Icecapades

Sunday we went ice skating to celebrate Moxie P'toxy's birthday!

I admit, I was a little apprehensive at first. I am not the most coordinated person - sometimes I trip up stairs or swallow saliva wrong and end up with a coughing fit while sputtering, "Wrong - cough, cough - pipe!".

Plus, the last time I went skating (circa 1984), it ended in tears. My Grandpa (who was Candadian and able to skate like Wayne Gretzky), my Mom and my cousins all wanted to go ice skating. My Grandpa used to take me out skating on Martha Lake when I was a wee one, so everyone thought I'd be fine. Well, once we got there and I found it was - gasp! - harder than walking, I decided I'd had enough and sat down in the bleachers, scowling, with my arms folded across my chest for the duration of our visit.

But, wanting to give it another try, Aaron and I went to the ice arena up in Shoreline on Sunday, paid our entrance fee, met up with everyone and rented some skates. Once laced up, we minced out to the ice. I was pretty sure I was going to seriously maim myself or others. People of all ages were gracefully whizzing by, while 90s adult contemporary music played over the speakers. (Ever since the day, you put my heart in motion, that'll be the day, baby, baby - something, something - mmm, hmmm.)

Moxie P'toxy, her beau and Aaron were all pretty good skaters! I was slightly challenged and held onto Aaron and the wall for support. After we made it around the rink a couple times without falling, I became less concerned about sustaining a head injury. Then an announcement came on to clear the ice. Was it time for Snowball? All skate change direction? No, kids, it was Zamboni time!

Everyone got off the ice and the Zamboni driver tooled around to smooth out the ice. It was neat to see! (Although it's a weensy bit blurry in this photo.)

After our break, I was refreshed (skating is hard work!) and ready to try going it alone with holding onto Aaron's hand for dear life. I tried to bend my knees and lean forward, like when skiing. It worked! I was skating! I was Michelle Kwan! Or Dorothy Hamill! It was brilliant! Aaron was so impressed that he tried to take an action shot of me WHILE WE WERE BOTH skating! I turned to smile, as if to say, "Look at me! I'm skating!" and then Aaron's feet slipped out from under him and he went down like a ton of bricks. Ironically, "How am I supposed to live without you" by Michael Bolton was playing when Aaron fell. I managed to stop and make sure that he didn't have a concussion (which involved me asking, "Aaron, are you ok? Do you have a concussion?") and tried to help him up without falling down myself.

After that excitement, we were all tuckered out and decided it was time for something less athletic, like eating pizza.

All in all, it was a fun time and we got some excellent pictures (they're up on Facebook), which is really what it's all about!