Trick or treat

October 31, 2009

It was supposed to be a treat to myself for an uninspiring month of October.

The event schedule showed early evening show from 7:30 to 8:30 PM and late evening show from 9 to 10:30 PM. I thought catching the late show might be fine but not essential. Since I left home at 8:30, I knew I would only catch the end of the late show only if there was no problem with my driving unless the shows started late.

The drive was more expensive than I would have liked. There was the 200+ mile roundtrip to consider. I thought avoiding Baltimore Harbor Tunnel would save toll fee, but I ended up on Fort McHenry Tunnel, which had the same toll fee ($2 each way). I also had not counted on toll on route 95 northbound in Maryland north of Baltimore ($5) although I had remembered toll on route 95 in Delaware ($4 each way). So paying toll alone cost $17 for this trip. The night pass was $30.

Incidentally I had considered going to New York this weekend instead of Philadelphia. Remind me not to drive. Add more toll fee – Delaware Memorial Bridge ($3 return), New Jersey Turnpike (probably $8 each way or more), and Holland or Lincoln Tunnel ($6 to Manhattan). Take the bus (it’s cheaper. e.g. Chinatown buses, Bolt Bus or even Greyhound) or the train (most comfortable) instead. Anyway, it is a pain to visit NYC for a day trip living in the suburbs.

Google map erroneously stated that I should take exit 6 towards Ridley Park off route 95 to get to the Ramada at Philadelphia airpot. It was exit 8. I took exit 6 then got back on before getting lost after taking exit 7 and ending up on Macdade Blvd and Fairview Rd. Fortunately I was able to get instructions to get to the Ramada Inn via local routes thanks to a couple of bystanders by some fast food eatery. I managed to find parking by 10:40 PM.

There were many DC folks there including Tanya, Tommy, Brandon, Julie, Earl, Renzo, Josh, Janet as well as some people whose names I caught via meetup or facebook photos (e.g. Masahiko from Station 9 fiasco, Adrienne, Masha) and a few others including some I dance well with in DC. There were also some Philly people I knew from other connections. Unfortunately as the evening progressed, it became evident that there were very few Philly natives, whom I could develop decent dance chemistry.

So the highlights ended up being dancing with “big-name” instructor-performer types. Two highlights were Vanda and Burju – I had never danced with either before, and I liked dances with both – I liked the songs too although perhaps Tlahuanaco is not without its difficulties (no complaint about Rumbon Melon). I don’t think I pushed them much – not that I feel particularly competent especially as of late. Magna was there, but I failed to spot her until very late. I thought about asking her for a dance, but I opted out after seeing her looking concerned about some leg injury. Hopefully I’ll find her without ailments one of these days. So what about others “big-name” followers? The fact that I am wondering about this is a little disconcerting because there wasn’t any “new” follower who I had strong favorable impression aside from Vanda and Burju. Was Griselle Ponce or Liz Lira there? If so, did I dance with either of them? If so, was our dance chemistry so poor that I found them unremarkable? For whatever its worth, the number of “big-name” leaders I saw were spotty too – Nuno, MarioB and Cristian Oviedo were there, but I did not see Shaka or Victor and failed to spot Al Espinoza assuming he was there.

I think this might have been the first time I have heard two Bachata followed by one or more Merengue at a Salsa congress.

Songs played included Ana Y Saoco (Angel Canales), Hay Craneo (Tito Rodriguez), Hong Kong Mambo (Tito Puente – remix), Cuando Te Vea (Tito Puente), Tlahuanaco (Alfredo Linares), Picadillo (Cal Tjader & Eddie Palmieri), Tres Dias De Carnaval (Celia Cruz & Johnny Pacheco), Mambo Mongo (Mongo Santamaria), Nabori (Cheo Feliciano), Alafia (Joe Cuba Sextet), Oyelo (Johnny Colon), Lady (Orquesta Palabra), Calle Luna Calle Sol (Willie Colon), Rumbon Melon (Joe Pastrana) among others.

The Halloween costume contest had five finalists – Roman Legionnaire, Urkel, Burju (as Madonna?), Hooters waitress (worn by a guy) and a pair of elderly 60s/70s partygoers. The first three had a dance-off for the top 3 prize runoff, won ultimately by Urkel.

I may have danced only once during the last hour or so. Around 1:30 or 2 or so, I thought I should leave by 3 or so, but I ended up lingering until 3:30. Only when I turned the car engine on I realized that it would have been 4:30 AM without the end of the daylight savings hour.

Drive back was dark and rainy. It was very difficult to see the road markings, and there were more than usual share of nutty drivers. On a section of the empty road with four lanes, I was on the right lane and saw a slow moving car in the second from right lane. I decided to pass it from its left-side as I ought to, but this car all of sudden for no reason decided to change lane to left as well just as I was about to pass it. Bloody hell! I had to move one more lane to avoid hitting this car before hitting the klaxon in irritation. Later in the drive on a three-lane road, I found a car stopped dead in the middle lane with its lights on but without any hazard lights. Stopping in the breakdown lane is dangerous enough. What are these people thinking?

Treat it wasn’t.