Dancing With The Stars

Submitted by somebody on 2 October 2007 - 10:38am.

I'll admit that I am not as big a fan of this show as I was a couple years ago. I basically Tivo the program and fast forward to the good dances. I could care less about the back stories.

Chester, Fumi, Roz, Nora and myself are performing tonigh at the AfricaDance Opening Ceremonies . Roz, Nora and I are dancing a routine to Fumi's "Aids Song" (http://www.myspace.com/fumistrums2 )

Last night, we went to the Westmor Dance Studio to get some last minute rehearsal time in. We couldn't locate John, so we decided to go to the 2nd floor where there were no classes going on. In fact, there wasn't anyone there when we were there (except for a few people leaving from the last class). We figured we would eventually see John or someone and clear what we were doing. Another couple came in and were practicing as well.

As we were rehearsing, I noticed that Nora had become somewhat distracted by some other folks who had entered the room. I was a bit upset because she had totally missed her cue. You should know that Nora is a bit of a social butterfly.

Anyway, she comes up to me and tells me that someone named "Shirley" who carries a lot of weight around there didn't like us playing our music (it wasn't loud) and was going to report us.

Now, I'm fairly new to Westmor. It's a fabulous place to learn International style ballroom, particulary if you are serious about it. I started taking classes there a few months ago, but stopped. I tell people it was because of my schedule. That's only a part of it. The real reason is that I couldn't take the snotty attitude of a lot of the people there any longer. But, that's a story for another day. The point is, I didn't want to get Nora in trouble. I had ran up and down the 3 floors looking for John before we began, so I said let's pack up and find him and explain what happened.

I understand business, and realize that if these people are regulars and bringing in big bucks, they are going to be higher on the totem pole. Just the way it works in America.

Anyway, we couldn't find him, so we decided to go up to the 3rd floor to hang out and watch the Ballroom class (hoping it would end in time for us to rehearse on that floor). Nora finally recognized the party and being a contestant, her professional dance partner, and his mother, from the show "Dancing With the Stars".

Man, you should have heard her sucking up: "Oh, your hair is so pretty!" "Oh, you look so young!" "Oh, I hope your son wins!" "Oh, is *that* your son there?" He had on a Harvard T-Shirt. To the son: "Oh, you are famous AND went to Harvard?". No, he didn't. Just wearing the T-Shirt. I could have puked. But, that's Nora -- she is a Social Butterfly. And, one of the nicest, kindest, sweetest people you ever want to meet.

Anyway, Roz and I went up to the 3rd floor while Nora remained on the 2nd floor. She was excited about seeing the DWTS folks.

When Nora joined us shortly, she was non too pleased. They kicked her out of the room. The room that we, by the way, were using and had left to let them rehearse.

I asked Nora to give me her account of exactly what happened since I had not really paid much attention:

"thanks for your moral support, ron.

you know when we were practicing, shirley, mark and another girl w/ the long, paltinum blonde hair came and they started walking towards me on the floor as if w/ a purpose and then they saw the rest of the people on the dance floor -- you, roz and the other 2 couples. i think they were going to ask me to leave and when they realized they had to ask 5 people to leave, they stopped on their tracks. mark was behind the 2 girls and pouting -- there was a little whispering discussion by me and then he asked them to come out of the room -- shirley kept her stare at me as if to say something so my eyes were at her while still trying to be w/ you guys. eventually, they walked back in, the plat. blonde sat on the first seat/row and stared -- mark did not wanna come in -- he and sat on top of the bannister outside . suddenly, shirley turned around very abruptly as if to tell the owner on us so i was scared.the room. i came out to see what the heck's going on 'cuz now i was afraid that if john showed up, he might think that we were sneaking in (turns out & i realized only later, that they were the ones sneaking in) , haha. i asked mark (i did not recognize him this time) if he knew where the owner was -- he replied snobbishly, "i have no idea".
when i came back to the 2nd floor later to see if we'd have some space at least for just routine bet. the 2 of us, they have totally sat down on the chairs, staring the other couple down as if to harass them to leave "now" -- the couple ignored them and continued to practice (it is what we should have done) -- now there were 2 more hollywood looking girls w/ them as audience -- i stood by the door waiting for you to either call me on the cell or to arrive -- i did not want to leave the room at this point in fear that they might lock us out so i stood there waiting and watching to see what they were gonna do (hoping they'd leave 'cuz they can well afford to practice elsewhere) -- discussions continued back and forth -- sabrina sat there as if trying to be a monk -- putting her sweat jacket hood on and off -- i was not recognizing her at first either (i've never seen nor heard of these people before DWTS) but wondered about the heavy make-up -- again, shirley took a sudden move and walked towards me -- she said, "i am sorry, i need to ask you to leave because she's getting nervous w/ you standing there and watching..." aren't showbiz people used to being watched; don't they love being watched??? i said to shirley while i continued to walk away, "we were going to practice here as you well know, but if I am making her nervous, then we will practice elswhere" -- i think she knows she has upset me and i will continue to let her know so.
who does this cheetah girl think she is? she is NOT even famous -- isn't the reason WHY she and a few of those nobodies joining the competition to get some free publicity? at least, josie moran admitted it.
i will also report them to john, the owner. he should send them a bill for the taking the room exclusively. that should teach 'em."

As I said before, I don't watch "Dancing with the Stars" nearly as much as I used to. But, I do know how crushed I would be if it turned out that my favorites, John O'Hurley, Drew Lachey and Apolo Anton Ohno turned out to be jerks in person.

I have no idea what it must be like to be rich and famous and adored throughout the country. Gotta be hard with all the jerk-offs wanting to see you and touch you and talk to you and get your autograph, whether you have time for it or not.

But, there's no excuse, I believe for excercising a little politeness and common courtesy. If it's true for HomeChick on the 3rd Street Promenade , then it's true for these folks as well.

I mean, instead of throwing my weight around and bluffing folks, why not just come straight out? "Hey, we've really got to practice tonight and would appreciate being able to use this floor. Do this and I'll owe you one. " Or, you know, something like that. A much better approach than trying to bully and itimidate just because your folks are rich and famous (this week, at least) and mines aren't.

Just something to think about.

"Social Butterfly"

Submitted by somebody on 18 October 2007 - 1:37pm.

It looks like I may have insulted the entire Philipino community by my use of the term "Social Butterfly" in referring to Nora, one of my most favorite people in the world. Here is a copy of our email exchange:

Nora, Nora, Nora... How do you find the time to worry about these things?

You are very social, you like to meet people, you're always aware of folks around you. Because you are good with people like that, you can many times convince them to do things they might not otherwise do: Like be a member of the board. That's not necessarily a bad thing. But, that's why I call you a "social butterfly". When I said it, and say it, it is meant as a term of endearment and nothing less. If other people want to associate it with other things, that's on them. You should know that I meant it in a good way.

I did say in my blog that I thought you were sucking up to that guy's mom by telling her how good she looked and blah, blah. Now, I don't know if you were doing it because they are celebrities, or the lady is a big-wig at the studio and you didn't want her getting mad at us (very smart), or because that's just the kind of person you are -- always a kind word for folks. I thought it was kind of amusing, and ultimately ironic since they ended up kicking you out of the studio. THAT is the only reason I mentioned it in the first place: To illustrate that in spite of your effort to be friendly with these folks, they still were A-holes. I was trying to make a bigger point. But, I did not think of it as belittling or insulting you.

Just so everyone will know, I'll add this to the Blog so it will be clear that it was NOT my intention to insult you in any way.

I am your friend and I appreciate your friendship and would not do anything to jeapordize that.

-ron
nora geronimo wrote:

Dear Ron,
Please help me by explaining what you meant by calling me a "social butterfly" --
I circulated your site to my family and friends and when they read your blog, the filipino group became upset with the author/you and told me "that you are not my friend..." because you called me a social butterfly.
here's one that i got this morning from a friend after i told her that you are a good friend to me ---
..... it means sort of social climber wanting to belong to a certain social status by joining one group to another and yet doesn't belong there .... that's the meaning of this term here in the phils ... during the marcos regime (martial law) the ladies (old rich) from forbes park always call mrs. imelda marcos a social butterfly -- it did NOT sound good then coz they meant she was trying hard to mingle with the rich and famous but actually was not on the same level as the real socialites ..... that's why was really mad when that person called you that name .....
they are insisting that i am wrong and that you have insulted me in your blog.
Please tell me honestly what you meant because i am now confused.
thanks.
nora

 

Offending Cultures - Social Butterfly

Submitted by Sassy1nla on 10 December 2007 - 5:25pm.

I'm so sorry you friend's family got offended and Nora became confused. Dealing with different cultures can be difficult at times. However, it is important that Nora remembers to remind her family and friends in the Philliapines that in the US terms are used differently. I found this description of a Social Butterfly online. Please share it with Nora so that she can share it with her friends. http://www.wisegeek.com/what-is-a-social-butterfly.htm. I myself am known as a social butterfy and I wear the moniker proudly.

Gradually, social butterfly has migrated into a descriptive term, mostly applied to females, who are extroverted, comfortable in social situations, can talk to just about anyone, and who seem to have a certain grace and ease at parties. Social butterflies in a party setting could move from group to group, briefly sipping in the nectar of each engagement and sharing a few pleasant words with partygoers. Their social adeptness makes it simple for the social butterflies to be quite at home in large group settings.

Just as the actual butterfly enhances the lives of flowers, the social butterfly tends to be an asset at parties. She or sometimes he can start conversations, praise the looks of the other guests, and keep the party atmosphere more interesting. It would be more difficult to throw a party with no extroverted guests, since most introverted guests need a little encouragement to move about a room, engage in conversation and keep a party lively. A combination of extroverts and introverts tend to balance social engagements more appropriately