ebonlock | Don't panic, don't panic, this is *not* happening...

In 12 days I will be leaving for LA, I am so not ready for this trip. I mean sure I have my dress (and a backup, just in case), but I still need to do something about my hair, pack, get supplies for the roadtrip, plot the route (taking into consideration the street closings), figure out what we're going to do on Saturday afternoon and evening and Sunday afternoon, etc., etc. Now I do realize that I personally don't have to do all this, but I'm a control freak so bear with me while I run around waving my hands in the air and florning for a bit.

There, all better now.

Friday evening was fun, even if I sort of sank down into the floor and zoned out for portions of it. Damn I hate nasty headcolds that knock me on my ass. Thank the gods for Aleve and caffeine, they were the only two things keeping me going that night. On the plus side my character created a fun new toy, "Bloaty", the long dead, slimey, water-soaked corpse/puppet. And so help me, the next time this intrepid band of adventurers follows a certain Sidhe into a certain series of sewars after some strange lady, my character's going to go all medieval on their asses.

Saturday was as productive a day as could be, got my one bank account closed (can you believe they charged me $6 for a bank check? fuckers), the money safely tucked into my new account, and while down in the SJ area, I hit my favorite Goodwill ever. Just so happens they were having this incredible sale, everything was $3 so I got a lavendar evening gown I'd quite liked (Empire waisted, though, so not really well suited to my body type...damn), a nice sweater jacket, and a teal Shark's jacket that I'd quite coveted for some time. Go me! Then zoomed home and did all of my yardwork, including gleefully dispersing some praying mantis egg pods (yay unleashing green death!), mowing front and back, trimming the bushes into submission, planting some strawberry seedlings, repotting my rose plant outside, and uncovering a secret rebel snail population. I'll have none of that, thank you very much. I felt all Moff Tarken, "You may fire when ready." as I laid waste to them.

We also discovered that Tuesday a local group that helps the mentally challenged is going to do a truck pickup of all items our neighborhood would care to donate. They wanted clothes so I went through my closets and bagged up anything I hadn't worn in more than a year. Out it went, allowing me all kinds of new space to hang stuff in, which in turn made me feel a little less guilty about the Goodwill splurge *G*

Then curled up and watched "Erik the Viking" while working on a new drawing. Yeah, another Frodo. I kinda like it, but I need to give myself a few days away from it and then look at it again. If I still like if ater that it's probably ok.

Sunday was class:

We decided to work on some new effects so that we can broaden our double veil vocabulary. The first thing we learned was a new break from an "apron" move, which differs quite a bit from the old between the veils break. More challenging, but it allows for a great deal more flexibility during dancing as well. Then we started working on the "cyclone" move. Aelf and I had already decided we wanted this one for a duet we've been working on so we were thrilled to be seeing it and learning the mechanics. I quickly discovered that I have a lot of work to do on my spins. I can keep them steady and still, which is good, but I need more speed to get the cyclone correct. We videotaped again, and watched ourselves carefully, picking out what we needed to work on.

Alyne is quite possibly the most supportive and sweet person I've met in a very long time, as well as being an incredible teacher. To have her take the time after class to just hang out and talk to us, offer advice, ask questions, just really show an interest and encourage her students, it's...well it's pretty significantly different than what I'm used to in dance teachers. Usually they're so wrapped up in their own egos they unconsciously discourage their students to make themselves feel superior. Alyne doesn't do that, but then she still considers herself a student too, which may be the difference there. She's the kind of dancer I want to be, gracious, joyous, and humble.

We discussed the possibility of entering our first competition next month, I think we need to discuss it further in depth before making any real decision. But I also think we need to plan out a next performance, and start working on new choreographies. I also need more veils and to make some sort of final decision footwear-wise. Veils are easy enough to deal with, it's just a matter of buying them, but shoes are another matter entirely. I cannot find non-leather Hermes sandals and it's driving me nuts. Alyne and I discussed it after class yesterday and she's very interested in finding someplace that is willing to make them too. So the great shoe quest continues. Wish me luck.

Sunday also included another trip to Goodwill (ooh, nice silky purple pants and a lovely wine-colored sweater), checking out the seedlings and giving them some nice water, playing with the kitty, and the housemate and I zonking out for a while before it was time for Horatio. Really enjoying that series, and was utterly delighted by the return of Mr. Kennedy in the first of last evening's episodes. Ahh the slash possibilities are downright endless with those two. Also managed to finish up my sister's blanket, which may free me up to make a wrap for myself for the One Party. We shall see. Now I wait for the yarn shipment from Herschener's to finish up the final afghan I owe, then at last I can work on one for myself. Woo!

Don't know if anyone has heard of the Code Pink group that staged a women against war protest in D.C. this weekend, but if you'd like to read a bit more about how it went:
Authors Arrested in War Protest at White House

And an interesting article on a British anti-war protest:
Thousands more take stand against conflict in demonstrations throughout Britain

Know what DU (depleted uranium) weapons are? Know how they were used in Iraq? Want to read a bit more about what the Iraqis believe they're still doing to the people and their children?
We Say Liberation, You Say War Crimes