Partner work

So where exactly does one look while dancing with a partner? Are you supposed to look around the room to see what’s doing elsewhere? Stare fixedly over your partner’s shoulder into the distance? Gaze passionately into their eyes? Or what?

If you’re on a date, I imagine you would want to make some fun or romantic eye contact, at least once in a while. But when you are dancing with someone you don’t know, then what? Half the time they are counting to make sure they get the beat. Last week when I danced with that kid, we sort of chitchatted a little, but not much, and he totally knew what he was doing. He ended up singing along with the music, which I thought was very cool. The old guys I danced with last week didn’t say much. When I originally went dancing with Salsa Man, we did talk, but it was a date after all. Dancing in my weekly class with a partner seems to necessitate apologies from them for not “getting” the steps the first time.

Cha-cha class last night didn’t seem as bad, because now most people know who I am and that I’m basically pretty goofy, not intimidating or trying to steal their husbands as they first thought. (Despite my oft-heavy lipstick.) I’ll dance with anyone! Can I help it if I have fun, and want other people to have fun, too?

The kid and I had a song-long convo, as did one of the men who came with their wife. Sweat was pouring off him in buckets, but he led pretty decently. Generally, the men seem to need some encouragement, so I find myself saying, "You're doing great! Yeah! Try to relax! Feel the music!" even though they are not always so very good. It's a white lie, but probably better than glaring at them and snapping, "Fer chrissakes! Stop stomping on my foot!" That rarely happens, though. They are good sports, and are there for fun, anyway -- I mean, it's not dance class in elementary school where the girls and boys don't want to touch each other because they have cooties or something. And I danced with the cool woman again, too. Also with an older woman, who kept trying to turn me incorrectly. But no biggie.

Anyway, this is one of the quandaries I am currently faced with. I feel pretty awkward when I’m dancing with these strangers (even just learning) so I thought if anyone knew how to feel less so, they could share how they do it. Anyone? Anyone? Bueller?

Food discovery!

Yoplait Light Fat Free Strawberry Shortcake yogurt is freakin' delicious! It almost tastes like strawberry shortcake! (Much better than ordinary strawberry yogurt.) 110 calories, studded with chunks of real strawberries, thick and sweet, and pretty satisfying! Yummy!

Other good flavors: Orange Creme, Lemon Cream Pie, Boston Cream Pie, Apricot Mango.

I don't like the Light Thick 'n' Creamy ones, though. They just seem really fake.

But definitely try the ordinary Light ones. The commercials (you know, the ones with the woman who is talking to her friend on the phone about all kinds of baked goods, and her husband is madly pawing through the fridge trying to find these “treats”) actually tell the truth. Enjoy!

Timing is everything.

Well, maybe not everything, but it sure counts for a lot, especially when it comes to feelings and attraction. When I returned from cha-cha class tonight, there was a cute message from him, which I listened to twice (schoolgirl-style.) I was expecting him back tomorrow so I was pleasantly surprised to hear from him today.

I called him back, he wasn't there, and then he called me back and we talked for about 36 minutes. I jabbered a little, unfortunately. And then he asked me out. This is the exchange:

Him: We should do something this week. My week is completely open.
Me: Ok. (I guess I sounded funny because then there was a pause.)
Him: Are you sure?
Me: Yeah, why, did I sound weird or something? (jokingly)
Him: (Cracking joke) You I must have sounded like that because you are overjoyed just talking to me.
Me: (Laughs) That is one of the reasons I like you... (meaning his sense of humor)
Him: (Laughs) Wednesday?
Me: Well, I have tentative plans with someone. But I have to confirm them.
Him: Thursday?
Me: Salsa.
Him: Aw, I knew that. Salsa night. (pause) Friday?
Me: (takes breath) I also have something planned that day too, but I could try to reschedule that. (Another weird pause. I think he thought I didn't want to go out.) But... (quickly finishes sentence) I really do want to go out with you since I think we'll have a good time!
Him: Yeah! (ANOTHER weird pause!)
Me: (hesitantly) Well, what about Saturday?
Him: Ok. (sounds weird)
Me: Are you sure?
Him: Yeah, why?
Me: Well, it didn't sounded like an option before.
Him: No, Saturday's good.
Me: Uh, ok.
Him: So, let's talk this week.
Me: Ok...
Him: Bye.
Me: Bye. (aaand we both hang up, and I am dissatisfied and also stressed like someone who has never made a date with someone before.)

For some reason I didn't suggest tomorrow, which is the only day available this week. And I did tell him I had to confirm my other appointments and why oh why were there all these weird pauses? And why oh why do I continue to second-guess myself? Argh! Should I email him and see if he's available tomorrow? But I don't know what to wear if we were to do it tomorrow, and I feel much more dateable with a wax job (which is scheduled for Saturday morning) and he doesn't have a plan anyway yet, and oh my gosh. I hope I didn't screw it up...!

Attenzione! Attenzione!

So today I was thinking, and now I feel semi-callous about how yesterday I posted that I am cooling off about the guy. I’m not losing interest since I still think he is really interesting. But I do think I might need more attention than I thought I needed! Gasp!

And besides, no way would I bother calling a guy I had only one date with, when I am on vacation in another state. Although me being me, I would be unable to stay away from my email and I would totally send him one if I liked him. Hmm. Or maybe not. Although I blogged, I didn’t actually email my friends much (it was, maybe two friends, one email apiece. Wow) during the week I visited my sister in February. And our relationships are established!

So he is doing things the exact way I would do them. Therefore, I should not second-guess. I’m taking a step back. All righty then. I still look forward to chitchatting and vacationing vicariously through someone I barely know. Ha!

My Little Blue Dress

A masterpiece! A triumph! An all-around ideal book! Bravo!

The beginning of this book by Bruno Maddox reveals a stunningly beautiful five-year-old girl about to be crowned Queen of the May, somewhere in the English countryside. What happens in the coming years is anyone’s guess as this lip-lickingly interesting story unfolds.


Don’t let the written dialect in the first few pages throw you off – it ends soon enough, and you’ll see why.

I love, love, love everything about this book! (Even the cover.) You must read it. And I will have to read some of Maddox’s older book reviews and everything else he’s written. It makes me so happy to find a writer like this…

The Food Taster

A book I read this weekend, by Peter Elbling.

Setting: Italy, during the Renaissance.
Plot: A man who has endured much childhood heartache is ordered to be a food taster for a repugnant duke, who is constantly being plotted against. Ugo, the protagonist, must protect his daughter (who has grown into a hottie) while she becomes attracted to the cook, who wants to do away with the duke.

But it's not one of those "serious" historical novels. This is more lighthearted, but still has plenty of icky, Renaissance-esque moments. I thought the story itself was excellent, but the protagonist referred to his culo (ass) and fallo (penis) a lot, which got old pretty fast, and distracted me. But there was plenty of food and sex, two of my very favorite things. It's a decent vacation book. Have fun!

Maxims, morsels, movies, and minimizing

I dislike saying this, but "out of sight, out of mind" makes a lot of sense. Or these days, "out of emails, out of mind." The guy and I are corresponding sporadically (last yesterday, but they are one-liners), and we still have a date planned, but I believe in striking when the iron is hot, and it's totally cooling down, at least for me. Oh well.

Friday night was great -- I visited a friend and we shared a delicious gourmet meal of Caprese salad over baby greens, tapenade, (which I used on my salad), spanakopita, freshly baked bread with butter, and a bottle of Merlot. Yummy! We talked for over four hours. It was so much fun.

Yesterday I slept late, watched a juvenile movie (Harold and Kumar Escape From Guantanamo Bay -- for some reason I like Harold and Kumar, but the first movie had a lot more laughs), took a nap, baked a pizza, and watched another movie, this time about relationships (Sex and the City.) Neither was very good, but at least I was finally able to see Gilles in all his glory.

My parents loved the hangers and they said I should make more and sell them. But they are time-consuming and the materials are not cheap, so I would have to price them high enough to make a decent profit. So it might be a no.

Weight-wise, I just can't believe I lost another 2.4! That's about 12 pounds so far! (Gawd, I am such a loser. Heh heh.) I'm actually not really thinking about the number on the scale right now; rather, I'm focusing on the weekly amounts that I am dropping. More dancing, please!

Today, cleaning and relaxing. All in all, this has been a very pleasant weekend.

Salsa courses through my veins

But not literally. That would be awfully chunky. Heh heh.

Tonight's salsa class was AMAZING! Although this time there were not enough guys, there was an alternate instructor who was so good I really feel like I can dance now! (Even though I'm only in Salsa II.) You could take me to a club and although I won't be able to do any special arm stuff, I will be able to basic, back basic, side basic, cross basic, cross-body lead, Susie Q, turn left, turn right, do the turns single-handed or double-handed, and a few other steps. My hips are no longer wooden and my arms are not robotic. The instructor kept using me for examples. Yay!

I really, really want to go to a salsa club again! Who will come with me?

Happy 41st!

Guess what! It’s my parents’ anniversary again! 41 years. 41 YEARS!!! Sheesh.

And between the mortgage and other bills, I have no money with which to buy them a present. So I created the mulberry hangers I spoke of in an earlier post. They can stick them in the coat closet and hopefully smile when they use them because they are so pretty.

The problem is not as much the money (since I am a good shopper), it’s really the “rules” I have to follow when buying presents, only a few of which are self-imposed. If the giftie can’t follow all the rules, it must at least follow some of them:

1. Not a gift card/gift certificate. My parents hate, hate, hate these because they believe gift certs represent something thoughtless. They also dislike giving them. What they forget is that many people prefer these, because they can be spent at any time. I like Amazon ones the best.
2. It must be a beautiful addition to the room, or home, or body. Ugly presents, or presents bought in poor taste = bad presents. Objets d’art are nice, if they aren’t too weird.
3. It must be useful, but in a good way. What I mean by this is that when it is used, it must remind you of that person because it is really cool, or pretty, or charming, or interesting. It should not make you say, “yuck” every time you look at it. The worst present I ever got from a boyfriend was a five-pack of lint rollers. Every time I used them, I had to think of him and say “Oh my freaking god. Who gives their girlfriend lint rollers?” Why he bought this for me, I will never know. I mean, I like lint rollers, but why is that even acceptable? This from the same guy who bought me a gorgeous pair of twinkly diamond studs. Which I guess I should probably wear once in a while, actually.
4. Organic/natural is always nice.
5. Funny works, too.
6. The present may not stink, unless my mom asks for something special, like soap in a certain scent (I used to make a lot of melt-and-pour soaps and lotions.) This rule also applies to flowers, except for roses.
7. Meaningfulness. When something is meaningful, it must really exude it. Like when my parents asked what I wanted this year for my birthday, and I wanted an iPod shuffle in green, so they got that, and it was perfect, and they also got it engraved on the back – “You are our music. Love, Mom and Dad.” How perfect is that!!?? I have cool parents.
8. The worst rule yet… don’t even think of asking what someone wants. Now this is just plain silly. They ask me what I want, so why can’t I ask them?

Examples of these rules include: sandstone coasters, geode bookends, carved elephant with trunk up (this signifies good luck), tissue box in the shape of a tiki, figure-flattering sweater, leather backpack, beautiful pillows to match a new bedroom set, sterling silver dragonfly pendant, pima cotton shirt, a good book.

Anyway, this year they are getting the hangers. I'll let you know if they like them.

We soy craaazy!

Next home project – refinish four dining chairs and paint them red. I picked up the chairs yesterday. They are going to be great!

Tuesday night I visited a friend and did another decoupage project – plastic hangers wrapped in colorful specialty paper. They look really cool. Last night I podged them again and sprayed with gloss sealer.

Too bad about no weekend dates with the guy, but it's probably just as well. I could use some sleep!

Last night another friend visited me and I made cheeseburgers and shakes for us! Actually, they are soy/veggie burgers on high-fiber wraps with Laughing Cow lite triangle cheese, and fruit smoothies without fat. Completely guilt-free enjoyment. This time I used pineapple and lite vanilla soy milk plus a teensy weensy bit of fat-free creamer instead of cow’s milk and they came out wonderfully! Then we are played an hour of Guitar Hero World Tour! It was really fun. (Bitch Wanked Unit still rocks.)

This morning I bunked my head on the garage door as it was opening. I was bending down to take out the trash while the door was opening, and sort of lost my balance and pitched forward and really banged the top quadrant of my head. I have never done that before, and it really hurt. To add insult to injury, I walked into the office with a leaf in my hair. Sigh. So now I sit in the office with a plastic bag filled with ice balanced on my head, so I can still work. My head feels a little better, but I still feel pretty stupid…

Swing, daddy!

Last night I went to a swing dance lesson, and it was awesome – almost as much fun as salsa. There must have been 20 people there! I still have Zoot Suit Riot running through my head. The instructor brought his (adult) kids along to be helpers so there would be enough men and women to dance together. The most fun I had was with his son who was probably 16 years old, and who of course has probably been dancing since he was a little kid. Excellent leader, cool kid too. Most of the place was couples, but there were a few random singles. I think I was the only person in their thirties, but that’s ok. I heard from someone that people of all ages attend the swing dancing events – from twenties to seventies. The best dancer there was in his seventies, actually. Well, maybe not "best", but he sure was the most comfortable, I guess because he learned when he was young.

Also, I think a woman may have flirted with me. Maybe she didn’t. She was learning to lead (and was an excellent leader! I would dance with her again, with pleasure) and spun me out at the end of a song and everything. It was actually really cool! It turns out she also takes salsa lessons at the same place I do, but she is in an advanced class. Maybe I’ll run into her at the club.

Things are also moving along with the guy. He called when I was dancing and I called back, and we had a 36-minute fun chat. Apparently my laugh just bubbles up and out, and he likes to hear it. I think it must have been the endorphins moving around in my system, because I don’t normally think my laugh is all that adorable… but hey, whatever floats his boat. We have a date planned for "something fun" (it cracks me up that he said we should do something fun, because why would I want to do something un-fun?) but not this weekend because he will be out of town. But he’s on vacation the following week, so we’ll get together at that point. Then he said we should talk again tomorrow! I’m hanging with a friend tonight, but I’ll call him briefly. Aaand she casts her line... here, fishie, fishie, fishie…