it's been rainy and grey for days, which definitely encourages a case of the blues. however, i rallied and FINALLY made it to contra dance at the hancock rec center tonight! what a friendly, happy, energetic group of people. i felt very welcome, and people who were good at signaling new people danced with me; i never lacked for a partner. and the music... you know that silly song "music is my hot hot sex"?



Music is my boyfriend

Music is my girlfriend

Music is my dead end

Music is my imaginary friend

Music is my brother

Music is my great-grand-daughter

Music is my sister

Music is my favorite mistress



yeah... i'm totally like that right now. music is my comfort and my stimulation and if it has a fiddle too. the infectious, infectious rhythm of folk music. so easy to figure out where to stomp!



i slipped out after just an hour because although i liked feeling welcomed, the near-constant attention and motion was a lot for me on top of rapidly learning a new skill, and i felt FULL. next time, perhaps, i will stay longer. but the dance totally cheered me up. i think i grinned like an idiot all the way through it.



note for next time: better shoes. better bra! i *hope* that's not why so many people wanted to dance with me... ;>



also, i'd really like to do some of the moves slowly with someone else so i can figure out how to actually do them right. i don't think i'm total dead weight when i'm swinging/being swung, but there still seems to be more being swung than swinging so far.



also, today on the radio: one of the somewhat lesser-played tom petty songs, and i caught "hideaway girl" twice. :) i'm going to try to catch jimmy lafave at the armadillo christmas bazaar on friday evening, if anyone wants to join me.

went to the alamo tonight for the army of darkness quote-a-long, since i knew the fact that i'd never seen the movie was a travesty. now i have seen it, and lo, it is all one-liners and explosions. awesome. also, they gave us all plastic shotguns with ammo to shoot at the screen at appropriate moments (which they signaled with a five-second countdown and yellow BOOM! graphics), and also blew things up periodically. my queso got confetti in it, but only a little. there was also a live chainsaw. i could smell the gasoline.



i was in an overindulgent mood and got beer, queso, AND a five-dollar shake. oops. i wasn't this full at thanksgiving.



have i mentioned how much i love the alamo?

contrary to what you may have heard, beowulf is actually kind of decent. it shows a lot of awareness of the tone of its source, and actually reads between the lines of the three episodes to add a bit of content that made the whole thing make a lot more sense to me, at least. ;> also, the religious commentary was light, but apt.



making it completely CG was a mistake, but, oh well. i just drank extra beer. (god bless the alamo drafthouse.)

Sex, Will, and Magic: Opening to Life Power



Magic is the marriage of breath, will and desire. In this experiential

workshop we can learn how to tap into the energy of life and sex, using

this to strengthen our wills and fuel our magic. Too often, our Will is

uncertain. Detailed energy techniques help us walk with certainty through

our lives, acting effectively and opening to strength, love, and beauty.

Calling on the limitlessness of God Herself, we will look at the ways in

which we manifest Her creativity in the world.



This workshop will explore cosmology, Will, the Work of this God, tapping

into desire, and harnessing energy to move us forward.



Bring cards/runes, cups, blades, journals and a pendulum if you have one.

Feel free to bring drums or rattles, too.



Sex, Will, and Magic with Thorn Coyle, Austin, Texas



Saturday, Jan. 19 - Sunday, Jan. 20

Times: TBA; estimate Sat 9:30a-9:30p and Sun 9:30a-2:30p



Directions will be sent by e-mail after your fee has been received.

Contact kira at daft dot com if you need assistance finding lodging.





Name:





Magickal Name:







Address:







Email Address:





Phone:





Sliding scale: $120-170 (please pay what you can afford). A $50 deposit is

required to hold your space. Remaining registration fee is due at the

workshop. Checks may be made out to Christine Kraemer, or you may Paypal

to kali at io dot com (sorry, no credit cards, e-checks only).





Total amount I choose to pay:





I enclose the $50 deposit required to hold my space (circle one): Yes/No





Total amount enclosed:





Please send registration form and deposit by Jan. 1 to kali at io dot com or

e-mail for snailmail address.

anybody around here (meaning austin) play hold 'em?