Watching Some Dancing

Our local ABC station decided we'd rather watch football last night than watch Dancing with the Stars. They were wrong. I don't mind attending the occasional Colts game, but when it comes to my Monday night television viewing, I really want to see DWTS. (and seriously, I saw on the news that the Colts stopped playing before the game was over and lost. Again. So we would have all been better off watching Disney night on Dancing with the Stars.)

Anyway, we're watching it now and I just fell in love with Lindsey and Mark's dance. It was just so good - and even earned that "10 from Len" - and in my opinion should have gotten all 10s.


So far Lindsey is definitely my favorite. I'm also really liking Drew from Property Brothers. I wasn't so sure at first, but he's really improved and really seems to be having a great time out there.

Who's your favorite this season? Have you started voting yet? I often don't start until later in the season, waiting to see how everyone will do - and obviously I could not have (knowledgeably) voted last night since I wasn't even able to watch. </pout>

Some Culture and Some Sport

Nobody guessed what we were going to do this weekend.  Actually, nobody even guessed at all.  My mom asked for some hints over on facebook.  I guess I did leave it wide open - it could have been anything.

So, for those of you who have been anxiously anticipating the answer, here's what we did this weekend:

1. Saturday night we went to a ballet.  We saw the Anderson Young Ballet Theatre's performance of The Nutcracker.  I'm not sure ballet is something we'll make a habit of attending, but it was interesting.  I especially liked watching the little bitty kids.  And the theater itself is really neat.
   
   
   
2. And Sunday we went to an NFL football game.  We saw the Indianapolis Colts play Houston.  It was fun walking around the stadium and checking everything out.  When it comes right down to it, it doesn't really matter what sport it is - basketball, baseball, football - they're all about the same.  I'm not saying the actual games are the same, but all the silly things to keep fans interested, I guess, are all about the same.  It's crazy, and it's very tiring.  We had a good time, but I was really wiped out by about the 3rd quarter.  There's something about the lights and the constant noise that is really wearing.
   
   
   

So what did you do this weekend?

Dancing with the Stars - and the Winner is...

I'm just now watching the Finale, so I don't know who the winner is - YET.  I just know who I think should win.

Kellie and Derek!

This has been a really good season, and I'm impressed with all four of the finalists, but I really think Kellie is the best.  She has consistently been great throughout the whole competition.  And that freestyle last night - did you see that?  It was so good.  If only the judges could have given higher scores than just 10s...

Zendaya has been great, too - and every single time she performs I am just amazed that she is only 16.  I had a sixteen-year-old daughter once.  I cannot imagine her putting in the work necessary to learn these dances or sticking with it when the going got hard.  Make no mistake about it - being on this show is hard.  If Zendaya wins, I'll be OK with it, because she is good.  Very good.



But I still like Kellie.

If there was a "Most Improved" award on Dancing with the Stars, I'd definitely give that to Aly.  She has come so far and turned into quite a dancer.  I'm glad she made the finals, but I don't think she should come out ahead of Kellie or Zendaya.

And Jacoby?  He's always fun to watch, and he's been better than all the other guys this season, but I really don't see him coming out the winner.  He's just not that good.  He might be.  If the girls weren't so good.

Anyway, I'm going to watch the end, but I'll publish this first so I can wait and see how things actually turn out and how close I was in picking a winner.  I guess I have a 1 in 4 chance of getting it right....

Tuesday Tidbits

It's Tuesday, the first of November.  November!  And I spent time outside today without socks or a sweatshirt.  It was so warm.  I was thinking about getting some ironing done, but since that's a job I always do in the basement, I decided to put it off and do something outside.  I did a bit of clean-up in the garden, taking down tomato cages and pulling some of the dead plants.  Then I attacked some of the plants out front.  I planted some perennials years ago and then basically ignored them, and they've pretty much taken over.  So I hacked at them, and I'm thinking it's time to dig the whole bed up and start over - or see what we get when we dig it all up.  Anyway, I cut everything back quite a bit.  Then I cut some mint and brought it inside to dry.  I'm thinking I can have my own mint tea this winter.

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I changed the sheets yesterday.  I wondered if it might be time for flannel sheets, but we decided not yet.  I did, however, put the electric blanket back on the bed.  I hope we don't have to actually turn it on anytime soon, but for now it's an extra layer.  Like every year, I had to go looking for my old post so I could put the electric blanket on the bed properly.  So, when we do have to turn it on, I'll be in control of my side and Jeffrey will be in control of his.

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I'm trying to figure out how the ShopAtHome toolbar got installed on my browser.  I never downloaded anything from their site or installed the toolbar.  I haven't even been there for ages - because I haven't done any online shopping.  And then today I notice this new toolbar.  Not that it's probably a bad thing for me to have it, because I've gotten plenty of cash back credited to my account since I signed up, but there have been other times I bought stuff only to remember later that I should have checked first - and been extremely frustrated when I realized I could have gotten quite a bit of cash back.  Maybe the toolbar will remind me...

Still, I really really hate that it got installed without my permission.  How do they do that?

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We're watching Dancing with the Stars the results show.  Derek Hough is smokin'!  We missed the show last night because we went out - to see Derek's sister Julianne in Footloose - so I'm not sure how things are going to go tonight.  I did vote a couple times for J.R. and Karina when we got home last night, just because, though I usually like to vote based on who I think deserves the votes because of their dancing.  Based on what I'm seeing, I think it's time for Nancy Grace to go home.  Now I'm going to have to go read my DWTS prediction post and see who I expected to go home this week.  Also, I wish they'd sent Justin Beiber home at the beginning of the show.  In what world does this kid have any talent whatsoever?

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I think that's enough for this Tuesday.  Tune in next week...

Tuesday Tidbits

These weeks, they go so fast!  How is it Tuesday again already?  I'm sitting here watching the Dancing with the Stars elimination show and realizing it's almost 9:00!  Tuesday is almost over...

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The weekend was mostly spent hanging out with a little guy.  In case you missed it - Jason spent the night Saturday night.  You should go read that post, because there are some cute pics there!

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And, since I wrote that whole post about the weekend, I can't really think of much else to say.  I went and got my hair cut today.  The ladies at Cost Cutters were awesome.  I took a picture in, and the girl cutting my hair gave me her opinion and suggestions about what would work and what I'd be happiest with - and it turned out really well.  I haven't played with it yet, but she put some product in it and styled it a bit, and it just feels so good - so much lighter, and bouncier!  I'm also wondering where all these curls came from.  We'll see what it looks like when I do it.  She said it should be really easy to take care of, which is perfect for me.   I took a few pictures with my phone, but they didn't turn out too well.  Blurry!  But at least you can get an idea.  Way shorter than it was.

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After the haircut, which I didn't get to until 3:30 because I was waiting to get in on the Dr. Oz Nuttzo giveaway - which went totally Nuttzo and crashed their server so that I didn't get one anyway - I came home and mowed the yard.  It looks pretty now.  Cut hair, cut grass - it's all good.

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So that basketball player I never heard of with the new weird name got kicked off Dancing with the Stars.  I agree.  He was the worst.  Also, what's with the weird name?  If you have a normal name like scott kay or john smith or whatever his name was, why would you change it to a non-name like Metta World Peace?  *shakes head and rolls eyes*   My early favorites are J.R. Martinez and Chynna Phillips, and they both did well with the judges too.  I look forward to seeing how they do.  Jeffrey's pet peeve is that, no matter how they do, it seems that they put Cheryl Burke and her partner 'in jeopardy' on every elimination show.  Like we're supposed to believe they're really going home!  Also, nice to see Derek Hough back.

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OK, Tuesday is officially over.  Or almost.  Tune in next week.

Who Do You Think is Going to Win?

I'm watching Dancing with the Stars - love that show!  Right now they're down to 4 couples, and one of those is going home tonight.  I'm pretty sure it's going to be Ralph and Karina.  I started out really liking them, but I don't think Ralph has improved as much as he should have.  He started out strong, but just didn't live up to the expectations.

Of the other three couples, I'm really loving Hines and Kym.  He just looks like he has so much fun out there!  And he's really good.  I really like Kirstie and Maks, too.  Kirstie surprised me from day one, and she has continued to bring it every week.  I'm not sure she deserves to win, but I'm glad she's made it this far.  I voted for Hines and Kym this week, but I'm going to wait until I see next week's dances to decide who I vote for.  It will be one of these two couples...

I'm not overly impressed with Chelsea, but the judges seem to like her and Mark - giving them the bonus points in the winner-take-all-cha-cha last night.  A lot of it might be that Chelsea always seems to have the same look on her face, the way she screws up her face or purses her lips when she's trying to be 'sexy' and it just distracts me from actually paying attention to her dancing.  So I won't be voting for Chelsea and Mark - unless she really blows me away next week, but I'm really not expecting that.

Do you think most people vote for the best dancers or just for their favorites, regardless of how well they do?  Who do you think should win?  Will it be the couple who deserves to win or just the couple with the most fans?

Bristol's Still Dancing?

Image by Getty Images via @daylife

I'm happy that my two early favorites on Dancing With the Stars, Jennifer Grey and Kyle Massey, are still dancing.  They have both been doing such a great job.  I was rather shocked to see Brandy go home last night, because she has been doing a wonderful job.  I am also quite surprised to see Bristol Palin make it to the finals.  I thought she'd be gone a long time ago.  And, apparently so did a lot of  other people.

There's been a lot of talk online about the whole situation - how it's unfair, fixed, a Tea Party conspiracy, nobody would vote for her if it wasn't for her mother.  True?  Not true?  I don't really know.  I know there are people who think she shouldn't have been there in the first place and should have  just continued in her 'teen activist' role of talking to teenagers about abstinence and safe sex if you don't want to be looking for the best prenatal vitamins and having a baby way too soon.

What I do know is that Bristol is the most improved dancer this season.  They took a young girl who had never performed in any way and put her on a show that not only required her to learn to dance, the same as all the other contestants, but also required her to learn to perform in front of a crowd - and she stepped up and took the challenge.  She has come so far in the few short weeks since this season of Dancing With the Stars started.   Let's give her a little credit.

I don't think she deserves to win, or even to come in 2nd.  I'll still be voting for Jennifer, because I think she is the best dancer of the 3 that are left.   But I do think Bristol deserves some credit for the effort she's put in to make it this far.  And Mark, for helping her get there.

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The Stars are Dancing Again

Dancing with the Stars kicked off again tonight.  I think there is quite a bit of potential in this year's group of stars.  Dirty Dancing is one of my all-time favorite movies, so I'm especially interested in seeing how Jennifer Grey does. If tonight was any indication, she's going to do great. 

I also especially enjoyed watching Kyle Massey from Disney Channel's Cory in the House.  I'm not at all familiar with him, but I think he's going to be one of my favorites.  He was just so much fun to watch, and he may be the youngest competitor, but he's not afraid to work hard and put everything into his performance.  I must admit that while I was watching him and his partner (the very blond) Lacy Shwimmer dance, I was thinking that it will be fun to watch him slim down and get in shape throughout the course of the season.  It just seems to happen on Dancing with the Stars.  They don't have to worry about finding natural appetite suppressants that work. All that dancing means they can practically eat anything they want and still slim down.

One of these days I think I'd like to be on DWTS too.  I mean, take some kind of ballroom dancing lessons or something.  It's come a long way since those days we had dancing in PE, and everybody hated it.  Now it looks like fun.

Double Standards

When discussing the new cast of Dancing with the Stars on The View, Barbara Walters asked, about Bristol Palin:

Why is she a star?  She's a 17-year-old who got pregnant

I've been asking the same thing about the idiot guy who got her pregnant!  The only claim to fame Levi Johnston ever had was getting his then-girlfriend pregnant.  So she happened to be the daughter of the governor of Alaska, who then became a Vice Presidential candidate.  So what?

And then they broke up, and suddenly Levi Johnston began making the talk show rounds, posed for Playgirl, and is even talking about doing a reality show.  And did he go on that Donald Trump show, too?  I haven't heard anyone question his involvement in all these things.

But Bristol does a community service commercial showing the difficuties in being a teen mother, and there were plenty of people questioning that.  "Did she say she regrets having her son?"  "How dare she say something like that?"  Um, hello - having a baby outside of marriage, when you're a teenager, is not the best life-decision in the world.  Once you have that baby, of course you're going to love him and make the best of the situation, but trying to get teenagers to think before they get themselves into the same situation is a good thing.  I don't think Bristol was saying she'd trade her son for anything, now that she's got him.  That doesn't mean she can't tell other girls to make better choices, while they still have the chance.

Not that that has anything to do with her going on Dancing with the Stars, and I agree she's not a star.  But people do know her name, and she has as much right to go on these shows as her son's father does.  If they're going to question Bristol's involvement, then they should have started ages ago by questioning Levi's too.

The Mirror Ball Trophy Has Been Awarded Again

Tonight was the Dancing with the Stars finale, and as I started watching I realized that I didn't vote all season.  Usually I pick a favorite or two and vote online, but this season I didn't really care that much.  I think that the right three couples made it to the finals and that the right couple won, but I wouldn't have been too disappointed if it had turned out differently.  Except if they had kept that annoying Kate Gosselin any longer than they did.  She could not dance at all.

And Niecy and her 'jiggly parts' - whatever.  Most people who go on the show talk about how good the whole dancing schedule helps them to how to lose weight fast, and they really get in shape.  It makes me think we ought to take up ballroom dancing so we can get in shape, though I doubt it works as well if you're not training intensely for hours every day.  Jeffrey did start walking with me again this week, so hopefully that will help him get in better shape.  That will have to do for now, considering he doesn't have time to devote hours to ballroom dancing.  It does look like fun, though - doesn't it?

They Grow Up Fast Enough

Did anybody see this story on GMA this morning?  Apparently there's a video spreading like wildfire around the internet.  It features little girls, 8 and 9 years old, dancing the the Beyonce song Single Ladies.  These girls are dressed in skimpy outfits and dancing in a way that seems completely inappropriate for their ages, or any other age for that matter.  They'll grow up soon enough and be learning to drive, looking for the best acne treatments, and worrying about boys.

Honestly, I don't even like watching Beyonce and her girls dancing to this song, but at least they're adults.  The parents of these girls don't seem to have a problem with it - except for the fact that the video has gone viral and there has been taken 'out of context' instead of just being part of a dance competition.  I just think it's really disturbing.

What do you think?

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Amazing Performance

I just got this in an email, and I had to share.

THIS IS ABSOLUTELY INCREDIBLE. THESE YOUNG GIRLS WERE PHENOMENAL! Watch as the reaction of the guys in the audience escalates. In the beginning, they were just OK, but as the girls performed.....the audience went WILD with cheers.

Wow - the energy, the coordination, the skill! How do they do that?

Who Do You Think Will Win?

So far this Dancing With The Stars season I haven't picked a favorite and haven't voted for anyone. In the past I always had my favorites - Emmet Smith, Kristi Yamaguchi, Apolo Anton Ohno, Ty Murray - and I voted. I didn't go so far as to get t-shirts or promo keychains, but I used several email addresses and my home phone and my cell to vote. This season, no one really stood out, and it wasn't until last week that I decided it should come down to Mya and Joanna, because they were the best dancers. I still didn't vote, though, and Joanna got eliminated.

So now here we are in the finals. It's down to Donny, Kelly, and Mya, and I might even go ahead and vote. Of the three, I think Mya is the one who deserves to win. What do you think? I think Kelly is adorable, and there are flashes of good dancing in her performances, but she just hasn't put the whole package together. Donny always seems to have so much fun, and he really knows how to put on a show. But Mya can really dance. If the Mirror Ball Trophy goes to the best dancer, then she should win.

I guess we'll find out tomorrow night.

ETA - never mind. I'm voting for Donny (if I can get through and if the ABC website will cooperate) - that freestyle was awesome!

This is What Happens in My Basement

That, and Pokemon battles, Guitar Hero, movies, cast parties...

Heads or Tails - Ball

The theme/prompt for this week is:
HEADS - "Ball"
   or
TAILS – “Rhymes with Ball”

 

TAILS:
The word that comes to mind is STALL.  I have so many things I need to get done.  Instead, I am putting it off, stalling if you will, and playing lexulous on facebook, and drinking my coffee, and watching GMA.  Oh, and I need to go vote for my favorites on Dancing with the Stars!  (which leads me to my Heads)

HEADS:
Speaking of Dancing with the Stars – While I still absolutely love Ty Murray, I believe it is time for him to leave the Ballroom.  He has come a long way and improved so much, but it’s coming down to the end, and I’m going to have to accept that the Mirrorball trophy is going to go to someone else.  The question is – who do I want to win, Shawn or Gilles?

Heads or Tails is a fun weekly meme created and hosted by Barb (aka Skittles) – feel free to join in!

It's Almost Charlie Brown Time

The play is next weekend - Friday night, Saturday night, Sunday afternoon. And let's not forget the dress rehearsal Thursday night. That means this is going to be a very busy week, and it's started already. Not so much for me, but Cory and Jeffrey went to school yesterday to start getting things set up. The cast was all supposed to be there to get the lights put up, so Jeffrey took all the sound equipment over, too. They hung lights and set up chairs, and he got some of the sound equipment set up, though he couldn't do everything until the lights were focused and all the chairs set up, which can't be done until the lights are focused.

Then, after all that he took Cory and Erich to Home Depot to get stuff to make a tree. The boys spent several hours at Erich's house after that building their tree. Then today they took it to school and stayed after to work on it some more. Play practice was from 6-8 - so Cory walked out of the house at 7:10 this morning and just walked in the door at 8:20 tonight. Jeffrey came home from work, ate a quick dinner, and ran over to the school to hopefully get most of his stuff set up - so I didn't see much of him either. Me, I just stayed home, finished up the laundry, made some sandwiches for lunches tomorrow, and watched Dancing with the Stars. That Ty is so darn cute!

Sorry, I got distracted.

I'm not sure how much more Jeffrey has to do to get the sound system ready to go, but I do know that Cory has play practice the next couple nights and then dress rehearsal and performances. After asking him, it sounds like Jeffrey has everything done as much as he can, so we'll just have to get there early Thursday night for the dress rehearsal to do last minute stuff. And then we'll be there every night... I also have to get something baked for concessions. I'm thinking cupcakes, but it all depends on what I feel like when I actually get to the baking part.

OK, I have to go vote for Ty now.

Heads or Tails – List Three

The theme/prompt for today, April 7, is: 
TAILS – List Three

List three things from any category. Your choice. (Remember, this is TAILS
and that means your post should be a real list of some sort.)

This really could be anything, couldn’t it?

I was voting online at abc.com for my favorite Dancing with the Stars dancers, so I thought I’d share the three couples I like best this season.

 
Gilles Marini & Cheryl Burke

These two are hot!  Jeffrey loves Cheryl, as always, and Gilles is just steamy.  

 

 
Shawn Johnson & Mark Ballas
(Team Shark)

Shawn is just adorable. 
 

 
Ty Murray & Chelsie Hightower

I just love Ty.  I think he’s so cute, and the first time I saw him dance I saw that he had the potential to do well.  He is really improving and I see that I’m right.  Ty Murray is a dancer!

I’d love to see these three couples go all the way to the end, and I’d be happy with whichever one wins.  It will be hard deciding who to vote for then…

Heads or Tails is a fun weekly meme created and hosted by Skittles!

Just in Case You Haven't Seen It

After learning about the new Evolution of Dance video that's coming soon, I just had to go back and watch the first one. Yep, still really enjoy this video!

And, just in case you haven't seen it yet (where have you been, anyway?), here it is:



Yes, I know you don't all have a teenage son who's always watching videos and finding web pages and saying, "Mom, you have to see this!"

Also, I was going to share the video with Cory and Jessica dancing with Judson, but for some reason when I share it, there are two Corys and no Jessica. I like Cory a lot, but I want Jessica in there, too. I guess I'll have to try again.

Evolution of Dance (2!)

It was my first favorite on YouTube, and chances are it's in your favorites too. Judson Laipply's Evolution of Dance is the Internet's most watched video of all time. Currently the video has had 107,334,624 views. Wow! It's just so much fun to watch. I just found out today that Judson has put together a second installment of the Evolution of Dance, which will come out early next year.

If you want to get a sneak peak at some of the dances and songs that will be a part of this new video, visit Evolution Of Dance starring YOU! That's exactly what it sounds like. You can upload pictures of yourself, or your friends or family, do a little editing, and get into the dance video with Judson. The editing was really easy, just a matter of adjusting the outline around the face and then positioning the head on body. Then you can watch and share your very own Evolution of Dance 2 video trailer with all your friends. I made one with Cory and his cousin Jessica, and it was hilarious to watch. Boy, those kids can dance!

This is all brought to you by PeopleJam.com and Saveology.com - both sites that are designed to help people save money. So while you're there uploading pictures and watching yourself and your friends dancing with Judson, be sure to have a look around and see if they can help you save some money, too. I love the words on the marquee: "DANCE like there's no tomorrow! SAVE so there is one!" Sounds like a good philosophy, right?

While you're there you can sign up for Saveology, enter to win a Smart Car, and sign up to be notified when Judson's new video is released. I can hardly wait, now that I know it's coming.

You Did NOT Just Say That

I mentioned before that I am extremely frustrated that our stupid local ABC station (WISN Channel 12) is pre-empting the FINALS of Dancing With the Stars tonight. Oh yes, but they're being oh-so-nice about it and airing it after the stinkin' football game and after the news - it's tentatively scheduled to run from 11:35 to 12:35. Real nice. I can obviously stay up and watch it. NOT. Some of us have to get up in the morning.

They have also repeatedly, condescendingly told us that we can still vote online up until 11am Tuesday. Since it's really not possible to watch the show first, I guess that means they are encouraging people to vote for their favorites regardless of how they do. I realize a lot of people already do that, but it seems to me that we should be voting for the star who actually deserves to win. So much for that.

Anyway, a few minutes ago, they came on the news and announced that the Series Finale of Boston Legal won't be shown tonight either. They will be airing that on Sunday. What? Now, I don't watch that show very often, but if I did... How dare they? Not just some random show or a re-run - an important show.

Correction: they just came back and announced that the series finale isn't until December. Still, they're not going to show this episode until Sunday sometime.

Honestly, why can't they make the people who want to watch football stay up late? They don't even need to vote. And, why don't they pre-empt the news? Oh no, this station has a very inflated view of themselves. And they have decided that their precious Packers are more important than anything else, and they really don't care what anyone else thinks. Come on, it's football - grown men being paid too much for wearing funny t shirts and tight pants and playing a game. If you want to know what happened, just watch the news, since they'll never pre-empt that for anything. You can get the score and see all the highlights when you watch the news, because of course they won't talk about anything else.