Back in time....

Hi there Everyone!

Well, the movers came yesterday and took away most of our furniture. We decided we'd sell most of our nice stuff, and that needs to happen now, well before we move, so the movers came yesterday and halled everything to the consignment center. So, the house looks amazingly emty of furniture, and all the stuff that was in the furniture is strewn about everywhere. Dave came home last night and was taken aback at the look of the house. But the best part was when he went upstairs to our bedroom. The mattress is on the floor, boxes are everywhere, and we have no furniture in there at all. He laughed out loud. "This reminds of my old bachelor pad!" he exclaimed.

It did take us back to the old days when we bought our very first house together. We couldn't afford anything so this is exactly how our room looked. And as we lay on the bed on the floor, the ceiling seemed so far away. And everything, boxes, piles of stuff, lights, were all high above our eye-level as we lay in bed. And so it is again. It was amazingly romantic and nastolgic. It's been 13 years since that first house, and we had forgotten what it felt like to have a house so empty of stuff (but so full of dreams). We slept so well last night. Like a couple of kids building new dreams, and worn out from the energy of it. And we are building new dreams again. Empty house, big dreams. Have we been taken back in time?

It actually surprises me how happy I am that the furniture is gone. It's like the transition has really begun. I'm so excited about the upcoming adventure. And what a wonderful thing to be taken back 13 years like that. Oh my goodness!! This move is going to be full of surprises!

Le Consulat général de France à San Francisco

Oh my goodness! What a wonderful afternoon Dave and I just had. It was like a field trip. Can you guess what we did? No, no! If it was that I don't think I could really write about it without being booted from Blogspot :-)

We actually went up to the French Consulate in San Francisco to get our Visa's. And it was so much fun! The woman that was helping us was so helpful and kind. I couldn't believe it! She took all our paperwork, teased us about our French, and was helpful. Can you imagine? Going to a consulate and being treated really well? Unheard of! But actually, I had heard that for Europeans, many of them just need to get a visa for any country in the European Union, so most of them choose to go to the French consulate because they are so great to work with. I gotta tell you, I didn't believe that. But now I'm a believer. Oh yes, and for those of you who are wondering, everyone in the consulate was very good looking. Another piece of their reputation they definitely lived up to.

The weather was stunning in San Francisco today so after the visit to the consulate, Dave and I took a stroll down to an adorable cafe and I had a mocha and almond coissant. This mocha was a strong one with fabulous cocoa in it. And everyone around us was speaking a different language. It felt like we were in a different country. It was a fabulous little vacation, in one quick afternoon. Mmmmmm....I need more afternoons like that. Dave and I haven't been able to stop smiling since. It certainly helps that this trip made our impending move so much more real. We are so excited about it. So excited that things are finally happening. I've been so stressed out about so much with regards to this move, this was a wonderful relaxing way to enjoy part of the experience. Yeah!!!!!

Bollywood, here I come!

Hi there Everyone!

I'm sorry I haven't written much lately, but you won't believe what I added to my schedule. In addition to my French classes, planning our move to France, packing up our house, and practices for Ashiana for our 2 upcoming private gigs, I just auditioned and got into the Operetta "The Sorcerer" which is being put on by the Stanford Savoyards, Bollywood style.

You might think I'm crazy....and you'd be right :) , but the truth is that I'm not getting enough dance time with the Ashiana group and I have been dying to dance more. I need to keep my body moving, or I get depressed. And it's always so much more fun if we are working towards a goal/performance. So I am now a dancer in this production.

It is soooooo much fun. We've had 3 rehersals so far and the other dancers, the choreographer and the Director are just fabulously fun people. Dance is such a social thing for me, that I am just so happy to be meeting so many new people. Oh, and the moves! The moves are so Bollywood. They are fun and playful and we can't stop giggling while we dance. I used to do classical Indian dance when I was young, but I've never done any bollywood stuff, so this is a totally new adventure for me. I'm learning new moves, meeting new people, working towards a goal, and I don't even need to pay for classes! Woohoo!!!! Life doesn't get any better than this! Do you still think I'm crazy?

So do you want to hear about the play? It was originally set in old England, but the plot is so perfect for a Bollywood musical. We asked one of the new dancers if he knew what the play was about and he guessed "boy and girl fall in love. In comes the villian. Boy and girl fall out of love. Villian gets killed. Everything is made right and everyone is blissfully happy." Okay, he didn't know the plot of the play at all, but his guess was almost right on!!!! We couldn't stop laughing.

So, here's the real plot. A man is getting married and is blissfully in-love. He is so happy that he wants everyone in his village to know how good love feels. So, he brings in a sorcerer who administers a love potion to the entire village through tea served at the dinner before the upcoming wedding. Everyone falls asleep and then falls in love with the first person the first lay eyes on once they awaken. Each new match is inappropriate, of course, and havoc ensues. But in the end someone dies and everyone is restored to their appropriate loves and everyone lives happily ever after. Is that so bollywood or what?!!!!

I'm just a dancer so I don't have any major part in the play, but I am so excited to be doing this. It will be so much fun. If you want to find out more about show, go to:

http://www.stanford.edu/group/savoyards/default.html