Petra's Musings and Ramblings

Gettin stuff done

Petra — Fri, 08 Aug 2008 20:13:18 GMT

This weekend my goal is to get some stuff done. I want to clean out closets (I've been saying this for MONTHS now but haven't made much headway yet due to extreme tiredness and low energy) and throw stuff away. Then I want to work on dance costuming and get the pile of unfinished stuff whittled down significantly. And maybe I'll do some home cooking for the first time in weeks. My health has been iffy since my last post. I don't know if my body is adjusting to the new meds and that is why I've felt yukky or if finally knowing there really is a medical issue has allowed me to admit how icky I have actually felt all along. I am headed to the sleep disorder Doc this afternoon. I hope I can get that aspect under control soon, too. Anyhoo....I plan to get lots of rest and hopefully have the energy to get some projects completed. Here is a picture of a silly baby orangutan just because it makes me smile.

Uphill

Petra — Tue, 29 Jul 2008 18:17:22 GMT

Sometimes going uphill means that you are moving onward and upward. Sometimes it means you are struggling with a difficult incline. Sometimes it means both. Right now, it means both for me. Lots of changes ahead but it seems to come with some growing pains. It's not always easy to remember to just breathe and keep moving forward at a steady pace. Sometimes, like in this photo, you know the path leads upwards- but you can't see where it goes from there. You just have to keep climbing and have faith that what is at the top will be worth it. I'm trying to do that.

Crow Medicine

Petra — Wed, 23 Jul 2008 17:18:45 GMT

Most of the time I am a very practical, pragmatic person. However, I have a spiritual streak that has led me well many times. I cannot explain it, but I know when to pay attention to it. This morning while driving to work, I saw what I thought was a dead crow laying on its back in the road. As I drove past it, it flopped around a bit. I couldn't bear the thought of the crow being run over, so I did a U-turn and went back to pick it up. I managed to get to the crow before anyone ran over it. It was still very much alive, though stunned. I put it in my car and went to work, which was only a few blocks away. I noticed that the crow had a small injury near his tail but otherwise seemed OK and wasn't bleeding profusely or anything. At work, I called a few wildlife rescue organizations and finally found one that would take the crow. They suggested that I contain the crow in a cardboard box for the time being, until I could bring him to their facility in a few hours. I found a good sized box in the mailroom and went to my truck to check on the crow. When I opened the door, he sat and looked at me for a few seconds, then flew out into the sky- high above my head. He seemed perfectly strong and didn't waver a bit. I called the rescue place again and they said he may have been stunned and just needed a little time to rest before he was able to fly again. He flew so high and far that I was not able to see where he went. I hope he will be OK! I looked up the meaning of Crow as a totem, and this is what I found: "If Crow has flown into your life today, she is calling on you to stand in your personal truth and thereby, become your future self." ~also~ "Crows are the bringer of messages from the spirit world, and is thought to dwell beyond the realm of time and space. When you meet crow, he could be telling you that there will be changes in your life and that possibly you should step by the usual way you view reality and look into the inner realms …walk your talk…be prepared to let go of your old thinking and embrace a new way of viewing yourself and the world." This message seems very appropriate for me right now, considering the changes I am going through as I prepare for my future. Be well, Crow! Thank you!

This is where I come from.

Petra — Mon, 14 Jul 2008 23:33:47 GMT

As a college graduation gift, my parents surprised me with a plane ticket to go to my high school reunion. It was AWESOME. I had a really great time. I saw people I hadn't seen in two decades. I had some wonderful reconnections and learned new things about myself. There were no showoffs there and no pretentious behavior. Everyone was nice to everyone else and it was a great reunion. I’m so glad I went! It's funny how your memories of people and places can be frozen in time when you last saw them and in your mind they remain the same unless/until you see them again. That is how it was for me. High school held some bad memories for me. Still, there were a few people I really wanted to see again. After going to the reunion, my perceptions of myself and of my old friends are now changed. Seeing my former classmates as adults made me see things in a whole new way- in a BETTER way. I now feel that I can be more forgiving toward myself. I see that the “perfect” kids were not really perfect after all and that I have much more in common with my classmates than I ever realized. It was a good learning experience and I was able to effortlessly release a lot of old, negative energy and replace much of it with acceptance. I had also forgotten how gorgeous Montana is and how nice my home town can be. It was peaceful and really lovely in the summertime. I've been feeling nostalgic today thinking of the beauty and grandeur that surrounded me as I grew up. It is an indelible part of who I am. I miss it sometimes- the mountains and prairies and rivers and lakes. So, so beautiful. I feel fortunate to have grown up there.

Two Decades

Petra — Mon, 07 Jul 2008 01:42:49 GMT

Sheesh - my 20 year high school reunion is coming up next week! Egads....TWENTY years. It really doesn't seem like it. I feel like I'm still a kid, still figuring out how life works and how to be an adult, sometimes. I still make really boneheaded mistakes and get emotional over things that I should be objective about. I still feel like being a rebel sometimes. I like to decorate my body with costumes, jewelry and tattoos and my face with makeup. At some point, aren't I supposed to look "professional" and "dignified"? I still use the words AWESOME and DUDE every day. I still make inappropriate jokes when I get uncomfortable and laugh at tragedy to deal with the pain. I like to save bread crusts so I can go feed the ducks. I don't FEEL old. I look at many things with a childlike enthusiasm and a feeling that I can do anything if I set my mind to it. Even when I know the odds are against it. I still love to ride rollercoasters. And dammit, I STILL want a pony! I still think I can fly if I believe I can hard enough. But I am old enough to know not to jump off the garage roof to test this theory. So....maybe I have grown up a teensy bit, after all.

One of my all-time favorite recipes

Petra — Fri, 04 Jul 2008 19:18:38 GMT

I have been promising this recipe to a couple of people for a while now. Since I finally took the time to type it all out, I am going to post it for everyone to enjoy. It is a meatless Ovo-Lacto-Vegetarian recipe. It's SPECTACULAR. Below the recipe, I have added my own shortcuts and two variations of the recipe that I came up with over the years. Enjoy! The photo is from the cookbook. From the book: "Company's Coming - Meatless Cooking" by Jean Pare http://www.amazon.com/Meatless-Cooking-Companys-Jean-Pare/dp/1895455235 Fantasy Meatballs (meatless) 5 large eggs 1 cup creamed cottage cheese 1 tsp sweet dried basil ¾ tsp. salt 1/8 tsp. pepper ¾ cup chopped onion 1 cup grated mozzerella cheese 2 cups dried bread crumbs 1 cup ground walnuts 1 tsp parsley flakes 1 ¼ tsp. poultry seasoning Sauce: 7.5 oz. tomato sauce 1 cup water ½ tsp. granulated sugar Beat eggs in mixing bowl until smooth. Add cottage cheese, basil, salt and pepper. Beat to mix. Add next 6 ingredients. Stir. Let stand 10 min. shape into 1 ½ inch balls and arrange in an ungreased 9x13 inch pan in single layer. Stir tomato sauce, water and sugar together in small bowl. Pour over balls. Bake, uncovered, in 350 degree oven for about 35 minutes. Makes about 3 dozen; serves 8. 1 serving contains: 313 calories; 14.4 grams fat, 18 grams protein, 2 grams fiber. My own shortcuts: Instead of plain breadcrumbs, I buy the “Italian Seasoned” breadcrumbs in the supermarket and then I leave out the spices in the recipe, since the seasoned breadcrumbs contain plenty of spices already. Also, I just use 1 whole (chopped) medium onion, rather than measuring ¾ cup. And lastly, instead of using the sauce in the recipe, I take a shortcut and use store-bought marinara sauce. The recipe is still excellent with those changes. Hors D’oeurves variation: I once used the recipe (minus the sauce) as a filling for mushroom caps. I chopped the mushroom stems and added them to the filling. Then, I filled the caps with the raw filling and baked them in the oven as specified. Finally, I topped each one with a small dollop of sour cream. Delicious! Another delicious variation: I have also used the recipe (minus the sauce) as a filling for "pigs-in-a-blanket." I added some uncooked rice to the filling, wrapped the filling in cabbage leaves and cooked them in a crock pot, following a regular "pigs-in-a-blanket" recipe. It was really, really good!!

THE HAPPY DANCE!!

Petra — Wed, 25 Jun 2008 07:58:10 GMT

I DID IT!!! I finished my B.A. in Applied Psychology!!! Just a few minutes ago I emailed my final paper to my professor and then made my final tuition payment online. I'M DONE!!!!!! It took five years, often taking classes part time. I went all year around. There were times I couldn't see the light at the end of the tunnel and felt like giving up. But I was determined to finish, because a decade ago I thought I would never have the opportunity to go to college. I learned that if you want something badly enough and you are willing to do whatever it takes to achieve your goals, you can do it. As promised: the Snoopy Happy Dance! Now, who wants some bubbly!?

HAPPY SUMMER SOLSTICE!

Petra — Fri, 20 Jun 2008 21:08:33 GMT

Get out, soak in the sunshine, breathe in the scents of summer....ENJOY!

I created a new Tribe! Hope you'll stop by!

Petra — Thu, 05 Jun 2008 20:13:18 GMT

I was thinking today about what the dance community can do to help protect the environment. So, I created a Tribe where our community can share ideas about Going Green! I hope you will find it to be a good resource for exchanging ideas! http://tribes.tribe.net/bellydancersgogreen

Cultivating Simplicity

Petra — Wed, 04 Jun 2008 20:37:23 GMT

It's been coming on for a long time; a feeling that I need to SIMPLIFY. I want to purge my home of "stuff." I want more space for sewing, painting and making bindis. I want a computer desk area dedicated to schoolwork. Currently, my academic and artistic pursuits share a space and it's gotten too cluttered. I want to throw out 90% of the jars, bottles, potions and powders that cram my bathroom cupboard and vanity. I want to deep clean carpets, refresh paint and reclaim my very limited closet space. I want to plant a terrarium. I've always wanted one. Right now I have no space for one. I want to stock my refrigerator with fresh fruit and veggies and spend more time concoting delicious homemade recipes instead of hitting the drive-through on my way home from work. Then I want to light some candles around my Buddha statue, relax in my simplified, organized home and read a good book.

It's OK to be "lazy" sometimes.

Petra — Mon, 26 May 2008 21:08:01 GMT

Almost every Memorial Day weekend since I moved to Seattle I have gone to the Folklife Festival, a large ethnic-folk faire at the Seattle Center. I love Folklife. This year I just wasn't feelin' it. I didn't want to trek up to Seattle and I definitely didn't want to pay for gas or parking. So instead, I've stayed around home, ran a few errands, did laundry and made 4 dozen new bindis. I feel a little bit guilty for being so self-indulgent on a three day weekend. Like, I am somehow OBLIGATED to go out and DO something - go to the beach or on a long walk or something. But I just don't feel like it. I suppose I feel like I SHOULD go someplace because of the way I was raised. Memorial weekend was always the first camping weekend for my family and we always went to Wolf Creek Canyon in Montana. It was beautiful. I loved it there. So, I associate this weekend with being outside for three days. But instead, it's been a chilin' out at home kinda weekend. Feels weird, but OK.

Super Diego!!

Petra — Fri, 23 May 2008 05:04:26 GMT

I took Diego to my vet today. Long story short, since last week he has been improving every day. He is eating again! The vet did a very thorough exam, diagnosed nerve damage due to the facial surgeries, prescribed some new pain meds and says that Diego will live a happy, good quality life. He just needs some time to heal and the meds will make the healing process more comfortable for him. THANK YOU ALL SO MUCH FOR YOUR GOOD THOUGHTS FOR DIEGO!!!!!!!!!!! :-) :-) :-) I know all of the positive energy being sent his way made a difference. I know it. :-) I am so grateful that he is healing. Hooray for Super Diego!

Chirping at the Moon & Kitty Update #2

Petra — Mon, 19 May 2008 17:11:24 GMT

At 4 am this morning I woke up to the rather loud chirping of a bird in the tree right outside my bedroom window. The sun wasn't up yet, but when I looked out the window I saw a very bright full moon. So bright it lit up the streets like it was dawn. The confused little birdie was chirping madly at the full moon. I had to turn on a fan to create some noise to drown out the chirping so I could get back to sleep. KITTY UPDATE: Diego's owner is taking me up on my offer to bring him to my vet for a second opinion. I also found out that Diego's facial surgery was only 2.5 weeks ago. My vet looked at his records (faxed over by his owner's vet) and my vet and I spoke at length about the options we have. It may be too soon to expect Diego to be over the pain of healing from his surgery. My vet is willing to be more aggressive with the drugs to help Diego be in less pain as he heals. My vet thinks that with the right anti-inflammatories and antibiotics we can help Diego be more comfortable as he heals, which may take weeks to months because of the nature of his surgery wound and possible nerve damage to his face. I hope my vet can help Diego! He believes he can. :-) I'm keeping my fingers and toes crossed!

Bummed.

Petra — Thu, 15 May 2008 17:06:24 GMT

I want to be happy about the upcoming nice weather this week....but I got some bad news. A very special cat that I rescued and fostered for a year hasn't been doing very well, health-wise. I can't get into the details right now or I'll start crying again. If any of you out there would be so kind as to say a prayer for him it would be very appreciated. Thank you.

Sheeny Goodness!

Petra — Mon, 12 May 2008 19:26:33 GMT

Sometimes I like to watch terrible, cheesy movies for fun. One of my favorites is, "Beyond the Law," starring Charlie Sheen. http://www.amazon.com/Beyond-Law-Ed-Adams/dp/B00005ONLF/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=dvd&qid=1210619827&sr=8-1 It is a decent film, but FULL of movie cliches. I find them deliciously hilarious. I am feeling bold enough to say that I think Charlie Sheen may be the next Shatner. (I loves me some Shatner. "Denny Crane!") What are some of the other all time best cheesy movies?

Mango Sparklers

Petra — Fri, 09 May 2008 20:23:36 GMT

I used to make these in the summertime as a refreshing weekend afternoon cocktail..... After you have a couple, you may find yourself calling them "Mango Spankers," cuz they do tend to sneak up on you and kick your butt. lol "Mango Sparklers" Mash or chop up a small handful of fresh mint leaves Add them to two cups of Mango juice & stir Let steep in fridge for a couple of hours Strain juice into a pitcher if you prefer not to drink the mint bits Add 1 bottle of champagne. Pour over ice into a nice, big glass Enjoy!

Finally decompressing....now, about those undies....

Petra — Thu, 01 May 2008 22:40:59 GMT

Sunday was a bit of an overload day, as the title of my blog post said. Once my flight home was underway on Monday, I felt relieved to be going home, to a place that is familiar and has a cooler temperature! I am not complaining, though - South Florida was beautiful!! I am just not used to the heat and it was getting to me the last day I was there. Got home about 1 am on Tuesday and my kitties were happy to see me. We snuggled in a pile and I stayed home Tuesday, running errands and napping to get caught up on sleep. Went back to work on Wednesday, easing back into things slowly. The feeling of "unreality" that usually follows a vacation started to dissipate last night. I am feeling pretty relaxed and ready to re-enter reality. What I learned about dance at Spirit of the Tribes: ~ Dress rehearsal is important so you know how your costume will behave!! (Or you might end up wearing your new stretchy miniskirt as a belt and your bright pink panties as your only coverup!) ~ When wearing short skirts, NEVER squat, get down on one knee, or do a Turkish drop (unless your back is totally toward the audience). Thank goodness that all NINE of the dancers who committed those heinous bellydance crimes were wearing panties- though I could have gone through life quite happily without seeing their drawers! I'm not naming names, but if you were dancing onstage at SoT and wearing a short skirt without leggings or pants, we saw your underwear; there was an audience BELOW the stage looking UP at you, ya know! Sheesh. ~ Zoe's "pancake flip" is my new favorite move! ~ Ariellah definitely knows how to teach stage presence and connecting with your audience. ~ I love watching Urban Tribal dance! But I do not love DOING those modern dance moves. ~ Sera's choreography is more complicated than it looks! The ladies of Solstice really know how to make advanced combos look easy! I am going to be drilling those moves. ~ Moria can do an awesome stomach roll layered over a maya that I must practice and master. ~ Did I mention the UNDERPANTS?!?! (May 2 is No Pants Day: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/No_Pants_Day ....perhaps they were confused and thought it was on April 25?) Evidence: http://www.denisemarinophotos.com/mp_includes/index.asp ***THIS HAS BEEN A PUBLIC SERVICE ANNOUNCEMENT***

Tropical Overload!

Petra — Mon, 28 Apr 2008 02:26:52 GMT

More photos of Florida: http://www.flickr.com/photos/10928405@N03/ I went to the Fairchild Tropical Botanical Gardens today and got enough palm trees, flowers and sunshine to last me until summertime finally arrives in Seattle. Then I went to the beach and got my feet wet in the warm Atlantic. Picked up some seashells to take home.....tried some Key Lime pie....and I'm sooooo tired.

Finally - I'm on vacation!

Petra — Fri, 25 Apr 2008 04:32:18 GMT

I'm here in Ft. Lauderdale...I made it! Had a great day sightseeing today. Went to Flamingo Gardens in Davie, FL, which is a tropical botanical garden and wildlife sanctuary. Very, very beautiful and fun. Then I hit the beach and soaked in the sun for a couple of hours. There are a few pics in my photos here on Tribe and a ton more here: http://www.flickr.com/photos/10928405@N03/ Tomorrow I dance!

Nerves!!

Petra — Wed, 23 Apr 2008 05:56:36 GMT

My plane leaves in a few hours for Florida......it did not occur to me that my nerves the past couple of weeks were due to the fact that I have not been away from my home for five years. I have been feeling anxiety about being on an airplane, about leaving my pets here and about vacationing alone (even though I will be meeting people there who I've "met" on Tribe). I've traveled alone before....that's no big deal...but I am nervous about not knowing anyone in person that I will be seeing there. Usually at my destination are people I've known for a long time and have met in person already. (Well, I am meeting my friend Michelle there for an afternoon. I haven't seen her in about 6 years so that will be cool.) Plus, it's been so long since I've taken a vacation that I forgot about the stress of packing and getting ready. It's a pain in the butt! I can't sleep....too nervous. :-/ However, the draw of the event is as strong as my anxiety! I am looking forward to being someplace warm and beachy as well as taking the classes I'm signed up for. At the same time, plane rides stress me out and being away from home REALLY stresses me out. Here's hoping for safe journeys, peace and relaxation, a great vacation and meeting new friends.

One week from right now.....

Petra — Thu, 17 Apr 2008 21:12:12 GMT

....this will be my view.

Mmmmmmmm.....!

Petra — Sat, 12 Apr 2008 20:52:36 GMT

To say that I am in a good mood today is an understatement. It is one of the first really beautiful Spring days this year- sunshine, light breeze, scent of blooming flowers in the air and temperature in the 70's. It's heaven. Feels almost like summer. The grass is green, trees are flowering and birds are chirping. I have no school assignments (still on Spring break) and no obligations today. I woke up to purring cats snuggled around me. I went and got a latte and stopped at the bead store to pick up a few supplies. I am going to clean house and make bindis today, with the windows and patio door open to let in the breeze and sunshine! If only every day could be like this.

ANTS IN PANTS!!!

Petra — Fri, 11 Apr 2008 18:52:20 GMT

Spirit of the Tribes is loooooooommmming!!! Less than two weeks now.......and I am trying to chill the heck out, but it's hard not to run around in circles, wave my arms in the air and yell, "It's almost time! It's almost time!" This weekend I am cleaning house top to bottom because my Mom is coming to visit the following weekend. I am going to start packing this weekend and I have two vending events in the next 2 weeks, also. Plus, I have a buncha new bindis I need to add to my website before next week so people can get their orders in before I leave for vacation. Then I gotta make a checklist and instructions for my cat-sitters so they know when to feed/water the critters and turn lights on & off at my place while I'm gone. I am going to miss my furbabies while I'm away. I am so accustomed to them lolling all over me when I am home. This morning, Jasper jumped up on my bed for a snuggle when he heard me wake up, as he often does. I am gonna miss that. He is my morning buddy! So much busy-ness! I am hoping that it will make the time go by fast! Also, I had a tiny bit of drama this morning over school....my grad school called to make sure that I will have all of my prereq courses completed before I start in the Fall. It's a good thing they checked, because there is one course I haven't taken yet. After a bit of fanagling and shameless begging, my undergrad school is allowing me to do the required course as an independent study, which means I will still graduate on time and have the necessary prereqs for grad school. Whew! I was sweating bullets for a little while, though!

Meh.

Petra — Thu, 10 Apr 2008 20:28:24 GMT

Yesterday I posted an entry about buying a new watch and how I took mine for granted until it died a few days ago....then I immediately deleted the entry because I thought it was too long-winded. So if you wonder where it went, that is where. It's been an interesting week. The Governor was here Monday and I sat in a campaign kickoff meeting for two hours listening to her extoll her allegedly successful 1st term, saying things like, "I got a budget approved to add a 4000 bed facility to the state prison system!" People applauded. I was thinking, "I wouldn't be bragging that crime is so bad that you need to build ANOTHER prison in this state. Maybe you could use the money to try and rehabilitate people and PREVENT crime, instead of just reacting to it?" Anyway. In slightly happier news, I took my latest foster kitten family back to the rescue shelter last night. They are being spayed/neutered today and will be up for adoption this weekend. YAY!

"Score!" Part 2

Petra — Fri, 04 Apr 2008 06:31:43 GMT

This is for the folks who wanted to see what I was planning to do with the belt from my previous blog entry: http://people.tribe.net/b46cc2f5-56bb-4590-99ca-4604dde5c8b4/blog/03fbebfe-d41d-42cc-98e4-283f55085361 It is meant to be worn layered and looks good on - although the section in the photo looks kinda lonely on that white blanket... Chain dangles from Silk Road Tribal; "kuchi" sections from an eBay belt I dismantled for a higher purpose. ;-)