dancing, dancing, DANCING!

I wouldn't say that we are quite in the category of dancing machines but you can definitely watch us get down, watch us get down as we do, do, do our thing on the scene.

(Just a little Jackson 5 humor for you. Feel free to practice your Robot now because that song will probably be stuck in your head all day.)

Yesterday's dance lesson was deemed a success by all parties involved (which would be me, Paul, and Ben, the very patient instructor). I stepped in the bathroom for a minute before our lesson started and came out to find Paul chatting with the owner of the dance studio. Actually, the owner was chatting; Paul was willing me to pee faster. You see, the owner of the dance studio is a close talker. And he was closely trying to engage Paul in conversation. Why were Paul and I taking dance lessons? Wedding? Dinner/dance? Going out dancing? What types of dances did we want to learn? Have you done this before? Do you like country-western dance? The look of relief on Paul's face when I finally emerged was priceless--he should always look so happy to see me.

Lesson #1: we covered the basic box step, a box waltz, the Texas two-step, the jitterbug, and the merengue.

1. We aren't that bad but definitely are "beginners." Not surprisingly, I'm more "advanced" than Paul which really just means I didn't have to look at my feet the whole time like Paul. And a lot of the dancing I did growing up? Apparently, it's not so technically correct. Fun, but not quite right.

2. Growing up, I (along with my sisters and friends) made fun of various Okies we knew because of the way they did the two-step. Lo and behold, they were actually doing the "Texas Two-Step" rather than the "Progressive Two-Step" which is what I grew up doing. So they weren't wrong; just doing something else. But they're still Okies and I'm sure we'll find something else to use to make fun of them about.

3. There's actually a name for when I start leading when we're dancing. It's called "back-leading"--Paul called it "Carrie, stop pulling to the right already." It was really bad when we were working on the jitterbug. I blame that on the fact that my sister Amy and I would always jitterbug together as kids and I was always the the "boy" when we'd dance. But, just as I've learned in life and am trying to apply to all areas including dance lessons, I don't always have to be in charge.

4. The merengue is probably the easiest dance known to man. March in place with little steps, wiggle hips as desired, turn and spin as you are able. Even Paul and I--the two whitest people on the planet--looked like we knew what we were doing and that we had a little of the Latin in us while doing this dance.

5. Much to my chagrin, dips, twirls, and spins were not covered in the first lesson. Ben, the very patient instructor, said we should try to make it around the floor a few times correctly before we covered that.

Maybe next week.

Step Two Three

Eons ago (or at least way back in December), Paul and I were at an auction and "won" a gift certificate for six dance lessons. I've been wanting to take dance lessons for a long while but Paul was rather relunctant about it. Actually, that's an understatement. Whatever is more than relunctant--that was Paul's position on learning to dance. I love to dance; Paul, not so much. He's afraid people are going to watch him. My take on that has always been that he's neither so good or so bad that people are going to watch him. He doesn't buy it. But he likes me an awful lot and so tonight, he is going to learn to dance.

I love my cat

I'm fairly certain the feeling is not mutual.



(Please ignore that I'm looking like death warmed over in the picture--a little lip gloss and a hairbrush from time to time would do me a world of good). Just look at the Jubinator. Look at how cute he is. With the tongue even (though I think he's sticking it out at me). I found the elephant hat at Target--it was a toss up between it or a little kitty tie. I knew the cat would hate either one so I decided to go with the bigger of the two evils. Jub's not biting me so I'll pretend that he actually likes it. Ha!

Tonight is the 8th grade dance at school. I've agreed to be a chaperone as I've done most every year in the past. It really is fun to see the students all fancied up for the one "dressy" dance of middle school. At least the girls are dolled up and prim and proper. The boys still manage to end up rumpled and attempting the Worm in their dress clothes. It reminds me why I enjoy being a teacher. One of my student aides asked me if I had a dress I was going to wear tonight--like, had I bought something special for the dance, too? I didn't but now I'm totally wishing I had (not that I don't have about 15 completely suitable-for-the-occasion outfits I can choose from).

All the APS graduations were held this week. Yesterday, I saw the list of valedictorians and salutatorians for the various high schools. I'm proud to say I taught one of the valedictorians in 7th grade. I'm totally sure that's why she was at the top of her graduating class. That, or the fact that even when she was a 13-year-old, she was an awesome student and an amazing kid--one of those you know is going to do great things with her life. But I still have a little bitty bit of smugness that I had anything to do with her success.

I Married a Good Guy

It's cooler today than I'd expected when I got dressed. Paul brought me a new pair of shoes this morning after I'd gotten to school because my toes were cold in the sandals I'd originally worn. And he made sure the shoes he brought me would match my outfit.

I love that boy.

My favorite picture, maybe of all time

The shirt says "For those about to read, we salute you." I saw it and just had to get it for Abigail. And my sister has a great sense of humor.