Intro to C-1

One of the things Ken and I had planned to do this season was take lessons for the next level of square dancing, called Challenge. The first stage of that is called C-1. Randy Dougherty, Joe Saltel, and Darryl Lipscomb will each be teaching a class each week, and students have to commit to come to every class, since five new calls will be taught at each one. The classes officially start next Monday, but Randy was having a couple of introductory sessions. Ken agreed to go with me. It will be the last time he dances for quite a while.

There were five squares of students, which should make a good group. Many of them are friends and familiar faces. We'll all be working together to master the material. At this level of square dancing, a lot of the enjoyment comes from being able to complete complex choreography successfully, applying concepts that modify a whole range of calls. It takes a square of eight dancers working as a team to do that, all helping each other, especially by being in the right place at the right time.

It was good to get out and do something to take my mind off worrying about the surgery tomorrow. Ken, of course, wasn't really able to get that detached 8-) We didn't get the word until almost 5 p.m. that the insurance company had okayed the surgery, and even at that, they are withholding approval for some of the necessary included procedures until after the surgery, for no apparent reason. Frustrating and potentially expensive....

We are very concerned about Julie and the expected baby (Jesse or Jackson). In addition to the cholestasis, Julie has started to have high blood pressure. She went to the hospital last night and they decided to keep her overnight for observation. She was sent home on strict bed rest, and the OB indicated that they would probably induce at 38 instead of 39 weeks, or even sooner if necessary, but so far the baby is doing very well. Fortunately they have some great friends and neighbors who are stepping up to help out with the kids.

We had tickets for the Freddy and Sheila Show Friday night, but we're not even 100% sure we'll be home by then, and it's doubtful, even if we are, that Ken would feel up to sitting through a concert. I took the tickets by Guest Services and they will try to sell them for us. That shouldn't be a problem, since the concert is sold out and people have been coming by looking for tickets. We'll have to put on the CD of their music that we bought at the show last year. We really enjoyed that performance.

We're all packed up to leave early in the morning for the hospital.