Back in DK!

The rest of our time in Dallas was busy and quick. We got to see Kelly and James again at a housewarming party that they had at their place. I and we, spent a little more time with Chris and Fayne, and I got my ego blown up while we were working out at the gym one day. One of the big beefy trainers came up to me after I did a set of dips and offered me a job on the spot as a trainer at Bally's Total Fitness and he assumed I already was a trainer. I told them if they flew me in on a private jet everyday, I was in. So I must be doing something right (or at least look like I am) if I am being approached with assumptions that I could be a personal trainer! Needless to say, that made my evening.

We saw "Wicked" on Saturday and it was FANTASTIC!!! I'd go as far to say one of the best musicals out there. The story and the music were amazing and funny. The writer (of the book) and the musical did a really great job on the story. It was basically "The Wizard of Oz" from the Wicked Witches perspective. It takes place from before the wizard of oz, during the story of the wizard of oz and after the wizard of oz. If you find it near you, I highly recommend it. Worth our year wait from the time we bought the tickets and well worth heading back to Dallas to see it.

So we had a very long, very quick 2 weeks, but we are happy to be back. I must say, it's an odd feeling to walk out of an airport in another country and head "home". I walked through Lyngby with my suitcase and backpack at about 8am to our place from the train station. The city is still pretty empty at this time with just a few people walking to work. It was quite and big dark clouds started pouring water on top of me, umbrella-less I quickly found myself drenched. My backpack was super heavy and the suitcase was making loud clunky noises as I pulled it across the cobblestone street, despite all that I couldn't help but smile as I looked around our charming town and thinking, "wow, we actually live here." How amazing.

Dallas Smallas

So...apparently I don't really like Dallas as previously thought.
I suppose I just enjoyed a few things here. The gym and Tai Chi and the few acquaintances we had, just made it bearable. Since I have been here I have felt my energy (I know, that sounds all hippy and wierd) just sink south and it feels familiar. Simply sitting in the car my energy seems to become tainted. It's the same feeling I had been having here in Dallas around the time we moved and I was becoming happy about Dallas and sad to be moving. It has made me wonder how horrible I must have been feeling before I got to that "good"place if the "good" place now seems bad. It made me realize how being gone for the past 5 months my spirits have lifted incredibly and that life became life again and I am not just dealing with the cards dealt. So, needless to say, I'm glad we moved and I LOVE LOVE LOVE living in Denmark.

While I was in El Paso Michael had told me he really was missing home and he was really anxious to get back to his small office, morning rolls,walking to work, and spending weekends enjoying the sun on our balcony. El Paso was a blast for me. I loved being with and catching up with family and friends. but now that I'm in Dallas, I'm about ready to head back across the pond too. Dallas is humid, my hair isn't a fan and makeup just melts off my face. The traffic is ridiculous and the city is soooooo huge! Finally we found how important friends are. In Dallas, with the exception of Mary and Jason, and Chris and Fayne, we just had lots of acquaintances. In Denmark we actually have a really great handful of friends who actually enjoy the same stuff we do and who, for the most part, really "get us". It's settling to have the confirmation that yes, we were, without a doubt, meant to be in Copenhagen at this time in our lives and the things we had to give up, were worth it to have the Danish experience again. We have only been there about 5 months, but already it's so much more then our first time and we still have months and months and months to go. How did we ever get so lucky?

One More Thing Found!!!

Amanda asked on my previous post about Tai Chi here, so here is my answer!

As of this morning, it looks like I have a brand new Tai Chi Instructor and I have my first lesson next Tuesday morning. The guy seems really nice and very well qualified and most importantly got his approval from Chris. (My Tai Chi Sifu in Dallas) I had originally planned on finding an actual class but it proved challenging for a few reasons, the timing of the classes were never good for me, the location was never good, the instructor didn't seem to fit what I was looking for and finally most if not all the classes are taught in Danish. Chris told me I would be fine with that as his instructor teaches in Chinese but he still gets lots out of the classes. Ok, so made me feel better, but after I started emailing this guy, we found out our Danish classes would conflict with the Tai Chi class I found. No good. Ok, so I opted for private lessons. In Dallas I had 1 private lesson every week with Chris and/or Fayne and I felt that's where I got the majority of the best information from because it was tailored to meet my needs as oppose to a general lesson. Speaking of Tai Chi private lessons here is something of interest!

I wrote a testimonial that made it onto Chris and Faynes website!!! After reading this doesn't it make you just want to get to Dallas and sign up right now?? :o)
Go on.. click it, read it!!!

http://www.simplyaware.com/content/view/25/118/

Tai Chi

Every other week the city of Allen puts out a little magazine called, "Allen Image" This past week my Tai Chi instructors were featured. I actually take Tai Chi in Plano at TI, but they offer classes in Allen, so that's why they are on the cover. Anyways, I've tried and I think I have done a pretty good job of not being too preachy about Tai Chi and its benefits. Honestly though, it is something I really truely believe in for overall wellness...both physical and mental. I started in January sooo, 8 months ago. At the end of May I started private lessons that have helped my progress even more. Already after only 8 months I can physically feel the benefits this ancient art has brought me. My posture is better, I am not as clumsy as I usually am (except for the one day a few weeks ago, I turned and walked smack into one of our double doors which are usually both open, but one of them was closed. oops) , and I've learned how to relax my muscles and noticed a significant change in being relaxed and not as tense especially in my neck, shoulders and upper back. As for mentally, it's begun to train me to let everything in my mind to go away for a short time but at the same time has increased my level of concentration. Anyways, I'm sure out of all you wonderful people that read this, not many will actually go out and try it.. but thought I might raise some "Tai Chi Awareness" and perhaps later down the road, you might give it a try...

Anyways, here's the cover of the Allen image and another picture and at the bottom is a link to the article. It is mostly about their Tai Chi for arthritis program and has some testimonies and a little about what tai chi is and how it helps people with arthritis. I will say that the testimonies aren't "made up" to promote their business or this program. Everything these women say, is the real deal. You don't really have to click on the link to read the article, but I think it is interesting... HOWEVER... If your name is Ellen or Sharon.. I HIGHLY recommend you click on the link and read the article :o)

My instructors, Chris and Fayne Bouguyon

Chris and Fayne Teaching Sun Style Tai Chi

http://www.allenimage.com/archive/aug-06/issue/feature.html