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.