Pages

Thursday, February 24, 2011

The 1920's Flapper Review has their line up done!! Check it out!!


Welcome To   “PirateHearts”   
Feb. 26, 2011, 7pm        Z Grill and Bar. Flower Mound TX
1920’s Flapper / Gangster Style  Review!!
(Benefitting American Heart Assn.   $5.00 Donation Suggested at Welcome Table)
1)     Intro - 1920 Music…………….
2)    Charleston      (this is 1920’s)
All PirateHearts !!
3)    Rum & Coca Cola (actually a1940s song, Betty & I did at dance studio )
Tammy, Cyndee, Betty
4)   Ain’t No Other Man (actually a 1990s song)
Katie Green
5)   Gangster Pirate Rap (actually from Jake’s head)
Jake, Ray, Chris and da girls……..
6)   Raise Your Glass –    Adele, Cyndee, Julie, TinaMarie Debbie, Marla, Pam, Tammy   (obviously not 20’s either)

Ok – the 1920 theme is an excuse to wear cute flapper costumes…they are cute right??
7)   St Louis Blues  - Now we are back in the 20s!!

EVERYONE!!  Yes This Means You!!   If you want…  J
8)    Cuban Sheffle , Cha Cha Freeze –
Now Time To Have Fun with the Walton Stout Band!!
Special thanks to Walton Stout Band for sound system, and Denise Hodges from Hodges Investigation for videoing the Show!!  (Happy Birthday Bill!)

PirateHearts is a “crazy fun” social club!
Come Join the Fun! Dance Experience not required!

Sunday, February 20, 2011

About


Contact - Tammy Westfall - tammy.pirate@gmail.com or facebook Tammy PirateHeart for further info!

It's ALL about meeting people, making friends, having fun through events and travel!

WHO ARE PIRATEHEARTS!!
We are both married and single adults searching for an excuse to get back on the dance floor, attend parties, other activities and have a good time without pressures or expectations! Some Piratehearts are new to the area or to a situation and just looking for friends!!




Pirates are ladies – Buoys are the guys, who support the Pirates!


HOW!!
Through scheduled events posted on a calendar each month, some theme oriented. Costume participation is suggested to go with the theme but NOT required.
Warning - You may get the urge to dance and have way too much fun!!

WHEN!!
We schedule a couple of events a month as a group for socializing and dancing that will posted on the calendar. The official Pirate Day is the first Wed of every month.

HISTORY!!
In 2007 , 5 great girlfriends, all very different, were cruising around on a ski boat dancing and singing. We started talking about how much fun we were having and thought everyone should have this much fun! So the Grapevine Pirates were born, (see picture). It was actually a husband of one of the girls who took the picture and so became the first Buoy - gentlemen who support Pirates!! We began the Pirate theme tradition by wearing cute pirate outfits and scheduling dance mixers adding a variety of theme parties to the mix. Last year we were sponsored by Grapevine Scuba and did a pirate float in the Grapevine Christmas Parade. So God willing, we will continue to grow while retaining the spirit of camaraderie and fun that solidified the original group!!

Look for these events to be posted on our calendar!!
- Monthly Activities
- Happy Hours
- 1st Annual St Patty Day Pirate Pub Crawl
- 2nd Annual Grapevine Christmas Parade
- Travel Opportunities – such as Interline BVI Regatta, Ski Trips, Scuba
- Promote Sport Clubs, ie... Tennis, Biking
You may post items and events to calendar when site is developed! (must be approved)
Pirate Hearts will support our member’s charities, and promote business interests as long as it does not infringe on enjoyment of others!!



MISSION STATEMENT – To express the joy of life through fun, friendship, adventure and service.

Please note, if you are looking for a social club to join for something other than friendships, new acquaintances, and fun, this private group is not for you. We desire to attract professional members with strong ethics, high values and strong standards. Any behavior that is deemed disrespectful will result in removal from the group immediately. Our mission is to seek quality, not quantity.

PirateHearts should strive to be the joy in which they want to see in others.

We look forward to your participation in 2011 as we kick off Dallas/Fort Worth's newest "Elite Social Club".

Ahoy matey's and Shiver me timbers!

Stay Fun My Friend!!

Tuesday, February 15, 2011

Picking out a Church!

5/15/11

So this morning I really really want to go to church to give thanks and to really honor God - Jake & I are so happy about our lives and the direction ....   and since we are staying in town for sure, we need to find a place to call our church home.   So Jake asked me to once again try the church down the street, (Gateway)  which I think has some great points but there are issues that I have been struggling to over come.   So at 8:30 I quickly got dressed, sprayed on my dry shampoo and put my hair up and left for 9am service.

I prayed to God and said - God , if this is truly the church you want us to attend I would like to have some God things going on.   God is so above all my issues.... the minister is great at this church.    I even visited the Unitarian down the street - but I wish they used the Bible - but they don't. And that bothered me cause I am a Christian.  However I believe in Jesus - not so much in people.  And people like myself are Christians - so ...... there is lots wrong with it.  :)

I am ok with all different beliefs - I believe God is so big - just like my savior Jesus on the cross - He will save everyone and you have a choice....  even right at death.     however - I have met some people that were so mean they might just choose hell....  cause their own freakin conscious probably would not let them choose heaven.   Now that would be a story - living your life so mean and ego driven - even at death you can't see the light or Jesus.   Heaven is created here - as well as hell.  Attitude - like the minister said today.... 

So of course - I pulled in and there was a parking spot right up front.  Oh the church is Gateway.    I laughed cause Jake is usually the lucky one there and Jake was in a plane somewhere.   So Welcome Tammy....  LOL

I sat down in the back - so that I could leave early if needed...  and 2 rolls in front of me - a little boy turned around and holy cow he had a shirt on that said  "Pirates ONLY".   OK now that IS funny!  I smiled at him he waved,  (and of course I thought right way - Pirates are evil.   ha ha ha)  

Then they introduced a guy that was a well known author and he first off started showing and selling all his books.   If it weren't for the little boy I might have walked out right then.   But the guy of course was awesome.  Slap me for judging so quickly.   And wouldn't you know it - one of his very favorite books of all time was "As a Man Thinketh"   and that is mine too.   So much when he said it - I clapped and then I stopped cause I do not like this church.  LOL    Now that is my ego talking - cause truly I know I belong here.....

The service was great.   Talked about shaping your attitude mostly to enjoy God's world. (funny right , my crappy attitude about attending this church again)  Very good - you should download it .....

We also did communion which I have not done in a long time.... was the cherry on the top - Everyone is welcomed and is so cool to pray and say thanks thanks thanks... for giving us this chance and opportunity to make better choices.   Jake and I give thanks almost every day. Truth be said, Jake is better at doing it every day then me.

It is important - to be grounded in faith.  The best things in life you cannot see but can only be felt.   And one thing for sure - a good preacher can provoke a feeling....   and make you think hummmm -mostly  I agree but sometimes I disagree..... and then if you are me - you bog your husband down talking about it ...  and in the end - all the talk makes you strong.  Or Jake just says Ok honey you are right...  just kidding.

The church always ask you to go down front to give concerns and wishes.   I never actually have a reason to do that - for I already know God  has a plan - and when I am off course He kicks me into shape........ and if it truly bothers me I have 500 friends on facebook that will surely know about it.    Yes Jake & I live in a fishbowl - and yes sometimes the water gets very cloudy!!   If you believe in God - you know that things happen for a reason  "God Thing".)   We are to be ready!!   Or ready to sit and wait.... which I hate.  Like when we were selling our house - I walked down front, and asked this stranger - pray for my house selling thing...  whatever - talk about Tammy's ego being the center of the universe!!    God and everyone in Heaven probably laughing at me - saying - you got it so good now, get back to your house.    Settle down - and maybe later ....   One thing good - our house looks better now.

The thing I would like to do - is to walk down and go to my knees and say THANKS!!   Thank you God for a beautiful Day!!   Thanks for making me stay here in Dallas a bit longer.

So i am off to go get ready for the pirate boat ride.    I am so excited - the  boat has been running great.  I so appreciate that.    Have a GREAT Day!!

Monday, February 14, 2011

Flappers & Gangsters! Charlston Dance

Here is our Flapper Dance we will do Aug 26th at Z-Bar ...  grab your flapper dance and come join us!!

Flapper Charlston Dance Instruction Video

Flapper Dance with music

have fun and hope to see you there!!

Love , happy valentines day

Today is Valentines so I had to write a quick note!!  

The answer to all questions is - Love...........

NO matter what happens there is something you can love. In conversation , in your walk, everything.  It's hard to see sometimes or notice but it is there.  In the Bible Jesus also said that.  He was the example of LOVE to the greatest degree.   I do not understand the conversations with people who are not accepting and they too love Jesus too.  But that is just me -- and "we can't change people."

sooooo what is love

There are 3 types of love right?

Love your neighbor - this is the hardest one but should be the easiest.  Bible does not say - choose which ones to love, and decide... figure out if it is good or not.. just love your neighbor.....  called PHILOS
This means everyone!

Choose to love a lover - from my past this seemed all to easy - but it should be hard.   I loved these people as a friend, but should not let them in like a lover,  why do we do that .. so easy to not like friends but we can have a different lover every year ...  not hardly.. ...  backwards right?  Once we allow this Erotic love to come in - it is so so so hard to shake off....and hard on your soul ..... -  called  EROS  ---  BUT if you happen to get this type - it is so so awesome........  

And then the love of God - which for me is very personal and should not be taking lightly.  This is the most powerful - and the acceptance of Him is the most empowering.  He is the difference that can give you courage to jump off cliffs and make decisions  Without Him we are just worms trying to build a castle, talking the talk - but our walk has been for nothing.   This awesome love is AGAPE.   With this - no matter how dark our life gets - this love will bring you to the light again.

When you choose  love in dark times,, high times, or anytime.. ... - even if so tiny, it will eventually be positive...  not right away -- .. it is not mc donalds  .. love is very powerful and makes real changes ......one day - you will able to see the light that you gave,,, and from loving you are building a huge beacon - to God.   Even on the cross Jesus did not stop loving His neighbor.  A beacon that leads to God!!

......  And it is not about me or you it is about everyone....  coming together and dancing for joy - love, just because we can, it's a choice.     Way more fun the fun by itself!!

Party Like  A Pirate - Love Like A Rock Star!!

Friday, February 11, 2011

Me And My Kit Kat Club!

I will never forget the day my brother Gary took me to see Caberet on the big screen across the street from  Gulfgate Shopping Mall in Houston.  It changed my life.   It was 1972 I was 8 years old.  We lived in SouthEast Houston and at the time  Hobby Airport was going strong and NASA headquarters was located in the area.   By the time we moved, we had burglar bars around our house, and were broken in 3 times.   Funny how things change.    My brother was my biggest fan, and I was his.   He could do everything perfect and still does.   Gary was a great dancer and could play the piano like no other.   The one advice that stuck from him was never to cut my hair.    Anyway - off to the movies we went.   


Caberet.


My first introduction with Sally Bowels and the Kit Kat Club.  (Kit Kat Club is the name of the club where Sally performs.  I do not really have a Kit Kat Club as portrayed in this blog.  I reallized from Julie's phone call she has no idea who or what Caberet is.)


I feel in love.   I loved Sally Bowles.   I connected with her.   That was me on stage.   She just loved life so much.   She wore crazy make up and costumes and she did not care that much about money just living.   She was strong and connected with herself.  When she sung, "What good is sitting, alone in your room, come hear the music play?"   Yes yes yes I said to myself.   Before this movie I mostly sung 1940s sheet music, my grandmother played on the piano over and over again.   There were tons of good songs from that era.   My favorite was Andrew Sisters,  Cole Porter  but her favorite was Deanna Durbin.  Deanna had a voice that ranged for about 4 octives and I am only good at 1and a half so she was my least favorite.  But I tried my best... There was this one song, "Can't Help Singing"  and I thought well that is ok.....if you look up the words to that song , it fit me.   There is a part that says, "Can't help crowing."   (ok I thought my costume would make it ok for me to crow)  LOL


Anyway -  Sally Bowels songs were attainable goal if I knocked down the key a bit, and for sure I could do the costumes.   Yes I could be Sally -


When I was 5, I always had a dream of being a dance teacher because I loved the costumes, the music, the dancing - the total chaos of it all.   And now - I am going to add being Sally Bowles to my all time dream in life.    I spent all my extra hours at home dancing and pretending I was putting people on stage.   I was in Heaven.  Sally Bowles was Heaven.  I know you must know about the part where she lost her baby.   I thought , wow - that was so lucky.   God took her baby cause she did not want the picket fence.  Me neither.


That was my first thought on how God really does take care of you.  I know warped right?  It did not go into detail in the movie of how the baby was lost.     anyway -- back to Sally Bowels....


After the movie I begged my brother Gary to go get me the albumn.   I had ever song memorized with a choreographed routine, yes of course there was a chair dance.   My bedroom was my own private Kit Kat club just like in the movie.  I just loved snapping my fingers and would practice tricks like backbends over a chair -i was so cool - the youngest lap dancer alive.   I had no idea.   This had nothing to do with sex.   It was just fun!!


There was also this song about Stairway to Paridise....  and I still know it to this day.  All you preachers, who delight in panning the dancing teachers, let me tell you there are a lot of features, of the steps that getting you through, the gates of Heaven,  Its madness to be always sitting around in sadness....   that is off the top of my head.......    To me dancing and dancing all night was not bad.   It was life. 


I was and still way into God and Jesus Christ, he saved me from mean people.  I prefer to focus on the rock that was moved when Jesus walked out, and not the cross.      I wanted that life.  A life where the rock was gone.  This is what Jesus said to me in the Bible.   Not to focus on how terrible the cross was, but how awesome it is to be free.  If I want to dance and sing I can.    And too trust - to know even though we go through "cross like times"  we will get to the rock part.  Just have faith!!!  I thought we should make necklaces of rocks to wear around.   Meaning freedom!!    (another blog)  


At every moment I was making whoever was around me be a part of my Kit Kat show.  Mostly my sister cousin Kathleen got dragged in.  We had huge back-up numbers and stood on a Hope Chest practicing all the time.  Ironic cause a Hope Chest is what you get to get married, but I wanted to use it as my stage, I could care less about the china it.   :)   But I sure liked tap dancing on it.


In high school,  I got the lead can can dancer role in a play.  Crazy cause I was not the most talented girl but I could smile the biggest I think and people said I had that extra thing.  I was like, ok cool let's dance.   The best dancer could do all these back walkers over and over again, and I was just proud I could jump up into a split.    I was so good at that... I ended up doing this trick for the next 10 years... which is why I can't touch my toes with my legs straight now.   My hamstrings are shot from all the jumping up and split landing.


This play was called Paint Your Wagon.   In the play was a very cute Italian guy with black thick hair and was in his early 30s with a smile that was so charming.   I forgot his name.   We would hang out during practice.  I am just a really friendly girl and when people are friendly back, I can easily be your new best friend without question.  I would go with anyone who was nice and fun.  No motives. No agendas. No questions. I am still like this to this day.  My Kit Kat Club is and always will be open to everyone!!


One practice he asked me to go to Galveston with him for dinner.  I thought wow how fun.   He called me up to arrange details and I asked him if his wife was going to go.  He of course said no, she doesn't know.  I was so shocked.  I was like well - that is not a good idea then.   And I was so upset and confused.  


This guy ruined a perfectly good friendship and would risk ruining a perfectly good marriage over a little girl like me.     And now during the play,  we could not hang out. There was this icky thing between us.  I hated this.    Plus I hated that my friendship was tempting him to be bad.  That is the conflict. Did I cause this "erection" so to speak?.   I now know - NO.    This guy was just a weak man.   I had more power then I realized and should have taking control.   But I took complete blame.     I would behave differently now.   It is what it is, can't change it.  


They say it is a sin to bring your brother down.   Back then, I thought I was bad.   The very thing God made me to love, and to be was bad.     I ran.  Running was good.   It kept me out of trouble.  Not the trouble forced on by others,  but I started punishing myself for who I was.  I needed some down time with God alone, without all the noise of family and friends who really really do love and want the best for you and me.   


I moved to Florida when I just turned 18 and, wouldn't you know it,  became a Dixie Land Can Can girl and singer. I had no idea but this is when me and God grew tight.    Isn't that funny?  Also too my trademark move was jumping up and doing splits on the bar.  I was so good at that.   I loved it!!  I would sing too but mostly being the funny girl.  The "Geratol" crowd loved it.   Buses of seniors would pour into Rosy O'Grady's.    Cuteness and being nice can get you far.  I also got to move to NY and see the world as a flight attendant with TWA.    


In time, about 4 and a half years later,  God finally told me to me to go back face myself now loaded with God things,  to trust that Him, Sally Bowles and me would be ok.  


I had no idea how much this downtime was crucial for my growth and understanding and realization that who I was , was ok and valuable.  Maybe not to the masses, or especially to my Dad, (my Daddy didn't want his daughter to be Sally Bowles like character, can't blame him),   but I was valuable enough to stay on my path, free from drugs and evil.  With God you can be successful in whatever decision you choose.    


Life comes with bullets,  it is like the light you are running to, there is this opposite force that tries to keep you from going.   I call it the dark side.  Some call it the devil - but that to me that is honoring it with a name , and when you name something it gives it power.   It has no power.   Just stupid stuff - that God and you will handle - in time.   Don't ever let the dark - become a focus or it will be you.   If you can't take negative comments or bullets then you should stay home in the safety of your home and eat bon bons or run on a treadmill.  Getting out there , on the Kit Kat Stage - comes with criticism and you can buy into it all or not.    Cause anything worth doing or growing will provoke conversation, opinions, judgments.  Unless you are Sister Teresa, I wonder if she has had any judgements made on her.   She has to.  I wonder what they were.


Ironically the most going against the grain for me was to have a daughter.  So when that happened  the opinions flew.   So much - that my Kit Kat Club mentality was being attacked.  Everyone was worried for her safety actually.   Even me if truth be told. Bringing a baby into the world is the second most important decision we can make.  And everyone should not do this.   Bringing a baby into this world is not for the weak or the lazy.   (another blog)    I would pray all the time - and hope that she would not be tainted because of me and that I would hold steadfast to God and do right, not text book by any means - but right for God and me.   Weird now - cause she is great even being raised in my Kit Kat Club. I am sure we kept God laughing all the time, rolling His eyes- cause we would have breakfast for dinner, and dinner for breakfast.   Our dance studio life, and doing plays did not allow us to have normal hours.   But that was our life.


Normal is just a knob on a dish washer anyway....


When Katie was born - I looked at her and thought....  ok - now what.   People would say - wow don't you just love her.  I would say, ummmmm  yeah,,, I think so.   I had no idea who she was.   Right then she was a sack of sugar to me, I carried and changed all the time. I would sing all the Caberet songs to her. I had tons of costumes for her.  I changed the lyrics in the songs to fit Katie , like the married song and said baby.  My props in my new Kit Kat club changed too. Instead of a cane during my songs I used a vacuum cleaner, (but I never turnd it on, cause it was too loud so the carpet was rarely vacuumed)..., and my chair I danced on was next to Katie's high chair.   Then I realized something........


Besides God, Sally Bowles and me, there was another dancer in the Kit Kat Club and her name was Katie Green.


I choreographed our life just like a show.   Katie did everything awesome.   Our entrances and exits were good.  We sang the same tune mostly.  We did community theater together.  We would come home late from doing plays, but it was a rule that if we could not dance to the music then we would have to play a different tune.   Meaning if - we can't stay out late, and get up in the morning to go to school and work, we would have  to quit.   WE did just fine.  


But soon I found out something.    God blessed her actually with that Deanna Durbin voice. (I operate on a one and half octive, not bad but not deana durbin)  Katie has Deanna Durbin's voice in life and in song.   She focused on school and made As and Bs.  Her voice was so strong - that she did not let our Kit Kat play dates bother her focus on work. Katie thrived in my Kit Kat Club.    She had no help from me. The show was going on, with or without you ... so even Katie had learned this.  I could not help her or do it for her.    We were a team. Katie even along with school had her own dance team and orderd costumes... it was great.   She had a job and was a star in the show.     


Eventually our Kit Kat Club was put on hiatus.    But that is what happens when you grow.   Things change - nothing stays the same.   We have to take time outs to grow,  get some more choreography.   Get back to God - and start a new show.   


My stage changed dramatically when Katie arrived.  I was still in the Kit Kat show, but now it was surrounded with Katie and kids.   The lyrics changed but the tune was the same.  Just like rehearsing for a number , I had to learn all there was about raising babies and kids.   I am not be the best dancer in the show, but I will do it the best I can.    And from that - God can make me a Star, even if only in my own bedroom of my Kit Kat Show - standing on a Hope Chest tap dancing with my sister cous, Kathleen.  


You know, I hang out now with tons of stars.      And God is my sun and moon.


And yes, to me,  "Life is a Caber-Ra-O-tion, come to the Caberet"


Sally Bowles, God and me and now Katie - are doing just fine!!   All starring in our own Kit Kat Stage!!




PS  I just re-read this blog and I bet the words are Banning the dancing teachers not panning....  panning does not make since - like the preachers go around and hit the dance teachers with a pan ... ha ha... that's funny ok maybe not so much.......

Tuesday, February 8, 2011

Smile, In the Light of Darkness!

PLEASE GO TO THE ABOUT TO SEE WHO WE ARE, AS WELL TO EVENTS ON THE RIGHT TO FIND OUT ALL THE FUN STUFF THAT WE ARE DOING!!   Below is just me rambling and has  nothing to do with what we are all about.     THANKS!!   Cha Cha!!

So how do we to "get over" that fat feeling, or when life has you beaten.

Personally - When I am at rock bottom, I journal. Our mind can make things seem bigger then they are, but when you step back to look at it all, it is bad but not so overwhelming and this too shall pass.  And you can see more clearly steps if needed that should be done, seeing a pattern over your feelings and actions, a conversation between you and God.  (Jake runs, with no music.  He loves running in the woods and he takes time out there, just thinking.  That is his God time.  We are all different.)   I like to write.

We are programed early on, on what to say or not say..  From our social circles and families we are taught how to speak.  Don't get me wrong, editing our speech is a great tool and we should not just blurb out stuff without thought .  People, even those who love you,  may not "get you" leaving you feeling even more alone or not understood. And that negative feeling will creep in and take away God moments.

Katie was taught to journal early on and still journals to this day. When journaling you can say anything and read it back and realize how you really feel.   I found one back in my days of single mom life , and I read it.  I found stuff about me,  her confusion over all my boyfriends and how she hates meeting them.   She was very concerned about us being poor and  that we may not be ok.   I thought wow -...   The truth is not that fun sometimes but it is the truth.  And we can't candy coat it.  There was good stuff too in the journal.   We are not perfect but it doesn't make it right or wrong - just is.

 Katie had every right to journal that, and her feelings were real.   It would do no good to tell me cause quite frankly , I had no idea what I was doing, and living on a shoe string.  But still I was doing the best I could.   I knew too in my heart,  I wasn't that bad, just wasn't text book good. (Katie says now she loves her childhood. just fyi)   Katie was honest to my face, but I could not fix her or us.  Our life is what it is. and mostly great.

With character and strength come faith and hope through love.  And there is always something to love, even when you are way down.  As long as you choose love, it seems life always gets better.  Doesn't mean your choices will be so lovable....

The first time I walked into a dance studio - I learned that flexibility and to smile in challenging times was crucial to that business.  You have a plan, but you learn to make adjustments with the all the different students.   Class is still good, just not at all what you thought.  Like life.  Smiling and finding joy with the change is key and can be difficult.  We all have to bend a little and make changes but if you do it all mad it seems as though everyone suffers and you gave all the power to the negativity, instead of embracing the only tiny part that is good. If you focus and find a reason to smile you deflate the issue and soon it will be good again soon.  Not only good, you might find value in the change.   Just like in life.  Sometimes a plan is just a path to   get you to do something else.  But it can be debilitating cause in change life sometimes may not be so clear......Sort of an  Oh dear - now what am I going to do ..........

Like when you come home from a dance convention and you find a note on the bottom of a written out grocery list after 9 years of marriage, saying, "Sorry Tammy this is not working." , and you happen to read out loud with your 12yr old daughter beside you.  I thought, "Oh dear , this was so not my plan today".  Then daughter asks you point blank , "What does that mean?"  There is no time to complain and bitch about the "bad stuff" that might have been handled in your eyes a little better.  We have to know that God has this.   Katie may know that her Mom is crazy and we live life on the edge, but we are not going to be beaten or show fear to this incredible action or give it any value or weight.  We have a choice, to smile and move on cause we are not going to change the situation and understanding it is not valuable either.  Just is.

I looked at Katie as if I know exactly where we are going and replied, "Baby we are going to be Thelma and Louise. Our life is going to be so different!  Door are just going to open up!"  And she said - "really mom."    Yes without a doubt I knew we would be ok so lets start being ok right now.   This was also a good time to start journaling cause I was just talking blindly.  Like when you are blind folded, turned around a couple of times to make you dizzy  and then told to go get the pinata.   You never know when all the candy is going to fall down, even if blindfolded ......you know it will.  But you have to be willing to get out there and hit the damn thing hard.  LOL

I know people spend tons of time being inspired with self help books.  This is really awesome, and great but inspiration has nothing to do with action or actual change.  You have to be willing to make action, see and do life differently.  From these actions we receive inspiration.

The very definition of "inspiration" is  "a divine influence or action on a person believed to qualify him or her to receive and communicate sacred revelation" .   And we can NOT be inspired if we are controlled by an addiction or negative feelings or fear.    Divine actions or influences will be harder to receive if we continue to do negative behavior or use fear to keep us from getting outside the box.

I can remember at a very bad time in my life. My smile was completely gone. (not very often this happens)  My Mom went into the closet and brought me my tennis shoes.   I put on my shoes and ran.  I will never forget that.  Cause there was nothing we could do about this particular bad situation.  Sitting around and brewing over it was making it so much worse.  It was controlling me, I was loosing my ground.  Running got me out, and thinking again.   Action brought inspiration .and hope.

It is important to keep the heart going, even when we feel beat or tired. God must have all of us running for a reason and He needs us to hit the pavement just to get our hearts beating again feel safe to jump off cliffs, not the same one over and over again though.    He needs us in shape for the next adventure.

If you don't act for yourself and do things for yourself no doctor can actually help you. You can choose to smile in the light of darkness or let the darkness rule.    God is all around us doing miraculous things even in the worse of times.   We just have to believe.  This is hard too but no matter what we have to see God in everyone around us.  

There is a great story where this guy was on the top of his house cause water was rising all around him. This man had refused to be rescued from a police car and a boat.  Finally a helicopter came and the man on the roof said to the rescuer, "No thanks.  I am going to wait for God."  The helicopter, like the car and the boat had to leave cause the storm was getting worse and he drowned. This stubborn man meets God in Heaven and asked, " Hey why didn't you come down and save me."  God replied, 'Who do you think sent you the car, boat and helicopter?" Another point of the story is that the police car, boat and helicopter didn't stick around trying to "change" the guy on the roof either.   We can't change people if they do not want to change... even with a really cool helicopter.

So - in closing - go find what works for you.   And remember - action brings inspiration which thing brings change.  If you have a tooth ache you don't just read about it, you do something.   And then you figure out how to keep if from coming back.  Do the best you can.  And when you are unsure about an issue, journal.  It is a great way to monitor your true feelings cause we speak so effortlessly in "BS" that we get so confused.

Understanding, finding acceptance, or gratitude is huge to recovery, but not necessary and sometimes not even feasible. But no matter what we can find something in our lives to love and focus on, and from that - the healing begins.    So -

Go out and dance - and enjoy!.

Have a GREAT Day!!

Tammy

Sunday, February 6, 2011

Raise Your Glass part 1 & 2 & 3

Raise Your Glass Hip Hop Dance COUNTED part 1
PirateHearts have a bunch of fun women (all but 1 over 40 and most over 50)  and we love to DANCE!!   So if you want to practice this dance - and learn the steps - then by all means JOIN US!!
Raise Your Glass With Music Part 1
OK So put this on your IPHONE so you can listen and or watch it so it will be easier when we get together.
I will add on more in a couple of days!!      See you at dance practice!!     Cha Cha

Raise Your Glass Counted No Music Part 2

Raise Your Glass Part 1 & 2 with Music!!

Raise Your Glass Part 3 Counted NO music

Raise Your Glass Part 2 & 3 With MUSIC


PS!!  I Got Your Back - Raquel!!  :)

Saturday, February 5, 2011

My Dad Would Divorce My Mom if She Got FAT!

Growing up Beathard there were somethings you did not do.   Getting fat was one of them.   My Aunt Ethelyn used say she was not fat but fluffy and that seem to be alright.  If you met my Aunt she is the happiest funnest person around that at 79 still rafts down Georgia rivers and has a holistic medical practice.  Very cool.  Fluffy is a great attitude, fat is not.

No I am talking not fluffy - but fat.  So all this talk I heard from my Dad did not concern me until I gained the extra 10lbs in college.  That is when my bad stuff broke out.  No one could help.  I was also a Strutter at SWT and everyone was upset at me for gaining weight I was benched for games.   But the weight gain was just a symptom.   There was something wrong.  No reason to go back and find out - I think I know but it is not important.   Also too - my mom must  have noticed the huge bag of Kisses I ate in one sitting while visiting them but she never said anything.    This was not about her or my Dad actually.  This was about me.   Negativity in my life period that I had to deal with.  My insecurities manifesting this desire to hurt myself keeping me from being whom I was suppose to be. A chain or anchor I had to let go.  It had nothing to do with my Dad.  OH my Dad says stuff like everyone - but that is him not me, big difference.   My choice of acting out my pain probably had everything to do with what he said, but he was not the reason.  It was me.  Me and my lack of faith.

Of course I am not at all the daughter my Dad thought I should be. Who is.   Even as late as 40yrs old  he suggested I buy a china cabinet because I would find a better suitor after my divorce.  And I did - he is my Dad, but inside the china cabinet I put rocks that I found from my rafting trip.  I could care less bout China and stuff.....  Dad came over and smiled when he saw what I had done, and I think he secretly liked it.   It is not what "people" do, but I loved my rocks.   anyway...Dad can only give advice on what he knows.  He truly loves me so so so much.

My point is my weight gain was all about me.   Me not being able to stand up for myself.  I did however...  I quit college and moved to florida to sing and dance in a dixie land bar.   Oh my Dad was furious, and he cut me off.  He said, "if you quit school.. blah blah blah."  and I did and I was.  Even to this day if I get a loan it is with interest and a huge speech on how I need to ........

So I grew knowing that my Dad would divorce my Mom if she got fat.   My Dad loves my Mom so much too.    I never thought that was a bad thing. In fact I think my Mom liked that.   My Mom and I did Jane fonda together, and walked and we were always so active traveling...  it would slow my Dad down if Mom could not keep up.   He was a pilot and did not have time to do the house stuff.... so Mom ran a tight ship and Dad brought home the money.  And they took trips and did all sorts of fun stuff.   But fat is different from fluffy.  You see fluffy is still happy and adventurous, and will still put on a one peice at the drop of a hat to go off on a rafting trip, a fat person would say no, I need to loose weight, you would not catch me with all this fat on me doing that.  

So would my Dad really divorce my Mom if she gained weight.  If it was permanent I think eventually he would.  For the weight gain and bad choices in eating is not about my Dad or what he says, or anyone else.   The weight gain is about issues that Mom needs to face in order to live a free life.  My Dad can not make her free, no one can.   My Dad can not solve her issues.    Nor can anyone solve his.   And our lives are too short.

So before I married Jake we had this conversation.  Yes it is a business , business of marriage.   Through thick or thin - yes, if there is some medical condition - but if it is purely because of lack of self control or self hate, issues. ....  neither Jake nor I could help each other.   We would work it out as long as we could to try to get through an issue, like if someone died that was way close, that would be an issue to work through.  And we would, through prayer and so forth.  But I would never want Jake to stay married to me, if this event crippled me or kept me from "keeping up".

Actually my Mom lost her baby girl and my parents made it through.   Mom says that - somethings you just do not get over, but while you are alive, no matter what , you still have life to live.   But that is another story.

Have a great day!

PS  - How I got out of my "bad stuff" -- will be another blog....  later... still use the same stuff today - as back then - cause we are not perfect - we all go through ups and downs....... it's how we recover that matters......

party like a rock star!!

Tammy

Thursday, February 3, 2011

The Gift!

I was on my way to tap class in Ft Worth when I noticed a homeless person on the side sitting at a bus stop with a cart full of possessions in a garbage bag.   I made a u-turn to go back to give this person a $5 that I had in my purse.   I pulled up next to this person and took my money out and handed it to her.   She looked at it as if I was nuts, asking-    "What's this for?"   I didn't know actually and sort of felt stupid.

But then I saw my Smiley Ball in the car.  The Smiley Ball was a small rubber stress ball that you squeeze when you feel stressed.   anyway I thought ok maybe......... - I  handed it to her.   This homeless person eyes looked like it was Christmas...smiled and said, "You found it.  This was my ball I lost last year!"   She was so happy about it.   I just smiled and said, "Yes, it must be yours."  I was shocked how happy she was.  I thought the $5 was an awesome gift..... she hated it, but loved loved loved the smiley ball.  

The homeless person thanked me and I got back into my car to drive to tap class.

Isn't that funny?  I felt the push to make the u-turn and say Hi to this person.   From what I know, $5 would have been awesome, but that is just it.  What DO I know.  Who am I to say what she should want or need.   We should give anyway.   (gifts are not from you anyway).   To give is the choice that matters.  Free will - to chose love or not.

With people including friends and family that come into our lives - we are give $5 all the time, through invitations, or dinners, or chit chats....  It is when you are able to give and receive a "smiley ball" that the actual heart connection begins, might be for a second or a friend for life.

Smiley balls could be anything - but it touches the heart.

God pushes and pulls us all to different people at different times.   Keep your purse open.  Who knows when you have that "smiley ball"!