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allekhaLike half of the northern hemisphere, it's been very hot here this week. Thankfully, the basement in our new rental stays lovely and cool with no AC all day, so I've been living there for the past few days. Z is gone this weekend, so it's just me and kitty.
Despite the heat, I attempted to donate blood yesterday despite it being about 100/38. The walk there was actually not that bad since the clouds came out and I was going downhill. I paused in the shade to drink some water (don't want to get rejected for having a high temperature!) and get my mask on, and walked in, and...
Nobody was there. Apparently they changed the blood drive time and shortened it by half a day. I understand if they needed to shorten it due to the heat or staffing shortages, but they both texted and called to confirm my appointment the day beforehand, so surely their system should have been able to let me know that it was cancelled?
Anyway, I will see if I can schedule with the nonprofit blood bank in my hometown when I visit my parents next month. I didn't want to waste the walk, so I went to a nearby cafe I've been wanting to try but keep managing to catch when they're closed. I got a croissant (good) and a slice of chocolate raspberry cake (very good), which were nice to eat after I got home and cooled off. I want to try one of their sandwiches when walking there is a nicer trip.
In less-hot thoughts - I couldn't sleep the night Yuzuru had his press conference, so I watched the first few minutes of it live. I'm a little sad that he's finally retired, but at the same time, kind of content? It wasn't like when Zhenya retired (although to be fair, she was my absolute favorite, so of course it made me more upset) because her body was so badly damaged, although I'm sure his ankle will do better without a full training load. And obviously I don't know Yuzu, but it was sad to hear him say he didn't enjoy competing at the Olympics, and it sounded like he had a lonely time training post-Covid - sorry, guys, I don't buy this claim that he didn't need a coach when he's talking about hitting his head in training; then at the gala and in the show clips I've seen, he looked like he was having the time of his life. So it sounds as though he was ready to move on to something else. It's not the same, but we're a similar age, and it made me think of how I did school and more school and even more school, and how ready I was to be done with grad school and get a job by the end of it. Good for him for reaching that point and being able to move on at his own time instead of being forced out by his body breaking down.
I hope he enjoys his shows and gets to try anything he's wanted to but hasn't been able to do in competition - he can get lifted in every show if he wants to, lol - and is able to have more privacy now.
Lots of retirements - Satton (poor woman never received the PCS she deserved, but at least she got away from Hamada), Yuzu, Rin Nitataya, Jason is probably only doing one more season, Mariah is ???. Assignments came out today, though, and it's exciting to see a wider variety of skaters. Natasha McKay and Arlet Levandi both have GP assignments! People I haven't even heard of have them! So I'm looking forward to that next season. Other than Misha, I'm not going to miss the Russians.
Also, I'm going to Skate America with my mom. Every lineup is looking pretty good, but I'm really happy with ours! I get to see Kana/Dai IN PERSON!!! I'm even kind of excited for pairs, my least favorite discipline, because I only recognize one of them. My flag bag is ready :D
Despite the heat, I attempted to donate blood yesterday despite it being about 100/38. The walk there was actually not that bad since the clouds came out and I was going downhill. I paused in the shade to drink some water (don't want to get rejected for having a high temperature!) and get my mask on, and walked in, and...
Nobody was there. Apparently they changed the blood drive time and shortened it by half a day. I understand if they needed to shorten it due to the heat or staffing shortages, but they both texted and called to confirm my appointment the day beforehand, so surely their system should have been able to let me know that it was cancelled?
Anyway, I will see if I can schedule with the nonprofit blood bank in my hometown when I visit my parents next month. I didn't want to waste the walk, so I went to a nearby cafe I've been wanting to try but keep managing to catch when they're closed. I got a croissant (good) and a slice of chocolate raspberry cake (very good), which were nice to eat after I got home and cooled off. I want to try one of their sandwiches when walking there is a nicer trip.
In less-hot thoughts - I couldn't sleep the night Yuzuru had his press conference, so I watched the first few minutes of it live. I'm a little sad that he's finally retired, but at the same time, kind of content? It wasn't like when Zhenya retired (although to be fair, she was my absolute favorite, so of course it made me more upset) because her body was so badly damaged, although I'm sure his ankle will do better without a full training load. And obviously I don't know Yuzu, but it was sad to hear him say he didn't enjoy competing at the Olympics, and it sounded like he had a lonely time training post-Covid - sorry, guys, I don't buy this claim that he didn't need a coach when he's talking about hitting his head in training; then at the gala and in the show clips I've seen, he looked like he was having the time of his life. So it sounds as though he was ready to move on to something else. It's not the same, but we're a similar age, and it made me think of how I did school and more school and even more school, and how ready I was to be done with grad school and get a job by the end of it. Good for him for reaching that point and being able to move on at his own time instead of being forced out by his body breaking down.
I hope he enjoys his shows and gets to try anything he's wanted to but hasn't been able to do in competition - he can get lifted in every show if he wants to, lol - and is able to have more privacy now.
Lots of retirements - Satton (poor woman never received the PCS she deserved, but at least she got away from Hamada), Yuzu, Rin Nitataya, Jason is probably only doing one more season, Mariah is ???. Assignments came out today, though, and it's exciting to see a wider variety of skaters. Natasha McKay and Arlet Levandi both have GP assignments! People I haven't even heard of have them! So I'm looking forward to that next season. Other than Misha, I'm not going to miss the Russians.
Also, I'm going to Skate America with my mom. Every lineup is looking pretty good, but I'm really happy with ours! I get to see Kana/Dai IN PERSON!!! I'm even kind of excited for pairs, my least favorite discipline, because I only recognize one of them. My flag bag is ready :D
no subject
Date: 2022-07-23 03:39 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2022-07-23 03:55 am (UTC)♥
Date: 2022-07-24 01:37 am (UTC)I had no idea Yuzuru was retiring! Good for him for moving on but I'll be sad to see him go.
Re: ♥
Date: 2022-07-24 03:53 am (UTC)It'll be strange not to see him competing, though at least he will be doing shows.