Giving thanks, Death of a Penny and Contemplative Prayer - a grateful meeting of EarlyBirds

Dear Members, Guests and Friends,

TM Marie started us with an invocation of gratefulness.

I, Ana, introduced Thanksgiving-related topics.  We learned that...

* TM Aleta is grateful for the current local weather and for too many things to list in 2 to 3 minutes with a 30-second deviation only at the end to qualify.

* TM Christina has (2) Thanksgivings, Canada and US, her parents are coming and she's accomplished great things at work this past year.

* TM Pam ran the Marine Corps marathon with an untrained friend and her feet, totally compliant during trials, started to hurt for no good reason. She Won Best Table Topics Award.

* TM BeckyJo would invite Tiny Tim to her Thanksgiving Dinner as he could probably keep the crazies in line.

* Our guest, Naomi, would like to learn the skill of patience in the next year.  Go Naomi!

* TM Jose dropped a screwdriver owned by the dockmaster to the bottom of the ocean, who will try to retrieve it with a long line and a magnet attached to it.

* TM Randolph is looking with great hope to take a family trip this coming year, possibly to Orlando but still to be confirmed.

We had (2) outstanding speeches today...

* TM Gail memorialized our recently defunct US penny - although there are still 300 billion of them in circulation, so it will be a while before they disappear and go back to heaven, where they originally came from to be worn in penny loafers.  She Won Best Speaker Award.

* TM Marie is setting the groundwork for peaceful holidays by practicing Centering Prayer, using heartfulness vs mindfulness, inhaling acceptance, exhaling surrender and letting go of unpleasant memories with overbearing family members.

Regarding our evaluations..

* TM Christine praised TM Gail's speech for its rich history, Bing Crosby songs, penny earned is a penny saved, lucky pennies, and the rich tapestry of our legendary penny which now costs 3 cents to produce and had to be discontinued.  She Won Best Evaluator Award.

* TM BeckyJo admires TM Marie's calm delivery of a speech on serenity and peace, the open loving of God, and for being the essence of calmness herself.

The Word of the Day was

GRATEFUL, adj.

To be pleased about something

Example:  I left our EarlyBirds meeting today unexpectedly moved, deeply grateful and with a sense of privilege for having been there.

Here's the link to the recording

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aF82nMBkeps

See you in TWO WEEKS, on December 4 

Ana I.

Recap Writer

Engaging storytelling, Diffusiophoresis, Vaya Con Dios - a fantasticated morning at Early Birds!

Dear Members, Guests and Friends,

TM Marie led us in fantasticated topics...

* TM Jose transported us dreamily into owning his (and our) first car, when we were in awe of our newly-found autonomy and wanted to sleep in the car.  He Won Best Table Topics Award.

* TM BeckyJo captivates her audience when she embellishes and that's why she had a hard time telling the truth as a child.  Right, good excuse!

* TM Gail likes our local comedians, ie Beckyjo and Christine, but emulated her humor after Victor Borge's phonetic punctuation which got her kicked out of class.

* TM Christine recently broke into Auschwitz concentration camp and blended into a non-English speaking tourist tour group  to see everything first hand.

* TM Randolph credits Toastmasters for not interrupting others and making good use of pauses.  He's got a lot more friends now!

* TM David reminisced about after-dinner talks with family when growing up, and recalled when someone said Jesus was buried in their back yard....

Along came two great fantasticated speeches...

* TM Pam revealed that pelagic means living in the open sea, whether you're an albatross, a sardine or a large tuna, and diffusiophoresis is when things go from concentrates to equilibrium, for example, dishwasher detergent.  Do your research, people, instead of relying on TikTok!

* TM Aleta found a fork in her road as she sang "There she was just walking down the street, singing du-wa-di-di-di-di-dum-di-di-du, and she has applied BeckyJo's mantra "Go With God or don't go" to all her choices, decisions, losses, as well as her fantasticated Cheshire cat.  She Won Best Speaker Award.

As far as evaluations...

* TM David praised TM Pam's great setup of visual aids and suggested more gestures and pauses.  Why?  Because....  we're emotional people who like to fantasticate...

* TM Christine was riveted by TM Aleta's speech for attaining her goal of connecting with her audience.  It will be a fantasticated church sermon.  She Won Best Evaluator Award.

The Word of the Day was

FANTASTICATE, verb

to make or render fantastic

Example:  In Toastmasters we learn to fantasticate - instead of obfuscate or prevaricate - our speaking skills.

Here's the link to the recording...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mcCb84z48Fs  

See you next week!

Ana I.

Recap Writer

Your Favorite Things, Driving-Italian style and A Feline Farewell - a conciliatory morning at EarlyBirds

Dear Members, Guests and Friends,

First-timer TM Veronica led us with an inspiring invocation - go TM Veronica!

TM Aleta presented choices of some of our favorite things ...

* TM Christine got caught dancing in the rain in Poland, where nobody knows her and she did not care what anyone thought of her.

* TM Veronica goes on vacation to tropical places during rainy season - less expensive and less crowded - and she gets caught in the rain quite often.  She Won Best Table Topics Award.

* TM Jorge once rode a Tennessee horse which was described as a compliant, obedient horse and turned out to have a will and a gallop of his own!

* TM David was not familiar with schnitzel - although thanks to Mr. Google, we are all now experts in schnitzel - and likes to go swimming in his pool when it's raining.  No lightning or thunder, please!

* TM The Tom avoids blue satin sashes lest they get in his eyelashes, so he guesses but no messes with girls in white dresses.

* I, Ana, have not been bitten by a dog - mostly because I avoid them- or stung by a bee although they proliferate in swimming pools in Madrid.

And then came our prepared speeches...

* TM BeckyJo revisited her near-death experience as a passenger in Simonetta's reckless driving to Miami, to Naples and almost to the next world...  Ah la bella Italia!!

* TM Marie shared a heart-rendering visual story of Sammy Miami, who lived a privileged life and crossed the rainbow arch leaving loving memories behind.  She Won Best Speaker Award.

As far as evaluations go...

* TM Jorge loved TM BeckyJo's speech, her energy, the way she acts her speech and he suggested that next time, she face the camera and her audience.  He Won Best Evaluator Award.

* TM The Tom, a cat person himself,  was deeply touched by TM Marie's experience parting with a beloved pet.

TM Christina excelled as a first-time Toastmaster - go TM Christina!

The Word of the Day was

CONCILIATORY, adj.

Intended to gain goodwill or favor or to reduce hostility.

Example: It is more conciliatory to catch flies with lemonade than with pure bitter lemons.

Here's the link to the recording:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4zPelKb9heg

See you next week!

Ana I.

Recap Writer