I have made it a point to get to know the rink staff a bit, enough to stop for a few words and joke around a little. Also, when we were having trouble with the group ahead of us over-staying their time, I took it up with the General Manager. (I also volunteered to get checked out on the resurfacer and do the morning flood myself. If you are going to complain about a problem, offer a solution to!) Anyway, because the guys know me, if I ask for a flood, they do it. They know that if I don't like the ice, the head coach wont either and she'll go straight to the G.M. and raise bloody hell. Last fall she threatened to pull the club out because of the condition of the ice in the mornings. Believe me, the guys would much rather deal with me and do a flood than deal with the head coach!

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Dianne
(A.O.S.S.? Got it BAD! )

Lovely Music:
-Surprised the coach (and myself) with decent backspins. She didn't know that I could backspin and the ones I did the morning where very good for me.
-Lutzes have made a reappearance. (Still have the funky free leg though).

Annoying Static:
-Bronze moves
-I couldn't do a forward spin to save my life.

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Happily defying the laws of physics when I skate...and not in a good way

If I could meet ole Axel Paulsen, I would kick him in the teeth

President and Founding member of the I hate Toe-Loops Club

Still a member, but trying to get out of the Pre-bronze peanut gallery.

Visit my skating journal

Got a new shirt that'll be perfect for skating, on the front it reads: "do you know a place where dreams come true?"

My group lessons coach first wanted me to practice 8-pattern of outside 3turns, then said I could probably do "english 3's" and had me started on those... What's that called in English? You start out on a line as if you were to do forward outside edges, but then halfway the edge you do a 3 turn and continue on a backwards inside edge, then at the line you change with a sort of outside mohawk-ish footchange back to a forward outside edge on the other foot.
They were going pretty well in 1 direction, and very miserable in the other.

lovely music - I studied my lesson notes before practice and made a point of working hard on the things coach pointed out. Lots of edge rolls and three turns with the free leg lower, and pulled in correctly on the turns.

somewhere over the holiday I had an edge epiphany. Not that mine were bad, but I got a new 'feel' for them and many things from footwork to waltz and salchow have improved. Especially today, I skated extra long, with a half-hour rest in the middle, and started to get really soft and down into the ice.

I'm getting the hang of the change-foot part of the CF spin. I did several long spins where I just changed back and forth as steadily as I could. My backspin is still nothing to write home about, but I drilled it hard.

Worked on the loop for a bit since I was feeling so edgy. I did a couple of half rotations, so it's getting closer. Started playing around with a sit spin. Got instructions from coach a while back, but haven't really been working on it. Wasn't able to do it, of course, but trying was fun.

annoying static - I can really feel the holiday poundage, especially on takeoffs.

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It's all about the dress!

Lovely Music:
Skated at a fairly empty freestyle session this morning at another rink, with good ice. Well worth the hour drive to get there.
Had some good low sitspins.
Pieces of artistic program are coming together- especially the new spin entry Secondary Coach has me doing. For me it was hate at first try.
Sent my entry forms for Adult Easterns off today at the post office!!

Annoying Static:
Had a nasty fall on the first sitspin I tried. It wasn't from in the spin itself, but coming up out of it. My left sitbones are sore this afternoon.
Had a hard time getting my music on at the rink. At this rink they expect everyone to put their own music on when not in a lesson.
Had another fall, this one not so bad, on the swing roll up on toepicks thing that is not only now in the Artistic program, but my Bronze CM program for Easterns as well. I feel like a clutzy duck doing this move.

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Adult Nationals, 2009 "The Time of My Life"

Those are called Forward Alternating Threes on the Line. They are in our second Moves in the Field Test (Preliminary Moves), and gave adult skaters so much trouble that they were taken out of the Adult Pre-Bronze test (first Adult Track Moves test) and replaced with an easier three turn pattern.

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Thanks!!!

LOL yeah I can see why... Well fortunately it's only for the test AFTER the one I have to take first, so there's plenty of time.

BTW coach said you can't do the back sit for the test, but encouraged me to learn it for my programme. She says I can do it in lesson too if I want, and she had a great laugh about how I can get into it, down and spin, just can't get back up again LOL.

(and I'm confirmed again and again in my suspicion that the brighter colors I wear to the group lesson, the more likely the coach is to spend some of her time on me, LOL! I wore leopard print today.)

Lovely Music:
I finally got to practice a bit yesterday. In my lesson today, I am now feeling when I'm looking down on the alt FO threes. My coach says enough muscle memory has kicked in on other things, that now I can move my attention along to this issue. I'm feeling much more confident on FI threes, really standing up on them and only sometimes touching down the free foot before the RFI turn. Managed a few one foot spins, and was able to do three in a row before getting too dizzy (was one a the beginning of the session). Coach says she thinks I will regain this skill faster now that I have time to practice. Worked on backspin, which seems to be (yeilding very slowly) to a combo of learning techinques. Did F power pulls when leaving, and they were sooo good, with a lovely rip, rip, rip. Where were they up till now?

Annoying Static:
I am still sick, and was so run down that I had to stop to catch my breath after one set of threes on the line. Was planning to go shopping after skating, but had to have DH take me straight home instead. Heading off to be soon - have to work all weekend, and need the $$$.

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Lovely Music:
Sent out AN forms out via FedEx 2-day corporate rate so I can track to make sure my forms arrived on time and to the right person. (My wonderful company has a GREAT shipping dept.!!!)

Annoying Static:
Still have to send out forms for practice session, have to figure out which airline flight to go on, etc. (Thankfully, I think the living arrangment is set. I will be staying at a HUGE cabin with some local adult skaters.)

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Cheers,
jazzpants

11-04-2006: Shredded "Pre-Bronze FS for Life" Club Membership card!!!
Silver Moves is the next "Mission Impossible"
(Dare I try for Championship Adult Gold someday???)

Thank you for the support, you guys!!!

I don't know what to put this under...I saw my "pain doc" today. I am going to get cortisone injections to deal with the pain from the herniated disc. Along with everything else already scheduled.

The worst part? He wanted me to stop skating but when I finally stopped crying...we reached a compromise. No jumps or spins for a while. I must still wear my pads, and not take "unnecessary risks" while skating. He made me shake on it. I hate myself for agreeing and I don't like him much anymore.

I have one waltz jump in my artistic program and a one-foot spin (not even a scratch). I won't do them while I run through my program but they're staying. I can't even think about giving up skating right now, I stuck it out even when the pain was excruciating and I could barely stand for more than 30 seconds, and I was teaching tots.

I'm not feeling very happy right now---it's probably time to OD on ice cream...

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Skate@Delaware
Ah, show skating!!! I do it for the glitter!

Sorry to hear you are still sick. I missed you at the rink today, didn't go last weekend because both kids had tummy bugs.
Hooray for the FI threes

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It's all about the dress!

((((Skate@Delaware)))) I'm so sorry to hear about your trouble. Did he put any time on the abstinence? (1-2 months, perhaps) That would make it a little more palatable.

How about a non-jumping program challenge - what program elements would you include to make an interesting program?
We can substitute two-foot spins, right?

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Skate@Delaware, {{{{{hugs}}}}} to you. I hope all your treatments go well. I think I understand what you mean about not wanting to stop skating--if you have to put up with pain like that it's almost like you need the special treat of skating as a help to get through it. Sending hugs, white light, and good (pain-numbing) vibes your way....

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Ask me about becoming a bone marrow donor.
http://www.marrow.org
http://www.nmdp.org

Thanks. Unfortunately, it's both still sick and sick with something new. I've got that dratted tummy bug! It took 5 hrs of feeling run over before I realized what it was, when the serious symptoms kicked in. Took some Pepto Bismol, threw it up half an hour later, but felt better. I guess it's going to be up and down all night, and I'm hoping it will run it's course by Sat night. DH thinks he's coming down with it too, which is worse, because he absolutely MUST work Sunday.

(((((Skate@Delaware)))))

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Well if it's the same stomach flu everybody has been having here (including hoards of hospital personnel) it lasts 1-2 days. Which still doesn't help your husband. But on the bright side, you're mostly immune to the normal flu strains of this season's after that.

& Skate@Delaware, your doctor is mean! Go for the Ben&Jerry's ice cream

Thanks, guys! My artistic program has been designed to deal with my limitations...I only have a one-foot spin and a waltz jump; although it does have a lunge (strange that it doesn't cause me any troubles to do that). and some toe-hoppy things...shimmies and campy vampy moves. (I am doing a ISI-3 artistic program and it's a minute long. My dress will be red with fringe...very flapper-ish! and my props are a gold purse and a chair.

I notice that this year there are a lot of injuries (so it's not just me) and sickness (bronchitis is rampant at my rink as well).

My biggest issue about not skating is that mid-April my rink shuts down until September so staying off the ice for a few months would shut me down for the remainder of the season. However, I am pretty resolved to skating up north (the Pond) over the summer and am toying with the idea of lessons...but with gas at $3/gallon it's just a thought at this point.

It's depressing to have come so far and taken such a HUGE step backwards in my skating. Because of my leg numbness/weakness, i'm now afraid of forward crossovers. my leg has collapsed on me several times doing them. Skating is now a mental game.

I haven't thrown in the towel yet. The doc did say that after the pain subsides because of the injection(s), my physical therapy WILL become more aggressive! AND I will be permitted to do more physical activities once the surgery is done and I'm cleared medically.

Lesson learned over this whole ordeal? I'm NOT superwoman and when large furniture needs to be moved, I'm to call my guy friends over to help. (hubby couldn't move it because of his foot).

ps-Sessy, YOU read my mind!!!! B&J's is my FRIEND!!!!! I just don't want to gain much weight...and it's sloooooowly creeping back up.

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Skate@Delaware
Ah, show skating!!! I do it for the glitter!

Skate@Delaware, I don't know if you should count on the Pond. They may be all-hockey by then with the way they seem to be going. There are plenty of other options, though.

Hang in there and get yourself healthy! I know you don't want to hear it, but your first priority has to be your health. Maybe you could find a sports medicine doc, though, who might be better?

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August 22, back on the ice!

Skate@Delaware, I feel your pain, but look at it this way you have time to work on and perfect basics. I am working on figures and dances, going back and relearning things. One of my friends had several inflamed discs and she just focused on her moves and dance. At 46 she passed her Nov and Jr moves, she took her time and can jump--but, wasn't allowed for the better part of 3 months. I'm not allowed to jump until Aug-Oct 08 depending on what my doctor says. I am just happy to be able to skate.

I know its hard but stay positive, do you do pilates?

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Who me? Couldn't be....
http://www.youtube.com/bouldersk8r

Everyone's been sick! I'm still coughing just a little. We postponed my Killian test until next month. I just couldn't summon the energy needed to pull it off when the music was on. I'm happy about that though--I need to go into a test feeling really confidant, and I definitely wouldn't have been feeling that way!

Last night was the first time I skated for a full hour since being sick. I took it sort of easy, nothing fast & furious. I was in a mood for what I call "meditative skating"--I work on simple things--edges, 3 turns, moves patterns from levels lower than what I'm working on. So I'm doing things that aren't real difficult for me, but I do them focusing on knee bend, extension and posture. Even though they're very simple exercises, I'm trying to do them very beautifully. Believe me, it still gives you a good workout! It's kind of like barre exercises--you end up drenched in sweat even though you're just doing simple things. So that made me very happy.

Urgh. Today was my first day since the week before Christmas that I could skate, and I didn't get to go. I can't move my leg without a huge amount of knee pain.

I'm not amused, and have to call the doctor on Monday. I have to teach LTS on tuesday, but I probably won't take my class.

I am also unsure when I'll have my private lessons, because my time disappeared in the rink reschedule, and my coach scheduled me for a time during synchro practice. Hopefully someone will move around, or else I'll just have a lot of extra money this season. Of course, if the knee keeps up and I can't skate, it won't matter.

not a happy jessi here.

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-Jessi
What I need is a montage...
Visit my skating journal or my Youtube videos (updated with 2 new videos Sept 26, 2009)

S@D - I know you skate ISI and probably have no interest in doing moves but have you ever thought about doing dance or just challenging yourself to learning the step sequences from the different freestyle levels. That way you can still skate but are not breaking doctor's orders.

Lovely Music - I passed Rhythm Blues today.

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Happily defying the laws of physics when I skate...and not in a good way

If I could meet ole Axel Paulsen, I would kick him in the teeth

President and Founding member of the I hate Toe-Loops Club

Still a member, but trying to get out of the Pre-bronze peanut gallery.

Visit my skating journal

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4th session for the year - in 7 days ! Had my first fall of the year today. Normally average 2 falls per session, but made it the 4th session before falling - on a warm up lap of back crossovers, of all things

Spins are finally coming off holiday mode, ie, no longer travelling so far from home and my backspins are starting to work.

Jumps not so great today, but they have been on the previous 3 sessions, so I'm not fussed.

Looking forward to next session tomorrow night.
AOSS? Who, Me???

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Karen

I skate - therefore I am

Annoying Static:
Too crowded to really jump.
Started working on off-ice turns and positions in the back of the room while the twins are in their Tae Kwon Do class.
The room has thick padding, so it's perfect for jumps, but I haven't the nerve - it's too distracting to the other parents.

Lovely Music:
Turns and edges are much stronger.
Centered all of the spins I attempted, but didn't do very many.
Bunny Hops, Side Toe Hops and Mazurkas were all easy for some reason.

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Lovely:
Started working on the NISA levels or whatever they're called...edges were good, as were crossovers.
Spirals on my left leg also felt pretty good, and my two foot spin was really getting there. Plus, I'm now on patch

Static:
Spirals on my right leg. Not happening.