So Sweet :)

At my first practice this morning I was greeted with an early birthday surprise after stretching.  I *heart* the people I dance with :) 

Haha and I love the card:

So perfect too - I burned off that chocolate cake with several hours of dancing.  

After the second and last practice for the day my body is deliciously run down.  It hurts soo good. My legs and torso have been bent in ways I never imagined possible.  Strange how I now use pain as a gauge.  Currently doing laundry and packing.  Verrrrry slowwww laundry and packing.

Can't complain too much about this past year.  Work is still challenging in a very good way, with coworkers that also like to work hard and play hard.  Dancing has doubled and I love training in two styles of dance that compliment each other so well.  There was a bit of travel and even camping thrown in the mix, and now there will be double destination October (yes!)

As I delve further into my thirties, more and more I notice people becoming surprised at my age once they find out.  I'd like to think they are saying I have good genes, but there are also references to my lack of a house in the suburbs as well as lack of 2.5 kids and accompanying baby daddy.  

I can understand that point of view.  All the same, I'm realizing now that I am capable of being happy in many different scenarios.  I was drunkenly told once: "as a career woman, you gotta grow balls and figure out what you want, not just at work but especially in your personal life."  I drunkenly listened but I do still remember. 

I want a lot :)  It's just a matter of sorting out in what order!  In my case, the "sorting out" part tends to get pushed aside by what happens to gallop into my path at miscellaneous life moments.  And to mix things up even more, sometimes I don't realize I want something until I encounter it in a mindblowing experience kind of way.  It's entirely possible that I will end up purchasing a pony and then discovering a new obsessive hobby that takes up 80% of my time and then have 1.5 kids and then maybe it doesn't work out with the baby daddy so I buy another pony and then write a book and then come across another baby daddy at my book signing and then finally end up in the suburbs.  By the beach.  Near a vegan restaurant.      

Some Dignity, Por Favor.

Just saw the NY Times photos of the terrorist attack at Westgate mall in Kenya. They were amazing photos but I am saddened at the photos of the bodies. You never see Westerners pictured this way when tragedy strikes our side of the world.

When was the last time you saw a white person portrayed this way after a horrific event?

What if that was your loved one laying on the ground in his or her own blood? And having the picture splattered all over world media?  The thought makes me sick.

Just saying. 

I am all for exposing the truth. Without pictures of Syrian chemical warfare casualties, would the emotional impact on the rest of the world have been less? 

I don't know where the line should be drawn. It is such a freaking fine line though. 

Keep Doing What You Don't Understand!

Feeling nice and loose, but need to stretch my feet.  The big toes are migrating outwards.. noo pronation noooooo!  This what I learned from a three-hour stretching workshop tonight.  High heels are not the best for me, but I am going to try to work around them with all this new info.

Before Pilates class last night I helped teach a beginner salsa class after work. I love the energy of beginners - it makes me recall falling under the salsa spell.  Awesome guy to girl ratio too! Nice to see more males putting themselves out there, despite the fear of looking funny or awkward.

If they do it to meet girls - hey, I can't knock it.  There are a lot of confident, flavourful women in salsa.

If they do it because they can't help it and don't really know why, then even better!

I say if you keep doing something and you're not exactly sure why, then all the more reason to keep doing it.  It's the universe trying to tell you something.  (Disclaimer: does not apply to murder, hurting others and stealing).

Reading ... writing ... dancing ... not eating animals ... not killing animals ... good karma ... these things feel "right" to me.  I've stopped questioning why and have learned to just go with it.

It's not all about fun and games either.

Does getting up early for practice feel great after a late night of drinking and dancing?  Do I have easy morning wakeups after staying up late reading?  Do I stay pain-free as my toes and legs are being bent in unnatural ways?  Do I enjoy being made fun of just because I choose to stick to a plant-based and cruelty-free lifestyle?

Not really.

But overall I feel the best I've ever felt.  I admit that one challenge is trying to find others that relate.  I can find many that relate to one or two of the things I am inexplicably drawn to.  Fellow dancers who love to read!  Fellow engineers who love to dance!  The one exception is being veggie.  Not many of those around here.  (I did however find a pseudo-unicorn - a male dancer who is trying to go more vegan.. but I don't know if "trying" counts)

There's gotta be a vegan mecca out there.

PETA says the Number One Top Vegan-Friendly City of 2013 is ... *drumroll* Austin, Texas!  Heyyyyy, I'm going there next month!  October will be double wedding month for me.  And happy happy joy joy - the bridesmaid dresses aren't tacky :)

Now I'm even more excited to go to Austin.  It won't hurt to scope out vegan mecca ;)
But first things first: double wedding month will kick off with Honolulu (which I already know I will LOVE).

Before I go lay in bed with a book (I swear one of my big pleasures is taking my physically worn out body to bed and lying there with a book until I pass out), I want to share something funky ... a talented friend painted a quick portrait of myself and another friend :) 

September Mountains.

Despite recent change of plans to go camping for the long weekend, a very nice gentleman was able to secure a sweet camping spot for us over the long weekend.  By some magical fluke, we got to set up tent near this:

Fresh air, spectacular views and appreciating the effort it takes to put together shelter, food and fire -  I understand this part of camping.  Hey, as long as I have access to a toilet and running water.. I can handle a couple of days.  Gimme access to a shower and I believe I can go even longer.

Third world parents (mine included) tend to think of "roughing it" as a societal fail.  To actually pay to escape indoor plumbing and a safe warm bed must indeed be puzzling to those who have had to bust their asses to enjoy their right to a comfortable home.

Then again, I think almost any hustling, bustling city person can understand the peaceful lull that the wilderness brings.

The Rockies = Alberta's majestic side.  We hiked Parker Ridge and the very windy top offered a lovely view.  So windy that my eyes were tearing and my hair was whipping in every direction.  Not a cloud in the sky so we were able to take cool blue sky pictures:

It's September now but the weather is still fabulous.  Maybe I should be sad that summer is leaving soon, but it feels like my schedule will still be the same anyway.  The only difference will be having to wear more layers outside as I rush to/from the car and having less sunlight each day as I'm driving around.

Speaking of which, must sleep already and join the real world in the morning.  Unpacking and laundry done :)