Isn't it great when things don't go according to plan? Contra!

    So, usually I would disagree with my title strongly.  I'm the type of person who likes to know what the plans are as much in advance as possible.  I also want everything to go as planned so I'm never unsure of what I'm doing.  Life has so much to worry about that I don't see why my plans for the day should be one of those things.   Yesterday (and the day before) we had planned to have a yard sale.  We had to cancel it last minute though.  I was bummed that we wouldn't be having a yard sale but I ended up having a great day yesterday!
    First I got to go to the pool with one of my best friends.  I'm not even sure the last time I went to the pool so it was lots of fun.  After we were done at the pool we went out to a local restaurant, got milkshakes, and shared fries and a frito pie.  It was really yummy and nice because I barely ever eat at restaurants with friends.
   After that fun morning I was able to go to our local tack shop and get what I needed for Rio.  And at $20 less than I thought it would be even after discounted price!

    I wasn't going for a 10 foot long longe whip but thats what I got and I'll have to see how well it works for me.  :)  I did manage to get the boots I needed in a great color at $66 off original price!  They are gently used but should still last plenty long.  The whip was new, and both longe lines look new.

    Afterwards, I got to go contra dancing.  I was definitely some of the best fun I have ever had.  I enjoy going dancing when I can but many of the dances have been pretty slow and sometimes boring because there are only a couple of people.  Contra dancing is the type of dancing often seen in dances of the civil war era.  You dance with a partner in a long line with your partner facing you or beside you.  As the dance progresses you dance with your partner many times and work your way down the line, dancing with every other person of the opposite gender within your line.  It is very high energy.  When you are first learning it is easy to do the dance simply.  As you become more experienced, there is plenty of room for variation by adding dips, spins, and pretzels.  The hardest part was that every guy swings differently.  You can never be ready for how the next neighbor will swing as you progress.  Some men swing slowly in a circle a couple times whereas other man will take you in with a twirl, swing you multiple times very quickly, dip you, and let you out with two spins.  There are any number of variations and its hard to be ready for anything.  I'm used to having to dance as a guy most of the time so it was really different not to be leading.  My friend got some good photos and when she sends those to me I will post them.