Starting something new

I took my first "official" yoga class yesterday. Up until now, I've twisted myself up in private with my beginners mat (with lines on it so I can tell where in the heck I need to place my feet) and a DVD instructer. I have always wanted to delve deeper into yoga, and knew to do that, I needed to find a real live instructor and go on a regular basis. The class Saturday was an interesting mix of people (can't help myself, must be the writer/observer in me, but I'm always "characterizing" people in settings). We had the 19 somethings with their hip hugging sweats and yappy talk (which they did through most of the class, much to my annoyance!) The 20 somethings working hard to get into shape, the 30 somethings there but not ALL there, and the 2 lone guys calm and unruffled pushing themselves into interesting positions. It didn't take me long to figure out how much WORK I need to do to excell as this moving meditation, but I also realized how fabulous it was to spend an hour and 15 minutes thinking of NOTHING but my breath, my body, and well....my discomfort at certain times. :-) I am going to attend the class 2 days a week and see what I can do to widen my abilities, both physically and mentally.

Ack! Tagged!

Okay, I've been tagged and didn't bother to CHECK my blog for four days (er, has it been more??).

Right. Well....anyway....going off of Chey's excellent example:

7 Things to do before I die

1. Tavel internationally - I WILL go to Europe, Asia, the Mediterranean before I'm to crotchety to really enjoy all the walking/eating/drinking/dancing. :-)
   
2. Focus on painting and art (something I'm not all that good at, but LOVE doing)
3. Learn how to water ski on one ski
4. Race a motorcycle (on a track!)
5. Hold a grandchild (Have a few years until I see this happen. My son's only 19 and has PLENTY OF TIME before he needs to think about having kids-lol)
6. Become spiritually centered ALL of the time
7. Write a story that captures people so completely, it stays in print forever

7 Things I cannot do

1. Pay attention to one thing at a time
2. A cartwheel
3. Whistle! I hate that I can't do this. Have tried since I was a kid. Any tried and true methods for learing??
   
4. Eat dairy--of any kind--it sucks.
   
5. Be mean to people, even when they don't deserve niceness
6. Ignore someone in pain
7. Do a REAL chin up. Dang it.

7 Things that attract me to men

1. Smiles. A smile is EVERYTHING.
2. Overall package. Balance.
3. Confidence
4. Teasing natures
5. Eyes
6. Okay, okay....butts. I like butts.
7. Witty intelligence
   

7 Things I say most often

1. Sorry! (Usually when I don't have too. I'm a chronic aplogizer)
2. Shit!
   
3. Can I help you with that?
4. How are you?
5. Hey babe
   
6. That sucks
7. Can you believe that?

7 Books or series I love

1. Dark Materials Series
2. Harry Potter Series
3. Saga of Darren Shan Series
   
4. Tangerine, by Richard Bloor
5. Twilight, by Stephanie Meyer
6. All Orson Scott Card books
7. All Stephen King books

7 Movies I can watch multiple times

1. Braveheart
2. Lord of the Rings trilogy
3. Corney, but Dodge Ball - too funny, espeically after a few shots of tequilla
   
4. Classic James Bond
   
5. Big Trouble in Little China
6. Man on Fire
7. Star Wars

7 people I want to join in tag

1. Can I say the rat that tagged me?? Chey :-)
2. Annie Windsor
3. Vivi Anna
4. Kate Douglas
5. Celia May Hart
6. Alyssa Brooks
7. P. J. Mellor
   

Thinking Ink

Visited a local tattoo artist yesterday (Wisemagic Tattoo) and set a date for my first tattoo. Been thinking about it for years, but the moment wasn't "right" until this year. Hard to explain....but I didn't want to get a tat just to get one. It needed to have meaning, you know? Anyhooo, the time was right, and I met Mark at Wisemagic through my DH who received an awesome tattoo from him in December. I'm so excited! I know it will be painful, and I chose a detailed design, so will likely be in the chair for 2 hours or more, but it was the only way to go. I'll be getting a koi fish on my lower back swimming through water and sprinkled with cherry blossoms. Bright colors, lots of movement. Koi traditionally represent courage in the face of adversity and determination. For me it also represents conscious, directed movement--managing your own flow and destiny. Let's face it, we're all swimming up stream in a not-so-friendly environment. Having vision, direction, is essential. And it's so easy to lose your way!!

Check out this koi fish design on Keith Alexander. Very cool.

Okay, enough with my musings. If anyone has stories to share on their own first tats or on the symbolism of koi fish, please share!! I'll be certain to post a picture once done, which will be in about 2 weeks.

Best,

Nelissa

Drolling over cover flats....

Okay, I'm needing to leave for work (still dark out....feels like I should still be in bed) and am looking at the awesome cover flat on my desk for "The Cowboy" anthology. Ohmhgosh...this model is yummy, tat and all. Don't you agree??

This will be an excellent combo of hot erotic stories. More info to come. Have to get my butt to work so I don't have to work late to make up for my drooling. :-)

Best,

Nelissa

Jumping in head first

My name is Nelissa Donovan and I am blog ignorant. :-) Right. If it isn't obvious (*cough, cough*) this is my first blog. Trying to figure out what I'm doing here.

I'm listening to Shinedown's "Leave a Whisper", enjoying a Smirnoff Twisted (Watermelon...yum) and wondering why on earth I'm diving into the blog scene tonight. Well.....I figure I've given enough excuses (no time, no inclination, no...really....no time) and tonight seems as good a time as any. And it doesn't help that I'm listening to "Crying Out" which incompasses "no turning back" "reinvent your life" ect. :-) Time to get my ass in gear and reconnect, so to speak, with other writers, and most importantly my readers.

I'm looking forward to getting a handle on my blog and not looking so hopelessly stupid as time and posts progress.

Best,

Nelissa