(no subject)

Today was Chinky's class. I didn't expect to be as completely involved in the dances as I ended up being. At first I was thinking, Well, I've taken so many of his classes in the past and I know most of what he's going to do. But the first Kahiko he did really surprised me (the part with the shark! How cool was that?!) and then, after lunch, we did an 'ipu dance that is one of the most wicked fast implement dances I've ever done this side of O Pana Ewa. I really liked that one, too.

The thing that struck me the most about the class, aside from how much I liked the dances, was how easy it was for me to keep up. Even though the last few dances were rushed, I didn't have a problem with them. People asked me for help, and I was able to help them. It was a really good feeling. And, even though I still did not get to see the nametag on that one guy who I've known for years and is always so nice and really cute, I heard Kamai call him Nahalau. So at least now I know.

After class I called Mom and Dad, and they gave me some more updates. Sano is fine, and Animal Control was at the neighbor's house at 8:30 this morning. My Mom said that she and Dad were talking about putting up an 8' fence across the backyard. This would mean two things, one: I get rid of the gothic arch I've got leading to my yard that I paid good money for, and which I love. Two--and this really galls me--my three dogs are onlly allowed to run around in the back yard anymore. After thirty two years of letting my dogs use their entire yard, I'd have to cut their running and playing space down to half because these dickweed neighbors can't control their dogs. That's pretty freaking ridiculous. They're just going to have to do something with their dog. (If you ask me, it should involve pink juice, but maybe I'm biased.) Either way, until the new neighbors get their goddamned fence up, I can't let my dogs out unsupervised. Mom has been carrying a 2X4 in the yard. >_>

Anyway, so there was that. After calling Mom and Dad, I went for dinner. Getting a cheese sandwich and fries was way too complicated for the staff to handle, so I had another quesadia or however the hell it's spelled. Then came back up to get ready for the show.

The ho'ike started at 7, but I went down at 5:30 figuring he vendors' room would be open. It wasn't. So I hung around until 6:30 talking to two very sweet older ladies, one of whom had a daugher who had tried many times in the 70's to get into vet school. This lady had lost her dog in April, and when she was telling me about it, she started to cry. Man, I hate stories like that. But she and her Hula sister (who had to bein he r70's or 80's) were so nice.

The ho'ike was very entertaining and inspiring, as it always is. There was only one woman there who I thought didn't do something terrific. She just did a lot of movements that had little to do with Hula, to some hapa haole music. It was just like something Melissa would do.

Then, at 8, Makaha Sons came on, to a standing ovation and lots of screaming. They opened the show with White Sandy Beach, which, the first time I heard them do that one live back in '00, I cried through the whole thing. This time, the lady next to me cried. They were joined on stage by Sista Robi Kahakalau, who has a gorgeous voice, and who I've been too shy to meet so far, because she is awesome. Kawehi's group came up to do Hula to a song that she sings on their album Na Pua O Hawai'i, which is my favorite on that CD. Their entire halau was up there, including Auntie Kau'i who is such a joy to watch. Kawehi totally hammed it up, as he usually does, being all kolohe anytime he has to move his hips. They made it into such an engaging and fun Hula, like they always do.

At the beginning f the show, Uncle John took a sip of his water and shouted the word, "BEVERAGE!" This quickly became the word of the night, with everyone on stage and the audience shouting it at random times. After Uncle Jerome suggested that women should say that word if their husband asks for some, it became the word to shout whenever something sexy or kolohe happened. It was too funny. And then, Uncle John dedicated this one song to two women, and then, as an afterthought,dedicated it also to Pese. (Pese, in case I've never mentioned him, though I'm sure I have, is a 40-something 6'5" Samoan, with perfectly white hair. He's so beautiful I can hardly stand it.) Uncle Jerome said, "Oh, Unce John would like to dedicate this next song to Pese... his night friend. Wow. I didn't know he was...like this." I thought I might die laughing.

After the show I was going to go back downstairs for some cake or something, but again I am so freaking tired. I have to get up at 7:30 to get ready for Moon's class tomorrow. I heard from the people who had him today that his class was completely wonderful and original. I can't wait; I really enjoy his style. (And, of course, I just love being in the same room with him, even.) And I told all the people from the other class who have Chinky tomorrow, "Wait till you do the part with the shark!" ^_^

I hope that tomorrow night, when everything's calm and there is no show, I'll have time to meet up with Moon and talk with him for a long time. I haven't had a good, long talk wih him in about two years, and I have so much to thank him for.

(no subject)

Today was Chinky's class. I didn't expect to be as completely involved in the dances as I ended up being. At first I was thinking, Well, I've taken so many of his classes in the past and I know most of what he's going to do. But the first Kahiko he did really surprised me (the part with the shark! How cool was that?!) and then, after lunch, we did an 'ipu dance that is one of the most wicked fast implement dances I've ever done this side of O Pana Ewa. I really liked that one, too.

The thing that struck me the most about the class, aside from how much I liked the dances, was how easy it was for me to keep up. Even though the last few dances were rushed, I didn't have a problem with them. People asked me for help, and I was able to help them. It was a really good feeling. And, even though I still did not get to see the nametag on that one guy who I've known for years and is always so nice and really cute, I heard Kamai call him Nahalau. So at least now I know.

After class I called Mom and Dad, and they gave me some more updates. Sano is fine, and Animal Control was at the neighbor's house at 8:30 this morning. My Mom said that she and Dad were talking about putting up an 8' fence across the backyard. This would mean two things, one: I get rid of the gothic arch I've got leading to my yard that I paid good money for, and which I love. Two--and this really galls me--my three dogs are onlly allowed to run around in the back yard anymore. After thirty two years of letting my dogs use their entire yard, I'd have to cut their running and playing space down to half because these dickweed neighbors can't control their dogs. That's pretty freaking ridiculous. They're just going to have to do something with their dog. (If you ask me, it should involve pink juice, but maybe I'm biased.) Either way, until the new neighbors get their goddamned fence up, I can't let my dogs out unsupervised. Mom has been carrying a 2X4 in the yard. >_>

Anyway, so there was that. After calling Mom and Dad, I went for dinner. Getting a cheese sandwich and fries was way too complicated for the staff to handle, so I had another quesadia or however the hell it's spelled. Then came back up to get ready for the show.

The ho'ike started at 7, but I went down at 5:30 figuring he vendors' room would be open. It wasn't. So I hung around until 6:30 talking to two very sweet older ladies, one of whom had a daugher who had tried many times in the 70's to get into vet school. This lady had lost her dog in April, and when she was telling me about it, she started to cry. Man, I hate stories like that. But she and her Hula sister (who had to bein he r70's or 80's) were so nice.

The ho'ike was very entertaining and inspiring, as it always is. There was only one woman there who I thought didn't do something terrific. She just did a lot of movements that had little to do with Hula, to some hapa haole music. It was just like something Melissa would do.

Then, at 8, Makaha Sons came on, to a standing ovation and lots of screaming. They opened the show with White Sandy Beach, which, the first time I heard them do that one live back in '00, I cried through the whole thing. This time, the lady next to me cried. They were joined on stage by Sista Robi Kahakalau, who has a gorgeous voice, and who I've been too shy to meet so far, because she is awesome. Kawehi's group came up to do Hula to a song that she sings on their album Na Pua O Hawai'i, which is my favorite on that CD. Their entire halau was up there, including Auntie Kau'i who is such a joy to watch. Kawehi totally hammed it up, as he usually does, being all kolohe anytime he has to move his hips. They made it into such an engaging and fun Hula, like they always do.

At the beginning f the show, Uncle John took a sip of his water and shouted the word, "BEVERAGE!" This quickly became the word of the night, with everyone on stage and the audience shouting it at random times. After Uncle Jerome suggested that women should say that word if their husband asks for some, it became the word to shout whenever something sexy or kolohe happened. It was too funny. And then, Uncle John dedicated this one song to two women, and then, as an afterthought,dedicated it also to Pese. (Pese, in case I've never mentioned him, though I'm sure I have, is a 40-something 6'5" Samoan, with perfectly white hair. He's so beautiful I can hardly stand it.) Uncle Jerome said, "Oh, Unce John would like to dedicate this next song to Pese... his night friend. Wow. I didn't know he was...like this." I thought I might die laughing.

After the show I was going to go back downstairs for some cake or something, but again I am so freaking tired. I have to get up at 7:30 to get ready for Moon's class tomorrow. I heard from the people who had him today that his class was completely wonderful and original. I can't wait; I really enjoy his style. (And, of course, I just love being in the same room with him, even.) And I told all the people from the other class who have Chinky tomorrow, "Wait till you do the part with the shark!" ^_^

I hope that tomorrow night, when everything's calm and there is no show, I'll have time to meet up with Moon and talk with him for a long time. I haven't had a good, long talk wih him in about two years, and I have so much to thank him for.