Music and blasters and old Jedi Masters at the Star Wars, Star Wars Cantina

So that didn't go quite as planned.

Started off well enough. Had to do the dishes before I could leave, which was a little annoying; I eventually got out, though. Stopped off and got some gas and water at the Shell at Thorpe and Aquarena, and I was off. I really enjoy this cold weather. I was wearing shorts and a t-shirt and was quite comfortable.

Anyway, got there before 11. I think. Went in; there were two girls on the 5th mix. Not playing, but sitting nearby, with their coats on the machine. I don't mean on the bars, I mean on the actual pads. They saw me standing there, obviously wanting to play, and started clearing off their stuff. I'm still not sure whether they were playing previously or not; it's kind of hard to tell sometimes. They finally cleared their stuff off, and I was able to play. There was a group on the 7th mix, also not playing. There was one girl signing to another girl, which was... odd. I haven't seen someone signing in a *long* time - well, other than on CSI.

So my first set was, um, doubles - Dam Dariram (KCP Mix), and two other ones I don't remember. I did hear a few comments whispered while I was playing. Took a break and played a game of Crazy Taxi, then did another set on singles. This one was Paranoia Evolution, My Summer Love, and Rhythm & Police (KOG 3 Mix). For some reason, I *could* not pass Stomp To My Beat on Doubles / Heavy. I did a long, long time ago back at Diversions, but it was just giving me problems. It has really weird footing, kind of like Moonlight Shadow (Vocal Mix). So as my final set, I did Afronova Primeval. And I banged my foot on the bar. It really, really hurt my ankle. It might not have been so bad, but I did the *EXACT* same thing on the *EXACT* same part of the *EXACT* same song last week when I went and played with Rose. Suffice to say, that ended my DDR evening. It's a shame, because I really like that song.

The problem is that it has this alternating-step 8th note run which is really cool, but has both a side-back and a front-front crossover. I *really* hate side-back and front-front crossovers. For the semi-initiated, a side-back crossover (my term) is when you have to do something like L2-R1-D1-R1-L2; an extended version would look like L2-R1-D1-R1-L2-D2-L2-R1. Those aren't quite as bad as front crossovers, though: L2-R1-U1-R1-L2 (-U2-L2-R1). Can't Stop Falling in Love (Speed Mix) has some of the worst front crossovers for doubles (although I can, and regularly do, max combo that song).

For those of you who have *no* idea what I'm talking about, I'll give you a simple version: Stand up, feet shoulder-width apart. Now take your right leg and put it behind your left one, so that it's in the middle of your body, but behind it, without picking up your left foot. Now put it back, and put your left foot behind your right leg, same idea. Imagine doing that really fast, and hitting your ankle on a metal bar while doing it. Hmm, that doesn't really help. Here:


This is a top view of a DDR pad. Each square is a little over a foot in each direction, so you can stand comfortably with a foot in each square (new people often try to stand with both feet in the center, until they learn how to play). Now, the crossover I'm talking about is as follows: Stand on the two center arrows, so that your left foot is on the arrow pointing to the right on the left pad, and your right foot is on the arrow pointing left on the right pad. Now, move your right foot to the arrow pointing down on the right pad, then move it back, then move your left foot to the arrow pointing down on the right pad. That's a side-back crossover. The problem is, and this picture doesn't show, is that there's two metal bars on the back of the machine.
Here:

This is actually the only picture I could find (of mine) that shows the back of the machine. You can definitely see the two metal bars on the back (they come out of the white holes on the picture above). Anyway, they are *very* sturdy - either one of them could completely support me, and I'm by no means light. People use them for various reasons - tricks, catching their balance, and raping. Anyway, I believe I've explained this in such a way that everyone, including those of you who have no clue about DDR, how I hurt my ankle. It's not that bad - I don't really have any problems walking on it or anything - but it's not up to the strain of DDR for a few days. So yeah, drove home, and listened to some Richard Cheese, courtesy of a CD Bam and Greg gave me. I definitely recommend him to just about anyone, especially people who enjoy Weird Al's work. I was laughing the whole time.