How about you?

[sillylionlove]

I am a big Deadliest Catch fan too!! I love that show. I love ice road truckers too. Sadly these are winter series so they are not on right now!!

 

[Tonichelle]

My stepcousin's stepson and his girlfriend recently lost their baby (he was extremely premature) and I guess the Anchorage hospitals don't have that option (there is a photographer that I know that will go and take photos of the child with teh parents so they have a professional photo record and I know it eats at her each time considering she's a mom of 3 healthy children)

anyway I just wanted to say that it is a blessing to have someone who cares over the most difficult of times...

 

[Kwanford Wife]

Hey Piel... Congrats and welcome to happy world of "what's wrong with leaving my socks in the bathroom?" We're always looking for new members...

Anywho...

I'm a 35 year old lawyer from Michigan who moved to Richmond, VA when I decided that I'd had enough of sports marketing, long winters and the Detroit Lions with all of their losing ways with my hubby and our soccer obsessed 10-year old. Now I work for a nonprofit as their marketing and community relations diva...

I'm obsessed with shoes, shopping, Jay-Z, Theirry Henri (French soccer player), Star Wars, Harry Potter and volunteering in the community. I love to listen to music (everything for hip hop to jimi hendrix to 40s big band) reading everything from chick lit to the classics and reality television.

My biggest blessings are my son and the ability to become a better person by having such an awesome kid and recognizing that my husband was my soulmate the first time I laid eyes on him when we were freshmen in college - we've been together ever since that very first day - never underestimate the power of hot tub party at producing true love...

My personal hero is my mom and the most random thing about me is that I simply don't trust people who don't like Prince... (hey I grew up in suburbs in the 1980s...)

Things I hate include: political nut jobs who attempt to use my patriotism as an excuse to condone poor leadership, unfair and unjustified wars, a world where my son can't skateboard on his street because my pscho neighbors are more concerned about their cars than kids' safety, stupid people, Michael Jackson, people who buy tabloids and then complain about a media obsessed society, bad rap music, Bill O'Rielly and TSA agents who make my life difficult at airports.

I've been a skating fan for as long as I can remember and skated competitively until I was about 11 when a coach told my mom that while she could continue to pay for lessons, I simply didn't have the body type to skate (granted, I'm five ten and have a body type that is more Tyra Banks than Sasha Cohen...) but Debbie Thomas gave me back the love because she was living proof that black girls could compete, and win, in skating... I rooted for Kristie & Tonya later on but it was a young little asian skater who turned me into an uber... gotta love Michelle Kwan...

 

[Grgranny]

I don't know about anyone else but I feel really proud that Tigger has taken her problems on with such courage and doesn't seem to be a cry baby about it. So have several others on Golden Skate. I won't mention names but there are several that have great problems and don't seem to dwell on them. How awesome. My best to all of you and hope you all will have much better health from now on.

 

[Tigger]

Thanks Guys!! I'm no angel. I was born on Devil's Night after all. I do try to do the best I can w/what I've got though.

 

[Grgranny]

My husband's bd was 11/1 and always said "just means you should be careful of what you do since it's Halloween the night before!

 

[Tigger]

Grganny, thanks for those very kind words up there. Trust me, there are times when I do rant, rail and cry about what's going on w/me and the medical community. I try not to dwell on that, but there have been more days the last year where the depression demons really dig in their claws and hang on. As I said, I do my best to keep my head above water, but there *are* those days when all you can do is hang on.

Thank God for good friends when those times happen, right?

 

[Binky30]

First of all, I was convinced that Tigger's name was Brenda. So imagine my surprise to find that it's Denise. Are you sure Tigger?

Anyway, about me:

I'm single, old (threw that in to make sure Toni's reading carefully), no kids, no pets. I have a degree in accounting, but right now I'm a high school secretary! I love it - I work with great people, and for the most part the kids are awesome.

I've been online since 1998, and I've made soooo many amazing friends, like Tigger, Patch, Annie, and Toni (just to name a few), it's hard to imagine that there was ever a time when I didn't know them!

Hey Tig, I totally understand about Arwen. I finally finished my wavy stripe pastel afghan, but now I'm working on one that looks like the American flag, and it's TORTURE! LOL I don't think I'll ever finish!!

Like Tigger, I like to cross-stitch and crochet, tho I've given up on the cross-stitch lately. Poor Pooh Bear sits unfinished in my work basket.

As for skating...it's funny. I was a really really HUGE SUPER FAN lol but now I'm more the casual fan that catches the occasional show on tv. I would love to be able to go to more live shows but don't have the $$$. *dies of jealousy knowing certain posters are going to Nationals. Without Me. Again.* :scowl:

 

[Tonichelle]

this CERTAIN POSTER was reading carefully and is upset with another CERTAIN POSTER that she says she's old... because CERTAIN POSTER is NOT old...

and you were a rabid fan, what happened? I know! I need to come down and bring tapes and we'll just have a skater slumber party of sorts...this past week I've had a Kurt Browning marathon and if it's possible I love him even more

or you could just come to nationals... come on... you know you want to...

 

[dutchherder]

Well, my name is Beth, and like Tigger, I have a birthday coming up on October 31st! I'll be 33. I'm married and live on five acres of my husband's family farm. We live in what was his grandfather's house, which we gutted and remodeled several years ago. It had stood empty for years and years and actually had raccoons living in it when we started our work. Needless to say, it was quite an undertaking.

I've been a high school English teacher for ten years now, and most days I love my job. Because of my job, I've planned and chaperoned a prom as well as other dances, a powder puff football game, a golf scramble, a senior class night, and infinite numbers of car washes and fund raisers. I've been the assistant marching band director, played in the pit orchestra for the spring musical, and coached the male "cheerleaders" for the powder puff game. This year I'm chair of the Faculty Advisory Council and I am the advisor for our new Future Educators club. We have a lot of great kids at our school as well as a lot of kids with great challenges. We have a very diverse student population, which always keeps my job interesting. Our school, which houses 1400 students, will merge with the school across town next year (they have 1000 students) into a huge new high school. This year, one of my former students was one of only 117 students in the the country to get a perfect score on his ACT! My school also boasts that we are the alma mater for soul singer John Legend (he's called Johnny Stephens around here).

Believe it or not, sometimes I get to leave work, and when I do, I enjoy raising and showing my beloved Dutch rabbits: http://www.dutchrabbit.com/
I started raising rabbits when I was six years old, and did so until I was 14 when we lost our home to foreclosure, and I had to sell all my bunnies. I got back into it seven years ago and have been enjoying it ever since. We also have a small flock of chickens which supply eggs to a lot of my co-workers. We also have three dogs: Nessie (a Cairn Terrier), Bruno (a Shih-Tzu/Maltese mix) and a new puppy named Squiggy (a Shih-Tzu/Chihuahua mix) and a cat named McLovin (anyone else seen Superbad?)

I also love music and have been to more concerts than I can count, but my all-time favorite band is U2. My brother is a very accomplished musician as well (let me know if you want to check him out on iTunes!). I also enjoy reading and digging around in my flower beds.

I have been a figure skating fan as long as I can remember. Some of my faves are Kurt Browning, Michelle Kwan, Robin Cousins, Underhill/Martini, Ilia Kulik, and Scott Hamilton. Right now I really like Alissa Czisny, Caroline Zhang, Evan Lysacek, Ryan Bradley , Castile/Okolski, and Evora/Ladwig.

I'm sure you're in a coma by now, so I guess I'll go get ready for work!

 

[Tonichelle]

*made it through teh whole thing*

 

[dlkksk8fan]

Hi all. I'm Donna. 48 years old with one hubby (married 24 yrs) and two sons, ages 21 and 17. My oldest just moved out and is attending a UC school far away from our sunny home close to San Diego.
I have a BA in Physical Education and have been a stay at home mom for the last 17 years. I really need to get a job to help pay for my oldest son's college, but I prefer to spend my time figure skating. I am an adult skater that has passed my pre bronze moves, pre bronze freestyle, & bronze moves. I am working on my bronze freestyle.
I also collect figure skating books.
Besides skating I love baseball, go Padre's!

I got married for the first time at the age of 53 on July 7, 2007

Piel congrats!!

 

[show 42]

Congrats Piel........So glad to hear from you. Sounds like you're happy and content........... 42

 

[CzarinaAnya]

I've been online since 1998, and I've made soooo many amazing friends, like Tigger, Patch, Annie, and Toni (just to name a few), it's hard to imagine that there was ever a time when I didn't know them!

((((Binky's))))

 

[76olympics]

Another Beth- just turned 44! Book mad English major who has worked clerical jobs in the healthcare industry for over 20 years ( the best laid plans of mice and men..)

Husband,47, and son with autism aged 12. He is non-verbal, but also book mad and the sweetest guy you will meet at least 85% of the time. Lots of issues have made life rather stressful for me this year, but I try to think of all the folks that have carried on when things were dark. My mom and dad are the best and always there in crisis mode. I am adopted too! Hurrah for the adoptees...

I first became interested in figure skating when Dorothy won gold in 1976. I even bought "Short and Sassy" though my hair was wild and curly!

 

[dlkksk8fan]

and son with autism aged 12

My youngest son has Asperger's.

 

[JOHIO2]

Congrats, Piel and Mr. Piel! My Dad's birthday was 7-7 and this year's 7-7-07 hoorah reminded me how much I miss him and Mom. Best wishes for new life in new place.

dutchherder, hope you have gotten to that specialist and also hope you can feel better soon. Chronic illness is no fun and I hope they can make you feel better.

76 olympics and dlkksk8er -- my grandson was diagnosed as autistic about a year ago. He has made great progress but this is a long haul issue. Happy, energetic kid at 3 1/2. My daughter and son-in-law had a hard time finding out what kinds of help were available in the Cleveland area. A year later, my SIL wants to develop a web site with resources for parents. Had a meeting with local Mental Retardation/Developmental Disabilities people recently and has some friends who could help finance the site, so you can tell they are very involved in helping their son and others. A year later, they can find these challenges as God-given. A way for them to serve.

Lots of stuff happening this past year. I haven't hung out here as much as before. Hope I can find the time more often. I'm 56, college graduate and mother of two grown children. Besides above-mentioned daughter, I have a son who was in the Army Reserves, served in Iraq (now officially discharged) and who graduated from Ohio State this summer. He recently moved to LA to attend grad school at UCLA. He was the only kid I ever knew who's teenage hero was Alan Greenspan and who's favorite tv station was CNBC. When he spent a year on active duty in the states, he complained that the motel's cable service didn't include CNBC and the base's cable did, but "all those red-neck crackers wanted to watch Fox News." So, you will all be surprised that the future tycoon refused to use credit cards in his Rte.66 trip to LA and is now still trying to straighten out his checking account back home. Gee, guess Mr. BusinessMajor didn't think that he'd manage to screw up his account and accumulate many overcharges. I won't say I told him so.....

My own health issues include a kidney disease. Since my Mom ended up on dialysis for it and my sister may soon, I try hard to avoid dialysis. My own kids refuse to be tested for the "family disease." Can't say I blame them. There is no cure and fair, or not, insurance companies still use that kind of info against you. If they have inherited the disease, it probably won't become an issue for them for many years and by then there may indeed be a cure. I hope I can manage to avoid the worst complications but it doesn make life difficult.

I am also involved in a singing group. We have some interesting concerts planned for this season. First one is the end of the month. One of the songs we're doing is the folk song "Goin' to Boston." We didn't know it would be so appropriate when we picked it. Last rehersal, we joked that we should change the lyrics....Assuming the Indians will beat the BoSox. Opens up all kinds of fun new lyrical choices! (GO TRIBE!)

Really looking forward to US Nationals coming to Cleveland in 2009!

Long post. Long absence. Hope I get back here soon!

 

[glenn]

Hi, I'm Glenn (great user name, huh?)
I'm 44, and recently divorced. I live in Philadelphia, near the UPenn ice rink. I just started skating a month ago, tho I've wanted to learn for a while. I'm a dancer (ballet and modern), play golf, and have other bad habits.
I'm a professor, and PhD student, so clearly I have no life!
Nice to meet y'all!

 

[sillylionlove]

Nice to meet you glen and welcome. I am from the other side of Walt Whitman in South Jersey. I didn't know there was a rink by UPenn. I guess you learn something new every day!!

 

[JOHIO2]

Hi glenn. Hope you enjoy your skating. That is so cool! I can't chew gum and walk at the same time, so I really look up to people who take up skating in adulthood.