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Shim Sham
Perfect courage is to do without witnesses what one would be capable of doing with the world looking on.
-- La Rochefoucauld
Wednesday, December 9, 1998
One year ago: More Lanterns
Well, last night I was all het up for seeing Jack and his older daughter A----. We were going to go to dinner and then to Two-Tone Tuesday. It's an all-ages venue, and A---- has been wanting to go ever since I suggested it a while back! But when I don't hear from him, it's not a good sign, and I'd sent email with suggestions on places to eat without getting a response. I did get email after I got home. Jack said that he was too sick to go out. I was disappointed, of course, and sorry that he wasn't feeling well. We chatted a bit on the phone, and I could hear A---- in the background, throwing a fit because she wouldn't be going out that night. But we do have one more chance to attend this event, next week. We'll go then.
So I went out and danced anyway, and had a good time!
* * * * * * * *
Jack's been working on his personal web site for quite a while, and used the time last night to finally get it posted! Instead of the splash page found on so many sites, he uses the entrance page to tell a story. The description of himself is pretty accurate! He does have a more normal home page as well -- I do like the picture of us looking at the river, from our Thanksgiving trip -- and a site change log. I wonder if that page will turn into a journal, like Al's Nova Notes did? So check his stuff out, and send him your comments!
* * * * * * * *
There's a swing dance, a line dance, called the shim-sham. I've learned various parts of it along the way, but I haven't felt completely comfortable with it yet. So when Hep Jen and Cat Daddy Chris announced an hour workshop, I signed up!
The class was being held at the University Heights Community Center, in the U-district. I drove straight there, because I'd stayed at work until five, and it took an hour and more (more than twice my normal commute time!) to get there. I picked up dinner at Jack in the Box, across the street, and took it inside with me.
The building is a beautiful old one, a former elementary school with big windows, high ceilings, and wooden floors (good for dancing). I was scanning the schedule of events for the evening, since I didn't remember the room number. A young girl (I forget her name) recognized me and said "Come on, it's in 201!" She guessed that I was there for the HepCat Productions workshop. We walked upstairs together. I didn't have time to eat the food I'd bought, so I just sipped on the cappucino milkshake.
The class members were all just standing around, even though there was music playing, so after I changed my shoes, I grabbed a familiar lead and suggested we warm up! One song, and the workshop started.
The Shim-Sham isn't a partner dance. Everyone does the same steps. We worked our way through it, step by step. There are only a few parts that are tough, but even after working for an hour, I'd say I only mastered 95 percent of it. I'll be brave enough now to join in the next time it's played at a dance, though!
I had a bit of a break between the end of the class and the beginning of the Wednesday night dance at the Century Ballroom, so I went home to check my email. Of course, once I was home I was reluctant to leave, but I'd missed last Wednesday, so I forced myself out the door. Once I was there, I was glad I'd made that decision. There was a live band, called the Big Bang Band (good name!). I'd heard them once before, and hadn't been impressed, but they were much better tonight! Clean and crisp, and the mix of tempos was better though not perfect. It was fun catching up with folks that I hadn't seen for a few weeks.
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