Oh, the Kisses, the Kisses...

Pippi and Mommy

Can't resist posting this photo series of the Pip and I. I love them all. They capture us perfectly as we are today.

Off to Mirror, Mirror with my littlest girls in half an hour. A lazy day for me. That leg massage yesterday was very painful and wiped me right out. Last night we had a wonderful first BBQ of the season at my sister Miranda and John's.

Mist has spent today over at a friends while the rest of the family has done nothing but hang around the home this lazy Saturday. Most unusual. I made spelt cream-cheese brownies. Very decadent.

The dog boys have freaked me for life. Found them in the back yard eating a dead baby bird. There is something about a dead bird that I find horrifying. I am not usually like that. If I find a dead cat on the road, I carry to the edge out of respect. I also dispose of dead mice. Of course it is difficult and heart breaking but I can do it, out of respect for the animal. But the dead bird was so upsetting to me today. I could not deal with it. I asked Peter to dispose of it. I think it was because it horrified me that my dogs were eating it.

I am not one to sit around the city filling out job applications. I am a woman of adventure and action. I have to be busy doing what I love, each and everyday. I cannot wait around. So, this in mind, I have booked myself a pretty busy spring. A freelance journalism course at UBC starting soon [must take online as I will be away the week it is offered in the summer :( ] and a digital photo course as well (just a weekend course at the college) as well, starting my free online French course. And most importantly my eBook publishing house--will publish 2 novels right away.
I cannot attend my 4 day meditation retreat this spring as it happens the same weekend I will be in Vancouver with Tabs at her Next Star audition. However, finally I am not teaching Monday night for awhile so I get to try meditation night at the Yoga House. I love finding group meditations that I enjoy attending weekly. Keeping up my meditation practices is very important to me. I love studying Buddhism.
 I'm still teaching Zumba 3x a week until mid June--still adore it! I will never stop dancing--it fuels my soul.
-Will find out in a few weeks if BC gives me my Teaching Certificate or makes me jump through any more hoops. I have my Saskatchewan Teaching Certificate but BC wants a lot of money and hoop-dancing to switch me over.

Trips planned each month until August:
April-Victoria for 5 days.
May-Vancouver weekend.
June-Montreal for a week.
July-New Orleans for 2 weeks.
August- Bella Coola weekend to photograph wild grizzlies.

I have to explore and have adventure to satisfy my soul. So, I am happy I have a plan. And an even bigger plan that I won't reveal, I do like to keep some thing secret ;)
 Hopefully the money will come as the writings are published...

Pike Market, Seattle

Pike Market, Seattle

Have to blog even though I don't feel like it...have to put some space between me and the bathing suit shots. They're all right, but I am sick of myself.
Arrived home exhausted. We pulled off the highway in Hope at 9:30 last night because it was really snowing on the Coquihalla and Connector and icy. We drove home this morning. I am about to leave for a meeting at UBC and then rush the girls to piano and rush myself to Zumba. Peter will have to pick up the kids from piano and then drop  by Zumba and pick up Pip (who will have to watch the class for awhile).
Seattle was tiring because I had to work each and every day. The last 2 days were overwhelming. Dancing 9 h days and too much information for me!
My life right now is insane. I might even venture to say that at times I do not like it. No, I do not.
But I am in transition mode. I don't know what to give up for now and what to keep. I fear giving up something will limit my income possibilities. Yet, trying to work so hard in so many areas is killing me. Getting my painting going again, my writings published, Zumba teaching, applying to teach k-12 again, applying for every single job I can. Worrying about more workshops to further train myself in my fields. And at this time, defending my thesis and looking after my family of 3 kids. God, I am not enjoying this. It is too soon to know what door will open for me and thus what fields I can put on hold.
Right now teaching Zumba requires so much time and serious work--it is something perhaps I should have waited to do. But again, I think teaching it to kids will help me get a k-12 job.
YIKES gotta leave for that meeting...

I Love Gay Men

Gay men are the best. Strangers will come up to me with the nicest compliments and it is usually a gay man.

Yesterday, I was walking down town, going to meet some friends at a restaurant for lunch. As I walked by,  a couple of gay men (holding hands) walked by me and smiled at me. They kept walking ahead but one kept turning around and giving me the best smiles, then he said "Hello glamorous." I had to smile back--he was adorable. This continued for awhile and then he turned around and said, "I love your boots." I thanked him. So I ended up passing them and entering the Twisted Tomato--and guess who followed me in--they sat at the bar while I joined my friends for lunch. They were a sweet couple.
I really like downtown. I could live down there. I love being able to walk everywhere.

I had a great day--made 2 lunch dates at once--one at noon the other at one. I managed to make them both and ended up having good talks with 3 friends I have neglected.

Today I feel tired though--so tired. Taking it easy. Why not? I work out like crazy all week so once in awhile it is ok to rest. Though I have salsa tonight...don't feel like going at this point.

March break is upon me. Tomorrow Peter wil drive Tabs and Pip to their Granny and Granddad's. I will pick them up with Mist on Tuesday and drive home Wednesday. Next week we're off to Seattle.

I have a busy spring lined up for myself: A Vipassana retreat, a Zumba training workshop (s), two conferences to present at (May and June), a Rennaisance Painiting workshop, submitting my thesis study for publishing in journals, submitting 2 novels for publishing, and photographing lots of wild life for my painitings--and applying for jobs non-stop.
 Not to mention making sure my girls have a great summer. Because this season is dedicated to establishing my career, family trips will be local camping trips, I think. Because I have to go to France and Spain (conference) might be an option in late summer too. Although, Peter is taking the girls to Saskatoon and then Nelson for 2 conferences. The little darlings will visit their relatives and hopefully not miss too much school!
Feeling good about teaching painting workshops in the fall--I can make decent money,  I think.