Cupcakes

I love Karin Jurick's site:
http://www.differentstrokesfromdifferentfolks.blogspot.com/
This week's photo was cupcakes, and if I do this correctly, I'm going to try to post an image of what I did in response.

My helpful son got it to work - yeah! Good enough to eat.

Phaedra

Opa! I had a *great* time Sunday at the Middle Eastern dance convention. I was glad I started on my makeup so early, because we were rushed as it was. We rehearsed 3 times instead of just once, which we needed, but it did set us behind in preparation. I've worn eyeliner maybe a dozen times in my entire life, and I piled the makeup on, but everyone kept telling me to put on more, because the lights really wash everything out. Leslie from Beaumont was nice enough to help (hugs!).

I did make a few minor flubs, but no one noticed, so that's a good thing! :) It went by so quickly! I tried not to think about the crowd, but pretend I was at home practicing by myself, but it is very distracting having a large audience.

Afterwards, we went back stage, and I jumped up and down for joy. I was soooooo happy! We hugged each other, but had to be really quiet so we wouldn't be heard up front. It was nice that there was a monitor back stage so we could watch the other dancers.

I soon went to the check in table, to show my costume to Thelma. She's the one who showed me how to make my costume. I became very emotional, because other than dancing in the studio in class of for a very small group, I had not performed in over 20 years. I sure do miss it! I gave Isis a big hug, and told her thank you, because she put in a lot of work to get me back to where I wanted to be. Opa!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uuhlYo4aDdA

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

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Sb-SVPJM4L4

Step By Step

Whew! I've been practicing the dance routine, and with some tutoring, I'm making a lot of progress. I still have some rough patches, but at least I have a better understanding of what I'm doing now. One week until the big day!

Hmmmm...

I saw that it's been more than a month since I posted. Been busy learning choreography for a performance in August. Much to do, and not much time left. Wish me luck!

Alone Again (Naturally)

This has been a great week! Thanks to my wonderful son, I got to see Dame Edna. So funny! Wonderful treat (throwing gladiola). Munched on German chocolate cake (again thanks to my son).

I dearly love my family, but I've had the house to myself most of this week, and it's been great! No specific places to go, nothing much expected of me. I know I'll miss my family when they move on, but today was a nice treat. I did a little work, and some much needed house work, but I've played a lot, too. I've even been playing some LPs today. Our player still works, but the belt is not quite right - just a tad off. Sometimes it sounds as if the musicians have had too much caffine. :) But it's nice to play some old memories.

I'm soon to have my dessert (yep, you guessed it - German chocolate cake) and then enjoy an evening cocktail with my name on it (yum!). Good times.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D_P-v1BVQn8

Walkies

I took a post-prandial ambulation today. As I walked, I got to thinking about how much things have changed in the 23 years I've lived in this house. I first got to thinking about Buttons the cat that used to live at a neighbors' house. It was a gray cat that loved to relax on their roof. I also miss the dog Frisky that used to live across the street. It was not the world's prettiest dog, but it was loyal to its owner. Then there was Skip, who was the dog on the corner. It was well trained, and would go to the edge of the yard, but knew not to step out of the yard. Its owner would do yard work, then sit on the bench under the shade of a tree, with Skip right there at his feet. He was a great dog.

Blue Eyes was another neighbor's cat, fluffy and friendly, but coyotes got to him. Wednesday was a tiny chihuahua that met an untimely end.

I noticed how big the trees have grown, ones that were just starting out when we moved here. The oak tree in our back yard was a nice tree 23 years ago, but now it is huge, and has to be trimmed back so its branches won't scrap the roof (thanks, Scott). One of the neighbors used to have a cement basket that was a planter, but the years were not kind, and it slowly fell apart. We used to have two peach trees and a redbud tree in our yard, but they too have met their end. I have even managed to somehow kill a photinia bush, which is hard to do. I seem to have a talent. :)

I also thought about all the pets we've had over the years. Daphne was my cockatiel that woke us up when we were living in the duplex that was next door to a fire. I'm eternally grateful to her. I was really sad when she passed away. Vincent was a parakeet given to us (thanks again, Scott). He was afraid of everything, but really loved his mirror. Waldo the sugar glider was funny. Jackson the bunny was so soft.

My kids have had many pets. Several fish, mice, guinea pigs, parakeets, a lovebird, a gecko, you name it. They have all been part of our family. They are all missed. But life goes on.

In My Life:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h6TvegK-IUE

Retcon

In the show Torchwood (in which everybody snogs Captain Jack) there is a pill they give to people who find out too much about their missions. This pill, called Retcon, makes the regular public forget about what they've seen and experienced. Those of you who have seen the episode Adrift, go here for an extra treat:
http://www.fanfiction.net/s/4862245/1/A_Bitter_Pill_to_Swallow

The other night, I had a dream about a former BFF. In the dream, we were still friends, and had gone to a conference together, even saving seats for each other. So sad to wake up and remember how much things have changed. Once trust has been lost, I don't think any relationship can be salvaged. It just hurts too much.

So, I wish I had some Retcon to forget the past, but still that trust I once had has died. In a song from Wicked, there's a song that goes "There are bridges you cross you didn't know you crossed until you crossed." I wish I had known more about what was going on, and decisions that were made that I should have been consulted about, but wasn't. I'm trying not to be so blind now. Still makes me sad.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H5WNeBZ4rBU&feature=related