I don't love you enough to hate you.

I think I'm learning the key to a successful weekend, pace myself. I seem to have planned the precisely correct amount of activity for this one to make it damn near perfect. I'd like to say that I planned it out that way, but it seems to have been a happy series of events that simply fell into place. However, I'm using it as my template for future weekends I think.

Friday night was a bit hectic, but I wanted to get a lot done before hosting our first Craft Night at CF:II. I found both of the movies I required (which is no small feat, they're both pretty rare) at the Blockbuster around the corner, did some laundry and cleaning and got some quality cat time before bed. I know, I know, not exactly the fast-paced, exciting, jet-set life of a single gal but it was pretty satisfying overall.

Saturday was more cleaning and errands followed by a delightful visit by mister_sunshine, wherein we discussed all manner of subjects but particularly the design and creation of belly dance costumes. I may just have lured him into helping me design some beaded bra and belt sets, huzzah! Then I finished up the day with a great deal of baking with my first try at lavender bread. Fortunately there's very little lavender actually in it, but lots of other yummy herbs and while it was baking it made the entire house smell heavenly.

Sunday started with a trip to the MV farmer's market for fresh fruit and lavender goodies. I was mostly good, but found this really cool massage oil that I couldn't resist. Oh and a freshly baked lemon bar...mmmm, lemony goodness. Then we zoomed home to get ready for Alyne's double veil workshop. We found her studio/home with incredible ease and met up with eilonwey for two an a half hours (ok, closer to 3) of technique and stage presence while handing double veils. It was my first time using my two heavier ones and I quickly began to regret not having chosen a lighter fabric for them. However, the information she gave us was incredibly useful and has me handling my veils like I know what the hell I'm doing. I can also get into and out of them with greater ease than I could using Shira's techniques. I now feel prepared to handle the bellydance 2 class this semester.

Alyne is also a very sweet, cool, and knowledgeable person. She's got so many interests and abilities it's almost overwhelming. She made us all feel like we could do anything she was teaching us, even if we never look as good doing it *G* And now I've pretty much got to get a set of silk veils, the sculpting you can do with them is utterly amazing. I do like my new black veil, it's got incredible movement and "voice", but I have to put an awful lot of power into my movements to get it up in the air. Ah well, my two current veils should help me build up enough upper body strength to handle almost anything.

She asked if we'd like another workshop in September and we all enthusiastically agreed. We'll be doing it the Sunday of the next big bellydance festival in SJ, so we'll do class then head to the fesitval afterwards. Sounds like a very good time to me. But oh I'm going to spend *so* much money at that one...

Anyway, after class we managed to beat everyone to our place for Craft Night and I got to see some of the Great Trivial Pursuit Battle while aelfsciene prepared mountains of fruit. After she was finished I moved into the kitchen to make food while the gang watched one of my all time favorite films, Salome's Last Dance. Watching a director use a modern take on Victorian Orientalism has always been enough to make my heart skip a beat. And Ken Russell does it like no one else can.

Dinner seemed to go over pretty well and I think the lavender bread was a moderate success. We then feasted on fruit breads that tersa had prepared for us, Krispy Kremes brought by B., and the mountain of fruit and fruit salad. I don't think any of us could move after that gorging and we settled in to view Kama Sutra: A Tale of Love, one of the most gorgeous costume films ever made. It reminded me that I needed to listen to the film's soundtrack again soon.

Everyone was packed up and on their way home before ten, which gave us some time to clean up a bit after the festivities and get to bed at a reasonable hour. *happy sigh*

So not very exciting by any stretch of the imagination, but definitely relaxing and just a bit decadent.

Crunches: 90
Favorite line from Sunday: "Let...me..kiss..your...mouth, John the Baptist."

Oh now this is tempting...

8/31/02
CHINATOWN NIGHT MARKET FAIR
Portsmouth Square, Chinatown, 415-397-8000
Experience Chinese culture at the Night Market Fair this Labor Day weekend from 6-11 pm with traditional lion dancing, Chinese opera, musical performances, Chinese painting and fortunetellers.