I don't think I will make a habit of this

          After the show tonight, some friends and I went to a dueling piano bar.  Now, I generally enjoy piano bars because I love to watch people play the piano.  Oh, also I can sometimes be uncomfortable or feel a bit awkward at a bar because it is too loud to talk and I am not much of a drinker, but a piano bar--now there you have something to do (remember? watch someone play the piano...).  Most of the ones I have been to are pretty chill and acoustic.  They play songs like Fire and Rain by James Taylor and Son of a Preacher Man by Dusty Springfield.  Sure, they can get a little rowdy because, let's face it, it's a bar--but for the most part, it's fun music that everybody can sing along to.  

       But Howl at the Moon is another story.  Lots and lots of people are squished up together in a room where the music is thumping so loud that you can't distinguish between your heartbeat and the bass drum.  But, there are live musicians--two pianists, a bassist, an electric guitarist, and a drummer.  Oh, and everyone has a mic.  For me, watching accomplished musicians jamming is a good time.  I could be flipping through the tv, and if I see someone playing something live and well--then I stop and listen.  It arrests me.  Even if it's music I would never buy, I enjoy seeing it played live.  So, here are all these musicians obviously loving their lives on a Thursday evening, wailing on the mics and just doing what they do.  Then they announce they are going to have a dance competition.  Each table can elect one female to go up onstage and just dance.  Maybe it's because I have been watching So You Think You Can Dance like it's my job, lately. Maybe it's because I once went to see Jay Leno live and did not volunteer to enter the dance competition there, and have since regretted it (I really think I could have won the t-shirt, anyway).  Maybe it's because all my friends encouraged me.  But, whatever it was, I had this light-hearted feeling and just went up there.  I mean, I am a dancer after all--how bad could it be?

        Turns out, pretty bad.  Not for me so much, but the other girls were pretty disgusting.  I couldn't help but think that their mothers did not teach them to act this way.  Where was their dignity, their pride, their sense of value?  I was the last to go, and let me tell you--it was a long 20 seconds.  I did a sensible backbend, a nice high kick, and some other cute, dancey things.  It was not the booty-shaking affair the other ladies offered up, though.  My mama taught me better than that. I did not win the competition, which was fine with me.  A gentleman by the name of Byron did come up to me afterwards and say, I could tell you are a beautiful dancer, classically trained; you must be a ballerina.  You were in an altogether different class than the skanky dancers up there before you.  Well, thank you, Byron; I am glad you noticed.  

   I probably won't do it again, but it was interesting.  And I feel sorry for those girls, really sorry.  

  On another note, life has been sweet lately.  I have been writing new music, running outside, reading new books, spending time with God, and enjoying good people.  I also saved the life of a baby bird, I think...At least, he had fallen from his nest onto the sidewalk and his parents were freaking out (I am no expert, but their flying seemed a little more frenetic than is normal for birds).  I remembered that humans are not supposed to touch baby birds (something about the mama bird shunning the baby bird if they smell like a human?  Or am I confusing that with what the Amish do?), so I found a big exotic leaf and managed to get the baby bird to hop onto it.  Then, I placed him back in the grass, under his tree, and near his frantic bird-parents (all without actually touching him, mind you).  At least then he was off the sidewalk and wouldn't be so easily stepped on.  When I ran back that way a little later, he was gone.  So, I like to think I saved his life.  Oh, and when I am not rescuing baby birds and everything else I mentioned, I am doing 8 shows a week.