Bend...and Snap!!!

A much more fun version of the "Bend and Snap"

So I can't move my neck today because of all of the "Bend and Snaps" that my trainer had me do yesterday. (Actually...I think I just slept on it wrong, but it is much cooler when pain is associated with something athletic...plus, it makes for a much better blog entry...) Anyway, some people like to call these "Clean and Jerks", but I think "Bend and Snaps" sounds much cuter. I would MUCH rather Bend and Snap than Clean and Jerk. BTW, this picture is from my bachelorette party, NOT my training session. I promise I don't wear zebra print and heals to the gym. And I promise to never bend and snap in that capacity again... 

Tom from The Boxing Gym is my trainer, and he is awesome. I was nervous for my first session because everyone warned me that I might throw up. If you know me, you know that you should NEVER say something like that to me because my "mind" tends to be much stronger than my "matter". I am happy to say that I didn't throw up, and I can't wait to go back! I even got to throw some punches.
 

"Bending"

"Snapping"

Attempting a 2-hour ballet class afterward was interesting, but I figure that I'd better start building my endurance to dance 8 hours per day once the season starts. In the mean time, I will just continue "Bending and Snapping" in training and "bending" and "snapping" in classes and rehearsals. I love being a dancer!!! 

15 things I love about my husband, in no particular order...

1. Whenever I fold a load of his laundry, he ALWAYS has a match for EVERY sock! It works out perfectly every time! I don't know why, but I love this about him. He thinks it is weird, too...

2. Whenever I ask him to do something for me, he always (well, usually) says, "Sure!" in an excited tone, rather than, "ughhhh, fine."

3. He has never complained about all the zebra print in our house. Oh yeah...and the leopard spots in the basement (see photo). 

4. Whenever I ask, "Does this outfit look cute or awful?" (yes, those are the only two options), he really looks and considers it, and then offers constructive feedback (if necessary).

5. He buys me jewelry (as a psychologist, I know that positive reinforcement increases the likelihood of a behavior).

6. He comes to EVERY dance performance ALWAYS (even the same one three nights in a row), and then gives me notes afterward...usually complete with a reenactment of some portion of the choreography.

Patrick watching StLDT rehearse "the 40's" with Jim David (President of the Board), Cecil Slaughter (Artist in Residency), and Earl

7. Every morning when he is leaving for work, he whispers to me (still asleep), "I set the alarm for (insert time that I need to wake up), A.M. not P.M., ON not OFF." He knows that otherwise I would have to wake up to ask him, "Did you re-set the alarm? Is it on A.M., not P.M.? Is it ON not OFF?" Needless to say, there has been a slight learning curve to operating our alarm clock.

8. If he does something that makes me laugh, he will repeat it 300 times over the next few days...until it is no longer funny...but I still appreciate the effort.

9. He always fills my wine glass for a little longer after I say, "Stop."

10. He lets me park in the driveway and parks his car on the street. Our garage is reserved for empty boxes from when we moved in...2 years ago. Those extra 10 steps he has to take every day really add up!

11. He gave me our entire bedroom closet for my clothes AND the guestroom closet for my shoes/accessories. He uses a closet in the office. 

12. When I started to get a vein in my bicep from lifting weights, he said "I think it's hot!" when I was freaking out about it. I can be a little vain sometimes (no pun intended).

13. He told everyone at his work when I was hired by StLDT, and he checks the website every day for updates.

14. He is always available to help re-direct me when I get lost or for my panic-stricken phone calls, "QUICK! Do I take 270 North or South!?" He knows that he has no time to ask questions or chit chat because the exit is 1/4 mile away.

15. Part of his password is my birthday. I probably shouldn't have written that...

There are more, but 15 is a good round number...

Go big or go home...

"Go big or go home" is a philosophy that Patrick and I try to live by. Well...we first adopted it in Vegas (it didn't work out very well for us there), but now we try to apply it to the rest of our lives (minus Vegas). Anyway, right now in my life, this means that I am trying to take advantage of as many tools as possible to feed my dancing. The best/worst thing about progress is that it is addictive. The better I get, the better I want to get. Instead of stressing about how much I want to improve, I am trying to stay focused on solutions. This turns any anxiety into excitement for the future. I am currently reading Jason Selk's "10 Minute Toughtness: The Mental Training program for Winning Before the Game Begins." This book outlines his mental training program that he has used on a number of professional athletes, including the St. Louis Cardinals. He started with the Cardinals in 2006 when they won the world series. I don't follow sports very regularly, but I think that is a pretty big deal. I have known Jason for a number of years, and we are planning to adapt his program for the performing arts. I start meeting with him next week to develop my program, and I am excited to get going. I will keep you posted on my progress. My goal is to whip out four pirouettes by January :) I am starting with a personal trainer tomorrow for that, too :) Go big or go home! Once I knock out my 4 pirouettes, I am hoping to work with Jason in teaching other dancers and performing artists the mental training program. That is the life of a dancologist. To be continued...

A little bit about me...

Hometown?
    Lexington, KY

Siblings?
    1 older sister, 2 younger brothers

Thomas, Lindsey, Me, Tyler

Pets?
    My husband Patrick and I adopted our dog Louise (named after St. Louis). She is black, white, and brown, so we decorated our house to match her. She is often difficult to find because she blends into the background (see photo below). We are waiting to tell her that she is adopted until she is a little older, so we would appreciate your discretion. Anyway, to teach her responsibility, we also got Louise a pet fish named Norman. We also have a gecko...that was an impulse purchase.... Oh, and we are also currently trying to hatch a chick. I will keep you posted...

Patrick and Louise (look closely, she's there)

Sports fan?
    Only in Vegas.

Are you a morning or night person?       
    I LOVE night time and HATE morning time. It is actually quite a problem for me. I stay up way too late because I am so excited that it is night time, and I know that once I go to bed, morning will come sooner...similar, but opposite, to going to bed early on Christmas Eve so that Santa will come sooner. 

What was your favorite childhood television program? 
    Hey Dude..."What out for them cacti..." Please tell me that you remember that?

Are you a collector of anything?               
    I love to collect "cute, little things." Nothing specific, but anything that is cute and little. I have a tiny little porcelain bunny rabbit that I got from the zoo when I was about 7 that I still love. I usually forget about it, and then it pops up in random places. I love when that happens!  Oh...and diamonds and jewelry...sorry Patrick.

Cute, little soy sauce container

If you could be any animal, what would you be?
    I have actually thought about this a lot. I have decided that I would like to be a lion to minimize my chances of being eaten by another animal. Also, lion fur is not particularly stylish, like a zebra, tiger, leopard, etc., so that would minimize my chance of being hunted by humans. I tend to be a worrier, in case you couldn't tell from this post.                   

What is usually your first thought when you wake up?  
    "Coffeeeeee!!!" And then usually, "Yessss, I get to go dance!!!" Every once in a while, "Ouch, I have to go dance now," but that is very rare :)


Are you a clean or a messy person?
    The answer to this is a direct reflection of what I have going on in my life. For example, the photo below shows what my office looked like for the 3 months I was writing my prelims.

Finished Prelims!!!

 What's your favorite animal?     
    It used to be elephant because it started with an E, same as my name...then I saw an National Geographic episode of elephants gone bad and killing people at a circus, so now I am re-evaluating my choice. I am open to any suggestions of other animals...as long as they start with the letter E??? 

What's your favorite color?        
    Black and white...I know that is two, but I consider them to be a set. Hence, my obsession with zebra print. I know what you are thinking...zebra could be my favorite animal...but I was really hoping for an E animal!
                 
List your best personality trait:
    I am very "laugh-y"--I find a lot of things funny, and I think that makes other people feel good about themselves. This is why my husband loves me so much :)           

Name 1 thing you miss about being a kid:            
    Chicken fingers. PETA got me, and I am a vegetarian now.

Name 1 thing you love about being an adult:      
    Wine.

Tossing and Turning...literally!!!

So I didn't sleep well last night because I was literally dancing in my sleep. I was going through barre in my dreams, and everytime we (as in the imaginary class I was taking) were ready for the other side, I would "flip" over in my bed and wake myself up. The psychologist in me wonders if this is some sort of memory consolidation for movement? I did have rehearsal last night, so maybe my mind was breaking down and storing the movement. Hmmm...I see a potential study! Anyway...it might have worked because I had a great class today! :)