Thursday, September 24, 2009

Happy Feet

I danced in Kindergarten today. I have very happy feet.

Before I could "officially" be offered the job teaching dance to preschoolers, I needed to "guest teach" while the directors of Starting Arts auditioned me. I was asked to teach a 30 minute lesson on dancing and emotions to a group of 20 Kinders.

Excuse me? Am I in heaven?

We started with our faces, then our hands, then our whole bodies showing what we move like when we are happy, sad, and angry. I had music that matched the moods and it was SO FUN!

Then I taught them a little combination to the Kermit the Frog song, "Happy Feet" and they were just adorable!

Did I mention that my jazz shoes came out of deep storage for the occasion?

Oh yes, I have happy feet!

Tuesday, September 22, 2009

Fall


The beautiful tree outside my window doesn't know today is the first day of fall. It was 90 degrees today for goodness sake. And as I mentioned here, the leaves don't really turn until November in California.

I'm feeling like the tree today. I'm ignoring the fact that it's fall. I'm still reveling in the sunshine (you know how bad I miss it when it's gone.)

And yet, today I can feel my own leaves turning. The green ones that have hung on so long. It's time for them to turn and fall. And I'll stand here bare for a while.

But then... new leaves will grow. They always do. It will be a new season and there will be new leaves. There always are.

Sunday, September 20, 2009

Dress Up

Just got home from a conference in Santa Cruz this weekend. I'm exhausted, but it was fun. I loved the chance to "dress up" for a luau on Friday night and a red carpet event on Saturday night.

My very good friend (who I stayed with for the weekend) took pictures of me as proof (or blackmail... not sure which!)





Wednesday, September 9, 2009

Writing!

I've hinted that I'm changing my life. Here's a bit of where I'm headed.

Go here to see a short essay I wrote that was approved today for publication on the Power of Moms website.

More to come...

Sunday, September 6, 2009

Treasures and Dreams

I found a treasure today.

Seventeen years ago, my mom made a booklet for me for Valentine's Day. It was filled with inspirational quotes and pictures of me and my siblings in our childhood. It was a precious gift at the time - one that filled me with hope when I was a frightened freshman in college.

I found it again today. (And you know I don't believe in coincidence.) The quotes in the booklet speak directly to my heart again. The pictures of myself as a child remind me who I really am. It is again a precious gift during a time requiring hope, faith, creativity, and courage.

I wanted to share a few of the quotes and pictures. I hope something in here speaks to you too.


"Life is either a daring adventure or nothing. Security does not exist in nature, nor do the children of men as a whole experience it." ~Helen Keller.

(Ann sitting in Great Grandpa Wright's Ford)

"Whatever you can do, or dream you can, begin it. Boldness has genius, power and magic it it." ~Goethe

"For the things we have to learn before we can do them, we learn by doing them." ~Aristotle

(Ann, Robyn, Kenneth, and Kevin commanding the boat on a camping trip)

"Imagination is more important than knowledge." ~Albert Einstein

"Don't be afraid to take a big step if one is indicated. You can't cross a chasm in two small jumps." ~David Lloyd George

(Robyn, Kenneth, Megan, Ann, and Kevin in San Francisco)

"If you have built castles in the air, your work need not be lost; that is where they should be. Now put the foundations under them." ~Thoreau

(Ann before her first dance recital)

"Your vision will become clear only when you can look into your own heart. Who looks outside, dreams; who looks inside, awakes." ~Carl Jung

Tuesday, September 1, 2009

Books?

August was just short of insane. I didn't get nearly as much reading in. Too much else to do. Like change my life.

But here are the two I did read:

1. Cybele's Secret - Juliet Marillier - This is the companion book to Wildwood Dancing. Like that one, the first 50 pages you wonder if you're going to like it - and then you absolutely cannot put it down.

2. Don't Judge a Girl By Her Cover - Ally Carter - The third book in the Gallagher Girl's Spy School series. These are fast fun reads!

Not sure how much reading I'll get done in September either... We'll see.

Sunday, August 30, 2009

Tour de Parking Lot - Part Two

Guess who's been desperately wanting a bike since his sister got one?

Guess who I asked yesterday if he wanted his Christmas present four months early.

Guess who said "YES!" (please)

What can I say. It gets him outdoors and exercising.

And he named it Yoda.