Gypsy Fair

You might have wondered why I didn't post a blog entry yesterday. I was very very busy, gentle readers. Early in the morning, my friend Nissa and I went off to the park for the Bedouin Dance Troupe's "Gypsy Fair" which meant dancing and buying cute bellydance stuff. We sweated for a little while there, did some dancing and chatting and photo ops, and then headed for a friend's birthday party, which consisted of some BBQ and then the rest of the day at Six Flags Fiesta Texas. We were done with our day's events by about 11:30 pm after having left the house at 10 am. LONNNNNG day! But the day did end with some lovely Italian Gelato at DaVinci's in Stone Oak.

Since people are usually interested in photos, though, I'm posting a few of my favorites here in the blog. You can also see more if you go to the ofoto gallery here. Most of these are of the other folks at the fair, though. I'm a fabulous photo taker, you know. :) I'm planning to begin going to the Bedouin's classes, and try to get myself to be invited to become a member of the troupe. If the leader likes my dancing, she'll eventually invite me to do so. It appeals to my inner drag queen to actually perform, and learn choreography and my current teacher isn't interested in doing that sort of thing. So I'm trying to get in with a crowd that does this stuff regularly. Plus, the classes for the Bedouin group are something like three hours long usually, which means a lot more exercise benefit from the dancing.

That is the thing, and a few folks have said that all the stuff I do inspires them to think of exercising. I hate to exercise, but I love to do fun things, and if you can find things (dancing, roller skating, hiking, bikes, etc) that you find fun that also burn those calories, you can still eat cheesecake and pizza AND be slim and healthy. So that's the goal-- find more activities to do that will burn the calories I dearly love to consume.

The costume-making frenzy I've been on for the last week has resulted in: three new pairs of harem pants for me, three new pairs for Nissa, and a plan to make a few more things, including a skirt, and to try to learn to make cholis-- which are the top you wear with bellydance outfits when you're not wearing a fancy shmancy coin or beaded bra. The pattern looks easy, but I am a mere beginner in the sewing department. I love how this new red costume turned out. The shades of red are my favorites, and I think it looks pretty flattering on me. This picture is pretty decent, too-- I am trying to learn how to pose in pictures so I don't look like a total doofus-- I usually hate pictures that people take of me because I don't like the expression on my face, or I think I look fat, or whatever. You know what I mean, and if you don't, and are one of those lucky photogenic people, then never mind!

Today's events include a trip to Canyon Lake for Andrew's sister's birthday, which will also mean some kayaking. Fun in the sun, and I don't even have a sunburn (which is a real feat of modern technology & SPF 30something, because I am prone to being a crispy kritter, what with the red hair and freckles and all.

So my suggestion to you, if you're reading this, get out of the house! Go do something fun today! Don't spend all day looking at a computer screen for Lakshmi's sake!