(11872,1,'2012-12-27 19:31:19','2012-12-28 02:31:19','[caption id=\"attachment_11845\" align=\"alignleft\" width=\"300\"]<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/?attachment_id=11845\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-11845\"><img class=\"size-medium wp-image-11845\" title=\"Phoenix Improv AZ Gifts for Strangers \" alt=\"329113_10152366596920644_1935195090_o\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/329113_10152366596920644_1935195090_o-300x225.jpg\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a> Our skeleton flash mob crew. Because Phoenicians are afraid of that rare wet stuff that falls out of the sky.[/caption]\r\n\r\nDoes anyone else experience the post-Christmas blues?  After a month of buildup, the holiday cheer is over in a day.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-size: large; color: #333333;\"><strong>Humbug.</strong></span>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nI decided to continue the festivities for yet another few days with today\'s Christmasy post. Yay!\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nPlaydate #50 was My First Flash Mob Ever.  I can\'t believe it\'s taken me this long to join one considering my penchant for all things goofy AND a suggestion from a blog reader circa 2010.  I must disappear into a time vacuum at times.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nAnywho, the waiting paid off because My First Flash Mob Ever was a flash mob with heart.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nOur assignment:  To meet at a light rail station in downtown Phoenix and distribute 10 gifts to complete strangers.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-size: large;\"><strong><span style=\"color: #008000;\">Ho,</span> <span style=\"color: #ff0000;\">ho,</span> <span style=\"color: #008000;\">ho!</span>  </strong></span>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nI know what you\'re thinking.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n\"But . . . . but . . . . isn\'t that sort of <em>expensive</em>, Michelle?\"\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nNot if you hit the Target $1 section!  I had never waltzed down those $1 aisles before, and it was a jolly good time.  Look at the loot I found for 10 buckaroos plus tax!\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_11849\" align=\"alignnone\" width=\"614\"]<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/?attachment_id=11849\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-11849\"><img class=\" wp-image-11849 \" alt=\"Hail to the Target Dollar Aisle! \" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/PC140029-1024x768.jpg\" width=\"614\" height=\"461\" /></a> Hail to the Target Dollar Aisle![/caption]\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nPictured from bottom left and going clockwise into a spiral:  Wine bottle tags, whoopee cushion (because what boy or boy at heart doesn\'t want a whoopee cushion?), snowman glow wand, eye mask, gingerbread house gel clings, sparkly sugar plum body lotion, electronics duster, Kahlua coffee, old-fashioned ribbon candies, and beer coasters.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nNext came the fun of wrapping all of these goodies.  Which actually isn\'t all that fun for me.  I\'m one of those people whose wrapping job looks like the work of 4 year-old.  For this reason, I wisely resort to bag stuffing.  I put on some Christmas music and stuffed away!\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_11850\" align=\"alignnone\" width=\"300\"]<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/?attachment_id=11850\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-11850\"><img class=\"size-medium wp-image-11850\" alt=\"I am not a wrapper.  I am a bagger.\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/PC150035-300x225.jpg\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a> I am not a wrapper. I am a bagger.[/caption]\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nThe real hoot for me involved labeling the tags.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_11851\" align=\"alignnone\" width=\"300\"]<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/?attachment_id=11851\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-11851\"><img class=\"size-medium wp-image-11851\" alt=\"For the Eye Mask\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/PC150040-300x225.jpg\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a> For the Eye Mask[/caption]\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nI wound up giving away the eye mask to a mother of two.  Bless her heart.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_11852\" align=\"alignnone\" width=\"300\"]<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/?attachment_id=11852\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-11852\"><img class=\"size-medium wp-image-11852\" alt=\"For the Snowman Glow Wand\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/PC150042-300x225.jpg\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a> For the Snowman Glow Wand[/caption]\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nI made a conscious effort to be politically correct on the tags in respect to our Hanukkah and Kwanzaa peeps.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nAfter all this Flash Mob preparation, the morning of the big day arrived with . . . .\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-size: large; color: #0000ff;\"><strong>Wet stuff.  Out of the sky.</strong></span>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nThis happens so infrequently that Phoenicians freak out and hide inside their dry abodes.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-size: large; color: #333333;\"><strong>Humbug.  </strong></span>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/2012/12/22/playdate-49-wish-lanterns/\" target=\"_blank\"><strong>But I didn\'t let Mother Nature rain on the previous evening\'s Wish Lantern Parade</strong>,</a> and I certainly wasn\'t going to let it keep me from a rain or shine Flash Mob either!\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nLuckily, Dawn was my playdate friend du jour, and since the woman hails from North Dakota where there is real winter WEATHER, she was game for the rain as well.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-size: large;\"><strong><span style=\"color: #008000;\">Ho,</span> <span style=\"color: #ff0000;\">ho,</span> <span style=\"color: #008000;\">ho!</span>  </strong></span>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nAs both Fate and Mother Nature would have it that afternoon, the skies cleared and the angels sang upon our skeleton crew flash mob spreading holiday cheer to complete strangers.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nO.k.  So I\'m joking about the angels singing part.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nBut the skies really did clear and the sun came out for our entire 30 minutes of flash mobbing.  Only to rain again once we are all snug inside Starbucks sipping cocoas and lattes.  (Note that for whatever bizarre reason, all indie coffeehouses in the area were closed on a Saturday afternoon.  <a href=\"http://www.cartelcoffeelab.com/\" target=\"_blank\"><strong>Cartel dudes, what up with that?</strong></a>)\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n<iframe src=\"http://www.youtube.com/embed/j3PnoHrAvQA\" height=\"360\" width=\"640\" allowfullscreen=\"\" frameborder=\"0\"></iframe>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<em>(sung to the tune of \"Jingle Bells\")</em>  Oh, what fun it was to play in a flashing mob that day!  Hey!\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nWell, not literally a <em>flashing</em> mob.  You know what I mean.  A girl\'s gotta to what a girl\'s gotta do to make the jingle work.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nThe<em> flashing</em> mob takes place on January 16th.  You can read all about it<a href=\"https://www.facebook.com/events/286537474797392/?utm_source=Improv+Participants&amp;utm_campaign=42af96b4cc-ESHB_Announcement10_26_2012&amp;utm_medium=email\" target=\"_blank\"> <strong>here</strong>.</a>  Who\'s in?  :-D\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n********************\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nHave you ever participated in a flash mob?  Please share your experience in the comments section below.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nOr . . . .\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nHave you ever yearned to join a flash mob?  Google \"flash mob\" and \"<em>your city\'s name</em>\" and see what comes up!\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n********************\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nTo read more about Improv AZ, take a lookie loo over <a href=\"http://improvaz.com/2012/12/gifts-for-strangers-handed-out-some-holiday-cheer/\" target=\"_blank\"><strong>here.</strong></a>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nTo read more about the origins of Gifts for Strangers (a tradition that came to via The Great White North), visit <a href=\"http://giftsforstrangers.org/\" target=\"_blank\"><strong>here.</strong></a>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;','Playdate #50:  Gifts for Strangers','','inherit','open','open','','11842-revision-22','','','2012-12-27 19:31:19','2012-12-28 02:31:19','',11842,'http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/2012/12/27/11842-revision-22/',0,'revision','',0),(11873,1,'2012-12-27 19:32:14','2012-12-28 02:32:14','[caption id=\"attachment_11845\" align=\"alignleft\" width=\"300\"]<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/?attachment_id=11845\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-11845\"><img class=\"size-medium wp-image-11845\" title=\"Phoenix Improv AZ Gifts for Strangers \" alt=\"329113_10152366596920644_1935195090_o\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/329113_10152366596920644_1935195090_o-300x225.jpg\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a> Our skeleton flash mob crew. Because Phoenicians are afraid of that rare wet stuff that falls out of the sky.[/caption]\r\n\r\nDoes anyone else experience the post-Christmas blues?  After a month of buildup, the holiday cheer is over in a day.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-size: large; color: #333333;\"><strong>Humbug.</strong></span>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nI decided to continue the festivities for yet another few days with today\'s Christmasy post. Yay!\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nPlaydate #50 was My First Flash Mob Ever.  I can\'t believe it\'s taken me this long to join one considering my penchant for all things goofy AND a suggestion from a blog reader circa 2010.  Sometimes I wonder if I disappear into a time vacuum.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nAnywho, the waiting paid off because My First Flash Mob Ever was a flash mob with heart.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nOur assignment:  To meet at a light rail station in downtown Phoenix and distribute 10 gifts to complete strangers.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-size: large;\"><strong><span style=\"color: #008000;\">Ho,</span> <span style=\"color: #ff0000;\">ho,</span> <span style=\"color: #008000;\">ho!</span>  </strong></span>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nI know what you\'re thinking.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n\"But . . . . but . . . . isn\'t that sort of <em>expensive</em>, Michelle?\"\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nNot if you hit the Target $1 section!  I had never waltzed down those $1 aisles before, and it was a jolly good time.  Look at the loot I found for 10 buckaroos plus tax!\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_11849\" align=\"alignnone\" width=\"614\"]<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/?attachment_id=11849\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-11849\"><img class=\" wp-image-11849 \" alt=\"Hail to the Target Dollar Aisle! \" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/PC140029-1024x768.jpg\" width=\"614\" height=\"461\" /></a> Hail to the Target Dollar Aisle![/caption]\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nPictured from bottom left and going clockwise into a spiral:  Wine bottle tags, whoopee cushion (because what boy or boy at heart doesn\'t want a whoopee cushion?), snowman glow wand, eye mask, gingerbread house gel clings, sparkly sugar plum body lotion, electronics duster, Kahlua coffee, old-fashioned ribbon candies, and beer coasters.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nNext came the fun of wrapping all of these goodies.  Which actually isn\'t all that fun for me.  I\'m one of those people whose wrapping job looks like the work of 4 year-old.  For this reason, I wisely resort to bag stuffing.  I put on some Christmas music and stuffed away!\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_11850\" align=\"alignnone\" width=\"300\"]<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/?attachment_id=11850\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-11850\"><img class=\"size-medium wp-image-11850\" alt=\"I am not a wrapper.  I am a bagger.\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/PC150035-300x225.jpg\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a> I am not a wrapper. I am a bagger.[/caption]\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nThe real hoot for me involved labeling the tags.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_11851\" align=\"alignnone\" width=\"300\"]<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/?attachment_id=11851\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-11851\"><img class=\"size-medium wp-image-11851\" alt=\"For the Eye Mask\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/PC150040-300x225.jpg\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a> For the Eye Mask[/caption]\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nI wound up giving away the eye mask to a mother of two.  Bless her heart.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_11852\" align=\"alignnone\" width=\"300\"]<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/?attachment_id=11852\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-11852\"><img class=\"size-medium wp-image-11852\" alt=\"For the Snowman Glow Wand\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/PC150042-300x225.jpg\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a> For the Snowman Glow Wand[/caption]\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nI made a conscious effort to be politically correct on the tags in respect to our Hanukkah and Kwanzaa peeps.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nAfter all this Flash Mob preparation, the morning of the big day arrived with . . . .\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-size: large; color: #0000ff;\"><strong>Wet stuff.  Out of the sky.</strong></span>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nThis happens so infrequently that Phoenicians freak out and hide inside their dry abodes.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-size: large; color: #333333;\"><strong>Humbug.  </strong></span>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/2012/12/22/playdate-49-wish-lanterns/\" target=\"_blank\"><strong>But I didn\'t let Mother Nature rain on the previous evening\'s Wish Lantern Parade</strong>,</a> and I certainly wasn\'t going to let it keep me from a rain or shine Flash Mob either!\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nLuckily, Dawn was my playdate friend du jour, and since the woman hails from North Dakota where there is real winter WEATHER, she was game for the rain as well.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-size: large;\"><strong><span style=\"color: #008000;\">Ho,</span> <span style=\"color: #ff0000;\">ho,</span> <span style=\"color: #008000;\">ho!</span>  </strong></span>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nAs both Fate and Mother Nature would have it that afternoon, the skies cleared and the angels sang upon our skeleton crew flash mob spreading holiday cheer to complete strangers.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nO.k.  So I\'m joking about the angels singing part.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nBut the skies really did clear and the sun came out for our entire 30 minutes of flash mobbing.  Only to rain again once we are all snug inside Starbucks sipping cocoas and lattes.  (Note that for whatever bizarre reason, all indie coffeehouses in the area were closed on a Saturday afternoon.  <a href=\"http://www.cartelcoffeelab.com/\" target=\"_blank\"><strong>Cartel dudes, what up with that?</strong></a>)\r\n<iframe src=\"http://www.youtube.com/embed/j3PnoHrAvQA\" height=\"360\" width=\"640\" allowfullscreen=\"\" frameborder=\"0\"></iframe>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<em>(sung to the tune of \"Jingle Bells\")</em>  Oh, what fun it was to play in a flashing mob that day!  Hey!\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nWell, not literally a <em>flashing</em> mob.  You know what I mean.  A girl\'s gotta to what a girl\'s gotta do to make the jingle work.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nThe<em> flashing</em> mob takes place on January 16th.  You can read all about it<a href=\"https://www.facebook.com/events/286537474797392/?utm_source=Improv+Participants&amp;utm_campaign=42af96b4cc-ESHB_Announcement10_26_2012&amp;utm_medium=email\" target=\"_blank\"> <strong>here</strong>.</a>  Who\'s in?  :-D\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n********************\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nHave you ever participated in a flash mob?  Please share your experience in the comments section below.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nOr . . . .\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nHave you ever yearned to join a flash mob?  Google \"flash mob\" and \"<em>your city\'s name</em>\" and see what comes up!\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n********************\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nTo read more about Improv AZ, take a lookie loo over <a href=\"http://improvaz.com/2012/12/gifts-for-strangers-handed-out-some-holiday-cheer/\" target=\"_blank\"><strong>here.</strong></a>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nTo read more about the origins of Gifts for Strangers (a tradition that came to via The Great White North), visit <a href=\"http://giftsforstrangers.org/\" target=\"_blank\"><strong>here.</strong></a>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;','Playdate #50:  Gifts for Strangers','','inherit','open','open','','11842-revision-23','','','2012-12-27 19:32:14','2012-12-28 02:32:14','',11842,'http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/2012/12/27/11842-revision-23/',0,'revision','',0),(11876,1,'2012-12-27 19:39:05','2012-12-28 02:39:05','[caption id=\"attachment_11845\" align=\"alignleft\" width=\"300\"]<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/?attachment_id=11845\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-11845\"><img class=\"size-medium wp-image-11845\" title=\"Phoenix Improv AZ Gifts for Strangers \" alt=\"329113_10152366596920644_1935195090_o\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/329113_10152366596920644_1935195090_o-300x225.jpg\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a> Our skeleton flash mob crew. Because Phoenicians are afraid of that rare wet stuff that falls out of the sky.[/caption]\n\nDoes anyone else experience the post-Christmas blues?  After a month of buildup, the holiday cheer is over in a day.\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n<strong>Humbug.</strong>\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\nI decided to continue the festivities for yet another few days with today\'s Christmasy post. Yay!\n\n&nbsp;\n\nPlaydate #50 was My First Flash Mob Ever.  I can\'t believe it\'s taken me this long to join one considering my penchant for all things goofy AND a suggestion from a blog reader circa 2010. Sometimes I wonder if I disappear into a time vacuum.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nAnywho, the waiting paid off because My First Flash Mob Ever was a flash mob with heart.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nOur assignment:  To meet at a light rail station in downtown Phoenix and distribute 10 gifts to complete strangers.\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n<strong>Ho, ho, ho!  </strong>\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\nI know what you\'re thinking.\n\n&nbsp;\n\n\"But . . . . but . . . . isn\'t that sort of <em>expensive</em>, Michelle?\"\n\n&nbsp;\n\nNot if you hit the Target $1 section!  I had never waltzed down those $1 aisles before, and it was a jolly good time.  Look at the loot I found for 10 buckaroos plus tax!\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n[caption id=\"attachment_11849\" align=\"alignnone\" width=\"614\"]<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/?attachment_id=11849\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-11849\"><img class=\" wp-image-11849 \" alt=\"Hail to the Target Dollar Aisle! \" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/PC140029-1024x768.jpg\" width=\"614\" height=\"461\" /></a> Hail to the Target Dollar Aisle![/caption]\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\nPictured from bottom left and going clockwise into a spiral:  Wine bottle tags, whoopee cushion (because what boy or boy at heart doesn\'t want a whoopee cushion?), snowman glow wand, eye mask, gingerbread house gel clings, sparkly sugar plum body lotion, electronics duster, Kahlua coffee, old-fashioned ribbon candies, and beer coasters.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nNext came the fun of wrapping all of these goodies.  Which actually isn\'t all that fun for me.  I\'m one of those people whose wrapping job looks like the work of 4 year-old.  For this reason, I wisely resort to bag stuffing.  I put on some Christmas music and stuffed away!\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n[caption id=\"attachment_11850\" align=\"alignnone\" width=\"300\"]<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/?attachment_id=11850\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-11850\"><img class=\"size-medium wp-image-11850\" alt=\"I am not a wrapper.  I am a bagger.\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/PC150035-300x225.jpg\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a> I am not a wrapper. I am a bagger.[/caption]\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\nThe real hoot for me involved labeling the tags.\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n[caption id=\"attachment_11851\" align=\"alignnone\" width=\"300\"]<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/?attachment_id=11851\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-11851\"><img class=\"size-medium wp-image-11851\" alt=\"For the Eye Mask\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/PC150040-300x225.jpg\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a> For the Eye Mask[/caption]\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\nI wound up giving away the eye mask to a mother of two.  Bless her heart.\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n[caption id=\"attachment_11852\" align=\"alignnone\" width=\"300\"]<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/?attachment_id=11852\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-11852\"><img class=\"size-medium wp-image-11852\" alt=\"For the Snowman Glow Wand\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/PC150042-300x225.jpg\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a> For the Snowman Glow Wand[/caption]\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\nI made a conscious effort to be politically correct on the tags in respect to our Hanukkah and Kwanzaa peeps.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nAfter all this flash mob preparation, the morning of the big day arrived with . . . .\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n<strong>Wet stuff.  Out of the sky.</strong>\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\nThis happens so infrequently that Phoenicians freak out and hide inside their dry abodes.\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n<strong>Humbug.  </strong>\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/2012/12/22/playdate-49-wish-lanterns/\" target=\"_blank\"><strong>But I didn\'t let Mother Nature rain on the previous evening\'s Wish Lantern Parade</strong>,</a> and I certainly wasn\'t going to let it keep me from a rain or shine flash mob either!\n\n&nbsp;\n\nLuckily, Dawn was my playdate friend du jour, and since the woman hails from North Dakota where there is real winter WEATHER, she was game for the rain as well.\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n<strong>Ho, ho, ho!  </strong>\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\nAs both Fate and Mother Nature would have it that afternoon, the skies cleared and the angels sang upon our skeleton crew flash mob spreading holiday cheer to complete strangers.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nO.k.  So I\'m joking about the angels singing part.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nBut the skies really did clear and the sun came out for our entire 30 minutes of flash mobbing.  Only to rain again once we are all snug inside Starbucks sipping cocoas and lattes.  (Note that for whatever bizarre reason, all indie coffeehouses in the area were closed on a Saturday afternoon.  <a href=\"http://www.cartelcoffeelab.com/\" target=\"_blank\"><strong>Cartel dudes, what up with that?</strong></a>)\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n<iframe src=\"http://www.youtube.com/embed/j3PnoHrAvQA\" height=\"360\" width=\"640\" allowfullscreen=\"\" frameborder=\"0\"></iframe>\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n<em>(sung to the tune of \"Jingle Bells\")</em>  Oh, what fun it was to play in a flashing mob that day!  Hey!\n\n&nbsp;\n\nWell, not literally a <em>flashing</em> mob.  You know what I mean.  A girl\'s gotta edit what a girl\'s gotta edit to make the piggjingle work.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nThe<em> flashing</em> mob takes place on January 16th.  You can read all about it<a href=\"https://www.facebook.com/events/286537474797392/?utm_source=Improv+Participants&amp;utm_campaign=42af96b4cc-ESHB_Announcement10_26_2012&amp;utm_medium=email\" target=\"_blank\"> <strong>here</strong>.</a>  Who\'s in?  :-D\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n********************\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\nHave you ever participated in a flash mob?  Please share your experience in the comments section below.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nOr . . . .\n\n&nbsp;\n\nHave you ever yearned to join a flash mob?  Google \"flash mob\" and \"<em>your city\'s name</em>\" and see what comes up!\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n********************\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\nTo read more about Improv AZ, take a lookie loo over <a href=\"http://improvaz.com/2012/12/gifts-for-strangers-handed-out-some-holiday-cheer/\" target=\"_blank\"><strong>here.</strong></a>\n\n&nbsp;\n\nTo read more about the origins of Gifts for Strangers (a tradition that came to via The Great White North), visit <a href=\"http://giftsforstrangers.org/\" target=\"_blank\"><strong>here.</strong></a>\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;','Playdate #50:  Gifts for Strangers','','inherit','open','open','','11842-revision-26','','','2012-12-27 19:39:05','2012-12-28 02:39:05','',11842,'http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/2012/12/27/11842-revision-26/',0,'revision','',0),(11875,1,'2012-12-27 19:36:11','2012-12-28 02:36:11','[caption id=\"attachment_11845\" align=\"alignleft\" width=\"300\"]<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/?attachment_id=11845\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-11845\"><img class=\"size-medium wp-image-11845\" title=\"Phoenix Improv AZ Gifts for Strangers \" alt=\"329113_10152366596920644_1935195090_o\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/329113_10152366596920644_1935195090_o-300x225.jpg\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a> Our skeleton flash mob crew. Because Phoenicians are afraid of that rare wet stuff that falls out of the sky.[/caption]\r\n\r\nDoes anyone else experience the post-Christmas blues?  After a month of buildup, the holiday cheer is over in a day.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-size: large; color: #333333;\"><strong>Humbug.</strong></span>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nI decided to continue the festivities for yet another few days with today\'s Christmasy post. Yay!\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nPlaydate #50 was My First Flash Mob Ever.  I can\'t believe it\'s taken me this long to join one considering my penchant for all things goofy AND a suggestion from a blog reader circa 2010. Sometimes I wonder if I disappear into a time vacuum.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nAnywho, the waiting paid off because My First Flash Mob Ever was a flash mob with heart.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nOur assignment:  To meet at a light rail station in downtown Phoenix and distribute 10 gifts to complete strangers.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-size: large;\"><strong><span style=\"color: #008000;\">Ho,</span> <span style=\"color: #ff0000;\">ho,</span> <span style=\"color: #008000;\">ho!</span>  </strong></span>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nI know what you\'re thinking.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n\"But . . . . but . . . . isn\'t that sort of <em>expensive</em>, Michelle?\"\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nNot if you hit the Target $1 section!  I had never waltzed down those $1 aisles before, and it was a jolly good time.  Look at the loot I found for 10 buckaroos plus tax!\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_11849\" align=\"alignnone\" width=\"614\"]<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/?attachment_id=11849\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-11849\"><img class=\" wp-image-11849 \" alt=\"Hail to the Target Dollar Aisle! \" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/PC140029-1024x768.jpg\" width=\"614\" height=\"461\" /></a> Hail to the Target Dollar Aisle![/caption]\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nPictured from bottom left and going clockwise into a spiral:  Wine bottle tags, whoopee cushion (because what boy or boy at heart doesn\'t want a whoopee cushion?), snowman glow wand, eye mask, gingerbread house gel clings, sparkly sugar plum body lotion, electronics duster, Kahlua coffee, old-fashioned ribbon candies, and beer coasters.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nNext came the fun of wrapping all of these goodies.  Which actually isn\'t all that fun for me.  I\'m one of those people whose wrapping job looks like the work of 4 year-old.  For this reason, I wisely resort to bag stuffing.  I put on some Christmas music and stuffed away!\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_11850\" align=\"alignnone\" width=\"300\"]<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/?attachment_id=11850\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-11850\"><img class=\"size-medium wp-image-11850\" alt=\"I am not a wrapper.  I am a bagger.\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/PC150035-300x225.jpg\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a> I am not a wrapper. I am a bagger.[/caption]\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nThe real hoot for me involved labeling the tags.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_11851\" align=\"alignnone\" width=\"300\"]<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/?attachment_id=11851\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-11851\"><img class=\"size-medium wp-image-11851\" alt=\"For the Eye Mask\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/PC150040-300x225.jpg\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a> For the Eye Mask[/caption]\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nI wound up giving away the eye mask to a mother of two.  Bless her heart.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_11852\" align=\"alignnone\" width=\"300\"]<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/?attachment_id=11852\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-11852\"><img class=\"size-medium wp-image-11852\" alt=\"For the Snowman Glow Wand\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/PC150042-300x225.jpg\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a> For the Snowman Glow Wand[/caption]\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nI made a conscious effort to be politically correct on the tags in respect to our Hanukkah and Kwanzaa peeps.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nAfter all this Flash Mob preparation, the morning of the big day arrived with . . . .\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-size: large; color: #0000ff;\"><strong>Wet stuff.  Out of the sky.</strong></span>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nThis happens so infrequently that Phoenicians freak out and hide inside their dry abodes.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-size: large; color: #333333;\"><strong>Humbug.  </strong></span>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/2012/12/22/playdate-49-wish-lanterns/\" target=\"_blank\"><strong>But I didn\'t let Mother Nature rain on the previous evening\'s Wish Lantern Parade</strong>,</a> and I certainly wasn\'t going to let it keep me from a rain or shine flash mob either!\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nLuckily, Dawn was my playdate friend du jour, and since the woman hails from North Dakota where there is real winter WEATHER, she was game for the rain as well.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-size: large;\"><strong><span style=\"color: #008000;\">Ho,</span> <span style=\"color: #ff0000;\">ho,</span> <span style=\"color: #008000;\">ho!</span>  </strong></span>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nAs both Fate and Mother Nature would have it that afternoon, the skies cleared and the angels sang upon our skeleton crew flash mob spreading holiday cheer to complete strangers.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nO.k.  So I\'m joking about the angels singing part.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nBut the skies really did clear and the sun came out for our entire 30 minutes of flash mobbing.  Only to rain again once we are all snug inside Starbucks sipping cocoas and lattes.  (Note that for whatever bizarre reason, all indie coffeehouses in the area were closed on a Saturday afternoon.  <a href=\"http://www.cartelcoffeelab.com/\" target=\"_blank\"><strong>Cartel dudes, what up with that?</strong></a>)\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n<iframe src=\"http://www.youtube.com/embed/j3PnoHrAvQA\" height=\"360\" width=\"640\" allowfullscreen=\"\" frameborder=\"0\"></iframe>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<em>(sung to the tune of \"Jingle Bells\")</em>  Oh, what fun it was to play in a flashing mob that day!  Hey!\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nWell, not literally a <em>flashing</em> mob.  You know what I mean.  A girl\'s gotta to what a girl\'s gotta do to make the jingle work.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nThe<em> flashing</em> mob takes place on January 16th.  You can read all about it<a href=\"https://www.facebook.com/events/286537474797392/?utm_source=Improv+Participants&amp;utm_campaign=42af96b4cc-ESHB_Announcement10_26_2012&amp;utm_medium=email\" target=\"_blank\"> <strong>here</strong>.</a>  Who\'s in?  :-D\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n********************\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nHave you ever participated in a flash mob?  Please share your experience in the comments section below.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nOr . . . .\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nHave you ever yearned to join a flash mob?  Google \"flash mob\" and \"<em>your city\'s name</em>\" and see what comes up!\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n********************\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nTo read more about Improv AZ, take a lookie loo over <a href=\"http://improvaz.com/2012/12/gifts-for-strangers-handed-out-some-holiday-cheer/\" target=\"_blank\"><strong>here.</strong></a>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nTo read more about the origins of Gifts for Strangers (a tradition that came to via The Great White North), visit <a href=\"http://giftsforstrangers.org/\" target=\"_blank\"><strong>here.</strong></a>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;','Playdate #50:  Gifts for Strangers','','inherit','open','open','','11842-revision-25','','','2012-12-27 19:36:11','2012-12-28 02:36:11','',11842,'http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/2012/12/27/11842-revision-25/',0,'revision','',0),(11877,1,'2012-12-27 19:40:14','2012-12-28 02:40:14','[caption id=\"attachment_11845\" align=\"alignleft\" width=\"300\"]<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/?attachment_id=11845\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-11845\"><img class=\"size-medium wp-image-11845\" title=\"Phoenix Improv AZ Gifts for Strangers \" alt=\"329113_10152366596920644_1935195090_o\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/329113_10152366596920644_1935195090_o-300x225.jpg\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a> Our skeleton flash mob crew. Because Phoenicians are afraid of that rare wet stuff that falls out of the sky.[/caption]\n\nDoes anyone else experience the post-Christmas blues?  After a month of buildup, the holiday cheer is over in a day.\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n<strong>Humbug.</strong>\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\nI decided to continue the festivities for yet another few days with today\'s Christmasy post. Yay!\n\n&nbsp;\n\nPlaydate #50 was My First Flash Mob Ever.  I can\'t believe it\'s taken me this long to join one considering my penchant for all things goofy AND a suggestion from a blog reader circa 2010. Sometimes I wonder if I disappear into a time vacuum.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nAnywho, the waiting paid off because My First Flash Mob Ever was a flash mob with heart.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nOur assignment:  To meet at a light rail station in downtown Phoenix and distribute 10 gifts to complete strangers.\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n<strong>Ho, ho, ho!  </strong>\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\nI know what you\'re thinking.\n\n&nbsp;\n\n\"But . . . . but . . . . isn\'t that sort of <em>expensive</em>, Michelle?\"\n\n&nbsp;\n\nNot if you hit the Target $1 section!  I had never waltzed down those $1 aisles before, and it was a jolly good time.  Look at the loot I found for 10 buckaroos plus tax!\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n[caption id=\"attachment_11849\" align=\"alignnone\" width=\"614\"]<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/?attachment_id=11849\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-11849\"><img class=\" wp-image-11849 \" alt=\"Hail to the Target Dollar Aisle! \" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/PC140029-1024x768.jpg\" width=\"614\" height=\"461\" /></a> Hail to the Target Dollar Aisle![/caption]\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\nPictured from bottom left and going clockwise into a spiral:  Wine bottle tags, whoopee cushion (because what boy or boy at heart doesn\'t want a whoopee cushion?), snowman glow wand, eye mask, gingerbread house gel clings, sparkly sugar plum body lotion, electronics duster, Kahlua coffee, old-fashioned ribbon candies, and beer coasters.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nNext came the fun of wrapping all of these goodies.  Which actually isn\'t all that fun for me.  I\'m one of those people whose wrapping job looks like the work of 4 year-old.  For this reason, I wisely resort to bag stuffing.  I put on some Christmas music and stuffed away!\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n[caption id=\"attachment_11850\" align=\"alignnone\" width=\"300\"]<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/?attachment_id=11850\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-11850\"><img class=\"size-medium wp-image-11850\" alt=\"I am not a wrapper.  I am a bagger.\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/PC150035-300x225.jpg\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a> I am not a wrapper. I am a bagger.[/caption]\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\nThe real hoot for me involved labeling the tags.\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n[caption id=\"attachment_11851\" align=\"alignnone\" width=\"300\"]<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/?attachment_id=11851\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-11851\"><img class=\"size-medium wp-image-11851\" alt=\"For the Eye Mask\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/PC150040-300x225.jpg\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a> For the Eye Mask[/caption]\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\nI wound up giving away the eye mask to a mother of two.  Bless her heart.\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n[caption id=\"attachment_11852\" align=\"alignnone\" width=\"300\"]<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/?attachment_id=11852\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-11852\"><img class=\"size-medium wp-image-11852\" alt=\"For the Snowman Glow Wand\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/PC150042-300x225.jpg\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a> For the Snowman Glow Wand[/caption]\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\nI made a conscious effort to be politically correct on the tags in respect to our Hanukkah and Kwanzaa peeps.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nAfter all this flash mob preparation, the morning of the big day arrived with . . . .\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n<strong>Wet stuff.  Out of the sky.</strong>\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\nThis happens so infrequently that Phoenicians freak out and hide inside their dry abodes.\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n<strong>Humbug.  </strong>\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/2012/12/22/playdate-49-wish-lanterns/\" target=\"_blank\"><strong>But I didn\'t let Mother Nature rain on the previous evening\'s Wish Lantern Parade</strong>,</a> and I certainly wasn\'t going to let it keep me from a rain or shine flash mob either!\n\n&nbsp;\n\nLuckily, Dawn was my playdate friend du jour, and since the woman hails from North Dakota where there is real winter WEATHER, she was game for the rain as well.\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n<strong>Ho, ho, ho!  </strong>\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\nAs both Fate and Mother Nature would have it that afternoon, the skies cleared and the angels sang upon our skeleton crew flash mob spreading holiday cheer to complete strangers.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nO.k.  So I\'m joking about the angels singing part.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nBut the skies really did clear and the sun came out for our entire 30 minutes of flash mobbing.  Only to rain again once we are all snug inside Starbucks sipping cocoas and lattes.  (Note that for whatever bizarre reason, all indie coffeehouses in the area were closed on a Saturday afternoon.  <a href=\"http://www.cartelcoffeelab.com/\" target=\"_blank\"><strong>Cartel dudes, what up with that?</strong></a>)\n\n&nbsp;\n<iframe src=\"http://www.youtube.com/embed/j3PnoHrAvQA\" height=\"360\" width=\"640\" allowfullscreen=\"\" frameborder=\"0\"></iframe>\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n<em>(sung to the tune of \"Jingle Bells\")</em>  Oh, what fun it was to play in a flashing mob that day!  Hey!\n\n&nbsp;\n\nWell, not literally a <em>flashing</em> mob.  You know what I mean.  A girl\'s gotta edit what a girl\'s gotta edit to make the piggyback jingle work.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nThe<em> flashing</em> mob takes place on January 16th.  You can read all about it<a href=\"https://www.facebook.com/events/286537474797392/?utm_source=Improv+Participants&amp;utm_campaign=42af96b4cc-ESHB_Announcement10_26_2012&amp;utm_medium=email\" target=\"_blank\"> <strong>here</strong>.</a>  Who\'s in?  :-D\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n********************\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\nHave you ever participated in a flash mob?  Please share your experience in the comments section below.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nOr . . . .\n\n&nbsp;\n\nHave you ever yearned to join a flash mob?  Google \"flash mob\" and \"<em>your city\'s name</em>\" and see what comes up!\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n********************\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\nTo read more about Improv AZ, take a lookie loo over <a href=\"http://improvaz.com/2012/12/gifts-for-strangers-handed-out-some-holiday-cheer/\" target=\"_blank\"><strong>here.</strong></a>\n\n&nbsp;\n\nTo read more about the origins of Gifts for Strangers (a tradition that came to via The Great White North), visit <a href=\"http://giftsforstrangers.org/\" target=\"_blank\"><strong>here.</strong></a>\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;','Playdate #50:  Gifts for Strangers','','inherit','open','open','','11842-revision-27','','','2012-12-27 19:40:14','2012-12-28 02:40:14','',11842,'http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/2012/12/27/11842-revision-27/',0,'revision','',0),(11879,1,'2012-12-27 19:42:26','2012-12-28 02:42:26','[caption id=\"attachment_11845\" align=\"alignleft\" width=\"300\"]<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/?attachment_id=11845\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-11845\"><img class=\"size-medium wp-image-11845\" title=\"Phoenix Improv AZ Gifts for Strangers \" alt=\"329113_10152366596920644_1935195090_o\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/329113_10152366596920644_1935195090_o-300x225.jpg\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a> Our skeleton flash mob crew. Because Phoenicians are afraid of that rare wet stuff that falls out of the sky.[/caption]\n\nDoes anyone else experience the post-Christmas blues?  After a month of buildup, the holiday cheer is over in a day.\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n<strong>Humbug.</strong>\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\nI decided to continue the festivities for yet another few days with today\'s Christmasy post. Yay!\n\n&nbsp;\n\nPlaydate #50 was My First Flash Mob Ever.  I can\'t believe it\'s taken me this long to join one considering my penchant for all things goofy AND a suggestion from a blog reader circa 2010. Sometimes I wonder if I disappear into a time vacuum.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nAnywho, the waiting paid off because My First Flash Mob Ever was a flash mob with heart.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nOur assignment:  To meet at a light rail station in downtown Phoenix and distribute 10 gifts to complete strangers.\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n<strong>Ho, ho, ho!  </strong>\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\nI know what you\'re thinking.\n\n&nbsp;\n\n\"But . . . . but . . . . isn\'t that sort of <em>expensive</em>, Michelle?\"\n\n&nbsp;\n\nNot if you hit the Target $1 section!  I had never waltzed down those $1 aisles before, and it was a jolly good time.  Look at the loot I found for 10 buckaroos plus tax!\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n[caption id=\"attachment_11849\" align=\"alignnone\" width=\"614\"]<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/?attachment_id=11849\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-11849\"><img class=\" wp-image-11849 \" alt=\"Hail to the Target Dollar Aisle! \" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/PC140029-1024x768.jpg\" width=\"614\" height=\"461\" /></a> Hail to the Target Dollar Aisle![/caption]\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\nPictured from bottom left and going clockwise into a spiral:  Wine bottle tags, whoopee cushion (because what boy or boy at heart doesn\'t want a whoopee cushion?), snowman glow wand, eye mask, gingerbread house gel clings, sparkly sugar plum body lotion, electronics duster, Kahlua coffee, old-fashioned ribbon candies, and beer coasters.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nNext came the fun of wrapping all of these goodies.  Which actually isn\'t all that fun for me.  I\'m one of those people whose wrapping job looks like the work of 4 year-old.  For this reason, I wisely resort to bag stuffing.  I put on some Christmas music and stuffed away!\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n[caption id=\"attachment_11850\" align=\"alignnone\" width=\"300\"]<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/?attachment_id=11850\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-11850\"><img class=\"size-medium wp-image-11850\" alt=\"I am not a wrapper.  I am a bagger.\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/PC150035-300x225.jpg\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a> I am not a wrapper. I am a bagger.[/caption]\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\nThe real hoot for me involved labeling the tags.\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n[caption id=\"attachment_11851\" align=\"alignnone\" width=\"300\"]<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/?attachment_id=11851\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-11851\"><img class=\"size-medium wp-image-11851\" alt=\"For the Eye Mask\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/PC150040-300x225.jpg\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a> For the Eye Mask[/caption]\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\nI wound up giving away the eye mask to a mother of two.  Bless her heart.\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n[caption id=\"attachment_11852\" align=\"alignnone\" width=\"300\"]<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/?attachment_id=11852\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-11852\"><img class=\"size-medium wp-image-11852\" alt=\"For the Snowman Glow Wand\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/PC150042-300x225.jpg\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a> For the Snowman Glow Wand[/caption]\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\nI made a conscious effort to be politically correct on the tags in respect to our Hanukkah and Kwanzaa peeps.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nAfter all this flash mob preparation, the morning of the big day arrived with . . . .\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n<strong>Wet stuff.  Out of the sky.</strong>\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\nThis happens so infrequently that Phoenicians freak out and hide inside their dry abodes.\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n<strong>Humbug.  </strong>\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/2012/12/22/playdate-49-wish-lanterns/\" target=\"_blank\"><strong>But I didn\'t let Mother Nature rain on the previous evening\'s Wish Lantern Parade</strong>,</a> and I certainly wasn\'t going to let it keep me from a rain or shine flash mob either!\n\n&nbsp;\n\nLuckily, Dawn was my playdate friend du jour, and since the woman hails from North Dakota where there is real winter WEATHER, she was game for the rain as well.\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n<strong>Ho, ho, ho!  </strong>\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\nAs both Fate and Mother Nature would have it that afternoon, the skies cleared and the angels sang upon our skeleton crew flash mob spreading holiday cheer to complete strangers.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nO.k.  So I\'m joking about the angels singing part.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nBut the skies really did clear and the sun came out for our entire 30 minutes of flash mobbing.  Only to rain again once we are all snug inside Starbucks sipping cocoas and lattes.  (Note that for whatever bizarre reason, all indie coffeehouses in the area were closed on a Saturday afternoon.  <a href=\"http://www.cartelcoffeelab.com/\" target=\"_blank\"><strong>Cartel dudes, what up with that?</strong></a>)\n\n&nbsp;\n<iframe src=\"http://www.youtube.com/embed/j3PnoHrAvQA\" height=\"360\" width=\"640\" allowfullscreen=\"\" frameborder=\"0\"></iframe>\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n<em>(sung to the tune of \"Jingle Bells\")</em>  Oh, what fun it was to play in a flashing mob that day!  Hey!\n\n&nbsp;\n\nWell, not literally a <em>flashing</em> mob.  You know what I mean.  A girl\'s gotta edit what a girl\'s gotta edit to make the piggyback jingle work.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nThe<em> flashing</em> mob takes place on January 16th.  You can read all about it<a href=\"https://www.facebook.com/events/286537474797392/?utm_source=Improv+Participants&amp;utm_campaign=42af96b4cc-ESHB_Announcement10_26_2012&amp;utm_medium=email\" target=\"_blank\"> <strong>here</strong>.</a>  Who\'s in?  :-D\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n********************\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\nHave you ever participated in a flash mob?  Please share your experience in the comments section below.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nOr . . . .\n\n&nbsp;\n\nHave you ever yearned to join a flash mob?  Google \"flash mob\" and \"<em>your city\'s name</em>\" and see what comes up!\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n********************\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\nTo read more about Improv AZ, take a lookie loo over <a href=\"http://improvaz.com/2012/12/gifts-for-strangers-handed-out-some-holiday-cheer/\" target=\"_blank\"><strong>here.</strong></a>\n\n&nbsp;\n\nTo read more about the origins of Gifts for Strangers (a tradition that came to via The Great White North), visit <a href=\"http://giftsforstrangers.org/\" target=\"_blank\"><strong>here.</strong></a>\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;','Playdate #50:  Gifts for Strangers','','inherit','open','open','','11842-revision-29','','','2012-12-27 19:42:26','2012-12-28 02:42:26','',11842,'http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/2012/12/27/11842-revision-29/',0,'revision','',0),(11878,1,'2012-12-27 19:41:10','2012-12-28 02:41:10','[caption id=\"attachment_11845\" align=\"alignleft\" width=\"300\"]<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/?attachment_id=11845\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-11845\"><img class=\"size-medium wp-image-11845\" title=\"Phoenix Improv AZ Gifts for Strangers \" alt=\"329113_10152366596920644_1935195090_o\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/329113_10152366596920644_1935195090_o-300x225.jpg\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a> Our skeleton flash mob crew. Because Phoenicians are afraid of that rare wet stuff that falls out of the sky.[/caption]\r\n\r\nDoes anyone else experience the post-Christmas blues?  After a month of buildup, the holiday cheer is over in a day.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<strong>Humbug.</strong>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nI decided to continue the festivities for yet another few days with today\'s Christmasy post. Yay!\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nPlaydate #50 was My First Flash Mob Ever.  I can\'t believe it\'s taken me this long to join one considering my penchant for all things goofy AND a suggestion from a blog reader circa 2010. Sometimes I wonder if I disappear into a time vacuum.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nAnywho, the waiting paid off because My First Flash Mob Ever was a flash mob with heart.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nOur assignment:  To meet at a light rail station in downtown Phoenix and distribute 10 gifts to complete strangers.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<strong>Ho, ho, ho!  </strong>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nI know what you\'re thinking.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n\"But . . . . but . . . . isn\'t that sort of <em>expensive</em>, Michelle?\"\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nNot if you hit the Target $1 section!  I had never waltzed down those $1 aisles before, and it was a jolly good time.  Look at the loot I found for 10 buckaroos plus tax!\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_11849\" align=\"alignnone\" width=\"614\"]<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/?attachment_id=11849\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-11849\"><img class=\" wp-image-11849 \" alt=\"Hail to the Target Dollar Aisle! \" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/PC140029-1024x768.jpg\" width=\"614\" height=\"461\" /></a> Hail to the Target Dollar Aisle![/caption]\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nPictured from bottom left and going clockwise into a spiral:  Wine bottle tags, whoopee cushion (because what boy or boy at heart doesn\'t want a whoopee cushion?), snowman glow wand, eye mask, gingerbread house gel clings, sparkly sugar plum body lotion, electronics duster, Kahlua coffee, old-fashioned ribbon candies, and beer coasters.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nNext came the fun of wrapping all of these goodies.  Which actually isn\'t all that fun for me.  I\'m one of those people whose wrapping job looks like the work of 4 year-old.  For this reason, I wisely resort to bag stuffing.  I put on some Christmas music and stuffed away!\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_11850\" align=\"alignnone\" width=\"300\"]<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/?attachment_id=11850\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-11850\"><img class=\"size-medium wp-image-11850\" alt=\"I am not a wrapper.  I am a bagger.\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/PC150035-300x225.jpg\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a> I am not a wrapper. I am a bagger.[/caption]\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nThe real hoot for me involved labeling the tags.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_11851\" align=\"alignnone\" width=\"300\"]<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/?attachment_id=11851\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-11851\"><img class=\"size-medium wp-image-11851\" alt=\"For the Eye Mask\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/PC150040-300x225.jpg\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a> For the Eye Mask[/caption]\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nI wound up giving away the eye mask to a mother of two.  Bless her heart.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_11852\" align=\"alignnone\" width=\"300\"]<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/?attachment_id=11852\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-11852\"><img class=\"size-medium wp-image-11852\" alt=\"For the Snowman Glow Wand\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/PC150042-300x225.jpg\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a> For the Snowman Glow Wand[/caption]\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nI made a conscious effort to be politically correct on the tags in respect to our Hanukkah and Kwanzaa peeps.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nAfter all this flash mob preparation, the morning of the big day arrived with . . . .\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<strong>Wet stuff.  Out of the sky.</strong>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nThis happens so infrequently that Phoenicians freak out and hide inside their dry abodes.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<strong>Humbug.  </strong>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/2012/12/22/playdate-49-wish-lanterns/\" target=\"_blank\"><strong>But I didn\'t let Mother Nature rain on the previous evening\'s Wish Lantern Parade</strong>,</a> and I certainly wasn\'t going to let it keep me from a rain or shine flash mob either!\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nLuckily, Dawn was my playdate friend du jour, and since the woman hails from North Dakota where there is real winter WEATHER, she was game for the rain as well.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<strong>Ho, ho, ho!  </strong>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nAs both Fate and Mother Nature would have it that afternoon, the skies cleared and the angels sang upon our skeleton crew flash mob spreading holiday cheer to complete strangers.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nO.k.  So I\'m joking about the angels singing part.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nBut the skies really did clear and the sun came out for our entire 30 minutes of flash mobbing.  Only to rain again once we are all snug inside Starbucks sipping cocoas and lattes.  (Note that for whatever bizarre reason, all indie coffeehouses in the area were closed on a Saturday afternoon.  <a href=\"http://www.cartelcoffeelab.com/\" target=\"_blank\"><strong>Cartel dudes, what up with that?</strong></a>)\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n<iframe src=\"http://www.youtube.com/embed/j3PnoHrAvQA\" height=\"360\" width=\"640\" allowfullscreen=\"\" frameborder=\"0\"></iframe>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<em>(sung to the tune of \"Jingle Bells\")</em>  Oh, what fun it was to play in a flashing mob that day!  Hey!\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nWell, not literally a <em>flashing</em> mob.  You know what I mean.  A girl\'s gotta edit what a girl\'s gotta edit to make the piggyback jingle work.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nThe<em> flashing</em> mob takes place on January 16th.  You can read all about it<a href=\"https://www.facebook.com/events/286537474797392/?utm_source=Improv+Participants&amp;utm_campaign=42af96b4cc-ESHB_Announcement10_26_2012&amp;utm_medium=email\" target=\"_blank\"> <strong>here</strong>.</a>  Who\'s in?  :-D\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n********************\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nHave you ever participated in a flash mob?  Please share your experience in the comments section below.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nOr . . . .\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nHave you ever yearned to join a flash mob?  Google \"flash mob\" and \"<em>your city\'s name</em>\" and see what comes up!\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n********************\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nTo read more about Improv AZ, take a lookie loo over <a href=\"http://improvaz.com/2012/12/gifts-for-strangers-handed-out-some-holiday-cheer/\" target=\"_blank\"><strong>here.</strong></a>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nTo read more about the origins of Gifts for Strangers (a tradition that comes to us via The Great White North), visit <a href=\"http://giftsforstrangers.org/\" target=\"_blank\"><strong>here.</strong></a>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;','Playdate #50:  Gifts for Strangers','','inherit','open','open','','11842-revision-28','','','2012-12-27 19:41:10','2012-12-28 02:41:10','',11842,'http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/2012/12/27/11842-revision-28/',0,'revision','',0),(11880,1,'2012-12-27 19:42:52','2012-12-28 02:42:52','[caption id=\"attachment_11845\" align=\"alignleft\" width=\"300\"]<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/?attachment_id=11845\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-11845\"><img class=\"size-medium wp-image-11845\" title=\"Phoenix Improv AZ Gifts for Strangers \" alt=\"329113_10152366596920644_1935195090_o\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/329113_10152366596920644_1935195090_o-300x225.jpg\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a> Our skeleton flash mob crew. Because Phoenicians are afraid of that rare wet stuff that falls out of the sky.[/caption]\n\nDoes anyone else experience the post-Christmas blues?  After a month of buildup, the holiday cheer is over in a day.\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n<strong>Humbug.</strong>\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\nI decided to continue the festivities for yet another few days with today\'s Christmasy post. Yay!\n\n&nbsp;\n\nPlaydate #50 was My First Flash Mob Ever.  I can\'t believe it\'s taken me this long to join one considering my penchant for all things goofy AND a suggestion from a blog reader circa 2010. Sometimes I wonder if I disappear into a time vacuum.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nAnywho, the waiting paid off because My First Flash Mob Ever was a flash mob with heart.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nOur assignment:  To meet at a light rail station in downtown Phoenix and distribute 10 gifts to complete strangers.\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n<strong>Ho, ho, ho!  </strong>\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\nI know what you\'re thinking.\n\n&nbsp;\n\n\"But . . . . but . . . . isn\'t that sort of <em>expensive</em>, Michelle?\"\n\n&nbsp;\n\nNot if you hit the Target $1 section!  I had never waltzed down those $1 aisles before, and it was a jolly good time.  Look at the loot I found for 10 buckaroos plus tax!\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n[caption id=\"attachment_11849\" align=\"alignnone\" width=\"614\"]<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/?attachment_id=11849\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-11849\"><img class=\" wp-image-11849 \" alt=\"Hail to the Target Dollar Aisle! \" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/PC140029-1024x768.jpg\" width=\"614\" height=\"461\" /></a> Hail to the Target Dollar Aisle![/caption]\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\nPictured from bottom left and going clockwise into a spiral:  Wine bottle tags, whoopee cushion (because what boy or boy at heart doesn\'t want a whoopee cushion?), snowman glow wand, eye mask, gingerbread house gel clings, sparkly sugar plum body lotion, electronics duster, Kahlua coffee, old-fashioned ribbon candies, and beer coasters.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nNext came the fun of wrapping all of these goodies.  Which actually isn\'t all that fun for me.  I\'m one of those people whose wrapping job looks like the work of 4 year-old.  For this reason, I wisely resort to bag stuffing.  I put on some Christmas music and stuffed away!\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n[caption id=\"attachment_11850\" align=\"alignnone\" width=\"300\"]<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/?attachment_id=11850\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-11850\"><img class=\"size-medium wp-image-11850\" alt=\"I am not a wrapper.  I am a bagger.\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/PC150035-300x225.jpg\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a> I am not a wrapper. I am a bagger.[/caption]\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\nThe real hoot for me involved labeling the tags.\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n[caption id=\"attachment_11851\" align=\"alignnone\" width=\"300\"]<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/?attachment_id=11851\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-11851\"><img class=\"size-medium wp-image-11851\" alt=\"For the Eye Mask\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/PC150040-300x225.jpg\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a> For the Eye Mask[/caption]\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\nI wound up giving away the eye mask to a mother of two.  Bless her heart.\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n[caption id=\"attachment_11852\" align=\"alignnone\" width=\"300\"]<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/?attachment_id=11852\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-11852\"><img class=\"size-medium wp-image-11852\" alt=\"For the Snowman Glow Wand\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/PC150042-300x225.jpg\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a> For the Snowman Glow Wand[/caption]\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\nI made a conscious effort to be politically correct on the tags in respect to our Hanukkah and Kwanzaa peeps.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nAfter all this flash mob preparation, the morning of the big day arrived with . . . .\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n<strong>Wet stuff.  Out of the sky.</strong>\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\nThis happens so infrequently that Phoenicians freak out and hide inside their dry abodes.\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n<strong>Humbug.  </strong>\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/2012/12/22/playdate-49-wish-lanterns/\" target=\"_blank\"><strong>But I didn\'t let Mother Nature rain on the previous evening\'s Wish Lantern Parade</strong>,</a> and I certainly wasn\'t going to let it keep me from a rain or shine flash mob either!\n\n&nbsp;\n\nLuckily, Dawn was my playdate friend du jour, and since the woman hails from North Dakota where there is real winter WEATHER, she was game for the rain as well.\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n<strong>Ho, ho, ho!  </strong>\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\nAs both Fate and Mother Nature would have it that afternoon, the skies cleared and the angels sang upon our skeleton crew flash mob spreading holiday cheer to complete strangers.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nO.k.  So I\'m joking about the angels singing part.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nBut the skies really did clear and the sun came out for our entire 30 minutes of flash mobbing.  Only to rain again once we are all snug inside Starbucks sipping cocoas and lattes.  (Note that for whatever bizarre reason, all indie coffeehouses in the area were closed on a Saturday afternoon.  <a href=\"http://www.cartelcoffeelab.com/\" target=\"_blank\"><strong>Cartel dudes, what up with that?</strong></a>)\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n<iframe src=\"http://www.youtube.com/embed/j3PnoHrAvQA\" height=\"360\" width=\"640\" allowfullscreen=\"\" frameborder=\"0\"></iframe>\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n<em>(sung to the tune of \"Jingle Bells\")</em>  Oh, what fun it was to play in a flashing mob that day!  Hey!\n\n&nbsp;\n\nWell, not literally a <em>flashing</em> mob.  You know what I mean.  A girl\'s gotta edit what a girl\'s gotta edit to make the piggjingle work.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nThe<em> flashing</em> mob takes place on January 16th.  You can read all about it<a href=\"https://www.facebook.com/events/286537474797392/?utm_source=Improv+Participants&amp;utm_campaign=42af96b4cc-ESHB_Announcement10_26_2012&amp;utm_medium=email\" target=\"_blank\"> <strong>here</strong>.</a>  Who\'s in?  :-D\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n********************\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\nHave you ever participated in a flash mob?  Please share your experience in the comments section below.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nOr . . . .\n\n&nbsp;\n\nHave you ever yearned to join a flash mob?  Google \"flash mob\" and \"<em>your city\'s name</em>\" and see what comes up!\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n********************\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\nTo read more about Improv AZ, take a lookie loo over <a href=\"http://improvaz.com/2012/12/gifts-for-strangers-handed-out-some-holiday-cheer/\" target=\"_blank\"><strong>here.</strong></a>\n\n&nbsp;\n\nTo read more about the origins of Gifts for Strangers (a tradition that came to via The Great White North), visit <a href=\"http://giftsforstrangers.org/\" target=\"_blank\"><strong>here.</strong></a>\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;','Playdate #50:  Gifts for Strangers','','inherit','open','open','','11842-revision-30','','','2012-12-27 19:42:52','2012-12-28 02:42:52','',11842,'http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/2012/12/27/11842-revision-30/',0,'revision','',0),(11881,1,'2012-12-27 19:45:25','2012-12-28 02:45:25','[caption id=\"attachment_11845\" align=\"alignleft\" width=\"300\"]<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/?attachment_id=11845\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-11845\"><img class=\"size-medium wp-image-11845\" title=\"Phoenix Improv AZ Gifts for Strangers \" alt=\"329113_10152366596920644_1935195090_o\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/329113_10152366596920644_1935195090_o-300x225.jpg\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a> Our skeleton flash mob crew. Because Phoenicians are afraid of that rare wet stuff that falls out of the sky.[/caption]\n\nDoes anyone else experience the post-Christmas blues?  After a month of buildup, the holiday cheer is over in a day.\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n<span style=\"font-size: large; color: #333333;\"><strong>Humbug.</strong></span>\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\nI decided to continue the festivities for yet another few days with today\'s Christmasy post. Yay!\n\n&nbsp;\n\nPlaydate #50 was My First Flash Mob Ever.  I can\'t believe it\'s taken me this long to join one considering my penchant for all things goofy AND a suggestion from a blog reader circa 2010. Sometimes I wonder if I disappear into a time vacuum.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nAnywho, the waiting paid off because My First Flash Mob Ever was a flash mob with heart.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nOur assignment:  To meet at a light rail station in downtown Phoenix and distribute 10 gifts to complete strangers.\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n<span style=\"font-size: large;\"><strong><span style=\"color: #008000;\">Ho,</span> <span style=\"color: #ff0000;\">ho,</span> <span style=\"color: #008000;\">ho!  </span></strong></span>\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\nI know what you\'re thinking.\n\n&nbsp;\n\n\"But . . . . but . . . . isn\'t that sort of <em>expensive</em>, Michelle?\"\n\n&nbsp;\n\nNot if you hit the Target $1 section!  I had never waltzed down those $1 aisles before, and it was a jolly good time.  Look at the loot I found for 10 buckaroos plus tax!\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n[caption id=\"attachment_11849\" align=\"alignnone\" width=\"614\"]<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/?attachment_id=11849\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-11849\"><img class=\" wp-image-11849 \" alt=\"Hail to the Target Dollar Aisle! \" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/PC140029-1024x768.jpg\" width=\"614\" height=\"461\" /></a> Hail to the Target Dollar Aisle![/caption]\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\nPictured from bottom left and going clockwise into a spiral:  Wine bottle tags, whoopee cushion (because what boy or boy at heart doesn\'t want a whoopee cushion?), snowman glow wand, eye mask, gingerbread house gel clings, sparkly sugar plum body lotion, electronics duster, Kahlua coffee, old-fashioned ribbon candies, and beer coasters.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nNext came the fun of wrapping all of these goodies.  Which actually isn\'t all that fun for me.  I\'m one of those people whose wrapping job looks like the work of 4 year-old.  For this reason, I wisely resort to bag stuffing.  I put on some Christmas music and stuffed away!\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n[caption id=\"attachment_11850\" align=\"alignnone\" width=\"300\"]<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/?attachment_id=11850\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-11850\"><img class=\"size-medium wp-image-11850\" alt=\"I am not a wrapper.  I am a bagger.\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/PC150035-300x225.jpg\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a> I am not a wrapper. I am a bagger.[/caption]\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\nThe real hoot for me involved labeling the tags.\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n[caption id=\"attachment_11851\" align=\"alignnone\" width=\"300\"]<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/?attachment_id=11851\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-11851\"><img class=\"size-medium wp-image-11851\" alt=\"For the Eye Mask\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/PC150040-300x225.jpg\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a> For the Eye Mask[/caption]\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\nI wound up giving away the eye mask to a mother of two.  Bless her heart.\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n[caption id=\"attachment_11852\" align=\"alignnone\" width=\"300\"]<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/?attachment_id=11852\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-11852\"><img class=\"size-medium wp-image-11852\" alt=\"For the Snowman Glow Wand\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/PC150042-300x225.jpg\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a> For the Snowman Glow Wand[/caption]\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\nI made a conscious effort to be politically correct on the tags in respect to our Hanukkah and Kwanzaa peeps.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nAfter all this flash mob preparation, the morning of the big day arrived with . . . .\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n<strong>Wet stuff.  Out of the sky.</strong>\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\nThis happens so infrequently that Phoenicians freak out and hide inside their dry abodes.\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n<strong>Humbug.  </strong>\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/2012/12/22/playdate-49-wish-lanterns/\" target=\"_blank\"><strong>But I didn\'t let Mother Nature rain on the previous evening\'s Wish Lantern Parade</strong>,</a> and I certainly wasn\'t going to let it keep me from a rain or shine flash mob either!\n\n&nbsp;\n\nLuckily, Dawn was my playdate friend du jour, and since the woman hails from North Dakota where there is real winter WEATHER, she was game for the rain as well.\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n<span style=\"font-size: large;\"><strong><span style=\"color: #008000;\">Ho,</span> <span style=\"color: #ff0000;\">ho,</span><span style=\"color: #008000;\"> ho!</span>  </strong></span>\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\nAs both Fate and Mother Nature would have it that afternoon, the skies cleared and the angels sang upon our skeleton crew flash mob spreading holiday cheer to complete strangers.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nO.k.  So I\'m joking about the angels singing part.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nBut the skies really did clear and the sun came out for our entire 30 minutes of flash mobbing.  Only to rain again once we are all snug inside Starbucks sipping cocoas and lattes.  (Note that for whatever bizarre reason, all indie coffeehouses in the area were closed on a Saturday afternoon.  <a href=\"http://www.cartelcoffeelab.com/\" target=\"_blank\"><strong>Cartel dudes, what up with that?</strong></a>)\n<iframe src=\"http://www.youtube.com/embed/j3PnoHrAvQA\" height=\"360\" width=\"640\" allowfullscreen=\"\" frameborder=\"0\"></iframe>\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n<em>(sung to the tune of \"Jingle Bells\")</em>  Oh, what fun it was to play in a flashing mob that day!  Hey!\n\n&nbsp;\n\nWell, not literally a <em>flashing</em> mob.  You know what I mean.  A girl\'s gotta edit what a girl\'s gotta edit to make the piggyback jingle work.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nThe<em> flashing</em> mob takes place on January 16th.  You can read all about it<a href=\"https://www.facebook.com/events/286537474797392/?utm_source=Improv+Participants&amp;utm_campaign=42af96b4cc-ESHB_Announcement10_26_2012&amp;utm_medium=email\" target=\"_blank\"> <strong>here</strong>.</a>  Who\'s in?  :-D\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n********************\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\nHave you ever participated in a flash mob?  Please share your experience in the comments section below.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nOr . . . .\n\n&nbsp;\n\nHave you ever yearned to join a flash mob?  Google \"flash mob\" and \"<em>your city\'s name</em>\" and see what comes up!\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n********************\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\nTo read more about Improv AZ, take a lookie loo over <a href=\"http://improvaz.com/2012/12/gifts-for-strangers-handed-out-some-holiday-cheer/\" target=\"_blank\"><strong>here.</strong></a>\n\n&nbsp;\n\nTo read more about the origins of Gifts for Strangers (a tradition that comes to us via The Great White North), visit <strong><a href=\"http://giftsforstrangers.org/\" target=\"_blank\">here.</a></strong>\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;','Playdate #50:  Gifts for Strangers','','inherit','open','open','','11842-revision-31','','','2012-12-27 19:45:25','2012-12-28 02:45:25','',11842,'http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/2012/12/27/11842-revision-31/',0,'revision','',0),(11882,1,'2012-12-27 19:48:12','2012-12-28 02:48:12','[caption id=\"attachment_11845\" align=\"alignleft\" width=\"300\"]<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/?attachment_id=11845\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-11845\"><img class=\"size-medium wp-image-11845\" title=\"Phoenix Improv AZ Gifts for Strangers \" alt=\"329113_10152366596920644_1935195090_o\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/329113_10152366596920644_1935195090_o-300x225.jpg\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a> Our skeleton flash mob crew. Because Phoenicians are afraid of that rare wet stuff that falls out of the sky.[/caption]\n\nDoes anyone else experience the post-Christmas blues?  After a month of buildup, the holiday cheer is over in a day.\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n<span style=\"font-size: large; color: #333333;\"><strong>Humbug.</strong></span>\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\nI decided to continue with the festivities for yet another few days with today\'s Christmasy post. Yay!\n\n&nbsp;\n\nPlaydate #50 was My First Flash Mob Ever.  I can\'t believe it\'s taken me this long to join one considering my penchant for all things goofy AND a suggestion from a blog reader circa 2010. Sometimes I wonder if I disappear into a time vacuum.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nAnywho, the waiting paid off because My First Flash Mob Ever was a flash mob with heart.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nOur assignment:  To meet at a light rail station in downtown Phoenix and distribute 10 gifts to complete strangers.\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n<span style=\"font-size: large;\"><strong><span style=\"color: #008000;\">Ho,</span> <span style=\"color: #ff0000;\">ho,</span> <span style=\"color: #008000;\">ho!  </span></strong></span>\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\nI know what you\'re thinking.\n\n&nbsp;\n\n\"But . . . . but . . . . isn\'t that sort of <em>expensive</em>, Michelle?\"\n\n&nbsp;\n\nNot if you hit the Target $1 section!  I had never waltzed down those $1 aisles before, and it was a jolly good time.  Look at the loot I found for 10 buckaroos plus tax!\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n[caption id=\"attachment_11849\" align=\"alignnone\" width=\"614\"]<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/?attachment_id=11849\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-11849\"><img class=\" wp-image-11849 \" alt=\"Hail to the Target Dollar Aisle! \" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/PC140029-1024x768.jpg\" width=\"614\" height=\"461\" /></a> Hail to the Target Dollar Aisle![/caption]\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\nPictured from bottom left and going clockwise into a spiral:  Wine bottle tags, whoopee cushion (because what boy or boy at heart doesn\'t want a whoopee cushion?), snowman glow wand, eye mask, gingerbread house gel clings, sparkly sugar plum body lotion, electronics duster, Kahlua coffee, old-fashioned ribbon candies, and beer coasters.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nNext came the fun of wrapping all of these goodies.  Which actually isn\'t all that fun for me.  I\'m one of those people whose wrapping job looks like the work of either a 4 year-old or a drunken elf.  For this reason, I wisely resort to bag stuffing.  I put on some Christmas music and stuffed away!\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n[caption id=\"attachment_11850\" align=\"alignnone\" width=\"300\"]<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/?attachment_id=11850\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-11850\"><img class=\"size-medium wp-image-11850\" alt=\"I am not a wrapper.  I am a bagger.\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/PC150035-300x225.jpg\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a> I am not a wrapper. I am a bagger.[/caption]\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\nThe real hoot for me involved labeling the tags.\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n[caption id=\"attachment_11851\" align=\"alignnone\" width=\"300\"]<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/?attachment_id=11851\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-11851\"><img class=\"size-medium wp-image-11851\" alt=\"For the Eye Mask\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/PC150040-300x225.jpg\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a> For the Eye Mask[/caption]\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\nI wound up giving away the eye mask to a mother of two.  Bless her heart.\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n[caption id=\"attachment_11852\" align=\"alignnone\" width=\"300\"]<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/?attachment_id=11852\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-11852\"><img class=\"size-medium wp-image-11852\" alt=\"For the Snowman Glow Wand\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/PC150042-300x225.jpg\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a> For the Snowman Glow Wand[/caption]\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\nI made a conscious effort to be politically correct on the tags in respect to our Hanukkah and Kwanzaa peeps.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nAfter all this flash mob preparation, the morning of the big day arrived with . . . .\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n<span style=\"font-size: large; color: #0000ff;\"><strong>Wet stuff.  Out of the sky.</strong></span>\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\nThis happens so infrequently that Phoenicians freak out and hide inside their dry abodes.\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n<strong><span style=\"font-size: large; color: #333333;\">Humbug. </span> </strong>\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/2012/12/22/playdate-49-wish-lanterns/\" target=\"_blank\"><strong>But I didn\'t let Mother Nature rain on the previous evening\'s Wish Lantern Parade</strong>,</a> and I certainly wasn\'t going to let it keep me from a rain or shine flash mob either!\n\n&nbsp;\n\nLuckily, Dawn was my playdate friend du jour, and since the woman hails from North Dakota where there is real winter WEATHER, she was game for the rain as well.\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n<span style=\"font-size: large;\"><strong><span style=\"color: #008000;\">Ho,</span> <span style=\"color: #ff0000;\">ho,</span><span style=\"color: #008000;\"> ho!</span>  </strong></span>\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\nAs both Fate and Mother Nature would have it that afternoon, the skies cleared and the angels sang upon our skeleton crew flash mob spreading holiday cheer to complete strangers.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nO.k.  So I\'m joking about the angels singing part.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nBut the skies really did clear and the sun came out for our entire 30 minutes of flash mobbing.  Only to rain again once we are all snug inside Starbucks sipping cocoas and lattes.  (Note that for whatever bizarre reason, all indie coffeehouses in the area were closed on a Saturday afternoon.  <a href=\"http://www.cartelcoffeelab.com/\" target=\"_blank\"><strong>Cartel dudes, what up with that?</strong></a>)\n\n&nbsp;\n<iframe src=\"http://www.youtube.com/embed/j3PnoHrAvQA\" height=\"360\" width=\"640\" allowfullscreen=\"\" frameborder=\"0\"></iframe>\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n<em>(sung to the tune of \"Jingle Bells\")</em>  Oh, what fun it was to play in a flashing mob that day!  Hey!\n\n&nbsp;\n\nWell, not literally a <em>flashing</em> mob.  You know what I mean.  A girl\'s gotta edit what a girl\'s gotta edit to make the piggyback jingle work.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nThe<em> flashing</em> mob takes place on January 16th.  You can read all about it<a href=\"https://www.facebook.com/events/286537474797392/?utm_source=Improv+Participants&amp;utm_campaign=42af96b4cc-ESHB_Announcement10_26_2012&amp;utm_medium=email\" target=\"_blank\"> <strong>here</strong>.</a>  Who\'s in?  :-D\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n********************\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\nHave you ever participated in a flash mob?  Please share your experience in the comments section below.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nOr . . . .\n\n&nbsp;\n\nHave you ever yearned to join a flash mob?  Google \"flash mob\" and \"<em>your city\'s name</em>\" and see what comes up!\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n********************\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\nTo read more about Improv AZ, take a lookie loo over <a href=\"http://improvaz.com/2012/12/gifts-for-strangers-handed-out-some-holiday-cheer/\" target=\"_blank\"><strong>here.</strong></a>\n\n&nbsp;\n\nTo read more about the origins of Gifts for Strangers (a tradition that comes to us via The Great White North), visit <strong><a href=\"http://giftsforstrangers.org/\" target=\"_blank\">here.</a></strong>\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;','Playdate #50:  Gifts for Strangers','','inherit','open','open','','11842-revision-32','','','2012-12-27 19:48:12','2012-12-28 02:48:12','',11842,'http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/2012/12/27/11842-revision-32/',0,'revision','',0),(11883,1,'2012-12-27 19:49:45','2012-12-28 02:49:45','[caption id=\"attachment_11845\" align=\"alignleft\" width=\"300\"]<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/?attachment_id=11845\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-11845\"><img class=\"size-medium wp-image-11845\" title=\"Phoenix Improv AZ Gifts for Strangers \" alt=\"329113_10152366596920644_1935195090_o\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/329113_10152366596920644_1935195090_o-300x225.jpg\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a> Our skeleton flash mob crew. Because Phoenicians are afraid of that rare wet stuff that falls out of the sky.[/caption]\n\nDoes anyone else experience the post-Christmas blues?  After a month of buildup, the holiday cheer is over in a day.\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n<span style=\"font-size: large; color: #333333;\"><strong>Humbug.</strong></span>\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\nI decided to continue with the festivities for yet another few days with today\'s Christmasy post. Yay!\n\n&nbsp;\n\nPlaydate #50 was My First Flash Mob Ever.  I can\'t believe it\'s taken me this long to join one considering my penchant for all things goofy AND a suggestion from a blog reader circa 2010. Sometimes I wonder if I disappear into a time vacuum.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nAnywho, the waiting paid off because My First Flash Mob Ever was a flash mob with heart.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nOur assignment:  To meet at a light rail station in downtown Phoenix and distribute 10 gifts to complete strangers.\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n<span style=\"font-size: large;\"><strong><span style=\"color: #008000;\">Ho,</span> <span style=\"color: #ff0000;\">ho,</span> <span style=\"color: #008000;\">ho!  </span></strong></span>\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\nI know what you\'re thinking.\n\n&nbsp;\n\n\"But . . . . but . . . . isn\'t that sort of <em>expensive</em>, Michelle?\"\n\n&nbsp;\n\nNot if you hit the Target $1 section!  I had never waltzed down those $1 aisles before, and it was a jolly good time.  Look at the loot I found for 10 buckaroos plus tax!\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n[caption id=\"attachment_11849\" align=\"alignnone\" width=\"614\"]<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/?attachment_id=11849\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-11849\"><img class=\" wp-image-11849 \" alt=\"Hail to the Target Dollar Aisle! \" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/PC140029-1024x768.jpg\" width=\"614\" height=\"461\" /></a> Hail to the Target Dollar Aisle![/caption]\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\nPictured from bottom left and going clockwise into a spiral:  Wine bottle tags, whoopee cushion (because what boy or boy at heart doesn\'t want a whoopee cushion?), snowman glow wand, eye mask, gingerbread house gel clings, sparkly sugar plum body lotion, electronics duster, Kahlua coffee, old-fashioned ribbon candies, and beer coasters.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nNext came the fun of wrapping all of these goodies.  Which actually isn\'t all that fun for me.  I\'m one of those people whose wrapping job looks like the work of either a 4 year-old or a drunken elf.  For this reason, I wisely resorted to bag stuffing.  I put on some Christmas music and stuffed away!\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n[caption id=\"attachment_11850\" align=\"alignnone\" width=\"300\"]<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/?attachment_id=11850\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-11850\"><img class=\"size-medium wp-image-11850\" alt=\"I am not a wrapper.  I am a bagger.\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/PC150035-300x225.jpg\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a> I am not a wrapper. I am a bagger.[/caption]\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\nThe real hoot for me involved labeling the tags.\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n[caption id=\"attachment_11851\" align=\"alignnone\" width=\"300\"]<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/?attachment_id=11851\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-11851\"><img class=\"size-medium wp-image-11851\" alt=\"For the Eye Mask\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/PC150040-300x225.jpg\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a> For the Eye Mask[/caption]\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\nI wound up giving away the eye mask to a mother of two.  Bless her heart.\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n[caption id=\"attachment_11852\" align=\"alignnone\" width=\"300\"]<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/?attachment_id=11852\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-11852\"><img class=\"size-medium wp-image-11852\" alt=\"For the Snowman Glow Wand\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/PC150042-300x225.jpg\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a> For the Snowman Glow Wand[/caption]\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\nI made a conscious effort to be politically correct on the tags in respect to our Hanukkah and Kwanzaa peeps.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nAfter all this flash mob preparation, the morning of the big day arrived with . . . .\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n<span style=\"font-size: large; color: #0000ff;\"><strong>Wet stuff.  Out of the sky.</strong></span>\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\nThis happens so infrequently that Phoenicians freak out and hide inside their dry abodes.\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n<strong><span style=\"font-size: large; color: #333333;\">Humbug. </span> </strong>\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/2012/12/22/playdate-49-wish-lanterns/\" target=\"_blank\"><strong>But I didn\'t let Mother Nature rain on the previous evening\'s Wish Lantern Parade</strong>,</a> and I certainly wasn\'t going to let it keep me from a rain or shine flash mob either!\n\n&nbsp;\n\nLuckily, Dawn was my playdate friend du jour, and since the woman hails from North Dakota where there is real winter WEATHER, she was game for the rain as well.\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n<span style=\"font-size: large;\"><strong><span style=\"color: #008000;\">Ho,</span> <span style=\"color: #ff0000;\">ho,</span><span style=\"color: #008000;\"> ho!</span>  </strong></span>\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\nAs both Fate and Mother Nature would have it that afternoon, the skies cleared and the angels sang upon our skeleton crew flash mob spreading holiday cheer to complete strangers.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nO.k.  So I\'m joking about the angels singing part.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nBut the skies really did clear and the sun came out for our entire 30 minutes of flash mobbing.  Only to rain again once we are all snug inside Starbucks sipping cocoas and lattes.  (Note that for whatever bizarre reason, all indie coffeehouses in the area were closed on a Saturday afternoon.  <a href=\"http://www.cartelcoffeelab.com/\" target=\"_blank\"><strong>Cartel dudes, what up with that?</strong></a>)\n<iframe src=\"http://www.youtube.com/embed/j3PnoHrAvQA\" height=\"360\" width=\"640\" allowfullscreen=\"\" frameborder=\"0\"></iframe>\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n<em>(sung to the tune of \"Jingle Bells\")</em>  Oh, what fun it was to play in a flashing mob that day!  Hey!\n\n&nbsp;\n\nWell, not literally a <em>flashing</em> mob.  You know what I mean.  A girl\'s gotta edit what a girl\'s gotta edit to make the piggyback jingle work.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nThe<em> flashing</em> mob takes place on January 16th.  You can read all about it<a href=\"https://www.facebook.com/events/286537474797392/?utm_source=Improv+Participants&amp;utm_campaign=42af96b4cc-ESHB_Announcement10_26_2012&amp;utm_medium=email\" target=\"_blank\"> <strong>here</strong>.</a>  Who\'s in?  :-D\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n********************\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\nHave you ever participated in a flash mob?  Please share your experience in the comments section below.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nOr . . . .\n\n&nbsp;\n\nHave you ever yearned to join a flash mob?  Google \"flash mob\" and \"<em>your city\'s name</em>\" and see what comes up!\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n********************\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\nTo read more about Improv AZ, take a lookie loo over <a href=\"http://improvaz.com/2012/12/gifts-for-strangers-handed-out-some-holiday-cheer/\" target=\"_blank\"><strong>here.</strong></a>\n\n&nbsp;\n\nTo read more about the origins of Gifts for Strangers (a tradition that comes to us via The Great White North), visit <strong><a href=\"http://giftsforstrangers.org/\" target=\"_blank\">here.</a></strong>\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;','Playdate #50:  Gifts for Strangers','','inherit','open','open','','11842-revision-33','','','2012-12-27 19:49:45','2012-12-28 02:49:45','',11842,'http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/2012/12/27/11842-revision-33/',0,'revision','',0),(11884,1,'2012-12-27 19:51:04','2012-12-28 02:51:04','[caption id=\"attachment_11845\" align=\"alignleft\" width=\"300\"]<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/?attachment_id=11845\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-11845\"><img class=\"size-medium wp-image-11845\" title=\"Phoenix Improv AZ Gifts for Strangers \" alt=\"329113_10152366596920644_1935195090_o\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/329113_10152366596920644_1935195090_o-300x225.jpg\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a> Our skeleton flash mob crew. Because Phoenicians are afraid of that rare wet stuff that falls out of the sky.[/caption]\n\nDoes anyone else experience the post-Christmas blues?  After a month of buildup, the holiday cheer is over in a day.\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n<span style=\"font-size: large; color: #333333;\"><strong>Humbug.</strong></span>\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\nI decided to continue with the festivities for yet another few days with today\'s Christmasy post. Yay!\n\n&nbsp;\n\nPlaydate #50 was My First Flash Mob Ever.  I can\'t believe it\'s taken me this long to join one considering my penchant for all things goofy AND a suggestion from a blog reader circa 2010. Sometimes I wonder if I disappear into a time vacuum.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nAnywho, the waiting paid off because My First Flash Mob Ever was a flash mob with heart.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nOur assignment:  To meet at a light rail station in downtown Phoenix and distribute 10 gifts to complete strangers.\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n<span style=\"font-size: large;\"><strong><span style=\"color: #008000;\">Ho,</span> <span style=\"color: #ff0000;\">ho,</span> <span style=\"color: #008000;\">ho!  </span></strong></span>\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\nI know what you\'re thinking.\n\n&nbsp;\n\n\"But . . . . but . . . . isn\'t that sort of <em>expensive</em>, Michelle?\"\n\n&nbsp;\n\nNot if you hit the Target $1 section!  I had never waltzed down those $1 aisles before, and it was a jolly good time.  Look at the loot I found for 10 buckaroos plus tax!\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n[caption id=\"attachment_11849\" align=\"alignnone\" width=\"614\"]<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/?attachment_id=11849\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-11849\"><img class=\" wp-image-11849 \" alt=\"Hail to the Target Dollar Aisle! \" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/PC140029-1024x768.jpg\" width=\"614\" height=\"461\" /></a> Hail to the Target Dollar Aisle![/caption]\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\nPictured from bottom left and going clockwise into a spiral:  Wine bottle tags, whoopee cushion (because what boy or boy at heart doesn\'t want a whoopee cushion?), snowman glow wand, eye mask, gingerbread house gel clings, sparkly sugar plum body lotion, electronics duster, Kahlua coffee, old-fashioned ribbon candies, and beer coasters.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nNext came the fun of wrapping all of these goodies.  Which actually isn\'t all that fun for me.  I\'m one of those people whose wrapping job looks like the work of either a 4 year-old or a drunken elf.  For this reason, I wisely resorted to bag stuffing.  I put on some Christmas music and stuffed away!\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n[caption id=\"attachment_11850\" align=\"alignnone\" width=\"300\"]<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/?attachment_id=11850\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-11850\"><img class=\"size-medium wp-image-11850\" alt=\"I am not a wrapper.  I am a bagger.\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/PC150035-300x225.jpg\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a> I am not a wrapper. I am a bagger.[/caption]\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\nThe real hoot for me involved labeling the tags.\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n[caption id=\"attachment_11851\" align=\"alignnone\" width=\"300\"]<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/?attachment_id=11851\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-11851\"><img class=\"size-medium wp-image-11851\" alt=\"For the Eye Mask\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/PC150040-300x225.jpg\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a> For the Eye Mask[/caption]\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\nI wound up giving away the eye mask to a mother of two. I assumed the woman needed extra sleep. Bless her heart.\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n[caption id=\"attachment_11852\" align=\"alignnone\" width=\"300\"]<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/?attachment_id=11852\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-11852\"><img class=\"size-medium wp-image-11852\" alt=\"For the Snowman Glow Wand\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/PC150042-300x225.jpg\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a> For the Snowman Glow Wand[/caption]\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\nI made a conscious effort to be politically correct on the tags in respect to our Hanukkah and Kwanzaa peeps.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nAfter all this flash mob preparation, the morning of the big day arrived with . . . .\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n<span style=\"font-size: large; color: #0000ff;\"><strong>Wet stuff.  Out of the sky.</strong></span>\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\nThis happens so infrequently that Phoenicians freak out and hide inside their dry abodes.\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n<strong><span style=\"font-size: large; color: #333333;\">Humbug. </span> </strong>\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/2012/12/22/playdate-49-wish-lanterns/\" target=\"_blank\"><strong>But I didn\'t let Mother Nature rain on the previous evening\'s Wish Lantern Parade</strong>,</a> and I certainly wasn\'t going to let it keep me from a rain or shine flash mob either!\n\n&nbsp;\n\nLuckily, Dawn was my playdate friend du jour, and since the woman hails from North Dakota where there is real winter WEATHER, she was game for the rain as well.\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n<span style=\"font-size: large;\"><strong><span style=\"color: #008000;\">Ho,</span> <span style=\"color: #ff0000;\">ho,</span><span style=\"color: #008000;\"> ho!</span>  </strong></span>\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\nAs both Fate and Mother Nature would have it that afternoon, the skies cleared and the angels sang upon our skeleton crew flash mob spreading holiday cheer to complete strangers.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nO.k.  So I\'m joking about the angels singing part.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nBut the skies really did clear and the sun came out for our entire 30 minutes of flash mobbing.  Only to rain again once we are all snug inside Starbucks sipping cocoas and lattes.  (Note that for whatever bizarre reason, all indie coffeehouses in the area were closed on a Saturday afternoon.  <a href=\"http://www.cartelcoffeelab.com/\" target=\"_blank\"><strong>Cartel dudes, what up with that?</strong></a>)\n<iframe src=\"http://www.youtube.com/embed/j3PnoHrAvQA\" height=\"360\" width=\"640\" allowfullscreen=\"\" frameborder=\"0\"></iframe>\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n<em>(sung to the tune of \"Jingle Bells\")</em>  Oh, what fun it was to play in a flashing mob that day!  Hey!\n\n&nbsp;\n\nWell, not literally a <em>flashing</em> mob.  You know what I mean.  A girl\'s gotta edit what a girl\'s gotta edit to make the piggyback jingle work.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nThe<em> flashing</em> mob takes place on January 16th.  You can read all about it<a href=\"https://www.facebook.com/events/286537474797392/?utm_source=Improv+Participants&amp;utm_campaign=42af96b4cc-ESHB_Announcement10_26_2012&amp;utm_medium=email\" target=\"_blank\"> <strong>here</strong>.</a>  Who\'s in?  :-D\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n********************\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\nHave you ever participated in a flash mob?  Please share your experience in the comments section below.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nOr . . . .\n\n&nbsp;\n\nHave you ever yearned to join a flash mob?  Google \"flash mob\" and \"<em>your city\'s name</em>\" and see what comes up!\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n********************\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\nTo read more about Improv AZ, take a lookie loo over <a href=\"http://improvaz.com/2012/12/gifts-for-strangers-handed-out-some-holiday-cheer/\" target=\"_blank\"><strong>here.</strong></a>\n\n&nbsp;\n\nTo read more about the origins of Gifts for Strangers (a tradition that comes to us via The Great White North), visit <strong><a href=\"http://giftsforstrangers.org/\" target=\"_blank\">here.</a></strong>\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;','Playdate #50:  Gifts for Strangers','','inherit','open','open','','11842-revision-34','','','2012-12-27 19:51:04','2012-12-28 02:51:04','',11842,'http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/2012/12/27/11842-revision-34/',0,'revision','',0),(11885,1,'2012-12-27 19:52:28','2012-12-28 02:52:28','[caption id=\"attachment_11845\" align=\"alignleft\" width=\"300\"]<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/?attachment_id=11845\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-11845\"><img class=\"size-medium wp-image-11845\" title=\"Phoenix Improv AZ Gifts for Strangers \" alt=\"329113_10152366596920644_1935195090_o\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/329113_10152366596920644_1935195090_o-300x225.jpg\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a> Our skeleton flash mob crew. Because Phoenicians are afraid of that rare wet stuff that falls out of the sky.[/caption]\r\n\r\nDoes anyone else experience the post-Christmas blues?  After a month of buildup, the holiday cheer is over in a day.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-size: large; color: #333333;\"><strong>Humbug.</strong></span>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nI decided to continue with the festivities for yet another few days with today\'s Christmasy post. Yay!\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nPlaydate #50 was My First Flash Mob Ever.  I can\'t believe it\'s taken me this long to join one considering my penchant for all things goofy AND a suggestion from a blog reader circa 2010. Sometimes I wonder if I disappear into a time vacuum.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nAnywho, the waiting paid off because My First Flash Mob Ever was a flash mob with heart.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nOur assignment:  To meet at a light rail station in downtown Phoenix and distribute 10 gifts to complete strangers.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-size: large;\"><strong><span style=\"color: #008000;\">Ho,</span> <span style=\"color: #ff0000;\">ho,</span> <span style=\"color: #008000;\">ho!  </span></strong></span>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nI know what you\'re thinking.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n\"But . . . . but . . . . isn\'t that sort of <em>expensive</em>, Michelle?\"\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nNot if you hit the Target $1 section!  I had never waltzed down those $1 aisles before, and it was a jolly good time.  Look at the loot I found for 10 buckaroos plus tax!\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_11849\" align=\"alignnone\" width=\"614\"]<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/?attachment_id=11849\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-11849\"><img class=\" wp-image-11849 \" alt=\"Hail to the Target Dollar Aisle! \" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/PC140029-1024x768.jpg\" width=\"614\" height=\"461\" /></a> Hail to the Target Dollar Aisle![/caption]\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nPictured from bottom left and going clockwise into a spiral:  Wine bottle tags, whoopee cushion (because what boy or boy at heart doesn\'t want a whoopee cushion?), snowman glow wand, eye mask, gingerbread house gel clings, sparkly sugar plum body lotion, electronics duster, Kahlua coffee, old-fashioned ribbon candies, and beer coasters.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nNext came the fun of wrapping all of these goodies.  Which actually isn\'t all that fun for me.  I\'m one of those people whose wrapping job looks like the work of either a 4 year-old or a drunken elf.  For this reason, I wisely resorted to bag stuffing.  I put on some Christmas music and stuffed away!\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_11850\" align=\"alignnone\" width=\"300\"]<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/?attachment_id=11850\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-11850\"><img class=\"size-medium wp-image-11850\" alt=\"I am not a wrapper.  I am a bagger.\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/PC150035-300x225.jpg\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a> I am not a wrapper. I am a bagger.[/caption]\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nThe real hoot for me involved labeling the tags.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_11851\" align=\"alignnone\" width=\"300\"]<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/?attachment_id=11851\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-11851\"><img class=\"size-medium wp-image-11851\" alt=\"For the Eye Mask\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/PC150040-300x225.jpg\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a> For the Eye Mask[/caption]\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nI wound up giving away the eye mask to a mother of two. I assumed the woman needed extra sleep. Bless her heart.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_11852\" align=\"alignnone\" width=\"300\"]<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/?attachment_id=11852\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-11852\"><img class=\"size-medium wp-image-11852\" alt=\"For the Snowman Glow Wand\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/PC150042-300x225.jpg\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a> For the Snowman Glow Wand[/caption]\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nI made a conscious effort to be politically correct on the tags in respect to our Hanukkah and Kwanzaa peeps.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nAfter all this flash mob preparation, the morning of the big day arrived with . . . .\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-size: large; color: #0000ff;\"><strong>Wet stuff.  Out of the sky.</strong></span>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nThis happens so infrequently that Phoenicians freak out and hide inside their dry abodes.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<strong><span style=\"font-size: large; color: #333333;\">Humbug. </span> </strong>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/2012/12/22/playdate-49-wish-lanterns/\" target=\"_blank\"><strong>But I didn\'t let Mother Nature rain on the previous evening\'s Wish Lantern Parade</strong>,</a> and I certainly wasn\'t going to let it keep me from a rain or shine flash mob either!\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nLuckily, Dawn was my playdate friend du jour, and since the woman hails from North Dakota where there is real winter WEATHER, she was game for the rain as well.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-size: large;\"><strong><span style=\"color: #008000;\">Ho,</span> <span style=\"color: #ff0000;\">ho,</span><span style=\"color: #008000;\"> ho!</span>  </strong></span>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nAs both Fate and Mother Nature would have it that afternoon, the skies cleared and the angels sang upon our skeleton crew flash mob spreading holiday cheer to complete strangers.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nO.k.  So I\'m joking about the angels singing part.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nBut the skies really did clear and the sun came out for our entire 30 minutes of flash mobbing.  Only to rain again once we are all snug inside Starbucks sipping cocoas and lattes.  (Note that for whatever bizarre reason, all indie coffeehouses in the area were closed on a Saturday afternoon.  <a href=\"http://www.cartelcoffeelab.com/\" target=\"_blank\"><strong>Cartel dudes, what up with that?</strong></a>)\r\n<iframe src=\"http://www.youtube.com/embed/j3PnoHrAvQA\" height=\"360\" width=\"640\" allowfullscreen=\"\" frameborder=\"0\"></iframe>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<em>(sung to the tune of \"Jingle Bells\")</em>  Oh, what fun it was to play in a flashing mob that day!  Hey!\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nWell, not literally a <em>flashing</em> mob.  You know what I mean.  A girl\'s gotta edit what a girl\'s gotta edit to make the piggyback jingle work.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nThe<em> flashing</em> mob takes place on January 13th.  You can read all about it<a href=\"https://www.facebook.com/events/286537474797392/?utm_source=Improv+Participants&amp;utm_campaign=42af96b4cc-ESHB_Announcement10_26_2012&amp;utm_medium=email\" target=\"_blank\"> <strong>here</strong>.</a>  Who\'s in?  :-D\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n********************\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nHave you ever participated in a flash mob?  Please share your experience in the comments section below.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nOr . . . .\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nHave you ever yearned to join a flash mob?  Google \"flash mob\" and \"<em>your city\'s name</em>\" and see what comes up!\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n********************\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nTo read more about Improv AZ, take a lookie loo over <a href=\"http://improvaz.com/2012/12/gifts-for-strangers-handed-out-some-holiday-cheer/\" target=\"_blank\"><strong>here.</strong></a>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nTo read more about the origins of Gifts for Strangers (a tradition that comes to us via The Great White North), visit <strong><a href=\"http://giftsforstrangers.org/\" target=\"_blank\">here.</a></strong>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;','Playdate #50:  Gifts for Strangers','','inherit','open','open','','11842-revision-35','','','2012-12-27 19:52:28','2012-12-28 02:52:28','',11842,'http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/2012/12/27/11842-revision-35/',0,'revision','',0),(11886,1,'2012-12-27 19:54:29','2012-12-28 02:54:29','[caption id=\"attachment_11845\" align=\"alignleft\" width=\"300\"]<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/?attachment_id=11845\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-11845\"><img class=\"size-medium wp-image-11845\" title=\"Phoenix Improv AZ Gifts for Strangers \" alt=\"329113_10152366596920644_1935195090_o\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/329113_10152366596920644_1935195090_o-300x225.jpg\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a> Our skeleton flash mob crew. Because Phoenicians are afraid of that rare wet stuff that falls out of the sky.[/caption]\n\nDoes anyone else experience the post-Christmas blues?  After a month of buildup, the holiday cheer is over in a day.\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n<span style=\"font-size: large; color: #333333;\"><strong>Humbug.</strong></span>\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\nI decided to continue with the festivities for yet another few days with today\'s Christmasy post. Yay!\n\n&nbsp;\n\nPlaydate #50 was My First Flash Mob Ever.  I can\'t believe it\'s taken me this long to join one considering my penchant for all things goofy AND a suggestion from a blog reader circa 2010. Sometimes I wonder if I disappear into a time vacuum.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nAnywho, the waiting paid off because My First Flash Mob Ever was a flash mob with heart.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nOur assignment:  To meet at a light rail station in downtown Phoenix and distribute 10 gifts to complete strangers.\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n<span style=\"font-size: large;\"><strong><span style=\"color: #008000;\">Ho,</span> <span style=\"color: #ff0000;\">ho,</span> <span style=\"color: #008000;\">ho!  </span></strong></span>\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\nI know what you\'re thinking.\n\n&nbsp;\n\n\"But . . . . but . . . . isn\'t that sort of <em>expensive</em>, Michelle?\"\n\n&nbsp;\n\nNot if you hit the Target $1 section!  I had never waltzed down those $1 aisles before, and it was a jolly good time.  Look at the loot I found for 10 buckaroos plus tax!\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n[caption id=\"attachment_11849\" align=\"alignnone\" width=\"614\"]<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/?attachment_id=11849\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-11849\"><img class=\" wp-image-11849 \" alt=\"Hail to the Target Dollar Aisle! \" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/PC140029-1024x768.jpg\" width=\"614\" height=\"461\" /></a> Hail to the Target Dollar Aisle![/caption]\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\nPictured from bottom left and going clockwise into a spiral:  Wine bottle tags, whoopee cushion (because what boy or boy at heart doesn\'t want a whoopee cushion?), snowman glow wand, eye mask, gingerbread house gel clings, sparkly sugar plum body lotion, electronics duster, Kahlua coffee, old-fashioned ribbon candies, and beer coasters.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nNext came the fun of wrapping all of these goodies.  Which actually isn\'t all that fun for me.  I\'m one of those people whose wrapping job looks like the work of either a 4 year-old or a drunken elf.  For this reason, I wisely resorted to bag stuffing.  I put on some Christmas music and stuffed away!\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n[caption id=\"attachment_11850\" align=\"alignnone\" width=\"300\"]<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/?attachment_id=11850\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-11850\"><img class=\"size-medium wp-image-11850\" alt=\"I am not a wrapper.  I am a bagger.\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/PC150035-300x225.jpg\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a> I am not a wrapper. I am a bagger.[/caption]\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\nThe real hoot for me involved labeling the tags.\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n[caption id=\"attachment_11851\" align=\"alignnone\" width=\"300\"]<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/?attachment_id=11851\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-11851\"><img class=\"size-medium wp-image-11851\" alt=\"For the Eye Mask\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/PC150040-300x225.jpg\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a> For the Eye Mask[/caption]\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\nI wound up giving away the eye mask to a mother of two. I assumed the woman needed extra sleep. Bless her heart.\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n[caption id=\"attachment_11852\" align=\"alignnone\" width=\"300\"]<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/?attachment_id=11852\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-11852\"><img class=\"size-medium wp-image-11852\" alt=\"For the Snowman Glow Wand\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/PC150042-300x225.jpg\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a> For the Snowman Glow Wand[/caption]\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\nI made a conscious effort to be politically correct on the tags in respect to our Hanukkah and Kwanzaa peeps.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nAfter all this flash mob preparation, the morning of the big day arrived with . . . .\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n<span style=\"font-size: large; color: #0000ff;\"><strong>Wet stuff.  Out of the sky.</strong></span>\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\nThis happens so infrequently that Phoenicians freak out and hide inside their dry abodes.\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n<strong><span style=\"font-size: large; color: #333333;\">Humbug. </span> </strong>\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/2012/12/22/playdate-49-wish-lanterns/\" target=\"_blank\"><strong>But I didn\'t let Mother Nature rain on the previous evening\'s Wish Lantern Parade</strong>,</a> and I certainly wasn\'t going to let it keep me from a rain or shine flash mob either!\n\n&nbsp;\n\nLuckily, Dawn was my playdate friend du jour, and since the woman hails from North Dakota where there is real winter WEATHER, she was game for the rain as well.\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n<span style=\"font-size: large;\"><strong><span style=\"color: #008000;\">Ho,</span> <span style=\"color: #ff0000;\">ho,</span><span style=\"color: #008000;\"> ho!</span>  </strong></span>\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\nAs both Fate and Mother Nature would have it that afternoon, the skies cleared and the angels sang upon our skeleton crew flash mob spreading holiday cheer to complete strangers.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nO.k.  So I\'m joking about the angels singing part.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nBut the skies really did clear and the sun came out for our entire 30 minutes of flash mobbing.  Only to rain again once we are all snug inside Starbucks sipping cocoas and lattes.  (Note that for whatever bizarre reason, all indie coffeehouses in the area were closed on a Saturday afternoon.  <a href=\"http://www.cartelcoffeelab.com/\" target=\"_blank\"><strong>Cartel dudes, what up with that?</strong></a>)\n&nbsp;\n&nbsp;\n&nbsp;\n<iframe src=\"http://www.youtube.com/embed/j3PnoHrAvQA\" height=\"360\" width=\"640\" allowfullscreen=\"\" frameborder=\"0\"></iframe>\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n<em>(sung to the tune of \"Jingle Bells\")</em>  Oh, what fun it was to play in a flashing mob that day!  Hey!\n\n&nbsp;\n\nWell, not literally a <em>flashing</em> mob.  You know what I mean.  A girl\'s gotta edit what a girl\'s gotta edit to make the piggyback jingle work.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nThe<em> flashing</em> mob takes place on January 13th.  You can read all about it<a href=\"https://www.facebook.com/events/286537474797392/?utm_source=Improv+Participants&amp;utm_campaign=42af96b4cc-ESHB_Announcement10_26_2012&amp;utm_medium=email\" target=\"_blank\"> <strong>here</strong>.</a>  Who\'s in?  :-D\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n********************\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\nHave you ever participated in a flash mob?  Please share your experience in the comments section below.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nOr . . . .\n\n&nbsp;\n\nHave you ever yearned to join a flash mob?  Google \"flash mob\" and \"<em>your city\'s name</em>\" and see what comes up!\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n********************\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\nTo learn more about Improv AZ shenanigans, take a lookie loo over <a href=\"http://improvaz.com/2012/12/gifts-for-strangers-handed-out-some-holiday-cheer/\" target=\"_blank\"><strong>here.</strong></a>\n\n&nbsp;\n\nTo read more about the origins of Gifts for Strangers (a tradition that comes to us via The Great White North), visit <strong><a href=\"http://giftsforstrangers.org/\" target=\"_blank\">here.</a></strong>\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;','Playdate #50:  Gifts for Strangers','','inherit','open','open','','11842-revision-36','','','2012-12-27 19:54:29','2012-12-28 02:54:29','',11842,'http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/2012/12/27/11842-revision-36/',0,'revision','',0),(11887,1,'2012-12-27 19:55:17','2012-12-28 02:55:17','[caption id=\"attachment_11845\" align=\"alignleft\" width=\"300\"]<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/?attachment_id=11845\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-11845\"><img class=\"size-medium wp-image-11845\" title=\"Phoenix Improv AZ Gifts for Strangers \" alt=\"329113_10152366596920644_1935195090_o\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/329113_10152366596920644_1935195090_o-300x225.jpg\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a> Our skeleton flash mob crew. Because Phoenicians are afraid of that rare wet stuff that falls out of the sky.[/caption]\r\n\r\nDoes anyone else experience the post-Christmas blues?  After a month of buildup, the holiday cheer is over in a day.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-size: large; color: #333333;\"><strong>Humbug.</strong></span>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nI decided to continue with the festivities for yet another few days with today\'s Christmasy post. Yay!\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nPlaydate #50 was My First Flash Mob Ever.  I can\'t believe it\'s taken me this long to join one considering my penchant for all things goofy AND a suggestion from a blog reader circa 2010. Sometimes I wonder if I disappear into a time vacuum.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nAnywho, the waiting paid off because My First Flash Mob Ever was a flash mob with heart.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nOur assignment:  To meet at a light rail station in downtown Phoenix and distribute 10 gifts to complete strangers.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-size: large;\"><strong><span style=\"color: #008000;\">Ho,</span> <span style=\"color: #ff0000;\">ho,</span> <span style=\"color: #008000;\">ho!  </span></strong></span>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nI know what you\'re thinking.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n\"But . . . . but . . . . isn\'t that sort of <em>expensive</em>, Michelle?\"\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nNot if you hit the Target $1 section!  I had never waltzed down those $1 aisles before, and it was a jolly good time.  Look at the loot I found for 10 buckaroos plus tax!\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_11849\" align=\"alignnone\" width=\"614\"]<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/?attachment_id=11849\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-11849\"><img class=\" wp-image-11849 \" alt=\"Hail to the Target Dollar Aisle! \" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/PC140029-1024x768.jpg\" width=\"614\" height=\"461\" /></a> Hail to the Target Dollar Aisle![/caption]\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nPictured from bottom left and going clockwise into a spiral:  Wine bottle tags, whoopee cushion (because what boy or boy at heart doesn\'t want a whoopee cushion?), snowman glow wand, eye mask, gingerbread house gel clings, sparkly sugar plum body lotion, electronics duster, Kahlua coffee, old-fashioned ribbon candies, and beer coasters.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nNext came the fun of wrapping all of these goodies.  Which actually isn\'t all that fun for me.  I\'m one of those people whose wrapping job looks like the work of either a 4 year-old or a drunken elf.  For this reason, I wisely resorted to bag stuffing.  I put on some Christmas music and stuffed away!\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_11850\" align=\"alignnone\" width=\"300\"]<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/?attachment_id=11850\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-11850\"><img class=\"size-medium wp-image-11850\" alt=\"I am not a wrapper.  I am a bagger.\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/PC150035-300x225.jpg\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a> I am not a wrapper. I am a bagger.[/caption]\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nThe real hoot for me involved labeling the tags.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_11851\" align=\"alignnone\" width=\"300\"]<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/?attachment_id=11851\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-11851\"><img class=\"size-medium wp-image-11851\" alt=\"For the Eye Mask\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/PC150040-300x225.jpg\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a> For the Eye Mask[/caption]\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nI wound up giving away the eye mask to a mother of two. I assumed the woman needed extra sleep. Bless her heart.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_11852\" align=\"alignnone\" width=\"300\"]<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/?attachment_id=11852\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-11852\"><img class=\"size-medium wp-image-11852\" alt=\"For the Snowman Glow Wand\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/PC150042-300x225.jpg\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a> For the Snowman Glow Wand[/caption]\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nI made a conscious effort to be politically correct on the tags in respect to our Hanukkah and Kwanzaa peeps.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nAfter all this flash mob preparation, the morning of the big day arrived with . . . .\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-size: large; color: #0000ff;\"><strong>Wet stuff.  Out of the sky.</strong></span>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nThis happens so infrequently that Phoenicians freak out and hide inside their dry abodes.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<strong><span style=\"font-size: large; color: #333333;\">Humbug. </span> </strong>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/2012/12/22/playdate-49-wish-lanterns/\" target=\"_blank\"><strong>But I didn\'t let Mother Nature rain on the previous evening\'s Wish Lantern Parade</strong>,</a> and I certainly wasn\'t going to let it keep me from a rain or shine flash mob either!\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nLuckily, Dawn was my playdate friend du jour, and since the woman hails from North Dakota where there is real winter WEATHER, she was game for the rain as well.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-size: large;\"><strong><span style=\"color: #008000;\">Ho,</span> <span style=\"color: #ff0000;\">ho,</span><span style=\"color: #008000;\"> ho!</span>  </strong></span>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nAs both Fate and Mother Nature would have it that afternoon, the skies cleared and the angels sang upon our skeleton crew flash mob spreading holiday cheer to complete strangers.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nO.k.  So I\'m joking about the angels singing part.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nBut the skies really did clear and the sun came out for our entire 30 minutes of flash mobbing.  Only to rain again once we are all snug inside Starbucks sipping cocoas and lattes.  (Note that for whatever bizarre reason, all indie coffeehouses in the area were closed on a Saturday afternoon.  <a href=\"http://www.cartelcoffeelab.com/\" target=\"_blank\"><strong>Cartel dudes, what up with that?</strong></a>)\r\n&nbsp;\r\n&nbsp;\r\n&nbsp;\r\n<iframe src=\"http://www.youtube.com/embed/j3PnoHrAvQA\" height=\"360\" width=\"640\" allowfullscreen=\"\" frameborder=\"0\"></iframe>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<em>(sung to the tune of \"Jingle Bells\")</em>  Oh, what fun it was to play in a flashing mob that day!  Hey!\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nWell, not literally a <em>flashing</em> mob.  You know what I mean.  A girl\'s gotta edit what a girl\'s gotta edit to make the piggyback jingle work.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nThe<em> flashing</em> mob takes place on January 13th.  You can read all about it<a href=\"https://www.facebook.com/events/286537474797392/?utm_source=Improv+Participants&amp;utm_campaign=42af96b4cc-ESHB_Announcement10_26_2012&amp;utm_medium=email\" target=\"_blank\"> <strong>here</strong>.</a>  Who\'s in?  :-D\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n********************\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nHave you ever participated in a flash mob?  Please share your experience in the comments section below.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nOr . . . .\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nHave you ever yearned to join a flash mob?  Google \"flash mob\" and \"<em>your city\'s name</em>\" and see what comes up!\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n********************\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nTo learn more about Improv AZ shenanigans, take a lookie-loo over <a href=\"http://improvaz.com/2012/12/gifts-for-strangers-handed-out-some-holiday-cheer/\" target=\"_blank\"><strong>here.</strong></a>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nTo read more about the origins of Gifts for Strangers (a tradition that comes to us via The Great White North), visit <strong><a href=\"http://giftsforstrangers.org/\" target=\"_blank\">here.</a></strong>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;','Playdate #50:  Gifts for Strangers','','inherit','open','open','','11842-revision-37','','','2012-12-27 19:55:17','2012-12-28 02:55:17','',11842,'http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/2012/12/27/11842-revision-37/',0,'revision','',0),(11888,1,'2012-12-27 19:56:59','2012-12-28 02:56:59','[caption id=\"attachment_11845\" align=\"alignleft\" width=\"300\"]<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/?attachment_id=11845\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-11845\"><img class=\"size-medium wp-image-11845\" title=\"Phoenix Improv AZ Gifts for Strangers \" alt=\"329113_10152366596920644_1935195090_o\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/329113_10152366596920644_1935195090_o-300x225.jpg\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a> Our skeleton flash mob crew. Because Phoenicians are afraid of that rare wet stuff that falls out of the sky.[/caption]\r\n\r\nDoes anyone else experience the post-Christmas blues?  After a month of buildup, the holiday cheer is over in a day.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-size: large; color: #333333;\"><strong>Humbug.</strong></span>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nI decided to continue with the festivities for yet another few days with today\'s Christmasy post. Yay!\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nPlaydate #50 was My First Flash Mob Ever.  I can\'t believe it\'s taken me this long to join one considering my penchant for all things goofy AND a suggestion from a blog reader circa 2010. Sometimes I wonder if I disappear into a time vacuum.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nAnywho, the waiting paid off because My First Flash Mob Ever was a flash mob with heart.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nOur assignment:  To meet at a light rail station in downtown Phoenix and distribute 10 gifts to complete strangers.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-size: large;\"><strong><span style=\"color: #008000;\">Ho,</span> <span style=\"color: #ff0000;\">ho,</span> <span style=\"color: #008000;\">ho!  </span></strong></span>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nI know what you\'re thinking.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n\"But . . . . but . . . . isn\'t that sort of <em>expensive</em>, Michelle?\"\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nNot if you hit the Target $1 section!  I had never waltzed down those $1 aisles before, and it was a jolly good time.  Look at the loot I found for 10 buckaroos plus tax!\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_11849\" align=\"alignnone\" width=\"614\"]<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/?attachment_id=11849\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-11849\"><img class=\" wp-image-11849 \" alt=\"Hail to the Target Dollar Aisle! \" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/PC140029-1024x768.jpg\" width=\"614\" height=\"461\" /></a> Hail to the Target Dollar Aisle![/caption]\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nPictured from bottom left and going clockwise into a spiral:  Wine bottle tags, whoopee cushion (because what boy or boy at heart doesn\'t want a whoopee cushion?), snowman glow wand, eye mask, gingerbread house gel clings, sparkly sugar plum body lotion, electronics duster, Kahlua coffee, old-fashioned ribbon candies, and beer coasters.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nNext came the fun of wrapping all of these goodies.  Which actually isn\'t all that fun for me.  I\'m one of those people whose wrapping job looks like the work of either a 4 year-old or a drunken elf.  For this reason, I wisely resorted to bag stuffing.  I put on some Christmas music and stuffed away!\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_11850\" align=\"alignnone\" width=\"300\"]<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/?attachment_id=11850\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-11850\"><img class=\"size-medium wp-image-11850\" alt=\"I am not a wrapper.  I am a bagger.\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/PC150035-300x225.jpg\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a> I am not a wrapper. I am a bagger.[/caption]\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nThe real hoot for me involved labeling the tags.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_11851\" align=\"alignnone\" width=\"300\"]<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/?attachment_id=11851\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-11851\"><img class=\"size-medium wp-image-11851\" alt=\"For the Eye Mask\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/PC150040-300x225.jpg\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a> For the Eye Mask[/caption]\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nI wound up giving away the eye mask to a mother of two. I assumed the woman needed extra sleep. Bless her heart.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_11852\" align=\"alignnone\" width=\"300\"]<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/?attachment_id=11852\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-11852\"><img class=\"size-medium wp-image-11852\" alt=\"For the Snowman Glow Wand\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/PC150042-300x225.jpg\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a> For the Snowman Glow Wand[/caption]\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nI made a conscious effort to be politically correct on the tags in respect to our Hanukkah and Kwanzaa peeps.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nAfter all this flash mob preparation, the morning of the big day arrived with . . . .\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-size: large; color: #0000ff;\"><strong>Wet stuff.  Out of the sky.</strong></span>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nThis happens so infrequently that Phoenicians freak out and hide inside their dry abodes.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<strong><span style=\"font-size: large; color: #333333;\">Humbug. </span> </strong>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/2012/12/22/playdate-49-wish-lanterns/\" target=\"_blank\"><strong>But I didn\'t let Mother Nature rain on the previous evening\'s Wish Lantern Parade</strong>,</a> and I certainly wasn\'t going to let it keep me from a rain or shine flash mob either!\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nLuckily, Dawn was my playdate friend du jour, and since the woman hails from North Dakota where there is real winter WEATHER, she was game for the rain as well.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-size: large;\"><strong><span style=\"color: #008000;\">Ho,</span> <span style=\"color: #ff0000;\">ho,</span><span style=\"color: #008000;\"> ho!</span>  </strong></span>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nAs both Fate and Mother Nature would have it that afternoon, the skies cleared and the angels sang upon our skeleton crew flash mob spreading holiday cheer to complete strangers.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nO.k.  So I\'m joking about the angels singing part.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nBut the skies really did clear and the sun came out for our entire 30 minutes of flash mobbing.  Only to rain again once we are all snug inside Starbucks sipping cocoas and lattes.  (Note that for whatever bizarre reason, all indie coffeehouses in the area were closed on a Saturday afternoon.  <a href=\"http://www.cartelcoffeelab.com/\" target=\"_blank\"><strong>Cartel dudes, what up with that?</strong></a>)\r\n&nbsp;\r\n&nbsp;\r\n&nbsp;\r\n<iframe src=\"http://www.youtube.com/embed/j3PnoHrAvQA\" height=\"360\" width=\"640\" allowfullscreen=\"\" frameborder=\"0\"></iframe>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<em>(sung to the tune of \"Jingle Bells\")</em>  Oh, what fun it was to play in a flashing mob that day!  Hey!\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nWell, not literally a <em>flashing</em> mob.  You know what I mean.  A girl\'s gotta edit what a girl\'s gotta edit to make the piggyback jingle work.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nThe<em> flashing</em> mob takes place on January 13th.  You can read all about it<a href=\"https://www.facebook.com/events/286537474797392/?utm_source=Improv+Participants&amp;utm_campaign=42af96b4cc-ESHB_Announcement10_26_2012&amp;utm_medium=email\" target=\"_blank\"> <strong>here</strong>.</a>  Who\'s in?  :-D\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n********************\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nHave you ever participated in a flash mob?  Please share your experience in the comments section below.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nOr . . . .\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nHave you ever yearned to join a flash mob?  Google \"flash mob\" and \"<em>your city\'s name</em>\" and see what comes up!\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n********************\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nTo learn more about Improv AZ shenanigans, take a lookie-loo over <a href=\"http://improvaz.com/2012/12/gifts-for-strangers-handed-out-some-holiday-cheer/\" target=\"_blank\"><strong>here.</strong></a>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nTo read more about the origins of Gifts for Strangers (a tradition that comes to us via The Great White North), visit <strong><a href=\"http://giftsforstrangers.org/\" target=\"_blank\">here.</a></strong>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;','Playdate #50:  Gifts for Strangers','','inherit','open','open','','11842-revision-38','','','2012-12-27 19:56:59','2012-12-28 02:56:59','',11842,'http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/2012/12/27/11842-revision-38/',0,'revision','',0),(11889,1,'2012-12-27 19:56:59','2012-12-28 02:56:59','[caption id=\"attachment_11845\" align=\"alignleft\" width=\"300\"]<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/2012/12/27/playdate-50-gifts-for-strangers/329113_10152366596920644_1935195090_o/\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-11845\"><img class=\"size-medium wp-image-11845\" title=\"Phoenix Improv AZ Gifts for Strangers \" alt=\"329113_10152366596920644_1935195090_o\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/329113_10152366596920644_1935195090_o-300x225.jpg\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a> Our skeleton flash mob crew. Because Phoenicians are afraid of that rare wet stuff that falls out of the sky.[/caption]\r\n\r\nDoes anyone else experience the post-Christmas blues?  After a month of buildup, the holiday cheer is over in a day.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-size: large; color: #333333;\"><strong>Humbug.</strong></span>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nI decided to continue with the festivities for yet another few days with today\'s Christmasy post. Yay!\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nPlaydate #50 was My First Flash Mob Ever.  I can\'t believe it\'s taken me this long to join one considering my penchant for all things goofy AND a suggestion from a blog reader circa 2010. Sometimes I wonder if I disappear into a time vacuum.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nAnywho, the waiting paid off because My First Flash Mob Ever was a flash mob with heart.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nOur assignment:  To meet at a light rail station in downtown Phoenix and distribute 10 gifts to complete strangers.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-size: large;\"><strong><span style=\"color: #008000;\">Ho,</span> <span style=\"color: #ff0000;\">ho,</span> <span style=\"color: #008000;\">ho!  </span></strong></span>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nI know what you\'re thinking.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n\"But . . . . but . . . . isn\'t that sort of <em>expensive</em>, Michelle?\"\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nNot if you hit the Target $1 section!  I had never waltzed down those $1 aisles before, and it was a jolly good time.  Look at the loot I found for 10 buckaroos plus tax!\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_11849\" align=\"alignnone\" width=\"614\"]<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/2012/12/27/playdate-50-gifts-for-strangers/olympus-digital-camera-804/\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-11849\"><img class=\" wp-image-11849 \" alt=\"Hail to the Target Dollar Aisle! \" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/PC140029-1024x768.jpg\" width=\"614\" height=\"461\" /></a> Hail to the Target Dollar Aisle![/caption]\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nPictured from bottom left and going clockwise into a spiral:  Wine bottle tags, whoopee cushion (because what boy or boy at heart doesn\'t want a whoopee cushion?), snowman glow wand, eye mask, gingerbread house gel clings, sparkly sugar plum body lotion, electronics duster, Kahlua coffee, old-fashioned ribbon candies, and beer coasters.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nNext came the fun of wrapping all of these goodies.  Which actually isn\'t all that fun for me.  I\'m one of those people whose wrapping job looks like the work of either a 4 year-old or a drunken elf.  For this reason, I wisely resorted to bag stuffing.  I put on some Christmas music and stuffed away!\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_11850\" align=\"alignnone\" width=\"300\"]<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/2012/12/27/playdate-50-gifts-for-strangers/olympus-digital-camera-805/\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-11850\"><img class=\"size-medium wp-image-11850\" alt=\"I am not a wrapper.  I am a bagger.\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/PC150035-300x225.jpg\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a> I am not a wrapper. I am a bagger.[/caption]\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nThe real hoot for me involved labeling the tags.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_11851\" align=\"alignnone\" width=\"300\"]<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/2012/12/27/playdate-50-gifts-for-strangers/olympus-digital-camera-806/\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-11851\"><img class=\"size-medium wp-image-11851\" alt=\"For the Eye Mask\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/PC150040-300x225.jpg\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a> For the Eye Mask[/caption]\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nI wound up giving away the eye mask to a mother of two. I assumed the woman needed extra sleep. Bless her heart.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_11852\" align=\"alignnone\" width=\"300\"]<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/2012/12/27/playdate-50-gifts-for-strangers/olympus-digital-camera-807/\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-11852\"><img class=\"size-medium wp-image-11852\" alt=\"For the Snowman Glow Wand\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/PC150042-300x225.jpg\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a> For the Snowman Glow Wand[/caption]\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nI made a conscious effort to be politically correct on the tags in respect to our Hanukkah and Kwanzaa peeps.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nAfter all this flash mob preparation, the morning of the big day arrived with . . . .\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-size: large; color: #0000ff;\"><strong>Wet stuff.  Out of the sky.</strong></span>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nThis happens so infrequently that Phoenicians freak out and hide inside their dry abodes.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<strong><span style=\"font-size: large; color: #333333;\">Humbug. </span> </strong>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/2012/12/22/playdate-49-wish-lanterns/\" target=\"_blank\"><strong>But I didn\'t let Mother Nature rain on the previous evening\'s Wish Lantern Parade</strong>,</a> and I certainly wasn\'t going to let it keep me from a rain or shine flash mob either!\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nLuckily, Dawn was my playdate friend du jour, and since the woman hails from North Dakota where there is real winter WEATHER, she was game for the rain as well.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-size: large;\"><strong><span style=\"color: #008000;\">Ho,</span> <span style=\"color: #ff0000;\">ho,</span><span style=\"color: #008000;\"> ho!</span>  </strong></span>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nAs both Fate and Mother Nature would have it that afternoon, the skies cleared and the angels sang upon our skeleton crew flash mob spreading holiday cheer to complete strangers.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nO.k.  So I\'m joking about the angels singing part.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nBut the skies really did clear and the sun came out for our entire 30 minutes of flash mobbing.  Only to rain again once we are all snug inside Starbucks sipping cocoas and lattes.  (Note that for whatever bizarre reason, all indie coffeehouses in the area were closed on a Saturday afternoon.  <a href=\"http://www.cartelcoffeelab.com/\" target=\"_blank\"><strong>Cartel dudes, what up with that?</strong></a>)\r\n&nbsp;\r\n&nbsp;\r\n&nbsp;\r\n<iframe src=\"http://www.youtube.com/embed/j3PnoHrAvQA\" height=\"360\" width=\"640\" allowfullscreen=\"\" frameborder=\"0\"></iframe>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<em>(sung to the tune of \"Jingle Bells\")</em>  Oh, what fun it was to play in a flashing mob that day!  Hey!\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nWell, not literally a <em>flashing</em> mob.  You know what I mean.  A girl\'s gotta edit what a girl\'s gotta edit to make the piggyback jingle work.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nThe<em> flashing</em> mob takes place on January 13th.  You can read all about it<a href=\"https://www.facebook.com/events/286537474797392/?utm_source=Improv+Participants&amp;utm_campaign=42af96b4cc-ESHB_Announcement10_26_2012&amp;utm_medium=email\" target=\"_blank\"> <strong>here</strong>.</a>  Who\'s in?  :-D\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n********************\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nHave you ever participated in a flash mob?  Please share your experience in the comments section below.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nOr . . . .\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nHave you ever yearned to join a flash mob?  Google \"flash mob\" and \"<em>your city\'s name</em>\" and see what comes up!\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n********************\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nTo learn more about Improv AZ shenanigans, take a lookie-loo over <a href=\"http://improvaz.com/2012/12/gifts-for-strangers-handed-out-some-holiday-cheer/\" target=\"_blank\"><strong>here.</strong></a>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nTo read more about the origins of Gifts for Strangers (a tradition that comes to us via The Great White North), visit <strong><a href=\"http://giftsforstrangers.org/\" target=\"_blank\">here.</a></strong>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;','Playdate #50:  Gifts for Strangers','','inherit','open','open','','11842-revision-39','','','2012-12-27 19:56:59','2012-12-28 02:56:59','',11842,'http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/2012/12/27/11842-revision-39/',0,'revision','',0),(11890,1,'2012-12-27 20:02:25','2012-12-28 03:02:25','[caption id=\"attachment_11845\" align=\"alignleft\" width=\"300\"]<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/2012/12/27/playdate-50-gifts-for-strangers/329113_10152366596920644_1935195090_o/\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-11845\"><img class=\"size-medium wp-image-11845\" title=\"Phoenix Improv AZ Gifts for Strangers \" alt=\"329113_10152366596920644_1935195090_o\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/329113_10152366596920644_1935195090_o-300x225.jpg\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a> Our skeleton flash mob crew. Because Phoenicians are afraid of that rare wet stuff that falls out of the sky.[/caption]\n\nDoes anyone else experience the post-Christmas blues?  After a month of buildup, the holiday cheer is over in a day.\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n<span style=\"font-size: large; color: #333333;\"><strong>Humbug.</strong></span>\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\nI decided to continue with the festivities for yet another few days with today\'s Christmasy post. Yay!\n\n&nbsp;\n\nPlaydate #50 was My First Flash Mob Ever.  I can\'t believe it\'s taken me this long to join one considering my penchant for all things goofy AND a suggestion from a blog reader circa 2010. Sometimes I wonder if I disappear into a time vacuum.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nAnywho, the waiting paid off because My First Flash Mob Ever was a flash mob with heart.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nOur assignment:  To meet at a light rail station in downtown Phoenix and distribute 10 gifts to complete strangers.\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n<span style=\"font-size: large;\"><strong><span style=\"color: #008000;\">Ho,</span> <span style=\"color: #ff0000;\">ho,</span> <span style=\"color: #008000;\">ho!  </span></strong></span>\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\nI know what you\'re thinking.\n\n&nbsp;\n\n\"But . . . . but . . . . isn\'t that sort of <em>expensive</em>, Michelle?\"\n\n&nbsp;\n\nNot if you hit the Target $1 section!  I had never waltzed down those $1 aisles before, and it was a jolly good time.  Look at the loot I found for 10 buckaroos plus tax!\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n[caption id=\"attachment_11849\" align=\"alignnone\" width=\"614\"]<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/2012/12/27/playdate-50-gifts-for-strangers/olympus-digital-camera-804/\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-11849\"><img class=\" wp-image-11849 \" alt=\"Hail to the Target Dollar Aisle! \" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/PC140029-1024x768.jpg\" width=\"614\" height=\"461\" /></a> Hail to the Target Dollar Aisle![/caption]\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\nPictured from bottom left and going clockwise into a spiral:  Wine bottle tags, whoopee cushion (because what boy or boy at heart doesn\'t want a whoopee cushion?), snowman glow wand, eye mask, gingerbread house gel clings, sparkly sugar plum body lotion, electronics duster, Kahlua coffee, old-fashioned ribbon candies, and beer coasters.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nNext came the fun of wrapping all of these goodies.  Which actually isn\'t all that fun for me.  I\'m one of those people whose wrapping job looks like the work of either a 4 year-old or a drunken elf.  For this reason, I wisely resorted to bag stuffing.  I put on some Christmas music and stuffed away!\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n[caption id=\"attachment_11850\" align=\"alignnone\" width=\"300\"]<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/2012/12/27/playdate-50-gifts-for-strangers/olympus-digital-camera-805/\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-11850\"><img class=\"size-medium wp-image-11850\" alt=\"I am not a wrapper.  I am a bagger.\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/PC150035-300x225.jpg\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a> I am not a wrapper. I am a bagger.[/caption]\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\nThe real hoot for me involved labeling the tags.\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n[caption id=\"attachment_11851\" align=\"alignnone\" width=\"300\"]<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/2012/12/27/playdate-50-gifts-for-strangers/olympus-digital-camera-806/\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-11851\"><img class=\"size-medium wp-image-11851\" alt=\"For the Eye Mask\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/PC150040-300x225.jpg\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a> For the Eye Mask[/caption]\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\nI wound up giving away the eye mask to a mother of two. I assumed the woman needed extra sleep. Bless her heart.\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n[caption id=\"attachment_11852\" align=\"alignnone\" width=\"300\"]<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/2012/12/27/playdate-50-gifts-for-strangers/olympus-digital-camera-807/\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-11852\"><img class=\"size-medium wp-image-11852\" alt=\"For the Snowman Glow Wand\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/PC150042-300x225.jpg\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a> For the Snowman Glow Wand[/caption]\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\nI made a conscious effort to be politically correct on the tags in respect to our Hanukkah and Kwanzaa peeps.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nAfter all this flash mob preparation, the morning of the big day arrived with . . . .\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n<span style=\"font-size: large; color: #0000ff;\"><strong>Wet stuff.  Out of the sky.</strong></span>\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\nThis infrequent wet stuffin my fair city that Phoenicians freak out and hide inside their dry abodes.\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n<strong><span style=\"font-size: large; color: #333333;\">Humbug. </span> </strong>\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/2012/12/22/playdate-49-wish-lanterns/\" target=\"_blank\"><strong>But I didn\'t let Mother Nature rain on the previous evening\'s Wish Lantern Parade</strong>,</a> and I certainly wasn\'t going to let it keep me from a rain or shine flash mob either!\n\n&nbsp;\n\nLuckily, Dawn was my playdate friend du jour, and since the woman hails from North Dakota where there is real winter WEATHER, she was game for the rain as well.\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n<span style=\"font-size: large;\"><strong><span style=\"color: #008000;\">Ho,</span> <span style=\"color: #ff0000;\">ho,</span><span style=\"color: #008000;\"> ho!</span>  </strong></span>\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\nAs both Fate and Mother Nature would have it that afternoon, the skies cleared and the angels sang upon our skeleton crew flash mob spreading holiday cheer to complete strangers.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nO.k.  So I\'m joking about the angels singing part.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nBut the skies really did clear and the sun came out for our entire 30 minutes of flash mobbing.  Only to rain again once we are all snug inside Starbucks sipping cocoas and lattes.  (Note that for whatever bizarre reason, all indie coffeehouses in the area were closed on a Saturday afternoon.  <a href=\"http://www.cartelcoffeelab.com/\" target=\"_blank\"><strong>Cartel dudes, what up with that?</strong></a>)\n&nbsp;\n&nbsp;\n&nbsp;\n<iframe src=\"http://www.youtube.com/embed/j3PnoHrAvQA\" height=\"360\" width=\"640\" allowfullscreen=\"\" frameborder=\"0\"></iframe>\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n<em>(sung to the tune of \"Jingle Bells\")</em>  Oh, what fun it was to play in a flashing mob that day!  Hey!\n\n&nbsp;\n\nWell, not literally a <em>flashing</em> mob.  You know what I mean.  A girl\'s gotta edit what a girl\'s gotta edit to make the piggyback jingle work.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nThe<em> flashing</em> mob takes place on January 13th.  You can read all about it<a href=\"https://www.facebook.com/events/286537474797392/?utm_source=Improv+Participants&amp;utm_campaign=42af96b4cc-ESHB_Announcement10_26_2012&amp;utm_medium=email\" target=\"_blank\"> <strong>here</strong>.</a>  Who\'s in?  :-D\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n********************\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\nHave you ever participated in a flash mob?  Please share your experience in the comments section below.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nOr . . . .\n\n&nbsp;\n\nHave you ever yearned to join a flash mob?  Google \"flash mob\" and \"<em>your city\'s name</em>\" and see what comes up!\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n********************\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\nTo learn more about Improv AZ shenanigans, take a lookie-loo over <a href=\"http://improvaz.com/2012/12/gifts-for-strangers-handed-out-some-holiday-cheer/\" target=\"_blank\"><strong>here.</strong></a>\n\n&nbsp;\n\nTo read more about the origins of Gifts for Strangers (a tradition that comes to us via The Great White North), visit <strong><a href=\"http://giftsforstrangers.org/\" target=\"_blank\">here.</a></strong>\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;','Playdate #50:  Gifts for Strangers','','inherit','open','open','','11842-autosave','','','2012-12-27 20:02:25','2012-12-28 03:02:25','',11842,'http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/2012/12/27/11842-autosave/',0,'revision','',0),(11891,1,'2012-12-27 19:59:02','2012-12-28 02:59:02','[caption id=\"attachment_11845\" align=\"alignleft\" width=\"300\"]<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/2012/12/27/playdate-50-gifts-for-strangers/329113_10152366596920644_1935195090_o/\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-11845\"><img class=\"size-medium wp-image-11845\" title=\"Phoenix Improv AZ Gifts for Strangers \" alt=\"329113_10152366596920644_1935195090_o\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/329113_10152366596920644_1935195090_o-300x225.jpg\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a> Our skeleton flash mob crew. Because Phoenicians are afraid of that rare wet stuff that falls out of the sky.[/caption]\r\n\r\nDoes anyone else experience the post-Christmas blues?  After a month of buildup, the holiday cheer is over in a day.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-size: large; color: #333333;\"><strong>Humbug.</strong></span>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nI decided to continue with the festivities for yet another few days with today\'s Christmasy post. Yay!\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nPlaydate #50 was My First Flash Mob Ever.  I can\'t believe it\'s taken me this long to join one considering my penchant for all things goofy AND a suggestion from a blog reader circa 2010. Sometimes I wonder if I disappear into a time vacuum.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nAnywho, the waiting paid off because My First Flash Mob Ever was a flash mob with heart.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nOur assignment:  To meet at a light rail station in downtown Phoenix and distribute 10 gifts to complete strangers.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-size: large;\"><strong><span style=\"color: #008000;\">Ho,</span> <span style=\"color: #ff0000;\">ho,</span> <span style=\"color: #008000;\">ho!  </span></strong></span>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nI know what you\'re thinking.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n\"But . . . . but . . . . isn\'t that sort of <em>expensive</em>, Michelle?\"\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nNot if you hit the Target $1 section!  I had never waltzed down those $1 aisles before, and it was a jolly good time.  Look at the loot I found for 10 buckaroos plus tax!\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_11849\" align=\"alignnone\" width=\"614\"]<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/2012/12/27/playdate-50-gifts-for-strangers/olympus-digital-camera-804/\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-11849\"><img class=\" wp-image-11849 \" alt=\"Hail to the Target Dollar Aisle! \" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/PC140029-1024x768.jpg\" width=\"614\" height=\"461\" /></a> Hail to the Target Dollar Aisle![/caption]\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nPictured from bottom left and going clockwise into a spiral:  Wine bottle tags, whoopee cushion (because what boy or boy at heart doesn\'t want a whoopee cushion?), snowman glow wand, eye mask, gingerbread house gel clings, sparkly sugar plum body lotion, electronics duster, Kahlua coffee, old-fashioned ribbon candies, and beer coasters.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nNext came the fun of wrapping all of these goodies.  Which actually isn\'t all that fun for me.  I\'m one of those people whose wrapping job looks like the work of either a 4 year-old or a drunken elf.  For this reason, I wisely resorted to bag stuffing.  I put on some Christmas music and stuffed away!\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_11850\" align=\"alignnone\" width=\"300\"]<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/2012/12/27/playdate-50-gifts-for-strangers/olympus-digital-camera-805/\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-11850\"><img class=\"size-medium wp-image-11850\" alt=\"I am not a wrapper.  I am a bagger.\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/PC150035-300x225.jpg\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a> I am not a wrapper. I am a bagger.[/caption]\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nThe real hoot for me involved labeling the tags.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_11851\" align=\"alignnone\" width=\"300\"]<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/2012/12/27/playdate-50-gifts-for-strangers/olympus-digital-camera-806/\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-11851\"><img class=\"size-medium wp-image-11851\" alt=\"For the Eye Mask\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/PC150040-300x225.jpg\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a> For the Eye Mask[/caption]\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nI wound up giving away the eye mask to a mother of two. I assumed the woman needed extra sleep. Bless her heart.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_11852\" align=\"alignnone\" width=\"300\"]<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/2012/12/27/playdate-50-gifts-for-strangers/olympus-digital-camera-807/\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-11852\"><img class=\"size-medium wp-image-11852\" alt=\"For the Snowman Glow Wand\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/PC150042-300x225.jpg\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a> For the Snowman Glow Wand[/caption]\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nI made a conscious effort to be politically correct on the tags in respect to our Hanukkah and Kwanzaa peeps.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nAfter all this flash mob preparation, the morning of the big day arrived with . . . .\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-size: large; color: #0000ff;\"><strong>Wet stuff.  Out of the sky.</strong></span>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nThis happens so infrequently in my fair city that Phoenicians freak out and hide inside their dry abodes.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<strong><span style=\"font-size: large; color: #333333;\">Humbug. </span> </strong>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/2012/12/22/playdate-49-wish-lanterns/\" target=\"_blank\"><strong>But I didn\'t let Mother Nature rain on the previous evening\'s Wish Lantern Parade</strong>,</a> and I certainly wasn\'t going to let it keep me from a rain or shine flash mob either!\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nLuckily, Dawn was my playdate friend du jour, and since the woman hails from North Dakota where there is real winter WEATHER, she was game for the rain as well.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-size: large;\"><strong><span style=\"color: #008000;\">Ho,</span> <span style=\"color: #ff0000;\">ho,</span><span style=\"color: #008000;\"> ho!</span>  </strong></span>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nAs both Fate and Mother Nature would have it that afternoon, the skies cleared and the angels sang upon our skeleton crew flash mob spreading holiday cheer to complete strangers.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nO.k.  So I\'m joking about the angels singing part.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nBut the skies really did clear and the sun came out for our entire 30 minutes of flash mobbing.  Only to rain again once we are all snug inside Starbucks sipping cocoas and lattes.  (Note that for whatever bizarre reason, all indie coffeehouses in the area were closed on a Saturday afternoon.  <a href=\"http://www.cartelcoffeelab.com/\" target=\"_blank\"><strong>Cartel dudes, what up with that?</strong></a>)\r\n&nbsp;\r\n&nbsp;\r\n&nbsp;\r\n<iframe src=\"http://www.youtube.com/embed/j3PnoHrAvQA\" height=\"360\" width=\"640\" allowfullscreen=\"\" frameborder=\"0\"></iframe>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<em>(sung to the tune of \"Jingle Bells\")</em>  Oh, what fun it was to play in a flashing mob that day!  Hey!\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nWell, not literally a <em>flashing</em> mob.  You know what I mean.  A girl\'s gotta edit what a girl\'s gotta edit to make the piggyback jingle work.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nThe<em> flashing</em> mob takes place on January 13th.  You can read all about it<a href=\"https://www.facebook.com/events/286537474797392/?utm_source=Improv+Participants&amp;utm_campaign=42af96b4cc-ESHB_Announcement10_26_2012&amp;utm_medium=email\" target=\"_blank\"> <strong>here</strong>.</a>  Who\'s in?  :-D\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n********************\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nHave you ever participated in a flash mob?  Please share your experience in the comments section below.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nOr . . . .\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nHave you ever yearned to join a flash mob?  Google \"flash mob\" and \"<em>your city\'s name</em>\" and see what comes up!\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n********************\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nTo learn more about Improv AZ shenanigans, take a lookie-loo over <a href=\"http://improvaz.com/2012/12/gifts-for-strangers-handed-out-some-holiday-cheer/\" target=\"_blank\"><strong>here.</strong></a>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nTo read more about the origins of Gifts for Strangers (a tradition that comes to us via The Great White North), visit <strong><a href=\"http://giftsforstrangers.org/\" target=\"_blank\">here.</a></strong>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;','Playdate #50:  Gifts for Strangers','','inherit','open','open','','11842-revision-40','','','2012-12-27 19:59:02','2012-12-28 02:59:02','',11842,'http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/2012/12/27/11842-revision-40/',0,'revision','',0),(11892,1,'2012-12-30 21:27:59','2012-12-31 04:27:59','I\'m a sucker for novelty items.  The quirkier the better.  Remember <a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/2011/08/18/day-324-my-inner-10-year-old-boy-came-out-to-play/\" target=\"_blank\"><strong>this</strong></a>?\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nYes, I am very much in touch with my inner child and proud of it!  :-)\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nUrban Outfitter\'s gift section is a treasure trove of goofiness.   I found the sound machine there (mentioned in \"this\" above), and I also found the Fortune Camera.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/2012/12/30/playdate-51-fortune-camera-for-2013/olympus-digital-camera-808/\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-11898\"><img class=\"alignnone size-medium wp-image-11898\" title=\"Fortune Camera\" alt=\"\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/PC200008-300x225.jpg\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nI took it upon myself to forecast 2013 for family and friends (technically my work colleagues) with the Fortune Camera.  Everyone was game.  (Or at least they pretended to be.)\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-size: medium; color: #800000;\"><strong>Who wouldn\'t enjoy a snapshot of their future?</strong></span>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nI was VERY EXCITED about this Fortune Camera.  I\'m one of those people who hangs selected fortune cookie fortunes on her fridge and at her desk.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nIn fact, I was SO THRILLED with the idea of this camera that I spent 12 buckaroos on the camera itself and then another 16 buckaroos on old-fashioned film development accompanied by a disk for easy uploading of these foto fortunes to the blog.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nHumbug.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nYou\'ll see what I mean in a sec.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nWithout further adieu, let\'s get to our 2013 predictions!\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/2012/12/30/playdate-51-fortune-camera-for-2013/r1-03778-021a/\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-11903\"><img class=\"alignnone  wp-image-11903\" alt=\"Fortune Camera Fail #1\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/R1-03778-021A-1024x691.jpg\" width=\"614\" height=\"415\" /></a>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nO.k.  So I forgot to use the flash on the first photo.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nEven though the directions for using the flash were right in front of me on the box.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nBut I\'m used to automatic flash!  And you know how <a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/2012/12/22/playdate-49-wish-lanterns/\" target=\"_blank\"><strong>terrible I am when it comes to reading directions!  </strong></a>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/2012/12/30/playdate-51-fortune-camera-for-2013/olympus-digital-camera-809/\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-11901\"><img class=\"alignnone size-medium wp-image-11901\" alt=\"It helps to read directions first!\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/PC200020-300x225.jpg\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nFortunately, one of my first photo <del>victims</del> friends pointed out the directions to me almost immediately. There should have been one or two dark photos, but not ALL dark photos.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-size: medium; color: #333333;\"><strong>HUMBUG! </strong></span>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nWorld\'s Most Precious Niece\'s photo turned out nicely with an appropriately prophetic message.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/2012/12/30/playdate-51-fortune-camera-for-2013/r1-03778-004a/\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-11904\"><img class=\"alignnone  wp-image-11904\" alt=\"World\'s Most Precious Niece\'s Fortune Camera Prediction\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/R1-03778-004A-1024x691.jpg\" width=\"614\" height=\"415\" /></a>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nSo did Anonymous Male Reader\'s (pictured here with Anonymous Wifey).\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/2012/12/30/playdate-51-fortune-camera-for-2013/r1-03778-012a/\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-11905\"><img class=\"alignnone  wp-image-11905\" alt=\"Anonymous Male Reader, Anonymous Wifie, and  Practically Anonymous Fortune\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/R1-03778-012A-1024x691.jpg\" width=\"614\" height=\"415\" /></a>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nAs you can see, their fortune is Practically Anonymous, too.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-size: medium; color: #800000;\"><strong>28 buckaroos!  Humbug!</strong></span>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nI will spare the rest of my friends and fam and refrain from sharing their high quality glamor shots on the Interwebs.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-size: medium; color: #800000;\"><strong>Particularly embarrassing is the photo of a bunch of work colleagues with the fortune that reads \"in bed ☺\".</strong></span>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nNow, my work colleagues are dear friends and are like family to me, but I suspect that their photo could be an HR issue.  I know you\'re dying to see it, but I can\'t.  I just can\'t.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n(Look in your inboxes for your fortunes, friends and fam!  If you don\'t receive one, I apologize.  Yours was either pitch black along with mine or an HR issue.)\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nSince my fortune photo did not process (28 buckaroos!!!), I decided to pick one of the dark photos and imagine that it\'s mine.  I\'m really into that create your reality mumbo jumbo, so why the heck not?\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/2012/12/30/playdate-51-fortune-camera-for-2013/r1-03778-023a/\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-11906\"><img class=\"alignnone  wp-image-11906\" alt=\"Love is Everywhere in 2013!\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/R1-03778-023A-1024x691.jpg\" width=\"614\" height=\"415\" /></a>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n**********\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nUrban Outfitters, since I am a loyal novelty gift customer at your store, do you think I could get a replacement giftie for this dud of a fortune camera?  Nordies would do it.  :-D\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n**********\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nEnough with the faulty fortune cameras!  Let\'s make our own predictions for 2013!\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-size: medium; color: #800000;\"><strong>What would you like to welcome into your life in 2013?  Please share in the comments section below.  </strong></span>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;','Playdate #51:  Fortune Camera for 2013','','publish','open','open','','playdate-51-fortune-camera-for-2013','','http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/2011/08/18/day-324-my-inner-10-year-old-boy-came-out-to-play/\nhttp://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/2012/12/22/playdate-49-wish-lanterns/','2012-12-30 21:47:00','2012-12-31 04:47:00','',0,'http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/?p=11892',0,'post','',6),(11893,1,'2012-12-30 18:01:09','2012-12-31 01:01:09','','Playdate #51:  Fortunes for 2013','','inherit','open','open','','11892-revision','','','2012-12-30 18:01:09','2012-12-31 01:01:09','',11892,'http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/2012/12/30/11892-revision/',0,'revision','',0),(11894,1,'2012-12-30 18:02:22','2012-12-31 01:02:22','I\'m a sucker for novelty items.  The quirkier the better.  Remember this and this?\n\n&nbsp;\n\nYes, I am very much in','Playdate #51:  Fortune Camera for 2013','','inherit','open','open','','11892-revision-2','','','2012-12-30 18:02:22','2012-12-31 01:02:22','',11892,'http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/2012/12/30/11892-revision-2/',0,'revision','',0),(11895,1,'2012-12-30 18:32:43','2012-12-31 01:32:43','I\'m a sucker for novelty items.  The quirkier the better.  Remember <strong>this</strong> and <strong>this</strong>?\n\n&nbsp;\n\nYes, I am very much in touch with my inner child and proud of it!  :-)\n\n&nbsp;\n\nUrban Outfitter\'s gift section is a treasure trove of goofiness.   I found the sound machine there (mentioned in the first \"this\" above), and I also found The Fortune Camera.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nphoto\n\n&nbsp;\n\nI took it upon myself to forecast 2013 for family and friends with The Fortune Camera.\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;','Playdate #51:  Fortune Camera for 2013','','inherit','open','open','','11892-revision-3','','','2012-12-30 18:32:43','2012-12-31 01:32:43','',11892,'http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/2012/12/30/11892-revision-3/',0,'revision','',0),(11896,1,'2012-12-30 18:38:09','2012-12-31 01:38:09','I\'m a sucker for novelty items.  The quirkier the better.  Remember <strong>this</strong> and <strong>this</strong>?\n\n&nbsp;\n\nYes, I am very much in touch with my inner child and proud of it!  :-)\n\n&nbsp;\n\nUrban Outfitter\'s gift section is a treasure trove of goofiness.   I found the sound machine there (mentioned in the first \"this\" above), and I also found The Fortune Camera.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nphoto\n\n&nbsp;\n\nI took it upon myself to forecast 2013 for family and friends/work colleagues with The Fortune Camera.  Everyone was game.  (Or at least they pretended to be.)  Who doesn\'t enjoy a snapshot (literally and figuratively!) of their future?\n\n&nbsp;\n\nI was VERY EXCITED about this Fortune Camera.  I\'m one of those people who hangs selected fortune cookie fortunes on her fridge and at her desk.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nIn fact, I was SO THRILLED with the idea of this camera that I spent 12 buckaroos on the camera itself and then another 16 buckaroos on old-fashioned film development accompanied by a disk to make easy uploading of these foto fortunes to the blog.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nHumbug.  You\'ll see for yourself in a sec.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nWithout further adieu, let\'s get to our 2013 predictions.\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;','Playdate #51:  Fortune Camera for 2013','','inherit','open','open','','11892-revision-4','','','2012-12-30 18:38:09','2012-12-31 01:38:09','',11892,'http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/2012/12/30/11892-revision-4/',0,'revision','',0),(11897,1,'2012-12-30 18:39:09','2012-12-31 01:39:09','I\'m a sucker for novelty items.  The quirkier the better.  Remember <strong>this</strong> and <strong>this</strong>?\n\n&nbsp;\n\nYes, I am very much in touch with my inner child and proud of it!  :-)\n\n&nbsp;\n\nUrban Outfitter\'s gift section is a treasure trove of goofiness.   I found the sound machine there (mentioned in the first \"this\" above), and I also found The Fortune Camera.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nphoto\n\n&nbsp;\n\nI took it upon myself to forecast 2013 for family and friends/work colleagues with The Fortune Camera.  Everyone was game.  (Or at least they pretended to be.)  Who doesn\'t enjoy a snapshot (literally and figuratively!) of their future?\n\n&nbsp;\n\nI was VERY EXCITED about this Fortune Camera.  I\'m one of those people who hangs selected fortune cookie fortunes on her fridge and at her desk.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nIn fact, I was SO THRILLED with the idea of this camera that I spent 12 buckaroos on the camera itself and then another 16 buckaroos on old-fashioned film development accompanied by a disk to make easy uploading of these foto fortunes to the blog.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nHumbug.  You\'ll see for yourself in a sec.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nWithout further adieu, let\'s get to our 2013 predictions.\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n******\n\n&nbsp;\n\nUrban Outfitters, since I am a loyal novelty gift buyer at your store, do you think I could get a free giftie for this dud of a fortune camera?  Nordies would do it.  :-)\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;','Playdate #51:  Fortune Camera for 2013','','inherit','open','open','','11892-revision-5','','','2012-12-30 18:39:09','2012-12-31 01:39:09','',11892,'http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/2012/12/30/11892-revision-5/',0,'revision','',0),(11898,1,'2012-12-30 18:48:59','2012-12-31 01:48:59','','OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA','','inherit','open','open','','olympus-digital-camera-808','','','2012-12-30 18:48:59','2012-12-31 01:48:59','',11892,'http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/PC200008.jpg',0,'attachment','image/jpeg',0),(11899,1,'2012-12-30 18:49:10','2012-12-31 01:49:10','I\'m a sucker for novelty items.  The quirkier the better.  Remember <a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/2011/08/18/day-324-my-inner-10-year-old-boy-came-out-to-play/\" target=\"_blank\"><strong>this</strong></a>?\n\n&nbsp;\n\nYes, I am very much in touch with my inner child and proud of it!  :-)\n\n&nbsp;\n\nUrban Outfitter\'s gift section is a treasure trove of goofiness.   I found the sound machine there (mentioned in \"this\" above), and I also found The Fortune Camera.\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\nI took it upon myself to forecast 2013 for family and friends/work colleagues with The Fortune Camera.  Everyone was game.  (Or at least they pretended to be.)\n\n&nbsp;\n\n<strong>Who doesn\'t enjoy a snapshot (literally and figuratively!) of their future?</strong>\n\n&nbsp;\n\nI was VERY EXCITED about this Fortune Camera.  I\'m one of those people who hangs selected fortune cookie fortunes on her fridge and at her desk.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nIn fact, I was SO THRILLED with the idea of this camera that I spent 12 buckaroos on the camera itself and then another 16 buckaroos on old-fashioned film development accompanied by a disk for easy uploading of these foto fortunes to the blog.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nHumbug!  You\'ll see for yourself in a sec.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nWithout further adieu, let\'s get to our 2013 predictions.\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n******\n\n&nbsp;\n\nUrban Outfitters, since I am a loyal novelty gift buyer at your store, do you think I could get a replacement giftie for this dud of a fortune camera?  Nordies would do it.  :-)\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;','Playdate #51:  Fortune Camera for 2013','','inherit','open','open','','11892-revision-6','','','2012-12-30 18:49:10','2012-12-31 01:49:10','',11892,'http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/2012/12/30/11892-revision-6/',0,'revision','',0),(11900,1,'2012-12-30 18:50:10','2012-12-31 01:50:10','I\'m a sucker for novelty items.  The quirkier the better.  Remember <a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/2011/08/18/day-324-my-inner-10-year-old-boy-came-out-to-play/\" target=\"_blank\"><strong>this</strong></a>?\n\n&nbsp;\n\nYes, I am very much in touch with my inner child and proud of it!  :-)\n\n&nbsp;\n\nUrban Outfitter\'s gift section is a treasure trove of goofiness.   I found the sound machine there (mentioned in \"this\" above), and I also found The Fortune Camera.\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/?attachment_id=11898\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-11898\"><img class=\"alignnone size-medium wp-image-11898\" alt=\"OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/PC200008-300x225.jpg\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a>\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\nI took it upon myself to forecast 2013 for family and friends/work colleagues with The Fortune Camera.  Everyone was game.  (Or at least they pretended to be.)\n\n&nbsp;\n\n<strong>Who doesn\'t enjoy a snapshot (literally and figuratively!) of their future?</strong>\n\n&nbsp;\n\nI was VERY EXCITED about this Fortune Camera.  I\'m one of those people who hangs selected fortune cookie fortunes on her fridge and at her desk.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nIn fact, I was SO THRILLED with the idea of this camera that I spent 12 buckaroos on the camera itself and then another 16 buckaroos on old-fashioned film development accompanied by a disk for easy uploading of these foto fortunes to the blog.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nHumbug. You\'ll see for yourself in a sec.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nWithout further adieu, let\'s get to our 2013 predictions!\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n******\n\n&nbsp;\n\nUrban Outfitters, since I am a loyal novelty gift buyer at your store, do you think I could get a replacement giftie for this dud of a fortune camera?  Nordies would do it.  :-)\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;','Playdate #51:  Fortune Camera for 2013','','inherit','open','open','','11892-revision-7','','','2012-12-30 18:50:10','2012-12-31 01:50:10','',11892,'http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/2012/12/30/11892-revision-7/',0,'revision','',0),(11901,1,'2012-12-30 18:54:42','2012-12-31 01:54:42','','It helps to read directions first!','','inherit','open','open','','olympus-digital-camera-809','','','2012-12-30 18:54:42','2012-12-31 01:54:42','',11892,'http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/PC200020.jpg',0,'attachment','image/jpeg',0),(11902,1,'2012-12-30 18:56:10','2012-12-31 01:56:10','I\'m a sucker for novelty items.  The quirkier the better.  Remember <a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/2011/08/18/day-324-my-inner-10-year-old-boy-came-out-to-play/\" target=\"_blank\"><strong>this</strong></a>?\n\n&nbsp;\n\nYes, I am very much in touch with my inner child and proud of it!  :-)\n\n&nbsp;\n\nUrban Outfitter\'s gift section is a treasure trove of goofiness.   I found the sound machine there (mentioned in \"this\" above), and I also found The Fortune Camera.\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/?attachment_id=11898\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-11898\"><img class=\"alignnone size-medium wp-image-11898\" alt=\"OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/PC200008-300x225.jpg\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a>\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\nI took it upon myself to forecast 2013 for family and friends/work colleagues with The Fortune Camera.  Everyone was game.  (Or at least they pretended to be.)\n\n&nbsp;\n\n<strong>Who wouldn\'t enjoy a snapshot of their future?</strong>\n\n&nbsp;\n\nI was VERY EXCITED about this Fortune Camera.  I\'m one of those people who hangs selected fortune cookie fortunes on her fridge and at her desk.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nIn fact, I was SO THRILLED with the idea of this camera that I spent 12 buckaroos on the camera itself and then another 16 buckaroos on old-fashioned film development accompanied by a disk for easy uploading of these foto fortunes to the blog.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nHumbug.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nYou\'ll see what I mean in a sec.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nWithout further adieu, let\'s get to our 2013 predictions!\n\n&nbsp;\n\nO.k.  So I forgot to use the flash on the first photo.  I\'m used to automatic flash.  And you know how I\'m <strong>terrible about reading directions.  </strong>\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/?attachment_id=11901\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-11901\"><img class=\"alignnone size-medium wp-image-11901\" alt=\"It helps to read directions first!\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/PC200020-300x225.jpg\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a>\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\nBut one of my first photo victims . . . er . . . friends pointed out the directions to me almost immediately.  There should have been one or two dark photos, not ALL dark photos.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nHUMBUG!\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n******\n\n&nbsp;\n\nUrban Outfitters, since I am a loyal novelty gift buyer at your store, do you think I could get a replacement giftie for this dud of a fortune camera?  Nordies would do it.  :-)\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;','Playdate #51:  Fortune Camera for 2013','','inherit','open','open','','11892-revision-8','','','2012-12-30 18:56:10','2012-12-31 01:56:10','',11892,'http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/2012/12/30/11892-revision-8/',0,'revision','',0),(11903,1,'2012-12-30 20:42:38','2012-12-31 03:42:38','','Fortune Camera Fail #1','','inherit','open','open','','r1-03778-021a','','','2012-12-30 20:42:38','2012-12-31 03:42:38','',11892,'http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/R1-03778-021A.jpg',0,'attachment','image/jpeg',0),(11904,1,'2012-12-30 20:47:23','2012-12-31 03:47:23','','World\'s Most Precious Niece\'s Fortune Camera Prediction','','inherit','open','open','','r1-03778-004a','','','2012-12-30 20:47:23','2012-12-31 03:47:23','',11892,'http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/R1-03778-004A.jpg',0,'attachment','image/jpeg',0),(11905,1,'2012-12-30 20:52:54','2012-12-31 03:52:54','','Anonymous Male Reader, Anonymous Wifie, and  Practically Anonymous Fortune','','inherit','open','open','','r1-03778-012a','','','2012-12-30 20:52:54','2012-12-31 03:52:54','',11892,'http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/R1-03778-012A.jpg',0,'attachment','image/jpeg',0),(11906,1,'2012-12-30 21:02:33','2012-12-31 04:02:33','','Love is Everywhere in 2013!','','inherit','open','open','','r1-03778-023a','','','2012-12-30 21:02:33','2012-12-31 04:02:33','',11892,'http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/R1-03778-023A.jpg',0,'attachment','image/jpeg',0),(11907,1,'2012-12-30 21:12:23','2012-12-31 04:12:23','I\'m a sucker for novelty items.  The quirkier the better.  Remember <a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/2011/08/18/day-324-my-inner-10-year-old-boy-came-out-to-play/\" target=\"_blank\"><strong>this</strong></a>?\n\n&nbsp;\n\nYes, I am very much in touch with my inner child and proud of it!  :-)\n\n&nbsp;\n\nUrban Outfitter\'s gift section is a treasure trove of goofiness.   I found the sound machine there (mentioned in \"this\" above), and I also found The Fortune Camera.\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/?attachment_id=11898\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-11898\"><img class=\"alignnone size-medium wp-image-11898\" title=\"Fortune Camera\" alt=\"\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/PC200008-300x225.jpg\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a>\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\nI took it upon myself to forecast 2013 for family and friends/work colleagues with The Fortune Camera.  Everyone was game.  (Or at least they pretended to be.)\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n<span style=\"font-size: medium; color: #800000;\"><strong>Who wouldn\'t enjoy a snapshot of their future?</strong></span>\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\nI was VERY EXCITED about this Fortune Camera.  I\'m one of those people who hangs selected fortune cookie fortunes on her fridge and at her desk.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nIn fact, I was SO THRILLED with the idea of this camera that I spent 12 buckaroos on the camera itself and then another 16 buckaroos on old-fashioned film development accompanied by a disk for easy uploading of these foto fortunes to the blog.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nHumbug.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nYou\'ll see what I mean in a sec.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nWithout further adieu, let\'s get to our 2013 predictions!\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/?attachment_id=11903\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-11903\"><img class=\"alignnone size-medium wp-image-11903\" alt=\"Fortune Camera Fail #1\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/R1-03778-021A-300x202.jpg\" width=\"300\" height=\"202\" /></a>\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\nO.k.  So I forgot to use the flash on the first photo.  Even though the directions for using the flash were right in front of me on the box.  But I\'m used to automatic flash!  And you know how <a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/2012/12/22/playdate-49-wish-lanterns/\" target=\"_blank\"><strong>terrible I am when it comes to reading directions!  </strong></a>\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/?attachment_id=11901\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-11901\"><img class=\"alignnone size-medium wp-image-11901\" alt=\"It helps to read directions first!\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/PC200020-300x225.jpg\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a>\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\nFortunately, one of my first photo victims . . . er . . . friends pointed out the directions to me almost immediately.  There should have been one or two dark photos, but not ALL dark photos.\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n<span style=\"color: #333333; font-size: medium;\"><strong>HUMBUG! </strong></span>\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\nWorld\'s Most Precious Niece\'s photo turned out nicely with an appropriately prophetic message.\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/?attachment_id=11904\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-11904\"><img class=\"alignnone size-medium wp-image-11904\" alt=\"World\'s Most Precious Niece\'s Fortune Camera Prediction\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/R1-03778-004A-300x202.jpg\" width=\"300\" height=\"202\" /></a>\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\nSo did Anonymous Male Reader\'s (pictured here with Anonymous Wifey).\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/?attachment_id=11905\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-11905\"><img class=\"alignnone size-medium wp-image-11905\" alt=\"Anonymous Male Reader, Anonymous Wifie, and  Practically Anonymous Fortune\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/R1-03778-012A-300x202.jpg\" width=\"300\" height=\"202\" /></a>\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\nAs you can see, their fortune is Practically Anonymous.\n\n&nbsp;\n\n28 buckaroos!  Humbug!\n\n&nbsp;\n\nI will spare the rest of my friends and fam and refrain from sharing these high quality glamor shots on the Interwebs.\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n<span style=\"font-size: medium; color: #800000;\"><strong>Particularly embarrassing is the photo of a bunch of work colleagues with the fortune that reads \"in bed ☺\".</strong>  </span>\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\nNow, my work colleagues are dear friends and are like family to me, but I suspect that their photo could be an HR issue.  I know you\'re dying to see it, but I can\'t.  I just can\'t.\n\n&nbsp;\n\n(Look in your inboxes for your fortunes, friends and fam!  If you don\'t receive one, I apologize.  Yours was pitch black along with mine.)\n\n&nbsp;\n\nSince my fortune photo did not process (28 buckaroos!!!), I decided to pick one of the dark photos and imagine that it\'s mine.  I\'m really into that create you reality mumbo jumbo, so why the heck not?\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/?attachment_id=11906\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-11906\"><img class=\"alignnone  wp-image-11906\" alt=\"Love is Everywhere in 2013!\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/R1-03778-023A-1024x691.jpg\" width=\"614\" height=\"415\" /></a>\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n**********\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\nUrban Outfitters, since I am a loyal novelty gift customer at your store, do you think I could get a replacement giftie for this dud of a fortune camera?  Nordies would do it.  :-D\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n**********\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\nEnough with the faulty fortune cameras!  Let\'s make our own predictions for 2013!\n\n&nbsp;\n\n<strong>What would you like to welcome into your life in 2013?  Please share in the comments section below.  </strong>\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;','Playdate #51:  Fortune Camera for 2013','','inherit','open','open','','11892-revision-9','','','2012-12-30 21:12:23','2012-12-31 04:12:23','',11892,'http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/2012/12/30/11892-revision-9/',0,'revision','',0),(11908,1,'2012-12-30 21:12:33','2012-12-31 04:12:33','I\'m a sucker for novelty items.  The quirkier the better.  Remember <a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/2011/08/18/day-324-my-inner-10-year-old-boy-came-out-to-play/\" target=\"_blank\"><strong>this</strong></a>?\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nYes, I am very much in touch with my inner child and proud of it!  :-)\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nUrban Outfitter\'s gift section is a treasure trove of goofiness.   I found the sound machine there (mentioned in \"this\" above), and I also found The Fortune Camera.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/?attachment_id=11898\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-11898\"><img class=\"alignnone size-medium wp-image-11898\" title=\"Fortune Camera\" alt=\"\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/PC200008-300x225.jpg\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nI took it upon myself to forecast 2013 for family and friends/work colleagues with The Fortune Camera.  Everyone was game.  (Or at least they pretended to be.)\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-size: medium; color: #800000;\"><strong>Who wouldn\'t enjoy a snapshot of their future?</strong></span>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nI was VERY EXCITED about this Fortune Camera.  I\'m one of those people who hangs selected fortune cookie fortunes on her fridge and at her desk.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nIn fact, I was SO THRILLED with the idea of this camera that I spent 12 buckaroos on the camera itself and then another 16 buckaroos on old-fashioned film development accompanied by a disk for easy uploading of these foto fortunes to the blog.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nHumbug.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nYou\'ll see what I mean in a sec.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nWithout further adieu, let\'s get to our 2013 predictions!\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/?attachment_id=11903\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-11903\"><img class=\"alignnone size-medium wp-image-11903\" alt=\"Fortune Camera Fail #1\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/R1-03778-021A-300x202.jpg\" width=\"300\" height=\"202\" /></a>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nO.k.  So I forgot to use the flash on the first photo.  Even though the directions for using the flash were right in front of me on the box.  But I\'m used to automatic flash!  And you know how <a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/2012/12/22/playdate-49-wish-lanterns/\" target=\"_blank\"><strong>terrible I am when it comes to reading directions!  </strong></a>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/?attachment_id=11901\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-11901\"><img class=\"alignnone size-medium wp-image-11901\" alt=\"It helps to read directions first!\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/PC200020-300x225.jpg\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nFortunately, one of my first photo victims . . . er . . . friends pointed out the directions to me almost immediately.  There should have been one or two dark photos, but not ALL dark photos.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<span style=\"color: #333333; font-size: medium;\"><strong>HUMBUG! </strong></span>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nWorld\'s Most Precious Niece\'s photo turned out nicely with an appropriately prophetic message.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/?attachment_id=11904\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-11904\"><img class=\"alignnone size-medium wp-image-11904\" alt=\"World\'s Most Precious Niece\'s Fortune Camera Prediction\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/R1-03778-004A-300x202.jpg\" width=\"300\" height=\"202\" /></a>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nSo did Anonymous Male Reader\'s (pictured here with Anonymous Wifey).\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/?attachment_id=11905\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-11905\"><img class=\"alignnone size-medium wp-image-11905\" alt=\"Anonymous Male Reader, Anonymous Wifie, and  Practically Anonymous Fortune\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/R1-03778-012A-300x202.jpg\" width=\"300\" height=\"202\" /></a>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nAs you can see, their fortune is Practically Anonymous.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n28 buckaroos!  Humbug!\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nI will spare the rest of my friends and fam and refrain from sharing these high quality glamor shots on the Interwebs.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-size: medium; color: #800000;\"><strong>Particularly embarrassing is the photo of a bunch of work colleagues with the fortune that reads \"in bed ☺\".</strong>  </span>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nNow, my work colleagues are dear friends and are like family to me, but I suspect that their photo could be an HR issue.  I know you\'re dying to see it, but I can\'t.  I just can\'t.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n(Look in your inboxes for your fortunes, friends and fam!  If you don\'t receive one, I apologize.  Yours was pitch black along with mine.)\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nSince my fortune photo did not process (28 buckaroos!!!), I decided to pick one of the dark photos and imagine that it\'s mine.  I\'m really into that create you reality mumbo jumbo, so why the heck not?\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/?attachment_id=11906\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-11906\"><img class=\"alignnone  wp-image-11906\" alt=\"Love is Everywhere in 2013!\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/R1-03778-023A-1024x691.jpg\" width=\"614\" height=\"415\" /></a>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n**********\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nUrban Outfitters, since I am a loyal novelty gift customer at your store, do you think I could get a replacement giftie for this dud of a fortune camera?  Nordies would do it.  :-D\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n**********\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nEnough with the faulty fortune cameras!  Let\'s make our own predictions for 2013!\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-size: medium; color: #800000;\"><strong>What would you like to welcome into your life in 2013?  Please share in the comments section below.  </strong></span>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;','Playdate #51:  Fortune Camera for 2013','','inherit','open','open','','11892-revision-10','','','2012-12-30 21:12:33','2012-12-31 04:12:33','',11892,'http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/2012/12/30/11892-revision-10/',0,'revision','',0),(11909,1,'2012-12-30 21:13:24','2012-12-31 04:13:24','I\'m a sucker for novelty items.  The quirkier the better.  Remember <a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/2011/08/18/day-324-my-inner-10-year-old-boy-came-out-to-play/\" target=\"_blank\"><strong>this</strong></a>?\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nYes, I am very much in touch with my inner child and proud of it!  :-)\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nUrban Outfitter\'s gift section is a treasure trove of goofiness.   I found the sound machine there (mentioned in \"this\" above), and I also found the Fortune Camera.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/?attachment_id=11898\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-11898\"><img class=\"alignnone size-medium wp-image-11898\" title=\"Fortune Camera\" alt=\"\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/PC200008-300x225.jpg\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nI took it upon myself to forecast 2013 for family and friends/work colleagues with The Fortune Camera.  Everyone was game.  (Or at least they pretended to be.)\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-size: medium; color: #800000;\"><strong>Who wouldn\'t enjoy a snapshot of their future?</strong></span>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nI was VERY EXCITED about this Fortune Camera.  I\'m one of those people who hangs selected fortune cookie fortunes on her fridge and at her desk.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nIn fact, I was SO THRILLED with the idea of this camera that I spent 12 buckaroos on the camera itself and then another 16 buckaroos on old-fashioned film development accompanied by a disk for easy uploading of these foto fortunes to the blog.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nHumbug.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nYou\'ll see what I mean in a sec.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nWithout further adieu, let\'s get to our 2013 predictions!\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/?attachment_id=11903\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-11903\"><img class=\"alignnone size-medium wp-image-11903\" alt=\"Fortune Camera Fail #1\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/R1-03778-021A-300x202.jpg\" width=\"300\" height=\"202\" /></a>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nO.k.  So I forgot to use the flash on the first photo.  Even though the directions for using the flash were right in front of me on the box.  But I\'m used to automatic flash!  And you know how <a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/2012/12/22/playdate-49-wish-lanterns/\" target=\"_blank\"><strong>terrible I am when it comes to reading directions!  </strong></a>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/?attachment_id=11901\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-11901\"><img class=\"alignnone size-medium wp-image-11901\" alt=\"It helps to read directions first!\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/PC200020-300x225.jpg\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nFortunately, one of my first photo victims . . . er . . . friends pointed out the directions to me almost immediately.  There should have been one or two dark photos, but not ALL dark photos.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<span style=\"color: #333333; font-size: medium;\"><strong>HUMBUG! </strong></span>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nWorld\'s Most Precious Niece\'s photo turned out nicely with an appropriately prophetic message.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/?attachment_id=11904\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-11904\"><img class=\"alignnone size-medium wp-image-11904\" alt=\"World\'s Most Precious Niece\'s Fortune Camera Prediction\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/R1-03778-004A-300x202.jpg\" width=\"300\" height=\"202\" /></a>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nSo did Anonymous Male Reader\'s (pictured here with Anonymous Wifey).\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/?attachment_id=11905\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-11905\"><img class=\"alignnone size-medium wp-image-11905\" alt=\"Anonymous Male Reader, Anonymous Wifie, and  Practically Anonymous Fortune\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/R1-03778-012A-300x202.jpg\" width=\"300\" height=\"202\" /></a>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nAs you can see, their fortune is Practically Anonymous.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n28 buckaroos!  Humbug!\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nI will spare the rest of my friends and fam and refrain from sharing these high quality glamor shots on the Interwebs.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-size: medium; color: #800000;\"><strong>Particularly embarrassing is the photo of a bunch of work colleagues with the fortune that reads \"in bed ☺\".</strong>  </span>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nNow, my work colleagues are dear friends and are like family to me, but I suspect that their photo could be an HR issue.  I know you\'re dying to see it, but I can\'t.  I just can\'t.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n(Look in your inboxes for your fortunes, friends and fam!  If you don\'t receive one, I apologize.  Yours was pitch black along with mine.)\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nSince my fortune photo did not process (28 buckaroos!!!), I decided to pick one of the dark photos and imagine that it\'s mine.  I\'m really into that create you reality mumbo jumbo, so why the heck not?\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/?attachment_id=11906\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-11906\"><img class=\"alignnone  wp-image-11906\" alt=\"Love is Everywhere in 2013!\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/R1-03778-023A-1024x691.jpg\" width=\"614\" height=\"415\" /></a>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n**********\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nUrban Outfitters, since I am a loyal novelty gift customer at your store, do you think I could get a replacement giftie for this dud of a fortune camera?  Nordies would do it.  :-D\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n**********\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nEnough with the faulty fortune cameras!  Let\'s make our own predictions for 2013!\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-size: medium; color: #800000;\"><strong>What would you like to welcome into your life in 2013?  Please share in the comments section below.  </strong></span>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;','Playdate #51:  Fortune Camera for 2013','','inherit','open','open','','11892-revision-11','','','2012-12-30 21:13:24','2012-12-31 04:13:24','',11892,'http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/2012/12/30/11892-revision-11/',0,'revision','',0),(11910,1,'2012-12-30 21:17:26','2012-12-31 04:17:26','I\'m a sucker for novelty items.  The quirkier the better.  Remember <a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/2011/08/18/day-324-my-inner-10-year-old-boy-came-out-to-play/\" target=\"_blank\"><strong>this</strong></a>?\n\n&nbsp;\n\nYes, I am very much in touch with my inner child and proud of it!  :-)\n\n&nbsp;\n\nUrban Outfitter\'s gift section is a treasure trove of goofiness.   I found the sound machine there (mentioned in \"this\" above), and I also found the Fortune Camera.\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/?attachment_id=11898\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-11898\"><img class=\"alignnone size-medium wp-image-11898\" title=\"Fortune Camera\" alt=\"\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/PC200008-300x225.jpg\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a>\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\nI took it upon myself to forecast 2013 for family and friends (technically my work colleagues) with the Fortune Camera.  Everyone was game.  (Or at least they pretended to be.)\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n<span style=\"font-size: medium; color: #800000;\"><strong>Who wouldn\'t enjoy a snapshot of their future?</strong></span>\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\nI was VERY EXCITED about this Fortune Camera.  I\'m one of those people who hangs selected fortune cookie fortunes on her fridge and at her desk.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nIn fact, I was SO THRILLED with the idea of this camera that I spent 12 buckaroos on the camera itself and then another 16 buckaroos on old-fashioned film development accompanied by a disk for easy uploading of these foto fortunes to the blog.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nHumbug.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nYou\'ll see what I mean in a sec.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nWithout further adieu, let\'s get to our 2013 predictions!\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/?attachment_id=11903\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-11903\"><img class=\"alignnone  wp-image-11903\" alt=\"Fortune Camera Fail #1\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/R1-03778-021A-1024x691.jpg\" width=\"614\" height=\"415\" /></a>\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\nO.k.  So I forgot to use the flash on the first photo.  Even though the directions for using the flash were right in front of me on the box.  But I\'m used to automatic flash!  And you know how <a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/2012/12/22/playdate-49-wish-lanterns/\" target=\"_blank\"><strong>terrible I am when it comes to reading directions!  </strong></a>\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/?attachment_id=11901\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-11901\"><img class=\"alignnone size-medium wp-image-11901\" alt=\"It helps to read directions first!\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/PC200020-300x225.jpg\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a>\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\nFortunately, one of my first photo victims . . . er . . . friends pointed out the directions to me almost immediately.  There should have been one or two dark photos, but not ALL dark photos.\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n<span style=\"color: #333333; font-size: medium;\"><strong>HUMBUG! </strong></span>\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\nWorld\'s Most Precious Niece\'s photo turned out nicely with an appropriately prophetic message.\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/?attachment_id=11904\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-11904\"><img class=\"alignnone  wp-image-11904\" alt=\"World\'s Most Precious Niece\'s Fortune Camera Prediction\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/R1-03778-004A-1024x691.jpg\" width=\"614\" height=\"415\" /></a>\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\nSo did Anonymous Male Reader\'s (pictured here with Anonymous Wifey).\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/?attachment_id=11905\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-11905\"><img class=\"alignnone  wp-image-11905\" alt=\"Anonymous Male Reader, Anonymous Wifie, and  Practically Anonymous Fortune\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/R1-03778-012A-1024x691.jpg\" width=\"614\" height=\"415\" /></a>\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\nAs you can see, their fortune is Practically Anonymous.\n\n&nbsp;\n\n28 buckaroos!  Humbug!\n\n&nbsp;\n\nI will spare the rest of my friends and fam and refrain from sharing these high quality glamor shots on the Interwebs.\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n<span style=\"font-size: medium; color: #800000;\"><strong>Particularly embarrassing is the photo of a bunch of work colleagues with the fortune that reads \"in bed ☺\".</strong>  </span>\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\nNow, my work colleagues are dear friends and are like family to me, but I suspect that their photo could be an HR issue.  I know you\'re dying to see it, but I can\'t.  I just can\'t.\n\n&nbsp;\n\n(Look in your inboxes for your fortunes, friends and fam!  If you don\'t receive one, I apologize.  Yours was pitch black along with mine.)\n\n&nbsp;\n\nSince my fortune photo did not process (28 buckaroos!!!), I decided to pick one of the dark photos and imagine that it\'s mine.  I\'m really into that create you reality mumbo jumbo, so why the heck not?\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/?attachment_id=11906\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-11906\"><img class=\"alignnone  wp-image-11906\" alt=\"Love is Everywhere in 2013!\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/R1-03778-023A-1024x691.jpg\" width=\"614\" height=\"415\" /></a>\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n**********\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\nUrban Outfitters, since I am a loyal novelty gift customer at your store, do you think I could get a replacement giftie for this dud of a fortune camera?  Nordies would do it.  :-D\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n**********\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\nEnough with the faulty fortune cameras!  Let\'s make our own predictions for 2013!\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n<span style=\"font-size: medium; color: #800000;\"><strong>What would you like to welcome into your life in 2013?  Please share in the comments section below.  </strong></span>\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;','Playdate #51:  Fortune Camera for 2013','','inherit','open','open','','11892-revision-12','','','2012-12-30 21:17:26','2012-12-31 04:17:26','',11892,'http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/2012/12/30/11892-revision-12/',0,'revision','',0),(11911,1,'2012-12-30 21:19:42','2012-12-31 04:19:42','I\'m a sucker for novelty items.  The quirkier the better.  Remember <a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/2011/08/18/day-324-my-inner-10-year-old-boy-came-out-to-play/\" target=\"_blank\"><strong>this</strong></a>?\n\n&nbsp;\n\nYes, I am very much in touch with my inner child and proud of it!  :-)\n\n&nbsp;\n\nUrban Outfitter\'s gift section is a treasure trove of goofiness.   I found the sound machine there (mentioned in \"this\" above), and I also found the Fortune Camera.\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n&nbsp;\n\n<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/?attachment_id=11898\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-11898\"><img class=\"alignnone size-medium wp-image-11898\" title=\"Fortune Camera\" alt=\"\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/PC200008-300x225.jpg\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a>\n\n&nbsp;\n&nbsp;\n&nbsp;\n\nI took it upon myself to forecast 2013 for family and friends (technically my work colleagues) with the Fortune Camera.  Everyone was game.  (Or at least they pretended to be.)\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n<span style=\"font-size: medium; color: #800000;\"><strong>Who wouldn\'t enjoy a snapshot of their future?</strong></span>\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\nI was VERY EXCITED about this Fortune Camera.  I\'m one of those people who hangs selected fortune cookie fortunes on her fridge and at her desk.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nIn fact, I was SO THRILLED with the idea of this camera that I spent 12 buckaroos on the camera itself and then another 16 buckaroos on old-fashioned film development accompanied by a disk for easy uploading of these foto fortunes to the blog.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nHumbug.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nYou\'ll see what I mean in a sec.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nWithout further adieu, let\'s get to our 2013 predictions!\n\n&nbsp;\n&nbsp;\n&nbsp;\n\n<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/?attachment_id=11903\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-11903\"><img class=\"alignnone  wp-image-11903\" alt=\"Fortune Camera Fail #1\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/R1-03778-021A-1024x691.jpg\" width=\"614\" height=\"415\" /></a>\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\nO.k.  So I forgot to use the flash on the first photo.  Even though the directions for using the flash were right in front of me on the box.  But I\'m used to automatic flash!  And you know how <a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/2012/12/22/playdate-49-wish-lanterns/\" target=\"_blank\"><strong>terrible I am when it comes to reading directions!  </strong></a>\n\n&nbsp;\n&nbsp;\n&nbsp;\n\n<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/?attachment_id=11901\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-11901\"><img class=\"alignnone size-medium wp-image-11901\" alt=\"It helps to read directions first!\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/PC200020-300x225.jpg\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a>\n\n&nbsp;\n&nbsp;\n&nbsp;\n\nFortunately, one of my first photo victims . . . er . . . friends pointed out the directions to me almost immediately.  There should have been one or two dark photos, but not ALL dark photos.\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n<span style=\"color: #333333; font-size: medium;\"><strong>HUMBUG! </strong></span>\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\nWorld\'s Most Precious Niece\'s photo turned out nicely with an appropriately prophetic message.\n\n&nbsp;\n&nbsp;\n&nbsp;\n\n<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/?attachment_id=11904\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-11904\"><img class=\"alignnone  wp-image-11904\" alt=\"World\'s Most Precious Niece\'s Fortune Camera Prediction\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/R1-03778-004A-1024x691.jpg\" width=\"614\" height=\"415\" /></a>\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\nSo did Anonymous Male Reader\'s (pictured here with Anonymous Wifey).\n\n&nbsp;\n&nbsp;\n&nbsp;\n\n<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/?attachment_id=11905\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-11905\"><img class=\"alignnone  wp-image-11905\" alt=\"Anonymous Male Reader, Anonymous Wifie, and  Practically Anonymous Fortune\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/R1-03778-012A-1024x691.jpg\" width=\"614\" height=\"415\" /></a>\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\nAs you can see, their fortune is Practically Anonymous.\n\n&nbsp;\n\n28 buckaroos!  Humbug!\n\n&nbsp;\n\nI will spare the rest of my friends and fam and refrain from sharing these high quality glamor shots on the Interwebs.\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n<span style=\"font-size: medium; color: #800000;\"><strong>Particularly embarrassing is the photo of a bunch of work colleagues with the fortune that reads \"in bed ☺\".</strong>  </span>\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\nNow, my work colleagues are dear friends and are like family to me, but I suspect that their photo could be an HR issue.  I know you\'re dying to see it, but I can\'t.  I just can\'t.\n\n&nbsp;\n\n(Look in your inboxes for your fortunes, friends and fam!  If you don\'t receive one, I apologize.  Yours was pitch black along with mine.)\n\n&nbsp;\n\nSince my fortune photo did not process (28 buckaroos!!!), I decided to pick one of the dark photos and imagine that it\'s mine.  I\'m really into that create you reality mumbo jumbo, so why the heck not?\n\n&nbsp;\n&nbsp;\n&nbsp;\n\n<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/?attachment_id=11906\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-11906\"><img class=\"alignnone  wp-image-11906\" alt=\"Love is Everywhere in 2013!\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/R1-03778-023A-1024x691.jpg\" width=\"614\" height=\"415\" /></a>\n\n&nbsp;\n&nbsp;\n&nbsp;\n\n**********\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\nUrban Outfitters, since I am a loyal novelty gift customer at your store, do you think I could get a replacement giftie for this dud of a fortune camera?  Nordies would do it.  :-D\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n**********\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\nEnough with the faulty fortune cameras!  Let\'s make our own predictions for 2013!\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n<span style=\"font-size: medium; color: #800000;\"><strong>What would you like to welcome into your life in 2013?  Please share in the comments section below.  </strong></span>\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;','Playdate #51:  Fortune Camera for 2013','','inherit','open','open','','11892-revision-13','','','2012-12-30 21:19:42','2012-12-31 04:19:42','',11892,'http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/2012/12/30/11892-revision-13/',0,'revision','',0),(11913,1,'2012-12-30 21:23:31','2012-12-31 04:23:31','I\'m a sucker for novelty items.  The quirkier the better.  Remember <a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/2011/08/18/day-324-my-inner-10-year-old-boy-came-out-to-play/\" target=\"_blank\"><strong>this</strong></a>?\n\n&nbsp;\n\nYes, I am very much in touch with my inner child and proud of it!  :-)\n\n&nbsp;\n\nUrban Outfitter\'s gift section is a treasure trove of goofiness.   I found the sound machine there (mentioned in \"this\" above), and I also found the Fortune Camera.\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/?attachment_id=11898\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-11898\"><img class=\"alignnone size-medium wp-image-11898\" title=\"Fortune Camera\" alt=\"\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/PC200008-300x225.jpg\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a>\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\nI took it upon myself to forecast 2013 for family and friends (technically my work colleagues) with the Fortune Camera.  Everyone was game.  (Or at least they pretended to be.)\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n<span style=\"font-size: medium; color: #800000;\"><strong>Who wouldn\'t enjoy a snapshot of their future?</strong></span>\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\nI was VERY EXCITED about this Fortune Camera.  I\'m one of those people who hangs selected fortune cookie fortunes on her fridge and at her desk.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nIn fact, I was SO THRILLED with the idea of this camera that I spent 12 buckaroos on the camera itself and then another 16 buckaroos on old-fashioned film development accompanied by a disk for easy uploading of these foto fortunes to the blog.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nHumbug.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nYou\'ll see what I mean in a sec.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nWithout further adieu, let\'s get to our 2013 predictions!\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/?attachment_id=11903\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-11903\"><img class=\"alignnone  wp-image-11903\" alt=\"Fortune Camera Fail #1\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/R1-03778-021A-1024x691.jpg\" width=\"614\" height=\"415\" /></a>\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\nO.k.  So I forgot to use the flash on the first photo.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nEven though the directions for using the flash were right in front of me on the box.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nBut I\'m used to automatic flash!  And you know how <a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/2012/12/22/playdate-49-wish-lanterns/\" target=\"_blank\"><strong>terrible I am when it comes to reading directions!  </strong></a>\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/?attachment_id=11901\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-11901\"><img class=\"alignnone size-medium wp-image-11901\" alt=\"It helps to read directions first!\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/PC200020-300x225.jpg\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a>\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\nFortunately, one of my first photo victims . . . er . . . friends pointed out the directions to me almost immediately.  There should have been one or two dark photos, but not ALL dark photos.\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n<span style=\"color: #333333; font-size: medium;\"><strong>HUMBUG! </strong></span>\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\nWorld\'s Most Precious Niece\'s photo turned out nicely with an appropriately prophetic message.\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/?attachment_id=11904\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-11904\"><img class=\"alignnone  wp-image-11904\" alt=\"World\'s Most Precious Niece\'s Fortune Camera Prediction\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/R1-03778-004A-1024x691.jpg\" width=\"614\" height=\"415\" /></a>\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\nSo did Anonymous Male Reader\'s (pictured here with Anonymous Wifey).\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/?attachment_id=11905\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-11905\"><img class=\"alignnone  wp-image-11905\" alt=\"Anonymous Male Reader, Anonymous Wifie, and  Practically Anonymous Fortune\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/R1-03778-012A-1024x691.jpg\" width=\"614\" height=\"415\" /></a>\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\nAs you can see, their fortune is Practically Anonymous.\n\n&nbsp;\n\n28 buckaroos!  Humbug!\n\n&nbsp;\n\nI will spare the rest of my friends and fam and refrain from sharing their high quality glamor shots on the Interwebs.\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n<span style=\"font-size: medium; color: #800000;\"><strong>Particularly embarrassing is the photo of a bunch of work colleagues with the fortune that reads \"in bed ☺\".</strong>  </span>\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\nNow, my work colleagues are dear friends and are like family to me, but I suspect that their photo could be an HR issue.  I know you\'re dying to see it, but I can\'t.  I just can\'t.\n\n&nbsp;\n\n(Look in your inboxes for your fortunes, friends and fam!  If you don\'t receive one, I apologize.  Yours was pitch black along with mine.)\n\n&nbsp;\n\nSince my fortune photo did not process (28 buckaroos!!!), I decided to pick one of the dark photos and imagine that it\'s mine.  I\'m really into that create you reality mumbo jumbo, so why the heck not?\n\n<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/?attachment_id=11906\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-11906\"><img class=\"alignnone  wp-image-11906\" alt=\"Love is Everywhere in 2013!\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/R1-03778-023A-1024x691.jpg\" width=\"614\" height=\"415\" /></a>\n\n**********\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\nUrban Outfitters, since I am a loyal novelty gift customer at your store, do you think I could get a replacement giftie for this dud of a fortune camera?  Nordies would do it.  :-D\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n**********\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\nEnough with the faulty fortune cameras!  Let\'s make our own predictions for 2013!\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n<span style=\"font-size: medium; color: #800000;\"><strong>What would you like to welcome into your life in 2013?  Please share in the comments section below.  </strong></span>\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;','Playdate #51:  Fortune Camera for 2013','','inherit','open','open','','11892-revision-15','','','2012-12-30 21:23:31','2012-12-31 04:23:31','',11892,'http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/2012/12/30/11892-revision-15/',0,'revision','',0),(11912,1,'2012-12-30 21:19:52','2012-12-31 04:19:52','I\'m a sucker for novelty items.  The quirkier the better.  Remember <a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/2011/08/18/day-324-my-inner-10-year-old-boy-came-out-to-play/\" target=\"_blank\"><strong>this</strong></a>?\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nYes, I am very much in touch with my inner child and proud of it!  :-)\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nUrban Outfitter\'s gift section is a treasure trove of goofiness.   I found the sound machine there (mentioned in \"this\" above), and I also found the Fortune Camera.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/?attachment_id=11898\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-11898\"><img class=\"alignnone size-medium wp-image-11898\" title=\"Fortune Camera\" alt=\"\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/PC200008-300x225.jpg\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n&nbsp;\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nI took it upon myself to forecast 2013 for family and friends (technically my work colleagues) with the Fortune Camera.  Everyone was game.  (Or at least they pretended to be.)\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-size: medium; color: #800000;\"><strong>Who wouldn\'t enjoy a snapshot of their future?</strong></span>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nI was VERY EXCITED about this Fortune Camera.  I\'m one of those people who hangs selected fortune cookie fortunes on her fridge and at her desk.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nIn fact, I was SO THRILLED with the idea of this camera that I spent 12 buckaroos on the camera itself and then another 16 buckaroos on old-fashioned film development accompanied by a disk for easy uploading of these foto fortunes to the blog.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nHumbug.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nYou\'ll see what I mean in a sec.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nWithout further adieu, let\'s get to our 2013 predictions!\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n&nbsp;\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/?attachment_id=11903\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-11903\"><img class=\"alignnone  wp-image-11903\" alt=\"Fortune Camera Fail #1\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/R1-03778-021A-1024x691.jpg\" width=\"614\" height=\"415\" /></a>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nO.k.  So I forgot to use the flash on the first photo.  Even though the directions for using the flash were right in front of me on the box.  But I\'m used to automatic flash!  And you know how <a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/2012/12/22/playdate-49-wish-lanterns/\" target=\"_blank\"><strong>terrible I am when it comes to reading directions!  </strong></a>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n&nbsp;\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/?attachment_id=11901\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-11901\"><img class=\"alignnone size-medium wp-image-11901\" alt=\"It helps to read directions first!\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/PC200020-300x225.jpg\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n&nbsp;\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nFortunately, one of my first photo victims . . . er . . . friends pointed out the directions to me almost immediately.  There should have been one or two dark photos, but not ALL dark photos.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<span style=\"color: #333333; font-size: medium;\"><strong>HUMBUG! </strong></span>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nWorld\'s Most Precious Niece\'s photo turned out nicely with an appropriately prophetic message.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n&nbsp;\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/?attachment_id=11904\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-11904\"><img class=\"alignnone  wp-image-11904\" alt=\"World\'s Most Precious Niece\'s Fortune Camera Prediction\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/R1-03778-004A-1024x691.jpg\" width=\"614\" height=\"415\" /></a>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nSo did Anonymous Male Reader\'s (pictured here with Anonymous Wifey).\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n&nbsp;\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/?attachment_id=11905\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-11905\"><img class=\"alignnone  wp-image-11905\" alt=\"Anonymous Male Reader, Anonymous Wifie, and  Practically Anonymous Fortune\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/R1-03778-012A-1024x691.jpg\" width=\"614\" height=\"415\" /></a>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nAs you can see, their fortune is Practically Anonymous.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n28 buckaroos!  Humbug!\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nI will spare the rest of my friends and fam and refrain from sharing these high quality glamor shots on the Interwebs.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-size: medium; color: #800000;\"><strong>Particularly embarrassing is the photo of a bunch of work colleagues with the fortune that reads \"in bed ☺\".</strong>  </span>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nNow, my work colleagues are dear friends and are like family to me, but I suspect that their photo could be an HR issue.  I know you\'re dying to see it, but I can\'t.  I just can\'t.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n(Look in your inboxes for your fortunes, friends and fam!  If you don\'t receive one, I apologize.  Yours was pitch black along with mine.)\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nSince my fortune photo did not process (28 buckaroos!!!), I decided to pick one of the dark photos and imagine that it\'s mine.  I\'m really into that create you reality mumbo jumbo, so why the heck not?\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n&nbsp;\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/?attachment_id=11906\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-11906\"><img class=\"alignnone  wp-image-11906\" alt=\"Love is Everywhere in 2013!\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/R1-03778-023A-1024x691.jpg\" width=\"614\" height=\"415\" /></a>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n&nbsp;\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n**********\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nUrban Outfitters, since I am a loyal novelty gift customer at your store, do you think I could get a replacement giftie for this dud of a fortune camera?  Nordies would do it.  :-D\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n**********\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nEnough with the faulty fortune cameras!  Let\'s make our own predictions for 2013!\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-size: medium; color: #800000;\"><strong>What would you like to welcome into your life in 2013?  Please share in the comments section below.  </strong></span>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n','Playdate #51:  Fortune Camera for 2013','','inherit','open','open','','11892-revision-14','','','2012-12-30 21:19:52','2012-12-31 04:19:52','',11892,'http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/2012/12/30/11892-revision-14/',0,'revision','',0),(11917,1,'2012-12-30 21:26:37','2012-12-31 04:26:37','I\'m a sucker for novelty items.  The quirkier the better.  Remember <a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/2011/08/18/day-324-my-inner-10-year-old-boy-came-out-to-play/\" target=\"_blank\"><strong>this</strong></a>?\n\n&nbsp;\n\nYes, I am very much in touch with my inner child and proud of it!  :-)\n\n&nbsp;\n\nUrban Outfitter\'s gift section is a treasure trove of goofiness.   I found the sound machine there (mentioned in \"this\" above), and I also found the Fortune Camera.\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/?attachment_id=11898\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-11898\"><img class=\"alignnone size-medium wp-image-11898\" title=\"Fortune Camera\" alt=\"\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/PC200008-300x225.jpg\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a>\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\nI took it upon myself to forecast 2013 for family and friends (technically my work colleagues) with the Fortune Camera.  Everyone was game.  (Or at least they pretended to be.)\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n<span style=\"font-size: medium; color: #800000;\"><strong>Who wouldn\'t enjoy a snapshot of their future?</strong></span>\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\nI was VERY EXCITED about this Fortune Camera.  I\'m one of those people who hangs selected fortune cookie fortunes on her fridge and at her desk.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nIn fact, I was SO THRILLED with the idea of this camera that I spent 12 buckaroos on the camera itself and then another 16 buckaroos on old-fashioned film development accompanied by a disk for easy uploading of these foto fortunes to the blog.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nHumbug.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nYou\'ll see what I mean in a sec.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nWithout further adieu, let\'s get to our 2013 predictions!\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/?attachment_id=11903\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-11903\"><img class=\"alignnone  wp-image-11903\" alt=\"Fortune Camera Fail #1\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/R1-03778-021A-1024x691.jpg\" width=\"614\" height=\"415\" /></a>\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\nO.k.  So I forgot to use the flash on the first photo.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nEven though the directions for using the flash were right in front of me on the box.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nBut I\'m used to automatic flash!  And you know how <a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/2012/12/22/playdate-49-wish-lanterns/\" target=\"_blank\"><strong>terrible I am when it comes to reading directions!  </strong></a>\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/?attachment_id=11901\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-11901\"><img class=\"alignnone size-medium wp-image-11901\" alt=\"It helps to read directions first!\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/PC200020-300x225.jpg\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a>\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\nFortunately, one of my first photo victims . . . er . . . friends pointed out the directions to me almost immediately.  There should have been one or two dark photos, but not ALL dark photos.\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n<strong>HUMBUG! </strong>\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\nWorld\'s Most Precious Niece\'s photo turned out nicely with an appropriately prophetic message.\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/?attachment_id=11904\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-11904\"><img class=\"alignnone  wp-image-11904\" alt=\"World\'s Most Precious Niece\'s Fortune Camera Prediction\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/R1-03778-004A-1024x691.jpg\" width=\"614\" height=\"415\" /></a>\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\nSo did Anonymous Male Reader\'s (pictured here with Anonymous Wifey).\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/?attachment_id=11905\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-11905\"><img class=\"alignnone  wp-image-11905\" alt=\"Anonymous Male Reader, Anonymous Wifie, and  Practically Anonymous Fortune\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/R1-03778-012A-1024x691.jpg\" width=\"614\" height=\"415\" /></a>\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\nAs you can see, their fortune is Practically Anonymous.\n\n&nbsp;\n\n28 buckaroos!  Humbug!\n\n&nbsp;\n\nI will spare the rest of my friends and fam and refrain from sharing their high quality glamor shots on the Interwebs.\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n<strong>Particularly embarrassing is the photo of a bunch of work colleagues with the fortune that reads \"in bed ☺\".</strong>\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\nNow, my work colleagues are dear friends and are like family to me, but I suspect that their photo could be an HR issue.  I know you\'re dying to see it, but I can\'t.  I just can\'t.\n\n&nbsp;\n\n(Look in your inboxes for your fortunes, friends and fam!  If you don\'t receive one, I apologize.  Yours was either pitch black along with mine or an HR issue.)\n\n&nbsp;\n\nSince my fortune photo did not process (28 buckaroos!!!), I decided to pick one of the dark photos and imagine that it\'s mine.  I\'m really into that create you reality mumbo jumbo, so why the heck not?\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/?attachment_id=11906\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-11906\"><img class=\"alignnone  wp-image-11906\" alt=\"Love is Everywhere in 2013!\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/R1-03778-023A-1024x691.jpg\" width=\"614\" height=\"415\" /></a>\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n**********\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\nUrban Outfitters, since I am a loyal novelty gift customer at your store, do you think I could get a replacement giftie for this dud of a fortune camera?  Nordies would do it.  :-D\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n**********\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\nEnough with the faulty fortune cameras!  Let\'s make our own predictions for 2013!\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n<strong>What would you like to welcome into your life in 2013?  Please share in the comments section below.  </strong>\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;','Playdate #51:  Fortune Camera for 2013','','inherit','open','open','','11892-revision-19','','','2012-12-30 21:26:37','2012-12-31 04:26:37','',11892,'http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/2012/12/30/11892-revision-19/',0,'revision','',0),(11914,1,'2012-12-30 21:24:04','2012-12-31 04:24:04','I\'m a sucker for novelty items.  The quirkier the better.  Remember <a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/2011/08/18/day-324-my-inner-10-year-old-boy-came-out-to-play/\" target=\"_blank\"><strong>this</strong></a>?\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nYes, I am very much in touch with my inner child and proud of it!  :-)\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nUrban Outfitter\'s gift section is a treasure trove of goofiness.   I found the sound machine there (mentioned in \"this\" above), and I also found the Fortune Camera.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/?attachment_id=11898\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-11898\"><img class=\"alignnone size-medium wp-image-11898\" title=\"Fortune Camera\" alt=\"\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/PC200008-300x225.jpg\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nI took it upon myself to forecast 2013 for family and friends (technically my work colleagues) with the Fortune Camera.  Everyone was game.  (Or at least they pretended to be.)\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-size: medium; color: #800000;\"><strong>Who wouldn\'t enjoy a snapshot of their future?</strong></span>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nI was VERY EXCITED about this Fortune Camera.  I\'m one of those people who hangs selected fortune cookie fortunes on her fridge and at her desk.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nIn fact, I was SO THRILLED with the idea of this camera that I spent 12 buckaroos on the camera itself and then another 16 buckaroos on old-fashioned film development accompanied by a disk for easy uploading of these foto fortunes to the blog.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nHumbug.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nYou\'ll see what I mean in a sec.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nWithout further adieu, let\'s get to our 2013 predictions!\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/?attachment_id=11903\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-11903\"><img class=\"alignnone  wp-image-11903\" alt=\"Fortune Camera Fail #1\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/R1-03778-021A-1024x691.jpg\" width=\"614\" height=\"415\" /></a>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nO.k.  So I forgot to use the flash on the first photo.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nEven though the directions for using the flash were right in front of me on the box.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nBut I\'m used to automatic flash!  And you know how <a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/2012/12/22/playdate-49-wish-lanterns/\" target=\"_blank\"><strong>terrible I am when it comes to reading directions!  </strong></a>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/?attachment_id=11901\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-11901\"><img class=\"alignnone size-medium wp-image-11901\" alt=\"It helps to read directions first!\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/PC200020-300x225.jpg\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nFortunately, one of my first photo victims . . . er . . . friends pointed out the directions to me almost immediately.  There should have been one or two dark photos, but not ALL dark photos.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<span style=\"color: #333333; font-size: medium;\"><strong>HUMBUG! </strong></span>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nWorld\'s Most Precious Niece\'s photo turned out nicely with an appropriately prophetic message.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/?attachment_id=11904\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-11904\"><img class=\"alignnone  wp-image-11904\" alt=\"World\'s Most Precious Niece\'s Fortune Camera Prediction\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/R1-03778-004A-1024x691.jpg\" width=\"614\" height=\"415\" /></a>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nSo did Anonymous Male Reader\'s (pictured here with Anonymous Wifey).\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/?attachment_id=11905\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-11905\"><img class=\"alignnone  wp-image-11905\" alt=\"Anonymous Male Reader, Anonymous Wifie, and  Practically Anonymous Fortune\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/R1-03778-012A-1024x691.jpg\" width=\"614\" height=\"415\" /></a>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nAs you can see, their fortune is Practically Anonymous.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n28 buckaroos!  Humbug!\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nI will spare the rest of my friends and fam and refrain from sharing their high quality glamor shots on the Interwebs.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-size: medium; color: #800000;\"><strong>Particularly embarrassing is the photo of a bunch of work colleagues with the fortune that reads \"in bed ☺\".</strong>  </span>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nNow, my work colleagues are dear friends and are like family to me, but I suspect that their photo could be an HR issue.  I know you\'re dying to see it, but I can\'t.  I just can\'t.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n(Look in your inboxes for your fortunes, friends and fam!  If you don\'t receive one, I apologize.  Yours was either pitch black along with mine or an HR issue.)\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nSince my fortune photo did not process (28 buckaroos!!!), I decided to pick one of the dark photos and imagine that it\'s mine.  I\'m really into that create you reality mumbo jumbo, so why the heck not?\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/?attachment_id=11906\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-11906\"><img class=\"alignnone  wp-image-11906\" alt=\"Love is Everywhere in 2013!\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/R1-03778-023A-1024x691.jpg\" width=\"614\" height=\"415\" /></a>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n**********\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nUrban Outfitters, since I am a loyal novelty gift customer at your store, do you think I could get a replacement giftie for this dud of a fortune camera?  Nordies would do it.  :-D\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n**********\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nEnough with the faulty fortune cameras!  Let\'s make our own predictions for 2013!\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-size: medium; color: #800000;\"><strong>What would you like to welcome into your life in 2013?  Please share in the comments section below.  </strong></span>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;','Playdate #51:  Fortune Camera for 2013','','inherit','open','open','','11892-revision-16','','','2012-12-30 21:24:04','2012-12-31 04:24:04','',11892,'http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/2012/12/30/11892-revision-16/',0,'revision','',0),(11915,1,'2012-12-30 21:24:52','2012-12-31 04:24:52','I\'m a sucker for novelty items.  The quirkier the better.  Remember <a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/2011/08/18/day-324-my-inner-10-year-old-boy-came-out-to-play/\" target=\"_blank\"><strong>this</strong></a>?\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nYes, I am very much in touch with my inner child and proud of it!  :-)\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nUrban Outfitter\'s gift section is a treasure trove of goofiness.   I found the sound machine there (mentioned in \"this\" above), and I also found the Fortune Camera.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/?attachment_id=11898\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-11898\"><img class=\"alignnone size-medium wp-image-11898\" title=\"Fortune Camera\" alt=\"\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/PC200008-300x225.jpg\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nI took it upon myself to forecast 2013 for family and friends (technically my work colleagues) with the Fortune Camera.  Everyone was game.  (Or at least they pretended to be.)\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-size: medium; color: #800000;\"><strong>Who wouldn\'t enjoy a snapshot of their future?</strong></span>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nI was VERY EXCITED about this Fortune Camera.  I\'m one of those people who hangs selected fortune cookie fortunes on her fridge and at her desk.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nIn fact, I was SO THRILLED with the idea of this camera that I spent 12 buckaroos on the camera itself and then another 16 buckaroos on old-fashioned film development accompanied by a disk for easy uploading of these foto fortunes to the blog.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nHumbug.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nYou\'ll see what I mean in a sec.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nWithout further adieu, let\'s get to our 2013 predictions!\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/?attachment_id=11903\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-11903\"><img class=\"alignnone  wp-image-11903\" alt=\"Fortune Camera Fail #1\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/R1-03778-021A-1024x691.jpg\" width=\"614\" height=\"415\" /></a>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nO.k.  So I forgot to use the flash on the first photo.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nEven though the directions for using the flash were right in front of me on the box.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nBut I\'m used to automatic flash!  And you know how <a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/2012/12/22/playdate-49-wish-lanterns/\" target=\"_blank\"><strong>terrible I am when it comes to reading directions!  </strong></a>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/?attachment_id=11901\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-11901\"><img class=\"alignnone size-medium wp-image-11901\" alt=\"It helps to read directions first!\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/PC200020-300x225.jpg\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nFortunately, one of my first photo victims . . . er . . . friends pointed out the directions to me almost immediately.  There should have been one or two dark photos, but not ALL dark photos.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<span style=\"color: #333333; font-size: medium;\"><strong>HUMBUG! </strong></span>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nWorld\'s Most Precious Niece\'s photo turned out nicely with an appropriately prophetic message.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/?attachment_id=11904\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-11904\"><img class=\"alignnone  wp-image-11904\" alt=\"World\'s Most Precious Niece\'s Fortune Camera Prediction\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/R1-03778-004A-1024x691.jpg\" width=\"614\" height=\"415\" /></a>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nSo did Anonymous Male Reader\'s (pictured here with Anonymous Wifey).\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/?attachment_id=11905\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-11905\"><img class=\"alignnone  wp-image-11905\" alt=\"Anonymous Male Reader, Anonymous Wifie, and  Practically Anonymous Fortune\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/R1-03778-012A-1024x691.jpg\" width=\"614\" height=\"415\" /></a>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nAs you can see, their fortune is Practically Anonymous.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n28 buckaroos!  Humbug!\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nI will spare the rest of my friends and fam and refrain from sharing their high quality glamor shots on the Interwebs.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-size: medium; color: #800000;\"><strong>Particularly embarrassing is the photo of a bunch of work colleagues with the fortune that reads \"in bed ☺\".</strong>  </span>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nNow, my work colleagues are dear friends and are like family to me, but I suspect that their photo could be an HR issue.  I know you\'re dying to see it, but I can\'t.  I just can\'t.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n(Look in your inboxes for your fortunes, friends and fam!  If you don\'t receive one, I apologize.  Yours was either pitch black along with mine or an HR issue.)\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nSince my fortune photo did not process (28 buckaroos!!!), I decided to pick one of the dark photos and imagine that it\'s mine.  I\'m really into that create you reality mumbo jumbo, so why the heck not?\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/?attachment_id=11906\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-11906\"><img class=\"alignnone  wp-image-11906\" alt=\"Love is Everywhere in 2013!\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/R1-03778-023A-1024x691.jpg\" width=\"614\" height=\"415\" /></a>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n**********\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nUrban Outfitters, since I am a loyal novelty gift customer at your store, do you think I could get a replacement giftie for this dud of a fortune camera?  Nordies would do it.  :-D\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n**********\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nEnough with the faulty fortune cameras!  Let\'s make our own predictions for 2013!\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-size: medium; color: #800000;\"><strong>What would you like to welcome into your life in 2013?  Please share in the comments section below.  </strong></span>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;','Playdate #51:  Fortune Camera for 2013','','inherit','open','open','','11892-revision-17','','','2012-12-30 21:24:52','2012-12-31 04:24:52','',11892,'http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/2012/12/30/11892-revision-17/',0,'revision','',0),(11916,1,'2012-12-30 21:25:18','2012-12-31 04:25:18','I\'m a sucker for novelty items.  The quirkier the better.  Remember <a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/2011/08/18/day-324-my-inner-10-year-old-boy-came-out-to-play/\" target=\"_blank\"><strong>this</strong></a>?\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nYes, I am very much in touch with my inner child and proud of it!  :-)\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nUrban Outfitter\'s gift section is a treasure trove of goofiness.   I found the sound machine there (mentioned in \"this\" above), and I also found the Fortune Camera.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/?attachment_id=11898\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-11898\"><img class=\"alignnone size-medium wp-image-11898\" title=\"Fortune Camera\" alt=\"\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/PC200008-300x225.jpg\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nI took it upon myself to forecast 2013 for family and friends (technically my work colleagues) with the Fortune Camera.  Everyone was game.  (Or at least they pretended to be.)\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-size: medium; color: #800000;\"><strong>Who wouldn\'t enjoy a snapshot of their future?</strong></span>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nI was VERY EXCITED about this Fortune Camera.  I\'m one of those people who hangs selected fortune cookie fortunes on her fridge and at her desk.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nIn fact, I was SO THRILLED with the idea of this camera that I spent 12 buckaroos on the camera itself and then another 16 buckaroos on old-fashioned film development accompanied by a disk for easy uploading of these foto fortunes to the blog.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nHumbug.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nYou\'ll see what I mean in a sec.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nWithout further adieu, let\'s get to our 2013 predictions!\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/?attachment_id=11903\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-11903\"><img class=\"alignnone  wp-image-11903\" alt=\"Fortune Camera Fail #1\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/R1-03778-021A-1024x691.jpg\" width=\"614\" height=\"415\" /></a>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nO.k.  So I forgot to use the flash on the first photo.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nEven though the directions for using the flash were right in front of me on the box.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nBut I\'m used to automatic flash!  And you know how <a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/2012/12/22/playdate-49-wish-lanterns/\" target=\"_blank\"><strong>terrible I am when it comes to reading directions!  </strong></a>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/?attachment_id=11901\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-11901\"><img class=\"alignnone size-medium wp-image-11901\" alt=\"It helps to read directions first!\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/PC200020-300x225.jpg\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nFortunately, one of my first photo victims . . . er . . . friends pointed out the directions to me almost immediately.  There should have been one or two dark photos, but not ALL dark photos.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<span style=\"color: #333333; font-size: medium;\"><strong>HUMBUG! </strong></span>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nWorld\'s Most Precious Niece\'s photo turned out nicely with an appropriately prophetic message.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/?attachment_id=11904\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-11904\"><img class=\"alignnone  wp-image-11904\" alt=\"World\'s Most Precious Niece\'s Fortune Camera Prediction\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/R1-03778-004A-1024x691.jpg\" width=\"614\" height=\"415\" /></a>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nSo did Anonymous Male Reader\'s (pictured here with Anonymous Wifey).\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/?attachment_id=11905\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-11905\"><img class=\"alignnone  wp-image-11905\" alt=\"Anonymous Male Reader, Anonymous Wifie, and  Practically Anonymous Fortune\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/R1-03778-012A-1024x691.jpg\" width=\"614\" height=\"415\" /></a>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nAs you can see, their fortune is Practically Anonymous.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n28 buckaroos!  Humbug!\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nI will spare the rest of my friends and fam and refrain from sharing their high quality glamor shots on the Interwebs.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-size: medium; color: #800000;\"><strong>Particularly embarrassing is the photo of a bunch of work colleagues with the fortune that reads \"in bed ☺\".</strong>  </span>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nNow, my work colleagues are dear friends and are like family to me, but I suspect that their photo could be an HR issue.  I know you\'re dying to see it, but I can\'t.  I just can\'t.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n(Look in your inboxes for your fortunes, friends and fam!  If you don\'t receive one, I apologize.  Yours was either pitch black along with mine or an HR issue.)\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nSince my fortune photo did not process (28 buckaroos!!!), I decided to pick one of the dark photos and imagine that it\'s mine.  I\'m really into that create you reality mumbo jumbo, so why the heck not?\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/?attachment_id=11906\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-11906\"><img class=\"alignnone  wp-image-11906\" alt=\"Love is Everywhere in 2013!\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/R1-03778-023A-1024x691.jpg\" width=\"614\" height=\"415\" /></a>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n**********\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nUrban Outfitters, since I am a loyal novelty gift customer at your store, do you think I could get a replacement giftie for this dud of a fortune camera?  Nordies would do it.  :-D\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n**********\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nEnough with the faulty fortune cameras!  Let\'s make our own predictions for 2013!\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-size: medium; color: #800000;\"><strong>What would you like to welcome into your life in 2013?  Please share in the comments section below.  </strong></span>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;','Playdate #51:  Fortune Camera for 2013','','inherit','open','open','','11892-revision-18','','','2012-12-30 21:25:18','2012-12-31 04:25:18','',11892,'http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/2012/12/30/11892-revision-18/',0,'revision','',0),(11918,1,'2012-12-30 21:27:11','2012-12-31 04:27:11','I\'m a sucker for novelty items.  The quirkier the better.  Remember <a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/2011/08/18/day-324-my-inner-10-year-old-boy-came-out-to-play/\" target=\"_blank\"><strong>this</strong></a>?\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nYes, I am very much in touch with my inner child and proud of it!  :-)\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nUrban Outfitter\'s gift section is a treasure trove of goofiness.   I found the sound machine there (mentioned in \"this\" above), and I also found the Fortune Camera.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/?attachment_id=11898\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-11898\"><img class=\"alignnone size-medium wp-image-11898\" title=\"Fortune Camera\" alt=\"\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/PC200008-300x225.jpg\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nI took it upon myself to forecast 2013 for family and friends (technically my work colleagues) with the Fortune Camera.  Everyone was game.  (Or at least they pretended to be.)\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-size: medium; color: #800000;\"><strong>Who wouldn\'t enjoy a snapshot of their future?</strong></span>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nI was VERY EXCITED about this Fortune Camera.  I\'m one of those people who hangs selected fortune cookie fortunes on her fridge and at her desk.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nIn fact, I was SO THRILLED with the idea of this camera that I spent 12 buckaroos on the camera itself and then another 16 buckaroos on old-fashioned film development accompanied by a disk for easy uploading of these foto fortunes to the blog.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nHumbug.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nYou\'ll see what I mean in a sec.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nWithout further adieu, let\'s get to our 2013 predictions!\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/?attachment_id=11903\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-11903\"><img class=\"alignnone  wp-image-11903\" alt=\"Fortune Camera Fail #1\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/R1-03778-021A-1024x691.jpg\" width=\"614\" height=\"415\" /></a>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nO.k.  So I forgot to use the flash on the first photo.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nEven though the directions for using the flash were right in front of me on the box.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nBut I\'m used to automatic flash!  And you know how <a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/2012/12/22/playdate-49-wish-lanterns/\" target=\"_blank\"><strong>terrible I am when it comes to reading directions!  </strong></a>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/?attachment_id=11901\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-11901\"><img class=\"alignnone size-medium wp-image-11901\" alt=\"It helps to read directions first!\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/PC200020-300x225.jpg\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nFortunately, one of my first photo victims . . . er . . . friends pointed out the directions to me almost immediately.  There should have been one or two dark photos, but not ALL dark photos.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-size: medium; color: #333333;\"><strong>HUMBUG! </strong></span>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nWorld\'s Most Precious Niece\'s photo turned out nicely with an appropriately prophetic message.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/?attachment_id=11904\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-11904\"><img class=\"alignnone  wp-image-11904\" alt=\"World\'s Most Precious Niece\'s Fortune Camera Prediction\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/R1-03778-004A-1024x691.jpg\" width=\"614\" height=\"415\" /></a>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nSo did Anonymous Male Reader\'s (pictured here with Anonymous Wifey).\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/?attachment_id=11905\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-11905\"><img class=\"alignnone  wp-image-11905\" alt=\"Anonymous Male Reader, Anonymous Wifie, and  Practically Anonymous Fortune\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/R1-03778-012A-1024x691.jpg\" width=\"614\" height=\"415\" /></a>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nAs you can see, their fortune is Practically Anonymous.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n28 buckaroos!  Humbug!\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nI will spare the rest of my friends and fam and refrain from sharing their high quality glamor shots on the Interwebs.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-size: medium; color: #800000;\"><strong>Particularly embarrassing is the photo of a bunch of work colleagues with the fortune that reads \"in bed ☺\".</strong></span>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nNow, my work colleagues are dear friends and are like family to me, but I suspect that their photo could be an HR issue.  I know you\'re dying to see it, but I can\'t.  I just can\'t.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n(Look in your inboxes for your fortunes, friends and fam!  If you don\'t receive one, I apologize.  Yours was either pitch black along with mine or an HR issue.)\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nSince my fortune photo did not process (28 buckaroos!!!), I decided to pick one of the dark photos and imagine that it\'s mine.  I\'m really into that create you reality mumbo jumbo, so why the heck not?\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/?attachment_id=11906\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-11906\"><img class=\"alignnone  wp-image-11906\" alt=\"Love is Everywhere in 2013!\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/R1-03778-023A-1024x691.jpg\" width=\"614\" height=\"415\" /></a>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n**********\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nUrban Outfitters, since I am a loyal novelty gift customer at your store, do you think I could get a replacement giftie for this dud of a fortune camera?  Nordies would do it.  :-D\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n**********\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nEnough with the faulty fortune cameras!  Let\'s make our own predictions for 2013!\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<strong><span style=\"font-size: medium; color: #800000;\">What would you like to welcome into your life in 2013?  Please share in the comments section below.</span>  </strong>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;','Playdate #51:  Fortune Camera for 2013','','inherit','open','open','','11892-revision-20','','','2012-12-30 21:27:11','2012-12-31 04:27:11','',11892,'http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/2012/12/30/11892-revision-20/',0,'revision','',0),(11919,1,'2012-12-30 21:27:59','2012-12-31 04:27:59','I\'m a sucker for novelty items.  The quirkier the better.  Remember <a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/2011/08/18/day-324-my-inner-10-year-old-boy-came-out-to-play/\" target=\"_blank\"><strong>this</strong></a>?\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nYes, I am very much in touch with my inner child and proud of it!  :-)\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nUrban Outfitter\'s gift section is a treasure trove of goofiness.   I found the sound machine there (mentioned in \"this\" above), and I also found the Fortune Camera.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/?attachment_id=11898\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-11898\"><img class=\"alignnone size-medium wp-image-11898\" title=\"Fortune Camera\" alt=\"\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/PC200008-300x225.jpg\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nI took it upon myself to forecast 2013 for family and friends (technically my work colleagues) with the Fortune Camera.  Everyone was game.  (Or at least they pretended to be.)\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-size: medium; color: #800000;\"><strong>Who wouldn\'t enjoy a snapshot of their future?</strong></span>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nI was VERY EXCITED about this Fortune Camera.  I\'m one of those people who hangs selected fortune cookie fortunes on her fridge and at her desk.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nIn fact, I was SO THRILLED with the idea of this camera that I spent 12 buckaroos on the camera itself and then another 16 buckaroos on old-fashioned film development accompanied by a disk for easy uploading of these foto fortunes to the blog.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nHumbug.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nYou\'ll see what I mean in a sec.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nWithout further adieu, let\'s get to our 2013 predictions!\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/?attachment_id=11903\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-11903\"><img class=\"alignnone  wp-image-11903\" alt=\"Fortune Camera Fail #1\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/R1-03778-021A-1024x691.jpg\" width=\"614\" height=\"415\" /></a>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nO.k.  So I forgot to use the flash on the first photo.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nEven though the directions for using the flash were right in front of me on the box.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nBut I\'m used to automatic flash!  And you know how <a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/2012/12/22/playdate-49-wish-lanterns/\" target=\"_blank\"><strong>terrible I am when it comes to reading directions!  </strong></a>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/?attachment_id=11901\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-11901\"><img class=\"alignnone size-medium wp-image-11901\" alt=\"It helps to read directions first!\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/PC200020-300x225.jpg\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nFortunately, one of my first photo victims . . . er . . . friends pointed out the directions to me almost immediately.  There should have been one or two dark photos, but not ALL dark photos.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-size: medium; color: #333333;\"><strong>HUMBUG! </strong></span>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nWorld\'s Most Precious Niece\'s photo turned out nicely with an appropriately prophetic message.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/?attachment_id=11904\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-11904\"><img class=\"alignnone  wp-image-11904\" alt=\"World\'s Most Precious Niece\'s Fortune Camera Prediction\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/R1-03778-004A-1024x691.jpg\" width=\"614\" height=\"415\" /></a>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nSo did Anonymous Male Reader\'s (pictured here with Anonymous Wifey).\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/?attachment_id=11905\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-11905\"><img class=\"alignnone  wp-image-11905\" alt=\"Anonymous Male Reader, Anonymous Wifie, and  Practically Anonymous Fortune\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/R1-03778-012A-1024x691.jpg\" width=\"614\" height=\"415\" /></a>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nAs you can see, their fortune is Practically Anonymous.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n28 buckaroos!  Humbug!\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nI will spare the rest of my friends and fam and refrain from sharing their high quality glamor shots on the Interwebs.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-size: medium; color: #800000;\"><strong>Particularly embarrassing is the photo of a bunch of work colleagues with the fortune that reads \"in bed ☺\".</strong></span>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nNow, my work colleagues are dear friends and are like family to me, but I suspect that their photo could be an HR issue.  I know you\'re dying to see it, but I can\'t.  I just can\'t.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n(Look in your inboxes for your fortunes, friends and fam!  If you don\'t receive one, I apologize.  Yours was either pitch black along with mine or an HR issue.)\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nSince my fortune photo did not process (28 buckaroos!!!), I decided to pick one of the dark photos and imagine that it\'s mine.  I\'m really into that create you reality mumbo jumbo, so why the heck not?\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/?attachment_id=11906\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-11906\"><img class=\"alignnone  wp-image-11906\" alt=\"Love is Everywhere in 2013!\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/R1-03778-023A-1024x691.jpg\" width=\"614\" height=\"415\" /></a>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n**********\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nUrban Outfitters, since I am a loyal novelty gift customer at your store, do you think I could get a replacement giftie for this dud of a fortune camera?  Nordies would do it.  :-D\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n**********\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nEnough with the faulty fortune cameras!  Let\'s make our own predictions for 2013!\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<strong><span style=\"font-size: medium; color: #800000;\">What would you like to welcome into your life in 2013?  Please share in the comments section below.</span>  </strong>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;','Playdate #51:  Fortune Camera for 2013','','inherit','open','open','','11892-revision-21','','','2012-12-30 21:27:59','2012-12-31 04:27:59','',11892,'http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/2012/12/30/11892-revision-21/',0,'revision','',0),(11924,1,'2012-12-30 21:45:27','2012-12-31 04:45:27','I\'m a sucker for novelty items.  The quirkier the better.  Remember <a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/2011/08/18/day-324-my-inner-10-year-old-boy-came-out-to-play/\" target=\"_blank\"><strong>this</strong></a>?\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nYes, I am very much in touch with my inner child and proud of it!  :-)\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nUrban Outfitter\'s gift section is a treasure trove of goofiness.   I found the sound machine there (mentioned in \"this\" above), and I also found the Fortune Camera.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/2012/12/30/playdate-51-fortune-camera-for-2013/olympus-digital-camera-808/\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-11898\"><img class=\"alignnone size-medium wp-image-11898\" title=\"Fortune Camera\" alt=\"\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/PC200008-300x225.jpg\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nI took it upon myself to forecast 2013 for family and friends (technically my work colleagues) with the Fortune Camera.  Everyone was game.  (Or at least they pretended to be.)\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<strong>Who wouldn\'t enjoy a snapshot of their future?</strong>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nI was VERY EXCITED about this Fortune Camera.  I\'m one of those people who hangs selected fortune cookie fortunes on her fridge and at her desk.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nIn fact, I was SO THRILLED with the idea of this camera that I spent 12 buckaroos on the camera itself and then another 16 buckaroos on old-fashioned film development accompanied by a disk for easy uploading of these foto fortunes to the blog.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nHumbug.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nYou\'ll see what I mean in a sec.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nWithout further adieu, let\'s get to our 2013 predictions!\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/2012/12/30/playdate-51-fortune-camera-for-2013/r1-03778-021a/\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-11903\"><img class=\"alignnone  wp-image-11903\" alt=\"Fortune Camera Fail #1\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/R1-03778-021A-1024x691.jpg\" width=\"614\" height=\"415\" /></a>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nO.k.  So I forgot to use the flash on the first photo.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nEven though the directions for using the flash were right in front of me on the box.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nBut I\'m used to automatic flash!  And you know how <a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/2012/12/22/playdate-49-wish-lanterns/\" target=\"_blank\"><strong>terrible I am when it comes to reading directions!  </strong></a>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/2012/12/30/playdate-51-fortune-camera-for-2013/olympus-digital-camera-809/\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-11901\"><img class=\"alignnone size-medium wp-image-11901\" alt=\"It helps to read directions first!\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/PC200020-300x225.jpg\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nFortunately, one of my first photo <del>victims</del> friends pointed out the directions to me almost immediately. There should have been one or two dark photos, but not ALL dark photos.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<strong>HUMBUG! </strong>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nWorld\'s Most Precious Niece\'s photo turned out nicely with an appropriately prophetic message.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/2012/12/30/playdate-51-fortune-camera-for-2013/r1-03778-004a/\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-11904\"><img class=\"alignnone  wp-image-11904\" alt=\"World\'s Most Precious Niece\'s Fortune Camera Prediction\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/R1-03778-004A-1024x691.jpg\" width=\"614\" height=\"415\" /></a>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nSo did Anonymous Male Reader\'s (pictured here with Anonymous Wifey).\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/2012/12/30/playdate-51-fortune-camera-for-2013/r1-03778-012a/\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-11905\"><img class=\"alignnone  wp-image-11905\" alt=\"Anonymous Male Reader, Anonymous Wifie, and  Practically Anonymous Fortune\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/R1-03778-012A-1024x691.jpg\" width=\"614\" height=\"415\" /></a>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nAs you can see, their fortune is Practically Anonymous, too.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<strong>28 buckaroos!  Humbug!</strong>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nI will spare the rest of my friends and fam and refrain from sharing their high quality glamor shots on the Interwebs.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<strong>Particularly embarrassing is the photo of a bunch of work colleagues with the fortune that reads \"in bed ☺\".</strong>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nNow, my work colleagues are dear friends and are like family to me, but I suspect that their photo could be an HR issue.  I know you\'re dying to see it, but I can\'t.  I just can\'t.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n(Look in your inboxes for your fortunes, friends and fam!  If you don\'t receive one, I apologize.  Yours was either pitch black along with mine or an HR issue.)\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nSince my fortune photo did not process (28 buckaroos!!!), I decided to pick one of the dark photos and imagine that it\'s mine.  I\'m really into that create your reality mumbo jumbo, so why the heck not?\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/2012/12/30/playdate-51-fortune-camera-for-2013/r1-03778-023a/\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-11906\"><img class=\"alignnone  wp-image-11906\" alt=\"Love is Everywhere in 2013!\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/R1-03778-023A-1024x691.jpg\" width=\"614\" height=\"415\" /></a>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n**********\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nUrban Outfitters, since I am a loyal novelty gift customer at your store, do you think I could get a replacement giftie for this dud of a fortune camera?  Nordies would do it.  :-D\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n**********\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nEnough with the faulty fortune cameras!  Let\'s make our own predictions for 2013!\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<strong>What would you like to welcome into your life in 2013?  Please share in the comments section below.  </strong>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;','Playdate #51:  Fortune Camera for 2013','','inherit','open','open','','11892-revision-25','','','2012-12-30 21:45:27','2012-12-31 04:45:27','',11892,'http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/2012/12/30/11892-revision-25/',0,'revision','',0),(11920,1,'2012-12-30 21:27:59','2012-12-31 04:27:59','I\'m a sucker for novelty items.  The quirkier the better.  Remember <a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/2011/08/18/day-324-my-inner-10-year-old-boy-came-out-to-play/\" target=\"_blank\"><strong>this</strong></a>?\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nYes, I am very much in touch with my inner child and proud of it!  :-)\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nUrban Outfitter\'s gift section is a treasure trove of goofiness.   I found the sound machine there (mentioned in \"this\" above), and I also found the Fortune Camera.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/2012/12/30/playdate-51-fortune-camera-for-2013/olympus-digital-camera-808/\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-11898\"><img class=\"alignnone size-medium wp-image-11898\" title=\"Fortune Camera\" alt=\"\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/PC200008-300x225.jpg\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nI took it upon myself to forecast 2013 for family and friends (technically my work colleagues) with the Fortune Camera.  Everyone was game.  (Or at least they pretended to be.)\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-size: medium; color: #800000;\"><strong>Who wouldn\'t enjoy a snapshot of their future?</strong></span>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nI was VERY EXCITED about this Fortune Camera.  I\'m one of those people who hangs selected fortune cookie fortunes on her fridge and at her desk.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nIn fact, I was SO THRILLED with the idea of this camera that I spent 12 buckaroos on the camera itself and then another 16 buckaroos on old-fashioned film development accompanied by a disk for easy uploading of these foto fortunes to the blog.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nHumbug.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nYou\'ll see what I mean in a sec.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nWithout further adieu, let\'s get to our 2013 predictions!\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/2012/12/30/playdate-51-fortune-camera-for-2013/r1-03778-021a/\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-11903\"><img class=\"alignnone  wp-image-11903\" alt=\"Fortune Camera Fail #1\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/R1-03778-021A-1024x691.jpg\" width=\"614\" height=\"415\" /></a>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nO.k.  So I forgot to use the flash on the first photo.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nEven though the directions for using the flash were right in front of me on the box.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nBut I\'m used to automatic flash!  And you know how <a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/2012/12/22/playdate-49-wish-lanterns/\" target=\"_blank\"><strong>terrible I am when it comes to reading directions!  </strong></a>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/2012/12/30/playdate-51-fortune-camera-for-2013/olympus-digital-camera-809/\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-11901\"><img class=\"alignnone size-medium wp-image-11901\" alt=\"It helps to read directions first!\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/PC200020-300x225.jpg\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nFortunately, one of my first photo victims . . . er . . . friends pointed out the directions to me almost immediately.  There should have been one or two dark photos, but not ALL dark photos.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-size: medium; color: #333333;\"><strong>HUMBUG! </strong></span>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nWorld\'s Most Precious Niece\'s photo turned out nicely with an appropriately prophetic message.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/2012/12/30/playdate-51-fortune-camera-for-2013/r1-03778-004a/\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-11904\"><img class=\"alignnone  wp-image-11904\" alt=\"World\'s Most Precious Niece\'s Fortune Camera Prediction\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/R1-03778-004A-1024x691.jpg\" width=\"614\" height=\"415\" /></a>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nSo did Anonymous Male Reader\'s (pictured here with Anonymous Wifey).\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/2012/12/30/playdate-51-fortune-camera-for-2013/r1-03778-012a/\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-11905\"><img class=\"alignnone  wp-image-11905\" alt=\"Anonymous Male Reader, Anonymous Wifie, and  Practically Anonymous Fortune\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/R1-03778-012A-1024x691.jpg\" width=\"614\" height=\"415\" /></a>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nAs you can see, their fortune is Practically Anonymous.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n28 buckaroos!  Humbug!\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nI will spare the rest of my friends and fam and refrain from sharing their high quality glamor shots on the Interwebs.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-size: medium; color: #800000;\"><strong>Particularly embarrassing is the photo of a bunch of work colleagues with the fortune that reads \"in bed ☺\".</strong></span>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nNow, my work colleagues are dear friends and are like family to me, but I suspect that their photo could be an HR issue.  I know you\'re dying to see it, but I can\'t.  I just can\'t.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n(Look in your inboxes for your fortunes, friends and fam!  If you don\'t receive one, I apologize.  Yours was either pitch black along with mine or an HR issue.)\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nSince my fortune photo did not process (28 buckaroos!!!), I decided to pick one of the dark photos and imagine that it\'s mine.  I\'m really into that create you reality mumbo jumbo, so why the heck not?\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/2012/12/30/playdate-51-fortune-camera-for-2013/r1-03778-023a/\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-11906\"><img class=\"alignnone  wp-image-11906\" alt=\"Love is Everywhere in 2013!\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/R1-03778-023A-1024x691.jpg\" width=\"614\" height=\"415\" /></a>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n**********\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nUrban Outfitters, since I am a loyal novelty gift customer at your store, do you think I could get a replacement giftie for this dud of a fortune camera?  Nordies would do it.  :-D\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n**********\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nEnough with the faulty fortune cameras!  Let\'s make our own predictions for 2013!\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<strong><span style=\"font-size: medium; color: #800000;\">What would you like to welcome into your life in 2013?  Please share in the comments section below.</span>  </strong>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;','Playdate #51:  Fortune Camera for 2013','','inherit','open','open','','11892-revision-22','','','2012-12-30 21:27:59','2012-12-31 04:27:59','',11892,'http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/2012/12/30/11892-revision-22/',0,'revision','',0),(11921,1,'2012-12-30 21:34:36','2012-12-31 04:34:36','I\'m a sucker for novelty items.  The quirkier the better.  Remember <a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/2011/08/18/day-324-my-inner-10-year-old-boy-came-out-to-play/\" target=\"_blank\"><strong>this</strong></a>?\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nYes, I am very much in touch with my inner child and proud of it!  :-)\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nUrban Outfitter\'s gift section is a treasure trove of goofiness.   I found the sound machine there (mentioned in \"this\" above), and I also found the Fortune Camera.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/2012/12/30/playdate-51-fortune-camera-for-2013/olympus-digital-camera-808/\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-11898\"><img class=\"alignnone size-medium wp-image-11898\" title=\"Fortune Camera\" alt=\"\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/PC200008-300x225.jpg\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nI took it upon myself to forecast 2013 for family and friends (technically my work colleagues) with the Fortune Camera.  Everyone was game.  (Or at least they pretended to be.)\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-size: medium; color: #800000;\"><strong>Who wouldn\'t enjoy a snapshot of their future?</strong></span>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nI was VERY EXCITED about this Fortune Camera.  I\'m one of those people who hangs selected fortune cookie fortunes on her fridge and at her desk.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nIn fact, I was SO THRILLED with the idea of this camera that I spent 12 buckaroos on the camera itself and then another 16 buckaroos on old-fashioned film development accompanied by a disk for easy uploading of these foto fortunes to the blog.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nHumbug.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nYou\'ll see what I mean in a sec.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nWithout further adieu, let\'s get to our 2013 predictions!\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/2012/12/30/playdate-51-fortune-camera-for-2013/r1-03778-021a/\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-11903\"><img class=\"alignnone  wp-image-11903\" alt=\"Fortune Camera Fail #1\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/R1-03778-021A-1024x691.jpg\" width=\"614\" height=\"415\" /></a>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nO.k.  So I forgot to use the flash on the first photo.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nEven though the directions for using the flash were right in front of me on the box.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nBut I\'m used to automatic flash!  And you know how <a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/2012/12/22/playdate-49-wish-lanterns/\" target=\"_blank\"><strong>terrible I am when it comes to reading directions!  </strong></a>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/2012/12/30/playdate-51-fortune-camera-for-2013/olympus-digital-camera-809/\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-11901\"><img class=\"alignnone size-medium wp-image-11901\" alt=\"It helps to read directions first!\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/PC200020-300x225.jpg\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nFortunately, one of my first photo <del>victims</del> friends pointed out the directions to me almost immediately.  There should have been one or two dark photos, but not ALL dark photos.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-size: medium; color: #333333;\"><strong>HUMBUG! </strong></span>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nWorld\'s Most Precious Niece\'s photo turned out nicely with an appropriately prophetic message.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/2012/12/30/playdate-51-fortune-camera-for-2013/r1-03778-004a/\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-11904\"><img class=\"alignnone  wp-image-11904\" alt=\"World\'s Most Precious Niece\'s Fortune Camera Prediction\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/R1-03778-004A-1024x691.jpg\" width=\"614\" height=\"415\" /></a>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nSo did Anonymous Male Reader\'s (pictured here with Anonymous Wifey).\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/2012/12/30/playdate-51-fortune-camera-for-2013/r1-03778-012a/\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-11905\"><img class=\"alignnone  wp-image-11905\" alt=\"Anonymous Male Reader, Anonymous Wifie, and  Practically Anonymous Fortune\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/R1-03778-012A-1024x691.jpg\" width=\"614\" height=\"415\" /></a>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nAs you can see, their fortune is Practically Anonymous.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n28 buckaroos!  Humbug!\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nI will spare the rest of my friends and fam and refrain from sharing their high quality glamor shots on the Interwebs.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-size: medium; color: #800000;\"><strong>Particularly embarrassing is the photo of a bunch of work colleagues with the fortune that reads \"in bed ☺\".</strong></span>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nNow, my work colleagues are dear friends and are like family to me, but I suspect that their photo could be an HR issue.  I know you\'re dying to see it, but I can\'t.  I just can\'t.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n(Look in your inboxes for your fortunes, friends and fam!  If you don\'t receive one, I apologize.  Yours was either pitch black along with mine or an HR issue.)\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nSince my fortune photo did not process (28 buckaroos!!!), I decided to pick one of the dark photos and imagine that it\'s mine.  I\'m really into that create your reality mumbo jumbo, so why the heck not?\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/2012/12/30/playdate-51-fortune-camera-for-2013/r1-03778-023a/\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-11906\"><img class=\"alignnone  wp-image-11906\" alt=\"Love is Everywhere in 2013!\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/R1-03778-023A-1024x691.jpg\" width=\"614\" height=\"415\" /></a>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n**********\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nUrban Outfitters, since I am a loyal novelty gift customer at your store, do you think I could get a replacement giftie for this dud of a fortune camera?  Nordies would do it.  :-D\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n**********\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nEnough with the faulty fortune cameras!  Let\'s make our own predictions for 2013!\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<strong><span style=\"font-size: medium; color: #800000;\">What would you like to welcome into your life in 2013?  Please share in the comments section below.</span>  </strong>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;','Playdate #51:  Fortune Camera for 2013','','inherit','open','open','','11892-revision-23','','','2012-12-30 21:34:36','2012-12-31 04:34:36','',11892,'http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/2012/12/30/11892-revision-23/',0,'revision','',0),(11922,1,'2013-01-20 15:21:07','2013-01-20 22:21:07','I\'m a sucker for novelty items.  The quirkier the better.  Remember <a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/2011/08/18/day-324-my-inner-10-year-old-boy-came-out-to-play/\" target=\"_blank\"><strong>this</strong></a>?\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nYes, I am very much in touch with my inner child and proud of it!  :-)\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nUrban Outfitter\'s gift section is a treasure trove of goofiness.   I found the sound machine there (mentioned in \"this\" above), and I also found the Fortune Camera.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/2012/12/30/playdate-51-fortune-camera-for-2013/olympus-digital-camera-808/\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-11898\"><img class=\"alignnone size-medium wp-image-11898\" title=\"Fortune Camera\" alt=\"\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/PC200008-300x225.jpg\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nI took it upon myself to forecast 2013 for family and friends (technically my work colleagues) with the Fortune Camera.  Everyone was game.  (Or at least they pretended to be.)\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-size: medium; color: #800000;\"><strong>Who wouldn\'t enjoy a snapshot of their future?</strong></span>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nI was VERY EXCITED about this Fortune Camera.  I\'m one of those people who hangs selected fortune cookie fortunes on her fridge and at her desk.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nIn fact, I was SO THRILLED with the idea of this camera that I spent 12 buckaroos on the camera itself and then another 16 buckaroos on old-fashioned film development accompanied by a disk for easy uploading of these foto fortunes to the blog.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nHumbug.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nYou\'ll see what I mean in a sec.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nWithout further adieu, let\'s get to our 2013 predictions!\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/2012/12/30/playdate-51-fortune-camera-for-2013/r1-03778-021a/\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-11903\"><img class=\"alignnone  wp-image-11903\" alt=\"Fortune Camera Fail #1\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/R1-03778-021A-1024x691.jpg\" width=\"614\" height=\"415\" /></a>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nO.k.  So I forgot to use the flash on the first photo.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nEven though the directions for using the flash were right in front of me on the box.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nBut I\'m used to automatic flash!  And you know how <a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/2012/12/22/playdate-49-wish-lanterns/\" target=\"_blank\"><strong>terrible I am when it comes to reading directions!  </strong></a>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/2012/12/30/playdate-51-fortune-camera-for-2013/olympus-digital-camera-809/\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-11901\"><img class=\"alignnone size-medium wp-image-11901\" alt=\"It helps to read directions first!\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/PC200020-300x225.jpg\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nFortunately, one of my first photo <del>victims</del> friends pointed out the directions to me almost immediately. There should have been one or two dark photos, but not ALL dark photos.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-size: medium; color: #333333;\"><strong>HUMBUG! </strong></span>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nWorld\'s Most Precious Niece\'s photo turned out nicely with an appropriately prophetic message.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/2012/12/30/playdate-51-fortune-camera-for-2013/r1-03778-004a/\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-11904\"><img class=\"alignnone  wp-image-11904\" alt=\"World\'s Most Precious Niece\'s Fortune Camera Prediction\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/R1-03778-004A-1024x691.jpg\" width=\"614\" height=\"415\" /></a>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nSo did Anonymous Male Reader\'s (pictured here with Anonymous Wifey).\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/2012/12/30/playdate-51-fortune-camera-for-2013/r1-03778-012a/\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-11905\"><img class=\"alignnone  wp-image-11905\" alt=\"Anonymous Male Reader, Anonymous Wifie, and  Practically Anonymous Fortune\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/R1-03778-012A-1024x691.jpg\" width=\"614\" height=\"415\" /></a>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nAs you can see, their fortune is Practically Anonymous, too.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-size: medium; color: #800000;\"><strong>28 buckaroos!  Humbug!</strong></span>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nI will spare the rest of my friends and fam and refrain from sharing their high quality glamor shots on the Interwebs.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-size: medium; color: #800000;\"><strong>Particularly embarrassing is the photo of a bunch of work colleagues with the fortune that reads \"in bed ☺\".</strong></span>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nNow, my work colleagues are dear friends and are like family to me, but I suspect that their photo could be an HR issue.  I know you\'re dying to see it, but I can\'t.  I just can\'t.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n(Look in your inboxes for your fortunes, friends and fam!  If you don\'t receive one, I apologize.  Yours was either pitch black along with mine or an HR issue.)\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nSince my fortune photo did not process (28 buckaroos!!!), I decided to pick one of the dark photos and imagine that it\'s mine.  I\'m really into that create your reality mumbo jumbo, so why the heck not?\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/2012/12/30/playdate-51-fortune-camera-for-2013/r1-03778-023a/\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-11906\"><img class=\"alignnone  wp-image-11906\" alt=\"Love is Everywhere in 2013!\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/R1-03778-023A-1024x691.jpg\" width=\"614\" height=\"415\" /></a>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n**********\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nUrban Outfitters, since I am a loyal novelty gift customer at your store, do you think I could get a replacement giftie for this dud of a fortune camera?  Nordies would do it.  :-D\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n**********\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nEnough with the faulty fortune cameras!  Let\'s make our own predictions for 2013!\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-size: medium; color: #800000;\"><strong>What would you like to welcome into your life in 2013?  Please share in the comments section below.  </strong></span>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;','Playdate #51:  Fortune Camera for 2013','','inherit','open','open','','11892-autosave','','','2013-01-20 15:21:07','2013-01-20 22:21:07','',11892,'http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/2012/12/30/11892-autosave/',0,'revision','',0),(11923,1,'2012-12-30 21:43:03','2012-12-31 04:43:03','I\'m a sucker for novelty items.  The quirkier the better.  Remember <a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/2011/08/18/day-324-my-inner-10-year-old-boy-came-out-to-play/\" target=\"_blank\"><strong>this</strong></a>?\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nYes, I am very much in touch with my inner child and proud of it!  :-)\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nUrban Outfitter\'s gift section is a treasure trove of goofiness.   I found the sound machine there (mentioned in \"this\" above), and I also found the Fortune Camera.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/2012/12/30/playdate-51-fortune-camera-for-2013/olympus-digital-camera-808/\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-11898\"><img class=\"alignnone size-medium wp-image-11898\" title=\"Fortune Camera\" alt=\"\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/PC200008-300x225.jpg\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nI took it upon myself to forecast 2013 for family and friends (technically my work colleagues) with the Fortune Camera.  Everyone was game.  (Or at least they pretended to be.)\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-size: medium; color: #800000;\"><strong>Who wouldn\'t enjoy a snapshot of their future?</strong></span>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nI was VERY EXCITED about this Fortune Camera.  I\'m one of those people who hangs selected fortune cookie fortunes on her fridge and at her desk.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nIn fact, I was SO THRILLED with the idea of this camera that I spent 12 buckaroos on the camera itself and then another 16 buckaroos on old-fashioned film development accompanied by a disk for easy uploading of these foto fortunes to the blog.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nHumbug.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nYou\'ll see what I mean in a sec.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nWithout further adieu, let\'s get to our 2013 predictions!\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/2012/12/30/playdate-51-fortune-camera-for-2013/r1-03778-021a/\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-11903\"><img class=\"alignnone  wp-image-11903\" alt=\"Fortune Camera Fail #1\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/R1-03778-021A-1024x691.jpg\" width=\"614\" height=\"415\" /></a>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nO.k.  So I forgot to use the flash on the first photo.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nEven though the directions for using the flash were right in front of me on the box.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nBut I\'m used to automatic flash!  And you know how <a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/2012/12/22/playdate-49-wish-lanterns/\" target=\"_blank\"><strong>terrible I am when it comes to reading directions!  </strong></a>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/2012/12/30/playdate-51-fortune-camera-for-2013/olympus-digital-camera-809/\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-11901\"><img class=\"alignnone size-medium wp-image-11901\" alt=\"It helps to read directions first!\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/PC200020-300x225.jpg\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nFortunately, one of my first photo <del>victims</del> friends pointed out the directions to me almost immediately.  There should have been one or two dark photos, but not ALL dark photos.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-size: medium; color: #333333;\"><strong>HUMBUG! </strong></span>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nWorld\'s Most Precious Niece\'s photo turned out nicely with an appropriately prophetic message.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/2012/12/30/playdate-51-fortune-camera-for-2013/r1-03778-004a/\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-11904\"><img class=\"alignnone  wp-image-11904\" alt=\"World\'s Most Precious Niece\'s Fortune Camera Prediction\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/R1-03778-004A-1024x691.jpg\" width=\"614\" height=\"415\" /></a>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nSo did Anonymous Male Reader\'s (pictured here with Anonymous Wifey).\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/2012/12/30/playdate-51-fortune-camera-for-2013/r1-03778-012a/\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-11905\"><img class=\"alignnone  wp-image-11905\" alt=\"Anonymous Male Reader, Anonymous Wifie, and  Practically Anonymous Fortune\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/R1-03778-012A-1024x691.jpg\" width=\"614\" height=\"415\" /></a>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nAs you can see, their fortune is Practically Anonymous, too.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-size: medium; color: #800000;\"><strong>28 buckaroos!  Humbug!</strong></span>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nI will spare the rest of my friends and fam and refrain from sharing their high quality glamor shots on the Interwebs.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-size: medium; color: #800000;\"><strong>Particularly embarrassing is the photo of a bunch of work colleagues with the fortune that reads \"in bed ☺\".</strong></span>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nNow, my work colleagues are dear friends and are like family to me, but I suspect that their photo could be an HR issue.  I know you\'re dying to see it, but I can\'t.  I just can\'t.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n(Look in your inboxes for your fortunes, friends and fam!  If you don\'t receive one, I apologize.  Yours was either pitch black along with mine or an HR issue.)\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nSince my fortune photo did not process (28 buckaroos!!!), I decided to pick one of the dark photos and imagine that it\'s mine.  I\'m really into that create your reality mumbo jumbo, so why the heck not?\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/2012/12/30/playdate-51-fortune-camera-for-2013/r1-03778-023a/\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-11906\"><img class=\"alignnone  wp-image-11906\" alt=\"Love is Everywhere in 2013!\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/R1-03778-023A-1024x691.jpg\" width=\"614\" height=\"415\" /></a>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n**********\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nUrban Outfitters, since I am a loyal novelty gift customer at your store, do you think I could get a replacement giftie for this dud of a fortune camera?  Nordies would do it.  :-D\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n**********\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nEnough with the faulty fortune cameras!  Let\'s make our own predictions for 2013!\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<strong><span style=\"font-size: medium; color: #800000;\">What would you like to welcome into your life in 2013?  Please share in the comments section below.</span>  </strong>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;','Playdate #51:  Fortune Camera for 2013','','inherit','open','open','','11892-revision-24','','','2012-12-30 21:43:03','2012-12-31 04:43:03','',11892,'http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/2012/12/30/11892-revision-24/',0,'revision','',0),(11960,1,'2013-01-21 08:30:19','2013-01-21 15:30:19','[caption id=\"attachment_11975\" align=\"alignnone\" width=\"574\"]<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/2013/01/21/can-you-come-out-and-play/olympus-digital-camera-811/\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-11975\"><img class=\" wp-image-11975  \" alt=\"My Favorite Playdate of 2012. Which was as simple as singing with Melanie at her house. When I was a child, I sang my heart out every chance I could get. When time vacuums rob me of those chances as an adult, I get cranky and want to throw temper tantrums. Play: It does a soul and psyche good.\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/01/PA210003-1024x768.jpg\" width=\"574\" height=\"430\" /></a> My Favorite Playdate of 2012. Which was as simple as singing with Melanie at her house. When I was a child, I sang my heart out every chance I could get. When time vacuums rob me of those chances as an adult, I get cranky and want to throw temper tantrums. Play: It does a soul and psyche good.[/caption]\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nHello, friend.  How have you been?  How is the New Year treating you so far?\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nAs you may or may not have noticed, I haven\'t posted since January 1st.  Oopsie!\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nI decided to take a Blogcation.  And then promptly forgot to tell you about it.  I am so sorry!\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-size: medium;color: #008000\"><strong>Here\'s the scoop:</strong></span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-size: medium;color: #008000\"><strong> </strong></span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-size: medium;color: #008000\"><strong>As I mentioned in the last <a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/\" target=\"_blank\"><span style=\"color: #008000\">Zumbalicious post, </span></a>there are ch-ch-changes brewing behind the scenes at Diary of a Late Bloomer.</strong></span>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nWhat are these changes, you ask?  I would tell you, except that I am a big fan of surprises.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nAll I can reveal to you now is, \"Coming Soon To a Blogosphere Near You\".  I realize that this is a bit corny, but I\'m also a fan of corniness.  I was raised by a man from Kansas.  I can\'t help myself.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nDo I have a date for The Big Reveal?\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nHahahahahahahahahahahaha!!!!!  Uh....no.  I\'m as behind in my New Year\'s Resolutions as you are.  ☺\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nBut I <em>promise</em> that you will be the first to know.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-size: medium;color: #008000\"><strong>In the meantime, let\'s continue celebrating <a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/52-playdates/\" target=\"_blank\"><span style=\"color: #008000\">The Year of Play.</span></a>  </strong></span>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nAs we <del>grow older.</del>...<del>age.</del>... <em>evolve</em> through the years, we often lose touch of our sense of playfulness. Play brings us back to our innate sense of wonder that we delighted in as children.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-size: medium;color: #008000\"><strong>Have you felt less playful lately?  Is life getting in the way?  Have you wondered where your \"spark\" has gone?</strong></span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-size: medium;color: #008000\"><strong> </strong></span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-size: medium;color: #008000\"><strong>Well then it\'s time to light your inner sparkler, sister!  To get you started, I am assigning you one mini-adventure that\'s easy peasy. </strong></span>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nYOU CAN DO IT! And I have gold stars waiting for you to prove it!\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n&nbsp;\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://www.flickr.com/photos/pewari/3609957389/\" target=\"_blank\"><img class=\"alignnone size-medium wp-image-11986\" alt=\"3609957389_405f7e818f\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/01/3609957389_405f7e818f-300x236.jpg\" width=\"300\" height=\"236\" /></a>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n&nbsp;\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nI was a teacher for 16 years.  I can\'t help myself.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-size: medium;color: #008000\"><strong>Here are the instructions for your sparkly, easy peasy lemon squeezy mini-adventure:</strong></span>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nI could set this up with a warm and fuzzy ritual such as asking you to unearth your journal, choose your favorite pen, light a candle, brew a spot of tea in a special mug, play a relaxing instrumental tune in the background, blah, blah, blah . . . .\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nWhich is all fine and dandy, but this is all you really need to do:\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<strong>1.  Close your eyes.  Breathe.  Think about your FAVORITE childhood pastime.</strong>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-size: medium;color: #008000\"><strong>What comes to mind?  Riding your bike?  Jumping rope?  Hoola hooping?  Walking barefoot through the grass?  Dancing with your friends?  Singing your little lungs out along with Olivia Newton John?  Jumping on the sofa while listening to Shaun Cassidy? (I just <del>aged</del> <em>evolved</em> myself, but it\'s all good.)</strong></span>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<strong>2.  Once you are reminded of your FAVORITE childhood pastime, get thee to a calendar.</strong>  I don\'t care if it\'s old school papery or techy-gadgety.  Just get thee to it.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<strong>3.  SCHEDULE a playdate with yourself.</strong>  That\'s right, girlfriends.  Set it in ink or cyber-ink.  It\'s a date.  And dates can\'t be broken.  Why, that\'s just rude!\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<strong>4.  On this date, you will someway somehow blissfuly dive into your FAVORITE childhood pastime.</strong> Invite a friend to join you if you are so inclined.  Playdates are double!!....triple!!!....quadruple!!!!....the fun with friends!\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<strong>5.</strong>  After your playdate -- when your heart is still sparkly from the play endorphins -- share your experience in the comments section below.  <strong>OR . . . . EVEN BETTER . . . . Write a guest blog post about your playdate.</strong>  I would be happy to post it right here on Diary of a Late Bloomer.  Feel free to include fabulous photos or videos of your playdate.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-size: medium;color: #008000\"><strong>Common Inner Critic Objections That Need to GO AWAY AND NEVER COME BACK ON ANY DAY:</strong></span>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<span style=\"color: #800000\"><strong>Objection A:</strong></span>  Yes, but . . . . Hoola hooping?  Who still has a hoola hoop? Mine was thrown out circa 1981.  \r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<span style=\"color: #008000\"><strong>Easy Peasy Solution:</strong></span>  Oh, the glories of the Interwebs!  <a href=\"http://www.midlandhardware.com/Wham-O-Marketing-Inc--Original-Hula-Hoop-81553-0106_p_197371.html?gdftrk=gdfV25189_a_7c1552_a_7c6274_a_7c496968\" target=\"_blank\"><strong>Here\'s one for $3.76.</strong> </a> Skip that Starbucks tomorrow and treat yourself to a hula hoop.  Your waist will thank you.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n&nbsp;\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/2013/01/21/can-you-come-out-and-play/olympus-digital-camera-812/\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-12011\"><img class=\"alignnone size-thumbnail wp-image-12011\" alt=\"OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/01/P1200005-150x150.jpg\" width=\"150\" height=\"150\" /></a><a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/2013/01/21/can-you-come-out-and-play/olympus-digital-camera-813/\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-12012\"><img class=\"alignnone size-thumbnail wp-image-12012\" alt=\"OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/01/P1200006-150x150.jpg\" width=\"150\" height=\"150\" /></a><a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/2013/01/21/can-you-come-out-and-play/olympus-digital-camera-814/\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-12013\"><img class=\"alignnone size-thumbnail wp-image-12013\" alt=\"OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/01/P1200004-150x150.jpg\" width=\"150\" height=\"150\" /></a>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n&nbsp;\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<span style=\"color: #800000\"><strong>Objection B:</strong></span>  Yes, but . . . . Shaun Cassidy?  I no longer have an 8-track player/cassette player/phonograph.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<span style=\"color: #008000\"><strong>Easy Peasy Solution:</strong> </span> Oh, the glories of YouTube!  Da doo ron ron ron, da doo ron ron!\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<iframe width=\"480\" height=\"360\" src=\"http://www.youtube.com/embed/l1nTfgUbW48\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen></iframe>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<span style=\"color: #800000\"><strong>Objection C:</strong> </span> Yes, but . . . . I work 2,654 hours per week. Who has time for play?!?!\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<strong><span style=\"color: #008000\">Easy Peasy Solution:</span>  </strong>Bopping and singing along to \"Da Doo Ron Ron\" will take you exactly 2 minutes and 42 seconds, and I GUARANTEE that it will add an extra smile and numerous endorphins to your day. How much time did you spend watching TV, catching up on the news, surfing the Internet, and/or posting on facebook today?\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<strong><span style=\"color: #800000\">Objection D:</span>  </strong>Yes, but . . . . My mother always reprimanded me about jumping on the sofa!!!\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<strong><span style=\"color: #008000\">Easy Peasy Solution:</span>  </strong>Come on!  Jumping on the sofa is the FUNNEST!  If you\'re as neurotic about your furniture as your mother, you can always pop in on a friend who has young children and corrupt them in the name of play and good memories.  You can see me ruining my dear friend\'s sofa <strong><a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/2011/03/27/day-180-i-crashed-a-slumber-party/\" target=\"_blank\">here.  </a></strong>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<strong><span style=\"font-size: medium;color: #008000\">Say, say my playmate.  Come out and play with me?  If so, please answer, \"Yes!\" or \"Yipppeeee!!!\" or \"Yay!\"  in the comments section below.  </span> </strong>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;','Can You Come Out and Play?','','publish','open','open','','can-you-come-out-and-play','','http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/52-playdates/\nhttp://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/2011/03/27/day-180-i-crashed-a-slumber-party/','2013-01-21 09:01:41','2013-01-21 16:01:41','',0,'http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/?p=11960',0,'post','',12),(11926,1,'2013-01-01 15:02:48','2013-01-01 22:02:48','One year ago today I kicked off The Year of Play with a <a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/2012/01/12/playdate-1-just-dancing-fools/\" target=\"_blank\"><strong>dance off </strong></a>with World\'s Most Precious Niece.  In December 2012, I ended the year by Zumba-ing my tushie off with my Nana.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nTechnically, this was a parallel playdate because Nana lives in Florida.  On a fine and crisp Saturday morning, Nana checked into her weekly Zumba class in Florida while I tried one out for the first time in Arizona.  Nana had been raving about Zumba for ages, and I was curious to see what all the fuss was about.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nYes, that\'s right.  I am a newbie, but Nana Zumbas regularly.  She\'s 91.  (You may have met her a few months ago over <a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/2012/09/26/playdate-34-the-beach-house-is-where-the-heart-is/\" target=\"_blank\"><strong>here.</strong></a>)\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nMy seemingly Most Popular Facebook Post Ever happened on a whim (I\'m terrible at posting regularly to fb) and featured Nana.  This will give you a little glimpse into Nana\'s life and how she inspires others through her joie de vivre :\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/2013/01/01/playdate-52-zumba-with-nana/screen-shot-2012-12-31-at-3-36-19-pm/\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-11927\"><img class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-11927\" alt=\"http://www.facebook.com/diaryofalatebloomer\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/Screen-shot-2012-12-31-at-3.36.19-PM.png\" width=\"407\" height=\"815\" /></a>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nThat\'s my Nana!  It took her TWO WEEKS to get back to me after that phone call!\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nWas I annoyed?  Hardly.  Instead, I was OVERJOYED that she is having so many adventures that she forgets to call her first-born grandchild.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-size: medium; color: #339966;\"><strong>You see, Nana nearly died a year ago last November.</strong></span>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nShe suffered a bad fall, hit her head, and developed a clot on her brain.  The doctor explained to my family that her injury was cause to operate on a younger person, but brain surgery was out of the question for a then 90 year-old.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nThe doctor changed his mind days later when Nana\'s condition worsened.  She wasn\'t eating (this is about as normal for a Portuguese woman as it is for an Italian!), her speech was slurred, and she was confused.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nWhen I talked to her on the phone the night before the surgery, I thought that was the last time I would hear my grandmother\'s voice.  How many 90 year-olds survive brain surgery?  Even the doctor advised against it until there was no other option.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-size: medium; color: #339966;\"><strong>13 months later . . . . </strong></span>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nNana is living the life with her sister at the Senior Dorm.  In addition to the activities listed above, she is also a regular at Sit and Be Fit, Bible Study, Choir Practice and receives dancing invitations from gentleman callers at Happy Hour.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nOh, and I should probably also mention that at age 76, Nana was in a horrific car accident and was life-flighted to the nearest trauma center.  After making it through days in ICU, she was finally released to a hospital room.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nLater that night, we were called to the hospital at 1 a.m. to say our goodbyes.  Nana was hemorrhaging uncontrollably through her nose. She was back in ICU, and she was on her last blood transfusion.  Miraculously, an ER doctor came to the rescue and saved her life by inserting a urinary catheter (of all things!) up her nose.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-size: medium; color: #339966;\"><strong>Not only is Nana the poster child for Late Blooming, but she is also the second coming of the Energizer Bunny!  :-)</strong></span>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nMy apologies for the long backstory, but I think Nana\'s story is absolutely remarkable and serves as an inspirational lesson to us all.  (And I didn\'t even delve into the 6 month depression post-brain surgery accompanied by Nana\'s refusal to leave the beautiful home my late grandfather built for her in order to move into the Senior Dorm!)\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-size: medium; color: #339966;\"><strong>Just when Nana thought her life was doomed, she bloomed.  </strong></span>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nWhich brings us full circle to Zumba.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nIf you are unfamiliar with Zumba, here\'s the lowdown taken directly from their website:<em> \"Are you ready to party yourself into shape? That’s exactly what the Zumba<sup>®</sup> program is all about. It’s an exhilarating, effective, easy-to-follow, Latin-inspired, calorie-burning dance fitness-party™ that’s moving millions of people toward joy and health.\"</em>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-size: medium; color: #339966;\"><strong>Listen, I\'m not one of those dancy-dancy types.  </strong></span>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nDid I ever take dance as a child?  No.  Was I on drill team in high school?  No.  Have I ever in my entire life felt cool or comfortable dancing in a group setting such as Homecoming, Prom, or at a dive bar or club?  Hell no!\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nDid I dance in the chorus in theatrical productions in high school and college?  Technically, \"yes\", but . . . . that\'s chorus dancing.  That\'s not the same thing as \"shake your foxy groove thing\" dancing.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nIn other words, I never tried Zumba because I was <em>intimidated</em> by Zumba.  This white girl can\'t dance.  Which is puzzling because I\'m 50% Portuguese.  Somehow we didn\'t receive the innate hip shaking gene that other women of Latin origin share.  Think about Spanish and Brazilian women.  They shake their bon bons effortlessly.  Portuguese women?  Not so much.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-size: medium; color: #339966;\"><strong>But it\'s never too late to learn!  Can bon bon shaking be taught?  I showed up to Zumba class to find out.</strong></span>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nI was greeted by Erika, a sexy spitfire of an instructor decked out in hottie Zumba dance wear.  Yes, apparently there is a Zumba clothing line.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nErika welcomed me to class (I was the only newbie in a room of about 40) and advised me to follow along the best that I could while remembering to have fun.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nThe electric music started pulsing, and we were off!  I followed along the best I could while dodging dancing women coming at me from all angles.  I laughed it off in the spirit of fun and fitness.  This is one of the gifts of being 40-something.  In my 20s, I would have felt self-conscious.  At 43, I found it amusing.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_11940\" align=\"alignnone\" width=\"300\"]<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/2013/01/01/playdate-52-zumba-with-nana/img00331-20121208-1017/\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-11940\"><img class=\"size-medium wp-image-11940 \" alt=\"Zumba is fast-paced, so trying to capture a photo with a Crackberry proved useless.  It\'s sort of fitting, however, because my Nana has always taken blurry photos, and since this somewhat of a tribute to her . . . . :-D \" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/01/IMG00331-20121208-1017-300x225.jpg\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a> Zumba is fast-paced, so trying to capture a photo with a Crackberry proved useless. It\'s sort of fitting, however, because my Nana has always taken blurry photos, and since this blog post is somewhat of a tribute to her . . . . :-D[/caption]\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nI was surprised at how quickly I adapted to the class.  My favorite moves were -- you guessed it! -- the bon bon shaking and the chest shimmies.  Even though I still felt a bit clunky.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nI could go on and on about the class, but let me just say that I was hooked on Zumba in about . . . . oh . . . . 5 minutes.  Zumba is addictive! The music and routines change about every 3 minutes, and it\'s easier to follow than I thought.  Of course, there were challenging bits, but challenges help us grow.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nMy only regret was that I made the brilliant breakfast choice of a green smoothie, waffles and coffee about an hour before class.  :-p  DO NOT DO THIS AT HOME!  Zumba is a real workout!\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nI met up with Erika after class and asked thoughtful questions relating to Zumba and bon bon shaking.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-size: medium; color: #339966;\"><strong>Erika, an innate bon bon shaker of Latin origin, assured me shaking your bon bon like nobody\'s business is a skill that can be learned and honed through regular Zumba practice!</strong></span>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nThat\'s all I need to hear.  I am now a member of the Y and will be Zumba-ing my bootie off every Saturday morning along with Nana.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nHow was Nana\'s Zumba class?  I hoped to obtain a photo for you.  Nana may be an active 91 year-old, but she is clueless about technology.  Apparently, so are all of her cronies.  NO ONE knew how to take a photo with their phone and text it to me.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nNana raved about the Zumba music and her instructor who \"has the most beautiful figure\".  She then veered off into a tangent regarding another recently discovered passion that she previously mentioned in a letter:\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/2013/01/01/playdate-52-zumba-with-nana/olympus-digital-camera-810/\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-11947\"><img class=\"alignnone  wp-image-11947\" alt=\"Letter from Nana\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/01/P1010001-1024x768.jpg\" width=\"614\" height=\"461\" /></a>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nI don\'t think Helmark\'s wife needs to worry.  ☺\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nI can only hope that in my later years, this apple continues to stick close to the tree.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n**********\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-size: medium; color: #339966;\"><strong>Have you ever Zumba\'d?  </strong></span>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-size: medium; color: #339966;\"><strong>Is there anything you are burning to try in 2013?  Please share in the comments section below.</strong>  </span>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n**********\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nAnd this, Ladies and 3 Token Gents, concludes The Year of Play.  Thank you for being a part of the shenanigans!  I appreciate your support and readership more than you know.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nWhat\'s next for Diary of a Late Bloomer? Ch-ch-ch-changes!\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nStay tuned . . . .\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;','Playdate #52:  Zumba with Nana','','publish','open','open','','playdate-52-zumba-with-nana','','http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/2012/01/12/playdate-1-just-dancing-fools/\nhttp://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/2012/09/26/playdate-34-the-beach-house-is-where-the-heart-is/','2013-01-01 15:10:23','2013-01-01 22:10:23','',0,'http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/?p=11926',0,'post','',13),(11927,1,'2012-12-31 15:41:07','2012-12-31 22:41:07','','http://www.facebook.com/diaryofalatebloomer','','inherit','open','open','','screen-shot-2012-12-31-at-3-36-19-pm','','','2012-12-31 15:41:07','2012-12-31 22:41:07','',11926,'http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/Screen-shot-2012-12-31-at-3.36.19-PM.png',0,'attachment','image/png',0),(11928,1,'2012-12-31 16:12:05','2012-12-31 23:12:05','I began the year with a <strong>dance off playdate</strong> with World\'s Most Precious Niece.  I ended the year Zumba-ing my tushie off with my Nana.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nTechnically, this was a parallel playdate because Nana lives in Florida.  On a fine and crisp Saturday morning, Nana checked into her weekly Zumba class in Florida while I tried one out for the first time in Arizona.  Nana had been raving about Zumba for ages, and I was curious to see what all the fuss was about.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nYes, that\'s right.  I am a newbie, but Nana Zumbas regularly.  She\'s 91.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nMy seemingly Most Popular Facebook Post Ever happened on a whim (I\'m terrible at posting regularly to fb) and featured Nana.  This will give you a little glimpse into Nana\'s life and how she inspires others through her joie de vivre :\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/?attachment_id=11927\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-11927\"><img class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-11927\" alt=\"http://www.facebook.com/diaryofalatebloomer\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/Screen-shot-2012-12-31-at-3.36.19-PM.png\" width=\"407\" height=\"815\" /></a>\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\nThat\'s my Nana!  It took her TWO WEEKS to get back to me after that phone call!\n\n&nbsp;\n\nWas I annoyed?  Hardly.  Instead, I was OVERJOYED that she is having so much fun that she forgets to call her first-born grandchild.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nYou see, Nana nearly died a year ago last November.  She suffered a bad fall, hit her head, and developed a clot on her brain.  The doctor explained to my family that her injury was cause to operate on a younger person, but brain surgery was out of the question for a 90 year-old.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nThe doctor changed his mind days later when Nana\'s condition worsened.  She wasn\'t eating (this is about as normal for a Portuguese woman as it is for an Italian!), her speech was slurred, and she was confused.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nWhen I talked to her on the phone the night before the surgery, I thought that was the last time I would hear my grandmother\'s voice.  How many 90 year-olds survive brain surgery?  Even the doctor advised against it until there was no other option.\n\n&nbsp;\n\n13 months later . . . .\n\n&nbsp;\n\nNana is living the life with her sister at the Senior Dorm.  In addition to the activities listed above, she is also a regular at Sit and Be Fit, Bible Study, Choir Practice and receives dancing invitations at Happy Hour.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nOh, and it\'s too long to go in to, but at age 76, Nana was in a horrific car accident as was life-flighted to the nearest trauma center.  After making it through days in ICU, she was finally released to a hospital room.  But then that night, we were called to the hospital at 1 a.m. to say our goodbyes.  Nana was hemorrhaging uncontrollably through her nose, and she was on her last blood transfusion.  An ER doctor came to the rescue and saved her life by inserting a urinary catheter up her nose.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nNot only is Nana the poster child for Late Blooming, but she is also the second coming of the Energizer Bunny!  :-)\n\n&nbsp;\n\nMy apologies for the long backstory,\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;','Playdate #52:  Zumba with Nana','','inherit','open','open','','11926-revision','','','2012-12-31 16:12:05','2012-12-31 23:12:05','',11926,'http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/2012/12/31/11926-revision/',0,'revision','',0),(11929,1,'2012-12-31 16:14:05','2012-12-31 23:14:05','I began the year with a <strong>dance off playdate</strong> with World\'s Most Precious Niece.  I ended the year Zumba-ing my tushie off with my Nana.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nTechnically, this was a parallel playdate because Nana lives in Florida.  On a fine and crisp Saturday morning, Nana checked into her weekly Zumba class in Florida while I tried one out for the first time in Arizona.  Nana had been raving about Zumba for ages, and I was curious to see what all the fuss was about.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nYes, that\'s right.  I am a newbie, but Nana Zumbas regularly.  She\'s 91.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nMy seemingly Most Popular Facebook Post Ever happened on a whim (I\'m terrible at posting regularly to fb) and featured Nana.  This will give you a little glimpse into Nana\'s life and how she inspires others through her joie de vivre :\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/?attachment_id=11927\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-11927\"><img class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-11927\" alt=\"http://www.facebook.com/diaryofalatebloomer\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/Screen-shot-2012-12-31-at-3.36.19-PM.png\" width=\"407\" height=\"815\" /></a>\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\nThat\'s my Nana!  It took her TWO WEEKS to get back to me after that phone call!\n\n&nbsp;\n\nWas I annoyed?  Hardly.  Instead, I was OVERJOYED that she is having so much fun that she forgets to call her first-born grandchild.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nYou see, Nana nearly died a year ago last November.  She suffered a bad fall, hit her head, and developed a clot on her brain.  The doctor explained to my family that her injury was cause to operate on a younger person, but brain surgery was out of the question for a 90 year-old.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nThe doctor changed his mind days later when Nana\'s condition worsened.  She wasn\'t eating (this is about as normal for a Portuguese woman as it is for an Italian!), her speech was slurred, and she was confused.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nWhen I talked to her on the phone the night before the surgery, I thought that was the last time I would hear my grandmother\'s voice.  How many 90 year-olds survive brain surgery?  Even the doctor advised against it until there was no other option.\n\n&nbsp;\n\n<strong>13 months later . . . . </strong>\n\n&nbsp;\n\nNana is living the life with her sister at the Senior Dorm.  In addition to the activities listed above, she is also a regular at Sit and Be Fit, Bible Study, Choir Practice and receives dancing invitations at Happy Hour.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nOh, and I should probably also mention that at age 76, Nana was in a horrific car accident and was life-flighted to the nearest trauma center.  After making it through days in ICU, she was finally released to a hospital room.  But then that night, we were called to the hospital at 1 a.m. to say our goodbyes.  Nana was hemorrhaging uncontrollably through her nose, and she was on her last blood transfusion.  An ER doctor came to the rescue and saved her life by inserting a urinary catheter (of all things!) up her nose.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nNot only is Nana the poster child for Late Blooming, but she is also the second coming of the Energizer Bunny!  :-)\n\n&nbsp;\n\nMy apologies for the long backstory, but I\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;','Playdate #52:  Zumba with Nana','','inherit','open','open','','11926-revision-2','','','2012-12-31 16:14:05','2012-12-31 23:14:05','',11926,'http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/2012/12/31/11926-revision-2/',0,'revision','',0),(11930,1,'2012-12-31 16:18:05','2012-12-31 23:18:05','I began the year with a <strong>dance off playdate</strong> with World\'s Most Precious Niece.  I ended the year Zumba-ing my tushie off with my Nana.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nTechnically, this was a parallel playdate because Nana lives in Florida.  On a fine and crisp Saturday morning, Nana checked into her weekly Zumba class in Florida while I tried one out for the first time in Arizona.  Nana had been raving about Zumba for ages, and I was curious to see what all the fuss was about.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nYes, that\'s right.  I am a newbie, but Nana Zumbas regularly.  She\'s 91.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nMy seemingly Most Popular Facebook Post Ever happened on a whim (I\'m terrible at posting regularly to fb) and featured Nana.  This will give you a little glimpse into Nana\'s life and how she inspires others through her joie de vivre :\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/?attachment_id=11927\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-11927\"><img class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-11927\" alt=\"http://www.facebook.com/diaryofalatebloomer\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/Screen-shot-2012-12-31-at-3.36.19-PM.png\" width=\"407\" height=\"815\" /></a>\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\nThat\'s my Nana!  It took her TWO WEEKS to get back to me after that phone call!\n\n&nbsp;\n\nWas I annoyed?  Hardly.  Instead, I was OVERJOYED that she is having so much fun that she forgets to call her first-born grandchild.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nYou see, Nana nearly died a year ago last November.  She suffered a bad fall, hit her head, and developed a clot on her brain.  The doctor explained to my family that her injury was cause to operate on a younger person, but brain surgery was out of the question for a 90 year-old.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nThe doctor changed his mind days later when Nana\'s condition worsened.  She wasn\'t eating (this is about as normal for a Portuguese woman as it is for an Italian!), her speech was slurred, and she was confused.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nWhen I talked to her on the phone the night before the surgery, I thought that was the last time I would hear my grandmother\'s voice.  How many 90 year-olds survive brain surgery?  Even the doctor advised against it until there was no other option.\n\n&nbsp;\n\n<strong>13 months later . . . . </strong>\n\n&nbsp;\n\nNana is living the life with her sister at the Senior Dorm.  In addition to the activities listed above, she is also a regular at Sit and Be Fit, Bible Study, Choir Practice and receives dancing invitations at Happy Hour.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nOh, and I should probably also mention that at age 76, Nana was in a horrific car accident and was life-flighted to the nearest trauma center.  After making it through days in ICU, she was finally released to a hospital room.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nLater that night, we were called to the hospital at 1 a.m. to say our goodbyes.  Nana was hemorrhaging uncontrollably through her nose.  She was back in ICU, and she was on her last blood transfusion.  An ER doctor came to the rescue and saved her life by inserting a urinary catheter (of all things!) up her nose.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nNot only is Nana the poster child for Late Blooming, but she is also the second coming of the Energizer Bunny!  :-)\n\n&nbsp;\n\nMy apologies for the long backstory, but I\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;','Playdate #52:  Zumba with Nana','','inherit','open','open','','11926-revision-3','','','2012-12-31 16:18:05','2012-12-31 23:18:05','',11926,'http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/2012/12/31/11926-revision-3/',0,'revision','',0),(11931,1,'2012-12-31 16:24:06','2012-12-31 23:24:06','I began the year with a <strong>dance off playdate</strong> with World\'s Most Precious Niece.  I ended the year Zumba-ing my tushie off with my Nana.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nTechnically, this was a parallel playdate because Nana lives in Florida.  On a fine and crisp Saturday morning, Nana checked into her weekly Zumba class in Florida while I tried one out for the first time in Arizona.  Nana had been raving about Zumba for ages, and I was curious to see what all the fuss was about.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nYes, that\'s right.  I am a newbie, but Nana Zumbas regularly.  She\'s 91.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nMy seemingly Most Popular Facebook Post Ever happened on a whim (I\'m terrible at posting regularly to fb) and featured Nana.  This will give you a little glimpse into Nana\'s life and how she inspires others through her joie de vivre :\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/?attachment_id=11927\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-11927\"><img class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-11927\" alt=\"http://www.facebook.com/diaryofalatebloomer\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/Screen-shot-2012-12-31-at-3.36.19-PM.png\" width=\"407\" height=\"815\" /></a>\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\nThat\'s my Nana!  It took her TWO WEEKS to get back to me after that phone call!\n\n&nbsp;\n\nWas I annoyed?  Hardly.  Instead, I was OVERJOYED that she is having so much fun that she forgets to call her first-born grandchild.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nYou see, Nana nearly died a year ago last November.  She suffered a bad fall, hit her head, and developed a clot on her brain.  The doctor explained to my family that her injury was cause to operate on a younger person, but brain surgery was out of the question for a 90 year-old.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nThe doctor changed his mind days later when Nana\'s condition worsened.  She wasn\'t eating (this is about as normal for a Portuguese woman as it is for an Italian!), her speech was slurred, and she was confused.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nWhen I talked to her on the phone the night before the surgery, I thought that was the last time I would hear my grandmother\'s voice.  How many 90 year-olds survive brain surgery?  Even the doctor advised against it until there was no other option.\n\n&nbsp;\n\n<strong>13 months later . . . . </strong>\n\n&nbsp;\n\nNana is living the life with her sister at the Senior Dorm.  In addition to the activities listed above, she is also a regular at Sit and Be Fit, Bible Study, Choir Practice and receives dancing invitations at Happy Hour.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nOh, and I should probably also mention that at age 76, Nana was in a horrific car accident and was life-flighted to the nearest trauma center.  After making it through days in ICU, she was finally released to a hospital room.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nLater that night, we were called to the hospital at 1 a.m. to say our goodbyes.  Nana was hemorrhaging uncontrollably through her nose.  She was back in ICU, and she was on her last blood transfusion.  An ER doctor came to the rescue and saved her life by inserting a urinary catheter (of all things!) up her nose.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nNot only is Nana the poster child for Late Blooming, but she is also the second coming of the Energizer Bunny!  :-)\n\n&nbsp;\n\nMy apologies for the long backstory, but I think her story is absolutely remarkable.  And I didn\'t even delve into the 6 month depression post-brain surgery, and her refusal to leave the beautiful home my late grandfather built for her in order to move into the Senior Dorm! Just when Nana tho\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;','Playdate #52:  Zumba with Nana','','inherit','open','open','','11926-revision-4','','','2012-12-31 16:24:06','2012-12-31 23:24:06','',11926,'http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/2012/12/31/11926-revision-4/',0,'revision','',0),(11932,1,'2012-12-31 16:25:06','2012-12-31 23:25:06','I began the year with a <strong>dance off playdate</strong> with World\'s Most Precious Niece.  I ended the year Zumba-ing my tushie off with my Nana.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nTechnically, this was a parallel playdate because Nana lives in Florida.  On a fine and crisp Saturday morning, Nana checked into her weekly Zumba class in Florida while I tried one out for the first time in Arizona.  Nana had been raving about Zumba for ages, and I was curious to see what all the fuss was about.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nYes, that\'s right.  I am a newbie, but Nana Zumbas regularly.  She\'s 91.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nMy seemingly Most Popular Facebook Post Ever happened on a whim (I\'m terrible at posting regularly to fb) and featured Nana.  This will give you a little glimpse into Nana\'s life and how she inspires others through her joie de vivre :\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/?attachment_id=11927\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-11927\"><img class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-11927\" alt=\"http://www.facebook.com/diaryofalatebloomer\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/Screen-shot-2012-12-31-at-3.36.19-PM.png\" width=\"407\" height=\"815\" /></a>\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\nThat\'s my Nana!  It took her TWO WEEKS to get back to me after that phone call!\n\n&nbsp;\n\nWas I annoyed?  Hardly.  Instead, I was OVERJOYED that she is having so much fun that she forgets to call her first-born grandchild.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nYou see, Nana nearly died a year ago last November.  She suffered a bad fall, hit her head, and developed a clot on her brain.  The doctor explained to my family that her injury was cause to operate on a younger person, but brain surgery was out of the question for a 90 year-old.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nThe doctor changed his mind days later when Nana\'s condition worsened.  She wasn\'t eating (this is about as normal for a Portuguese woman as it is for an Italian!), her speech was slurred, and she was confused.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nWhen I talked to her on the phone the night before the surgery, I thought that was the last time I would hear my grandmother\'s voice.  How many 90 year-olds survive brain surgery?  Even the doctor advised against it until there was no other option.\n\n&nbsp;\n\n<strong>13 months later . . . . </strong>\n\n&nbsp;\n\nNana is living the life with her sister at the Senior Dorm.  In addition to the activities listed above, she is also a regular at Sit and Be Fit, Bible Study, Choir Practice and receives dancing invitations at Happy Hour.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nOh, and I should probably also mention that at age 76, Nana was in a horrific car accident and was life-flighted to the nearest trauma center.  After making it through days in ICU, she was finally released to a hospital room.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nLater that night, we were called to the hospital at 1 a.m. to say our goodbyes.  Nana was hemorrhaging uncontrollably through her nose.  She was back in ICU, and she was on her last blood transfusion.  An ER doctor came to the rescue and saved her life by inserting a urinary catheter (of all things!) up her nose.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nNot only is Nana the poster child for Late Blooming, but she is also the second coming of the Energizer Bunny!  :-)\n\n&nbsp;\n\nMy apologies for the long backstory, but I think her story is absolutely remarkable.  And I didn\'t even delve into the 6 month depression post-brain surgery, and Nana\'s refusal to leave the beautiful home my late grandfather built for her in order to move into the Senior Dorm! Just when Nana thought her life was doomed, she bloomed.\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;','Playdate #52:  Zumba with Nana','','inherit','open','open','','11926-revision-5','','','2012-12-31 16:25:06','2012-12-31 23:25:06','',11926,'http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/2012/12/31/11926-revision-5/',0,'revision','',0),(11933,1,'2012-12-31 16:32:05','2012-12-31 23:32:05','I began the year with a <strong>dance off playdate</strong> with World\'s Most Precious Niece.  I ended the year Zumba-ing my tushie off with my Nana.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nTechnically, this was a parallel playdate because Nana lives in Florida.  On a fine and crisp Saturday morning, Nana checked into her weekly Zumba class in Florida while I tried one out for the first time in Arizona.  Nana had been raving about Zumba for ages, and I was curious to see what all the fuss was about.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nYes, that\'s right.  I am a newbie, but Nana Zumbas regularly.  She\'s 91.  (You may have met her a few months ago over <strong>here.</strong>)\n\n&nbsp;\n\nIf you are unfamiliar with Zumba, it is <strong>Here.</strong>\n\n&nbsp;\n\nMy seemingly Most Popular Facebook Post Ever happened on a whim (I\'m terrible at posting regularly to fb) and featured Nana.  This will give you a little glimpse into Nana\'s life and how she inspires others through her joie de vivre :\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/?attachment_id=11927\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-11927\"><img class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-11927\" alt=\"http://www.facebook.com/diaryofalatebloomer\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/Screen-shot-2012-12-31-at-3.36.19-PM.png\" width=\"407\" height=\"815\" /></a>\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\nThat\'s my Nana!  It took her TWO WEEKS to get back to me after that phone call!\n\n&nbsp;\n\nWas I annoyed?  Hardly.  Instead, I was OVERJOYED that she is having so much fun that she forgets to call her first-born grandchild.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nYou see, Nana nearly died a year ago last November.  She suffered a bad fall, hit her head, and developed a clot on her brain.  The doctor explained to my family that her injury was cause to operate on a younger person, but brain surgery was out of the question for a 90 year-old.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nThe doctor changed his mind days later when Nana\'s condition worsened.  She wasn\'t eating (this is about as normal for a Portuguese woman as it is for an Italian!), her speech was slurred, and she was confused.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nWhen I talked to her on the phone the night before the surgery, I thought that was the last time I would hear my grandmother\'s voice.  How many 90 year-olds survive brain surgery?  Even the doctor advised against it until there was no other option.\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n<strong>13 months later . . . . </strong>\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\nNana is living the life with her sister at the Senior Dorm.  In addition to the activities listed above, she is also a regular at Sit and Be Fit, Bible Study, Choir Practice and receives dancing invitations at Happy Hour.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nOh, and I should probably also mention that at age 76, Nana was in a horrific car accident and was life-flighted to the nearest trauma center.  After making it through days in ICU, she was finally released to a hospital room.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nLater that night, we were called to the hospital at 1 a.m. to say our goodbyes.  Nana was hemorrhaging uncontrollably through her nose.  She was back in ICU, and she was on her last blood transfusion.  Miraculously, an ER doctor came to the rescue and saved her life by inserting a urinary catheter (of all things!) up her nose.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nNot only is Nana the poster child for Late Blooming, but she is also the second coming of the Energizer Bunny!  :-)\n\n&nbsp;\n\nMy apologies for the long backstory, but I think her story is absolutely remarkable.  And I didn\'t even delve into the 6 month depression post-brain surgery, and Nana\'s refusal to leave the beautiful home my late grandfather built for her in order to move into the Senior Dorm!\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n<strong>Just when Nana thought her life was doomed, she bloomed.  </strong>\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\nWhich brings us full circle to Zumba.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nListen, I\'m not one of those dancy-dance exercise types.  Did I ever take dance as a child?  No.  Was I on drill team in high school?  No.  Did I dance in the chorus in theatrical productions in high school and college?  Technically, \"yes\", but that\'s chorus dancing.  That\'s not \"shake your sexy groove thing\" dancing.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nIn other words, I never tried Zumba because I was intimidated by Zumba.  This white girl can\'t dance.  Which is puzzling becau\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;','Playdate #52:  Zumba with Nana','','inherit','open','open','','11926-revision-6','','','2012-12-31 16:32:05','2012-12-31 23:32:05','',11926,'http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/2012/12/31/11926-revision-6/',0,'revision','',0),(11934,1,'2012-12-31 16:33:05','2012-12-31 23:33:05','I began the year with a <strong>dance off playdate</strong> with World\'s Most Precious Niece.  I ended the year Zumba-ing my tushie off with my Nana.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nTechnically, this was a parallel playdate because Nana lives in Florida.  On a fine and crisp Saturday morning, Nana checked into her weekly Zumba class in Florida while I tried one out for the first time in Arizona.  Nana had been raving about Zumba for ages, and I was curious to see what all the fuss was about.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nYes, that\'s right.  I am a newbie, but Nana Zumbas regularly.  She\'s 91.  (You may have met her a few months ago over <strong>here.</strong>)\n\n&nbsp;\n\nIf you are unfamiliar with Zumba, it is <strong>Here.</strong>\n\n&nbsp;\n\nMy seemingly Most Popular Facebook Post Ever happened on a whim (I\'m terrible at posting regularly to fb) and featured Nana.  This will give you a little glimpse into Nana\'s life and how she inspires others through her joie de vivre :\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/?attachment_id=11927\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-11927\"><img class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-11927\" alt=\"http://www.facebook.com/diaryofalatebloomer\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/Screen-shot-2012-12-31-at-3.36.19-PM.png\" width=\"407\" height=\"815\" /></a>\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\nThat\'s my Nana!  It took her TWO WEEKS to get back to me after that phone call!\n\n&nbsp;\n\nWas I annoyed?  Hardly.  Instead, I was OVERJOYED that she is having so much fun that she forgets to call her first-born grandchild.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nYou see, Nana nearly died a year ago last November.  She suffered a bad fall, hit her head, and developed a clot on her brain.  The doctor explained to my family that her injury was cause to operate on a younger person, but brain surgery was out of the question for a 90 year-old.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nThe doctor changed his mind days later when Nana\'s condition worsened.  She wasn\'t eating (this is about as normal for a Portuguese woman as it is for an Italian!), her speech was slurred, and she was confused.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nWhen I talked to her on the phone the night before the surgery, I thought that was the last time I would hear my grandmother\'s voice.  How many 90 year-olds survive brain surgery?  Even the doctor advised against it until there was no other option.\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n<strong>13 months later . . . . </strong>\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\nNana is living the life with her sister at the Senior Dorm.  In addition to the activities listed above, she is also a regular at Sit and Be Fit, Bible Study, Choir Practice and receives dancing invitations at Happy Hour.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nOh, and I should probably also mention that at age 76, Nana was in a horrific car accident and was life-flighted to the nearest trauma center.  After making it through days in ICU, she was finally released to a hospital room.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nLater that night, we were called to the hospital at 1 a.m. to say our goodbyes.  Nana was hemorrhaging uncontrollably through her nose.  She was back in ICU, and she was on her last blood transfusion.  Miraculously, an ER doctor came to the rescue and saved her life by inserting a urinary catheter (of all things!) up her nose.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nNot only is Nana the poster child for Late Blooming, but she is also the second coming of the Energizer Bunny!  :-)\n\n&nbsp;\n\nMy apologies for the long backstory, but I think her story is absolutely remarkable.  And I didn\'t even delve into the 6 month depression post-brain surgery, and Nana\'s refusal to leave the beautiful home my late grandfather built for her in order to move into the Senior Dorm!\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n<strong>Just when Nana thought her life was doomed, she bloomed.  </strong>\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\nWhich brings us full circle to Zumba.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nListen, I\'m not one of those dancy-dance exercise types.  Did I ever take dance as a child?  No.  Was I on drill team in high school?  No.  Did I dance in the chorus in theatrical productions in high school and college?  Technically, \"yes\", but . . . . that\'s chorus dancing.  That\'s not the same thing as \"shake your sexy groove thing\" dancing.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nIn other words, I never tried Zumba because I was <em>intimidated</em> by Zumba.  This white girl can\'t dance.  Which is puzzling because I\'m 50% Portuguese.\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;','Playdate #52:  Zumba with Nana','','inherit','open','open','','11926-revision-7','','','2012-12-31 16:33:05','2012-12-31 23:33:05','',11926,'http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/2012/12/31/11926-revision-7/',0,'revision','',0),(11935,1,'2012-12-31 16:35:08','2012-12-31 23:35:08','I began the year with a <strong>dance off playdate</strong> with World\'s Most Precious Niece.  I ended the year Zumba-ing my tushie off with my Nana.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nTechnically, this was a parallel playdate because Nana lives in Florida.  On a fine and crisp Saturday morning, Nana checked into her weekly Zumba class in Florida while I tried one out for the first time in Arizona.  Nana had been raving about Zumba for ages, and I was curious to see what all the fuss was about.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nYes, that\'s right.  I am a newbie, but Nana Zumbas regularly.  She\'s 91.  (You may have met her a few months ago over <strong>here.</strong>)\n\n&nbsp;\n\nIf you are unfamiliar with Zumba, it is <strong>Here.</strong>\n\n&nbsp;\n\nMy seemingly Most Popular Facebook Post Ever happened on a whim (I\'m terrible at posting regularly to fb) and featured Nana.  This will give you a little glimpse into Nana\'s life and how she inspires others through her joie de vivre :\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/?attachment_id=11927\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-11927\"><img class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-11927\" alt=\"http://www.facebook.com/diaryofalatebloomer\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/Screen-shot-2012-12-31-at-3.36.19-PM.png\" width=\"407\" height=\"815\" /></a>\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\nThat\'s my Nana!  It took her TWO WEEKS to get back to me after that phone call!\n\n&nbsp;\n\nWas I annoyed?  Hardly.  Instead, I was OVERJOYED that she is having so much fun that she forgets to call her first-born grandchild.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nYou see, Nana nearly died a year ago last November.  She suffered a bad fall, hit her head, and developed a clot on her brain.  The doctor explained to my family that her injury was cause to operate on a younger person, but brain surgery was out of the question for a 90 year-old.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nThe doctor changed his mind days later when Nana\'s condition worsened.  She wasn\'t eating (this is about as normal for a Portuguese woman as it is for an Italian!), her speech was slurred, and she was confused.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nWhen I talked to her on the phone the night before the surgery, I thought that was the last time I would hear my grandmother\'s voice.  How many 90 year-olds survive brain surgery?  Even the doctor advised against it until there was no other option.\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n<strong>13 months later . . . . </strong>\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\nNana is living the life with her sister at the Senior Dorm.  In addition to the activities listed above, she is also a regular at Sit and Be Fit, Bible Study, Choir Practice and receives dancing invitations at Happy Hour.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nOh, and I should probably also mention that at age 76, Nana was in a horrific car accident and was life-flighted to the nearest trauma center.  After making it through days in ICU, she was finally released to a hospital room.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nLater that night, we were called to the hospital at 1 a.m. to say our goodbyes.  Nana was hemorrhaging uncontrollably through her nose.  She was back in ICU, and she was on her last blood transfusion.  Miraculously, an ER doctor came to the rescue and saved her life by inserting a urinary catheter (of all things!) up her nose.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nNot only is Nana the poster child for Late Blooming, but she is also the second coming of the Energizer Bunny!  :-)\n\n&nbsp;\n\nMy apologies for the long backstory, but I think her story is absolutely remarkable.  And I didn\'t even delve into the 6 month depression post-brain surgery, and Nana\'s refusal to leave the beautiful home my late grandfather built for her in order to move into the Senior Dorm!\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n<strong>Just when Nana thought her life was doomed, she bloomed.  </strong>\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\nWhich brings us full circle to Zumba.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nListen, I\'m not one of those dancy-dancy types.  Did I ever take dance as a child?  No.  Was I on drill team in high school?  No.  Have I ever in my entire life felt cool or comfortable dancing in a group setting such as  Did I dance in the chorus in theatrical productions in high school and college?  Technically, \"yes\", but . . . . that\'s chorus dancing.  That\'s not the same thing as \"shake your sexy groove thing\" dancing.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nIn other words, I never tried Zumba because I was <em>intimidated</em> by Zumba.  This white girl can\'t dance.  Which is puzzling because I\'m 50% Portuguese.\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;','Playdate #52:  Zumba with Nana','','inherit','open','open','','11926-revision-8','','','2012-12-31 16:35:08','2012-12-31 23:35:08','',11926,'http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/2012/12/31/11926-revision-8/',0,'revision','',0),(11936,1,'2012-12-31 16:40:08','2012-12-31 23:40:08','I began the year with a <strong>dance off playdate</strong> with World\'s Most Precious Niece.  I ended the year Zumba-ing my tushie off with my Nana.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nTechnically, this was a parallel playdate because Nana lives in Florida.  On a fine and crisp Saturday morning, Nana checked into her weekly Zumba class in Florida while I tried one out for the first time in Arizona.  Nana had been raving about Zumba for ages, and I was curious to see what all the fuss was about.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nYes, that\'s right.  I am a newbie, but Nana Zumbas regularly.  She\'s 91.  (You may have met her a few months ago over <strong>here.</strong>)\n\n&nbsp;\n\nIf you are unfamiliar with Zumba, it is <strong>Here.</strong>\n\n&nbsp;\n\nMy seemingly Most Popular Facebook Post Ever happened on a whim (I\'m terrible at posting regularly to fb) and featured Nana.  This will give you a little glimpse into Nana\'s life and how she inspires others through her joie de vivre :\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/?attachment_id=11927\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-11927\"><img class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-11927\" alt=\"http://www.facebook.com/diaryofalatebloomer\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/Screen-shot-2012-12-31-at-3.36.19-PM.png\" width=\"407\" height=\"815\" /></a>\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\nThat\'s my Nana!  It took her TWO WEEKS to get back to me after that phone call!\n\n&nbsp;\n\nWas I annoyed?  Hardly.  Instead, I was OVERJOYED that she is having so much fun that she forgets to call her first-born grandchild.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nYou see, Nana nearly died a year ago last November.  She suffered a bad fall, hit her head, and developed a clot on her brain.  The doctor explained to my family that her injury was cause to operate on a younger person, but brain surgery was out of the question for a 90 year-old.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nThe doctor changed his mind days later when Nana\'s condition worsened.  She wasn\'t eating (this is about as normal for a Portuguese woman as it is for an Italian!), her speech was slurred, and she was confused.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nWhen I talked to her on the phone the night before the surgery, I thought that was the last time I would hear my grandmother\'s voice.  How many 90 year-olds survive brain surgery?  Even the doctor advised against it until there was no other option.\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n<strong>13 months later . . . . </strong>\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\nNana is living the life with her sister at the Senior Dorm.  In addition to the activities listed above, she is also a regular at Sit and Be Fit, Bible Study, Choir Practice and receives dancing invitations from gentleman callers at Happy Hour.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nOh, and I should probably also mention that at age 76, Nana was in a horrific car accident and was life-flighted to the nearest trauma center.  After making it through days in ICU, she was finally released to a hospital room.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nLater that night, we were called to the hospital at 1 a.m. to say our goodbyes.  Nana was hemorrhaging uncontrollably through her nose.  She was back in ICU, and she was on her last blood transfusion.  Miraculously, an ER doctor came to the rescue and saved her life by inserting a urinary catheter (of all things!) up her nose.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nNot only is Nana the poster child for Late Blooming, but she is also the second coming of the Energizer Bunny!  :-)\n\n&nbsp;\n\nMy apologies for the long backstory, but I think her story is absolutely remarkable.  And I didn\'t even delve into the 6 month depression post-brain surgery, and Nana\'s refusal to leave the beautiful home my late grandfather built for her in order to move into the Senior Dorm!\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n<strong>Just when Nana thought her life was doomed, she bloomed.  </strong>\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\nWhich brings us full circle to Zumba.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nListen, I\'m not one of those dancy-dancy types.  Did I ever take dance as a child?  No.  Was I on drill team in high school?  No.  Have I ever in my entire life felt cool or comfortable dancing in a group setting such as Homecoming, Prom, or at a dive bar or club?  Hell, no!\n\n&nbsp;\n\nDid I dance in the chorus in theatrical productions in high school and college?  Technically, \"yes\", but . . . . that\'s chorus dancing.  That\'s not the same thing as \"shake your sexy groove thing\" dancing.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nIn other words, I never tried Zumba because I was <em>intimidated</em> by Zumba.  This white girl can\'t dance.  Which is puzzling because I\'m 50% Portuguese.\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;','Playdate #52:  Zumba with Nana','','inherit','open','open','','11926-revision-9','','','2012-12-31 16:40:08','2012-12-31 23:40:08','',11926,'http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/2012/12/31/11926-revision-9/',0,'revision','',0),(11937,1,'2013-01-01 10:14:11','2013-01-01 17:14:11','I began the year with a <strong>dance off playdate</strong> with World\'s Most Precious Niece.  I ended the year Zumba-ing my tushie off with my Nana.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nTechnically, this was a parallel playdate because Nana lives in Florida.  On a fine and crisp Saturday morning, Nana checked into her weekly Zumba class in Florida while I tried one out for the first time in Arizona.  Nana had been raving about Zumba for ages, and I was curious to see what all the fuss was about.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nYes, that\'s right.  I am a newbie, but Nana Zumbas regularly.  She\'s 91.  (You may have met her a few months ago over <strong>here.</strong>)\n\n&nbsp;\n\nIf you are unfamiliar with Zumba, here\'s the lodown\n\n&nbsp;\n\nMy seemingly Most Popular Facebook Post Ever happened on a whim (I\'m terrible at posting regularly to fb) and featured Nana.  This will give you a little glimpse into Nana\'s life and how she inspires others through her joie de vivre :\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/?attachment_id=11927\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-11927\"><img class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-11927\" alt=\"http://www.facebook.com/diaryofalatebloomer\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/Screen-shot-2012-12-31-at-3.36.19-PM.png\" width=\"407\" height=\"815\" /></a>\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\nThat\'s my Nana!  It took her TWO WEEKS to get back to me after that phone call!\n\n&nbsp;\n\nWas I annoyed?  Hardly.  Instead, I was OVERJOYED that she is having so much fun that she forgets to call her first-born grandchild.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nYou see, Nana nearly died a year ago last November.  She suffered a bad fall, hit her head, and developed a clot on her brain.  The doctor explained to my family that her injury was cause to operate on a younger person, but brain surgery was out of the question for a 90 year-old.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nThe doctor changed his mind days later when Nana\'s condition worsened.  She wasn\'t eating (this is about as normal for a Portuguese woman as it is for an Italian!), her speech was slurred, and she was confused.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nWhen I talked to her on the phone the night before the surgery, I thought that was the last time I would hear my grandmother\'s voice.  How many 90 year-olds survive brain surgery?  Even the doctor advised against it until there was no other option.\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n<strong>13 months later . . . . </strong>\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\nNana is living the life with her sister at the Senior Dorm.  In addition to the activities listed above, she is also a regular at Sit and Be Fit, Bible Study, Choir Practice and receives dancing invitations from gentleman callers at Happy Hour.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nOh, and I should probably also mention that at age 76, Nana was in a horrific car accident and was life-flighted to the nearest trauma center.  After making it through days in ICU, she was finally released to a hospital room.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nLater that night, we were called to the hospital at 1 a.m. to say our goodbyes.  Nana was hemorrhaging uncontrollably through her nose.  She was back in ICU, and she was on her last blood transfusion.  Miraculously, an ER doctor came to the rescue and saved her life by inserting a urinary catheter (of all things!) up her nose.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nNot only is Nana the poster child for Late Blooming, but she is also the second coming of the Energizer Bunny!  :-)\n\n&nbsp;\n\nMy apologies for the long backstory, but I think her story is absolutely remarkable.  And I didn\'t even delve into the 6 month depression post-brain surgery, and Nana\'s refusal to leave the beautiful home my late grandfather built for her in order to move into the Senior Dorm!\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n<strong>Just when Nana thought her life was doomed, she bloomed.  </strong>\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\nWhich brings us full circle to Zumba.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nListen, I\'m not one of those dancy-dancy types.  Did I ever take dance as a child?  No.  Was I on drill team in high school?  No.  Have I ever in my entire life felt cool or comfortable dancing in a group setting such as Homecoming, Prom, or at a dive bar or club?  Hell no!\n\n&nbsp;\n\nDid I dance in the chorus in theatrical productions in high school and college?  Technically, \"yes\", but . . . . that\'s chorus dancing.  That\'s not the same thing as \"shake your sexy groove thing\" dancing.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nIn other words, I never tried Zumba because I was <em>intimidated</em> by Zumba.  This white girl can\'t dance.  Which is puzzling because I\'m 50% Portuguese.  Somehow we didn\'t receive the innate hip shaking gene that other women of Latin origin share.  Think about Spanish and Brazilian women.  They shake their bon bons effortlessly.  Portuguese women?  Not so much.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nUnless this is just my family.  If there are Portuguese women out there who disagree with me, speak now or forever hold your peace.\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;','Playdate #52:  Zumba with Nana','','inherit','open','open','','11926-revision-10','','','2013-01-01 10:14:11','2013-01-01 17:14:11','',11926,'http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/2013/01/01/11926-revision-10/',0,'revision','',0),(11938,1,'2013-01-01 11:02:13','2013-01-01 18:02:13','One year ago today I kicked off The Year of Play with a <strong>dance off </strong>with World\'s Most Precious Niece.  In December 2012, I ended the year Zumba-ing my tushie off with my Nana.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nTechnically, this was a parallel playdate because Nana lives in Florida.  On a fine and crisp Saturday morning, Nana checked into her weekly Zumba class in Florida while I tried one out for the first time in Arizona.  Nana had been raving about Zumba for ages, and I was curious to see what all the fuss was about.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nYes, that\'s right.  I am a newbie, but Nana Zumbas regularly.  She\'s 91.  (You may have met her a few months ago over <strong>here.</strong>)\n\n&nbsp;\n\nMy seemingly Most Popular Facebook Post Ever happened on a whim (I\'m terrible at posting regularly to fb) and featured Nana.  This will give you a little glimpse into Nana\'s life and how she inspires others through her joie de vivre :\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/?attachment_id=11927\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-11927\"><img class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-11927\" alt=\"http://www.facebook.com/diaryofalatebloomer\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/Screen-shot-2012-12-31-at-3.36.19-PM.png\" width=\"407\" height=\"815\" /></a>\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\nThat\'s my Nana!  It took her TWO WEEKS to get back to me after that phone call!\n\n&nbsp;\n\nWas I annoyed?  Hardly.  Instead, I was OVERJOYED that she is having so much fun that she forgets to call her first-born grandchild.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nYou see, Nana nearly died a year ago last November.  She suffered a bad fall, hit her head, and developed a clot on her brain.  The doctor explained to my family that her injury was cause to operate on a younger person, but brain surgery was out of the question for a 90 year-old.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nThe doctor changed his mind days later when Nana\'s condition worsened.  She wasn\'t eating (this is about as normal for a Portuguese woman as it is for an Italian!), her speech was slurred, and she was confused.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nWhen I talked to her on the phone the night before the surgery, I thought that was the last time I would hear my grandmother\'s voice.  How many 90 year-olds survive brain surgery?  Even the doctor advised against it until there was no other option.\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n<strong>13 months later . . . . </strong>\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\nNana is living the life with her sister at the Senior Dorm.  In addition to the activities listed above, she is also a regular at Sit and Be Fit, Bible Study, Choir Practice and receives dancing invitations from gentleman callers at Happy Hour.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nOh, and I should probably also mention that at age 76, Nana was in a horrific car accident and was life-flighted to the nearest trauma center.  After making it through days in ICU, she was finally released to a hospital room.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nLater that night, we were called to the hospital at 1 a.m. to say our goodbyes.  Nana was hemorrhaging uncontrollably through her nose.  She was back in ICU, and she was on her last blood transfusion.  Miraculously, an ER doctor came to the rescue and saved her life by inserting a urinary catheter (of all things!) up her nose.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nNot only is Nana the poster child for Late Blooming, but she is also the second coming of the Energizer Bunny!  :-)\n\n&nbsp;\n\nMy apologies for the long backstory, but I think her story is absolutely remarkable.  And I didn\'t even delve into the 6 month depression post-brain surgery, and Nana\'s refusal to leave the beautiful home my late grandfather built for her in order to move into the Senior Dorm!\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n<strong>Just when Nana thought her life was doomed, she bloomed.  </strong>\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\nWhich brings us full circle to Zumba.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nIf you are unfamiliar with Zumba, here\'s the lowdown taken directly from their website:  <em>Are you ready to party yourself into shape? That’s exactly what the Zumba<sup>®</sup> program is all about. It’s an exhilarating, effective, easy-to-follow, Latin-inspired, calorie-burning dance fitness-party™ that’s moving millions of people toward joy and health.</em>\n\n&nbsp;\n\nListen, I\'m not one of those dancy-dancy types.  Did I ever take dance as a child?  No.  Was I on drill team in high school?  No.  Have I ever in my entire life felt cool or comfortable dancing in a group setting such as Homecoming, Prom, or at a dive bar or club?  Hell no!\n\n&nbsp;\n\nDid I dance in the chorus in theatrical productions in high school and college?  Technically, \"yes\", but . . . . that\'s chorus dancing.  That\'s not the same thing as \"shake your sexy groove thing\" dancing.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nIn other words, I never tried Zumba because I was <em>intimidated</em> by Zumba.  This white girl can\'t dance.  Which is puzzling because I\'m 50% Portuguese.  Somehow we didn\'t receive the innate hip shaking gene that other women of Latin origin share.  Think about Spanish and Brazilian women.  They shake their bon bons effortlessly.  Portuguese women?  Not so much.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nBut it\'s never too late to learn!  Can bon bon shaking be taught?  I showed up to Zumba class to find out.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nI was greeted by Erika, a sexy spitfire of an instructor decked out in hottie Zumba dance wear.  Yes, apparently there is a Zumba clothing line.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nErika welcomed me to class (I was the only newbie in a room of about 40) and advised me to follow along the best that I could while having fun.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nThe electrifying music started pulsing, and we were off!  I followed along the best I could while dodging dancing women coming at me from all angles.  I laughed it off in the spirit of fun and fitness.  This is one of the gifts of being 40-something.  In my 20s, I would have felt self-conscious.  At 43, I find it amusing.\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\nI was surprised at how quickly I adapted to the class.  My favorite moves were -- you guessed it! -- the bon bon shaking and the chest shimmies.  Even though I still felt a bit clunky.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nI could go on and on about the class, but let me just say that I was hooked in about . . . . oh . . . . 5 minutes.  Zumba is addictive!  The music and routines change about every 3 minutes, and it\'s easier to follow than I thought.  Of course, there were challenging bits, but challenges help us grow.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nMy only regret was that I made the brilliant breakfast choice of waffles and coffee about an hour before class.  :-p  DO NOT DO THIS AT HOME!  Zumba is a real workout!\n\n&nbsp;\n\nI met up with Erika after class and asked thoughtful questions relating to Zumba and bon bon shaking.  Erika (an innate bon bon shaker of Latin origin) assured me shaking your bon bon like nobody\'s business is a skill that can be learned through regular Zumba!\n\n&nbsp;\n\nThat\'s all I need to hear.  I am now a member of the Y and will be Zumba-ing my bootie off on Saturday mornings along with Nana.\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;','Playdate #52:  Zumba with Nana','','inherit','open','open','','11926-revision-11','','','2013-01-01 11:02:13','2013-01-01 18:02:13','',11926,'http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/2013/01/01/11926-revision-11/',0,'revision','',0),(11939,1,'2013-01-01 11:06:41','2013-01-01 18:06:41','One year ago today I kicked off The Year of Play with a <strong>dance off </strong>with World\'s Most Precious Niece.  In December 2012, I ended the year Zumba-ing my tushie off with my Nana.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nTechnically, this was a parallel playdate because Nana lives in Florida.  On a fine and crisp Saturday morning, Nana checked into her weekly Zumba class in Florida while I tried one out for the first time in Arizona.  Nana had been raving about Zumba for ages, and I was curious to see what all the fuss was about.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nYes, that\'s right.  I am a newbie, but Nana Zumbas regularly.  She\'s 91.  (You may have met her a few months ago over <strong>here.</strong>)\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nMy seemingly Most Popular Facebook Post Ever happened on a whim (I\'m terrible at posting regularly to fb) and featured Nana.  This will give you a little glimpse into Nana\'s life and how she inspires others through her joie de vivre :\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/?attachment_id=11927\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-11927\"><img class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-11927\" alt=\"http://www.facebook.com/diaryofalatebloomer\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/Screen-shot-2012-12-31-at-3.36.19-PM.png\" width=\"407\" height=\"815\" /></a>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nThat\'s my Nana!  It took her TWO WEEKS to get back to me after that phone call!\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nWas I annoyed?  Hardly.  Instead, I was OVERJOYED that she is having so much fun that she forgets to call her first-born grandchild.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nYou see, Nana nearly died a year ago last November.  She suffered a bad fall, hit her head, and developed a clot on her brain.  The doctor explained to my family that her injury was cause to operate on a younger person, but brain surgery was out of the question for a 90 year-old.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nThe doctor changed his mind days later when Nana\'s condition worsened.  She wasn\'t eating (this is about as normal for a Portuguese woman as it is for an Italian!), her speech was slurred, and she was confused.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nWhen I talked to her on the phone the night before the surgery, I thought that was the last time I would hear my grandmother\'s voice.  How many 90 year-olds survive brain surgery?  Even the doctor advised against it until there was no other option.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<strong>13 months later . . . . </strong>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nNana is living the life with her sister at the Senior Dorm.  In addition to the activities listed above, she is also a regular at Sit and Be Fit, Bible Study, Choir Practice and receives dancing invitations from gentleman callers at Happy Hour.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nOh, and I should probably also mention that at age 76, Nana was in a horrific car accident and was life-flighted to the nearest trauma center.  After making it through days in ICU, she was finally released to a hospital room.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nLater that night, we were called to the hospital at 1 a.m. to say our goodbyes.  Nana was hemorrhaging uncontrollably through her nose.  She was back in ICU, and she was on her last blood transfusion.  Miraculously, an ER doctor came to the rescue and saved her life by inserting a urinary catheter (of all things!) up her nose.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nNot only is Nana the poster child for Late Blooming, but she is also the second coming of the Energizer Bunny!  :-)\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nMy apologies for the long backstory, but I think her story is absolutely remarkable.  And I didn\'t even delve into the 6 month depression post-brain surgery, and Nana\'s refusal to leave the beautiful home my late grandfather built for her in order to move into the Senior Dorm!\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<strong>Just when Nana thought her life was doomed, she bloomed.  </strong>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nWhich brings us full circle to Zumba.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nIf you are unfamiliar with Zumba, here\'s the lowdown taken directly from their website:  <em>Are you ready to party yourself into shape? That’s exactly what the Zumba<sup>®</sup> program is all about. It’s an exhilarating, effective, easy-to-follow, Latin-inspired, calorie-burning dance fitness-party™ that’s moving millions of people toward joy and health.</em>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nListen, I\'m not one of those dancy-dancy types.  Did I ever take dance as a child?  No.  Was I on drill team in high school?  No.  Have I ever in my entire life felt cool or comfortable dancing in a group setting such as Homecoming, Prom, or at a dive bar or club?  Hell no!\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nDid I dance in the chorus in theatrical productions in high school and college?  Technically, \"yes\", but . . . . that\'s chorus dancing.  That\'s not the same thing as \"shake your sexy groove thing\" dancing.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nIn other words, I never tried Zumba because I was <em>intimidated</em> by Zumba.  This white girl can\'t dance.  Which is puzzling because I\'m 50% Portuguese.  Somehow we didn\'t receive the innate hip shaking gene that other women of Latin origin share.  Think about Spanish and Brazilian women.  They shake their bon bons effortlessly.  Portuguese women?  Not so much.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nBut it\'s never too late to learn!  Can bon bon shaking be taught?  I showed up to Zumba class to find out.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nI was greeted by Erika, a sexy spitfire of an instructor decked out in hottie Zumba dance wear.  Yes, apparently there is a Zumba clothing line.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nErika welcomed me to class (I was the only newbie in a room of about 40) and advised me to follow along the best that I could while having fun.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nThe electrifying music started pulsing, and we were off!  I followed along the best I could while dodging dancing women coming at me from all angles.  I laughed it off in the spirit of fun and fitness.  This is one of the gifts of being 40-something.  In my 20s, I would have felt self-conscious.  At 43, I find it amusing.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nI was surprised at how quickly I adapted to the class.  My favorite moves were -- you guessed it! -- the bon bon shaking and the chest shimmies.  Even though I still felt a bit clunky.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nI could go on and on about the class, but let me just say that I was hooked in about . . . . oh . . . . 5 minutes.  Zumba is addictive!  The music and routines change about every 3 minutes, and it\'s easier to follow than I thought.  Of course, there were challenging bits, but challenges help us grow.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nMy only regret was that I made the brilliant breakfast choice of waffles and coffee about an hour before class.  :-p  DO NOT DO THIS AT HOME!  Zumba is a real workout!\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nI met up with Erika after class and asked thoughtful questions relating to Zumba and bon bon shaking.  Erika (an innate bon bon shaker of Latin origin) assured me shaking your bon bon like nobody\'s business is a skill that can be learned through regular Zumba!\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nThat\'s all I need to hear.  I am now a member of the Y and will be Zumba-ing my bootie off on Saturday mornings along with Nana.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;','Playdate #52:  Zumba with Nana','','inherit','open','open','','11926-revision-12','','','2013-01-01 11:06:41','2013-01-01 18:06:41','',11926,'http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/2013/01/01/11926-revision-12/',0,'revision','',0),(11940,1,'2013-01-01 11:07:38','2013-01-01 18:07:38','','My First Zumba Class','Zumba is fast-paced, so trying to capture a photo with a Crackberry proved useless.  It\'s sort of fitting, however, because my Nana has always taken blurry photos, and since this somewhat of a tribute to her . . . . :-D ','inherit','open','open','','img00331-20121208-1017','','','2013-01-01 11:07:38','2013-01-01 18:07:38','',11926,'http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/01/IMG00331-20121208-1017.jpg',0,'attachment','image/jpeg',0),(11941,1,'2013-01-01 11:11:19','2013-01-01 18:11:19','One year ago today I kicked off The Year of Play with a <strong>dance off </strong>with World\'s Most Precious Niece.  In December 2012, I ended the year Zumba-ing my tushie off with my Nana.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nTechnically, this was a parallel playdate because Nana lives in Florida.  On a fine and crisp Saturday morning, Nana checked into her weekly Zumba class in Florida while I tried one out for the first time in Arizona.  Nana had been raving about Zumba for ages, and I was curious to see what all the fuss was about.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nYes, that\'s right.  I am a newbie, but Nana Zumbas regularly.  She\'s 91.  (You may have met her a few months ago over <strong>here.</strong>)\n\n&nbsp;\n\nMy seemingly Most Popular Facebook Post Ever happened on a whim (I\'m terrible at posting regularly to fb) and featured Nana.  This will give you a little glimpse into Nana\'s life and how she inspires others through her joie de vivre :\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/?attachment_id=11927\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-11927\"><img class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-11927\" alt=\"http://www.facebook.com/diaryofalatebloomer\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/Screen-shot-2012-12-31-at-3.36.19-PM.png\" width=\"407\" height=\"815\" /></a>\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\nThat\'s my Nana!  It took her TWO WEEKS to get back to me after that phone call!\n\n&nbsp;\n\nWas I annoyed?  Hardly.  Instead, I was OVERJOYED that she is having so much fun that she forgets to call her first-born grandchild.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nYou see, Nana nearly died a year ago last November.  She suffered a bad fall, hit her head, and developed a clot on her brain.  The doctor explained to my family that her injury was cause to operate on a younger person, but brain surgery was out of the question for a 90 year-old.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nThe doctor changed his mind days later when Nana\'s condition worsened.  She wasn\'t eating (this is about as normal for a Portuguese woman as it is for an Italian!), her speech was slurred, and she was confused.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nWhen I talked to her on the phone the night before the surgery, I thought that was the last time I would hear my grandmother\'s voice.  How many 90 year-olds survive brain surgery?  Even the doctor advised against it until there was no other option.\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n<strong>13 months later . . . . </strong>\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\nNana is living the life with her sister at the Senior Dorm.  In addition to the activities listed above, she is also a regular at Sit and Be Fit, Bible Study, Choir Practice and receives dancing invitations from gentleman callers at Happy Hour.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nOh, and I should probably also mention that at age 76, Nana was in a horrific car accident and was life-flighted to the nearest trauma center.  After making it through days in ICU, she was finally released to a hospital room.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nLater that night, we were called to the hospital at 1 a.m. to say our goodbyes.  Nana was hemorrhaging uncontrollably through her nose.  She was back in ICU, and she was on her last blood transfusion.  Miraculously, an ER doctor came to the rescue and saved her life by inserting a urinary catheter (of all things!) up her nose.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nNot only is Nana the poster child for Late Blooming, but she is also the second coming of the Energizer Bunny!  :-)\n\n&nbsp;\n\nMy apologies for the long backstory, but I think her story is absolutely remarkable.  And I didn\'t even delve into the 6 month depression post-brain surgery, and Nana\'s refusal to leave the beautiful home my late grandfather built for her in order to move into the Senior Dorm!\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n<strong>Just when Nana thought her life was doomed, she bloomed.  </strong>\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\nWhich brings us full circle to Zumba.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nIf you are unfamiliar with Zumba, here\'s the lowdown taken directly from their website:  <em>Are you ready to party yourself into shape? That’s exactly what the Zumba<sup>®</sup> program is all about. It’s an exhilarating, effective, easy-to-follow, Latin-inspired, calorie-burning dance fitness-party™ that’s moving millions of people toward joy and health.</em>\n\n&nbsp;\n\nListen, I\'m not one of those dancy-dancy types.  Did I ever take dance as a child?  No.  Was I on drill team in high school?  No.  Have I ever in my entire life felt cool or comfortable dancing in a group setting such as Homecoming, Prom, or at a dive bar or club?  Hell no!\n\n&nbsp;\n\nDid I dance in the chorus in theatrical productions in high school and college?  Technically, \"yes\", but . . . . that\'s chorus dancing.  That\'s not the same thing as \"shake your sexy groove thing\" dancing.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nIn other words, I never tried Zumba because I was <em>intimidated</em> by Zumba.  This white girl can\'t dance.  Which is puzzling because I\'m 50% Portuguese.  Somehow we didn\'t receive the innate hip shaking gene that other women of Latin origin share.  Think about Spanish and Brazilian women.  They shake their bon bons effortlessly.  Portuguese women?  Not so much.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nBut it\'s never too late to learn!  Can bon bon shaking be taught?  I showed up to Zumba class to find out.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nI was greeted by Erika, a sexy spitfire of an instructor decked out in hottie Zumba dance wear.  Yes, apparently there is a Zumba clothing line.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nErika welcomed me to class (I was the only newbie in a room of about 40) and advised me to follow along the best that I could while having fun.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nThe electrifying music started pulsing, and we were off!  I followed along the best I could while dodging dancing women coming at me from all angles.  I laughed it off in the spirit of fun and fitness.  This is one of the gifts of being 40-something.  In my 20s, I would have felt self-conscious.  At 43, I find it amusing.\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n[caption id=\"attachment_11940\" align=\"alignnone\" width=\"300\"]<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/?attachment_id=11940\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-11940\"><img class=\"size-medium wp-image-11940\" alt=\"Zumba is fast-paced, so trying to capture a photo with a Crackberry proved useless.  It\'s sort of fitting, however, because my Nana has always taken blurry photos, and since this somewhat of a tribute to her . . . . :-D \" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/01/IMG00331-20121208-1017-300x225.jpg\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a> Zumba is fast-paced, so trying to capture a photo with a Crackberry proved useless. It\'s sort of fitting, however, because my Nana has always taken blurry photos, and since this somewhat of a tribute to her . . . . :-D[/caption]\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\nI was surprised at how quickly I adapted to the class.  My favorite moves were -- you guessed it! -- the bon bon shaking and the chest shimmies.  Even though I still felt a bit clunky.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nI could go on and on about the class, but let me just say that I was hooked in about . . . . oh . . . . 5 minutes.  Zumba is addictive!  The music and routines change about every 3 minutes, and it\'s easier to follow than I thought.  Of course, there were challenging bits, but challenges help us grow.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nMy only regret was that I made the brilliant breakfast choice of waffles and coffee about an hour before class.  :-p  DO NOT DO THIS AT HOME!  Zumba is a real workout!\n\n&nbsp;\n\nI met up with Erika after class and asked thoughtful questions relating to Zumba and bon bon shaking.  Erika (an innate bon bon shaker of Latin origin) assured me shaking your bon bon like nobody\'s business is a skill that can be learned through regular Zumba!\n\n&nbsp;\n\nThat\'s all I need to hear.  I am now a member of the Y and will be Zumba-ing my bootie off on Saturday mornings along with Nana.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nHow was Nana\'s Zumba class?  I tried to obtain a photo.  I really did.  Nana may be an active 91 year-old, but she is cluel\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;','Playdate #52:  Zumba with Nana','','inherit','open','open','','11926-revision-13','','','2013-01-01 11:11:19','2013-01-01 18:11:19','',11926,'http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/2013/01/01/11926-revision-13/',0,'revision','',0),(11942,1,'2013-01-01 11:14:19','2013-01-01 18:14:19','One year ago today I kicked off The Year of Play with a <strong>dance off </strong>with World\'s Most Precious Niece.  In December 2012, I ended the year Zumba-ing my tushie off with my Nana.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nTechnically, this was a parallel playdate because Nana lives in Florida.  On a fine and crisp Saturday morning, Nana checked into her weekly Zumba class in Florida while I tried one out for the first time in Arizona.  Nana had been raving about Zumba for ages, and I was curious to see what all the fuss was about.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nYes, that\'s right.  I am a newbie, but Nana Zumbas regularly.  She\'s 91.  (You may have met her a few months ago over <strong>here.</strong>)\n\n&nbsp;\n\nMy seemingly Most Popular Facebook Post Ever happened on a whim (I\'m terrible at posting regularly to fb) and featured Nana.  This will give you a little glimpse into Nana\'s life and how she inspires others through her joie de vivre :\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/?attachment_id=11927\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-11927\"><img class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-11927\" alt=\"http://www.facebook.com/diaryofalatebloomer\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/Screen-shot-2012-12-31-at-3.36.19-PM.png\" width=\"407\" height=\"815\" /></a>\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\nThat\'s my Nana!  It took her TWO WEEKS to get back to me after that phone call!\n\n&nbsp;\n\nWas I annoyed?  Hardly.  Instead, I was OVERJOYED that she is having so much fun that she forgets to call her first-born grandchild.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nYou see, Nana nearly died a year ago last November.  She suffered a bad fall, hit her head, and developed a clot on her brain.  The doctor explained to my family that her injury was cause to operate on a younger person, but brain surgery was out of the question for a 90 year-old.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nThe doctor changed his mind days later when Nana\'s condition worsened.  She wasn\'t eating (this is about as normal for a Portuguese woman as it is for an Italian!), her speech was slurred, and she was confused.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nWhen I talked to her on the phone the night before the surgery, I thought that was the last time I would hear my grandmother\'s voice.  How many 90 year-olds survive brain surgery?  Even the doctor advised against it until there was no other option.\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n<strong>13 months later . . . . </strong>\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\nNana is living the life with her sister at the Senior Dorm.  In addition to the activities listed above, she is also a regular at Sit and Be Fit, Bible Study, Choir Practice and receives dancing invitations from gentleman callers at Happy Hour.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nOh, and I should probably also mention that at age 76, Nana was in a horrific car accident and was life-flighted to the nearest trauma center.  After making it through days in ICU, she was finally released to a hospital room.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nLater that night, we were called to the hospital at 1 a.m. to say our goodbyes.  Nana was hemorrhaging uncontrollably through her nose.  She was back in ICU, and she was on her last blood transfusion.  Miraculously, an ER doctor came to the rescue and saved her life by inserting a urinary catheter (of all things!) up her nose.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nNot only is Nana the poster child for Late Blooming, but she is also the second coming of the Energizer Bunny!  :-)\n\n&nbsp;\n\nMy apologies for the long backstory, but I think her story is absolutely remarkable.  And I didn\'t even delve into the 6 month depression post-brain surgery, and Nana\'s refusal to leave the beautiful home my late grandfather built for her in order to move into the Senior Dorm!\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n<strong>Just when Nana thought her life was doomed, she bloomed.  </strong>\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\nWhich brings us full circle to Zumba.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nIf you are unfamiliar with Zumba, here\'s the lowdown taken directly from their website:  <em>Are you ready to party yourself into shape? That’s exactly what the Zumba<sup>®</sup> program is all about. It’s an exhilarating, effective, easy-to-follow, Latin-inspired, calorie-burning dance fitness-party™ that’s moving millions of people toward joy and health.</em>\n\n&nbsp;\n\nListen, I\'m not one of those dancy-dancy types.  Did I ever take dance as a child?  No.  Was I on drill team in high school?  No.  Have I ever in my entire life felt cool or comfortable dancing in a group setting such as Homecoming, Prom, or at a dive bar or club?  Hell no!\n\n&nbsp;\n\nDid I dance in the chorus in theatrical productions in high school and college?  Technically, \"yes\", but . . . . that\'s chorus dancing.  That\'s not the same thing as \"shake your sexy groove thing\" dancing.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nIn other words, I never tried Zumba because I was <em>intimidated</em> by Zumba.  This white girl can\'t dance.  Which is puzzling because I\'m 50% Portuguese.  Somehow we didn\'t receive the innate hip shaking gene that other women of Latin origin share.  Think about Spanish and Brazilian women.  They shake their bon bons effortlessly.  Portuguese women?  Not so much.\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n<strong>But it\'s never too late to learn!  Can bon bon shaking be taught?  I showed up to Zumba class to find out.</strong>\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\nI was greeted by Erika, a sexy spitfire of an instructor decked out in hottie Zumba dance wear.  Yes, apparently there is a Zumba clothing line.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nErika welcomed me to class (I was the only newbie in a room of about 40) and advised me to follow along the best that I could while having fun.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nThe electrifying music started pulsing, and we were off!  I followed along the best I could while dodging dancing women coming at me from all angles.  I laughed it off in the spirit of fun and fitness.  This is one of the gifts of being 40-something.  In my 20s, I would have felt self-conscious.  At 43, I find it amusing.\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n[caption id=\"attachment_11940\" align=\"alignnone\" width=\"300\"]<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/?attachment_id=11940\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-11940\"><img class=\"size-medium wp-image-11940\" alt=\"Zumba is fast-paced, so trying to capture a photo with a Crackberry proved useless.  It\'s sort of fitting, however, because my Nana has always taken blurry photos, and since this somewhat of a tribute to her . . . . :-D \" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/01/IMG00331-20121208-1017-300x225.jpg\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a> Zumba is fast-paced, so trying to capture a photo with a Crackberry proved useless. It\'s sort of fitting, however, because my Nana has always taken blurry photos, and since this somewhat of a tribute to her . . . . :-D[/caption]\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\nI was surprised at how quickly I adapted to the class.  My favorite moves were -- you guessed it! -- the bon bon shaking and the chest shimmies.  Even though I still felt a bit clunky.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nI could go on and on about the class, but let me just say that I was hooked in about . . . . oh . . . . 5 minutes.  Zumba is addictive!  The music and routines change about every 3 minutes, and it\'s easier to follow than I thought.  Of course, there were challenging bits, but challenges help us grow.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nMy only regret was that I made the brilliant breakfast choice of waffles and coffee about an hour before class.  :-p  DO NOT DO THIS AT HOME!  Zumba is a real workout!\n\n&nbsp;\n\nI met up with Erika after class and asked thoughtful questions relating to Zumba and bon bon shaking.\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n<strong>Erika (an innate bon bon shaker of Latin origin) assured me shaking your bon bon like nobody\'s business is a skill that can be learned through regular Zumba!</strong>\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\nThat\'s all I need to hear.  I am now a member of the Y and will be Zumba-ing my bootie off on Saturday mornings along with Nana.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nHow was Nana\'s Zumba class?  I tried to obtain a photo.  I really did.  Nana may be an active 91 year-old, but she is clueless about technology.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nI did get some scoop though via one of her letters.\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;','Playdate #52:  Zumba with Nana','','inherit','open','open','','11926-revision-14','','','2013-01-01 11:14:19','2013-01-01 18:14:19','',11926,'http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/2013/01/01/11926-revision-14/',0,'revision','',0),(11943,1,'2013-01-01 11:17:19','2013-01-01 18:17:19','One year ago today I kicked off The Year of Play with a <a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/2012/01/12/playdate-1-just-dancing-fools/\" target=\"_blank\"><strong>dance off </strong></a>with World\'s Most Precious Niece.  In December 2012, I ended the year Zumba-ing my tushie off with my Nana.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nTechnically, this was a parallel playdate because Nana lives in Florida.  On a fine and crisp Saturday morning, Nana checked into her weekly Zumba class in Florida while I tried one out for the first time in Arizona.  Nana had been raving about Zumba for ages, and I was curious to see what all the fuss was about.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nYes, that\'s right.  I am a newbie, but Nana Zumbas regularly.  She\'s 91.  (You may have met her a few months ago over <a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/2012/09/26/playdate-34-the-beach-house-is-where-the-heart-is/\" target=\"_blank\"><strong>here.</strong></a>)\n\n&nbsp;\n\nMy seemingly Most Popular Facebook Post Ever happened on a whim (I\'m terrible at posting regularly to fb) and featured Nana.  This will give you a little glimpse into Nana\'s life and how she inspires others through her joie de vivre :\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/?attachment_id=11927\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-11927\"><img class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-11927\" alt=\"http://www.facebook.com/diaryofalatebloomer\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/Screen-shot-2012-12-31-at-3.36.19-PM.png\" width=\"407\" height=\"815\" /></a>\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\nThat\'s my Nana!  It took her TWO WEEKS to get back to me after that phone call!\n\n&nbsp;\n\nWas I annoyed?  Hardly.  Instead, I was OVERJOYED that she is having so much fun that she forgets to call her first-born grandchild.\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n<strong>You see, Nana nearly died a year ago last November.</strong>\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\nShe suffered a bad fall, hit her head, and developed a clot on her brain.  The doctor explained to my family that her injury was cause to operate on a younger person, but brain surgery was out of the question for a 90 year-old.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nThe doctor changed his mind days later when Nana\'s condition worsened.  She wasn\'t eating (this is about as normal for a Portuguese woman as it is for an Italian!), her speech was slurred, and she was confused.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nWhen I talked to her on the phone the night before the surgery, I thought that was the last time I would hear my grandmother\'s voice.  How many 90 year-olds survive brain surgery?  Even the doctor advised against it until there was no other option.\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n<strong>13 months later . . . . </strong>\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\nNana is living the life with her sister at the Senior Dorm.  In addition to the activities listed above, she is also a regular at Sit and Be Fit, Bible Study, Choir Practice and receives dancing invitations from gentleman callers at Happy Hour.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nOh, and I should probably also mention that at age 76, Nana was in a horrific car accident and was life-flighted to the nearest trauma center.  After making it through days in ICU, she was finally released to a hospital room.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nLater that night, we were called to the hospital at 1 a.m. to say our goodbyes.  Nana was hemorrhaging uncontrollably through her nose. She was back in ICU, and she was on her last blood transfusion.  Miraculously, an ER doctor came to the rescue and saved her life by inserting a urinary catheter (of all things!) up her nose.\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n<strong>Not only is Nana the poster child for Late Blooming, but she is also the second coming of the Energizer Bunny!  :-)</strong>\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\nMy apologies for the long backstory, but I think her story is absolutely remarkable.  And I didn\'t even delve into the 6 month depression post-brain surgery, and Nana\'s refusal to leave the beautiful home my late grandfather built for her in order to move into the Senior Dorm!\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n<strong>Just when Nana thought her life was doomed, she bloomed.  </strong>\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\nWhich brings us full circle to Zumba.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nIf you are unfamiliar with Zumba, here\'s the lowdown taken directly from their website:  <em>Are you ready to party yourself into shape? That’s exactly what the Zumba<sup>®</sup> program is all about. It’s an exhilarating, effective, easy-to-follow, Latin-inspired, calorie-burning dance fitness-party™ that’s moving millions of people toward joy and health.</em>\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n<strong>Listen, I\'m not one of those dancy-dancy types.  </strong>\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\nDid I ever take dance as a child?  No.  Was I on drill team in high school?  No.  Have I ever in my entire life felt cool or comfortable dancing in a group setting such as Homecoming, Prom, or at a dive bar or club?  Hell no!\n\n&nbsp;\n\nDid I dance in the chorus in theatrical productions in high school and college?  Technically, \"yes\", but . . . . that\'s chorus dancing.  That\'s not the same thing as \"shake your sexy groove thing\" dancing.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nIn other words, I never tried Zumba because I was <em>intimidated</em> by Zumba.  This white girl can\'t dance.  Which is puzzling because I\'m 50% Portuguese.  Somehow we didn\'t receive the innate hip shaking gene that other women of Latin origin share.  Think about Spanish and Brazilian women.  They shake their bon bons effortlessly.  Portuguese women?  Not so much.\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n<strong>But it\'s never too late to learn!  Can bon bon shaking be taught?  I showed up to Zumba class to find out.</strong>\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\nI was greeted by Erika, a sexy spitfire of an instructor decked out in hottie Zumba dance wear.  Yes, apparently there is a Zumba clothing line.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nErika welcomed me to class (I was the only newbie in a room of about 40) and advised me to follow along the best that I could while having fun.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nThe electrifying music started pulsing, and we were off!  I followed along the best I could while dodging dancing women coming at me from all angles.  I laughed it off in the spirit of fun and fitness.  This is one of the gifts of being 40-something.  In my 20s, I would have felt self-conscious.  At 43, I find it amusing.\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n[caption id=\"attachment_11940\" align=\"alignnone\" width=\"300\"]<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/?attachment_id=11940\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-11940\"><img class=\"size-medium wp-image-11940\" alt=\"Zumba is fast-paced, so trying to capture a photo with a Crackberry proved useless.  It\'s sort of fitting, however, because my Nana has always taken blurry photos, and since this somewhat of a tribute to her . . . . :-D \" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/01/IMG00331-20121208-1017-300x225.jpg\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a> Zumba is fast-paced, so trying to capture a photo with a Crackberry proved useless. It\'s sort of fitting, however, because my Nana has always taken blurry photos, and since this somewhat of a tribute to her . . . . :-D[/caption]\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\nI was surprised at how quickly I adapted to the class.  My favorite moves were -- you guessed it! -- the bon bon shaking and the chest shimmies.  Even though I still felt a bit clunky.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nI could go on and on about the class, but let me just say that I was hooked in about . . . . oh . . . . 5 minutes.  Zumba is addictive!  The music and routines change about every 3 minutes, and it\'s easier to follow than I thought.  Of course, there were challenging bits, but challenges help us grow.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nMy only regret was that I made the brilliant breakfast choice of waffles and coffee about an hour before class.  :-p  DO NOT DO THIS AT HOME!  Zumba is a real workout!\n\n&nbsp;\n\nI met up with Erika after class and asked thoughtful questions relating to Zumba and bon bon shaking.\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n<strong>Erika (an innate bon bon shaker of Latin origin) assured me shaking your bon bon like nobody\'s business is a skill that can be learned and honed through regular Zumba practice!</strong>\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\nThat\'s all I need to hear.  I am now a member of the Y and will be Zumba-ing my bootie off on Saturday mornings along with Nana.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nHow was Nana\'s Zumba class?  I tried to obtain a photo.  I really did.  Nana may be an active 91 year-old, but she is clueless about technology.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nI did get some scoop though via one of her letters.\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;','Playdate #52:  Zumba with Nana','','inherit','open','open','','11926-revision-15','','','2013-01-01 11:17:19','2013-01-01 18:17:19','',11926,'http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/2013/01/01/11926-revision-15/',0,'revision','',0),(11944,1,'2013-01-01 13:48:12','2013-01-01 20:48:12','One year ago today I kicked off The Year of Play with a <a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/2012/01/12/playdate-1-just-dancing-fools/\" target=\"_blank\"><strong>dance off </strong></a>with World\'s Most Precious Niece.  In December 2012, I ended the year Zumba-ing my tushie off with my Nana.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nTechnically, this was a parallel playdate because Nana lives in Florida.  On a fine and crisp Saturday morning, Nana checked into her weekly Zumba class in Florida while I tried one out for the first time in Arizona.  Nana had been raving about Zumba for ages, and I was curious to see what all the fuss was about.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nYes, that\'s right.  I am a newbie, but Nana Zumbas regularly.  She\'s 91.  (You may have met her a few months ago over <a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/2012/09/26/playdate-34-the-beach-house-is-where-the-heart-is/\" target=\"_blank\"><strong>here.</strong></a>)\n\n&nbsp;\n\nMy seemingly Most Popular Facebook Post Ever happened on a whim (I\'m terrible at posting regularly to fb) and featured Nana.  This will give you a little glimpse into Nana\'s life and how she inspires others through her joie de vivre :\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/?attachment_id=11927\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-11927\"><img class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-11927\" alt=\"http://www.facebook.com/diaryofalatebloomer\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/Screen-shot-2012-12-31-at-3.36.19-PM.png\" width=\"407\" height=\"815\" /></a>\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\nThat\'s my Nana!  It took her TWO WEEKS to get back to me after that phone call!\n\n&nbsp;\n\nWas I annoyed?  Hardly.  Instead, I was OVERJOYED that she is having so much fun that she forgets to call her first-born grandchild.\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n<strong>You see, Nana nearly died a year ago last November.</strong>\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\nShe suffered a bad fall, hit her head, and developed a clot on her brain.  The doctor explained to my family that her injury was cause to operate on a younger person, but brain surgery was out of the question for a 90 year-old.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nThe doctor changed his mind days later when Nana\'s condition worsened.  She wasn\'t eating (this is about as normal for a Portuguese woman as it is for an Italian!), her speech was slurred, and she was confused.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nWhen I talked to her on the phone the night before the surgery, I thought that was the last time I would hear my grandmother\'s voice.  How many 90 year-olds survive brain surgery?  Even the doctor advised against it until there was no other option.\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n<strong>13 months later . . . . </strong>\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\nNana is living the life with her sister at the Senior Dorm.  In addition to the activities listed above, she is also a regular at Sit and Be Fit, Bible Study, Choir Practice and receives dancing invitations from gentleman callers at Happy Hour.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nOh, and I should probably also mention that at age 76, Nana was in a horrific car accident and was life-flighted to the nearest trauma center.  After making it through days in ICU, she was finally released to a hospital room.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nLater that night, we were called to the hospital at 1 a.m. to say our goodbyes.  Nana was hemorrhaging uncontrollably through her nose. She was back in ICU, and she was on her last blood transfusion.  Miraculously, an ER doctor came to the rescue and saved her life by inserting a urinary catheter (of all things!) up her nose.\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n<strong>Not only is Nana the poster child for Late Blooming, but she is also the second coming of the Energizer Bunny!  :-)</strong>\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\nMy apologies for the long backstory, but I think her story is absolutely remarkable.  And I didn\'t even delve into the 6 month depression post-brain surgery, and Nana\'s refusal to leave the beautiful home my late grandfather built for her in order to move into the Senior Dorm!\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n<strong>Just when Nana thought her life was doomed, she bloomed.  </strong>\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\nWhich brings us full circle to Zumba.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nIf you are unfamiliar with Zumba, here\'s the lowdown taken directly from their website:  <em>Are you ready to party yourself into shape? That’s exactly what the Zumba<sup>®</sup> program is all about. It’s an exhilarating, effective, easy-to-follow, Latin-inspired, calorie-burning dance fitness-party™ that’s moving millions of people toward joy and health.</em>\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n<strong>Listen, I\'m not one of those dancy-dancy types.  </strong>\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\nDid I ever take dance as a child?  No.  Was I on drill team in high school?  No.  Have I ever in my entire life felt cool or comfortable dancing in a group setting such as Homecoming, Prom, or at a dive bar or club?  Hell no!\n\n&nbsp;\n\nDid I dance in the chorus in theatrical productions in high school and college?  Technically, \"yes\", but . . . . that\'s chorus dancing.  That\'s not the same thing as \"shake your sexy groove thing\" dancing.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nIn other words, I never tried Zumba because I was <em>intimidated</em> by Zumba.  This white girl can\'t dance.  Which is puzzling because I\'m 50% Portuguese.  Somehow we didn\'t receive the innate hip shaking gene that other women of Latin origin share.  Think about Spanish and Brazilian women.  They shake their bon bons effortlessly.  Portuguese women?  Not so much.\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n<strong>But it\'s never too late to learn!  Can bon bon shaking be taught?  I showed up to Zumba class to find out.</strong>\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\nI was greeted by Erika, a sexy spitfire of an instructor decked out in hottie Zumba dance wear.  Yes, apparently there is a Zumba clothing line.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nErika welcomed me to class (I was the only newbie in a room of about 40) and advised me to follow along the best that I could while having fun.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nThe electrifying music started pulsing, and we were off!  I followed along the best I could while dodging dancing women coming at me from all angles.  I laughed it off in the spirit of fun and fitness.  This is one of the gifts of being 40-something.  In my 20s, I would have felt self-conscious.  At 43, I find it amusing.\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n[caption id=\"attachment_11940\" align=\"alignnone\" width=\"300\"]<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/?attachment_id=11940\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-11940\"><img class=\"size-medium wp-image-11940\" alt=\"Zumba is fast-paced, so trying to capture a photo with a Crackberry proved useless.  It\'s sort of fitting, however, because my Nana has always taken blurry photos, and since this somewhat of a tribute to her . . . . :-D \" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/01/IMG00331-20121208-1017-300x225.jpg\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a> Zumba is fast-paced, so trying to capture a photo with a Crackberry proved useless. It\'s sort of fitting, however, because my Nana has always taken blurry photos, and since this somewhat of a tribute to her . . . . :-D[/caption]\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\nI was surprised at how quickly I adapted to the class.  My favorite moves were -- you guessed it! -- the bon bon shaking and the chest shimmies.  Even though I still felt a bit clunky.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nI could go on and on about the class, but let me just say that I was hooked in about . . . . oh . . . . 5 minutes.  Zumba is addictive!  The music and routines change about every 3 minutes, and it\'s easier to follow than I thought.  Of course, there were challenging bits, but challenges help us grow.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nMy only regret was that I made the brilliant breakfast choice of waffles and coffee about an hour before class.  :-p  DO NOT DO THIS AT HOME!  Zumba is a real workout!\n\n&nbsp;\n\nI met up with Erika after class and asked thoughtful questions relating to Zumba and bon bon shaking.\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n<strong>Erika, an innate bon bon shaker of Latin origin, assured me shaking your bon bon like nobody\'s business is a skill that can be learned and honed through regular Zumba practice!</strong>\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\nThat\'s all I need to hear.  I am now a member of the Y and will be Zumba-ing my bootie off on Saturday mornings along with Nana.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nHow was Nana\'s Zumba class?  I hoped to obtain a photo for you.  Nana may be an active 91 year-old, but she is clueless about technology.  Apparently, so are all her cronies.  NO ONE knew how to take a photo with their phone and text it to me.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nNana raved about the music and her instructor who \"has the most beautiful figure\".  She then veered off into a tangent regarding another recently discovered passion that she mentioned in a recent letter:\n\n&nbsp;\n\nNana also informed me in a recent letter that she has found yet another recent passion:\n\n&nbsp;\n\nphoto of letter\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;','Playdate #52:  Zumba with Nana','','inherit','open','open','','11926-revision-16','','','2013-01-01 13:48:12','2013-01-01 20:48:12','',11926,'http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/2013/01/01/11926-revision-16/',0,'revision','',0),(11945,1,'2013-01-01 13:50:12','2013-01-01 20:50:12','One year ago today I kicked off The Year of Play with a <a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/2012/01/12/playdate-1-just-dancing-fools/\" target=\"_blank\"><strong>dance off </strong></a>with World\'s Most Precious Niece.  In December 2012, I ended the year Zumba-ing my tushie off with my Nana.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nTechnically, this was a parallel playdate because Nana lives in Florida.  On a fine and crisp Saturday morning, Nana checked into her weekly Zumba class in Florida while I tried one out for the first time in Arizona.  Nana had been raving about Zumba for ages, and I was curious to see what all the fuss was about.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nYes, that\'s right.  I am a newbie, but Nana Zumbas regularly.  She\'s 91.  (You may have met her a few months ago over <a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/2012/09/26/playdate-34-the-beach-house-is-where-the-heart-is/\" target=\"_blank\"><strong>here.</strong></a>)\n\n&nbsp;\n\nMy seemingly Most Popular Facebook Post Ever happened on a whim (I\'m terrible at posting regularly to fb) and featured Nana.  This will give you a little glimpse into Nana\'s life and how she inspires others through her joie de vivre :\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/?attachment_id=11927\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-11927\"><img class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-11927\" alt=\"http://www.facebook.com/diaryofalatebloomer\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/Screen-shot-2012-12-31-at-3.36.19-PM.png\" width=\"407\" height=\"815\" /></a>\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\nThat\'s my Nana!  It took her TWO WEEKS to get back to me after that phone call!\n\n&nbsp;\n\nWas I annoyed?  Hardly.  Instead, I was OVERJOYED that she is having so much fun that she forgets to call her first-born grandchild.\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n<strong>You see, Nana nearly died a year ago last November.</strong>\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\nShe suffered a bad fall, hit her head, and developed a clot on her brain.  The doctor explained to my family that her injury was cause to operate on a younger person, but brain surgery was out of the question for a 90 year-old.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nThe doctor changed his mind days later when Nana\'s condition worsened.  She wasn\'t eating (this is about as normal for a Portuguese woman as it is for an Italian!), her speech was slurred, and she was confused.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nWhen I talked to her on the phone the night before the surgery, I thought that was the last time I would hear my grandmother\'s voice.  How many 90 year-olds survive brain surgery?  Even the doctor advised against it until there was no other option.\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n<strong>13 months later . . . . </strong>\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\nNana is living the life with her sister at the Senior Dorm.  In addition to the activities listed above, she is also a regular at Sit and Be Fit, Bible Study, Choir Practice and receives dancing invitations from gentleman callers at Happy Hour.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nOh, and I should probably also mention that at age 76, Nana was in a horrific car accident and was life-flighted to the nearest trauma center.  After making it through days in ICU, she was finally released to a hospital room.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nLater that night, we were called to the hospital at 1 a.m. to say our goodbyes.  Nana was hemorrhaging uncontrollably through her nose. She was back in ICU, and she was on her last blood transfusion.  Miraculously, an ER doctor came to the rescue and saved her life by inserting a urinary catheter (of all things!) up her nose.\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n<strong>Not only is Nana the poster child for Late Blooming, but she is also the second coming of the Energizer Bunny!  :-)</strong>\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\nMy apologies for the long backstory, but I think her story is absolutely remarkable.  And I didn\'t even delve into the 6 month depression post-brain surgery, and Nana\'s refusal to leave the beautiful home my late grandfather built for her in order to move into the Senior Dorm!\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n<strong>Just when Nana thought her life was doomed, she bloomed.  </strong>\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\nWhich brings us full circle to Zumba.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nIf you are unfamiliar with Zumba, here\'s the lowdown taken directly from their website:  <em>Are you ready to party yourself into shape? That’s exactly what the Zumba<sup>®</sup> program is all about. It’s an exhilarating, effective, easy-to-follow, Latin-inspired, calorie-burning dance fitness-party™ that’s moving millions of people toward joy and health.</em>\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n<strong>Listen, I\'m not one of those dancy-dancy types.  </strong>\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\nDid I ever take dance as a child?  No.  Was I on drill team in high school?  No.  Have I ever in my entire life felt cool or comfortable dancing in a group setting such as Homecoming, Prom, or at a dive bar or club?  Hell no!\n\n&nbsp;\n\nDid I dance in the chorus in theatrical productions in high school and college?  Technically, \"yes\", but . . . . that\'s chorus dancing.  That\'s not the same thing as \"shake your sexy groove thing\" dancing.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nIn other words, I never tried Zumba because I was <em>intimidated</em> by Zumba.  This white girl can\'t dance.  Which is puzzling because I\'m 50% Portuguese.  Somehow we didn\'t receive the innate hip shaking gene that other women of Latin origin share.  Think about Spanish and Brazilian women.  They shake their bon bons effortlessly.  Portuguese women?  Not so much.\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n<strong>But it\'s never too late to learn!  Can bon bon shaking be taught?  I showed up to Zumba class to find out.</strong>\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\nI was greeted by Erika, a sexy spitfire of an instructor decked out in hottie Zumba dance wear.  Yes, apparently there is a Zumba clothing line.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nErika welcomed me to class (I was the only newbie in a room of about 40) and advised me to follow along the best that I could while having fun.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nThe electrifying music started pulsing, and we were off!  I followed along the best I could while dodging dancing women coming at me from all angles.  I laughed it off in the spirit of fun and fitness.  This is one of the gifts of being 40-something.  In my 20s, I would have felt self-conscious.  At 43, I find it amusing.\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n[caption id=\"attachment_11940\" align=\"alignnone\" width=\"300\"]<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/?attachment_id=11940\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-11940\"><img class=\"size-medium wp-image-11940\" alt=\"Zumba is fast-paced, so trying to capture a photo with a Crackberry proved useless.  It\'s sort of fitting, however, because my Nana has always taken blurry photos, and since this somewhat of a tribute to her . . . . :-D \" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/01/IMG00331-20121208-1017-300x225.jpg\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a> Zumba is fast-paced, so trying to capture a photo with a Crackberry proved useless. It\'s sort of fitting, however, because my Nana has always taken blurry photos, and since this somewhat of a tribute to her . . . . :-D[/caption]\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\nI was surprised at how quickly I adapted to the class.  My favorite moves were -- you guessed it! -- the bon bon shaking and the chest shimmies.  Even though I still felt a bit clunky.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nI could go on and on about the class, but let me just say that I was hooked in about . . . . oh . . . . 5 minutes.  Zumba is addictive!  The music and routines change about every 3 minutes, and it\'s easier to follow than I thought.  Of course, there were challenging bits, but challenges help us grow.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nMy only regret was that I made the brilliant breakfast choice of waffles and coffee about an hour before class.  :-p  DO NOT DO THIS AT HOME!  Zumba is a real workout!\n\n&nbsp;\n\nI met up with Erika after class and asked thoughtful questions relating to Zumba and bon bon shaking.\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n<strong>Erika, an innate bon bon shaker of Latin origin, assured me shaking your bon bon like nobody\'s business is a skill that can be learned and honed through regular Zumba practice!</strong>\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\nThat\'s all I need to hear.  I am now a member of the Y and will be Zumba-ing my bootie off on Saturday mornings along with Nana.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nHow was Nana\'s Zumba class?  I hoped to obtain a photo for you.  Nana may be an active 91 year-old, but she is clueless about technology.  Apparently, so are all her cronies.  NO ONE knew how to take a photo with their phone and text it to me.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nNana raved about the Zumba music and her instructor who \"has the most beautiful figure\".  She then veered off into a tangent regarding another recently discovered passion that she previously mentioned in a letter:\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\nphoto of letter\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\nShe cracks me up.\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;','Playdate #52:  Zumba with Nana','','inherit','open','open','','11926-revision-17','','','2013-01-01 13:50:12','2013-01-01 20:50:12','',11926,'http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/2013/01/01/11926-revision-17/',0,'revision','',0),(11946,1,'2013-01-01 13:56:28','2013-01-01 20:56:28','One year ago today I kicked off The Year of Play with a <a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/2012/01/12/playdate-1-just-dancing-fools/\" target=\"_blank\"><strong>dance off </strong></a>with World\'s Most Precious Niece.  In December 2012, I ended the year Zumba-ing my tushie off with my Nana.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nTechnically, this was a parallel playdate because Nana lives in Florida.  On a fine and crisp Saturday morning, Nana checked into her weekly Zumba class in Florida while I tried one out for the first time in Arizona.  Nana had been raving about Zumba for ages, and I was curious to see what all the fuss was about.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nYes, that\'s right.  I am a newbie, but Nana Zumbas regularly.  She\'s 91.  (You may have met her a few months ago over <a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/2012/09/26/playdate-34-the-beach-house-is-where-the-heart-is/\" target=\"_blank\"><strong>here.</strong></a>)\n\n&nbsp;\n\nMy seemingly Most Popular Facebook Post Ever happened on a whim (I\'m terrible at posting regularly to fb) and featured Nana.  This will give you a little glimpse into Nana\'s life and how she inspires others through her joie de vivre :\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/?attachment_id=11927\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-11927\"><img class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-11927\" alt=\"http://www.facebook.com/diaryofalatebloomer\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/Screen-shot-2012-12-31-at-3.36.19-PM.png\" width=\"407\" height=\"815\" /></a>\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\nThat\'s my Nana!  It took her TWO WEEKS to get back to me after that phone call!\n\n&nbsp;\n\nWas I annoyed?  Hardly.  Instead, I was OVERJOYED that she is having so much fun that she forgets to call her first-born grandchild.\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n<span style=\"font-size: medium; color: #339966;\"><strong>You see, Nana nearly died a year ago last November.</strong> </span>\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\nShe suffered a bad fall, hit her head, and developed a clot on her brain.  The doctor explained to my family that her injury was cause to operate on a younger person, but brain surgery was out of the question for a 90 year-old.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nThe doctor changed his mind days later when Nana\'s condition worsened.  She wasn\'t eating (this is about as normal for a Portuguese woman as it is for an Italian!), her speech was slurred, and she was confused.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nWhen I talked to her on the phone the night before the surgery, I thought that was the last time I would hear my grandmother\'s voice.  How many 90 year-olds survive brain surgery?  Even the doctor advised against it until there was no other option.\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n<span style=\"font-size: medium; color: #339966;\"><strong>13 months later . . . . </strong></span>\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\nNana is living the life with her sister at the Senior Dorm.  In addition to the activities listed above, she is also a regular at Sit and Be Fit, Bible Study, Choir Practice and receives dancing invitations from gentleman callers at Happy Hour.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nOh, and I should probably also mention that at age 76, Nana was in a horrific car accident and was life-flighted to the nearest trauma center.  After making it through days in ICU, she was finally released to a hospital room.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nLater that night, we were called to the hospital at 1 a.m. to say our goodbyes.  Nana was hemorrhaging uncontrollably through her nose. She was back in ICU, and she was on her last blood transfusion.  Miraculously, an ER doctor came to the rescue and saved her life by inserting a urinary catheter (of all things!) up her nose.\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n<span style=\"font-size: medium; color: #339966;\"><strong>Not only is Nana the poster child for Late Blooming, but she is also the second coming of the Energizer Bunny!  :-)</strong></span>\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\nMy apologies for the long backstory, but I think her story is absolutely remarkable.  And I didn\'t even delve into the 6 month depression post-brain surgery, and Nana\'s refusal to leave the beautiful home my late grandfather built for her in order to move into the Senior Dorm!\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n<span style=\"font-size: medium; color: #339966;\"><strong>Just when Nana thought her life was doomed, she bloomed.  </strong></span>\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\nWhich brings us full circle to Zumba.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nIf you are unfamiliar with Zumba, here\'s the lowdown taken directly from their website:  <em>Are you ready to party yourself into shape? That’s exactly what the Zumba<sup>®</sup> program is all about. It’s an exhilarating, effective, easy-to-follow, Latin-inspired, calorie-burning dance fitness-party™ that’s moving millions of people toward joy and health.</em>\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n<span style=\"font-size: medium; color: #339966;\"><strong>Listen, I\'m not one of those dancy-dancy types.  </strong></span>\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\nDid I ever take dance as a child?  No.  Was I on drill team in high school?  No.  Have I ever in my entire life felt cool or comfortable dancing in a group setting such as Homecoming, Prom, or at a dive bar or club?  Hell no!\n\n&nbsp;\n\nDid I dance in the chorus in theatrical productions in high school and college?  Technically, \"yes\", but . . . . that\'s chorus dancing.  That\'s not the same thing as \"shake your sexy groove thing\" dancing.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nIn other words, I never tried Zumba because I was <em>intimidated</em> by Zumba.  This white girl can\'t dance.  Which is puzzling because I\'m 50% Portuguese.  Somehow we didn\'t receive the innate hip shaking gene that other women of Latin origin share.  Think about Spanish and Brazilian women.  They shake their bon bons effortlessly.  Portuguese women?  Not so much.\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n<span style=\"font-size: medium; color: #339966;\"><strong>But it\'s never too late to learn!  Can bon bon shaking be taught?  I showed up to Zumba class to find out.</strong></span>\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\nI was greeted by Erika, a sexy spitfire of an instructor decked out in hottie Zumba dance wear.  Yes, apparently there is a Zumba clothing line.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nErika welcomed me to class (I was the only newbie in a room of about 40) and advised me to follow along the best that I could while having fun.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nThe electrifying music started pulsing, and we were off!  I followed along the best I could while dodging dancing women coming at me from all angles.  I laughed it off in the spirit of fun and fitness.  This is one of the gifts of being 40-something.  In my 20s, I would have felt self-conscious.  At 43, I find it amusing.\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n[caption id=\"attachment_11940\" align=\"alignnone\" width=\"300\"]<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/?attachment_id=11940\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-11940\"><img class=\"size-medium wp-image-11940\" alt=\"Zumba is fast-paced, so trying to capture a photo with a Crackberry proved useless.  It\'s sort of fitting, however, because my Nana has always taken blurry photos, and since this somewhat of a tribute to her . . . . :-D \" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/01/IMG00331-20121208-1017-300x225.jpg\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a> Zumba is fast-paced, so trying to capture a photo with a Crackberry proved useless. It\'s sort of fitting, however, because my Nana has always taken blurry photos, and since this somewhat of a tribute to her . . . . :-D[/caption]\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\nI was surprised at how quickly I adapted to the class.  My favorite moves were -- you guessed it! -- the bon bon shaking and the chest shimmies.  Even though I still felt a bit clunky.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nI could go on and on about the class, but let me just say that I was hooked in about . . . . oh . . . . 5 minutes.  Zumba is addictive!  The music and routines change about every 3 minutes, and it\'s easier to follow than I thought.  Of course, there were challenging bits, but challenges help us grow.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nMy only regret was that I made the brilliant breakfast choice of waffles and coffee about an hour before class.  :-p  DO NOT DO THIS AT HOME!  Zumba is a real workout!\n\n&nbsp;\n\nI met up with Erika after class and asked thoughtful questions relating to Zumba and bon bon shaking.\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n<strong>Erika, an innate bon bon shaker of Latin origin, assured me shaking your bon bon like nobody\'s business is a skill that can be learned and honed through regular Zumba practice!</strong>\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\nThat\'s all I need to hear.  I am now a member of the Y and will be Zumba-ing my bootie off on Saturday mornings along with Nana.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nHow was Nana\'s Zumba class?  I hoped to obtain a photo for you.  Nana may be an active 91 year-old, but she is clueless about technology.  Apparently, so are all her cronies.  NO ONE knew how to take a photo with their phone and text it to me.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nNana raved about the Zumba music and her instructor who \"has the most beautiful figure\".  She then veered off into a tangent regarding another recently discovered passion that she previously mentioned in a letter:\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\nphoto of letter\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\nShe cracks me up.\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;','Playdate #52:  Zumba with Nana','','inherit','open','open','','11926-revision-18','','','2013-01-01 13:56:28','2013-01-01 20:56:28','',11926,'http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/2013/01/01/11926-revision-18/',0,'revision','',0),(11947,1,'2013-01-01 14:39:30','2013-01-01 21:39:31','','Letter from Nana','','inherit','open','open','','olympus-digital-camera-810','','','2013-01-01 14:39:30','2013-01-01 21:39:31','',11926,'http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/01/P1010001.jpg',0,'attachment','image/jpeg',0),(11948,1,'2013-01-01 14:39:54','2013-01-01 21:39:54','One year ago today I kicked off The Year of Play with a <a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/2012/01/12/playdate-1-just-dancing-fools/\" target=\"_blank\"><strong>dance off </strong></a>with World\'s Most Precious Niece.  In December 2012, I ended the year by Zumba-ing my tushie off with my Nana.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nTechnically, this was a parallel playdate because Nana lives in Florida.  On a fine and crisp Saturday morning, Nana checked into her weekly Zumba class in Florida while I tried one out for the first time in Arizona.  Nana had been raving about Zumba for ages, and I was curious to see what all the fuss was about.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nYes, that\'s right.  I am a newbie, but Nana Zumbas regularly.  She\'s 91.  (You may have met her a few months ago over <a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/2012/09/26/playdate-34-the-beach-house-is-where-the-heart-is/\" target=\"_blank\"><strong>here.</strong></a>)\n\n&nbsp;\n\nMy seemingly Most Popular Facebook Post Ever happened on a whim (I\'m terrible at posting regularly to fb) and featured Nana.  This will give you a little glimpse into Nana\'s life and how she inspires others through her joie de vivre :\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/?attachment_id=11927\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-11927\"><img class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-11927\" alt=\"http://www.facebook.com/diaryofalatebloomer\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/Screen-shot-2012-12-31-at-3.36.19-PM.png\" width=\"407\" height=\"815\" /></a>\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\nThat\'s my Nana!  It took her TWO WEEKS to get back to me after that phone call!\n\n&nbsp;\n\nWas I annoyed?  Hardly.  Instead, I was OVERJOYED that she is having so many adventures that she forgets to call her first-born grandchild.\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n<span style=\"font-size: medium; color: #339966;\"><strong>You see, Nana nearly died a year ago last November.</strong> </span>\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\nShe suffered a bad fall, hit her head, and developed a clot on her brain.  The doctor explained to my family that her injury was cause to operate on a younger person, but brain surgery was out of the question for a then 90 year-old.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nThe doctor changed his mind days later when Nana\'s condition worsened.  She wasn\'t eating (this is about as normal for a Portuguese woman as it is for an Italian!), her speech was slurred, and she was confused.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nWhen I talked to her on the phone the night before the surgery, I thought that was the last time I would hear my grandmother\'s voice.  How many 90 year-olds survive brain surgery?  Even the doctor advised against it until there was no other option.\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n<span style=\"font-size: medium; color: #339966;\"><strong>13 months later . . . . </strong></span>\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\nNana is living the life with her sister at the Senior Dorm.  In addition to the activities listed above, she is also a regular at Sit and Be Fit, Bible Study, Choir Practice and receives dancing invitations from gentleman callers at Happy Hour.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nOh, and I should probably also mention that at age 76, Nana was in a horrific car accident and was life-flighted to the nearest trauma center.  After making it through days in ICU, she was finally released to a hospital room.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nLater that night, we were called to the hospital at 1 a.m. to say our goodbyes.  Nana was hemorrhaging uncontrollably through her nose. She was back in ICU, and she was on her last blood transfusion.  Miraculously, an ER doctor came to the rescue and saved her life by inserting a urinary catheter (of all things!) up her nose.\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n<span style=\"font-size: medium; color: #339966;\"><strong>Not only is Nana the poster child for Late Blooming, but she is also the second coming of the Energizer Bunny!  :-)</strong></span>\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\nMy apologies for the long backstory, but I think Nana\'s story is absolutely remarkable and serves as an inspirational lesson to us all.  (And I didn\'t even delve into the 6 month depression post-brain surgery accompanied by Nana\'s refusal to leave the beautiful home my late grandfather built for her in order to move into the Senior Dorm!)\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n<span style=\"font-size: medium; color: #339966;\"><strong>Just when Nana thought her life was doomed, she bloomed.  </strong></span>\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\nWhich brings us full circle to Zumba.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nIf you are unfamiliar with Zumba, here\'s the lowdown taken directly from their website:<em> \"Are you ready to party yourself into shape? That’s exactly what the Zumba<sup>®</sup> program is all about. It’s an exhilarating, effective, easy-to-follow, Latin-inspired, calorie-burning dance fitness-party™ that’s moving millions of people toward joy and health.\"</em>\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n<span style=\"font-size: medium; color: #339966;\"><strong>Listen, I\'m not one of those dancy-dancy types.  </strong></span>\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\nDid I ever take dance as a child?  No.  Was I on drill team in high school?  No.  Have I ever in my entire life felt cool or comfortable dancing in a group setting such as Homecoming, Prom, or at a dive bar or club?  Hell no!\n\n&nbsp;\n\nDid I dance in the chorus in theatrical productions in high school and college?  Technically, \"yes\", but . . . . that\'s chorus dancing.  That\'s not the same thing as \"shake your foxy groove thing\" dancing.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nIn other words, I never tried Zumba because I was <em>intimidated</em> by Zumba.  This white girl can\'t dance.  Which is puzzling because I\'m 50% Portuguese.  Somehow we didn\'t receive the innate hip shaking gene that other women of Latin origin share.  Think about Spanish and Brazilian women.  They shake their bon bons effortlessly.  Portuguese women?  Not so much.\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n<span style=\"font-size: medium; color: #339966;\"><strong>But it\'s never too late to learn!  Can bon bon shaking be taught?  I showed up to Zumba class to find out.</strong></span>\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\nI was greeted by Erika, a sexy spitfire of an instructor decked out in hottie Zumba dance wear.  Yes, apparently there is a Zumba clothing line.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nErika welcomed me to class (I was the only newbie in a room of about 40) and advised me to follow along the best that I could while remembering to have fun.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nThe electric music started pulsing, and we were off!  I followed along the best I could while dodging dancing women coming at me from all angles.  I laughed it off in the spirit of fun and fitness.  This is one of the gifts of being 40-something.  In my 20s, I would have felt self-conscious.  At 43, I found it amusing.\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n[caption id=\"attachment_11940\" align=\"alignnone\" width=\"300\"]<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/?attachment_id=11940\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-11940\"><img class=\"size-medium wp-image-11940 \" alt=\"Zumba is fast-paced, so trying to capture a photo with a Crackberry proved useless.  It\'s sort of fitting, however, because my Nana has always taken blurry photos, and since this somewhat of a tribute to her . . . . :-D \" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/01/IMG00331-20121208-1017-300x225.jpg\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a> Zumba is fast-paced, so trying to capture a photo with a Crackberry proved useless. It\'s sort of fitting, however, because my Nana has always taken blurry photos, and since this blog post is somewhat of a tribute to her . . . . :-D[/caption]\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\nI was surprised at how quickly I adapted to the class.  My favorite moves were -- you guessed it! -- the bon bon shaking and the chest shimmies.  Even though I still felt a bit clunky.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nI could go on and on about the class, but let me just say that I was hooked on Zumba in about . . . . oh . . . . 5 minutes.  Zumba is addictive! The music and routines change about every 3 minutes, and it\'s easier to follow than I thought.  Of course, there were challenging bits, but challenges help us grow.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nMy only regret was that I made the brilliant breakfast choice of a green smoothie, waffles and coffee about an hour before class.  :-p  DO NOT DO THIS AT HOME!  Zumba is a real workout!\n\n&nbsp;\n\nI met up with Erika after class and asked thoughtful questions relating to Zumba and bon bon shaking.\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n<span style=\"font-size: medium; color: #339966;\"><strong>Erika, an innate bon bon shaker of Latin origin, assured me shaking your bon bon like nobody\'s business is a skill that can be learned and honed through regular Zumba practice!</strong></span>\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\nThat\'s all I need to hear.  I am now a member of the Y and will be Zumba-ing my bootie off every Saturday morning along with Nana.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nHow was Nana\'s Zumba class?  I hoped to obtain a photo for you.  Nana may be an active 91 year-old, but she is clueless about technology.  Apparently, so are all of her cronies.  NO ONE knew how to take a photo with their phone and text it to me.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nNana raved about the Zumba music and her instructor who \"has the most beautiful figure\".  She then veered off into a tangent regarding another recently discovered passion that she previously mentioned in a letter:\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;','Playdate #52:  Zumba with Nana','','inherit','open','open','','11926-revision-19','','','2013-01-01 14:39:54','2013-01-01 21:39:54','',11926,'http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/2013/01/01/11926-revision-19/',0,'revision','',0),(11949,1,'2013-01-01 14:40:46','2013-01-01 21:40:46','<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/?attachment_id=11947\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-11947\"><img class=\"alignnone size-large wp-image-11947\" alt=\"Letter from Nana\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/01/P1010001-1024x768.jpg\" width=\"1024\" height=\"768\" /></a>One year ago today I kicked off The Year of Play with a <a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/2012/01/12/playdate-1-just-dancing-fools/\" target=\"_blank\"><strong>dance off </strong></a>with World\'s Most Precious Niece.  In December 2012, I ended the year by Zumba-ing my tushie off with my Nana.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nTechnically, this was a parallel playdate because Nana lives in Florida.  On a fine and crisp Saturday morning, Nana checked into her weekly Zumba class in Florida while I tried one out for the first time in Arizona.  Nana had been raving about Zumba for ages, and I was curious to see what all the fuss was about.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nYes, that\'s right.  I am a newbie, but Nana Zumbas regularly.  She\'s 91.  (You may have met her a few months ago over <a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/2012/09/26/playdate-34-the-beach-house-is-where-the-heart-is/\" target=\"_blank\"><strong>here.</strong></a>)\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nMy seemingly Most Popular Facebook Post Ever happened on a whim (I\'m terrible at posting regularly to fb) and featured Nana.  This will give you a little glimpse into Nana\'s life and how she inspires others through her joie de vivre :\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/?attachment_id=11927\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-11927\"><img class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-11927\" alt=\"http://www.facebook.com/diaryofalatebloomer\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/Screen-shot-2012-12-31-at-3.36.19-PM.png\" width=\"407\" height=\"815\" /></a>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nThat\'s my Nana!  It took her TWO WEEKS to get back to me after that phone call!\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nWas I annoyed?  Hardly.  Instead, I was OVERJOYED that she is having so many adventures that she forgets to call her first-born grandchild.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-size: medium; color: #339966;\"><strong>You see, Nana nearly died a year ago last November.</strong> </span>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nShe suffered a bad fall, hit her head, and developed a clot on her brain.  The doctor explained to my family that her injury was cause to operate on a younger person, but brain surgery was out of the question for a then 90 year-old.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nThe doctor changed his mind days later when Nana\'s condition worsened.  She wasn\'t eating (this is about as normal for a Portuguese woman as it is for an Italian!), her speech was slurred, and she was confused.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nWhen I talked to her on the phone the night before the surgery, I thought that was the last time I would hear my grandmother\'s voice.  How many 90 year-olds survive brain surgery?  Even the doctor advised against it until there was no other option.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-size: medium; color: #339966;\"><strong>13 months later . . . . </strong></span>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nNana is living the life with her sister at the Senior Dorm.  In addition to the activities listed above, she is also a regular at Sit and Be Fit, Bible Study, Choir Practice and receives dancing invitations from gentleman callers at Happy Hour.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nOh, and I should probably also mention that at age 76, Nana was in a horrific car accident and was life-flighted to the nearest trauma center.  After making it through days in ICU, she was finally released to a hospital room.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nLater that night, we were called to the hospital at 1 a.m. to say our goodbyes.  Nana was hemorrhaging uncontrollably through her nose. She was back in ICU, and she was on her last blood transfusion.  Miraculously, an ER doctor came to the rescue and saved her life by inserting a urinary catheter (of all things!) up her nose.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-size: medium; color: #339966;\"><strong>Not only is Nana the poster child for Late Blooming, but she is also the second coming of the Energizer Bunny!  :-)</strong></span>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nMy apologies for the long backstory, but I think Nana\'s story is absolutely remarkable and serves as an inspirational lesson to us all.  (And I didn\'t even delve into the 6 month depression post-brain surgery accompanied by Nana\'s refusal to leave the beautiful home my late grandfather built for her in order to move into the Senior Dorm!)\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-size: medium; color: #339966;\"><strong>Just when Nana thought her life was doomed, she bloomed.  </strong></span>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nWhich brings us full circle to Zumba.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nIf you are unfamiliar with Zumba, here\'s the lowdown taken directly from their website:<em> \"Are you ready to party yourself into shape? That’s exactly what the Zumba<sup>®</sup> program is all about. It’s an exhilarating, effective, easy-to-follow, Latin-inspired, calorie-burning dance fitness-party™ that’s moving millions of people toward joy and health.\"</em>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-size: medium; color: #339966;\"><strong>Listen, I\'m not one of those dancy-dancy types.  </strong></span>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nDid I ever take dance as a child?  No.  Was I on drill team in high school?  No.  Have I ever in my entire life felt cool or comfortable dancing in a group setting such as Homecoming, Prom, or at a dive bar or club?  Hell no!\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nDid I dance in the chorus in theatrical productions in high school and college?  Technically, \"yes\", but . . . . that\'s chorus dancing.  That\'s not the same thing as \"shake your foxy groove thing\" dancing.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nIn other words, I never tried Zumba because I was <em>intimidated</em> by Zumba.  This white girl can\'t dance.  Which is puzzling because I\'m 50% Portuguese.  Somehow we didn\'t receive the innate hip shaking gene that other women of Latin origin share.  Think about Spanish and Brazilian women.  They shake their bon bons effortlessly.  Portuguese women?  Not so much.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-size: medium; color: #339966;\"><strong>But it\'s never too late to learn!  Can bon bon shaking be taught?  I showed up to Zumba class to find out.</strong></span>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nI was greeted by Erika, a sexy spitfire of an instructor decked out in hottie Zumba dance wear.  Yes, apparently there is a Zumba clothing line.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nErika welcomed me to class (I was the only newbie in a room of about 40) and advised me to follow along the best that I could while remembering to have fun.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nThe electric music started pulsing, and we were off!  I followed along the best I could while dodging dancing women coming at me from all angles.  I laughed it off in the spirit of fun and fitness.  This is one of the gifts of being 40-something.  In my 20s, I would have felt self-conscious.  At 43, I found it amusing.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_11940\" align=\"alignnone\" width=\"300\"]<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/?attachment_id=11940\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-11940\"><img class=\"size-medium wp-image-11940 \" alt=\"Zumba is fast-paced, so trying to capture a photo with a Crackberry proved useless.  It\'s sort of fitting, however, because my Nana has always taken blurry photos, and since this somewhat of a tribute to her . . . . :-D \" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/01/IMG00331-20121208-1017-300x225.jpg\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a> Zumba is fast-paced, so trying to capture a photo with a Crackberry proved useless. It\'s sort of fitting, however, because my Nana has always taken blurry photos, and since this blog post is somewhat of a tribute to her . . . . :-D[/caption]\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nI was surprised at how quickly I adapted to the class.  My favorite moves were -- you guessed it! -- the bon bon shaking and the chest shimmies.  Even though I still felt a bit clunky.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nI could go on and on about the class, but let me just say that I was hooked on Zumba in about . . . . oh . . . . 5 minutes.  Zumba is addictive! The music and routines change about every 3 minutes, and it\'s easier to follow than I thought.  Of course, there were challenging bits, but challenges help us grow.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nMy only regret was that I made the brilliant breakfast choice of a green smoothie, waffles and coffee about an hour before class.  :-p  DO NOT DO THIS AT HOME!  Zumba is a real workout!\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nI met up with Erika after class and asked thoughtful questions relating to Zumba and bon bon shaking.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-size: medium; color: #339966;\"><strong>Erika, an innate bon bon shaker of Latin origin, assured me shaking your bon bon like nobody\'s business is a skill that can be learned and honed through regular Zumba practice!</strong></span>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nThat\'s all I need to hear.  I am now a member of the Y and will be Zumba-ing my bootie off every Saturday morning along with Nana.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nHow was Nana\'s Zumba class?  I hoped to obtain a photo for you.  Nana may be an active 91 year-old, but she is clueless about technology.  Apparently, so are all of her cronies.  NO ONE knew how to take a photo with their phone and text it to me.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nNana raved about the Zumba music and her instructor who \"has the most beautiful figure\".  She then veered off into a tangent regarding another recently discovered passion that she previously mentioned in a letter:\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;','Playdate #52:  Zumba with Nana','','inherit','open','open','','11926-revision-20','','','2013-01-01 14:40:46','2013-01-01 21:40:46','',11926,'http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/2013/01/01/11926-revision-20/',0,'revision','',0),(11950,1,'2013-01-01 14:51:38','2013-01-01 21:51:38','One year ago today I kicked off The Year of Play with a <a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/2012/01/12/playdate-1-just-dancing-fools/\" target=\"_blank\"><strong>dance off </strong></a>with World\'s Most Precious Niece.  In December 2012, I ended the year by Zumba-ing my tushie off with my Nana.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nTechnically, this was a parallel playdate because Nana lives in Florida.  On a fine and crisp Saturday morning, Nana checked into her weekly Zumba class in Florida while I tried one out for the first time in Arizona.  Nana had been raving about Zumba for ages, and I was curious to see what all the fuss was about.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nYes, that\'s right.  I am a newbie, but Nana Zumbas regularly.  She\'s 91.  (You may have met her a few months ago over <a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/2012/09/26/playdate-34-the-beach-house-is-where-the-heart-is/\" target=\"_blank\"><strong>here.</strong></a>)\n\n&nbsp;\n\nMy seemingly Most Popular Facebook Post Ever happened on a whim (I\'m terrible at posting regularly to fb) and featured Nana.  This will give you a little glimpse into Nana\'s life and how she inspires others through her joie de vivre :\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/?attachment_id=11927\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-11927\"><img class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-11927\" alt=\"http://www.facebook.com/diaryofalatebloomer\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/Screen-shot-2012-12-31-at-3.36.19-PM.png\" width=\"407\" height=\"815\" /></a>\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\nThat\'s my Nana!  It took her TWO WEEKS to get back to me after that phone call!\n\n&nbsp;\n\nWas I annoyed?  Hardly.  Instead, I was OVERJOYED that she is having so many adventures that she forgets to call her first-born grandchild.\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n<span style=\"font-size: medium; color: #339966;\"><strong>You see, Nana nearly died a year ago last November.</strong></span>\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\nShe suffered a bad fall, hit her head, and developed a clot on her brain.  The doctor explained to my family that her injury was cause to operate on a younger person, but brain surgery was out of the question for a then 90 year-old.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nThe doctor changed his mind days later when Nana\'s condition worsened.  She wasn\'t eating (this is about as normal for a Portuguese woman as it is for an Italian!), her speech was slurred, and she was confused.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nWhen I talked to her on the phone the night before the surgery, I thought that was the last time I would hear my grandmother\'s voice.  How many 90 year-olds survive brain surgery?  Even the doctor advised against it until there was no other option.\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n<span style=\"font-size: medium; color: #339966;\"><strong>13 months later . . . . </strong></span>\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\nNana is living the life with her sister at the Senior Dorm.  In addition to the activities listed above, she is also a regular at Sit and Be Fit, Bible Study, Choir Practice and receives dancing invitations from gentleman callers at Happy Hour.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nOh, and I should probably also mention that at age 76, Nana was in a horrific car accident and was life-flighted to the nearest trauma center.  After making it through days in ICU, she was finally released to a hospital room.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nLater that night, we were called to the hospital at 1 a.m. to say our goodbyes.  Nana was hemorrhaging uncontrollably through her nose. She was back in ICU, and she was on her last blood transfusion.  Miraculously, an ER doctor came to the rescue and saved her life by inserting a urinary catheter (of all things!) up her nose.\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n<span style=\"font-size: medium; color: #339966;\"><strong>Not only is Nana the poster child for Late Blooming, but she is also the second coming of the Energizer Bunny!  :-)</strong></span>\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\nMy apologies for the long backstory, but I think Nana\'s story is absolutely remarkable and serves as an inspirational lesson to us all.  (And I didn\'t even delve into the 6 month depression post-brain surgery accompanied by Nana\'s refusal to leave the beautiful home my late grandfather built for her in order to move into the Senior Dorm!)\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n<span style=\"font-size: medium; color: #339966;\"><strong>Just when Nana thought her life was doomed, she bloomed.  </strong></span>\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\nWhich brings us full circle to Zumba.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nIf you are unfamiliar with Zumba, here\'s the lowdown taken directly from their website:<em> \"Are you ready to party yourself into shape? That’s exactly what the Zumba<sup>®</sup> program is all about. It’s an exhilarating, effective, easy-to-follow, Latin-inspired, calorie-burning dance fitness-party™ that’s moving millions of people toward joy and health.\"</em>\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n<span style=\"font-size: medium; color: #339966;\"><strong>Listen, I\'m not one of those dancy-dancy types.  </strong></span>\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\nDid I ever take dance as a child?  No.  Was I on drill team in high school?  No.  Have I ever in my entire life felt cool or comfortable dancing in a group setting such as Homecoming, Prom, or at a dive bar or club?  Hell no!\n\n&nbsp;\n\nDid I dance in the chorus in theatrical productions in high school and college?  Technically, \"yes\", but . . . . that\'s chorus dancing.  That\'s not the same thing as \"shake your foxy groove thing\" dancing.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nIn other words, I never tried Zumba because I was <em>intimidated</em> by Zumba.  This white girl can\'t dance.  Which is puzzling because I\'m 50% Portuguese.  Somehow we didn\'t receive the innate hip shaking gene that other women of Latin origin share.  Think about Spanish and Brazilian women.  They shake their bon bons effortlessly.  Portuguese women?  Not so much.\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n<span style=\"font-size: medium; color: #339966;\"><strong>But it\'s never too late to learn!  Can bon bon shaking be taught?  I showed up to Zumba class to find out.</strong></span>\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\nI was greeted by Erika, a sexy spitfire of an instructor decked out in hottie Zumba dance wear.  Yes, apparently there is a Zumba clothing line.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nErika welcomed me to class (I was the only newbie in a room of about 40) and advised me to follow along the best that I could while remembering to have fun.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nThe electric music started pulsing, and we were off!  I followed along the best I could while dodging dancing women coming at me from all angles.  I laughed it off in the spirit of fun and fitness.  This is one of the gifts of being 40-something.  In my 20s, I would have felt self-conscious.  At 43, I found it amusing.\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n[caption id=\"attachment_11940\" align=\"alignnone\" width=\"300\"]<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/?attachment_id=11940\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-11940\"><img class=\"size-medium wp-image-11940 \" alt=\"Zumba is fast-paced, so trying to capture a photo with a Crackberry proved useless.  It\'s sort of fitting, however, because my Nana has always taken blurry photos, and since this somewhat of a tribute to her . . . . :-D \" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/01/IMG00331-20121208-1017-300x225.jpg\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a> Zumba is fast-paced, so trying to capture a photo with a Crackberry proved useless. It\'s sort of fitting, however, because my Nana has always taken blurry photos, and since this blog post is somewhat of a tribute to her . . . . :-D[/caption]\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\nI was surprised at how quickly I adapted to the class.  My favorite moves were -- you guessed it! -- the bon bon shaking and the chest shimmies.  Even though I still felt a bit clunky.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nI could go on and on about the class, but let me just say that I was hooked on Zumba in about . . . . oh . . . . 5 minutes.  Zumba is addictive! The music and routines change about every 3 minutes, and it\'s easier to follow than I thought.  Of course, there were challenging bits, but challenges help us grow.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nMy only regret was that I made the brilliant breakfast choice of a green smoothie, waffles and coffee about an hour before class.  :-p  DO NOT DO THIS AT HOME!  Zumba is a real workout!\n\n&nbsp;\n\nI met up with Erika after class and asked thoughtful questions relating to Zumba and bon bon shaking.\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n<span style=\"font-size: medium; color: #339966;\"><strong>Erika, an innate bon bon shaker of Latin origin, assured me shaking your bon bon like nobody\'s business is a skill that can be learned and honed through regular Zumba practice!</strong></span>\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\nThat\'s all I need to hear.  I am now a member of the Y and will be Zumba-ing my bootie off every Saturday morning along with Nana.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nHow was Nana\'s Zumba class?  I hoped to obtain a photo for you.  Nana may be an active 91 year-old, but she is clueless about technology.  Apparently, so are all of her cronies.  NO ONE knew how to take a photo with their phone and text it to me.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nNana raved about the Zumba music and her instructor who \"has the most beautiful figure\".  She then veered off into a tangent regarding another recently discovered passion that she previously mentioned in a letter:\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/?attachment_id=11947\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-11947\"><img class=\"alignnone  wp-image-11947\" alt=\"Letter from Nana\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/01/P1010001-1024x768.jpg\" width=\"614\" height=\"461\" /></a>\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\nI don\'t think Helmark\'s wife needs to worry.  ☺\n\n&nbsp;\n\nI can only hope that in my later years, this apple continues to stick close to the tree.\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n**********\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\nHave you ever Zumba\'d?\n\n&nbsp;\n\nIs there anythPlease share in the comments section below.\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;','Playdate #52:  Zumba with Nana','','inherit','open','open','','11926-revision-21','','','2013-01-01 14:51:38','2013-01-01 21:51:38','',11926,'http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/2013/01/01/11926-revision-21/',0,'revision','',0),(11951,1,'2013-01-01 14:53:36','2013-01-01 21:53:36','One year ago today I kicked off The Year of Play with a <a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/2012/01/12/playdate-1-just-dancing-fools/\" target=\"_blank\"><strong>dance off </strong></a>with World\'s Most Precious Niece.  In December 2012, I ended the year by Zumba-ing my tushie off with my Nana.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nTechnically, this was a parallel playdate because Nana lives in Florida.  On a fine and crisp Saturday morning, Nana checked into her weekly Zumba class in Florida while I tried one out for the first time in Arizona.  Nana had been raving about Zumba for ages, and I was curious to see what all the fuss was about.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nYes, that\'s right.  I am a newbie, but Nana Zumbas regularly.  She\'s 91.  (You may have met her a few months ago over <a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/2012/09/26/playdate-34-the-beach-house-is-where-the-heart-is/\" target=\"_blank\"><strong>here.</strong></a>)\n\n&nbsp;\n\nMy seemingly Most Popular Facebook Post Ever happened on a whim (I\'m terrible at posting regularly to fb) and featured Nana.  This will give you a little glimpse into Nana\'s life and how she inspires others through her joie de vivre :\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/?attachment_id=11927\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-11927\"><img class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-11927\" alt=\"http://www.facebook.com/diaryofalatebloomer\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/Screen-shot-2012-12-31-at-3.36.19-PM.png\" width=\"407\" height=\"815\" /></a>\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\nThat\'s my Nana!  It took her TWO WEEKS to get back to me after that phone call!\n\n&nbsp;\n\nWas I annoyed?  Hardly.  Instead, I was OVERJOYED that she is having so many adventures that she forgets to call her first-born grandchild.\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n<strong>You see, Nana nearly died a year ago last November.</strong>\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\nShe suffered a bad fall, hit her head, and developed a clot on her brain.  The doctor explained to my family that her injury was cause to operate on a younger person, but brain surgery was out of the question for a then 90 year-old.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nThe doctor changed his mind days later when Nana\'s condition worsened.  She wasn\'t eating (this is about as normal for a Portuguese woman as it is for an Italian!), her speech was slurred, and she was confused.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nWhen I talked to her on the phone the night before the surgery, I thought that was the last time I would hear my grandmother\'s voice.  How many 90 year-olds survive brain surgery?  Even the doctor advised against it until there was no other option.\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n<strong>13 months later . . . . </strong>\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\nNana is living the life with her sister at the Senior Dorm.  In addition to the activities listed above, she is also a regular at Sit and Be Fit, Bible Study, Choir Practice and receives dancing invitations from gentleman callers at Happy Hour.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nOh, and I should probably also mention that at age 76, Nana was in a horrific car accident and was life-flighted to the nearest trauma center.  After making it through days in ICU, she was finally released to a hospital room.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nLater that night, we were called to the hospital at 1 a.m. to say our goodbyes.  Nana was hemorrhaging uncontrollably through her nose. She was back in ICU, and she was on her last blood transfusion.  Miraculously, an ER doctor came to the rescue and saved her life by inserting a urinary catheter (of all things!) up her nose.\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n<strong>Not only is Nana the poster child for Late Blooming, but she is also the second coming of the Energizer Bunny!  :-)</strong>\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\nMy apologies for the long backstory, but I think Nana\'s story is absolutely remarkable and serves as an inspirational lesson to us all.  (And I didn\'t even delve into the 6 month depression post-brain surgery accompanied by Nana\'s refusal to leave the beautiful home my late grandfather built for her in order to move into the Senior Dorm!)\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n<strong>Just when Nana thought her life was doomed, she bloomed.  </strong>\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\nWhich brings us full circle to Zumba.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nIf you are unfamiliar with Zumba, here\'s the lowdown taken directly from their website:<em> \"Are you ready to party yourself into shape? That’s exactly what the Zumba<sup>®</sup> program is all about. It’s an exhilarating, effective, easy-to-follow, Latin-inspired, calorie-burning dance fitness-party™ that’s moving millions of people toward joy and health.\"</em>\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n<strong>Listen, I\'m not one of those dancy-dancy types.  </strong>\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\nDid I ever take dance as a child?  No.  Was I on drill team in high school?  No.  Have I ever in my entire life felt cool or comfortable dancing in a group setting such as Homecoming, Prom, or at a dive bar or club?  Hell no!\n\n&nbsp;\n\nDid I dance in the chorus in theatrical productions in high school and college?  Technically, \"yes\", but . . . . that\'s chorus dancing.  That\'s not the same thing as \"shake your foxy groove thing\" dancing.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nIn other words, I never tried Zumba because I was <em>intimidated</em> by Zumba.  This white girl can\'t dance.  Which is puzzling because I\'m 50% Portuguese.  Somehow we didn\'t receive the innate hip shaking gene that other women of Latin origin share.  Think about Spanish and Brazilian women.  They shake their bon bons effortlessly.  Portuguese women?  Not so much.\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n<strong>But it\'s never too late to learn!  Can bon bon shaking be taught?  I showed up to Zumba class to find out.</strong>\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\nI was greeted by Erika, a sexy spitfire of an instructor decked out in hottie Zumba dance wear.  Yes, apparently there is a Zumba clothing line.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nErika welcomed me to class (I was the only newbie in a room of about 40) and advised me to follow along the best that I could while remembering to have fun.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nThe electric music started pulsing, and we were off!  I followed along the best I could while dodging dancing women coming at me from all angles.  I laughed it off in the spirit of fun and fitness.  This is one of the gifts of being 40-something.  In my 20s, I would have felt self-conscious.  At 43, I found it amusing.\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n[caption id=\"attachment_11940\" align=\"alignnone\" width=\"300\"]<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/?attachment_id=11940\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-11940\"><img class=\"size-medium wp-image-11940 \" alt=\"Zumba is fast-paced, so trying to capture a photo with a Crackberry proved useless.  It\'s sort of fitting, however, because my Nana has always taken blurry photos, and since this somewhat of a tribute to her . . . . :-D \" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/01/IMG00331-20121208-1017-300x225.jpg\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a> Zumba is fast-paced, so trying to capture a photo with a Crackberry proved useless. It\'s sort of fitting, however, because my Nana has always taken blurry photos, and since this blog post is somewhat of a tribute to her . . . . :-D[/caption]\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\nI was surprised at how quickly I adapted to the class.  My favorite moves were -- you guessed it! -- the bon bon shaking and the chest shimmies.  Even though I still felt a bit clunky.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nI could go on and on about the class, but let me just say that I was hooked on Zumba in about . . . . oh . . . . 5 minutes.  Zumba is addictive! The music and routines change about every 3 minutes, and it\'s easier to follow than I thought.  Of course, there were challenging bits, but challenges help us grow.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nMy only regret was that I made the brilliant breakfast choice of a green smoothie, waffles and coffee about an hour before class.  :-p  DO NOT DO THIS AT HOME!  Zumba is a real workout!\n\n&nbsp;\n\nI met up with Erika after class and asked thoughtful questions relating to Zumba and bon bon shaking.\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n<strong>Erika, an innate bon bon shaker of Latin origin, assured me shaking your bon bon like nobody\'s business is a skill that can be learned and honed through regular Zumba practice!</strong>\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\nThat\'s all I need to hear.  I am now a member of the Y and will be Zumba-ing my bootie off every Saturday morning along with Nana.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nHow was Nana\'s Zumba class?  I hoped to obtain a photo for you.  Nana may be an active 91 year-old, but she is clueless about technology.  Apparently, so are all of her cronies.  NO ONE knew how to take a photo with their phone and text it to me.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nNana raved about the Zumba music and her instructor who \"has the most beautiful figure\".  She then veered off into a tangent regarding another recently discovered passion that she previously mentioned in a letter:\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/?attachment_id=11947\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-11947\"><img class=\"alignnone  wp-image-11947\" alt=\"Letter from Nana\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/01/P1010001-1024x768.jpg\" width=\"614\" height=\"461\" /></a>\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\nI don\'t think Helmark\'s wife needs to worry.  ☺\n\n&nbsp;\n\nI can only hope that in my later years, this apple continues to stick close to the tree.\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n**********\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n<span style=\"font-size: medium; color: #339966;\"><strong>Have you ever Zumba\'d?  </strong></span>\n\n&nbsp;\n\n<span style=\"font-size: medium; color: #339966;\"><strong>Is there anything you are burning to try in 2013?  Please share in the comments section below.</strong>  </span>\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;','Playdate #52:  Zumba with Nana','','inherit','open','open','','11926-revision-22','','','2013-01-01 14:53:36','2013-01-01 21:53:36','',11926,'http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/2013/01/01/11926-revision-22/',0,'revision','',0),(11952,1,'2013-01-01 15:01:36','2013-01-01 22:01:36','One year ago today I kicked off The Year of Play with a <a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/2012/01/12/playdate-1-just-dancing-fools/\" target=\"_blank\"><strong>dance off </strong></a>with World\'s Most Precious Niece.  In December 2012, I ended the year by Zumba-ing my tushie off with my Nana.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nTechnically, this was a parallel playdate because Nana lives in Florida.  On a fine and crisp Saturday morning, Nana checked into her weekly Zumba class in Florida while I tried one out for the first time in Arizona.  Nana had been raving about Zumba for ages, and I was curious to see what all the fuss was about.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nYes, that\'s right.  I am a newbie, but Nana Zumbas regularly.  She\'s 91.  (You may have met her a few months ago over <a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/2012/09/26/playdate-34-the-beach-house-is-where-the-heart-is/\" target=\"_blank\"><strong>here.</strong></a>)\n\n&nbsp;\n\nMy seemingly Most Popular Facebook Post Ever happened on a whim (I\'m terrible at posting regularly to fb) and featured Nana.  This will give you a little glimpse into Nana\'s life and how she inspires others through her joie de vivre :\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/?attachment_id=11927\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-11927\"><img class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-11927\" alt=\"http://www.facebook.com/diaryofalatebloomer\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/Screen-shot-2012-12-31-at-3.36.19-PM.png\" width=\"407\" height=\"815\" /></a>\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\nThat\'s my Nana!  It took her TWO WEEKS to get back to me after that phone call!\n\n&nbsp;\n\nWas I annoyed?  Hardly.  Instead, I was OVERJOYED that she is having so many adventures that she forgets to call her first-born grandchild.\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n<strong>You see, Nana nearly died a year ago last November.</strong>\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\nShe suffered a bad fall, hit her head, and developed a clot on her brain.  The doctor explained to my family that her injury was cause to operate on a younger person, but brain surgery was out of the question for a then 90 year-old.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nThe doctor changed his mind days later when Nana\'s condition worsened.  She wasn\'t eating (this is about as normal for a Portuguese woman as it is for an Italian!), her speech was slurred, and she was confused.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nWhen I talked to her on the phone the night before the surgery, I thought that was the last time I would hear my grandmother\'s voice.  How many 90 year-olds survive brain surgery?  Even the doctor advised against it until there was no other option.\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n<strong>13 months later . . . . </strong>\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\nNana is living the life with her sister at the Senior Dorm.  In addition to the activities listed above, she is also a regular at Sit and Be Fit, Bible Study, Choir Practice and receives dancing invitations from gentleman callers at Happy Hour.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nOh, and I should probably also mention that at age 76, Nana was in a horrific car accident and was life-flighted to the nearest trauma center.  After making it through days in ICU, she was finally released to a hospital room.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nLater that night, we were called to the hospital at 1 a.m. to say our goodbyes.  Nana was hemorrhaging uncontrollably through her nose. She was back in ICU, and she was on her last blood transfusion.  Miraculously, an ER doctor came to the rescue and saved her life by inserting a urinary catheter (of all things!) up her nose.\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n<strong>Not only is Nana the poster child for Late Blooming, but she is also the second coming of the Energizer Bunny!  :-)</strong>\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\nMy apologies for the long backstory, but I think Nana\'s story is absolutely remarkable and serves as an inspirational lesson to us all.  (And I didn\'t even delve into the 6 month depression post-brain surgery accompanied by Nana\'s refusal to leave the beautiful home my late grandfather built for her in order to move into the Senior Dorm!)\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n<strong>Just when Nana thought her life was doomed, she bloomed.  </strong>\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\nWhich brings us full circle to Zumba.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nIf you are unfamiliar with Zumba, here\'s the lowdown taken directly from their website:<em> \"Are you ready to party yourself into shape? That’s exactly what the Zumba<sup>®</sup> program is all about. It’s an exhilarating, effective, easy-to-follow, Latin-inspired, calorie-burning dance fitness-party™ that’s moving millions of people toward joy and health.\"</em>\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n<strong>Listen, I\'m not one of those dancy-dancy types.  </strong>\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\nDid I ever take dance as a child?  No.  Was I on drill team in high school?  No.  Have I ever in my entire life felt cool or comfortable dancing in a group setting such as Homecoming, Prom, or at a dive bar or club?  Hell no!\n\n&nbsp;\n\nDid I dance in the chorus in theatrical productions in high school and college?  Technically, \"yes\", but . . . . that\'s chorus dancing.  That\'s not the same thing as \"shake your foxy groove thing\" dancing.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nIn other words, I never tried Zumba because I was <em>intimidated</em> by Zumba.  This white girl can\'t dance.  Which is puzzling because I\'m 50% Portuguese.  Somehow we didn\'t receive the innate hip shaking gene that other women of Latin origin share.  Think about Spanish and Brazilian women.  They shake their bon bons effortlessly.  Portuguese women?  Not so much.\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n<strong>But it\'s never too late to learn!  Can bon bon shaking be taught?  I showed up to Zumba class to find out.</strong>\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\nI was greeted by Erika, a sexy spitfire of an instructor decked out in hottie Zumba dance wear.  Yes, apparently there is a Zumba clothing line.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nErika welcomed me to class (I was the only newbie in a room of about 40) and advised me to follow along the best that I could while remembering to have fun.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nThe electric music started pulsing, and we were off!  I followed along the best I could while dodging dancing women coming at me from all angles.  I laughed it off in the spirit of fun and fitness.  This is one of the gifts of being 40-something.  In my 20s, I would have felt self-conscious.  At 43, I found it amusing.\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n[caption id=\"attachment_11940\" align=\"alignnone\" width=\"300\"]<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/?attachment_id=11940\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-11940\"><img class=\"size-medium wp-image-11940 \" alt=\"Zumba is fast-paced, so trying to capture a photo with a Crackberry proved useless.  It\'s sort of fitting, however, because my Nana has always taken blurry photos, and since this somewhat of a tribute to her . . . . :-D \" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/01/IMG00331-20121208-1017-300x225.jpg\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a> Zumba is fast-paced, so trying to capture a photo with a Crackberry proved useless. It\'s sort of fitting, however, because my Nana has always taken blurry photos, and since this blog post is somewhat of a tribute to her . . . . :-D[/caption]\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\nI was surprised at how quickly I adapted to the class.  My favorite moves were -- you guessed it! -- the bon bon shaking and the chest shimmies.  Even though I still felt a bit clunky.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nI could go on and on about the class, but let me just say that I was hooked on Zumba in about . . . . oh . . . . 5 minutes.  Zumba is addictive! The music and routines change about every 3 minutes, and it\'s easier to follow than I thought.  Of course, there were challenging bits, but challenges help us grow.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nMy only regret was that I made the brilliant breakfast choice of a green smoothie, waffles and coffee about an hour before class.  :-p  DO NOT DO THIS AT HOME!  Zumba is a real workout!\n\n&nbsp;\n\nI met up with Erika after class and asked thoughtful questions relating to Zumba and bon bon shaking.\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n<strong>Erika, an innate bon bon shaker of Latin origin, assured me shaking your bon bon like nobody\'s business is a skill that can be learned and honed through regular Zumba practice!</strong>\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\nThat\'s all I need to hear.  I am now a member of the Y and will be Zumba-ing my bootie off every Saturday morning along with Nana.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nHow was Nana\'s Zumba class?  I hoped to obtain a photo for you.  Nana may be an active 91 year-old, but she is clueless about technology.  Apparently, so are all of her cronies.  NO ONE knew how to take a photo with their phone and text it to me.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nNana raved about the Zumba music and her instructor who \"has the most beautiful figure\".  She then veered off into a tangent regarding another recently discovered passion that she previously mentioned in a letter:\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/?attachment_id=11947\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-11947\"><img class=\"alignnone  wp-image-11947\" alt=\"Letter from Nana\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/01/P1010001-1024x768.jpg\" width=\"614\" height=\"461\" /></a>\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\nI don\'t think Helmark\'s wife needs to worry.  ☺\n\n&nbsp;\n\nI can only hope that in my later years, this apple continues to stick close to the tree.\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n**********\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n<strong>Have you ever Zumba\'d?  </strong>\n\n&nbsp;\n\n<strong>Is there anything you are burning to try in 2013?  Please share in the comments section below.</strong>\n\n&nbsp;','Playdate #52:  Zumba with Nana','','inherit','open','open','','11926-revision-23','','','2013-01-01 15:01:36','2013-01-01 22:01:36','',11926,'http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/2013/01/01/11926-revision-23/',0,'revision','',0),(11953,1,'2013-01-01 15:02:10','2013-01-01 22:02:10','One year ago today I kicked off The Year of Play with a <a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/2012/01/12/playdate-1-just-dancing-fools/\" target=\"_blank\"><strong>dance off </strong></a>with World\'s Most Precious Niece.  In December 2012, I ended the year by Zumba-ing my tushie off with my Nana.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nTechnically, this was a parallel playdate because Nana lives in Florida.  On a fine and crisp Saturday morning, Nana checked into her weekly Zumba class in Florida while I tried one out for the first time in Arizona.  Nana had been raving about Zumba for ages, and I was curious to see what all the fuss was about.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nYes, that\'s right.  I am a newbie, but Nana Zumbas regularly.  She\'s 91.  (You may have met her a few months ago over <a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/2012/09/26/playdate-34-the-beach-house-is-where-the-heart-is/\" target=\"_blank\"><strong>here.</strong></a>)\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nMy seemingly Most Popular Facebook Post Ever happened on a whim (I\'m terrible at posting regularly to fb) and featured Nana.  This will give you a little glimpse into Nana\'s life and how she inspires others through her joie de vivre :\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/?attachment_id=11927\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-11927\"><img class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-11927\" alt=\"http://www.facebook.com/diaryofalatebloomer\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/Screen-shot-2012-12-31-at-3.36.19-PM.png\" width=\"407\" height=\"815\" /></a>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nThat\'s my Nana!  It took her TWO WEEKS to get back to me after that phone call!\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nWas I annoyed?  Hardly.  Instead, I was OVERJOYED that she is having so many adventures that she forgets to call her first-born grandchild.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-size: medium; color: #339966;\"><strong>You see, Nana nearly died a year ago last November.</strong></span>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nShe suffered a bad fall, hit her head, and developed a clot on her brain.  The doctor explained to my family that her injury was cause to operate on a younger person, but brain surgery was out of the question for a then 90 year-old.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nThe doctor changed his mind days later when Nana\'s condition worsened.  She wasn\'t eating (this is about as normal for a Portuguese woman as it is for an Italian!), her speech was slurred, and she was confused.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nWhen I talked to her on the phone the night before the surgery, I thought that was the last time I would hear my grandmother\'s voice.  How many 90 year-olds survive brain surgery?  Even the doctor advised against it until there was no other option.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-size: medium; color: #339966;\"><strong>13 months later . . . . </strong></span>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nNana is living the life with her sister at the Senior Dorm.  In addition to the activities listed above, she is also a regular at Sit and Be Fit, Bible Study, Choir Practice and receives dancing invitations from gentleman callers at Happy Hour.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nOh, and I should probably also mention that at age 76, Nana was in a horrific car accident and was life-flighted to the nearest trauma center.  After making it through days in ICU, she was finally released to a hospital room.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nLater that night, we were called to the hospital at 1 a.m. to say our goodbyes.  Nana was hemorrhaging uncontrollably through her nose. She was back in ICU, and she was on her last blood transfusion.  Miraculously, an ER doctor came to the rescue and saved her life by inserting a urinary catheter (of all things!) up her nose.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-size: medium; color: #339966;\"><strong>Not only is Nana the poster child for Late Blooming, but she is also the second coming of the Energizer Bunny!  :-)</strong></span>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nMy apologies for the long backstory, but I think Nana\'s story is absolutely remarkable and serves as an inspirational lesson to us all.  (And I didn\'t even delve into the 6 month depression post-brain surgery accompanied by Nana\'s refusal to leave the beautiful home my late grandfather built for her in order to move into the Senior Dorm!)\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-size: medium; color: #339966;\"><strong>Just when Nana thought her life was doomed, she bloomed.  </strong></span>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nWhich brings us full circle to Zumba.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nIf you are unfamiliar with Zumba, here\'s the lowdown taken directly from their website:<em> \"Are you ready to party yourself into shape? That’s exactly what the Zumba<sup>®</sup> program is all about. It’s an exhilarating, effective, easy-to-follow, Latin-inspired, calorie-burning dance fitness-party™ that’s moving millions of people toward joy and health.\"</em>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-size: medium; color: #339966;\"><strong>Listen, I\'m not one of those dancy-dancy types.  </strong></span>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nDid I ever take dance as a child?  No.  Was I on drill team in high school?  No.  Have I ever in my entire life felt cool or comfortable dancing in a group setting such as Homecoming, Prom, or at a dive bar or club?  Hell no!\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nDid I dance in the chorus in theatrical productions in high school and college?  Technically, \"yes\", but . . . . that\'s chorus dancing.  That\'s not the same thing as \"shake your foxy groove thing\" dancing.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nIn other words, I never tried Zumba because I was <em>intimidated</em> by Zumba.  This white girl can\'t dance.  Which is puzzling because I\'m 50% Portuguese.  Somehow we didn\'t receive the innate hip shaking gene that other women of Latin origin share.  Think about Spanish and Brazilian women.  They shake their bon bons effortlessly.  Portuguese women?  Not so much.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-size: medium; color: #339966;\"><strong>But it\'s never too late to learn!  Can bon bon shaking be taught?  I showed up to Zumba class to find out.</strong></span>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nI was greeted by Erika, a sexy spitfire of an instructor decked out in hottie Zumba dance wear.  Yes, apparently there is a Zumba clothing line.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nErika welcomed me to class (I was the only newbie in a room of about 40) and advised me to follow along the best that I could while remembering to have fun.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nThe electric music started pulsing, and we were off!  I followed along the best I could while dodging dancing women coming at me from all angles.  I laughed it off in the spirit of fun and fitness.  This is one of the gifts of being 40-something.  In my 20s, I would have felt self-conscious.  At 43, I found it amusing.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_11940\" align=\"alignnone\" width=\"300\"]<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/?attachment_id=11940\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-11940\"><img class=\"size-medium wp-image-11940 \" alt=\"Zumba is fast-paced, so trying to capture a photo with a Crackberry proved useless.  It\'s sort of fitting, however, because my Nana has always taken blurry photos, and since this somewhat of a tribute to her . . . . :-D \" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/01/IMG00331-20121208-1017-300x225.jpg\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a> Zumba is fast-paced, so trying to capture a photo with a Crackberry proved useless. It\'s sort of fitting, however, because my Nana has always taken blurry photos, and since this blog post is somewhat of a tribute to her . . . . :-D[/caption]\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nI was surprised at how quickly I adapted to the class.  My favorite moves were -- you guessed it! -- the bon bon shaking and the chest shimmies.  Even though I still felt a bit clunky.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nI could go on and on about the class, but let me just say that I was hooked on Zumba in about . . . . oh . . . . 5 minutes.  Zumba is addictive! The music and routines change about every 3 minutes, and it\'s easier to follow than I thought.  Of course, there were challenging bits, but challenges help us grow.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nMy only regret was that I made the brilliant breakfast choice of a green smoothie, waffles and coffee about an hour before class.  :-p  DO NOT DO THIS AT HOME!  Zumba is a real workout!\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nI met up with Erika after class and asked thoughtful questions relating to Zumba and bon bon shaking.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-size: medium; color: #339966;\"><strong>Erika, an innate bon bon shaker of Latin origin, assured me shaking your bon bon like nobody\'s business is a skill that can be learned and honed through regular Zumba practice!</strong></span>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nThat\'s all I need to hear.  I am now a member of the Y and will be Zumba-ing my bootie off every Saturday morning along with Nana.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nHow was Nana\'s Zumba class?  I hoped to obtain a photo for you.  Nana may be an active 91 year-old, but she is clueless about technology.  Apparently, so are all of her cronies.  NO ONE knew how to take a photo with their phone and text it to me.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nNana raved about the Zumba music and her instructor who \"has the most beautiful figure\".  She then veered off into a tangent regarding another recently discovered passion that she previously mentioned in a letter:\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/?attachment_id=11947\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-11947\"><img class=\"alignnone  wp-image-11947\" alt=\"Letter from Nana\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/01/P1010001-1024x768.jpg\" width=\"614\" height=\"461\" /></a>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nI don\'t think Helmark\'s wife needs to worry.  ☺\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nI can only hope that in my later years, this apple continues to stick close to the tree.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n**********\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-size: medium; color: #339966;\"><strong>Have you ever Zumba\'d?  </strong></span>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-size: medium; color: #339966;\"><strong>Is there anything you are burning to try in 2013?  Please share in the comments section below.</strong>  </span>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n','Playdate #52:  Zumba with Nana','','inherit','open','open','','11926-revision-24','','','2013-01-01 15:02:10','2013-01-01 22:02:10','',11926,'http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/2013/01/01/11926-revision-24/',0,'revision','',0),(11954,1,'2013-01-01 15:02:48','2013-01-01 22:02:48','One year ago today I kicked off The Year of Play with a <a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/2012/01/12/playdate-1-just-dancing-fools/\" target=\"_blank\"><strong>dance off </strong></a>with World\'s Most Precious Niece.  In December 2012, I ended the year by Zumba-ing my tushie off with my Nana.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nTechnically, this was a parallel playdate because Nana lives in Florida.  On a fine and crisp Saturday morning, Nana checked into her weekly Zumba class in Florida while I tried one out for the first time in Arizona.  Nana had been raving about Zumba for ages, and I was curious to see what all the fuss was about.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nYes, that\'s right.  I am a newbie, but Nana Zumbas regularly.  She\'s 91.  (You may have met her a few months ago over <a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/2012/09/26/playdate-34-the-beach-house-is-where-the-heart-is/\" target=\"_blank\"><strong>here.</strong></a>)\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nMy seemingly Most Popular Facebook Post Ever happened on a whim (I\'m terrible at posting regularly to fb) and featured Nana.  This will give you a little glimpse into Nana\'s life and how she inspires others through her joie de vivre :\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/?attachment_id=11927\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-11927\"><img class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-11927\" alt=\"http://www.facebook.com/diaryofalatebloomer\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/Screen-shot-2012-12-31-at-3.36.19-PM.png\" width=\"407\" height=\"815\" /></a>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nThat\'s my Nana!  It took her TWO WEEKS to get back to me after that phone call!\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nWas I annoyed?  Hardly.  Instead, I was OVERJOYED that she is having so many adventures that she forgets to call her first-born grandchild.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-size: medium; color: #339966;\"><strong>You see, Nana nearly died a year ago last November.</strong></span>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nShe suffered a bad fall, hit her head, and developed a clot on her brain.  The doctor explained to my family that her injury was cause to operate on a younger person, but brain surgery was out of the question for a then 90 year-old.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nThe doctor changed his mind days later when Nana\'s condition worsened.  She wasn\'t eating (this is about as normal for a Portuguese woman as it is for an Italian!), her speech was slurred, and she was confused.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nWhen I talked to her on the phone the night before the surgery, I thought that was the last time I would hear my grandmother\'s voice.  How many 90 year-olds survive brain surgery?  Even the doctor advised against it until there was no other option.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-size: medium; color: #339966;\"><strong>13 months later . . . . </strong></span>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nNana is living the life with her sister at the Senior Dorm.  In addition to the activities listed above, she is also a regular at Sit and Be Fit, Bible Study, Choir Practice and receives dancing invitations from gentleman callers at Happy Hour.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nOh, and I should probably also mention that at age 76, Nana was in a horrific car accident and was life-flighted to the nearest trauma center.  After making it through days in ICU, she was finally released to a hospital room.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nLater that night, we were called to the hospital at 1 a.m. to say our goodbyes.  Nana was hemorrhaging uncontrollably through her nose. She was back in ICU, and she was on her last blood transfusion.  Miraculously, an ER doctor came to the rescue and saved her life by inserting a urinary catheter (of all things!) up her nose.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-size: medium; color: #339966;\"><strong>Not only is Nana the poster child for Late Blooming, but she is also the second coming of the Energizer Bunny!  :-)</strong></span>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nMy apologies for the long backstory, but I think Nana\'s story is absolutely remarkable and serves as an inspirational lesson to us all.  (And I didn\'t even delve into the 6 month depression post-brain surgery accompanied by Nana\'s refusal to leave the beautiful home my late grandfather built for her in order to move into the Senior Dorm!)\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-size: medium; color: #339966;\"><strong>Just when Nana thought her life was doomed, she bloomed.  </strong></span>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nWhich brings us full circle to Zumba.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nIf you are unfamiliar with Zumba, here\'s the lowdown taken directly from their website:<em> \"Are you ready to party yourself into shape? That’s exactly what the Zumba<sup>®</sup> program is all about. It’s an exhilarating, effective, easy-to-follow, Latin-inspired, calorie-burning dance fitness-party™ that’s moving millions of people toward joy and health.\"</em>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-size: medium; color: #339966;\"><strong>Listen, I\'m not one of those dancy-dancy types.  </strong></span>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nDid I ever take dance as a child?  No.  Was I on drill team in high school?  No.  Have I ever in my entire life felt cool or comfortable dancing in a group setting such as Homecoming, Prom, or at a dive bar or club?  Hell no!\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nDid I dance in the chorus in theatrical productions in high school and college?  Technically, \"yes\", but . . . . that\'s chorus dancing.  That\'s not the same thing as \"shake your foxy groove thing\" dancing.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nIn other words, I never tried Zumba because I was <em>intimidated</em> by Zumba.  This white girl can\'t dance.  Which is puzzling because I\'m 50% Portuguese.  Somehow we didn\'t receive the innate hip shaking gene that other women of Latin origin share.  Think about Spanish and Brazilian women.  They shake their bon bons effortlessly.  Portuguese women?  Not so much.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-size: medium; color: #339966;\"><strong>But it\'s never too late to learn!  Can bon bon shaking be taught?  I showed up to Zumba class to find out.</strong></span>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nI was greeted by Erika, a sexy spitfire of an instructor decked out in hottie Zumba dance wear.  Yes, apparently there is a Zumba clothing line.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nErika welcomed me to class (I was the only newbie in a room of about 40) and advised me to follow along the best that I could while remembering to have fun.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nThe electric music started pulsing, and we were off!  I followed along the best I could while dodging dancing women coming at me from all angles.  I laughed it off in the spirit of fun and fitness.  This is one of the gifts of being 40-something.  In my 20s, I would have felt self-conscious.  At 43, I found it amusing.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_11940\" align=\"alignnone\" width=\"300\"]<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/?attachment_id=11940\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-11940\"><img class=\"size-medium wp-image-11940 \" alt=\"Zumba is fast-paced, so trying to capture a photo with a Crackberry proved useless.  It\'s sort of fitting, however, because my Nana has always taken blurry photos, and since this somewhat of a tribute to her . . . . :-D \" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/01/IMG00331-20121208-1017-300x225.jpg\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a> Zumba is fast-paced, so trying to capture a photo with a Crackberry proved useless. It\'s sort of fitting, however, because my Nana has always taken blurry photos, and since this blog post is somewhat of a tribute to her . . . . :-D[/caption]\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nI was surprised at how quickly I adapted to the class.  My favorite moves were -- you guessed it! -- the bon bon shaking and the chest shimmies.  Even though I still felt a bit clunky.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nI could go on and on about the class, but let me just say that I was hooked on Zumba in about . . . . oh . . . . 5 minutes.  Zumba is addictive! The music and routines change about every 3 minutes, and it\'s easier to follow than I thought.  Of course, there were challenging bits, but challenges help us grow.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nMy only regret was that I made the brilliant breakfast choice of a green smoothie, waffles and coffee about an hour before class.  :-p  DO NOT DO THIS AT HOME!  Zumba is a real workout!\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nI met up with Erika after class and asked thoughtful questions relating to Zumba and bon bon shaking.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-size: medium; color: #339966;\"><strong>Erika, an innate bon bon shaker of Latin origin, assured me shaking your bon bon like nobody\'s business is a skill that can be learned and honed through regular Zumba practice!</strong></span>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nThat\'s all I need to hear.  I am now a member of the Y and will be Zumba-ing my bootie off every Saturday morning along with Nana.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nHow was Nana\'s Zumba class?  I hoped to obtain a photo for you.  Nana may be an active 91 year-old, but she is clueless about technology.  Apparently, so are all of her cronies.  NO ONE knew how to take a photo with their phone and text it to me.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nNana raved about the Zumba music and her instructor who \"has the most beautiful figure\".  She then veered off into a tangent regarding another recently discovered passion that she previously mentioned in a letter:\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/?attachment_id=11947\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-11947\"><img class=\"alignnone  wp-image-11947\" alt=\"Letter from Nana\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/01/P1010001-1024x768.jpg\" width=\"614\" height=\"461\" /></a>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nI don\'t think Helmark\'s wife needs to worry.  ☺\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nI can only hope that in my later years, this apple continues to stick close to the tree.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n**********\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-size: medium; color: #339966;\"><strong>Have you ever Zumba\'d?  </strong></span>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-size: medium; color: #339966;\"><strong>Is there anything you are burning to try in 2013?  Please share in the comments section below.</strong>  </span>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n','Playdate #52:  Zumba with Nana','','inherit','open','open','','11926-revision-25','','','2013-01-01 15:02:48','2013-01-01 22:02:48','',11926,'http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/2013/01/01/11926-revision-25/',0,'revision','',0);
