Champ Superstar

MY LIFE AS A LIBERTINE. You can't stop the forces of my hurricane heart. Words, life, love, beer, books and music from a girl in New Orleans.

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    MY DREAM WAS TO DANCE

    I am a pro mover.  I pick a city I like and move there.  Usually without knowing a soul, having a job or any kind of plan.  

    My first action was usually to pick a bar and go hang out.  Props included: Guinness, a notebook, a weekly and a book.  This was usually enough to spark a decent conversation and get to know all things where/what/who.  After awhile, having the same conversation over and over about why I ended up there would get a little boring, so I started a social experiment.  I started making up stories about why, most of them I've forgotten by now.  But, there was one that I loved and I got totally carried away with and a tweet from @theh2hproject this morning reminded me of it.

    One of these prop-related incidents ended up with me talking to a poor, gullible schmoe named Scott. I probably only saw him one other time after that night, but I'll never forget him.  He was my most successful social experiment.  And by successful, I mean he got totally served.

    We started talking and the inevitable question came up: So what brought you to Austin?

    The rest went like this:

    Me: "Well, can I tell you something without you thinking I'm crazy?"

    Scott: "Of course!"

    Me: "Look, I moved here from Atlanta to live out a life long dream.  A dream my mother said would never, ever come true.  A dream my mother said would never take me anywhere.  But, I had to do it.  I had to try."

    Scott (wide-eyed): "What's that dream?"

    Me: "You're gonna think I'm crazy."

    Scott: "Not at all! What's the dream?"

    At this point, I lowered my voice and leaned in, looking around for eavesdroppers. Scott leaned in.

    Me:  "You really wanna know?"

    He nodded.

    Me:  "To dance.  To tap dance."

    I think at this point, if I was on the other side of the conversation, I would have burst into raging fits and starts of laughter.  But, not Scott.  Scott was sweet and trusting and his eyes got even wider.

    Scott: "Really?"

    Me:  "Really."

    I nodded and leaned back in my chair, pausing for dramatic effect.  Satisfied.  I had this guy.  Hook, line, sinker. In that order.  I let him marinate on that for awhile and went to order another beer.  I could see the wheels turning and turning as I sneaked peeks of his face from the wait at the bar.  I stayed in character.  Tap dancer.  I was a tap dancer now.  I got my beer and took a deep breath, returning to the table.

    Scott: "So, your mom told you that you'd never make it as a dancer?"

    Me: "Yes. She said I'm too big and clumsy to ever be graceful like a tapper.  For years, I believed her."

    Scott: "Wow. Wow."

    We paused for a few sips, enjoying the atmosphere.  I looked around with wonderment and hope against hope in my eyes.  I waited for Scott to ask another question.  

    Scott: "So...you moved to Austin to fulfill this dream?"

    Me: "I did. And I'm going to do it.  I'm going to make it as a tapdancer.  I've got softshoe in my heart, in my blood.  It keeps me awake at night.  Tappity-tap, tappity-tap, it says to me.  I hear it on the wind, around every corner, when I'm in the grocery store or waiting in traffic.  Tappity-tap is the beat of my heart, every kick ball change echoes throughout my soul.  This..."

    I looked around and spread my arms, indicating the whole of the city.

    Me:  "...this is where it shall happen."

    Scott: "So, is there a big tap scene in Austin?"

    Me: "Oh god yes.  It's huuuuge. Huge.  The biggest around.  The capital of tap.  The TAPITAL, if you will."

    Scott: "Unbelievable."

    Me: "You're damn right, unbelievable.  I'm here to do it. I'M HERE TO LIVE MY DREAM."

    I finished my beer and grabbed my props, dramatically, whisking myself away and leaving Scott in amazement.  I walked to the exit and turned to him.  

    Me: "I'm gonna do it, Scott. I'm gonna do it."

    I left the bar satisfied with myself and hoping he believed me.  I didn't see Scott again for what would be months and when I did, the first question he asked was, "How's the tapdancing going?"

    I did it. Social experiment complete.  
    • 14 November 2009
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    Nov 14, 2009
    chrisboudy said...
    Thats my girl! Take a joke and run with it like nobody busy

    Leave a Comment

  • Champ Superstar's Posterous

    I'm one in 2 million. Literally.

    I live life as a libertine.

    I love books, beers and bands.

    I drink Smithwick's and Jager shots.

    I love and miss my Grandma and My Best Girl Bigsby.

    I like geeks, writers and responsible people.

    I like dangerously clever people with multisyllabic vocabularies and twisted logic.

    I like to fall sleep in the Whedonverse and wake up on my own.

    I like kickin' it old school. I like the Doctor on Friday nights and Zach Morris on Saturday mornings. I like tat'd greasers with bad attitudes and soft hands. I like epic books and shifts in the paradigm. I like Centro-Matic at midnight and a full moon view from my front porch.

    I like my cocktail hour to start at noon. I like Lester Bangs and the rock writer ethos. I like bad movies and gossip sites. But, I loathe bad writing and insincere fandom.

    I like Ernie Cline and It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia. I like sidewalk orgasms and rock overload in spring.

    I like Elvis Costello and My Name is John Michael. I love Kathleen Edwards. I like F U songs with bitter lyrics. A lot. I like words: well spoken, well written and well justified.

    I like epidemiology. I like late nights in dark rooms in a self-conscious haze. I loathe the daylight. I like cozy bars and strong cocktails. I like making lists. I love Saints football, cold days and hot toddies.

    I like people who don't question my motives.

    I like beans and rice at Juan's and Torchy's tacos. I like socialist theory and the history of salt. I like being guided by Robert Pollard. I like dirty, rotten scoundrels. The movie and the rogue class.

    I like playing unfair. I like holding grudges. I like to rage. I like to make out in random places. I like to wake up in my own bed. I like the occasional karmic kick in the head.

    I like to find out how people who got married in high school are doing these days. I like people who f**k for validation. I like cribbage and farkle and games with interpretable rules.

    I like when the universe tells me to jump already.

    I like Chicago. The city, not the band. I like New York and Nashvegas.

    I love New Orleans.

    I like expensive hotels and cheap drinks with men of dubious character.

    I like random magic tricks, well-practiced bad jokes and short road trips with people who listen to good music. I like vampires, the Chupacabra and Roberto Clemente. I like Bigfoot and Godzilla and UFOs and Jandek.

    I like to change my mind. I like when others don't.

    I like a sincere laugh. I like irony not defined by Americans or Emo kids. I like screw-ups and screwing with people. I like being serenaded by boys who sing me Death Cab songs.

    I like to try and hide the pain for the things I can't explain.

    I like WILCO.

    I like to geek out.

    I like the slow descent into a life I never meant.

    I do not like hugs. I am never bored.

    STALK ME:

    Twitter: @champsuperstar

    Email: champsuperstar@gmail.com

    Google Voice: 504.383.4277

  • About Champ Superstar

    I'm one in 2 million. Literally.

    I live life as a libertine.

    I love books, beers and bands.

    I drink Smithwick's and Jager shots.

    I love and miss my Grandma and My Best Girl Bigsby.

    I like geeks, writers and responsible people.

    I like dangerously clever people with multisyllabic vocabularies and twisted logic.

    I like to fall sleep in the Whedonverse and wake up on my own.

    I like kickin' it old school. I like the Doctor on Friday nights and Zach Morris on Saturday mornings. I like tat'd greasers with bad attitudes and soft hands. I like epic books and shifts in the paradigm. I like Centro-Matic at midnight and a full moon view from my front porch.

    I like my cocktail hour to start at noon. I like Lester Bangs and the rock writer ethos. I like bad movies and gossip sites. But, I loathe bad writing and insincere fandom.

    I like Ernie Cline and It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia. I like sidewalk orgasms and rock overload in spring.

    I like Elvis Costello and My Name is John Michael. I love Kathleen Edwards. I like F U songs with bitter lyrics. A lot. I like words: well spoken, well written and well justified.

    I like epidemiology. I like late nights in dark rooms in a self-conscious haze. I loathe the daylight. I like cozy bars and strong cocktails. I like making lists. I love Saints football, cold days and hot toddies.

    I like people who don't question my motives.

    I like beans and rice at Juan's and Torchy's tacos. I like socialist theory and the history of salt. I like being guided by Robert Pollard. I like dirty, rotten scoundrels. The movie and the rogue class.

    I like playing unfair. I like holding grudges. I like to rage. I like to make out in random places. I like to wake up in my own bed. I like the occasional karmic kick in the head.

    I like to find out how people who got married in high school are doing these days. I like people who f**k for validation. I like cribbage and farkle and games with interpretable rules.

    I like when the universe tells me to jump already.

    I like Chicago. The city, not the band. I like New York and Nashvegas.

    I love New Orleans.

    I like expensive hotels and cheap drinks with men of dubious character.

    I like random magic tricks, well-practiced bad jokes and short road trips with people who listen to good music. I like vampires, the Chupacabra and Roberto Clemente. I like Bigfoot and Godzilla and UFOs and Jandek.

    I like to change my mind. I like when others don't.

    I like a sincere laugh. I like irony not defined by Americans or Emo kids. I like screw-ups and screwing with people. I like being serenaded by boys who sing me Death Cab songs.

    I like to try and hide the pain for the things I can't explain.

    I like WILCO.

    I like to geek out.

    I like the slow descent into a life I never meant.

    I do not like hugs. I am never bored.

    STALK ME:

    Twitter: @champsuperstar

    Email: champsuperstar@gmail.com

    Google Voice: 504.383.4277

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