Moving on up...taking the next step

Just got back from LA and the Peak Potential Train the Trainer (TNT)course. It was 5 intense, lllloooonnnngggg days of training. We usually started at about 9 AM and ended around midnight. We learned how to and began to develop a course that we choose to work on.

One of the first things I had to do in the course is choose what to work on. We started with a list of things we were interested in and then were asked to choose one. I choose to work on the Inventing and Reinventing a Fun and Joyful Retirement seminar I have been thinking about this a lot this year but the idea first came up for me in 1998 and was promptly forgotten about.

So, needless to say I spent a lot of time thinking about this and working on the idea this last week. One thing you do in the course is come up with your course objective and even present a segment to fellow participants. Of course, you are suppose to be using all the accelerated learning techniques you have been learning and using all week long.

Among other things it helped me see how much I could get done in a short amount of prep time. Two nights in the course we did OUTRAGEOUS night. You had ninety seconds to sing and perform a song of your choice. When I first heard the request I had no idea what OUTRAGEOUS meant. Of course, it meant different things to different people. And without giving away any secrets some people were REALLY OUTRAGEOUS. There was every kind of costume and no costumes...just use your imagination. Needless to say by the end of two nights of performances you learn alot about what OUTRAGEOUS use to mean to you and what it means now.

The course was GREAT fun and I met a lot of wonderful people. My friend Phil and I from Phoenix tried to gather cards from people in the course from Phoenix. I gathered a few but know there were many others in the course. Our plan is to start some kind of Millionaire Mind Master Group or TNT Master Mind Group in Phoenix. Phil and I will talk and get that going soon.

My plan for today is to get a Never Too Old Facebook group started. This will be the place where I can get others who are interested in the conversation to share their thoughts and ideas. The subtitle will probably be Retirement the Ultimate Playground. These will work unless we come up with some better ideas. My plan is to take the next several weeks to distinguish the major ideas for this course or courses and how it will be delivered and where. One of my major goals is to make this work for as many people as possible...even if they can't get to a certain place at a certain time.

Thank the Universe that I didn't just loose everything I had written already this morning. For the first time, I am blogging on my back porch...beautiful Fall weather and I can see that I need a better plan for my mouse. It is mostly not working. This is a GREAT space to begin my day...I just need to upgrade to make it a better workspace.

So that's it for today. More to come.

In joyful partnership,

Cathy

Cathy Oberkampf
cathy.the.teacher@gmail.com

Getting ready for TNT in LA

Stu and I are off to LA for some FUN and a course for me next week.

The course is Peak Potential Train the Trainer (TNT). One of the requests they sent out this week is to get a CD of a song that you want to perforn and sing along with during the class. Also, a costume for the performance.

First, I have to admit I DID NOT WANT TO DO THIS...but I gave that up and made a plan. After considering several selections, I chose a song, sung by Doris Day and a few other people...High Hopes or the Rubber Tree Song. It is a little corny but the lyrcis are fairly easy. I have practiced and am getting tired of the song whirling around in my head. I'll be glad when this part of the course is over.

Finally got a printer working on my newest laptop yesterday. That was no small accomplishment. After I upgraded my Vista nothing would work. Alas, we tried the last printer in the house and it worked. So, Stu and I swapped printers yesterday.
Now I just have to get use to this computer, files, etc.

The trip to Texas was good but LOTS of driving. Had three classes in Pearland (near Houston)and got some medical appointments out of the way. We will be going back around T-Day.

Probably won't be posting must this week but will be bringing computer.

That's all for today.

In joyful partnership,

Cathy

cathy.the.teacher@gmail.com

Whirlwind continues

Arrived in Houston yesterday. Teach first of three classes today. Also, got a coaching appointment while I am here. Things have come together fairly well for this trip. Thanks to my sister Margo. We just need to tweek a few things to make it easier for all.

Have lots of people to call and see. Hope to get the important ones complete before I return to Phoenix. Looking forward to seeing some old friends and family. Now how will I fit it all in.

Yes, Jenn, Stu and I did go to Grand Canyon, Bryce Canyon, and Zion National Park in two days. It was beautiful but one should allow a couple of days for each park. Maybe next time.

Off to the races.

In joyful partnership,

Cathy Oberkampf

cathy.the.teacher@gmail.com

e-Lessons complete and whirlwind tour

All e-Lessons that needed to be complete for Texas trip are complete. Making the last corrections this morning.

My sister, Jenn, is flying in today. The three of us are making a whirlwind tour of Zion, Bryce Canyon and the Grand Canyon on Friday and Saturday. Sunday Jenn and I start driving to Texas. It's a little crazy but we are looking forward to it.

Pearland classes are coming together. Have or will have appointments in Conroe and New Braunfels. Also, plan to go to the county fair in NB. Haven't been in years. Sounds like fun.

Got to put my track shoes on for a few VERY busy days.

In joyful partnership,

Cathy

cathy.the.teacher@gmail.com

Progress on e-Lessons...finally

Completed my workshop lessons for Pretty Up Your Email and the Facebook and Twitter bonus section. These are the must have done one for the Houston trip. Anything else I do is a nice to have done thing.

Got my usernames set up for the class this morning. This is just in case someone doesn't have their own Google Gmail. Now on to the in-class sign up sheet and discount coupon.

Things are coming together. Still have two classes here before my sister arrives and we go site seeing before we leave for Texas.

In joyful partnership,

Cathy

cathy.the.teacher@gmail.com

Deviation from eLesson plan

Didn't get much done on e-Lessons yesterday but several projects that were hanging out there got completed.

We finally got the new air filtration system installed at our house yesterday. The one that should have been installed with our new A/C unit last month. Also, picked up my medical records. Now I will be ready for my doctor appointments in Texas. Because I get better health insurance coverage in Texas I decided to switch back to my doctors in Texas. Have appointments scheduled with all of them when I am there. Also, not on the plan for yesterday was opening a new personal bank account. Our old Internet bank that we have used for over 10 years went way up on their average balance requirements for no service charge and we decided a local bank would serve us better.

Stu and I also got to the pool for water walking yesterday. So, e-Lessons got started yesterday but not much completed. Hopefully, I'll do better today and this week-end.

In joyful partnership,

Cathy

cathy.the.teacher@gmail.com

e-Lessons and SnagIt

Finished 3 or 4 e-Lessons yesterday. Have a few more to complete before my Houston trip in a couple of weeks. Decided yesterday to try out SnagIt screen capture software. I had heard about it years ago but wasn't doing that much screen capture stuff to make it worthwhile BUT it REALLY made e-Lesson prep go much faster yesterday.

Looks like course writing will be my new game for awhile so I'll add any tool that makes it easier and quicker. SnagIt is definitely one of those tools. They give you a free 30 day trial and then the cost is just under $50.

Back to another day of writing e-Lessons

In joyful partnership,

Cathy

cathy.the.teacher@gmail.com

Fishing/mountain trip take two

Stu and I left Saturday morning for Woods Canyon Lake in the RIM country in AZ. We got two hours away from home and realized Stu left his oxygen regulator at home so we promptly turned around and made a Plan B.

On Sunday morning we drove up to Dead Horse Ranch State Park (near Sedona) and stayed there two nights. Not as high but it was VERY nice. After arriving there we decided not to christen the new pontoon because we could not put the trolling motor on it and it was too hot during the middle of the day. Instead we took a driving tour up Oak Creek Canyon (above Sedona) one day and over the mountains through Jerome to Prescott on the other day. Both drives were beautiful. The one through Jerome was VERY slow going up the mountain. We averaged about 20 MPH but it was a GREAT trip.

We met lots of nice people at the campground including some GREAT campground hosts. Stu and I talked about several possibilities for next summer but all of them include getting out of Phoenix a little more often. We will see where are ideas take us.

Good to be back at home. The car is unpacked and the pontoon frame is at least on the garage floor. Now all we have to do is hang it back up. A job for another day.

In joyful partnership,

Cathy

cathy.the.teacher@gmail.com

e-Workshops and e-Lessons

Lately I've been changing course slightly. I've been trying to figure out how to implement a new strategy that we are learning. It is fixed term subscription email training. Stu and I definitely think it has a place in our tool box.

The concept is an e-Workshop with e-Lessons where people will not only learn new skills but actually get the chance to practice each new skill as they proceed through the e-Lessons in each e-Workshop. The fixed term subscription comes in because there is a beginning and an end to each series of lessons or e-Workshops. A place where people can declare that it's time to go forward to the next e-Workshop or that it's time for a break before they move forward.

Today I completed my first e-Lesson. It will be for students of my Never Too Old for Email class and they will receive it for free after they have completed the class. After this first free e-Lesson, people will have the chance to sign up for a fixed term subscription e-Workshop to learn a series of new skills presented to them in weekly e-Lessons.

The idea is technically VERY simple unlike some webinars I have attended on the Internet. A webinar is a seminar that is offered over the Internet and both Stu and I have attended hundreds of these as we went through the last few years of learning stock, option, and Forex trading. I can't tell you how many times a live webinar didn't work for one reason or another. I just got use to watching the recorded versions which seemed to work a lot better.

Anyway, I am in to the EASY BUTTON and so are my students when it comes to technical capabilities. Believe me, EASY is better.

So, I have started down this new road and Stu is not far behind. No telling where it will take us but we are excited about the possibilities.

That's it for today.


In joyful partnership,

Cathy

cathy.the.teacher@gmail.com

Texas classes coming together for September

Once again, I will be offering classes in Texas in September in Houston/Pearland and San Antonio/New Braunfels area. Always lots of details to attend to but it is a little easier the second time around.

I get to make new friends at my classes and see my old friends and family. This is a win/win for everyone. Yes, I am a true Texas woman. I love it there but Arizona is my home and Stu and I love it here as well.

My Arizona classes are coming together as well. Now that I got my new business cards things are beginning to pick up. Just in case you haven't seen these...here is a link to my new card.

Cathy's New Business Card

Besides that, I am having lots of FUN.

Got to get'r done today...even though it is Sunday.

In joyful partnership,

Cathy

cathy.the.teacher@gmail.com

Lucky's daughter...

I am behind a few days on my blogging but lots of GREAT things have been happening.

Recently I walked in to one of our wonderful senior centers out in the valley of the sun in Arizona. Not only did they want to talk to me about running their computer training area they want to talk to me about expanding their career transition training program. All because I walked in the door and opened my mouth.

Year ago one of Stu's best friend at the time and his wife told Stu in private how lucky I am...that I had won the lottery when I got the computer training manager job at the University of Texas Medical Branch in Galveston. For months, Stu did not share this with me because he thought I would be upset. When he finally did, I just laughed out loud. I said I have won the lottery time and time again in my life. I have reached places in my career that I should never have achieved. Gotten many jobs I should never have gotten. Especially since I do not have a college degree.

Not only did that happen at UTMB but has happened many times before and since. Rather then winning the lottery, the truth is probably closer to...I am good at seeing possibility and converting that in to opportunity. Now, I can even do that fairly quickly and come up with a plan to solve these problems or opportunities just as quickly. When you come up with a plan to solve someone's problems you can win the lottery almost every time. So, you have to pick and choose when and where you play the game.

I am not the only one in my family who has this gift. I am beginning to know two of my sisters in new ways and they both are expanding their gifts in this area as well. It must be a talent we learned when we were young from Lucky and/or Lucy our parents.

My husband, Stu, is known for his Stuism's and this week he came up with a new one when I was sharing with him about winning the lottery again. I said I am just a lucky girl and he said...no you are Lucky's daughter and so it is.

In joyful partnership,

Cathy

cathy.the.teacher@gmail.com

Life is good and Habitat for Humanity

Life is good. My in box is still not under control. We are having b-day party for Stu's brother today and my new business cards in my possession. Hoorah!!!

I did get mostly caught up on our business and personal books yesterday. Still haven't finished all the reconciliations for my favorite Habitat affiliate but progress has been made on that as well. I mostly work for them just so my friend Ro and I can have a reason to talk. I have done coaching for them for over five years. She has definitely transformed before my very eyes. What a beautiful person and outstanding servant she is and has been and I know will be.

Stu and I have either worked or volunteered for Habitat for Humanity for over 11 years. We even lived in Americus, Georgia for four years where the Habitat's international headquarters is. We don't work or volunteer full-time for them any longer but we often do project work for Habitat. Stu and I are considered the affiliate financial guru's. This year we volunteered for the team that worked on latest revision of the affiliate financial policy manual...I think that is revision number 4 we have participate on.

Back to outstanding servants. Stu and I have met MANY outstanding servants over our years of working with Habitat affiliates in the US and around the world. People who are not only dedicated to the Habitat mission but are dedicated community servants in their own communities. We have had the privilege of meeting some of the BEST community organizers and developers in the world. Stu even put together a course on community collaboration for HFH affiliates. I am hoping he gets that course out of moth balls and starts beating this drum again.

No more shacks...or ending substandard housing in the world is not about eating the elephant all at one time...it is about doing it one bite at a time. It is not even about Habitat solving the problem. It is about taking on one neighborhood or even a few square blocks of the worst housing in your community and finding other community minded churches, organizations and people to own that problem and the solution to the problem. That can be repair ministries, local code enforcement, government partnerships, low-income for-profit builders and a host of other groups and people that come together to declare...NO MORE SHACKS in their community...and then declare SUCCESS in one small area of the community and move on to the next.

Stu and I believe wholeheartedly in the mission of Habitat for Humanity and the GREATER cause of NO MORE SHACKS. Stu also wrote and presented a course for Habitat to help communities identify shacks. Identifing the remaining shacks (substandard housing) in Sumter County Georgia was Stu's first volunteer assignment with Habitat. The Habitat affiliate in Sumter County along with the help of Habitat International declared the end of substandard housing in that county in 2000. Stu's Mom Myrtle was at that build. She was one of the oldest volunteers there at 97 years old. She had a blast and made a lot of new, interesting friends.

More and more communities around the country are declaring their intention to end substandard housing in their communities. If you want someone to coach you on identifying the problem and/or on community collaboration, my husband Stu is the man for the job. We are not the in the trenches community servants that we have met along the way but we are both dedicated to the solution and can teach and coach you how to have NO MORE SHACKS in your community.

As Birmingham Habitat for Humanity says...I'm part of the solution...and so Stu and I are part of the solution.

In joyful partnership,

Cathy

cathy.the.teahcer@gmail.com

Business cards are FINALLY ready & proof

My new business cards are finally ready. I get to pick them up on Monday. I am VERY pleased with the results. I had too of my GREAT marketing coaches give me feedback on my card and their coaching made the finished product be wonderful.

The following link should take you to a proof of the card so that you can see it or print it for you go pass along to anyone interested in one of my classes.

Cathy's New Business Card

Let me know if you have any trouble accessing this PDF file.

In joyful partnership,

Cathy Oberkampf

cathy.the.teacher@gmail.com

We got some of that there stimulus money

Stu and I finally broke down and decided to buy a new AC/Heat unit. Ours was over 15 years old. We started talking to the guy about adding a new whole-house evaporator cooling system to our house and ended up signing for a new AC/Heat unit. Between the federal and local rebates we will get about $1500 back. This made the more expense unit we purchased the same price as the regular replacement unit and it is a lot more bang for our buck.

We will even get our utility room air conditioned and cooled in the process. I have figured out several ways to make this in to a nice guest room without spending much money on it at all. The BIG purchase will be buying a new bed for my office and then I can put the trundle bed from there in the new guest room. I can also put the desk I just got at a garage sale out there as well. It will be an even nicer art space and work space for Stu as well as my laundry room. Can't wait for it to be air conditioned. I have been doing laundry out there in the summer with out A/C for three summers. It will be GREAT.

So we are doing our part for the economy. Have you done anything yet?

That's all for today.

In joyful partnership,

Cathy

cathy.the.teacher@gmail.com

San Antonio+++ numbers working

Finally I have a working San Antonio phone number. In the last month, I also got my Houston number working and decided to change my business number in Phoenix to free up our home phone number.

Drum roll please... my business phone numbers are:

623-255-7135 Phoenix
281-617-2593 Houston
210-338-1232 San Antonio
623-229-2472 AT&T Cell Phone

Any questions, you can just give me a call on any of these numbers.

Hope you day is a GREAT one.

In joyful partnership,

Cathy

cathy.the.teacher@gmail.com

GREAT class yesterday

Great class yesterday in Phoenix. Newly purchased PCs worked wonderful. We covered the basics of getting and using your first email address and then previewed some of the more advanced features of Google contacts, calendars, documents, etc.

Still have one PC left at Staples. I think it was ready yesterday but was too busy to go pick it up.

Still waiting for my new MajicJack modem so I can get another Texas phone number in New Braunfels and/or San Antonio.

Also, talked to my friend, Rosie, in New Braunfels about offering my class again in September. She will probably make the trip back with me to Phoenix. Didn't want to drive this alone. My sister, Jenn, will fly out to make the trip from Phoenix to Texas. Looks like I will be offering my FREE class and some for profit classes in Pearland/Houston on my trip.

Things are moving along VERY nicely with the reinvention of my training/coaching business. I'll get my new cards printed as soon as I get the NB phone number.

Have a GREAT week-end.

In joyful partnership,

Cathy

cathy.the.teacher@gmail.com

Skype, MajicJack, Vonage what else???

Well after several unsuccessful attempts, I finally got my new Houston Skye number working. The number is 281-617-2593. Soon I hope to have the voice mail working with it so someone can leave a message.

I already have a MajicJack number that I have been using for my recorded line number in Phoenix. It is 623-255-7135. I just forwarded that to my new Skype number. I also just applied for another MajicJack number for San Antonio and/or New Braunfels. That order is not complete yet. Both of these numbers will be forwarded to my new Houston, Skype number so people may actually get me on the phone instead of a recording when I am available.

Yes, we have a Vonage phone number at the house. That number is 623-399-8456. It is our main phone number for both personal and business use. Our Vonage number is only about $26 a month plus tax and includes unlimited long distance to the US and Canada. By far, it is the best quality.

You do need high speed Internet access for all three of these and here is how I would rate the three:

Vonage Best quality Higher Cost
Skype Good quality Lower Cost
MajicJack Poor quality at times Lowest Cost

Of course, I do have an AT&T cell phone. This number is 623-229-2472 but Stu and I have not had a regular land line in many years. These are WAY to expensive for us. We did try out a cable phone when we first moved to Phoenix but Vonage is as reliable, has more features, is a good bit cheaper and has unlimited long distance.

My favorite feature with Vonage, that I have not found anywhere else is called SimulRing. When our home/business Vonage number is called it rings at the same time on my cell phone or any other number(s) I choose. This means I don't have to worry about missing any calls when I am out and about. This also means that if my Internet goes down I will have a working phone, my cell phone.

Hope I haven't totally confused you. If you have any questions about phone options, let me know.

In joyful partnership,

Cathy

cathy.the.teacher@gmail.com

Not all laptops created equally

As I said, not all laptops new or used are created equally. One of the three used ones I purchased or was given recently is acting stupid...but at least it is working. I think it is a memory thing. I am going to try to streamline access on this one to just get to Gmail for my classes. Hopefully it will work at that level. I will take the two used ones I just bought in to Staples for a free check up.

I finally got my regular laptop back from the Staples free check up. It is good to have my own computer up and running on my own desk space. The internal wifi is still not working but Chris gave me some tips on getting this up and running. He is/was a VERY helpful tech guy.

Now if I could only get my new Skype Houston number working life would be a 9...as good as it gets.

Until later.

In joyful partnership,

Cathy

cathy.the.teacher@gmail.com

3 used laptops acquired

Acquired three used laptop PCs in the last week or so. These will be used in my classes and maybe even sold to students who want a low-end PC with a printer.

Of course, not all used PCs are alike. Some have different hardware and software configurations. Some even have old user files on them. So I am busy trying to get these all set up the way I want with the internet access I want and the desktop set up as I desire.

This has been FUN but it has kept me hopping. Things are going VERY well and I will have everything up and running for my class on July 30th here in Phoenix.

Gotta run.

In joyful partnership,

Cathy

cathy.the.teacher@gmail.com

It's Working...and getting to a 9

I am working less and getting more done...plus having more FUN with Stu.

My Phoenix classroom is finally a 9. In my book, that is as GOOD as it gets. The classroom did get even better yesterday when I found a beautiful cloth for the table that I already owned. It fit perfectly. Now all I have to do is hem it or get someone else to do it. That would be ever better. My classroom will seat 12 people at the table and I haven't counted how many more I can seat away from the table.

My business card is almost a 9. It will be ready today for redlining by my two marketing coaches.

I made the decision to slow down on my web site until I can get what I want, where I want it done and the way I want it. In the meantime, I will use my blog to publicize my courses. Later this week, I will have my latest surveys posted here and my Fall course schedule. For now, my next classes are:

Never Too Old for Email class:
Phoenix (Sun City) Thursday, July 30th 1-3:30 PM
Phoenix (Sun City) Wednesday, Aug 19th 1-3:30 PM
Houston (Bella Vita) Wednesday, Sept 16th 1-3:30 PM (tentative)
Houston (Bella Vita) Thursday, Sept 17th 9-11:30 AM (tentative)

This class is FREE but there is a $5.00 reserve your seat fee which will be refunded when you show up. If you want to review the class the fee is $5.00. You must have a working Google Gmail Email address before the class. If you already have one, be sure you know the password. If not, call Cathy and she will set one up for you before the class begins and give you your new email address when you attend the class.

More to come about courses, schedules, and surveys. To register for a class, ask a question or just to chat give me a call at my Phoenix number 623-399-8456 or my new Houston number 281-617-2593.


In joyful partnership,

Cathy

cathy.the.teacher@gmail.com
Phoenix 623-399-8456
Houston 281-617-2593

Doing less BETTER and getting MORE done

Life is GOOD...my work is much more focused on specific results. I am doing less BETTER and getting MORE done.

My office is COMPLETE...it will never be done. It is finally at a place where I can work and do what it is I want to accomplish. My office has been totally transformed since I returned from Texas. Can't believe I got one more piece of furniture in here and still have a nice place to walk around. It actually seems bigger now that I reorged my office.

One of the cheap cool things I added is two small white boards. This is for my I got to get it done NOW or yesterday lists. Without these, too many things got lost on the desk top. This has been a BIG improvement in my desk top which is VERY limited space.

Stu had an overnight sleep test last night so I had my first girls night out with my friend Bev. We invited a few other ladies to go along but they were not available on short notice. We went to one of the micro breweries down by Cardinal stadium. It was a GREAT evening. We even got to watch a desert sand storm while we were in the restaurant. Bev and I decided to do "girls night out" on a regular basis. Next time we'll gather more of our friends together...a plan for FUN and community. Sounds GREAT!!!

In joyful partnership,

Cathy

cathy.the.teacher@gmail.com

Settling back in,,,and more PLAY and FUN

The car is mostly empty and I am beginning to see the floor in my office and it is GREAT to be home.

Think I have gotten thank you emails out to the really important people and business contacts from my trip. Trying to make a current TO DO list. Things that must be done before my next trip to Texas in mid-September.

One of the greatest parts of the trip is that I slowed down enough to talk to my husband and business coach about my plans. He clearly saw the vision or another way to say it is he finally saw what "blue" is/was. Not only did he see "blue" he is now fully enrolled in helping me further distinguish "blue" and help plan the future of "blue". Now that truly is a MIRACLE!!! Life doesn't get any better.

I choose today to slow down my life a notch or two. The business will get planned and developed. I plan to get back to normal sleep, eat, and exercise patterns and play with my husband a little more often. He is FUN to play with. I know I don't want full retirement but a little more PLAY and FUN will be GREAT.

My goal is to have FUN and make MONEY and do this with people I care about. If it ain't FUN and I am not making MONEY at it, I am not going to do it. Wanna play?

In joyful partnership,

Cathy

cathy.the.teacher@gmail.com

San Antonio to Phoenix in one day

Stu and I were ready to be home in beautiful HOT not humid Arizona. I think I know what hell is like after my visit to central and southeast Texas. The humidity was off the charts.

We drove from near San Antonio yesterday to our home in Sun City (Phoenix). It took us 16 hours but we smelled the barn and were ready to be home. It was just dark when we hit Maricopa County and we both were not VERY tired after a long day of driving.

Yes it is HOT in Phoenix. I think it is suppose to be 114 today. I already did my hour walk this morning about 6:30 AM. It is hotter then when we left. I'm going to have to move my walk to 6:00 AM. But one nice thing about morning walks is that I hardly sweat at all in Phoenix...you even have to watch it that you drink enough water especially in the summer.

I think Stu and I are going to start water walking in the pool in the afternoons here. We have several pools to choose from in Sun City but one is a covered outdoor walking pool. That should be GREAT for our afternoon exercise.

It is GREAT to be home. More about the trip later.

In joyful partnership,

Cathy

cathy.the.teacher@gmail.com

Starting to head west today

We are starting to head a little West today...going from Houston to Austin. Tomorrow we should make it at least as far as El Paso. This is one of our usual watering holes. We should be home and open for business by Tuesday morning.

As I have said, the trip has been one business miracle after another and I have the opportunity for a few more before I leave the Austin/San Antonio area.

Not in any particular order these are some of the GREAT and wonderful things that have happened on our trip.

1) Taught three Never Too Old for Email classes - two of these were a nine and one was good enough. We had some internet difficulties on one but we recovered gracefully.

2) I am negotiating with the Hispanic community center in my hometown to run one of their underutilized computer classrooms.

3) In Pearland I found a place to offer seminars and they said it is ok for me to charge for these with little expense.

4) In the Houston museum district, I have a larger seminar location destination arranged that is large enough for at least 100 to 200 people, if necessary.

5) Found a new place in Conroe to offer my free seminar and the possibility of another place that is very nice that can seat a good size small group.

6) I was able to confer with three of my four Jedi master business coaches several times. I am making a plan to bring #4 back in to my life...at least by phone and not just email.

7) I found a GREAT place to live in Texas that is not with relatives. It will also be virtually free. It is right on a small lake on the Guadalupe river in the Texas hill country and I've know some of this family for over 35 years. One of my Jedi master business coaches lives on the property.

Today we go to a wrap up session for the Morguelan Energy Institute in Austin and an art opening for my almosta famous artist sister Margo. She got picked in a juried show in Austin called "What Texas Means to Me". Go girl!

Sunday we start heading further west...hopefully at least to El Paso. That makes the next and final day fairly short by Texas driving standards.

In joyful partnership,

Cathy

cathy.the.teacher@gmail.com

Three Texas classes complete +++ new business

My three Texas classes are complete. I taught the You Are Never Too Old for Email class three times in Texas. Once in New Braunfels (near San Antonio) and twice in Houston/Pearland.

All classes went VERY good but we did have some technical difficulties in one of the Pearland classes. The other Pearland class was a 9. In my book, a 9 is as good as it gets. Can't remember if I have written about this or not. I was able to recover gracefully from these difficulties and my two helpers and I figured out a better way to do a few things to avoid these type of problems and make everyone even happier.

The group in Pearland has already agreed to let me come back and teach for free and for pay. This was/is a major break through. The group in New Braunfels has to bring my proposal to the executive committee and/or the board. I truly believe this deal will come together soon because it is a win/win deal for all stakeholders.

Looks like I'll be coming back to Texas several times a year. At the present time, I have more customers in Texas then I do in Arizona...isn't that nice.

As I have said, miracle after miracle has opened up for me on this business trip and I have several business appointments left to do before we head home next week.

In joyful partnership,

Cathy

cathy.the.teacher@gmail.com

Lake Dunlap compound & Jedi masters

I will be traveling to Texas more in the future. One of my good friends for over 30 years, who is a Harvard MBA, and his mother, Liz (my second mother), who I have know for over 40 years have offered to let me stay at their Lake Dunlap compound...at little to no cost.

Their property is on a damned-up part of the Guadalupe river called Lake Dunlap which starts in New Braunfels and ends half way to Seguin. They have 120 feet of the most beautiful lake front property that you can imagine with several buildings/ places that can be used for accommodations and they have agreed to let me use one. As I have already said...a BIG TEXAS thank you to you both.

Liz is 92 years old and I have known her since I was married to my first husband. She was my part-time neighbor. She and her late husband, Dan, taught me how to garden, cook, and freeze/can vegetables among many other things. She literally was like a second mother to me and there were times I needed mothering during those years of my life because my first marriage was ending at that time. Liz mostly lives in San Antonio with a friend and spends the summers in Prescott, Arizona with her daughter and her husband. Daughter Nancy, lives in Sun City West the rest of the year.

Life has a way of keeping GOOD friends for a LONG time...at least in my life. The son, Dan, and I met shortly after he sold his VERY profitable business in the Dallas area. After that he worked in Europe, Houston, and finally Aspen before he decided work wasn't fun anymore...at least not working for someone else. Like I said, he is a brilliant business man with a Harvard MBA. He enjoys sharing his thoughts and wisdom with good friends and family and is or has been active on several community board of directors.

Dan is one of three outstanding business coaches that I have. Dan, my long-time friend Joe who use to be a Texas banker, and my husband Stu. I consider all three of these guys Jedi masters and they each have a special niche and I hope I can play with all of them until they and/or I die. As long as I am alive, they will live in my heart as friends and fellow business warriors. I love you all.

I told you my Texas trip has been VERY interesting and a VERY successful business trip. That's why I am reporting one post at a time. It will help make up for all those days I missed when I was in the beautiful Texas hill country.

In joyful partnership,

Cathy

cathy.the.teacher@gmail.com

Hispanic Community & Community Development

I taught a class in New Braunfels (near San Antonio) while I was there last week at one of the Hispanic community centers. One of my long lost (found again) friends from my early banking days runs the center and the medical clinic associated with it. She works with her cousin who is a medical doctor. They are both DEDICATED servant leaders of the community and community development masters.

Their small church of about 80 people raised over $750,000 to build the community center and open the medical clinic. I am only beginning to learn the many services provided at both facilities. I know that the medical clinic provides both medical and dental services to low-income people of all races but is smack dab in the middle of the Hispanic community on the west side of town.

It is so exciting that I have played with them in one of their two computer training rooms. These rooms are under utilized and I hope to work with them to provide a full range of courses. The center already offers GED courses but one of my cousins might help expand this program with career counseling. She is a master in this area.

Because my friend Rosie and Carlos are so active in the community, I can already see God working in our lives to do BIGGER things together. My husband, Stu and I, are expert coaches in community development and collaboration.

Stu even developed a course for Habitat for Humanity International (HFHI) to teach affiliates and other community organizations about joining together to end substandard housing in their communities. Stu is also a master in identifying substandard housing (shacks) because the first step in No More Shacks as Millard Fuller wrote is identifying how many you have. Stu and I worked full time for HFHI for nearly eight years. One of us was usually a full-time employee and the other a full-time volunteer. We still do project work for them and are on the Subject Expert Team (SET). We are considered experts in teaching about financial matters at the HFH affiliate level. We even got to do two international audits while we were there. One in Fiji and one in England. Now that was serving the ministry and FUN. We were also blessed to go to the Jimmy Carter Work Project in South Africa and a few other times in the USA.

So, we love the Habitat mission and playing in outstanding community organizations with powerful community servants and servant leaders.

In joyful partnership,

Cathy

cathy.the.teacher@gmail.com

Joyous family reunion

We had about 60 people from my grandfather and grandmother's families at the reunion. We have this every two years. I never new my grandparents. They were both dead before I was born. This is my mother's family. She had four full sisters and one brother and three half brothers and one half sister. So when I was growing up we had lots of Aunts and Uncles and cousins to play with. It was a wonderful childhood. Only one of my Aunts and Uncles and their families lived outside of New Braunfels. They were citrus farmers in the valley and lived in Carizzo Springs, TX. At least once or twice a year we got a car trip to Carizzo to really have fun with our out of town cousins. They also came to visit us many times a year. We thought we owned the world when we were kids...and in a way we did. It would be GREAT if everyone could/would have such a blessed childhood.

Anyway, none of our parents generation are still living so I consider us older ones the second generation. This generation ranges in age right now from 92 to 58 and we do enjoy getting together. We came from Phoenix but some of my cousins came from California, Pennsylvania, Colorado, and Florida.

I was able to talk to several of my cousins about reinventing my training and coaching business. Gerald and I talked a lot about my and Stu's business consulting/coaching and they invited us to the winery after our trip to LA in October to help Gerald restructure his consulting business and to see the winery.

I was also able to talk with my cousin Sandye and my cousin Bill about partnering with me on some courses. We all have VERY busy schedules but that will develop more after we return to Phoenix. Both of them are interested in partnering.

So yes, it was a family reunion but some of my relatives and close friends are my favorite business people. I love partnering with people I care about and love having fun. I heard it more than once during my trip...if it ain't FUN and it ain't PROFITABLE...I don't want to do it and I plan to do both at the same time with people I care about and respect as GREAT business men and women and I know for sure we will have FUN and make some MONEY.

In joyful partnership,

Cathy

cathy.the.teacher@gmail.com

Finallly back in the land of tech tools & toys

It is wonderful to be sitting in an air conditioned house, being connected to the internet and writing my blog. While I was in New Braunfels (near San Antonio) I was out in the country at a beautiful B&B that my best friend David owns. As I have mentioned, cell phone and internet access is VERY limited there. Some times I actually got access under the carport attached to the log cabin but most of the time I had to stand in the middle of the driveway or walk the driveway to talk to anyone and set up a few chairs in the driveway for internet access but I was able to connect on my Cricket air time card which in and of itself is/was a miracle.

Now Stu and I are at my sister Margo's house in Pearland. I will be teaching two classes here early next week and it will be my Never Too Old For Email class. Since, so many MIRACLES have happened to me while I have been in Texas already, I will post separate blog posts to highlight the key ones.

Stay tuned for miracle reporting.

In joyful partnership,

Cathy

cathy.the.teacher@gmail.com

My sister the almosta famous artist

We made it to Houston/Pearland yesterday. My sister, Margo had her first one woman art show last night which was VERY well attended. She has really worked miracles in her business in the 2-1/2 years she has been working at it for a profit. She has sold nearly 20 pieces of her art, been in six juried shows and one was the Hunting Prize Award show. She also has a web site:

M. I. Green Designs

She is officially in three art groups/leagues in the Houston area. She also has been asked by Wade Wilson of Wade Wilson Arts to paint while he watches. So he can see what goes through an artists mind while they paint.

Wade Wilson Art

So life is good for Margo the artist and it shows up in every area of her life.

In joyful partnership,

Cathy

cathy.the.teacher@gmail.com

Miracles of modern technology

My best friend David has a beautiful B&B in the country just outside of New Braunfels which is near San Antonio. I think it is one of the prettiest places in Comal County. Let me know if you have any interest in finding out about his place.

Having said all those nice things, I can barely get cell phone access at his house. I have to stand in the driveway in a certain spot to talk to anyone which I have been doing this morning.

My sisters and I are trying to make all the final arrangements for a joyful family reunion at least for our own immediate families. Many of my grandfathers living decendents are gathering as we do every two years to visit. I never new my grandpareents. They were dead before I was born but the clan does like to gather. There should be more than 60 of us here from all parts of the country. I am not in charge of the reunion and I have no idea how many people are coming. I am volunteering to host it in two years when we meet again.

One of the miracles of modern technology is that I am actually connecting to the internet on my Cricket air time card. I am in the middle of the drive way in a nice shady spot. David only has dial up in his house and I will NEVER ever ever use dial up again.

So if there are mistakes in this post please forgive me. The sun does provide some glare on my computer screen...even though I am in the shade.

Here is to joyous family gatherings that are FUN and relaxed.

In joyful partnership,

Cathy

cathy.the.teacher@gmail.com

Never Too Old for Email class is not dead yet

You are Never Too Old for Email class is not dead yet…just moving to a new address.

After more that 30 years of teaching adult learners, I am fairly confident about myself and my teaching style. I have been trained by masters in the conversation. I have been accused (rightfully so) in the past of being too structured and straight-laced a teacher. I have learned over the years that putting FUN and PLAY in your classes is a good thing. A great way to create fun and play is to engage your participants and create a bond. Thank you Carol G. from Habitat for helping me put both in my computer and financial management training. For one thing, your students enjoy the class more and it is a win/win for everyone.

There is a first for everything. Yesterday, the computer club decided to ask me to quit teaching at the club. I can still be a member and participate in anything I desire. The reason they cited for asking me to stop teaching is because there was too much fluff (fun and play) in my classes and/or too much participation and not enough learning. The club said they want instructors who use more structure in their classes. They even said my students told them they didn’t learn very much in my classes. In last week’s class that may have been the case because we did have one major breakdown and the rest of the class had a lot to do with recovering but I have written acknowledgements from many of my students acknowledging me for the class and talking about what they learned.

I did mention to the two people that visited with me at the club that it might be my personality that they didn’t like. But, of course they said it was my teaching style. It was a REAL performance based evaluation. Like I said, after more than 30 years of teaching I know who I am and what I stand for.

The computer club is a GREAT club. It is one of the best deals in town and a good way for students to learn new skills and/or improve on their skills. But, when several of the Board members think that Facebook and Google Gmail are not safe…or even evil, it is probably time for me to move on to a new address.

So, from now on I’ll be teaching at home and at several senior citizen venues in and around the valley and of course in Texas and who knows where else. My You are Never Too Old for Email class will live on as well and yes, Cathy the teacher is still alive and well…just moving to a new address. Teaching is a GREAT way to meet new and interesting people and pairing them up can be fun too.

As for my Thursday club visits, I can still do these but I’ll be reinventing this as well after I get back from Texas. I may have a brown bag lunch group at my house and/or on the internet. What a FUN idea. We might even use Facebook or Twitter to communicate…that’s a good thing.

Watch out world…Cathy’s still in the game and she knows who she is and what she stands for. One thing she stands for is customer-driven classes and the only way you can do that is to get your customers to give you feedback…preferably in writing. She also stands for living life from abundance not from scarcity or fear.

So thank you to my many students over the years who have given me feedback both verbally and in writing. My classes are better because of it. One of my dreams is to never stop teaching until the day I die. Another dream I have is to play with like minded, playful people who know that money is and should be part of the game. That it is a way to keep score and to know how many lives you have transformed in the process. As I said before, my life has never been about the money…it’s always been about making a difference in people’s lives.

Hope to see you in my travels.

In joyful partnership,

Cathy

Cathy.the.teacher@gmail.com

Ready to hit the road & class notes

The car is packed and we are ready to hit the road for Texas. I just have one meeting at 11:00 am, then we'll eat lunch and start driving.

My new class, You Are Never Too Old for Email, went GREAT yesterday. Only two students showed up and one no show. I did have three helpers including Stu.

I learned several things yesterday teaching this class to newbies. You need one helper for each student. Also, I will teach from the handout and only use the computer for welcoming students and showing some live Google Gmail screens. This seemed to be a BIG help to the students.

Stu set up the two Google Gmail addresses at the beginning of the class. This worked out VERY well. Thanks Stu. We learned a few things not to do on this part also.

Other then a few little lessons learned the class was outstanding. The students, helpers and I ended the class with a glass of wine to celebrate. They all know I am GTT today.

See you around.

In joyful partnership,

Cathy

cathy.the.teacher@gmail.com

Sitting in the quiet

I am sitting in my living room. It is quiet and I am testing out my set up for the class today. It is working....GREAT!!!

Thank you Ezequiel and David the warrior for making my classroom "girl friendly". Granny appreciates all the help she can get.

This is my first You Are Never Too Old for Email class at my house. It is a kind of prototype class. But, since I was baptized by fire last week I don't expect too many surprises.

I do this class three more times in Texas. Can't wait!!! By then, I will be an old hand at it and know most of the things that can go right or wrong and I can just have FUN and help my students have FUN.

GTT soon +1 and counting.

In joyful partnership,

Cathy

cathy.the.teacher@gmail.com

Instructional Design 101

I have been blessed in the past to be taught and coached by masters in at least one instructional design model out there today. At UTMB we used this model. It is a five step model and I have included a link below to a VERY good site for those that are interested in more info. Many course/class developers use this model. It is their "bible". It has six elements even though it is called the five phase model. You will see why below where I have included a recap...The Design phase has two elements.

The model provides focus for six elements:
1.Analyzing the need for instruction (needs analysis), curriculum requirements, and the limitations and resources available for instruction. ANALYZE PHASE
2.Analyzing the instructional goals, learners' needs, and their prior knowledge (entry level skills). DESIGN PHASE
3.Constructing assessments (as you consider goals, learners' needs, and prior knowledge). DESIGN PHASE
4.Determine instructional strategies and select instructional media that best facilitates student understanding of new knowledge and supports the instructional strategies. DEVELOPMENT PHASE
5.Implementing the design: teaching/learning experience and student understanding (assessments). IMPLEMENT PHASE
6.Examining the actual lesson or course you designed: evaluate the connection between goals and understanding, effectiveness of instructional strategies and media. Revise for the next course or lesson. Revise for the next time you teach the class. EVALUATE PHASE

Link to source site: The Five Phases of Instructional Design

I have been using this model for over fifteen years. I have used it when I teach/taught all levels and ages of adult learners at UTMB and Habitat for Humanity and beyond. Yes, I am not perfect and I often forget a step. BUT, I never forget the last step...EVALUATE. I will let any and everybody who breath on the course evaluate the course but the most important people to evaluate the course are the students who attend the course. If you don't evaluate you can't correct. If you can't correct, you can't offer the students what they want to learn and how they want to learn it.

I have taught thousands and thousands or courses. In a new course, like the one I taught last week. The first thing I do when the course starts is evaluate the students to see what their level of aptitude is for the material I plan to present and correct on the spot if I am over or under teaching to their level. I had to do that this week. Every student in the class already had an email address. At the time, the class was designed for complete computer newbies. People who do/did not even have mouse skills. So, right on the spot, I did a course correction. Thank God...or the course would have really been a bigger set of problems...or is that opportunities.

As I mentioned earlier, the course blew up in our faces the second half of the first day of a planned two-day class. Each day was planned for two hours of class with a work day in the middle if things went wrong or someone wanted/needed extra help. I mentioned to the students and helpers that this was a prototype class just before they took their first break...thank God. I even wrote it on the white board.

My friend Barry, helper and club VP was in the class. He and I are still not sure what happened but we could have overloaded the computer club network and/or the Google Gmail system. We even had a plan for not overloading the computer club network. But, you know what they say about plans...

I usually don't have to make a MAJOR course correction in the middle of a class but this class was the exception. From now on, I or one of my helpers will set up all Google Gmail addresses ourselves or the student(s) can work with me before the class to set up their own. The student(s) can not come to class or end the first day without a working Gmail address. Some of my classes are only one day long and the class is designed for computer newbies like I said.

So, yes, the instructor gets to design and evaluate on the spot if necessary. But, one thing I NEVER, NEVER, NEVER leave out of my courses is the EVALUATE phase. It is absolutely necessary for your students to tell you what they thought and help make the class better or different if necessary. Sometimes things are SSSooooo bad that the instructor needs to re-design on the spot and get'r done.

Thank you God for having me have the experience and calm to recover from this course both during and after the course. It was a prototype course and will never be the same again...ever, ever, ever!!! Not because I say so, or the club says so but because my students say so. After all, the students are the ones that really matter. They are either paying their time and/or their money to attend the class and hopefully learn something new.

Hope this sheds some light on the instructional design model.

In joyful partnership,

Cathy

cathy.the.teacher@gmail.com

Pre-Stu weight

Stu and I laughed and laughed this week about this. When I met Stu more then 18 years ago he said I was string bikini weight. Now I never thought that or did that but it is nice to know he thought that.

Within the first three months of meeting him I gained over 20 pounds. We were living the good life then and still are. By the time, we married I am sure I was up 30-40 pounds and stayed at that weight until we retired in 1997 for the first time. After that, I even gained and lost a few more pounds.

I have never dieted since about 1993/1994. We married in 1991. Stu and I were in the LEC Wisdom Course for the third or fourth time/year in a row. We love/loved our Wisdom community in Houston. That is why we did the course so many times. During one of the courses, I realized I was complete about my weight and what I weighed. I put practices in place that helped me keep my sanity but I have never dieted again.

My practices included...walking everyday when I worked at UTMB. That will help you keep VERY sane with what you weigh. I also ate low fat and I drank lots of water. But one of the BIG reasons I was ok with what I weighed is that Stu was ok with what I weighed. That was very freeing. I knew I was ok with my weight when I started buying clothes that fit me right then and now. Not at my gonna be someday weight or waiting to fit in to the clothes in my closet. I gave all those clothes away to my (step)daughter and her best friend.

This year (2009) Stu and I decided at the beginning of the year that we wanted to get better control of our weight for health reasons. I had already been walking again an average of over 5 hours a week since 2007 but not loosing weight. This year, I kicked it up a notch. I now average over 6 hours a week but I picked up the pace a little also. I usually walk 7-9 hours a week most weeks. This is so I can keep up my average to 6 hours when I go on vacation. I also started drinking more water and an added a light weight lifting program three days a week...most of the time.

The thing that has really made all the difference is I started logging my food. Stu and I both joined The Best Life (thebestlife.com). This is run by Bob Green, Oprah's diet guy. Bob does not make you follow a lot of rules. He even doesn't require you to log your food but recommends it. In all my years of dieting, I NEVER, NEVER, NEVER logged my food. What I realized when I started doing this is that I could make small changes in the way I eat and drink, enjoy myself and loose weight. I can even still eat out 4-5 times a week and still loose weight. I do have to walk, drink water and watch what I put in my mouth for the most part.

I have lost over 27 pounds this year. Stu has lost some but not as much. I don't even care what he has lost or how much. It is between he, himself, Bob Green, and God. I don't care if he logs his food or looses weight. I am not his mother or his keeper. I have just been blessed to be his life partner.

I do not even log my food anymore...sort of. I weigh once a week. If I have gained weight that week, I promise to log my food until I get back to that weight. To date, I have never gained weight in a given week. I have stayed the same for a few weeks but NEVER gained weight. I came close once. The trip to Texas will be the test but we have put our friends/family on notice that our eating habits have changed and we our going to keep our plans. For one thing, our BIG meal is at lunch...no ifs, ands or buts about it. We will break that rule only for VERY important reasons. I will walk at least 20-30 minutes every day in Texas but probably even more. Got to keep my daily streak up and my hour average above 6 hours a week. But if I sin, I will log my food as a sort of penance. The truth is I will feel horrible and I will pay for it over and over in many ways. That even happens if I eat late, eat too much, or on occasion drink too much. I still love my glass of wine or in the summer a vodka tonic or margarita...Mmm Mmm...Texas Mex is coming soon...nothing in Arizona or anywhere else like it but I keep searching.

So no, I am still not dieting. I am just loosing weight. When Stu said out loud this week, that pretty soon I would be down to my pre-Stu weight, I almost spit water out of my mouth laughing. He and I laughed out loud in the restaurant. I am sure people wonder about us at times because we laugh so much. We've even been called the laughing couple by some of our boating friends.

So as Susan Powter said many years ago in her book, Stop the Insanity...stop dieting...stop it now...please, please, please. That book still lives on my bookshelf today. It is one of my many weight loss "bibles" even though I have not opened it in years. It helps remind me of the insanity of dieting.

In joyful partnership,

Cathy

cathy.the.teacher@gmail.com

Monsoon is here

In Arizona we have the monsoon season. That means it rains for a few months occasionally and we get BIG dust storms some times too. The reason you know the monsoon is here is the humidity is up above 20%. I know, I know...that is a good day in Houston but not in Phoenix. We talk a lot in Phoenix about whether the monsoon is here yet or not. Everyone has a different way to count.

Today on my walk, I stopped at my friend Beverly's house for a short visit. I was actually sweating. I usually drink a glass of water at her house but today the sweat was pouring off me. That is VERY unusual. So I declare, the monsoon is here.

My schedule is winding down in anticipation of my trip to Texas. I only have a few meetings and one class left before Thursday morning when we leave for Texas.

We'll be back between the 14th & 16th of July. Just not sure how things will turn out when we are there. My one class in Houston/Pearland just turned in to two classes today already. I need to check on my New Braunfels class today and see how it is doing. To see how many those Texas girls let in the classes. You know it is hard to keep us Texas girls under control. We love to do it our way...I don't think that is just a baby boomer thing but when you put boomer and Texas girl together you better watch out. We are going to break every rule in the book...especially if we don't know what the rules are and/or the rules don't make sense. Bring it on!!!!!

We just signed up for a Cricket airtime card yesterday so we can access the internet on the road. About $40 a month with no commitment and no cell phone plan. Cheaper with a cell phone plan. It doesn't work every where AT&T & Verizon do but it will give us better internet access while we are in Texas. At my best friend David's house we cannot always get cell phone service (beautiful B&B in the hill country) and he only has dial up internet access. I will NEVER do dial up again. I will go cold turkey off the internet if that is the only way to access our stuff. So, we are giving Cricket a spin. I'll let you know how it goes. We can cancel Cricket if we don't like it with very little out-of-pocket expense. Bottom line is I may not be able to post every day while we are in Texas but I will try to do what I can, when I can. Some places I am staying will definitely have "indoor" high speed internet right at my fingertips...some places will not.

GTT soon!!!!

In joyful partnership,

Cathy

cathy.the.teacher@gmail.com

New Model of Communication

This is from Landmark Education Corporation (LEC). I have done many courses with them and I will admit to anyone that LEC has changed my life and Stu's life beyond measure. First of all, that is how we met through a mutual friend. Second, and more important it is why we have such a GREAT relationship and have stayed together for nearly 18 years. We are able to get off it pretty quickly with each other and with other people. But, I ran across this when I was updating my planner for my new seminar / coaching business. I was handed this when I was in the Introduction to the Forum Leaders program back in 2004 by one of my friends. I never actually took a course that included this in it. It is one powerful piece of information. Something to live by.

New Model of Communication

Giving things up
Forgiving
Accepting
Advancing the conversation
Bringing everything and nothing to the conversation
Acknowledgement
Being with what is and what is not
Being of service


Three Fundamental Parts

Integrity
Responsibility for self and how you leave others
Generosity

Just "be" with it for awhile and it will change your life...or at least it can change your life if you let it.

In joyful partnership,

Cathy

cathy.the.teacher@gmail.com

Bee in a bottle

Years ago, Stu and I learned a GREAT distinction about how we and most people live their lives like a bee in a bottle. Always buzzing around inside and never able to get out and not understanding why they are not getting anywhere.

Day one of my new class yesterday went VERY well for the first half of the class. Everything was on schedule and we had a plan for the second half. Nothing went according to plan in the second half. I already knew that we had to go row by row to access the internet at the club. Everything went well with the back row and then all heck broke loose. Each student was attempting to set up a Google Gmail address. We are still not sure of everything that went wrong. It could have been that we over loaded the network at the computer club or we overloaded Gmail with information coming through the same network intended for different Gmail accounts. Gmail might have been unable to determine which data went with which request...but the truth is only a third of the class participants got their Gmail accounts successfully set up. We think. Some stayed after the class and some are scheduled to come in today which is not a real class day but I scheduled the classroom in case anyone needed extra hand holding. Good thing I did that because we all needed extra hand holding during and after the class.

Many good things did happen in the class. I had six helpers and I usually have none. All the helpers were people who knew how to dance a fast dance when things went south. One of those helpers was my husband Stu. He actually left the class at the beginning because he saw I had enough helpers. He and I were laughing when I cleared with him later about how the class went. Laughing that it was probably better that he was not there.

Recently, I am sure he thought several times that I have been like a bee in the bottle with my hectic schedule, lack of sleep and some times unreal pace. He had commented to me recently that he could see that I was ok and that all my "doing" was not adversely effecting me and who I am "being". But today, if he had been in the class, he would have been sure that I was a bee in the bottle with the lid on. In reality, I was VERY calm on the firing line so to speak. One or two of my helpers were a little frazzled but some of the students from the back row stepped up and tried to help other participants. I'll have to admit that other than the back row we were not very successful. But through it all I was able to keep my calm and help everybody else keep calm as well. We did have to breath a few times to remember we were having FUN. Having FUN is one of the top goals in my classes. Not making anyone feel stupid is another.

My friend and class helper Barry and a VP at the club did stay long after all the participants had left to talk with me and coach me on what could be done different and better in the future. Thanks Barry. He actually helped me figure out a few prerequisites for the class. Every student in the class already had one kind of email or another. So, basic mouse skills will definitely be a prerequisite. I also think that I will ask the students to have their Google Gmail accounts set up before the class. I'll let them decide this on Wednesday when the class concludes. I would much rather spend the class time showing them all the GREAT things that Gmail will do and how they can have a better email address that they never have to change. Regardless, of who provides their internet access.

Since some participants could not stay after class yesterday or come in to the club today. There are a few Gmail accounts that I will be setting up for some people before tomorrow (Wednesday). That is a small price to pay for the confusion and frustration that we all experienced.

So, no I was not a bee in a bottle today but I told Stu he is more than welcome to call me on it if he thinks I have actually shut the lid on the bottle. Otherwise he should just keep quite when I work hard, play hard and have lots of FUN. I know each day that I am closer and closer to my REAL purpose in life. I pray that I may actually realize my purpose in this lifetime. If not, I plan to have FUN trying.

In joyful partnership,

Cathy

cathy.the.teacher@gmail.com

The Race Is On

As I have told you, my life has been moving at rocket ship speed for the last month or more. Last Friday, things took off to a new level...I hope temporarily.

Friday night we hosted a dinner party for a total of seven people to celebrate my sister-in-laws B-day. We served chicken curry (that's my signature dish). Saturday we had a couple and their two sons over. Olinda and David have been our friends for two years but we are getting to know them a lot better. Their two sons Ezequiel and David joined us for hamburgers and hot dogs that Stu cooked on the grill. The boys actually put casters on my TV cabinet while we were waiting for dinner and did a GREAT job. This makes moving the cabinet and TV "girl friendly". I need to move this for my classes at home.

Sunday night we joined some of our cousins for more hamburgers and hot dogs at their new house in Glendale. We brought the hamburgers and hot dogs and everyone brought a dish. It was a FUN gathering but no one including me went in the pool. I did wear my bathing suit under my clothes.

Today, I teach my new class, You Are Never Too Old for Email. The second session is on Wednesday and tomorrow I reserved the classroom for those who think they need a little extra help. I will be teaching this class in a one day format at my house before we leave for Texas. I am also scheduled to teach it twice in Texas. Once in New Braunfels (San Antonio area) and once in Houston/Pearland.

So, if I miss a few days of posting you'll know why.

In joyful partnership,

Cathy

cathy.the.teacher@gmail.com

Tell Me, What Is Great About Your Life?

What a week, what a month. My life is going at rocket ship speed right now. It is not just because I am getting ready for my semi-annual trip to Texas but that does put a deadline on a number of things.

Stu and I have three gatherings planned before we leave for Texas in late June. Two at our house and one at a cousin's house. Stu's brother Wally and his wife Greta will be over for Greta's B-day party on Friday night. Our friends Alice and Ginny will join us at this gathering. I am making chicken curry and we started cooking some of this yesterday.

Saturday night we are hosting some friends for a BBQ dinner and their two teenage sons are coming along for the fun. Olinda, David and the boys have become GOOD friends of ours over the last two years and we are even becoming better friends recently. David is going to be in the same train-the-trainer class with me in Los Angeles in October.

Sunday night we go to a first and second cousins houses for another BBQ dinner. Carmen is Stu's first cousin and her son Bobby and his wife Cindy live next door sort of and they have two delightful teenage sons or almost teenage sons. Bobby and Cindy have moved back to Phoenix full-time this year and Carmen still pretends she lives in Fortuna, CA but has more than one house here in the West Valley. We tried to get in a fly fishing trip with the Smith's but that will have to wait until we return to the valley.

That is not what is keeping us/me busy. This is just the family and friends part. Before I leave for Texas, I will have designed and taught my new class, You Are Never Too Old for Email, two times. Once at the computer club next week and once at my house the following week. This class is also on the schedule twice in Texas. Once in New Braunfels at the Westside Community Center and once in Houston/Pearland at the Bella Vita Club House. Teaching another class at the club, designing and teaching my new class, and drafting my new coaching agreement are just part of what is keeping me dancing the dance. It has been a long time since I have run and played so fast and hard but I am loving it. I know it is part of what I am here on this earth to do...my dance.

Hope to see you before I leave for Texas or just as good in Texas. There is a part of my heart that will always be in Texas. When Sam Houston, one of the founders of Texas, left Tennessee for Texas in 1829, I believe that is when the old saying "Gone to Texas" originated...to the best of my knowledge. In the 1970's people wrote on their cars GTT. That was the boom days in Texas when I was still in the red hot banking business and loving it. We all know what happen to that industry in the mid-1980's...life goes on even after 20+ years in the banking business. Funny, I hardly remember those days. Now most of you think that computers are my life but that is not true either. I have a full, wonderful life even if I never touched another computer...but that ain't gonna happen anytime soon.. God willing. There are some not tech courses in my near future. For one thing, I am going to partner with one of my cousins in Texas who is a master in the area of formal education. She and I have a plan...or at least the beginning of a plan.

So now you know why some days I just write about what is REALLY going on in my life...not the things I intended or planned to write about here.

Have a GREAT day and a GREAT life. Tell me what you love about your life. I started to wear the hat with this pin on it again. It is a wonderful hat with a story all it own but the pin says...Tell Me, What Is Great About Your Life? If you can't think of a lot of GREAT things, tell me just one. There is bound to be at least one thing.

In joyful partnership,

Cathy

cathy.the.teacher@gmail.com

More of The Dance

I read more last night before I went to sleep. The book keeps getting better and my sister is reading me excerpts from her earlier book The Invitation. So, we are both getting a double dose of Oriah Mountain Dreamer. Here is a quote from The Dance.

"The Dance is about finding ways to let our essential nature guide our choices and our actions. It's about honestly looking at the times when it is hard for us to remember and be guided by who we really are -- the times when we are tired and hurt, frightened and angry. It's about the places in this culture where it is easy to become confused about who we are -- when we are dealing with money and sex and death and power."

That should give you something to think about for today.

In joyful partnership,

Cathy

cathy.the.teacher@gmail.com

The Dance

One of my sisters recently came across a good book called the Invitation by Oriah Mountain Dreamer. I have not read / heard it yet because the library has it on travel for me. I did already pick up her newest book called The Dance. I only started reading it last night when I was awaken by a late night phone call.

The intro poem is as follows:

The Dance by Oriah Mountain Dreamer

I have sent you my invitation,
the note inscribed on the palm of my hand by the fire of living.
Don't jump up and shout, "Yes, this is what I want! Let's do it!"
Just stand up quietly and dance with me.

Show me how you follow your deepest desires,
spiraling down into the ache within the ache,
and I will show you how I reach inward and open outward
to feel the kiss of the Mystery, sweet lips on my own, every day.

Don't tell me you want to hold the whole world in your heart.
Show me how you turn away from making another wrong without
abandoning yourself when you are hurt and afraid of being unloved.

Tell me a story of who you are,
and see who I am in the stories I am living.
And together we will remember that each of us always has a choice.

Don't tell me how wonderful things will be...someday.
Show me you can risk being completely at peace,
truly okay with the way things are right now in this moment,
and again in the next and the next and the next...

I have heard enough warrior stories of heroic daring.
Tell me how you crumble when you hit the wall,
the place you cannot go beyond by the strength of your own will.
What carries you to the other side of that wall,
to the fragile beauty of your own humanness?

And after we have shown each other how we have set and kept the
clear, healthy boundaries that help us live side by side with each other,
let us risk remembering that we never stop silently loving
those we once loved out loud.

Take me to the places on the earth that teach you how to dance,
the places where you can risk letting the world break your heart,
and I will take you to the places where the earth beneath my feet
and the stars overhead make my heart whole again and again.

Show me how you take care of business
without letting business determine who you are.
When the children are fed but still the voices within and around us
shout that soul's desires have too high a price,
let us remind each other that it is never about the money.

Show me how you offer to your people and the world
the stories and the songs you want our children's children to remember,
and I will show you how I struggle,
not to change the world, but to love it.

Sit beside me in long moments of shared solitude,
knowing both our absolute aloneness and our undeniable belonging.
Dance with me in the silence and in the sound of small daily words,
holding neither against me at the end of the day.

And when the sound of all the declarations of our sincerest
intentions has died away on the wind,
dance with me in the infinite pause before the next great inhale
of the breath that is breathing us all into being,
not filling the emptiness from the outside or from within.

Don't say, "Yes!"
Just take my hand and dance with me.

- - - -
Wow that poem spoke to me on many different levels. I can't wait to read the rest of the book and get The Invitation that she also wrote. I have heard some passages from this book as well and it sounds GREAT.

If I had to pick one part of the poem that speaks the loudest to me right now it is...let us remind each other that it is never about the money. Recently, I had an opportunity to go in to a very lucrative business opportunity and I turned it down. When I became VERY clear again that my whole life has never been about the money it was an easy choice. The hard part of the choice was that I had to pass up the opportunity to work with two VERY powerful coaches/partners. I will have the opportunity to work with one of them again in the future but this was the hard part for me. It was never about the money. I decided to go in to my own seminar and coaching business again instead and turn my stock/option trading back to my husband. As I have said, I'll offer some tech stuff and some not tech stuff but it is, was and never will be about the money for me. I'll even offer coaching to my favorite people. I have to have something that gets me up in the morning. Even when I don't feel like it...especially when I don't feel like it. My communities of friends, students, partners etc. are what gets me up every day and I will dance to this music as long as I live God willing.

That's all for today.

In joyful partnership,

Cathy Oberkampf

cathy.the.teacher@gmail.com

P.S. Sorry for the word wrap problem but I tried to re-create this poem as accurately as possible and my blog won't handle longer lines with out wrapping to the next line.

Conquered the 10' Pontoon

Stu and I spent two days putting together our new 10' Fish Cat Four fishing Pontoon. The instructions were the WORST I have ever seen. They did exists but that was about it. The best part was a picture of the finished product on the front cover. We succeeded in putting it together after making a number of mistakes. We only have one seat part that is still a mystery. We even took some pictures of it after it was put together. We are planning a pulley system in the garage so we don't have to take the frame apart ever again. We figured out that it would not fit on top of the van an be able to drive the van in to the garage. So, it will probably go on top of the pop-up camper until we upgrade to an RV again. For now the pop-up works well for our fly fishing outings which we try to go on every month.

I am definitely looking for a used class B RV or a small class C. The rig I will find may be more then 10 years old if I can figure out how to get it certified to go in to any campground. I am also looking for a 22' to 26' rig. I would like to do some artsy fartsy stuff to it like my friends Eddy & Paulette did to their rigs. Eddy actually built her travel trailer from scratch. Paulette bought an old Shasta that she renovated. Both of these ladies are members of AZ Flycasters. Paulette is a member of Sister on the Fly as well. Anyway we are beginning to take our fly fishing somewhat seriously. Most of the members of our club are VERY serious. I just started a new Facebook group for the club.

I'll be teaching a Vista 101 computer class this week. It is my first time I will be teaching this at the computer club. My new class, You Are Never Too Old for E-mail is on the schedule 3 times at the computer club and 3 times at my house this summer. Once, at my house before I leave for Texas. I also have it on the schedule when I am in Texas at 2 different locations. Once in New Braunfels and once in Houston/Pearland. My new training/coaching business is definitely picking up steam. Stu has taken over my trading/investing and I am focusing on my training/coaching business full time. I'll be doing some tech courses and some not tech courses. I'll also be partnering with some of my favorite people on some of these courses.

That's all for today.

In joyful partnership,

Cathy

cathy.the.teacher@gmail.com

You Are Not Responding to Them

When you get upset about something some one say or does you are not responding to them / me. This is even true when you think they meant to say/do what they did but it is especially true when what they said was just an innocent request or not even a request at all. I and some others believe that you are responding to something from your past. Something or someone who upset you in the past. It is NEVER about what just happened or didn't happen.

One of my sisters and I were just laughing today about the way she experiences military or retired military people. They hardly have to breath for her to be upset by who they are "being". I am just kidding about the just breathing part. But, she and I both have an already always listening (I'll talk about that another day) about who military and retired military people are "being". Maybe that comes from being raised near San Antonio. There were a lot of these guys and gals around. So mind you, we have our radar up when they walk in the room...ready to be upset by what they say or don't say. She told me that some times she just plays the "dumb blonde" and says I don't know about the military life or rank or whatever...would you mind explaining it to me. That does shut them up pretty quick.

Anyway the principal of you are not responding to them works both ways. They are not responding to you when they get upset about what you said, did, or didn't do. I don't suggest you point this out to them at the time unless you want to get in to a full blown argument but later you maybe able to do that when it is more appropriate. You would be surprised about what a conversation like that can open up for you and for other person when you have it at the right time.

That's it for today. Stu and I are finishing off the trim on our new fire-rated doors.

In joyful partnership,

Cathy

cathy.the.teacher@gmail.com

The universe is perfect

My spiritual guide, Marianne Williamson, had a GREAT podcast this week about The Universe Is Self Organizing. You can click on the link to hear the whole thing or I have paraphrased some of the key points below.

She starts out saying that every situation, every circumstance, every relationship that you are in is PERFECT. Created as the perfect learning opportunity for what you need to learn now. Your day will be perfect if you live it correctly. Don't hold anything or anyone at arms length. Especially if the circumstance/situation brings up some level of discomfort. It gives you the perfect opportunity to heal from whatever wound in you that helped create the situation. The moment will be perfect if you behave correctly. Be who you truly are. It gives you the opportunity to live life at a higher level.

My dear departed long-time friend Tommye Jo use to say that she believed this is what "hell" is. That if you didn't get it right in this life or the next that you will get the opportunity to do it over, and over, and over again. This certainly sounds more real than some place you go to after you die if you have been bad. She believed that you can be in "hell" right now in this life and if it is an important lesson you need to learn that you didn't get right the first time around that you will take it with you to the next life and beyond. I miss you TJ but you are always in my heart.

So pay attention to the lessons you are presented in this life and get it right if not the first time at least the second or third. It makes life so much easier and more joyful.

In joyful partnership,

Cathy

cathy.the.teacher@gmail.com

First things first

As I mentioned earlier, there is a lot going on in my life. I have had to reorganize the way I do everything. I am by my very nature an organized person but the universe has been sending me lots and lots of new data/information. I have had to figure out how to deal with it all. A way to be able to use this information again in the future. I've been journaling a lot for the first time. I received a beautiful journal about three inches thick as a going away present from a Habitat for Humanity affiliate I worked for and volunteered with a few years. It sat on my shelf empty for nearly four years. I have more than filled it up in less than a month.

I also started using my planner again. Just to organize the "to do" things that I have been coming up with. It will take me months to get all the things done that I have come up with. I even started mind mapping again which I haven't done since Stu and I were reinventing our lives after our live aboard days. The mind mapping has been VERY useful for me to organize large amounts of data in to some coherent thoughts that I can retrieve at a latter time.

I rarely get done what I want to accomplish each day. I have almost stopped watching TV and have been sleeping less than I use to. I also have been networking with everyone I meet in ways I haven't done in a VERY long time. All the people I meet get put in to my Goggle contacts in a way I can retrieve it from bits of info I have about each person (e.g. walking stick from Zimbabwe) or whatever else that makes the person memorable to me. In Google contacts I can record and retrieve all kinds of trivia. I now know everyone I see on my walks more than one time. It certainly makes my walking more enjoyable. The neighborhood has come alive for me. Several of the people I have become friends with will be in my first class at home. These are people who are VERY new to computers but they trust me to handle them with care.

My priorities are always people first. That's why I entitled this first things first. Everything else that doesn't get done just doesn't get done. Another concept I learned years ago is you will only get done today what you get done today. The rest will be there tomorrow or later.

I believe first things first comes from the Franklin Covey book Seven Habits of Highly Effective People. Which is a GREAT book. We did a lot of Covey training at UTMB when I worked there. The thing I remember most was to put the BIG rocks in first and the little ones will fit in. For years, I even had a glass full of rocks on my desk and the only way the rocks would fit in the glass was to put the BIG ones in first. This helped me remember to put the important things in my life first. The rest would work itself out. This concept has served me and Stu well over the year.

Signing off for tonight.

In joyful partnership,

Cathy Oberkampf

cathy.the.teacher@gmail.com

Nothing wrong here and there is no place to get

What a concept to get and remember when you need to remember. There is nothing wrong here and there is no place to get.

Right now I am running and playing full out to get my classes and coaching business up and running. I have my first new class, "You Are Never Too Old for E-mail" on the calendar six times in Sun City and once in Houston/Pearland. I am still trying to get some other classes set up in New Braunfels and/or Conroe while I am in Texas. I don't remember when I have had so much FUN. But, this morning I had to remind myself of something I learned many years ago ...there is nothing wrong here and that is no place to get.

This really applies to everything in life. It is the journey that matters. I was running so fast this morning trying to get things done before we have lunch with some friends I was out of breadth. I sat down in my new AB Lounge 2 chair. Some of the extra seating for my office that I got at a garage sale for $15 recently. I took a few deep breadths and this concept came back in to my mind. Thank you universe.

As I said, this really applies to everything in life. Especially my dieting and/or not dieting. I have not dieted in over 15 years. I was ok (complete) with my weight. This year Stu and I both joined The Best Life plan in January to get a better handle on our eating and our weight. TheBestLife.com is run by Bob Greene, Oprah's diet guy and you get to make up most of the rules. Stu has lost some weight but I don't even keep up with his journey. I have now lost over 23 pounds as of this week. If I had to say one thing that made the difference, it was/is logging my food every day. Stu and I still like to go out to eat 3-4 times per week. I know the general calorie count of everything I put in my mouth or at least my food log does. Before, I NEVER logged my food, in years and years of dieting and have lost 100's of pounds on other diet plans. Some of those pounds over and over. That's one reason I quit dieting 15 years ago. At the time, I put exercise and reasonably healthy eating in to my life and I decided that I would weigh what I weigh. This year, I have uped my exercise intensity but not the time and eat even more healthy. I walk 7-9 hours per week. Even in the Phoenix sun. Outside in the morning and at the rec center in the afternoon. It doesn't matter how little time you walk. Just get started twice a day. Even five minutes if that is all you can do to start. Not surprising, my doctor lowered my medications recently. Now that's a reason to walk. I don't even log my food anymore unless I gain weight in a given week. I call it penance for having sinned and I do sin on this eating plan. I just know what the cost will be if I eat too much....for one thing I will have to do my penance for another I won't feel as good.

Anyway try using the concept: There is nothing wrong here and there is no place to get. Try using it for a week and see if things change for you in an area of your life you are struggling with and/or over worked from.

In joyful partnership,

Cathy

cathy.the.teacher@gmail.com

No recession

One of my spiritual guides, Marianne Williamson, had a GREAT recording recently on her daily podcasts. She is always GREAT but sometimes what she has to say makes the hair stand up on the back of my neck. Her recording of 5/7/09 is one of those and a link is included below:

No Recession by Marianne Williamson

To summarize the key points she says, don't buy in to the thought that because of diminished material resources there is less available for you. It just might be what is necessary to get you to do the inner work in your own soul to who you are and to what you are here on the earth to give. The thing that actually pushes you in to the place out of which will emerge opportunities including opportunities for material resources that you might never have had or even imagined. She further goes on to say this is not about denial it is about transcendence and that there are so many more rooms in this house of ours. We live in a big mansion and you've only been living in a few rooms. Open up doors in the house you have never used before. What is the talent you have never gone for? What is the thing you have always really wanted to do? The thing you didn't do because you had a job/something else you were doing. Didn't have the time to do. God will move you forward in areas that you never would have gone without the recession. The new job will places you on that track to something extraordinary and abundant. God is more powerful than this recession. In God there is no recession. Time for you to remember who your source is. The job that you have had is not the only source of your good. Not the actual source of your good at all. Just the form the universe expressed itself in your life. Form can change but the content will not change. The content is how much God loves you. How infinitely powerful and talented you are. How the genius and the brilliance of the universe is encoded in you and each and everyone of us. Remember that. Know who you are. Lack is just not a part of what you are about. That you a child of God and entitled to miracles.

I feel sure that some of you feel your necks tingling right right now. You'll know who your are when you read/heard this. I certainly am on a new path because of the fun and games in the stock market in 2008/2009. Stu has taken over my trading/investing along with his full-time trading. He still has his mind and heart in the game. I haven't had my heart in the game since last October. I am on a new path creating classes and coaching. Some tech stuff and some not. My first class is "You Are Never Too Old for E-mail". I offer this as a free class and have a two day format and a one day format. I am already scheduled to teach this class four times in Arizona and at least once in Texas (Houston/Pearland) when I am there this summer. I am working on setting up some additional classes while I am in Texas.

To sign up for Marianne Williamson's daily podcasts go to Oprah.com and click on Radio in the middle of the top line. Then choose Marianne Williamson. After that, select Get Marianne's podcasts and read her blog. You will have to sign up the first time you are there. Also, you will have to listen to some Oprah.com ads but it is worth the extra time and effort. I download her podcasts every day.

Rolling, rolling, rolling.

In joyful partnership,

Cathy

cathy.the.teacher@gmail.com

Great anniversary outing

Stu and I spent today, our 16th wedding anniversary, together on a FUN outing. We started out the day at the Desert Botanical Garden in Phoenix. The Chihuly: The Nature of Glass exhibit is in its final days at the garden. We saw a number of incredibly beautiful pieces. We actually left the garden before noon because the heat finally got to us. We definitely went prepared with hats, water, snacks, cameras etc. Stu rented a scooter to ride around on. By the time we left, I wished I had rented one as well. We should have gone to see the exhibit earlier in the spring but it was still worth it to go. We both realized that a night tour of the garden would be even more beautiful.

After leaving the garden we went to one of the best meals I have ever had. We went to Lon's restaurant at the Hermosa. Thank you Danny White, one of our trading mentors, for the recommendation. We had a leisurely two hour lunch with a nice bottle of wine, lots of ambience, and as I said some of the best food I have had in a long time. Certainly the best I have ever had in the Valley of the Sun.

A beautiful way to celebrate another GREAT year together.

In joyful partnership,

Cathy

cathy.the.teacher@gmail.com