Funambula!!!

I was recently fortunate enough to attend a performance of Funambula at the Beau Rivage Resort and Casino.  Let me tell you a bit about it!

First, the Beau Rivage is absolutely gorgeous!!!!  The flower arrangements are jaw dropping and the shopping mezzanine is a dream!  While the Beau has a huge parking garage with ample room, I personally prefer the courtesy valet.  When you are wearing heels, which I was, it is nice to have your car brought to you.  Granted, there will be a few minutes wait after a show as popular as Funambula lets out...but it was by no means excessive.  While you're waiting, you get to take in the beautiful front gardens at the Beau.

Now on to the show!  Funambula is led by feature performer Bello.  How to describe Bello?  I guess I would describe him as a tornadic ball of energy with two feet tall hair.  Trust me...as you are watching the show, you'll be able to determine which performer is Bello with no problem!

The show consists of multiple acrobatic acts.  There are beauties dancing on ribbons, contortionists, motorcyclists, etc., etc., etc.  From beginning to end, the action never stops.  There were moments that make you laugh out loud and others where you cannot breathe because your heart is in your throat.  For breathtaking beauty, you cannot miss the final act...it was spectacular!!

This is a child-friendly show.  Be warned, you will have to walk at the edge of the casino floor to get to the theater.  Once inside, there is not a bad seat in the house.  I was extremely fortunate to be on the second row and had an incredible view.  Actually, for some of the acts that took place very high, a higher seat probably had an even better view!  I would definitely recommend this for families, couples, or a girls' night out!

If you are wondering why I haven't included pictures...there are two reasons.
1.  It was prohibited in the theater.
2.  I didn't want to get kicked out and miss the show!!

To learn more about the stunning Beau Rivage...check out their Facebook page HERE.

To get your own tickets to Funambula...they are available for purchase HERE.

Don't miss this fantastic show!!!

Love,
Jerri

Disclaimer:  I received free tickets to Funambula through a Facebook promotion.  All opinions are strictly my own and were not influenced by the receipt of said tickets.

Behind The Scenes

A few weeks ago, I was contacted by a representative from Mutual of Omaha.  She had seen my blog and thought I would be a good fit for their "My Aha Moment" campaign.  I was thrilled to be asked to participate, and terrified at the same time!!

Heading down to the Mutual of Omaha trailer, my hands were shaking.  I'm not the bravest person in the world and the thought of speaking on camera scared me to death!  But I pulled up my big girl panties and went for it!!

Pulling up, this was the sign that greeted me.  The sweetest young gentleman greeted me and filled out my paperwork.  Leading me to the trailer, he handed me off to a darling young girl.

Leading me in to the trailer, she took me to the back.  In the pictures above, it is the far left side of the trailer.  There was the actual room where we would be doing the filming.  Luckily, I didn't have to speak off the top of my head.  She stood next to the camera and asked me questions which I then answered.  I was praying the entire time that I wasn't stuttering or that my nervous shaking wouldn't show up on film!!  

During filming, the fan and the air conditioner had to be turned off in the trailer so as not to interfere with the filming.  Before I had left for the shoot, a dear friend "S" had come over and done my makeup and hair.  I looked pretty good!!  Well, it was a 90 degree day outside and I was now enclosed in a small room in a metal trailer.  I swear the temperature hit 130 degrees by the time we were done!!  Luckily, as soon as the filming finished, my guide rushed to turn the air and fans back on.  Whew!  I was melting!!  A few headshots were taken and I was done!!

This was one of the scariest things I've ever done.  But then, that was kind of the point of my AHA Moment!!  I'm glad I did it now!!  

So without further ado...here is my aha! moment...I hope you enjoy it!!  Let me know what you think!!

http://www.ahamoment.com/moments/4441

Love,

Jerri

Just A Thought

The news has been full the last few weeks with tracking Edward Snowden's every move.  I do have a thought on the matter.

My thought does not involve what he did or why he did it.  It also does not involve the NSA; what they did or why they did it.  It involves something else entirely.

My thought on the matter concerns Mr. Snowden's assertion that he is an American patriot.  Not the fact that he made that statement; but how and where the statement was made.

Before I get into that, here's a brief history refresher.  On July 1, 1997; Great Britain's lease of Hong Kong expired and Hong Kong was returned to the People's Republic of China.

Now...on to my thought.  Edward Snowden loudly proclaimed that he took the actions he did because he is an American patriot.  If that truly is the case, why did he run to a communist country?  Why was his declaration of patriotism made while standing on foreign, communist soil?

Edward Snowden has now left the People's Republic of China for the equally anti-American soil of the Russian Federation.  It is rumored that from there, he will flee to Ecuador via Cuba.  Does anyone besides myself see a pattern here?

I personally do not believe a true American patriot would run to those nations to proclaim his patriotism.  That is my personal thought on the matter.

So to Mr. Snowden...in the words of the unknown poet..."These colors don't run!"

And those are my random thoughts this morning...

Love,
Jerri

Summer Solstice

By Request

Today's post is a bit longer than usual.  According to my English Comp professor...my latest essay would be a perfect blog post.  Here it is.  Here's to you, Mrs. M.!!!

What is Loneliness?

Loneliness is the lack of the human touch. It is living each and every day without the human contact that is critical to survival. Loneliness is going to bed every night without a kiss good night. It is the lack of a hug when you are hurting and the absence of warmth when you are cold.

Loneliness is having no one to tell your stories. There is no one to listen when you get home from work, and you need to vent about the horrid driver who cut you off on the way to work that morning. Loneliness is watching television alone, and there is no one to share the joke in a comedy or to grab your hand during a scary movie.

Loneliness hits at the oddest times. It will rear its ugly head when you are carrying in the groceries, and there is no one to help with the heavy stuff. It appears when there is that one jar in the pantry that you just cannot get open no matter what. Loneliness is having no one to tell you if your new perfumes stinks or if that skirt is really too tight.

You do not have to be alone to be lonely. Loneliness can be staring across the table at your partner, and you do not have a single thing to say. It can also be having something to say, but your partner is not interested in hearing it. Loneliness can be living with someone day in and day out for years, and you are wondering why you are there. Loneliness can be someone taking you for granted to the point that you feel like a piece of furniture. It feels like you are the wallpaper in a room that no one bothers to glance at; you are a vital component, and no one notices that you are there.

Loneliness can take you so deep inside yourself that even those who wish to reach you cannot reach that far. Loneliness can be a self-fulfilling prophecy. It can become a never-ending spiral.  Loneliness can become your beginning and your end. You begin to structure your life around your loneliness, and it perpetuates itself.

          Loneliness can be directly caused by a loss. Loneliness is reaching out to the other side of the bed, and there is no longer anyone there. It is reaching for the phone and remembering no one will answer. There is no greater outward expression of loneliness than kneeling before a tombstone and pouring out your heart. It is the grandchildren you will never have, and it is the life events you will never witness.

          The search for the cure can take many forms. Some pursue the company of others with an almost manic need for human contact. Others withdraw into themselves, fearing that any contact will fall short of their expectations. This belief leads them to fortify their walls of loneliness to avoid any possible hurt. Either scenario can have far worse consequences than loneliness itself.

          If loneliness is your cross to bear, reach out. You do not need the company of thousands. One person will do. Once you have connected with one person, others will come. If you know someone suffering, reach out. You may be the hand that pulls one from the pit that is loneliness. Loneliness does not need to be the primary force in your life. There are options, and there is a way back.

Love,

Jerri

Flag Day

Gratitude

Remember way back when Oprah persuaded a large number of women in this country to keep a gratitude journal?  Did any of you actually do it?

I'll admit...I tried.  I actually kept up with it for a week or two, but then it fell by the wayside.  Life got in the way and my natural ability to forget everything including my name kicked in.

One thing I learned...say thank you immediately.  Let the people you are thankful to and for know that fact as soon as possible.  There is no need to write in a journal.  Say it.  Keeping a personal list may serve as a reminder to you, but that doesn't translate to the people you are grateful for.

A book hidden away in your nightstand drawer won't tell the people in your life that you appreciate them.  A sincere thank you from you to them will. 

Assignment for today?  Thank someone.  We all have someone we owe thanks.  For today, pick just one and say thank you.  No need to run out and buy a journal.  A phone call, a Facebook post, a notecard, or an email will do.  Do it now.

Love,
Jerri

My Favorite Parable

A minister was out one day visiting his parishioners.  Stopping by Mrs. Smith's home, he spent a goodly portion of the visit listening to her complaints about her neighbor, Mrs. Jones.  Mrs. Smith went on and on about the faults of Mrs. Jones.  Looking out the window, Mrs. Smith exclaimed, "Look, she can't even do laundry!  Do you see how dirty it is?"  Following her gaze, the minister gazed out the window and admitted to himself that, yes, the laundry did appear a bit dirty.

Wrapping up his visit with Mrs. Smith, the minister headed over to Mrs. Jones' home.  Answering his knock at the door, Mrs. Jones greeted him with a smile.  Settling in for a chat, the minister was impressed with her gentle nature.  Mrs. Jones expressed her concern over Mrs. Smith and the disconnect between them.  It saddened her and she ws confused as to the source of the animosity.  Glancing out the window, the minister was amazed to see her laundry, now gleaming a bright white.


Are you looking out a dirty window or are your windows sparkling clean?  Personally, I have days when my windows are dirtier than others.  In addition, we all have those in our lives who seem to live with perpetually dirty windows.  Their words seem to be constantly colored with discontent.  It hides sometimes behind "well-meaning" advice, "just kidding", or "just saying".  Some don't bother to hide it at all.  Their words are blatantly filled with hate and anger.  You cannot be responsible for someone else's windows.  All you can do is make sure your own offer a clear view.  With that clear view comes kindness and compassion.

Wishing you sparkling, clean windows...

Love,
Jerri

Complete Randomness

A few thoughts that have been bouncing around in my head lately...

1.  There is no such thing as "boneless" chicken wings.  They are the exact same chicken nuggets your kids and grandkids are eating.  You can call them any fancy name you want...but they are still chicken nuggets.  Own it.

2.  It is not "Obama", "Bush", "Clinton", or "Reagan".  It is President Obama, President Bush, President Clinton, and President Reagan.  You don't have to like or respect the man.  Respect the office.  Do not complain about the lack of respect from the younger generation when this is the poor example you set.

3.  Why does "America's Got Talent" only have one American judge along with a Canadian, a Brit, and a German?  Do we not even have enough talent to fill out the judges' panel?

4.  Who's brilliant idea was it to attach a name to every snowstorm?  The alphabet isn't long enough!!

5.  For that matter, if there is no actual weather event happening; I firmly believe the Weather Channel should default to your local radar screen.

6.  Facebook will NOT donate a dollar for every share of a picture of some poor, mutilated child.  You have been told this is a hoax a multitude of times.  Knock it off!!

7. Why is coffee not available in IV bags?

8.  Why is chocolate not available in IV bags?

9.  The most precious gift you can give a child is that of reading.  With reading, doors open and new worlds appear.  The journey is endless.

10.  [Insert your random thought here.]

Love,
Jerri

Menu Planning

Instead of a recipe this Saturday, I thought I would share a link to a handy service I use in the kitchen.  Visit here to take a look at the menu planners.  They are printable, downloadable, and free! 

Menu planning saves time, money, and aggravation.  The additional downloads of grocery lists and inventory lists save you from that last minute panic when your recipe is half-made and you realize you've run out of a key ingredient.  And we all know what that feels like!

Take a little time this weekend and give menu planning a try.  Don't overwhelm yourself by attempting a month your first time out.  Do just one week.  Make your grocery list and organize your recipes.  Eventually you will have a multitude of weeks built up that you can rotate.  If your family only sees a particular dish every few weeks, they'll never get tired of it!!

Be creative.  Include different types of meat and vegetables in each week.  It's your menu...have fun!!

Enjoy!!

Love,
Jerri

Easy Savings

The other day I was watching "Extreme Couponing" on TLC.  In my wildest dreams, I can't picture myself achieving those kinds of savings.  For one, I don't have forty hours a week to devote to the endeavor.  I wish I did.  But I do have a simple tip I use to garner some easy savings.

Did you know that the majority of dollar stores accept coupons?  I'm talking the big ones...Family Dollar, Dollar General, and Dollar Tree.  Yes, Dollar Tree.  Where everything is only a dollar. 

Look through the coupons in your Sunday paper.  Pay attention in particular to those coupons for personal hygiene items.  Why?  These are the highest value coupons.  Dollar Tree carries a large variety of personal hygiene items, many of them name-brands.  If you have a coupon for 75 cents off, your purchase is only going to be a quarter.

At Family Dollar and Dollar General, your best bet is going to be paper goods and cleaning products.  These stores regularly carry these items at discounted prices.  When you use the manufacture coupons in addition to the discounted price, your savings accumulate quickly.

Sunday morning, look at those coupons in a new light.  Keep in mind the products you've seen at your local dollar stores.  The savings are yours for the taking!!

Love,
Jerri

6603

What is 6603?  It is the number of Americans who lost their lives on D-Day.  June 6, 1944 was one of the deadliest days for the American military.  While this actual date is rapidly receding in to history, it is our duty and our privilege as citizens of the United States to remember and honor the sacrifices made by those who came before.  In humble observance, we thank them.

Writer's Block

Today I had an assignment that really threw me for a loop.  I had to write an essay.  Yep, I had to write.  You would think that would be a breeze for me.  But no....I sat staring at a blank screen for hours!

Why?  The essay had to be narrative.  Writing dialogue is NOT something I do on a daily basis.  Or a monthly basis, or a yearly basis, etc.  I had no idea how much I would struggle with it.

I didn't struggle with the actual words; in fact, I used a real-life situation.  I had a much more difficult time writing the words surrounding the dialogue.  What we say doesn't just hang out there in a vacuum.  There is a setting where they take place, there are emotions taking place behind the words, and there is a circumstance that prompted the dialogue.  Those were the words I struggle to write.

This essay was a valuable lesson for me.  Like many other aspiring writers, I hope I have the next great American novel in me somewhere.  Now I can write the dialogue.

Love,
Jerri

Rewards

I've come up with a new plan.  I have piles of homework and needed some motivation to get through it.

I have a bag of Heath bites.  After I complete each assignment, I eat one.  Just one...I don't want to end up as big as a house!  Nothing motivates me better than chocolate.  I've already tried it once and it worked beautifully.  Heath ranks right at the top of my list of favorites, followed closely by Almond Joy and Baby Ruth.

Looking at my assignment list for the next couple of weeks, I think I need to head over to Amazon.  Surely, I can order them by the pallet load from there!  

If I'm not here...I'm buried in a book!  Y'all behave while I'm gone!!

Love,
Jerri