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Saturday, September 25, 2010

Last Minute Prep for the Willow Ball Thursday

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Did you get your invitation to the Willow Ball? Willow of the famous Life at Willow Manor, Magpie Tales and all things willow? You didn't? You just have to go pick it up. Everyone's invited. I especially encourage and cajole you men into going, otherwise we women will have to dance with each other when our escorts need a rest. Not that there's anything wrong with dancing with women, but I prefer a man for a partner. On the other hand, my escort may be available several dances while I nap curled up in the corner.

This is the third year for this famous virtual ball, but this is my first! I don't know what I was thinking the last two years. I was a little intimidated by Willow's grandeur, to be honest. But I've discovered she is down to earth and funny. No doubt another reason I didn't leap into Willow's ball was hearing my once Baptist feet whine, "But we don't know how to dance." Add to that my early bedtime and wondering how in God's name I would stay awake until 10, let alone dawn, and . . . zzzzzzzz

Oh! Yes, I was saying . . . 

No more excuses, I'm going! I'm spending all my spare time getting ready. I have my gown picked out, just need the shoes. And I'm waiting to hear from my possible escort, since Don is going to be busy (I think he plans to clean his nails; or did he say he has to clean out the chicken coop? or clean his nails after the coop . . . .? Whatever . . . ).

I found this beginner waltz lesson. Oh dear, I think I'm definitely going to fall asleep before I even get there.




I looked for How to Stay Awake videos, and when I saw this first one, titled "Stay Awake," I got excited! And then I played it. Mary Poppins is going to be no help whatsoever.



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52 comments:

Lorenzo — Alchemist's Pillow said...

Ruth, and here I was in la-la land bashfully trying to work up the courage to ask you to be my date for willow's grand ball.

Tess Kincaid said...

Baptist feet. I've got those Bap-Bap-tist feet. Give them a low-down beat
And they begin dancing!

Remember, we all dance like gods and goddesses in cyberspace!

Thanks for your wonderful promotion of the Willow Manor Ball, Ruth. See you there! :)

Words A Day said...

Hi, looking forward to the ball, my first time too! Still havent my dress but my date is all fixed up, I'm sure the baptist feet will find their beat..I'm more of an arm waver myself. Adieu! See you there!

Pamela Terry and Edward said...

Can't wait to see what you're wearing!

George said...

This is the first that I have heard of the Willow Ball, but rest assured, I will be there — decked out and ready to dance. Once again, however, I find that Lorenzo has preempted my advances by being the first to ask you to be his date. Alas, I will have to look elsewhere and only hope that I will be considered as an alternative in the event I succeed in my attempt to have Lorenzo kidnapped at the last moment. Failing that, you must at least promise to save me a dance.

Lorenzo — Alchemist's Pillow said...

George, George, I am remarkably unpossessive with other men's wives. Go ahead and ask Ruth to the dance with you. The only thing sillier that watching me dance would be trying to find anyone to pay a ransom if you kidnapped me.

Shari said...

I am looking forward to my first ball as well. I came in after it was over last year and was very confused and intrigued. But I'm ready to do this year with bells on.

Claudia said...

Oh, how exciting! I wonder if I can go, just to look at the dresses...

Dutchbaby said...

Oooh la la, this is a very intriguing idea. I will have to see if I have the time to prepare for this gala. My photo class is taking up quite a bit of time already.

I just did a quick search for a dress and I already found one I love, but we all know that accessorizing is the time-consuming part.

Now that I see that Lorenzo and George will be in attendance, I may have to step up my game...

Unknown said...

Oh I just have to go to this as it'll be the last really big bloggy event (and my first Willow Manor Ball) that I'll be able to participate in before I go into rehearsal for the play I'll be in from November to December. I don't have a partner does that matter, I guess not... Umm I asked this on Willow's blog I just post pics of me in my ballroom finery? What else do I need to do?

George said...

Ah, Lorenzo, you are such a gallant and noble knight, one of my order who is unsurpassed by even Lancelot. You should not diminish your ransom value, however, for I am quite sure that there are many of your readers who would be more than happy to meet my demands in order to retain access to your prose and poetry. As for your dancing, I am quite sure that anyone with a background in flamenco could keep up with Guenevere of Michigan, though I must confess that I have never seen her dance, except, of course, in her poetry.

Nancy said...

I'm going to have to miss it this year - have fun!!

Ruth said...

Lorenzo, well rats. I feel awkward, because I've sent a note to my potential escort (who was volunteered me by a dear friend, I had to think about it long and hard), so I feel it would be rude to undo that. Although as Willow did last year with both Johnny Depp and Anthony Hopkins, there's not a thing wrong with having a man on both arms!

Ruth said...

Willow, good good, OK then. I dance like Cyd Charisse, and I am a goddess. Must remember. And can I stay awake all night in cyberspace?

I'm getting all giddy.

Ruth said...

Words A Day, oh! Is arm waving a ball option? I can do that!

See you Thursday, with arms flapping in my gown . . .

Ruth said...

Pamela, you might be surprised, but I think, knowing you, you will like it.

Ruth said...

George George George, alas, ball discovery and disappointment all in one shot of the lance! As my limited and remote understanding of balls goes, the escort is merely for giving the woman self respect (or man) and status, and once arrived, the number of dance partners further enhances the woman's status, at least that's according to my Austen-ology. So please, dance with me. And be sure you wear steel-toed boots.

Ruth said...

Lorenzo, isn't it fun to say, George George George?

Willow has informed me that everyone dances like gods and goddesses at her ball. For this, I am grateful, but I still suggest you wear steel-toed boots for my dances with you.

Ruth said...

Shari, I'm so glad! I can't wait to see how beautiful you will look (like at the wedding).

Ruth said...

Claudia, yes yes, you can go and do anything you want. But don't be surprised if these wild men ask you to dance, they seem to be even more excited than I anticipated!

Ruth said...

Dutchbaby, do do do go, please please please. I want to see what you wear. I want to see you dance with George and Lorenzo. And here's an idea. Bring your floral arrangements to the ballroom, I'm sure Willow can always use them!

Ruth said...

Gwei Mui, because this is a virtual ball, and because it is what it is, we each get to create our own fantasy of the event. You can pick out everything you want to include from internet sites and save the photos for your blog post: your dress, shoes, gloves, hairstyle, and most importantly (maybe) your escort of choice. It's your chance to play and fulfill your wildest ball imagination!

Ruth said...

George, I could listen to you and Lorenzo dance your word gallantries across my comment box ALL DAY. This may in fact be the best preparation for dancing for the big event, because the beautiful tension of being fought over with deference is making me dance around my family room.

Between Lorenzo's flamenco, and your karagouna with Zorba the Greek, I will be breathless and reliant on the two of you to teach me the moves. Did you know there is a rare Greek face-to-face couple dance, called karsilima?

It's amazing what you can Google for a blog comment!

Ruth said...

Oh, Nancy, how come?! I loved watching your posts . . .

Rosaria Williams said...

Oh how wonderful! I went last year, and was thrilled to no end, though it was hard to dance after seven, my body clock beginning to tick down. Love your videos!
Have Fun!

Ruth said...

Lakeviewer, not going this year? What a shame. Lorenzo and George can't entice you with their charms? I am quite charmed by them already, and we still have five days to go!

Daniel Chérouvrier said...

I was lucky not to have to learn how to walk and run after a video.

Vagabonde said...

First Ruth in my last comment when I said I liked your speech I meant the way your talked on your interview. Unfortunately I tried to listen to your podcast but my laptop refused to open it.

Now about a “ball.” That sounds quite grand. I have not danced for a long time because my hubby says he has 2 left feet (although I looked and they seemed normal to me.) My father owned a “dancing” in France, but that was a “musette” type, with tangos, walzes, paso dobles, rumba, cha cha. I started dancing when I was 3 so I miss it a lot. During my teenage years I used to haunt the left banks cellars in Paris with my friends where they played Dixieland jazz and we danced till early mornings. I liked jazz and danced to that (met Dizzie Gillespie who was an American jazz player.) While going to college in the UK I danced my way there too, going to all the dark jazz clubs in London and had a ball (different meaning of the word…). But they were not “balls” really.

rauf said...

i am scratching my yeddu Ruth. Virtual ball ? oh deeah, i don't know what it is. Is this real ?

i know you would dance well Ruth, gracefully as you are very elegant. I know you will not be a statue of liberty.
Do you remember Holden Caulfield dragging the statue of liberty ?

i would like to see the Penticost feet. do they dance ? i mean Does Sarah Palin go to the Dance Ball ?
Oh Jack Lemmon was a great Dancer Ruth.

Shari said...

Ruth, I have been out of town, but I finally went over and checked out your interview. You did a great job. I want to hear some of those podcasts. You have inspired me to go ahead and post my Willow Ball post. It is already done and I confess I just can't wait.

Ruth said...

Haha, Daniel. :)

You remind me, when I was an adolescent, I thought it would be very difficult to teach my children to walk and talk one day. Funny how we perceive these things, that later come so naturally.

Ruth said...

Vagabonde, you had a ball dancing around Paris and London. I can see you in your pretty reddish-blonde curls lighting up dark jazz clubs . . . and meeting Dizzy Gillespie! Those triumphant cheeks, and that bent trumpet. What a treat.

Thank you for clarifying what you meant by speech. And sorry about the podcasts. They open effortlessly on my laptop out here on an aircard, so I hope you can succeed next try, if you wish to listen.

Ruth said...

rauf, willow's ball is something we each create on our own blog. She inspires it with her prompt, the same way she does with her Magpie Tales. With Magpie Tales she posts a photograph, and writers around the blogosphere write a short poem or fiction or anything and post it on their blogs. This is the same, where I can go "shop" for my dress, shoes, and jewelry online, borrow the photos, and post them on my blog. I can choose an escort from anyone in existence, or in literature, or history! And Jack Lemmon would be a PRIME choice, even if he didn't dance well, which I didn't know. I practically adore him in movies, like "Some Like it Hot".

I don't know that Penticostals dance in "dances" but I think they dance in the aisles, for sure. Do you know their nickname? Holy rollers.

Ruth said...

Shari, welcome back. Yes I missed you. I saw photos of the wedding, it looked so pretty and reminded me of our outdoor wedding last year. Thank you for wanting to listen to the podcasts. I think it lends a different perception to the writing.

I'm glad you're going to the ball! I look forward to seeing your version at Grandma Sunday.

Marcie said...

Looks like a ton of fun..but - like you - there's no way I'll be awake past 10 p.m. Love the Mary Poppins video!!!

Susan said...

I could have dahnced all night...I could have dahnced all night...and still have begged for more! I could have spread my wings....oh, wait, for a moment there I thought I was Audrey Hepburn, or Eliza Doolittle. heheeeeee

You will look mahvelous, dahling, no matter which designer gown you wear! How about that fetching number you wore to the wedding last year? It was soooo you. It definitely had swirlability. Diamonds. Don't forget the diamonds!

Can't wait to see you all dolled up!

cathyswatercolors said...

Hi Ruth, what a wonderful idea, and such a lovely blog willow has. Please post and share your adventure with us. I look forward to reading about it. xo Cathy

Sidney said...

Too bad...I can't dance very well...
I know...it is a shame !

who said...

I do not think I have ever heard an English dialect make so sense. As if a women opened a window, and a stranger slid in. :)

It sounded more accurate than German and more eloquent than French (and the instructors sounded like they were speaking regular English)

I saw Fireworks

freefalling said...

Ruth - very cool deer skull sutures at "small".

Ginnie Hart said...

Astrid and I both watched your waltz video, Ruth, because we have learned it (she calls it the English Waltz), and had to laugh because she learned it as a lady and had to figure out how to dance it as a man to lead me. :) We dance every day at least once and I really feel I have died and gone to heaven. It has made me a new person. Funny how that can happen.

This virtual idea is a hoot...on Amy's birthday, you know. What a fun way to celebrate a special day.

Ruth said...

Susie, oh yes, I already have a gown! What was I thinking?? And now I have already bought another . . . oh dear. I wonder if they'll take it back?

I will most definitely not forget the diamonds, or some such gems . . . mysteries, mysteries.

Ruth said...

Cathy, I will share my glorious experience with you, at least ahead of time. I don't know yet if there will be a post mortem . . .

Ruth said...

Sidney, so what? Please don't let me down. . . dance with me!

Ruth said...

Dusti, the dance instructors . . . Julie/Mary? . . . . me?

I made you see fireworks!!??

(You must explain.)

Ruth said...

Letty m'lady, aren't those cool? Don found this skull in the woods. The deer had fallen last year, and we left it (that's the royal "we"), and now it is just bones, precious thing. The skull is fascinating, and Don is resisting the temptation to mount it on his truck. When I saw the sutures, I didn't know that's what they were called, so I googled and Don googled and we learned a fair amount. It's extraordinary what the body is made of.

Ruth said...

Boots, yes! It reminds me of all those Dutch dancers at Tulip Tim in Holland, most of whom are female, and the girls have to learn the men's dances and wear the men's costumes. :)

Yes, I'll never forget that September 30 is Amy's birthday.

GailO said...

How fun! ...and to think I have to be home taking care of the children that night...perhaps my fairy godmother will visit me before the clock strikes 12....

Jeanie said...

Ha! Love the poster for the ball -- heaven, I'm in heaven! (Actually, when dancing is concerned, I'm happy. About the only reality show I like (except next Food Network Star) is Dancing with the How-dare-do-most-of-these-folks-to-call-themselves-stars show. Love the dance, even if I don't know who half the people are!`

Kate said...

OK. Now I've learned the waltz - both parts. Already knew the Stay Awake song (SO happy to see it again!).
Now some virtual shopping to see if there is the slightest chance that I can make the ball.
Oh My Goodness.
I do so LOVE the internet!!!

thanks EVERYONE!

who said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
who said...

Ruth you are instructor extraordinaire! Linguistics, writing, grammar, waltz, tango, flamenco (you name it, you do it well and you do it with a gracious flair. Perfectly fitting in any situation...I believe it's called having class)

synchronous as always the video in this post Waltz 101 also uses very clear elegant (as well as accurately descriptive ) language.

do I need a ticket for a voyeur? I'd love to watch