oceansfire

Just dug the FlyLady book out from under the pile of CHAOS it was under. I think mass amounts of weekend snuggles and sex have brought my life new motivation. Here's to positive life changes!

In the vein of darkfyre_muse's gratitude threads (or at least the idea of them, don't know if they've been posted) the following are a few things that made me smile this morning.

1. In an HRC member survey this was one of the demographic questions:

       What gender do you identify as?
         a. Female
         b. Male
         c. Female transitioning to Male transgender
         d. Male transitioning to Female transgender
         e. Not sure

I love the expression of gender as fluid concept represented on a vast spectrum and the fact that even this can be at times confusing and uncertain. 

2. I am currently addicted to banana pudding.  I don't know how it happened or why but smooth and creamy with artificial banana flavor absolutely does it for me for the past week.

3. Being contacted by old college friends I haven't talked to in months/years.

4. And finally the mass cleaning and reorganization of my house spawned by the impending visit of the exterminator to my building and my need not to have all my belongings doused in pesticides.  The majority is getting boxed and put in the garage.  And now you all see the advantage of my distinct lack of major furniture. (also this will put me back in a space where crafting, cooking and seducing my girlfriend in the living room are daily no brainers - yea for the creative juices).

5. Ooh yea one more...The row of six tiny devil ducks that now live on top of my monitor at work! 

the day ended
the souls re-merged

to coalesce as raindrops
flow into one
the rivulet
the stream
the sea

the lesser cried tears of anguish
but the remaining two sat
and watched
and saw
as the universe remade itself
and the divided became whole once more

Well the troupe has been officially launched. We performed at LBC Artwalk on the 10th and then last Saturday at Smooth's. Unfortunately neither show was with all 5 of us - Sage has been stuck in Texas all month with work and Sacred Temple and I were the only two available for Smooth's. Both shows were great and have provided lots of inspiration for choreography and new moves. Also now it's time to shop a few fans, more poi and a few workshops in for good measure. Santa if you are reading this I want fire in my stocking!

On all fronts this was an inspiring week. I spent the first half of the week at a squid conference and the rest at a sardine forum. Both were interesting, informative and best of all inspiring and motivating. I got tons of great ideas and sources for the papers I'm working on and just a little extra push to do all of my stuff better.

I'm hoping to spill all this productive energy over into the apartment and sharkgrrl designz and get some stuff posted and sold - we'll see what tomorrow brings. BTW see Ghostrider, yes it has faults but it had killer fire effects!

Maluhia!

I know it's been too long since I wrote last, but it has been such a crazy month.  So many wonderful things going on (and only a few icky things - my JEEP and laptop got sick in the same week). 

The previously mentioned, unnamed fire troupe got a name (Akasha), new toys, kick ass music and a debut performance.  It was amazing!  We opened for the lovely ladies of Sirena Serpentina at the Long Beach 2nd Saturday Artwalk.  Sage is in Texas for work and couldn't be with us, but her spirit was there dancing in the flames.  Only one minor snafu - my staff solo and our poi improv was preempted by a fire hooper.  She was gorgeous and it was a blessing to have her perform with us, but disappointing that I didn't get to perform my solo.  I blame it on Mercury being in retrograde while we were planning the show and let's just leave it at that.

Work has been just as good.  I am getting involved with the American Institute of Fishery Biologists (AIFRB).  Lots of great contacts and inspiration and motivation towards publication.  I LOVE my job!

So until next time, stop on over and drop us a line at myspace or tribe.  I'm on there too under my dance name - Namaka.

Namaste

Nothing gets those creative juices flowing like having your freaky personality verified by psychological tests.  It was a bit annoying to be verified a freak multiple ways in front of colleagues at work, but it reaffirms most of the things I like about myself.  This then resulted in a most productive evening.

First, troupe practice (yes we are still in a name flux) was amazing!  The poi routine is really starting flow and click, we have solos and music mostly nailed down along with an order and staging.  It's amazing to be working with a group again, with energy flowing between us all.  Now I just have to get my staff solo choreographed or at least get the key points down that I can improve between.  I'm using "Our Truth" by Lacuna Coil, it should make an interesting combination with the poi music.

Continuing on down our yellow brick road of creativity, I am now finishing the collage piece for next weeks raffle.  I'm doing a frame and jewelry box with a 'Surf City' theme.  Then add some surfer jewelry and voila - a super cool set.

That just leaves finishing my section for the squid paper and finishing the cookies this weekend.  That's not a huge list, lol, yes I am a crazy super freak.  Maybe I'll even get some sleep.

I feel the need to take a moment and express genuine awe, appreciation and thankfulness at the beauty around me.  I have been working “the docks” for the last two days which means early mornings (@ the office by 0600).  While this is difficult in the instant my alarm goes off, I really do love being up this early.  The world is so quiet and beautiful at this time.  As we get farther into fall and it is still dark and cool in the morning this is even more pronounced. 

I had two wonderful moments this week.  The first was the great blue heron that was standing on the lawn behind my office yesterday morning.  She was just sitting there when I came out the door, standing majestically in the early morning mist.  It was breathtaking in that small, quiet, hold your breath kind of way.  The second was a beautifully firm grounding in the intersection of my religion and the rest of my life.  These are the moments that spur deep, spontaneous discussion between people and their deities.  As I was driving East down Broadway I could see the beautiful near full moon setting behind me in my mirror as the sun rose in front of me.  It was just a wonderful moment that reminded me to take a few minutes and be thankful for everything that I have and all the amazing things I have been privileged to experience.

 

I love rain.  The sound, the smell, even the way the air feels when you walk outside.  This probably one of the biggest things I miss about where I grew up (Pittsburgh, PA) -- rain in the summer.  I love it all from soft and warm to hard cold thunder storms that knock all the power out for two days.  In general I love weather.  When I lived in southern Oregon we used to have these amazing storms in the summer.  It was the first time I had ever seen thunder & lightning storms with no rain.  It was awesome.  I used to take my JEEP up Mt. Ashland and watch the lightning.  Unfortunately, this meant fire strikes, but let's keep to the poetic side shall we.

My blissfully peaceful evening was not that productive in a tangible sense, but I am a whirl wind of creative thoughts at the moment.  Lots of ideas for SGD, projects at work and our forth coming conference for work (specifically the fun parts I'm helping to plan).
Well time for happy dreams so I can get up early to clean and listen to music to find some spinning music.

Sweet dreams beautiful people.

What a night!  Had my favorite mint-chili thai food, went to the beach and burned with B and came home to yummy oranges and musical Spock vids.  The burn was great.  The routine is really starting to come together, although I did singe my eyebrows and lashes working on a new turn.  Ah well at least now I don't have to pluck my brows...lol.  So now it is time to sleep.  The cats seem agreeable to that as well.  I like when my girls (melusine and pandora) cuddle up around me to sleep.  Sweet dreams all.   ;)