Wednesday 10 July 2013

Rockin' the good stuff

While this blog is by its nature future-looking, I think I should occasionally write about the present just to balance things out.

So, here are a few good things going on this week:


  • I went to an African dance class yesterday. I am taking a summer class called "Traditions": 6 classes, 3 different styles of dance:West African, AfroCuban and Caribbean. The studio brings in drummers for the class which is the best part in a lot of ways: dancing to live music is magical. It was great to shake some booty with half a dozen other women (and a couple of guys) and feel full of life and whole (notbroken). Here is a video of African dancing. (I don't dance like those girls but I'm OK for a white girl novice. It's an great workout, feels awesome and any body type can do the dances.)
  • I have been cleaning the house the past 2 weeks. I know, wonderfully exciting stuff...but I try to clean it very thoroughly twice a year, whether it needs it or not, as the joke goes.  And now that I'm almost done it feels good to be in a clean, fresh, more organized space.
  • The yard is also another project. While not done, it too is much more cleaned up and the flowers that I planted are still alive.
  • Going for a week's vacation next week with hubby - to celebrate our anniversary (July 17).  We are going to Gabriola Island where we anticipate doing some biking, walking, kayaking, eating, swimming and a lot of lazing on the beach with a book. I love the West Coast and haven't been there in too many years, so I am looking forward to it a lot. Also it's a totally guilt free reason to not show at a baby-event bahahahahahahaha. (I phoned and sent a nice email.)
  • This month's cycle is going on 28 days, which, as I'm sure you all know, is the text book number for a normal cycle.  My cycles average 25 days with occasional wild variations. Their (usually) shorter span is a symptom of the DOR/POF. So, anytime I can go longer than 25 I'm considering it a bit of a victory over the DOR/POF. Which may not be based on any kind of science, but whatever... Of course the flip side is maybe the The Period will take too long to arrive, but I'm not going to worry about that for now. There. That was the 5% fertility-related content of this entry.
  • I have a Kobo reader on loan from school, and although it has its annoying quirks, I quite like it, especially that I can have several books on it without taking up tons of space. But the verrrrry best part: browsing e-books! Wow what a garden of temptations. I really have to watch my trigger, er, mouse finger. Need some serious mouse control around e-books.
I hope all of you are doing something(s) great for yourselves too!

11 comments:

  1. This was such an uplifting post! That dance class sounds amazing. I'm so glad you're going on a vacation with your hubby. I just looked up Gabriola Island and it looks gorgeous. You'll have to post some pictures of the trip so we can ooo and ahhh. And don't you just love when you have a guilt-free reason to miss a baby event? It's such a relief. Glad to see you have lots of good things going on/coming up :)

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    1. Glad you found my post uplifting! :-) Do you like to dance or do any sports? Dancing is one of my favourite feel-good activities.I will post some pictures of Gabriola for sure!

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  2. I'm so happy to hear you are feeling so great! Dancing and being outdoors are two of my favourite ways to destress as well. West African dance is very different than East African.

    Here is a video of me dancing with my friends in Mozambique: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e91MsdSJ83A

    Happy Anniversary :)

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    1. I love the clip of you dancing! Thank you for sharing that. Such a beautiful expression of community. In my travels I always felt most at home when singing, dancing, or eating with people.

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    2. Here's a clip of me doing a very different style of dance that I also enjoy a lot: stepdancing: (turtle is front row, second from the right in blue)

      http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MPccZPYnlck

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  3. African dance sounds so cool. I've been doing beginner hip hop... They should sell tickets to watch me. It's better than comedy! I hear ya on celebrating the 28 day cycles. I just had one too, even thought they've been steadily shortening over the past two years to 25 or 26 days. Yet another reminder that my ovaries are cutting out on me!

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    1. Yeah, with so much discouraging news I just have to "tune out" and focus on the good stuff sometimes. Fortunately it is not too hard.

      Good for you for trying hip hop! Sometimes the laughter is the best part of learning something. People can be very self-conscious about how they look when they dance, but I think the key is to dance for happiness, not to dance for looks. And anybody can dance!!

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  4. I looked at the link for Gabriola Island and all I could think was how relaxing it looks! Enjoy every moment!

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    1. Thank you Kasey! I intend to. I am already almost totally packed. (I like to pack days in advance and daydream about the trip.)

      I will add your blog to the Archipelago and will be back for updates!

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  5. Here from ICLW.. African dance sounds like fun! I love the zumba classes offered at my fitness center... they always lift my spirit!

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  6. Thanks for the comment Hope! Agree that dancing is always a spirit-lifter!

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