Anyone remember that little challenge I gave myself...

I think it was over a year ago now. I was going to get back into dance shape and kind of push myself a bit. We all know where the road to good intentions go...

But I'm quite pleased with myself today. Today marks my third go round with my noisys (ie hardshoes) since the move :) And each session has been at least an hour :)

Have to give credit where credit's due: it's the new place making this possible. Not only has my daily to and from work gone from 12.2km down to 2.6km, giving me actual energy to dance after 8 hours on my feet, but there is a lovely unfinished basement. A concrete floor just begging for stomps and stamps, trebles and toe-jumps :)

Ah, it feels good after nearly 3 years away from it. Haven't tried anything softshoe; a little concerned about the hard floor and only having ghillies between it and my toes.

So for now, I'm trying to do one day a week for at least an hour. I've even got the Oracle out and been tackling not only good ol' St. Patrick's Day (steps 1 & 2 for now; my stamina is gone!!! how did I ever survive 1-5??), but I've dusted off the stampy Hornpipe (heehee, still picture David clapping to this) and Bernadette's Mayhem, the first (only?) treble jig I ever remembered mostly what I was supposed to do :) It feels good to be back at it :) I know my technique has gone to pot and my turn out is atrocious, but I'm working at it and maybe, maybe mind you, with a little perseverance I can get back to looking like a "real" dancer again. Or at least feel like one.

 TTFN

End of 2014 roundup

So, to start off, I wrote a post back in Oct, using the app, that apparently never published :( *sigh* Have I ever explained that technology doesn't like me very much?

Anywho, I was checking Ravelry this morning, trying to decide what WIP(s) to work on when I figured I should check this year's FO total. Can I have a drumroll, please? ;)

7!! Admittedly, they're all small things, but I completed 7 projects in 2014 :) Which means I passed my knitting goal :) Lovely feeling that.

My other goals didn't fair so well. I seemed to have been sick more often than not this year (just over a 4 day bout of flu) so my dance practice goal was never in the running. And my weight loss has been slim to none, although everyone says I look smaller. The common assumption is I've gained muscle. Whatever's going on, I'm still hovering around that last 20lbs I wanted to lose.

Now, as all good end of year posts do, I must look towards 2015 is the New Year and muse about what I can accomplish.

On the knitting side: I don't think 5 projects of a little more substance is out of line. Especially if I get some of these WIPs out of the way ;) Daydreams in Lace jacket, I'm looking at you. You too, Carson shawl.

Dance and weight loss: I'm lumping these two together because I firmly believe they are key to one another. Roomies and I have a budget and plan in place to be living in Town before September. And that will mean Síle back in a dance studio working her tootsies off :) And that combined with walking around the pretty city, I think, is going to help me get the weight under control :) Also, I'm much happier when I dance and that inspires me to be creative in my knitting and other things too. It's all good :)

So, that's my basic hopes for 2015 :) I want to wish everyone a great New Year and may all your projects turn out as planned ;)

TTFN

Progress on WIP Challenge Week

Attended a stitch & laugh at one of the ladies from the ICoR house tonight. Oh did we laugh :) And I got the 2nd sleeve done on my SLCP :) Just need to knit the bands before Saturday :) I confess though: I haven't even picked up Dianna this week. Oh well, soon that will be my focus project.
TTFN

30 Days of GBS Challenge: Days 15 - 26

Day 15 - A song you prefer live: Besides all of them?!?! Ummm, "Mari-Mac" because they always insist on the audience getting involved.
Day 16 - Favourite Itunes sessions song: I don't have iTunes so I haven't heard any of these.
Day 17 - A song that is "yours": Easy one!!! "Fast As I Can" I am a fool; I admit it freely.
Day 18 - Favorite cover song: "End of the World as We Know it" because I love how fast Alan can sing those lines!!
Day 19 - A favorite acoustic version: the "living room" version of "Sea of No Cares'
Day 20 - A song that reminds you of someone: Hmmm... this may seem odd but "Old Black Rum" reminds me of my friend Heather. That's actually the ringtone for her on my cellphone!! lol
Day 21 - A song you would like to know how to play: I'd like to actually be able to play an instrument lol Hmmm, "Dear Home Town" would be appropriate I think.
Day 22 - A song to cheer you up: Any of them, other than the noted tear-jerkers!! Ah, specifically though... ok, I never fail to smile when I hear "Ordinary Day" no matter my mood. I often hum it at work to keep calm lol
Day 23 - A song that makes you dance: This is on the list twice lol And there are so many great ones! What to choose? What to choose? What to choose?... The song I'm listening to right now!!  "Jack Hinks" lol Great song for bopping about :)
Day 24 - A song to sing in the shower: Not that I sing in the shower, mind you... but if I did I would most likely be singing "French Perfume"
Day 25 - A song that makes you laugh.: Oooh, so many to choose from... latest gut-buster though "Hit the Ground & Run"
Day 26 - A song that reminds you of somewhere: "Dear Hometown" 'nuff said

Had got a little behind here but all caught up now :) There is no video for French Perfume on youtube that has the b'ys singing :( It's on the "Sea of No Cares" album. Enjoy.

30 Days of GBS: Days 11, 12 & 13

And the challenge continues :) Have been good about putting my picks on fb both on my wall & in the note I created, but have gotten a couple days behind over here. Oh well. Be sure to check the girls' picks over at greatbigseaoffans as well.

Day11: song that calms you- fairly easy pick: "Let It Go" I think it speaks for itself.

Day 12 - Favorite music video: This was hard to narrow down!! I have always loved the video for "Lukey" but then I found the video for "Captain Kidd" with all the family members playing & singing along with the b'ys... Sorry "Lukey", ya've been replaced.

Day 13 - Favorite live song from Great Big Dvd: But I love the entire dvd!!! There's nothing like the b'ys live in concert *grumble grumble grumble* Ok, since I agreed to the challenge I must pick. "Excursion Around the Bay", one of the few songs that Darrell originally did the lead vocal for. And live, in concert with audience participation it's just more fun :)

And that catches me up to today with 43 mins left in the day lol :)

30 Days of GBS: Day 10

Day 10 is: song that makes you dance. And while much of what the b'ys play is either jig or reel based and I can totally dance to it, there is one song that comes instantly to mind. "Little Beggarman" is the unlisted track on "Play". Why this song above the others? Because a few years back, me & 3 of my dance classmates, and awesome friends, used this song to dance our "Steppin' Out" reel for our school's "Rock Recital". Everytime I hear it now, I think of me, Sionan, Heather & Nat on stage together: good times :)

30 Days of GBS: Day 9

A song that makes you cry. Is there another song as sad as "Safe Upon the Shore"? I don't think so.

30 Days of GBS: Day 8

Day8 is favorite song from "Fortune's Favour". This was actually an easy choice: I wore out a song on the first cd I bought lol. That song is "Straight to Hell". Love it. "Oh Yeah" is the theme song to Republic of Doyle (awesome show!!!) & "Dance Dance" is the first song on this album I learnt all the words to. But its "StH" that has captured my days when I want to flip everyone off & do what I want instead of what I should.
TTFN

30 Days of GBS: Days 5, 6 & 7

A little behind on updating ;) Big shocker, I know lol. Here's the next few days answers:

Day5: favorite song from "Hard & the Easy"- This is such an awesome album :) Not a bad song in the lot. How to choose my favorite... At the concert in November of 2008, Alan was talking about the lake here in Regina & the dog he'd found (he wrote a FTR about the whole adventure) and amidst some teasing from Sean the lead in for a certain song was slipped in. I was one of the first people out of their seat. The song? "Charlie Horse". Love it!!

Day6: favorite song from "Safe Upon the Shore"- The 'new' album ;) So many different sounds on this one :) Love it!! But my heart belongs to the album's finale piece: "Don't Wanna Go Home"It's jazzy. It's bluesy. Fabulous. Also love "Road to Ruin".

Day7: favorite song from "Turn"- turning back the clock a bit ;) Another album that's hard to choose from; aren't they all? lol Ok, my 'favorite' song from this album has got to be "Can't Stop Falling". It just seems to describe everything just so. Perfect.

That's all for this update. Remember: if you love Great Big Sea, check out the blog http://greatbigseaoffans.blogspot.com
TTFN

30 Days of Great Big Sea: a fun challenge

My good friends over at http://greatbigseaoffans.blogspot.com came up with something fun for the month of July to honor our favorite band. I've decided to keep track here as well as on Facebook. We started on July 1, so here's where we're at:

Day1: first song you ever heard- "Great Big Sea"! lol The first song on the first album. A very dear friend had it on cassette in the fall of '93! lol

Day2: your favorite song- Tough one!!!! I'll say "Goin' Up" :) It always makes me sing along and smile :)

Day3: least favorite song- Another tough one!! Hmmm.... I confess: I usually skip "Trois Navires de Ble" because I don't have a clue what's going on in it! I guess that makes it my least favorite. Which is a shame because it's such a pretty tune

Day4: favorite song from "Something Beautiful*" - Such a great album, makes it hard to pick!! But the songs I listen to the most are "Let It Go" & "Sally Anne". I can't narrow it further than that!

It's quite fun :) And it's a challenge to think of all the different albums & the songs you like from each one. Thanks, ladies :) greatbigseaoffans is moderated by Karina, Krista & Sara and they're wonderful :) Check out the blog as they always seem to have something going on over there; I have them listed in my sidebar as well :)
That's it for today!
TTFN