Blame it on Rio.

Dancing is such a fun activity.  Last night, after a long absence, we went to Conway at the Shagri La, to test the dance floor once more. I was hoping to shrug off the effect of the ague.

Even with a terrible sore throat I managed a few numbers but made a big mistake by drinking beer which aggravated my cough upon hitting the hay.

The band Spirit of '67 didn't disappoint the crowd.  Our group which was bigger this time, with the addition of another sis and niece and more friends, got going until almost 1 a.m. 

When I came home last September, I  was looking to replace my original dancing shoes with a new exciting pair I found on the Net.  But I was not able to claim it.  It got lost. 

Having a good pair of dancing shoes is essential to good dancing.  I remember one contestant in the show Dancing with the Stars who refused to wear dancing shoes and who got booted out early on.

A good pair of dancing shoes makes body movement easier and prevents pain. The pair I was dreaming to own is somewhere out there; I just hope no one else is wearing it.

Blame it on something - the loss.  In my case, it was an unclaimed item.  If it had been claimed, the story would have been something else. 

Which reminds me of the Mardi Gras in Rio.  It is an event replete with wild dancing. Blame it on the sultry Brazilians who are the inventors of samba and tango. 

"Also known as "Fat Tuesday," this pre-Lenten festival is celebrated in Roman Catholic countries and communities. In a strict sense, Mardi Gras, or Shrove Tuesday, is celebrated by the French as the last of the three days of Shrovetide and is a time of preparation immediately before Ash Wednesday and the start of the fast of Lent. Mardi Gras is thus the last opportunity for merrymaking and indulgence in food and drink. In practice, the festival is generally celebrated for one full week before Lent. Mardi Gras is marked by spectacular parades featuring floats, pageants, elaborate costumes, masked balls, and people dancing in the streets.

Mardi Gras originated as one of the series of carnival days held in all Roman Catholic countries between Twelfth Night, or Epiphany, and Ash Wednesday; these carnivals had their origin in pre-Christian spring fertility rites. The most famous modern Mardi Gras festivities are those held in New Orleans, La.; Rio de Janeiro, Brazil; Nice, France; and Cologne, Germany.

The first American Mardi Gras was celebrated near modern-day New Orleans on March 3, 1699. It wasn't until the mid-1800s did official parade organizations start to form with the Mystick Krewe of Comus in 1856 and the Krewe of Rex in 1872. The tradition is still carried on in New Orleans with many other krewes represented on floats in a myriad of parades. The official colors of Mardi Gras are purple, green and gold (representing justice, faith and power).

Mardi Gras celebrations can start as early as January 6, on the feast of Epiphany. The festivities end at midnight on Tuesday--the day before Ash Wednesday and the beginning of Lent. Mardi Gras day falls on any Tuesday between February 3 and March 9.

Like Ash Wednesday, the date Mardi Gras falls on depends on the date of Easter--always occurring 46 days before Easter. "

In the Philippines, the closest thing to Mardi Gras is the Ati-Atihan Festival in Kalibo, Aklan.

Even for people who don't like dancing, I'm sure they'd catch the fever once they gyrate to the soothing and eclectic sound of the brass and jazz.

Then maybe, they'd claim and treasure their own dancing shoes.