Accentuate the positive

I've been thinking a lot about cheers, cheerleaders and all they do (and don't). The cheerleaders I was studying last night in an episode of CSI were uber-bitchy popularity seekers. A Viking cheerleader looks cute, jumps, flips, impresses, inspires and can raise hairs (in the good way) to the crowd and players, while offering "team spirit'. Team spirit, for better or worse, can become a mechanism for fierce competition. Tony Robbins, and many other life coaches/philosophers/positive thinking entrepreneurs can tell you some very practical ways to think, and how to take action to "make your life incredible". Tony Robbins is a millionaire, but in fact many of his suggested methods are based in Buddhist teachings(his holiness the D.L. is also a kind of wise cheerleader). I am not sure any of us conscious beings really believe we can hear words of wisdom, check off a to do list and make our lives incredible- outside our personal bubble it's a world of struggle and misery for billions- let us not forget. We might as well all kill ourselves, right? Um, maybe not.
How many of us know what we should and could do but don't know how to do it, or can't find the motivation? How can a cheer not only bring temporary joy, inspiration, motivation, and a to do list, with a hand to hold through the process? Is a little bit of joy and a feeling of accomplishment of value? I think so. Is positivity for positivity's sake problematic? I think not. It's pretty easy for the world, and especially contemporary art, to focus on the negative. A world that needs a little accentuation of the positive...

Breaking down the Cheerleading paradigm

How is telling some to get a divorce, provoking someone get laid, or suggesting someone change business practices not creating a New paradigm for "cheerleading"? Even the idea of cheering someone up or offering encouragement is reclaiming the cheer- which has become a symbol of sexuality, ticket sales, and gymnastics- or..?

Cheering in my pajamas

I hope cheering in my pajamas does not threaten to enter the world of fetishes...

Cheer for Elena

Get that Divorce!
Buy that mofo out
Get that Divorce!
Buy that mofo out
...

Cheer for Susie, Frazer and Hattie

Frazer, Suze & Hattie
You are a family
You've gotten over cancer
Congratulations Team!
Bright!
Future!
Ahead!

Cheer for Nathaniel

Nathaniel
You're Single
There's a world full
of tingle
Waiting
to mingle
with You!
Woo hoo..

YGC

A collaboration with Nicole Penoncello is gearing up: Your Garden Cookbook. Nicole brought this idea to me after we cooked together for a Monday night dinner. We'll inventory willing participants' gardens and make custom cookbooks just for their needs, and hopefully find pots and stomachs for under-utilized vegetables.
Last meeting we discussed the concept and make an action plan. Today we designed the logo, finalized the wording, planned our email address and blog name and compiled a list of organizations with whom we can work. We look forward to spring...

Yay Team!

Nicole just gave me an amazing, red, soft-cover Cheerleading! book. Boom-boom-boom-boom-boom-right! Boom! Our team is dynamite!

Recipes for November 16

Pumpkin Green Curry Soup
Make stock:
Toss a pumpkin in the oven for 45 minutes til soft enough to deal with.
Peel & seed vegetables for soup: Pumpkin, carrots, potatoes, celery
Toss all vegetable trimmings (celery, pumpkin seeds, carrot & potato skins...) onions, garlic, & ginger into a large pot with a bunch of smashed & chopped lemongrass, S & P
Boil for 45 minutes, covered
Reduce by 1/3 uncovered
Drain & reserve
Make soup:
Cube vegetables for soup whilst stock is a-boiling
Add chopped garlic, green curry paste & grated ginger to some oil and simmer til soft
To de-veganize, add fish sauce
Add a large pinch of palm or other sugar
Add vegetables and toss with curry mixture
Pour stock on top, add coconut milk
Simmer til vegetables are soft
Add some peeled, chopped apples (or pineapple)for added sweetness and interest
Add whole (pref. purple) basil leaves & adjust seasoning
Eat thin and chunky, puree, or let it cook down and thicken- as you prefer

Cold Peanut Noodles
Bring a large pot of water to boil
Cook noodles til al dente
Rinse with cold water
Toss with sesame oil and set aside
(these can be made hot too- just add sauce and eat immediately)
Combine chunky peanut butter, coconut milk, hot sauce or chili paste, honey, lemon juice or rice vinegar, ginger, garlic & a dash of soy sauce in a pan and bring to a simmer
Adjust seasoning- there should be an equal balance of salty-sweet-sour-spicy. It should not taste just like peanut butter..
Add a little water or stock if too thick
Toss with noodles immediately if serving hot, or when cool
Garnish with freshly roasted peanuts, lime zest, and shredded fresh basil or mint

Sauteed Bok Choy
Rinse thoroughly & chop
Sautee onions and garlic with sesame or olive oil til soft
Add bok choy, sautee for a few minutes and toss with a little soy sauce

Wealth Undergroud Farms donated the pumpkins, bok choy and apples. Nicole was my helper. Thank You!

Cheer for Connie

Yo Connie
You're a lady
You're wild
You're crazy
You've got gusto
Yes mucho
You can do it
You must oh
Don't be scared no
because we care yo
You can do it
You've got gusto!
Yay Connie!

In need of cheers

I went to sunny Oakland, California last weekend and realized almost everyone I know is in need of a cheer.

Cheer for Mary

Mary Mary
You're a fairy
And you're feeling fine
You'll take a vitamin
Send a good vibe in
And hassle that swine
Today Today
You'll try to get paid
And get a retainer next time
Mary Mary
You're a fairy
And you are fine!
Yay Mary!

Mary feels a cold coming on and is getting stiffed by a client
Delivered by telephone
11/11/09

Cheer for Helen

Hey Helen, Hey Helen
We're gonna cheer you up
We're gonna light a fire
And spark it up your butt
Yay Helen!

Helen needed a boost to get her work plan organized and motivated
Delivered by email and by "ride by" on bicycle

Recipes for November 9

Pumpkin Chili &/or Acorn Squash Italian Sausage Chili
Soak beans overnight in plenty of water (kidney in this case, but you can use black)
Cook beans in fresh water with a bay leaf (with NO salt!) for an hour or two, til tender but not mushy
Add salt and pepper now & put aside
Toss a whole pumpkin or squash into the oven and bake at 400 til semi-soft. This will make it easier to deal with
When cooled, peel, scoop out seeds and cube
Make chili paste- this is where your chili gets its flavor
Soak dried Ancho & New Mexico chilies, and chipoltles if you can stand the heat- soak in boiled water, covered, til tender
Puree with garlic, cumin, S & P, Spanish smoked paprika, tomato paste and some cocoa powder- Make a lot and it will be available for future uses
Sautee plenty of onions, garlic and green peppers in olive oil
Add cumin & oregano
Add sausage and brown, if using
Add a scoop of chili paste, cubed pumpkin or squash, a can of chopped tomatoes, a bit of water or beer or wine to cover, put a lid on it, simmer til everything is tender
Add beans & adjust flavors- more chili paste? Salt? Cocoa to warm it up? This is the fun part. If it is too thin, just cook for a minute with the lid off to reduce. If it is too thick, add liquid and adjust seasoning

Roasted potatoes with Aioli
Clean potatoes- creamers or butterlings are good- cut out bad spots and if gigantic,
cut in half
Toss potatoes with olive oil, salt, and any fresh herbs like rosemary, thyme, sage.. dried herbs are ok in this case too
Take whole heads of garlic and delicately chop the tops off while retaining their shape
Pour a little olive oil 'under the hat' of the garlic head and place in pan
Bake at 400 for about 45 minutes to an hour, tossing gently to brown them evenly
Without burning your hand, squeeze the now-soft garlic heads over the potatoes
Serve with Aioli

Aioli
Pulse together 1 room temp egg, a clove of smashed garlic, a spoonful of Dijon mustard, a teaspoon of salt, a tablespoon of lemon juice and 1/4 cup of olive oil
Gently pour in a thin stream of remaining 3/4 cup olive oil while machine is running- you'll hear when it gets thick
Stop and check consistency
This can be done easily by hand- just use the egg yolk, and have a good whisk and a strong arm

Arugula and Frisee Salad with beets
Wash gently, dry, chop with a sharp knife and add a sweet-ish dressing to counter the pepper/bitterness
Cook & peel beets as in previous recipes
Use a previous Ginger Vinaigrette recipe and add a spoonful of honey, apricot jam, agave syrup, or preferred sweetener

Baba Ganoush
See previous recipe

Wealth Underground Farms donated the peppers, eggplant & pumpkins. Urban Gleaners/Sea Change Gallery donated the frisee, arugula and squash. Derek was my helper
Thank you!

Some Goals

Having to figure out something to present at my pre-presentation presentation, I got to thinking about my practice and what I'd actually like to accomplish this year- not the zillions of projects, but the methods:
1) More action, fewer objects - Let's see if I can make work that doesn't ultimately result in an object/installation. How can an action/gesture/experience stand on its own?
2) Adequate time and research - often while doing site specific projects, I rush to get it done within a certain restricted time frame, unable to explore thoroughly.. even if the research doesn't ultimately get 'included'
3) Identify & target a specific audience
4) Incorporate things I love to do and do with passion... derrr.
Ok? Ok.

Some old cheers

I called out to my siblings to help me remember cheer rhymes and rhythms and here's what they came up with. Interesting that there as many negative ones as positive. I shan't be using that tactic, nor shall I be using these words, but it's interesting research. Next stop is a visit with the Vikings Cheerleaders at PSU- We can teach each other a few.

Hipza, zooza

Chickaroom bazoo

F. Skiddy von Stoddy

Mr. Foo-Man-chu

Teddy roo

Teddy ra

Teddy ruddy duddy fuddy duddy

Sis boom ba

Harvard, Harvard, rah rah rah!

V for Villanova

V for victory..

Re-TARD them, Re-TARD them!
Make them relinquish the ball!

Put 'em in the graveyard, oooh, ah!
Put 'em in the graveyard, oooh, ah!

Sittin on a suitcase thummin a ride,

We're gonna give a cheer to the other side,

Were gonna knit one, pearl two,

La la, woo woo.

We're gonna' win, win, we're gonna' win, win, we're gonna win, win! How?!

....repeat above.....How? !

Eeeaaassy!

We are the {Blue Wave}, couldn't be prouder! If you can't hear us, we'll shout a little louder!

Thunder, thunderation, who's the best team, in the nation - we are, we are......

Cheerleading Ettiquette, from Varsity.com

Congratulations, you’ve tried out and made the team. As your school’s most visible athlete you have a unique and noble role within your community and school. But before you put on the uniform make sure you understand the behavior that is expected by each cheerleader who wears one.

Appearance
• When you decided to cheer you signed on to be an ambassador to your school. It’s important to keep a clean, friendly, approachable appearance.
• Wearing proper, uniform practice and game attire impresses upon the fans that your team is organized, disciplined and can be counted on to represent the school well.
• Light make-up, no jewelry and no visible tattoos.

Pre-Game
• Cheerleaders should be at the game a half hour or hour prior to kick off. Everything that is going to be done during the game needs to be warmed up before the game.
• Arrive on time and in uniform or team warm-ups. If you’re supposed to show up in uniform, that includes shoes, socks, bows, etc. Not finishing your ponytail on the sideline and walking in with flip-flops.

National Anthem
• In proper lines, with hands on your waist, behind you back or right hand over your heart, cheerleaders set the example of how to properly stand for the National Anthem. Everyone does the exact same thing.
• Absolutely no talking, swaying, or gum chewing of any kind until the final note is sung.

Team/Player Introduction
• Whether tumbling out in front of the team, making signs to crash through or two lines to run in between, your job is to get the crowd on their feet for the team. The focus is on the team/players, not how well we can stunt or tumble.
• We cheer for our team during introductions not against the other team.

Hospitality
• Maintaining good manners is important, as the cheerleaders are the welcoming committee for the visiting school and their fans. They are the guests and cheerleaders are the hosts.
• Absolutely no “trash talking” of any kind.
• One suggestion is to take a cooler of water bottles over to the visiting team’s cheerleaders before the game. You can also send over your captains to invite them over for a light snack at halftime.

Scores and setbacks
• If you want the crowd to get involved, you must be involved. Appropriate cheer and stunting throughout the game. Leave the competition stunts on the competition floor.
• The crowd will notice if you smile and are genuinely happy to be there.
• Touchdown traditions are carried out after every score.
• As long as the team has to play, regardless of the score, cheerleaders happily encourage the team to the bitter end.
• If there is a bad call and the crowd begins to “boo” do not join them. Counter it; the best you can, with a traditional chant to change the crowd’s focus.
• Throughout the game, there should be minimal talking on the sidelines. People will notice if you’re interested in the game or more interested in talking to a friend.

Injured Player
• Take a knee, where you are, and stay quiet until the player (of either team) has left the field.
• For a prolonged injury, you may gather as a group. This is not a time to discuss future plans.
• Clap as the athlete walks off.

Know Your Role
• As your school’s most visible athletes, remember it’s not about you -it’s about building a sense of community and school spirit at your sporting events and within your school. Whether cheering at games, running a pep rally, organizing alumni functions, hosting visitors, or competing, etc. always conduct your self in a manner that brings enthusiasm to your school and unity to your community.

From Boat to Soup: Recipes for November 2

Regatta Pumpkin Soup with Roasted Pepper Cream
Save the winning pumpkin from the Pumpkin Regatta. Forklift it into a vehicle, carry it to sea, sail about, cut some meat from the top when you are ready, let it go..
Wash and peel pumpkin flesh, chop into manageable pieces
Sautee onion & garlic til soft
Add pumpkin, plus S & P, cumin, cloves, a cinnamon stick, bay leaves, and cardamom.
Add enough water or stock to cover, boil til soft.
Remove Bay leaves
Puree with a food mill or blending wand
Simmer and reduce, adjusting seasoning if necessary
Serve with a dollop of RP Cream

Roasted Pepper Cream
Roast green peppers in the broiler til blackened all over
Steam in a bowl with a lid or a heavy duty paper bag
Let cool, peel & seed
Puree with a spoonful of yogurt, dash of olive oil, S & P, lemon juice, a clove of garlic and a few leaves of basil

Mixed Greens Triangles
Sautee onions & lots of garlic til soft
add washed and finely chopped greens (Kale, Bok Choy, Chard, etc.)
Sautee til tender- add pomegranate or regular molasses, S & P, and a dash of sugar
Drain & reserve (or drink!) cooking liquid
Mix with feta or goat cheese
Stuff puff pastry squares or make your own
Bake at 375 degrees til browned and pouffy

Tabbouleh Salad
Boil cracked wheat in salted water til chewy-tender
Drain & cool
Add a big ol' bunch of parsley, finely chopped
Add chopped tomatoes or roasted red peppers for color
Make plenty of dressing from lemon juice, XV olive oil, chopped garlic, S & P
Dress and eat warm or cold

Wealth Underground Farms donated the kale, bok choy and peppers. Urban Gleaners/Sea Change Gallery donated the chard, parsley. Hannah Miami and the Pumpkin Regatta donated the pumpkin. Michelle was my helper. Thank You!

Field Trip

For Dan Attoe's "Special Projects" class, we went on a field trip to the Oregon coast to go surfing. I chose not to surf but to witness Hanna and Ariana realize their projects, practice, explorations...
What a great (and gorgeous) day of bonding, documenting, and swirling around in a pumpkin!

Non-departmental Electives

Searching through the course catalog on Halloween night, I got very excited by the prospects of taking my elective, choosing something that would be edifying and/or relate to my current practice somewhat directly. Considering my practice, that gives me a lot of choices.
So.. here are some possibilities:
Communications - particularly interesting are:
Family Communications - interesting for my upcoming family museum project
Interviewing - a practical aspect of many of my projects
Music - Anything will do, apply to the musician side of me, and help with Jingle writing
Phys Ed - though each class is about 1 credit, a selection of dance classes would benefit the cheer leading project
Theater - Love the stage - on & off. On is just beautiful, fun, and gives comfort in working with the public, off could benefit installation, building techniques, etc.
Mockumentary - if hands on, beneficial for making 'promo' videos
Anthropology of Food- the title sounds good but needs more investigation
Historical Archaeology, Civic Leadership, Urbanization, African American Community Development, Feminist Philosophy, Globalization, Comparative Politics...: There's something to gain from every one.