random thoughts – Day 1,907 – (Friday) – storm and a showcase

Thunderstorms rolled in this morning, it rained like the heavens were power washing the city, and then it all rolled back out. There was the option to work from home due to the weather, but once it calmed down I went to the office for my regularly scheduled day. Every minute I’m not in the house is time I’m not messing up the newly pristine, uncluttered environment recently captured in pixels. Also, the mailroom had some boxes to help with the packing and organizing operation. As a cherry for the top of the sundae, the department head said I could park in his spot in the lot adjacent to the building. It was a good morning.

I was the only person in attendance on the fourth floor and it didn’t bother me today. It was a half-day for me, and I was handling a multi-step task that was a bit more complicated than usual. It was a great opportunity to focus on it. The countdown is on now with 25 days to the merger date, meaning it is definitely the last time I will have to do the aggravating task. Eliminating one horrid ongoing task really doesn't make up for all the good things that will be lost, though.

When I got home with the four fresh boxes I was ready to pack some stuff. One was filled with vintage purses and the other with shoes. They were run out to the big moving box and let me tell you, it was hot in there, and I, the one who is always cold, was sweating.

First half performers. Photo by Richard Finney.

It was belly dance showcase night, which started with a costume check, makeup application and hot weather hair plan. Then it was a heavy-traffic drive for an hour. I arrived in Natick early enough to have a few minutes to sit on a bench in the common and relax.

Seven dance sisters from the troupe and I performed two dances in the first half of the show. My cell phone and glasses were upstairs in the prep room, so I didn't get any photos from that half and my view of it was slightly fuzzy. There was a group photo of the first half performers, and another at the end of the show. It was a paparazzi moment with lots of friends and family getting photos.

The showcase was fun and there were some familiar faces in the audience from the Tuesday dance group. The other dancers in the showcase were amazing and the costumes were gorgeous. It’s always great to see different styles and interpretations of dance – glamorous, playful, folkloric, earthy, flirty and more. Now, the troupe and I prepare for a couple summer performance dates for a festival and a farmer's market in Jaffrey, NH. It’s fun to have things to look forward to.

A troupe at the Natick Dance Showcase.