I didn't sleep well last night. Or the night before. I tried both evenings to go to bed early but I believe I ended up falling asleep somewhere around 11 or 11:30. And last night I kept having my tornado dreams. I've actually been expecting to have them sooner because of all the rain that we have been getting. I didn't have any of the weird ones where it turns out I have either the ability to control where they go or they just happen to miss me everytime, but I can't recall anymore what was going on. I really hate the ones where there are dozens on the horizon and they keep switching paths.
I did some sewing last night. I set up my sewing machine from Christmas that my family chipped in and bought for me a few months back, but hadn't gotten around to sewing a project. I started a pair of harem pants that I've been waiting to do for a year or two. I got all the major seams closed up and I just need to make the casing for the elastic and then put the elastic in. I like sewing harem pants, they are easy and are baggy enough that cuts and alignment can be fudged with no one the wiser. I have enough material left over to make a matching turkish vest, but once again I forgot to make a copy of Mom's patterns when I was over on Sunday. We always get distracted with shopping. I need to remember to get a copy this week. I'm half tempted to try it without the pattern, but I really like this fabric and since I haven't seen it in the stores in a long time I don't want to ruin what little I have. Although... I just had a thought. I bet I could cut apart a t-shirt and make a modernized, slip-on turkish vest. I'd probably still need to re-inforce under the bust so it doesn't just roll up, but that seems like it would be pretty simple. But anyway I am hoping to finish off my pants tonight and then finally play with the fancy stitches. I didn't do that when I was just practicing the basic stitches because I have to switch out the presser feet and didn't feel like doing it at the time. I'm looking forward to detailing my shirts and pants with the fancy stitches. Should be fun.
The fall semester starts up in about a month and I haven't settled on my schedule yet. I want to take 2 dance classes this term because I loved the modern class I took in the spring and the other is a hip-hop/jazz class and I've been wanting to learn both. I still need to talk to my boss about it because I will have to leave work early, but I don't think it will be a problem. I also want to take a math class. Both to get it out of the way for the Texas degree requirements and because I think I want to take some higher math and physics classes. Since I've been re-reading my quantum mechanics books I've been wanting to learn the equations involved with the theories instead of just the concepts. I'm dreading taking the placement test though; I'm afraid I won't remember enough to place out of the remedial algebra and the last thing I want is to take algebra a freaking third time. It isn't interesting or difficult enough to suffer through twice, much less three times. Hmmm, I could study up some on my own.... uch! Math on my free time? I may go spend a couple of hours in a book store or two and glance through some books and see if I can remember anything or not. Then I also have to take American Government at some point but I'm torn as to whether or not I want torture myself by taking a full semester of it, or torture myself by taking a crammed summer semester of it. The teacher I had when I tried to take it last year just completely ruined it for me. She literally made lists on the white board that consisted of information we read straight from the book. We basically read the book in class after we read it at home to be prepared for class. No critical thinking, no discussion on whys or hows or what ifs or anything. It was terrible. Awful. I had to drop it. What killed me is after all the writing of "ideas" on the board straight from the book she wanted us to get together in groups and complete an intensive project. I was floored. She did NOTHING in her class to prepare us for the project she assigned. I think she was the second or third worst teacher I've ever had and that's only because I've had two teachers that I DESPISED. Unfortunately I'll never forget Mr. Wagner and Mrs. Warner. Beasts of people. I swear they hated kids, shouldn't have been teachers.
Visions had a dance performance Saturday, we performed 'Sema' at the Ft. Worth Kismet. I think it may have been the first Kismet in Ft. Worth, but I'm not sure about that. It was a small, intimate venue and even though it could have used a raised stage it was a nice place to dance. I look forward to seeing photographs and the video of our performance. It seemed to go well enough, the audience went crazy for us like they always do. Truthfully, I was surprised there was an audience left. We danced second to last out of the entire evening and the audience usually thins out significantly by the second half. It felt liked we danced well; there were minor bobbles and we lost a candle (LED, no worries) right at the beginning but I'm sure we were more together than I think we were. I know I kept screwing up getting into the circle even during rehearsal, plus we did most of our tweaking the two practices before the performance one of which was the same day as the performance. But I KNOW there were kick ass spots where our choreography looked awesome and we danced it tight. I think my favourite was the hip circle contagion and the criss-crossing diagonal hip hits. I can't wait to find a dance space I can rent that has mirrors. I have 4 pieces that are partially choreographed in my head and I want to finish them off and teach them to the troupe so we have more pieces to pull out of our electic hat. One of them is going to be purely modern with no belly dance influences. And I have a solo I've been stewing on for at least a year.
We haven't had a Diffusion meeting since May, and that has been our only one this year. I'm getting antsy, all our deadlines for submissions are coming up. We haven't made flyers or emails or posts about it. I think we did finally get a venue. Still need the press packets and a logo. I really need to take a day and go to Mom's storage unit so I can find that button maker. I hope she still has it, even used those things run about $150. I think having Diffusion buttons to hand out would be neat. Hmmmm, I wonder if I could use my sewing machine to make little Visions In Dance patches, or Diffusion patches once we get a logo. Neat idea. Oh, auctions. I think Lisha already had that as an idea to get us some money but I need to mention it in case I'm remembering wrong. Flyers, flyers, flyers. I think I'll make one up and see what the Diffusion group thinks. Since school is starting soon, and summer classes are still going on, it would be good to get the audition flyers up at the dance departments at school. Want to make a choreography or two for the show, too. Too much to do.
Ok, my train of thought was interrupted with switching jobs at work so I have nothing else useful to say. But I like how much I got down. If I wait until I get home to write most of the thoughts have fled my poor little brain. I have too much thinking time at work, especially when I'm running the printers like today. I hate numbering but the girl I had partially trained decided to quit and there isn't really anyone else here that has shown interest in doing this job. I'm surprised. It's such a do nothing job, and most of the people are so uninterested in working I thought most everyone here would want to do it. I can't wait to give someone this boring job, I really like doing the office work I've been learning. Lots of details, but I do have to talk to people on the phone. Mostly they are nice people to talk to though because they aren't retail customers. We're their middle man for printed products. It's so nice to have a real job.