The Ballerina also READS

Coping with a feisty research assistant…

Antonio: I need a summary of Mali’s history by close of play today.
Olivia: I have a ballet class this afternoon.
Antonio: OK. Midday?
Olivia: I’ll try. Need new reading glasses, you know.
Antonio: Get me all you can about Mansa Musa. If it’s good, I’ll foot the bill for new reading glasses.
Olivia: And new ballet shoes?
Antonio: Give an inch, they take a mile.
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Voice-over
Ad for a position considered: “Rigorous reading assistant needed.” Not mentioned: “No drama queens or ballerinas.” But what fun is scholarship without a bit of riposte?

Olivia and Orwell

Elizabeth thinks Olivia is reading Animal Farm…
Olivia: No, Elizabeth, it’s not Animal Farm. It’s 1984. You know, the one about a dystopian future where everything is controlled by Big Brother.
Elizabeth: Oh, I see. So, you’re reading about a world where pigs don’t have to sew dresses either?
Olivia: Oho. Hilarious. At least I’m expanding my mind. What are you doing? Sewing tiny dresses for plush toys?
Elizabeth: Hey, those tiny dresses bring joy to a lot of plush toys. And besides, I don’t hear you complaining when you get a new outfit.
Olivia: Touché. But I still think reading Orwell is a bit more intellectually stimulating than sewing.
Elizabeth: Stimulating, huh? I bet you just like the idea of a world where you can boss everyone around, like Napoleon in Animal Farm.
Olivia: Oh pulease, if anyone’s a dictator around here, it’s you with your sewing schedule. ‘Olivia, hold this fabric! Olivia, fetch me the scissors!’
Elizabeth: Well, someone has to keep you busy. Otherwise, you’d just be lounging around with your nose in a book all day.
Olivia: And what’s wrong with that? At least I’m not making a mess with thread and fabric scraps everywhere.
Elizabeth: Mess? You mean the creative chaos of making beautiful dresses? Maybe you should try it sometime. It might be a nice break from all that ‘intellectual stimulation’.
Olivia: I’ll pass, thanks. But if you ever need a critique on Orwell’s portrayal of totalitarian regimes, just ask.
Elizabeth: And if you ever need a fabulous new dress to wear while reading, feel free.
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Voice-over
Elizabeth and Olivia seem well-matched and well-read in this tennis of taunts.

Mastering scales before Rachmaninov

Step by step…

Piano Teacher: One step starts a long journey. 

Olivia: That’s why you only set small daily challenges?

I can do this...

Piano Teacher: Think of it like breakfast. You’re stressed. That day’s events distract. Take one spoon of cereal. Pretty soon you’re through eating, on your way, energized. Anyway, this week scales right hand. Next week scales left hand. Throw in a few chords as a reward. Then on to a simple piece.

Olivia: So you’re saying I shouldn’t start with the Rachmaninov?

Piano Teacher: Dream it. That’s OK. But it’s not this week’s goal.

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Voice-over

Biting off more than you can chew sets you for choking. Not knowing what you are capable of results in unrealistic goals setting you up for a DNF “did not finish”. “I can do that” trap so you end up doing nothing and going nowhere. Daily exercising. Daily sketching. Daily Vocabulary. Daily writing. Excerpts grow into expertise and on to a life work and perhaps eventually a magnum opus.

Anthropomorphism of Olivia

Now for the third movement...

Discussing progress…
Ekaterina: How is her piano practice coming along?
Zuria: Good. She’s nearly mastered the Rachmaninov. 
Ekaterina: Amazing. You don’t think there’s an element of anthropomorphism in this?
Zuria: Anthro what?
Ekaterina: You know, ascribing human characteristics to a god, or an animal. You talk to her, right?
Zuria: And she answers.
Ekaterina: Hmm. And I suppose she helps cook dinner?
Zuria: Oh, sometimes. She makes suggestions.
Ekaterina: But never pork?
Zuria: Oh no. She’s vegan.
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Voice-over
A relationship with an animal, or an object, can extend and fulfill one. Especially in these viral times. A relationship with a real animal is better though. Although soon we may have avatars or cyborgs. And they may be trainable.

The Appeal of Falconer's Olivia

A paean but is it lit crit...

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Kylie (6): I want to visit Venice.

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Elderberry (70): Olivia wrote a guide on what to do there.

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Kylie (6): Read it already. I’m going to follow her footsteps.

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Olivia Goes to Venice

Elderberry (70): Sighing bridges to San Marco?

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Kylie (6): Zack same route.

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Elderberry (70): What’s the attraction of Olivia?

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Kylie (6): I like all her books. She likes to bargain. Play tricks. She’s funny.

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Elderberry (70): Pulling a brick out of San Marco was a bit of extreme mischief.

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Kylie (6): Olivia’s extreme.

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Elderberry (70): Hmm, maybe she appeals to the extreme in all of us.

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Voice-over

I’m an Olivia fan. Who wouldn’t be, whether you were six or seventy.

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