dancerjodi

I don't know what the deal was, but my mind and body just weren't into dance class last night. I didn't work up a sweat like I usually do and I just couldn't remember steps that we were taught 5 minutes before. It seemed like others in the room were having the same problem and I did write things down so that I can practice before next week, so I guess I shouldn't feel so bad. I love, love, love our jazz routine - its so smooth!

I'm starting to feel like Stephen King's Thinner. I had been feeling heavy and had a lot of junk food this past weekend, but this morning I weighed 128. When I started this whole WW process I was close to 150, so that represents an almost 20 pound loss. My initial goal was '10, and if I lost a bit more I'd be happy'. I don't look waifish or anything, its just weird that I felt heavier, but weight less. I'm still in serious need of more clothing. I've worked my way up to 4 suits, one skirt and a couple of business casual pants for work. Buying smaller things is fun - don't get me wrong - its just kind of expensive. I even need new PJs because mine are kind of falling off. I'm not complaining, because its a nice problem to have . . . its just hurting my pocketbook.

Related to expenses, I'm heading to Newtonville Camera after work tonight to drop off our wedding VHS tapes and an old recorded TV show that featured my old dance teacher. They provide a service to convert VHS to DVD and given the pain/expense it would take for Brian to do it, he seemed to think the prices are worth it.

Our wedding was taped by a friend of my Dad who walked around with a camcorder during the day in exchange for $100 and dinner. The event is on 4-5 small tapes that went to a mini camcorder, and to play them I have to put them into a plastic converter thing that's the size of a full VHS tape (and then place that in the VCR). The guy was an idiot, and there are parts of the video that you wonder what he's trying to get on film (or other times when its clear he's in someone's way - like Brian's walking up to meet me on the altar). Its better than nothing though, and it is fun to watch in its quirky awkwardness, so I'd like to preserve it digitally before those crappy tapes are damaged.

The TV show was on Channel 7 in 1991 or so, and was a show called "Our Times". Peggy and her studio were featured as one of three guests in the hour long episode - a show similar to Channel 5's "Chronicle" that featured interesting people in the Boston area, and they focused on her history dancing, of the studio, of the generations of families dancing there, and her emphasis on teaching kids with special needs. The tape is full of static lines that my cheap ass VCR is unable to fix via tracking, but again, its better than nothing. I remember it aired on the night we were at the high school for rehearsal (the Saturday before our show) and someone found a small TV and brought it out onto the stage so that we could all watch it. I'm in there, complete with large heavy metal hair, black and fluorescent green dance clothing, and a black mesh shirt that reads: HAMPTON BEACH 89. I LOVED that shirt, and loved to wear it over black tights, a flourescent green leotard, and flourescent green legwarmers. What were we all thinking then? Anyway, once its captured I'm hoping Brian can edit out the Peggy parts and we can put it up somewhere on the intorweb so that others can see it.

The show was recorded at home on a VHS tape that had a lot of history. It originally housed Pete's old band "Lost Boyz" playing at Club Surrender (Pete, Carl, Robbie and Jamie). Club Surrender was an all ages Heavy Metal club that was at the end of Moody Street (in front of the artists mill building that's directly behind the train tracks). At one point I taped over the Lost Boyz show (unfortunately) with a televised Bullet Boys/Slaughter/Poison concert and I must have grabbed the tape mid show to record "Our Times", so yesterday I cued up the tape to the proper place.

What can I say, we didn't have cable so I didn't have access to MTV making my video and concert watching limited to basic channels (where you'd find the rare concert, Friday Night Videos and V66 before they replaced it with the home shopping network). Alas, I never saw Headbanger's Ball! I took what I could get, hence the Bullet Boys/Slaughter/Poison concert, but I digress . . .

I can't wait to see these things again in an easier format, despite the cost. :)