Hi everyone...Happy Spring!

I'm so happy it's finally May, I've had such a busy April. The first two weekends I had students competing, then I had Cherry Blossoms, and this past weekend I had students testing. On top of all of that, I had papers to write and test to study for. Needless to say, everything was a great success.

I'll start with the stuff leading up to Cherry Blossoms. About two weeks before I attempted to go into new skates ... interesting chain of events. I really wanted to wait until after Cherries, but my old skates were so broken down I had to wear a knee brace on my landing leg, tape my left ankle, and on top of that, duct tape that ankled of my skates to give me extra support. Clearly, me getting ready to skate was quite a process. So when my new skates came I was so ready to get into them. I put them on at home and thought they just didn't feel right. They didn't even feel like my skates, and I couldn't bend. So I had to take a day off, which was a Thursday, exactly two weeks and a day before I went to Cherry Blossoms, to go to Klingbiel to have them fixed and then he mounted the blades. Fridays I skate at Ice Land in Hamilton, NJ. I drove all the way out there only to find the new skates weren't going to do it for me; I couldn't do anything and was in a panic. I drove home and took the blades off the new skates myself and put them back on the old ones. I may have been in pain, but at least I was able to skate.

The week leading up to Cherry Blossoms I was only skating two session a day so that I wouldn't over do it and hurt my ankle even more. I felt ready though and wasn't worried about it. I was actually really excited to get down to Virginia. When Friday finally came along I was so nervous, but I wasn't sure if it was because for the first time in my career I was going to a competition without my mom, or if I was just nervous to compete. I think I was most worried about the long drive down by myself. I got there and it was absolutely gorgeous out. I was really happy that I was skating second in the short program only because my feet hurt the longer they are in my skates, and I can't really undo the duct tape once it's done, and I'm not used to skating so late at night. I was so excited for short because we've worked really hard on making it a character program and instead of being dark and intense it's a little lighter, but still powerful. I protray more of the Jack Sparrow character [from Pirates of the Carribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl] than anything else, and I couldn't wait to show my hard work and my amazing dress to everyone. I must say that Monica Grecco did a fantastic job!. My short dress last year was great, but this is one of the best dresses I've ever had and fits so well. Back to the program, I was kinda bummed, I popped the triple toe. It's really my best jump, and I hadn't missed it in my short in over a year, but I'd rather miss it now than later in the season. After that though, the program got better, I did get a little tired towards the end, but felt I kept up with the program pretty well and was so happy to see that reflected in my second mark. The second mark went up at least by seven tenths from every judge!

I knew the day of the long was going to be a long day considering my event started at nine [in the evening], and I skated next to last. I went into Old Towne for lunch and went to the gym to keep myself moving. I had a decent practice and then I watched Harry Potter before I went over to compete. I was still having triple toe problems in the warm up, but I nailed it my program, and it was about time! I'm pleased with my performance, because aside from popping the last axel, I competed it the way I practiced it. I've been landing more triples outside the program, but haven't quite connected it all yet. I know it will all be there as I get further into the season.

This week is the last week of the semester, and I couldn't be happier, except for the fact that tomorrow I'm getting my wisdom teeth pulled. I got another new pair of skates and just putting them on in the house they feel so much better. I'll be in them by the end of the week. My next two competitions are NJ Councils in June and Libery in July. I already have my application in for Liberty so hopefully I get in. I would really love to be putting triple/triple out in those two comeptitions; it's coming along and I think the new skates will help.

Before I go, because I know this is getting long, I just want to thank Steven and Tommy for the things we've accomplished so far just this spring. I have a good team behind me and a good support group, my mom and my boyfriend, who are all keeping my positive and focused while I keep myself motivated. I really feel like I'm going to make something of this year, and I'm really enjoying stepping on the ice everyday to keep working to get better! Talk to you all in June...so have a Happy Memorial Day!

Love,
Stephanie