{"id":804,"date":"2010-04-19T21:42:16","date_gmt":"2010-04-19T21:42:16","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.ice-dance.com\/site\/2010\/04\/19\/2008-skate-canada-jennifer-westers-competitor-blog\/"},"modified":"2019-03-23T18:46:07","modified_gmt":"2019-03-23T22:46:07","slug":"2008-skate-canada-jennifer-westers-competitor-blog","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.ice-dance.com\/site\/2008-skate-canada-jennifer-westers-competitor-blog\/","title":{"rendered":"2008 Skate Canada &#8211; Jennifer Wester&#8217;s Competitor Blog"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>\u00a0<\/p>\n<div>\n<div>\n<h4>Sunday, November 2, 2008  <!-- Begin .post --> <br \/>Farewell from Ottawa<\/h4>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<div class=\"post\">\n<div class=\"post-body\">\n<div>\n<div>\n<div>Some final photos from  Sunday&#8217;s closing banquet:<\/p>\n<p>And now  presenting&#8230;.<br \/>TEAM T-FAL USA<br \/><img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" data-attachment-id=\"774\" data-permalink=\"https:\/\/www.ice-dance.com\/site\/2008-skate-canada-jennifer-westers-competitor-blog\/team-t-fal-usa-715707\/\" data-orig-file=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.ice-dance.com\/site\/wp-content\/uploads\/2010\/04\/TEAM-T-FAL-USA-715707.jpg?fit=400%2C236&amp;ssl=1\" data-orig-size=\"400,236\" data-comments-opened=\"1\" data-image-meta=\"{&quot;aperture&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;credit&quot;:&quot;Picasa 3.0&quot;,&quot;camera&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;caption&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;created_timestamp&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;copyright&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;focal_length&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;iso&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;shutter_speed&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;title&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;orientation&quot;:&quot;0&quot;}\" data-image-title=\"TEAM-T-FAL-USA-715707\" data-image-description=\"\" data-image-caption=\"\" data-large-file=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.ice-dance.com\/site\/wp-content\/uploads\/2010\/04\/TEAM-T-FAL-USA-715707.jpg?fit=400%2C236&amp;ssl=1\" class=\" size-full wp-image-774\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.ice-dance.com\/site\/wp-content\/uploads\/2010\/04\/TEAM-T-FAL-USA-715707.jpg?resize=400%2C236&#038;ssl=1\" alt=\"TEAM-T-FAL-USA-715707\" width=\"400\" height=\"236\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.ice-dance.com\/site\/wp-content\/uploads\/2010\/04\/TEAM-T-FAL-USA-715707.jpg?w=400&amp;ssl=1 400w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.ice-dance.com\/site\/wp-content\/uploads\/2010\/04\/TEAM-T-FAL-USA-715707.jpg?resize=300%2C177&amp;ssl=1 300w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 400px) 100vw, 400px\" \/><\/p>\n<p>Yes,  the U.S. Team did go out of the way to find chef hats, T-fal aprons, and bring  all of our new frying pans down to the lobby of the hotel to take this lovely  photo. \ud83d\ude42 Go USA!<\/p>\n<p><img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" data-attachment-id=\"775\" data-permalink=\"https:\/\/www.ice-dance.com\/site\/2008-skate-canada-jennifer-westers-competitor-blog\/banquet1-792822\/\" data-orig-file=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.ice-dance.com\/site\/wp-content\/uploads\/2010\/04\/banquet1-792822.jpg?fit=250%2C326&amp;ssl=1\" data-orig-size=\"250,326\" data-comments-opened=\"1\" data-image-meta=\"{&quot;aperture&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;credit&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;camera&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;caption&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;created_timestamp&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;copyright&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;focal_length&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;iso&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;shutter_speed&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;title&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;orientation&quot;:&quot;0&quot;}\" data-image-title=\"banquet1-792822\" data-image-description=\"\" data-image-caption=\"\" data-large-file=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.ice-dance.com\/site\/wp-content\/uploads\/2010\/04\/banquet1-792822.jpg?fit=250%2C326&amp;ssl=1\" class=\" size-full wp-image-775\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.ice-dance.com\/site\/wp-content\/uploads\/2010\/04\/banquet1-792822.jpg?resize=250%2C326&#038;ssl=1\" alt=\"banquet1-792822\" width=\"250\" height=\"326\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.ice-dance.com\/site\/wp-content\/uploads\/2010\/04\/banquet1-792822.jpg?w=250&amp;ssl=1 250w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.ice-dance.com\/site\/wp-content\/uploads\/2010\/04\/banquet1-792822.jpg?resize=230%2C300&amp;ssl=1 230w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 250px) 100vw, 250px\" \/><br \/>Mr.  &#038; Mrs. Barantsev ready to head off to the closing banquet: &#8220;Get your Canada  On&#8221; (No really, that was the title of the banquet. Read on&#8230;.  )<\/p>\n<p><img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" data-attachment-id=\"776\" data-permalink=\"https:\/\/www.ice-dance.com\/site\/2008-skate-canada-jennifer-westers-competitor-blog\/banquet2-752315\/\" data-orig-file=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.ice-dance.com\/site\/wp-content\/uploads\/2010\/04\/banquet2-752315.jpg?fit=275%2C327&amp;ssl=1\" data-orig-size=\"275,327\" data-comments-opened=\"1\" data-image-meta=\"{&quot;aperture&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;credit&quot;:&quot;Picasa 3.0&quot;,&quot;camera&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;caption&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;created_timestamp&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;copyright&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;focal_length&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;iso&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;shutter_speed&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;title&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;orientation&quot;:&quot;0&quot;}\" data-image-title=\"banquet2-752315\" data-image-description=\"\" data-image-caption=\"\" data-large-file=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.ice-dance.com\/site\/wp-content\/uploads\/2010\/04\/banquet2-752315.jpg?fit=275%2C327&amp;ssl=1\" class=\" size-full wp-image-776\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.ice-dance.com\/site\/wp-content\/uploads\/2010\/04\/banquet2-752315.jpg?resize=275%2C327&#038;ssl=1\" alt=\"banquet2-752315\" width=\"275\" height=\"327\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.ice-dance.com\/site\/wp-content\/uploads\/2010\/04\/banquet2-752315.jpg?w=275&amp;ssl=1 275w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.ice-dance.com\/site\/wp-content\/uploads\/2010\/04\/banquet2-752315.jpg?resize=252%2C300&amp;ssl=1 252w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 275px) 100vw, 275px\" \/><br \/>Look!  A giant Cynthia Phaneuf sign! Must be the right place. Let the banquet fun  BEGIN!<\/p>\n<p><img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" data-attachment-id=\"777\" data-permalink=\"https:\/\/www.ice-dance.com\/site\/2008-skate-canada-jennifer-westers-competitor-blog\/banquet3-740135\/\" data-orig-file=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.ice-dance.com\/site\/wp-content\/uploads\/2010\/04\/banquet3-740135.jpg?fit=350%2C190&amp;ssl=1\" data-orig-size=\"350,190\" data-comments-opened=\"1\" data-image-meta=\"{&quot;aperture&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;credit&quot;:&quot;Picasa 3.0&quot;,&quot;camera&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;caption&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;created_timestamp&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;copyright&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;focal_length&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;iso&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;shutter_speed&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;title&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;orientation&quot;:&quot;0&quot;}\" data-image-title=\"banquet3-740135\" data-image-description=\"\" data-image-caption=\"\" data-large-file=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.ice-dance.com\/site\/wp-content\/uploads\/2010\/04\/banquet3-740135.jpg?fit=350%2C190&amp;ssl=1\" class=\" size-full wp-image-777\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.ice-dance.com\/site\/wp-content\/uploads\/2010\/04\/banquet3-740135.jpg?resize=350%2C190&#038;ssl=1\" alt=\"banquet3-740135\" width=\"350\" height=\"190\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.ice-dance.com\/site\/wp-content\/uploads\/2010\/04\/banquet3-740135.jpg?w=350&amp;ssl=1 350w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.ice-dance.com\/site\/wp-content\/uploads\/2010\/04\/banquet3-740135.jpg?resize=300%2C163&amp;ssl=1 300w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 350px) 100vw, 350px\" \/><br \/>Posing  with trees: (L-R) Me, BeBe Liang, Alissa Czisny in the back, Amanda  Evora<\/p>\n<p><img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" data-attachment-id=\"778\" data-permalink=\"https:\/\/www.ice-dance.com\/site\/2008-skate-canada-jennifer-westers-competitor-blog\/banquet4-749945\/\" data-orig-file=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.ice-dance.com\/site\/wp-content\/uploads\/2010\/04\/banquet4-749945.jpg?fit=300%2C192&amp;ssl=1\" data-orig-size=\"300,192\" data-comments-opened=\"1\" data-image-meta=\"{&quot;aperture&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;credit&quot;:&quot;Picasa 3.0&quot;,&quot;camera&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;caption&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;created_timestamp&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;copyright&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;focal_length&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;iso&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;shutter_speed&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;title&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;orientation&quot;:&quot;0&quot;}\" data-image-title=\"banquet4-749945\" data-image-description=\"\" data-image-caption=\"\" data-large-file=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.ice-dance.com\/site\/wp-content\/uploads\/2010\/04\/banquet4-749945.jpg?fit=300%2C192&amp;ssl=1\" class=\" size-full wp-image-778\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.ice-dance.com\/site\/wp-content\/uploads\/2010\/04\/banquet4-749945.jpg?resize=300%2C192&#038;ssl=1\" alt=\"banquet4-749945\" width=\"300\" height=\"192\" \/><br \/>Just  me in the trees<\/p>\n<p><img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" data-attachment-id=\"779\" data-permalink=\"https:\/\/www.ice-dance.com\/site\/2008-skate-canada-jennifer-westers-competitor-blog\/banquet6-786181\/\" data-orig-file=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.ice-dance.com\/site\/wp-content\/uploads\/2010\/04\/banquet6-786181.jpg?fit=300%2C246&amp;ssl=1\" data-orig-size=\"300,246\" data-comments-opened=\"1\" data-image-meta=\"{&quot;aperture&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;credit&quot;:&quot;Picasa 3.0&quot;,&quot;camera&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;caption&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;created_timestamp&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;copyright&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;focal_length&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;iso&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;shutter_speed&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;title&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;orientation&quot;:&quot;0&quot;}\" data-image-title=\"banquet6-786181\" data-image-description=\"\" data-image-caption=\"\" data-large-file=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.ice-dance.com\/site\/wp-content\/uploads\/2010\/04\/banquet6-786181.jpg?fit=300%2C246&amp;ssl=1\" class=\" size-full wp-image-779\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.ice-dance.com\/site\/wp-content\/uploads\/2010\/04\/banquet6-786181.jpg?resize=300%2C246&#038;ssl=1\" alt=\"banquet6-786181\" width=\"300\" height=\"246\" \/><br \/>Being  silly with Alissa<\/p>\n<p><img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" data-attachment-id=\"780\" data-permalink=\"https:\/\/www.ice-dance.com\/site\/2008-skate-canada-jennifer-westers-competitor-blog\/banquet7-739328\/\" data-orig-file=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.ice-dance.com\/site\/wp-content\/uploads\/2010\/04\/banquet7-739328.jpg?fit=250%2C348&amp;ssl=1\" data-orig-size=\"250,348\" data-comments-opened=\"1\" data-image-meta=\"{&quot;aperture&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;credit&quot;:&quot;Picasa 3.0&quot;,&quot;camera&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;caption&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;created_timestamp&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;copyright&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;focal_length&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;iso&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;shutter_speed&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;title&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;orientation&quot;:&quot;0&quot;}\" data-image-title=\"banquet7-739328\" data-image-description=\"\" data-image-caption=\"\" data-large-file=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.ice-dance.com\/site\/wp-content\/uploads\/2010\/04\/banquet7-739328.jpg?fit=250%2C348&amp;ssl=1\" class=\" size-full wp-image-780\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.ice-dance.com\/site\/wp-content\/uploads\/2010\/04\/banquet7-739328.jpg?resize=250%2C348&#038;ssl=1\" alt=\"banquet7-739328\" width=\"250\" height=\"348\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.ice-dance.com\/site\/wp-content\/uploads\/2010\/04\/banquet7-739328.jpg?w=250&amp;ssl=1 250w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.ice-dance.com\/site\/wp-content\/uploads\/2010\/04\/banquet7-739328.jpg?resize=216%2C300&amp;ssl=1 216w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 250px) 100vw, 250px\" \/><br \/>Alissa  is such a &#8220;deer&#8221; person.<\/p>\n<p><img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" data-attachment-id=\"781\" data-permalink=\"https:\/\/www.ice-dance.com\/site\/2008-skate-canada-jennifer-westers-competitor-blog\/banquet8-778457\/\" data-orig-file=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.ice-dance.com\/site\/wp-content\/uploads\/2010\/04\/banquet8-778457.jpg?fit=250%2C199&amp;ssl=1\" data-orig-size=\"250,199\" data-comments-opened=\"1\" data-image-meta=\"{&quot;aperture&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;credit&quot;:&quot;Picasa 3.0&quot;,&quot;camera&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;caption&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;created_timestamp&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;copyright&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;focal_length&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;iso&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;shutter_speed&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;title&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;orientation&quot;:&quot;0&quot;}\" data-image-title=\"banquet8-778457\" data-image-description=\"\" data-image-caption=\"\" data-large-file=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.ice-dance.com\/site\/wp-content\/uploads\/2010\/04\/banquet8-778457.jpg?fit=250%2C199&amp;ssl=1\" class=\" size-full wp-image-781\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.ice-dance.com\/site\/wp-content\/uploads\/2010\/04\/banquet8-778457.jpg?resize=250%2C199&#038;ssl=1\" alt=\"banquet8-778457\" width=\"250\" height=\"199\" \/><br \/>And  always so refined<\/p>\n<p><img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" data-attachment-id=\"782\" data-permalink=\"https:\/\/www.ice-dance.com\/site\/2008-skate-canada-jennifer-westers-competitor-blog\/banquet9-716182\/\" data-orig-file=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.ice-dance.com\/site\/wp-content\/uploads\/2010\/04\/banquet9-716182.jpg?fit=250%2C364&amp;ssl=1\" data-orig-size=\"250,364\" data-comments-opened=\"1\" data-image-meta=\"{&quot;aperture&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;credit&quot;:&quot;Picasa 3.0&quot;,&quot;camera&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;caption&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;created_timestamp&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;copyright&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;focal_length&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;iso&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;shutter_speed&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;title&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;orientation&quot;:&quot;0&quot;}\" data-image-title=\"banquet9-716182\" data-image-description=\"\" data-image-caption=\"\" data-large-file=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.ice-dance.com\/site\/wp-content\/uploads\/2010\/04\/banquet9-716182.jpg?fit=250%2C364&amp;ssl=1\" class=\" size-full wp-image-782\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.ice-dance.com\/site\/wp-content\/uploads\/2010\/04\/banquet9-716182.jpg?resize=250%2C364&#038;ssl=1\" alt=\"banquet9-716182\" width=\"250\" height=\"364\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.ice-dance.com\/site\/wp-content\/uploads\/2010\/04\/banquet9-716182.jpg?w=250&amp;ssl=1 250w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.ice-dance.com\/site\/wp-content\/uploads\/2010\/04\/banquet9-716182.jpg?resize=206%2C300&amp;ssl=1 206w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 250px) 100vw, 250px\" \/><br \/>Add a  lung x-ray, and this is my story told in props<\/p>\n<p><img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" data-attachment-id=\"783\" data-permalink=\"https:\/\/www.ice-dance.com\/site\/2008-skate-canada-jennifer-westers-competitor-blog\/banquet10-784917\/\" data-orig-file=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.ice-dance.com\/site\/wp-content\/uploads\/2010\/04\/banquet10-784917.jpg?fit=250%2C188&amp;ssl=1\" data-orig-size=\"250,188\" data-comments-opened=\"1\" data-image-meta=\"{&quot;aperture&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;credit&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;camera&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;caption&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;created_timestamp&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;copyright&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;focal_length&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;iso&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;shutter_speed&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;title&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;orientation&quot;:&quot;0&quot;}\" data-image-title=\"banquet10-784917\" data-image-description=\"\" data-image-caption=\"\" data-large-file=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.ice-dance.com\/site\/wp-content\/uploads\/2010\/04\/banquet10-784917.jpg?fit=250%2C188&amp;ssl=1\" class=\" size-full wp-image-783\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.ice-dance.com\/site\/wp-content\/uploads\/2010\/04\/banquet10-784917.jpg?resize=250%2C188&#038;ssl=1\" alt=\"banquet10-784917\" width=\"250\" height=\"188\" \/><br \/>At our  table we see&#8230; Scott Moir impaling his ear with a stick  and&#8230;<\/p>\n<p><img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" data-attachment-id=\"784\" data-permalink=\"https:\/\/www.ice-dance.com\/site\/2008-skate-canada-jennifer-westers-competitor-blog\/banquet11-746429\/\" data-orig-file=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.ice-dance.com\/site\/wp-content\/uploads\/2010\/04\/banquet11-746429.jpg?fit=250%2C296&amp;ssl=1\" data-orig-size=\"250,296\" data-comments-opened=\"1\" data-image-meta=\"{&quot;aperture&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;credit&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;camera&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;caption&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;created_timestamp&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;copyright&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;focal_length&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;iso&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;shutter_speed&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;title&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;orientation&quot;:&quot;0&quot;}\" data-image-title=\"banquet11-746429\" data-image-description=\"\" data-image-caption=\"\" data-large-file=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.ice-dance.com\/site\/wp-content\/uploads\/2010\/04\/banquet11-746429.jpg?fit=250%2C296&amp;ssl=1\" class=\" size-full wp-image-784\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.ice-dance.com\/site\/wp-content\/uploads\/2010\/04\/banquet11-746429.jpg?resize=250%2C296&#038;ssl=1\" alt=\"banquet11-746429\" width=\"250\" height=\"296\" \/><br \/>&#8230;our  menu for tonight<\/p>\n<p><img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" data-attachment-id=\"785\" data-permalink=\"https:\/\/www.ice-dance.com\/site\/2008-skate-canada-jennifer-westers-competitor-blog\/banquet12-789791\/\" data-orig-file=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.ice-dance.com\/site\/wp-content\/uploads\/2010\/04\/banquet12-789791.jpg?fit=300%2C210&amp;ssl=1\" data-orig-size=\"300,210\" data-comments-opened=\"1\" data-image-meta=\"{&quot;aperture&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;credit&quot;:&quot;Picasa 3.0&quot;,&quot;camera&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;caption&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;created_timestamp&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;copyright&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;focal_length&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;iso&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;shutter_speed&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;title&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;orientation&quot;:&quot;0&quot;}\" data-image-title=\"banquet12-789791\" data-image-description=\"\" data-image-caption=\"\" data-large-file=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.ice-dance.com\/site\/wp-content\/uploads\/2010\/04\/banquet12-789791.jpg?fit=300%2C210&amp;ssl=1\" class=\" size-full wp-image-785\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.ice-dance.com\/site\/wp-content\/uploads\/2010\/04\/banquet12-789791.jpg?resize=300%2C210&#038;ssl=1\" alt=\"banquet12-789791\" width=\"300\" height=\"210\" \/><br \/>Kim  Navarro &#038; Derek Trent at the dinner table<\/p>\n<p><img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" data-attachment-id=\"786\" data-permalink=\"https:\/\/www.ice-dance.com\/site\/2008-skate-canada-jennifer-westers-competitor-blog\/banquet13-737729\/\" data-orig-file=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.ice-dance.com\/site\/wp-content\/uploads\/2010\/04\/banquet13-737729.jpg?fit=250%2C222&amp;ssl=1\" data-orig-size=\"250,222\" data-comments-opened=\"1\" data-image-meta=\"{&quot;aperture&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;credit&quot;:&quot;Picasa 3.0&quot;,&quot;camera&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;caption&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;created_timestamp&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;copyright&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;focal_length&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;iso&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;shutter_speed&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;title&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;orientation&quot;:&quot;0&quot;}\" data-image-title=\"banquet13-737729\" data-image-description=\"\" data-image-caption=\"\" data-large-file=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.ice-dance.com\/site\/wp-content\/uploads\/2010\/04\/banquet13-737729.jpg?fit=250%2C222&amp;ssl=1\" class=\" size-full wp-image-786\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.ice-dance.com\/site\/wp-content\/uploads\/2010\/04\/banquet13-737729.jpg?resize=250%2C222&#038;ssl=1\" alt=\"banquet13-737729\" width=\"250\" height=\"222\" \/><br \/>Mark  Ladwig with Derek Trent and some kind of moose  thing<\/p>\n<p><img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" data-attachment-id=\"787\" data-permalink=\"https:\/\/www.ice-dance.com\/site\/2008-skate-canada-jennifer-westers-competitor-blog\/banquet14-777224\/\" data-orig-file=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.ice-dance.com\/site\/wp-content\/uploads\/2010\/04\/banquet14-777224.jpg?fit=275%2C237&amp;ssl=1\" data-orig-size=\"275,237\" data-comments-opened=\"1\" data-image-meta=\"{&quot;aperture&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;credit&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;camera&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;caption&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;created_timestamp&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;copyright&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;focal_length&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;iso&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;shutter_speed&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;title&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;orientation&quot;:&quot;0&quot;}\" data-image-title=\"banquet14-777224\" data-image-description=\"\" data-image-caption=\"\" data-large-file=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.ice-dance.com\/site\/wp-content\/uploads\/2010\/04\/banquet14-777224.jpg?fit=275%2C237&amp;ssl=1\" class=\" size-full wp-image-787\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.ice-dance.com\/site\/wp-content\/uploads\/2010\/04\/banquet14-777224.jpg?resize=275%2C237&#038;ssl=1\" alt=\"banquet14-777224\" width=\"275\" height=\"237\" \/><br \/>Mark&#8217;s  not talking about the moose thing<\/p>\n<p><img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" data-attachment-id=\"788\" data-permalink=\"https:\/\/www.ice-dance.com\/site\/2008-skate-canada-jennifer-westers-competitor-blog\/banquet15-724839\/\" data-orig-file=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.ice-dance.com\/site\/wp-content\/uploads\/2010\/04\/banquet15-724839.jpg?fit=250%2C306&amp;ssl=1\" data-orig-size=\"250,306\" data-comments-opened=\"1\" data-image-meta=\"{&quot;aperture&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;credit&quot;:&quot;Picasa 3.0&quot;,&quot;camera&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;caption&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;created_timestamp&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;copyright&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;focal_length&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;iso&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;shutter_speed&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;title&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;orientation&quot;:&quot;0&quot;}\" data-image-title=\"banquet15-724839\" data-image-description=\"\" data-image-caption=\"\" data-large-file=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.ice-dance.com\/site\/wp-content\/uploads\/2010\/04\/banquet15-724839.jpg?fit=250%2C306&amp;ssl=1\" class=\" size-full wp-image-788\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.ice-dance.com\/site\/wp-content\/uploads\/2010\/04\/banquet15-724839.jpg?resize=250%2C306&#038;ssl=1\" alt=\"banquet15-724839\" width=\"250\" height=\"306\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.ice-dance.com\/site\/wp-content\/uploads\/2010\/04\/banquet15-724839.jpg?w=250&amp;ssl=1 250w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.ice-dance.com\/site\/wp-content\/uploads\/2010\/04\/banquet15-724839.jpg?resize=245%2C300&amp;ssl=1 245w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 250px) 100vw, 250px\" \/><br \/>Yes,  that does say we&#8217;re having Beavertail<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.ice-dance.com\/events-results\/reports\/skatecanada08\/jwester\/uploaded_images\/banquet16-755092.jpg\"><img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" decoding=\"async\" style=\"width: 250px; height: 192px;\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.ice-dance.com\/events-results\/reports\/skatecanada08\/jwester\/uploaded_images\/banquet16-755083.jpg?w=1200\" border=\"0\" alt=\"\" \/><\/a><br \/>Who  says you can&#8217;t play with your food?<\/p>\n<p>Happy Skate  Canada!<\/p>\n<p>That will conclude my blog from this Grand Prix. I hope you  enjoyed it. One more time, I&#8217;d like to give a big thank you to everyone that  supported us through the week! Thank you to ice-dance.com for giving me this  opportunity to write my thoughts for you and thank you for reading  them.<\/p>\n<p>I hope everyone had a happy and healthy Halloween. I am going to  rest and recover coming off this competition. I&#8217;ve vowed to make it to Trophee  Eric Bompard in France, but I have to have doctors&#8217; approval to do so, and thus  my work now is to get healthy! As Kristi Yamaguchi promotes &#8212; please go get  your flu shot, people!<\/p>\n<p>Meet you back here in one week when Daniil and I  go to Paris! (&#8216;Cause you know after 6 years, I&#8217;m not letting any ol&#8217; pneumonia  keep me from getting these Grand Prix events under our  belt!)<br \/>&lt;3<\/p>\n<p>###<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<p> <!-- End .post --><!-- Begin #comments --><!-- End #comments --> <\/p>\n<div>\n<h4>Saturday, November 1, 2008  <!-- Begin .post --> <br \/>Not how I imagined today would go<\/h4>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<div class=\"post\">\n<div class=\"post-body\">\n<div>\n<div><img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" data-attachment-id=\"789\" data-permalink=\"https:\/\/www.ice-dance.com\/site\/2008-skate-canada-jennifer-westers-competitor-blog\/blog5-709589\/\" data-orig-file=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.ice-dance.com\/site\/wp-content\/uploads\/2010\/04\/Blog5-709589.jpg?fit=250%2C339&amp;ssl=1\" data-orig-size=\"250,339\" data-comments-opened=\"1\" data-image-meta=\"{&quot;aperture&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;credit&quot;:&quot;Picasa 3.0&quot;,&quot;camera&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;caption&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;created_timestamp&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;copyright&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;focal_length&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;iso&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;shutter_speed&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;title&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;orientation&quot;:&quot;0&quot;}\" data-image-title=\"Blog5-709589\" data-image-description=\"\" data-image-caption=\"\" data-large-file=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.ice-dance.com\/site\/wp-content\/uploads\/2010\/04\/Blog5-709589.jpg?fit=250%2C339&amp;ssl=1\" class=\" alignleft size-full wp-image-789\" style=\"margin-right: 3px; float: left;\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.ice-dance.com\/site\/wp-content\/uploads\/2010\/04\/Blog5-709589.jpg?resize=250%2C339&#038;ssl=1\" alt=\"Blog5-709589\" width=\"250\" height=\"339\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.ice-dance.com\/site\/wp-content\/uploads\/2010\/04\/Blog5-709589.jpg?w=250&amp;ssl=1 250w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.ice-dance.com\/site\/wp-content\/uploads\/2010\/04\/Blog5-709589.jpg?resize=221%2C300&amp;ssl=1 221w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 250px) 100vw, 250px\" \/>Hello world. <\/p>\n<div>So,  Saturday in the ice rink is finished for the dancers. The morning started early  &#8212; say 4 a.m. Just about all of the dance competitors were on the 5:30 a.m. bus  to practice. We returned from practice about 7:00 and went for breakfast. I  shouldn&#8217;t leave out the fact that we saw the sunrise after practice. *sarcasm  noted*<\/p>\n<p>I have to say I went back to sleep for about 30 minutes right  after breakfast, then re-did my hair and makeup before heading back to the arena  for the Original Dance competition at 9:30 a.m.<\/p>\n<p>And here is where my day  started to twist.<\/p>\n<p>I mentioned before, I&#8217;ve been dealing with the problems  that can come after influenza &#8212; especially if you&#8217;re forcing your body into a  strenuous, cold environment day after day (before getting healthy) in need of  making it to your first Grand Prix event. So this morning, I presumed that the  lack of sleep from the late night\/early morning competition\/practice schedule  was causing my cough being harder and in longer spurts again (after a day or so  of having it just occur only immediately after a practice\/performance and a  little bit in short spurts during the day or evening). After the morning  practice, I was starting to feel like I was wheezing, which was definitely  making me nervous with the impending original dance. Nonetheless, I was in the  mode to shake it off and knew that adrenaline would help me if there was  anything getting in the way during the run-through. *I won&#8217;t comment on the  run-through because you have to tune in to IceNetwork and support coverage of  our dance events to see that! \ud83d\ude42 *<\/p>\n<p>After we got off the ice, I walked  back to the dressing room and immediately my cough started in. As a second  coughing fit came on, the medical staff from the organizing committee poked  around the corner and notified me that they could hear me through the wall and  felt I needed their services. Oops! Hmm. It&#8217;s not everyday that the doctors tell  you to come see them after just hearing you cough through the wall. I took my  skates off and walked to the medical room.<\/p>\n<p>Can you believe they had the  nerve to tell me I have pneumonia! \ud83d\ude41 In fact, it was very nice that the doctor  did a thorough job in diagnosing my cough, but not so nice that she had to find  pneumonia.<\/p>\n<p>So I&#8217;ve spent the last couple of hours getting paperwork done  for the medication I&#8217;m now instructed to be on to treat my pneumonia, which of  course has to be approved by ISU so I don&#8217;t get accused of doping. But it&#8217;s all  documented now and on the straight and narrow.<\/p>\n<p>And I will skate free  dance tomorrow!<\/p>\n<p>But gee, I&#8217;d love to skate healthy at some point. My luck  on these things hasn&#8217;t had the best record. I&#8217;m going to have to turn into the  health nut and keep carrots and pomegranates in my pocket, wear garlic around my  neck or something.<\/p>\n<p>Sorry I don&#8217;t have more photos for you today. Being a  shutterbug was low on my list with the competition schedule being a bit crazy  for us this morning. I&#8217;ll do better tomorrow. Meanwhile, spend a lot of time on  ice-dance.com and tune in for free dance coverage tomorrow on IceNetwork to  support the dancers!!<\/p>\n<p>Get your flu shot people! Stay  healthy.<\/p>\n<p>Love,<br \/>Jenn<em><\/p>\n<p>###<br \/><\/em><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<p> <!-- End .post --><!-- Begin #comments --><!-- End #comments --> <\/p>\n<div>\n<h4>Friday, October 31, 2008  <!-- Begin .post --> <br \/>Warm fuzzies from the fans<\/h4>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<div class=\"post\">\n<div class=\"post-body\">\n<div>\n<div>\n<div>Howdy, howdy!<\/p>\n<p>One  down, two to go.<\/p>\n<p>The Paso competition went off tonight without a hitch.  We were really happy with our skate. Hoping to move up in the next couple of  rounds, but we are definitely happy to have skated well. That&#8217;s all we can  control, after all. I hope everyone is tuning in on IceNetwork to watch and I  promise next kiss and cry I will give a shout out to Ice-dance.com.<\/p>\n<p><img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" data-attachment-id=\"790\" data-permalink=\"https:\/\/www.ice-dance.com\/site\/2008-skate-canada-jennifer-westers-competitor-blog\/img_1412-761223\/\" data-orig-file=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.ice-dance.com\/site\/wp-content\/uploads\/2010\/04\/IMG_1412-761223.jpg?fit=250%2C268&amp;ssl=1\" data-orig-size=\"250,268\" data-comments-opened=\"1\" data-image-meta=\"{&quot;aperture&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;credit&quot;:&quot;Picasa 3.0&quot;,&quot;camera&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;caption&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;created_timestamp&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;copyright&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;focal_length&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;iso&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;shutter_speed&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;title&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;orientation&quot;:&quot;0&quot;}\" data-image-title=\"IMG_1412-761223\" data-image-description=\"\" data-image-caption=\"\" data-large-file=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.ice-dance.com\/site\/wp-content\/uploads\/2010\/04\/IMG_1412-761223.jpg?fit=250%2C268&amp;ssl=1\" class=\" alignleft size-full wp-image-790\" style=\"margin-right: 3px; float: left;\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.ice-dance.com\/site\/wp-content\/uploads\/2010\/04\/IMG_1412-761223.jpg?resize=250%2C268&#038;ssl=1\" alt=\"IMG_1412-761223\" width=\"250\" height=\"268\" \/>Speaking  of the kiss and cry, I was so impressed by the handiwork of a couple of ladies  in the audience who created little skates with Canadian flags on pins for us and  included a handwritten note along with the gift. We&#8217;re really thankful to be  treated to such hospitality by the Canadian audience.<\/p>\n<p>Also, I want to  give a shout out to the 83 year old Texan that manages to surprise Daniil and I  at every event and warm our hearts out there on the ice by throwing us a little  package of goodies &#8212; of course attaching an identification card so we know that  it&#8217;s from him. The card is great. Every year the age is updated! So thank you,  and thank you to everyone watching and reading. I like this sport too much to  see the television coverage drop so severely.<\/p>\n<p>It means so much to all the  skaters to know there are people pulling for you out there in the crowds.  Hopefully the Olympic Games next year will rev things up for skating in the  mainstream again. Until then, skaters and fans will have to be content knowing  we&#8217;re a &#8220;happy lil&#8217; skating family.&#8221; \ud83d\ude00<\/p>\n<p>Okay, enough with my spiel. I&#8217;m  going to get some sleep. After all that, we didn&#8217;t manage to make our way into  the second warm-up for tomorrow&#8217;s OD so I&#8217;ve got a 6:30 a.m. practice session.  Do the math &#8211; I&#8217;ll be up EARLY.<\/p>\n<p>Have a good night and I&#8217;ll talk to you  tomorrow.<\/p>\n<p>&lt;3, Jenn<\/p>\n<p>###<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<p> <!-- End .post --><!-- Begin #comments --><!-- End #comments --> <\/p>\n<p><!-- Begin .post --><\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<div class=\"post\">\n<div><a name=\"7123291889597246727\"><\/a><\/div>\n<h4 class=\"post-title\">I&#8217;m a good Texan &#8212; with big hair issues!<\/h4>\n<div class=\"post-body\">\n<div>\n<div>\n<div>Today we were greeted to  audience members dressed in bright orange skeleton costumes! It was a bit of a  shock! It&#8217;s not everyday you step out onto the ice in your best sparkling  costumes and look up into the generally mild-mannered audience to see skeletons  and ghouls. \ud83d\ude1b It looks like the Canadians are really into Halloween, even if  everyone keeps referring to it up here as Devil&#8217;s Night.<\/p>\n<p>The dancers have  decided that we, too, will be in Halloween costumes tonight. Yes, all the  dancers are going in pairs as matadors and capes! \ud83d\ude00 I know, you saw that one  coming.<\/p>\n<p><img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" data-attachment-id=\"791\" data-permalink=\"https:\/\/www.ice-dance.com\/site\/2008-skate-canada-jennifer-westers-competitor-blog\/100_4126-736929\/\" data-orig-file=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.ice-dance.com\/site\/wp-content\/uploads\/2010\/04\/100_4126-736929.jpg?fit=244%2C300&amp;ssl=1\" data-orig-size=\"244,300\" data-comments-opened=\"1\" data-image-meta=\"{&quot;aperture&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;credit&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;camera&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;caption&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;created_timestamp&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;copyright&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;focal_length&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;iso&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;shutter_speed&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;title&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;orientation&quot;:&quot;0&quot;}\" data-image-title=\"100_4126-736929\" data-image-description=\"\" data-image-caption=\"\" data-large-file=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.ice-dance.com\/site\/wp-content\/uploads\/2010\/04\/100_4126-736929.jpg?fit=244%2C300&amp;ssl=1\" class=\" alignleft size-full wp-image-791\" style=\"margin-right: 3px; float: left;\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.ice-dance.com\/site\/wp-content\/uploads\/2010\/04\/100_4126-736929.jpg?resize=244%2C300&#038;ssl=1\" alt=\"100_4126-736929\" width=\"244\" height=\"300\" \/>To  follow up from last night, practice this morning went well. I slept in &#8230; until  7 a.m. that is, and we were ready to go at 10 a.m. on the ice. It was the first  time Angelika (Krylova) had seen my new Paso costume on me on the ice. I&#8217;m happy  to say she liked it! I made the dress three weeks ago just before coming down  with a nasty influenza and thus, in the cold practice rink at home, wasn&#8217;t able  to show off my handy work while dealing with the cough and bronchial infections  influenza can bring.<\/p>\n<p>I will say, however, while the dress felt and worked  great for Paso, since this was a split practice (CD &#038; FD) it wasn&#8217;t the  easiest hair or dress to perform free dance pieces. In fact, at one point late  in the practice when I already thought &#8220;that&#8217;s it my French twist is going to  hold out and work for me until I get off&#8221; &#8212; whoosh! &#8212; we stepped into a set of  twizzles and all the bobby pins and hair wrapped up in that French twist went  FLYING. The bobby pins were scattered across the ice &#8212; leading to a frantic &#8220;52  card pickup&#8221; by Daniil, me, and a few Canadian skaters trying to protect  themselves from my obstacle course. \ud83d\ude42 Oops! Luckily, I had a hair tie with me.  It didn&#8217;t go too well with my large Paso collar to have a low ponytail wagging  along, but for the last five minutes of practice, it had to do. The moral of the  story: don&#8217;t presume that a compulsory dance hairdo will hold up in a free dance  practice. \ud83d\ude00 Lesson learned.<\/p>\n<p><img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" data-attachment-id=\"792\" data-permalink=\"https:\/\/www.ice-dance.com\/site\/2008-skate-canada-jennifer-westers-competitor-blog\/food-734455\/\" data-orig-file=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.ice-dance.com\/site\/wp-content\/uploads\/2010\/04\/food-734455.jpg?fit=400%2C176&amp;ssl=1\" data-orig-size=\"400,176\" data-comments-opened=\"1\" data-image-meta=\"{&quot;aperture&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;credit&quot;:&quot;Picasa 3.0&quot;,&quot;camera&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;caption&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;created_timestamp&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;copyright&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;focal_length&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;iso&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;shutter_speed&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;title&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;orientation&quot;:&quot;0&quot;}\" data-image-title=\"food-734455\" data-image-description=\"\" data-image-caption=\"\" data-large-file=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.ice-dance.com\/site\/wp-content\/uploads\/2010\/04\/food-734455.jpg?fit=400%2C176&amp;ssl=1\" class=\" alignleft size-full wp-image-792\" style=\"float: left;\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.ice-dance.com\/site\/wp-content\/uploads\/2010\/04\/food-734455.jpg?resize=400%2C176&#038;ssl=1\" alt=\"food-734455\" width=\"400\" height=\"176\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.ice-dance.com\/site\/wp-content\/uploads\/2010\/04\/food-734455.jpg?w=400&amp;ssl=1 400w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.ice-dance.com\/site\/wp-content\/uploads\/2010\/04\/food-734455.jpg?resize=300%2C132&amp;ssl=1 300w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 400px) 100vw, 400px\" \/>While  looking through my photos, I realized I&#8217;ve yet to talk about how great the food  has been here. The dinners are ripe for Thanksgiving. I&#8217;ve taken photos of two  plates we&#8217;ve indulged ourselves with. It definitely beats the seafood spaghetti  we&#8217;ve experienced at other competitions. \ud83d\ude42<\/p>\n<p><img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" data-attachment-id=\"793\" data-permalink=\"https:\/\/www.ice-dance.com\/site\/2008-skate-canada-jennifer-westers-competitor-blog\/100_4135-763336\/\" data-orig-file=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.ice-dance.com\/site\/wp-content\/uploads\/2010\/04\/100_4135-763336.jpg?fit=300%2C196&amp;ssl=1\" data-orig-size=\"300,196\" data-comments-opened=\"1\" data-image-meta=\"{&quot;aperture&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;credit&quot;:&quot;Picasa 3.0&quot;,&quot;camera&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;caption&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;created_timestamp&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;copyright&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;focal_length&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;iso&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;shutter_speed&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;title&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;orientation&quot;:&quot;0&quot;}\" data-image-title=\"100_4135-763336\" data-image-description=\"\" data-image-caption=\"\" data-large-file=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.ice-dance.com\/site\/wp-content\/uploads\/2010\/04\/100_4135-763336.jpg?fit=300%2C196&amp;ssl=1\" class=\" alignright size-full wp-image-793\" style=\"float: right;\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.ice-dance.com\/site\/wp-content\/uploads\/2010\/04\/100_4135-763336.jpg?resize=300%2C196&#038;ssl=1\" alt=\"100_4135-763336\" width=\"300\" height=\"196\" \/>In  addition, as a good Texan, I&#8217;ve already spotted a Texas flag flying over the  restaurant LONE STAR around the corner from the hotel. The enticing signage  reading &#8220;Fixin&#8217; for lunch?&#8221; has me thinking if our schedule could have allowed  for it, I&#8217;d love to have stopped by for a bite. Tryout the Canadian version of a  Tex-Mex restaurant. Alas, it seems our schedule &#8212; dancers specifically &#8212; is  not going to allow for practically any viewing of the city of Ottawa. I&#8217;ve heard  through the grapevine that it&#8217;s a beautiful town, but we are definitely out of  town in the farmland, so I personally will not be able to attest to that  statement.<\/p>\n<p>I&#8217;m off to take a nap for now.<em><\/p>\n<p>###<\/p>\n<p><\/em><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<p> <!-- End .post --><!-- Begin #comments --><!-- End #comments --> <\/p>\n<div>\n<h4>Thursday, October 30, 2008  <!-- Begin .post --> <br \/>Practices and parties<\/h4>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<div class=\"post\">\n<div class=\"post-body\">\n<div>\n<div>\n<div>Today was long.<\/p>\n<p>The  event for the athletes has started as all the disciplines ventured onto practice  ice today. The dancers twice. (<strong>Below:  Brent Bommentre on the bus to practice<\/strong>)<\/p>\n<p><img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" data-attachment-id=\"794\" data-permalink=\"https:\/\/www.ice-dance.com\/site\/2008-skate-canada-jennifer-westers-competitor-blog\/100_4124-737052\/\" data-orig-file=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.ice-dance.com\/site\/wp-content\/uploads\/2010\/04\/100_4124-737052.jpg?fit=277%2C350&amp;ssl=1\" data-orig-size=\"277,350\" data-comments-opened=\"1\" data-image-meta=\"{&quot;aperture&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;credit&quot;:&quot;Picasa 3.0&quot;,&quot;camera&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;caption&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;created_timestamp&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;copyright&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;focal_length&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;iso&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;shutter_speed&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;title&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;orientation&quot;:&quot;0&quot;}\" data-image-title=\"100_4124-737052\" data-image-description=\"\" data-image-caption=\"\" data-large-file=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.ice-dance.com\/site\/wp-content\/uploads\/2010\/04\/100_4124-737052.jpg?fit=277%2C350&amp;ssl=1\" class=\" alignleft size-full wp-image-794\" style=\"margin-right: 3px; float: left;\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.ice-dance.com\/site\/wp-content\/uploads\/2010\/04\/100_4124-737052.jpg?resize=277%2C350&#038;ssl=1\" alt=\"100_4124-737052\" width=\"277\" height=\"350\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.ice-dance.com\/site\/wp-content\/uploads\/2010\/04\/100_4124-737052.jpg?w=277&amp;ssl=1 277w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.ice-dance.com\/site\/wp-content\/uploads\/2010\/04\/100_4124-737052.jpg?resize=237%2C300&amp;ssl=1 237w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 277px) 100vw, 277px\" \/>The  ice is fairly good; however, the extremely clear top layer of ice had encased a  few leaves, bugs, and other unidentifiable objects. The clarity through that top  layer was sharp enough to convince me that things were just lying on the ice,  and at any moment someone was going to go down on the frozen house fly or other  disturbance in the usually pristine ice. Luckily, no one had any fly  disasters.<\/p>\n<p>Practice was divided by countries today. In ice dance, the  U.S. and France skated together in the first group; Russia and Canada skated in  the second group. Tomorrow we will separate into our starting order groups.  Meaning since the &#8220;draw&#8221; was decided by current world point rankings, Daniil and  I will be in the first group for practice tomorrow morning but with any luck  (and our skill *wink, wink*&#8230;) following the compulsory competition tomorrow  night we will be seated in the second warm-up group. (Saving us from a 6:30 a.m.  practice on Saturday! &#8230;. motives&#8230;..)<\/p>\n<p>Other than practice today, the  host organization treated the officials, coaches, and athletes to a welcome  party that consisted of hors d&#8217;oeuvres and about four guest speakers, including  a speech from the Athlete Ambassador for Skate Canada, Liz Manley.<\/p>\n<p><img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" data-attachment-id=\"795\" data-permalink=\"https:\/\/www.ice-dance.com\/site\/2008-skate-canada-jennifer-westers-competitor-blog\/100_4130-703601\/\" data-orig-file=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.ice-dance.com\/site\/wp-content\/uploads\/2010\/04\/100_4130-703601.jpg?fit=350%2C270&amp;ssl=1\" data-orig-size=\"350,270\" data-comments-opened=\"1\" data-image-meta=\"{&quot;aperture&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;credit&quot;:&quot;Picasa 3.0&quot;,&quot;camera&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;caption&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;created_timestamp&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;copyright&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;focal_length&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;iso&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;shutter_speed&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;title&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;orientation&quot;:&quot;0&quot;}\" data-image-title=\"100_4130-703601\" data-image-description=\"\" data-image-caption=\"\" data-large-file=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.ice-dance.com\/site\/wp-content\/uploads\/2010\/04\/100_4130-703601.jpg?fit=350%2C270&amp;ssl=1\" class=\" size-full wp-image-795\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.ice-dance.com\/site\/wp-content\/uploads\/2010\/04\/100_4130-703601.jpg?resize=350%2C270&#038;ssl=1\" alt=\"100_4130-703601\" width=\"350\" height=\"270\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.ice-dance.com\/site\/wp-content\/uploads\/2010\/04\/100_4130-703601.jpg?w=350&amp;ssl=1 350w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.ice-dance.com\/site\/wp-content\/uploads\/2010\/04\/100_4130-703601.jpg?resize=300%2C231&amp;ssl=1 300w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 350px) 100vw, 350px\" \/><br \/>(Tiffany Vice, Amanda Evora, Alissa Czisny, and I at  the welcome party)<\/p>\n<p><img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" data-attachment-id=\"796\" data-permalink=\"https:\/\/www.ice-dance.com\/site\/2008-skate-canada-jennifer-westers-competitor-blog\/100_4132-778256\/\" data-orig-file=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.ice-dance.com\/site\/wp-content\/uploads\/2010\/04\/100_4132-778256.jpg?fit=400%2C265&amp;ssl=1\" data-orig-size=\"400,265\" data-comments-opened=\"1\" data-image-meta=\"{&quot;aperture&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;credit&quot;:&quot;Picasa 3.0&quot;,&quot;camera&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;caption&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;created_timestamp&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;copyright&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;focal_length&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;iso&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;shutter_speed&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;title&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;orientation&quot;:&quot;0&quot;}\" data-image-title=\"100_4132-778256\" data-image-description=\"\" data-image-caption=\"\" data-large-file=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.ice-dance.com\/site\/wp-content\/uploads\/2010\/04\/100_4132-778256.jpg?fit=400%2C265&amp;ssl=1\" class=\" size-full wp-image-796\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.ice-dance.com\/site\/wp-content\/uploads\/2010\/04\/100_4132-778256.jpg?resize=400%2C265&#038;ssl=1\" alt=\"100_4132-778256\" width=\"400\" height=\"265\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.ice-dance.com\/site\/wp-content\/uploads\/2010\/04\/100_4132-778256.jpg?w=400&amp;ssl=1 400w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.ice-dance.com\/site\/wp-content\/uploads\/2010\/04\/100_4132-778256.jpg?resize=300%2C199&amp;ssl=1 300w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 400px) 100vw, 400px\" \/><\/div>\n<div>(Team U.S.A.)<\/p>\n<p>Honestly,  the athletes are rarely able to stay long at these parties, at least at those  that occur before the conclusion of the competitive events. We get dressed up,  take a photo or two, show ourselves to be as polite and supportive of the host  as possible, and then turn around at the first available moment head back to our  rooms for sleep. After all, practices may be listed at 9 or 10 a.m., but that  translates to an hour earlier to the rink for warm up, catching the bus 30  minutes earlier than the that, an hour hair and makeup time pre-bus, and a 45  minute &#8211; one hour pre-makeup\/hair wakeup call to give time for breakfast. Yes,  10 a.m. translates in &#8220;skater world&#8221; to a 6:45 a.m. wakeup call. Sometimes I  wish I didn&#8217;t speak skater world language. \ud83d\ude42 Or that practices were at least  never placed earlier than 10 a.m. (in my dreams&#8230;)<\/p>\n<p>Well, unfortunately  I&#8217;m still trying to fight off a flu bug I&#8217;ve had for the last couple of weeks.  Thus, I am going to hit the sack. I&#8217;ve slipped out of the party and am preparing  for my 9:55 a.m. practice.<\/p>\n<p><img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" data-attachment-id=\"797\" data-permalink=\"https:\/\/www.ice-dance.com\/site\/2008-skate-canada-jennifer-westers-competitor-blog\/100_4123-732646\/\" data-orig-file=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.ice-dance.com\/site\/wp-content\/uploads\/2010\/04\/100_4123-732646.jpg?fit=350%2C314&amp;ssl=1\" data-orig-size=\"350,314\" data-comments-opened=\"1\" data-image-meta=\"{&quot;aperture&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;credit&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;camera&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;caption&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;created_timestamp&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;copyright&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;focal_length&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;iso&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;shutter_speed&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;title&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;orientation&quot;:&quot;0&quot;}\" data-image-title=\"100_4123-732646\" data-image-description=\"\" data-image-caption=\"\" data-large-file=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.ice-dance.com\/site\/wp-content\/uploads\/2010\/04\/100_4123-732646.jpg?fit=350%2C314&amp;ssl=1\" class=\" size-full wp-image-797\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.ice-dance.com\/site\/wp-content\/uploads\/2010\/04\/100_4123-732646.jpg?resize=350%2C314&#038;ssl=1\" alt=\"100_4123-732646\" width=\"350\" height=\"314\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.ice-dance.com\/site\/wp-content\/uploads\/2010\/04\/100_4123-732646.jpg?w=350&amp;ssl=1 350w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.ice-dance.com\/site\/wp-content\/uploads\/2010\/04\/100_4123-732646.jpg?resize=300%2C269&amp;ssl=1 300w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 350px) 100vw, 350px\" \/><br \/>(<strong>Random photo of Daniil with a book he  found<\/strong>)<\/p>\n<p>I hope you enjoy reading my notes on our first  Grand Prix event.<\/p>\n<p>Talk to you tomorrow,<br \/>Jenn<\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<p>###<\/div>\n<p> <!-- End .post --><!-- Begin #comments --><!-- End #comments --> <\/p>\n<div>\n<h4>Wednesday, October 29, 2008  <!-- Begin .post --> <br \/>Out of the frying pan &#038; into the snow<\/h4>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<div class=\"post\">\n<div class=\"post-body\">\n<div>\n<div>\n<div>It&#8217;s Wednesday and we&#8217;ve  just arrived in Ottawa for Skate Canada.<\/p>\n<p>Daniil and I, now being as we&#8217;re  in the skating hub of Detroit, Michigan, greeted Meryl (Davis), Charlie (White),  Alyssa (Czisny), Derek (Trent), and Tiffany (Vice) at the airport for the hour  and a half flight up to Ottawa.<\/p>\n<p>The plane was tiny &#8212; talk about  downsizing! Prior to boarding, we were all tagged with flight deck luggage tags  for our carry-ons (filled with costumes per suggestion of our team leader since  the post-9\/11 F.A.A. does not allow figure skates to be carried on a plane. This  way if we lost our skates at least we could look pretty standing next to the  ice!).<\/p>\n<p><img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" data-attachment-id=\"798\" data-permalink=\"https:\/\/www.ice-dance.com\/site\/2008-skate-canada-jennifer-westers-competitor-blog\/100_4106-736058\/\" data-orig-file=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.ice-dance.com\/site\/wp-content\/uploads\/2010\/04\/100_4106-736058.jpg?fit=300%2C203&amp;ssl=1\" data-orig-size=\"300,203\" data-comments-opened=\"1\" data-image-meta=\"{&quot;aperture&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;credit&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;camera&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;caption&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;created_timestamp&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;copyright&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;focal_length&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;iso&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;shutter_speed&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;title&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;orientation&quot;:&quot;0&quot;}\" data-image-title=\"100_4106-736058\" data-image-description=\"\" data-image-caption=\"\" data-large-file=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.ice-dance.com\/site\/wp-content\/uploads\/2010\/04\/100_4106-736058.jpg?fit=300%2C203&amp;ssl=1\" class=\" size-full wp-image-798\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.ice-dance.com\/site\/wp-content\/uploads\/2010\/04\/100_4106-736058.jpg?resize=300%2C203&#038;ssl=1\" alt=\"100_4106-736058\" width=\"300\" height=\"203\" \/><br \/><strong>Daniil  on the plane<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>Happily, there is nothing else to say about  the plane ride.<\/p>\n<p>After arriving in Canada, our cheerful group passed  through Customs, picked up our luggage, and was escorted by the organizing  committee to a bus on which we road about 40 minutes to the  hotel.<\/p>\n<p><img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" data-attachment-id=\"799\" data-permalink=\"https:\/\/www.ice-dance.com\/site\/2008-skate-canada-jennifer-westers-competitor-blog\/100_4108-779744\/\" data-orig-file=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.ice-dance.com\/site\/wp-content\/uploads\/2010\/04\/100_4108-779744.jpg?fit=300%2C181&amp;ssl=1\" data-orig-size=\"300,181\" data-comments-opened=\"1\" data-image-meta=\"{&quot;aperture&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;credit&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;camera&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;caption&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;created_timestamp&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;copyright&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;focal_length&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;iso&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;shutter_speed&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;title&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;orientation&quot;:&quot;0&quot;}\" data-image-title=\"100_4108-779744\" data-image-description=\"\" data-image-caption=\"\" data-large-file=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.ice-dance.com\/site\/wp-content\/uploads\/2010\/04\/100_4108-779744.jpg?fit=300%2C181&amp;ssl=1\" class=\" alignleft size-full wp-image-799\" style=\"margin-right: 3px; float: left;\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.ice-dance.com\/site\/wp-content\/uploads\/2010\/04\/100_4108-779744.jpg?resize=300%2C181&#038;ssl=1\" alt=\"100_4108-779744\" width=\"300\" height=\"181\" \/>Not having done my topographical research, I wasn&#8217;t  expecting to see the flat, desolate scenery that was the approach into Canada&#8217;s  capital city of Ottawa. By far the most rural capital I&#8217;ve visited. It certainly  didn&#8217;t help that the flat farmland was covered by 6&#8243; of October snow that we  weren&#8217;t expecting. Detroit was chilled to the point of random snow flurries, but  the thought of standing snow made me think Miami really needs to host an  event&#8230;and soon!<\/p>\n<p>The hotel, which is by the way gorgeous, is also in the  middle of nowhere.&nbsp;<img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" data-attachment-id=\"800\" data-permalink=\"https:\/\/www.ice-dance.com\/site\/2008-skate-canada-jennifer-westers-competitor-blog\/100_4110-713651\/\" data-orig-file=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.ice-dance.com\/site\/wp-content\/uploads\/2010\/04\/100_4110-713651.jpg?fit=300%2C225&amp;ssl=1\" data-orig-size=\"300,225\" data-comments-opened=\"1\" data-image-meta=\"{&quot;aperture&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;credit&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;camera&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;caption&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;created_timestamp&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;copyright&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;focal_length&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;iso&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;shutter_speed&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;title&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;orientation&quot;:&quot;0&quot;}\" data-image-title=\"100_4110-713651\" data-image-description=\"\" data-image-caption=\"\" data-large-file=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.ice-dance.com\/site\/wp-content\/uploads\/2010\/04\/100_4110-713651.jpg?fit=300%2C225&amp;ssl=1\" class=\" alignright size-full wp-image-800\" style=\"float: right;\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.ice-dance.com\/site\/wp-content\/uploads\/2010\/04\/100_4110-713651.jpg?resize=300%2C225&#038;ssl=1\" alt=\"100_4110-713651\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" \/> I&#8217;m telling you, we kept thinking that a city was  going to pop up and show its face, but thus far we have not found any signs of a  large city. People have been extremely friendly, but if it weren&#8217;t for the large  sign visible from the runway as we landed at the city airport, I would not guess  that this was the nation&#8217;s capital.<\/p>\n<p>As soon as we got in, we met with our  team leaders and received our credentials in the accreditation room. Yep, the  whole team: getting our photos taken, getting our passports scanned, getting  holes punched in our room keys to avoid uncomfortable mishaps!<\/p>\n<p><img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" data-attachment-id=\"801\" data-permalink=\"https:\/\/www.ice-dance.com\/site\/2008-skate-canada-jennifer-westers-competitor-blog\/100_4119-793134\/\" data-orig-file=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.ice-dance.com\/site\/wp-content\/uploads\/2010\/04\/100_4119-793134.jpg?fit=300%2C217&amp;ssl=1\" data-orig-size=\"300,217\" data-comments-opened=\"1\" data-image-meta=\"{&quot;aperture&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;credit&quot;:&quot;Picasa 3.0&quot;,&quot;camera&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;caption&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;created_timestamp&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;copyright&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;focal_length&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;iso&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;shutter_speed&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;title&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;orientation&quot;:&quot;0&quot;}\" data-image-title=\"100_4119-793134\" data-image-description=\"\" data-image-caption=\"\" data-large-file=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.ice-dance.com\/site\/wp-content\/uploads\/2010\/04\/100_4119-793134.jpg?fit=300%2C217&amp;ssl=1\" class=\" alignleft size-full wp-image-801\" style=\"margin-right: 3px; float: left;\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.ice-dance.com\/site\/wp-content\/uploads\/2010\/04\/100_4119-793134.jpg?resize=300%2C217&#038;ssl=1\" alt=\"100_4119-793134\" width=\"300\" height=\"217\" \/>We were treated with some great goodies! &#8220;Maple  Syrup Galore&#8221; is the name I&#8217;ve given to the red bag we were each given. Home  Sense (the title sponsor of Skate Canada) gifted maple syrup, maple butter,  maple covered pretzels, maple almonds, and maple popcorn to each competitor, all  in a lovely red bag dropped off at each room.<\/p>\n<p><img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" data-attachment-id=\"802\" data-permalink=\"https:\/\/www.ice-dance.com\/site\/2008-skate-canada-jennifer-westers-competitor-blog\/100_4115-739982\/\" data-orig-file=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.ice-dance.com\/site\/wp-content\/uploads\/2010\/04\/100_4115-739982.jpg?fit=300%2C336&amp;ssl=1\" data-orig-size=\"300,336\" data-comments-opened=\"1\" data-image-meta=\"{&quot;aperture&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;credit&quot;:&quot;Picasa 3.0&quot;,&quot;camera&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;caption&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;created_timestamp&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;copyright&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;focal_length&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;iso&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;shutter_speed&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;title&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;orientation&quot;:&quot;0&quot;}\" data-image-title=\"100_4115-739982\" data-image-description=\"\" data-image-caption=\"\" data-large-file=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.ice-dance.com\/site\/wp-content\/uploads\/2010\/04\/100_4115-739982.jpg?fit=300%2C336&amp;ssl=1\" class=\" alignright size-full wp-image-802\" style=\"float: right;\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.ice-dance.com\/site\/wp-content\/uploads\/2010\/04\/100_4115-739982.jpg?resize=300%2C336&#038;ssl=1\" alt=\"100_4115-739982\" width=\"300\" height=\"336\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.ice-dance.com\/site\/wp-content\/uploads\/2010\/04\/100_4115-739982.jpg?w=300&amp;ssl=1 300w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.ice-dance.com\/site\/wp-content\/uploads\/2010\/04\/100_4115-739982.jpg?resize=268%2C300&amp;ssl=1 268w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" \/>&#8220;The Frying Pan&#8221; is what I&#8217;ve named the other gift.  You heard me, a frying pan. \ud83d\ude42 In an Adidas Skate Canada satchel, we were handed  frying pans in the accreditation room. The debate is: do we 1) make omelets or  2) chase our competition and\/or partners around with the new T-Fal cookware? I  suggested that we could do a new rendition of Tom and Jerry on ice &#8212; with  frying pans. Exhibition number anyone??<\/p>\n<p>Along with the um &#8230; pan &#8212;  which I want to impress is a very nice pan &#8212; Artistry makeup gifted lipstick  and eye and cheek powder tints, Bliss gifted body butter and foaming face wash  travel products, and the Canadian visitors bureau added in a Canada Rocks  souvenir package including an &#8220;Inukshuk&#8221; pin and bookmark, Canada Rocks key  chain, and a dry erase board.<\/p>\n<p>So now you know. It&#8217;s a regular ol&#8217;  Hollywood gift pack! Okay, so maybe the T-Fal isn&#8217;t diamonds, but it&#8217;s got a  temperature gauge button. Oddly enough, I&#8217;m excited to make pancakes when I get  home. I hope it doesn&#8217;t get dented in luggage on the way home. A rogue skate  could damage the non-stick.<\/p>\n<p>It&#8217;s been a long day; I&#8217;m going to hit the  hay. Thanks for reading. I&#8217;ll write in again soon.<\/p>\n<p>Jenn  \ud83d\ude42<\/p>\n<p><img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" data-attachment-id=\"803\" data-permalink=\"https:\/\/www.ice-dance.com\/site\/2008-skate-canada-jennifer-westers-competitor-blog\/100_4116-709611\/\" data-orig-file=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.ice-dance.com\/site\/wp-content\/uploads\/2010\/04\/100_4116-709611.jpg?fit=246%2C300&amp;ssl=1\" data-orig-size=\"246,300\" data-comments-opened=\"1\" data-image-meta=\"{&quot;aperture&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;credit&quot;:&quot;Picasa 3.0&quot;,&quot;camera&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;caption&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;created_timestamp&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;copyright&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;focal_length&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;iso&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;shutter_speed&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;title&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;orientation&quot;:&quot;0&quot;}\" data-image-title=\"100_4116-709611\" data-image-description=\"\" data-image-caption=\"\" data-large-file=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.ice-dance.com\/site\/wp-content\/uploads\/2010\/04\/100_4116-709611.jpg?fit=246%2C300&amp;ssl=1\" class=\" size-full wp-image-803\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.ice-dance.com\/site\/wp-content\/uploads\/2010\/04\/100_4116-709611.jpg?resize=246%2C300&#038;ssl=1\" alt=\"100_4116-709611\" width=\"246\" height=\"300\" \/><br \/>&#8220;Hitting&#8221; the hay. Get  it?<strong><br \/><\/strong><\/div>\n<p> <strong><\/strong><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>\u00a0 Sunday, November 2, 2008 Farewell from Ottawa Some final photos from Sunday&#8217;s closing banquet: And now presenting&#8230;.TEAM T-FAL USA Yes, the U.S. Team did go out of the way [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":4463,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_et_pb_use_builder":"","_et_pb_old_content":"","_et_gb_content_width":"","_gspb_post_css":"","_uag_custom_page_level_css":"","_themeisle_gutenberg_block_has_review":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","_links_to":"","_links_to_target":""},"categories":[39],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-804","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-competitor-blogs"],"blocksy_meta":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.ice-dance.com\/site\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/12\/NOFM.jpg?fit=489%2C489&ssl=1","uagb_featured_image_src":{"full":["https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.ice-dance.com\/site\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/12\/NOFM.jpg?fit=489%2C489&ssl=1",489,489,false],"thumbnail":["https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.ice-dance.com\/site\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/12\/NOFM.jpg?fit=150%2C150&ssl=1",150,150,true],"medium":["https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.ice-dance.com\/site\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/12\/NOFM.jpg?fit=300%2C300&ssl=1",300,300,true],"medium_large":["https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.ice-dance.com\/site\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/12\/NOFM.jpg?fit=489%2C489&ssl=1",489,489,true],"large":["https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.ice-dance.com\/site\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/12\/NOFM.jpg?fit=489%2C489&ssl=1",489,489,true],"1536x1536":["https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.ice-dance.com\/site\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/12\/NOFM.jpg?fit=489%2C489&ssl=1",489,489,true],"2048x2048":["https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.ice-dance.com\/site\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/12\/NOFM.jpg?fit=489%2C489&ssl=1",489,489,true],"et-pb-post-main-image":["https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.ice-dance.com\/site\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/12\/NOFM.jpg?resize=400%2C250&ssl=1",400,250,true],"et-pb-post-main-image-fullwidth":["https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.ice-dance.com\/site\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/12\/NOFM.jpg?resize=489%2C489&ssl=1",489,489,true],"et-pb-portfolio-image":["https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.ice-dance.com\/site\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/12\/NOFM.jpg?resize=400%2C284&ssl=1",400,284,true],"et-pb-portfolio-module-image":["https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.ice-dance.com\/site\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/12\/NOFM.jpg?resize=489%2C382&ssl=1",489,382,true],"et-pb-portfolio-image-single":["https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.ice-dance.com\/site\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/12\/NOFM.jpg?fit=489%2C489&ssl=1",489,489,true],"et-pb-gallery-module-image-portrait":["https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.ice-dance.com\/site\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/12\/NOFM.jpg?resize=400%2C489&ssl=1",400,489,true],"rpwe-thumbnail":["https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.ice-dance.com\/site\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/12\/NOFM.jpg?resize=45%2C45&ssl=1",45,45,true]},"uagb_author_info":{"display_name":"Team IDC","author_link":"https:\/\/www.ice-dance.com\/site\/author\/idcadmin\/"},"uagb_comment_info":0,"uagb_excerpt":"\u00a0 Sunday, November 2, 2008 Farewell from Ottawa Some final photos from Sunday&#8217;s closing banquet: And now presenting&#8230;.TEAM T-FAL USA Yes, the U.S. Team did go out of the way [&hellip;]","jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/p7GOSM-cY","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.ice-dance.com\/site\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/804","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.ice-dance.com\/site\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.ice-dance.com\/site\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.ice-dance.com\/site\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.ice-dance.com\/site\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=804"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/www.ice-dance.com\/site\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/804\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":5697,"href":"https:\/\/www.ice-dance.com\/site\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/804\/revisions\/5697"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.ice-dance.com\/site\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/4463"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.ice-dance.com\/site\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=804"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.ice-dance.com\/site\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=804"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.ice-dance.com\/site\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=804"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}