Just got back from Tee Dot yesterday, it was a wonderful visit, so little time!  I want to go back there asap and spend an extra day or two this time around.  I brought the northern snowfall with me, the city received 10 cm of snow and temp went up to -10 including wind chill factor that morning, it looked very normal to me, heck I thought it was quite balmy there!

I felt some happiness come over me as soon as I saw the CN tower and Lake Ontario, feeling of gushing sentimentalism, because TO is my birthplace and thinking of mom.  Mom was living there alone attending university.  Wow.  What a great and very brave mom I have to venture out to the big city to get her ejamacation, who came from the wee northern reserve of Bearskin Lake and small town living.

I visited with some friends from Toronto, Shoab, whom I haven't seen in about 7 years, and Omar, who took me to little India for the afternoon.  I had the best time!  I tried on a beautiful,  fancy sari, oh my goodness! too bad I didn't have a camera!!   Omar said I instantly transformed into an Indian in that sari.  I was in my own little heaven being in the stores, so many beautiful fabrics, glitter and designs... sigh!  Now I know how to wrap a sari!  I am so excited about that. 

My dance performance was held at the Estonian House downtown, it was the Arabesque Dance Co. Student Gala, very well attended.  My first time peforming in front of a crowd of a few hundred, eeeps... I was not one bit nervous the entire time until .... I started dancing ... and I saw the crowd.. I felt the ripple of fear run through my body.  It was the strangest feeling!!  I felt I was shaking on the inside and couldn't control it.  Wow.  It was so unexpected.  I plowed through it and executed the dance despite my fear.  It was a wonderful new experience!  Something to learn from.  I am sure my performance was not perfect but I did my best and it was a great experience.  My fellow dancers did an excellent job, Marci Louttit, Gloria Pellerin, Lyndi Elliot and my teacher Satu.  We received many positive comments from other dancers, they enjoyed hearing the good ole Saidi style drum while the rest of songs were of more modern music.