Mid-Life Crisis

Ordinary Miracle

While you're waiting for that big miracle to happen, it helps to appreciate the little ones.

You can quote me on that.

She Makes Dreams Come True

Rosie O'Donnell posted this video on her blog a few days ago, saying it was her favorite segment from her tenure on "The View." As a fellow lover of musical theater, I totally get why she feels that way. This video moved me in a way that I can't really put into words.

Take a few minutes and watch it all the way through.

When Will They Ever Learn?

"Where have all the soldiers gone?
Long time passing
Where have all the soldiers gone?
Long time ago
Where have all the soldiers gone?
Gone to graveyards every one
When will they ever learn?
When will they ever learn?"

Pete Seeger

He's a Dancing Machine!

Dancing, dancing, dancing
He's a dancing machine
Ah babe
Move it baby...

That disco-era Jackson Five song has been going through my head ever since I saw Apolo Anton Ohno shake his booty for the first time during the Season 4 Premiere of "Dancing With the Stars" last week. (I took some poetic license with that quote. The actual lyrics are "She's a dancing machine.")

As a long time fan, I shouldn't admit this, but I really didn't think he could pull this off. Not the dance steps so much. I figured as a natural athlete he would master those. I just couldn't imagine him adding the flair that is necessary to make a ballroom routine anything other than painful to watch. (Think Tucker Carlson.) My sister told me she saw a video preview of the new season on one of the daytime talk shows, and she thought Apolo showed a lot of promise. I was skeptical.

I've stalked followed Apolo's career since 2002. I've attended many competitions and a few events off the ice where he was in attendance. In all that time I've never seen anything to indicate he was anything other than a very reserved person. I think I can count on one hand the number of times I've seen him smile. So imagine my surprise on Monday night when he stepped down onto the dance floor, swung his arms wide open and smiled. I think my jaw actually hit the floor. I had barely gotten over that shock when out came the swiveling hips and the fancy footwork. Whoa! Sure, there were some missteps, but still...he was good!

I've also never seen him look so happy and relaxed. It was so much fun to watch. After all the tension and drama surrounding my four year career as a short track fan, the DWTS experience looks to be a refreshing change. It's as if someone opened a window and let a cool breeze blow in.

Oh, and I shouldn't forget to mention his partner Julianne Hough. Julianne is sexy, adorable, (is that combination possible?), and a hell of a dancer.

Here's the video of Apolo and Julianne dancing the Cha Cha Cha in Week One:

Let's Hear it for the Boy...

Let This Groove Get You to Move

I was processing photos from my niece's sweet sixteen party today, when I got the urge for some backround music. As I'm working on the pics of everyone gettin' their groove thing on, this song popped into my head, so I searched for it, and here it is...

Earth, Wind and Fire ~ Let's Groove

It's hard to work the Photoshop when you're bouncing up and down in your chair.