Regarding Wall Street Journal article on Adult Nationals Figure Skating Competition

First of all, thanks to everyone for the excited well-wishes on the Wall Street Journal front page article. It is awesome to get a tremendous national spotlight shown on what we do as skaters who continue to compete no matter what their age is. I know that Betsy McKay had a plethora of information to go through — more than can be truly distilled down and fit into one single article. Betsy, thank you for pursuing this story and introducing the public at large to our passion.

There are so many stories of competitors who participate in Adult Nationals in spite of tremendous obstacles of serious disease, injury, and economic struggles. All skaters spend a tremendous amount of energy, effort, creativity, and income on this sport like many a golfer or distance runner might do. I suspect there might be a few more articles about our division of the sport of figure skating in the future.

Terryl Lee Allen, Betsy’s eyes lit up when I introduced you to her and she found the magic of you… and now she has one of your glorious medals. As they state, “For your passion to skate and your courage to compete.” I can’t speak for Betsy, but I can’t think of a better token that encapsulates the spirit of our competition.

I am proud to call figure skating much more than an outlet for a costumed two-minute spot of creativity. This frozen sport has provided me with a broader community of people I would’ve never met and cherished if I stayed in my own narrow circles of work and location.

I would be missing an entire facet of my life — and for that I’m eternally grateful to those pioneers of the Adult Skating program for getting together 20 years ago to form this ‘convention’ of national competition, a special yearly celebration of our love to skate. Those pioneers should never be forgotten for their trail blazing efforts.

http://online.wsj.com/news/article_email/SB10001424052702304049904579515651033733362-lMyQjAxMTA0MDIwOTEyNDkyWj

 

Puppicasso Predictions 2014 Edition – Breaking Bad Eddie Style

” I was dreaming when I wrote this. So sue me if I go to fast.” – Prince and The Revolution

Puppicasso took a long break from all that predicting, because it was getting way too unpredictable.

But today he turned six years old.

From six months to six years he has been living the adopted life, and from nine months he moved into his Breaking Bad life.  He grew up in the Burbank offices, and early on came to know a fellow named Eddie —

Puppi always has to look over his shoulder….

Little did I know then that this expression was a prediction…

Puppicasso’s first prediction of 2014 was made in 2009, when he sat not so patiently next to Eddie knowing that his mom would be Nominated for one today!

Here’s to hoping that the American Cinema Editors Eddie Awards Ceremony allows Puppis in to enjoy and all the meat they can eat!

Pupp extends his paw up for a paw/fist bump to the other people that gave him belly rubs and fed him while they were trying to cut — Skip Macdonald, Kelley Dixon, and Chris McCaleb!

He thanks Lynne Willingham for lending her Breaking Bad Eddie Award so he could facilitate his long term prediction– five years in the making!

 

 

Puppicasso Predictions Volume 2 – No. 5

Puppicasso is always ready to deal with a Necessary Evil, not in the biblical WWII sense, but in the “I-should-get-back-into-shape” sense.

He is fine with cardio, and has mastered the canine technique of full sprint and stop for smelling — this fatigues the leg muscles and keeps his olfactory muscles in fine form.

But there is one type of exercise he cannot stand: Resistance Training.

Resistance Training is Futile.

He can’t seem to stand on the band with his paw and simultaneously pull with the opposite one  — not having opposable thumbs makes this workout pretty opposable to Pupp.

Puppi doesn’t want to keep up with the latest fitness trends anymore, he will just continue to do old school callisthenics.   His standard regimen is to chase down that darned tennis ball, drop and repeat.  His resolution in 2013 is to do it more often — that is all, thank you very much.

He wants to remind everyone going back to the gym to be sure to stretch and cool down afterwards.

 

(Today’s post is dedicated to the coach of my first marathon, Scott Boliver — somewhere he is crossing the finish line with my previous running partner, Salvador Doggie.)

 

Puppicasso Predictions – Volume 2 – No. 4

Some days Puppicasso feels antsy, bloated, and tied up in knots.

Today is one of those days.  When confronted with this feeling, he does the natural thing —

He compares himself to other dogs.

Now, this technique is contrary to his usual “Zen-may-care” attitude, but Puppi is being very catty today and doesn’t care about taking the high road.

To satisfy his temporal need to feel better at another dog’s expense, he asked me to set up a summit.

I caved in to his wishes.

Puppicasso meets Balloon Dog.

“Can you believe this guy?”

“Okay, I don’t feel so bad now.  Thanks Mom.”

I hope he will fare better this weekend than today, but if not, I will have a fleet of Balloon Dogs at the ready for him.

 

 

 

Puppicasso Predictions Volume 2 – No. 3

Technology technically failed me in getting out Puppi’s visual thoughts for the day —

So I went into his portfolio and found some fuzzy, sleepy abstract pieces for your perusal :

 

Puppicasso’s Picasso Study Number One in Dog Minor.

 

Puppicasso’s Picasso Study Number Two in Dog Minor.

Signed,

Puppicasso

 

 

Puppicasso Predictions – Vol 2 – No. 2

Puppicasso knows Fiscal Cliff personally.  They have had many play dates over his lifetime.  Puppicass loves to wrestle with him and jump over him periodically.

Now I don’t know if Puppi has ever fallen off of F.C., but being that Cliff is an Irish Setter — the height difference could make it a possibility.

If you think this familiarity with Cliff makes Puppi recession proof, he would slap your paw and say, “No Way!”  Last year, he was very sick and being without insurance this cost Puppicasso’s people dearly.  But he has never let a little thing like money get him down, not when the grass and sunshine are still free.  If you will, please enjoy his first 2013 outdoor photo shoot.

“Ah, Grass!”

He misses playing with F. Cliff, but Puppi knows when it is necessary to make new friends.  He’s got great timing that way.

 

Puppicasso Predictions – Volume 2 No. 1

Welcome to the Teens!

Last year was definitely a pre-teen time for Puppicasso and me.  Many new creations, activities, and attitudes were realized — but our offline life got in the way of our blogging life.  And since the world didn’t end, he decided to resume his predictions.  So, the first part of this year will be a cleaning house and catching up on the life of Pupp.

The motto of this year will be, “Always put one paw in front of another, and go forward no matter what.”

One small paw for Pupp…

… one giant leap for Puppi-kind.

We wish you a Happy 2013!  Enjoy this Millennium’s entry into puberty — hormones will rage and change will be the constant!

Puppicasso wishes to extend a special shout out to Neil Armstrong for use of his likeness and spirit… he is missed.

 

Puppicasso Predictions #189

Puppi and the very Icey Day

Puppi was put on a really strict diet. One can of food a day – half in the morning with pills, repeat at night.

No treats.

The combination of diet and steroids has made for one very cranky Puppi.

As I tried to figure out what I had to do to satiate Puppi’s well-being, I was off to the cast and crew screening of a short film I made, Breaking Ice.  Appropriately enough, I had crew gifts made that were mood cups that changed color when cold…

Icey.

Coming back from the rink where the screening was held, I literally stumbled on the cure to his chewiness… Ice Cubes.  (I fell carrying the ice chest that contained them, and ending up using the cubes to ice my shins.)

He used them to teeth as a puppy-Pupp, and now they cooled his anger towards the diet.

Ice is usually thought of as cold and unforgiving, but using it in tiny chunks made Puppi’s life right now more warm and inviting.

Yay Ice!

 

 

 

Puppicasso Predictions #188

I don’t know if he has told you lately, but Puppicasso has been very ill lately.

He is on the road to recovery but it is slow going.

He had to give the vet a stool sample, and this is what we thought they meant…

And a stool sample on sale too!

He really is trying to keep a comic look on his illness.  I love that about the Pupp.

 

Puppicasso Predictions #187

As you know Puppicasso is scared of his own farts and the sound of farts in general.

Today he jumped at the start of sprinklers turning on, I guess they sounded like wet farts.

Enough said.