to Sass or not to Sass

During my 10-15 minute daily morning bike commute this morning, I reflected on how I haven't really done anything very Sassy lately.

Crossing at the corner where a bum asked me for change yesterday (I *almost* gave him my banana), past the church where they were watering the sidewalk again, gingerly through the broken glass of the bus shelter and across the bridge I was completely lost in my thoughts of un-sassiness. You can't really count getting drunk at my friends wedding this weekend and deciding to 'make peace with my past' with her brother, whom I used to date. I guess drunk me wanted an explanation as to why after spending a week together on a group holiday back in January there was not even so much as a goodbye at the airport. Not too sure I received an answer- all I can really remember of the conversation is "hey" pause "hey". Ah well, bygones to rude boyz. Who needs em?

Certainly not I, with the red Gerber daisy I *rescued* from the bunch in the office kitchen smiling back at me from my one-stem vase. What? It was all drooping and squished in that crowded one... Sass strikes again? Yeah baby.

Friday Quote

"Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure. It is our light, not our darkness that most frightens us. We ask ourselves, Who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous, talented, fabulous? Actually, who are you not to be? You are a child of God. Your playing small does not serve the world. There is nothing enlightened about shrinking so that other people won't feel insecure around you. We are all meant to shine, as children do. We are born to manifest the glory of God that is within us. It is not just in some of us, it is in everyone. And as we let our own light shine, we unconsciously give other people permission to do the same. As we are liberated from our own fear, our presence automatically liberates others."

- Marianne Williamson

HNT - Tanlines

I was so excited to get a halter top bra, as this opened up my wardrobe possibilities by leaps and bounds... However, I didn't think about the tan lines that would then be exposed by having a bare back... Oh well! Lovely wedding, lovely bride. Love is all around it seems! (See original pic on my Flickr --->)

I love lists

I LOVE

Dark stormy summer skies

Goddess friends who are willing to go to a didgeridoo meditation at the drop of a hat

The fact that I can spell didgeridoo

Being done all my house sits and responsibility-free till October 1st

My orangey-bronze painted toenails (Opi's NY something-or-other)

The middle of the week

Leftovers in the freezer

A bank account above zero a week before payday

The fact that yoga class starts in two weeks

Remembering to buy ‘supplies’ at the drugstore at lunch

Wearing gym pants to work and nobody cares

Fun meetings taking up 75% of my day tomorrow

My Acupuncturist, Chiropractor, Massage Therapist and Mechanic for putting me and my car back together after my accident two weeks ago

Just call me Humpty :)

fun fun fun till I smashed my shin into the pole

WOW! How much fun was that? Besides the bruised leg and um carpet burn on my foot, I had a fantastic time learning how to pole dance with the Goddesses.

The wedding was equally as fun, and I didn't trip once in my new shooz. I did get to dance with my love (just not under the pale moon light) and discover that he makes an amazing partner. This does not surprise me.

So if I get to raft down the river this upcoming weekend, then my summer list will be just about complete.

Oops, rafting wasn't on the list... but it should be! I think I'll start a new list for the Indian summer we're sure to have.

#1. MORE dancing. Barefoot and shoed. Bring it on!

High on Heels...wobble wobble

The Goddesses will gather again tonight… I’m so very excited, I feel like a kid on Christmas morning. You see, this isn’t just *any* gathering. Tonight, we are taking a class, involving a pole. I met with the sweet blonde petite woman who is to be our teacher a couple of weeks ago for lunch.

I’m also giddy to be able to wear my new shoes, which I purchased during my lunch hour today with my sweetie. He was so very patient with me on the first part of my quest last night at the mall- only one muttering of “we sure do shop differently” was heard but for the rest he was a trooper. I confirmed this shopping gender difference with my mom today, as we woman have to circle around, compare prices and styles, think about the possibilities with different outfits and HUNT that bargain! And a bargain was found (I had no doubt I would be victorious)… in the form of 3 inch ‘champagne’ colored strappy heels, absolutely perfect for the dress I’m wearing to a wedding tomorrow AND within my price range.

Now, actually being able to *walk* in them is a different story…

blogland

Since I seem to be unable to come up with any original posts of my own at the moment, I invite you to explore a few of the blogs I have come across in my travels. Enjoy!

Ass K

Bella in Oz

Kara

East Side Girl

Kris

Jen


Hmmm.... all girls. Does anyone know if some good boy blogs out there?

~news flash~

I just signed up for a motorcycle course in October.

Gulp.

Carry on and Happy Friday!

Wounded girl

Poor, poor Jules. She’s pretty badly banged up- well the front left side of her anyways. I had a car accident yesterday morning, driving between the pool and work. I’m okay, the other driver is okay, his damages minimal and fully covered by my insurance. I’m left with my head still spinning, disturbed by his brisk and arrogant attitude “these things are always such a pain”. I had never been in a ‘live’ collision before (my last two incidences involved parked cars) and was visibly shaking as he copied my information down and gave me his. I’m angry that I let him intimidate me in that way, and that I believed him when he said we didn’t need to call the police and insisted that my car was fine to drive (it wasn’t, but I managed to get it from there to my boyfriends house about 10 blocks away without further incident).

The rest of the day was a blur, from phoning in to work bawling with the cat holding my hand (so very sweet), swinging by my lovely chirowoman to bring me down a couple dozen levels, to the nice lady at the insurance place reassuring me that it was all going to be fine, to renting the car and filing the police report, lunch, and some retail therapy. Funny how a stressful situation evokes the urge to do three things: eat, shop and drink. Which we did, when all was said and done, and toasted to our fourth monthiversary. Finally able to smile and think to ourselves one day we’ll look back to this day and think what an extraordinarily unusual way to spend it it was.

Lioness

Ladies night at the Crack. Not a chance! I declare. But its Butt’s birthday, had to be there. She made such a big deal out of mine last year. The bouncer looks at my ID. I’m old, I say, too old to be here. No! He laughs, c’mon in. The curtain is up; the hounds are separated, for now. The music blares (just wait, it gets louder every song!). The enthusiastic males are up skipping and strutting around. I marvel about where they get their energy. The one dressed like a policeman makes me laugh. Then there’s the pilot guy with the Top Gun shades. Do they really think this is what women want to see? A couple of the girls slip bills into their g strings and get an abbreviated lap dance, more like a slither up and down their bodies. Um, yuck. I see a girl with a tattoo of an anchor between her shoulder blades and want to ask her why she got it. Humongous green and blue polka dotted beach balls hang from the ceiling by fishing wire and I wonder how I can get one down and take it home. We take a few trips to the parking lot, one so I can give the birthday girl her present- a large gift bag filled with gluten-free goodies. She jumps up and down and hugs me, and I’m glad I’ve made her happy. We dance a few times, but then the music gets thrashier and I go sit at the table alone. Big mistake. I’m immediately approached by a man 15 or 20 years older than myself. It’s his first time here he says with a slight accent. Your ears will hurt tomorrow I reply and slink away. Soon after I make my escape, bidding goodnight to my sweet girls. She gives me another great big hug. I love you. I embrace the words and hold them close to my heart. My dreadlocked lil sis-like being is off to new adventures in Kiwi land in a couple of months and I’ll miss her. Despite the difference in our ages and preferences in places to frequent, we always have a fun time together. And usually, if we’re paying attention, a lesson to be learned.

change

Horoscope for today:

“This continues to be a time of transition with jobs and residences as you swing through changes and fluctuating events. Since you like variety, there’s kind of a certain appeal to this kind of flexibility; and a curious allure about where it will all end up.”

How completely accurate. Not only has my role recently changed at work, but I was interviewed for the international department as well (which would involve stints out of our Berlin office). My other job IS changing residences on a regular basis as a house sitter. I DO enjoy change, and embrace the chaos that is my life. Where it will end up? Well, I believe very deeply in the power of manifestation, as discussed at the mini Goddess gathering yesterday evening. So I decided that my next house sit will have a trampoline AND a hot tub, and my stay in Germany will involve a couple of trips to trade shows in Spain and other exciting European locales. And so it is.

Happy Weekend!

when worlds collide

Sass “So what do you think of taking my mom with us when we go raspberry picking at your parents this weekend?”

Mano “Ummm, well…”

Sass “Don’t you think it may help them to understand me better?”

Mano “Absolutely!”

grind.stone.

Oh, am I ever a grumpy back-to-work person today, on a Monday of all days. I should really have four walls on this cubicle of mine, extending to the ceiling. It took me most of the day to get through my 260-some emails that had clogged up my inbox, and my neck, hips and other parts are sore sore sore from reassuming the desk position. I had a restless sleep last night dreaming of being late due to traffic/work camp woes. Oh, and I missed the last two acts of the Folk Fest cause of some extreme weather and unpreparedness. Yes, I’m a big fat whiner. Good thing I get to go kick some (soccer) balls around tonight, that should get most of this out of my system. Let’s focus on the positive now, shall we?
- my raise showed up on this paycheque
- lunch with my two homegirls with a walk along the river
- I'm done in 7 minutes
- wow, that’s all I can think of

back

and struggling to find *anything* good about it.

My honey sweetly reminds me that it's just the re-adjustment period, that grass-is-greener state of mind that happens when you come back from somewhere so beautifully and magically removed from your own reality. I could definitely live there, and have a deep knowling feeling that I will end up residing there, sooner or later, part or full time. Letting go and letting spirit take care of that one.

Finding it a little bizarre that part of what's helping me re-climatize to my metropolitan surroundings is hopping on the computer, having a look-see at what's happening in this virtual web we weave. I've been 'unplugged' for the past 10 or so days, except the last entry from the b & b (read = safe haven) in Tofino and one quick Starbucks hot spot (using my 'toy' for the first time to surf) to find it.

I've had the most outstanding and amazing vacation time, from start to finish. And I've got a whole *entire* day left, to go be Folksie with the Mama...

... just checked the schedule, I get to see both Matthew Good & Ani DiFranco on the mainstage!

Okay, okay, maybe one or two good things about this re-citifying thing.

p.s. sorry I missed you in Van, Miss Razz! Next time for sure.

The Wild West Coast

Quick update from my holiday... it has been a blissful time of sun and sand and surf and I am loving every moment. Feeling so very very rich in so many ways, hugging trees and collecting pretty pebbles on the beach. I feel so alive in the salty air, holding hands with my love and strolling along the shore. Back next week with pics :)

thought of the day

"There are people who have money and people who are rich."

- Coco Chanel

Mary Mary quite contrary...

There’s something about finishing a house sit that’s not unlike checking out of a hotel. Except that you are your own chambermaid.

And gardener. The month long growth was a bit much to tackle with the manual machine I found in the tiny 1912 home-made-with–crates garage out back. Turned out to be a great workout, as I swatted at the mosquitoes (just ran out of my bug spray at the last soccer game) on my legs and wiped my brow of the sweat that quickly gathered. Ok, so it looked like a really bad haircut, but it got done.

Shhh, don’t tell anyone but I DO enjoy cleaning, and got really involved in the ‘tidying’ of the indoor garden as well, scoring myself 4 little ‘slips’ which will hopefully grow some roots for me to plant. I don’t have a green thumb by any stretch of the imagination, but I found myself innately nurturing these little green shoots, thinking of how nice it would be to have my own little collection. What’s that they say about starting with a plant, moving on to a pet…

HNT Sassy Stampeeding... Latin style

Sass inside
Originally uploaded by ssygrl.

Finally, I'm back in the swing of Nekkidness!!! Missed y'all.

I'm liking brown these days, and the plunge of the neckline. I'm liking alot of things these days, you can't wipe that smile off my face if you tried.

Happy Summer Nekkidness!

The Key to it is

I came back to the here and how and have been enJOYing it immensely…

There has been sushi, soccer, being a squeaky wheel, celebrating 3 months, singing cowboy songs and eating wings in a country saloon, watching Johnny Depp wielding a sword… and let’s not forget

JUMPING ON A TRAMPOLINE !!!

Oh yeah, and I got the s’more one taken care of last week. Mmm s’mores.

Now I’m off to do some little donut eating, Cowboy ‘observing’ and trying not to flinch when the little calves get roped. Yee Haw!

I am

still here.

Although I feel somewhat like a space cadet today. My various aches and pains from serving all weekend are making me question whether it was worth the effort. One more show and I’m done for the season, maybe for good. At least the rain waited until the very end of the tournament, but then showed up with reckless abandon and a hurricane warning, knocking over the vase of flowers from the bar. I still brought them home to Ma, along with some leftovers which she practically jumped for joy at.

Three full days and three half days of work left and I’ll be off on my island adventure, with a stop in wine country for ‘supplies’. Booked myself in for a massage with the bride et al at the Empress for the day before her big day.

Not much of an entry, I’m stuck in the future and fun to come instead of the now. Better come back down to earth for awhile.