Dale Miller

I had scheduled my Halloween party for 7:00. There were about 25 people who had responded that they would attend, and another 35ish that said they might (and a large number who didn’t respond, which can go either way). Seven o’clock came and went and I was still alone with the cats. I wasn’t overly concerned, because people rarely show up on time for a party (unlike what I usually do — park up the street for 30 minutes reading a book so I will arrive on time rather than early). However, when eight o’clock came and went I became a bit worried. Around 8:15, two people arrived and at 8:30, three more. The six up us then proceeded to have as much of a party as we could while wondering where everyone else was. Maybe I just live too far out of town, maybe no one wants to come to my parties anymore, or maybe things cropped unexpectedly for lots of folks. In any case, I now have a freezer full of burger patties, far too many bags of chips, and quite a bit of beer that I need to find a home for.

I took today off work, and really should have spent it getting ready for my party tomorrow night. Then I could have rested tomorrow and been relaxed when guests arrived. Of course, I didn’t do that. I did a bit of housework today, but mostly read and messed about on the computer. So, I need to get up fairly early tomorrow, and work hard much of the day to have everything ready. That means I’ll be tired and somewhat out of sorts when people get here. I shouldn’t put things off as much as I do.

My start into dance classes at UALR was only a few years ago. Before that I had never had any instruction in dance of any form. I started with jazz. I didn’t really learn much in jazz class, but I did, at least, get some exercise. I also decided that the jazz style probably wasn’t for me. Next I took ballet, and took it again, not because I didn’t do well, but because there wasn’t anything else that fit my schedule. I discovered that ballet is all about position, and that I had neither the turnout nor the flexibility to do well. I can, on a good day, bring my leg to 90° in front, but can’t even come close to that on the side or in back. So, ballet falls into one of the many things that I can understand but can’t do. Next was modern. I enjoyed modern, and could mostly perform the necessary moves. Of course, I’m not good enough to actually perform, so I chalk that one up to a learning experience as well. That brings me to tap. I knew going in that tap is mostly about the feet (unlike the legs in ballet or the contraction in modern). What I had not counted on is just how much work I would be doing, nor how sore I would become. Often before class ends I can’t do the movements any longer because my muscles are spasming, and I go to bed with my legs sore. When this first happened, I assumed it was just because I was using muscles in a way that I never had, and I would get over it soon. That hasn’t happened yet. I’m really enjoying the class, and I’m learning quite a bit, but I don’t like having to think before I stand up because my legs hurt. I keep hoping that I will eventually become inured to the requirements of tap and that it won’t hurt any more. I suspect the semester will be over before that happens, though.

Not my furry roommates, but the musical, will be in Little Rock in three weeks (Tuesday, November 13th).?? I want to go, but not by myself. I have invited two of the ladies in my tap class, and while neither of them immediately said “no”, neither did they say “yes”. General ticket sale starts Friday, so I have at least until then to try to find someone to occupy a seat next to me. Anyone want to join me for “Cats”?

Yesterday I mowed the yard near the house and today I mowed down near the street. I really should mow more than twice a summer. I think the highest grass was in the neighborhood of four feet, but most was closer to two feet. Nonetheless, it makes an interesting mowing experience, and now my *entire* yard is covered in grass clippings. The good news is that I didn’t tear up a lawnmower.

I should be cleaning the house, but instead I’m getting things ready for the kickball playoffs tomorrow. I’m not revealing details at the moment, but a couple of interesting pictures are likely to follow after we play tomorrow. We have a noon game, and if we win that one, another at 7:30. That’s really too long between games,?? but it will give us a chance to ready some of the props for the second game if necessary.

I’m extremely sleepy, but I can’t seem to get to sleep. I close my eyes but my brain refuses to shut down. I hat it when this happens. I *know* I need to get up in the morning (in less than five hours now), but it doesn’t seem to make a difference. I have too many (mostly negative) thoughts churning around in my head. I’m not terribly pleased with myself at the moment, not for anything I have done, but for many things which I haven’t.

On a completely different note, I got up earlier to get a drink and spotted a visitor in my kitchen eating the catfood:

After I finish my tap class, I usually come back to the office, close the door, take off my dance clothes, cool down and dry off while checking my email, put on my work clothes and head to the kitchen to heat up a can of soup for lunch.

Note to self: Skipping the “put on work clothes” step is not recommended. (No, I didn’t actually walk out of the office, but I had my had on the doorknob before I realized I was still naked).

Last night in choir, Dr. Keating was running through scales while pictures were being taken. That way we were at least singing something. He was attempting to keep things interesting, and suddenly told us to sing a melodic minor scale. I suspect it’s been at least two decades since I have even *considered* that there were three types of minor scales (natural, harmonic, and melodic), but as soon as he mentioned it I remembered not only that they existed, but the differences between them. My brain works in very strange ways.

Oh, just because I could remember how to construct the scale, it didn’t mean that I could actually *sing* it. Even at that I think I did better than many of the people in the room, so I don’t feel terrible about my efforts.

I’m still trying to use up vacation days rather than lose them, so I’m at home today, and glad of it. Yesterday was exhausting. We had our second evaluation in tap dance, I had meetings occupying much of my day, and choir rehearsal in the evening. The rehearsal was good, if abbreviated. We had a photographer in to take pictures on the stage, which meant setting up the stage — yet more physical labor. But it meant the ladies were all dressed up, so that was a plus. In any case, when I came home last night, I just collapsed and slept for 9 hours. That would have been bad if I was supposed to go to work today. I had plans to mow the yard today, but that’s not happening anytime soon. Maybe this afternoon…

This morning’s dream featured a driving segment. I have noticed that whenever I drive in a dream the car ends up somewhere it’s not supposed to be. I’ll be taking a nice road and end up driving through someone’s backyard, a dry riverbed, a long set of steps, or, this morning, a sidewalk in an office park. Apparently normal driving is too boring for my dreams.