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Wednesday, April 30, 2003
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THANK YOU LUPE!
She sent me some of the pics she took from the Speedskating Banquet, and here's the pic that I took with Tony Goskowicz. (Caution: Tony's pretty damn cute)
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Tuesday, April 29, 2003
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Addicted to Speed...skating
My weekend in LA was just as I had imagined it would be. So much fun, that I'm now bedridden from the deadly combination of walking/laughing more than should be allowed. My flight to LA was fast (me like) and I was bookin' it down the terminals knowing that my best buds Lupe and Molls were waiting for me. As I come through the gate, I spot these two dorks, but low and behold they're holding this sign...
Right off, you just knew this stay was going to be a blast.
Saturday, Hall of Fame Banquet
The Speedskating Banquet was pretty trippy, to say the least. I forgot to bring my camera (I can HEAR all y'all eyes rollin' at me), but luckily Molly and Lupe had the digicams on lock that night. Molly's got up her awesome pics and the recap from that night, but here's one of the 3 of us...
Getting to see our Ohno-peeps was and IS always the highlight of these trips. It was great to see Jan, Kimo, Junko, Melinda, and meeting Kelly for the first time. The Fans seemed to be the spectical of the night, and the speaker started the banquet off with having the room acknowledge us as we stood up from our table. That was unexpected, but made us feel really good. The Hall of Fame Inductees were all so humbled, and it was amazing to see Speedskating Icons like Bonnie Blair and Dan Jansen in person when you've grown up watching and admiring their achievements. After the initial shock wore off, the banquet speakers were moving at a snail's pace - they're known for their speedskaters, not their speedspeakers) I found myself slipping into a coma at times, eyeballin' Molly and Lupe for signs of life, and randomly checking Kelly's pulse, lmao. Thank God for digital memory cards, because without the Apolo shots we were passing under the table, we'd have been goners.
Quick Overall Highlights
• Meeting/taking pics with USS president Andy Gabel (awesome guy, extremely sweet)
• Meeting/taking pics with US Team Assistant Coach, Tony Goskowicz (awesome guy, extremely HOT)
• Meeting Cathy Turner, what an amazing lady, and equally as amazing career in Speedskating
• Andy Gabel's speech, so moving and emotional, you can tell how much he loves this sport
• Going to Downtown Disney after the banquet in search of food and drinks and realizing we're the only mofo's searchin' at 12:00am
Sunday, DisneyLand
Lupe, Molls, and I decided to spend our Sunday in the Happiest place on Earth. The Three of us + Did-neylan = Watch OUT fools! We straight took that park over, riding rollercoasters that were meant to move your insides to your outsides and lovin' every minute.
Quick Overall Highlights
• Watching Lupe's sister Julissa "shimmy" the sugar off her churro
• Busting a kidney laughing at Chip from Chip 'n Dale trying to sign autographs for the little ones despite the fact that his costume prohibited one's vision completely
• Discussing what we considered Child Abuse by dressing your child as their favorite disney character, and actually making them walk through the park looking like that
• Enjoying the Main Street Parade that night, and getting Tarzan on the float to flash us some thigh (the cat calls helped a bit)
And now, the visuals...hehe.
 
 
 
 
 
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Monday, April 28, 2003
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well, what a weekend.
I'm home from Los Angeles, thought I'd post to say I made it back. Have a ton of pics to upload, will post those tomorrow.
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Thursday, April 24, 2003
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Preschool-capades
Strange/Funny/Odd moments of the day:
• Riding the School bus to take the Preschoolers home, and a familiar tune catches my ear. I turn and to my horror, Andrew (age 4) is singing, "Go Shawty, it's yo birfday, we gon party like it's yo birfday....bottle with some bub..." It took every ounce of my professionalism not to freakin' laugh my ass off.
• Scott (age 4) had a b-day party in our class today, and we were enjoying some insanely-off the charts-full-of-sugar cookies. I was running late getting my kids ready for the bus, so I blurted out, "Ok kids, we need to leave, now let's Toss our Cookies, and go!". I was late, so I only had a second to stop and think "what the hell did I just say?"
Nevertheless, I'm glad to be home from work. Doing some cleaning before my trip this weekend. My car is so messy, it looks like I've been harboring candy wrapper/water contanier terriorists in that thing, so that's my cue to clean up a bit. Having dinner with Amanda tonight, it will be nice to get out of the house.
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Wednesday, April 23, 2003
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This site rocks my socks! I had NO idea that in Northern Japan, there's a region called Ohno Village!
Just about anything you want to know about the Japanese culture. I'm fascinated, I tell ya.
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Tuesday, April 22, 2003
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The week is just whizzing by, and I couldn't be more thrilled.
It's been a pretty easy going work week, which is weird for this time of the year. Had a great talk with my cousin last night, whom I haven't seen a while, interesting how much has changed since we last talked. Also had the affectionately dubbed "Molla Chat" last night as well, pushing the blab-o-meter to the limit til around 3am. (Hearing the H*R tune "Everybody to the Limit")
I have some laundry to sort through, and eventually pack for my trip to LA this weekend. The Speedskating Hall of Fame banquet should be fun, a learning experience at the very least lol. I've always been secretly passionate about photojournalism and mingling that with website creating. In a perfect world, one could venture to get paid for traveling the globe, following the ST world cups, and recording them statistically/visually. And as much as I love to delve into the reporting/press side of Short Track and becoming "April, the ST sleuth", I try my damndest to keep that separated from "April, the Apolo Fan". I love this sport, and have loved speedskating in general for a long time now. But I like being bias in this particular circumstance, I'm not ashamed one bit that Apolo's my favorite skater.
He's worked hard for his success and nothing should take away from that.
I just feel this "World Cup following" turning into a major hobby, and that's perfectly fine with me. Of course, examining Apolo's beautiful face is becoming an equally major hobby....
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Saturday, April 19, 2003
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*phew* Such a busy ape, that I haven't had time to blog! Well, since it's Easter, had to dress up the place a bit.
Happy Easter!
Hot Damn. Is it POSSIBLE for one man to look steamy & sexy in a bunny suit? Apolo, you just break all barriers.
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Wednesday, April 16, 2003
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Finally some productive energy flowin' my way. It's about bloody time.
Finished the Derek Gray Caroon, was happy to learn that he enjoyed it. A snippet from our AIM chat:
Ape: Hello Derek! How are you?
Derek: i'm good, how are u?
Ape: Great! I actually have a surprise for you ;-)
Derek: oh really?
Derek: i like suprises
Ape: yep...LOL
Ape: click on this link
Ape: http://st-gear.com/graphics/derekcartoon1.jpg
Derek: haha, i love it
Derek: thats great
Derek: even got the sweater
Ape: lmao, yeah had to show the Armani love
Derek's a cool cat. I'm even more excited to finally get this comic strip up next week.
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Tuesday, April 15, 2003
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Bloody Hell, I think that I spawned to term "Beating around the bush". I've been trying to get on task today, and failing. I did get some cleaning done, and now I'm doing some drawing. Making Derek Gray's cartoon promo, and plus trying to get the next OV cartoon strips done.
I went Download-insane today, getting on my favorite client and d/l songs from the soundtrack of my childhood. Here's a few...
• Cyndi Lauper - Girls Just Wanna Have fun
• Cyndi Lauper - Good Enough (The Goonies Theme Song)
• Chaka Khan - Ain't Nobody (Breakin' Soundtrack)
• Breakin' Soundtrack - Don't Stop the Rock (Freestyle)
• Paula Abdul - Straight Up
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Alright, I promise to come back with a real post, because I'm taking a good 3 hours to clean this thing I call a house.....and a car. Sometimes I swear the clutter just taunts me...
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Saturday, April 12, 2003
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Long day for the ape.
Must sleep, but seeing Apolo images taking over the wall above my computer desk just forces a whistful sigh. Amazing & Unbelievable are the only words that best describe him.
I have so much kei ai as well as ai kyou for you, Apolo Anton. Keep inspiring me and making me want to be a better version of me.
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Rain, rain, and....you guessed it. Rain.
Yesterday was a perfect, cloudless day...I swear, the weather is never predictable here in Sacramento. I played make-up artist today for a friend from church, helping her get all the costuming ready for the upcoming easter play.
I've just been in one of those moods today. Sleeping off and on, having a hard time just functioning. With this "crap for crap" weather afoot, my sinus headaches have become worse. The ol' Ice pick through the skull kinda drama *ugh* I just have so much to do, just like little things, and I'm tryin' my damndest to get motivated.
I think I'm going to take a detour to San Francisco on Monday, if frickin' weather permits. Some things I'd love to buy there, they have this amazing Japanese candy store with all imported candy and fun stuff that rocks my socks...and some clam chowder from the wharf sounds incredible right now. Ok, sounds like I'm taking a really long trip for just dinner and desert, but hell - at least the sea air will clear my head.
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Thursday, April 10, 2003
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Ok, today was quite productive. I got a lot done, running around all over town, and my stop at the post office was more than eventful. I was waiting in line and on my cell phone, and as I turn around, who do I see coming down the hall? Ugh, an old ex-friend from high school that I haven't seen in about 3 years. She's one of those drama-queen types (with a temper to match) that I could never stomach for too long, and eventually just had to cut off our friendship, because she was letting her issues suck me dry.
I had a baseball cap on, so I don't know if she recognized me. I did my business at the post office, and at the front desk, I could see her look over and take a quick look at me. All I could think of was HOLY crap, I want outta here. But she's the type that would bumrush me with "HEY, how are you?"s, so maybe she didn't know it was me. I made a b-line outta there, and then got to my car and started cracking up. Why do I always run into the people that I swore I'd be happy if I never saw again? Lord knows if she would have said Hi to me, I'd BS my way through it and be nice - that's me, Miss Non-Confrontational.
Well, I was looking through my photos from Colorado, and got a little sad - I miss that place, dammit! Unbelievably beautiful scenary (a perfect pair to the Unbelievably beautiful man we came there to see!), and the air was so crisp, did wonders for my sinus-sufferin' ass, ugh. Take a look at this place, if you go, you'll be hooked....
  
  
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*ape leaves the computer to run some MUST do errands*
It's too beautiful to be inside today.
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Damn.
5 hours of staring at a computer screen will get to you after while. Shoo. I'm seein' double AND triple at this point. Work is done..well, at least for today. The toothpicks that were previously propping my eyes open have since busted in half, so I'll say it's time for bed.
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Tuesday, April 08, 2003
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Boy. I'm just cracking up, because I had no idea how popular OV would become. It's been rough, since I have 987097076 files to move over to the new server, and I've been getting emails left and right about where clips are, and why pics don't work, and when do I update.....
I need to get my ass in gear! I'm so excited that OV is morphed into what it is now, and checking my stats, I'm getting about 290+ more hits than usual. Having a mini vacation from work is my lifesaver right now, lol. So, no online chatting for me in the next fews hours, I need to update/revamp with all the new things I have. Sometimes I wish OV was just a blog, kinda like OZ, I mean it'd be way easier to just update to only a few sections. On the flip side, I did want to make my site the "Apolo Information Highway", right along with Joanna. It's more work, no doubt, but it's more userfriendly for the fans, and that's really what's important. I guess in the beginning, because of the popularity of OhnoZone, I thought that no one really visited OV. And a few days of it being down/not it's normal self, and WHAM - my email box[es] are FULL!
I feel the love guys, and I so appreciate everyone the comes to OV.
April's Verb: Apolo Fan Club - "It's What I Do!"
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Monday, April 07, 2003
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Man, what an amazing shock these Ebay Auctions have been. And honestly, never once did I underestimate or doubt the power of true Apolo fans. The more humble he is, the more you want to give in His name.
I have a lot of Zoutou work to do today, and a ton of artwork to finish. The new AAO comic, plus the "Yuki" project. I can get those done this week...? Hmm, if I can just pull myself away from this computer for 5 seconds lol. I'm so happy, I made my reservations to fly into LA on the 25th. Can't wait to be back in SoCal for awhile, I miss the smog and rude drivers quite alot, actually.
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Well, well. It looks like I'll be kickin' it in SoCal on the weekend of the 25th. Going to the Speedskating Hall Of Fame banquet, which should be cool, and best of all get to spend some time with Molly and Lupe! ;)
I swear, I've done more traveling in the last 2 months than I have in my entire life, it seems. But it's good for me, I love just...not being stationary LOL. We were just chattin' it up tonight in the OZ chat, and I guess I convinced Derek Gray to come inside lol. I just chatted with him a bit before, he sounds like a guy that's going to take it REAL easy for the next couple of weeks. I think it's great that the skaters interact with the fans, it makes it that much more enjoyable to cheer them on at competitions. Ok, let spring break begin. First up, art projects. Lord knows I have a ton, and need to finish them this week. Man, these "hobbies" are slowly becoming full time...
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Sunday, April 06, 2003
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Hey all. Just checkin the new blog. Yeah, I've fallen into the blogger pit. Lord help me.
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Name: April