Saturday, August 22, 2009

Dancing by myself—back in the Vegas single life

I had intended to post something totally different today--I know you’re wondering what the hell happened between me and beloved boyfriend. When you’ve created a public persona as I have, there’s a certain degree of accountability that comes with the territory; readers follow you because they’re interested in your life, and so you can’t put stuff out there and just let it hang. I understand that, and I promise I’ll explain what happened with Mike on Tuesday. But first I want to tell you about last night.

So yesterday I wore this cute little hippie dress to work that I swear is about 10-15 years old, but every time I wear it I get compliments so what the hell. Well you know how it is when you’re wearing a cute little fat-hiding dress and your hair and face are still looking halfway decent even though you’ve been up since freakin’ 5:30 a.m. and you’re like, damn, I’m looking too hot to stay home tonight, I'd better go out and hit the town? That was me yesterday. After work I started to write the Breakup Explanation post and then around 6:30 I headed over to Green Valley Ranch casino.

I love watching live music, and the Ovation lounge at GVR is a nice little venue. The Michael Grimm band plays there at 7:00 on the Friday and Saturday nights when there’s no concert scheduled in the room, and since I’d been up since freakin’ 5:30 a.m., I appreciate the early start time.

Usually when I go out by myself, I sit in the back in the shadows. Sometimes it gets to be a pain in the ass when people keep asking you to dance. I know I shouldn’t complain—weh!—but sometimes you really just want to have a beer and enjoy the music in peace. So I found a seat in the back of the showroom and settled in. As I watched the band, I noticed a blond haired woman at a table on the floor to the left of the stage and I thought, that’s cool—she’s by herself, too.

That band is fabulous! They have a full brass section (there’s a million people on stage) and they play a wide range of music from soul to funk to Southern rock to the good ole Louisiana music that I love so much. When they started in on the beginning of Little Feat’s “Dixie Chicken,” I was like, damn, I feel like dancing. And then doesn’t the blond woman get up and mingle in with the others on the dance floor and start dancing by herself, and she wasn't dancing by herself like whackos or mentally ill or retarded people do; she was just groovin'. I thought, good for her! But part of me was like, damn, I never see chicks that are cooler than me.

A few more songs went by and when they started in with “Chain, chain, chain… chain of fools” I was like, that’s it—if she can dance by herself, so can I. So I walked up there, put my beer and pocketbook on a table where I could see them, and did me some dancin’. I danced to “Back to Louisiana,” “Aiko, Aiko,” and Al Green’s “Love and Happiness” in my cute little hippie dress and I’m telling you, it was liberating! It’s funny, that blond woman has no idea how she inspired me. You never know how just being your normal self can have an impact on people.

I had a fantastic time. I was so digging the band, the other dancers, my Friday evening beer … the whole joyful scene. I used to go out by myself all the time, and it’s amazing how easily I just slipped right back into it. You know, I haven’t been in Vegas single girl mode since I started my blog (I kept the boyfriend under wraps for months before mentioning him); I think you’ll enjoy coming along for the ride.

There’s more live music on tap for tonight. Through Facebook or Classmates or something like that, I recently connected with my old friend Kevin Bacon from grammar school. Not that Kevin Bacon. Anyway, he lives here in Vegas and is in a band that’ll be playing out on West Sahara, so that’s where I’m headed for tonight’s adventure.

It’s all good, people. The universe unfolds in divine order.

19 comments:

Unknown said...

Good for you! I would lack the guts to get up and dance by myself, but I'd be sitting there envying you for having the gumption!

Was blog hopping and landed here; hope you'll pay a visit to my blog soon!

Anonymous said...

You Go Girl...you are one spunky gal who will be NOT single for long. We have to do lunch too, BTW!
Have a a fab, freeing weekend, love your blog.

Gail said...

Go for it!

Lisa Brower said...

That sounds like so much fun! I miss going dancing so much. Sorry about your relationship, you are brave to talk about it online. I'll bet however it has to be a bit theraputic, plus you know you have your supportive blog readers too!

Vegas Linda Lou said...

@ Eva: Normally I would have lacked the guts, too--that's the first time I ever did that. Won't be the last! Your blog is very funny. Happy retirement!

@ Anonymous: I could use a good patch of single right now. Not forever, though.

@ Gail: Yep, I will!

@ Lisa: No therapy needed for this breakup--it was definitely more disappointing than devastating. Disappointing--that's the word. And you're right--my blog readers are supportive and awesome!

Rochelle said...

I'm so sorry to hear about the break-up but gotta say you seem to be handling it well and know how to treat yourself right -- rock on!

lori said...

I wish I was still there to go out dancing with you! It was hard for me to leave you this time! We had a blast with you! Thanks again for everything. Looking forward to Tuesday's blog. His loss totally!

Unknown said...

I'm usually the one to sink into the shadows and enjoy the music too. I could see how liberating and also fun that could be to be out there, dancing on your own. That speaks volumes..."I don't need no one else to bring on the happiness".

Sorry to hear about your disappointment but hope this clears the pathway to Mr. Right!

Hurricane Mikey said...

If it's good enough for Billy Idol, it's good enough for Linda Lou!

Julie D said...

That's my girl. I can totally see you doing that. Me, on the other hand, have gone to ONE movie by myself in my entire 48 years of life.

Sigh. I wanna be you when I grow up. I need to hang out with you more some that self confidence and awesomeness rubs off on me.

Oh wait, I *will* be hanging out with you....three weeks from today! Yay!!!!

Russ said...

Good for you, Linda Lou. Lori's right! His loss totally! You'll be single as long as you choose to be, you man-magnet you.

Anonymous said...

I'm definitely with Lori and Russ...his loss!!! I'm so glad that you doing so well with the break up. I was worried about you but not anymore!! See you soon, I hope.

Donna

Anonymous said...

I could totally do that! I don't mind hangin out alone. Sometimes I have better conversations with myself.

raydenzel1 said...

Always entertaining! great to see how people react and think in different situations.
Vacation post soon!

drewzepmeister said...

Sounds like you had a great time!

classicrockforthesoul said...

I'm glad you were able to enjoy yourself by yourself! :)

Female power! (But not to the point of feminism, of course haha)

linda said...

I dance by myself at the road crossing. I don't mean to but I have my headphones on and then I realise I am wiggling around, catch the eye of someone in a car and then stop.

I hang out alone a lot as I am friendless. You get used to just being a lone dancer, eater, shopper etc..

The Peach Tart said...

I love doing things by myself. Movies, eating out at nice restaurants, going to clubs and dancing.

I think it's liberating. Good for you girlfriend.

Bar L. said...

That blond woman was me!

Ok, not really, but I have gone out to hear music alone and enjoyed myself except for the guys that don't believe you are there just for the music. I wouldn't dance with a guy so you ain't gonna see me dancing alone.

I am glad the universe unfolds in divine order...its all tangled up right now :(