Since the end of last year, everything has been on a surreal uphill climb.
I really feel like I'm sitting back and watching it all unfold; like my life has become a film. But the truth of the matter is, I'm busting my ass to make things happen, and it's all paying off. Part of me is having to adjust to the feeling of winning, because for the past 15 years or so, winning hasn't really been part of my vocabulary. More like 'getting by' or 'managing'.
Big news on the work front. It sounds like I could be moving up - this was a lot faster than I'd anticipated. I'm scared, and thrilled, and have my fingers crossed that certain things 'get the go' so that I can also 'get the go'. Sorry for being Vague McVaguerson, but I can't go into too many details just yet for a variety of reasons.
I danced in Rahma's student night this past Wednesday. What a fab show! So many fantastic dancers, and it was great to finally chat and catch up with Rahma since I haven't been able to make many classes this season. I was thrilled that my new costume arrived the morning of, and fit PERFECTLY to boot - there's a lovely dancer in NY who is my body double, evidently.
Friday Confessions! I always seem to miss this favorite subject of Monkey Pants, and yet I love the idea. Belated Friday Confessions... hmm...
• After three weeks of eating like a saint, I cracked and had McDonald's TWICE in one week. Along with various Easter chocolate treats.
• Yesterday at work, I checked out at about 4pm. My brain shut down. Not much was accomplished (except for some beer drinking).
• Though I intended to get up early and continue with my spring cleaning/purging marathon, I am instead preparing to log into WOW and finish my damn flask quest so we can start hitting Kara next week. ( o.O )
That's about it. YES tickets on-sale in 10 minutes. Woohoo! Looking forward to bowling tonight, and hanging out with the girlfriends tomorrow. Life is teh win.
Saturday, March 29, 2008
Saturday, March 22, 2008
The Grass Has Riz!
And not a moment too soon.
I've never felt quite so squirrely about winter as I did this past winter. Nor have I ever had such strong urges to fly south and hit a beach with some tequila. Walking home from work in the evening, with the sun still bright, makes my heart sing.
On Wednesday, I danced at Mona's - partially for Persian New Year, but also partially for my boss and co-workers. My former, D, was in town, and they decided it would be fun to take her out for dinner and come see me dance. This was ridiculously intimidating, and blurring all kinds of lines between work/non-work that I wasn't sure I wanted blurred. When you perform for a group of strangers, it's different if you get someone who behaves like a jerk - because you will likely not see that person again. But co-workers are a whole different deal. Fortunately everyone had a good time, myself included.
Thursday, I danced AGAIN! Breaking records this week. I encountered my first jerk. Strangely, I didn't much care - the rest of the audience was great. I did well on tips, and was able to hit Sears yesterday for their long weekend sale and pick up some new towels, a new shower curtain, and other accessories for my bathroom revival. The rest of the cash has been tucked away for a rainy day.
Strange to go from having no money, to a very decent amount of money. I haven't really had extra money to save or spend for years. In a way, I feel like we've won the lottery, even though Philsy and I are working very hard for all of it. It's just reassuring to be on track - to know that in two years, we could be done renting for good. What a huge relief.
Much love to all my friends this long weekend! I'm really looking forward to Duncan's bowling party next weekend. We'll hopefully see most of you then.
I've never felt quite so squirrely about winter as I did this past winter. Nor have I ever had such strong urges to fly south and hit a beach with some tequila. Walking home from work in the evening, with the sun still bright, makes my heart sing.
On Wednesday, I danced at Mona's - partially for Persian New Year, but also partially for my boss and co-workers. My former, D, was in town, and they decided it would be fun to take her out for dinner and come see me dance. This was ridiculously intimidating, and blurring all kinds of lines between work/non-work that I wasn't sure I wanted blurred. When you perform for a group of strangers, it's different if you get someone who behaves like a jerk - because you will likely not see that person again. But co-workers are a whole different deal. Fortunately everyone had a good time, myself included.
Thursday, I danced AGAIN! Breaking records this week. I encountered my first jerk. Strangely, I didn't much care - the rest of the audience was great. I did well on tips, and was able to hit Sears yesterday for their long weekend sale and pick up some new towels, a new shower curtain, and other accessories for my bathroom revival. The rest of the cash has been tucked away for a rainy day.
Strange to go from having no money, to a very decent amount of money. I haven't really had extra money to save or spend for years. In a way, I feel like we've won the lottery, even though Philsy and I are working very hard for all of it. It's just reassuring to be on track - to know that in two years, we could be done renting for good. What a huge relief.
Much love to all my friends this long weekend! I'm really looking forward to Duncan's bowling party next weekend. We'll hopefully see most of you then.
Sunday, March 16, 2008
Learning by Teaching.
Yesterday was my first class.
I planned. I planned the hell out of it. I made lesson plans, I made notes. I studied those until I could recite them aloud, step for step. And I worked out a choreography that I feel very proud of, because honestly, I'm not a choreography sort of person.
Five people showed up. One of them was an old friend I hadn't seen in a long time, and was very glad to. Things went very well, all things considered - I was confident, and did my best to follow the plan I'd set out (as well as adjust it accordingly as we went). Before we started the class, I explained a bit about how this dance is important to me. I hadn't really planned to bear my soul, but I did (in short, of course). And in doing so, realised why I really wanted to teach this class. I don't want to teach because of money, and I don't want to teach to prove anything to anyone (even myself). I just want to teach because I want to share this part of my life, which is so very important, with as many women as I can - in the hopes that they will find something important and special in it for themselves.
Word on the street is, I've already been hit with a few snide remarks behind closed doors. Honestly, it amused me more than offended me. Yes, I've only been dancing for about three and a half years. Yes, I come from a family of teachers and educators. I don't profess to know it all. I do believe I am a student for life. That doesn't mean I can't share what I've learned with others.
Philsy and I had a great weekend. We went on a date, a real date, for the first time in months. We saw Steve Earle, courtesy of the Georgia Straight, and then had midnight burgers at Whitespot. It was nice to get a little dressed up. It was nice to have Philsy compliment my dressing up. Sometimes it's just nice to dress and feel like a girl, rather than my usual boy-scout-prepared, jeans and T-shirt, no makeup, no jewelry, and sensible shoes routine.
It was nice to eat dinner in a restaurant (yes, even Whitespot) without feeling guilty about spending money I don't have.
Looking forward to the four-day work-week ahead. Supersauce.
I planned. I planned the hell out of it. I made lesson plans, I made notes. I studied those until I could recite them aloud, step for step. And I worked out a choreography that I feel very proud of, because honestly, I'm not a choreography sort of person.
Five people showed up. One of them was an old friend I hadn't seen in a long time, and was very glad to. Things went very well, all things considered - I was confident, and did my best to follow the plan I'd set out (as well as adjust it accordingly as we went). Before we started the class, I explained a bit about how this dance is important to me. I hadn't really planned to bear my soul, but I did (in short, of course). And in doing so, realised why I really wanted to teach this class. I don't want to teach because of money, and I don't want to teach to prove anything to anyone (even myself). I just want to teach because I want to share this part of my life, which is so very important, with as many women as I can - in the hopes that they will find something important and special in it for themselves.
Word on the street is, I've already been hit with a few snide remarks behind closed doors. Honestly, it amused me more than offended me. Yes, I've only been dancing for about three and a half years. Yes, I come from a family of teachers and educators. I don't profess to know it all. I do believe I am a student for life. That doesn't mean I can't share what I've learned with others.
Philsy and I had a great weekend. We went on a date, a real date, for the first time in months. We saw Steve Earle, courtesy of the Georgia Straight, and then had midnight burgers at Whitespot. It was nice to get a little dressed up. It was nice to have Philsy compliment my dressing up. Sometimes it's just nice to dress and feel like a girl, rather than my usual boy-scout-prepared, jeans and T-shirt, no makeup, no jewelry, and sensible shoes routine.
It was nice to eat dinner in a restaurant (yes, even Whitespot) without feeling guilty about spending money I don't have.
Looking forward to the four-day work-week ahead. Supersauce.
Saturday, March 8, 2008
Pass the Shimmy.
On the subject of bellies, I've had a lot of exciting things happen over the past few weeks.
It started with a phone call from a friend, a local dance instructor who is taking over a gorgeous Vancouver studio as her own - she asked if I would consider teaching a beginner/intermediate bellydance class. Wow! I was flattered, and decided since things have settled in for me with my other work that this might be an opportunity to do something fun and exciting. So I said yes! The classes were to start today, but due to some unfortunate circumstances with renovations at the studio they've been pushed back until next Saturday. I'm a bit disappointed, but it gives me another week to prepare the course, so that's not a bad thing given that I'm pretty new to the world of teaching.
We'll be building on basic skills for the newer dancers, and layering and combinations for the intermediates. Over the eight week session, emphasis will be placed on soloist skills, and we'll also build a multi-experience-layered choreography. Sounds complex, but it really isn't - it'll be a lot of fun! If anyone is interested to know more, please e-mail me: Qalysha@hotmail.com
I also managed to score that full-time restaurant gig I've been dreaming of for the past year. Yay me! A few new costume purchases from Ebay and Dahlal were immediately made, because you just can't shimmy without a little bling. Hi, my name is Erin, and I'm addicted to shiny, sparkly things.
Combine all this with the fact that I have my three month anniversary with RA on Monday (salary adjustment FTW), and that Philsy finally found a job he thinks he'll love, and I am one happy dancer.
AEIWA!
It started with a phone call from a friend, a local dance instructor who is taking over a gorgeous Vancouver studio as her own - she asked if I would consider teaching a beginner/intermediate bellydance class. Wow! I was flattered, and decided since things have settled in for me with my other work that this might be an opportunity to do something fun and exciting. So I said yes! The classes were to start today, but due to some unfortunate circumstances with renovations at the studio they've been pushed back until next Saturday. I'm a bit disappointed, but it gives me another week to prepare the course, so that's not a bad thing given that I'm pretty new to the world of teaching.
We'll be building on basic skills for the newer dancers, and layering and combinations for the intermediates. Over the eight week session, emphasis will be placed on soloist skills, and we'll also build a multi-experience-layered choreography. Sounds complex, but it really isn't - it'll be a lot of fun! If anyone is interested to know more, please e-mail me: Qalysha@hotmail.com
I also managed to score that full-time restaurant gig I've been dreaming of for the past year. Yay me! A few new costume purchases from Ebay and Dahlal were immediately made, because you just can't shimmy without a little bling. Hi, my name is Erin, and I'm addicted to shiny, sparkly things.
Combine all this with the fact that I have my three month anniversary with RA on Monday (salary adjustment FTW), and that Philsy finally found a job he thinks he'll love, and I am one happy dancer.
AEIWA!
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