This video totally cracks me up. I am so so so glad I’ve never had this type of experience. Although a lot of people seem to think that I am really spoiled. This really pisses me off. Yeah, I have a lot of stuff. But that’s just it. Stuff. I don’t have a lot that they have, but they don’t realize that.
“Oh you don’t know what you’re dealing with do you, with your perfect little Jezebel…”
I’m not going to go into it, because I don’t want to attack anyone. (And I would be accused.)
I don’t even have a best guy friend… Of course I’m friends with Trent, aka the kid at the rental counter, but I’m leaving so we’re not going to be best friends.
That’s right, only a week! WOO-HOO, Paris, here I come!
You play the victim and I’ll be the bad guy
December 19, 2008 at 12:48 am (Friends, Random)
Tags: "Boys with Girlfriends", "Real Real Sweet", Meiko, music, OWT College Connections, Paris, rental counter, Trent
The Call
November 20, 2008 at 3:23 pm (Friends, My Lovely Life)
Tags: "The Call", Backstreet Boys, boy, Maine Medical Center, music, oncology, rental counter, shock, Trent
Let me tell you the story ’bout the call that changed my destiny.
I was talking to the kids at the rental counter yesterday, and we actually have a boy working there now which really balances things out. I remember the first time I worked there and my blog post was about how catty and unintelligent it was. The girls are a lot nicer now, and maybe I just have issues being social. Well anyway.
“Boy”, a.k.a. Trent, and I got into a conversation about how schools let kids know that their relative is dying or whatever. Great conversation, let me tell you, especially since I’m home schooled, so I was basically just listening to him about how that day some girl in his class’s grandpa was in critical condition or whatever, and everyone knew about it, and she got called down to the office and it was pretty awkward.
And that led to a discussion of “The Call”.
Generally meaning, when you find about about said death or critical condition. And he was talking about how this one time someone he knew was out of town and they had to be contacted by their airplane line or something to tell them to turn around and come home. How could they handle that? he wondered.
Oh, easy. You pack up a bunch of chips, rent a car, and drive. No biggie.
- But you have so much time to think alone!
Yep. Except at that point you’re in adrenaline mode and you’re not breaking down on the side of the road. You’re in shock, you’re steaming up, and all you have to do is get home. You don’t make rest stops unless absolutely necessary.
-Wow.
I’m totally shock-proof.
[I mean, not that I've had experience with this or anything.] I proceeded to tell him about how doctors like to call you at least five times until they reach you because they don’t want to leave you a message, and it’s always the actual doctor, and they’re always like, “you need to come into the office immediately”.
Instant fail.
SO THIS ONE TIME… I was at a skating competition. It was like one of my first ones, and my dad had gone with me. Well, okay, I think it was one of my first competitions where I’d actually gotten through all the levels. And my mom called my dad and he “knew something”, he was acting really weird… it was the first time I’ve experienced that, but definitely not the last. And I got home and my mom showed me this printout with a bunch of numbers on it. Well, naturally, I had no idea what they meant. And then my mom explained it to me.
I don’t know why they told me that way, but the numbers fascinated me, and although I was scared, those numbers also sparked my interest in medicine and science.
And I was in the lovely hospital the next day. Story of my life. That was not the last Call. That’s why I know getting “The Call” wouldn’t shake me up or even surprise me. I’d just be like, “okay, let’s do this again.”
Sorry.
-Shocked face.
Sorry about the crap video length. All the real ones were “embed-disabled”.
A Strange Phone Call
October 8, 2008 at 1:53 pm (College)
Tags: Coach OH!, France, Harper, Jodi Picoult, Kit-Kat, Marie, Miss B., Mom, Monaco, OWT, OWT College Connections, Paris, Picture Perfect, princess, rental counter, Rita, Samantha, Shoreline Private Boarding School, Tabitha
I’m taking a lunch break with my laptop and just had to blog about the phone call I got yesterday afternoon. I was reading Picture Perfect by Jodi Picoult (really good so far) before I left for work and Mom told me I had a phone call. Totally typical, right? Except on the other end of the line wasn’t Rita (who, by the way, is going to a community college so that’s why we can hang out) or Tabby or one of the girls from the rental counter or even Coach OH! (though she never calls). It was some girl from OWT.
OWT is this thing I found out about when I was starting high school. It stands for Our World Today and it’s a special program at Shoreline Private Boarding School. You work with people in all different grades and you go to a lot of conferences and foreign countries for “experiential learning”. I wanted to apply but it was at the same time I was REALLY starting to get serious about skating; I was going to junior worlds that year. And since to be in the middle/high school program you have to go to the boarding school, I didn’t apply. (It’s also really ridiculously expensive but if you get in – which is really hard – they can almost guarantee you a scholarship because so many foreign dignitaries and big companies sponsor it as they send their kids there.) Since it was a pilot program, their first graduates just left two years ago and there were only two of them. Last year they had 3 but this year they had 6 or 7 and decided to expand the program more, since the grads are attached to the program. They wanted to create somewhat of an alumni network and continue the program in some way at the grads’ colleges, so they developed OWT College Connections. Basically, its a way of ensuring the girls get to come back to Shoreline for mentoring through their OWT teachers and for events (apparently they all go to France for Christmas at the royal palace… are you KIDDING me?!). Also, since their core class is moving up in age and they are all really attached, and because the director eventually wants to step down and have someone else teach the class, this “class” (10th grade-junior in college) is set in stone and they will not be connected directly with any new entrants below the 10th grade level. Also, because the class wants to continue to foster community, they opened up the College Connections program (which I see as sort-of a sorority) to any student in a college that an OWT grad is attending. I think you can still apply if an OWT grad doesn’t go to your college but it’s harder to go in and they want to have an original OWT person there to keep the sorority feel. The CC program is also supposed to work as job networking and a support program. And you still get to go on trips with them.
I applied to the CC program since it was available for my college, Creighton. (I picked Creighton because Coach OH! has family in Omaha and was planning to move there to start her own skate club. I didn’t want a new coach and she said if I was going to college there she’d stay in ME with me until I went to college. How nice of her! Anyway, I also picked Crieghton because I really liked the atmosphere.) To get into OWT you have to have some special trait, and you also have to be really smart. It helps if you’re a princess or something, but there are girls from all walks of life in it (they have profiles of the members on their webpage). The same applies for CC.
Well today I got a call from a girl named Samantha. Literally, this is how the conversation went:
Me: Hello?
Samantha: Hi, I’m Samantha Parkington, and I’m the Class President of the Our World Today program at Shoreline Private Boarding School. I’m calling to tell you that our executive team has reviewed your application and we have accepted you into the College Connections program.
Me: Wait… is this a joke? You’re a student, right? Shouldn’t the teacher be calling?
Samantha: Oh, Miss B. is at a political rally, don’t even get me started. But I work with her for student government and she told me I could go ahead and call you and it would be more personal or something.
Me: Are you serious?
Samantha: (laughs) Yeah! Um, I know it’s kind of strange for you to hear me call you to say you’re accepted, but our program works differently so it’s not strange to me. I mean, two years ago two of my classmates sent a fake acceptance letter to a girl who wasn’t slated to be accepted yet and Miss B. didn’t kick her out or get mad. She said it showed initiative and if they wanted her in the class so badly, she should stay.
Me: Wow. That’s kind-of crazy.
Samantha: Well she was a little mad because it got her in trouble with the principal, but it’s a huge inside joke now. But um, now that you’re in, I’m going to send you the acceptance materials, well MB will, which will include a letter of introduction to the other new student joining our class. And, um, I’ll need to know if you’re going to show up to Paris this Christmas. And do you need a scholarship to get there?
Me: Yeah, um, a scholarship would be helpful, do I have to decide now?
Samantha: Well, my parents can get you a ticket basically for free, so it’s cool. We could even grab you on the way there. Or you can ask Marie, because she has a private plane, and it’s her house anyway.
Me: Marie, as in Marie Elizabeth Westoff, the Crown Princess of France?
Samantha: Um, yeah.
Me: Wow.
Samantha: I probably should tell you right now that I’m a Princess of Monaco.
Me: Uh…
Samantha: Marie and I are childhood friends.
Me: That’s crazy.
Samantha: (laughs) Yeah I guess. Don’t talk to her about being a princess though, she hates it. But, do you think you can come? It’s a huge tradition.
Me: I’d have to check with my coach…
Samantha: Oh, okay. It’d be best if you come to Paris because otherwise you’ll only meet me, Harper and Kit-Kat. We’re the ones at Creighton. Well, I’m a high school senior but Miss B. came here and she brought me with her and I’m trying to enroll next semester too, and then Miss B.’s sister is teaching the rest of the high school girls back home.
Me: Well, of course I want to go!
Samantha: Cool, just let me know. The whole thing with contacting me is complicated, because somebody could be wiretapping me right now. So I can’t give you a direct number yet, but you’ll get one. Sorry, I can’t really be more specific. And you can always just email Miss B. off the website and she’ll know it’s you.
Me: Okay. Do you think you could have her call me to confirm this?
Samantha: Yeah, no problem. Bye!
I still think it’s too good to be true. I mean, a princess? Really? Even though I know there are foreign dignitaries’ kids in the program, I didn’t think it meant princesses. I mean seriously. And a free plane ticket to Paris? I want to believe it; I thought the program sounded awesome and I know these are all aspects of it. But I haven’t gotten my acceptance packet or a call from “Miss B.” yet, so I am still being skeptical for my own protection.
And I go dancing…
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.
La Vie Boheme
September 26, 2008 at 4:59 pm (Skating)
Tags: lessons, music, open skate, RENT, rental counter
Cause I RENT skates? Get it!?
Today was my second day at the rental counter! I’m going to blab on about it – hopefully it doesn’t bore you, but really, am I even CAPABLE of boring people?! Haha.
I had to open shop today, since yesterday they had lessons at 4:30 and I start at 5. I was excited. I felt really important! We had open skate from 5-6, and then lessons from 6:30 to 10 (I leave at 8; the 8-9 and 9-10 classes are for adults and teens, so I’m trying to see if I can get an assistant instructor job at one of those, since I’d be able to do the more advanced moves).
Open skate (we didn’t have it during my shift yesterday) has official become my least favorite skating venue on the planet.
First I had a mother complaining about having to rent skates. “I paid blah-blah-blah to get into your skate club and rental skates are not part of that ridiculous fee?” I thought I handled it well – “No, ma’am, I’m sorry, but rentals are a separate fee. The price is listed on all our brochures and signs. I apologize for the inconvenience.”
Then apparantly we had a stock of brand-new skates to rent out so I unknowingly gave one to a girl, who got a blister, and the mom was like, what is up with that? I had to explain that new skates take awhile to break in, and she was all, what’s the point of renting out new skates then? Why aren’t they fitting my daughter properly? Then she tried to start an argument about how it wasn’t fair that the older skates I exchanged them for were a little mashed-up, so I asked whether she wanted new skates or broken-in skates, and she was like, well both! She got upset when I informed her that she can’t rent the same pair every time and when I explained how much it cost to buy a new pair of decent skates. She’d obviously never been to a rink before, but her daughter was also enrolled in one of the classes, so that was her big deal about consistency.
Then someone ripped a pair of skates. That’s seriously hard to do. My supervisor took care of it, but that left me feeling really worthless. I mean, I could just fit her for new skates or whatever, but apparently the girl was really upset and felt bad about it. The skates were probably ridiculously old anyway.
So anyway… open skate is really busy and ridiculous… luckily I have the weekends off!
A Mad Cate’s Christmas [Routine]?
September 25, 2008 at 4:51 pm (My Lovely Life, Skating)
Tags: "Pachebel's Canon", career, Coach OH!, College, doctor, job, Long Program, Mom, new skates, Olympics, oncology, rental counter, Sarajevo 12/14, Trans-Siberian Orchestra, Vancouver
I’ve had those stupid new skates for about a week now and I think I’m FINALLY starting to break them in. The only problem is I haven’t improved! Well, okay, I only fell once during practice today, which was an accomplishment seeing as I was there from 6-3, but still… I’m not feeling “the vibe” yet. I got a job working at the rental counter because my mom is killing me about paying for costumes. Maybe she should’ve brought this up awhile ago… like in high school? Then again, I did have school – and I was working way ahead because I know it’s cheesy but I enjoyed school. And I did have the greatest teacher ever… my mom 
Anyway, I’m now working at the rental counter and it’s pretty fun. I work from 5-8 every day which is when they have group lessons. Half the kids can’t see over the railing, it’s so cute! Plus, I realized I’ve never been “backstage” at the rink. Weird, right, considering I’m Coach OH!’s little advisee for the Big O, aka the Olympics. Haha. So it’s cool to talk to the manager and see how things work. I don’t think I’d go into business (more on my career later) but it’s definitely interesting. If I’m not busy, I’m allowed to demonstrate for the classes, which means I get a bonus! The girls I’m working with are great so far. I love this job; I don’t know why I ever thought of working here myself.
For those of you who don’t know, I’m going to be a doctor, probably an oncologist. But that’s if I can get through Vancouver and fit college in with training. I know I can’t skate my whole life 
so I definitely need a career. And I’m really interested in medicine… we’ll just leave it at that.
Right now we (Coach OH! and I) are trying to figure out what song I’m going to use for the Long Program. I’m really leaning towards Sarajevo 12/24 (Carol of the Bells) or just a medley of Trans-Siberian Orchestra songs. I LOVE them; saw their show a few years back and it was AWESOME. They are pretty much the coolest classical musicians… if you can even call them “classical”. I’m not sure if S12/24 is long enough, but we’ll see. I’m kind-of upset I can’t use “An Angel Came Down” or “This Christmas Day”, but I’m totally adapted to the no-lyrics rule. In fact, I think I’ve unconsciously saved TSO for my qualifier routine. Well, not really. I’m not THAT cool! We were just throwing some ideas out there. Honestly, if I had to pick another classical song, I think I’d go with Pachebel’s Canon. I know, so cliche, but I love it. Not sure how much of a routine you’d get out of it compared to TSO though. I’ve done instrumentals in the past too. We shall see.
