He is Alpha and Omega.

My accomplishment of the day.  A two hour Photoshop tutorial that took me about four hours.  I luurve the metal effect.  It's so fine.  The font is way ornamental.  The first thing my husband said is "What does it say."  He doesn't appreciate the art in the text.  I needed to do the first attempt with the same font the tut uses so I could check as I went along and be sure mine looked right.  It was ten steps with some of those steps having ten steps in them!  I've learned to use layers and how to add styles, styles, and more styles.

And I realized I can go back to the .psd file and change the word easily.  I don't have to do the whole thing over again if I want to change the word.  Yay!

I love fonts.  I love typography.  I'm dreaming of kinetic typography and Adobe After Affects lately.

To build this project I'll need different fonts.  I could maybe use just one letter from this set, but we'll see about that. I want to do another tut which teaches how to make the word "fire" appear on fire - in a realistic way.  Found a grrrreat one, but it's advanced and I have to purchase the fire image. I'm gonna give it a go next.  Am thinking of adding an image of liquid metal being poured with the text. Thanks to Creative Commons I found a beautiful photo at Flicker.com which may be just right for my needs and the photographer allows me to copy and adapt the work.  I'm so glad there are photographers online who share their work.

I'm pretty sure that firing rockets into Israel is not a good idea.  I'm positive that war breaking out in that region of the world is very, very bad.  For everyone.

Woke up this morning, rolled over onto my back, and remembered that Barack Hussein Obama won a second term.  It's like waking up from a bad acid trip and realizing it's still not over.

At work Friday

On Friday I overheard someone in a small group curse and it wasn't funny so I walked out of the main area and into my office and sat down to work at my computer to work.  I share my office with the boss, or should I say the boss shares his office with me.  He's the department manager.  Heh.

Then I heard someone whisper, She's a Christian.  Another person said, I don't care.

A few minutes later my boss came in and sat down.  He rolled his chair toward me and smiled and said he hoped they weren't making me uncomfortable out there.  I told, him not at all.  And it's true.  It doesn't make me uncomfortable.  I've heard it all.  Used to talk like a sailor myself. 

I wish I'd said more.  I wish I'd feigned innocence and said "Why do you say that?"  Might have been interesting to hear the answer!  But I'm not quick thinking on my feet.  Honestly, it doesn't matter what I think anyhow.

But if anyone uses the same of my savior, the saver of my life, as a curse, I'll go spiritual and reply with a joyful and loud exclamation... Amen, Praise the Lord, or Hallelujah!  Because the name Jesus Christ isn't a curse.  It's the sweetest name to my ears.

I just got my three month review a week ago and they're keeping me, so next time I need to say, Amen, Praise the Lord, or Hallelujah! both hands will go up too.   Although being a good employee comes first.  That's really one of the best ways to witness.

“A well-formed Christian conscience does not permit one to vote for a political program that contradicts fundamental contents of faith and morals,” Ricken said in the letter. “Some candidates and one party have even chosen some of these as their party’s or their personal political platform. To vote for someone in favor of these positions means that you could be morally ‘complicit’ with these choices which are intrinsically evil. This could put your own soul in jeopardy.”

From a letter written by Bishop David Ricken, the leader of the Catholic Diocese of Green Bay, to his parishioners.

It's been three months and I still like my job.  A lot.

I had a conversation with my sister last night.  She's not far from a six figure yearly income and her job is stressful sometimes.  I know I couldn't take the stress she does.  Well, she started telling me about a job she was on and I had to interrupt her. 

So I said, Sis!  This is a boring story.  Your job is boring.  She said, wait, I'm getting to the funny part.  Actually, it was kinda funny at the end.

My husband overheard me saying her job was boring and turned to me and said, "Um, Lil, do you know you work in a stock room?  Talk about boring.  Hahahahaha!  Okey dokey.

My sis and her work group are gonna be on the front of a professional magazine for professional right-of-way people and I hope she sends me a copy.  I have some Zumba jingle bracelets and lip gloss to send her.  I just have to get an envelope.

We just had the last night of revival last night.  Man, I like the upbeat pentecostal attitude.  It was like being at the Johnny Carson Tonight Show only the speaker is preachin' the gospel.  Makes you laugh, makes you cry, makes you scared, makes you wanna share the good news.

The last revival we went to was in February.  Since then we've come so far.  Mayela, Kathy, and I are taking the gospel of Jesus Christ to the park on Fridays.  We make a giant pot of soup and give it away and give out tracts and pray with people and do some Zumba.  Free.  All free.

We've done it three weeks.  We've got mostly kids coming.  Only a few adults.  Got a group of youth that I'm purty darn sure are imbibing in a bit of illegal substances.  They've come for soup steady.  So we're adding to our plan for tomorrow.

Our concern is, we don't wanna be impotent women handing out food for nothing.  We're working for the kingdom.  So, mañana we're upping the ante.  We're handing out bibles.  A lady at work gave us about 20.  Gave.  Us.  Yeah!  So I'm going to ask anyone who wants one to come up and get one.  Come to me and get one.  I'm not walking to them, they walk to me.  And I'm going to tell them not to feel pressured.  If they don't want one it's perfectly okay, and it is.  Gonna tell them if they get one and then decide they don't want it, please bring it back.  Just don't want them to throw them away.

Then my plan is to give a brief rundown of biblical factoids.  For example, the bible is really 66 books, not just one.  Written over the course of 1600 years.  All pointing (except for a few like the Book of Esther) to Jesus.  Best selling book of all time.  Sells more than Playboy, Old Yeller, any cookbook, self-help book, or religious book that you can think of.  Shortest verse: Jesus wept.  Open to the middle and you're in Psalms.  Psalms means songs.

So then I'll tell them to read through any part at all and if they have questions, bring the questions next week.  We ain't experts but what we don't know we can find out.

That's the plan.

I had a flash of a vision.  I envision a huge circle, all of us holding hands, praying aloud.  We have a circle already, but it's only about 12 people or so.  I believe it's going to grow.

God is great and greatly to be praised! 

This is my third week and I still like my job.  I moved three carts of pretty heavy boxes today.  Then I set them down in stacks and as I turned to leave I realized the second from the bottom boxes had their labels turned to the wall.  That's.  Just.  Great.  So I had to rearrange them.

My husband's seasonal job will be over in September.  I will be so glad to have him home.  I hope we'll be okay without his extra money.  It sure spent fast.

I'm gonna have extra hours next week.  I'm sorta looking forward to it.

Today my husband had the day off so he followed me to work in the truck.  Then he got the car and drove it home, washed it, brought it back, and when I came out after work, voila!  Or, wallah, as my sister says, I had a clean, shiny car to drive home.

My sister is kickin' my behind at Words With Friends.  She also went to Hawaii and didn't tell me.  That's why she hasn't played for two days.  Well, I'm just not going back to play with her.  (And I won't tell her I've checked in two dozen times in the last two days.)

I took Monday and Tuesday off from Zumba.  My usual venue is closed because the city pulled out the floor and put in a new one.  It's gorgeous.  I'm scheduled to restart Zumba there on Thursday.  I tried teaching at a smaller place but after a week my back was killing me from the cement floor.  I even made sure not to jump at all, but still got a sore back.  One of my students got sore feet.  So I cancelled there and took a couple days off.  It's been kinda nice.

In September I'm taking Zumba Gold workshop.  The veteran's home is interested in chair Zumba for its seniors and I'm so looking forward to teaching there.  I volunteered and did a free Zumba class for some teeny bopper girls at the Boys and Girls Club.  They had fun and so did I.  Their sound system was broken though.  Sounded like the music came out of a tin can.  Young Pastor Jake busted the bass.  Haha!

I'm not enjoying being mother of a teenager.  He has said some really awful things and I don't know where it's coming from.  To use the words from an article I recently read, it looks like I gave birth to myself. 

My new boss rides a motorcycle.  How cool.

Some of the maintenance people have no class.  They burp and use bad language.  

I have some new routines memorized.  I can't wait to use them.

My period was two weeks late.  Hmmm.  That's not good.  Some girls at Mayela's work asked how old I am and she said they were surprised that I'm 53.  She might have said that just to be nice, but they said I had a good body and that was good to hear.  Gotta work it, baby!  Gotta work it.

I started my new job on Monday.  Today I spent my whole day in my new department.  I think I like the men I work for.  I think I got a purty good job.  I'm a stock order clerk.  I need first to get proficient using their software.  The whole system is automated. I need to learn where all the departments are located in the building where I make deliveries.  I like making deliveries.  I need to learn where things are in the stock room so I can find them.  I need to learn the order in which I do things.  I did a little filing today.  Greg helped me a lot.  I don't want any special situations to come up when I'm in there by myself.  I haven't been alone yet, and I don't wanna be. 

The A/C is broken so it's in the 90s inside the building.  I sweated a lot today.  I feel pretty tuff.  I've only had administrative jobs before this one.  I feel like a man!  I wear Levis and cowgirl boots to work.

I really, REALLY, wanted a glass of wine with dinner tonight. It would have tasted so good I think.  But then I thought of how it would ruin my witness.  Doggonit.  I really wanted a glass.

We went out for dinner and it was goooood.  I had a combination prime rib and Alaskan King crab plate.  The servings were on the small side, but very tasty.

I've just blogged about food.  About a meal.  Shoot me now and put me out of my misery if that's all I have to blog about.

Ohmygosh.  The Affordable, (I don't think it's affordable) Health Care Act has been deemed constitutional as a tax.  A tax!  Just what we do not need is more taxes.  It was struck down under the commerce clause, in other words, the federal government can't make us purchase something, but as a tax it is permitted.

President Obama and the democrats continually and consistently insisted it wasn't a tax, but then the administration's lawyers argued to the Supreme Court that it is a tax, not a penalty.  I guess the democrats were being misleading by not calling it a tax.  It's a tax.

Chief Justice Roberts said it's not the Supreme Court's job to protect people from the consequences of their political choices.  True, true.  It reminds me of the section in the bible in the book of Kings where the people ask for a king because they want to be like surrounding countries who all have kings.  God says, well, ifn's they want a king give them a king.  They got what they asked for and it did not turn out well.

Michelle Bachman called the court an activist court.  We have a lot of that going on especially in California but I really don't think the Supreme Court is an activist court.  All of this will go back into the political arena and the the parties will duke it out.

Be careful what you ask for, you might get it.

I want to see it repealed by Congress and redone with bipartisanship.

My brand new Zumba class last night was a smashing success.  Twenty-two people came!  That's 22 people who thought the class was good enough to pay for and to pay for in advance.  Oh I was sooo happy!  Thank you Jesus!  I was a little bit of a dork during one song.  My timing was early for 'Party Anthem' and in one section I just went arms and legs akimbo in every direction at once.  Haha!  Don't know what happened there.  And two ladies asked for Zumba twice a week already.  I said I'll take a vote next week and see if enough people want two nights a week.  If so, I can drop Monday here which runs about six to 11 people lately and open a class there.  Mayela complained she didn't want Mondays here to stop.  Well,  I think five days a week might be pushing my body.  I want to be sure not to pressure my bod too much so I'd have to make a....yikes...a decision.

And the thing I don't like about running a session of Zumba is now I have all this money but I have to work the next six weeks to earn it.  I don't feel like it's mine till the work is done.  That's why I like pay as you go better.  Get a little money every night and you worked for it already.

My new Zumba shoes killed my right foot and to throw a bit of salt on the wound Zumba had a flash sale yesterday, yes, yesterday, and they were thirty dollars cheaper than what I paid.    [Silent scream.]

I'm excited to hear the Supreme Court decision tomorrow morning.  I think they'll strike down the individual mandate as unconstitutional. They may be able to keep some other parts of Obama's Affordable Health Care Act.   Nancy Pelosi said, "But we have to pass the bill so you can find out what is in it."  Hopefully that's not being taught in the public school system.

Tonight I'm starting a new Zumba class in a nearby town.  I hope it's a smashing success.  They seemed to really like the demo class.  You always get more peeps at the demo though because it's a freebie.  It was so much fun!

It was over 100 degrees yesterday and expect more of the same today.  Hot, hot, hot!

I bought a pair of shoes from Zumba.  They were $80 worth of junk.  I'm never buying shoes from them again.  Now the nerve in my back is bothering me down my leg.  Idiots.  There's no cushion in the shoe.  They're cute but worthless.

I got a new nightgown.  It's light yellow, long, diaphanous, tricot, feels wonderful on my skin.  I swished by my husband feeling very "Gone With The Wind" and he asked me if I was gonna haunt houses.

Hhhmph.

Told him he hurt my feelings saying that and he said, Well you have such a nice shape.  Why don't you buy something that shows your shape.  Men.  I guess I will go on another nightgown shopping hunt.  I want something long.  Pretty.  That feels nice.  And that my husband will like.  I had a nice one once but I spilled, or spilt as Jules in New Zealand would say, nail polish on it.  Tricot doesn't get along well with nail polish. It bunched up and wilted in a large circular area at the hemline and felt all scratchy there even after I washed it. 

Test flyer

There are three things I need to do.  Need a new photo for my Zumba.com profile.  Did it.

Two, I need to make a sign for the door where I teach Zumba.  I talked with a lady in Walmart and she said I ought to have a sign outside so they can see what time my classes are.  I hope the center doesn't complain about me putting one out.  Nobody else has a sign on the door.

Three, I need a business card.  A custom one.  A bright colored, cool one. An awesome one.  I want a high gloss one.  Maybe a slim one.  Should I do both sides too? 

And I need to make a regular flyer, so that makes four things I guess.  I might be getting a call tomorrow about the possibility of starting a new class in a nearby town.  I hope, hope, hope it works out. I need a flyer and even if I don't get to start that new class I need to make a new one because summer classes frequently drop in numbers - and mine has.  I've got pretty much just my core people coming.  I need a few more.  Juuuust a couple more to get me into that regular double digit number 10.  Please, please, please, please!

Here is the sign for the door I made.

And I had to create a new, improved Zumba profile image on account of we are getting a coconut load of new Zumba instructors in town.  I got an action shot!  Mayela took some test pics of me this week-end.  I pray I can maintain my class numbers, then increase, keep a fresh playlist with songs people like, and incorporate awesome moves that make people feel good.

Lately, there's really been a party atmosphere in my class.  I must have the most GREATEST people in my class of any Zumba class I've ever been to.  For reals.  I do.  Maybe Zumba is ruining my grammar too. Hahahahah!  Anyhoo, these photos were taken in town.  Got a few whistles while we were workin!

Taco Dream

Last night my husband dreamed that he told me not to eat my taco too fast.  He said in the dream I opened my eyes real wide and looked at him and stuffed the whole taco in at once.  I wondered why when I got in bed last night at 1am he said, "Don't eat all your taco" and went back to sleep.  What taco.  We had fried chicken for dinner.

It's exactly what I'd do in real life.

Looking forward to hearing the election results in Wisconsin tonight.  This year is the first year I've ever voted in a primary so am looking forward to hearing the result in our town too.  I voted for a county commissioner.

I want to start a Zumba class in a little town that's a half hour drive from here.  I applied yesterday at the elementary school to use space there and hope they'll exempt me from their policy that no income can be made on school property.  I charge a very low $5 per class and will need it at least to buy fuel to go back and forth.  They have a lot of women who are very active in sports and I think I can get a great class going there.  The floor in the cafeteria of the school is sort of a rubber mat kind of flooring - quite good for a Zumba class. 

My current class is small but bigger than at this time last year.  I'm mightily encouraged because there are about five active Zumba instructors in town now whereas last year there were only two - the gym and me.  Even more people have recently been licensed to teach Zumba here.  Quite exciting!

Today I feel overall crummy and would like to sit here all day long and do nothing.

I'm going to an art opening next Saturday.  Going to a City Council meeting on the 13th.  Gonna watch a girl being taught barrel racing tomorrow at 1pm at the rodeo arena.

And Coda finally had her baby.  Two days old.  She's a bundle of energy.  Runs around all the time.  Really friendly too.  The baby will come right up to you and let you scratch or pet her.

7.5" cut

Here's the photo of the hair my son cut off last week.  Definitely two inches needed to go.  The rest, I told him cut where he thought would look best.  I know, I need to take a length pic still.  I'm at 42" now which for me is comfortably classic.

I made my first paranda.  I'm crazy about them.  When I make the next one I'll take a profile shot too.  It gives me a big, gorgeous bun!  I tucked the tail in too far so I think the orange ends are sticking out in the middle of the bun.  I used olive oil before I braided to give it some extra shine.

I was thinking last night about the two thieves and the Titanic.  I said the captain of the Titanic said she sunk in one piece.  Only thing is, the captain went down with the ship.  I might have to fine tune that analogy.  Haha!

I had to tell my husband I accidentally ran over the power cord reel.  Twice.  And then I had a bad dream about it at night.

Something I really hate is a hoax about health.  Got a forward about graviola.  It's a fruit touted as the cure for cancer.  I say, stomp out cancer hoaxes.  It's just cruel that they're out there and they make me mad.

Yesterday someone said, "Don't ever cut your hair."  That was nice.

*****************************

I'm prepared for somebody to tell me there are contradictions in the Bible.  Now I just need my first guinea pig to test myself.  Hope someone brings it up before I forget everything.

There are no contradictions in the Bible. What it contains is more accurately called paradox.  Paradox is something that on the surface of it appears contradictory, but is nevertheless true.  In other words, there are differences to be found in the Bible, but a difference is not necessarily a contradiction.

Take for example the sign over the cross.  Matthew said it read, "The King of the Jews."  John said it read, "Jesus of Nazareth, King of the Jews."  So which is right.  Eh, both are. It said, "Jesus of Nazareth, The King of the Jews" and it was written in Aramaic, Latin, and Greek.  That's as easy one though.  One I found more interesting is about the two thieves crucified with Christ.

In the book of Mark (Mark 15:32) it says both thieves reviled Christ, "And they that were crucified with him reviled him."  In Luke (Luke 23:43) it says one mocked and one defended.  So?  It's a contradiction, right?  Wrong.  We know that the one who defended was told by Christ, " Assuredly, I say to you, today you will be with Me in paradise."

Something happened to change the mind of one thief.  What could it have been?  Could it have been knowing about all the miracles Christ performed while on earth?  Could it have been hearing him pray for the Romans, asking God to forgive them, His enemies, even while they were cruelly torturing Him? Could it be the darkness he saw come over the land (Matt 27:45)?

Whatever it was we know he was saved by his faith.  The other thief said, "If."  If you can save us...  "If" demonstrates lack of faith.  Course, he was mocking Jesus too.

Some insisted that the Titanic went down in one piece.  Other eyewitnesses say it broke in two.  It was found in three pieces at the bottom of the ocean.  Maybe the last break happened on the ocean floor somehow.  Who knows.  In any case, the Titanic definitely went down.  Argue in how many pieces as much as you like.  Same way with Scripture.  The Bible is a set of 66 books all inspired by God.  He doesn't make mistakes.  He's perfect.  "For now we see in a glass darkly" says the Bible.  In heaven, we will know God even as He knows us now.  How well does God know us?  Pretty dang well.

So I believe the Bible is true, accurate, infallible.  It's an instruction book for life.  I live my life by it.

I think this is the cutest.
Paper Mache

Paper Mache is gone.  I will never know why.  It's always sad when a blog you like inexplicably disappears.

This was the highlight of the Zumba night.  Tanya, on the left, with the shaved head, is my favorite.  I sat in my car for all but ten minutes of the concert because I couldn't stand the crowding.  Now I don't want to leave my house ever again.  But.  I had to.  I had to go to Walmart and I had to drop off my flash drive with church announcements at church, and I watered the horses, though technically Becca is a mule not a horse, and I kicked a bunch a weedlets up with the point of my cowgirl boots on my way back in the house. 

I went to a huge Zumba concert and I did not have a good time. 

Becca is afraid of cookies.  She's afraid of Angel The Cat.  And she jumps when we break a carrot in two to feed her a snack.

I don't like Blogger's change.  Are they trying to get rid of people?  I remember before Geocities went away they made it less and less user friendly until finally they closed down.

Test post.  Blogger has changed and they didn't ask me about it at all.

We got a new mule

We have her on a try-out basis till Monday and so far I like her very much.  Son loves her and wants her badly.  We told him we'll pay $500 and he can pay $500 if he likes her that much.  She'll need some reining training, but she comes from Nebraska and originally sold for $5500 so we're getting, I think, a good deal. 

Her name is Becca.  Becca and a Bella.  They will become good friends.  Becca has been alone and Bella has been alone so they'll be happy to have company.  Mules make better pack animals and walk faster and better on rough terrain.  Son will be doing a lot of trail riding this summer I think.  I'm so glad he doesn't sit around during summer.  He's going to have a remarkable summer this year.

Hair yesterday

I took down the ugly pic and replaced it with this one which I like to think is a more accurate rep of the hair.

So tomorrow is the day we have Ryan and his crew teaching a Zumba class for me.  I hope we get 20 people.  I paid for a massage and hot mineral bath soaks for them so sure hope I make back that money.  We won't be able to meet JR because JR is still in the hospital.  His next round of chemo begins April 4.  I do hope he can come home to refresh his soul before then.

Got the video announcements done for churchity church.  They are pleased with them so it makes me very happy to do it.  It's very rewarding.  I love putting them together.

We're doing a new thing at church.  The youth pastor has taken over praise and worship.  I have to say I miss our regular pastor and his songs, but I am loving the new sound and the new feel too.  I believe the group has great potential.  Right now it's all in transition.  Transitions can be bumpy.  Some people fall away and other new people are pulled in.  Some people will always be unhappy with change. Such is life.  I think it's a mistake to get too comfortable because too much comfort contributes to stagnation.  I try to remain dynamic.  Sometimes I even succeed at it.  Haha!  But it's a rush standing in the music.  Being in the sound.  And calling on the Holy Spirit.  There's nothing like it.  It's even better than head banging.  Gotta keep it fresh because there are so many souls out there that are lost.  We must reach them.  Music reaches out.  Like Kathy says, we need to reel them in!

I had a couple weeks after the fundraiser of feeling no energy for learning my new routines.  But then all of a sudden it came back.  Now I have about five songs and routines I am loving and practicing.  It was a little blip on the radar I suppose.

I am happy.  Next week-end the fantastic Zumba instructor from Las Cruces is coming back to town and he's going to teach a class for me.  He's bringing his "staff" too - three girls, women, who dance with him.  They're very good.  I so hope that I can get a big enough group so I can pay the women a little something.  And I hope I can make a little bit of money for myself since I will be giving my class time to them and foregoing my own class.  I will have big expectations.  Gotta get the word out now.  I had six students today.  If I could get 20 that would be good.

I'm cooking fried chicken for dinner.

Fundraiser vid

I made a video of our fundraiser.

49"
Ends are still straight and in pretty good shape as far as I can tell.  I did a hot oil treatment today. Some teens asked me why do I have long hair.

In October had it trimmed back to 47" on the full moon so it's grown two inches in five months.  Not bad for a 52 year old.

For church tomorrow we have to wear black and white.  I'm going to wear a black sweater cowl neck and blue jeans.  The top I'm not too fond of.  Blue jeans are neither black nor white but I don't have black or white pants that I like.  I don't want to wear clothes I hate and be in front of everyone.  The youth pastor has taken over praise and worship.  I am excited but a little anxious.  There are two songs he has us do that have a lot of jumping or stepping and the youth usually do them.  Since the church has only seen the youth do the songs they identify those songs with the youth.  I'm not too thrilled about us olders looking kind of stupid doing youth oriented songs.  We have to do something for the lady who is older than I am.  She's been in praise and worship a long while but she can't do those two songs so she has not been singing these past two weeks.

Our fundraiser went well.  It was energizing.  As soon as the music started I knew it was a success.  We had 75 people come even though the weather outside was in the 30s.  We raised over $2100.00 for the family.  I was well pleased.

Today is the day.  We are prepared.  I am prayed up.  Got my words ready and signs and sign-in sheets done.  I think we've thought of everything.  Mayela stayed with me till midnight last night.

The fundraiser is on Saturday.  Things seem to be going well.  I'm not too nervous.  That's good.

We've collected about $230 so far.  I hope people will come on Saturday.

I bought some rubber Zumba bracelets to toss out to the audience.  Three women ordered Zumba tops and they'll be happy to know they were delivered today so they can wear them Saturday.

Need to go by the newspaper and see if they'll run an ad for us.  I might need to off this recliner to get that done.

Celia has done the decorations and I'm excited to see what she came up with.  She's exceptionally good at decorating.  I know it's going to look really pretty whatever she does!  I'm so lucky to have met her.  She's quiet.  I like her very much.  She has pretty hair too.  She wears it about shoulder length and it's salt and pepper.  Her hair is strong and healthy.  I'm sure a reflection of her physical and probably emotional well-being.  She seems well anchored.

We are having revival for three days at church.  Last night was as full as the morning meeting.  I've never seen an evening service so full before.  The music was great.  The preaching was great.  Pastor Ayers was funny and thought provoking.  This is my first revival. 

The fundraiser is going well.  I'm praying people will come.  A local deejay offered his sound system which will be even better than my one speaker so I'm overjoyed about that.  Got two good women working the door.  Decided to give the water out for free.  Need to get playlists from other instructors.  Need a couple coolers with water for the ice.  Need to compose and send out email.

I had to abandon the two routines I've been trying to learn.  Sometimes I find Beto's stuff too hard to follow.  I picked two YouTube videos by Zumba instructors instead.  They're much easier and in three days I have them almost learned compared to three weeks of practicing Beto's and still not getting his timing down. 

Gee, where has the time gone.  The city had donated the use of the Civic Center for the fundraiser.  They only required a deposit which one of the ladies in my class paid.  So nice of her.  I made flyers and they turned out beautiful if I do say so myself.  Very blue.  The office supply store in town printed 60 for us as a donation.  I am keeping notes and after it's over I will run an ad in the paper to thank all the people and entities who are helping this fundraiser come together.  A t-shirt seller who is donating money from the t-shirts will have a table at the event.  A lady is offering some of her hand crafted jewelry for a raffle.

Today I did some practice with a group of about seven high schoolers who are gonna dance a routine with me.  They even choreographed a couple parts of the song for themselves.  I'm so proud of them.  They will not regret participating.  I told them today not to get hung up on technique.  The steps are secondary.  I told them have fun, ham it up, and even if I or they make a mistake keep moving.  I explained that if they're having a good time the audience will pick up on it and they'll have a good time.  If you are anxious the audience will pick up on it and they will be uncomfortable.  I think they'll do well.  I want to contact two more groups of kids and my goal is to do three routines with three different groups of kids.  I envision one set of kids running on stage for their song, then running off at the end as the next group runs in.

Checked the audio available at the Civic Center and it's quite sad.  It's only a PA system.  My music was no good on it.  Thought I was going to have to find a DJ.  But husband said to me to try my speaker out.  I didn't think my speaker would have enough power but guess what.  It did!  It's sounds way better than the PA system.  Happy, happy me.  Location, sounds, flyers, water.  The grocery store is donating water. Check, check, check, check.  Now to find donations for meals and gas for the instructors coming to town.

Got a bit of excitement when yesterday the Civic Center manager told me the 10th was double booked.  He was wrong.  Thank you for that.

Have a small glitch in that the other instructor here in town that I invited to dance has a Zumba training on exactly the day of the fundraiser.  She was supposed to do 30 minutes of routines.  Either I have to work something out or I'm going to have to do an hour instead of 30 minutes.  She does not yet realize her training is on the fundraiser day.  I don't think she's terribly organized.  Lucky for me I noticed it.

I got the church announcements done and they look pretty nice.  Pastor and his wife have both commented on how much they like it.  Pastor even used the word "awesome."  Funny thing is, I look at it and see all the parts I want to do better.  I think it's just okay.  I want to do better!  My hand is tired though from doing our flyer plus announcements video plus making tickets.  Ladies in class want to sell fundraiser tickets which is a grand idea but another thing I have to do on computer.  I need to figure out how to make a dashed line in Microsoft Word.  I tried so many ways to make tickets myself but to no avail.  Time wasted.  I can't put numbers on them that's for sure.  Too much work.

I'm developing a thick skin regarding my playlist for Zumba.  After we went to Cruces for a Zumba class and the teacher was so great I came home and hated my own playlist.  Ha.  Sad.  Some people in class want faster, some like slow, one wants more this, one wants more that.  Sigh.  Think I'll try making Mondays a faster class and see how it goes.  I can do faster it's just that my class grew when I slowed it down a bit.  It's a challenge keeping people happy and I really want to work on student retention this year.  I want to keep them coming back.

Mayela had a fab idea.  She wonders about setting up a class in a town that's 30 miles away and has no instructor.  I told her if they have 15 people who will sign up for a six week session I will do it.  We'll see what comes of it when she mentions it.

My hair.  It is about two inches from my knees!  Just noticed it yesterday.  And even better, the ends are good.

It's a small town here.  One of the girls in my class put out a flyer and tells me the boy's mama was at hospice and signed him up for hospice.  Hospice.  

He had a very, very good day today with no side effects.  He's visiting with family who came to see him and everyone is loving on him and the family very much.  He went to school one day last week and had a good time and everyone wanted to see him.  He seems exceedingly well adjusted, considering.   

The next round of chemo, a stronger chemo than before, begins next week. 

With much help from my Zumba crew, I have spearheaded a Zumba fundraiser to raise money for little JR.  I am scared and excited about doing it!  The date is set for Saturday, March 10th, 4-6pm.  We haven't yet got the location we want.  Must do it Monday.  It's not much time, but it would have otherwise had to be after May.  I've got five, maybe six instructors who've agreed to come to town from Cruces.  One is Ryan Grovey who seems to have a big heart.  The spirit of God is moving in our town.



 

My cousin died a couple days ago. Age 68.  In Vermont.  Fell on ice, hit his head, and died.  His sister got an email about it.  Usually you'd think a phone call would be in order but things are not all that they could be.  Things are broken.  So he's gone.  And it's very weird to think of that. 

Such a good night.  I had 23 people in class!  We finished with a big Conga line.  Haha!  It was fun, fun.  At my church it is the year of Double Portion so I've been prayin' and puttin' legs on my prayers and I got an answer even better than I'd anticipated.  I earned more than twice what I earned last January!  That's a double portion.  God is good, all the time.  Well, the way He works is not what I expected.  He closed Zumba at the gym for a month and made me the only instructor in town.  Still, I'm expecting good turnout in classes in the coming months.  I suspect numbers will drop when the hot weather arrives, but I'll work it till then.  Strike while the iron is hot as they say.  I also sold two sets of toning sticks and one t-shirt tonight. 

"...And Elisha said, I pray thee, let there be a double portion of thy spirit upon me."  Elijah performed seven miracles and Elisha, 14.

I bought new Zumba tops and they're duperly cute.  I needed some new Zumba threads bad.  But, I do not like how low cut they are.  They go all the way down to my bra.  I'd like them to be two or three inches above my bra.Tomorrow I'm going to Walmart to see if I can find something, not too hot, to wear underneath.  Necklines are so low nowadays.  Does everyone want to show 3/4 of their heavenly endowments?  I don't.

The pastors liked my video announcement slide show.  I have a second one almost finished.  I learned to make a reflection in Photoshop.  I've always like that effect.  It was easy.  Found a YouTube video that was a snap to follow.  I started with Windows Live Movie Maker.  I learned that the older version of Movie Maker (aka "Classic" Movie Maker) is better and a very helpful guy online helped me to find and download the Classic Movie Maker onto my Windows 7 machine.  Normally, it doesn't work on Windows 7, but he did something to it so it does work.  Smart guy.

My face swelled up yesterday.  Sad me.  It's my fault too.  It started at 11pm.  But.  I wanted to get a good night's sleep.  If I take Zyrtec before bed it makes me sort of tired yet not sleepy tired, yet if I sleep it's not a good, deep sleep.  So I thought it would go away by morning.  Big surprise.  Woke in the morning and felt my face then saw my face.  My lower left cheek swollen like a jowl and lips like Angelina Jolie.  Angelina Jolie's lips on my little face is a bad thing.

I sucked it up though and went to Zumba.  By 6:30pm class the swelling was down but not gone.  From the stage they couldn't see the swelling so that was good.  I was glad I went to class.  My face was sort of sore.  It felt like I'd been shot full of Novacaine at the dentist.  Well, enough about that.

Maybe I will fly to San Diego for the Zumba Gold for seniors training.  I want to go to California for the class so I can get a different teacher.  Vanessa Lupercio from Arizona is good, but I've had her for every single training.  I want to experience a different Zumba Education Specialist. I want to be the best that I can be.  A student tonight said she took a Zumba class in Cruces.  She said my class was so much better.  Aw, I think she's just used to me, but nevertheless I felt happy that she gave me such a nice compliment.  It motivates me to try, try, try harder.

I'm praying frequently for a little boy age 13 in town who had his arm and clavicle amputated.  Cancer.  And I'm trying to answer questions from people about why God is doing this. I tell them God is good and the devil is bad and don't ever get the two mixed up.  Disease is not from God.  It entered the world through the sin of Adam and Eve in the garden when the serpent convinced them to eat what they were told not to eat.  Here they are in paradise, clothed in shekinah glory, and they can eat anything they want except from this one little old tree. I tell them, we can't know why the young become ill with awful disease until we see God and can speak to Him and ask him ourselves.  I need a better answer though.  Is there one?

More scuttlebutt!  Well.  Suffice to say, I don't think the instructor I know is renegotiating her deal.  I'm not going to ask her what happened. I don't want to make her feel any more down than she's probably already feeling.  But, word on the street is she was fired.  Fired!  That's the word from the gym.  Well, I don't know what really happened for sure, only what I've been told.  They say she missed too many classes.

It's a shame it came to that.  She worked there an awful long time.  I feel bad for her.  I know people think I'm peculiar feeling that way on account of, technically, she's competition for my business.  But oddly, I do not feel threatened at this time.  Perhaps it will change when there are six Zumba instructors in town instead of two.  My belief will not change though.  I believe if I apply myself, practice regularly, listen to students, be reliable, begin class promptly, choose the right songs and the right moves, and keep it fun, keep it fresh, that they will come.  They will continue to come.  I was told that one student said I was "organized."  I suppose I'll take it as a compliment!  I still pray every day before class and after class.  And when I arrive to the center I pray real loud because the Holy Spirit inhabits our praises says the Bible, and I hope my praise hangs in the air for the next hour and blesses each person.

That's today's excitement in my town.

I had 19 in class tonight.  I love the chatter before class.  It was loud tonight.  Sweetness to my ears.

I earned enough to order a new pair of pants tomorrow!  Purple!  I was thinking maybe a red daisy instead, but I'm drawn to the purple daisy.  Yet, I already have one pair of purple tie-dyed pants.  Too much purple you think?  Naaah, ya can't have too much purple.

Karaoke.  I sang tonight.  My first time.  I had such fun.  Now I can't stop thinking of more songs I wanna sing.  I sang Bye, bye, Miss American Pie, drove my chevy to the levy but the levy was dry.  The words were really easy to see in front of me and the word you're supposed to sing lights up.  I killed part of the song because I only know the chorus by heart, but luckily my friend, Sarah, from Zumba came and sang with me and she has a duper good voice and she knew the tune!  She's in her early 30s and she knew the tune in its entirely better than I did.  We got a big applause when we were done.  I'm not sure why because my voice was pretty bad in parts, but it was fun.  On my way out they said, "Why are you leaving so early.  You sing and leave?"  I told them it was time for me to go home because it was already a late night out on the town.  It was 8:15pm.

Going for a two hour hike tomorrow with Audon leading.  He says he found a place here that's nearly as pretty as Sedona.  Can't wait to see what he speaks of.  Mayela's coming too and hopefully my husband.

One of my favorite times to go to sleep is when my tummy is full.  I just heated up the delicious dinner husband made and it's so good.  Meat and potatoes.  I can't live without him.  I can't really eat other people's food.  Very little is as good as what he makes.  I would wither without him.

Chocolate cheesecake husband bought from the store is my dessert now.  Mmmmm.

There is Zumba excitement and change going on.  Evidently there's been some sort of unrest at the gym - same gym where I started and left within a month.  In retrospect, leaving was the best decision I could have made.  The pay is low.  Extremely low.  Well, the scuttlebutt is that the instructor I know is wanting to renegotiate her deal there.  I hope it goes well for her.  She loves Zumba and she has done fitness for 17 years.  She's good at it.  Well!  If they won't work with her, she wishes to go on her own.  And!  She asked me if she got a studio and made it a Zumba studio would I want to join her.  I said, if I made as much or more money as I do now, I would be interested.  We'll see.  It could be a potential opportunity.  Other news...the gym is going to get Zumba licensing for four people.  My goodness. I think it's overkill, but whatever works.  I love Zumba and I expect it to grow but I don't think six instructors here would all fare well.  Nevertheless, I will do what I love and hope students will come.  I'm expecting a good Zumba year.  January has been good so far.  I'm working on a hootchie mama routine.  Haha!  The song is "Buttons" by the Pussy Cat Dolls and it has no profanity.  Hard to find that, ya know.  I think the ladies will get a boot out of it.  I have a 'pull your lace stockings up' move in it.

My husband says I have a good thing going and don't fix what ain't broke.  He's usually right.  He says they want what I have and that's why all the hullaballoo.  Funny thing is, I went through a phase when my confidence was shaken because a student I really liked changed to the other location.  But after a week, I shook it off and realized there are more people out there and there's no need to fuss over the exact same students.  I will find new students!  I have. And she has come back occasionally so it's not that she hated me.  She just likes someone else a little better.  That is okay!  My goal this year to improve as an instructor is to be more verbal.  I'm doing it every night.  It's a challenge because I'm naturally quiet.  But I can see it helps to give verbal motivation and to share information.  I spend time reading online to find something to say. I like finding quips that make people smile.

Life is good.  Although, I've had no swelling for awhile and I told a friend I had no swelling and I guess I shouldn't say it out loud because the next day I woke at 8:00am with my left pinky swelling up.  Dang.  Took a Zyrtec and it stopped and went away in a few hours.  God is good.  All the time.

I bought a totally cute top online.  I wore my new knee high boots, black leggings and the top to church last week.  The boots...hurt my feet.  Booo.  But they're really cute.

Fifteen students tonight including some new ones who returned from last week.  Sold two sets of toning sticks.  They'll love 'em.  I sure do.

So I saw a thread at the Zumba forum tonight.  Questioner says, "My classes are small and I want growth, so how do you get an old hippie community inspired?"

The answerer says, "even old hippies need to exercise, don't they? Perhaps, you could include some of Beto's rock 'n roll music. The old hippies (italics are mine) are beginning to have a variety of health issues like high cholesterol, heart, etc. So play up those elements. The hippies  (italics are mine) loved their music & they loved to dance."

Dang.  I resemble those remarks.  "The Old Hippies."  Puh-leeze.  Are they lab rats?  Do Old Hippies not have a heart?  Do they not have human feelings?

I got called a hippie last week.

I woke early.  At 10:30am.  With Zumba music playing in my  head.  Then I got butterflies in my stomach.

Twenty-two students Tuesday night and I expect a generous turnout tonight too. I'm learning and improving as an instructor I think.  To my mind, the class is a little bit easy but to non-dancers and those who are just getting into a fitness routine, it is not.  I've slowed myself down a bit and took more time to do the steps without style and flavor at first and then as a song progresses add style so they can digest the steps more easily.  I'm not sweating as much but it appears the students are getting a good workout.  I forget that I'm in fairly good physical condition and then I would tend to go all out in the routines and I think I was alienating new students.  On Tuesday night I had that realization.  I realize now I must cater to the needs of my class.  It is not my own workout.  It's for them.  I learned this from Diane at Zumba.com.

I'm excited and anxious for class tonight.  The new routine I introduced Tuesday was a hit.  I believe a few people might come back just for that one song!  "Taki Country."  I earned enough Tuesday night to help with the new car payment.  Praise God.

Also on Tuesday two ladies came and watched and they spoke to me after class and sounded very interested in returning to do the class.  I hope they enjoy doing the class as much as they enjoyed watching it.

God is great and greatly to be praised.

It went very well and on my husband's advice I decided not to make an announcement to the entire class, but rather take the one person aside and talk with her when class was over.  She started to cry and apologized half a dozen times before I even said three words.  We talked a few minutes.  She hugged me.  I hope it never happens again.

I think she's a binge drinker.  That's my take.  My heart breaks for her.

Had a student in class who had been drinking.  I have to address it tonight to the entire class.  Not especially looking forward to it, but I'm a man.  I can handle it.  I can do it.  I will do it right because I want it to be a good class.  A righteous class. 

I read a girl's blog and it was interesting and I was fascinated to get such straightforward insight into her thoughts on things and her life.  She comes to my Zumba class and she invited me to read her blog.  I'd love to leave her some comments but I have to sign up.  Like I need one more profile and password on the internet.  She's at tumblr.com.  I'd never heard of it.  From what I gather it's great for photography and people repost others' photos.  They "retumble" photos. I may sign up just to see what it looks like.  But I'm going to tell her about blogspot because she's definitely a word person.  Definitely.

I finished a blue and purple daisy chain necklace.  It has one boo-boo in it but otherwise is very pretty.  So delicate.  This is a progress photo.

Good grief.  Pastor's wife is holding a volunteer meeting on Thursday and Mayela wants to go.  I asked her if she realized we are supposed to show up knowing what we want to volunteer for.  She said no and asked what do I think I'd do.  Told her I would offer to give a beading class.  How to make a daisy chain bracelet.

I don't know what to volunteer for!  Look at me.  Look at me!  I don't know about this whole thing.  It has me worried.  It never works out for me.  I have not found what God wants me to do.  Supposedly he's given me at least one gift and talent.  I don't know what it is.  I can bead alone and I love to bead alone or with my sister or with a few ladies at the beading store.  But teaching people?  Teaching Zumba to the 10 to 15 year-olds stunk.  I was so excited to share the joy of exercising and fitness and dance and they were not interested at all.  Well, a few were.  Five out of 23 were interested and their faces were a pure delight to me.

She couldn't decide what to volunteer herself for.  I told her to think of what she likes to do or what she liked at the Catholic church that we could do here.  She said she likes retreats.  Oh Lord.  So tomorrow she's going to come over and we're going to brainstorm volunteer ideas.  I'm going to suggest she think of something, hello?, SMALLER, that she could do because she suggested she and I plan a retreat together.  I've never even been to a retreat before.  Ever.

Yikes.