Melancholic Day

When I moved to this town four and a half months ago, one of the draws, and one that would form one of my obsessive routines, was the Farmer's Market. It started about two weeks after I had moved, and even though I was far from settled, I wanted to go. I had this planned, and I live so close by that I can walk to the market, so I manned my knapsack and my iPod and off I went. I can remember feeling warm as I reached the top of the hill and looked down into the town...a town which has retained much of the old charm.

For the first week, the crops were perhaps still not ready, and the presence of vendors was sparse, but the weeks that followed brought more vendors to the street.

....the fresh baked breads, croissants and danishes
........farm fresh fruit and vegetables
............fresh brewed coffee, where I would sit and take in the sights and sounds of a Saturday morning.

....and the odd craft and jewellery vendor....

Today is the last day for the Market, and I am left feeling sad. Some of the vendors recognize their regular patrons, and some of those will operate out of other areas during the winter. They volunteered their information and I may visit. As I left the Market, I stood at the top of the hill and looked back. My routine now must change. My Saturday morning jaunt is curtailed.

Somehow, though, I think I will find something to fill that space until the Market returns next year.

Peace.

Scratch my Head

This world of ours can be a funny place...and the other day I watched something that entertained me while I was at the checkout counter.

First a little background.

When I was young, I can remember having paper bags as shopping bags. I would get penny candy in wee paper bags and my Mother would have her groceries placed in large paper sacks. How we arrived at the world of unlimited plastic I'll never know, but thankfully we have finally woken up and are doing something about using less of it.

So, now we reduce and reuse and charge people for the use of a plastic bag, which is all good, so people now bring their own bins or bags or whatever.

...except for one lady...

While at said checkout counter waiting for the lady in front of me to finish, I noticed that things were taking somewhat longer than normal. I also noticed a lot more activity than usual. Then I noticed why. The lady did not bring any bags or bins, so she had to unload each item from her cart to the checkout counter (and there were many items!), then she had to load each item back into her cart.

Now you also have to figure that she had to load each item back into her car and then get each item into her house (unless she had the bins in the car and was too lazy to go out and get them). Whatever it was, it was certainly entertaining.

I have an intolerant remark that I refuse to make here, but rest assured that it is in my head.....and it has something to do with hair color...

Have a good weekend y'all...

Audition

In my last post I made reference to an audition that the gym was holding in order to search for cycling instructors. They are actually looking for Pump, Step and Flow instructors as well. I found this out later. So, I had a preconceived idea that I would try for the Pump and Spin sets.

A little background. I have been down this road before. A few years ago, I had wanted to teach, and somehow I volunteered to learn to teach Step. I took the required courses and then was scheduled to shadow teach....then things all fell apart for me. Work became horrendously busy for me. Things were not going well and I felt too much pressure to continue. I threw that opportunity away, walked away, and chalked it up to experience.

This time it is a little different. It is not so much voluntary. Going to the audition is voluntary, but after that only accepted individuals will be selected.

When I arrived there last night, I was handed many sheets of paper, and had to fill out numerous forms, and then I was advised to pick one discipline, because we could only try out for one area....not both Pump and Spin. I had to really think about this one, because I love both of those disciplines (among others). So, I picked Pump because it is truly my passion.

The room was packed...about 40 people arrived to try out. I was probably the oldest but was certainly one of the more fit people there. We all had to do a Flow class and a Pump class. Then we had a choice to do either the Spin or the Step class. I did Spin. During these mini classes, scouts were evaluating the participants, with particular focus on the individuals who selected their discipline of choice. Photos were being taken, and attention to technique and form were high on the agenda.

Now, there was something strange that certainly stood out. When I go to the gym, I always bring my gym shoes, be that my trainers or my cycling shoes. Last night I brought both. But there were actually people who arrived in flip flops thinking that they would only be doing the Flow class (which requires bare feet). Boy were they surprised to find out that they had to do Pump and one one of the other 2 classes...and they had to do them in either their flip flops or bare feet....gross!

Good thing I was a Girl Guide...always be prepared.

I'll let you know the results of the audition. As I said earlier, it was never about getting picked or not...it was about going...and I already succeeded.

Re-Connecting

Well, it has been awhile since this poor blog has been updated. Things have been busy here, or rather, I have been busy. I'll spare you the details, but just know that things are keeping me hopping....mostly fun.....

The house and I are now one and at peace. Little things pop up, but nothing that has me running into the street screaming for assistance.

The basement is still in the process of being demolished. When I need to get rid of some stress, I go downstairs and take it out on the walls. The demolishing has a two-fold reason behind it. #1 - Prior owners didn't finish it properly, and I simply want to open up the space and get the air flowing through. #2 - BJ picked up the bright idea to claw through the vapour barrier plastic which covers the insulation, and has decided that this makes a great bed. NOT! So I have been hunting out his immediate spots and ripping off plastic, digging out fiberglass, and tearing down walls....worker chick.

The truck is going to get tricked up. I have always wanted to bling it up a bit, and now is the time to plan for that and get something done. When it's done I'll post a few shots of the new look.

The gym is looking for cycling instructors, and is holding an open audition where scouts will be picking potential candidates. I am planning on attending the audition. If I get picked, great, If I don't get picked, that's okay too. The key thing for me right now is to go to the audition. Wish me luck.

Drum Therapy for the Soul

Snare....Accent...Cymbal...Toms...Splash...Ride...Crash...Highhats

These are some new and exciting words in my vocabulary.

In my construction of a (ahem) new life, I have uncovered many things that even I did not know were there...and, obviously, other people didn't know they existed either...playing percussion...backup singing....and now drumming. The drumming just sort of happened....I think. I had intended to pick up guitar lessons again, but for some reason, I couldn't get my head around that...not yet anyway.

But first, a little background.

My childhood saw me as a typical little girl, but shy...horribly shy. I only spoke when spoken to, and even then it was minimal conversation. In that world of shyness, I took refuge in the world of toys, and though I really enjoyed Barbie dolls, I really wanted to play with some of the boy's toys ...like toy forts and garages.

I also wanted to play with drums.

When I moved to The Cottage, I saw an ad for Drum Lessons in the local paper. I was curious. This was my opportunity. My kick at the can. So, I called and we agreed on a time for an intro lesson. As the day grew closer, I became more and more excited.....and a bit nervous, as you can well imagine.

The house where the lessons take place is an old mansion turned into apartments. There are 3 levels to the home. The drummer and his family live on the top floor, while the bottom floor is rented out (I know this, because I was welcomed by one of the tenants (in his bathrobe) who advised me to try upstairs for the music guy (eeeek). So off I went to try and find Drummer Bob.

At the very top of the house is the attic...which is also where the magic happens. Here, there are vintage drums and drum kits, some of which were purchased at yard sales. The teaching area is set up with one set for the teacher (a $10,000 set of beauties) and the student set (beat up, toned down, but still quite appropriate for learning). The walls and slanted ceiling are covered with LPs, pictures, posters, and other memorabilia from Drummer Bob's career (he has travelled extensively and has played with David Usher and Honeymoon Suite).

After an introduction to the teacher, the instrument and technique, I sat for the very first time behind a drum kit....right foot settled firmly on the bass, left foot settled on the Highhats.....and 2 very nervous hands gripping the sticks.

Then it all came together.....repetitious and rhythmic whacking, hitting, slamming, all with the intent of uncovering which limbs provide the most power....and then to have each limb work independently, and vary that power (think it's easy? Try it...).

What also resulted was a tremendous feeling of release....release of all those bad feelings, stress, everything. It all came whooshing out of me and placed itself onto the snare skin. I was rejuvenated. I felt liberated.

I felt at peace in this new-found toy.

Peace.....

*drum icon courtesy of CafePress*

Overruled

...this post was overruled that is.

I was going to write about my Introductory Drum Lesson, but another, more pressing, topic, required addressing.

My Cleo is reincarnated and appearing at my patio door. Not quite.

Some of you remember Cleo. She was the smartest, most attentive little Tortie. She was my most favoured kitty of all the kitties that we had (well, okay, BJ has maybe now taken first place as my Numero Uno, just because he has been there for me through everything). Cleo went to kitty heaven when she was 17 years old, but she had a grand life, I think. She was spoiled, as was I, but gave back in so many ways. She would greet us at the door when we would return home from work. She was a talker, and could respond to words spoken to her. She was a huge cuddle monster, and would let me snuggle my arms around her at night. To this day, I still miss her very much.

Back to the present. *sigh*

Yesterday, I was fiddling with things around The Cottage. When I went to the back of the house, where my bedroom is located, I spotted a Cleo look-alike. She was a Tortie, of course, and had the same coloring as Cleo. She was a smaller, younger version, but her eyes had that same quality that Cleo had......curiosity and inquisitiveness, darting from location to location, trying not to miss anything.

She was sitting quietly at the patio door. She was peering inside, tying to see what she could see, and looking like she might want to come inside for a visit (which would NOT have been a good thing, seeing as BJ is the resident cottage kitty). When I went for my camera, she took off in search of flies, so I couldn't get a snap of her.

....but just wait until next time...and I think there will be a next time.

................Sweetie

Horoscope

New discoveries will provide excitement for you. This day will be a stimulating one that will hold many pleasant surprises and outcomes. If you are not flexible, this could be nerve-wracking. Teaching, lecturing, performing, selling, demonstrating--any activity that puts you in front of the public in positive ways are where you can be found this afternoon. Your wisdom and the way you portray your ideas to others will help guide people at times when you may not know. Time is on your side this evening . . . whatever you involve yourself with now will be successful. Perhaps after such a busy day, you will enjoy some form of relaxation. Certainly, any strain in a love relationship will benefit from your relaxed undivided attention.

This is my horoscope for today. For all of the non-believers and non-subscribers....pfeh! You can stop reading right now. :)

Lately, my daily horoscopes have been pretty dead-on. For me, this particular horoscope was just screaming for a post today, because it is just so, so, accurate with regard to the performing aspect.....at least my interpretation of it anyway.

Tonight I will have my first drum lesson on a full drum kit. This has been a secret passion for me, which only a few people know about........and now you guys.

When I listen to music, I usually use my hands in some sort of drum banging motion...tapping on the table or whatever. When I do the percussion thing, I usually incorporate some form of tapping with the Cabasa.

And so it got me to thinking.....

Then, one day, there was an ad in the local paper for Drum Lessons, so I called to inquire. This is purely experimental at this point, but I am going to give it a whirl.

..............and we'll see where it leads.

..........................and, as usual, look out!

New Life

Quite a few people have been choosing this term lately when referring to my circumstance....."adjusting to my new life". When I actually sit down and reflect on what the words mean, it is ironic. I mean, we only have one life. We are born into this world once. We don't get a second life or a new life. We have the same old life that we had, only different. That said, we may get a second chance at making a different life, whether we like it or not.

I prefer to say making a different life for myself. The key to that phrase is "for myself". For the past 6 weeks, and actually for the 5 months prior to that, I have been carving a new path in my life journey, because, after all, it is a journey.....my journey....an unshared journey with unique experiences. Each day presents something new to challenge me, be it small or large, and somehow I'm not doing to badly.

I have earned a few things about myself that I never knew before.

• I can live alone (well okay, with BJ...because he is the bestest company), and not be lonely.


• In all likelihood, I will not marry again.


• I don't have to eat dinner if I don't want to...and I usually don't.


• I enjoy mowing the lawn....but most of my male neighbours seem to want to help me for some reason....must be the construction boots with the shorts.


• I appreciate how my next door neighbour looks out for me like he's my brother....at least that's how I refer to him....


• I like how my furniture doesn't really match...but it doesn't have to...just sayin'.


• I am pretty good at assembling things...even though I may curse at the inevitable hiccups.


• I love destroying things....even though I may, again, curse at the inevitable hiccups.


• Power tools still scare me, but less so....now they empower me somewhat....and nothing has fallen down yet either.


• The men in the hardware store no longer look for the man of the house to talk to. Now they have to deal with me and my string of inevitable questions. Poor them.


• I get to work out at 3 different gyms, and I have tripled the number of people that I have met by doing so...and, yes, they are learning to experience Mau.


• I love accompanying the band every week. That has been, and continues to be my escape pod.....and now I even have my own bag of instruments....so look out.


• I love my backyard space, with the Bluejays, Cardinals, Chickadees, Hummingbirds, Chipmunks, and Squirrels. I even know where the vegetable garden will go....eventually.


• Backyard campfires are nice at night...especially the past few chilly evenings.


• I like Tiki torches in my garden..Tiki torches are cool....the tribe has spoken.

I am thankful for this once in a lifetime opportunity, and I am grasping it with both arms extended.