I Got You - SYTYCD

SYTYCD has been on for a couple weeks, and today was the first time a routine has really stood out to me. This is the favorite "power couple" right now, but I'm not personally a fan of the girl yet. I think I give the most credit to Nappy Tabs, the choreographers (They are the ones shown at the end of the clip.)

My favorite, although brief, moment is at 40 seconds where there's the slight hesitation up on their toes. I also love the sequence that starts around 59 seconds because of the power and openness of the moves. This dance also have a few parts that remind me of the "Bleeding Love" routine, especially around 52 seconds and the two quick jumps at 1:30.

P.S. The premise of this dance is that the guy was just left at the altar and his best friend is there to comfort him...He then realizes that he should be with her. And she of course was waiting and ready to jump aboard that idea. (Maybe note only a little sarcasm there...)

Late Night Facebook Quizzes

After my last post about a fake Facebook relationship, my dear friend Grace reminded me of the times we created what we thought were HILARIOUS quizzes on Facebook. This always happened late at night...so late that I don't know if anyone else will ever quite appreciate our humorous jokes.

So yesterday I went on a hunt for these quizzes. We made them in 2007 (I found that out yesterday), so I wasn't sure if Facebook was already using applications or if maybe the quizzes were an old feature that disappeared with redesign after redesign.

I was lucky enough to find the Facebook Quizzes application and to find both of our awesome quizzes still posted.

I don't remember which came first, but you should definitely check out both "Grace's Birthday Quiz..Whup 22!!!" and "Karianne's Kool Kuiz."

I would also like to give an shout out to the quiz titled, "Jenna's Jivin Juiz," which we unfortunately never completed. :(

I actually retook my own quiz last night and scored a very honorable 100 percent. I don't know how I got them all correct considering the late-night loopiness we were experiencing at the time.

My favorite question on my quiz is #13:

13. One of my bad habits is...

Staying up late with Grace

Biting my toenails

Spiting when I talk

Spinning twice when the doorbell rings

Each answer still makes me crack up...especially when I imagine the last option. :P

My favorite question from Grace's quiz is #15. (The first option is my favorite.)

15. How did Grace have to unlock her car last year?

Two knocks and a clap

Sliding a coat hanger under the passenger side door

Through the sun roof

From the trunk

My brief relationship with Kirk

I have a million other things I'm working on right now, but I got distracted looking at some pictures and this one cracked me up, so I wanted to share the story.

It's a small picture...

And there's a funny story behind it. :) You see, Kirk was a member of the apartment of guys my apartment was really good friends with my junior and senior years in college. We met them in Bountiful Court, became instant apartment best friends (pretty much), and later convinced them to move into a really ghetto apartment so they would be next door to us. Needless to say, we all spent a lot of time together.

If I remember correctly, there was one Sunday evening when Grace and I were at the guys' place and had to use a computer. Kirk willingly obliged and went to do something else. We found ourselves in a predicament: Kirk was still signed into Facebook.

So being the awesome and funny girls that we are, we decide to comment on my wall from his profile. The result was something like the following:

"Hey Karianne, I've loved spending time with you this week. You are amazing and I can't wait til I see you Wednesday."

(Again that is totally paraphased based on my very poor memory. If anyone remembers different details, please inform me!)

Then we sign Kirk out of his account, and sign into mine where I respond on his wall:

"Kirk you are awesome too! Thanks so much the other night. I had so much fun. I'll see you later! :)"

At this point we thought we were done. We signed out and went back to our apartment.

A couple hours later, Kirk and his roommates show up at our place. We think he HAS to know something about our little prank and act all suspicious until someone asks what's up.

So we tell him.

He thinks it's funny and moves on.

A few minutes later, Grace and I find ourselves with Kirk's laptop again and, guess what, he's signed in.

We simply can't resist the tempation.

Kirk and I become Facebook official.

But we have to make it seem legit. Legit means pictural proof. (Yes, I made up that word.) We spend a lot of time with these boys so there HAS to be something that would prove the realness of our relationship. The above picture was the best we could find in that short amount of time.

Kirk and I were dressed up. We were standing next to one another. It was perfect.

So we confirm the virtual relationship and change my profile picture. We sign off for the evening and we all go to bed ready to begin our weekdays that next Monday morning.

Kirk probably didn't hear about what we'd done until 10-10:30 a.m. when he starts getting phone calls from close friends and family.

We think we were hilarious.

And that's all I remember. :)

The following is the ACTUAL picture from which we cropped the love photo of Kirk and I. It's from homecoming that year where my date (Joey) is on my other side. Good times friends, good times. 

My 9:55 alarm

When I first started noticing you, you were an annoying disturbance. For a brief moment, I'd think I was popular or needed. My excitement would quickly fade when I'd see that it was only you.

Somehow over time, my perception changed.

When you arrive these days, I smile, sometimes laugh, and get a little pick-me-up near the end of my day. I don't think about you until that moment that you remind me you exist, but then I remember. I could make you disappear, but I can't bring myself to do it. And so you remain a part of my daily routine.

I fondly refer to you as my 9:55 alarm. Because that's what you are. I think I set you when I started going to the gym at 5:30 a.m. as a reminder that I needed to get to bed. But I stopped going to bed that early, and I started noticing you. Hearing your buzz (since my phone is ALWAYS on vibrate), I rummage through my purse or scan my room, or somehow try to find the phone. But you were just my alarm.

These days I hear your buzz and I say, "Oh that's just my 9:55 alarm. He comes to visit me every day." Although I JUST realized you don't show up on the weekends. I saw that it was almost time for you to come, so I placed my phone by Susie so she could experience a smile. You didn't come and disappointed me for the first time. :P

I don't know when I'll turn you off. But for now, you will remain in my life.

(Sorry folks, this post is all a little weird talking to my alarm as "you")

The urge to write

I've had a crazy couple of weeks and amidst it all I've been craving to write. To summarize some of the craziness: I was out of town for three weekends in a row, got sick, had my sister get admitted to the hospital, and got crazy busy at work. I was really itching for a change for a while, but I think everything added up all at once completely throwing me off of my normal schedule.

But hey, that's life right? It's about learning how to balance the demands of our everyday routines with the things that help us maintain healthy emotional, physical and spiritual parts of who we are. I'm learning about the things that help me stay positive and motivated to continue venturing on. I'm learning that sometimes the things that are the best for me are the things I put off or are the first things I cut when life gets busy. It's all a process, and I hope I'm progressing.

I found this quote today that I like:

"Everyone's got their own path. Some are only just beginning, while others end all too soon. However you do it, the fact is, the path you're on--the choices you make--define who you are. Choices. They're the building blocks of our lives; they shape our past, present, and future and despite all the mistakes I've made, every new day brings with it new choices and a whole new world of possibilities." - Being Erica

Another Season of SYTYCD

If you don't know, SYTYCD is "So You Think You Can Dance."

I'm always really excited for this show every summer (well for the last few years). Once I know when to expect it, I get excited and start watching clips of all of my favorite dances from the past. This may or may not be good because it builds up my expectations with the bests of the bests dances of the past.

Regardless, I'm excited to see what this season brings. Today was the first day the contestants danced in partnerships, and tomorrow will be the first time dancers are voted off. Initially I was a little disappointed with the selection because there weren't many who stood out to me personally.

We didn't get to see impressive solos from Vegas like this from Lauren Froderman, last season's winner.


But I guess I just need to keep watching and see who eventually emerges as my personal favorite.

So here's who has stood out for me today:

Even though Nigel (If you watch, you know who he is) keeps talking about the girl powerhouses this year, not many of them stand out for me so far. I'm thinking my favorites are going to be guys this year. Two dances stood out to me this week.

Ryan Ramirez and Ricky Jaime - Lyrical Hip-Hop (Although I hate Ryan's socks/shoes)


Iveta Lukosiute and Nick Young - Ballroom


That being said the first five dancers to stand out to me are the following:
I reserve the right to change my opinion at any time! As I'm writing this, I'm already questioning my picks :P

Caitlynn Lawson (Jazz)
Miranda Maleski (Contemporary)
Nick Young (Tap)
Marko Germar (Contemporary)