Your life as a product, Don't Fear Change, Birding - an intrepid morning at EarlyBirds

Dear Members, Guests and Friends,

TM Christina started us off with a lovely invocation reciting Both Sides Now by Joni Mitchell.

TM David introduced us to Table Topics based on his last speech, Life as a Product.  We found out that...

* TM Marie would be a version 7.9 flashlight and would shine her light in  the somewhat unlit areas of her life.

* TM Veronica wants to improve and upgrade all parts of her life, mostly her attitude and become more intrepid.

* I, Ana, am grateful for every day of my life and my present surroundings, and my 5-year-goal is staying alive.... I Won Best Table Topics Award.

* TM Aleta is getting rid of stuff and intentionally building patience and an intrepid attitude.

* TM BeckyJo wants to make space which makes room for God's Grace.

* TM Jorge wants to focus on communication, one step at a time.

* TM Christina has been well served in life by being a doer, inherited from her grandmother, a hard worker who lived to 104 years old.

* TM Randolph stated that his OCD habits have helped him to go the extra mile and wash and rewash dishes till they're squeaky clean.

We had (2) excellent prepared speeches...

* TM The Tom revealed that his latest move has involved procrastination, extrication and intrepidness, letting go of things and being grateful for the pain of change.  Stay positive!!  He Won Most Improved Speaker Award.

* TM Pam taught us how to become a Birder in all its choices - equipment, money, people - or not.  You can just look up in the sky and enjoy the birds.  

As far as evaluations go...

* TM Jorge praised TM The Tom for giving a Buddhist-style presentation as an impromptu talk around a campfire, S'mores and all.  

* TM Christina liked TM Pam's brief, concise slides and suggested in future she incorporate more bird slides for added emphasis.  She Won Best Evaluator Award.

The Word of the Day was

INTREPID, adj.

Fearless, adventurous, resolutely courageous

Example:  We at EarlyBirds have many intrepid members that take on daring adventures.

The link to the recording is

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T1vzeogLenY

See you next week!

Ana

Recap Writer

Choices, Life Statesperson and Fear Not - EarlyBirds extricates itself

Dear Members, Guests and Friends,

In what became known as Technology Thursday, TM Marie saved the day by figuring out the intricacies of logging in.  Thank you, TM Marie!

TM Randolph launched us like Artemis II with an inspiring invocation.

TM Jose responded 'on his feet and good to go' to the role of Table Topics.

We discovered that...

*I, Ana, would like to be both funny and smart but not the funniest or smarties in the room, all in moderation!

* TM Marie likes to count everything - welcome to the world of Obsessive-Compulsive-Order and her favorite character is Sesame Street's The Count.

* TM Becky imagined her Death Row Last Meal - a copious breakfast without sausage patties as she is watchful of her cholesterol....

* TM Randolph would like to have dinner with Oprah due to her wise remarks and with Barack Obama, due to his simplicity of  explaining his worldview.  He Won Best Table Topics Award.

* TM Jorge prefers mountains to oceans due to their wider variety in color, smells and the majestic wildlife of great preponderance.

We had 2 motivational speeches today...

* TM David advised us to become the statespersons of our lives, to redefine success and to challenge ourselves to 1 hour this week without external stimuli and watch what happens.  He Won Most Improved Speaker Award.

* TM The Tom inspired us with a heartfelt, spiritual speech about spirituality, which touched the heartstrings of many of us.

As far as evaluations go...

* TM Randolph exalted TM David for his masterful delivery, good pauses and encouraged him to change the slide color and use more vocal variety.

* TM Jose enjoyed TM The Tom's speech greatly and suggested Tom define spirituality more clearly and incorporate the fear part more into his speech.  He Won Best Evaluator Award.

The Word of the Day was

EXTRICATE, verb

To free or remove a person or oneself from a trap or a difficult situation.

Example:  Due to sheer incompetence, I had no other recourse but to extricate myself from the role of Tech Host/SAA at today's meeting.

Here's the link to the recording:

https://www.youtube.com/

See you next week!

Ana

Recap Writer

On this day..., Face the Fear and Bloom Where You're Planted.. no procrastination permitted at EarlyBirds!

Dear Members, Guests and Friends,

TM Pam led us with a New Year inspirational invocation.

I, Ana, introduced some date-specific Table Topics.  We found out that...

* TM Christina knows vaguely about Pete Repeat Galileo Galilei and loves to watch the stars at night much like he did.

* TM Jose reminisced about the Who's deaf guitarist who wildly swung his arm to the tune of My Generation.

* TM Aleta honors National Blood Donor Month by eating all the rare steaks she can get her canines on.  High cholesterol? Who cares... she's now complying with the new food pyramid!

* TM Veronica went scuba diving with a deaf and blind group who used Braille and sign language under the ocean blue.

* TM BeckyJo practiced the art of the pivot by telling us about her blind friend who had a large-Braille Bible.  She Won Best Table Topics Award.

* TM Jorge used to love country, rock, heavy rock, R&B music but now cherishes silence in the car.

Along came the prepared speeches...

* TM The Tom inspired us to stop procrastinating, step out of the cocoon of safety, get unstuck from sameness, face the fear and transform ourselves by acting 'as if'.  He Won Best Speaker Award.

* TM Pam enrolled a few EarlyBirds to join her central Florida Bloom and Grow Garden Society - it sounds like great fun!!

Regarding Evaluations...

* TM David praised The Tom's great shirt and great background and suggested more pauses and more hand gestures - but keep asking questions of the audience for total engagement.  

* TM Christina marveled at how TM Pam handled technical glitches, with equanimity, professionalism and blooming where she was planted. She Won Best Evaluator Award.

The Word of the Day was

PROCRASTINATE, verb

To delay or postpone doing something.

Example:  "Taylor Swifties are those who do not procrastinate."

Here's the link to the recording...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XFqSvmsRqx0

See you next week!

Ana I.

Recap Writer

Prevarication, lies and untruths - a morning of embellishment at EarlyBirds

Dear Members, Guests and Friends,

TM Pam inspired us with an embellished invocation.

We then proceeded to hear Tall Tales, Untruths and Other Prevarications from our group.

* TM Aleta finds old coins, arrowheads and other antique relics when excavating her back yard and told the tale of Sugarfoot, who was murdered by Tom Quinn, who buried the money and never found the money because TM Aleta has it.

* TM BeckyJo, aka Queen Marley, is a redheaded Royal Hawaiian, a descendant of the Goddess Pele of the Volcano who has flashes of temper from time to time, just like she does....

* TM Christina saved Space Camp Canada when the simulator crashed and they lost power to Quebec - she won the ribbon for such accomplishments.

* TM Pam kayaked with her pet alligator, Eleanor, and eventually got rid of the pet and invented standing paddle board on a gator.  She Won Best Tall Tales Speaker Award.

* I, Ana, resorted to a psychic in Madrid who transformed my ex into a pigeon which flew back to Bolivia in the wings of a 747 with a pigeonesque logo tatooed on his forehead.

* TM Randolph, radiotransmitting today from Australia, had no car and no job on his first date and a mother who won the Lotto.  He had to buy his date a new car after drowning her car in Slushies.  And only then she agreed to marry him...

* TM Veronica lived a gothic soap opera in a French Chateau surrounded by bats, liver pate and duck during  a hideously dehydrating weekend.  No fromage in sight....

* TM The Tom had his first legal case in Homestead (aka Dysfunction Junction) in the 60s where the charges were dismissed due to the Judge's hilarity attack.

* TM Jose drove his Harley up a mountain, met up with Pedro, the insomniac chef of a 2-star Michelin restaurant who donated Bon Am to Jose, who has now enlisted all of EarlyBirds to fly his private jet and go run the restaurant with him.  We're all headed to Fort Lauderdale airport as we speak!

The Word of the Day was

EMBELLISHMENT, noun

A detail, especially one that is not true, added to a statement or story to make it more interesting or entertaining.

Example:  At EarlyBirds today, we did not let pesky facts get in the way of our embellishments.

Here's the link to our recording:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pZ8CODQHK8c

See you next week!

Ana I.

Recap Writer

Fairy Tales, Life Lessons and Fountain Pens - a delicious morning at EarlyBirds

Dear Members, Guests and Friends,

TM Aleta inspired us to sing whenever there's a song with a "Just Do It" invocation.

TM Christina brought back childhood memories of fairy tales of yore....

* TM Veronica took the example from The Lion King - has no worries as everything she needs is within her.

* TM The Tom rubbed Aladin's lamp and got his wish that we would all help each other because we learn from challenges. 

* TM Gail is looking forward to exploring Japan for the kindness of their people - and she will do it as a brand new Gail!!

* TM David does not emulate Cinderella and all he wants to do is be PRESENT at the stroke of midnight.  He Won Best Table Topics Award.

* TM Pam is not a friend of the Evil Disney Rat but she does consult her own conscience, Jiminy Cricket, once in a while.

* TM Aleta loves Belle of Beauty and the Beast fame  and recapped all prior Disney tales with astonishing precision.

* TM BeckyJo's favorite Disney job was checking for unwelcome overnighters at Pleasure Island while watching the sunset surrounded by peacocks.

Along came prepared speeches...

* TM Marie shared her memories of Mimi, her maternal grandma, who worked in a factory as a child in Europe and taught Marie to get up and get going for the day.  She Won Best Speaker Award.

* TM The Tom described the amazing technology of fountain pens from the Waterman Ink Co. in NY which is today located in France.  He's a fan of handwritten fountain pen notes and many deeply appreciate it!

As far as evaluations are concerned...

* TM Pam praised TM Marie's recollections of "Foundations at Five" and encouraged her to reposition her camera to eliminate the distracting vertical line in the background.

* TM Aleta enjoyed TM The Tom's speech about the olden days of fountain pens and also advised him to reposition his camera to facilitate viewing his product exhibits.  She Won Best Evaluator Award.

The Word of the Day was

DELICIOUS, adj.

Highly pleasant to the taste; delightful

Example:  Life sometimes offers delicious ironies for us to ponder.

The link to the recording is

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6fuxW24IB2U

See you next week!

Ana

Delicious Recaps Inc.

Idioms, Idioms and Face the Devil - a salient morning at EarlyBirds!

Dear Members, Guests and Friends,

I started us off with idioms....  We discovered that...

* TM Randolph tells his kids to "Boom, run" which is the salient equivalent of making a beeline.

* TM Cory, MBA, recently celebrated in Mexico City and loved it all except he had to chew fat when he ordered a steak.  Heimlich Maneuver, here it comes!

* TM Gail made an approximation of Bill's Your Uncle to Bob's Your Uncle.  There you are...  She Won Best Table Topics Award.

* TM Veronica stays cool as a cucumber and prevents eye inflammation with cucumber beauty masks.

* TM BeckyJo likes all different kettles of fish except Tilapia and in her wild college days used to drink champagne and molusks.

* TM David reasoned that when pigs fly means that something is not bound to happen; however, he enjoys eating pork like his mother used to prepare.

We heard (1) humorous prepared speech and (1) motivational speech:

* TM Christine incited audience participation while introducing popular Americanisms that foreigners do not understand, ie highway robbery becomes daylight robbery in the U.K.

* TM The Tom reminisced about his futile attempt to condense the SS Costa Concordia vessel into 7 minutes and recommended that speakers keep it simple and mentor others who are fishing for minnows.  He Won Best Speaker Award.

As far as evaluations go...

* TM David praised TM Christine for her Americanisms and suggested she speak slower so even Americans can understand her American-ness.  LOL!! He Won Best Evaluator Award.

* TM BeckyJo acknowledged TM The Tom's goal to encourage newer Toastmasters and suggested he condense and reiterate the beginning of his condensation.

The Word of the Day was

SALIENT, adj

Very important or noticeable

Example:  The salient truth is that Americanisms are twelve of one, half a dozen of another.

Here's the link to the recording:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UblKKKMJh9U

Next week is our Evaluations Contest!!

See you then!

Ana I.

Recap Writer

Idioms, Interdependence and Independence - a liminal day at EarlyBirds

Dear Members, Guests and Friends,

Today was a liminal day at EarlyBirds:  We thanked our Immediate Past President and former Officers for their work; we installed our new Officers in their new roles and we inducted our newest member, TM Christina.  Welcome to EarlyBirds, everyone!

TM Veronica did a superb job as first-time Sargeant-at-Arms.  TM BeckyJo took the baton from our Immediate Past President, and was particularly helpful in informing and welcoming our newest member and our guest, Kristian, and reporting to all of us the good news about TM Aleta who is thankfully overcoming a natural disaster suffered by her home.  We missed you TM Aleta, and hope you return soon....

DTM Mary Helen led us with very thought-provoking idioms.  We found out that...

* TM Gail is counting her chickens before they're hatched but hopefully this 3rd time is a charm and she will be boarding her cruise in Roma, Citta Eterna (per parlare della sua natura infinita).

* Returning TM Jarrett gave his wife a surprise  anniversary trip to the Keys including a loggerhead turtle and a Goliath grouper in their scubadiving.  Actions speak louder than words!  He Won Best Table Topics Award.

* TM Jorge is happy he joined EarlyBirds when he did because it's definitely better late than never!

* TM Jose always chased the grass that was greener on the other side of the fence and found out that it was on the other side of the Atlantic Ocean!

* TM Veronica likes to look before she leaps but sometimes looking turns into staring and she wants to learn to shorten the observation stage.

* TM Christina believes that honesty is the best policy because frankly, she's a bad liar and she always gets caught...

* TM Cory is risk-averse and prefers a bird in hand than two in the bush.

* TM BeckyJo knows the early bird catches the worm because worms are out early morning before it gets too hot and besides, her neighbor's grass IS always greener than hers - or most of the year anyway.

* TM David knows that when in Rome you must do as the Romans do, or as our guest Kristian would say "when in Milan, have a veal milanese."

We had two fabulous speeches today...

* TM Pam related the history of EarlyBirds and how our interdependence has gotten us through liminal moments to how we are thriving today.  She Won Best Speaker Award.

* TM The Tom gave a suspenseful speech about Gouverneur Morris, who hand-wrote The Preamble and the Constitution, created the street grid of Lower Manhattan and was homesteaded in a certain Gettysburg Address.

And then came the evaluations..

* TM David complimented TM Pam for her well-presented history of EarlyBirds and finding out about the Creator of the Peak of the Week.  

* TM Christine praised TM The Tom for keeping the main character of his speech as a Mystery Man with an unusual French name and, as Tom predicted, nobody had heard of him before.  She Won Best Evaluator Award.

The Word of the Day was

LIMINAL, adj.

Occupying a position at, or on both sides of, a boundary or threshold.

Relating to a transitional or initial stage of a process.

Example:  TM Jorge hit the bullseye choosing this Word of the Day as our EarlyBirds Club is in a liminal stage.  Good job, Jorge!

Here is the link to the recording....

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AUhsR-R2wNA

See you next week!

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

Visuals, Soar Like An Eagle, The Rest of the Story - raconteurs at EarlyBirds

Dear Members, Guests and Friends,

TM Chris led us in a Daoist inspiring Invocation about Letting Go.

*TM Paolo incited us to stop acting like chickens and join the Mile-High Club.  He Won Best Speaker Award.

*TM The Tom told us the rest of the story about the Airport Advisory Board bully who became the Hospital Noise Abatement Challenger.   He Won Best Speaker Award.

* TM BeckyJo led us in Round Robin evaluations...

* TM Gail thought both speakers were the ultimate raconteurs.

* TM Marie praised TM Paolo for his passion and TM The Tom for his eloquence.   She Won Best Round /Robin Evaluator Award.

* TM Aleta soars like eagles and faces up to bullies.

* TM Terri liked TM Paolo's energy and TM The Tom's emphasis.

* DTM Mary Helen is going to read the referenced Awareness book again.

* TM Ana discovered she is hard of hearing...

* TM BeckyJo praised TM Paolo for reinventing himself and TM The Tom for reinventing the bully.

TM Terri led us in miscellaneous slides of Table Topics....

* TM Marie indicated that she wears her heart on her sleeve, not in her hand. It's all a matter of perception!

* DTM Mary Helen said glittering city lights remind her of telenovelas where the maid always elopes with the owner's son and lives unahappily ever after...

* TM Aleta told us through chattering teeth about the heavily weighted snowy branches in her icy driveway where the pizza delivery guy skidded his way to the door.

* I, Ana, reminisced about Lake Titicaca in the Bolivian Andes and Lake Michigan, in the icy shores of Chicagoland.  I Won Best Table Topics Award.

* TM Gail has taken many pictures of lighthouses while growing up by the sea, cherished memories of Jonathan Livingston Seagull.

* TM Pam is an easily diverted time waster who currently spends her precious time contemplating kitten watercolor painting techniques.  She promises to stop.

* TM BeckyJo used to play 'red light, green light' with Sunday school children and concluded that boys are wiggly and girls are staid until they discover boys and become wigglers too.

The Word of the Day was

RACONTEUR, noun

A person who tells anecdotes in a skillful and amusing way.

Example:  In Toastmasters we become witty raconteurs and effective public speakers.  Yes, sireeee!

The link to the recording is

recording,https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Yxk6pM6uL-k

See you next week!

Ana 

Recap Raconteur

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

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

Olympics, Accidental Singer and Pogue Mahone - meritocracy rules at Early Birds!

Dear <e,bers. Guests and Friends,

TM BeckyJo led us in well-documented topics.  We discovered that...

* TM Jose displayed great courage in moving to the US from Spain and 25 years later moving from the US to Spain, break dancing across the pond and eating lots of Tiramisu.

* TM Marie would add a sport for courage to the Olympic refugee team who have no homes to return to.  

* TM Marc was confronted about the Brazilian torpedo who swims without arms by revealing that he was a snake handler and contrary to popular belief, snakes are not slippery unless wet.

* TM Paolo said "Porca miseria!" "Im incredible" when he gave his speech at a District Toastmaster Contest and placed third.  He's seeking that adrenalin rush again and will repeat the speech.  Grazie mille!

* DTM Mary Helen declared that Al-Anon and astrology have helped her realize that she was blind but now can see.  Like the Olympic break dancer, she focuses on joy.  She Won Best Table Topics Award.

^ TN Terri focuses on spirituality and also in Al-Anon learned she is powerless over people, places and things, but there's been joy even in the hardships.

We moved on to prepared speeches...

* TM Roslyn gave an amazing icebreaker where she revealed she was an accidental singer who is now a conduit for healing and whose voice is her superpower.  She Won Best Speaker Award.

* TM The Tom talked about his family of origin who said the quintessential Irish expression Pogue Mahone - not apt for children - but sadly was a world apart from 40% of today's families.

As far as evaluations go...

* TM Marc praised TM Roslyn for her well-organized icebreaker and is a fellow fan of Ella Fitzgerald, Lady of Scat,

* TM Marie enjoyed the tale of TM The Tom's unpredictable family of origin, which includes cowboys, shooters, Irish blessings and suggested a softer way to connect it to today's topsy-turvy world.  She Won Best Evaluator Award.

The Word of the Day was

MERITOCRACY, noun

A social system, society or organization where people are successful or have power because of their abilities, not their money or social position.

Example:  Toastmasters is truly a meritocracy.  Its synonym is Pathways....

Here's the link to the recording...

https://youtube.com/live/-QlokiS905c

See you next week!

Ana I.

Recap Writer 

True Grit, Board Bullies and Travelogs - an endearing morning at EarlyBirds!

Dear Members, Guests and Friends,

TM Aleta led us with True Grit in Table Topics.  We found out that...

* TM Gail got rewarded for her efforts to not let  life interfere with her goal to acquire super duper higher education.

* TM Marie has a cowboy husband and all she wants is to declutter the closet from cowboy accoutrements.  Sheesh....

* TM Jarrett steps forward first in order to back up properly, and mostly thanks the inventor of backup cameras in cars.  He Won Best Table Topics Award.

* TM BeckyJo heard the best fairy tale for adults from a storyteller who only used a bandana as a prop.  Goes to show that less is more....

* I, Ana, shun activities that are injuries waiting to happen and focus on being content with my mostly sedentary daily life.

* TM Paolo looks back, depending on what he's looking at - the past is gone and done, the future is not here yet.  Welcome back, TM Paolo!

* TM Randolph doesn't keep a specific tool handy but is respectful of people's time and thus just keeps his entire toolbox handy at all times, as a precaution.

Along came the prepared speeches...

* TM The Tom made TM skills real by telling us how he spoke publicly in a cogent, cohesive, coherent way (where are you , TM Carmine, when your favorite alliterations are used?).  He Won Best Speaker Award.

* DTM Jim D. took us to Berlin, Cologne, Hamburg, Dusseldorf, Latvia, Lithuania, Estonia, Poland, back to Bonn and ending up eating Black Forest Cake in the Black Forest.  All because of a single solitary travel brochure!

As far as evaluations go....

* TM Randolph honed in on the brief tidbits of TM The Tom's life.  He highly encourages TM Tom to sing us the song "In The Navy" by the Village People.  He Won Best Evaluator Award.

* TM Paolo praised DTM Jim D. for his pace, pitch, projection (again, TM Carmine?) and asked him to please look at the camera instead of at the next travel brochure.

The Word of the Day was

ENDEARING, adjective

Arousing feelings of affection or admiration

Displaying a charming attitude.

Example:  Our camaraderie at EarlyBirds is highly endearing

Here's the link to the recording

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qxVIZnzg62s

See you next week!

Ana I.

Endearing Recap Writer (methinks)

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

Weather music, Sparkles, Righting Writing and Yuletide Hero - a sanguine morning at EarlyBirds!

Dear Members, Guests and Friends,

TM Marie did a thoughtful invocation based on yogi tea bags. 

DTM Mary Helen - before ziplining across the Honduran Mexican border-  led us in weather-related musical topics.  We soon discovered that...

* TM Marie can no longer howl at the full moon from her back yard because it's blocked by all the newly-erected tall buildings.  She now howls from her front sidewalk.

* TM Pam's back yard is suffering from a sprinkler crisis, hoses, tubes and craziness - and it's being paved with $5 bills.

* Guest Barry avoids the perfect storm by staying in the sun which puts a smile on his face while he oversees 15 miles of Prague from his very own balcony.  He Won Best Table Topics Award.

* TM Chris has seen fire and has seen rain, and the sunny days that she though would never end, and she firmly believes that rain is the stuff of life.

* TM Jose lives in Javea, Spain - aka Drought City - and prays nightly for rainfall between 11 pm and 6 am so he can go boating with straight sunshine from 11 am to 5 pm every day.  Listen up, God of Rain!

Along came three prepared speeches...

* TM Terri took us on an enchanted outing in the Enchanted Island where she became a bioluminescent fairy who struggled to get back on the kayak - all in the name of son-bonding.

* TM Tom shared that he transfers his myopic mind's sorrows onto a piece of paper with Palmer-style cursive.  He Won Best Speaker Award.

* Guest Speaker TM Dana taught us how to diffuse a Yuletide Family Feud by becoming a Yuletide Superhero, while competing with National Lampoon's Christmas decorations.

As far as evaluations....

* TM Pam asked TM Terri to consider dumping the powerpoint and concentrating on avoiding aquatic creatures in dark waters, no matter how much they sparkle.

* TM Chris applauded TM Tom for being proof positive that cursive handwriting once existed and oxblood red ink is cathartic to get rid of emotional baggage.

* TM BeckyJo praised TM Dana's capacity to navigate that most difficult family conflict which centers around creating a Winter Wonderland in the middle of the Oklahoma desert.  She Won Best Evaluator Award.

The Word of the Day was

SANGUINE, adj.

Optimistic or positive in an apparently bad situation.

Example:

True Confessions:  TM BeckyJo did declare that she is sanguine AND choleric, meaning she doesn't know where she's going but she's definitely inflexible about it.

Here's the link to the recording:

Link to the recording https://youtube.com/live/z9opXzU06ng

See you next week!

Sanguinely submitted,

Ana I.

Recap Writer. .

New Year, Breakfast of Kings, Boxing and Betrayal for bumfuzzled EarlyBirds!

Dear Members, Friends and Guests,

TM Marie inspired us to be a blessing to others in 2024.

TM Chris got us thinking about New Year's Eve-related topics, and we soon realized that...

* TM Terri's marriage began -like many of ours-  one enchanted evening with champagne and strawberries... and ended with "See you in court!"

* I, Ana, have been blessed with a challenging and rewarding 2023 during which life has been fully in session.

* TM Pam concludes that life goes faster and faster, so 2024 is bound to pass with breaknecking speed as she unclutters.   She Won Best Table Topics Award.

* TM Ricardo will spend New Year's Eve in Villa Paramacito, where there's nothing to do except maybe jump in the river.  His sisters and he will surely take the town by storm!

* TM Jim G. avoids New Year resolutions because they have never, ever, ever, even once, come to fruition.  He's planning to celebrate a 2-month wet birthday in January and February!

* TM BeckyJo is a fiery person who grew up in Canada thinking the fireworks on July 1st were specifically dedicated to her birthday.  Ah... sweet bird of innocence...

* TM Marie reminisced about Guy Lombardo's rendition of Auld Lang Syne which, to her, means let bygones be bygones and move on, people!

Along came prepared speeches...

* TM Aleta likened Toastmasters with a healthy nutrition plan: breakfast of kings, lunch of princes, dinner of paupers.  It helps us navigate the complexities of bumfuzzled simplicity  and marks a beginning where there's an end.  She Won Best Speaker Award.

* TM Tom brought us into the world of boxing, where scarface Teddy Atlas was betrayed by Mike Tyson and fired by Cus D'Amato  in the Catskills of NY where Dirty Dancing proved that without fear we can't be brave.

As far as evaluations are concerned...

* TM Marie was awed by TM Aleta's remarkable capacity to make a teambuilding speech entertaining and... teambuilding!

* TM Jim G. marveled at the fact that TM Tom explained clearly -and facing the camera-  how Teddy Atlas's throat scar is a symbol of a bumfuzzled childhood but Teddy was clearheaded when it came to 15-year-old Tyson's sexual advances to Teddy's 11-year-old niece.  Jim won Best Evaluator Award.

The Word of the Day was

BUMFUZZLE, verb

Confuse, perplex, fluster

Example:  Teddy Atlas was not bumfuzzled when it came to 15-year-old Tyson's sexual advances to Teddy's 11-year-old niece and put a gun to his temple, pure and simple.  

Here's a link to the recording:

Link:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u8Tp6xcoqkE

See you next week!

Ana I.

Bumfuzzled 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

Memorable June Days, the Irish in America and Flag Day - a pliant morning at EarlyBirds!

 

Dear Members, Guests and Friends,

TM Aleta had us wondering about special June days.  We discovered that...

* DTM Jim D. favors banana splits with bacon so that he covers all the food groups in one fell swoop.  He Won Best Table Topics Award.

* TM Jim G.'s aunt was a certain Norma Jean of world notoriety who drew Jim to her bosom and he certainly liked it hot!

* TM BeckyJo played tennis in Stanley Park, Vancouver, with a cuuuuute instructor who almost created a pickle between her parents and that's how pickle ball was born.

* TM Tom wants flags to be disposed of with respect but meanwhile can't get TM Jim G.'s aunt out of his mind.

* TM Marie has filed a petition in Court to have owners of tattered flags be fined and possibly thrown in prison and taught how to preserve flags in good condition.

* DTM Mary Helen is fascinated to this day by the movie career of TM Jim G's aunt, eospecially after her movies were adapted for the small screen.

* TM Randolph thinks there's a lot in a name and all his children have been conscienciously named because names are not to be taken lightly, in case you run into trademark/copyright issues and have to become "the person formerly known as xxx"

In the prepared speeches...

* TM Tom educated us about the daring and brave Irish, Germans, Italians who built the bridges in New York and dug the Erie Canal.  We eat fruit from a tree we did not plant, for sure!  

* TM Jim G. displayed the US's manifest destiny from sea to shining sea in the progression of our flag, especially influenced by the pliancy of a certain mustached Tafty Taft.   He Won Best Speaker Award.

And then came the evaluations...

* TM BeckyJo loved TM Tom's speech and asked him to contextualize it to an often geographically-clueless audience, and to bring sensory images to word pictures, such as the waves crashing against the pilons of the Erie Canal.  She Won Best Evaluator Award.

* DTM Mary Helen praised TM Jim G. for his expert display of visual aids on the flag at a time of year when we feel patriotic and for transmitting his warmth to the audience so flawlessly.

The Word of the DAy was

PLIANT, adj.

Able to bend without breaking; flexible

Too easily influenced or controlled by other people

Example: Palm trees are famous for being pliant to hurricane strength winds - except when they land on top of the house roof!

Here's the link to the recording:

https://youtu.be/jqBWZ02zP8c

See you next week!

Ana I.

Temporarily voiceless Recap Writer

--

Humorous quotes, How Can I Say This and More than Words - a veridical morning at EarlyBirds

Dear Members, Guests and Friends,

TM Aleta inspired us with a timely invocation titled "Time Goes" and TM Chris explained the format of the meeting while soundly asleep.  It's veridical!

I, Ana, introduced some extemporaneous quotes for extemporaneous speaking.  We surprisingly learned these veridical facts:

* TM Aleta's funny bone is tickled by the turkey bones she wishes upon while strengthening her backbone with a rigorous exercise routine.

* TM Pam has mastered a nap technique which wins her the accolades of her husband and extended family.

* TM Jose achieves his desired goal of balance by eating pizza and cupcakes while taking a nap at the wheel of his 18-foot vessel.

* TM BeckyJo loooved the term "Plot Twist" and she will apply it all those times during the day when she needs to take a You-Turn.

* TM Randolph stated that he needs to make the best out of adult summer camp by actually going there instead of just thinking about it.

* DTM Mary Helen feels so age-invisible that she's seriously considering riding the Tri-Rail topless.  That makes her happy.

* TM Chris was astonished to learn from her wise late mother that there is actually a destination called Club Med. That made Chris's life worth living. She Won Best Table Topics Award.

* DTM Jim D. had a daredevil roller coaster rider grandmother who forced him to ride one and he's been in therapy ever since.

Regarding prepared speeches....

* TM Tom alerted us to the stark fact that we, Early Bird Toastmasters, do not exist legally or veridically, according to SunBliss and Altruist.  He invited some veridical opinions from the unsuspecting crowd.

* TM Marie unequivocally stated that we are not separate from God and we need to collectively engage in intimate prayer to uncover our veridical status at the bank. More will be revealed in her next speech.   She Won Best Speaker Award.

As far as evaluations go...

* TM Pam refuted the veridicality of TM Tom's inquest.  She pulled rank from her days as President of our Club, dba Not Your EarlyBird Toastmasters' Anymore.

* DTM Mary Helen praised TM Marie for touching the audience with the spark of an angel with eloquence, confidence and no stridence.  She Won Best Evaluator Award.

Addendum:

* The National Anthem was a welcome addition and veridical enhancement to our patriotic experience during the Pledge.  Thank you Jim!

* The entire Club has signed up for TM Pam's lessons on Napping Tips and Techniques for the Nap-Resistant and Sleepy.

* Ozzie, the Altruist Bank Clerk, has relocated to the Butte, Montana Altruist branch and will not release his extension number to the public.

The Word of the Day was 

VERIDICAL, adj.

Truthful, coinciding with reality 

Example:  The word VERIDICAL has been veridically overused in this recap.  

Here's the link of the recording:

https://youtu.be/7Y1eX7EClKg

See you next week!~

Veridically submitted,

Ana I.

Recap Writer

Prominent Women Quotes, Water and More Water - a fluid morning at EarlyBirds!

Dear Members, Guests and Friends,

TM Marie inspired us with famous quotes by notable women.  We quickly found out that...

* TM BeckyJo is afraid of us, the rowdy, unpredictable, wild, ubiquitous EarlyBirds.  She'd much rather be burnt alive like Joan of Arc - ok, not quite.

* DTM Jim D. had a schoolteacher who was ubiquitous - both a blessing and a lesson all rolled up into one!  She trained him to, later in life, be able to serve 500 pancakes in a recordbreaking 6.5 minutes...

* TM Aleta lives her own life with great love - no small deed, indeed!

* TM Chris regrets not having found out more about her Mother's life and particularly about her Mother's jewelry.   She Won Best Table Topics Award.

* DTM Mary Helen realizes that hindsight is intelligent and still has lots of things to understand and not fear....  Hey, it is what it is....

* TM Pam loves her family very deeply and would just like to have a quick meal with Helen Keller to borrow some child rearing techniques.

* TM Paolo understands that victory is waking up, walking outside and enjoying life itself.  Things don't happen to you - they happen for you!

* I, Ana, try to display generosity toward others starting at home, although I don't always succeed.  Did Amelia Erhart wear Depends on her solo flights?  That is the real question.

* TM Randolph removed his Dad coat and became a kid while on a wild ride in Thrill Park, Orlandoland.

Regarding our prepared speeches...

* TM Tom startled us with the statistic that we humans are 60% water and soon we will be drinking canceriferous water taken right out of the underground aquifer.  Insider tip:  Buy shares of Evian... straight from the canceriferous Alps!!  He Won Best Speaker Award.

* TM Jim G. introduced us to Muck Diving, aka Goo/Sediment dead coral remnants where hairy frog fish, flamboyant cuttle fish, blue ring octopus, decorator crabs and other exotic millimetric critters abound.  Insider tip: buy shares in Nauticam Underwater camera company. 

As far as evaluations go...

* TM Paolo suggested that TM Tom center the camera angle and avoid the confusing winding road of Pathways although it was all said with great vocal variety.  He Won Best Evaluator Award. 

* DTM Mary Helen praised TM Jim G. for his astuteness in telling us that the popular Muck Diving is available in Riviera Beach, Florida, which will save all of us thousands of dollars flying the unfriendly skies. .  Insider tip:  Buy shares in magnifying lens companies.

The Word of the Day was

UBIQUITOUS, adj.

Yoo-Bik-Wi-Tuhs

Existing or being everywhere, especially at the same time.  Omnipresent.

Example:  Humor is ubiquitous at EarlyBird meetings.

Here is the link to the recording:  

https://youtu.be/jR0AuBVwWq8

See you next week!

Ana

Ubiquitous Recap Writer