Friday, March 30, 2012

This week as best I remember it: March 24- March 30

This week I began reading Mama Gena's School of the Womanly Arts. This week was awesome! I'm not saying it might not have been awesome otherwise, but I'm pretty sure joining the Pleasure Revolution didn't hurt. I love you Mama Gena!



Saturday, March 24
Today was all about naps for me and Lucy. It was also about staying hydrated.

 

Sunday, March 25
This morning I went to The Secret City's monthly service alone, which means I didn't have to arm wrestle anyone to get a seat. The Secret City is sort of a church for artists and art lovers, and judging from the crowds and their well-deserved Obie, the secret is out.

One of the presenters was artist Kai Margarida-Ramirez de Arellano. I want to be her best friend! Kai uses a Mexican traditional art form called papel picado, which is delicate and intricate cut out paper, but with a bad ass subversive twist. Some of her subjects include flaccid penises, her romantically entangled grandfather and his wife's brother, and her mom's extracted tooth.

Later in the day, I went to my La Dea Vita Goddess Gathering. We talked about how to stop and observe and listen to our feelings. Our emotions and are bodies are really trying to communicate with us and share information that can help us be happier and healthier. My throat has been bothering me for nearly two weeks. It feels like something small and lumpy is trapped in the right side. I was surprised to learn that the throat chakra is related to communication, courage and creative connection. That really put a fire under my ass to make sure I started blogging again!

Monday. March 26
I attended my friend Chiquita's Oshun Returns Session, a Goddess Circle that provides a safe space for Black women to share and support one another. I went because I love Chiquita and I didn't have anything else to do, but I was floored by how healing the experience was. I didn't realize how much cultural baggage I had until I was able to release it all. Thanks Goddess Chiquita!

Tuesday, March 27
I went to the 2nd to last session of my Brand New Beginners Yoga Workshop at OM. Thanks to Natalie, I am this close to perfecting downward dog! I know it's not a very yogi thing to say but I really wanna get it right.

After class, I bought myself these flowers because I am a goddess and what's a goddess without flowers!


Wednesday, March 28
Okay, it's official: I now hate cleaning apartments. The first three hours are fine, but once you've been at it for a while you are just hungry and tired and wanna start strangling dust bunnies. I had two appointments today. Oi! The good thing about cleaning is I get to listen to lots of good educational and empowering stuff. I am loving me some WISH Summit right now. You usually have to pay lots of money to hear these amazing women  speak, but it's free for everyone to download all of the summit interviews. Thank you Tera!

I also went to a really special secret dinner with lots of girlfriends. It was so awesome to have hugs and healthy food waiting for me at the end of a long workday.

Quinoa with corn, black beans, and cilantro. Brussels sprouts. Peas and pea shoots. Mmm...
I shared the photo of my flowers on Facebook and asked my girlfriends to comment on how they were going to celebrate their goddesshood. Inspired by their posts, I had planned to take a long bath and rub myself down with hot coconut oil, but I got home later than I expected. Rather than being discouraged, I took a short hot shower, shaved, and massaged myself with Aveda body oil.  Further inspired, I changed my sheets. I usually do this in the morning because at night I'm tired and I don't want to have to make my bed an "extra" time. Woo! Glad I invested the extra few minutes on myself. Getting into bed sweat-free and with freshly shaved legs and clean sheets is my favorite!!!! I fell asleep fast and slept like a happy log!

Thursday, March 29
Oh, the infinite awesomeness of chasing your pleasure. The fun continues!

This morning, I was tired so I slept in, then I stayed in bed even longer with my boyfriend. *Wink, wink* (O yeah, with an emphasis on the O!) I decided that instead of rushing to work and foregoing breakfast, I'd tell my fabulous client that I was running late, and actually tell the truth instead of lying and saying I wasn't feeling well (which always makes me feel terrible) . She totally understood. Once I got there, we agreed that it might be better to just reschedule for after the weekend. (Her apartment was pretty clean since most of the family had been out of town since our last appointment.) So I got to spend some more quality time with myself and with Richard, who is having a light work week. Yay!

In the evening, I trekked to Bed-Stuy for an Intro to Kundalini Yoga class led by my friend Melissa Danielle. I'm not going to lie, it was very weird: lots of abrupt breathing and holding my arms over my head. Still, I'm glad I went. It's always a treat to see Melissa and have her share her knowledge.

Melissa, in traditional Kundalini garb, and my adorable classmates.

This amazing historic building that the yoga class was held in is also used a location for Boardwalk Empire.
I got home hungry and found Richard at home hungry too. Richard suggested La Pequena on Vanderbilt. I hate La Pequena because they always screw up my order, no matter what I order!?!!!! I don't even understand how this is possible, but it's true. I was tempted to just agree to go but since my day was going so well already, I figured what harm could it do to just see if some more magic could happen. I said, "We could go there. Or we could go to Chuko, if you want." Somehow "Yes" popped out of his mouth. I was so happy. (I love love love Chuko but we've only gone twice together since Richard isn't a huge fan.) We both were happy. It was such a delicious, romantic, and fun dinner for both of us!


Friday, March 30
I slept in again then I woke up and went to Milk Bar Brooklyn with Richard for breakfast. Since the breakfast menu is pretty cheesy and eggs, and I'm not a cheese and eggs kinda girl, I usually just drink coffee and eat some toasted bread with avocado. *Whoopie. Not!*

Today, I just said "fuck it" and ordered the veggie chili even though it was 10:41am when my bowl arrived. OMG it was so good! It had eggplant in it?! I know!!!! Weird, but delicious!


We then went to Glass Shop and discovered there are still places in Prospect Heights that you can get and outlet and a seat. Wow! Also the most chipper and friendly barista was working there. I wish I had gotten a picture of her. She was glowing!

After a few hours there, we went next door to PeteZaaz. One the way there, we saw this guy:


Small world story: PeteZaaz is owned by one of my clients' roommate so I didn't feel weird asking him questions, not that he is shy at all. He told me the place is made with savaged stuff, like wood from his friend's deck, vintage pinball games, and old Brooklyn family photos. It's gorgeous, both cavern-like and clean feeling- which is a hard thing to pull off.



The backyard will become a beer garden with movie nights in the summer!



Pussy Power to all Post Pleasure Procrastinators!

I haven't written in this diary consistently in 5 years. Ouch! My ego just wants to hide in a cave and snack nervously on Triscuits until anyone who ever knew I had interest in writing and drawing dies. It's embarrassing to not be doing what I love, what makes me feel like a happy human being. Kinda like how it's embarrassing to have guests come over to find your bathroom looking like a hairy hobo troll had been partying in it with his forest friends. Both are shaming not because the conditions affects other people, but because it makes it clear that you aren't taking care of yourself in the most basic ways.



If I ever want to start having fun again I've got to come out of my cave and actually have fun. At the risk of coming across as having an inflated sense of self-importance, I shall compare my comeback to that of Paul Rueben in 2009 with the Broadway stage production of Pee-Wee Herman. Sure, I've rubbed myself (and perhaps some other people) the wrong way by neglecting my writing and artistic career, but dammitt, Mr. DeMille, I'm ready for my close up!

Two weeks ago, I gave my lovely cleaning clients and myself one month notice. In the meanwhile, I'm trying to figure out how this writing and doodling thing can translate into my bills being paid and adventures presenting themselves to me. So far, it seems the best I can do is just write, doodle, and love myself enough to allow all the awesome experiences I deserve.

I've also got to trust. I am landing in a pool of pussy powered forgiveness. I've been filling up the pool for a few months: Ms.Mindbody, Kripalu R&R retreat, JourneyDance, Qoya, Goddess Leonie's online Goddess Circle, La Dea Vita: a month-long real life Goddess Gathering, the WISH Summit, Mama Gena's School of Womanly Arts...  Tomorrow, I'm attending a one day retreat: Modern Femme: Creating Sensuous Prosperity. I'm looking forward to an essay writing and marketing online course beginning on Monday. Also starting Monday is the Creative Goddess e-course, Goddess Leonie's most popular course. Ahhhhh! So much juicy goodness only leaves room for more awesomeness!

I hope that you will trust me too. I am promising to share all the awesomeness with you here everyday because it's fun for me to share and because maybe you're interested or maybe you're just really polite and have some extra time on your hands. Both work for me! (I promise most of the posts won't be this long!)

Please leave a comment so I know you've read this, even if it's just "hi" or "thanks.". Please also leave any comments about your experience with forgiveness, pleasure, procrastination, and pussy power. <3