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On my way to the car I met a man in the parking lot and he made some comments to me about doing front, side and back kicks. I affirmed that I had done every kick under the sun tonight. He said he really enjoyed it years ago when he had done it, but at 70 years he is too old. I commented that he didn't look 70, and that we also had older people in the class that were over 50, so he may want to check it out. He really didn't look 70, and he was a very pleasant looking fellow.

Then he starts rambling about God and how god is going to be with me and several other rants about God. I was as polite as could be and my body language said "I am on my way to my car trying to leave." He came around me, as if he knew I was trying to escape. He was acting kind of strange, other than the God comments, with his hand and eye movements. My only thought was that I just did a gazillion kicks and am gonna have to find the strength to fight in the parking lot.

I diffused this situation by telling the man he was blessed too and turned and walked to my car. One pearl of tae kwon do is that it really gives me the ability to be calm. We work on breathing a lot and using our senses (TKD with eyes closed). ]]> http://www.inatalie.com/pblog/index.php?entry=entry080320-062145


Since this is my and my husband's first rock concert I have to write a post about this incredible experience. I should start off by saying that Jens and I have nothing in common- nothing on the surface anyway. This includes music. He likes the classics and was trained in classical piano. I was raised in juke joints and other seedy live music venues and generally listen to blues, jazz and rock-n-rhythm. I have always wanted to go to a rock concert but just never got around to it. The thought of being in the same room with 22,000 people was also very daunting, which was clearly over powered by being in the same room as Daughtry and Bon Jovi.

Daughtry came on stage with with a huge opening and screaming crowd. He had a very good command of the stage, but didn't make it around to the side very often where we were seated. The audio was not that great from where we were sitting either. I truly enjoyed Daughtry and loved the way he meandered through his set. He has an excellent voice.

Enter Bon Jovi. First, I have never seen so many men over 30 who had so many boy crushes on Bon Jovi. I can't blame them, either. Make no mistake that when Bon Jovi took the stage people within a 1 mile radius could hear it. His stage presence is like no other I have witnessed (sorry Hot Chocolate....maybe Clarence Carter). He tore up that stage and worked almost every angle of the crowd and vocals were on. He looked very good and knew it. My favorite part was when he did a booty shake and people swooned in similar fashion as if it were Elvis. I really had no idea the concert would be that great and it was worth every penny.

Mid-way through the concert Chris Daughtry joined Bon Jovi to sing Blaze of Glory and people went nuts in the audience. The vocals were amazing and both blended so well together. Bon Jovi also had many kinds words for Chris and Greensboro. He did film a movie here a few years ago, The Trouble With Frank.

What is amazing is that Jens really loved it. He said he had a great time and would love to do it again. I just hope it doesn't mean I have to go hear Mahler's 6th symphony.

Although I could not imagine a better first-rock concert, I will likely not do this again anytime soon; unless it is Daughtry and Bon Jovi. Jens and I do plan on seeing more smaller venues, though.

Oh- and we didn't even need our ear plugs.

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I have only had this domain for half a year. Apparently it belonged to another Natalie, who was in high school at the time and is a very talented web designer. She is probably shaking her head to see what I have done with it. I am working on it, other Natalie.]]> http://www.inatalie.com/pblog/index.php?entry=entry080203-190730
I drew Jim Osbourne as my dance partner and Fallen by Johnny Mathis as our song. I absolutely love this song and Mathis is one of my favorite artists. What's funny is that I drew Jim a year ago when I started dancing in charity contests. I don't practice or compete with anyone, so for me it is a way to support the charity.

Friday was very difficult in general because it was also the birthday of my dear friend Jamie, who passed away in May 2007. We met often for lunch, especially on her birthday, and got our boys together as much as possible. She and I go back a long time and first met at The Bushes in Greensboro when we were kids. She left us under very difficult circumstances that I am slowly beginning to understand. Jamie was an excellent dancer too.

Although the evening was a bit encumbered I had a nice time and have never danced so much in one night. Thanks to Gary, Matt, Phil and Jimmy for a great night of shagging. I didn't go Saturday night to see the pros dance because I was exhausted from Friday.

The next charity contest coming up is the Bunk Leach Mixed Doubles in June. This event is a charity for the Hall of Fame Foundation that helps Famers with medical and health care expenses. I will be looking for sponsors...
]]> http://www.inatalie.com/pblog/index.php?entry=entry080131-180420 Pascal Bouche and Ms. Pittman got me to thinking about my own trip across the Atlantic a few years back. It was one of the most wonderful adventures of my life, despite the rough weather.


In 2000 my husband and I planned our move from Germany back to the US. I had always wanted to travel across the Atlantic after reading my family history book of the McDonalds in Charleston, SC, who came from Scotland and Ireland. Here is what took place: two ships were making their way from Glasgow to Charleston and whoever landed first would settle the land. One ship was falling behind so the captain cut his hand off and threw it ashore in order to land first. After reading that I knew I would come across the Atlantic one day- with the same enthusiasm, but with both hands in tact.

It just so happens that at the time our vessel was pushing off I was 4 months pregnant. We booked our trip so far ahead and didn't even consider this. Nevertheless, our vessel, the Lykes Achiever freight ship, set off from Antwerpen, Belgium via Le Havre, France to NYC on March 30, 2000. There were 6 passengers altogether: an elderly British couple (whom I suspect were running from INTERPOL...ok I have seen to many Agatha Christie movies), a delightful lone Frenchman, an insane retired postal worker from Ruhrgebiet and then my husband, and me...with baby. My husband was also immigrating to the US, which made this a very special voyage. I wanted him to have this experience, too.

We had free range of the boat and could go anywhere we pleased. Some caution was due since many parts of the deck had no railings keeping you from falling into the sea. The boat was owned by a Swedish company, with German officers and a Filipino crew. Our cabin was on the 7th floor, directly below the officer's deck. Our room was the owner's room and had two beds, a couch, recliner chair, table, bathroom and fridge. We had a corner room with Starboard and bow facing porticoes. Lovely views! The boat also had a few amenities such as a media room and a swimming pool. Three meals per day were served with 2 tea-times. With the situation of our cabin we could smell the wonderful blend of garlic and diesel.

The captain thought we were crazy for traveling at that time of year due to the weather. What little did I know. Of our 11 days at sea only one and a half day were calm. The others were very rough with winds up to 80 mph and 25 foot swells at times. Word to the wise: satin PJ's do not go well sleeping in a bed on a boat with 27 degree banks. I had to switch beds with my husband so I could wedge my foot between the bed and wall so I wouldn't slide out. There was one day where I could not keep anything down and neither could a few of the crew. This was the day that I just stayed in bed since it was too violent to be walking around. We spent a lot of time on the officers deck learning about the boat and navigation.

Being 4 months along you have to go to the bathroom very often. With the conditions being so rough I often had to crawl since there was no way to safely walk. One night the fridge swung open and dispelled Beenie Weenies all over the cabin. The worst times were when you are lying in bed, and one second you would see only water and the next, only sky. Captain said that the ship would be ok up to a 40 degree bank, but after that he would lose cargo. Even though the ship was new, there were a few problems. The engine was on the brink and there was one day where we did not go anywhere due to wind and waves, but went only fast enough so the ship wouldn't go backwards. Otherwise the bow would break. The weather satellite was also broken, and weather reports were on a one day delay.

The few sunsets we did see were incredible. As we neared the east coast the captain was getting a warning from the Coastguard. He couldn't understand what they were saying, so he called me up to see if I could understand. Unfortunately I could not decipher one word due to a very strange dialect. Maybe it was Woods Hole, Boston or Halifax, but I couldn't understand what they were saying. The next day we realized they must have been talking about a Nor' easter we came up against. A lovely blizzard at sea.

We had a Great time the British and the Frenchman, but the fellow from Ruhrgebiet was stalking everyone on the boat and was very unstable. The first landmark we saw was the Twin Towers. As we approached NY, the ports were closing since it was 5:00 pm. The ship anchored in the harbor and we got to watch the lights of NYC come on...it was breathtaking.

For several weeks after our boat ride, we would still stumble all over the house going from wall to wall or rolling out of bed. Our land legs were slow to come back. At my first baby check-up after arriving I was told that the part of my son's brain that deals with balance was highly developed. It should be no surprise that we named him Sailor.]]> http://www.inatalie.com/pblog/index.php?entry=entry080118-201745
It is not very comfortable for me to be in crowds, as I am expecting with such a concert, but it is Bon Jovi and Daughtry folks! I could not think of any rock artist I would love to see and hear live than this duo. I was so excited I asked bro if I need to get a lighter for the concert and he said that people use cell phones now. Damn.... ]]> http://www.inatalie.com/pblog/index.php?entry=entry080115-130058
Mobile Technology- no thanks!
Imagine you are driving down the road in your new car and you have a fatal error and crash or you are forced to drive on the side road, even though you really want to take the interstate. In addition, you forgo the expensive engine upgrade, so your wipers no longer work and you can only make left turns. Please welcome MS to the world of automobiles.
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Golf
That's right, now that I have found my golf swing I will be spending every waking, free minute at the range, which will certainly increase my beer consumption. Damn, I am starting to sound like a man. Short from getting my dream job, the best thing that happened to me was finding my golf swing- just had no idea it was on my left hand. For the first time in 10 years I am better with my woods than I am with my irons.

Twitter
I consider Twitter to be a real-time global pulse. Very interesting leads on technology and what is hot in other parts of the globe. There have also been real ethical, political and social issues played out on Twitter and finished up before the rest of the static world even gets a whiff. And, yes, if you don't use Twitter then you may not understand.

Nice, nice and nice
Very important! One thing mother taught me is how to be nice, even when others aren't being so nice. This is one of the most valuable skills I have learned in addition to daddy's "life is not fair". Disappointment is nigh and you have to know how to deal with it. These are coping skills and may very well propel you further than you think.

Dremel Moto Tool
I love this tool and will devote more posts on do-it-yourself with my DMT. This week I sawed off my toothbrush handles that were too large to fit through my toothbrush holder. I have many other projects I would like to do and will post on them.

Ok this is a running list and it will grow as the year creeps on and as I become more disenfranchised, all while remaining nice.
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