I've been thinking a lot lately. ...like, a LOT. (Seems to be that's when these blogs come about anyway. At least I'm consistent? Ha.)
See, as a kid, life's pretty much planned out for you from the time you start kindergarten. You go through elementary school, survive junior high, and think you're all that in high school before most of us ever really have to make a decision that will impact what we become in life. (Yes, there are all kinds of decisions that reflect our level of character and responsibility, but that's not what I'm getting at.)
Then, upon high school graduation, we are faced with our first real "grown up"-ish decision: college or the real world?
If you, like me, chose college, then the next four years are still essentially decided for you. It's after college that the real decisions start, and therefore, the real thinking.
"What do I want to be when I grow up?" becomes a very real - and potentially frightening - question when that time is now and you still don't really know. Some people are fortunate enough to walk right into a job. Some, like myself, aren't so...blessed. And in the midst of all the questions surrounding what I'm going to do with my life, I find myself kind of scared. Yep, you read that right - when I should be hopeful and excited about what comes next, I'm terrified.
If you're thinking something's wrong with that picture, you're absolutely right. It just wasn't till today that I figured out what.
You see, I'm a dreamer. Always have been. Likely always will be. But although it doesn't even begin to seem possible, there's also this nasty little realist inside my head that likes to jump out and say, "Yeah. Like THAT'S ever gonna happen! You can't do that." It's a battle I don't wish on anyone!
So as I picture my future, I have big dreams. Huge dreams, really. Dreams that will take hard work, determination, skill, and some extra special blessings. Still, I believe they're possible. And I want to make them come true...more than I can even express in words (which, if you haven't figured out, is a pretty big deal. There's very little I can't put into words!).
The trouble is, that mean little realist keeps chiming in by pointing out all the people in my life, ever since I was a little girl, whose lives have turned around, up, down, and inside out, ending up a million miles away from the place they always dreamed.
"Life's too unpredictable for big dreams," that pesky little voice keeps telling me.
Yet we hear people all the time say something is "a dream come true." So SOME dreams can come true. Even some bizarre ones like mine.
See my dilemma? Do I shoot for the stars and risk falling to pieces if life takes me everywhere BUT where I want to be? Is happiness an anomaly that is really this hard to come by?
Here's what I've discovered: it's not about where you're going, it's about where you are. Sound Confucius-like? (Or maybe just confusing...) Let me explain, first with a little story about one of my heroes.
Michelle Kwan is a champion figure skater whose entire life revolved around this crazy dream she had. She wanted to be an Olympic champion. She worked from the time she was a tiny little thing out on the cold rink to become an athlete worthy of Olympic honor, a champion standing atop the medal stand, representing her nation, her family, and her own hard work.
Michelle Kwan won championship after championship - 9 National titles, 5 World titles and countless more in between.
She qualified for four Olympic games.
The first, she was bumped to being an alternate.
The second, she was favored world-wide for gold. She left with Silver.
In 2002, she was again expected to deliver, especially at a Games in home country. Yet, she left Salt Lake City with a bronze.
Four years later, she made the team after a serious injury, and while only a select few ever saw the competitive programs planned for that year, rumor has it, she had the good for gold once again. The first practice in Torino, she was injured and forced to withdraw.
She didn't skate again on Olympic ice.
Why am I telling this story? Because today I saw Michelle Kwan skate in front of a crowd for only the second time since the end of that final Olympic season.
Now, she is a college graduate.
She's an American Public Diplomacy Envoy, appointed by the president.
She's a grad-school student.
And more importantly that all of that, she is happy.
Her face radiated joy as she skated in the show this morning. She is not an Olympic champion. That dream way back when that kept her working and working long enough to equal two or three normal careers? Never came true.
Yet, she's happy.
See, it's not about giving up on dreaming. Oh no. It's all about dreaming big. The bigger the better, in my opinion.
If you're inspired to do something, go for it. Write it down. Look at it. Remember it. Michelle had a poster of the Olympic rings. I have a list in a journal. Make dreaming a part of your life, because it will push you to heights far greater than you could ever imagine.
And yet, as big as you dream, live bigger.
Live in the moment. Take it all in.
Enjoy every second in the good times, search for meaning in the bad times.
When life gets tough, look around you. Just maybe, you will discover that people love you more than you'd ever known before. Maybe you will find a new friend who needs to cry with you, then heal with you, too.
And when you're feeling like your dream will never come true, look back at what has already happened. It may not be the exact dream that pushed you this far, but look how far you've come for dreaming it.
I will always have big dreams. And sure, if they don't come true, I might be disappointed. But even if nothing in life goes how I have it planned, I hope I can, like Michelle Kwan, find new dreams along the way and eventually be able to look back and be proud of all I've accomplished as well as how I've handled the broken dreams along the way.
And since I seem to always bring things back to music in some way, I end with this from Rascal Flatts:
"I hope the days come easy and the moments pass slow
and each road takes you where you want to go.
And if you're faced with a choice and you have to choose
I hope you choose the one that means the most to you.
And if one door opens to another door closed,
I hope you keep on walking 'till you find the window..."
Friday, July 23, 2010
Friday, June 11, 2010
Musical moments that are just plain magic
Since it seems this blog has turned into mostly a place to express my musical inspiration, I'll continue with that again here, this time not with a song of my own, but one that is officially on my list of favorite songs ever. If you haven't heard of Danny Gokey, I highly suggest checking him out. I adore him for several reasons, his music only being a small one. Don't get me wrong, he's insanely talented. But his heart and his passion drive that talent. Plus, his desire to be a Christian first makes everything he does more attractive to me. That's a confidence that I admire...and aspire to have. If I were to pursue music, he is the kind of musician I'd work to become. Anyway, enough gushing. On to the initial reason for this blog - his song, "Will Not Say Goodbye."
We all love a good melody. So many people would choose an upbeat, dancy-type song over a slow ballad, but there are those rare cases where a "slow song" hits so close to home that you can't help but fall in love with it. In this case, it's the honest, genuine, raw emotion that bursts from these lyrics. It's essentially about a person who is hurt so deeply by the loss of someone they love, and as they try to sort through the feelings, they decide, "No, I will NOT say goodbye. I'll get mad, I'll remember, I'll cry...but that is one thing I can't do."
Ever been there? I have. That gut-wrenching emotion is so clear and intense in this song...I just can't get away from it. Now, if you listen to Danny talk about this song, it's not all doom and gloom. For him, it's a song of hope. See, Danny was on American Idol. But his wife passed away just weeks before the auditions. The song is about her. But for him, he knows it's for real - he'll see his beautiful wife in heaven someday...so why say goodbye?
Now, I've never lost a spouse (...I haven't had one to lose!) but I've certainly felt this deep emotion. And the rawness and intensity of it in this song...seriously, you need to check it out. Here's my version, but it pales in comparison to the original. Look it up. I mean it.
We all love a good melody. So many people would choose an upbeat, dancy-type song over a slow ballad, but there are those rare cases where a "slow song" hits so close to home that you can't help but fall in love with it. In this case, it's the honest, genuine, raw emotion that bursts from these lyrics. It's essentially about a person who is hurt so deeply by the loss of someone they love, and as they try to sort through the feelings, they decide, "No, I will NOT say goodbye. I'll get mad, I'll remember, I'll cry...but that is one thing I can't do."
Ever been there? I have. That gut-wrenching emotion is so clear and intense in this song...I just can't get away from it. Now, if you listen to Danny talk about this song, it's not all doom and gloom. For him, it's a song of hope. See, Danny was on American Idol. But his wife passed away just weeks before the auditions. The song is about her. But for him, he knows it's for real - he'll see his beautiful wife in heaven someday...so why say goodbye?
Now, I've never lost a spouse (...I haven't had one to lose!) but I've certainly felt this deep emotion. And the rawness and intensity of it in this song...seriously, you need to check it out. Here's my version, but it pales in comparison to the original. Look it up. I mean it.
Wednesday, June 9, 2010
It's the little things...seriously.
"Life is not a matter of milestones, but of moments."
It seems I have to remind myself how much I love that quote all the time. But it's so true - it really is the little things in life that make it all so beautiful. I mean, let's face it. There are plenty of rotten things going on in this world that could get us down...and keep us there. But what good does that do? Plus, if you really take the time to stop and think about it, God gave us a life of so much beauty. It's a shame we often fail to stop and see it.
I was reminded of this again recently when I was faced with the loss of a co-worker and friend. This man was facing so much that so few knew about...and he became so desperate that he took his own life. My heart hurts thinking of his sadness. But it reminded me to look around and really see all that this life can be...not just for me, but for those who truly need a friend, someone to remind them that this life is still a gift. Despite all the struggles, all the regrets, all the disappointments, failures, and scars, there is something every day that can make you smile. And a smile is, after all, the start of something beautiful.
The following lyrics are those of a song I wrote about 2 years ago (see the end of the post for a video of the song). The inspiration was one of the worst times in my life. My heart was in shambles...I was so broken, I didn't know what to do. Yet even then, God reminded me that we only have one chance to make this life count...so in the very moment I was reminded of how short this life is, I was also determined to slow down and remember those "everyday everythings" - the little things in each day that can make you smile through the pain and continue through the sadness. It's those little moments that get you through the night. As I am once again painfully aware of that, I want to share with you the story of a man who learns to deal with loss, thanks to another man who has been there...and learned how to make it through the night. He learned to cherish those Everyday Everythings. Enjoy.
This year was unlike any other,
the pain etched in his face.
He walked into the waiting room,
now quite a familiar place.
First Sam, then Jake, now Grandpa Bill.
They all had brought him here.
Another time, another pain,
and still another tear.
"How do I take another loss?"
he asked an old man standing near.
And he said...
Take your life and live it.
Love each day you're given,
because you only have one chance to get it right.
Don't live life in the fast lane,
go slow enough to take in
those moments that will get you through the night.
'Cause every day is precious
and those memories, they shape us.
So treasure them for everything they're worth...
Everyday Everythings.
Fifty-three years she'd been his wife
then the cancer brought her down.
He'd learned a long, long time ago
to live for what is now.
That old man shared the many times
he'd felt like giving in.
But then he'd stop, remind himself
to see each day again.
"I promise each day can teach you something new."
And he said...
Take your life and live it.
Love each day you're given,
because you only have one chance to get it right.
Don't live life in the fast lane,
go slow enough to take in
those moments that will get you through the night.
'Cause every day is precious
and those memories, they shape us.
So treasure them for everything they're worth...
Everyday Everythings.
With grandpa gone to heaven,
the pain was hard to bear.
Yet at the funeral, a man stood up
with one last thing to share.
He said, "I know that life's not always fun
and lots of times I've quit,
but one old man reminded me
that life is still a gift.
And every day has something
that will mean the world to you."
Then he said...
Take your life and live it.
Love each day you're given,
because you only have one chance to get it right.
Don't live life in the fast lane,
go slow enough to take in
those moments that will get you through the night.
'Cause every day is precious
and those memories, they shape us.
So treasure them for everything they're worth...
Everyday Everythings.
Everyday has something that means everything...
Everyday everythings.
*I've decided to keep track of life's little blessings on twitter. Find me @MyLittleMoments
It seems I have to remind myself how much I love that quote all the time. But it's so true - it really is the little things in life that make it all so beautiful. I mean, let's face it. There are plenty of rotten things going on in this world that could get us down...and keep us there. But what good does that do? Plus, if you really take the time to stop and think about it, God gave us a life of so much beauty. It's a shame we often fail to stop and see it.
I was reminded of this again recently when I was faced with the loss of a co-worker and friend. This man was facing so much that so few knew about...and he became so desperate that he took his own life. My heart hurts thinking of his sadness. But it reminded me to look around and really see all that this life can be...not just for me, but for those who truly need a friend, someone to remind them that this life is still a gift. Despite all the struggles, all the regrets, all the disappointments, failures, and scars, there is something every day that can make you smile. And a smile is, after all, the start of something beautiful.
The following lyrics are those of a song I wrote about 2 years ago (see the end of the post for a video of the song). The inspiration was one of the worst times in my life. My heart was in shambles...I was so broken, I didn't know what to do. Yet even then, God reminded me that we only have one chance to make this life count...so in the very moment I was reminded of how short this life is, I was also determined to slow down and remember those "everyday everythings" - the little things in each day that can make you smile through the pain and continue through the sadness. It's those little moments that get you through the night. As I am once again painfully aware of that, I want to share with you the story of a man who learns to deal with loss, thanks to another man who has been there...and learned how to make it through the night. He learned to cherish those Everyday Everythings. Enjoy.
This year was unlike any other,
the pain etched in his face.
He walked into the waiting room,
now quite a familiar place.
First Sam, then Jake, now Grandpa Bill.
They all had brought him here.
Another time, another pain,
and still another tear.
"How do I take another loss?"
he asked an old man standing near.
And he said...
Take your life and live it.
Love each day you're given,
because you only have one chance to get it right.
Don't live life in the fast lane,
go slow enough to take in
those moments that will get you through the night.
'Cause every day is precious
and those memories, they shape us.
So treasure them for everything they're worth...
Everyday Everythings.
Fifty-three years she'd been his wife
then the cancer brought her down.
He'd learned a long, long time ago
to live for what is now.
That old man shared the many times
he'd felt like giving in.
But then he'd stop, remind himself
to see each day again.
"I promise each day can teach you something new."
And he said...
Take your life and live it.
Love each day you're given,
because you only have one chance to get it right.
Don't live life in the fast lane,
go slow enough to take in
those moments that will get you through the night.
'Cause every day is precious
and those memories, they shape us.
So treasure them for everything they're worth...
Everyday Everythings.
With grandpa gone to heaven,
the pain was hard to bear.
Yet at the funeral, a man stood up
with one last thing to share.
He said, "I know that life's not always fun
and lots of times I've quit,
but one old man reminded me
that life is still a gift.
And every day has something
that will mean the world to you."
Then he said...
Take your life and live it.
Love each day you're given,
because you only have one chance to get it right.
Don't live life in the fast lane,
go slow enough to take in
those moments that will get you through the night.
'Cause every day is precious
and those memories, they shape us.
So treasure them for everything they're worth...
Everyday Everythings.
Everyday has something that means everything...
Everyday everythings.
*I've decided to keep track of life's little blessings on twitter. Find me @MyLittleMoments
Sunday, March 28, 2010
Finally, a purpose.
So I got to thinking the other day. I have poems and lyrics and what not that I write all the time and they are just scribbled in a collection of notebooks, making it nearly impossible to remember where I wrote that one song that one time...you know? So I figured why not put them here? That way they can be read, and I'll know where to come back for them in the future. Sound good? Here's a few new things to start off with.
memories of the heart
sometimes it's hard to remember
what it's like to not feel alone
when everyone I've loved before
has left me on my own.
yeah, life goes on. I've been just fine.
no really, I'm ok.
until I see that photograph
until I hear your name.
and before I know what's happening
I'm right back there again.
I feel the hurt, the loss of you
I still feel all the pain.
time can heal my wounded heart
but nothing heals the scars.
I think I'll always fight this thing,
these memories of the heart.
one wish
if I could have but just one wish
your face would come to mind.
the pain's so deep, the hurt so bad
the sorrow now is mine.
and since I cannot fix the things
making life so hard,
I'd wish for God to let me be
light shinning in your dark.
'cause sadness comes most often
'round the time the sun goes down
and all that's left are memories
the night time throws around.
so if I had but just one wish,
I'd make my wish for you
to see the light that shines like stars
from God, to me, to you.
And finally, a song.
keep on missing you
it takes a lot to make me stop
and remember you out loud.
the way you held me close
to let me know that you were proud.
all the crazy dreams
you pushed me to believe in
won't ever fully be complete
without you there to see them.
if the tears don't fall much anymore
it's not 'cause I've forgotten.
if I go on living in this life,
the memory's not gone
but if tomorrow finds me breaking
even one more time
I don't know what I'll do
because it hurts too much
to let my heart keep on missing you.
even after all this time
imagining what could have been
I can't give in to the hurt
won't let it bring me down again
but no matter how I try to build
a wall to keep me safe,
there's still my memories of you
haunting each step I take.
if the tears don't fall much anymore
it's not 'cause I've forgotten.
if I go on living in this life,
the memory's not gone
but if tomorrow finds me breaking
even one more time
I don't know what I'll do
because it hurts too much
to let my heart keep on missing you.
I want to still remember
but I'm scared of all the pain
without you here I'm less, it seems
the teardrops fall like rain.
I know my heart's not strong enough
to let it break again
but it's breaking anyway...
I'm breaking anyway
if the tears don't fall much anymore
it's not 'cause I've forgotten.
if I go on living in this life,
the memory's not gone
but if tomorrow finds me breaking
even one more time
I don't know what I'll do
because it hurts too much
to let my heart keep on missing you.
it hurts so much
but I can't stop my heart
from missing you.
Wow...sad few days there, eh? Gotta love writing like this to get it all out, though. Until next time.
memories of the heart
sometimes it's hard to remember
what it's like to not feel alone
when everyone I've loved before
has left me on my own.
yeah, life goes on. I've been just fine.
no really, I'm ok.
until I see that photograph
until I hear your name.
and before I know what's happening
I'm right back there again.
I feel the hurt, the loss of you
I still feel all the pain.
time can heal my wounded heart
but nothing heals the scars.
I think I'll always fight this thing,
these memories of the heart.
one wish
if I could have but just one wish
your face would come to mind.
the pain's so deep, the hurt so bad
the sorrow now is mine.
and since I cannot fix the things
making life so hard,
I'd wish for God to let me be
light shinning in your dark.
'cause sadness comes most often
'round the time the sun goes down
and all that's left are memories
the night time throws around.
so if I had but just one wish,
I'd make my wish for you
to see the light that shines like stars
from God, to me, to you.
And finally, a song.
keep on missing you
it takes a lot to make me stop
and remember you out loud.
the way you held me close
to let me know that you were proud.
all the crazy dreams
you pushed me to believe in
won't ever fully be complete
without you there to see them.
if the tears don't fall much anymore
it's not 'cause I've forgotten.
if I go on living in this life,
the memory's not gone
but if tomorrow finds me breaking
even one more time
I don't know what I'll do
because it hurts too much
to let my heart keep on missing you.
even after all this time
imagining what could have been
I can't give in to the hurt
won't let it bring me down again
but no matter how I try to build
a wall to keep me safe,
there's still my memories of you
haunting each step I take.
if the tears don't fall much anymore
it's not 'cause I've forgotten.
if I go on living in this life,
the memory's not gone
but if tomorrow finds me breaking
even one more time
I don't know what I'll do
because it hurts too much
to let my heart keep on missing you.
I want to still remember
but I'm scared of all the pain
without you here I'm less, it seems
the teardrops fall like rain.
I know my heart's not strong enough
to let it break again
but it's breaking anyway...
I'm breaking anyway
if the tears don't fall much anymore
it's not 'cause I've forgotten.
if I go on living in this life,
the memory's not gone
but if tomorrow finds me breaking
even one more time
I don't know what I'll do
because it hurts too much
to let my heart keep on missing you.
it hurts so much
but I can't stop my heart
from missing you.
Wow...sad few days there, eh? Gotta love writing like this to get it all out, though. Until next time.
Thursday, January 14, 2010
Ice. Skaters. Gold medals. Olympic teams. Nationals.
There's a little bit of a word association game for you! So, it's the week of the U.S. Figure Skating Championships. This year it's even more special because it is the final determining factor in the selections for the Olympic team. All of America's best are in Spokane this week hoping to have that magical moment that will give them the chance of a lifetime to represent the US and compete in Vancouver in just about a month.
The competition gets underway tomorrow, but practices are in full swing and, thanks to the awesome NBC affiliate in Spokane, they are being streamed live on the internet for crazies like me to watch, analyze, and blog about!
Well, the pairs are up first. Keauna McLaughlin and Rockne Brubaker are the well-knowns in the first group. And I would define their practice as Efficient. It wasn't spectacular. It was far from perfect. They ran through their long program, barely. The placed a lot of elements and that was about it. The his a 3-2 combo, Rockne missed the 2a, Keauna landed it. She fell on the last throw (literally about 8 seconds before the end of the program). She also had a really strange trip just skating backwards. What made it a good practice, though, was that as soon as they were finished with their run through, they went back to every element that needed work and simply did it correctly then moved on. The did clean side-by-side 2 axels, 2 beautiful, crisp, clean throw 3 salchows, much improved side-by-side spins, and several GORGEOUS lifts. Seriously, I could watch this team do these lifts all day. There's just no doubt, no hesitation, and the positions they incorporate are unique and beautiful.
Also in the first group were the teams of Dobb/Jacobsen and Castelli/Shnapir. Each had some interesting elements, but they don't have the polish or the sure-footedness of the top teams.
Already I've noticed, though, that I miss the days of a classic death spiral. Everyone now tries to have something special, some new "feature" to rack up the points but these new fangled leg positions and all are just not as aesthetically pleasing. Same with sit spins, laybacks, and even spirals. Alas, these are the days of the Code of Points; gone are the days of simple, classic positions and moves.
Group B next.
Tiffany Vise and Don Baldwin are in this group. Turns out, they not only have great chemistry ON the ice, but off it as well. They're one of those real-life couples here. Don's brother, John, is engaged to his partner Rena Inoue (who are competing in Spokane as well). Must run in the family.
Anyway, they looked pretty good. They're one of the rare couples that skate in opposite directions, meaning he rotates one way in jumps, and she rotates the other way. It's like the difference in being right handed and left handed. Olympic champ Kristi Yamaguchi skated opposite her partner in her pairs skating days with Rudy Galindo. Makes for some interesting shapes and lines throughout their programs. Tiffany and Don hit a nice double twist, clean side-by-side 3-toes, and a nice throw 3 salchow. They also had some really interesting lift positions. Overall, a nice short program for them. I'll be interested to see how it translates to the competition and matches up against the top pairs.
I lost the online stream for a while, and when it came back there was a live news team there who did reports every 5 minutes or so. It's interesting, being someone who feels pretty knowledgeable about the sport of figure skating who also happens to be in the communications industry to watch someone nearly crash and burn because they know nothing about what they're trying to say. It was rough, but it is nice to see figure skating getting such a generous amount of air time on local stations in Spokane.
The actual time spent on watching the skaters for the next hour was minimal, so I didn't really see much. Brooke Castille and Ben Okolski were in group D and I just love what they do on the ice. They're not the most consistent, but when they're on, it's something special to watch. I feel the same way about Keauna and Rockne. These two couples just have *it.* Whatever *it* is, they've got it.
Brooke and Ben landed a nice throw 3 salchow, Brooke had a VERY deep knee bend at the end, but it was complete and clean. I also noticed that their side-by-side spins were in great unison and they were lovely to watch.
The live reports are over and the team cleared out, but apparently forgot to set the live feed back up. I've got sound but no picture. This should be interesting.
Now for some impressions from the men.
Evan was in the first group. There's no denying he's the favorite. Hopefully that pressure doesn't get to him, though he's handled it pretty well thus far this season. He started things off with a few warm up jumps. Then hit the run through of his long program all guns blazing, pulling out a quad toe at the top of the program. Nice to see that element back in his skating. He's probably the most complete skater the US has to offer, but without the quad he may be leaving some points on the table internationally. If he can incorporate it, he should have every bit as good a chance at Olympic gold as the Evgeni's and the Nobonari's of the world. And boy is he skating like a champion. What a difference from even a year ago.
Jeremy Abbott had a rough go of it today. He tried the quad several times and finally landed one. But he fell twice in his short program run through. He stayed on the ice until the crew came out for resurfacing and he seemed to have sorted things out a bit by the end of the session.
Adam Rippon is going to be big. I'm going to say that now and come back to it when he's the champion to beat. The kid has more potential in his little finger than most could ever dream of having. He's smooth, mature, his jumps are solid, his technique is clean. He's got the goods. And he makes it all look effortless and beautiful. He is going places. Mark my words.
Didn't see much of Johnny or Ryan due to some technical difficulties with the live feed, but overall it was a good dose of skating today.
The real test, of course, is how much of what we saw today transfers to the competition ice. That's the test of who is really champion material.
Tomorrow it begins!
The competition gets underway tomorrow, but practices are in full swing and, thanks to the awesome NBC affiliate in Spokane, they are being streamed live on the internet for crazies like me to watch, analyze, and blog about!
Well, the pairs are up first. Keauna McLaughlin and Rockne Brubaker are the well-knowns in the first group. And I would define their practice as Efficient. It wasn't spectacular. It was far from perfect. They ran through their long program, barely. The placed a lot of elements and that was about it. The his a 3-2 combo, Rockne missed the 2a, Keauna landed it. She fell on the last throw (literally about 8 seconds before the end of the program). She also had a really strange trip just skating backwards. What made it a good practice, though, was that as soon as they were finished with their run through, they went back to every element that needed work and simply did it correctly then moved on. The did clean side-by-side 2 axels, 2 beautiful, crisp, clean throw 3 salchows, much improved side-by-side spins, and several GORGEOUS lifts. Seriously, I could watch this team do these lifts all day. There's just no doubt, no hesitation, and the positions they incorporate are unique and beautiful.
Also in the first group were the teams of Dobb/Jacobsen and Castelli/Shnapir. Each had some interesting elements, but they don't have the polish or the sure-footedness of the top teams.
Already I've noticed, though, that I miss the days of a classic death spiral. Everyone now tries to have something special, some new "feature" to rack up the points but these new fangled leg positions and all are just not as aesthetically pleasing. Same with sit spins, laybacks, and even spirals. Alas, these are the days of the Code of Points; gone are the days of simple, classic positions and moves.
Group B next.
Tiffany Vise and Don Baldwin are in this group. Turns out, they not only have great chemistry ON the ice, but off it as well. They're one of those real-life couples here. Don's brother, John, is engaged to his partner Rena Inoue (who are competing in Spokane as well). Must run in the family.
Anyway, they looked pretty good. They're one of the rare couples that skate in opposite directions, meaning he rotates one way in jumps, and she rotates the other way. It's like the difference in being right handed and left handed. Olympic champ Kristi Yamaguchi skated opposite her partner in her pairs skating days with Rudy Galindo. Makes for some interesting shapes and lines throughout their programs. Tiffany and Don hit a nice double twist, clean side-by-side 3-toes, and a nice throw 3 salchow. They also had some really interesting lift positions. Overall, a nice short program for them. I'll be interested to see how it translates to the competition and matches up against the top pairs.
I lost the online stream for a while, and when it came back there was a live news team there who did reports every 5 minutes or so. It's interesting, being someone who feels pretty knowledgeable about the sport of figure skating who also happens to be in the communications industry to watch someone nearly crash and burn because they know nothing about what they're trying to say. It was rough, but it is nice to see figure skating getting such a generous amount of air time on local stations in Spokane.
The actual time spent on watching the skaters for the next hour was minimal, so I didn't really see much. Brooke Castille and Ben Okolski were in group D and I just love what they do on the ice. They're not the most consistent, but when they're on, it's something special to watch. I feel the same way about Keauna and Rockne. These two couples just have *it.* Whatever *it* is, they've got it.
Brooke and Ben landed a nice throw 3 salchow, Brooke had a VERY deep knee bend at the end, but it was complete and clean. I also noticed that their side-by-side spins were in great unison and they were lovely to watch.
The live reports are over and the team cleared out, but apparently forgot to set the live feed back up. I've got sound but no picture. This should be interesting.
Now for some impressions from the men.
Evan was in the first group. There's no denying he's the favorite. Hopefully that pressure doesn't get to him, though he's handled it pretty well thus far this season. He started things off with a few warm up jumps. Then hit the run through of his long program all guns blazing, pulling out a quad toe at the top of the program. Nice to see that element back in his skating. He's probably the most complete skater the US has to offer, but without the quad he may be leaving some points on the table internationally. If he can incorporate it, he should have every bit as good a chance at Olympic gold as the Evgeni's and the Nobonari's of the world. And boy is he skating like a champion. What a difference from even a year ago.
Jeremy Abbott had a rough go of it today. He tried the quad several times and finally landed one. But he fell twice in his short program run through. He stayed on the ice until the crew came out for resurfacing and he seemed to have sorted things out a bit by the end of the session.
Adam Rippon is going to be big. I'm going to say that now and come back to it when he's the champion to beat. The kid has more potential in his little finger than most could ever dream of having. He's smooth, mature, his jumps are solid, his technique is clean. He's got the goods. And he makes it all look effortless and beautiful. He is going places. Mark my words.
Didn't see much of Johnny or Ryan due to some technical difficulties with the live feed, but overall it was a good dose of skating today.
The real test, of course, is how much of what we saw today transfers to the competition ice. That's the test of who is really champion material.
Tomorrow it begins!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)