Thought trains are the most efficient form of transportation, though often to an unknown location, through both time and space.

I routinely overflow my office plants, nearly as often as I forget to water them.  I thought to myself,"gardening is just not my forte."  

That's when I remembered Barry Forte, an older fellow who worked at DHS in Douglas County, Oregon.  I used to speak with him on the phone every so often for business, as I answered the DHS Foster Care/Adoption info line.  He was one of those people who was a wry, yet strangely warm, star in the sky of millions of Oregonians whom I'd never met but shared a Oregon bond.  I wonder where he is and how he is doing, and I think of him whenever I happen to drive through his county.  Maybe some day we will meet and I'll know him by the sound of his voice.

This morning, the first thing I did after I got to work and called the optometrist (ENDI when you keep losing your lenses like this its time to consider Lasik!) was check two more items from my 101 list: re-read "Everything Arises, Everything Falls Away" by Ajahn Chah, and "Make a new headdress" (which is part of a 6-part series that adds to 1 Goal... but crossing off 1/6 of a goal feels just as good).

My favorite feelings:
-Validation
-Accomplishment
-mindless moments of flow meditation and existential connection

How about you?

new mix for the changing whether -
may the rain be intermittent;
excellent taste: forever

...so start now!

Get your groove on to some mixes on my soundcloud to warm up for one of the many dance opportunities in Portland this evening!

And tomorrow, come out to Soma Space for A Mother's Day Bellydance Workshop with Bridgetown Revue!  We have a cute little duet choreography to teach, and complementary (complimentary!) henna by the amazingly talented Erika Ryn.  See you tomorrow!

It's the first Thursday of the month, and you know what that means:

Cloud City Circus at the Analog!

...and what you didn't know, is that tonight's also my first volunteer meeting at the American Red Cross here in Portland.  I did disaster relief in partnership with the ARC after Katrina/Rita in New Orleans some years ago as part of the AmeriCorps program, and now that I've been working on the AmeriCorps training team for almost four years (one month shy!) I feel that it's time I get more volunteering back in my life.  Wish me luck!

I heard SO much good dance music this weekend, but danced very little...

because I was the DJ!  It's a sticky wicket.  A really fun, sticky wicket.  I love being DJ Mienne!

Here was my view as I DJ'd the Pastel in the Park party at Laurelhurst Park yesterday afternoon: