June 2, 2009 at 4:03 pm (College, Friends, My Lovely Life, Skating)
Tags: Baby-Ruthie, Dr. Kolberts, Harry Potter, Hope S., Kira, Little Miss Playthings, Samantha
Sorry I haven’t updated in awhile, but there is truly nothing going on. Besides skating practice, skating practice, and skating practice. But really, what else is new in life? I have a doctor here too, who is not as cool as Dr. Kolberts but will do for the short times I stay in OH. Who knows if I will even be here next summer, if I’m off doing some internship thing…? Anyway, once we got home and unpacked from our 15-hour drive from good old Omaha, we all changed into casual summer clothes and went downstairs to hang out with some other OWT girls. I have to say, I am getting along really well with most of them. I doubted I would, but they are all really accepting and nice. I really like Kira; she’s going to be a college junior next year and is a ton of fun.
One of us is thinking about entering the Little Miss Playthings Contest this year. We’re not sure who yet. Hope really wants to do it but Sam thinks I should. Honestly I don’t see why – okay, I do think I’m a bit photogenic, but some of the themes seem a little daunting. Like “Lines”. I am not a photographer! And “Heroes” – I don’t really have one. But it would be a ton of fun, so I’m thinking about it. Then again, I don’t want to compete with Hope about it if it comes to that point (but on the other hand, isn’t she like the star of *everything*? She’d totally go off on me about being spoiled if I did this, though…).
I’m hearing some odd things from Baby-Ruthie. They have capes, and they say they’re investigating something that requires sneaking around at night. I don’t really want to know what they’re up to. They just got back from Chicago, so maybe it has something to do with that. Baby has told me she’s pretending to be “Narcissa”. From Harry Potter?! By the way, did you know her real name is Ruby? I didn’t. I don’t see why she goes by Baby when she has such a pretty real name.
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March 5, 2009 at 4:14 pm (College, My Lovely Life)
Tags: Dr. Kolberts, Harper, Hope S., OWT, Samantha
So tomorrow we are flying back to OWT for spring break and everyone’s going to be there. I NEED to get out of here! I have this one really stressful class with tons of reading… I’d go into it, but I’m just so tired of it that I don’t think I can talk about it anymore. Harper and I have been discussing it for the past two days. Hope is so lucky she doesn’t actually go to school here because it’s a requirement! And Sam is taking some classes to transfer for college next year but she’s just taking whatever she wants, not core classes.
I’m sorry I haven’t written for awhile… it’s this class! I know how I talked about how college was easier than I thought. Now I’m just frustrated! What’s more, I found out I have to go to the doctor to update one of my prescriptions which is going to be LOVELY. And I think a lot of – ok, ALL – the girls here are really nosy. I don’t need them to know what medications I’m taking. That’s totally private. To complain even more, I have to get a local doctor which is going to honestly suck. I like Dr. K. I wish I was going home for break too… as I’ve said, I find it so hard to get along with everyone.
Sorry for the short post; gotta pack.
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November 4, 2008 at 4:53 pm (My Lovely Life, Skating)
Tags: "Far Away", Coach OH!, College, Dr. Kolberts, gold, Grand Prix, Ingrid Michaelson, lobsterman, Maine, Mom, music, nosebleed, Olympics, Skate America
I’ve obviously forgotten to update… and no lost Ethernet cord stories to excuse that. I’ve just been really busy. But before we get to that complaining, I have a little bragging right.
That’s right, 99% chance I’m going to Grand Prix. I won Skate America! Coach OH! just kept saying “I knew you could do it! You knew you could do it!” Mom was happy but I think she’s a little tired of this skating thing. You see, my mom’s been balancing my skating plus my doctor’s appointments/ER visits/inpatient sessions/etc for at least the past 8 years or so. I started getting really serious about skating when I was 10 or 11. My favorite doctor (Dr. K of course!) and I met about a year later. So basically I am my mom’s life and I think she’s getting tired of that. I kind-of understand. It must be really frustrating. I mean, I get frustrated with my schedule 24/7. (Like right now, how I haven’t written… yup, I’ve been super-busy.) And I know the medical stuff can be ridiculously stressful, but seriously the worst thing I’ve had in a few years was that nosebleed in September. I’ve got sectionals coming up and my mom is just kinda doing the sad smile thing.
At the same time, I’m really frustrated with my mom. Becuase on top of this whole skating thing (she actually asked me “Do you really want to be an Olympic skater? Because I just want you to realize the pros and cons that have just started for you.” I was like, this has been my dream since Tara Lipinski), she’s been agitating me about college. I’ve gotten in; what else am I supposed to do? She’s worried I won’t be prepared and wants to start doing some extra stuff during whatever free time I have from skating and my job. I’m in the special honors program, so why does she even care? I’m sure I’ll be ready. I’m just really annoyed.
So because she keeps trying to decide what my life is going to be, I just decided I’m going to stay in Maine and marry a lobsterman. How cliche, but I’m gonna do it. It’s from an Ingrid Michaelson song (whom I LOVE becuase she’s so fun, and because we look alike). So I’m going to go (not) “Far Away” and say goodbye to skating.
Must be easier than chasing your dreams anyway!
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October 15, 2008 at 4:21 pm (My Lovely Life, Skating)
Tags: "Answer", Dr. Kolberts, Facebook, Kira, Maine Medical Center, Mom, music, nationals, Olympics, OWT, OWT College Connections, regionals, Sarah MacLachlan, Sectionals, Worlds
I hate to bitch about my medical issues so much on here, but this whole thing with Dr. K. not wanting me to skate is driving me NUTS, so I guess it applies. I had to go back today to do more tests and her verdict was basically that I definitely should not be skating and that I need to get some things taken care of first.
DR K.! This is the qualifying season! If I don’t get to sectionals, there’s no Nationals, and if I don’t get to Nationals, there’s no Worlds, and if I don’t get to Worlds there are absolutely positively no Olympics. So what did I do? I said “Thank you for your time and opinion” and walked straight out of that stupid hospital. Mom finally caught up to me and was beyond pissed. I think I was pretty justified. Maybe Dr. K. just doesn’t understand that skating is my LIFE. I told my mom I had to get to practice. Ugh, and I’m not even looking forward to Nationals, they are in Ohio, and I dunno, Ohio seems really boring. I guess I can’t say anything, though, because I live in a ridiculously small town. But still. I kind-of hate Maine Medical Center at the moment and am not planning on going back there anytime soon.
To piss me off even more, a friend-who-shall-remain-nameless is suddenly in a bad mood 24/7. I don’t think she’s mad at me, she’s just taking it out on me and it’s annoying!
Also, the OWT packet asked me if I would send a profile to a girl named Kira. It’s kind-of like a Facebook profile but a little different. It’s for their website. I’m excited because it really means I’m part of the group now! I’m filling it out this very moment.
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October 14, 2008 at 11:42 am (College, My Lovely Life, Skating)
Tags: Christmas, Coach OH!, Dr. Kolberts, enthusiasm, Grand Prix, nationals, nosebleed, Olympics, OWT, OWT College Connections, Paris, regionals, Sectionals, Skate America, South Korea, Vancouver, venturing, Worlds
Let’s start off with lovely Dr. K. on Thursday. I went in today for a checkup after my lovely nosebleed disaster, and she was like, oh, let’s do some more tests. I said no, I feel fine, I don’t think you need to. She insisted on doing the standard blood tests and everything, so I was really mad because I was supposed to be practicing for Skate America and Coach OH! was going to kill me. We had to wait for the blood labs and then go back and by that time Dr. K. was supposed to be with another patient so we ended up waiting for an extra hour.
Dr. K. was like, I don’t think it’s a great idea to be skating right now. I said that was stupid, this is a key qualifying season for me because Nationals and Worlds are going to determine the Olympic team and you have got to be kidding me. So I’m skating but she’s not happy.
I am so pumped for Skate America though! It’s next Thursday and Coach OH! and I are going crazy over it. I kind-of flopped at regionals (for me, but not for not skating) and she really wants me to place in Skate America if I want to move up and get on the team for Vancouver. Um, yeah! Also, we would love for me to get 1st (and MAYBE 2nd) so I can go on to the Grand Prix in SOUTH KOREA!!! How cool would that be?! Plus it would be great for my records. I love how they were complaining about me not being enthusiastic. The minute things get competitive, the minute I start loving it. Maybe I was just worn out from the venturing trip and all the drama that went on with it. And I missed skating but was totally thrown back into it which was miserable. But I love it now!
On 11/11 I am looking forward to Sectionals and I NEED a 1st place in that competition.
On the OWT front. Saturday, I got a call from “Miss B.” who was like, “I heard you were skeptical at being accepted, congratulations, you are! We can’t wait to meet you in person!” So I guess I’m in! Guess who is really flying on a private plane to Paris over Christmas! Little old me! Well, not old, haha. I got my confirmation packet too. I’m really excited about this but I hope the girls are nice… otherwise it wouldn’t really be worth it, although I guess it’s not really costing me anything. I’m kind-of nervous! Imagine, me nervous!
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October 1, 2008 at 4:18 pm (Friends, Skating)
Tags: "Skin", Abby, ballet, choreography, Chrissy, Coach OH!, Dr. Kolberts, enthusiasm, Massachusettes, Mom, music, Olympics, oncology, platelet count, Rascal Flatts, red count, regionals, rental counter, rollerblading, Vancouver
I’m sorry for not posting… but I was so dangerously tired. Well, maybe not dangerously. But seriously, I have been totally exhausted the past few days.
Let’s start with Coach OH!’s reaction to me being allowed to skate. I told her the minute I got to the rink. And instead of congratulating me for being able to continue, she flipped out in typical Coach OH! fashion. “Cate, what does that mean that your platelet counts are low? Because if that’s dangerous, you need to take care of yourself before you collapse on the ice.” I sighed. She always gets her medical stuff wrong, but it’s cute how she does. I love medicine, so I don’t mind explaining.
“Coach OH!, it’s red blood cells that would make me faint. If I was anemic or had a low red count. Low platelets just meant I was not having a good clotting day. Dr. K. said it was probably just a fluke – lots of people have extremely bloody nosebleeds. It’s not anything to worry about.”
Coach didn’t seem convinced, but I didn’t really want to talk about it so I just went and twirled around and then she yelled at me for being unprofessional, because I wasn’t practicing my actual routine. Well, no, I was just celebrating my ability to skate. Apparently that didn’t fly because I missed the morning anyway. She worked me SO hard! And then she threw a curveball at me. She wants me to start taking ballet, because it would help improve my flexibility. Mom thought this was an amazing idea when I told her after I got home. I really don’t. I mean, ballet is pretty, but I really don’t have time. They both thought it would also help me break up my routine and get a little more enthusiastic about skating practice.
Enthusiastic? I about killed both of them. I’m the one who was pushing to KEEP skating, and now Coach OH! and Mom both thought on their own accord that I need to be more enthusiastic about skating. Like they weren’t telling me five minutes ago that I should stop skating. And like I don’t want to go to the Olympics. I am totally dedicated. I really don’t get it. But I guess I’m doing ballet anyway. So guess when I have ballet? 8:30 – 10 pm, every Tuesday/Thursday, and from 9-12 on Saturday. That means Tuesday and Thursday I’m going to be rushing straight from work to ballet. And then on Saturday, when I’m supposed to be recovering from being totally sore all week, I’m doing ballet, which will make me even more sore and tired.
I guess I am a little excited though, mostly about the beauty of it. I think learning ballet will add a lot to my choreography. I can be a lot more lyrical and poised. But I don’t think I need to get more flexible. Who knows. I’d fight it, but if it’ll help me get to Vancouver… than I really can’t complain.
The rental counter Monday was fun. I had that mom come up who wanted the new-but-broken-in-skates, and she thanked me for the info on buying skates. That was really cool. Then Chrissy, the girl who runs the counter, invited us all to go rollerblading! I’ve actually never been rollerblading. It’ll be really fun. I wonder if I’m any good? The counter was fun at first on Tuesday – we were all talking and laughing at this one boy who was trying to learn how to skate backwards. I know, I know, we shouldn’t be laughing… but seriously, it was hilarious. Then the conversation changed and I got totally annoyed. We were talking about what music we like to listen to, and Abby said her favorite band was Rascal Flatts, and she loved “Skin”.
I flipped out. I hate that song, because it reminds me of all the bad stuff that comes with being an oncologist. And I can’t take my patients to the prom or something, I can only try to help them get better. I hope I encourage my patients. But who knows. And Abby knows totally nothing about leukemia or anything. She was just like, it’s cute at the end.
Oh and, by the way, if my life wasn’t exhausting enough, I’m leaving in two hours for Massachusettes to go to regionals! I’m doing my “Jupiter” routine for the long program. (We developed it last spring because we knew I’d be out for awhile.) Should be fun.
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September 29, 2008 at 10:58 am (My Lovely Life)
Tags: Coach OH!, Dr. Kolberts, Homeschool, Mom, Olympics, platelet count
I will write an official post later, but as I know you are all dying to know the verdict on me skating…
Dr. K. told me it was up to me whether I wanted to keep skating or not! I’m borderline-low, which means there could be some risk, but even she was like, um, well, skating isn’t exactly that dangerous… and she said she’d love to see me in the Olympics!
So of course I said I was going to keep skating… my mom, however, keeps trying to push me to stop. I don’t understand – she’s the one who decided to homeschool me so I could get intense training.
I have to get some more tests (story of my LIFE) but Dr. K. says as long as I’m not falling over 24/7 if I want to skate, I can skate.
Yes! And as I said, I’ll have more later after my lovely practice session with Coach OH! and then probably more tales of my favorite rental counter… 
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September 28, 2008 at 6:44 pm (My Lovely Life)
Tags: "Catie", Dr. Kolberts, Mom, Olympics, platelet count
I officially hate my mother. I was relaxing on the couch today and she came over with a glass of water and sat down next to me.
“Catie…” she began gently.
“My name is Cate!” I said stubbornly (perhaps a bit too stubbornly, but I think the ‘ie’ is so childish… ‘Cate’ sounds much more grown up. Neither of my parents have caught on in the 6 or so years I’ve been asking them to call me ‘Cate’. They ALWAYS slip up).
“Cate, then,” Mom smiled. “I hate to break it to you, sweetheart, but after that episode yesterday I don’t think you’ll be going to the Olympics.”
I put the water down on the endtable and pulled my head under my afghan. “I’m not talking to you.”
“Well, Cate, you took that break to go sailing, which put you behind on your training, and you know what your doctor is going to say…”
“I have the right to refuse treatment,” I protested from under the afghan.
“Seriously, Cate, she’s probably going to tell you it’s not safe to be skating until your levels get back up. And darling, if that’s all that happens, it’ll be good. Your counts will rise and you’ll be back on the ice, but I can’t guarantee how long that’s going to take or if she’s going to say something else.”
I peeked out from under the afghan. “You don’t understand…” I started. I was embarassed that I started crying. “How much these Olympics mean to me. I don’t care if he says I’m going to die in sixth months. I am NOT, I repeat NOT, quitting skating.”
“Well, Cate, I don’t think your platelet counts are low enough for you to get a death sentence.” Mom patted my shoulder. “But there’s always another Olympics in four years, so if she tells you no, I think you’re going to have to listen.”
I hid back under the afghan. I felt the couch rise when she got up. I resolved never to listen to my doctor.
Did I mention I will never quit skating?
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September 27, 2008 at 4:31 pm (My Lovely Life)
Tags: Coach OH!, Dr. Kolberts, ER visit, FDR, Mom, nosebleed, platelet count, Vancouver
Did I say I had the weekends off? Right.
Well, my body’s idea of “a day off from skating” is to induce a massive nosebleed that landed me in the ER with a low platelet count. And I thought I was doing better with those! I’m SO annoyed. I got yet another transfusion and, okay, they did get the IV in on the first try, but seriously. Now I have to go in for another check-up on Monday, which means I will miss some practice (um, not too upset about that one)… but I could possibly be told I’m not allowed to skate anymore, because it would be too dangerous if I fell!
I am so mad!
My mom called Coach OH! and she’s really worried. Apparently she told my mom I’m more behind than she thought I would be (hello? was I able to practice on a freaking ship? NO), and she’s worried that if I’m out for more than a week it’ll cause permanent damage to my ability to get past prelims.
I HAVE to go to Vancouver. I am totally going to show Coach OH! up on Monday, and I’m going in tomorrow to practice on my own (I don’t care what my mom says). And if my doctor tells me I can’t skate, I’m going to skate anyway. I love my doctor, but I have to draw the line somewhere. You can’t just live being afraid of things.
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