Thanks To Our Readers We Are Moving Up The Technorati Rankings

For about as long as I have been blogging (that's been a LONG TIME), the gold standard for ranking blogs has been Technorati, who follows, ranks and tracks blogs that count up to the millions...that is a lot of blogs.  Thanks to our loyal followers, thanks to our visitors that stop by on a very regular basis from all around the world, our little blog here in Mountaindale in it's first two months (less than) has just moved under the number 6000...out of over one million!

5902. Mountaindale After Dark http://mountaindalesoapbox.blogspot.com/
 

Technorati Auth

A very special thank you to everyone who helps to make this possible, to everyone who helped us move up some 46 spaces.  Wondering what is next on Mountaindale After Dark?  Later today look for my Mother's Christmas Morning Coffee Cake recipes...a family tradition in my house for over half a century now.  For now, have to head down to our little hamlet's laundry room and swap laundry over into the dryers...do wish at times we had washer/dryer hookups in our apartments, as it would make life so much simpler.

Have a GREAT DAY everyone.

Ode to Isis

Isis and Alexandra Lalieu

History is full of famous dogs who are known for their loyalty and love for their masters. These dogs include Lassie, Rin Tin Tin, Hachiko of Japan, and Toto, too. Another name needs to be added to this list, and that is Isis, a beautiful Doberman Pinscher, beloved by all of the students of Upstate Karate of Mountaindale. Isis was an incredibly obedient dog who loved her owner, Alexandra Lalieu, with every drop of her soul. They often arrived together at the Main Street karate school, where Isis would relax quietly all afternoon and into the evening while Alexandra taught her students the art of Soo Bahk Do. Except that Isis would always be carefully listening for the sounds of the commands for the closing ceremony of each class. As soon as they were heard, Isis would poke her head out of the office curtains to see who might be interested in playing with her in between classes. She would patiently await permission from Alexandra, and then bound out to the glee of all around.

Isis was also a working dog who assisted Alexandra by demonstration in Dog Training classes. Ms. Lalieu is a very talented Trainer, who taught Isis in Dutch. This way, Isis could obey the Dutch commands without confusing the Loving To Please dog clients who were learning in either English or another language. The ‘tricks’ that Isis could perform were spectacular. There was obviously a tremendous amount of mutual love between Alexandra and Isis to achieve such a high level of canine obedience. Isis’ desire to please was palpable, whether she was in Heel, Stay, waiting to eat a treat on her nose, or not stepping in the martial arts training mats. Of course, my absolute favorite game with Isis was playing Hide & Seek with her squeaky tennis ball. At this, she was the Master! I might come up with a hiding place to stump her for a few minutes, but she ALWAYS persistently sniffed for that slobbery ball until she proudly found it and would then immediately give it back to me to play again, after she had chomped it a few more times for some victory squeaks.

Doberman Pinschers are often bred to be aggressive and fearsome as guard dogs. Isis was always loving and gentle with all of the students. She had a wonderful temperament. It began with her looks. She was sleek and muscular in her build and noble in her stance. She had a natural long tail which hadn’t been docked as a puppy, and also retained her natural ears, which Alexandra had ordered not to be cropped at birth. Her joyful, expressive face and her loving warmth will be missed by the Lalieu family and all of the students of Upstate Karate of Mountaindale.

written by Barb Schmitt

Get Belly Fit on Tuesdays

“Momma’s got a brand new bag” and it starts on Tuesday, May 3^rd at 62 Main Street in Mountaindale. The new experience is called Belly Fit. These classes will join the other already successful health & fitness courses offered weekly on Main Street. This includes martial arts at Upstate Karate of Mountaindale Sunday –Thurs, Zumba on Mon & Wed, and Yoga at Radiant Yoga on Tues & Thurs – Sun. But, what, one might ask is Belly Fit? These Tuesday night classes will be taught by Ahleana, who has been studying Middle Eastern dance for over 20 years. She has artfully combined gentle, light aerobic moves with traditional belly dancing techniques to create a fun cardio workout, set to Middle Eastern Pop music and rhythms.

Students will enjoy a warm up, stretching and learn invigorating choreographed combinations and routines. “Belly dancing,” says Ahleana, “provides not only body toning, but also an important connection to the dancer's inner femininity. There is the chance to bond with other women, to dress up, and to feel beautiful.” Participants should wear comfortable, slightly form fitting clothing. Jingly hip scarves are encouraged and can be purchased at the studio right before class. Sessions will run from 6:30 to 7:45PM and the class fee is $10/class. All of Ahleana's proceeds go to help animals in need of food or medical care. To enjoy this exotic art form as a way to exercise and build self-confidence, please call (845) 436-8945 to reserve a space in the Mountaindale Belly Fit first class.