Learning Experience

Things I've learned this week:

Murphy's Law will get you. Maybe not today, maybe not tomorrow… But SOMEDAY. Someday, you'll forget your dance costume (hopefully you remember before you're in a different state); someday, your makeup remover will escape it's seemingly-spillproof packaging and be all over EVERYTHING; someday; you will completely space an entire corner of your routine.
Subjectively judged sports are biased. There's a million ways to sway the judging panel in your favor, and a million ways for that judging panel to not see those favorable things. One can deal with these facts or not. *sigh*
Tanning products settle into stretch marks and NEVER COME OUT.
No one cares how your dancing feels. People care how it looks. I've heard that said so many times and have seen it/felt it in action that many more. Pretend you're having a great time if you're not and I bet you will A) start having a better time B) get better scores.
Vegas is not quite family-friendly. It's like family-cordial. Family-tolerant? Same with ballroom competitions. People, I have some kids and I'm training to be respectful and out of the way, but they're idiots. I mean, have you ever tried to talk to a 2-year-old? No matter the subject, all Mae Cake wants to tell me is how brave she is because she went on the escalator. I'm sorry my 4-year-old is twirling in the corner next to your stretching zone, but trust me, the karma is biting me in the butt while I'm preparing to dance.
You will never feel more pale than when you have not fake-tanned after spending 2 days in a ballroom dance comp.
There are some DELIGHTFUL people in the ballroom world. D-lightful
Dancing is a good time. Right? That's why you spent the money and the time and the sacrifices. Remember that. Dancing=good times.