little soapy treasures

I don't grow attached to certain personal hygiene products, I like to change things up, so many choices out there! Bar soap especially I love to experiment with. Harmless.
I recently treated myself to a Belgian eggwhite soap.

Here are the beauty bar's claims:
Eiwit Zeep Eggwhite Facial Soaps are produced with pure egg whites, chamomile and lecithin. Eiwit Zeep Eggwhite Facial Soap oil's soothing and hydrating properties combined with the protein-rich power of fresh eggwhites helps you maintain a clear, glowing complexion with daily use. 

Now, I don't know about you, but I look up to Scandinavians, in many ways.

But more on that later, Pig needs her beauty sleep.

adorable packaging, enticing fragrance

Battambang boat trip

I noticed that our boat  had slowed almost to a standstill and that our new additions were arguing with the skipper, pointing in a direction decidedly opposite from where the river was taking us. I looked to Kry to translate, but he wouldn't meet my gaze. Not a peep. He stared off at some fixed point in space, apparently oblivious. When, at our uninvited guest's instruction, the boat changed course, coughing and clanking up a narrow no-name creek perpendicular to the river, I barked to Kry, 'What's happening? What's going on?'

'We take shortcut,' said Kry, quickly slipping back into what seemed to be a coma.

'Shortcut'. The word filled me with dread. When has a shortcut ever worked out as planned? The word - in a horror film at least - usually precedes disembowelment and death. A 'shortcut' almost never leads to good times. And in Cambodia, with our skipper suddenly piloting the boat up a shallow, twisting, foliage- choked, water- filled ditch, deep into who the fuck knows where, with two who the fuck knows who giving the orders, I was not feeling too secure. I consulted my Lonely Planet guide and was dismayed to find this particular body of water did not appear on the map.

City at night

Jim Morrison touched on it in L.A. Woman, the subtleties in his voice letting me know exactly what city at night should feel like.

Even as a young girl I would love driving through our city at night with my mom, hearing music in the distance and good times happening after dark. I couldn't wait till I was old enough to experience all that smoky forbidden fun.

And then I got my first real taste of nightlife, and all that comes with it. The time in my life where I'd go to sleep around 5 or 6 am. For 3 years straight. My lifestyle has drastically changed since then. It might've only been 3 years since I left the bar scene, but I am in such a different place in my life right now. 

And I find dusk the most exciting part of the day. 

BODY--> pliable

Monday~

My 11 year anniversary in this country.
Was running errands after work, went to the far west side, then a long commute on the damen bus home. It was dusk at that point, and I enjoyed looking in other people's apartments, knowing it's dinner time. I'm surprised how many peeps keep their windows completely bare, for all to see. I could not possibly do it, I'm a very private pig. Anyway, Bear was waiting for me, made delicious bbq pork sandwiches, then a chocolate croissant for my dessert…This is love. I found it. My love. Home. Comfort. I'm a very lucky girl. Lucky pig.

A ryokan bath appreciation

A deep oblong cedar tub sat against one wall, next to an open window, from which one could gaze out at the mountaintops without being seen, along with an adjacent area in which to wash oneself prior to soaking in the tub. There were a small wooden stool, a scrub brush, a wooden bucket, and a high-powered-spray shower attachment. The idea was to squat on the wooden stool, soap up, brush oneself down with the hard bristle brush, pausing to rinse now and again with buckets of hot or cold water, as one liked, then shower. The whole floor, tiled in black granite, tilted conveniently into recessed troughs and drains. After one's outer layers of skin have been scrubbed off, one slid gracefully into the waiting tub, soaking for a long, long time, the window open up just enough for a cooling breeze, a view of ripe oranges dropping from the trees in the outer garden.

Batman is so full of lessons!

“It’s not who you are underneath. 

It’s what you do that defines you.”

What we really have is a daily reprieve contingent on the maintenance of our 'spiritual condition'

Being bicultural is an advantage but to those struggling to establish their identity, it can be quite a endeavor. It is difficult for me to explain the role of sober recovery in my life to people back home where drinking and functioning alcoholism is a part of the country's culture. This disease of alcoholism does not get cured with one meeting. It is much more than just not drinking. It's being in touch with yourself, knowing there's something greater than yourself, and being motivated to live an honest life. After yesterday's ridiculous visit with father I'm done explaining myself.

I absolutely adore the Obamas. I actually have an Obama family made in my Sim world. Politics aside {this Pig is not a citizen of the United States so I cannot vote anyway}, I believe they are a successful family. Their love and support for one another emanates so vividly, they're not stiff or superficial to the public. Michelle loves and admires her man, is not afraid to show affection, is poised and dresses tastefully. A real, modern First Lady.
I would really enjoy having Barack and Michelle over for a dinner party, I believe I can make a great hostess and know that Bear would be on his best behavior. He'd be in his human costume..

Barack with his girls watching Michelle speak
at the Democratic National Convention

Women's Daily Meditation - - Labor Day

We'll find joy when we find acceptance of ourselves and our efforts and the belief that we are spiritual beings whose lives do have purpose and direction.

The wisdom that accompanies spiritual growth offers us security, that which we have sought along many avenues. And when we feel secure, we can trust that the challenges confronting us are purposeful and to our advantage.

One day at a time, one small prayer at a time, moves us even closer to spiritual security. We can look with glad anticipation at our many responsibilities and activities today. They are our opportunities for spiritual security. We can trust our growing inner resources by simply asking for guidance and waiting patiently. It will find us.

I must exercise my prayers if I want the spiritual security where I can find joy. I will ask for guidance with every activity today.