Okay so the three men expected to represent the USA in the Vancouver Olympics all made it - no big surprise there. Johnny Weir (the "d" is apparently silent) turned in a pedestrian performance, just enough to secure the #3 spot, not even attempting a quad. His costuming resembled something more likely to be seen on American Idol. Evan Lysacek, probably our best shot at a medal, fell on his opening toe-loop quad but was solid, if lackluster, after that. Jeremy Abbott gave a flawless and exciting performance (nailing the very same quad jump that Evan had not) but questions remain as to the status of his nerves and whether he will be able to skate anything like that on the international stage.
But the day really belonged to Ryan Bradley, who unfortunately did not do well (enough) in the short program to be able to completely overcome that score. His performance was the skate of his life and encompassed all elements of the skate - the music, the costuming, the techniques and choreography. It was an electrifying performance that had the entire arena on our feet before the conclusion. (Small wonder that Johnny Weir took the safe option for his skate - the scores were that close.) This was his 11th national competition (he finished 2nd here in Spokane in 2007), Ryan recognizes this might be his last competition - not that he doesn't appear much younger than his 26 years, but the thought of maintaining this level of training and grueling pace of competition probably means it was his last opportunity to make an Olympic team. I would hope not, but if it is, what a way to go out on such a high note.
There are definitely some others on the horizon (since our current Olympic team are 26-Weir and 24-both Abbott and Lysacek): 23-year-old Jonathan Cassar, who skated first in the Free Skate with an excellent performance, 20-year-old Adam Rippon and nearly 18-year-old Keegan Messing (from Girdwood, AK).
The evening was spent watching the Free Skate of the Junior Men. I think we saw the final skate on this level for several performers and expect them to graduate to the Senior level soon. They definitely have youth on their side: 15-year-old Jason Brown took 1st with a perfect skate to the Nutcracker Suite; recently turned 15-year-old Joshua Farris (from Renton, WA) gave an amazing performance from one so young capturing 2nd place; and 3rd place finisher Max Aaron, the "old man" of the three who will turn 18 next month. These are definitely guys to be watching for the next Olympics.
~later, tw
Monday, January 18, 2010
Sunday, January 17, 2010
A Preview of Things to Come
We're here - in Spokane at the US Figure Skating Finals where the US representatives to next month's Olympics in Vancouver will be determined.
The opening ceremony was a bit lame and Gerry was really wondering why he had been dragged to this. But then the men took the ice for their short program. There was amazing skating but at the end of the night the top three were no big surprise (though maybe the order was: Jeremy Abbott, Evan Lysacek and Johnny Weir).
Yesterday morning we saw the Pairs Free Skate (final competition). Though there were certainly some excellent pairs, there was nothing reminiscent of the 1980-90's Russion duos. The throws were good though most pairs received a deduction for at least one fall. (Gerry said he would be most impressed if a girl got to throw a guy for once and having seen all those ladies hit the ice, I concur...maybe if the guy hit the ice once or twice like that he'd have more incentive to give a bit more elevation to the throw so his partner could land it!) Regardless by the third set we'd pretty much seen the same routine a few times and by then Margo (my sister) and I were judging the costumes and trying to decide if the line for those delicious made-right-in-front-of-you donuts was worth it.
Then the final set of skaters to0k to the ice. Amazing, incredible, fantastic...not enough adjectives here folks. First up, Amanda Evora & Mark Ladwig who skated nearly flawlessly. The next pair up proved that "near flawlessly" wasn't going to get the job done. Caydee Denney & Jeremy Barrett performed the skate of their life - an absolutely perfect performance, landing every single jump, spins in perfect unison. The death spiral was hold-your-breath as she fully extended herself with her entire body only inches from the ice! Their coach was in tears and the entire audience on their feet by the end of the performance. I only hope they can repeat this performance in Vancouver!
But we weren't done yet. The next pairs up were 33-year-old Rena Inoue & 36-year-old John Baldwin. We had seen them skate together in 2007 in Spokane and were surprised at their ages then. Now we were simply flabbergasted to see them together again. They too gave an amazing performance - their final skate and they went out in style. Their 3rd place finish was no "sympathy" vote. They would be a tough act to follow and Caitline Yankowskas & John Coughlin scored high with our group on costumes and choice of music (Pearl Harbor) but had difficulties landing jumps (I think she fell twice) and ended the night in 4th place.
So with Denney-Barrett in 1st and Evora-Ladwig in 2nd we will be well represented in Vancouver.
The evening session was spent watching the short program of the Junior Pairs. There are definitely some up-and-comers to be watching (including Caydee Denney's younger sister, Haven). The "women" were all under 20 - including one 13-year-old. There were some solid performances and some harrowing falls (including one who appeared to fall literally on her face and slide across the ice on her chin but miraculously suffered no apparent injury).
We are off now this morning to see the conclusion of the men's skate...and maybe get some of those donuts!
~later (with photos), tw
The opening ceremony was a bit lame and Gerry was really wondering why he had been dragged to this. But then the men took the ice for their short program. There was amazing skating but at the end of the night the top three were no big surprise (though maybe the order was: Jeremy Abbott, Evan Lysacek and Johnny Weir).
Yesterday morning we saw the Pairs Free Skate (final competition). Though there were certainly some excellent pairs, there was nothing reminiscent of the 1980-90's Russion duos. The throws were good though most pairs received a deduction for at least one fall. (Gerry said he would be most impressed if a girl got to throw a guy for once and having seen all those ladies hit the ice, I concur...maybe if the guy hit the ice once or twice like that he'd have more incentive to give a bit more elevation to the throw so his partner could land it!) Regardless by the third set we'd pretty much seen the same routine a few times and by then Margo (my sister) and I were judging the costumes and trying to decide if the line for those delicious made-right-in-front-of-you donuts was worth it.
Then the final set of skaters to0k to the ice. Amazing, incredible, fantastic...not enough adjectives here folks. First up, Amanda Evora & Mark Ladwig who skated nearly flawlessly. The next pair up proved that "near flawlessly" wasn't going to get the job done. Caydee Denney & Jeremy Barrett performed the skate of their life - an absolutely perfect performance, landing every single jump, spins in perfect unison. The death spiral was hold-your-breath as she fully extended herself with her entire body only inches from the ice! Their coach was in tears and the entire audience on their feet by the end of the performance. I only hope they can repeat this performance in Vancouver!
But we weren't done yet. The next pairs up were 33-year-old Rena Inoue & 36-year-old John Baldwin. We had seen them skate together in 2007 in Spokane and were surprised at their ages then. Now we were simply flabbergasted to see them together again. They too gave an amazing performance - their final skate and they went out in style. Their 3rd place finish was no "sympathy" vote. They would be a tough act to follow and Caitline Yankowskas & John Coughlin scored high with our group on costumes and choice of music (Pearl Harbor) but had difficulties landing jumps (I think she fell twice) and ended the night in 4th place.
So with Denney-Barrett in 1st and Evora-Ladwig in 2nd we will be well represented in Vancouver.
The evening session was spent watching the short program of the Junior Pairs. There are definitely some up-and-comers to be watching (including Caydee Denney's younger sister, Haven). The "women" were all under 20 - including one 13-year-old. There were some solid performances and some harrowing falls (including one who appeared to fall literally on her face and slide across the ice on her chin but miraculously suffered no apparent injury).
We are off now this morning to see the conclusion of the men's skate...and maybe get some of those donuts!
~later (with photos), tw
Tuesday, January 12, 2010
Wow - that's some braid!
A woman in Texas is fighting her local school board because her 4-year-old son wants to wear his hair long...really long. Though the pre-kindergartner has been on "in-school suspension" since NOVEMBER (he sits alone with a teacher's aide in the library), the school board is willing to compromise: He can wear his hair long so long as it's kept in a braid and remains above his ears.
The mother says she will take him to school with his hair in a pony-tail (which she acknowledges will keep in him suspension) since braiding his hair will "make his scalp bleed."
The mother says she will take him to school with his hair in a pony-tail (which she acknowledges will keep in him suspension) since braiding his hair will "make his scalp bleed."
Parents of suspended child reject compromise saying his scalp will bleed
Now we used to braid our daughters' hair when they were small and I'm sure that they would both tell anyone who asked that nobody braided hair tighter than their father. (It was the equivalent of a "face lift.") But there was never any danger of scalp bleeding. I'm not certain that the school board should be holding firm at the length of hair of a child - certainly not to the extent of keeping him in "in-school suspension" at a time when the only serious learning of a pre-kindergartner is socializing. I would think keeping him with a solo teacher's aide for the day totally undermines that learning and keeps the school's limit resources (namely a teacher's aide) tied up with one child (now for months) at a time. The school board should lighten on this issue (Don't they play football down there? Haven't they seen the really, some would say dangerously long, hair of those athletes?)
On the other hand, I think the parents proposing ridiculous rationale for allowing their son to be different is not helpful. For once, I would just like to see the right thing done for the right reason and have sanity prevail.
~later, tw
Thursday, January 7, 2010
Seriously?
I promise to go thru my holiday photos soon and post about that (I do have the cutest grandchildren on the planet!) but I couldn't resist this one.
Woman sues gym over pole-dancing injury
Woman sues gym over pole-dancing injury
I find it amazing the amount of embarrassment and humiliation a person will subject themself to in order to either a) get $$$; or b) achieve their "15 minutes of fame." This lady, who apparently can rule out "exotic dancer" as a career opportunity, is suing because she quite literally fell off the pole. This is a lot like the 60+ granny who sued McD's because the cup of hot coffee she put between her legs so she could grab her McMuffin spilled and burned...well, I don't even want to think where that burn was.
At some point aren't at least some of these individuals willing to keep their ineptness and stupidity to themselves? Must they brag about it in the news, on reality tv and in our courts? I so want to be a judge!
~later, tw
At some point aren't at least some of these individuals willing to keep their ineptness and stupidity to themselves? Must they brag about it in the news, on reality tv and in our courts? I so want to be a judge!
~later, tw
Monday, December 14, 2009
Now THAT'S holiday spirit - Part II
I'm sure you've probably seen the ad for Liberty Mutual: one person witnesses a gesture of kindness and then does something kind for the next person they meet, which is witnessed by someone else, who in turn does a favor for another stranger, and so on until the circle of "favors" returns to the person who started it. It's an amazing commercial - probably my favorite (that doesn't involve Clydesdales anyway).
At a restaurant in Philadelphia this past Saturday, a couple finished their meal and paid - not only their tab but also that of the table next to them. They asked the waitress not to tell the people until after the couple had departed the restaurant...simply say "Merry Christmas!" This simple gesture started an amazing chain reaction ("Mystery Pair at Diner Spark Cascade of Giving," http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/34420892/ns/us_news-giving/)
The giving lasted for five hours - one party paying the bill (plus tip) for the next party and though the amount of the bill varied, not one person quibbled about the amount.
A sense of expectation typically accompanies the spirit of Christmas. We expect that we will get gifts. If we've provided others with a "wish list," we expect that we will receive something from that list. And that's not horrible, or greedy, or evil, or even missing the true point of Christmas even.
But it's the unexpected that brightens a day, that makes you smile, that creates in you an atmosphere of true generosity and kindness. And it's as simple a concept as "pay it forward" and it doesn't have to happen just this time of year either...
...but isn't it wonderful when it does?
~later, tw
At a restaurant in Philadelphia this past Saturday, a couple finished their meal and paid - not only their tab but also that of the table next to them. They asked the waitress not to tell the people until after the couple had departed the restaurant...simply say "Merry Christmas!" This simple gesture started an amazing chain reaction ("Mystery Pair at Diner Spark Cascade of Giving," http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/34420892/ns/us_news-giving/)
The giving lasted for five hours - one party paying the bill (plus tip) for the next party and though the amount of the bill varied, not one person quibbled about the amount.
A sense of expectation typically accompanies the spirit of Christmas. We expect that we will get gifts. If we've provided others with a "wish list," we expect that we will receive something from that list. And that's not horrible, or greedy, or evil, or even missing the true point of Christmas even.
But it's the unexpected that brightens a day, that makes you smile, that creates in you an atmosphere of true generosity and kindness. And it's as simple a concept as "pay it forward" and it doesn't have to happen just this time of year either...
...but isn't it wonderful when it does?
~later, tw
Now THAT'S holiday spirit - Part I
My husband calls my Christmas Wish List "pathetic." On my list I put the little things I would like...most of them utilitarian trinkets having to do with my time spent in the kitchen, which I really enjoy (this year I'm hoping Santa leaves me a 4-cup pyrex measuring cup under the tree - because I'm already wondering how I've lasted this long without one!)
But everything on my wish list is truly insignifiant compared to those hoping for a gift of time - more time to spend with family and friends, more time to celebrate holidays and milestones, more time to just be.
Thirteen such people got their Christmas wish a little early this year in what I consider to be a true miracle of science and generosity - they each received a kidney in what is (currently) the longest "chain" of kidney transplants: "Massive transplant effort pairs 13 kidneys to 13 patients" (http://www.cnn.com/2009/HEALTH/12/14/kidney.transplant/index.html?eref=rss_us&utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+rss%2Fcnn_us+%28RSS%3A+U.S.%29)
In this paired transplant, someone wants to donate a kidney to a recipient (a husband perhaps to his wife) but find they aren't compatible. No problem! A 2nd party recipient is found and someone donates a kidney on his or her behalf to a 3rd party and so on and so on and so on until (in this case) 13 recipients were matched with 13 donors. The end result is that 13 people were given a second chance at life and the 13 donors each wound up saving not one, but two lives: they gave to save their loved one, enabling them to become a member of the circle, and they gave new life to the recipient.
A pretty wonderful Christmas present if you ask me!
~later, tw
But everything on my wish list is truly insignifiant compared to those hoping for a gift of time - more time to spend with family and friends, more time to celebrate holidays and milestones, more time to just be.
Thirteen such people got their Christmas wish a little early this year in what I consider to be a true miracle of science and generosity - they each received a kidney in what is (currently) the longest "chain" of kidney transplants: "Massive transplant effort pairs 13 kidneys to 13 patients" (http://www.cnn.com/2009/HEALTH/12/14/kidney.transplant/index.html?eref=rss_us&utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+rss%2Fcnn_us+%28RSS%3A+U.S.%29)
In this paired transplant, someone wants to donate a kidney to a recipient (a husband perhaps to his wife) but find they aren't compatible. No problem! A 2nd party recipient is found and someone donates a kidney on his or her behalf to a 3rd party and so on and so on and so on until (in this case) 13 recipients were matched with 13 donors. The end result is that 13 people were given a second chance at life and the 13 donors each wound up saving not one, but two lives: they gave to save their loved one, enabling them to become a member of the circle, and they gave new life to the recipient.
A pretty wonderful Christmas present if you ask me!
~later, tw
Wednesday, December 2, 2009
Simone Weiler (1926-2009)
Yesterday we lost Gerry's mom, Simone Weiler. The doctor had rediscovered cancer (after five years of being cancer-free) only two months ago. Gerry and I were able to take Jenny and little Jax to visit her in October and she was doing quite well then but recently her health began to fail her and she passed away quite suddenly (and rather unexpectedly...surprising even her doctor) on Tuesday afternoon.
My thoughts and prayers are with each of her kids and their families...and especially with her grandchildren and great-grandchildren. Jenny and Sarah were especially close to their grandma and always managed to visit her in Montana. Here are the girls "4 Generation" photos taken just this year.~later, tw
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