Stop...

When someone says "STOP", I never know if it's in the Name of Love; Hammer Time, or if I'm supposed to collaborate and listen. That being said, I have skated once or twice, in between studying, packing and tossing out old stuff. For someone who is only skating once a week, I find myself still maintaining the same level of mediocrity I had before. However, I do have goals for the upcoming months: Non skating related, first and foremost is to find an apartment. One without young, "I only know one song on the guitar, which I play while smoking pot every single day and playing indy music you're much, much too old and uncool to understand", people living underneath me. Skating related, I really want to take these tests and move on. I am so tired of the Silver MIF test; I've lost track as to how long I've been working on it. And the freestyle... UGGH!!! Why did they have to make a flip jump a requirement?? My flip jump took a vacation when my last ex-boyfriend broke up with me and hasn't made a complete return! I would find that guy and ask if he has my flip jump (no, he wasn't a skater, just slime), but I don't think his wife would appreciate it. (To my unmarried female readers: Have you ever noticed that the guys you date get married to the next girl THEY date?? This has happened to me FOUR times! Wonder if it's me... No, it's them. It's always them...) Where was I?? Flip jumps... My lutz is better. Heck, my axel is better than my flip and I haven't tried one in years! I've decided to keep trying them off the ice. Recently, I received a comment from another blog about why people don't read mine. Her suggestion was that maybe if I added photos or video, it would help. Well, if someone could please, please, please explain to me like I was 4 how to do it, I'd be more than happy to share. If you know how to do that, please tell me. I tried to add in a GIF but nothing happened. There's supposed to me someone dancing at the top of this post. See ya on the ice!

Break Time!!!

I will be off the ice for the next few weeks thanks to many issues, which do not include injury, but do include packing to move. My upstairs neighbors sound like elephants, all day and all night (I don't think they sleep). My downstairs neighbors are young, so they are relatively inconsiderate and play loud music all day and half the night. Someone received a guitar for Christmas; they know one song. When they aren't playing music that is "too cool for me to appreciate", they are playing that one... blasted... song!!! I used to play the guitar. I could teach them the 3 1/2 songs I know: "Walk, Don't Run"; "Isn't She Lovely"; "Malaguena"; and the intro to "Pilate's Dream" from Jesus Christ Superstar. Anyway, I need to start packing. My funds are tied up in the move, so skating will be taking a back seat for a while. See you soon. Try not to write too many comments; I might get a swell head.

Okay, Enough!!!

Mother Nature: (No longer "Dear" because we are no longer on speaking terms) Enough is enough. STOP!! It's snowing again. I can't stand it any longer. I've been wearing snow boots for over a month and now my instep is bothering me. STOP WITH THE SNOW!! I'm sure you wanted to make a point; whatever that point is, I get it. Now PLEASE stop with the snow and below freezing temperatures. I promise not to complain about the heat in August.

Dear Mother Nature:

Dear Mother Nature: I am impressed. The last time you decided to show the Tri-State area how skilled you were at making a lot of snow was in the 1990s. There was a year when we had 18 snow storms. While you are not showing off like that this time around, I can tell you that I am speechless with regard to your snow making skills. And ice?? Boy can you make ice. Since my office was closed today (and the subway that could take me to the rink in Queens wasn't running), I was treated to the sounds of spinning car wheels as crazy folks decided to drive their cars on the ice caked roads. I've learned that no matter the size of the vehicle, spinning wheels all sound the same. Amazing! Since you are familiar with my love of shopping, I appreciate the numerous snow storms that caused my winter boots to start to take in water. No problem; I'll get another pair... if they're available anywhere, so far, no... they're not... But they will be soon. In the meantime, I'll just carry an extra pair of socks for when my feet get wet. I'm not complaining Mother Nature, I am in awe. Wish I had that kind of power. The power to make ordinary, easy-going people swear like sailors when they can't get their cars out of the driveway. The ability to make teenage girls wear actual full-length coats instead of little cropped jackets. The power to make NY slow down for a little while. Yet, at the same time, there are some problems. People can't get to the theatre and they planned it months in advance. (It should be noted that 70% of the technical people in theatre do not live in Manhattan. Most live in Westchester, Connecticut, Long Island and New Jersey. So if they can't get to work, does the show really go on??) Most people lose the ability to pick up their feet walking in boots, so you hear them scuffing from two blocks away. Hotels are crowded with people who want to leave, but the airport has been shut down. The snow days have caused me to look at alternatives: travel, exercise, food... I am shrinking my carbon footprint by taking public transportation (okay so it takes 1 1/2 hours on the bus and a .75 mile walk from the bus stop to the office, but it's great exercise, dodging ice from sidewalks that haven't been shoveled). Getting more exercise by walking those .75 miles. And as far as food is concerned; I'm either very hungry or not hungry at all. Go figure. The Groundhog determined that there would be 6 more weeks of winter. Mother Nature, can you please explain to me, how dragging a hibernating rodent from his home and making him parade in front of the press determines the weather? I thought that was your job. Plus, if you do this practice in early February, spring is ALWAYS 6 weeks away! I will let you go now Mother Nature because I understand you have another storm to prepare for the Tri-State area. The work never ends. Thank you Mother Nature for making me appreciate the little things in life: Twizzlers, brandy, ski pants and monitoring the Sunday session because now that's the only session I'm skating. See you tomorrow as I'm walking to or from the bus. Skatecat

S'no Good

It's snowing, again. I used to really love the snow. I'd get the shovel out, put on my ski pants and jacket, heavy gloves and a hat and off I'd go. The sidewalk in front of the house? Check. The walk to the sidewalk? Check. Dig out the driveway (even before I had a car)? Check. All the while singing old songs like "Working In a Coal Mine", "100 Pounds of Clay", or "Get Ready ('Cause Here I Come)" at the top of my lungs. Then something happened. I found that I had to drive to work; 21 miles one way. The joy of snow left me when I was nearly in an accident with no other cars, just Mother Nature. When it snows, I take public transportation. As a result, I can't get to the rink. And sometimes, I can't get to work. Or we close the office because Long Island always gets it worse than NYC. (For those of you outside NYC, that means: The Bronx, Brooklyn, Queens, Staten Island AND Manhattan. It all equals NYC.) Had plans to go to the rink for a 5:30am session, but the snow tip-toed in last night and squashed that idea. As I write this, it's almost 4:00 and still snowing (more like flurries now). My office closed almost as soon as it opened. Does my .7 mile walk in the snow count as cardio? I walked really, really fast (to catch a bus) and managed to get there in under 12 minutes. Either way, I'm off to stretch while watching old TV shows. Dragnet or The Rifleman anyone?

Huh, What???

A recent trip to Lake Placid to watch some adult ISI skating proved to be a waste of time; there was only 2 adults and I missed them anyway. I did get to skate, and foolishly hurt my back. I couldn't take a deep breath; I'm still trying to figure out what I did. It snowed here on the east coast; a lot of snow. The mayor told people to stay home, if they could. My office closed for the day and 1/2 of the rinks I know were also closed. Not that it would have mattered. Between hurting my back and my car being buried by snow, the odds weren't good anyway. Now, here's the problem: I drive to the rink 99% of the time. I do not, however, drive in the snow. This is due to a near accident (or near miss) I had about 4 years ago. There was also an incident of a 360 degree donut my other car did about 10 years ago. As a result, I don't drive when there's snow on the ground. Not that it would matter because I park outside and the slight ramp I must drive up to get out of the lot is covered in ice. There's also the street I have to drive up to get to the lot; it too is up an incline. Ice and inclines... bad combination. That leaves me with another problem: where can I skate?? I'm taking public transportation to get to work. The bus takes an hour; the train only comes once ever half hour. I can't skate in the morning because I just can't get there. The rinks I might be able to skate in the evening will take another hour to travel to by bus. I find this ironic because one rink is only 7 miles away and it's going to take an hour? It's a bit difficult when rinks believe an "evening" session should begin at 3:00pm. Aren't kids just getting out of school at 3:00? Even 4:00 is pushing it a bit. A good evening session should begin at 6:00 or 6:45. Not too early, not too late. I know of three, but I'd have to have access to my car to get there... Oh well... Just to add a spanner to the mix (wrench), my coach told me on Sunday that I should do Easterns, the technical program. Really? After the vote of no confidence and not having done that program for two years?? I need a drink...

Happy New Year!!

Howdy folks. Here's hoping everyone had a wonderful and safe holiday season. I learned what my drinking limit was. And I will never, ever forget again. I had my skate bag all packed to head to the rink on January 2nd, when NYC was hit by a snow storm. Since I don't drive in the snow, my efforts were dashed. Subsequently, my office was closed. Will be on the ice on Sunday. And then... who knows? "The best of times is now What's left of summer but A faded rose? The best of times is now As for tomorrow well, Who knows? Who knows? So hold this moment fast And live and love as hard As you know how And make this moment last Because the best of times Is now, is now!" The Best of Times from La Cage Aux Folles. Music and lyrics by Jerry Herman.