a great bike ride, a contra dance and my first guest

I drove to work on Friday so I could bring two boxes of books and papers to the office. Since it was spring break last week, it was a good time to get a parking space right by the library. Even so, I stupidly thought I could carry everything in one trip. By the time I was 10 yards from the library doors, I didn't know how I was going to make it. Luckily, one of my colleagues magically appeared to help me just then.

Since I didn't bike in to work, I took a bike ride after I got home. Every time I've tried to take the off road bike path westward, I've hit a spot where they had a detour, and I never managed to find the signs to pick up the bike trail after that. But wonder of wonders, the detour was gone -- I could just stay on the bike path - and what a lovely path it is. It follows a creek along a natural area, and runs a few miles towards the mountains from my house. On the way back, I went past my house, as the trail runs east for a ways as well. While the streets here are super wide and often have clear bike lanes marked, it was great to be away from the cars for an hour's ride in the balmy weather.

Last night I went to a contra dance. Contra dances are held in Fort Collins on the first and third Saturdays at a lovely venue - the City Park Center which is on a little lake. The dance is from 8-11 pm. I got there about 8:05, and they were already most of the way through the walk through for the first dance. It was a good sized crowd for that early: maybe 50 couples ... and about 10-15 extra women. So I didn't get a partner for that first dance, but I swooped in and grabbed me a guy for the second dance. Didn't get a partner for the third dance. But after that, I think I danced most of them. People were very nice, friendly, etc. Because of St. Pat's day, there were a number of people in green, and I believe 3 men in kilts, and one woman. Didn't see any other men in skirts though -- it's not Ithaca, after all. After the far-too-long break, the gender balance was much better. I think there was a little bit of "fresh meat! And she can swing!" going on, too.

This morning I hosted my first guest -- I invited a colleague over for waffles and fruit. It was great motivation to get another bunch of unpacking done (finished my bedroom, got all the boxes out of the hallway) and to clear off the table (see below). We had a good time not talking about work.

After that Lee and Jerry, who I stayed with in Greeley before I got possession of the house, stopped by for a tour and to pick up the sleeping bag, pad, towel and so on I had borrowed. Then the seller came by to haul off some wicker furniture that had been in the back yard but was frozen in when they were packing. Vaughn came with his father-in-law, and the two guys were totally my heroes when they volunteered to move my heavy furniture. So now the card catalog is in a better place in my living room, and the break front is in a good place in the family room. This means I can unpack more boxes and maybe even hang some art soon!