Wednesday Wonders

Posted: Thursday, March 31, 2011 by Travis Cody in
6

Yesss precious, we knowss itss Thurssday, but sstill we wonderss thingsses...yesss precious, we doess.

Like...

...how come it takes about 3 seconds for a bank error to screw up your finances, but 2-3 weeks to get the mistake corrected?


...how come when I eat really well, I'm still hungry?  I had one of the healthiest meals I've had in a long time the other night, with veggies and light carbs and a solid protein, and a half hour later it was like I hadn't eaten a thing.  What's up with that anyway??

...why didn't somebody tell me that Diet Snapple Raspberry Tea is really good?

...who decides the names for paint colors?  Sherwin Williams has a color called 6869 Stop.  You'd think a color called "Stop" would be stop sign red, wouldn't you?  You tell me.  Does this look like the right color for a stop sign?




I don't know.  Maybe after the sign has seasoned for awhile?  There's another called 6935 Straightforward Green.


We wonderss...if it's so straightforward, couldn't it just be called green?




Have a thoughtful Thursday!

Cue that theme music...

Posted: Wednesday, March 30, 2011 by Travis Cody in
8

It's encores and results!


We liked a lot about Monday night's performances.  But I shall endeavor to narrow down the encore selections.

The only thing that was really wrong with the Quickstep from Kirstie and Maks was stamina.  She got a little tired and lost her steps toward the end.  Other than that, it was delightful.  Click here if the video doesn't play. 



The Jive from Ralph and Karina was described as frenetic and slightly out of control, and I agreed with that assessment at first viewing.  But watching it back I think that it was jammed full of content, but still danced very well.  Click here if the video doesn't play.




We have a tie for dance of the night.  Our first choice is the Quickstep from Chris and Cheryl, which was completely charming.  Click here if the video doesn't play.





Our second choice for dance of the night is Quickstep from Hines and Kym.  The patterns they made were so intricate.  Click here if the video doesn't play.





Outstanding!  Right now, I'd say those are the four couples to beat, with Chelsea and Mark right on the cusp despite the lousy musical selection for their Jive.


Here's a reminder of our leader board after the two performances:


45 Ralph and Karina
44 Hines and Kym 
43 Kirstie and Maks 
42 Romeo and Chelsie 
42 Chris and Cheryl
39 Chelsea and Mark
37 Kendra and Louis 
36 Petra and Dmitry
34 Ray and Anna 
31 Wendy and Tony 
30 Mike and Lacey

OK.  Let's go!

Love it when our pros dance.  Along with some of our usual suspects, we had a few younguns.  More on them in a bit.


Results...Hines and Kym are safe.  Chris and Cheryl are safe.


The controversial Chris Brown is in the ballroom.  The dancing was really terrific.


More results...Ralph and Karina are safe.  Squeeeeee says Pam!  Kirstie and Maks are safe.  Chelsea and Mark are safe.


So the younguns.  They are described as six world renowned and award winning dancers and we call them the DWTS Troupe.  Cool eh?  Elena Grinenko leads the group of professionals who will perform demonstrations on the results shows this season.  I hope I get their names right.  We have Kiki Nyemcheck, Tristan MacMahon, Oksana Dmytrenko, sister and brother combo Nicole and Ted Volynets, and Peta Murgatroyd.


I'm going to like this Troupe.  The choreography for their number was by Jason Gilkinson.  I couldn't find that clip, but here is the performance that led off the show with our pros.  Maks choreographed this one.  Click here if the video won't play.





Back to results...Romeo and Chelsea are safe.


Chris Brown is back for another round of lip syncing and dancing.  I don't mind the lip sync so much, particularly if you're going to put on a full show with so much movement.  The kid has his personal issues...he doesn't get a pass for felonious assault of his girlfriend, or for the ridiculous display of childish temper a few days ago.  I appreciated the performance for what it was, but the young man needs to grow up and start being a real human being.


Results...Kendra and Louis are safe.  Petra and Dmitry are safe.  


Final results...Wendy and Tony are safe.  Ray and Anna are safe.


That means Mike and Lacey are first out.




I guess that was kind of inevitable.  He's a regional radio personality, so I don't think there were enough fans out there to overcome the fact that he wasn't very good as a dancer.  I think he could have improved given time.


We're off and running gang!  Tune in next week for story night in the ballroom.  Our couples will tell a personal story in dance.


Later!

Cue that theme music...

Posted: Tuesday, March 29, 2011 by Travis Cody in
5

It's live from Hollywood!


Welcome to Premier Night, Part II!

Last Monday our 11 couples danced Foxtrot or Cha Cha Cha for our votes.  Tonight each pair will dance Quickstep or Jive for some more votes.  Then tomorrow we'll have our first elimination.

Disclaimer:  Tenses?  Pay no attention to tenses.  Tonight = last night.  Tomorrow night = tonight.  Get it?

Here's a reminder of our leader board after the first round of dances:

24 Ralph and Karina 
23 Kirstie and Maks
21 Hines and Kym
21 Chelsea and Mark
19 Romeo and Chelsie 
19 Chris and Cheryl
18 Kendra and Louis
18 Petra and Dmitry 
17 Ray and Anna
14 Wendy and Tony
13 Mike and Lacey  

All set?  Here we go!

Ray and Anna dance Jive.  This dance really suited his personality.  It allowed him to do more dancing out of hold, which seems to be his strength.  You could really tell how much he enjoyed what he was doing.  Anna's choreography was wonderful, picking out his strengths and emphasizing them.  I thought this performance was all about his connection to the audience.  He was charming and fun to watch.  The problem is technique.  His kicks were not sharp or quick enough.  He has a very relaxed lower body and that didn't actually serve him well in Jive.  And he needs to be able to connect the movements a little better so the entire dance is cohesive and smooth.  Judges say 6,5,6 for a total of 17.  I can't argue that score.  The technique was lacking.  But for performance and enjoyment, I give him an 8.

Kendra and Louis dance Quickstep.  Kendra had a little meltdown in rehearsal because she feels like a tomboy and not a sexy lady.  Well, she looks like a sexy lady.  The long gown helps to disguise some of the issues she has with her legs.  I think that gives her a more elegant look, but she still needs to work on emphasizing lines.  She seemed very stiff in hold and towards the end of the dance she looked very awkward.  I wonder if she lost track of her steps.  I think her problem is going to be confidence.  The beginning of the dance was a step forward for her.  But I think the speed of the choreography got to her as the dance progressed.  It was a solid performance, but it wasn't as polished as she'll be if she stays in the competition for a few weeks.  Judges say 7,6,6 for a total of 19.


Chelsea and Mark dance Jive.  There's a story and a theme here, which was necessary because this is not traditional Jive music.  Mark really did a tremendous job with a tough musical selection.  At least I thought it was a real handicap.  I thought Chelsea did a great job with something that just wasn't acceptable to me as typical Jive.  I agree with the judges that it was difficult to judge that as a Jive.  This is unfortunate because Mark didn't have a lot to work with in that music.  He put as much content in the dance as he could find to go with the music.  It was a creative modern take on the Jive, dictated by a rotten choice of music.  I really don't like when they do this to the pros.  To the judges' credit, they didn't come down hard on Chelsea and the criticism of Mark's choreography was relatively mild.  Judges say 6,5,7 for a total of 18.  Bah.  Did I mention that I thought the music was lousy?  They danced well.  It just wasn't typical Jive.


Chris and Cheryl dance Quickstep.  He's a funny guy in rehearsal.   He's charming, and he has thrown himself into this with everything he has.  I was a little nervous for him because the rehearsal footage they showed made it seem like he was struggling with the idea of Quickstep.  But I'm pleased to report that he was graceful and elegant under the ballroom lights.  He did a fantastic job of holding his frame.  There were a couple of times when his shoulders got up and his arms drooped.  But overall that Quickstep was smooth and classy.  He's got to be proud of that.  Outstanding job!  I'm surprised by how light he is on his feet.  And he led the dance.  It's wonderful to see a big guy understand how to be strong, but also gentle.  He treats Cheryl so delicately in hold.  He's got the fans, and if they are watching he's going to be around awhile.  And I say deservedly so.  The man can dance.  Judges say 8,7,8 for a total of 23.  Well done Sir!  I think Cheryl has herself another contender.

Petra and Dmitry dance Jive.  I think she is just delightful.  I find myself wanting her to do well.  She's still a little timid with her footwork.  No...I don't mean timid.  She's dainty and careful with her steps...that's what I mean.  I'm certain that comes from the severe injuries she suffered.  I know I'm very careful when I take steps, and all I did was blow out a couple of knees.  She's got completely reconstructed hips.  I loved how much she enjoyed dancing.  I think she did a good job with her kicks.  She still needs a lot of work with technique and confidence.  I thought she was a bit clingy in hold, like Dmitry was a woobie.  Judges say 6's across for a total of 18.  That's a pretty good score.  I think I would have given her an 8 for those LEGSSES!!!  Can I just say that Petra has some fine LEGSSES??  Oh my!  Those LEGSSES are worth some votes all by themselves.


Kirstie and Maks dance Quickstep.  The partnership between the two of them is so supportive.  It isn't often I can say that about Maks.  Wow.  She's doing so well with this dance.  She got a little tired toward the end, and that caused her to lose some focus and bobble on some steps.  But that's forgivable stuff.  The performance was absolutely wonderful.  There was a little bit of cheek in the choreography, but it was also elegant and sophisticated.  Yes...I used the word sophisticated to describe Kirstie Alley.  She's an older gal and a bigger gal, but it doesn't matter.  She's charming on the dance floor.  Judges say 7,6,7 for a total of 20.  I think the 6 is a little low, but she did have some trouble with her stamina, which cost her a complete dance.  I do worry about her catching her breath after a dance like that.  Hopefully she gets a slower dance next week.


Mike and Lacey dance Jive.  I worry about those turned in feet.  He is seriously pigeon toed.  Oh...we've got props.  Len is cranky tonight and I don't think he'll appreciate the guitar gimmick if the dancing isn't any good.  He's still stomping his way through the steps, but his musicality is better than it was last week.  I can say that he actually looked like he was dancing and enjoying it.  And he made it through a neat little trick at the end without dumping Lacey on her backside.  It was definitely better than last week.  I liked his the precision of some of his kicks.  At least this week the judges were encouraging.  He seems very sincere and he's got a good attitude, so I'm glad he had a decent performance.  Judges say 6,5,6 for a total of 17.  Good job.


Romeo and Chelsie dance Quickstep.  He did a very credible job in hold.  I would have liked to see his arms stay stronger through all of the footwork.  There was a little lack of focus and he got sloppy through bits of it.  Overall I thought it was a solid performance.  I think he did a good job of connecting the movements.  I liked what Carrie Ann said about emphasizing the difference between the charming gentleman and the relaxed fun guy within the dance.  There should be more contrast between those sections of the choreography, which helps tell the story better.  His strength is in his musicality and I think he has a lot of promise if he works on the technique.  I'm surprised at how well he took to the ballroom style.  I would have thought he would be more comfortable with Latin.  Judges say 7,8,8 for a total of 23.  Well done.

Wendy and Tony dance Quickstep.  There's the gal!  I loved that dance!  Tony choreographed to her personality, and she brought herself to the dance.  That was such an improvement over last week.  She wasn't timid at all.  She was confident and sassy.  And she danced well.  She did struggle with stamina, but then she recovered at the end.  This dance had personality, which I expected from her, and performance, which comes from settling down and being herself.  Her musicality and interpretation of the story was spot on.  Of course she still needs to work on technique so she can really emphasize Tony's choreography and develop a complete performance.  Judges say 6,5,6 for a total of 17.  It'll be interesting to see if she can survive this week.  If she does, I think she can continue to improve.


Ralph and Karina dance Jive.  He's trying to direct himself and create the character and deliver the performance.  Hey Ralph...relax and dance it dude!  Did you hear it...Pam is over here squeeing her silly little girl head off.  Wow.  Dang that Jive was full of stuff.  And it was fun.  That single leg work they did in the middle third was terrific.  Now there were issues.  It was a little frenetic and there were moments that were just on the edge of control.  The early part of the dance was more crisp than the later parts.  I'd have to say he might have over-danced it just a little.  But we still enjoyed it.  It was full of energy and content.  I think he's got to get out of his own head, listen to Karina, and settle into it.  Judges say 7's across for a total of 21.  For me that score is a little low.  Maybe the technique was 7's, but I thought the performance deserved at least one 8.


Hines and Kym dance Quickstep.  He's so light on his feet.  Kym has made some very difficult choreography.  Some of those passes make him focus on posture, footwork, and keeping his backside tucked in.  And he managed it so well.  Not only that, but he was able to include so many small details.  That was so charming.  It was classy and elegant, and surprisingly smooth.  He managed to keep his shoulders in control.  All that technique seemed so effortless.  They have such amazing chemistry together.  Judges say 8,7,8 for a total of 23.  I don't get that.  Len praised his posture and technique and performance, but refused to throw the 8.  Ppppppffffftttttt! 


Here's our updated leader board:


45 Ralph and Karina
44 Hines and Kym 
43 Kirstie and Maks 
42 Romeo and Chelsie 
42 Chris and Cheryl
39 Chelsea and Mark
37 Kendra and Louis 
36 Petra and Dmitry
34 Ray and Anna 
31 Wendy and Tony 
30 Mike and Lacey

Did I say it last week?  I did.  But I can say it again.  I love this cast!  It sucks that somebody has to be eliminated.

So votes.  Pam dialed for Ralph, Chris, and Kirstie.  And so did I.


Tune in for results tonight.  And if you can't, then check back here tomorrow and I'll tell you what happened.


Later gang!

Maybe it's not so surprising

Posted: Monday, March 28, 2011 by Travis Cody in
10


Ralph Macchio earned the highest score for his Foxtrot with Karina Smirnoff.  I was pleasantly surprised, but maybe I shouldn't have been.  I recall a scene from the second Karate Kid movie.  

Daniel Larusso has a little bit of dance history.



Tonight our couples get one more dance for our votes, either Quickstep or Jive.  Then tomorrow night we'll have results.  The dancing on last Monday's premier was excellent.  Let's see if we can get a repeat performance.


And let me congratulate 8 seed Butler, 11 seed Virginia Commonwealth, 3 seed Connecticut, and 4 seed Kentucky for winning their respective regional finals Saturday and Sunday to advance to the Final Four.  Not a #1 seed in the bunch.

Next Saturday, VCU will play Butler and Kentucky will play UConn.  The winners will advance to the championship game a week from tonight.

Dancing and hoops...I dig it!

Five on Friday Set 61

Posted: Friday, March 25, 2011 by Travis Cody in
11


I love Doo-wop music.  You know why?  Because even sad songs make you tap your toes and want to dance when sung in Doo-wop style.



Get a playlist! Standalone player Get Ringtones


If you've never joined in, give it a try.  I know you've got some favorite music you'd like to share with the FoF gang.  Here's how to play along.

1. Grab the banner, make your post title Five on Friday, and be sure to link back here.
2. Go to Playlist.com to make your Set of five songs. You may choose a particular theme to share with us, or post random tunes if that's your vibe for the day. You can simply post the Set, or you can add a little summary about what you are sharing.
2a. Don't feel restricted by the tracks listed on Playlist.com. And don't be discouraged if the Embed code won't work. You're welcome to use any type of media to share your Sets.
3. Be sure to sign Mr Linky so everyone can visit your Set.
4. No tags, but feel free to invite your friends to play along if they need a post topic on a Friday.

Go forth and enjoy music!

The United States Navy

Posted: Thursday, March 24, 2011 by Travis Cody in
11


The United States Navy owes its origin to the Continental Navy, which was established during the American Revolutionary War.  And so the US has had an active naval service since 13 October 1775, when George Washington took the fight to the British on the high seas with three captured schooners.  That is the official birth date of the US Navy.

But it wasn't until 27 March 1794 when Congress approved the construction of six frigates that the US Navy was on the way to manning its own warships, and beginning the long journey of establishing itself as a global naval power.


So today I salute the 430,400 men and women who are part of this grand service.  From the newest Seaman Apprentice to the Chief of Naval Operations, I thank them all for their dedication to service.
 
"Honor, Courage, Commitment"


"Non sibi sed patriae"
(Not self but country) 

Cue that theme music...

Posted: Wednesday, March 23, 2011 by Travis Cody in
7

It's encores!



No results yet.  Our pairs will dance again next Monday, with results to follow next Tuesday.  But I have encores for you, if the copyright police haven't ruined the fun.

First up, Chelsea Kane and Mark Ballas led off the show with a delightful Foxtrot.  Click here if the video doesn't play.



Hines Ward completely and pleasantly surprised me with his command of the Cha Cha Cha he danced with Kym Johnson.  Click here if the video doesn't play.






So many were looking for the train wreck.  But Kirstie Alley owned her Cha Cha Cha with Maks Chmerkovskiy.  Click here if the video doesn't play.





Dance of the night made Pam squee!  Ralph Macchio and Karina Smirnoff pulled off one of the best first night performances  during the run of the show.  Click here if the video doesn't play.





That's some fun stuff gang!  If you've never watched, you might consider checking out this season.  I predict a good one.


Later y'all!

Cue that theme music...

Posted: Tuesday, March 22, 2011 by Travis Cody in
7

It's Season 12, live from Hollywood!


Oh how I have missed that theme music.  Settle in gang...it's Premier Night.  We've had our cheese and crackers, our nice Merlot, and our CAKE.  We are ready for some dancing!

Chelsea Kane and Mark Ballas dance Foxtrot.  From rehearsal footage it seems like they had an instant connection.  She doesn't seem nervous at all leading off the show.  Her personality is front and center, and that smile is so engaging.  She's got a little trouble with some flat feet.  I'd like to see her extend her arms and make some better lines.  But that was a delightful start.  I enjoyed most of Mark's choreography, except for when he disengaged from real Foxtrot.  Chelsea has a ton of charisma.  Performance is not going to be her issue at all.  She just needs to learn technique and she's going to be just fine.  I like her.  Judges say 7's across for a total of 21.  I think she could have earned an 8 or two, but she did have those flat feet every once in awhile so maybe that's why it was just 7's.

Wendy Williams and Tony Dovolani dance Cha Cha Cha.  I mean this with all respect...Mama has a lot to use, and she needs to relax and use it.  She was very unsure of her steps, and I think that was due to her nerves.  She didn't dance very well, but she got through it.  Cha Cha Cha was the perfect dance for her to begin, but she didn't bring the force of her personality to it.  And she needs to stay clear of the monitors when the rehearsal footage plays before the performance.  She's an emotional woman anyway, and she doesn't need the extra emotion from that.  I like that the judges encouraged her rather than fussed about her lack of technique.  That's not her biggest issue.  She needs to find her confidence.  If she can feel confident in what she's doing and not worry so much about it, she can do the steps and put on a performance and that's what gets the fans.  I like her attitude.  Judges say 5,4,5 for a total of 14.  I don't like the 4.  Granted she didn't dance well, but 5's across would have been fine to start.


Hines Ward and Kym Johnson dance Cha Cha Cha.  He has those panCAKE hands like most of the football players have had.  He'll have to soften those hands up.  But he's a very strong lead for Kym.  He had control of that dance from start to finish, and you just don't see that very often this early in the competition.  He had all the steps.  He had the hips.  He had the personality, charisma, and performance.  That was really outstanding.  There are a few technical issues that I expect he'll be able to clean up.  I am very impressed.  He had his backside pulled in, which is hard to do because football players naturally hunch.  He did have some of those rounded shoulders, but he was also able to hold his frame up in spots.  I think he's an early favorite and he's only going to get better.  Judges say 7's across for a total of 21.  Huh?  Trust me gang, the dance was better than that.


Petra Nemcova and Dmitry Chaplin dance Foxtrot.  I really love a slow Foxtrot.  Dmitry's choreography took into account her injury issues.  In case you didn't know, she broke her hip in four places during the 2004 tsunami.  I don't know how much dancing she's going to be able to do, but this performance was beautiful.  It was graceful and elegant.  She's so tall, and in these slower dances she has the ability to make some wonderful lines.  What she'll have to do is learn to connect each movement.  She has a natural charm.  I like her.  Judges say 6's across for a total of 18.  I think that's the right score because when you look at the full dance, regardless of how classy and charming it was, there wasn't a lot of content.  Still, I'm concerned about her ability to do choreography at a faster tempo.


Romeo Miller and Chelsie Hightower dance Cha Cha Cha.  This young man was set to dance way back in Season 2, but due to injury, his father Master P competed disastrously in his place.  He can get his feet moving, but he needs to unlock the hips.  If he can do that, he'll have it.  The personality is there.  He had what I call hip hop hips...they go back and forth but they don't swivel.  Latin hips need to swivel.  He needs to work on posture, frame, and footwork.  There's a difference between relaxing into the dance and treating it casually.  When you relax, the steps come easier and all the little details can be emphasized.  But when you take it casually, you get sloppy.  Judges say 7,6,6 for a total of 19.  I think if he wants to work on improving his technique, he's going to do very well. 

Sugar Ray Leonard and Anna Trebunskaya dance Foxtrot.  You'd think that boxers would naturally be light on their feet, which is sometimes true.  But they also have the same posture issues as football players.  They hunch their shoulders and roll their torso forward.  You can really see the tension in Ray's upper body, and that affects the timing with his feet in hold.  But on the positive side, he's got tremendous personality.  He was a strong lead, despite the posture issues.  He made all of his steps, despite a slight turn in with his feet.  Outside of hold, he lit up the ballroom.  Performance is not going to be an issue for him.  The biggest problem is going to be posture.  If Anna can get his shoulders back and his torso straightened up, he has some potential.  Judges say 6,5,6 for a total of 17.  That's a good score considering how hunched over he was in hold.  That wasn't easy to overlook.


Kendra Wilkinson and Louis van Amstel dance Cha Cha Cha.  Wow.  That started really well with some terrific spins.  Then there were a couple of places where she lost her timing.  But overall that was well done.  She had her hips working.  I was concerned that it was going to get a little raunchy, but it never did.  She needs to work on her legs, which were sometimes rubbery and mostly bent at the knee when they should have been straight.  The choreography was really tough for the first dance, and you could see that in her face as she focused on hitting her steps.  She's got the rhythm and the timing.  Now all she has to do is learn her technique and then put it all together in a complete performance.  Louis is the perfect teacher for that.  Judges say 6's across for a total of 18.  I would have thrown at least one 7, despite the tendency toward spaghetti legs.


Ralph Macchio and Karina Smirnoff dance Foxtrot.  Oh my.  Did you hear it?  Pam let out a squee.  She startled me!  Who knew?   My Pam has a seekrit crush on Ralph Macchio.  And that was quite the Foxtrot.  He led the dance throughout.  And that was some difficult choreography.  There was a bit of a bobble near the top of the dance, but overall it was so well put together.  That's got to be one of the best first week Foxtrots in the history of the show.  Very impressive.  He had technique, clean steps, and a full performance.  From the rehearsal footage, it was a complete surprise to me that he was able to do that well.  He's going to have the fan base.  It'll be interesting to see if he handles the Latin styles as well, but Karina has herself a real contender.  Judges say 8's across for a total of 24.  Pam says YES!


Chris Jericho and Cheryl Burke dance Cha Cha Cha.  The question is, can he be delicate and graceful and smooth?  We have a rockin' Cha Cha Cha and more personality.  I'm pleasantly surprised by his quality of movement and musicality.  There's a bit of stepping through the dance, but he's not plodding and the stepping is on time.  He's actually quite light on his feet.  And he hit every step.  That was well done.  He's going to have a constant struggle to keep his shoulders down.  The choreography wasn't very difficult, but knowing Cheryl that was probably strategic.  She made a dance that he could do well, and he performed it.  And I appreciated that he seemed to enjoy himself with it.  I don't know anything about the guy as a wrestler, but as a performer on this show, I like him.  Judges say 7,6,6 for a total of 19.  I think the lower scores are for lack of content.


Mike Catherwood and Lacey Schwimmer dance Foxtrot.  He is severely pigeon toed, so he'll have to work on turning those feet out.  He also is not naturally graceful.  In his favor, he made it through the dance and got most of the steps in the right order.  He's clearly not a dancer.  His movements were very jerky and clunky.  The movements were not coordinated or connected, and he wasn't very musical.  Still, I thought Len and Bruno were a little too harsh with him.  He's not graceful and he's not a visual performer.  That's a double whammy.  He's got a lot to overcome in a short time, and he clearly knows it.  There's no need to make him feel worse.  It'll be interesting to see if he has enough of a regional fanbase to keep him around so he can dance a Waltz.  I find that an uncoordinated celebrity can make a nice memory with a Waltz on this show.  Judges say 5,4,4 for a total of 13.

Kirstie Alley and Maks Chmerkovskiy dance Cha Cha Cha.  The woman is 60 years old.  Yes, I said 60.  I never would have thought these two would hit it off the way they have.  And I had no idea she was going to be able to dance that well.  That was not an easy Cha Cha Cha, and she did more than get through it.  She owned it.  That was a lot of fun to watch.  She's got technique, footwork, posture, and performance.  Her musicality was outstanding.  She had the character of the dance...Cha Cha Cha is cheeky, and Kirstie had the cheek factor times 20.  That was impressive.  Well done my dear and well done Maks!  Judges say 8,7,8 for a total of 23.  I don't know why Len marked her down.  I thought that was 8's across.  I think her personality was clearly suited to this dance, and it's going to be interesting to see how she adapts to the ballroom styles.

Here's our very first leader board:

24 Ralph and Karina 
23 Kirstie and Maks
21 Hines and Kym
21 Chelsea and Mark
19 Romeo and Chelsie 
19 Chris and Cheryl
18 Kendra and Louis
18 Petra and Dmitry 
17 Ray and Anna
14 Wendy and Tony
13 Mike and Lacey


Gotta say it gang...I love this cast!  There's a theme in my commentary and that's personality.  Just about every celebrity has it in abundance.

To anyone who commented on one of those pre-show snarky review articles that this was an awful cast, I say pppppfffffttttt! 


We had no idea how we were going to vote when the show began.  Anyone could have caught our eye.  For last night's performances, Pam settled on Ralph and Kirstie.  I split between Ralph, Cheslea, and Hines. 


We have to wait a week for results.  Each of our pairs will dance again next Monday, either Quickstep or Jive.  And then we'll have our first elimination next Tuesday.  I won't make you wait for my encore selections...I'll do that for tomorrow.


It's on gang!  Welcome to Season 12!

Life goes on

Posted: Monday, March 21, 2011 by Travis Cody in
10

You may have guessed that last week's brief hiatus was because we wanted to focus on Mr Tucker during his last days, and take time to adjust to his absence.


Yeah...adjusting to his absence is going to take awhile.

It helps to have the NCAA Tournament to focus on this past weekend and over the next couple of weeks.  And Dancing with the Stars returns tonight.


DWTS returns tonight!


So life goes on.  The cycle of grief will proceed.  This spring and summer we'll be able to take off on a whim for an overnight adventure without worrying about who is going to look in on Mr Tucker for us.  In July we'll travel to Arizona to see the folks in their new place without concern over leaving him alone for a week.

My blog pal Jennifer from Dust Bunny Hostage had a reference on her blog to World Vets.  They provide aid for at risk animals around the world.  We made a donation in Mr Tucker's memory.

There will come a day some time in the future when we'll realize it's time to let a new little spook into our lives.  Or perhaps two little spooks.  It or they won't replace Mr Tucker.  You don't replace a loved one.


But you can fill the void.

Life goes on. 


Spring...technically

Posted: Sunday, March 20, 2011 by Travis Cody in
3

And now, for the traditional greeting.

Spring has sprung
The grass has ris
I wonder where
The birdies is
...Bulwinkle J. Moose

Today is the spring equinox and we have actual sunshine and blue skies!  It is much appreciated.  We miss Mr Tucker.  It's hard to put his things away, but at least the sunshine makes it a little easier to laugh at memories.

We have been enjoying the madness that is the NCAA Tournament.  We're very excited for Butler...although we do wish they wouldn't leave the winning until the final tenths of seconds.  Sheesh!  


Today we're rooting hard for Duke and Notre Dame.


We've really appreciated that we can switch to the games we want to watch with games staggered and televised on CBS, TNT, TBS, and TruTV.  And every game is on the internet at CBSSports.com.  This is the way the tournament should always be shown.

Five on Friday Set 60

Posted: Friday, March 18, 2011 by Travis Cody in
14


I miss my kitty.


Get a playlist! Standalone player Get Ringtones


If you've never joined in, give it a try.  I know you've got some favorite music you'd like to share with the FoF gang.  Here's how to play along.


1. Grab the banner, make your post title Five on Friday, and be sure to link back here.
2. Go to Playlist.com to make your Set of five songs. You may choose a particular theme to share with us, or post random tunes if that's your vibe for the day. You can simply post the Set, or you can add a little summary about what you are sharing.
2a. Don't feel restricted by the tracks listed on Playlist.com. And don't be discouraged if the Embed code won't work. You're welcome to use any type of media to share your Sets.
3. Be sure to sign Mr Linky so everyone can visit your Set.
4. No tags, but feel free to invite your friends to play along if they need a post topic on a Friday.

Go forth and enjoy music!

Mr Tucker

Posted: Thursday, March 17, 2011 by Travis Cody in
28

With the help of our friends at Seattle Vet Specialists, Pam and I helped Mr Tucker go to the Rainbow Bridge yesterday evening.  He was 13.



All I wanted was a pair of shoes.  So I went and got some.  Then for reasons I still don't understand, or really care to understand, I wandered from the shoe store over to the PetSmart.

And there he was in the adoption center...a face peering out from the inside of a little kitty condo inside an adoption cage.  The most amazing green eyes that followed me when I went to look at the other kitties there.  Those eyes kept drawing me back to his cage.  He never moved...just the eyes.  I read his name, Mr Tucker, and his data.  He was 4 and his family had to reluctantly give him up because their son developed an allergy.


He looked pathetic stuffed into that tiny condo.

And I wanted to take him home.  So I did on 17 December 2001.

I never regretted that decision.  He was my sweet little punk.

He had a great life, and my life was better for having him in it.  Last summer when his cardiac disease was first diagnosed, the doc thought maybe it could be controlled with medication.  But it turned out that there were more things wrong.  The combination of medications put too much strain on his kidneys.  And it didn't really keep the fluid from building in his chest, which constricted his heart and made his breathing so difficult.

But it got him through the holidays, and that was important to me.  Every day after that was gravy.  A couple of weeks ago he had what the doc thinks was a stroke, and I thought that was going to be the end.


But he rallied and we got a little more time.  Then we had a great weekend.  He was almost his old self on Saturday.  That's what we'll remember.

Monday he quit eating.  Tuesday he refused his medicine and we stopped bothering him with it.  Tuesday evening, his breathing started to get really rough.  We almost took him to the doc, but he settled down.


Then yesterday morning, he just wasn't right.  Pam stayed home from work.  I couldn't because I've got today and tomorrow off for a long weekend.  Pam called me throughout the day with updates.


Mr Tucker was getting confused.  He was having trouble getting comfortable.  His breathing was really labored.  I called SVS from work and told them he was failing.  And when I got home, he looked at me and I knew.

It was time.


I choose to believe that he understood me when I told him the things I wanted to tell him.  I told him I was sorry it was so scary.  I asked him to forgive me for being a coward because I couldn't hold him until he left for the Bridge.  I'm sure he knew I wanted to, but I didn't want to remember that part.

I thanked him for loving Pam as much as I do.


We had one last snuggy Tuesday night.  Now he's gone to the Bridge where he can breathe with ease, and run, and settle down in a special patch of sunlight.

I loved that little spook.  I'm going to miss him.

He left me his woobie.  He's in my heart forever.


Mr Tucker
July 1997 - March 2011

Hiatus

Posted: Monday, March 14, 2011 by Travis Cody in
6

It's March Madness and I'm taking this week off.  I'll have a Set for Five on Friday.

See you soon.

Five on Friday Set 59

Posted: Friday, March 11, 2011 by Travis Cody in
10


Robert Palmer (1949-2003) was a Grammy winning singer songwriter, a master at putting his own spin on covers of popular tunes, and a snappy dresser.

He is also on the list of artists taken much too soon, dead at 54 from a sudden heart attack.


Get a playlist! Standalone player Get Ringtones


If you've never joined in, give it a try.  I know you've got some favorite music you'd like to share with the FoF gang.  Here's how to play along.

1. Grab the banner, make your post title Five on Friday, and be sure to link back here.
2. Go to Playlist.com to make your Set of five songs. You may choose a particular theme to share with us, or post random tunes if that's your vibe for the day. You can simply post the Set, or you can add a little summary about what you are sharing.
2a. Don't feel restricted by the tracks listed on Playlist.com. And don't be discouraged if the Embed code won't work. You're welcome to use any type of media to share your Sets.
3. Be sure to sign Mr Linky so everyone can visit your Set.
4. No tags, but feel free to invite your friends to play along if they need a post topic on a Friday.

Go forth and enjoy music!