Is it that time already?

The Christmas advertisements are up, the malls have started to play Christmas music (or at least, so I hear... I haven't been in one yet myself to check out this rumour), and worst of all, people have started to put up their Christmas lights.

I say worst of all because Myles is so adamantly against having anything Christmas start before December 1st. Now, as we drive to where we're going, I get to listen to a series of groans, sighs, and other noises of complaint. It's almost enough to make me pity him. It must be tough to be an idealist taking a stand against the cruel world :-)

I guess this means I can't start playing my Christmas mix for another 10 days... even if it does only have 5 or 6 true Christmas songs on it!

It Don't Mean a Thing...

... if it ain't got that swing!

I had a superfantastic whirlwind weekend in Kingston at the Nat and Yuval workshop: 20 hours of dancing in the span of 48. What could be better?

Well, how about adding in cool aerials, dancing at 270 bpm, a vastly improved swingout, groovy blues moves, a dance party with a live band and a blues after-party that went into the wee hours (and beyond - I left at 2:45 but if I'd been really dedicated the party lasted until 5:30 am).

Ironically, one of the highlights of the evening for me was dancing with an elderly gentleman named Emmett, who managed to lead me in foxtrot despite the fact that I've never really done it before, while threading through the masses of swing dancers to accomplishthe travelling pace that is so typically foxtrot!

Other highlights: nailing the first aerial (props go out to Ben!); watching the individual who took the celebrity spotlight theme of the party seriously enough to show up not only looking like Michael Jackson, but dancing like him as he performed to Billie Jean; a couple of really good blues dances with Norm; all the delightfully good leads who danced with me at the party; and succeeding at the floorial which I have for lack of any other title decided to call "stirring the soup" with not just one or two but a whole succession of leads.

Good times!!!

And now, I hurt. Everywhere.

Mental note: swing workshops are just as gruelling as ultimate tournaments! Stay in shape!

What do you think?

I just finished reading Orson Scott Card's latest column; in which he writes a lengthy analysis in support of maintaining Bush's strategy in the "War on Terror."

While I have trouble with his portrayal of Bush as a wise, moderate leader; I don't know what to make of his analysis of the political situation in the Middle East.

Anybody else want to weigh in?

Hallowe'en Part 2

Handing out candy to little kids is definitely a lot more fun when you dress up!

However, I'm not convinced I'm a fan of scaring the kids too much... we made one little boy cry :-(

A few times I had to use my good fairy persona to convince kids to be brave enough to come up the stairs and face the pirate who had just bellowed Aaarrrr! at them.

And I even had to take candy down to one little 2-year-old lion... so cute!

We tried to catch the Rocky Horror Picture Show (I even went to the trouble of collecting most of the props we needed: lighters, toast, rice, water sprayer, newspapers, cards, rubber gloves) but were thwarted in our attempt... and rudely so, I must say. We just got to the front of the line when they ran out of tickets, and I know exactly who to blame: one of the three rude girls who had snuck into line behind us decided to run ahead and buy tickets without waiting her turn for that either...

Aaarrrr(gh)!