|
FNP
Friday, January 28, 2000 Two years ago, I was at home, taking the day off because I had my period. I've learned since that it's not unusual for menstrual pain and problems to get worse as one gets older, darn it! I was struggling with clutter issues bach then, too. I mentioned a former colleague, Geoff Duncan, who is still working for TidBITS. Sharing an office with him and Paul Goade was critical in my technical education, back in 1993. I soaked up testing strategies and windows knowledge, plus info about how stuff worked at Microsoft. One year ago, I was wishing for a wearable, always connected pc. With DSL, I have the always-connected part! Jon Singer has moved to the DC area now, and is keeping a sort of journal, now. Well worth reading! He's playing with ceramics (in a very tech-y way, along with the artist's way) and living with a macaw and a cockatoo.
I was able to go to Friday Night Practice tonight, after a long time away. Most Fridays, I'm driving to Bellingham, or Jack is here. The practice is held at Dance on Capitol Hill, a dance studio that happens to be just a few blocks from my house. (Capitol Hill is dance central, with the Century Ballroom, DOCH, and the Russian Center all in walking distance from me.) The room is in the basement and of a reasonable size. There are mirrors on two walls, and a nice smooth dance floor, raised up a few inches. There are stern warnings painted on the edge, asking you to make sure your shoes won't scratch or mark it! I got to dance with some folks that I haven't seen for a while. Devin is always fun to dance with -- very smooth! He tries new things, then asks, "What was that?" We'll try to figure out what it was that he led, so he'll be able to repeat it when he wants to. I also got to dance with Winfield Hobbs, whom I don't see that often. His style and skill is an inspiration to me, since he is (like me) an older person of size, not a high school kid. (He's the one in the navy blue shirt, in the last picture on the page.) Going to practice, like taking the drop-in class on Mondays, is good because it exposes me to partners beyond the folks I already dance with often. That's good, because it reminds me to react to what my partner is doing, and not guess and assume. Getting familiar with a new partner is a process of adjustment. Going to practice also reminds me what dancing with beginners is like!
Jack had an email exchange with a friend of his in Bellingham, and forwarded it to me for comments on what he'd said. I had a few reactions, which he took in good part. He agreed with what I'd said (I'd noticed a few omissions), so he immediately emailed his friend again. I really liked what he said at the end!
|
