The results are in...

Group Performance Is Brand new day from The Wiz, which they mercifully choose not to turn into a Michael Jackson tribute. The dance is pure pandemoneum, with people running around everywhere. The costumes are a strange mix of the circus + Lion King. And speaking of cats, (kinda?) Deely is a sex kitten tonight- nothing but eyeliner, bed head and a disco nightie. Meow! (wonder what Mia thinks of her....) And the eternal question-how did they all get changed so fast? I think we can put the "performances are pre-recorded" mystery to bed now.

Time for the big reveal....
First up: Vitolio and Carla vs. Evan and Randi. Surprising no one- (ok at least not me)- Evan and Randi are safe.
Next: Jeanette and Brandon. No comparison/stalling here...safe.
Now it's Kayla and Kupono vs. Melissa and Ade. K&K are headed to the bottom three. Mia is shocked and says she thought their performance was perfection. That takes a bit of the mystery out of who she might vote for later....
Last: Jeanine and Phillip vs. Caitlin and Jason- This seems like an obvious choice- BUT NO! I am beyond surprised to see Jeanine and Phillip in the bottom three. I guess after reading everyone's comments I shouldn't have felt they were untouchable, but they're two of my favorites, so I am sad (but still not worried...)
Mary declares this the closest competition in SYTYCD history. Not sure about all that- does anyone else think they're pushing us just a bit too hard to love this season? Stupid season four, spoiling me with its awesomeness.
So- before they dance their solos, by guesses to go home are Vitolio and Carla. We'll seeee....

Time for the crazy dance spectacle of the week, and it does NOT dissappoint. A girl and a guy- or is it two guys? Or is THAT the girl? Anyway, they give an incredible performance. Shows a different side of ballet- If Melissa and Ade's choreography had this strength mixed with grace I could watch it all night....

On to the solos:
Carla
Song: Backbird by Dionne Farris
This is her third time in the bottom. Goodbye carla, 3...2...1...

Vitolio
Song: Here Comes Goodbye by Rascal Flatts
Nice song title- irony much?

Kayla
Song: Stupid by Sarah McLachlan
She is just great. Quickly becoming a favorite of mine.

Kupono
Song: Somewhere over teh Rainbow by Israel Klaksflskjsdfkv;owei (or some other Hawaiian thing)
ugh-waving your arms around for thirty seconds doesn't count as a solo. Wave Aloha Kupono. (and by that I mean goodbye!)

Jeanine
Song: Moonlight Sonata from Smart Sleep with Classical (do they give that away with mattress purchases?)
First time we've seen her do contemporary (her style). She called it a blessing in disguise to show off her skills. I loved it.

Phillip
Song: You'll Find a Way by Santigold (Santigold, like Hansel, is SO hot right now!)
He is just awesome- so unique. Cat was selfishly thankful he had to perform, and I agree.

Judges deliberate- Quick full body shot of Mary- I know Rachel fell in love with her shoes!

Musical performance this week: Kelly Clarkson (SYTYCD + AI: the merging of two reality show titans...I'm pretty sure this kind of thing could tear a hole in the universe. You've been warned.) She's actually singing live, which is good, but I'm not sure I agree with her deciion to let a mail man play guitar in her band. My mom says Kelly looks like a girl from teh state fair. When questioned, she clarifies- "You know, stringy hair, kinda slutty. Why would her agent let her out looking like that?" Bravo mom. Snarky, while still managing to resist the obvious fat joke. We should get her a spot in the rotation.

Results time:
Girls- unanimous decision. Jeanine, you're the strongest of the evening, Kayla, you're the judge's and choreographer's favorite, and Carla....don't let the door hit you in the leotard on your way out.
Guys- unanimous decision. Phillip, you're unique, but we have to say somethign challenging to you so it doesn't seem unfair, Vitolio, we're just going to ramble some stuff about stage presence..you decide if it's good or bad, Kupono, you're WEAK. Like really bad. But don't worry! We have no sense! Or coherent standards! So Vitolio goes home! what??

So there you have it guys and dolls.....now tell me- were you surprised? Delighted? Annoyed that Asuka keeps slutting up the audience week after week? Let me hear it!

Imagine a Creative Dance Title Here!

Hey Sisters (and honorary sisters…and brothers?)! I’m happy to have you all visiting this week, but I have to warn you: I got home tonight around 11:30 from a YL girl night to see “My Sister’s Keeper”. Great movie, but all the weeping combined with the late hour has wiped out any trace of wit I may have previously had. But dance waits for no man- 7 couples remain- it’s time!

Intro, recap, theme song….Cat comes out in a fun pink dress- with pockets!! Love.

Guest judge tonight is Mia Michaels! I’m torn here, because I love her as a judge, but I’m pretty sure this means we won’t see any of her choreography tonight. Kind of a double-edged sword (later she’ll use the same phrase to describe “prop dances”. We are kindred spirits.)

Before we get going, Cat lures us in with a promis of a special announcement later- $5 dance bucks says it’s about season six. Time will tell.

For each of the couples, they recap the last three weeks. For real- are people just now tuning in? Bor-ing. I miss the weird, forced, slightly disturbing “secrets” they usually tell. Without these segments, we’re going to have a hard time hitting our creepiness quotient for the week. More importantly though- they don’t show the couple picking a “random” dance out of the hat anymore (come to think of it, not sure they’ve done that at all this season…). Something smells fishy here- I’m starting to think this competition is a little bit more shall we say “organized” than we may have thought. Keep an eye out tonight….

And we’re off:

Jeanette & Brandon

Dance: Cha Cha Cha

Choreographers: Jean Marc and France Genereux

Song: Hush Hush; Hush Hush The Pussycat Dolls

Need something spicy and sassy. Their practice is a mess but I feel like Jeanette is going to rock this- she’s a Cuban from Miami….this is right in her sexy wheelhouse. The dance is indeed fun and sassy, but I have to ask- does Brandon ever wear sleeves? Maybe he rips them off every time he invites someone to the gun show? Nigel proclaims it the best cha cha he has ever seen on this show. Evah. EV-AH. And then it’s Mary’s turn- Oh no…the train is coming….they get first class tickets to the Hot Tamale Train! Yes they do! WhooHoo!!!! (She has somehow combined all of her craziness into one comment. Bravo!)

Kayla & Kupono

Dance: Contemporary

Choreographer: Sonya Tayeh

Song: Eyes on Fire by Blue Foundation

Dance’s theme is Kupono trying to pull Kayla towards death- perhaps foreshadowing of him sucking her into the bottom three? Just a thought. Love watching Kayla dance-She totally got the quirkiness of the choreography, but still was so elegant. Nigel solidified his place in my heart, when he mocked Mary during her critique- “Yes they are! Yes they ARE!” They stay on the Hot Tamale train- it’s getting crowded- and sweaty. Mia loves the costuming and makeup. Should we trust a person who wears a Renaissance ruffle collar with a feather brooch? I say YES. And side note: Does anyone else think Mia and Sonya might make out a little bit after the show? Just wondering….

Randi & Evan

Dance: Broadway

Choreographer: Joey Dowling

Song: Rich Man's Frug from Sweet Charity

Second “coincidental” choreography choice of the night. Evan gets Broadway. That’s like challenging a dog to bark. They are one of my favorite couples- Randi’s like a little unitard clad cabbage patch doll. How tall is Joey though? She makes the dancers look like Oompa loompas. (the answer, apparently, is 6ft. Is Mia perhaps cheating on Sonya with this tall drink of water?) The song sounds like something out of Austin Powers and the dance is apparently meant as an homage to Bob Fosse, strange combination- but it worked overall. Mary mentions that each week the couples get 5 1/2 hours to learn the dance….impressive.

Caitlin & Jason

Dance: Pop Jazz

Choreographer: Brian Friedman

Song: Creator by Santigold

Concept here is a female alien that blew up earth- then comes to procreate with the last man on earth. Brian says Caitlin is going to impregnate Jason…I’m a little scared. Costumes are totally bizarre, Nigel reads my mind when he says “dancing condom” (though I believe it might also be described as a mash up of Godzilla, the tin man and a bike tire.) Very strange.

Jeanine & Phillip

Dance: Hip Hop

Choreographers: Tabither (as Cat would say) and Napoleon, or as Nigel says-NappyTab?? Or as Mia refers to them: Nap and Tabs.

Song: Love Lockdown, by Kanye West (note: I went through a phase where I listened to this song everyday…that plus NapTab guarantees I will love this no matter what)

Conspiracy theory continues here….our only hip hop dancer randomly gets his own style twice? Things that make you go hmmmmm. They’re dancing with a chain, which makes Nap nervous- and he’s not alone. I was pretty sure someone was going to break an ankle. (and I was even more sure Jeanine was going to break out of her top…) Truthfully though, Jeanine may not always be the best dancer- but I think she’s one of the best performers in the bunch (and not just because of her cleavage).

Melissa & Ade

Dance: pas de duex

Choreographer: Thordal Christensen

Song: Prokofiev’s Suite, from Romeo and Juliet

For real- this show is rigged. The ballet dancer gets a pas de duex…from Romeo and Juliet? I mean really. Why don’t you just give her The Nutcracker Suite? Come on. Nothing really to say here. I’m sure it was great, but it’s not really my thing. We’ll wait for Renee to weigh in. Nigel gives yet another pat on the back for the (his) show (as he does pretty much every week)- but he’s right about the range of dancing they show- there’s something for everyone!

Ok, one final couple- wait, no! It’s Announcement Time:

Carrie Ann Inaba, Nigel Lythgoe, Adam Shankman and Katie Holmes (yes, you read that correctly) have started a foundation called the Dizzy Feet Foundation. The goal is to expose underprivileged kids to the world of dance, and to search for and build new talent by giving kids scholarships. But wait- there’s more- Surprise Time!! Katie Homes will be performing on the show July 23rd (the 100th episode- who knew?!) Very interesting….(and for those of you who bet me earlier- congrats, I owe you 5 dance bucks. Redeemable for...very long recaps?)

Alright, we’ve made it- the final number:

Carla & Vitolio

Dance: Quick Step

Choreographers: Jean marc and France Genereux

Song: Puttin’ on the Ritz, by Rufus Wainwright

In a move that surprises no one, they’ve give the only new couple (made up of the two least popular dancers) what could arguably be called the hardest dance style on the show. Dance starts off cute- and then-Holy crap she just changed her dress on stage!! Reminds me of the quick change artists from America’s Got Talent. That’s pretty much the highlight here.

So there you have it. Another masterfully designed edition of the competition.

My prediction for the bottom three is tough this week, because no one really had a terrible time- but here goes:

• Caitlin and Jason- their dance may have been just a bit too odd. Oh, and Jason is really boring. So there.
• Carla and Vitolio- they’ve had a rough run, both have been in the bottom three multiple times. Their dance was good, but maybe not good enough to win them new fans.
• Melissa and Ade- not because it wasn’t great…just because it might have been a little bit slow for the main demographic of SYTYCD (alright…me.)

Your thoughts? And question: after all this discussion- do any of you actually vote? I just can’t get motivated to pick up the phone for these people. I keep waiting to catch the fever…..but nope. But stop back tomorrow. I’m taking the recap show on the road to my mom’s house (holla Cbus!) so we might have some fresh insight to share.

Now dish!

I’m an Aunt (again)!

Yesterday morning my brother and sister-in-law welcomed a new baby boy to their family.

Jacob Matthew
born 6-29-09

7lbs 3oz

Jacob, his parents, and two big sisters are all healthy and happy. Can’t wait to meet him!!

It's a great night to fight

Guess where we're going tonight.....
(here's where we pretend like I gave you eight guesses, shaking my head every time and acting more and more exasperated because NO...you're not even close. And trust me...you're not even close- unless you got the BIG clue in the post title.)

Dustin and I are going to see an MMA fight! A UCFC fight to be exact (which is just a fancy rip-off acronym for a local event- just kidding...thanks for the tickets Jay!). They're calling it Rumble on the Rivers though, which is pretty awesome. You can see the full card here...but tonight's "main event" is between WEC champ Jamie Varner, and Rich "No Love" Clementi, which I think is a fantastic threatening-yet-obvious nickname. Aren't all fighters "no love"? Or do some of them apologize after and offer to dress the others' wounds? Maybe they give tiny warnings before throwing an elbow? Careful- I'm about to wreck you...just a friendly little heads up! :)

I do love the nicknames though....there are a gagillion fighters, so anything to keep them straight is helpful. For some reason I always remember Sergio "The Latin Snake" Mora from the boxing show The Contender. Check out the sweet list of nicknames from his season. Why don't we all have tags like that in everyday life? I could be Courtney "The Snappy Dresser" Bowden married to Dustin "The Math Manace" Bowden. Fierce right?

Anyway- I wasn't super excited, BUT then I found out Tito Ortiz is going to be there making a special guest appearance. He's totally my favorite- and by favorite, I mean one of the three guys I've heard of! (Truthfully Dana White is my favorite, but he's the president, not a fighter, so that doesn't count....and my other favorite is B.J. Penn who is kind of a big baby sometimes so I can't really pick him...and Rich Franklin should probably be my favorite because he's a Christian...BUT-Tito is the only one coming to Pittsburgh, so he is hereby my favorite!)

So all that said, I'm pretty pumped to hear some loud Latin Rap music, see some guys get beaten to a bloody pulp, and maybe eat some popcorn? But my main concern is what to wear(surprised?). I mean what does one wear to a fight? Other than brass knuckles of course....I actually google image searched "Mandy Moore UFC" because she's about the girliest regular attender the MMA has. Turns out camo or black t-shirts are the way to go. I know at best, I'll still be a least mildly out of place...but hopefully dressing the part can help. Rachel is going too, but she has dark hair, a nose ring and a couple of tatt's, so she is infinately more qualified than I am.

So, wish me luck on my violent adventure. If you're curious- you can read more about the event here (not sure that you'd want to....but maybe some of Dustin's readers are still lurking around?) Oh, and don't bother supporting Dustin...he'll be like a kid in an octagonal candy store. Only replace candy with loose teeth.

Summer of Love

Things that are great about summer weekends:

1: An SUV full of planting projects (and cement for a new hammock post!)

2: Custom made hanging baskets.

3: Steak branded with your initials.

And of course- spending time with friends, freezie pops, softball games,

the weekly farmer's market, and naps under the ceiling fan.

These are just a few of my favorite things....care to share yours?

Enjoy your weekend!

Back

Well, we made it back safely and we had an absolutely amazing time at YL camp. Thanks to everyone who was praying for us. It was a truly great week, filled with laughter, adventures, deep conversations and some very real encounters with God. I could go on for days with stories, thoughts, feelings and of course- pictures- but it is already way past my bedtime. After all, tomorrow it's back to the working world.

While I gather my thoughts (and catch up on some sleep), stop over at Rachel's for this week's SYTYCD recap. For those of you who haven't gotten into the show yet- tonight's episode had a Butt Dance....I'm just saying, you might not want to miss it...

Rockbridge 2009: Day 6

Daily Prayer Requests:

Safe travel home, enthusiasm to start the next step of the journey,

bold leaders- to risk tough conversations and follow up with kids,

real lasting commitments and relationships