Seven Veils

Since August 25th, we have been working on using veils in Belly Dance class. The first time I wore them, I thought I was going to get strangled. (Yes, I do have a thing about having anything around my neck---even turtlenecks ! So this discomfort is helping me deal with that phobia..lol). For the Dance of the Seven Veils, we are adorned with 7 veils, and we are currently learning the choreography to a beautiful song. Leigh bought me some beautiful veils in vibrant colors. Each veil is supposed to represent something that we don't like about our inner selves. It's made me ponder and reflect on myself. I have a few characteristics that I grapple with on a daily basis, but I am still trying to rank them from least to greatest. As for the origin of Salome and the Seven Veils, I've tried researching the tale, and so far, I have more questions that have sprouted than answers. What I have discovered is that Oscar Wilde did use Salome and her dance of the Seven Veils in a play. But other than finding out some Biblical information of Salome, Herod, and John the Baptist, I am back to square one. It seems as if this tale is purely from a mythical origin.

The Frailty of Life

I love to blog and work has taken up so much of my time lately. I am going to try and not let it consume my life too much. Life's too short to not live it fully. Hurricane Ike is a prime example of that. Before you know it, life happens, and so many people affected by this destructive force of nature are doing their best to bring life back to some sort of normalcy. Here is a site where the pictures are worth a thousand words. They're full of emotion, but we've decided to place the link here so that all could see what damages were caused by this hurricane. Here's the link: http://www.boston.com/bigpicture/2008/09/the_short_but_eventful_life_of.html Our prayers are with the families dealing with this ordeal.

A few days of being a hermit

I had been at home for the past three days since I got ill on Thursday. I went to the dr's and after waiting for about 3 hours, I finally saw him and got a prescription for some medicine. Seems that I got a bacterial infection due to something I ate. Plus, I ended up losing 12 lbs in the process! I'm happy about the lost weight, but not about how it happened..lol. Not good being ill.

I have been drowning in a flood of paperwork at work

Hello all! I've missed blogging,but work has taken up the majority of the time that I am lucid. And it's made me out of sorts. But I've come up for air today(due to having the day off because of Tina's Ex, Ike.) So now I am blogging as Leigh drives us home.

I finally bought a skirt...for dance class, that is!

Yes, it's been ages since I've last blogged. School has taken up most of my time, and I've just finished one full week of teaching. Before that, I was on a cleaning rampage. Now, I have a bit of relaxing time, and I can't decide what to do because it feels bizarre to slow down from a fast pace of work, work, work, and work. But, I am now trying to catch up to what has last happened since I documented the drama of our lives.

Theo the kitten has been a terror with both Rocco and Shak, but this moodiness changes once it's bedtime. Then he gets all sweet and cuddly. It's as if he has a Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde syndrome.

Tonight it has been raining on and off , and both Leigh and I are relaxing. Two days ago, Mom's hand was injured when some inconsiderate nurse smashed Mom's hand with the tray (again!) I was furious, and I'd love to find out who this incompetent individual is so that I can get her fired from her job. She has no business working with the elderly if she is not careful or caring with them!!!!!!!!!!!!!! But, for now, the home has no idea who it could be---but then again, when do they ever?? Grrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr!

Flamenco/Belly Dance class has kept me feeling happier than I have been. I don't know if it's the yoga or just the sheer fun of dancing (or both) that makes life seem easier if only for a few hours. Either way, I enjoy attending class. Plus, I finally did make a purchase on a skirt that can be used for both Flamenco and Belly Dancing. I am a bit nervous about whether I made the right choice or not, but I decided to take the plunge and spend a tad bit on myself. Yes, this new passion of mine is costing a bit of money. But I've been very watchful of not overdoing it. (If you don't count the two cds I purchased a few weeks ago...lol.) Other than that, I have been angelic. Here's what the skirt looks like:

http://www.ssb4.net/members/watch/enlarge.php?aid=leftcoasttrading&img=27809/img_9910.jpg&eid=108-101-102-116-99-111-97-115-116-116-114-97-100-105-110-103&enc=1

Flamenco on My Mind

I just love this song titled "Zambra" by Estrella Morente. Check out her hand movements...they're beautiful!

Zambra Lyrics by Estrella Morente:

Quítate de la ventana porque voy a suspirar
Mis suspiros son de fuego y te pueden abrazar
¿Qué quieres de mí? ¿Qué Quieres de Mí?
Si hasta el agua que yo bebo te la tengo que pedir
¿Qué quieres de mí? ¿Qué quieres de mí?
Si hasta el agua que yo bebo te la tengo que pedir

Tiene mi madre un perro, tenía mi madre un perro
Que cada vez que le dabas resortes salen granillos de arroz
Que cada vez que le dabas resorte salen granillos de arroz

Y a la hora que es de la muerte que no ponédmelos por delante
Que como loca me los tostó y el corazón se me parte
Y a la hora que es de la muerte que no ponédmelos por delante
Que como loca me los tostó y el corazón se me parte

Quítate de la ventana porque voy a suspirar
Mis suspiros son de fuego y te pueden abrazar
¿Qué quieres de mí? ¿Qué quieres de mí?
Si hasta el agua que yo bebo te la tengo que pedir.
¿Qué quieres de mí? ¿Qué quieres de mí?
Si hasta el agua que yo bebo te la tengo que pedir.

Friday, Saturday, and Sunday

I feel a bit sheepish after my last entry, but I needed to vent my thoughts, feelings, and frustrations with what’s been going on in my life.

On Friday, my sis Linda came over to help me with my classroom, and we got loads of work done. My classroom looks better. I just need a few finishing touches like colorful posters, plants, stuffed animals, and an area carpet with pillows. Once that’s in place, then my class will look top notch.

On Saturday, Leigh and I went to the optometrist’s to get our eyes checked for both contact lenses and glasses. We ended up getting our contact lenses and a prescription for eyeglasses. Then we headed to the mall, which I was dreading. I do not normally like to shop for clothing, and I thought that this day was going to be a stressful one by finding clothes that were either too long, too tight, or too unappealing. However, I was shocked since I hit the jackpot with one shopping department store: MACY’S. It was my first time ever in this store, and I found everything I needed there. I was so overjoyed! On our way out, I was even spoilt since Leigh bought me some perfume. I was enthralled because I looooooove shopping for perfume (and books and I’ve also been known to get excited in grocery stores that stock worldly cheeses, mushrooms,etc…) Anyway, we had a lovely shopping experience and then we ate lunch/dinner before coming back home.

The nurse Rachel rang me to inform us of Mom’s sugar levels which were unbelievably high. The first reading was 415 and then the second was 400. So the dr. ordered two insulin injection to lower the numbers. But she promised me that they were going to keep a watchful eye on Mom, and they were also going to test her levels three times a day. And once her levels were reading 150 or lower, then they would discontinue the insulin shots.

Today was Sunday, and we spent the afternoon shopping for groceries. During this time, I got a phone call from Sylvia, my eldest sister. She was informing me that Alicia, sis #2, had been to see Mom at lunchtime and that Mom was having to eat lunch in her bedroom since they were remodeling the dining room. This led me to question if Alicia had stayed with Mom to assist her with eating. She didn’t. And that set me off. I came unglued in the Produce section when I learnt that. I mean, what is wrong with her? Why would she have Sylvia ring me up to tell me about this dilemma yet do NOTHING to rectify the situation? Instead, she drove over 45 mins to go shop at the Wal-Mart here in town when there’s one a few seconds away from the facility. It really agitated me because I cannot comprehend her behavior. What would it have cost her to stay A FEW MINUTES with Mom to help her eat?

Anyway, Rachel (the nurse) rang me up thirty mins later to tell me that sis #2 was being demanding and adamant about knowing how much food Mother had eaten (she had eaten 100%) and what her sugar levels were (they were 232). After Rachel told her this info, she realized that she shouldn’t have so she called me to tell me of her mistake. I told her not to worry about it because they have so many people to look after that little mishaps like that were bound to happen. Plus, I explained that I had chewed out sis #2 (via Sylvia) because she had not stayed to help Mom eat. Instead, she found it more important to come shop at Wal-Mart. The nurse sighed and laughed. She said that she rarely sees sis#2 visiting. Yep, I told her that’s why she’s being bossy right now---she is trying to make up for not seeing Mom 29 out of the 31 days of the month. Sorry, but the truth hurts.

It took me a good while to calm down, and Leigh worked on distracting me while we were in the food aisles. But, eventually I did, and soon I found myself enthralled with the selection of spices, which I love to collect. The aroma of spices in the kitchen make me happy. They also remind me of Mom. She loved collecting spices, and she’d use them to make scrumptious meals that my sister and I both miss. But collecting (and using) them makes me feel a connection to Mom.

When we got home, I made comfort food for Leigh and myself. We needed something to make us happy. And so we had pot roast with rice, beans, and garlic bread. Yum Yum! I feel competent and whole when I am cooking. It makes me feel calm and I am truly alive in that moment---just like dance class. Somehow I don’t think it would be wise to dance while I cook. That might be dangerous. Lol!

At the moment, Leigh, Rocco and Theo are fast asleep while I type away. I still need to get my clothes laid out for tomorrow’s first day back at work (without the kiddos). Gosh, Summer has been a fleeting moment. Each day sort of melted into the next, and before I knew it, Summer was over.