Sunday, December 14, 2008

First and foremost, this blog starts with a correction.  My rather large sugar plum faeries aren't actually called sugar plum faeries!!!!  I apologize for this oversight!  They are actually called "The Nutcracker Sweets."  Well this week Jonathan Casaar and Alyssa Czisny are the guest skaters much to the audience's approval. 

I had some bad news from the North pole.  Apparently, Blitzen got a little crazy one night, and needless to say the entire reindeer contingent are out for the season.  So good old Santa asked his helpful group, "The Nutcracker Sweets," if they could pull old Santa's sleigh.  Happily they said yes, however they are a bit out of shape, so Santa ran them through their paces with an impromptu aerobics class.  Also, meet Randy Beckham of Pyrotex (www.protex.com), the man behind Santa's magical fire works!

Enjoy!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ph9DbsHupVo

Dan

 

Sunday, December 7, 2008

This weekend was all about the people you meet in an elevator.  I arrive Friday night to the hotel, drop off my gear in the room and press the down button to go to the mall for some grub.  "Ding" goes the bell, the doors open to reveal around 8 woman, mid forties and fifties, holding to go boxes, shushing themselves hysterically as they see me approach them in their giddy, drunken state.  "Oh this should be interesting I thought to myself as I stepped in, pressed the lobby button, with my back to the doors looking at the line up of woman facing me.  As their shushing  continued I smiled and said, "what's going on ladies," in a loud voice.  The one to my right, who was short like me said, "oh you have no idea what you just gotten yourself into," in a very serious look, able to control herself not to erupt in fits of giggling like her companions.  I look back at the numbers to see where we were and looked right at her and said, "well, I've got 8 floors, entertain me!"

Now, I have to admit I did surprise myself with my challenge, but at the same time to the "leader" had a bit of a challenge in her demeanor, so some primal instinct took over and gloves were thrown.  Now, the "leader" looked at me with a deadpan glare and started to say, "Apple bottom jeans, boots with the fur,"  (a new song definitely not from their generation, press the play button under the picture on the top of the page on the website journal, www.danhproductions.com) she started to sing, which immediately they all joined in and started to dance!  Imagine, if you will, myself standing there with all these older ladies dancing and singing, holding their to go boxes from the meal they just came from, in full drunken swing!  I'm smiling from ear to ear, slowing joining in with the dancing.  The one lady in front of me, complete gray hair in a ponytail, waist about level with my chest, turns halfway and starts smacking herself on the butt to the rhythm.  YEP, by now I have completely lost it and have tears in my eyes from laughing so hard!!!! 

"DING" goes the bell as we hit the lobby.  The doors open up, the dancing has immediately stopped and the shushing is brought back in earnest.  I manage to stop laughing long enough to look at them and say, "Ladies, thank you for the entertainment, you all have an amazing night!"  As the doors start to close I can hear one of the ladies say, "Wait, how come we are in the lobby again?  We missed our floor!"

The next day Santa does his jig, showers, and runs downstairs quickly to get driven to the airport to catch the flight to AZ for Sunday's show as the nun.  If you watch Seinfield you'll understand when I say my shower didn't "take" yet, so I rode with just my wife beater on until I got to the airport and could put my sweater on.  I arrive around 10pm to the hotel, drop off my gear in the room, and ride the elevator down to get the "special" elevator up to the bar to meet up with Jumpin' Joe for a drink.

So this elevator I can't figure out where the button is to call it, which ends up being on the wall behind me with the OTHER elevators (how odd) which another guys who walked up pressed.  We step onto the elevator, in which he holds the door, leans out, and yells, come on guys!  HERE WE GO AGAIN!  Around 10 guys, who range from tipsy to completely trashed walk onto the elevator.  Lurch in front of me looks around at everyone through a foggy gaze and exclaims, "nobody step on me."  Well, one guy decides to tell me not to listen to him and that he is crazy.  The other 8, not to be left out, all immediately begin to shout at the same time, each putting down another in the group!  So I'm smiling and laughing with them all as one does when confronted with a group of guys who you hope will maintain this demeanor in their drunken state.  The doors open and there is Jumpin' Joe with the rest of the clan getting ready to walk into the elevator.  It appears that bar has just closed down so we are going to another.  The group of guys walk out, my group walks in, the entire group of guys look back and start to inquire why the heck I'm still there and not coming out with them!  Well after saying this was my group and don't worry I'll see them, the doors close and my group is like, "friends of yours???" 

HAHAHAHAHA!!!!!  By far the most entertaining times I have had in an elevator.  The nun went well.  Including this cool guy who does the wheel on the ice, video here:



We finish the show and all pile into one of two vans driven by our standard two russian guys.  (I think they are retired cops?)  The other one is filled with our luggage and the huge wheel.  So our guy drops us off at passenger pick up.  The luggage van is no where to be found.  So after radioing his pal, we believe it is upstairs at passenger drop off.  Because of construction we have to walk to one end of the airport, go upstairs, walk all the way back towards the middle, only to not find ANY LUGGAGE.  We all have VERY tight flights.  In fact I think wheel guy missed his.  Peter Carruthers and I run back and forth, up and down, about 3 times.  As you can imagine I'm sweating like crazy running around with my coat on and computer.  The last trip we now see both vans together, and try to get them to tell us where is the LUGGAGE????  Apparently he dropped it at the curb, but now we have no clue where it is!  I run back upstairs and THANKFULLY it is now somehow near the check in point.  I had enough time to get to my gate, order a burrito, and walk onto the plane.  WHEW.

Till next week, ride the elevators as much as you can!

Be well,

Dan

 

 

Friday, December 5, 2008

You may recall a while back I was trying the Edea skates.  I have had numerous emails asking for updates, and now I can finally give my experiences and opinions on these skates.  First the history:

6/01/08:  Current Jackson skates breaking down, might not make the entire summer of SV.
New Jacksons came in, not working well, but no more time to adjust and had to leave.

6/08/08:  Contacted the company Edea in Italy (Sylvia who is the main contact) asking for a deal, but really a free pair of skates in return for helping to market their skates in the U.S. for figure skating (since I hear they are doing well in the roller skating world).  I would also share information about a few skaters who have received a free pair of their skates and why they don't like them and were no longer using them.  I get a response from someone else in the company saying Sabrina is out of the office but will be back on the 12th.  IMPORTANT fact that someone responded from her email while she was out of the office for later on.

6/11/08:  I stop at the U.S. distributor David Ripp on my way to Kansas to try out these skates.  They felt really comfortable and I was willing to try them out, fearing my Jacksons wouldn't last.  The company in Italy had been in communication with David and they decided to give me the standard coaches discount...but still a whopping $525.00, where at least 4 other skaters I know received them for free, with three of them not even using them.

6/13/08:  Attempted for 10 minutes the first day at the seminar with these new skates.  Realize that there was no way I could adjust quickly (lower heel which can increase jump height) but not right for me to teach a few 8 hr days on.

6/20/08:  In Sv, had skated one rehearsal per day.  I committed to a freestyle and the  first day completed double axel and triple sal.  The thing about these boots is that they do not come up as high on your ankle.  So I feel that they are "wobbly" like when you lean to one side because the boot doesn't brace the other side of your ankle, so it "flops" over.  Almost like skating in a regular pair and not tying them all the way up.  Not saying this is terrible, just not use to this at all, and some other people I have contacted who have tried them said the same thing.  Second day became the worse lace bite I have ever had.  This means for whatever reason the tongue is allowing the laces to cut into your ankle (issues I have had with the new Jacksons, but after making a new pair to replace the offending ones, it was fine after summer).  This issue never seems to be about the padding in the tongue, since padding in between the tongue and your ankle never seems to work, and a new tongue always seems to be the final answer.  I now emailed David my issues and asked what could they do to correct the problem.  (in my past experience means replacing the tongue or the entire skate...although because of the lower profile, this might not be possible and maybe just the design...however if others are skating in them, I can't believe it would be that....don't know)

6/24/08  David contacted me back saying he contacted Sabrina who said all the issues could be a positive, which I agree with (lower heel, lower profile), except for the lace bite which she said:

"When the boot is new and the sides are still stiff, all the pressure is on the tongue.
You need some time to break in so the pressure is uniformly distributed all around."

Now, as you can imagine, you don't "break in" lace bite.  So I email her back saying I didn't agree, you don't break in lace bite, it gets worse.  I then went on explaining exactly what I could do for helping them break into the market with my suggestions and connections, hoping this would result in a refund as well as getting the skates fixed.  

6/26/08  Sabrina contacts me stating David will send out a box for me to return the skates to see if they can fix the issue.

Now we are starting the month of July...and when I asked for an update I get a response back that the company usually takes off July and August!  THANKFULLY I squeak out the entire summer in my old Jacksons.  I was a bit upset knowing I paid for a product to use for the summer, and now it would take the entire summer to "fix." 

9/12/08 (3 months since date of purchase) I receive an email from Italy after I emailed them saying they have my skates, can't make changes to them, and have to make a new pair, which will be ready in about 3 weeks...so that is a deadline of October 3rd, close to 4 MONTHS AFTER ORIGINAL PURCHASE!!!  Meanwhile, I got the new Jacksons replaced, working fine, and skating on those.

10/14/08 (4 months since date of purchase) I email both David and Sabrina stating we are now 6 weeks...or 3 weeks past their promised date and what is the status?

10/28/08  TEN business days later, I now email them both after hearing NOTHING from David or Sabrina, and request my money back.  David then emails Edea, who responds on the 29th to David, who then forwards it to me!  Apparently, Sabrina gave birth on the 15th, and it skipped their attention.  (NOW, remember at the beginning when I emailed Sabrina and someone else responded for her?  So two emails went unanswered during this time.  I can appreciate her being out of the office, but at the end of the day this is a business, and the deadline she gave me to have them done was still 3 weeks prior to her giving birth.)  They are now promising they will send the boots out in one week and thank you for your patience.  You can imagine how frustrated I am that the company can respond to David, the distributor, but not to me. 

10/29/08  David emailed me:
"Dan,
 
I sincerely apologize for the way things have happened to this point.  EDEA has been and is a GREAT company to work with.  They have always provided wonderful products and to the schedules promised.  They have always done better than the best that they can do.  They do seem to realize when they have limitations and usually inform those involved, so no one is disappointed with their service.  They normally do not make commitments that they do not keep.  I am sure that they will strive to not let this happen again.
 
I would really appreciate the opportunity to see the boots and what modifications have been done (possibly take some pictures), and then send them right on to you.
 
Thank you for your patience and understanding.  We will let you know when the Boots are on the way to you.  Possibly, if we need to modify them, I could come to Detroit to accomplish this, as this would save some time.
 
Thanks
 
David"

As you can see, David is trying to make amends, but to me it feels too little too late.

11/18/08  Close to 3 weeks later, I now have the new pair in my hands, about 5 months after my purchase date.  David has included a free pair of the parabolic blades, which is ok but they are an 8ft radius and I skate on a 7 1/2 radius....big difference...I prefer a smaller radius for the increased foot work maneuverability, spins, and rock up into edge jumps...where Elvis likes the 8ft for the flatter stability and bigger surface area to push off the blade.  So yes I appreciate the offer of the free blades to try and make up for my poor customer service, but I won't use them.  I tried them first with the parabolic blades and the radius just doesn't work for me.  So I had them re-mounted with an old blade of mine, tried them, lace bite again even though it appears they added a big pad in the tongue.  I do not plan on calling David or Sabrina to ask them to attempt to work on them again, which appears to be just a new pair with a pad on the tongue.  All boot companies I have ever dealt with, it takes 5 weeks to make a pair of skates.  FIVE months is enough dealing with something I don't think can be fixed, nor willing to waste more of time attempting to.

Final opinion....some people might like these skates, and have had good customer service.   However, in my opinion and experience, a very poor product, and very poor customer service, with a lot of my time and money wasted.  I would not recommend these skates. 

Dan

 

Saturday, November 29, 2008

Happy Thanksgiving everyone! And of course we all know what that means...Hanukah Harry is back! So I collect my Santa outfit, put on the firework rig onto the bottom of the skates, and away we go. The flight out during Thanksgiving wasn’t terrible. I can definately tell the difference fllying this year oppose to last. Less over all people, but of course the airlines want to save money so that means less flights, but more people on them. David Kirby picked me up, and off to their house for a great turkey dinner. The only new and exciting thing from last year is his daughter is married and pregnant...a HUGE congratulations to them! However, that means Santa doesn’t get a wife this year, which I’m really ok with because it is a GREAT reason!

This weekend we have David and Jamie as the guest skaters. Now, for this gig, there are ice show tryouts for local skaters to try for a solo for one of the weekends. The zamboni guys decided to put together a fun
number and not tell David about it. So al l of a sudden they al l come
out...imagine some pretty big dudes, rough looking guys, in blow up big chick outfits, makeup, wigs, skating to the nutcracker! OH MY GOSH they are soooo funny!

I get my gear ready and head down to the rink. Video as follows on danhproductions.com, complete with the sugar faeries routine (who are probably going to kick my butt for calling them that!).

And there you have it! Till next weeks show which fines me in Dallas and then Phoenix Sunday for the nun routine!

Be well,

Dan

 

Friday, October 10, 2008

Saturday came with an early flight out to Evan Lysacek's fundraising show.  The well prepared mac man that I am was able to step in on the flight when Brooke and Ben's music was forgotten  and had to be sucked off her iPod.  However, not even the mighty mac could fix Jen Robinson's cd with a chunck taken out of it.  Luckily there was no cutes and Shae had the song on her iPod, which my newly converted mac buddy Ben Agosto took care of.  Well, no, wait, I think that was Ryan Bradley who did that, but he still isn't a mac buddy yet. 

The show went pretty well, and Richard Simmons was a bit rough in my opinion, but sweated to the oldies none the less.  Ben and Tannith skated to my new favorite dance routine, "Falling Slowly" beating out Victor and Shae's routine to, "Can't Cry Hard Enough." 

After signing autographs in our skates from 10:15pmish to 11:30pmish, we drove back to the hotel where I packed and crawled into bed.  4a.m. saw me on a shuttle to the airport, getting me into CT for a taping of a tv pilot show.  This one had both Doubtfire and Richard Simmons in a shorter version.  It went really well and I hope it ends up getting picked up by a network.  I won't go into any more detail because I'm sure there are other people trying to make similar shows out there.  But if it get picked up, you darn well know I'll keep you posted!!!!

After this blog I'm sure I will have used up my entire year of repentance I just worked off yesterday!  I'm off to Boston to skate the Jimmy Fund which is a GREAT cause.  Putting that aside....

Leaving early to catch my flight finds me on two very small planes.  Now comes an issue that has plagued this country for a long time, and wish the presidential debates would discuss this matter!  You know how there is the "equal pay" issue where woman want to be paid the same as a man doing the same exact job.  Well, I think that if you pay for a certain "space" then damn it, you get that space, and if you occupy more than the space provided for you, then you need to PAY for it!!!  I'm in a small plane, stuck next to a person who is HALF in my seat!!!!  I mean come on, this is ridiculous.  That would be like renting a storage space of a 10X10, and when you open up the door half the space is loaded up with junk from the next space over, and OH WELL, you still pay the same amount as that guy.  GRRRR!!!!!  Come on  Obama and McCain, take on the important issues here!!!!

After the second flight which thank the lord left me in the first seat next to a guy about my size and leg room that I don't need, but happy to use.  Now, since this is a fundraiser and they need to attempt to save on money, all the vouchers couldn't be used since it is a busy weekend to fly, so they had to pay for a flight.   That finds me flying to D.C., then to Rhode Island, a cab ride to the train station, and a train to Boston. 



Be well,

Dan

 

Monday, September 8, 2008

(to view pictures, go to www.danhproductions.com under the "journal" section.)

I can not believe how fast the summer went by so fast!  The last couple of days I packed everything up, cleaned the condo, and finished some last minute projects.  Labor Day I booted out to Boise and hung out with my good friends Rich, Ryan, and Carolyn.   Did you know Boise is the first (or second?) in having the highest amount of restaurants per residents?  Tons of greasy spoons that are cheap and amazingly good!  We spent the day at this family fun center go-kart racing, playing video games and putt-putt, and hitting baseballs in the batting cage.

So sure enough on the way home, my time had come, and so had Bambi's.  KABOOM.  Thankfully for me, not him, he was little...so his head bounced off the hood, and then went under the car.  MAN did it freak me out!!!!  When I got back into town I spent a good 20 minutes at the quarter car wash attempting to wash away the murder evidence on my lethal Subaru weapon.  Bring it on CSI!!!!  A quick trip to the Subaru dealership confirmed only hood damage and a wheel alignment needed.  That is until my mechanic John gets in there and really checks it all out...I just know its safe to drive home.

The following week was pretty uneventful except for helping out a few of my mac friends with different projects.  Ryan and Carolyn came down for the show and to help me load the Harley...and as you can see by the picture it FIT!!!!  Hallelujah!!!  I actually had an inch on either side to spare.  I drove the Harley up on this hill and walked it onto the trailer with Jay (the lighting guy) and Ryan helping.  I was a bit worried because when I relocated the wheel chalk the space looked way too small, but it fit! 

The last show came and went, and its time to drive home.  I feel lucky to have spent an amazing summer here in paradise.  Now for the 30hr drive home, nervously looking out the back window praying the new trailer doesn't flip off and take the Harley with it!

Be well,

Dan

 

Wednesday, August 20, 2008

This last weekend Joel was out of town.  So I filled in for him in Fuego Fuego, in which he dances around with another skater, Katryn.  Well, he does this move where she does a shoot the duck, and he also does one behind her.  Looks really cool...her head is on his knee, his free leg is helping to hold up her hips, and then he lets go and leans back too.   Well, I got everything except for the lean back part!  I let go, throw my arms in the air like "GOAL" from a referee in a football game for a grand total of a second, and then grab her again!  Almost tripped her and went down when I brought her back up, but thankfully nothing terrible happened!  (like in rehearsal when I dropped her in the shoot the duck and we slid to a stop together)

So totally non-skating related here.  I have the ultimate all around trailer, which is a 4X8.  My buddy John tricked it out so I can attach a wench, and have it pull my harley on and off it with no problem.  I have probably gotten my $600 back twenty times already by now...that poor trailer has worked is hiney off for me!  The one thing it hasn't done is be able to fold up.  Well, I saw this SLICK trailer that folds up length wise!!!!  It is a 5X8, and when you fold it up, it is only 29" wide!!!!  Of course they company doesn't sell that size direct, and only costco's and this sportsman place that isn't in Michigan.  So costco's is all out, and the sportsman place actually has one here in Twin Falls, ID which is an hour and half away.  The plan is to buy this trailer and give the old workhorse to my buddy John.  This way the trailer can be put away in the garage and still have the ability to have 2 cars and a motorcycle in there. 

So what does this mean?  I have to somehow get the fold up trailer AND the harley on the workhorse and bring it all home.  The new trailer needs to have the wheels and fender taken off, and wheel mount for the Harley has to be relocated to the side...and I don't want to even think about how I'm going to load it...most likely with a bunch of help from the locals!  I'll keep you all posted on how that potential hazard goes!

The shows have been going well, and sad that the summer is winding down.  I'll catch you all soon!!!!

Dan

 

Wednesday, August 6, 2008

(all video's, and pictures for this blog can be found at www.danhproductions.com, under the journal section)

Last weekend's guest skaters were Boitano and Czisny. Wow, the audience was amazing! I'm totally excited because there is the lovely lady who made Craig Heath a t-shirt that had a caricature on it that looked amazing! She told me that she would do one for me...can't wait! So this week I had my father come in for this big birthday, and my uncle Harvey came out to surprise him. (you can see some of the photo's in the SV 2008 section) We had a blast from skating coffee club, to shooting trap, and white water rafting. On Tuesday the Sun Valley FSC always puts on a fashion show to raise money. I was asked to choreograph the adult number which is everyone in the coffee club. I had a blast doing it, and was SOOO happy when I got Marie Matthews out on the ice with me. Last year she came out with me as I pushed her along in a chair. WELL...after a quick hip replacement, I was so proud of her to come out and skate with me through the routine. She just had a birthday in which I was invited to the amazing party! And feel really bad I didn't get a chance to dance with her because I got all caught up in chatting with all the guests...sorry Marie! The food was AMAZING!!! Not to mention her 2 granddaughters who sang her this song that made us all want to cry (and smile) at the same time! Some song that sings how great she is by going through the alphabet. Her husband's toast to her was so eloquent, that again there couldn't have been a dry eye in the audience!

So below is the video of us skating together! Here's to you Marie! (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9JiZ94G7Fhg)
Be well,

Dan

 

Tuesday, July 29, 2008

(picture and videos with this update are at www.danhproductions.com under the journal section)

So the head honcho told me this private show was the 9th circuit district thingie m' bob (the technical term for it) which included a bunch of a federal judges.  So I jokingly said, "you should tell the announcer to ask if anyone in the audience could help with a parking ticket."  I thought it was funny.  She told me that they would like to make each of the shows a bit customized to the groups who come, but there wasn't enough time.  Well, I took that as a personal challenge.  So that was Saturday.  Sunday I went to the local "Kings" I think it is called, which is like a small K-mart.  So white sweat pants, pack of 3 white t-shirts, and black spray paint for 20 bucks.  Then the local paint supply for a free white painters hat.  Drew some lines, sprayed some paint, hemmed and thinned out the pants, and voila, instant prisoner outfit.  Then I put the opening music into an "alarm" sound, into my routine.  I had the announcer say, "coming soon to a court room near you, Dan Hollander."  The alarm goes off as I skate from side to side freaking out with my back to the audience, turn to face them, do a hands up, then start Tappin' with Bob.  For whatever reason the music guy decided to pause the music...which really bummed me out because its a sight gag with the alarm...not a reveal, wait for 3 seconds, and then start.....grrrrr.....

So here it is, at least I landed all my jumps in it!

Dan

 

Tuesday, July 29, 2008

(picture and vides that go with this is at www.danhproductions.com under journal)

I know, I know, I have been having way too much fun here and not keeping up on my updates.  So I'm continuing with Tappin' with Bob and Doubtfire.  I figure why bother working to get the Bugs up to snuff when I have the feeling they will just request to go back to Tappin' again.

I have been pretty pumped to meet up with Rich at Anderson and go wakeboarding...not to mention the hour and half drive on the Harley each way!  So this guy comes on the boat who works at the store and bring a ton of wakeboards that are demos.  After using mine, he convinces me to use his fancy smancy thousand dollar one.  Well, sure its like, and oh baby does it twitch!  So sure enough my skill level isn't that good, it turns, plant the edge, WHAM, nice face plant.   J.J. who is in the labor day weekend blast video wanted this on the website.

So first I feel like I can't get the water out of my left ear.  Then I try to blow plug my nose and blow, which creates this whistling out my ear! 

So sure enough, I have a small hole in my tympanic membrane (ear drum) that should heel up, but if not, they'll do whatever surgery.  It doesn't hurt, nor does it effect my balance.  I just don't hear as well.  So the Dr. said I can't get it wet.  Well, remember when you were a kid and they had those balls of wax that you put in your ear, well they still make them!  So armed with ear wax, I'm off and jumping on the wakeboard.  Cory, the rink manager came and ROCKED!  He taught me a lot and even got me jumping pretty decent over the wake. 

So what else is new and exciting?  Well, at the beginning of the pro sessions I started to do an edge class with Craig Heath...which lead to more and more skaters joining in.  We all take turns doing a drill, staying in formation, working the edges down the ice.  I can't tell you how nice it is to skate with all these talented skaters really enjoying the art of skating, which most of the younger skaters have difficulty doing.  Most of us have a figure background, so its second nature to us.  Lisa Marie Allen has taken a bit of lead to run the class which is nice.  In any case, that should do it for now, hope you are well....

Be well,

Dan

 

Monday, July 7, 2008

(video's and pictures, on www.danhproductions.com.  The videos' of the july 4th are on the blog, under Journal entries...embedded on that page)

So before you know it, opening day has arrived.  I skated the first show, and as always things are a bit rough and need to come together.  You can see the two numbers on the "Video Demo" page under I'm Yours and Dancing.  So the first show came and went, skated pretty well the second number...however the powers that be wanted more of my slap stick outrageous comedy...and has requested Tappin' with Bob and Doubtfire.  All I can think of is the scene in Wedding Crashers when the little kids says, "just shut up and make me a bike funny man!"  So tonight, the 4th of July, the first real show (not a private one) we have our guest skaters Kurt Browning and Racheal Flatt.  I love skating with Kurt, he is soooo smooth.  Above you will see a still shot of Kurt and Joseph Sabovchek doing the classic pose of Boitano and Hamilton who did that years ago.  So....I start off with the original plan of I'm Yours since Doubtfire needs to be shipped out to me.  I made a few changes as suggested by Marci (dance closer to the girls) and added the doggie biting me for the 3rd girl.  I think it is a fun number, but not the outrageous slap stick...so oh well.  I even had a 3 different groups of people comment on how much they like the number and the song!  I will do it tomorrow and then that should be that for the summer.  So then the second number was Tappin' with Bob, but of course done as the bum, which at least tied the numbers together.  So just not caring, or I should say worrying about the jumps, sure enough I skated clean which is pretty darn cool.  I think I'll put both these numbers of this show at the bottom of this blog.  Private show with how the numbers came to be and an explanation is on the "Video Demo" page.

I was pretty pumped that Kurt really liked my second number and complimented me to the audience too in his interview to the audience.  I laughed when he said he felt wobbly, because his wobbly is my smooth!  The man is awesome and I really respect his work.  Will keep you all posted...

I'm Yours, July 4th second run thru:
(video on website)
Tappin' with Bob as the bum, July 4th
(video on website)

Be well,

Dan

 

Tuesday, June 24, 2008

A good friend pointed out to me that not everyone has been reading my blogs since the start, and might not know my history on some things and could misunderstand what I right.

First and foremost, what matters MOST to me is CUSTOMER SERVICE.  I have been, and will always be a strong supporter of Brian's Sport shop in Canada.  No matter what the issue, these guys will find a way to make my skates work for me.  If its sending it back to the company for a resole, or chopping up the boot to customize it for my needs right there in the shop.  I used Graff for a long time, and Joe Sr. (owner of Brian's Sports) did a lot of work to make them fit just right for me.  When I ordered two pairs, took them on tour, and each boots sole started to come off within less than a month on the first pair, I switched to the second, and SAME thing!  I sent a letter off to the company, but no response.  Joe made it right for me, got them fixed etc, but because of the lack of customer service from Graff, IN MY OPINION, I decided to try out the Jacksons.  This is not to say that Graff skates aren't good, or there aren't top skaters in them, because there is.

Now onto Edea.  They are different from what I'm use to, and I hope I can get them to eventually work out for me.  I just don't have the time to make the adjustment of a lower heel (which apparently there is a lift for them), and greater range of ankle flexion (which did give my jumps a lot more height before the laces started to affect me.  I have had stiff boots before without the lace bite, so hopefully I can get this figured out with them.)  So new skates is going to be skater preference as to whether or not the boots will work for you...as well as for me.  HOWEVER, because of CUSTOMER SERVICE, I will get some old blades on them and attempt to figure out if I can make these super comfy skates (besides my tongue issue) work.  The U.S. distributor David Ripp at www.skatesus.com has been GREAT in working with me in conjunction with the owners in Italy...which you can see their site at:  www.edeaskates.com.

Be well,

Dan

 

Monday, June 23, 2008

I finally have a chance to sit down and update everyone while being here in Sun Valley.  I showed up Tuesday afternoon to a ton of unpacking and rehearsals.  Simone is here choreographing part of the for the week.  As you all know I love her!  So I'm not in opening because my number comes right out of it.  So besides finale (foot loose), I'm in a short skit of "That's Amoure."  You have the couple in love inside a restaurant in which I'm the fat chef who makes the pizza.  So a quick trip to the gold mine (a massive salvation army store that seem to have super nice stuff since its donated from the locals, and SV is very upscale!) and a pizza pan, construction paper, white gloves, glue, and window foam, and voila!  instant pizza that looks good, and stays on now matter how I hold it. 

I don't believe I have talked about my new routines yet.  My first one is a bum who has a little dance that he does to woo a girl.  Each girl denies him, until he bumps into a bum girl who starts to do his dance, in which he (I) jumps up and finishes it with her and runs off together happily.  The song is connected to the photo above that you just need to click the play button.  The picture is off my webcam as I am typing this outside with the Sun Valley rink behind me with the Zamboni on it. 

So I got a call right before I came her from Frank saying the show had a theme of "Dancing."  So the second number I was going to do was Elmer/Bugs.  I was talking with Marcia, asking what number do I have that may go better with dancing.  She jokingly said, make up another new one...in which I said yeah, but it would maybe be just like different dancing songs...and one thing snowballed into another, and by 2a.m. I had the music cut, and Marcia and I choreographed it by 10a.m.  So I'm still a bum, who runs out with my new bum girlfriend and do a fun dancing number with interaction with her.  When I get it on video I'll pop it on the website for sure.

NOW, as for the skates.  Let's see if I can explain:
 1) old jackson boots are broken down
 2)  ordered new Jackson skates..
      a)  tongue was too short and lace bite
      b)  after sent for a new tongue, still lace bite
      c)  turns out they make all the tongues a new way with this lip inside and I'm the only "princess and the pea" who it bothers
      d)  So I took an old Graff skates, cut out the tongue and they installed them
      e)  Not super happy, they are just so so....and I'm leaving for Kansas seminar
3)  Stop on the way to check out these new ADEA skates from Italy
      a) Way lower heel, can bend completely forward like a hinge skate
      b) Tried for 2 days in Sun Valley...I had to adjust my skating technique for the lower heel and ability to bend forward a lot more.  The best way to describe them is put on a pair of skates, don't lace them up, you feel wobbly and have to really try to be balanced.   However, if you can believe it, lace bite.  GRRR...I really wanted these skates to work, because they are super comfy, but no matter how I laced them, loose, tight, under over, over under, padding, nothing with stop the lace bite.  Now if its because the sides don't bend with it which allows this bigger range of movement, don't know.  I have an email into the U.S. distributor seeing if he has any suggestions. 
4)  In the meantime I went back to the old Jacksons.  I think around the condo I will put on the new Jacksons to wear them in a bit, but maintain skating in the old ones.  I can't tell you how bummed I am about these Adeas not working...will keep you posted.  The company created Risport boots, was bought our or sold it, had a non-compete for 5 years, and now have these skates. 

So...with all that being said, I know a few people have emailed and called...and I have been SO busy figuring out what I'm doing with skates, and rehearsals, and now 8 days of some serious altitude training, I just haven't had the time to respond, and I apologize.

Will keep you posted when I can! 

Be well,

Dan

 

Monday, June 17, 2008

How fun, yet exhausting, was this seminar?  It was great!  I enjoy working with John and Sylvia.  The seminar was well run and was held at three different rinks in the area.  Most of the time one of us was off ice with a group while the other two were on.  There is some really good skaters there and it was great to see them learn new things so quickly.  Above you see a photo of the second night I was there (on website in the journal sections).  I even think it hailed a bit, but thank goodness my Harley was at the house of the Katie Holmes (one of the local coaches) which wasn't hit as hard. 

The first day of the seminar went well and all the skaters had a good time (at least I think they did!)  The second day was at a rink that we were told rains.  Well...I totally didn't believe them until half way through a private lesson, WOOSH, the condensation building on the ceiling let go and a torrential downpour ensued for a half a second!  The second day I had the pleasure of addressing the parents and dispelling a few myths in skating.  Then that night we went out to this great barb Q place followed by Dave and Busters.  I was give some pretty sad news however.  You know that photo booth that you can get into and mix two people to see what their kids will look like?  Well, I jump in with the local skate shop owner, and BAM, ugly baby.  So John Zimmerman (if you don't know him, considered one of the best looking dudes in skating) jumped in the booth with me and we produced another UGLY BABY.  Yep, that's right...I'm the common denominator...crap. 

Now on the last day we were all pretty tired, and the 8hr ish days on and off ice were catching up.  At the very end John and Sylvia had to take off which left me for the last session, on the ice, with EVERY SKATER for 45 minutes!!!  Holly smokes!  So what do you do with all levels of skaters, and I don't know, it seemed like there were 40-50 of them out there?  So I decided to teach them the beginning of Tappin' With Bob to see if we could all do it together and "make" the noises at the same time.  It was a BLAST!  Here is just small section of what these kids did..and they were great!  Now off to Sun Valley!!!

(as always, pictures and embedded videos can be viewed on the website:  www.danhproductions.com)

Be well,

Dan

 

Sunday, June 15, 2008

Hello, hello, hello!  I apologize for not doing  a better job in keeping up with this!  So, let's see what has happened lately.  I skated in fundraiser for Parker Pennington which turned out really well.  After that I was lucky enough to be around to skate at Birmingham in the special olympics show they have every year.  All the kids did an opening number, then they stayed out there while I skated Doubtfire.  It was cool to bring it back out of the closet and to be able to see the kids up close and personal as I jammed around.

So then I went up north and went fishing.  Well, the fish weren't biting but I noticed the neighbors dong this super cool thing...bow fishing!!!  So I ran down to the local store and bought me a used and bow and the fishing arrow/line attachment.  HOW COOL!!!  You'll notice in the picture (www.danhproductions.com in the journal section) I guess I wasn't too excited after the fact...they are nasty and you have to bury them cause they are bottom feeders I guess.

From there I have been getting ready for Sun Valley.  I am doing 2 new routines this year, and when I get perform them and get 'em on video, I'll post them here and explain.  So I left for Sun Valley and stopped on the way to Kansas City to teach a seminar with John Zimmermen and his wife Sylvia.  Well, I wanted to try these new skates called Adea.  They seem interesting and the shop that carries them is in IN on the way there.

So I stop at this guys house, which is like an estate, and he works this internet skate shop out of his pad.  So I bought a pair and tried them out this morning.  Well, they feel like gym shoes, zero pain around the ankles, so they are light and super comfy, however you sit farther back in the heel and it feels like the bottom is rockier side to side, but harder to rock to the front....so after 5 minutes I quickly pulled them off and threw the blades on the old skates cause I wanted to be able to demonstrate all day.  Not sure if I'm going to like them, still need some time to figure it out when I'm in SV.

So I show up around midnight (4hrs to IN, then 3hrs at the skate place, then almost 9hrs to the hotel in KS) and am told oversize parking is 2 blocks away.  Uhm, leave my car and trailer with the Harley there?  NO WAY.  So I get an ok from the night manager to park out front.   (the parking is under ground and can't make the turn)  I was told to just get up and move it by 9am.  So I go to the room, and yeah....the bed is still in the wall, not pulled down yet.  And then I wake up in the middle of the night with a stuffy nose...uhm, yeah, the carpeting near the window and for a 6 feet in is all WET.

So I wake up in the morning, grab all my gear, go downstairs, explain the situation and they are going to give me a new room when I get back tonight.  I go outside and this jerk off bell man says I can't leave my car there till 930am (its 8am now) and demands my keys and says I'll be charged for a night.  I walk back to the front desk, and say, "hello, I'm doing my best to be super calm and not SNAP right now, but let me tell you what just happened."  So my very quiet voice and intense look prompted her to say, "I'll be right back Mr. Hollander."  Sure enough, leave it there, no charge, sorry for the inconvenience. 

The seminar today went well, had a good time, but now I need to sleep!!!!  Hope you are all well!

Sincerely,

Dan

 

Saturday, December 22, 2007

This weekend is crazy!!!  After 8 years of doing the same Santa gig, I get to have two new changes!!!  First, during my routine I get to have a piece of added music, "Deep in the Heart of Texas."  My father came up with the idea, and I imagine everyone singing and clapping just like in PeeWee Herman's Big Adventure.  Then, David Kirby's daughter, Sarah, comes out as Mrs. Clause to jam it up with me for finale.  You can watch the video on my website: www.danhproductions.com - enter the site - hit journal - Mrs. Clause! or a directly on youtube: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bxwSvv4XwOU

Well, I have to say I'm a bit bummed with the lack of response to the Deep in the Heart of TX part....so next week they want me to have 4 verses instead of 2, and we'll see if we can't get them Texans singing!  Mrs. Clause was a blast, fun to skate with, and a delight to all the kiddies.  Couple that with a new roof over my head for changing and Hanukkah Harry has had a rocking good year!!!!

Be well,

Dan

 

Sunday, December 9, 2007

Hello again!  So I flew in Saturday night and meet up with Joseph Sabovcik at the bar for some late night food and drinks.  He is one of the guys who skates the Sun Valley shows.    Now we have no idea who else is going to be skating at the show and will end up finding out when we leave tomorrow from the hotel.  I knew Jason and Yuka were going to be there, but that was all....

So the next morning I am pleasantly surprised to see Irina Grigorian and her husband, and my good buddy Mike Weiss!  Rock on.  So  the show went very well, over five thousand people there!!!!  This is the Honeywell Show...this big corporation that puts on an Xmas skating show for all their employees to enjoy.  So I jam out there as Santa, and yes it does bum me out a bit not to have the fireworks.  So Santa dipped, hopped, weaved, and jigged, but alas a level one was only obtained!!!!  See, I could of done a level 4, but that would require me to be slow and boring.  Mike admitted to me that when he took the 4 main things, rotation, turn, step, he would just do one of each in that order, then continue doing that all the way down the ice.  He started to get those levels called of 4, and said it was easier footwork, but getting level four has nothing to do with the music...so there you have it.  Hanukah Harry sacrificed a turn and step for a good old sprinkler and cabbage patch move. 

The routine just seemed ok, nothing great, but a Santa they never had before that could do backflips.  Then we all packed up and ran to the airport for our flights out.   Now that they have had a jammin', slammin' Santa, I'll be curious if they request it next year....

Be well

Dan

 

Sat, Dec. 8, 2007
(picture on www.danhproductions.com of changing area as scene from 2nd floor, under journal)

The special guest skater this weekend is Victor Petrenko.  So early in the morning I came down to the rink to help the four girls with the finale.  See Victor had an early flight and had to leave as soon as he was done...which means they sent out some extras to help Santa light the tree and then jam.  After a quick run through, I tried to convince David (the producer) to let me use his daughter Sarah next week as Mrs. Clause to jam around the tree with...I think it will happen! 

THEN, I get to the show and as you can see in the picture, my dressing room has a small roof to it!!!!  YES!!!  I now have a ten foot by ten foot space to change and chill out in without having to put the whole wig on.  See before I could only sit in a chair in that corner, and that was it, anywhere else in that cubby hole someone from the 3rd level could see me.  I can't tell you how happy I am now!  The show went really well, I kicked some butt with some good backflips, and off to the airport for AZ.  Till tomorrow....

Be well

Dan

 

Friday, Dec 7, 2007

This weekend Hanukah Harry will be performing not only in Dallas, but in AZ too! I have done this show a few times in the past. Honeywell corporation rents out the big venue and treats their employees to a skating show. The first year I performed, we all came out for the "grand" finale (only one routine per skater, a small cast, no intermission, and a little over an hour long). Well, in the middle of finale everyone in the audience was rushing out of their seats, and I remember thinking, "holly crap were we all that bad????" Not really...its just at the end of the show all the employees get these awesome presents for all their kids...the first year being those metal, fold up scooters called Razors. So this year I gave them the option of doing a little Santa action instead of my normal routines, and they accepted (without fireworks though). SO, Santa for the first time 8 years will have some kickin' different tunes to jam to in this performance. Jason Dungeon is going to be there who is now a technical caller in the new system. My goal is for Hanukah Harry to rip out a level 4 straight line footwork, most of it made up on the spot! I mean come on, I can skate dreadfully slow in order to do every turn known to mankind tens times!!! :) I'll keep you posted.

I get to the airport today and happen to be hanging out reading my mac magazine, drooling over a concept "Apple" Audi TT, and the agent starts to call people onto the plane. OK, your job is obviously in customer service, so you would think a nice disposition would be in order, yes? NO! First he is snapping on a guy who doesn't have his ticket out of the folder, and announces that to the entire audience on the loudspeaker. Then he tells this lady with a stroller that she has to have a "check it at plane side" ticket that she must walk ALL the way back to the counter to get...I MEAN COME ON!!!! I have been traveling for a very, very, long time and I can honestly say EVERY TIME they give those right there as you are checking onto the plane!!! And if that was the policy, then they should have given it to her in the first place!!! So then another family walks up (I assume they are related) that has two women, each with a massive push stroller that has two screaming kids in each of them. "How many do you have here??" asks Mr. Ticket Jerko. The first lady attempts to answer, but it becomes apparent real fast that Spanish is her first language. After abruptly asking again, do you know what Jerko does??? HE ASKS HER AGAIN IN FLUENT SPANISH!!!! I mean you bastard, was it really necessary to ask her the second time in english??? breath, breath, breath.... My only solace is knowing the universe does balance itself, and he will totally have this brought back onto him in spades...I have seen too many angry, negative people get what they deserve in my life to many times to doubt this. "SO YOU BETTER BE GOOD FOR GOODNESS SAKES...here comes Hanukah Harry, here comes Hanukah Harry...."

Be well,

Dan

 

December 2, 2007

Is it that time already?

I walk into the outfit room, gather together the beard, gloved, fat suit and think to myself, "didn't I just skate this gig a few weeks ago?" Man has time flown by. I can't believe this will be my 8TH!!! year as Hanukah Harry.

This weekend we have two shows, and I had the privilege of skating with my favorite skater, Dorothy Hamill. She looks good as always and entertained the audience. Randy Gardner was there for a visit as well as her friend Tim. We enjoyed a nice wine tasting of the Peggy Fleming brand at David's house. Hmmm... a pretty boring update, I know...but wait for next week, it gets better, it always does....

Dan

-----

Hello...what were you thinking?

Sometimes your brain just isn't working when it should be. As you know, I have been skating this gig for 8 years. I grab all my gear, throw it into the massive blue bag with my skates, and away I go. Never thought to myself, "hmm, does this blue bag look a little light?" Oh heck no! So I get in Friday night around 9pm, get to the room and now I notice it. Where the bejezus is the fat suit part of SANTA???? OY VEY!!!! Ok, ok, be cool man, we can fix this...breath, breath.

So the next morning I go down to the ice surface for a rehearsal with the little girl who is the guest skater this week that can also do a backflip. Its 9 a.m. now, show is at 5 p.m. The people who run this gig, David and Holly Kirby are awesome people, and David is away this weekend. So I ask Holly if there is a fabric store around because I wanted to grab some more stuffing for the suit...not a lie really, but I didn't want anyone to stress. So she drove me over Joanne fabrics to snag the padding. 10:30 a.m. I am back to the hotel, and now need to get two unitards (looks like a girl's bathing suit) one small, one large, stitch them together, shove the padding in between, and I'm set.

Now I walked to the other mall, about a mile, and check out the stores. NOTHING!!! Oh sure, I could buy something like it, but its lady's lingerie with big old cups on it...yes I dress in drag all the time in my routines, but I have to draw the line somewhere right?!? I walk across the street to Target and resign myself to the fact that it will have to buy a tight shirt, big shirt, and biker shorts. Back to the hotel at 1 p.m.

I grab my handy dandy sewing kit and get started. 2 p.m. I'm all set. So Santa did OK this time around, his fat seemed to shift from a droopy butt to a hunch back, but only if you studied me from all the years of doing it, you wouldn't know. WHEW!!!! Won't be making that mistake again. So afterwards went out with Holly, her daughter, and few others for dinner. We ended up stopping to watch the public skating and watched people take some pretty nasty falls and wondered why it was that more people didn't get their fingers chopped off by another skater after they have fallen and decide to just sit there for a while. No thank you. Till next week,

Be well,

Dan

 

October 12, 2007

Jimmy Fund

For those of you who do not know, this is what this show is all about:

" An Evening with Champions is a student-run organization dedicated to fighting cancer by raising money for the Jimmy Fund, the fundraising arm of Dana-Farber Cancer Institute. By organizing a world-class figure skating exhibition at Harvard University we aim to unite skaters, fans and volunteers in the quest for the cure."

www.hcs.harvard.edu/~ewc/index.htm

Today started off with an early drive to the airport. After parking the car, I loaded my luggage into the shuttle and waited for the driver to pick up a group of 10 people got that were quite interesting to say the least. The guy sitting next to me reminded me of Larry the Cable guy. He was cracking me up the whole time with everything he had to say. I would say each pant leg was bigger than my waist, and he was using a cane with bandages around his shin. Turns out he was shot last night...couldn’t figure out if he did it himself by accident or what, because he said he, "went back and got that gun later and is now locked up in his safe with all the others." Ok then...

The flights were uneventful and I made it to the dormitory around 3:30p.m.. Paul Wylie was hanging out in the big dinning hall with his wife and a few skaters. So I sat around eating and working on the computer for a while. They have me staying in the Masters house, which is this massive 3 story building that just rocks. On our floor is Dennis and Melissa, the Protopopov’s, and then Ben and I. Oh yeah, this is just one small wing that we are in that share a bathroom. There are other hallways with sections on this floor too!

At the rink the assistant choreographer grabbed me to show me the opening and finale. Well, there was a 3hr rehearsal earlier that day that I was on the plane for. The steps are pretty basic, but holly smokes there is a lot going on. I never heard the music on the loud speaker, and oh yeah, never even heard the music for the finale really at all. Meanwhile, what I didn’t know is that they had never had all the skaters off the ice and run the opening with everyone skating out. So why is that a problem? Well, we start on 1 of the 3rd count of 8. Yeah... everyone didn’t get out there in time, we are all sort of looking around at each other wonder what do we do? So we did the standard “step clap, step clap” through pretty much the ENTIRE opening! It was a disaster...to be fair, a disaster in our eyes as skaters, but fine for the onlookers. So the first show I dig into my pockets and what do I find, a bunch of big fat doubles. :) Eh, well ok, lets get that out of my system!

The next day was the best. We had the wonderful opportunity to skate with the Jimmy Fund kids. Man, my back is a bit sore, but that totally doesn’t matter. To grab some of these little kids (and some probably too big for me to do what I was doing) and zip them around the ice, hold them up so they can fly like super man with the ice zipping by 2 feet under them...very cool. You know when they are smiling and laughing asking to go faster that they feel truly alive by the same feeling that makes all of us life long skaters feel that way too.

SO, now I start to spread the word to all the skaters that we are going to go out on the ice early while they are doing introductions so we can get in our places ASAP and count out loud so we can all start on time. Now, we all still don’t totally match, but gosh darn it, it was a 100% better than the other day and we did pretty darn good! So this time I reached into my pockets and 2 triples were in there! You can view this video at the top of this page. Now I need to work on the speed of my spins....

OK, Santa is up next and I’m still working on next year’s COI’s new number...stay tuned!

 

Be well,

Dan

 

September 26, 2007

Well, here we are at the bitter end.  Sun Valley in September isn't a hopping town!  I had two decent shows, a fun week, and happy to be home.  If you go to the journal section and read this on the www.danhproductions.com website, you can watch a small video  of what a Hard Day of Work it can be in Sun Valley.  (Actually, I get a hard time from some of my buddy's who are mad that I get to ride the Harley all the time and skate the shows on Saturday only, so I had to prove to them it isn't all fun and games!)  You can also watch the same video (better quality) on youtube:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u6JsJRTEU2c

My next shows coming up is the Jimmy Fund in Boston, Santa in Dallas, COI later in on, and I will always keep you posted on new things coming up!

Till later,

Dan

 

September 5, 2007

Just when you think the good times couldn't better...

The show this weekend went well, this time with Sasha as our guest performer.  The night before Marci and I went to Twin for the state fair and watched the rodeo.  Man those guys are CRAZY!!!  I mean think about it.  What was the first guy on when he thought to himself... "hmmm...why don't I hope on that mean looking bull, give him a swift smack on the butt to really get him angry and see how long I can ride him."  Yeah, I prefer to be the modern day cowboy...a Harley man.

Then the next two days, Sun and Monday, we went on the boat with Rich at Redfish.  A good time was had by all!  The picture above is J.J. from the week before who managed to get up on the surf board for the first time.  It cracks me up because he was so shaky  getting up and all of a sudden he smoothed out and gave us the pose above.

I now have my last shows this weekend, one on Saturday and a private show for St. Clair Oil, then back home.

Till later,

Dan

 

August 30, 2007

Good times, good times....

First, the show was just ok, I think I was nervous that Simone was there!!!!  Then Sunday we drove to Boise with Frank, Simone, and her husband Marc to hang with Rich on his boat for Monday.  The entertaining part was watching J.J., Rich's friend, get up on the surf board for the first time!!!  You can check out all the new photo's in the photo section under Sun Valley 2007.  (www.danhproductions.com )

As you can see in the pictures, the sky is blue except for over Sun Valley!  This was taken on our way back from Boise.  So far outside has been smokey in the morning right after the coffee club, but lets up later on.  In fact I landed a triple axel outside with a hand down Wed!!!!   Oh yeah baby!

Take it easy...

Dan

 

August 23, 2007

So do I say kiss my grits and shoot fire?!  The Boise state fair was pretty fun, with a ton of exhibits and some CRAZY people watching!  Charlie Daniels band was pretty cool.  The guy reminds me of uncle Jessie on the Dukes of Hazzard!  One of the guitar players did a sweet version of the William Tell Overture and an instrumental version of our Nationals Anthem.  He finally ended with Devil Went Down to Georgia which has to be his Mrs. Doubtfire!!!!  "OK, we have to get out of here and on the road, but we made some promises and remember you can't have the devil without god...."  and he did not dally on the lyrics or tempo one bit!  Good times, good times....now for the 3hr Harley ride back to Sun Valley through the mountains....and back to the nasty ash in the air...I hope it is all gone by the show!

Till then, be well.

Dan

 

August 19, 2007

Here I am for the third show out here in S.V.  John and Kyko were the guest skaters this week.  So there is a fire near here in Warm Springs, and I got some amazing shots on my way to the show.  You can see a few more of them in the photo section of Sun Valley on the production site.  The show went ok, still this second number jumping issues, yet finally hefted myself over the gal on the train tracks this week.  I may go to the Boise state fair and see the Charlie Daniels band.

Dan

 

August 15, 2007

Surfing Boise:

What an amazing time!!!! This last show we had guest skater Todd Eldridge who is a really good guy to hang with. A professional through and through, he performed well and received a warm welcome to SV. Afterwards, I took off to Boise to meet up with my good buddy Ryan Gilbert and Rich Reese. I was introduced to wake surfing and wake skating (?) for the first time. You surf the wake on a huge surf board and a smaller board that has no bindings. Rich's boat I guess didn't have the proper wake that would allow for surfing without the rope, but I had a BLAST anyway!!! Got up each time with no problem. Earlier in the week SV had a fashion show, which highlights clothing from local stores. The adult coffee club has a wonderful woman named Marie. This year she came out to visit but was unable to skate for some health reasons, but that didn't keep her out of the show! As you can see I dressed the roll of her skating butler and had a great time! (see www.danhproductions.com to view Marie, myself, and some surfing!)

Till the next adventure!

Dan

 

 

August 6, 2007

The PFSC had a seminar out here in SV, and one of my favorite, classy dames I know, Janet Wright was here.  NOW, you have to know I hold her in the highest regard...why is that?  Well, if you notice in the picture, I'm sitting (proper term is female dog) on my bike with her in front, and you have to know I would NEVER do that for ANYONE!!!  

Be well,

Dan

 

August 5, 2007

YES!!!! I have arrived!!!! For those of you who have never been to Sun Valley, make sure you visit it once in your lifetime. I can't tell you how nice it is to escape from reality and live in the fantasy world of SV for a month.

However, I don't want you to think this is all fun and games out here. First, every Saturday night I have to skate the show with 2 numbers. For Sunday thru Friday I have a very rigorous schedule. First, I join the coffee club with the adults in the morning and skate around with some cool people. Then I have to ride the Harley around town, through the mountains, or anywhere else the wind takes me. Now that can be very exhausting!

The first show went very well, Tappin' with Bob was clean, yet the Superhero has to get his jumps a bit better. I'm pretty excited because I understand Simone Grigorescu is coming for a week. I haven't seen her in years, and yes, she is the one who choreographed Tappin' with Bob ten years ago.

Also, I want to thank everyone who sent me their most memorable routines. I working hard and hope this routine will come together well and be worth doing on COI next year. Until the next update...

Be well,

Dan

 

June 23, 2007

HELLO EVERYONE!!!  OK, here is your chance to help me come up with my new show routine for next year.  I want everyone to email me their most memorable skaters doing whatever they remember the most.  For example.... Johnny Weir and the swan, Michelle Kwan and her spirals, Rudy Galindo's YMCA, Torvil and Dean's Bolero.  So it can either be a specific move that they do, or program they skated to.  I have an idea, and you can probably guess a bit at what it will be, but I need to see if I can get enough ideas for it to work. Please email your ideas to:

dan@danhproductions.com

Thank you and I will keep you posted!!!

Dan

 

June 22, 2007

Yes, the last show of COI has come and gone. I have to say it was a blast this year and we all had a lot of fun. I totally kicked butt on the last performance, drove the airport and took the redeye home. I promised Ben to work on my guitar...and of course now I have to come up with a new routine....

No rest for the pro skater! I came home and skated in the DSC ice show.  I skated my Doubtfire routine because the ice surface is cut down pretty small, and there is no way the SuperHero routine would look good.  It was just so/so, with Sat nights performance having a rough go of getting the Cartmen Jacket off, and then the wig of coming off with the hat...which of course had to be quickly put back on...blech what a mess!  So for Sunday I skated Tappin' W/ Bob and did much better.

Now is the final push to get the Harley up and on the road.  This bike is going to be sweet!  The picture is John grinding down part of the '92 frame to accept the modified '04 tank.  The final picture will be revealed soon (yet come on, final?  we all know that there is always something I'm going to add/delete on the bike!!!)

Till then...

Dan

Be well.

Dan

 

June 2, 2007

I have been super busy doing some video editing of a project of mine.  Also, my jumps have been poo-poo lately, so I have been in a funk!  But then came Fresno, and the jumps came back with a vengeance and I can finally hold my head high!  :)  I amazed that the tour is almost over.  With all the breaks in between it feels like we haven't even really got started.  With Elvis gone, my roommates switch off between Vladimir (big acrobat guy) and Petrenko...both who are great.  Had a good two days off in West Hollywood and ate at an AMAZING Thai restaurant.  I can now see that I will have this damn permanent bald spot on my head from the scar...sort of like a reminder, "hey dummy, don't pick on your prop!"  (picture on www.danhproductions.com) Still happy though I got full range of movement back since the one injury 3 years ago.  Just to think all that cash wasted on chiropractors, and all I needed to do was to fall on my head!  Ok, 2 more shows left, then back home to DSC's shows.

Be well.

Dan

 

May 20, 2007

Ahhh....the quest for a clean skate still.  You go home, train hard, skate clean, come back and the first show is blech!  The remedy from Ben and Gwendal?  Don't train, then you won't ever be disappointed!  :)  So San Jose didn't get one of my better skates, bummer.  Then off to Sacramento.  Now, I have been neglecting my guitar training and have promised Ben that I would practice everyday during the last part of tour.  As you can see Superman plays a mean axe!  (picture on www.danhproductions.com, journal) Then after the show Baldwin, Rena, Shizuka and myself went over to Jon Jackson's restaurant, Bacar, 448 Brannan....AMAZING!  The place was sooo cool and the food was awesome.  Probably the best steak I have ever had.  OK, until "I've got blisters on me fingers,"  

Be well.

Dan

 

May 18, 2007

I had a nice break before the finale end of this tour. I checked in to my 4 1/2 hr flight the night before and got my exit row window seat. As I was walking down the aisle with Ben Agosto behind me, I noticed that someone was in my seat. Now there are 2 exit rows, mine being the back one, and currently nobody was in the full row in front. After asking the man which seat he was in, the row in front, I stupidly decided to take that one in stead. NOTE: First exit row seats do not recline! Strike number one.

A guy sits down in the aisle seat, and shortly after a 5'6", goofy looking mid 20 to 30's girl stops in front of him. I'm on the phone as she asks him to change with her female companion, who is across the aisle in a middle seat. He declined seeing as he paid extra for the exit row and aisle seat. She then says in frustration, "well I'm sorry in advance because I'm not a good traveler on planes," and sits down. Don't worry, getting close to strike number two, and there are more than 3 strikes in this inning!

The doors close and we end up waiting for 20 minutes before we take off. At first the crying begins with the hands on her face. STRIKE TWO! Then comes the leg bouncing and foot tapping....STRIKE THREE! Finally around 20 minutes she is quit, since we aren't doing anything. Then we take off and nothing....so I'm thinking OK, just the anticipation.

Now the B*&^ leans over the guy and talks every now and then to her buddy in other center seat, totally invading his personal space. Drinks come, and as the stewardess is passing it to me, she doesn't even lean back or anything. I have reach way over her, hoping that it drops on her head. STRIKE FOUR

Now after 2hrs comes the rocking back and forth. She has gone to the bathroom a few times, not asking the guy if she can get buy to at least give him a chance to get up out of her way. The ODD thing is if she speaking to her friend or the stewardess, completely polite with a tone as if nothing is wrong. Next thing I know she is leaning over with her head between her knees rocking and tapping away. OH did I mention my freaking light isn't working so I'm reading in the dark???

Then I'm thinking what the heck is that smell? She hits the light to call the attendant, and low and behold she trades a very FULL BARF BAG for an empty one. STRIKE FIVE, GET ME OFF THIS PLANE!!!! Uhm, hello, if I'm that sick, you better believe I would be holed up in the bathroom.

Moral to this story...make the guy in your original seat move!

Why is it always me??

Be well.

Dan

 

 

May 13, 2007

Our first show was on very small ice.  Now, the hard part about this is that the width isn't very wide, but still it is longer than what the width would normally be.  So at first you have to get up speed to make it to the other end, but then as soon as you put curves in and the sides with lights on the ice comes up super fast!  The show went well with nobody falling off into the audience.

Now comes MN.  Wow....couldn't have skated worse!   Well, I guess I could have and missed both axels, but at least did those.  Boot just felt off, but hey, no excuses eh?  OK, last break until the last run of tour.

Be well.

Dan

 

May 12, 2007

Wednesday was the day I stepped onto the ice with a new brand of boot in years.  Joe did a great job in mounting the blades, and no adjustments were necessary.  I skated a clean program except for sal, but a smooth and welcome transition it was.  My feet and ankles are happy, and for the first time in a long time the boots didn't have to be cut out, rolled, sewn back together to adjust for feet issues.  Hopefully the Jacksons will last and new pairs will be just as good!  

As always, when you have something else to focus on other than jumps, new skates, I skated very well in the Columbus show.  I was bummed that my muscles seemed to be a bit leaky and not pumped up as much.  So the next show in Chicago I took the valves out, readjusted the balloons, and WHABAAM!!!  Massive muscles that stayed inflated the whole time!  On this show however, I did feel a bit off in the boots, top a bit loose, bottom a bit tight...and the last double axel landed and then I hopped around in a 360 with my hand down...almost like a staccato solo death spiral.  I laughed, the audience laughed...so it was all good.  Of for another break again!

Be well.

Dan

 

May 2, 2007

Please forgive me for taking so long to update this past weekend's shows. It was very odd, because this weekend Irina, hoop girl, wasn't there for medical reasons...she is totally ok, just had to take the weekend off. This is the first time in 7 years that I have not performed my duties as Hoop Boy, and it was rough! I did my best and got through all three shows with no problem.

Shizuka and Kimmie were not there because of the Japan Open, so we had Peter and Naomi skate. Great people, and I really miss having them on tour. Peter is by far one of the most amazing skaters I know. He can do a simple one foot exercise with doing a loop, bracket, pull repeat that just blows me away! The picture on the website here is Irina doing her catwoman number that has her rolling in this wheel of death...at least that is what I call it!

We were also lucky enough to have Victoria Petrenko, Victor's 9 year old daughter skate a routine with her daddy. The audience dug it, and she was really good. Heck, at that age I would have been FREAKING out being in front of all those people!

Everything is going well on tour. My neck is a bit stiff, but I can't complain too much. My head has healed well and the hair has grown over it all. My latest issue is that my graff skates finally gave out on my again!!! The quality has not been there the last few years with heels falling off, one to two month break down time, and just lots of things to pad around.

I finally had enough Tuesday when it was tagging me on the right tibia where I broke it in '98, so I called up my buddy Joe Frei at Brian's Sports and moved into a Jackson boot. NO, not the hinge. Needless to say the next day I had minimal pain, just sore from the old skates, and could do the triples needed for the show. Hopefully they will hold up much better than the Graff. Bummed, because I have been in them for close to 10 years with great success at the beginning. I leave tomorrow for Columbus and Chicago's shows.

Till then, be well.

Dan

 

 

April 22, 2007

I have to tell you it seems to take more out of you when you fly back and forth for the weekend then doing 5 shows in a row! I have to say I was a bit tired near the end of the Boston show...complete with barely eeking out the 2nd double axel, slip on the edge to the applause of the audience...I'm glad I can fall funny too! :)

You may be asking what the heck is that photo? (on journal section of www.danhproductions.com) That is the finger of Gwendal showing you how amazingly tough our job is in the finale.

Besides pushing these big boxes around on the ice, they have lights inside of them we have to flick on. We work our fingers to the bone, risking carpel tunnel to make sure those lights flip to white on the right cue in the music.

Ben Agosto admitted to me that our finger training to switch them on just right is harder than any of his Olympic training to date! Who knows if we can make it through the end of tour, only time will tell. Till next weekend...

Be well,

Dan

 

 

April 20, 2007

Ahhhhh.....today was a very good skate! The audience was very receptive and I got a great hand. My good buddy Ben video taped the program, so you can see that on the video section of the website, www.danhproductions.com. I have also added a photo section and believe there are to be more photos added to this website too. Took out 7 of the 8 staples today and amazingly no brains fell out, so I guess I'm good!

Be well,

Dan

 

 

April 15, 2007

Philly

Nothing too exciting to report today...blech of a skate, but I made the flip! Fly home tonight, have a few days off, do some training, and start kicking some butt Friday in Detroit!

Be well,

Dan

 

 

April 14, 2007

So last we left off I had 6hrs of sleep, a neck that wasn't in too bad of shape, and a head filled with staples. A light breakfast, some hot tea, the appropriate phone calls to make sure people knew I was ok, and off to D.C . we went.

I'm cracking up with all the people that first ask if I am ok, and then say, "well surely you aren't going to do the backflip over the doll today..." Uhm, yeah, of course I am. What? Am I suppose to now put this "big" deal on messing up this one time and make it a major issue like I'm going to now be afraid? H^LL yes I'm doing it! I went out for the 10 minute practice and did one backflip marking that I'm picking soon enough.

I skated the show pretty well, still too straight a take off for the sal (yes Mitch...same error), but TADA...cleared the doll with no problem! My wound does ache a bit when I land, and I'm icing my neck, but I'm in decent shape all in all.

We have Philly tomorrow, and then a few days off. OH, and for any of you that was at the first show and not happy that I wasn't in the autograph line (a person today in the line attempted to 'dress' me down for not being there the day before!!!) I skipped the line to get to the hospital. I felt some satisfaction when I told that person that fact and stuck my nasty frankenstein like bald spot in their face... :).

Be well,
Dan

 

 

April 14, 2007

OY VEY!!! We had a great audience in Richmond, VA for the opening show. I go out to skate my number. Great laughter when I show up as Batman and spin around with the doll. Nice double axel, good response when I become Wonderwoman. Nice triple toe followed by a wanky double sal. Eh...first night, no worries. Pump up my muscles, great audience response! Good double axel, and now we come to the backflip over the doll. I have been backflipping over objects for over a decade. I have literally flipped over people, an aerobed, mop buckets, probably well over 200 times. Tonight...I FREAKIN picked too late! So what does that mean? Well, no ice to launch me into the air. No firm pick, no height, no time to complete the backflip. The effect?

First the doll gets pushed back. Then I flip only a half rotation, and KLONK right on my noggin! My neck compresses, I'm doing a head stand!!!! and the rest of my body finishes the rotation laying on the ice. I'm thinking, "son a ?!$%, I picked too late!" Then since I'm suppose to skate forward and trip and fall on the girl, I quickly crawl over and lay on top of her. I'm guessing half the audience thought it was planned that way? I jumped up and took my bow to a pretty decent hand. My good buddy Gwendel picked up my gear on the ice and I skate off. Eric Lang, our personal trainer was there in a flash and the paramedics to access the damage. I could tell I was bleeding and made sure they did their best to protect my Superman outfit! :)

Eric did his best to patch me up so I could run out and do the hoop number and then the finale. Sure everyone was worried and didn't want me to skate if it was a problem. I'm thinking, "OH H%LL NO! I'm finishing this show! If I'm not blacking out, going into convulsions, and not bleeding like crazy, there is no reason why I shouldn't't do my job...especially if there is no workers comp!" (just kidding about the last part Tommy! although not a bad idea....hint, hint...but such is the life of professional skater and I would choose no other life!)

Finish the show with 2 more backflips in the finale, pack up and off the hospital. 10:30 pm arrival time, done by 2 am. Blech! Eric came with me and made sure everything was OK. 8 staples, and tetanus shot later, I'm ready to go. So they put this bandage on me that goes from under my chin up around the top of my head. Then I told them my neck was obviously sore, so here comes the neck brace! Man I felt and looked like a dork! We walk back the 6 blocks to the hotel with Eric joking around saying if we run into anyone I'll be like, "I just got shot in the head, like I'm afraid of you?? Bring it on!" I slept with the neck brace on, which I must say my neck is sore, but not too terrible. We'll see what happens today!!!! I can tell you one thing, I'll pick much early for the backflip this time!!!!

Be well,

Dan

 

 

April 12, 2007

"What in the HECK is that a picture of," you may ask?

Well, that would be one part of my finale outfit. We are doing a James Bond theme, and I am Dr. Evil/Dr. No all in one. Yes, that little cabbage-patch doll is "mini me" that is attached to my leg, and the cat is attached to my neck.

I'm bummed they changed the part where I jump up onto this box, were I would attempt it a few times, knock into the box, which gives off this LOUD satisfying "BONK" when mini me's head cracks against it. Oh well...

Things are going well, getting use to jumping in the spots, as well as the extra bulk and weight of these Superhero outfits on top of each other. Till tomorrow!

Be well,

Dan

 

 

April 1, 2007

Where do I even begin? Well, first thing first. I just got the outfits Friday night. I normally would skate a few times in them to work out the bugs before skating in a show. So my plan was to wake up and make it to DSC to try it out in the morning before anyone is there. Since I can't sleep, at 4 a.m. I roll out of bed and get things ready. I arrive a bit after 6 a.m. to the rink with Marci and realize that there was the high school competition already in full swing.

We drive to Royal Oak and Berkley ice arenas, both closed. Finally we show up at Birmingham rink which is open, and I am able to jump on the small studio ice. Batman doesn't come apart at all...back is velcroed over the front...wrong way. HOURS later of taking off and putting onto the right side, it is semi ready. Lots of issues with the outfit, but should be able to be addressed before leaving for tour next week.

I arrive at SCS around 7pm (up since 4 a.m. and only a 40 min nap under my belt) and get ready to skate. The number went off pretty well for the first time EVER being run with outfits. The Batman of course didn't pull quick enough and I was late for Wonderwoman. So after watching the number on video, I see that I will try a few changes:
1) some sort of mask for Batman
2) some sort of wig for Wonderwoman and bigger breasts
3) sound effects louder, more spaced out for muscle blow ups...and rotation to reveal pumped up arms to sides of audience

At the end of the number I flip over the damsel. Meanwhile I'm thinking, "where the heck is the Batman outfit???" And sure enough, it is on the OTHER SIDE of the damsel!!! So I just had to go for it...backflipped, landed seeing that my hands were hitting the outfit and not my blades! As I stood up though the outfit got dragged and then ended up caught a bit under my skate, and THANKFULLY I didn't go down!

In any case, look for this on the video section of my other site. I will put up the whole background and description, and throw on this first time skate at SCS until I get a good version skated/taped to throw up there!

In the meantime, be well!

Dan

 

 

March 30, 2007

This update has been a long time in coming! I am happy to announce (and sweating bullets!) that tomorrow night, March 31st, 2007 I will debut this program at the St. Clair Shores Ice show at 7:30pm. (I believe I am opening the second half.) This new program has been years in the making, I just did not know how to do some of the special effects. So if you are in the area, please stop by and check it out. You never know, heck I don't even know, if an outfit will fall apart, or not come off on time, or my C02 cartridge explodes on me!!! I will explain more about this number soon, and eventually will tape it on tour to put up on the video section of my other site! For more info about the show tomorrow, you can check out the club's site: www.scsfsc.org

For those of you who don't know, St. Clair Shores is where I trained for many years. They supported me through 2 World Teams, and was always there for me. After making my first World Team, members of the club drove to the airport holding up signs to welcome me as I got off the plane from San Jose. I appreciate this opportunity to test out my new number at their show. Thanks guys!

Be well,

Dan

 

January 2, 2007

Happy New Year everyone!

Sorry, Hanukkah Harry got really busy with the holidays. The last three shows went really well. Hopefully next year I can come up with some other cool music for Santa to jam too. I love peaking through the curtain to wave to the little kids before they run out to skate. One asked where did I get "those," pointing to my firework attachments. "I had my elves make 'em." I love it how they just smile and nod, I mean come on, how can you not believe Santa???

So my only story to really tell you about was my last 3 flights heading out to Dallas. Flight number 1 started with a woman who sat next me who smelled like you wouldn't believe...I swear I thought I was going to pass out!

Flight number 2, this 20 something year old kid sat next to me with nothing to do I guess. I mean come on, 2 hr flight, bring something man! So first comes the leg bouncing up and down, the ENTIRE time, creating more turbulence to the plane then normal. THEN, he is looking at the Sky Mall mag and the other one
that comes in your seat pocket, you know that has no information except for movies on the international flights and diagrams of the airports you can visit. Imagine if you will, he would look at one page, and then frantically flip to another one 1/4 of the way through, hold a few seconds....OK now frantically flip to another like you realized you missed something. Yes, those 2 magazines, the entire 2 hours. G-d help me, I wanted to kill him.

Finally flight number 3. Everything appeared to be going so well. Girl next to me had her lap top on watching a DVD. I closed my computer as the stewardess passed us the drinks (me being on the isle.) I saw her attempt to have the can and her drink sit next to her computer by me. Thankfully my
Spidey Senses were tingling, and I waited to put my lap top back onto the tray...which of course in less than the time I would have had it down over goes the can of coke. A bit on her computer, on her, and down the side between us...nothing on me or the lap top...a bit of spray to my tray table, but YES it was empty!

Travelers beware....

Be well,

Dan

 

December 2, 2006

Hello everybody!  This week Sasha Cohen was the guest skater.  If you are reading this on the web, you can see the wires getting attached to my skates.  I first put on the fat suit, run the wires from my wrist down my back, and then slip on the rest of the outfit.  The assistant attaches the matches to the wires and tapes everything down.  Nice how they get the safety goggles and nothing for me, eh?  This small corner is all I can stay in while dressing...if I step out any farther then people on the 3rd and 4th level can see an undressed Santa. Therefore, I have to throw everything on so I can walk around and warm up.  The flame retardant spray leaves an icky residue which always gets on your hands when dressing.  HOWEVER, I am totally ok with this...I will take icky residue on my hands over being on fire any day.  The show went well and a good time was had by all.  Till next week!

Be well,
Dan

 

November 29, 2006

WHEW!!!  OK, if you have heard about the programs, but never had the opportunity to see them or know the background of how I created them, well you do now!  I have added a skating video section on the http://www.danhproductions.com where you can watch all my show programs (well most of them).  You need to have Quicktime in order to view them, and if you don't, do not worry!!!  On that page gives you a link for the free download of Quicktime.  Hope you enjoy, and please let me know if there is something you think I can do to improve the site, etc.

Be well,

Dan

 

November 26, 2006

Today went much better! Santa had a lipo suction...I so felt like Dr. 90210! This time all the fireworks went off on the tree was good. But I must say that Santa was not very smooth with the groove today...had the moves, but to some beat that wasn't playing over the loud speakers! I was happy to run into the Container Store today, wish they would have them in Mi. Now I have a slick case with foam inside to house the new kick butt firework mounts! Well, we'll see if Santa can have a new music routine for next week...have to see what music I can come up with and if the rink likes it or not. Till then, hope you all had a great Thanksgiving!

Dan

 

November 24, 2006

Hello everyone, Santa (Hanukkah Harry) is back! This year I'm totally pumped because my good buddy John helped me make a new rig to hold the fireworks. Before, it was a thin piece of metal that clamped to the back stanchion on the blade, and then 2 tubes were mounted on either side of the outside of the boot...limiting how far I could roll my ankle for a very shallow lean. Not to mention the "boinging" effect whenever you put walked or jumped. Now, both tubes are mounted UNDER that blade, with a cool one locking screw to make the sucker unmovable, and capable of full edging. John let me work the lathe, and eventually I'll make him teach me how to

This week the guest skater is Kurt Browning. The only bummer about this show is that it is very difficult for me to watch anyone skate. With many people around, I have to watch how close I get to them as I walk around "backstage." See, the firework switch is on my wrist, and if it gets knocked by mistake, then grab a fire extinguisher! :) There was some concern from the pyro guy that the new rig because of the angle of fire being out on an angle might spray me when I turned and fire off another firework (I have 4 attached to me.) Well, I knew it couldn't be that big of a difference from the other rig of spraying...and sure enough, WENT ON WITHOUT A HITCH!

Afterwards, I felt that the beard is a bit too long and also needed to be tighter. I first couldn't find the "Trade Secret" in which I got my haircut from this one woman a few years back. I walked into a "Toni Guy" and asked if they could cut the beard, but somewhere that kids couldn't see....this a huge open layout and very busy. Well, they went around asking, and you know how you just get that bad feeling? They took so long I was able to just walk out with no worries. Then I happily spotted the newly moved "Toni Guy" and got my beard trimmed! Yep, standing in the back bathroom with the door shut is sure to be her dinner conversation of the night. Hopefully, I will feel a big difference.

For all of you reading this on the fan site of http://www.figureskatersonline.com, you can also read this on my companies website now too, (www.danhproductions.com) complete with a picture for each entree (man I really dig my mac). Both sites have different information, so please continue to visit them both!

Till tomorrow,

Dan

 

 

October 30, 2006

At first I thought NASCAR was going to preempt the show. With the VCR at home on a timer, armed with my sony dvd recorder hooked up in Canada for a visit, I started to watch the show.

I was surprised to see things in a different order, and some numbers completely cut. Joseph the Zombie, and Rory the witch, and Shae the cat was totally left off. I have to admit that I didn't skate the number as well as I have been practicing it...which makes me wish they showed the other number, "Devil with the Blue Dress On." Imagine me dressed as the nun with the whole makeup and horns, and then to become the big breasted blue dress devil. At least I was entertained.

I had the beard grown and ready, but the makeup artist had a long beard and mustache to glue on...now that I have seen it, I think I preferred my own facial hair better. And let me just tell you something...I am totally not that fat!!! :) Tv and those tight, sparkly red pants packed on the pounds eh?

In any case, next show is Hanukkah Harry Thanksgiving thru Xmas. Will keep you all posted!

Be well,

Dan

 

August 16, 2006

HEY!!!!  It is still the first half in our last show in Vegas.  I just
wanted to let everyone know I not only skated clean, but skated a
strong clean program!  YEAH BABY YEAH!!!  I promise by at least Tue of
next week I'll send out a wrap up.

Be well,

Dan

 

August 13, 2006

Hello to everyone!

Thank goodness we are almost done!  So I came back from our last break
with a vengeance, skating some really good clean programs...yes an
occasion mess up, but nothing too terrible.  Yesterday they nominated
me for the weakest link, which was a totally bogus, damn Russian block
voting...I totally had way less errors then a few which I won't
mention any names....so today in the finale for my backflip part Ben
is handing me his rock climbing helmet which is sooooo lame looking,
and I have to wear it for the black flip.  :)

Today I was bummed, doubled both toes....blech!  But I have to admit I
have been getting really good responses with this number.  Thank you
Mr. Dick Button.

OK, have to run out and be hoop boy...then off to Vegas for the last show.

I promise to write some more later!
Dan

 

July 27, 2006

Early in the morning starts off with a GREAT breakfast joint that Sasha found. After breakfast, the group (Stephan, Gwendel, Eric, Sasha, and Ben) went off to rock climb in what turned out to be a small gym. I went to meet up with Surya and Rudy to see the movie about the SuperX girlfriend.

I guess there is only one cab company in town. The 30 minute wait became close to an hour. Turns out the man who owns it has the attitude of, "we will get there when we feel like it." We were then told by the bellman that it is usual that sometimes they make stops for whatever reason while on YOUR run! So at least we were prepared when he had to stop at the local bus station to drop something off. Then when I asked if we could make the movie that started in 5 minutes, he said, "hold on to anything strapped down, because here we go!" His foot hit the floor, the engine roared to life, and we must have went from 5mph to 40mph in about 30 seconds!

Thankfully we made the movie on time, and thankfully they came to pick us up when we scheduled it. The movie was pretty funny and worth going to. Then we got on the bus to go to the airport and it chugged up hill about 2mph with 4way flashers to get there. ahhh....off to Seattle with malls, and plenty to do!

Be well,

Dan

 

July 25, 2006

ahhh....

So Colorado Springs was really tough...the altitude. On the second pass of the footwork that was suppose to be faster....well....let us just say thank goodness I made it till the end without passing out! Passed by without being the weakest link now, so yeah for me. It was great to see my good buddy Ryan Jahnke and his wife.

Here we are in Billings with absolutely NOTHING to do....I mean there is nothing here. The audience is great, but you know its rough when you are hoping the show will start already and we are still an hour away. Tomorrow we might do some rock climbing or see a movie...something to take away the boredom!

Thanks for the great audience Billings! :)

Dan

 

July 23, 2006

Gosh...freaking...%$^*((*&&* ARRRGGGHHHH

So this is by no means an excuse. Crappy Graff boots came off after a month...they get sent back...second pair a month and a bit later, they come off...now back on tour with originals fixed with awesome orthodics like I use to have (long story why I didn't for a few years) so a bit to get use to.

Yesterday I doubled the first toe, and now we are back to the weakest
link...yep, nomination for me. So my task today...triple flip in the program, which I haven't done for how many years now? In practice I rotated about 4 with 2foot landing and 1/2 turn cheat. Ok, I can handle that at the very least. Go out and focused, ready, and...... SINGLE!!!! I can't describe to you how amazingly angry I am with that!!! T.sal but shaky, db axel and t.toe, a bit shaky...but for the love of all that is good, at least over rotate a double flip and fall...but don't do a single.....GRRRRR.... I bet I'm the weakest link now for EVER.....

oh yeah,
be well
Dan
grrrr.........

 

July 22, 2006

Yes…the long awaited updated that I just have not gotten around to. I will try to keep it under 20 pages!

1) Tour is going well…with many breaks. Right now we just finished Kansas City and don't stop till the end in Vegas. Stephan Lambiel has joined us, and I really like his number! He has this spin in the middle that keeps changing legs and goes on forever doing different positions. Pretty kick butt.

2) 4th of July we had a fun picnic complete with an adult slip 'n slide. Imagine a massive blow up thing, 2 tunnels running along side each other with a 2 foot wall on either side, arches above it showering water down on you, and a wall at the end to make sure you hopefully don't flip off the end. Of course Gwendel and I had to do it a million times in a row, trying different methods, including standing up the whole way and surfing it.

3) The darkside…yes I went to it…I bought a MacBook Pro…but it turns out Window's P.C. is truly the dark side. With my handy manual, Dean Moye (mac expert on tour which I used only 20% of) within less than a week I'm completely changed over and rocking. I am very fluent in the windows world, and it amazes me that for steps 1 through 10 in Windows…it only takes step 1 and step 10 on a mac…2-9 are totally skipped! There is no defraging, firewall and anit virus updates. No required driver installation, just plug it in and it just knows…Somethings hangs up? The program can be force quit, but the whole system never crashes and need to reboot the entire computer. The ease ability is amazing…ah the true light side…yoda would be proud! I finally understand why the mac people cry out that Bill Gates is the devil…turns out he is really Darth Vader!

4) BYE BYE AOL!!! Remember just recently the man who tried to quit aol, they gave him a massive hassle and he taped it? Well, mine wasn't as bad but still cracked me up.

"I want to cancel my account."
"Of course you do sir, you have dial up, you need to change to hi speed."
"Well I did, the company I work for has it free at work and provides
it in my home for free."
"Well, that is fine, but it is only $5.00 to keep hi-speed aol service at your house."
"Sorry, I can't afford it and need to cut back in my budget."
"But you spend that money somewhere, you have to keep it."
"No, I'm not paying for anything, the company is, so where am I spending that money? Plus if I can't pay my mortgage payment, lose my house, then for sure I have no high speed!"
"Yes but with windows explorer you NEED our virus and firewall protection sir."
"I use Mac with Safari"
"Oh…well then the only reason to have aol is just for fun then. No problem sir, we will cancel your account, but for free we let you use the webbased email and keep all your screen names."

OK, the funniest part of the whole story is that at first I need to pay $5 a month, and at the end it is free?!?! Bye, bye aol, you can kiss my ass!

5) The guitar has been going slow, super busy, but this last month on tour Ben and Gwendel have promised to kick my butt into gear. My goal is to become proficient to jam well during next year's tour!

6) My skating seminars went really well! I had to cancel the last one due to low enrollment, but hopefully I can make it back to TX soon. Look for more update on my company website beg of September, when I'm done with tour and can focus on that.

OK, till next time!

Be well,
Dan

 

May 20, 2006

URGH!!!!! For the love of g-d, a few days off should not make me feel as if I haven't skated for 10 years!!!! Audience was good, enjoyed it, but skated like crap! Oh, you are too tight in the practice and popping, so ease up...then go out to skate for the show, ease up, opps, pop now cause you aren't pulling in enough.... GRRRR!!!!! Gonna snap. 

EXTREMELY happy that I got to see my Harley uncle and his beautiful daughter. Had a great time! Off to Nashville..... 

 

Dan

 

May 16, 2006

Hello everybody! We have way too many days off!  Ben, Gwendel, and myself and gone through both season 1 and 2 of "24."  Now we have to wait for Ben to actually go home to snag his season 3 which won't be for like a month now!

The shows are going well with a pretty decent turn out.  I do find it tough to stay in shape skating wise with so many days off. So what is new?  Well, guitar lessons are coming along with Ben and my "Guitar for Dummies" and the 1st grade book.  Getting pretty good at "wish you were here."  I have to say I miss hanging out with Elvis!!!!  I haven't seen one movie yet on tour, and if he was here we would have had at least 5 under out belts by now! 

In any case, we have 3 more shows until a nice 2 week break!  Up soon, a two day break in Atlanta...hopefully the two malls near by won't take away too much of my money! 

Be well,

Dan

 

May 9, 2006