“Agenda for today: breathe out, breathe in, breathe out.” —The Buddha

So far today, I have:
Gone to Church
Been rained on and rather enjoyed it
Bought bread
Eaten toast
Drank two cups of tea
Done a load and a half of laundry
Seen Jim off back home to do work (are you having fun yet?)
Watched three episodes of Family Guy
Updated my Livejournal for the first time in several weeks (I think)
Read a bunch of LJs I haven't seen in a while.

I plan on spending the rest of today drinking more tea, reading a couple books (possibly finishing Wind, Sand and Stars and Purgatorio), meditating (cuz I haven't done that in FOREVER), stretching, maybe some yoga, writing a few lesson plans, and basically vegging for the upcoming week.

Wow

I just finished The World's Greatest Bath. Lush is, indeed, God's gift to the skin. Using the Blue Skies bath bar slice (and only half, mind), I transformed my bathtub into a fluffy white cloud, and turned the water a sparkling, unbelievable blue. It didn't stain my skin (unlike the wildly pink Sex Bomb). Instead, it made it softer than I had ever felt it without that greasy after-feeling. Now I smell like a meditative garden and feel an awful lot like a baby's butt.
I'm supremely happy.
I feel I deserve this after the week I've had. I grant that it probably isn't the most difficult week I've survived in my life, but much of it was emotionally distressing for reasons relating to my person, my job, my future, my family, my friends, and my overall life. Smell (my most amazing sense) has always been a very strong factor in my feelings. Aromatherapy is good for me. Smelling like a Mediterranian garden does wonders for my brain. Even the pain in my muscles has disappeared.
Last week, I finally started taking classes again. This time, it is labelled "Pre/Beg Jazz," which makes me feel much like I'm not even a beginner, when I am, in fact, a graduate of this stuff. I grant that this is a moderate class with challenging upper body exercises combined with simple combinations, both of which I need to improve my upper body (duh) and work on that "stringing combinations together" problem I seem to have. Two classes later, I already see progress in my dance memory. My upper body, on the other hand, just hurts (although not so much since the bath). It inspires me, and I can't wait to see some progress.
I believe it is time for me to go and enjoy my fragrance with a book and some tea.

Toybox

The lush box I purchased days ago has turned into an investment. It has exactly twenty different things inside it, and there is only ONE that I'm not particularly fond of. It is becoming a birthday present tomorrow. My current favourite is Dream Cream, which is as glorious as it sounds. It smells lightly like flowers and moisturizes as no moisturizer has ever done for my skin. *swoon*

I also managed to win the ebay auction, snagging yet another hatbox with three vintage hats inside. It's being shipped to my aunt in Michigan, however, to save me about 5USD and quite a bit of hassle. It does mean, however, that I must wait longer to get it since retrieving it requires a member of my family to travel to Michigan and pick it up.

I am, however, ecstatic. I absolutely adore hats, and hats frequently adore me right back. These are hats from the 50s, in godawful colours, with veils and fake flowers... I can't wait. They'll be used both to decorate my bedroom walls, as well as decorate my head. Once I figure out how to upload pictures, I'll show. Until then, you'll just have to guess.

I'm heading out on the town again tonight, this time for cappuccino with Gennie, and probably some dinner as well. It's fun being a grown up with no job for a week. I haven't had as much time to do stuff I want in a long time. Maybe when my contract is up, I'll just be unemployed for the rest of my life. Or at least until the money runs out.

The Resolution Begins

Oh wicked day...
I spent the morning cleaning house since I knew Derrick would be popping in and I need to make a good impression after an 18 month disappearance. Greg and I did the dishes while discussing his school options. After that, I donned my cat-ear hat and pink sunglasses and was on my way.
I made a quick stop in Value Village to look for hatboxes (no luck) and vintage Disney books for my grandmother (also no luck). Then another short visit to Zellers where I had heard they had hatboxes in home storage (just not at mine). Finally, I met Derrick on the corner. I saw his place, looked at his photo albums to catch up on stuff, had a small glass of wine, met his gecko and his rat Reggie.
Derrick and I made the short jaunt to my pad, which he said he enjoyed because it's an interesting shape. Once again, photo albums were dragged out, stories were told, he met my cat.
Off to the mall with us, where he returned a bunch of gifts for his bf and I bought myself a $200 lush present (complete with HATBOX!). Afterwards, we had dinner and drinks and took ourselves home.
I spoke with Tiffany on my walk. I miss her much.
When I got home, I miraculously found Gennie on msn. That's right, phase two of my resolution has begun. We've already made a date for coffee this week, and a drink date for the beginning of next week, as it is her birthday week. I'm extremely excited.
Currently, I'm bidding on a hatbox on ebay. It comes with THREE vintage hats (which I would SO wear AND use as decor). The bidding ends tomorrow at about 1pm. I'll let you know how it turns out.
Sorry this post is a bit boring. I swear I had a tonne of fun today.
I guess you had to be there. ;)

Le Sigh

I always feel a little bad looking into my friends' blogs only to discover that another day went by unupdated. Then I feel even worse that I do the same to them.
Today was spent mostly with Jessie and The Boss. Highlights include:
1. Being flirted with by a 9.5 month old boy
2. Spinach/Mushroom lasagne
3. Max and Ruby
4. Looking through the Annex Cat Rescue website
5. Viewing trip photos
6. Discussing childbirth
Many thanks to Jessie for showing me the baby books with the informative and scary stuff.

On the trip home, the most amazing thing happened:
My cell rang. This is not an unusual occurance. The weird thing is, I answered. The awesome thing is, Derrick was on the other end! Derrick is a totally awesome, wunderfun person whom I haven't had the fortune of seeing for nearly two years for no good reason other than we were both very busy and oddly phone phobic. I nearly fell out my chair. As it turns out, he lives only about a ten minute walk from my house. We're getting together tomorrow, wherein I will see his place, meet his gecko and rat, drag him to my place so he can see it and meet my cat, then probably run off somewhere downtown together to eat food and shop like crazed highschool girls.
And thus, my New Year resolution has begun.
One friend down, about a thousand more to go.