The Best Dance Recital EVER!

Saturday, after the service project, I went to the BEST DANCE RECITAL EVER. And I really mean it! My niece Audrey had her first dance recital. It was held at a community rec center and therefore it didn't cost us anything to get in -- Bonus Point #1. There were only 2 classes performing, because there are only 2 classes taught by this dance instructor -- Bonus Point #2. Each class only performed 1 dance -- BIG Bonus Point #3. Jamie said that the dance instructor found all the adorable costumes at Walmart. They were cute, modest, only $10, and wearable (they can wear them for days other than Halloween) -- BIG BIG Bonus Point #4. And the piece d'resistance, the entire dance recital was only 20 minutes long, including an awards ceremony -- HUGE Bonus Point #5. BRAVO!!!

And of course, the very cutest dancer of them all was Miss Audrey. Let me show you...

The dance instructor helped line up all the little dancers. Can you tell how excited Audrey is to do her stuff?
Taking pictures was like trying to hit a moving target, as you can tell. I'm not sure her partner knows what to do with her.
After the second dance class performed, all the dancers came back to take a final bow. They marched into the room wearing their "star" glasses.
"Baby, take a bow!"
Now all the children waited to be presented with a ribbon and lollipop from their teacher as recognition for performing so well. I think this was the highlight of the afternoon. Kind of like playing soccer for Zack...he goes for the bag of Doritos and Capri Sun they give out at the end.
Audrey receiving her ribbon.
Now it was time for all the fans to await the arrival of the Star. Here are g'ma and zack, doing just that.Here she is, the star of the hour, Miss Audrey!!
Here she is with her family.Of course you don't have a performance with out some sort of culinary reward at the end...so we followed up the Best Dance Recital Ever with a little lunch at Joe's Farmhouse Grill. Those pictures will be posted next.

A little elbow grease and love

I got over my mad pretty quickly yesterday, thankgoodness, with a sure fire cure for all-things-upsetting...SERVICE! Our ward had a service project planned for Saturday morning. We were helping Saving Arizona Families, an organization that helps homeless families (they must have children) find a temporary place to live (no more than 2 years) while they receive counseling and services which address the cause of their homelessness (i.e. - bad financial management, domestic violence, etc.). It's a FABULOUS organization!

We helped them clean up 2 of their duplex units which they provide to families. It was a great experience and I was able to take out some of my frustrations on a dirty,crusty,greasy stove...ahhh! Here are some shots of my ward members as they all "whistled while they worked."I definitely need to do this more often!

Famuos Footwear is a deceptive and dishonest company

They've stolen my money. Famous Footwear will not give me my money back. They say the shoes are coming. It's been longer than the promised 7-10 business days, but they "promise" they'll be delivered on Monday. I'm sooo angry right now that I'd better stop before this is no longer appropriate for general reading. Bottom line: no shoes, no money = theft

I've got my ANGRY eyes on!

No shoes came today! I checked online with the FamousFootwear.com tracking # -- according to their FedEx record, THEY'RE STILL IN WISCONSIN!!! AGGGHHHHH!! I am on my way right this very moment back to the Famous Footwear store and am going to demand my money back. I've waited 10 business and I AIN'T GONNA WAIT ANY MORE! grrrrrrr!

Where oh where have my new shoes gone?

My poor old shoes are doing the best that they can. They're on their last leg...heheheheh!

Oh, where, oh, where have my new shoes gone?

I'm W-A-I-T-I-N-G!!!

An Angry Would-be Runner

So last Saturday, May 2nd, I went to Famous Foot Wear to buy me some new running shoes. Since I've decided to get serious about this whole running thing, I figured I'd better get some decent footwear. The cross-trainers I have now are over a year old and well worn -- what won't be well worn after supporting me through numerous sweat sessions at the gym?! So I found some great New Balance running shoes at Famous Foot Wear and because I've got such big feet they didn't have my size. Well the very "helpful" sales lady said "No Problem! We have free home delivery!" So she found me what I wanted in their stock and arranged to have it shipped for FREE to my home. She says with a very big "helpful" grin and bobbing head, "...and if it's coming from one of our Phoenix stores it should be to your house in 3 business days!"

So I've been waiting...........and waiting..........and waiting.

In the meantime I've been running (at least my version of running) on my old beat up cross-trainers, and actually feeling the strain on my arches and shins.

And did I mention I'm still waiting.......and waiting.

I've checked the mail every single day. I figured if it did in fact have to come from somewhere else than Phoenix, then 5 days would be sufficient time to ship it.

Silly me...that would be too easy. I finally decided to check the shipping status online. AGGHHH!!! They initiated the shipment of my shoes on May 8th -- that's 6 whole days after I placed my order. AND the stupid shoes aren't scheduled for delivery until May 15th!!! What I failed to check was the small print that said "Home Delivery will take 7-10 BUSINESS days" and my oh-so-helpful-and-perky-sales-person failed to inform me.

So, moral of the story is, don't bother with Famous Footwear's Home Delivery service. It bites!

I'm going to do it! Just watch me!

Last week my cousin mentioned that she was going to train for a mini-triathlon and invited me to join her.

"Are you kidding? I don't run. I mean I REALLY don't run!"

But I thought about it, and thought about it, and thought about it some more. And then I checked out the mini-triathlon she mentioned and saw what was involved -- 400 yd swim, 13 mile bike ride, and 2 mile run.

"But I don't run!"

I thought about the horrible fitness rut I'm in. I work out 4 times a week and I'm back to gaining weight. I'm getting desperate. Sooooooo...

I'm going to do it! Just watch me!

I decided that I CAN do it! I'll probably be the last one dragging my keester across the finish line, but I'll have done! The triathlon is scheduled for Thanksgiving morning so I've got six months to train. At first I did not want to tell anyone that I was going to do this. I thought I'd be able to avoid any embarrassment if I fail. However, I decided that I'm going to blog about this experience. It is my hope that others who may see that what may seem be insurmountable is eventually possible with a whole lot of hard work and effort.

Today I started training. I'm using the "Coach Potato to 5K" podcast to help with my running. I'm serious when I say I don't run -- I've got a metal plate in nine screws in my right ankle, and arthritis in it ta'boot. So this is the first time I've run since probably 1980 and there was less of me back then to drag around the track. Today's "run" felt pretty good. I've found that the "day-of" a new exercise is usually pretty good, it the "day-after" that kills ya. I'll let you know if I'm still walking tomorrow.

Anyways, that's the story. Any of you who would like to join me in my little adventure is more than welcome to (I think I've talked my mom and dad into joining me)...the more the merrier.

Hopefully in 6 months you'll see me crossing that finish line, on my own two feet. :)