Just Doing My Part

I listen to a bunch of podcasts by this priest from the Netherlands called Fr. Roderick. I download them from iTunes, but you can also listen to them on their website. He sponsors programs that cover Catholicism, but mostly technology, travel, pop culture, movies, TV and more!! No kidding.. SQPN covers EVERYTHING. Anyway, he asked that people post this video on their blogs so.... here! Check it out.

And all that jazz...

Robert Louis Fosse, known best as Bob Fosse, was one of the most influential choreographers of his time. Not to mention directors, dancers, actors, or artists. His unique style of dancing contradicted everything that was accepted in the traditional techniques of dance. Even the avant garde styles of Martha Graham, Alvin Ailey and Jose Limon didn't push the boundaries like Fosse did. His unapologetic sexuality mixed with his meticulous simplicity formed a style of dance that would go on to define the most widely known genre of dance: jazz.

His style is so easily recognizable that you probably wouldn't even know that you recognized it. Bob Fosse was able to take the most elementary movements and manipulate them so that he created something new. What Andy Warhol did for Campbell's soup, Bob Fosse did for your fingers; the man invented jazz hands! And that is likely the least of his accomplishments. The most amazing thing about him is how closely his artwork reflected his own personality. Saying he led a sexually promiscuous life-style is more than an understatement. He was horribly a insecure person, a complete perfectionist, always paranoid. What is most admirable about him though was his stubbornness. He refused to let anyone or anything limit him. He often quoted as saying, "I thank God I wasn't born perfect." And he had good reason to. He was embarassed by his premature balding, so he often wore hats. As a result his most famous pieces would be lost without his signature bowler caps. He wanted to hide his liver-spots from aging (he was also obsessed with dying young - as all the males in his family did), so he always wore gloves while performing, and his dancers followed suit. He had naturally poor posture and weak turnout, so instead of dancing with tall open lines, he sank down and choreographed dancers to be hunched and turned in. And most famously, he was a chain smoker. All of his dances could be done - if the dancer was skilled enough - without having to put your butt down. In "Rich Man's Frug" dancers actually smoke on stage!


There's a story (told by Ben Vereen in an interview with PBS) that he once was fed up with his dancers not getting a particular routine, so he got up to show them. He danced the entire combination without dropping a single ash off then end of his cigarette. That's grace.
Despite his faults, which were many, he managed to embrace his vices and turn them into his trademarks.


If your interested, or want to read more, check out this.

Rich Man's Frug


"Bye, Bye, Blackbird"

"It's showtime, folks!"

B is for Blog

I am still deciding exactly what Life: on the Rocks is going to focus on. While I would love to just write on impulse - about whatever happens to be motivating me that day. However, I don't think that would be very interesting for you, so I am trying to focus my creative energy and come up with something a bit less random, and slightly more compelling. Well there are many things in life that I enjoy that I could write about - but L:otR (Hey! That's the same acronym for Lord of the Rings.. funny) isn't so much about what I want to write about, as what you want to read about. I guess I will begin with what I know (which isn't much) and go from there. Feedback along the way is not only welcome, but also greatly appreciated. So speak up.

Baracky: The Movie

The views expressed in this hilarious youtube video do not necessarily reflect the views of anyone affiliated with Life: On The Rocks. So don't be a hater.


This video has surely made its rounds on the internet, but just in case you haven't seen it yet, check it out! It's one of the funniest things to come out of the race for the Democratic nomination yet!

Makin banana pancakes/Pretend like it's the weekend....

So I have a very wide taste in .. everything... except for food, which I actually tend to be a bit picky about. Anyway. Today was quite a gloomy day weather-wise, and as it's been so sunny lately, it bummed me out. I got over it quickly while thinking on my way to work (which I was of course late for, per usual) by remembering a line from Casanova, "Rain is just another kind of good weather!" It's so true! About the weather, yes - but more about the perspective. I often forget that. "Good" is relative and if you want it to be...any situation can be a good one, if you just manipulate the variables. So, as I sped off to work I began to manipulate! Under what circumstances would I enjoy a rainy, cloudy day? Hmmm. On a day where I didn't have much to do so I could let my mind wander. In a place where it was quiet so I could just listen to the raindrops pounding at my roof. While enjoying some form of a hot beverage. Well, I had a good amount of paperwork to get out of the way today - mindless work, CHECK! Now I couldn't actually jet off to Hawaii to do said paperwork, so what's the next best thing? Obviously listening to the complete catalog of Jack Johnson. His voice is soothing, his melodies are agreeable and his lyrics are simply pleasing to the soul, while nothing short of genius. I really really love his music. Whenever I'm doing... less than stellar, Jack has always got a song appropriate for my mood - as well as for lifting it. So, quiet place for my mind to wander (via my musically transported inner self), CHECK! And luckily, there is an awesome cafe in our building at work. They make the best coffees and teas. It's on the expensive end, so I try not to go too often, but they do have frequent buyer cards so every seventh coffee is free! I had a free one saved up for - what else? - a rainy day! A free vanilla latte - warm beverage, CHECK! And wouldn't you know it? It worked! I enjoyed my coffee, listened to Jack Johnson, and got all my work done rather quickly! Before I realized it, I was having a good day. Imagine that.



Best wishes.

Welcome!

This is my new blog. Here, I hope to write about many things: but mainly my own opinions on my own life - and everything that it encompasses! And hopefully, I'll be able to pass on a recommendation or two onto you - my hopefully faithful readers. I welcome your feedback and hope to hear from you often! I guess this is sort of an experiment, and a chance for me to grow in a new arena.

At any rate: Welcome!

-E-