It's MAY, people!

Things I'm looking forward to next month... because April hasn't gone by fast enough.

1) The end of the BSI Regional Meetings and copying items to little orange flash drives, which people will just end up deleting anyway.
2) May Show!
3) No more practicing for the May Show. (Sorry... I love my routine, but variety is the spice of life and the Bee Gees are grating on my last nerve.)
4) Angels and Demons premier! Plus all the really GOOD movies start coming out in summer.
5) SO YOU THINK YOU CAN DANCE returns!!!!!!!
6) We're moving offices! And the wall colors won't be maroon!

What am I not looking forward to?
1) Packing up 2 years+ of crap in my office. That recycle bin is gonna be FULL.
2) Planning Faculty Leadership. My first contract that I put together is finally here to bite me in the ass.
3) The fact that I may not get Memorial Day off.
4) The weather going from mild and cold to HOLY HELL HOT in a matter of one week. Or less.

Happy May!

We say this every single year!

Who's bright idea was it to schedule 3 meetings all on the same day? In 3 different locations? Right in between 2 of the largest events in the spring semester? Seriously, we say this every year: we will learn next time about our Basic Skills Initiative fiascoes. But every single time these meetings come up, we end up with the same clusterfuck that we had the previous series.

I've got attendees more confused that I am. And that's bad. But seriously, a lot of this can be alleviated with a little common sense, which I've come to realize doesn't come very easy for some. I mean, if you are going to be traveling to a meeting and will require a hotel room, why are you waiting until 1 day before the meeting at 4:59 pm if you have a hotel room? C'mon.

Totally frustrated right now.

Mindless musings for April

I'm bored. It's the first of about 4 trips I need to make in the next few weeks. 11 events in 6 weeks. So far, I'm on event #2. (And it's a big one too... I really should head to bed. But my $5 internet hasn't expired yet.)

Anyway - so M and I fostered a litter of kittens. And to be quite honest, I thought this was going to be a strong pack. Turns out - 2 of them got really sick and died. Total downer. One dies on Easter Sunday and I had to take one in today to be put to sleep. It's very surreal to hold an animal that is completely helpless, can't stand up on its own, but is totally lucid. And when you put him down, he'd start crying. Not the typical, "don't lock me back in the bathroom again because I want to play" cry. But the "Oh my gosh, everything hurts and I'm scared" cry. Foster care provider took one look at the poor guy and said "oh no - we need to take care of him." Now it's got me worried. Pan Leukemia isn't something to sneeze at. It's got sudden symptoms and when the occur - it's almost always fatal. I'm hoping the other 2 surviving mates end up okay. Needless to say - Lucy is seeing a vet on Friday and we're not fostering cats any more. Kind of sad, really. I enjoyed fostering immensely. But with my travel schedule, dance schedule, and Lucy, we just can't do it.

And frankly the kittens stopped being cute after they started pooping all over our living room floor. Ugh. Spot Shot - best stuff ever!

In other news, I'm apparently heading for Utah, in addition to Los Angeles, this summer for vacations without M. Which is weird to me. But Hawaii in January is looking more and more like a possibility. I can't wait for a vacation where I don't have to WORK. Disneyworld and Europe were great. But they were WORK. Languages, screaming children, walking, walking, and more walking. BLAH. I just want to sit on an empty beach and sip Mai Tais for once.

Now - if I can keep my spending in control. This includes no more dance shoe purchases and dress shopping for like the next 6 months. Part of me wishes I could return those Capezio shoes. They are too tall and I feel awkward in them. I hate having small feet.

So do we get a stimulus check soon? Really soon? I have a credit card to pay off.

Ice, Ice, Baby

And Motrin... and heat... and physical therapy! Woo!

Gotta love strained muscles in your shoulder.

NO! I didn't injure it dancing, dang it! (Though... it probably made it worse. No more salsa dancing for Jen.)

My Life via Dave Matthews Band

Using only song titles from ONE ARTIST, cleverly answer these questions. (Well, okay then! Twist my arm!)

Pick Your Artist: Dave Matthews Band


Are you male or female: Sister

Describe yourself: Dancing Nancies

How do you feel about yourself: I'll Back You Up

Describe where you currently live: Stolen Away on 55th and 3rd

If you could go anywhere, where would you go: You Never Know

Your best friend is: Some Devil

Your favorite color is: The Stone

You know that: You Might Die Trying

What's the weather like: Halloween

If your life was a TV show, what would it be called?: Rhyme and Reason

What is life to you: So Right

What is the best advice you have to give: Don't Drink the Water

If you could change your name, what it would be: The Song that Jane Likes

Your favorite food is: Too Much

Kitteh vs. Toilet paper

What happens when you leave a 6 month old, rambunctious kitten locked up in a spare bathroom for far too long.

Oh Hai! Dance Related Gushing!

Yes, I'm still alive.

Between travel and nightly classes, I haven't been home much. And when I am home, I'm quickly spinning through my Netflix queue or catching "Dancing With The Stars." As cheesy as it is, it's suddenly more interesting than American Idol. I guess three years ago, I was more interested in watching singers on TV. Now, I'm just more interested in dancing. And I can see Mark on my TV again.

Much more interesting hobby, I might add. And physically trying. Somehow I have to convince my 27 year old body that I CAN be flexible and wrap my leg around a partner in a lift. (Sigh... this getting old thing sucks.)

I'm happy to report I can do a complete single pirouette on my right leg without falling over. Just don't ask me to repeat it.

And dance is slowly taking over my wardrobe. But I'm on a budget. So when I go shopping, I now think: "hmmm... can I wear this to practice/dance party/competition?" And: "does this come in any other color besides black?" And of course: "am I going to have to add more sparkles to this later?"

Don't even get me started on shoes. I already thought about buying some slick Puma sneakers and putting suede on the bottom. I held back. But still bought Sketchers on sale.

Music: Ah yes. I've got a choreography bug. But most of the ideas are probably better suited in my head. Especially since doing a Paso Doble to "Knights of Cedonia" might not be a good idea at my skill level. But, it's still fun to think about. So is Basement Jaxx and WCS. (Squee!)

So for now, I'll just add "Pokerface" to my Cha Cha list, most Tom Petty songs to my [ECS/WCS/Lindy] Swing list, and Dave Matthews Band to... well, pretty much anything. (Hmmm... Dave and Rumba... heh...) What? If the DWTS folks can Tango to the Star Wars anthem... *sigh*

And... my leg muscles still really hurt. From 3 days ago.