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Swing Session
Music washes away from the soul the dust of everyday life.
-- Red Auerbach
Saturday, February 10, 2001
One year ago: Brewery Lunch
Two years ago: Cold Stupid
Three years ago: Introspection
My accomplishment for the morning was one load of laundry. If I could do that on a more regular basis, it wouldn't pile up! The ideal situation would be to have a washer and dryer in my apartment, but I don't know if it would be cost-effective -- they say if you do more than ten loads a week, you should own, but I certainly don't do that much!
I called my sister M---- at noon. I have these toys that I got for my other nephews, but to my shame, I never got them sent! and now the gifts are too young for them. So I wanted to take the stuff to my sister's house and let J---- and B---- have them. She said sure, I should bring it all over.
I gathered the things up -- there was a rip in the paper bag, but surely it could make it the block distance to my car? Oops, it couldn't! It all dropped on the sidewalk right in front of my building. It didn't seem practical to go back in and get another bag, leaving the books and toys in a pile there. So I stacked things up better and walked on. A helpful passerby said, "Oh, you dropped a piece of paper!" (the reciept) and picked it up and handed it to me.
When I got to my sister's place, she came out and helped me bring the loot in. It consisted of various books (I threw in a book of rules for kid's games that I'd bought for a Cacophony event) and some toys and kits. She decided to put most of this haul away and dole the items out later.
My nephew was at the computer, constructing some techno hip-hop dance music using the software I'd bought for his birthday. He showed me how the program worked, including the scratch screen. He was having a ball, and it did look fun!
* * * * * * * *
When I got back to my place, I put myself to work getting all the trash out. The garbage wasn't too bad, but the recycling had piled up! Things looked much better when it was all out.
I rewarded myself by dinner at Kidd Valley. I read a story from an anthology I bought yesterday of Victorian Christmas romances -- Edith Layton has written in a variety of historical periods, but the late Victorian setting of her story was a change for her, I think.
* * * * * * * *
I had some time before I needed to head out for the evening, so I decided to play with a new way to put up my hair. Remember the topsy tail? This was a hair gadget sold via infomercial a while back. I have a brand-x version. I got it out, and studied the little brochure for inspiration. I came up with a way to have my hair in a soft twist that was flattering (to my mind) and actually stayed up.
The main reason I'd decided to stick around here this weekend was a special band that was appearing at the Century Ballroom: The Swing Session. They are a hot band from San Francisco who play old style jazz -- the bass player "little David" said during the show that they didn't usually play anything newer than 1950 unless it was a new song of their own. It was mostly faster music, but they ain't no neo-swing band.
I walked down the hill to the Century Ballroom (it's been too long since I've been there -- enough slacking!) and arrived shortly before the pre-dance lesson was done. The place was pretty crowded already! I managed to get my coat hung up and I changed to my dancing shoes.
The band was hot! I'd say the audience clapped almost enough, but the band segued into each number so quickly that they didn't have a chance! The floor was crowded even until the end of the evening -- I had to revive floorcraft skills that haven't been used for a while. A more usual situation is a big crowd at the start of the evening, but then the beginners pooping out and leaving early. They stuck around this time.
I danced with my old buddy Matteo, who is now living in Seattle again. I enjoy dancing with him, even close -- it's definitely just dancing.
I stayed all the way till the end -- what a fun evening!
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