Elton, Labels and Canterbury Tales - a parlayed morning at EarlyBirds

Dear Members, Guests and Friends,

DTM Mary Helen evoked our musicality with lines from Elton songs...

* TM Chris is still standing, and after a 50-year-old injury in a black diamond ski run, is getting a new knee  while enjoying a good joint.

* TM Randolph was dating his wife, forming a music group, preparing for college and starting to realize that he didn't know everything, all at 17.  He Won Best Table Topics Speaker Award.

* TM Aleta looks presentable from the waist up because she knows that, besides her hips, the camera never lies.

* TM Pam pondered who she'd be if she were you and you were her or they/them were us/ours and who is she anyways, she wonders when she wakes up every morning....

* TM Paolo would like to feel the love tonight although with (2) bambini in bed it's easier to feel the love in the house and the morning pandemonium.  This too shall pass...

* The Tom mused that yes, he should have sent flowers at times - there's always an opportunity to be softer.  Ahh... the powers of hindsight....

* I, Ana, had a wild and crazy night at a joint Billy Joel/Elton John concert many moons ago and with a cold heart left my commitments behind.

* TM Jim G. reflected on the circle of life - the birth of his son, the death of his father and hopes there's still another chapter to fill...

* TM Marie considers us all dear friends, although she only sees us in the zoom squares, but she fully believes we are all real people.

We heard 2 interesting speeches today...

* TM Marie distinguished between helpful Flora pasta labels and childhood adhesive labels - ie shy, butterfingers, accident-prone, clumsy, chatterbox - which we carry through life until we are baptized in the Jordan River, Epcot Center, USA.

* TM Terri had a college dorm experience at age 50 in Kent, England, where she pierced the veil of time in Greenwich Village and traversed to AM/PM to meet Geoffrey Chaucer sitting in the Mermaid Chair at Land's End, currently a mail order clothes catalog.  She Won Best Speaker Award.

And about evaluations...

* TM The Tom thanked TM Marie for taking him back to childhood bullying to parlay himself into a purposeful, loving, being loved human being.  He Won Best Evaluator Award.

* TM Paolo praised TM Terri as a captivating teacher with great vocal variety and asked for a map marked with an X to find the Mermaid Chair.

The Word of the Day was

PARLAY, verb

To bet

To exploit successfully

To increase or otherwise transform into something of greater value.

For example:  His gambling addiction was parlayed into a successful career in Finance with a day job in Congress.

Next week, January 23, is our Club International Speech Contest.   Area Contest will be held on March 8 in Davie, Florida.

Here's the link to the recording: 

https://youtube.com/live/9mfnreCpzIQ?feature=share

See you next week!

Ana I.

Recap Writer

Connections, Back To The Future, Travel The World and The Seven Seas - Acronyms in EarlyBirds!

Dear Members, Guests and Friends,

TM Marie gave us FFT (food for thought) with certain ideas....

* TM Randolph practices more understanding of simple gestures and states that smiles dress us up.  He Won Best Table Topics Award.

* TM Pam, loves hand-written notes and recently found 3 misplaced and unsent written thank you cards from her 1900s wedding.  Ohwell....

* TM Paolo admits that the pillars of old, sincere friendships are unmovable and enhance reconnecting.

* TM Marc reflected that having a sense of belonging is not instantaneous and must be built up. Tricky, not easy but well worth it!

* DTM Mary Helen collects notebooks as powerful reminders of who she used to be, her feelings, goals, dates, musings.

* TM Aleta first joined EarlyBirds in 1980 and some of its pioneer members made a deep impact on her and lift her soul, week after week.

We heard (2) powerful speeches...

* TM The Tom talked about Gatsby's Dilemma ,,, "and so we beat on, boats against the current, borne back ceaselessly into the past."  Old Gatsby, Old Sport.

* TM Thoroughly Modern Chris suggested we get a Google account and visit mymaps.google.com to place markers (oh ever so easy) on past trips, future trips, present trips, imagined trips, color coded, with infrared insights, while Thoroughly Old Fashioned Chris disposed of 4 old papers in a treasure trunk.  She Won Best Speaker Award.

Regarding the evaluations...

* DTM Mary Helen praised TM The Tom for a well-organized speech that was relatable whenever she undertakes a task and ends up reading an old book, dragging a sack of ash behind her.

* TM Paolo was so enthusiastic about The G's future many times around the world cruise that he almost jumped out of his Zoom square and became an in-person evaluator in front of our very eyes!  He Won Best Evaluator Award.

The Word of the Day was

ACRONYM, noun

Abbreviation formed by taking initial letters of words in a phrase and creating a new word that is pronounceable.

For example:  SCUBA (Self-Contained Underwater Breathing Apparatus); NASA (National Aeronautical & Space Administration); RADAR (Radio Detection & Ranging); YOLO (You Only Live Once), FOMO (Fear Of Missing Out).

Attention Please!! Acronyms are not to be confused with Initialisms - here are some Senior Citizen Texting Codes: ATD (At The Doctors), BFF (Best Friend Fell), BTW (Bring The Wheelchair), BYOT (Bring Your Own Teeth), FWIW (Forgot Where I Was), GGPMBL (Gotta Go, Pacemaker Battery Low), GHA (Got Heartburn Again), IMHO (Is My Hearing Aid On?), LMDO (Laughing My Dentures Out), OMMR (On My Massage Recliner), ROFLACGU (Rolling On Floor Laughing And Can't Get Up)

Our International Speech Club Contest will be held on January 23, 2025.

Here's the link to today's recording:

 https://www.youtube.com/live/gsc1vQl6kZ0?si=jTK5z5Kw2ctpChdo

See you next week!

Ana I.

JADE  (no need to Justify, Argue, Defend or Explain)

Recap Writer

Single Words, Happiness and Resolutions - a potpourri of a meeting at EarlyBirds!

Dear Members, Guests and Friends,

TM Jim G. led us in single-word topics.  And as we now know...

* DTM Mary Helen practices gratitude every day of her life - especially considering  how privileged our lives are.

* TM Marie admires our adventurous fellow Toastmasters and wonders if she will have the courage to be who she truly is in 2025. Yes, Marie, you will!

* TM Terri believes that travel equals discovery, inspiration, innovation and renovation.  An inward interior design of transformation!

* TM Randolph achieves growth through self-evaluation, for which he uses the Pathways evaluation forms.

* Guest Debbi concluded that as she gets older, her potential becomes more obvious and she reaches out to grab it!  She Won Best Table Topics Award.

Along came prepared speeches...

* I, Ana, elaborated on various definitions of happiness versus joy versus delight versus musical renditions.  Conclusion: "Don't Worry, Be Happy" (to the tune of "Don't Worry, Be Happy" .  I Won Best Speaker Award.

* TM Pam decided to get rid of bad habits by decluttering "a box a week is not for the meek" and she is not joining Quitters Day, no sireee....

Regarding evaluations...

* TM Jose stood up for the occasion and challenged me to look at the camera, not at the squares, and to stand up to improve gestures.  He Won Best Evaluator Award.

* TM Aleta praised TM Pam's sincerity and challenged her to work some more on the pesky technology of sharing screens and other mysteries of zoom.

The Word of the Day was

POT-POURRI (noun)

- A mix of dried flower petals, leaves and spices to create a scent.

- A collection of various things.

Example:  Pot-pourri elicits a highly controversial pronunciation challenge between green-gos, who correctly pronounce it POW-POURRI,  Hispanics, who incorrectly pronounce it POT-PUREE and the clueless, who pronounce it OLLA PODRIDA.

Our Club International Speech Contest will be held on January 23, 2025.  Dust off your speeches, locals!

Here is the link to the recording:

https://youtube.com/live/WTf_nQ_lT-k

Ana I.

Recap Writer

Interesting topics, The Three Magi and The Tricky Durability of FB - neuroplasticy in EarlyBirds!

Dear Members, Guests and Friends,

TM Chris led us in thought-provoking topics.  We discovered that....

* I, Ana, think every age has a different charm and is ideal to meet the ups and downs of life.

* TM Pam would like to circumvent the world in a hot air balloon but for now will limit herself to the Gulf of Mexico, the Washington Tulip Show or The DownUnder.

* TM The Tom, a true Irishman, is funny, smart and athletic and adds liquidity to neuroplasticity with lotsa Irish coffees.

* TM Gail most resembles her grandmother, born in 1890, who was very close to her and very inspirational in her life.

* TM Aleta only blocked one longtime friend on FB for siding with a third friend who nastily refuted Aleta's point of view.  

* TM Marie's most rewarding work was teaching swimming to infants and toddlers and watch them transform from terrified screechers to little mermen and mermaids. She Won Best Table Topics Award.

And then came the prepared speeches...

*TM Jose delighted us with the inside scoop on The Three Magi, Melchior, Gaspar and Baltazar, scholars from Persia and Babylon, who brought gold, frankincense and myrrh to Baby Jesus.  This feast is highly commemorated on the night of Jan 5 - 6 in Spain and Latin American countries.  

* DTM Mary Helen, undeterred by Central Time, shared the emotions the Season brings and the many uses of FB which keeps friendships and relationships alive through the veil of time, distance and transit to the other side.  She Won Best Speaker Award.

As far as evaluations...

* TM The Tom highly praised TM Jose for his excellent opening with a powerful backdrop, for his Spanish pronunciation and for revealing the true story of the Three Magi.  He suggested TM Jose avoid reading to add power to the speech and asked him to shorten his trip to Thailand for the sake of EarlyBirds.

* TM Aleta appreciated DTM Mary Helen's emotive speech about the many facets of FB which keeps memories alive and deceased people alive in our hearts and minds.  She Won Best Evaluator Award.

The Word of the Day was

NEUROPLASTICITY, noun

The brain's capacity to continue growing and evolving in response to life experiences.

Example:  Attending EarlyBirds meetings is a good way to keep our neuroplasticity up and running.

Here's the link to the recording:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hb1ZjNF0hk4

Neuroplastically submitted,

Ana I.

Recap Writer

Christmas Topics, "Tis The Season and The Night Before Christmas - a sparkling azzure morning at Early Birds!



Dear Members, Guests and Friends,

TM Aleta dazzled us with Christmas topics.  Who knew that...

* TM Chris is feeling Christmas more than ever trimming Christmas trees on a residential cruise currently in Paname.

* TM Terri's best thing that happened since last Christmas is the recovery of her sons which is truly miraculous.

* TM Jose has given back incorrect change in his favor to skeptical cashiers and received a random act of kindness that has led him to a much more geographically desirable ophthalmologist.

* TM BeckyJo (hereinafter to be known as BeckyJoy) aspires to learn to unmute and being on time to Toastmasters, and experienced the first miracle last night when she was 3 minutes early to pick up friends to attend the Days' Christmas Bash.  She Won Best Table Topics Award.

* DTM Mary Helen's favorite way to serve others in Christmas is to do the polls in EarlyBirds and to say errs and ummms with reckless abandon.

* TM Gail ranks #1 in the Geeks' Fan Club and is determined to create a Geeks on Tour International Holiday when dense members can finally learn to find their own photos, for Pete's sake.

Along came prepared speeches...

* TM Marie recounted when John The Baptists, who lived off locusts and honey in 1 B.C. (Before Christmas) baptized people in the Jordan River and told them to Repent, nowadays a philosophy of "want what you have rather than getting what you want" or as Steven Stills  put it "Love the one you're with"... She Won Best Speaker Award.

* TM Jim G. lived up to our annual tradition with a rendition of "The Night Before Christmas" by Clement C. Moore, outfitted with a Panamanian Santa Claus jacket and displaying a prodigious memory.

Regarding the evaluations...

* TM Gail praised TM Marie for reminding us what the Season is really all about and her examplary use of vocal variety, eye contact and not wasting precious time.  She Won Best Evaluator Award.

* TM BeckyJoy loved TM Jim G's adherence to tradition and challenged him to channel the characters, list the raindeer with more gusto and for Saint Nicholas' sake, wear a hat!

The Word of the Day was

AZZURE, noun, verb, adjective - multifaceted word all right

Example:  In October 1492, Columbus sailed the ocean azzure.

The link to the recording will be sent separately.

Merry Christmas to all

See you next week!

Ana 

Recap Writer

Change and Mentoring - a cognitively rich contest at EarlyBirds

Dear Members, Guests and Friends,

The recording captured a lively discussion of Jim and Chris G.'s plan to literally embark on an Oddysey and navigate the oceans on a semi-permanent world cruise.  Never a dull moment with the Geeks! More to follow...

The Table Topics Contest Topic was CHANGE.

* DTM Mary Helen wistfully reflected that change is inevitable, scary but at the same time exciting and she hopes to stay in the river of change.

* TM Paolo follows Darwin's discovery that only those who adapt to change survive - and he practices by moving his numerous offspring from one side of the pond to the next.  He Won Second Place.

* TM Chris is breaking free from the forcefield of routine to enhance her cognitive skills aboard the Odyssey (see above).  She Won First Place.

We had a wonderful Level 2 speech from TM Gail, which will propel EarlyBirds on its Gafor Distinguished of the Distinguished Clubs - thank you Gail! - and we also found out that...

* Her first mentor was her Mother, who taught her the (now) useless skills of back then - sewing, crocheting, darning - but instilled in her a passion for learning which led her to (2) PHDs and the road to her Master Mentors, Chris and Jim G., and ultimately embarking on Toastmasters' Pathways journey.  It's come full circle!  You're a great asset to our Club, TM Gail!

TM Paolo evaluated TM Gail's speech....

* He suggested she does not have to thank the audience - the audience ought to thank her! She conveyed powerfully the strong link she has to her Master Mentors and the audience was fully engaged and inspired by her speech.

The Word of the Day was

COGNITIVE, adjective

Related to thinking, learning, understanding.

Italians have difficulty saying cognitive because in Italian, cg is pronounced nye.  Signore, Signora, Signorina.  Vooolare, ooooh, Cantaaaare, Ohhhohhohh

Here's the link to the recording

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aqfkWfHr3hE

See you next week!

Loopily submitted (I think they gave me liquid Valium for the procedure, for real)

AI (absent intelligence) or 

IA (In absentia)

EarlyBird Evaluation Contest - What's Your Passion and Winter Activities

Dear Members, Guests and Friends,

Contest Chair Marie and Chief Judge Pam proved to be a dynamic contest duo and led us smoothly into the morning...

Test Speaker TM Dori discovered that touching people is her forte, and she put on her own glass slipper with crocheted socks, no Prince required, thankyouverymuch.  Thank you, TM Dori, for inspiring us to take up crochet...

We had some powerful evaluators:

* TM Chris fully related to the speech as she, too, discovered her true passion and made a career out of it (in between cruises).  She Won Second Place Evaluator.

* DTM Mary Helen praised TM Dori for having found her passion and asserting herself in compliance with workplace safety.

* TM Paolo encouraged TM Dori to be more energetic and passionate delivering her passion with excellent pace, pitch and projection and please skip mentioning intro and conclusion.  He Won First Place Evaluator.  Congratulations, Paolo!

* TM Randolph was completely inspired by TM Dori's phrase "Your passion is fundable" and is adding it to his lists of motivational quotes.

I, Ana, led the group in Winter Wonderland table topics.  Who knew that....

* TM Jose classifies his New Year's Eve Celebrations in ascending order by wildest, wilder, wild, barely make it to midnight to eat the grapes.

* TM Terri will be roasting eggplant in her chimney, courtesy of her son The Chef.  EarlyBirds are coming over to partake, for sure!

* TM Gail, a native Floridian, has not had a snowball fight or even dreamed of one, but a brief stint in Albany has made her a Florida heat fan.

* TM Dori went once to the Christmas Boat Parade but did not engage in any bruhaha, although she and her friend were driven home as a precaution.

* TM Chris's idea of a Christmas Spectacular is kayaking down the Fort Lauderdale canals singing Christmas Carols.  She Won Best Table Topics Award.

* DTM Mary Helen loves substituting ice cream for lack of snowflakes and had a memorable Sober New Year's Eve Party when the moon was in the seventh house and Jupiter lined with Mars.

Our Test Speaker TM Dori introduced us to the Word of the Day

BRUHAHA, noun

Noisy, disorderly confusion

Example:  Ice skating in a frozen lake may lead to cracks in the ice and lots of unnecessary bruhaha.  We Floridians prefer artificial rinks.

Date to Remember:

Next week, December 12, is our Club Table Topics Contest.

DTMs Mary Helen and Jim D. are hosting a Christmas Spectacular at their home on December 18 from 5 to 9 pm.  More details to follow.

Here's the link to the recording:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6Zfzc_XMTK4

Constantly contestantly submitted,

Ana I.

Recap Writer

Festive topics, Ships Ahoy and Herding Cats - a benevolent morning at EarlyBirds

Dear Members, Guests and Friends,

TM Marie launched us off with festive single or two-worded topics.

We soon discovered that....

* TM Roslyn likes people to experience joy and have a good time so she displays benevolence and hospitality all year round - but it can be somewhat taxing. She Won Best Table Topics Award.

* TM Pam explained that Columbus set the example for confusion and we are also confused when determining East from West and limiting Native Americans to one single stereotype when there's variety a-plenty

* I, Ana, had my mouth watering at the thought of all the food that is headed in my direction with all the festivities coming ahead - but hey, festivities are not a requirement.

* TM Terri has had a year of miracles in that she and her loved ones have shed several addictions, including overeating in front of guests and she has a lot for which to be thankful.

* TM Paolo's family is in transition mode back to the USA and they will miss the widespread festivities held with extended family in the home country but will make benevolence prevail. 

First-time Toastmaster of the Day Gail effectively and smoothly introduced us to the prepared speeches.  Good job Gail!

* TM Jim G. had us daydreaming of embarking on a residential cruise of undetermined duration and displayed nautical backgrounds and comparative charts to whet our appetities.  Good job!

* TM Aleta is undertaking domestication of her cat condo as she is a benevolent -albeit involuntary- condo commando of the feral HOA.  She Won Best Speaker Award.

After a bit of benevolent confusion, we came to our trusted evaluations...

* TM Pam has last been seen booking her tickets on a residential cruise ship to sail away in the voyage "Around the World in Undetermined Days" and praised TM Jim G.'s chart prowess.  She Won Best Evaluator Award.

* TM Paolo praised TM Aleta's vocal variety when meaowing and body gestures when mimicking felines as she effectively used Toastmaster tools to describe her colony of ninjas with whiskers.

The Word of the Day was

BENEVOLENCE, noun

A disposition to do good

Synonyms:  kindness, decency

Example:  The Police Benevolent Association will benevolently send you a car sticker when you use benevolence to make a donation to their union.

DATES TO REMEMBER:

* There will be no meeting next week due to Thanksgiving.  Gobble, gobble!

* Table Topics Group Contest:  December 5

* Evaluations Group Contest:   December 12

* International Speech Group Contest:  January 9, 2025

Contest Master  Marie R.

Chief Judge: Pam S.

Timer:  Jim D.

Polls:  Pam S.

Here is the link to today's recording:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wxgIIFRc57c

See you on December 5th!

Ana I.

Recap Writer

Food topics, Family National Holidays and Forbidden Apples - a raddling morning at EarlyBirds

Dear Members, Guests and Friends,

DTM Jim D. had us reminiscing about food memories....

* TM Gail loooooves ice cream, eats the small cups by the half dozen but for health purposes has restricted herself to ONLY vanilla.

* TM Aleta absolutely positively resolutely determinedly makes no food restriction New Year's resolutions.  She's nuts about chocolate... with nuts.

* TM Paolo has regressed from being a good cook to throwing together cold cuts and bread strictly under duress, the rest of the time he's just thankful for a loving good cook wife.

* I, Ana, had my unseasoned unsalted filet mignon blatantly stolen from my plate by a rogue canine during a family barbeque.  I was definitely not thankful!

* TM Chris' favorite restaurant is Cooper's Hawk, they have joined the Wine Club and have wonderful dining and wining experiences there.

* TM Jose almost ate chop snake salad during a business trip to Taiwan but, as often in his life, was saved by the snake's raddle.  He Won Best Table Topics Award.

* TM Terrt can remember a few badly prepared marital meals but fortunately her ex is no longer around and her sons are both good cooks.

Regarding the prepared icebreakers we had today...

* TM Pam interwove (3) November holidays - Veterans' Day, Thanksgiving and her birthday into a tale of family gatherings, memories and reminiscens.  Happy Birthday Pam!

* TM Marie has spent most of her life trying to force outcomes with futility and no longer becomes raddled as she is now Laissez Faire Marie, letting events unfold as they will and cheerfully eating a crunchy unknowledgeable apple.  She Won Best Speaker Award.

As far as evaluations go...

* TM Jose praised TM Pam for her clarity, and her sighing technique and suggested she may add some hand gestures to her delivery.  

* TM Paolo hailed TM Marie's speech as a masterpiece and asked that she work on her right angle lighting and try Gala apples instead of Granny Smith's.  He Won Best Evaluator Award.

The Word of the DAy was

RADDLED, adj

Broken down, worn

Confused, upset

Example: Grammar nerds were raddled by the spelling of what they thought was spelled rattled, which started being used in the 1900s versus raddled from the 1690s.  Raddled saves you having to mentally cross the t's.  

Here's the link to the recording

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R0ft9ejL2qk

See you next week!

Ana I.

Raddled, Skedaddled and Befuddled

Recap Writer

Random questions, Wuthering Heights and Panama Crossing - an intricate extricate EarlyBirds!

Dear Members, Guests, and Friends,

I, Ana, started us off with random questions.  We realized that...

* TM Pam is on a strict vegetarian regimen building up to December 1 cookies, cake and ice cream  

* TM Marie is going to save, spend and mostly give away her $5 million - she wants to be charitable while having fun, fun, fun!... She Won Best Table Topics Award.

* TM Jim G.'s favorite movie is a composite of Finding Nemo, The Graduate and Forrest Gump.  Life is certainly like a box of chocolates or salt-water taffies and sexy older women.

* TM Chris wants to be known for having a good time - she and TM Jim G. are big fish in a small pond - she's been seen signing autographs for thankful alumni.

* TM Jose is most thankful for our health, the group's health and his ability to fly across the pond and to other destinations to enjoy new adventures and visit family.

Regarding prepared speeches....

* I, Ana, recounted my woes as a bullied tall person growing up in the land of vertically-challenged people.

* TM Chris recently went kayaking and snorkeling amidst the locks, chambers, Lakes of the Panama Canal, with plenty of mimosas on hand.  She Won Best Speaker Award.

As far as evaluations go...

* TM Jim G. officially named me the group's resident giraffe and suggested I will end up in Hell... but surrounded by boys, boys, boys.  He Won Best Evaluator Award.

* TM Pam asked TM Chris to please find a book (300 pages, tops) about snorkeling in the Panama Canal.

The Word of the Day was

EXTRICATE, verb

To free or remove yourself from an entanglement or difficulty.

Example:  It is virtually impossible to extricate oneself from a submerged car.

The link for today's recording is

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AsnU8V0fBX8

See you next week!

Ana I

Recap Extricator 

Spirits, Killers and Sanhain (pronounced Sawein), a ghoulish morning at EarlyBirds

Dear Ghosts, Ghouls, Goblins and Gretins,

TM Pam ghosted us with Table Topic apparitions.  We intuited that...

* TM Skull Jose, who has lost considerable weight and looks definitely skeletal, crushes the spirit that tries to penetrate his skull - he will not succumb to a good ole spirit.

* TM Madhatter Marie's flesh is weak when it comes to chocolate, which she learned to evulliently steal from her father's gift boxes.

* TM Queen Roslyn is moved by the spirit of church music on weekdays.- why wait for Sundays?

* TM Cat Terri has heard that on Spirit Airlines it's likely they will fly you to the netherworld but hey, the price is right.

* DTM Mary Helen Cleopatra would go to Mexico for Day of the Dead to partake in the cemetery rituals and have a graveyard smash with lotsa tequila.

* I, Glenda Witch Ana, will reminisce about my days as Cruella De Ville on Halloween Puerto Rican style by downing a cauldron of rum-laced coquitos.  I Won Best Table Topics Award.

We had (2) spooky speeches...

* TM McDonald's Aleta met a rich cook at a logging camp near her house who got murdered by an envious diabolical Irish hunter and TM Aleta found the cook's moneybelt on her property.... We won't tell....

* TM Gail revealed that Celts started Sahmain (pronounced Sawein) by carving ghoulish faces on turnips till vampires realized they would not bleed and resorted to human hemoglobin.  She Won Best Speaker Award.

As far as evaluations go...

* TM Graduate The Tom praised TM Aleta's use of a hunter's hat and an ex to recount a tale from the crypt in her back yard.

* TM Barbie's Father Uomo Elegante Paolo marvels at the sinister trajectory of a pagan holiday into a multi-billion consumer industry.  He recommended that Gail wear camouflage next time.  He Won Best Evaluator Award.

DTM Jim D. kept track of the witching hour every step of the way.

TM Party Pooper BeckyJo did manage to disappear on us.  She was last seen flying away on an Electric Mop.

The Word of the Day was

EBULLIENT, adjective

This seemingly innocuous word raised a passionate discussion about its pronunciation, first syllable?  second syllable?  Midwestern accent? Miami Cuban accent?  Pick your choice or alternate.

It means effervescent, appealingly lively and enthusiastic.

Example:  If you drink a carbonated drink, it will transform you into an ebullient soul.

Here's the link to the recording:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fQBendGM8wE

See you next week!

Ana Illsen

VP Education

Strategic Topics, Six Degrees of Separation and The Bible Tells Me So - an intransigent meeting of EarlyBirds - NOT!

Dear Members, Guests and Friends,

TM Marie led us in relationship explorations.  We were led to believe that...

* TM Roslyn's ability to be flexible and adaptable professionally is working well for her as she launched a singing career and health and wellness for seniors.  She Won Best Table Topics Award.

* DTM Mary Helen is an extroverted introvert who needs alone time with no distractions and thinks solitary confinement AT WILL would work well for her.

* TM Gail's strongest sense is her sight - she is a photographer of the animal kingdom and injects some good humor into her art.

* TM Paolo is adapting to change right now, having moved his  numerous offspring back to the US and they are all having to give up intransigence for teenage survival of the smart i-phoneless.

* I, Ana, have realized that I am not the center of anyone's universe because guess what? they are the center of their own universe.  Who knew???

* TM Jose is most confident about what he doesn't know, trivial facts that he pulls out of a mysterious compartment in his brain called improvisation...

* TM Terri treads carefully in the next chapter of her life while having fun with Humphrey (Bogart) her new guard dog in tow.

Along came two interesting prepared speeches...

* TM The Tom presented Part II of his speech about a psycho aviation board member who became his hospital roommate and life infused the former psycho intravenously with a dose of humble pie.

* .TM Aleta told us a biblical story about Elimelech. Naomi, Boaz the Intransigent Law Follower, Ovid, Jesse, David (pre Goliath) who lived in Moab (currently Jordan) and taught us that those who trust, head straight for the buffet dessert table.  She Won Best Speaker Award.

And lastly, we had excellent evaluations...

* TM Paolo called TM The Tom the Michelangelo of Speakers and reminded him to look at the camera instead of the multiple Zoom squares.

* DTM Mary Helen enjoyed TM Aleta's biblical story "A Different Kind of Love" which was not too racy but involved a land parcel which became a highrise condo as the years went slowly by.... and which we can apply to our modern lives.  She Won Best Evaluator Award.

The Word of the Day was

INTRANSIGENT, adjective

A person who refuses to compromise or abandon an often extreme position or attitude.

Example:  A person's intransigence may be another person's extravagance, but it is always riddled with insolence.   Huh???

The link to the recording is here:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bJa2y4FQpXg

See you next week at the Graveyard Smash!  

Ana I.

Recap Writer

Idioms, Meditation and Being Heckled - a fugacious morning at EarlyBirds!

Dear Members, Guests and Friends,

TM Aleta inspired us with popular idioms about body parts.  We were surprised to learn that...

* TM Tom triumpantly reported the EMS personnel who were there in his time of need were a truly a sight for sore eyes.  Welcome back to our effervescent joy, Tom!  He Won Best Table Topics Award.

* I, Ana, took a wild guess that using elbow grease refers to car mechanics deciphering the labyrinth of car parts in the engine and getting their elbows dirty.

* DTM Jim D. highly recommends that chickens and turkeys avoid sticking their neck out, especially around Thanksgiving.  Otherwise their lives will truly be fugacious!

* TM Gail is tired of all the politicians who speak with forked tongues and cannot wait for them to speak with knived tongues so they can chop their own tongues off, once and for all!

* TM Paolo has often had something on the tip of his tongue but it's ready to be spoken in Italian and he doesn't say it because his listener is monolingual (in English).

* TM Terri's father was a good man but very pessimistic so she keeps her chin up, especially about chocolate, which, as the old saying goes,"a minute in the lips, forever in the hips".

And then came the prepared speeches...

* TM Roslyn invited us to start our day by dropping - even if fugaciously - into meditation, to refresh and replenish our cluttered minds.

* TM Pam masterfully dealt with a disruptive audience - an interrupter, a chatterer, an arguer, a talker, an electronic device enthusiast, compulsively commenting in the chat. We had a great time and TM Pam humorously dealt with it.  She Won Best Speaker Award.

Regarding evaluations....

* TM Paolo praised TM Roslyn for her effective pace to allow us to discern, digest, process, metabolize and refresh, recharge and restart.  He Won Best Evaluator Award.

* TM Marie praised EarlyBirds for being the best hecklers on Planet Earth and also praised TM Pam for her effort to practice, practice, practice, putting up with us.

The Word of the Day was

FUGACIOUS, adjective

Lasting a very short time; ephemeral; short-lived, transient

Example:  Love's fugacious radiance wanes into a more stable companionship.

Dates to Consider:

Club Level Contests (to be conducted by January 14, 2024)

Tall Tales

Humorous Speech

District Level Contests 

Table Topics

Evaluations

International Speech - must have completed Level I and Level II in Pathways

Here's the link to the recording:

 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wS7QII_AH9g

See you next week!

Ana I.

Sagacious and Perspecacious  but not Fugacious Recap Writer