Tick... Tick... Boom!

Back in January, I mentioned that a skating friend said I would improve faster if I competed. Well, I signed up for a competition, much to the surprise of everyone. Am I ready? No, not really. Will I do it anyway? Yes, because they're only giving refunds if you have COVID. Broken bones, illness, death? Was it COVID related? No? Then you are out of luck. Weird, eh? Granted, the program is coming along nicely. Two minutes and nine seconds is a lifetime when you can't catch your breath. I'll keep plugging away. The competition is in August. Don't think I'll be attending the one in Ottawa, even though I'd really like to go. It's one thing to only be slightly ready for a competition in your region; it's another thing to leave the country when you are ill prepared. Recently, I looked high and low for a skating movie named The Petrichor. It's a Canadian film about a thirty year old woman who wants to return to competition (not in adult categories). I hunted for it and finally located where I could see the movie. I was all set to enjoy myself. Forty minutes into the movie and no one is skating yet. I'm confused. And disappointed. I'll finish watching the movie and keep hoping for the best. Right now, it's on the back burner of things I want to watch while at work. Fast forward a week and there is some "skating". It's really just the actress moving her arms while the camera circles her. When there are shots of skates, it's in the dark and for all we know, those are MY feet they're filming. The movie isn't very good. It's not Hallmark holiday movie bad, but it's bad. Also, I can't figure out if only one man plays almost ALL of the male parts or if everyone looks that much alike. The summer sessions have begun at my main rink. The number of people on the ice hasn't gotten crazy yet. I'm curious as to whether it WILL get crazy. I'm sure it will. Darn those learn-to-skate and hockey camps that take up the entire morning. At my other rink, it is already crazy. The Coffee Club is gone and anyone who has ever strapped on a pair of skates is at the morning freestyle session. Several have just graduated from Learn-to-Skate. Okay, that's fine. I had to jump through hoops to skate a freestyle session. Now all you have to do is show up. With in mind, look where you're going and be mindful of the others on the session. If you see someone taking off to jump, maybe move your crossovers away from the hockey circle that you have been practing on for the last 45 minutes. Your conversation about how crowded the session is, shouldn't take place in the middle of the rink while someone is trying to do a camel spin. If someone's program is playing, just notice where they are and where you are. And get out of their way. I'm sure I sound like a witch, but we all pay the same amount of money and the sessions are getting more crowded. Know where you are. Know what you need to do. Be mindful of the others on the ice. And do not skate crossovers in lutz corners (all 4) for the entire session. You have no idea how annoying that is.