La Douleur Exquise

I have put on at least 5 pounds of muscle at this point. Funny story, I actually went Incredible Hulk on a French Connection dress with too-tight sleeves yesterday. Flexed in frustration and popped the seams.

My abs hurt. My back hurts. I have yellow-green bruises under my arms, which are better than the purple ones I used to get on the backs of my knees, but they are more difficult to cover. Especially now that the weather is getting warmer. It's worth it. The sideways spins are incredible, and I am trying to master some variations with open legs. My abs are not happy about this.

We have to improv a section of the Level 2 recital, and I am fresh out of ideas. Maybe some more classes are in order - Jiggle It, Sultry Pole, etc. A classmate taught me a hand stand w/poppin' it move, which will no doubt come in handy. Yeah, I said hand stand. To be fair, it's with feet on the mirror, but it still looks impressive.

Lately what I like most about dancing is all the positive re-enforcement floating around. When I finally ace a spin, the instructors are almost freakishly happy. I cheer for my classmates, they cheer for me. This isn't something I get very often...or really ever...at my job. No one says a word unless something goes wrong.

I feel like the other ladies and I are like war buddies of sorts, which is why I am a little perturbed to have a returning veteran in the class this level. A Level 6 (masters' level) is retaking the courses with her beginner friend, and she takes every opportunity to show off. There was a veteran in level 1, and I didn't mind her at all. She was great for ideas, and worked on Level 1 moves along with the rest of us. The issues with this lady are her uncontrollable urge to bust out complicated moves and her inability to perform even basic moves gracefully. I would use her for ideas if she could even make the fundamentals look good. Not happening. I hate that I'm saying these things. I am resisting the urge to use the clever and insulting nickname I have for her. This is not positive and it's not constructive. Just needed to let it out for minute. Hopefully my blogging will not return to this topic.