Friday saw me up at GCS. Don showed up, which was surprising. He had to head down to San Antonio for some family stuff, so I didn’t expect to see him. I was very delighted by the surprise. Wound up dancing a lot Friday night – in boots I should not have worn.
Saturday I got the wild hair to clean out some closets and put some of my way too many clothes into boxes for St. Vincent de Paul. It’s rather frightening to realize I can go over a month without doing laundry and still have nearly a full closet of clothes. It was this realization that made me decide I needed to seriously prune.
While I was digging through closets, I found my old dancing boots. I squealed and bounced and promptly wore them Saturday night out dancing. Oh wow. I totally remembered why I love them so much. Nothing special about them, really. They are just laceup ropers – but they sit on the foot just right, support my ankles and slide across the floor like nobody’s business.
I actually accepted dances from some new faces this weekend. Some were really new to dancing; but, all did well. And, I turned down my first person in the history of me dancing – ever. Yes, I mean that literally (if we are talking C&W dancing). I had watched him on the floor earlier in the night and commented that he looked like he was getting high voltage shocks through the soles of his shoes. Seriously. He was really enjoying himself and that was great – but – he not only jerked like crazy when he danced…he was one of those guys who kind of gropes and rubs. No thanks. So, when he asked me to dance, I thanked G-d profusely for having twisted my knee the previous dance.
I never thought I’d be thankful for that annoyance. The guy I’d danced with the previous song had tripped me while we were dancing. He is one of those dancers who believes everyone else on the floor needs to get out of his way. And, if they don’t, they deserve what they get. I don’t care for that kind of attitude, realistically. But, he seemed like a nice enough guy for the most part, so I accepted his dance offer. Until he commented that the Air Force was not really a military branch.
Let’s just say…I have the utmost respect for those on the front lines. However, something people need to realize is that – there are times when the Air Force is the front lines. And, more and more, my particular niche in the USAF is not just “oh shiney”…it’s necessary. AIA is not some sit back on your keister and eat bon bons and ignore the rest of the world around you kind of job. Lives depend on us – those guys on the front lines want to crap on the work we do…Answer me this. Where do you think your intel is coming from? Who do you think is up in those bright, shiney objects in the sky on “you fly you die” days? Who do you think keeps your satellites operating as they should? Oh…and by the way – I’d like for you, while you are at it, to tell all those Marines, Navy and Army personnel who were stationed at every base I was at that they weren’t real military as well.
Ok, ok…I promise, rant ended. It’s one of those triggers for me. Sure, it might be shiney and pretty – but…I respect you, you respect me – and the team effort we result in sure goes a lot further.
Anyway – needless to say, I found various reasons to not dance with him for the rest of the night lest I slip and slam my elbow into his nose.
Sunday, I puttered around the house a bit more, cleaned a bit, played AoC for a little bit (not much, finding I can’t sit still all that easily, now)…and was just getting ready to jump in the shower when I got a call from my friend that they were just down the road and exactly how did they get here…Yeah. Two hours earlier than I expected them. Those who know me know I don’t do well when my intended schedule gets upended – especially when I feel I’m running behind.
So, I snapped and snarled and growled and barked a bit…and they sat on my couch and read and pretty much ignored my snarling until I said I was ready to go. We went to the Olive Garden and had a tasty dinner – love their bread and salad. I had my first fried food since I opted to seriously cut back (calamari) and then had ravioli in marinara. It was a nice meal. We came back to the house and chattered for a few hours longer while I sat and knit and they played with the dogs.
Overall – it was a very, very delightful evening…the perfect end to a nice weekend.
Then, today, after work, I went by The Knitting Nest and picked up what I needed to make my little cousin’s Christmas present. A very, very simple baby tunic. The yarn is a cute pink colourway and I got the most adorable sheep button for the closure. I really hope it turns out as cute as I think it will – and that they don’t beat me too badly for choosing pink. Hey! At least I made sure it could be machine washed ((you really don’t know how hard that is to find in a high quality yarn shop until you have to do it)). The yarn I’m using is mostly cotton with some peruvian wool – so it will be cozy for southern Alabama without being too horribly over the top.
My little cousin’s sweater is moving along nicely. I’d put myself about 40% complete at this point in time. If I’m lucky, I’ll get it done before the Olympics kick off and I have to focus on my own sweater. I’m set to finish that sweater in the time frame of the Olympics…start to finish – I pick up my sweater on Friday evening and am to have it completed by the end of the Olympics. We’ll see if I can manage it.
