Homage to Jazz

Not the music - the exercise.  That's Jazzercise, folks.

Don't get me wrong, I'm ok with the music but ya'll know me well enough by now to know it's all about the Blues for me.

I'm talking about the experience I have 5 times a week - when real life doesn't get in my way - to sweat, sing and dance.  It's fun as hell and good for me, too.  A win/win.

This ain't your granny's exercise program either. That's not to say there aren't grannies there - they're there by the handful.  Probably more of them than the young ones (probably because I only go to the morning session) but that's the beauty of Jazzercise.  It's an all-ages work-out.  

This morning I was between a 20-something kid and a lady in her early 70s.

I started going to Jazzercise back in 1990.  Back when we wore spandex and those leg warmer things.  The unitard.  The thong looking leo on top of shiny tights.

For the record, I never wore those thong things.  I never thought my butt could handle it.  Or the poor suckers that stood behind me.

Back in the 90s I was gettin' it done with high impact and high intensity.  Time has a way of changing life and I no longer crank it out with high intensity but I'm hanging onto the high impact.

Honestly, now that I'm not bouncing anymore, I really feel like I'm getting a better work-out.

I've said this many, many times:  Jazzercise lets you age through the program.

I'll stay as long as possible.  

Same Rules Apply. Or do they?

Growing up we were schooled in table manners.  I'm pretty sure we were although I have to admit I don't remember any specific instruction.

I'm sure "don't talk with your mouth full" and "no elbows on the table" were inferred if not mentioned out loud but that was probably the extent of our education.

On to Stephens College for Women where Miss Manners went in to overdrive.  I will freely admit that I haven't hung on to a lot of the lessons I learned there but the one I remember well is:  you can reach for something on the table as long as your backside (fanny? bottom?) doesn't leave your chair.  Words to live by, right?

So tonight at dinner, with elbows on the table, I was wondering how many people relax their table manners when they dine alone.

Do you do things you wouldn't do in a restaurant with people watching or when you have dinner guests?

What brought this to mind tonight - besides the elbows - was when I stuffed a quarter of an orange into my mouth which caused my cheek to bulge in an unsightly way. I would have cut it into dainty pieces if I was out in public.

Or if you're in a hurry have you ever eaten a meal while standing at the sink, leaning and chewing? And if it's a sandwich did you even bother cutting it in half?

I won't even get into drinking from the milk carton while standing at the fridge with the door open.  Now that's disgusting!!!