Balck-and-White

Дайте малко да използвам блога по предназначение. Качвам си преработения разказ. Трябва вече всичко да му е наред. Трябва да го предам на 1 май. Това ми е final, т.е. не съм напълно сигурна, ама може оценката ми за курса да е базирана само на него, така че четете и пишете какво мислите :)

The single candle on the wooden table in the middle of the room was wildly throwing creeping shadows along the cold concrete walls. The flame, subordinate to the whimsical winds of the world, was hissing and bowing in all directions. The ominous breeze broke through our shield of loving embrace every now and then. The damp hospital basement was by far not the place where I would normally want to be on a frigid November night. But it was the only place in the world I could share with my sister Molly, and where she was, was where I belonged back then.
Molly was only ten at the time. Her fluffy curls were tickling the skin on my face as I was pressing her small soft body tightly to my chest just below my chin. She was sleepy with one of her perfectly round cheeks protruding over my fluffy pullover in whose fabric her head was securely half-submerged. I could see her plump lips trembling from time to time and I knew that no matter how hard I tried I could not bestow the warmth she needed on the adorable white angel in my arms. But it was not about warmth or physical health or any kind of physical protection. Exhausted, I tried again:
“You need to remember, Molly!”
She looked at me with her large wide-open eyes, half-accusatory, half-surprised that I was starting again. Maybe it was just her desire to be left to sleep… But that flame in her eyes which I recognized as accusation is even now scorching my soul. “Why? Why do you want me to make this sacrifice? For whom?” was what I read in her gaze.
“You have to do it for yourself, Molly. For us…” I murmured. But even as I was whispering in her ear, a stream of tears raced down my cheeks. Why would I want her to give up the colors in our lives? What good could that possibly do us?
“Only then could we remain together. You…” I choked with crying under Molly’s unflinching stare. I drew her still nearer and closed my eyes 10 inches above her head. How could they know what was real? They weren’t right, I believed at the age of 15. But this didn’t matter. I bit my lips in order to fight the confusion that had overcome me and go back to the strict and exacting reality of the pain. No time for hesitation. They could discover us any moment. And if Molly continued to see the beautiful, presumably non-existent things around us, the doctors would deal with her their way. I couldn’t let them hurt her.
“They decide on the colors and phenomena of the world, Molly. You mustn’t see more than they do. Stop it or they’d take it away from you forcibly.” I was trying to be as convincingly didactic as I could, despite my own resentment. “Remember what you know about the world, Molly. Not what you see. That is the truth, Baby. Everything else is just…” I took a deep breath before I could finish with the word that tore my heart with its ruthlessness “insane.”
Molly gasped. She sat immobile, listening intently. Her big innocent eyes were desperately scrutinizing the air I emitted for an infinitesimal sparkle of hope to grapple to. A flicker of fear started to gloomily ensconce in her otherwise sparkling eyes.
“Wrong, Molly. It’s wrong.” I tried to find a milder substitution for the suffocating word. “They’ll separate us, if you don’t remember.” Tears were sliding down Molly’s smooth cheeks. She was now standing before me, out of my embrace, and all she could do was wrap her arms around me and bury her head in my pullover, craving for a shelter against the cruelty of a world she did not understand.
“I won’t go, Karen! I’ll stay with you!”
Oh, my sweet little angel! As she was falling asleep in my arms a few minutes later, I was wondering how anyone could want to take away from her that wild belief in the beauty of life?!
* * *
I was five years old when Molly was born: the cutest little bubble with the most exquisite smile and dimples at its sides. At the age of five she was as unlike me as she could be in her appearance, I was told. People usually described me as a slender, pretty girl with contemplative deep blue eyes and gigantic, straight brown hair. Molly’s curly head was blond and her eyes reflected the color and brightness of the sky. My lips were darker and thinner. My typically serious face didn’t have her sublime rosy shades. Or so I knew from the others… What wouldn’t I have given to see her smiling round face in color! But I was born with the inability to see colorfully. So I was perpetually saturated into my black-and-white reality. And I would have probably been growing up a desperately sad child, had it not been for Molly’s glorious and unwavering love of life, her constant pursuit of beauty and brave allegiance to dreams and optimism. Her whole nature sprayed inescapable love all around her. Sunshine and beauty tailed her in her adventures, bestowing on her environment obviously more happiness than it was ready to tolerate. My Molly… and her elaborate perception, which made the world more mesmerizing than any colors could. She hungrily swallowed sights and turned them into magically erected palaces of joy for the both of us. The flowers danced; the inanimate objects talked; the rivers sang.
Although more often than not, I couldn’t see what she saw... I didn’t see the greenish fairies in the air with their countless tiny torches coming to take care of me when I had the flu one winter, but I felt better with her warm soft hand on my forehead. I couldn’t see our mother, who, she said, often visited us to kiss us goodnight and softly talked to us in a dulcet voice.
But I saw the monster who came with my father to steal her away from me. His white hands seized her, insensitive to her crying and begging. She fought that night.
“Don’t take her away!” I cried in my father’s firm grip.
The huge white man looked at me with mocking pity, as if to make sure I understood that I was a brainless child, who had no idea what was going on.
“She will be much better off in our hands. We’ll heal her.”
From what?! I angrily asked myself. I saw this in his black eyes: his intentions weren’t good.
He was taking her away. He didn’t understand.
“But someone has to take care of her. Don’t send her there alone, Daddy! Send me with her!” I started sobbing uncontrollably, immobilized in Dad’s strong hands, as the white monster carried her away.
That night Dad came to me. I wouldn’t talk to him. I had no desire to see him or hear his explanation that she needed special care before it was too late. I knew what he was going to tell me. Mom had been dead for 8 years. Molly couldn’t possibly have seen her. She was not supposed to be seeing unreal things. The doctors at the hospital were going to save her. From what?! From her ability to see the static black-and-white woman we saw flat in the photos in color and motion and relief? Mom wasn’t unreal. And Molly didn’t need to be saved from the smiling colors of her world only because we would never see them.
At the door Dad turned to look at me. He was crying, black all through. Even his normally pale skin was grayer than ever beyond the mist of tears filling my eyes.
A few days later we visited Molly in the hospital. And while Dad and the doctors weren’t watching, engaged in a secret discussion, I grabbed her hand and ran away with her. We hid in the gray hospital basement. The heavy black door slammed shut behind our backs obscuring the daylight from our sights for two long days turned into an endless night.
“Remember, remember” I kept imploring. “Reality.” “The true colors.” But how could I help her see them when they were only black and white to me? I just had to try to save her. I couldn’t trust the doctors. They didn’t understand.
On the third day they found us huddled together in the alcove under the concrete staircase. The white candle on the black table had burned away. And even to Molly now everything seemed black.
They took her away from me and, finally, dealt with her their own way. Treatment, pills, confinement… Six months later she was out of the asylum, presumably healed. She had no hallucinations and wouldn’t let her imagination go wild any more. But the brightness of her eyes was gone, too. We looked more alike now. Only that I never saw her smile again.
Another change was that Molly and I weren’t close any more. We just had nothing to talk about, nothing we could do together. All we knew about each other was out of the scope of the conversations we were supposed to have. So we just remained silent and gradually estranged.
One sunny day, Molly entered my bedroom and stared into my eyes. We just stood there looking at each other, craving for a moment for that broken connection of brightness that once kept us together. We were waiting, but nothing happened. No colors, no dancing flowers or golden showers of sunshine. Just a white pane surrounded by a black frame and a simple gray bed in the corner of a whitish room. Suddenly Molly’s gray eyes filled with tears and she dashed out. As the door slammed shut behind her, I knew my guiding star to the world of happiness was gone forever.
* * *
It was a beautiful warm day in the middle of June. The sun was smiling from the illimitable sky. And Molly looked more exquisite than ever. Only ten years old, she was already a beautiful, head-turning lady, as she entered the prom organized by the Queen of flowers and fairies. Everyone was exceptionally well-dressed that day. Millions of colors were mingling in the fresh morning air of the palace gardens. They were dancing to the sounds of the wind which playfully ran among the numerous flowery couples. As Molly entered, however, everything became quiet. The Queen fairy flew to Molly’s shoulder to inform her of a few organizational details. Everyone straightened up in anticipation.
Or so I imagined as I stood blindfolded by the fence.
At some point Molly approached me and inserted her soft hand into mine. I knew she was smiling and I was dying to see the prom she had organized for my fifteenth birthday. She was going to take me somewhere. “Some place special” she had solemnly declared and the familiar enigmatic smile had lit her charming face. She always smiled like that, as if she knew something beyond the limits of the possible human knowledge. And she really did, I believed.
A few steps. The brightness of her smiling eyes was penetrating through the cloth, as we were submerging into the ocean of flowers under her careful supervision.
“We have arrived” Molly gloriously announced. She rose up on her tiptoes and reached up to loosen the cloth.
“Happy Birthday, dear Karen” came floating to my ears as the piece of silk fabric slid down my face releasing my eyes.
“Oh my God!” I couldn’t believe my eyes.
Molly hungrily absorbed the impressive view before us, smiling proudly. The tears flowing from my eyes wetted her face as she warmly embraced me.
“And now, my Princess,” Molly bowed courteously, “let’s dance!” A playful smile emerged on her royal face. And she ran deep into the garden fluttering around to the sound of the wind.The parting kiss was still burning on my face, as I was watching the colorful triumphant figure, dancing among the colorful flowers of the black-and-white world.

Време за учене :)

Даааа, днес ми е ден за учене. Така де, ей сега почвам. Ама аз бях и 6 часа на работа. После обиколих магазините по разни задачи. Сега вече свърших и с вечерята и ей сега ще се захващам с есе номер 1. Всъщност хвърлих един поглед и на Facebook, за да си дам сметка колко права съм била, че това не е мястото за ефикасно общуване с хората, които харесваш и искаш да са ти приятели.
Но да започна отначало, че хич не се разбира за какво говоря. Вчера беше представлението на сцените. Много весело беше! Видяхме всички сцени една след друга. Btw, те бяха сцени от различни пиеси, ама общо взето знаехме за какво става дума, защото бяхме посветили няколко класа на това всеки да разкаже за героя си, за биографията, целите, определящите събития в живота им, какви са, защо са такива, какво е общото между нас и героите ни и т.н. Трябваше да пазим сцените в тайна. Така че можете да си представите, че ни беше много интересно да видим какво ще се случи на героите. Всички се справиха изумително добре! Разбира се има хора, които ми направиха особено силно впечатление. :) Готино беше. Ние бяхме пети. Постреснахме малко тълпата. :D Май коментарът, че не си е личало дали целувките са били по сценарий или импровизация, беше добър... :) Ами ще видим какво ще каже Jim в понеделник. Ще ходим да ни сподели бележките и коментарите си за сцените, пак по двойки. :D
Та след сцените, поговорихме малко. Споделихме някои мнения. Ще убия Edan за безобразния му коментар: "Puneet must be a very good kisser," и нещо за това как го бил учил преди 2 години. Чакай малко!!! Защо пък Puneet?! И никой не се сети да го поправи. Е, то вярно, че беше на шега, ама все пак... Как достигаш до такъв извод, докато гледаш двама души как се целуват?! Пълно безобразие. Да не говорим, че повечето пъти аз го целувам. Просто няма как да заключиш такова нещо, ако не си толкова влюбен в Puneet, колкото е Edan! Ами открадна ми го след представлвнието! :( Всички други си говорят с партньорите си, само моят партньор си говори с Edan (те се познават от отдавна и лятото даже щели да живеят заедно, което обаче не оправдава Edan, че ме гледа гадно, откакто взехме с Puneet да репетираме сцената сериозно, защото Puneet обръщаше повече внимание на мен, отколкото на него!). Та така де. Бях малко зарязана и нямаше какво да правя. Така че се натоварих в асансьора с половината група, а даже не бях казала чао на другата половина от групата, а може и да не ги видя повече. :'( Много е тъжно така в Америка. Просто си тръгнахме. И като ме обхвана една вълна на сантименталност. :'( Ужас! Седя си аз на леглото и гледам тъжно в една точка. И викам, не става така. Та се уговорих да се видя малко с Ели. После срещнах и Дана и седнахме да си говорим трите в кафето на библиотеката. По пътя май видях Eric от курса ми по Шекспир, ама нещо не можах да го позная като хората. Голям ужас. А той сигурно се стресна като ни чу толкова възбудено да си приказваме на някакъв странен език. Пък може и да не е бил той, знам ли...
Само че, както обикновено, разговорът хич не ми се отрази добре. :( Ами те Дана и Ели, като се съберат да ми противоречат или по-скоро да ме поучават, все нищо не излиза. Тъй де, осъзнавам, че не те са хората, с които трябва да говоря. После се прибрахме, че имаме много да учим. Аз уж на това щях да го посвещавам този пост. Сега са ни изпитите. Днес ни е последният reading day и от утре започват изпитите. Аз имам едно есе, което трябва да предам до петък, в което оценявам работата ни по подготовката на снощното представление и самото представление. Това мисля да не ви го пускам да го четете. :) Само че бях обещала на Puneet да му го пратя, след като го предам. Тъй де, аз си поисках неговото първа. :) Ама той снощи не си спомняше, така че сигурно мога да го прекарам и да не му го пратя. :) Ама пък искам да прочета неговото... Абе, ще видим. След това имам до 1 май да поправя едно есе, да напиша едно ново, дето още не съм сигурна за темата и да поправя 2 разказа. След това имам на 3ти изпит от две части върху Шекспир. 1ва 4аст: 2 половин-часови есета върху трагедиите (трябва да си довърша King Lear; но поне това е всичко) и 2ра 4аст: 1-часово есе върху тема по избор (от 2-3), която ще знаем предварително, ама върху всички изучавани пиеси. Да стискате палци на 3ти. :) Освен това ходя и по 5-6 часа на работа тази седмица. Мисля другата да не ходя преди четвъртък и след това в четвъртък и петък да работя, hopefully, по цял ден. Това ми е планът. В петък (4ти май) ще ходя на Spiderman 3. След това в събота (5ти май) сутринта товарим багажа за storage. И в събота вечерта си заминавам към България. Сега усещам как ще ми липсва Америка лятото. А докато съм тук ми липсва България... Няма оправия... Трябва да изпратя Angel banner-а на Kristina. Да понапазарувам... И то, май това са ми задачите докрая. Пропуснах Шекспир партито ни тази неделя в градината на професорката (у тях). Щели сме да играем някаква игра, наречена "croquet", ама и идея си нямам за какво става дума... :D
Сега да се върнем на снощната ми депресия. Прибирам се аз тъжна, тъжна от библиотеката с Дана и отивам в общата стая да мрънкам. Да, ама хората гледаха някакво комедийно шоу... И изобщо... Абе не беше моментът. И после хванах Sagar да му споделям колко съм тъжна. И така, какво ме посъветваха всички... Facebook. Да си дойдем на думата. Да съм ги била прибавила във Facebook и да съм им била пишела. Като съм била искала да сме приятели, да съм била направила аз усилието... Facebook?! Аз не вярвам в електронните комуникации. Аз не пиша във Facebook. Аз почти не използвам Facebook. И далеч не вярвам, че могат да се създадат стабилни контакти по интернет. Да ме извините! Пълна простотия! Това във Facebook с хората, които почти не познаваш, не е приятелство и няма изгледи да стане. Както и да е. След като толкова много хора толкова настоятелно ми обясняваха, че това е начинът да си имаш приятели в Америка, аз реших да потърся хората от курса по acting във Facebook. И знаете ли какво се оказа? Ами те тези, които ми трябват, даже нямат Facebook! Ами за какво им е наистина? Не е това мястото да търсиш приятели! Може би зависи от това за какви приятели става дума и какво искаш от тях. Абе не се вързвам с което и да било общество! Все така става. Ама често казано се радвам, че сладки деца като Sukriti, даже нямат Facebook. Има си e-mail-и, телефони, адреси. Ако наистина държим на връзката помежду си, това е начинът да я поддържаме. Защо по дяволите ти е приятелство за показ? Ами на мен не ми трябва. Който иска такова нещо, да си му се радва. То Facebook, MySpace, че даже и блоговете по принцип, ама той моят си е със специална насоченост (не само моят). А между другото, навсякъде имам account-и. Ами така е с моето фигуристче. Като се натресе във MySpace и аз трябваше да се запиша, че каквито го пише... Просто не е за изпускане! :) Та в MySpace имам 3ма приятели: Johnny, Tanith и Ben. :D Открих някои неща за себе в Америка. Абе аз и преди ги знаех, ама не бяха толкова силно изявени. Не знам. Мразя безличното общуване. Определено предпочитам липсата на общуване пред него. То дето ще се целуваш 2 седмици с някой и почти нищо няма да знаеш за него, докато накрая не му се скараш, че даже не сте приятели, че поне на последните репетиции да ви е забавно. ;) Ами така де! Няма аз да им играя по свирката! И другото нещо, което мразя, са тълпите. Ужас! Страшно ме подтискат. Аз, представяте ли си, аз, една дума не мога да кажа. Просто не мога да бъда себе си в тълпа и това си му е. Някак си пак те измъква от сферата на личното... Ами искам пък лични, топло взаимоотношения! Абе аз бях ли екстремист, като заминавах... Май ще се върна още по-голям екстремист. Животът ми действа обратно на очакванията. Само да не се урочасам! :) Поне "феминистка" не съм вече. :) Поне според себе си... Тия мъжкарански неща не са за мен. :) Та днес във Facebook, вместо да добавя някого, изтрих всички, които всъщност не познавам, от списъка ми с приятели. Стига простотии! :)
Снощи обаче беше засегната и още една зверски неприятна тема. Ами аз обикновено като съм нещастна не съм 100 % сигурна защо съм нещастна в 100 % от случаите. Така че снощи, знаете си, не беше само класът. Ами какво щеше да стане сега с мен и Puneet. Ние почти успяхме да станем приятели даже и от моя гледна точка, което е много. Пък аз толкова искам да си имам приятели и тук! И не знам. Искаше ми се да вярвам, че ще останем приятели, а някакси не ми се вързваше. :( Тъжно, нали? Но и това не е всичко. Sagar, нали познава Puneet, и ми тръсна нещо как не можело да сме приятели с него, защото всички го харесвали и искали да му бъдат приятели, пък той не бил приятел на никого чак толкова, защото винаги имало с кого да бъде, да прави нещо и прочее. Абе каква беше тая простотия?! Той Sagar вярно не твърди, че го познава много. Определено го познава по-малко от мен. Ама познайте? Ами вързах се! И съвсем вече се депресирах! Ама чакай малко, Америка на била филм! Ами че кой жив човек има такова чувство за превъзходство или пък е толкова уверен, че е обожаван и какво ли не... Пълни глупости! Това си е чисто и просто извадено от тийнеджърски американски филм. Странична гледна точка. Т.е. резултат на повърхностно наблюдение отстрани, което не дава никаква информация за чувствата на обекта на наблюдение. Все едно това, че аз съм била много високомерна. Да бе! Не и на личностно ниво. Както и да е. Идеята ми беше, че се вързах и че даже се разстроих абсолютно неоснователно. Ей така като стане и все едно забравям всичко, което знам за даден човек, и си го замествам в представите си с нечие възприемане за него. Тъпо, знам. Какво беше това идиотско "popularity thing"? Първият ми въпрос във връзка с това: Ама той да не ходи по купони? :D Е не, просто трепя! Както и да е. Да продължа с историята, че се въртя на едно място от 1 час вече. Ами нищо не ми помогна. И прибягнах към изпитаното ми най-ефикасно лекарство на душевни терзания. Реших да пиша на обекта... Та начатках му някакво зверски идиотско късичко e-mail-че. Писах, че съм депресирана, че може да не видя хората от класа отново, че все пак накрая е успял да поправи нещата, защото аз нали му мрънках през цялото време. И завърших със зверски идиотския въпрос какво става сега (дали си оставаме/ще бъдем приятели или ще се върнем към/ще си останем познати; абе знам, може и той нищо да не е разбрал :D). Ами може ли да питам такива неща? Леко безмозъчна... :D Какво да се прави... Ама нещо друго се случи. Само изпращам аз e-mail-а и си се озовавам в Inbox-а и познайте. Току що съм получила e-mail от Puneet. Страшни сме просто! Гладайте само какъв синхрон сме постигнали с тия репетиции! :D Та човекът беше зверски мил и ми беше написал, че съм играла страхотно и такива неща. Абе сладко дете. :) След това ми отговори и на моите глупости... Които не бяха само глупости, защото все пак заглавието беше "Thanks! :)" и беше сериозно. О, btw, той ми беше писал и че знае, че понякога е трудно да се работи с него. Абе зверски "nice". Ето нещо, което американчетата могат да бъдат! Някои дори повече от останалите. :) Та във второто e-mail-че пишеше, че смята, че сме се представили добре, ама му е малко blur и не е сигурен конкретно кое е било добре и кое - не (защото аз го бях питала). Тръсна ми някаква негова житейска философия да не страдам за групата, ами да се радвам на факта, че аз съм се забавлявала в курса. И писа, че в понеделник определено ще ходим да говорим с Jim. Абе "definitely" си е отворено за интерпретации при положение, че само отговорът на един от въпросите ми липсваше, а аз не го бях питала за понеделник. Но както и да е. Това дете при всички положения е супер мило и сладко и много се стара да ми угоди, пък колко му се карах... :D Идеята ми е, че може би наистина няма да има неща, които да ни съберат в бъдеще на каквото и да било ниво... Може би... Кой знае... При всички положения обаче се забавлявахме и се радвам, че поне малко станахме приятели. Никой не знае какво ще ни донесе утре. Но защо да разваляме вчера с такива глупости?! Беше ми приятно, Puneet, и до нови срещи. :) Но няма да са във Facebook. :) А аз оттук нататък ще се старая да се държа естествено. Стига с тая култура, дето не съм я познавала и щели да ме помислят за луда. Ами аз по принцип не го крия! :D Дано философската ми вяра във взаимността да ме води по правилните пътища на трънливия живот! Макар че, да, в случая не е само взаимност, ами и обстоятелства и много други неща. (Нещо важно, на мен любовта ми е забранена поради здравословни причини, не говоря и не намеквам нищо за любов, когато става дума за мен; засега любовта е част от изкуството; когато отново започна да се занимавам с любов, специално ще ви уведомя; дотогава обаче никакви грешни изводи!!!)
Та така... Объркана, изплашена, заета... През голяма част от времето щастлива... Всичко загубено и всичко спечелено... Животът е странен, но си струва, нали. :)
Обичам ви, Сладури! Благодаря ви, че четете блогчето и че във всеки един момент мога да си мисля, че сте до мен поне мисловно, че има с кого да споделям. Сега ще тичкам (къде ли?) да уча! Стискайте палци за изпитите, есетата и разказите! :) Безброй целувки! И до скоро ВИЖДАНЕ! :)

Клипчета

А ето и малко клипчета... И като имате предвид, че тези неща съм ги видяла наживо *swoon*... :))))))
Marshall's Showcase Videos:
Fallen Angels - Johnny Weir, Melissa Gregory and Denis Petukhov: http://http://www.divshare.com/download/459893-33f
All in Love is Fair - Johnny Weir:
http://www.divshare.com/download/459896-441
Johnny and his Kids:
http://www.divshare.com/download/459901-5dc
Johnny Being Sewn in his Costume:
http://www.divshare.com/download/459904-b81
Hip Hop - Tanith Belbin and Ben Agosto:
http://www.divshare.com/download/459960-c60

Обърнете особено внимание на The Fallen Angels program, или когато спортът, магията и изкуството се сливат в едно...
Enjoy!!!! :)))))))))))

Запознах се с Johnny!!! :)

Ами това са снимките от професионалната фотографка. Ще копирам report-а си от борда обаче, така че пак ще е на английски. Тя мама знае. Ако някой друг има нужда от помощ с превода, да се обади (да ми пише) и ще разказвам на български. Букетът, който виждате на снимките струва $ 100. Значката е Johnny's Angels. Бях парфюмирана с новият ми Ralph Lauren. :) Другите важни неща ги има в report-a. :) Оооо, моите снимки са тук: http://new.photos.yahoo.com/stefarbalova/album/576460762398282671

Enjoy!!!!!!!!! :))))))) Много целувки на всички!!! :*:*:*:*:*

Sam and I arrived at the Wachovia Center at about 12:15. It was raining and the enormous bouquet we had brought for Johnny was wrapped in paper we were supposed to remove before giving it to him. So we ran inside the building but we were told that the box office, where Sam was supposed to go to receive our VIP passes, was somewhere outside, so she left me waiting for her with the flowers and went to take the passes. Not that it is so important but I had to start from somewhere. Sam already told you about the lost passes and her meeting Priscilla. Nothing interesting had happened to me in the mean time.

So we bought our programs and went inside. I had a third row seat. This rink was very different from the one in Reading, I think. The seats in the different rows were much closer together and the view was kind of worse, although third row wasn’t too bad. And the rink seemed smaller but this may be a visual illusion since this time I was in the central ice Sector.

The show started with lights in different colors that said Champions on Ice. After a few minutes the skaters appeared introduced one after the other dancing to different pieces of music in some fancy costumes. Johnny moved by the boards so fast.

Then, the individual numbers were great. I am really spoilt now. Watching figure skating live is just incredible!!! I kind of love all the skaters live! They are all so wonderful and graceful and fluid!!! Whoever thinks that’s not the best sport/art they are just wrong! It’s just magical! Johnny was once again incredible! I love how he looks so absorbed in the emotion of the piece he is skating to. He went by the boards a few times and I could see his sad face. And then as soon as the music is over, he smiles and looks happy again! I think that even the lights went off as he took his final pose and then on again too soon and he still looked sad. Then the lights went off he moved to the center of the ice and when the lights illuminated him again he was smiling. He was stunningly beautiful! The audience loved him. He consecutively turned to the four sides of the rink and the people sitting in the respective sectors he faced tried to make more noise than the others he had already faced. It looked like a kind of competition. Johnny was the first skater in the show to receive such noisy applause. It was wonderful!

As to the other skaters…

I love Alissa! She is just great!

I was so excited to see Pang and Tong. I have no idea why I didn’t know they were a part of the cast. They were amazing, too! There was an incredible double twist in the program. I think they scared the audience a bit. Btw, I don’t think that Pang is so extremely thin live. Well, it only confirms my belief that all the skaters look better live!

I love Tanith and Ben’s program! They performed the hip-hop one. Their attitude is just amazing no matter what roles they play! And Tanith was in a kind of sparkly black socks this time. They looked great!

I remember that I loved Plushenko’s costume. Black, with some streaks on the loose shirt. He dances to a lyrical piece. His artistic expression was superb, which really impressed me because I am not really used to thinking of him as a great artist. His jumps also looked fine! I know how ridiculous this comment is when it comes to Plushenko but I was really wondering how much in form he is after the season off. But he looked great!I am so happy I had the chance to see Tatiana and Max! They are so beautiful!

I was pretty impressed by the acrobats, although I expected something great from them. They are just scary to watch. The things they do look almost impossible. The Blades in Glory stunts are nothing in comparison!

During Irina Grigorian’s second performance Dan brought her hoops in a shirt that said Hoop boy. It was just too funny!

Kimmie had a new beautiful dress! I think it was really appropriate for her Angel program.

Shizuka was beautiful but I didn’t like the song she skated to.

Anissina and Peizerat had some great lifts and other special moments. Gwendal’s removing his shirt was definitely a highlight of the show. They skated to a selection of Christina Aguilera’s songs. Johnny’s influence???

Sasha was extremely beautiful. This time all her jumps were clean. She skated to Hurt.

Another thing that surprised me is that I really enjoyed Evan’s number and I am usually not a fan of his style of skating. But I think that the music and choreography of this program really work for him.

Rudy’s number was hilarious! My first time to see him and I really liked him.

The finale was amazing!!! I loved the costumes, the stories. Everything was great! And Johnny was on the ice during most of it. Ben danced with a lot of girls, showing a definite preference for Tanith. Tomianina and Marinin and Pang and Tong switched partners for a spiral. Alissa looked great in a tight black costume. The fight of Johnny and Evan was hilarious! I loved the way Johnny looked like a kind of vizier followed by his women. The throw double axel is just incredible!!! Johnny was also smiling a lot during the closing number. He finished on top of one of the white columns, too! Then, the bows, and the show was over.

So we asked where backstage was and went there. Sam said who she was and we were let in passing by Patti. We took our place in the line and waited for Johnny. He was actually one of the last skaters to come…

The first skater who appeared was Shizuka Arakawa. She was really nice. I actually took a lot of pictures of her, since Johnny was nowhere in sight and she was the first skater there, so there were no distractions coming up. While we were getting prepared to meet the skaters, we decided that it would be extremely difficult for us to take pictures and hold the programs, the bouquet, the calendars (I’ll explain later ), our handbags and our jackets all at the same time. So we left the jackets on one of the blue boxes backstage, not really caring if they would be stolen. The mission ahead of us was far more important than our being warm in the future.

Shizuka was followed by Kimmie. She was really nice, too, interacting with the kids right before us in the line, who wanted their skates signed. Then she came to me and I really wanted to tell her that I really liked her new dress. I think that I missed “new,” however, so it must have sounded extremely stupid. Why am I complimenting a skater I meet for the first time on her choice of a dress, as if I am more interested in the costumes than in the actual skating? She said she was happy I liked it. But she sounded surprised. Well… I could have at least mentioned that I had seen her at Marshalls and that was where my comment came from. Not until I went home, however, did I realize what the reason for her surprise was. But everything was happening so fast. The skaters were coming and going. We were impatient to meet Johnny. And Priscilla, Patti and Paris were going up and down around us. So we had more than enough distractions. Plus, I didn’t really know what to tell the skaters.

Alissa must have been one of the next skaters in the line. Johnny had not appeared yet. I love Alissa, so I really wanted a picture with her. She was great. Thank you for taking the picture, Sam.

Ok. Tanith was coming next. I think Evan was in front of her. But I really cared more about Tanith! I adore Tanith and Ben! So it was definitely time for another picture. Tanith always looks great! Sam asked for a picture with her and Evan. I don’t know why she wanted Evan in the picture, but it was alright. Tanith pulled Evan back and we had two pictures of the 4 of us taken.

I don’t have an idea how we missed some of the skaters. There was a moment when I saw Plushenko in the line. I really wanted an autograph and a picture with him. But he must have mysteriously disappeared while our eyes were stuck on Johnny. Well, it doesn’t sound like a mystery, but I never realized what happened with him. I just know that I never met him, which was strange.

Maxim Marinin signed our programs. We missed Tatiana for some reason. Then, Pang and Tong. They were great! I love this pair! They were actually responding in English to the thankful fans. But just as I saw them, I saw someone important behind them. Johnny!!! Wow! He looked amazing even from a distance. The excitement was definitely building up.

Vladimir Besedin was next. I was ready to skip his autograph, but he was nice enough to grab my program, find the page and sign it. I am serious, btw, I am really thankful he did. He was followed by Irina Grigorian. But there was no time to get her signature because Johnny was coming after her. She actually signed Sam’s program and was kind of surprised that I didn’t want her autograph. I am so sorry! I really thought she was great. But I couldn’t miss Johnny. Well, probably I was just too nervous.

And then he finally reached us!!! Johnny started signing Sam’s program, when she told him the flowers were for him. Then he noticed my button and pointed sweetly to it. It was so amazing. We told him that the Angels said hi and I tried to add that they were sending their love, too. He told us to say Hi! to the Angels and to tell them that… OK. I missed this part. Then he came to sign my program, too. And I am not sure whether this happened before or after that but I also gave him a small (pocket) Russian calendar for 2007. I told him it was Russian and I tried to explain that I had won it at a competition in Mathematical Linguistics in Russia. He asked whether I was Russian. And I said “No. I am Bulgarian.” And then, he gave me a hug because of the distance I had passed in order to see him! It was so sweet! He asked me how long I had been in the States. I said almost a year and then corrected myself to a school year. I mentioned I was a student here. He asked whether I liked the USA. And I said that now that I had seen him, I was really starting to like it. And that’s true, btw. I am really starting to like it here just now and Johnny is a big part of it. Then he signed my program. I asked him to sign another Russian calendar for me. I took a picture of it, so it is among my photos. He signed one for Sam, too. I know that we broke the rules a bit, but I would prefer him to sign my calendar anyway and was ready to skip the program autograph, but he was so nice and signed everything. Then I urged Sam to give him the flowers before he had to go. It was a little crazy. Oh, I forgot to mention the picture the photographer took of the three of us with the flowers while Sam was still holding them. We were so engaged in our conversation that I was scared we would forget to give the bouquet to Johnny. Oh, and before Sam gave Johnny the flowers she asked him whether Priscilla had told him that we had this enormous bouquet for him. And he said that she hadn’t, probably because she wanted it to be a surprise. I don’t know if Sam actually heard me when I told her to give him the flowers. I hope she didn’t because it was so stupid of me to believe that she would forget to do it. But I really wanted him to receive them after all. And when Sam gave Johnny the flowers he gave her a hug and a kiss, which she promised to describe to the Angels. *Just a reminder.* Then I asked Johnny if we could take pictures with him. He, of course, agreed! He is so, so sweet! So first Sam took a picture of us. She took a few actually. Then I tried to take a picture of them, but my hands were trembling, so the first attempt at a picture was unbelievably blurry. So I kind of apologized and took another one, this time holding my camera with both my hands. Unfortunately, it’s not perfectly clear. I am so sorry!!! I am so glad that the professional photographer took pictures of us, too! I am extremely bad at taking pictures obviously. Especially at moment like that. In spite of this accident, I have to admit that Johnny is absolutely great at putting people at ease. I thought I wouldn’t be able to say a word and it was so extremely easy to talk to him! He was wonderful. Another thing that impressed me was the fact that he didn’t react in any way to finding out that I had an accent. He seemed to understand everything I said. It really felt so easy to talk to him! Thank you, Johnny!!! After I took the pictures, I hurried to ask whether he was going to perform the Fallen Angels program at COI. And he smiled and said he was working on it. I wished him good luck with that. And it was time for him to go. I am not 100 % sure about the chronology of the events, but I really hope I haven’t missed anything. Then I asked Sam what he wanted us to tell the Angels. Hm… Another mistake on my part. He apparently wanted us to tell the Angels that he was working on getting the Fallen Angels program into the tour. I am sorry for asking again. I couldn’t believe it hadn’t come up… Well, obviously, it had… But Johnny was wonderful!!! He looked so much better live! And his voice is more beautiful live, too. He was amazing! I don’t know how to thank him for this incredible afternoon! And for being the most artistic, beautiful skater and one of the most amazing people I have ever met! Thanks!!! Swept away by the moment, I completely forgot to take notice of his eyes, but I couldn’t possibly have missed the great eyelashes! And his beautiful, beautiful smile!

Well, now I remembered how we actually separated. I knew it was far more logical than it appeared in my account of it! He looked at the flowers and saw a leaf hanging from the bouquet. And he said sadly: “Oh, I already broke it!” But on a more thorough inspection he realized that he hadn’t and smiled happily!

Then we relaxed a bit, our eyes still following Johnny as he continued down the line. As soon as he reached the spot where Patti, Priscilla, Paris and another friend were, he gave the flowers to Patti. Everyone bent over the bouquet to smell them. It was so sweet!!!

Then, we met Ryan Bradley. I wouldn’t say I am a big fan, although as everyone knows already I love all the skaters live, but he was so charming and talkative and nice. I had to do something! So I asked if I could take a picture of him and he posed smiling. Unfortunately, it’s another blurry one, but it was so soon after meeting Johnny. Nevertheless, I am happy I took it.

Shae-Lynn Bourne followed him. We just took her autograph and I also took I picture of her. By far not the best picture, but it’s high time I stopped justifying my poor photographic abilities. I am the only person I know, who can take a blurry picture of a motionless object with my camera, since it has that Mega Optical Stabilizer. Well, I am talented at destroying pictures.

Sasha came by next and I would have probably asked for a picture with her if I hadn’t heard her say that she was in a great hurry because she had a plane to catch. So I just took a picture of her.

Then Gwendal appeared. I knew Sam wanted a picture with him. And YAY! This time it worked. Finally a good one! She also told him that she loved their number with Marina.

Then we saw Ben running by. He promised he would be back. Then he appeared again going in the opposite direction with a bunch of suitcases and I was worried that it was the last we would see of him. But he really came back. A long time after everyone else. He was also extremely nice! I absolutely love him! Just as we thought there was no one to ask to take a picture of Ben, me and Sam together and were ready to take separate pictures, a woman suggested that she help us. The result is definitely one of my favorite pictures. Ben was great, as I already mentioned. I told him that he and Tanith were incredible.

Then, there were no more skaters coming. Someone opened a door to the buses. The policemen were telling each other that the only people still giving autographs were Gwendal and Ben. It was really funny! We grabbed our jackets before someone decided to take the cubic boxes out. Maybe that’s absolutely ridiculous. But I have no idea what these boxes are and I had seen them in other COI photos so I thought they might be a part of the tour equipment.

As we were going out, now almost sure that Johnny was not coming back, we passed by Ryan dragging his suitcase.

We excitedly discussed the show on our way back! It was definitely a memorable day! Thank you, Johnny, Sam, COI, Angels, U Penn and USA for this amazing opportunity! I love you all! Well, dreams come true… :)))))))))))))))))))))

Великденска вечеря :)

Много обичам Великден принципно. Много особен празник. Може би толкова си го обичам, защото обикновено се получава много естествено. На Коледа примерно знаеш, че трябва да си със семейството си и на никой не му се кара семейно, ама няма как. А на Великден хората някак си искат да са със семействата си и да си празнуват по традиционния начин. Не знам защо, ама се получава и винаги е много весело. :) Може да е, защото обикновено се празнува рано и никой не започва да пие от сутринта. :)
Както и да е. Този Великден наполовина го пропуснах. Наполовина, защото все пак ще го празнуваме, като се прибера. Аз не съм религиозна, така че нямам задръжки по отношение на датите. :)
Но снощи беше много весело, макар че не си бях в България. Лили и Ели организираха българска Великденска вечеря в Harnwell (един от highrises). Дана и Борис, с когото се запознах снощи, им помогнаха с готвенето, а Иван си бил взел боя за яйца от България и донесе една купа шарени понашему яйца. На вечерята имаше и няколко американци, австралийци, аржентинци и т.н. Затова в началото разговорите бяха на английски. Аз естесвено малко закъснях, така че, докато пристигнах, всички бяха насядали около масата и почти си бяха разсипали храната. Освен вече изброените българи там беше и Боян. Разговорите бяха много интерсни: история на България, произход на българите, дискриминирани ли са циганите в България и т.н. Нашите хора тотално шашнаха чужденците със знания. За фон даже вървеше тихичко българска народна музика. :D
Яденето беше супер! Шопска салата. За първи път да ям нормална салата в Америка! Стига вече с тия листа! Че и с българско сирене. Ели била купила най-скъпите домати. Абе сериозно салатата даже вкус имаше! Менюто включваше още кюфтета, баница със сирене, картофено пюре от обелени картофи :). Е, напитките бяха американски. Студеният чай не беше лош. За десерт Ели беше купила козунак от някакъв си български магазин на час път от campus-а. След това учихме американците (и др.) да си чукат яйца. И накрая половината българска компания се хвана да играе първо право и после дунавско хоро. :D Иван много се смя на Боян, че приличал на баща, който се бил радвал, че бил женел дъщеря си и й бил купил Москвич за сватбата. След това незнаещите български си тръгнаха и се отворихме на български разговори. :) Много темички обсъдихме, предимно университетски, ама какво да се прави. :) Веселко си ни беше! :) Update-вахме си малко информацията кой какво прави и какво ще прави в бъдеще. Естествено поканих всички нагости в Стара Загора, че повечето не са ходили. :) После помогнах малко на Ели с почистването и трябваше да ходя на репетиция за сцената, която освен че се хилихме един час беше много тъпа и непродуктивна. Но пък вечерта като цяло беше много весела! Трябва по-честичко да се събираме така. Сега ще видим какво ще правим през Reading Days. ;)
Но иначе благодаря на всички за купончето! Страхотна българска великденска вечеря! :)

Johnny

Добре де, хората са направили по-хубави снимки от мен. :) Прелестният Johnny Weir!!! :))))

Снимките са собственост на американската федерация по фигурно пързаляне. :)

Marshalls

Тъй... Цяла нощ пиша report за ангелчетата, така че го качвам за които се интересува. Ако някой много държи на превод, да пише и ще се разберем. :) Та ето го report-ът:

OK, Angels. Here is my report. The first report I am writing about my first figure skating event seen live. And Johnny was in it!!! And he was absolutely gorgeous to say the least. So…

It all started when I found out that Marshalls was going to be held in Reading, PA and decided that since it’s at only 50? miles from Philly I have to go. Back then I had no idea how I would get to Reading, but it didn’t really matter. This show was a great opportunity to see Johnny and I wouldn’t miss it! Besides, I had decided that I was going to spend all of my personal-expenses money on figure skating and movies long before I even arrived in America.

Then I wrote about my travel problems in the board and Sam wrote back that she could give me a lift, which was so extremely nice of her!

I’ll skip the traveling part.

We arrived in Reading at about 6 o’clock or maybe a little earlier. I’m not completely sure. And the first people we saw there were Johnny’s family. They seemed busy, though, so we didn’t really approach them to talk to them. They looked great!

Some thirty minutes later we were let in. I was responsible for the Angel Banner, so we immediately started looking for a way to hang it. We met a very friendly usher, who really wanted to help us. But his boss wouldn’t allow us to hang the banner. So we decided to go to Sue and ask for advice. It was so great to meet Sue and Pamela!!! After so many years of reading posts and reports and looking at pictures! It was a big moment! I hope you enjoyed the show, ladies!

Then we went looking for people who had a star sign. The usher had told us that they were the ones who can make the hanging of the banner possible. And we finally saw them. Not just people wearing star sings, but Johnny’s family with stars. OK, maybe it was not that smart of a decision, but we didn’t really dare to bother them, so we decided to look for someone else. And we noticed a group of people who had the signs. Surprisingly, the woman we asked what to do was Johnny’s aunt and she said that as far as it depended on her, we were allowed to hang the banner. But it didn’t really work that way. So finally, about 10 minutes before the beginning of the show we decided to just go back to our seats and I was supposed to recruit the people sitting next to me to help me hold the banner. At first, I was under the impression that they would never agree to do it. They didn’t seem too friendly. But they were really nice and they didn’t mind helping me with the banner. So, I was relieved that at least that worked out!And the show started…

The first to skate was Emily Hughes. So she was actually the first figure skater I had ever seen live. I was pretty impressed by everything I saw. All of the skaters looked so small and cute! And they were absolutely amazing. The flow, the smoothness!!! WOW! I don’t know. It was different from my TV experience. I expected that it would be. But I was nevertheless surprised by what I saw. Every single element looked new to me. It was so great! And I can’t believe that the skaters are so fast and so amazingly smooth! I think I was a little overexcited. Even looking at the pictures I took, I notice a strange tendency towards less blurriness as the time progressed with only one diversion from it: Johnny’s first performance. So Emily was in a black dress. She looked much more elegant than I was used to see her on TV. All of the skaters looked so much better live! They were all so extremely cute! Her performance was followed by a short interview with Peter Caruthers.

Then it was Naomi Nari Nam and Themi Leftheris’ turn. I’m really sorry I don’t remember the songs everyone skated to!

Btw, my photos are arranged in a chronological order and I took at least one picture of every single skater/team, every time they skated, so you can actually see what their costumes looked like.

Meryl and Charlie were next and they were great! They skated their original dance for this/last season. They were wonderful!

Ryan Bradley was next on the ice. Well, at least the mixture of colors was not scary. He had a back flip in his program. It was clean, too. My picture of him is really blurry, but he was in a sort of jeans with pockets on his butt, I think.

Alissa Czisny followed his performance. She skated to Don Quixote, I think. The same music she used at Nationals. It was a real treat to watch her. Things were evolving and we were up to the artistic skating. She wore the same dress she had worn at the Exhibition at Nationals.

Melissa Gregory and Denis Petukhov were next. They went on the ice with a wand. And their program revolved around the enchanting of each other. They were fighting over the wand even as they were leaving the ice. In general, I wasn’t really impressed with the program.

Rena and John danced to Mandy. They looked good, but I didn’t really pay that much attention, since I had calculated that it was time for Johnny’s performance next.

I forgot to give you any information about my seat. It was in Section 119, so I could see the skaters before they took the ice. They were immediately to my left. I was on the second row. There was a kind of a screen between me and the place from where the skaters went out to the ice. Peter Caruthers was interviewing most of them behind that screen, so I couldn’t see them during the interviews. I was watching the video screen while they lasted. Some of the interviews took place on the ice. And there was an interview which seemed kind of different, but about that later… Anyway, I could see the skaters preparing to take the ice. So I was definitely not watching Rena and John as they took their bows.

Johnny was getting ready to take the ice in his new sparkly costume. He was gorgeous! I was taking pictures, ready to hold the banner any minute. He stepped on the ice and started skating around, warming up. The repeat of moments of Rena and John’s program was over. The audience made some noise, not really enough, I’d say, and Johnny was in the middle of the ice. The music started. He remained in his starting pose for about 10 seconds. Then he started skating. The music was beautiful, although I didn’t recognize it. I don’t think I had ever listened to it before. It was with male vocals. I wish I knew what it was about, but I couldn’t listen to the lyrics. Johnny was magical! I think it was a love song. He was so great. I finally realized what the silent skating attributed to him meant. No sound. Incredibly smooth! I didn’t count the jumps. The costume was brilliant. Different shades of blue and black. It fitted the program perfectly. There was that sliding move in the final pose of Nationals 2007 Imagine. Beautiful!!! The spins were exquisite! The program was over so fast. He took his bows and right before leaving the ice noticed the banner and sent a kiss! He is the sweetest!!! Then as Tanith and Ben were taking the ice, Johnny was interviewed by Peter. I’m sorry, Angels, I was so excited that I didn’t even hear who the person Johnny embraced and kissed was. I assumed it was a former teacher of his, but I may be completely wrong about that. But then I realized that I could actually see him to my left. So I tried to make my hands stop trembling and take a lot of pictures. I guess, I was so concentrated on the task, that I missed the rest of the interview. I can’t wait to watch the broadcast and find out what it was about. It finished with a kiss.

Oh, one more thing. As Johnny was leaving the ice someone threw a big stuffed bear to him and he took it from the ice. He was holding it during the interview! I love when people are so nice to the stuffed animals!

So it was Tanith and Ben’s turn to take the ice. I love them! And I love their original dance from last year, which they performed in the costumes from the Nationals exhibition. But I am not sure how much of the dance I actually saw. And my photos of it are all blurry.

Kimmie was interviewed on the ice next. She didn’t say anything new. Then she skated to the song she dedicated to her kids at the last Marshalls.

Brooke Castile and Ben Okolski were also interviewed on the ice. Oh, wow, she was so much more beautiful live than on TV. They skated to a Pink Floyd’s song. She said that Pink Floyd was her favorite group. I think the twist was double, but I am not sure. They had a fantastic lift with her whole body horizontal and high above his head.

Evan was up next. Nothing special. He was trying to be lyrical and romantic and I don’t think this suits him. But he was very warmly welcomed. There were so many kids screaming his name and telling him that they loved him. In the following interview, he said he had borrowed the pants from Johnny, since he had forgotten his.

As to my comment about the small skaters, I noticed that a lot of them looked really small and so cute. Then there was Johnny, who didn’t look small, imo. He looked great! I don’t think he looked unhealthily thin, either! And he was perfectly cute. And then Evan looked tall. I was surprised actually. I knew what people said about him, but checking his height, I didn’t think he would look tall live. But he does. And he was complaining that Johnny’s pants are a little short for him.

Sasha was next. Her new dress was really gorgeous. Her jumps were great, while she was warming up, but she made a mistake on a jump afterwards. This didn’t the spoil the magnificent performance to Hurt, though. She was beautiful! And I have to admit that her flexibility is even more amazing live.

Afterwards, it was Junior time. McLaughlin and Brubaker were first. They were stunning. They had a triple twist, I think. She is so flexible. They were really impressive.

Ashley Wagner followed.

Then it was Stephen Carriere’s turn. He was fantastic. I hadn’t really liked him at Nationals. So I didn’t expect anything special from him. The music was Justin Timberlake’s Sexy Back. He was great. It really looked like a “sexy” performance.

He was followed by Mirai Nagasu. She skated to Queen. She was also great. She had a new spin position. A sort of Biellmann but with her hand over the skate or something like that. She was a pleasure to watch.

Caroline Zhang concluded the junior part of the show. I absolutely love her! She skated to You Raise me Up in the same dress she used for the exhibition at Nationals. It was very clean and beautiful. Great interpretation of the music! It’s amazing that she is so young!

Then they wanted the people from a sector to yell for Johnny. They also mentioned support from the rest of the sectors. It was fun, but I was wondering how they chose exactly Johnny. It was the right choice, though!!!

Then there was a fifteen minute pause for resurfacing of the ice. Sam came to me and was happy to learn that I had found people to help me with the banner. Then we tried to visit Sue and Pamela, but they weren’t there and we went back to our seats for the second part. We, of course, agreed that Johnny had been phenomenal!

The second part started with Meryl and Charlie. It took some time before they took the ice. I was watching them behind the boards. Wow, they are so cute! They also look much better live than on TV! I think that Charlie was the second most handsome man at the event. They were also smiling a lot. Finally the second part began and they took the ice. I don’t know the name of the song they danced to, but they were incredibly beautiful!

Then Alissa Czisny took the ice. I didn’t really like the combination of purple and green for her dress, but I loved her performance. I was so absorbed in it that I didn’t notice Johnny’s appearance by the boards. I didn’t really expect him to skate so early, I guess. So I had to miss Alissa’s bows and applaud the next skaters.

The costumes, the make up… It was art from the very first sight. They looked so incredibly great! They lay down on the ice. I think they used the Adam and Eve music from Melissa and Denis’s free dance for the season. This performance was the purest form of art ever! In every single aspect! Johnny started first. His spin in this costume was definitely beyond exquisite! He did spins and jumps. Then he stopped in the middle of the ice. The perfect still moment for pictures! The audience applauded something Melissa and Denis did. Then they were all skating together. Johnny and Denis lifter Melissa at a point. It was breathtaking. Johnny did the catch-foot into double axel. I was watching motionless, agape. At the end of the performance I asked the women next to me to hold the banner once more. I was taking pictures over its top. Johnny smiled at the banner or me, I am not sure. That program was just wonderful!

Then Naomi and Themi entertained the audience. They had a kind of hard time on the ice this time, but it was alright.

Ryan Bradley skated next. He danced a lot. I don’t remember the music. He did two back flips and some variations of a back flip. I think this performance was better and the audience seemed to like it more, too. Fortunately, I have a good picture of him.

He was followed by Rena and John. They also did a good work. But that’s about all I remember. I liked them.

Emily Hughes was next. She was in the same type of dress as for her first performance, only that this time it was red instead of black. There was a funny moment when she fell on a jump and continued dancing as she was sliding on the ice with her hands up. Seemed like a good recovery.

Brooke and Ben took the ice afterwards. I remember that I loved their performance!

Tanith and Ben were interviewed on the ice and then danced to hip hop. Justin Timberlake. I liked them, although I heard that I a lot of people had found them boring. I loved Tanith’s jacket! Oh, and I loved the hip hop attitude. There were some interesting moments. They were pretty openly chasing each other. Oh, and Tanith is blond again.

Sasha skated to God Bless America. She was beautiful! A lot of trademark elements. Stretches. Wow! She is unbelievable!

Evan was next. I think this number suited him much better. The audience loved the performance. Some kids threw their sings to him. He picked everything up as he was leaving the ice. No work for the sweepers.

Kimmie skated last. I don’t remember what number she did.Then all of the skaters were introduced. Johnny went out with Melissa and Denis. They were still wearing the costumes and the make-up. I was taking pictures of them during the whole time.

Finally, the skaters signed some things to give the audience. Johnny was again not throwing anything to random audience members. He gave the signed things personally. There was a guy behind me, who really wanted something signed by him and was obstinately calling him. Johnny came and gave him something. So I had the chance to see Johnny from a very short distance. Oh, wow! He looked so great in that costume and make-up! He smiled sweetly and left the ice first or among the first. Tanith and Evan stayed to sign autographs together with Mirai Nagasu and I am not sure about others.

Overall, it was an incredible first experience. Johnny was brilliant! Absolutely magical! I can’t wait to see him on TV!

Снимките ми от събитието са тук: http://new.photos.yahoo.com/stefarbalova/album/576460762396757388#page1

Колкото до Marshalls, какво още да ви кажа: :):):):):):):):)

Поздравчето ми за днес: Westlife - Dreams Come True

8:36 май е време да си лягам. :D

Ето ми я сцената: (тъкмо да я понауча)

Night. Inside the house a party is in progress. Loud music from a not-very-good but enthusiastic band. Catherine is alone on the porch. She wears a flattering black dress. Inside, the band finishes a number. Cheers, applause. After a moment Hal comes out. He wears a dark suit. He has taken off his tie. He is sweaty and revved up from playing. He holds two bottles of beer. Catherine regards him. A beat.

CATHERINE: I feel that for a funeral reception this might have gotten a bit out of control.
HAL: Aw come on. It’s great. Come on in.
CATHERINE: I’m okay.
HAL: We’re done playing, I promise.
CATHERINE: No thanks.
HAL: Do you want a beer?
CATHERINE: I’m okay.
HAL: I brought you one.
(Beat. Catherine hesitates.)
CATHERINE: Okay. (She takes it, sips.) How many people are you in there?
HAL: It’s down to about forty.
CATHERINE: Forty?
HAL: Just the hardcore partyers.
CATHERINE: My sister’s friends.
HAL: No, mathematicians. Your sister’s friends left hours ago. The guys were really pleased to be asked to participate. They worshipped your dad.
CATHERINE: It was Claire’s idea.
HAL: It was good.
CATHERINE: (Concedes) The performance of “Imaginary Number” was… sort of… moving.
HAL: Good funeral. I mean not “good,” but–
CATHERINE: No. Yeah.
HAL: Can you believe how many people came?
CATHERINE: I was surprised.
HAL: I think he would have liked it. (Catherine looks at him.) Sorry it’s not my place to–
CATHERINE: No, you’re right. Everything was better than I thought.
(Beat.)
HAL: You look great.
CATHERINE: (Indicates the dress) Claire gave it to me.
HAL: I like it.
CATHERINE: It doesn’t really fit.
HAL: No, Catherine, it’s good.
(A moment. Noise from inside.)
CATHERINE: When do you think they’ll leave?
HAL: No way to know. Mathematicians are insane. I went to this conference in Toronto last fall. I’m young, right? I’m in shape, I thought I could hang with the big boys. Wrong. I’ve never been so exhausted in my life. Forty-eight straight hours of partying, drinking, drugs, papers, lectures…
CATHERINE: Drugs?
HAL: Yeah. Amphetamines mostly. I mean, I don’t. Some of the older guys are really hooked.
CATHERINE: Really?
HAL: Yeah, they think they need it.
CATHERINE: Why?
HAL: They think math’s young man’s game. Speed keeps them racing, makes them feel sharp. There’s this fear that your creativity peaks around 23 and it’s all downhill from there. Once you hit fifty it’s over, you might as well teach high school.
CATHERINE: That’s what my father thought.
HAL: I dunno. Some people stay prolific.
CATHERINE: Not many.
HAL: No, you’re right. Really original work – it’s all young guys.
CATHERINE: Young guys.
HAL: Young people.
CATHERINE: But it is men, mostly.
HAL: There are some women.
CATHERINE: Who?
HAL: There’s a woman at Stanford, I can’t remember her name.
CATHERINE: Sophie Germain.
HAL: Yeah? I’ve probably seen her at meetings, I just don’t think I’ve met her.
CATHERINE: She was born in Paris in 1776.
(Beat.)
HAL: So I’ve definitely never met her.
CATHERINE: She was trapped in her house.
The French Revolution was going on, the Terror. She had to stay inside for safety and she passed the time reading in her father’s study. The Greeks… Later she tried to get a real education but the schools didn’t allow women. So she wrote letters. She wrote to Gauss. She used a man’s name. Uh – Antoine-August Le Blanc. She sent him some proofs involving a certain kind of prime numbers, important work. He was delighted to correspond with such a brilliant young man. Dad gave me a book about her.
HAL: I’m stupid. Sophie Germain, of course.
CATHERINE: You know her?
HAL: Germain Primes.
CATHERINE: Right.
HAL: They’re famous. Double them and add one, and you get another prime. Like two. Two is prime, doubled plus one is five: also prime.
CATHERINE: Right. Or 92,305 x 216,998 + 1.
HAL: (Startled) Right.
CATHERINE: That’s the biggest one. The biggest one known…
(Beat.)
HAL: Did he ever find out who she was? Gauss.
CATHERINE: Yeah. Later a mutual friend told him the brilliant young man was a woman.
He wrote to her: “A taste for the mysteries of number is excessively rare, but when a person of the sex which, according to our customs and prejudices, must encounter infinitely more difficulties than men to familiarize herself with these thorny researches, succeeds nevertheless in penetrating the most obscure parts of them, then without a doubt she must have the noblest courage, quite extraordinary talents, and superior genius.”
(Now self-conscious) I memorized it…
(Hal stares at her. He suddenly kisses her, then stops, embarrassed. He moves away.)
HAL: Sorry. I’m a little drunk.
CATHERINE: It’s okay. (Uncomfortable beat.) I’m sorry about yesterday. I wasn’t helpful. About the work you are doing. Take as long as you need upstairs.
HAL: You were fine. I was pushy.
CATHERINE: I was awful.
HAL: No, My timing was terrible. Anyway, you’re probably right.
CATHERINE: What?
HAL: About it being junk.
CATHERINE: (Nods.) Yes.
HAL: I read through a lot of stuff today, just skimming. Except for the book I stole–
CATHERINE: Oh God. I’m sorry about that.
HAL: No, you were right.
CATHERINE: I shouldn’t have called the police.
HAL: It was my fault.
CATHERINE: No.
HAL: The point is, that book – I’m starting to think it’s the only lucid one, really. And there’s no math in it.
CATHERINE: No.
HAL: I mean, I’ll keep reading, but if I don’t find anything in a couple of days…
CATHERINE: Back to the drums.
HAL: Yeah.
CATHERINE: And your own research.
HAL: Such as it is.
CATHERINE: What’s wrong with it?
HAL: It’s not exactly setting the world on fire.
CATHERINE: Oh come on.
HAL: It sucks, basically.
CATHERINE: Harold.
HAL: My papers get turned down. For the right reasons – my stuff is trivial. The big ideas aren’t there.
CATHERINE: It’s not about big ideas. It’s work. You’ve got to chip away at a problem.
HAL: That’s not what your dad did.
CATHERINE: I think it was, in a way. He’d attack a question from the side, from some weird angle, sneak up on it, grind away at it. He was slogging. He was just so much faster than anyone else that from the outside it looked magical.
HAL: I don’t know.
CATHERINE: I’m just guessing.
HAL: Plus the work was beautiful. You can read it for pleasure. It’s streamlined: no wasted moves, like a ninety-five-mile-an-hour fastball. It’s just… elegant.
CATHERINE: Yeah.
HAL: And that’s what you can never duplicate. At least I can’t. It’s okay. At a certain point you realize it is not going to happen, you readjust your expectations. I enjoy teaching.
CATHERINE: You might come up with something.
HAL: I’m twenty-eight, remember? On the downhill slope.
CATHERINE: Have you tried speed? I’ve heard it helps.
HAL: (Laughs) Yeah.
(Beat.)
CATHERINE: So, Hal.
HAL: Yeah?
CATHERINE: What do you do for sex?
HAL: What?
CATHERINE: At your conferences.
HAL: Uh, I uh–
CATHERINE: Isn’t that why people hold conferences? Travel. Room service. Tax-deductible sex in big hotel beds.
HAL: (Laughs, nervous) Maybe. I don’t know.
CATHERINE: So what do you do? All you guys.
(Beat. Is she flirting with him? Hal in not sure.)
HAL: Well we are scientists.
CATHERINE: So?
HAL: So there is a lot of experimentation.
CATHERINE: (Laughs.) I see.
(Beat. Catherine goes to him. She kisses him. A longer kiss. It ends. Hal is surprised and pleased.)
HAL: Huh.
CATHERINE: That was nice.
HAL: Really?
CATHERINE: Yes.
HAL: Again?
CATHERINE: Yes.
(Kiss.)
HAL: I always liked you.
CATHERINE: You did?
HAL: Even before I knew you. I’d catch glimpses of you when you visited your dad’s office at school. I wanted to talk to you, but I thought, No, you do not flirt with your doctoral adviser’s daughter.
CATHERINE: Especially when your adviser’s crazy.
HAL: Especially then.
(Kiss.)
CATHERINE: You came here once. Four years ago. Remember?
HAL: Sure. I can’t believe you do. I was dropping off a draft of my thesis for your dad. Jesus I was nervous.
CATHERINE: You looked nervous.
HAL: I can’t believe you remember that.
CATHERINE: I remember you. (Kiss.) I thought you seemed… not boring.
(They continue to kiss.)

Continuation... :)))))))))))) (Време беше! :D )

Малко е гадно, когато ти се случи нещо хубаво, да няма на кого да се похвалиш... (тук) Ама голяма работа. Сега много набързо, много отговорно ще ви дам отчет какво става. :)
Чудя се дали да е в хронологичен ред или не, ама може би така е най-логично.
Ще започна със Световното. Shen & Zhao спечелиха при спортните двойки. Дето Ивето вика, не би трябвало да харесвам китайски фигурсти, ама какво да се прави! :D Тези си ги обожавам от години!!! Добре, че са те де, да изчистят името на китайците. :) Та те бяха невероятни! Междо другото са ми любимата спортна двойка от 10 години сигурно. Още като ги видях за първи път на леда сигурно през 1998 или някъде там, не можах да им устоя! Те са the very best!!! :))) Но на нещо друго исках да наблегна за тях. Вярно, че изкараха най-високата, изкарвана под новата система за оценяване оценка на кратка програма и че бяха невероятни и във волната, ама и това не е. Накрая на програмата Zhao коленичи на леда и след това и Shen се присъедини към него. Бяха толкова сладки и развълнувани! Всички медии всъщност решиха, че това е сбогуването им със състезателния лед... Но в последствие се оказа, че Zhao й е предложил да се оженят и Shen е приела! Ооооо! В този момент на гала концерта, защото тогава ги попитаха, вече сериозно се разплаках. Имаше и други трогващи моменти и си бях с насълзени очи и преди това, но това вече беше просто невероятно! Минаха през толкова много. Аз дори не знаех, че имат връзка. Спомням си, че имаха проблеми заради скъсаното сухожилие на Zhao. Shen нещо смяташе, че не полага достатъчно усилия. Беше му малко сърдита. Вероятно повече frustrated, че са най-добрите, а не могат да се състезават. Разбирам. Беше кошмарно за тях. Ама от този случай бях останала с впечатлението, че не са двойка и... Абе просто беше най-страхотното нещо, което се случи на това Световно! Дано да са много, много, много щастливи заедно!!!
Другото интересно нещо, което исках да спомена беше интервюто на Yu-Na Kim също от гала концерта. Тя беше от първите ми причини за насълзени очи, като сподели горкичкото как гледа другите отбори как се забавляват заедно и й е много мъчно, че тя си няма отбор, защото е единственото фигуристче от Корея. Толкова добре я разбирам. И аз се чувствам така тук. А тя е толкова, толкова страхотно фигуристче! Заслужава да се забавлява на състезанията! И след това днес видях тази снимка в интернет. Всичко ще бъде наред! :)

Колкото до другите състезания, сигурно знаете, че Албена и Максим спечилиха златото при танцовите двойки! Бяха абсолютно невероятни! И нека да допълня, че 100 % го заслужаваха! Браво!!! :)))

Като ги гледах как печелят по телевизията и супер много се сбърках и взех да си пея революционни песни! :D Да живее "Вятър ечи, Балкан стене"! :D Обичам тази песничка! :) И след това следното нещо се появи на вратата ми. :) Хе-хе! Още си е там, btw! :) Нека да знаят американчетата бе! :D То от надписа си личи всъщност колко се бях побъркала. Ами така е... Като няма с кого да споделя! :D
При жените спечели Miki Ando и макар че не ми е любимка мисля, че беше честно въпреки всичко. Из състезанието иначе определено имаше highlight-и! :) Yu-Na Kim изкара най-високия резултат за кратка програма под новата система, а Mao Asada получи най-високия резултат за волна програма. А сега познайте кои са двете ми любимки при жените! :D Браво на сладурчетата!
Само мъжете ли не съм обсъдила? Май не ми се стига дотам нещо... :D Ами лош сезон за Johnny, ама голяма работа! Хората се учат от грешките си! Пък и беше изключително красив (този път говоря за пързаляне; мен ме кефи повече с по-дълга коса, макар че и така нямам никакви оплаквания ;)). Обичам Child of Nazareth (волната му програма)!!! Жалко, че така и не можал да я почувства. Абе и догодина ще има Световно! ;) Той си е the best за мен винаги! Stephane стана 3ти, след абсолютния му танц-волна програма! Страшно е и това дете! Ех, как съм си намерила избрала значи, точно най-артистичните фигуристчета! :) Brian Joubert спечели първия си златен медал. Daisuke Takahashi беше втори, ама спечели на волната програма. :) Всички медалисти бяха много готини! Nobunari Oda се представи добре. Buttle разби конкуренцията с кратката си програма (почти де, Joubert беше преди него). Абе всичко мина добре. Имаше какво да се види. И, Миме, хич не се притеснявай: ще имам всичко свалено, така че ще можеш да гледаш гала концерта! (Аз, btw, обожавам Дон Кихот! :))

Та толкова за фигурното. Четох една от най-страхотните пиеси за курса си по актьорско майсторство. Angels in America на Tony Kushner! Невероятна е на английски! :) Ако не е преведена и някой може да ме уреди да я преведа за лятото, много ще го обичам! :*
Сега вече съм затрупана с работа и нямам никакво време. Много есета, романи, пиеси, разкази, коментари... Абе какво ли не. То сега вече ще е така до края. Ама нали си ме знаете, на мен такива периоди ми действат стимулиращо! :)
Пролетта дойде! Много е забавно. Днес гледам сумати студенти, налягали по тревата и се изпичат на слънце с лаптопите и тетрадките! :D Много ми се ще да ги снимам, ама може би няма да е много удобно... :D
Получих си крайния проект по театрално майсторство. Пиесата се казва Proof на David Auburn. Трябва да играем сцена от нея. Внимание! Тук става интересно! Значи професорът ни отговоря за casting-а и ни даде роли, които сметна, че отговарят на личността ни, доколкото ни познаваше. Та значи, колкото и да е невероятно, защото аз така исках да стане, ме сложи да играя с най-сладкото момче от курса. :) И каза сцената с шампанското, като спомена и нещо за "first love encounter." (Има филмче с готини артисти, правено по пиесата за любопитните: Jake Gyllenhaal, Anthony Hopkins, Gwyneth Paltrow... Супер звучи, така че гледайте. Аз съм Catherine, a Puneet e Hal.) Само че днес се оказа, че като ни давал сцена човекът бил объркал алкохолите и ставало дума не за първата сцена с шампанското, ами за втората сцена на porch-а с бирите. :D Само че втората сцена на porch-а е доста различна от първата... Хммм... Разговорът се разви така:
Jim (the professor): At the end of the scene they kind of end up kissing.
Puneet: Multiple times!
:D
Нееееее. Даде ни избор. Каза, че ние трябва да си решим коя сцена искаме да играем. А бе, той си беше за втората, ама не искаше да ни притиска. :D
Та значи връща се Puneet и вика, че предполагал, че предпочитам първата сцена. Не неоснователно, разбира се, като се има прадвид как трябва да съм реагирала на новината, че Jim си мислел за втората предния път всъщност. Абе на мен честно казано не ми пукаше. И след дълги дискусии, след като устонивихме, че и двамата съвсем малко повече клоним към втората сцена (55% срещу 45%, както каза Puneet за себе си), решихме, че ще е по-интересно да направим втората сцена. :D На мен не ми е ясно много как се получиха нещата между героите, някакси повече се вписваше с изучаването ни герои и мотивите и тактиките им. Наистина е интересно как ще проработи... Както Sаrisha каза, оправдания! :D Всъщност не е вярно! Наистина и двамата си имахме съвсем актьорски мотиви да я предпочетем. Пък и още не е късно да се откажем. :) Аз нещо взех да се разколебавам! :D Много весело! Хич не ми гласете връзка, да предупредя! Това е просто изкуство! :))))
Angel Banner-ът пристигна. Нали знаете, че аз ще го закачам на Marshall's. :))) Снимки може да видите на: http://new.photos.yahoo.com/stefarbalova/albums
Sam, едно сладко ангелче от клуба, предложи да ме закара до Reading! О, ангелчетата са the best! Никой не може да им го отрече! :))) Така че малко остана... Този петък ще видя Johnny! Избрах му и подаръче. :) Ще му занесе едно от руските си календарчета, дето ми бяха награда от Руската традиционна олимпиада в Санкт Петербург! :)
Но това не е всичко. Отварям аз board-а днес и гледам съобщение от Sam. Имала VIP билети за Champions on Ice и пита дали ще ходя, защото можело да отидем заедно и да ми даде VIP билет! Е, това вече е наистина невероятно! Sam е страхотна! Да живеят ангелчетата! :*:*:*:*:* Та ако наистина става дума за това, за което си мисля, ще се срещна лично със звездите на Champions on Ice на 15 април! WOW! Ще се запозная с Johnny! :))) Nail-biting experience, uh? :) И ще има снимки! :))))
Знаете ли, че... В Америка Secret мирише за над 10 часа! Шашкаща работа! :D
И засега съм в график с работата за училище! Сигурно ще трябва и да се наспя по някое време! :D
Попълних едни ужасни данъчни документи. Абе то си имало и гадни страни да си самостоятелен! :D
Какво пропускам...? Нов шампоан L'Oreal, нова спирала Telescopic също на L'Oreal и ново душ гелче с аромат на орех и ванилия! Ммммммм! :)
Любимото ми суши е Caliofornia Rolls: единственото непарливо. Това е храна, която те вдига на крака, демек много полезна. :) Пийвам сокчета. :)
Имам сега да пиша една история за емоционална истина и имам едно есе за Шекспир, дето още не съм устоновила как ще го вмъкна в графика си. Скоро започваме и репетиции за пиесата. Гледах Angels in America, представена от нашата theatre arts програма. Много сладки бяха! Сега ще трябва да си избера за кого да пиша есе! :D Тя Ива знае, де... Така че очаквам съвети. ;)
Пожелавам на всички най-шеметно невероятната пролет! Супер много да се забавлявате! И се радвайте на слънцето! Винаги усмихнати (с повод ;)) напред! Страшно много ви обичам! И сега вече си чакам коментари! :)
Безброй, безброй усмихнати целувки на всички мои невероятни сладури в България, в Америка и по целия свят! Честита пролет! :))))