3428icq w/A

Aug. 11, 2005

 

 

evile: hey. So far no drama today at work. *crosses fingers*
yesterday was long and boring without people to talk to!
SkyeDS: hey :)
evile: I am waiting to see if Jason will respond to the request NOT
to go to the Bakehouse on the 25th.
SkyeDS: I want to go to the Melting Pot again
evile: *nod* That's a great place.
evile: I'm looking forward to tomorrow--SAADE's S&M 101 & 102.
SkyeDS: what they doin?
evile: it's basically a 3 hour presentation of how-to kind of stuff,
looks like.
evile: I reposted Ms. Robin's email about it in my 'kink' LJ filter,I
thought.
SkyeDS: I haven't read LJ in days now
evile: Oh OK then :)
SkyeDS: mof I think yesterday's the first time I had anything to post
myself in like, 10 days
SkyeDS: I spent all day yesterday listening to and ordering music
evile: *nod*
SkyeDS: today will be spent writing once himself is gone
evile: *nod* cool.
SkyeDS: got a little used karaoke machine to use as a PA
evile: that's a good idea :)
SkyeDS: don't know if it will run on batteries or not
evile: that would be very useful :)
SkyeDS: bought three renaissance dance CDs
evile: cool :)
SkyeDS: like half a dozen Hossam Ramzy drumming CDs, Saaidi and
Flamenco
evile: awesome.
SkyeDS: and a couple of cassette tapes so that shipping was free
evile: good deal!
SkyeDS: well...except for how much I spent anyway LOL
evile: yeah...but getting stuff for $ is better than using $ to pay
for shipping :)
SkyeDS: nods
SkyeDS: I bought from tower online
evile: cool :)
SkyeDS: they weren't much difference than amazon and something tells
me they're faster
SkyeDS: I'm not happy with amazon right now
evile: yeah....
SkyeDS: I hope to god I didn't mess up
evile: ?
SkyeDS: usually I stay WAY out of the jousting conversations in the
SCA because we don't do the joust with t hem
SkyeDS: and I didn't really have any interest in this one, which is
about lance lengths
SkyeDS: until a number of people said that part of the problem was
people poking at each other, and suggested lanes further apart and
shorter lances
SkyeDS: so when someone pointed out that the pokey problem was in
part due to not being able to make contact, due in part to horses
shying
SkyeDS: I pointed out that a) putting in extra lanes makes the pokey
problem worse
SkyeDS: b) shortening the lances makes the pokey problem worse, make
t hem longer, not shorter
SkyeDS: and c) the professional jousters enclose their lanes
SkyeDS: so that they can drop the reins, the horse stays on the rail,
nowhere to shy to
SkyeDS: they also use 16' lances, not 10' lances
evile: *nod*
SkyeDS: now granted, they're trying to knock each other off the horse
SkyeDS: and we don't want to do that
SkyeDS: but why should we be using square wheels when they've already
invented the round wheel
evile: seems reasonable.
SkyeDS: I don't understand why the SCA doesn't just let us full tilt
joust.
SkyeDS: it isn't anymore dangerous than what we're already doing or
what the heavies do.
SkyeDS: "we don't want to use real lances or risk people falling off
their horses"
SkyeDS: well there's already the risk people are going to be unhorsed
SkyeDS: matter of fact there's that risk every time someone's ON a
horse.
evile: pretty much, yeah.
SkyeDS: and a joust is no place to be if you're scared anyway
SkyeDS: "I don't feel safe jousting with 16 feet of oak or pine with
someone I know might be trying to unhorse me"
SkyeDS: "but I feel perfectly safe with 10' of styrofoam, cardboard
and pine handle"
evile: crazy.
SkyeDS: "and a promise from my opponent to try to pull a punch
SkyeDS: with horses that haven't' been fully trained
SkyeDS: that can shy away from the rail because the outside of the
lane isn't closed.
SkyeDS: and t hen someone asked me why they used the enclosed lanes
for quintain and rings too
SkyeDS: and i said, well I don't know, but I would assume it's
because if you can drop your reins and not have to focus on keeping
your horse from shying away, then you can focus completely on
whacking the shit out of the quintain or the precision of running the
rings or whatever else the fuck is you're trying to do.
SkyeDS: I could be wrong.
evile: sounds silly :P
SkyeDS: I'm going to get some 2x2s, put rebar in one end and eyehooks
on the either and run seisal rope through them
SkyeDS: a) it will look period
evile: I guess these are the same kidn of people who treat their
horses like motorcycles or jet skis and dont' think 'hey, it goes by
itself where it wants to go!"
SkyeDS: b) it will make a flexible barrier that I can use as 1 -
lanes, 2 - round pen, 3 - to make myself a portable arena
SkyeDS: and it will cost a whole fuckload less than buying panels to
make a r ound pen too
SkyeDS: I could buy those plastic pennons but those don't really look
period
SkyeDS: when I've got time and inclination I can make cloth pennons
evile: *nod* it's not hard :)
SkyeDS: I know what's going to happen.
SkyeDS: somebody's going to point out that me and mine aren't even
authorized to joust in the SCA
SkyeDS: we did not participate in the full tilt joust with the
professionals jsut the games, and
SkyeDS: we shouldn't be trying to unhorse each other.
SkyeDS: NONE of which has any bearing on what I was trying to get
across.
evile: *shrug* that's your level of interest & as much risk as
you're willing to take for yourself and your animals, shouldn't mean
that you don't know what you're talking about.
SkyeDS: all I said in the first place was, hey, we were playing with
the big boys and they did this and I thought it would be damn useful.
SkyeDS: using an outside lane barrier just allows for droppage of
rein and horse not shying away from rail
SkyeDS: longer lance just means no pokey problems
evile: just because I don't jump out of planes doesn't mean I dont'
know how gravity works.
SkyeDS: neither of the above means we have to start using 16 feet of
oak and trying to knock each other down.
SkyeDS: exactly.
SkyeDS: although the Big Boys don't seem to have nearly the problems
the SCA says it does.
SkyeDS: they didn't even make us sign waivers when we got there.
evile: wow.
SkyeDS: granted, they're professionals.
SkyeDS: so their horses are bigger and better trained
SkyeDS: they had full armor
evile: yup. better insurance, too, probably :)
SkyeDS: but the SCA requires just about full armor anyway or ought to
evile: you would think.
SkyeDS: and while I think the horses tilting at each other should be
evenly matched in size
SkyeDS: I don't think that means they all have to be drafts or
warmbloods
SkyeDS: but they damn well should be trained
SkyeDS: and if they aren't trained what the fuck are you d oing
anyway?
SkyeDS: and it's easier to just put up a barrier so a horse has to
stay the course than it is to train a horse to stay on a rail with
nothing on the other side when you're being confrontational with
another horse at a full gallop
SkyeDS: I mean, like, DUH
evile: yup.
SkyeDS: the big horses the big boys have are more likely to stay on a
rail without an outside rail than the pleasure horses of the SCA
SkyeDS: and even they don't do that, must be a reason.
SkyeDS: I KNOW Sir Alexis and Duke Patrick Michael know this.
SkyeDS: the professionals spoke fondly and highly of them by name.
evile: *nod*
SkyeDS: matter of fact, I think it's this group of professionals (4
winds) that Alexis got the games from in the first damn place
evile: interesting :)
SkyeDS: oh well. when you post to a public forum you take the risk
that you're putting targets on breast and butt, so be it.
evile: yup...no matter how polite you are, there's always a chance
someone is going to blow a gasket over it.
SkyeDS: "this is a game. they're doing it for real."
SkyeDS: well, I'm thinking there's only so much you can do to make
something like a full tilt joust a game.
SkyeDS: just thinking of everything that got said on this subject at
GWar
evile: yup
SkyeDS: I will point out that at Eq College we were doing Mounted
Archery down an enclosed lane and dropping our reins (as you h ave to
with Archery), most of us at a full gallop
SkyeDS: so it only makes sense to do other games that way.
evile: *nod*
evile: anythin g that reduces risk would seem like a good idea...
SkyeDS: they don't have to be solid barriers either
SkyeDS: they can be breakaway
evile: no, just something visible to the animals.
SkyeDS: or solid on one side and breakway on the other
SkyeDS: the lane at EqC was breakaway on the interior towards the
target but the piperail enclosing the entire arena on the outside.
SkyeDS: thing is, if you're afraid your horse is going to shy
evile: *nod*
SkyeDS: and y ou think they might shy into a solid barrier and hurt
themselves
SkyeDS: then why are you jousting in the first fuckin place?
evile: yup
evile: Nobody *wants* to be hurt, I'm sure, but if they haven't faced
the possibility it's gonna happen, that's a serious mental issue.
SkyeDS: oh well, what's done is done, what's said is said, I can't
take it back, anymore than I can get feathers back into a pillow
evile: nope. You going to the Ravensloft gathering in Dallas this
weekend?
SkyeDS: would have liked to but I have things I absolutely have to do.
SkyeDS: training for one and mowing for the other if it's dry enough.
SkyeDS: and I'm fasting on Saturday. that will no doubt be easier
done at home.
evile: yeah.
SkyeDS: think I will make a trip to wholefoods tonight. get some
more smoothies, orange juice, and invest in some meats.
SkyeDS: get some scallops on a stick, some marinated sirloin satays,
some pork stuffed with feta and spinach, some salmon and cilantro
burgers
evile: *nod* Poly dinner is there tonight; we might see you :)
SkyeDS: love my new grill
SkyeDS: is it?
SkyeDS: so does everyone get food downstairs and take it upstairs?
SkyeDS: I noticed there was a patio downstairs too
evile: yeah, but the upstairs one is near hte playscape, adn a lot of
people bring their kids.
SkyeDS: I'll ask sineater if he wants to
SkyeDS: he might not he is way behind on sleep
evile: *nod* I understand; I know that feeling pretty well these
days :P
SkyeDS: first movie that came was Dark Harbor, t hat was good. Last
night it was The Man who Cried
evile: cool.
SkyeDS: tonight it's Sense and Sensibility
evile: [Aunt L] loves that one.
SkyeDS: either this keeps getting harder or I keep making it harder
evile: "this" being?
SkyeDS: or maybe that's just what happens when I start working on
minute details
SkyeDS: I'm sorry...I'm writing the script out for the MC for faire.
SkyeDS: I refuse to even begin to think I've bitten off more than I
can chew.
evile: *nod*
SkyeDS: but I'm wishing I had theatrical training - outside of music.
evile: yeah.
SkyeDS: I bet you're much better at this than I am.
evile: *shrug* probably not.
SkyeDS: I have the beginnings of an introduction. Could you beta it
for me, please?
evile: sure.
SkyeDS: mille grazie!!!
SkyeDS: Hear ye, hear ye, hear ye! We are the Kumpania Peregrina,
and we bring to you our Dancing Horses. Allow me to introduce the
members of our Gypsy clan.

Bella Peregrina is the Elder Wise Woman. The white mare she rides is
Mirage. Mirage is an Egyptian Arabian. (Skye gallops Mirage up to
audience.)

Sighieri Peregrina is the Clan Chief. The black mare he rides is
Jezebel. Jezebel is a Gaited Morgan. (sineater gallops Jesse up to
audience.)

Arthur Pendragon is the tyrannomacaw rex of Clan MacAwe. (Arthur
spreads wings. If he's offered a treat he might speak into the
microphone.)

evile: cute!
SkyeDS: ((the names of the MC and Jesse's rider are always subject to
change of course depending on who's riding her.))
evile: *nod*
SkyeDS: I'm thinking that since Jubilee has voice training I'd rather
her be MC all t he time but I know she wants to ride ballet
eventually so
SkyeDS: I am NOT giving sonar0m a microphone.
evile: heh.
SkyeDS: first Saturday night after closing we can test Debby and
Chris out on mic too
evile: *nod*
SkyeDS: mc introduces themselves first, or last you think?
SkyeDS: I didn't use the romany terms Phuri Dai and Rom Baro because
we'd just have to define them anyway...
evile: *nod*...I think you could do the MC intro either way.
evile: & I don't see anything wrong with throwing in a few romany
terms, but probably more "__ that means "hello" in Romany." or
wahtever.
SkyeDS: I like thundering hooves of dancing horses
SkyeDS: it has a ring to it
evile: yup :)
evile: you could go with drumming hooves, just to keep it 'music'
related ?
SkyeDS: nods
SkyeDS: we are pleased to bring to you OR we hope you enjoy - the
thunder of the drumming hooves of our dancing horses.
evile: we hope you enjoy :)
SkyeDS: at this point need to segue into the music
SkyeDS: and I'm not sure yet what music we're using.
SkyeDS: depends on whether the new stuff comes in or whether we use
something I've already got.
evile: now, that I know you'll choose perfectly :)
SkyeDS: I can use Peter Gabriel's Last Temptation of Christ for ME
SkyeDS: and got loads of Classical
SkyeDS: tain't period but what are these people going to know
evile: *nod*
SkyeDS: this is obviously going to have to be revised right up until
I leave next Friday anyway right
evile: I'm sure you'll keep tweaking it ;)
SkyeDS: I think the ME music is a whole lot more exciting than t he
European
evile: *nod* better rhythm
SkyeDS: so do you start with little bangs and end with big ones?
evile: I would think.
SkyeDS: so in my opinion that would be start with the classical and
end with the ME
evile: *nod*
SkyeDS: eventually the flamenco would go in there somewhere
evile: *nod*
SkyeDS: I don't really know where to put it until it gets here and I
hear it
SkyeDS: depends on whether it has more or less bang than the Saaidi
evile: *nod*
SkyeDS: and since I could only listen to 30 to 60 seconds online
that's really not enough to make a decision
SkyeDS: I bought some Flamenco because it is a fusion of Gypsy and ME
evile: nope. And a lot of times you can fade beginnings and endings
together if the beats are similar and make a smoother transition.
SkyeDS: I thought it would be appropriate.
evile: yup :)
SkyeDS: maybe, classical first, then ME then Flamenco (which is a
fusion)
evile: There was a flamenco dancer at the show Friday; Oliver
Rajamani's music complemented her dancing style relaly well.
SkyeDS: I want a flamenco dress
evile: they're pretty, aren't they? :)
SkyeDS: but I can't find t he style I want online anywhere
SkyeDS: not t hat it matters until I lose serious weight anyway
SkyeDS: I wonder should we waste words on explaining the music or not
SkyeDS: that's kind of hard to do right now since I don't know what
we're using just yet.
SkyeDS: I mean specifically.
evile: *nod* I don't think you need to explain the music, unless
someone asks after your show or something. It's hard to find a
balance between educating people and entertaining them, and just
burdening them with too much info to assimilate
SkyeDS: that's what I was thinkin
SkyeDS: I mean surely people can tell by listening - ok, that's
classical, that's arabian/middle eastern, that's gypsy/flamenco
SkyeDS: or whatever their schema for such things is
SkyeDS: if people want to know the names of the pieces and the
composers surely they'd ask afterwards?
evile: well...why do they need to know? when we saw the lippizaners
they didn't sit there and say "And this is George Gershwyn, bla
bla"...they just let the horses and riders do their thing.
SkyeDS: I'm already thinking it's going to be hard to cram three
pieces into 30 minutes.
evile: *nod*
SkyeDS: good point!
SkyeDS: I can't even remember details of who said what during the
lippizaner show
SkyeDS: I wasn't paying attention to anything else but the horses
SkyeDS: I already knew the music and knew what the moves were
evile: I imagine that a lot of your audience will be like that.
SkyeDS: I want to put something in t here to encourage them to clap,
and shout oompah and whatever else
evile: Maybe something like "When the Rom gather to celebrate, we say
___ and do ---- to show our appreciation of the
music/dancers/whatever"
SkyeDS: I can't remember what the other word is the dancers use
besides oompa
SkyeDS: it isn't huzzah
SkyeDS: or maybe it is
evile: (Opa, actually. It's Greek)
SkyeDS: it always sounds like it has an m in it
SkyeDS: especially the girls at Zorba's none of whom appear to be
Greek tho
SkyeDS: course most of the dancers I hear say it probably don't have
a clue either
evile: As far as I can tell, it's idiomatic, means more or less
what 'Hey!' does in English.
SkyeDS: Hey might work better than Huzzah
SkyeDS: since in early performances in Europe if they didn't have
musicians they had people sitting around chanting Hay Hay Hay Hay in
four four time
evile: The other expression is "Aiwa", which I think mostly
means "you go, girl!" if the music is loud. If the music is quiet, or
the dancer is doing something slow, it's the 'sssss!' sound, and then
there's the zagareet, which I can't do to save my life, which is
they "rock on lets party" noise.
SkyeDS: the ululation you mean?
SkyeDS: I can't do it either
evile: *nod*
evile: "Misto" is pretty accessible, Romany for " wonderful/way cool"
SkyeDS: I'm t hinking if they've already seen bellydancers they'll
probably have the Opa thing down already
evile: *nod*
evile: but since it's horse dancing not people dancing, they may not
know whether or not it's appropriate to say.
evile: If the MC isn't talkign during the entire performance, he/she
could lead the audience in clapping along to the music, yelling out
__ after a really cool trick, etc
SkyeDS: yep
SkyeDS: I put that in t here already
SkyeDS: everything that isn't spoken I'm putting in ()
evile: Other good, accessible Romany words/terms: Baksheesh! (Good
fortune) Sastimos! (good health), Nais Tuke! (Thank you)
SkyeDS: already used Sastimos, that's the greeting
evile: *nod*
SkyeDS: at end of performance should encourage them to bring their
kids by the booth for rides
evile: yup!
SkyeDS: Ashen Devlesa
SkyeDS: is shorter than the longer Go with God in good health
evile: *nod*
evile: well, it's 4. Time to get gone. see ya later, maybe :)