Hi everyone!

I know this journal may seem long overdue, but I figured I would wait until I had enough things to tell you... so I'll start at Norths.

I must say, I was disappointed not to make Easterns, but much more proud of my skating this year.  I had two really strong programs and if I had a good short, I would have been on my way to Lake Placid.  I still walked away this year much happier especially since I fought through the final long after I had dislocated my thumb in practice.  I know the thumb isn't that big of a body part, but I didn't think it could hurt that much.  The problem was that there was no medical staff in the building and they took over 20 minutes to get ice.  The time went by quickly.  Originally I was going to go back to the hotel for my dress and make-up, but I didn't have enough time, so my mom went while I waited for some kind of medical attention because at that point it had swelled up, and I couldn't move my hand.   Well, the meds did nothing because they said if I inteneded to skate my long they weren't liable for me.  At that point, I had a panic attack; I've never cried so hard in my life. I was very fortunate that Joe Lynch, a pair skater, had tape and pre-wrap and I was able to tape my hand and thumb to give me some support.  That gave me some comfort and I was able to calm down, although tying my skates became a whole other issue.  Needless to say, I got them tied and skated pretty well.  I'm really proud of myself for fighting and actually trying triple lutz in my long!  It was 2 footed and cheated, but I was glad I rotated it :)

After Norths, of course, I took some time off and finished the fall semester with a 3.27 GPA.   Over the late fall I celebrated my 21st birthday in the city with my boyfriend and my mom and her boyfriend.  We had a nice Thanksgiving at home and by the time Christmas rolled around I started teaching a lot more kids.  I got back on the ice in mid November and I was already prepared to get going for next year.  I have chosen music for both the short and the long.  The short is the Pirates of the Carribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl soundtrack and I'm so excited about it.  I know it is a popular choice right now, but so was Titanic, and when I used that I made Nationals, so I have good feelings about this.  My long is Tchaikovsky's "Romeo and Juliet" which I've wanted to use for a long time and I'm glad I can use it now.  I did the main choreography for both programs and I must say the footwork is awesome, but after awhile I felt it needed some additional help with the programs so I'll be working with Tom Gaasbeck on that part.  I feel the work with him will make me more comfortable not only with the program, but connecting the programs to the jumps.

I had a meeting with Steven and we set goals for this year.  My first competition will be Cherry Blossom [Invitation, April 22-24, 2004 in Alexandria, Vir. and there will be no withdrawing.  I plan on being prepared and on top of my game by April.  I'll be placing more focus on cleaning up my triples and make the triple-triple combination part of my program by the summer.  I've done it a couple times clean, but never really focused on putting it in a program.  Even though I am still in college full time, I have been able to work my schedule to put me on the ice more sessions a week than I have been since I was in Delaware.  I am skating three sessions a day in Wall, NJ Monday through Thrusday and Friday and Saturday I will skate in Hackensack, NJ.  As of right now I've been skating Thursday nights at Old Bridge, NJ because I also teach there, but they close for the season in April.

Well, I hope everyone has been able to stay warm this winter, I'll probably be writing again some time around April.  Happy Valentine's Day!

Love,
Stephanie