Wednesday, February 27, 2013

Tosh.0


Just booked tickets to see Daniel Tosh in Baltimore on June 21st.  Should be ROFL good times.

Monday, February 25, 2013

Federal Taphouse Review


Roy and I went to the Federal Taphouse for my belated birthday dinner. It's fairly new and it replaced the ghetto-fabulous Dragonfly nightclub in downtown Harrisburg. They have 100 beers on tap and they had one of Roy's favorites as of late, Back in Black by 21st Amendment (SF, CA).   They sat us at a table and one chair was on the dining room floor and the other was in this cubbyhole, kind of like a closet.  I sat there and I felt like I was hiding from everyone.  It would be a perfect seat for your mistress or manstress if you took them out in public.

I got a glass of wine, per usual. Beer shmeer, I want wine! We perused the appeteasers and our first choice was wings but they only had BBQ sauce for them (Roy no likey), so we got the meat and cheese platter.  We also ordered our entrees and we both got the Caesar salad.  Roy added steak for $9. I declined meat on my salad because we got the meat platter.  But when the appetizer came out, it looked like something you would get as a prize for winning a challenge on Survivor.  It was like two pieces of sliced roast beef, a slice of what looked like Spam but I think it was a pâté of some sort, one bite-size each of swiss, bleu cheese, and cheddar, couple thin slices of apples, 5 pickled green beans, and some other condiments that looked like bird droppings.  Oh, and some dates and toasted bread. It came out on a wood block and I felt like we were camping.  $14 for this meat and cheese platter?!  I get that they are trying to be hoity-toity gourmet or whatever, but it was kind of ridiculous. They should call it something else,  like "Twig & Berry Sampler D'Appalachian."

By this time Roy and I are starving.  We pecked at the bird droppings and then our "salad" came out which was two halves of Romaine heart - grilled -with Caesar dressing drizzled on it. I was expecting something different, um, like a SALAD.  We both had to cut up the lettuce and I don't really mind the grilled romaine hearts but I knew Roy is NOT a fan (I made them for him before at home and he wouldn't touch it). The lettuce was warm and soggy. His $9 steak amounted to 4 tiny pieces on the side.  At least his lettuce had some green in it, mine was all yellow.  It was pretty bad.  I guess we were just expecting something different - like crisp, cold chopped romaine lettuce, pre-cut, pre-tossed and ready to eat. If the menu had described what we got, we probably wouldn't have ordered it.  The best part was the croutons.  We ended up going next door to Zembie's and ordered wings to-go because we were still hungry.

We went back the next night but only to drink with friends since they wanted to see what it was like there. Their pizzas look good but I'm not sure I'll ever eat there again.

Tuesday, February 19, 2013

RSI Recap

Here's a recap from this past weekend's skating competition.

On Saturday all the teams in the competition had a chance to practice at the Giant Center.  The Giant Center is located in Hershey, PA and it's the home of the Hershey Bears (a top affiliate of the Washington Capitals).  It's a pretty nice sized venue and it was pretty cool being on the ice there.  Those professional arenas are nice and warm.  Our home practice ice at Twin Ponds is freezing cold (yes, I know that sounds obvious when ice is involved, but it makes a huge difference).  Here's a pic of my cousin and friend watching the OJ team practice:


After practice, Roy and I volunteered at the admissions table and sold tickets, programs, and pins. Roy is good at bantering with strangers, especially the ladies, so it was fun.  He's also great with little kids and we had Hershey's Kisses on the table for everyone.  After volunteering we went home and I had to take a nap.  Later on we went out with some friends at the Federal Taphouse in downtown Harrisburg.  Future post on that place to come...

On Sunday, we took my nieces to breakfast with Roy's dad because it was his birthday.  Afterwards we drove to the Giant Center in time for our next volunteer shift at the team registration desk.  Our teams skated later that afternoon.  Here is video of our intermediate team:



Here is a video of the adult team:


I wish I had a video of the OJ team but sometimes when you are recording you miss out on actually enjoying the performance.  I decided to just enjoy their skate this time.  They did great as usual!

I had a really great time at RSI and because it was our home club's event, it was cool getting to see all the behind the scenes operations and being able to be a part of the event in a more personal way. It was much more work than just showing up and skating, but definitely worth it.  Roy ended up working overtime and was in charge of opening the rink gate for skaters to exit ice. His parents came to watch us skate as well and they loved it!  Roy and I got separate phone calls from his mom to tell us that she had a blast and wanted to make sure we let her know when the next local event is.  She is so cute. 

As for our skate, the adult team did really well! All the teams did.  But I was especially determined to redeem myself from my jell-o legs performance at Easterns.  I'm sure getting my first competition out of the way helped a lot but I think it also helped having a larger locker room and kind of having the home ice advantage - even though we don't regularly skate at the Giant Center at all.  In Lake Placid, we had a makeshift locker room with curtains on all sides and it was cramped.  We couldn't play music or walk around or anything.  And I guess after getting last place, you know you can't do any worse! We ended up in 2nd and it was so gratifying. It was like we came in 1st because the 1st place team was a shoo-in (they took 1st at Easterns out of 13 teams). Yay! I've never been in a sport where you get judged and then you get ranked like figure skating.  Less than 3 minutes to show what you got and then you have to wait to see if it was enough.  No second half, no 4th quarter, no 9th inning. You don't get a chance to see how your competition skates either because you are in your locker room mostly and can't see anything.  Jessica's prediction was 3rd but I guess Roy brought more $$ this time =)
In the locker room before our skate
Posted Results for Open Adult

Silver Medal
Check out more photos on CPFSC's Facebook Page: http://www.facebook.com/CPFSC

Tuesday, February 12, 2013

Happy Snake Year!

Today is my last day of being a 32-year old. Gross. I hate saying my age because I feel like I'm lying! I wish I was! I usually tell anyone who asks that I'm 23 and suffer from a mild form of dyslexia.  But tomorrow I can't say that anymore, can I?

In other news, this weekend the Central PA Figure Skating Club is hosting a synchronized skating competition in Hershey, PA. Roy and I are volunteering and over 80 teams are expected to compete. I am anxious for our team to redeem ourselves and place higher than our last competition. There's no where to go but up!!



If you want to see some synchronized skating, come join us!
Event information here.


Tomorrow Roy and I are taking a little road trip down to Boones Mill, VA to pick up his new trailer. It's almost 4.5 hours away - just past Roanoke. I took off work so we can hit the road together (and so I can keep him awake!). I know he's looking forward to eating Bojangles down there. I personally like Popeye's better, but fried chicken from anywhere is pretty darn tasty.

The new tenants move in this Saturday at the stone house. We spent last weekend selling, disposing, or moving out all the items in the house.  There are just few large items left to move and some cleaning to do but it's pretty much done. I have mixed feelings at times about handing over the house to complete strangers but I know it's for the best. I am more pleased that I found someone to mow the lawn this summer.  I have come to dislike mowing very much.

On Feb. 28, Roy and I will have been "official" for three years! One of his friends asked us if we wanted to go on an 11-day Alaskan land tour/cruise trip in July with him and his family. It sounds VERY tempting but it's WAY too expensive.  I told Roy we can call it our HONEYMOON! HA.

Tuesday, February 5, 2013

Fart Control

Why me!?
          via


Monday, February 4, 2013

I Heart Lake Placid

Nearly 33 years ago, on February 13th, 1980, the XIII Winter Olympic Games opened in Lake Placid, NY. Coincidentally, I was born on the exact same day! I never thought that I'd ever be competing in a U.S. Figure Skating competition, but I did and it was in Lake Placid! Amazeballs!

Here are some photos from the trip:
Our abode for three nights
View of Mirror Lake from the back door of our room
Another view - to the right
OJ Team hair & make-up time! I love these girls!
Wake up, Sophia!
1932 Rink - it's actually warm in here
Go Team Reflections!
A familiar face!  Lake Placid Figure Skating Club alum Doris Papenfuss - she teaches at Twin Ponds East

Outside the Bookstore on Main St.
Taken at a shoppe on Main St (Olympic Village)
Dogsled rides on Mirror Lake and a guy making smooth ice for the skating area
All the competitor's names were displayed along the rink concourse.  That's ME - Jurry Kim!
My cousins - Angela Jung and Jessica Jung
Team Pizza Party at Mr. Mike's - OJ getting congratulatory medals from Coach Amy. They skated their best ever!
I bought this photo taken by the event photographer.  I'm the second skater from the right.
Me after our skate.  Survived my first skating competition!
Roy and I after my skate.  He is so supportive and I'm thankful he was there to cheer me on.
We got to Lake Placid on Wednesday night and the last couple hours on the road were treacherous.  It was unusually warm that day so the ground was giving off some serious steam/fog. It wasn't too dense but very patchy and you couldn't really see so it felt like you were heading straight into a mountain wall.  It was scary to say the least, but we made it.  There was packed snow on the ground - the kind that crunches every time you step on it.  I miss that kind of snow and it snowed every day we were there.

Thursday was OJ (Open Juvenile) Team competition day so we ate breakfast and hung out with the girls as they got hair and makeup done.  The OJ category had a total of 30+ teams so they broke it down into three groups and each group would compete as a qualifying round.  The top four in each group would go on to the final round, with the top three places earning a medal.  Team Reflections was in Group B and ended up 5th!  They were so close!
Open Juvenile: A team of 8-16 skaters. The majority of the team must be under 19. All skaters must have passed the pre-preliminary moves in the field test. 
Here is a video of their routine:


On Friday, I had a team practice at 5 am. I will never forget this practice because it's the first time I used my hard guards. I'm told every skater remembers the time they first use them and FORGET to take them off as they step onto the ice because as soon as you step on, you are on your ass!!!  At first I was like, whoa, this rink is super SLIPPERY! Ugh, my left buttock was so sore after that.

After practice we all ate brunch and then went to see the Intermediate competition at 1980 Rink.  This rink has more seating and the skaters are pretty super awesome. Their routines are a lot more entertaining since they are a bit longer and the skaters are much more advanced.  Ice skating has skill levels kind of like karate.  You take tests to advance higher.  Our team skated amazing but the competition was fierce.

Later on the team held a pizza party for everyone.  Food was delicious and it was nice to meet all parents and socialize with the team. Unfortunately the adult team had to leave for another practice later that evening.  This time it was more of a dress rehearsal (though we didn't get into competition dresses).  We had 10 minutes on the ice and got two run-throughs in.  The first one was good, the second one I fell and bruised my knee.  It wasn't that bad because I fall on the same part - especially if we are doing the routine back to back like that. I just don't have the skater's legs like my teammates - yet!

Saturday was our competition.  Here is a video of our routine:


There were 13 Open Adult teams competing, split into two groups as the qualifying round. We came in last in our group of 7.  We actually scored higher than 6th place team in our group, but the judges' ordinal majority had us in 7th. One judge had us in 4th, one in 5th, one in 6th, and four in 7th.  Roy said he paid the one judge $100. LOL.  He needs to bring more money next time - there are 6 other judges! =)


Next up is the 5th Annual Reflections Synchro Invitational in Hershey, PA on February 17th at the Giant Center. Time for redemption!

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