Zumba

I have finally found an exercise routine that I enjoy! It is called Zumba. It is like a Spanish aerobics. I had known about it for awhile and I always thought it to be my civic duty to not present myself to the world in this fashion. I had the preconceived notion that I would not only embarrass myself but I would most definitely hurt either myself or someone else in the class. Not so. I shall now knock wood as to not jinx myself for the next class.

I will say that there are good Zumba instructors and there are not so good Zumba instructors. The class that got me started was okay but I would not call it Zumba. It is more like the aerobics of days gone by. Now, the classes I have been attending at the YMCA? Honey. I can't say enough good things. There is one teacher in particular that at the end of the class, dripping wet you are not groaning you are thinking Cool. That was fun! What is even better is you burn about 800 calories....HELLO!

I do want to tell you about my observations that I have made whilst getting to know the lay of the land.

1. Even if you have the most perfect body, you can still look silly doing Zumba. The good Lord did not necessarily give all beautiful people rhythm. It is quite wonderful to watch a twig of a woman walk in very proud of her perfect body, perfect outfit, perfect makeup and perfect hair only to find out in the first song that this is not going to be a cake walk. You know, cake, it's that stuff people light on fire at birthdays that you never touch because you are way full after eating that pea?

2. At some point in time EVERYONE gets off beat. Even the instructor can lose their place, and if it is your first time you are not expected to know every step to every song. The instructor will give you a step to always go back to when you get lost. Learn that move and then just do your arms the way everyone else is. It works great.

3. Whereas you can be too large....you can also be too skinny. I was worried about the woman behind me this morning. We are not even talking stick thin. I just wanted to tell the woman if you are trying to disappear you're almost there sugar. You are about one Zumba class away from being transparent. Come to think of it I didn't see her walk out. Poor thing might still be there not heavy enough to open the door. How sad.

4. More power to the little old ladies that take the Zumba class. It is always an inspiration to see someone stepping outside of their comfort zone. The little old men that come are also amusing because they are never ever...ever...ever on beat. I think they are just big flirts and I say more power to them too!

5. It is important to maintain personal space. If the class is crowded you are just going to have to accept the fact that your arm movements are going to have to be subdued and if the instructor says take 3 steps forward this instruction is still within the realms of personal space. Taking 3 huge steps in a crowded classroom is hazardous to those around you. I realize that you are oblivious to this fact random asian grandma but you are just going to have to deal with it.

6. In Zumba most of the movements involve shaking or shimmying generally taking that what God gave you and waving it about for all to see. In these cases, you will need the appropriate sports bra otherwise the next thing you are going to hear is a paramedic saying mam...mam...can you hear me? You knocked yourself out with your jiggly bits. They will be talking about you in class for years! No one wants that.

I am glad that I have found an exercise that I enjoy. I'm hoping it will help my pounds slip off. A weekender to the beach and Greekfest did not help me thus far but at least I am doing something.

Have a great day!

There's more than one way to skin a cat.

Who came up with that saying? Who skins cats? and seriously how many ways can there be? Then what do they do with the cat after it is skinned? I have a very grimmaced look on my face as this is not the way I wanted this post to go....let's move on.

When you leave your house and you are going to a specific destination is there only one route? I'm gonna go with no as it is the only answer that validates my post. You could leave your home and go right or you could go left. You could cut through somewhere or you could go the long way. You could walk or you could drive. There isn't a right way as long as you get from point A to point B. by the time that you are scheduled to arrive it doesn't matter how you do so.

Now, you might save gas if you go one way or time if you go another. You might get stuck in traffic if you go this way and you might get a hole in your tire if you go that way.

The choices you make come from the experiences you have had that have taught you what works best for you.

Now, take another person. Maybe they don't have a car or they don't know about the traffic or they can't walk for some reason. Their situation is different from yours. Maybe they know that the bus runs at a certain time and that is their option. It does not make them wrong it just makes them different from you.

Now, your way might be faster, cheaper and more efficient...FOR YOU. You are different from other people in this world. Your entire life experience is unique to you. You might be similar to some others in one way and you might be similar to others in another way but as for your life experience...just you.

Apply this to religion. Why is it that we are so exclusive when it comes to religion? We judge on things that really play no role in the scheme of things. We get so hot and bothered over music type or clothing choices. Time of worship. Too much communion. Not enough communion. Too stiff. Too loose. King James or New International Version. Realize that God loves you more than anything in this world and all he wants is for you to know him personally.

Your relationship with God is all yours. You will know him in a way that is completely unique to you. That doesn't make you wrong that just means that you are different, and the last time I checked we are all different. There is not another person on this planet that has your exact same life.

Open your mind a little this week. See the world around you as a big opportunity to show God's love. Understand that you can not truly comprehend someone else's situation until you get to know them. You are God's instrument of love. Go out and make a beautiful melody.

Don't make me raise my voice.

I yelled this morning. I'm not proud of it. It wasn't just a raise my voice either it was a full on crazy we're late your point is pointless I haven't put on makeup or done my hair but I am just going to have to suck that up because..as I stated before...WE ARE LATE!!!!

At one point I was screaming Why are you crying? We don't cry in this family to manipulate! The only time we cry in this family is if someone has died or if you are bleeding do you understand me?

Now, I am fully aware of how ridiculous that sounds and I am going to say again I am not proud of my behavior. Something just snapped this morning. I had felt it coming. I knew it was going to happen it's just usually I am much better at controlling it.

I have apologized to my children. I have explained that mommy isn't perfect and that we all need to try better to get ready on time in the morning.

2 lessons to learn from my explosion. 1. Always apologize to your children. Even if there was some rightness to your craziness you still shouldn't have allowed your emotions to get out of control. You will teach them the art of apologizing and your relationship will grow from it. 2. The only person who has ever walked this planet perfectly is Jesus and you are not him, and even he got so mad at the tax collectors he threw their tables over.

Anger is an emotion. It needs to be recognized but it also needs to be controlled. Find different ways to manage your anger through exercise or solitude. Absolutely do not beat yourself up over it because you are human and you will make mistakes. Learn from the mistakes and do better next time.

My throat still hurts from the yelling I think I deserve an icee right?

September 11, 2001 from my point of view.

I wasn't going to share this on my blog. Had the full intent to only share it with close friends, but then I let my husband read it and he said but then you aren't being a light and you never know who might read it that needs the light. So, I'm posting it on here. So, if it moves you I am very glad, please don't stalk me. Okay? Okay.

I'm not sure why I feel compelled to get up early this Sunday morning to write this down but just as I did 10 years ago I feel completely helpless to do anything to help anyone. Back then with the rescue and today with the recovery of that which they lost just by going to work or starting their day.

I never want to forget the way I felt that horrible day. I couldn't understand why no one was sending a helicopter to get the people who finally decided that jumping was a better option. I wondered if everyone I knew was safe but couldn't get through to find out because the phone lines were jammed. Mostly I was proud to be an American and wanted to buy the biggest American flag I could find, but I couldn't because they were sold out. The following is that day from my point of view.

I was working at Goody's family clothing in the advertising department. We were in a creative meeting when a man by the name of Tom Turner walked in interrupting the meeting. Now, the creative department was always known for our silliness and it would have been perfectly normal for Tom to be playing a joke so when he said "A plane just crashed into the World Trade Center." you didn't really believe him at first, but then there was just something about his tone. He ran off to see what else he could find out and as far as I was concerned meeting was over.

I went back to my desk to call my producer Jennifer. I knew she was in New York shooting still shots for me. I couldn't get her. I hadn't gone on this photo shoot because Michael and I had just returned from a trip to see his family in Greece less than a week before and I felt like I couldn't be out of the office that soon after I got back. I had decided that it was just still shots, no models so everything would be fine if I didn't go. As I type this, I have no idea whatever happened to that merchandise. Oops.

Turns out Jennifer was extremely close. In fact, they had stopped shooting and were watching the whole thing right out the window of the studio. After the first tower fell they decided they needed to get out of there and ran downstairs to leave. The building manager was handing out wet towels for people to cover their faces with so that the dust wouldn't get in their lungs, and he was screaming RUN!!!

Back at Goody's they were somehow broadcasting television in the auditorium for people to watch, but most people just went home. You didn't want to be at work. You wanted to be with the ones you loved as quickly as possible. The unknown of what was going on and how it was all going to play out was so scary! Everyone started filling their tanks for fear of gas not being available. Everyone started stock piling food. You just don't know what to do during crisis and I guess it made some feel productive.

I remember thinking we had just come through New York less than a week before, had we still been out of the country we would have been in limbo trying to get back in the country for a month. I remember feeling horrible for being glad that it hadn't played out like that because of all of the people who hadn't been so lucky.

When I finally got a hold of Jennifer and could actually hear her voice, knowing that while shaken she was going to be okay I felt much better. I went to bed that night not knowing what the future held and thinking what am I bringing a baby into this world to? I was about a month pregnant with my first child and hadn't told anyone yet.

It's 10 years later. So much has changed. I am still so saddened by all of the families that were closely affected by this tragedy. I know that they did not die in vain, God has a master plan that my puny human brain can in no way comprehend. Bad things happen in this world because there is sin in the world.

Never forget the way you felt that day. Never forget those that died just by going about their daily lives. Never forget that we are all connected on this planet and even though evil is out there it doesn't have to win. Be kind. Be positive. Be loving. Be a light in the darkness. Whatever you do do it for good and BE for those that can't.

Your life is a gift. You have a specific purpose on this planet get off of that whine fest you've been on for the last little bit and figure out why you were put here and get out there and Change the world, or just change your neighborhood or just your home but be a light people so that the darkness does not win!

I would like to add that the darkness won't win in the end God will come in and flip on the light switch blasting the ever lovin' fool out of the darkness but let's do our part today to bring the light to those that don't know about it.

May the love of the Lord bring you hope and peace in this day of remembrance.

Home repair.

When you call a repairman do you tell him what needs to be repaired? Do you call a Mr. Fix it and say there is something broken in this house you have to find it and you only have about 30 seconds before it blows up. Go!

No, that's ridiculous of course not but that is how some of us handle our relationships. I'm guilty of it too I'm not saying it's right I'm just saying I do it. There are days that I am thinking in my head this has been such a hard day if my husband doesn't walk through that door with a mountain dew icee he doesn't love me at all.

So, then when he gets home and he doesn't have the icee that I have not asked for or in any way hinted that I might be wanting. I go to an even darker place. Why didn't he think of me? Does he think I'm fat? Oh, that's it! He doesn't want me to have sugar and get all big and fat well! I'll show him! I'll eat this entire sleeve of girl scout cookies that I have hidden in the freezer. Not healthy huh? Well, it isn't that extreme but it is part of my point.

Imagine that you are the homeowner, your husband is the Mr. Fix it and the house is, well, it's the house. You can switch roles if you want but the house pretty much has to keep its role because that would just be strange if it doesn't.

Here, I will set the scene for you. So, today the refrigerator quit working. You were already running late when you figured this out and you had to stop and clean up the water or it would have flooded the house. This caused you to be late, when you got home you had forgotten about the fridge and went to make dinner realizing that you have now lost all of its contents and you don't have anything for dinner. You call a repair man. A specific repairman. You call a refrigerator repairman. You give him the model number and all pertinent information you can think of. When he comes he probably even has the part he needs to fix the problem. You even pay him at the end of the issue. Cue the husband to come in to no dinner and cranky wife. Husband just sees that after a hard day of work there is no food on the table and he's pretty sure there is smoke coming out of his beautiful brides ears.

My point is. Communication is key to a healthy relationship. When you are upset with your husband tell him why, give him the tools he needs to fix the problem, make sure he completely understands all that you have experienced. You could also pay him but that would be weird.

Just make sure that you always remember that the world does not revolve around you and your spouse has had an entire day of "issues" to. Your's might be bigger, they might not but COMMUNICATE!

I would just like to add that this is not pertinent in my relationship at this time so that my husband doesn't think I'm mad. I'm not. Our refrigerator is fine. This is just a post that has been rolling around in my head lately. I promise.

Broaden your perspective.

One day my mother and I were at the mall and needed to visit the little girls room. There was a restroom that had the man and woman symbol on it and my mother said..."That's disgusting". Now, as you and I know it means that it is a family restroom and if a daddy needs to take his daughter or a mother needs to help her son in the restroom this is the more appropriate place for them to go as to not disturb the little old ladies who are scared that a 5 year old boy is going to get a glimpse of them in the crack of the stall. You know...doing their business.

I said...Mother, what do you think that means? She said...You know...with a very knowing voice and I said yes, it means that it is a family restroom and I can take either one of my kids or both of them in there. Now, your turn. She looked at me so funny and said Well, that is a really good idea. I thought it was for cross dressers. Ha!!!!

When was the last time that you realized your perspective might need a little broadening? Have you ever heard the expression "Walk a mile in my shoes?" Are you quick to criticize the way a complete stranger is handling a situation? If a waitress is rude to you do you automatically get offended?

Have you ever thought that the person you are judging without having any information whatsoever about could have tried the way you would have done it 14 times ago and is so far past that that they are frazzled enough to be trying it this stupid way? Did you ever think this waitress is rude, I wonder if she is having a bad day or do you automatically jump on Oh, you're going to be rude to me I'll be rude to you even if you will spit in my food.

Broadening your perspective can change the way your entire world spins around. You have got to realize that just because you do not understand it does not necessarily make it wrong. I'm not talking about Whackadoodles here I'm just talking about if you are mean and rude to the man that smokes outside your favorite store, coughing loudly and glaring horribly do you think that these actions will make him think Hmm, I should quit smoking. No, he will blow a really nice smoke ring in your general direction.

Be kind and gentle to all things making this place a better world because you are in it, and the next time you go by a family restroom think of my mom because she's pretty awesome!

What are you scared of?

Lately I have been having many encounters with nature. Being of the mindset that I should not kill another living creature no matter how big or small makes this difficult.

The other day a snake had found its way into my garage and had gotten himself stuck in an ant trap, I don't know how he just did. He was completely stuck with no chance of getting himself out. So, what to do. My first instinct was to scream, which I did not go with. I picked up some long handled sheers and grabbed the trap he was stuck to. I carried it out into the yard with him wiggling. I placed him gently on the ground and softly told him to hold still it would be okay I was trying to help him. (This is just more evidence for my neighbors that I am insane.)

I had sent a photo to my husband with the word help beside it, but he was 20 min away and I needed a solution now. So, I freed the reptile from his cardboard trap and off he went into the woods.

I know what your thinking because I had several people say it to me. You're thinking Gross! I could never have done that! I would have gone back inside! I would have killed it!

Now, had the thing bit me I probably would have thought differently but the creature looked at me as if to say (We'll give him a british accent just for fun) Pardon me mam, but could you give me a spot of help. I've gotten myself into quite a pickle.

Why are we afraid of things? Why do things gross us out? Raw tomatoes are out of this discussion those things are just nasty. Why is it our automatic response to let someone else handle a problem that we don't like?

Do you realize the satisfaction I had when the snake was finally free and on his merry way? I had been confronted with a problem and I had figured out how to fix it. Me. Alone. Without running screaming for someone else.

Are you telling me that if you were dropped on a deserted island alone you would just die? You wouldn't at least attempt to fashion some sort of tent or eat a random berry? Okay, if you say so but that is a pretty horrible way to die.

Today I challenge you to try something new. Something that you wouldn't automatically gravitate to. I promise it will give you pride that you were able to "do it yourself". Now, if you get bit by a snake and die don't call me. K?