The past 2 months, random events, and Internet TV

Hey all...well I'm sorry to say that, having a hectic school schedule, I haven't made the time to post much about my everyday life.  So here's a quick (edit: detailed) update on what's been happening:

Right before I finished school for the semester, I started a Facebook group for me and my friends to join called "Guys' Night Out" (aka "Night Out").  It was a group that I created in order to make sure we all got together weekly to go eat, do something fun, and hang out.  With the holidays around all of us went in separate directions with our plans for awhile.  We have started getting together again, but this time not on one set night out of the week.  

Gary and I got to see Jared for a few days as the semester started.  We had a cookout together, had coffee together, did some gaming together, watched a DVD together, and shared our spiritual happenings together.  

In related news, I also saw my cousin, Josh, who arrived here from a two-month trip to Australia.  He bonded with many of the people and tried many new sports such as skydiving, bungee jumping, and scuba diving.  Though he is no longer in Australia, here's his blog if you want to read it.  http://glenraven.wordpress.com/

I have also been quite busy with school and work, and I have been trying to balance both of those with my social and family life.  I am taking five classes this semester (Professional Writing, Webpage Construction, Ethics in Human Communication, Independent Study in Data Mining, and E-Commerce and the Internet).  So far this semester I have been learning to write better letters and news articles, use Cascading Style Sheets (CSS)/Dreamweaver/Photoshop, design better Web pages, think more philosophically about ethical communication, and how to do more cool things with my computer and Web pages (tracking data).  I am enjoying the learning experiences of each class, but sometimes it gets on my nerves to do the busy work or to have to get up to go to class (particularly when it's freezing cold in the mornings).  I was enrolled in six courses this semester, and decided to withdraw from one (Writing for the Mass Media).  I have learned the hard way that one needs to be mindful about taking an extra course, and to make sure he/she is not going to give said class less attention than other ones.  While it was a fun class, I didn't need this class as much as I needed the others.  

I also have rediscovered my love for video games by visiting the local Best Buy store and going to Tilt (at Westgate Mall) and Mr. Gatti's to play.  I still enjoy driving games and shooting games, but I am also enjoying the new wave of video game culture which includes Guitar Hero/Rock Band, Wii, and Dance Dance Revolution/Pump it Up.  I like these kinds of games because they help test my coordination skills and also help me to get fit.  

Finally, I have discovered the true greatness of another technical revolution called Internet television.  I started (and finished) a CBS Internet series that highlights the industry of selling pilots and getting work in Hollywood entertainment called "Clark and Michael".  Starring Clark Duke ("Greek") and Michael Cera ("Arrested Development", "Superbad", "Juno", "Nick and Norah's Infinite Playlist"), this show seems to have taken inspirations from acclaimed comedy series such as "Seinfeld", "The Office", "Curb Your Enthusiasm", and "Arrested Development". This is a show so good that it should have been picked up for mainstream television (or at least Adult Swim).   I have also been watching "Scrubs: Interns" (the companion Webisodes to the now-ABC comedy series "Scrubs"), "The Office: The Accountants" ("The Office" Webisodes), and am getting into "The Totally Rad Show" (a geekly-news show reviewing movies, tv, music, and video games).  Internet television is so great because there are no limits on creativity and content (unlike more mainstream television, where gaining ratings and pleasing advertisers rules).  

It was great to catch up with you all.  I have some other topics planned for this blog in the upcoming days, plus a possible surprise...

New Swing Dancer Here...

Hey friends...well I've decided to make this post about something I experienced personally today. I spontaneously (with some thought) decided to go swing dancing at Hub-Bub's Showroom. I had heard about the event from friends of mine who had gone to it on Facebook. Over the last 2 years (especially this past year) I've been trying to gradually eat healthier, exercise more, and come socially out of my "shell".

I went, and I sat in the car at first (rode around the parking lot a couple of times) not sure whether I wanted to go in or not. I finally decided to just do it, went in, and met these kind people (the host-Paul Hoke, and this sweet young woman Aliza). Then I looked around at the art, talked to a couple of other beginners and one young lady who had more experience with the dance.

Next came the nearly hour-long lesson. I learned to do all these steps, including twirling the young women around, twirling myself around and letting them catch me, and doing "back pushes". I had many partners during the lesson. Some of these partners were beginners (just like me), and some had either some experience or were "experts". Some were great partners, and some I felt were just okay. Some were charming (or at the least encouraging), some of them seemed just as flustered as I was, and some seemed a bit more eager for me to learn steps faster (and too many of them too fast). I quickly caught on to some things (specifically high-five twirling-which I love!), but there were other things with which I'm still struggling (doing the "back pushes" and some of the more complicated dance moves that we didn't even go over in the lesson).

After the lesson most of us stayed around (and more people came in) and danced to different songs/kinds of swing music. I found that I really gelled well with some partners (I felt that immediate negative-positive spark of electrical chemistry-not necessarily romantic, but someone with whom I'd have more in common), while with other people I felt like either I wasn't a great enough dancer (or smooth, confident enough person) with or that they were a bit cold towards me. I think I may have been the only guy that showed up without a girl "friend" (maybe that would be a great idea for next time), but some of the ladies showed up alone or with other girlfriends. I feel that I had gradually gotten better over those last two hours, and some of the young ladies seemed to enjoy dancing with me and told me I was doing a great job for the first time. This one girl (whose name I think was Lauren) told me that I needed to come on a more regular basis and join them at their sessions at The Handlebar in Greenville. Some of the girls let me go a little crazier and do more freestyle than others. Some of them were a bit "funny" about my taking too big of steps, not being fast enough, not looking/observing my feet/other people enough, or kicking back my feet a bit too much (one said I looked funny...but isn't dancing supposed to be somewhat funny?).

I went home that night glad that I came and learned some dance steps, and was glad of the new people I met and the newer-found confidence I've been slowly gaining. I still, however, felt a bit self-conscious (and even cried a little on the inside and almost on the outside)...and it can be embarrassing to be the new one on the floor, and alone (particularly if you are a male). Having about three or four other people I knew there made it both a little better (they can be supportive and familiar) AND a little more awkward (familiarity breeds contempt, and sometimes people that know you but not that well may be watching/criticizing your every move more than people who didn't know you before). I do, however, plan to return and do this some more on a monthly/weekly basis (maybe I can get one of my girl "friends" to come and I can either show one of them something or that girl "friend" can show me a thing or two), as well as checking out shag lessons at Wild Wing or classes they might have at the Y or the library. I had a fun time doing it and was glad to do it...and, as a first-time real dancer (besides acting crazy at work/among friends, out and about), I slowly felt more confident and had good talks with the people there.