Wow, where was I last week when I went to see the Nutcracker Ballet on opening night? I recently wrote that the “first scene was a little disappointing for me”. My memory must have let me down because the colors were not dull at all. The first curtain is interesting as the props made it seem like the dancers were inside the house. As soon as that curtain is lifted, the party was filled with splashes of color!

Last night the lead rolls were danced by Jill Marlow, as Marie, and Liang Fu, as the Nutcracker. I specifically went last night to see these two perform their first season as lead dancers in this special yearly production.

When I first visited Ms. Marlow at the Cincinnati Ballet, she had never danced the lead roll of Marie. I actually arrived on the second day of rehearsal. I thought that both Jill and Fu looked as if they had danced the roles before yet looked a little nervous. At rehearsal the next week the two were rehearsing alone with Mr. Carney and appeared even more skilled than the week before even though still very nervous. I would have never believed  that Jill was ever nervous after watching her dance last night.

She moved so eloquently with her long expressive arms during solo and partner dances and a childlike realism when playing with the others. Her expressions change as needed to portrait each scene as interpreted.

Fu danced with power and grace and gained cheers from the audience during his solo each time he launched into the air.

Each dancer was wonderful in their parts and even in sync with each better than opening night. I was sitting in the orchestra again however right in the middle this time. Of course I had my 6 year old son with me this time who did not sit as still as my Mother did! I think that he asked about 52 questions in the first 10 minutes and kept asking about the mouse. The fight between the mice and the soldiers was the only part of the ballet that he actually sat still through. Other parts of the production kept his interest in spurts like the Chinese Trainer and Mother Ginger of course.

Thank you to everyone who was involved with this years production of the Nutcracker. If you have not had the opportunity yet to take in a show, it runs until the 27th of December  and is a wonderful delight for all ages.

I would love to say that this is me but no, a picture that I found on  flickr.

I joked around on Twitter with my friends yesterday that I was going to the gym to try some of these poses that I saw in a magazine that I have.  I realized that I really need to work on my balance more and then strength. The couple of poses that I could do (and stay upright) caused a wonderful work out pain today.

Wonderful pain? Yes, I really did just say that. I consider that feeling as progress and amazing that a couple of “poses” using only my body could cause the same feeling that a few sets with weights may or may not cause. Maybe Madonna really does do “just” Yoga!?

What Yoga poses do you like? Especially for a beginner please…

Ask anyone who knows me and they will tell you that I always say this.

 Today, I was supposed to fly to Houston, Texas to spend the night. When I got to the airport, I found out that the aircraft was downgraded from a 90 seat passenger jet to a 50 seater. This meant that I was going to sit in the back while the junior flight attendant worked on that flight. In the m iddle of eating my salad waiting for the flight, I was paged to say that I was now needed to go to Miami, Florida. Fine. Different city, same thing.

When we got to Miami, the first officer handed me a piece of paper with a name on it. Just airline stuff with notes but who’s name could it be. Out of all of the people in the whole world, it was my Twitter friend and co-blogger, Julie. I felt like I had a celebrity on my flight!

So nice to have you on board so that you could see what I do for a paycheck aside from my hobby as a health and travel blogger.

In Ft Lauderdale for the whole day with a 6 year old that wants nothing more than to go to the pool. It’s a beautiful pool. The perfect temperature, gorgeous shape with two step in shallow ends, areas covered with palm trees  so that it’s not too hot.

Why do I want nothing more than to lay in my bed in the air-conditioning and send my husband with the boy. It’s so cute to see a child having that much fun with no cost involved.

I do remember sitting outside at my Mom’s house in the sun with a coke when I had a headache years ago. Is there something with the caffeine that can help a headache? I never have liked coca cola so I can only think it’s the caffeine. I think that I’ll make a cup of coffee and go to the pool.

I love Goodwill, especially on a Saturday when things are 50% off. Today, I found some small coffee cups that are perfect. A little larger than an espresso cup (since my machine is not working) but smaller than a full size coffee cup. I had found 8 of them in light blue when I found a creamer cup in a pumpkin color. Then, I found two slightly larger pumpkin colored cups that are the same material, weight and inside color that matched the creamer cup. Yippy! I purchased four of the blue ones, the two orange ones and the creamer cup for the bargain price of $2.50!

I also found a perfect modern brushed stainless lamp for my room that has a dimmer built right in the on/off knob also for the bargain price of $2.50. Gotta love the half off days.

Oh yeah, and the brand new looking pair of uniform school shorts for my son for .99! These run around $10 at the “regular” store. All for a couple of months of wear. That’s a savings of $9 on something that won’t even fit next year.