african dance could save me

yesterday was the first day in almost a month without pain (from wisdom tooth extraction, throat- and ear infection, canker sores from dental work, etc.). i even remember the moment i realized, for it was almost the exact same moment at which i burned my lips with the scalding hot coffee i had just overheated in the microwave of my central office. and one would think i'd learn from this experience (at least for the day) but - no. merely a few hours later i then burned my tongue with another cup of super-hot mocha. :p

also, as the day went on i realized that the painful tension in my back had returned, although, i am wondering whether it had been there all along (after all, it is chronic) only i hadn't noticed, for the pain in my mouth had been too overwhelming.
i remember, as a kid - when they would take me for blood-work or shots - i would bite into my other hand really hard as to distract my pain centers from the needle being pushed into my flesh. it always worked. so, i guess, this is what happened here with the mouth pain versus back pain.

i did find a potential solution for my back problem, though. yesterday evening i went to a west african dance class in harlem that J's sister had invited me to (or I had invited myself to when she posted it as her facebook status message two days earlier).
as usual, i was the only white girl in the crowd but i'm used to the looks now. ;) .... i was almost 25 min. late but people still were kinda just waiting around (most of them with the traditional dress, btw.) so i double-checked on the time. "doesn't this start at 7?" i asked a woman, who turned out to be the instructor. "girl, have you never heard of black-people-time?!" she said as she continued munching on her take-out food. i never thought there would be anyone who could beat arab-time (my father was notoriously late...and so am i) but i guess, i've met my match(es).

i went to change into my sweat-pants and when i returned J's sister had arrived - with her mother and her cousin. now - at least - i felt like i had a little posse and wasn't such a complete outsider. although, as it turned out - once we started doing moves - they were clearly beginners, as well.

african dance, as mentioned earlier, seems to be the perfect solution to my back problem. there is not a muscle you don't move in this style of dancing and it couldn' t have been cooler with the live drummers there. i absolutely loved it.

after the class i said my good-byes to J's family and went to get food at zen palate (on 46th st. and 9th) and then to the movies. sweaty and all. ;) -- i'm a bit embarrassed to say this but i saw "new moon" - sequel to the twilight saga - .... [*clearing throat*] .... for the second time.
i don't know what it is about this teenie movie that gets me. maybe it's the intensity of the love-story cuz it sure as hell can't be the acting. although, i must say ...the actors seem to have grown into their roles by now, for their performances were much better this time. it's hard to play these roles and not totally cross over the "too-corny" line. the script is so die-hard-romantic that you really have to be careful how you deliver it.

anyway, it got to me. and since i'm alone these days i can see whatever stupid movie i want, however often i want. ;)