Inn of the Wandering Dragon

Needing focus...

2011-11-30T18:54:00.000-07:00

Some days I think I have way too many interests.

I love several aspects of visual art from painting to printmaking to photography to collage to drawing.

I love drawing in henna and the connection that comes with adorning other people.

Belly dance gets me going on a few different levels from costuming to the mental and physical challenges to the beauty in the dance itself.

I genuinely enjoy and acknowledge the importance of physical exercise. This can take the form of yoga, swimming or even weight training at the gym.

Delicious food and testing different recipes in the kitchen is a must! Food is far more than something to be shoved into the stomach before carrying on.

I have always loved reading and I come from a family where reading is a much loved way to enjoy oneself and relax. With my mom working in the library, anything even remotely interesting was brought home to be investigated.

Sadly it has been far too long since I have enjoyed much time outdoors in the mountains. I have no excuse really, I have always loved hiking and camping. There is a sense of vibrancy that I simply do not find in the city.

And of course, there are the fun times spent with those important people in my life - I simply can't go without that! :)

But I have to work, to pay the bills and afford the ingredients in the aforementioned pursuits (food, art supplies, gas for travel etc). I have to sleep to avoid collapsing in a sickened weary state. So this leaves me with only so much time to take part in those activities that bring me so much joy.

I look around and see items unfinished, ideas for projects or pastimes not even started and I get frustrated. How can I squeeze more time in? I wonder if I can ever do really well at anything when my energies seem so scattered? Then there is also the occasional paralysis of having so many choices I can't decide what to do and then nothing gets done. It's depressing. Really.

I think I need to prioritize or pare things down somehow. Maybe that way I will be able to more fully explore various projects. So how do I do that without feeling that horrible "what if" feeling? How do I let something go without feeling like I'm losing out or short changing myself?

Here there be dragons...

2011-11-28T18:33:00.006-07:00

Henna'ed dragons, oriental dragons, stylized dragons etc. They are all fair game! And when I am feeling down and having a hard time getting those creative juices flowing, starting with something like this is just what I need to help me up. It's not about trying to force creativity to come up with something I've never done before. When I'm in that kind of mood it just doesn't work and that just makes me more frustrated and upset. It is about taking a familiar idea and traveling with it down a slightly different path... And yes, I plan on continuing the henna dragon. Right now it is being a bit of a brain teaser as I try to work out how best to make the elements and designs flow the way I want.

Feeling Strange

2011-11-12T19:00:00.000-07:00

It's hard to say exactly, how I am feeling today. My day has been quiet for certain. Tired yet not tired, a little blue yet I have some contentment in the small things today. A cold seems perched on the edge of my lungs. Perhaps with enough sleep and a break from the stresses it can be convinced to leave. Perhaps I need a good cry.

Even the cat has been subdued as it is near dinner time and he has not stirred to ask for food, normally he would have started poking me at least an hour ago.

In the process of cleaning the basement my parents have passed some items on to me, including some items that belonged to my grandmother. The scent in the box brings with it a lot of memories and thoughts. I find myself missing her, and wondering about her life.

I once again feel as the odd one out at work, unappreciated yet expected to look after things so others can go off and do their own thing. It is in part that plus the increased stress and tension at work that I am taking an extra day this long weekend. Despite the workload I need the break.

I thought there was someone with whom I could open up and be close, but he has firmly pushed me away. I understand the why, but it still hurts regardless. Are we going to remain friends or is he going to shut me out completely? At this point I have no idea what is going to happen next.

My old insecurities have woken and are rattling around in their cage. For the moment I shall just curl up in my studio and shut out the world. Creativity does not come easy when I feel this way but I feel I need some attempt at it to restore my equilibrium. If it goes well it can help shore up my tired spirit. I will be out in the world again soon enough.

New Dance Classes

2011-11-06T19:30:00.000-07:00

I start a new round of classes this week, actually I have already gone through one six week session with this particular instructor and this week I jump in for another six week session. The classes are being taught by the Bedouin Dance Company and the style of dance I am learning is tribal fusion - still belly dance but with elements of other dance forms thrown into the mix. You can find find elements from all sorts like folk dances to hip hop. I have seen it performed before and been intrigued by it. I am happy to find it is as much fun to do as I thought it looks!

I am actually signed up for two classes. The first is an introduction to tribal fusion and the second (right afterwards) is aptly named Killer Drills and Crazy Combos. We are not only working our bodies but also our minds as we work from simple drills to more layered complicated combinations. By the time I finish the second class I honestly can't remember half of what I did in the first class! But I feel great physically and mentally so no complaints here...

Happy Thanksgiving!

2011-10-09T22:17:00.003-06:00

May your time be spent with family and good friends, good food and warm memories!

The leaves are just starting to turn...

2011-09-12T18:23:00.001-06:00

...I have been crunching some leaves on my walks around the neighborhood. I am not so broken hearted at the thought of summer passing for another year, actually I enjoy autumn as much I enjoy summer. So far we are still enjoying warm sunny days with cooler nights and I am content with that.

Life starts to get back into a routine of sorts for a lot of people at this time. Kids are back in school and other extracurricular activities. For myself, the workplace ramps up as we enter our busy season. Dance classes start again in another week and while I was happy to bask in the summer sun on the deck, now I am getting restless and ready to go back to the gym as well. I am also looking forward to the delicious soups and curries that go so well with the cooler temperatures. And of course, the approaching holidays - it is time to start thinking about what I am going to wear for Halloween...

Calaway Park

2011-09-11T20:55:00.000-06:00

It has been years since I have been out to Calaway Park! I think I was still in junior high to be honest, maybe grade 10? By that age it's losing it's charm as a fun or cool place to hang out. And I have to admit that as a kid I was pretty upset when the park sold off the original carousel, it was a beautiful work of art but at that time carousel animals had become a hot collectors item so I guess it was only a matter of time.

I went during the last long weekend with my cousins who have 2 small kids. In reality the park hasn't changed much over the years. They have added more rides, and performance stages with live shows. Personally I love rides, aside from the Ocean Motion - that is one of the few that will make me sick to my stomach. Give me a twisting roller coaster any day! My cousins are not thrilled with rides so it was with a big smile that I agreed to take the kids on a couple of the faster rides. When you enjoy the ride yourself that is one thing. When you enjoy the ride with an excited kid who thinks this is the best ride they have been on all summer it just takes everything to a whole new level. And really, that's what going to an amusement park is all about. :)

Cut! Costume and the Cinema

2011-09-11T18:23:00.000-06:00

I recently had the chance to check out the new show at the Glenbow Museum

Cut! Costume and the Cinema is open until September 28th and if you are a movie buff, if you are into costuming or historical time periods, if you are into the textile arts or fashion this is not an exhibit to miss! These period costumes are works of art in their own right. While it is easy to gloss over the details and the work that goes into them when you see the character on screen, this show gives you an up close look at how much work goes into a good costume and how they are able to convey information about a character and a time period in very subtle ways.

The dating game

2011-08-23T19:38:00.000-06:00

Yes I have been re-entering the dating scene after being out of it for some years. Mainly I have been perusing the online dating sites because it seems somewhat convenient with a broad base of people to draw from.

I'm still working out how and where else I can meet people. From what I have observed in the past year, I am neither young enough, skinny enough or a trashy enough dresser to make any headway in the bar scene. In all honesty, that is ok with me, the only guys who have hit on me at the bar (even when I was young and skinny enough) are looking for a warm willing - make that any female with a pulse to have sex with asap. Since they seem to have a hard time with the basics, like finding out my name, I don't bother with them.

Years ago I tried that whole speed dating thing and my experience with that told me yes, the class system is very much alive and well in my town. People like myself who do not have a higher income or prestigious occupation need not apply. (Did that sound a little harsh? Maybe, but having a room full of guys (on three seperate occasions!) cross their arms / lean back / and start looking elsewhere as soon as the topic of my work came up did nothing to impress me.) Maybe it might not be as bad now since my current job is definately better than what I had then but I still don't relish the idea.

The gym? I am too focused on what I am doing to pay any attention to anyone else. And while I do take the odd night class or participate in groups of some kind the ratio of men to women in those outings is considerably less than ideal. (Ok,ok in bellydance it is actually zero)

My friends know that I am dating again. Heck even my co-workers know but so far no leads have come from that. One even told me all about somebody I should meet but said meeting never materialized and I haven't heard about this individual since. Ah well.

I shall just have to continue with my online options for now.

Lethbridge Air Show

2011-08-09T21:04:00.000-06:00

Yes I was feeling a little artsy at the time, but the reflections on the skin of the plane were just too much fun to resist!

I have never attended an airshow before and when some friends invited me to the annual event in Lethbridge I was curious to go. The Alberta International Air Show brings together static displays on the ground as well as flight demonstrations of a variety of aircraft. We took turns wandering with the kids to check out the sights. I admit I do not know a lot about planes or the history of planes so it was nice to go with someone who does know. I enjoyed the flight demonstrations and getting close up to some of the planes on the ground. It certainly puts some things into perspective.

Some ground shots from the air show...

2011-08-09T20:05:00.000-06:00

The Hercules was open for the public to enter and check out the cockpit, after some time spent in the slow moving line the kids opted to go look at other things but it was a nice break in the shade.

Some fun shots of aerial acrobatics...

2011-08-09T19:59:00.000-06:00

I believe these shots are of Team Rocket although I did not clearly hear all the announcer had to say on the matter so I could be wrong. Nevertheless, they put on a fun performance!

Move, Eat, Learn

2011-08-07T18:53:00.000-06:00

I came across a fun set of short videos by one Rick Mereki, you can find them here. He has put together these little montages of shots from around the world focusing on 3 different themes: Move, Eat and Learn. I am still smiling from watching them and it's no wonder why. They show not only a diverse array of cultures and places, but they also show the joy that comes from taking part in these activities. We move, exploring new places near and far. We learn, trying out new activities and ideas. We eat, and enjoy the community connecting over mealtime traditions. They are simple concepts yet if explored they enrich us as individuals.

Flying demonstration

2011-08-06T17:40:00.000-06:00

Due to the weather, our flying demonstration was held indoors with a Harris Hawk sent to fly from one end to the other with some raw meat as it's reward / dinner. I have tried in the past to catch photos of birds in flight and it's really hard to catch a good shot on film (with my camera and skill anyway). The Harris Hawk is not native to Alberta. It was brought here from a center in the US that had run out of room.

Mr. Boggle - A Great Horned Owl

2011-08-06T17:30:00.000-06:00

Mr. Boggle, as he is known, was orphaned at a very young age when the tree containing his nest was felled. He was the only baby owl to survive and he has been kept by the center as one of their "spokes-birds". He is sometimes taken to schools for educational programs and has even made a few television appearances over the years. The Great Horned Owl is actually Alberta's official provincial bird, as chosen by school children back in 1977.

Golden Eagle

2011-08-06T17:23:00.000-06:00

A majestic Golden Eagle, who seemed less than impressed about the wind blowing at the time. The birds who are set out along the "Hawk Walk" are tethered to a perch with water close by. We did not stay late enough to see the feeding of the raptors (which probably would have grossed out the kids I'm sure). These birds are all in various stages of training and they all get their turns in the flying demonstrations that happen (weather depending) about every hour and a half during the day. One thing that I was suprised to learn is that if the raptor has a full belly they have no interest in flying - unless they had to escape a predator. They will sit for a full day or more until they start to feel hungry again.

Alberta Birds of Prey Center

2011-08-06T17:19:00.000-06:00

Back in June, I took my nephews on a little road trip down to Coaldale, AB to check out the Alberta Birds of Prey Center. I had heard about this place from my parents, who have friends that are avid bird watchers. The part that is accessible to the public is not overly large, you certainly don't need more than a day to go through it all.

It is a center dedicated to the rescue and conservation of raptors, and while their focus is on local birds of prey they will also take in birds from other centers that don't have the room. There are veterinarians on site and those birds that can be healed enough to live on their own are released back into the wild. Those birds that cannot be released, ie they have lost sight or flight capabilities are kept for educating the public about the different species of birds. Or they may be used as foster parents to orphaned young of the same species. For anyone wondering, my photo is of a Red Tailed Hawk.

Riding

2011-08-05T07:20:00.000-06:00

Different forms of stunt riding and trick riding make for lively and entertaining episodes.

Dressage

2011-08-05T07:15:00.000-06:00

Various forms of dressage are displayed, it is like the equine world's version of a formal dance.

At Liberty

2011-08-05T07:10:00.001-06:00

The horses all have a large stage to move around in without leads or ropes. They interact with the people but they also have the room to play and be themselves without having every move choreographed.

Cavalia

2011-08-05T07:00:00.001-06:00

My mother and I attended the production of Cavalia not that long ago. For anyone who does not know what it is, it is a live performance showcasing the bond that has existed between humans and horses over the centuries. They have blended equestrian arts and theater arts in a format that is similar to a Cirque du Soliel show - which is no coincidence since one of the directors had previously worked with Cirque. However the show stands well on its own merit and has drawn a huge amount of praise from horse and art enthusiasts alike. I freely admit, I am not familiar with all of the forms of horsemanship demonstrated here and I could not tell you how well a particular movement was executed or what level of skill was required. However, I can say that the show fully embraces that combination of fancy and fantasy that every horse lover has indulged in at some point in their lives (and some have even experienced it) - that dream of the freedom and companionship that arises when a horse and rider not only understand each other, but also bond on a level of real partnership.

Playing catch up...

2011-08-04T20:15:00.001-06:00

I admit, I could not resist taking this shot of Chalk being a first class snoop as he searches for a certain toy I had put out of reach at the time. Believe it or not he does know how to open the cupboards and he will, from time to time, attempt to search for the sources of whatever curious scents that catch his fancy.

So far it has been an eventful summer - and I have been lax in my posting so over the next little while I am hoping to amend that with some postings of the various events I have attended and things I have been up to. I have chosen to stay put and unpack everything that I had previously packed so my house is more or less back in order. My plan is to continue to sort and purge so that I have less to pack and less to move in a year's time. Chalk is definitely feeling better about this state of affairs. And the timing has worked out well for me, since I had to put a rather large amount of money into repairs on my car. I am quite thankful I did not have that on top of damage deposits and other moving expenses!

U-Turns and flip arounds

2011-06-22T20:38:00.005-06:00

As you know, after much debate, soul searching, discussion and examination, my landlords came to the decision to give notice to myself and another tenant.

So for the past few weeks I have been checking the rental listings, visiting (viewing) prospective sites and in a couple of instances I even submitted applications. I have never heard from those I applied to. It is rather like a job search in that way.

I have been scavenging boxes from work and attempting to purge, sort and pack only what I really want to keep - with mixed results of course. ;) The end result is that my house is a huge mess.

And just the other day, there came a knock on my door and a rather embarrassed landlord.

It seems they did not think things through in a thorough enough fashion. They still need some rental income since one of them will be going to school in September. I have been offered a one year stay - naturally my rent will go up, that is a given. It is also a given that rent will be closer to what I will be hypothetically paying somewhere else. But the message is clear, they are hoping I will stay and they promise no more flipping around on the subject.

In truth it is the switching back and forth that is most annoying to me, more so than the time and energy swallowed up by my search. Although really, do I honestly want to unpack everything I have packed only to re-do it all 12 months from now? Conversely, do I really want to leave a big mess of boxes stacked around for the next year? This is going to take some weighing of the pros and cons for me.

I told them I would think about it ( I was in no shape to make snap decisions that evening) and let them know when I return a week later. I need to take an honest look at what my opportunities are and figure out what's best for me.

The search continues...

2011-06-09T20:39:00.003-06:00

So I have hit the ground running in terms of the search for a new home. Thus far this week I have viewed 7 different places with another viewing booked on Saturday. My final decision will come down to two main points:

1 - Is there sufficient room for my art studio? Art Studio sounds fancy but really I just need space for my work table, bookshelves and room to open up my easel for painting. Having a dedicated space to be creative is very important to me as I know how irritable and moody I get when I have to constantly pull everything out and pack everything back up again. And I'm even worse if I have no space at all.

2 - Is it above ground? I have lived in various basement suites for almost 10 years. To be blunt - I want light! I will admit that if the suite has decent windows and does not feel like a dark dungeon then I could sacrifice being above ground if the space meets the first requirement. Although to be honest, the basement suites I am finding are all charging the same as a ground level or higher apartment. So why stay below ground?

So far my top two choices are a two bedroom condo with the longest commute to work and a one bedroom apartment that is a bit shy for space but is in a pretty good location. I shall see what Saturday holds for a potential 2 bedroom basement suite and then hopefully make a decision this weekend.

Changes

2011-05-31T21:33:00.004-06:00

Changes are coming, and I can honestly say I am not surprised. I have noticed the tension lately. I have been aware of the stresses and frustrations as the upstairs people have come to the conclusion that they are running out of options. So when I found a voicemail asking for me to call right away I knew that whatever has been building over the past while has finally taken form so to speak. I received my notice to move out by the end of August.

It's nothing personal, I have mentioned before that I live in a small space but it is practically a palace compared to the same small space upstairs that currently houses 3 adults, 2 large dogs and a cat. For them it is about having breathing room.

So let the games begin! I need to start going through and figuring out what I can get rid of or pass on before I move. I need to start raiding the box pile at work to start packing up what I want to keep. And I need to hunt for a new place to live that will accept a cat. This sort of thing is never ideal but I can either stress myself over it or accept the change and recognize it for the chance to clear out some cobwebs and other detritus that has gathered from being in one place for so long. I choose not to stress - at least not for now, that can wait until August.

Ramping up for the Spring detox!

2011-05-31T21:21:00.004-06:00

At least that is the plan. I spent all last night cooking, and a large chunk of this evening doing the dishes from last night. It is always easier to do something like this when there is a bunch of stuff already to eat for any meal. Yes, once again I am embarking on the Wildrose 12 day detox, something I have not done in quite a while. It is more stringent than what I did last fall but I think this is just the approach I need to give myself a culinary kick in the right direction. To say I have fallen off the wagon of healthy eating would be an understatement...

So a few of my menu ideas for the coming week...

Baked pepper chicken with veggies (also baked) sprinkled with garlic and herbs along side rice flavored with chives and minced onion.

Ginger / Garlic stir fry with more chicken and veggies on a bed of tasty quinoa.

Salmon steak covered in home made salsa and served with fresh salad.

It sounding (and tasting) pretty good so far.

It's finally warming up (for the moment)

2011-04-26T17:25:00.004-06:00

Easter has come and gone again for another year and as per my family's tradition, we went camping out in the foothills. We enjoyed warm sun, good food and good company for the three days in Maclean Creek. Yes, there is still a fair amount snow laying around but I also noticed some green starting to peak through.

Aside from a leisurely walk along Elbow Falls, I spent most of the weekend outside in the sun with a good book in hand, much like a contented cat by the fire pit. The concept of just being still and able to relax for any extended length of time is fairly odd for me. Most of my holidays are spent going somewhere specifically to do something. Henna, certain art exhibits, presentations or whatever the case may be, I don't see a lot of true down time. That and I typically find myself too restless and active to sit still for long. This is not necessarily a bad thing as far as I'm concerned. It's just the way I'm built. But on those occasions where I can really sit back and relax, I can certainly enjoy it.

Jinx in Providence

2011-03-29T21:30:00.005-06:00

Hotel Providence in the downtown Arts District of Providence, Rhode Island.

Jinx making mischief in the hotel...

Gourmet Heaven - friendly staff and a tasty salad bar. It became our favorite place to get meals.

And the Dragon has been wandering again!

2011-03-29T20:43:00.004-06:00

Yes, Jinx the dragon accompanied me to Rhode Island this past weekend for the 5th annual Henna Gathering put together by Heather of Artistic Adornment. (This free flow scrabble table is in the lobby of the hotel we stayed in - Hotel Providence.)

I love landing in a new city. While I was disappointed that the Moor workshop had been cancelled, I was happy to have a day to wander the city center of Providence before the actual conference began. The hotel is in the Arts district so we had a blast checking out small galleries, massive murals, shopping and the numerous musicians / artists wandering about on their daily business. I say we because I finally met and joined up with a couple of my room mates - two awesome ladies who flew all the way from New Zealand for this gathering. Nothing makes you ponder the quirks of North America quite like the enthusiastic curiosity of of someone from another country!

The conference overall was well put together with some great presentations on a variety of henna related topics. The role and style of henna in various cultures around the world was my main reason for attending. Of that there were several presenters. There were also presentations in gilding, face painting and the realities of working in a festival environment. Naturally, since there were two presentation rooms, there were other presentations that I would have loved to take part in. There were some great crafting ideas that would be a lot of fun to explore - should I have the time to at some point.

Impressions

2011-02-28T21:38:00.003-07:00

I stopped in at the local home and garden show this weekend to have a look around. Having spent time actually working these shows it was kind of nice to not be involved in all the madness this time. My work did not have a booth but we provided a rather nice prop for another company and I wanted to see how it turned out. I have to say it looked pretty good overall.

My co-worker was there to answer any questions and naturally he sent me to check out the competition. I wandered and played the less than knowledgeable consumer to see what would happen. I think the response would have been different had I actually walked into the showroom, as opposed to being simply one body of hundreds passing by. Regardless, not one of them was interested in actually qualifying me, and not one of them went into any technical detail. I found it odd that not one of them seemed interested in promoting the quality of their product or some other means of differentiating themselves from the competition. Let's be honest, there are only so many ways that you can build any given product so why not try to make it stand out from the others? Just a thought.

The one booth really stands out in my mind - but not for the right reasons. If there is one thing that bugs me it is not presenting yourself well. This company looked like they slapped things together at the very last minute. Product was set up incomplete, but not a deliberate incomplete as if they were showing the hidden workings, more like, "oops, we don't have X part so just spray paint a piece of MDF and slap it on". The booth itself had sloppy details, like dirty signs and messy papers scattered around, that showed a real lack of professionalism in my opinion. And on top of that the reps seemed less than interested in being there and talking to people. Ouch!

The small things add up in a big way. Even if I did not work where I do, could they have sold me on their product? Not a chance! Especially after visiting the other booths which were clearly put together with more care and spoke with reps who were more interested in talking to people. First impressions can count for a lot and I think sometimes people forget that.

Starting a new page...

2011-02-22T18:30:00.004-07:00

As my obsession with henna related arts has continued to evolve I have set up a separate little blog for it. Actually I have been mucking about with it for a while now and I have finally decided to let the rest of the world know about it. :)

You can now find Classy Cat Henna to keep you entertained with my various henna adventures!

There is still more to be done, more pages to add and possibly a gallery or slideshow of images once I work out how I would like it all to go. In the meantime, enjoy!

Tangling about...

2011-02-15T20:20:00.000-07:00

I have added a new dimension to my journaling lately, namely I have been attempting to doodle. It's a bit wierd (to me anyway) but I used to doodle and draw all the time. Then once I really got into painting it is as if a switch had been flipped in my head - I couldn't doodle anymore and drawing became more difficult. As I have focused on henna art, some of my drawing and doodling ability has returned. So far as I can tell this has made no difference to my painting ability. And now I'm trying another tactic.

The popular term for it now is Zentangle. The aim is not to create something recognizable, but to engage in a deliberate act of mark making that is essentially a visual meditative process. I find it a pleasant way to relax and bring me back to the here and now (handy, since my brain is usually going several strange directions at once). It requires my brain to focus and shove the other chatter to the back burner for a while. This zentangling is also a handy puzzle to play with. Yes I can fill the spaces with random repeating patterns but I still want the overall result to work in a visual way. I am looking for a sort of balance and flow if you will.

And of course, I am thinking this will make a fun incubator for henna patterns as well!

Be My ____ ?

2011-02-10T07:49:00.000-07:00

Yes, that lovely much stressed about day is fast approaching, Valentines Day.

I haven't typically been one to fuss over it much. There has always been too much expectation, even back as kids when the teachers would politely send home the class list to all the parents. We knew that everyone was supposed to receive valentines from everyone else in the class, so we could all feel that we were friends equally. And we all knew it wasn't so.

Years ago in university I remember one boyfriend grumbling about the day - and what was the point of having a day where he was "supposed to be romantic"? Every girl in the room shot back that if there wasn't this one day we would never see any romance at all. He wisely changed topic after that.

I suppose guys have reason to sweat, we have been raised on movies and stories of true love and romance all our lives which makes for fun fiction but does not seam to pan out as well in real life. They are faced with the looming shadow of "letting us down" while we dread the prospect of "being let down". I can almost hear the chorus in the background: but it's just one day - can we not have one day a year where we can revel in the beauty and the romance? Let's be honest here - romance takes work.

In my previous relationship, we tended to keep it simple. We gave each other valentine cards and had a nice dinner together. For the first while anyway. That faded off as he lost interest in putting in the effort and I lost interest in having my efforts go unappreciated. So even with a not so huge investment of effort, it can still seem like too much if you are just not in that space together.

This year, for the first time in a long while, I am single for Valentine's Day. Thankfully I am not one of those people who seems to view being single on this day as some sort of doom or failure. In fact I can honestly say that I tend to have the most fun on Valentine's Day when I am single. I've been out dancing with friends at free concerts. I've been traveling in exotic places. I have had wonderfully pleasant conversations with good friends over good food. I have enjoyed quiet evenings with a good book. So in light of this, what's not to love?

Really, Valentine's Day is like any other day. It is all what you make of it.

Nevermore

2011-02-08T10:21:00.005-07:00

Yes I was finally able to get out and take in a play last week - the fabulous Nevermore, by Catalyst Theater. Based on the life of Edgar Allen Poe, the show weaves in imagery and verses from across Poe's poems and stories. It is a playful and macabre exploration of his life with speculation on where his inspirations came from. The stage design was simple and effective and it allowed the costumes and the acting to really stand out in all their glory. At times graceful and whimsical, at times frantic like a puppet desperate to cut the strings that bind, this version of Poe keeps coming back to the idea that we cannot deny what we really are.

There are thoughts, that will not part,

that will not leave us in peace,

And there are visions, dark and sinister

that never will cease,

A darkened tide of endless pride,

of mystery and a dream,

A dream so fraught, of wild thought,

the same somnambulant theme,

All that we see, all that we seem,

is but a dream within a dream.

And the dance begins again...

2011-01-20T17:56:00.005-07:00

The latest round of bellydance classes has begun! My last semester was not so great with several missed classes and being generally tired / overworked. The end result was that I was pretty clueless on the choreography at the time. I aim to do better this time. Although I suspect it's too late for that particular choreography, since I was not the only one with issues last term I suspect the instructor has decided to take a different approach this time around. I'm sure I'll have fun with it regardless!

Change

2011-01-20T17:39:00.003-07:00

Change can be a scary thing, be it large or small. In the case of some friends of mine, this change is going to be huge.

They own their own business; they have for many years but soon now they will be closing their doors. Between the economy, the aggressive competition and a big change in walk by traffic, they simply are not getting the sales required to stay in business. On top of that the landlord is insisting on a rent increase which certainly doesn't help.

My friend was in tears yesterday as she told me news. She asked if I thought this was a good decision and sadly I had to agree. I have worked with them on and off over the years and I know what the sales were like compared to over the past couple of years. There is only so long that one can hold on, waiting for things to get better. Eventually the choice to let go has to be made.

So once they close they are going to take a break for a bit while they sort out the next step. They may start again somewhere else, only time will tell. They may work for someone else for a while, who knows. And this may - in the long run, work out to be a great thing to happen to them.

I certainly wish them the best of luck.

New Year - New Projects

2011-01-15T21:49:00.004-07:00

Well here we are in 2011 and my list of things to do just seems to get longer. My various ideas for "winter projects" have been completely untouched so far this winter thanks to the piles of work and holiday related stuff. Now that the holiday stuff is out of the way it's time to dig in to my various projects. To help keep me on track I'm making a big list I stick on the wall so I can cross items off as I complete them.

One of the first projects on my list is my new dragon from Windstone - one of the paint your own types. A girlfriend and I opted to get these for each other for Christmas and hang out together painting them. There is a lot of fun detail on these and we are each going with different color schemes. I will attempt to post pictures as my dragon progresses.

Only a week away now...

2010-12-19T20:39:00.000-07:00

and I am pretty sure what Chalk's holiday wish list will include: toy mice, lots of petting and catnip. I took this as he was being an inquisitive goof while I was getting decorations up. He is always so helpful with the Christmas tree, attempting to run off with an ornament or two to stuff into some corner or crevice. Once the tree is done and sitting on the bookshelf he knows it's off limits so he has to get his mischief in while he can.

And what do I wish for this Christmas? Some quiet time to relax, some time to be with friends, and to get through this stretch of the work season with my sanity more or less intact. I'm not looking for a lot of material things this year and I'm hearing the same from other people as well. In fact that is making gift giving a little more of a challenge this year - because I do enjoy giving gifts! I have most of my people figured out with only a couple more to go.

And yes it is that time again...

2010-12-19T09:38:00.000-07:00

All work and no play...

2010-11-27T23:56:00.003-07:00

...makes for a very cranky your truly. However I am currently feeling pretty darn good tonight as I have actually had something resembling a life this week. I'm not going to guarantee that I will be able to get up on time tomorrow morning but so be it. I can live with that.

There have been a couple of nights hanging with friends with a mix of good food, laughter, muddy hair and entertainment. I have been out to see the newest of the Potter franchise and I have to say I'm pleased with how it's evolving. Of course, I will have to go see it again sans the distortion of being stuck in the very front row well right of center. Who knew it would take us over 20 minutes to find a parking spot? Thank goodness we already had tickets!

And tonight I have returned from Bragg Creek where I enjoyed a great show by Dehli 2 Dublin - a band out of Vancouver. It was a fun, high energy performance that had me dancing the entire time. There isn't much left of my voice either and I think I am going to sleep very well tonight!

Autumn and Limbo

2010-09-20T20:37:00.006-06:00

Admittedly my picture here is a bit out of date. A few weeks ago I enjoyed a lovely walk to take in some of the fall colours. Most of the leaves are gone now. But the weather here is warm enough for me to doubt we are in November already. Normally there would be snow by now. All the shops have put up their Christmas displays and the questions have started going around for gift ideas etc. Mind you it didn't quite feel like Halloween either last weekend.

Ok, so I'm rambling. Between the two jobs I have 3 or sometimes 4 days a week where I work 12 to 13 hours. On the days that only find me working 8 hours I am trying to stay on top of the day to day stuff like cooking, laundry, health etc. My dance class is performing in 2 weeks so there are extra rehearsals and practice to squeeze in as well.

In short, I'm tired but I'm hanging in there. I don't really feel like there is much time to do any thing beyond what absolutely needs to be done right now. Ergo the lack of blog posts among other things. I come home and spend some time with the fuzzball before going to bed so I can get up the next morning and do it all again. And I think to myself, only a couple more months to go...

Starting a new life together...

2010-09-19T21:12:00.003-06:00

The wedding of a good friend of mine came and went this past weekend. I can honestly say that the whole day went surprisingly well. There were some things that we figured would turn out "good enough" and the rest would turn out well. Aside from taking turns huddling in borrowed coats in between photos, the rest of the day exceded expectations. The ceremony itself was simple and very emotional as these two people whom I have known for so long exchanged their vows. I am happy for them, as I have watched them struggle down a long road to get to this point. Continuing to work their way together through life is a longer road still, but they are walking together now and I sincerely wish them all the best to make it a great journey together.

The light at the end of the tunnel approaches...

2010-08-31T21:48:00.003-06:00

The countdown is on and I just breath a deep sigh that clearly says this cannot come soon enough!

After all the fussing, after all the agonizing and drama a friend of mine is getting married this weekend. I have been helping where I can ( I am one of the bridesmaids so... naturally) in addition to my long hours of working two jobs and attempting to keep my meals and excersize to something resembling a good idea. It's not as easy as it looks. I suspect that sometime in October I might be able to catch up on the backlog of stuff "not getting done" but until then I shall hold out for that glorious day on the horizon where I can actually get a bit of sleep.

Getting back to basics

2010-08-16T13:30:00.003-06:00

Or at least that is the idea. After some careful examination I have once again embarked on another detox. The reason is simple - my eating habits had taken a real tailspin so this is my kick in the tush to get myself back into the habit of preparing better meals. It is comprised of the usual elements: no processed foods (dairy, flour, refined sugars), lots of fresh veggies, whole grains, lentils and lean meats like poultry and fish. So far I have been on this for a week and aside from the odd chocolate craving (what girl doesn't?) I have been doing really well. I have not been having the difficulty this time around that I sometimes had in the past.

Mind you, that only goes to show that I really needed to do this.

The detox is helping in other ways too. I am rediscovering my joy for cooking. I will never be an amazing chef by any means but the act of creating something that I can enjoy eating is a joy in and of itself, one of those simple life pleasures if you will. That is a joy that was severely muted for some time but it is starting to return. In other areas, my allergies are getting better. I know there are some things in processed foods that bother me and now my body is getting a break from them. The idea is to reintroduce other ingredients one at a time to get a better idea of what is affecting me. We shall see how that goes (and I seriously hope that cheese is not one of the culprits!) in a week or so.

The BC Renfest

2010-07-27T21:10:00.000-06:00

My girlfriend and I made our yearly trip out to BC for the Renaissance Faire again. The weather was excellent and other than a few hiccups (flat tire, some unexpected work in setting up etc) the trip went quite well. We were not sure what to expect given that it was at a new location (Thunderbird Show Park) but overall I think the crowd turnout was decent. From a vendor perspective we both did exceptionally well, and I heard some other vendors comment the same.

We had new jousters present to show off their skill as well as some new characters to entertain us. We were so busy we did not get to see all the scenes so I am a bit fuzzy on the storyline. But suffice to say the King James and Queen Margaret once again had to land in Stellars Grove and sort out a few things - not the least of which was being attacked by Spanish pirates while sailing aboard the Jade Dragon.

To be a Knight or a Dame

2010-07-27T20:46:00.002-06:00

It seems the sleepy town of Stellers Grove will have pressence of royalty to liven things up. King James of Scotland and Queen Margaret are making a brief stay and durring that time any who wish may present themselves to the King and Queen to be made a Knight or a Dame. Of course, you must make a declaration of the good deeds you have done to be worthy of this honour. These declarations ranged from "I promise to be nice to my cat." to "I fought the HST" (this caused a huge cheer) to "I made breakfast this morning" (the King was rather dubious about that one).

You meet all sorts of characters at the faire...

2010-07-27T20:39:00.003-06:00

Summer the Fairy

LARP Warrior

Singing... or Plotting...?

2010-07-27T20:35:00.003-06:00

While this shot was taken during the pub sing, it is easy to imagine the pirates - err sorry - the Privateers to be plotting some mischief...

The crowd at the faire

2010-07-27T20:33:00.001-06:00

I always enjoy seeing the assortment of costumes in the crowd.

New supplies!

2010-05-31T13:31:00.003-06:00

I recently ordered some henna supplies in anticipation for the summer events coming up. One of the new things I'm doing this year is - if the customer is so inclined - adding some sparkle to the finished designs. Kids LOVE this! Adults, well that depends on the event and the mood I guess but you should see the kids eyes light up when I ask them if they like glitter. The plus side to this is that they are often more careful with their design so there is less chance of smearing before the paste is dry.

I have also picked out some self adhesive stencils. These can be used to create temporary glitter tattoos or they can be used for henna. This should give me some fun options for those people who don't want traditional designs. I'm saving the stencils for the BC Renfest in July and I am thinking they should go over well.

Taking a breather...

2010-05-24T20:23:00.004-06:00

I really haven't felt like I have had all that much to write about lately. The irony is that I have been quite busy so one would think I had a pages of stuff to write about but that is not the case. I don't generally write about work and to be honest that has been taking most of my time (working two jobs will do that to you). My time outside of work has been filled with the usual events and goings on like birthdays, weekend markets (where I henna) and wedding related stuff (I get to be a bridesmaid in September). In fact much of my days seems to run along the line of simply moving from one commitment to another before falling into bed for a time and then getting up to do it all over.

The May long weekend is drawing to a close and for once I was not committed to driving all over the province or committed to working. Since the boyfriend took off to visit family I had that rarely experienced but badly needed space to myself, physically and mentally. I spent part of Saturday cleaning so for the first time in weeks my house is tidy again. Once that was completed I was actually able to relax, focus on some things that need focusing on and it has been wonderful!

I'm hoping for a good nights sleep tonight. With tomorrow the craziness starts again but at least I'm feeling better.

the latest henna designs...

2010-04-22T18:35:00.005-06:00

What can I say? This was some late night doodling to use up the remains of the paste. I'm quite pleased with the stain thus far and I might work some colour into it this weekend if I set some time aside.

Photos!

2010-04-22T18:29:00.003-06:00

My new (to me) camera arrived recently which has me very happy. :) Naturally, I had to test it as soon as I unwrapped the box. Doesn't he look impressed?

Diving in head first

2010-04-06T21:14:00.005-06:00

I now have a full time job. In theory the work is similar to what I have done before but as everyone knows the different people, processes and set up will all pose their own unique challenges. I'm looking forward to it in truth, and after my first week I'm thinking I really shouldn't have any difficulty with this - aside from figuring out mystery people's shorthand!

I was given the task of updating the main price spreadsheet which is a sink or swim way of learning what models belong to what manufacturers and other details. It is obvious that the previous person who edited this sheet assumed that everyone knew the product inside out. Therefore they *ahem* abbreviated part numbers left, right and center. Yes, some days I definitely lead an interesting life! Or at least it feels that way.

So far it would appear that I work with some pretty good people. My supervisor has some pretty high standards - not necessarily a bad thing. And I will still be dealing with the public and assisting in some custom choices. This little facet will always be entertaining.

Overall I'm feeling good. Overall I realize I have a challenge ahead of me to do well.

Life is good.

Another cool quote...

2010-04-06T20:58:00.004-06:00

"An exercise is not dance. A dance step is not dance. A costume is not dance. Music is not dance. For all these elements to be synthesized within your mind and body and come out (as) Dance requires that you put together all your new physical know-how, match it with increasing self-expression, connect with the beat and wail of the music, and offer yourself up to another dimension... one in which you cannot intellectualize, practice, apologize, or show off."

From The Compleat Belly Dancer, by Julie Russo Mishkin & Marta Schill

This really sums it up no matter what form of dance you engage in. I know where I'm coming up short in this equation and with some luck and hard work I hope to rectify that in the year ahead.

Welcome to Spring!

2010-03-23T21:15:00.005-06:00

Yes, the cat is bouncing off the walls, the sun is out, the snow is gone (temporarily) and I have been attacking the pile of spring cleaning. Thanks to this my allergies have also gone through the roof! Oh joy, oh bliss...

Sign up has already begun for the next dance session. It looks like our student recital will be around the end of May or begining of June if they can settle on a date. So we have two months left to master our choreography and I could not be more happy about that. At this point, I need the two months!

It would appear that this time of new beginings has other offerings in store as well. I have had one interview and was notified today that I will be moving to round two of the interview process which has me feeling a bit better about things job related. I will admit that I am not resoundingly passionate about the product I will be looking after but I know I can do the job well and at this point a steady income is more than welcome. We shall see how things turns out.

I have also decided to get out and sell some henna. I will be setting up a table at a floating weekend market and with luck this will provide me with some good opportunities. At worst I get some practice selling, at best I do well and have a little extra cash. (maybe enough to pay for the next henna conference?) This is win-win in my books. I am also trying to co-ordinate a monthly henna practice / meet up for henna enthusiasts. So far I have a few people interested and I think if it does become regular then we might snag a few more participants. Meeting new people with common interests is always a good thing!

And now, I think I will get back to my henna play...

musings...

2010-03-15T20:45:00.004-06:00

Have you ever had one of those days where you had a great idea, only to discover you are about two years too late in getting your hands on the materials? The key material, as it were, stopped being produced back in 2008. Now I have done a bit of research and there is an acceptable alternative. I just have to track it down - and this is the key bit - for an affordable price. This project is something I am thinking of for the summer so I have time to dig around. With luck I will have something to show for it a few months down the road.

In the meantime I have also taken up the task of designing the wedding invites for a friend of mine. I have a pretty good feel for what she wants and there is just one or two bits I need to figure out. I plan on making two or three mock ups and see what she thinks. I'm hoping to have a good start on that by the end of this week.

And I have purchased a camera! I am actually buying it off of someone who haunts the henna boards more than I do. The money is sent, and they will be popping it in the mail shortly. Despite the freindly reminder e-mail to the girl who has my old camera, I suspect it will be a very long time before she actually gets around to sending it back to me.

Busy busy....

2010-03-04T09:51:00.006-07:00

My brain has been buzzing with ideas lately. I find my desk littered with scraps of paper covered in possibilities and thoughts (maybe I should condense these into one sketchbook to keep them all together). I won't spill the beans just yet but this has me excited! So many things to consider...

Reaching for the next level.

2010-02-28T22:07:00.003-07:00

A few months ago, I and a few others in my previous belly dance class were told point blank by the instructor that we would be moving onto the intermediate level in our next class. In other words, we had been booted from the nest! We find ourselves now in the intermediate / advanced class and our brains and bodies are learning to deal (we hope) with a whole new set of challenges.

It is not simply a matter of learning new moves or steps, there are a few of those, but now we are being called upon to layer those moves with the existing ones. Do you remember that game as kids where you had to pat your head and rub your belly at the same time? This is like that except we are trying to pat our heads, rub our bellies, spin in a circle and hop from one foot to the other all at the same time! And as performers - do not let your face tell the world how confused you really are. (which part do you think is most challenging?)

I am thoroughly enjoying myself! I am finding it a real challenge which is good as I realise I have been playing things a little too safely for a while now. We all need to stretch ourselves or we become stagnant. We are learning a new choreography that we will hopefully be able to present to an audience later on this spring. I am looking forward to that!

"This plane is officially broken."

2010-02-16T12:07:00.004-07:00

Yes, that is what came across the intercom during my aborted flight from L.A. to Sacramento. Since I was not paying attention prior to that statement I am not 100% certain of the specifics. Suffice to say I believe there was a problem with the landing gear, so the pilot chose to turn around and return to L.A. for repairs. The fact that we were stuck on the runway for a bit after landing due to the steering mechanism being disengaged would support this.

The crew chose the safest route, and we all made it with nothing more than the inconvenience of our trips delayed (and misdirected baggage). So I have another funny anecdote to add to my travel stories, it almost ranks as high as "I'm sorry miss, but that airline no longer exists." But that is another story...

Feeling revitalized!

2010-02-16T11:28:00.002-07:00

A week has passed since I returned from the Spring Fling and it already feels like another world away.

I enjoyed myself thoroughly and amassed a small pile of notes, handouts and photos that I am now starting to go through, well not the photos just yet. I left my camera behind by mistake so I am patiently waiting for it to arrive in the mail. You see, sleep at this kind of event is minimal at best so some things had to wait until the brain is less fuzzy in order to really sink in! But with rest I can now go through and start to apply these tips and ideas to my own practice.

Practice is exactly what I need! I have been both humbled and inspired by the artists at this event. So I will work in my sketchbook, and on whatever bare skin I can. I have ideas for cards, gift boxes, candles and other paraphernalia. I can copy what I see well enough but I now have hopes of developing a style of body art I can confidently call my own. I know that I can do better with this medium and that is what I aim to do.

Getting ready for a little holiday

2010-02-02T22:42:00.005-07:00

I am starting to get excited about this, in two days I will be flying to California to meet amazing henna artists and have the chance to learn a thing or two from them. I have as much 'blank canvas' as I can offer since I have refrained from decorating myself. I have figured out what to pack - in my head anyway, I still need to complete the physical packing. Of course I will be taking my camera and extra batteries along with my sketchbook. Everything else (henna wise)will be provided. :)
This will be the first time in a long time that I have taken a trip by myself and I really hope that it will be as refreshing and invigorating as I have imagined... After the craziness of the past year I truly feel I need it!

Now where did I put that?

2010-01-27T07:36:00.004-07:00

Back in November / December I re-arranged most of my art supplies in anticipation of my friends arrival for the holidays. The idea was to keep stuff out of sight and out of reach for a certain busy toddler and the plan worked well. In fact it is still working a little too well since I am having issues finding materials and items!
So tonight the plan is to re-arrange things back to some semblance of usability...
Maybe then I can get some printing done.

Sometimes a poem just resonates with you...

2010-01-26T23:18:00.003-07:00

WILD GEESE

by Mary Oliver

You do not have to be good.

You do not have to walk on your knees

For a hundred miles through the desert, repenting.

You only have to let the soft animal of your body

love what it loves.

Tell me about your despair, yours, and I will tell you mine.

Meanwhile the world goes on.

Meanwhile the sun and the clear pebbles of the rain

are moving across the landscapes,

over the prairies and the deep trees,

the mountains and the rivers.

Meanwhile the wild geese, high in the clean blue air,

are heading home again.

Whoever you are, no matter how lonely,

the world offers itself to your imagination,

calls to you like the wild geese, harsh and exciting —

over and over announcing your place

in the family of things.

Spring Fling

2010-01-23T09:20:00.000-07:00

I have registered for my first henna conference!

Yes, there is such a thing, in fact there are more than a few of them every year hosted by henna artists across North America with most of them in the US. Spring Fling is a regular event in California and will run for three days. Some of my favorite artists will be in attendance presenting on different topics. I do not know at this point what all the topics will be but they can range from demonstrations of different cultural styles to business practices to learning techniques. Yes, the attendees will all be practicing on each other and I have already warned my boss that I will be returning from this trip highly decorated!

So now I am torn, do I indulge and decorate myself, or do I leave as much blank canvas as possible? Decisions, decisions...

small musings

2010-01-22T20:38:00.000-07:00

Does anyone else find it a little creepy that you can give a donation to charity only to find the receipt in your mailbox the next day or at worst the day after? Any letter I send is definitely not getting to it's destination that quickly! It brings to mind images of Olympic calibre letter carriers, braced in the blocks and ready to sprint the instant the envelope is placed in their hand. Or maybe in their teeth like a hyped up superdog?

Another Print

2010-01-20T21:28:00.004-07:00

Ok I did not get anything done with the gargoyle print this past week. But I did cut a small print of a celtic design:

This happens to be one of my favorite motifs although I'm not completely sure why. It was some relaxing practice for carving the speedy cut. This stuff cuts like butter, I would not attempt this image in regular lino at this stage of the game as that stuff is much harder in comparison.

There is also the issue getting used to the ink, how much ink on the block is too much and how much is not enough. You may be surprised to find that the block looks like it has good coverage only to find out it doesn't. The resulting image can be patchy and broken up.

Some printmaking relief

2010-01-14T07:34:00.006-07:00

Haha, groan I know (at least to me since the technique is relief printmaking and I am getting some relief... I'll stop now). :)

Yesterday I bought a new brayer, not exactly in time for the christmas cards I wanted to make but it just means I will have it ready for the next round. I decided to play with a block of speedycut (or something like that) and this is what I have come up with: (pls ignore the camera flash)

And after mucking around with some pastels, this is roughly the direction I want to take it in:

It is one of my "singing gargoyles" from my trip to Toulouse a couple years ago. It has been a long time since I worked with multiple colour registration so this should be a fun project to play with. I shall keep you posted!

A cool quote...

2010-01-10T20:12:00.000-07:00

"Go forth and do the right thing, and embrace your invisibility cloak. Most of the best stuff you ever do won't be cited, sourced or flashed in neon. That's not the point. Living brilliantly IS!"

And the crazy adventures continue!

2010-01-08T18:55:00.001-07:00

After a crazy three weeks of holiday festivities and entertaining the dust is finally starting to settle. The tree has been taken down, the decorations are put away for another year and Chalk has his food dish returned to it's rightful place. As he is presently reminding me that it is dinner time I can safely say that things are getting back to normal.

We had a lovely visit with our friends from overseas as well as local friends who we do not see very often. For a brief run down of events...

Tape is a wonderful thing! From wrapping presents to preventing toddlers from making long distance calls to making the microwave easier to use, tape has played a larger role than usual this year. It's a good thing I stock lots of it!

Chalk is still working out the delicate balance needed with toddlers. When is it good to stand your fuzzy ground vs. when is it good to keep your ears, tail and toes free from harm? Overall he did well and I'm happy to say there was no claws involved. Teeth? Yes, in a gentle way that did not leave a physical mark but allowed clear and definite communication.

Christmas gatherings with friends and family made up the bulk of the visit when the boyfriend and I were not working. Of course a stroll through Zoolights was in order and despite the cold the numerous fire pits and interesting people resulted in a good time had by all. We even managed to spend some time at Heritage Park for "Once Upon a Christmas".

I enjoyed a lovely production of the Nutcracker with one of my friends on Boxing Day, which I think is a much better way to spend the day then to fight the crowds at the malls. Thanks dear!

And in keeping promises made in the summer we ventured back to Canada Olympic Park for the bobsleigh run. We received t-shirts that read: "60 seconds you will talk about for the rest of your life" and as my friend remarked, "I earned every fiber of this shirt!!!" For those of you who love roller coasters, I would definitely recommend riding in a bobsled but be warned, this is an intense experience. It is rough, loud, and chances are good you will feel like a bobble head doll slapped upside the head. Our time from start to finish was 61.35 seconds. The gold medal times on this track in 1988 work out to roughly 3-4 seconds faster. Our speed reached 116.75 km per hour and we experienced up to 5 G's in the corners. It was not until the next day that my neck and upper back muscles told me how they really felt about this but my one friend was decidedly green at the end of the track. The overall consensus, we did it and we are glad we did - but next time we will probably choose skydiving instead!

...getting ready for Christmas...

2009-12-14T23:01:00.003-07:00

Yes that crazy time is fast approaching! (as if you really need me to point that out?)

The tree is up and decorated, sitting (for now) safely on the cleared off bookshelf. With much luck neither the cat nor any pint sized visitors will send it crashing to the floor. For me the season simply would not be the same without a tree, it could be real or not so long as I have some semblance of one. I can say "some semblance of" because one Christmas found me down under working on an ostrich farm. Since we had no tree or decorations I invented one out of tissue paper and balloon pieces and stuck it to the wall! Interestingly enough all of the Canadian backpackers wanted Christmas festivities while the rest of the travelers were a lot less fussed over it. If I can get the picture of my made up tree scanned before the end of the season I will post it here.

The house is cleaned and somewhat ready for my friends who will be visiting for the next few weeks. The Christmas cards are finished and sent. I still have some shopping to complete and some gifts to send off in the mail and I'm just wishing we could figure out something for those "impossible-to-buy-for" people on the list. After the snarking that occurred over the group gift to the parents last year I think the other parties are sticking to their promise of not letting my other half be involved in any group gifts again!

So the plan for tomorrow is some baking, I have only had the ingredients ready for the past two weeks but no worries. It is better to have yummy treats lying around when there are more people around to help eat them...

The Cliffs of Moher, County Clare, Ireland

2009-11-24T22:05:00.000-07:00

Even on a misty day the view was wonderful and the roar of the waves was nothing short of amazing! The cliff area itself is designated as a wildlife preserve home to a variety of seabirds and other creatures. There are even wild goats although I did not see any.

I have to admit though, that standing out along the edge of the cliffs wreathed in fog and mist, it is no effort at all to let your imagination run wild with ideas of secret caves and mysterious people on crazy adventures. When I think of my time in Ireland, I always come back to this wild and beautiful place in my mind. I think it resonated with me on a different kind of level than the other places I visited.

O'Bryan's Tower, County Clare, Ireland

2009-11-24T21:55:00.000-07:00

Believe it or not, I have not forgotten about getting my travel pics set to disc. Lacking time and space (and some connecting cords to the scanner) I have taken the negatives from my trip to Ireland in to a local camera shop to be scanned. Over time I will get batches done from other other trips as I can afford it.

I enjoyed 2 weeks on the west coast of Ireland back in 1996. Some days the weather was fantastic although the day in this shot clearly was not one of those days! But my friend and I still enjoyed a fun trip to check out the clifffs of Moher along the coast. The cliffs rise almost 700 feet sheer above the ocean and they extend about 8 kilometres or so. This picture is of O'Bryan's tower, which was built in 1885 as a lookout point for the tourists. (I'm not joking, even 124 years ago this place was a popular tourism spot!) At that time the tower was closed but I understand it has undergone restorations and you can go inside now.

some thoughts on performance....

2009-11-16T23:36:00.000-07:00

Well, I did it. After attending weekly dance classes for over a year and a half I finally worked up the courage to attend a dance workshop. It would seem that November is a great time of year for both workshops and shows because I had to sort through a a slew of options and narrow it down to one critical choice. The wallet can truly be cruel some days and we just have to carry on regardless. So I picked the Mira Betz workshop (which also had a show the night before), hosted by the Beduoin Dance Company here in town.

Wow!

Not only did we watch some amazing dance Friday night, but the workshop the following day was fantastic! I was not sure what to expect. Instead of teaching a dance routine to follow, Mira Betz focused on method. She focused on methods for becoming a better performer as well as technical methods for developing muscle memory and strength. This was a workshop that would be valuable to dancers no matter what style they prefer. Her instruction was clear and approachable. If something was not working for us, she quickly found another way to get her point across. I found the classes to be challenging on many levels and that was the entire point. Mira wanted us going outside of our comfort zone and I think for most of us that goal was achieved.

I have received some insight on the difference between a performer and an entertainer. I also have some ideas on how to improve my own dance. I think I am still digesting some of what Mira explained, and that is fine with me. I hope to be able to make the time to put some of these points into practice!

All lit up!

2009-11-08T16:07:00.000-07:00

Need I say more?

Pumpkin Carving

2009-11-08T16:00:00.000-07:00

Yes I realize it is well past Halloween but I just wanted to post my sugar skull jack-o-lantern. The sugar skull design is based off of a design for Mexico's Day of the Dead festivities - which happen to coincide with Halloween so I felt it was appropriate.

All in all it took close to 3 hours including cleaning out the pumpkin. I just wish I had more time. Maybe next year I will complete the whole image with the surrounding flowers and vines!

Happy Halloween...

2009-10-31T14:13:00.000-06:00

... and a safe and funfilled night to all!

How to be Invisible, by Kate Bush

2009-10-29T21:25:00.000-06:00

I found a book on how to be invisible
Take a pinch of keyhole
And fold yourself up
You cut along the dotted line
You think inside out
And you're invisible

Eye of Braille
Hem of anorak
Stem of wallflower
Hair of doormat

I found a book on how to be invisible
On the edge of the labyrinth
Under a veil you must never lift
Pages you must never turn
In the labyrinth
You stand in front of a million doors
And each one holds a million more
Corridors that lead to the world
Of the invisible
Corridors that twist and turn
Corridors that blister and burn

Eye of Braille
Hem of anorak
Stem of wallflower
Hair of doormat
Is that the wind from the desert song?
Is that an autumn leaf falling?
Or is that you, walking home?

Is that the wind from the desert song?
Is that an autumn leaf falling?
Or is that you, walking home?
Is that a storm in the swimming pool?

You take a pinch of keyhole
And fold yourself up
You cut along the dotted lines
And think inside out
You jump 'round three times
You jump into the mirror
And you're invisible

Cooler weather brings out warmer recipies!

2009-10-27T09:41:00.001-06:00

Ahhh... Another batch of spicy soup has been cooked up! It is a vegetable base (mostly tomato) with nice sized chunks of fish making it a tasty and filling meal. In addition I have also stocked up on a few spices that were running low so I can get back to making some more curries. Plans are in the works for a new batch of chili - and it will be the good stuff this time as opposed to the watered down bland batch that stumbled in last time! I have been given an ice cream pail full of fresh garden tomatoes so I'm thinking some home-made pasta sauce could be in order as well, perhaps some salsa? I shall have to rummage through my cookbooks for some ideas!

The other half is not going to be happy with me but to be blunt I am tired of not eating the foods I enjoy just because he doesn't like them. And to be equally blunt, I can't live on his idea of meals ie. microwaved hot dogs and tortilla chips. For him food is simply fuel to be shoveled in before getting on with things. It is also something of a necessary evil as there are so many ingredients that he either refuses to eat or is unable to eat. For myself food is something to enjoy and explore, which would partially explain why he is skinny as a rail and I am not.

Regardless, after a long absence from any real culinary indulgence I shall be making a return to the kitchen. I do not make claims to be a fantastic chef but I do enjoy flavours and if nothing else, I know that there are a few people out there who do appreciate and enjoy what I come up with!

Tired but all right

2009-10-25T21:45:00.006-06:00

I am slowly trying to shake this cold that has nested in me for the past week. The weekend was too busy to really help in this but I have tomorrow off so with luck a quiet day (of sorts) will be just the thing for me.

I say (of sorts) because there is always the housework which our busy lives has put off until now, plus I will be stepping out to grab the last few things for my costume. The other half will be working late so we probably will not work out his costume until Saturday (sigh...). But regardless, I will have some quiet time to relax and revitalize myself for the comming week.

Chalk was definately happy to have me home again. When he wasn't chasing the string he was getting into everything I was doing, which included trying to "hide" in my drawers when I was trying to put stuff away! I admit, he's so cute that I just have to play along...

I'm just itching to carve my pumpkin but that will probably have to wait until friday. I really don't have much else in the way of Halloween decorations other than a few candles. We shall see if I find myself with the time and energy to create something.

All charges withdrawn!

2009-10-20T12:45:00.000-06:00

After waiting for close to 2 hours I was called in to see the Crown Representative about the speeding ticket I received. He was suprised by my statement but it took him all of five minutes to look up the facts in his computer. Indeed, that was not my car. The whole issue has been cleared up and I can get on with life sans demerits and fines.

And after much debate, testing, fiddling and searching my landlord has found the problem with my car and with the replacement of one little sensor it runs just fine now. At least, it ran fine in the garage. My registration has lapsed so he hasn't taken it for a test drive. I'm going to renew the registration today so hopefully by the end of the week my car will have a clean bill of health so to speak.

Some things are finally looking up.

Costume thoughts

2009-10-20T12:20:00.000-06:00

Yes, one of my favorite holidays is fast approaching! Halloween night there is the Green Fools Halloween Howl. A few friends and I will be going to this event and I am really looking forward to it.

Of course, where there is a Halloween party there must be - costumes! I have a pretty good idea for my own costume which should result in only a minimum amount of spending to complete it. All I need to complete the look is a hat and a sword, I have everything else.

As for the other half, who knows? He has no interest in Halloween at all and has declared that I need to come up with a costume for him. How typical is that? I figure we are going to hit the thrift stores to see what we can find.

One of my friends has the opinion that the costume you wear reflects what you want for the coming year. I had never thought of it that way before (I wonder what qualities a flaming hell cat would represent?). But for this year I think my costume reflects a search for adventure, fun and a touch of glamour. I can live with that!

Take a guess at what appeared in the mail this week...

2009-10-08T23:05:00.002-06:00

I received a rather interesting article from the local police service this week, namely a speeding ticket!

It would seem that one of the many traffic cameras took a picture of this car traveling about 72 Km per hour in a 50 zone. The photo of the licence plate is clear - except for the very last digit. It is just blurry enough that it could be a six, or maybe an eight?

I honestly wonder if the cops just cover their bases and send out tickets to all the possible culprits?

But once I got over the shock of receiving a rather hefty ticket I looked more closely at the information. Naturally I am going to fight this.

1) I was at work in a different quadrant of the city during that time and I have a signed time sheet to prove it.

2) This is not my car. I do not own a Saturn, rather my licence plate is registered to a Nissan - and yes I still have my plate firmly attached to my car.

3) I can get a licenced mechanic to put forth a statement that my little car can't even reach the posted speed limit let alone go beyond that by 20 some clicks. As a bonus, it hasn't been able to that for over two months!

I'm laughing about it because really, what else can I do? I'm going to phone around and see if I can get this tossed without having to waste my time in court (and loose wages in the process). Wish me luck, I think I am going to need it!

Henna Stain part 3

2009-10-08T22:53:00.007-06:00

This picture was taken about 72 hours after the paste was removed. The orange is completely shifted to the beautiful redish browns and I love it! Of course, this being the palm of my hand it is always flexing and moving. You can start to see the wear along the major lines of my palm where the skin is exfoliating a little bit faster than other areas.

From here the stain will slowly fade away. I haven't decided if I will take a picture of that or not

but we shall see how it goes.

Henna Stain part 2

2009-10-08T22:46:00.004-06:00

This picture was taken approximately 24 hours after the paste was removed. I have to say I'm happy with the colour I'm getting!

Henna stain part 1

2009-10-04T09:36:00.005-06:00

The flash has washed it out a bit but yes, the stain on my arm is much lighter than the stain on my hand. Why? Because where the skin is thicker (ie. callouses etc) it absorbs more dye from the henna.

When the henna paste is first removed from the skin the stain looks almost pumpkin orange. Over the next few days the stain will oxidize and shift to a darker red/brown colour. I'll post pics as it goes along.

These pictures were taken this morning right after I removed the dried henna paste. It's too bad I have to go to work today or else I would be seriously tempted to leave it on longer to try for an even deeper stain.

New henna design

2009-10-04T09:24:00.006-06:00

This design was created by a very talented lady in the states who goes by the online name of Mountain Mehndi. She first posted it back in the spring with a joke about the sun seeming to have stage fright. I have always loved it and I finally decided to try it for myself. I figured it is appropriate considering the sun seems to be getting ready for a long winter's nap!

I would like to try variations of this with different seasonal elements at some point. I just have to work out how those elements will flow with the whole design.

And to clarify - these pictures taken last night show the henna design wth the paste still on the skin.

Not a morning person

2009-10-01T06:07:00.000-06:00

Yes, this about sums it up for me.

A temporary reprieve

2009-09-30T06:50:00.000-06:00

At long last I am working again, temporarily as the title implies. As an added bonus my trip to work is quick and easy by bus - 25 minutes one way door to door - nice! For the next month or so I'll have a regular eight to four work routine comprised of a couple thousand files to sort through. Truth be told the work is tedious but it pays. Not surprisingly my supervisor was a little concerned as to whether or not I would not show up again the next morning. But realistically this is not the climate to be turning my nose up at an opportunity. I will take what I can get, thank you very much!

And it is not like this is the worst job I've had. I can easily think of others that were far worse for various reasons (although as far as reasons go, the smell would definitely be at the top of the list!). Those jobs would include:

a) Cleaning houses / apartments after the tenants have moved out. Some people have absolutely no pride, or shame for that matter.

b) Blowing out rotten ostrich eggs so the shells can be sold to crafters. Ah yes, a five galleon pail of stinking egg sludge in the hot sun... talk about the memories!

c) Grocery store cashier - I am zombie - let me smile even though you have 500 items in express lane...

Overall I'm feeling all right about this. Besides, you never know what these strange connections can bring in the future...

Art, by Herman Melville

2009-09-29T14:19:00.002-06:00

In placid hours well-pleased we dream
Of many a brave unbodied scheme.
But form to lend, pulsed life create,
What unlike things must meet and mate:
A flame to melt-a wind to freeze;
Sad patience-joyous energies;
Humility-yet pride and scorn;
Instinct and sturdy; love and hate;
Audacity-reverence. These must mate,
And fuse with Jacob's mystic heart,
To wrestle with the angel-Art.

Back in practice

2009-09-24T11:47:00.001-06:00

Yes I am once again enjoying my weekly belly dance class. I have only signed up for one instead of the usual two since I am still unemployed but no matter.

My instructor has changed things up a bit with a different format and she has extended the class from 1 hour to 1 1/2 hours - yay! We are all very happy about these developments since by the time you go through warm up and cool down stretches a fair chunk of time has been lost.

In the meantime, I have taken out a bellydance DVD for some at home practice. The style is tribal fusion so there are a few differences in form from the more classical style we are learning in classs. As long as I keep that in mind and adjust where required I think it will work. In addition this DVD has a nice yoga routine for warm up and cool down. Some days I just do the yoga on it's own for some healthy stretching. I tend to internalize my stress and build tension in my body so regular stretching is an absolute must! (otherwise my knees start getting pulled out of place or so it feels)

I am looking forward to learning a new choreography. But more importantly, I am setting a goal to improve my layering of different moves. Once I successfully build on that then I will feel much better about my dance.

An early start

2009-09-23T07:11:00.003-06:00

Happily drifting through dreamland, in which the surprising contents of an old sailing ship I worked aboard are offered up to all past friends and crew. (Come to think of it I should probably check their website and see if anything is going on).

*purrrrrrrrrrrrrrr*

Wandering around the shelving units I pick up strange and wonderful items (mostly books) that I have never seen before. These will make great Christmas presents! This totally reminds me of (insert random name here). You see, we have to rescue these things because the ship itself is disintegrating into the sea.

*purrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr* (a gentle tap on the nose follows)

I do not encounter many people I know, I'm thinking most of the people here are from the last big voyage, while I was on the voyage before that. Oh wait, there's Andrea wading across the tidal flats to join us...

*PURRRRRRRRRRR* (a less gentle push on my cheek and a whisker tickles my ear)

Sigh...

Yes the cat has decided that I, the apparent slug-a-bed, must now be up at the horrendously late hour of 5:30 in the morning. He is quite pleased with himself as my eyes open and I roll over. Maybe I can shake the furball off and go back to sleep. Just one more hour of sleep is all I really want. His response to this is to hop onto the bedside table, which my other half has conveniently covered in miscellaneous stuff, and start to rummage through the clutter as loudly as possible. Push this, rustle that and all the while smugly purring. He knows it will drive me nuts. After all this is why I keep my dresser top clear of stuff - to keep him from doing this. The other half never bothers to think of these things.

Finally I can take no more of the this. I roll over and scoop the not-quite-fast-enough feline and toss him onto the middle of the bed. Before he can make his escape I am thoroughly rumpling the cat and pushing all of his fur backwards! Eventually I let him escape at a full speed gallop though the door. Ha! Victory is mine!

Or not. I am now most definitely awake. The other half was already up and now I can hear him going about his morning routine. And I have less than an hour remaining before my alarm goes off. I might as well get up. So it is a draw then. I am up and a decidedly rumpled looking cat is watching me from the other side of the room staying well out of reach.

Ah the joys of the hunt...

2009-09-08T20:55:00.001-06:00

I mean that facetiously of course. I am still hunting to return to the ranks of the gainfully employed but I am by no means alone in this - which is part of my problem. There are many skilled people out there competing for what is available.

I received a letter from EI stating I may be eligible for extended benefits while undergoing some form of career training program. That sounds great and I am definately interested! Here are the strings: Firstly, this is a limited time offer. So the only programs I can apply for are those that start in the winter semester. Not surprisingly, this reduces my choices of available programs considerably. Secondly, each of the approved schools for this program has X allotted funding to cover those students on this program. There have been so many applicants that the funding has run out. What this means is that I would have to seek alternate funding (ie. student loans) to go back to school, which will render me inelligible for the program.

In other news my poor car is still immobilized. The replacement engine computer makes absolutely no difference whatsoever - boy am I glad I never shelled out $900 for a brand new one! My landlord is a mechanic but he says he can't even look at it for another month. My other half is supposed to be checking the electrical whenever he decides it's not too chilly / windy / or when he's not too tired. Yes, I could probably take it into the shop and get it looked at sooner but I'm trying to avoid hemorrhaging money for obvious reasons.

In the meantime all I can do is keep at it and try not to let myself get discouraged.

Stress relief with a ball point pen

2009-09-05T21:05:00.000-06:00

Well there is one positive to having this down time, I've been sketching a lot more! This is a smaller book that conveniently fits in my purse if I want to take it somewhere. And I admit that lately most of my doodles have been henna related although lately it has been more focused on my own design ideas (or at least spin-off's of other designs).

Finally! Some belated shots of our summer adventures!

2009-09-03T17:00:00.000-06:00

A mental note for anyone who may be thinking of taking in Heritage Park any time soon - you need the full day! Not a half day where you show up after lunch time, but a full day from the moment the gates open until closing is what you need to go through most of the park.

We enjoyed a ride on the paddlewheeler the S.S. Moyee. We took in most of the main town itself but we missed the fair grounds and most of the expanded homestead area. The ride on the steam train was enjoyable but short - the last train only takes you back to the gate. Ah well, better luck next time.

Columbia Icefields

2009-09-03T16:45:00.001-06:00

The icefields are about a five hour drive from Calgary and if you get an opportunity to drive the icefeilds parkway to get to the fields then take it! It is a truly beautiful drive through the mountains. The actual Brewster tour takes you out on the glacier itself, giving you a chance to walk on the ice.

We camped overnight so as to avoid spending the entire day in the car, as it was our campsite was closer to Jasper so we still spent most of the day in the car. But on the whole everyone enjoyed the trip.

Lake Louise

2009-09-03T15:55:00.001-06:00

And what more beautiful place to go for a trail ride than along Lake Louise? We saddled up for an hour and a half ride to the lake head (which is not a waterfall no matter what the guide says) and back. And after the ride we had lunch in the chateau and enjoyed the view.

Canada Day

2009-09-03T15:50:00.000-06:00

Canada Day saw us enjoying an early pancake breakfast at Fort Calgary. The entertainment was provided by a variety of cultural groups performing ethnic dances and music.

Cedric was bound and determined to get a picture of a mountie in red serge. Instead we had a performance by the Lord Strathcona's Horse mounted troup. As it turns out, the famous musical ride performed by the RCMP is based off of the ride performed by this group.

What suprised me was at the end of the show the riders gave permission for the crowds to approach them for questions and photos with the horses. The horses definately have to be well trained and used to crowds for that to work well.

Banff

2009-09-03T15:40:00.000-06:00

Naturally, we had to pile in the car and head to Banff for the day. We rode the gondola up Sulphur mountain to enjoy the views in the frigid winds.

A lovely walk along Bow Falls in the valley was a welcome break from the cold, even if the trail is not stroller friendly. And of course we stopped by the Banff Springs before heading back into town for dinner.

Canada Olympic Park

2009-09-03T15:30:00.000-06:00

After much debate and trepidation we finally convinced our friend Cedric to try the Sky line at Canada Olympic Park (COP for short). If you're wondering what a zip line entails check this. I think we had our friend seriously doubting his sanity when he agreed to do this. But after all was said and done he decided he loved it (and was pestering Kim to give it a go, maybe next time).

COP is quite the place to explore if you are a sport fan. Plus the mountain bike camps and the other obstacle courses and rides make sure these facilities are busy all summer long.