I can keep it up on my waist for a while, much longer than I’d be able to handle a small hoop for sure, but I still need a lot of practice. It’s a good thing for me to remember that sometimes it takes a while for a new activity to feel natural. Even if my first try doesn’t work brilliantly, I can improve my skill over time.

It’s a little bit like what it says in this article: What Kind of Genius Are You? Some people make their mark when they’re young. For other people, it takes a lot of trial and error, a lot of learning and building, to get to their peak. I’m not saying I’m going to hit my hooping peak at age 65  (ha!), but all of these little adventures give me stories to tell and help my perseverance.

Today, I’m off to the Art Fair in Uptown. It should be fun!

I’m going to make an effort to buy a new shirt every week or two for the next couple of months in order to improve my wardrobe slightly. I have no plans to become fashionable, but it would be nice to have more than a half dozen shirts that are appropriate for wearing in public, heh.

The majority of pants I threw out had holes in the thighs. That’s a problem I wish I didn’t have. It’s a problem I know I could do something about if I really focused. I’m so good at making excuses though. Going out to dinner with my husband gives us quality time together away from the slew of electronic devices we’d be drawn to at home. Cook at home is often stressful and unfulfilling because the kitchen is usually a mass of empty 12-pack cartons, dirty dishes, and ancient leftovers. Going to the gym on a regular basis would mean spending less time with family and friends. See? I’m great at excuses. I have lots more, trust me.

Balance is not something I excel at when it comes to my health. I need to find an approach that isn’t all-or-nothing.

It was a good one, with lots of marvelously large explosions. I think the best part was seeing Buster survive as a hot water heater rocketed up through the floor, a mere foot in front of where he was sitting. It was amazing. I also appreciate that if for some reason my Dad’s water heater launched itself toward the heavens, my Dad would probably be just fine, especially since Dad’s couch and computer chair are both farther away from his water heater, heh.

Beyond the novelty of having satellite TV access at the gym, Jon and I both walked for a solid hour during the show! I kept over 3mph for all but 5 minutes or so, but I’ve always been a fast walker. Yesterday’s feat was more impressive – 30 minutes on the elliptical! I still find that rather difficult, but my quads are starting to get used to it. In the week we’ve been going to the gym, I’ve already noticed that I have more energy. I’m hoping the ‘better sleep’ thing will kick in soon as well! *grin*

Last February I accidently washed my contacts down the drain in a freak moment of stupidity, so I’ve been wearing my glasses for the past 9 months or so. I like them now. They suit me. I almost feel more like ‘me’ when I look in the mirror.

Recently I went in for an eye doctor appointment, and today my new contacts arrived. I feel kind of weird wearing them after such a length of time in only glasses, and I’m not at all used to my new appearance, but I know they are better for my eyes in some ways.  They produce much clearer images than my glasses. Looking through photos on my computer was strange after I put the contacts in, it’s almost like viewing them in HD!

Once I feel more comfortable with my new reflection, I’ll take a self portrait so you can see my lovely green, contact covered, eyes!

Yesterday was basically a ‘learn how the equipment works’ workout, but this afternoon I went in and started making some progress. It’ll be fun to see how long it takes me to be able to do 30min straight on the elliptical. I only managed about 12min today before I had to get off and stretch to keep from cramping up. I got on for a few more minutes after the stretching, but didn’t stay long due to my hip flexors being all crabby. They haven’t done this much work for a while! After that, I did a bit of upper body strength training. My shoulders are gonna hurt tomorrow! But man, I can’t wait to have my bicep muscles back!  I think I did about 35-40 minutes worth of exercise total, which isn’t too bad for my second day.

While I was there, I was the only female in the place. I kinda liked it. For some reason, I don’t care what the guys think of me. I’m way more intimidated by the buff women. Maybe it has to do with being married. Or maybe it’s my competitive streak. I don’t know.

Anyway, it felt really good working out today. Hopefully I’m not too sore tomorrow!

So, after lunch Jon and I decided to stop by Snap Fitness to look around! Though they seem to have one of the least reliable websites I have visited recently, their clubs are just about right for the two of us. They have all the basic cardio and strength training machines, as well as free weights. They are open 24 hours, and have no contracts to sign! For the both of us, it is only about $50 per month, which is fantastic. Any other club we had considered in the past cost twice that much, and only had limited hours of operation. Also, there are a couple convenient locations on the light rail if I want to go after work! Gotta love that!

We haven’t officially become members yet, but we’ll probably be stopping in there after I get off work tomorrow. Here’s hoping that the only reason we’ll need to buy new clothing is because our old items have gotten too big!

I found this short documentary a while back and it does a great job covering why I’m so excited about belly dance. In the video, the women seem pretty typical, very similar to the people I’ve met in class. There are many different shapes and ages, and yet they all look graceful, confident, and like they’re having fun!

Also, I’m constantly amazed at the over-all intelligence level of the women who choose this creative outlet. Many of them are leaders. They are earning masters degrees and breaking glass ceilings in their career fields. It’s an amazing environment to be in. If you’ve ever been curious about taking a class, go do it!

Beyond that, the amazing ladies at TNT seem to want me to join their tribal belly dance group! I WANT to, but I feel like I need to put work first right now and get a handle on my new job. If I’m feeling more comfortable with my new responsibilities and schedule come October, I’ll definitely be getting in contact with them! I miss dancing with a group a lot – my college dance team days were some of the best – so I’m really hoping TNT will still be interested in me someday in the future!

As for now, I have the second half of my vacation to relax and get caught up around the house before starting my new adventure!

I’m a rather kinesthetic person, so it’s ridiculously nice to have an outlet for my energy. I’m so glad I gave belly dance a shot, and that my bestest girl friend Mara went along with me in the beginning to help get me started. It’s one of the best things I’ve ever done and I hope I can make it a part of my life for a looooong time!