Brava, Brujita!

Yesterday I had the pleasure of seeing my friend La Brujita (the Little Witch) perform in her first flamenco dance recital. Dang, that was cool! The rhythm and percussion appeal to me enormously (I swear I was a drummer and/or tap dancer in a previous life), as did the vibrant dresses, dramatic fringed shawls, and sassy fake eyelashes. And the high-heeled, high-impact shoes, of course. Women of all ages and sizes stomped and swirled about the stage, including one lady with butt-length platinum dreadlocks and one freakishly skinny person with long, long arms like live wires dropped in a lake.

What appealed to me most, though, was that the older women were the best dancers. Flamenco is not a dance for girls. It's for women of a certain age. Flamenco is a dance of grand passion, and while the younger women can perform the movements, it's the more mature ones who live them, who own them. The two soloists who were clearly grandmothers impressed me with their complete confidence and sly knowingness. Their feet were just as fast as the younger women's, and they'd earned the right to look down their noses at those whose heels and hearts remained still.

My only complaint: admission, at $15, was steep.

Another, tangential complaint: the evil MMS network is down AGAIN, so I can't yet post the photo I took of La Brujita in her royal purple finery. That cursed network is down more than it's up these days. Needs e-Viagra.

After the performance, a couple other friends and I went across the street to Sebastian Joe's, one of the best ice cream shops in the world. I had a double dip of cinnamon and Oreo on a chocolate-and-Heath-dipped cone — and, in what may be a personal record, didn’t even think about being hungry for supper.

Today I’m trying to decide between donating blood in the afternoon and going to T’ai Chi in the evening. Each is a worthwhile activity, but I won’t feel good if I do both.

Today around the world: November 21 is World Television Day. I’m not sure whether I’m supposed to embrace my TV or smash it.