Swing

I think I know understand how the twelve dancing princesses managed to dance holes into their shoes every night.

I'm not under an evil enchantment (at least, one hopes) and my shoes are thankfully still intact, but I've got stepped-on toes, calluses, and really tender feet right now.

But I am happy! I danced for nearly four straight hours, and it was fun, and I dragged another friend over as well. And I think she had fun!

Despite the rather large chunk of time dedicated to dancing in my life (nearly four hours a week), I haven't been blogging about it that much because there doesn't seem to be much to say. Except, I love it, and I was happily amazed last night when I realized I knew a good chunk of the people at my dance place (fairly shallowly, but well enough to hold small conversations), have a few dance partners who tend to ask me to dance every time, and that I in general feel comfortable there. I mean, there are always the times I'm sitting and feeling mopey because no one has asked me to dance and I am trying to work up the nerve to ask someone.

I love the big band music, the occasional live bands, trying to figure things out in lessons, watching other people on the dance floor. I like the energy of swing -- my place usually does lindy hop, as opposed to East Coast Swing/jitterbug like most places. And after going to some other more ballroom-style dance parties, I've decided I like the vibe of my place better. It's younger and more casual and more improvisational, much more laid back.

It's also been extremely interesting trying to figure out how to follow (when I am good enough at that and won't forget it, I'm going to start over and learn to lead); for me, it requires this oddly zen-like frame of mind in which I'm ready but not anticipating anything. And there's the fun of trying to figure a partner out, trying to match his style while also having my own, trying to jazz things up now that I know a little more.

But mostly, it's just so much fun!

Wilder, Laura Ingalls - Little House on the Prairie

I read this around summer of last year and never quite got around to blogging it. I've read the Little House series before; they're among that small set of books that I read and imprinted on before I moved to Taiwan. It was interesting rereading; the language is simple and plain, and Wilder spends lots of time describing processes of the day-to-day. We get explanations of how Pa builds the cabin, how he makes the door, the floorboards, the chimney, the roof. How to peg things together without nails. How to make griddle cakes. How to stuff mattresses with hay.

I suspect these books are part of the reasons why I'm interested in cooking and crafts even now.

And while the attitudes are historical, particularly the vast disappointment everyone feels in the end, when the government gives the land back to the Native Americans, there's also a neat look at what Pa thinks of the Indians (people like him, with different customs) versus what Ma thinks of the Indians (terrifying).

It was a fun reread, and I'm still a bit tempted to reread the entire series. Particular favorites I remember are the long descriptions of food in Farmer Boy and Little Town on the Prairie, which I remember as being my favorite.