Chelsie and Mark

Best dance of the season so far!



Shay and I watched it a few times last night and we got chills everytime. Freaking amazing!

I Can't Handle It!

Are politicians just 5 year old kids in 50 year old bodies (or in McCain's case, 110)? Why cant they just present their viewpoints without bashing what their opponent has to say? Things have gotten so petty, and there is still 4 months until the election! Obama was in Vegas yesterday and said some outrageous things about McCain's energy plans, while he himself was making outrageous promises. Where does it end? I think President Bush should secretly set up hidden cameras in all the places the candidates go when they are not in public...houses, buses, planes, etc. I mean, Bush has nothing to lose now, people bash him constantly, why not do something like this to show the American people just who these two really are? I know thats a crazy idea, but I want to hear what Barack says when it is just him and his wife flying another 1000 miles, deciding if they should bash McCain's immigration policy or his Iraq policy!

Honestly, I think Michelle Obama is the biggest threat to the United States.

I have seen her on a few different shows, from the Colbert Report to the View (just highlights on the news, i dont watch the view), and still have never seen her smile. The First Lady is the mother of america! If you want to see what type of mother someone who doesnt smile becomes, watch John and Kate Plus 8...do we want someone like that going to bed each night with our President? The guy will go crazy! Can we please get a reprieve from these two until October?

EURO 2008

As most of you know, I am what you would call an avid sports fan. Outside of regular season baseball, put a sporting event on tv and I will watch it. I have been very excited about this years European Championships, known as The EURO's, which is arguably the toughest tournament in the world to win...yes, even tougher than the World Cup. There was no clear cut favorite this year, but the majority of people thought Portugal would have the best chance. They have two great offensive player, Deco and Cristiano Ronaldo. Cristiano Ronaldo is different from the other Ronaldo many have heard of. CR is a 23 year old who is the best player in the world. Not only that, but I have heard from many he is stunningly good looking. Last month, he led his club team, Manchester United, to the Champions League title, which is the like winning an NBA title, it is the best club league in the world.

I have been enthralled by the tournament thus far. Since we moved back to Cedar, I have gotten a lot done around the house with the games on. The ones I cant watch, I have tivoed, but that usually doesnt go well because I dont have enough self control to not find out who won. The quarterfinals started a few days ago, and 3 of the 4 matches went to extra time, OT for you yanks. Two of those three went to penalty kicks, which the players hate, but the audience loves. I didnt get to see the pk's between Italy and Spain today, but the Turkey/Croatia game was one for the ages. After going 118 minutes tied at 0, Croatia scored. Since extra time only goes to the 120th minute, things looked bleak for Turkey. On a long free kick by the turkey goalie, one of the forwards turned and shot, rifling a ball into the back of the net...on to pk's. The croatians were stunned and only one guy even made his penalty kick. Two didnt even hit the net and one was saved. The turks score 3 of 4 and won that game.

There are many out there who dont appreciate soccer, but games like this make watching it so satisfying!

ANYTHING IS POSSIBLE!!!!

KG, The Big Ticket, Member of the Boston Three Party

He finally won a championship! Even though I am not a Celtics fan, I am definitely a Kevin Garnett fan. Since the NBA started advertising their league has a players league instead of a team league 15 years ago, I have not had a favorite NBA team. Instead, I have linked myself to certain players. KG was the first that I latched onto. For too many years, he played on not good enough teams in Minnesota. I died each year as they failed to get out of the first round. Then, in 2005, it seemed as if they had finally gotten over the hump, only to be knocked out in the conference finals.

When I heard about KG possibly being traded this past summer, I hoped it would be to the Suns, who were the closest team in the league to being my team. When he ended up going to the Celtics, I found myself in a hard place. I couldnt cheer for the celtics!!!! The first half of the year, I was enforcing my ban on watching the NBA, hearing about the amazing year it was turning into. I need to thank Jake for bartering a deal that allowed me to resume my NBA fanhood when he left on his mission; basically taking over what he had started.

It did not take long for me to get back into the game. Shay and I started dating and I used her love for the Jazz as an opportunity for me to sharpen up my NBA knowledge. We spent many nights over the past few months listening to the horrible KJZZ announcers! I was back...and so was the NBA.

For the Celtics to blow out the Lakers to clinch the championship was only fitting. Kobe was finally named MVP in a year where two or three other player had valid claims for the trophy. Also, he seemed to disappear after the first quarter in each game. I could not bask enough in the scene of Kobe trying to make his way to the locker room with confetti falling and reporters mauling KG, Ray and The Truth.

The journey of those three, plus the journey of the Celtics franchise back to the top, mirrors my own journey back to being an NBA fan. We all took different routes and had our reasons for our actions, but in the end, everyone won.

New Blog and New Dog

First off, Shay and I started a new blog for the two of us, which you can get to by clicking here. It will be more of an update on our lives.

Second, we got a dog! Some of you who know me may have fainted when you read that sentence. It was something I have been talking myself into over the last few months, knowing that Shay would really want one. When we were on our honeymoon, I told her, "I have a question for you, but you have to answer it thinking of yourself, not what you think I would want." When I asked her if she would want a dog, she didnt even hesitate before responding "YES!"

We got a little yorkshire terrier, or yorkie. Shay knew from the first time she held her that was the one. While we were looking at a few others, another girl started playing with "our" yorkie. Shay came over to me and said, "That girl is playing with our dog!" Luckily, the girl could not pay for it and we were able to get our Lyla.

I will post a few pictures below. She is only 2.5 pounds and wont get bigger than 4-5. Shay gets jealous because Lyla likes to lay on my lap when we are watching tv...

So You Think You Can Dance

It is finally that time of the year! So You Think You Can Dance (SYTYCD) is down to the top 20 and my dance critiquing is happening twice a week. SYTYCD is my favorite reality show. You may ask, Dixon, you hate American Idol, isnt SYTYCD the same thing? That is a very valid question, but let me present a few personal reasons why this show consumes my summers.

1. Dancers arent born, they are made.
On AI, you get many people who have grown up singing, but have never recieved proper training. These people have advanced far in the competition in the past. Dancing is a different story. One may be born with a "dancing body" (as I have heard about me before) but without taking classes and a lot of practice, there is no way you can be a competitive dancer. This was evident many times this season, when good dancers advanced to the choreography round but looked as if they had two left feet trying to understand even the basic moves.

2. Participants have personalities.
Yes, American Idol people have personalities, but some of them consist of, I cant believe people actually think I am a good singer so I will cry after every performance. Dancers may be weird sometimes, but at least they know how to act in front of an audience. Plus, you get to see some very entertaining victory/happy dances.

3. Judges make a lot more sense
SYTYCD judges actually critique the dancing, not song choice or choreographer choice. Also, every judge brings something to the table, unlike Paula who they prop up with a cleavage heavy dress on and she only has three or four lines to use the whole season. Many people dont like Lynita Nelson, I mean Mary Murphy, one of the two regular judges, because she never opens her mouth, but at least she knows a thing or two about dancing. Paula knows a thing or two about taking provacative pictures and hiring a good producer (which most AI contestants need to even have a chance of salvaging a singing career).

Anyways, those are a few reasons I am stuck to the couch on Wednesdays and Thursdays during the summer.

Last night was the first non-audition episode. The top 20 we randomly placed into pairs and drew different types of dances out of a hat. Every dance was aboslutely great. This season is going to be very competitive. My top three are Chelsie, Kourtni and twitch. Chelsie has been my pick to win since her first audition. As long as she doesnt get partnered with a weak guy, she should cruise to the top 10.

Tonight is the first elimination. The bottom three couples will all have a chance to perform solos. Then, the judges will send one guy and one girl home. I LOVE THIS SHOW!!!!!

Stop Giving Me a Hard Time

I know I have been a horrible blogger over the past two months, but that is about to change. Not only will I update my personal blog more often, but Shay and I have set up a "together" blog which I will post the address for it once we get it all done.

The rebels have started Australia prep, which means we get mid-season like coverage in June!!!! It is an early birthday present for me.

Dont lose faith, I am committed to becoming a better blogger.