Summer Holidays

Well, we are half way thru the summer holidays and a week without dance classes! It's not as if Emma hasn't been dancing around the house like a mad child. We did watch the live feeds, as much as we could, from the North American Irish Dance Championships, which helped us to keep on the roll of practicing. Our school, Tir Conaill Academy, had 3 top 10 finishers. It was a good run for our school. The next feis is the 1st weekend of August & I'm starting to stress out. There will only be 1 class before & I really want Emma to move up in the Slip Jig & her heavy dances. It would be nice to not have to do a quick change from the solo dress to the school jumper & back again for the lights & I'm not taking both costumes to Boston with us for the feis the following weekend! Emma has the Treble/double jig & Hornpipe down & all we need to work on is the set of St. Patrick's Day. I don't want to push or overwhelm her (as she will shortly be "just 6") but she loves it & she has the potential & her teachers see that as well. We are off to see some improv & then maybe 30min of practice with the promise of a swim later on when the sun isn't beating down on us!

My Mini Rock N Roll Vacation March 2011

It’s been 1 week now since my Mini-Me, Rock–N-Roll Vacation and I am stuck back in the real world of school runs, work, laundry, shopping, dance classes and the likes. Before it fades too much, I would just like to say “Thank You” to the Saw Doctors for providing me, once again, with an enjoyable experience and a Mighty fine time. Thursday-Hollywood My day started as usual, getting myself and Emma up, ready to head out the door to school. Only this time I didn’t stay and help out in her classroom. I gave her extra hugs and kisses, followed by a “Be good for Mamer’s and I love you”. I grabbed food and coffee from Wendy’s. I know - crap food, but if you add enough sugar to the coffee, it’s not that bad. With only a few pit stops along the way, I made it to Hollywood at around 2pm. It took a while to get to the hotel, in which time it started to rain! The Hotel Grafton was atop a hill, I don’t like driving up or down hills. I handed the car over to the valet, really the only way to park in Hollywood, and checked in. I made a brief call to Mr. Barrett per a request to let him know I had made it and took a nap. I headed to the venue around 5, just in time for sound check and caught DC as he was going in. After we hiked up 3 flights of stairs, my presence was announced to everyone by DC with a “look I found a bird”. Thanks very much! Sound check commenced, dinner eaten, and the show started. I was off duty as Merch Girl as the HOB provided that service, so I took a stool behind Tig and Keego in the sound/lighting area. It was great to see the smile on OJ’s face as they played “Indian Summer” and hear the “Thank You’s” for calling various people during their favourite songs! The evening ended with a hike down the hill to go back up the hill to have a glass of wine. Friday I met my friend Mark for lunch at the Olde King’s Head in Santa Monica. I made the mistake of going into the shop next door. If I had a cooler and lotto winnings, I would have bought one of everything in the shop. I forgot about the Easter Eggs that are produced in the UK - the lovely hollow ones filled with your favourite sweets! I managed to control myself and I walked out with only 2 bags. Lunch was lovely, Bangers and Mash, but the company was even better. I left sunny Santa Monica around 2, and once I cleared San Bernadino, sailed home. Emma was SO excited to see me and didn’t want to let go of me. I down/uploaded pics and videos and promptly went to bed. Saturday-Vegas I managed to get myself up and made the much-promised cinnamon rolls before once again heading out. This time leaving with lots of hugs & kisses for Emma & promises to be good for Regina and Olivia, my wonderful Emma minders for the next 2 days. I made Vegas by 2 and found the hotel quick enough. I was there an hour before check-in and so I took a walk to try to find the venue. I mistakenly went the wrong way and ended up on the back side of the MGM in a not-so-nice area of Vegas. I managed to get back to the hotel unscathed and ran into Niall as he was checking in as well. Room sorted and the actual venue, The Hard Rock Café location, figured out, so I once again took a nap. Well, kinda. I was watching the friendly between the US National team and Argentina. One day I will see Messi score! I was late to sound check but just in time for food. Not the best experience in that department, so Leo, Eimhin and I needed to walk it off. We were in search of who-knows-what and walked a good bit of the strip. Finally, after going up and down many people bridges by couples getting married and girls in mini-dresses and platform, high-heeled shoes, we arrived back at the venue just as AM Taxi was taking the stage. The crowd was small but enthusiastic, especially the group from Phoenix! The gig ended, the Merch sorted, and a little wine consumed. The Lads all had early flights to catch, so a low key night and early to the bed was in order. Well, except for Mr. Moran. As you all probably know by now, he managed to fall asleep at the gate and missed his flight. There has yet to be word on if he made it back OK but if he’s not at the gig in Dublin on Saturday, start worrying. Sunday I managed to not get road-ragey trying to drive home. Could they not have devised a different road system near Hoover Dam? I picked my sleeping Emma up at the Celtica concert in Sun City where some of the Championship dancers from TCA were dancing during the performance. We came home and I promptly fell asleep. What a whirlwind adventure and I’m a bit sad it’s over but plans for the Cape have already been started! So once again, I would like to thank the Lads for being so generous with their friendship, for taking care of and watching out for me, and providing a much-needed relief from my crazy life. I would also like to thank my Mum for doing the school runs for me and to Regina and Olivia for taking Em for me for the weekend.

Emma Irish Dancing year 1 round-up!

Emma competed at the Grand Canyon State Feis last weekend, June 4-5th at the lovely Scottsdale Hilton. This marked her 1 year anniversary of competing. I'll start at the beginning!

In the spring of 2009 My Irish Dancing teacher asked when Emma was going to start lessons. I told him not for another year at least! He said, I want her in after Easter. But Chris, she's not 4 yet! So, she's had the influence from birth & she has you to work with at home. A year after dance classes Emma was ready to compete! Grand Canyon State Feis June 2010 (Tempe, AZ): Emma along with her friends Garnet & Gisela danced in the U5 1st feis. It brought the house down & the judge to tears! Jimmy Friel was judging & he said "this is what Irish Dancing is all about, the babies." Medals abound & many a 1st & 2nd place & she was off! Arizona State Championships August 2010 (Tempe, AZ): U5 Beginner Reel 1st out of 4 U5 Beginner Jig 1st out of 4 This was a crazy weekend. I had to drop Mom off & pay my respects at a funeral in Prescott Saturday morning. I raced, in lashing rain, to the hotel, got Emma dressed very fast & did something with her hair! 10 minutes later & she was on stage dancing. She did really well & got to play with all her Irish dancing friends! On Sunday we came to watch the older kids & Mom was having really bad arm pain. She thought she had pulled something using my drill to put up shelves. The next day was when she had her heart attack. I still beat myself up for not noticing the signs earlier, being CPR/1st aid trained for 20+ years! Phoenix Feis October 2010 (Tempe, AZ): U7 Beginner Reel 3rd out of 7 Moved up to Beginner 2 U7 Beginner Jig 4th out of 7 U7 Beginner Single Jig 4th out of 9 A good weekend & the feis was right next to Rula Bula so I could get my fill of their chips! Feis In the Desert January 2011 (Chandler, AZ):

U8 Beg2 Reel Didn't place U8 Beginner Jig 3rd moved up to Beg2

U8 Beginner Slip Jig Didn't Place

U8 Beginner Single Jig Didn't place

U9 Beginner 1/2 Slip Jig Special 2nd place!!!

This was a strange feis for me because it is run by my old dancing school, Bracken! It was nice to see everyone & they were SO excited to see Emma dance as they have all known her since she was born!

New Mexico State Feis February 2011 (Albuquerque, NM): U9 Beginner 2 Reel 4th out of 8

U9 Beginner Jig 4th out of 6

U7 Beginner Slip Jig 2nd out of 2

U7 Beginner Single Jig 3rd out of 4 Long, tiring weekend & Mom's 1st time flying after the HA. It was only an hours flight but it was tough!

Celtic Crown Feis April 2011 (Las Vegas, NV):

U8 Beg2 Reel 2nd (moved up to Novice)

U8 Beg2 Jig 2nd (moved up to Novice)

U8 Beg1 Slip Jig 6th

U8 Beg 1 Single Jig 2nd (moved up to Beg2)

Beginner Single Jig special 2nd palce!!!

This was the feis I didn't want to go to. I had already spent my reserves on my Mini-Me Rock N Roll vacation but for under $300 I managed to pull it off! Good thing we did go I as Emma moved 3 dances up & we found her a solo dress. The big joke was really on our teacher, Chris McGrory. I always asked him before a feis what he would do if Emma moved up to Novice before turning 6 & he said he would cry! He just so happened to be in Dublin for the World Championships when I emailed him the results. I'm not sure if he cried but he was well pleased!

Feile Rince Tucson May 2011 (Tucson, AZ):

U8 Novice Reel Didn't place

U8 Novice Jig Didn't place

U6 Beg1 Slip Jig 1st out of 5 (moves up to Beg2)

U8 Beg2 Single 2nd out 6 (moves up to Novice)

U6 Beg1 Treble Jig 1st out of 4 (moved up to Beg2 per the MP Math)

This is always a fun feis. The highlight of the weekend isthe Riverdance Special. a 1 minute piece! Our school came in 1st & 2nd!

Grand Canyon State Feis June 2011 (Scottsdale, AZ):

U8 Novice Reel 2nd out of 5

U8 Novice Jig 1st out of 9 (moves up to PW)

U7 Beg2 Slip Jig 4th out of 6

U8 Novice Single Jig 2nd out of 9

U9 Beg2 Hard Jig Didn't place

U9 Beg1 Horn Pipe 2nd out of 3

U9 6-hand Reel 1st!!!

U9 Slip Jig special 1st place!!!

Parent Child 2-hand 2nd Place All Ages charity Reel Special 16th out of 40+ dancers!

What a LONG WEEKEND this was! Being on the feis committee & being a feis Mom was tough but Thanks to Rosemary I just had to be feis Mom on Sunday!

2 months of no feising & we'll be back to back in August!

I'm a Usless Blogger!!!

WOW!!! I can't believe it's been over 2 years since I started this! Major updates! Mom had a massive heart attack on Aug 9th of 2011. I was calling 911 instead of picking up Emma from her 1st day of school! I am SO glasd we are in the same house or we would have lost her. This is after my Dad passed away from a massive corinary in the April! I think I will start using this Blog as more of a record of Emma & Irish dancing!

The Beginning

I'm starting this to really just track my objectives for the next 3 months. Here they are: 1-Be a stay at home mom for the summer I left my last job as a retail manager because I was tired of doing so much & being so overwhelmed every day that I was losing track of myself. I will hopefully be working in the mornings at Emma's Preschool in the fall & I am trying to become a certified 1st Aid/CPR instructor. 2-Go vegetarian For anyone who knows me knows that I don't do red meat, (except for the rare In-N-Out cheese burger) but I would like to go completely vegetarian & see how healthy we become by the end of summer. Which ties into my 3rd objective. 3-Better myself physically I know this sounds a little self centered but I have always been what you would consider slender but that doesn't mean that I'm in shape. There is a gym by us that is just for women & they have a great Mother/Daughter deal. So, Mom & I are going to check it out Tues, we have free passes, & see if we like it. They have loads of water classes for Mom & I'm going to try out the Kick-boxing & step classes. They also have loads of other gym equipment plus a spa, hair salon & child care. Of course if there's other things that are going on, and there always is, I just might mention it! Smiles, Karen