I am really, really tired.
I have been to Gallaudet University in Washington, DC and I loved it. If I had the money and could find a skating rink, I'd go. But that is a point for a totally different blog; one I don't actually publish.
I came to the rink on Sunday full of hope and anticipation about skating. I couldn't wait to get on the ice. Color me disappointed.
On a session that starts at 10:30 and is only 50 minutes long, shouldn't I be able to get on the ice before 10:55? I check everyone in, count all the skaters on the ice and then do it again to make sure it's right. For reasons I cannot understand, I have yet to get on the ice before 10:55. Once I am on the ice, all I want to do is work.
Easier said than done.
There are 4-5 girls, ages 9-11 who cluster together because they're all working on the same thing. I guess because I've always been a bit of a loner, I cannot understand the draw of wanting to work together. Perhaps it's because every time someone says "oh let's do XYZ together", they do all the work and I end up standing, watching. I mention these girls because they ended up getting in EVERYONE'S way during the two sessions today. Program skaters, skaters on lesson, me, everyone.
Fifteen attempts of a waltz jump and I finally got one out, only to jump up and have one of those little girls heading right into me (she was backwards and not looking). I grabbed her and sort of caught her before she slammed into me.
Did I ever mention that I do NOT like children!
While the coach apologized, it was too little too late. Those girls do the same thing every week.
Every week, every coach complains to me. Every week. Every coach. Every week.
I do not make the rules. This isn't even my home club. Complain, complain, complain.
I have to listen to people complain all day at work. I listen to people complain at home. Now I have to listen to people complain at the rink. And I don't get the chance to vent.
Except for today.
I got off the ice and my hands flew into a rage. I didn't realise I could sign that fast or that angrily. I finished what I had to say and someone asked me what I just said because I neglected to "voice" while I signed. I then repeated every thing I signed and voiced it this time. And it boiled down to this:
Every week, I have to listen to everyone complain: coaches, parents, even kids. I listen to people complain at work, at home and now here. I've had enough. There are nothing but a bunch of idiotic, spoiled, oblivious brats out there and I'm sick and tired of having to put up with the attitudes. I am a %&^*(@# volunteer. And while we're at it, skating here is doing nothing for my practice. Why? Because with 110 minutes of ice time, I get to skate for 40 minutes, when I'm lucky. Why the hell should I stay?
I had promised myself that if monitoring the Sunday session was too irritating that I would be gone. Well, looks like I'm gone. Being the type of person that I am, I will finish this half of the season, but really, that's it.
I had hoped that I would get a second lesson on the second session on Sunday mornings, but I've only had one and it was interrupted when a 4 year old wandered onto the ice. It doesn't appear that I will have another lesson on Sundays any time soon, so I guess I can forget that. There are less than 9 sessions left before the end of the year. After that, my Sundays are mine.
Ladies and gentlemen, if you have kids, heed this comment: you are raising a bunch of inconsiderate, oblivious, spoiled brats. Your children believe the sun rises and sets with them; it doesn't. They believe they are the most important people on the earth; they aren't. Teach your children to be polite and considerate and to remember that they have to share the ice and the world with other people.
I am blessedly childless. I am not your nanny and I really don't give a hoot about your kid. My idea of paradise would be an all adult free style session where no one talked and everyone signed.
That sounds like heaven...
Sunday, November 6, 2011
Monday, October 17, 2011
Same Old Song, Slightly Different Twist
Due to the lack of decent ice time for those of us who must work in order to remain on said ice, I have returned to the thankless job of being Ice Monitor for the Sunday morning sessions at the rink in Manhattan. Thankless is the key word here.
This Sunday was the first real morning and I received "attitude" from a new parent. When I asked him if he had purchased a card for his lovely little darling, he snapped that he would take care of it later. I asked if his child was skating both sessions and the asshole gave me the hand. He had to watch his darling daughter while she had her lesson. Her coach, the father informed me, told her she could skate this session. I reminded him that it wasn't free and that he had to settle-up BEFORE his daughter took the ice. Again I got the hand.
He settled up with another monitor; one who, I suppose, didn't want to kick his ass for his attitude.
As he was waiting for his daughter to take off her skates, I loudly said, "I'm a volunteer and I don't take crap from anybody. I'm an adult; I don't have to."
If I've said it once, I've said it a thousand times: THIS IS NOT MY HOME CLUB!
I had a lesson on the second session and perhaps from having to walk back and forth so much, or the amount of champagne I drank (love champagne - drink of choice) or the fashion show I attended the day before, regardless, my timing was slightly off. An ill-timed movement of my arms in a jump sent a searing amount of pain through my shoulders. It's amazing how a new pain can cause your eyes to tear when you least expect it. Jump landed; shoulders screaming.
Side bar: didn't tear rotor cuffs; just strained them severely. There's something else wrong with them, but I forget what it's called. All I know is: better living through chemistry!
Session ended, one of the higher level skaters complained about two or three of the lower test skaters who skate through a special program in upper Manhattan. Okay, it's Harlem. The Novice Lady insisted that the uptown girls kept getting in her way; her mother chimed in that they (uptown skaters) needed to "stay where they're supposed to" (she meant the west side of the rink). However, the more she said it, the more my blood began to boil. Her darling daughter constantly got in my way during my lesson. This child saw me in the air and decided to stop right where I was about to land (I landed anyway; she moved). And the true culprits of horseplay on the ice were 2 new girls on the session, NOT the uptown skaters. I finally said that her comments were bordering on racist. Although I was told no, and I corrected the mother about the skaters, I will always have these comments in the back of my head.
Figure skating is expensive, yes. But it doesn't have to be an elitist sport. It's the snotty-ass bitches who try to make this an elitist sport. Personally, I'm sick of the attitude.
The club isn't doing well financially, probably because of that elitist attitude. Either way, I had some ideas to get additional skaters (adults) on the ice. Must wait until regional competitions are over to have the club president bounce them off the rest of the board.
Can't blame a girl for trying.
This Sunday was the first real morning and I received "attitude" from a new parent. When I asked him if he had purchased a card for his lovely little darling, he snapped that he would take care of it later. I asked if his child was skating both sessions and the asshole gave me the hand. He had to watch his darling daughter while she had her lesson. Her coach, the father informed me, told her she could skate this session. I reminded him that it wasn't free and that he had to settle-up BEFORE his daughter took the ice. Again I got the hand.
He settled up with another monitor; one who, I suppose, didn't want to kick his ass for his attitude.
As he was waiting for his daughter to take off her skates, I loudly said, "I'm a volunteer and I don't take crap from anybody. I'm an adult; I don't have to."
If I've said it once, I've said it a thousand times: THIS IS NOT MY HOME CLUB!
I had a lesson on the second session and perhaps from having to walk back and forth so much, or the amount of champagne I drank (love champagne - drink of choice) or the fashion show I attended the day before, regardless, my timing was slightly off. An ill-timed movement of my arms in a jump sent a searing amount of pain through my shoulders. It's amazing how a new pain can cause your eyes to tear when you least expect it. Jump landed; shoulders screaming.
Side bar: didn't tear rotor cuffs; just strained them severely. There's something else wrong with them, but I forget what it's called. All I know is: better living through chemistry!
Session ended, one of the higher level skaters complained about two or three of the lower test skaters who skate through a special program in upper Manhattan. Okay, it's Harlem. The Novice Lady insisted that the uptown girls kept getting in her way; her mother chimed in that they (uptown skaters) needed to "stay where they're supposed to" (she meant the west side of the rink). However, the more she said it, the more my blood began to boil. Her darling daughter constantly got in my way during my lesson. This child saw me in the air and decided to stop right where I was about to land (I landed anyway; she moved). And the true culprits of horseplay on the ice were 2 new girls on the session, NOT the uptown skaters. I finally said that her comments were bordering on racist. Although I was told no, and I corrected the mother about the skaters, I will always have these comments in the back of my head.
Figure skating is expensive, yes. But it doesn't have to be an elitist sport. It's the snotty-ass bitches who try to make this an elitist sport. Personally, I'm sick of the attitude.
The club isn't doing well financially, probably because of that elitist attitude. Either way, I had some ideas to get additional skaters (adults) on the ice. Must wait until regional competitions are over to have the club president bounce them off the rest of the board.
Can't blame a girl for trying.
Thursday, September 29, 2011
Back On Track
I took a really bad fall on Tuesday.
I was doing a flip jump and somehow opened up in the middle of it. The next thing I knew, I was flat on my back with my feet flying over my head. I did a nice shoulder roll that I was never able to do on demand when I was taking gymnastics (which was a dumb idea for a 5'6" woman). I got back up and did a few more attempts, but I must admit, all sorts of places hurt on my body and I limped off the ice and went home.
I also hurt my wrist, but again, I don't know how.
I was asked if I hit my head. I don't think so. To be quite sure, I just don't remember.
My skating schedule returns to normal on Sunday and I'm thrilled. What I don't like is the 8 1/2 block walk to my car in the early morning hours. I will have to find someplace else to park when I have to get up that early.
For now, my wrist still hurts and I should ice it. And my back. And my shoulder. And my side.
I was doing a flip jump and somehow opened up in the middle of it. The next thing I knew, I was flat on my back with my feet flying over my head. I did a nice shoulder roll that I was never able to do on demand when I was taking gymnastics (which was a dumb idea for a 5'6" woman). I got back up and did a few more attempts, but I must admit, all sorts of places hurt on my body and I limped off the ice and went home.
I also hurt my wrist, but again, I don't know how.
I was asked if I hit my head. I don't think so. To be quite sure, I just don't remember.
My skating schedule returns to normal on Sunday and I'm thrilled. What I don't like is the 8 1/2 block walk to my car in the early morning hours. I will have to find someplace else to park when I have to get up that early.
For now, my wrist still hurts and I should ice it. And my back. And my shoulder. And my side.
Thursday, September 1, 2011
Decisions, Decisions
My vacation is nearly over. As is the summer, which pretty much sucked.
I think I've skated more during my week long vacation than I did all summer. Needless to say, some of my "skills" have decided to remain on vacation, even though it is long time for them to return.
Skills, I expect you back after Labor Day. Don't make me come after you!
I spent most of the summer studying, practicing and absorbing as much ASL as possible. I think my brain is slightly fried, but there's no time for that as school begins again on Tuesday. My stomach hurts just thinking about it.
Or it was the spiked lemonade I just had; not sure which.
This brings me to decision making time.
I don't have a lot of free time anymore. Between the 40 mile round trip commute, school two nights and one morning per week (Saturday mornings), and my favorite, rinks that refuse to have decent schedules for freestyle, I have a very tough decision to make... monitoring the Sunday morning session again.
This time, there is a twist.
My coach, Amy, has agreed to come in most Sunday mornings for me on the second session. I have informed the powers that be, that I am willing to monitor the first session and the first session only. Once that zamboni hits the ice, I am just another skater. Since there will only be two 50 minute sessions, no longer will there be a session for the "elite" high test skaters. They will have to learn how to play nice with everyone else. Too bad if a 7 year old gets in your way. Go around her!
The other twist is that if it doesn't work out for me; I'm gone. Last year was pure hell, evil and the biggest waste of my time. I don't plan to waste my time this year.
I have been invited to the 2011 Police and Firefighters World Games. Just walking into the venue had me missing competing. I really must get my butt in gear. I am still unhappy with my weight and I really have no excuse for it. I must admit if it wasn't nailed down, I ate it. That really has to stop because everything I eat is making me sick. My gastroenterologist still insists it's stress. Perhaps if I took a real vacation instead of staying home studying and grabbing random skating sessions while having to listen to my annoying lead-footed upstairs neighbors, I'd have a bit less stress. (Sidebar: My upstairs neighbors are so heavy on their feet, I know EXACTLY where they are in their apartment at all times. When they walk across the floor, my apartment vibrates!)
I am strangely giddy and optimistic about everything, which is SOOOOOO not like me. You'd think I was finally on anti-depressants again. FYI, they only made sick the first time, which is why I'm not on them any longer. I am one of those people who need to stay busy all the time. Between work (blah!), skating, the gym and school, I can't imagine how I could have time to feel sorry for spending so much time alone and not being in a relationship and never having any fun...
I think I thought too long...
And for the record: there is no such thing as "big-boned". Recently I was called big-boned. While I wish this was a true excuse for my size, I really am just fat. Not happy about it and this time, I will work harder to rectify that situation.
Still, I have 4 days left thanks to the Labor Day weekend. Sleeping in sounds like a plan since I won't be able to do it again until Thanksgiving.
I think I've skated more during my week long vacation than I did all summer. Needless to say, some of my "skills" have decided to remain on vacation, even though it is long time for them to return.
Skills, I expect you back after Labor Day. Don't make me come after you!
I spent most of the summer studying, practicing and absorbing as much ASL as possible. I think my brain is slightly fried, but there's no time for that as school begins again on Tuesday. My stomach hurts just thinking about it.
Or it was the spiked lemonade I just had; not sure which.
This brings me to decision making time.
I don't have a lot of free time anymore. Between the 40 mile round trip commute, school two nights and one morning per week (Saturday mornings), and my favorite, rinks that refuse to have decent schedules for freestyle, I have a very tough decision to make... monitoring the Sunday morning session again.
This time, there is a twist.
My coach, Amy, has agreed to come in most Sunday mornings for me on the second session. I have informed the powers that be, that I am willing to monitor the first session and the first session only. Once that zamboni hits the ice, I am just another skater. Since there will only be two 50 minute sessions, no longer will there be a session for the "elite" high test skaters. They will have to learn how to play nice with everyone else. Too bad if a 7 year old gets in your way. Go around her!
The other twist is that if it doesn't work out for me; I'm gone. Last year was pure hell, evil and the biggest waste of my time. I don't plan to waste my time this year.
I have been invited to the 2011 Police and Firefighters World Games. Just walking into the venue had me missing competing. I really must get my butt in gear. I am still unhappy with my weight and I really have no excuse for it. I must admit if it wasn't nailed down, I ate it. That really has to stop because everything I eat is making me sick. My gastroenterologist still insists it's stress. Perhaps if I took a real vacation instead of staying home studying and grabbing random skating sessions while having to listen to my annoying lead-footed upstairs neighbors, I'd have a bit less stress. (Sidebar: My upstairs neighbors are so heavy on their feet, I know EXACTLY where they are in their apartment at all times. When they walk across the floor, my apartment vibrates!)
I am strangely giddy and optimistic about everything, which is SOOOOOO not like me. You'd think I was finally on anti-depressants again. FYI, they only made sick the first time, which is why I'm not on them any longer. I am one of those people who need to stay busy all the time. Between work (blah!), skating, the gym and school, I can't imagine how I could have time to feel sorry for spending so much time alone and not being in a relationship and never having any fun...
I think I thought too long...
And for the record: there is no such thing as "big-boned". Recently I was called big-boned. While I wish this was a true excuse for my size, I really am just fat. Not happy about it and this time, I will work harder to rectify that situation.
Still, I have 4 days left thanks to the Labor Day weekend. Sleeping in sounds like a plan since I won't be able to do it again until Thanksgiving.
Saturday, August 13, 2011
Really???
It's August. I believe I've skated 6 times all summer. And had 2 lessons.
I'm watching my hopes for Adult Nationals, and the need to pass 2 tests to be able to compete at said Nationals, disappearing as quickly as the days are passing.
Last week, I had planned on skating on Tuesday and Wednesday. On Thursday, I had an event related to school to attend. Unfortunately, my migraine, Miles, decided to show up on Monday night and stuck around until Wednesday night. I'm still trying to figure out what my triggers are and I'm coming up empty.
With that in mind, I hope to be at the rink tomorrow.
School is over for the rest of the summer; I have 3 weeks before it all starts all over again. I'm on vacation (and going no where) the last week of August. I will be at the rink every day.
In the meantime, I will be doing kick boxing to try to lose some weight. Wish me luck.
I'm watching my hopes for Adult Nationals, and the need to pass 2 tests to be able to compete at said Nationals, disappearing as quickly as the days are passing.
Last week, I had planned on skating on Tuesday and Wednesday. On Thursday, I had an event related to school to attend. Unfortunately, my migraine, Miles, decided to show up on Monday night and stuck around until Wednesday night. I'm still trying to figure out what my triggers are and I'm coming up empty.
With that in mind, I hope to be at the rink tomorrow.
School is over for the rest of the summer; I have 3 weeks before it all starts all over again. I'm on vacation (and going no where) the last week of August. I will be at the rink every day.
In the meantime, I will be doing kick boxing to try to lose some weight. Wish me luck.
Tuesday, July 19, 2011
Welcome To My Pity-Party
This is a mis-mash of emotions I'm going through right now. I feel lost and alone and overwhelmed and frustrated and incredibly sad. So sad I've been forced to buy waterproof mascara and I hate that stuff. (It's really bad for your lashes; breaks them off).
I belong to an adult competitive webgroup. Recently I vented about not having sessions because they were given to hockey. What did I get in response? Comments like "you should move", or "hockey pays for the ice", or "life's tough" and my personal favorite "rather than spending the hour to get to the rink with a lesson with my coach, I work with another coach, or go to my syncho practice or work-out in my pool". Thanks. On a good week, I skate twice a week. A really great week is three times on the ice. And this pain in the rear tells me to work out in my pool. I have a few choice words, but I'll be polite.
Lately, I have felt overwhelmed. I spend a lot of time alone as my sister/roommate is away every weekend. For the most part, I don't mind; I have school to keep me busy and the adding frustration of trying to get a webcam to hook up to Windows Live Messenger and two email accounts it apparently doesn't like. However, it has occurred to me that my life has not gone the way I had hoped by any stretch of the imagination. I have been looking for a new job for 8 years and I'm still working with Jabba the Hut. I haven't been in a relationship since the Clinton years. I can't seem to lose weight and I looked at myself in that stupid webcam and I look like the stuff you scrape off your shoes after walking through a dog park!
My physical health is pretty stable: my cough has never gone away, my sciatica still bothers me, my knees ache from time to time and I've injured BOTH of my rotor cuffs putting on a backpack. As for my love life, well, there is the guy who lives near my new parking space and he'd be fine if he wasn't covered in tattoos, didn't smoke like a chimney and had teeth. Does it help that I have a crazy crush on one of my teachers, who unfortunately is only 27? And probably not straight?
I am overwhelmed with having to clean my apartment since my roomie is never home. Overwhelmed because someone I love dearly is unemployed and finds in necessary to mention this fact in every single conversation, at least 5 times. My plan is to find a better job so I can give this individual $600 a month as "hush money" as in "hush-up now".
I have just been denied my vacation time, not that it really matters. I wanted to go someplace quiet and not listen to anyone complain, since I do that all day at work and afterwards. But surprise, my family wants to come along. I haven't had a real vacation in years.
Since I have skated three times since June 1st, the competition I wanted to do in October is out of the question. You can only come in last so many times before it starts to take a toll on you. When I do skate, thanks to doing kickboxing during my lunch hour (that's NEVER an hour), I am much stronger. The kickboxing was supposed to help with my stress (insert here dizzy spells and nose bleeds), but it doesn't seem to be working. After I finish, my body reminds me that I've injured both my rotor cuffs. I've wanted to get up earlier and get to the rink, but since I'm not sleeping well, it has made that difficult.
I apologize for dumping my feelings on anyone who reads this. If you are one of the people mentioned in this post; I am sorry if I upset you. I'm also surprised that you read it.
Back to work for me. If you hear someone sobbing in the background, pay no attention to it. It's just me.
I belong to an adult competitive webgroup. Recently I vented about not having sessions because they were given to hockey. What did I get in response? Comments like "you should move", or "hockey pays for the ice", or "life's tough" and my personal favorite "rather than spending the hour to get to the rink with a lesson with my coach, I work with another coach, or go to my syncho practice or work-out in my pool". Thanks. On a good week, I skate twice a week. A really great week is three times on the ice. And this pain in the rear tells me to work out in my pool. I have a few choice words, but I'll be polite.
Lately, I have felt overwhelmed. I spend a lot of time alone as my sister/roommate is away every weekend. For the most part, I don't mind; I have school to keep me busy and the adding frustration of trying to get a webcam to hook up to Windows Live Messenger and two email accounts it apparently doesn't like. However, it has occurred to me that my life has not gone the way I had hoped by any stretch of the imagination. I have been looking for a new job for 8 years and I'm still working with Jabba the Hut. I haven't been in a relationship since the Clinton years. I can't seem to lose weight and I looked at myself in that stupid webcam and I look like the stuff you scrape off your shoes after walking through a dog park!
My physical health is pretty stable: my cough has never gone away, my sciatica still bothers me, my knees ache from time to time and I've injured BOTH of my rotor cuffs putting on a backpack. As for my love life, well, there is the guy who lives near my new parking space and he'd be fine if he wasn't covered in tattoos, didn't smoke like a chimney and had teeth. Does it help that I have a crazy crush on one of my teachers, who unfortunately is only 27? And probably not straight?
I am overwhelmed with having to clean my apartment since my roomie is never home. Overwhelmed because someone I love dearly is unemployed and finds in necessary to mention this fact in every single conversation, at least 5 times. My plan is to find a better job so I can give this individual $600 a month as "hush money" as in "hush-up now".
I have just been denied my vacation time, not that it really matters. I wanted to go someplace quiet and not listen to anyone complain, since I do that all day at work and afterwards. But surprise, my family wants to come along. I haven't had a real vacation in years.
Since I have skated three times since June 1st, the competition I wanted to do in October is out of the question. You can only come in last so many times before it starts to take a toll on you. When I do skate, thanks to doing kickboxing during my lunch hour (that's NEVER an hour), I am much stronger. The kickboxing was supposed to help with my stress (insert here dizzy spells and nose bleeds), but it doesn't seem to be working. After I finish, my body reminds me that I've injured both my rotor cuffs. I've wanted to get up earlier and get to the rink, but since I'm not sleeping well, it has made that difficult.
I apologize for dumping my feelings on anyone who reads this. If you are one of the people mentioned in this post; I am sorry if I upset you. I'm also surprised that you read it.
Back to work for me. If you hear someone sobbing in the background, pay no attention to it. It's just me.
Monday, July 4, 2011
I'm Still Here
It's been over a month since I put on skates and I must admit I miss it. I'd like to thank the powers that be for changing the schedule and totally screwing up my plans.
Happily, I'll be back on the ice on Wednesday. Unfortunately, I'll be back at the rink in Bethpage, where the skaters will just jump anywhere they so desire. Last summer when I skated there, I took down a little girl who decided that the track was an excellent place to spin. Sorry kid. This year, I have no plans of aborting any of my jumps, so skaters at Bethpage, keep your eyes open.
To quote The Joker from the original (the 80s) Batman movie, "Wait 'till they get a load of me."
Happily, I'll be back on the ice on Wednesday. Unfortunately, I'll be back at the rink in Bethpage, where the skaters will just jump anywhere they so desire. Last summer when I skated there, I took down a little girl who decided that the track was an excellent place to spin. Sorry kid. This year, I have no plans of aborting any of my jumps, so skaters at Bethpage, keep your eyes open.
To quote The Joker from the original (the 80s) Batman movie, "Wait 'till they get a load of me."
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