Day 5: Your Favourite Dance Program

Again - in ever? Okay. Fine. That's hard. Without trying to repeat at any other point in these 30 days.

Dance is a funny thing though, see, because since the development of the new system, dance has changed the most of any discipline. I actually LIKE dance a lot now (which could also be attributed to my age, because as a child I hated it) OR it could be because of the new system. Or a mix of both. Regardless, dance IS a much stronger discipline now because of the requirements (but that's just IMHO and there's a whole 'nother post on that another day). So I have a hard time comparing dances of old to dances of new.

But I'll give it a shot.

First - off the top of my head, contenders:
1. Shae-Lynn Bourne and Victor Kraatz - Canadian Ice Dance champs for a billion years and 2003 World Champions.
2. Tessa Virtue and Scott Moir - Olympic, World, and Canadian Dance champs - Canada.
3. Meryl Davis and Charlie White - Olympic and World Silver Medalists, US Dance champs - USA
4. Jayne Torvill and Christopher Dean - Olympic, World, European, and British Dance champs - Britain.
5. Tracy Wilson and Robert McCall - Canadian champs, World and Olympic Bronze Medalists - Canada
6. Isabelle Duchesnay and Paul Duchesnay - World Champions and Olympic Silver Medalists - France
7. Oksana Grishuk and Evgeny Platov - World, Olympic, and Nationals Champs - Russia
8. Marina Anissina and Gwendal Peizerat - World, Olympic, and National Champs - France (though did compete for Russia and won Jr Worlds - just in case you care).

I realize I seem to be a little heavy hitting on the Canadian teams (three in my top 8)...and am missing a whack load of Russians...but I just don't love the Russians. These are the teams that had programs pop into my head instantly. Without second thought. Tanith Belbin and Ben Agosto (US Champs and Olympic Silver medalists) DID pop into my head, and while she may be Canadian by birth, I just don't have any great memory of their programs. Oh and the Kerrs, but same reason. So.

The Top Five Dance Programs of All Time:

5. Shae-Lynn Bourne and Victor Kraatz - River Dance - 1998 - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Nduwt9lgSks - I STILL love this program - this is one of the few ice dance programs I enjoyed in my younger years. In a time without "rules" and much politicking, this program was creative, different, and ingenious. Seriously.

4. Marina Anissina and Gwendal Peizerat - I Have a Dream - 2002 - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RyJknaDA7II&feature=related - They were the ones who came up with the woman lifting the man. And I'm a sucker for "I Have a Dream..."

3. Shae-Lynn Bourne and Victor Kraatz - Adagio in G Minor - 2003 - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J0c55JUbCtI - I included this program and will quote from the comments from YouTube, because it's brilliant: "What's really sad is to win this medal they had to do a program that was the antithesis of everything great about their skating." It's true - this is the year they won Worlds (while they deserved to a multitude of times prior) - this was really the only time they skated to something like this...and it was brilliant...and yet the irony is so thick you could butter your toast with it.

2. Jayne Torvill and Christopher Dean - Bolero - 1984 - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t2zbbN4OL98 - While I can appreciate that at the time, THIS was perfection, I can't grasp the choppiness of this program. I know - it's supposed to be that way. But it wasn't jaw-dropping to me - I wasn't blown away the first time I saw it (I know, I know) - BUT as I watch it over and over, I am impressed with the use of every beat of the music, the creativity, etc. Again, maybe in this day and age, they would do something jaw-dropping, something better than my number 1. I can't compare it next to my number 1, because it's something different. But for the time and the place and the age - it was unique, different, and special.

And the winners, clearly, without doubt in my mind...

Tessa Virtue and Scott Moir - Symphony No. 5 by Mahler - 2010 - Never before has a skating program (and that's saying something) touched me like this. I was SOBBING by the end of the dance and I didn't even "get" it - that's called interpretation - that's using the nuance in the music. That's performance. There was not an error. A bobble. Nothing. THIS is perfection.

(And I know...no Russians. I'm probably biased. But I can't help it).

Day 4: Up and Coming Figure Skater You Are Most Excited For...

Well, the skater that INSTANTLY came to mind, especially after watching a week of Canadian Nationals, is 12-year-old Nam Nguyen. He just, hands down, took the Junior Men's Title of Canada...at the age of 12! He's previously won the Juvenile title, Pre-Novice title, Novice title, and now Junior (after a bronze last year at 11). He's adorable, well-spoken, and too darn good. He doesn't have a triple axel yet, but let's talk about the fact he won't even be eligible for the 2014 games...so really, he has years and years.

 

Can we also discuss the incredible competitive future Mr. Nguyen could have with this little American? Nathan Chen won the Novice championships last year in the US? He's competing Novice again this year and hopes to be the only skater to defend a Novice title. He's a year younger than Nam, but what a competitive future these two COULD have.

I realize these two are both a far stretch - who knows how far they'll actually make it - they're so young and a LOT can happen in even a year. But for now? Their futures look bright.

I could also give credit to two of our "new" senior men - Liam Firus and Ronald Lam - both from BC who finished sixth and seventh at Nationals this week. They could have bright futures. There are a TON of little hot shots in Russia right now for women - but again, especially with women, so hard to say whether they'll make it or not. They're just so young.

We have LOTS of depth in ice dance in Canada too - lots of up and comers.

The future looks good for Canada (well save for Ladies, but isn't that always the case?) - and I'm sure other countries too :)

kortney elise xoxo

Ugh - I Sometimes Wish I Were a Man

I contemplated posting this or not. For a few hours I've thought about it.

But I've been open always with everything...because that's me - even if this is something I want to hide. Even if it's nothing. I could be making a mountain out of a molehill, but for me this stupid disease has been like that all along. So. Here it goes.

I had my specialist appointment today for all the random pain that I've been having - all the endometriosis issues. And what was the result? Well...there was good and bad - hence my emotions have gone up and down like a yoyo.

My endometriosis has not returned in the same spot it was before. Any pain I'm having associated with that spot is "memory pain" - quite literally my brain thinks that the pain is there when it's not. Lovely. I'm a psychopath. However, she has not ruled it out in other areas for now. Just in that spot (the cul-de-sac if you're keeping track). So that's good, kind of. Besides, you know, being crazy.

I DO have a cyst on my right ovary. It seems to be a "simple cyst" in which is normal and not truly concerning; however, generally simple cysts do not cause the pain I'm having. SO - we will monitor it. I go back March 3rd to check on the size and location of this little beauty. If it grows and bursts, I'm in trouble. If it shrinks, well then maybe we can add it to the crazy bus I drive.

Finally, it seems to be that I'm ovulating every 10 days or less. Could possibly explain how I got pregnant (with Alexys) on Provera. The good news is that I'm super fertile at this moment. I got eggs pouring out everywhere...or at least on the ultrasound (it was kinda cool!!!). However, an every ten day cycle is really not very healthy and obviously very wrong. The idea of infertility in the near future, well...it looms in my head even if the doctor didn't put it into words. She's sending me for the following hormone tests (and yes, I'm a dork, and I looked them all up) - FSH, LH, TSH, prolactin, progesterone, and TPO antibodies. She wants to know where the problem is coming from and what exactly it may be causing.

As for the kidney issue, she doesn't know really know what to say or do so for now, she's doing some research and we'll meet back in March. I'm going to make another appointment with my urologist to see if they can work together (they are friends my urologist and endo specialist - small word huh?)

Until then, I'll quietly hope that Tylenol 2s don't become too addicting (don't worry, they're not yet) - because I really hate asking for pain meds. She even said "You can handle the pain till March?" and I said yes. I'm a loser. I should have said "No, I'd like a morphine pump please." But alas.

So the good news is no impending surgery. Yet. Hopefully not this year. Hopefully it can be managed medically and we'll figure it out simply. She said I have a lot of symptoms and we can work on things one by one until we solve the issues - we can work together and get to the route of the problem(s). 

And for the record, why is it always "Student Days" when I go to these kinds of appointments? Because it was again. Let's teach the new girl how to do a pap on Kortney...first one, right? Awesome. Let's teach her how to do an internal exam while Kortney guides her to the correct spots. Haha. I AM always patient and allow for the students to try this out - I think it's important to learn from the best and to be able to "get your hands dirty" - how will these kids ever learn. However, this was the conversation at bedside:

Dr: "Can she try out giving you a pap first?"
Me: "Sure"
*Student goes in for the kill* (with so much pressure I just about kicked her...)
Dr: "Do you mind if I give her advice?"
Me: "Sure"
Dr" *Gives advice to student* "Do you mind if I show her how?"
Me: "Sure"
*Doctor goes in for the kill round 2*
Dr: "Do you mind if she tries again"
Me: "Sure" (in my head, "Why the heck not? I've already bared it all to you for the last 30 minutes).
*Student goes in for the kill round 3 and 4*
Dr: "Was that better this time?"
Me: "Sure"
Dr: "You deserve at least a coffee. Do you want a coffee?"
Me: "No that's okay."
Dr: "Well (at student) you better at least give her a hug."
*Most awkward hug ever ensues.*

End scene.

This happens every single time I go in to a doctor in which I have to drop my pants.
Just saying.

I should have asked for the morphine.
kortney elise xoxo

Day 3: Your Favourite Spectatorship Moment

I'm not going to lie.

This took all of four seconds to think through. I knew my answer immediately.

Except then I had to scroll through the next 27 days and make sure my answer didn't overlap any other day. I'm not sure I'm going to make it all 30 days without repeating. There are simply some things that are too good for posting just once.

My favourite spectatorship moment?

Joannie Rochette's Olympic Short Program at the 2010 Olympic Games.

I mean, let's face it. I was/am addicted to Joannie Rochette. You can see if you scroll down the side of my page that I blog about Joannie nearly as much as Jordon :) I thought the world of her before this Olympics. And then...and then tragedy struck - if you recall, Joannie's mom died 3 days before she took to the ice for her short program - suddenly, of a heart attack. Joannie went on to skate and in doing so broke the heart of an entire nation...world...and performed beautifully.

I was at that Olympic short program. I was there with my mom and my BFF Bre. We were so high up that we could touch the roof of the Coliseum, but nonetheless...we were there. When Joannie stepped on the ice, she got a standing ovation and I have never in my life felt anything so amazing. I don't even know how she handled so much pressure - but she did. And it was a thing of beauty that is forever etched in my mind. To have an ENTIRE stadium, quite literally, cheering for you at the top of your lungs...wow. She cried (obviously). I cried.  I still cry every single time I see this program. Every. Single. Time.

I've seen a lot of live skating over the years - shows, Worlds, Nationals, Four Continents, Synchro nationals, Team Challenge years ago, and even beyond that. However, this moment had to be the best. It had to stand out. For a young lady to skate so well, under so much pressure, for her home crowd, in such tragic circumstances - shows, to me, the joy that skating erupts from deep within, the power it can give, and the lessons it teaches in life. I'll never forget.

Joannie Rochette - Short Program - 2010 Olympic Games

It's the Little Things

I find it bizarre when God speaks to you in little subtle ways. 

Over and over. 

In a new way every day. 

Until you get it.

And sometimes there is no choice but to listen.

Day 2: My Favourite Pairs Program

I have a few rules I'm lying in place. In all these 30 days I'm going to do my best not to repeat any programs I share. To keep it interesting. Because for some of these questions I could answer the same way every time. So keep that in mind.

I really want to cheat on this question. ONE program? Ever? Of all time? In the history of pairs skating? That's a lot of years of skating. I spent too long sitting in front of YouTube tonight...but I was enjoying it. I narrowed this down to exclude show programs and though the top 3 didn't include any short programs, they were considered.

First the teams I considered:
1. Xue Shen/Hongbo Zhao - the Chinese pairs team that won gold in 2010 (plus two bronzes at prior Olympics).
2. Ekatarina Gordeeva/Sergei Grinkov - the famous Russian pair who twice won Olympic gold.
3. Jamie Sale/David Pelletier - the reason we have our new judging system today I like to believe (Olympic gold medalists).
4. Manuela Mager/Uwe Bewersdorf - three time Olympic bronze medalists in the 1970s/80s of East Germany.
5. Isabelle Brasseur/Lloyd Eisler - two time Olympic bronze medalists in the 1990s of Canada.
6. Elena Berezhnaya/Anton Sikharulidze - the other half of the 2002 equation (Sale/Pelletier) - Olympic gold medalists, of Russia.
7. Mandy Wötzel/Ingo Steuer - bronze medalists at Olympics in 1998 - Germany.
8. Jessica Dube/Bryce Davison - of Canada - one time World bronze medalists (admittedly I thought only of one program that could qualify for them).

One program of all the above teams? Just one. I'm not going to lie. It came down to three programs after watching them all, but I did pick one. I picked a podium :D

In third place, The Blower's Daughter - Jessica Dube/Bryce Davison - 2008 Worlds LP. There was something magical about this program. They had the "it" factor. That flow, ability, connection...the magic that I desire in pairs skating. And it was only this program...only this year that did it. Never before and never since.

The top two had a hard time for between first and second, but I sat and tried to watch fresh without any personal connection, memory of my personal connection, etc. And here's where we stand:

In second place, Love Story - Jamie Sale and David Pelletier - 2002 Olympic LP.  This was a toughy...but again I had to go with the magic here. This program still gives me chills and tears, even if I'm not a big fan of the personal lives and problems they've made so public. This program was something else. I will state that under 6.0 this program by far deserved to win; however, had it been CoP, second most likely would have happened. Bizarre, but true.

And the winner of my Favourite Pairs Program (of all time), Classical Selections - Ekaterina Gordeeva and Sergei Grinkov - 1988 Olympic LP. It came down to this one partly because I'm a sucker for traditional pairs skating - the unison and every subtle movement in this program is fabulous. I miss these days of pairs skating. I realize this team matured MUCH more over the years and that their technical difficulty was not as high as it eventually was in this program...but there is something about it. The joy on Katia's face. The big man/little woman thing; he is captivated by her. He is the one in charge and she is in love. It is beautiful. This program brings me to tears. Every.single.time.

Day 1: How You Got Into Figure Skating

 This isn't a very exciting post really. I was something to the effect of six when I started skating. I don't know or how or if it was my ideas or my mom's. I started in CanSkate and progressed up the ranks. I just remember skating. Always. I honestly can't remember NOT skating.

I can remember early mornings with the crisp smell of fresh zambonied ice...the early mornings we'd have to do patch or the before school synchro (then precision) practices.

I can remember the competition where my mom endeavored to learn how to do synchro hair at 4 a.m. (and never again).

I remember my first competition clear as a bell - it was Jingleblades and I so remember skating the program. I remember being mad because I couldn't hear my music when it started and I started late and was all messed up because of it. I though that that was the reason I came 8th...and not because my sit spin imitated an upright ;)

I remember my first season of synchro in fact. I joined half way through the year - not sure why they needed more skaters - and at the time you could skate 24 on the ice (instead of today's 16 norm). There were enough skaters that six of us "rotated" and shared a spot. And not only did I share the spot with ONE other person...I had to share it with two other people. I was given the fabulous title of "program 3 skater." I wasn't very good.

I remember meeting my friend Breanne (pictured). We had the same color guards and accidentally switched them one practice. The next practice we had to switch guards and consequently had to talk to each other because of this. Apparently we never looked back...

My first coach is still my coach, Danalee. She's known me way too long. Way too long. We've gone from coach/student relationship to coach/friend relationship. Bizarre that we could even become friends. And not only that she (sometimes) trusts my thoughts and opinions when it comes the judging stuff. I'm still a little boggled over this :D

Really though - when I do something, I'm all in. It's go big or go home...and apparently that stuck as a child. I went big. I'm still going big. I've always skated and I always will - I think there is something in the zamboni fumes worse than drugs - once you invest in the ice, it becomes a part of you. Always.

kortney elise xoxo

The Latest Blogging Trend

..."30 Days of..."

We all know someone doing it.

For some it is about Canadian moose (which I always feel should be meese when pluralized).
For others it is about them.

And then I saw the best 30 Day Posts ever.

30 Days of Figure Skating.

Uh? Hello. It's just what I need. I promise I won't blog 30 times in a row about figure skating (nor will it even be 30 in a row of posts - I just don't have time for everyday)...even if I could write all 30 posts now, past my bedtime. And probably a few of you will want to skip a few posts...but here it goes. 30 Days of Figure Skating. Here's your upcoming titles to look forward to (hehe - I think I'm going to lose some readers. Oh well):

Day 1: How you got into figure skating
Day 2: Your favourite Pairs program
Day 3: Favourite figure skating spectatorship moment
Day 4: Up and coming figure skater you are most excited for
Day 5: Your favourite Dance program
Day 6: Predict - gold medalists at 2011 Worlds
Day 7: Your favourite Mens Program
Day 8: Your favourite Ladies Program
Day 9: Code of Points - give your opinion
Day 10: Last competition/show you attended
Day 11: Your top 5 favourite male figure skaters
Day 12: Top 5 ladies figure skaters
Day 13: Top 5 pairs teams
Day 14: Top 5 dance teams
Day 15: Predict - Gold medalists in 2014
Day 16: Your dream 2014 Olympic medalists
Day 17: Least favourite skater
Day 18: Favourite figure skating music
Day 19: If you could marry any figure skater, who would it be?
Day 20: Your favourite Olympic moment
Day 21: Team Johnny or Team Evan?
Day 22: Favourite & least favourite commentator
Day 23: Skater everybody loves but you don’t
Day 24: Skater you love but nobody else does
Day 25: The quad. Give your opinion.
Day 26: Saddest figure skating moment
Day 27: Your favourite figure skating moment of all time
Day 28: Favourite & least favourite costume
Day 29: Your favourite figure skater of all time
Day 30: Why you love figure skating

What Do I Do Anyways?

I am trying out a new software at work.  It's called Dragon and it's supposed to be the latest and greatest in computer software.  I am writing this blog using only the technology of Dragon. I'll admit its pretty cool, but it still requires some editing and I'm not sure I'm in love with it yet.  However because of the direction of my work is moving in, I decided to embrace the technology and give it a whirl.  I am literally writing this blog by talking to my computer screen.  Apparently the more I talk to my computer screen the better the program gets.  for me so far it hasn't been faster than typing, but it is kind of cool. 

I thought I'd use this opportunity to tell you exactly what I do work. I get lots of requests by e-mail or by comments or on facebook to tell people about my job because they are interested in it.  I started out with my company in March after completing their application online and was hired as a medical transcriptionist.  my day-to-day work as a transcriptionist looks like this: I log on during my scheduled time and check out the work levels. When there is work to be completed, I log into the system and files start to download to me. These jobs come from hospitals directly, and because I work for an American company all my job so far have been from American hospitals.  We are expanding into Canada, but for now, when I type, I usually type on one of three or four hospitals, though my company does transcribe for many more than that. and receive files straight from doctors and simply type what they say.  Sometimes there is a lot of research involved and I have to spend a great deal of time looking up medications or diseases online.  As time has progressed I find that I know more and more and consequently can spend less time researching because common medical terms are basic for vocab for me.  When I'm finished with the report, I simply upload it back to the hospital and they receive the written file.  The doctor signs the report and places it in the patient's file.

In June, I received a promotion to QA editor wherein anyone who has a blank in a document they are transcribing I pull it up, and try and fill in the blank.  It becomes my job to research the term and figure out what the doctor was saying.  When I figure out the term I send it to the hospital is normal, or if all else fails and I cannot figure out the blank, I simply send the report on to the hospital for the doctor to finish.

Following that promotion, I was asked by my workgroup manager to help her out on weekends.  The account that I worked on on weekends became my baby, and I was in charge.  Though I didn't have a direct contact with the hospital, I ran the group of MTs who were typing making sure all went well.

My next step was to become an After Hours Coordinator. Twice a week, the phones are forwarded to me and I answer the general line for my company. I take calls from hospitals as well as MTs and organize them.  The calls from hospitals are usually for stat reports while the calls from MTs are usually blanks to listen to and figure out. 

After then I received a call from the University that my company runs, asking if I'd like to be a mentor to new MTs. These are MTs who are not quite ready to work but are still in the learning process.  I edit all their work and work with them until they are released into production. This is mostly through e-mail, through instant messenger, and not a lot talking on the phone. At the same point that the university called, my workgroup manager asked me to step it up, and help even more on evenings and weekends.  I am now her "go to girl" on weekends and manage all of her accounts.

The latest promotion work has involved a whole different course.  As of last week, I have been asked to takeover the IT department and my management skills are being utilized.  While I admit I don't have a lot of technical knowledge, I am a quick learner, and know how to turnaround a bunch of people.  In other words, I am bossy.  And now, they're paying me to be bossy.  I have also taken over the speech-recognition portion of our company.  I share this with a couple of other people, but moving forward our company plans to be the latest and greatest in this kind of technology.

I think I'll grow to learn to like this kind of technology even if its different than what I expected. 

I could probably write the world's longest blog post, simply because I just have to talk and this gets recorded on the page.  However, I won't bore you anymore; hopefully you know exactly what I do at home on a day-to-day basis.

If you can't tell, I love my job.  I highly recommend this line of work to anyone who is detail oriented, patient, has a strong working knowledge of the English language, and someone who is able to grasp how to use Google quickly. I am not sure how to end this post, except for...

kortney elise xoxo

Things I'm Sad About Today

• I miss my Grandma. She passed away yesterday nine years ago.  It makes me sad to see how much my mom misses her and it makes me sad Alexys won't ever know her. 
• I'm sad for certain unnamed people that I want to hug and love. 
• I'm sad because my skating team leaves for Toronto today and I'm not with them. 
• I'm sad because I want to be pregnant but it's not the time right now...some days I can't even go on Facebook without sobbing at all my pregnant friends...not because I'm sad for them obviously, but because I'm sad for me that I'm not.
• I got a call from the doctor's office tonight that I have to go into the doctor tomorrow for lab results. Those are never good.

There are other things that I'm sad for today. I'm not depressed or in a deep sadness. It was just a sort of sadness in the air kind of day.

I'm hoping for a brighter tomorrow.