some belly luv

I’ve had two excellent belly dance classes so far. 

It’s a mixed group age and shape and skill wise as it’s a blend of beginner and beginners once or twice removed. We stretch and prance and shimmy and sometimes sashay around with large scarves. I like the group, the music, the fact that I feel the burn in my abs (all of them) and arms. It’s also a new way of moving for me, isolating muscles and movements. I had never previously thought about flexing just one butt cheek…but now it’s something I practice so my hip thrust has the right oomph. 

Most of the time I feel less like Shakira and more like someone using one of those vibrating belt exercise machines - remember those?  But I trust the fluidity will come, it’s only been two classes and I’m not a fast learner… I have to practice a lot to get it right and then it’ll stick.

The one that got away? Lesson to self.

So I was cleaning out my inbox and came across a 4 year old email from (part-time) musician I'd met at a show one night with friends. We joked and talked about baseball, the ocean and how I missed it living inland. He asked about what that felt like (he's from the prairies). He was attentive, funny, smart and flirty. I asked about a phrase in one of his songs and he took my email to send me the lyrics. He sent it labeled “for Coastal lover”

I just now noticed the postscript that was added below the lyrics link. “Too rarely do I meet a sassy, articulate umpire. Last night was fun and I'd like to see you again sometime.”

For fack's sake! I totally didn't see it back then – so my response was purely to thank him for the music and kept it simple. I got a polite, short response back and that was that.

I just did a quick google stalk search.  I found an album of his with several several songs about the sea and one titled “for coastal lover”.  Around the album launch there are also mentions of his wife, who could also be a coastal gal.  Or not - I'm ok with being a platonic muse. :-) 

Anyway...it was obviously not meant to be, but that will teach me to pay attention to the next email I get from a fella I fancy.  

Other notes -things I'm enjoying 

• pomegranates, so messy to eat but so good
• the snowy, crisp winterland that has suddenly returned (honestly two days ago no snow and 12C) 
• feeling of accomplishment after shoveling the driveway 
• knowing I can have that feeling again, in a half-hour when the snow has filled it back up.

Today's post's soundtrack - (courtesy of Hall & Oates)  

Truthful hips

Motivation

Well to get to goals, beyond a plan I need motivation/inspiration. First people help – fellow bloggers – you do, your comments and your posts.  Eeven if I don't always comment it's more my lack of creativity than appreciation. 

Secondly, sometimes motivation is as simple and doing/keeping my job (see work related goals below) but for others I need something more. I've come across the last couple of points/tabs/links lately and thought I'd pass them on.

This video makes me tear up every time – clip of Derek Redmond finishing the race at the Barcelona Olympics, despite injury.

Getting past excuses – not sure if this is original or from another source but good stuff in there. “It will never be: easy,perfect, the right time...”

A post about lessons lived, reflections following a memorial service 

And another bit of excitement for me – I just registered for a belly dance class...I am a huge fan of Shakira and floaty scarves and my belly (it's soft and round – like a pony or a cupcake). The class doesn't start until January so until then – I'll do some practicing with this bit of excitement and energy and truthful hips. 

Enjoy!

What are your favourite expressions, videos, pictures for motivation?

Goals down

• grocery shopping
• 1 shared meal
• confirmed entertainment for convocation ceremony
• confirm speaker 

Black bean blah-nies

Step away from the impostor brownies

Oh my, that was not at all what I expected/hoped. Oh gosh – so awful, just edible but so not enjoyable . Hmmm it tastes like a watered-down fake-chocolate slim-fast shake with a slight bean after taste and the texture...mitts. Yep, like I'm chewing on these. But I attribute this 95% to my messing around with recipes.

If you're interested try one of the linked/ verified recipes and give “black bean brownies” a whirl. And speaking of whirl – a hand mixer might not have been the best tool for mixing, I'm still finding spots of chocolate/bean around the kitchen. Taahahahahaha

Highlights

• It was fun, for me cooking is about trying things, I like the process (if not the procedure, hence my disregard for recipes and directions) of mixing around in the kitchen with some INXS on the stereo.
• It may have cured me for another 6 months of trying to bake something without a recipe
• I compost so don't have to feel too bad about depositing the whole pan in the bin.   

This post was brought to you by INXS - for all the beautiful girls (and guys) out there.  I have never seen this video and thought of looking for another but I like the song. 

Come on people

I'm in a good mood today (8.5 hours sleep can't hurt) and hope you are as well - ever find when you're in a groove lots of slow just roll together?  Well yesterday was good and today was better.  

A couple of projects I've been percolating came out today and got positive feedback, we did a group cheer and presentation of chocolates to two co-workers that have really done extra duty the last couple of weeks. And the men in my office are all so tickled over their moustaches, it's pretty funny. Some just look unkempt, while some are coming in well with one guy is well on his way to a Magnum...

Also I had a little discussion with my boss about some work that I don't feel is my responsibility and so I've low prioritized it but she seems to think differently.  We didn't really come to an understanding but she did acknowledge that she hadn't been clear about what was expected and didn't give me proper training on the database. So that helped, but I think it was more that it was acknowledged and out there. I've known it was coming, and was dreading the conversation, (my last supervisor and director were un-supportive, micro-managing asses by times...but that's a whole other post/blog/therapy session). And then today I was reminded that,  like so much in life, it's never as bad as I (we?) imagine it to be.

Anyway, I hope to in the next week bring it up again with her and a colleague and get clarity, about just what is expected and what time I can give to this. 

On that note  - off to beds I go. 

This post is brought to you by The Youngbloods

Highlights

• Lunch...microwaved shepherd's pie
• Sunshine...I shouldn't say it out loud for fear it'll run away - but it was lovely today
• Dinner - a conglomeration of cabbage, carrots, donair meat (wild!) - sautéed together with chicken broth (I rarely cook with oil), over pasta and a few dobs of plain yogurt for creaminess and to take some of the spiciness of the meat.   Yep...tastes good, looks like cole-slaw. This won't ever be a blog with beautiful food pics. 

Let's get started

So, my plan is to move more and eat less, simple eh? Because it works. 


Specifically start jogging again, walking more and I'd like to try a dance class again.  I say again but my last one was 27 years ago. And I'll be cutting back on sweet stuff and bland carbs - talking about you dinner rolls.  I like food but I really like good food so this shouldn't be too hard. I just need to get back to my old habits, when an arugula sourdough sandwich was my ultimate treat. 
And away I go. 


Today's post is brought to you by the black eyed peas
Or if you are more old-school and prefer this MC Hammer's version

Day's highlights:
40 mins walking (20 at a fair clip)
Grapefruit - yummy grapefruit
High five from colleagues for project success
Talking to an acquaintance about her dream job