Dancing with the Stars recap - Movie Nite - 10/23/17

I'm more than a week behind. I haven't even seen last night's show yet. Hopefully I'll get back on track soon.

Nikki Bella & Artem
Argentine Tango
"Foreign Film"
Sensual, nice leg flicks, but it seemed a bit slow in places, and I think there was a balance issue. But overall a solid routine. She just seemed a little hesitant at times. But yay for Artem's natural hair color! :)
Len: "you have a tenderness about your dancing"
Shania: "so romantic - the language of love"
Bruno: "Argentine Tango with a French touch, elegant, not vulgar"
Carrie Ann: "stunning display of newfound artistry"
Scores: 9, 9, 9, 9
My score: 8

Results already?
Nikki & Artem, Terrell & Cheryl, and Victoria & Val are all in jeopardy.

Drew Scott & Emma
Paso Doble
"Action Movie Hero"
I could tell he was living out his fantasy. And he did a very good job! A Paso needs a lot of attack, and he had that. Normally I would complain about extra dancers, but in this routine he had to have people to fight with. His shapes were good. However, the big spin with Emma was weak and clunky. That would be my only complaint.
Shania: "all the drama was captured"
Bruno: "it was the last hero - but you lost timing"
Carrie Ann: "dance got away from you"
Len: "awkward looking routine, finesse was lacking"
Scores: 7, 7, 9, 7
My score: 9 (Well, at least Shania agreed with me.)

Nick Lachey & Peta
Samba
"Western"
How in the world was that a western, other than the word "west" being a constant lyric in the song? If they thought Drew was awkward, what are they going to say about this routine? Actually, the middle of the dance was decent - he had a bit of rhythm and bounce there. But no musicality in the beginning. I'm sorry Nick. I know how hard you're trying!
Bruno: "post apocalyptic Samba"
Carrie Ann: "nailed the breakdown"
Len: "solo stuff is terrific"
Shania: "lacking confidence, but entertaining"
Scores: 7, 6, 7, 6
My score: 7

Victoria Arlen & Val
Paso Doble
"Sports"
Val said she needed attack, aggression, and strength, and I thought she brought all three. No cutesy Victoria tonight. I loved the song of course, "We Will Rock You," and I even liked the choreography with the extra dancers, which is a rarity for me. She had good speed and great shapes. She looked fierce!
Carrie Ann: "blended the styles, right on par"
Len: "I liked the concept"
Shania: "most innovative hockey game, great athletic energy"
Bruno: "proper Paso"
Scores: 8, 8, 7, 8
My score: 9

Terrell Owens & Cheryl
Jive
"Spy"
The extra dancers were very distracting at times, and so was the spy story - their dancing got interrupted too much. But when they were dancing, Terrell did quite well - nice bounce, strong kicks and flicks, and good musicality. For me, it was his best dance, but I didn't like the stopping and starting. I also have to say, he looked very dapper. :)
Len: "wasn't quite double O heaven, but best dance"
Shania: "determination, in character, attention to detail"
Bruno: "brought down the house, charismatic swagger, becoming a better performer"
Carrie Ann: "smooth operator, hot!"
Scores: 9, 9, 10, 9
My score: 9

Frankie Muniz & Witney
Jazz
"Animated"
The set designers outdid themselves. It was a fun, high energy routine, with a great song to dance to, and Frankie gave it everything he had. I felt a boy band vibe again, which he likes. The extra dancers weren't necessary, but at least Frankie wasn't overshadowed. It was a 60's feel with a hip hop vibe, which was cool.
Shania: "liberated, fancy footwork"
Bruno: "Frozen on acid, psychedelic treat, but lost timing"
Carrie Ann: "entertaining, but with mishaps"
Len: "full of spirit and enthusiasm"
Scores: 7, 8, 8, 8
My score: 9 (I am not in agreement with the judges much in this episode)

Vanessa Lachey & Maks
Quickstep
"Musicals"
A very fast Quickstep! Very musical, very entertaining. Vanessa is a firecracker! She commands the stage, and takes center stage. The chair part was quite un-Quickstep though. Will Len get them on that? Too much out of hold?
Bruno: "theatrical pizzaz - you killed it!"
Carrie Ann: "fantastic performance"
Len: "posture should be better"
Shania: "sass, humor, and class"
(By the way, I didn't realize her skirt ripping off was a wardrobe malfunction until they re-showed it in slow motion. I thought it was part of the routine)
Scores: 9, 9, 9, 9
My score: 9

Jordan & Lindsay
Rumba
"Dramas"
This was a very professional-looking routine with amazeball chemistry. It was both fast and slow at all the right moments. It was endearing. It was romantic. Jordan had the best hip action I've seen in a male contestant on this show, except for maybe Gilles Marini. There was a ton of Rumba content in this routine. It was gorgeous. The end.
Carrie Ann: "like watching taffy, wave of gorgeousness"
Len: "well-crafted, but annoyed by little things" (It's called artistry, Len) :)
Shania: "elegant"
Bruno: "gripping, magnetic storytelling"
Scores: 10, 9, 10, 10
My score: 10

Lindsey & Mark
Argentine Tango
"Sci Fi"
Mark is a creative genius. And Lindsey not only has the most musicality; she's also a very good actress. Her moves were robotic, which was part of the character, but she also had great fluidity for the excellent lifts and tricks. It was an exciting routine, interesting, sensual at times. Something for everyone to enjoy. And like Jordan & Lindsay's performance, it was also a very professional dance.
Len: "choreography was phenomenal, dancing was brilliant"
Shania: "graphic and intense, elegant"
Bruno: "a work of genius, best dance of the season"
Carrie Ann: "upped your game to something phenomenal, you slayed that dance!"
Scores: 10, 10, 10, 10
My score: 10

Results:
Nick & Peta were eliminated. :(
We love you Nick!

librarianintx

Houston Astros

I shouldn't call myself a fan. I like sports. I am my mother's daughter. I root for the Texans, the Cowboys, the Rockets, and the Astros. I cheer when the teams win and I'm disappointed when they lose. But I watch too much television. I have too many weekly shows. So I haven't taken the time to be a true sports fan. I haven't sweated and panted and held my breath through every inning, every quarter, every moment of play.

But I'm still a fan. And I just want to say - no matter what happens in LA during the next game (or two) - the Houston Astros are winners - collectively, as a team, and individually, as players. They are champions, whether they win the World Series or not. They have given the fans two thrilling wins at home - more than any Astros team has ever done. And wow has Houston needed something to get excited about.

Game 5 of the 2017 World Series last night showed what this Astros Team is made of. Down 4-0 in the bottom of the fourth inning - cold bats, a struggling star pitcher - it was looking bad for the orange and blue. But our boys did not give up. They gave their fans a game that will be talked about for years to come. A battle it was. And the Astros were ultimately victorious. Past midnight, in 10 innings, they beat the Dodgers 13-12. What a game! What a series!

They may not win the series. Of course I hope they do. But what they have already given to their city - hope, excitement, the national spotlight for a positive reason - and the heart, the determination, the never-give-up attitude - the teamwork and sense of brotherhood displayed in celebration and in defeat - for all these reasons, the Houston Astros are winners.

Thank you guys. Some of us will be with you in LA. The rest of will be with you from afar. Thank you for giving us a reason to smile, to cheer, to yell, to pump our fist in the air.

We are #AstrosProud
And #HoustonStrong

librarianintx

A Place You Would Live But Have Never Visited - 30 Day Writing Challenge

This is a tough one, because I don't see myself living anywhere except Austin or Houston. I'm not pining away to live somewhere else. An acquaintance from Austin had a yearning to move to Hawaii, and she made it to happen. She sold a lot of her belongings, found new homes for her cats, and off she went. I don't have that desire.

But if I had to pick a city, I would say Seattle. I've never been there, but it sounds like a cool place to live. I know the weather can be dreary there, but I'm not a sun worshipper. It sounds similar in some ways to Austin.

librarianintx

Ten Interesting Facts about Myself - 30 Day Writing Challenge

Let's see if I can come up with 10:
1) I have lived in six cities, five of them in Texas.
2) I was born in Orlando, Florida, but we moved before Disney World opened, and I've never been there.
3) I did some student teaching at an inner city, Fourth Ward school in Houston.
4) I'm not a gun person, but I have fired a pistol on a friend's family's ranch. I tried to fire a rifle but it was too heavy. I also bottle fed baby goats, fed deer, and walked among emus.
5) I have ridden an elephant three times at the Renaissance Festival.
6) I have been in local newspapers three times.
7) The one time I tried to drive I nearly crashed into the Moody Towers dorm at the University of Texas.
8) I was involved in student politics at UH. I was a student senator, and served as secretary and vice president of the Handicapped Student Advisory Board.
9) I graduated with honors from UH.
10) ??
I almost made it! Maybe I'll think of something else.

librarianintx

First Kiss and First Love - 30 Day Writing Challenge

I am not into this prompt at all. I think my first kiss may have been in 8th grade with a guy named Walt, but I'm not sure.

My first love? Maybe a guy named Eric in 7th grade. Not sure on this either.

My love life is not something I talk about.

librarianintx

Your Earliest Memory - Thirty Day Writing Challenge

I feel that I don't have a good memory. I don't think I have as many childhood memories as other people. And I'm not sure what's a memory and what's a picture I've seen that's acting like a memory.

So I'll say one memory might be me holding on to the coffee table in the living room, attempting to take my first steps. I was about three and a half years old. That's how old I was when I started walking. But there's also a picture of this, so that might be why I think I remember it.  I can't remember what I'm wearing, but I know my hair was in pigtails, or "doggy tails" as my mother called the hairstyle.

librarianintx

Five Problems with Social Media - 30 Day Writing Challenge Revisited

Trying again to complete this 30 Day Writing Challenge.

Five problems with Social Media:

1) Oversharing
Everyone has a different definition of oversharing. Some people post just every thought and experience they have on social media; some people don't post personal stuff at all. It's an individual decision. But sometimes the negativity, anger, frustration, sadness, illness, depression, etc can get overwhelming.

2) Vaguebooking
My most hated part of social media. Someone makes a vague comment, friends rush to ask, "What's wrong?" "Are you okay?" "What happened?" And then the person either doesn't respond, says, "Oh I'm fine, it was nothing really," or the response that makes me want to punch a wall, "Call me and I'll tell you." Vaguebooking is all about attention seeking. The end.

3) Ads
Sometimes I like the ads, because I find stuff I like that I want to buy. But sometimes they are annoying.

4) Fake news
No, I am NOT Donald Trump. But there is fake news on social media. Usually it's satire. Sometimes it can be difficult to discern what is real news and what is satire. This can cause fights to break out because people don't realize the news isn't real.

5) Uncomfortable images
I just do not want to see bloody bodies, graphic pictures from surgeries, or people with severe birth defects or injuries. Often these are posted by friends who are in the medical field. I understand that they are interested in these images, but that doesn't mean I am. I am squeamish and find them disturbing. I have alerted Facebook on more than one occasion. I just don't think they have a place on social media. And by people with deformities or injuries, I'm talking about close-up, detailed images. I'm not saying that people with deformities or injuries shouldn't be on social media. I'm saying their pictures shouldn't be posted to shock or sensationalize their situation.

6) One more:
People posting pictures of strangers without their permission.
A lot of people like the "feel good" stories circulating these days of fast food employees taking the time to feed a person with a disability. Someone takes a picture or a video and posts it without the knowledge or agreement of the people involved. Then people read the story, see the pictures, watch the video, and say, "Awww. How nice. How sweet. What a good deed they did."
But the people involved - How do they feel to have an intimate moment shared without their permission. Maybe the person with a disability is embarrassed that they had to ask for help, that they didn't have any other source of assistance. I also feel this way about pictures of homeless people sleeping on the sidewalk, or embarrassing pictures of people in a store with their buttcracks showing. Why do people think it's okay to post pictures of people without their permission? Especially when they are doing it as a way to make fun of the person, or make themselves feel superior.

To make this post less negative, here are my favorite things about social media:
1) Keeping up with friends and family
2) Inspirational / cute memes
3) Funny or sweet videos, especially involving animals and/or kids
4) Finding groups I would like to join, and learning about events I'd like to attend
5) Ads that offer items I'm interested in buying

librarianintx

45

I want one day without a presidential scandal. One day without news that he belittled someone, threatened someone, fired someone, made an inappropriate joke about someone, was accused of assaulting someone, showed his ignorance about the position he holds, the list goes on. And on. And on. Even with the most embattled presidents that we have endured during my lifetime, there has never been such a scandal-riddled administration.

He is ignorant. He is a liar. He is a narcissist. He is racist. These are not flimsy accusations. Every single one can be proven when he opens his mouth or sends a tweet.

Here is a short list of people he has flagrantly insulted:
Former presidents
Gold star families
Members of Congress
World leaders
Current and former members of his administration
The former FBI Director
Members of the media
Football players
Hurricane-ravaged citizens of Puerto Rico

Here are just a few of his dangerous ideas / tactics:
Threatening war with North Korea
Threatening war with Iran
Threatening to increase our nuclear arsenal
Threatening to invade Venezuela
Dismantling The Affordable Care Act
Dismantling environmental protections
Threatening to shut down / limit the media

Every day more bad news. Every day he makes a bad decision - with his mouth, his Twitter account, or the stroke of a pen. It is a never ending, vicious cycle. Every single day another shoe drops.

I want it to end. I want to feel safe again, or as safe as possible. I want to have a president and administration that I can respect and feel proud of. I want to believe my president is working hard to promote the values I believe in, that the protection, health, and success of all Americans is utmost in his mind.

I want a different president.
This one is failing.

librarianintx

Dancing with the Stars - Disney Nite - 10/16/17

I haven't written last week's recap yet, but I decided to post this one first.
I'm not usually a big fan of Disney Nite, so we'll see how this goes.

Victoria Arlen & Val
Jazz
Mickey Mouse
A cute, whimsical routine, but it seemed a little long, and of course I didn't like the extra dancers. I understand the jumps are tough for her because she can't feel her feet, and the over the head lift was exciting, but overall it wasn't a routine that knocked my socks off. It was solid, but not spectacular. The crowd loved it, though.
Len: "full of joy, sparkle, entertainment - fabulous"
Bruno: "jam-packed with fun and games, effortless and beautiful"
Carrie Ann: "absolutely in perfect sync"
Scores: 9, 9, 9
My score: 8

Vanessa Lachey & Maks
Waltz
Snow White
I enjoyed the costumes, and Vanessa looked enchanting. It was a lovely waltz - grand, sweeping, with nice turns and a good frame. There may have been a bobble or two on the footwork, but I enjoyed it. If Maks and Vanessa are still feuding, I couldn't tell from this dance. It was sweet as candy, and they looked happy to be dancing together. Maybe it's the magic of Disney.
Bruno: "simply beautiful dance"
Carrie Ann: "unconventional dance - liked the intimacy - stunning moments"
Len: "liked the choreography - beautiful flow"
Scores: 8, 8, 8
My score: 8

Lindsey Stirling & Mark
Foxtrot
Pinnoccio
The dance didn't feel too long or too short; it felt just right. And it was gorgeous. It reminded me of Old Hollywood glamour. She has so much musicality. It was light, airy, effortless. They looked like they were floating. Stunning.
Carrie Ann: "classic, stunning, the finest hold"
Len: "delightful, I absolutely loved that"
Bruno: "bathing in stardust - timeless style and elegance - Fred Astaire meets Disney"
Scores: 9, 10, 9
My score: 9 (almost a 10)

Nick Lachey & Peta
Quickstep
Jungle Book
First of all, thank you to the costume department! You know what I'm talking about! :) Second of all, that was not a bad Quickstep Mr. Lachey! There may have been more Lindy Hop and Charleston in there than Quickstep, but I saw Quickstep too. There was decent speed and even some musicality. It was entertaining. For me, this was Nick's best dance.
Len: "bare necessities but fun and entertaining"
Bruno: "sense of fun, Charleston, but you need to keep your frame"
Carrie Ann: "having fun, letting loose"
Scores: 7, 8, 7
My score: 8

Drew Scott & Emma
Viennese Waltz
Muppets
They were so cute as puppets!
They wanted the dance to be sweet and romantic. I didn't feel the romance until the end, but that was okay. I thought this was a beautiful dance, and shows how far Drew has come in just a few weeks. The turns were gorgeous, and so fast. They flew across and around the floor. His partnering skills were surprisingly good. I loved the colors in her dress, and the rainbow on the dance floor. I was impressed by this performance.
Bruno: "Prince Charming - more and more polished every week"
Carrie Ann: "one of my favorite couples - fluid and polished"
Len: "I liked your footwork, but you went over the top at the end"
Scores: 9, 8, 8
My score: 8 (almost a 9)

Sasha Pieterse & Gleb
Rumba
Little Mermaid
She has lost 37 pounds!
This was a proper Rumba. And it was sexy, but because it was Disney Nite, it was a bit whimsical too. I thought she moved well, with decent, but not spectacular, hip action. She had nice chemistry with Gleb. And the red hair suits her.
Carrie Ann: "loved the way your body interprets these dances"
Len: "well-crafted routine, lovely, well done"
Bruno: "siren, enchantress of the sea"
Scores: 8, 8, 8
My score: 8

Terrell Owens & Cheryl
Quickstep
Lion King
Uh-oh. Rant coming. Prepare!
The extra dancers, moving scenery, and fog were SO distracting! Ugh! I guess he danced okay but it was hard to tell. I'm irritated. The performance was so cluttered and hectic. I think this was unfair. The other dancers so far didn't have the opportunity to hide behind such a big production number. I can't give this a good score. I wasn't entertained. And he was out of hold a lot. He looked happy. But I'm not pleased.
"Hard to see the footwork through the trees" - Tom (Exactly Tom!)
Len: "speed and control, kept your posture"
Bruno: "maintained the frame, footwork much better, a proper Quickstep"
Carrie Ann: "new connectedness, y'all were in sync"
Scores: 9, 8, 8
My score: 7

Frankie Muniz & Witney
Argentine Tango
Pirates of the Caribbean
I was trying not to thing of Riker & Allison's iconic Pirates of the Caribbean dance, which I adore. Luckily this dance was different, with different music. There weren't any exciting lifts in this Argentine Tango - likely because of Frankie's back injury, plus he's a small dude. On the downside, I felt that Witney was leading this dance. But on the plus side, it was passionate, alluring, and fiery at times. Not the best Argentine Tango I've seen, but definitely solid. They covered the floor well. The crowd loved it.
Bruno: "You've got your first blockbuster! Sizzling chemistry"
Carrie Ann: "You've got pirate game! So much intensity - nailed it!"
Len: "proper, swashbuckling routine"
Scores: 10, 9, 10
My score: 8 (Wow, I must be cranky tonight)

Jordan Fisher & Lindsay
Foxtrot
Moana - He danced to his own song. :)
I doubt that Len will like the rap-ish interlude, but I did, and so did the crowd. The performance felt like a Rumba at first. It was a crisp, clean, uplifting routine. Lots of content, beautiful lines, great musicality. I have high expectations for Jordan, and I was pleased with this routine. Once again, their chemistry was sensational.
Carrie Ann: "unstoppable, delivered it perfectly"
Len: "Foxtrot in hold was so good"
Bruno: "smash hit"
Scores: 10, 10, 10
My score: 9 (Man, I am a toughie tonight! I did not expect the judges to give them a perfect score!)

Nikki Bella & Artem
Jazz
Coco
My internal dialogue during the routine:
Extra dancers - ugh!
Oh good, they're gone!
Oh damn, they're back!
I totally enjoyed this Mexican folk music dance. It's something we haven't seen on "Dancing with the Stars" that I can recall. And that lift with the male dancers hoisting the female dancers was very cool and innovative, I must admit. Good energy and a unique style. Very colorful too. I liked it. Nikki was glowing. She looked happy and comfortable.
Len: "so joyous, full of fun - flavors of Mexico"
Bruno: "fiesta time!"
Carrie Ann: "fantastic, traditional folk dance"
Scores: 9, 9, 9
My score: 9

In jeopardy:
Sasha and Gleb
Frankie & Witney (WHAT!?!?)
I'm not happy that Sasha was eliminated, but I'm relieved that Frankie wasn't voted out. Sasha is a beautiful young woman, and I have enjoyed her watching her journey.

librarianintx

Dancing with the Stars - Guilty Pleasures Nite - 10/2/17

Yep, I'm more than a week behind. A lot going on here. But I'm still writing recaps.

The opening was a fun dance to C&C Music Factory's "Everybody Dance Now."
And yay - no elimination!

Drew Scott & Emma
Argentine Tango
His guilty pleasure is crime shows.
Wow, huge improvement! Way to go Drew! Best dance by him by a mile! I was very impressed by his partnering skills. Good Argentine Tango content, he looked sexy, the dance was slow and seductive but the turns were fast, and he executed a strong and secure over the head lift. I'm amazed!
Len: "same standard - you're on a roll"
Bruno: "You cracked the case!"
Carrie Ann: "You showed everyone how to go first!"
Scores: 8, 7, 8
My score: 8 (!)

Derek Fisher & Sharna
Cha Cha
His guilty pleasure is the "Fresh Prince of Bel Air" show.
It was a cute routine. He had some moves, and some musicality, but I would have liked to see more. I also wanted to see more Cha Cha content. But I did enjoy the booty popping. A little more bounce would have been nice. But it was an entertaining routine.
Bruno: "vibrant and colorful, bootylicious"
Carrie Ann: "hitting the ballroom and latin lines"
Len: "Will Smith would have been proud of you, and so am I"
Scores: 7, 7, 7
My score: 7

Victoria Arlen & Val
Quickstep
Her guilty pleasure is the song "Tub Thumping"
The lockers and extra dancers were distracting, but I enjoyed the routine. She had decent speed and frame, and I thought her musicality was quite strong. There was a lightness and a brightness to her step, a bouncy rhythm. It was a fun, happy performance that made me smile.
Carrie Ann: "You're on a path to a 10"
Len: "needed more body contact"
Bruno: "you went for it"
Scores: 8, 7, 7
My score: 8

Vanessa Lachey & Alan (Maks had a personal issue)
Jazz
Her guilty pleasure is being silly with her girlfriends.
Even though Alan wasn't in the routine much, I still felt that there was a lot of content. The lifts were excellent! It was a fun, upbeat routine with a great song. Vanessa was definitely front and center despite the female troupe dancers, and yay for the adorable pink dress!!
Len: "Everybody had fun"
Bruno: "Mommy keeps getting yummier - I absolutely loved it"
Carrie Ann: "two wobbles"
Scores: 7, 8, 8
My score: 8

Nikki Bella & Artem
Viennese Waltz
Her guilty pleasure is "50 Shades of Gray"
HELLO! That was the sexiest Viennese Waltz I've ever seen. Passionate, fiery, seductive, sizzling. It was also a proper Viennese Waltz. Grand, sweeping, beautiful lines, fast turns. Everyone is on their game so far tonight. I'm seeing a lot of improvement!
Bruno: "Kinky Nikki - amazing performance"
Carrie Ann: "risky move - great job"
Len: "not exactly Old Vienna - a tad on the aggressive side"
Scores: 7, 7, 7
My score: 8

Frankie Muniz & Witney
Samba
His guilty pleasure is boy bands.
Of course I loved the music, and it was a cute routine, but I think he needed more hip action. He looked happy and relaxed, but his movements were a little stiff. He didn't have the rhythm and bounce that you need in a Samba. He had the boy band part covered, but not the Samba feel.
Carrie Ann: "You were great at the boy band stuff - Samba not so much - I want more consistency"
Len: "a lot of fun, but Carrie Ann is right"
Bruno: "You passed the audition"
Scores: 7, 7, 7
My score: 7

Lindsey Stirling & Mark
Jive
Her guilty pleasure is being in her pajamas all day.
I love the Jive - it's so fun, energetic, and lively, and this Jive was no exception. Lindsey had excellent musicality, great bounce, strong kicks and flicks, and wonderful chemistry with Mark. The routine checked all the boxes that I look for in a successful Jive. And the performance put a smile on my face.
Len: "lots of Jive content - dance of the season!"
Bruno: "She was never out-danced."
Carrie Ann: "One of my favorite numbers of all time"
Scores: 9, 9, 9
My score: 9

Sasha Pieterse & Gleb
Jazz
Her guilty pleasure is baking.
I hate to be like Len and say there wasn't enough dancing, but here I go - there wasn't enough dancing. It was a cute routine, but it was more of a pantomime of baking set to music. There is very little to critique in this performance because there just wasn't enough dancing.
Bruno: "all the right ingredients, but didn't really come together"
Carrie Ann: "well-executed"
Len: "didn't showcase your ability to dance"
Scores: 7, 6, 6
My score: 6

Nick Lachey & Peta
Jazz
His guilty pleasure is romantic comedies.
Extra dancers - ugh! But the Nick Lachey spunk is back. He had a big smile on his face and I could tell he was working hard. He moved his hips a little, and I saw some musicality. The problem is, he was trying so hard that his movements were often stiff and jerky. He was jumping more than he was dancing. But I have to give him credit for his determination and work ethic.
Carrie Ann: "You're finally having fun."
Len: "concept, confidence, commitment"
Bruno: "you've got your juices flowing"
Scores: 7, 7, 7
My score: 7

Terrell Owens and Cheryl
Salsa
His guilty pleasure is breakdancing.
Frankie's dance had a lot of boy band and a little Samba. Terrell's dance had a good amount of Salsa but not much breakdancing. Which was fine. But the dance was just okay for me. It was rather slow and plodding. The lift was good, but otherwise there wasn't much for me to get excited about. It was just so-so. For me, he doesn't live up to his bravado.  And there were extra dancers. Did you think I wouldn't mention that? Can you see me rolling my eyes and groaning?
Len: "You've come back with a nice mix of Salsa. Not a touchdown, but you're in the end zone."
Bruno: "You had your own style - Cheryl made you look good."
Carrie Ann: "You finally brought it - but there was a boo boo" (I thought Carrie Ann was overly excited about Terrell's performance)
Scores: 7, 7, 7
My score: 7

Jordan Fisher & Lindsay
Charleston
His guilty pleasure is comic books / superheroes.
This as an innovative routine with fantastic musicality. I saw a good amount of Charleston in there. The stage colors and extra dancers were distracting at times, but overall it was a successful, entertaining routine.
Bruno: "mission indescribable - visual flair + action blockbuster"
Carrie Ann: "you're so amazing - you were never lost - always in control"
Len: "virtually no Charleston"
Scores: 9, 7, 9
My score: 8

librarianintx

Project Runway: Dixie Cup Challenge

Also known as the Women on the Go Challenge
Also known as the Friends & Family of the Project Runway Crew Challenge

The episode began with the Twins Elimination One Hour Challenge (too many capital letters?)

For the first time, the twins are on their own, as individual designers.
They can't work together.
They can't help each other.
They can't even bounce ideas off each other.

Is anyone surprised that Shawn fell apart and couldn't make anything without her sister's help?
What did they think was going to happen this season? Obviously they didn't plan for such a scenario. I guess they believed they would both make it to the finals and Fashion Week.

Shawn conceded and was eliminated from the competition.
There were a lot of tears on and off the runway.

"I'll miss Shawn's emotional support," Claire said.
Okay....

Margarita spent her time in the workroom obsessing over the idea that Claire was ripping off her design from the previous challenge. When Claire had her critique with Tim, however, she changed her look and it no longer resembled Margarita's.

The Runway
My critiques:

Amy - What is that? It looks like a costume or a karate outfit or something.
Brandon - too many layers, and the top looks like a bib
Batani - the color is nice, but the dress is very plain - not much design to it
Margarita - I don't like the color combination
Claire - very well made, flattering, looks expensive - The top is very cute, and the print on the pants is nice - This is also a very versatile outfit.
Ayana - very cute dress, sexy, and I also liked the styling.
Michael - not flattering, and I don't like the colors or the print
Kenya - I like the colors and I like the skirt, but the top is not flattering, especially in the bust area. I like peplums, but does she have to have one on nearly every garment?
Kentaro - I'm not a fan of the color scheme, and I think the gown looks matronly. But I do like the detailing in the back

My top designers: Claire and Ayana
My lowest designers: Amy and Michael

The Judges' Six:
Michael - bottom
Batani - bottom
Kenya - bottom
Claire - top
Kentaro - top
Margarita - bottom

The judges actually had good and bad things to say about most of the six designers.

My pick to win this week: Claire
My pick to go home: Ah, that's a tough one. I want Amy to go home, but I can't choose her. I mean, I could, but I usually pick from the judges' six. So I would reluctantly say Michael.

In the episode, Claire was declared the winner, and Michael stalked off the runway. We don't know yet who went home. Michael and Margarita especially are angry that Claire won. They are accusing her of cheating.

If we are just talking about what was shown on the runway in this episode, there actually wasn't anyone who deserved to win in my opinion, except perhaps Ayana. Her look was cute, well-made, and fashionable, but she was only safe in the judges' determination. I chose Claire as the winner this week because her look was successful - well made, attractive, stylish, something that I think a lot of women would want to wear and would look good in - but how much design is in that look? Its a top and a pair of pants. Michael's and Kentaro's looks had much more design in them. But I didn't like them. Michael's was honestly bad in my opinion. The print wasn't good, the look was unflattering - there was too much design. Kentaro's look had too much fabric, and the best part of the gown - the back - was covered up. Claire's design was extremely simple, but it was effective. Her model looked great. It is a look that will sell. It would also look good on a variety of body types. Her design in the workroom DID resemble Margarita's dress from the previous week, but the finished product on the runway did not.

librarianintx

Project Runway - JC Penny Challenge - Inspired by Menswear 9/28/17

The designers were paired up for this challenge. They each had to create a look that was cohesive with their partner's garment.

My critiques:

Ayana & Michael:

Ayana: Her top still looked like a hospital gown. Overall the look was blah.

Michael: not flattering at all

Kenya & Amy: 

Kenya: The look is well-made, classy, professional, but the judges will likely say it's dowdy

Amy: Her garment definitely looks like something Kenya would make. But the top makes her bust look weird.

Kentaro & Brandon:

Kentaro: cute, sporty, I like the colors

Brandon: the garment is very Brandon, sporty, but sexier than Kentaro's. 

This duo produced the most cohesive collection. 

Claire & Shawn:

Claire: sporty but schizophrenic

Shawn: just okay, bland color, on second look it's worse than I thought, especially in the bust area

This duo produced the least cohesive collection. 

Batani & Margaria

Batani: I like the color a lot. The dress looks expensive but the design is a little plain.

Margarita: very fashionable, unique, the model looks great. I think the color is a little drab, but definitely this is the best garment on the runway in this episode.

My top designers: Margarita & Batani

My bottom designers: Michael & Ayana

The Judges: 

They chose Batani & Margaria  and Kentaro & Brandon as the top designers.

Kenya & Amy and Claire & Shawn received the lowest scores.

My pick to win: Margarita

My pick to go home: Claire

The judges chose Margarita as the winner.

But no one was voted out in this episode. The judges couldn't decide between voting off Claire or Shawn. So they gave them each one hour to create a garment and then they would decide who should go home. Heidi said, "This should go without saying - but you cannot help each other." That sentence translates to: "Shawn is going home." Obviously I know what happens because I'm writing this recap ten days late, but I would have said this ten days ago too. 

librarianintx

Project Runway: Models as Clients Challenge 9/21/17

Yes, I'm very behind my recaps. Real life has intervened in my blogging life. But I'm still doing the recaps, even though they're late.

Honestly, I'm struggling with these Project Runway recaps. I know that I don't know much about fashion. And it's so hard to know what the judges will and won't like. But my recaps are about what I do and don't like, plus what the judges decide.

As usual, Claire had to rescue Shawn constantly during this episode.

My critiques:
Kentaro - skirt over jeans? I guess that's fashionable
Claire - Where does the jacket end and the shorts begin? Not thrilled with all black...
Ayana - Why the robe? Also the styling was messy. Did she just roll out of bed?
Michael - The look is almost too much, but it is innovative and flattering
Brandon - The judges will probably love it.
Shawn - sporty, sexy, the cut-out shoulders are very in-fashion
Margarita - looks very Miami to me, but is that a good thing or a bad thing? Definitely streetwear. I'm not a fan of mismatched colors
Batani - too much going on for me
Amy - rather boring, not memorable
Samantha - very cute, flirty, a very Samantha garment
Kenya - a well-made outfit, but I don't like the vest - it looks too small

My top looks - Samantha, Michael, Shawn
My bottom looks - Claire, Ayana, Brandon

The Judges' Six:
Claire
Shawn,
Samantha
Kentaro
Kenya
Margarita

Claire, Samantha, and Margarita had the lower scores.
Shawn, Kentaro, and Kenya were the top designers.

Who I thought should win: Michael
Who I thought should go home: Claire

The winner of the challenge was Kentaro.
Samantha was sent home.

What?! Samantha was eliminated with a cute, well-designed dress?! The judges even said it was a well-made garment. They just didn't want to kick out Claire. They want to keep the twins drama-saga around for at least one more week.

librarianintx