4 Continents Figure Skating Championships

Last week I fell into an interesting temporary job. ABC was covering the Four Continents Figure Skating Championship, and I was asked to be a runner for one of their Production Managers. At about 9 pm on Sunday night, I was called by a friend of a friend to see if I would be able to do this job for the week. Basically, it consisted of helping run errands, setting up, tearing down, and making sure everyone actually producing/taping had everything they needed (cough drops, water, munchies, tape, etc.) I even spent a few hours on two days giving tours to Garden of the Gods, Glen Eerie, and to my favorite little breakfast joint, The Omelet Parlor. The week was exciting with all the new people and things to learn, but was also very exhausting. I mostly worked with a handful of people, but made friends all over. The days were long, starting at 8:30 am and going till midnight at least. I learned a lot about figure skating and can now pick out certain elements and rate them. It will be exciting to watch figure skating at the Olympics in a few days and compare what I’ve seen in person. I had a really great time and look forward to the opportunity to work with some of these people again. So there you have it, what I’ve been up to the last week.

Kerrville Training Camp

This week has been very good for my training. Though I didn’t shoot all that well, I made some changes with my gun (moved the comb), and started to work on my training plan in earnest. It’s been really weird, but I have moments of intense inspiration and drive, but don’t really know how to translate that into a constant influence. Needless to say, it was very helpful to work on the training plans in a group, bounce ideas off one another, and just train together for once without a competition looming a few days off. We spent most mornings in a classroom talking about training, mental prep, and necessary documentation and paperwork for travel and eligibility. The rest of the day was spent shooting. Then, of course, we went home to eat, hang out, and work out if desired.

The range in Kerrville, though new, is well on its way to being a VERY nice range. They had the four bunkers poured and placed, but only two were functional at the time. The range itself is located about five miles away from the main town on top of a hill. It made for a nice run home. I met with the owner and he has incredible drive to complete it with the athlete in mind. I look forward to seeing its completion near the Spring Selection match. It’s really too bad that I forgot to take pictures, but if I can get some from one of the other girls at the camp, I will repost this entry. Anyway, this camp was a great way to kick start training for the year. I’m excited and energized for the upcoming season.

Hockey

Friday and Saturday night were AWESOME! Chris and I had tickets to the CC-Wisconsin hockey game for both nights. Usually we sit up in the "almost-nosebleed" section, but my uncle gave us tickets and he's like 6 rows up from the ice. It was great. Friday proved to be a close game between to two top rated teams. We stuffed ourselves silly with nasty greasy game food, and enjoyed an evening out. Too bad I forgot my camera! I could have taken some GREAT shots.

Because of how close the game was on Friday, we expected the Saturday game to be even better. Boy were we wrong! Within the first 2 minutes a major penalty was called leaving CC short handed for 5 whole minutes. Wisconsin took advantage of this by scoring 4 goals right off the bat! It was a miserable game for CC ending 9-1 Wisconsin. The newspaper said that its the worst game they've had at home since 1993! I imagine it'll make the playoff games even better though.

In the mean time, we got great seats again since no one wanted to say and watch after the first period and since the bronco's game was on. (yuck!) So we again sat with my uncle...but, I did remember the camer. I'll hafta go get more batteries before I post pictures though. (So look for late additions to this post sometime next week maybe.) I tried to choose better "game" food though by just getting a soda and a bag of peanuts. Which turned out to be a good choice to last most of the game (they take a lot of work to get out of the shell you know.)

So now it's Sunday and I leave tomorrow for my training trip to TX. I'm looking forward to it, but also a little apprehensive since I really haven't trained much. (Considering I just got access to the range on Wednesday its no surprise really!) but anyway, I'm rooming with Brandie, so we should have a good time at least. It'll probably be another week or so before I get a chance to post, so take care and talk to you soon.

Calendar Related Hockey Madness

My mom received a gift card for Archiver’s scrapbooking store for Christmas. So, before she left, we went to a Valentine’s card making class one evening. We had fun, and found lots of things to pick up. (That’s all I need, another expensive hobby.) Anyway, while there I decided that for this years calendar I would design/scrapbook my own. I picked up these monthly kits and a basic calendar to start. The only problem was I didn’t have any good pictures to use for each month. Sooooo, I got this great idea that we would take pictures with the digi for stuff we’ve done each month, then use them on the calendar. Since we had tickets to two CC hockey games, January was designated hockey month. Needless to say, things have been busy and I STILL haven’t gotten around to making the calendar. I should really get on that. Anyway, the game on Friday night was good. Both teams fought hard and the game was close. You could just tell that Saturday night was going to be a great game. The night was even better because we had tickets to sit with my Uncle Chuck five rows up on the blue line. It’s really too bad Saturday was a complete shut out! However, for those more interested in the bronco’s game, it was an easy decision to make when in the first seven minutes Wisconsin had already scored four goals. A lot of people just got up and left at the end of the first period.

Secret Pal 7 Questionaire

Well it's that time again, the start of another SP round. I am sorry to say that I was VERY unhappy at how the last one turned out for me, but I guess that's just the way the cookie crumbles some time. I also feel I kinda owe an explanation to my SP as to why I haven't posted in awhile....things have been kinda crappy. Anyway, I hope to be good and try and post at least once every two weeks if not once a week. So Happy New Year! And I can't wait to get to know you, you sound cool and exciting already!!! :o)

1. Are you a yarn snob (do you prefer higher quality and/or natural fibers)? Do you avoid Red Heart and Lion Brand? Or is it all the same to you?
Since I’ve only been knitting for a short time, I have thus far been a yarn snob. I have only knitted with 100% cotton, baby alpaca, and some merino wool. Of those three, I preferred the baby alpaca, however, I am open to expanding my yarn snobbery.

2. Do you spin? Crochet?
No to both. Though I might not mind learning to crochet once I’ve gotten the hang of this knitting thing.

3. What do you use to store your needles/hooks in?
I have a needlemaster, so they all fit in their little case they came in. However, my one pair of straight needles just sits in the bottom of my knitting basket.

4. How long have you been knitting? Would you consider your skill level to be beginner, intermediate or advanced?
About 5 months, and probably somewhere in the beginner to intermediate range.

5. Do you have an Amazon or other online wish list?
I have an Amazon list, but it needs to be update from Christmas.

6. What’s your favorite scent? (for candles, bath products, etc.)
Well, I tend to like cleaner scents like Victoria Secret’s Love Spell, Pear Glace, and just about anything that smells nice (vanilla, cinnamon, cucumber melon, linen, etc.) So I guess I don’t really have a FAVORITE.

7. Do you have a sweet tooth?
Yes, especially for good dark chocolate and gummy things.

8. What other crafts or Do-It-Yourself things do you like to do?
Cooking (yes I consider it a craft and I often "do-it" myself), quilting, cross-stitch, and occasional scrapbooking.

9. What kind of music do you like? Can your computer/stereo play MP3’s?
I have very eclectic taste (Disney, musicals, country, classical, alternative, Christian rock, pop/hip hop, etc.) Not really into rap though. And yes, I have and iPod mini.

10. What’s your favorite color? Or—do you have a color family/season/palette you prefer? Any colors you just can’t stand?
Blues typically, but depending on what it’s around and used for, just about anything.

11. What is your family situation? Do you have any pets?
I’m in a long term relationship and living together with the love of my life, Chris. Only fish for pets, but I want a puppy or kitty someday. (I had a great picture but it doesn't seem to want to load. BOOOO!!)

12. Do you wear scarves, hats, mittens or ponchos?
I wear scarves, hats, and mittens when its cold enough, but not really into ponchos.

13. What is/are your favorite yarn/s to knit with?
Since I’ve only been knitting for like 5 months and have only really knitted with 3 kinds of yarn, so far I like baby alpaca. However, I am looking forward to expanding my yarn palette (got any yarn recommendations?)

14. What other fibers do you absolutely “not” like?
I’m not really a huge fan of fun fur or similar novelty yarns. I suppose they’d be kind of cool for an embellishment now and then, but otherwise not really. After perusing the isles of JoAnn’s and Michael’s, I’ve found that I don’t like cheap blends much either. (Mind you, I’ve only used 3 kinds of yarn, so I have limited exposure to many yarns.)

15. What is/are your current knitting obsessions?
Finding a local Stitch’n’Bitch to be a part of, working on my sisters Christmas present (which I gave to her, but was totally the wrong size, therefored, I must frog it), reading Crazy Aunt Purl’s blog, learning to felt, and finding cool new knitting projects that I can make and give to friends (basically trying to learn everything I can about knitting.)

16. What is/are your favorite item/s to knit?
I don’t really have a favorite yet. However, I’m looking forward to learning to knit hats, gloves/mittens, socks, and sweaters.

17. What are you knitting right now?
That ill-fitting present for my little sister, it's a hat.

18. Do you like to receive handmade gifts?
Sure, if they’re quality and well thought out. (I love when someone puts time into something especially for mwa.)

19. Do you prefer straight or circular needles?
so far I think I like circs for the most part. Smaller stuff its good on the straights.

20. Bamboo, aluminum, plastic?
I started on the cheapest plastic pair you could ever imagine and they were ok, until I found the more sophisticated bamboo. After working with the bamboo for awhile I found that my alpaca didn’t slide very well on them so I purchased a pair of aluminum. It seems to work better, but I have to wonder if the Brittany or Lantern Moon needles would be any better. Then I graduated to a Needlemaster set, and because I'm cheap, that's what i've stuck with. So, I guess so far I like the aluminum best (the colorful Boyes with the silver flat cap thingy on the end are so pretty in a cup.)

21. Do you own a yarn winder and/or swift?
No, wish I had a yarn winder sometimes, but I do ok without.

22. How did you learn to knit?
I taught myself from a learn to knit kit I got at Target.

23. How old is your oldest UFO?
Knitting: a couple weeks based on the time I haven't worked on it... but I started it in October.
Quilting: almost a year.

24. What's your favorite animated character or a favorite animal/bird?
I don’t really have an all time favorite, but I’m rather partial to old school pooh and friens like in the Peter Ellenshaw prints (my all time favorite is “Autumn Leaves”)

25. What is your favorite holiday?
I suppose Christmas since I get to see my family, but I much prefer the season of Fall for its multitude of colors and brisk winds.

26. Is there anything that you collect?
Not really, but I’m always up for starting a yarn stash.

27. What knitting magazine subscriptions do you have?
None, but I’ve been contemplating getting Knit1, it looks pretty cool.

28. Any books, yarns, needles or patterns out there you are dying to get your hands on?
Stitch’n’Bitch, and I just found these and love them. Gigi and Bear.

29. Are there any new techniques you'd like to learn?
I’m going to learn to felt in the next couple months if it kills me! :o)

30. Are you a sock knitter? What are your foot measurements?
Not yet, but I’d sure like to learn. I’m not real sure what it means by measurements, but I’m a size 8/8.5 most of the time. I like soft sockies, and saw a pattern for silk or cashmere ones that look yummy!

31. When is your birthday? (mm/dd)
November 18th

Happy New Year!

Since my family was here for the holidays, I thought I’d throw a little party for new years. The big plan was to have a four course fondue meal with movies and billiards in between courses. Once we’d planned the courses, shopped and gathered all the goodies, Kacie and I started to prepare what food we could in advance. My parents were suppose to show up around 5 pm, but called and said they were ready...AND were wondering if the Hall’s could come too. While Chris added two extra leafs to the table, Kacie and I set the table, and got the salad course ready. The way we planned it was to have a course, then let everyone go in the living room to watch part of a movie while the next course was being prepared. It worked out well, but was a VERY long evening.

My parents and the Hall’s arrived around 7 pm with extra chairs in hand (which was fortunate since we would have had to stretch to get just my family on chairs.) We started with a wedge salad, and then moved on to a cheese course after that. We made a traditional Swiss and a spicy curry cheese to dip the assorted breads, and vegetables offered. Then we sent everyone to watch a little bit of Bewitched while Kacie and I cleaned up and prepared the meat course with dipping sauces. We used all sorts of meats; thai chicken, plain chicken, teriyaki steak, plain steak, shrimp, salmon, turkey sausage, etc. Then, again, we sent everyone to finish the movie while we prepared the dark chocolate dessert fondue. Much wine and laughter was had by all, and the dessert fondue with cookies, cakes, and fruits received rave reviews. I wish I had taken some pictures, but as you might imagine, it was kind of a busy night for me. But just try and imagine seven people in a small apartment living room. It was a wonderful evening and we definitely had enough food for everyone and some more. We finish around 11:30 pm, which was perfect for watching the ball drop. This was the first time that I had used my fondue set at home, and certainly won’t be the last. I would love to do something for Valentine’s Day, but with Chris in Torino, would probably be a waste by myself.

Happy New Year! And good luck with all your new year’s resolutions.