One year ago....

It's hard to believe almost a year has gone by since last year's wonderful event, Dancing with the Fort Wayne Stars. I am so envious of this year's dancers, because it's just one of the best experiences ever! I was so lucky to be asked to participate last year and it's such an honor to be a member of the elite group of women who have had Mr. Baeten as our partner.

This year's line-up for the 2010 Dancing with the Fort Wayne Stars will include one or more of your favorites: Hope Huber, Katie Burns, Aishah Hasnie, Connie Vorderman and Toni Thompson are the lovely local ladies, and Mark Carboni, Jerry Thompson, Brad Stinson, John Peirce, and Dave Dumas are the celebrity gents.

You can find out more online this year (YEAH!) — read bios, buy a ticket, buy extra votes ahead, and donate to the Carriage House. The important details: Thursday, November 11, 2010 at the Grand Wayne Center. Buffet Dinner at 5:30pm; show starts at 7:00pm. And as always, tickets are going fast!

Two of the dancers that we know are online and talking about their experiences, so be sure to check out both Mark Carboni and Hope Huber on Facebook. Hope has danced with my partner from last year, Mr. Troy Baeten, and they were beauty in motion a year ago when I would arrive early for a lesson and they were still  practicing. I can only imagine what another year of dancing together will do — their samba will SIZZLE! And Carbo has gone country — need I say more?

You know where you need to be on November 12, 2010 — Dancing with the Fort Wayne Stars to benefit the Carriage House!

Our wonderful peeps.....

Only a week ago we were preparing for the big evening at Dancing with the Fort Wayne Stars, seems like only yesterday and forever all at the same time. I am still overwhelmed at the support and encouragement and kind comments and notes I'm still receiving even after a week. The Carriage House and the wonderful committee should be thrilled with planning an event that can still keep a buzz going for so long!

Early reports sound like monies raised this year will top last year's, which is a wonderful win for the Carriage House. I've also had a few people ask about the dancers who performed Thursday evening—their names are Natalie & Andre Paramonov and you can see and learn more about these talented world dance champions at their website: www.Paramonovs.com.

A few more shout-outs—the Grand Wayne ballrooms were transformed by A Party Apart—events, tents and more (check out their online portfolio at www.APartyApart.com). Jim and Cheryl are wonderful community supporters and also helped us with the "Miss Kiss Kiss Bang" decor at our tables. Good folks and good friends! OXOX

And for all of our people who attended (some coming from very far away!), wrote checks, sponsored but were not able to attend, donated, sent regrets and more checks, voted, donated but missed it at the last minute, called, emailed, cheered and whistled, or simply asked on Monday "how did it go?"—we love you all so much and continue to be touched by how blessed we are to know so many fine people who truly CARE—about us, about our community, about all the right things people should care about. Our wonderful "peeps" make a difference in their daily work, their volunteerism, their philanthropic nature, their generosity, and their giving hearts.

"Girlie" details.....

Part of the fun of the event's preparation was the "girlie" part—I know you find this hard to believe, but becoming Miss Kiss Kiss Bang does not just happen overnight. You've already heard about the dancing transformation, but for the actually evening at Dancing with the Fort Wayne Stars, it didn't just take a few others; it took an "army" of others!

So I wanted to thank April Antrim, co-owner of Trend Setters Hair Design (5723 Saint Joe Rd., 485-9434) for the "fabulousity" hair style (and the continuous therapy as we grew out my hair so we'd have options). Do you know I counted over 40 bobbie pins, and it took April under 40 minutes to do that divine do? That's a bobbie pin a minute!

Being blonde by nature (and enhanced by choice), we knew early on that in order to see facial features like eyelashes and eyebrows, it would take the work of professionals. The wonderful women at Merle Norman Cosmetics/Covington Plaza (6386 West Jefferson Blvd., 432-9315) have helped transform our Francine's Friends breast cancer survivors for their makeover debuts, so who else would I turn to? Pink Cashmere and Red in Love for cheeks, Tinseltown, Evergreen, Stay Steel, and Blackout for eyes; Diamond Girl dusting all over; their list topped out at over 20 unique products and steps to transform "pale blonde Donna" into "Miss Kiss Kiss BANG!" And again, in under an hour! I became somewhat attached to the luscious long false eyelashes—I think I could do those for other special occasions.

Julie Clancy, owner of Jophiel, a former Fort Wayne Dancing with the Stars celebrity, and one of the MCs for the evening, summarized it well behind stage with a few of the women dancers Thursday night—as women, we get busy with work, and family, and day-to-day routines, and responsibilities—all important and worthwhile. But to be able to step out of that and be a girl for a day—pamper a bit, try a new color, experiment with a look, and indulge in taking a little bit of time for me—did help the evening feel glamorous and added to the experience and excitement. As Julie says in her "Jophiel Style" column, "When we know we look and are dressed appropriately, we beam with confidence, our individual joy is expressed, and we share it with others." Oh so true!

And don't forget the fabulous "bling"—on loan from Arthur Murray. Diamonds—real or synthetic really ARE a girl's best friends.......;-)

And the high continues......

Whoohee; the rush and high still continues, and I apologize for not updating the blog earlier. But quite honestly, I am still so living in the moment of it, and I find myself thinking about last Thursday for no reason and just breaking into a great big GRIN from ear to ear! What a simply incredible evening!

It was one of those mountain-top experiences—the kind you'll always remember. You try to enjoy every minute as it's happening, you talk about and process it with everyone who was there the following day and weekend, you update all those who weren't there and try to describe it, and you go back to your regular routine. But still, I'll find myself humming "Miss Kiss Kiss Bang" and smile, or I'll receive a wonderful email, or a voice mail, or a handwritten note, or Dennis will run into someone at the grocery store and they'll send a message back to me—it's still such an over-the-top experience!

The official word—we made it to the three top finalists, which was wonderful, because we were able to come back out and perform again for the crowd. My incredible professional dance instructor and partner, Mr. Baeten, choreographed such a fun, high-energy dance routine and the crowd seemed to really enjoy it and the music. He was absolutely THE BEST, and magically transformed Donna Emley into "Miss Kiss Kiss Bang"—I was so lucky to have this incredible experience with him leading the way.

EVERYONE who participated (other local "celebrities" ) in Dancing with the Fort Wayne Stars was incredible in their attitude and commitment; and all of the professional dance instructors were so giving and generous with themselves. It was as much fun to be behind the curtains as out in front. We would all sit around the big screen TV and watch each others' performances; yell, clap and applaud; laugh at the judges' comments, and then rush to the entrance to hug and congratulate whoever was coming off the dance floor. Great camaraderie and support!

And the best part—the big winner was the Carriage House. Hopefully this will be a banner year in funds raised as well as attendees—will keep you posted as final numbers are available and released. Suffice to say that THE place to be last Thursday was "Dancing with the Fort Wayne Stars!"

Thank you again to all our sponsors, donors, attendees, friends, families—I cannot begin to express how much you all mean to me and to us, and how much you contributed to the success of this event and to my incredible experience. Here's Mr. Baeten and "Miss Kiss Kiss Bang" with attendees from our two Fox Trot sponsors—here's Pro Fed Credit Union in between our performances. Thanks again for your corporate suppport!

And here is Indiana Michigan Power (yes, the boa was part of the table decor!). We had nine tables "decorated" in "Miss Kiss Kiss Bang" theme and everyone waved their fans, blew their "lip" whistles, shook their silver sparkle maracas, unwrapped their candy kisses, drapped and wore their boas, and enjoyed the table decor. I could actually see our groups when they stood and cheered on our second performance (too distracted the first time around, but I could ALWAYS hear them when they clapped and cheered!) And the two tables from Arthur Murray (filled with legitimate dancers thank-you-very-much) were over-the-top supportive to me personally—always ready with a hug, a touch, a smile, a comment. You all are just wonderful!

More pics and commentary to come soon!...;-)

D-Day......

It's here! D-Day: "Dancing Donna" Day. Butterflies? Of course! Restless night? Sort of—fairly keyed up after yesterday's dress rehearsal and all the last minute info. Wowed by the overwhelming responses that keep coming in? YOU BET!

But rest assured—this is THE place to be tonight in Fort Wayne, Indiana—with over 1,100 attendees, countless virtual supporters, an unbelievably capable and dedicated committee, 10 incredibly talented and gracious professional dancers, 10 incredibly nervous and excited local "celebrity" dancers, and a wonderful, worthwhile cause—it's going to be a very special night.

The entertainment value of the evening will be off the charts....see you all at Dancing with the Fort Wayne Stars!
OXOXOXO—Miss Kiss Kiss Bang

I am blessed.....

Today we completed our last studio practice in preparation for Dancing with the Fort Wayne Stars. Now it's all the other stuff—tomorrow is dress rehearsal at the Grand Wayne (finally will be in front of all the other "celebrity" dancers and see what everyone will be doing....) which will be fun and nerve-wracking at the same time. We'll get to see the room "dressed" and the actual dance floor—much different than the safety of the studio room with mirrors I've become so accustom to.

Did the dry run with the make-up, so I think we're set there. I came back from that appointment and shocked Dennis—he said "you don't even look like yourself—you look like an actor!"—whatever that means. I know you can see my eyebrows and eyes in the mirror at one end of the hallway from the other end, so I guess that means it's showing up and at least I'll have some "stage" presence. The make-up artist at Merle Norman did a wonderful job in about 45 minutes—like a painter with a brush working on her masterpiece.

But one of the things I'll remember the most about this week is all the encouragement and support and well wishes that are pouring in from so many of our friends and family and business acquaintances—emails, voice mails, personal greetings, hugs, handshakes, smiles, notes, donations before someone heads out of town; so much from so many.

I've been missing in action when not working a bit, and not necessarily been the best at staying connected, because I've been distracted with the extra details this commitment has required. But my friends still email me to ask me out for drinks, and then give me six hours of catching up; my friends still let me call them in a different time zone and wake them up to chat and find out they've rearranged major work schedules to come; my friends still let me go on and on about this in the middle of a committee or wrap-up meeting; my friends still call me in the middle of their work day to say they've checked the Amtrak from Chicago, but still can't make it, but there will be a video, right?; friends and family still stop what they're doing to read my blog or look at my funny photos and email or text back a comment. The wonderful people in our lives rush up at an event and ask about this, or hug me at their office or house, order extra boas, or stop me at church to ask or give me a check for buying votes, or demo a dance step. One of my friends, on HER birthday, will end up giving ME a card (redhead girl with shoes OFF) for inspiration. Dennis' family sits patiently through my latest updates when either of us see or talk to any of them; treating me like an expectant mother waiting to deliver her first child rather than an expectant wanna-be dancer waiting to deliver her first public performance. Gail sent me an email Sunday and said "I'm sitting here doing invoicing on the computer, watching 'Dirty Dancing' and thinking about you!"

I'm completely wrapped in this big comforter of love from so many people from so many places. The interest, encouragement, support, and care from all of you is definitely the icing on this 15-layer dance cake! OXOXOXO from Miss Kiss Kiss Bang!

Mr. and Mrs. Bohnke, I wish you were here.......

Of the many photos I have of my mom or my dad or both (and I do have many), this is one of my favorites. It stays on our refrigerator and I smile every time I look at it. It's how I like to remember them—this was taken as they were coming off a dance floor in Decatur, IN—and to me, it just captures their essence of how they tried to live their lives—they're having fun, they're in the moment, they're together, the night is young, and they just finished doing something they enjoy doing together.

To say I wish they were here to enjoy this experience with me is the understatement of the century. They would be COMPLETELY into this—they were dance parents, parade parents, neighborhood parents (all the kids ended up at our house, in our backyard, or in my playhouse), band parents—they were involved. My mom would be driving anywhere with me I wanted to go to look at dresses or costumes or shoes (with the requisite girls' lunch always thrown in—her treat); she would be watching every dance program on TV each week, taking notes and writing down tips to pass on; she would have MANY opinions about how I should wear my hair (I actually think she would like what we've decided); she would dance and practice with me at home if I asked her to; she would find five pair of fishnets that would work; she would act like it was not a big deal when she talked to me, but brag like crazy when she talked to her niece in Ohio or her brother in Florida. My dad would be proud—he would tear up talking about how I was doing with this, regardless of how I was doing. He would call me "sis" whenever he asked about dance practice, he would be telling his pool-playing buddies about it at the community center, or the neighbors, or a stranger at Walmart or Meijer's, or in later years, his new dancing partners from the various American Legions. They both would have a seat in the front row, would hold court and entertain all of our friends during the event, and clap and yell the loudest when I hit the floor and when I finished, regardless of the outcome.

But I will carry them both in my heart as I take the dance floor. This is for you, Mr. and Mrs. Bohnke. I hope I make you proud.