Bowdenisms

Today My Love Returns

2009-11-14T11:43:00.008-05:00

The beautiful blonde on the right is married to me,

the cute redhead belongs to the Parsons

For those of you not in the know, Courtney has been in NYC since last Sunday. She comes home today and I'm super excited to see her! We're pretty used to spending little stints apart. I was actually just talking to a friend and explaining that about 6 months after Courtney and I got married, she went on her last internship and lived in NYC for 3 months. We didn't see each other the entire time. So we know how to survive on phone calls and text messages, but nothing compares to having my best friend home and with me. If she's not too tired from traveling, I'm going to take her out on a date.

Any suggestions?

I have one. It's called Table - Brick Oven and Bar

We just went there so I don't think that we'll eat there tonight, but I certainly wouldn't complain if Court wanted to go. It is BY FAR my favorite restaurant.... of all time. The first time we went, I got a Porterhouse Steak that was the best steak I have ever had. The second time I got a Pork Shank Redemption. Easily the best piece of pork I have ever had. Courtney does not really like pork, but she loved it.

If you come to visit us here in Pittsburgh, request to go to Table with us. We'll happily oblige and you won't regret it!

Face Lift

2009-11-13T17:36:00.007-05:00

No one likes to admit when they've made a mistake and I'm included in that, but for the sustainability of the blog, I will let you all in one of my mistakes and its outcome.

Last Saturday, I was heading to the gym to work out and as I pulled out of our road I stuck the nose of my car...my new car...my baby out too far and I just barely scrapped the side of another car. There wasn't a whole lot of damage to either car, but it still stunk to get the new car in an accident. Even though it was just scrapes along the bumper we decided to get it fixed.

So here's the good part. I was thinking of replacing the front grill of the car anyway because it was all faded and it didn't match the bumper at all. From this post you can see a bunch of pictures, but here's one for you convenience.

So I hot him back today and LOOK!

No he looks awesome! I'm not sure if the new look was worth getting in an accident, but at least there's a positive out of the whole situation!

I'm An Elitist

2009-11-12T18:27:00.003-05:00

At work we have a program called Eagle's Elite. It's a quarterly reward program where people are nominated by their bosses for going above and beyond their job duties to embody one of the four core values of the company. The values are Innovation, Teamwork...Teamwork... Innovation...

Ok so I don't know all four of them, but rest assured there are four. I think. There's at least two.

A few weeks ago I created an Excel spreadsheet like none other. It basically takes inputs from users and creates computer code for one of our allocation systems. I was really proud of it and spent a good amount of time on it. So now all of allocation is using it, which for me is pretty cool!

So today we had our Third Quarter Eagle's Elite ceremony... and I won for my Excel program!!

My boss said some really nice things about what I did and how it helps the company and... yadda yadda yadda...

But the real gem came when my boss said "Dustin is a self proclaimed Excel nerd."

Which is totally true.! I've told my team (about 15 people) that I am an Excel nerd and that it geeks me out to do cool stuff on it. I help people all the time with formulas and all of that. It's what I do.

BUT... I'm not 100% sure I wanted the everyone there (well over 100 people) to hear that I am a self proclaimed Excel nerd. In that one sentence, my potential pool of work friends probably decreased 85%. Now I'm that "excel guy." I might as well get a pocket protector and a pair of horn rimmed glasses.

So... my wonderful blog reader who is only here to see if bowdenisms has kept up with the daily posting goal...

Have you ever had someone blow up your spot in front of a bunch of people?

Post comments.

I want to be a part of it....NY NY.

2009-11-11T09:00:00.000-05:00

I'm in New York City this week for work (I know...so glamorous!) and though I've spent quite a bit of time here, I'm always struck by how many things are unique to this city. Sure, there is the culture, the architecture, the entertainment....But I'm not talking about that. No, I'm referring to those crazy little moments that could only happen in New York. The ones that make you laugh, shake your head, or cringe. No matter what, it's always memorable!

Highlights so far:

John Gosselin taping The Insider in Times Square.

Vendors selling Obama Condoms ("Hope Flavored") on the street.

Watching a club foot pigeon duke it out against another bird for a piece of toast.

Waking up at seven AM to the sounds of a full marching band performing for Veteran's day.

Seeing Niecy Nash getting off of the elevator in our hotel lobby.

Watching a group of "grand-cougars" (they were so old their granddaughters qualify for social security) work their man magic at the hotel bar.

Hearing some choice NYC quotes- exhibit A: "I mean, I feel like we're The Sopranos. Only, like, you know, the gay version." (overheard during dinner in Hell's Kitchen)

For more unique to the city experiences, visit Overheard in New York. You just can't make this stuff up.

Away We Went

2009-11-10T09:00:00.001-05:00

This past weekend Dustin and I continued in our awesomely adventurous tradition of renting a movie from our cable's On Demand service. (ok, it's not really a tradition, but it happens often enough that it could be. Plus it sounds better than, "we didn't have anything better to do so we rented a movie. A-gain." ahh, married life....)

The movie selection process is a bit of a tradition as well. It goes a little something like this:
I choose several movies that sound good to me (trying hard to find at least one non-chick flick).

Dustin says it doesn't matter (because I didn't choose anything with a super-hero).

We watch whatever I want, during which I periodically try to convince Dustin it's not as bad as he thought it would be.

This week's options were:
Away We Go

The Proposal

Food Inc.

And the final selection was Away We Go.

It's an idie flick with John Krasinski (The Office's "Jim") and Maya Rudolf (SNL) and a ton of famous (and hilarious) supporting cast members. The focus is on dating couple Burt and Verona who have recently found out they're going to have a baby. They don't have many ties to the city they current reside, so they set out on a road trip to find the perfect place to start their new family.

There are plenty of crazy characters, and more than a little offensive language, but overall I thought it was a great film. I connected to the main characters and identified with their struggles to find their footing in a sometimes unstable life. The fact that the movie falls under the "independent film" category allows it to ignore the typical plot patterns, and character cliches and resist the urge to tie everything up with a pretty bow at the end. What results are personas that seem authentically flawed, and at times awkwardly real. Many of the characters are over the top, but in a frighteningly familiar way- it's easy to see bits of your co-workers, friends, and family reflected on the screen. And, I saw a bit of myself in the uncertainty, insecurity, hope and love that the main characters shared. It was an enjoyable and thought provoking journey to take....

And in keeping with tradition, I cried at the end.

Sunny days, sweeping the clouds away

2009-11-09T09:00:00.003-05:00

This week marks a major TV milestone: Sesame Street turns 40! That's right....what is now one of the most famous (and beloved) children's show of all time, premiered way back on November 10, 1969. I was informed of this momentous occasion by Google, when one of my search attempts was greeted with this:

I abandoned whatever my original inquiry was (probably "interesting blog posts for people running out of ideas") in order to find out more about the anniversary. I found an fun article about the history of the show, including puppeteer Caroll Spinney, who has "played" Big Bird and Oscar the Grouch since the show's beginning. It's amazing to me that someone would devote their entire career to embodying a giant 6 year old bird, but I'm grateful that a show like this is still on the air.

I have countless memories of Sesame Street as a kid. I would park myself on the floor at my grandparent's house to watch, or enjoy an episode while I ate my morning cereal. I knew (and loved) all the characters, sang along with the songs, and soaked up all the reading, counting, and matching exercises I could. I remember even as a young kid, feeling involved in the show. It wasn't a passive way to pass the time....I felt like I was a part of Sesame Street, and the character's world was connected to mine. It inspired confidence in who I was and what I could do....oh, and it made me laugh. A lot.

That's one thing I love about the show- that it doesn't attempt to trick kids into learning- hiding some lessons in candy cartoon coating....they celebrate learning, and encourage kids to be curious, thoughtful, and inventive (not to mention tolerant, loving, and civic-minded). Plus they manage to cram in all this learning and stay wildly entertaining to children and parents alike.

It's nearly impossible to choose a favorite part of the show, as there are so many things I loved. Some highlights:

Super Grover (like Grover, only even more hilarious)
The Yips ("Yip yip yip yip yip yip yip yip uh-huh, uh-huh")
Two headed monster (my mom's favorite)
Snuffleupagus (I loved his eyelashes, and his sister Alice)
The “One of these things is not like the other” game (I still sing this song if something doesn't look right in a window at work)
Bert and Ernie (my best friend and I dressed up like them for Halloween one year. She had to be Bert because she was taller.)
The Count (ah, ah, ahhhh)
Luis (I don't remember much about him, except for that when my step-dad shaved his beard we teased him mercilessly telling him he looked like Luis. In hindsight, he didn't really....)
Guy Smiley (Does anyone remember when he went on a safari and kept scaring the animals with his loud voice? hilarious)
Mumford the Magician ( "A-la-peanut-butter-sandwiches!")

I know I'm leaving out a million things (Cookie Monster hosting Muppetpiece theater!..ok I'll stop) What about you guys? Did you watch the show as a kid (or have children that loved it)? What are your most memorable Sesame moments? Favorite characters?

Oh- and if you're longing for more, check out the DVD special- 40 Years of Sunny Days or the special edition book Sesame Street: A Celebration of 40 Years of Life on the Street. Or, log on to a special section of wikipedia, known as Muppet Wiki (and no...I'm not being compensated by Sesame Workshop...I just really love the show!)

Penny for Your Thoughts

2009-11-08T09:46:00.006-05:00

It's a beautiful day here in Pittsburgh! There are NO clouds in the sky and it's going to get as high as 70 degrees. 70! Wow!

So I go out on my deck to feel how beautiful it is and I see this:

I look a little closer and I notice this little guy:

There are no leaves and all the other pears have already fallen off and gone bad, but not this guy. He's holding on until the end. Whenever that is. I'm not sure if he'll ever fall off. So as I looked at it, I thought to myself, "If that pear could think and talk, what would it be saying to all the other pears and the leaves?" If I had to guess, I think it'd be saying:

That's if Pears could dance or mad dog you after dancing.

What do you think? What's that pear saying to the leaves and other pears that bailed about a month ago?

Indian Summer

2009-11-07T13:43:00.002-05:00

It is November 7th, and it is 70 degrees.
It's like Summer and Fall got together to make the world's most perfect day.
Enjoy the sunshine....and the pumpkins.

Wanna be my friend?

2009-11-06T19:04:00.003-05:00

Remember when you were a kid, and the only qualification you had for finding friends was that they were:

close to your age (i.e. younger than "grown ups" but older than you....no one wants to play with stupid baby kids!)
willing to play with you

Sure, it got a little more complicated when choosing a "BFF", but if you were looking for someone to play with, there were virtually no requirements, other than physical proximity. (This is especially true for boys, as playmates are often little more than a receiver for whatever ball is being thrown at the time).

But when it comes to making friends as an adult....it's a little bit trickier. There's no more play groups, no guaranteed bond of sharing a carpet square during story time. There are people you see day after day, but familiarity is no longer synonymous with "friend". Adults have their guards up. Screaming "TAG!" and hitting them on the back won't jumpstart a relationship. It's more complicated than that. It's a game of social intricacies now. Heaven forbid you look at another grown up and declare, "I like you. Wanna be my friend?" It's just not done.

The challenges of instigating mature friendships have become increasingly obvious to me since we moved to a new city, where we didn't knew a soul. Sure, we've been here two years, but that seems like a nano-second compared to people who were born and raised here and have roots in the area that go back generations (and trust me...there are a lot of these people in Pittsburgh). Or even compared to the transplants who may be just as new to the area as me, but seem to have established themselves more quickly or easily. I'm intimidated by these people, and envy their sense of belonging. To me they're real life's version of high school's "popular kids". They're going prepped for the tailgating party, and I'm still roaming the halls trying to find my math class.

It's not to say we don't have great friends here, because we do, but interactions with new people always renew that little insecure voice in my head: "Why would they want to hang out with little ol' me?" It's hard for me to throw out the first invite, for I fear of sting of rejection. Which is why I'm thankful when someone else is willing to take that risk, to step out and test the waters of friendship. Last Sunday at church we ran into a couple from our small group; a couple that Dustin and I have grown to like, but have been too shy to talk to about hanging out. We chatted for a few minutes before the conversation began to wind down into "Well, see you Tuesday" territory, when the girl spoke up- "Hey, would you guys ever want to go out to dinner or something?" Why yes indeed we would. Who knew it was that easy?

Tonight they're coming over to play some games. Because apparently "grown-up friendships" aren't that different after all.

My Heart Belongs to Pumpkin (and my tummy does too)

2009-11-05T20:14:00.008-05:00

Fall is one of my favorite seasons, if for no other reason than delicious pumpkin recipes. I take every opportunity to indulge in some pumpkin goodness- I'm like a harvest themed "Bubba"- pumpkin soup, pumpkin roll, pumpkin ravioli, pumpkin ice cream, pumpkin latte, pumpkin cookies......You name it, I love it. So, I thought I would pass a couple of my new favorites on to you. Enjoy!

First up- the most important pumpkin meal of the day: Pancakes!

Pumpkin Pancakes with Maple Whipped Cream

(adapted from here) This one is super easy, and SO yummy....

Prepare pancake mix (any kind) according to directions on the box (for 4 servings)

Then add:

2 tablespoons brown sugar

1 1/2 teaspoons pumpkin pie spice

1/2 cup canned pumpkin

Cook them like you normally cook pancakes.

That's it!

Warning: Take photos of the cooking phase at your own risk.

This batch may or may not have turned out black on one side....

But this batch was good!

Maple Whipping Cream

I didn't follow through on this portion, but it seems easy enough....

1 cup heavy whipping cream

2 tablespoons maple syrup

ground cinnamon (optional)

In a chilled bowl, beat whipping cream and maple syrup until stiff.

Serve pancakes with a dollop of maple whipping cream and a sprinkle of cinnamon, if desired.

Voila!

Next time.....

And for dessert:

Cheesecake Filled Pumpkin Cupcakes

(adapted from here) These require a little bit of extra effort, but they're well worth it.

I brought these to work, and received RAVE reviews. Now it's your turn to be the dessert hero!

12 Servings (but you might want to double it...they are that good.)

Ingredients:

One 8-ounce package cream cheese, at room temperature

1/2 cup confectioners' sugar

2 eggs, plus 1 egg white

1 1/2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract

1 1/2 cups flour

2 teaspoons pumpkin pie spice

1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder

1/2 teaspoon salt

1 cup canned pumpkin puree

1 cup granulated sugar

1/2 cup vegetable oil

Store bought frosting (cream cheese flavor)

Directions:

Place a rack in the lower third of the oven and preheat to 350°.

Then line a 12-cup muffin pan with baking liners.

Cream Cheese Mix

Using an electric mixer, beat the cream cheese and confectioners' sugar for 3 minutes.

Beat in 1 egg white and 1/2 teaspoon vanilla.

Pumpkin Mix

In a separate bowl, whisk the flour, pumpkin pie spice, baking powder and 1/2 teaspoon salt.

In another bowl, mix the pumpkin puree, 2 eggs, granulated sugar, oil and 1 teaspoon vanilla. Whisk in the flour mixture.

Layer each muffin cup with some of the pumpkin batter, then the cream cheese mixture, then more of the batter. Bake until springy to the touch, 25 minutes. Let cool.

Now, the original recipe includes instructions for Brown Sugar Frosting, but it is a lot of work, and in my opinion, not worth it (mine tasted like straight butter...in a bad way). Instead, I recommend using a store bought frosting- cream cheese flavor would probably be delicious.

If you're feeling fancy: Transfer the frosting to a pastry bag; pipe large rosettes on top of the cupcakes. If not? Just smear it on there...people will eat them too fast to notice anyway.

I didn't take photos of mine- just picture this...but in a foil lined shoebox.

Maybe one of these babies should go on my Christmas list?

Any pumpkin enthusiasts out there? Let me know if you give these a try, or feel free to link to your own confections in the comments!

Rollin' With My Homie

2009-11-04T21:55:00.003-05:00

Dustin and I work at the same company, which means (sometimes at least) we get to carpool to the office. We save on gas, and mileage, and if we do it ten times a month, we even get a gas card from work. Win-win-win! Now, this does require that I get up a bit earlier (which is becoming slightly more bearable over time) in order to accommodate Dustin's schedule, and it also means he sometimes has to wait around for me to wrap up in the evening, but overall we try to make it work.

I've found that the more we ride together, the more I love it. There are a lot of perks to having your own "driver". I can ease into being awake, I can do my makeup without endangering the lives of others and in the colder months he'll even warm up the car. Now that's service! Carpooling also means I get my breakfast and lunch packed for me- how spoiled am I? (I'm not sure why the meals only come if I go in with Dustin, but I've learned if I decide to sleep in, I'm on my own...I don't question the system though, lest I be left packing my own lunch and walking to work.)

Selfish motivations aside, I really love when we carpool. It's fun to start our day together. For at least twenty minutes we get to talk, laugh, listen to music....it's a nice time to share before we head off to separate buildings, for separate jobs, and separated days. Plus, it's fun to reunite in the evenings...like he's picking me up for a date (usually a date to our house, but still)!

Recently we've been working on memorizing scripture, so our morning rides have been filled with reciting verses and quizzing each other. I don't usually think about memorizing bible verses as "fun", but I've been really surprised. I like testing Dustin to see what he can remember, and I'm impressed by how much of it we know already. (we're using the Topical Memory System, if you're interested) But most of all, I'm learning how rewarding it is to start the day in God's word. And if your loving husband is by your side, all the better.

One of the verses we're learning has been on my mind and my heart this week, so I thought I would share....hope it encourages you, as it has me:

John 15:7 -If you remain in me and my words remain in you,

ask whatever you wish, and it will be given you.

Get OFF The Road!

2009-11-03T09:00:00.001-05:00

I've been thinking about this post for about a year. Like most of you, I drive a car pretty much everyday. Being the math minded guy that I am, I began to notice patterns in driving behaviors and car types. I tried to formulate in my mind which car goes with with which type of driver.

Are all Mustang drivers aggressive drivers by nature?

Are all Jeep Wrangler drivers crazy?

What about me? I drive a Nissan Exterra and Court drives a Toyota Corolla.

Does the year of the car make a difference?

Unfortunately the results were, for the most part, inconclusive, but I did find a direct correlation between a make of a couple of cars and a driving style that was unbelievably consistent. (at least in the Pittsburgh area)

The Wuss: (Genus: get-off-the-roadus-you-wuss-us)
Cars driven:

Subaru Outback
(I-suck-ikus-at-driving-ikus)

Honestly, if you get stuck behind someone driving this car, then get ready to be amazed at the level of ineptitude. Not only is the Subaru Outback driver a wuss, but they just plain don't understand the rules of driving. They have no concept of the "right of way", they keep their left foot on the brake at all times, AND... they drive a station wagon! A STATION WAGON! Almost every car maker stopped making station wagons in the 90's, but not Subaru. They even try to get Crocodile Dundee to do commercials to make them seem cooler, but the truth is that if you drive one of these then you have just decided to mail it in. You've given up on life so you might as well forget the rules of driving all together.

The Volvo Station Wagon

(Wussikus-maximus)

The Volvo Station Wagon....oh how I loathe thee. At first, while doing my research I initially thought that all Volvo drivers fell into this category, but after further review I discovered that it is merely the station wagon version of the Volvo that I hate when on the road. The Volvo Station Wagon is such a wuss, that the only reason they bought the car is because it's a "steal cage." They don't care about styling, gas mileage, or even the cargo room. They are so scared to drive that they won't turn on red, won't even merge on a highway really. They are a waste. You would think that driving such an indestructible vehicle would inspire recklessness, but nay, it does not. If you are ever cut off by someone driving one of these, then call the cops because that car is stolen. The original driver would never do that. The same applies if you see one at night. Volvo station wagon drivers don't drive at night...too dangerous you know.

The point of this post is to inspire change. Maybe some driver out there stumbles on this blog and reads this post. Maybe they were thinking about buying a car and they were looking at both the Subaru Outback or the Volvo Station Wagon. They both seem like good practical cars. Well, if this is you then I'll save you some trouble.

Don't buy either car...you're not fit to drive. In fact, go to the police station and turn in your license and then go get a bus pass. You'll be doing the world a favor.

Disclaimer: This post was a joke. It is true that I don't like Volvos, but I don't actually label them all as bad drivers. This post was meant to be a funny rant. Hopefully you laughed at least once. If not, then you probably own a Volvo. Just saying.

Swing your Partner....

2009-11-02T11:00:00.003-05:00

I think the good thing about this "blogging everyday stuff" is it will force me to let go of the perfectionism, and for lack of a better term: just bang some entries out. I often get caught up in finding the perfect word, or setting up a sentence just right. And while I do like to improve my writing skills, I also value the authenticity that blogging allows. So rather than overthinking things, I'm going to attempt to keep it real.

And what's more real than a square dance? Wait, what?
On a recent trip to Columbus we were invited to a good-old fashioned square dance.....in a barn...with a real caller, goats, and a bonfire. It was a fun family outing, and I was able to snap a few photos. Coincidentally, I had just downloaded some fun Photoshop tools from The Pioneer Woman that I've been wanting to play around with. And what better excuse to play with some country photo effects, than Ye Olde Barn Party?

That little peanut may have had her head pecked down by chickens.

Don't they look fun?

Baby Jacob loves to dance!

Mom teaching Theo that "goats will eat the clothes right off your body."

Love, Seventies Cowboy style.

Na-Blo-Po-Mo

2009-11-01T17:00:00.000-05:00

November is host to a lot of "National Month" type events. You know, like American Diabetes Month, National Adoption Month, and National Family Care-Giver Month (I don't even know what that last one is but I think I just did my part to raise awareness). But most notably (around this site anyway) is that November is NaBloPoMo. I will save you the awkwardness of hazarding a guess: it stands for National Blog Posting Month (Yes, "bloggers" obviously love an abbreviation, but it has legitimate roots, as an offshoot to another November marker- National Novel Writing Month).

For thirty days, bloggers share the common goal to write everyday for the entire month. I'm not exactly sure of the purpose, as I guess it varies from person to person- stretch writing skills, boost reader "traffic", create a sense of discipline...etc. Some bloggers choose to see the meaning of the "Mo" as "more" rather than "month", in an effort to setting up more achievable goals, and extend the fun all year.

Looking at our October offerings, I figure I can't exactly post less, so it might be worth giving it a shot. I'm not naive enough to start making daily promises, but it'd be fun to give this little site a concerted effort and see what comes of it. As you may have noticed, the Bowdens haven't exactly jumped on Post More bandwagon (I say we, though when it comes to posting my husband is with me more in spirit than in practice) But I do love the idea of carving out time to devote to something I enjoy. Problem is, in order to PoMo, I need to DoOtThiLe, or Do Other Things Less. If I'm going to devote time to the blog, I'm going to have to steal those moments from somewhere else. Some things are obvious, like pushing TV to the side in favor of writing, but what about all those other pesky duties, like work, Young Life, cooking dinner, cleaning? (ok, now I'm just naming theoreticals...) It's a struggle to fit in all the things I have to do, let alone things I want to do. Renee just wrote a great post on priorities and wanting MORE. Apparently a pretty universal struggle...

So I'll start the month strong. I'll have high ambition and lofty goals. I'll undoubtedly continue to have times that I fail to measure up to the standards I set for myself, but I will try. Because that's all we can do.

See you tomorrow!

Happy Halloween!

2009-10-31T23:17:00.003-04:00

So I know you're all dying to know what came of this outing, and this pile of mess:

Well, as you can maybe tell from the size of that pile, I was maybe a little over ambitious with my costume (I know no other way....). I got the crazy idea in my head to go as an Alien Robot, and subsequently bought every piece of silver/black/green/shiny/sparkly fabric that JoAnn's had to offer. I got two patterns, knowing I would have to alter either pretty substantially in order to fulfill my vision. What I didn't realize was the project would take a full two months to complete, rendering my dining room utterly useless in the meantime. Witness the construction-destruction:

I got about ninety-percent finished, and it was looking pretty grim. word had spread that I was working on my costume, and I was ashamed to inform people that the look my creation most resembled was a baked potato. but in the eleventh hour (figuratively of course, literally it must have been the forty-seventh hour at least)....it actually started to come together. It ended up being the quintessential Courtney project: a grandiose vision that's probably overkill for the situation, entirely too much effort, and results that make me proud yet slightly ashamed of my need to take everything to the theoretical level of "eleven". But I have to admit....I do make one heck of a robot:

Practicing my moves.

Making it fashion.

Deserves a detail shot.

And yes, I crimped my hair.

Oh, and I wore this little ditty to work; there was costume contest that included a "catwalk".

I showed my stuff, but didn't take home the prize. They'll be sorry when I take over their planet.....

In trick or treating news- it was a great night. We got about forty kids, and got through about half of our six bags of candy (that's note taking for next year). Dustin had the idea to bring the cornhole game out for kids to play. We set up lines according to age, and gave extra candy to anyone that made a shot (ok, we gave extra candy to everyone, but the "rules" added a sense of suspense!) Any holiday centered around costumes and candy is alright by me.

New Look!

2009-10-31T23:14:00.003-04:00

The blog got a facelift! I spent entirely too much time learning HTML code, and putzing around with the layout, but overall I'm happy with the changes. Hope you guys love it too!

Season Six Superlatives

2009-10-28T22:00:00.003-04:00

So I'm a little behind the times....I'm just now watching last night's episode, so let's just get right down to it. Rather than a traditional recap, I think it'd be fun to begin the season with some predictions about what's to come for each of the dancers. I present:

So You Think You Can Dance Season Six: Most likely to...........

Harp on the same topic each week: Channing. Did you guys hear she's kind of a tomboy? I know, right??
Annoy the crap out of me continually: Phillip- I don't care if you are part of the Urban Poets, I will not like you (oh wait, that actually makes me like you less. I mean, those "poems" don't even rhyme.)
Resemble a religious squash: Ashleigh. Ok, that's not really fair....
Almost live up to the legend of Billy Bell: Jakob. Seriously he's amazing. Almost as good as Billy would have been, or so the judges keep saying. Which reminds me.....
Have the Swine Flu: Billy Bell. What kind of illness knocks you out of a months long competition? Pig fever, that's what kind.
Be forgotten: Ariana. (sorry....it's true). I even forgot to bold her name.
Be a walking (dancing) stereotype: Peter, the "Italian Stallion". He's from Philly and had cheese(steak)y story about the importance of "family" *cough*mob*cough*.
Be adorable, ya'll!: Noelle. She's just a precious Southern belle, ya'll! With the biggest headband ever, ya'll! But she hurt her knee, ya'll. Pouty face, ya'll.....
Most likely to not fit in a style "box": Russell. Same old story, poor black kid from Boston, grows up in a rough neighborhood, becomes the first krumper on a famous show, channels Fred Astaire with his elegant fox trot performance. yaaaaawn.
Be the first/only girl tap dancer on the show so she sticks around way longer than she probably deserves: Bianca. I gotta say, she campaigned hard for this one...
Get mobbed by confused Kupono fans: Victor. (and by mobbed, I mean someone might ask him for an autograph, or at least directions if they're lost.)
Benefit/Suffer from Good Light/Bad Light syndrome: Karen. Is she gorgeous? Busted? Yes and yes.
Work the camera with his eyes: Kevin. (but those eyes weren't enough to distract from that secretary bun tonight.)
Grunt when he gets his swell on at the gym (so everyone can see how jacked and tan he is): Ryan. Did he mention he loves to work out, is a fitness nut and is very masculine? Oh, he did? Well did he prove it by never wearing a shirt, and doing push-ups using his bikini clad gourd (I mean wife) as a weight? Oh he did? Touché.
Have her mouth write checks her body can't cash: Ellenore. For real, I don't care how good you are, you do not say (in week ONE mind you...) that your routine may be the best dance in So You Think You Can Dance history. Leave the over-selling to Cat. That's half her job.
Fall in love with his partner: Brandon. He got the chance of a lifetime, getting tapped as a last minute sub for Billy Bell (who was SO GOOD.), and he's wasting it making googley-eyes at Pauline.
Be the turning point in which this little writing gimmick gets a little old, and decidedly more difficult: Pauline. My muse, she is not.
Steal the part of my heart that I thought was reserved for Kherington: Kathryn. By all accounts her bio should have turned me off (I'm from Georgia! I love the beach! I'm just a really down to earth girl!) but her dancing was so fun to watch. Dang these girls and their atypical K-names. Gets me every time.
Take it to the Streetz: Legacy. (p.s. he was a strong second in the "fall for his partner" category...but who can blame him?! That girl is adorable)
Bother me for no good reason: Nathan. I know I'm in the minority here. And I'm ok with that.
Be the love child of Hannah Montana and a Care Bear: Mmoollee. She's just such a goofball! **giggle giggle**......
Have a giant choreographer crush: Adam Shankman: Sonya rocked his world. He LOVES David Scott (every kind of David Scott) and thinks Travis Wall is "so young, so smart, so talented." And soooo cute. Ok, maybe I added that last part, but you know he was thinking it.
Squawk like a crazy person, fall apart, piece by fake piece, and consistently run cliches into the ground (some literary irony there for ya): Mary Murphy. Nuff said.
Go on, and on, and on, and on.....: Nigel Lythgoe. Keep it up buddy and Paula Abdul will never choose to sit next to you.
Be my idol in all aspects of life (or at least legginess, fashion sense, haircare ...and...um... what else is there in life?): Cat Deely. She is a vision!

Alright, now let's really get down to it. Tonight's Dancers in Danger (great band name!) are: Ariana, Brandon, Pauline (I don't know about this....) and Russell (WHAT?!?!)

And I won't toy with you (mostly because you already know)- the two going home are:
Brandon. Thought his solo was actually pretty impressive.....and apparently so did Nigel, who will be fighting to allow him back in the competition next year.
Ariana. Aw man, I just learned her name! What a waste.....

And because I've been voted most likely to think details like this actually matter....I give you this week's songs:
Rockin' Robin by Jackson Five.
Hit Me with A Hot Note (And Watch Me Bounce) from the Sophisticated Ladies soundtrack
Black & Gold by Sam Sparro
Vagabond Shoes by Vic Damone
Wasted Time by Me'Shell Ndegeocello
Push It by Glee Cast versoin (yes, you read that right. This is shameless cross promotion, and I am eating it UP.)
Arcadia by Apparat
You Light Up My Life by Whitney Houston
On & On by Missy Elliot
Turn the Beat Around (Pablo's 12" Remix) by Gloria Estefan
Darkest Hour by Charlotte Martin
Give the Drummer Sum by Black Milk
Magalenha by Sergio Mendes (which they totally cut short right before it got awesome)
Slow Dancing in a Burning Room by John Mayer
Never Say Never by The Fray (goodbye Ariana montage)
Where It Ends by 16 Frames (see ya next time Brandon montage)

Meet The Top 20

2009-10-26T21:04:00.003-04:00

*Note: This was quite obviously not posted by Dus, but I signed in wrong and can't fix it without a lot of work. And I, AM, SPENT. Enjoy!

It's been quiet around here recently- I guess October just got away from me. But you know what didn't get away from me? ....The awesome talent of a certain dance show! No it DIDN'T!
Sorry- I've let the segue and nonsense of SYTYCD seep into my brain. There might not be a cure...besides more AMAZING dancing!!! (seriously....I can't stop!)

So while I try to reign in my dance dribble- let's meet our Top 20! For those of you new to the SYTYCD scene, you're just in time: Tonight's show is a preview of what's to come. It's our chance to get to know the dancers, before we critique them mercifully and crush their dreams through text message votes. Don't mind if I do!

This season's got a new look, and it's....how do you say...cheap. They've got a new location which may or may not be a converted high school gymnasium. Then there's the new intro- it's got a little more recognizable footage, and less American Ido-esque androids, but the graphics are still a bit too reminiscent of Grand Theft Auto-Vice City for my taste. (not that it isn't a sweet game).

But Cat, ever the class act, rocks a sequin dress and eyelashes thick enough to double as flamenco fans. Judges are Adam (announced officially as a permanent judge), Mary, Nigel, and an empty chair. Perfect for Paula Abdul's empty head! On to the dances:

Top 20 Group Routine
Choreographers Wade and Amanda Robson

Song: Comanche by The Revels

Theme is 1930's turf war (naturally). I expect snapping. Aaaaaaaaaaand I get it!! I also get a lot of crotch grabbing and pelvis thrusting. But mostly snapping.

Hip Hop Routine
Choreographers: Tabitha and Napoleon D'umo. (whose awesomeness at all things makes me want to put an apostrophe in my name. B'owden?)

Song: Beggin' (District 78 Remix) by Madcon

Russell Ferguson (Love him, and his mush mouth hat), Kevin Hunte, and Legacy Perez (Anyone watch The Contender? Sergio much? I know I mentioned him before, but when this guy dances, all I can see is "The Latin Snake"....and yes, that probably makes me racist.)
Diggin' the old school jam, but could have used less thug posturing (which also makes me racist), and more dancing. Still, it's nice to have hip-hop back- head spins and stomping: you were missed.

Contemporary Routine
Choreographer: Tyce Diorio
Song: Crying by K.D. Lang
Nathan Trasoras (one of my least favorites so far. Sorry doll face! Go ask fellow Furby/child David Archeleta to dry your tears.), Jakob Karr, Channing Cooke (who's like a tomboy Carrie Underwood, which is to say, awesome) Ariana Debose (who try as I might to complete the theme, I cannot relate to a past American Idol contestant).
Ariana askes me to open my heart and go to an uncomfortable place. I assume the place she was referring to is anywhere that plays K.D. Lang music. Because yikes.

Tap Routine
Choreographer Derick K. Grant (He Is Tap)

Song: Take The "A" Train, by Ella Fitzgerald

Peter Sabasino (who is putting up some serious competion in the race for the coveted title of "Courtney's Least Favorite"), Bianca Revels and Phillip Attmore
Can't really get on board (get it? get IT?) with this one. No wonder tap waited so long to be "asked to the dance".

Jazz Routine
Choreographer: Sonya Tayek
Song: On a Cloud, by PPP (which apparently stands for Platinum Pied Pipers.)
Mollee Gray (Or Mmoollee, as I like to call her), Pauline Mata (love!) and Ellenore Scott (who totally wishes I'd nickname her Eelleennoorree Ssccoott. But I won't because that's just ridiculous.)
They got their sexy on- I mean, who doesn't think tutus and jazz hands are sexy? Mmoollee grew up about five years, but then regressed about ten when she was complimented. Adam earned his judge spot with his immitation of her cheerleader spunk- spot on.

Contemporary Routine
Choreographer: Mandy Moore
Song: Viva la Vida, by Coldplay
Victor Smalley (who was hoping to "get" mandy this season, if you know what he means), Noelle Marsh (who's bleeding feet are kind of ruining her charm), Billy Bell, and Kathryn McCormick.
Dancing was great, but I was distracted by the recycled costumes from a local theater version of The Wiz, not to mention the Olan Mills sponsored backdrop. Rough.

Latin Routine
Choreographer: Jason Gilkison
Song: Everything I Can't Have by Robin Thicke (you know I love This Song)
Ashleigh Di Lello, Karen Hauer (*cat noise*), and Ryan Di Lello
Why do you think they call them a "trio" not a "threesome"? Anyway, the GMP (great mormon pumpkin for you newbies) has toned down the orange in attempt to keep her man from running off with the Venezuelan. But she kept the Barbie lipgloss, so it's kind of a wash....

So there they are America (I love how Cat refers to me that way....it's like a little pet name). If you're hungry for more info, check out cast bios here. Bonus- they answer the question everyone's asking: "How did it feel on the recent day with the press and photo shoot?" (seriously...that's what they asked them. Is that site's content computer generated?)

Now- off to the comments...discuss!

so HE thinks he can dance?

2009-10-14T22:20:00.003-04:00

Hello out there............

Anyone sick of staring at that barf bag? If so- you're in luck! The only male member of "The Sisterhood of the Traveling Dance", Brian, has his first recap up tonight. Check it out here.

Oh- and maybe I'll have something to say around here in the next few weeks....maybe. Stupid life getting in the way of blogging!

Final Destination

2009-10-03T09:00:00.001-04:00

Like all good things, our vacation (and now our seemingly infinite post-trip coverage) must end. After nine wonderful days, it was time for us to return to the Keystone State, and face "real life" again. But the bright side is: only 336 days until our next anniversary.....

click for full size

But don't think I'd leave you on such a sappy note. No.....let's end this on a high note. Well, maybe more "ridiculous" than "high". Tomayto, tomahto.

Dance Party from Courtney Bowden on Vimeo.

BTV2

2009-10-02T09:00:00.001-04:00

It's no secret that Dustin is wee bit more reserved than I am. Ok, maybe a lot bit. Don't get me wrong, he's a really good time, but he isn't as dramatic or bold about his enthusiasm as I am. I tend to "think out loud", whereas he has an air of mystery about him. Because of this, I feel obligated to confirm he's having a good time. So over our six years together, it's become a sort of verbal tic for me to ask him "Dustin! Are you excited?!" Whether we're going to the Disney World, or the grocery store, it pretty much just flies out of my mouth. You can imagine it was hard for me to reign it in on a trip like this. With splendor around every corner, fun at every turn, I just had to know he shared my level of joy. And God bless him, he humored me every time.

I'm So Excited... from Courtney Bowden on Vimeo.

While we're on the subject of "Annoying Things Courtney Does", I must tell you about one of my more inconvenient quirks. Peeing. Well, more specifically the urgency of my need to pee. You see, when I have to go, I have to go NOW. There's little warning, and I can go from fine to full in two seconds flat. Dustin often teases me, but has grown accustom to me dropping everything to run to the restroom (literally dropping everything if we happen to be shopping). And though he's used it, you can imagine how this issue is magnified on a series of five hour car rides. Now if you'll excuse me....

A Girl's Gotta Go. from Courtney Bowden on Vimeo.

BTV: Bowden Television

2009-09-29T09:00:00.002-04:00

For those of you who just can't get enough of The Great American Bowden Vacation (anyone? anyone?) I have GREAT NEWS! There's more! You've heard the stories, you've seen the photos, now it's time to watch the video! Now, I was raised in a home video loving family, but I know there's nothing worse than sitting down to watch a forty-five minute slide show of Grandpa's trip to CarWorld (that may or may not be a real memory from my childhood), so I've done my best to keep this entertaining. It's less informative, or even sensical, and more silly highlights from our trip. Pure Bowdenisms.

First up: a montage of our finest filming moments. None of this would have been
possible without our trusty video camera. If only we know how to work it....

An Amateur Production from Courtney Bowden on Vimeo.

But fear not, we are not only terrible at filming, we also have poor directional skills! We opted not to google-map any or our trip, and we skipped the GPS upgrade, so we were rollin' old school with a backseat full of maps, and an only slightly helpful AAA Trip Tik. It wasn't perfect, but we muddled through....

Are We There Yet? from Courtney Bowden on Vimeo.

Wonderful Weekend

2009-09-27T21:12:00.004-04:00

Dustin and I went on two, count 'em, TWO dates this weekend. I think all our Western Adventures inspired us to get out and explore our own city a little more.

Friday I made reservations at a restaurant we passed a few weeks ago and wanted to try. On our way there we were treated to an amazing sunset. What a beautiful way to start an evening.

Dinner was delicious- and a nearby table provided our second spectacular view of the evening: a group of Steelers, including Hines Ward, Deshea Townsend, Tyrone Carter (Polamalu's back up) among others (in order to identify them all, we would've had to embarrass ourselves, and bother them....so we admired from afar instead.) Seeing football players isn't rare in the Southside, but it was a still a bit crazy to eat dinner next to such a large group of pro-athletes.
But perhaps even more impressive then the guys themselves, were their cars. On our way out we passed a silver Aston Martin (license plate: Ooo-Wee!) and then parked next-to, nay, on-top of, our car was perhaps the largest truck I've ever seen- with rims to match of course. I had to climb over its gigantic wheels (there were 8 tires!) and weasel my way into my barely-cracked car door. Whoever parked that beast (one of the player's drivers perhaps?) is lucky they didn't scrape the paint on my ride!

Poor little Corolla.

So, we had a lovely dinner, and a small brush with fame....but the next night was just as nice. We went out for a late dinner at our local fake-irish pub where Dustin's friend/teacher, Joel and his band were playing. The food was delicious (potatoes, yum!) and the music was great, but the best part was just hanging out with Dustin. We had a great talk, about...everything...family, friends, future babies, fears, insecurities, hopes, life. We spend a lot of time together, but often it's filled with errand running, tv watching, working or sleeping. It was a welcome treat to sit and chat, and beyond that- to get into serious meaningful talks with the person I love most in this world. I am blessed.

Hope you all had a great weekend!

Why hike when you can ride?

2009-09-25T09:00:00.000-04:00

It's been a full week of vacation goodness, but we're not done yet. Our big excursion in Colorado was 4-wheeling to the top of a 12,000ft mountain. It was a little scary, a little dangerous, and a lot of fun. Words and photos just can't describe it though- for that we have video.

Enjoy the ride!

Peaking a "Twelver" from Courtney Bowden on Vimeo.

Bowdens Go West: Colorado

2009-09-24T09:00:00.002-04:00

The upside of arriving in Colorado was immense: we got to visit a state neither of us have seen before, explore the largest mountains in the country, escape the desert heat, and of course spend time with great friends. But the downside was this was the last stop on our tour. After this it was back to the real world, so we lived it up as much as possible in our last few days.

Click items for a closer look.

It's hard to describe the beauty and the fun that Colorado had for us.

Hopefully some pictures will do it justice.