Last night, we went to a Halloween party. Of course, I intended to go as Dorothy Hamill. But, when reality set in, the costume had to be scaled back to "generic figure skater". I even ran out of time to make myself a gold medal.
Fortunately, The Devil showed up at the party, and by gum, he had a medal around his neck. It didn't take long for us to strike a deal: my soul for Olympic gold. Soon, I was trotting around with my medal.
But deals with the devil have a way of not going as planned. "Gold in 2014, right?" I asked him the next time I saw him.
"No, 2012 Summer Games."
Sunday, October 31, 2010
Thursday, October 28, 2010
Ice Pact: Fantasy Meets Reality
Ice Pact: Fantasy Meets Reality: "It turns out my fantasy figure skating is worse than my real figure skating. If that's even possible. After NHK Trophy, I'm ranked 506 out o..."
I didn't fare much better. 374 out of 574. My strategy this week: use Ice Network's skater rankings and just choose the highest ranked skater for each category. With the exception of the C team - that's just guess work.
I didn't fare much better. 374 out of 574. My strategy this week: use Ice Network's skater rankings and just choose the highest ranked skater for each category. With the exception of the C team - that's just guess work.
| 2010 Skate Canada International Event | ||
| Ladies A Alissa Czisny, USA | Ladies B Sarah Meier, SUI | Ladies C Alexe Gilles, USA |
| Men's A Nobunari Oda, JPN | Men's B Alban Preaubert, FRA | Men's C Jeremy Ten, CAN |
| Pairs A Lubov Iliushechkina/Nodari Maisuradze, RUS | Pairs B Huibo Dong/Yiming Wu, CHN | Pairs C Kirsten Moore-Towers/Dylan Moscovitch, CAN |
| Ice Dancing A Sinead Kerr/John Kerr, GBR | Ice Dancing B Madison Chock/Greg Zuerlein, USA | Ice Dancing C Stefanie Frohberg/Tim Geisen, GER |
Monday, October 25, 2010
Life on the Edge: Musings - "Old School" Part II: The Ladies..
Life on the Edge is one of the blogs I read. I just had to share this post with you - it has lots of vintage videos of skating's most iconic ladies, including, of course, Dorothy Hamill.
Life on the Edge: Musings - "Old School" Part II: The Ladies..: "I just realized that I never posted my 'Old School' favorites from the ladies. After I re-posted the link to the men's videos, several peopl..."
Life on the Edge: Musings - "Old School" Part II: The Ladies..: "I just realized that I never posted my 'Old School' favorites from the ladies. After I re-posted the link to the men's videos, several peopl..."
Sunday, October 24, 2010
Judging
Today was Autumn Fest at Texas Gulf Coast Figure Skating Club in Sugarland, and I got to participate in the sport in a very different way than I normally do: judging.
Although joining USFSA was one of the most exciting things I've ever done, I had to be honest with myself. Even though by being a member of USFSA, I could qualify for the Olympics . . .
Everything is a blur around me as I exit my final combination spin. The crowd explodes. I curtsy to the judges, then turn to the audience. Seeing the American flags, the posters, and the signs, it finally sinks in: I won the gold. Overcome with emotion, I wipe the tears from my face, leaving long streaks of mascara on my cheeks. . . .
Oh, excuse me. Was I daydreaming on the keyboard?
Reality is that I will probably need a walker to hobble onto the ice by the time I'm ready to take my senior MIF test. Let's forget about qualifying competitions.
Judging is my way of participating in the sport of figure skating at a higher level than my skating ability. There are lots of other ways to do this, but honestly, the judges have the best seats in the house, so that's where I want to be.
To everyone at the Texas Gulf Coast Figure Skating Club, thanks for inviting me to judge today and congratulations on a well-run basic skills competition.
Although joining USFSA was one of the most exciting things I've ever done, I had to be honest with myself. Even though by being a member of USFSA, I could qualify for the Olympics . . .
Everything is a blur around me as I exit my final combination spin. The crowd explodes. I curtsy to the judges, then turn to the audience. Seeing the American flags, the posters, and the signs, it finally sinks in: I won the gold. Overcome with emotion, I wipe the tears from my face, leaving long streaks of mascara on my cheeks. . . .
Oh, excuse me. Was I daydreaming on the keyboard?
Reality is that I will probably need a walker to hobble onto the ice by the time I'm ready to take my senior MIF test. Let's forget about qualifying competitions.
Judging is my way of participating in the sport of figure skating at a higher level than my skating ability. There are lots of other ways to do this, but honestly, the judges have the best seats in the house, so that's where I want to be.
To everyone at the Texas Gulf Coast Figure Skating Club, thanks for inviting me to judge today and congratulations on a well-run basic skills competition.
Thursday, October 21, 2010
Mer11 at Ice Pact decided to make a Fantasy Figure Skating for NHK, so I thought I'd join her.
I don't follow international figure skating that much, so a lot of the names were unfamiliar to me. A lot of my choices were just made because, "China has a strong pairs program," or "Gee, I don't want everyone on my team to be from the US".
Ladies:
Rachel Flatt - I love watching her skate
Caroline Zhang - I think her "pearl" layback is amazing
Jenna McCorkle
Men
Daisuke Takahashi - he's hot
Kevin Van Der Perren
Jeremy Ten - Mer11 chose Dennis Ten for her team. Is it possible they are related?
Pairs
Pang/Tong - Mer chose Caydee and her partner, so I thought I'd choose the Chinese. And they are incredible skaters.
Brodeur/Matatall
Zhang/Wang
Ice Dancing
Davis/White - I have always loved Meryll's smile. They are incredible to watch
Reed/Reed - representing Japan. Really? These guys are Japanese?
Coombes/Buckland
I don't follow international figure skating that much, so a lot of the names were unfamiliar to me. A lot of my choices were just made because, "China has a strong pairs program," or "Gee, I don't want everyone on my team to be from the US".
Ladies:
Rachel Flatt - I love watching her skate
Caroline Zhang - I think her "pearl" layback is amazing
Jenna McCorkle
Men
Daisuke Takahashi - he's hot
Kevin Van Der Perren
Jeremy Ten - Mer11 chose Dennis Ten for her team. Is it possible they are related?
Pairs
Pang/Tong - Mer chose Caydee and her partner, so I thought I'd choose the Chinese. And they are incredible skaters.
Brodeur/Matatall
Zhang/Wang
Ice Dancing
Davis/White - I have always loved Meryll's smile. They are incredible to watch
Reed/Reed - representing Japan. Really? These guys are Japanese?
Coombes/Buckland
Monday, October 18, 2010
Gam
My grandmother, aka Gam, grew up in St. Louis. She learned to ice skate on frozen ponds in the parks near her house. It was something that she always loved.
When my mom went back to work, I spent my summer days at my grandparents. I started bringing my roller skates so that I would have something to do in the afternoons. After a summer of watching me roller skate (and beg to go ice skating), Gam decided that everyone needed to go ice skating at least once. So, she took me to the Galleria one afternoon to skate.
By this time, she'd already broken a hip, so there was no question about her joining me on the ice. She just sat on the bleachers and watched me trying to figure out how to make the transition from 4 wheels to a blade. It wasn't long before I was off the boards, making my way around the rink in circles.
I don't know exactly what happened between her and my mom that evening, but I suspect there was some arm-twisting because it wasn't long after this that I got to take my first ice skating class. Since I couldn't get to the rink to practice more than once a week, I practiced my figure skating on roller skates in her driveway every day during the summer.
For my 9th birthday, she and my grandfather gave me tickets to the Ice Capades. Dorothy Hamill was skating with them! I was so looking forward to seeing her in person. I was hoping that somehow, I could get backstage to meet her. But, the day of the performance, I was coming down with one of the worst ear infections of my life. I fought to stay as long as I could, but after seeing Dorothy skate a few times, I asked my grandparents to take me home. I still remember overhearing them talking with my parents: "We knew she had to be awfully sick when she asked to leave . . ."
When I started skating again as an adult, I could literally hear the smile on her face from 1000 miles away. She never got to see me skate, but it was a love we shared. Unlike my mom, who shared my love of watching skating on TV, Gam loved being on the ice. "I never did anything fancy, like you do, but it was always fun."
Then she'd add, "And it's good exercise, too." (That's Gam for, "You know, you really need to lose weight.")
When my mom went back to work, I spent my summer days at my grandparents. I started bringing my roller skates so that I would have something to do in the afternoons. After a summer of watching me roller skate (and beg to go ice skating), Gam decided that everyone needed to go ice skating at least once. So, she took me to the Galleria one afternoon to skate.
By this time, she'd already broken a hip, so there was no question about her joining me on the ice. She just sat on the bleachers and watched me trying to figure out how to make the transition from 4 wheels to a blade. It wasn't long before I was off the boards, making my way around the rink in circles.
I don't know exactly what happened between her and my mom that evening, but I suspect there was some arm-twisting because it wasn't long after this that I got to take my first ice skating class. Since I couldn't get to the rink to practice more than once a week, I practiced my figure skating on roller skates in her driveway every day during the summer.
For my 9th birthday, she and my grandfather gave me tickets to the Ice Capades. Dorothy Hamill was skating with them! I was so looking forward to seeing her in person. I was hoping that somehow, I could get backstage to meet her. But, the day of the performance, I was coming down with one of the worst ear infections of my life. I fought to stay as long as I could, but after seeing Dorothy skate a few times, I asked my grandparents to take me home. I still remember overhearing them talking with my parents: "We knew she had to be awfully sick when she asked to leave . . ."
When I started skating again as an adult, I could literally hear the smile on her face from 1000 miles away. She never got to see me skate, but it was a love we shared. Unlike my mom, who shared my love of watching skating on TV, Gam loved being on the ice. "I never did anything fancy, like you do, but it was always fun."
Then she'd add, "And it's good exercise, too." (That's Gam for, "You know, you really need to lose weight.")
Sunday, October 17, 2010
It's a sad time
Today I had to admit that I have to cut back on skating. My husband is taking 3 teacher certification classes this fall, which doesn't leave him a lot of time for working. My job pays the bills, but there's not much left over.
This year has been full of change. We moved from Phoenix to Houston. I left a job I'd been at for 8 years. I made a decision not to take another desk job and am working in retail until I figure out what I want to do next.
During all of these changes, skating has been my anchor. Even though the locations and faces changed, it's still skating. I've been able to take the status change of going from Management Assistant to Retail Sales Associate because I've been so successful skating. I told myself, "It's OK. This job lets you skate three times a week."
I was blessed with being able to skate 3 times a week this spring and summer. Now, I've got to remember that there will be other competitions, other test dates, and other Adult Nationals. I don't have to do it all this year.
I am trying to remind myself that it's temporary. Slowing down for a few months isn't the same as giving up.
This year has been full of change. We moved from Phoenix to Houston. I left a job I'd been at for 8 years. I made a decision not to take another desk job and am working in retail until I figure out what I want to do next.
During all of these changes, skating has been my anchor. Even though the locations and faces changed, it's still skating. I've been able to take the status change of going from Management Assistant to Retail Sales Associate because I've been so successful skating. I told myself, "It's OK. This job lets you skate three times a week."
I was blessed with being able to skate 3 times a week this spring and summer. Now, I've got to remember that there will be other competitions, other test dates, and other Adult Nationals. I don't have to do it all this year.
I am trying to remind myself that it's temporary. Slowing down for a few months isn't the same as giving up.
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