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27 August ~ 2007

On friday I went to three dances - which has to be some sort of a record. The one I enjoyed the most was probably the first: lindy lessons and a dance at the Turnverin. I am getting to love the Lindy more and more. It is fast-paced and energetic. I am trying to learn to break it up a little, to do half speed once in a while, and then pick it up again. The Lindy community in Denver is very active, with lots of participants, classes and dances, which makes it easy to be continually learning something new and improving your skills.

I left early because Swallowhill was having a special honky tonk barn dance. They had a live band and moved the chairs way back from the stage, to make room for dancers. The band was playing some great twosteps when I went in. Unfortunately, the two ladies I asked to dance didn't know how to twostep. I eventually figured out this was mostly a concert crowd - there werent many that knew how to dance other than rocknroll dance. That is fine, but thinking more in terms of Grizzly Rose Saturday Night. After doing a nice waltz, I left, and was only there a half hour.

From Swallowhill I went over to the Denver Contra, where Sandra Wong was playing. That was a good time, although I have to say I enjoy the occasional waltz more than the contra dances.  It isnt very creative to have someone calling out your moves, and is sort of a disappointment compared to doing a triple steps or twostep or Lindy swing, or waltz. I keep going because I have made several friends there, which I talk to during the breaks. And there arent many places you can go and listen to fiddlers play as beautifully as Sandra does.

Saturday me and Ben and Maggie got up early and went to Horse Rescue. There has been some turnover at the top and the lady that manages the ranch now is tall and blond and slender and downright beautiful. She comes up and asks me to do the hardest jobs in the sweetest way. I think most of us there would do just about anything for her.

The horses kept rubbing on a metal corral post, pushing it in, so I wanted to put in a four by four wooden post at the corner for them to rub on, and to protect the corral. The ground at CHR is hardpan clay, the kind you have to use a pick to get through the first eight inches. I filled the hole with water a couple of times, which helped the digging, although I had trouble getting the dirt out. Eventually I was lying on the ground reaching in as far as my arm would go to pull out handfuls of mud.

I got the job done though, and happened to be returning to the barn as the manager was walking out. I have seen a lot of beautiful things in my day, but her silhouette walking out in the light of the open barn door has to be way up there. The scenery around that ranch improved at least twofold when she started working there.

Sunday was my day to stay home, and clean up the house some. There were still books and gear sitting around from my Montana trip. After taking Ben and Maggie on a greenbelt walk, I picked everything up, vacuumed the living room and the stairs, did the dishes, cleaned the counter, and stored my gear downstairs to be ready for my next backpack trip, as soon as Ben's foot heals all the way. Between all that and planting two more scrub oak trees in the backyard I felt pretty good about what I did to take care of my house this weekend.

I put Amy's rabbit and guinea pig in the front yard because Ben is in the back and he only behaves around rabbit and guinea pig when I am watching. The two rodent buddies like it when I pick them up out of their cage in Amy's room, because they know they are going out sit in the grass and feel the sunshine and breeze, just like wild critters. I think I am getting more tender-hearted as I age. I was going to give these two away, but started to to get used to having them around.

All the animals in my household equate my voice with food and water, and a gentle touch. I am pretty sure they all think the world of me, which is a good place to be as you age, don't you think - to be the favorite person of a bunch of animal friends?

When I am out in front the neighborhood children sometimes ride down the street in their bicycles to see rabbit and guinea pig. I let Maggie out because she likes to lie on her back while the kids rub her tummy. I sort of think Ben would like some attention like that, but he is conflicted about it. His first tendancy is to bark and growl at people he doesnt know, which isnt conducive to tummy rubs.

After my housework I watched part of a movie and took a long nap. I woke up just in time to drive down to the Mercury to see the David Booker band play at the Sunday night swing dance. I danced a few east coast swings, but had the best time when I found the ladies that knew the Lindy. The dance which was the most memorable was right in front of the stage with a young lady that had her brown hair up in long pigtails. She wore a black skirt with a narrow white stripe all around on its outer edge, and on her feet some high-topped tennis shoes. When I spinned her, her skirt and pigtails would lift up, and it was extremely fun. I told her I thought her tennis shoes were very cute.

During another dance I had a conversation with a lady about how joyful dancing is, that it really is a shortcup to happiness.

There are a few ladies much older than me that I like to dance with, and that have a very good sense of rhythm. I am gentle when I turn them, and we have good chemistry during the dance. As I said, I am trying to learn to slow down some now and again, and not fill up the whole dance with turns and moves. It is priceless to see these ladies smiling and doing some jazz step while they hold my hands, a few feet from the stage and the band, with a room full of mostly young dancers bouncing to the east of us.

There is good karma at the Mercury. It really is a joyful place. On last Tuesday's Lindy night as I was sitting out one, I could feel the entire floor move to the rhythm of the couple's steps.

It was a good weekend, and on Monday I am already looking forward to the next one. Part of the satisfaction of working is anticipating the fun you will have come Friday.