Dancing Queen

Once upon a time there was a little girl, who was rather clueless and awkward. She a had a beautiful, talented mother who really was worried about giving her daughter a chance at experiencing new and wonderful things.
This mother saw her little girl dancing in the backyard and watching "Great Performances" on PBS. The deal--She would became the ballet seamstress and her daughter would be enrolled in the Ballet Conservatory. And the rest is ancient "Independence-style- Nutcracker" history!

Yeah, yeah ok, enough of the sappy fairy tale writing. As you can tell-- young, awkward, clueless girl is--of course me. And my Mom??--- the fabulously, gifted seamstress (she once sewed my girls Snow White and Cinderella costumes by hand, with dental floss!).

Where am I going with this you might ask? Well I have rediscovered my love of dancing. As a kid I must admit I down played this interest. Perhaps it was embarrassing teasing from my relentless Samoan uncles and Grandpa (when they heard I was taking ballet my Grandpa said, "Bucky show us some of your moves." So as a good, obediant granddaughter I showed him some of my bar exercises. He and my uncles decided to throw in fart noices when ever I made any sort of bending movement--humiliating and lesson learned--never dance infront of family--potentially embarrassing incident may occur). Or maybe it was due to the fact that standing in front of a mirror as a an adolescent teen of "normal to larger" bone structure, in tights and a leotard next to preteen--let's face it sticks, was the real problem. But whatever the reasons were, the truth was that I really did enjoy ballet class and dancing like a crazed lunatic when ever no one was watching.

Case in point. Any one who drove past my place in Provo might have had quite a show. Cause when the kids went to bed I usually did the night time tidy up to my favorite Bollywood hits and danced around as if Gauri from Lagaan (usually with all lights on and bay window still uncovered). Pathetic and derranged, I know. Thankfully I've taken my freak show to the YMCA for some fine tuning in respectable, "real" dance classes. I am soooo LOVING it!

The nice thing about taking dance now is really three fold.
1. Half the class consists of senior citizens
Don't get me wrong. I am in no way saying that because many of them are older I by default look better. It's more along the lines of-- no one is trying to one up each other in class. They are taking it for the same reason I am, for the love of dance. Of course, not having to look at preteen sticks in leotards is an added bonus. Which brings me to part deux.

2. Not having to wear a leotard to class.
Ahh liberating. Let's face it, no one in their right mind wants to see me "'a la Madonna" prancing around on the dance floor with a glossy leotard and leg warmers. No! For me, wearing workout pants and a regular shirt does wonders for my dancing self esteem.

and

3. Variety.
I am taking ballet and jazz, latin dance, and belly dance. All are fun and I don't get overloaded with one genre and each is a great work out for different reasons. Plus having so much variety helps me remember I'm not trying to make it to Julliard, just trying to loosen up and have fun dancing--which I find is necessary for me.

So perhaps I'll keep an update of my dancing experiences. I've been doing the dance thing for a month now and have been enjoying every second of it!

Happy Birthday Elizabeth!!

There are a lot of amazing things about Elizabeth. She has always been good to me and my family. Thanks for being there when I needed a friend. Elizabeth is one of the calmest, sweetest people I know, emphasis on calm! I hope you have a fabulous birthday!

Here are the top ten things I admire about my good friend Elizabeth

10. She makes the yummiest desserts! From peanut butter and chocolate popcorn balls to delicious fruit tarts--she definitely has a talent for baking yummy food.

9. She is very thoughtful. I still remember her watching my kids right before I left for Tulsa and making them all gift bags and taking me out with some friends my last night in town!

8. She is nice to everyone.

7. She is a very caring wife and mom--you always think about the other person.

6. She has such great taste in movies. Any show Liz has said to watch has always been good.

5. She is fun to be around. Liz has a calm personality but really knows how to let loose and have a GREAT time!

4. She has been to more countries than states. That is definitely something for me to admire.

3. She always has such great stories to read on her blog--it makes me admire her and feel a little jealous :)

2. She says I can stay at her house if I ever visit Hawaii--Admiration is overflowing by those prospects!

1. My favorite thing about Elizabeth is.....
she has a great outlook on life, I've never felt pulled down around her. She really has an optimistic personality.


Happy Birthday!!!