Videos!

This is a crosspost for those of you on Zarifa's board, but here they are just in case!

Maia's kickass sword dance:
www.youtube.com/watch

Robyn's fun improv drum solo:
www.youtube.com/watch

Devi... next time I get vid of YOU! :D

G St Pictures!

G St friends! I've got pictures uploaded! Feel free to take a peek through my Photobucket album and take any pics you want, but please save to your own computer so I don't run out of bandwidth! :D

smg.photobucket.com/albums/v...20G%20St/

Hitched!

YAY for Oregon for legalizing domestic partnerships! Thanks to Oregon legislature's wonderful openminded spirit, Maelynn and I can finally make official what we've known for some time now: that we will spend the rest of our lives together. We get our domestic partnership notarized as soon as we both have the day off.

:D :D :D

10 Things

A tribe friend posted this in her blog and I thought it would be a good thing to do as well. I hope that my friends will do the same.

10 THINGS I LIKE ABOUT MYSELF

1. I love my attitude. People don't quite understand sometimes and they think I'm just a huge bitch, but being the way I am has saved me a lot of heartbreak, and I feel like I'm a more efficient and honest person for not sugarcoating everything.

2. I like my ability to transform my "flawed" body into artwork. Almost nothing makes me feel better than knowing that I can produce a thing of beauty - the dance - with a body that would be typically frowned upon by today's thin-obsessed society. Even some of the most popularly beautiful women in the world can't move the way I can.

3. I like my independence, the fact that I don't need or feel the desire to rely on anybody else to get me by in life. I can't stand users, manipulators and freeloaders, and I'm very proud to not be one of them.

4. I like my ability to try new things just for the sake of saying I have, and in connection with that, the fact that I try not to form judgements based on what others tell me, be it friends, coworkers, strangers, the media, whomever. I try always to have an opinion based on firsthand experience or based on the most legitimate research I can find - no one will spoon feed me my opinions.

5. I like that I can do just about anything to my hair and it comes through practically undamaged. Of course, there's a downside to that, but that isn't what this is about! It's nice, never having fried or discolored hair.

6. I love my sexuality. I am very happily in a monogamous relationship; I'd be married if I could be, but I'm not blind and I can still be attracted to people I see around me, even though I'll never act on that attraction. Given that statement, I love that there are no closed doors to my perception of attraction. I'm not limited to JUST boys or JUST girls or JUST those in between - I find beauty, even if it's only skin-deep, in everyone, because everyone has something to offer.

7. I love my versatility. I can find something to relate to with just about anybody, be they ultraconservative, ultraliberal, crazy, sane, whatever. Even the most seemingly nonsensical person possesses some small modicum of reason - you just have to find it.

8. I love my feet. I think they're cute feet. Even if it's a bitch trying to find shoes that fit.

9. I love my voice. When I was younger I hated it because I sounded like a man sometimes, but I've grown into it. I now like that I have a deeper voice - I think deeper voices sound better than higher pitched ones. More all-around pleasing to the ear.

10. I love my ability to let go of the past, to not dwell on things that have happened, or mull over regrets, but learn what lesson I can from the experience and move on.

Utter uselessness

1.How old will you be in five years?
Just shy of 26!

2. Who did you spend at least three hours with yesterday?
Coworkers and Maelynn.

3. How tall are you?
5'4" or so.

4. What do you look forward to most in the next six weeks?
Christmas! Shocking the families. >:-D And turning twenty-one!

5. What's the last movie you watched?
Watching _National Lampoon's Van Wilder 2: The Rise of Taj_ right now.

6. Who was the last person you called?
Maelynn.

7. Who was the last person to call you?
Probably Maelynn!

9. Do you prefer to call or text?
Texting - I'm not a huge phone talker.

10. Do you have any pets?
Far too many!

12. Are your parents married?
Yep, for going on a quarter of a century!

15. What planet do you like?
Saturn. I'm a Cap!

16. What are you wearing right now?
Heather grey pants, black t-shirt, socks and standard underoos!

17. What is your favorite Christmas song?
Winter Wonderland.

18. Where's your favorite place to be?
Home! I can choose my company there. :P

19. Where is your least favorite place to be?
Anywhere with too many people. :-/

20. Where would you go right now if you could go anywhere?
On vacation - anywhere!

23. What did you fear was going to get you at night as a child?
Mountain lions or the ghost of the little girl who lived in my closet.

24. Who was the last person that really made you laugh?
The kitten and the dogs, as they all engaged in a balls-out game of chase through the house.

25. How many TVs do you have in your house?
Just one.

26. How big is your bed?
Full.

27. Do you have a laptop or desktop computer?
Laptop.

28. Do you sleep with or without clothes on?
With, usually. ;)

30. How many pillows do you sleep with?
2, both stuffed in one pillowcase to make them seem like one big pillow.

31. What is your favorite season?
Tossup between autumn and winter.

32. What do you like most about summer?
Um, I... don't... actually.

33. What do you like about winter?
The cold, the wind, the rain, the storms, the... cold... oh, and my birthday!

34. What do you like about the fall?
The leaves changing, the cooling down... yeah, definitely the cooling down.

35. What do you like about spring?
The flowers.

36. How many states have you lived in?
Two.

37. How many cities/towns have you lived in?
Two!

38. Do you prefer shoes, socks, or bare feet?
Bare feet, or socks when it's really cold.

39. Do you like wearing jeans?
Yes, as long as they fit!

40. What was the last thing you ate?
Rum balls!

41. What is your favorite restaurant?
Red Robin.

42. Longest car trip?
NorCal to Tucson, AZ.

43. What's your favorite kind of ice cream?
Dreyer's Loaded Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough.

44. What is your favorite kind of soup?
Tomato, or the various kinds of homemade Maelynn and my mother make.

45. What kind of jelly do you like on your PB & J sandwich?
I don't eat PB&Js.

46. Do you like Chinese food?
Adore it!

47. Do you like coffee?
Adore that as well.

48. How many glasses of water, a day, do you drink on average?
Probably not enough.

49. What do you drink in the morning?
Water or coffee.

50. Would you rather sleep with someone else in the room or alone?
Both, depending on my mood.

51. Do you sleep on a certain side of the bed?
Yep.

52. Do you know how to play poker?
I do indeed!

53. Do you like to cuddle?
Sometimes.

54. Have you ever been to Canada?
Nope.

55. Do you have an addictive personality?
No, sometimes I'm rather dull, actually.

56. Do you eat out or at home more often?
At home. I can't afford to eat out all that often.

57. What is your favorite cheese?
Parmesan!

58. Do you know anyone with the same birthday as you?
My parents' dog.

59. Do you want kids?
Nope!

60. Do you speak any other languages?
Spanish.

61. Have you ever gotten stitches?
Nope.

62. Have you ever ridden in an ambulance?
Nope!

63. Do you prefer an ocean or a pool?
Pools for swimming, the ocean for relaxation and the view!

64. Do you prefer a window seat or an aisle seat?
I really have no preference.

65. Do you know how to drive stick?
Very inadequately.

66. What is your favorite thing to spend money on?
The animals, Maelynn, dance costuming...

67. Do you wear any jewelry?
All the earrings that don't come out, occasionally a ring or bracelet. I'm not a huge necklace wearer.

68. What is your favorite TV show?
Grey's, Private Practice, What Not to Wear...

69. Can you roll your tongue?
I can, yes!

70. Who is the funniest person you know?
Breanna at work. She's SUCH a nerd.

71. Do you sleep with stuffed animals?
No, I sleep with real ones...

72. What is the main ring tone on your phone?
"I like to move it move it..."

73. Do you still have clothes from when you were little?
Nope.

74. What red object is closest to you right now?
The cover of my book.

76. Do you sleep with your closet doors open or closed?
Slightly open so the cats can get inside.

77. Would you rather be attacked by a big bear or a swarm of bees?
Bear. I'm allergic to bees. I would rather simply be in pain than be in pain AND in anaphylactic shock.

78. Would you rather fight a chimp or a badger?
Badger. They don't have opposable thumbs!

79. What do you dip a Chicken McNugget in?
Ew, I don't eat any meat products from McDonald's. However, at other, BETTER dining revenues, my dips of choice are BBQ or honey mustard.

81. Can you change the oil on a car?
Check and refill, yes; change, no. Maelynn can do that, though!

82. Have you ever gotten a speeding ticket?
Three. :D

83. Have you ever run out of gas?
Nope!

84. What is your usual bedtime?
Whenever I fall asleep!

85. What was the last book you read?
Reading _Brother Odd_ by Dean Koontz.

86. Do you read the newspaper?
Nope. I don't even get it!

87. Do you have any magazine subscriptions?
Glamour. I get Cosmo free, but I really don't care for it - they write a lot that pisses me off.

88. Do you still sleep with the lights?
Nope.

89. Do you watch soap operas?
Hell no.

90. Do you dance in the car?
Upper body isolations, arms and sometimes zills. :)

91. What was the last note you scribbled on a piece of paper?
I have a little notebook in my bag in which I scribble notes and lists.

92 and 93?

94. What is your favorite candle scent?
Subtle flowers, clean scents like ocean or rain.

95. What is your favorite board game?
Life or Scrabble. Sorry is fun too.

96. Who was the last person you got a hug from?
Maelynn.

97. When was the last time you attended church?
Years and years ago. Like, before puberty years and years ago.

98. Which one of your friends have you known the longest?
Oh geez, I don't know.

99. What is the longest you have ever camped out in a tent?
A few nights.

100. Did you realize you just completed a 100 question survey?
I did, yes! I love these things.

Good and bad

The good - no, GREAT - news is that Nipa has found a new home! We are so thankful. She went to a very nice woman and her high school age daughter who have a big piece of land and horses. We're very happy!

The bittersweet news is that one of our female rats, Gris-Gris, was euthanized on Thursday. She was old and it was her time - she was emaciated, neurologic and blind. We were sad to see her go, but it was the right thing to do.

On the upside, my mother came up to visit on Thursday and we had a blast. I also got a new computer, since Nipa decided to knock mine to the floor and break it. It's a lovely new computer, though!

More dancing coming up next weekend - I'm quite excited!

Where in Ashland...?

Southern Oregon friends: where are the good places to eat in Ashland? Maelynn's got family coming up on Monday and they want to meet us in Ashland for some dinner after they're done seeing a play. We just have no idea where to go! Any suggestions would be fabulous!

Everyone involved is very open minded about food, but we will have younger kids with us, so wherever we go, it has to be "family friendly." (God I hate that phrase!)

Thanks!

What's new!

Medford is agreeing so well with me! I just love it here.

Hmmm... what's new, what's new. Well, our little foster dog, Nipa, is now staying here in Oregon with Maelynn and I. We are still working on finding her a new home, however. Our neighbors seem very interested! And I must say... I love the dog to death but now I am only all TOO sure of my stance on adopting older dogs! Puppy shenanigans are just not my cuppa tea!

I have officially become part of the (awesome) dance community up here! I went to a performance held by Circus Tribal of Ashland on Saturday, and it rocked. Sunday I went to an open dance night hosted by Zarifa of Grants Pass, and I actually got to perform there. I got lots of compliments, yay! Glad to know I haven't gotten too rusty. ;)

Also... piercing no. 13! I finally got done what I've been wanting to do since I was about twelve, which is my nostril. I LOVE IT! Next up: Japanese watercolor-style tiger lilies tattooed on my arm, and maybe a surface piercing or two after that... yeah! The canvas just keeps getting better and better.

I hope everyone is doing well down in Redding! I miss you guys! Hopefully I will be able to make it down for Jeanie's and Nicole's Halloween party - crossing my fingers that I'm not working!

Hugs and booty bumps all around!