Thursday, September 30, 2010

You know it's for real when....

Dear Madonna,

Well we did it. With all the travel and rehearsals (and juggling of our "real" jobs), the deadline kind of snuck up on us, but yesterday I got the confirmation email:
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You have regsitered for the US Open.
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Yikes!
The Meat and I actually performed our routine for the first time this past weekend at Swing Niagara - knowing we'd be disqualified based on one of the elements, but it was important to get it out there, in costume, and on a competition floor.
Speaking of floors....I seem to remember reading a profile of Benji and Heidi in 5678Swing magazine - years ago! - in which Heidi was quoted saying something to the effect "We've done everything we can to get ready for this moment; the only thing can't control is the floor".  So true!  All of the competitors were affected, but (thankfully!) nobody got hurt.
Oh, and gremlins got into the computers on which they were managing all the competitions and scoring - that was a drag - but otherwise the event was a blast!  Toronto did amazingly well in all the competitions, and we defended the Pro-Am Challenge Cup.
Grapes and Ju-Jubes for all!!!
Ciao,
Julie

Tuesday, September 21, 2010

Pin-up Girl

Dear Madonna,

Thanks for the 16-month calendar, although I was expecting something with squares for each day of the month where I could write down my appointments, dance events, etc.  Instead each month features a two-page spread of...well, you.

TTYL,
Julie

Saturday, September 18, 2010

Beam Me Up, Scottie!

Dear Madonna,

I picked up my US Open costume this week from Shkank. The Spandex feels *awesome* on, and the sequins really catch the light - but it has a bit of a Star Trek thing happening, don't you think?  Anyway, Shelley has given it her style stamp of approval, and I test-danced it last night with Nick. No major problems - whew! The Meat's matching shirt will be ready next Thursday, just in time for Swing Niagara.

Meanwhile, the Meat is following doctor's orders for his shoulder, which blew out on him last week in Phoenix. Yikes!  We're really getting close now and after all this time and effort (and expense) neither one of us can afford to get injured.

Now I have to figure out how to put on false eyelashes... Any hints?

Ciao,
Julie

Saturday, September 11, 2010

Mi Casa Es Una Casita

Dear Madonna,

Greetings from the Hilton Pointe at Squaw Peak in Phoenix, Arizona. The Meat and I are nicely ensconced in a bi-level Casita and had a productive rehearsal this afternoon in one of the breakout rooms reserved for Private lessons. The ending still needs work, but it's getting there.

I started my day with a Zumba class and a bit of lifting at the gorgeous fitness facility/spa here at the resort, and went back this evening to get a $15 manicure and margarita. (OPI's "Meet Me at the Star Ferry, in case you wanted to know.)

The Meat's girlfriend, Summer, just arrived - quite unexpectedly; a wonderful surprise for both of us. He's been whining about wanting a massage....  So I guess I'm sleeping on the pull-out couch downstairs tonight - which fine by me; I'll probably stay up much later dancing tonight anyway.

Yesterday I put my hotel hat on for a couple of hours and did site inspections of this hotel, its sister property, The Pointe at Tapatio, and The Different Pointe of View, a stunning Four Diamond restaurant - newly renovated - overlooking the entire valley. Hence the generous upgrade to this lovely Casita (plus cheese plate and bottle of Canyon Road Merlot.)

I love my job.

Julie

Sunday, September 5, 2010

Meet "The Meat"

Dear Madonna,

I can't believe I haven't told you about this already: yours truly will be competing at this year's US Open Swing Dance Championships.

My partner, affectionately known as "The Meat", picked me up - quite literally - at SwingDiego last May. We met late one night before the awards ceremony for his "kids" (he coaches a couple of young competitive dancers - so cute!) and started practicing the next day.

I should mention that the US Open is the most prestigious competition on the West Coast Swing dance circuit.  We're competing as Masters - over 50 years old - so the field is somewhat limited, but there are some very experienced competitors in that division, well-known to the judges, and probably accustomed to the pressure of dancing on the US Open floor.

I should also mention that The Meat lives in Prescott, Arizona. It's been a *crazy* schedule of travelling and meeting up at dance events all over the country in order to finish the choreography, rehearse, and get private coaching sessions.  He's here in Toronto this week, and we've ordered our costumes - so the whole thing is getting more and more real.

The Meat heads back to Arizona on Monday, then I fly out there on Wednesday and attending Desert City Swing (http://www.desertcityswing.com/) next weekend . He'll be back here again just before Swing Niagara (http://www.swingniagara.com/) where we hope to put the routine on the floor for the first time.

I keep imagining Robert Royston, the emcee for the US Open, announcing:  "From Prescott, Arizona, and Toronto, Canada...."

Ciao,
Julie