A Girl in the World

May 2008

Oh that dance!

May 29, 2008

I'm tired, I'm sore and so satisfyingly happy and content.  I want to Danceworks tonight and did a salsa dance class.  It was SO MUCH FUN!  And I'm really good at it.  =)  There is something about focusing on the movement of your body and how it relates to the music that makes dancing so incredible.  It makes me feel so good about myself.  It takes my mind off work and all the other distractions of the day and brings me back to the pure me.  There is just me and my body and the music.  And it feels amazing.

It's addictive.  

And now I have this crazy idea to own a dance studio with my brother somewhere =)

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The pole

May 25, 2008

I went to see Sazzle yesterday for her birthday barbecue.  It is always so great seeing her.  But before the party, she took me to pole dancing lessons!  Pole. Dancing.  Lessons. 

It wasn't what I expected at all!  It had nothing to do with dancing or dancing dirty with the pole.  It had everything to do with strength and coordination.  It was HARD!  Hard hard hard!  I had no idea what I was doing half the time and the difficulty of it all really doesn't make any of it feel sexy.  My favourite moves were the spinning ones.  The back spin in particular.  I don't like going upside down and you are concentrating so hard on doing things right that you don't even hear the music!  

I am SORE all over.  My arms are dead, my tummy is sore and the insides of my thighs are really tender.  I have a new found respect for pole dancers.  That is hard work!  =)  And I thought all I had to do was dance sexy with the pole!  Yeesh!

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A fresh breath

May 23, 2008

My assignment got extended to December today!  I am SO happy.  It definitely feels right to be staying here.  There is so much of London still left to experience.

I feel like I got a new breath of air today – about everything in general.  I'm excited, I'm happy, I'm looking forward to what's in store.  I am finally feeling content in my independence again.  I have a packed long weekend in London with girl friends, new friends, old friends and it feels great.  It feels great to have this freedom, to feel secure in myself and to have this incredible London playground to discover.  

I'm learning just how fulfilling it is to nurture relationships with new and old friends.  They are important and make life so worthwhile.  I'm stretching myself, being open to new possibilities that I would have never considered before.  I'm open to getting to know different people and it's good fun!!  Such good fun!  =)

Anyway, I'm ecstatic tonight.  About life and everything there is to experience and discover!  SUCH A GREAT DAY.

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Ode to Papa

May 21, 2008

I have to say that I have a pretty cool Dad.  Living abroad has made my life a little chaotic.  Paying bills, insurance etc etc is just a huge chore from so far away.  So remembering prescription medicine is an even bigger chore to deal with.  And I always forget.

So Dad had to fedex me a month’s supply this week.  I couldn’t help but laugh reading the custom’s declaration form:

Value: $5
Contains:  Mono Nessa (oral contraceptive)

Ha!

Written by my Dad!  The things he does for me!  Thanks Dad!

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It’s back

May 20, 2008

The imaginary mouse is back……

And I'm telling my imagination to STOP IT RIGHT NOW

RIGHT
NOW

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All I Can See

May 19, 2008

This is one of the most beautifully written songs I've heard in a really long time.  I love the words, the piano, the meaning of it all.  Such a testament to how I am living my life these days.  Just delicious.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gQcI4vKCBdE

All I Can See – Brendan James

I want to walk through this doorway
I want to open my mind
I want to pledge my allegiance to all I can find.
I want a car that will crash through the barriers
to a road no one knows.
I want to feel less control,
want to bend and I want to land far from home.

The revolution of the earth around the sun
is the perfect lesson of how it should be.
So if i cannot learn
to journey and return,
to never rest till I've seen all I can see…

I want to learn a completely new language,
one I don't understand.
I want to help someone lost, someone helpless,
with the strength of my hand.
I want to come to the base of a statue built
before they counted the years,
and there i'll fall with my face in my hands and cry
and feel their hope in my tears.

The revolution of the earth around the sun
is the perfect lesson of how it should be.
So if I cannot learn,
to journey and return,
to never rest till I've seen all I can see…

Train rides and pastures colliding…
colors and customs i've never seen…
I know I, yes I know I,
I know I will stumble
but time is precious my friend.

Those who journey can easily understand,
the more they see the more they'll learn,
the more that they will be.
So this I swear to you, and this I swear to me,
I'll never rest till I've seen all I can see.
No, I'll never rest till I've seen all i can see.

I want to know where the stength of a person lies,
in their past or their future.
Is it in the way that they hurt or they love themselves
or is it all an illusion?
I want to crawl from this skin that i'm painted in…
Body, please let it give.
I want to find the creator of all good things
and ask what it means to live

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Miss Maria came over this weekend!  We met her two friends who are on holiday from Greece.  What a great girly few days together!

We talked around, shopped, shopped, shopped, and enjoyed lots of inappropriate Girl Talk!  Last night we went to the Hilton Park Lane and had drinks on the 28th floor.  And today I got some great summer clothes from Zara! 

London is such a fantastic adult play ground when you have great company!  Yamas to a great weekend.  =)

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The wisdom of brothers

May 13, 2008

Spending time with DJ this past weekend was so nice.  It took a while for us to get to this point where we can really be a part of each other’s lives with the maturity and love required to not be judgmental or over-protective or strong-headed with each other.  I consider him a really close friend I know that I can count on him to be there for me, through anything. 

I love seeing him blossom in this new environment – discovering a whole different world and learning that he is strong, capable, exceptional and talented.  I want him to be in a place where he knows inside of himself that he can do anything and everything, that the world is his oyster.  This time away will be great for him.

We had such a great time being silly across Italy.  We walked and ate and lounged.  It was nice.

He has also given me some great advice over the last few days.  I am up and down with regards to where I am sometimes — so high and excited about all these amazing experiences and opportunities and then worried about not really having a steady ground to plant my feet on.  This time away and the lifestyle that I’ve chosen makes it so that I am not really building roots in any one place and when things are quiet and when I miss him, it makes me sad. 

But DJ said that I need to take the time to really sit with myself and figure out what I want.  I need to get to a place of equilibrium where I’m listening to the stirring inside and facing it head on.  There is always a stirring inside of me — whether it’s about love or work or travel.  There is always something more, something different that I want.  I am antsy, curious, a dreamer.  I need to get to a place where I am content and comfortable and listening.  I need to be self aware. 

Who knew that Crazy Little One would be so wise?  =)  He was only 5 yesterday!!!

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Pictures from Italy!

May 13, 2008

What DJ calls my "ogre" jump.  Sooo not elegant!
The Ogre Jump

ItalyDjtripMay72

ItalyDjtripMay48

ItalyDjtripMay04

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We are on the train back to Florence after a day of hiking in Cinque Terre! What a great day trip! So fun to hike along the ocean and explore these super cute towns on the coast. Venezza was my favourite. Its the 2nd most northerly of the five. Hiking into it was stunning. It really felt like the town was clinging to the side of the hill. So beautiful!

It was such a different side of Italy – remote, quiet and natural. Just gorgeous.

I am sooooo tired! Maybe we’ll go to our new local haunt for dinner….they have pear stuffed fagatonni in a cream sauce. This pasta is to die for!! To die for!! Mmmmm :)

I’m back in London tomorrow — tanned and sore from walking around Italy all weekend. :)

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