Me in ME: Day 12, 13, and 14

Swing dancing twice in one weekend? Yup. I went down to Portland on Friday night for a swing dance at the same place I went to last Friday night, only this time it was ACTUAL swing dancing (I've decided that West Coast Swing is not swing dancing). The crowd was younger and better dancers that the week before. I even found a few girls that would Lindy Hop (which is SOOOO much fun). While at this dance, I found out about a swing dance on Saturday night here in Brunswick that was organized by some students at Bowdoin College. As with most swing dances, they had a lesson from 8:00 to 9:00, and then open dancing from 9:00 to midnight. I went to the lesson eventhough I already know how to dance, but you never know what they'll teach. I'm glad I went because I actually learned a few steps that I didn't know. I think that I may be getting old because on Friday and Saturday I was worn out by 11:00. All in all, I had a good time on Friday and Saturday night.

Today, I went down to Portland for church at The Rock Church, and I got to hear Pastor Eric preach (Pastor Aric preached last week). They are doing a sermon series called The Resurrection (since we are in the season of Lint after all) and if/how the resurrection is effecting our lives. It turns out that the sermon from last week won't be posted because the sound guy forgot to push the record button (oops!). After church, Pastor Aric invited me to have lunch with him and his wife and another couple in the church, and we went to eat at Panera Bread (I seem to always crave the Smokehouse Turkey Panini). We sat around and ate and talked and laughed for about an hour and a half, and it really helped to refresh my soul. I still eat with my co-workers everyday for lunch, but I just don't connect with them like I do with other christians. It's amazing how you don't really appreciate fellowship until you're deprived of it.

Speaking of eating, I can't wait to get back to Waco and have the option to eat dinner after 6:00 or 7:00. Tonight, I didn't get the urge to eat dinner until about 7:30, and there was nothing open except for the fast food joints. So, I made a run to Walmart to pick up some groceries for the week, and then picked up some Wendy's. Last night I tried to find a place to eat before going dancing at 8:00, so I thought I would try out the local German-American food restaurant. I went there by myself and got sat at the bar (which I'm okay with), but I got ZERO service. After the hostess told me that she didn't have a table and asked if the bar was okay, she kind of walked me in that direction but didn't walk me over there. About 10 minutes later, she comes over and asks if she can get me anything, and I say a little indignantly "some water and a menu". She comes back after a few minutes with my water and menu, and that was the last time she paid any attention to me. She walked back and forth at the bar attending other people, and never stops to ask me if I'm ready to order. After sitting there for 20 minutes without being acknowledged, I left a dollar for the water and left (all I had in my wallet was a $1 bill and a few $20 bills, and I wasn't about to leave a 20). That was probably the worst service I have ever had at a restaurant. [sigh] I feel better now.

After lunch in Portland, I stopped of at Freeport which is about 10 miles south of Brunswick and home of L.L. Bean. I wanted to have a more thurough look at the L.L. Bean "village" and do some other shopping. The Freeport Village (don't know if it's different from the Freeport downtown) is like a small town New England interpretation of an outlet mall. One of the funny things that I saw at the L.L. Bean store (and I got a picture of it) was the little cafe in their store called the Dew Drop Inn Cafe. If you're in my immediate family, you should know why that's funny. If you don't know why that's funny, ask and I'll explain it. I think I got souvenirs for everyone in my family, so I don't have to worry about cramming that into my last few days in Maine (especially since I don't know how hectic they'll be).

That was pretty much my weekend (a little out of order, but what are you going to do), and I'm finding myself getting a little homesick and ready to get back. I miss my family and friends and my home (and weather that's above freezing). I'm being told that we should be done with our work by the end of the week, so I could be heading back to Waco next weekend. I hope all y'all have a great week, and I look forward to seeing you all again.