Black Tuesday

So I'm sitting in a little organic cafe sipping lime, ginger, parsley pineapple juice and noshing on spirulina balls (don't ask) when my friend (another new friend) Hanna from Holland begins to describe for me a phenomenon called Black Tuesday.  Apparently, when you do ectstacy on Saturday night, your body uses up all the "feel-good" hormones so you love everybody for about twelve hours.  But then by Tuesday, all that's left are the "I feel like cr** and I'm a miserable sack of sh**" hormones.  What a total buzzkill.  I mean, at least when you drink on Saturday night, your only hungover on Sunday so back to work doesn't suck so bad.  But with "x", you gotta re-think your party program and use on Thursday so you're ready for action come Monday.  See all the wonderful bits of wisdom I have gained from flying all the way to Bali.  Actually, it might have been cheaper and a lot less travel time to have flown to Holland and found this out for myself.  Oh well, the weather is way better here than in Holland.

Going to a silversmithing class on Wednesday with Hanna from Holland.  Wonder what other juicy tidbits I might learn.

Thanks to all of you who have been sending me emails.  It makes home seem a lot less far away.  I can get emails on my regular account, just can't send them from there.  So if you get an actual email from me, it's coming from the gmail account I set up for the blog.

Love to you all,

Mimi

Potty Training

I do believe I have a small friend sharing the bathroom of my suite.  The rooms are set up so that the bedroom area is separate, like an indoor hut.  The bathroom is adjacent, but essentially outdoors.  So for the last two nights, as I've woken to use the loo, I have found what I now realize are small 3/4" size poo's on the floor, just in front of the toilet.  I think my friend, whomever he is, is trying to potty train.  Perhaps he's just not big enough to reach the potty.  Oh, well, at least he's trying.

Went shopping today at the central market in Ubud.  You have actually never seen so much stuff for sale.  I had a vision that somewhere, deep in the forests of Ubud are Balinese oompa-loompa's busy spinning silk cloths and hammering silver beads.  "Daddy, I want a Balinese Oompa Loompa, now!!!!"  Haven't bought anything...yet!

Salsa Dancing in Bali???

Who would have thought, right?  I met a friend, Anna, from Sweden while taking a yoga class.  She is also an artist and has a lovely, but somewhat tragic story.  Anyway, she has invited me to go salsa dancing tomorrow night, in town.  Why not?  I can't do yoga and meditate all the time:)

I had a lovely massage this afternoon.  Think I needed to work out the kinks from the trip.  After being kneaded like dough, the lovely Balinese grandpa slathered me in salted curry, scrubbed me down, then lathered me again in yogurt.  I felt like I was marinating.  If he'd brought in a large skewer, I knew I was probably going to be the special sate on the menu tonight.  Anyway, when I was done marinating, I then got to soak in a bath of chai tea.  I guess it's good for the circulation.  And all this time, I thought it was for drinking!

Love to all from the other side of the world,

Mimi

This is me after yoga class.  The studio has the most lovely view of a field of rice terraces.  Can you see how relaxed I look!!! Everyone should come to Bali once in a while.

The scent of frangipani's in the air

After 30 hours of travel from door to door, I am butt-a** tired.  My legs look like sausages.  If you
push really hard near my ankles, it's kinda like playing with silly putty.  Nothing that a warm summer shower in my outdoor shower can't wash away. Everywhere I look is a dense tree-line of palms.  The smell
is so sweet you can almost taste it.  It is at once alarming and exhilerating to be in so much quiet.  I think
it might take me a few days to slow my rhythms to the pace of the island.  I am resisting the temptations
to turn on the TV.  I guess if the U.S. goes to hell while I'm away...I'll just have to manage here.  Ooops, dripping dragon fruit juice down my chin:)

Miss you all,
Mimi

Friends:

The night before my journey begins...a mix...
of anticipation for what lies ahead
of hope for what it brings
of sadness for those I leave behind
of exhaustion for what it took to get here
of utter dismay at the wonder that brought me to this place
and will carry me forward.

I will carry your love on my back without burden through this journey.