Yes. We had it for dinner AGAIN. Once again substituting a poached egg (c/o Dave the Brilliant) for grilled haloumi.
Roasted veggies:
– eggplant
– carrot
– dark green zucchini
– red capsicum
– cherry tomatoes
– baby white onions
– 1 small potato
– orange sweet potato
– mushrooms
Dressing
– lemon juice
– olive oil
– chopped flat leaf parsley
Mix some salad greens in with roasted veggies, pour over some dressing, Mix.
Plop egg on top.
I am three days into a dance weekend. I have had blocks of sleep regularly, but they have been broken sleep, and I need lots of sleep at the best of times. My left knee aches and is swollen, my hamstrings are tighter than Benny Goodman’s trio and I haven’t eaten a vegetable in two days. I might also be teetering on the brink of irrational rage.
But I am having a very good time.
This is how dance weekends work. Just like a cult or a men’s warrior weekend. We go to one room, pound ourselves with noise, get our heart rates up, adrenaline pumping, endorphines flooding. Then we touch a whole lot of people while we listen to exciting, manically cheerful music. Is it any wonder dancers get the post-exchange blues when these things end?
I have had some really brilliant dances. I’m not entirely sure I was the one doing the brilliant dancing, but I felt brilliant. Because I was charged with adrenaline. And touching someone lovely, while we gave the music legs.
Things I now do while actually dancing on the dance floor:
I really am having a heap of fun.
Mike McQuaid’s Late Hour Boys have been my favourite band so far. They played at the late night dance on Friday, after the competition night. They played ‘My Daddy Rocks Me’, my favourite Jimmie Noone song. If not that song, then one very similar, which also provoked much squee on my part. There’s a little gaggle of us ladies nursing shocking crushes on John Scurry, caresser of banjos, guitarist of squee. He has mad skillz.
I didn’t mind the band last night, which had some of the same musicians, but I think I prefer the drummer from the Late Hour Boys. The band last night seemed to have some trouble connecting with the dancers until about the second set. I wondered if it was the sound or acoustics or something? I’m not a huge fan of town halls, as you tend to feel really far away from the band, and the sound is usually quite shocking, but the Collingwood Town Hall is better than many. But this lack of connection could just have been me. I wasn’t really with it, properly until a bit later as I had to do some annoying administrative stuff and solve a couple of minor problems.
I liked the way the teachers did a bit of dancing showing off to the band. That was a nice touch. Excellent thinking, Ramona.
Finally, I have to say something about the DJs this weekend. I’ve been the luckiest, luckiest person getting to work with these kids. This year I went for a smaller, leaner DJing team, offering the DJs more sets but using fewer DJs. This can be a bit difficult in Australia where we tend to use more DJs, for fewer, shorter sets (for a whole range of reasons). But MSF has a very band-heavy musical program, which is fabulous, as it means the live music is much more important than the DJed. It also means we have fewer DJed sets on offer. I’m going to have a talk to the DJs after the weekend and see if they found the extra work ok, what they’d have changed, etcetera. But from my perspective, it’s much easier juggling a smaller team of DJs, and to be able to work with a small team of very capable, reliable people who love DJing and have a real passion for the music they’re playing. We have preselected DJs for a particular musical style (MSF this year and last has really emphasised classic swinging and hot jazz by musicians from the 20s-40s, and by modern musicians), and while this isn’t always a win with newer dancers, or with dancers who don’t really dig historically grounded music and dance (I know, I know – wtf?), it actually means we can present a program of music which is consistent, and really contributes to the branding of the event in a productive way.
This year we also added in a proper blues session (last night at the late night), which was a slight deviation from the go-lindy-or-go-home vibe of last year, but really was a response to overwhelming interest from blues dancers. I was very happy with the DJs I got for those two sets. They’re good buddies, so they work well together, and they’re both very capable people who I knew would do a good job. Unfortunately I didn’t get to hear their sets as I was DJing the opposite room. This is of course one of the things we didn’t really want to do this weekend. Splitting a crowd is a bit of a shame, as it ensmallens your crowd, but also suggests, implicitly, that you aren’t offering a main room which everyone will like. I think, in retrospect, it was a good idea, though. The main room was really quite full on, exciting lindy hop, so the more chilled back room was probably a good alternative if you were feeling battered by the noise and intensity of the band and then later DJs.
Here, I need to pause and gush about Falty again. *fans self* He did a really popular, really excellent set for us last year, and this year he topped that with an even more exciting, excellent set. I danced a LOT and almost danced beyond the point when I was supposed to take over from him again (I did the first 30 minutes of the room to warm things up, he did a big block of an hour and a half or two, and then I did the last 45 minutes or so). It was brilliant. He plays exactly the sort of music I love, and I really like the way he combines new bands and old recordings. I like the way he really pushes dancers with higher tempos and high energy, then plays a few quite slower songs. He really works the whole tempo range, and a whole range of moods. Again, he’s besotted with this music, and I think this absolute devotion, as well as a real feel for the music make his sets top fun. I’m also suspecting his approach to dancing and interacting with his partner inform his DJing.
It was also really cool talking DJing with him. I learnt a lot, and I’m thinking new things about what I do when I’m DJing. YES.
…from here, I’m tempted to gush on about the other DJs individually, and in great detail. But I really need a nap and my laptop battery is running out. Think of me, will you, and wish me stamina. Because I’m going to need it.
About my DJing
I started dancing in Brisbane, Australia in about 1998, then moved to Melbourne where I started DJing in 2005. Now I live in Sydney where I DJ mostly for lindy hoppers and blues dancers. I do the odd large camp or exchange in other cities during the year, but mostly I play at local events for local dancers. I like organising dance events, and I’ve just discovered that I love performing. It’s a pity that I haven’t also discovered that I have a natural talent for performing, but I figure enthusiasm and shouting will suffice where grace and ability fall short.
I like hot jazz and swing music from the 1920s, 30s and 40s, but I also really like modern bands who recreate the sounds of those periods. I also have a shocking memory, so I’m always pleasantly surprised when I ask a DJ “What’s this great song?” and discover that I already own a copy of LCJO’s CJam Blues. I figure this excuses my overplaying particular songs in my collection. I also hope it explains my delight in songs which most of us have heard a million times before, rather than indicating a lack of imagination.
This drawing is a portrait my friend Scott Fraser drew of me for a birthday card, and I think it captures my DJing style. In a metaphoric sense, of course. The only vinyl I own is a collection of Stone Roses 12″ records, and the only martial arts I know involve paintings of generals on ponies. It is, however, an entirely accurate representation of my fashion sense. If vinyl is still cool, then I feel the wide-legged trouser is still ok.
DJing for the radio
I was asked to plan a show as the June 2011 Yehoodi Radio Guest DJ, so I put together a set of songs which I’d originally intended to be a cleverly themed collection of brilliantly rare and unusual songs (you can see the set detailshere. I discovered, unfortunately, that I don’t quite have the skills to pull this off, so I settled for a list of my favourite songs. There was quite a bit of talking in between songs. This was because I’d also just discovered I quite liked the sound of my own voice. FYI most of these talking bits were just about as long as it takes to make a cup of tea.
DJing for the radio: did like, would do again.
Bossing other DJs about
I coordinate teams of DJs for large swing dance events. At the moment I’m working on the 2011 Melbourne Lindy Exchange: Turning it up to 11 (check the FB page until the website goes live), where the idea is to convince a handful of Australia’s most arse-kickingest DJs to come make lindy hoppers dance like the crazy monkeys they are.
Most recently I’ve been Head DJ for the 2011 and 2010 Melbourne Swing Festivals, the 2009 Sydney Swing Festival and the 2009 Sydney Lindy Exchange. I was also involved in coordinating DJs for the Melbourne Lindy Exchange in 2006, 2007 and 2008.
I like putting together programs of DJed music which suit the event organisers’ musical goals but which also let DJs show off their best action. I believe in the best possible working conditions for all volunteers and DJs at dance events, and am quite happy to speak at length on this topic. Or any other topic, really. At a local level I’m currently bossing Sydney DJs for the twice-monthly Swingpit social dancing night, and you can email me if you’re interested in doing a gig.
Listen to me DJ!
If you’d like to hire me for a gig, drop me a line [dogpossum at dogpossum dot org]. If you’d to hear me DJ for dancers, you can catch me at Swingpit or Roxbury, at the infrequent Speakeasy gig, or at a lindy exchange. Or you can just listen to my 8tracks online for free.
how come people always list the bloke first when they’re talking about dance couples?
Tonight: steamed veggies and lasagne.
This is usually a total win dinner, but not so much tonight. I was all ‘WIN!’ because I had a bunch of red slop in the freezer from the Borlotti Bean Moussaka so I could just do all the layers and put it in the oven. But there were problems.
1. We are SICK and TIRED of that particular red slop. I should have made a fresh one with fresh flavours.
2. I didn’t have enough of the red slop to really layer the layers. The red slop is really important for cooking the lasagne sheets.
3. I put the wrong thing on the top layer. I just had slices of tofu with cheese on top. WRONG. It should have been slices of fresh tomato and basil the way we usually do it, but I’d forgotten that.
4. The layers were dull. Baby spinach, slices of firm tofu, red slop, sweet potato. I did the order incorrectly. It was all a bit dry and not so great. I didn’t approve.
But we ate it.
This is where the wheels could come off this thing. A few dud meals, a few boring meals, and we’ll get bored with the whole exercise and fall back on old dinner plans. I think it’s time Dave did actually make those stir fries. That’s his special ninja power.
Other dishes we haven’t made yet:
– Nachos. This is one of our favourite dinners, with a beany sauce (onions, canned borlotti or some bean other than kidney as I don’t like them much, canned tomato, chilli, ground coriander and ground cumin, garlic), decent corn chips (not shitty Doritos), a good salsa (tomato, onion, garlic, coriander, lime juice, etc), a good gaucamole.
– Stir fries of different types.
– Red Thai veggie curry.
– Other Indian curry options, including egg cury.
– Pasta. I’m thinking puttanesca, even though it has anchovies in it. But I love it. Chilli, rich.
Can you see a theme here? Yes. Too many canned tomatoes, you’re right.
…actually, I can’t remember the other dinner ideas. But there were more. We need to get it together in this house, STAT!
(Jalebi, my superfavourite sweety)
Today I forgot to have breakfast. Then I had take away Indian for lunch. YUM. Ashfield is brilliant for quick lunches: 2 or 3 Nepalese joints (there’s quite a strong Nepalese community here), Chinese of course (mostly Shanghainese, and lots of dumplings and noodles), Vietnamese, Thai, Indian, Malaysian and now a couple of new Japanese joints. An Oporto’s has just opened, which would worry me, if it wasn’t for the fact that two Japanese, one Nepalese and one Indian/Nepalese joints opened in the same month in the same block (for real). There’re also a few rubbishy places in the food court of the Smashmall (Ashfield Mall), but I wouldn’t eat there.
Though you can get badass bubble tea at a couple of joints, there is a distinct lack of coffee and European baked bread action in Ashfield. There is a ‘European’ bakery, run by a Lebanese/Indian couple, but the coffee is rubbish and the cakes are meh. They don’t sell bread. There are a couple of Vietnamese bakeries, but I don’t like that sweet white bread. There’s a Bread Top, but that’s very sweet and not really European style bread. There’s a Baker’s Delight in Smashmall, but it’s totally shit. There is one ‘cafe’ further down Liverpool Road, but it’s actually a Chinese cafe, and not really good for coffee. There is one cafe in the Smashmall, but it’s not good for coffee.
The newest cafe is an internet cafe, opened just next to the Station on our side of the tracks. It’s run by an Indian family, has a coffee machine, and while one side of the cake cabinet is full of ‘European’ cakes, the other half is full of amazing Indian sweets. You can score cheap pirated Hindi language films there too.
So Ashfield is not a good place for ‘European’ food. This is a big change from Brunswick. It’s also been a very good change for my belly, as I eat far fewer sweeties, as I just can’t hack the hardcore sugar in Indian and Chinese sweets. We do travel over to Haberfield for bread and cake and coffee on the weekend, but we are Smashfield people. But Ashfield is a brilliant place for cheap, interesting lunches. Just not so great if you’re looking for a sandwich. One of the things I have noticed in Ashfield, is that sitting down to a meal of shared dishes at lunch is a very common thing for this Chinese community. Everyone does it – from high school kids to mums with sprogs or oldies in a gang. It’s nice.
Tonight, at our little flat in Ashfield, we revisited last Thursday’s roasted veggies dinner. This time we did the dressing without oil, just with lemon. It was a bit sharp. We also added some fennel to the roasted veggies, but it wasn’t really a good place for fennel. I think I’d stick with what we did last time, perhaps. Dave’s poached eggs were as brilliant as last time. He has a talent. He should take it on the road.
Saturday morning I had porridge. That shit is so boring. I prefer weetbix.
Saturday we went to lunch with friends specifically to have dumplings. The joint we go to has a large vegetarian dumpling menu, but we ate meat dumplings.
…incidentally, I count fish as ‘meat’. Fishes are living, moving animals. So they have meat. They’re not some sort of floating plant. If you’re a vegetarian, you don’t eat fish. Or chicken. Or the flesh of any animal. I’m not a vegetarian. But I’m not a hypocrite, either.
We had leftover borlotti bean moussaka from Friday with a big stack of steamed vegetables for dinner.
Today we had wholemeal pancakes for breakfast, then borlotti bean moussaka for lunch AGAIN. And tonight we are having the same cauliflower dish we had Monday. I think we’re having it with spinachy rice again.
Over all, No Meat Week has gone well. We like it and are going to do it again next week. We have lots more recipes to make, so we’re not bored with our meals yet. We’ll keep going til we’re tired of it, then we’ll revise our plans. Veggie meals are just like meat meals: if you’re a boring cook, you’ll make boring food and then you’ll be a bored eater. The next goal, of course, is to take meat out of our lunches. The goals, though, in all of this, is to eat ethically, so Cristy’s approach is useful. Here, the point is to eat food that’s farmed sustainably, ethically. That might include meat. So I guess we eat meat when we can buy organic, sustainably farmed stuff. But otherwise we eat veggies. When it comes to lunches, it can be harder to source organic meat. I guess that’s the challenge, really. Leftovers for lunch, or decent other decent stuff.
Generally, I think we need to eat more salad or steamed veggies with the main dinner dish. Or do I? I think I need to learn more about this. And I haven’t been to the shops enough this past week to get fruit. Mandarins! Grapes! Apples!
Other things I want more of: fennel. Dave is also primed for stir fry, and we’ll have veggie lasagne this week because he adores it. He’s also very keen for leftovers for lunch, so that’s a useful thing to remember.
Challenges:
I’ll be away at a dance event next weekend, so my meals will be all mixed up, and I’ll really only be eating two meals per day. I usually make them a sort of lunch and a dinner. And I usually take a bunch of fruit with me to late night dances, and often a muesli bar. It’s difficult to eat enough over exchanges, but I am usually very strict about eating well. It’s too easy to get ill over the physically intense, sleep deprived weekends, so eating well is important. I usually favour pasta, salads and things like ham or cheese. I find it almost impossible to get through weekends with low-carb meals. I need to eat proper carbs at all meals if I don’t want to get starving. I also tend to eat chocolate a bit. I will often have a meal or two out, but I avoid junk food, and go for good stuff like Lebanese with lots of salad and good bread, or chinese with lots of veggie dishes.
We’ll see how it all goes. I’m sure we’re going to have a good week of fewds.
This is one my favourite kissing songs. I can’t believe the crowd doesn’t feel compelled to stop talking and listen to Tamar Korn.
So I’m all “Yeah, you have to be able to take commentary on your DJing if you want to be the best DJ you can be” and we’re all, like “YEAH!”
But how, exactly, do you actually give feedback to people on their DJing? I mean, what precisely do you say?
#impossiblemission
