First Week in March 2011

Monday and Tuesday were boring days, and I stayed home. Wednesday I had dinner with VK. Thursday I went out bowling, and it was nothing to write home about ... no crazy pants or anything.

Preview picture: Our three intrepid explorers!

Friday was the beginning of the mini-vacation to Heartland Swing Festival in Des Moines. I spent the morning getting ready to go. Maggie showed up, we hit the road at around 1430, went to CB and picked up Jillian and hit the road. Maggie and I entertained each other in the back seat with by playing Angry Birds. There isn't any bragging to be done, we both did well. We found the hotel easily enough, we stayed at the Renaissance Savery Hotel downtown. We had two rooms, Merinda (and Verity) took one room, and Maggie, Jillian, and I had the other. The view was not specatular, but the room was super nice, and was less than $75 each for the two night stay. We had two beds and two bathrooms and a daybed/sofa.

Our first move was to go swimming! It turns out that Maggie doesn't own a swim suit, so she did not get in the pool with us, but the other three of us goofed off for quite a while. I guess that I am not observant, because I did not notice the gentleman in the whirlpool with the really nice abs, but the girls did. After this we got dressed, and Maggie, Jillian, and I went out to eat at Court Avenue Brewing Company (thanks for the tip, Larry). We ordered two meals between the three of us, and it was the perfect amount of food. Jill and Maggie got ginger ales and I had two different beers. It was excellent. We then went back to the hotel, and got ready for the dance.

We walked there through Des Moines wonderful skywalk system. I have read in the past that systems like this disconnect the people in them from the city itself, so I was curious about it. I didn't think it was like that at all. It was a nice, warm, safe way around the downtown area, it worked with the streets to get you places. Finding your way around is way easier than finding a map of it online, sheesh.

We got there to find the venue was amazing, Des Moines Temple for the Performing Arts. We went up to the fourth floor, (walking is way faster than the elevator), and found the Omaha people and set ourselves down, for about half a song, then started dancing...

...and taking pictures.


Shortly after we arrived there, the Jack and Jill dance contest started.


I met up with friends from all over the midwest.


About an hour after the first contest occurred, the second, the "Any Swing Goes" partner contest kicked off. You can see our vantage point here.

We danced until midnight or so to the sounds of The Grand Marquis, then we headed over to Java Joe's for late night dancing and, for me beer and ice cream. Then back to the hotel room and sleep.

Saturday morning we got up and went back to the 'Temple' for some classes. The one thing I dislike about Lindy classes is almost invariably you hear something like "forget what you know about Lindy Hop, don't do it that way, do it this way." Yes, I understand that thinking about what your doing is a good thing, but really ... it's a dance, part of it is style and interpretation. All whining aside, there were some really good thoughts in the classes I took.

We came back to the hotel and then over to a local sports bar to eat. In the afternoon I hung out at the hotel, while Jillian and Maggie went to more classes. After they came back to the room, we hung out, ate a 'dinner' of cheese and crackers, fruit, and veggies. Then headed back down for the Saturday dance, we arrived about half way through the team competition.

This is the team from Wichita, the team from New Mexico won.


They had the finals of the dance contests, and plenty of social dancing too.

Around 0030 we headed a few blocks east to the Des Moines Social Club for some late night dancing, food, and the Same Gender Partner Contest, which was a hoot. Finally around 0230 Sunday morning we headed back to the room and went to bed. Maggie was so tired that she lost it, and sat in bed giggling until mercifully she fell asleep.

Sunday morning we got up, packed up, and went over to the 'Temple' for day classes and breakfast at Centro in the same building as the dance venue. Breakfast followed the same theory as the rest of the weekend, a lot of plate sharing. I took one and a half of the classes on Sunday, and I'm actually using one of the moves I learned it. After the last class, we went over to Panera for dinner, and then back to the best part of any dance weekend ... the late night dance.

I nearly fell over myself to get this photo of Rae and Larry with no one in the background.


The playlist was fun and so was the dancing.


I also took some pretty good pictures.

The two most epic parts of the evening were not caught on camera, Corina and I 'inventing' a dip that either was a complete failure or the most epic thing ever, and me throwing Chris at Maggie and Kelley. In case you were wondering, yes I did dance. We rode home then and the weekend was history, but not the memories, or the pictures.

Fourth Week in February 2010

Monday and Tuesday I didn't do much at all, but Wednesday I had dinner with VK. Thursday was supposed to be my exciting bowling night out, but then we got a weird snowstorm that blanketed Sarpy County and practically snowed us in, but didn't do much in Douglas county, so I chose to stay home again. Finally, on Friday I busted out of the house and went to the Jitterbugs dance.

Saturday during the day I helped Kristie move out of VK's house. Our group of friends is usually really really good about moving help, so it hardly took any time at all. I spent the rest of the afternoon relaxing.

In the evening was Maggie's 'Golden' birthday, and she chose to celebrate with her friends at DJ's Dugout's Blazin' Pianos. It was quite the scene. Thanks to the Bens for sharing their beers with me.

The birthday girl, you know the one who worries about everything, really seemed to enjoy herself.


I know how I got the lighting and flash to do this, I'm just not sure I could do it again.


Maggie was serenaded ... oh yeah, it's business time.


I got a new profile picture out of the adventure too.

The party kind of broke up around midnight. You can see the rest of the pictures of this even here.

Sunday morning was the latest installment of Mass Chaos. Afterward, we went to eat at Maria Bonita, which might become my new favorite restaurant.

Sunday evening was the Oscars, but more importantly, it was Grand Marquis playing at the Horseshoe.

This would be a day I liked my camera.


Oh, hey Dean, I didn't recognize you with that, um, hair.

You can see the rest of my pictures from Grand Marquis at the Horseshoe here.

Third Week of February 2011

Monday had some of the warmest weather we've had in quite a while, the high was almost 50°F, after a long seeming winter, it was a welcome night.

Tuesday after work Merinda had some rollerskating planned, but I decided at the last minute to not go ... my left hand was just talking too much to me about being hurt again. Instead, I went over to VK's house and traded a nice dinner for doing some 'manly' work around her house.

I had a bad headache but made it through work on Wednesday.

Thursday's bowling league was taken over by 'Crazy Pants Bowling'. This was Brianne's idea, so don't blame me.

So, are my pants crazy, or what?


Beth's clever retort when I asked why she didn't wear crazy pants.


At every Crazy Pants Bowling event there is always one guy who acts like this.


Friends are love ... aw! With sweetness like this, no wonder I didn't bowl well.

You can see the rest of my pictures from this event here, including a bunch of artsy bowling shots. Yes, I know it sounds ridiculous.

Friday after work I went dancing, and after the dance we all met at the IHOP in Bellevue. The next time that happens will be way too soon, the service was horrible.

Saturday night I made dinner for VK and I, grilled chicken and black bean salsa. I could hardly believe how much lime juice went into it, but it was good. We then went over to see the Omaha Roller Girls. We saw a bunch of people there, the place sold out (we may have gotten the last of the tickets), and a bunch more didn't make it in. It was fun, but not a close match. We left at halftime and went down to the old market. We stopped into Vivace and watch Megan light stuff on fire.

Sunday morning was the next Mass Chaos. It was my first Spanish language mass since high school. After Mass we went off to ice cream at Ted and Wally's, and then over to visit the new Hollywood Candy downtown. Yes, I took pictures.

Second Week on February 2011

Monday I went to the doctor about my back pain, and I set into motion to get a stand up cube at work. I think it will help alleviate my back issues by being able to stand all day ... sitting is bad. After work I went over to CJ's for the latest gathering of the Disorder of the Stick, i.e. our Pathfinder group. My character is quite uncooperative at times. Our group was railroaded into an encounter with an obviously much higher level character who 'conveniently' needed our help. He proceeded to try to tempt/bribe us into cooperation. He knew a little too much about us, and if he was really that powerful, why did he need our help? I refused to go along with the story. It'll be interesting to see how it ends up.

Tuesday night I dinner with VK. On Wednesday I stayed home and didn't do much. Thursday my back was finally better, so I bowled. I had a 432 series, so that's four pins total above my average. Wow.

Friday I got back on the exercise band wagon, and that felt good. However, on the way home, I about as bad of a panic attack as I have had in years and years. No real logical source, but it's panic attack, not a thinking attack. Finally after getting it all cleared up and calmed down, I went to the annual jitterbugs pink party.

Yes, everyone finds love on Saint Valentine's Day. Photo credit: Matt

Saturday morning I did chores, then in the late afternoon, headed over to Kaleb's game night. We, meaning just Kaleb and I, played a game called Battle Line, which I really liked. It's a card game where you use your hand to control portions of the board. Our game was as close as it gets, Kaleb won, but the card he had was the only one he could have gotten to win, I had more options, but didn't get the draw. I mean possibly enough to buy it and/or get the iPhone App. We also played a game of Endeavor. I didn't win.

I left there and went to the dance at GAMe. Dan was the deejay and played ZZ Top if you can believe it. I did have a fifteen second conversation with Shannon, I suppose it's a good thing. You can see me not dancing here on Jillian's Flickr.

Sunday was the latest installment of Mass Chaos and lunch. The weather turned beautiful, and I walked around the neighborhood, quite mindful of standing water. Later in the evening Kimee and I had dinner at Culver's, and then we attempted a walk, but by then it was too cold.

First Week on February 2011

Monday had one of the strangest beginnings I've ever had. I woke up, got ready for work, and headed out on the east side of the subdivision, I was planning on going to Bucky's on 370. I came up over the hill, and in the middle of the intersection, that I had to stop sign for, was a garbage truck, two garbage men, and pickup truck. I hit the brakes and nothing. The road was sheet ice. I had plenty of time to react, and managed to get the car into a snow bank. I scared myself pretty badly though, and went home and stayed home ... too dangerous out there.

I mostly played video games all day, not a productive day, but no one was killed by my car, so it turned out to be on the plus side. In a related weather note, VK had to drive Kristie down to Bellevue to get a four wheel drive truck, and on the way back, they stopped in and I made dinner, chili, curried rice, and a fresh salad. Kristie left, and VK and I played Dance Central.

Tuesday Snowmageddon 2011 continued, but it was snow, not ice, and I got into work just fine. After work, I went over to VK's and Kristie, her, and I played Settlers of Catan, VK won. I got fed in the process. The drive home was not as pleasant, but not as bad as Monday morning. By Wednesday morning Snowmeggedon 2011 had ended, and really, the Omaha area got missed mostly. I got up early to shovel, but Merinda already did half of the driveway. I did half of what was left, and then went into work. I guess getting up early didn't agree with me, I went to bed pretty early after work.

All that good rest must have done my body good, Thursday I was in a ridiculously happy mood. Everything was sunshine and roses. After work I met VK at Peony Park Hy-Vee and ate. It was a short meal because Thursday night is bowling night. It was the only thorn in my day, I bowled quite badly, a 346 series.

Friday during lunch I got my driver's side front tire fixed over my lunch "hour". Jensen tires took an hour, so obviously I took longer than an hour. Later in the evening, I was on the clean up crew for Jitterbugs, so I went to the dance. We had some very funny moments in the bar, sorry, can't relay it here. After the dance, surprise, we went to Alvarado's.

Saturday was Merinda's big day planned for Mount Crescent. We were going to go tubing, but when we got there the tubing was horrible, so they had us do this thing called zibobbing. It's a minisled, about 18 inches wide and 30 inches long with a big handle on it. They hauled us up the chairlift, and we walked down a bit, and then road these things over about 1/4 mile long and 200 foot drop in elevation. They were really fast, snow flying up in your face, feeling like you're about to wipe out the whole way down. So in other words good times. I probably had ten runs, I did not take my camera, but the scenery was beautiful: big snowflakes, little wind, temp between 25F and 30F, and a pretty view looking back at Crescent, IA, I'll remember it for a while. You may be able see James video of the experience here, it's on Facebook.

Unfortunately, so will Todd. He had a wipeout and blew out his MCL. I felt pretty bad for him, it was at least a spectacular fall. Jillian also had a close encounter with the snow, I'm sure you can read about it on her blog. The worst thing I happen to me was ripping a huge hole in my rain gear. We had about 90 runs between all of the people there, and we had one and a quarter injuries. Despite the couple of bad things, I would do this again. It was a hoot.

Sunday was a busy day. First up Mass Chaos, I learn something new every week. Saint Matthew in Bellevue meets in the school gymnasium. After Mass we went up to Culver's as a group, but there was no where to sit, so we ran over to my place and ate in the basement.

Next up was the memorial for Bart Wormington. It was only a couple months ago that I went to his wedding with Margaret, six weeks later he passed away without any warning. Matt did a fabulous job on a video slideshow from Bart's life, he used (with my permission) some of my pictures, and it really brought it home to me when I saw pictures that I took of Bart. He was a good guy. Hugs to you Margaret, you deserve better.

Next up was the Superbowl party at CJ's. I mostly did not watch the game, I ate, drank, socialized, and played games. During the game, we played Endeavor, and after the game we played a game called Telestrations that led to much laughter, it was kind of a mix up of the telephone game and Pictionary.