As much as I hate driving in the snow (actually, I don't mind ME driving in this stuff, I just mind the OTHER people driving in it, they are so dumb!) I have to admit that the first snow of the season is so beautiful! It brings to mind snuggling on the couch with a blanket, a book, and a cup of tea, watching the snow fall.
And I know that, even as I'm writing this, that the first snow is melting. I'm at work, at the base of a mountain, and as I look out the window the sun is peaking his head out.
It'll be gone by this afternoon, just in time for me to drive home, and curl upon the couch with a blanket, a book, and a cup of tea!
I love the rain! I'm sure there are quite a few people saying that we need the snow that's supposed to be falling at this time of year but I'm loving the rain. I would be very happy if it just continued snowing in the mountains and kept the rain down here. We're still getting plenty of water but we're not having to drive in it or shovel it.
The rain is so calming and restful. I love curling up on the couch, with a blanket, a cup of tea (or hot chocolate if that's your preference :-)) and a good book, and watching the drops slide down the windowpanes.
And who doesn't love to play in the rain? Even now, I long to go out and dance under the storm clouds (I usually end up with a cold but it's always worth it :-D). When we were kids, we'd take our shoes off, put on some fuzzy socks, take a blanket and a treat and go out on the front porch to watch the storm.
A good rainstorm cleanses the earth, the air, makes the flowers and trees beautiful and just feels like a warm hug. I always feel like a huge weight is washed off my shoulders, just because of the rain.
...all day Sunday and part of yesterday it snowed...all day long! (yes, i repeated myself, it was THAT important!) I shoveled in the morning, preparing to leave, I had several things that needed to be done, and it started snowing even harder! after several hours I gave up on the leaving part and just worked around the house. I ended up shoveling again Sunday night and Monday morning before I could even go to work. I know this is the downside of owing your own home, and usually I don't mind but that was a bit ridiculous.
...I left for work this morning, just like I always do,I drove down the street, turned the corner,...and just about rear-ended the back-end of a car that had stopped in the middle of the road! I looked again and there were several cars stopped in the middle of the road, just...sitting! What in the world was going on? Just when I was readying myself to get out of the car and go give the lead car a piece of my mind (okay, not really, I was still shocked about my near miss), a mama duck waddled out, leading a group of little babies!
So cute! It was then that I noticed a small group of joggers had stopped on the side of the road to watch as well. It's surprising how a baby (or the plural in this case) can stop activity in an area!
One of the ladies that I work with brought her little one in the other day and the entire office stopped to play with her for almost an hour!
She is absolutely adorable so it's completely understandable...and quite the little ham, she LOVES getting her picture taken!
She's also our little faerie..
...see the resemblance? I've also never thought of a child as a 'color' but she's a very 'washed-out pastel pink' meaning her personality is very soft. She's just so much fun to be around..I wonder when she's coming in again? :-)
...the one that got away? We've all got one. Y'all just thought of him and it brought a little smile to your face. The thought of him, even now, years later, makes your heart pound.
The first time you saw him, it felt as if the world took a breath. The first time you kissed, you're heart stopped. You would be with him forever.
Of course, it doesn't work out that way. That kind of passion burns hot but doesn't last, no matter how hard you try. In fact, the harder you hold on, the faster it dies out.
But, you always remember him. He always holds a special piece of your heart. That little smile? his. That melancholy feeling? his. Never together but always a part of each others' lives. You learned so much, about him, about yourself. You find yourself missing him sometimes but also feeling content with how your life has turned out. There will always be that 'what if' feeling but it's only for a moment...
I was browsing on FaceBook yesterday and came across the brothers of...him! I was so shocked, they're not 'FaceBook' types, not really even computer types. It started so many memories to cascade through my mind, good and bad, wondering how he's doing, what he's been up too, you know, that sorta thing. We'd each be standing across a large room and before long we'd be drawn to each other like two magnets. Even after we were both married we still went out of our way to see each other. No, nothing like that! :-) I'd never cheat. We just felt like we needed to be with each other, just to talk and reminisce, remember how it used to be. We always had...something. I used to see him every few years but it's been over 10 now. I'm no longer married. He's no longer married so...is that spark still there? Does he look older? Do I look older? Should I add his brothers as friends? hmmm......
For about twelve years I've been a Belly Dancer. I LOVE it! I've been dancing in some form or another since I was little but once I started doing this I couldn't stop.
About five years of that time, I was in a professional troupe but a little over a year ago we disbanded. We were all going in different directions and while we still love each other we went our separate ways. We started out with about fifteen dancers and one by one they filtered off until there were only six of us left. Of those six, we had two interested in Cabaret, two in Tribal and two in Goth. We all decided to continue with those types, at least for now. ;-)
Now, every Wednesday, I go to two dance classes, both from the same instructor. There are many, MANY types of Belly dancing, from Cabaret to Goth and below are just two...
...this is Jen, or 'Degenerate' as we like to call her ;-). She's a beautiful dancer no matter which type she does. This is called Fusion (you take every type of dance you know and mesh it all together into something unique and beautiful). This type is my first class on Wednesdays. Right now, we're learning three different choreographies.
...Amina (my Wednesday night instructor), Jen and Temis..this type is called ATS (American Tribal Style)(my second class tonight). A beautiful lady, Carolina with Fat Chance Bellydance,(look them up on youtube, you'll be amazed) created this and it's grown wild! It's completely improv, meaning one person leads while the others follow and the followers don't know what the leader is going to do until she does it. And they have to keep up. Watch it, it's wonderful!
Belly dancing is a great way to get exercise. It keeps you loose and limber (I had a bad knee when I started and it hasn't bothered me in years). It gives you confidence (try getting up on stage in those itty bitty costumes without it! and no, you don't have to wear those but they're fun and so beautiful!) and you make so many lovely friends, Belly Dancers are true sisters! However, belly dancing is a hobby..understand right now that if you're looking to make money at this, you never will. This is strictly for fun! You will never make enough money doing it to pay for your costumes, (I danced five years professionally and maybe earned $200). All belly dancers know this and we don't care. We don't do it for money, we do it for the love of dancing. Unless of course, you're a Bellydance Superstar! Then you're doing it for the love of dancing and for the money! ;-)
The first picture is mostly the Cabaret portion of the Superstars with the rest of the Tribal/Fusion portion in the second one. Sometimes they dance apart and others they dance together creating such beauty and showing the difference in the styles.
I encourage all women, and men too, to dance, whether its belly dancing or some other form...and keep smilin'!
..well, technically, she's my mom's baby but she sleeps with me, follows me around, waits for me at the door when I get home...I don't know what she's going to do when I move. I bought a house and am painting it, replacing the flooring, etc and then I'm moving in. YIPPY! I've been living with Mom until I could find THE place for me...anyway, normally, Topaz (Rotten, Bunny Nose, Bunny Butt, Fat Butt, and a myriad of other names that fit the moment) and I eat our breakfast together then I go downstairs to get ready for work and she curls up in my spot on the couch to take her morning nap. This morning, however, she followed me downstairs. I thought it was because she missed me (I've been over to my house each night painting, etc). Well, it wasn't. She just had to go potty and didn't want to go downstairs by herself cause she was scared. Big baby. I may have to play with her toes when I get home. She just hates that! :-)
Guess what I just did! I joined this beautiful sorority! Look at all the smiling happy people! What a fun place to be! I've been perusing the other sisters' blogs and what wonderful people they all are, so much talent and creativity! I can't wait to see what else they do...please come join us!
See this beautiful picture? I arrived too late (fashionably late, of course :-)) to join the 'rush'. You're supposed to take this beautiful picture and make something out of it. Well, its so pretty, I'm thinking I'm going to do it anyway, just to see what I can come up with. Les
My name is Leslie and I Love! 'pretty'. Soft colors, lace, roses, teas, lush velvets, quilts, white lace hankies, pantaloons, petticoats, - the list is endless. They calm my soul and give it a 'happy'. I'm going to try and share my passion with you.
As much as I hate driving in the snow (actually, I don't mind ME driving in this stuff, I just mind the OTHER people driving in it, they are so dumb!) I have to admit that the first snow of the season is so beautiful! It brings to mind snuggling on the couch with a blanket, a book, and a cup of tea, watching the snow fall.
And I know that, even as I'm writing this, that the first snow is melting. I'm at work, at the base of a mountain, and as I look out the window the sun is peaking his head out.
It'll be gone by this afternoon, just in time for me to drive home, and curl upon the couch with a blanket, a book, and a cup of tea!
