Like in a Romantic Comedy – My Laundry Story

Posted on by taniacreations

I had a lot of laundry to do. I got home with the firm intention of doing it all, I planned the loads, the timing, separated the clothes and put the first batch to wash.
I have a shared laundry with all the others apartments of the first floor in the same level.
So when I went back to my flat I even put a timer to remind me to move the wash to the drying lines. It was almost ten pm when it was done and the thing rang. I was already in my night dress and very sleepy, it was a black sexy thing, decent but not much and it was a hot night, I really, really, really didn’t feel like getting change just to go to the laundry. So I sneaked out of the apartment thinking “I hope there’s no-one in the corridor to see me in my night dress”.
I opened the door, looked both ways and as I didn’t see anyone and the lift didn’t make any movement’s noises so I thought myself safe. Of course, I wouldn’t be writing this is it all went without incident. As soon as my door closed behind me I heard another door being opened and saw a guy coming out of it.
As I was sneaking out he didn’t see me until it was too late, he was also out of his door when he realised that there was someone out there. When I looked at his face I realised that I was fine with my night dress… if I didn’t want to be seen with it, I am sure he didn’t want me to see him even more.
You know how girls do these cream masks on their faces? Well, that was what the guy had on his face. It was a young mate, probably on his twenty’s and he sure looked funny with all that cream on his face! We both stopped there for a moment while we realised we were being seen when we didn’t want but I got confident his position was seriously worse than mine.
I struggled a lot not to laugh out loud and I may have managed just to show a little bit of a smile. To our shagrin the adventure wasn’t finished at that exact time an old lady comes out of the lift and looks at us, like a bit funny and asks:
– Is this the first floor?
I think she felt like she was in another dimension or just possibly in the wrong place because she looked a bit startled when she saw us… can’t see why 🙂
I just answered her:
– I know it looks like something else but yep, this is the first floor.
As she went to her friend’s house I did the monumental effort to speak normally to the paste-faced guy about the laundry and went back home to spend the next thirty minutes laughing out loud to myself!

(Orble Votes: 65)

Thinking Like a Writer

Posted on by taniacreations

One day a friend said:
– You talk like you are writing.
I remember the day: we were in a dance congress in Brisbane a beautiful sunny day straight after a shower with the wind blowing the leaves of the trees and an atmosphere so magic it made me describe it to my two companions. That’s when one of them said I talk like I write.
That made me see my life in a different way. I realised that I see life through a writer’s eyes. That all my perceptions are made in descriptive terms. That my experiences are not totally put into perspective until I have told them to myself adding adjectives, weight, smell and flowers as if I was writing it all.
Yes, my friend is right, I do talk in a different ways and I use words that are not common in both my languages. The words come from things that I have read and those are much deeper in my mind than any other experiences I had.
I can only learn a new word if I see it written.
That is why this blog has so much to do with me: written life… that’s my soul, that’s who I am. A life in writing…

(Orble Votes: 84))

The Problems of Valentine’s Day

Posted on by taniacreations

Ok, Valentines Day is supposed to be fun for everyone, it’s mostly fine for two groups of people: singles and people with assumed relationships. I just realised there are a lot of options in between.

I’ve been talking to my friends and it is so funny how the day is posing a problem for quite a few of them…
The married ones with kids are complaining about baby-sitters as all of them seem to be going out with their girl or boyfriends. Some of the married ones with no kids just wish they could stay at home doing nothing but the restaurant was booked three months ago… The single friends have a few other problems:
One of them has a few girls under his belt, more than one relationship at the moment and choosing which one to see on Saturday is a problem as it may loose him the other ones…
– So don’t go out with any of them – I told him.
– But then I will see all these people kissing and making out and wish I was too.
– You can get someone on the night.
– Yeah, but it is not guaranteed, with five girls already on my list I should be able to choose one.
– You are not going to die without kissing one night!
– I know, but that is what weekends are for: kissing, making out, going home for some luuuuuv… you know. All would be fine if it wasn’t valentine!
– So go out with one of them!
– The others will know I was not with them and get upset, they will know I was with another girl. Even if I go out by myself I’m screwed because none of them will believe I was alone.
– Oh go to hell you’ve made it all too complicated! And I ended the conversation. I hate problems with no solution.
Another friend said she is seeing this guy, quite a more than just casual, but a bit less than a boyfriend, so now she said she wanted to see him this weekend and cannot because of the implications, if she goes out with him on Saturday something will have to be said about it, the day itself, even the weekend, is a statement. She would have to say either: it doesn’t mean anything or it means something…
– What if he asks you to be his girlfriend? I shot at her.
– Then I would probably say ok, but it’s so good now without us saying anything! Valentines would just rush things up with no need.
– So he probably won’t say anything…
– And I will be disappointed…
– But you just said!!!?
– I know! That is exactly my point! I hate Valentines Day!!!
The third conversation of the week made me think I was loosing my mind:
– So let me get this straight: you don’t want romance, you think valentines is just a convention to sell stuff, you hate red roses, you don’t want to date anyone, but you think it would be “Oh! So! Good!” to get some flowers or a box of chocolate???
– Yes… it could be from a secret admirer!
I think on Valentine’s Day there are subliminal messages going around the media to addle minds, especially women’s. Even me! For goodness’ sake, I saw some flowers this morning and sighted! I see the same flowers every morning! Ridiculous!!!

(Orble Votes: 52)

Uplifting 2008

Posted on by taniacreations

I saw The Writer’s challenge at the Writer’s Forum a bit late to be part of the contest but it inspired me to write something, because 2008 was the year of the years for me. And 2009 will be the best ever and then 2010 will be amazing, and 2011 will be the greatest, and so on.
2008 was the year I found out how powerful I am, that I can turn anything I want into reality especially when I think: I want to be happy. Then I discovered that I was! Happy! Really deep-inside happy.
This was the year I found out that Garfield was wrong: Monday is great. That no matter what, it doesn’t mater to me which day of the week it is… it’s all good.
Also that the world is beautiful, that there is enough for everyone, that there is love and hope. I found ways to help others I had no idea existed.
2008 was my discovery of being positive and believing in life. It was the year I witnessed incredible miracles: money rain, airplanes that didn’t take off, cancelled ball games, thoughts becoming coins, love in abundance, writing, wishes coming true and so many others.
2008 was the year I discovered myself and that everyone, anyone, anywhere has a chance of happiness…

Love to all writers, power to all dreamers.

(Orble Votes: 56)

The Pictures-from-last-night’s Adventure

Posted on by taniacreations

So I decided to write about the Sydney Salsa Congress and the Sydney Latino Festival all over my blogs. Got a new notebook, a new pen, printed my new business cards and forgot my camera on top of the table at home.
I’m not a photographer so I just wanted to have the human interest side of the experience, give my blogs colour and life. Quickly I found a solution: called my sister and asked her to bring her camera as we were going together to the shows.
Perfect! I took good pictures, lots of people in them, interesting details and all.
Went home and before going to sleep, (already more than 1am, even having to wake up at six) I had to get the pictures to my USB so I could publish them today…

Sydney Salsa Congress 2009

First I found out the card was not the one I have an entrance in my computer for. I got to all my boxes of cables to find the one from my camera, one hand cable searching. I was glad it fit. Also the camera didn’t want to connect and then the problem was the driver was not installed. I didn’t want to go after downloading and installing something last night so I gave up. But not in my mind… kept trying to find a solution.
Before going to bed I got one: take the cable with you to work and try to do it tomorrow.
This morning I realised it wasn’t going to work, I cannot download files at work and I would need it to make it work.
So I thought: great ! I will be arriving in the city early because I’m getting a lift with my friend, I’ll go to one of these photo kiosks and ask for their help.
No luck. They were all closed before 7.30am…
My sister was probably sleeping and there wasn’t time to go to her anyway.
I got to work and still gave it a try with no success.
I will have to publish all my posts with pictures with funny titles: soon to be a picture of Don & Rae, or soon to be a picture of the Twins, or……
I cannot believe, I keep looking at the camera trying to download the pictures with my brain power without success.
It’s so close and so far!!!

(Orble Votes: 62)

The Sydney Latino Festival Starts Tonight

Posted on by taniacreations

It is starting tonight and it is part of one of the best Latin Dance Congresses in the world! It is a series of performances with dance parties, it’s something like I’ve never seen.
Imagine the State Sport Centre at the Olympic park filled with 5000 latin dancers on the floor. It’s a passion and an energy that I felt really privileged to be part of.
Every night there is a series of shows with the best latin dancers in the world then a huge party where everyone can dance. There is even a workshop for the beginners to learn a few moves and join the party.
For the already dancers you can join the whole thing including lots of workshops during three full days and the shows and parties at night. Salsa, Samba, Zouk, Bachata, Cha-Cha, Afro Cuban, Reggaeton, Gafieira, it’s all there, each a different style.
If you go and see a bunch of angels performing that is exactly where I was going to be, right in front, in the middle.
I have a fractured bone so won’t be dancing this time. This year I’m the official writer.
My poor dance partner will end up dancing with one of the best in the world, my teacher Dani de Francesco. I told him that if he is the least bit happy with my accident I will kick his butt! Poor guy, such a difficult position, on one hand his partner is injured crying her eyes out (that’s me), on the other the amazing Dani is dancing with him (she is beautiful and a great dancer), and last but not least, Tony Lara, her partner is performing and watching with orders from me (the said sad dance partner) to kick him if he even smiles… He can always say “but we are supposed to smile when we are on stage”! I would say: Yeah! NOT YOU!!! He he he
Just kidding partner, have fun for me!

(Orble Votes: 44)

There is Life Outside Dancing

Posted on by taniacreations

– Don’t move that arm.
When the x-ray guy said that my mind went: “Houston, we have a problem!”
I fell off a horse at the beginning of the year and injured my arm. It was getting better everyday but then, it stopped improving so I went to see a doctor.
X-ray done: it is fractured; had been for 15 days. Waiting for the specialist in the waiting room I had tears rolling down my cheeks while I was thinking “my salsa congress! My performance!”
I’m a dancer. Any doctor will tell you the worst patients in the whole wide world are in this order:
1) Doctors, they do not admit they are sick;
2) Dancers, they know they are sick but will not miss the rehearsals, “give me something fast I have to heal in the next hour” attitude, and they always have bulimia or anorexia in different degrees;
3) Sportists, same as dancers but not necessarily bulimic or anorexic.
The doctors at the emergency room were looking at me as if I was a freak. (No, I am not). The first doctor asked quietly:
– Have you been dancing?
I smiled a cheeky smile and said:
– Yes, but only with one arm. To prove it I showed my good arm, though I didn’t seem to have impressed him much…
He seemed robbed for words. Didn’t say a thing. I think he was considering calling psychiatry on me. Fortunately “they” didn’t show up. I could have been committed if they did.
The nurse kept looking at me and tsk-tsking, then she asked once:
– Didn’t it hurt?
What they don’t get is that dancing does never know total absence of pain. You always have at least a blister, or a painful muscle, a few bruises from the tricks and dips, etc. Not counting the accidents, the falls, the hurting feet after dancing eight hours straight. So a fractured bone is painful but bearable, as all those other pains are.
Anyway now I have this broken wing and after my fair share of crying decided to get the best out of it.
I will have to understand that there is life outside dancing.
The other day I went out with some new friends. We were at one of their houses. I hope I wasn’t looking too stupid because it’s how I felt. They were playing this music trivia game. All I could think was: “I’m an alien!” I had no idea. There is a whole universe I don’t know about! It was if they were talking another language. Complete gibberish. I seldom recognised one name of one group or artist and I had no idea which Motown act scored the most different #1 singles in the same year. I only know what Motown is because of a choreography I saw…
Oh, I love music, I dance them, I listen to them, but in my ipod they are always listed as track 1; track 2; track 3. I don’t get it, what’s the point in buying the original CDs if the songs still appear as track 1; track 2; track 3? I’m probably doing something wrong here, but never have time to sort it out before the next rehearsal.
What stroke me that night was the thought: “These are normal people, not dancers. The kind that go out for other than dancing and have other interests and have lives full of other… things!”
I cannot imagine my life without dancing. I had to stop for a few years and I remember that page of my life as my “dark age”… none the less I can only believe now that this fractured bone has come to show me that there is something else out there!

(Orble Votes: 42)

About Bread, Buses and Dancing

Posted on by taniacreations

After living in Australia for five years I went back on vacations to Brazil. I woke up in the beautiful city of Fortaleza, up north, and the first thing that came to my mind was: fresh bread. Real freshly baked bread. We have something there called the “bakery in the corner”. Meaning there is one everywhere and it is a wonder! Fresh bread baked every half hour, crusty, delicious, just baked buns.
If I was a cartoon I would be flying on the delicious smell through the air…
The fact that this wonder is not available here in Aussieland made me look for the reasons. First would be the labour costs then the technical limitations. Apparently small baking ovens for quick production are not easily obtained around here.
I’m a writer, so whenever the urge to go for a great business idea strikes me I write about it extensively. For the ones that actually put them in practice I leave you the idea of a chain of stores that would bake bread every half hour, all day.
Back to Brazil, I was there, in front of the bakery when a bus stopped. When the doors opened I could only think: “Gosh! Someone is going to fall off!” By now I’m used to Sydney buses where the driver stops people coming in when the vehicle is slightly packed (at least in comparison). To see that bus so full that people were actually falling from it was chocking. And it got worse! When people from outside started pushing and by sheer miracle managed to squeeze another ten in!
I had to seat down to laugh. People started looking at me thinking me completely nuts.
Talking about crowds, Fortaleza is a city of Forro a popular couple’s dance style. So, as a dancer, I had to check it out. It was there that I promised I would kill the next Ossie that complained to me about either full or hot Salsa dance floors in Sydney.
Only being in Brazilian Forro’s floors you can fully comprehend what a really huge hot and full dance floor is. The idea of personal space is turned into a myth. Every inch is fought over with elbows. The body heat generated is enough to warm Siberia for a month!

(Orble Votes: 52)

From Dreams to Reality

Posted on by taniacreations

And one day you wake up and realise how the so many little pieces of your life had to connect to take you where you are now. How every turn, every detail, every decision, people, objects, twists, all came together to make this dream come true.
You play “if” for a little while, including the bad corners but if you hadn’t done that, chosen that, gone through that other, you would not be here where nature painted this amazing picture for you, where the Universe has shown what life is really about.
Amazing…
To that only one expression: thank you!

(Orble Votes: 51)

Funny Bits: The Hitchcock Ducks

Posted on by taniacreations

There is nothing better than telling the funny parts of a trip.
One of the things we have done on our trip to New Zealand was to feed the ducks. We actually were just trying to feed ourselves. We had a nice bag of sandwiches for a picnic and innocently seated near the river that crosses the main park of Christchurch. It was a beautiful day, the water is crystal clear and the ducks are supposed to be so cute.
Have you seen that old Hitchcock movie called “The Birds”? Basically it’s about a town where the birds go crazy and attack people. So that is what the cute ducks reminded me of. They went for our food! They would take it out of our hands, bitting our fingers.
Not only that, they thought my dad’s toes were food and tried to eat them! Also my cousin’s anklet: they loved the dangling bits trying to rip them out.
Even the babies were like that.
We had a laughing fit and had to eat it all very quickly deflecting ducks and keeping the hands high.
Across the water we saw a father with a small daughter of around 2 years old come to feed the ducks and leave running with the baby on his arms.
Such undisciplined bunch those crazy ducks! But I laughed so much!

(Orble Votes: 48)