Dancing, or how I nearly died tonight

On my walk back from my after classes activities to my car (parked in the FIRST GODDAMN SPACE [and this would be the introduction of the chorus to tell of my impending lesson in hubris]), through a terrifying fog I came to an interesting realization that I am comfortable enough to share with you.

But first the story of how I nearly died on this night.

Yea, its more interesting than introspection. Firstly it was a dark and foggy night. FOGGY, don't auto-fill in stormy. That aside, really, the fog was palpable, it was terrifying. It muffled the sound of all walking. Cars were reduced to nothing more than small points of light, even from a mere 10 feet away, or so. This was what it was like the whole, not un-substantial walk back to my car to go home, and well it scared the begeebees out of me. Really. And I'm a guy, a really attractive, charming, awe inspiring guy. I started singing to myself, and that help for a while, but I had to stop once I reached a more populated area, because I didn't want to seem crazy, or what ever. So in silence I walked most of the way back. All was fine and dandy for a while till I had to cross the inlet for a parking lot. Okay, doesn't sound bad.

WRONG.

There was a car waiting there. Headlights on. Just sitting.
I'm a rational person, so I keep walking, thinking to myself "Hey, hes probably just waiting for someone, I'll walk in front of this parked car, and come out alive on the other side,: and that was a good thought, for the time being. But without any further information, I proceeded with my plan.

I walked in front of the car.

Bid mistake. The instant that I started into the crosswalk, because yeah, I use those, IT STARTED MOVED TOWARDS ME!!!! I nearly died. Images of the anger of Christine flashed through my mind, and my life flashed before my eyes. Luckily I ran, and the fog was enough to obscure me from its villainous sight. And that is how I nearly died on this very night.

Now for my interesting realization, that might be a little controversial. So I don't like learning a dance with my friends. Yup, said it. Its really awkward, but yup. I was at swing today, and realized that my ineptitude was due not in fact by an physical inability to complete a simple task, but by a blinding, and immobilizing fear of being judged as I learn something new. I realized this, of course, because half the people there know me from years ago, and I usually go with one of my friends. Now you may think, hey, I learned X dance with you, and yes, yes you did, but I still felt awkward while doing so. This feeling is merely heightened by swing dance, and all the humans there knowing me, and thus, my ineptitude. This bled so far into my thoughts and idologies pertaining to swing dancing, and dancing in general that I began to hate swing for a while in my life. That and there was a person who wasn't the kindest teaching, and it was sort of a mess. But that is it, I'm fearful of being judged as poor at dancing, lacking in grace and ability, but is this not a reasonable, and rational fear? Don't we all, in some sense or another fear being judged? I believe for most that it is in fact a fear of being judged while speaking. Regardless of its actual prevalence  or perceived prevalence, I still have acted upon it, and will act upon it, for I have vowed to combat this whenever possible.

COLD!!! or why winter is alright by me.

So its really cold around here. Of course there are colder places, yet, its still pretty darn cold. Regardless, snow is something that I find extraordinarily beautiful. But Cold. Like really cold. The type of terribly cold where you truly aren't sure if your face really does belong to you head, and hand function most deffinately does not include texting. Yup, that type of cold. And well. I have a lot of walking to do to get from one side of campus to the other. I am lucky that they all aren't on opposing ends of the University, yet, they are by no means close. Yup, classes, that cool. But despite this horrible bitter face freezing cold there are several redeeming factors. B's List of winter amazingness

1. Scarfs-Yea, scarfs. They are amazing. Quite literally  I would be dead without my scarfs. One, pale blue and grey, or gray, whatever, is lovely, and white and sort of plaid or white and grey, and all are loved dearly. Oh yes, you are indeed hearing a man tell of the delight found within a simple piece of cloth. Yea, its frighteningly simple, its just cloth wrapped around your face and neck, but that little bit brings such great warmth. I love scarfs. Deal with it.

2. Cafes- Ignoring the status as hipster, cafes are fantastic, especially in winter. Cafes have good things, and by that, I mean yummy delisiousness. And Coffee. Cafes have Coffee! Yea. Enough said about that.


Not enough was said about that. Coffee, in all its numerous and fantastic varieties, are (most often) hot. Hot is good in winter. Little known fact, drinking a potion of warmth will absorb the first 4d6 cold damage. The effects last 1d4+2 minutes, or until the full 4d6 cold damage is absorbed. It is by the miracle of this delightful potion that I still have my life. I will ignore the delightfulness of its actual taste.

3. Snow- snow is beautiful. Simple as that! Ignoring the horrible discomfort caused by its bitter coldness, I do indeed love it, dearly. It is perhaps one of the most beautiful things that I have seen in my short and uneventful life. The area in which I live, is known for its natural beauty. Its like Canada, but less cold. Still, the way that snow falls so gently, yet is so powerful is something that I find awesome. Maybe it is, and I'm pretty sure it is, but that is just how it seems to me. I love it so very much, and cannot imagine my winters without it.

4. Money- As heartless as it seems money is necessary for things like living, and cafes. I love cafes. And with the beautiful snow, comes beautiful snow removal. It feels heartless and like a betrayal of my morals, yet  money.

Thus is my list of winter things that are good. Yup! Winter. That happens.