Close to my Heart

Reflections on Summer Ice

I'm posted this more for my own record more than anything else, so if you came here for any knitting or crocheting updates, they won't be in this post.  I am however going to post my latest sock FO shortly.

Tonight was the last session of the Summer Skate.  I think one word to describe it - "bleh."  A few reasons for this.  It's really hard to get into skating on a nice summer day, although on at least one occasion, the cool rink air was quite welcoming.  Like last summer, there were far too many people of different levels on the ice.  There were some students home for the summer, as well as some teens practicing their dance partnering.  All that jumping and dancing made the ice far too crowded for us beginners.  And the ice quality was lousy too.  There was usually power skating and/or hockey before us, and even after a flood, the ice was rather rough.  Lessons weren't that hot either this time around, she mostly had us do things that weren't new and could easily have done on our own.  Another down thing about summer skate is that it is only four weeks (one hour twice a week) and by the time you get your skating legs back, the summer session is done.  I think though that I'm just as glad to be done now until Fall/Winter session starts at the end of September anyway.

You're probably saying "enough complaining already!"  It wasn't all bad.  I finally understand how to do  an outside edge now (even if I don't always execute it properly), and maybe one day I'll even be able to do a three turn!

Really, what more is there?  No knitting or shopping yet today (I may have a few minutes to pull out my sock WIP after I finish blog reading tonight), but I did SKATE!  Today was the first day of the four week summer session.  We were on a different rink tonight, and although I knew that, it through me for a bit of a loop, never having been on this rink before.  And it took a little bit for me (and everyone else I think) to get comfortable once back on the ice.  But overall, a great session tonight.  I think I FINALLY understand how to do an outside edge (specifically, which foot to push off with and which direction to skate).  And despite a fall on my butt while skating backwards (my blade caught a little bump on the ice), it was great to be back skating again.  I just hope I'm not too sore tomorrow!

(Fun Images made at ImageChef, found through Typepad Widgets.  But you don't need to be a Typepad blogger to use this neat customization tool)

Surprised

I was really really surprised to receive this at the Skating Club Executive Meeting the other night:

 

"Most Improved Adult Canskate"

I felt somewhat stuck during the long ended Spring Skating Session, so was really surprised to receive this.  My coach was so encouraging, said I'd done so well.  This has just made my week, I've never ever received anything like this before, a plaque with my name on it!

Summer Session is just over a month away.  Can't wait to get on the ice again, I've really been missing it lately.  Sure hope I can conquer the very illusive Three-Turns!

Skate-a-versary

Spring Session skating began this week.  It was Spring Session last year that I first laced up the skates and set foot blade on the ice.  I vividly remember being somewhat stupidly surprised at how slippery the ice was, and clinging to the boards that first night.  I'm sure the coach wondered why on earth I was there.  A year later, I'm still one of the weaker skaters on the ice during the adult time, but I think I've come a long way.  I'm no longer close friends with the boards.  I'm working on Level 4 of Canskate (if I could just conquer the very illusive three-turns), and most importantly, having a blast.  I'm thankful that my friend gave me the push I needed to get going, as I'd only been talking about it forever! And of course, the big highlight for me was the Ice Show at the beginning of this month. I'm also thankful for all the encouragement I've received from all my blog readers, it means a lot.  So thanks everyone!
(Picture is the professional portrait from the ice show.)

Ice Show Fun

Yesterday's ice show was so much fun.  It was a very long day though, and I'm really tired today, despite sleeping in until 10 and having a 1 1/2 hour long afternoon nap.  So I hope this post will make sense.

There were two performances of the show, one in the afternoon and one in the evening.  My parents came up for the afternoon show, as did a girlfriend (Louise and I go back to grade 8) and her daughter.  I was nervous prior to the show, but in the end had a lot of fun. I think it helped that I was on the ice playing poker (or faking it, I have no idea how to play the game) prior to actually skating.  It gave me time to become comfortable with the audience and lighting.  I was definitely more relaxed in the evening, and am pleased that I managed to stay upright for both shows.

Several of my regular readers wanted to see pictures, and although the quality isn't great, I do have some to show you. We had our professional pictures taken a couple weeks ago, but I don't have them back yet.  In all of these pictures, I'm the one in black pants, gold sparkly shirt, to the left of the woman in the white dress. All pictures are clickable.

The show was called "Viva Las Vegas."  Our group  was made up of gamblers (me and three others), card dealers, and celebrity impersonators.  We skated to Elvis "A Little Less Conversation."  Our number went quite well and I had a blast.  It was also a really neat feeling to be a part of a bigger production, we were all on the ice at for the finale (although we didn't do anything more than take our bows, and skate around the rink waving at the audience).  Our club does the ice show every second year.  All going well, I'll be part of Ice Show 2008.

I'll leave you with a final picture to show you what a great friend Louise is.  At intermission she presented me with a beautiful big bouquet of roses and a huge stuffed lion.  Again, not the best picture of me.

The Ice Show Cometh

We're on the final countdown to the Ice Show.  All that is left now is a complete run through next Monday, followed by the dress rehearsal ona week from this Thursday.  Hopefully all will go well, and I'll remain upright through our complete group number.  My parents are planning to come up for the show, as is my friend Louise and her daughter.  Some of my co-workers have also expressed an interest in coming (why did I even tell anyone?)  Of course an ice show requires costumes and make-up.  My costume is simple, a glitzy shirt and black pants.  I do love fiddling with make-up, so have given a lot of thought to my "show" make-up.  I've even been looking at the female Olympic figure skaters' faces with great interest.  I've also discovered a new-to-me makeup, NYX, which is apparently a Mac Makeup (one of my favourite brands) knock off.  So far I've tried their eyeliner, lip gloss, and eye shadow, and am very pleased with them.  And I can buy it locally, which I can't with Mac.

Okay, back to the skating.  We haven't had much lesson time lately, as the majority of our Monday night ice time has been taken up with show prep.  Last night we did have some lesson time, and for the first time in a while, I felt like maybe I was progressing.  I'm now half way through Level 4.  Still have to conquer Three Turns, and I think it will be a while yet.

Proper knitting post coming soon.  I actually started writing one this morning, but just wasn't motivated to complete it tonight.  Actual knitting did occur here though. 

I'll end on yet another unrelated topic....my hands are the driest they've ever been, particularly around the knuckles.  My usual hand lotions don't seem to be doing the trick.  Would love any tried and true lotion recommendations.

End of Week Wrap-Up

So glad that the weekend is almost here.  I'm looking forward to sleeping in and working on Eris.  The Jaywalker sock is progressing well, I'm now ready for the toe shaping on sock number 1.  Still loving this pattern.

I'm looking forward to the Olympics opening ceremonies tonight.  Of course I'll be cheering on the Canadian Figure Skating Team.  With great restraint, I chose not to participate in the Knitting Olympics.  I'd much rather finish up Eris than start something new, and honestly couldn't figure out what I could do to challenge myself in sixteen days when my knitting time is somewhat limited (darn job and carpal tunnel).  So,

The ice show I'm participating in is just three weeks away.  Yikes, I'm getting nervous.  I'm definitely the least skilled skater in my group, and am just hoping to not fall down and embarrass myself!  I'm also determined to be able to do my spiral, and spent a fair amount of time on the ice last night practicing said spiral.  I'm a little discouraged about skating at the moment, seems like I've made little progress lately.

Finally, I fell completely in love with Bron's new sweater the other day.  I went right out and purchased the pattern, and am now contemplating yarn choices.  I'm leaning towards Butterfly Super 10 Cotton, which I think will make a nice spring sweater.  This yarn is available locally too.  Pattern book is Patons Elegance.  There's a short sleeve and three-quarter sleeve version, I'm leaning towards the longer of the two:

 

Time to get ready for work, have a great day and an even better weekend!

So. Much. Fun.

Skating tonight.  Had the most fun on the ice I've had yet.  I felt somewhat intimidated during the warm up, watching all the experienced adult skaters, who have joined in to participate in the ice show.  They skate fast!  Then we started to work on our number for the ice show.  My part is as a player in a Las Vegas Casino.  We practiced pinwheels, and did shoulder-to-shoulder spirals.  I wasn't sure that I could do the spirals, but I did.  It's much easier holding on to two other people mind you. 

Then it was time for the lesson part of the evening.  We worked on drags, 3 turns, spirals, and backwards skating tonight.  I'm most proud that I did several spirals.  Not the prettiest spirals in the world, but they were mine and I can do it!  And you gotta start somewhere.  And the outside edges are finally coming too.  Again, not the best, but I can now feel the edge and know when I'm on it or not.  Only a few sessions ago, I really had no clue.  At the end of tonight's, the coach told the three of us that are in our group that we've all improved 100% since November.

Not bad for a Monday, I'd say the week is off to a great start, wouldn't you? 

Ice Show

After a two week break for the holidays, skating resumed last night.  This was the first practice to begin work on the club's ice show, "Viva Las Vegas,"  which is scheduled for March 4th.  There were many more adult skaters present last  night as a result.  I'm now somewhat nervous about the whole thing.  One of my co-workers also skates, and fortunately, we are at the same level.  Everyone else is way more accomplished than us.  The warm up was very quick, and there was no hope of keeping up.  Next Monday we start working on the actual group numbers.  I hope it goes well, and that I don't feel like I'm holding others back.  The last ice show I was in I was about 7 or 8 years old!

The lesson portion of the evening itself was okay.  My brain wasn't working properly, the coach told me a couple times to lift my right foot, and I kept lifting the left.  Duh, do I need an " L" and an "R"  marked on my skates?  I'll blame it on my cabled out brain.  I've been working on the Eris Cable Collar, so maybe my brain power has been maxed!  On a more positive note....learning to lift one hip to help with the somewhat illusive outside edges.  I think that will help, and I'll look forward to practicing that some more on Thursday.

Day off today, knitting update coming a bit later.  Grocery shopping and knitting on today's agenda.  Should go to Curves too, but we'll see.

I've been RAOK'd

This morning, on the RAOK yahoo group, Kristine posted that she had sent a RAOK to British Columbia, and was wondering how long mail took to arrive here.  She was concerned that said RAOK had gone missing.  I'm in BC, and thought "hmm, maybe it's for me," but quickly dismissed that thought from my mind, given that there are lots of RAOKers in BC.  Imagine the thrill when I returned from grocery shopping today, and found an envelope in my mailbox all the way from Kristine in Indiana.  First I saw a friendly postcard in which she encouraged me in my skating and knitting projects.  Then, I opened the package, carefully wrapped in mauve tissue paper.  Inside I found the cutest shrinky-dink stitch markers:

Kristine, I want you to know how much I appreciate these markers.  What a great way to combine two things that I really enjoy right now, skating and knitting.  I will treasure these markers and think of you when I use them.

Tonight is a skating night so I think that this package arrived at the perfect time.  Kristine, you mentioned edges, swizzles, and three turns in your little note.  Since you mailed this package, I've done my first three turns and started working on edges.  Those outside edges are hard!

Added later: Just home from skating.  I passed Canskate Level 3 tonight, yay!  And I did a rather lame spiral too.  Fun.  I thought of my new stitch markers while I skated.  Thanks again Kristine!