lazy sunday morning...

i'm glad i went to the party last night, it was a lot of fun. terrifying and awkward in the beginning, like i'd figured, but i powered through it okay. once i met the host (NOT fun to walk into a house full of people who are all whooping it up, and having to ask for the person throwing the party), i was able to make small talk for about 30 seconds as i handed off the bottle of wine and deserty thing i'd brought... then everyone went back to their conversations, and i was left standing there feeling like an ass. so i grabbed a big glass of merlot and sat down with a few other people who were silently watching video clips from dance weekends. after about an hour i was able to make converstion with a few friendly people (including a guy i'd met at the west coast dance a few weeks ago), so i had a couple of folks to cling to. *grin*

once the dancing started, i loosened up a bit. and yes, there was actually a swing dance in this guy's house. he has a huge living room with hardwood floors, so he keeps all the furniture in another room and uses the living room as a dance floor. there was even a 4-piece band there, who were just great, and even with the band set up there was room for about 10 couples at a time to dance. it was a riot. a few nice people asked me to dance, and i have to say, philly dancers are pretty darn good. mostly hollywood-style lindy, which i never really picked up, but i was able to hold my own and didn't have anyone running off the floor screaming. there was a guy who showed up later, who i couldn't stop staring at... not only was he a phenomenal dancer, but he was the spitting image of my ex D, except a bit taller. really freaky. and at one point, when the band started up a stevie wonder song and i was dying to west coast, he came up from behind and took my hand and brought me out onto the floor, and we had just an absolute swoon-worthy dance. he was a blast.

i left just before 1am, and the party was at full tilt. seriously, i'm sure people were still there dancing at 4 or 5am. i could have stayed later, but i was hitting that point where my wine buzz was worn off and i had fallen out of the groove of the party (although it's funny to see that, so many years later, lindy gatherings are still partly about being flirty and snuggly and touchy)... so i figured i'd leave on a high note and then just look forward to seeing everyone again at a dance sometime.

so, a good night overall. nice people, great music, and i didn't make a complete ass out of myself. on tap for today? more vegging out, perhaps coffee at milkboy (if it's even freakin' open yet), and perhaps a west coast dance tonight in manayunk. we shall see.

shopping woes

i'd like to give a hearty "middle finger" to Neiman Marcus, for not taking visa or mastercard in any of their stores. if Needless Markup weren't the only store in the area that sold my moisturizer, i'd have gone somewhere else... but no, i had to walk through the mall and get a lot of money out of the ATM and walk all the way back to finish my purchase, which is a massive pain in the ass. i will never shop there again. the only satisfaction i got from the transaction, was seeing the look of dollar signs in the salesguy's eyes as he said, "i'm going to put my business card in your bag, if there's ANYTHING at all i can put aside for you while you're transitioning here from boston, PLEASE let me know." little does he know that i'm not made of money, by any stretch of the imagination, and that from now on i'll be buying my moisturizer online from another store with my VISA. argh.

i would also like to give the middle finger on my other hand to the mother in pottery barn who kept stalking me with her baby in a massive stroller. i just wanted to look at sparkly candles and picture frames, i didn't go in there so i could get chased down at every turn by a monster truck with a handle. i'm sorry, i know that it's xmas and everyone needs to shop, but those massive high-tech plastic strollers do not belong in a crowded store, and they don't belong bumping into my legs, and i shouldn't have to keep moving out of your way because you're too ignornant to consider that you're taking up the space of 3 people with every step you walk. *seethe*

on a slightly happier note... williams-sonoma and crate and barrel are 2 of the most beautiful retail places to be during the xmas season. except for the crowds. but they're still beautiful.