Anna and I took a walk on the lake yesterday.

The frozen lake is pretty amazing. Usually there’s a thick layer of snow snuggled on top, but with the sun we’ve been getting lately, there’s only a slick, sleek surface. I was surprised at how smooth it was — perfect for skating! There were also some stellar patterns housed in the ice:

I was amazed at all of the intricate crystals, bubbles, and cracks. Most of our time walking was spent looking down, partly due to the patterns and partly so we wouldn’t fall. There were people fishing, playing “football” (with a snowball), and skating on the ice. One of the hockey players, from a group of old men, told us to lie on the ice with our ear pressed against the surface. The ice was shifting all around, and with an ear pressed against the chilly ground we could hear the cracks and booms traveling through the solid surface.

There was also this guy — pictured against a beautiful capitol backdrop. Anna (and me) would love to try it out! We were walking out to picnic point, so that I could start my wetland project. I have to “pick” a wetland, visit it at least once a week starting this last weekend, and create a natural history project of sorts.

As of now, this is basically all there is. An opening in the forest, reeds poking out of the snow, and animal tracks worn down by the wind. Still beautiful, don’t you think?

*for a few more pictures, visit Anna’s post.

Tags: frozen, lake, wetland, winter

Second day of classes, first day of African Dance.

(African Dance? Example here,
minus the getting thrown into the air.)

I really had no idea of what the class “African Dance” would entail. I had seen the African Dance performance at one of the Dance Program’s spring showcases and thought it AMAZING — the energy, the music, the movements! I thought it would be something completely outside of my comfort zone, which is why I decided to take it during my last semester at UW–Madison.

The women in the class have to wear wraps around their hips/pelvis,
as a sign of respect. This is the fabric I got at Goodwill today
(actually a ginormous skirt) to make into a DIY wrap.

And guess what? It is completely outside of my comfort zone! I have only taken two dance classes here at Madison, Ballroom I & II. I wasn’t sure what we’d be doing the first day of class (today), so I decided not to worry about my attire (jeans and a shirt). Wrong choice. We danced the entire period, and let me tell you — it was quite a workout. I’m not one to exercise much or regularly, so any high-energy activity is quite a workout, but the whole class was sweating (”glowing”) and rosey-cheeked along with me. The studio also smelled like a hockey locker room, faintly.

I’m not a dancer, so my coordination and rhythm have a ways to go. The class sounds like a lot of work for one credit (projects, performances, readings, outside events, journals), but it all seems like a good time. I love the music — the real drums, the musicians being at the center of the event. I know I am not good at all (yet), but I also noticed that much of the class wasn’t either. So at least there’s that. At one point, the professor split the class down the middle and had each side dance facing the other. It was very freeing to dance with/against/facing the others. It made me realize that many people are in the same boat (the what-did-I-get-myself-into boat) and that the skill/experience level of everyone varied greatly. We were told that the tempo we danced to today was slow, even though it felt crazy fast, and that we will get used to it as the semester goes on. I believe it and can’t wait to see my improvement over the semester.

All I know for sure is that my back is sore and those squats really got me.

Tags: African dance, dance

End: hiatus.

Begin: Spring semester 2010.

It snowed yesterday.

A lot. Madison is literally a winter wonderland, and I couldn’t be more excited! Classes were canceled today, making it the first time in four years. I stayed inside all day…slept until noon, watched “The Muppet Christmas Charol,” and tidied up my room a bit.

Last night, after finding out that classes were in fact canceled, the whole house (almost) bundled up and braved the cold for a good, old-fashioned snow ball fight!

There was a team hiding out on the balcony, sheltered by the cement barriers, while most of us were on the ground.

As you can see, it was pretty intense. There was also a giant snowman making. Unfortunately he fell down sometime this morning thanks to gravity.

Betsy, the cook extraordinaire, had to stay the night. She provided us with a couple trays, which we took to Bascom Hill. We made sure to always be armed with a snowball in hand while we were walking. People were held up behind walls and garbage cans emptying their ammunition on passerbys. We even were victim of a drive by snowballing! The snow wasn’t very good for sledding, but it was PERFECT for snowballs and snowpeople. I was completely soaked by the time I got back inside.

All in all, it’s been a very successful couple of days.

*photos by Preaa and Breanne, via Facebook.

Tags: snow, snowman