Skating, fashion, pointlessness
When am I going to learn that I am completely useless as a skating prognosticator?
Michael Weiss is NOT going to the Olympics for a third time, because once again he could not stand up (or stand up on only one foot) when he needed to. And Matt Savoie is going, for the first time. On the day I decided the men weren't worth watching because I knew how it'd come out and left the house without even bothering to set a tape, Matt apparently finally pulled out the performance I've been waiting on for four years. Oh well. (Savoie was third. Johnny Weir and Evan Lysacek are the gold and silver medalists, though Weir was apparently so sloppy that he was third in the free skate. Weiss was fourth, and Tim Goebel fifth. Goebel told the press that he's "wasted" the past four years, having not made the Olympic team, and I find that both sad and disgusting.)
And the pairs that I had no interest in? Best part of Nat'ls so far. Inoue and Baldwin, a team whose inherent sloppiness has always drawn my scorn, were somehow touched by angels and pulled off a stunning free skate, including a history-making world-first throw triple axel, and pulled themselves from fourth to first. The throw 3A is especially stunning, considering how horrible their throws have been in years past (John used to regularly cause Rena to crash into the boards with his reckless technique). John Baldwin has been skating at Nat'ls for 20 years (first as a single, then in pairs), so this is one hell of an example of the old vet triumphing.
And then there was the comeback of Naomi Nari Nam. In 1999, at the age of 13, Nam won silver in ladies' and was hailed as the biggest star to come. And then she got hurt, because she was overtraining jumps her body couldn't handle, and she pretty much disappeared from the scene. Last year, she teamed up with a guy named Themi Lefteris in pairs, and while their free skate wasn't perfect and a little shallow, she demonstrated why so many people thought she was going to be such a big star--she has amazing command of the ice and a wonderful, bright "presence," and her partner is a great complement to her. I hope they continue--they're the brightest hopes I've seen in pairs in many years.
Dance could have been a snore, and Belbin & Agosto certainly were despite their proficiency and commanding lead; it takes...something...to make flamenco boring. Gregory & Petukhov, the silver medalists, were dull too. But below that all kinds of drama happened, with falls (incredibly rare in ice dance) and unexpected stars and yet another comeback, this time of Jamie Silverstein, who despite being a rising star in the late '90s abruptly left her partner and the sport under unexplained circumstances; those circumstances turned out to be anorexia. She's in a much healthier place now, and while she and her new partner (Ryan O'Meara) were on the slow and tentative side last night, they were solid and lovely, and to everyone's surprise snagged the bronze and the third Olympic spot. Quite a return to the sport.
Tonight we see if Sasha Cohen can keep from blowing up and if any other American lady can provide a convincing argument for not sending Michelle Kwan to the Olympics.
In other news, I took my mother to brunch today as a belated birthday gift, and dressed up a bit for it, and I feel like sharing.
--Deep purple silk/rayon velvet shirt, slightly fitted, button front with V neck, covered buttons, weskit-style hem, long sleeves with flounced cuffs
--Ankle-length black netting drop-yoke tiered skirt, lined to the calf (so calf to ankle shows what's underneath), with rows of tucked ruffles (link shows the cream version--which I also have--but I'm wearing the black)
--Knee-high lace up purple faux suede granny boots with squared toes and thick louis heels
--Hair in a high knot with a rag tie of purple and black shantung and black organza
--Transitional Nouveau/Deco pendant in faux marcasite with black crystals and black beads, on a narrow black velvet ribbon
--Late-Edwardian style drop earrings in faux marcasite with black crystals and black beads
--Powder foundation; bright true purple shadow on lids; bright pale lavender on browbone; dark almost-black purple as liner; black mascara; medium shimmery purple lipstick
We went to Rosebud, which was predictably good, and where our very FABULOUS and charming waiter cooed over how great my shirt was.
And really, this entire entry is an exercise to see whether I can touch-type properly while wearing my new Thermoskin gloves, which ashbet recommended and my mother generously bought for me. The fingers are a little long (especially on my pinkies) and they're not as snug around my thumbs as I would like, considering that's where most of my problems are, but I think they'll work out all right. As far as the exercise goes, they're a little more clunky than my old spandex compression gloves with the fingers cut out, I've made a few more mistakes typing this than I normally would, but I think I'll get used to them.
Oh, and because I don't want to make an entry just for this, but it amused the hell out of me, the latest toy going around:
Ten Top Trivia Tips about Ice Princess!
#9 is especially apt, I think.
Michael Weiss is NOT going to the Olympics for a third time, because once again he could not stand up (or stand up on only one foot) when he needed to. And Matt Savoie is going, for the first time. On the day I decided the men weren't worth watching because I knew how it'd come out and left the house without even bothering to set a tape, Matt apparently finally pulled out the performance I've been waiting on for four years. Oh well. (Savoie was third. Johnny Weir and Evan Lysacek are the gold and silver medalists, though Weir was apparently so sloppy that he was third in the free skate. Weiss was fourth, and Tim Goebel fifth. Goebel told the press that he's "wasted" the past four years, having not made the Olympic team, and I find that both sad and disgusting.)
And the pairs that I had no interest in? Best part of Nat'ls so far. Inoue and Baldwin, a team whose inherent sloppiness has always drawn my scorn, were somehow touched by angels and pulled off a stunning free skate, including a history-making world-first throw triple axel, and pulled themselves from fourth to first. The throw 3A is especially stunning, considering how horrible their throws have been in years past (John used to regularly cause Rena to crash into the boards with his reckless technique). John Baldwin has been skating at Nat'ls for 20 years (first as a single, then in pairs), so this is one hell of an example of the old vet triumphing.
And then there was the comeback of Naomi Nari Nam. In 1999, at the age of 13, Nam won silver in ladies' and was hailed as the biggest star to come. And then she got hurt, because she was overtraining jumps her body couldn't handle, and she pretty much disappeared from the scene. Last year, she teamed up with a guy named Themi Lefteris in pairs, and while their free skate wasn't perfect and a little shallow, she demonstrated why so many people thought she was going to be such a big star--she has amazing command of the ice and a wonderful, bright "presence," and her partner is a great complement to her. I hope they continue--they're the brightest hopes I've seen in pairs in many years.
Dance could have been a snore, and Belbin & Agosto certainly were despite their proficiency and commanding lead; it takes...something...to make flamenco boring. Gregory & Petukhov, the silver medalists, were dull too. But below that all kinds of drama happened, with falls (incredibly rare in ice dance) and unexpected stars and yet another comeback, this time of Jamie Silverstein, who despite being a rising star in the late '90s abruptly left her partner and the sport under unexplained circumstances; those circumstances turned out to be anorexia. She's in a much healthier place now, and while she and her new partner (Ryan O'Meara) were on the slow and tentative side last night, they were solid and lovely, and to everyone's surprise snagged the bronze and the third Olympic spot. Quite a return to the sport.
Tonight we see if Sasha Cohen can keep from blowing up and if any other American lady can provide a convincing argument for not sending Michelle Kwan to the Olympics.
In other news, I took my mother to brunch today as a belated birthday gift, and dressed up a bit for it, and I feel like sharing.
--Deep purple silk/rayon velvet shirt, slightly fitted, button front with V neck, covered buttons, weskit-style hem, long sleeves with flounced cuffs
--Ankle-length black netting drop-yoke tiered skirt, lined to the calf (so calf to ankle shows what's underneath), with rows of tucked ruffles (link shows the cream version--which I also have--but I'm wearing the black)
--Knee-high lace up purple faux suede granny boots with squared toes and thick louis heels
--Hair in a high knot with a rag tie of purple and black shantung and black organza
--Transitional Nouveau/Deco pendant in faux marcasite with black crystals and black beads, on a narrow black velvet ribbon
--Late-Edwardian style drop earrings in faux marcasite with black crystals and black beads
--Powder foundation; bright true purple shadow on lids; bright pale lavender on browbone; dark almost-black purple as liner; black mascara; medium shimmery purple lipstick
We went to Rosebud, which was predictably good, and where our very FABULOUS and charming waiter cooed over how great my shirt was.
And really, this entire entry is an exercise to see whether I can touch-type properly while wearing my new Thermoskin gloves, which ashbet recommended and my mother generously bought for me. The fingers are a little long (especially on my pinkies) and they're not as snug around my thumbs as I would like, considering that's where most of my problems are, but I think they'll work out all right. As far as the exercise goes, they're a little more clunky than my old spandex compression gloves with the fingers cut out, I've made a few more mistakes typing this than I normally would, but I think I'll get used to them.
Oh, and because I don't want to make an entry just for this, but it amused the hell out of me, the latest toy going around:
Ten Top Trivia Tips about Ice Princess!
- A cluster of bananas is called a hand and consists of 10 to 20 bananas, which are individually known as Ice Princess.
- California is the biggest exporter of Ice Princess in the world!
- South Australia was the first place to allow Ice Princess to stand for parliament.
- Pacman was originally called Ice Princessman.
- Ice Princess was the first Tsar of Russia.
- The deepest part of Ice Princess is over 35,000 feet deep.
- The ace of spades in a playing card deck symbolizes Ice Princess.
- Ice Princess will give a higher yield if milked when listening to music!
- If you put a drop of liquor on Ice Princess, she will go mad and sting herself to death.
- There is no lead in a lead pencil - it is simply a stick of graphite mixed with Ice Princess and water!
#9 is especially apt, I think.