I Love To Tap Dance!

With the magic of Facebook, I just re-connected with my childhood dance teacher. She invited me to attend the 50th year celebration of her dance studio. Yikes! And Double Yikes! since I was one of her first students! I've been dancing, on and off, for...that long.

I was a serious dance student through my thirties. I loved to take class and perform occasionally. I stayed in excellent shape and danced right up to the times I gave birth to my children. It was always pretty easy to get back into shape if I slipped a little. Until the day I got...older. I was so out of shape and didn't have the drive to overcome it. I couldn't stop dancing, so I decided to stick to tap dancing. Rarely does a tap routine require high kicks and splits. And besides, I love to tap dance.

I recently decided to teach an adult tap class. Rembering the lack of commitment adults generally display for whatever reason, I entered into the once a week commitment a little reluctantly. When I taught kids, their parents made sure they attended class. Well, unless they had a fever or a big test the next day. Adults? Well, they have a million more reasons why they have to miss. I decided to give it a try anyway.

My first class was last Wednesday. I had 6 students. Four more will be there next week (already missed the first class--"out of town," "play rehearsal," "late night at work." ). Perfect class size, since it will probably be rare for all 10 to be there at the same time. Anyway, it was a great group and what really amazed me was, unlike the teens, no one left the class to go to the bathroom, and no one paused for a drink of water. Come on. It's only an hour. It felt just like the good old days when no one would ever divert their attention away from the teacher. I hope I didn't say anything to scare them.

I can't wait for next week's class! I know most will show. They paid in advance! And did I mention that everyone is over 50, or darn close to it. I just love this class.

More people over 50 dancing http://www.movefreedancers.com/

and

http://www.legacytap.com/ is a group of tappers I meet with once a week for tap, talk and lunch. How much fun is that! And did I mention...I LOVE TO TAP DANCE!

Photo: Legacy Tap Project -- National Tap Dance Day 2009, Arts On Fifth, Fort Worth, Texas

If You Want to Be Happy For the Rest of Your Life

What's up Fort Worth? You didn't make it on Forbes List of "Happiest Cities." Depressed? Irritable? Cranky? Pick yourself up. Dust yourself off. Start all over again! Please.

San Francisco is the only U.S. city in the top 10.

http://www.forbes.com/2009/09/02/worlds-happiest-cities-lifestyle-cities.html

Mark Cuban Said This?

You are the youngest you will ever be today. So live like it.

365 Days, 524 Recipes by Joan Fitting Scott

Of the two, Julie and Julia, I liked Julia better. The new movie Julie and Julia tells two true stories. It showcases a blogger reporting on her efforts to cook 524 of Julia Child’s recipes in a year’s time, taking us back and forth between writer Julie Powell’s prodigious undertaking and Julia Child’s charmed life in Europe and later the United States at mid-century. Both women found cooking a raison d’etre in lives they deemed meaningless.

But as I followed Julie’s struggles, I found I counted the minutes until I could get back to Julia. Although Julie’s search for meaning and her identification with Julia resonated, I somehow felt the “Julie/Julia Project” was self-serving; isn’t that what we do in this culture—find the gimmick that gets us noticed? (It worked, by the way. Julie Powell now writes for salon.com.) But maybe I should give the woman credit; it’s not easy to work at a dull job all day and cook all night and blog in the wee hours. We writers have got to break out of the pack somehow--and Powell did.

Julia, on the other hand, was simply delightful, and once I started watching Meryl Streep channel her, I was mesmerized. She had every charming mannerism down pat. I didn’t want to go back to Julie’s dingy Queens apartment and 5 am blogging, but to hang around Paris with Julia and her diplomat husband and chic friends, French and American. Was Child really as wonderful as that? I’ll take Streep’s word for it.

For Julia is a taster not just of food, but life. Inquisitive, questing, savoring all she encounters, she devours Paris--its markets, people, restaurants and food. She is sunny and funny, and charms Parisian grouches into Huggy Bears. She is determined—as when she vows to show up her male counterparts at the famed Cordon Bleu cooking school, chopping huge piles of onions to perfect her technique. She is tenacious in pushing her piece de resistance, the book Mastering the Art of French Cooking, through all the hoops required for publication. This took years. This was tough. As an author, I know.

So I’ll give the movie kudos for its warm portrayal of the doyenne of cuisine, for its humor and for Stanley Tucci, who is lovable as Julia’s devoted husband. Whoever knew this was a great love story as well as a culinary one? And Amy Adams as Julie was pretty darn good as well, even if her character is less simpatico; after all, there was only one Julia Child. Amy had stiff competition.

Joan Fitting Scott is the author of Skinning the Cat: A Baby Boomer’s Guide to the New Retiree Lifestyles

Things To Do: Catch the Wave Film Festival at the Modern Art Museum

Not the Gidget and Moon Doggie waves. La Nouvelle Vague--French New Wave being celebrated by Lonestar Film Society and the Modern Art Museum in Fort Worth, August 13-16 and 20-23.

“There were many film waves in the 1960s which were just that, waves. They broke on the shore and were gone. But the original wave, the French Nouvelle Vague, which crashed upon an unprepared world at Cannes in May 1959 and which brought to the fore filmmakers like Claude Chabrol, Francois Truffaut and Alain Resnais, was more like a tsunami. It helped to transform not just French cinema but cinemas the world over. Its effects are with us today.”

Geoffrey Nowell-Smith, author, Making Waves: New Cinemas of the 1960’s

Opening night reception (cash bar) starts at 6PM.

Opening remarks by author and film critic, Christopher Kelly at 6:45.

Last Year at Marienbad begins at 7PM.

For more information and schedule go to http://modern.org/films or contact auditoriumprograms@themodern.org

Bon chance!

Over 50 is a Good Time To Visit Your (adult) Daughter's Closet

From a very young age, girls have donned something from their mother's closet: high heels, hats, sunglasses. Now, according to fashion stylist Sherrie Mathieson, it's time for mothers to invade their (adult) daughter's closets. And in this economy, borrowing clothes may be the only thing you can borrow!

Mathieson says that turning 50 does not mean it's time for "dowdy, box voluminous jackets; pull on pants; gaudy floral blouses; gauze broomstick skirts; and faux ethnic jewelry." Got the picture? And hopefully, you won't find anything like that in your daughter's closet.

In her new book "Steal This Style," Mathieson shows pieces that should be shared and others that should not. But if you're like me and only have sons, you can follow Sherrie's advice below or visit her web site for more tips on dressing with style after 50, 60 and beyond.

"...the point is to look "modern" and ultimately ageless in your style. ...a classic "core"--but with a creative twist and mix. That is "youthful" in spirit, but never inappropriately "young."

Sounds good to me!

http://www.sherriemathieson.com/

Text Messaging TFWW (The Fort Worth Way)

Remember how much you loved to talk on the phone with your BFF* when you were teenager. My BFF and I still talk on the phone a lot, but she travels and sometimes our communication of choice is texting, a required skill when you have your own teens. Coco (CTPTI*) and I love to talk politics, particularly local politics. I think I still have her copy of "All Politics Is Local" by Tip O'Neill. Anyway, living and breathing Fort Worth politics like we do, my BFF and I have come up with our own lingo.

*Best Friends Forever
*Changed to Protect The Innocent

TFWW - The Fort Worth Way

MCC - Mayor and City Council

SB - School Board

BS - Barnett Shale

TAGTIFW - These Are Good Times In Fort Worth (A Mayor Barr favorite)

WWTT - What Were They Thinking

PBS - Political Bull S___ (just in case someone finds that word offensive)

TL - Term Limits

OMG! - Oh My God! (not original, but it works)

CAVE - Citizens Against Virtually Everything (not original, but it works as well)

DUH! - It's just DUH!

The following could work in other political situations.

YWCA - Your Wife Called Again

YMCA - Your Mother Called Again

This is a start and will help when we text and tweet. Please use what you like and click on comments and send me your own political lingo.

Read more about it in the WSJ (Wall Street Journal) Oh, you knew that!http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052970203674704574328920789548170.html?mod=yhoofront

Longhorn by Johnny Pate

Hair Raising

I had my hair cut yesterday and I feel so much better. Not that I ever feel really bad about my hair. I'm lucky to have thick, easy to style hair, but it does grow quickly and I know how important it is to get a good haircut. See the advice of Michele Benza, MNBF (my new best friend, in case you forgot), "Never Underestimate the Value of a Great Haircut."

My hair has been cut in some variation of "short" for as long as I can remember. Growing up, I recall having my "pixie" cut and styled (what's to style?) by the local barber, Mr. Christie. My mother, of course, went to the beauty shop. Never heard of a salon back then. She went twice a week--on Saturdays to have it "done" and on Wednesdays for a "comb-out." Can you imagine not washing your hair for a week!

I had long hair for a brief time in the late 60's when I was in college (that's not a photo of me) and ponytails adorned with scarves were popular. I managed to get enough growth by Christmas to have something my long-haired friends called a "paintbrush." The only thing that mattered to me was that I could tie a scarf around it. By the end of the school year, my hair was about to my shoulders. It was so heavy that I had to constantly move it around to allow the sweat to evaporate from my neck. I soon opted for a "shag" that everyone thought it was a wig!

Except for Mr. Christie, I can't remember the names of any of the barbers/hairdressers who cut my hair, until Dana. I met Dana in a dance class in Boston. He was in front of me and kept turning around and pointing to my head. Bad dancer, I thought. After class he told me he had a haircut for me. He did, and I loved it. New thought--good hairdresser. After a few visits to the salon where he worked, I went to his apartment to get it cut. Not to worry. I always ran into his friends there--drag queens who seemed to find me as interesting as I found them to be. I took it as a compliment.

So now I live in Fort Worth and Erin cuts my hair at CUT on 8th Avenue. My hair is short, and edgy in a soft way. Short hair is a personal preference for me, but Erin agrees that longer lengths can work for women at any age. And she tells her clients that, especially the women who think age 50 is synonymous with short hair.

Need a fresh cut for Fall? Call Erin at CUT. She has some great offers for new clients. MENTION MY BLOG and Erin will give you a deal you can't refuse. Does a free haircut sound good? Call her at 817.923.8886 for an appointment.

Photos: Bing Images

Harvard Business School Campus Shows Art

The Schwartz Art Collection is displayed throughout the campus to inspire students to think creatively and to incorporate art into their personal and professional lives.


No comment necessary. I think that says it all. To see the collection, go to http://www.hbs.edu/schwartz/

HBS celebrated its 100th birthday last year. For a brief history of the school go to http://www.ehow.com/facts_5234104_history-harvard-business-school.html

Locally, the Charles Tandy statue is now on the TCU campus. Texas Wesleyan University has a variety of sculptures on its grounds. Take a stroll and enjoy the "public art." Both campuses have relatively new spots to grab a cup of coffee or snack--Brown Lupton University Union (The Blu) and Java Joes at TWU.

It's All About Me and My New Best Friend

My new best friend is Michele Benza. She doesn't know me, but if she lived in Fort Worth, we might be friends. She lives near San Francisco. I lived in L. A. and enjoyed visiting San Francisco. She was executive for an upscale Belgian chocolate company. I eat chocolate! Her bio leads me to believe she has 2 sons. I have 2 sons. And when her children went away to school, she decided it was time for a change. Ditto!

I am currently working through my change. Not that change. That's long gone. I'm into the "what am I going to do with the rest of my life," change. Again. But now that my second son starts college at the end of the month, and son #1 graduates from college at the end of the month, it is time for me to do something new. Even my husband is exploring some new ventures. He's mostly doing the same things he has always done. Men should probably not get too far out of their comfort zone.

Back to Michele. I googled my blog, "after 50 with style," to see what others think about the issues that concern me. Couldn't find my blog but luckily found http://www.50fabulous.com/ and "Are You Ready to Step Away From Boring?," comments from Michele about her consultation with her 50-something client. It was a start.

It was better than a start. It led me to her other articles: "Over 50: Less is Best, "Never Underestimate the Impact Value of a Great Haircut," and "Can Women Over 50 Slow Down the Aging Process? You Bet!."

The last article is a list of Michele's anti-aging rules. I keep it next to my bed so I can remind myself of simple ways to make me feel good. I don't want to look young...I just don't want to look old. There is a difference. I can follow her rules rather easily. Rule#8 is "Smile." I can do that. Rule #6, "Groom Your Eyebrows." I've been working on that, but it may be time for professional help. It's hard to "groom" wearing glasses! Rule #1, "Good Posture" reminds me of that annoying but long-term helpful finger-poking from my ballet teacher. No big deal. No bruises. Just good posture.

I'll let you know if Michele ever visits Fort Worth. Not sure when I can get back to San Francisco, so for now we'll just be virtual BFFs. I know she'd like my friend and personal make-up consultant, Jo, who is about to launch her own make-up line. More about that later.

Read more about Michele at http://www.michelebenza.com/ Did I mention she speaks French?

Color Your Wardrobe

Lunched at a neighborhood bistro the other day with my gal-pal Lela (not her real name--must protect the innocent). She looked fabulous. Not the Betty Buckley Broadway Concert star glamorous, but the "over 50" looking good, looking really good! And we were just eating.

We don't meet or talk often so we had a lot of catching up to do. Her family is fine. The dog accompanied her and her husband on a visit to grandma in Florida. And she just got a sweet deal on a new car, in Dallas, of all places! Did I say she looked fabulous?

Lela has recently veered off her career path of 20+ years and has a new job. She loves it. And she looks like she loves it. I couldn't stop complimenting her on her outfit. The color was bright... Nope. Not going to reveal the color. I couldn't do it justice without a photo. Should have used my cell. It made me smile. It was fresh and very flattering. And her new lightened hair color literally topped it off.

I was inspired by Lela's new-found flair with color. (She had confided in me that she was tired of black.) After lunch, I went home and changed out of my dark ensemble. The best I could do was exchange my black pants for something in a shade of white. Yes, there are many shades of white!

Anyway, I have been rummaging around for tips on adding color to my wardrobe. Stumbled on www.50fabulous.com and a contributing stylist who could be my new best friend. I like the way she thinks about women over 50. She was raised in Brussels and lives in the San Francisco area so I will have to translate her style code into Fort Worth-ese. Just kidding. Her style is definitely universal. More about that later.

Thanks Lela!

Laughing Out Loud!

Laughing out loud is healthy. Try it. Don't worry about lines. It's totally worth it!


When I went to lunch today, I noticed an old lady sitting on a park bench sobbing her eyes out. I stopped and asked her what was wrong. She said, "I have a 22 year old husband at home. He makes love to me every morning and then gets up and makes me pancakes, sausage, fresh fruit and freshly ground coffee." I said, "Well, then why are you crying?" She said, "He makes me homemade soup for lunch and my favorite brownies and then makes love to me for half the afternoon. I said, "Well, why are you crying?" She said, "For dinner he makes me a gourmet meal with wine and my favorite dessert and then makes love to me until 2:00 a.m. " I said, "Well, why in the world would you be crying?" She said, "I can't remember where I live!"

Does You Dentist Know About Your "Daily Candy"?

Not to worry, Daily Candy won't give you a cavity or crack a tooth. However, it can suggest somewhere to find something that will. Just be careful what you put in your mouth--especially if you don't have dental insurance.


With a free subscription you can select to receive a daily update on what's hot in fashion, food, beauty, and more, in 12 featured cities. I chose Dallas because I live in Fort Worth...close enough. I like the cultural and art happenings in Chicago, so it's on my list. I might add Boston and L.A. since I have lived in both cities, and New York, just because it's New York. Or what about London, Seattle, Atlanta, Philadelphia (it's in my home state and they don't have Pittsburgh) or Miami? We can shop with the Obamas in D.C. - or with my friend Lori. And there's "Everywhere" which is thrown in as a bonus.


Today "Dallas" featured a new casting office looking for "ordinary people." I just might send them a photo. An artist in "New York" creates pottery called Knitware that dons a texture that mimics a basic stockinette stitch. All cities have listings for classes/workshops.


Go to http://www.dailycandy.com/ to sign up. Good resource for after 50 and beyond!

Betty Buckley Steps Up to the (Fashion) Plate

I saw Betty Buckley again last night at her closing performance of Broadway By Request at the Modern Art Museum. SHE LOOKED FABULOUS! Her show was great, and the audience couldn't have been more responsive. And they looked fabulous too--Charles Duke, Larry Howard, Betty Bob Buckley, Ann Miller, and Dorothy Sanders, to name a few.

Dear Betty Lynn (Buckley),

I saw you the other night. Not surprising, since we both live in Fort Worth, Texas. But we were both working that night. You were onstage at the Modern Art Museum singing your heart out and telling wonderful stories about your journey through Broadway. I was checking tickets, passing out programs and selling your cd's. Not a bad volunteer gig, especially since I got to see your show free.

I enjoyed the casual atmosphere and your banter with the audience. Seth, your accompanist, back-up singer, long-time friend, and all-around talented funny guy set the tone when he energetically stepped on stage wearing jeans, an open shirt and sport coat. But Betty, when you entered, you looked like you were caught in an Abby Bradford time warp. Betty Lynn, you can do better than that. Just look at these pictures!

I know you can take criticism. You admitted that Stephen Sondheim didn't like the way you re-interpreted his songs. Fortunately, you weren't "mortified" enough to ban his songs from your repertoire. You sang the selection from "Into the Woods" beautifully, sticking to the original score.

As a woman over 50, I want to see other woman over 50 looking good. It just makes me feel... well, good. And I know from experience, if we feel good, we can do anything, overcome anything, and make a difference when we choose to do so! Besides, you're a celebrity--a star--you're supposed have a hint of drama in your wardrobe.

So Betty, for your show tonight, could you search for a touch of Norma Desmond in your closet?

Last show of the series tonight.

Monday, July 27, 2009 - 7PM

Modern Art Museum of Fort Worth

http://www.lyricstage.com/

972-252-2787

If you miss Betty tonight, she'll be back August 29 - 31.

Want to hear more from Seth? He hosts "Live From Broadway" on Sirius/XM Radio.