Argentine Tango, Confidence, dance3 Comments

Lessons From the Dance Floor: It’s Okay To Be In Control

elizaberrie

***This series of stories, “Lessons from the Dance Floor” is only partly true. True parts have been overly dramatized by my own hyperactive imagination to make them, umm well, fiction*** David laced up his shoes, flexed up, down, left right with his ankles. He was, as always, a bit nervous at the start of class. The work day anxieties replaced by the pressure to remember to walk left foot, then right, stop, pause. It seemed like a much simpler concept than the processing problems facing him at his desk. He constantly wondered why was he having problems every week with both. Last week’s … Continue reading Lessons From the Dance Floor: It’s Okay To Be In Control

Argentine Tango2 Comments

Lessons from the Dance Floor: Perseverance

elizaberrie

***This series of stories, “Lessons from the Dance Floor” is only partly true. True parts have been overly dramatized by my own hyperactive imagination to make them, umm well, fiction*** She woke in her bed, under a pile of cats staring at her to do something, namely feed them canned cat food. Ann laid there smiling, not at the felines inquisitive faces, but at her victory the previous night. Her hand went out and a furry head nestled under it. It was a wonderful, aching feeling in her legs as she stretched, flexing her painted toes. She rolled to one side, … Continue reading Lessons from the Dance Floor: Perseverance

Advice, food and wine, Magic, The Daily PostLeave a comment

Careful What You Wish For

elizaberrie

In response to The Daily Post’s writing prompt: “Do you Believe in Magic?.” You have been transformed into a mystical being who has the ability to do magic. Describe your new abilities in detail. How will you use your new skills? I think my friends, relatives and my bank account would greatly benefit if I woke up one day could could magically turn water into wine, any wine I want, and most importantly, at will. You see, there was a prophetess, Sybil, who asked Apollo for immortality, but she forgot to include the word “youthful” to her request. She became a shrivelled … Continue reading Careful What You Wish For

Argentine Tango, dance4 Comments

Lessons from the Dance Floor: The Compliment and the Complement

elizaberrie

***This series of stories, “Lessons from the Dance Floor” is only partly true. True parts have been overly dramatized by my own hyperactive imagination to make them, well, fiction*** It was all Lydia could do to pull herself out of her mid-Sunday afternoon flop and contemplate an early dinner. Do I really want to go to another tango lesson tonight?  Her body was telling her to stay home, in a warm bed, eat soup while her mind was justifying the need v. want of another dance lesson. Maybe this will be the lesson where you have that breakthrough, she thought in her antihistamine … Continue reading Lessons from the Dance Floor: The Compliment and the Complement

amateur, Argentine Tango, dance2 Comments

Lessons from the Dance Floor: the Backyard Milonga

elizaberrie

***This series of stories, “Lessons from the Dance Floor” is only partly true. True parts have been overly dramatized by my own hyperactive imagination to make them, well, fiction*** It was a typical warm summer night in the south. The sound of cicadas in the humid night air, the occasional passing cars and the chirping sound of tree frogs made the night life to blend into the wallpaper of background music. Earlier that summer, Gerry undertook the arduous task of laying a concrete slab off the side of his house. On the far end, he’d created a waterfall and pool, planted ferns … Continue reading Lessons from the Dance Floor: the Backyard Milonga

Fashion4 Comments

Office Decor

elizaberrie

As I was getting ready for work this morning and fumbling through a pile of junk jewelry looking for the perfect piece to accentuate my jeans and cardigan, it dawned on me how different this office is on how the women assess each others status and tastes in this office. Your jewelry is the indicator of fitting in….of course no one ever says to you “that necklace is really tacky” or “why do you wear such cheap jewelry?” In this office they are into those big, chunky statement necklaces. Strands of beaded, baubles, colorful, clashing, pair-shaped, plastic, rarely real or … Continue reading Office Decor

back to school, expensive, Family Business, Fashion3 Comments

It’s the Most Wonderful Time of the Year!

elizaberrie

Mom, you should be so happy you had a family when you did. While being a hormonal handful, your daughter was never on the level of today’s young ladies wants and tastes when it comes to back to school shopping. My knowledge of what was “in” was limited to what I saw in People magazine, TV or my school mates. Now, they have social media and the internet blowing up kids minds with what is a proper school wardrobe. Even the most normal looking of clothes can cost a small fortune because of the brand label. In the early days, shopping … Continue reading It’s the Most Wonderful Time of the Year!

Argentine Tango, Bucket List, dance9 Comments

Truth and Tango

elizaberrie

Here is a strange but true lesson I’ve learned about myself from taking tango lessons. I am not used to touching people on a casual basis which has never been a big deal to me until now. My family was never a huggy type of family. Even on the day I got married, I remember the photographer telling my future mother-in-law and me to hug as he took a photo….we just looked at each other, laughed and shook hands. Seemed fair enough and somehow more honest. I remember one of my brothers  married into a huggy family. It used to … Continue reading Truth and Tango

Freedom, media, news8 Comments

Feeling Scared

elizaberrie

I am scared of this world. If you have been watching news reports you’ve only been getting a small dose of why I get the shivers. Today, on MSN, there is a story about armed white men going into Ferguson, MO. They call themselves the Oath Keepers. The thought of people going into a potential riot area with loaded weapons is disturbing. Why would they do this? I only can guess to shoot someone, meaning  black people. Here in the USA, because of a document written over 200 years ago when the most destructive rifle was a musket, all citizens have … Continue reading Feeling Scared