Le Pont

VOL 9, No. 7 July 1999

THINGS TO DO TO YOUR FEET
TO BEAT THE HEAT IN JULY

Well, it's that time again when all of us permanent Florida residents have to pay their dues for the great weather we enjoy the rest of the year. The time of year that we are faced with two choices: become a slave of air conditioning, or vow to keep on dancing. Since the average Cajun Connection member needs to dance only slightly less than they need to breathe, we say DAMN THE HEAT AND HUMIDITY, LET'S DANCE!

But first, let's talk strategy. It takes a combination of smarts and attitude to keep on dancing and enjoy yourself in the summer months. Smart people wear light colored shorts, tee shirts or tank tops made of cotton, nylon, rayon, or another light, breathable fabric, and bring spares. (Have you ever seen Larry Green arrive at a dance, you assume he plans to change clothes often, but wonder if he's been evicted.) Wear sport sandals. Accessorize yourself with towels, handy wipes, and spritzer bottles. Wear sweat bands on your head and wrists. Drink lots of liquids, preferably water. If you want to drink beer or other alcoholic beverages (I do!) drink a belly full of water beforehand, and switch to water every couple of drinks. And take breaks more frequently than you do in the cooler times. If you follow these rules of thumb, you will retain energy longer and reduce the possibility of cramping and other heat/dehydration related problems.

Next, attitude. If you follow the basic rules, you CAN ignore the heat and humidity and will yourself to have a good time. Accept the fact that you are going to get hot and sweaty, and promise yourself it won't spoil your opportunity to have a pleasant evening dancing with your friends. Take heart from the knowledge that your fellow members will be sweating alongside you (Yes, they don't smell that great, but that's okay, you don't either). Our motto can be "The club that gets together, sweats together."

We are planning to hold our summer events at Skipper's and the Cajun Cafe, both outdoor venues. You may be saying, "These guys are violating the smarts rule!" Au contraire, mon frere. First, Skipper's and the Cajun Cafe stick by us when the climate is perfect for dancing. In fact, they pretty much throw the doors open for us. You would be surprised to know how much extra profit that has meant for the club over the past few years, and, although profit is not our top priority, it keeps the club alive. We need to support them throughout the year, not just when it is convenient.

Second, both venues are veterans at providing outdoor entertainment. Skipper's uses a combination of technology and consideration. They have fans in every shape and size and they employ them liberally. They also provide free ice water that is equally good for drinking and dousing your head. The Cajun Cafe uses Mother Nature. They are conveniently located on Cross Bayou and there are always cooling breezes that make even the hottest days seem bearable.

JULY EVENTS
The Cajun Cafe and Skipper's have one last attitude improvement trick up their sleeves, schedule fun events. First, the Cajun Cafe is bringing back an old favorite, The Porch Dogs, for a dance party on Saturday, July 17. Greg, Andy and the rest of the Dogs haven't played for us since the festival in April, so it will be great to see them again. We'll start serving food at 7:00 PM and the music will kick off at 8:00 and continue until midnight. There will also be a dance lesson during the break after the completion of the first set.

Second, Skipper's has come up with a great idea for a party on Saturday, July 31. You may have read newspaper articles about an organization that was formed to prevent the demolition of the Gandy Bridge and convert it to a recreational facility for fishing and bicycling. They have been holding benefits at Skippers and plan another one on July 31 with Bill Wharton, the Sauce Boss, who plays blues, rhythm and blues, and occasional Zydeco.

Tom White has challenged The Cajun Connection, the Blues Society, and the Parrot Heads to see who can bring the most members out in support of this good cause. Skipper's is going to keep a running tally of card-carrying club members who attend the event and the club with the best showing will be awarded a free party at Skipper's with food and drink thrown in for good measure. Tom is also offering another challenge.

One of Bill Wharton's gimmicks is to cook a pot of gumbo during his performance. Tom is inviting anyone who fancies themselves a gumbo chef to bring a gallon of gumbo in a crock pot and enter a gumbo contest. A panel of taste testing judges will select the best recipes and the winners will get some great prizes. After the contest, the remaining gumbo will be sold to raise money for the Gandy Bridge. Call Skipper's (813-977-6474) for information. This is a chance to introduce the Blues Society and Parrot Heads to partying, Cajun Connection style, and support a cause that will benefit the community. Let's get behind it.

The Third of July
There is another great event going in July. David and Marietta Massey have been hosting a party at their home in Micanopy every Fourth of July holiday for several years. The Massey's have a big house surrounded by spacious grounds and issue a blanket invitation to the world to bring sleeping bags, pup tents, food, musical instruments, and dancing shoes for a party featuring music and dancing that begins in the early evening and stretches far into the early morning hours of the Fourth. This year's party happens to be perfectly timed to fall on Party Night, Saturday, July 3.

If you don't know David and Marietta, you may have heard of their band, Gumbo Limbo. They used to be regular performers for Cajun Connection dance parties up until a couple of years ago when their accordion player had to drop out of the band for health reasons. They have recruited a new accordion player, Mike Stapleton, who also happens to be this year's Florida State fiddle champ. Lynn and I had the pleasure of dancing to Gumbo Limbo at the Florida Folk Festival this past Memorial Day weekend, and we are really looking forward to hearing them again on Independence Day Eve.

If you can't make it on July 3rd, you may be relieved to know that The Cajun Connection has hired Gumbo Limbo to play for us at the Cajun Cafe on August 21.