Leaving Sydney...

The beginning of the trip that would change me...

Well, frankly, i thought everything else would change around me...it always seemed to, when i went away for 2-3 weeks with Mum, when i was younger. The world changed 3 times over and i felt like i had been left out. Which was what i had predicted this time, especially, since i was would be on my own for 4 weeks...wouldn't you think that the world would change without you???

I got on the plane bound for HK and my 5 hour transit, then a flight to LON and so thats how it started.

The flight was fine...the food was alright...i think i drank enough water...it was an extremely full flight...but i was alright. Overall, i think i had about 3-4 hours sleep, which is more than usual.

The transit in HK was okay, since i headed straight to the lounge for a shower and a meal, internet, and a head/neck/shoulder massage.

After that, i hopped on to the plane bound for Heathrow surrounded by Chinese school kids.
These kids with their phones dont seem to respect the fact that the Captain is advising the flight attendants to arm the doors and take their seats...and therefore they should get off their bloody F#$%ing PHONES!!! I had to tap a stoopid idiot as the plane was reversing and about to take off!

To make matters worse, the flight to Heathrow turned even more sour, because as i was watching "Becoming Jane", the inflight entertainment that is on queue just died on me!!! Well, it crashed for everyone.

Anyhoo...landed in London and got through customs pretty easy...

Walked through the exit gates expecting a man to be holding a card with my name on it to pick me up...but there was no one...too early it seems.

So, i go to the office and thats closed! I stand around for about 45 minutes and get told that i need to wait for my coach. Fine, i can do that...

It seems like a long wait...i make conversation with a man who is also waiting for the coach, but is going in a different direction to me because of the hotel he is staying at...he leaves before me and i end up standing around on my own...funny enough, it doesnt bother me. Maybe its the fact that i had only 3-4 hours of sleep over 24 hours, but i was actually holding up pretty well.

My coach arrives and i get escorted to it...and i notice - its sunny in London...whats going on?!
O_o

I was expecting doom and gloom...but its actually sunny.

Its another hour or so before i actually get to my hotel but i am enjoying the ride...just taking it all in.

I get off the coach and check in to the hotel and its pleasant. I was expecting a really dingy place...seeing that its situated between Kings Cross and Angel stations...but i'm happy.

I go into my room, take a shower and head off for my Big Bus Company Tour. I walk from my hotel to Fleet Street and hop onto the first bus that comes around and so starts my whirlwind sightseeing of London!

To be honest, it isnt hard to see the beauty of London - when its sunny. And i see how easy it is for people to relocate to London, (mind the rain).

Around every corner their is history...

I saw every sight, except Buckingham Palace, because i missed the walking tour at 10am...so i didnt bother and instead hopped off at Harrods to go shopping, and then realised that i couldnt afford anything except the chocolates...so i bought a couple of Belgian choccies and headed to Oxford Street to go shopping.

I had to rush from Oxford Street back to the Hotel to catch up with my ex-workmate who relocated to London, for dinner. When i got to the Hotel, i checked on whether the rep for my Tour had arrived with info, and it seems that they came and went.

I thought it was ridiculous that they give you a vague time like 1-3pm and expect you to wait in the lobby for their arrival...i'm sorry, but i'm not waiting for someone to tell me when to wake up to have brekky and join my tour for 2 hours on my one and only day in a new country!!!

I was told to go to my room and check if an envelope was left under my door.

I checked and there was nothing.

I panic...first moment of true panic...how can i check in...? They organised everything for me, how can they NOT know that i am here??? So, i call reception and throw a hissy fit, they give me a number and im thinking its 6pm...i'm going to miss them, they've gone home!!!

I call them anyway on my mobile (what a waste of my money, all to fix up their incompetence!!!) and the girl sounds Australian and patronises me by asking if i booked things separately or through Trafalgar...do i even have a booking reference?!?!?! I'm like YES!!! And give her a reference number and she's like "oh, okay, i dont know what went wrong?!"

So, she fixes things up and says that she will call me back to confirm that everything is okay.

I rush to meet Roh and im only 5 minutes later than when i should meet her, so i dont feel completely horrible. We rush to grab something to eat, because i hadnt eaten anything all day! How scary is that?! And i thought we could get some noodles...but this place was a buffet place and they had horrible Asian food! I now know what everyone is talking about! Its run by Asians...how could they get it so wrong?!

Its 9:00pm when we part ways...because Roh had to catch the train back to her apartment and there was currently a strike and only 3 lines were running out of the 30 or so lines...while i only had to walk around the corner.

I walk back and crash, my wake up call for brekky is at 4:30am.

Knowing what you are worth...

Before i left Sydney for my holiday, i was being headhunted, but i told them i was going overseas and would the recruiters mind contacting me in October.

Before i returned, i got phonecalls and emails from recruiters about opportunities that i would be suitable for.

My workmate left the company before my return. The Finance team and the Billing team all left and were replaced by newbies. My manager was pressured to do my work and basically got my workmate who was leaving to do the work...and basically things got royally f#$%ed up. Not her fault, it was actually all the newbies!

The first 3 days of my return to work was basically fixing up everything that was wrong. And everyone basically realised that im an intergral part of the company and that they can't afford to lose me.

I realised on my trip that i need to make more money. I cant afford to stay with my employer. It doesnt make sense that i can go to another company and basically make twice as much as i am now, if i was permanent. I can make 3 times as much if i was contracting. So, why am i staying with my employer who doesnt value my skills and knowledge?

I sat down with my line manager at the end of the week of my return to work and we discussed about my prospects.

Everyday since my return to Sydney i received a call from a recruiter. Each day a new and different prospect. I told him that this was happening...that i appreciate that we'd be doing our review at the end of the year, but i needed an indication that i was going to be promoted to a Jnr PM, if not a PM and be paid accordingly to reflect that. Market rate...that's all that i ask...

After that conversation...the next day i get a call from another recruiter and the opportunity is actually good. The company is one that is known for treating their employees well. Its a contract position that will end in August 08, which is perfect because i want to go to Europe and Mauritius in September 08.

I sent him what the recruiting company is offering, he said he would get back to me next week.

I'm having an interview next Wednesday. I hope it goes well.

I told my client about the situation, that i am being headhunted daily for different roles. He isnt surprised, he gave me 2 months from the return of my holiday to find something better. But he was offering to advise his manager that i'm worth too much to lose and they would try to match what the recruiter is offering. He asked me to advise him of what would make me happy to stay? How often does a manager ask an employee that? A contracting employee mind you.

I'm taking things in stride...i know this cant last for long...i just need to hear how far my current employer will stretch, if at all.

If that fails, then i will advise the client how much it will take to retain me.

If that doesn't work, i will take on the role being offered out there.

A year ago...i wouldnt have been comfortable with negotiating...

Now, its a different ball game. I tell the recruiters how much i want. They don't argue, they just try to convince their clients to pay up for me. I have reached that point where my skills and knowledge is valued.

Its no longer, will they like me? Its will i like them? I have something they want, can they afford me?

Damn...it sounds like im selling myself. I guess thats what it is at the end of the day.

I dont want to leave the client, because i think there is still a lot to learn from them. It will be a shame if i leave this year.

I just booked 2 tickets for KL & SG...

I decided that if i could pay off my CC after my Europe trip and still have some cash in the bank that i would definitely go to KL & SG for a shopping expedition with Mum.

So, i went to see my Travel Agent after work today and was hoping for tickets to KL/SG on Christmas Day as i did 2 years ago, but it seems everyone has caught on and i could only get tix for Mum and i on NYE. So, i reversed the trip and will be heading to KL first.

And after KL i will be heading to SG for Mum. She hasnt seen it for over 26 years, before i was born. She visited SG when she was migrating from Vietnam to get to Australia...so, I thought i would bring her back to see it while we had the chance.

I apparently still have 10 days of leave, which fits perfectly for my forced leave over the Christmas period. By Christmas, i will have 12+ days of leave...hehehe...

If you want to see photos from my Europe trip and you are not on facebook, please email me and i will send you a link to view it from.

Updates/recounts of the trip will be posted on Blogger, once i get the photos done...so i can actually recall the proper line of events!

Last moments in Paris...

I'm writing this, literally minutes before leaving the Paris apartment I have been staying at for the last 4 nights.

I truly wished that i could stay here for sooo much longer! It hit me last night as we walked to the Lourve for dinner at Le Cafe Marley. We strolled for over 20 minutes but in Paris, you don't notice the minutes passing because there is so much around you to absorb. I turned to my friend and said i will miss this city...that i wished i could stay...and since I won't be able to stay longer, i will be returning as soon as possible.

I don't know who warned me about the "difficult" French people, because I've only encountered lovely Parisians! And all the strangers on the Metro, well they are civilised and polite.

Heading to the Airport for an amazingly L-O-N-G flight home with unbelievably l......o......n......g transiting hours to pass.

Update, probably when i get to HK International for the leg to Sydney.

Au revoir Paris!

Salut, mon cheries...

So I have been in Paris for 2 nights so far and i have climbed the Eiffel Tower, well took a lift to the 2nd floor and then had a cruise along the River Seine. Then I went to visit the palace at Versailles and had a dinner and Can Can show at the Nouvelle Eve. Which i think is the same as the Moulin Rouge, but it has some variety shows between the t*tty and cheek show. There were some crazy acrobatics, and i mean crazy from both extremes (good and incredible wacky).

Bought an unbelievably expensive bar of chocolate, which one can only purchase from this woman in a small obscure store in Paris, which is a story in itself.

Today i left the tour and met my friend...being tired of touring and always on the move, we decided to take today slowly and go exploring Sacre Coeur later today in the early evening but rest throughout the day.

I have done some obscure things on this tour like visit small places: Burano, Lucca, Vance, Burgois, Toledo, or doing the Light procession in Lourdes. We did wine tasting in Tuscany and got to visit Cannes when it wasnt even a possibility.

I did the typical things like buy chocolate from Switzerland...leather, jewellery, lace from Florence...perfume from France...damas jewellery from Toledo...horse and carriage ride in Innsbruck.

I have so many memories but i know i will be going back sooner or later, and i have already decided that i will be returning to Barcelona to see Sagrada Familia completed in 2020.

I will be going back to Sydney next week...so i'll update the blog with stories about each country there after.

Concert in Vienna...

This has to be quick.

I'm currently in vienna and its really hard to type this because the letters on the keyboard are weird z where the y should be...

Anyhoo...going to a palace tomorrow and then seeing a concert at the palace in Vienna.

Had a glorious dinner in the Woods of Vienna and had some Hungarian men play music all night long!!!

The trip has been fun and is utterly enjoyable...i wish that i had more time in each country...

So far my favourite is Lucerne and the Jesuit Cathedral with the Roccoco interior...completely breath taking.

I wish that all my loved ones were with me when i saw the snow on the Austrian Alps yesterday on my horse and carriage ride...beyoootiful!!!

Plenty of pics...post everything up when i get back...

Love u, and miss u!!!

~petals

Airport Lounge...

So, i'm currently sitting at the HK airport lounge. I'm surrounded by a lot of asians...oddly enough. I figured the people transiting would be foreigners, not asians - Chinese.

My flight from SYD-HK was delayed by 1 hour this morning, but the flight made it hear, like 10 minutes late...how does that work???

On flight, i'm really impressed Qantas food is edible. They even gave me an ice cream...and i love the fact that i was given bottles of water, not just itsy bitsy cups of water. Albeit, the bottles were small too.

So, right now, i need to ride out this long haul of layover time. Try to get myself tired so that i fall asleep on the flight to the UK.

I cant wait to meet my workmate over there.

Funny thing is, im still not excited - what the hell is wrong with me? I dont know...i thought i would feel the buzz when i got to the airport. I thought that while i waited for my flight that i would get that excited feeling, but it hasnt happened yet. I'm not sure if it will happen at all.

Back to the airport lounge, my massage is scheduled for 8:20pm local time. I want to fit in a shower before that...grabbed some food already, but i will grab a sandwich and bottle of water later too.

I do believe that this is the last time i will log onto the net...so dont miss me too much! (And thats aimed at Mon, E, & K).

*hugs*

Au revoir mon cheri...

So, i'll say farewell now...although, i have this feeling that i will be online at the airport tomorrow morning. But in case i dont get the chance...

I dont plan on being "in touch".

I do plan to switch off and not think of anything but where i am, what sights i will be seeing that day, and what food i will be trying.

I'll write up my posts and upload photos when i get back.

Come back in a months time for a read.

See you then...

Dernier jour travailler...

Its my last day at work.

I have a sh#% load to do, but i cant be fudged.

My colleague and partner in crime here has just told me that she will be taking up an offer she cant refuse. And i can see why. If i was in her position, i'd take it too.

Its just a shame that i wont be around for her farewell as i am going o/s.

A lot of crap has been dished out lately...so a lot of my workmates will be leaving soon.

The team is disbanding.

I guess my trip away will give me the opportunity to think things over and see where i want to go next. I'm thinking contracting isnt such a bad idea.


(lit: last day to work...)

I am sick!

I had the cold/flu about 2 weeks ago...it took about a week to get over it. I was okay last week, a bit tired, but over the cold/flu.

Just my luck, im struck again.

My nose is blocked and running at the same time!!! How is that f#$%ing possible???

Pourriez-vous m'aider, sil vous plait?

Its drawing near.
I'm anxious.
I'm packed...just need to put documents, cables and stuff into my bag...
Get some food to snack on...
Need to remember to bring an empty bottle so i can get a 1L bottle of water during my flight, and refills...yes i drink like a fish...i typically go through 3-4L a day.
I'm going to miss my family, but i hope the whirlwind of a tour will make it pass with lesser pain.

(lit: Could you help me, please?)

Trop à faire...

So little time.
It has hit me this morning.
Time is flying by.
Money needs to be transferred.
I need to schedule payments.
I need to finish things up neatly at work, so that the next person to pick it up can find everything.
I need to exchange some money.
I wanted to buy tickets to JT, but missed out on it and cant find 3 tix to buy because there is probably only single tix left...what kind of f#$%ing system does ticketek have where they leave single tix for sale? Who is going to be a nigel and buy 1 seated tix for a concert??? If you are going by yourself, get a standing tix, cos then at least you wont feel like a loner throughout the night!

I can't believe i'm flying out next week.

(lit: Too much to do...)

Je suis malade...

I went to see my doctor to get prescriptions before the trip. I told him about a skin thing i noticed and he told me to take a blood test because he thought i might have low platelet count.

So, i gave some blood and started panicking that i might not be able to go overseas!

How bad would that be? After all this organising and then the waiting and it all amounted to the fact that i would not be allowed to travel due to some blood condition i didnt even know that i had!
=(

Got the results yesterday, and i am fine. Don't know what is causing the problem, but i can still go overseas, so thats a good thing.

But its sooo anti climatic if you have a problem and yet there is no explanation. But its there. You cant treat it, though. It doesnt seem to exist. But it is right in front of you. grrr...

And im currently nursing a flu...Codral cold and flu should kick it...need to get another pack for the actual trip!
>_<

I did a trial pack of the clothing i plan to bring. Even though i am being advised to bring about 5 tops only and 2 bottoms...for me, that is unrealistic. I packed 12 tops - a mix of singlets, tees, long sleeve tees, 2 jeans, 1 pair of shorts, 2 dresses, and 2 skirts, 1 jumper, 2 cardigans, 1 jacket, 2 sets of pjs. And you know what? It all fits into my handcarry bag...and im not talking a HUGE bag i plan on smuggling on board the plane with me without anyone from the airline noticing...i'm talking a standard sized handcarry bag.

The problem for me is all the other things to pack. Like toiletries, medicine, towel, shoes, miscellaneous stuff...but irrespective of all those things, I should be well under my allowable 20kg.

So, i'm pretty proud of myself...no need to take things out of the bag as yet.

(lit: I am sick...)

Texas to California...

Mum got a weird phone call on Monday from Texas. It was a lady from my Dad's primary school back in Vietnam. How weird is that?

She asked if Dad was at home, but Dad was at work. So, this lady starts talking to Mum. She told Mum about how after sooo many years leaving Vietnam she was on holidays in Sydney and was in Chinatown at a store when she bumped into Dad again. This happened about 15 years+ ago, as i was still a kid.

It seems that while this lady was at the store in Chinatown, she had written something down and Dad saw her writing and asked her if her name was "so&so"? She didnt recognise him at first until he said his name and that was when he gave our home number to her. They were suppose to bring each other's family and meet up for dinner, but it never happened.

15 years+ down the track and she calls out of the blue. The purpose was to advise Dad that there was going to be a School Reunion in California. Not sure what made her think that Dad would be interested in going...but i guess it was a nice thought?!

After mentioning the reunion to Mum she proceeded to ask about the family and found out from my darling Mum, that Mum has a single 26 y/o daughter. This sparked a frenzy with the lady. She proceeds to insist that Mum and Dad bring me over to Texas to introduce me to her 29 y/o nephew! Like, what the...?

Mum, obviously thought it was funny. Which is why she told me about it the moment i got home on Monday night.

I'm heading overseas in about 10 working days. Weekends dont really count, because they usually fly right by! Last thing to do is purchase some medicine and exchange some money.

I found out that a credit card i have allows me to put my cash on the card (over the limit) and withdraw without being charged any transaction fee or exchange fee from an ATM. Transaction fee will be charged from transactions via EFTPOS, but still no currency exchange fee.

I was over the moon when i found this out! I dont know of any other card, debit or credit, that allows you to do this!!! And get this, zero annual fee for the credit card! The usual 55 days interest free on purchases applies too. Like, woohoo!!!

*^_^*

Rêves...

I had a vivid dream early in the morning (3/4am). I woke up from it. But the only other person that i recall in my dream is my mother, but there were at least 3 other people in the dream.

I was pregnant. There was a man apparently infectious with some sort of disease. He was slumped in his car which rolled into the circle in which we were all sitting - as though there was a camp fire, but there was none. He got out of the car and stumbled towards me. Grabbed both my wrists and started to tell me about how i was now infected and how quickly the infection will reach my heart and there was no cure.

While he reached for my wrists everyone around me was shouting, telling me to run away because he was obviously sick with some sort of disease and that i would catch it too if he touched me. I couldnt hear anyone, not until the old man grabbed my wrists and it was too late.

I woke up at this point.

I had two re-runs after that. One very similar to the description above, but the ending was different. I fainted while the old man grabbed my wrists and ended up dying. The final version was that when the car rolled into our circle, everybody present dodged the car and ran off before the man could get out of this car and infect me or anyone else.

What a whacko dream!?

I dont usually remember my dreams either, so this is an odd occasion. I wonder what it is that is causing my lack of sleep and these weird dreams. I mean, if it was excitement over my trip...shouldnt i have more pleasant dreams?

(lit: Dreams...)

Mes filles...

I like watching the Simpsons episodes on tv. I like watching the dvds. I don't actually tire from watching the cartoons...and Chloe is very similar to me in this way. Before you start pointing the finger and tell me what a bad influence i am on her, that the Simpsons is too "adult" for a 5 year old...i can assure you that the jokes that are for adults fly right over her head. I laugh at some things, she will laugh at others on the opposite side of the spectrum.

I took her out on Saturday to watch the Movie as an early birthday present because I wont be here for her 6th birthday. In fact, on her 6th birthday i will be in Paris...in particular, i will be lunching at La Tour d'Argent and then shopping to buy her something special.

She loved sitting in the recliner at Gold Class, but at the same time she must have felt like she was being swallowed up...because half way through the movie, the novelty wore off and she asked me to put the recliner back upright.

She was armed with her cheesy popcorn from Kernels and i ordered strawberry smoothies for the both us, which arrived when the movie started and were about 750mL each.

I like spending time with her at this age. She teaches me patience, i teach her manners, we can reason with one another. It works when it is one on one. Just me and her. It gets complicated when her mother is around because then she will sulk and throw tantrums and silent treatments and will be awfully difficult.

I know that this is the time to be cherished...because in a few more years, things will change dramatically. She will inevitably start thinking about boys in ways other than just friends. How scary?!

I better start thinking of some tactful answers to the impending questions that lie ahead. I have a knack of being around when she is curious and the questions gets deflected towards me for an answer...*sigh*.

Aimee is such a cutie. She is 3 and a half. I called her a baby the other day and she corrects me by telling me "No, i'm a toddler!" and yes, she is right and i am wrong.

(lit: My girls...)

Mes vacances de tourbillon...

My long awaited whirlwind holiday is less than a month away.

I just received advice that my travel documents are at the travel agent and i can go pick it up any time.

My manager's wife works on the airline i will be flying on and she will be helping me reserve good seats so i can have comfortable flights there and back.

LESS THAN A MONTH!

I have been waiting sooo long since i paid for the whole trip for this time to come. And now that it has...i'm feeling a bit ambivalent...I was born a chicken and therefore sometimes feel like a chicken!

I'm excited, no doubt, but being cautious is forcing me to think about the "what ifs" and in some ways, its good to think about those things so you can prepare contingencies to deal with such situations.

But i'm not sure if im well prepared.

Well, thats a lie, i havent prepared anything yet...so im not prepared.

I need to go and see my doctor too, so i can get a med kit prepared, just in case...

(lit: My whirlwind holiday...)

Danser...

So, last night I had my second dance lesson.

We went over the cha-cha, salsa, and jive. We started to learn the waltz and the "box step".

I can do the cha-cha, just not the spot turn. But that could be partly due to the fact that i was wearing my running shoes and not a pair of heels. So, the grip on my joggers didnt allow me the fluid movement that i required.

Salsa became a little more interesting with the "cucaracha" - the "cockroach" stomping move. It seems with this addition, i have managed to move my hips much better.

The jive is sooo much fun. Especially when the music is playing really really fast! We have done the basic step and the instructor incorporated the turn into the sequence, but didnt show the girls how to turn back and return the start, but us girls are so "smart" that we taught ourselves...ahhahaha...to be honest, its actually quite easy to figure how to turn back with the jive. Its actually quite natural for the body to want to turn to the original position and start all over again.

The waltz...what can i say? I can't do anything outside of the "box step". This is due to the fact that you must alternate from right to left (girls), each time you finish the 3-steps (the step-slide-together). I actually thought the waltz was really easy...but i am wrong. Its actually tricky if you are unco like i am.

(lit: Dancing...)

Mon père...

I often talk about my mother...like it was her birthday on Saturday...i took her out to lunch and my brother paid for dinner later that evening.

I talk about how my mother is so talented and is a brilliant dressmaker.

I tend to not talk about my father's accomplishment.

Its not that i have a problem talking about such things and there are many achievements that i can talk about...i just dont.

I dont hesitate when the opportunity arise, either.

For instance, the bus driver of the company bus noted that he had never been into the Chinese Gardens at Darling Harbour and that he should really make a visit. This triggered me to mention that my father was one of the men in my Great Uncle's team who helped build the structures in the garden.

My father was also one of the men who built the home for the panda's when they visited from China (way back when) at Taronga Zoo. I remember this fondly, because we ended up going to see the panda's after the construction was completed and the panda's were comfortably housed.

On a smaller scale he had worked on some restructural constructions inside the restaurant - East Ocean.

Dad built the shelf in my room where i put my shoes. He built the desk my older brother used during high school. He built one of the wall units that now houses the portraits of my grandparents and the incense holders. The lattice work outside the front of the house was also made by him.

So, Dad is very talented & brilliant too...

I'm guessing that my creativity stems from both my parents. The fact that i'm hands on with everything i do also comes from Dad as much as Mum.

(lit: My father...)

Toujours une demoiselle d'honneur, jamais une jeune mariée...

I bought a pair of silver satin shoes for some weddings i will be attending that i could also use for my friend's wedding where i will be one of the bridesmaids. And since its more pertinent that the shoes will match my dress when i am a bridesmaid, i asked her to bring my dress over to my place when she visited her mother last Sunday. (She lives a distance away, while her mother is actually in my local area).

I tried on the shoes and then slipped the dress over my head and tugged on the zipper. To my horror, I couldnt zip myself up.

=(

I'm too FAT!!!!

I first did the rounds of trying on gowns for her wedding in December-January 06/07. It had to be made, so she paid for the dresses and i had forgotten about it ever since. I can't believe that in 7 months...i had managed to put on weight...so much that i cant zip the damn thing!!!

~~~>_<~~~

I can only zip it up to under my bustline. And then i'm stuck!!!

I knew i had put on a little bit of weight compared to what i averaged the last couple of years, but not more than what i weighed in January this year...I thought i was still roughly the same...i didnt think i had put on so much that the dress wouldnt fit!!!

Mum has offered to fix the dress for me...but i dont want her to.

Now, I am on a mission.

TO GET INTO THAT FREAKIN' DRESS (AND LOOK DAMN GOOD TOO)!!!

The bride-to-be had a moment yesterday where she realised how unreliable the other bridesmaid would be...she saw a hint of it previously...but something else happened yesterday that really ticked the bride-to-be off. This wedding is gonna be a loooooooonnnnnngggggggg day for me.

We started a beginners ballroom dancing course last night. The whole bridal party is attending and it was fun, but i cant salsa. I can cha-cha, jive, and rock'n'roll...but am unable to salsa the most basic steps.

Lets see if i improve next week.

(lit: Always a bridesmaid, never a bride...)