All of our practices are over, both on-ice and off. Just chillin' at the hotel waiting to do hair and makeup in a couple of hours.

We're skating in a real arena! A small arena, but a minor league hockey team plays there and an NBA development team of some sort. The temperature is comfortable along with cushy seats. There is a jumbotron in the center and a screen that loops around the seats. Oooh, then there are the locker rooms.

The locker rooms were clean and didn't smell like hockey equipment. They had regular bathrooms - that actually had doors on the stalls. Basically, they are professional rooms - clubhouse locker rooms - not the typical hole in the wall under the bleachers room for hockey. It had carpet in areas plus rubber matting for skates. There was some workout equipment around too.

I have been downing water as my skin is so dry, but I think I'm handling the altitude well. Several of my teammates have had some difficulty or have had asthma problems. I noticed WARNING sign about the altitude leaving the locker room after our official practice.

Our practices have been OK. I think our best was this morning at the practice rink a suburb over. We actually moved our moving circle for the first time in awhile. It seems to be coming together. We have already qualified for Nationals as all four masters teams move on. I hope we skate like deserve to go. I'll try my best.

Taquitos

Pretty much chilled with the team and skating moms for the juvenile team at the hotel for the rest of the day.

We had an off ice practice above the bar and then discovered the hospitality room. There was an assortment of festive beverages, chips and veggies, plus TAQUITOS! My favorite snack.

I just spent 30 mins on the elliptical to lose some of the taquitos. I'm very tired from the mix of travel and disruptive weather over the past few days. I'm off to a quick shower and then I'm hitting the sack.

We made it

I'm in Broomfield, CO for the 2009 Midwestern Synchronized Skating Sectionals.

It was a treacherous journey... our team's flight was scheduled to leave Louisville at 7:00 a.m. Instead, the plane had a mechanical error and Northwest booked us on later flight at 8:45.... in Cincinnati two days after a winter storm coated the region with ice.

They gave us vouchers for cabs so we packed in 4 to a cab to make it to Cincy. Our driver drove with his emergency blinkers on at about 35 mph most of the way. Two other cabs stopped for gas and potty breaks which were cutting it close and they arrived at the airport just as we did. The driver finally said, "It danger, I scare." He also said he wasn't driving back home any time soon. Poor guy.

The check in crew was great and got us through as fast a possible, especially since we all had to check our skates. We ran to security and then to the gate. Fortunately, the plane waited for all of us.

It was a direct flight too which was nice. I got to sit next to Beverly Duburow who skates in Lexington and remembered me skating there as a teenager when her kids skated. It was enjoyable catching up with her finding out about how her kids are doing and any other skaters that were from Lexington. She is skating on the adult team.

With over 20 people with the Masters and Adult teams combined, we booked a limo to take us the hotel. Goofy limo pics coming soon...

US Nationals

I followed US Nationals on icenetwork last week and watch the men's final on NBC.

As expected, Meryl Davis and Charlie White captured their first championship minus the injured Belbin & Agosto. I think they could have won competing against them anyways. They've come on strong this season. Really enjoyed watching the Hubbells, they had some creative moves. I got to see them at the PSA conference in May in a demonstration and I believe they will continue to be interesting to watch develop.

I was pulling for Alissa Czisny to come out on top and she cam through. I know she has worked on being a stronger competitor and her jump technique so I'm glad she was rewarded. I'm looking to forward to seeing her skate at Worlds and I'll root for her to medal... at least a bronze against Mao Asada and Yuna Kim is possible!

Also glad to see Melissa Telecky skate respectably in her first trip to Nationals after seeing her compete in the Louisville regionals and barely miss the cut. Go Girl!

Surprising men's final.... where did Brandon Mroz come from? As I secretly hoped, Johnny and Evan didn't have their best Nationals. Jeremy Abbott won capping off his stellar GP season. Too bad Ryan Bradley couldn't pull it off as well. You have to concentrate during the short program Ryan! I made dinner during Brandon Mroz's skate...whoops. He was in first until Jeremy skated, apparently had the skate of his life.

I also played on a website today that allows you make you own Obama "Hope" poster ala Shepard Fairey. Since US figure skating is going through it's own change in champs with skaters progressing and great hopes for the World Champs I threw in the new champs. Dorky, I know, but what else can you do in the midst of an ice storm in Kentucky?