Friday, May 31, 2013

A Vivid Memory (BEDIM 31)

So, this is the last day of the Blog Every Day in May Challenge. While I didn't adhere to EVERY day, I really enjoyed the topics and just writing. Thanks to Jenni for hosting this!

Day 31, Friday:

A vivid memory

We were talking about this a few days ago.

One of my earliest memories in life is weddings. See, my biological dad is a videographer. He mainly does weddings. When my parents were married and he was just starting out, my mom would either coordinate/plan the weddings or she would act as video assistant if the couple didn't need help with the festivities.

And, their young daughter? Well, she came along for the ride.

I remember sitting in the back of countless churches or venues, while my parents did their thing. Thankfully, I was a fairly docile child, so I was good at being quiet and unobtrusive.

Two weddings that I remember most............

A double wedding (two sisters) that included some top brass at Publix. The colors were Green and Gold. One set of attendants wore green with gold accents, while another set of attendants wore gold with green accents. I just remember seeing a sea of people at the front of the church, standing there in their Green and Gold glory.

and

A wedding that included a mini-vacation. They were married in Ft Lauderdale at a fancy hotel (also top brass at Publix). There are bits of the whole weekend that I remember....

I remember swimming at the pool and a sudden storm came on. Everyone was running for cover, but I went after my beach ball. I didn't get the ball, but I did fall down and scrape my knee.

I remember that I even got an invite to the reception. While, I'm sure I went to plenty of receptions, I oddly don't remember very many. THIS one, however, I remember they were not only ok with the wedding video guy bringing his 4 year old daughter, but they even acted happy about it. The bride (who I remember looked like a fairy princess) made sure to talk to me at least once throughout the night.

I also remember forgetting my pillow and blanket. About halfway home, I realized it was gone and was inconsolable. My parents actually stopped, so they could call the hotel. The hotel did end up shipping my pillow and blanket back to me.

Thursday, May 30, 2013

Music Memories and Letting Go (BEDIM 29 and 30)

Day 29, Wednesday: Five songs or pieces of music that speak to you or bring back memories. Use Grooveshark or YouTube to include them in the post Only FIVE?! I love music....... and, it has this incredible way of turning my mood to its will. Here we go...........

'I Never Told You' by Colbie Callait.......... For some reason, it is just a heartbreaking song. The "sound" of the song is gut-wrenching. It brings me back to 'writing TG THE Letter' days. Oh, I'd listen to that song and cry. Especially over the line, "I see those blue eyes, every time I close mine. It makes it hard to see where I belong to when I'm not around you."

'Hey, Soul Sister' by Train....... This song just makes me happy. Even after a couple of years, I will still dance around our office when it comes on one of our stations.

'Gangsta's Paradise' by Coolio....... Another song that (weirdly) makes me happy, lol. While it was more a 6th/7th grade song, every time I hear it, I think about my senior trip to Honduras. Our Spanish speaking (NO English) bus drivers were so happy with their English music tapes. We, however, knew we were listening to 80's music in 2001. Then, out of nowhere, they came up with a tape that had this on it. And, a bunch of private Christian school white kids turned gangster on a bus in Honduras, lol.

'It's Gonna Be Me' by NSYNC.... Hello, high school. LOVED this song.

'Summertime' by Kenny Chesney....... This song came out the summer I really fell in love with Country. No matter what time of year, I hear it and immediately feel like it's 95 degrees.

Day 30, Thursday: React to this term: Letting Go Hard..... Needed.... Freeing......A skill I'm horrible at. I talked earlier about how the inability to let go is a negative trait of mine.

Tuesday, May 28, 2013

Letter to My Readers and Weekend Pics (BEDIM 27 and 28)

I hope everyone had a great Memorial Day Weekend!!! Mine was relaxing and wonderful (as you will see in my pics below). Also? I'm probably cheating by writing a letter and doing "only" pictures, but I've kind of cheated my way through this blog hop. Oh, well!

Day 27, Monday: A letter to your readers Lovely readers, Years ago when I started this blog, I never thought anyone other than my friend Meg and cousin Heidi would read it. I certainly never imagined that I'd find some of the coolest friends ever through it! Whether we've met, simply texted/emailed/chatted, or if I don't even know you read (ie, lurkers.... comment! They make my day!), I appreciate you. I appreciate your interest in my story.... I appreciate you listening to me cry, whine, and complain about stupid boys.... I appreciate your enthusiasm in my little adventures..... I appreciate that you relate to my randomness. Thanks for sticking with me and I hope you will keep joining me! ~ Jess Day 28, Tuesday: Only pictures

Sunday, May 26, 2013

Online Reading (BEDIM 26)

Day 26, Sunday: Something you read online. Leave a link and discuss, if you'd like.

Normally, I would just link to a fun article, but this was too great to just link. Just to be clear.... I did NOT write this. Jessica Misener and Erin La Rosa wrote it and did a really great job.

Also, to be clear..... I'm adding my own thoughts in orange. In no way am I claiming that my thoughts are a part of the original post, are the opinion of Jessica Misener, Erin La Rosa, or the opinion of Buzzfeed.

27 Undeniable Signs You Were A Dance Kid

Was there a law that every recital costume had to have sequins?

1. The phrase “let’s go across the floor” still fills you with fear.

Source: oberon481.typepad.com

Unless you knew you were badass at that particular movement, yes. You would pray that you wouldn't completely screw up in front of everyone.

2. You cut holes in all your regular tights to make them convertible.

Source: prima-soft.com

Once convertible tights were mainstream, it was like a whole new world opened up.

3. You subconsciously practiced your tap moves in public places when your mom dragged you on boring errands…

27 Undeniable Signs You Were A Dance Kid

Source:

Haha! Still do! I will randomly just start tap dancing anywhere. I don't even think about it. When I was about 11 or 12, my mom, her friend, and I were at a store and I just started dancing. Her friend started looking at me and my mom goes, "She does that all the time. I don't even notice it anymore."

4. And your fouettes at the airport.

Source: joha-joha.tumblr.com

That, too. However, I was always much better at tap, lol.

5. There’s a photo like this hanging somewhere in your parents house.

Source: gather.com

Oh, the amount of pictures we have. They aren't hanging up anymore, but we still have them.

6. You went through so many cans of hairspray making these.

Source: mddcdance.com

They had to shellac my hair to get it in (and stay) in a bun. Thankfully, my dance teacher didn't require buns for class.

7. This is what your closet looked like, and still kinda looks like.

I mean, you can’t just THROW THEM OUT, right?!

Source: primafashions.com

I have 23 years worth of dance costumes still hanging in a closet. They are now in a few of those vac-bags, but I just can't get rid of them.

8. You’re not above eating on the floor, because that’s what you had to do backstage.

Source: facebook.com

I never thought about it, but it's true. In fact, just last week, I popped a squat in the middle of the airport to eat my breakfast since all the seats were taken.

9. Glamour? Please, you know all about that.

Source: themeasureofmydays.blogspot.com

One of my baby tap classes actually wore that exact costume.

10. Same goes for bling.

Source: facebook.com

We were more of a glitter group. Oh, the spray glitter.

11. You know there’s really nothing hotter than a guy in tights.

Image by Quim Llenas / Getty Images

They sure can be.

12. You had a weird crush on Peter Gallagher in “Center Stage.”

Source: imdb.com

I LOVE that movie. I need to watch it, again.

13. You owned a pair of fishnets at a young age.

I don't know where the picture for this went, but I think I wore my first pair of fishnets when I was like 4. I still have a pair (obviously not the ones I wore at 4) in my dance bag. Yes, I still have a dance bag and I haven't taught dance in 4 1/2 years.

14. You also owned fake glitter eyelashes.

Source: tradekorea.com

Never did this.... I had enough problems getting mascara on.

15. You mastered the art of changing into your dance outfit in the back of your mom’s car.

Source: hotflick.net

True story.

16. You and your friends would choreograph dances after school “for fun.”

Totally did and it was completely fun. We had huge productions.

17. You know how to break in pointe shoes, and you know that it’s spelled “POINTE.”

Source: hightechdad.com

Yeppers.

18. Getting a run in your tights is so NBD.

Source: ericschmidtphotography.blogspot.com

It would irritate me, but I would still wear them until they were shreds.

19. You recognize all of these designer names.

Source: balletclassroom.wordpress.com

I do..... My four years working in a dance store helped with that, as well.

20. This doesn’t seem like a silly photo to you.

Source: danceartsacademy.net

BAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!!!! Not only have I been in that posed group before, but I still have that EXACT cheetah costume in my closet. Our dance started out as 'Circle of Life' where the sun woke us all up and then we moved into that song from the old Listerine commercials.

21. Neither does this.

Source: danceartsacademy.net

I never danced with fake candles, but I know some people who did.

22. You worked on your tendus while waiting in the grocery store line.

Source: hitherandyarn.wordpress.com

Word. My building at work has a two story lobby. The top floor has a three-sided walkway that looks down to the first story. The rail is the perfect height for a barre and I have been known to do barre exercises in the middle of the day.