June 27, 2005 - Cookie War
I came across an old article (March, 2003) about the battle for Pennsylvania's state cookie. I don't know if it has been resolved as yet, but apparently there were two bills introduced for an official state cookie.

It all started in 1998 when Sen. Robert Thompson introduced his cookie bill as a way to help a fourth-grade class in his district understand how a bill becomes law. Since Pennsylvania is the nation's leading producer of processed chocolate, he suggested the chocolate chip cookie.
State Rep. Craig Dally, however, was promoting the Nazereth Sugar cookie, which has some history with the Protestant settlers of Pennsylvania.

Apparently Thompson's cookie bills never came before the entire Senate because, he says, the chairman of the Senate's State Government Committee "supports the general idea of a state cookie, but he's allergic to chocolate, so he never lets my bill out of committee."
Not willing to give up the fight, Thompson said, "Those fourth-graders, they're in high school now. They deserve some resolution to this before they graduate."

And neither Dally or Thompson are willing to compromise on the cookie controversy.
Dally - "I don't think they make chocolate chip sugar cookies, so I don't see how you could compromise."
Thompson - "We don't produce any sugar cane in Pennsylvania, how can a sugar cookie be our state cookie?"

I think this is just hilarious. Those fourth graders may have gotten a much better look at how things work in our government than anyone would have wanted. The article goes on to say that "despite the increasingly bitter debate, Thompson can envision tackling even more divisive issues in the future."
--- AND THIS IS WHY MY SEARCH ENGINE PICKED IT UP. ---
"Wait until we choose between the square dance and the polka as the official state dance," he said.

June 24, 2005 - Bad Choreography
I have my doubts about whether some of these round dance cuers/instructors/choreographers know anything about dance at all. Sometimes the steps seem to be off-rhythm or they don't fit the music phrasing right.
At the dance last night, as the round dance music started, Lloyd said. "This is a two-step. We can do this one." I said, "Are you sure? Because it sounds like a tango." "He announced a two-step." So we were dancing a two-step dance to a song with an obvious Latin rhythm. It should have been a tango.
Later, the cuer announced and cued a rumba, though the music playing was a country two-step. And I noticed, though some people were dancing the rumba, some were dancing cha-cha to it.
It's nice to have the cuer to remind you of the steps to the dance, but you should be able to take your cue for dance styling from the music.

June 20, 2005 - New Calls
Dan Nordbye from Arizona was calling at the 3rd Saturday Round-Up this month. He's been a caller for forty years and mentioned that he is a "pre-level" caller. During one tip he spent a few minutes workshopping a couple new calls, then incorporated them into his calling for the evening. As a "pre-level" dancer, I remember this is the way they used to do it and it's something that I miss. Every few weeks we would learn a new call. It would only take a few minutes of workshopping and it kept the dancing fresh and new. Now the only way I can learn a new call is to commit to another nine months of lessons and learn another fifty calls; to move to the next level. It's all or nothing.
I hear people say they want to move to the next level because they are getting bored with their current level. That's one of the problems with "levels". By dividing the calls into rigid, unchanging lists, it automatically sets them up to become stagnant.

June 18, 2005 - Visitors
Last night while visiting with our caller, Ray Holmes, before The Wranglers' dance, he mentioned that there would probably only be a small turn-out for this dance since so many dancers had already left for Portland, Oregon to attend the National Square Dance Convention.
But, of course, we knew something that he didn't.

When we were at The Circulators last week they announced their up-coming visitation to The Wranglers.
"Why didn't we know about this?" I asked Lloyd.
Two Circulators, overhearing us, came running over. "You DIDN'T HEAR THAT," they said. "We didn't know any Wranglers were here. You can't say a word. It's a SURPRISE." Of course, we didn't tell.

So, at the dance last night, just as Ray started calling the first tip, they all came marching in and around the room. "I hope we have enough ice-cream," Emily said. (They brought almost three squares.)
Two Circulators "kidnapped" Ray from the stage as Steve Woodard, their caller, annouced that they would be taking up a collection for his return. "How much is your caller worth?", he asked. "We just want to see how much you think Ray is worth. The last time we did this, we got 32 cents and a wad of gum but I won't tell you who it was for because I think they overpaid. We'll see how you do," he said. They collected $22 and some change, which was donated to our club. "Wow, I can't believe they really got twenty-two dollars," Ray said.
Ray had been doing some calling for The Circulators while Steve was in the hospital. I think he was VERY pleasantly surprised with their surprise visit / raid. Ray and Steve were reminiscing about the old days when clubs often played pranks on each other. Steve said he wants to bring some of that fun back into square dancing.
Steve and Ray took turns calling for the evening and, thanks to the Circulators' visiting, we had about double our expected attendance. It was a very fun evening, and we did have enough ice-cream.

June 17, 2005 - Class Graduation
The Wranglers' class graduation was last night. There were about 15 Wranglers there to meet and welcome the new dancers. We had eight graduates and it was a fun class night. Of course we had the grads dance a silly, fun tip. They danced with balloons tied to their ankles, trying to pop each other's balloons while dancing, and then a no hands, no touching dance. This is a lively, exuberant group, and they are also good dancers. Hopefully all of them will join the club. Ave' had paper graduation hats and diplomas for the graduation ceremony and a graduation cake for refreshments. After the class several of us went to Denny's to continue visiting.

June 15, 2005 - Spiders
When we were first forming the Single Spinners and deciding on a name, one of the names suggested was Spinning Tops. Everyone liked that name the best of those suggested and we were working out a badge design using a picture of a top. Then it was mentioned that since we were a young, single club, we should emphasize that, and use the word "single" in our name. "Single Spinning Tops" was too long of a name, and "Single Tops" just didn't sound right. Everything just fell into place when Linda Knott came up with the cute spider web badge design. Everyone loved the uniqueness of her design and the spider logo. We became the Single Spinners and the spider became our symbol. At one of our first dances we even wore little plastic spiders clipped to our badges, shirt collars, or in our hair. Unfortunately, we had underestimated the severity of spider phobias, and some of our visiters refused to square up and dance with us, so that idea was abandoned very quickly.

When we had the first batch of Single Spinner badges made, they made a mistake and only put six legs on the spiders. (Doesn't everyone know that spiders, arachnids, have eight legs?) It was corrected the next time, but all the charter members have badges with six legged spiders. Since Lloyd and I were married after the forming of the Single Spinners, and I then had a new badge made with my married name, I now have a Spinner badge with a six legged spider and one with an eight legged spider.

June 14, 2005 - Spinners' Anniversary
Saturday we went to the Single Spinners' 31st Anniversary "Western Daze" dance. Jeff Fletcher, the first caller for the Spinners, and his wife, Mary, came by to say hello. It was nice seeing them again. Unfortunately, Lloyd and I were the only "charter members" at the dance. I was hoping that some of the other alumi would be there. Carol had mentioned that Gary and Sue and Dave and Ruth came last year for the 30th anniversary, but they didn't come this year. Dave was the photographer who always took pictures at the dances both for the Revelers and the Spinners. It would really be fun to see their square dance photo album.

The Spinners' first anniversary dance was held on May 31st, 1974, at Colina Del Sol Recreation Center, with Jeff Fletcher calling. For the second anniversary, also at Colina Del Sol, the theme "Western Daze" was chosen. It went over so well that it has become the Spinners' annual anniversary theme. This year the dance was held in the Recital Hall at Balboa Park with John Marus calling. For decorations they had large, painted murals of Western buildings, such as a saloon, hotel, church, outhouse, and jail, set up around the room. Dana said that each year they try to add a new building to the collection, so they have quite a few of them now. Each one has a Spinner "spider and spider web" hidden someplace on it, which is kind of fun.

June 6, 2005 - Riddle Calls
This is just fun. I found it at Tech Squares, the Square and Round Dance Club of MIT.

David Resnick says, "One of the appeals of square dancing is the so-called "puzzle solving" aspect of the activity. In the spirit of that, in this sequence I'll give you clues and you can figure out what the call is. Trying to get your square to agree on things is a good idea."
Here is David's Riddle Sequence (with answers), called as part of his tip at Tech Squares Amateur Night (1996).

Heads feel 25 cents and marmelade                   Heads Touch 1/4 And Spread

Side men about face                                 Side Men U Turn Back

What a door swings on                               Hinge

It's a backgammon varient                           Acey Deucey

Tailgate the guy next door and hold the mayo        Follow Your Neighbor

Stroll and evade                                    Walk And Dodge

Crease the shortest distance between 2 points       Bend The Line

Prepare for a sailing voyage                        Load The Boat

Female deer observes female deer                    Do Si Do

Go like a southerner to a small tsunami             Dixie Style To A Wave

Awesome jive thru                                   Grand Swing Thru

Make a breeze on the Driedel                        Fan The Top

Kareem Abdul Jabar and Robert Parish angrily sprint Centers Cross Run

Liberal Jive Thru                                   Left Swing Thru

Banana ice cream sundae circulate                   Split Circulate

Lengthen, and a conservative and liberal big piano  Extend, And A Right And Left Grand

June 4, 2005 - Hobo Dance
Last night was the Wranglers' Hobo Dance. Pat Carnathan was calling and it was a fun dance. We had a pretty good turn-out of seven squares.
I was in charge of hospitality (decorations and refreshments) for this dance. Looking for ideas for hobo theme decorations, I put "hobo" into Google and found a chart of symbols that hobos used as a form of communication with each other to give information or warnings. These signs were usually written in chalk or coal on a fence, building, or sidewalk, to let others know what was in the area, such as police, dogs, kind people, medical services, or work available. We made up a lot of these signs on colored paper and strung them around the dance room. It was festive looking and I think everyone found them interesting. I know I was unaware of this hobo code until now. Apparently these signs were used universally throughout the country and some even internationally. More information on Hobos and Hobo Signs
Using one of our old costume display forms, we put an old man mask on it and dressed him in a patchwork coat and pants set and a top hat. With a welcome sign to hold and, of course, the traditional bandana pack on a stick, he made a cute hobo to greet dancers as they entered. We had simple refreshments of sandwiches, trail mix, cookies, and candies. It was a good dance and I think everyone had fun.