The Job – June 12th to dateGreatly contributing to my daily existence and need for purpose, my job still occupies my days with being busy, making connections and fulfilling corporate curiosity, so things being solid on that front look set to continue forward with anticipation of growth and development.


The World Class driving experience – Aug, 11thPassion seems too strong a word for my keen interest in all things auto, but there are heart-racing times when it seems all too fitting a word!!. All my experiences with car races and auto shows pale in comparison to this experience which was of utmost, unprecedented pomp and magnificence – riding in 5 super cars (Lamborghini Gallardo, Mercedes SLR, Ferrari 430, Porsche GT3, Noble M400) only dreamed of by most.. riding unaccompanied by an instructor through the beauty that is Colorado springs, embraced gingerly by the tall magnificent mountains, waved at by the green trees and clear, fresh, crisp air blowing on my face, we drove each car for about 25 minutes to get a good experience of not only opulence, prestige and perfection, but also what it would be like to be a celebrity! One of the most indulgent experiences that I have had. See pics for envy value.. :-P

Daily experiences – July and AugustOnce one opens your hearts’ arms to embrace newness, it can take you by utter surprise as to what facet of your personality it brings out in you. I have been socializing a lot more of late and in so doing managed to enlarge not only my circle of friends, but my realm of experience. Learning with each new day (and friend) that my heart and life can be enlarged by merely talking to someone with a large vision, with an intellect and reasoning that skewers yours to degrees of gratifying doubt and questioning, but yet reaffirmation and challenge.. I have come into myself in this small circle – have learnt that who I am is enough, yet its never enough.. challenging the core of my creativity as I stand in awe of theirs..

Summer in Denver is just spectacular. I have been blessed with a mountain bike, I have not yet had the pleasure of taking it for a ride as yet – but everyday I tell myself I will – and I WILL!

My pet turtles have me in a constant maternal frenzy – the one now the size of Africa and the other a mere little quarter size – makes for me constantly having to tear the big one’s foot off the little one’s head at feeding time! Man, being a mother is a tough job! Since you asked: Their adoptive names are Michelangelo and Raphael (ninja turtle tradition) – but since I adopted them I can’t decide on their new names.. I have been inclined to go with something from Smallville.. but it doesn’t quite fit – so for now, its greedy turtle and little turtle! Just for clarification in case we cant tell them apart! I toyed briefly with the idea, for the sake of my heritage, of calling the fat, greedy one Frikkie Koos Van Tonder and the little one Boerseun Oubaas Van Winkel.. but i fear with my newly acquired, somewhat dramatized American accent (that some Americans here think make me sound like a bad actress trying out for a part in a low budget movie...).. even for me those names might be a tongue twister! :-) grrr


The New Yorkers’ visit, Aug, 12th – Aug 25thMy days are currently being graced by a friend from New York, experiencing Denver through new eyes is always a treat as you get to experience the old and familiar in a completely new way and appreciate all the more the everyday around you. Also you get to notice new things that you have failed to observe and appreciate no matter how many times you’ve walk by. So my fun levels have gone to new heights, and so has my weight (but who cares, when friends are on vacation – technically YOU are on vacation right ma?)




Did a lot of really fun things such as baseball games - i even got to learn how to swing a baseball bat in a batting cage - which was SO much fun!! Fed Giraffes at a zoo, Fondue dinners, Gokart racing and five star superb dinner dances..

I had a great time and connected with very special friend.







My thoughts
I have never been one to disengage myself from any life experience, good or bad.. I have of late had many new and pleasurable experiences from life.. Actually I am of the belief that the seasons and cycles of life come and go..

I have often - as I have already so broadly and exhaustedly expounded upon on – found myself in a state of weakness and insensibility, between life and death, I felt myself pressed between every decision, desire, failure and unreachable goal and the ambitions and passions nested in my being..

I have also often found myself resurrected from that state of melancholy and despair into a transition of peace, contentment and hope. Yet being as dual-minded as I have always been – I neither seek in passionate pursuit of one or the other, but rather I want to experience each as they present themselves to be in the hardness, in the ecstasy and raw undefiled as they come at me – pain and joy.. A compound of pleasure and pain constitutes what we call life.
I want the experiences to be commensurate to one another in every way.

So today I find myself in the arms of “happy” – in this past while I have embraced and been embraced – and still I press on through life’s sometimes flowery, sometimes barren, sometimes level, sometimes rugged, sometimes ordinary, sometimes ecstatic waves as they come before me and after me.. Now here in this place of life – I feel although doors stand before me to open and behind me to close – happiness, joy and a sense of fulfiment is where i am and I embrace it once again.

A few things that I have been doing:
1) Dancing more than I have in years and my 32 year old hips keep reminding me of that fact!

2) Wearing shorts– yes please don’t fall off your chair! Shorts with heels.. Ja jong ma kan my nou net sien soos ‘n yong ou bokkie in die straat rond loop, gat wat lekker uit hang!! No not really – I will attach pics to prove I don’t look like I am “working the streets!”


3) Talking on the phone for more than 4 hours consistently everyday!

4) Getting about 3 hours of sleep a night

5) Eating ready made meals – I haven’t cooked in about a year! LOL

6) Getting some regular time up in the mountains to enjoy the view, to breathe in the life of nature

7) I have started reading the most mind-blowing, stimulating book i have read in ages called "Candide", a book by Voltaire.. really fascinating book that has had me rapt for weeks.

Ok and that’s enough for now.. :-)

I miss you all in South Africa and I can’t wait to see you – really soon..