I’ve been brooding for a while over my Duchess of Darkhaven title. While Darkhaven sounds cool, there is a definite darkness to it. Darkness is something I’m trying to get away from. I don’t like what it does to me. How it makes me look and act.

I’ll never get away from it entirely. Of course not. No one does. But to just sit there and let it in. No…to openly invite it in. Uh-uh. No way.

The chalkboard in my room (which will eventually get replaced by a whiteboard) is covered with my brainstormed ideas. I’ll leave those ideas to your imagination because my brainstorms aren’t very glamorous.

It wasn’t until last night that something amazing popped into my head. I felt so stupid for not thinking of it sooner. (That how it happens. It just pops in my head!) Duh! I dance all the time (at least, I used to). Imah calls me the Dancing Malka (dancing queen).

DANCE HAVEN!!

Oh yeah. It fits. It rocks. It’s so me. My room is a haven. When I am finished with it (still need to put the mirrors up and find some pink carpet), one can enter and discover themselves transported into another world. That’s the goal, the intent, of my room. Plus, I also want it to have a royal and dance studio effect. Imah thinks I should get one of those bars they use in ballet classes. I think that’s going too far.

Though my friends tend to scoff when I mention it, I was one of the worst ones in my ballet classes. I didn’t like it until after I left. Then (continuing the exercises and stretches at home), I noticed I was one of the most physically fit at my junior high. Sad…but funny. 

Anyway, back to the main topic: Duchess of Dance Haven fits. It works. It is so me. Muahahaha! 

Friday’s Feast, Week 145:

Appetizer
Name a sound you like to hear. My bird clock.
Soup
What is your favorite kind of cheese? Mozzarella.
Salad
Do you sleep late on Saturday mornings? Why or why not? Not usually–I’m either watching cartoons or going to Puyallup with C4.
Main Course
When was the last time you forgot something?  What was it, and how long did it take to remember it? I forgot to put on my hat at work the other day and locked it in my locker. I ran to get when my manager pointed out its absence.
Dessert
Fill in the blank:  I notice guys when they dance (especially in public).

Friday Fill-in #22: 

1. 10 years at sea; one in the dock!
2. Why is the coffee gone!?
3. Here there be ice cream and cake!
4. Ah…the world does not know my power.
5. The translation from the ancient scripts must be true.
6. Of course it (ice cream) makes you happy.
7. This weekend, I will sow chaos, panic, and maybe even disorder! Happy Memorial Day!

So, I’ve been pretty crabby this week. That glorious energy of last week, alas! is no more. I haven’t been getting much sleep either. Despite how sleepy I’ve been, I’m having trouble getting to sleep. Could that be why I’m crabby?   Although, it could be PMS (it could totally be PMS).

My uncle Ollie arrived Monday to spend an extended visit with us. Let’s just say he’s living with us because when we move (to a new apartment complex next month–surprise!), he’ll be helping out with the rent. I often find Imah’s surprises inconvenient if not unpleasant, but the whole "we’re moving in a few weeks even though I said we wouldn’t be moving anytime before the fall" has just shocked me. It isn’t so bad, though. I’ll have to quit my current job (of which I am quite bored if not plain sick) and I’ll be a mere two miles from my beloved Girlz. *bliss*

I’m really glad Ollie’s with us, too. He’s an invalid, and Imah must focus her obsessive/compulsive-ness on taking care of him instead of using it too hen-peck me. I know; I’m selfish. Seriously, though, it’s nice having a third person around to keep us off each other’s throats.  

Oh, so last night, I finally got the hang of the hula hoop! I’m so happy! Between doing that, dancing, my regular exercises, and maybe some biking and walking, I should be back to my Halle Berry hotness in no time.  

I’m so excited–it evens overrides the fact that I’ve lost my dance CD (ok, that’ll knock me over the head soon). I bought myself a hula hoop last night!! Oh yeah, it brings back childhood memories (I know some of you are laughing at me–a young woman in her early twenties–talking about her  childhood years of "long ago". Good. I like it when people laugh. )

I’m just bubbling with excitement. I tried the hula hoop out before going to bed (figuring I wouldn’t be able to go to sleep without doing so) and utterly failed. It was pitiful. But I am optimistic. I’ve checked out some how-to sites () and had my excitement renew because I realized–Guess what!–hula hooping is good exercise!! And it works on your abs, which, as a bellydancer wannabe, is the part of my body I’m focusing on.

Anyway, I am officially a leasing agent for the apartments where Imah works. I’m feeling a little less excited about that because I got a taste yesterday of the cleaning we have to when people move out. We didn’t finish the one we spent nearly all day on and we have 12 apartments left! Ugh. I’m sure the soreness of the work will hit me today.

I nearly forgot: because of my new job and the opportunities it opens to me, Imah has decided (for the most part–can’t really tell with her) to postpone moving…uh, to the Washington/Oregon border. We may, however, move to the apartments where we work. Maybe. It depends on if it will actually save us money and be generally beneficial. Still, I’d be closer to my Girlz. That would cool.

One last thing (and, yes, it excites me). I ordered a couple pairs of "arm warmers" online the other day. They’re fishnet; one’s black and the other’s white. They should be here any day. I’m practically glued to the door watching for that box. I can’t wait!!!

So, I did all that work yesterday on my little secret. Now comes the hardest part of all. Waiting. Oh joy. Have I ever mentioned I’m not a patient person? Hey, I may like luxury, but deep down inside my Scorpio nature craves action. (That’s sounds odd coming from me.) I was an extremely active child. I wonder…if I was still like that… Eh, nevermind; not pretty.

Anyway, if my secret goes the way I want it to, I’ll have to be very active–and in shape. Yeah. I’ve been slacking off on my exercising–I’ve only been working on my abs and legs (I loathe push-ups!!). Oh well, better get to it.

On another note, I’ve been spending way too much time in front of the TV–mostly watching DVDs rented from the library. I love our new DVD player, and with it hooked up to the speakers, we don’t have to worry about the bloody volume adjustment on the TV! Evil TV. Humph! It’s so old, it has hearing problems. It was nearly impossible to adjust the sound on it: too quiet…up a little more…eh, that’ll do. And inevitably… BLAST!!! The blanking volume had a mind of its own and would crank itself up!! Grr! 

Ha! But I fixed you, you evil TV. I fixed you. 

I have nothing to report about my novel. I finished the battle scene and am stuck once again. Oh, the joys.

Now, let’s play:

Manic Monday:

Feel free to expand on your answer beyond yes or no!

Have you ever refused to tip a waiter or waitress?
No. I’ve had some customers I’d have like to clobber though. LOL!
Have you ever been on a hayride?
Does sitting on a bale of hay and riding it like a horsey count? (Gee, that stuff itches!)
Have you ever driven a vehicle faster than 100 mph? No, but I’ve been in a car going that fast. Blast the speed-demons in my family! I must have lost a total ten years from my life span!

That’s all for now. Maybe I’ll come back later today. Maybe.