August 13, 2006

I just did my first semi-public performance yesterday! It was scary but fun once I got into it. I really enjoy dancing, and even though I feel like a rank amateur, everyone else was mesmerized...I felt like a real bellydancer! Now Jim and Terri have invited me to dance for their birthday party at a restaurant- real public time- I have to psych myself up for it but it'll be good to get out there and dance in public and get over the fear.

August 1, 2006

I hate this whole situation with Lebanon and Israel. Hizb'Allah is disgusting and I hate what they're doing to Lebanon, but it seems like Israel could find a better way to respond, one that doesn't kill innocent Lebanese.

July 17, 2006

I just started my second bellydancing class this week. I love it so much! It's great exercise. I really hope to get good at it- it takes a lot of practice to be able to do all of the moves. The ab isolations are particularly difficult. Maybe someday I'll end up dancing professionally- I'm not sure if I want to make it into a business, but I do enjoy dancing so much, and I miss dancing in a semi-professional context. I think someday I would like to share this art form with others. In the meanwhile, I just want to perfect my form as much as possible, so that my options are open. (I also want to take other dance classes, such as "sensual dance" which looks like so much fun! Great exercise as well...but I'll never do that professionally! :) )

I just finished writing another chapter of the novel. We're up to 275 pages, I think, and still have more to go on Part I. I enjoy writing, but this chapter was a tough one to write, because of the content. I got very involved in it, almost as if I was living it. I think I had to, because if I don't make the story real for myself, I'm not sure I can write to make it real to the reader. But it took a lot out of me. There were other tough chapters, but I think this was the hardest so far. Luckily I have a "fun" bellydancing class tonight, and I hope I can work out some of my stress there.

The remainder of my third full costume is on its way to me, and I sewed another top and bought some more costume items as well (plus I have the materials to make more), so hopefully I will have more costume pictures up soon!