Day Two

 We started out this morning with a President's breakfast. It was a great session and I learned a lot! I will have lots to bring back to my club next week and the following months.

 But the girls and I decided we would regret it if we came all this way and just spend every minute in Toastmasters. So we found a great outlet store and found some amazing deals!!!

 Look at the mountains in the background! There's snow on the caps.

 I can't remember how many times I got lost or disoriented in this hotel. TOO BIG! The courtyards are pretty but not my favorite thing for going to and from my room.

 During lunch we got to see all of the accomplishments of the district. Richard and Sharon Owens, Me, and Becky Bane were four of the five Raiging Toastmasters present at this years conference.

 We won a Banner Raid ribbon for our banner!

 This is the certificate for participation in the District Level International Speech Competition.

 

Since this is a competition, you can't have photography during the speeches (too distracting) so Becky took my picture next to the lectern after my speech. I chose the last speech slot, so I got a chance to listen to all five speakers before I gave my speech. I made a lot of people cry. The funniest thing is that I didn't do a lot of schmoozing with people I didn't know. But as soon as I did my speech, LOTS of people wanted to stop and ask me questions. 

The interviewer had a strange sense of humor and thought it would be funny to use an Anti-Semitic joke during my interview. I tried to just let it pass, but it upset a lot of the audience, which made me feel better. They came up and apologized to me for her. 

They took professional pictures, so when I get them off of the district website, I'll get those posted as well. Becky was taking pictures to the side while the pros were making us look away. The guy on the far right is Merv Jersak. He spoke about his father and even spoke Czechoslovakian during his speech. He placed Second. John Friesinger spoke about his little girl learning how to ride her bike. He has competed many many times and always won second. This is the first time he's placed First. Congrats John.

I have definitely learned alot from this process. I can say that I've done my best. There isn't anything I would have changed about my speech. Not one thing.

There was a gentleman with a cleft palate in the audience. He didn't speak to me until after my speech, and then we talked a lot. So if my speech was only for him, it was worth it. Trophies gather dust and mean little in the grand scheme of things, but if he was touched... I won first place.

Thank you to all that helped me get to this conference and who cheered me on, attended my contests and practice speeches. This has been a great weekend.

Now off to dream land! Amarillo by mornin'...

Santa Fe, New Mexico, Day 1

The Adventure begins...

This terrain is beautiful. The rocky hills and mountainous skyline brings back many happy memories. New Mexico is definitely special to me.

We stopped in Cline's Corner and I got a couple surprises for the kids. I found some more incense for my collection and just enjoyed the atmosphere.

The travel itself was a bit hectic. The wind was blowing terribly, and without trees or buildings, it was really challenging to drive through. I was a passenger, mind you, but my window screamed loudly and was annoying to all.

Now, we're just resting and playing with our computers. Dinner will be in an hour and we'll get all dressed up and become Toastmasters. :-)

I will do my best to update my blog as much as I can. Love you!

Nee

I won!!!

I won! Can you believe it?! Club, Area, Division... WOW! I wanted to get this far, but I wasn't sure it would happen. My club helped me so much with polishing my speech. I've learned so much from competing.

1. You can love your speech and hate your speech at the same time.
2. Too much practice can be a bad thing.
3. Once you are on the stage, all the help in the world can't express it like you can.
4. Speaking from the heart is easier than speaking what you don't know.
5. New people in the audience are good. Practicing to the same audience is extremely challenging.
6. It's better to show the audience than describe your scene. Less is more.
7. Winning isn't everything, but it sure feels great!

Now I have 2 weeks to prepare for Santa Fe! I'll be competing with Texas, New Mexico, and Oklahoma.
I hope it all works out smoothly. It's been amazing so far. Our Creator is awesome and has given us so many opportunities to succeed if we just walk through the doors He opens for us. Thank you Sir for caring about us so very much!

Update: Laptop

I checked with my computer guy. I paid my 85 dollars. He fixed it, but now he's running a system's check to make sure that the computer programs still work with the hardware fix.

My friend should be going to New Mexico this weekend and she'll bring it back with her on Monday the 18th.

I've waited this long... a little bit longer won't be bad.

It's worth it.

Adorable Video!

Let's pray for another Miracle! K?

From my blackberry: ok... So curious minds want to know about my laptop. Well, I talked with my friend and this is what she told me. Her brother lives in a small town around here and word got out after he promised God a portion of his business, and BOOM... Let's just say he is one busy guy. He looked at my laptop and said that the damage is severe and at first didn't think he would be able to fix it. Then he looked at his supplies and he has the same make and model of my laptop with a ruined hard drive. SO... The story isn't over. I'm waiting to hear about an estimate and then with a bit more intervention from the Supreme Being, I should have my laptop back. So diligence and patience will pay off in the long run. God is good! He cares about even our least important hopes. In the long run, my laptop is only a tool, but it is a well loved and much used tool that I miss very much.

Please pray for my computer repairman's success and well being.

Thank you,

Janine!

FINALLY Frazzleberry!!!

 DELISH!

 Frazzleberry is an interesting concept for a frozen yogurt shoppe.
I wouldn't have even thought to stop had it not been for my friend from Toastmasters that goes practically any time he can.

Leelee took us for dinner snack and it was so yummy! You need to have patience and be OK in a crowd of people. But let me tell you it's worth it! I can't see myself going all the time like my friend does, but it is definitely fun and yummy.

 Tzipi had so much fun. Of course her eyes were bigger than her tummy, but knowing that it's frozen yogurt, made it easier for me to let her HAVE AT IT!

Star Doll on Facebook!

 I am so addicted to StarDoll on Facebook. It's like Project Runway and PaperDolls and Dollhouse all rolled into one! You can find plenty of "hoochy mama" stuff, but my challenge is to find modest clothes that make me happy. It takes a bit to learn all the ins and outs of having a free membership (you have limited play when its free). But it's so much fun, that I don't mind. Being stuck in bed, it gives me the perfect opportunity to try everything I want to try.

 It is a very International game. Girls (and boys too) play from all over the world. I'm sure designers love it because you can find some OUT THERE stuff.

 I stick with Kosher Attire. Longer skirts, blouses that cover the collar bones and the elbows. If I can't find the right length, I have tights. And if the sleeves aren't long enough, that's what layers or shawls, or sweaters or coats are for.

 Of course there is a hint of fantasy that we all enjoy now and then. Hundreds of shoes, outlandish fabric... all the things you'd love to wear if people weren't so mean.

 Then there's the celebrity dolls you can dress up. That's fun too. Their wardrobes are specific to their personality and that's really cool.

You also have a suite to design and decorate. You can design your own fabric and create clothing and furniture for your room.

The sad thing is that I wish there was a way that I could get extra coins because I blogged about it. :-)

Oh well. I just really enjoy it! Try it out.

Yay! I get to blog again!!!

I am pretty dang excited by this silly piece of acrylic.

When I typically give speeches, I prep them for anywhere from a week to a month, give it and then never really give it a second glance until its time to turn it in for a new certification.

Competition is such a great learning opportunity. My past wins have been with evaluation contests which are impromptu speeches. I love the flexibility and vitality of extemporaneous speeches.

This International Speech can be about anything. Educational, Humorous, Emotional, Inspirational, or Popular themed.

I wrote my speech and then gave it to my club. They gave me feedback where I could rewrite and add things that would make it better. I've given it four times (not to mention the countless times I've practiced in my closet).

I'm tempted to give a different speech at the next level on the 16th.

I am one speech away from my Advanced Communicator Silver certification, but the last speech, I have to use the Internet. Oy! We don't have meetings at Kid's Inc anymore where we can use their projection equipment and they don't have Wi-Fi. We meet at work, and they won't let us use the work system for fun. So I was thinking of doing screen prints and them print them off. It will be lame, but what other choice do I have?

We are having a garage sale on the morning of the 9th and we hope to raise enough money send three of us to Santa Fe Regional Conference. My VP of Membership, VP of Ed and the prez (moi). We are thrilled and I know this will be just what we need to give us the energy to make our club successful for yet another year.

We are desperate for members this year. We need at least 4 more members, but I know we really need more than that, cuz we've just had dues again and I don't know who has renewed. Things are tight, I know that. (BOY do I know that), but the long term rewards of Toastmasters make it worth it to me. Not just the break in the middle of my week, but to learn how to communicate effectively is a dieing art.

Miss Amarillo is our guest this coming Thursday. I'm excited about having a guest! We put on our best show for the meetings with guests. She wants to learn to communicate better and maybe she will join! (Wouldn't that be awesome!!!)

Please let any of your friends know about our club. You never know if they might be interested. We do Leadership training as well. Great for career development.

So many things, so little time!!!

Who knew how awesome I would feel after this? I won't go on and on like I could about how the whole thing happened, but I'm still feeling amazingly great. It was worth the agony.

I won first place in the International Speech Contest (Club level) and this weekend I will compete in the Area level. I need to practice my speech again, and yet I blog.

We are having a garage sale on the morning of the Ninth of April to raise funds for the trip to Santa Fe.

Let's see... my hearing aids are amazing!

I went to a meeting today to learn about Assistive Listening devices. If we can make this one system work with the phone at work, the state (DARS) program will pay for it. That means, I will hear better in meetings and even hear the TV better.
I am keeping a journal of my hearing aids just so I can better record the times I hear better and the times I could still use help.



We will just say, work sucks and leave it at that. My employer will have a special Self-Development breakfast this Thursday and I'm really looking forward to it. We get a half day certificate, free breakfast, and time paid away from work to go to the Drury Inn. I get to go because I achieved my Advanced Communicator Bronze Certificate in 2010 for Toastmasters. (This year I will have my Advanced Communicator Silver... I am one presentation away).

I am doing my best to enjoy each day as it comes. I am still dreaming of Frazzelberry, but I figure that will happen eventually too. I paid all my bills this month and we have food in our tummies. What more could I ask for.

TAKS (Texas Asks Kids to do Stupid things) tests are soon. Yuck. I feel bad for Zee. I don't think I remember 9 being such a sucky age, but the more I think about it I guess it was. I loved 4th grade. I just keep praying it will be that way for him. He deserves to love learning.

Tzipi and I watched Beauty and the Beast on Sunday and I got such a chuckle when Belle was going into the West Wing and was just about to touch the flower and BOOM! Tzipi jumped when the Beast caught her. I love that she is still so innocent.

We're trying to pinch pennies wherever we can, so I made only veggies for dinner. Garlic Sauteed Yellow squash and sauteed onion rings in butter sauce with Couscous. For "dessert" we had sweet potatoes with brown sugar and cinnamon. This will be the plan all week. Zee and Abba were great sports but Tzip... not so much. She wasn't very happy. She wanted cheese.  I don't think she could ever be Vegan. She loves dairy far too much. Oh well. I'm just trying to keep us healthy while saving money.

Well, I wanna go read all my favorite blogs, check Facebook, email and watch and episode on HULU all before Avi comes back and takes the laptop away.

Thank goodness I have a Blackberry. I probably would have hidden the laptop and never let him see it again. He has cigarettes, I have the internet. So there.

Too curious!

OK, so I have this friend from Toastmasters who says that he checks in at Frazzleberry ALL THE TIME! I can't imagine wanting frozen yogurt all the time. So far, I've noticed that he goes almost every day. The reason he posts publicly, I've learned, is that he gets 10% off each time he puts it on Facebook. But from the stuff I've read, once you try it---you will be hooked.
So I want to try this out. It's no where near any place I go on a regular basis however. It's on Hillside road in between Bell and Coulter. I'm so curious that I've done research, read reviews and even seen pictures of the frozen yogurt (which is not pretty btw). They charge by weight. It can be pricey. It's fat free frozen yogurt that comes directly from a cow, not processed powder. It sounds pretty yummy, but when am I going to have time to try something so special? Maybe I can eat my lunch and THEN clock out and try it. So my Lunch would technically be Dessert, but surely it would be worth it.

That said... my kiddos are on their way to Grandma's house. They should be there a few minutes from now. I am all alone (with three kitties).

Avi's at class and I got to finally catch up on all my "House" episodes. I think I like that show not just because of the medical drama (which is for some reason cathartic) but also because in some ways, Avi is a lot like the character, House. It helps to see Cuddy deal with him and yet understand him when no one else does. I like the fact that their relationship is so messy and painful. Too many times the relationships on TV are just too idyllic for me. It's not always like that. And most people don't even let it get messy. As soon as it does, they call it quits. I'm not saying that divorce is wrong all the time. I just think that people expect way too much from each other.

Off my soap box.

Health wise: dizzy and pain level at 6 because I'm not moving. I'm by no means comfortable, but at least I'm not in a huge amount of pain.

I get my hearing aids tomorrow. I'm nervous but happy all rolled up.

I don't want to go to work tomorrow. Ugghh.. Work is so yucky right now. Hopefully it won't stay this way. They turned our perfectly perfect team of 13 into a team of 9. I HATE involuntary moves. It is awful. I'm just kvetching because I'm so upset but I don't really have any way to complain about it. I just want to cry when I think about it.

My hope is that since the kiddos are gone I can :
A: Go visit Tina and the baby (Oh yes, John and Randy too)
B. Spend some time with my nephews.
C: Go to the movies with Avi.
D: Enjoy my time with Avi and not run around like a chicken with my head cut off, trying to dress children, feed children, comb children's hair, wash faces, etc...At least for 5 solid days.
E. I'd like to make Hamentaschen for Purim this Saturday.
And whatever else might happen...

Yippee I got to blog!

windy firey onery day

Wind makes every one anxious. Even the kids. They are especially onery today. I got a lot accomplished today and enjoyed some nice quiet time alone. The house isn't 100 percent, but its better and better each time I do things.

I have a large table in my room and I was going to fold it up and put it away, but I think I will leave it up for the time being and use it to fold clothes. That might be a better solution than using the bed or sofa.

I made some yummy brownies, but can't eat them till we eat dinner. Bummer. You guys know I'd rather eat them first.

I miss blogging.

I'm using my phone.

I got new glasses. I will pick them up on Friday.

Ok. Gotta go make dinner.

Update: February news..

I gotta take a shower here in a minute, but I wanted to blog real quick.

On Friday I went to see Dr. Gentry. The cyst in my spine has grown longer, but not any wider. So surgery isn't an option (which is good, cuz it's a risky one). I told him that I'm in a lot of pain, so he said he would refer me to a pain specialist. I'm hoping that we're able to deal with the pain, and soon.

I have been walking every day. I even walked to Leelee's house. I'm trying to get stronger so I can handle the issue with my spine better.

Yesterday I felt like I was getting sick (all the people at work are sick) so I took the nasty spray that the doctor wants me to take (I've been avoiding it for about a week) and I took it yesterday. BOOM! That stuff works. It doesn't taste as bad refrigerated but golly it's nasty.

Zee made the newspaper here in Amarillo cuz he made the A-B honor roll. He was so excited! We are so proud of him!

Tzipi got to have a play date yesterday. The girls had so much fun! They had a hard time parting ways.

I have struck and awesome deal with my sister Hadassah and I'm so excited for pay day! I am going to get a Queen size bed AND find a home for my antique bed all at once! Baruch HaShem!

Avi is thrilled to be thatching again. He is looking forward to cramming as much work in as possible.

Well, I love you all. Gotta go clean the cat box and take a shower. (in that order) Peeeyooo!

News From the Deckard Tribe

My Shabbat dishes are waiting to be washed (we used them last night) but I wanted to show my makeshift china cabinet. I wanted to keep my special things in one place. Now our items (Seder plate, challah cover, challah board and knife, shabbat candles, havdalah candles, Zee's Torah scroll...)  are easily accessed and it makes the room look nice. I will post another picture on Facebook with my beautiful blue dishes once they are all washed. *(you can see the bowls in the corner on the second shelf.)


I've had a chance to enjoy some of Rabbi Lazer's teaching. His You Tube channel is awesome. If you look below, you'll see the link to my favorite Niggun (spiritual melody) right now. Even though Lazer is incredibly talented with song writing and playing music, his friend Shlomo Katz wrote this beautiful song.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZF2DFsgqNSs


Azariah is prepping for his TAKS test. Such a bunch of hooey if you ask me. But don't get me started.  Zee is having a play date right now and he's having a blast.

Tzipporah is growing so fast. She is so good at numbers and she loves to write all her family's names down. She made her own "heart day" cards for school, she decorated them and wrote everyone's names in them AND signed all of them (17 in all). 

 This may not be very exciting, but I am so proud of this! My spice cabinet is completely organized. I bought new lining as well. I have to do one small project at a time.

Now an update on my health.

Dr. Stewart took me off birth control. He put me on progesterone. I'm still on the Anti-Viral meds, B-12, cellular repair supplement, liquid vitamins, super foods and this nasty spray that boosts the immune system. I am slightly freaked out about not being on birth control. But it's not helping the viral neuropathy issues I'm having.

I had a weird relapse a few weeks ago. My left side was weakened again. So with the ice and snow, I went back to using my cane.

I'm starting to feel a bit stronger, but my spine is really causing me problems. I went in for a Thoracic MRI last week and I go see my neurosurgeon, Dr. Gentry. I am trying really hard not to take pain meds, but I'm at a constant pain level 7 without it. Then if I do anything like laundry, cleaning, sitting doing scrapbooking or sewing, I shoot up to a pain level 9. It's quite the challenge and I'm not sure what to do. Surgery doesn't always solve the problem. Dr. Stewart says that the progesterone will strengthen me and act as a natural steroid. So if I can strengthen my core, I think it might help deal with the pain issues. I will post an update of what Dr. Gentry says.

I only got the progesterone from Austin (made at a compound pharmacy, to Dr. Stewart's specifications) and I have only been on it for a week.

I really want to try and eat better. I eat way too much junk at work. I could do better. I miss the days when we were vegan. I did so much research to keep us healthy, complex carbohydrates and protein and iron and all that good stuff. I need to make the time to do this, but Avi is the cook, so I keep things simple. Simple and healthy? Not so much. He is always willing to do new things, so I am going to see what we can do.

 I splurged and bought myself this magazine. I haven't read it yet, but I'm so excited to.

And last but not least... We went from a timing belt replacement to needing a new engine. We decided to put more into the Escort since it's paid off and it's the type of car that can be quickly and "cheaply" maintained. Unlike our Taurus that is mainly computerized. So we paid our mechanic in order to replace the engine and he says he will be finished with it on Friday. So we will have 2 cars again! Praise God! YAY!

Wow! Snowpocolypse...

It was worth the chaotic trip to Austin, but golly GEE!

This is what winter means to most people. A sad tiny snowman.

But this is what I will always think of when I remember this trip to NeuroSensory Center in Austin

.

I definitely enjoyed being with Leelee and learning about the roads to and from Amarillo to Austin.

See here we are having a good time shopping. Totally oblivious that we were on our way to ICELAND!

Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday... learned more about things that are messing with my health. The relapse I had was due to lack of progesterone. So once I get home I'll be taking that. I also have a bunch of new things to add to my health supplements. So we're cutting off some meds and changing to others.

Then we got stuck in Abilene. It took 9 hours at 25 miles an hour from Austin to Abilene. We've been in this beautiful tiny hotel room since I forget when. I do know that it is Friday. I know that the weather will be 50 degrees on Saturday.

And this is why we have stayed in Abilene:

Ice Ice Ice...

If I never see another ice cube again, it will be too soon.

When things get a bit smoother, I can write more about the trip, but I wanted to at least let you know. I am so ready to be home. God willing, we will be home soon!