You know those t-shirts that say "I'm not short I'm fun sized!"? Do you hate them as much as I do? Like, what the heck is fun sized? Is it referring to the small "fun sized" candy bars? Because I find those candy bars to be rather disappointing and not at all fun. People just take it all too far. There is actually a girl at my school who refers to herself as "bite sized". No joke. But whateves, you do things your way and I'll do 'em my way.
Okay, none of that was really related to the main topic of this post. I just tend write things in a stream of consciousness format, oops. So anyway, what I really was thinking about writing was about my personal size. As in my measurements. You know, the kind you achieve with one of those bendy tape measure-ers that you wrap around yourself to discover how many inches you are.
Being a dancer, you get measured a lot for costumes. And since I've been pretty much the same size since I was in 7th grade, I pretty much know my measurements, give or take a couple inches.
The other day I was ordering a swimsuit online (because I'm a swimmer now...which is still kind of hard to realize) and my mom told me to make sure I measure myself so I can get the right size. I told her I already knew them and she didn't believe me. So we made a bet (except we didn't wager anything more than bragging rights so it wasn't that thrilling).
Here were my initial guesses (in inches):
Bust: 32
Waist: 29
Hips: 39
Girth: 64
Now here were the real measurements:
Bust: 32
Waist: 29.5
Hips: 40
Girth: 64 (we had to estimate that one though because our tape measure-er only went up to 60...in dance class my teacher had to use two put together to measure me).
BAM. Who's awesome? This girl. I was pretty much spot on!
So then, I was thinking about my measurements and I was like "Woah. My body is super weird shaped".
Let's analyze this. First, my boobs are only two inches bigger than my waist. #tinytitties. Next, my butt is ten full inches bigger than my waist...ten! Finally, my girth is 64 inches, that is 5'4", which is as tall as my mother. Bizarre? I think yes.
Monday, October 8, 2012
Friday, October 5, 2012
Oh Boy.
So remember those feet problems I've been having? Sesamoiditis and Plantar Fasciitis? Yeah. They're still here. I had a follow up appointment with my podiatrist today, and I didn't expect good news. My feet were doing better for a little while one my resting and Advil regiment, but about two weeks ago they decided they were going to hurt again. A lot. My feet throb all day everyday. With one exception, but we'll get to that later.
So the doctor said it was a little strange that my feet were still bothering me after so long, so she wants to do an MRI to rule out possible fractures. That will be in a week or so. Until then I'm just supposed to continue to try and stay off of it. Which means no dance. :(
So guess what I did. I joined the swim team. Well, technically I just showed up to a preseason practice as a back up plan in case I couldn't go back to dance...which is the case. So I'll be joining the swim team. And I honestly think I'll enjoy it! Even if I don't love it, my feet don't hurt when I'm in the water, so I'm going to stick with it just for a few hours a day where my feet don't hurt.
That's all for now. Over and out.
MK
So the doctor said it was a little strange that my feet were still bothering me after so long, so she wants to do an MRI to rule out possible fractures. That will be in a week or so. Until then I'm just supposed to continue to try and stay off of it. Which means no dance. :(
So guess what I did. I joined the swim team. Well, technically I just showed up to a preseason practice as a back up plan in case I couldn't go back to dance...which is the case. So I'll be joining the swim team. And I honestly think I'll enjoy it! Even if I don't love it, my feet don't hurt when I'm in the water, so I'm going to stick with it just for a few hours a day where my feet don't hurt.
That's all for now. Over and out.
MK
Sunday, September 2, 2012
What "My Life Exploded in My Face" Actually Means
Oh hey there blog. Did you miss me? Probably not, since I'm pretty sure I'm the only one who reads this. It's cool though, that means I can be honest, and insensitive and sarcastic and rude. Just the way I like it. So here's the deal. It's September 3rd, happy Labor Day, and I have finally put all of the pieces of my life back where they belong. Well, I think so anyway. I had THE crazy summer on record. I'll start in June...
I got a nanny-ing job this summer. Two little girls, Annie (turning 4 years next week) and Clare (turning 18 months next week). I have been babysitting for this family since Annie was 4 months old. I love the girls with my whole heart and being with them this summer was absolutely amazing. We would walk to the library, to the park and to my house to play in my tree house(I live in a very small town, you can pretty much walk anywhere). Annie and I practiced writing letters and Clare and I practiced animal sounds. We read books and sang songs and colored pictures. We had so much fun. I did that for five weeks out of the summer, with a week or two break in between when their parents were on vacation or when I was dancing.
Speaking of dancing, that's the next part of my story. First I have to rewind, pre-June times. I was having a lot of foot problems so I saw a doctor. She diagnosed plantar fasciitis (tendonitis of the arch muscles) and sesamoiditis (inflammation of the sesamoid bones in the balls of my feet). She also found an old fracture that I never realized was there, and an extra sesamoid bone in each foot. Neither of those things are related to the inflammation though. But anywhooo, she said to see a physical therapist. Both the podiatrist and the P.T. told me it would be okay to continue dancing and being active. Fast forward to July. I did two out of the three weeks of the dance intensive offered by my studio. It was amazing, but my feet took a beating. The inflammation issues kind of stayed the same, however I got all kinds of rips and blisters and bruises (even one black toenail!). I'm glad I did it though.
During the intensive I got a call from a dance teacher who is opening her own studio. She asked if I would be interested in teaching for her as well as at the other studio where I had been teaching (not the one where I take class..not sure if I've ever specified that). She told me to take a few days before I answered her and think about it. A day had hardly passed when I got a nasty email from the owner of the dance studio I had been teaching at calling me a liar and saying I was going behind her back. I was very upset. The next day I called her back and explained to her a multitude of things that I won't go into, but basically letting her know that I had always been loyal to her despite the way she had treated me (she is very kind but doesn't know how to show it and often comes off rude and uncaring which is very hard to deal with as a teenager and an employee). I emailed her later in the week saying I wouldn't be returning to teach for her and I accepted the job at the new studio. I have since gotten an apology from her, which I do appreciate, but I will not be going back.
Then my dad and my twin brother and I went on a college tour. We spent a week and saw about a dozen colleges. The walking aggravated my feet even more, but on the bright side, I learned a lot about what my plan for college is.
After we got back from our trip we had about two weeks off before school started up again. I didn't do a whole lot but I was running and working out, trying to stay in shape. One night when I was out for a run with my dad my feet hurt so badly that I had to stop and walk after only two miles. He made me another podiatrist appointment the next day.
Then August 27th came. The first day of my senior year. I can't even get that through my head. Monday was also supposed to be the first day of the dance season, and it was my appointment with the podiatrist. Basically, the appointment didn't surprise me. She said the only way to get my feet to heal up was to stop dancing for a month. I'm sad, but I figured I'd have to take some time off. And it's worth it, there was a point where the pain was literally keeping me awake at night. At this point I just want it gone. So I didn't start dance on Monday, I probably won't be starting until October.
Now I've made it through my first week of senior year. And let me tell you what, this year is going to be a bitch. My schedule is; AP English, Gym, AP Calculus, Honor Economics, Lunch, AP Chemistry, Study Hall and Anatomy. So far I've had two essays, two one-page papers, a chemistry lab, and calc and anatomy homework every night. Tomorrow I have a calc quiz, an anatomy quiz and chem study guide due. It's crazy.
Yesterday a fantastic thing happened. Remember earlier when I talked about the girls I watched this summer? Well, their parents called me yesterday and asked if I would be Clare's Godmother. I was so surprised, I said, "Me? I though you were just calling for a babysitter!" And then I said yes, of course, and they laughed at me. I feel so honored that they asked me to do that, I love that family with all of my heart and the fact that they chose me for such a special thing just blows my mind.
So now you're caught up. It's memorial day. Tomorrow I start week two of senior year and night one at the new studio where I'm teaching. Yes, I am still allowed to teach, I just can't take classes of my own. I only teach one night a week, I teach seven 45 minute classes (4 jazz...first time teaching jazz! And 3 acro) and I make $10 per class. And in two weeks I get to become the Godmother of the most precious 18 month old girl in my life.
I still maintain that my life has exploded. Bad things happened this summer and some parts of my life went off like grenades. But fireworks explode too, and the fireworks of my summer have been pretty damn beautiful.
And now, for everyone's viewing pleasure, some photos that might slightly repent for my absence. The have no rhyme or reason for being attached to this post, but they're fun to look at :)
I got a nanny-ing job this summer. Two little girls, Annie (turning 4 years next week) and Clare (turning 18 months next week). I have been babysitting for this family since Annie was 4 months old. I love the girls with my whole heart and being with them this summer was absolutely amazing. We would walk to the library, to the park and to my house to play in my tree house(I live in a very small town, you can pretty much walk anywhere). Annie and I practiced writing letters and Clare and I practiced animal sounds. We read books and sang songs and colored pictures. We had so much fun. I did that for five weeks out of the summer, with a week or two break in between when their parents were on vacation or when I was dancing.
Speaking of dancing, that's the next part of my story. First I have to rewind, pre-June times. I was having a lot of foot problems so I saw a doctor. She diagnosed plantar fasciitis (tendonitis of the arch muscles) and sesamoiditis (inflammation of the sesamoid bones in the balls of my feet). She also found an old fracture that I never realized was there, and an extra sesamoid bone in each foot. Neither of those things are related to the inflammation though. But anywhooo, she said to see a physical therapist. Both the podiatrist and the P.T. told me it would be okay to continue dancing and being active. Fast forward to July. I did two out of the three weeks of the dance intensive offered by my studio. It was amazing, but my feet took a beating. The inflammation issues kind of stayed the same, however I got all kinds of rips and blisters and bruises (even one black toenail!). I'm glad I did it though.
During the intensive I got a call from a dance teacher who is opening her own studio. She asked if I would be interested in teaching for her as well as at the other studio where I had been teaching (not the one where I take class..not sure if I've ever specified that). She told me to take a few days before I answered her and think about it. A day had hardly passed when I got a nasty email from the owner of the dance studio I had been teaching at calling me a liar and saying I was going behind her back. I was very upset. The next day I called her back and explained to her a multitude of things that I won't go into, but basically letting her know that I had always been loyal to her despite the way she had treated me (she is very kind but doesn't know how to show it and often comes off rude and uncaring which is very hard to deal with as a teenager and an employee). I emailed her later in the week saying I wouldn't be returning to teach for her and I accepted the job at the new studio. I have since gotten an apology from her, which I do appreciate, but I will not be going back.
Then my dad and my twin brother and I went on a college tour. We spent a week and saw about a dozen colleges. The walking aggravated my feet even more, but on the bright side, I learned a lot about what my plan for college is.
After we got back from our trip we had about two weeks off before school started up again. I didn't do a whole lot but I was running and working out, trying to stay in shape. One night when I was out for a run with my dad my feet hurt so badly that I had to stop and walk after only two miles. He made me another podiatrist appointment the next day.
Then August 27th came. The first day of my senior year. I can't even get that through my head. Monday was also supposed to be the first day of the dance season, and it was my appointment with the podiatrist. Basically, the appointment didn't surprise me. She said the only way to get my feet to heal up was to stop dancing for a month. I'm sad, but I figured I'd have to take some time off. And it's worth it, there was a point where the pain was literally keeping me awake at night. At this point I just want it gone. So I didn't start dance on Monday, I probably won't be starting until October.
Now I've made it through my first week of senior year. And let me tell you what, this year is going to be a bitch. My schedule is; AP English, Gym, AP Calculus, Honor Economics, Lunch, AP Chemistry, Study Hall and Anatomy. So far I've had two essays, two one-page papers, a chemistry lab, and calc and anatomy homework every night. Tomorrow I have a calc quiz, an anatomy quiz and chem study guide due. It's crazy.
Yesterday a fantastic thing happened. Remember earlier when I talked about the girls I watched this summer? Well, their parents called me yesterday and asked if I would be Clare's Godmother. I was so surprised, I said, "Me? I though you were just calling for a babysitter!" And then I said yes, of course, and they laughed at me. I feel so honored that they asked me to do that, I love that family with all of my heart and the fact that they chose me for such a special thing just blows my mind.
So now you're caught up. It's memorial day. Tomorrow I start week two of senior year and night one at the new studio where I'm teaching. Yes, I am still allowed to teach, I just can't take classes of my own. I only teach one night a week, I teach seven 45 minute classes (4 jazz...first time teaching jazz! And 3 acro) and I make $10 per class. And in two weeks I get to become the Godmother of the most precious 18 month old girl in my life.
I still maintain that my life has exploded. Bad things happened this summer and some parts of my life went off like grenades. But fireworks explode too, and the fireworks of my summer have been pretty damn beautiful.
And now, for everyone's viewing pleasure, some photos that might slightly repent for my absence. The have no rhyme or reason for being attached to this post, but they're fun to look at :)
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| Liam and I circa '99 |
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| Clare and me from Christmas 2011. This precious baby will be my Goddaughter soon. |
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| I painted this picture. |
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| Prom! |
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| Dos Pollos. |
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| Liam and I at a Medieval Times show. |
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| Party in the boondocks. All you need is a tarp, a hose, some soap and hill. |
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| Me. Half bikini, half shirt. Putting a party hat on a dog. |
My Life is a Big Hot Mess!
Well hey! It's been a couple months. I'm going to throw out the generic excuse of "I've been SO busy" for why I haven't posted anything recently. It's true though, I promise!!
I don't know if I ever mentioned this before or not, as it's not entirely dance related, but I was cast as a lead in my school musical. Disclaimer: I am not musically inclined in the least. But here is some of the standard information...
Our show is Thoroughly Modern Millie (there is a fantastic synopsis on wikipedia). I am Mrs. Meers, which is a lead. She is a faux-Asian former actress who kidnaps young women (actresses who she gets to know at the boarding house she runs) and sells them into white slavery.
She's pretty cool.
So I've had rehearsals four days a week for this show. This show for which I've had to learn;
-How to sing like a scorned old lady
-How to speak in a Chinese accent
-How to properly "find the light" onstage
-How to do age make-up
-How to create a faux-bob (not for me, but for the rest of the female cast)
It's been crazy, lemme tell ya. At some points of the play I have to speak in a Chinese accent, and in some points I'm supposed to sound like an angry old lady. Sometimes I walk like a little old lady, sometimes I storm about on a rampage. There are several scenes of me trying to kidnap people and a lot of time spend laughing at laundry carts (seriously, you won't even get it, just go watch it on Netflix or something).
And now, for comic relief here are some totes adorbs pictures of yours truly as this whole thing went down...
Disclaimer: According to the time stamp on this post it has been way more than a couple of months. I know. But when I logged on today I found this post saved in my drafts, unfinished. I have no idea where I what I was planning to do with this after I told you about the play, so I just slapped some pictures on there and posted the sucker. Read the title, it explains this whole situation...
I don't know if I ever mentioned this before or not, as it's not entirely dance related, but I was cast as a lead in my school musical. Disclaimer: I am not musically inclined in the least. But here is some of the standard information...
Our show is Thoroughly Modern Millie (there is a fantastic synopsis on wikipedia). I am Mrs. Meers, which is a lead. She is a faux-Asian former actress who kidnaps young women (actresses who she gets to know at the boarding house she runs) and sells them into white slavery.
She's pretty cool.
So I've had rehearsals four days a week for this show. This show for which I've had to learn;
-How to sing like a scorned old lady
-How to speak in a Chinese accent
-How to properly "find the light" onstage
-How to do age make-up
-How to create a faux-bob (not for me, but for the rest of the female cast)
It's been crazy, lemme tell ya. At some points of the play I have to speak in a Chinese accent, and in some points I'm supposed to sound like an angry old lady. Sometimes I walk like a little old lady, sometimes I storm about on a rampage. There are several scenes of me trying to kidnap people and a lot of time spend laughing at laundry carts (seriously, you won't even get it, just go watch it on Netflix or something).
And now, for comic relief here are some totes adorbs pictures of yours truly as this whole thing went down...
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| When I took off the wig I basically looked like a crack- whore |
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| I think I look like a princess. A very run down, slightly deranged princess with an itchy synthetic wig. |
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| After opening night, Trevor Graydon, Mrs. Meers and Millie Dillmount. |
Tuesday, February 7, 2012
Ballerina Butt
"Glute Meat". That's how my ballet teacher refers to our butts. She says we have a lot of "glute meat". It makes me laugh.
It's true though. We all have dancer butts.
Like I've mentioned before, I began dancing at a ballet school about half an hour away from my house at the beginning of the season. Since then, my body has certainly changed into more of a dancer body. Butt and all.
That's kind of all I have to say right now. I've been kind of boring lately. This thought about dancer butts was fostered by my school musical, actually (you can expect a musical update soon). During rehearsal our stage manager requires that we wear sweatpants/yoga pants/leggings. According to some of my cast members, leggings make the booty look nice...
It's true though. We all have dancer butts.
Like I've mentioned before, I began dancing at a ballet school about half an hour away from my house at the beginning of the season. Since then, my body has certainly changed into more of a dancer body. Butt and all.
That's kind of all I have to say right now. I've been kind of boring lately. This thought about dancer butts was fostered by my school musical, actually (you can expect a musical update soon). During rehearsal our stage manager requires that we wear sweatpants/yoga pants/leggings. According to some of my cast members, leggings make the booty look nice...
Friday, February 3, 2012
Pizazz!
I have officially started all of my choreography for the acro classes! I'm pumped!!
Here are the songs I chose:
* Advanced: Dance Like There's no Tomorrow - Paula Abdul
* Intermediate II: Kung Fu Fighting - Cee Lo Green ft. Jack Black
* Intermediate I: Dynamite - China Anne McClain
* Beginner: The Time of My Life - Randy Newman (A Bugs Life soundtrack)
Everything is going well!!
I hadn't made a solid decision on the Intermediate I song until tonight. I had been thinking of using the Numa Numa song but I wasn't in love. The studio director came in tonight and was asking me to make the final decisions between to costumes she had chosen and she also put in a CD of songs she thought might work so I could have some other ideas. As soon as Dynamite came on every single girl started to sing along. I looked at the director and we both just kind of nodded. The girls had chosen it for us :)
I'm excited for the advanced class but at the same time I'm a little concerned. The music requires a lot of sass and I'm choreographing a very fast piece for them. Time will tell.
I was pleased with their efforts tonight though. I asked them what elements they thought that the piece needed. I said it was something that we don't work on in class very often (I've been kicking their butts with technique and conditioning). Immediately each girl yelled something along the lines of "attitude" which was exactly what I was fishing for!! My favorite adjective was given to me by my oldest student who said the dance needed "pizazz" which I really liked! They also told me they needed to use facials and add flair. I was so proud of them! I now know that what I am telling them is sinking in...next step...get them to utilized in their bodies, not just their brains. Baby Steps. Baby Steps.
Here are the songs I chose:
* Advanced: Dance Like There's no Tomorrow - Paula Abdul
* Intermediate II: Kung Fu Fighting - Cee Lo Green ft. Jack Black
* Intermediate I: Dynamite - China Anne McClain
* Beginner: The Time of My Life - Randy Newman (A Bugs Life soundtrack)
Everything is going well!!
I hadn't made a solid decision on the Intermediate I song until tonight. I had been thinking of using the Numa Numa song but I wasn't in love. The studio director came in tonight and was asking me to make the final decisions between to costumes she had chosen and she also put in a CD of songs she thought might work so I could have some other ideas. As soon as Dynamite came on every single girl started to sing along. I looked at the director and we both just kind of nodded. The girls had chosen it for us :)
I'm excited for the advanced class but at the same time I'm a little concerned. The music requires a lot of sass and I'm choreographing a very fast piece for them. Time will tell.
I was pleased with their efforts tonight though. I asked them what elements they thought that the piece needed. I said it was something that we don't work on in class very often (I've been kicking their butts with technique and conditioning). Immediately each girl yelled something along the lines of "attitude" which was exactly what I was fishing for!! My favorite adjective was given to me by my oldest student who said the dance needed "pizazz" which I really liked! They also told me they needed to use facials and add flair. I was so proud of them! I now know that what I am telling them is sinking in...next step...get them to utilized in their bodies, not just their brains. Baby Steps. Baby Steps.
Return of the Rubberband Girl
Okay, so I know that a lot of my blogs are centered around the "Rubberband Girl". Sorry about that. But that's not going to stop me from writing this post. Guess what it's about...
I am now into the second semester of my junior year in high school. At the beginning of the year I was asked to join a studio art course with artist Ski Holm. He taught drawing the first half of the year and this semester he is teaching oil painting. In order to be in the course you had to be hand selected. Unfortunately I was unable to participate in the drawing half, but the school worked with me and is allowing me to do one of my graduation requirements in my spare time so that I can fill that course period with the studio art painting class. We're only a week into it, but I'm really enjoying it so far.
I have the class second period which begins just before 10 am. Today as I walked in Mr. Holm was like, "Hey Mary Kate, I hear you're this big legend for being extremely flexible." I laughed and said that it was probably true, but asked who told him that. He said that his first period studio had seen the back of my palette (we have been oiling our palettes) which has my initials "MKC" written on it.
Apparently just seeing "MKC" makes people think of me, which then seems to lead to my dancing. Who'd have known?
I was pretty surprised because my Rubberband Girl dance was my freshman year, meaning that at this point half of the school doesn't even know about it. I guess I'm just so legendary ;) Ha!
I am now into the second semester of my junior year in high school. At the beginning of the year I was asked to join a studio art course with artist Ski Holm. He taught drawing the first half of the year and this semester he is teaching oil painting. In order to be in the course you had to be hand selected. Unfortunately I was unable to participate in the drawing half, but the school worked with me and is allowing me to do one of my graduation requirements in my spare time so that I can fill that course period with the studio art painting class. We're only a week into it, but I'm really enjoying it so far.
I have the class second period which begins just before 10 am. Today as I walked in Mr. Holm was like, "Hey Mary Kate, I hear you're this big legend for being extremely flexible." I laughed and said that it was probably true, but asked who told him that. He said that his first period studio had seen the back of my palette (we have been oiling our palettes) which has my initials "MKC" written on it.
Apparently just seeing "MKC" makes people think of me, which then seems to lead to my dancing. Who'd have known?
I was pretty surprised because my Rubberband Girl dance was my freshman year, meaning that at this point half of the school doesn't even know about it. I guess I'm just so legendary ;) Ha!
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