UGH! So, regarding the 10,000 steps.... we're waiting until next week to start again and hitting them every day... which is good because my ankle is now healing nicely.... although I miss the dance floor something terrible. I need that outlet!
Also while I did get this new job I'm still in the process of waiting for the hiring contract... which I was told takes two to three weeks, we've just passed week two.... and I'm FRUSTRATED that I don't have word on when my start date would be!!!! It's hard not to be frustrated when my future is almost entirely hanging in the balance here.
Combine that with no dancing and a sore ankle and.... well... I'm not a very happy Kat right now.
I am not so blind to the fact that this is still an excellent year for me... and it will continue to be that way... I just don't like waiting... I don't like not knowing... and I don't like not dancing. UGH!
I just need to take this one day at a time.... and one hour at a time if that's what I need... and I'll get my start date, get my feet back on the dance floor, and start back up with life the way I know it's going to be.
I hate being Frustrated... this is one of those spectacularly bad feeling days that I'm going to rebound from... I just need to take a minute and breathe.
Friday, January 29, 2010
Tuesday, January 26, 2010
The week of 10,000 EVERY DAY begins!
Hi gang!
This living life thing is just too much!!! :-)
In fact I'm still really busy living life today, but can't forget you all! So short and sweet, here's the deal.
Blog reader of note #360 set forth a challenge that I hit 10000 steps every day this week starting yesterday and if I can do it he'll increase his donation to Dizzy Feet Foundation! Well this girl loves a challenge... so I spent the weekend trying to heal up my ankle as much as I could and hit the treadmill hard core yesterday. In a normal workout I cover just over 2 miles... yesterday, because I knew there wouldn't be many steps outside the gym taken... which is what happens when you have to clean your house and take care of your neighbor (not have to, but want and need to)... I covered FOUR MILES.... can we say muscle pain? I believe we can!
But what I can also tell you is that, ok.. I don't think my ankle is ready for this yet, it REALLY hates me today, but I'll keep trying. Second, the minute my pedometer hit 10,000 which was very close to midnight last night... I took it off, took a picture with my phone, and promptly went to bed. Third... I want my ankle to be better so I can DANCE these steps away... unfortunately dancing takes a much greater toll on the ankle than simply walking... so I'll take the steps any way I can right now... but pretty soon.. dancing here I come!
So Day one... EXACTLY 10000 registered steps!
Day two is going to prove a bit of a challenge.
Now if you'll excuse me... I'm going to take a moment at ice my ankle before I pick up the battle again. :-)
Tuesday, January 19, 2010
Just as I decide to write about life...
.... I start actually living it! Which makes it harder to find time to sit down and write.... Can't say I'm complaining though. :-)
Developments, developments it's been a busy week!
First... I will let you know that I reached my goal of 10000 steps several days early! Saturday to be exact... the pedometer registered 10200 steps. Given that these contraptions aren't the most accurate I will take the overage as meaning that I truly did reach my 10000 steps! YAY...
#360 The goal has been met, and I thank you for your contribution!
Captain! Welcome back to the blog! Thank you for yours as well! I'll use your generosity as my incentive for next Wednesday!
Other things that have hit my world, that have made it the happiest place to be... I received a job offer! It is the best of all possible scenarios and after background and reference checks I will have a start date.. and YAY after nine months I will be gainfully employed! Wah hoo!!!!
Second, I managed to find myself a guy... a guy that, in the early stages of this new adventure, seems to be exactly what I need. He's smart, funny, good looking, has the best manners on the planet, and we can very easily pass away the hours talking about everything and nothing. He even loves that I dance, and write and even after knowing him a short time is just as excited about my job as I am. He will come up every now and again referred to only as "The Beau"
The one bit of negativity that I do have to report is that last Saturday (the day I actually hit my 10000 steps) I slipped on the ice at my apartment before heading into the city to spend the afternoon with Jem and the evening with The Beau... I didn't think anything of it.. my foot hurt, but could take weight... and so I cruised around the city all day and night having a wonderful time... Now it seems that my entire right foot is swollen and bruised the most unruly shade of purple. So it's off the dance floor for me, and once again elevating and icing. I'm still taking steps though.. just not many of them dance, as my dance shoe's closure runs right across the bruise and quite frankly... hurts.
I am STILL counting steps! I'm averaging around 6000-7000 a day thanks to slow walks on the treadmill... every little bit helps... I will once again reach my goal of 10000 steps on Wednesday. Pretty soon this is going to have to be a daily thing... and while I'm pretty much the first one to ignore an injury, I've put my feet and ankles through so much this past year that I now have to respect the damage and take care of it.
So far the only think I can think is that 2010 is my year.. and there is nothing... NOTHING that is going to be able to stop my momentum... 2010 is the year of the Kat.
Keep those comments coming folks! Thoughts, ideas, maybe tips on how to get a blood bruise to go away faster? I'll work on getting more writing time in!
Developments, developments it's been a busy week!
First... I will let you know that I reached my goal of 10000 steps several days early! Saturday to be exact... the pedometer registered 10200 steps. Given that these contraptions aren't the most accurate I will take the overage as meaning that I truly did reach my 10000 steps! YAY...
#360 The goal has been met, and I thank you for your contribution!
Captain! Welcome back to the blog! Thank you for yours as well! I'll use your generosity as my incentive for next Wednesday!
Other things that have hit my world, that have made it the happiest place to be... I received a job offer! It is the best of all possible scenarios and after background and reference checks I will have a start date.. and YAY after nine months I will be gainfully employed! Wah hoo!!!!
Second, I managed to find myself a guy... a guy that, in the early stages of this new adventure, seems to be exactly what I need. He's smart, funny, good looking, has the best manners on the planet, and we can very easily pass away the hours talking about everything and nothing. He even loves that I dance, and write and even after knowing him a short time is just as excited about my job as I am. He will come up every now and again referred to only as "The Beau"
The one bit of negativity that I do have to report is that last Saturday (the day I actually hit my 10000 steps) I slipped on the ice at my apartment before heading into the city to spend the afternoon with Jem and the evening with The Beau... I didn't think anything of it.. my foot hurt, but could take weight... and so I cruised around the city all day and night having a wonderful time... Now it seems that my entire right foot is swollen and bruised the most unruly shade of purple. So it's off the dance floor for me, and once again elevating and icing. I'm still taking steps though.. just not many of them dance, as my dance shoe's closure runs right across the bruise and quite frankly... hurts.
I am STILL counting steps! I'm averaging around 6000-7000 a day thanks to slow walks on the treadmill... every little bit helps... I will once again reach my goal of 10000 steps on Wednesday. Pretty soon this is going to have to be a daily thing... and while I'm pretty much the first one to ignore an injury, I've put my feet and ankles through so much this past year that I now have to respect the damage and take care of it.
So far the only think I can think is that 2010 is my year.. and there is nothing... NOTHING that is going to be able to stop my momentum... 2010 is the year of the Kat.
Keep those comments coming folks! Thoughts, ideas, maybe tips on how to get a blood bruise to go away faster? I'll work on getting more writing time in!
Wednesday, January 13, 2010
It's Funny How Timing Works...
It really is. I've flat out told you that fate has been good to me, and it has. Take the start of 2010 as an example. I knew I was going to start the "One Dance Step at a Time" campaign, I knew I was going to throw myself into dancing again the way I did back when. I didn't know I was going to be met with such excitement and support as I have been. So I must have hit at the right time!
I am excited for these things.... and MORE!
Day 2- 1,723 steps... and only about 700 dance steps as I practiced some Salsa and Rumba in my kitchen this morning. Mentally tiring day, but sadly not physical. That's ok these things happen. This morning I received a call from a neighbor in my complex. I have two of the most wonderful neighbors on the planet! I refer to them both as my "neighbor Moms" because we have a very tight bond with each other that way. Neighbor Mom 1 called and asked me to check in on Neighbor Mom 2, who has been having some health issues of late. Since I have the time, and would like to help in anyway I can, I made a point to check in. Neighbor Mom 2 was not well off, but my presence and humor always seem to make her better... so I hung with her at her place for several hours, then ran an errand for her. It makes me feel good to help.
So it's a rough start...but everyone has to start somewhere and it can't all be sunshine and flowers (blech).... which is okay... my motto for a long time has been "That which doesn't kill me only serves to make me stronger" and stronger I shall be!
As fate would have it, knowing that my game face is on, one of my readers has sweetened the pot. I receieved a comment from him/her stating that they would donate $50 in my name to the Dizzy Feet Foundation if I can make my goal of 10,000 steps by next Wednesday. This is truly uncanny... becasue I had just been disgussing with some friends about how I need to take my status and developing clout and do some good with it, or there is no point in having it. I would like to get involved with setting up challenges for myself and you...that will result in donations of time or money to a worth while cause.
The Dizzy Feet Foundation is a charity set up by the producers of So You Think You Can Dance and Dancing with the Stars... it's goal is threefold...
(1) to provide scholarships to talented students studying at accredited dance schools, studios, or institutions.
(2) to establish national standards for dance education and an accreditation program for dance schools in all of the major styles of dance.
(3) to develop, provide, and/or support dance education programs for disadvantaged children through and with local community organizations.
I grant you that providing dance scholarships and funding programs for disadvantaged children in communities is not the most pressing issue we have today. However, I also KNOW that there is no better way to make sure that we don't have these issues in the future than to make sure we are supporting today's youth.
I would be NOWHERE without a Fine Arts program in my schools and community growing up and I certainly wouldn't be anywhere but on my way to an early grave without my discovery of dance. Therefore I would like to help other kids that are maybe in the same place I was as a kid..looking for an outlet, looking to make friends and connect. Also, there are adults in those underprivilaged communities that can benefit from a little dance in their lives. I can do this.. WE can do this!
10,000 steps reached by next Wednesday January 20th at 11:59pm wherever you live.... once we reach this goal we'll find another and another and do it all over again... life is nothing without goals and challenges. I've got one bid for $50... tempting me to make it happen... anyone else care to challenge me some more??? I'm up for it... I look your challenge in the face and I say HA! What else you got???
Tomorrow is another day.. and I plan to dance step my way through it!
I am excited for these things.... and MORE!
Day 2- 1,723 steps... and only about 700 dance steps as I practiced some Salsa and Rumba in my kitchen this morning. Mentally tiring day, but sadly not physical. That's ok these things happen. This morning I received a call from a neighbor in my complex. I have two of the most wonderful neighbors on the planet! I refer to them both as my "neighbor Moms" because we have a very tight bond with each other that way. Neighbor Mom 1 called and asked me to check in on Neighbor Mom 2, who has been having some health issues of late. Since I have the time, and would like to help in anyway I can, I made a point to check in. Neighbor Mom 2 was not well off, but my presence and humor always seem to make her better... so I hung with her at her place for several hours, then ran an errand for her. It makes me feel good to help.
So it's a rough start...but everyone has to start somewhere and it can't all be sunshine and flowers (blech).... which is okay... my motto for a long time has been "That which doesn't kill me only serves to make me stronger" and stronger I shall be!
As fate would have it, knowing that my game face is on, one of my readers has sweetened the pot. I receieved a comment from him/her stating that they would donate $50 in my name to the Dizzy Feet Foundation if I can make my goal of 10,000 steps by next Wednesday. This is truly uncanny... becasue I had just been disgussing with some friends about how I need to take my status and developing clout and do some good with it, or there is no point in having it. I would like to get involved with setting up challenges for myself and you...that will result in donations of time or money to a worth while cause.
The Dizzy Feet Foundation is a charity set up by the producers of So You Think You Can Dance and Dancing with the Stars... it's goal is threefold...
(1) to provide scholarships to talented students studying at accredited dance schools, studios, or institutions.
(2) to establish national standards for dance education and an accreditation program for dance schools in all of the major styles of dance.
(3) to develop, provide, and/or support dance education programs for disadvantaged children through and with local community organizations.
I grant you that providing dance scholarships and funding programs for disadvantaged children in communities is not the most pressing issue we have today. However, I also KNOW that there is no better way to make sure that we don't have these issues in the future than to make sure we are supporting today's youth.
I would be NOWHERE without a Fine Arts program in my schools and community growing up and I certainly wouldn't be anywhere but on my way to an early grave without my discovery of dance. Therefore I would like to help other kids that are maybe in the same place I was as a kid..looking for an outlet, looking to make friends and connect. Also, there are adults in those underprivilaged communities that can benefit from a little dance in their lives. I can do this.. WE can do this!
10,000 steps reached by next Wednesday January 20th at 11:59pm wherever you live.... once we reach this goal we'll find another and another and do it all over again... life is nothing without goals and challenges. I've got one bid for $50... tempting me to make it happen... anyone else care to challenge me some more??? I'm up for it... I look your challenge in the face and I say HA! What else you got???
Tomorrow is another day.. and I plan to dance step my way through it!
Tuesday, January 12, 2010
One Dance Step at a Time...
It's here! Happy 31st Birthday to me!! 31 years ago today I entered this world.... 3.5 years ago I found my passion in dancing. 2.5 years (ish) ago I started telling you all about it... and you've all been great about following along in my adventures...
TODAY... I give you the latest and greatest in how I'm going to keep this up!
It's been staring at me all along.. in the blog title... "Ballroom Dancing: Changing my Life One Step at a Time"... It's time to take this One Step at a Time... quite literally.... One Dance Step at a Time.
For the first quarter of this year beginning today, I will be counting my steps. Much like the popular "10,000 steps a day" program that is instituted in many major corporations. The idea is that not only will it give me, and you who join me, something positive to focus on for counting calories and living healthy... but it will make us more aware of how much we actually move in a day.
Statistics state that a sedentary person (aka lazy lumps like me most days) take less than 3,000 steps... well I was WAY under 3,000 steps when I first started testing a few weeks ago. I have a pedometer, (one can be purchased at your local super mart for about $5) and I will be wearing it all the time... the mission, as I've chosen to accept it.. is that I will work my hardest to reach 10,000 steps every day, and make as many of those dance steps as I can for the next 90 days.
I had a blast figuring out my steps... Steps from computer to fridge - 10... Steps from far side of bedroom to bathroom- 5-7 (what can I say... my place is small) Average steps in Salsa group class... 1,754... Steps during my last lesson with RT... aprox 2,000. Alright.. now we're talking!
So as I issue this challenge for myself, I am throwing the gauntlet out to everyone that sees this page. Join with me and start taking it one step at a time. It will be an adventure like we've never tried and it will be entertaining to say the least.
Not only that.. but instead of the once, twice a week, whenever I feel like it posts.. you'll be seeing my posts as often as is possible... not when I feel like letting you in my world... but all the time. You'll read more about not only my dancing life, but my real life as a whole. Mainly because they are so closely linked. You'll also learn how you to can in fact absolutely rock your own world.. I love and own the vast majority of my world.. it's time you do the same, and it's time I learn how to rock and roll in all parts of my life... Come on.. Join me!
What you don't know as my valued readers... what you are going to LEARN is that I'm brassy, I'm confident, I'm brutally honest, I'm more than just the "bubble gum pop" entertainment this blog as been.... and dancing has given me the power to do that and be that and I'm going to show you how by leading through example. I also have spectacularly bad days.. and manage to bounce back from them with a force like no other... and I want.... no better... I need to share that with you... to let you know that it's okay for that to happen.
There is another aspect to this challenge that for me will probably be the hardest of all.. My new dance friend, and practice partner that I had mentioned at the top of the year... Horace... has presented me with a challenge that I can't help but take up and to run with.. Me.. the girl that during her height of major weight loss, weighed herself twice a day just to see what the numbers on the scale would do... I am challenged to weigh myself today... and not once again for 90 days... I can't tell you how hard that will be for me! This is all about health, and feeling better about being in my skin and we know that this feeling is not based on the number on the scale... hey I'm a strong woman with a strong muscular frame... who knows what my healthy weight can be... what I want is to FEEL confident in the clothes I wear every day and to FEEL better about my life 100% and I have always said that it is my purpose in life...check my profile.... to tell other's how be passionate about life... now is the time that I put the edit button aside.. and do just that.
Will you celebrate life with me and join the "One Dance Step at a Time" Challenge? I sure hope so! 10,000 steps a day is about 5 miles... I'm committed... this feels right, and the way it should be... no more being shy... it's time to own your life and as I like to refer to myself... be the "rock star" I know I am on the dance floor in my every day!
Day 1... approximately 3000 steps. (at the very peak of sedentary!) and about 1,700 of those were with Largo tonight for my birthday lesson! Tomorrow is a new day.. and I've got 10,000 steps as my mission. Care to hedge bets? I bet I figure out how to hit 8,000 steps by Friday.. and I'm unemployed... How many steps do you think you take around the office??? I also wager that 10,000 steps will be hit a week from now... anyone have an over/under on how many will be dance steps?
Game on! Happy 31 to me! Happy Dancing to you! Let's do this!
TODAY... I give you the latest and greatest in how I'm going to keep this up!
It's been staring at me all along.. in the blog title... "Ballroom Dancing: Changing my Life One Step at a Time"... It's time to take this One Step at a Time... quite literally.... One Dance Step at a Time.
For the first quarter of this year beginning today, I will be counting my steps. Much like the popular "10,000 steps a day" program that is instituted in many major corporations. The idea is that not only will it give me, and you who join me, something positive to focus on for counting calories and living healthy... but it will make us more aware of how much we actually move in a day.
Statistics state that a sedentary person (aka lazy lumps like me most days) take less than 3,000 steps... well I was WAY under 3,000 steps when I first started testing a few weeks ago. I have a pedometer, (one can be purchased at your local super mart for about $5) and I will be wearing it all the time... the mission, as I've chosen to accept it.. is that I will work my hardest to reach 10,000 steps every day, and make as many of those dance steps as I can for the next 90 days.
I had a blast figuring out my steps... Steps from computer to fridge - 10... Steps from far side of bedroom to bathroom- 5-7 (what can I say... my place is small) Average steps in Salsa group class... 1,754... Steps during my last lesson with RT... aprox 2,000. Alright.. now we're talking!
So as I issue this challenge for myself, I am throwing the gauntlet out to everyone that sees this page. Join with me and start taking it one step at a time. It will be an adventure like we've never tried and it will be entertaining to say the least.
Not only that.. but instead of the once, twice a week, whenever I feel like it posts.. you'll be seeing my posts as often as is possible... not when I feel like letting you in my world... but all the time. You'll read more about not only my dancing life, but my real life as a whole. Mainly because they are so closely linked. You'll also learn how you to can in fact absolutely rock your own world.. I love and own the vast majority of my world.. it's time you do the same, and it's time I learn how to rock and roll in all parts of my life... Come on.. Join me!
What you don't know as my valued readers... what you are going to LEARN is that I'm brassy, I'm confident, I'm brutally honest, I'm more than just the "bubble gum pop" entertainment this blog as been.... and dancing has given me the power to do that and be that and I'm going to show you how by leading through example. I also have spectacularly bad days.. and manage to bounce back from them with a force like no other... and I want.... no better... I need to share that with you... to let you know that it's okay for that to happen.
There is another aspect to this challenge that for me will probably be the hardest of all.. My new dance friend, and practice partner that I had mentioned at the top of the year... Horace... has presented me with a challenge that I can't help but take up and to run with.. Me.. the girl that during her height of major weight loss, weighed herself twice a day just to see what the numbers on the scale would do... I am challenged to weigh myself today... and not once again for 90 days... I can't tell you how hard that will be for me! This is all about health, and feeling better about being in my skin and we know that this feeling is not based on the number on the scale... hey I'm a strong woman with a strong muscular frame... who knows what my healthy weight can be... what I want is to FEEL confident in the clothes I wear every day and to FEEL better about my life 100% and I have always said that it is my purpose in life...check my profile.... to tell other's how be passionate about life... now is the time that I put the edit button aside.. and do just that.
Will you celebrate life with me and join the "One Dance Step at a Time" Challenge? I sure hope so! 10,000 steps a day is about 5 miles... I'm committed... this feels right, and the way it should be... no more being shy... it's time to own your life and as I like to refer to myself... be the "rock star" I know I am on the dance floor in my every day!
Day 1... approximately 3000 steps. (at the very peak of sedentary!) and about 1,700 of those were with Largo tonight for my birthday lesson! Tomorrow is a new day.. and I've got 10,000 steps as my mission. Care to hedge bets? I bet I figure out how to hit 8,000 steps by Friday.. and I'm unemployed... How many steps do you think you take around the office??? I also wager that 10,000 steps will be hit a week from now... anyone have an over/under on how many will be dance steps?
Game on! Happy 31 to me! Happy Dancing to you! Let's do this!
Saturday, January 9, 2010
First Party of the Year 2010!
Hi everybody! Is everyone having as wonderful a start to 2010 as I am? I really hope so! But more of that is to come on Tuesday Jan 12... so make sure you check in!
The first party of the year kicked off on Friday... the theme... was "New Year's Eve Deja Vu." It was my first step into the dance studio for this year and I was a little anxious. I hadn't danced aside from a little "kitchen salsa" in about three weeks... so I knew I was gonna be rough on the floor, but needed to dance!!!!
I arrived just after the lights had turned off and the music was going... I changed into my new shoes.. that had been sitting in the car the whole break (cold!) and quickly realized they still need some adjusting...which was something I wasn't about to deal with.... I took my spot on the sidelines and greeted a few friends and some of the professionals... of course I told them what I fantastic year I'd been having so far... we know me... I have a hard time containing my excitement! (More to come on January 12th!)
The party was pretty surprisingly light, not many people there... although still follow heavy (lots of women) so not a ton of dancing to be done, but I did get some! STP picked me up for a Tango and I felt like a klutz... he's a really good lead and we've had some amazing dances in the past... this..wasn't one of them. So I thought... Great, so this is how it's gonna be huh? Gotta get back in here! After that I chatted with some dance friends and waited for my next lead. One of the established student leads grabbed me for an East Coast Swing.... I danced with him several times at the last party and wow had he improved! I now officially love dancing with him!... but the ECS was rough too... dang it!
I found Largo and realized how much I missed him... I told him some highlights of my great news just as the dance style was announced... SALSA! Yeah baby! That was one of the roughest Salsa's of my life... but it was one of the best dances of my night. :-) I think that was all Largo's doing though. He's entirely too much fun.
What other dances did I get... well there were some new leads I'd never met before... two of which I had the privilege of dancing with. I love dancing with the new guys... I love that they're nervous and I'm not.. and I love that it's my job to make us look good so they don't actually need to worry. They were both very good for the experience they've had, I can't wait to see how they progress. One I danced with several times showed improvement on each dance.
CWS picked me up for a disaster of a Waltz.. but he was really sweet about it... I had executed the same moves with other pros just three weeks ago.. and couldn't remember a dang thing about it! This is why I hate leaving the studio... I think I really do need those daily reminders I mentioned in the past. I felt terrible about it and promised I'd be better next week.
I also got to dance with TSD which is a pretty rare occurrence... we got to do East Coast Swing, where he decided to lead me through a step I hadn't done in...oh about a year... and then took part of the dance to re-teach it to me... which was actually quite helpful. When the dance was over he gave me some good suggestions on a location for Salsa... I may have to look further into it. I haven't been Salsa dancing in forever.
Michael from Bonnie's Belle Gowns was there and we danced a Cha Cha and the second Salsa of the evening.. the two dances I can't possibly turn down... way too much fun!
The event that sticks out most in my mind though happened towards the end of the evening. The studio has a tradition of having everyone gather in a circle and we all share the experience of the song "SHOUT" It's actually a lot of fun, a lot of the pros get goofy about it. TSD got in the center like James Brown, STP then followed and draped a jacket over him.. very cute. Then STP decided to go around and grab random students by the waist and hoist them up for a second (jump assisted by the student of course). Well he came to me, and got behind me.. touched my waist and knew there wasn't a dang thing he could do about lifting me (first- I outweigh him, second- anytime anyone tries it I purposely make it harder by pushing all my weight into the floor). So he got in front of me and said "Lift me!" Instantly visions of my lifting RT last year to win the Hustle Contest flash in my mind. I think ok, I'll just put my hands on his waist and let him jump... well no.. my body doesn't respond like that.. he jumps and I lift.. and STP is suspended in front of me for a second or two before coming back down to the floor.
"You're STRONG!" STP exclaims!
I'm flabbergasted that he thought anything but and saddened that I performed such an action (as previously explained, I don't like to display my strength)....
"What did you expect??" I respond, puzzled.
STP moved on to continue his picking up of random students around the circle.....
After "SHOUT" was over, I gathered my belongings and prepared to leave. On my way out I passed STP in the lobby area and simply stated...
"That's the last time you ask me to pick you up I betcha." with a wry expression.
"Yeah you're strong!" He replies with a grin.
*Sigh*... yes I'm strong... we know I'm strong... but I find it very unladylike to display such a strength... oh well... bottom line is... it is who I am and I will learn to be happy with it. Lets face it.. the more I dance the stronger I become.
All in all a very nice party and another great event to add to my really nice start to 2010! Have I mentioned lately how much I love to dance Ballroom????
See you all on Tuesday Jan 12 (late night) for my new developments!
Happy Dancing!
The first party of the year kicked off on Friday... the theme... was "New Year's Eve Deja Vu." It was my first step into the dance studio for this year and I was a little anxious. I hadn't danced aside from a little "kitchen salsa" in about three weeks... so I knew I was gonna be rough on the floor, but needed to dance!!!!
I arrived just after the lights had turned off and the music was going... I changed into my new shoes.. that had been sitting in the car the whole break (cold!) and quickly realized they still need some adjusting...which was something I wasn't about to deal with.... I took my spot on the sidelines and greeted a few friends and some of the professionals... of course I told them what I fantastic year I'd been having so far... we know me... I have a hard time containing my excitement! (More to come on January 12th!)
The party was pretty surprisingly light, not many people there... although still follow heavy (lots of women) so not a ton of dancing to be done, but I did get some! STP picked me up for a Tango and I felt like a klutz... he's a really good lead and we've had some amazing dances in the past... this..wasn't one of them. So I thought... Great, so this is how it's gonna be huh? Gotta get back in here! After that I chatted with some dance friends and waited for my next lead. One of the established student leads grabbed me for an East Coast Swing.... I danced with him several times at the last party and wow had he improved! I now officially love dancing with him!... but the ECS was rough too... dang it!
I found Largo and realized how much I missed him... I told him some highlights of my great news just as the dance style was announced... SALSA! Yeah baby! That was one of the roughest Salsa's of my life... but it was one of the best dances of my night. :-) I think that was all Largo's doing though. He's entirely too much fun.
What other dances did I get... well there were some new leads I'd never met before... two of which I had the privilege of dancing with. I love dancing with the new guys... I love that they're nervous and I'm not.. and I love that it's my job to make us look good so they don't actually need to worry. They were both very good for the experience they've had, I can't wait to see how they progress. One I danced with several times showed improvement on each dance.
CWS picked me up for a disaster of a Waltz.. but he was really sweet about it... I had executed the same moves with other pros just three weeks ago.. and couldn't remember a dang thing about it! This is why I hate leaving the studio... I think I really do need those daily reminders I mentioned in the past. I felt terrible about it and promised I'd be better next week.
I also got to dance with TSD which is a pretty rare occurrence... we got to do East Coast Swing, where he decided to lead me through a step I hadn't done in...oh about a year... and then took part of the dance to re-teach it to me... which was actually quite helpful. When the dance was over he gave me some good suggestions on a location for Salsa... I may have to look further into it. I haven't been Salsa dancing in forever.
Michael from Bonnie's Belle Gowns was there and we danced a Cha Cha and the second Salsa of the evening.. the two dances I can't possibly turn down... way too much fun!
The event that sticks out most in my mind though happened towards the end of the evening. The studio has a tradition of having everyone gather in a circle and we all share the experience of the song "SHOUT" It's actually a lot of fun, a lot of the pros get goofy about it. TSD got in the center like James Brown, STP then followed and draped a jacket over him.. very cute. Then STP decided to go around and grab random students by the waist and hoist them up for a second (jump assisted by the student of course). Well he came to me, and got behind me.. touched my waist and knew there wasn't a dang thing he could do about lifting me (first- I outweigh him, second- anytime anyone tries it I purposely make it harder by pushing all my weight into the floor). So he got in front of me and said "Lift me!" Instantly visions of my lifting RT last year to win the Hustle Contest flash in my mind. I think ok, I'll just put my hands on his waist and let him jump... well no.. my body doesn't respond like that.. he jumps and I lift.. and STP is suspended in front of me for a second or two before coming back down to the floor.
"You're STRONG!" STP exclaims!
I'm flabbergasted that he thought anything but and saddened that I performed such an action (as previously explained, I don't like to display my strength)....
"What did you expect??" I respond, puzzled.
STP moved on to continue his picking up of random students around the circle.....
After "SHOUT" was over, I gathered my belongings and prepared to leave. On my way out I passed STP in the lobby area and simply stated...
"That's the last time you ask me to pick you up I betcha." with a wry expression.
"Yeah you're strong!" He replies with a grin.
*Sigh*... yes I'm strong... we know I'm strong... but I find it very unladylike to display such a strength... oh well... bottom line is... it is who I am and I will learn to be happy with it. Lets face it.. the more I dance the stronger I become.
All in all a very nice party and another great event to add to my really nice start to 2010! Have I mentioned lately how much I love to dance Ballroom????
See you all on Tuesday Jan 12 (late night) for my new developments!
Happy Dancing!
Tuesday, January 5, 2010
Here we are.. a brand new year! Gearing up for Big Things!
Welcome to the new year my friends! I'm starting to think maybe ringing in the new year quietly is more my style.. because with the exception of dancing... 2010 is starting off with a real bang! Sadly I haven't been on the 
hardwood in a couple of weeks... and oh I miss it dearly! It's something I had to do though... had to get some other things in order before I go back to the studio. I'm still working on the exciting new development, and we are a mere week from my own personal time to renew, refresh, and take the world by the horns again... yep you guessed it, my birthday is next week! :-)
hardwood in a couple of weeks... and oh I miss it dearly! It's something I had to do though... had to get some other things in order before I go back to the studio. I'm still working on the exciting new development, and we are a mere week from my own personal time to renew, refresh, and take the world by the horns again... yep you guessed it, my birthday is next week! :-)Most scoff at the idea that I like my birthday, or that they could like their own. It marks the passage of time, another tick on the odometer of life.. but you know what? I think of all of those as good things! Without time, I wouldn't really have another reliable way to judge what's going on, and you wouldn't either. Why do I like my birthday you ask? It's simple! It's my one day... the one day where I get to set aside and celebrate life the way I like to, without hesitation, regret, or remorse. Sometimes it changes, sometimes I like big blow out parties, and sometimes, like this year I am choosing a more quiet approach..but rest assured... it may not be the actual day.. but I will set aside time to do what I want to remind myself that I'M STILL HERE! :-)
It wasn't all that long ago that I didn't really want to be after all, and now that I do? Hello! I LOVE IT! This year I get to mark the "big" 31. I happen to love being in my 30's thank you very much!
I'm also going to use the day to announce my big plan for "1st Quarter 2010" so keep your eyes peeled... it's just days away! It's a plan that will have you all with me every step of the way, and if you choose to participate, we can do some very small things every day to change the way we feel about life, dancing, eating, and even the dreaded working out! I am VERY Excited about it! It's not that original, but you all know...
I'll make it my own run with it, and take you all along with me! (It's no fun for this girl to do these things on her own now...you know that!)
I'll make it my own run with it, and take you all along with me! (It's no fun for this girl to do these things on her own now...you know that!) I hope everyone had a lovely holiday and is happy to have the new decade to work with... GREAT THINGS ARE AHEAD.... I GUARANTEE IT!
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