Makeda

Prayer for a New Mother by Dorothy Parker

This was posted on the Advent calendar on Orientaldancer.  Thanks to Zurah!

Prayer for a new mother

The things she knew, let her forget again -
The voices in the sky, the fear, the cold,
The gaping shepherds, and the queer old men
Piling their clumsy gifts of foreign gold.

Let her have laughter with her little one;
Teach her the endless, tuneless songs to sing;
Grant her the right to whisper to her son
The foolish names one dare not call a king

Keep from her dreams the rumble of a crowd,
The smell of rough-cut wood, the trail of red,
The thick and chilly whiteness of the shroud,
That wraps the strange new body of the dead.

Ah, let her go, kind Lord, where mothers go
And boast his pretty words and ways, and plan
The proud and happy years that they shall know
Together, when her son is grown a man.

Dorothy Parker, from her 'Complete Poems'

ADAM's performance on the AMAs

Okay, so yeah, I'm several days behind, but I needed time to process.  Here's the thing: Yes, Adam' performance was scandalous (which was what I loved about it, by the way), but really, did we expect anything different?  I mean, the boy was bit out there even on "American Idol" and the viewing public had to realize that he was reining himself in with his "AI" performances, right?  I mean, we're all savvy enough to realize that there are shenanigans afoot on "AI" and everyone is required to dumb himself down on that show in order to procure votes, right?  Right?  Did we really believe that a grown man, who was quite obviously gay, wore beaucoup makeup and wailed with his tongue out while gyrating on primetime TV was not going to be even more ostentatious once he was given a recording contract and an opportunity to do whatever he wanted?

I think Adam Lambert makes amazing music, but more than that, I think the man makes amazing television.  He is a marketing dream.  A genuine personality who doesn't have to put together a "character" with spit and polish.  I think he's awesome.  Lovement on every level.  I love that he's secure enough to go out there and basically wave his freak flag for the entire world to see.  I admire that quality.

For all the folks who were calling and complaining about his performance, calling it raunchy and inappropriate for children, I say..."You're doggone right!"  And I have a couple questions for you: "Why the hell were you children up watching television at 11 PM on a school night?  Oh, and why didn't you complain about all the other 'inappropriate' things that went on that night?  I mean, Lady GaGa's entire life is inappropriate!  Who was complaining about her?  Janet was grabbing people's junk!  Eminem is still alive!  All these things are inappropriate for children to witness!"

A review of the BDNC Meet and Greet Hafla by Brandon

Here's a pic of me in my costume from the Hafla.

The 2009 BDNC --Where Do I Begin?

Mon, November 23, 2009 - 5:33 PM

http://bellydancenation.tribe.net/thread/ca0cfc63-d6bd-4bd4-b45d-aaa8a52bddde

I didn't get a chance to write down some of those who performed at the pre-BDNC gathering at Cazbar Turkish Restaurant on N. Charles Street, but it didn't matter. The mood was awesome, and the ''iLounge'' setting was perfect for all who attended, a chance to collect their thoughts and get into the moment of a new era being born in Charm City. But, I remembered a few.

It was a sight to see the beaming smile that Lotus Niraja displayed when she arrived, just before the dancing began. The decor is nice and has rectangular seating areas similar to Casablanca in Alexandria, VA and Marrakesh in DC. The lighting is very darkened and the narrow walkways to get to and from the bar is a challenge, yet provides an intimate view to watch bellydancers perform, once you pull the curtains that hang from the top of each section when necessary. :)

It's a testament to the dedication of owner/chef Alec Kantar, in an area that was more known for rows and rows of Irish pubs and bars, to cement Cazbar as a well-represented gem in the middle of downtown Baltimore, a city that is still developing a regular resume of restaurants that allows bellydancers to perform on a regular basis, especially in today's slightened economic status. Belly dancing regularly takes place there on Fridays (9pm) and Saturdays (10pm), starting downstairs in the actual restaurant seating area, and then the dancer(s) move upstairs to perform for those in ''iLounge''. The lounge also has a nice seperate indoor section to the far left where you can use hookahs, as well as look out onto the streets below for a nice view as well.

It was nice to see the continuation of Egyptian Sun's solidification at JHU was strong with the dancing prowess of the curvaceous Ouranitsa. As always, Samira Shuruk dazzled in a sparkling red bra/belt, her Pilates excellence proudly showing off her marvelous physique. Ah, the weakness for redheads. :)
Local talent Asali Naimah is a tiny young woman, but her dancing speaks volumes and echoes louder than the music in a positive manner, displaying nice veilwork. The NDC's Makeda Maysa (That's me!) is a physical powerhouse that displayed a playful side in pink, and even felt the need to play ''Do The Bump'' with someone (particularly the one typing this post, nudge-nudge). Never get into a hip bump contest with Makeda, she will not be denied.

ADAM's CD is out this month!

Look at him, looking like a piece of androgynous lovement.  I want to bite his bottom lip.  Yes, you know that I got this joint on pre-order, y'all!  It will be in my hot little hands the day it drops.  I cannot even wait.  Bated breath, y'all.  Bated breath.

My new costume!

Y'all!  Please allow me to tell you how much I LOVE my new costume!  It is Sexual Chocolate, except it is pink.  In fact, I have been told that I look like "Pink Sex" in it.  I have no idea what that really means.  I have no idea how pink sex differs from, say, orange sex, for example.  But it sounds like a compliment.  Either way, it is AWESOME, is what I am saying.

I will be dancing in this at the upcoming Meet and Greet Hafla for the Belly Dance Nationals Competition!

The Vampire Diaries

I think I'm gonna hate "The Vampire Diaries", y'all.  I am just sure that it's gonna be "Twilight: Part Dork" and that I will have supreme hatement for it.  And yet it is already on my TiVo Season Pass.  I am so embarrassed.  Kind of.  I know I will despise every second of it.  I will watch the pilot and hate it and then, for the rest of the season, I will just fast forward to get to the scenes that feature Ian Somerhalder.

Seriously.

If he gave me that look, I'd be all, "Bite me.  Bite me now."

Warning

Be forewarned: Anyone who tells me that racism is dead because "Look, we have a Black President!" is in imminent danger of being punched in the face. Also, if you believe that President Obama is not treated differently because he is Black, do not tell me. I may not punch you in your grill for that one, but there is a greater than 90% chance that you will be cussed out and it will most certainly earn you the stink eye and my ire. After last night, there is no way you can tell me different. Our President was called a liar in the middle of his speech in front of the Congress and the American people. Called a liar. To his face. Right after enduring the indignity of having his countrypeople tell him that they don't want him addressing their children - not even to just deliver a simple message like "Stay in school." You know what? They can all kiss my big brown ass. No matter what I thought (and still think) about former President Bush, I had enough respect for him as a person and enough respect for the office that I would never have said something like that. That man was never heckled (heckled!) during his speeches! No one ever said they didn't want him speaking to their children!

America is on some bullshit right now. That we would be at a point where we actively argue against providing health care for each and every member of our society! That we would reach a point where our duly elected President is not even welcome to address our children! That we would be at a place where President Obama is being compared to Hitler (to Hitler!). I am ashamed of you. I am ashamed of you if you fall on that side. And you should be ashamed of yourself.

999

So, today is supposed to be the luckiest day ever or some such.  Guess nobody told me.  I have been having a completely awful, stressful couple of days and today wasn't any better.  At least, not for most of it.  And then, I got a Facebook message from my high school sweetheart.  He apologized to me for the hurt he'd caused me during the course of our relationship, what ... 10 - 15 years ago?  And I burst out crying at my desk.  Not because I still love him - that was over with long ago (although I'm not sure that you ever totally get over your first love) - but because I never thought I'd get that apology.  I'd loved him so much and my heart was so broken over what happened between us and I didn't think he'd even noticed and couldn't have cared less about me.  To hear that he cared enough to apologize was so moving.  Some little thing in me was mended with that.  And I really needed that today.

Thanks, dude.

The Invitation by Oriah Mountain Dreamer.

I got this from the amazing blog of Sharon Moore of InFusion Tribal.  It so inspired me today.  Hope it inspires you, too!

 

The Invitation by Oriah Mountain Dreamer
It doesn't interest me what you do for a living. I want to know what you ache for, and if you dare to dream of meeting your heart's longing.

It doesn't interest me how old you are. I want to know if you will risk looking like a fool for love, for your dream, for the adventure of being alive.

It doesn't interest me what planets are squaring your moon. I want to know if you have touched the center of you own sorrow, if you have been opened by life's betrayals or have become shriveled and closed from fear of further pain! I want to know if you can sit with pain, mine or your own, without moving to hide it or fade it or fix it.

I want to know if you can be with joy, mine or your own, if you can dance with wildness and let the ecstasy fill you to the tips of your fingers and toes without cautioning us to be careful, to be realistic, to remember the limitations of being human.

It doesn't interest me if the story you are telling me is true. I want to know if you can disappoint another to be true to yourself; if you can bear the accusation of betrayal and not betray your own soul; if you can be faithless and therefore trustworthy.

I want to know if you can see beauty even when it's not pretty, every day, and if you can source your own life from its presence.

I want to know if you can live with failure, yours and mine, and still stand on the edge of the lake and shout to the silver of the full moon, "Yes!"

It doesn't interest me to know where you live or how much money you have. I want to know if you can get up, after the night of grief and despair, weary and bruised to the bone, and do what needs to be done to feed the children.

It doesn't interest me who you know or how you came to be here. I want to know if you will stand in the center of the fire with me and not shrink back.

It doesn't interest me where or what or with whom you have studied. I want to know what sustains you, from the inside, when all else falls away.

I want to know if you can be alone with yourself and if you truly like the company you keep in the empty moments.

Happy Birthday, Alex ("Eric")!

Today is Alexander Skarsgard's birthday.  I would like to personally thank God for this man.  I would also like to thank Him for "Eric"'s nudity and ridonkulous amounts of hotness.  I am thankful for his abs and pecs and overall chiseled awesomeness.  I am thankful that this man speaks Swedish - I have no idea what he's saying, but good Lord, he sounds good saying it.  I thank him that he wears lots and lots of tank tops.

So, happy birthday, Alex!  Here's to many, many more years of your beauty.