Cairo, the 3rd January,

2011

First book review of the YEAR

I've not commented on books for a long time. That doesn't mean I haven't been reading cause, as my followers must already know, I am a voracious, addicted, compulsive reader.

Books are, for me, what cigarretes, drugs and alcohol are for many.

There are always several books hanging from my pockets, handbag, even dance bag mixed up with all my dresses, make-up and stage props.

Books are my biggest evasion, secret pleasure and way to escape to different realities when the apparent surroundings of my environment are just too hard to handle.

Books are also a pleasure to open doors in my mind, heart and consciousness.

No better way to start 2011 than to mention "The FORTY RULES of LOVE" by Elif Shafak.

To make it short, this book speaks about the true nature of LOVE and the ability human beings may have to change their lives towards happiness, fullfilment and freedom to be and do what they wish for.

It also speaks about the relation between the Sufi poet Rumi and his eternal companion, Shamz of Tabriz.

Sufism and the dance - eternal DANCE - of the Universe at its core.

Heartbreaking. So lovely and mind blowing...it got me interested by its author (check, from the same author, "The Bastard of Istambul".)

TOTALLY recommended for the ones who wish to use their brains, hearts and souls.

Sade - No Ordinary Love

For the night...to dream better, sweeter dreams.
For all the lovers of this world.

Sade - Cherish The Day

Another one of my "elevator singing" tunes.
Sexy, sassy, raw and so honest.
No words needed to describe it. Just listen to it.

Sade - Kiss Of Life

One more of my favourite songs - EVER - for the road.
Oh, Lordddddddddddddddd.......................this song is way too much to handle.
I cannot count how many times I have sang this song everywhere and I mean EVERYWHERE (before performing, in the elevator, walking in the street...you name it!)

Kiss of life! No words to describe this song.:)

Sade - By Your Side

Another one of my favourite singers: SADE.
Ideal music to understand what sensuality and love are.

This song, in particular, is so beautiful it makes my heart sing by itself.
The clip is a series of moving paintings full of tenderness and warmth.
It cannot get lovelier than this!

Ike & Tina Turner - River Deep - Mountain High

Oh, boy!
This Tina Turner video is part of what I call THE REAL THING.
Fierce, real, fire on every word and raw emotion, as all emotions are, indeed.

Well...I didn't need to see the panties of the back-up dancers, damn the panties! But I am willing to forget that small bad taste detail because this Tina Turner performance is well worth it.

That's my kind of girl!

Cairo, the 2nd January, 2011

Miracles (of blissful beauty)

Suddenly I remembered a weird and wonderful thing that happened on this New Year's Eve:

After dancing among friends (YES, they have convinced me to actually dance - Oriental Dance - outside my working atmosphere, something absolutely strange and rare to happen).

I danced, everyone stared at me and stopped clapping, just enjoying my dance.

Then I said "Enough..." now it's your turn and pointed out another one of my friends for his turn to dance on the spot.

As I sit back on the sofa and watched him "trying" his oriental moves and among the crowd, noise, happy giggling and music, I felt a clear aroma of burning incense stuck to my face as if someone was burning saudi incense (the best!) a few millimetres from my nose.

While everyone cheered and sang along with the music, I searched for the incense burner.

" It cannot be far" - I thought to myself.

The strong, delightful aroma of the incense was too near from my nostrils, it had to be around, somewhere very near...

The fact was that there was no incense burning anywhere in my friend's house.

I asked the owners of the place where they were burning the incense and inquired surroundind people to know if they too were feeling the same strong smell but there had been no incense burnt in that house for a long time and...no...no one was feeling the aroma of incense, except me.

One of my dear - and supersticious - friends whispered in my ear that this was a signal, a blessing from God.

Yeah, right... (maybe, yes, no, what a crazy thing to say or not?!)

I smiled and didn't really know what to say. I was extremely confused and peaceful at the same time.

As I know that many things in life are not meant to be logically explained, I will not even analyze the episode but I can still feel the incense aroma around me, until now.

And that's all that matters.