Live Journal hates me
Half of the time the pages won't even load. Today my Friends page is missing a few days.
It goes from May 27 to May 30. Very mysterious.
Last night my mom, the baby, and I went to the Church Brew Works to meet with some old friends from the ballet. It was a pretty fun gathering and not nearly as uncomfortable as I was anticipating. The people we were meeting were all former teachers/administrative staff from PBT. My mom used to work there so was better friends with them than I was. I was mostly there to visit on a former student basis.
Gathered were David, the former school director; Mary, current modern dance teacher;
Janet, former dancer with the company and current ballet teacher; Nancy, admin; Kristen, former ballet teacher; Randy, kick ass photographer; Bonnie, parent/volunteer/admin person…uh, I think that's it.
I will admit that my initial fear was that everyone would look at me, remember me as the skinny dancer and be shocked at how…curvy I've become. But I resolved to not let that bother me. I was also concerned at the inevitable comparison between me and my classmates…you know, see how my post-ballet life stacks up to that of the people I graduated high school with. A total waste of though and energy, yes, I agree, but still there.
But I guess since seven years and a billion changes have passed since I was last in any kind of relationship with these people everything was much more relaxed. They were blown away by my son. Everyone thought that he was just the most darling little boy that they had ever seen. They were really glad that I had graduated college and was getting ready to start out in “the real world.”
Thinking back on it now, I realize that there was an overwhelming lack of regret which felt so good. Everyone there had left or was in the process of leaving PBT and was comfortable with that decision. Good and bad things had happened since then but they're dealing. I guess it's hard to explain to you, my live journal audience, what PBT was like and what the people who live life through that place are like. It's just very very strange.
It was also sad to hear all of the business woes that PBT is having under the managing director. Basically, the powers that be have said to hell with artistic integrity and are now only worried about PBT's viability as a business. I'd read what little coverage the troubles have had in the newspaper but it's a much more dire story to hear it from those who have been/are in the trenches. It's safe to say that at the current pace, Pittsburgh will be without its major ballet company in a few years. Perhaps at times like these most folks would be inclined to say, “Who cares about some measly ballet company?” It probably is last on the list of priorities, but I'm always wary when people are ready and willing to give the arts the axe. If not for the arts, who will give us unbiased commentary on life and the culture around us?
*end artsy fartsy rant*
But besides all that, I had the best salad ever.
It was also good to reconnect with people who will be able to help me personally and professionally along the way.
I was pretty exhausted when we got home. The baby and I walked with the boyfriend up to the pizza shop so that he could get a hoagie. My bladder let me know of its presence by sending some stabbing pains my way. fucker.
I gave the baby a bath, put him to bed and then just plopped down in my room without doing any cleaning up or anything. We watched Elimidate and tried to brainstorm some creative new episodes. The best one was having a goth edition of Elimidate. Just think about the possibilities. I think it would be really funny. You could also follow that with a candy raver edition, a redneck edition, electroclash edition, hipster edition….just run through all the subcultures. classic.
Alright, my kid stinks and he's having some issues with his Duplo blocks.
November 21st, 2008 at 3:14 pm
Ah, good post – gave me something decent to read while I am bored at work. I’ll have to check your site out more often 🙂 Thanks!