Opening a Can of Whoop A**

Okay so I have been very curious about boxing for about the past year.  Something about being able to kick someone's ass seems very liberating to me!  Yesterday I decided to call a Muay Thai gym and find out some more information.  I called, talked to James, and set up an appointment for this evening.
I walked in tonight and the first thing I see is a sign that says "Absolutely No Shoes Beyond This Point."  As if I didn't feel awkward enough, I had to take off my shoes and socks and show my unpedicured toes to the whole gym.  So from the get-go James creeped me out.  He was the typical salesman, asking me all kinds of weirdo questions about why I was interested in Muay Tai and if I like working with a team, ect.  Then he breaks the news to me about the pricing....$185/month for a committment of 12 months.  I about choked.  Or I could commit for 24 months and pay only $160/month...geez what a break?  I was feeling overwhelmed.  I asked if it would be possible to try it out first before I made such a huge committment.
He agreed and asked if I had time to do a private lesson immediately.  I said sure.  Then he informed me that to do the lesson I had to purchase a tshirt and hand wraps.  WHAT!  Okay, so I caved.  I bought the freaking tshirt and hand wraps....$25.  We went into this private room, where it was just me, him, and about 5 punching bags.  Talk about AWKWARD!  He taught me a few techniques and then we headed to the main gym.  I was feeling better about that since there were other people in there, but then he made me get in the boxing ring, which was right in the middle of gym, right in front of EVERYONE!  I wanted to say "ARE YOU SERIOUS!"  So we practiced for another 20 minutes and it was over.  He took me back to his office and asked me which committment I would like to make.  I hate the feeling of being pressured into something.  And, thats when the conversation went bad....
I said that I needed to go home and speak with my husband about our budget (Are you serious, I don't need to check with my husband, I do the budget, but I had to think of something to get me out of there) and see if this was something we wanted to committ to financially.  James then mumbled, "well I don't understand, I don't give out private lessons for free unless you join the club." 
I went into b**** mode.  I said, "Well, that wasn't what I understood...so do I really need to pay you for the private lesson?"  James replies,"Well no, if you are going to talk to your husband tonight then that's fine.  There is a beginner class that starts tomorrow, so I guess I will see you then." 
I said, "Um, Maybe."  And walked out.  Mr. James Creeper Weirdo, needless to say, will not be seeing me tomorrow......

Monster Mash

Tonight was our 2nd Annual Family Halloween Party.  All the kids came dressed in their costumes.  There was a southern belle, a witch, a senorita, a rock star, a cat, Mickey Mouse, and the Scooby Doo clan, Freddie, Daphne, Velma, and Shaggy. 

Shane and I spent all day preparing for this event.  We made sloppy joe, cheese potatoes, green beans, dirt pudding, and broccoli salad.  Oh!  And I can't forget that Kim and I spent the morning making a cake.  Not just any cake, a cake that looks like a PUMPKIN!  It turned out pretty cute!  (We are going to try again next week...need a bigger bundt cake pan..)

The kids first decorated their pumpkins and then they hunted for skulls in the yard.  For some odd reason, they LOVE doing this.  We even bought more skulls this year and it still wasn't enough.  We kept having to throw the skulls back in the yard after they would find them.  It became quite humorous...especially after a couple close calls of kids almost getting hit by one! 

Then it was on to the pinata.  All the kids took a whack at it and then Marielle (the "big kid") took one good softball swing to the pinata and it was down!  It still wasn't busted so as Shane held the pinata the kids continued to take turns hitting it.  Ruby took several swats at it, but we weren't sure who/what she was aiming for, the pinata or Shane! 

Overall it was a great party!  The kids had a fun time and the adults always like getting together.  We are so lucky to be blessed with such a good group of friends....both the kids and adults.  We can't wait until next year! 

Back To "Norm"al..If You Call That Normal

 My Aunt Kim and I always seem to have these GREAT ideas.  And, these ideas usually seem to somehow include my Mamaw making something.  Lucky for us, Mamaw just moved back from Florida after 10 years of being away from us and our GREAT ideas!  Friday night, Kim and I hit Walmart scouring for items to put together Marcus's Halloween costume (Freddie from Scooby Doo).  We found everything but a wig.  We jumped in the car and headed over to Party City.  We found a Donald Trump wig that we thought would be perfect, but when we pulled it out of the bag, the color was more red than blonde.  Then we saw it, hanging at the top of the rack, a yellow haired wig entitled "70s Housewife."  We had one of the workers pull it down, and we pulled it out of the bag.  The color was perfect, but the cut was so-so.  And then, it was like a light bulb went off above our heads..."We'll just have Mamaw CUT it!"  (Mamaw used to be a hairdresser, so we knew she had the potential :p)  Tonight, when everyone came over for dinner and pumpkin carving, Mamaw brought the wig so she could cut it.  She had the perfect model.............................

                                                                           NORM!!!!

We are so glad to have my Mamaw and Norm home.  It has been a long time coming, but it finally feels like our family is "back to normal!"

Brought To You By Popular Demand....

So, here it is, the much anticipated FIRST post of my new blog!
On Monday nights I typically go to the local Rec Center and do Zumba.  Zumba is latin fitness dancing and a whole lot of fun!  However, my Zumba instructor is teaching classes in the Dominican Republic this week...YES, the DO-MIN-I-CAN RE-PU-BL-IC.  I mean seriously, who does this?  And why didn't she take the rest of us? 
Anyway, before Mary left, she was telling us that some of the people at the resort she was going to be teaching at said that clothes are optional there and to not be surprised if some of the participants showed up to her class topless or without clothes on.  I found this to be quite humorous....
So back to tonight..since Mary is out of the country, some of the girls from the class decided that we would get together and do Zumba ourselves because we didn't want to miss a whole week of workout.  A couple girls took  charge and lead the dances.  But, as we were dancing I couldn't help but think to myself "Man, we could be doing this butt naked in the D.R.  But NO, here we are in plain Indiana, at the boring gym, with our clothes ON."  Oh well, I don't think anyone would really want to see that, or ME anyway!  It did make me chuckle though!

Check out one of the dances we have learned in class on youtube.  Here's the link:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vA39yDn4QpQ&feature=related