Ohio Star Ball 2010 Friday Night, Rhythm, Standard, and a Good 'ol Time!

This is IT! The Ohio Star Ball!!!

Hey gang! As promised... Ohio Star Ball updates from my darkened hotel room where my roommates sleep and/or prepare for bed.

Today was a ton of fun! My new to the blog friend who I shall call Endearing, because she is quite the endearing soul when you get to know her, met at O'hare International Airport at 11:15am where we endured security (no full body scan for us, or pat down thank you!), and the wait for our 45 min flight to Columbus Ohio. From there we grabbed a quick 10 min cab ride to our hotel, and met up with Bonnie and Michael who had already arrived.

A quick jaunt over the street in a covered walkway landed us smack dab in the middle of the largest number of ballroom vendors I have ever seen gathered in one place! It was amazing! Endearing and I meandered around getting turned around more than once, looking at the wares of ballroom gowns, accessories, shoes, photography booths etc. Oh what a sight! (no photography allowed but I may try to sneak some pics later...) We then promptly found the food court and had a late afternoon snack. Then moseyed on back to our hotel room where ETP and his bride had arrived. We discussed dinner plans.

Megan Murphy and Vincente Martinez Photo Courtesy of Creative Portraiture

ETP, his spouse, and I decided we would go to the "2nd Floor Bar" appropriately named "The Bar on the 2nd Floor" or some such to meet up with an online friend from Partner Dance Online. What a lovely time that turned out to be! We grabbed some dinner while there and then met up with the rest of the entourage in the large ballroom shortly after the evening began. We then sat, mostly riveted, for the next 5 hours watching world class International Ballroom (formerly Standard Ballroom) and American Rhythm heats. Later in the evening, Theatre Arts category commenced where our own Megan and Vincente (formerly known as the couple from Michigan Ave) proudly took 2nd place! Congratulations to them!!! So proud and happy to have seen that! (Yes as they are now a household name in the Ballroom community...they get to be named for real on the blog. :-) )

LadyGaGa Showdance (Endearing's favorite number)

The evening ended with the show dances that all the finalists get to do... wow there were some fantastic numbers! I just kept remembering that this is what I used to watch on TV LOOOOONG before I ever took ballroom into my heart as a passion... I couldn't believe I was seeing it first hand!! Endearing and I met up with ETP and his spouse in the bar for some lovely chatting and chilling out amungst the other Ballroom elite. It was a very comfortable place to be... :-)

Megan Murphy and Vincente Martinez 2nd Place! Photo Courtesy of Creative Portraiture

And now... here I sit telling you all about it, because it's impossible to be here and not desperately want everyone to be here and experience it with me!

Pictures to come...but for now... a well earned rest!

Until tomorrow!

Ohio Star Ball 2010 Spectating the Ballroom Elite!

Hello to all my precious loyal friends and readers. This year, as you can tell by my lack of posting, has been rough at best. I did about three weeks ago FINALLY get clearance to dance! But, that's not what I'm writing about just now... you'll get all those updates later. THIS post is about a trip that has been in the works since November 24th 2009.

Ohio Star Ball is the United States most foremost ballroom competition. Nearly the entire ballroom year revolves around this competition that started 33 years ago in Columbus Ohio. The day after last year's competition ended I booked my hotel room for this year. At the time I was unemployed, but knew no matter what was to happen I'd attend this year. I've been aiming to do this since I started dancing nearly 4 years ago.

Many US residents may know a ballroom show that used to be aired every February on their Local PBS station called "America's Ballroom Challenge" this was in fact the Saturday evening of Ohio Star Ball. I used to watch this show every year... long before "Dancing with the Stars" and "So You Think You Can Dance?" ever hit the airwaves we were introduced to elite ballroom dancing through this once a year program.

I am so excited I can't even tell you that on Friday November 19th I will be on my way to Ohio Star Ball with a small entourage of friends for some of the most exciting ballroom competition we may ever see! I am coming out of my skin excited! I'll be meeting friends from Dance Forums and Partner Dance Online discussion forums as well as catching up with old friends and meeting all new people!

With me will be Bonnie and Michael of Bonnie's Belle Gowns, ETP777 and his new bride (yeah, a lot has happened this year!) as well as a new to the blog friend as yet to be named.Together we will spectate, dance, dine and laugh the weekend away!

I am also bringing the good 'ol laptop with me! So I hope to find a bit of time each day to post this experience..it's going to be memorable for sure! If it's one thing my job has taught me it's that I'm capable of stringing together a sentence on a keyboard even when bone weary tired. :-)

Now that I'm working my way back to the dance floor and attending this new comp.... it's time to blow the dust off this forum of expression in dance and get moving again! It can't ever be what it was...but who knows.. maybe the next chapter is better than the last several???

July 31st NATIONAL DANCE DAY!

Hi! Thank you so much to my loyal readers for sticking by me all this time! As I still deal with Ankle things (we're possibly talking surgery with the doctor tomorrow). I can't let this upcoming day pass us by!


Just a few days away on July 31st is the First ever NATIONAL DANCE DAY!

As many of us have seen because we all watch and love So You Think You Can Dance (SYTYCD) one of the judges/producers of the show has been pushing this new marked day on every show. It has taken off like crazy! I've heard tale that even Congress is going to do a Flash Mob dance on the National Mall in Washington DC!!!!

SYTYCD and the Dizzy Feet Foundation (one of my favorite charitable organizations) have asked Napoleon and Tabitha, master hip hop choreographers for the show, to put together a little routine for everyone to learn.



Go ahead give it a try!

There are also several cities and counties around the country as well as private organizations putting together various events to mark the day so check with your local dance studios (of all kinds, not just ballroom) to see how they are marking the event! 

SYTYCD is also allowing everyone to post videos of how they are celebrating National Dance Day on their Facebook page. So be sure to check it out!!!

As for me, I will be spending time with dance friends, but sadly not dancing...so you get out there and burn the floor, street, driveway, yard, whatever you dance on, for me!

Issues Issues Issues Abound, and not ALL Massage is Created Equal.

Seriously… after talking to my Physical Therapist and she pointed out all my leg issues the idea of how exactly is it that I'm able to dance crossed my mind a LOT! This week brought on THE MASSAGE FROM HELL to boot.

Massages are supposed to be relaxing… at least the few I've had have been relaxing… unless you have Tendinitis in your muscles I guess. It has been discovered that I have a SEVERE case of Tendinitis in both my calves... which is important to work out because of the way the muscles connect to the ankle and foot.

I have tight muscles in my right hip, and my knees both go in towards center when I bend them instead of straight forward, (based on knee surgeries I've had in the past, this is the way they've healed). Also when I walk both of my feet whip in, again probably because of the Tendinitis, although that was a known issue before I started Physical therapy.

So this week my Physical Therapist had the onsite masseuse gal work on my calf…

We've established that I experience some level of pain in my legs all the time right? So pain threshold there is especially high… Well ya'll… I almost needed a bite stick to keep from cracking my teeth!

Every single touch felt like razor blades from knee to ankle, I was able to carry on a conversation through most of it, but there were moments where I just about lost my mind. Then I learn it's gonna have to happen again. *sigh*

So allow me to diagram it out for you… this is how my body from the hips down along with a description of the common issue of Tendinitis:

 
Tendinitis is an inflammation or irritation of a tendon, a thick cord that attaches bone to muscle. Tendinitis is most often caused by repetitive, minor impact on the affected area, or from a sudden more serious injury. Incorrect posture at work or home or poor stretching or conditioning before exercise or playing sports also increases a person's risk.

Treatment of tendinitis includes:

• Avoiding activities that aggravate the problem
  
• Resting the injured area
  
• Icing the area the day of the injury
  
• Taking over-the-counter anti-inflammatory drugs
  
• Treating the area with a heating pad
  

It can take weeks and sometimes months to treat and resolve Tendinitis, and it can reoccur.

Prevention of Tendinitis is as simple as including a good solid warm up and cool down of all muscle groups and avoiding repetitive movements.

Well… I'm guilty of all of that… I usually used to stretch at the end of my workout sessions and very rarely before or after dancing. I also do not currently own any heating elements for treatment.

SO… I'm sidelined a little more seriously than I thought… and for a bit longer than planned. I was informed that I can return to the gym this week, as long as I PROMISE to include long stretching periods before and after each session. (I promise!).

Although I woke up this morning with every major muscle group from my shoulders down felt tight and frozen, and I haven't done ANYTHING major since Physical Therapy on Thursday. I did have a stretching session at about 7 this evening and my right quad (front of thigh) locked up on me.

That's ok.. I'm more determined than ever… I am not an underdog, I just have some challenges ahead… and I have to rebuild my strength the right way instead of what I was doing before and just pushing through.

Square One… All Over Again

Hi! Welcome to my blog, my name is Kat and I'm a recovering unhealthy person. (read: fat chick)


Ok… so why am I introducing myself all over again you ask? Well that's simple… we're back at the beginning. I am physically and nearly mentally back where I was when I stepped on the dance floor damn near 4 years ago…. What the hell happened????


Well… I'm not exactly sure of all the steps I tripped and bumbled over to get back HERE. Back to the land of the out of shape, not dancing, vaguely resembling miserable state I'm currently in. But here I am…. In a bit of pain, up almost two pant sizes from where I was, lacking most of the motivation that I had a year ago at this time.


Well Shit. (uh oh.. she only curses when she's angry)


It came upon me earlier when I was at my first PT appt. I was being assessed as they do to check where you're at with range of motion and all that. In my case we were of course focusing on my ankle. In the process of assessing the way I walk, and all that… it's been pretty much decided that every joint and muscle group from the hips down is pretty much all wired wrong. To the point where I'm pretty sure the therapist seriously doubted my ability to dance properly.


Well that sucks… but I also came to one realization: I've SERIOUSLY fallen to the bottom of the stairs I was so diligently trying to climb, and I HAAAAATE it! I may not be down to that last step yet, but I'll be damned if I'm going to be putting time and money and effort into healing this ankle only to have to start over with Largo, what RT and I had set out at the start to accomplish. I've been so AFRAID of damaging my ankle further than it's already gone, afraid of not doing my paying job well enough, afraid of oversleeping. Just plain afraid that I completely and totally irrevocably, lost sight of what the heck I was living for.


Life is Grand! Existence Freak'n Sucks.


I've had all the conversations with myself… trust me ALL of them… (mostly while also berating myself for sitting on the couch and watching TV). They go something like this:


Why don't I just suck it up and go back to the gym?


What if I KILL my ankle... it's already half dead. Look at it all puffy… why am I even taking this medication if it's not working?


Well that's never stopped me before. I have to take the meds for a month at minimum so it's probably going to take longer than a week to work.


It's gonna hurt.


Shut up, I am in some level of pain every day and actually forget to tell people about it because I don't feel it enough to matter, not only that but I actually revel in the pain that can only be brought on by a good workout. (sad fact)


*sigh*


I got myself in this mess again… it's time to claw out of it.


Oh but (insert show here) is on in 10 minutes.


Which is why I pay monthly for a Digital Video Recorder.


I don't have anything clean to wear to the gym.


So I should get off my duff and go to the Laundromat that is directly NEXT TO THE GYM. I can work out when I'm finished. Or just wear the closest thing to clean… no one is gonna care.


I'm gonna care, they still know me in there.


Laundry will take like three hours.


I am the most impossible person to argue with.


Yep, and I'm arguing with myself.


I'll start tomorrow.


Well there have been lots and lots of tomorrows. The buck stops here, I'm not waiting for tomorrow.


 
Which also brings the question (since I know I have written about this before) why is this time different? Well it's not… it's the same level of conviction I have every time I try to rally to come back from a stint off the wagon of health. The only difference is… I really let myself go this time.


Yeah you could put part of the blame on the ankle… you could put part of it on how I felt after RT left… you could put it on the fact that I felt the need to get used to my job and stop all my extra working out…. you could put the blame squarely on my year of unemployment.


Are you noticing the common denominator?


All those reasons are… sorry, not reasons…. Excuses.

 
ME


I'm the common denominator in every one. Not a single external source, it was all the way I was feeling… I could have pulled myself out of it. I really could have. But I didn't. Wow… sometimes I just plain old suck.


So in the spirit of the rally and how much I seem to love being the underdog in all of this…


Here we go again….


Clothes are laid out for tomorrow… not including the pedometer only because the only workout machine I can really get any cardio in on right now is the bike, and my workout clothes are freshly laundered, my Digital Video Recorder is set to catch anything I might want to watch on TV at a later time.


Next PT appointment is on Tuesday morning before work, I will be there every Tuesday and Thursday morning obtaining knowledge about my sucky ankle range of motion, and how to strengthen all the other various muscle groups from the hips down, as I try to rehab this injured ankle back to some semblance of order.


Hello Life, my name is Kat… and I'm just warning you… I'm working my way back to taking over.




 

 

The Official Ankle Verdict…. I’m on the DL

Saw the doctor this morning about my ankle… Actually I saw a nurse and two doctors about my ankle. I'm not exactly sure how doctors get their own nurses that travel around to their various offices, or how they get resident doctors assigned to their services either…. But this doc has both.

I arrived, filled out the needed paperwork, waited about 10 minutes and was ushered into the office to wait. Then a very nice x-ray technician came in and brought me to the x-ray room where we took three x-rays. We then walked back to my designated holding pen and my x-rays were immediately brought up on a monitor (very cool technology). I was then left to wait and contemplate the images before me. I was expecting to see something odd our out of place… you'd think after 14 weeks of trying to nurse this ankle back to health I'd see something on the x-ray. I don't know exactly what a normal ankle looks like… but I gotta tell ya, my ankle looked pretty normal on the bone structure level.

After waiting and contemplating a little bit longer my Doctor's nurse Lucy comes in. She interviews me… it started with "You're 31 right?" after which I knew this was going to be a lot of blah de blah nonsense about information she already had in my file. She didn't seem overly friendly on this particular occasion either. Meh… I wanted to see the doc.

Then he walked in… I looked up from dangling my feet from the table and looked him straight in the eye and shook his hand… the most attractive doctor I have ever seen in my life! DRAT… why did I decide to wear the slumpy jeans and a sweatshirt! Probably because I never expected to see anyone remotely attractive in a doctor's office! This was Dr. Steve… and he works with the doctor I had my appt with (must be a resident or something)… He tested the resistance on my ankle… inquired about previous ankle surgery (I have a particularly nasty scar on my injured ankle from a previously unrelated shaving mishap… don't ask) which he mistook for a surgery scar… he joked with me about possibly needing surgery and informing me that flip flops from Old Navy were not good choices for footwear he then he walked out. Sadly… without taking my phone number (but… it's in my file should he ever feel the need to call).

About five minutes after the glorious Dr. Steve left, the main Doctor came in, we'll call him Dr. P., and he reviewed much the same information that both Lucy and Dr. Steve reviewed, only thankfully in slightly greater detail I finally felt after my third time around at telling the saga of my ankle all the words were finally being heard. I also mentioned for the third time that getting back to the dance floor is what I needed most of all. I can already walk; it's the dancing part I can't seem to get right at the moment. So there was some more "push this way, and back that way, good, and again" to test my current range of motion. Also after reviewing the x-rays which look pretty much normal Dr. P. informed me that I have a very normal extra bone in my foot. How, that's normal I'm not exactly sure… but the fact that I got an observation of "everything looks pretty normal except this common extra bone you have here." Is actually normal… it seems that I always have a slightly left of perfect status on most of my anatomy.

Moving on to the plan of attack so that I can get back on the dance floor full time to both mine, and Largo's satisfaction:

I am to take 750mg twice daily of some kind of super strong anti inflammatory which Dr. Steve says will knock out any swelling.

I am to proceed directly to my nearest Physical Therapy (PT) facility in workout clothes and explain to the Physical Therapist that I require an athletic training variety of therapy so that I can return to dance.

I am to do visit this PT facility 3 x weekly for 4 weeks and also perform at home exercises (that I've already been doing for at least 8 weeks myself already) at which time I am to asses my own ankle.

IF after these 4 weeks I am showing marked improvement I am to proceed with my PT for two more weeks and start introducing dance again (at the Physical Therapist's discretion).

IF after these 4 weeks I am NOT showing any marked signs of improvement and strength in my ankle I am to proceed to an MRI facility and make an appt with Dr. P. to consult on possible surgery. (An MRI takes images of the soft tissue such as tendons in the body for a better assessment of what is going on.)


So this leads me to ask "Ok, that's a plan, but what about dancing…. Am I off the floor or what?"

Dr. P looks at my x-ray, looks at me and says "Well I'm not about to tell you not to dance, but it's not going to help you heal."

"Ok… so spell it out for me what does that mean?"

"How about go to some PT, take the meds, and MAKE SURE your therapist knows you have to dance so you get the proper type of PT and decide for yourself when you can go back."

Well shit.

Based on my performance in my last lesson… I'm on the DL (Disabled List)… Which means:

No dancing of any kind for 4 weeks not at studio parties or anything… I will work my ankles at PT and my upper body at the gym and if the swelling starts to improve, I will also include walking on the treadmill (or whichever form of cardio my PT will advise). This is my 4 week plan to see if I can actually get some RESULTS.

Also, after speaking at length with my friend Horace, I will also be looking into a second opinion.

I am sick of feeling like this year is slipping by and all I have to show for it is the remarkable ability to sit at my desk.

Sidelined by Injury… Still… Again… Largo Says “No!”

You may remember that I had mentioned an ankle injury back in January. I had slipped on the ice, my right foot and ankle got shoved under a steel railing. I, like the trouper I tend to be… ignored it and plodded on with my day of wandering around the museum and out to dinner and show.

Well three months… actually about 14 weeks later… I'm still dealing with it. I've been dealing with it in my own special "trying to ignore" it way since then. I did take the required time with most sprains to ice, elevate and care for it…. To no avail. It proceeded to swell have blood bruises of all colors of the rainbow and just in general be a nuisance.

I've been to the studio dance parties with it, and tried to walk on the treadmill at the gym, and even had two or three lessons on it.

Well… I was ok at the parties, my ankle felt stiff and I felt all sorts of out of shape, but I thought it was ok… in spite of the constant swelling.

I thought the treadmill was ok too, until the swelling actually interfered with the way my gym shoes fit, so I stopped that.

I had a few lessons on it because I NEED to dance… now that I am financially able to dance… I NEED it… it is my sanity and my joy.

Week before last I managed ok until the last 10 minutes, the humor in the lesson was that my bangs were in my face, which never bothers me… but it bothers Largo… so he set forth on a mission to find me a Bobbi pin. During the last 10 minutes my ankle didn't hurt, it just felt like it was about to give out on me, so I insisted on Rumba for the rest of the lesson. I was also told by my wiser than his years professional instructor that "You will dance until you fall over broken, I know you."

Last week, was bad… I couldn't cha cha like I normally would, and was sub consciously trying to protect my ankle, so it made dancing a little rough. Largo insisted several times that I stop, while pointing out the small golf ball that appeared to be hanging onto the outside of my ankle. I told him it didn't hurt (it honestly didn't) but he didn't believe me.

So… we left it..or I should say HE left it that he left it by saying he would not actually accept any lessons from me until a doctor says it's ok.

I have my doctor appointment now. It's actually in the morning before work. I scheduled the appointment before my last lesson, which is probably why Largo felt so confident in telling me I couldn't dance with him anymore until after I get medical approval. Either way, no matter what the doctor says I am SURE of two things. 1- I'm not gonna like anything he says. 2- I'm not going to be able to dance for a while.

All I have to say is this… If I'm going to be made to be off the dance floor again for a minimum of 6-8 weeks, it had better be because I have done such irreparable damage to my ankle that it's going to need surgery or some other major treatment that will totally justify my not being on the dance floor. Because if it's not completely major then I may just lose my mind and try dancing behind Largo's back.

 

We'll see…. Wish me luck.

Big Dance News… Emerald Star Ball

Hi gang!
I've got some big news of my own... but first allow me to brag a bit about the professional dancers I know. Two weekends ago the nation's second largest ballroom competition took place. Emerald Ball in Los Angeles California.
This comp is HUGE… I believe I read 10,800 entries total between professional, pro/am, and amateur.
First of all… A BIG THANKS to one of my Facebook friends for somehow setting up a LIVE VIDEO STREAM for the Friday night events. Savvy and I sat in our pajamas till 3am Chicago time watching the excitement unfold as we saw the following results. (Also, we have never been so comfy while watching a ballroom competition!)

 

Largo and TNT WON the Rising Star Division of American Rhythm!!!!

 

STP and HFC placed SECOND in Rising Star American Rhythm!!!

 

TSD and FAF placed 6^th in Rising Star American Smooth!!!

M/V (aka "The Theatre Arts Couple") from Fred Astaire Michigan Avenue WON the Show dance division for the 2^nd YEAR IN A ROW!!!

 

As a true fan of these dancers I can't even tell you how amazing it is to be in their continually growing fan base.

 

SO PROUD TO KNOW AND LEARN FROM YOU ALL! CONGRATULATIONS and KEEP IT UP!

Photographs by Fred Astaire Chicago North and Stephen Marino of Decadance Photography

I’m Baaaaack…. Well… I’m Working my way Back Anyway…

*Poof*… ugh I left this place for too long… *cough cough* it's awfully dusty in here…wouldn't you say? *ah choo!* Geez… had I known… I may have at least come in and dusted a bit…..*click* Reading light on - Check *rummage, crumble, crack…* Ah!!! There we go! Ok….*whizzz whirr* Computer up and running- Check, *sniff*…whew! Here we go… Wait…. No.. *flip, scrape, klunk* Thesaurus present- Check… NOW… we're on our way….

Hi gang!

So…. What have you been up to??

Me?

Oh… nothing… much… really…

Well that's not true, I've been working… lots and lots of working which means lots and lots of mental exhaustion… do you want to know how long it takes someone who was laid off for nearly a year to NOT be completely exhausted each day when she gets home from the job she finally got? Answer: 7 weeks.

In that 7 weeks I have sat at a computer for nearly 9 hours every week day… came home, and plopped in front of the TV mostly… trying to figure out what to do with my ankle (which is still not healed) and watching the weight get packed back on and my stamina go right out the window…and I let the blog get all dusty.... 

THAT'S what I've been up to… ugh… and I hate myself for it… HOWEVER I have started in the last week or so to build up my energy and stamina to climb back up this mountain I seem to have fallen to the bottom of again.

There have been some highlights… I started the year off (the ballroom year that is) by attending the Indiana Challenge competition with some ballroom friends, including Jem, and made some new ballroom friends while I was at it… not only that but watched the pros from Fred Astaire Buffalo Grove kick some serious butt on the dance floor… it was at that comp that I decided I needed to see all I could see of my pros, because I have a really excellent feeling about this year for them!

Mid March had ETP and a "new to the blog" friend Savvy (remember all names of people not in the public eye are changed to protect the innocent). So anyway… the three of us had a fun filled car trip to St. Louis (Savvy was kind enough to drive). The competition itself was as good as I remember last year… Largo and TNT along with STP and HFC performed very well! TSD and FAF weren't able to make it this time around, but… but… the Theatre Arts Couple from Fred Astaire Michigan Avenue debut their new routine… and it's FABULOUS… MAN this region is chock full of talent! I wish I had my pics from this event! But unfortunately… with the mess around here, I can't find my cord to get them off of my camera…

The most recent competition I attended was the Fred Astaire Chicago regional comp. I only attended the Pro/Am (aka Teachers and Students) portion for this one. Jem was competing in Latin and Rhythm and she did AWESOME. As did all of my competing friends that day.

I have also been attending the parties at the studio, using them as an opportunity to test my ankle… which is now officially the weakest ankle ever! I'm really REALLY irritated about this ankle thing, and will be having my medical professional examine it as soon as my employee benefits kick in next month.

I also am now officially caught up on my bills and know what my monthly budget is… so I will be resuming my lessons with Largo in two weeks. I hope to get back to one lesson a week (when he's not off competing somewhere) and as many group classes as I can handle.

Also, my gym that is a two minute car ride from my home is now OPEN FOR BUSINESS and I plan on making myself a rather regular fixture there as well.

So…I've fallen down to the bottom of the mountain I had started to get really good at climbing… but I'm not gonna let it get me down anymore… I can't it's EXTREMELY counterproductive. I don't like being counterproductive.

Now…where's that pedometer??? *CrAsH!*…oh… there it is! J

What’s Really Important?

I mean really… What's really important??

As I prepare to engage my full life and full schedule again. I've been thinking about this a lot lately. Now that I have less free time, (not that I was ever super productive when I did have free time), what is really important to me and what I want to do?

Then… I saw this mini documentary in TLC last week. It was following one of the former winners of NBC's "The Biggest Loser" this gentleman was one of the people that lost the most amount of weight on the show. They were doing a "where is he now?" kind of follow up. This hit home for me… first because I auditioned for this show when I started dancing, and didn't make it… and second because he had regained ¾ of the weight back once the cameras were turned off. His reasoning was that once all the attention was off of him, he felt a little abandoned and stopped caring as much. Also, that while what he did on the show was amazing… that it didn't really teach him how to live daily life.

I can identify with him…

In my days of unemployment, I could have really chosen to kick up the workouts and kept up with the weight loss, let's face it… the last year and a half or so, I slid… I myself at one point had put back on 40 pounds of what I had lost…then dropped 20, then put back on 10… I think… I didn't pay that close attention… my family did though… every so often I'd get comments "Well you know you've put a lot of weight back on." Or whatever… That made me angry… but I was too busy being depressed. I couldn't see my way back to the path of good, healthy living. Could the reasons behind it be because I didn't have all that attention I was receiving from anyone and everyone in my dancing life to propel me forward? Was it possible that I was relying too much on outside influences to keep me on the path of a healthy life? ABSOLUTELY!

One BIG thing that has had me thinking in the days since I saw all of this on TV… is what does it come down to? It comes down to me… do I have the inner strength to reach my goals? Can I be humble enough to ask for help when I need it?

Well… my mind finally whittled all of that down into one simple question… What is really important? The other catalyst in all of this is that at my new job, where I'm meeting all these new people, who don't know me, my past, what I write, they vaguely know that I even dance. They have made comments about me being unique, and unusual, and things you don't normally hear from co-workers that hardly know me or my work ethic. THEY have noticed in two short weeks, some of the things I pride myself on… reminded me that I am the person I set out to be every day.

So now that I am working on building my life back up to what it should be, what it was two years ago, only better… I am continually asking myself "What is really important, no, REALLY important?… Am I willing to work to get and keep what is really important?"

The answer to the first is that it is REALLY important that I be proud of myself and my performance in everything I do. Whether I'm setting out to train a new client on software, write a blog post, dance a rumba, commit to my 10,000 dance steps a day program, go out with the dance gang after a party. I must enter and exit each one of those situations being proud of myself, and being proud of the way I handle whatever situations come up.

Ok...so now you ask what does it take for me to be proud of myself? Because, I did NOT come away from my unemployment experience being full of pride with the way I handled it. In fact… if I were to grade myself on it… I'd give myself a "D." So, for me to be proud of myself now… I have to put in the effort; I have to be honest with everybody, including myself. (That last bit is going to be tough… I'm exceptionally good at pulling the wool over my own eyes) Yeah, it can be said as easily as that… however to actually do it… now that's going to be the challenge.

I am still on the same mission I set out when I started this blog, well before I started this blog actually… I will be on it for the rest of my life, and right now… it's time that I start participating in my adventure as much as I THINK about participating in my own adventure. I am a very passionate person, and I've somehow limited myself to only expressing that passion in certain areas of my life… well that's gotta change.

So to answer the second part of the question... YES I am absolutely ready to put the work in and make this life everything I want it to be. I had it at one point in the not so distant past, it's time I regain it.. and keep it... for good. :-)

 

10,000 Dance Steps a Day Update:
For those of you on the 10,000 Dance Steps a Day program with me, I'm averaging 5,000 steps a day right now with some effort… I'm still working out my new schedule and waiting for my paychecks to start up so I can do things like put enough gas in my car to get to the dance studio, and gym again. This is not a setback, it's a mere rescheduling. Not everything can go exactly as planned… and I'm not giving up… so don't you do it either.

Up, Running, and Beginning Anew…

 

Hi everyone and thank you for your patience. I had to disappear for a bit to get used to my new work schedule. After 11 months of unemployment, getting used to waking up to an alarm and going to bed at a decent time is tough! I am VERY pleased to announce that I LOVE the company I work for, and my job, while it will require some things I've never done before (like carry a BlackBerry and work from home) it is just about everything I want in a day job. YAY!

Things I miss about having a job aren't the same things most people miss I don't think, well maybe… I didn't realize that I missed them until I got them back, like having a schedule, the EASE of planning meals and finding small ways to get some extra steps in. My office is on the 4^th floor, and while I won't be taking the stairs in the AM or in the PM (because I'll be carrying a laptop and various other work day necessities) I HAVE been taking the stairs to get to the vending machine, (which stocks V8!) and to run to the mailbox..That sort of thing. My legs currently hate me for it, but they'll learn.

Now that I feel ok being back in the swing of being busy and having more of a purpose to my daily life. I would like to start my 90 days of stepping anew… They say you don't get "do over's" in life… and for the most part they're right… but in this case we can make an exception.

Day 1 again Friday February 19^th.

It's my life… I can do what I want J

10,000 steps tomorrow or bust!

I've Been Cleared for Landing!

Alright! Now we're talking!


The very day I wrote about feeling like I was in a holding pattern waiting for clearance from the tower my life was put into fast forward...

I received my hiring contract with all the bells and whistles that come with this job... I start on MONDAY! YAY!

I put a fast forward on getting my car fixed by having that done on Friday, and it cost $100 less than the estimate I was quoted! YES...less to pay back to my wonderful benefactors!

Friday night I put my ankle to the test and attended the dance party at the studio, and while I didn't feel any pain, the dance shoe attached to my wounded ankle did get progressively tighter as the evening wore on... so still not totally healed yet, but no pain was a good sign. So I'm going to pick up the 10,000 dance steps on Monday...


Now I'm preparing to have a life again... I know it's going to be slow going for a few weeks, until some paychecks start rolling in and I get used to waking up to an alarm again.... but I can't wait!


I also decided that...while I thought I had a good thing going with The Beau... you know what? It wasn't meant to be and that's why I was never upset about his ending the relationship... I have officially jumped back into the dating world, and came back out with no scars to show.. so I'll be joining the dating scene again as soon as I've got my new work and dance schedule figured out! I'm really excited about this too!


They say that 2010 is the year of the Tiger on the Chinese calendar... I disagree... this is the YEAR OF THE KAT!

Sure... I got slowed up for a bit... but that's nothing... just wait...



Away we go!

In a Holding Pattern, Waiting for Clearance from the Tower...

Hi... well... lots of development this past week... once again steering me away from the dance floor.... but that's ok for the moment... but only for the moment...



I feel like an airplane set in a holding pattern, waiting for clearance from the tower to come in for a landing...



1- Ankle is getting better, more slowly than previously thought... So I'm waiting on that.

2- Limited Finances being what they are, I am pretty much homebound until I can muster up the money to put gas in my car AND go out.

3- Still haven't received the hiring contract for my new position.... I've been assured that it's just waiting for one more signature and then I'll have it... this is the biggest thing that makes me feel like this is a holding pattern.

4- The Beau decided to break up with me, then take me to dinner... which I'm still not upset about, hey... if he wanted to end it for the lame reasons he ended it... he's not who I thought he was... as soon as I get my finances in order...I'm back out in the dating pool again.

5- My car battery decided to die on me twice... so I took it in... and turns out I need about $600 in repairs to make it a reliable car again.... so now I'm facing $600 in debt... the appt to have it fixed is next week... until then... fingers crossed... I can start it every time I go to run an errand.



All of this, you'd think would have me totally down... but I'm not... it's just put me into this holding pattern... because as soon as I get everything straight...I'm going to pick up where I left off and not look back.



So I ask the tower... "Tower this is flight Kilo Alpha Tango Two Zero One Zero requesting permission to land and get on with things... is the runway clear yet... over?"

Frustration Nation... and I am the Queen!

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.

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. :-)

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!

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!

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!

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!

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! :-)

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 hope everyone had a lovely holiday and is happy to have the new decade to work with... GREAT THINGS ARE AHEAD.... I GUARANTEE IT!