Summer Sun: I made it to practice and I was only about three or four minutes late onto the ice. Not a super big deal because my coach wasn't there yet and they don't shoo people off the ice at the end of the session. But I was fairly awake for having gone to bed at 2am (I had taken a nap yesterday though).

Spring Showers: It's been raining and raining and raining these past few days. The rink was damp and icky.

Summer Sun: I had really good practice. My program was pretty much clean (one almost decent camel-sit at the beginning, but the rest of the program was good). Yay! My camel came back from it's vacation. I landed my double loop and double salchow again. It was a painful process of learning to trust myself and not turn my head, but in the end, we did it. And we got to work on my axel-1/2loop-flip combo for my FS6 test. I landed it... but there is definately room for improvement. It's been a long time since I've touched this combo.

Spring Showers: I'm not skating at all next week

Summer Sun: I'm going on vacation!!! Super excited. And I'm hoping to see the rink at my college that I'm going to next year. Yay!

Spring Showers:
I gave my patch skates another try today.

It was easier to skate in them this time - at least I can stroke now, lol.

I can do edge changes; didn't try power pulls.
Three-turns and Mohawks are wonky.
Started working on back edges, which are very weak on these blades.

Managed a slip-and-slide version of FO and FI 8's. I hate that feeling of having the blade slip sideways while I'm going forward.

Summer Sun:
Switched back to my freestyle skates after about 20 minutes.

Blades felt strange and "sticky" - maybe it was the switch from the flat figure blades to the deep freestyle ROH?

Back and sit spins were awesome. Camel was a bit iffy, but I was talking to one of my kids while I practiced, que sera sera.

Forward spiral patterns were excellent, but the insides were a bit like playing dodge cars.
Between the coned-off midsection and the coaches on the ice, I couldn't stay anywhere near on pattern.

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Congratulations!

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CONGRATS, CLARICE on your Gold Move Test!!! What an accomplishment!!

Actually you will get a Gold pin for the Moves thru the mail from the USFSA if I remember right. (And with that, I am actually looking to take a break after AN 2009 to seriously work on Silver Moves. I want to get that Gold pin before my body won't let me!!! )

And according to the massage therapist, I REALLY NEEDED it! He worked on a particular difficult section this time around (Yup! My lower back! All sciatica related...) and said he recommends I come back again in two weeks (instead of the usual "every month" he recommends his "active patients") b/c he's concerned about whether or not it's gonna flare back up again.

Oh, and he says that I have "rock hard muscles!!!" (Geez, I didn't know that!!! LOL!!! ) Of course, I'm not sure he was being complimentary about it -- he says it's harder for him to get thru the tissues...

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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 was working on loops last night and fell badly, hitting the very top of the back of my head. I forced myself to do a few more jumps, but I felt sick so I left the ice. Today I'm still feeling a bit nauseous, and feel like I have a touch of whiplash (stiff, hard to turn my head, some pain in my neck and shoulders). I'm blaming it on my recent blade sharpening! I just feel yucky.

Stacy,
I'd call your doctor- that nausea after hitting your head is a symptom of a concussion!!

For me- the spins are yes, still getting better, but could not add a backscratch to my sitspin for whatever reason today.

On the jumps- I landed a small but otherwise there loop- toe combo and a sal/ toe combo as well!
I'm sooo clooosse to a clean flip it's killing me!!

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Adult Nationals, 2009 "The Time of My Life"

I agree with Terri C - in case you have a concussion please go to the doctor!!

Summer Sun (that's good, right? It's very hot here...): I skated this morning after 2 weeks off ice - played around with rockers trying to get them so I can try a flip from them. Well I didn't really get them but they were fun for a few minutes. My forward power pulls were better and I think my 8 step was actually passable in one direction (counter clockwise)!

Spring Showers: I thought I'd stopped my toe waltz habit and had a genuine toe loop, but I showed my coach and it's still a toe waltz, lol. A good toe waltz! but a toe waltz. Still no flips despite IceSk8NYC's tips this a.m. So weird. Finding back power pulls really difficult, and I've got to work back to a sit spin again since I've been working on moves for a month...found it difficult to do one at all today! My skating is so inconsistent it drives me nuts but then again that's due to lack of adequate practice.

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Revised Official 2010 Goals checklist
Skate __
New boots __
(lowering the bar for 2010 as I haven't skated in a year)

I second/third everyone's suggestion: GET THEE TO A DOCTOR PRONTO!!!

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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!!!

For yesterday...I've been dealing with the heat and practically melting in my apartment all day long and haven't had the energy to write this up...darn unseasonably hot weather and no a/c!! Luckily...our temporary summer apartments are getting a/c next week sometime...we just got approval today from energy management to get the units. Now, hopefully maintenance doesn't take their sweet time putting them in...

[Spring Showers]
I'm still struggling with the novice moves...I think I got sooo used to just polishing up the intermediate moves that I am getting frustrated way too quickly...I need to slow down a bit...although, I hope Coach is joking (or is completely out of her mind) because she said that she wanted to try to test these in July ....once the rink on campus opens again on the 14th, I will be able to get in 3 more days of skating each week, so hopefully I can maybe, possibly get these?

My boots are creasing in the wrong spot on my landing foot...I'm not happy about it, but there's nothing I can do...next time I need boots (hopefully these will last a year) I will get the notch put in to maybe help...

[Summer Sun]
Lesson with Coach went well. She tortured me with back camels... then we did some double sals, which are going really well, however, I am not crossing my legs...coach was a bit frustrated and made me do laps when I didn't cross my legs...oops We did axels, which are going well...again, not quite crossing my legs as well as I should be, but we got me staying in a bit longer because what happens is that I tend to try to pull out early...my homework is to do them off ice to really focus on crossing my legs...

Finally we worked on moves...bracket-3-bracket was looking good, but coach wants it FAST...spirals were wonderful pattern was a bit off because I was yelling at people to watch out...I love it when I say, "watch out behind you" or just "watch," people don't even look...finally we worked on the rocker/choctaw sequence...I've got some definite direction on that one to work on...

I gave Coach copies of the music from Prince Caspian and from Atonement...I am leaning towards Prince Caspian very dramatic and fast, and very different from Seven Years in Tibet

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Skating Dreams

"All your life you are told the things you cannot do. All your life they will say you're not good enough or strong enough or talented enough; they will say you're the wrong height or the wrong weight or the wrong type to play this or be this or achieve this. THEY WILL TELL YOU NO, a thousand times no, until all the no's become meaningless. All your life they will tell you no, quite firmly and very quickly. AND YOU WILL TELL THEM YES." --Nike

Congratulations!!!! Doesn't it feel great?

Spring Showers: I have a nasty cold and I have lost my axel for the hundredth time. I know that when I get it back, it's usually better than before, but it's still frustrating to have to re-learn it, which can take a long time and put a lot of strain on my knee. I'm having a lot of trouble with layback spins too. I can't seem to get centered enough to go all the way back.

Summer Sun: MIF are feeling more comfortable, and I'm getting much more power, which I need for Intermediate. Spins (except for layback) are also coming along and are getting more consistent.

We should start skating at that Cheap Skate on Tuesday nights. I didn't get to either daytime session this week, thanks to kids and washing machine floods, lol. I could take the kids or leave them at home.

I skated a little at yesterday's afternoon public. No jumps, but spins were dead on and spirals were great. (Rink was empty) Watched a new adult ice dance team working out - they looked great!

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Congrats to everyone on your achievements!!!!

I'm living through you guys that are still on the ice....I'm still in "rehab" and not skating at all this summer!!!! LOL!

I had my 2nd visit to the chiro yesterday and we discussed some issues that cropped up since my back surgery and subsequent release from rehab. I have severe tightness in my lumbar region along with weakness in the IT band. I have been working out my glutes, hamstrings, and quads in an effort to strengthen up the whole area, along with some stretching (yoga-child pose, downward dog; frogs, etc). I have lost all the flexibility in my hamstrings-no beautiful spiral for me (boo-hoo, right?) so I have been working them as well and using a strap I can rock those legs up but without a strap there is no strength.

I see September looming towards me and I don't know how in the H*LL i can recover leg strength in time to be useful. But, he assured me that I am on the right track. It will just take time.

The belly dancing class is helping with some of the tightness as well since the positioning is great for the posture (you tuck the pelvis under and that seems to stretch it out very well; the shoulders are in great posture also). It is helping with my awareness for my arms....I can actually move my arms AND my lower body independently now!!!! It's so weird, but it's flowing over to other things-I actually LET GO OF THE TREADMILL HANDRAIL the other day and managed a whole workout without falling over!!!! For the first time EVER!!!! Not that I was able to walk straight, but it was a first in my life for something like that!!! Things are starting to integrate!

Did talk (via email) to my coach, and we might have a pickup session to two in August-sort of a "get reaquainted with the ice" session (she skates in Maryland in the summer). I agreed to test this season and I have 3 routines to learn in addition to that. As well as college classes (but they are repeats that I aced before so they are not a big issue except for the fact I have to physically be there, yeah cha-ching for the college).

I am not sure if I will be at HC....time and my situation will tell. I would like to but I am not going to commit just yet. I don't know when i will test-fall or spring. We have not discussed that yet. We have to plan everything out since I skate mostly ISI an have to achieve back-3's if I pass pre-Bronze and skate up another level (those are hard but I was working on them before I got hurt).

The way things are so far, I should be accepted into the RN program in the fall of 2009, which will severely curtail my skating. I am hoping that i won't have to give it up completely and I'd like to be able to at least maintain my skills (and maybe just do an artistic program-maybe something with my belly dancing stuff). I don't think I'll have a problem with the academics or the clinicals, just the scheduling. My husband is not being supportive at all and he has given up skating completely, unfortunately.

Oh well, I'd better post this before it goes into chapter 2!!!!

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

Congratulations, Clarice & Sk84fun!

Spring flowers: We were 2nd!!!!!! I am still really, really pleased - it only took ten years, after all.....

Summer showers: Sprained my thumb in the warm-up to our free dance, and it really hurts (Husband tripped on a mohawk and pulled.....). We were 3rd out of 3 in that, which we expected, but wouldn't it have been nice if we hadn't been.....

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Mrs Redboots
~~~~~~~~
I love my computer because my friends live in it!
Ice dancers have lovely big curves!

I posted this on the other thread but...

WOOO HOO!!!! Congrats on your Silver, Mr. and Mrs. Redboots!!! Well earned!!! Well deserved!!!

Oh, geez!!! Be careful!!! And if you can pull out of the cellar on your compulsary dance, you CAN and WILL do the same in the free dance!!!

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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!!!

Congratulations on your silver medals!

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CONGRATULATIONS MR AND MRS REDBOOTS!!!!! THATS AWESOME!!!

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Level one Field Moves......PASSED 05.06.08
Level one Free dance.....PASSED 02.10.08

GOALS FOR 2009

• Level One Compulsary dances.......PASSED 19.02.09
• Level One Elements.....................PASSED 10.07.09
• Level Two Free dance.................PASSED 19.02.09
• Level One Free...........................
• Level Two compulsory dances.......

Loving it, Loving it, Loving it!!!!!

I take a few days off, and everyone gets awards and passes tests! It's pleasant news to read, of course.

Congratulations everyone!

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Bill Schneider

[Spring Showers]
Holy foggy rink batman! It was so foggy for the 2nd session of the night (mixed freestyle) up until the high freestyle session, that you couldn't see past mid-rink And it was so warm that I was skating in my tank top! I haven't done that in a long time...luckily, I've lost weight..hehehe

Rocker/Choctaw patterns sucked majorly...particularly pattern #2 (the quick end pattern)...I just can't get the pushes and the timing down...I can do it with pattern #4 where it's slower and I hold the BO edge...ugh...I was able to get my arms better on pattern #4, which is good....

Axels were okay...kinda' mediocre...still not crossing my legs, but I haven't been able to do any off ice because of this dang heat....same thing with double sals...

Spins were completely off today...couldn't do a good layback to save my life! And my sit spins were traveling like crazy....

[Summer Sun]
Fixed some things with my moves and just plain worked hard today...which is always a good feeling no matter how I skate plus, I know that the hard work and the many repetitions will pay off eventually when I have some beautiful jumps and spins...

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Skating Dreams

"All your life you are told the things you cannot do. All your life they will say you're not good enough or strong enough or talented enough; they will say you're the wrong height or the wrong weight or the wrong type to play this or be this or achieve this. THEY WILL TELL YOU NO, a thousand times no, until all the no's become meaningless. All your life they will tell you no, quite firmly and very quickly. AND YOU WILL TELL THEM YES." --Nike

Spring Showers: The last two sessions have been overall pretty bad jumpingwise. I couldn't do any decent toeloops and most of my other jumps were, for the most part, icky.

Summer Sun: I've been on a pretty good streak with my spins. Did a couple of really good axels yesterday. The kind that takes 1 second to do and makes 2 hours of skating worthwhile. Did a really nice salchow in lesson.

CONGRATULATIONS TO BOTH OF YOU!

CONGRATULATIONS!

CONGRATULATIONS!

Hard won and well deserved!

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Congrats to everyone! Wow, what a lot of success stories this week.

Ice was so crowded yesterday, I hate skating with so many people. It is really hard to practice anything without having to divert because someone is in your way.

Practicing for Bronze moves test in a couple of weeks. We'll see how it goes. I think it would be iffy at the regular standard, but I hope it can pass at the adult standard. I know my daughter failed the power 3s because she stepped first on an outside edge in the backward power step, and I am having trouble with that too. Any tricks for that? Maybe I'm stepping too soon?

Getting frustrated with spins, as my spins used to be fast and centered and now I'm doing some crazy thing with my hip on the 3 turn, throwing them off. I manage to do it right about 1 time in 4.

Had a baby oppossum in my house for a few days. Came in through the dryer vent, went potty on my sheets in the dryer, and chewed its way out through the vent hose. Took us 4 days to catch it, but we finally got it last night.

Congratulations to Singerskates, SK8_4fun, Clarice and Mrs. Redboots!
Yes, Clarice, you should receive a little gold pin in the mail from the USFSA, as well as a test certificate.

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"You don't have to put an age limit on your dreams." - Dara Torres, 41, after her 2nd medal at the 2008 Olympics