Woodland Park Zoo

The Woodland Park Zoo in Seattle is the BEST zoo that I have ever visited and I've visited several. I've gone to one in China, London, Chicago, Columbus, Portland, and I think that's all. What is so special about the Woodland Park Zoo is that you feel like you are walking in the habitat of the animals you visit and each habitat is separated from each other as if you are in an entirely different area. They have made it so beautiful and special for the visitor and for the animals. I'm so impressed and I need to visit at least once a month to just take a special walk to visit all the animals.

2014 Resolutions

1. Write every day--screenplay, revise novel, short stories.
2. Read every day at least two hours--writing craft, screenwriting, novels.
3. Practice Zumba choreography every day, especially Zumba Gold.
4. Find a Zumba Gold job by February. Send out at least three marketing letters in January.
5. Exercise at least an hour a day.
6. Eat healthy.
7. Drink more water.
8. Strength training at least 2x per week--Body Pump.
9. Walk around Green Lake at least once a week.
10. Go to the Zoo at least once a month.
11. Go to the Seattle Art Museum at least once a month.
12. Enjoy and be grateful for every day.
13. Always make the choice to see the best in people and be kind.
14. Read every day fitness training materials and continue to take training workshops with ACE, AFAA, and NESTA.

Crab Pot

One of my favorite things to do when I visit the Aquarium is to go to the Crab Pot and get fish and chips. It's the perfect place to eat right on the waterfront. The fish is perfect and it is always special.

Seattle Aquarium

I sure enjoy visiting the Seattle Aquarium. I'm a member. It's fun to visit the Sea Horses, Octopus, and rockfish. A rockfish can live to be 140 years old and the octopus only lives for 2 years.

Seattle Metro

I enjoy riding the bus and the last few days with family, we rode the bus twice to get to downtown Seattle. It was fun showing my family from out of state how great bus 41 is and how it goes into the tunnel under Seattle. We had a great time and it was fun.

I really appreciate Seattle Metro and bus 41. There are 4 double buses an hour that comes next to my apartment building and it only takes 15 minutes to get downtown. I get off at the University Station so I can go up into Benaroya Hall at the Seattle Symphony. It's convenient. It's close to the Seattle Art Museum, Library, 5th Avenue Theater, Pike Place Market, Aquarium, and everything I love about downtown Seattle.

gardendlights.org

My family went to see Garden d' Lights in Bellevue and it was gorgeous! These are my favorite light at Christmas and the holiday season. Who doesn't like flowers? This is the 19th year. 6417 hours were donated by 136 dedicated volunteers to create these flowers. Some of the flowers took nine hours of work.

Be sure to visit if you are in the Seattle area. It's worth the trip.

www.gardendlights.org

McCormick & Schmicks Harborside in Seattle

My son, Ben and his wife, Amanda took me and my son, Daniel and his wife, Jodee from Columbus, Ohio out for dinner last night at McCormick & Schmicks Harborside in Seattle. I had never been there before. The view from all sides was spectacular. You can see the Spaceneedle. You can see Lake Union and all the boats. It is a special occasion to come to McCormick & Schmicks for the whole experience complete from the décor, ambiance, the delicious food, the view of Lake Union makes it a  restaurant to come to celebrate.

Casey waited on us and she was the example of what a great waiter should be as she answered all questions with details and suggestions and nagivated our table perfectly. I regret not asking her to take a photo of all of us at the table. She said 800 people came yesterday so this is a busy place. I can see why. The menu is perfection.

I had the black cod and it was delicious. I had a martini. Then I had the best pie I have ever had in my life.....key lime pie. I will always remember this slice of pie and nothing else will compare.

I had a wonderful evening. It was a perfect setting for a perfect evening with family and I will always remember this night. I want more like this. This is the life I want to be able to come to great restaurants like this, travel, and a life style with someone to love where you don't have to worry about money.

CPR Seattle

Went through CPR AED training last night at CPR Seattle for 4 1/2 hours. I'm impressed with this training and I feel strongly that EVERYONE should go through CPR training and get as much instruction as possible. If you are a parent, grandparent, neighbor, responsible member of the community, you need this training even if your work doesn't require it. I went through the training because I want to teach Zumba Gold soon. I also went through the Zumba Kids and Kids Jr. training so I took the Child CPR AED and Infant CPR training plus I'm a Grandma. I hope I never have to use this training but if there were an emergency, I'm grateful that I know what to do. I didn't know what an AED was until a few days ago. It's a defibrillator that shocks your heart if you are not breathing. Now after going through the training, I believe that anyone who has the money should invest in one. This is critical to saving a life and especially a loved ones' life. When we spend money on expensive cars, flat screen televisions, sound systems, and computers, isn't this important to invest in? Hopefully you don't have to use it but if it is needed, it can make the difference between life and death so it is insurance. It is also important to keep a well stocked first aid kit in your home and in your car. The number one emergency you might run into is a car accident so isn't it better to be prepared so you can help and save a life? This training is urgent and essential for everyone. Take the training, keep taking advanced training, get prepared so you can help and be there until a First Responder arrives and don't be afraid to call 911 if you don't know what to do and if it is a critical emergency. Sign up today and give a gift at Christmas.

 CPR Seattle; 4222 Stone Way North; Seattle; 206-504-3280.

 Farley Kautz is an outstanding instructor. Sign up today. If you have an emergency situation with a loved one, you will really regret not taking this action.

Pink Martini

I can't quit thinking about Pink Martini. I LOVE this band. I love everyone in it and everything about it and everything it represents. Pink Martini is more than a band. It unites the world. No other band even comes close.

"As it turned out the songs that I gravitated towards were not exactly cheery or exuberant.  I mean they’re uplifting …  but in a devastating sort of way. This past January I totally panicked because the album, which was due to be released in April, just didn’t add up to “Get Happy.”  I thought: I don’t want the whole thing to be ironic. I do want it to be genuinely uplifting, and to provide authentic rays of happiness. " I love this quote by Thomas M. Lauderdale, the band leader, about the song selection for their newest album, GET HAPPY.

Thomas M. Lauderdale is pure awesome. He does it all. He can do anything and everything! He's a great writer and bandleader and perfect person plus he's very handsome. His beautiful daughter was on stage at Benaroya Hall and looked like she walked out of a fashion magazine.

I wish I could be part of Pink Martini. I wish I could travel with the band and be part of the family. I wish I could be included. I don't play a musical instrument well enough. I don't sing well enough. They sure don't need me to write about the band because Thomas has that covered. In my dreams............

Buy the album, GET HAPPY. Buy all the albums. Live and breathe Pink Martini. Let it seep into your soul to become part of you.

www.pinkmartini.com

Zumba Kids

I received my certificate to teach Zumba Kids and Zumba Kids Jr. Hurray! It will be fun.

Zumba Kids is joyful and is a wonderful choice for kids to enjoy exercise and movement which is essential for health and fitness as they do schoolwork. I look forward to teaching Zumba Kids.

Pink Martini

Had a wonderful evening at Benaroya Hall listening to my favorite band, Pink Martini. I bought the ticket months ago and this is the first time I have seen them. My son, Daniel gave me a CD years ago and I have loved them ever since. They are an international band from Portland, Oregon. They are always touring the world and they play international music. I love them. It's hard to sit still when you listen to them. You want to move and dance and sway. They are passionate. I think each one of them exudes passion from every fiber of their being because that is how they play and sing. Everyone loved them. I stayed to have them sign CD's.

China Forbes has got to be the greatest female vocalist alive. Her voice is powerful and strong and passionate and sensual all at the same time. She's beautiful.

Everyone in the band is the best of the best. They belong to the world. I love it that they sing international songs and that they sing lyrics in other languages. I love Brazil. I was hoping they would play it but I guess that would have been over the top for a holiday choice. I would have loved it.

They have a new CD out, Get Happy. Buy one. Buy several for gifts. Once you buy one, you will want to buy them all.

www.pinkmartini.com

Pink Martini was sponsored by Russell Investments. Russell Investments are a major presence in Seattle and located on Second next to Benaroya Hall on Third. In the last week, someone told me they worked for an investment firm and the first name that came to my mind was Russell Investments and that is where she works. She's a Zumba instructor.

NY TImes: Disani's Homeless Life

On the front page of the New York Times this morning and yesterday is the story about a homeless girl in NYC named Disani. A series written by Andrea Elliott follows Disani's life and is an important story to read. I wouldn't be surprised if this series wins a Pulitzer.

Continue?

When I am in the company of ZIN members (Zumba instructors), I am the worst dancer, fattest, and oldest. I've spent a lot of money on training and plan to continue because I want to lose weight, find my place, and get healthier and better. This means I am trying and want a better future. I'm not teaching yet. I haven't even gotten off the ground but I am trying. Foolish to keep holding on to a dream to want to lose weight, help people become healthy and fit?

Why did I post this? I felt left out and not included. I was judged in a negative way for wearing an instructor shirt and for taking lots of training even though I am not teaching my own class. I realize I'm not the best dancer in the room. Some people like to pop other people's balloons and crush other people's dreams.

 I am trying to learn. I am trying to fit in. I am trying to get really good at Zumba Gold so that someday I can inspire others.

I'm going to ignore all this and keep trying hard. I want to be the best I can be. I want to lose weight. I want to be great at Zumba. I want to teach Zumba Gold.

ZIN Jammer Andrew Walker

I went to a ZIN (Zumba Instructor Network) Jam today to learn choreography to five Zumba songs by Zumba Jammer, Andrew Walker. He was amazing and fun and a great dancer. I had so much fun.

I danced for three hours at Mode Studio in Capitol Hill. I had the BEST time. I learned new moves and met so many nice instructors and had fun talking to the people I know.

Trader Joes

I absolutely love shopping at Trader Joes. Today was the first time I have ever shopped at the Trader Joes in Capitol Hill in Seattle. I was driving by and saw it so I turned. It was very crowded but that was okay. It was glorious. There are always the best prices, always the best selection of healthy foods, always fresh produce, always the BEST of everything. Every time I go to Trader Joes, I think why on earth do I ever shop anywhere else.

I wish I lived within walking distance. I really like Capitol Hill. This is the first time I have ever been in this neighborhood. It's very nice. Definitely a walking neighborhood. I know everything is expensive in this area though so it is unlikely I could afford to live close to Trader Joes in Capitol Hill. I wish. I wish. I wish.

Zumba Kids

Yesterday in Kent, Washington at the Grand Central Fit Club at 124 N. Central Avenue, I went through instructor training for Zumba Kids. Kass Martin from Utah was the ZES (Zumba Educational Specialist) who held the training from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. It was dancing and learning and having fun and pretending to be 7 years old, and enjoying the experience.

Kass Martin is such a nice person. I admire her. She's an awesome and gifted dancer. She understands people and wants kids and instructors to win. I'm impressed with the training. I'm impressed with Kass Martin. I like everything about her. So many instructors in the room were such gifted dancers and I know that kids are going to have a great time in their classes learning to Zumba.

I went through the training with Okiko (Akky) Ogami. We had a great time. She's super nice and has given me the great gift of allowing me to teach a song in her class once in awhile at Fresh Fitness and Dance in Wallingford.

My granddaughters

This is my son, Benjamin and his two perfect little girls, Anna and Ella.
They are my perfect little granddaughters. I love spending time with them.
Ben is perfect too.

Anna

I got to see my granddaughters yesterday afternoon. I had such a wonderful time. Spending time with family is my favorite thing to do and everything else goes out the window when I get to see them. The only thing that almost comes close is teaching Zumba Gold.

I made a cover for my dining room table for my granddaughters so they could have a playhouse.

Anna is four and Ella is two.

Anna is a writer. She spent most of the time working on a new book drawing the illustrations. She dictates the words she wants for each page of her illustrations. Anna is awesome. I love her so much.

One of these days I will buy fabric markers for her to decorate and draw on her playhouse.

Stephen King

I went to my screenwriting class last night at the University of Washington and I was wearing my new shirt that I bought from Café Press, which is the shopping tab on the Stephen King website.

I didn't get to take my coat off because it was very cool in the room. Another time to wear the shirt. I bought two. One says "constant reader" and it is signed by Stephen King. The one I wore last night was the website with a raven perched on one of the letters.

Stephen King started me off with my writing. My daughter, Gretchen bought ON WRITING by Stephen King for me as a gift for Christmas 2000. Every time I read it, I feel I can write anything. It's one of my favorite writing craft books.

SHAG

SHAG is the senior housing here in Seattle. I visited the newest complex called Interurban on Linden in North Seattle yesterday morning. It's so nice. It's a beautiful complex. There are so many ways to interact with others in common areas. SHAG is affordable housing and income restricted. I qualify.

I loved the apartment I wanted. I viewed four. I could be happy there. I would have to squish down and get rid of more stuff but I could be happy there. What I love most is the peapatch garden area on the roof with great views of the mountains. I would want to garden. They have a fitness center with Precor ellipticals, my favorite and a weight machine. They have a media center where it looks like it would be great fun to watch a movie. They have a pool table. There are plenty of places to find a table to play mah jongg or canasta. I noticed on the bulletin board that they were having a wine and cheese tasting event and a free evening trip to the Seattle Symphony. They have knitting and cooking classes.

The best part is that I would make friends and I wouldn't be alone all the time. Writing is such a solitary activity. It's hard to be alone all the time. I don't get to see family very often and sometimes it just gets hard.

What Interurban doesn't have is a pool or spa but this is an income restricted building so you can't have everything. They also don't have a dance floor but the lady said you can push tables to the side.

I was thinking of all the ways I could be helpful and needed. I went through the master gardening program in Oregon in 1999. I love to cook. I love to knit, quilt, sew, crochet. I'm a new Zumba instructor but there wouldn't be a place for Zumba Gold. Zumba Gold is for seniors and there is also training to teach seniors in wheel chairs. I saw a few wheeling around.

I'm seriously thinking about this choice. This is a fabulous building and so nice. It is close to the Interurban trail.

The rent is close to what I pay now. Right now I live in such a convenient location. I wouldn't have bus 41 but there is a bus that stops right out front of the building.

If my writing or zumba takes off, I doubt I would move and I would want to stay where I am.

It was funny because last night when I was at my class at the University of Washington, we reviewed Toy Story 3 and tears started down my cheeks because I, like the toys, don't feel needed. Yesterday afternoon, I got to see my granddaughters but I don't get to see them very often. I need to be around people and I need friends.

2013 Seattle Marathon--Ben Haber comes in 10th

MY SON, BEN HABER CAME IN 10TH PLACE IN THE SEATTLE MARATHON! HIS TIME WAS 2:42:34 AND HE WAS RUNNING 6.13 MINUTE MILES. HE CAME IN SECOND IN HIS DIVISION.

I'm so proud of him. I wanted to be there but I didn't get the message in time. He's always been my Golden Boy. He's one of the best runners in the world. He's an elite distance runner. He came in 6th place at the 2013 Seattle Rock and Roll Marathon. He's always awesome. I'm so proud of him. He's my hero.