You know you're a tango junkie when.....

• Your iPod has over 30 versions of La Cumparsita

• When you open your eyes in the morning, you start humming "Zorzal" and dance it in your mind with your favorite milonga partner

• When you're feeling angst in your life, and you know exactly what's going to make it go away.

• A coworker walks into your office while "Arrabalera" is playing and asks,"What's with the polka?" and you seriously consider never speaking to them again.

• Tango has become your philosophy

• You have an MDiv yet you preach the "gospel of tango" more than "the Gospel" ( true story)

• You have crossed an ocean just to dance with a favorite partner

• You practice in front and in the elevator reguardless if you are alone or if one of the head officers of the company are standing next to you

• You swear you will quit this crazy dance, and are back at the next milonga

• When you find yourself dressing a stranger in your eyes in 3" heels and a black dress.

• When you and another contractor are workin on a move to Calo two stories above the ground, tool belts clinking.

• When you realize the milonga is where you see all your friends.

• When you laugh out loud at bad tango in movies.

• When you walk backwards to the refrigerator.

• Walking into new buildings and noticing potential dance space to Tango.

• Your friends offer to "do an intervention."

• Your family actually GIVES you clothes in which to dance (in which they'd be embarrassed to see you on the street.)

• You've remodeled your house mainly to maximize dance space.

• Entering a lift, and making a side step with your left foot to give way to somebody going out, then you don't step forward with your right foot. You change weight on the double-time, and you enter the lift with a left-foot step.

• When you move because your landlord will not let you remove the coconut carpets - and there isn't really room for practicing anyway.

• When you wake up in the middle of the night and hear tango music - only to realise it's inside your head.

• If there is not milonga on a Friday night - you arrange one!

• You wear your heels to work. They are handsewn and so comfortable. Your feet love them. Why wear any other shoes? And you keep an extra pair in your bag.

• You have started taking Spanish private lessons - from a Porteño.

• You cross country lines to tango!

• You practice your balance - and sometimes boleos -when waiting to cross the street.

• You say, "We can meet .... Thursday or maybe Monday -oh, no I am practicing with Thomas.... how about Monday next week?"

• Your first question when buying clothes is "but can I dance in it?" - used to be "but can I wear it to work?"

• You are addicted to the tango zone

• You bring your heels to work so you can practice on your breaks. (this is a true story!)

• You prefer to listen to the original recording of Por Una Cabeza

• You fantasize about being Luciana Pedraza.

• You fantasize about being Robert Duvall's dreamgirl.

• You copied all your tango music to your office computer and that's all you listen to 9 - 5

• You've danced with one of the biggies and survived.

• You own a tango t-shirt and wear it in public - constantly.

• You go through withdrawal without at least one tango-high per week.

• You realize you are being swept away.

• Your descriptions of tango have shifted from "unbounded enthusiasm" to "you wouldn't understand...

• Your friends are secrectly plotting to kidnap you for a week of serious deprogramming.

• You know who Carlos Gardel is.

• You've stopped saying sorry when you screw up - you just tango out of the trouble you got into.

• You keep a pair of dance shoes in your car.

• You wish you paid more attention in high school Spanish class.

• You've sold or moved most of your furniture to give yourself practice space.

• You make sure you never run out of breath mints.

• You no longer freak out at the prospect of leading a boleo.

• You cross state lines to tango.

• You've had the big tango-fight with your partner.

• You listen to tango music when you're not at a practica or milonga.

• You bring your ankles and knees together all the time, even in the elevator.

• You plan the rest of your social life so it doesn't conflict with tango nights.

• You own a bootleg copy of Tango Bar.

• Your wardrobe is predominantly black.

• Ocho is more than just a number.

• Your fantasy travel destination is Buenos Aires.

• You are unable to schedule major surgery without compromising tango commitments.

• You now view the world in terms of people who tango and those unfortunate souls who don't.

• You've progressed from the practice hold to full contact tango.

• You have to work hard to maintain non-tango friendships (if you have any left).

• You've been dancing a year and still don't get bored talking tango.

• You have developed the ability to turn any conversation to tango within 2 minutes.

• You no longer have parties at your house; you host milongas.

• When you look in the mirror, you are usually looking at your feet.

• Your shopping cart often substitutes as your dance partner.

• You've figured out how to find the hidden tango sections in any record store.

• Tango never fails to energize, no matter how tired you are.

• Before traveling, you check out the net for tango events in that area.

• You are willing to spend twice as much time driving to a milonga as you actually dance.

• You've danced long enough to realize that you want to keep it simple.

• You automatically do something Tango-ish whenever you navigate through a crowd.

• Your computer passwords at work are always phrases related to tango.

• Your ear has been trained to recognize the tango possibilities in all forms of music.

• You remember the place and partner with whom you danced your first real tango.

• Subtle moves have begun to reveal themselves (without lessons).

• You practice the roles of both lead and follow to fully understand the dance.

• You maintain a phone list of the hardcore tangueros in your area.

• You have at least one Kristine Hansen tango poster framed and hanging at home and/or work.

• You bring your own tango CDs to wedding receptions to ensure that your requests will be played.

• Tango has diminished, if not ruined, the appeal of every other dance you ever did.

• Little else in your life gets done compared to your pre-tango days.

• Your passion-index is much higher compared to your pre-tango days. What pre-tango days?
• You have become nocturnal.

• You regularly shop the local Salvation Army to suppliment your tango wardrobe.

• You wear vintage clothes every week that most people wear once a year to the office Christmas party.

• You have a Boa (not a snake) in your closet.

• Friends insert the word Tango before your given name when introducing you to others.

• You have been spotted dancing tango in parking lots.

• Posters for upcoming tango events are always magnetized to your refrigerator.

• You have developed a healthy fear of foot injuries.

• Your interest in shoes can easily be mistaken for a fetish.

• The amount of time you spend on personal grooming has doubled.

• You are considering the purchase of clothing not commonly seen in public.

• You realize how rare it is to find such passion in life.

• You have discovered the pleasures of barefoot tango.

• You dance tango in your mind.

• You have to dance. You have to dance

• You soak your tired little feet in tango toes foot soak.

• You seek out stories from those who have danced tango in other countries.

• One of the most exciting things in the world is to dance tango with a complete stranger

• You have been known to sing in the ear of your partner while dancing.

• You recognize that special glow in the night as another hotbed of tango erupts in the distance.

• Your favorite color is tango black.

• Friends and family automatically assume that you want tango-related birthday gifts.

• You have been given a gift of private tango lessons.

• You have learned the Klassic Kenny move.

• You have practiced with Rebecca's Follower's Technique video at least three times.

• Your mind visualizes and calibrates square-footage in terms of open dance space.

• The thought enters your mind that Johnny Cash was aware of tango black long before you.

• You have found yourself caught in unusual situations that are best described as a Tango Moment.

• You become associated with a signature move.

• You have hosted someone from Buenos Aires at your home.

• You have been known to forget where you parked your car after several hours of tango.

• You have finally heard one too many Hugo Diaz tunes.

• The Tango Police have you under suspicion.

• You will be dancing tango for the rest of your life.

• You no longer fear the lost-and-found that may happen during a dance.

• Your dancing shoes always look well-used.

• You can't resist dancing a few tango steps whenever you cross a wooden floor.

• You've gone home after a dance with someone else's glitter on your face.

• Shoes have new focus in your life.

• You find that you sandwich feet far more often than shake hands.

• You have reached a level where your tango reflects your spirit.

• You have considered crossing that line to become a tango gypsy.

• You find that dancers drawn to tango are the most interesting passionate people you know.

• There is no question that you will always work to improve your dance.

• You draw satisfaction every time you break someone's Hollywood misconception of the dance

• You realize that dance presence is as important as dance moves.

• You have trembled in someone's arms.

• Whenever you wait in line, you must fight the urge to randomly gancho those around you.
• Tango Hugs...mmmmmmm!

• You've put your house on the market to support your tango habit.

• You're thinking of calling your first born son Osvaldo.

• You constantly have bruises on your legs and feet.

• You eat your main meal of the day at two in the morning.

• You saw the film "The Tango Lesson" fourteen times.

• You dream about dancing with Pablo Veron.

• Your respect for others is measured by how well they can dance.

• You feel exhausted but come alive when you hear a tango and hit the dancefloor.

• You have a tango bumper sticker.

• You carry baggage to social events even though you aren't planning a trip.

• You feel sensual and sexy.