6:10am *Cell phone alarm goes off*

~Groggy, got dressed yata, yata, yata

6:31 I leave the apartment

Half a block away from the subway I realize I forgot my sheet that has the bus & gate number, time,

6:56 I arrive at Port Authority Bus Terminal.  I saw the line for the ticketing booth was long (8 people).  Rats, I thought, I was hoping to ask the agent the bus number and etc.  I decided to go to the kiosk and see if I can remember the number by memory.  Hmmm Bus 197 Wayne, Warwick.  Sounds familiar, eh, I have to get it now, I dont have that much time.  Then the machine ask me the zone number, great! umm I saw the farthest zone 20, rather have much than short.

I started walking towards the gates, now Im going by visual memory.  I went into the gate where I thought it would be, YES!!! gate 233, YEY!

7:25 The 197 pulled up and I made sure I sat in the front since I could hardly remember where the exact stop would be

8:27 I halted to the driver to stop on Barbour Pond Road and Valley Road

I walked one block to the rink and found rink 1 empty.

I got dressed and laced up my skates and stepped on the ice at 8:52

I placed Tosca on the loud speaker and had it play on loop at least 3 times. 

9:12 Nina Petrenko stepped onto the ice sporting an Italian National team jacket with a 2002 Olympic fleece sweater and scarf.

9:16 I decided to tackle the spins first since I knew that got me easily tired

Camel - blah! Camel - traveled 3 feet (oooh no), Camel - stepped out

Attitude - traveled 3.5 feet (wondered if something is wrong with my left blade - maybe the setting is slightly off) Camel - got into the hook but couldnt hold the edge continously.

9:32 I did two waltz jumps, salchow, salchow/half-loop/salchow (wonky and out of place), I never do half loop jump sequences AT ALL!!! I did at least 1 more time and said, eh, good enough. Then moved onto Flip and Loop/Loop.

9:34 Victor Patrenko stepped onto the ice to coach the head case 2axel girl.  He was wearing a Ukraine jacket.

9:36 I decided to play my music for the last time.   I just mapped out the jumps and decided to do the spins.  Camel - hook too short-step out, Second Camel - body wasnt in a spiral position so I bailed out. 

9:44 I stepped off the ice and figured I had enough.  I took two pills of dramamine, just in case.

The test was running behind, there was a JR Nat competitor and was being critiqued by the panel.

10:47 I was given permission by the test chairman to ask the panel a question.  I asked them if I can do a camel/attitude for a combination and if it would be properly ratified.  They said yes. Yey I thought.  I told them that due to my surgery I am unable to do a sit spin.

I stepped on the ice for warmup at 11:02 I felt fine, no numb legs, I saw Cathie off the boards reminding me to breathe, I smiled back and nodded. 

I started off with a loop/loop, flip, and salchow/half-loop/salchow, stroked around for a little bit then got off the ice 36 seconds before the warmup ended.  I quickly took off my left skate because my foot was getting numb.  I could feel the looseness of my right boot. I thought it was time for me to start putting duct tape again.  ugh

I was calm and not putting too much stress on myself at this time.  I figured things would fall into place and if I made a mistake it would only be one and knew I would get a retry. 

11:17 I stepped on the ice with full costume (my usual gold outfit-shortsleeves) {yes it was fudging cold} and plus I shaved my head so it was  colder.  I took two puffs of my inhaler and knew I was set to go.

I did not wait for my feet to tell me to start I just simply took my place and knew everything would be ok.

Loop/Loop: strong checkout and no pussy landing

Salchow/half-loop/salchow: first sal ok, half loop-so/so, salchow (I laughed at myself bc the rarity of me doing these combos)

Camel: one revolution  and placed my foot down

Flip: flip? I did the three turn and just turned around like Emily Hughes at Skate America, I quickly turned around to try again, HALF-FLIP!  My body was so curved in that it was impossible to get a good check before taking off.

Could this get any worse I thought!

Second Camel attempt: body bailed out and could not even get into an attitude position.  Oh dear, I thought: "Darn it, I dont want to go back to this damn rink again and do this over!"

Loop: ok, Salchow: ok, attitude - felt fine so I held it as long as I could and ended on my knees to my swan-05 ending position.

Crap, crap, crap I thought.  I took a drink of my hot chocolate that was already cold.  I overheard one judge say, "his flip was fine in the warmup, just the spins."   I hoped and prayed that my attempt would work this time.  I tried THREE TIMES and none worked, they said they kind of understood because of the surgery.  Before they were about to dismiss me, I told them I would try a back camel into a back scratch.  They agreed.  I NEVER did back camels without flying into it, so I knew this attempt would be interesting.  I did 1.5 revs and pulled into a backscratch that spun 7 revolutions.  I felt like crawling in bed and just forgetting the rest of the day.  Cathy handed me the papers and whispered, "you passed" I was shocked.  How? Why? Huh? replayed in my head at least 5 times.  I got the score sheets and saw:

Judge 1: Tech 2.7 All elements complete, Presentation 2.7 Nice extension

Judge 2: Tech 2.7 Work on your spins - your jumps are fine!, Presentation 2.7 very nice presentation

Judge 3: Tech 2.7, Presenation 2.7 (no notes)

I have hit all passing average scores from all panel.  Phew I thought.  I knew though that it was not a good performance AT ALL!!!  It was trully a gift and a wake up call.  It hit me, I am not young anymore that I could pull off these clean performances without preparation.  I HAVE TO WORK ON THE FECKING SPINS!!!   ugh * Anyways I am happy to compete at competitions as a valid  Silver level skater   I will be taking time off for a short while and skate at least once a week until mid-January for New Year's Invitational, Sectionals, and Nationals.