What is "normal" anyway?

Well, my brother went home yesterday and my dogs have been looking for him since. It's kind of funny that they are looking for him since he didn't really interact with them when he was here. =) I'm finding out, after having him visit for just over a week, that my apartment is once again too quiet ... I had become mostly used to being alone and the quiet that brings and now it's quiet again. Don't get me wrong, I enjoyed having him visit, it's just going to take some time getting used to the quiet again...

My brother and I were pretty busy when he was here, sure we had our couch potato moments but we also did some of the "tourist-y" things in the area. I think some of his favorite things from his visit were the belly dance performances, but I can't really blame him for that - - we are pretty fun to watch. ;)

When we danced this past Friday, we were once again dancing outside and it was cold and windy. I think that's going to be the "norm" for our outdoor performances and the nice sunny days will be the performance days that we don't expect. Oh, well. At least the cold helps make our shimmies more "genuine." ;)

On my way back from dropping my brother off at the airport yesterday, I went to the mall and bought myself some new belly dance jewelry. I got some new bangle bracelets (which are always good for dancing) and a chunky/sparkly bracelet (also good for dancing). I then went to another store and bought some colored rhinestones to work on a belly dance wrap that I started but ran out of rhinestones before I could finish it. With my Mom's permission, I used a belly dance silhouette that she drew and used rhinestones to put the silhouette onto my wrap. I'm pretty impressed with how it turned out (don't worry Mom, I'll send you photos) and am looking forward to wrapping up in it for our next performance (or maybe I'll wrap up in it on my way to/from rehearsal tomorrow night). =)

Then today, I did something that I don't tend to do. I took myself to get something to eat after church (and I actually ate at the restaurant rather than just taking it to go) and then I took myself to the movies. It was just as fun/liberating as the last time I took myself to the movies (I could sit where ever I wanted to and didn't have to share my popcorn with anyone) but one of the scenes in the movie did bring tears to my eyes... In the movie, the man proposed and asked if he could spend forever loving her... It just hit a little too close to home from how short my own offered "forever" ended up being....

There are times where I just wonder when is all of this going to end..... No, I don't want him back; especially after some of the stuff that he's pulled. I don't know, maybe I'm just looking for some semblance of normalcy - whatever that may be... Maybe just one more time I'm looking for just a glimpse of what the future may hold. I don't want to spoil the surprise of what the entire future holds; it would just be nice to know what the next step might be...

I had a phone job interview this past week and I wish I had a better feeling on how it may have gone. I feel as if I answered the questions in the "right" way but it all depends on what answers the panel was looking for. The job is one that I would like to be offered and it would provide me a growth opportunity professionally... I guess it's just one more time where it's a wait and see game.... They said that they would get back with me so I will keep you posted if/when I hear anything.

=)

Shimmy, shimmy, shimmy =)

Let me begin by wishing everyone a Happy Fourth of July! I hope everyone was able to spend the day with family/friends. I was lucky enough to do both - not all of my family or all of my friends but I did get to spend time with both. =)

My brother arrived safe and sound (and most importantly, on time!) on Friday and we have been pretty busy since. He arrived this past Friday and I took off a half day of work to go pick him up from the airport. We then came back to my apartment so I could get ready for my belly dance performance that evening. I had a solo lined up to perform at a local coffee house in a program that consisted of a combination of solos and troupe dances. The troupe that I dance with didn't perform; my instructor encouraged us to go out on our own to line up a solo if we wanted to. I decided to go for it. =)

Everyone said I did really well with my solo and my brother took some pretty cool pictures. I was nervous about doing it but I made it through and I can use this experience to grow as a dancer.

Yesterday my brother accompanied me to dance class (which he thought was pretty cool) and then he and I headed to one of the local beaches. We walked on the sand for about an hour and then we went and got something to eat. After we did that, I did something that I think was a good thing (but could probably be conceived as slightly evil as well - but I am okay with this). =) I took some video games that once belonged to my wasband (including some games that he bought for me at one point or another that I never play anymore) and traded them in for games that I will actually play. I'm excited about my new games and it feels like one more piece of closure to have those games that were "his" out of the apartment.

Then today, my belly dance troupe performed for a local Fourth of July celebration. My Mom once again created a WONDERFUL costume for me (thanks Mom!!) and we had a lot of fun at our performance! I argued with my instructor at one point (just a situation where she told me "yes," I responded "no" and she told me to do it anyway) when she asked me to lead the troupe for one of the dances! So along with completing my third belly dance solo in the last almost 8 months that I have been taking lessons, I can also say that I have lead the troupe! =)

After the performance, we went to another street festival for the Fourth where my church was participating. They were doing a hot dog fundraiser so that's what we decided to do for lunch. There were live bands performing across the street from where they were vending so we listened to the music for a little bit, wandered around and then came back to the apartment and just kind of relaxed (we've had a busy last couple of days). =)

We are thinking about going back to the beach tomorrow but who knows where we'll end up. That's one of the nice things about vacation - even if there is something you have "planned" you can choose to do it or not. Granted, we do have a few things planned but as for the rest, we can play it by ear.

My brother will have one more opportunity to see my belly dance troupe perform this coming Friday night; we'll see if I'll be "asked" to lead the troupe again or not. =)