tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-53708845681607526462024-02-23T08:34:50.559-08:00My Tango Diaries"El infinito tango me lleva hacia todo" - BorgesMarihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08960763038363579526noreply@blogger.comBlogger509125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5370884568160752646.post-77695977152517676772022-04-16T18:36:00.003-07:002022-04-18T07:53:07.729-07:00The Hard Self-Work of Creating Safer Dance Spaces<p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_ELyA9Q4IpOv1W-11LHmXy_515sJOoEewR9CLxHkGVQsGPeXdNFuC6zMSkuzPagT11wFXL6G8KQ95-HOuNJlYMv3Fl7fuWfunXTmAGDB6jaD6ttWUBpBsIjg-ryAT1Kg1Xg60Aev9-8Bt7mfakihPmqkwxI4ewUz6-nZJrCNSEVEXrcffr545zSnF/s3500/IMG_5649.PNG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3500" data-original-width="3500" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_ELyA9Q4IpOv1W-11LHmXy_515sJOoEewR9CLxHkGVQsGPeXdNFuC6zMSkuzPagT11wFXL6G8KQ95-HOuNJlYMv3Fl7fuWfunXTmAGDB6jaD6ttWUBpBsIjg-ryAT1Kg1Xg60Aev9-8Bt7mfakihPmqkwxI4ewUz6-nZJrCNSEVEXrcffr545zSnF/w400-h400/IMG_5649.PNG" width="400" /></a></div><br /> <p></p><p> </p><p>One thing that increases my anxiety about returning to tango
(online and in person) is the fraught debates over what constitutes unwanted, or "bad ",
behavior in milongas/practicas/classes. I won't wade into the specifics
because I think those arguments risk missing the larger points. No
matter how we decide to frame our community rules, or guidelines, for
safe dance spaces - there are things we all need to remember, and work on. </p><div><br /></div><div><b>TL;DR:</b>
Humans are messy. Human interactions are messy. We make mistakes.
We're not as good as we think we are at reading other people, or at
communicating our intentions. And alcohol makes us even worse. <br /></div><div><br /></div><div>I took a <b>"Dealing with Difficult People"</b> training course when I worked at the University of Texas a few years ago. The first thing our instructor told us:</div><div> </div><div><blockquote>Someone out there thinks <b>you're</b> the *sshole.</blockquote></div><div> </div><div>Of course all of us had entered the classroom thinking we were learning how to deal with that other person, you know -<i> the difficult person</i>. The instructor's first point was his most important one - each of us is someone's "difficult person." We all behave badly at times. We all make mistakes. We all sometimes misread the room. We f*ck up.</div><div> </div><div>Here are a few good starting points to guide our self-work when we want to judge others' behavior in tango events (or anywhere): <br /></div><ul style="text-align: left;"><li><b>Am I unsafe, or am I uncomfortable: </b><a href="http://www.psychologysalon.com/2011/12/are-you-unsafe-or-just-uncomfortable.html" target="_blank">http://www.psychologysalon.com/2011/12/are-you-unsafe-or-just-uncomfortable.html </a><b><br /></b></li><li><b>We're
not as good as we think we are at communicating</b>:
<a href="https://www.theschooloflife.com/article/why-youre-probably-not-a-great-communicator/">https://www.theschooloflife.com/article/why-youre-probably-not-a-great-communicator/</a></li><li><b>Social norms are culture and context specific, and constantly evolving</b>:<a href=" https://ccp.jhu.edu/2021/02/17/social-norms-behavior-change/" target="_blank"> https://ccp.jhu.edu/2021/02/17/social-norms-behavior-change/</a></li><li><b>Gestures, body language and personal space vary widely among cultures: </b><a href="https://iimn.org/publication/finding-common-ground/culture-at-work/body-language-personal-space/ " target="_blank">https://iimn.org/publication/finding-common-ground/culture-at-work/body-language-personal-space/ </a> <br /></li><li><b>COVID has changed the social norms of touching: </b><a href="https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/soothing-touch/202203/it-s-time-rethink-the-norms-social-touching-0 " target="_blank">https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/soothing-touch/202203/it-s-time-rethink-the-norms-social-touching-0 </a><br /></li><li><b>Flirting is subjective:</b> <a href="https://news.ku.edu/2014/06/03/flirting-hard-detect-study-finds">https://news.ku.edu/2014/06/03/flirting-hard-detect-study-finds</a></li><li><b>Humor is subjective</b>: <a href="https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpsyg.2019.00123/full">https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpsyg.2019.00123/full</a></li><li>And finally, <b>alcohol makes it even harder to accurately read social
cues</b>:
<a href="https://today.uic.edu/alcohol-breaks-brain-connections-needed-to-process-social-cues">https://today.uic.edu/alcohol-breaks-brain-connections-needed-to-process-social-cues</a> </li></ul><p>Like I said, we're <i>messy. </i><i><br /></i></p><p>I'm not advocating tolerating predatory or abusive behavior. I believe in making spaces safe for the kind of vulnerability that tango asks of us. Expectations at the community level should be as clear as we can make them. But the list of rules on a webpage is only the beginning of creating a safer dance community. The hard work rests with each of us.<br /></p><p><br /></p><p> </p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5370884568160752646.post-71988758991221444032022-04-16T10:31:00.009-07:002022-04-16T10:49:43.201-07:00Grieving, Healing, Returning to Tango<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifJsqmYSJbFHGIl1LHMCovShROhnUfX8q_wyHdzVPAEp1smgh20BsoqdQOywb_lodGBsyhIP_EiRTbTvUnumTohK00yXv0ByPVmn7Z_WMJVjvhH0EazGaeNpZ6U-uf1JBgY0NuXf6mGy9xYtebeaZoGnN3NImKPS8uG49qkAt6E-kB58grkFove3xm/s1358/IMG_9266.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1358" data-original-width="1125" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifJsqmYSJbFHGIl1LHMCovShROhnUfX8q_wyHdzVPAEp1smgh20BsoqdQOywb_lodGBsyhIP_EiRTbTvUnumTohK00yXv0ByPVmn7Z_WMJVjvhH0EazGaeNpZ6U-uf1JBgY0NuXf6mGy9xYtebeaZoGnN3NImKPS8uG49qkAt6E-kB58grkFove3xm/w530-h640/IMG_9266.jpg" width="530" /></a></div><br /> <p></p><p>It looks like I will finally be able to rejoin the tango community and start going to milongas again. Hubby has informed me that I'm getting grumpy with all this isolation and it's time to be social again. Masking will still be mandatory for me since I'm a caregiver, though masks seem to have fallen out of favor in my local milongas. We do have vaccinated-only events and I'll probably stick to those. </p><p>Hopefully my nerves won't get the better of me. I haven't danced in so long. I stopped dancing due to illness more than a year before COVID hit. I'm out of practice and not as steady as I once was. I've started up solo practice again and I'll probably start out by going to practicas rather than milongas. Just to get my tango-legs, as it were. I'm hopeful.</p><p>It's been a long few years. I lost my mother, her mother and then her father. I've lost three tango friends, including my best friend in tango. I think losing my friend Renee delayed me even further in returning to tango. I don't know how to be in milongas without her. She was my tango soulmate. I miss her every single day. I miss my mom more than I can find words for. I still talk to her, still hear the way she might answer me. It seems like I lost so much so fast. Tango had been, up until a few years ago, how I coped with grief. Not having that outlet, that connection, set me adrift for awhile. I let the isolation take me over, I think. I forgot to <i>want</i> to go outside. I forgot to <i>want</i> to connect. It's hard to explain that sensation. </p><p>My health is still an issue. I have some hearing loss that may be a permanent issue. I get tired quickly. But I have to do something. I have to get out of my house, out of my head, and out into the world. It's been so easy to stay inside.<br /></p><p>I've never stopped creating tango art and listening to tango music. Creating art has given me a way to stay in tango, even when I couldn't go dancing. Creating prizes and marketing material for milonga organizers has been so much fun. I love the idea that my art is turning up in milongas in Greece, in the United Kingdom, even in Australia and New Zealand! I haven't been able to go to milongas, but at least my art has. I'll be sharing my latest art and where to find it on this blog. Though it might take me a little while to catch up.<br /></p><p>I'll be using this space to chronicle my journey back into tango - the good and the bad. I'm in a very different headspace than I was when I last danced. I don't recognize the woman in the pictures tagged with my name. The memories feel like they happened to someone else. Two things are just as true now, though, as they were when I last danced, as they have always been.</p><p>Tango waits for you.</p><p>Tango meets you where you are.</p><p>See you in the milongas. </p><p><br /></p><p> <br /></p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5370884568160752646.post-18025696719037725202020-08-02T13:00:00.002-07:002022-04-18T07:55:55.764-07:00Art is a wound turned into light.<div class="Ar Au Ao" id=":2et" style="display: block;"><div aria-label="Message Body" aria-multiline="true" class="Am Al editable LW-avf tS-tW tS-tY" contenteditable="true" id=":2ep" role="textbox" spellcheck="false" style="direction: ltr; min-height: 376px;" tabindex="1">Hello Patrons, Clients and Friends,<br /><br />Thank you once again for your patience and kind words, here and on the socials. It's been a hard year, and a particularly awful month. For those who don't follow me on the social media sites, I lost my mom, her mom (my grandmother) and my aunt (my mom's sister) in the span of 6 months. One year ago, on my birthday, I lost my birth mother. I've lost two of my pets who were elderly, and while that wasn't unexpected, it was still awful. A truly terrible year.<br /><br />I only share all of this because I want to take the time here, on the platforms for the patrons of my art, to say thank you from the bottom of my heart. We are all separated, isolated from loved ones, scared and anxious for ourselves, our families and friends, our jobs. It's a terrible time for so many. And yet it's been my art friends, clients and patrons reaching out to me most and I'm so grateful.<br /><br />Art has been all that gets me out of bed some days. Because I know someone has requested something, or suggested a subject, or requested a commission. So I have to get up. For the art. For my friends who support my artistic endeavors. And it's been the most rewarding thing to be able to pour myself into that. it gets me through everything else.<br /><br />So thank you for your support - in all of the many forms it has taken. You are, all of you, a gift.<br /><br />May you all keep safe and well through these challenging times,<br /><br />Mari / Infinitetango</div></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5370884568160752646.post-52963500514109197822020-06-18T07:40:00.002-07:002022-04-16T10:45:05.207-07:00The trouble is, you think you have time.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5xY8vCClcLu_cPMdC5Ydqg8H2M3e_dDELpARPQEWBZ2PRyUqvHCnaRdDFzWhyZQc5BbOdRGDXdg4tTS-KdbQmTDYg7QlwMvvV_dKf6D9nAGkwpE3qFukJbLzG_KZfOrhX29qo92dxk-Y/s1600/Screen+Shot+2020-06-17+at+10.06.58+AM.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="506" data-original-width="496" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5xY8vCClcLu_cPMdC5Ydqg8H2M3e_dDELpARPQEWBZ2PRyUqvHCnaRdDFzWhyZQc5BbOdRGDXdg4tTS-KdbQmTDYg7QlwMvvV_dKf6D9nAGkwpE3qFukJbLzG_KZfOrhX29qo92dxk-Y/w391-h400/Screen+Shot+2020-06-17+at+10.06.58+AM.png" width="391" /> </a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> </div>I've been sick for a few weeks (because the heat makes MS much worse) and feeling sorry for myself, if I'm completely honest. I was hating this year. Hating feeling sick. Thinking how could this year get any worse? It already seems almost biblical - murder hornets, locusts, COVID19, quarantine. Every year I think it can't get any worse than last year. <br /><div class="Ar Au Ao" id=":7hk" style="display: block;"><div aria-label="Message Body" aria-multiline="true" class="Am Al editable LW-avf tS-tW tS-tY" contenteditable="true" id=":7ho" role="textbox" spellcheck="false" style="direction: ltr; min-height: 376px;" tabindex="1"><br />I'm going to stop saying that shit.<br /><br />I lost my mom on Monday. My mom who taught me the high art of fan-girling with subscriptions to Fangoria and Creep Show. Who watched every scifi and horror movie, no matter how terrible (looking at you "Night of the Lepus" <a href="https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0069005/">https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0069005/</a> )<br /><br />She, of the photographic memory of anything she'd ever read - not to mention movie lines, song lyrics. We could have entire, deeply philosophical conversations using nothing but movie dialogue. <br /><br />She had been sick for years with a blood clot near her heart that could neither be moved nor shrank with meds. It just stayed there, waiting. Two weeks ago she started feeling much worse. We don't know if it was COVID 19 because she refused to go to the hospital. Too many friends, and her own sister, had gone in and not come out. She didn't want to be away from home, away from family. So she refused to go in. She died at home. As far as we can tell, her heart stopped. We don't know if COVID gave the clot the opportunity to move or if it was something else. And now we won't ever know. I'm angry and hurt, but I can't really blame her either. <br /><br />It's not just that COVID19 is sickening and killing so many - it's that it's isolating us. We can't support each other, comfort each other, or now, grieve together. We're all at risk to and from each other. We mourn separately. Talking on the phone. Sharing our music playlists and pictures. This is an awful time.<br /><br />I wasn't going to write about this - not here. But part of what has me so angry is the denial so many people have about COVID19 - about their own responsibility in limiting the risk to others so we can get past this - past this to a time when we can visit each other and hug each other. My socials are filled with people saying it's a hoax, or it's just the flu. I'm in Texas and it's like the whole state is saying "you can't tell me what to do!" And we're all paying the price. <br /><br />If you're reading this, protect yourself and protect others. Keep the distance. Wear a mask. Take this seriously. <br /><br />And remember the advice from Jack Kornfield’s Buddha’s Little Instruction Book - "The trouble is, you think you have time." We never have the time we think we have. We never know if the last thing we said to someone, is the last think we'll ever get to say to them. </div><div aria-label="Message Body" aria-multiline="true" class="Am Al editable LW-avf tS-tW tS-tY" contenteditable="true" id=":7ho" role="textbox" spellcheck="false" style="direction: ltr; min-height: 376px;" tabindex="1"><br /><i>"Memory is an event horizon. What's caught in it is gone but it's always there." - sung by Breq, Ancillary Sword, Ann Leckie.</i></div></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5370884568160752646.post-21072944808706703632019-12-26T11:13:00.003-08:002019-12-26T15:07:33.165-08:00So Many New Things in Dance and Music Art!First a huge thank you to my readers and friends for helping me through a very rough year and for being so encouraging of my new endeavors. I don't know how I could have made it through without you. Here's a recap of what I've been able to put together in a remarkably short period of time, thanks to an amazing support system.<br />
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My dance and music artwork, as well as some decor designs, are now on 3 platforms!<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihyBhi3Ab97GpaJ0SPKYfnfO3kJG_ciUxqGODnJ8azzYzIrcLukm1XvqzlBRb_7Pk6QHNiJ4-Dbj1x3hX_Fe1q0CWXmzWJZBURHTg9V1RBAy7sdEL9Ro4-ZwF60oSU4CPwzDrgpDMLulg/s1600/IT-RB-colections.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="492" data-original-width="717" height="273" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihyBhi3Ab97GpaJ0SPKYfnfO3kJG_ciUxqGODnJ8azzYzIrcLukm1XvqzlBRb_7Pk6QHNiJ4-Dbj1x3hX_Fe1q0CWXmzWJZBURHTg9V1RBAy7sdEL9Ro4-ZwF60oSU4CPwzDrgpDMLulg/s400/IT-RB-colections.png" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Some of My Art Categories on RedBubble</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<b>Infinitetango on Redbubble: </b><br />
<a href="http://infinitetango.redbubble.com/">infinitetango.redbubble.com</a><br />
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<b>Infinitetango on Society6:</b><br />
<a href="https://society6.com/infinitetango">https://society6.com/infinitetango</a><br />
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and most recently, my <b>Infinitetango for Milonga Essentials</b> store on<b> Zazzle:</b><br />
<a href="https://www.zazzle.com/store/infinitetango">https://www.zazzle.com/store/infinitetango</a><br />
<br />
<br />
I have tango quotes, funny "<b>Milonga Cats</b>" series,<b> Iconic Tango Musicians Portrait</b> series, and the newest <b>Roaring Twenties La Guardia Nueva</b> series to celebrate the new decade of the 20s!<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1jmfRwTC5Kn858e1TGVXz7VzwnS2TDWjAD1J9zvR8nq9WwtSepNxaE05Pqj1_yqMZR_qIqCZSWDNHkm_20pSDtjq3kjqIcBvNWVWatdPceKnVEyT3nP1Kcuj3Q3HwK3CGRTRhuU-Dkb0/s1600/IT-Portfolio-collage-1.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="723" data-original-width="728" height="396" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1jmfRwTC5Kn858e1TGVXz7VzwnS2TDWjAD1J9zvR8nq9WwtSepNxaE05Pqj1_yqMZR_qIqCZSWDNHkm_20pSDtjq3kjqIcBvNWVWatdPceKnVEyT3nP1Kcuj3Q3HwK3CGRTRhuU-Dkb0/s400/IT-Portfolio-collage-1.png" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Tango Quotes from Gavito, Zotto, Hector Mayoral and more!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwG3bIGthHy1lHq50NVK5vCBz98E6J_AwV45C-6f1VpSPpag9nkVDq3R1aprPenZRfG12d9cv9uQxa-L1sqav3N7Ca2dd1fwj0nBxX4acHFRqkT6WhB9qbO9k-xUbv-5zPyxLx3Al3ObQ/s1600/IT-Portfolio-Collage-2.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="871" data-original-width="714" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwG3bIGthHy1lHq50NVK5vCBz98E6J_AwV45C-6f1VpSPpag9nkVDq3R1aprPenZRfG12d9cv9uQxa-L1sqav3N7Ca2dd1fwj0nBxX4acHFRqkT6WhB9qbO9k-xUbv-5zPyxLx3Al3ObQ/s400/IT-Portfolio-Collage-2.png" width="327" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Milonga Cats using the Cabeceo, Tango Portraits and Buenos Aires Art</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5Ap6xG9M5xxAh7UlRstI9fVx76qX7KeG_1wibmAqBII47-KZ7MFWCHLtfM36940V8DWg61ZuiyFIeiP1T-Ce-HnuBZ5VGStRZHTvD0VbTmNj8P_wrBlmDn4cyWiogw7_ZACGj869wuy8/s1600/IT-Portfolio-collage-twenties.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="704" data-original-width="715" height="393" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5Ap6xG9M5xxAh7UlRstI9fVx76qX7KeG_1wibmAqBII47-KZ7MFWCHLtfM36940V8DWg61ZuiyFIeiP1T-Ce-HnuBZ5VGStRZHTvD0VbTmNj8P_wrBlmDn4cyWiogw7_ZACGj869wuy8/s400/IT-Portfolio-collage-twenties.png" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The new Roaring Twenties - get your flapper persona on!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-size: large;"><b><br /></b></span>
<span style="font-size: large;"><b>Looking ahead to 2020 - here's what's coming!</b></span><br />
<br />
<ul>
<li>More tango designs in Spanish! I know I've been taking way too long with these, but I want to get them exactly right and not embarrass myself lol.</li>
<li>More Tango Icons portraits</li>
<li>More Tango and Dance Inspirational Quotes since those seem to have the most demand.</li>
<li>More Tango Music - specific artwork. Orchestras, bandoneons and bandoneonistas and some more images I've hoarded from my trip to Buenos Aires.</li>
<li>More Art Deco Tango, Dance and Music designs. Inspired by Parisian posters and Erte etc., really feeling the Roaring Twenties resurgence lately. </li>
</ul>
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<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5370884568160752646.post-83057535690995810182019-11-07T15:03:00.000-08:002019-12-26T15:13:54.976-08:00My Secret Fan Girl Identity . . and also art.<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtB-aCtL6HTEMs6f3R6RumY8OcGsIBV1gDxF3wiH4JDrU7cCXocjWkLL_Gj9vxYHf40Jgpmo9X2iswgI2t4odaUkAV58DThsN3Rq5UR4t9XUQsEVx1OU784FmEy1wP1eMZTX-TY2e2fbc/s1600/fangirl.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="512" data-original-width="736" height="276" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtB-aCtL6HTEMs6f3R6RumY8OcGsIBV1gDxF3wiH4JDrU7cCXocjWkLL_Gj9vxYHf40Jgpmo9X2iswgI2t4odaUkAV58DThsN3Rq5UR4t9XUQsEVx1OU784FmEy1wP1eMZTX-TY2e2fbc/s400/fangirl.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I was the "Allrounder" but now that I'm old, I'm the "Godmother" honestly. Stolen shamelessly off of Tumblr, because, yes, I'm still on that dumpster fire of a site. More of Horokyun's art can be found here: https://twitter.com/horokyun?lang=en</td></tr>
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<b>TL;DR</b>:</div>
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<li>I'm a huge goth and geeky fangirl, and always have been.</li>
<li>I have a secret art account with all the artwork that reflects that. </li>
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Little known fact about me, at least among my dance friends, is that I was (and am) a seriously goth girl. Sure, I love Pugliese, but Morticia Addams is my real hero. When my parents were frustrated that I decided I didn't want to read anymore (I had strange tantrums), my mom bought me comic books - Creepshow, Fangoria, Tales from the Crypt, Tales of Terror - all the classics. She also bought me Star Trek and Star Wars novels because (as if being goth didn't make me awkward enough), I was also a huge fangirl of all things science fiction. Soon I was reading like crazy again and my mom won the day. (Really, I was the one who won because I read like an absolute maniac after that.)</div>
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All this is to say that my non-tango life is, as it is for many people, quite different from my tango life. It comes as no surprise then that my non-tango art is radically different from my tango art. </div>
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I have lately been encouraged by my few friends who know about my non-tango, non-dance art to share my "other life" because some of my tango friends might also have such tastes and it might be fun to let my freak flag fly.</div>
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So here goes . . .</div>
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My non-tango art work is always under the name "<b>OrionLodubyal</b>". Search for that name on Google and you'll find my art across all my platforms. One note - I never, ever sell my artwork on Amazon. If it turns up there, it has been stolen (again) so please let me know.</div>
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Anyone who gets the reference to that name gets a pair of socks of their choice from my shop, It's obscure, yes, but that's what Google was made for. Hint, search "Orion Lodubyal" with a space. Tell me what you find in the comments, or shoot me a message. If you want to follow me, and my crazy art, on the social medias, look me up on Twitter as @orionlodubyal. </div>
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The OrionLodubyal account has my fan art, pop art, psychedelic fractal art and Halloween/classic horror art. It is definitely <i>not </i>to everyone's taste. One of the art contests I participated in was labeled "GoreFest" - so you've been warned. But if you're into Star Trek, Penny Dreadful, The Prisoner (is anyone reading this old enough to have watched The Prisoner?), Hannibal, Doctor Who, Good Omens, Sabrina and a smattering of other fandoms - you may get a giggle out of some of my art. </div>
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Several pieces of my fan art pieces are even licensed by the brands, such as my Prisoner, Penny Dreadful and a few of the Star Trek designs. Others didn't make the cut. For some reason, CBS didn't like my <b><a href="https://society6.com/product/gorn-to-be-wild_print?sku=s6-11267486p4a1v45#1=45" target="_blank">"Gorn to Be Wild"</a></b> piece. Different strokes for different folks. So much for my Gorn Biker Gang concept I was working on.</div>
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Here's my side art account on <b><a href="https://www.redbubble.com/people/orionlodubyal?asc=u" target="_blank">Redbubble</a></b>, on <b><a href="https://society6.com/orionlodubyal" target="_blank">Society6</a></b>, and on <b><a href="https://www.teepublic.com/user/orionlodubyal" target="_blank">TeePublic</a></b> (where I only have my fan art and pop art - no dance art account.) </div>
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Second puzzle, if anyone can guess what I'm going to cosplay at the San Antonio Celebrity Fest Comic Con in June, you get a free t-shirt of your choice from my shop. Credit given for just the fandom and race - not specific character.</div>
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And don't worry if you don't want anyone else to know your fandom tendencies - you can also message me through blogger or any of my art platforms. </div>
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5370884568160752646.post-31790092994902272752019-11-06T14:20:00.002-08:002019-11-06T14:20:40.126-08:00InfiniteTango on RedBubble now has over 250 Designs!As I wrote in a previous post, through all of this stress and mayhem, I've kept creating designs - both in the InfiniteTango Designs account (on <b><a href="https://www.redbubble.com/people/infinitetango" target="_blank">Redbubble.com</a></b> and on <b><a href="https://society6.com/infinitetango" target="_blank">Society6.com</a></b>) but also on my secret (non-tango) side account that I'll write about shortly, in a separate post.<br />
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I've added more tango quotes, dance quotes, Tango in Buenos Aires artwork, dance wear designs, and even more "<b><a href="https://www.redbubble.com/people/infinitetango/collections/1129297-milonga-cat" target="_blank">Cateceo" Milonga Cat designs</a></b>. As of today there are 286 designs available on InfiniteTango on <b><a href="https://www.redbubble.com/people/infinitetango/og-shop" target="_blank">Redbubble</a></b>. There are over a 100 of my top sellers on <b><a href="https://society6.com/infinitetango" target="_blank">Society6,</a></b> so check that site too as sometimes their specials are better. They also have more items available - towels, even furniture. (But <b><a href="https://www.redbubble.com/people/infinitetango/og-shop" target="_blank">Redbubble</a></b> now has socks, and honestly I'm more excited about tango socks than I really should be.)<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-841_D4Trr21C_P3GKUvZzCQNKuGhi2hShTPlZM-ckPNXBzGEU14bUb4TEHJErSWwnKSaf3D4SUCGz8Qn3DZSS48vD2v5PiBIOy3qeSy8uDeOO_mRbdjBTcK1luIof0FK1L3N6TA7Inw/s1600/Screen+Shot+2019-11-06+at+4.01.01+PM.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" border="0" data-original-height="917" data-original-width="896" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-841_D4Trr21C_P3GKUvZzCQNKuGhi2hShTPlZM-ckPNXBzGEU14bUb4TEHJErSWwnKSaf3D4SUCGz8Qn3DZSS48vD2v5PiBIOy3qeSy8uDeOO_mRbdjBTcK1luIof0FK1L3N6TA7Inw/s400/Screen+Shot+2019-11-06+at+4.01.01+PM.png" title="" width="390" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Pugliese Socks omg!! <a href="https://www.redbubble.com/people/infinitetango/works/40058025-pop-art-pugliese-with-piano-keys-and-carnation">https://www.redbubble.com/people/infinitetango/works/40058025-pop-art-pugliese-with-piano-keys-and-carnation</a></td></tr>
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(<span style="color: #cc0000;"><b>Note</b></span>: I was able to recover an old drive of artwork I thought had been lost, so several pieces on RB and S6 have been updated with their larger, higher quality versions.)<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQxGO8M_aeeQKhL8UcUQghUwD02TYYPm0JenmGa8AKOjYA1s8t2oUjYdDmH1MUlILvreb_WKjuBCQXns4uiuTte9irCu-ZZSsbfvwf1stSZKXt-k3bsc9TeAd7VRd-sxV_MvBpFaalGlo/s1600/Screen+Shot+2019-11-06+at+3.48.53+PM.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="723" data-original-width="728" height="396" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQxGO8M_aeeQKhL8UcUQghUwD02TYYPm0JenmGa8AKOjYA1s8t2oUjYdDmH1MUlILvreb_WKjuBCQXns4uiuTte9irCu-ZZSsbfvwf1stSZKXt-k3bsc9TeAd7VRd-sxV_MvBpFaalGlo/s400/Screen+Shot+2019-11-06+at+3.48.53+PM.png" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Tango and Dance quotes</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGxQ21Je__j5SaybuIVXi0PjPWY1Gj1kARVRnw7XMOyT26IPslVdmvw2W2-0MUdg_LSpr1ji85Bh_q2CNJL9EI2bRML09OdCqEl9ZlPwQ_Cgw6-RxJzFN5PyUfyRwNVMFu4ajgEQxqvz0/s1600/Screen+Shot+2019-11-06+at+3.49.18+PM.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="704" data-original-width="715" height="393" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGxQ21Je__j5SaybuIVXi0PjPWY1Gj1kARVRnw7XMOyT26IPslVdmvw2W2-0MUdg_LSpr1ji85Bh_q2CNJL9EI2bRML09OdCqEl9ZlPwQ_Cgw6-RxJzFN5PyUfyRwNVMFu4ajgEQxqvz0/s400/Screen+Shot+2019-11-06+at+3.49.18+PM.png" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Welcome New Years 2020 with a celebration of 1920s Great Gatsby/Jazz Age Designs for milongas and parties!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQEu4SZzyM3mkiih7dB1Oc1sj1YZD5A1b6ou-iceVEGwZSEtB2hDPf59vxIGwXfNJZfbJBL5bLlXUlpjDbUlaaQSIH7RcPq81orfSLmGQnoDl4RPBpq1M9z3HHesDk_doXFNniiufcaPk/s1600/Screen+Shot+2019-11-06+at+3.49.57+PM.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="871" data-original-width="714" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQEu4SZzyM3mkiih7dB1Oc1sj1YZD5A1b6ou-iceVEGwZSEtB2hDPf59vxIGwXfNJZfbJBL5bLlXUlpjDbUlaaQSIH7RcPq81orfSLmGQnoDl4RPBpq1M9z3HHesDk_doXFNniiufcaPk/s400/Screen+Shot+2019-11-06+at+3.49.57+PM.png" width="327" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">More, larger, and higher quality versions of my tango in Buenos Aires pieces!</td></tr>
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Remember to look for discounts and deals from these sites as we approach Black Friday and the holiday season. Believe me when I say there is never a need to pay full list price. They have sales every few days on various items. One easy way to get a discount is to add items to your cart (make sure you're signed in) and then leave the site. Close it out completely. By the next morning, you'll often receive an emailed coupon code for a discount on items in your "abandoned" cart. This works on loads of sites, but I've found it works pretty consistently on Redbubble on Society6.<br />
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And if none of my artwork speaks to you - check out other tango artists on these platforms! What better gifts to give dancers than artwork created for and by dancers? Here are a few of my favorites:<br />
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<a href="https://www.redbubble.com/people/lisahaney/og-shop" target="_blank">Lisa Haney on RedBubble</a> - tango illustrator with tremendous talent and gorgeous designs!! I have several of journals and shirts.<br />
<a href="https://www.redbubble.com/people/balboa29/og-shop" target="_blank">Balboa29 on RedBubble: </a>- fun dance and tango designs.<br />
<a href="https://society6.com/diegomanuel" target="_blank">Diego Manuel Rodriguez</a> on Society6 - Argentinean artist who has a variety of tango and non-tango, Argentina focused designs. <br />
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If you find or follow other artists on these, or other platforms, please post links to them in the comments. Support indie art wherever and however you can! <br />
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<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5370884568160752646.post-18268505261625296922019-11-06T13:45:00.001-08:002019-11-06T13:45:37.849-08:00Where Do I Even Start?<br />
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I confess the biggest obstacle to updating this blog lately has been just trying to find a concise way to write down what's been going on. So here goes - the TL;DR version. </div>
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This has been a terrible year. Some great things have happened in between, and in some cases, even as a result of that, but it's been mostly awful. We lost one of our dogs, Kuma, to cancer. My SO was in the hospital. Everyone in the house has been sick. And then sick again with new stuff. We almost had to move. And then we didn't, but undoing the move was almost as traumatic as planning it. Illness in the family. Just . . just too much for one year, and one family, to cope with. But here we are. Wiser (hopefully), and with a slew of new resources and deep gratitude for those who helped us through all of this. For such a horrendous year, we've been astonishingly lucky to have such amazing friends. Finally coming out of this storm in time for Thanksgiving, well... it doesn't feel like a coincidence. I don't think we've ever had more to be grateful for.</div>
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So for the good news:</div>
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1. Hubby and I are both still employed. Yay team! on that front.</div>
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2. Our two remaining pets are on the mend, as are we.</div>
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3. We paid off most of our consumer debt, though we have a few remaining vet bills to pay off over the next couple of months. Anyway, it's a fraction of the debt we were in.</div>
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4. We learned a ridiculous amount about our pets' health care, selling our house, moving across the country, and then <i>not</i> moving across the country. So now we have resources and help in place that we would never have thought to seek out before this year.</div>
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5. I've continued to create art through all of this which has not only helped me cope with the stress and anxiety, but has also built up quite an inventory in time for the holidays. More on that in a different post.</div>
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In terms of dancing, well . . . that's been a bit less promising. Part of the problem is that there's just no time - at least no time that I'm awake for. For most of this year, I've felt about 100 years old. By 9pm, I'm looking for plausible excuses to just go to bed without feeling guilty for not getting more done. Plus, my health has taken a hit and my stability is crap. I'm training to get back what I can, but it may be a long road. In the meantime, I've taken up belly dancing again which is a little less demanding on my proprioceptors. I may return to tango, but it will probably be some time.</div>
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More updates coming soon, I promise - but I didn't want this to get to thesis-length. Thank you everyone for kind wishes and patience through all of this - it's appreciated more that I can possibly express.</div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5370884568160752646.post-55199199864060295012019-06-23T12:49:00.001-07:002019-06-23T12:49:42.536-07:00New Platforms and Updated Word Art DesignsNow that I've reached the 150 designs mark (can you believe it?!) on <b><a href="https://www.redbubble.com/people/infinitetango/" target="_blank">RedBubble.com</a></b>, I decided to spread out to other platforms that have different products and styles to put designs on. <b><a href="https://society6.com/infinitetango" target="_blank">Society6</a></b> and <b><a href="https://www.zazzle.com/store/infinitetango" target="_blank">Zazzle</a></b> are my 2 new storefronts - though they are very limited at the moment.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlf9AFXyJYEu9q_x1yXNR0hqiKOU21CQz0ABRJfLnD87Pst3RiuMagJ0qQpyFGXi64s-IOjkiMUqrOq7KpySjpV2kfm43HcCpcyzo7R0bSoHKrIDEctjDGwWpeImhGQNtCUIbH3panZvo/s1600/NEW+Ballroom+Shoes+transparent+Background+Backwards+6-22.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1476" data-original-width="1600" height="368" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlf9AFXyJYEu9q_x1yXNR0hqiKOU21CQz0ABRJfLnD87Pst3RiuMagJ0qQpyFGXi64s-IOjkiMUqrOq7KpySjpV2kfm43HcCpcyzo7R0bSoHKrIDEctjDGwWpeImhGQNtCUIbH3panZvo/s400/NEW+Ballroom+Shoes+transparent+Background+Backwards+6-22.png" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I also added this design, "Backwards and in High Heels", referring to Ginger Rogers doing everything that Fred Astaire did, but "backwards, and in high heels" dance quote.</td></tr>
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Also, thanks to the feedback I received from clients and connections, I've redone several of the Word Art designs to be bolder and easier to read on smaller screens (and at a distance.) Many of the designs used fonts that were to narrow or fine to show up well, so they've been reworked and resubmitted with your recommended changes. Thank you Sara, Tim and Erik for all the feedback!<br />
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5370884568160752646.post-37031786378172536252019-06-19T09:53:00.004-07:002019-06-19T09:53:37.482-07:00The Return of the Roaring Twenties!Finally a trend I'm truly excited about! The return of the '20s next January!<br />
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I love Art Deco, (though Art Nouveau will always be my first love.) My great-grandmother, who I was lucky to have until I was twenty, was a flapper and told me about the slang, the attitude - and the dancing! So in honor of all that I learned from her, and the return of the "Roaring 20's", I've created a new set of designs on <b><a href="https://www.redbubble.com/people/infinitetango?asc=u" target="_blank">RedBubble</a>.</b><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYfnpAn3K4hY1aQ_7jmCDzN4thboQBmLqsqK3I15XynBP8kWVCQ4ko1XhVf6_ipI4qyXNkKR2U3NINA3SSl9nWNO5cD8CNHC3v8nFZlEZcw-rUT7FRT7TGKvD-vJGcerKBOXuR1_X_T_M/s1600/Screen+Shot+2019-06-19+at+11.24.03+AM.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="907" data-original-width="871" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYfnpAn3K4hY1aQ_7jmCDzN4thboQBmLqsqK3I15XynBP8kWVCQ4ko1XhVf6_ipI4qyXNkKR2U3NINA3SSl9nWNO5cD8CNHC3v8nFZlEZcw-rUT7FRT7TGKvD-vJGcerKBOXuR1_X_T_M/s400/Screen+Shot+2019-06-19+at+11.24.03+AM.png" width="382" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Flapper Slang, Speakeasy sign, Tango sign in Art Deco design, and La Guardia Nueva!</td></tr>
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I'm still looking at the product and design offerings with a tanguera's eye though - milonga themed decor, clothes that work for dancing, and of course a celebration of 1920's tango - La Guardia Nueva! I'll have more designs coming over the next week - so keep checking if the Jazz Age and Art Deco are 'the bees knees' for you too! <br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEia7RogJWbVvjMhIDe7N6_H1AvZJrUpx4f9gemYZYLH1zxM67N7ZaUCgKJGmzCLgnDQuTtwv0sn9L0AIPiR_4W9tBCpHurV3H5NycWJj5AB0z6VA6eQnhD-H-thyphenhyphensUXU5hWe8bfHanIUto/s1600/Screen+Shot+2019-06-19+at+11.08.13+AM.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="584" data-original-width="791" height="295" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEia7RogJWbVvjMhIDe7N6_H1AvZJrUpx4f9gemYZYLH1zxM67N7ZaUCgKJGmzCLgnDQuTtwv0sn9L0AIPiR_4W9tBCpHurV3H5NycWJj5AB0z6VA6eQnhD-H-thyphenhyphensUXU5hWe8bfHanIUto/s400/Screen+Shot+2019-06-19+at+11.08.13+AM.png" width="400" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYvT4nu1vuD0AkJY3wp05EwP_0ExlOridZf3M3tn73TzFqkTnWSzSnrZRUW_KKzme-uNLyrNxiclM5eJKbQnPYkroqC-gD3T48yQX15dJf87qXNqhAH1yBayAd4q6oP68Vu1AyggCYefQ/s1600/Screen+Shot+2019-06-19+at+11.09.19+AM.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="863" data-original-width="800" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYvT4nu1vuD0AkJY3wp05EwP_0ExlOridZf3M3tn73TzFqkTnWSzSnrZRUW_KKzme-uNLyrNxiclM5eJKbQnPYkroqC-gD3T48yQX15dJf87qXNqhAH1yBayAd4q6oP68Vu1AyggCYefQ/s400/Screen+Shot+2019-06-19+at+11.09.19+AM.png" width="370" /></a></div>
<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5370884568160752646.post-81166272810267238342019-06-18T11:18:00.000-07:002019-06-18T11:18:05.654-07:00Review: The War of Art<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdOIQWbvKdfWdp7e3oJj1KNWXTGuDZNSb9G4roHwiNoRwc4rTPCc803QZCLzhLaYl4hM2CGajUyULYhj0lfwlumQlQUPs58ZcccFK-cEyw9jh6HRqb71sPcFZ8jZVbr90fJ-KAmEQR6VA/s1600/pressfield.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="475" data-original-width="296" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdOIQWbvKdfWdp7e3oJj1KNWXTGuDZNSb9G4roHwiNoRwc4rTPCc803QZCLzhLaYl4hM2CGajUyULYhj0lfwlumQlQUPs58ZcccFK-cEyw9jh6HRqb71sPcFZ8jZVbr90fJ-KAmEQR6VA/s1600/pressfield.jpg" /></a></div>
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<br />
A few people have asked me how I suddenly got up the ambition to get my art store going and how I've been so productive. It's really down to one book: <a href="https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0446691437/" target="_blank">The War of Art: Break Through the Blocks & Win Your Inner Creative Battles, by Steven Pressfield.</a><br />
<br />
No fewer than 8 people recommended that book to me, probably more but I don't
remember. I think I knew it would be a kick in the ass. I wasn't sure I was ready for it. It took me ages to get around to it. Now I'm the
one recommending it to every writer and creative who will listen to me
(who hasn't already read it.)<br />
<br />
It's a fast read. Pressfield doesn't waste
your time, doesn't insult your intelligence and doesn't pull punches.
It's what you need to read to get off your ass and do the work (to
borrow the title of another one of his books.) I finished it in a few days and then started over and read it again.<br /><br />How you think of
your work, and how you think of yourself <i>doing</i> that work, are crucial to
your success. There are so many ways we sabotage ourselves before we've
even begun - before we've even put pen or brush to paper. He addresses the biggest mental blocks that keep us from
our work, and from succeeding in our creative endeavors. And he does it in a frank, occasionally brutally honest, way.<br /><br />You know what? Stop reading this review and just go read the book. It won't take long. Stop stalling - the work is calling.<br /><br />“Are
you paralyzed with fear? That’s a good sign. Fear is good. Like
self-doubt, fear is an indicator. Fear tells us what we have to do.
Remember one rule of thumb: the more scared we are of a work or calling,
the more sure we can be that we have to do it.”<br />
<br />
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5370884568160752646.post-79631357297078331012019-06-17T14:24:00.003-07:002019-06-17T15:46:30.038-07:00Things Tango Teachers Say - Tango Class BingoAt the request of another dancer, I finally created the <b><a href="https://www.redbubble.com/people/infinitetango/works/39572788-things-tango-teachers-say?asc=u" target="_blank">"Things Tango Teachers Say" Word Art</a></b> on <b><a href="https://www.redbubble.com/people/infinitetango/works/39572788-things-tango-teachers-say?asc=u" target="_blank">RedBubble.com</a></b>. Here's the graphic - below, the explanation.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrwARJEAx5IpxjYHt_Y3wHwjcpjlokRQTZTDMy_kaNn_vQ_CbKzU206GD3r6w12H_QE-4wyom7LvzIGRTEkrZmylqIP3e7hfHeABHl68D83d4oxTm991JfPDfeD2genC7PPr4lNg_s0ZU/s1600/Things+Tango+Teachers+Say+-+black.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1115" data-original-width="1600" height="278" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrwARJEAx5IpxjYHt_Y3wHwjcpjlokRQTZTDMy_kaNn_vQ_CbKzU206GD3r6w12H_QE-4wyom7LvzIGRTEkrZmylqIP3e7hfHeABHl68D83d4oxTm991JfPDfeD2genC7PPr4lNg_s0ZU/s400/Things+Tango+Teachers+Say+-+black.png" width="400" /></a></div>
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Some of this is tongue-in-cheek and highlights the conflicting instruction we get as Argentine Tango students. But some of it, particularly <i>"Just walk naturally"</i>, are particularly frustrating bits of advice.<br />
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I often heard "Just walk naturally," directed at <b>followers</b>, from male instructors (to both male and female students.) The more I heard it, the more irritated I got. I don't know how much time instructors spend their day walking backwards - particularly in 3-4" high heels, but there's nothing natural about it. We can learn to do it - and do it very well, but we're not structurally built to spend our time doing it. It's not at all natural - in heels or otherwise.<br />
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*/Begin rant<br />
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In all honesty, and speaking as a personal trainer for dancers, it's just lazy phrasing. "Naturally" has no objective meaning. Do you mean relax? Do you mean breathe? Say what you mean specifically and leave out short-cut phrases that don't mean anything to students - especially newer students.<br />
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A few of my other favorites in the "not very helpful" category:<br />
<br />
- Be grounded.<br />
- Walk like a cat.<br />
- Feel the floor.<br />
- Feel the music.<br />
- You're too heavy.<br />
- You're too light.<br />
<br />
If you want your students to really change what they're doing and understand what you're asking, <i>be specific.</i> Say what you mean in a way that is actionable for the student. I had a friend I used to see in festival classes all the time and she would call it <b>"Tango Class Bingo"</b>. Don't play tango class bingo with your students, for the sake of their engagement and learning. Figure out what you really need your students to change and tell them something specific and useful.<br />
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*/end rant.<br />
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UPDATE:<br />
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I actually found the infamous Tango Class Bingo card. :)<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzNlZmEtYIMmixy6FOX_mHKfgtvVE8Dc_xDW6S38ZEnfsvU5gn3lgPTrGMk_4D9eVAonnFe77nISprLVlX0tOKez3Q_Oh432A60v6Eg9LuY33O6ONhxMEy__cefK3IzIqjQtPkcOEMBio/s1600/JPEG+image+40.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1237" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzNlZmEtYIMmixy6FOX_mHKfgtvVE8Dc_xDW6S38ZEnfsvU5gn3lgPTrGMk_4D9eVAonnFe77nISprLVlX0tOKez3Q_Oh432A60v6Eg9LuY33O6ONhxMEy__cefK3IzIqjQtPkcOEMBio/s640/JPEG+image+40.jpeg" width="492" /></a></div>
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<br />
Some of the boxes are "gimmes" of course, for the normal, common things said in class. Most of the "trouble phrases", like "Walk Naturally" or "Engage Your Core", would be fine if combined with an explanation with some specifics. It's just when they're used in the absence of any sort of actionable advice that they become problematic. And then of course it's always fun to hear contradictory instruction<i> in the same class</i>. I had one instructor who said heel first at the beginning of class, but by the end was saying toe first. The leaders were obviously quite confused.<br />
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<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5370884568160752646.post-78307529221403068462019-06-16T17:50:00.000-07:002019-06-16T17:50:01.552-07:00Back to my First Love - Tango Shoes! Well, sort of . . .People who know me in tango know that at one time I designed custom tango shoes for clients. I worked with <a href="http://www.mrtangoshoes.com/" target="_blank">MrTangoshoes.com</a> shoes out of Colombia to make shoes that matched clothes, shoes for hard to fit feet, custom sizing, custom materials - the works. I loved designing for clients - but I hated having an inventory to carry around to milongas and practicas to sell enough volume to keep afloat. In the end, I gave up the business to concentrate on my main (non-tango) job and personal training.<br />
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As I've written in the past few posts, I'm designing again - this time accessories instead of shoes. I take commissions for custom work as I'm able and keep a steady supply of new designs hitting my <b><a href="https://www.redbubble.com/people/infinitetango" target="_blank">RedBubble</a></b> virtual shelves. It's the best of both worlds - I get to design to my heart's content, but not have to worry about an inventory to lug around.<br />
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Lately though, I've really, really been missing the shoes. So I decided to do some shoe-themed designed to make myself feel better. These are so much - now to keep my own mitts off my merchandise and try to save a little money. I'm always my biggest customer. :)<br />
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Have I mentioned I love shoes? <br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhXBH28pvb3dfd2zKzmAdDDWitcFZlZTjrbAYjOOH8zRQPkFt3QcAVOr5fo4hTNIt0ejULp7OMLSCvwnaXJrlurqeBSe9wVs3v2O7zbsSPg9rRTPy6k86oF3ZoHFCUViaHRUbBZ7JFcto/s1600/3CDBEBAB-DA58-475D-B1CF-7CBF2BE915A9.JPEG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1600" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhXBH28pvb3dfd2zKzmAdDDWitcFZlZTjrbAYjOOH8zRQPkFt3QcAVOr5fo4hTNIt0ejULp7OMLSCvwnaXJrlurqeBSe9wVs3v2O7zbsSPg9rRTPy6k86oF3ZoHFCUViaHRUbBZ7JFcto/s400/3CDBEBAB-DA58-475D-B1CF-7CBF2BE915A9.JPEG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Variations of the designs on the large drawstring, heavy-duty shoe bags.</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5pTQN2MkmdCSZDgBGOLsfHA3_giW1iVFFZcCwSN5jWGP-30Ht0Jqd91_cm5DIdCnuLwXqR8-mG9VknQgxJaJB6lhWOka1pXdTCi2IRuwU-280fB5zYDZh4VOoyv5k0tY__kbEk5BFUww/s1600/18C4CD5E-18B3-4DDF-B510-F8038E148C98.JPEG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1600" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5pTQN2MkmdCSZDgBGOLsfHA3_giW1iVFFZcCwSN5jWGP-30Ht0Jqd91_cm5DIdCnuLwXqR8-mG9VknQgxJaJB6lhWOka1pXdTCi2IRuwU-280fB5zYDZh4VOoyv5k0tY__kbEk5BFUww/s400/18C4CD5E-18B3-4DDF-B510-F8038E148C98.JPEG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The original designs.</td></tr>
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<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5370884568160752646.post-31400911195268055152019-06-16T17:38:00.001-07:002019-06-16T17:38:56.826-07:00Where RedBubble Manufactures ProductsOne of the things I really like about <b><a href="https://www.redbubble.com/people/infinitetango" target="_blank">RedBubble.com</a></b> is that my orders, because I'm in the US, are made and shipped from the US. If you're in Europe, most products will be made there as well, etc etc. <br />
<br />
They've even been transparent enough about the process to break it down. Here are a few examples. You can go to <b><a href="https://help.redbubble.com/hc/en-us/articles/217196086" target="_blank">this page</a></b> to see the full list of where everything is made, based on where it is being shipped to. Not only does this get products to clients faster and cheaper - it means that the quality is generally higher. That's good for everyone.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-C_55XIrYGZnT50G4HHxautcsxADP-CbUWnMwzCP9i1p8RkDxMjbLmm84oXCYEflpSJmk1qxkJ1sy8LNELIgcSol0wJcXCxnuvMJgBOksFulmuX5ILRszdPYkQgKFdZL06Bemvm6WyKs/s1600/Screen+Shot+2019-06-16+at+7.31.26+PM.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="718" data-original-width="557" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-C_55XIrYGZnT50G4HHxautcsxADP-CbUWnMwzCP9i1p8RkDxMjbLmm84oXCYEflpSJmk1qxkJ1sy8LNELIgcSol0wJcXCxnuvMJgBOksFulmuX5ILRszdPYkQgKFdZL06Bemvm6WyKs/s400/Screen+Shot+2019-06-16+at+7.31.26+PM.png" width="310" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWs_MhwR8j4WAb_JJV2e_05OjBNNIDb1wtPKW0appFydIdhIqrgg8MgsPJranfkMkvJ3ISs9U3FMu_D-wo7GXyywjnt6SCFjxYjg1_kCRgJae2eqGwS58cz2IssS3-C1b5NsYZX2wnXIE/s1600/Screen+Shot+2019-06-16+at+7.31.36+PM.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="492" data-original-width="552" height="284" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWs_MhwR8j4WAb_JJV2e_05OjBNNIDb1wtPKW0appFydIdhIqrgg8MgsPJranfkMkvJ3ISs9U3FMu_D-wo7GXyywjnt6SCFjxYjg1_kCRgJae2eqGwS58cz2IssS3-C1b5NsYZX2wnXIE/s320/Screen+Shot+2019-06-16+at+7.31.36+PM.png" width="320" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZ3AF9mEIq1GAgy-ep53SAn8V4VMBxr6Sz-K3mWWaH_VajcK32Zw07j0Qoj6u_moTgPcsrsi4RzCBMH6cMonool5c2Tx_hmwJwZCkrSDguKkttNikwq3UYdOOM3jPfRXy1glUHhWF9asU/s1600/Screen+Shot+2019-06-16+at+7.31.43+PM.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="492" data-original-width="569" height="276" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZ3AF9mEIq1GAgy-ep53SAn8V4VMBxr6Sz-K3mWWaH_VajcK32Zw07j0Qoj6u_moTgPcsrsi4RzCBMH6cMonool5c2Tx_hmwJwZCkrSDguKkttNikwq3UYdOOM3jPfRXy1glUHhWF9asU/s320/Screen+Shot+2019-06-16+at+7.31.43+PM.png" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5370884568160752646.post-10884853550436550132019-06-12T11:28:00.002-07:002019-06-12T11:28:49.564-07:00Art Software Resources - Paid and Free<div>
Just a quick update since several people have asked for the list. Here are the
art resources I use most for the majority of my work. Keep in mind, I use a Mac so with other platforms, your results might vary. </div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjZNnQxzUuDrL6pyxUeLHABBHzC3v8AXmbUWw9HhC1XPfzWkB_yTyek2Sf-VHvnVMCvDV4bdy2KFSW1UG33vOySKljZt8oEj6TYTkMyUitlrAH7nBVEYduUNQVuHIQXDgjFhjqKAjUfak/s1600/Screen+Shot+2019-06-12+at+1.19.05+PM.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="532" data-original-width="957" height="221" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjZNnQxzUuDrL6pyxUeLHABBHzC3v8AXmbUWw9HhC1XPfzWkB_yTyek2Sf-VHvnVMCvDV4bdy2KFSW1UG33vOySKljZt8oEj6TYTkMyUitlrAH7nBVEYduUNQVuHIQXDgjFhjqKAjUfak/s400/Screen+Shot+2019-06-12+at+1.19.05+PM.png" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This is PhotoPea which does a great job, to a point. The larger the photo, the slower it gets.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<h2>
<b>Paid/Desktop Apps/Software - available for desktop and tablets:</b></h2>
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<ul>
<li><b>Adobe Photoshop and Design,</b> now available on subscription plans which is helpful if you're on a budget: <a data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://www.adobe.com/creativecloud/plans.html&source=gmail&ust=1560447251554000&usg=AFQjCNFlHcN65Ie7ilESeQnT9KTnCatdHQ" href="https://www.adobe.com/creativecloud/plans.html" target="_blank">https://www.adobe.com/<wbr></wbr>creativecloud/plans.html</a> I still use this for some of the short cuts I've developed, but more and more, I'm using Affinity Photo and Designer more.</li>
<li><b>Affinity Photo and Designer: </b>I'm
using Serif's Affinity products more lately as they offer the
flexibility of GIMP and the robust offerings of Photoshop, for less
money. A new product, Publisher, is available for pre-order and I'm
getting curious about that one. <a data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://affinity.serif.com/en-us/store/&source=gmail&ust=1560447251554000&usg=AFQjCNFWXkjFXdl8ZtIXoqwZYZ9blJrVZw" href="https://affinity.serif.com/en-us/store/" target="_blank">https://affinity.serif.com/en-<wbr></wbr>us/store/</a></li>
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<h2>
<b>Free Web-based Apps Online:</b></h2>
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<ul>
<li>For generating pictures with quotes in various sizes QuotesCover.com: <a href="https://quotescover.com/">https://quotescover.com/</a></li>
<li>General Photo editing: <a href="http://www.ribbet.com/" target="_blank">Ribbet.com</a> and <a href="http://www.photopea.com/" target="_blank">PhotoPea.com</a></li>
<li>For filters and interesting art generation: LunaPic - <a href="https://www131.lunapic.com/editor/">https://www131.lunapic.com/editor/</a></li>
<li>Tag Clouds and Word Art: <a href="https://wordart.com/">https://wordart.com/</a></li>
</ul>
<br />
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5370884568160752646.post-38888848034037709292019-06-09T09:47:00.000-07:002019-06-09T09:47:32.697-07:00The Infinite Tango RedBubble Store is Roaring to LifeFirst, thank you to everyone who has been sending me their feedback,
ideas, suggestions and critiques - you are all amazing and I love you!<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-PNcLkjeO_FKpdsQL0PuuD1cBy5ZH4e9BGIRcEgGjPeoEHE3TppRN7UeVbcGI7VStNx9sQOgxm9VaHsSzVoS9NccTdMrbeKf6dPGCP27zvPSH2CW8e_It9E2cZ5R8ur0Xs8ubDzF7Z5g/s1600/Screen+Shot+2019-06-09+at+11.26.15+AM.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="177" data-original-width="766" height="91" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-PNcLkjeO_FKpdsQL0PuuD1cBy5ZH4e9BGIRcEgGjPeoEHE3TppRN7UeVbcGI7VStNx9sQOgxm9VaHsSzVoS9NccTdMrbeKf6dPGCP27zvPSH2CW8e_It9E2cZ5R8ur0Xs8ubDzF7Z5g/s400/Screen+Shot+2019-06-09+at+11.26.15+AM.png" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Golden Age Tango Orchestras on Tango Banner</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<br />
As of this morning, I have <a href="https://www.redbubble.com/people/infinitetango/" target="_blank"><b>almost 100 designs in the shop</b></a> (!), with each design on anywhere from 10-40 products each! On <a href="https://www.redbubble.com/people/infinitetango/" target="_blank">RedBubble</a>,
my shop is now one of the largest focused on Argentine Tango, and I
still have over 30 designs waiting to be finalized and uploaded.<br />
<br />
<b>There are several new design categories:</b><br />
<ul>
<li>Educational(-ish) word art designs that list works by tango orchestra or period.</li>
<li>Tango/Milonga humor category called #milongaexcuses</li>
<li>Traditional Art pieces (that have been remastered to better render on RedBubble's products)</li>
<li>Tango Quotes</li>
<li>Geometric designs - usually commissioned works to match specific shoes, clothes or accessories, or to be personalized.</li>
</ul>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3tieRZw_e1YR3sgoVxPvuYrsIsGJ2I3Gg_O3u_2wgqkvjXOYi1wcG-wxJAJj1C65aRjYDBKtIs6xvr5s111XAb1lLAjv54TRGx9tYdNsOxsllexG1_HSypuJfRmH9NU7oPH_8AfDnSqeX/s1600/Screen+Shot+2019-06-09+at+11.28.09+AM.png" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="489" data-original-width="540" height="361" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3tieRZw_e1YR3sgoVxPvuYrsIsGJ2I3Gg_O3u_2wgqkvjXOYi1wcG-wxJAJj1C65aRjYDBKtIs6xvr5s111XAb1lLAjv54TRGx9tYdNsOxsllexG1_HSypuJfRmH9NU7oPH_8AfDnSqeX/s400/Screen+Shot+2019-06-09+at+11.28.09+AM.png" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">"I'm sorry I missed your cabeceo. That was just my RBF. *Resting Bitch Face #milongaexcuses</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<br />
<b>New items:</b><br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqkLFae_khYbcb23IVDv3J8oUQKAkW9PaheNcnI_zT6R9J_sKFcqYh64xk0itp2xFldRqb4xzbNrU7vAj4Ta4GJwDZbKeU1dAt44Yl0o52MrTnCpUoJEdDSb5sY0BbR-Dc6yePEa7SdZPV/s1600/Screen+Shot+2019-06-08+at+1.44.21+PM.png" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="763" data-original-width="703" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqkLFae_khYbcb23IVDv3J8oUQKAkW9PaheNcnI_zT6R9J_sKFcqYh64xk0itp2xFldRqb4xzbNrU7vAj4Ta4GJwDZbKeU1dAt44Yl0o52MrTnCpUoJEdDSb5sY0BbR-Dc6yePEa7SdZPV/s400/Screen+Shot+2019-06-08+at+1.44.21+PM.png" width="367" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Los Dos Angeles - Vargas and D'Agostino stickers in black music note and red heart.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<ul>
<li><b>Combo sticker packs </b>- more than one sticker design available
on a single sheet. Since I had several designs that I liked, but maybe
wouldn't be appropriate for a t-shirt because of color or size
limitations, I worked those designs into stickers and added them into
combinations. Remember with combo sticker sheets, that the individual
stickers will be smaller - so pick out the larger sheet if you need them
to be big.</li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li><b>Shower curtains</b> and <b>bath mats</b> are coming! <b>Throw blankets</b> are already here! Who wouldn't want a blue D'Arienzo throw blanket with a bandoneon on it, I ask you? </li>
</ul>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQ5hwYgbxX5-ioXit1Gkq0Oz6DsNapCZuSfQajP1YCICiJH94n-VV1CAxazEqvpDG302BCIJ5yA6bB_TspWI2SJ3-f-Z-jNbjklk_XMdF5gevI9BZBW4luGIky3TmpXDxMZ_STo4wwyhIN/s1600/Screen+Shot+2019-06-09+at+11.29.36+AM.png" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="577" data-original-width="678" height="340" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQ5hwYgbxX5-ioXit1Gkq0Oz6DsNapCZuSfQajP1YCICiJH94n-VV1CAxazEqvpDG302BCIJ5yA6bB_TspWI2SJ3-f-Z-jNbjklk_XMdF5gevI9BZBW4luGIky3TmpXDxMZ_STo4wwyhIN/s400/Screen+Shot+2019-06-09+at+11.29.36+AM.png" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Juan D'Arienzo blue throw with some of D'Arienzo's greatest hits on a black bandoneon background.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<b>What's coming</b><br />
<ul>
<li><b>More orchestras</b> - I'll never run out of these but they can be
time consuming to create as each "design" actually has 3-6 different
variations to fit on each product. </li>
<li>Products for dancers in other areas. Since tango dancers often dance
more than just tango, I'm going to creating some designs for <b>dance generalists</b>, and dances that are also popular with tango dancers - blues, salsa and swing for example.</li>
<li>More "spilling the tango tea" as the kids say. More milonga humor and fun, colorful, lighter-hearted designs. <b>#milongaexcuses</b></li>
</ul>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4lb8ONj_FTFd0_jTF89DQfhyphenhyphenbzJdClEboJQ1D_CBZD0ytXWmmVDGRbhwREYRa9W_Hnntfz-q8AJEUsH_Zm3hDwzJwZj8RQmNEiAgfdIM5xoRTafy9Irn7Fcz2bYbqYCpUsR0FV5GyCy_H/s1600/Screen+Shot+2019-06-09+at+11.42.17+AM.png" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="676" data-original-width="656" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4lb8ONj_FTFd0_jTF89DQfhyphenhyphenbzJdClEboJQ1D_CBZD0ytXWmmVDGRbhwREYRa9W_Hnntfz-q8AJEUsH_Zm3hDwzJwZj8RQmNEiAgfdIM5xoRTafy9Irn7Fcz2bYbqYCpUsR0FV5GyCy_H/s400/Screen+Shot+2019-06-09+at+11.42.17+AM.png" width="387" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Cabeceo with cat like laser focus!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<br />
<b>Paying it forward</b><br />
<br />
So
many people have helped me find resources in free art tools, advice,
design ideas etc., that I'm going to post what I've learned on this
blog. There are so many free, easy to use, web based tools you can use
that if you have any ideas for something to put on a sticker or a
t-shirt etc., there's no excuse not to try out Print on Demand sites.
RedBubble is extremely easy to use - especially once you have the tools
in place. Look for updates on this blog and on my Infinite Tango blog
(and of course the RedBubble journal as well) for tips, resources and
guides.<br />
<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5370884568160752646.post-86316155514723077712019-05-16T13:52:00.000-07:002019-05-16T13:52:08.341-07:00New Plans for Tango Product LinesThe plan is coming together! Well, mostly. Thanks to feedback and requests from tango friends from all over the world, I have a pretty solid plan of action for my tango designs on the <a href="https://www.redbubble.com/people/infinitetango/shop?asc=u" target="_blank"><b>Infinitetango RedBubble Store</b></a><b>.</b><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZou0rz8DLArMK1ovS8c4oj3oml2c37O2jy_bK249g2uuY-qaZN6qOTJRqCiFcAa9-m6ERjKM0N-Nl9p0mn2S76xjo1H5lwBKxQ3XZRedYtNwWd_LTxJwlkemqLih3afmblbPiTjTx8v4/s1600/Screen+Shot+2019-05-16+at+3.51.04+PM.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" border="0" data-original-height="722" data-original-width="708" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZou0rz8DLArMK1ovS8c4oj3oml2c37O2jy_bK249g2uuY-qaZN6qOTJRqCiFcAa9-m6ERjKM0N-Nl9p0mn2S76xjo1H5lwBKxQ3XZRedYtNwWd_LTxJwlkemqLih3afmblbPiTjTx8v4/s400/Screen+Shot+2019-05-16+at+3.51.04+PM.png" title="" width="391" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
There are, at this time, 3 departments in the shop:<br />
<br />
1. Custom Designs - these are designs, usually geometric or abstract, to match specific shoes, apparel or other requests. These are mostly geometric patterns created from color picking directly from the image of the shoe or garment, and then creating patterns with the exactly colors for the best possible match.<br />
<br />
2. Tango Quotes - both famous and a bit more obscure. I have a huge library of quotes in Scrivener that I've been trying to decide what to do with. Once I realized that the tango quotes are my most popular posts on my <a href="https://www.instagram.com/infinitetango/" target="_blank">Instagram</a> page, I knew what to do!<br />
<br />
3. Digital Artwork - Most of these are created from pictures of my trip to Buenos Aires. Some are from local milongas though, as well.<br />
<br />
I'm developing all three lines simultaneously as I'm inspired, have time or have requests. I am getting a little bit overloaded with commissions, so turnaround time on custom requests is about 2 weeks right now. I appreciate everyone's patience with this!<br />
<br />
<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5370884568160752646.post-14067092571498401592019-05-08T17:20:00.001-07:002019-05-08T17:20:29.933-07:00Leaning into the Sharp PointsFirst, thank you readers and friends for such swift feedback on my previous posts! Your emails mean the world to me! Some of you already know what lit a fire under me to get this latest <span style="color: #cc0000;"><b><a href="https://www.redbubble.com/people/infinitetango/shop?asc=u" target="_blank">RedBubble</a></b></span> project going, but for those who don't, please read on . . .<br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><b>So let's back up . . . </b></span><br />
<br />
The last 7 months have been devastating financially. My husband was very ill and in the hospital for a week. Our furnace/air conditioning units failed and cost twice what we were quoted 2 years ago. The ceiling of our garage caved in (and because it wasn't storm related, but poor workmanship, insurance wouldn't pay anything.) We've had to gut our house so that nearly everything in it can be bleached or boiled, to help protect my husband from future infections.<br />
<br />
That's the just the big (and human-related) stuff. If this were a TV show, it would be some kind of dark comedy.
The crazy thing is, the hospital bills that usually bury us, got paid by
the insurance company. Miracle of miracles. But it's been literally<i> everything else</i> that has
piled up. All the home care, all the broken appliances. I still have a leaky sink, a broken bathroom fan and and various other small things that will have to wait until I can figure out how to fix them myself.<br />
<br />
Aside from the human challenges, both of our Shibas have had their own problems. Kuma lost an eye to glaucoma. His surgery was two weeks ago. Now he looks very much like one of those over-loved teddy bears that's missing his button eye. Just as he was healing (last week), Vixen got sick from something we've yet to identify. She's currently in a veterinary hospital while they try to figure out why she can't eat. They're tube feeding her to build up her strength. Tonight will be her third night away from us.<br />
<br />
Any two or maybe even three of these things together, we could have weathered, at least eventually. All of this together is more than we can cope with.<br />
<br />
It's time, as Pema Chödrön wrote, to lean in to the sharp points. It's time to turn toward the storm and get busy.<br />
<br />
That's how I settled on finally getting this <span style="color: #990000;"><b><a href="https://www.redbubble.com/people/infinitetango/shop?asc=u" target="_blank">RedBubble</a></b></span> print-on-demand shop off the ground. I had the artwork - I just had to clean it all up for upload and printing. I'd forgotten how much I enjoyed the design work and that's actually been helping me cope with the stress. But the biggest thing I need is a second income - from home, so I can work around all the cleaning, the dog care, the infection control protocols . . . the <i>everything</i> our lives are right now.<br />
<br />
We planned for these things - we just didn't plan for them to happen all at the same time - or with such severity. So all of this is just to say thank you to those of you reading who've already reached out, and a request to share my store with anyone you think might be interested.<br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><b>One last thing.</b></span><br />
<br />
I wrote and deleted this line 3 times. This is my fourth try to get it down without berating myself and deleting it again:<br />
<br />
<b>If you would like to donate to Vixen and Kuma's bills, you can donate through <span style="color: blue;"><a href="https://www.paypal.com/us/for-you/transfer-money/send-money" target="_blank">PAYPAL</a></span> at my email address: INFINITETANGO(at)GMAIL.COM. </b>(Using "at" instead of "@" to slow down the bots from grabbing my email address.) <br />
<br />
It is just under $1,000 a night for all that they are doing for her while they try to figure out what happened to her. Even if she had a miraculous turnaround tomorrow, she would probably need one more night there. <br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhg-ixY3uHMpbJLDdHkhqpjRTkOjKsCziDmpsjHGEFQRNOAWadJLK8AECB3wtsNUbcXuXJ1AaOZV-u5pFcI2ZHN5g5ycrDWJO8STxsLejdFbE-QIwD4ObfMMpBFI5UBPwyOB-Ljt0wBy8c/s1600/vixen-kuma-cone-sun.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1044" data-original-width="1125" height="370" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhg-ixY3uHMpbJLDdHkhqpjRTkOjKsCziDmpsjHGEFQRNOAWadJLK8AECB3wtsNUbcXuXJ1AaOZV-u5pFcI2ZHN5g5ycrDWJO8STxsLejdFbE-QIwD4ObfMMpBFI5UBPwyOB-Ljt0wBy8c/s400/vixen-kuma-cone-sun.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Vixen on the left before she went to the vet hospital, and Kuma trying to get some rays while in his "cone of shame."</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<br />
Thank you again for reading this far, for sharing this post, for sharing my store, if you feel the desire to, and for the well-wishes you've sent thus far. It is so very much appreciated.<br />
<br />
Abrazos and warm, happy dances to you all.<br />
<br />
--M <br />
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5370884568160752646.post-4800485736170323252019-05-08T12:28:00.001-07:002019-05-08T12:28:14.874-07:00As Requested - Tango Sheet Music Shoe BagsSo a couple of dancers requested lyrics or sheet music on shoe bags and accessories and I thought what a great idea! Here are the first few. Let me know in comments message via blogger, what tangos I should look for in the public domain to apply next!<br />
<br />
So far I've done Arrabalero, Milonga para un armonica and 2 La Cumparsita's (the red one was commissioned.) The bags can be found <a href="https://www.redbubble.com/people/infinitetango/shop/top+selling+drawstring-bags?accordion=product&ref=artist_shop_product_refinement&asc=u" target="_blank">HERE</a>.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDJ1Z5kPaqogo0i56CSKHDsSb8Jg_NSvzxD29lXpKv5c1Vf7pVCYo12OqXk-FWyhEoC2Bio8zB9tLOI62ZmFlbUPhXB9VdW2v5tT9hIC5cwXNmxdNSDt47PhDDBiaEBgTwXk4sUjdW8yw/s1600/tango-shoe-bags-sheet-music.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1600" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDJ1Z5kPaqogo0i56CSKHDsSb8Jg_NSvzxD29lXpKv5c1Vf7pVCYo12OqXk-FWyhEoC2Bio8zB9tLOI62ZmFlbUPhXB9VdW2v5tT9hIC5cwXNmxdNSDt47PhDDBiaEBgTwXk4sUjdW8yw/s400/tango-shoe-bags-sheet-music.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5370884568160752646.post-58865562991542301742019-05-07T07:48:00.001-07:002019-05-07T08:06:24.311-07:00New Designs for Coordinated Tango Accessories and Clothes<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLX8pIuDEPUZ66D9JDhQSe07qq-rEGvCkY2_hFAjJaMYad59W18F75Td-aRrTADbyc9Wa2s2M1n1mdOtpU49KVrFi146I2mJwV25nM1-n4zgLDxOkv0AdGj4bAgEW7edH-kSuNK9ydVeQ/s1600/tango-accessories-corrdinated.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1600" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLX8pIuDEPUZ66D9JDhQSe07qq-rEGvCkY2_hFAjJaMYad59W18F75Td-aRrTADbyc9Wa2s2M1n1mdOtpU49KVrFi146I2mJwV25nM1-n4zgLDxOkv0AdGj4bAgEW7edH-kSuNK9ydVeQ/s400/tango-accessories-corrdinated.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
One of my favorite things about designing custom shoes for Mr. Tango Shoes customers, was being able to tailor the patterns to clothes dancers enjoyed wearing to milongas. What an easy way to set your look apart! <br />
<br />
I stopped designing shoes because it was so time and labor intensive, but I really missed doing design work. So now I've turned it around and I'm on RedBubble, designing clothes and accessories that match dancers' shoes instead. I wish I'd found this site ages ago! The tough part right now is not designing an entire wardrobe of accessories for myself!<br />
<br />
So save me from myself and give me some ideas of what you'd like to see. I'm already perusing the latest, greatest shoe models hitting the stores here and in Buenos Aires - as well as taking a peek at Pantone's upcoming color features. In my store, <a href="https://www.redbubble.com/people/infinitetango/shop?a" target="_blank">Infinite Tango on RedBubble</a>, also look for my artwork making its way onto tote bags, t-shirts and even scarves!<br />
<br />
While I haven't been able to check every product, the I have found that the tote bags, zip bags and t-shirts are made in the US. I'm waiting to hear back on the place of manufacture for the other products. So far the quality, especially compared to most print-on-demand sites, is very good!<br />
<br />
<b>Update on where things are manufactured, from the website:</b><br />
<br />
"<span class="gmail-wysiwyg-font-size-medium" style="font-weight: 400;">Each of
the 3rd party printers in our global network manufactures specific
products and services particular parts of the world. We ensure your
goodies will be printed in the most convenient location for your
delivery address, ensuring fast and affordable shipping services!"</span><br />
<br />
<span class="gmail-wysiwyg-font-size-medium" style="font-weight: 400;">So in short, it depends on where you have your ordered delivered. </span> Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5370884568160752646.post-12240761481158304902019-05-07T07:23:00.000-07:002019-05-07T07:23:32.629-07:00I'm back in the Tango Design Business!<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9ta3iteKLbcSJilrBAtLYYAdLcrABKlT4C-bebbEJTigZGlb_W5-f4SBgcHRk5uaxD0GDcrJkEbcU9UYYLAeil8AlWG4Hevya8gOPLV5xso3wd2xfXYHR87gzPfTJJDBXnxrKJCwUZ6Y/s1600/shoe-bag-collage-blog.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1600" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9ta3iteKLbcSJilrBAtLYYAdLcrABKlT4C-bebbEJTigZGlb_W5-f4SBgcHRk5uaxD0GDcrJkEbcU9UYYLAeil8AlWG4Hevya8gOPLV5xso3wd2xfXYHR87gzPfTJJDBXnxrKJCwUZ6Y/s400/shoe-bag-collage-blog.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
Have you ever had trouble picking out your shoe bag from everyone
else’s in the milonga? Are your shoe bags too small to store everything
you need? I've applied my tango shoe design experience to other
accessories to solve those problems!<br />
<br />
Normal shoe bags measure about 13"-15" long, and 10"-12" wide. They
also tend to be the logo and design of the shoe company, which means
your bag could look exactly like a lot of other bags under the milonga
tables. Or worse, the bag is black! Not only does it look like other
bags – but it’s hard to see in the milonga (especially in the US where
milonga lighting is particularly low.)<br />
<br />
RedBubble bags measure 19.5" tall, and 15" wide. They’re thicker than
most shoe bags that come with the shoes, and they can be designed to
coordinate with your shoes, your favorite tango outfit - whatever! Every pair of shoes has its matching shoe
bag – so much easier to pick out in your closet and at the milonga!<br />
<br />
For an additional fee, I can personalize the bag, or other accessories
with your name, your favorite tango song title, or whatever you choose.<br />
<br />
About RedBubble’s drawstring bags:<br />
<br />
- Made from very sturdy, 100% polyester woven fabric<br />
<div class="rb-markup">
- Wide, soft drawcord that’s
easy on your shoulders</div>
<div class="rb-markup">
- Durable quality metal grommets</div>
<div class="rb-markup">
- Long-lasting
printed design on both front and back</div>
<div class="rb-markup">
<br />
Plus, you not only get a shoe
bag that matches, but zip studio bags, tote bags, for some designs even
scarves or leggings, that all coordinate with the design.<br />
<br />
RedBubble doesn’t let creators set prices exactly, but we can set
margins. So I’ll be very transparent about markups according to the
amount of work and personalization each bag requires.<br />
<br />
- For designs that are already in the store, my margin is lower than the
default – only 10%.</div>
<div class="rb-markup">
</div>
<div class="rb-markup">
- Designs that I create to match a pair of shoes or
outfit etc., to be sold in the store generally (which means it will be
available for purchase by others), 20%.</div>
<div class="rb-markup">
</div>
<div class="rb-markup">
- Designs that include
personalization – like name, community etc., 25%.</div>
<div class="rb-markup">
</div>
<div class="rb-markup">
- Designs that will be
created and sold exclusively to one person and not listed again, 30%.</div>
<br />
Please see my <b><a href="https://www.redbubble.com/people/infinitetango" target="_blank">RedBubble Infinite Tango Store</a></b> for more information and pictures!<br />
<br />
While you're there, be sure to check out my tango artwork on a variety of accessories, like the tote bags pictured below.<br />
<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9WYntTmifT9LGqvAAcuN7lHxaTWjEM0jw4uQjGaSeTY_EcN9FVK2evFfo-ZhcAXpMh5Xf2kvKy3TvR49cNwFE1JheXXrle-RUG87TDmj6oWObhTNbGdNCa3NtUlxh8G-9UbNE5zUQHtQ/s1600/Screen+Shot+2019-05-07+at+9.21.33+AM.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="706" data-original-width="667" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9WYntTmifT9LGqvAAcuN7lHxaTWjEM0jw4uQjGaSeTY_EcN9FVK2evFfo-ZhcAXpMh5Xf2kvKy3TvR49cNwFE1JheXXrle-RUG87TDmj6oWObhTNbGdNCa3NtUlxh8G-9UbNE5zUQHtQ/s400/Screen+Shot+2019-05-07+at+9.21.33+AM.png" width="376" /></a></div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5370884568160752646.post-76921889407736569192018-04-15T14:47:00.000-07:002018-04-15T14:47:02.117-07:00Dance Art - Gavito Quote<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoMmsTzpdWoOPV351tvSzNZpO1Tre6U5xQHwHmk7ALmFGQDMUoZa6cG2_Wmw9zs3ikaR2L4kh6VBN52Qew5GczCEq0zCwWcW1dwRxBywd3T72fgblDDR9AzbsNHQaM8G6W_CvySqM3Mi4/s1600/10213060503160139.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="843" data-original-width="843" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoMmsTzpdWoOPV351tvSzNZpO1Tre6U5xQHwHmk7ALmFGQDMUoZa6cG2_Wmw9zs3ikaR2L4kh6VBN52Qew5GczCEq0zCwWcW1dwRxBywd3T72fgblDDR9AzbsNHQaM8G6W_CvySqM3Mi4/s400/10213060503160139.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5370884568160752646.post-28412124533078085072018-02-06T14:57:00.001-08:002018-02-06T14:57:24.599-08:00The Selfish Dancer<div>
<div>
<div>
<div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRhIQkrJ961_bDOWE50zh_vktEFrnqLbUDLAGCznN-njPBpzQl4XnPsDrwfFztzOMZv4Yq2JTvoJIl6xl2anhRjTXwRA8ELx7fbps_7hADVCZgGRADbTnsszGdI_fLCtrROXgPWY3dxdM/s1600/dancer1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1600" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRhIQkrJ961_bDOWE50zh_vktEFrnqLbUDLAGCznN-njPBpzQl4XnPsDrwfFztzOMZv4Yq2JTvoJIl6xl2anhRjTXwRA8ELx7fbps_7hADVCZgGRADbTnsszGdI_fLCtrROXgPWY3dxdM/s400/dancer1.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
“We all have different perspectives to life. We all do take different
decisions in life each day based on our convictions. We may take wrong
or right decisions knowingly and or unknowingly. We may regard the
decisions of others as right or wrong. We may have a right or wrong
reasons to judge others. We have a choice to condemn or uplift others
regardless of their situation. May we, instead of finding reasons to
condemn, find reasons to uplift others.” ― Ernest Agyemang Yeboah</blockquote>
</div>
There
are blog posts, Facebook posts and comments I've read lately (and for
years, really) that attempt to lay the blame of a poor social dance
experience in a community (in many dances, not just tango) at the feet
of the social dancers who "just don't improve." These dancers that have been
dancing years and years but just don't get any better. They don't "evolve." They don't "grow". Or any number of other vague and subjective terms. </div>
<div>
<br /><br />The
assumption seems to be that many of these dancers just don't <i>care</i> to
improve. They're not trying. They're coasting. They get the dances they want, so they don't
feel they need to work as hard as other dancers at improving the overall
skill level of the community. They're selfish. They're not serious. Or
most broadly, they just don't care about the community. </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
It's obvious, right? They don't go to classes. They don't go to practicas.
They just show up and dance socially. There could be reasons for that
though, no? Well, the answer comes, it's not<i> just </i>that. It's the
<i>attitude</i>. They think they're good. They think they're advanced dancers.
They think they don't need classes. It's all in the attitude.</div>
<div>
</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
</div>
<div>
A
leader in a dance community, someone who has been around since the very
beginning of that city's dance community, once told me that followers just
don't take the dance as seriously as leaders because they don't show up
for the advanced workshops. And let's be clear - by followers, he meant
women. Strictly women. They just don't come out and support these
teachers and workshops enough. Women can just sit back on our feminine wiles to get dances. </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
**blinkblink** What the actual f*ck? (Said me, only in my head.)</div>
<div>
<br /><br />Imagine
how that comment felt coming from a leader in the community. Imagine
now why I might not share the reasons why I don't take a class or workshop. </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
(The
real reason so many women had passed on these particular workshops was
that they were back-breaking. The teachers were teaching off-axis movements far
more advanced than most of the dancers in the class would be able to perform
without hurting their partners. And the followers knew it. They were
voting with their feet. As I irate as I was at his comments, I simply told him never to repeat that [nonsense] to anyone else, ever. He apologized. A month or so later, he made exactly the <i>opposite</i> statement in a workshop where very few leaders had turned up. His comments then, and before, were made out of a moment's frustration and not truly meant - but could the dancers who overheard him know that?)</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
That's just one example of a judgment passed on a group of dancers. There are so many others. These are things I have actually been told by organizers and/or teachers:</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<ul>
<li>Dancers who only chose to learn and dance one role aren't as serious or valuable to their communities as dancers who dance both roles.</li>
<li>Conversely, followers who learn to lead will ruin their following. (I can't believe there are still people who believe this. smh)</li>
<li>Followers only want to dance with advanced leaders, regardless of appearance.</li>
<li>Leaders only want to dance with pretty, young dancers, regardless of skill.</li>
<li>Dancers who are choosing to sit at a milonga, rather than dance (ignoring cabeceos or not actively inviting others to dance) are snobs who think they are too good for the dancers in the room.</li>
<li>Dancers who only dance with their friends are "cliquish". </li>
</ul>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
All of those statements can <i>appear</i> to be true, at least superficially. They can also be completely wrong. </div>
<div>
</div>
<div>
</div>
<div>
</div>
<div>
<br /> </div>
<div>
No
one can know what someone else is truly thinking. Or experiencing. Frankly, it's no
one's business why someone else doesnn't go to an event. Or chooses not to learn the other role. Or doesn't dance with an unknown dancer. Even if you're right and that is their attitude - there's nothing you can do about it. So how are you helping them - or yourself? </div>
<div>
</div>
<div>
</div>
<div>
More importantly, how are you helping those other dancers that overhear you, or read your comment, who now think they must at every point prove themselves worthy of your consideration?</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
What
gives any dancer the right to pass judgment on the motives,
"seriousness" or passion for the dance, for the music, or for the community, of another
dancer? How do you really know the burden another dancer carries? What
their capabilities actually are - physically, financially, emotionally or otherwise? Is it so easy to forget that all dancers are
just people, human beings with lives outside of the dance? Circumstances outside of the
dance? No dancer should have to justify their level of commitment or
passion to another dancer to avoid being somehow shamed. </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Here is my personal reality. (I
hate, with a distaste I can't even properly voice, having to write this. But if I don't, who will?) </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
I will likely never improve as a dancer. </div>
<div>
</div>
<div>
</div>
<div>
At least not in any way that another dancer would likely be able to detect.</div>
<div>
<br /><br />I
will likely never even be as good as I was 2 years ago. Multiple Sclerosis might let
me tread water awhile - if I train nearly every day as I do now. If nothing
else happens. If nothing gets worse. But the worst part is I won't know how well I can dance until I'm actually in the moment dancing- and potentially putting another dancer at risk. This is a minute-by-minute disease, with sometimes very little warning between "everything's great" and "why is the floor moving up so fast?" That's the biggest reason why I haven't been back to tango. </div>
<div>
</div>
<div>
Yes, I have a pair of killer 5" high heels, my "cute-spikey-death-traps". I love them with the passion of a burning sun. No joke. On the days I can wear them, I feel magnificent. I can wear them, and walk in them very well, a few days of the month. I relish those days. But that in no way means I can still dance reliably, without wobbling, without at least occasional leaning. </div>
<div>
</div>
<div>
</div>
<div>
When I was at my best, still a personal trainer training myself and other dancers in stability, you could not knock me down. You could be a sumo-wrestler sized beginner with acute vertigo, and still not knock me down. I could compensate for anything, and keep us both on our feet. Heady days those were.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Those days are likely gone. The proprioceptors on my (dominant) right side are shot. Weirdly my left side is fine. I don't fall down, but I am slower in adjusting. And I can't close my eyes anymore if I want to keep my balance. I never used to rely on the visual feedback like I do now. The vision in my right eye, and hearing in my left ear - are declining. That's MS for you. </div>
<div>
<br /><br />My question about returning to tango isn't "am I
good enough to get dances?" but instead, "am I good enough
not to hurt my potential partners if I do get dances." Am I still okay enough at tango that anyone
would want to dance with me except out of charity?</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Will I need a note from my doctor to explain my absence, so that I don't
get judged as not being serious enough? Committed enough? I haven't gone to classes or
workshops or practicas in over a year. I can't stand long enough to be
in a class. I am limited in the sorts of movements I can do, so is it helpful for anyone for me to go to a practica only to decline the majority of invitations
because I know I can't do what they need to practice? Or that in an entire
practica or milonga, I might be able to dance with only 1 or 2 leaders present - or dance for
only 1 or 2 tandas before I have to go home and rest?</div>
<div>
</div>
<div>
</div>
<div>
My own limitations are enough to dissuade me from going back. But then add to that the comments and posts I read from dancers presuming to judge the potential for improvement of other dancers they barely know. Or worse entire groups of dancers they don't know at all. Why would anyone in my position, or similar, want to face that kind of scrutiny? This is the very activity that could improve our health, and yet when tango is viewed as a meritocracy, where are dancers like me left? Maybe we should be relegated to only dancing with one another so as not to negatively impact the dance experience of the "good dancers"? </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Here's
the thing, though - the thing that makes me feel a little more self-conscious, but is also gets to
the whole point of this post: </div>
<div>
</div>
<div>
</div>
<div>
I would probably get a bit of a pass. </div>
<div>
<br /><br />If
I came back to my local tango scene right now, there are still enough people who remember
me, know my situation, that I would still probably get a couple lovely, safe,
comfortable dances. I'm lucky. My experience would likely still be positive. From the friendly followers who guide me and
introduce me to leaders who are most safe for me to dance with, to the
handful of leaders who have known me, and either knew before what my
situation was, or know now, and who are friendly enough to still take a chance
on me. </div>
<div>
</div>
<div>
</div>
<div>
But what if I hadn't told anyone? What if I'd just left without
a word and then come back, like some do? Or what if I had just moved here from another community with no one to "vouch" for me? What assumptions would people
make? I already know what some of them think because I read their posts and comments. </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
I
would likely get a pass because of community. Because that's what many active participants in communities do - guide and look out for others.
Look for opportunities to uplift, rather than judge. Would I get danced out of pity? Maybe. I hope not. No one owes me that.
And neither party really enjoys dances out of pity. But I can't eliminate that possibility. That, embarrassingly, is another reason I haven't come back. I keep trying to get a little better, eek out the tiniest improvement, so that I won't have to face that possibility. More and more I think that's foolish reasoning.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
If
you don't enjoy dancing with someone - that's completely normal. There are always going to be dancers who don't enjoy dancing with us, for whatever reason.
There's nothing wrong with that. Don't dance with them. Explain why or
don't - that's your option and no one has the right to demand an
explanation. But leave it at that. </div>
<div>
</div>
<div>
</div>
<div>
Don't feel it is then ok to make
judgments about that person's character, or commitment, or passion for
the dance, passion for the music, or for the community. You don't know that -
not any of it. If you think you do - you're guessing. Worse, assuming. So leave that at the door and dance with the dancers you
enjoy dancing with. If you feel like helping other dancers, then help - but without the character judgments. </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
And hope that when
it is your time that you cannot dance as well as you would like to, when you will need patient, generous partners - and
that time will come for all of us who stay in the dance long enough - that others will not judge you for
your "lack of commitment" or potential to improve.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Please, just meet every dancer where they are, without judgment, in that moment - because that moment is all we ever really have. <br /></div>
<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5370884568160752646.post-34264125743359620142017-01-03T18:17:00.003-08:002022-04-16T11:38:00.441-07:00The Way Back, and ramblings . . .<div>
<div>
<div>
A month ago I could do 10 push-ups. After a fall a couple
of weeks ago, I could not do a single one. Yesterday, I did 2. I fell
again today - but I still got to 3 push-ups.<br />
<br />
<i>I get up. I fall down. Meanwhile, I keep dancing. <br />Rabbi Hillel Goldberg
</i></div>
<div>
<br />
Or I keep thinking about dancing.<br />
<br />
I've
been watching dance movies that have moved me, some that inspired me as a
kid, others as an adult. And I've been listening to music that first
inspired me to dance. Trying to get myself to want to dance again. After
this last movie, I realized I haven't lost the <i>desire</i> to dance at all. I still want to dance. Desperately, I think. <br />
<i><br /></i></div>
<div>
<i>Aside:
That last one was Dirty Dancing if you're interested. I was about the
same age as Baby when I saw it. I can tell you about 80% of my
experiences of social dance can be summed up by her line, "I carried a
watermelon." As in, </i>I don't think I should really be here.<i> But
the other 20% of fabulous-amazing-beautiful dance experiences more than
made up for that. Crazy, isn't it? What one beautiful tanda can undo . .
.</i></div>
<div>
</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhA_xucDgHTYoCzFYfRvblHdKpuQVyej6Ea5EZyE1NmVZUX1M9-4tDHN_NNhUtnHIKr-4IGECcqPD8HYWLb2_ORxs9xi8Q9wdtVZZbnobdnUKy7PZA7yTFKzy1fuHMhekufM-uOC2C047M/s1600/icarriedawatermelon.gif" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="195" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhA_xucDgHTYoCzFYfRvblHdKpuQVyej6Ea5EZyE1NmVZUX1M9-4tDHN_NNhUtnHIKr-4IGECcqPD8HYWLb2_ORxs9xi8Q9wdtVZZbnobdnUKy7PZA7yTFKzy1fuHMhekufM-uOC2C047M/s400/icarriedawatermelon.gif" width="400" /></a></div>
<div>
</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
A couple of years ago I started getting
sick, getting injured, falling. When MS started to affect me in ways
that I couldn't hide, I started spending my time and energy trying to avoid feeling
weaker. Denial? Maybe. . . Probably. . . When feeling vulnerable
becomes the default setting of one's life, it's easy to get in the habit
of avoiding risk. Closing everything off. MS made, and still makes, me want to
distance myself from my own body's experience. As if I can limit the
damage using cold objectivity, neutral observation of my physical world.
I stopped letting myself feel sad, angry, anxious about the symptoms --
all to avoid the emotion I still can't escape: fear. <br />
<br />
Partner
dances, social and competitive, require vulnerability for the
partnership to work - or at least to work well. Closed off and separate,
we're just decorating one another's arms in time with the music. When
the dance partnership works best, it feels like coming home. Like
belonging. I miss that so much. Familiar and safe, even with a stranger.
<br />
<br />
We can tell whole life stories to one another, and never
exchange names. I can feel old injuries, new hurts, lost loves, aches
for certain refrains in the music, and so much more in a partner - when
the connection is open and strong. When we're both listening. It takes
both partners being willing to risk. Maybe that's why I'm weirdly comfortable
sharing so much in the dance in out-of-town festivals, or even when I
went to Buenos Aires. I could dance my secrets without an accountable
identity. Maybe I can't tell you my name, or where I'm from - but I'll
tell you all the more important things . . .<br />
<br />
<div style="left: -99999px;">
<i>"When a body moves, it's the most revealing thing. Dance for me a minute, and I'll tell you who you are."
Mikhail Baryshnikov</i></div>
<div style="left: -99999px;">
So who
am I now? What is the story of this body now, in its new state? When I
hide the pain, don't favor the hip that hurts, try to look smooth and
balanced - is my body lying? Am I? Is my pain, even transient pain, who I
am now? Some days. I prefer the pain (as if I had the choice) to the
more mercurial weakness that turns up. Pain is nothing if not reliable.
The weakness? It likes surprises - especially in the heat. There's the
anxiety. The fear of falling. The fear of taking a partner down with me.<br />
<br />
</div>
<div style="left: -99999px;">
<i>If
I fall, let go of me okay? I'm getting used to picking myself up. It's
really ok. Pulling someone else down too? I'm too afraid of that. Just
let me fall.</i></div>
<div style="left: -99999px;">
<br /></div>
<div style="left: -99999px;">
That's the fear talking.<br />
<br />
</div>
Dance
has always been able to pick up where words leave me. Sometimes there's
just too much to tell, but in a 12 minute tanda I can share everything.
And it's usually such a relief. Like letting go of a secret that's been
weighing me down. Am I the only one? Do you feel lighter, less
troubled, after dancing that kind of tanda? Maybe its just me.<br />
<br />
</div>
<div>
<i>Can't you just dance? Does it have to be such a drama? Can't it just be fun?</i>
I've been asked these questions since I started this blog. Like there's
a choice. Like I could switch it off. </div>
<div>
</div>
<div>
I'm a Leo. I don't have a
<i> "just"</i> anything. </div>
<div>
</div>
<div>
Why would you want my "just dance"? <br />
<br />
Doesn't matter. I can't give that anyway. I always talk too much.</div>
<div>
In dance, as in life, as they say . . .</div>
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I'm
a writer. I have the compulsion to share stories. But there are some
stories only my bones, my skin, my muscles can tell. And I've been
shutting all of that off. Keeping quiet. My body has become an unreliable narrator. I
don't know what stories it tells anymore. What secrets it might accidentally reveal.
Some days I hardly know it at all. Am I most afraid of that? That it
will reveal too much? I don't know what it says. Listening to it gets
overwhelming. </div>
Maybe that's the biggest problem.<br />
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</div>
I have to find the way back to my body's experience. Listen. Dance for myself first. Then maybe I can find my way back. Unknownnoreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5370884568160752646.post-81212154459228088682015-09-19T19:09:00.003-07:002015-09-19T19:09:48.482-07:00Sometimes, I want the music<div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFI5X6XhNvaMO1eXK0XPp6AvYv3TpCagXhvYfRLiUvARE9oRRYZTI06Z3pe5g1dp9H6V5ZUquXt0iIra8a3SUhTJHPnKkEIaHWeSr29xLAy5GmeAuwyXzC4AfpohATGlKoLau5hxBZm1Y/s1600/file000680919069.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFI5X6XhNvaMO1eXK0XPp6AvYv3TpCagXhvYfRLiUvARE9oRRYZTI06Z3pe5g1dp9H6V5ZUquXt0iIra8a3SUhTJHPnKkEIaHWeSr29xLAy5GmeAuwyXzC4AfpohATGlKoLau5hxBZm1Y/s320/file000680919069.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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Sometimes, I want the music</div>
that lies against my skin like silk.</div>
Cool, soft, there but not there.</div>
I can keep moving, in fact</div>
I have to move.<br /></div>
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Or I want the music</div>
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that snaps sharp like canvas.</div>
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Arcs, kicks, flashes.</div>
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It moves me</div>
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like a shock.</div>
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Sometimes I want the music</div>
that covers me like lambswool,</div>
warm, soft and calm.</div>
Its substance lies in the pauses.</div>
the silence between notes,</div>
the air between threads.</div>
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I move, but slowly.<br /></div>
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And sometimes . . .</div>
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Sometimes I want the music</div>
I feel in my chest,</div>
like a clenched fist.</div>
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and like a fist,</div>
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It demands.</div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2