Portland Lindy Hop Events February 8-15

The Week of February 8-15

Wednesday February 8

7:30-10:30 Swing Night at Vie de Boheme

Vie de Boheme Wine Bar (1530 SE 7th Ave, Portland)

Thursday February 9

7:30-11:00pm Thursday Swing
PPAA (618 SE Alder, Portland)
7:30 Beginning Swing Drop-in Lesson
8:30 DJ'd Music



Friday February 10


6-8pm Pete Krebs and the Portland Playboys at Secret Society
Drinking Age Only, 21+
Secret Society Ballroom (116 NE Russell Ave, Portland)
6-8 pm Live Music by Pete Krebs and the Portland Playboys


Saturday February 11


6-8pm Boy and Bean at Secret Society
Drinking Age Only, 21+
Secret Society Ballroom (116 NE Russell Ave, Portland)
6-8 pm Live Music by Boy and Bean


9-12 am Midnight Serenaders at Secret Society
Drinking Age Only, 21+
Secret Society Ballroom (116 NE Russell Ave, Portland)
9-12 Live Music by the Midnight Serenaders


Sunday February 12



7-11:00pm Sunday Swing 
Scottish Rite (1507 SW Morrison, Portland)
7:00 Beginning Swing Drop-in Lesson
8:00-11:00pm DJ'd Music
http://www.stumptowndance.com/


Monday February 13


6:30-8:30pm Beginning to Beyond Beginning Swing with Josh and Emily McLaughlin
Wimbledon Square (2837 SE Colt, Portland)
6:30-7:30 Beginning Six Count
7:30-8:30 Beyond Beginning Lindy Hop
http://www.facebook.com/events/215864158491718/

7:30-9:30pm Guided Swing Practica
Lower Melody Ballroom (615 SE Alder, Portland)
http://www.stumptowndance.com/

9-11pm Kung Pao Chickens
Drinking Age Only, 21+
Laurelthirst Public House (2958 NE Glisan, Portland)

Tuesday February 14

7:30-12:30 Tuesday Blues
Lenora's Room (615 SE Alder, Portland)
7:30 Intermediate Blues Lesson
8:30 Beginning Blues Lesson
9-12:30 Dj'd Music

Wednesday February 15

7:30-10:30 Swing Night at Vie de Boheme

Vie de Boheme Wine Bar (1530 SE 7th Ave, Portland)

Upcoming Events!

February 19 Balboa Workshop with Candace and Mindy (Scottish Rite)
February 24-26 Seaside Jazz Festival (Seaside, Oregon)
March 2-4 Portland Lindy Exchange
March 30-31 Savoy Swing Jam (Seattle, WA)
May 25-28 Camp Jitterbug (Seattle, WA)
June 28-July 1 Olympia Jazz Festival (Olympia, WA)

Weekly Weigh-In Feb 7

Dieting is returning back to normal.  It helps that I avoided the majority of the Super Bowl snacking.  One of the things that I am going to have to be careful about is becoming obsessed with the scale.  I'm pretty sure that  only stepping on the scale once a week is going to be critical to my sanity.

Statistics:

Current Weight: 219.3 pounds
Last Week: 221.2 pounds

Weight Loss/Gain: Lost 2 pounds

Starting Weight: 226.2 pounds
Highest Point: 226.4 pounds
Lowest Point: 219.2 pounds

7/10 pounds to next Book

January Goals Check In

After a month, I think it's time to see where I'm at on the goals that I set at the beginning of the year.  I had a lot of goals, so expect this to be a long post.  I've decided to drop some of my goals as I continue into the year but I'm making good progress.

Writing Goals:

• Write 500 words a day, using the #WIP500 challenge to keep me on track

I've been finding the #WIP500 challenge to be very helpful.  In January, I didn't write everyday but I did write a substantial number of words.  At the end of the month I had 12,597/15,500 words written for WIP500.  For my first real month of developing a daily writing habit, I think that counts as a win.

• Participate in one additional challenge a month
• January: 31 Things in 31 Days
• February: Days of Grey
• March-October: Unknown
• November: National Novel Writing Month
• December: Novel Finishing Month

I wrote a few pieces to go along with 31 Things in 31 Days but mostly I found that pictures aren't a way that I find inspiration very often.  I'll still check for inspiration during the Days of Grey but I think that my writing time will be better spent focusing on my other writing projects.  This is a goal that I'm going to drop off the list.  If I see a challenge that interests me I'll do it but I'll try not to over commit my writing time.

• Write the Second Draft of Hive Mind 

The Second Draft of Hive Mind is currently in progress.  I'm at section 9/75.  Lots to be done but I'm happy with what I've done so far.

• Finish the First Draft of Greased Gears
• Outline, Write, and Edit a Seasonal Steampunk Serial for December 2012

I've got brainstorming/outline notes for 5/25 sections/days so I think I'm in decent shape for now.  I'll definitely keep thinking about it so that it will go quickly when I get to sit down and write it.

• Brainstorm, Outline and complete a novel for NaNoWriMo 2012
• Experiment with Short Fiction

Personal Goals:

• Dance to Live Music every chance that I get

I got to dance to live music several times this month and I had a great time.  I think this is helping a lot with feeling inspired in my dancing.

• Try a different kind of social dance every month

I think that I'm going to drop this goal off my list in favor of a different project that I have in the works.  More information to come when I actually have something to share.

• Lose 100 pounds
• Exercise Daily
• Go back to Phase One of the South Beach Diet
• Keep sugar and soda banished from my eating habit except for special occasions

I've had reasonable success on this part of my goals.  I've currently lost 7 pounds which is a pretty healthy rate of loss for a month.  Exercising daily is something that I'm still working on but I'm getting more exercise in than before which is a good start. Phase One of the diet went well.  The transition to phase two has been rocky.  Officially, naan has been added back into our meals once a week and I'm working to eliminate the unofficial parts.

• Maintain a certain level of Cleanliness around the house

Well...seeing this on the list made me clean the area around my computer.

• Find a volunteer position to gain advocacy experience

I attended an information session for one of the organizations I'm interested in working with but I haven't taken any additional steps forward yet.

• Maintain A's in the classes I will be taking 

So far so good, however midterms are coming up this week.

• Apply to Genetic Counseling Programs in the Fall
• Money goals
• Spend less money
• Pay off the credit card and start saving money

I'm working on it.  

Knitting Goals:

• Finish the Christmas Knitting
• Weave ends in on all four hats
• Weave ends in a two scarves
• Finish knitting and complete a scarf
• Knit and complete a scarf

I just have to weave ends in on two hats and a scarf and I'm done with the Christmas knitting! 

• Make a coffee cup sleeve
• Make a water bottle sleeve
• Practice Double Knitting

I've started a practice piece.  I think I understand the principles of double knitting but I'm going to practice a bit more before I do something I actually want to wear.

• Design (or find) a pattern for gears for a scarf (double knit)
• Finish the Monster Afghan
• Knit one hat for the homeless each month to be donated in December

I'll need to need an extra one this month.

Sewing Goals:

• Re-finish the corset that I made this October
• Make the bodice for the skirts that I already have made

The only progress I made sewing wise was planning what to make when I've completed these projects.  

Other Crafting Goals:

• Design a Steampunk Block Print
• Draw something once a week

I have a small collection of doodles/drawings in one of my class notebooks but I'd like to work on something a little more exciting for February.

• Paint something once a month

I thought about what I would paint but I never took the next step.  If I can, I'll do an extra painting for February but if I can't I refuse to stress about this.

Reading and Blogging Goals:

• Make a dent in my To Read Shelf

My to-read shelf is largely unchanged, though I've finished most of the books loaded on the kindle app of my phone.

• Only buy anticipated releases by favorite authors and books for school/book club until my pile of books to read is much smaller

I made the mistake of only buying the first book of a trilogy for my Steampunk book club.  I had to go get the next couple but with the aid of a gift card from Christmas, I didn't spend very much on my shiny new books.

• Have something read to review once a week

I have the reading part down but I haven't gotten many reviews posted.  Something to work on.

• Keep a consistent blogging schedule

My blogging is getting more consistent.  It isn't quite at the regular schedule that I want to have yet but it is almost there.

Knitting: Knotted Openwork Shawl

This is an older piece of knitting from my collection.  I made this shawl to wear with my Steampunk outfits.

I used a Sport Satin yarn, though I don't remember exactly which one.  This is a double wide version of this knotted openwork scarf pattern, though obviously I used a heavier yarn.  The pattern was relatively simple and I loved working with the yarn that I used.  I'm very happy with the result and I used the pattern again for one of the scarves in my Christmas knitting.  Yes, I am finally finished with the Christmas knitting.  All that's left is to weave in a few ends.

Writing Update Feb 5

This was a much better writing week.  I still have some words from January to make up for WIP500 but I'm going strong on my write every day in February goal.  I'm pretty happy with my writing for the week.  I got to attend a write-in on Saturday which helped boost my word count.

Monday:  0 words
Tuesday:  0 words
Wednesday: 556 words
Thursday:  562 words
Friday:  506 words
Saturday: 1223 words
Sunday: 284 words

Words Written: 3131

Writing Posted:


None this week.


Works In Progress

Outbreak (NaNoWriMo 2011) - Resting

54270 / 90000

Hive Mind (NaNoWriMo 2010) - Editing and Writing Second Draft

52249 / 90000

Steampunk Seasonal Serial - Brainstorming and Outlining, 5/25 sections complete

0 / 50000

Greased Gears - Writing First Draft

9326 / 90000

Recipe: Mushroom Curry

Another recipe from my current favorite cookbook.

Recipe: Mushroom Curry

(from The World's Greatest Ever Curries)

Pictured here with the Tandoori Chicken

In retrospect they should not have been sharing a serving dish.

Ingredients:

• 2 TBSP Olive Oil
• 1/2 tsp cumin seeds
• 1/4 tsp black peppercorns
• 4 green cardamom pods
• 1/4 tsp ground turmeric
• 1 onion, finely chopped
• 1 tsp ground cumin
• 1 tsp ground coriander
• 1/2 tsp garam masala
• 1 fresh green chili, finely chopped
• 2 garlic cloves, crushed
• 1 inch piece ginger root, grated
• 4 oz can chopped tomatoes
• 1/4 tsp salt
• 6 cups button mushrooms, sliced
• chopped fresh coriander (cilantro) to garnish

Directions:

Heat the oil in a large pan and fry the cumin seeds, black peppercorns, cardamom pods and turmeric for 2-3 minutes.

Add onion and fry for 5 minutes or until golden.  Stir in the ground cumin, coriander and garam masala and fry for 2 more minutes.

Add the chilli, garlic, and ginger and fry for 2-3 minutes, stirring constantly.  Add the tomatoes and salt.  Bring to the boil and simmer for 5 minutes.

Add the mushrooms to the pan.  Cover and simmer over low heat for 10 minutes.  Transfer to a warm serving platter and garnish with chopped coriander.

Portland Lindy Hop Events February 1-8

The Week of February 1-8

Wednesday February 1


Thursday February 2

7:30-11:00pm Thursday Swing
PPAA (618 SE Alder, Portland)
7:30 Beginning Swing Drop-in Lesson
8:30 DJ'd Music by Rod and Ronda



Friday February 3


6-8pm Swing Papillion at Secret Society
Drinking Age Only, 21+
Secret Society Ballroom (116 NE Russell Ave, Portland)
6-8 pm Live Music by Swing Papillion


Saturday February 4


9-12 am Anna Paul and the Bearded Lady at Secret Society
Drinking Age Only, 21+
Secret Society Ballroom (116 NE Russell Ave, Portland)
9-12 Live Music by Anna Paul and the Bearded Lady


Sunday February 5



7-11:00pm Sunday Swing 
Scottish Rite (1507 SW Morrison, Portland)
7:00 Beginning Swing Drop-in Lesson
8:00-11:00pm DJ'd Music
http://www.stumptowndance.com/


Monday February 6


6:30-8:30pm Beginning to Beyond Beginning Swing with Josh and Emily McLaughlin
Wimbledon Square (2837 SE Colt, Portland)
6:30-7:30 Beginning Six Count
7:30-8:30 Beyond Beginning Lindy Hop
http://www.facebook.com/events/215864158491718/

7:30-9:30pm Guided Swing Practica
Lower Melody Ballroom (615 SE Alder, Portland)
http://www.stumptowndance.com/

9-11pm Kung Pao Chickens
Drinking Age Only, 21+
Laurelthirst Public House (2958 NE Glisan, Portland)

Tuesday February 7

7:30-12:30 Tuesday Blues
Lenora's Room (615 SE Alder, Portland)
7:30 Intermediate Blues Lesson
8:30 Beginning Blues Lesson
9-12:30 Dj'd Music

Wednesday February 8

7:30-10:30 Swing Night at Vie de Boheme

Vie de Boheme Wine Bar (1530 SE 7th Ave, Portland)

Upcoming Events!

February 19 Balboa Workshop with Candace and Mindy (Scottish Rite)
February 24-26 Seaside Jazz Festival (Seaside, Oregon)
March 2-4 Portland Lindy Exchange
March 30-31 Savoy Swing Jam (Seattle, WA)
May 25-28 Camp Jitterbug (Seattle, WA)
June 28-July 1 Olympia Jazz Festival (Olympia, WA)