Critter Ball Eve

The Critter Ball is tomorrow, so this will be my final journal post. Surprisingly, the time has really flown by in preparation for our dance. In the early days of practice, we had planned to practice every day during the week leading up to the event. As it happens, we have only practiced once this week. Later this morning, we will have our second practice this week. The reason we have held off on the practice is that we are afraid of OVER-preparing and getting stale. It would be a bad thing to peak too early. I guess that’s the benefit of working really hard early on in the process.

When we started practicing at the end of July, I was so nervous about dancing in front of so many people that I had many a sleepless night. The anxiety was almost overwhelming at times. Now that the event is upon us, I am not nervous at all. I will probably be nervous tomorrow, but for now, I’m sleeping well and feel pretty good about the whole thing. The real test will be the dress rehearsal at 1:00 tomorrow. If my nerves are manageable for that, I think I’ll be fine tomorrow night. We will see.

This has been a great experience, and I could not have done this without the overwhelming support from family and friends. This has truly been a team effort, and to all of you on my team, I just want to say, “Thank you! You guys rock!” I also want to give a special shout out to my favorite marketing lady, Denise Hood, at Creative Juices Marketing. She is the brains behind my wonderful logo, Mutts & Margaritas, my website, and so much more. Without her, Bootscootin’ Bonistalli might never have been.

Finally, I would like to thank Kevin Sumter, aka Mr. Miyagi. He has been a joy to dance with and has become a good friend. I am going to be sad after our final practice today, because it’s really been a lot of fun.

So, I’m off to do some last minute stuff in preparation of the big day. Thank you all for your donations and support. Regardless of the outcome, tomorrow night will be wonderful. However, I will do my best to bring home the Mirrorball Trophy. To quote the great Fezzik from the Princess Bride, “Hey Inigo! I hope we win…..”

4 Paws – Great Cause

Does your Lab have flab?
Is your cat too fat?
Does your Dog look like a log?
We can help with that!

Take a look at these fabulous things that were created to keep your favorite furry things healthy and happy.

These unique items are for sale on FAB.com.  I’m not telling you to buy them – this is an attempt to amuse you

DogTread

Help Your Dog Work It Out

DogTread is about to bring the gym to your home…for your pup. With carefully designed canine treadmills, pooch companions can exercise their pup without heading outside. Perfect for seniors, bad weather days, or furry fatties (sorry Rufus) – you’ll love the convenience and your pup will love the workout.

The Cheeky Beastie

Fun Toys For Foodie Felines

Everyone remembers the moment they won over their cat. For some, it was easy. (Simply taking them home was enough to earn their affections.) For others, it was a more difficult road. Well, we’ve got an adoration action plan: treat her to one of these gory goodies from The Cheeky Beastie and get her love. Forever.

Now, something for your dog to chew on other than a side of beef…

The Contempo Line

Contempo Smart Toys For The Four-Legged & Feisty
The Contempo line, designed by Peter Pracilio for SPOT Brand Products, is determined to keep your pet engaged and distracted. With treat dispensing toys and laser beaming birds, how could your bud ever be swayed by any other plaything? So grab a good book and watch your friend wear himself out. You’re welcome.

Why We Love Our Pets!

Support CASPCA

Hi there!  Since Julie is very busy perfecting her bootscootin, I thought I would guest blog.  My name is Denise and I am helping Julie with her campaign to raise SO MUCH money for the Charlottesville Albemarle SPCA and take home that Mirror Ball trophy from the Critter Ball!

Essie is the one on the right.

I have had the extreme pleasure of loving and caring for 5 cats and 2 dogs over my life and have cherished every moment of my time with them (and still do).  Last year, I adopted the most adorable little kitten that I named Esmeralda from the CASPCA.  Essie is so entertaining, funny and downright precious.  My husband and I adopted Essie, who was born to her homeless mother in a CASPCA foster home with her brother and sister (pictured).  At the time, we also had a 19 year old cat named Presto.  Presto was my boy since I adopted him from the SPCA when he was 2 because he had more character, love, and swanky style than all of the other cats in the shelter put together.  Presto was a stray tom cat who had a torn ear and a missing front tooth that made his lip curl up like Elvis.  The SPCA saved him and fostered him – then found him a great home with me.  NOW for the canine in the family – Ella, a beautiful shepherd/lab mix that we adopted 11 years ago.  Ella is a 100 pound baby that my husband and I spoil ROTTEN constantly.  But I digress!!!  Badly in fact.  I love animals of all kinds and I possess an EXTREME amount of respect for the SPCA and the work that they do.  I am a big supporter AND fan of everything they do and represent. 

What I wanted to do with this blog was share some information with you that will make you understand how important it is to GIVE to the CASPCA.

$500 provides emergency care for a critically injured animal
$250 sponsors an animal’s entire stay at the SPCA
$100 provides support for a litter of kittens or puppies
$50 funds the spay/neuter of one animal
$25 covers standard intake tests and vaccines for one cat
$20 covers standard intake tests and vaccines for one dog.

Fact is, ANY amount will help the CASPCA keep these animals fed, happy and content until they can find forever homes.  Go to CASPCA website and vote for Julie Bonistalli with a donation.  It means so much.  Thanks.

Fame and Fear?

Not sure those two go hand in hand normally, but as I think about the week ahead, those 4 letter “f” words keep popping in my head.  I’ll break it down for you so you can feel my pain:

FAME  –  Monday @ 9:45, interview with Rick Daniels and Jane Foy on WINA AM 1070

Monday @ 10, interview with Sherry Taylor on Z-95

Monday @ 10:15, interview with Brad Savage on 106.1 The Corner

Wednesday @ noon, taping news interview with NBC 29

Thursday @ 5pm, hosting Mutts & Margaritas Fundraiser at La Taza in Belmont

Random Periods of  ”free time”  - practice practice practice … gotta bootscoot!

FEAR – Ditto to ALL of the above!  But you know, those cute little furry faces at the CASPCA shelter make me want to face these fears with abandon and raise all of the money that I can for them.  It’s the only way these animals can stay safe.  They can’t take care of themselves.  They need us to protect them.  And if I have to go out in front of the entire STATE of Virginia – I will.  I just hope I survive it  Thank you all for your support!!!!!

Is Kevin really Mr. Miyagi?

Is Kevin really Mr. Miyagi?.

Is Kevin really Mr. Miyagi?

There are 17 days until the Critter Ball, and I am pleased to say that I am beginning to feel somewhat comfortable with our dance.  At this point, we are focusing on the details.  According to Kevin, nothing is set in stone, but to be honest, A LOT of the dance is set in stone.  To change anything major at this stage would be to perform something akin to a Jedi mind trick on ourselves, from which I doubt we could recover.  Learning how to dance well is something that takes years of lessons and practice.  Learning how to dance without embarrassing yourself in front of hundreds of people at a fundraising event is easier said than done, and strangely similar to the movie The Karate Kid.

Like Karate, dance is not something that you just pick up overnight.  Kevin is trying to cram hours of lessons and practice into a just two short months.  The Karate Kid analogy came to me because Kevin asks me to do things that I think are a complete waste of my time, much like Miyagi’s wash on/wash off technique.  I have been asked to watch other dancers and critique them and I have been asked to perform the entire routine for Kevin without a partner.  These things make sense to me.  I understand how these things will help with our dance on October 6^th.  Kevin ALSO asks me to learn dances that I will NOT be doing at the Critter Ball.  He asks me to learn to dance with complete strangers, people who I will NOT be dancing with at the Critter Ball.  I am baffled as to how these will help our actual dance routine (the whole reason we are doing this, by the way), and when I ask why I have to do these things, he just says, “Trust me.  It will make you a better dancer.”

So like I said, we are 17 days out and at this point, I am trusting Kevin aka Mr. Miyagi and doing what he says toden help our dance to be the best it can be.  I’m still not sold on the idea of learning how to dance a waltz (it’s not in our routine) or learning how to dance with other people, but I’m trying to be a good sport about it.  After all, he is giving me free reign on my outfit!