Hair, Youtube & Amaryllis 

sunriseplett

Sunrise from my bedroom balcony in Plettenberg Bay last Sat morning, the day after I arrived –

Hair and youtube – is there anything that links them? Yes, in my instance there is ..

Where to start?

My elder son Mike, did a youtube thingamy of me this past Tuesday. A 5 minute promo of me speaking about ‘Aging & Becoming’ a book in collaboration with Susan Schwartz (Phoenix Az.) and myself, soon to be ‘launched’.  We did many takes. I was down in Plettenberg Bay for this purpose; also to be there for his birthday on Wednesday, and also because my younger son David was visiting from Cape Town with his lovely bride (whose parents and family live in Plett). And also to wrap up the mansuscript that my son is formatting into an e-book ~ ‘Aging & Becoming’ ~

It was fairly stressful being filmed while talking about the book. They were many takes. I did NOT like that my lipstick was too dark, my hair very peculiar and that I blinked like a crazy woman at the beginning. And I think I did not sound like myself – I sounded like a Rhodesian. We lived there for 6 years a very long time ago in my formative years. We all spoke the Queen’s English.  I received a message on my computer that evening that my you-tube was now live. I got such a fright. Dave fortunately was there, Mike was out. Dave was able to have it deleted IMMEDIATELY.

So, I’ve been worrying a wee bit as is my wont with regard to matters such as this ~

We left Plett yesterday midday after a birthday breakfast with Mike – Dave & his lovely bride brought me to my sister’s home in Cape Town last evening. It’s about a 6 hour drive.

It’s cold and wet here in Cape Town – strange weather about in South Africa. My sister took me to her hairdresser Nicole at midday today. I said I wanted a short-long trim. The long and the short of it is that my hair is now really short. It’s an excellent cut of that there is no doubt.  Does it flatter me? They, Nicole and my sister said I ‘don’t look my age’. That kind of statement always make me feel strange.  I know it’s meant as a compliment but –

I think in a week’s time I will like it better.

I asked my sister if she could film me talking a bit about the book, ‘Aging & Becoming’ while I’m here for a few days. We are going to give it a go, and the other part of the ‘promo’ of the book that Mike did, he can hopefully incorporate into the youtube thingamy. I’ll think about it being even shorter (like my hair) – from 5 mins to 3 mins max. Mike did a very good job of it on Tuesday, Dave gave him some suggestions for post production, but I am not happy with it. Clearly it is myself I am not happy with. Maybe a part of it is a sort of a fear of putting myself out there … for all to see. It’s a big step – for me at least.

We’ve just come back from a very brisk walk in her suburb with her poodles – it was lovely and refreshing –

I took this photo last week of my amaryllis before I left Johannesburg –amaryllis_2

I asked my husband to please photograph the same, this week, in my absence, so I could see, which he did on Tuesday and sent it to me from his Ipad to my email –

neil_amaryllis

Check out those other buds still to bloom –

Thank you for reading. Be safe. I know that Hurricane Michael is approaching the east coast of the US – my thoughts are with you all. A blessed Yom Kippur to all, the Day of At-One-Ment. 

Peace –

32 Comments on Hair, Youtube and Amaryllis

  1. I’m sure the video will be great once all the different stages have been gone through. I hope you’ll put a link to it in your blog.

    • Very kind Bun thank you! It’s being ‘worked on’ – am quite unsure when I will receive the ‘finished product’ – it’s down to 2 mins. I wonder if my son will be able to crop my twisting hands in a certain part of it – we (my sister) filmed it horizontally instead of laterally. I would not have thought of that either – So, that’s useful to know and to me, new terminology –

  2. I admire anyone who voluntarily makes a video. I won’t do those things, even for “fun.” Seeing myself that way makes me angsty. Your amaryllis is beautiful, as is the terra cotta pot with the pretty patterned top.

    • Thanks for coming by Ally. Believe me the first one was TERRIBLE (ie the way I looked). The one that will go up is down to 2 mins. And of courseI’m doing it back to front in that there probably should be more ‘social media’ first off, of which I’m clueless –

      I’m back home from my travelling – my amaryllis right now is beyond amazing. What a joy to see it in the moonlight when I arrived home last night! It is always on view – in front of my study –

  3. HI Susan,
    Amazing energy here – making youtube videos is another level of letting go and letting yourself be out there. It’s great to have the freedom to just be without endless editing and revising. More power to you!
    Thanks
    Bren

    • Well thank you Bren! I sort of think it’s a bit nutzoid putting up a video of me talking about my book. It’s down to 2 minutes actually. Thank you for your encouragement – I may well just let it fly, soon. It’s basically a teaser I guess ie the you tube…

    • Hi Samantha thank you so much for the nomination. That is very kind of you and I am honoured indeed! Right now too too much is happening – I also don’t know how to do the whole thing efficiently and properly … it would take a month of mayhem … Please may I hold off at least for the next goodly while and while I think of it please please offer it to someone else – so many worthies!

  5. Hi Susan – that’s great … and you’re giving yourself lots of chances – now I know why you wanted your hair ‘looking good’! It’ll be such fun to see the finished video, read more about the book … and generally swing by and see you building your video and speaking skills – Rhodesian (Zimbabwean) or not. There are some friends here – who are Rhodesians (ex I guess!!) … who I see around … so perhaps I’ll revert to a few South African/Rhodesian ways … I seem to pick them up, but cannot for the life of me mimic anyone.

    I’ve got all the windows open here … crazy weather – as you say …

    Cheers and enjoy being with the family … your hubby’s photo of the amaryllis shows it at its best – and should still be thriving next week … all the best – Hilary

    • Thanks Hilary for coming by! Yes, the amaryllis is quite something! Right now, we’re trying to convert the video which we did this morning to make it send-able to son Mike in Plett. But we’re battling.

      Do ask your ex Zimbabwean friends if they know about the ‘when we’s’? It refers to ex Zims talking about ‘when we were in Zim/Rhodesia and all was …. ‘ (in the colonial times). Of course not just Rhodesians are when we’s …

      All best, Susan

  6. So looking forward to the video, Susan. Interesting you saying about the accent. Do friends or family think you sound any different in the recording or is it maybe what you actually sound like? I remember, when I worked in London back in the seventies, being told I sounded Irish and it was only on hearing a tape played to me that I realised the accent had always been there! Will there be a link posted to the piece?

    • Thanks Brian! I guess an accent never leaves us. There’re always traces – no bad thing! I don’t know if the video changes my voice. I do know that my sister and I sound very alike, so maybe the question is do I like my sister’s voice? I do – 🙂

      WHEN the video gets sorted – having a battle right now – trying to sort it out long distance – I will definitely put up a link! It is just under 2 minutes long. A teaser really – thank you for your interest 🙂

  8. While a worker is WORKING AND CHOPPING AT SOMETHING, the chips are all over the place. Things can be terribly in dis-array, and poetry might be written about that! I would think of this as “BEAUTIFUL _DIS_ARRAY POETRY.”

    Your forthcoming books, Ashen and Susan, will, in fact turn out to be unrecognizably GREAT!

    Joe Rubin

  9. I can’t wait to see the YouTube video. I do a lot of those for the online classes I teach. I used to have myself in the video. Now, I only show the lesson materials. It’s difficult to look good on tape, innit?

  11. Susan, I can relate to freaking out when being filmed as I’m very uncomfortable in front of a camera. However, when I sold and had to make sales calls over the phone, we were taught to make it 30 seconds. Be succinct and direct. Specifically what is your book You can do it! By the way, I LOVED your hair in your picture with Mike and Dave. 😉

  12. You are brave to show your vulnerability. After all, you are a PERSON with a wide range of emotions. To show them is an endearing quality in a writer, I think.

    The amaryllis is beautiful. Right now we are battening down the hatches as Hurricane Matthew approaches. My potted flowers are inside the lanai – safely, I hope.

    Best wishes with the book and YouTube promo, Susan.

    • Thanks Marian! I must remind myself that the promo is only a teaser which is also why I think I must shorten it even further and not to be such a fraidy cat. And just do it.

      I’m thinking of you as Matthew approaches-be safe.

    • Thanks Anne – I’m not brave I don’t think. But thank you for your encouragement! We’ll see – there’s time yet. If not with my sister and son’s input, then another time…

  14. This made me laugh–but with you–because I never like the way I look in photos, and I’m sure I’d hate how I look and sound in a video. I have no idea what a Rhodesian sounds like though, as compared to S. African. 🙂
    How lovely that you had a chance to visit with your family.
    Beautiful weather here in NJ right now, and the photos I’ve seen of friends in Florida show beautiful weather there, too. I guess it’s the calm before the storm. (Though we won’t be hit by the hurricane here.)
    Good luck with book and You Tube!

    • Ha ha you made ME laugh Merril! Rhodesians – those who used to live in Rhodesia (named after Sir Cecil John Rhodes an industrialist in the early 1900’s – maybe from sooner ex UK), now been named Zimbabwe since mad Bob (Robert) Mugabe came into power over 30 years ago (he’s 92). Rhodesians are also known as when we’s …

      Yes, maybe the calm before the storm – I don’t know if CNN is blowing it out of all proportion? Whichever way, I wish safety for all …

      Thanks for good wishes!

      • You’re welcome, Susan!
        I know what Rhodesia–now Zimbabwe is–just not what people from there sound like. 🙂 Or about “when we’s.”

        I think parts of Florida may be hit badly–but I don’t think we’ll get it here in NJ. (It’s quite a distance away.)

        • I think Matthew has blown itself away? Glad you will not be harmed. You’re a bit far north. Have a wonderful weekend of Yom Kippur.

    • Thanks Ashen and to you too! I read your blog earlier and want to get back to it to re-read & comment. Have made a note to myself for tomorrow –

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