Dancing

Greetings,

On Friday, we fly to San Antonio for the holiday. It will be good to visit the family, friends and hopefully there will be time to visit my favorite bar in the country. In the good ole days it used to be called Far West Rodeo but now they call it Cowboys Dance Hall. Far West rodeo was a cool place with lots of different types of people and music, although they played primarily country music. Cowboys Dance Hall has more of a stuffy, twangy, feel and they also initiated Friday Teen Night! Ick. I know that it has changed since my my days of sipping white wine on a bar stool while watching the two-steppers and sometimes surprisingly, finding myself tipsy by accident. Of course the wine helped me to accept dance offers from the strange types of men that would get up the nerve to ask me to dance. They were mostly old enough to be my father. It was at Far West I tested my theories that I still believe in:
1. Theory 1 - Be nice and cordial to everyone. (This is a rule for the single folk, I've dropped it for now.)
Action: I accepted dances from everyone and anyone. (The caveat being that they had at least 15 teeth left, right Meag?)
Result: This usually meant a lot of dances with old men, but they were good dancers and once everyone saw me as friendly and willing to dance with anyone, I got a lot more offers. And usually guys in my age range would ask as the night wore on and they built their confidence from seeing the successful older men.

2. Theory 2 - Guys are intimidated by packs of women.
Action: I went to Far West alone most nights.
Result: This actually worked out OK although it was very intimidating. I also made sure I was always alert and didn't do anything stupid. It was weird to be at a bar alone but the place was so big I could move around and no one seemed to really care. I also met several women this way which was nice to add some more friends. Sometimes I would go two or three weekends in a row and I was a 'regular' and recognized many others. This was cool.

3. Theory 3 - Look approachable.
Action: I would sit on my bar stool (back right, end stool) and smile. I would be certain to not cross my arms. I would laugh and smile as I watched the dancers go by like I was having a conversation with someone. This was totally a game and totally fake, but I knew I was far from approachable and needed to be dramatically more open than usual. Just like overdoing stage make-up. I'm sure I looked looney.
Result: This worked as well. I would start this drill and within 15-20 minutes someone would ask me to dance.

It will be nice to go back and not do any of the three things above! Except for drink the white wine!

Dancing With The Stars
I must admit, I love the show. I loved it from the first season although I didn't really start watching it until the end of the first season.
I like the popular music they play and the different compilations they use. I love the costumes and I love to watch people dance. Just like I enjoyed going to Far West for that purpose. I'm always amazed to hear a popular song and find out that you can cha-cha to it, or do a tango, or jive or even the pasa doble. And it's fun to watch second rate celebrities give it a whirl.

Tonight was the season finale and tonight Emmitt Smith and his professional partner Cheryl won! Cheryl won last season with Drew Lachey, and I picked them early on as the winners. I don't like to brag, but I picked Emmitt too. Cheryl is my favorite and now I'm pretty sure she is the best partner. Emmitt and Cheryl did a great freestyle dance last night to MC Hammer "Can't Touch This." Mario Lopez (from Saved by the Bell) was the main competitor, and I thought the favorite, although I couldn't stand him. News came out that he has been taking dance lessons (hip-hop is the clarification) since he was young. Now although not ballroom lessons, I think that is still shady. I also think Mario and his partner have a 'special' relationship which is fine, I just find them both annoying.
I could go on, but all I have to say is: 1. I'm glad Emmitt won, he deserved it, and I was very surprised with his dance talent. 2. Although I really like Sarah Evans, she really shouldn't have aired her dirty laundry on TV and she wasn't very good considering she is a performer. 3. I can't wait until next season.

Happy Thanksgiving!