More old dance stuff….. November 22, 2009

I’ve wasted spent most of my time this weekend scanning more photos and re-doing my dancing homepage. I ran across some photos that I thought you might all enjoy…..

This first photo shows how much fun dancing is. My partner and I were doing a square dance… and the dress I’m wearing is another one of my “creations”.

This one was taken at one of my very first performances in Germany, I believe in 1972 or so. Again the costumes, Ukrainian, I made myself.

This costume was inspired by Hungarian designs.

I’m hoping that when I retire (in 2 1/2 years) I can get back to sewing.

Yesterday I visited Regina to pick up my documents for the cruise in December. My flight to Teneriffe leaves Frankfurt at 3:00 am in the morning!! geeeez what an odd time!

Well, the weekend is once again over…. *sigh*

Dorrie

My first dance group… November 21, 2009

My new printer is finally hooked up and working great! The other day I started scanning photos and it went so well, I almost forgot to go to bed! Guess what I’ll be doing this weekend…. heehee

The photos are old ones of my folk dance classes, in particular the FIRST group I taught in the mid 70’s. It was a group of young people, all members of the Catholic Youth Group of our local church. I got an interest in scanning them after meeting Monika. Eh, I think I forgot to tell y’all about Monika….

Last Thursday I stopped my daughter’s new apartment on my way to dance class. I was early and she was off bringing the kids to gym class. Since I had some time to kill, I thought I’d take my camera and go for a walk around the area. I got out of the car and saw a couple walking my way. The gal and I stopped dead in our tracks…. we both recognised each other immediately, in spite of having seen each other once in the past 30 yrs! It was Monika, one of the young gals from that afore mentioned dance class! We fell into each others arms, then she introduced me to her hubby. They actually intended to walk a different route, but like with me (I had almost stopped at a local café for coffee but didn’t), fate made our path’s cross. As it turns out, she now lives just around the corner from Regina’s new apartment.

Soon Regina arrived and I asked her if she remembered Monika. She thought a moment but couldn’t place her (well, she was just a baby back then). When I told her it was “Mo-kee-da” she knew who I meant! You see, Monika used to babysit Carsten and Regina and Carsten couldn’t pronounce “Monika” but would say “Mo-kee-ka” instead! This was so fun.

Anyway… this is the picture I took way back when (yes, that’s me front row center lol), 1975:

Monika is back row, third from the right. And this is her leaving the stage after my group performed a Can-Can for a Fasching (carnival/mardi gras) event:

and she hasn’t changed a bit!

Have a great weekend everyone!

Dorrie

P.S. I made those Can-Can costumes, as well as the guy’s shirts in the top photo.

Work and Play Weekend November 14, 2009

For a change I’m writing, well copying, an entry here in this long neglected journal.

It’s now 10:30 pm and I jsut returned from a dinner party with Karen’s bollywood dance group. It was very nice and they danced a bit, too. I think I really must join one of her classes!

Shiana and Priyasha were also there. I managed to get lots of cuddle time with Priyash….. Shiana was too busy playing with some of the other gals… or dancing along (which I filmed and will be uploaded soon to share). Next Saturday Karen, her mom, and the two babies fly home to Mumbai, India for three months! The do it every year so they can spend Christmas there and Karen can learn new dances. My son will follow just before Christmas to spend the holidays with them. So I won’t get to see them again until FEBRUARY!

Tomorrow morning no sleeping in for me. I have to pick up the business car at 8:00 am and drive an hour to teach a class. I probably won’t be home until around 3:00 pm. The new gal at work is joining me so that’ll be nice.

So, that’s just a small run down about what’s going on in my world. Have a great Sunday everyone!

Dorrie

Last Entry Here April 5, 2009

OK, I gave this place another chance, but I not only didn’t get one single comment on my last entry, which I think had some pretty cool pictures, but I don’t think I even got any visitors. So, I’ll now leave this place to collect dust.

Anyone still interested in still finding me knows how….

dorrie-westy.blogspot.com

westy.keepconnectedlive.com
……a site with the basic wordpress/JS2 format, but being run by a former JS’er who actually responds, to suggestions, comments, ideas, etc. and welcomes them! He’s adding more and more features, including stats, customizing our own layouts, etc. Come over and try it out!

Dorrie aka Westy

Frankfurt Impressions April 3, 2009

After my meeting yesterday I wanted to take advantage of the fantastic spring weather so, with camera ready, I walked toward the main downtown area. On the way I ran into a few “dubious” characters like this guy….

The contrast of old and new is always fascinating…

But my main aim was the new shopping mall called “My Zeil”. Yes, more and more English is being adopted, much to the disgruntlement of many Germans and I must admit, I have to agree with them. “Zeil”, pronounced “sile” (think for German, “when 2 vowels go walking, the SECOND does the talking”), is the name of the walking street where the mall is located.

The architecture is VERY futuristic. The shops inside didn’t interest me at all… nothing special there. I don’t expect the place to be a hit in the long run. Anyway, while going up and down the escalators, I had to think of Doug and how he’d go crazy finding photo motives there. Inspired from his style, I attempted a few myself and I think they turned out pretty well… if I do say so myself.

Notice the spire of the cathedral showing through the lower right corner of the window?

Another view…

Looking down the middle ….

I then hopped on the train for home… I had started rearranging my bedroom and I needed to finish before leaving for dance class.

Today the weather is again fantastic and I think I’ll give my balcony a much needed wash down!

Dorrie

Those Crazy Germans February 26, 2009

I decided to copy this post here from my blogger journal… enjoy!

Finally, carnival, or Fasching as it’s called here, is over! Yesterday, as planned, I joined my daughter and her kids to watch their local parade. It was colorful as always with lots of clever costumes. Also, this made me think of Summerwind ….

These were my favorite costumes and I believe they won first prize…

Here’s Regina and our gang…

Tamara was dressed as an Indian…

and Emely, together with a friend, wore marching girl costumes which I made about 25 years ago!

and I was dressed as a Chinese gal, here I’m dancing with Regina’s hubby, Frank.

Speaking of dancing…. the Germans go CRAZY on carnival, with lots of dancing and drinking, as mentioned in my previous entry. To give you an impression…. here’s a small film I made showing a typical way they party. Btw., one of those green “frogs” is Frank’s mom!

ooops, video isn’t loading. You can watch it and see more pictures here.

Dorrie

A Grandma has to brag! February 12, 2009

Seek and you shall receive! I have pictures to share of my one day old granddaughter!

Big sister Shiana is not sure yet about this new doll that MOVES!

Here are all the ladies together… Karens’s mom, Karen,Shiana, me, and the new addition…

Oh, yeh… her name:  Priyasha Fiona

And a head full of hair, just like Shiana had as a baby….

I’m sure there will be more pictures in days to come…. *wink*

Dorrie

P.S.  as mentioned before, I won’t be updating here much… I’ll do most of my updating at

http://dorrie-westy.blogspot.com/

P.P.S. my mom has now been placed in a care home…. her Alzheimer got too bad ….

Where I am…. February 2, 2009

Well, you may have noticed that I don’t write much here. It’s just too much trouble jumping from one blog site to another. I not only have this one, but also the new JS…. and I think I’ll be primarily at blogger, at least for the moment….

So, if any of you come looking for me…. go to my blogspot account.

I still check on all of you here… you’re on my blogroll after all. Oh, and I made a huge list of many former JS’ers with their present new locations….  take a look and don’t forget to send me any corrections or additions.

Dorrie

Latest Mom Update January 28, 2009

Today I finally got an email from my dad. My mom’s memory is getting worse and worse but they still haven’t made the decision about a home. They did check out one that is located not too far from where they live. Also, my sister-in-law’s sister is stopping by regularly and helping my mom with “girl stuff”.

But I noticed in my dad’s email that he’s slipping… he repeated himself and told me things I have long known, like the fact that the gate has a padlock on it.

Oh, well… nothing I can do about it… life goes on.

I don’t post much here… this is only for my “sad” entries. For my normal entries, PLEASE visit me at http://dorrie-westy.blogspot.com, that’s where you can fine me. I’m about to give up on the new JS…. too many glitches, too many people disappearing, and too many spam comments and journals showing up. No, I’m not deleting there yet….

The last days have been quite busy at work. I can’t visit the new JS or WordPress or blogspot from the office pc as I used to be able to visit JS. On top of that, I’ve been having long discussions with my daughter. She’s on the verge of leaving her hubby… she even found a new apartment. But the kids keep her from taking that final step…. it’s so difficult, as I well know. *sigh*

Any day now my 4th granddaughter will arrive. My son, Carsten’s, second daughter is due on February 10, but could come any day.

Life is NOT boring, that’s for sure!

Dorrie

This and that… reflections on lots of stuff January 19, 2009

It seems hardly anyone reads this journal. But even though I don’t like the WordPress format, I’ll use this place occassionally. I just hope some of you find your way here.

I started work again today. Luckily the “Jerk” wasn’t there most of the time. I don’t know where he was, but he came late then went directly to the noon break. We’re allowed 30 minutes but he does up to 60 or more! Oh, well, come March and he’s gone!

Leaving my mom last Thursday it was very difficult. I gave her a big hug before I left, but she thought I was just a guest leaving…. she wanted to give me my own address… ” I have Dorrie’s address somewhere.”  Every time I thought of that, and the fact that I may never see her again, made the tears flow. Luckily catching the flight and reading a book distracted me.

I had picked up the book “The Wednesday Letter’s”, recommended by Smartplants for the book club she had started to organise at the old JS. It was good. In one part I had to think about our little JS community. Friends and family were gathering together because of the death of a beloved couple. They lived in a small town, where everyone knew everyone. It made my heart ache to think of what has happened to our beloved JS community. The new JS just CAN’T compare! Besides, the site only has the name and attracts us oldies there from it’s name…. but not the format. I’m not whining about it (much), but it’s just not the same or even near the same. I’ll still give the url owners a chance.

I have my dance classes again this week. For my Wednesday class I still have my lists to make. Ah, the joys of procrastination! lol There are a few of you out there in cyberland that have a lot more issues then I do. I’m glad we do have these various sites so that we can keep up with each other.

{{{hugs}}} to all of you!

Wild Westy aka Dorrie