April 30, 2022 — What does? Me…coming back to life.

Thursday afternoon, at my part-time work, one of the people there asked me why it looks so slow when a skater comes out of a jump compared to the skater’s speed when she is in a jump. I explained because the jump has so many rotations, and the exit of the jump doesn’t have any. That got a blank stare, so I got up and did what I was surprised I could still do, rotation with my arms. Then I was trying to explain the entry and exit of a Lutz jump, but couldn’t. I was doing that because my co-worker’s example (a Tik Tok video he showed me) was a loop jump. A loop jump has pre-rotation, and a Lutz jump is a complete vault without pre-rotation, so I thought the explanation would be easier to see with a Lutz jump. Not satisfied with my verbal explanation, I stood up and demonstrated a loop jump. Wearing my Ugg boots, this was a bit clumsy, but I could still do it. Then I started to explain a Lutz, but I drew a blank on “outside edge” or “inside edge” as the entry. I went into my head, not using my words, and simply did a walk through of a Lutz jump, no thinking, just doing. Surprisingly, the muscle memory was still in there in this old head of mine. (The birthday is getting to me.) No I’d be frightened to do one on the ice, but it’s still in my head. And it’s outside edge after an approach on the inside, just so you know. Just so I know.

Then I pulled up a video of a Lutz to show the speed in the jump. I chose a video of Alexandra Trusova doing a quad Lutz because that would have a lot of rotational speed for demonstration as to why they are so much faster in the air than on the landing. A quad has to be fast. In fact they are so fast it’s sometimes hard to count to four. As for the speed differences for the exist as opposed to the in-air rotation, I’m sure a real physicist could explain why. I know it’s centripetal force doing something, but… whatever. I know the feeling, whatever the name, and I’ll take knowing the feeling over knowing the physics.

Since that day, YouTube has been giving me videos of Alexandra Trusova in shows. I liked her before, but, for me, she was second behind Kamila Valieva. Not now. Now I’m really into Alexandra Trusova. Her programs are all quad jumps, no triples, certainly not a double. And she has this amazing back bend thing too. And she’s quite rock ‘n’ roll in her music and costume choices. Plus her nick name is Sasha, typical of all “Alexandra” or “Alexander” people in a country that will not be named. (Sasha, like my bird.) My suggested Sasha Trusova video of that day was nuts. This is just so amazing; I’ve watched it on repeat.

The next day, Friday, my current fav Miranda Lambert released a new album Palomino. I’ve only had a chance to listen to it through once, but that is saying something because I’ve not made it through an album-listen since probably January. I like it. I’ll do a review and torture you with some country, but until then, know this, there is quite a lot of rock influence on Miranda’s new record. I thought there would be because of the first song that was pre-released, this song – Actin Up.

If I wasn’t so sleepy from finishing the eight million things I need to finish these days, I’d take this as a theme song. Actin’ Up. And I’d have already learned the guitar part, but I’m super out of my creativity element right now.

Still though, I’m watching skating. A lot. And that’s how it starts for me — skating, then everything else. And I love this new Sasha. Love her! I mean I really love her! And hopefully this skating excitement of mine will expand. Hopefully, Miranda’s new album will get me excited to play. Yes, I have thought about looking up the music to Acting Up. I really want to get out of my shell I’ve been in. So, skating, my old friend, please do that — get me out of this shell. My new Sasha, please do that. And Miranda… please let me love this album.

Now to go … stretch. Or something. That’s creative. I wonder if I could ever do a quad? Or that back bend? I wonder what the chords and notes are to Acting Up? Okay, yes, go stretch. That’s a start. Hopefully soon, I’ll get out a guitar. Stretch and play guitar? That sounds like a worthy goal.

Let me know what you think of this “Sasha” and of Miranda’s new song. And wish me luck on my stretching!