Hallie's Birthday

Friendship is the only thing in the world concerning the usefulness of which all mankind are agreed.
-- Marcus T. Cicero

Wednesday, September 29, 1999
One year ago: Family Dinner

Tonight I went to the regular Wednesday night dance at the Century Ballroom. This was my first night out dancing since the lindy exchange, a week and a half ago! My feet needed that time to recover, but I wanted to get out dancing again. I also went because the word went out that it was Hallie's birthday! She's the owner of the club, and one of my primary dance teachers.

I experimented with putting my hair up in a slightly different way, and I'm glad to say that it worked! By "worked" I mean that it didn't fall down during the evening, looked nice, and was comfortable. I used one of those topsy tail hair gadgets (but mine was brand x, not the name brand!) to fix a pony tail, then twisted the tail until it coiled around itself and tucked the end behind the pony tail holder, holding it with a concorde hair clip. I should have taken a picture! But an image of the back of my head would have taken some arranging.

I really enjoyed myself tonight! Earl asked me to dance right off the bat, and several other people did also. I got to dance with most of the people I wanted to, and the music was just carrying me away! It's interesting how some partners really inspire me to play with the music and improvise. My friend Benjamin Solomon (aka DJ King Solomon) was playing the music.

Hallie and Ginnie (another local follow, very tiny and cute) both had birthday dances at various times in the evening. I would have gone out in the circle with Hallie if the song had been a bit longer. So many people wanted to dance with her -- if you hesitate, the chance is lost!

At the beginning of the evening, Benjamin was talking to Hallie about not knowing what to get her for a gift. He's been spending practically all his time at the ballroom for the last year, working there, being in the performing group, teaching now, and DJing also! But he knows Hallie well, only in the context of dance and the ballroom. This is true for most of us generally; we know each other well, but only in this context. I know a few secrets about a few people, though!

What a great gift to the community the Century has been! Thanks, Hallie!

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In Epinions news, my former boyfried Jason has joined, and I've written some new reviews on movies (Clerks, Ghost in the Shell, Metropolis) and on my favorite graphics program, Image Composer. Check it out, and think about joining and writing some reviews! It's fun!

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At work, Chip has gradually been educating me in the intricacies of building our site. He's built an amazing suite of scripts and tools that really allow a complicated site with lots of content to have new stock information every day. But more than one person needs to know how to operate the process, if Chip is ever going to be able to take a vacation or a sick day.