Well, it's about time I updated my journal again and, though I have a few things I could blog about, I feel that that last attempt at blogging was pretty, er, terrible. So I won't do that again. Or, if I do, I'll be sure to only drop one or two in the space of a normal entry. Until I forget I said this, that is.

Anyway, Jason's entry on writing deadlines inspired me to do my own:

Write Flytrap

• reviews
  
• editorial
  
• automatic writing?
  
  
• Finish draft of YA by end of October
  
• Do first pass of revisions on YA by Thanksgiving, then give to Tim/ first readers for comments
  
• Do second pass of revisions on YA by end of December, if ready, send to Ginger
  
  
• Revise "Immolation" again in November, shine and send out if ready
  
  
• Send "SWF" to Polyphony 5 November 1st
  
  
• Rewrite "Skatebirding" in November
  
• Revise "Skatebirding" in December
  
  
• Write a women's story during October
  
• Revise women's story by mid-December
  

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I went to a Belly Dance for Democracy fundraiser for John Kerry last night, mainly because my sister was performing and I have this total guilt trip about not showing up to more of her performances (this one I could BART to). I failed utterly in finding someone to accompany me, mostly due to short notice, so I braved it alone.

I hadn't realized you had to fill out so much paperwork to donate to the DNC! It was a mandatory $15 donation, but you had to fill out a page-long form that included information on what you did for a living. It was a strange experience. I now also have Kerry Buttons and a bumper sticker. If anyone in a swing state would like the bumper sticker, please let me know; neither Tim nor I want to put it on our car.

I felt a little weird about the politics, mainly because I don't think I'm going to vote for Kerry (I'm going to vote Green, I think, but I need to do some more reading first). California isn't likely to go to Bush, so this time around I'm going to take advantage of not living in a swing state and vote my conscience instead of settling for the lesser of two great evils.

ANYway, I was really there for the dancing, as I said, and for the most part it was fabulous. The first group danced in a cabaret style, which was a little jarring to me, as they were awfully, um, sexual. As my sister said, for me to say that lets you know just how jarring I found it. I thought maybe we could've been eased into the belly dancing with some nice, safe tribal stuff and worked our way up to the thrusting hips, popping, shaking chests and the undulations that were more than merely suggestive. Of course, by their last number -- a rather fascinating mix of jazz dance steps and belly dancing that I really liked -- I was used to it and it didn't bother me nearly as much.

The second dancer, Frederick, was amazing. She did minute, perfectly precise movements to modern music and she was such a good performer that it was simply captivating. She also did the hands-down best turkish drop (falling backwards on the floor, but with your calves folded underneath you for control) I've ever seen. She also had a costume on that looked like a combination between a tribal belly dance costume and an anime character and was, er, rather easy on the eyes.

I won't bore you with details of every performance, but I'll skip ahead to Holly's troupe, Shuvani.

They were first after the break (during which I failed to win any raffle prizes, sigh) with their "Bollywood" number. Not that I'm biased or anything, but they were the most professional group performing that night, with high energy, matching costumes (down to the jewelry), good smiles/ interaction with the audience and perfectly synchronized dance movements. The Bollywood costumes included a fake braid that trailed down to their waists. Very fun number.

They were also the closers for the night, with their Egyptian set. It starts with a cute group bellydance number and then each member does a solo. Holly told me later that they'd brought the wrong CD, so her solo, which is usually one minute, went five minutes long last night. I only noticed about 3 minutes in that she might be improvising, which is pretty impressive. It's a cane number, with spinning and lots of Holly's sparkling stage personality; we talked later about different tricks she might be able to practice and put into the act to spiff it up a bit (I love it that I can give her feedback that she values) because the following two solos are show-stoppers.

Hannah, the next soloist, does a slow number while balancing a metal tea tray on her head. I told her afterwards that she should show us that they're not glued down, as she's so good it almost looks like they are. She goes down into the splits, rolls forward on her belly, sits up in a "V" seat and stands up and shimmies, all with the tray balanced on her head. The last time I saw this act, she dropped the tray, and I was really impressed with how calmly she picked it up, put it back together and started over with the splits again. Last night, though, it was flawless.

The final solo is Luna, the group's leader, belly dancing while standing on wine glasses. Oh, and then she does it again, but with a flaming sword balanced on her head.

They brought the house down. Seriously, it was a perfect closer and the already very appreciative audience just went wild for them. Holly's in a very good group.

After the show I went backstage and, realizing that my sister now lives off the same exit as I do, got a ride home with her. That actually rocked, as it would have taken twice as long on BART.

I'm definitely going to have to start going to more of Holly's shows. Oh, and now I want to dance again.

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One last blog item and then I'll go. Why Women Should Vote.