Peter WEE in Town

Three golden ladies, Trini, Irene, and I joined the clogging workshop with Instructor Peter Wee from Melbourne, Australia this afternoon. From 2:30 till 5:30, we learned five clogging dances, including "Bad Moon Rising", "Cherokee Boogie", "Sold", "Don't Cry for Me Argentina" and "All That Jazz". I felt the total sweat of Peter standing next to me for a group photo at the end of the workshop. No wonder Peter is slim and fit.

Even most cloggers are women in Taipei, I believe men can make better cloggers than women. Peter is certainly one of the happy male cloggers. He is full of physical strength and joyful enthusiasm. Peter started clogging in year 2000 when he permanently migrated to Australia. Since 2004 he started to assist Chery (Leader of Bayside Clogging Club) in teaching, where he has been carefully guided to become an advanced clogger and cuer.

During the workshop, I learned the "COWBOY" steps in Australian way, DS DS DS BR(XIF)DS RS(XIF) RS(XIF) RS(XIF), with hands clapping once at BR(XIF) and twice at the last RS(XIF). I also learned many new clogging steps, Slapback, Heel turn, Triple bell, Evita in "Don't Cry for me Argentina".

After the workshop, I was thrilled to have Peter's signature on the workshop syllabus at the dinner party. Peter wrote, "Dear Sherry, keep clogging, keep moving, & keep smiling! ^-^ Peter 21/2/2009" I hope in the future there will be many workshops by advanced cloggers and cuers from abroad. And I hope I can visit Australia Clogging Association Annual Convention in Melbourne, in September, 2010.

Andy WARHOL & I

In the future, everyone will be famous for fifteen minutes."~~Andy WARHOL

Andy WARHOL and I have a lot in common. We like money. We like arts. We are expressive. And we are narcissistic. But Andy and I are different in many aspects. He is a man. I am a woman. He lives in the west. I live in the east. But when the world is getting flatter and flatter, Andy and I bumped into each other at Chiang Kai-shek (CKS) Memorial Hall last Friday, February 13th. Andy became part of me, in my life and in my dream ever since.

It was 5:30PM when Toastmaster of the Evening Eric Chou called me to talk about Andy WARHOL for ten minutes at Grand Toastmasters Club this evening. Oh, my God, I had less than 30 minutes to prepare for my talk about the artist whose work ranks No. 1 in the world. I was too thrilled to miss the opportunity, and I took the assignment out of the blue with lots of excitement.

I saw Andy WARHOL Exhibition at CKS Gallery last Friday afternoon, with 20 toastmasters and friends. I was touched by his vivid and colorful images of human beings, plants and animals. His interpretation of common materials around us was stimulating and inspiring. His creativity opened my eyes to see our secular world with a brighter perspective. I just love it!

Everyday I wear pink, yellow, green outfits. Everyday I carry a blue tote bag with a banana and Andy's famous saying printed on it since last Friday. I feel and enjoy Andy WARHOL's spirit, strong and powerful, primitive and original, joyful and blissful, shone over on me all the time. Andy WARHOL exhibition will last till March 29th, 2009. Go see it and get injected with his power, energy, ideas and joys.

Gina's 6th Housewarming Anniversary Party

Gina has a cozy apartment in Chung-ho. Every year she invites Grand Toastmasters Club members to her place for lunch or dinner once or twice. Gina has a sense in interior decoration and cooking. When Gina announced her successful experiment with the salty pork Italian style at our last meeting, I'd been looking forward to the invitation to her sixth housewarming party since.

When Sophia and I rang the bell, Tony answered the door. He came earlier to help Gina set the table. Tony receives education in English for 6 years. His mannerism tells, he is a British gentleman, composed and elegant. We were seven at the table, Arlene, Eric, Arlene, Tony, Sophia, and me praising Gina's hospitality, while taking pleasure in savoring the colorful and mouth-watering dishes in front of us. IPP Annie and her son came join us late for tea and desserts.

After lunch, Sophia and I were in a rush to return to Taipei to greet her guests from Malaysia. Being a stranger in Chung-ho, I relied on the motorcyclists for directions. Just when I caught a target, my mouth shut immediately when I realized that a foreign was gazing at me and Sophia. I was hesitant for a second, but I went ahead and asked him for directions in Mandarin out of courtesy. He shook his head looking innocently. When I switched to English timely and he gave me the answer I wanted with relief. When he asked me where I was from with a big friendly smile on his sunny face, the traffic light turned green. I felt 30 years younger trailing him crossing the ZhongZheng Bridge to Taipei.

Toastmaster Magazine Reading Gathering in February

It was the fist Toastmaster Magazine Reading Gathering of golden ladies in 2009. Nine golden ladies put on traditional Chinese clothes to the auspicious and joyful spring party at Wu-lai Tasty, Saturday, February 14th, 2009. Pamela Yang was on her way to Shanghai, otherwise we would be the perfect 10.

At 10:30 in the morning, nine ladies in four cars met with one another at MRT Hsin-tien Station. Kate Hsu invited Gina Fu and I invited my college classmate Leslie Chen to join us. After Linda parked her car in Hsin-tien, we were on our way to the beautiful aboriginal village in Wu-lai.

As soon as we arrived at Wu-lai Tasty at 11:30, we were in a rush getting powdered and changed to the agreed-upon dress code. The mouth-watering dishes arrived one after another, we took quick photos, changed to causal wear, gulped down whatever in front of us like nine horses, chatted and laughed most of the time, discussed about three articles of Toastmaster Magazine January issue, including A better "I" contact, page 5; Tips from a legendary speechwriter, page 11; Humor can help you through, page 24, assigned by Linda Tseng for a short while. After lunch, we continued our discussion at More Cafe' for another one hour before we called it a Valentine's Day.

Year 2009 opens a new page for golden ladies toastmasters. Firstly, Trini Ding shoulders the responsibility to relay the documentation of golden ladies monthly reading gathering on Exploring Delights and Wonders in Life. Secondly, Pamela takes the initiative to organize a book club among golden ladies to read beyond the Toastmaster Magazine for collective inspiration in depth and width.

On Valentine's day, the reading gathering meant a lot to me. Golden Ladies at age of 50 or beyond have successfully built a supportive reading network. If we follow British philosopher Francis Bacon's advice, Reading make a full man, conference a ready man, and writing an exact man, how about we convert Toastmaster Magazine reading Gathering to Toastmaster Magazine Reading & Writing Gathering in 2010 to make us exact golden ladies?

PS: It's a pity that half of the golden ladies didn't receive the January copies till our gathering.

Haste makes Waste

It was the second time I lost my handbag placed on the front floor of my scooter. It was rainy and chilly after Grand Toastmasters Club's first meeting after Chinese New Year. I didn't stay around for the second party, because I was in a hurry to get home to get prepared for the performance at the nursing home tomorrow morning.

Fifteen years ago, I just came back from France. I was in a hurry to go to my French class at noon, and I placed the Mondi Black Leather Handbag on the front floor of the scooter without having it secured. By the time, I arrived at the language school, my new handbag was gone. I rushed all the way back to trace it in vain. And I missed my French class consequently. Two weeks later, I was lucky to find my wallet with IDs in the mailbox. The fashion handbag was gone, so was my cash.

This evening, I gave No. 5 speech of the basic manual on "Lessons for Women". I brought all the embroidery works I did during the Chinese New Year Holidays to demonstrate the proper conduct for women in old China. After the meeting, I placed them in a Toastmasters Totebag along with a few books on embroidery I borrowed from Hsin-tien Library on the front floor of the scooter. On my way home, before I noticed it, the totebag was long gone.

I rushed all the way back to trace my totebang from Jin-mei to Kung-kuan in the wrong traffic direction (dangerous indeed), then to the meeting venue in vain. I'm not sure if I would be as lucky as before to get the "contents" back. Nobody would know how to reach me, no IDs whatsoever in the bag, except the borrowed books from Hsin-tien Library and my turned off mobile phone.

Being downcast for my careless deed, but not in despair, I'm ready to pay for the lesson. I wish the person who found my totebag could make the good use of the embroidery tools and continue my unfinished embroidery works. I learned the lessons for women and I leaned a big lesson for myself. We can't be too careful!

Another Close-up

"What's next?" was the common question asked by my golden ladies friends after I had the calendar girls photos taken at the end of year 2008.

"A dozen photos in bikinis!" was my reply. That is my ambition to make a cut and look at my peak at the end of year 2009. I want to look drop-dead smokin' hot when going before the cameras. I want to be a confident middle-aged woman to wear bikinis in front of lenses. I want to make it contagious to all my golden ladies friends to follow suit to have calendar girls photos taken in bikinis.

Beautiful and sexy bodies do not only belong to actresses or models, but they also belong to all of us who don't give up on ourselves. Every woman regardless of the age can have the best body she's ever had in life if there is a DREAM.

It's a piece of cake to get there when there is a WILL, by balanced diet, weight control, regular exercise, sound sleep, most of all, be happy, be yourself! Let's cheer up one another to knock the young and pretty dead in year 2009!

さよなら 2008

~~~WHAT WE THINK WE BECOME~~~ Buddha quote


On the last day of year 2008, my dream came true! I became a calendar girl Wednesday morning at age of 53, wearing Grand Toastmasters Club member and Designer Sophia Chen's 2008 Hats Series at Vicent Photo Studio Pro.

I love, I love, I love my calender girl; Yeah, sweet calender girl; I love, I love, I love my calender girl; Each and every day of the year!

(January) You start the year off fine; (February) You're my little valentine; (March) I'm gonna march you down the aisle; (April) You're the Easter Bunny when you smile; Yeah, yeah, my heart's in a whirl; I love, I love, I love my little calender girl; Every day (every day), every day (every day) of the year; (Every day of the year); (May) Maybe if I ask your dad and mom; (June) They'll let me take you to the Junior Prom; (July) Like a firecracker all aglow; (August) When you're on the beach you steal the show; Yeah, yeah, my heart's in a whirl; I love, I love, I love my little calendar girl; Every day (every day), every day (every day) of the year (Every day of the year); (September) Light the candles at your Sweet Sixteen; (October) Romeo and Juliet on Halloween; (November) I'll give thanks that you belong to me; (December) You're the present 'neath my Christmas tree; Yeah, yeah, my heart's in a whirl; I love, I love, I love my little calender girl; Every day (every day), every day (every day) of the year! by N.Sedaka/H.Greenfield.

Wednesday afternoon, I was nominated as the Section Chief by the newly elected Captain of Hsin-tien Volunteers Group to take charge of Group's public and private activities, including monthly visits to the nursing home, Hsin-tien community activities and many miscellaneous social activities. I was thrilled to be given the chance to serve residents of Hsin-tien Community as well as members of Hsin-tien Volunteers Group in year 2009.

On New Year Eve, Trini gave her consent to construct a relay blog, Exploring Delights and Wonders in Life, for golden ladies to shoulder the responsibilities to report and document the activities of golden ladies throughout year 2009. This Golden Ladies Clogging Toastmasters blog will not be closed, but will become less active.

With the support and encouragement of golden ladies in the past two years, I'm glad that I've collected 187 articles on this blog. Golden ladies shall take turns annually to relay the documentation from now on! Yes, we're going to publish a book "A Decade of Friendship" in year 2015! It is a mission and we will make it happen!

The end is well, all is well. The last day of year 2008 was the busiest and most fruitful day of the year, from early morning till late evening. I am grateful! THANK YOU & GOOD BYE XXX OOO XO XO XO ~~~

Sunrise 2009

There are many Toastmasters in District 67. Every Toastmaster is unique and talented in his or her own way. Young or old, male or female, native or foreigner, we are in the big Toastmasters family to learn communication and leadership skills. While we develop and grow in Toastmasters, we make many friends from all walks of life.

I joined the Toastmasters in 1986. What I like most about Toastmasters is the power of positive thinking and learning attitudes. Members of team spirit are supportive and enthusiastic about new tricks in life. And I love to bring toastmasters from different clubs together. In this way, I enjoy every moment in Toastmasters in the past two decades and I shall continue my passion to bring more Toastmasters and non-Toastmasters together in the years to come.

Sunrise Toastmasters Club's Year-end party showcased the fellowship and friendship among different Toastmasters clubs in Taiwan. Golden ladies performed an opening clogging dance "Black Mountain Rag". Toastmaster Eric Wu from Pacific Toastmasters Club gave an amazing magic show with a white rope. Toastmaster Kate Hsu from Prestige Toastmasters Club performed a popular piece of Peking Opera and invited all participants to join her Rock-n-Rock version. Kate's friend Chi-chung Shen sang a master piece of Protect the Zhao Orphan. At the end, Sunrise members got on stage to sing Ode to Joy, the fourth movement of Beethoven's 9th Symphony. Every sang Auld Lang Syne loudly before the mock countdown.

I don't deny that I was the Toastmaster who took initiatives to organize Sunrise Toastmasters Club's New Year Mock Countdown event for the following three reasons;

1. After I visited Sunrise Toastmasters Club in October, I promised President Scott and EVP Joe that I wold visit their club again, because I adore the small podium of their meeting venue at Taipei City Library, Wang Kuan-ying Branch;

2. Toastmaster Kate Hsu did not make it at golden ladies' clogging dance performance at Joint Christmas Party Saturday evening, December 13th, she celebrated her 30th anniversary with her better half at home. I thought it would be nice to have Kate Hsu and Jennie Wang (clogging dance instructor) to break a leg on stage at Sunrise's year end party;

3. Toastmaster Sophia Chen of Grand Toastmasters Club told me about her interest in stage design and party planning. I thought it would be an excellent chance for us to work together to present a warm, friendly and memorable year end party for Sunrise Toastmasters Club.

If I could name a Toastmaster club for toastmasters to bid farewell to Year 2008, Sunrise Toastmasters Club is it! After the new year countdown, we can look forward to the Sunrise. A new year just began. There are many exciting adventures waiting for us to explore! Best wishes for Sunrise Toastmasters CLub! Go, Go, Go!

Toastmaster Magazine Reading Gathering in December

It's Irene's birthday today. Golden ladies got together at Hwa-young for luncheon to meet with Irene's newly wed son and daughter-in-law. We all felt happy for Irene to have another shoulder to lean on when needed. After lunch, the newly wed couple bought a big birthday cake and I saw tears in Irene's big lovely eyes.

Three years ago, on Irene's birthday, Michelle and I presented a tap dance performance at Formosa Toastmasters Club. Time certainly flies. I can't help think about the beginning of my tap dancing journey three years ago with Michelle. I invited Michelle to join a tapping dancing class at Youth 17 in March. Our debut performance was at Grand Toastmasters Club's 30th anniversary in May. In September, I organized a D67 tap dancing troupe of 8 toastmasters and I got to know Irene. We had a successful performance at D67 Fall Convention 2005 in November.

Irene, Michelle and I switched from American tap dancing to Irish tap dancing, finally we settled upon the clogging dance in 2006 upon Trini's invitation. And golden ladies clogging toastmasters began the monthly Toastmaster Magazine reading gathering in March 2007. This blog was constructed mainly to document many happy, memorable and joyful reading and clogging activities among us.

At lunch, Linda sat next to me and told me that Toastmaster Magazine December 2008 was a Christmas Present in time for me. I should consider publishing a booklet of golden ladies clogging toastmasters activities in the past two years. Wow, my dream of being an author might come true by Authoring the Success story of golden ladies toastmasters. What I need to do urgently is to follow two basic steps recommended by Patricia Fry, ATMS, to study the publishing industry and to write a book proposal. The tips on getting your book published by Neil Chethik gave me a comprehensive roadmap to get it done, well. Why wait? Just do it!

Year 2009 is around the corner. I am ready to extend from writing to publishing, from a writer to an author. I'd like to take the opportunity to solicit another golden lady to take charge of documenting our toastmaster magazine reading activities with another story telling and writing style. Please keep your eyes open to a new life and a new dimension of golden ladies clogging toastmasters.

At the end of 2008, I feel grateful that I can cherish the Toastmasters fellowship and friendship among golden ladies toastmasters. While documenting our reading and clogging activities, I could have the second chance to rejoice in our moments and achievements. I thank all golden ladies for being there and I hope more and more golden ladies can join our Toastmaster magazine reading gathering and venture with into the world of clogging dance.

GRAND/NLFD/TTY Joint Christmas Singing Party

From the beginning till the end of the GRAND/NLFD/TTY Joint Christmas Singing Party, fifty plus toastmasters members and guests enjoyed every single second of the unprecedented singing party. Every participant felt super High and extemely Happy, including D67 Governor Marian Hsiao, Division H Governor Ellen Chen and Area H1 Governor Victor Chu.

Thursday afternoon, December 18th, immediately after Japanese dance class, I arrived at Holiday Karaoke Box on Xi-ning South Road before 5. I was the first one to the singing party. Being the No. 1 early bird, I took the opporunity to study the custumers profile at the lobby of Holiday Karaoke. It was to my surprise, most customers were teenagers school kids.

Eric came join me at 6, he was the second early bird, with a new and charming hairstyle, in a red jacket. Yvan was the third to the party, Sophia the fourth. While waiting for others, we killed time by taking turns taking photos of one another in front of the big Christmas tree at the lobby.

After Toastmaster of the Evening Eric Chou sang an opening song, the singing party began officially. Joke session was replaced by most heated group humorous song contest. TTY Toastmasters won the group singing contest under the leadership of President Tim Wang. Grand's President Carrie Chiang motivated most clubs members to interprete the most famous Taiwanese movie "Cape No. 7" and won the first runner-up. TTY placed the second runner-up with an outstanding performance. Everybody on the floor was busy, singing, eating, dancing, taking photos, having photos taken. It was a boisterous and exuberant party that I had ever attended.

I forgot since when I had aquaired the habit to change the outfits during the parties. Likewise, I was Mrs. Santa at the first half of the singsing party and changed to a popular singer FeiFei in Japan to sing "Love is Over" at the prepared singing contest. I won the first runner up, to my great satisfaction. New member Ashley from Grand was a black horse, she was the champion singer. Edwin Fang, President of NLFD was the second runner up. The singing party ended at 9:25 alright, but we continued our second party at McDonald's in the Xi-men Area till 10:30PM.

December is my favorite season, to meet with family and friends at various parties. Year 2008 is especial. I've attended more than half a dozen parties so far, and there are more than half a dozen to attend in the coming two weeks. I love December, the best season to add colors to our lives.

逝去的愛　歐陽菲菲

LOVE IS OVER 請你不要再提起 逝去的愛已逝去 誰也不必再追憶
LOVE IS OVER 請你不要再說明 過去就像流雲 隨風隨去無蹤影

LOVE IS OVER　雖然也曾嘆息 雖然也曾悲悽 如今都已成過去
LOVE IS OVER　時光匆匆如流水流水撫平我心靈 創傷早已無痕跡

雖然過去你曾對我　表示過真情意 也曾對你許下諾言　今生我永不移 為何你一去無音訊　撕碎我的心

LOVE IS OVER 請你不要再提起 逝去的愛已逝去 誰也不必再追憶
LOVE IS OVER　時光匆匆如流水 流水撫平我心靈 創傷早已無痕跡

雖然過去你曾對我　表示過真情意 也曾對你許下諾言　今生我永不移 為何你一去無音訊　撕碎我的心

LOVE IS OVER 請你不要再提起 逝去的愛已逝去 誰也不必再追憶

LOVE IS OVER 誰也不必再提起 LOVE IS OVER

ラブ．イズ．オーヴァー

Love is over 悲しいけれど 終わりにしよう 限がないから
Love is over 訳などないよ ただ一つだけ 貴方のため

Love is over 若い過ちと 笑って言える 時が来るから
Love is over泣くな男だろう 私の事は 早く忘れて

わたしはあんたを 忘れはしない 誰に抱かれても 忘れはしない きっと最後の 恋だと 思うから

Love is overあたしは あんたの お守りでいい そっと心に
Love is over 最後にひとつ 自分をだましちゃ いけないよ

お酒なんかで ごまかさないで ほんとの自分を じっと見つめて きっと あんたに お似合いの 人がいる

Love is over 悲しいよ 早く出てって ふりむかないで Love is over んん---
元氣でいてね Love is over ありがとう

District 67 Joint Christmas Party 2008

What a Joint Christmas Party we had Saturday evening, December 13th. Trini won the best Toastmaster award and I won the best costume award. Pamela Yang from Galaxy Toastmasters Club and Cecilia King from Legacy Toastmasters Club had their debut clogging dance performance. Incumbent District 67 Governor Marian Hsiao and Shelly Kuo of Prestige Toastmasters Club decided to join golden ladies clogging toastmasters from year 2009.

Golden Ladies Clogging Toastmasters presented a splendid closing clogging dance for seven minutes at Ming-yu Community Center in Taipei. Six Mrs. Santa danced merrily and joyfully to three Christmas songs, including Christmas Time's A Coming, Sleigh Ride, and Country Christmas. We not only won a big round of applause from the floor, but we also attracted many potential toastmasters to the clogging dance world.

Immediately after the Annual Performance of Thousand Cranes Japanese Dance School at Youth Arts Center, I rushed to D67 Joint Christmas Party in Kimono. The moment I arrived at the fourth floor, Toastmaster Kaku of Innovative Toastmasters Club gave a hearty welcome and led me to the party hall without having to wait in a long line. The hall was packed with more than 250 participants.

Five Grand Toastmasters Club members performed Hanagasa Ondo and I gave a solo ad-lib Japanese dance to a western song during the intermission. I was grateful to have the opportunity to mix the old and new, east and west, to add cultural varieties to Taiwanese Toastmasters Christmas party in 2008. It was a huge success beyond my expectations!

If there had been the best performance award of the joint Christmas party, I bet golden ladies would claim it, because six golden ladies in red caught all the attention from the floor even at the end of the party. We brought the party atmosphere to the climax. All of us couldn't feel better and more satisfied to encourage fellow toastmasters members to join us to stay fit, healthy, happy like us.

Many thanks go to Sophia Chen of Grand Toastmasters Club for decorating Santa Caps for Grand's Japanese dancers. Sophia accompanied me from early morning till late evening, helping me with the make-up and hairdo. She took many photos of Japanese speaking toastmasters dancers and announcer. She and I were happy to bridge the gap between English and Japanese speaking Toastmasters clubs in Taiwan.

Master Kiyomi of Thousand Cranes Japanese Dance School will join the big Toastmasters Family from year 2009. Isn't it a good news? Toastmasters in Taiwan are one of its kinds, we not only have clubs of different languages (English, Japanese, Mandarin, Taiwanese, Hakka, Spanish...), but we also have talents from all walks of life. Do you want to add colors to your life? How about adding a new year resolution by visiting a friendly toastmasters club near you?