Ballerina Ball

December 10, 2012

A popcorn and cotton candy machine parked in the deep recesses of the auditorium drew more favored attention than the ballerinas on stage at the Clube. It’s a crime the babbling well-paid instructor didn’t change up the routines for any of the thirteen five minute class performances with the little darlings strutting across the stage, shadowing her exaggerated lead from the front corner of the platform. The buzz in the room drowned out the Men From Glad with hair nets doling out snack-sized white paper bags of heavily salted corn and twirled wooden sticks around to gather the sticky white fluffy streams of sugar. Parents were anxiously comparing the extraordinary costly one-nighter costumes and frenzy of preparation, ridiculous cost of the ballet classes. After Yasmin’s repetitive piece we headed to the bar for a few beers while the audience munched and aahhed on occasion over some little cherub who crossed her arms and refused to participate in the middle of the wide stage.

Dinner at a restaurant after the extravaganza with two best friend couples and two limp sleeping children was eventful. I won’t bore you with the details of the conversation. Munching, ordering more food, drinking, talking about this and that and ordering more food and such. The place was jammed at 9:30pm on a Sunday! Raw Kibe was the most popular dish at the table though I just stared at it in sympathy and ate my tabouli (that doesn’t look right but is as close as I am getting tonight in a pinch) salad.

Permitted to release the complaining disgruntled kids from their chamber tonight to hang out in their parents familiar room lounging on the hotel white spongy bed with the tv on since I am the babysitter who isn’t their mom, baba, nor the stranger down the street and is “in charge” for the night. Sure.

My ankle is swollen from standing too long, wrapping umpteen gifts for everyone under the sun on Cris’ list. Luckily we had enough tape to go ‘round the world and back and scads of quick-to-get-tired-of-the-hazy-scene Christmas wrap. Hope I kept the little name tags straight or someone will get the skimpy girls panties switched with a triple G “Happy New Year!” in slender silver t-shirt…guess it could be worse!

All the hired babas were gabbering down in the courtyard adjacent to the pool with their entourage of responsibilities. I feel like Norm from Cheers as they greet me from the stiff white benches as the toddlers waddle, trike, scoot and swing. Certainly not one of the parental units but not one of them… I finally was able to practice my physical therapy in the shade of the apartments in the cool pool amongst unrecognizable things swirling around me. Lots of activity in the pool this afternoon since it was well over 90 degrees.

Lots of shouting and laughing and splashing and obviously sloughing…ich!

Onto Plan C or D for the holidays. Looks like I may be flying out this Wednesday for Florianopolis. Good thing MY presents are all labeled, wrapped and ready to go! Will keep you all in the loop. Found a flight on GOL and will most likely be rolling a few bags along to the bus stop and heading onto the Peninsula from there.