A Christmas Carol
Angie's Photo
On Christmas Eve, I took my wife, Barbara, to pick up my friend, Angie, to go a Christmas party. I've known Angie for 38 years. It's a thirty minute drive to get to the party. Angie is my age and has been struggling with leukemia. Both of them have just tolerated each other for 31 years.
When I got married 31 years ago, I went to a party and told my wife, Barbara, I wanted her to meet my friend, Angie, who would be making her appearance there to meet her. During the party, my wife suddenly jabbed me and whispered, "You've got to see this slut who just walked in!"
I turned and looked and said to Barbara, "Uh. That's Angie. That's the way she dresses."
I had always wished they could have gotten along so we could all do things together sometimes. We went to a Christmas Party where her Angie's ex, Tom, has been my best friend since he was 7. And Tom's wife, Shannon, has always simply tolerated my wife and I. And she has tolerated Angie too! All three used to always toss daggers at each other through their eyes. It was all so very catty. During the drive, Angie and Barbara suddenly clicked for the first time ever and they got along. They even chatted excitedly about playing golf together. They also discovered they each used to ride horses when they were children. At the party, everyone clicked and got along. It was one of the most magical transformations ever. They wondered why they ever all looked askew at each other in the first place. Now, we're looking forward to getting together a lot more often. Unfortunately, I think it took Angie's cancer to get everyone to drop their differences and animosities.
Zumba Dance Exercise ClassesFor the past year, I've been exercising by taking Zumba and Yoga at the gym. I've been enjoying going to Zumba exercise dance classes two to three times a week. The workout leaves me soaking in sweat. I'd have to do a two hour boot camp or a two hour level five hike to compare to this sadistic workout. The dancing makes it fun. Usually, there are between 25 and thirty women and maybe one guy, me, and sometimes two or three. Lucky me! In one of my recent classes, my Zumba Instructor pulled me and my Chinese Zumba partner, Julie, onto the exercise stage. In Zumba, we dance individually, but it is possible to partner up with someone if you choose. The instructor put a belly dancing belt on me for the Shakira song, "Ojos Así" and we shook it up for the class. What you see in the video is what we danced in the class.
Sample Zumba workouts on YouTube:
[link] Samba Belly Dance
[link] Waka Waka
[link] Belly Dance
[link] Cumbia
[link] Conga
[link] Tango
Too Good to be TrueAn old ex-coworker from many many years ago, 1978 to be exact, called me and asked if I would be interested in working with her advising middle-income people on financial products. I thought this would be great and fun. I could help people to manage their money. After meeting with her and getting excited, I even asked my wife to come with me to look deeper into it. We met other financial advisors and we were getting very caught up in it. This is certainly something I can do. All I'd have to do is obtain some state licenses by passing some tests and taking a few classes. However, it all began to fall apart when I began digging into how these prospective clients would come my way. Initially, I thought the company advertised and funneled them to the advisors. I was wrong. They wanted me to chat up my friends and relatives. Such a strategy has a short shelf-life. I proceeded to look up reviews on the net by former employees. The little dream popped and blew away. Back to square one!
Andy Doing HouseworkClick to Enlarge

Andy Mops the Floor

Andy Does the Dishes

Andy Cooking
The End of a Long Exhausting Political YearI love discussing politics in person and in politics chat rooms and on-line forums. 2012 had the ugliest political campaigns I've ever witnessed in my life. The year ended with Obama being reelected and with the Republicans surrendering on the budget. That's all it was for the Republicans. They only wanted to protect millionaires and billionaires. I am glad it is over for now.
Mood Picture Diaries for December 2012Click to Enlarge






Features
A Mysterious and Elusive Beauty by `foureyes
Beauty is an interior light that glows from withinby `foureyes
Wish Lantern - Loy Kratong Thailand by `foureyes
Midnight in Moscow by *AyameSakura61
In A Whisper by *eldru
The sound of silence by ~milenkadelic
Dreaming of Flowers by *Forestina-Fotos
les Couleurs du PANIER by ~JMA-13
Skolkovo-Saint Petersburg by *inObrAS
Time Flies by ~roald92
flowers by =LoveSoup
rapture by =amie689
Ice Rose by *Forestina-Fotos
DAMN ITby *shilin
Freedomby *shilin
Valaam islands.... _25_ by =my-shots
Art club by *ilolamai
Kiki Burlesque girl 2 by *fairiesndreams
'Nicolette' burlesque fairy by *AmandaKathryn
Prelude to a Storm by =nine9nine9
Ich kehr zurueck zu dir by *Rosenbraut
crystal by =kaminaru
Melodic run by ~detunedbystereo
xxx updt by *metindemiralay
metaphore of symbolic deepness and stuff by *nebezial
Yukari - Touhou Koumajou Densetsu 2 by ~yurkary
Better New Year by *AprilLight
Andy doing housework is sooo funny serie!!
Wonderful photos,artworks etc..again on your feature!!
Have a great day!!
canīt wait!!
I love the features... found some new favourites...
and thanks again for including mine
You are welcome.
and you've got good taste