That's Showbiz!

This past Friday marked the first "official" performance of the season for Central West Ballet, which means that we preformed in the Gallo Center for the Arts in Modesto. The show was called That's Showbiz!

For one night only the company gave a thriller of a performance to the playlist of all the greats like Barbara Streisand, Cole Porter, Judy Garland, Bing Crosby, and Frank Sinatra.

There were tap shoes, singing, crooning, canes, dapper hats, suave duos, big bad bamboo sticks, and--in true CWB style--confetti!

I LOVED doing this show. It was such a great kick-off to the season.

Next stop, Nutcracker!

But for now, I leave you with some highlights, both from center stage and from backstage.

That's me in the second row, but it mostly just looks like I'm third from the left. Half my face is obscured by my arm.

A Chorus Line of dancers. These gals can surely time a kick well. Our own dancer, Nicole Firpo, choreographed another fantastic and fun piece called Whistle with Style!

And from backstage:

These last two photos were from some of the girls finding special...inspiration for their more romantic dances. If you know what I mean. ;)

These headpieces can HURT!!!

Long week of late dress rehearsals are always made better by cookies! Especially chocolate and pumpkin cookies!

Oh yes, the definition of dapper.

 

 

Here's to surviving the hardest weeks!

Here's to all those great entertainers of history!

Here's to confetti and cookies!!!

 Check out LOTS more breathtaking photos of all our dancers with this link. Thanks to Milano Photography for the photos!

Milano Photography

When Kateri Met Maggie

This last Friday I had the immense pleasure to attend the Not Your Mother's Book Club signing event in SanFrancisco at Books Inc., a great independent bookseller.

I got to go with my BEST FRIEND and her sister and mother, who by the way is a superlative driver, especially in the streets of SanFran...especially when our GPS gives us directions to NYC.

This book signing featured readings and Q and A from YA writers Ellen Hopkins, David Levithan*, and...

Maggie Stiefvater!

She is one of my top favorite writers, which I have already mentioned before, but I guess I'll announce it to the world one more time

(or not one more time)

I love this chic and I love her books. If you read her stuff and think it's great here's link to her blog, which I recommend you check out.

Here are some shots of SanFran, one of my favorite cities ever!

Stepped into Swarvosky to do some serious sighing, oohing, and ahhing.

Say hi to Mama Sterner!

*sigh...the view from the top floor?...*double sigh

The place was super packed!** This is afterwards as the signing line is starting to die down.

Us gals: Me, Megan, and Emily.

If you can't read this Maggie is doing a twitter talk on Oct. 23 at 4 pm PT! Hopefully I can participate. That is, if I'm not dancing. Plus there's a mention of some contest involving a one on one workshop with Maggie for the winner. Could that please be me?! Like please?

Table of Funness

Bought this for my mom!

Ahem...yeah I quite like this photo.

I made Maggie Stiefvater smile!!!

Tower of our books! Many of which are now signed. (We're waiting for our pizza to arrive.) Emily stole my bowler hat. Because she's secetly jealous.

Here's to seriously funny, awesome authors!

Here's to adventures in the big city with friends!

Here's to OMGOSH I JUST MET MAGGIE STIEFVATER!!!

*Bought David's new book Every Day*** and got it signed--of course. Might I add he is really funny...and apparently likes Taylor Swift...or so it would seem.

**Reason for this: we get there less than two hours early and decide to drive on over to Union Square. Yeah, a six or seven block drive in downtown SanFran in the early evening is like not the best idea when you have a time cruch...and there's lots of pretty stores to oogle at and people in bathrooms that apparently think they live in there and force Kateri to power walk half way across Union Square to get to another one.

***For that matter I bought two other books: The Diviners by Libba Bray (my other favorite author and the book of which I'm currently reading) and also the Book Thief by Markus Zusak, of which I've heard SO MANY great things and am very excited for.

Are You OK? Yes!

Lately I've been hearing the question,

"are you ok?"

a lot.

That is a red flag going up that, Kateri,

You are at your wits end and so clearly need to invest in some stronger concealer...

and maybe drink a few more cups of coffee.

Not that I'm walking around with tear sricken eyes and my arms stretched out like a zombie,

but it's enough to just, ya know,

tell...

But I am here to assure you that I am indeed ok;

this just means I'm putting some of my normal blog time back on the burner.

And really, this is me getting into that time of the year where I'm literally

Just. Doing. Homework. And dancing.

Ergo, not all that much interesting to blog about.

I will leave you with something a little more north of dreary than this, however.

I had a couple things come in the mail as of recent.

Don't you love when things come in the mail? 

Especially the larger things?

Ok, this wasn't larger, per say, but my joy in receiving it was of large proportions. Found these French guys (and gal) on the internet and FELL IN LOVE. My good friend is in the early writing process and is elated to have this album as the backdrop for her new creation. Can't wait!

 Bigger package! These I ordered especially for the Fundraiser (see previous post). Oh man, has it been a while since I wore a proper pair of high heels, that is, a whole 5 1/2 inches of proper heel. Like I said, big package. But if a girl is without a properly matching pair of shoes to go with her super cute dress then I deem that a perfectly good reason to go buy a new pair. And thank heavens for the marvel of internet shopping!

 This happened to take place during my hell-of-a-lot-less-stressful weekend, but I just had to post this because, ah, isn't it just beautiful? Have I mentioned my dad is a breakfast conniossure? Well, at least with anything that consists of at least 90% batter he is. And I am all the more happy for it!

We call this the Monster. Note: that name is best understood when this baby is just out of the oven and ballooned up like, well, a monster.

 

Here's to the first week of October!

Here's to advil!

Here's to monsters!!!

(That is, the edible kind.)