Dancing days are here again

[dancerjodi]

Quote of the Day: "Successful people tend to become more successful because they are always thinking about their successes." - Brian Tracy

I woke up feeling kind of cranky as I normally do at 6:00 AM. For the first time ever I think I stopped and thought for a bit about why I was being so cranky - I had a good kind of chill day at work planned, I get to exercise my right to vote after work, I have dance class tonight and tomorrow is half-way to the weekend. If I can keep this kind of thinking going, I think I could get through anything! :)

There was an article about the high school's annual "Dance Theater" show in the local paper. I auditioned for this show in my freshman and sophomore years and didn't get in (its very competitive with hundreds of kids trying out for about 100 slots) but I made it and performed in it the last two years. It really was a life-changing experience in terms of how I am as a performer and how I approach dancing in a show or auditioning which I've only really appreciated recently over the last couple of years (its not the only reason, but was definitely one of the catalysts). I thought you guys would be interested in seeing the cool kinds of artistic opportunities that a (supposedly) poor school system can have despite having lower than average test scores (I'm not sure what Waltham's struggle with standardized testing is - I'd call myself a bright person but I've also always struggled with them myself):
http://www.dailynewstribune.com/homepage/x142943219

I'm making efforts to be healthier and more frugal but I don't want to go overboard with it. Last night Brian commented that his nose and bum don't like the recycled paper tissue we've been buying (so we're going back to the old stuff) and he made fun of me this past weekend for trying to find a crock pot at a thrift store rather than buying new (which we ended up doing after exhausting our options after all). I am feeling pretty good about these efforts in general and its kind of liberating in some still-strange way, but I don't want to go off the deep end or anything. :) Along those lines (but in terms of health and lifestyle) here's a cool editorial about health perspectives today and yesterday:
http://www.dailynewstribune.com/opinions/x469091910

Comments

[rubicat.livejournal.com]

I once read that the search for frugality often ends up negating the savings found, in terms of time, gas, and stress from the extra effort. I often have to think about that.... I used to go to three different grocery stores, for example, to get the sales on specific items. Now I just see who's got what I mainly need and just go to one store. Silly oversimplified example, but there you go.

I LOL'ed at your tissue story.... I've been using Scott for years now, and it's always been toward the cheap end of the spectrum. Now anything else feels strange! And I can't use generic facial tissues - the smell is so strange! I wonder why the manufacturers can't produce a tissue that doesn't waft of armpit or something.... ick.

I still haven't signed up for BJs yet... it will likely be BJs, since Costco requires proof of second cardholder living at the same address.....

[dancer.livejournal.com]

"I still haven't signed up for BJs yet... it will likely be BJs, since Costco requires proof of second cardholder living at the same address....."

You should sign up for whatever place you want which is closer to you/has the stuff you want. (I'll either never use that dupe card or if I do it will be only once a year or something - we don't use any food or goods from there, so it would only be for the off chance of bulk-purchase of Polaroid film for trooping or something). If there is someone else who can better use it, you should definitely pass it to them :)

Frugality

[dancer.livejournal.com]

"I once read that the search for frugality often ends up negating the savings found, in terms of time, gas, and stress from the extra effort."

I am weighing all of those things along the way (I went to the 2 local thrift stores that I drive by anyway and when they didn't have the stuff, gave up). The frugal effort for me is for various reasons mainly buying/using less stuff (good for the wallet and environment) and continuing to try and simplify my life.

[dawntreader]

*lol* there are some things that you just can't skimp on. TP is definitely one of them. we joke that the stuff here in the office is (to borrow my friend's term) "one-ply orphanage grade." it's horrid stuff!

[dawntreader]

as for the Dance opportunities, it really is about priorities. priorities for the town, for the schools and administrators, and priorities for the kids.

in my town, they went through a phase where they wanted to end the extracurricular music programs. pep bands, small chamber orchestras, the small ensemble choral groups because there wasn't enough funding and we had the BIG groups which most of the kids in the small groups were involved in anyway. the kids, parents, and faculty got together and fought for it by showing up and pretty much storming a school board meeting to explain why we felt it was important. we ended up having to pay fees for each group we were in to keep it, but at least we got to keep it.

if arts programs are a priority for a town, the kids take pride in it, and make them a priority, too.

but they never cut sports programs. why is that? it's always arts. sports are important too, but so are the arts. dance, music, art classes, etc.

[roaming.livejournal.com]

Check out these guys. They won't buy anything new. (She says, sticking her tongue out at Brian and wiggling it. ;-P)

here's an article about them that tells you a lot more than their blog does.

[deadwinter.livejournal.com]

I am actually trying this, to a degree. I don't want to buy any new gadgets or appliances if I can revamp the older ones. For example, I have a microwave oven downstairs which is missing a turntable. I'm looking at thrift stores for a turntable that will fit it as opposed to buying a new microwave. And so on and so forth.

We generate too much waste, and plastics last forever. We need to be better about it.