Usually, my opinion is much more personality based, I'm just going through a cranky bit, I think.

Oh, and I am often told that my presence makes people feel sorta dirty. I think that's cool!

[identity profile] myrrhdusa.livejournal.com 2006-10-16 03:22 pm (UTC)(link)
Heather, I know a break may be what you need to do right now, but of course I hope you get your fine behind back on stage. Do you think maybe we have a responsibility as larger sized dancers to be 'out there' and inspire others? So often I have people come up and tell me that I give them hope, or that I inspired them to take classes, which wouldn't have happened if I wasn't a fat chick.

I don't know, just a thought. If so, it means we have power, right? Fat bellydancers unite!

[identity profile] elysiangirl.livejournal.com 2006-10-16 03:22 pm (UTC)(link)
thanks, honey. but i've seen pictures from the hafla this past weekend and i just want to hide forever.

[identity profile] myrrhdusa.livejournal.com 2006-10-16 03:26 pm (UTC)(link)
At this point, I'm just trying to get past it. I want to go and learn from Raquy. I want to see her perform. And the other dancers, it isn't their fault, I'm just cranky and they are an easy target I think. I'm not sure what to do at this point, still figuring it out.

I think the grey and cold weather is part of this too. Maybe I will go hit the tanning bed, that always makes me feel better.

[identity profile] elysiangirl.livejournal.com 2006-10-16 03:28 pm (UTC)(link)
well, i appreciate that but i sure don't feel good about myself when i see pictures. and yes, i'd be willing to bet that most every plus size dancer in every group struggles with it from time to time.

[identity profile] myrrhdusa.livejournal.com 2006-10-16 03:43 pm (UTC)(link)
Pictures are evil. Especially snapshots, since you don't get a chance to show a nice angle. Eeeew.

[identity profile] elysiangirl.livejournal.com 2006-10-16 03:44 pm (UTC)(link)
most defintitely, and it seems lately they are either straight on or coming up from the floor, both MOST unflattering angles for me and my chins.

[identity profile] wytchlady.livejournal.com 2006-10-16 03:54 pm (UTC)(link)
I think perhaps there may be something going on that is affecting us both. Perhaps it's astrological (We are both Aquarians) or perhaps it's something troop-related? I have no clue. I know it hasn't brought me as much joy as of late and the thought of taking a month or so off has crossed my mind more than once. I *know* I need to do something !soon! or I will be swelling up more again but the only thing that is sounding at all attractive right now is going back to a dojo and learning, sweating, sparring and coming home sore and bruised. Thing is at the Dojo that may work for me classes are only Tuesdays & Thursdays, Tuesday is a class night & Thursdays are the husband's night out (I can't/won't ask him to give that up now that he finally is okay with having a hobby that gets him out of the house and it's good quality time with the teen for him too). I keep hoping this will pass but I have been dealing with the body-image thing since the last hafla.

BTW I also think I am actually bigger than you right now, or you carry it better or something.

[identity profile] myrrhdusa.livejournal.com 2006-10-16 04:02 pm (UTC)(link)
I think it might be this depressing weather.

Tuesdays you don't come to class anyway, unless Rose is sick, in which case I impose on you.

You are smaller than me, but we could probably both use some exercise again. I want to work out today, but I'm creaky from the cold and wet. I will probably do my drills, maybe a few of Ariellahs too. I've been doing them but I've not been posting anything. I should probably get back to doing that too.

[identity profile] alexisyael.livejournal.com 2006-10-16 04:06 pm (UTC)(link)
Just treat yourself gently, OK? Try to imagine what your response would be if that person in the pictures was one of your best friends...

[identity profile] alexisyael.livejournal.com 2006-10-16 04:09 pm (UTC)(link)
I am totally missing the dance right now... so, yeah, maybe that makes me double-sad b/c Heather is one of my dance-friends and I live vicariously through her.

Losing the spiritual connection to dance would be hard... that's where I connect to it, too.

[identity profile] lepidopteragirl.livejournal.com 2006-10-16 05:09 pm (UTC)(link)
Yes, come dance come dance! Carpool on Fridays may be an option? Hm?? ;)

[identity profile] lepidopteragirl.livejournal.com 2006-10-16 05:15 pm (UTC)(link)
We could make an effort to take turns leading different kinds of workouts for the first few minutes during class. Everyone can use a little pick-me up workout for endorphines, energy, general health, sexual health (I'll be posting more on this later...), and conditioning for dance. Just a thought? 15-20 minutes of really hard-core focus doesn't seem like a lot once a week, right? I'll even start this Friday if you're up for it. ;)

Let's get you two feeling better. Maybe if we can set some troupe fitness/drill goals that we actually work on during troupe time (instead of having to rely on ourselves outside all the time) it would work better? My 2 bits...

[identity profile] durgablue.livejournal.com 2006-10-16 05:22 pm (UTC)(link)
You are NOT ugly, you are NOT old, and what the fuck does it matter if you are not "skinny"??
Haven't you seen women of all sizes dance beautifully based on their talent, how hard they work at it, or the well-channelled soulfullness with which they dance? Does a particular size, hellacurvy or skinny, make a dancer more compelling? You are gorgeous, you move beautifully, just as you are. (I've seen the dance video of you and your troop you posted.) I bet the bone with a hank of hair you mentioned in your post, who was going off about "fat women", doesn't move half as well as you do. And she obviously has a shitload of body issues of her own or she wouldn't be so desperately compelled to such cruelty.

Why is it sensible people know that racism is ignorant and wrong, and yet don't see sizism for what it is? Another ignorant prejudice centered on a person's physical appearance.



Dance, when you're broken open.
Dance, if you've torn the bandage off.
Dance in the middle of the fighting.
Dance in your blood.
Dance, when you're perfectly free.

[identity profile] dement1a.livejournal.com 2006-10-16 05:32 pm (UTC)(link)
I will, I will! Just not til November, life is completely insane until then. See?

Possibly the Friday after this one, depending on when I leave to go out of town.

Yes carpooling may be an option, email me at sara@saratrice.com and we'll see if we can work out some details. Also added you as a friend. :)

[identity profile] dement1a.livejournal.com 2006-10-16 05:37 pm (UTC)(link)
Yes, I'm planning to go, I really want to take the drum workshop. I wasn't asked to dance, which is just as well, I'd have no way to get anything ready by then. I was hoping to hang around for the show - I really wanted to go for the music. We might be able to finagle a way for me to pick you up too!

[identity profile] ex-lady-pand461.livejournal.com 2006-10-16 06:03 pm (UTC)(link)
I haven't read the hate post but I can tell you that the only words that come to mind when I think of you are "beautiful" "vivacious" and "wonderful awesome bellydance goodness!"

Sounds like the person coordinating that dance thing does not have the good sense to pick talent and experience over fluff. She'll learn one of these days. Either way don't sweat it, though I confess I don't get why she would be that way, especially since you have been helping her out with her music.

I have not read the hate post, but I have a general contempt for people who call others out just because of how they look. Only in America is there this obsession with uber-thin girls who resemble pre-pubescent boys. I used to hold out hope that one day Americans would get a clue, but I doubt seriously it will ever happen.

I hope your day improves - don't let stupid vain people get you down with their silly comments!

[identity profile] myrrhdusa.livejournal.com 2006-10-16 06:34 pm (UTC)(link)
Here's the thing--we need to use troupe time, as scant as it is, to work on troupe choreos or drills or things to improve our performances. I really think that exercise needs to become something we do (possibly together) outside of troupe time. As it is, I only get you guys together for an hour, maybe and hour and a half if the stars align. Most troupes work together twice a week or more.

If you can come up with something that takes about ten minutes, manages to warm the muscles enough for dancing, I'm cool with that, but it needs to be on a night when everyone is there on time for it to be of any help. :-(

Maybe I'm just being defeatist today. Have you seen the grey and rain outside? I feel like climbing into a hole.

[identity profile] myrrhdusa.livejournal.com 2006-10-16 06:38 pm (UTC)(link)
Wow. What are the things you are doing? Your calendar just says busy. Are ya gettin' some?

[identity profile] myrrhdusa.livejournal.com 2006-10-16 06:39 pm (UTC)(link)
I'd love to go with you, and we can dance together and ignore the fact that we weren't asked. :-)

Crude but true.

[identity profile] crystal-prism.livejournal.com 2006-10-16 06:47 pm (UTC)(link)
My weight tends to fluctuate and it bothers me, still I can honestly say, I get laid more fat. Say what you will about health and beauty, it is hard to argue with that fact. I am always working out, or just plain working, making sure to eat my greens and turning down at least half the beers I'd like to drink. I gave up smoking entirely. That is as healthy as I plan to get at this point in my life. I'm not saying fat is great and thin isn't. I'm just saying that neither is the end all be all of health and beauty. It's all in the mind. People can like one or the other if they want to. Personally, I've never liked blond guys. They aren't ugly, I just don't prefer them. But, when somebody goes about really diggin in to another person based on looks, it usually means the harasser is insecure. You can be too thin and you can be too fat, in reference to health. But, most people are only really interested in being attractive. So luv your curves, if ya got 'em. Luv your itty bitty perky titties, if ya got 'em. And guys should do the same. I love the bald guys! So, stop wearing wigs. I don't care if they've got a washboard stomach or a little poochy tummy, sexy is as sexy does. (Remember dudes, when hassled about the gut, be sure to say, "When you've got a tool like this, you've got to build a shed over it.") I'm still a little disturbed over all the waxing off of hair that ladies and gentlemen are into these days.
But, Jill, you are one of the loveliest ladies I know.

[identity profile] wytchlady.livejournal.com 2006-10-16 08:12 pm (UTC)(link)
Thing is lately Rose is sick quite a bit and if I am paying to go to a dojo and that's the only day I can go then it would be money wasted, there are no refunds if you miss classes and you can't pay by the class.

[identity profile] myrrhdusa.livejournal.com 2006-10-16 08:18 pm (UTC)(link)
Oh I thought that you just payed on the nights that you went, I didn't realize there were classes. Did you ever look around at the ones her? I know you liked the Gallatin one, but I thought you had said you were going to look around at the ones here.

Page 2 of 3