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PoutingDisappointment, when it involves neither shame nor loss, is as good as success; for it supplies as many images to the mind, and as many topics to the tongue. |
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Friday, October 2, 1998
One year ago: Ballroom Dance
I was supposed to get together tonight with JB, with whom I went to the zoo to see the butterflies a few weeks ago. He had told me that it was his birthday this coming Sunday, so I was thinking about getting him a little something. This turned into an interesting discussion on the MS singles public folder (like an internal newsgroup). I got lots of advice on what men -- or at least the men who post to that folder -- like to receive as gifts, but the discussion didn't change my idea about what to get. Since I really don't know him too well yet, I went with a small bouquet of flowers in fall colors, a few very nice chocolates, and another small token.
Then I came home to take care of things like taking out the trash, doing a bit of straightening up, and so on. JB was supposed to call me between five and six o'clock, so I wasn't surprised when the phone rang a few minutes after five. But I was disappointed when he said he needed to take a rain check on the evening. He did have a good excuse, though; he's having some minor surgery in a few weeks, and the problem was giving him some pain. So of course, I said I understood, and only pouted for about ten minutes.
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I went on to plan B: Friday night practice at the Savoy Swing club, and the first Friday dance sponsored by the same club afterwards. I spent some time working on journal graphics, until it was time for practice. I am glad that they meet so close to my place! The mini-lesson happened to include the Jenny swoop, which is a move that I learned in my Swing Girls lindy class the other week, so I was able to catch on quickly, to that part at least. The confusing point about the footwork that was the other part of the lesson was that it was a ten-count move, rather than a more normal eight-count move. Now, part of the point with footwork in lindy is that it usually isn't led; footwork variations can be done anytime, and if your partner catches on, zie can join you and do it the next eight counts. But this strategy doesn't work if it's a sequence that lasts longer than the normal pattern! I asked about this, and I don't think I got a real clear answer, but it was a good class anyway.
My friends Mark and Holly gave me a ride to the Russian Center, venue for the First Friday dance. It's a very walkable distance, but I did have something extra to carry: the flowers I had bought for JB! I figured that I'd bring them along and we could have them at the table by the front door, where they were selling tickets to the dance. They did look very festive; there were red and yellow mums of various styles, with a few sprays of eucalyptus and ornamental grasses.
I danced several times with Greg, and finally re-asked his name. I know we'd exchanged names before, but neither of us had remembered; we just knew we liked to dance with each other. He's a young guy, perhaps in his early twenties, with great style and energy! I also had fun dancing with Mike Hern and lots of others. I asked Mike for a ride home at the end, which he was kind enough to give me.
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