I'm okay

Friday when I was going to pick my daughter up from afterschool I was running late. And rushing. Running even. And I slipped and fell down the stairs onto concrete and slid. Ouch. I scrapped all the skin off the palms of both my hands. Quite a bit of the skin off the back and fingers of my left hand. And I'M LEFT HANDED> nice right. And my poor face is reminiscent of when I hit my head on the bottom of the pool. My brother had to come pick me up from school. My wonderful big brother said "You're not really going back to school tomorrow looking like that. I would drop out. Maybe Mama and Daddy will let you change schools." Way to be supportive right. That's how I feel now. Like I got "STUPID" tattooed on my forehead. I spent most of yesterday laying in bed. I knew I couldn't skate. I couldn't even move my hands enough to put my skates on. And how could I possibly dance with somebody if I can't even hold their hands. So I drove Lexie to the rink, made her put on her own skates. And I sat & watched. After practice when we walked back out into the rink a little girl started staring at me. I said "I fell down." Sometimes you really shouldn't run. She said her brother let her write in his journal. And I felt better.
Tomorrow I have to go to work looking like this. I was a lot braver in high school. But I'm okay. And I get to say my face broke my fall.. cause that's got to be the coolest quote ever.

Doesn't he look just like me?

I've been getting a lot of awe he looks just like you when I show people my boy's pictures. My sister was supposed to be looking for a baby picture of me. I'm about 1 1/2 to 2 in this picture so not really a 'baby' in the sense that my brother and Nolan are in theirs. But you can see how much we all look alike. Check it out he does look just like me when I was baby doesn't he.
Nolan's Pics


And Me...

And my brother....


So what you think.. who does Nono look like?

Nutcracker 2008

The parts came out this week my daughter's solo is Chinese Dancer this year. She is also in the holiday dance. I should get to dance with my daughter. I always thought she'd be older and bigger by the time that time came. I'm worried about trying to dance with someone so much smaller than me. We skated together yesterday practicing some on our own and she was a little frightened when I spun her around. I should've explained ALL the steps first before we did it. She is also in the Waltz of the Flowers. Seems like she has quite a big role this year - and its going to be a lot of work. We're foregoing the competition next month in anticipation of Nutcracker. She is all signed up to take her MIF test though. I'm ready for that to be over with and done. I've been half*ssed trying to lose weight all year in anticipation. Seeing the list of parts makes it feel a little more real. I have to get my act together now. Only 8 weeks until showtime.

I promise to post pictures as well video of me skating this year.

Yardsale

We had a yard sale on Saturday at my apartment complex. Having moved from a pretty good size house to a tiny apartment I have way more stuff than room. So I was excited about having a yard sale and hoping to get my apartment uncluttered. It was about 60 degrees and windy on Saturday. I was up early to get set up and spent almost all day Saturday out in the cold and only sold 4 things. It was pitiful. My daughter made a friend in our complex and her, her dad, and sister sat up their stuff right next to us. So the kids got to play together so that was good for her. But I was pretty bored all day - and did I mention cold. On a side note, at one point her friend left to watch "The Suite Life" and my daughter started in on the whole but Julia gets to go to her apartment by herself. After I said "Julia is older than you wait no she's not she's just bigger" I had to explain that sometimes I don't agree with the choices other parents make about what they let their kids do. I can't control what they do but she's not wandering around the complex by herself.

At any rate, I got this junk email from a friend/co-worker today (you know the kind that people send to everybody). Her new neighbors that just moved in yesterday moved in because their old house burned down. And they were in need of baby stuff (stroller, crib, toys etc). My niece CJ got my daughter's crib when she was born. But I was otherwise able to give some stuff to help some people in real need. I guess the whole yard sale thing worked out the way it was meant to in the end.

Some people are so lucky:-)

You've probably heard me say that it'd be cheaper to build a fake ice rink in my backyard with all the money we spend on going to the rink. It really would.

I got this email earlier today from my online friend Karean who lives on the other side of the country. She gave me the go-ahead to post her pictures to my blog. SHE finally did what I've been saying forever that I'm going to do SOMEDAY. I told Karean that I want one for Christmas. Which is just not even possible because I now live in an apartment complex and I don't have a backyard to put a rink anymore:( For the time being I love my apartment and don't plan to move anytime soon. But when I have a yard the first thing I'm getting is a big fake sheet of ice. And I'll teach my grandkids how to skate on it. Karean thought that was funny. My daughter tells me she doesn't intend to have children so I might just get my backyard rink before I get grandkids. I'll just teach my brother's grandkids how to skate on it. I act like his kids are mine anyway.


What I really need is to meet someone in Durham who is just like Karean - beautiful, smart, friendly - with an ice rink in her backyard. Then Lexie and I can come over everyday and make her sick, bored and tired of us skating on her fake ice all the time. How cool would that be.
:)

Nutcracker

I found out last week that Nutcracker rehearsals will start November 1st. I couldn't be more excited. My daughter did Nutcracker in 2003, 2004, 2005, and 2006. I did Nutcracker in 2005 & 2006. So this will be my 3rd and her 5th Nutcracker on Ice. It is always so much fun. It is my favorite part of figure skating. I always get stressed out around competition time. But Nutcracker has this whole other 'feel' to it. I hate everything about competitions frilly lacy dresses with sequins and glitter. I could go on and on about how much I hate glitter. Which I was doing just last week to some poor person at work as I was prying glitter out my pores like it was poison on my face. But I suck all that up and spray boatloads of glitter into my daughter's hair and twist crystal twirlies into her head. And somehow despite my aversion to those things she manages to look like a figure skater when she skates onto the ice.
I wanted to quote "Go Figure" but I can't find the movie and I can't google the quote I want. Or least I'm not googling it right. So here is a paraphrased version.

"So tell me Caitlin what is it you love about figure skating" - Coach Natasha Golberman
"Oh that's easy the glitter"
"And well when my feet hit the ice I feel like... no one can judge me, except the judges of course." - Caitlin Kingsford

The first time I saw the movie I laughed at that quote. Its ALL about the glitter. I think our daughters would be just as happy if we bought out the glitter counter at Claires and we wouldn't even have to spend so much money on skating lessons and ice time. I like the other part of figure skating, the part without the glitter. The part that I get to share with my daughter once a year when Nutcracker rolls around.

Sharing some pictures

So we're all settled in the new place. And these pictures are from a couple of months ago - but I just got around to getting developed. This is my first picture of me with the baby. He is getting so big. I look like a drowned rat because we spent the day at the lake. But I'm sharing anyway because it is the first picture of me holding Nono. (This is at my brother's house not my apartment)

There's a picture of my living room and the kitchen in the background. The one of Lexie with my nephews. Its actually the best picture of my apartment with the furniture in it. The boys helped me move. They're awesome like that.

And also a picture of the pool. Which we haven't really got to enjoy because of hurricane season. And we had a few days of colder weather (highs only in the 60s or 70s) so I guess it is closed for winter now eventhough its going to be back in the 80s this week.

My Myspace - Kudos to Amy Marie for help hooking me up

I created my myspace page a few months ago but only did it get any traffic at all until a couple of weeks ago when my friend Amy helped me out with a few things. I was like myspace is useless and I got a response like you're not doing something right. And in the last 2 or 3 weeks I've found people I haven't seen in years. Man every last person in my friends on Myspace ROCKS. I have been so blessed over the course of my 31 years to have called some of the most amazing and wonderful people my friends. You know how in High School your friends are so important to you. More than just about than anything else like eating or sleeping or anything?? Do you? My high school friends and I tried so hard to stay in touch during college. And it worked for a few years. I even managed to keep in touch with some of them up until after my daughter was born. And now I'm getting reconnected. WOoo hoo. Oh my god and when I was in college. I was even friends with the world's coolest cheerleader. And he is my friend on myspace now. He used to stand guard outside the dorm so I could sneak out of Ervin. Buddy system... everybody standing at their stations to help me break curfew. Very important people. I was thinking about all kinds of things like that to say about the wonderful people on myspace and how much I love all of them. But I decided maybe that's a little bit personal or embarrassing. I'm sure they have their own stories they could tell of me. And maybe *I* might not find too amusing. I found my roommate from sophomore year on myspace the other day. It was the last year (or portion thereof) that I lived on campus before moving off-campus with my future ex-husband and his friend. She lived across the hall from me Freshman year. We were practically roommates freshman year as well. My first roommate Freshman year said I was arrogant, self-centered and impossible to live with. My second roommate freshman year lived locally but wanted the college experience so she was never there. Carrie and I became friends and picked each other for roommates sophomore year. We had our moments where it was hard to get along too though. I've found that its a lot easier for me to get along with people that i don't have to live with. I think that's my issue though. it is what it is.
Are you on my space yet? if so, check me out at rockstheice I still don't have a lot of 'friends' there yet. Which is part of why I can honestly say they are all awesome people

Tennessee

In the whole no matter how bad things are it could be worse theory... I found out the other day that my uncle was in the hospital. Open heart surgery. My dad had a quadruple bypass a few years ago. I guess its genetic. At least my heart is intact, right?

My mom told me that she and my sisters are planning to go visit him. I really want to go too! Its been so long since I've been to Tennessee. My last trip was Freshman Year of college. Which makes me feel really old:( Its so beautiful there. My cousin took some awesome pictures of me/her/us at my last visit. She's very talented.

I used to love going to Tennessee to visit my aunt, uncle and cousins. Did I mention it is so pretty there this time of year.

I want to go. Maybe I'll be able to swing a trip when Lexie isn't in school.

The Bad Luck Fairy

Every so often I'm walking along happy and the bad-luck fairy decides to whop me up side the head with her wand. At least it could always be worse.

I had a car accident on Friday. Am currently without any mode of transportation except my feet. Luckily I'm in town and can walk places. And walk to work. My weekend building manager bought me coffee for my birthday. Which was really nice of her. Some people are awesome. I found out today that I really could've just walked to Hardees for coffee & its not THAT far. So this weekend if I'm still stranded I can walk to Hardees... Actually I'll just walk to work its closer and the coffee is free. They'll prolly expect me to work anyway. And Lexie is staying at her dad's right now so I don't have to be making her walk everywhere. So it could DEFINITELY be worse.

I didn't even get cake for my birthday. Not that I need it. I started back working out today. Maybe the no cake was a good thing.

But sometimes I feel like the bad luck fairy just HATES me:(

Back Online

Okay so maybe you didn't notice I was offline...

But just in case you did. I am back online. Last week was a rough week. Lexie started at her new school. She misses her friends. I promised a sleepover in the next couple of weeks so she'll feel a little less like all her friends are going to forget her. Man - I am LOVING my new place. And Lexie *knows* she likes the pool. And hey - we even got cable (internet) today. The last few weeks without cable have been rough for me. Even more so for my daughter having to be at a new place, a new school and no friends. But we're adjusting. Well technically she's adjusting. I'm in heaven. And even happier to finally have cable.

So hopefully I'll be back blogging and checking out all your blogs and catching up.

Yeah - I know you didn't know I was missing.....

Random Thoughts

***Amy Marie - your post is below. You're supposed to reply when you read it. Vacation or no vacation:)

Sometimes in life we find ourselves staring up at the heavens screaming "Why" to a god that doesn't answer. All the little things and the big things that just don't go our way seem to add up. And we content ourselves to know that no matter how bad things are they could always be worse. We could be homeless or jobless or we could lose yet another person that we love. Several weeks ago I ran into an old friend that I hadn't seen in about 12 years or so. I found myself answering the question "what would it take to make you happy - do you even know?" Of course, I know. I spilled out my list. And in the last couple of weeks I've watched my list come to pass. I got everything on it. And I'm happier than I think I've ever been in my life. So I was thinking that maybe sometimes God doesn't give us what we ask for but forces us to wait for the better that comes along.

Great Songs to Skate to....

Okay so I was talking to a friend about. Well actually about the Jonas Brothers. Yeah I listen to the JoBros. No, I'm not 8. And of course you can't get the hype if you've never even heard their music. DUH!!!
Here are 2 of my favourites that I think would be awesome showcases to skate to....


What a great movie - if you haven't seen it go rent it or something.


As far as i can tell the Jonas Brothers seem to be really great kids. And children are always going to have idols. People in the spotlight that they look up to. Our kids could do a lot worse than Kevin, Nick and Joe. That's all I'll say...

On another note a few years ago Lexie skated to Cinderella. Which is really ironic because even at that age we talked about her touring in terms of Cinderella. Lexie has dedicated the last 5+ years to figure skating. We'd talk about how when she grows up she could be Cinderella and travel all over the world with DoI. Not every skater can be Cinderella but you don't have to be the star of the show to be a professional skater. Somebody has to be the ugly step-sister or play all the other girls at the ball wanting to try on the glass slipper (skate). Being able to get paid to do something that you love and getting to see the world would be an amazing experience for anyone. How many careers can you tour with. Its something that I've always wanted for her. She has to really want it for herself. Not just say she wants it. At 8, its impossible to map out your whole life of what you want. Most of us don't even know what we want to be even after we are all grown up. Lexie's is all mapped out. She wants to tour (skating - DoI), tour (rock star), go to art school and become a fashion designer. Oh and be a famous actress. Famous enough to star as herself. We call this plan of hers "growing up to be like Richie Rich."
So I hope you like this one too...


***Updated to add this one from NBB***

and a few comments... i don't really think they sing that good. But a lot people obviously do like them for something other than what they look like or their name. So whatever - to each their own. I don't get why people have to slam them and be so vulgar on youtube. They are a band that a lot of little kids like. And I don't like my 8 year old reading that stuff. I think people are jealous because they are having fun and making a lot of money doing it.

Week 2

Well week 1 of camp was a bust. I won't complain about it - just say that I have high hopes that this week will go better. Lexie spent last week with the folks. I was lazy without her around this week. Honestly - didn't do too much missing her either. I enjoyed the alone time. I ran the other day for the first time in a week. I've been so sore I could hardly walk since. We went to see Wall-E last night. It was pretty good but I was expecting it to be better. The theater gave Lexie a Wall-E watch that looks like one of those little rubber arm bands that say stuff on them like PEACE or LOVE. Hers says WALLE on it and has a digital clock embedded in it. And we're about to go skating in a few minutes. Hopefully my leg muscles will work enough for me to be able to skate.

**UPDATE** Not only did my legs manage to skate for an hour and a half today. I ran 3 miles when I got home. Okay well I walked a little of it. But not bad overall. Something is better than nothing - Its the mantra I live by these days just case I haven't told you. I feel really good right now. Keep your fingers crossed that tomorrow goes well.

First Day of Camp!

Well some of you know that aside from the weekends and a couple of days I took off from work Lexie has been away from me most of the summer so far. She has been at my parents. And I've been alone. I've made good use of the time - extra hours in the office getting stuff done. I did some housework at home. And I spent 1.5 - 2 hours working out most every day. I didn't lose any weight but I feel stronger. I was hoping I'd lose a few pounds. NSL. Anyway she is back home now. We've spent this weekend Ice Skating (I worked on my spins, turns and backward crossovers) - Lexie worked on all her single jumps, spins, and pre-pre moves, we went roller skating yesterday and hung out and watched cartoons and movies together.
And tomorrow she is going to camp. I'm having a 'my baby's growing up' moment. She has to be responsible for herself starting tomorrow. By putting on & taking off her own skates, wiping them down good and putting on soakers so they don't rust, and putting on guards before she puts her skates on. We've been practicing this weekend. I keep telling her nobody is going to do it for her at this camp. I'm just a tad bit worried. Hopefully someone will help her for a day or two at least until she adjusts. And at the same time, I hope someone tells her she is old enough to do that stuff for herself now. I don't know what I want. Except for tomorrow to go well so I can stop worrying.

Another video... 2006 Nutcracker on Ice Solo

Well my last post's video was a hard act to follow. But check this one out....


This is the video from our last Nutcracker on Ice. Lexie was the clown doll. She was adorable. I bought the doll dress. Lexie didn't particularly like what they had in wardrobe. And when I saw this dress - I knew she had to wear it. Everyone said it was the best clown doll dress they had ever seen. Hopefully whoever plays the clown doll this year will be able to fit it. I painted her face, the same way I had painted her face when she was a clown for Halloween in 2001. With hearts on her cheeks and blue tear drops down her cheeks. Did I say she was adorable yet? Anyway check out my old videos. Still no videos of my skating. But I promise to share videos of my skating if the show goes on this year.

I Got My DVD!!!!! 2008 State Games

Pre-Pre Test Track Freestyle event Champion!!!!

I want my DVD

It has been almost 3 whole weeks and still no dvd from State Games. I keep checking my mailbox everyday.. nada. It is all I can do to not send email to complain. I know the order form said allow 2-4 weeks for delivery. I just didn't think it was really going to take four weeks to get here:( Remind me not to order anything again that needs a month delivery time.
Argh.

While I wait for my dvd I'm going to be sharing some thoughts about some skating related movies. When I started this blog I mentioned something about reviewing some movies and telling what I think. I think I'll start with Blades of Glory. What a funny movie. Quite vulgar though. I wouldn't (if I were you) let my pre-teen watch it. But I'm not -you that is- and I already did. I had no idea. She watched it with me the first time I saw it. As we tend to watch movies together unless they are scary movies - then I wait until she is in bed. Anywho nobody reviewed it first and told me it was inappropriate for children. I've been seeing a lot of Blades of Glory popping up lately. Pictures from the movie made their way onto the calendars at our rink. The movie was shown at the skating camp an online friend's children are attending.
You ever notice how in skating movies nobody ever does anything in their programs (just fluff)? Like for instance Chazz Michael Michaels did 2 jumps in his program one of which was a split jump which my daughter's coach tells me doesn't even rate any points under IJS. And he did 3 spins. Everything else was just skating around doing nothing. I don't know about you (or your kids) but my daughters' programs are and have always been packed full of stuff. Her last years program had 2 solo jumps and 3 jump combinations. Seriously. Also what about the short/long programs in this movie. Hello everybody at the senior level has to skate 2 events. And dance has to skate 3 events. And we all know thanks to Johnny Weir that you can't tie in figure skating at the senior level. And even if you did tie (like in lower levels of figure skating) if there were 2 first places the next place would be third. And senior mens doesn't allow vocals in music. Vocal music is only allowed in dance. Unless it is a showcase. Which was more what Jimmy & Chazz did. But that wouldn't get you a gold medal at the Olympics. Okay - yeah I have fun picking out the mistakes in movies. There are a lot in this one.
Just don't expect it to be remotely accurate to figure skating. Take it for what its worth as just a funny movie. And don't let your kids watch it. Lest they embarrass you doing the Chazz Michael Michaels dance in public.

I drew a pattern

Now to get back to something skating related. Last week I drew a pattern. I actually watched Lexie skate something and sketched it out on a piece of paper. Waltz eights has been one of those things that she hasn't worked on a whole lot. She skated it to pass Freeskate 3 a little over a year ago. And she skated it some during a few times where we had planned to have her test Pre-Pre moves finally. At this point she is planning to take the test in August. She was going to take the test in May but I had to cut back the lessons due to some unexpected financial issues. At any rate, lest anyone think shouldn't she have already learned a waltz eight. And shouldn't I actually have a real diagram somewhere for reference? Without me having to try and draw something myself? I swear patterns make absolutely no sense to me. I think I kind of have the idea behind some dance patterns like dutch waltz and cha cha but only because I've seen them skated enough that I can begin to relate to a bunch of lines on a piece of paper. But I certainly don't think I could look at a bunch of lines on a piece of paper and transfer that to ice. So for me to see something skated on the ice and think I could translate it to paper from my head is huge. I was very proud of myself - even if it wasn't a whole bunch of complicated lines.
So here is my attempt....

And guess what Lexie was correct - I did not get it exactly right. And then I found an actual diagram online.

Oh well, I'm still proud. A pattern almost made since to me. I think I'll stick to knowing my jumps and spins and let the coaches handle helping her learn the patterns. **sigh**

Baby pictures...

The reason why I hadn't gotten around to sharing any baby pictures is because I wanted to give Lexie's winning State Games and the big hair cut some time to be center stage on the blog. But in honor of my other baby graduating high school this weekend I thought I'd share this one...And give some kudos to Matt. Of all my nieces and nephews I've always been closest to Matt. He is my favourite brother's oldest child after all. My brother and I were always close as kids and even after he moved out we still remained so. When Matt was born it was liking having my own baby. I babysat him every single weekend from when he was born until I went away to college. My brother and I used to negotiate days for whose turn it was to watch him on Friday or Saturday night and alternate which nights we got to out on dates. If I babysat on Saturday night for my brother and sil to go out then they watched him on Friday for me. For five years it was like the child had 3 parents. Of all my nieces and nephews I think he is the most like me. Maybe it is because we have the same Chinese zodiac if you believe in things like that. While not all the snake attributes apply (I'm certainly not rich or lucky with money) I do find that most fit me pretty well.

It really is a great feeling to have a little kid look up to and admire you:) Here's a secret that Matt doesn't know. When I graduated from high school I got a certificate for perfect attendance in High School. My brother and sister-in-law told him when he started kindergarten that if he had perfect attendance all through school that when he graduated he would get a certificate like the one that Aunt Renee got. (Note I got mine for high school 10-12th grades). Matt had perfect attendance from Kindergarten through twelfth grade. That's a LOT of days of school. And he isn't getting his certificate now because they said he missed a day in first grade:( I don't guess there is anyway to prove that he didn't... unless my brother and sil had kept all his report cards. Which I'm pretty sure they didn't. He was always so proud of his perfect attendance and never missed a day even if he was sick. I never had the heart to tell him that my certificate was only for high school. Anyway, great big kudos for perfect attendance and graduation.


****UPDATE 06/14/08*****
Matt got his plaque for K-12 perfect attendance today. It just took my brother having a little talk with the superintendent. As you can imagine we were all so proud of him.

And now for some more baby pictures....