Sunshine

Ft. Myers, FL

I know some may think I missed out on some amazing beaches and an island with unique sea-life, but to be honest, I was perfectly happy and content at home.  It’s not very often that anyone gets to perform at home and even stay at home after the show is done in that city.  So, I made sure to soak it all in or as least as much I could possibly squeeze into about two and a half days. 

Of course, you can never get enough home-cooked meals to make up for a year away from home, and there are never enough hugs to go around, and it always seems as if the days are so much shorter at home.  There’s always more to do than there are hours in the day and more people to see and places to be than is actually possible for one person to do.  And sometimes you just need to sit down, take a deep breath, and watch the sun set.  Everything just seems to disappear.

However, soon enough the time had come and I had to be on my way.  Another flight down and soon enough I was out of the crazy March weather of Pittsburgh and in the sunny, warm, humid Floridian heat. 

Without days left to spend at the beach and working with the only time I did have, I was able to soak in some rays by the pool and thank goodness for that.  My winter skin was finally starting to blend in a little easier with everyone’s sun-kissed golden tans. 

And not only did the sun kiss our skin, it also seemed to have the same effect on the ice.  By the time Sunday rolled around, we were practically skating on paint.  Luckily, it was our last day in the tiny, cramped venue and we were on our way to Sunrise.   

Home Sweet Home

Pittsburgh, PA

I can’t believe that the day is finally here!  It feels like I have been waiting since last year to perform at home and it’s finally here! 

Nothing will ever beat the moment when the plane touches down at my home airport and my stomach fills with butterflies because I know that when I get off the plane, my Dad will be there waiting for me at the gate.  And as we made our way down to baggage claim I was greeted by my Mom and Grandma, but the real surprise was when my Sister came to welcome me home too!  Ah it’s so good to be back and I haven’t even made it home yet!

As we traveled home, the butterflies come back just as we pulled onto the road that took me home.  Stepping foot back in the house I grew up in just makes everything else fade away.  Nothing else seemed to matter; I was home.  Of course I knew it was going to be crazy busy with appointments and work related engagements, but the fun part was catching up with everyone that I hadn’t seen in so long.  Not to mention driving around the area to see what has changed and making sure to hit every spot I loved so much growing up in the country!   Most of the time the smaller the place, the better it is at least out where I am from.  They are like hidden treasures everyone knows about and has to take people from out of town to.  And like most treasures, they are far away from busy city streets that are packed with people.  

Ah…Fresh air!  It’s so nice to be able to be outside and breath and only worry about what animal I may come across on my run instead of whom.  And I may spend much of my tour life in the big cities, but at heart and when I come home I am so much a country girl.  But those days are few in number and just like that I was headed back into the City of Bridges for the show week. 

Even though I normally don’t make it in to Pittsburgh very often, it’s always nice to be around hometown, friendly people.  And words will never be able to explain what it feels like to be able to perform on home ice in front or your hometown until you are actually able to do so yourself.  It’s magical.  The energy is amazing. 

And I just want to thank everyone that made my trip home the best that it could be.  It was great to see everyone and celebrate the missed holidays.  A huge thank you to those that made it to a show and saw me after!  It’s always nice to see familiar faces. I also can’t thank all those that have supported me through it all.  It means so much knowing that no matter what I do, how far I stray from home; that I am always welcomed back and will have so many to count on and lean on through it all. 

Missing Pittsburgh already…

Off to the south and sunshine though… 

Summit County

Salt Lake City, Utah

Hopping off the plane from sunny, warm California, we definitely weren’t quite sure what was in store for us here, in the Beehive State.  However, we were all pleasantly surprised. 

Expecting snow-covered mountains and barren trees, it was a nice surprise to see green grass, clear roads ridden completely of snow, sunshine and only snow-covered mountain peaks off in the distance giving us hope for the day to come. 

Although the sun was spotty all day long only coming out to stay for the last few hours of fun on the mountain, in Park City it made for a nice day.  

This year we had a special treat because not only were we able to ski and snowboard at Park City Mountain Resort, but we were also able to do the same at the Canyon Mountain Resort as well; being that they partnered this year.  So, one lift ticket granted you freedom to shred down either for the day.  

The Park City side seemed to have steeper courses with little to no ice and slush where as Canyon Mountain side had more trails, and houses, and was more so peaceful!  However, it also saw more sunlight and therefore, it created more slush on the runs.  Without the slush though, it was beautiful, wrapping around bridges and trees and winding back narrow paths.  The views to see were definitely on the Park City side though, so being able to take it all in and see the differences made it all the better.

And speaking of taking it all in, Park City was home to the 2002 Winter Olympics, making it the third Olympic city that I have been to from Atlanta to Vancouver and now Salt Lake.   The bobsled course as it appeared to maybe be, was even visible from one of the ski lifts.   All this Olympic talk makes me wish that I was an Olympian and able to say I competed in the Games no matter what the outcome may have been.  It is just such and experience.  I guess for now though, I will keep dreaming and enjoy what I am able to do at this moment. 

And right now it was time to join in all the birthday festivities and the guys and girls nights.  Sticking with tradition or routine both gatherings were on the same night with different agendas.  The guys did their thing and we did ours.  However, we had a twist.  We could only use three items to create our outfit for the night.  For some, there was thought and creativity used and for others, well it was put together in about five minutes, but hey we all had a grand night.  Just in time too, before we closed out this city and headed home for me, to Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania!

           

Last Stop in Cali

Oakland, CA

After a total of 12 cities in California, things were finally coming to a close.  We were concluding our last and final stop in the Golden State, but not without a bang. 

And since Oakland itself didn’t exactly have a lot to offer and wasn’t exactly the safest, we all ventured into the famed and well known, San Francisco.  While some chose to walk through the city, others chose to bike from Pier 39 with the Sea Lions to and across the Golden Gate Bridge and through Sausalito to ferry back to the beginning for Lombard Street and night views of the city. 

San Fran is also home to Mrs. Doubtfire’s (who was portrayed by the late Robin Williams) house as well as the Full House, house which is set to return to television soon!  Ahh that took me back to my childhood after hearing that.  

Speaking of childhood, I was also reunited with my very first skating coach!  She was the one who dried my tears and got me to step foot on the ice for my first private lesson at group lessons.  She is the reason I am still skating today because without her, I may never have left my Dad’s side.

Needless to say, I was really excited to go skating and fell in love with Kristi Yamaguchi (who also comes into the story a little later) and I wanted to be just like her, but that first day the nerves got the best of me.  All the loud voices and crowds of people intimidated me.  Adding to it, my skates weren’t tied right and I had never been out of reach of my parents in a public place before.  I was overwhelmed. 

And all of a sudden just as my dad was loosing patience with me and told me that if I didn’t stop, we were leaving, this voice and open hand takes me to the ice.   And just like that, I start gliding and moving across the ice and before I knew it, my tears were dried and I was on my way. 

Years and years later (20 almost to the week to be exact) we were reunited and it couldn’t have felt any better.  I cannot thank Olympic Ice Dancers and Inventors of Rockerz, Beata Handra and Charles Sinick enough! 

And just when I thought things couldn’t get any better; they did! 

As I mentioned above, Kristi Yamaguchi is my all-time favorite skater and guess who came to the show?!?!  Exactly!  I was officially star-struck. 

Here I was as a little girl always looking up to her and wanting to be like her, watching each performance she did and now she was in the audience and I was the one performing.  It is a feeling that I can’t quite explain, but it was almost as if it were magical. 

Coming back from Cloud 9, it was time to get moving and off to the home of the 2002 Winter Olympic Games!