July/Aug 2007

Aug 26, 2007:

I haven't been very good about keeping up with my journal and I'm sorry.  I have really been busy with school work, training, and working.  My  school work is really tough this year.  I have a lot of classes that are very involved so am having to really work hard this year.  Then, I'm trying to get to the rink twice a day to train, which has been difficult too.  I like to skate in the morning for an hour and then do school work and then get back to the rink to skate for at least 2 hours.  Then, I work out at the YMCA with cardio.  After that I sometimes do tae boxing plus I help with LTS and an off ice class.  By night I'm tired and ready to just hang out. 

There isn't much time before regionals.  I can't believe the summer is about over! I think there is only about 5 or 6 weeks until regionals.  This year I'll be competing intermediate level at the Southwest Pacific Regionals in October.  I love my programs and am working hard to get all the necessary elements.  I'm needing to upgrade my spins and so will have to work really hard to get them up in time.  I also don't know what jumps I'll include yet.  Right now it's basic but I'm hoping to get some bigger jumps consistent and put in the regional program.  After regionals I will be back to work with trying to move up to novice and then the junior level.  I have a lot of work to do so am trying to focus and do what I need to do.

My comedian brother, Josh, is back in town and he'll be doing a show here on September 8th.  I can hardly wait to see him performing again.  Anyone out there wanting to check out his comedy stuff just go to http://www.myspace.com/joshskalniak  .

I'm also excited we are back in football season.  YEA!  It's been too long!

Ok, will try to write more often. 

Love ya all !!!!!

Sarah Kidd

 

Aug 18, 2007:

Ok, I've started school again.  I'm a 10th grader now with Arizona Connections Academy.  I love this online school but this year is going to be really tough.  I have a lot of classes and they are all very involved.  I'm still trying to figure out my schedule with skating, training and studying.  I have six weeks to get ready for regionals and I'm really excited about that.  We are still finishing up my programs and I'm doing my best to get ready in time.  I"m looking forward to competing again and seeing some skating friends I haven't seen in awhile. 

Ok, I'll try to update tomorrow.  I'm having to finish up some homework right now but wanted to stop in and say Hi!

Sarah

Aug. 6, 2007:

Last week I had a very rough week with my skating.  I was getting so nervous for my skating tests.  I really wanted to pass both tests so I could go to regionals.  We had decided (me and my mom) that if I didn't pass the tests, I wouldn't go to regionals.  The cut off date for the tests are Aug. 31st.  and this past weekend was the last test session before then.  I really want to do regionals so I kept getting these negative thoughts into my head.  I had to get up at 3:45 am on Sat. morning because the test was on the opposite end of the Phx area from where we live.  Tammy picked me up and took me.  I really felt good when I got on the ice.  I scored very high on my moves and was so happy.  Then, when the freeskate came, I was so relaxed and calm.  It was actually fun!  Now, I need to get ready for regionals.  We have a lot to do because we haven't even choreographed my short program yet.  We have to change my freeskate a little too.  I have a lot of elements to work on too.  Our rink just got the dartfish and today I saw what my jumps look like with it and it was so helpful.  I can see exactly what I'm doing wrong.  I have a lot to fix.  Ha!  Ok, just wanted to update about my test.  I'm so happy I finally have that test behind me.  Yea!

July 21, 2007

I want to start out by saying I had a heart test today.  Ok, don't get scared.  Master McGowan (owner of The Polar Gym) had this day of free heart testing.  He hosted this event from the Anthony Bates Foundation.  Go to www.anthonybates.org to read the story.  It's really a sad story but Anthony's mom has vowed to promote heart health to help others discover problems at a young age and before it is too late.  So, I had what is called an Echocardiogram or ECHO and also an EKG.  My results were good but it was so weird seeing my heart on the monitor.  It was also kind of scary.  I mean I was looking at my heart, and seeing it beat and thinking this is what keeps me alive.  Really strange.  The Polar Gym was packed with people waiting in line to have this test done.  It's really a great thing because this testing is very expensive and it was free today.  I guess I'm to keep having this test done every couple years, especially since on my grandpa's side (Kidd) there are some heart problems.  I had an Uncle Oscar that died of leakage to the heart back in the days before doctors knew how to treat it.  At first I was scared to have it done but then afterwards I was glad I did. 

I want to congratulate my friend Katie for placing 1st in her dramatic this weekend at Cactus Classic.  Also, Jennifer placed 2nd in her program.  Way to go!  We were going to go to the Cactus Classic competition to watch but then we just got too busy.  I'll find out results later and post them.  Tonight my friend Christina is having a celebration sleepover for Katie.  I can't wait.  It should be a lot of fun.  You know, us girls being silly all night long. 

I am loving my freeskate.  It's just so fun!  We still have to make an ending but we'll probably finish it this week.  I also love my short program music.  We'll get that choreographed soon.  Jack just paid for my short program dress from Sharene's and I can hardly wait to get it.  So, now I have both my freeskate dress and short program dress thanks to Jack!   

Ok, I gotta get to the sleepover.  Will write again soon!

Love,

Sarah

July 13, 2007 (Friday the 13th...good luck Friday)

This past week was very busy as usual.  I had a lot of fun working AND working out!  I'm a bit frustrated with my double axel right now.  I used to have that jump and now I'm crashing on it.  Juliana says it's just me not believing in myself and that I have that jump and just need to land it.  Ok, that's easy to say.  But, it's a scary jump.  I rather do a triple any day.  LOL!  I'm continuously working on my moves in the field and guess I will be until I get done through the senior moves.  Then, I work on my FS every day.  I have tons of spins to really work on this year because they are so important now with the IJS.  My mom is saying we really need some help with a few things so we need to really pray right now.  We need help with some fees for testing and competitions and a new skating dress plus some  past bills need to be dealt with.  I'm working really hard to keep myself on the ice.  I love skating and will do whatever I can to help with the financial part of it.  But, my mom is a single mom that is sick and we really need some extra help.  Please pray about this.

Oh, the party that Katie had was a lot of fun.  There were just a few of us but it was great!  We went swimming in their pool and played games plus went to public skate and then went back to their house and watched movies until we fell asleep.  The next day we also went ot public skate until our parents came to pick us up. 

Ok, need to get going cuz tomorrow I get up and help teach Learn to Skate.  I'll write again soon.  Please pray for us, ok?

Sarah Kidd

July 6, 2007:

Wow!  We are just having the hottest summer!  Good thing I'm a figure skater, huh?  The heat doesn't really bother me, though.   I go from the air conditioning at home to the air conditioning in the car to the ice rink so I'm really not feeling it all that much.  I basically live at the rink anyway.  And, I love it!  I'm so happy being here in Arizona.  I love the rink where I train.  Everyone is so nice and I have met so many great friends!  I also LOVE Tammy and Juliana, my coaches.  They really help me to believe in myself.  Right now we are finishing up my freeskate and I love it!  I will also be testing next month.  We still need to get my short program done.  My music for my short program this year is "Dark Angel" by Edvin Marton" and my FS is still "Art on Ice" also by Edvin Marton.  I love his music.   I believe I'll be getting a dress from Sharene for my short program.  I already have my freeskate dress thanks to Jack!  Love ya Jack!  I'm also working so hard to pay for my skating.  I work the Skate Rattle and Roll skate camp plus I help with the Learn to Skate classes and also the off-ice classes.  If it wasn't for this work I wouldn't be able to skate so I'm really thankful that Juliana has given me this opportunity.  I love working at the rink!  My fav off-ice class is Master McGowan's tae boxing.  It's the best!  I love punching and kicking the bag.  Plus Master McGowan really knows how to give an awesome workout.  He's so cool!  He's the best trainer ever!  Anyway, I have never been so happy with my training right now and I love the rink and new friends I have made.

I'm really excited because tomorrow Katie is having a grad party that is really a sleep over.  Since she is homeschooled her mom thought it would be nice to have a get together for her for graduating from the 8th grade.  It will be a swimming party and also a sleep over with Katie's skating friends, including me.  We might also go to public skate.  Lately we have been having fun at public skate using HOCKEY skates!  It's so fun trying all of our moves in hockey skates.  Anyway, can't wait for the party.  I'll tell ya all about it afterwards.

The 4th of July was so much fun!  In the afternoon I went to the movies with my friend, Rastam.  We saw "Live Free Die Hard".  It was awesome!  Then, we went to my brother's to get ready for the Tempe 4th of July fireworks show.  You can check out the show at www.tempe4th.com .  My mom, JJ and I parked as close as we could get to the festival, which was over a mile.  We carried blankets to sit on.  It was so hot!  I think it was like 110 degrees at the time of the fireworks show!  We met up with Rastam, JJ's girlfriend and her kids and cousins plus her mom and her friend.  It was so packed with people.  There was a huge concert going on and food booths as well as kid zones.  We laid out our blankets on the grass by the Tempe Towne Lake and hung out together.  The fireworks show lasted over a half hour!  It got to where we were wondering when it would ever end!  But it was so cool!  Patriotic music played during the show, although it was about halfway through before someone realized it wasn't being heard.  All of a sudden the music came through and everyone was clapping.  Afterwards we had to walk all the way back to the car, over a mile and maybe even two.   By the time we got home it was around midnight.  The next day I couldn't even get up to go to my skating lesson.  I was so tired.  We traded the lesson for the next day.  I mean it took me that entire day to get back to normal.  My mom said the heat and all the activity got to me.  But, I had so much fun with my family.  I just missed not seeing Josh.  He had to go to Tucson with his girlfriend for a wedding. 

Oh, I gotta tell everyone that Josh is on the Last Comic Standing commercial.  It is so cool!  He didn't make the audition cut but he did get on TV so, way to go Josh!  I love you and miss you!

Ok, will write again and let ya know about the sleep over.  I might be competing at the Silicon Valley Open so will let ya know about that too.  I really hope so because it's been a long time since I have competed. 

Love ya all,

Sarah Kidd