Hi Everyone,

I hope you all enjoyed this years Nationals as much as I liked skating in it. I was very happy with the way I skated. My game plan was to skate like I know I can. After skating so well at Easterns, I knew I could do it again at Nationals. Nationals is a double edge sword - you want run around and have fun in a new city, and hang out with all the skaters you haven't seen since last year. Then on the other hand you say to yourself "I have to prepare. I'm here to do what I been working for all year, and I'll have fun after the competition."

Well I did get to have some fun. It was so much fun to skate in the Chevy Spectacular on Sunday. As I was skating around, I was laughing to myself "Wow, that's Michelle Kwan, Angela Nikodinov, Sarah Hughes, Todd Eldredge, and all the rest of the skaters I look up to." I couldn't believe that I was now skating on the same ice as them. Then I got to see all the skaters at the competitor's party that was a blast. Now I know why so many people love Los Angeles and California. There is so much to do and it’s warm in January. I got to see Rodeo Drive, Gorman's Chinese Theater, and Hollywood. I put my hands in Sonja Henie's handprints at Gorman's Chinese Theater.

Next up for me is to get ready for Junior Worlds. I am going to be training hard for this. My goal is to put my triple toe-triple toe combination in the long program for this competition. If I am landing it 80-90% of the time, it will be in my program.

There is good news on the school front. I did not miss finals because of Nationals, so I can still make the Deans List! They are letting me take them this week.

I would like to thank everyone for all the good wishes and support through this year. As you can see it really helped me. It really never occurred to me how many people follow my skating. It was a pleasure meeting new people at Nationals. One that stands out was a lady that asked me if I would please go down to her mothers seat and say hi to her. She was a lovely 80-year-old woman that has been to Nationals the last 12 years in a row. She loves Novice and Junior Ladies and has been following my skating for 3 years now. That meant a lot to me. It's people like all of you that make this hard work easier. Thank you!

Love Louann