Administrator Console, But For a Small Twist of Fate, Protecting Girls' Sports - a morning of great impetus at EarlyBirds

Dear Members, Guests and Friends,

TM Pam introduced us to different facets of the Administrator's Console in our EarlyBirds website.  We realized that...

* TM Randolph understands that, although an annoyance, he needs a secondary email so when he drifts away from our group, we can reach out to him and reel him back in!!

* TM Marie joined EarlyBirds on a Mad Hatter day when our late DTM Kip was at his funniest and she just couldn't resist and joined on the spot.  She Won Best Table Topics Award.

* TM Christina started FB while in college but doesn't use it anymore.  She uses - and recommends - Instagram, Instagram, Instagram.

* TM BeckyJo recommends that your pubic bio best include why you joined TM, why you stay.  If you have a colorful, intriguing life, describe it.  And keep your old picture in there!

Along came (2) longer-than-usual speeches...

* I, TM Ana, shared with the audience my personal recollections of leaving Communist Cuba in 1960 and shared some factual data about pre-Castro Cuba.  I Won Best Speaker Award.

* TM Aleta regaled us with a speech about her Protect Girls' Sports presentation in BPW (Business Professional Women),  which was arbitrarily handled outside of her presence and betrayed her, but primarily betrayed young girls and women.  We hope there is more action to be taken by you, TM Aleta!

As far as evaluations...

* TM Gail praised my father's impetus in taking the family out of an increasingly perilous situation and suggested I allow more time for audience questions next time.

* TM Jose lauded TM Aleta's courage, empathized with her feelings of having been betrayed, liked her appropriately sober virtual background and suggested she give us a better sense of BPW's structure and a stronger ending for our "Big Comeback Toastmaster"...  He Won Best Evaluator Award.

The Word of the Day was

IMPETUS, noun

Force that makes something happen or happen more quickly.

Example:  The discovery of a hidden stash of cookies was the impetus for a sugar-fueled adventure that ended with a sugar crash and a smile on my face.

Here's the link to the recording:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OywF7Dy1LIo

See you next week!

Ana 

VP Education

Resilience, Glory of God and What's in a name? a morning of glimmer at EarlyBirds

Dear Members, Guests and Friends,

We inducted our returning TM Christine formally into our Club.  Welcome back, Christine!

TM Marie launched us on a glimmer of resilience.  We discovered that...

* TM Christine's heroic effort consisted of getting a degree in Oxford at midlife while doing standup comedy with a British accent.

* TN The Tom is "the comeback kid" - overcame a health hardship and turned into a fish in a glimmering pond.

* TM Aleta overcomes adversity day by day, step by step, shovel by shovel, while anticipating a visit from the glimmering Samaritan's Purse.  She Won Best Table Topics Award.

* TM Cory is mastering rising above it, talking when the mind goes blank while envisioning TM Jorge's AH, ER, YOU KNOW screen flashing in his mind's eye.

* Guest Christina converts triggers into glimmers of the day and her family, work and trip to Fairfax and Toronto rank in top relevancy.

* TM Randolph's faith gets him through the challenges of daily life with an unwavering moral code.

* TM Jose likens his life to a chu-chu train with different stops for different folks and is managing the Reservations Desk for visiting friends at his home in Javea, Spain.

Along came our prepared speeches...

* TM BeckyJo regaled us with a sailor's tale of triumph over adversity while proclaiming The Glory of God.  She Won Best Speaker Award.

* I, Ana, revealed the little-known story of the origin of our city's name, tracing it back to wee William Wallace, aka Braveheart, aka Mel Gibson,  glimmering hero of the Scots.

TM Jose performed as first-time General Evaluator and glimmered steadily throughout...

* TM Cory asked TM BeckyJo to clarify if Boston Whaler and Laser is a marine mammal with a Boston accent and having laser cataract surgery.  He Won Best Evaluator Award.

* TM Randolph asked that for the love of Scots, I repeat the speech with a wee bit of humor added to it.

The Word of the Day was

GLIMMER,

noun - a faint or unsteady light

verb - shine faintly or unsteadily

Example: To identify your glimmers, pay attention to your senses, notice what brings you a sense of peace or joy, and reflect on activities that make you feel energized and alive.   So there....

Here is the link to the recording:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tmMBSIjcL5U

See you next week at Inauguration!  Dress code:  pyjama pants and a chic top will do!

Ana 

VP Education

June, The Elks Rest, A Commonplace Book - a tech-risible morning at EarlyBirds!

Dear Members, Guests and Friends,

TM Aleta led us in a June series of Table Topics.  We found out that...

* TM Jose is aka Mr. Chocolate for his all-time favorite ice cream flavor.... He loves "polos" - chocolate ice cream on a stick that gives you both mobility and edibility.  He Won Best Table Topics Award.

* TM Veronica watched the Marilyn Monroe documentary and feels compassion for such a beautiful person - inside and out- who lived such a tragic life.  Had she avoided drugs and alcohol, who knows? She would perhaps be celebrating her 100th birthday next year!

* TM Pam has never been to a professional tennis match but her kids were once coached by Jimmy Evert and they didn't even know it!

* TM BeckyJo had a handsome tennis coach in Vancouver hired by her mother who really enjoyed male eye candy... BeckyJo ran marathons on Summer Solstice Day, just so you know....

* TM Gail has a special flag from her son which she will keep forever and she recalls  displaying all United Nations flags as a school project in the 6th grade.

* TM Christine could not think of Dad jokes but she is an avid tennis fan and has watched many professional matches.

* Guest Kris has no idea why there are so many June weddings - all she knows is she's having a birthday coming up... First things first!

* TM David has no objection to girls named June but his favorite girl's name is Catherine with a French accent.  Ohlala....!

Along came the prepared speeches...

* I, Ana, talked about a fascinating piece of Fort Lauderdale history:  The Elks Lodge, host venue of many memorable events, watering hole of many legendary celebrities and soon to be reopening after a long legal battle.

* TM The Tom regaled us with a helpful speech about A Commonplace Book, where one keeps quotable quotes, ideas for speeches and other sources for speech topics.  He Won Best Speaker Award.

As far as evaluations go...

* TM David enjoyed my speech and suggested I use more vocal variety, hand gestures, and introduce exciting stories into the speech that will captivate the audience.  He Won Best Evaluator Award.

* TM Christine kindly asked TM The Tom to step out of the closet - or at least blur it - or the audience starts to make mental grocery lists.  She enjoyed the purpose of the speech - to give practical tips to the rest of us to find topics for speeches.

The Word of the Day was

RISIBLE, adj.

capable of laughing, disposed to laugh

Example:  Today's meeting was chock-full of risible technical bumps; however, we pulled ourselves together and risibly figured them out.  Go EarlyBirds Learning Lab!

The link to the recording is here (thank you Jose!)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5BMtz1NV_PQ

See you next week!

Ana I.

Risible Recap Writer

It's Debatable, Procrastination, A Gem Among Concrete - EarlyBirds is definitely not soporific!

 

Dear Members, Guests and Friends,

TM Chris brilliantly led us in table topics up for debate.

We learned that....

* TM Gail is pro clearing up a house for sale so that new owners get a better idea of how they can make it look.  

* TM Terri took the same side and also believes in clearing up a house for sale because an empty house looks bigger and unleashes the creativity of prospects.

* TM Veronica is pro legalizing casinos - they bring a lot of revenue and boost the local economy, and in Florida they benefit the native american tribe who owns the largest one.  It's also a great venue for concerts.

* TM David is against legalizing casinos because he worked for an online gaming company and he saw how the addictive behavior got people hospitalized.

* TM The Tom is pro school uniforms because it fosters equality and eliminates competition for Best Dressed, students focus on academics instead of fluff and frill.

* TM Aleta is against school uniforms because they stifle creativity and growth - and students end up customizing their uniforms to look different anyway!  She Won Best Table Topics Award.

We had (2) prepared speeches...

* TM David told us about his struggles with procrastination, especially in things he most likes.  Taking action is the antidote!  He Won Best Speaker Award.

* I, Ana, told the history of Lauderdale-by-the-Sea, the beach diving capital of America, and its humble beginnings which have kept it a gem among towering giants.

Next came the fabulous evaluations...

* TM Marie praised TM David for his organization, confidence, display of leadership and persuasion.  She Won Best Evaluator Award.

* DTM Mary Helen applauded the fact that I did not read my speech and encouraged me to continue to improve and to stop crunching land crabs while at it!

The Word of the Day was

SOPORIFIC, 

Causes sleep (noun)

Induces sleep (adjective)

Example:  A glass of warm milk and a monotonous tv series are the best soporifics known to man.

Here's the link to the recording

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xtt9L5WeV74

See you next week for our special FAREWELL to our friends The Gulds!  SNIFF....

Ana I.

Humorous Recap Writer

(that's debatable!)

Fwd: Life Lessons, Icebreaker and Origin of County Names - a non-superfluous morning at EarlyBirds

Dear Members, Guests and Friends,

One of our new members, TM Cory, started us off with thought-provoking Table Topics about life and lessons.   We soon found out that...

* DTM Mary Helen was insecure as a youngster, then at age 40, she relinquished her deep dark past and became secure.  She Won Best Table Topics Award.

* TM Gail was a pioneer of the Community College system in Florida and it allowed her to study and work and get ahead in life.

* TM The Tom would give his younger self the reiterated advice to join the Navy (as he did) where he learned to make his bed and lay on it, too.

* TM Terri's best compliment as a young teacher in a Hialeah middle school minefield was "You're persistent".  And that she is, to this day!

* TM Jorge would, as a 9-year-old, maximize his Mom's last day with him to the fullest.

We then listened to TM Jorge's Icebreaker....

* Sitting in a waiting bus, he had a transcendental conversation with the bus driver which shaped the course of his life.  He joined the Navy and was sent to Italy; he is now bonding with his infant son till the next opportunity comes up.   He Won Best Speaker Award.

* I, Ana, Self-Appointed Local Reporter, sleuthed around to find out picturesque facts about several towns in our beloved Broward County.

Lastly, we had great evaluations...

* TM Gail praised TM Jorge for his intriguing Icebreaker and for his proficient use of Zoom.

* TM Jose loved my speech but asked that I stop flailing my notes in front of the camera, for heaven's sake.  He Won Best Evaluator Award.

Our Area Director, TM Marcus Observicus, attended our meeting and complimented us effusively.

The Word of the Day was

SUPERFLUOUS, adjective

Exceeds what is necessary or sufficient, or is simply not needed.

Etymology:  It comes from the latin superfluuuus which in turn is derived from the Assyrian superiffffflllluuuus.   They've just removed a few superfluous vowels (and consonants) with the passage of millenia.

Example:  Why do we have superfluous but potentially deadly vestiges like the appendix or wisdom teeth?   

Here's the link to the recording

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

See you next week!

Ana I

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

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 

Disasters, Old Siam and Wild Obsessions - an amply sufficient morning at EarlyBirds!

Dear Members, Guests and Friends,

DTM Jim  D. skyrocketed us into disaster topics...  We found out that.

..

* TM Jim G. puts outdoor furniture inside but mostly fixates on the omnipresent Cone of Uncertainty, hoping to send rain up to fill up TM Aleta's crick.

* TM BeckyJo has become overly cautious after Hurricane Wilma caught her off guard and she ended up kayaking through her neighborhood at the behest of Weatherman Bryan Norcross.

* TM Marie deals with the hurricane that forms in her mind when she realizes thoughts are spiraling like tornadoes. There is always calm at the center of toilet paper hoarding.She Won Best Table Topics. Award.

* TM Roslyn goes into the inner space of her windowless laundry room at the sound of tornado sirens.  No curiosity whatsoever to peek outside.

* TM Aleta's then-husband was The Lineman of the County ( to the tune of Wichita Lineman by Glenn Campbell) but restored his own power last.

* TM Chris has experienced earthquakes, tornadoes and hurricanes in her RV , and she prefers earthquakes rather than watching Jim watch the Cone of Uncertainty.

Along came prepared speeches...

* TM Jose took us down a fascinating tour of his future trip to Thailand, where he will visit Chung Rai, Chiang Rai, Chiang Mai, and last but not least, the PeePee Islands , where he will snorkel to watch Thai fish and attend a Black Thai gala where he will enjoy a Sukkhotai dinner.  We can't wait for the apres ski... errr, apres-tour.

* I, TM Ana, shared my adventures as a City Slicker surrounded by wildly obsessive bear fans in a visit to Big Sky Glacier Park.  I Won Best Speaker Award.

As far as evaluations go...

* TM Paolo praised TM Jose for the clarity of his speech, so much so that TM Paolo is booking travel to Siam as we speak.  He Won Best Evaluator Award.

* TM BeckyJo corroborated my status as a City Slicker and encouraged me to stop reading my darned speeches and display imprompty tongue-in-cheek humor, once and for all.

TM Terri did a superb job as First Time Poll Maker.  Go, Terri!

The Word of the Day was

SUFFICIENT, adj

Enough to meet the needs of a situation

Example:  Sometimes I forget that I must have sufficient funds in the bank to go a-splurging.

Dates to Remember:  Thursday October 31 we will have a Monster Mash Halloween-themed meeting.

Here's the link to the recording:

https://youtube.com/live/6WMX513hgoU

See you next week!

Ana I.

Incomparable, intolerable, honorable, comfortable Recap Writer

Moments in Time, Hidden Treasures and Count DeMonay - persistence is the name of the game at EarlyBirds!

Dear Members, Guests and Friends,

Our persistent group showed grit and determination to overcome technological glitches and reduced attendance - today we were few  but mighty nevertheless!

TM Marie led us with fun topics about moments in time.  We thus realized that...

* TM Gail is a leaf-peeper and adores the turning of the leaves up North.  She substitutes in Florida by admiring her croton plants all year long.

* TM Aleta is affected by shorter days and longer nights while pondering about the arriival of spring in Western Pennslvania.

* TM BeckyJo uses chocolate to counteract sadness, and ginormous Dandee Donuts to appease anger.  The Club is offering her a box of Dundees as a gift.  She Won Best Table Topics Award.

* TM Terri welcomes snowbirds in Miami but shudders at the onslaught of traffic - she departs one hour early for a trip to the corner grocery store.  

* DTM Mary Helen is flexible with family celebrations except the major ones which fall on a specific date, when she insists and persists they must be held on exactly the right phase of the moon.

* DTM Jim reminisced about Women's Day in Russia, which had to be observed by EVERYONE. or else, if you're male, risk execution on Baltic Unity Day, which encompasses the countries of Latvia, Estonia, Lithuania and Poland.

Along came speeches...

* I, Ana, told the tale of  South Florida's rich history of bucaneers, pirates, treasure divers and other colorful characters that are displayed in Museums but do not seem to appear in city plaques. I Won Best Speaker Award.

*DTM Jim prepared a speech in under 2 minutes flat and told us about his duties as a Treasurer.  The main requirement is persistence to deal with dormant bank accounts and slow renewing members.  He keeps us as financial Distinguished President's Club.  Thank you Jim!

And along came the evaluations....

* TM Terri appreciated  me putting South Florida's history on the map but was mesmerized by the blinding light beaming up from my skull in a recreation of an intergalactic adventure.  She Won Best Evaluator Award.

* TM Gail lauded DTM Jim for explaining his duties as Treasurer and has started a movement to have other club officers explain their duties to achieve cross training.  Great idea, Gail!

The Word of the Day was

PERSISTENCE, noun

 Firm or obstinate continuance in a course of action in spite of difficulties or opposition.

The link to the recording will be available next week.  Thanks!

See you next week,

Ana I.

Recap Writer 

Eclectic topics, Musical Gasps, Tales of the South Pacific - an undiscombobulated morning at Early Birds!

Dear Members, Guests, Friends:

TM The Tom led us with eclectic topics, from whence we gathered that...

* TM Terri would invent "Rest Your Bones Day" as a national holiday, when you simply do nothing, nada, niente, or if you're really dynamic, you take yourself to the beach.

* TM BeckyJo would fly around Epcot with a drunken space alien and ride Space Mountain, again and again.  She Won Best Table Topics Award.

* TM Ricardo was petrified - and made the rest of us petrified by association - by reading the bathroom scene in The Shining, second only to the bathroom scene in Psycho.

* DTM Mary Helen, calling in from Babylon Berlin, is no longer a mere lurker in FB Aldi's Aisle of Shame but a full fledged participant.

* TM Marie faced the majestic ocean in Atlantic City after spending days at her father's quarry in her rural home - and her life has just never been the same again.

* TM Paolo would become Domenico Modugno or preferably Rodolfo Valentino (both Apulia's favorite sons) if he could be the Master of Disguise.  For now, he's flying back to meet Chair Giorgia Meloni at the G7 summit.

We had 2 prepared speeches...

* TM Pam took us all down memory lane in a humorous speech about becoming concert singer groupies in the chapter of our lives called The Last Gasp... of our octogenarian favorite bands.  She Won Best Speaker Award.

* I, Ana, shared how overwater bungalows in French Polynesia came into existence and how Tahitian television has spread to Jamaica, Maldives, Mexico, hither and thither.

And along came evaluations....

* TM Randolph praised TM Pam for her funny, funnier, funniest speech about old musical glories that are literally taking their last gasps.

* TM Jose enjoyed learning the history of overwater bungalows and was glad there were no shark encounters - especially since there were 3 attacks in the Florida Panhandle in knee-deep water over the last week.  Yikes!  He Won Best Evaluator Award.

The Word of the Day was

DISCOMBOBULATED, adj.

Confused, disconcerted.

Example:  Discombobulated is the natural state - most of the time - of some of our EarlyBird members, who shall remain nameless....

Here's the link to the recording

https://youtube.com/live/376Btvobelo?feature=share

See you next week!

Ana I.

Recap Writer

Vacations, Bahiamar and Bitcoin - a lucrative morning at EarlyBirds!

Dear Members, Guests and Friends,

TM Aleta inspired us with enlightening thoughts from President Theodore Roosevelt.

TM Marie led us with fun, lighthearted topics.  We found out that...

* TM Emmanuel's daughter's recurring dream is to go see lanterns in China. Let's go! Let's go! Let's Go!  He Won Best Table Topics Award.

* TM BeckyJo packs her entire worldly belongings in case winter, summer, spring, fall, thirst, hunger happen in her 5-hour road trip. She Won Best Table Topics Award.

* TM Pam is the only person in America who has not been fingerprinted so if she starts a life of crime she will not easily be tracked down.  She votes for security screening MRIs at the airport.

* TM The Tom fondly reminisced about unforgettable road trips with 4 young 'uns one year apart constantly asking "Are we there yet?" and fortuitously finding a drill sargeant to tell them they're not there yet.

* TM Jim G. has mastered phone photography from the best phone lens by urging people to say "Sex" instead of "Cheese" which expands their smiles to unforeseen limits.

As far as prepared speeches go...

* I, self-appointed sagacious reporter on the Broward Beat, revealed the lucrative deals happening downtown concerning our former landmark soon to be demolished, Bahia Mar.  I Won Best Speaker Award.

* TM Chris revealed her BitCoin seed phrase so let's take advantage of the blockchain interconnected public ledgers and trace her cryptocurrency wallet to make a lucrative digital transfer.

Along came evaluations...

* TM Pam was dismayed to hear what city hotshots do with our tax dollars but at least she did not see my notes anywhere so that's a relief.  She Won Best Evaluator Award.

*TM The Tom’s evaluation of TM Chris Bitcoin.  He has converted and is moving to El Salvador, where Bitcoin is Legal Tender.  He’s tired of worthless and bulky wads of dollar bills lining his pockets….

The Word of the Day was

LUCRATIVE, adj. 

producing a lot of money; especially of a business, job or activity.

Video games are one of the most lucrative industries on Planet Earth.

Here is the link to the recording:

https://youtube.com/live/1tahS5hFFhc?feature=share

See you next week!

Ana I.

Recap Writer

Mother's Day, Seagulls and Life Mentors - an inspiring day at Early Birds!

Dear Members, Guests and Friends,

We formally inducted TM Christine into our Club! Welcome again, Christine!

First timer Table Topics Master Jarrett (great job!) led us with Mother's Day-related  topics.  We were soon to discover that...

* DTM Mary Helen loooves having her sons cook her a scrumptious and made-with-love meal of their choice on Mother's Day and any other day, frankly.

* TM Gail's role model was her grandmother, who owned many acres of farmland and inspired her to be a hard worker in academia.

* TM Christine and her sister toiled hard to make a Mother's Day meal of runny grits and overdone eggs but at least they forgot to butter the toast.  Their mother appeared to be impressed!

* TM Aleta, one among 6 girls and a tomboy by nature learned how to be a lady from her mother - even when changing a dead battery on a lawn mower.  She Won Best Table Topics Award.

* TM Chris, her mother and grandmother were 3 peas in a pod who passed for triplets.  Her mother taught her how to live a good, fun life.  She revealed -even to her husband- that she can sew!  Oh oh... loose buttons, here they come!

Regarding the prepared speeches...

* I, Ana, spoke about becoming a Spanish seagull, "Juan Sebastian Gaviota" and flying over the VERY crowded beaches of Spain looking for lost flashy metal objects and gold jewelry.

* TM Randolph, self-proclaimed Protege of Many, Master of None, listed his many mentors - including two dear Aunties- who taught him to seek the truth, stand up for himself, love of family, live according to his beliefs and speak well of his wife...  He Won Best Speaker Award.

And then came evaluations...

* TM Tom praised me for not letting my notes hide me from the camera but he really wishes I could work on inserting MORE Spanish names into my speech, por el amor de Dios!

* TM Chris loved TM Randolph's heartfelt, inspiring speech, its creative title and asked him to continue to inspire us like he did today.  She Won Best Evaluator Award.

The Word of the Day was

EXASPERATED, adj.

Having or showing strong feelings of irritation

Example:  When life's script does not match my own - most of the time- I become exasperated!

EXASPERATE, verb

Irritates intentionally

Example:  Some people have a special skill to exasperate others.  Just look around and you'll find them!

Here's the link to the recording:

https://youtube.com/live/zUHpERnyVWg?feature=share

See you next week!

Ana I.

Recap Writer

National Days, But For A Twist of Fate, Conflict Resolution - a non-brusque day at Early Birds

Dear Members, Guests and Friends,

I, Ana, brought up Table Topics commemorated on April 18.  We soon learned that...

* TM Jim G. fondly reminisces about his magic clothes hamper which came to a brusque end when he moved to college and the hamper was magic no more...

* TM Gail is avidly planning her Jurassic Park party catered by Velociraptor Food - the entree will consist of dinosaur chicken nuggets. We are all invited!

* TM BeckyJo agrees that candy rules and is a non-sequitur, told us that she hits her neighbor's bullseye in the shooting range - stay away from her!

* DTM Jim D admires the power of the electric linemen and gave us a heartfelt rendition of Wichita Lineman by Glen Campbell, searching for overloads.

* TM Aleta looooves to high five everyone she crosses in her day-to-day chores - neighbors, friends, relatives, acquaintances, strangers.  Long live joviality!

* TM The Tom finds inexcusable to try to compare alphabet soup to the mighty classic animal crackers.  Heaven forbid!

* DTM Mary Helen has motherly conversations with a recalcitrant raccoon that has moved into her back yard and is making good progress in raccoonworld.  She Won Best Table Topics Award.

TM Terri ran a very smooth program as first-time Toastmaster of the Day.

As far as prepared speeches go...

* I, Ana, on the anniversary of the fated Bay of Pigs failed invasion of Cuba, recalled my harrowing childhood experience of missing by a small twist of fate - having to grow up in repression, terror and poverty.  Yikes!   I Won Best Speaker Award.

* TM Jose told us that conflict is inevitable but disagreements are a good way to escape insanity - doing the same thing over and over, expecting a different result - by doing something different: sticking to the subject and admitting to yourself, SILENTLY, that you are absolutely right!

As far as evlauations are concerned...

* TM Randolph thanked me, Ana, for the content of my speech because he has heard many ways of spelling Cuba but never as brusquely as I did today.  He's looking forward to more harsh interpretations of the same repression.

* TM Christine praised TM Jose for a well-organized speech and enjoyed the closeups of his very attractive face.  If he's available.... match.com is the word!  She Won Best Evaluator Award.

The Word of the Day was

BRUSQUE, adj.

Blunt in manner or speech to the point of ungracious harshness.

Example:  Is he/she being brusque or is it an inability to suffer fools?  That, my friends, is the harsh question....

Here's the link to the recording:

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

See you next week!

Brusquely and yet abruptly

Very seldom do I often repeat myself

Ana I.

Recap Writer

Prevaricators, Equivocators and Quibblers - nothing but embellished truths at EarlyBird Toastmasters

Dear Members, Guests and Friends,

We inducted our newest member, TM Gail.  Welcome aboard!  

Without wasting any time, we showed off our unequivocal truthtelling skills....

* TM Aleta's ex, ironically named "Spike" was a lineman for the county and built her a 3-story treehouse on a Pennsylvania Sequoia, where Aleta currently resides and breeds frequent flyer snakes.

* TM Chris panned for gold in the Yukon, befriended a pet porcupine and bonded with a Sasquatch Bigfoot Yeti with magical powers who returned her to her gold-digging parents.  She Won Best Tall Tales  Award.

* TM Tom owned a bar for immigrants called Ellis Island smack in downtown Casablanca and sold the movie rights to the producer of Grand Hotel.

* DTM Mary Helen is not sure which language she's learning but Babel Live has brought her BFF Ghanan poligamist Prince Money Moody Gumbo while DTM Jim ponders it all...

* DTM Jim D. is a self-proclaimed word -and scotch - massager who wants to fly again on Aeropol Pot #13 with VIP Xerob and Chairman SplashScotchIfThere'sNo Vodka.

* I, Ana, am volting for the Man From Paris, who is currently running for Woke Mayor of Miami Beach for the proliferation of black beans and platanitos.

*  TM Jose traveled to hallowed sites like Benghazi and Tripoli, Libya, where oil sprinklers abound and now that Gaddafi is RIP, are converted into Olive Oil for Caesar Salads.

Because the order .does not alter the product (or so said my Math teacher back in the day), we then had Table Tropics, led by TM Aleta.  We soon learned that....

* TM Pam is having margaritas and singing La Cucaracha in honor of Mexico's Patron Saint, San Patricio.  Viva Chimichanga!

* TM Marie will spend Easter being Holy and gobbling down the perfect marriage - chocolate bunny ears combined with peanut butter.  Or what's a heaven for???

* TM Randolph is spending Spring Break searching for food at a Broward Fairground just a block away from home with his foodie kids.  No Elbo Room for him, no sireeee!

* TM Ricardo is planning a Toastmasters 100-year celebration in a Pacific deserted island.  All we need is a grammarian and Ah Counter.

* TM Gail West is hiring a computer savage maid to do her spring cleaning while she luxuriously sits in a hotel balcony overlooking the ocean.  She Won Best Table Topics Award.

* TM BeckyJo mostly watches her garden keenly and intently and she looooves weeds, which provide food for bees and thus she supports the Nature Channel.

General Evaluator TM BeckyJo read Yoodlie (Artificial Intelligence, better than Natural Stupidity)'s Ah Counter report:  Everyone scored 25 Ahs or more, 35 Errrs or more and 40 You knows in the course of the meeting.  She marveled at our group's capacity to tell the truth, the complete truth and nothing but the truth - so don't help us God!

The Word of the Day was

PREVARICATOR, noun

A person who speaks falsely; a liar

A person who avoids precise truths, a quibbler, an equivocator.

Example:  TM Pam is in direct competition with her prevaricator Rain Bird sprinkler timer for internet stability.  Rain Bird prevails, most of the time.

Here's the link to the recording:

https://youtube.com/live/hXpv4ZHP_Yk

Equivocally submitted,

Ana I.

Recap Fibber

George's Birthday, Topic Tips and Tunnel Vision - a serendipitous morning at EarlyBirds

Dear Members, Guests and Friends,

After a beautiful sea glass invocation by DTM Jim D., and some eerily  familiar marriage jokes by TM Terri, we embarked on intriguing table topics by TM Pam revolving around the Father of our Country.

We soon discovered that...

* TM BeckyJo knew some myths about Washington but knew way more about Martha's housemaid who ran away to die a free woman in Massachussetts without wooden teeth.

* DTM Jim D.'s father was born on Washington's birthday, his mother on Columbus Day and he, Jim, was born on Ferris Bueller's Day Off.  So there.

* TM Jarrett spent last Monday hoping that they invent Banking holidays and include them in Corporate America's calendar, sheesh!

* TM Terri had a daydream of buying a GE or SubZero French double-door refrigerator with a silhouette reminiscent of George Washington's Mount Rushmore effigy.  

* TM Marie confessed that she's a wolverine who howls at the moon and has subsequently become a lunatic of the first caliber.  She Won Best Table Topics Award.  She also debunked the wooden teeth myth and stated George's dentures were made of ivory tusks.

* TM Chris started a club contest where members voted that she and TM Jim must open that dusty $50 bottle of wine regardless of the pesky scale.  A votre sante!

And then we had prepared speeches...

* TM Aleta gave us helpful tips to address dreaded topics with non-glare glasses and a hocus pocus where's my focus attitude.  She Won Best Speaker Award.

* I, Ana, first-time Zoom stander, told about Henry Kinney the visionary journalist who ended up being a tunnel.

As far as evaluations go....

* TM Jose praised TM Aleta for her vast capacity to rein the audience in, give us helpful hints to respond when we have no idea what we have been asked.  It's really an art!

* TM Marie asked me fervorously to find another Zoom location or get rid of my ceiling fan because the blades look like cranial propellers. She Won Best Evaluator Award.

The Word of the Day was

SERENDIPITY, noun

Good luck in making unexpected and fortunate discoveries.

Example:  Serendipitous geography joined some of us EarlyBirds together, converged us into a Denny's back room; and the pandemic joined us virtually from different hemispheres and latitudes.  Who would have thunk????

Here's the link to the recording:.

 

https://youtube.com/live/qVqf9q3C5tE

Best wishes to our representatives at the Contest this Saturday!

See you next week,

Ana I.

Recap Writer

Ethics, A Beautiful Smile and Resolutions - a vertiginous morning in EarlyBirds!

Dear Members, Guests and Friends,

TM Terri led us in a heartfelt, uplifting invocation.

TM Aleta had us wear our thinking caps  with thought-provoking topics on various aspects of ETHICS:

* While flying in a helicopter, DTM Jim D. realized that ethical behavior begins at the top, way above bank and tax fraud, amidst the pristine clouds.

* TM Terri refused to be part of a made-up, inflated teacher roster to fake teacher-student ratios in the public school system.

* TM The Tom was that rare specimen, an ethical lawyer, who taught his clients to explore the benefits/burdens of their choices.

* TM Paolo, speaking from his Italian Man Cave, has enough diversity and inclusion with his 6 children, as diverse as they come and insisting on being included!

* TM Ricardo stated that ethical technology is a tricky thing, due to so many unclear workarounds, as witnessed at his last consulting job.

* TM Jose pondered on the consumer changes our children will face in our vertiginous society in order to create nuclear fission with the approval of OPEC after taking a quantum leap.  He Won Best Table Topics Award.

Along came the prepared speeches...

* I, Ana, researched and expounded on the beautiful smiles of gringos, due to outstanding dentistry..  We have come a long way from the ivory and gold teeth of our first President George Washington!  Brush, slush, gargle, floss - to get rid of the moss.   I Won Best Speaker Award.

*, DTM Mary Helen reconfirmed the challenges of following New Year's Resolutions.  She has a list of 72 foods to avoid and I personally think if she alphabetizes her list, she'll be able to adhere to her resolutions.  Therein lies the solution.

As far as evaluations are concerned..

* DTM Jim enjoyed my speech but asked me, for the umpteenth time, to stop flailing my notes in front of the camera! I just don't listen.

* TM Paolo praised DTM Mary Helen for making an art of preparing for the unprepared and asked her to put more drama into the salutation.  He Won Best Evaluator Award..

The Word of the Day was

VERTIGINOUS, adjective

Causing vertigo, especially by being extremely high or stepp

Relating to or affected by vertigo

Rapid ascent or descent

Example:  As we age, life goes by at vertiginous speed.  Like the trite and vulgar saying goes, "like when you're reaching the end of a roll of toilet paper".

Here is the link to the recording:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ox7LS4_eMYU

See you next week!

Ana I.

Vertiginous Recap Writer

Would You Rather... Fort Liquordale and The Inner Cheerleader - a morning with rizz at EarlyBirds

Dear Members, Guests and Friends,

After an inspired Invocation by TM Terri M. and a hilarious un-Hallmark joke by TM Aleta, TM Jim G. launched us on a thought-provoking Would You Rather Train of Thought.  We discovered that...

* TM Marie would rather meet her Lithuanian great-grandparents than her future great-grandchildren as she would give them unsolicited advice and it would not go well.

* TM Emmanuel would rather have World Peace than End Hunger although sadly the UN, the WHO, Unicef and the rest of them have failed miserably at it.  He Won Best Table Topics Award.

* TM Pam would rather be stuck in a ski lift than in an elevator with some people deserving to receive the un-Hallmark cards.

* TM Tom would not like to either rewind life (and have to do it all over again) or pause life (and prolong it). It's definitely a no-win in his eyes!

* TM Terri would rather have a salad than soup because she's not a soup connoisseur and associates soup with the sniffles.  TM Terri had the spontaneous phrase of the day pre-meeting by asking "Where Have The Days Gone?"

We then got to prepared speech(es)...

*I, Ana, having lived in a cave for 41 years, just recently found out that the Fort Liquordale name originated during Prohibition, not during Spring Break.  Who knew?? I Won Best Speaker Award in a highly contested race.

* TM Jocelyn Tyson, 2023 TM World Champion, regaled us with her journey to a Triathalon, and asked us Would You Rather be a self-critic or a self-cheerleader?

As far as the evaluation goes...

* TM Chris learned the true origin of Fort Liquordale rumrunners and suggested I stand up to give speeches so I can get rid of my Mafia Files.

The Word of the Day was

RIZZ, noun

Generation Z slang that means style, charm or attractive to plain or romantic relationships.  Presumably derives from charisma, but in the world of Generation Z, or maybe Alpha, who knows.

Example:  Authenticity is the key to having rizz - and playful, flirty banter too!

Here's the link to the recording:

https://youtu.be/eKUaUIsOisA

See you next week!

Ana

Recap Writer with Rizz

Generators, Canal Cruises and Cliches - no siree, no inertia for EarlyBirds!

Dear Members, Guests and Friends,

TM Terri started us off with a beautiful Invocation in the Christian tradition.

TM Aleta juggled our morning inertia by starting us on loose but interwoven topics. We soon discovered that...

* TM Jose is still waiting for the governmental subsidy for solar batteries for power outages.  Keep those candles handy!

* I, Ana, saw my generator-acquisition husband transform from an idiot to a visionary in a matter of 24 hours before Wilma.

* TM Terri chickened out from getting a generator because many generator owners in South Florida end up six feet under from the emanations.

* TM Marie, essential employee, became even more essential during Wilma with the help of  handsome and essential military guys who gave her essential assistance.

* DTM Jim got a complete generator... right after Wilma.  That's why he's honing his timing skills in Toastmasters very often.

* TM Aleta has a generator in SW Pennsylvania but doesn't use it because she sleeps best in dark, quiet and secluded environments, while ignoring the falling 100-ft trees!

* TM Tom looks at the moon and the stars in awe and wonder while everyone frets during hurricanes.  He Won Best Table Topic Award.

Then we had 2 prepared speeches...

* TM Ricardo streamlined his Cruise de Midi speech, eliminated verbiage and added a map which helped us sail through 30 of the 64 locks in the canal.  Good job Ricardo!

* I, Ana, reviewed a few gazillion cliches and touched on some malaphors (wrong blend of cliches) - not to be confused with malapropism (wrong usage of a word or term).  Too many chefs in too many pies!  I Won Best Speaker Award.

As far as evaluations go....

* TM Paolo sailed the Midi Cruise himself "All Aboard"  "All Aboard" with Captain Ricardo.  Good inertia in motion!   He Won Best Evaluator Award.

* TM The Tom enjoyed my speech but suggested I use Spanish cliches next time so I can roll the rrrrrs as I pronounce them.  That's his favorite!

The Word of the Day was

INERTIA, noun

To do nothing or remain unchanged

Example:  I lean forward in the car by inertia when the brakes are applied suddenly.  

Here's the link to the recording:

https://youtu.be/VbxrnpMriyg

See you next week!

Ana I.

Recap Writer

Idioms, Constitutional Thriller and Fashionistas of the 60s - edgelording at EarlyBirds!

Dear Members, Guests and Friends,

TM Marie inspired us with an invocation about possibility.

TM Aleta led us in Idiomatic Table Topics.  We soon learned that...

* TM Jose uses "Pardon My French" when he curses in the US and "Pardon my English" when he cur ses in France.

* TM Emmanuel thinks "with flying colors" means booking flights with different airlines.

* DTM Mary Helen had a very erotic fantasy visualizing slathering butter and gobfuls of jam to edgelord her dietetic protocol.

* TM Randolph would rather abstain from "cutting the mustard" and cutting the cheese because inevitably he's left with cleaning up the dishes.

* TM Terri (welcome back!) pointed out the importance of wearing her heart on her sleeve, although the Miami summer heat keeps her sleeveless.

* Guest Nett falls  "head over heels" often in honor of her Southerness but mostly for her edgelord son.

* Guest Millie stated that her grandsons are "the apple of her eye" and they are of the Golden Fuji variety.

* DTM Jim D. says the best thing since sliced bread is... sliced bread with a slather of butter and gobfuls of jam. Get it???? He Won Best Table Topics Award.

Along came the prepared speeches...

* TM Tom kept us with baited breath by presenting us with a ctituional thriller, in which we did not know if the unkown person was caught in flagrante delicto (or infraganti with his married lover) and it turned out to be a 1700s incarnation of Jackson or Travolta.  Don't miss the next episode!

* I, Ana, revealed my condition of hyperthymesia which led me to get hired with go-go boots into a maritime non-prostituion ring which ended with mandatory 3-month summer vacations.  I Won Best Speaker Award.

And as far as evaluations...

* DTM Mary Helen attested that she has never heard a cliffhanger speech of the constitutional variety in all her years in Toastmasters.

* TM Marie is seriously considering wearing hot pants and going disco-dancing again real soon.  She Won Best Evaluator Award.

The Word of the Day was

EDGELORD, noun

a provocative person, especially online.  

Can be used as a verb, as in "I like edgelording others.  It beats plain old-fashioned confrontation.

Here's the link to the recording:

https://youtube.com/live/bL-62LjgxIE?feature=share

See you next week!

Ana I.

Recap Writer

https://youtube.com/live/bL-62LjgxIE?feature=share

Miscellaneous, Where's the Salsa and Have You Met My Family? A humorous morning at EarlyBirds

Dear Members, Guests and Friends,

DTM Jim D. started us off with a series of randomly selected topics.  Moreover, we found out that...

* TM Marie refers to online shopping as order, disorder and reorder.

* TM Chris pats her back and moreover, she becomes more tecchie every time she teaches someone how to turn off their phone alarms.

* TM Aleta has fully declared herself a perfectionist who likes objectivity versus subjectivity and moreover, she could not care less about doing the right thing, sorry.

* TM BeckyJo's podiatrist lies compulsively with a smile and her screams cleared the waiting room.  She Won Best Table Topics Award.

* TM Jim said technology makes him lose track of time and moreover, his favorite song is Cher's If I Could Turn Back Time.

* TM Randolph STILL  finds humor in his kids' little game of What Hurts Today So That I Don't Have to Go To School.  The key word is STILL....

 * I, Ana, find that it's best to give it up whenever I get one of my bright ideas that have left me with a bloody forehead in the past.

* DTM Jim D. has been a reactor, rather than an actor, for most of his life, amd moreover,  life has taken him wherever it has taken him.

Along came the prepared speeches...

* I, Ana talked about the culinary delights of growing up Spanglish and moreover, I survived its cardiovascular repercussions.  I Won Best Speaker Award.

* TM BeckyJo introduced us to her freckled Hawaiian family who scuba dived in the murky pond of a local Polinesian restaurant.  She Won Best Speaker Award.

Moreover, we had some great evaluations...

* TM Chris laughed heartily at my speech and moreover, she would have REALLY  enjoyed it if I had only shown my face above my notes.  She Won Best Evaluator Award.

* TM Aleta commended TM BeckyJo for her hand gestures (to be toned down to prevent Zoom crashes) and her vocal variety.  Moreover, she suggested a better camera angle that points above the speaker's neck.

The Word of the Day was

MOREOVER, adverb

(not to be confused with MOREEVER, or EVERMORE, as in "Lenore, evermore" of poetic fame)

As a further matter; besides

Example:  Glass is electrically insulating;  moreover, very seldom do I often hereinafter refer to the aforementioned;

The link to the recording:

https://youtu.be/4HYs6WIhAGc

See you next week!

Ana I.

Evermore Recap Writer