I'm totally recycling this from Facebook.
I question the type of service Jim provides...
Showing posts with label work. Show all posts
Showing posts with label work. Show all posts
Friday, February 1, 2013
Monday, January 28, 2013
Jan 28
Some days, my life involves building structures out of yoga blocks in order to understand how to construct something else 3-dimensional. Who said building blocks are for kids?
Wednesday, January 23, 2013
Friday, March 7, 2008
Shoes! Shoes? Shoes...
I've always had a difficult relationship with shoes. They hurt my feet. All of them. Even the most comfortable shoes on the planet will give me blisters, and for a variety of reasons all shoes I wear MUST conform to the following standards:
They MUST be as narrow as possible, preferably with a pointed toe.
They MUST end below my ankle, unless knee-high.
They MUST weigh as little as possible, preferable to not be felt on my foot all all.
They MUST support my arches well.
(and for dress shoes, mostly) They MUST have a heel.
I went to a podiatrist a few years ago because I lost all feeling in my little toe, and after an exam the doctor asked if I've ever done ballet. "yes", I replied carefully, "but not for a long time." Do I wear high heels? "yes," I said just as carefully, "daily since I was 12 years old."
It turned out I have foreshortened Achilles' tendons, developed through years of heel-wearing and intermittent dance training. This mostly manifested itself in unbearable leg pains whenever I'd put on flat shoes. Trouble is, I work on my feet 10-15 hours a day, and in flat shoes. I'd love to have some heel, but they suck for climbing ladders.
The doctor suggested I slowly stretch out my Achilles' by having heel lifts in my work shoes, which seemed like an interesting idea, but I went cold turkey and wore nothing but flats for a few months. The pain was unbearable. However, now I can effortlessly switch between flats and heels with minimum pain.
Which brings us to work shoes. Last week I discovered that my shoes no longer gave me the requisite support (as manifested by terrible pain in my arches and lower back) after running around from 9 am until midnight. New shoes it is, but which ones? Given the above requirements, I can't very well use standard steel-toe working boots (too heavy), clogs (not secure enough) or even Doc Martens (wearable, but too ugly)
Over the years I've tried several brands of work shoes, from LLBean mocs to Timberland hiking shoes (which is where we are right now.) Timberlands cost $100. The last pair was bought a little over a year ago. $100 per year seems like a lot sometimes. But I suppose, not until you see what I DO with said shoes. Behold, the gallery of my past 3 pairs of work shoes:
And this is what the Timberlands turned into after a year and a half of daily use:
But apparently, Boston winters and WEARING the shoes is not good for them...
Only to be severely disappointed 14 months later:
I ordered new shoes. I am trying a whole other tack - dance shoes. It's quite possible they might give me the support I need, and even if they die after a few months, they are only $30.
They MUST be as narrow as possible, preferably with a pointed toe.
They MUST end below my ankle, unless knee-high.
They MUST weigh as little as possible, preferable to not be felt on my foot all all.
They MUST support my arches well.
(and for dress shoes, mostly) They MUST have a heel.
I went to a podiatrist a few years ago because I lost all feeling in my little toe, and after an exam the doctor asked if I've ever done ballet. "yes", I replied carefully, "but not for a long time." Do I wear high heels? "yes," I said just as carefully, "daily since I was 12 years old."
It turned out I have foreshortened Achilles' tendons, developed through years of heel-wearing and intermittent dance training. This mostly manifested itself in unbearable leg pains whenever I'd put on flat shoes. Trouble is, I work on my feet 10-15 hours a day, and in flat shoes. I'd love to have some heel, but they suck for climbing ladders.
The doctor suggested I slowly stretch out my Achilles' by having heel lifts in my work shoes, which seemed like an interesting idea, but I went cold turkey and wore nothing but flats for a few months. The pain was unbearable. However, now I can effortlessly switch between flats and heels with minimum pain.
Which brings us to work shoes. Last week I discovered that my shoes no longer gave me the requisite support (as manifested by terrible pain in my arches and lower back) after running around from 9 am until midnight. New shoes it is, but which ones? Given the above requirements, I can't very well use standard steel-toe working boots (too heavy), clogs (not secure enough) or even Doc Martens (wearable, but too ugly)
Over the years I've tried several brands of work shoes, from LLBean mocs to Timberland hiking shoes (which is where we are right now.) Timberlands cost $100. The last pair was bought a little over a year ago. $100 per year seems like a lot sometimes. But I suppose, not until you see what I DO with said shoes. Behold, the gallery of my past 3 pairs of work shoes:
Old Timberlands (when they were new)
And this is what the Timberlands turned into after a year and a half of daily use:
So those became my "spare" shoes and I used these Pumas for a while, in-between other shoes.
But apparently, Boston winters and WEARING the shoes is not good for them...
So I bought new Timberlands, in the vain hope they will last longer than the other ones.
Only to be severely disappointed 14 months later:
I ordered new shoes. I am trying a whole other tack - dance shoes. It's quite possible they might give me the support I need, and even if they die after a few months, they are only $30.
Sunday, October 21, 2007
Hacking IKEA
There is a wonderful blog called IKEA Hacker. It is for/by people who like to customize IKEA furniture. Consider this my entry into this category of (somewhat crazy, always handy and imaginative) people.
This room was an unhappy storeroom for properties, when my theatre was dearly lacking space for dressing rooms. Moreover, we also lacked money. Fortunately, I had about a month of summer to figure out what to do about all this. There was an odd space in the basement that could house the props, if they were condensed and organized.
My assistant and I spent a couple of weeks sorting through the contents of the properties storage, and came up with enough items we could sell/give away. Amazingly enough, through a combination of eBay and Cragislist we made enough money on the unused props to buy shelving for the new storage room in the basement, AND to supplement some of the new furniture for the dressing room.
With budget still a concern, there was only place to to turn - IKEA.
We created space for 12 actors to put on makeup, as well as storage for wigs and shoes.
The counters were hacked from shelving units Udden, combined with Vika Kaj legs. The niche was created from the Udden units as well, but the metal sides left over from the units used for counters were used as spacers, creating the correct height for wig heads.
Other products used in the said hack were:
Mirrors Kolja
Mirror Minde
Mirror Raan
Chairs Herman
Dressing rooms always need lights surrounding the mirrors, and an inexpensive solution was found in undercabinet lights Liesta, plugged into power strips Rabalder
Unfortunately, since the hack was complete, IKEA discontinued these particular undercabinet lights, so when the bulbs burn out, we have dark spots. Other mini halogens are quite pricey, but I am considering replacing the burnouts with their current incarnation, Non lights. I believe they accept the same power connections, so it won't be much of an issue.
This room was an unhappy storeroom for properties, when my theatre was dearly lacking space for dressing rooms. Moreover, we also lacked money. Fortunately, I had about a month of summer to figure out what to do about all this. There was an odd space in the basement that could house the props, if they were condensed and organized.
My assistant and I spent a couple of weeks sorting through the contents of the properties storage, and came up with enough items we could sell/give away. Amazingly enough, through a combination of eBay and Cragislist we made enough money on the unused props to buy shelving for the new storage room in the basement, AND to supplement some of the new furniture for the dressing room.
With budget still a concern, there was only place to to turn - IKEA.
We created space for 12 actors to put on makeup, as well as storage for wigs and shoes.
The counters were hacked from shelving units Udden, combined with Vika Kaj legs. The niche was created from the Udden units as well, but the metal sides left over from the units used for counters were used as spacers, creating the correct height for wig heads.
Other products used in the said hack were:
Mirrors Kolja
Mirror Minde
Mirror Raan
Chairs Herman
Dressing rooms always need lights surrounding the mirrors, and an inexpensive solution was found in undercabinet lights Liesta, plugged into power strips Rabalder
Unfortunately, since the hack was complete, IKEA discontinued these particular undercabinet lights, so when the bulbs burn out, we have dark spots. Other mini halogens are quite pricey, but I am considering replacing the burnouts with their current incarnation, Non lights. I believe they accept the same power connections, so it won't be much of an issue.
Thursday, August 2, 2007
TAGGED!!!
So Riese decided I should play her little game, and I will joyfully comply, though I always refuse these things when they come by as chain-emails:
1. If I had less common sense and more physical space for living, I would be a crazy cat lady. Every cat I see, I want to take home. Last night we discovered this beautiful tuxedoed Maine Coon in the hallway of the building, and even though he eventually went home to his little Asian girl-mother, for a minute I wanted to take him home. I've been that way since I was a toddler. The only time I did not own a cat or two was in college, where I was too terrified of breaking the rules to have a kitten. However, I gave LK and her girlfriend at the time two kittens from my house, and visited them periodically.
2. I desperately try to be less preppy. I don't currently own any loafers, but that's only for lack of trying. Most of my wardrobe is black and white and brown, and I still own my high-school letter jacket.
3. I read more slowly in English than in Russian. It's a curse, because English is my primary language now. But in Russian I can scan a page and get all the information out of it, whereas in English I need to sound out the words in my head, making me constantly feel like I am in grammar school. Paradoxically, I type in English 10 times faster than in Russian.
4. I have trouble following orders and fulfilling requests. Like, ever. That's one of the reasons I don't understand the army. I need to understand the specific reason behind what I am being asked to do, and then I will do it, even if I don't agree with the request or the reason. This gets me in trouble at work sometimes. And in real life, too, just ask my family.
5. BUT, if I said I will do something for you, and give you a timeline, it will get done well and on time. I can't understand people who disregard deadlines. I am also NEVER late for appointments, unless there are factors way beyond my control (shitty public transport, anyone?) in which case I will call you and tell you exactly how late I will be. It has taken me YEARS to not be the first person to arrive at a party.
6. I was trained as a classical pianist for years. I hated it until I was 15, at which point it was too late to be serious about a career in music. I never had the drive, patience, or technique to become a concert pianist. I would have made a decent accompanist or a musicologist. Often I miss playing. Piano is not an instrument you can easily acquire and move around with you, like a guitar or a flute.
7. I've never done karaoke. I would LOVE to go to a karaoke bar. I don't have any serious desire for embarrassment, but I want to try it. I've been obsessed with this Griffin product for a while - it's a mike you plug into your iPod, and it supresses the vocal track - can you imagine the possibilities?
8. On the subject of music, and if I knew the last thing about guitars and playing rock music, I would love to have a Zemfira cover band. I guess we could cover Nochnye Snaipery too. No Russian pop, though. I could translate the songs and do some in English, some in Russian. There isn't much of a market in the US for that, I know, but it's cool to dream about.
So - no tags for me - but maybe those of you who read the blog and NEVER comment (you know who you are...) - write a note or two? You know, anonymous commenting is turned on now (it took me a month to realize only Gmail people could leave comments...) so write away...
- We have to post these rules before we give you the facts.
- Players start with eight random facts/habits about themselves.
- People who are tagged need to write their own blog about their eight things and post these rules.
- At the end of your blog, you need to choose eight people to get tagged and list their names.
- Don't forget to leave them a comment telling them they're tagged, and to read your blog.
1. If I had less common sense and more physical space for living, I would be a crazy cat lady. Every cat I see, I want to take home. Last night we discovered this beautiful tuxedoed Maine Coon in the hallway of the building, and even though he eventually went home to his little Asian girl-mother, for a minute I wanted to take him home. I've been that way since I was a toddler. The only time I did not own a cat or two was in college, where I was too terrified of breaking the rules to have a kitten. However, I gave LK and her girlfriend at the time two kittens from my house, and visited them periodically.
2. I desperately try to be less preppy. I don't currently own any loafers, but that's only for lack of trying. Most of my wardrobe is black and white and brown, and I still own my high-school letter jacket.
3. I read more slowly in English than in Russian. It's a curse, because English is my primary language now. But in Russian I can scan a page and get all the information out of it, whereas in English I need to sound out the words in my head, making me constantly feel like I am in grammar school. Paradoxically, I type in English 10 times faster than in Russian.
4. I have trouble following orders and fulfilling requests. Like, ever. That's one of the reasons I don't understand the army. I need to understand the specific reason behind what I am being asked to do, and then I will do it, even if I don't agree with the request or the reason. This gets me in trouble at work sometimes. And in real life, too, just ask my family.
5. BUT, if I said I will do something for you, and give you a timeline, it will get done well and on time. I can't understand people who disregard deadlines. I am also NEVER late for appointments, unless there are factors way beyond my control (shitty public transport, anyone?) in which case I will call you and tell you exactly how late I will be. It has taken me YEARS to not be the first person to arrive at a party.
6. I was trained as a classical pianist for years. I hated it until I was 15, at which point it was too late to be serious about a career in music. I never had the drive, patience, or technique to become a concert pianist. I would have made a decent accompanist or a musicologist. Often I miss playing. Piano is not an instrument you can easily acquire and move around with you, like a guitar or a flute.
7. I've never done karaoke. I would LOVE to go to a karaoke bar. I don't have any serious desire for embarrassment, but I want to try it. I've been obsessed with this Griffin product for a while - it's a mike you plug into your iPod, and it supresses the vocal track - can you imagine the possibilities?
8. On the subject of music, and if I knew the last thing about guitars and playing rock music, I would love to have a Zemfira cover band. I guess we could cover Nochnye Snaipery too. No Russian pop, though. I could translate the songs and do some in English, some in Russian. There isn't much of a market in the US for that, I know, but it's cool to dream about.
So - no tags for me - but maybe those of you who read the blog and NEVER comment (you know who you are...) - write a note or two? You know, anonymous commenting is turned on now (it took me a month to realize only Gmail people could leave comments...) so write away...
Tuesday, July 10, 2007
"Relaxation Audio Music That Will Help You Connect Faster With The Universe While Doing The Shamanic Ritual"
I already got this out of my system today while talking with LK, and then I got pissed off again."You're About To Discover Secrets That Most People Will Never Know About MAGICK..."
I like my job. It’s the first job I’ve had since grad school where I am appreciated, and I can actually use my expertise without other people questioning it. I’ve been working in my field for 13 years. I have a Master of Fine Arts terminal degree that proves that I can build and paint and budget and supervise and move and shake and destroy theatrical scenery like nobody’s business. I can build machinery and upholster furniture. I can teach students and program light-boards. I can lift 60 lbs on a regular basis (which happens to be in my job description, and sucks, btw.) I can even mop floors for dancers, move pianos, and change lamps in work lights!!!! (yeah, three guesses as to what I did at work today…) But according to the 2007
A lot of people who have “real jobs” – i.e. not in the arts or education – always make the assumption that we work in theatre “for the love of it.” Yeah, we might love it. We might also all be masochists, because 70-hour work weeks, never seeing your loved ones, doing menial labour, never seeing the sun, and zero public recognition are only SOMETIMES worth it. And call me crazy, but love alone does not pay rent or school loans. Especially not in
To alleviate some of this rage, I spent a long time hanging out with Miles – here he is in all his glory:
Of course, what makes me especially peeved about money and fairness of compensation is the fact that I have recently started a process of becoming a legal resident alien. Within this process, processing priority is given to people with higher degrees of education. Since the USCIS works with the speed of a melting glacier, the higher degree you claim, the better your chances are. Unless you can’t use your degree because your employer can’t afford to pay you the rates the Department of Labour thinks are commensurate with that MFA, thereby rendering it useless. Did y’all follow that? Good.
And now, for something completely different, and inspired by TMB. I was looking for an e-mail that mistakenly got dumped into my SPAM folder, and my eye caught this gem:
Ani, you using shaman's rituals in your life yet?
Intrigued, I opened the message, hoping to learn secrets like never before – after all, it’s not every day that one receives offers of spiritual guidance through SPAM. My mother would be so proud! As would LK’s mom, too. This is what I found:
Hey Ani -
I just got off the phone with Robert (umm, who the fuck is Robert? Am I supposed to know him? - Ani) and he was telling me about his new book about getting what (and who) you want with the power of Shamanism
Yes, I said Shamanism.
http://dyvufyfu.licgru.info/csha/WqPBET9oiYfTqptt
The helpful, spiritual sort of thing that can put you back in peace and harmony with the universe and make your
wises and desires come to life...(I am not sure I want my wises to come to life, but ok…)
http://dyvufyfu.licgru.info/csha/WqPBET9oiYfTqptt
Anyway, he told me about the amount of copies he was selling on a daily basis (So what makes Robert an expert on shamans?) and (after my jaw absolutely dropped) I was convinced we are in the middle of a 'spiritual revolution'
http://dyvufyfu.licgru.info/csha/WqPBET9oiYfTqptt
He doesn’t know how long he can offer this book, so I wanted to make sure you had your chance to read it
before it’s gone, Ani. I am SURE you will love it :-) (OMG, the smiley face did it! I MUST buy this book!)
http://dyvufyfu.licgru.info/csha/WqPBET9oiYfTqptt
Blessed Be
With the Powers of Shamansim,
Bob Andrews
Currently near
Of course, I was curious, and clicked on the hyperlinks. This is where they all lead:
Exclusive Information For The Next 365 248 Visitors... (I clicked a couple of times, and the counter never changed…)
"You're About To Discover Secrets That Most People Will Never Know About MAGICK..."
Inside you'll uncover how to...
Have a magnetic charisma to make all people love you (even the ones that hate you right now) Get as much money as you want for your personal needs. (You won't have to save money again).Become one of the most beautiful people in your community. (Dieting, exercising or even liposuction won't produce such powerful results!)Conquer fear and feel unstoppable energy to do anything you want to do. (You will never feel drowsy or depressed again.)Win friends and influence people. (Your popularity levels will skyrocket)And this literally only the skim on the surface... After you'll discover the 100 Shamanic rituals that are the most powerful form of Magick ever created, your heart will triple its beat rate! But more on that in a few seconds...
And then you had to sign your life away, yada yada yada, visa card, $37.00 for a discount from $399.00! whatevs. Oh, and you get "Relaxation Audio Music That Will Help You Connect Faster With The Universe While Doing The Shamanic Ritual" Now, I have nothing against shamans, although I seriously doubt they have allowed some douchebag write abour 100 rituals. Also, they need to be specific about the shamans themselves – Native American? Aleut? Yakut? Chukcha? Mongol? ‘Cos they all believe in different spirits and procedures, and the spirits might get pissed at us for using them for our own gain. And MAGICK? Really, Bob Andrews, really? I think I will buy a $2 volume of Dale Carnegie, since you seem to be using his copy.
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