Milestone

Twenty-five years ago today, I pulled into our driveway at our newly purchased home at 5613 Winchester SW in Albuquerque to start a very new life. 26 years old, it was my first home purchase (of course, shared with Jim #1). $31,500.00. $144/month mortgage.

Jim had already moved in a week before, and had to deal with what turned out to be a VERY leaky roof. This of course was back when it rained in the Southwest.

Of course then, I had transfered within the company I was working for, Amfac, to a $3.95 an hour job as a desk clerk at the airport hotel location, just to GET here.

I was enthralled with the views of the mountains, the clear air, the small city feel, the wide open vistas.

Square dancing wouldn't be even in my thoughts for two years. I wasn't out to my family, although Jim #1 and I have been living together for nearly two years. I was 155 pounds and had a full curly head of hair. I was as naive about life as the day is long.

My oh my, what changes the past quarter century have wrought.

Milestone

Twenty-five years ago today, I pulled into our driveway at our newly purchased home at 5613 Winchester SW in Albuquerque to start a very new life. 26 years old, it was my first home purchase (of course, shared with Jim #1). $31,500.00. $144/month mortgage.

Jim had already moved in a week before, and had to deal with what turned out to be a VERY leaky roof. This of course was back when it rained in the Southwest.

Of course then, I had transfered within the company I was working for, Amfac, to a $3.95 an hour job as a desk clerk at the airport hotel location, just to GET here.

I was enthralled with the views of the mountains, the clear air, the small city feel, the wide open vistas.

Square dancing wouldn't be even in my thoughts for two years. I wasn't out to my family, although Jim #1 and I have been living together for nearly two years. I was 155 pounds and had a full curly head of hair. I was as naive about life as the day is long.

My oh my, what changes the past quarter century have wrought.

Poconos Day 1

The folks that put together this weekend are nothing if not organized. I thought that when we checked in at noon that it forebode of shakiness, since none of the callers had room reservations, but it all turned out fine. Wally made sure we had sound checks in the hall and that the equipment for my hall was set up hours before the first dance. The gift baskets are all set up in a fine display near the main halls. The registrant packets are very thorough and informative. The weather is great, although I don't have a need to go out. Apparently the big thing around here off-season is shopping in the little tourist towns nearby.

With a couple of naps tucked into the afternoon, I had dinner with John Marshall and his (quiet) wife Mary. Great yak going, with the Claspers coming up in the conversation more than once. I hadn't gotten to know John very well, but we've known who each other are since the '89 convention in New York.

The guest callers started off the evening with 30 minute warmup sessions, but those went really, really badly, at least for Brian and Kent. Brian couldn't get his dancers through anything at all...even an allemande left seemed to be beyond the dancers in his pilot square. Kent didn't have a square until it was nearly time for me to start calling. I don't know how it went with the Anne warmup room. Not good start for either dancer or caller confidence.

My schedule for calling was Mainstream, then C1/C2, then A1/A2. They all went reasonably well, considering everyone had to dance on carpet, and nearly everyone was wearing sneakers. We were hard pressed to get two squares together for the Mainstream. Drew Allen called an unprepared sounding C1 tip at the beginning of my C1/C2 session, and he had to slowly walk the dancers through each sequence. Twice. Not pretty. He had NO energy or confidence in his voice. I appreciate that guest callers are given opportunities during flyins, but this particular timing for them is unfortunate and continues to reinforce that GCA = inexperienced. Ack!

I didn't have more than 3 squares at any point. I suspect most of the dancers were all clustered around the Anne hall. I know there's were well over 120 people here by the time the dance started.

The after party in the bar was sociable, although I didn't get a chance to yak with Anne at all. Crawled into bed and fell into a sound sleep at 12:30.

And right now at 9am, there's a small dog tied to a tree with a leash has been yapping for over an hour. Time to go shower and get ready for the day!

Poconos Day 1

The folks that put together this weekend are nothing if not organized. I thought that when we checked in at noon that it forebode of shakiness, since none of the callers had room reservations, but it all turned out fine. Wally made sure we had sound checks in the hall and that the equipment for my hall was set up hours before the first dance. The gift baskets are all set up in a fine display near the main halls. The registrant packets are very thorough and informative. The weather is great, although I don't have a need to go out. Apparently the big thing around here off-season is shopping in the little tourist towns nearby.

With a couple of naps tucked into the afternoon, I had dinner with John Marshall and his (quiet) wife Mary. Great yak going, with the Claspers coming up in the conversation more than once. I hadn't gotten to know John very well, but we've known who each other are since the '89 convention in New York.

The guest callers started off the evening with 30 minute warmup sessions, but those went really, really badly, at least for Brian and Kent. Brian couldn't get his dancers through anything at all...even an allemande left seemed to be beyond the dancers in his pilot square. Kent didn't have a square until it was nearly time for me to start calling. I don't know how it went with the Anne warmup room. Not good start for either dancer or caller confidence.

My schedule for calling was Mainstream, then C1/C2, then A1/A2. They all went reasonably well, considering everyone had to dance on carpet, and nearly everyone was wearing sneakers. We were hard pressed to get two squares together for the Mainstream. Drew Allen called an unprepared sounding C1 tip at the beginning of my C1/C2 session, and he had to slowly walk the dancers through each sequence. Twice. Not pretty. He had NO energy or confidence in his voice. I appreciate that guest callers are given opportunities during flyins, but this particular timing for them is unfortunate and continues to reinforce that GCA = inexperienced. Ack!

I didn't have more than 3 squares at any point. I suspect most of the dancers were all clustered around the Anne hall. I know there's were well over 120 people here by the time the dance started.

The after party in the bar was sociable, although I didn't get a chance to yak with Anne at all. Crawled into bed and fell into a sound sleep at 12:30.

And right now at 9am, there's a small dog tied to a tree with a leash has been yapping for over an hour. Time to go shower and get ready for the day!

Poconos Day 2

After posting this morning, I skittered downstairs to set up in the bar for my morning and afternoon of calling. Some of the places you have to call in flyins are amusing at best. Not only did this room have carpeting, but also a miniture dance floor not actually made for couples dancing unless you were wearing leather soled shoes. I pityed most of the dancers.

Since I got finishing setting up at 9:45, with Wally in attendance making sure all would work for everyone, I wandered over the the breakfast buffet to find...nothing. At least not then; I waited a few minutes and pancakes showed up, so I had a reasonable breakfast, joining bjarvis and Kent for a mini-yak.

The schedule today was Mainstream workshop, Plus Take No Prisoners, Advanced Workshop, C1, Advanced with a lunch break in there somewhere. As expected, it was VERY difficult to get a Mainstream square together, but we persevered.

The Plus TNP was odd to say the least. I think Brian's square from last night came in all together and squared up right in front of me. I had to revert to soft Plus from time to time, with some gentle workshopping here and there. Definitely NOT TNP.

Same for the Advanced...most of the calls went pretty well, but when I hit LEFT Square Chain Thru, we had a huge meltdown. I'm blaming this on myself partially, but when I couldn't even get some of the dancers to do a successful left square thru, I thought that I was on some alternate universe.

But overall, we had a good time, and I don't think anyone went away screaming how awful it was.

After tearing down the equipment in the bar, I met up with bjarvis, Kent, Mark Ambrose, Sean Crist, zzbear, and Chris Phelan to have dinner out on the town...wherever that was! Enjoyed the ride out with a few of the guys in Kent's new, replacement minivan. Dinner was "interesting" in some of the same ways that eating out with Danny can be. Apparently Sean is a total vegan, and Mark is avoiding meat and dairy for Lent. Dangerous territory...Sean ordered what he thought was a simple spaghetti and red sauce meal, but it kept coming back to him (twice) with meat in it. He disappeared in the bathroom for awhile, I think purging.

Looking at my watch, I realized I had 30 minutes to get back to the hotel, get changed, schlepp my equipment down to the dance hall. Chris P volunteered to drive me back, so I got a first trip in a Prius. Fun car! We made it back at 6:55 and by 7:02 I was down in the main hall, which was now set up for Anne, John and me to call.

That dance was festive...I think the three of us worked pretty well together, with guest tips from Zip, Kent, and Chris where we were the backup singers. The 3 hours flew by, even during the announcements and 50-50 and doorprize drawings.

We scattered after the dance to dress for the infamous Pool Tip. I thought that we staff callers were going to have to call that, but Zip and Chris ended up doing it...they called it like it was a real dance, and after two tips, I was pooped.

After drying off and changing, we all retreated back to the bar for cocktails...with minor gossip and socializing. I was sorry to hear that Michelle and Mike Jacobs are calling it quits. Michelle and her daughter were at the dances today.

And with that, Day 2 is complete...

Poconos Day 2

After posting this morning, I skittered downstairs to set up in the bar for my morning and afternoon of calling. Some of the places you have to call in flyins are amusing at best. Not only did this room have carpeting, but also a miniture dance floor not actually made for couples dancing unless you were wearing leather soled shoes. I pityed most of the dancers.

Since I got finishing setting up at 9:45, with Wally in attendance making sure all would work for everyone, I wandered over the the breakfast buffet to find...nothing. At least not then; I waited a few minutes and pancakes showed up, so I had a reasonable breakfast, joining bjarvis and Kent for a mini-yak.

The schedule today was Mainstream workshop, Plus Take No Prisoners, Advanced Workshop, C1, Advanced with a lunch break in there somewhere. As expected, it was VERY difficult to get a Mainstream square together, but we persevered.

The Plus TNP was odd to say the least. I think Brian's square from last night came in all together and squared up right in front of me. I had to revert to soft Plus from time to time, with some gentle workshopping here and there. Definitely NOT TNP.

Same for the Advanced...most of the calls went pretty well, but when I hit LEFT Square Chain Thru, we had a huge meltdown. I'm blaming this on myself partially, but when I couldn't even get some of the dancers to do a successful left square thru, I thought that I was on some alternate universe.

But overall, we had a good time, and I don't think anyone went away screaming how awful it was.

After tearing down the equipment in the bar, I met up with bjarvis, Kent, Mark Ambrose, Sean Crist, zzbear, and Chris Phelan to have dinner out on the town...wherever that was! Enjoyed the ride out with a few of the guys in Kent's new, replacement minivan. Dinner was "interesting" in some of the same ways that eating out with Danny can be. Apparently Sean is a total vegan, and Mark is avoiding meat and dairy for Lent. Dangerous territory...Sean ordered what he thought was a simple spaghetti and red sauce meal, but it kept coming back to him (twice) with meat in it. He disappeared in the bathroom for awhile, I think purging.

Looking at my watch, I realized I had 30 minutes to get back to the hotel, get changed, schlepp my equipment down to the dance hall. Chris P volunteered to drive me back, so I got a first trip in a Prius. Fun car! We made it back at 6:55 and by 7:02 I was down in the main hall, which was now set up for Anne, John and me to call.

That dance was festive...I think the three of us worked pretty well together, with guest tips from Zip, Kent, and Chris where we were the backup singers. The 3 hours flew by, even during the announcements and 50-50 and doorprize drawings.

We scattered after the dance to dress for the infamous Pool Tip. I thought that we staff callers were going to have to call that, but Zip and Chris ended up doing it...they called it like it was a real dance, and after two tips, I was pooped.

After drying off and changing, we all retreated back to the bar for cocktails...with minor gossip and socializing. I was sorry to hear that Michelle and Mike Jacobs are calling it quits. Michelle and her daughter were at the dances today.

And with that, Day 2 is complete...