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January 1
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This Month with Andy, December 2012

Journal Entry: Tue Jan 1, 2013, 8:14 PM



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:iconwinterz-edge::iconkaminaru::iconfoureyes::icon1arcticfox::iconotakuandproud::iconsharky7::iconxxgeishadollxx::iconkaminaru::iconevery-stars-fall::iconsikandarnirmal::icontomcatdriver::icondrumgirl::iconrinkart::icongamefan23::iconkidjet::iconsooper-deviant:iconOhJolly::iconinobras::iconartboy-m::iconbehindinfinity::iconmasyon::iconmysticspirits::iconla-vita-a-bella::iconachromatx::iconaprildhallphoto::iconastoldbysarah::iconachromatx::iconshirleys-art-site::iconsesam-is-open::iconm-art-artist::iconsayurimvromei::iconoscar-ojisan::iconyagamiseven::iconrobinspace911::iconmeekbookworm::iconprincesssk8tr::iconkaminaru::iconaprillight:



A Christmas Carol

Angie
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 Classes

For 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 True

An 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 Housework

Click to Enlarge

Andy Mops the Floor

Andy Does the Dishes

Andy Cooking


The End of a Long Exhausting Political Year

I 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 2012

Click to Enlarge

Mood_12_3+6_12

Mood_12_7+8_12

Mood_12_11_12

Mood_12_14_12

Mood_12_17_12

Mood_12_31_12





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

  • Listening to: The silence of the universe
  • Reading: Financial Times
  • Watching: The Computer
  • Playing: Life
  • Eating: Cheese
  • Drinking: Kool-Aid
Add a Comment:
 
:iconm-art-artist:
~m-art-artist Jan 22, 2013   General Artist
:D :butterfly:
Andy doing housework is sooo funny serie!!:giggle::)
Wonderful photos,artworks etc..again on your feature!!:iconroseplz::heart:

Have a great day!!:frail:
Reply
:iconandyserrano:
*AndySerrano Jan 22, 2013  Hobbyist Artisan Crafter
In that case, I'll make some more!
Reply
:iconm-art-artist:
~m-art-artist Jan 23, 2013   General Artist
:iconeeeeeplz:
canīt wait!!:giggle::D)
Reply
:iconamie689:
*amie689 Jan 4, 2013   General Artist
wonderful anecdotes... it's always a pity that it takes a tragedy to make people look beyond trivial differences.. but then I've long accepted that humans unfortunately need such lessons to learn...

I love the features... found some new favourites...

and thanks again for including mine :love:
Reply
:iconandyserrano:
*AndySerrano Jan 4, 2013  Hobbyist Artisan Crafter
I am complimented your read my journal and happy you found some features you like.

You are welcome.
Reply
:iconamie689:
*amie689 Jan 4, 2013   General Artist
I like a well written journal.. having put my own on hold..

and you've got good taste :D
Reply
:iconandyserrano:
*AndySerrano Jan 4, 2013  Hobbyist Artisan Crafter
You're very sweet.
Reply
:iconamie689:
*amie689 Jan 4, 2013   General Artist
LOL!! way past sweet, now.. :D
Reply
:iconaprillight:
Beautiful collection and thank you very much for featuring my work:iconbouquetplz:
Reply
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