.: Creative Week :.

I can't tell you how long its been since I've felt I've been the least bit creative. I know I've been incredibly and horribly depressed in the last few months but I feel so inspired over the last few days. I feel good. I worry about that. Like its too good to be true, but I do know that I'm going to try to take what I've picked up in the last week and run with it...

btw new dance venue I'm trying to start up in a new creative space, The Solarium. I think I'm going to be a bit more involved with The Solarium in the future.

Here's your invite:

At The Solarium (1245 Jarvis Ave. Apt.3)
On Saturday, March 14th
From 8:30p-2am

Here's a link to the Facebook invite with more information!

Hope to see you there!

.: Blues Dancing :.

I dunno I needed a little more in my life. I've been doing volunteer work here and there. It only makes sense that I dedicate a little more time to another dance project.

But I'd ditched blues dancing for a while I just wasn't excited by it. Certainly with the lack of CUBE this past year I really really wasn't feeling it.

Then tonight I stay for the last part of John's set and have a couple of inspiring blues dances. It really made me remember what I liked most about Blues dancing. Two different dancers but brothers, interesting no? One brother gave a pretty secure lead to I felt relaxed about - just following along. The other brother gave me license to just go for it - which I did. Kinda fun but mostly just refreshing as hell. A very nice way to end the evening... off to bed. Sweet Dreams.

.: Fresh Blood :.

I learned a few things at Fizz yesterday.

One. Never never ever forget to tell EVERYONE about the Halloween Dance. Fizz itself is always decked out with spooky, horrifying, gory stuff. It was really good this year. They had a ghoul sitting at the bar. I thought it was just someone all dressed up. I turn to actually look at it and ugh...creepy. Not alot of ppl were dressed up. Unfortunate. Again my fault. I couldn't find any of my wigs or anything to wear. Just picked up a witch's hat while I picked up the candy.

Two. I really really heart newbies. Just watching these new kids kinda terrified when they watch my own personal favorite dancers bust it out. *grin* I know all of them are intimidated but one of them is going to be so inspired...they are going to be awesome. What's more, and this maybe helpful or a hindrance, we (mostly me) are screaming with delight watching along too. Though its mostly for our inside joke entertainment, I hope that these new kids find it very entertaining too.

A - thareee. It has got to be fun to watch me dance. I must look like a complete dork goofing off more than "dancing" but its such a great distraction. Lately, I've been so strangely self-conscious about my dancing. It was kinda debilitating. I wouldn't take risks. I hated missing leads and making mistakes. In front of people. I hated hated hated not being one of the best in the room. I hated that there is so much I don't know. Hated that what I did know wasn't all that great. I was sucking.

Ok now here's the little circle... On Halloween I don't have to be myself and/or everyone else is in a crazy mood... The newbies are so entertained by whatever jackass dancing we do because we're insane... I get to dance (and like it) b/c I know I'm just adding to the fun in the room...

Lesson learned: you'll be happy making others happy and they make you happy and so on.

PS I just got the BIGGEST ego boost that night too... it made me feel special and remembered...

.: Oh Omaha! :.

In a few hours, I'll be on my way to Omaha. I need a vacation from not-a-real job. Honestly.

So I'll be visiting b.lang in NE. Its been a couple of years and I'd missed his wedding. So, though its a dance weekend. I'm not all that excited to dance. I'll do the Jack and Jill... Well, cause I always do ;) but I'm looking forward to hanging out with the Jamborama crowd more than dance.

I almost would prefer to hide myself in the hotel and just visit Omaha. Seriously, I'll bring the cocoon with me...

Its a good thing I've gotten over this horrendous cough and wisdom tooth aching...

.: Best Dance Ever:.

.: Its The Little Things :.

Since losing my job I've:

1) Decided that I'm going to have another go at earning money as a massage therapist. Its weird having to earn money over things I would gladly barter or do for free. I still have long, ridiculous, and expensive steps to take but I'll get there. Anyone need a massage? I'm still charging only 80 dollars and I bring my table to you. Or if you just want to just give me the money I will take that too.

2) Had a swing dance event. It tanked. I was worried and anxious about it all that night. Luckily I had such a great support of friends and dancers. It sucked but I realized that putting events up for the scene is totally worth it. It was an endeavor. It didn't work and I'll try again. btw I made all the money back the next grad night :) AND finally decided I deserve a percentage of the income. I looked at the numbers from last year and the year before. I've almost tripled the attendance of when I started "working" at Fizz.(UPDATE: I forgot to mention the folks that were there had alot of fun so it only really was a failure in numbers.)


3) Got another job. Not a "real" job but some income right? I went into my favorite cafe Drew's. I decided that I deserved a scoop of really good mango ice cream. Drew asked how I was doing and I told him about my job situation. He'd said he'll keep his ears open. Then he said that he might need me. He needed someone to go out and advertise the store. As he said: "A bullshitter and a flirt" And I told him I was his girl. So I've a few hours every weekend to chat people up about a place I chat up already. This time I get paid.

Its karma. I swear to God.

.: What Am I Doing??? :.

Closed out the late night.
I'm too old for this shit, right? Right?

and.. I split my pance. Classy.

.: Traveling Via Traveler :.

In the last few weeks, I've housed a couple of stray dancers. All pretty much by chance. One from a posting on Windyhop. Ask and ye shall receive. Then another dancer because I'm a nosy person. He was searching out a hotel room on the cutest laptop ever. But a hotel room?! That just goes against my belief that dancers should stick together and help out when they can.

So I'd had lovely people on my couch. My housing technique is down pat. I really should be a hostel. They've sheets and towels. An extra set of keys. A CTA pass. Maps. And perhaps the most important thing - the passcode to the wifi. AND someone who'll try to take them to any and all dance venues while they are in town.

This, of course, forces me to go out dancing more. AND I actually enjoyed it. Not that I can say that I love dancers. I'm too cranky for that. Talking about how either of us started and what keeps us dancing makes me happy to hear. Talking about ideas and dreams makes me happy. Talking about incredibly silly things late night at a diner makes me happy. Me happy = better dances.

Furthermore, my visitor from London conned me into taking some workshop classes. Very interesting, learned quite a bit. We shared a private lesson with the visiting instructor. Learned alot there as well. Got me excited about playing around with dancing. I've so much to learn. Just when I thought I couldn't get more awesomer.

Having these travelers with me has made me really examine my life. They've let go of what they've known, what they have, and are just floating on a whim. So I learned a few lessons there too. I've really lucked out with who I've opened my doors to. Heh. My sisters remind me of all the dancers I had forgotten I'd housed. That's quite a few. I'd make a list but I'm done for tonight.

A video from the Londoner:

.: Post-Awesome Night @Fizz :.

Shite dude I am so very tired.

Things went more than swimmingly well last night. It did a triathlon and got in second place.

Live band. Losta people. Alot more than usual even.

Alas not alot of floor space. I really didn't feel like dancing much anyways since 1) it was crowded, 2) Wanted to dress up so slipped on the red shoes again, 3) Was wiped out after running around doing last minute things.

Overall very successful! I just don't know if I can organize something like this again... can I be burnt out already?

.: I Just Slid Off My Heels :.

Crikey. I don't know I tend to dance in high heels. The challenge? The masochism? Because perhaps the shoes are friggin HOT?

I'd meant to get home my like an hour ago. But again, masochism. That and hanging out with people. I love people. Except for the ones I hate. I HATE those people.

Its been nice to hear that people are really excited about dancing at Fizz on Mondays. Mondays. A school night! Its been consistently awesome. I love my staff. I love throwing a party EVERY week! I love that my bartenders are awesome and understanding :)

I've said it before... These nights have saved my life on more that one occasion. Today was a really really bad day. The usual stuff got to be a little overwhelming. Took a few breaths. Drank alot of water. Calmed the fuck down then and went to Fizz. Funny. When shit hits the fan there I'm all over it. I don't bitch about. Atleast not to everyone. The point here is that I can handle it. I don't start crying and ball myself up in a corner. This is something that I can handle because i love it. I just have to find that love in a career... with bennies.

.: The Red Shoes:.

So the story of my red shoes are this... I was invited to compete in a blues dance competition. I traveled down to St. Louis especially for it. It had been ages since I bothered to dress up for a dance so it might as well be for a special out-of-town event, yes? Went digging around for new used stuff at Plato's Closet and found these not so hush puppies.

Went up for competition and the only outstanding thing that came of it were shouts about the sexy red shoes. Hehehe.. forgot to mention I broke them in the night of the competition... :) Unfortunately, few dances later, a couple seriously crashed in to me and my partner. Now there is a gouge of red out of the shoe. Sure, I mighta twisted an ankle or something... but the shoe!!

Update: I'd probably took them out for a walk once since then. Then with the news of the movie audition for swing dancers, I'd decided to dance in heels again. So I brought the girls out on the town to Fizz. There Keir took this lovely picture... Ain't she sweet?