Ciao ciao, Italia!

I’m off to Italy for ten days! It is high time for a sister reunion!

A Memo

Dear Red Sox,

It’s lovely to see your faces here in the midwest. Really, it is. It’s just the slice of home that my half-settled Chicago apartment needs. And I actually appreciate the hour I’ve gained on your west coast games. But 2-6? That is not the kind of season I paid $169 to see. Step it up. 

xoxo

Hello, 26!

You know how I know it was a good birthday? Half-way through the festivities I discovered that the driver’s side window of my car had been smashed in by some hopeful (and subsequently disappointed) GPS hunter, and I didn’t really care. That’s just what some excellent company and a steady stream of pancakes, cheese, cupcakes and beer topped with seventy degree weather will do to a girl. 

On top of all that, I was flooded with love in the form of texts, voice mails, and Facebook messages. Steve Jobs even gave me a present: Hello, iPhone 3.0 preview! For me, Apple? MMS? I’d be lying if I said you shouldn’t have.

Remember that time I took a 10 day holiday alone? (UPDATED)

Did you read this before? Well, read it again. 

By day 9 I was giddy from Guinness and waiting for a band I had never heard to take the stage at Whelan’s, but what about days 1-8?

Monday, was spent flying and skipping around Philly. I was high on my own map reading skills and thrilled that I had not only found the Liberty Bell and Love Park, but a Belgium sugar waffle shop serving cheap deliciousness. I had been out for the obligatory cheesesteak, but stumbled upon this gem instead. I felt like this had to be setting the tone for happy discoveries to be made over the course of the trip.

After my seven hour layover, I flew to Dublin and subsequently navigated to bus system and the city roads to my hostel. I triumphantly dumped my backpack and sought out lunch.

Then the lady at the sandwich shop pitied me for being alone.

And then I cried.

No, really. The sandwhich lady made me cry.

Crocadile tears.

In Dublin.

So, I threw on my sunglasses eventhough it was cloudy and drizzly and disgusting out and made my way back to the hostel and up to my room.

Where I continued to cry.

Crocadile tears.

While on vacation in Dublin.

So, I called my sister, on the iPhone I was going to leave at home, and $40 later she had talked me off my ledge and helped me realize that I was jet lagged, exhausted, and in need of a shower. And yes, it was freezing and wet and gross and, no, I didn’t bring a coat, but I could buy one and why didn’t I take a nap and then go and do that.

And that I was in Dublin, so I should shut the hell up.

To be continued…

ADDENDUM: I had a fantastic time on my trip. I just never took the time to write about the rest of it. After that nap, I explored the Trinity College area, walked along the river and poked around Temple Bar. I went to a show that was part of the local fringe theatre festival and made a friend. Over the next few days I took a historical walking tour, did some boutique shopping, and hit up the Guinness Brewery at St. James’ Gate, the Jameson Distillery, and the Dublin Writers’ Museum. At the Dublin City Gallery I took in an exhibit on artist Francis Bacon’s studio that fired up my current infatuation with modern and contemporary art. I spent an evening at Whelan’s with the angst of Mick Flannery and took a day trip into the country side through Wicklow and Dun Laoghaire. Oh, and I went to Paris for a few days. How could I resist when the Eiffel Tower, the Louvre, and piles of tasty crepes were only a very cheap plane ride away? 

There are pictures, but not too many. I was too busy soaking everything up first hand. And while I got a little lonely sometimes (Examples: Sunday night in Paris when the sidewalks rolled up at 6pm, and another night in The City of Light when I got back to my hotel and flipped on CNN to find out that our stock market had crashed. That phone call home went something like, “What the hell are you guys doing over there?”), I don’t regret going alone. It’s something I’d recommend everyone do at least once. Yes, it’s intimidating, but damn did I feel proud of myself after I got myself from the airport to Paris proper to my hotel to the glass pyramids of the Louvre relying only on my map reading skills and very limited French. I’m not explaining it very eloquently, so you should hop on over to This Fish, because it’s just like this. And that’s why I can’t wait to do it again. In Italy. Ciao ciao!

Live Blogging* SYTYCD Finale

I’m going to attempt to live blog the performance finale of So You Think You Can Dance. I, however have the attention span of a goldfish. I’m also starting late. Classic me. 

 

So far Courtney and Twitch have danced. Courtney was wearing hideous pink plaid pants. NOT HER FAULT. GO COURTNEY. I love her. 

 

Mary is clearly drunk. 

 

It is break time. Courtney, go burn those pants.

 

Courtney’s bio. Have I mentioned I love her? Now she’s doing her solo to Missy Higgins, and I love her even more. I realize that I’m in the minority here. My sister, a real dancer person, hates her with the fire of 1,000 suns.

 

My sister is very bitter that Chelsie Hightower is no longer in the competitions. This makes her hate Courtney with the firey passion of 1,002 suns. She is now using her grief over Chelsie to guilt me into getting her milk. What next? Doing her laundry? Something involving a first born? 

Lauren’s now paranoid Courtney is going to read this and know that she hates her. So, Courtney Galliano, my sister doesn’t hate you. Just your knees, your feet, and your face. 

 

Just saw preview for new season of House. Squee.

 

BTW: What is going on with Kat’s eye makeup? Did they make her sleep on her face after she hit the chair?

 

I will be breaking in order to take in the awesomeness that i going to be Kaytee/Josh/Wade.

 

Oh, swoon, swoon, swoon. I love when they use John Mayer. I love Wade. May have to go see Wade’s magic show in Vegas. I still can’t believe Josh had no training before this show, nor that they gave poor Kaytee those bangs. 

 

And I’d like to add that I’m sad that Mandy Moore is on panel this week because I truly love her early 90’s music obsession. I was hoping for a heartfelt Amy Grant number tonight. No, I’m not kidding. However, I’m willing to bet we get some Mia tonight. We haven’t seen her in weeks. We’re betting she gets  either the girl-girl or the boy-boy number, but who knows? Lauren’s also betting that we see some work from Travis tonight. Maybe even Benji.

 

OMG TYCE.

OMG. TYCE! Ok, I was disappointed by that. We both were. First of all, what’s with all the doing Broadway style dances in bare feet this season? If the dancers always have to wear heels for ballroom, put them in character shoes for Broadway. It looks awkward. The whole thing was awkward, like a recital duet between two dance school seniors that don’t particularly like each other. And I’m a HUGE Tyce and Broadway fan. 

 

Courtney is really getting ripped on in judging tonight. I feel like they’re hinting at the audience that she doesn’t deserve to win. Everything they’re saying about her technique is true, but when Will got voted off clearly voting for the best dancer went out the window, and as Nigel reminded us, this show is about America’s FAVORITE (FAVOURITE?) Dancer. That was when I got on the Courtney train.

Anyway, last year foxes this year frilly dresses? The girls are getting screwed. 

BTW: I know I should be using time stamps, but I’m trying to enjoy the show, too. Comprende?

 

Ok. how did we never hear about the Josh/Twitch fued before? And a Russian WHAT?!

 

My quads are burning for both of those boys. Both Kat and Mary look a little hot and bothered. I would like to reiterate that the girls got screwed.

 

Mandy Moore, you are a foot nazi. One of the things I noticed during Kaytee’s solo is that I thought her feet looked fantastic, but what do I know?

 

I would like to this commercial break to whine about the SYTYCD camera work. This has been bothering us for episodes, nay, seasons. According to my sister, there’s petitions about the poor camera work on the discussion boards. I know they’re trying to make the pieces more dynamic for the television viewing audience, but it totally ruins the experience by editing the choreographers’ intended vision. When choreographers make dances, they keep the way they use the space in mind. Negative space is important, don’t zoom it out. Don’t cut dancers out of the frame, or make the frame so tight that they can dance out of it before the camera can catch up. Don’t move around so much that we lose the perspective of the dance. STAY STILL. WE’LL BE THRILLED. 

 

In other news, our mom likes Courtney. Lauren is SO biased because of the Chelsie factor. Also, Lauren might need a 12-Step for her John and Kate Plus Eight addiction. 

 

WOOT! WE ARE GOING TO THE ADDED BOSTON SHOW. 4TH ROW! Ahem. 

 

I love Foxtrot, but where the hell is Mia?

 

But I only liked this foxtrot. Does that really cut it for the finale? Michael Bublé was an excellent choice though. I just feel like they wouldn’t have been as excited about this routine on any old episode.

 

FINALLY! MIA AFTER THE BREAK! So, no Travis tonight, however we know from my sister (QUEEN OF THE BOARDS) that he must be choreographing for tomorrow’s results show. Why? Because Denise Wall, Travis’ mom, wrote it on her blog/dance studio site, obviously. Lauren is NEVER allowed to make fun of me for loving blogs again.

 

Mentally preparing for the glory that is Mia Michaels.

 

Oh, right, Josh first. I want to pinch his cheeks. You give that booty to Nigel, Josh!

 

Back to preparing for the Mia.

 

OOOOH! ooooh! AAAAAH! Our heads just exploded from confusion and realization. MIA MICHAELS TOP 4. This will be even better. Twitch and Courtney jive. Interesting. Definitely not Travis, but interesting.

 

OMG Courtney got so screwed with costumes this week. First those pink plaid pants, then a leotard? Just a leotard? With CROTCH FRINGE? And THOSE BOOTS? Aside from the way they wreck the poor girl’s lines, they are just HIDEOUS. 

 

Serious kudos to them for the way they pulled that out. It would be impressive any other day, but it’s damn near miraculous on a day like today. I can’t even imagine the rehearsal time they must be putting in this week. And Lauren just pointed out that they must be rehearsing the dances from previous episodes so they can perform the highlights tomorrow night. Can’t believe they don’t take an extra week off. Insanity. And, Nigel, I agree that you shouldn’t coddle the dancers, but how about you give them a fair shot and have them do their ass breaking jive at the beginning of the damn show? 

 

Last commercial break? What is with the Sim ladies in the Nuva Ring commercial? Seriously disturbing. And holler, Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants 2!

 

FINALLY MIA TIME!

 

Wow, interesting. What a difficult piece of music to hear. And boy was Josh feeling it. I love when it looks like a dancer is making the music with his or her body, not just dancing to it. We were both watching the boys more than the girls, and I don’t think it was the bare chested kilt thing. Courtney looked awkward, but that might have been because of her horrid red dress. What did she do to piss off wardrobe? Seriously? As Lauren put it, she looks like she’s taking a spaceshit to Scotland. I don’t know why one would take a SPACESHIP to Scotland, but ok. 

 

And I think Mary might have been blackballed by wardrobe, too. Really with the eyeliner? And the weave?

 

Tonight’s conclusions:

 

Wardrobe and makeup are clearly on a rampage or drunk. 

 

And that’s it.

 

Vote!

Goodnight!

 

*For my very first time. I’ve participated as the snarky sidekick in the live blogs of others, but never manned one of my own. Thanks for reading/plodding along with me!

Whoops

There are days when I actually feel like a real live grownup. And then I use the words “warm and fuzzy” during an interview.

Per Usual

I’m leaving for the airport in 3.25 hours and all I’ve done to prepare is try on a bikini bottom and set my DVR. huh. 

UPDATE: (t -2 hours) Having finally unpacked my suitcase from the wedding I was in back in January I’ve begun filling it with summer clothes from boxes I packed when I moved in… you guessed it- January.

Also, after thinking that all of my good clothes MUST be dirty, I discovered that 90% of my laundry from the last three weeks consists of workout clothes. How am I not in better shape?

If you’re feeling a little off today…

…you should give yourself a once-over. Your thong just might be on sideways. 

A Quotable Friend

“You’re eating again? I thought you wanted a boyfriend.”

 ”Mark Bellhorn has more game than me.” 

Cue the makeover montage

I am in the midst of what has to be an intense bout of growing pains. That’s the only explanation I’m willing to accept for all of my madness.  

Tomorrow, I’m getting a haircut. Because maybe if I look like a new woman, I can feel like one, too.