Ah, Good Times

Cowtown was last weekend.  I didn't place in any of the contests like I'd hoped I would.  I didn't even make it to finals in the Jack and Jill (I'm follow #90, the first Sarah), and Eric and I made finals in the couples contest because there were no prelims.  Though it was fun dancing to a live band in that contest. ^__^;;

But it was still amazing!  I hadn't done that much dancing in a long time.  I didn't go to any of the after hours dances, preferring to be semi-alive for the workshops.  My favorite class might have been the Lindy Routine, even though it was the hardest one.

Sunday night came, everyone was tired, and we all went to Jazz, the restaurant at the end of the universe in the lower part of the place where the dance was going to be held and had some good times.  But when we went to the club upstairs... I'm still wishing that it hadn't ended, it was just so much fun.  Anymore, Sunday night's what I've been daydreaming about at work while I'm doing the mindless task of putting stickers on the tags of stuffed animals.

And speaking of work...!  When I came back on Tuesday, I found out two things: 1) That there was a very good-looking trucker that delivered a shipment on Monday that I missed (no big deal, I said; I got to dance with good-looking guys all weekend!), and 2) A position opened up in the IT department because the head of that department is leaving.  I quickly filled out another in-house application and turned in it, though I hate that I wasn't able to attach a résumé to it, since it was due that day.  Hopefully I'll still get asked for an interview; it looked like I was close to getting the job last time.

So right now, I'm going through dancing withdrawal.  I keep getting antsy, especially at work, and all I can think of is getting back on the dance floor.  Man, I can't wait for Friday.

News from the Literary Geek Section

Okay, Eoin Colfer writing a Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy book is pretty awesome. If I didn't know his writing style from the Artemis Fowl books already, I'd be iffy about it, but really, he's great for it.

In No Particular Order, Last Sunday I...

• Went swing dancing
• Had amazing pineapple coconut ice cream (BEST ICE CREAM EVER!)
• Played pool for the first time in nearly a year
• Was a lot worse at pool than I remembered
• Played blackjack and a hand of poker
• Failed miserably at blackjack and poker (except for one blackjack hand)
• Had the best meal I've had in a long time
• Hung out with a bunch of guys (and one awesome girl)
• Gave my phone number out to two guys (that, despite knowing them for years, I hadn't given my number to them before for some inane reason)
• Became the leader of a bunch of child-like adults
• Made decent decisions as leader (via a democratic voting system)
• Made at least two people's days a lot better than they were (course, both those people had adult beverages as well)

I've determined that I'm doing a lot this week, but not much of it's going to be work, even though we've gotten a lot of good-sized orders in at once.

• Monday: Half day at work, then class, then teaching Eric's co-worker how to dance
• Tuesday: Work all day, relax at night (though I should do everything that I'm not going to be able to do the rest of the week)
• Wednesday: Work half the day, go to eye doctor appointment, go to class, and go practice for the dance contests!
• Thursday: Work until swing dancers attack the zoo (if they do).  Hopefully I'll have the big plush order done by then.  And figure out what I'm doing for...
• Friday: The start of Cowtown Jamborama!

Victory #2

Somehow, Dan and I got second place in the couples competition at dance tonight.  Free admission into the couples contest at Cowtown for us.  Except Dan's not going to be there.  We'll see if I can still get in with a different lead for free.

And I'm starting to draw up a new idea for what it takes to win the local contests at least.  Technical skill makes up a surprisingly small part.  Flashy moves help if you know your partner.  Being friends with the judges helps in some cases.  But I'm starting to think that looking like you're having fun is the most important part.  These last two competitions, I haven't been concentrating on footwork or moves; I've been having fun, or at least forcing a smile on my face.  And I'm finally getting to the finals, even though I feel like I'm outclassed.

But that's just a theory.  And I don't know how well it will stand up next week at Cowtown.  Different set of judges, different criteria.  I'll likely die of shock if I make it past the prelims.

And I somehow managed to jam my right index finger not long after the contest, and I don't know how it happened.

What I Did at Work Today – Insect Edition

This guy was just sitting on the dock at work, so I dug through the damaged products until I found a bug catcher, then wrangled the thing in there.  I don't think I'll keep him long; I don't have the patience to catch bugs for him to eat.

Edit 9/11/2008:  I've tried letting him free twice now.  Yesterday, I tossed him out of his cage before I went to work.  When I came home, he was sitting on the rail by the door.  So, I took him in for the night.  But before I went to bed, I opened the cage door and set it outside.  He was still there when I went to work.  And he was still there when I came home from work.  So, I brought him in again.  And I have named him "Zorak."

Birthday Celebrations

So, what did I actually do on my birthday?  Not much, just dinner with my mom and aunt.

But the day after my birthday?

• Last-minute surprise dinner before swing Somehow, a bunch of my swing dancing friends showed up at Don & Millie's, where Eric and I were going to have dinner, in order to embarrass me horribly.  Gee, how coincidental.
• I had a birthday jam for the first time in a few years.
• The Jack & Jill contest - I still don't know how I placed third, squeaking in free admission to the Jack & Jill contest at Cowtown.  I thank my leads, primarily Chris, for that one.
• I was able to pay for Cowtown.

There's been a lot of little things as well over the last few days that have made me smile, too.  Most of it being everyone who's wished me "Happy Birthday."  Thank you everyone!  (And thank you Matt and Eric for the pictures!)

Happy Birthday, Me – What Happened This Year

Twenty-two years ago today, doctors said to my mother, "Well, she's a month late and it's Labor Day anyway," and induced labor to get me into the world.  Should've known then that I'd be lazy and grumpy.

This last year has been a growing experience, the big event being breaking up with my boyfriend.  But slowly and surely, I'm changing, I think for the better.  I'm gaining a new circle of friends now that I've accepted that I'm not likely to have Kate and Annette as my constant shadows anymore.  I'm becoming social, and I'm starting to regain self-confidence.

I've grown my fingernails out.  I've started growing my hair out.  I've started to wear contact lenses again.  I've found a vague interest in cooking.  I've started reading actual books again.  I started writing again.  I started gardening (halfheartedly).  I learned to love Companion Cube.  I reinstalled Windows for the first time.  I joined Facebook (something I swore I'd never do).  I've worn out several pairs of dancing shoes.  I've thought a lot about swing dancing, nearly quitting in the process.  I didn't get the supervisor job at work, but I ended up in the warehouse instead.  I'm going back to school.

I guess I should set goals for what I want to happen this year, but I'm finding that I tend to break whatever goals I write down, contrary to what everyone tells me about goal-setting and achieving.  So I guess I'll just hope to continue accepting life as it comes at me.

Thar She Goes!

Kate left for the middle of Nowhere, Illinois to live with Annette. Her parting/housewarming gift from me and my Mom was the sign from our high school graduation party (OMG that was four years ago!) that says "This is the bathroom."   Since her car was full of crap, I stuck it in the window.  ^____^