My NOVEMBER Resolutions

I "stole" this idea from a person on the message board of Oxygen magazine (a weight training mag geared strictly for women)--it's the idea of having a RESOLUTION for each month rather than having only a resolution for the New Year. A nifty idea and, yes, I did tell her I'd be "stealing" the idea! lol! [it's only ethical! lol!]

Hence, with October winding down and November just a few days off here is my November resolution:

Get back to the gym and work out AT A MINIUM of 2 times per week while aiming for 3. I wanna get this body back in better shape! I'm still doing the belly dance which is great for flexibility but the weight training tones and shapes my muscles....the other day I looked down (was wearing a tank top) and was SHOCKED to see that I'm getting "OLD LADY ARMS!" aarrggghhh!!!

Plus, the elliptical machine really tones my tush and legs!

Woohoo!

I DISLIKE WALMART

Tonight after spending the day in Cade's Cove, which was beautiful (!), we ate dinner in Pigeon Forge at a restaurant whose name I can't recall. When we first went in I had a weird feeling because it was (1) almost deserted and (2) a little creepy-like and all I could think was that the lone, weary, hapless diner walking through the door might be what's on the menu--I know, weird, but I've seen too many horror movies (but that's another blog), anyway,...

....in talking with the server after dinner she mentioned that a short distance up the road a "mountain has been cleared" and a super Walmart is going up. That made me feel hopelessly angry....hopeless, because how can Walmart be stopped and angry because they are destroying beautiful land to make a buck.

Have you noticed that for the last few months Walmart is having less and less of name brands such as Kellogg's (an example) and more and more of their substandard brand "Great Value". Not only have they wooed in shoppers by offering lower prices (who can argue with that?), they put mom-and-pop businesses OUT of business, destroyed the environments where they built, and now they are going to restrict their customers choices.

Walmart sucks. Even if it costs a little more I'm going to take my business elsewhere.

HARDWARE & BUTTS

OK, so while at the ACE Hardware show in Atlanta I got really tired of all that walking so I planted myself on a bench and just watched people go by. I came to the conclusion that few people leave their homes (or hotel rooms) before checking their "rear view" in the mirror.

Here's what I decided:

1. NO one looks good in polyester pants that are too big and require a belt to hold them up which ends up making the pants "bunch" at the waist creating "balloon butt" in the back.

2. It should be OUTLAWED for any woman to EVER, repeat EVER, wear light colored stretch pants without a very long top...why? In two words, "scary CELLULITE"! All those bumps are positively...well...ewwww!

3. Wearing tight pants of ANY kind should be against ALL rules if a woman isn't wearing a LONG top and isn't wearing a thong. Panty lines make an already ample butt look like it's divided, not into two parts, BUT INTO FOUR parts! This is NOT pretty.

(still shakin' my head on this one...)

I guess you all can tell I had a little too much time on my hands at this hardware show...lol! But, puhlease...

....before you leave the house CHECK YOUR REVIEW!

TRIP so far

Ralph and I left Mobile last Tuesday night. We traveled to Atlanta, Georgia and attended the ACE Hardware show...it was HUGE. Ralph's son, Bradly, also met us there. The hotel we were in, the Baymont, SUCKED! No hot water, no adequate room service, etc., etc.!

We left Atlanta and drove to Cherokee, N.C., Sat. afternoon, 10/24. Then after traveling the Smoky Mtns we ended up in Pigeon Forge, TN. So far, we've had fun. The scenary is BEAUTIFUL. But, I've eaten way to much! We'll be here until Tuesday, then it's back to Alabama.

I have a wonderful and trustworthy friend, D., housesitting and catsitting for me. I miss my kitty, Crackhead! He makes me laugh and he's so sweet...for a cat!

WHAT I'M DOING NOW.

After a long period of contemplation I finally decided to become simply an independent teacher and performer of bellydance in Mobile and Daphne, Alabama.

I like being in a troupe, however, with being a soloist I can choreograph dances that are more challenging...and I DO like a challenge! At this point in my life I need to push myself more to get to the level where I want to be and by being solo I can push harder without wearing anyone else out! lol!

No-this doesn't mean I won't ever be in a troupe again as I love the sisterhood in a troupe-it just means that for right now this option is in my best interest!

I teach 3 classes a week now and I also give private belly dance lessons.

Shimmies!

GIVING BACK

I love to teach bellydance. Over the years I've taught, I have seen women whose self-esteem and body confidence grew tremendously. They gained better flexibility, greater muscle strength, and toned up in areas they considered their troubled spots--such as the behind! (yeah-those butt squeezes REALLY work-thanks Suhaila!).

Bellydance is very therapeutic for many women (and men, of course) as most creative endeavors can be. Learning to move the body in various ways which are not always required in our daily life and dancing those moves to beautiful and exotic music does something to release that "womanly power" so many of us stuff deep inside as we care for everyone but ourselves. It allows us as grown women to experiment with dance--and especially with a dance form so wonderfully suited to the female body--we once again give ourselves permission to put on the music and dance away just like we did as little girls when we daydreamed we were beautiful ballerinas.

The therapeutic effects of belly dance help with issues such as depression and anxiety. As with all exercise forms, belly dance, too, releases those feel-good chemicals in the brain. After breaking a sweat as we drill hip lifts, chest circles and shimmies we begin to feel better and better.

All this is why I have begun donating time teaching this dance form to some wonderful women who are now in residential recovery for substance addiction and abuse.

When we have been blessed with a gift we are meant to share that gift. I have been told I am a good teacher. That is one of the gifts I have received from the Creator--so it much be shared. I can say that, so far, what I have gained doing this is far more than I would have thought.

I feel pretty lucky to be able to share this beautiful dance.