In which I Enjoy an Unusual Amount of Socializing....
In which I enjoy an unusual amount of socializing, lose my ani-mojo and learn several things.
I've been a little down lately and probably a bit too antisocial for my own good. Being aware of this, I forced myself to take advantage of several opportunities to socialize and surprised myself by enjoying all of them. I was able to catch up with several old friends, attend 2.5 birthday parties and go out dancing twice, all in one weekend.
Esprix (with whom I have not had any quality time in 2 years) and his sweetie were in town this weekend and met up with me Friday night for country western dancing at Woody's, and then we stayed up chatting till all hours. Saturday we went shopping at Jomar for Pennsic outfits for them. Then went to a birthday party at http://www.happily.com/ and got to chat with Defenestr8tor and some other old acqaintances. Defenestr8tor is as handsome as ever, though currently clean-shaven. Esprix went to pick up his mom at the airport and brought her back to the party and I was happy to see her since it had been 5 years. She is almost as much a curmudgeon as I and has a sense of humour somewhere in between wry and wicked. LOVE HER!
Then I took the train out to Auntiero's house for her birthday party and enjoyed it and all the guests immensely.
Sunday Mike, Juliana and I went to meet Tashadandelion and another friend for her birthday luncheon at Pho38. (counting as .5 birthday party) Last time I had Vietnamese food I didn't like it, but I loved it this time. I enjoyed both the food and the conversation immensely.
I had unusual problems with animals this weekend however. Esprix's cats would run up and sniff me and hiss! Usually I am more like a cat-whisperer than a cat-enemy. And Auntiero's dog Sammy spent nearly the whole evening looking at me sideways and rolling his eyes with occasional bouts of barking and a few lunges. I actually like dogs more than cats and usually get along quite well with them, and I've rarely met a cat I couldn't win over in a few minutes, but for some reason they disliked me this weekend.
I did learn that I DO like Vietnamese food. Last time I tried it must have been an off day for me, or maybe I was on one of those antibiotics that make things taste funny.
I also learned that dressage riders make good dancers. My usual list of favorite dancers includes former figure-skaters, martial artists and European-trained ballet dancers (Poland rocks!). Figure skaters and martial artists are usually good because they have good reflexes, good balance, and are trained to keep their center of gravity over their feet whilst moving. European ballet dancers have training in waltz, polka, mazurka and partnering skills, unlike American ballet dancers who are trained to waltz AT each other rather than WITH each other. But this dressage rider I danced with had such technically perfect balance and posture that I had to ask him what kind of training he had to be so centered in spite of being a new dancer. So now we know, dressage skills will transfer over to dance!
I've been a little down lately and probably a bit too antisocial for my own good. Being aware of this, I forced myself to take advantage of several opportunities to socialize and surprised myself by enjoying all of them. I was able to catch up with several old friends, attend 2.5 birthday parties and go out dancing twice, all in one weekend.
Esprix (with whom I have not had any quality time in 2 years) and his sweetie were in town this weekend and met up with me Friday night for country western dancing at Woody's, and then we stayed up chatting till all hours. Saturday we went shopping at Jomar for Pennsic outfits for them. Then went to a birthday party at http://www.happily.com/ and got to chat with Defenestr8tor and some other old acqaintances. Defenestr8tor is as handsome as ever, though currently clean-shaven. Esprix went to pick up his mom at the airport and brought her back to the party and I was happy to see her since it had been 5 years. She is almost as much a curmudgeon as I and has a sense of humour somewhere in between wry and wicked. LOVE HER!
Then I took the train out to Auntiero's house for her birthday party and enjoyed it and all the guests immensely.
Sunday Mike, Juliana and I went to meet Tashadandelion and another friend for her birthday luncheon at Pho38. (counting as .5 birthday party) Last time I had Vietnamese food I didn't like it, but I loved it this time. I enjoyed both the food and the conversation immensely.
I had unusual problems with animals this weekend however. Esprix's cats would run up and sniff me and hiss! Usually I am more like a cat-whisperer than a cat-enemy. And Auntiero's dog Sammy spent nearly the whole evening looking at me sideways and rolling his eyes with occasional bouts of barking and a few lunges. I actually like dogs more than cats and usually get along quite well with them, and I've rarely met a cat I couldn't win over in a few minutes, but for some reason they disliked me this weekend.
I did learn that I DO like Vietnamese food. Last time I tried it must have been an off day for me, or maybe I was on one of those antibiotics that make things taste funny.
I also learned that dressage riders make good dancers. My usual list of favorite dancers includes former figure-skaters, martial artists and European-trained ballet dancers (Poland rocks!). Figure skaters and martial artists are usually good because they have good reflexes, good balance, and are trained to keep their center of gravity over their feet whilst moving. European ballet dancers have training in waltz, polka, mazurka and partnering skills, unlike American ballet dancers who are trained to waltz AT each other rather than WITH each other. But this dressage rider I danced with had such technically perfect balance and posture that I had to ask him what kind of training he had to be so centered in spite of being a new dancer. So now we know, dressage skills will transfer over to dance!