The Blue Bird of Happiness --- Died!

I am a superstitious person. Always have been. I know it is not logical, but I was always afraid to step on cracks. I hate it when I am walking down the street with someone ---- we approach a pole, and the person allows the pole to pass between us. One should NEVER split the pole!

However, I am not an expert on all superstitions, but yesterday morning as I was approaching the side entrance of the Hancock Tower, where I work, I thought I saw a small rock fall from up-above and land on the cement infront of the entrance. As I approached I realized that this was not a rock --- it was a little blue bird. I guess the wind tunnel killed the poor little thing. Anyway, I thought to myself, "Hmmm..I know it is bad news for a black cat to cross my path, but what sort of horrible thing is going to happen to me should a small blue bird fall dead in my path on the way to work?" I stepped over the little dead bird and went to work.

I think the omen that the Gods were sending had to do with ballet. Specifically, Russian ballet in the form of the Bolshoi Ballet and Orchestra performing DON QUIXOTE at The Wang. I am in no way an expert on the art of ballet. I only know that I enjoy watching it. I love the mix of fragility and strength --- the incredible spinnings and leaps filled with grace --- and, synchronization. So, I have heard of this ballet company all my life. I rushed for tickets. The performance was last night. The sets kept going up and falling back down during Act II. At first, I thought this was some sort of post-modern twist on the dementia of Sir Quixote, but when we saw one of the ballet dancers step on to back stage from the Exit door holding a can of Diet Coke --- and then running back off the stage in fear --- We realized that the Bolshoi was having set issues. The windmill came down. Then it went up. Then Down. ...and the poor Russian dancers just kept on dancing. We had great seats for a ballet, but I also had a view of back stage left. After this castle came down and then went back up --- I could see two men fighting back stage and a tiny anorexic ballet dancer trying to break them up while sill in her tu-tu.
And the Bolshoi dancers did not seem so filled with grace and clompiness. A leap was a bound and a twirl was a human drill. The principals had much bigger legs than I normally see in a ballet. And, worst of all, the ballet performers were never quite in full sync with each other.

Now, most in the sold-out crowd seem to enjoy it. So, we figured that maybe this was what one gets when watching a Russian ballet. I felt ripped of my $100 plus servicing fees. ...Or, was this all caused by the little blue bird falling dead in my path? One has to wonder!

Oh, I saw an awesome DVD last night! A Chinese movie called "Oldboy" --- A must see for any fan of Asian cinema or suspense/mystery! I figure Disney or Warner Bros will adapt it for Bruce Willis and ruin in at some point in the near future. Hollywood sadness.