Salsa, Sex and Sporadic Weather

Oh hi. I’ve missed you. I hope your week has given you plenty to smile about. If not, suck it up! Kidding, this week will be better I promise. 


Life has suddenly become rather busy for me. I complain when I’m busy, I complain when I’m bored. (I only complain cos’ you listen). I DO love a crazy busy lifestyle though. I wouldn’t have it any other way. Fast paced is one of the reasons I moved up to Auckland. Another being Salsa. If you’re picturing tomato goodness on taco chips then please stop immediately. I’m talking va va voom. Arebaaaaaa! Shake your bon-bon? Shimmy shimmy?? Work it girl??? Anything? Well Salsa is a Latin dance style that I fell head over heels in love with 8 years ago. After a forced break from an injury, it has now sprung back into my life in full force, plastering a humongous smile on my face. 


Auckland’s salsa scene thrives and the one thing I love most about it is the array of people that step onto that floor and give it a crack. (As well as the talented teachers sharing their knowledge. Oh and the social nights. Aaaaand the opportunities to develop) Did I say one thing?... I can’t count. 


I had heard through the grape vine (See what I did there…dancers?...Oh forget it.) that Auckland’s salsa scene was rather pretentious, but to be honest I have found it to be full of character and anything but. My first Auckland salsa experience was at a Viva Latino salsa party. The first man to ask me for a dance was a rather solid, rather staunch looking Islander. I didn’t hesitate, but I couldn’t help but think he didn’t quite fit into the typical salsa crowd. He had me gliding around the floor in no time, weaving in between salsa couples. He was smooth. And he knew it. He was such a gentleman and the complete opposite of pretentious. I knew from then on that me and Auckland Salsa were going to get along just fine. 


Another thing I was told before moving up to Auckland was that this city experiences every season’s weather in one day. And blow me down it truly does. It’s like a hormonal teenager, smiling one minute, crying the next. I can’t keep up. It does keep things rather random, which I like. But it has also taught me to never leave my car window down; even just a fraction can result in having a wet arse for the one hour crawl home. Sigh. Just today I went for a walk, half of it being in gorgeous sunshine and blue skies, the other, dark clouds and pouring rain. The only upside was as the rain stopped a double rainbow (I can never say that without saying it in that stoopid voice from the TV commercials) was sprawled across the sky. Rainbows remind me of my childhood, so as I walked I drifted into memories of my little 8 year old self, going on hunting missions, determined to find that pot of gold... The rain had now soaked through my underwear, causing me to walk as though I’d been ravished a few too many times the night before. Any childhood memories quickly vanished and I focussed on getting me and my wet underwear (Stoppit! Mind.gutter.out) home for a warm shower. 


I know what you’re thinking. This Blog’s title mentions sex. Get to the sex! (I like the way you think) Unfortunately for you the sex is yet to happen. (Or at least sex that is worth writing about) I had a naughty dream about my cousin’s friend and now he just won’t leave me (Not literally, that would be kinda weird. Just in my head-still kinda weird…help!). I’ve tried shaking this and have had no such luck. It doesn’t help that he comes over to my house quite often and I have to stop myself from turning everything he says into a sexual innuendo, Me: ‘How are ya?’, Him: ‘Yeah, I’m good. (I bet you are) How about you?’ Me: ‘Could be better (Did I actually just say that?). Yeah nah good.’ (Jump my bones…I mean what?!). Settle down Sloan. Yikes. Usually I just try and avoid any form of communication.


Deep down I’m a hopeless romantic (Hopeless being the keyword here). I’m determined to prove chivalry is not dead. There has got to be men out there that have jumped straight out of The Notebook and into my lap, I mean life. I know I’m kidding myself, that stuff only happens in movies right? My reality is giving some guy I barely know a BJ on my friends couch and then passing out drunk with spring roll stuck to my face. Cringing? I did the same thing as I very quietly picked up my handbag and snuck out the front door in the morning. (Maybe some things in movies do exist in real life after all…)


Whether it’s unexpected rainbows, a big islander doing the shimmy-shake or a new sexual conquest, my life up here in the big smoke gives me plenty of reasons to laugh (and even more reasons to ask, WTF Bex?). It’s these random moments that make life one hell of a ride. Next stop…who knows? That’s part of the fun. I’m off to get my dream on *cheeky grin*


Love & Laughs


Bex

I think we're going to be friends, you + me.

Hi. I'm Bex. Bex Sloan. It's nice to meet you. I'd shake your hand, but I almost always screw that basic notion up. It's either too weak, making me seem poncy, or it's too firm which makes me seem way too sure of myself. So I'll just smile, maybe chuck in a bit of a head acknowledgement, after all I am from Wanganui so I pull the slight gangsta attitude off nicely.


Thanks for giving me your attention. I like attention. I'm what you would call an 'attention seeker'. So get a cuppa, minimise Facebook for a moment (I promise I won't keep you long) and humour me as I seek.


So as I said I'm from the NUI. A city (Not sure it you can technically call it that anymore) that is known for gangs, our muddy river and Michael Laws. Despite the media's portrayal, I love my crazy little home. Wanganui is a gorgeous place with lots of character, unfortunately though if you don't drive a mobility scooter or have a few kids hanging off each leg there isn't much for someone my age. Some people make it work...me?! I'd go men-tal. I need new. Exciting. Adventure. The unknown. I tamed the unsettled and eager feeling in the pit of my stomach with a somewhat risky, yet determined move to the big smoke.


Now, like the rest of Kiwi-land I hated on Auckland. Constantly baggin' it and frequently referring to the city folk as JAFAS. Having only been to Auckland a handful of times and therefore having no actual legs to stand on...I swallowed my generalised views and gave it a crack.


...and what a fan-tas-tic city Auckland is. I'm madly, crazily and a little bit obsessively in love with the place. In the few short months that I've been here I have not only entered the Radio industry (my profession of choice. And before you ask...No, I'm not a radio DJ, a Presenter nor do I actually feature on-air...yet) but I have fully entered tourist-mode and made it my mission to experience everything this large, loud and vibrant city has to offer. 


I am easily entertained therefore driving over the Harbour bridge at night, with the brightly lit city as my back drop excites the shit outer me. Lunch with my besties down on Wynyard Quarter, only stopping the array of chatter to sip on my glass of Sav in the sunshine, is among my favourite past times AND checking out the view of the city from North Head. Stopping, taking a big breath in and yelling, "I F'n live here!". Oh and I'm pretty sure I have a crush on the Sky Tower. I adore the simple things. But don't get me wrong singing my lungs out to Florence + The Machine at Vector Arena (I heart Flo) was right up there with the best of 'em.


Auckland is BIG, yes. But every area is unique and FULL of character. Spending the majority of my time working on Ponsonby Road I experience one aspect of Auckland-The snobs. Ladies, dressed in their overpriced, over accessorised exercise gear, walking their teeny tiny rat-like dogs, clutching their IPhones and not moving for ANYONE. You move for them. Oh yes you do. 


In contrast to that, and something that constantly makes me chuckle, is the random homeless, or should I say free-spirited bunch that often grace us with their presence in Ponsonby also. One man in particular that I cannot seem to get out of my head (In a non-creepy kinda way) biked down Ponsonby Road with a trailer on the back. He had his head held high, a dog in the trailer, looking rather chuffed and a stereo on full blast. The best bit...the song was 'Fast Car' by Tracey Chapman. I almost died from laughter. What.a.legend!


Auckland is colourful. The way life should be. I'm grabbing my camera and I'm going to go explore, cause trouble and create me some memories..Wanna join me?




Love & Laughs 


Bex