Done with classes in 75 minutes!

Ok, I’ve got a little bit of time to spare before I begin my final paper this weekend:

Major news #1:
Firedancing goes well. Steff was late to our practice last night, which left me alone on the lakefront for 45 minutes with nothing to do but practice. It helped, it really helped. Due to the cold and the strong wind, we opted to skip the actual fire and just traded moves and ideas. So far, we’ve got some choreographed moves planned out, and “showstopper” moves we’ll let each other have to themselves. I’m hoping for a chain toss and maybe a slow rotation, and Steff’s got a very cool set of weaves while she’s down in a slanted position where she’s supporting herself on her ankle and one hand and spinning with the other. She’s also got a spin-to-body-wrap. Basically, it’s the west coast move “spinny-spinny-spin-move-of-sexiness” WITH FIRE. I’m so proud of her. I’ll copy it at later dances, but it’s all her this time. In general, I’m working on reversals, and I’m getting better with whole-body rotations during weaves. They’re cool transitory moves. Oh, and it’s confirmed, I do in fact know the three-beat weave now. I’ve also got a lineup of basic moves I’ll need to take my dancing to the next level: reversal motions, and behind-the-head and behind-the-back butterflies. But those won’t be ready by May 8th.

In short, we’re looking good! The next step is to decide on the music and start specific choreography.

Major news #2:
I had my end-of-the-year evaluation this week. All-in-all, it was fine and I’m certainly going to continue on next year for Theology 1. That said, the evaluation was more negative than I’d hoped. Some of my teachers labeled me “immature” and “socially awkward” which are probably true, but hurt coming from my teachers. I’ll need to watch my attitude in class a bit better next year, I guess.

As for the actual priests, they’re not terribly happy with my failure to completely conform to the seminary lifestyle. Although it’s been a problem since my first week here, I need to continue to look for commonalities between more of my fellows and avoid my behavioral tendency to withdraw into the solitude of my unique interests. So in other words, I’m still a Wilder in a human organization and my disguise isn’t as foolproof as I’d like it to be. I can live with that.

Finally, no joke, I celebrated my evaluation by head-butting a priest.
“So well done Justin, we look forward to your presence with us next year and keep up the good work!” (Father Bill shakes my hand)
“Congrats Justin.” (Father David shakes my hand and gives me a hug)
“Good job Justin.” (Father Steve gives me a hug and our heads bonk each other)
“Oww!”
”Sorry, sorry! That was your fault, Father Steve!”
“Good job, Justin.”
“Thank you, Father Don. I’m going to just shake your hand so I don’t head-butt you too.”
“And thank you for that as well!”

I head-butted a priest after receiving approval. Who the hell else can say that?!?

Minor news:

I can now smoke a whole pipe of tobacco using only one match. I take this as a sign that I have indeed leveled up in “pipe”, as the tobacco can go out quite easily, requiring a re-lighting.

Tomorrow, before my sister’s First Holy Communion, the seminary’s going paintballing. I intend to film it, especially me shooting priests in the back. Good times ahead! No kilt this time though. I’ll save that for next year, perhaps.

Another seminarian ripped his pants on a sharp corner the other day and I’m going to try mending them when I have a free minute. I think it’s pretty cool that my sewing skills have gone from “pathetic” to “not-so-pathetic” to “mostly-pathetic-but-borderline-useful”. I still don’t have word on my Madison visit on the 28th, but I’m hoping to go with people to a fabric store for my first real sewing project. There’s actually quite a lot I want to do that weekend, but planning for it’s been pretty slow-going. But I’ve got a picture of Father Anderson near my mirror, constantly reminding me that I need to get his costume done by next April. Ideally, it would be cool to finish his longcoat before winter so I could actually get some real use out of it.



I’m replaying Knights of the Old Republic 2. Along with my firedancing with Steff, I’ve got a Jedi vs Sith philosophic post coming up. If I can make Alex or Nathan cough up blood it’ll be a good post.