Within four days, I started a new full-time job, followed by an evening computer class. When I was a secondary math and science teacher, I advocated for my students to be lifelong learners. Wouldn’t my former students be proud that after all these years, I’m still practicing what I preached?
I redesigned my schedule in order to redesign my life. Like a true student, I’m reading more than ever about coding because my personable data science instructor entertains, but doesn’t quite teach. Nonetheless, as a former teacher, I feel it’s my responsibility to learn the material. He’s just there to guide us through the curriculum and cheer us on.
To my surprise, there is still enough time in the day. While I no longer read while watching TV, at least I’m ploughing through it at a reasonable clip. I’m no longer juggling my creative projects during the week, but the weekends have become just that sweeter. That’s when I can illustrate, film edit, and apparently write and direct my Chatbot project.
Four of us Data Science students were thrown into a group together–just like the other five groups in that class. This is just the latest instance where my directing and writing skills truly come in handy. I essentially pitched my idea and won one other person to join the Chatbot group. The other two were placed in the group by the instructor. None of us feel to confident about our coding skills. Nonetheless, we divvied up roles, where I volunteered to introduce the project. We’d all attempt coding even though one person in the group would explain it.
At the end of the last computer class prior to our presentation, I scheduled a 30-minute Zoom meeting with my group. It was the first time we took the opportunity to do so. Before then, we’d only communicated via a private Slack channel. We volleyed ideas back and forth with the makings of a project plan. Two of us had previously thought we’d have to do the project solo.
Fortunately, our combined ideas are better than two individual ones. I expanded my idea about having my mother’s voicemails being the Chatbot. Another woman thought how to monetize a medical Chatbot. So, between the two of us, we had half of the project roles covered. Now we have the weekend to fill in the blanks.
In addition to writing my introduction/pitch to “Global Grandmother Cures,” I’m going to outline a script of the presentation. I figure, even if the content is shaky, we can tighten up the presentation itself. My goal is to send that out by Saturday, so I can work on coding something simple on Sunday, then rehearse on Monday.
All of that looks good on paper. Let’s see how much we can pull off.
The arrival of my workstation from my new lucrative full-time job signaled the end of one chapter and the beginning of another.
Taking no chances, I cleared everything off my desk, wiped it down with a disinfectant wipe, and burned sage to cleanse the bad juju from the space.
I happily set up my new workstation, then grudgingly set up the old workstation in front for one last time. I worked both part-time jobs from 8:30 to 11:45. At noon, I had one of the best virtual yoga classes. I truly felt that I’d cleansed the end of both jobs from my workspace as well as my soul.
After lunch, I packed up the old workstation and put it in the closet. The plan was to let it marinate for a while to see if I actually needed it any more.
In the meantime, life proceeded so much better now that I was no longer worried about money. I got the best sleep ever. Not only is my new job less stressful, I actually feel good that I’m directly helping people.
Adding to this new chapter, I enrolled into a Data Science class. All I can say is thank god I was a math and science teacher for over 20 years. What I lack in coding skills, I make up in catching onto the logic of the Python computer language–along with supplemental reading, thanks to my roommate lending me her book. The material that comes with the course only makes sense if the instructor’s reading to us while shining his charisma through it.
I thought the schedule itself would be grueling since I have only 30 minutes between when work ends and class begins. The instructor is very entertaining. Almost too entertaining. After class, I’m so happy to have attended, but then I think, “What did we just do?”
I was greatly relieved when the instructor told us that one of the roles of a Data Scientist was to tell a story. In this aspect, I’m ahead of the curve. The he meant “storytelling” was by interpretation of data.
However, coding is writing in a computer language. A very exacting computer language where if I don’t say things in the correct way (syntax), then I will have coded gibberish (errors). Some are so fluent in computer code, they write very elegantly, which expresses the most with the least. That’s how I write in English when given enough time to edit. That’s the level I’d like to reach with coding.
Once I’m fluent in coding, I’ll transform my workspace again. These tech skills will bring me closer to being a paid storyteller. At that point, I expect to not only sleep even better, but be more entertained by my dreams.
If so, then that’s who I am. As soon as I heard the swiftness with which congress made Juneteenth a holiday, I cheered, then said, “I know you motherfuckers just want to distract us from your voter suppression efforts.” I’m familiar with that old trick. Throw us a bone and then take away something even bigger than what you just gave us.
It’s similar to when the workplace occasionally caters lunch, but doesn’t give anyone a raise.
Yet, as an optimist, I believe making Juneteenth is a step in the correct direction. It acknowledges the first time in American history when we were all free. At least on paper. There are days when I still feel I’m being treated as if I’m 3/5ths of a person.
Another recent win: the Supreme Court saved the Affordable Care Act (ACA). Another lesson the pandemic has taught us is that people of color and poor people have different medical and economic outcomes without inexpensive health insurance. The Court stated that ACA didn’t harm anyone since no one pays the individual mandate AKA the dreaded “penalty.”
Once again, karma’s a bitch. The GOP successfully fought to remove the individual mandate during their last attempt to kill ACA. Now, if only something like that can be applied to these voter suppression laws and the filibuster.
Although I first started The Austin Writers Roulette, a monthly theme-inspired spoken word and storytelling event, on July 2012, Malvern Books has hosted the show during the last three years. Dr. Joe, owner of Malvern Books, invited me to talk about my writing career, the Roulette and offered me a chance to read a few selections.
This was the first time that one of my books, Tribe of One, was available at the bookstore–mainly because they had been in a dark corner of my closet for years nearly forgotten about.
For most capoeira groups, the yearly batizado e troca de corda is their biggest event. A batizado is a capoeirista’s official induction or baptism into the Brazilian culture of training capoeira. A troca de corda is a change of cords, going to the next highest one as recognition for all the training that a capoeirista as undergone to advance his/her game, including singing and playing capoeira music for the more advanced students.
The three days of workshops with guest instructors, including the day of the big event, is an intense time of high energy and anxiety. Our capoeira teacher’s teacher, Mestre Rodrigo, comes into town along with other respected capoeirista teachers who are either part of our lineage, trained with us or who invites our higher cordas to their batizado. This is all to ensure that students are given plenty of opportunity before the event to sharpen their skills and pick up at least one new movement out of the sea of new things being presented in the workshops.
This year was the first time in the three years that I’ve been a member of Capoeira Evolucao that I’ve been in town during the batizado. Due to a myriad of reasons, mostly excuses, I’ve not been motivated to train as seriously as one needs to in order to receive my next corda. As a matter of fact, I usually attend class with the attitude that I want to maintain my physical and mental health in a social setting with positive people. Not a bad ambition, actually!
Yet this year, as one of the proud sponsors of Capoeira Evolucao, I set up a table where I displayed my book, Tribe of One, along with t-shirts that had my book cover on it. As the event unfolded, many people stopped by my table, seeking batizado t-shirts–some even handed me their money and told me what size they needed! I know in the future that we need to have all available items for sale in the same area. Although I sold some books at the very end of the batizado, I could tell that some people were a little confused that my book had nothing to do with capoeira. I’d tell them that I was a sponsor and also a capoeirista myself, which cleared up the confusion.
As fate would have it, I’d spent nearly a month and a half getting my technological act together in order to accept credit cards and everyone paid in cash! In the long run, I’m better off having the capabilities to accept both forms of payment, but a part of me is a wee bit disappointed not to play with my new business toy during our big event.
Outside of the intense training and the exhilarating batizado, we capoeiristas had a good time just socializing. For me, that started Saturday morning for the waffles breakfast, which two capoeiristas who used to train with us hosted.
Several of the other sponsors were restaurants, which the group visited on different nights for dinner. So, I was the first one at the sponsoring restaurant after the batizado. As other people showed up, all of the instructors who tested the batizado participants, sat in a private room in the restaurant while the rest of us filled the tables on the patio, snacking on complimentary yucca fries and pão de queijo (cheese rolls). Delicious appetizers, but my hunger wasn’t fully satisfied until I finished devouring my entree: rainbow trout fillet with mashed potatoes, spinach and cream sauce.
I caught wind of some female capoeiristas’ plans to “get hoochie” for the after party, hosted by a fellow capoeirista and his roommate. I never like being the ugly stepsister; so I put on one of my favorite slinky salsa/tango dresses, pulled back my hair and took the trouble to wear jewelry and lipstick. Every now and again, I enjoy playing dress up. People hardly recognized me!
Although I swore I’d not stay out until 2 am, I lost track of time. I was highly entertained by all the batizado war stories, dancing and even a game of limbo broke out. I finally snuck out a little after 2 without making the customary round of kissing cheeks.
Amazing enough, I still made it to my 10 am bikram yoga class. Fortunately, the room wasn’t extra hot. I felt the effects of drinking a bit more than my usual glass of red wine from the night before. At least I had the opportunity to detox…just in time for the capoeirista BBQ.
Another capoeirista and her family opened their wonderful back yard to us. The smell of BBQ hung in the air and as people arrived, we had a stream of new buffet side dishes. My “Mexican style” cornbread didn’t last too long and the yogurt parfait station that I helped set up was a big hit as well. I knew not to stuff myself because what my capoeira teacher normally barbeques the best cut of meat last–after people have eaten a lot of other food so he can take most of the good stuff home. It’s still an effective game plan since we usually come hungry.
Many capoeiristas took advantage of the opportunity to practice playing instruments and singing. Others relived exciting moments of their childhood by jumping on the trampoline and playing with hula hoops. I stuck with eating, drinking and socializing. I didn’t want to challenge my digestive system any more than overeating and sipping cachaça (Brazilian sugar cane rum) were already doing.
Well satiated, I gathered my glass casserole pan, which was full of cornbread crumbs, kissed cheeks on my way from the back yard to the kitchen to clean my pan and left.
As much as I’d indulged this weekend, the best remedy to set things right will be training capoeira on Monday. It’ll be glorious to be among all the shiny new cordas.
I attended the Austin Romance Writers of America new members tea even though I’ve been a member for nearly a year. Apparently, there hasn’t been a new members’ tea in four years. Not that this chapter has been dragging its feet. I think it’s a very active chapter and time has just slipped by. At least that’s from my newbie perspective.
I arrived thirty minutes late, but I came bearing a glass vase with three beautiful, showy pale green hydrangeas that accented my dress. I don’t know why it was important for my gift of flowers to go well with the dress I was wearing, but that was among the deciding factors for my flower selection. Moreover, I proudly sported my “I Voted” sticker, which reminded some Austinite members that they could participate in early voting as well.
As soon as the hostess saw the flowers, she exclaimed that hydrangeas were one of her favorite flowers. I announced that if those flowers could talk, they’d scream after the way I had driven to get there. We shared a laugh and other members claimed that they could still smell the fragrant flowers even after the hostess had taken them to another room.
The best thing about arriving half an hour late is that there was no waiting for the spread of food, which consisted of a sinful assortment of delicious sweets and a few savory finger foods to balance out one’s palate. I made myself a mimosa and after foraging from the food table four times (hey, I’d swam 21 laps before coming out!), I poured myself a glass of sweetned tea.
In between trips to the food table, I managed to talk with some members. I had an interesting one-on-one conversation with a member who used to be an avid ballerina until her inner critic obsessed so much that she no longer found dancing ballet enjoyable. I was happy to hear that after a 5-year hiatus, she’s resumed taking ballet classes in a less competitive place and with a better headspace.
Our dance conversation had taken place in the kitchen and gradually most members had migrated to the kitchen as well, bringing the lively, loud energy that a group of female writers carry around with them. I slipped out of the kitchen and joined three members in the living room–after hitting the food table again.
I learned a lot about the pitfalls of publishers, contracts, agents and writing contests. Two of the three women had been college professors and they sympathized with my complaint about the dumbing down of education. I confessed that the current educational system was so counterproductive to educating students that I wished to become a better business person in order to generate income.
Both former college professors told me that I’d be swapping one set of problems for another and yet they did admit that I’d be more empowered to get things done as my own boss than as a classroom teacher. Something I already figured out, but it was good to hear from the voices of experience.
Also, I’m trying not to fall into the pit of “the grass is always greener on the other side.” Yet, I think I’m on the right track since, despite the insomnia-producing challenges I’ve faced this past week, I’m still motivated to figure things out and move forward. I’m learning so much and it’s just exciting to see what all is available to me.
After the tea, I dashed home and changed into my first edition “Tribe of One” T-shirts. (I already know the changes I’d like to see made for the second edition!) Took a nap and headed to the hotel where the salsa congress was taking place. I’d agreed to volunteer for four hours in order to attend the salsa show and dance. I already knew that my allergies and medium energy level would prevent me from staying out too late.
The selfish reason for volunteering is to attend a cool event for free, but I had such an enjoyable time talking with the organizers and my fellow volunteers. I met people who I normally would not have, I picked the organizers’ brains with my small business questions and saw salsero friends who I had not seen in a while.
The salsa show was entertaining as usual, but I saved myself some grief by watching it while standing up against the wall. That way, I wasn’t bothered by all the arms in the air, holding technology to record the show.
During the down time after the show and before the dance, I felt my energy fading. I figured I’d dance as much as I could in about thirty minutes. It took about that long for the live band to start playing. Until then, I danced with several guys from Houston and San Antonio with a few guys from Austin mixed in. I only stayed long enough to dance one song played by the live band and then I went home.
I figure it’s always better to leave on a good note instead of letting the night become stale. Even so, I kind of dragged in yoga class this morning. The studio felt a bit hotter than normal too, but I was surrounded by some strong yogis and that truly helped in the beginning. As a matter of fact, that could be a reoccurring theme in my life: surrounding myself with strong, positive people. If anything is going to make my new endeavor successful, it be with the help of like-minded people.
Two things that I set in motion for the upcoming batizado e troca de corda are printing up Tribe of One T-shirts and getting a credit card swiper for my smartphone. Both endeavors have had hidden challenges.
First of all, the original credit card processing company I wanted to go with would have given a percentage of the credit card processing fees to my school of choice. Of course, I immediately leapt on that. But after talking to them about how small my small business was, they suggested that I should go with a cheaper option since they would not be set up to deal with such a small business as mine until the summer. So, it’s still a possibility, but not for this upcoming event. The freaky thing is that the company is based in Texas and they were planning to approach school districts in Austin the very week that I had contacted them.
After contacting a couple of other credit card processing companies, I then focused on getting my T-shirts together. One thing that makes my book cover so beautiful is how colorful it is and that is also the challenge of getting T-shirts made. I’d have to pay for every color since there would be a different screen for each color. I chose four main colors and since the color of the T-shirt would be will, the design would include five colors. Then I chose a different color for the web address on the back.
The first challenge was the book cover file was poor quality. That’s when I learned the difference between JPEG and PDF. Fortunately, I had a usable PDF for the bookcover that worked. The T-shirt guy just needed to edit the file to squash it to the four colors that I wanted.
I knew he was busy and that we had merely discussed things without me actually putting in an order and paying a deposit. In order to get a jump on things, I asked my unemployed graphic artist sister, Carla, to edit the file. I talked to her about it on a Saturday, sent the file with detailed instructions to her on the following Sunday. She called me once she got it and said she’d have it ready for me on Tuesday morning.
Come Tuesday, I anxiously checked my email several times, but never received one from Carla. During my lunch break, I called her. She spun a story about how she had to get some food together for her church since they had asked her to cater at the last minute and she also had to pick up her son from work and blah, blah, blah. I cut through the list of excuses. I reminded her that she had 5 hours in between the present and leaving for her church meeting. Then talked her through how much time it would take her to complete the food preparation, pick up her son and finish editing the file.
A couple of times, she told me that she could finish editing the file after she returned from church. I repeatedly reminded her that that would be too late since I wanted to go to the print shop after school that same day, which is what I’d told her on Sunday when she agreed to have the file ready by Tuesday morning.
Part of the problem that I had to help Carla overcome was the timelessness of her existence. She’s been unemployed for so long that she’s lost the meaning of urgency. She questioned why I couldn’t go to print shop Wednesday versus Tuesday. I told her that I had something to do after work every day of the week up until Friday. She then asked why couldn’t drop by the print shop on Friday. I explained as best as I could without giving into my temper that the difference of going three days later may result in getting my order in too late.
I then temporarily forgot that she was my sister who I loved and switched into firm teacher mode. I reminded her that she’d given me her word that the job would be completed at a certain time and that if she expected to run her own business that she would have to honor her word to people. I could hear her discomfort as I told her more things that she needed to hear.
A few hours later, I received the file and her apology for dragging her feet. I thanked her for her work and told her that she’d be so happy once I brought her T-shirt in June. After school, I raced to the print shop.
In the meantime, the guy from one of the credit card processing companies called me to let me know that I’d been approved to receive a credit card swiper that attached to my smartphone. I was so happy that something had come through on that pursuit. Of course, the hidden steps revealed themselves. The guy sent an email, but I couldn’t access it until we hung up. Then once I received it, I couldn’t sign the agreement electronically by holding down my cursor key on my phone nor could the phone’s screen be used as a touch screen. Now aware of my smartphone’s limitations, I told the guy that I’d sign the document electronically once I returned home, but at that moment, I needed to rush over to the print shop.
Fortunately the print guy was in even though he wasn’t expecting me. I downloaded the file Carla had edited. I knew that it wasn’t good enough quality to be used, but he said that seeing it helped him with editing the good file. I chose the type of white T-shirt I wanted, made a down payment and left with the assurance that the shirts would be ready the day before I actually wanted to pick them up.
The first thing I did when I got home was to sign the credit card agreement, using my netbook. The other hidden step in getting my credit card swiper didn’t reveal itself until this past Friday when I called three different numbers to see when the device had been sent. From what I could gather, someone had left a partial message earlier in the week, and needed to talk with me in order to send it out.
Now, I’ve got another thing to do Monday before school starts. Hopefully, whatever issue there is, can be resolved in a few minutes. I’m also hoping that I’ll receive my device by the end of the week.
Plus, I’m picking up the T-shirts on Thursday and at some point next week, my new business credit card will have arrived. That endeavor took me three times to convince the credit card lawyers that I owned the art, which is my book cover. Now part of my book cover will be on my credit card.
I know that things are going to come together since I’m determined that they will. I also know that one day, I’m going to look back at these stressful weeks of trying to take my business to the next level while still maintaining a full-time job and laugh. For now, I’ll continue taking deep yoga breaths.
Admittedly one of the words in the title to this blog post doesn’t seemingly belong with the others. Yet, filing my taxes last month inspired me to be a better businesswoman. I think my exact words after filing my combined personal and small business taxes were, “Why am I not a millionaire yet?!”
Afterwards, I thought about what I could do with the modest refund that I’d receive in a few weeks. Just like that, opportunity knocked on my door via email. (Bad mixed metaphor, but acknowledging the problem is the first step to improvement!) The group I train capoeira with, Capoeira Evolucao, had sent all the information necessary for interested businesses to become our sponsors. As soon as I read through the information, a feeling came over me that this was just the promotional investment I’d been looking for.
Back in December 2010, I self-published my first novel, Tribe of One. As exhilarated as I was to see my manuscript finally in print, I had the daunting task of promoting it. All last year, I thought the best way to do that was through setting up reading events. I bought audio equipment and prepared press kits. For a while, I hustled around town, trying to set up readings in coffee shops and lingerie places since I had a collection of racy poems I’d written over the years and had planned to read the more “adult” passages of my book.
My little engine ran out of steam in a few months. The amount of energy and time needed to book reading gigs for myself was not worth the consistently smaller audiences that I’d read to. I wasn’t initially concerned with book sales at the events, but the whole word-of-mouth thing didn’t happen for me either. As a matter of fact, the best tip I got at my second reading was to join a professional writer’s group, which has been a valuable source of information and support.
In addition to training capoeira, I’ve been picking the brains of several capoeiristas who have small businesses on the side as well. Their insightful, free consultations have been wonderful. Not only that, but in any endeavor, it is always best to be surrounded by like-minded, positive people who believe in me.
Since my business is primarily writing, I’m not in direct competition with my capoeira group although I will also have T-shirts for sale, albeit not capoeira-themed T-shirts. Speaking of which, the official capoeira T-shirt for the event will have my “logo” on the back along with the other sponsors. Since I don’t actually have a logo, my book cover art will serve that purpose. Just seeing that beautifully colorful African woman on several shirts as well as my on own T-shirt is going to be very exciting.
Granted, advertising doesn’t necessarily mean that I’ll receive matching or surpassing sales, but after experiencing a year of virtual no promotion and months where I had no sells, surely this is a step in the correct direction.
For months, I’ve suspected that my capoeira group had become significantly better ever since we moved into our new studio last year. Initially, we all swelled with pride at how beautiful our training facility was: newly installed wooden floor, freshly painted walls the colors of the Brazilian flag and featuring a mural of Mestre Bimba, Mestre Pastinha and Mestre Rodrigo. Then, faced with unrestricted studio access, a variety of classes bloomed Monday through Saturday: fundamentals capoeira, all levels capoeira, kids gymnastics, adults gymnastics, roda, family fundamentals class, music class and the newest set of classes, primal fitness bootcamp, and Brazilian Beats dance class.
Such a variety of classes merely hinted at the diversity of our members, who absolutely shone during Saturday night’s performance. The show opened with one of our capoeiristas entertaining the crowd with her colorfully lit hula hoops. Not only did she keep her hoops in the air and twirling, but danced to a fast salsa song without missing a beat!
As the next capoeirista set up to spin fire, the feijoda had arrived in a promising big shiny metal pot. In addition to the black bean stew, the meal was rounded out with little biscuits, greens, white rice, ground sausage (separated from the stew for vegetarians) and oranges sliced into wedges.
Just as the food line had started in earnest, the fire spinning began. From my perspective, I enjoyed watching people make the choice of going through the buffet while turning around to check out the fire dancer. There was definitely something tribal about eating a traditional rice and beans meal while watching a fire dancer perform.
Several capoeiristas scrupulously cleaned the floor of kerosene before two other dancers and I did our rendition of afoxe, a secular Brazilian dance whose roots can be traced to back to Yoruba religion. With the help from one our Brazilian Beats teachers, I modified a West African choreography I’d learned in college.
Accompanying us were our very own band of capoeirista musicians who had rehearsed playing both afoxe and samba in addition to our capoeira songs, which are an integral part of training capoeira. I felt exhilarated not only from the adrenaline rush of performing, but the singers and musicians had hit the mark beautifully. Their energy fueled me to dance my best. From what I could tell, the other dancers were moved by the music as well.
As we prepared a roda to play capoeira, our emcee for the night, mentioned several things that were being offered that night, including my book, Tribe of One. I stepped forward and took a bow when my name was mentioned. Another capoeirista had agreed to sit at the table where my book was displayed and handle sales, which was a great plan. What I wish I had known prior to this night was that I could have accepted credit card payments. My capoeira teacher would have allowed me to use his machine and would’ve written me a check for the total sales, but I only found out about that arrangement at the end of the night.
Next opportunity, I’m going to have the proper phone app in place so I can accept credit card payments. One challenge to being a self-published author is learning all I can about being a small business owner. Now that I have a daily writing habit to advance my manuscript, I need weekly “entrepreneur improvements” to advance my business.
Once our roda was complete, we stood in a semi-circle about 30 capoeiristas strong, including some guest players who joined in to support us. I felt so proud seeing how much my friends had improved. There were several fast-paced games with high flying kicks. For anyone in the audience who had previously thought of capoeira as a dance, I’m sure we changed their minds! One of my friends later told me that she’d never seen such a strong (skilled) capoeira group.
Although I love training capoeira for my mental and physical health, I rarely play outside of a performance. During this particular performance, I chose not to change into my pants because we had such a large number of people; so I clapped and sang in support. Yet, when we started samba de roda, another afoxe dancer and I opened the floor by circling the roda, holding our flowing skirts. She brought a guy to the center of the floor to dance with her. We played our usual samba flirtation where a couple dances in the center. Throughout the song, another woman will take the woman’s place by playfully bumping her out of the way with her butt or some other diversion. Other guys will displace the guy by doing some macho diversion to dance with the woman. This goes on until the head musician who’s playing the gunga (bass) berimbau signals for the samba to end.
We had some of our audience up dancing with us before we ended. At that point, I finally had an appetite. I socialized, ate, danced a little more to the music the DJ played before packing up my things to go home. If I needed any more evidence that I’ve reached “middle-agehood,” then leaving a party before it’s over is surely it. Oh, I can shake it like I used to, but just not as long! My bed had never slept so well.
Sunday morning, I returned to the studio for part two of our fundraising event, which was a garage sale. Although lower key in terms of energy and razzle-dazzle, many people came out to purchase the used furniture, art and “artifacts” for sale.
Now that the weather’s beautiful, I’m going out on my balcony on the weekends to paint so I can offer my book and paintings–along with credit card option!
I’m so happy for the overcast, misty skies, given our triple-digit, drought conditions in the recent past. Yet, I live in Austin and the best thing about this vibrant city is having far more things to do than humanly possible–rain or shine!
Part one of my Saturday morning involved writing the last of my 19 handmade greeting cards. Since I’ve been painting on the back of cereal boxes for the past 2 years, I spent part of Thanksgiving Day cutting my paintings into pieces no bigger than 4″ x 6″. This past week, I cut some folders into cards. Once I glued the painting pieces onto the cards, I was amazed how beautiful the cards looked. Once again, it has been proven that the sum is greater than the whole. My paintings had never looked as good as they did when I put them on cards.
Part two of my Saturday involved going to my capoeira music class followed by three hours of tango. Now that I’ve reached the next plateau with my tango dancing, I really dance with a lot of enthusiasm. It makes such a big difference to have the basics down and build confidentally from there. Plus, the beginner’s class had a shortage of women; so I got my money’s worth, followed by a milonga class.
Part three involved going to a “passion party” held at one of the downtown condos. I was mostly excited because I was reading a racy chapter from Tribe of One. No matter how big my audience is, I love the opportunity to read to people who aren’t familiar with my writing. And reading to women who’ve come together for a passion party is a primed pump of potential fans. No one was motivated to buy at that moment, but I left everyone with a business card and let them know that my book was available electronically, which made quite a few happy. Even if they do me the courtesy of reading some pieces from my blog, at least they will be more familiar with my writing. A few suggested that I should record myself reading Tribe since I have an entertaining voice.
For the final chapter of my rainy Saturday, I went to a salsa Christmas party at one of my friend’s house. The party was in full swing by the time I got there. I made a beeline to the kitchen for a glass of wine and a bowl of the most delicious chicken and seafood gumbo. After I was properly fed and wined, I then changed my shoes to dance. About two hours later, I was finally outta steam and ready to retire for the evening (or shall I say “wee Sunday morning”?).
I can hardly believe some people would let a little rain stop them from having the type of Saturday fun I’ve just had. Rain doesn’t stop me from enjoying life. Just means I’ll be wet while doing it.
