Tuesday, November 30, 2010

Rockabilly dancing...for the uneducated

As I have mentioned many times in my blogs, I love to dance. I didn't always know how to dance, since I have a husband that doesn't know how. After years of watching the dance floors at rockabilly shows, longingly, I asked my friend Christian to teach me how. I want to use this blog to show some of the different styles of rockabilly dancing.

There are basically 3 styles of dance, Strollin', Jivin' and Boppin'.All three have a different style of music. It's hard to discern the different types of music at first. Boppers are faster and more up tempo than jivers, and strollers are a little more R&B, which is the best way I know how to describe it.

First, there is strolling. Strolling or "strollin'" is mostly a girls dance, although there is usually some drunk guy along the edge of the dance floor trying to stroll with the girls. Strollin' is kind of like a peacock dance. It's the time when the girls get out and strut their stuff so all the guys can admire them, and all the girls who decided to sit it out can talk shit about them.

Don't forget to shut off the music before you watch the videos!

Here's a clip from youtube that was taken at the High Rockabilly in Spain:


 Now we'll go onto jiving. Jiving is partner dancing. It is different from swing dancing, primarily because it's more free form and there is not really organization to it or counting steps involved. Some dancers do incorporate swing dance and jitterbug moves into their jive. Jiving is partner dancing that is all about feeling the music and once I figured out how to follow, I could dance with anyone that could lead.



Now we move on to boppin'! Boppin' is really just free form dancing. Sometimes it looks like retarded 80s dancing, but sometimes, I just can't stop staring when some really good boppers are out on the floor. There are some standard type of skipping steps that a lot of people do, and I don't really have much style when I bop. I just have fun moving to the music.


Hope you all enjoyed this, although I know more than half my readers are good dancers, themselves.

Monday, November 29, 2010

Yeah...screw the diet...Total Food Blog!

This year, Frank and I celebrated Thanksgiving with just us and the kids. We had some debate a few weeks ago because Frank wanted a Prime Rib on Thankgiving. Total Blasphemy, right? I gave in, but purchased a Turkey breast to roast.

I'll start the photos of the pre-cooked food:

3 Rib Prime Rib Roast


Stuffed Turkey Breast

I wore my newest addition from my favorite Etsy seller,   Vintagecurve:




Now the after pictures of the food....yum, I get hungry looking at them!
Prime Rib with oven roasted potatoes and carrots
 
Stuffed roasted Turkey Breast
 

Gotta have Yorkshire Pudding with Prime Rib!

It's not Thanksgiving without Sweet Potatoes
 
Here's the whole spread

I used my estate sale dishes:

 Frank sat around all day while I cooked...except to pick up Ashley from the Train


My plate...I wasn't holding back after cooking all day!

Finally, I get to relax while Frank did the dishes....

Long Overdue post with a pic of a new dress.

I have been really lazy and not posting blogs...someday, when I get organized, I will remember to blog regularly. I've kept up on most of my reading of blogs, but have been lax in preparing blogs. If I don't have some entertaining pics to put up, I just don't like to blog.

Here is my Kamehameha dress I got from Ebay for $56, which I think is a VERY fair price


We had a great Thanksgiving, I ate WAY too much. I will post my TG blog this week. Hope all my American friends had a good holiday!

Monday, November 15, 2010

Another Friday night of dancing

Pictures stolen from Aaron Dunmore and Raul Castro...

Tanoa was spinning




Met a cool girl from back east...we have mutual friends



Wore my cowboy shirt and a red pencil skirt with my buddy chewed cowboy boots
E and Jake

Jiving with Oran

  The crowd


Gabby and Morgan



Jose, Raul and I

Saturday, November 13, 2010

Vintage Curve has some great stuff listed!

My favorite Etsy store has listed some more great items. She's pulled out her separates and some outerwear for the cold weather.

Vintage Curve has clothes that are almost exclusively 30+ waist size...some go up to 35 inches (maybe more). I also think she prices her great pieces very fairly.

Here are some of the things she is selling right now:












Saturday, November 6, 2010

Viva Rockabilly Fridays in San Francisco!

At last! Our Friday night record hop is back and last night was the kick off in the new location, Retox on 20th near 3rd in the Dogpatch neighborhood of San Francisco.

Three of our four rotating DJs were spinning, Rockin' Raul, Tanoa Samoa Boy and OkieOran. It was Raul's birthday, so when he wasn't on the decks he was jiving 2 or 3 girls at once
That's Gabby from "Sewing is Hard" on the left
 Lola Devlin got a jive with the birthday boy
It was such a great crowd. Retox has a pretty decent dance floor and there is more room to dance than at Jay N Bee. I will miss Jay N Bee, but Retox is a great substitute. The owner Scott was great and loved having us there. 
Here's some pics from the night
 Oakie Oran at the decks
 My jive guru, Christian
Jessica double fisting!

Bootilicious!

  Jake was excited about Rockabilly Fridays coming back!
 Oran having a twirl with Michelle
I'm having a twirl with E...does Tempermental Broad recognize that skirt?

 My turn with the birthday boy!

I am sure I will be posting more blogs about Fridays...or at least pictures. I'm so happy to have it back and have the opportunity to see my City friends once a week again.
 

Friday, November 5, 2010

Rockabilly Fridays are BACK in SF!

A few months ago I posted a blog, lamenting the loss of Friday nights at Jay & Bee's. You can read about it here.

I'm so happy that a new venue has finally been secured and San Francisco's Rockabilly Fridays is BACK starting tonight! I will bring my camera since it's also Raul's birthday.

Wednesday, November 3, 2010

The vintage Gods have smiled on me again...

I found another Lurex dress...this time it was only $23.49! Thank you EBAY!!!
It even fits me in the hips perfectly and has the original belt!

Casualties of Buddy

As I announced a few blogs ago, I was blessed with an adorable deer headed Chihuahua I named "Buddy" after Buddy Holly. Buddy has spots over his eyes like glasses, so I thought the name was appropriate. He's also my little buddy, and it suits him.

Buddy is still a puppy. I think he's about 7 months old now, so I should have expected this could happen. Here are my shoes *sniff* that have sacrificed themselves to Buddy:

My cowboy boots, that are still wearable
 My first pair of straw shoes he got a hold of:
 My second pair of straw shoes:

My new bordello Polly's that I wore ONCE...I blacked the chewed place with black Sharpie

 The biggest tragedy...My Betsey Johnson Polly's!


 
How can I stay mad at this face?
 

 

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