Adventures of a tribal dancer...

JANUARY CLASS NEWSLETTER

CLASS REGISTRATION OPEN

Registration is open now for all classes, including the new special session of HULA! Yes, Thursday nights we will be learning Hula and Polynesian Dance with guest instructor Cathy of Hukalani Hula. She is a warm, engaging, and knowledgeable teacher, and I can't wait to share her with you all.
8:30-9:30pm Thursdays.

CLICK HERE TO REGISTER ONLINE NOW

*Please note, Kathy's guest-taught hula class does not qualify for multiple
class discounts, so you must register for it separately and not as part of a
multi-class registration.

Lots more after the jump...

STUDENT BUSINESS AND RESOURCE DIRECTORY
If you are a small business owner as I am, then you likely saw a downturn in business in the past year and are vowing to find ways to make up for lost ground in 2010. I would like to do my part to help my students reach their business goals in the new year, and the first step will be to add a Student Business and Resource Directory. This will be a section on my website which will allow students to be listed in an online business directory, which will be readily available to your fellow students when they are seeking a particular service or item.

I am hoping this will increase our opportunities to network within our dance family, to help support one another in our endeavors outside the classroom as well as in.

A basic listing will be absolutely free to anyone who wishes to participate. So if you are interested, please get in touch with me and let me know your full name, business name, service/items you offer, contact information including phone and/or e-mail and website and I will start to compile the
directory. Here's to a successful 2010!

SHAY'S BLOG AND TWITTER
In 2009 I began a dance-related blog over on Blogger, to offer my students, fans, and friends a peek into some of my dance thoughts and life adventures. Not only will I be posting class and local event related info there, but I will be blogging about my performance experiences, dance musings, costume and make-up tips, inspirational video clips, links to favorite web haunts, new favorite recipes, knit and crochet patterns, and offering up ideas for discussion which I would really love for you guys to be a part of. Please drop by and check it out from time-to-time (or you can get it fed via RSS or Atom to your favorite reader, like Google Friend Connect).
http://thetribaldancer.blogspot.com/

I will also be giving shout outs on Twitter when a new blog post goes up, and will be using Twitter as an additional way to keep up on class and workshop happenings and random dance musings and tidbits. I am @TheTribalDancer if you want to Follow Me!

UPCOMING PERFORMANCES

2010 is already turning out to be a busy year for inFusion Tribal Bellydance. There are a few opportunities in the next few months to come see the inFusionistas shake our groove thang, including THIS WEEKEND!

Seattle Tribal Vibes Book Release Party!
Sunday, January 24th 4pm-6pm
*FREE* All ages!
Event includes performances by local dancers that are published in the book.

Skin Deep Dance Studio
2524 16th Ave S #311
Seattle, Washington 98144
MORE INFO HERE

Alauda - An Evening of
Freeform Bellydance
Tuesday, February 16, 2010 7:30-8:30pm
FREE All Ages
Skylark Cafe
3803 Delridge Way S
Seattle, WA 98106
206.935.2111
http://tribes.tribe.net/alaudabellydance

6th Anniversary Party and VERY Last Pyramid Lounge Monthly Show "SUPER
MEGA-HAFLA"
Monday, March 1, 2010 8pm
Raqs Serpentine has invited back all the featured artist to take the stage for 5 min each in a whirlwind spectacular of unmatched pageantry and mayhem. This is a DRESS-UP party.
Suggested donation $10 - $15 at the door
21+
http://www.raqsserpentine.com/html/pyramidlounge.html

High Dive
513 N 36th Seattle, WA 98103
206.632.0212

inFusion Tribal guest performers at Capitol Club
Thursday, March 4, 2010 8:00pm

Enjoy unusual cocktails and a Spanish Tapas menu in a lush Morrocan atmosphere. Multiple guest dancers come together and gear us up for Cues & Tattoos!
21+, no cover
First show starts at 8pm.

The Capitol Club
_414 East Pine, Seattle
21+, No Cover

2010 WORKSHOPS WITH SHAY

Cues & Tattoos Festival
Seattle, WA
Sunday, March 28th
9:30am-11:30am
http://www.troupehipnotica.com/cues

FesTribal du Quebec
Quebec City, Quebec
June 11-14th
http://www.tribu-nataraja.webs.com

PLEASE NOTE: I had to cancel my workshop at Tribal Fest this year due to scheduling conflicts. If you would like to see me back next year, please let Kajira know! Write to her hubby and partner Chuck at mauimobilemusic@aol.com to let them know!

blue cheese recipes steak weight watchers

Sirloin in Blue Cheese Sauce w/ Spicy Sugar Snap Peas

by Shay Moore The TribalDancer Thursday, January 21, 2010

YAY for dinner of sirloin in blue cheese sauce, spicy snap peas, herbed potatoes, and a glass of delicious pinot gris that only adds up to 11 points total! Recipe and my changes after the cut.

Below these notes is the WW recipes that inspired what I made last night. But first! What I changed:

1) We split one small sirloin, a really really tender cut, so we had half of a usual serving of meat, but the richness of the flavor more than made up for it (and if you want tips on how to make the prefect steak in your oven, I can hook you up with Alton's magically simple instructions!!) We both felt satisfied.

2) For the sauce I only used 1.5 Tbsp low fat sour cream (and less than they called for), 1 oz. blue cheese, a tsp. of dijon, and a smattering of chopped parsley--no mayo no Worcestershire sauce. Since I was already doing "spicy snap peas", I didn't feel the need to have a spicier sauce on the meat. As a little final boost, I put the mix of sauce ingredients into the pan after taking out the beans, which put some of the garlic flavor into the sauce and melted it down into a nice creamy texture.
Note: I have made the meat/sauce recipe as-is before and it was delish, so using the recipe as-is is great if you don't want to try my changes.

3) For the beans, I made the WW "spicy sugar snap peas" recipe (listed below the first recipe). It was a huge hit! I have never seen Chris so eagerly "snap up" those peas!

The original meat recipe includes the beans in the points, so considering the smaller meat and less mayo/sauciness in the blue cheese sauce, I counted it as 8 points total.

4) I made a side of a boiled white potato with a 1/2 Tbsp of butter and a sprinkle of Mrs. Dash (our go-to spice is Garlic Herb, no salt added!), which we split. WW calculated it as 1pt.

5) Glass of wine: 2pts

SIRLOIN IN SPICY BLUE CHEESES SAUCE - 10pts per serving - 6 servings
2 pound(s) lean sirloin beef
1/3 cup(s) Dijon mustard
1/3 cup(s) reduced-fat sour cream
1/3 cup(s) reduced-calorie mayonnaise
1 Tbsp store-bought horseradish
1 Tbsp blue cheese, crumbled
1 Tbsp fresh lemon juice
1/2 tsp Worcestershire sauce
6 cup(s) green snap beans, steamed

Instructions

* Preheat oven to 425°F.

* Coat beef evenly with mustard and place in a baking pan lined with aluminum foil; roast for 35 minutes for medium doneness, or longer until desired degree of doneness.

* Meanwhile, combine remaining ingredients in a medium bowl; chill until ready to serve.

* Slice tenderloin into 1-inch thick slices and drizzle with blue cheese sauce. Yields about 4 ounces of beef, 2 tablespoons of sauce and 1 cup of green beans per serving.

SPICY SUGAR SNAP PEAS - 1pt per serving, 4 servings
1 tsp olive oil
4 cup(s) sugar snap peas, trimmed
1 large garlic clove(s), minced
1/8 tsp crushed red pepper flakes, or more to taste
1/4 cup(s) canned chicken broth
1/4 tsp table salt
1/8 tsp black pepper
Instructions

* Heat oil in a large nonstick skillet over medium heat. Stir in sugar snap peas and garlic; increase heat to medium-high and stir in red pepper flakes. Cook, stirring frequently, until peas are crisp-tender, about 3 minutes.

* Add broth, salt and pepper to skillet. Cook over high heat, stirring frequently, until broth is reduced to a glaze that just coats peas, and peas are cooked to preferred degree of tenderness, about 3 to 5 minutes. Yields about 1 cup per serving.

funny quotes

Toilet Squirrel - A Story

by Shay Moore The TribalDancer Monday, January 18, 2010

So I am a member of the Ravelry community, and each year they have the BOB Awards, which is an excuse to call to light some of the best patterns, best projects, best yarns, best contributors, and in this case, the best or funniest threads in the forums. This is one of the contenders for 'Funniest Single Post'. I loved it and had to share!

Oh and hey, if you're also on Ravelry, I would love to friend you!

Enjoy. :)

"Yes, Virginia, There Is a Squirrel in My Toilet. You May Not Believe How It Got in There, but Here’s One Way to Get It Out
By Beth Nabi

It wasn’t December. It wasn’t my chimney. And it sure as snowballs wasn’t Santa.

It was a steamy July day, and it was a squirrel. In my toilet. I’ve told this story as many times as you’ll hear “Feliz Navidad” on the radio this winter, and I think people would be less incredulous if I were to claim I actually had seen St. Nick sneaking down my smokestack.

I have two cats that are good for exactly two things: un-decorating my Christmas tree and, apparently, alerting me to when there’s a rodent using my restroom. No-No and Get Down, kitty had been acting a little – er, squirrely, all morning. I found the pair in Sphinx-like poses on the bathmat, staring intently at the toilet and not about to miss the show getting ready to go down. Tiptoeing somewhere between curiosity and dread, I explored the tiny room – looking under the cabinet, checking behind the toilet, peeking around the shower curtain … unsure what I was looking for, and very afraid I was going to find it. There was just one place left to look. And I didn’t wanna.

I lifted the toilet lid and, in the same heartbeat, slammed it down. What the – ?! Is that a – ?! Did somebody eat a – ?! Wait, is that alive? Did I just see that? Did it see me? What does it want? And then, the question everyone wants answered: How did a squirrel get in my toilet?

My mind and my heart racing one another, I shooed the cats out of the bathroom and shut the door. After a five-minute pep talk with myself, I got on my sweaty hands and shaking knees, eye-level with the toilet rim, and slowly cracked open the lid. There, just inches away on the other side of the cold white porcelain, beyond thick bristly whiskers and a mess of wet gray-brown fur, was a big, black, wide eye staring back at me. I slammed the lid down again.

There are certain bathroom situations I can deal with. I can jiggle the handle to stop a running toilet, I can plunge a clog, I can say “ballcock” at The Home Depot with minimal giggling. I’ve even been known to move the roll from the top of the tank and onto the holder when company’s coming (loose end hanging over, of course). A squirrel in the toilet left me bewildered and blank.

I called a friend who was my rescuer in a previous pest-related incident involving a Rodent of Unusual Size. Mike had fashioned a makeshift shovel out of a dustpan duct-taped to a broomstick to help me evict an 18-inch rat that had keeled over in my water heater closet. I’m pretty sure the behemoth choked when he was popping d-CON bon-bons and swallowed one the wrong way. Mike lived 600 miles away, but I thought he might have some advice. It was his birthday, and while I’m sure he was expecting an excited “Happy Birthday!,” all that came out when he answered was, “THERE’S A SQUIRREL IN MY TOILET!”

“There’s a what? In your what?”

“A squirrel! In my toilet!”

“How’d a squirrel get in your toilet?”

“I don’t know! How do I get a squirrel out of my toilet?”

He stopped laughing long enough to suggest I call Animal Control, but I wasn’t ready to make Toilet Squirrel a taxpayer concern just yet. We hung up and I decided to take my problem next door – to Evan, the World’s Greatest Neighbor. He has fixed everything in my house, including the kitchen sink. He keeps his garage stocked with thingamathings and whatchamajobs to solve any problem. Surely, he would know how to handle this.

I knocked. He answered, “Hiya, Beth!”

“Hi, Evan. Um, there’s a squirrel in my toilet.”

Unfazed by my absurd string of words, and without so much as a “How’d a squirrel get in your toilet?,” he immediately grabbed the most logical toilet-squirrel-getter-outter tool – the Nifty Nabber Reach Extender – and said, “Let’s go.”

We marched back into my house, up the stairs and into the bathroom. Evan lifted the toilet lid as readily as if he were going to use the john, and slammed it right back down.

“There really is a squirrel in your toilet!”

I don’t know if he thought I’d been lying or was just crazy, but I was happy to now be sharing this preposterous predicament with someone else. I may have had a squirrel in my toilet, but there were no bats in my belfry.

“Do you think we could just flush it?” he asked.

I suggested that, to keep both the squirrel and my plumbing intact, maybe flushing should be a last resort.

From a safe perch on the bathtub ledge, I watched Evan take a single swipe with the metal pincher, which sent Toilet Squirrel into a frenzy of sloshing and squealing as he whirled into Phelps-esque laps around the bowl. While the Nifty Nabber Web site guarantees that its wide, rubber-coated, grooved jaws “easily grab and securely hold out-of-reach objects,” the product had obviously not been tested on animals.

Evan headed back to his house to re-strategize, while I followed Mike’s original counsel and called the Leon County Animal Control Division. I missed their office hours by about one minute, and got a recording that said if I had an animal-related emergency, call the Sheriff’s Department. Convinced this qualified, I dialed the number.

“Hello. What’s your emergency?”

“It’s an animal-related emergency.”

“Go ahead.”

Pause.

“There’s a squirrel in my toilet.”

In the silence that followed, I wasn’t sure if a patrol car was being sent to haul me away for prank-calling an emergency number, or if the officer had dropped the phone in a fit of laughter, or if maybe, just maybe, she was checking the handbook for squirrel-in-the-toilet protocol.

She said there wasn’t much she could do, but wished me luck. Sounding more eager than precautionary, she told me to call back if anyone got bitten, because if rabies were involved it would fall under the Sheriff’s Department’s jurisdiction. I thanked her for not arresting me, and was headed back over to Evan’s to find out what Plan No. 2 was when I saw Alan, another neighbor, roll up on his bicycle. Evan had called for back-up.

I stood in my garage and watched these two Social Security-aged citizens stride across the driveway fully equipped and ready for combat. In my head, they were marching through a slow-motion Armageddon-Independence Day-Top Gun hero shot, with an epic action-adventure score playing. Alan wore three pairs of heavy-duty rubber gloves and had a rubber mallet slung over his shoulder. Sunlight glinted off the tin garbage can Evan carried, and an old, vinyl, flower-patterned shower curtain was tucked under his arm.

As our bizarre but intrepid trio climbed the stairs, the rescue squad briefed me on the plan: slide the shower curtain through the gap between the lid and the bowl, creating an impenetrable squirrel-human barrier; lift the lid, reach in and grab Toilet Squirrel; transfer him to the tin can; secure the garbage lid with the mallet. I was relieved to hear that’s how the mallet would be used.

The two entered the bathroom and closed the door. I would give up all the presents on this year’s wish list – including the concert tickets I’m hoping to get to the New Kids on the Block reunion tour – to have visual documentation of the mêlée that occurred on the other side, but was instead left standing there listening to the shrieking, clawing, splashing, thrashing, knocking, banging and clanging, and finally, the victorious shouts of two grown men who had just fished a 1-pound vermin out of a commode and relocated him two feet to a garbage can: “We got ’im!”

They emerged from my water closet, each holding a handle of the tin can, looking very much like the Ghostbusters carrying out Slimer in a ghost trap. In the backyard, we removed the lid and all peered down at the poor, drowned-rat-looking thing. I tipped the can over and watched Toilet Squirrel go bounding out and scramble up the nearest tree. I wasn’t sure who’d been more scared: him or me. I wonder if he’s told the story as many times as I have.

The Squirrelbusters then started to theorize: How did the squirrel get in the toilet? Most people, affected by the skepticism of a skeptical age, want only to believe it came in through the front door – as if he rang the doorbell while standing on the step, legs crossed and doing the pee-pee dance, begging to use my bathroom.

I assured Evan and Alan that the toilet lids stay vigilantly closed, to divert the cats to the one legitimate water bowl in the house. I have no doubt the aforementioned R.O.U.S could have lifted the lid himself and hopped in, but Toilet Squirrel had to have used the back entrance. Evan pored over the diagrams in his home-repair book while I feverishly Googled “How’d a squirrel get in my toilet?” (and found a surprisingly large Web community of toilet-squirrel veterans). We finally concurred that Toilet Squirrel had entered through an uncovered plumbing vent on the roof, found his way into a pipe, suited up in his little squirrel scuba gear and somehow made it through the closet bend and the S-trap. We think. Kind of like Santa Claus – no one actually saw it.

But I believe.