Ballroom Dancing

Hubby and I have talked for years about taking ballroom dance lessons. We came very close a few times only to have time and budget restraints get in our way. Well we're finally going to do it. The local library is offering very inexpensive lessons for 8 weeks starting on May 18. We're both super excited. I've always loved dancing even if I wasn't always the best. I've taken years of ballet and just enjoy the controlled freedom required for dancing. That dancing has numerous health benefits is simply a plus.

The weather has been gorgeous. We had a downpour Sunday night with thunder and lightning. We got at least 2 inches. The plants are loving it. Our highs have been in the low 80s. This is why I live in Florida.

I've been working on the courses I'll teach next year for the home school group. I'm teaching Human Geography and Government/Economics for high school students. My eyes light up and my mind begins to race as I anticipate all I'm going to do/teach. The materials I've ordered have started to arrive. I spent last night flipping through the government text we'll use while Hubby and the Imp laughed at my social science-geekness. But life doesn't get much better than being able to immerse yourself into a topic you love. The Imp had order some new shoes online. They arrived via USP during dinner. When I allowed her to open them before she finished dinner, I made her day. She quickly tore open the box and put her new Toms on.

Now I could be an intellectual snob and say being geeky over government books is better than being geeky over fashion/shoes, but instead will just be satisfied that we both got to revel in our interests last night. Lest I forget, the Imp purchased the shoes with her own money and since I have veto power on her spending, got me to agree to the purchase because of Toms' One for One program which provides shoes for children in need.

Voices Raised in Song

We got loads of rain Sunday. The rain actually started around midnight it kept on raining on and off through the afternoon. I think we got over 2 inches. Our pool is nice and full again. April is typically a "dry" month for us and often we have to fill the pool, so just as the pool was getting low we got great rain. It rained again briefly last night. My plants are looking good, now I just have to be patient for the benefits. I had to buy garlic yesterday. None looked great and I wanted to be able to use it fresh from my garden, but my garlic isn't ready for picking/eating yet. What a life, if all I can complain about is not having fresh garlic.

Saturday was the Confirmation ceremony at our church. The Imp had a solo in the choir. I can't think of much that brings me more joy or contentment then to sit and listen to my girls use their talented voices to praise God. It just is wonderful.

The Singer is probably transferring colleges this Fall. She's planning on going to Belmont Abbey College is Belmont, NC (just west of Charlotte). I think it's a great fit for her and God is probably calling her there. But boy it's hard to give up the free ride at USF for the private tuition. Granted, 2 of her scholarships will transfer and Belmont Abbey is also offering a substantial (about 60%) scholarship, but still... The Singer is determined and I'm sure she'll find a way to make it work. I'm actually very excited for her and her future there. We're planning on making a trip there at the end of May. Now the prayers are for her finding a part time job there. If she can find a decent part-time job, she should be okay financially. The Singer talked to my brother in Charlotte, who graciously offered her a room 'as long as she needed'. I'm not sure what his wife thinks of that (although she is very gracious...I just find it funny how easily he offered without consulting her). It's very nice to know she has some family nearby. My parents are only about 2 - 2 1/2 hours away. It will be hard not seeing her so often, as she tends to pop in pretty frequently just for an hour or two. The Imp is not happy with the situation. She and the Singer are very close and she does not want the Singer to be so far away. Now, when it comes time for the Imp to choose a college, I don't think location will be a big factor. The younger sibling always has a different perspective. The older one should always be there and not change and the younger should be allowed to be the one to loosen the ties.

Crew season is over for the Imp. YEA!! It had become drudgery. 5 nights a week for the entire school year is a bit much, especially when the regattas were full day events often requiring us to leave at 4 or 5 in the morning. I'm not sure what we'll do next year. I'm not sure Hubby and I can do an entire year. There are technically 2 seasons...a fall and spring. Maybe we'll let her participate in one season. Hubby was pretty tired of the whole thing (he's usually the one who goes to the regattas). At the end of the season, the Imp was trained as a coxswain. What she wanted to do all year. But we didn't realize that the coxswain does NO physical training with the team. And a big part of doing crew was for the physical activity. [The girls have to pick one something the requires physical activity..dance, swim, judo, doesn't matter what...but something.] Another reason to revisit the whole crew team thing.


Last night I got to present an overview of the courses I'd be teaching next year to the home school high school kids. I'm pretty excited. I'm teaching a semester of Government and then a semester of Econ. We'll do government in the fall due to the elections. I'm also teaching a human geography course. I'm such a social studies geek, that I get all excited just thinking about all the neat things I'll be able to do. I really do love teaching, too. Only 5 weeks left for this school year. It felt good when a few parents of little ones, said they wished their kids were older and able to take my courses. Yea!

My brother and niece have been in my thoughts in prayers this week. 14 years ago my sister-in-law (wife and mother respectively) died of breast cancer. She was a pretty wonderful person. I'm saddened that I haven't had her life these past 14 years as a continued example of living the good life. I'm saddened for the loss to both my brother and my niece. But Ellen would be so proud of her daughter and all she's accomplished and become. She'd be pretty impressed with how well my brother has risen to the task of single parenthood, too. So many people still miss her, I had to honor her memory by mentioning her again.

I'm off to get a new pool filter and some 'polysheen' to counteract the pollen in the pool. The weather promises to be gorgeous today.

There Ought To Be A Law

I've been thinking a lot about the saying "there oughta be a law..." It sounds so good. Yea, we should have a law to make people behave the way I think they should. But really, we have enough laws. You constantly hear the argument against some laws that you can't legislate morality. Well, I think we try to legislate common sense. Do I really want my government making laws dictating the ingredients allowed in restaurants (i.e. types of oil)? Let people think for themselves. There is a big difference between immediate poisons and long term/large use effects. I'm not sure where to draw the line. I have always been a proponent of seat belt laws. But, now, I don't know. I have no problem making a law regarding children, as they are not, by definition, able to make certain decisions. But shouldn't I be able to decide whether I want to wear a seat belt. I also don't have an issue with me being responsible for more of my out of pocket medical expenses were it determined I wasn't wearing a seat belt during an accident and I am injured. I'll accept the consequences of my decisions, but let me make the decision. It just feels like we really are passing laws that simply began with someone saying, "You know, there oughtta be a law about ..." The more we legislate the less we hold ourselves accountable and the easier it becomes to say, "well, there isn't a law so it must be okay." The ability to decide and then take responsibility for our decisions is the hallmark of being an adult. Don't take that away from me.

I was reading a "Marriage Minute" by Gary Smalley (I get them emailed to me on a regular basis) and he was talking about listening. While in theory I agree with what he said, I take issue with some of it. He said active listening requires you to ask questions of the speaker. Yes and no. Yes some kind of questions do indicate your interest and the fact that you are actually hearing what is being said, but I have had many people tell me that I'm a great listener and I make it a point to NOT ask questions. I think too many questions actually make a person feel "on the spot" and defensive. Someone telling me about their medical treatments doesn't need me to question all the details and inquire as to second opinions, etc. Responding to the feeling, not the facts, is what I think is important. I know people who I don't share much with anymore because of their questioning. "Why didn't you...? Where? When? How? Who?" It makes me feel like they're filling out a check list and are more concerned with the story than with me.