Found at a Chinese grocery store... I think it was supposed to be Lemon Iced Tea, but someone did not proofread the labels.
Monday, December 05, 2005
"Lemon Iced Ted", anyone?
Found at a Chinese grocery store... I think it was supposed to be Lemon Iced Tea, but someone did not proofread the labels.
Wednesday, November 30, 2005
Tuesday, November 08, 2005
My sit spin in March...
Here's a picture of my latest sit spin. It's considered a passable sit spin for Bronze FS.
GOOOOOOOOOLD!!!!
Well, I didn't land my loop cleanly (toe tap on the landing), had a UHT (Unindentified Hoppy Thing) instead of a flip and instead of competing with just one person I went up against TWO but... I got the GOLD!!!! Straight 1 ordinals too!!! OMG!!!! =:-O And I was expecting to place behind my tough competitor too!!!
What a wonderful birthday present!!! :-D
What a wonderful birthday present!!! :-D
Monday, October 31, 2005
Tuesday, October 25, 2005
A Phone Scam Alert Heads-Up
If you get left a VM from this number: (716) 650-6240 on your caller ID and asks you to call a 1-800 number regarding a very urgent business matter that can't be discussed over the phone, do NOT waste your time calling them back...
Did a Google search. Hmmmm?
http://www.ripoffreport.com/reports/ripoff160418.htm
I would delete and if possible, block this number by using ACR (if on a LAN phone) or whatever code you use if the call is made on your cell...
Did a Google search. Hmmmm?
http://www.ripoffreport.com/reports/ripoff160418.htm
I would delete and if possible, block this number by using ACR (if on a LAN phone) or whatever code you use if the call is made on your cell...
I am competing at Skate San Francisco
... Nov 3rd at 7:30pm (tentatively) at the Pre-Bronze 3 Freeskate event! I'm going against one other person, so at worse, I'll get another default Silver medal... And if I'm REAL lucky, I might even get a Gold medal this time around! (HA!!! Fat chance with my skating as of late!!! So take this as a warning to stay away from the Yerba Buena rink in San Francisco at this time. LOL!!!)
My primary coach is definitely on the ball, as he asked this Monday evening (the schedule was posted Monday at 10am) so do you want me to put you out on the ice on Thurs night or do you want your secondary coach to do it? (I told him, "You! That's what a primary coach is supposed to do, right!!!")
And BTW: the program I'm skating to for this event is ALSO my Bronze FS test program! I have NOT forgotten my goals to pass my tests in time for Adult Nationals in Dallas. And I certainly have NOT stopped my Bronze moves practice either!!! Am practicing just as much as before. (Can't 'ya tell I'm STRESSED!?!?!) *"pulling hair out" emoticon here*
My primary coach is definitely on the ball, as he asked this Monday evening (the schedule was posted Monday at 10am) so do you want me to put you out on the ice on Thurs night or do you want your secondary coach to do it? (I told him, "You! That's what a primary coach is supposed to do, right!!!")
And BTW: the program I'm skating to for this event is ALSO my Bronze FS test program! I have NOT forgotten my goals to pass my tests in time for Adult Nationals in Dallas. And I certainly have NOT stopped my Bronze moves practice either!!! Am practicing just as much as before. (Can't 'ya tell I'm STRESSED!?!?!) *"pulling hair out" emoticon here*
Startup Funding thru Donations, no VC's or Angel fund???
Hmmmm? This should be interesting. Kevin Burton mentioned on FeedBlog that he's funding his new startup, TailRank, not by VC's or Angel funds, but by the "goodwill from people in the Blogsphere." You get different benefits depending on whether you donate $20 or $100.
Hmmm? It's an interesting thought. Certainly beats having to run your company based on profits and NOT on innovations. Plus, raising $5K is cheap enough, given enough time.
If you are reading this, Kevin, I would hook you up, but I have not used my PayPal account for a long time and don't have any wish to. If you post a reply to this blog which coffee shop you're doing your hacking this weekend, I'll come by with my $20. (And I don't need to make my blog public. This is just a friendly blog to share my life with amongst friends.) Knowing that he is a co-founder of yet another company (Rojo (which BTW, I'm still trying to eventually work towards getting a QA gig at...it's SOOO close to the skating rink and my gym...but I digress...)[1], I'm curious to see where he'll take TailRank. Besides, if he does make TailRank into a successful venture, I would like to know that I have a small hand in making TailRank a success.
[1]I would love to join Rojo someday as a QA gal, but I'm not ready to join now b/c I really have to get up to speed on my RSS knowledge and at least brush up on Apache, MySQL and various other technically "stuff." Currently, I am too busy dealing with other "stuff" related to my current job. (Very boring QA process work and fighting with Microsoft ACT/VBScript/Learning how to write HTML Request and Response Headers. I know for the computer geeks reading this, it's boring stuff!!!) I'm also staying at my current job also for no other reason other than it's a quiet enough job where I can concentrate on finishing my goals to become an Adult Bronze level freestyle skater and compete at Adult Nationals (my Olympics!) :)
Hmmm? It's an interesting thought. Certainly beats having to run your company based on profits and NOT on innovations. Plus, raising $5K is cheap enough, given enough time.
If you are reading this, Kevin, I would hook you up, but I have not used my PayPal account for a long time and don't have any wish to. If you post a reply to this blog which coffee shop you're doing your hacking this weekend, I'll come by with my $20. (And I don't need to make my blog public. This is just a friendly blog to share my life with amongst friends.) Knowing that he is a co-founder of yet another company (Rojo (which BTW, I'm still trying to eventually work towards getting a QA gig at...it's SOOO close to the skating rink and my gym...but I digress...)[1], I'm curious to see where he'll take TailRank. Besides, if he does make TailRank into a successful venture, I would like to know that I have a small hand in making TailRank a success.
[1]I would love to join Rojo someday as a QA gal, but I'm not ready to join now b/c I really have to get up to speed on my RSS knowledge and at least brush up on Apache, MySQL and various other technically "stuff." Currently, I am too busy dealing with other "stuff" related to my current job. (Very boring QA process work and fighting with Microsoft ACT/VBScript/Learning how to write HTML Request and Response Headers. I know for the computer geeks reading this, it's boring stuff!!!) I'm also staying at my current job also for no other reason other than it's a quiet enough job where I can concentrate on finishing my goals to become an Adult Bronze level freestyle skater and compete at Adult Nationals (my Olympics!) :)
Monday, October 10, 2005
Going to NYC for Christmas again!!! :D
Well, I loved NYC so much last year that I've decided to do another Christmas there and spend time with my in-laws again!!! Can't wait to have my MIL's cooking too!!! (She's a GREAT cook!!!!)
This year I'm planning to go to the following rinks:
There's also talk of some of the skatingforums.com gang going out for dim sum in Brooklyn. I hope it does come together. I would love to meet everyone all in one shot. (Though I don't know how my hubby's gonna handle this one though since he's not much of a skater type... maybe have people bring their significant other, maybe?)
YAY!!! Can't wait!!! :-D
This year I'm planning to go to the following rinks:
- Prospect Park/Kate Wollman rink
- Central Park Wollman rink (freestyle session only)
- Chelsea Piers
- The Ice House in Hackensack, NJ!!!
There's also talk of some of the skatingforums.com gang going out for dim sum in Brooklyn. I hope it does come together. I would love to meet everyone all in one shot. (Though I don't know how my hubby's gonna handle this one though since he's not much of a skater type... maybe have people bring their significant other, maybe?)
YAY!!! Can't wait!!! :-D
The Figure Skating Channel
...is finally up and running.
One of our fellow skaters at my home rink is part of the effort behind this new subscription based website!!! KEWL!!! :-D
One of our fellow skaters at my home rink is part of the effort behind this new subscription based website!!! KEWL!!! :-D
Sunday, October 02, 2005
Bronze Moves Test Experience
So close... but no cigar! One judge passed me but I need at least 2 to pass the Bronze Moves test.
Here's my take on things:
PASSING AVG: 2.5
Forward perimeter crossovers: I got a 2.3 from one judge and a 2.7 from a second judge! Don't remember what the third judge thought of it...but I think it was borderline passing. I did remember that the comment was pretty much "Good power, skated on flats though..." One other judge did comment that I was "walking" on my crossovers. She wants progressives (as in "cross under"), NOT crossovers (as in... well, crossovers!!!)
Back perimeter crossovers: The toe pick monster got me on this one... again, I had a "skated on flats" comment. (As you can see, this is a reoccuring theme for me.) But this time there were no comments on flow and speed... (Last time I took it I was marked for being SLOW too!!!) I think you would need to do back progressives to pass this test. BEND your knees!!!
Forward Power 3's: This is where I did get comments for power and for toe picks. One judge commented on my being out of control on the transition to RFO from back crossovers on the end pattern... (Yeah! I was a bit wild there...) Same judge also said that the 3's were SWINGY... And yes, the toe pick monster and flat edge monster got me here too... (God! I hate HATE HATE this move!!!) Another move that you have to BEND your knees on is this one b/c of the power thing...
Back crossover to BO edge: No comments on extensions. They commented again on the flat edge here too. (I REALLY need to work on back crossovers!!!! YIKES!!! ) BEND your knees!!! It does help you on the "continuous flow and strength" part of the moves...
5 step mohawk: Step on flat (probably that 3rd to 4th edge is bad...) FI mohawk "hoppy". No comment on extensions though. I guess I did okay on that. Don't know what happened to me on that one... Probably I was quite tired and exhausted by the time I did this move.
I also don't remember which move, but I got a "good posture" remark from one of the judges on one of the moves... (Which I find funny since that's one of my WORST attributes in skating...)
General comments:
Overall I think most of the low scores were not below 2.3. (I think one of my moves on the really tough judge was like 2.2. She essentially gave me scores more closer to "I didn't improve from last year...") The one judge that DID judge me last year gave me much better scores overall this year. Some were 2.4's. The judge that passed me had me at 2.5's on some moves and a 2.7 on the forward perimeter. (B/c of the power I got from that move...) My not getting a reskate had nothing to do with ONE particular move. It was an overall thing. (i.e. the other two judges that didn't pass it gave me 2.3's on some moves and 2.4's on others.) If it was a matter of one move being on the borderline and everything else was passing, then yes, it would have been a different story. But this is not one of those cases! I was not deemed a reskate b/c of this.
REALLY BEND KNEES!!! If I did bend my knees enough, I'd probably would have gotten better scores on some of the moves... Certainly, it would harder for the toe pick monster to get me!
Watch your posture!!! They do watch for that... and besides, if you lurch over, then you'll definitely get bitten by the toe pick monster...
Just b/c "power" is taken out in place of "continuous flow and strength" doesn't make it that much easier to pass. If anything, having the emphasis on power encourages the skater to work on better technique. And as we all know, better technique makes skating those move elements ten times EASIER! (See the notes on "flat edges." If I had worked on power, there would be no "flat edges"...)
Also on the same vane: Taking out "power" in place of "continuous flow and strength" DOES NOT mean you can slow down!!! You still need to go FASTER and PUSH!!! This is the "continuous flow and strength" part of the moves! (Ha HA! And we, the pre-Bronze Peanut Gallery thought we have it lucky, huh? )
And speaking of flat edges: WATCH THOSE EDGES!!! Make SURE you're ON a true edge!!! This is primarily what did me in this time! If I had skated on a correct and true edge, I probably would have passed this test... Currently, it's probably kinda hard for me to distinguish and the only person who can tell me whether I'm on an edge or not are my coaches.
I don't have my test form with me. I'll get a copy of it sometime towards the end of the month. I'll have more comments then. Primary coach did read mine and did relay the comments onto my secondary coach, so they know what they have to work on now... One note of encouragment though... I will be testing again in two months!!! Secondary coach wants me to try it again!!!
Here's my take on things:
PASSING AVG: 2.5
Forward perimeter crossovers: I got a 2.3 from one judge and a 2.7 from a second judge! Don't remember what the third judge thought of it...but I think it was borderline passing. I did remember that the comment was pretty much "Good power, skated on flats though..." One other judge did comment that I was "walking" on my crossovers. She wants progressives (as in "cross under"), NOT crossovers (as in... well, crossovers!!!)
Back perimeter crossovers: The toe pick monster got me on this one... again, I had a "skated on flats" comment. (As you can see, this is a reoccuring theme for me.) But this time there were no comments on flow and speed... (Last time I took it I was marked for being SLOW too!!!) I think you would need to do back progressives to pass this test. BEND your knees!!!
Forward Power 3's: This is where I did get comments for power and for toe picks. One judge commented on my being out of control on the transition to RFO from back crossovers on the end pattern... (Yeah! I was a bit wild there...) Same judge also said that the 3's were SWINGY... And yes, the toe pick monster and flat edge monster got me here too... (God! I hate HATE HATE this move!!!) Another move that you have to BEND your knees on is this one b/c of the power thing...
Back crossover to BO edge: No comments on extensions. They commented again on the flat edge here too. (I REALLY need to work on back crossovers!!!! YIKES!!! ) BEND your knees!!! It does help you on the "continuous flow and strength" part of the moves...
5 step mohawk: Step on flat (probably that 3rd to 4th edge is bad...) FI mohawk "hoppy". No comment on extensions though. I guess I did okay on that. Don't know what happened to me on that one... Probably I was quite tired and exhausted by the time I did this move.
I also don't remember which move, but I got a "good posture" remark from one of the judges on one of the moves... (Which I find funny since that's one of my WORST attributes in skating...)
General comments:
Overall I think most of the low scores were not below 2.3. (I think one of my moves on the really tough judge was like 2.2. She essentially gave me scores more closer to "I didn't improve from last year...") The one judge that DID judge me last year gave me much better scores overall this year. Some were 2.4's. The judge that passed me had me at 2.5's on some moves and a 2.7 on the forward perimeter. (B/c of the power I got from that move...) My not getting a reskate had nothing to do with ONE particular move. It was an overall thing. (i.e. the other two judges that didn't pass it gave me 2.3's on some moves and 2.4's on others.) If it was a matter of one move being on the borderline and everything else was passing, then yes, it would have been a different story. But this is not one of those cases! I was not deemed a reskate b/c of this.
REALLY BEND KNEES!!! If I did bend my knees enough, I'd probably would have gotten better scores on some of the moves... Certainly, it would harder for the toe pick monster to get me!
Watch your posture!!! They do watch for that... and besides, if you lurch over, then you'll definitely get bitten by the toe pick monster...
Just b/c "power" is taken out in place of "continuous flow and strength" doesn't make it that much easier to pass. If anything, having the emphasis on power encourages the skater to work on better technique. And as we all know, better technique makes skating those move elements ten times EASIER! (See the notes on "flat edges." If I had worked on power, there would be no "flat edges"...)
Also on the same vane: Taking out "power" in place of "continuous flow and strength" DOES NOT mean you can slow down!!! You still need to go FASTER and PUSH!!! This is the "continuous flow and strength" part of the moves! (Ha HA! And we, the pre-Bronze Peanut Gallery thought we have it lucky, huh? )
And speaking of flat edges: WATCH THOSE EDGES!!! Make SURE you're ON a true edge!!! This is primarily what did me in this time! If I had skated on a correct and true edge, I probably would have passed this test... Currently, it's probably kinda hard for me to distinguish and the only person who can tell me whether I'm on an edge or not are my coaches.
I don't have my test form with me. I'll get a copy of it sometime towards the end of the month. I'll have more comments then. Primary coach did read mine and did relay the comments onto my secondary coach, so they know what they have to work on now... One note of encouragment though... I will be testing again in two months!!! Secondary coach wants me to try it again!!!
Wednesday, September 21, 2005
"Blond Window Guy" started a new startup!!!
Kevin Burton (aka "Blond Window Guy", well I should retire that title since he no longer is at the Rojo office window near the rink...LOL!!!) started a new startup company named TailRank. Here's his blog about it!!!
Should be interesting to see how this new startup develops... (Hope he picks me to be a beta tester!)
Should be interesting to see how this new startup develops... (Hope he picks me to be a beta tester!)
Thursday, September 15, 2005
Santa wish list #1...
Dear Santa!
I've been a very, VERY good girl this year practicing and working hard for my skating! I would highly appreciate it if I could find the following in my Christmas stockings:
1. Most important one: Please let me pass my Bronze Moves and FS test so I can go to Dallas for AN!
2. Tickets/hotel to Dallas for Adult Nationals in 2006, of course...
3. One of these, preferably 4GB.
4. A camera phone with good video recording and photo resolution.
Thank you, Santa!!!
I've been a very, VERY good girl this year practicing and working hard for my skating! I would highly appreciate it if I could find the following in my Christmas stockings:
1. Most important one: Please let me pass my Bronze Moves and FS test so I can go to Dallas for AN!
2. Tickets/hotel to Dallas for Adult Nationals in 2006, of course...
3. One of these, preferably 4GB.
4. A camera phone with good video recording and photo resolution.
Thank you, Santa!!!
Tuesday, September 13, 2005
My skates... aren't they pretty???
The skates on the bottom is TashaKat's and is my inspiration for my current pair (on the left.)
Monday, September 12, 2005
Moon cake!!!!
YUMMY!!! It's that time of the year for Moon Cakes!!! (This year's Moon Festival is on the 18th!) The more egg yolks in the moon cake, the better!!! :-P~
Wednesday, September 07, 2005
Monday, August 29, 2005
I'm posting here b/c this is from a "cast member's experience..." If you want to just read about the elite skaters, you might want to skip the stuff after the Cast Party section...
Elite (and almost elite) skaters
The rewards of the hard work returned on the dress rehearsal day when I showed up not expecting Rudy, Surya and Caryn to show up 'til the day of the show and seeing instead TWO of our guest stars during rehearsal... (I will not publicly embarass the person who didn't show up. You know who you are.) It was weird... skating with the stage lights, the live singers and having to go thru costume changes (some very quick ones) and being backstage alongside the elite skaters.
Caryn did an elegant and graceful "Anyone Who Have a Heart." She did struggle with a double axel but seriously, she really didn't need to do one!!! Surya did two numbers: "One Day I'll Fly Away" and "I Will Survive" (Yes, THAT version!) She's ever the show girl with her acrobatic and skating talents on the ice! And despite her size (she's quite short!!!) she looks like one lady the hockey guys don't wanna mess with on the ice! (MUSCLES, man!!! MUSCLES!!!!) And what a sweetie!!! She and Rohene pose a picture with me!!! Rudy skating "Send In The Clowns" with a golden hula hoop!!! When we're not in awe of his skating, we're taking notes on the many ways you can skate to a program with a hula hoop as a prompt. And what a class act!!! Parts of my ensemble group and I got off stage quickly -- right thru the entrance door backstage to a cheering and clapping Rudy!!! I like him!!!
I personally think besides the elite skaters that the skater who stole the show was Rohene Ward!!! WHAT gorgeous lines, extensions and flexiblity!!! (The guy can rival SASHA COHEN in this area!!!) PLUS, he can jump AND spin in both directions too!!! And he's just one the nicest and most gracious skaters I've ever met. All I can say is (He got a good laugh coming off the ice to a bunch of us too!)
Justin Dillon - Nice and smooth!!! (And FAST too!!!)
When we were all out to take our bows on the ice (and yes, all the ensemble skaters were introduced by name), I was right smack on the "50 yard" line with our elite skaters RIGHT in front of me center ice!!! How KEWL is THAT!?!?!
Cast Party
Rudy had to go practice super early the next morning, so he bowed out of our cast party. Don't know why Caryn couldn't make it (she rushed out REAL fast after the finale) but she looks like a busy lady anyway. Surya DID make it to the cast party and signed autographs and had LOTS of adoring fans taking pictures of her with them! You're KEWL in my book Surya!!!
Hubby liked the wine and the good bar. Food is okay... but all those who have gone to restaurants that I recommend before know I can find better pot stickers! Party was alive and kickin' though! Hubby and I didn't stay long since it was way past bedtime for me and I was turning into a pumpkin!
Adult skaters
Century Leigh - Ever the classy show girl she is!!! LOVE her dress too!!! And WHAT a sweetie off ice too!!! I just LOVE her energy!!! (She strongly recommends I save up for Germany next year!)
Amy Entwistle - Also another gorgeous skater!!! Nice gal too!!!
Elizabeth Floriani - (yet another lovely skater!!!) skated to "Knowing When to Leave."
John Braun aka "Contessa de la Frommage" was such a hoot!!! Love him...er, her...er... (He had a lovely hair pin in his blond wig that I'd just LOVE to have!)
Our own "Lives To Skate", Burt Powley is definitely an attention getter with his gorgeous skating (including an EASY double flip and death drop) and his skating jacket and pants outfit. The closest way to describe it is that it reminds me of one of those 70's disco balls!!! There were quite a few spectators and kids who gravitated towards Burt either after the show or during intermission... not sure if it's more b/c of his skating or his outfit though!
And yes, folks!!! Now that I've met him myself... he's KEWL in my book!!! And if I was in his shoes and, at a time, was pretty much near death's door...only to come back to skate and win like he did at AN -- damn straight I'm gonna go celebrating my life now too!!! You GO, "Lives To Skate!!!" You GO!!!
Last but definitely NOT least... Edward Van Campen...kinda hard to decide whether you're an "almost elite skater" or one of the "adult skater" given (but choose to put him here b/c of his recent bronze medal at AN in the Championship Masters Men event!) WHAT a handsome matador he was as he's skating to Malaguena!!! MAJOR KUDOS for his figure loop, footwork and BIG split jumps in his program!!! Also a charmer off ice too!!! (Which, knowing my luck, probably means if you're one of his MITF students, you won't be "charmed" for long! )
Edward and I briefly talked backstage as well as at the cast party over some fried pot stickers and other fried appetizers. FrankR, if you are reading this, please tell your moves coach that he has a fan in SF and if he's ever back in SF again, I would love to take him out for some REALLY GOOD pot stickers -- worthy of this SF foodie too!!! Love to hear what his response is!
There are some of you I didn't get to see b/c of either costume change or just plain concentrating for the next group number. If I didn't mention you... I humbly apologize!!! I was changing for our next number and I really wished I had a chance to see your number.
General Notes:
First thing, it was a LOOOOONG night!!! Two sold out crowds! I didn't do much skating, but I still had to be in skates throughout the show b/c the ensembles are scattered throughout the shows. Each show was at least two hours!!! My feet are KILLING me!!! And I already turned into a pumpkin by the time the cast party was getting started!!! And when I got home I got about 45 bobby pins to secure the hair extension bun, which was also a pain to remove b/c of the stiff hair from the TON of hairspray my hairstylist put on my head... (but people loved my hair and makeup job!!!)
Second thing, it's been a while since I've worked on an ensemble number, never mind 3 numbers. And trust me, it's very scary to learn 3 synch skating number with 16 people who has no experience in synch skating, never mind various skating levels, in two months' time!!!
But we made it!!! Overall, it was a good experience to go thru! I learn a lot about skating with a group, formed some strong friendships and met some new friends!!! I loved the "hen party" (costume and makeup) ... and learn a lot about being part of a skating synch group. Not sure I want to do this again next year, though, admittedly!!! But I can now say that I've done something "interesting" in my skating life and have no regrets about the experience!!!
But would I do this again??? It's a great show experience and I love being around all these wonderful skaters. The show experience was great!!! However, I value my own training time more than ever. There's so much I need to work on in my skating and I really want to go to Adult Nationals sometime in my lifetime!!! I also value the autonomy of being a single skater, so unless things change, I plan on remaining a single skater.
Elite (and almost elite) skaters
The rewards of the hard work returned on the dress rehearsal day when I showed up not expecting Rudy, Surya and Caryn to show up 'til the day of the show and seeing instead TWO of our guest stars during rehearsal... (I will not publicly embarass the person who didn't show up. You know who you are.) It was weird... skating with the stage lights, the live singers and having to go thru costume changes (some very quick ones) and being backstage alongside the elite skaters.
Caryn did an elegant and graceful "Anyone Who Have a Heart." She did struggle with a double axel but seriously, she really didn't need to do one!!! Surya did two numbers: "One Day I'll Fly Away" and "I Will Survive" (Yes, THAT version!) She's ever the show girl with her acrobatic and skating talents on the ice! And despite her size (she's quite short!!!) she looks like one lady the hockey guys don't wanna mess with on the ice! (MUSCLES, man!!! MUSCLES!!!!) And what a sweetie!!! She and Rohene pose a picture with me!!! Rudy skating "Send In The Clowns" with a golden hula hoop!!! When we're not in awe of his skating, we're taking notes on the many ways you can skate to a program with a hula hoop as a prompt. And what a class act!!! Parts of my ensemble group and I got off stage quickly -- right thru the entrance door backstage to a cheering and clapping Rudy!!! I like him!!!
I personally think besides the elite skaters that the skater who stole the show was Rohene Ward!!! WHAT gorgeous lines, extensions and flexiblity!!! (The guy can rival SASHA COHEN in this area!!!) PLUS, he can jump AND spin in both directions too!!! And he's just one the nicest and most gracious skaters I've ever met. All I can say is (He got a good laugh coming off the ice to a bunch of us too!)
Justin Dillon - Nice and smooth!!! (And FAST too!!!)
When we were all out to take our bows on the ice (and yes, all the ensemble skaters were introduced by name), I was right smack on the "50 yard" line with our elite skaters RIGHT in front of me center ice!!! How KEWL is THAT!?!?!
Cast Party
Rudy had to go practice super early the next morning, so he bowed out of our cast party. Don't know why Caryn couldn't make it (she rushed out REAL fast after the finale) but she looks like a busy lady anyway. Surya DID make it to the cast party and signed autographs and had LOTS of adoring fans taking pictures of her with them! You're KEWL in my book Surya!!!
Hubby liked the wine and the good bar. Food is okay... but all those who have gone to restaurants that I recommend before know I can find better pot stickers! Party was alive and kickin' though! Hubby and I didn't stay long since it was way past bedtime for me and I was turning into a pumpkin!
Adult skaters
Century Leigh - Ever the classy show girl she is!!! LOVE her dress too!!! And WHAT a sweetie off ice too!!! I just LOVE her energy!!! (She strongly recommends I save up for Germany next year!)
Amy Entwistle - Also another gorgeous skater!!! Nice gal too!!!
Elizabeth Floriani - (yet another lovely skater!!!) skated to "Knowing When to Leave."
John Braun aka "Contessa de la Frommage" was such a hoot!!! Love him...er, her...er... (He had a lovely hair pin in his blond wig that I'd just LOVE to have!)
Our own "Lives To Skate", Burt Powley is definitely an attention getter with his gorgeous skating (including an EASY double flip and death drop) and his skating jacket and pants outfit. The closest way to describe it is that it reminds me of one of those 70's disco balls!!! There were quite a few spectators and kids who gravitated towards Burt either after the show or during intermission... not sure if it's more b/c of his skating or his outfit though!
And yes, folks!!! Now that I've met him myself... he's KEWL in my book!!! And if I was in his shoes and, at a time, was pretty much near death's door...only to come back to skate and win like he did at AN -- damn straight I'm gonna go celebrating my life now too!!! You GO, "Lives To Skate!!!" You GO!!!
Last but definitely NOT least... Edward Van Campen...kinda hard to decide whether you're an "almost elite skater" or one of the "adult skater" given (but choose to put him here b/c of his recent bronze medal at AN in the Championship Masters Men event!) WHAT a handsome matador he was as he's skating to Malaguena!!! MAJOR KUDOS for his figure loop, footwork and BIG split jumps in his program!!! Also a charmer off ice too!!! (Which, knowing my luck, probably means if you're one of his MITF students, you won't be "charmed" for long! )
Edward and I briefly talked backstage as well as at the cast party over some fried pot stickers and other fried appetizers. FrankR, if you are reading this, please tell your moves coach that he has a fan in SF and if he's ever back in SF again, I would love to take him out for some REALLY GOOD pot stickers -- worthy of this SF foodie too!!! Love to hear what his response is!
There are some of you I didn't get to see b/c of either costume change or just plain concentrating for the next group number. If I didn't mention you... I humbly apologize!!! I was changing for our next number and I really wished I had a chance to see your number.
General Notes:
First thing, it was a LOOOOONG night!!! Two sold out crowds! I didn't do much skating, but I still had to be in skates throughout the show b/c the ensembles are scattered throughout the shows. Each show was at least two hours!!! My feet are KILLING me!!! And I already turned into a pumpkin by the time the cast party was getting started!!! And when I got home I got about 45 bobby pins to secure the hair extension bun, which was also a pain to remove b/c of the stiff hair from the TON of hairspray my hairstylist put on my head... (but people loved my hair and makeup job!!!)
Second thing, it's been a while since I've worked on an ensemble number, never mind 3 numbers. And trust me, it's very scary to learn 3 synch skating number with 16 people who has no experience in synch skating, never mind various skating levels, in two months' time!!!
But we made it!!! Overall, it was a good experience to go thru! I learn a lot about skating with a group, formed some strong friendships and met some new friends!!! I loved the "hen party" (costume and makeup) ... and learn a lot about being part of a skating synch group. Not sure I want to do this again next year, though, admittedly!!! But I can now say that I've done something "interesting" in my skating life and have no regrets about the experience!!!
But would I do this again??? It's a great show experience and I love being around all these wonderful skaters. The show experience was great!!! However, I value my own training time more than ever. There's so much I need to work on in my skating and I really want to go to Adult Nationals sometime in my lifetime!!! I also value the autonomy of being a single skater, so unless things change, I plan on remaining a single skater.
Thursday, August 25, 2005
Berkeley Iceland is NOT closing... for now!!!
From SFGate:
WHEW!!! Another bullet from the city of Berkeley dodged!!! This is a big relief for me! Now I can quietly concentrate on Bronze moves! :) (I skate at this rink on weekends! It's just too DAMN crowded at all the other rinks during the week. I rely heavily on this rink for my training!)
BERKELEY
Rink gets a month to modify ice making
A popular ice rink has received an extra month to improve an ice-making system that Berkeley fire officials have called "a distinct hazard to life or property."
The city had given Berkeley Iceland until Monday to remove 4,200 pounds of ammonia from its refrigeration system but has agreed to give the 65-year- old rink until Sept. 23 to install a temporary mobile refrigeration system that will allow it to operate during its hockey season.
Iceland hopes to have completed a major overhaul of its cooling system by the time the permit for that temporary system expires in April, said rink administrative manager Monte Tiedemann.
City officials threatened in December to close Iceland, at 2727 Milvia St. , because it had not improved its cooling system despite two documented leaks of toxic ammonia gas since 1998. The city later learned that the company was storing more than five times the 750 pounds of ammonia it had earlier reported.
The new mobile ice-making unit, which Tiedemann said will cost more than $100,000 to operate, will use about 800 pounds of ammonia, according to city officials. The firm renting the system to Iceland is Willy Bietak Productions Inc., which provided refrigeration for the 2002 Winter Olympic games in Salt Lake City.
The rink is a hangarlike building that opened in 1940 and covers almost a city block just west of Shattuck Avenue in South Berkeley. It is across the street from a day care center and numerous homes, and there is a high school less than a block away -- all reasons for concern by city officials.
WHEW!!! Another bullet from the city of Berkeley dodged!!! This is a big relief for me! Now I can quietly concentrate on Bronze moves! :) (I skate at this rink on weekends! It's just too DAMN crowded at all the other rinks during the week. I rely heavily on this rink for my training!)
Sunday, August 21, 2005
Fire & Ice, The Reality Show...
Well, it's a week before our show... and to be frank, a lot of us are stressed and losing our normal patience. There are quite a few ummm...observations and my comments:
I'm tempted to say "break a leg." But since this is an ice skating show, I'll just say "good luck" to all the skaters in the show! We CAN do this!!!
- There are people who think that everything is going too fast. (Here's your chance to challenge yourself!!!)
- There are people who think that the skater is too boring and non-challenging for them. (Sorry, but this is a group ensemble show and you need to work WITH the group! If you don't like working at anyone else's pace but your own, you should be working solo...)
- There are people who try to be a coach -- you know who you are! We know that you are much beter skaters than us and are trying to show us the ropes but... PLEASE take it up your issues with the other skaters with our choreographer!!! It's HER job to fix things!!! You will be frustrated if you try to do that. (Yes, do work with us on thing that you need from us to feel comfortable, but unless it impacts your skating, please leave our skating to our coaches! That's what we pay them to do!!!)
- I know we're pulling a LOT of hours, but please remember our choreographer and our producer of the show too! They pull in a LOT more hours than you and they definitely have a reason to be stressed!!! Please be patient with them, especially when they yell at you for no apparent reason.
- We got less than one week 'til the show happens!!! I can see our ensemble numbers coming together nicely! I recommend now to take a deep breath and enjoy the experience!!! Besides, how often do we skate in the SAME show as Surya Bonaly, Rudy Galindo, and Caryn Kavady altogether??? ;)
- And for those who can't appreciate the previous bullet point, look forward to that nice (albeit short) break afterwards from all those weekend rehearsals!!! *evil grin*
I'm tempted to say "break a leg." But since this is an ice skating show, I'll just say "good luck" to all the skaters in the show! We CAN do this!!!
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