(no subject)
So, the other cool thing about after hours on Saturday night was the same gender contest, which caused much giggling. I have to say it was really impressive on the skill level alone, but the shenanigans were pretty hilarious too. Eric and Ben intend to try and Jillian and I are pondering the same, though we all agree that if we intend to compete next year, practice must commence immediately. Jillian and I have already started, and so far we're kind of 1 for 2.
Anyway, we eventually made it back to the hotel and changed out and collapsed into bed. I had a giggle fit, which hasn't happened in a while, and I've never tried so hard to stop because Jillian and Eric had put up with a lot from me, I knew their patience was not infinite, and that a slap or a pillow was probably headed for my face, but exhaustion did kick in at last, and not a peep was heard out of us till the morning. Eric got up first, then I answered the door for Merinda to get the latest on our exit strategy, then I went to shower. We got ourselves packed up and got ready to check out, dropped our stuff off in Merinda's vehicle, and Eric and Jillian were about to head into the Skywalk directly until I gently reminded them that the hotel might appreciate us paying for the room.
I have to admit for two bathrooms, the room was amazingly reasonable. I don't think I've had such a good rate for such a nice room, honestly. Even the business trip didn't get that kind of rate. Anyway, we went to have lunch at the pretty restaurant next to the Temple since we had a couple of hours to kill before our afternoon class. It was really nice hanging with my roomies at lunch, and then watching the class before ours from the ballroom gallery. Jillian and I had a momentary adventure exploring the upper gallery and discovered the Phantom of the Temple. He was quite genial. Then we all got our shoes on for Kevin and Jo's class on Closed Position Craziness. That was also a fun class, and I think those two might be my favorite instructors, for the moment at least. Swing instructors are so much fun in general.
After Kevin and Jo, I went to Kenny and Tiffiny's class on Vintage Moves from the Movies, which was a bit of a challenge because I was starting to run out of energy, but I kept up. Jillian and Eric took Kevin and Jo's Mindbender class, which I knew would be really hard on Sunday afternoon, and Eric said he hardly made past the first trick. Jillian stuck with it, and the three of us convened after class to discuss dinner, planned to go to a snazzy brewery...and ended up at Panera/Bread Co. Oh, well, food is food. And they have comfy seats. We were getting pretty silly by the end there, Eric tied a fork to my shoelaces, and there was the constant "It's Business Time" jokes. I think we might be the Totally Random Triad.
We were way early for the evening dance...or at least I thought we were, but the thing was more or less over by then, and a lot of people had gone home, which worked out in our favor, because suddenly there was tons of room on the dance floor. I determined to dance with the instructors I liked, which wasn't so great because I got very self-conscious and forgot to just follow, but otherwise, I enjoyed dancing with people. Michael, the lovely organizer of Heartland, danced with me, and admitted he was making stuff up on the spot, and I could only imagine how exhausted he was. But he's very pleasant. Eric fixed his non-magic trick courtesy of Chris from Iowa City. Jillian got cool pics of my epic swivels, and Kevin's awesome hat dance. Eric and I tried out our new swing out fist bump mess around to Cee Lo's "Forget You", and the whole song felt good to dance to, and I think my skills are really starting to come together...squeeeeeee!!! I did a little blues practice with Chris, and danced with my favorite female lead Sarah, who I met at Cowtown. Sarah's a wonderful lead.
Ahhh, I love dancing. I really do.
We eventually convened the party for the return trip to Omaha, adding Verity to the pack in the Subaru. I got stuck in the middle of the backseat, which wasn't bad, but I was getting ready to collapse, and the people either side of me were still pretty energetic, and despite having shared a room with them for the past three days, I didn't feel like sleeping on either of them. I stayed awake through renditions of "Chicago", discovered that song "Cellblock Tango" freaking pisses me off. Yeah, he had it coming, whatever, go bitch to someone else. What can I say? I'm single and bitter. Anyway, we dropped off Jillian at home, headed back to Casa Nothnagel, Merinda took Verity home, and I hung out with Eric in my practically-unconscious state until my dad showed up to take me home.
I've never gotten in bed so quickly, but boy I was dead. However, I would totally do the whole thing again. Maybe in warmer weather, if such an option is possible. But the weekend definitely got five gold stars out of me. Capital B Brilliant.
And thus concludes the various chapters of epic weekends. Now back to the usual program of me spazzing about work and having pathetic issues to whine about. But I can swivel now!