Belly dancing - shake everything you got!

One of the true joys in life is unexpected fun! Last evening, after suffering a long, somewhat stressful day at work, I got a phone call from a good friend inviting me to belly dancing lessons at a local community center. I only had 5 minutes to get ready and leave in enough time to get there on time, but I still heard myself say yes!

I am so glad I did, it was so much freakin' fun! The class was about an hour, there were probably 20 ladies in attendance and the instructor is a very Earth Mother type of woman who was so warm and welcoming and so glad we joined her class. The music was great, the community was great, my dancing was somewhat lacking, but I was smiling the whole time. We decided we are going to join the class which meets once a week and I have already been practicing. It was just what I needed, exactly when I needed it, I just love it when that happens!! :O)

Surf's up!

Morro Bay Surf Company (MBSC) Annual Pro Am Surf Competition - Cayucos- 3/24/07

Some really nice shots of a couple of my friends competing this weekend - check them out!

Spring Has Sprung

Officially spring is here, and I can sure feel it and it feels fabulous! It's gloriously sunny, butterflies fill the air and birds chirp happily from the trees. It's just so warm and lovely.

It is actually proving to be a little challenging to stay inside, so I have been gardening lately. I bought some fruit trees, flowers and strawberries and I managed to get them planted last weekend. There is still plenty more to do, but the progress feels nice and it is definitely looking prettier.

There is still a fair amount of rain and fog coming in the current forecasts, but I am soaking up every minute of sun I can. The rain we did get recently has turned all of the surrounding hillsides from brown to the beautiful emerald green I love so much.

The tourist season is starting too, the vacation rental houses and all the local businesses are getting spruced up in anticipation. It's shaping up to be another epic spring and summer, I think! Happy Spring and Happy Friday!!

Just out walking the turtle...

So my mom was here visiting the weekend before last and she went out front to walk down to the local market, but within about a minute of her leaving, I heard her step back onto the porch and come back into the house. Of course I made the obvious joke that she had been gone a long time and asked her what was up.

"You gotta come see this, there is a woman outside walking her turtle!" She explains.

"I'm sorry, what?" I ask thinking I hadn't heard her correctly...

"There is a turtle, on a leash, being walked by a woman, I assume a neighbor of yours, outside, right now, come see." She replies speaking very slowly in case I am having trouble following her.

I walk outside and sure enough, there is a tortoise on a leash. So we proceed to say hello and ask how old he is, and if she walks him often, to which she replies that he is two and she takes him for walks about every other day or so. I have to say that this is both one of the oddest things I have ever seen here and also one of the coolest. :O)