I wish I could say that the reason you're receiving an eChristmas Card is because I'm so environmentally aware and wanted to do a Green Christmas, but the truth is that I just have such an incredible lack of free time right now and too many things to do.
The main reasons for my lack of time are the preparations for the 2008 U.S. Figure Skating Championships that will be starting in just 27 days at the Xcel Energy Center in Saint Paul. Although I've been working on it for the last 3 years (as the Event Chair), the last six months have escalated to crazy and this next month will be nothing but Nationals. I am so looking forward to January 28th, I can hardly stand it.
A short review of 2007:
In January, I managed to make it coast-to-coast in just one week. I started the week in Spokane, Washington for the 2007 U.S. Figure Skating Championships and ended it in Providence, R. I. for 2007 Eastern Synchronized Skating Championships. The only negative: My luggage arrived in Providence 24 hours after I did.
Ice Skating outside in August? As part of promoting Nationals, we had an outstanding media event when we brought in plastic ice (yes, there is such a thing!) along with Nancy Kerigan and Emily Hughes and set it all up at the Minnesota State Fair. Our local skaters demonstrated and the media just ate it up. All four TV stations and both newspapers covered it. I got placed in front of the cameras and tried to keep my brain and mouth working as a team. My buddy, Snowplow Sam and I got our picture taken together. (See below)
In October during another media event for Nationals, we had 100 skaters on the ice at the Xcel Energy Center and I was ready for another picture of me with Snowplow Sam. Alas, the photo op didn't happen when I ended up inside the Snowplow Sam outfit. On skates! Skating with a big head that has limited visibility is quite a lot of fun. Again, I ended up on TV, but wasn't required to say anything - Sam is mute!
November was the highlight of the year when I traveled to Atlanta to serve as the maid of honor in my best friend's wedding. Mary Sichko Hinkley and I have been best friends since third grade and being her maid of honor was such a special honor. I'll post pictures on my facebook page when I get them from Mary later this week.
Job-wise, I celebrated one year at Hazelden November 27 and am blessed to have a boss who understands my skating life and has patience to get through this next month with me. My office is a 45-minute drive from home out in Center City, but will be moving to downtown Minneapolis in March. Not sure if it is a blessing or a curse.
Family: Mom continues to do well living at Thorncrest in Albert Lea, but is now car-less and not very happy about it. She totalled it last Winter when she and Semi-truck disagreed who had the right-of-way. Fortunately, no one was hurt.
The nine nieces and nephews continue to be a joy in my life. Aaron (28) bought his first house as did Sarah (26) and her hubby Tim. Josh (26) got his first apartment while his sister Anne (24) is preparing to marry Derek this spring. Kelly (21) is at Drake Pharmacy School and will be traveling to Hawaii in January to visit her cousin Casey (24) who is living and working there until March. John (23) is scheduled to graduate from college next year and his sister MJ (17)finally got her driver's licence this year. Riley (11) has started another season of wrestling, but really excels on Guitar Hero on PS2.
Well that's it for the holiday Yule Blog.
Oh, wait, I'm sure my long-time friends are wondering where is the Top Ten List??? Well, with the writer's strike, I felt I should honor my labor/union heritage and not cross the picket line. Well, low and behold, I came to discover that Dad was actually Management and not labor, so I made a compromise. Instead of a Top Ten List, I thought I would take a page out of Hazelden's book and have the 12 Steps of Christmas..
- Admit that you are powerless over the holidays and that your life has become unmanageable.
- Believe that a power greater than consumer credit can restore you to sanity.
- Decide to turn your will and life over to Santa as you understand him.
- Make a searching and fearless inventory of your Christmas wish list.
- Admit to Santa, to yourself and to someone with available credit the exact nature of your size, color preferences and taste in consumer electronics.
- Allow Santa to remedy all defects of your bank account.
- Humbly ask Santa to pay off your credit card debt.
- Make a list of all electronic toys you want, and be willing to read the instruction manual.
- Cite model numbers and retail locations wherever possible, except when doing so would require you to Google.
- Continue to take personal inventory, and when you think of something else, promptly add it to the list.
- Seek through prayer and meditation to improve your conscious contact with Santa as you understand him, praying only for knowledge of the gifts for you and the strength to open them quickly.
- Having had a spiritual awakening as the result of these steps, carry Santa’s message to friends and family every Christmas.
