I couldn’t get comfortable last night, in spite of having the bed to myself (aside from a purring cat or two). I think I slept for about all of two hours. Thank the FSM that my project data didn’t come in today, I can take off at noon with four hours of sick time.
Zzzzzzzzzzzz . . . .
The Clan has gone ninja.
Ajax is still buried in ISO, but has thoughtfully left me a window at the bottom of the tank so I can peek at him and make sure he isn’t dead. I’m having a hard time not picking up the ISO tank several times daily to check on him, as I know it stresses him out. Or at least, I think it’s bothering him, based on the twitching and chirping. I’ve put the tank on a towel to try and train myself not to check on him so frequently. He’s made a pretty sizable air pocket in the substrate, so I’m not really worried anymore about suffocating him.
Ulysses is still under in the main tank, but he’s been noisy the last few days. He’s buried himself somewhere in the left side of the tank, and if I listen at night I can hear him scraping and squeaking. It’s an oddly comforting sound, and I can spend hours just sitting there, listening for noises. The main tank is too heavy for me to lift and peek under, so I’m only hoping he’s molting and everything is going well.
Hector has once again barricaded himself inside the opening to the log. That only happened Friday night, so I’m not making any bets as to whether he’s molting or just playing. He’s been the most visible and active, so now that he’s walled in the Disco is very still. . . it makes the urge to pick up another crabbie from a pet shop somewhere that much harder to resist. I’m dying to see some activity in there again.
Once everyone is above ground, I’ll see if I can find out if all three of my guys are actually guys.
It’s done. There may be a few more odd shows here and there, but the art festival performance yesterday signaled the end of the official season. And this year, I’m glad of it.
The performance went well. We had a beautiful day, temperatures near 80F and sunny and bright. We started the show with a decent crowd and ended it with a fantastic crowd. The students danced well, the sister troupe danced well, we looked good and my teacher/troupe director rocked her last solo. We had our photo taken for the local newspaper. And I’m so relieved it’s over.
The last few months, bellydance just hasn’t been fun. I’m still in the early phases of a class session, and I’ll finish that out, but after that, I’ve decided I need to take a break for a bit. I have three too-small costumes to sell, which may be enough to fund one nice new one and one cheaper (new or used). I have to start thinking about next year’s solo. But I’ll be taking a break from non-performance bellydance until after sometime after the first of the year.
After four and a half years, I’m feeling burnt out. I think it’s wiser to take a break now than keep going out of some misguided sense of obligation (or something) and end up hating what I’ve enjoyed for so long.
I live in a very ethnic city. It isn’t every day that one can go for food at a Chinese restaurant and be sandwiched between one table of folks speaking Spanish and another of people speaking Romanian. I think it’s actually pretty neat.
Last night was Euro dance night again, and I have to get my act together so I can teach and call the dance I learned at Pennsic this year. I realized that I don’t have the music, but I was lucky to find several good versions available on iTunes, which I will be purchasing shortly. Once I get paid I’ll buy the actual CDs.
Speaking of Apple products, I think I am seriously scouting out an iTouch. I’ve been needing a PDA-type products for a while now since my ancient Palm M100 is really and truly on its last legs. My cell phone contract is up in November so I was thinking of getting a smartphone or Blackberry device, but I’ve found I don’t care for any of the smartphones, and I would have to upgrade my cell plan to the tune of an additional $30 a month to be able to use the Blackberry. Since I have no intention of using the theoretical device for email, that extra cash would add up in a hurry. I’ve also been wistfully lusting after a full-fledged iPod (I have a 1st-generation Shuffle) because more and more I’ve had instances where it would be really helpful to 1) have music and 2) be able to locate it by name.
I’m thinking the iTouch may be the best of all worlds.
It is a much more expensive option, at least up front, but I think it will do everything I want it for, plus it will satisfy my inner geek with its gadget-y goodness.
I was terribly excited when I came downstairs this morning and found Hector perched on the little rock decoration thingy I put in the Disco. Finally, someone’s climbing! Ajax appears to be content in the isolation tank –he’s dug down to the bottom so I can lift the tank and peek at him– and he’s made a nice little cave for himself so I’m not quite as worried that I may have suffocated him. Still no sign of Ulysses in the main tank.
