Wednesday, May 28, 2008

Spanish Class then Dance

Today I had my first beginner Spanish class in the Avalon Library. The room was really crowed almost 20 people . What about the word beginner don't people understand, I know it is accelerated but there were people in the class that travel to Spanish speaking countries (not just Florida) and could actually READ and Pronounce the words from the workbook. I mean It isn't fair -and of course all the people who COULD speak the language sat up front with their workbooks and good accents. I kept thinking I must have missed a couple of weeks -but nooooo -we were all beginners (?) Hello! The woman instructing was using a very small white board in the front of the room -I finally asked her to write larger. Because I , of course, had failed to ask the right person and was told: -'no it doesn't say you need a workbook ' and of course I was not prepared. Thank goodness the men sitting next to me and across from me shared their workbooks. I think we were learning about the gender or tense (?) of the words and two woman started discussing the differences between Spanish and FRENCH and the verb "to be" ? or something (I f ***ing kid you not ) I lost it and started to laugh. From then on it was very easy to just listen and not take myself or the class to seriously. Ok, well I am going to try to BUY the workbook WITH the CD -I figure the class is free -it is the the least I can do for my Bucket List. We meet Monday and Wednesday.

Wednesdays are a little tight ,time wise - I have Belly Dancing at 6:30 in Seaville -which is a doable Rt9 drive -so far (tourists are not all here). Tonight's class was a good cardio workout. I am soo bad -but I just love it. :)))))) Today we had to show attitude and present ourselves like we wanted to be hired to dance for an audience (yea well that will never happen but the exercise and fantasy were wonderful). Belly dancing is a woman's dance not sexual but sensual and it is from the core of our feminine self. It has helped. My posture has even improved!

I hate to miss even one weekly class. But next week is the Writers conference in Wildwood -so I will miss Spanish and Dance -ah but I have wanted to see what this conference is all about. I hope it is a HOOT ,after all isn't that what a Bucket List is all about ???????


:)))))))) smiley face with a double chin

Monday, May 19, 2008

Bucket List - Eastern Dude Ranch

My first Blog -oh font is to large -maybe this ?or this is better or or or or -no cursive ah this is better -softer

Ok, my first blog is about my ongoing adventures in Bucket List Land. :))))) that is a smile with a double chin

I recently took a trip to a Dude ranch -which was on my list. Now I wasn't sure I really could ride a horse -i hadn't been on one since before I wore a bra and that was long ago - I have a lot more ,ah , bounce now, but I now own a sports bras. Have sports bra will travel. LOL - SO i decided not to go out West but find someplace on the East Coast -with western saddles (something to hold on to).

I have lost some weight since my TIA stroke and heart attack and stents and need to loose another 50 pounds -but why wait? On the website the Rocking Horse Dude Ranch in Highland NY, said they had horses for 'heavy' riders. Happy to say i did not qualify - because I had trouble getting my legs around the horse i got. After a hour up and down the Mt. trails (the horse definitely knew the way -because I had my eyes closed most of the time) it felt like someone had played wishbone with my legs. Horses are OFF my Bucket List. I dint care to ride the next day. Yes I wore a helmet. But I did it and have a picture to prove it ! I am very proud of me!

I did alot of outdoor hikeing and stuff -the first day we took a 'tour around' . Or a three mile hike in 40 minutes up and down the moutains -not alot of seniors finished. I could hear my heart working -it felt great ! When I got back to my gym -I had lost a POUND!

I saw the ad in a local newspaper that the Senior Citizen group was running a trip. I dint know anyone but my parents belonged to the group and I could afford the single room and the 4 day stay and coach ride. It was Senior Citizen week at the ranch. I was one of the youngest ones there. I had a blast -man those 80 year old's can kick some ass. The ranch is really a 1960"s family friendly resort or conference retreat on about 500 acres in the Catskill Mt's. Just beautiful and the nicest staff and horse wranglers. Most of the meals are family buffet style with good food. Even , to my surprise -heart healthy -choices (if I looked) . The best part was everything was included in the price. It may cost a little if you drink at the bar or play video games -but for me -i tipped table waiter and the room maid -everything else was the published price

Our last day a local nursery school had a day field trip there (the kids played and rode the ponies) and it looked like a group of out of town 8th graders came for a class trip. They even brought their own DJ --ok I admit the music was way better than what the Seniors were listening to at the bar -so I danced outside the 8th grade party -hey sometime you just gotta dance. The kids were wonderful and so well behaved and FRIENDLY -it must be the 112 horses in the air.

This would be a great time for a family or Grandparents with grandchildren. Now I wonder if I could convince them to run a singles and single parents (grandparents) with kids -week

Next? Las vegas in July and I still want to learn to Scuba Dive!