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Nicole's Trip
After the competition: "Electric" is exactly the word for Alexei's performance. He was just stunning, there really aren't words to describe it adequately, but "electric" is the closest, anyway! When Alexei was taking his bows, I suddenly remembered that I had a 6.0 sign with me, and realizing I had more than enough reason to use it, I pulled it out of the bag, and started frantically waving it at the judges (lol, thinking I could influence them or something?) Well, one judge was actually laughing at me! They probably had already written their marks by the time I started waving my sign, but when I saw the 6.0's, I counted the judges to the one that was laughing, and that judge was one of the two that gave Alexei a six! (If I counted right, lol). So she was probably thinking "you idiot, I know!" when I waved that six, but I didn't care! (She also may have been laughing to see some crazy girl with American flags sticking out of her hair screaming her head off for a Russian skater, particularly since we had pretty much saved our loudest cheers for our US team... I don't really know, but she was definitely laughing at me!) I did notice the judges looking at our section a lot after they would score people, possibly because our tour group had a lot of American skating fans dressed up in red, white, and blue, and when we didn't like the skaters marks, we were pretty loud about it! lol Sometimes the rest of the arena was in agreement with us, and sometimes they weren't, so I guess when they weren't, and we were the only section booing, that caught the judges' attention. (Probably annoyed with those obnoxious Americans, lol). I noticed that the judges were particularly checking us out before Alexei's marks came up. The only reason I can think of is that they were thinking we would boo when he was scored higher than Todd. Now, we were definitely a partisan group, but not THAT biased, lol. We know a decisive victory when we see one! While I was waving my sign, I tried to start a 6.0 chant, but only my friend sitting beside me was any help. I know our group thought Alexei was amazing, so the only reason I can think of that they didn't help with the chant is that they didn't want Todd to be defeated by too large of a margin. I don't really know, I'm just speculating. My friend and I were not dissuaded from our "6" chant just because no one was helping us. We continued to clap and chant "6" until the marks for presentation came up. I think I almost bumped my head on the arena ceiling, as high as I jumped out of my chair when I saw those sixes! And I don't just think this because I was there, though I'm certainly glad that I was... but I agree that this was Alexei's best EVER! My friend told him later that he alone was worth the trip from Ohio; he seemed pretty pleased when she said that! On Friday morning, I received a wake-up call at 6:00 am, even though I never asked for one (I didn't get to bed until three, so I definitely didn't want one!). These unwanted wake-up calls and false fire alarms seem to be an ever-growing epidemic! [in response to Laurie's mention of the prank wakeup calls, LOL...] Btw, I got home Monday around 10:30 p.m. I was so tired from only getting three hours sleep most nights in Mississauga that I actually had to stop driving, and take a cat nap on the way home! When the three lanes blur into one, you know you're in trouble! Anyway, the only thing that happened on Monday before I left Canada was that I had lunch at the Delta, because the food at the Radisson was quite awful (at least in my experience). I can't think of anything else that happened then... except that I saw a few of the skaters leave, but not really anything else... oh did I mention that I got to see Alexei off when he left? I went up to the front desk to ask for a pencil, because I had exchanged addresses with several other skating fans, and wanted to write them down in my address book so I didn't have to carry around these various little pieces of paper. But all I had to write with were pens and Sharpies, so I had to ask the front desk for a pencil. (I always write in the book in pencil in case I mess up, or someone moves, etc). Only after I asked the lady at the front desk for a pencil did I notice that Alexei was standing right next to me, being waited on by the other clerk. He was actually looking at me when I turned to look and see who was next to me! He was probably wondering why this girl who had been chasing him around all weekend was suddenly ignoring him completely. lol He was wearing a darkish gray V-necked short-sleeved shirt with the famous sweater tied around his waist. Anyway, when I figured out he was standing there, I said "Hi", and Alexei smiled and said "Hi", apparently satisfied that I hadn't abandoned my fandom, lol. He was checking out, and had to spell his name for the clerk! What does he have to do to get some respect, for pity's sake? They ought to have known who he was by then! When I was having lunch, Alexei was playing pool yet again at the bar and grill next door. A while later, I passed him as he was heading out of the hotel with his luggage, and said "bye", which he said back. (If it hadn't been for the automatically revolving door, I could have held the door open for Alexei as he took his bags through, darnit! lol) And that was the last I'll see of Alexei for a while, anyway. Anyway, it was great to meet you too Laurie, and everyone else as well! Nicole Read about Nicole's Alexei sightings!
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