Bachata Lesson at the Monona Terrace

 

This morning when I got on the shuttle to work, my shuttle buddy that I usually talk to wasn't there. I wondered if she took an earlier one to avoid me because she is sick of talking to me, but then I thought maybe she was sick or something. Everyone else is lately. We pass this artsy van every time I ride the shuttle, and this time we stopped where I had a perfect view of it... but by the time I pulled my phone out, the shuttle had started moving again so the photo isn't that great.

At lunch I walked with my colleague, and we must have walked really vigorously because I got a lot of active time and already had my steps for the day even before we charged up Bascom Hill. I am a little concerned for her, because she is going to China to visit family, and will they even let her back in the country? She's been a citizen for years, and her kids were born here, but I'm imagining the customs people stopping everyone but her white daughter-in-law. Everyone says no chance that would happen, and I hope they're right. 

I took the 4:40 shuttle back to my car (I usually catch the 5:00 or 5:20 shuttle), and my shuttle buddy got on at a later stop, so then I wondered if she did in fact take an earlier shuttle to avoid me. She waved warmly but didn't sit by me. I took the early shuttle in order to get to the Monona Terrace in time for a bachata lesson. This is a type of Latin dance that is very beautiful to watch, at least if it is being done by girls in their twenties wearing cute, flirty skirts and high heels while dancing with slender guys in white shirts and black pants. However, I have always found the music for bachata kind of boring compared to other Latin music. It comes from the Dominican Republic, and that is about as much as I know about it. The invitation said you didn't need a partner, and that was true - this was like a big Zumba class, and only a few people had come with someone they knew. Most of us were alone, and the younger people ignored me, but the postmenopausal ladies were very friendly and welcoming to me. A Peruvian guy taught the class, and I didn't need any exercise after my vigorous lunchtime walk, but I got it anyway. The class was so much fun; apparently they have these once a month, and next month is Irish dancing. They're totally free. I believe I know what I'll be doing the Thursday before St. Patrick's Day! Travalon didn't go tonight because he was at a girl's basketball game, and I don't imagine he'll go in March either. Dancing isn't really his thing.

My FitBit is going to have a cow - it has been telling me for over a week that I am not training hard enough, because I should be getting a cardio load of 60-75 (again, no idea what the units are), but I've been getting 30 lately. However, today I had three and a half hours of active time and a cardio load of like 112, so now it's going to yell at me that I am over-training. There is no pleasing that thing.

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