I am in Wyoming. It's nice to be back in Wyoming, home. I have been able to see many friends and family, and got to go up to Yellowstone and Jackson Hole. I haven't been there in about 10 years. It's been nice to be in my old stomping grounds. The weather has been great, it snowed! Yes, I'm excited that it snowed, Yellowstone and the Grand Tetons were beautiful from all of the snow. And yes, it did snow in May in Wyoming. It hasn't been too cold or too hot. When I left NC it was getting into the 90's! I'm glad that I left!
With that said, I'm ready to get back home. To my home, where my furbabies are and my things are. I miss Cinder. I miss the cats too, but they are not as dependent on me as Cinder is. It has not been the same trip to Wyoming without her. She has always been with me when we visited. I head back in a day. I have one more fav restaurant, Shari's, to go to, hopefully hit up Hobby Lobby, go to the post office, pack, have dinner with my friend, and then my parents and I are driving down to Ft Collins. Then the next day they take me to Denver, and I hop on the plane to get back to mi casa and my furbabies.
So with that I need to get off the computer and get packing.
"Let us dance in the sun, wearing wild flowers in our hair..." ~Susan Polis Shutz
The Dancer
Tuesday, May 31, 2011
Thursday, May 19, 2011
Why I Dance and Create Dance
Tonight was dress rehearsal! Yay! It means we are about to end the year and show everyone our hard work! Tonight was why I dance. Tonight was why I choreograph.
When I started in the August things were a bit rough for a few months with my older girls. A big part of it was I was new and had a different style. They weren't used to me. So we were adjusting and it was a battle! Let's just say lots of drama with kids and parents. Luckily, my boss was very supportive. She kept saying that they had to get used to my style.
You see, I teach in a very small town, so they have all been dancing together since before they were born. So they have had the same teachers, and these teachers had the same teachers. See what I'm getting at? It's not a bad thing, but I came in with different experiences and styles. So I come in with my weird style, and gosh did those girls fight me! The piece is about them using all of their extensions to the fullest. They hated that, they said it was slow and not hard. But they weren't trying, they never used their stretched to the fullest extent. They were missing the hard part. Finally, they got it. They get me now, and I get them. It just took some time, longer than I expected though.
Tonight, I got my validation on it and on a few of my pieces. After my girls did Winter's Night, one of my Jr Company parents said, "S, that was really good!" Another parent that I had not met before came up to me and said, "Did you choreograph that? That was DANCE! That is what I see dance as!" Someone got it! They understood! I felt so good with those to comments. A bit later I was talking with another Jr Company mom, and she said, "That musical theatre piece was really good! And the ballet, did you do the ballet? That's M's favorite dance, and I loved it! And your piece with them in the ice blue, I had to ask who did that, because it was so different! You could tell it wasn't one of the normal teachers because it was so different. I loved it, and this part (she describes the moment) was amazing!"
It's those things you love to hear. It's an ego boost, we all need them every once in awhile. I admit lately, I wondered if my choreography was up to par with the other teachers. I mean I would look at their pieces and I thought yes they were, but I wasn't ever really hearing any feed back. Now, I know that it is, but I just do things differently (which I knew anyways.) Now, no more wondering.
So I teach because I want to touch the world, I dance because have too, I create because it's my outlet.
"I don't want people who want to dance, I want people who have to dance." ~George Balanchine
When I started in the August things were a bit rough for a few months with my older girls. A big part of it was I was new and had a different style. They weren't used to me. So we were adjusting and it was a battle! Let's just say lots of drama with kids and parents. Luckily, my boss was very supportive. She kept saying that they had to get used to my style.
You see, I teach in a very small town, so they have all been dancing together since before they were born. So they have had the same teachers, and these teachers had the same teachers. See what I'm getting at? It's not a bad thing, but I came in with different experiences and styles. So I come in with my weird style, and gosh did those girls fight me! The piece is about them using all of their extensions to the fullest. They hated that, they said it was slow and not hard. But they weren't trying, they never used their stretched to the fullest extent. They were missing the hard part. Finally, they got it. They get me now, and I get them. It just took some time, longer than I expected though.
Tonight, I got my validation on it and on a few of my pieces. After my girls did Winter's Night, one of my Jr Company parents said, "S, that was really good!" Another parent that I had not met before came up to me and said, "Did you choreograph that? That was DANCE! That is what I see dance as!" Someone got it! They understood! I felt so good with those to comments. A bit later I was talking with another Jr Company mom, and she said, "That musical theatre piece was really good! And the ballet, did you do the ballet? That's M's favorite dance, and I loved it! And your piece with them in the ice blue, I had to ask who did that, because it was so different! You could tell it wasn't one of the normal teachers because it was so different. I loved it, and this part (she describes the moment) was amazing!"
It's those things you love to hear. It's an ego boost, we all need them every once in awhile. I admit lately, I wondered if my choreography was up to par with the other teachers. I mean I would look at their pieces and I thought yes they were, but I wasn't ever really hearing any feed back. Now, I know that it is, but I just do things differently (which I knew anyways.) Now, no more wondering.
So I teach because I want to touch the world, I dance because have too, I create because it's my outlet.
"I don't want people who want to dance, I want people who have to dance." ~George Balanchine
Monday, May 16, 2011
The Ugly Duckling of Family Unit Days
Ok, lets talk about family unit days. This is something that has been on my mind since April and I just haven't had a chance to write about it. What is prompting me to write about it now? I am on a military chat board and the topic has come up.
Most unit family days or FRG family days are geared towards families with kids. You don't have kids you are kind of the odd duck. So most of the time I am the ugly duckling. Right now with both units I don't know many people. Well, honestly, I don't know any with the IA unit (Individual Augment, basically he is part of two units, the unit he is deployed with and the home unit), and our home unit it's a few, but they don't always come to the events either. It's not that I haven't tried. But with the Marine being an IA, I don't know the people with the IA unit, and we were only with the home unit for a short time that I didn't get a chance to meet everyone there. Then there is the fact that the units always do things when I am a working. So I can't make it those nights. So it has been a bit of a slow process.
Another thing is that they have been doing banner making parties when most of the Marines have been there only for a few months. Odd. Or at least odd to me, I can't go and make a banner when I have 1/2 to 3/4 of the seriously long deployment ahead of us. I don't want to store it for the majority of the deployment. I'll also forget where I put it. That's why, being the procrastinator that I am, I will make the sign the night before he comes home! (Yes, I did this for the last deployment. I was in denial about him coming home, I just didn't believe it because he had been gone for 13 months and the fact that they didn't inform the IA families. That's a whole different story!)
There are wives groups and they usually meet at least once a month, but again they ALWAYS meet on nights I'm working. They apparently have a thing for Tuesdays and Thursdays! So I rarely go to those, and then they plan things like a Beauty Swap. Seriously, not my kind of fun, maybe for them but not me. I just want to meet, talk, eat, and have a glass of wine. Make it easy ladies! Simple is good, really. Or do a wine tasting, or a ghost walk (yes, I have suggested those to no avail). But 2 Beauty Swaps in a year, come on now! Fashion is not my thing. Give me my jeans and t-shirt and I am happy. I don't dress to impress (I dress appropriate all the time), I'll dress nice when I need to, but I will not dress up for the Generals wife when the invite says casual. She DOESN'T care what you are wearing, if she does she is not worth your time or concern. Just my 2 cents on that, I do have a great Admiral wife story that I'll tell another time.
In all honesty unit family days are great, I don't mind them, normally I enjoy them especially if I know the people! But sometimes I wish they had more adult friendly or adult only events that aren't on Tuesday and Thursday. It's funny they seem to have more when the Marines are here, and when they are gone they are few and far between.
Now, please don't think that I don't do anything with the units. I do when I can! This weekend I am going to a event, it looks like it will be great! I'll tell you about it when I get a chance. This one is actually just for spouses. This event is actually done by CREDO, which is run by the Navy Chaplains.
My advice, go to any and all events that you can. You never know who you will meet. Your next best friend might be there and they may or may not have kids. Don't exclude yourself because you don't have kids, and don't decide you can't become friends with someone if they have kids. The events are what you make of them.
"Life may not be the party we hoped for, but while we're here we should dance." ~Author Unknown
Most unit family days or FRG family days are geared towards families with kids. You don't have kids you are kind of the odd duck. So most of the time I am the ugly duckling. Right now with both units I don't know many people. Well, honestly, I don't know any with the IA unit (Individual Augment, basically he is part of two units, the unit he is deployed with and the home unit), and our home unit it's a few, but they don't always come to the events either. It's not that I haven't tried. But with the Marine being an IA, I don't know the people with the IA unit, and we were only with the home unit for a short time that I didn't get a chance to meet everyone there. Then there is the fact that the units always do things when I am a working. So I can't make it those nights. So it has been a bit of a slow process.
Another thing is that they have been doing banner making parties when most of the Marines have been there only for a few months. Odd. Or at least odd to me, I can't go and make a banner when I have 1/2 to 3/4 of the seriously long deployment ahead of us. I don't want to store it for the majority of the deployment. I'll also forget where I put it. That's why, being the procrastinator that I am, I will make the sign the night before he comes home! (Yes, I did this for the last deployment. I was in denial about him coming home, I just didn't believe it because he had been gone for 13 months and the fact that they didn't inform the IA families. That's a whole different story!)
There are wives groups and they usually meet at least once a month, but again they ALWAYS meet on nights I'm working. They apparently have a thing for Tuesdays and Thursdays! So I rarely go to those, and then they plan things like a Beauty Swap. Seriously, not my kind of fun, maybe for them but not me. I just want to meet, talk, eat, and have a glass of wine. Make it easy ladies! Simple is good, really. Or do a wine tasting, or a ghost walk (yes, I have suggested those to no avail). But 2 Beauty Swaps in a year, come on now! Fashion is not my thing. Give me my jeans and t-shirt and I am happy. I don't dress to impress (I dress appropriate all the time), I'll dress nice when I need to, but I will not dress up for the Generals wife when the invite says casual. She DOESN'T care what you are wearing, if she does she is not worth your time or concern. Just my 2 cents on that, I do have a great Admiral wife story that I'll tell another time.
In all honesty unit family days are great, I don't mind them, normally I enjoy them especially if I know the people! But sometimes I wish they had more adult friendly or adult only events that aren't on Tuesday and Thursday. It's funny they seem to have more when the Marines are here, and when they are gone they are few and far between.
Now, please don't think that I don't do anything with the units. I do when I can! This weekend I am going to a event, it looks like it will be great! I'll tell you about it when I get a chance. This one is actually just for spouses. This event is actually done by CREDO, which is run by the Navy Chaplains.
My advice, go to any and all events that you can. You never know who you will meet. Your next best friend might be there and they may or may not have kids. Don't exclude yourself because you don't have kids, and don't decide you can't become friends with someone if they have kids. The events are what you make of them.
"Life may not be the party we hoped for, but while we're here we should dance." ~Author Unknown
Sunday, May 1, 2011
Where Were You on May 1, 2011?
President Obama just announced that Osama Bin Laden has been killed and that his body was recovered on May 1, 2011. This is from the information that I have gotten from the news.
I have mixed feelings. I am glad that we finally got him, I had a quick moment of "Thank God!" Since I have heard the news I have had a heavy heart. I can't celebrate this because this war is far from over, and with this news I worry for our troops that are currently in theatre and will be going over there. I worry about the retaliation. Maybe I'm more concerned because the Marine is a Marine and is over there right now, I have many friends that have husbands that over there, and we also have friends there. I worry that the next few months will be harder than they already have been. I worry that homecomings and R&Rs will be delayed or postponed, I worry that our troops may have to go over sooner than they expected.
Bin Laden's death can be a good thing or a bad thing. Things could calm down since they don't have a leader or mastermind. Or things could get worse because of those same things, they just might go crazy. I guess the coming days and weeks will prove what the outcome is.
The bases in my area changed the Force Protection Condition to BRAVO today. I think this was why.
So where was I on May 1, 2011 when I found out? I was in my living room waiting for President Obama to come on the air, at 10:30pm. Then the Marine called shortly before 11pm. We waited another half hour for him come on the air, and then we heard the news together. Nearly 10 years after 9/11 he was killed. A bit of a bitter sweet moment.
Just remember this doesn't mean it's the end, or that it should be the end. For all we know this end could be the beginning. Of what? We will just have to wait and see. This is far from over, both of these quotes are fitting.
"The death of Bin Laden marks the most significant achievement to date in our nations effort to defeat Al-Queda. Yet his death does not mark the end of our effort. There's no doubt that Al-Queda will continue to pursue attacks against us. We must and we will remain vigilant at home and abroad" ~ President Barack Obama
"The fight against terror goes on, but tonight America has sent an unmistakable message: No matter how long it takes, justice will be done." ~ President George W. Bush
.
I have mixed feelings. I am glad that we finally got him, I had a quick moment of "Thank God!" Since I have heard the news I have had a heavy heart. I can't celebrate this because this war is far from over, and with this news I worry for our troops that are currently in theatre and will be going over there. I worry about the retaliation. Maybe I'm more concerned because the Marine is a Marine and is over there right now, I have many friends that have husbands that over there, and we also have friends there. I worry that the next few months will be harder than they already have been. I worry that homecomings and R&Rs will be delayed or postponed, I worry that our troops may have to go over sooner than they expected.
Bin Laden's death can be a good thing or a bad thing. Things could calm down since they don't have a leader or mastermind. Or things could get worse because of those same things, they just might go crazy. I guess the coming days and weeks will prove what the outcome is.
The bases in my area changed the Force Protection Condition to BRAVO today. I think this was why.
So where was I on May 1, 2011 when I found out? I was in my living room waiting for President Obama to come on the air, at 10:30pm. Then the Marine called shortly before 11pm. We waited another half hour for him come on the air, and then we heard the news together. Nearly 10 years after 9/11 he was killed. A bit of a bitter sweet moment.
Just remember this doesn't mean it's the end, or that it should be the end. For all we know this end could be the beginning. Of what? We will just have to wait and see. This is far from over, both of these quotes are fitting.
"The death of Bin Laden marks the most significant achievement to date in our nations effort to defeat Al-Queda. Yet his death does not mark the end of our effort. There's no doubt that Al-Queda will continue to pursue attacks against us. We must and we will remain vigilant at home and abroad" ~ President Barack Obama
"The fight against terror goes on, but tonight America has sent an unmistakable message: No matter how long it takes, justice will be done." ~ President George W. Bush
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