Monday, October 29, 2007

Busch Gardens


Busch Gardens Europe has been a favorite of mine since high school. Back then the fall was the PRIME time to visit. The park is open through the last weekend in October and back then the October weekends were usually cold, and the park empty.

Not so anymore! I heard the park actually reached capacity yesterday.



We've been season passholders for a number of years now - it's 2 hours door to door... not too bad. Back when life was simple it was fun to pack up DD after school Friday, and go camping in Williamsburg for the weekend. Don't really have time for that these days. This year the season pass was pretty much a waste - went yesterday for the only time this season.



The girls rode all the coasters - multiple times each. DD is a coaster fanatic, her friends aren't so much, but learned to love them.




Monday, October 22, 2007

High School Musical the Ice Tour

All I can say is WOW!

DD actually enjoyed it so much Friday night that she begged to be able to see it again. Fortunately there were tickets still available for yesterdays show.

I actually sat there mesmerized, studying the costumes. By Disney standards the costumes were pretty simple.

DD was grilling me on the actual skating skills. For her the special part was knowing one of the skaters in the show. It's someone she's known since she started skating. Alex is playing the part of Zeke, and what a great job he did!

I want to know... why do I feel like this is possibly the BEST Disney on Ice production that I have ever seen? At first I thought, maybe I feel that way because it's been so long since I've been to one. But, no, two of the coaches from our rink were there yesterday (and they used to skate with DOI), and they agreed - best show, hands down.

I'm going to chaulk it up to the skaters, the lack of silly costumes, and the choreography - I believe the same choreographer was used for the ice show as was used in the movie.

DD's FAVORITE song right now:








Thursday, October 18, 2007

Regionals videos

After being told to expect the DVD in 2-3 weeks, imagine our surprise when it arrived yesterday (less than a week after the event).

After watching the videos, bad mom that I am, I'm even MORE shocked that DD won the whole thing. Not that I don't think she's the best skater I'VE ever seen... just surprised that the judges liked it.

Yesterday she worked with Audrey Weisiger again. It never ceases to amaze me how her whole attitude changes after (and during) a lesson with Audrey. DD has even come off the ice to point out how much her cheeks hurt from smiling so much during the lesson. It's not that they're out there having "fun", but DD just enjoys the lessons that much.

DD tried to downplay her excitement, but Audrey is supposed to be choreographing her Juvenile program. DD is already trying to "design" her dresses.

Here are the videos:

1st round (she placed 3rd)
Here are the judges placements:




Final round (she placed 1st)
Judges placements:


Sunday, October 14, 2007

Regionals are over!

Phew, what a crazy couple of days! DD is beside herself with joy. She actually finished 3rd in her group - first clean program she's skated, in competition, since June 2004. This allowed her to go to the final round. The final round appeared to be a bunch of worn out young ladies. DD decided to play it safe - go for the clean program. Turns out it paid off. She won. Got her favorite thing for it to... a trophy. Complains that there aren't enough trophies in skating.

What bothered me the most: NASTY parents and coaches. Standing there looking at the results for the first event, a well known coach said (not really to anyone in particular, but I just happened to be standing next to her) "I can't wait for the new judging system, this judging is not fair". How should I feel about that? Maybe I shouldn't have taken it this way, but the fact that her skater finished 4th to DD's 3rd made me feel like it was directed at me.

Then there's the parent, when the results from the final round were posted this morning, that my daughter overheard "whoever put that skater in first was psycho".

Holy cow! And we wonder why kids are learning to be such bad sports?!?!?

Fortunately, in all this, there were a lot of great parents, and coaches that had nothing but wonderful things to say to dd. And getting to hang out at the pool Friday night with 2 of her skater friends was an added bonus.

Will post pictures/video when I get a chance.

Tuesday, October 09, 2007

Phew, the season is ALMOST over. Hard to believe all the hard work of this summer has been leading up to this moment. Dress is finished - well except for rhinestones. Guess what I'll be doing at the hotel Friday night?



How it goes all depends on which child shows up to skate. Lately it's been a major roller coaster. No biggie. This season doesn't REALLY matter. Next year, in Juvenile... different story. Fingers crossed on that one! Guess what she has going for her (for next year) is that (for the most part) her jumps are clean.

Here is a video of her most recent competition. Not the best job, but she was happy.



To decompress, in November I'm taking her to Disney for her birthday. Her only request was that she got to stay in a room on a floor where you have to use a key to get there. Wonder where she got that idea? The fun part is that she knows we're planning on meeting up with a friend that lives in Florida, but she has NO idea that her best friend from school will also be down there at the same time. Can't wait to see the surprise on her face! Hope the weather is nice!

Next dilemma... where/when to cruise in 2008? I know, TOUGH decision that I have to make. Due to the potential competition schedule we really can't go away for spring break as we have for the past 4 years... so now I'm looking at getting away just after school gets out. Toyed with sailing up to New England/Canada... but I can't seem to do it - to me cruising is palm trees, sand and beautiful blue water. So, now, drive to Florida to sail for 7 nights to the Western Caribbean (3rd sailing on same ship, 3rd trip to same islands, but this ship is moving to the west coast, so we'd like to sail on her once more), or hop on up to New Jersey for a 5 nighter to Bermuda? Decisions, decisions!