Washington DC Temple Spires

Hope you had a wonderful Sunday!

SYTYCD Top 12 Performance & Results Shows

Performance Show:
Ummm....Cat's shoes are weird.

Some brief notes since I watched the show tonight instead of last night:
Ashleigh & Jakob - LOVED both numbers. The jazz routine was great, and I really loved the cha cha.
Karen & Victor - Their hip hop was awful. We need to maybe not have Laurie Ann Gibson choreograph anymore...The tango was pretty good.
Legacy & Kathryn - I really liked their jazz routine. Very cool choreography, and they danced it so well. I didn't love the waltz. I loved Kathryn in the waltz, but Legacy struggled. Since he cried, I'm sure they got lots of votes.
Molly & Nathan - The hip hop was kind of ill conceived and not danced well. And can-can? Seriously? Didn't love it.
Noelle & Russell - I liked the contemporary routine, though I was a little distracted by Diana Krall's man-voice. Emily was highly disturbed by the samba. Especially the ending. I swear they missed a step.
Ellenore & Ryan - I really liked both of their routines as well. I thought that Lindy hop was so, so cute, and this is one of the first Broadway pieces where I liked the choreography and the performance. This new choreographer is great.

Results Show:
Cat's outfit & hair - love the dress and hair, a bit heavy on the eye makeup.

Group Dance -
This has GOT to be a Sonya dance. Has to be. It's just too bizarre. Okay. Wrong again. Tabitha & Napoleon? Wow.

Emily when she saw Mary's dress: "Her dress looks like Ella's (my 10 week old niece) poop."

Bottom 3 Couples:
Victor & Karen
Molly & Nathan
Ryan & Ellenore (What?! That one surprises me.)

Ballerina - beautiful, beautiful work

Karen - I'm not sure about it. Lots of hair flipping.
Victor - He's very angry. I don't love him. Technically great, but I don't love him.
Mollee - Nope. Too frantic. Too much tumbling.
Nathan - Cool spin on the floor.
Ellenore - I really like her. I think she's my favorite girl right now.
Ryan - Not a fan of the shirt. And we universally hate ballroom solos.

Not watching Shakira, but as I'm fast forwarding, I feel like she's channeling (copying) Beyonce right now.

Results:
Karen is going home. I think that is a great choice, actually. I might have sent Mollee home because I really hated her solo.

And Victor. Kind of surprised at that one. I thought they were going to send Ryan home for a minute. And I really think they've given Nathan too many chances.

Top 10!
Jakob, Ashleigh, Legacy, Kathryn, Noelle, Russell, Ryan, Nathan, Mollee, and Ellenore

How cute is this?

I put this on my photography blog today as well. I just think it's such a cute photo. We took it last fall one day on the way to Aunt Carolyn's house. He was such a good sport when I was figuring out my camera last summer and fall.

And I can't believe how much he has changed.

SYTYCD - Top 14 Results Show

Group Number - I'm guessing Sonja choreographed this. However, I like it. Don't usually love her. It's very cool with the sheets coming off and all the jerky movement. And lots of fantastic pictures all over the stage. Very interesting.

Oooh. I'm totally wrong. Wade and Amanda Robson. We usually don't see Wade so often. He's got kind of an art theme going this season. I should have known from the costumes that it was Wade and Amanda. And I think it's great that Adam always remembers to give praise and comments to the choreographers.

RESULTS:
Jakob & Ashleigh - safe
Karyn & Kevin - bottom 3
Ryan & Ellenore - safe (good job, America!)
Noelle & Russell - safe
Victor & Channing - bottom 3

I'm doing quite well so far!

Legacy & Kathryn - safe
Mollie & Nathan - bottom 3

I'm three for three. I can't remember the last time that happened. Go, me! *grin*

Guest Dancers - The SYTCYD Bollywood choreographer guy and a bunch of other people in beautiful clothing. (Annie - are you DYING?!?!) I defy you to watch a Bollywood dance like this and not be completely grinning at some point. It's way too fun and happy. (Cat! Get out of my head! I totally typed that before you said the same thing!)


Does anyone want to go see New Moon? I'm pretty sure Diggity won't go with me. *grin* As a Jacob fan, I feel obligated to see this one, even though this book is the one that made me so crazy I almost threw it out a window and never picked up another Stefanie Meyer book again. I've since read all of them. Including The Host, which I started and then also wanted to throw out a window. It's much better as an audio book, by the way.


SOLOS:
Karyn - not sure if that's going to help her much
Kevin - same as Karyn
Channing - lots of kicks and frantic movement. It kind of worked. She seemed more motivated
Victor - great turns. Lots of turns though. They are amazing though. (Cat! Seriously!)
Mollee - I don't think that was choreographed very well. No routine requires more than one tumbling run. run-kick-run-arabesque-arial...
Nathan - Wow. His turns and the control he had coming out of them. Holy cow. That was great.

Fast forwarding through the girl with heavy eyeliner that is singing a song...

FINAL RESULTS:
Mollee is safe. So is Karyn. Channing is going home. I'm a little surprised. I'm sure that is why Nigel gave his speech about basing the eliminations on everything up to this point.

Nathan is safe. Victor is safe, but is warned about the turning. Kevin is going home. Bummer. I liked him too. Not as much as Russell, but I like him.

Well, do we agree? Are we happy?

SYTYCD - Top 14 Performance Show

Cat! Working the big hair, silver dress and backlight! Rawr! She's hosting SYTYCD in the UK as well right now. I can't believe she's even awake.

Aside - Ryan is becoming Dmitry with the shirtlessness and open shirts. I'm not complaining, I'm just saying...

Excellent Botox joke, Adam. Well done.

Ashleigh & Jakob - Hip Hop (choreography by Tabitha & Napoleon)
Oooh. I like this one. Good acting, great choreography. Loved the flip. I thought the text thing on the screen behind actually added something. They've been a little gimmicky with that screen, but that worked. Raves from the judges. Well deserved. I liked that.

Karyn & Kevin - Broadway (choreography by Spencer Liff)
Spencer Liff is a Broadway performer turned choreographer. I think he choreographed that pretty well. Very traditional Broadway stuff. But, I don't think they are performing very well. It's kind of boring. Also, I'm slightly surprised that Christina Applegate can sing. I was annoyed she was given a starring role on Broadway. I think they're going to be in the bottom 3 again. Poor kids.

Noelle & Russell - Foxtrot (choreography by Eddie Simon)
Again? Poor things. I hope Russell does a better job. That was a really cute routine. Noelle seems to be doing extremely well. Great music choice. (The new Michael Buble album is fabulous.) I thought they did really well with that routine. Judges agree. I think the thing that bothers me most about the foxtrot is that it sounds like it should be a fast dance like the jive and it's so SLOW.

Aside - Why is Nigel starting the comments tonight?

Channing & Victor - Jazz (choreography by Tyce Diorio)
I have it on good authority that Tyce is not a very nice person. I think knowing that makes me more annoyed when I watch him in introduction packages. I love this music. Bobby McFerrin is a genius. The cage is cool. I really liked that routine. They need to let Tyce do jazz and contemporary and keep him away from Broadway.

Kathryn & Legacy - Paso Doble (choreography by Tony Meredith)
I'm skeptical about this one. It was pretty good. The ending was a little rough, it seemed. That little arm gesture Legacy did as they went to break was annoying. The judges agree they did a good job on the routine.

Ellenore & Ryan - Contemporary (choreography by Travis Wall)
Loved that. That Travis can put a dance together. Loved the running jump into the turn. That was great. They danced it so beautifully. Raves from the judges. Well deserved raves. I'm glad Mary explained her Grandma's quote to Nigel. I was very confused. The judges LOVED it.

Just saw the Glee preview. VERY excited that Matthew Morrison is singing.

Mollee & Nathan - Pop/Jazz (choreography by Laurie Ann Gibson)
Sorry, Laurie. No chills here. I think it was the music. I also think that they may not practice enough. When they have unison moments, they are not exactly together. I think it is a maturity thing.

My bottom 3:
Karyn & Kevin
Channing & Victor
Mollee & Nathan

I'm sure that won't be the way it goes, but they were my least favorite three dances. What were your favorites? Least favorites?

Sunday's Shot - Salt Lake City LDS Temple

Have a wonderful Sunday!

SYTYCD - Top 16 Performance/Results

I realize I'm days late and dollars short in posting this blog, and I've tried to watch SYTYCD without writing, and I just can't do it. I had determined that I really don't have time to blog about the show, but I just can't help it. I will strive to write the blogs on the nights the shows air, but I can't promise anything...

How's that for commitment to excellence in SYTYCD blogging? *grin*
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Performance Show:

Fancy, severe hair and dress from Cat this evening. Not sure yet how I feel about it.

Karyn & Kevin - Hustle
I really like the two of them. Karyn is one of my favorites. Don't know much about the hustle, but they seem to be doing a good job.

Ashleigh & Jakob - Jazz
Mandy Moore is awesome. This dance was right up there with the Neil and Sabra table dance for me. Very, very cool. And I loved seeing the BYU carillon in Ashleigh's graduation picture

Peter & Pauline - Quickstep
I really think the only reason that wasn't a complete hot mess was because of that little story they added on. It was adorable performance wise, but from what I could see, their technical dancing was awful.

Aside - Are the dances longer this season? I feel like they might be. I have no proof. They just feel longer. Not necessarily in a bad way.

Kathryn & Legacy - Broadway
Excellent. A new choreographer. I really like Andy B. He's a great choreographer. Cute routine too.

Another aside - I'm loving seeing the Season 5 kids behind the choreographers tonight. I loved that live tour show so much this season.

Channing & Victor - Contemporary
That was pretty powerful. I love Stacey Tookey so far. I liked the routine more than the judges did, I think.

Ellenore & Ryan - Hip Hop
Lil C. I love Lil C. The only downside (and it's a small downside) to Adam being here every week is that we don't get Lil C to judge this season. Ryan seems to be doing well with this. I'm kind of surprised that he seems to have picked up the style. I don't love the choreography or music. It seems like a difficult song to get inside the pocket and really move. (Yes, Dana, that was for you. *grin*)

Dear Mary,
That was an awkward Hot Tamale announcement/scream for Ellenore. Let's step up our judging game, shall we?
Thanks,
Macy

Mollee & Nathan - Salsa
I would hate to have to do this dance with Janette in the audience. Janette would have completely killed that dance. They were awful, from what I can tell. Judges agree. That was really one of the worst performances I've seen in a while.

Noelle & Russell - Afro Jazz
First, I love this music. I have one of these Mickey Hart/Planet Drum CDs and I just love it. One of my favorite dances tonight. (Other favorite - Jakob & Ashleigh) Russell was fantastic. Those back walkovers were awesome. Great routine.

Cat's outfit and hair grew on me about halfway through the show. I knew you were wondering.

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Results Show:

Group Dance - Warrior Dance
Interesting. Not my favorite. Some cool moments, but overall, not loving it. Dave Scott is hit or miss for me.

Cat, you're so pretty. I love that dress. Legs for miles. Good grief.

Bottom 3 Couples:
Ellenore & Ryan
Peter & Pauline
Karyn & Kevin

Hello, Dominic!

Nathan and Mollee should have been in the bottom. They were awful. Ah, the power of the 15 year old girl...I feel sorry for Nathan getting raked over the coals for Nigel's point, but the point needed to be made.

Alvin Ailey Dance. So amazing. I love to stand outside their studios in Midtown Manhattan and just watch the beautiful people dance. It's such a great space. Floor to ceiling windows on every floor so you can watch from outside. That was a fantastic piece.

Ellenore - She's such a creative dancer. I really liked that.
Ryan - He almost missed that tumbling run. Holy cow. That was pretty good for a ballroom solo until he nearly face planted.
Pauline - That was cute. Holy crap, she's tiny. She could fit in my pocket.
Peter - Acappella tap solo. Interesting. He's a good tapper though.
Karen - Awesome. And I really detest the ballroom solos. She's fabulous.
Kevin - That lay down on the floor was sick. Very, very cool. I'm sad they were in the bottom, but I loved both of their solos.

Nigel is a cranky old man tonight. Good gravy.

Pauline & Peter are going home. That's the right decision. I like them both, but I think they were the weakest two.

I know I say this a lot, but I just adore Cat.

I'm done now.

Except...wasn't Glee awesome this week? Loved it. I laughed, I cried a couple times. Excellent episode.

Okay. Now I'm done.

A Day in Boston - November 9, 2009

On Monday morning, G-Man and I went to pick up a new lens I just purchased from the awesome people at LensPro to Go. (Seriously, if you ever have need to rent a lens or camera, give Paul a call.) I'd also promised a trip to the park. Since we were already in Concord and it was a beautiful day, we just kept driving to Boston. I needed to do some location scouting, and I thought G-Man would like the Public Garden and Boston Common. I love walking around Boston. It's such a beautiful, unique city.

And I was thrilled to discover, among other things, that Boston Common has a playground. I think that was the highlight of G-Man's afternoon. My highlight was these photos of him and of some of the sights around the Common and Public Garden.

Happy Birthday, Sister!

I hope you have this much fun today. Love you!

I love to see the temple...

*To keep me motivated and working through editing my temple pictures, I'm going to post a favorite temple photo each Sunday. Please let me know if you have questions about the images or if you would like links to see more.