Sari #1

So I finally was fully dressed in a sari and jewelry to go to my first Hindu wedding. It was beautiful! I didn't understand 90% of it, but it was great seeing how adorable the bride and groom were as they endured mini fumbles with ancient rituals and how respectful they were to culture and family.

The wedding was yesterday morning and I was back in the office by the afternoon. And I kept the sari on for the rest of the workday, only changing out of it so I could eat and go to yoga class in the evening.  I didn't mind having to explain over and over to coworkers why I was dressed so beautifully :) 

Saris are godessy yet comfortable (even when you sit on a temple floor). I'm excited I get to wear another one to the wedding reception tomorrow!

Okay back to work, where I kinda wish I could clone myself.  So much to do! Even with extra hours put in, it's still like I'm barely staying afloat.  I just felt like taking a breather and reminiscing about my sari day yesterday :)  

I think it might be time to work weekends.  Another bonus to not dancing all the time!

R.I.P. Soldier.

When I heard that a soldier was gunned down in Ottawa, I felt a wave of sadness and anger at the senselessness of it all.  It got worse when I saw pictures like this (photos from the Canadian Press):

Just seeing how much these dogs adore their fallen owner broke my heart and made me want to learn more.  The more I learned about Nathan Cirillo (I even creeped his Instagram), the more tragic his death became.  Indeed, a lovely man: a typical Canadian guy and also an extremely gentle giant.  Into fitness, the military and taking adorable selfies but also a single dad and rescuer of strays.  Most of his pics are dog-related and his profile oozes with his love for his dogs and his son.

May your soul rest in peace Mr. Cirillo, and may your son grow up loved and knowing how great his dad was.  May your dogs stay loved and cared for despite eternally waiting for you to get home. 

As for the gunman, who at first glance seems like an overprivileged shithead with no purpose in this world, I feel sorry for his parents.  From the news, it seems like his mother and father were successful and caring folks who did not intend to raise their son to be the cause of so much pain and horror.

Excuse Me ...

... While I pretend I am a Bollywood Princess.

I love saris!  The deep, bold colours ... the intricate beading and embroidery ... the timelessness of the cut and draping ...
And now I finally get to wear one to a wedding between my friends - a Fijian and a Sri Lankan :)
Thankfully I have a coworker who has many beautiful saris (and is willing to lend me one as well as drape me) and this is one I picked out to wear.
I excite! (c) Borat 

Hello, Fall Weather.

Edmonton doesn't get a bunch of rain. A lot of sun, a lot of snow.. But rain not so much. So it's quite noticeable to Edmontonians when it's gloomy and wet. On gloomy chilly days like this week's, I feel an extra surge of protectiveness towards Hachi, because I imagine him in his days as a stray in the Nordegg woods. All alone and cold, wet and starving :(

Not anymore :)

Mind Farts

-I'm noticing feminism fails even by men who were otherwise ahead of their times.  Jose Rizal ... yogis back in the day ... inventors ... "geniuses" ... Is the concept of your mother/sister/spouse/female friend as a fellow human being *that* hard to grasp?  Come on now people

-Iyengar is pronounced "eye-yen-gar" and I am loving being a complete beginner at something again. I think I was made to be an eternal student

-On CBC radio, I listened to a clip from the dash cam of an American cop shooting a black man on his way to work who just happened to be gassing up his car. Absolutely chilling. What really made me sick was how the victim had to be polite and apologetic even under the horrific circumstances.  I'm sure he was afraid of being shot even more times or even worse, being blamed for the incident. You just knew he was raised to be wary of white cops.  Unfortunately the warnings were legitimate in this case. Thank God for dash cams 

-I cut potatoes and tomatoes with a handcrafted Japanese knife for the first time at the Springhammer movie release afterparty. Wow, I actually got tingles doing it. I've always heard Japanese knives were amazing but I didn't realize what all the hype was about until I tried one! You can actually feel the knife grip the vegetable/fruit before the blade slides through 

-Currently enjoying Stromae's music and its blends of sounds I relish - hip hop, house, electro, 90's R&B, African rhythms.  Plus each song is refreshingly different, which gives me multiple eargasms.  If only I didn't have to translate the lyrics (which, by the way are not mysoginistic or arrogant at all). Makes me wish I did French immersion in school

Dip of Shame.

I'm dumb for not realizing that honey isn't vegan. Finally googled it - of course while currently on a huge honey mustard kick - and realized my vegan fail. A huge sorry to all the squished and homeless bees as casualties of this yellow addiction of mine.   I even bought mini Tupperware containers just so I could keep dipping at work.

As soon as I finish all the honey mustard at my place, I am not buying anymore. I'll make my own using agave syrup if I have to!  

Hello Yoga, Nice to Meet You.

We've flirted and danced around each other but now let's talk!

Officially registered for a semester at the Iyengar (how do you pronounce that?) yoga studio near my office. 

Acro-yoga and Pilates have given me tastes of yoga but now I can really learn some pure technique and poses :) Now is my chance. Boo-yah!

Lucky Me.

I still have an open door to train and perform once I am healed.  Without pressure, and despite my abrupt sabbatical.  The dance director is good to me.

On that pleasant note, here is Hachi trying to keep his eyes open in the car today post-daycare.  Faiiillll.

Let the healing begin.