barbara

Lovely - but, as a desert resident with some familiarity with dozens and dozens of blooming cactus, I can say that this is manipulated - there are no deep blue cactus flowers, for starters. Interesting photo tough.... Cactus flowers are extraordinary in their variety and complexity and colors. But never blue.

Trying that kick with any enthusiasm at all would result in regret and a limp for days.

I was second trumpet through senior year in high school (!) when I decided it wasn't cool to have to march in the band. And playing Christmas carols in the snow was no fun at all (kept my mouthpiece inside my coat until it had to come out.) All six siblings (born in less than ten years) played brass instruments and we could do Herb Albert and the Tijuana Brass tunes. As an adult, I have to think it was a cacophonous nightmare in that house for my parents. As a kid, I didn't care, I guess. My parents drank a lot.... (and thank God the Japanese don't think of small domestic animals as food....)

I bet he'd love to cuddle a koala - but I bet he wouldn't go see any. He goes almost nowhere, even in Toronto. He's never been to Niagara Falls. When he's in a foreign city for a competition, he does not go out to see the local famous spots. He practices and he stays in his hotel. I feel sorry for him that he can't really go anywhere with anything like the freedom any one else might feel. It's partly because he's focused on the competition, partly because he's swarmed in public.

And I, frankly, can't think of a nicer place to have a cup of tea than that lounge, while watching practice. I can dream. And the fact that it's not cold is very unique...

The vets here (in Arizona - it's different in every state) see animals by appt only and you have to call when you're in the parking lot and then someone comes out to retrieve your animal. Only the animal gets to go into the office. I adopted a new dog four weeks ago and she was able to get in a couple of days later - but I already have an established relationship with that vet. I have no idea how they're dealing with emergencies currently, but I know they aren't doing elective things, like teeth cleaning.

The ice rink in my home town- a college town - has wooden beams in the "canopy" which was built in 1962. Before that, the rink was open. Really beautiful though until the rink was totally enclosed seven years later, it was like a wind tunnel and crazy cold. It was built for the college hockey team but town residents have always been able to use it whenever there wasn't a practice or game for the team. (I mostly skated on frozen ponds so this was the only "flat" ice I ever skated on.

in what country? In the states (not that I am in anyway recommending this currently insane and dangerous place), there's a story almost everyday about an animal shelter having all of their animals adopted. Quarantine pals. I do hope that people don't return or abandon their new pets when they are able to go back to a workplace, but it's always nice to see the last dog walk of out an animal control center...

I love the spirit of friendship both Javi and Yuzu display. You know that Javi had to be disappointed for himself, but happy for Yuzu - and Yuzu coming off the ice and putting his medal on Javi demonstrates what the "mates" part of training mates is all about. What a team.

Maybe his father has a cat to keep him company when he's alone. For the Japanese planets - is it common to have cats as housepets in Japan?

I used to play the trumpet, too (and can't wait for a Yuzu message)

Clearly I am not advocating for any unproven, untested vaccine to be distributed and promoted. There are vaccines being tested right now - for safety first, then efficacy. I know it is highly unlikely and a reasonable timeframe for an effective vaccine is a couple of years, if lucky. But, you never know. I can hope. (And while I would be beyond disappointed if the season is cancelled, there are more real life, right now, concerns I have with the spread of this virus and how it has impacted people I know and am related to. But, as I am not a practicing microbiologist or epidemiologist, hoping is my best approach.)

There is almost nothing I want more than to be able to see Yuzu skate in the fall - or the winter - so I am holding out (big) hope that all the brilliant scientists working around the world will find a therapeutic (and eventual vaccine) SOON. There are many vaccines that have already been in development for viruses and coronaviruses - and it is possible, though, realistically not probable - one of those can be tweaked and we will have relief much sooner than anticipated. I believe in science and my hopes are based in science. Gotta hang on to hope and the thought of the entire season being cancelled just smashes all my fanyu dreams.

It occurred to me that I didn't say Happy Anniversary to the Planet Finding this and knowing such a gracious and generous group of people share the same admiration for this one, singular brilliant skater has made this geek fan feel like she belongs. And I have met some truly lovely and fun people who I hope to see again (sooner rather than later). I don't even know if there are other fan groups out there, for anything or anyone because I haven't looked, and I don't care. I found my home here. Thanks.

I didn't think you meant edible...and Ghana is good chocolate - there are a number of "flavors" but it's their milk chocolate that is the #1 variety. If you like milk chocolate, it's great. I prefer super dark chocolate - like a dark Belgian chocolate.

Which cream? And was it really good? (And anything Ghana - CHOCOLATE!!!!)

They are available in medium and large, too - you can pre-order them. Not inexpensive, especially when it's only one of the four I really want.

Who wouldn't?

I only want the one! I'd order several Pooh faces - but I suppose the other faces could be used for going to the grocery store. I wonder what they mean by "small" - like for a child?

I think the biggest lesson I learned at ACI is that I shouldn't even think about recording performances because there will always be a better recording broadcast - but I really, really love his practices (and his practice gear) and that's what I most want to capture and save. A really high quality camera able to capture a clean, clear frame of Yuzu is absolutely necessary to get anything but blur. He is SO fast. My only clean pics are when he's posed just prior to starting a program. Even though there are plenty of beautiful photos of him available, having ones I took myself allow me to remember that I was there and he was there and that it was real.

I recorded him skating this, too, but somehow the quality of my I-Phone 6 video doesn't quite compare.

It's oddly disconcerting. But I think the most striking thing to me is that in reverse, he seems to be skating forward most of the time (which looks sort of normal), so, in realty, he spend a lot of his skate skating backwards.

Well done!!!! Congratulations !!!

Chopin for me, too. Not disappointed. I love the program, I love the music, I enjoy Chopin in general, and I'm happy to be associated with a world record.

Thanks for posting the link - I only caught a tiny bit of this live.