I know, I know, a whole week without a single post. Sorry, sorry. Have you ever had one of those weeks when you’re too busy to breathe, then you look back on it and wonder where all the time went and why you didn’t get more done? Today should be the last day of this, and then I’ll be back with the gory details of my life. Promise!

I made it through the show last night, succeeding in not falling on my face in front of over 300 people, thanks entirely to having memorized the routine. I was fine right up until I hit the stage (a ground level, black marble floor that was very nice to dance on), then WHAM, quaking in my genie pants. What the…?

The show was scheduled to start at 7pm. I got to leave work 4 hours early (paid even, woot!) to be there at 3 for the final run through and adjustments (to which I contributed a notably helpful idea, go me!). It was finally starting to feel “real” at this point, but I wasn’t nervous. The instructor was actually a bit of a nervous wreck (self-proclaimed, as her first two instructors were coming to the show), so I just stayed out of her way.

Our changing room was upstairs, where someone had cranked up the AC enough that even normal people were complaining of the cold, but I didn’t let it bother me. I just put on my jacket, pulled out my knitting and draped the finished end of the wool scarf over my feet as I added to the other end. Naturally, I was having an unusually bad hair day yesterday. Since my hair is relatively short, I borrowed a gold bead “wig” from one of the other girls to add some movement. (She gave it to me after the show – what a sweetheart!) Unfortunately, my hair was being uncooperative and insisted on sticking out at odd angles to the beads. There wasn’t much I could do but shrug it off and ignore it.

Grapes and raw veggies (and ice water, heh) were laid out for us, none of which I could eat (I had been promised hummus, but never found it), so I ate the energy bar I had brought with me, just in case. Backstage awaiting our cues, most of the other girls were yapping away, despite repeated attempts by our frazzled leader to get them to respect her initial request for backstage silence (and no, ladies, frequent and loud SHHHHHHH-ing is neither helpful nor funny. I understand that you’re nervous and talking calms you, but enough already!); I just stood on the stairs and breathed, even when the show was delayed and we were stuck in that freezing stairwell for almost half an hour. I tell you all of this not because I enjoy whining or to show you what a martyr I can be, but to illustrate that I had plenty of opportunities to panic… and didn’t.

So, tell me why I got stage fright all of a sudden, doing something I enjoy for all of two minutes in front of people I will likely never see again (at least, not until next year’s recital)? I did my best to ignore it and just enjoy myself, but I felt clumsy and arrhythmic. As soon as it was over, I was fine again. Dancing at the rennaissance faire (for 7 hours!) was completely on the other end of this spectrum. What is it about a stage that makes such a huge difference?

Some of the other dancers after my group were amazing and the show was taped, so I ordered a copy of the DVD. I had to leave early anyway because of work, so this is the only way I’ll get to see the whole show. I’m looking forward to learning new stuff by watching it.

I took the truck in to the shop yesterday morning to get the windows fixed (finally). The driver’s side motor was completely shot and the passenger’s side switch would only roll the window down. We put up with this behavior for almost a year. Thanks to the payoff from my totalled car, we could finally afford to fix it.

My plan was to have the mechanic look it over so he could order the parts and fix it another day. I was pleasantly surprised when he said he could get the parts and fix it within a few hours. I didn’t have any appointments to keep, so I went for it. Two-to-three hours turned into four because the parts delivery guy slacked. Luckily, I had come to the shop prepared for an extended visit.

I read for a while (Wizard’s First Rule), had some turkey jerky and water, then switched to knitting. Much progress was made in both areas and at the end of it all, I had a truck with working windows. Woot! The remainder of the afternoon was divided between website design and belly dance costume beading. All in all, a very constructive day and very satisfying.

But wait, there’s more!

I had a -very- good gut day; the best so far. It was good enough that I joined my friends at the local sushi bar for dinner. Although I ordered vegetable udon to play it safe, I did munch on a few heavenly bites of salad (yes, actual raw greens!) and I still feel fine this morning. Acupuncture rocks!