PICS
I always like to give a bit of background into the making of each set. In this case it was shot in a hotel where Cuddlefish, talamia, Xaosnyte and I stayed. We managed to break the glass table top accidentally when moving things so Talamia and I could get gymnasticy over the furniture. I am pretty stoked about this resultant levitation pic though!
It was hard to do this and not pull a constipated look. After doing a slick sexy set we went out to din dins together. We then switched back to geek mode played thunderstone till all hours of the morning. Cuddlefish and I were actually there only in guest capacity and we were not staying at the hotel but we were so tired we just crashed on the floor. Thank god we didn't get caught and forcibly evicted by the hotel staff! Good memories. In addition to that little insight into the making of I also remember the car drive there which included worrying about sweating off the make-up my make-up friend so painstakingly applied and frantic fanning, ahh the glamour!
Room Service isn't the only thing that has been going well of late. A Strange Fortune has also surpassed 1000 comments at 97% I also sold Lilly in a day and I got a new car that same day. Lilly used to break down a whole lot. We used to joke about cleansing her with fire but the sad truth is on more than one occasion Lilly did try to set herself on fire. She was indescribably crap but she was my first car and I loved her. I really hope the guy who bought her is a nice man who is good with cars and wants to fix her up rather than dismantle her and sell her parts! Now I have a car with no dents, no rust, no horrible clacking sounds when I start her. A car that does not try to put my coccyx between my clavicles when I drive over something not completely flat….it feels surreal. I shall have to imbibe the new car with some character, not through dents hopefully but maybe a name to start off with. The new car needs a name with 2 letter p's and one t . Suggestions welcome!
In addition I have a wedding dress. I can't believe I managed to find it on day one of looking! After the first place I went to I almost gave up. I discovered there that I hate wedding dresses and weddings in general. I also loathe snooty shop assistants more than I hate their shitty fare. I could almost hear her thoughts "what are you people doing here, you don't look like sensible types with money and you lower the whole tone of the store, go elsewhere" My teeth were so properly set on edge by the whole thing that I was tempted to just get married in whatever I could find in the evening section of normal stores…at best, or perhaps even to elope, then message people on facebook and say: beer and pizza at my place we have an announcement. Fuck boutiques. I was so happy when my friend started breast feeding her baby in the middle of the boutique almost causing the shop owner to have an aneurysm.
Another thing that brought a smile to my face: FAN ART! by palisade7
Check him out, He also has done some wonderful pieces of Tarion..which brings me to the last 2 things that made me happy recently. Eternall: a multi featuring my two favourite ladies.
This Month Tarion and I both have Birthdays, and talamia organised a holiday for us (cuddlefish, Lunar, Xaosnyte and Punkskunk) on the beachfront over that time. I am so excited about the holiday I could freak out more than Kristen Bell over sloths:
This vid has also made me happy recently
Okay enough babbling, one last this you can do for me to add to the abounding happy : go have a look at Eternal and also Pyke's sets:
she should have been pink long ago. Seriously, long ago.
Okay in conclusion, thanks again you make me feel like this
After at least a decade of certainty it was pretty fucking scary for me. I lost confidence in myself. Life continues though, even if you would like some time out for introspection. Bills don't pay themselves, so I worked. I did what job was available, which was not much, despite having many years of work experience and a B-tech. I won't elaborate about it, sufficed to say it was unpleasant, emotionally challenging and not mentally stimulating.
It has taken me a while to be brave enough to even try to figure out "where to from here" With considerable amounts of will power and much prodding from those around me I chose to try again. I made a choice to fumble towards something better. I am so glad I did. I feel like a weight has been lifted off my shoulders. It has been so long since something has grabbed me with such voracity. To feel ambition and passion re-awakened and to feel aptitude utilised. I always worry about making the same mistakes as in the past. What if at the end of my studies now I find myself in the same position. Despite these small self-doubts it's a decade later since I first started studying. I am an adult, unlike when I began. I know myself much better now and my focus is completely different. I have more grit. I know what it is like to work under a truly awful boss. I know what it is like to work a lot to get little money, respect or satisfaction.
At some point I hope everyone gets to experience a job that involves hard work, long hours, bad pay and earns no respect from bosses and customers. Not because I wish hardship on anyone, simply because perhaps the world would be a much nicer place if people could empathise with those serving their food, ringing up their groceries. Perhaps people would be more patient and polite have better work ethic too. Perhaps people would follow dreams instead of mistaking complacency for comfort. So here is to all of you who have ever had a shit job that sucks your soul grey. I am currently having a drink for you.
And to lighten the mood, I have a set coming out on 27th at 9am
Also the first SA multi: Eternal with Tarion and Lunar on the 28th March at 4pm
Some of our training requires us to watch what our bodies are doing in full length mirror. Even if we fail to establish the correct connection with our bodies, we are able to see where we are going wrong...hopefully. Personally I sometimes wonder if Si Fu doesn't do it to contribute to humbling us. Right now I am so bad I almost make my eyes bleed. Fortunately it is not just me. Snake is a soft style, thus there is even more focus on fluidity than usual. Due to some dancing background I never used to battle with flow but over the years I have lost some of the softness and become more rigid as power and stability became the focus. Training with 5 iron rings on your forearms and doing certain exercises with punching bags elevated above your head inevitably has taken away some of the softness. It is pretty hard keeping up with big burly men when you weigh 43kgs. As a result I attempted to turn myself into an army ant I guess. I am so glad to come back to flow, I need it. Snake also does play to some of my strengths too. I am fast and due to my small reach I really need to get right in there. Snake works a lot with the concept of sneaking into the opponents' space and getting in and out quickly. Obviously I am just beginning to learn about this so of course my above observations are terribly simplistic and I by no means profess to have any great understanding of snake. I still consider myself a complete young grasshopper in Kung Fu in general. It is just nice to waffle on about things that excite me.
As if snake hasn't humbled me enough the powers that be decided that my Pilates teaching course should enter the mix at the same time. I am ridiculously excited and incredibly overwhelmed. Story about Cuddlefish's first Pilates lesson with me: when I tried to show him where to engage his transverse abdominis muscle
I accidently got a handful of naughty bits instead. Mental note with male clients: avoid clients cock when attempting to demonstrate things very low on the abdomen. I also learnt being able to do a movement does not mean you will be able to show someone else how to do it. Communicating to someone how to do a movement, particularly when they are not in touch with their bodies, is like trying to describe colour to a blind person. As someone with a decent amount of body awareness it is particularly frustrating because I intrinsically understand and feel certain things. I am sure it gets easier but it is going to take a whole lot of time before I am a halfway decent teacher.
The Pilates course was in Balito, and the route I travelled gave me such a magnificent coastal view. It reminded me I need to spend more time scarpering on the beach. The only horrible part is that the sun was attempting to make my translucent little self expire in a puff of ash. As I result I developed this thing I have been told is called a tan. I am not sure because I haven't had one before. A nice thing, normally, except it's a silly driving tan complete with seatbelt detailing!
Some examples of magnificent coastal views in Durban as seen from booze cruise I mentioned in my last blog.
Some obligatory boobs:
Pyke boobs
Nerdy sci-fi Lunar boobs
Diaz boobs
Look at these, love them.
Also:
A real life fortune cat
a very awesome pic but I am a bit worried kitty might be dead on that cheerful note
A Strange Fortune
To all of those whom enjoy making snide, pithy, cynical remarks about Valentine's Day your scathing observations may be based in some truth. Valentine's Day doesn't hold any particular significance to me either. Gestures such as these shouldn't be reserved for a particular day; in fact they should be a daily event.
Irrespective, it is an excuse to do something special for the person you love. I just can't wrap my mind around seeing that entirely as a bad thing. I have never really seen myself as a romantic person in the traditional sense. Roses, chocolates and moonlit beach walks could send me fleeing in a fit of terror of the vapid black hole that is platonic, rehearsed posturing.
Despite that I am a romantic but in an entirely different earthy way. I think it is romantic to be able to be able to be human, fallible, juvenile, petty and ugly in front of someone but to be confident that whilst the person recognises your flaws and wants you to be better they still wouldn't choose anyone else. I think it is romantic to want to be a better person while feeling assured of the fact that self-improvement is not a prerequisite for unrequited acceptance. While that is true for me what is truly and honestly romantic is unique to the individual and is as enigmatic as well...life purpose or definition of anything abstract. In concussion, I hope you enjoyed your Feb 14th in any way you desired, romantic or otherwise
As a Valentines gift to me and you! Go look at this
Biship: eternal song
Lumo by the sea:
I think I am going to avoid maudlin musings about the festive season. There are resolutions, I am fairly certain they aren't particularly enthralling, hence I will add a bit of colour to the bones of it you can decide what parts are serious and what is ass gravy:
- Sky dive/ bungi jump nekkid
- Learn how to speak zulu and then tell someone their mother was a hamster and their father smelt of elderberry...in Zulu
- Do 2 hours more excercise a week and then become an underwear overclothing clad, masked vigilante
- Spend more time relaxing in meditation while working on my head explody powers
I am happy to report Chistmas a great success. I made a lamb roast that bards would compose songs about. Cuddlefish, in answer, made a chicken and wild mushroom pie that put my lamb roast to shame...I am sure there were vegetables...somewhere...Since I have never made lamb roast before I am rather impressed with my efforts. Also Christmas loots were embarrassingly plentiful, I am dangerously close to becoming a spoiled brat!
Rewinding a bit before Christmas, Talamia and I met someone awesome from the site: Arethusa. Not only was she a butt ton of fun to meet but she is a very talented tattoo artist. She did a very special piece for talamia and I. Also as you will be able to see from the pictures Arethusa is absolutely gorgeous. Go say hi and gently encourage her to do a set! Arethusa, thank you again, you are all kinds of awesome!
Rewinding further still: l I also had the pleasure of meeting the Radiant little creature that is Biship. Unfortunately I am not able to submit photographic evidence (again I blame food-see last blog) but my solemn word will have to testify to her radiance and THIS:
Further rewinding and we come to the death defying experience of being attacked by lions. I guess I should quickly clarify and say that it was the car we were in that got swatted by a rambunctious male rather than me being swatted and mauled personally. Anyhow, he seemed rather irritated by the fact that we were well...there. And he was bored. I think he took a lot of pleasure seeing three stupid meat monkeys almost loose bladder control behind their protective metal shell. According to friend we were lucky, these lions have been known to pop tyres and remove windscreen wipers just for fun. It’s a sad reflection of what happens to wild animals that have to be put into captivity. I failed to mention at this point the third person accompanying myself and Cuddlefish was the sister unit.
All kinds of big cats...and an Elephant.
More continuation of the year end visitations involving parental units and Cuddlefish's brother. More interesting things to follow, hopefully pleasantly devoid of large creatures desiring to use me as a chew toy.
For your enjoyement go look at these:
Tarion
Wandering Star
Vassilis
It Just Is
And also...
A Strange Fortune
The ever swish Xaosnyte:
My bestie talamia:
and for the first time I met naughtyme in person being all big and buff and witty:
As usual culinary exploration is important: Sushi first and foremost:
There was also seafood, Thai food, Italian and Indian cuisine on the menu. Unfortunately the ravenous beastie of hunger was too busy being sated to be bothered with photographic evidence.
We partied at the Winston: Pics of me looking super sleepy on the journey back:
We did some geeky stuff:
The highlight of our exploits was probably the Crocodile Park: Trying to find the place was an interesting, it is clearly not located for easy access. I suppose the idea is to keep crocodiles away from more populated areas but our Ford Ka was less than amused with us testing its off-road features! Once we finally located the place despite lying signs, crap roads, unfriendly looking metro cops, stay dogs and general uselessness: I got to hold a baby croc!
It placidly endured my attentions but I was warned to be careful. Should it have felt so inclined it could remove a finger or ear fairly effortlessly.
Some other random images:
We were also introduced to a 70 year old Male named Hannibal, a rather apt name I thought. Hannibal is apparently a refined crocodile with a discerning palate: If you give him meat with fur, feathers or bones he will spit it out at you. I wonder what his palate thinks of the free range rude? We only got to see him partially submerged in the water swishing in an agitated fashion as the Keeper tried to coax him out. As it was a cold, overcast day, Hannibal didn’t care to oblige us choosing his nice murky, warm pool instead. While it is entertaining that such a monster could be so coddled never has a grumpy old man been so big, so powerful and so terrifying. Even though I didn’t see all of him I was honestly still awestruck by his magnificence. Frightening as Hannibal is, the eccentric crocodile keeper tells that when Hannibal is feeling magnanimous he is occasionally allowed to stand upon his tail. The keeper must have an impressive pair. If you look at the pictures closely you will notice the absence of Mr Keepers left index finger which was forfeit to puff adder bite. The right index finger was gifted to a buzz saw (which was almost removed by a croc anyhow before the saw finished the job properly) other chunks of leg nourished a surly croc. That particular croc we were informed was brought to the park in the first place because he had eaten a person. I don’t think it is possible to fully appreciate how terrifying these animals are until you have watched them ripping carcasses apart at feeding time. You can watch documentaries about them but it really doesn’t have the same stupefying impact
Hannibal:
Mommy croc looking after her eggs:
Feeding time frenzy:
Rosie the Alligator, a lovely sweet girl who is clearly in love with the keeper:
A male Alligator who hissed like anything at the Keeper, clearly he is jealous of Rosies affections:
During all of this my set A Strange Fortune came out.
Here is the set intro because If you are anything like me you get so excited at the prospect of the set itself that often the intro gets overlooked:
“Is our future set in stone? Is fortune a predictable river flowing towards a point, with only minor deviations eddying and swirling side to side within the current? Could it be something simple enough to be seen in tea leaves and fortune cookies...or even one day whittled down to a mathematical equation? I would like to believe that is not the case. I would like to believe it is not so simple. Make your own fortune!”
For a person who professes to believe I am the master of my own destiny I am fascinated by all sorts of items symbolic of luck and fortune and silly little superstitious rituals. I collect Fortune cats, I pick up coins for good luck, I love fortune cookies, I have special attachment to items of clothing and jewelry. I won’t walk under a ladder, I dislike spilling salt. I realize the silliness of all of it and yet…the dichotomy is amusing and interesting to me. Without getting unnecessarily poignant let us say it is a really personal theme and leave it at that.
The Lolcats version of The Creation of Adam supplied by Arethusa
I leave you with a vital piece of knowledge for all the Mo-sisters this Movember:
This concluded part one of Movember visit blogs more to come on sister units, womance, tattoos, furry things and shiny stuff
There was travelling,I did nakie shenanigans with my SGZA ladies. Romance of epic proportion and engagemental varieties went down
There was more travelling and I met more of my favorite SG's. I had near nervous breakdowns involving employment, spontaneously combusting cars /zombie cars/ and stupid car thieves. To top it all a Chaetophobic Movember beginning ZA style:
I had pretty pics, but my camera memory card ate them. So instead of my pics you shall have to content yourself with the pics you have seen on all the SGZA blogs!
To make up for me disappearing in space and time, I submit for your consideration
Best commercial EVA!
I'm Batman:
A panda:
AMAZING Boobs:
And a sandblasted Lumo:
A fortune cat courtesy of Lunar as a hint what is to come:
An amusing sign:
Something Amazeballs *giggle*
And Cake of the ear confection category:
kluvuby!
It's always nice to tell a bit of a story about the making of a set, there was not too much to report on the making of A Simple Heart. The streak *guffaw* of giving randoms an eyeful does however seem to be continuing. The poses of me monkeying on the burglar guard put me directly in front of the neighbor's kitchen window, a sweet respectable British gentleman...also our superintendant for our building. I am glad the subject of my nekkid gymnastics has not come up just yet!
We shall not go into the subject of manicuring the topiary into its delightful heart shape, let us just say it was interesting and hilarious and required a bit more skill than one might have anticipated!
I really enjoy reading the comments and tags on sets, I know many people don't comment or tag them (to each their own) but frankly I find them fascinating! It's often a special little nod from friends on the site, private jokes, insights and sometime interesting, clever, odd and obscure. I mention it as an acknowledgement to those who left those type of comments and tags. I read them and they made me very giddy.
Also its time to tell you what the surprise from the previous blog was. I have myself some new ink! It is an old South African 1c piece. Why you may ask, if you read my grandfathers eulogy blog then you will understand. I have waited a fucking long time until I finally found an artist I am happy with. The artist who did the work is Mully from electric eye in Umhlanga and he is incredibly talented. I wanted to go see him ages ago after I saw a sleeve he did for a friend of mine but could never quite co-ordinate things to find him in-between the moments he ran away from the shop to surf and the precious few moments I am not rushing around like some kind of rabid marmot. The long awaited result...a red flaky tattoo that won't look very impressive to you just yet so I bear in mind it is still healing and does require touch ups and the pic is at an angle so it looks oval not round
Things I have been getting up to:
I played magicians assistant at Burn (a local club) for their annual sex and Candy show. I won't spoil how the illusion was done but my friend magician turned a blow up doll into me by publicly humping it and getting an audience member to help by waving the magic wand (an enormous wobbly dildo) over the humping bundle. It was impressive Gob level magician cheesiness
it was all tongue in cheek and I loved it. Anyone need a magician's assistant on a permanent basis?
Other cool stuff happening:
I am going to Limpopo early in September for a vacation/ shootfest with the other SGZA ladies: Tarion, Lunar, Kohana, Hadess, Skyla and Pyke.
Also making Lumo smile: My three favorite things: old books, digging through piles of crap to find something amazing and insects. I found this book hidden like treasure in a second hand bookstore: a beautifully illustrated book on - butterflies of Southern Africa. I am seriously running out of space for my books!
Other stuff which makes me happy:
Pugs are awesome
Lunar is awesome
Pugs+Lunar= brain puddifying cuteness
Please go love this set because It's currently my favorite.
Also Vassilis took some pretty pictures of me
I have another surprise but that will be revealed in time.
We have been a busy lass as usual.
The kung-fu grading that was hanging over my head like the sword of Damocles for the past couple of months finally happened after being postponed twice and the new date nebulously hanging in the ether undecided. Thank you to all of you who wished me luck. It went as I expected, unpleasant to endure but I demonstrated sufficient competency despite nerves. You wouldn't believe how anxious I get before these things. This often leads to fun stuff like blanks and doing all my forms at about half of my capability. Having said that I passed and my Sifu actually said he was happy, that coming from my Sifu is a huge compliment.
Each "level" in our system consists of two gradings: An actual grading and then a half grading/ progress assessment grading. The half grading only consists of form evaluation not physical assessment or sparring. One would think that because this was a half grading at the very least I would escape uninjured physically (we won't talk of the emotional scarring). We had to do a partner staff form as our last form and I got smacked in the eye proper like. I guess I was so nervous I had noodle arms not ideal for blocking a heavy staff strike. My Quassimodo eye didn't end up being too bad as we iced it immediately. Thank god it was my last form cause that properly jangled my nerves and well as my brain meats.
Also on the recent itinerary there was a trip to my JHB for my grandmothers 80th. The grading was less traumatic. Family members ask you awkward questions like: "what are you doing with your life?". Another firm favorite is "are you married yet?" to which I wish to respond "yes but it was too expensive to fly my seven husbands and three wives down for the event". The important bit is that it was a surprise for my gran who promptly burst into tears upon seeing me appear unexpectedly like some kind of ninja. Awkward questions endured were worth it. The venue also lessened AQD (awkward question discomfort). It was at an agricultural museum which was very interesting
More Lumo blather about fu: Our Grand Master of our system came to give us a seminar last night. It was so inspiring and humbling. His movements are just so fluid, his technique so perfect. It makes me realize just what a tiny fraction of a fraction I know. It reaffirms for me that I will be doing Kung-fu for the rest of my life without even hoping I will get to that level. Just pursuing that level in itself is a worthy goal. If I can one day possess a quarter of his knowledge and skill I will be satisfied. He is one of the few people I feel actual awe and reverence for.
Another thing to put me in a good headspace apart from the Seminar was the Nando's comedy festival. That day my car had broken down in a particularly crap area. Nothing puts you in a bleaker mood that a good hour stuck in a broken down car wondering when you are going to be stabbed in the face. Eventually I managed to get Lilly the turquoise terror (the car) home in time for the show somehow and it was exactly what I needed after that to turn a shitty day around. In fact after an incredibly stressful couple of months it was exactly what I needed. Thank you Vassilis who hooked us up with free tickets
A link to see check out the performers
And when I am in a good headspace I cook! It's kind of a chickpea cottage pie thing but with more of an Italian tomato, basil, red wine taste.
Step one:
Step two:
and another random smush I concocted
I may not cook often but when I do I am pretty damn awesome!
On a food related note I also went to the good food and wine fair where we watched Ainsley Harriot do his thing. I am certain there a tranny inside of that man making me like him more. He made some sort of a wonderful spicy seafood broth with a fancy name Bouillabaisse, which I definitely will try emulate at some point and term Bouillabastard. I was also elated to find Japanese flowering tea thingies, the technical term I assure you. I have been looking for these for ages, ever since my sister once gave them to me as a gift!
There was some of this
but not at the food and wine fair and which I did not cook...erm, prepare
I might have been a bit greedy
I saw these
They are all kinds of crap and I need them
Pretty things I saw one day leaving work while feeling whimsical and romantic
Other happy making things
My orchid is flowering again
Hats are awesome
So are ridiculous earrings
Look at this and have your face melted off my by the sensuousness. Some people are just sexy no matter if they were wearing a burlap sack
Tarion is one of them, go look at The Message
Kisska is another
Mezzanine
Behold the tastiness
Also SURPRISE!
I have a set going up tomorrow
Tomorrow is an auspicious day I think because something else interesting is also happening but I will keep that a surprise.
Cos Trannys are are wonderful and cos I fell a bit patriotic, SA's own Chris Chameleon/ Madame Chameleon
In amidst all the horrible stuff endured of late there have also been some moments of respite
An eclipse! Here is my awful photography just for authenticity
And here is an actual photo of the eclipse done by someone with proper equipment and some actual talent
I am really glad we got to watch it inbetween hurtling down the road to catch my friends escaped kitten. Apparently the eclipse does strange things cats and she went thoroughly moggers and decided to try getting into the neighbor’s yard. Of course the residing demon hounds with a taste for cat flesh merely wanted to say hello. It is possible it does strange things to people too since I didn’t sleep at all that night and was in a good mood that morning. To clarify I have to remind you that mornings and I are old bitter enemies. Perhaps it was having coffee on my friends gorgeous patio that morning that put me in a good mood rather than the lunar happenings
I could do with a place to ease into the day surrounded by orchids and birds and trees every day
I also went to watch Madame Zingara’s: a Burlesque/acrobatic/ theatrical show with gourmet food. I looked forward to this for ages and was not disappointed. I could write songs about their Chocolate steak!
Unfortunately we were not allowed to take photos during the show, so there are no pictures other than those I found online for you.
Madame Zingara.
This Chandelier/acrobatic performance was amazing and this girl was stunningly beautiful.
These girls were so breathtaking it almost moved me to tears
I went up in size with my plugs, and I have my eyes on these shinies
I can’t wait to get to the size I want then I won’t have to worry about getting beautiful jewelry that will become obsolete in a month. I could just get the right size right now but that would be torturing me having them and not being able to wear them!
I also got a few new toys for my camera and I have begun playing with them. Self shots are fucking hard especially when you are a completely clueless, nonetheless it was fun.
I leave you with this
