Your post is really on target with an interest of mine. An interest not in the typical sense, but because in the past I've tried to track down some speech 'therapy' or a class that would address diction in speaking. So unsuccessful so far. The closest I've come to anyone being helpful was their suggesting an acting class. The problem is that this isn't something you can just sign up for around here. You have to apply and be accepted to the particular 'school of the arts' and take one/them as part of their overall curriculum.
At the rate you're going with your detailed explanations, your litmus tests may shift and end up being Leonard Cohen and cats .
Thanks for this 'listening' information. I'll begin to do that.
~ Lizzy
"Be yourself. Everyone else is already taken." ~ Oscar Wilde
Thanks for passing that on, Melody. It's funny to watch myself and some others I know, including some very familiar with the Internet, as we forget to consider the Internet as an obvious source for a solution. I will be happy to do the investigating.
~ Lizzy
"Be yourself. Everyone else is already taken." ~ Oscar Wilde
Hi Lizzy,
My favourite figure skater was Brian Orser from Canada (still is one of my all-time favourites) and he skated to 'The story of my life' and 'Headed for the future' in the exhibition of the 1988 Olympics (I was a very keen competitive skater as well until I buggered up my knees). As I liked the songs I got some ND albums - to the great amusement of my friends as it wasn't exactly what 13-year-olds at the time liked to listen to.
Don't think I've seen any skaters skate to LC's songs (yet).
I remember Brian Orser . It was always difficult for me to settle on favourites, as they each brought something different to the ice. There were very definitely the top ones for me, though. Sorry to hear about your knees stopping you in that interest. Was it on/through your time on the ice that it happened? It seems that they would be the most common thing TO bugger up the works, as they'd be so vulnerable and subject to 'misuse' .
I don't think I have either of those songs. I'll check and if I do I'll listen. I'd try to find something on the Internet, but something's happened since day before yesterday with my great, quite new, external speakers. The box lights up, but no sound! All wires seem connected.
It seems like someone skated to "I'm Your Man," but I can't remember who it was.
I love competitive skating. When I went to see it in person, though, I was disappointed by how [I guess unless you're right there ringside] there was a 'separation' between the music aurally and the skaters visually. Watching it on TV, they're merged almost absolutely... in person, though, they were quite 'separate'... and there was so much of seeing their skating trails on the ice. The cameras really zero in on the skaters on TV, but I think my higher up seats [but not THAT much higher] compromised the experience. It was wonderful to see them in person [Michelle Kwan and that tiny 16-year-old who did so well a few years back, etc.], but it could have been a much better experience.
Ha. I'll bet you did stand out as a 13-year-old loving Neil Diamond .
~ Lizzy
"Be yourself. Everyone else is already taken." ~ Oscar Wilde
Wow, ice skating and LC. I don't know enough yet to pair skaters and songs but I love skating. Thankfully American TV figured out that there's a good market for skating shows during (and while airing) football (season). I've always been a Brian Boitano fan. I love the hand-in-the-air triples. I wonder, is there anything in LC's catalog that would work with a skater like Scott Hamilton? He's so playful and full of energy.
Thanks to this site my life has taken an interesting turn. I've been going through the forum archives trying to get a sense of personalities and interactions. Even though I'm a voracious reader I'm intimidated with the poetry and prose. I don't know if I'll be able to add much to the discussions. I'm much better with music/lyric stuff. I called up an old boyfriend who's a record producer/composer/singer/musician/performer on a hunch he'd know of LC. He's going to be a terrific reference for me and thus for this forum.
In perusing the archives, I see that there may be as many as 15 verses for 'Hallelujua' but I couldn't find them all. Is there a comprehensive list somewhere? I think the thread had 7-10 of them.
I finally got the picture of the original Melody to fit the avatar space. It's ok (and safe) to snag if you want to see a bigger image. She was an American Saddlebred, 4 years old in this picture, that I found neglected, skinny, and malnourished. This pic was taken after I had rehabbed her for a year. She was a huge horse, 17 hands or about 5'6" at the shoulder. I couldn't see over her back without getting on my tippytoes. She was a bottomless pit for food during that year. She put on close to 350 lbs. If anyone wants to see the before and after pics, email me and I'll send them.
Thank you SO much for posting those, Osmachar. I SO much enjoyed them . I hadn't even seen them. It wasn't even Gary Beacom I was thinking of... it seems it was someone more well-known [at least to me], like Scott Hamilton, who did it.
Thanks to Gary for making Leonard Cohen known to that standing ovation audience. I love the humour he puts into his performance... the boxer, the driver, the doctor, the hider. I also love his loose dress pants, crisp shirt, tie, and sunglasses for his skating outfit. Very cool. Precious performances. I'm glad the footage included the scores on the one piece. I wonder if Leonard has ever seen these.
~ Lizzy
"Be yourself. Everyone else is already taken." ~ Oscar Wilde
I've just seen your posting. I'd be VERY interested in seeing your before and after photos of your now-gorgeous Melody. I'm very sure she's seriously devoted to you. Animals have an immense capacity for gratitude and loyalty. I have a fear of horses, but I can do a mean job on cleaning a stall. First time trying, I was commentably adept at braiding manes, but the next day, I could barely move my seriously swollen fingers from the tension and control of the hair that were required in doing it. So, it went its way as a vocation abandoned.
I, too, love Scott Hamilton's playfulness and energy... just watching him often evokes out-loud laughter conjunct amazement... and Boitano, always so tall, elegant, and precise in his performances. I'm going to check and see if I can find who else it was that skated to "I'm Your Man."
~ Lizzy
"Be yourself. Everyone else is already taken." ~ Oscar Wilde
It's Jenni Meno and Todd Sand. This song lends itself so well to interpretive movement. Okay, off again, looking. I want to watch that one over again. It wasn't the one I was thinking of, either. The other one is a solo.
~ Lizzy
"Be yourself. Everyone else is already taken." ~ Oscar Wilde
I cannot find it. I know I didn't imagine it, and it seems I talked about it here... a couple years ago. Danged if I can find it, though. It must not have been Scott Hamilton. Oh, well.
~ Lizzy
"Be yourself. Everyone else is already taken." ~ Oscar Wilde
And after (too big for the space allowed but you get the idea):
I had to giggle. Braiding manes and tails is also an art form and quite lucrative for those that can do them well and quickly. I had a friend who would go to the big hunter/jumper shows and provide her nimble fingers for pay or barter. A desperate mother will pay a pretty penny for a last minute braid job on little Susie's pony before the big class. Most of my jumpers were long mane breeds so I only had to French or Dutch braid them. Tails are much easier although on a cold September morning the temperature of the water needed to make a perfect braid would freeze and gnarl my fingers into uselessness.
Back when I was teaching and training full time I had a couple of classes for those with a fear of horses. I wasn't able to convert all of them but all of the students made great progress. It always made me sad to see people so afraid. Most all had the same story - a bad experience with a horse like falling off or being bitten or kicked. I had some wonderful school horses. My favorite was 'Rey de' who was an old show horse. He was the consummate gentleman, even knew how to shake hands, and was trained to listen to my voice. He knew when he had a fearful or inexperienced rider and would only take commands from me regardless of what the rider was doing. He instilled great confidence in his riders and was much loved. He lived to the ripe old age of 34 with his final 'job' being a babysitter to a pasture full of yearling race colts. I miss him the most.
I had to stop riding a few years ago due to health concerns. It's hard, especially when a cool summer morning has the scent of freshly cut alfalfa in the air. Brisk fall days bring memories of long treks searching for one more natural element to jump. South Dakota is quite flat so one has to find river bluffs and their fallen trees and such to negotiate. But now I live vicariously through my daughter, former students, and horses I've sent on to others owners.
WoW. What a difference. Look at that lifted tail and attitude. Pride all over the place. A joyful new horse. She looks postcard/trade magazine perfect. "You've come a long way, baby... " I'm amazed by her shine. Have you ever happened to use Mane and Tail on your horses [or yourself]? I tried it a couple times on my hair, but it seemed to 'stretch' it, which unfortunately meant breaking it, as well.
How sad to not be able to ride anymore. Thankfully, you have the means for living your love vicariously. Does your daughter compete? The terrain you describe would be quite close to Central Florida's, where many of our horse farms are located.
Uselessness. What an understatement. Yes, I was ready. Had been told about the earnings, and didn't mind the idea of the early, pre-show hours and the chill, which a good cup of coffee would help [not COLD like you have there because this is Florida ~ a cold climate would've dismissed this great idea, too] and had bought a number of supplies. A great, Rubbermaid box for my supplies that was also a foot stool for reaching the heights needed for braiding. Still have some of those supplies and am using the box/stool for a toolbox and stool. My braiding teacher was very impressed and spoke of how well I would do, independently contracting my services, and I was ready to go back for more lessons.
Then, the next morning came. As I talked to her on the phone about it, and learned that there would be times the horse[s] might be out in the field and I'd be pointed in their direction to get them in for the braiding... or that they wouldn't already be tied up in their stalls or on the inside of a corral, I knew that more than my just fingers was going to be a problem, anyway; and that I wasn't about to put me and my fear inside a closed stall with a horse that I knew would know it, and where I'd be trying to get it under my control and tied. Ha. So, it just wasn't meant to be. Ironic that what prompted me to check into it at all was the idea of conquering my fears, by placing myself in close proximity to horses in a way that could lead to gradually increasing familiarity.
My bad experiences numbered over five. If it had been one or two, maybe... but, it was just too many, too much. A class specifically geared for people with that fear is a great idea. Rey de sounds like he was a really gentle, wonderful horse. I can see how much you must miss him. Shaking hands with a horse like that would really help a person with that fear.
At the horse ranch where I worked for awhile, I'd ride around with the manager to deliver chunks from the bales of hay, so that smell is very evocative for me, too. I know alfalfa was given, too, but my recollection is related to the hay. The alfalfa was a treat. Don't ask me why, but I also actually loved cleaning the stalls and changing their waters. I know part of why I enjoyed it was the challenge of the wheelbarrow; the physical activity; hitting 'clean' earth; and standing back and enjoying looking at the cleared space and sanitary place for the horses's hooves to be. One thing down here that I discovered is that Spanish moss is one of nature's brillo pads. I discovered it at my own house, but would've used it there, too, had I known. It takes the scum off the sides of the plastic buskets so quickly and easily.
~ Lizzy
Last edited by lizzytysh on Sun Jul 01, 2007 8:41 am, edited 2 times in total.
"Be yourself. Everyone else is already taken." ~ Oscar Wilde
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]... but here's one you're going to love!
