A one and a two and a three and a four. . . .

Sweet Baby Jesus!!  Deborah and I almost had to call for a stretcher at the end of belly dancing class this week.  We were just fine and dandy last week learning our shimmies and twists and even walking around the room while shimmying and twisting – sore as hell afterwards – but altogether fine and dandy.  However, this week, we actually started learning the steps to the dance.  I mean “a one and a two and a three and a four” type learning.  Have I mentioned that my brain doesn’t process choreography very well?   I find choreograph akin to following driving directions.  I will inevitably turn left when I should be turning right.  Some people can go somewhere once and know how to get there for all times.  Not me.   For some reason, the part of the brain that allows a person to have good direction is just missing in me – or at least significantly diminished.  The same thing happens when I am asked to follow steps to a dance.  I WILL eventually learn the dance, but it will look like a hot mess until I have done it like a thousand times.  Don’t misunderstand - I’ve got rhythm – yes I’ve got rhythm, but when it comes to learning choreography and I’m asked to “take it from the top” – I tend to hit rock bottom.  I am slightly worried that I will not actually learn the dance since there are only three more classes.  I’m not sure that’s enough time for my “Oh, now I’ve got it” to kick in.  Yeah, I can practice on my own (probably won’t) but I am kind of a visual learner.  I like to have the teacher in front of me doing the dance so I can follow along.  Anyway, we do a twisty thing in the dance where we spin around in a circle over and over that basically rubs the meat off the bottoms of our feet.  We were given the option of buying special shoes (sort of like ballet slippers), but we didn’t.  Our feet are not speaking to us right now.  At one point (in the middle of the dance) I got a sequin stuck in the bottom of my foot which had fallen off of someone's jingly bell sash.  Let me just say – OW!!  We are rethinking our foot coverage for next class. 

We ran through the dance “from the top” about 50 gazillion times (that might be an exaggeration, but it really felt like there would be no end to our torment).  All the while the teacher said to us “don’t forget to smile” and “this is supposed to look sexy.”  Let’s not kid ourselves here sister – at no point am I going to look sexy doing this – so for now, I’d like to focus on (a) not turning left when I am supposed to turn right, (b) not sticking my fingers in the sweaty armpits of the girl dancing next to me as I am trying to hold my arms out straight in belly dancing pose whilst spinning in a circle and (c) avoiding sequin induced foot injuries.  Once I have the aforementioned under control, I might remember to smile and try to look sexy.  I make no promises that I will ever perfect “the sexy belly dance.”   We are having loads of fun though – that’s what matters.

To back up just a little, I did have one more satisfying fitness moment since last we spoke.  Mel and I walked to Java Jive for breakfast Sunday morning.  Java Jive is not very far from my condo, but we were proud of ourselves for actually saying “let’s doing it” and actually - well - doing it.  Usually we say “let’s walk” but we ultimately end up in the car because “it’s probably going to rain” or “it’s just too hot” or we are “not wearing the right shoes” – whatever the excuse may be.   However, we were careful not to walk through “bum village” along Freedom Parkway.  We made that mistake once before – and we won’t do it again.  We felt good working for our calories.  We even took a longer route home. 

I made mention in a facebook post that I might stop doing the blog.  I just don’t know if it is really working the way I wanted it to work.  I always enjoy writing and telling stories, but the theory behind the blog was that it would hopefully motivate me to become more active.  Stacey and Deborah both said “don’t stop” so for now I will keep at it.  I would probably not have signed up for belly dancing if not for the blog, so I guess it really is working – just very slowly. 

A Cultural Explosion and a Shimmy Shimmy Shimmy

This past weekend was filled with lots of culture . . . and just a wee bit of fitness. Last Friday night I went to see Wicked for the first time with Darryl, Benji and Mel.  It was AMAZING!!!!!  I can’t believe I waited this long to see it.  We had great seats at the Fabulous Fox and we may or may not have finished off the  evening with a dozen “hot now” glazed donuts from Krispy Kreme.  I am not authorized at this point to confirm or deny this information.   

As the alarm sounded 6:00am Saturday morning, Mel and I crawled out of bed to get ready for our “Stop Injustice 5K” walk in Peachtree City.  We were supporting Wellspring Living – a non-profit organization working to stop child sexual abuse and exploitation.  We got our fitness on for a great cause and had a fabulous time doing it. 

Prior to 5K - Game Face

Dream (I mean Beam) Team


Right after the 5K I jumped in my car (sweat, stankyness and all) and drove home to Asheville for some more culture (but *alas*no fitness)!!  Saturday night Mom and I went to see (and listen to) the Asheville Symphony.  It was this season’s opening night and the music was both quirky modern and fantastically classical.  They have a new crop of teen volunteers (all girls) whom they call “Symphonettes” ( I guess that’s how you spell that).  Mom and I thought we had stepped onto the set of a 1950s movie!  A great evening was had by all.  Dad was home with the grandkids watching iCarly – so Mom and I figure we came out on top regarding the evening’s choice of entertainment.    Sunday afternoon I headed to my last cultural event of the weekend.  My BFF Olivia is lead singer in a Rock Academy band and she was performing at the Orange Peel in downtown Asheville.  Rock Academy was raising money  for “Give to the Music” – a non-profit organization that provides tuition for private music lessons, instruments, etc. for children.  Olivia’s performance was out of this world (as expected).  After Olivia’s performance I jumped back in the car and headed back to Atlanta.  Phew, it was a fun and enriching weekend, but geez was I tired.   I had to stop and get a Twix just so I could stay awake for the ride home.  I had no choice – it was a matter of life or death.

Olivia the rock star
(the lights were too bright to get a really good photo with the iPhone)

On Monday, it was back to the grindstone.  I clipped on my “CONTRACTOR” badge and headed to my windowless conference room.  For the most part I kept my head down and my nose clean.  Tuesday began like any other day in the life of a CONTRACT worker.  However, after work I didn’t head home to sit on the couch and watch TV (or read) like any other day.  No – after work on Tuesday I headed to Little 5 Points to meet Deborah for our first BELLY DANCING LESSON!!!!!!  First order of business upon arriving at the studio – buy a jingly bell sash to tie around my waist.  I have to admit – I was worried that everyone in the class would be a Skinny Minnie and that I would feel uncomfortable shaking what my momma gave me in front of everyone.  I worried for naught, because there were all shapes and sizes in the class.  The teacher was gorgeous, of course – and she was wonderful.  She included the perfect combination of pushiness and praise in her style of instruction.  We learned the basics on the first night – which included the basic belly dance pose (i.e. legs together, knees bent about 1 ft, arms out to the side (slightly bent), wrists bent up at a 45 degree angle, fingers pointed to the ceiling except for the thumb and middle finger, which form a loose “C”).  We held that pose while looking at ourselves in the mirror (from the front and from the side), we walked in a circle in that pose, and we tiptoed in a circle in that pose.  We learned to do a one hip shimmy (the right then the left), a full throttle hip shimmy (both guns blazing) and a knee shimmy.   We shimmied until our teeth were rattling and our arms were burning from holding belly dance pose.    And then class was over.  By the time I reached my car I could already feel the soreness creeping into parts I would rather not discuss publically.  I knew at that moment that the next two days would be muscularly challenging.  So, while Deborah and I still had full range use of our arms, we headed to La Fonda to toss back a half pitcher of margaritas - naturally. 

Rest easy - I pushed through the soreness throughout the week and look forward to next Tuesday when we start on the actual choreography.  I will let you know how it goes!

Where the belly dancing magic happens

Suited up and ready to shimmy

Sitting Below the Salt

Well, I am mid-way through my second week of contract work.  I went balls to the wall last week and worked 10 hours Tuesday, 11 hours Wednesday, 9 hours Thursday and 10 hours Friday (Monday was Labor Day – no working that day).   I share this gig with three other contract workers, Clare, Juniata and Tanya.  Both Juniata and Tanya are sole practitioners and they use contract work to supplement their practices when they are not busy and Clare, I think, had her own firm for a while and is now looking for another job – but in the meantime she is doing contract work.  All of my fellow contractors are very nice and lots of fun.  Tanya, in particular, is a wealth of knowledge.  She has spent some time dealing with homeowner association issues (representing the association, not the homeowners – boo!) and I have been seeking her advice on how to deal with the water damage in my condo caused by my building’s crap-heap of a roof.   Anyway, as we sift through the foreclosure documents (that’s what we are doing – reviewing bank foreclosure documents) we chat and get to know each other.  Clare talks about her Match.com dates (which are typically comical) and Juniata and Tanya talk about their kids and their crazy clients.  It is absolutely stress free.  I don’t go home at night worrying about what I did or didn’t do that day.  I don’t have to check a blackberry 500 times a day.  I am obligated to work 40 hours a week, but I can work those hours however I want.  I can come in early and leave early or I can sleep in and stay a little bit later.  For now, it’s exactly what I need.  The one drawback is that I sit on my arse all day long (which is no different from before).  I would love to find a job that causes me to move around a bit more.  I am just so over sitting in front of a computer all day long.   It is a crazy lifestyle to sit all day in front of a computer and then go home and sit some more because you are so tired from all the sitting you did that day.  It sounds crazy, but it’s true. 

I got my Id badge this week and it is quite hilarious.  It doesn’t just have my name on it or the name of the building I am in or even the name of the company I am contracting with – it says in huge conspicuous letters “CONTRACTOR” – it’s like it is screaming out loud “I AM NOT ONE OF YOU – I WON’T BE HERE LONG - YOU MUST TREAT ME DIFFERENTLY.”  The hierarchy in the “Corporate World” is very clear – you know exactly where you fit in at any given moment.  Many of those at the top of the hierarchy don’t speak to, interact with or look at those at the lower levels of the hierarchy (unless they are giving orders).  It has always been one of the things I disliked about the “Corporate World.”  I always prided myself in going out of my way to treat everyone the same – no matter where they fell in the hierarchy – unless they were just stupid (hopefully no one will disagree with me on this).  It is quite interesting being a contractor – because – even though I am fulfilling the role of an attorney, I am clearly sitting “below the salt” in the eyes of upper ranks – and pretty much anyone permanently working at the company is in the upper ranks.  So naturally, I sing in the halls, as is my way, and talk to everyone I meet in the hall, the bathroom the break room, etc.  I force everyone to notice and acknowledge me.  It makes me chuckle just a bit and I make a little game out of it.  What it doesn’t do -  is bother me.  I know who I am, what my experience is, and what I have to offer.  What I don’t know – is what I want to do next.  So, for now,  I enjoy going into windowless “Conference Room C” each morning to join my fellow contractors.  For now.

The fitness front has been pretty much a bust this past week.  I was way too tired last week just getting used to waking up early and going back to work every day.  That might sound like a lame excuse to you, but structure is tiring!!!!  I didn’t walk on Mr. T until Friday night.  On Saturday Lisa and I went to Mel’s sister Amanda’s wedding and I did “drop it like it’s hot” for at least an hour (for those of you who don’t know – “dropping it like it’s hot” is d-a-n-c-i-n-g).   Per the usual, I did Hulk out and turn into the sweat monster, but it was loads of fun and the music was great.  My fellow contractors and I bring our lunch every day.  I have been packing pretty healthy lunches – hummus / crackers / grapes / cottage cheese, etc.  So, at least I am not sitting for 10 hours AND eating at the food court (well, maybe the one day when we got sweet potato fries).  What’s on the horizon, you say?  Glad you asked.  Deborah (fitness guru) and I have signed up for belly dancing lessons!!  We will be meeting at Nazeem Allayl Belly Dance Studio in Little 5 Points every Tuesday (starting next Tuesday) for five weeks.  We are taking beginner choreography.  It promises to be quite comical.  I pray that I don’t actually have to bare my belly.  I also refuse to buy the belly dancing costume, but will get the bells that jingle at my waist.  I like jingling bells.  They will fit in quite nicely with my jingling belly.  Check out the site if you want:  atlantabellydance.com. 

The Hulk

I’m calling this week a fitness success!  I did indeed unfold Mr. T and reintroduce him to the common areas AND I walked on Mr. T once for 30 minutes while I read on my iPhone.  In lieu of my second 30-minute walk on Mr. T, Deborah (aka fitness guru) and I went on a walk along the Chattahoochee River on Wednesday with her two dogs Guinness and Half Pint.  The dogs were much more excited about the prospect of exercise than I was.  After Guinness took a brief swim in the river (which actually scared me because I saw him struggling to swim back to us up-river and thought I might have to jump in and save him, but he expertly maneuvered himself back to shore) we followed a trail along the river that took us about two or three miles full circle (Deborah will have to agree or disagree with my mileage representation, but we had us a decent walk – if I am too far off the mark I would rather her just keep silent – it might take too much wind out of my sails).  My legs and lungs appreciated the walking, as I was quite used to walking at least a couple of miles a day in Ireland.  Unfortunately, however, here in ole Atlanta it was hot as balls outside causing sweat to once again run down my face and sting my eyes.  Another unfortunate side effect (for me, at least) of walking in this heat (or simply a side effect of being overweight and nearly 40) is that my face turns as red as a beet.  It may look, from an outsider’s perspective, like I am about to keel over and die, but I don’t feel like I am necessarily overdoing it – I guess it’s just my “exercise face” these days.  It’s like I turn into the hulk but instead of green, I’m bright red.  I should get a tee shirt that says “don’t make me sweaty, you won’t like me when I’m sweaty.”  I hulk out when I drinking red wine as well (but to a slightly lesser extent).  Go figure.  Deborah however looked as cool as a cucumber while she walked beside me.  She assured me that she was sweating somewhere under her shirt, but I saw no evidence of it.  Then again, she did just walk 2000 miles – during which time she was slathered in 100% deet bug spray and using a wet wipe at the end of the day to “cleanse” herself of the day’s grime.  I think her body has likely re-evaluated its levels of distress.  Here are a couple of pictures.  One of Mr. T proudly placed in his new location, one of me and Mr. T (and don’t let the smooth taste fool you – my smile and non –hulked out face indicate that I was not actually exercising when I took that photo), one of Guinness swimming back to shore and one of Deborah and me at the beginning of our walk (also evidenced by the non-hulked out face).  We had fun catching up after our respective summer adventures.



Mr. T



Mr. T. and Me (reunited and it feels so ..... eh)



Guinness in the river

Deborah and Me
(pre-walk)

I have also steered clear of all soda this week and it was much tougher than I thought it would be, particularly today when my sister and I met at a fabulous pizza place in Atlanta.  You just NEED soda with pizza (or beer, but I wasn't in the mood for beer).  When I was at the counter ordering there was a long hesitation before I ordered my beverage, but in the end I remained strong and ordered water.  I think I will end the soda fast today and enjoy a little diet beverage over the weekend.  I’m not much for dieting or depriving myself over the weekend.  Weekends are meant to be enjoyed!!!

On the job front, I landed my first contract gig – it is an actual substantive real estate placement, so I am excited to get started.  This gig should last at least a couple of months if not longer and I can work as many hours as I want while the project lasts.  I plan to work at least 50 hours a week (if I can swing it) so that I build up the savings in case there is a lag between this gig and the next.  I am pleased with the contract process so far.  I signed up with Counsel on Call a couple of weeks ago and I already have an excellent gig.  I hope to meet some interesting people along the way!!

Have a great holiday weekend!!!