|
|
|
Welcome to our web site! Last update:04/23/2013
Bev's son, Rob, with wife, Linda, and youngest daughter, Lauren (14 yrs.) were just here for a short visit before going off to Disney in Orlando for six days. It was wonderful to see them in our territory to enjoy the beach and sailing. Usually we visit them in Connecticut. Most of the family run for exercise and to compete, so we felt the Boston Marathon tragedy more acutely. Rob competes in the Marine Marathon in Washington, DC every ten years to celebrate his decades. Oldest daughter, Sarah, just did the Philadelphia Marathon. We did compete in the Eastern Sectionals of US Figure Skating Adult Championships on March 10th at our rink in Ellenton. We were required to do the same four pattern dances (Canasta Tango, Swing Dance, Fiesta Tango, and Willow Waltz) that we struggled to do in Salt Lake City two years ago. We had no competition and won gold. Considering the fact that we were not able to complete one of the dances until the week before the event, we felt we earned the gold on our courage. We are still enjoying the practice and the trying. Here we are closing in on age 78 and our biggest concerns are about turns and pattern and speed on the ice three days a week. How fortunate! Next we hope to compete at USFS Adult Nationals in Hyannis, Mass. next April (2014). The four required dances are the ones we did fairly well in Chicago in 2012. In December 2012, Bev officially retired from the synchronized skating team, Tropical Spice on Ice after 16 years. Dislocating four ribs last August, hip discomfort, and needing the practice time for our dances together were factors in the decision. Fortunately, the ribs are fine after four months as are the hips with less team practices. September 21, 2012 we competed in the Southwest Florida Fall Classic here at our rink in Ellenton, Florida. It is our first US Figure Skating competition other than Adult Championships. This time we were awarded first place for our two couple pattern dances ( Canasta and Swing.) We made the difficult decision to forgo the ISI Adults being held in Las Vegas October 4, 2012. This was the first team competition that Bev missed, and we have competed together at all ISI Adult Championships since their inception in 1999. She did compete with the team in three events at the ISI Conference Championships in Orlando in May 2012 along with the two of us doing two compulsary dances and a Free Dance. Our big event of the year was the US Figure Skating Adult Championships held in Chicago, IL April 10-14, 2012. We competed in the Pre Bronze Dance event that included two rounds of two dances each against four other couples. We were in 3rd place after round 1 and ended in 4th place after round 2 for the pewter medal. The winners were a lovely 26 yr. old college student and her pupil. We skated our best and had a wonderful experience. This was our second year at this event and we really feel we improved. We were again the oldest team. We drove both ways taking a leisurely three days each way. We did get a flat tire just before reaching Indianapolis (nail) that was very scary. Jack carefully changed the driver side rear tire. We donned neon yellow/green shirts (our security patrol shirts) as a warning sign. A constant flow of trucks were very close, but courteous. Our little Civic with 120,00 miles gave us 35-45 mi/gal depending on road conditions and the use of air conditioning. In April 2011 in Salt Lake City, we made our debut at a US Figure Skating competition, the Adult Championships, entering the Pre Bronze Dance event. Click here for the article that honored us in Skating Magazine for being the oldest competitors at the competition. The above trip to Salt Lake City was also part of Jack's celebration of his 75 birthday. To continue that celebration, we drove from SLC to Aspen to visit his son, Darin and see some of the glorious houses he has built including his own atop a mountain overlooking Reudi Reservoir in Basalt, Colorado. Then, we flew to San Francisco to visit with his daughter, Danelle, granddaughter, Dana (turning 10) and Anthony. She is so passionate about her city and loves to show it off. We had planned to see Bev's son, Larry and family in San Diego, but that had to be cancelled. Bev's 75th in June 2010 was celebrated in the "highest" fashion as she chose to tandem skydive from 13,000 ft (over 2 miles) in early July. The free fall of 8,000 ft. at 120 mph was literally breathtaking. This had been a long time dream that she worked up to during other birthday landmarks by bungee jumping from a hot air balloon, hang gliding, paragliding and a flight in a glider plane.
Jack is still active with the 538 home residential association in which we live. He does their publications, helps out on the neighborhood Security Patrol, and he created and maintains their web site: http://OverbrookGardens.com/ . This year he was again responsible for compiling the 68 page Association directory. He has been the point man to Sarasota County for the 49 properties that are located on our 2400 ft. long channel to get it dredged. This has proven to be very time consuming and frustrating but it is now completed. He also coordinated the dredging of eighteen personal docks on our channel under one County permit. Jack sharpens and installs ice skate blades for friends in our skating world. It is wonderful to always have our blades sharp and know that they have been done properly. We find it interesting and frustrating to see how little attention is paid by others to sharpening correctly, and the great difference a good sharpening makes especially for adult skaters. Just moving Bev's left blade in 1/16 of an inch recently, changed her skating dynamics to nearly erase hip and ankle pain she has been experiencing for years.
He is also working with a friend creating and maintaining a vegetable garden a few minutes from the house. Gardening in Florida is very different from his experiences on the farm in Michigan. Click here for photos. So far we have had turnips, carrots, red cabbage, many types of lettuce, squash, water melons, oregano, tomatoes, beets, red and white radishes, too much broccoli, green beans, scallions, red onions, chives, mustard, boc choi, cucumbers, swiss chard, and peas. The brussel sprouts, cauliflower, asparagus, and egg plant are still each a work in progress. And what does Bev do????? She does extensive analysis of dance routines (ice and ballroom) online and applies it to the choreography and music of our dances. As Jack's secretary, she tries to keep his crammed calendar and family finances in order. As loving wife, she keeps his home and clothes clean, his tummy fed, and a smile on his face! Enough said! Contact us at: skating.rienks@verizon.net .
Created and published by Rienks' Web Services, Limited (very)
This site was last updated on 04/23/13. |
|
|
