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Sasha's Journal Touring,training and having fun February, 2009 I’m letting my hair grow again. It’s not as long as I have had it, but I have to put it up in a ponytail when I’m practicing. I’m in good shape, and I feel strong and happy with what I am doing in my workouts. I’ve gotten my consistency back and I'm getting into jumps the way I was when I was competing. I do a lot of off-ice training and have improved my body core conditioning. In May and June I will weigh everything and announce my plans for the next season. Right now I am living in the moment and focusing on getting into good physical shape and getting quality rest. I have plenty of time for fun with days off from Stars and when I’m visiting with friends. Mostly I just chill, and when I’m with friends we talk about life and catch up with what each other is doing. Natasha and I talk frequently. She is in Paris for her spring semester and staying busy making new friends.
An important year New Year’s 2009 When I’m home I spend a lot of time training at the rink and the gym, working on getting into competitive shape. I really enjoy training and and challenging myself again. I do a lot of skating while touring with It’s been two and a half years since I’ve been in peak competitive shape, and it’s not easy to get back there. But, I have been working very hard to get back to that level. This is an important year for me and I will decide during the summer if I will try to compete in the 2010 Olympics. I’ve been to two Olympics and know what the training commitment is. It will definitely be a The decision is looking good now. I feel good and I’ve not had too many injuries. Being away from competition for a couple of years has helped me stay mentally fresh. People don’t usually do what I am Right now, I am focusing on each day, and want to put myself in a good position to make the right decision this summer. Home for Christmas Christmas, 2008 It’s nice to be home with all my family for the holidays. Natasha is coming home Monday and we will spend a lot of time catching up. We’ll go out to dinner and talk about what each of us has been doing. Ironically we both leave Jan. 7 – I will fly to Japan for Stars On Ice and Natasha flies to Paris where she will study for her spring semester. I’ll also spend some time watching movies and resting. Back from Stars tour and vacation July 8, 2008
Hello everyone, it's been a while since I have written, but Ihave been on tour most of the year and then took a much-needed vacation to unwind. I'll try to update you on what's been going on with me. STARS It was a good show and a challenge for me. Seven times during the show I was on the ice. I would get a little tired but you get used to it. There was a bond with the skaters and we pushed on. Everybody was helpful. Not just one person. The Stars crowds were all into the show and seemed to like the production. I got a lot of response when I did my ballet number. We lost some of the U.S. skaters on the Canada Tour. But by the middle of the Canada Tour we had a pretty good team. Kurt was great to work with. I changed my “Imagine” number to “Hurt” for the Canada Tour. VACATION I had a great vacation and it’s great getting back home. I’m unpacking, doing my wash and getting back to a regular home life and practicing. During shows and touring I do a lot of skating but it’s not the same as hard practices and getting my body back into skating shape. I will be going to Korea and Japan later this summer to do some shows and will perform in a couple of shows with Steve Disson. They will be on TV later this year. We will go to Sun Valley and I will skate some shows there I’m thinking about taking some painting classes, getting organized and getting the house back in order since I’ve been away for a while. I’ll catch up with my friends. There hasn't been time to take any acting classes. I’m on the go so much it’s hard to find the time to do all the things I want to do. Sasha Stars On Ice is fun, exciting and strenuous! March 21, 2008 Hello everyone, The Stars On Ice Tour is going really well. The shows are quite strenuous because So when one person gets sick, we all get sick. That’s how I ended up getting the flu early on the Tour, and it took a major toll on me for a few days, (we had four shows in a row with 10 hour overnight bus rides) but I rested as we traveled so I would have all my energy during the shows. So that's over, and I¹m fine now. I do a lot of media interviews during my off days. Some days I am booked solid with interviews in cities to promote advance Tour stops. I also do a lot of phone interviews while I¹m traveling between the airport and my hotel. So far I have been to Detroit, Boston, Toronto, Cleveland and New York to promote Stars coming to those areas. When I was in NYC I spent time with my sister, and we had a great time catching up. The media days help promote the Tour and give newspapers and television stations the opportunity to do their own promos. I enjoy the media days and have come to expect most of the questions. The one question I am asked at every stop is what are my skating plans. I answer that I am concentrating on the Stars Tour and when it’s over, I will take some time off to think about my options. When I decide what I plan to do, I will make an announcement. We do a lot of traveling by bus on this tour and that makes for some long days. But the bus is fully loaded with snacks and quick and easy foods that crackers. A typical breakfast for me on the road is toasted bran crackers with almond butter, honey, and banana, cinnamon and flax seeds. We have a refrigerator for the cold food items and drinks. Jennifer (Robinson) and I love to cook but don't get much of a chance to do that on the bus with only a microwave. Once we get to the venue we practice and continually try to improve the program. It’s a long day, and we don’t have time to do a lot of sightseeing. After our shows we quickly head to the next city. We usually order out and MAIL CALL: Christmas was special, now it's on to Japan January 1, 2008 Hello everyone, I’m leaving for Japan on January 2, where we will spend three weeks before going to Puerto Rico, which will be my first visit there. I will be performing two shows in Puerto Rico. Because of the travel to Russia and Japan, I had to go in person to get my visa. That took a lot of time, and I had to declare every country I have visited the past 10 years. It was about 15 countries. I still have a lot of places I would like to visit and explore. The top of my travel list includes Thailand, Greece, Bali and Africa. Happy 2008. Sasha December 23, 2007 Hello everyone, It was interesting to notice that St. Petersburg and Paris are distinctly different during the holidays. St. Petersburg is a bit flashier with its colorful lights and Paris is more elegant with its bright white lights and hanging ornaments. That’s why I love to travel. Just to be able to notice and appreciate how different every place can be. So... I only have one week before Mom and Natasha accompany me to Japan for Stars On Ice performances that begin after New Year’s. In that week I have to go to LA to pick up my visa, and I have set aside time each day for training ... plus some time for good old-fashioned fun!! Sasha
December 6, 2007 Hi everybody! I’m at LAX waiting for my flight to Canada for two skating shows this weekend but I couldn’t wait to tell you about my day. I had some Starbucks hot chocolate, skated outdoors and met great fans. I was invited to perform a program for “Santa Monica On Ice.” It was an event to open an outdoor skating rink, sponsored by Starbucks, and it helped raise awareness for the P.S. Arts in the community. They had a lot of tents and were passing out hot chocolate with peppermint-flavored sprinkles on top. The rink was only 75 x 75 and one of the smallest surfaces I’ve ever skated on. I skated to “Winter Wonderland” on a warm, sunny California day, looking up at the blue skies and palm trees. It was so beautiful. My day was packed. I got up and showered this morning, finished packing, made breakfast, drove to Santa Monica, did media interviews, skated and signed autographs with the children, changed fast, got a quick salad and here I am! I have practice for the Kelowna, British Columbia Canadian shows Friday and will skate Saturday and Sunday. Then it’s off to Toronto on Monday where I will meet with the media to promote the Stars On Ice show and I will be home later Tuesday. I like skating with “Stars” because their concept is very thoughtful and I like being part of the entire show. Mark your calendars for the Stars On Ice show to be on ABC-TV December 30. Let me know what you think. There’s no slowing down for me until the week of Christmas but I enjoy being busy and it’s a lot of fun to see my fans and friends. I hope you read the great news posted on my Web site about Starbucks inviting me to participate in the two skating rink opening. That’s a perfect match for me – Starbucks and skating. The next Starbucks appearance will be at the Embarcadero Ice Rink on December 15. I hope many of you will come. I am getting a chance to read my e-mails and letters. As you can see it’s very hard to respond to them but I do read them and your support is appreciated. From my mail bag Rich, your e-mail about today’s event in Santa Monica meant a lot to me. I’m glad you enjoyed it. I hope you come to a Stars show with your family and friends. John, from Calgary, I got your t-shirt and understood the words “”The Proof Is In The Pralines”. Zennie, from Hillsborough, N.J., good luck with your writing and singing. I hope to read a magazine article or a book you write in the future. Sasha Lot of catching up...it's been hectic! November 24, 2007 Well, let’s see how long this entry is! For me, it’s like getting used to a new family of skaters. Cindy Stuart did a great job of choreographing the show. She’s wonderful. The music to “Imagine” is really meaningful to me. The message of the song is so beautiful and so perfect. I tried to use the cut by John Lennon but it didn’t sound as good in the arena so we didn’t use the original. I hope you like the story and dress photos on Jan Longmire, who makes all my dresses. She is very special to me. I am more the artistic type and Jan is technically great. I got the inspiration for “Starry Starry Night” from the Van Gogh painting and envisioned that on the ice. I am not that passionate about the technical part of making my dresses. I love fashion and maybe some day I will be involved in it. Let me hear from you what you think about the black dress after you read Jan’s story. I will post comments on my fan page. The black dress I wear during SOI is an interesting story. I wanted something edgy with some shape and design to it. There’s a lot of crystal beading. Last night we had our first show and afterwards there was a party that went into the morning. I went to bed at 3 a.m. but just stayed up and talked until we left at 5 a.m. to return home. I did get some sleep on the plane. I don’t mind telling you that this is one time that I am TIRED!! We spent a nice Thanksgiving at Lake Placid. It’s one of the few Thanksgivings I’ve spent away from home but not the first time. One Thanksgiving was in Paris when I was skating there. I really missed being home and cooking. Natasha flew in to join us. We all had a nice dinner with the cast. Lisa Weiss made her famous Thanksgiving pie. It was also very cold (FREEZING) and it snowed a lot at Lake Placid while we were there. I’m learning there are a lot of traditions with SOI. I’m new and am just learning some of them by joining the cast at the beginning of the tour. I mentioned in my earlier journal about having breakfast together the first morning. Everybody has a cute handshake they give you before you go on ice to perform and the cast exchanges gifts before opening night. I’m sure I will learn more as we travel on Tour in Japan and in the States. I have a very busy schedule and it might not be completed yet. I’ll be opening an outdoors rink in Santa Monica December 6 and San Francisco later in the month. I hope a lot of you will visit. SOI will be traveling to Japan to do about a dozen shows before our tour in the U.S. begins. I’ll let you know as things happen. Sasha
November 23, 2007 I wish I was on West Coast time tonight! That would have given me three more hours to post this journal. But I made it just under my self-imposed deadline! I promised to tell you the music I’m skating to in Stars but didn’t know how busy we were going to be to get our costumes perfect, practices and show rehearsals. I have chosen to skate to “Imagine” by John Lennon and "Anytime, Anywhere" by Sarah Brightman. I really like the music and lyrics to “Imagine”. I think you will too when you see me skating to it. I performed "Anytime, Anywhere" when Sarah sang the song live during my performance in Atlantic City. It was a special moment for me and I loved skating live to Sarah's music. I will have to tell you a little later how I came about choosing this music and how Jan and I came up with the design for my dresses. They're beautiful and I know you will like them. Jan has made dresses for me that has captured my personality and skating with the music selections. If you would like to see Jan's designs visit www.janlongmire.com. I was here for Thanksgiving and had a nice dinner. The first day of practice was special to participate in a SOI tradition – a group breakfast is held before our practice at the arena. We’ve got a great cast. I can’t wait until tomorrow night. I will update my journal as soon as possible. In the mean time if you have any questions about the show, my music, dresses made by Jan or anything else e-mail me at my web master’s address. Sasha Happy Thanksgiving everybody! November 22, 2007 It's been a very busy time -- Atlantic City last weekend, Thanksgiving and SOI this weekend at Lake Placid. I will announce my music selections by Friday night. I think you are really going to like them. Surprise! Some additional thoughts November 1, 2007 (I've Arrived in NYC!) I got a lot done on my flight here (NYC) and I also was going over some things I posted about 7 hours earlier. I don’t think I’ve ever done two journals in about 7 hours. I don’t want to rush myself when I write my journal because I am so fortunate to have such loyal and caring fans. I will be at Rockefeller Center Friday and Saturday. On Friday I will be skating to “Hurt” and wear the dress I perform to that number on the Today Show. Then on Saturday I come back to Rockefeller Center and skate my Christmas program. At least that one is about 1:30 in the afternoon. “It’s to ‘Winter Wonderland’ and I’ve got a beautiful red and sparkling dress I will wear. When I said a few hours ago my schedule was crazy, consider this. I will be at the hotel about 9:30 tonight, order room service and go right to bed. The Today Show is at 7 a.m. so I’m going to have to figure out what time I need to get up to get warmed up correctly and have my makeup and hair done. I have to be at the studio early enough to do a tease for the show. I have scene that Andrea Bocelli will be on Friday’s show. I think he is a very talented singer. On the plane I watched a movie, read some more chapters from the “Memory Keeper’s Daughter” by Kim Howard and I reviewed my music. It was a good trip. Then on Sunday I’m back on the plane to Las Vegas. I will be skating in the Capital One Holiday Celebration on Ice show that will be taped on Tuesday and shown on Christmas Day. Then it’s back home and getting back to training and choreographing my programs, checking on my costumes and planning the rest of the year. I will write soon. But not in the next 7 hours! Sasha Everything has been so crazy lately November 1, 2007 (before boarding) Hi everybody! Sasha Thank you! You're the best fans! October 28, 2007 Many of you helped make my birthday even more special with your cards, gifts and e-mails. You all are an inspiration to me, too! I’ve asked my Web master to post the e-mail wishes on my fan mail page. Amber, you put so much thought and care in your gifts. I know they meant a lot to you, too. Ric, the miniature sandals are cute. Alexa, I enjoyed your letter. You have a great memory. And a special thank you for the concluding paragraph in your report. You know what I mean!! I will write later to get you up to date since the premiere of Moondance Alexander. I hope I get to see many of you when I’m traveling with Stars On Ice. Sasha My first premiere! October 17, 2007 Hi everybody. I’m going to my first premiere on Thursday! I am sooo excited. I hope some of you who live in or near Salt Lake City will come to the premiere or some of the events I will be at. It’s going to be a lot of fun. I’ve been asked what a premiere feels like. I really don’t know yet. This is my first role acting in a movie and everything will be new. I know I’m really excited! It should be amazing. I’m flying to Utah tomorrow. I’ve done a lot of interviews on the radio and will have a lot more for TV and entertainment networks once I get there. Every interview I’m asked at least one or two different questions. You would think they would all be the same, but they’re not. Sometimes I get asked if I’m seeing anybody or dating. I tell them exactly what is going on at that time. My web master thought I would tell him something different when he asked, but I told him the same thing I tell everybody else – at this time I am single! I bought a cute black mini, but not real short, dress for the premiere. I had fun shopping for it. It has some big sequins on top. It’s supposed to be in the 30s so I will have to wear a top. But once you’re on the red carpet off it comes and you just smile and answer questions. I have seen the movie. A DVD was sent to me. I think the movie is a good family movie and it has beautiful music. I try not to judge myself but just enjoy how I’ve grown. I saw a lot of good things. All the work I have done since with classes and attending Harvard acting classes also have helped. Every time out, it’s just like skating, I try to improve. My days continue to be busy. Last week I was in Canada taping Kurt Browning’s Gotta Skate show. Evan, Ryan, Joannie and Shae-Lynn were some of the skaters. Boyz2Men performed live. It will be shown on NBC in November. I still workout to stay in shape. I am getting Janet to make my dresses for my solo numbers on Stars On Ice. I’ve been having dress fittings, taking acting lessons and getting new programs choreographed. I must pack and get some sleep before flying out tomorrow. I hope to see a lot of fans from Utah this week. Sasha Sun Valley trip was much shorter this year September
26, 2007 Wow! The questions are pouring in and I am getting some nice messages
since I posted the previous journal. Sasha takes intensive acting course at Harvard September 23, 2007 I received
an e-mail from Alessio in Italy asking me to update my journal and
write what I am doing. Alessio, thank you for your e-mail. I will
be posting a couple of journals this week and answer questions I
received by mail on the fans page by mid-week. We
would start every class with an hour and a half of basic stage movements.
That was my conditioning program during those six weeks! But I learned
to use parts of my body I have never used before. We had jump training,
yoga, stretching and other activities. Some of the things were cool
and some were really hard! They teach you to be in control of your
body. Ducks win the Cup! Go Ducks! June 6, 2007 Stanley Cup Champions 2007! Congratulations Ducks! Sasha
I'm going on vacation to Europe. Go Ducks! June 3, 2007
'Happy Mother's Day! Here's some surprises May 11, 2007 Happy Mother’s Day to all the moms on Sunday. I hope you remember your mom on her special day.
'Blades' premiere sensational; it's on to Marshalls April 2, 2007 Hi everybody! Have you seen “Blades of Glory” yet? And did you see it was the top film of the week? I went with Evan and my mom to the premiere and we laughed all the way through it. We sometimes would whisper how we thought something could have been done differently but I thought it was really funny. I thought the script could have been a little bit stronger with skating but everybody did a great job. My part was one of the last ones filmed. I was told that I was better than they thought I would be and if they had to do it over again or had more time they might have considered to have me do more. I’m happy to be a part of a film with Will Ferrell. Instead of the red carpet they had a blue carpet to represent ice. Premieres are so hectic. Photographers are shooting photos, a lot of people are walking down the carpet and you’re asked to turn in different directions by the photographers. There was a post-premiere party. I got to talk to the producers and directors. I got to talk to Will Ferrell for a while. I got to see and talk with Ben Stiller, too. I hope you liked my dress. I picked the black and white long dress because it had a classic look. It had an old-style feeling. I really liked it. I’ve only seen the movie the night of the premiere. I have been so busy. The morning after the premiere I skated and flew to Boston. I did a fundraiser there and then took a tour of Harvard the next day. I got to meet with different administrators and department heads. That night I had a nice dinner with a hockey player from the Boston Bruins I met earlier when I was in Boston. I don’t know how I keep going so much. I try to get home and get plenty of sleep. Some days I drink too much coffee and it keeps me on the go-go-go. Then I just have to stop. I will be in Reading for Marshalls this weekend. I am planning on skating to two numbers. I will skate to “Hurt” and “God Bless America”.
Premier is two days away; Sasha answers mail March 26, 2007 It’s only a couple of days until the premier of “Blades of Glory.” It will be exciting to walk down the red carpet. I like premiers because it’s always an enthusiastic scene. The TV cameras, photographers and reporters are all out. It’s really hyped up. I’ve got my dress picked out. It’s very pretty white and black silk and strapless. It’s very classical. It reminds me of old Hollywood. I can just imagine Audrey Hepburn in a dress like that. There’s not a lot of tickets available for a premier. Usually after the stars, agents and guests get them there are few left. I will fly to New York for a couple of days, skate at Marshalls in Reading, Penn., and then begin the Champions On Ice Tour. I’m looking forward to seeing a lot of you on tour. I have read a lot of the e-mail and letters I have received. I can’t believe all the support you have given me in my year off. It has meant a lot to me and has been an inspiration. Abby from Dix Hills, N.Y. – Abby, I am honored you are doing a report on me. A lot of the questions you asked can be found in my biography, modeling, athletic competitions and entertainment pages. Megan from Sebastopol, Calif. – Thank you for the letter Megan. I love your photos. You look like you’re working hard on your posture. Don’t forget to keep your head up. I hope to see you in Sacramento on May 19 at the COI show. Say hi to your classmates. Domenica from Boston – What pretty roses on your letter! I love the skate boot with my initials. I imagine it is pretty hard to find an ice skating rink in Ecuador but I’m glad you are roller skating. Domenica, your English is excellent. Samantha from Singapore – Samantha your writing is the prettiest and smallest I can remember reading in a long time. I hope you enjoy CSI: New York. Good luck on your exams. Janet from Upland, Calif. – Janet, congratulations on a very nice and neatly typed business letter. Please let your teacher know I received it. Keep the good work. Elizabeth from Palatine, Illinois – Elizabeth, thank you for reading my book. Yes, I have a fun attitude. As you noted, it takes a lot of work to be successful in school and skating. I’m proud of how hard you’re working to reach your goals. Beth from Shelby Twp. MI. -- Wow! Beth, you’re doing a good job learning to write letters in computer class. You’re very good for only being in the third grade Sasha
'Blades of Glory' promotions keep Sasha busy March 24, 2007 I took the red-eye from home to Portland, Maine for tonight’s final Stars On Ice appearance. I didn’t get much sleep – just some dozing. I fly back home after the show and will do some more promotions for “Blades of Glory” next week. The premier is Wednesday night and that will be a lot of fun. Last week I judged a skating contest for a "Blades of Glory" promo that was totally right out of “American Idol.” Some of the contestants couldn’t skate at all. It was so funny. Some contestants even did some Karaoke. It was a lot of fun and all the contestants were great sports. A little skater, probably an intermediate or novice, won. I guess you read where my luggage got lost on a flight from Philadelphia to Cambridge, Massachusetts to promote Champions On Ice. I was told my luggage didn’t arrive on the flight and it would come on the next flight and they would send it immediately. Then when I got to the arena I called and they said my luggage had arrived. We went to the airport and there were 400 to 500 bags in the luggage area from three flights. It was absolutely crazy. Right after Wednesday’s premier I fly to New York where I will do some media and hang out with some friends. Then I will be headed to Marshalls to skate and about a week later we start the COI Tour. I look forward to reading what you think of the movie. And I hope I see a lot of you on Tour. Sasha
Acting classes, Bratz movie, auditions keep Sasha busy March 3, 2007 Hi everybody! I have just finished taking my first set of acting classes and they went extremely well. The past month I’ve been taking classes, auditioning for parts in movies, I got a part in a movie due out this summer and I continue to skate everyday. I went through what is called Actors’ Boot Camp. I loved it and I will take Boot Camp II. I haven’t scheduled it yet because I don’t know how it will fit in while on the Champions On Ice Tour. With Stars On Ice coming up I will probably watch a lot of movies while on tour to learn from the actors how they perform their scenes. The filming of my part in “Bratz: The Movie” was completed last month. The film is scheduled to open in August. I play the part of the head cheerleader. It’s another great opportunity for me to build my resume and continue working toward bigger movies. I am also pleased to be involved with this movie because Bratz is branded to encourage young girls to follow their dreams. I believe in that and it has been my philosophy throughout my life. I’ve been asked how I learn to read for my parts when I have an audition or part in a movie or TV. I first read the script all the way through to understand the character that is specific to me and who are the family of characters. The scenes have to be studied and I break down the script to get my lines down and into character. For the audition I know my character and work within the moment. I do get nervous because it is different than skating where I can lose myself in the music. I have to figure out different ways to be in character in acting and control my voice. There’s also a lot of sitting around and wait. I do like that they dress you, there’s someone to do your hair and another person for makeup. I love being dressed up and being pampered. But I am the type of person that is a doer. Sometimes when they’re trying to do something with my hair I’m like “Come on, just let me do it!” But that’s just part of the business and it is fun! I love being around all the people in the industry. They are so positive and have so much energy. I only attended one pre-Oscar party this year. It was more hectic last year when I participated in a lot of the parties by reporting on them. It’s nice to go to them but it’s also more fun when you’re a part of them. I would have had to miss some class time and I knew that was important. Just last night my agent gave me another script to read for an audition on Monday. Evan and I then went out for some Sushi, which is now my favorite food. It gave me some time to relax before getting into the script for the rest of the weekend. I will be sure to post a journal next week. Sasha
Sasha keeps busy with charity event, parties January 20, 2007 I have a lot to tell you about since I last wrote. I’ve attended some wonderful events for charities, parties, auditioning, taking acting classes, skating and visiting Natasha and friends while in NYC. And I got to see Timmy. He’s doing great and says he enjoys Columbia University. For those that don’t know he’s majoring in International Finance. It was also nice to spend some time with Jeremy, who played for the Philadelphia Eagles this year. I have been asked in e-mails and letters what it was like to attend Jim Carey’s Christmas Party. It was so fabulous and so over the top! We skated together some. He wore hockey skates and told me he learned to skate while in Canada. Jim had the party at a Paramount Studio to benefit the Los Angeles Fire Department’s Spark of Love toy drive. There must have been about 1,000 toys brought for area needy children. Jim had had a skating rink built on the center of the studio! There was snow, elves, gingerbread houses, real reindeer and cookie decorating for guests. Of course Santa Claus and Mrs. Claus were there! So were Tom Cruise and Katie Holmes! I went with my Mom, Natasha and a friend, Lynn. I got to mingle with a lot of Jim’s friends. Some of the guests there included Ben Stiller, Morgan Freeman, Cuba Gooding Jr., Jennie McCarthy, Ron Howard and a great group of stars, musicians and entertainers. Jim said he and his training partner watch me skate whenever I’m on TV and thought of me when he was planning the party. I skated some exhibitions at the party and had a great time. I kept my Christmas and New Year’s low key. I spent it with family and friends. I already told you about my “Christmas Lighting Tour”. That was a lot of fun and something I haven’t been able to do in years past. For New Year’s Mom, Natasha and a friend went to LA and had some sushi. That’s now my favorite food. I hope you got to see the photos and read the news story about Weatherproof’s Coat the Rink Skate-a-thon. Ethan Lercher took the photos and gave us permission to share them with you. I had a great time and it was for a great cause. The fans were great and Ethan and everybody at The Pond at Bryant Park did a great job. And a lot of coats were collected! I met Steve Forbes and did interviews for the Forbes Video Network. One was on skating and another was on other activities. We attended a lot of meetings while we were NYC so it was somewhat busy. I’m not going to Nationals but plan on watching it on TV. I don’t know how it will feel not skating at a U.S. Championships. I’ll let you know next week. Sasha
Grandma's oatmeal-chocolate chip cookie recipe December 18, 2006 A lot of you have e-mailed me asking for the oatmeal-chocolate chip cookie recipe I mentioned in my book. It’s a recipe I got from my grandma from my dad’s family in San Francisco. A lot of us will be baking this week and this is a great cookie to make and a better one to eat. The dough’s not bad to eat either! My grandma would add either chocolate chips or dark raisins so I am including that as an alternative ingredient. Use the one you like best. It’s a special recipe for me because it holds so many memories of Natasha and I when we grew up and visited my grandma. You’re invited to share the recipe with your friends and you’re also invited to e-mail me with how the cookies turned out. I will post your comments. Enjoy! Sasha SASHA'S FAMILY OATMEAL COOKIE RECIPE 1/2 cup butter Cream butter and sugars until light and fluffy. Mix in egg and vanilla. Sift together flour, baking powder and salt and add to creamed mixture. Blend thoroughly. Stir in chocolate chips (or raisins), nuts, oats and coconut. Drop by tablespoons on greased baking sheet and bake at 350 degrees for 9-11 minutes, or until bottoms are lightly browned.
It was a great experience being on CSI: NY December 14, 2006 I enjoyed the CSI: NY episode. I’m a little disappointed I was cut out from some of the scenes. There were more scenes that I was in but I’m still happy. That’s a lot to get into an hour show with everybody else. I hope most of you got a chance to see the show. And good luck guessing the trivia question. I think it's about 24 hours left in the contest. If you have some questions about my appearance on the show I will answer your questions on Thursday. My scene that I had to act emotional was interesting to learn. The more I do that kind of acting the better I will get. It was a different kind of acting for me. I thought it was good and I can learn from it. I can do better. I watched myself and it was like people being very critical of you. My mom said "you don’t look like my daughter, you look like an actress!" We both got a chuckle out of that. The first part of the show was harder than you think, playing broomball. Remember all the different angles with everybody passing? The director would stop and want to look at each angle and we would do them over to get everything just right. That was a lot of work. There were so many different angles. I was in tennis shoes and I didn’t have a lot of traction. I wasn’t used to that on the ice! I thought it was neat they trusted me to design my own dress. As you know they wanted me to use the color lavender. I liked the floating piece of chiffon to help make it shimmery. I’m so lucky to have Jan Longmire as my dressmaker. She is so good and great to work with. The skating sequences in the show were a little awkward. Because it was on TV they wanted me to wear the dress in practice. I tried to explain that skaters don’t practice in their dresses, we just wear workout clothes! I also wasn’t used to skating in the spotlight and had to adjust to that. The cast and crew seemed to enjoy my skating. Some of them hadn’t been that near the sport and weren’t big skating fans. They told me how much they enjoyed watching me skate and thanked me. Melina Kanakaredes (Detective Stella Bonasera) was wonderful to work with. She also offered some tips on some classes to take. Melina brought her daughter, she's a cute little girl, to the set and ntroduced her to me. To Ava from Topanga, California: Sasha
My new program is to West Side Story December 8, 2006 I have put together a new program and have new dresses I am planning on wearing during Sunday’s Marshalls Skating Challenge. My new program is to West Side Story. I love the music and the beat. It’s a different style for me and away from the classical music I have used for most of my competitive career so far. West Side Story is music that allows me to do some different things and fly all over the place. I had fun putting this program together and have had some good run-throughs. I will skate my short program to God Bless America. I am looking forward to competing Sunday while still seeing friends. It’s on live TV so that adds a little more excitement. I like the format putting the West Coast and East Coast skaters competing against each other. The top two in the first round will skate in the second round. That means I will be competing against Evan in the first round and hopefully against Johnny in the final round. I’m sure most of you know fans will get to vote for the outcome. I won’t put the phone number or Web address here but I have asked my web master to provide the information on my home page by Saturday afternoon. I hope I see, and hear, a lot of you at the competition. I have to get ready to pack but will post another journal from Boston to tell you more about what I’m doing off ice.
Join Sasha on her Christmas tree lighting tour December 5, 2006 I feel like I’ve been on the Christmas Lighting Tour! I’ve been to New York, San Diego and participated in a tree lighting at the South Coast Plaza here. I just got back from the Galleria in Dallas where I performed in a celebrity skating show last weekend. It was so wonderful skating with Christine singing when I was skating at Rockefeller Center. I’ve always been a fan of hers and I like the song “Hurt”. I have it on my iPod and play it a lot. I’ve even been skating to it at times. I read where it was estimated about 100,000 attended the tree lighting and performances. The crowd in NYC was very enthusiastic. We all were treated very well by the producers of the program. It was fun working in wardrobe, makeup and hair. Everything is so festive. By the way the picture of Christina and me was taken by Natasha. Isn't that a great shot? The tree lighting at the South Coast Plaza was different for me. Hal Landon Jr. and I emceed the lighting of the tree held at Town Center Park last Wednesday. Hal performs as Scrooge each year in a stage production. The 95-foot tree looked so big when looking straight up. I can’t imagine how a tree that size gets decorated so beautifully. It holds about 20,000 lights. The crowd helped us count down the seconds to the lighting of the tree. At each of the final seconds a section of the tree glowed. When we all said “One!” the star on the top turned bright and a couple buildings outlined in lights had theirs turned on. The Galleria in Dallas was decorated beautifully for the holidays. I performed last Saturday and there were a lot of other activities for the children. Story times and singalongs were held and of course Santa was kept quite busy despite almost four weeks to Christmas. I have been very busy but I like to live my life that way. It feels good to have a purpose and work and accomplish a lot of things. I’m getting to spend time with my family. Yesterday I did some voice overs for CSI: NY. I will do some for the movies I did later this week or next. Sometimes I think I write too much! I will stop for now but post another journal by Thursday with some skating news.
Coming up: Today, Christina Aguilera and CSI: NY November 7, 2006
Samantha O. sent a very nice e-mail that just about described my birthday. She wished me a day filled with relaxation, good food, friends and family. Samantha, your message also was an inspiration to me! Which gives me a good place to start to tell you some very exciting news. I will be in New York for several events this weekend. I will be on the Today show Friday morning and later will perform at Rockefeller Center with Christina Aguilera while she sings “Hurt” from her album “Back to Basics”. Christina is one of my favorite artists and I am so pleased I have been asked to perform with her. I only have a couple of days to choose the dress I will wear and that’s going to be a hard decision. NBC is going to tape the performance for showing later this year. I have a fun time when I'm on Today. It will be early for me since I fly into New York from California Thursday evening. Everybody at NBC and Today have always been great to work with and have always made me feel comfortable. I will be on the set for my appearance on CSI: New York next Monday and Tuesday. I have an idea of the theme but I prefer CBS announce it since the network has been so supportive of me and asking me to be part of their show. I can tell you that I designed the dress I will appear in. The production department told me to base it around the color lavender. I can’t remember the last time I used lavender as the base color. It will have beading, too. I have a fitting tomorrow and we’ll see where we go from there. I’ve had a full schedule the past month. I’m continuing to take acting classes. The classes are 5-6 hours twice a week. I have also been practicing my skating and working on a couple of new programs with choreographer Phillip Mills. I’ve spent a lot of time listening to music for them and think we have made some good choices. My sister has a break and is visiting. We will go back to New York together later this week. I always look forward to seeing her and we have a good time when we see each other. Oops! I almost forgot. When I mentioned Samantha’s e-mail I wanted to share with you what I did on my birthday. It was a great day. I have a tradition of bringing cupcakes with sprinkles on them to the rink on my birthday. After my practice I went shopping with my mom and grandmother. And I had dinner with friends at a Sushi restaurant that evening. I am adding a brand new section to my Web site and have been working on that, too. It is coming along nicely but I don’t want to show anything until it is completed. I think you will be pleased. I am going to give you a sneak preview of photos of me in “Moondance Alexandra” directed by Michael Damian. Wow! I can’t believe I wrote this long. I think it’s a record. I will add another journal after my return from New York. Sasha
I'm getting a new dress and I'm excited to be competing October 12, 2006 I’ve had several weeks of good practices and am in really good shape. I am excited about returning to competitive skating. I just decided to get a new dress and have designed it last week. It should be ready by the end of the week so I’m anxious to get it. I thought it would be good to have a new dress because I have changed. It’s pretty simple but elegant and I think more stunning. I have been taking acting classes and I think I will naturally add some dramatic and different ways to get into character. The team event at the Campbell’s Cup should be a lot of fun. I’m looking forward to skating in the team event. It’s live on television and I will be able to perform without the individual pressure I put on myself. I’m not concerned with the negatives. I hope I compete as well as I’ve been practicing. It will also be fun to visit with my friends. Do you like the length of my hair? I can’t remember when it’s been that long. I like it and am trying to see how long I can grow it before I decide to cut it. Since my last journal I have skated my cameo part in Ben Stiller’s Blades of Glory. I can’t tell you what I did but I think you will like it. It’s a very funny movie. I got a chance to talk to Ben and we discussed trying to get together in future movies. I will have a busy weekend. After the Campbell’s Cup I go to New York for the Women’s Foundation Awards dinner Monday night and the next day I have an appearance at Footlocker. I will spend some time with my sister, do some shopping and enjoy some restaurants. I haven’t got the script for my part in CSI: NY that will be taped later this fall. I have an idea what my role will be but I can’t disclose it. Before I sign off on this journal I must give a great big thank you to Anne Donze who made a paper doll and magnetic doll set. It is beautiful and must have taken a lot of work. You’re very talented Anne. Thank you. I’ve enjoyed playing and dressing up the doll, just like when I was little. Su-Lin Dunster from Singapore sent a very nice note expressing how much an inspiration my skating has been to her. Su-Lin, your letter is an inspiration to me and I wish you good luck and thank you for supporting me. Good luck to you Rachel for taking up skating and wanting to set goals. Believe in yourself! I will write after my return from the competition and my appearances. I will send all my fans a signal on TV Sunday.
I'm getting back into skating shape September 26, 2006 It’s good to be home from Japan. I had a great time. I’m back getting into skating shape and preparing for the Pro-Am in mid-October. I am going to do my short program I used last season and will probably wear the same dress. I didn’t have any time to put together a new program or design a new dress. The workouts I’m doing now are not the same kind of workouts I do while on Tour. It’s difficult to stay in competitive shape when we’re doing so much traveling and it’s hard to maintain a strict diet. We have catering, eat out together when we can and it doesn’t lend to good nutrition discipline while touring. I eat a lot of fish and chicken but it’s not the same as being in training. It takes me about three days to begin to feel like I’m getting into competitive shape. The first few days it’s so difficult to change your lifestyle. It’s a lot of skating and endurance plus off-ice drills. Each day I get more motivated. I have added yoga to my workout schedule. Mr. Nicks will be coaching me soon. I need to get into better shape and then we will work together to get ready for the competition. I see him at the rink everyday. I’m looking forward to competing again. I will go to New York after the Pro-Am to attend the Women in Sports Foundation banquet. I haven’t got the script for CSI: NY, yet. I should be getting that soon. I don’t know what my role will be yet. I'm excited to find out! I will be in a Christmas Show while I’m in New York. The theme is Christmas Around the World. After the pro-am I am planning on taking some acting classes in LA and try some auditioning. I will audit the acting classes. It will be something new to me to get back into the school environment. I’m looking forward to it. I hope you enjoyed my journal from Japan. It was done on the go. As I said, the Japanese had everything so well organized for the shows. Some of us took buses to tour Tokyo. I didn’t make it to any clubs but some of us did go where they had karaoke. No, I can’t sing! Now that I’m home I expect to keep you posted more frequently. Special thanks to the Japanese fans who treated me so well and sent me such nice and supportive letters and e-mails.
I love Tokyo! People and shopping are great September 15, 2006 Konnitiwa. I love Tokyo, especially Ginza. It's like a deluxe Japanese version of 5th Ave in NYC. There are so many cute clothing stores and the sizes are really small. When I walk the streets of Tokyo I actually feel tall. Most of the women are 5 feet or so. I haven't bought any clothes because it's so expensive. In fact the same things are 30 percent more than at home. The department stores are beautiful and all have beautifully displayed food sections. They have many of the designer pastries from Paris. The food presentation is very important in the Japanese culture so everything is very meticulously kept up. They are very organized and have thought of every last convenience. The sushi is great. Most all the food has been very good. Especially the fruit. It's so ripe and flavorful. I loved seeing the daily life in Tokyo, and just absorbing the whole culture. I took the bullet train and it is so incredibly fast. My mom and I had to run around the train station with 4 bags changing trains, and trying to read Japanese signs so we would end up in the right city. That was pretty stressful. Fortunately we found the right trains. I spend a lot of time with the French gang. That would be Surya and Stephan, Marina and Gwendal. We're all close from doing COI in America for 4 months. The Japanese fans are truly amazing. They are so dedicated and appreciative of our work. They are incredibly considerate, and give us so many gifts it feels like Christmas. I'll be coming home with Japanese fans, toys, cookies, clothes . . . the works. The shows have all been sold out, and the audience claps through the entire show. Everything is organized to the last detail and it makes it very easy for the skaters to do their job. Sayonara.
Got Milk? Photo shoot was way too cool! September 3, 2006 I want to tell you how much fun it was to shoot the Got Milk? photos. I always wanted to be in a milk advertisement. It took about a day to shoot it in New York. I did it during one of our days off from the Champions On Ice Tour. I've already received e-mails asking how I made the milk moustache. I think that was one of the best parts of the entire day. Yes, we used milk! To create the moustache and have it stay just long enough for the photographer we used several ingredients. Mixed all together it tasted like a milk shake. One of my favorite ice creams was used, vanilla Haagen Dazs! The photographer shot a lot of photos but that only meant I had to sip it again! I had to sip it just right to cover my lips and not have it all over my face and down my mouth. It really is almost an art to get it just right! An igloo-type set for the shoot was used.. It looks colder than it felt. I was very comfortable. All the people associated with the production of the ad were great professionals. I am also very pleased to be part of a new promotion that encourages good nutrition and fitness. I have always promoted good eating habits and exercise and want to be a role model for good health. I didn't know at the time it was going to be part of the new American Milk Producers' Body By Milk campaign. But it feels awesome to be part of it. It's also nice to be in such great company such as A-Rod, David Beckham and Carrie Underwood. Since I've been to some baseball games I remember Alex Rodriguez of the Yankees is called A-Rod! I will announce a contest after Labor Day. Start practicing your milk smiles! Sasha
I'm recharged with a terrific vacation in Sun Valley August 24, 2006 It’s been a great week here with my family. I promised another journal and I appreciate your patience. I’m going to catch up with a lot of things I did before vacation but ran out of time to write. I still can’t believe the mail that keeps coming. I had a very nice letter from Kerby from Renton, Washington. Kerby told me she was sitting in the second row in the Seattle show. She told me the sports she participates in. Kerby’s letter was inspirational. Keep up the good work in bowling and bicycling Kerby. I’m proud of you. Last weekend was the exhibition skate and the rest of the week was spent deciding whether to go fishing, taking in a barbecue with some friends, making smores by the fireside and eating at some of our favorite restaurants. Sun Valley is a great vacation spot for me. There’s a lot to do if you want to stay busy, it’s a beautiful part of the country and it’s stress-free. I ran in the mornings around the beautiful countryside and mountains. I got my photos back from the photo shoot just before I left on vacation. I sent a couple to the USFSA to use with my official bio. I hope you get a chance to see it. Let me know what you think. Russell Baer took the photos. He lives in Los Angeles and has quite a portfolio of celebrities, athletes and portraits. I can’t think of a celebrity, fashion or news magazine his work has not appeared in. He spent a lot of time with me and caught a lot of poses in several outfits. I think they turned out really cute. I will share more of them later when I get time to view them. I’ve asked my Web masters to redesign my Web site using some of the new photos. We will be working on that soon, too. I forgot to explain what it was like during the final Champions On Ice shows before we all split and went our separate ways. Most of us don’t think about the last show being the last time we will see each other. It’s only a short time before competitions, training and shows before we run into each other again. The last night we rented two big rooms in a club and had a great dinner and a lot of fun. We had a good time, shared a lot of fun stories and just enjoyed our final evening together. The cast doesn’t usually do any pranks, although there are some who like to see what they can get away with without being caught! Oh! I almost forgot! I got to throw out the ceremonial pitch at Dodgers Stadium. I think I’m getting better. The pitch went to the catcher and the crowd cheered. It was the first time I was at a baseball game in LA. The stadium is beautiful. It has pretty palm trees and hills beyond the outfield fences that give the stadium a comfortable feel. I mentioned last week that mom and Natasha will be going to NYC to get Natasha settled in at Barnard College. I will join them the day after the Emmys. Well, I think I’m caught up with most of the news. It seems that this week is going faster than when I’m completely busy morning to night. But the timing was perfect. Sasha
Vacation is next. Then I'm filming Ben Stiller's movie! August 17, 2006 Where did the time go? I can’t believe the Tour is over. It went so fast. It was also tough not having a break this season. There was something to do every day. In fact, I won’t be home for a while until mid-September. I skate Saturday in the Sun Valley exhibition and then we’re going to take a week off and enjoy some down time together. I want to thank all of my fans for a great response to my "God Bless America" program. You made every performance special. I enjoyed meeting a lot of you after the shows. I looked forward to meeting many of you and seeing some of you again. Your signs and notes were much appreciated. After Sun Valley I come home for two days while my mom and Natasha head to New York. Natasha is entering Barnard and we’re going to New York to get her settled. I will attend some Emmy parties and join Mom and Natasha one day later in NYC. After that I will come home and film a part in the Ben Stiller movie “Blades of Glory”. That is going to be a lot of fun. It stars Will Ferrell and Ben is the producer. It’s scheduled to be released next year. After that I go to Tokyo to skate in some shows. I’m really excited about that. I’ve never been to Tokyo. Then I will come home and get into my training. My first skate will be in the Pro-Am in Cincinnati in mid-October. I am just getting settled in Sun Valley. I wanted to get a quick entry before I went to bed. Sasha
It was fun playing a mean girl in Moondance Alexander August 5, 2006 Can you believe we have six shows left with Champions On Ice? Our last show is August 16 in Las Vegas and then I’m taking vacation in Sun Valley. I will do a show there and then my Olympic season will come to an end. Whew! But by the amount of emails I have gotten you want to hear about my first movie. I can’t begin to describe what it was like to learn lines, perform a role of another person and be around such a creative cast. It’s everything I dreamed and hopefully the beginning of a wonderful career in movies. The crew was so much fun. They worked hard were very supportive and helpful to me. I am very lucky to be associated with such great people in my first acting role. I play a mean, snobby girl who is good at riding a horse. I liked playing the mean girls because I got to have the best of everything in the movie. I had the best matching outfits and skirts, a beautiful horse and great riding clothes. Some of my friends asked how I could play the mean person. I’m glad I was given that role. I liked being mean. It’s so out of character but it was so much fun! It wasn’t hard (lol). I thought I did well expressing myself through words and with other people. It was gorgeous filming outdoors in Canada. It was breathless riding in the hills in the beautiful countryside. It was a wonderful time to interact with the cast. The entire experience was so awesome. One of the best things was being able to work with the other people in the cast. I got to talk with Don Johnson a little bit at the end of a couple of scenes. He is good at horseback riding. I’m looking forward to the movie’s release. I will be shooting an episode of CSI: New York later this year. The shooting will be in November and the episode is scheduled in December from what I know right now. This entire spring and summer has been kind of surprising what has come my way and it’s been really rewarding how much I was able to do. Sasha
My first baseball game was a hit. Fan mail is sent! July 25, 2006 Let’s see, where am I today? I’m in Billings, Montana for a show tonight. I have been so busy it’s hard to keep track of my schedule. I honestly don’t keep a master schedule. My agents Lee and Shannon let me know my schedule and where I’m supposed to be and what I’m doing. It has been so frantic keeping up with everything and doing a lot of different things. I went to my first baseball game last Monday when we were in Phoenix. I got to throw out the first pitch before the game between Arizona and the Los Angeles Dodgers. I’ve never been to a baseball game or threw a baseball before. Eric Byrnes, an outfielder, and Conor Jackson, who plays first base, helped me practice before the game. They were real sweet and made me feel comfortable. I wanted to throw it right. I did pretty well. The toss made it to the catcher and I threw it straight. They let me stand in front of the pitcher’s mound. I didn’t want to take on too much at once! It was awesome and the crowd was very supportive and great. We met the players before the game. We chatted and they asked me some questions. They wanted to know what my schedule was like and what it was like to be in the Olympics. They told me about their schedule and it seems intense to play almost every day mixed in with travel. I liked watching the game and it was a really neat vibe and different. I can’t wait until I get to my next game. It was a good trip to Phoenix. We had a media day where I got to speak to a group of skaters at a rink and do some TV spots. The kids asked good questions. The first one I was asked was one of the best I heard in a long time. I think the question was what do I feel I contributed to society? I had to think about that one for a moment before I answered! I’ve got a bus to meet to go to the Metrapark for tonight’s show. My mom and sister are planning to visit in Seattle. In about a week we are planning a day trip to Napa Valley, visit a spa and enjoy a great meal. We’re looking forward to that. I will post another journal soon and write about finishing up the filming of Moondance Alexander. I had time to talk with some of the stars and will write about new TV shows and my acting plans. The team that has helped me open my mail and prepare them for me to respond has completed their task and I have mailed all the responses. I wanted to acknowledge everyone who was so kind and thoughtful. Thank you for supporting me. We’ve been answering mail since right after Worlds and I can’t even begin to think how many thousands I received. I like to share fan mail with you. It’s fun reading about people and how proud they are of their family. Jennifer Wood sent me a very special letter letting me how much she supported me and my future decisions. What made her letter so special is a paragraph she wrote about her dad. “My dad survived the war in Iraq as a soldier so I applaud Soldiers’ Angels,” Jennifer wrote. Jennifer, I applaud you and I bet your dad is very proud of you and the support you give him. If anybody else would like to send me their stories on their family members that serve in the military I will be glad to try to post them or at least their names and the service they represent. Thank you Jennifer for your thoughtful letter. Sasha
Moondance Alexander was a great experience July 12, 2006 I promised to write this journal on the movie I’m making. I’m having so much fun. The name of the movie is Moondance Alexander. It is an adaptation of the book by the title written by the film’s director. It’s an indie film that is being produced as a family movie about a little girl and her horse. We’ve been filming near Calgary. It’s about an hour from the coast and we film some scenes in a farm town. Don Johnson is the star of the movie and Lori Loughlin and Kay Panabaker are co-stars. I came to Calgary after my vacation from Bora Bora. I play a high school girl and part of the role includes horseback riding. My role is very high schoolish and I wear a lot of miniskirts. We filmed three scenes in one day. I did a good job remembering my lines. While I was on tour I would practice my lines while traveling or during bus rides to the next city. I would often practice in front of Natasha. When we filmed sometimes it was with the whole cast. There is some waiting while the director sets up everything for the shoot. One time I returned to my trailer with my name on the door and when I got inside there were a lot of clothes and about 20 pairs of shoes. I thought, I could get use to this! I have about five more days to do more filming and it should be wrapped up this month. I’m not sure exactly when the film is being released. I believe it is next spring. I watch movies differently now. I saw the The Devil Wears Prada and studied how the cast performed their roles. I am a huge fan of Meryl Streep. She is so good. I watched her and the performers with a different point of view. They are all really great. The first time I get two days off in a row again I’m going to take more acting lessons. I have already learned a lot just by watching the cast and listening to my acting coach and director. It’s a lot of fun and I’m very excited I have been given this opportunity. Sasha
Fun in the sun and celebrating Natasha's birthday! July 8, 2006 Hi everybody! Thank you for being patient between journals. This is such a busy time for me but it is also a wonderful time in my life. We just got finished with our COI show in Dallas and I’m trying to get this posted tonight. I just got back from filming in Calgary and will return later to resume filming. And I had an absolutely great vacation in Bora Bora. Before I forget, I just read a cute card sent by Jaclyn from Westwood, Massachusetts. She wrote a very sweet note and sent me an extra bootlace in case I ever need it. Jaclyn, that was very thoughtful and that brightened my day. And while I’m on the subject of mail. I’ve finally figured a way to respond to the letters and cards sent. My goal is to have all the mail answered by September. I just looked at my watch so I’ll write about my vacation and other notes. I will post another journal early next week and talk about the movie. I celebrated Natasha’s 18th birthday last week. We had a lot of fun together. We spent part of the day making cakes and celebrated her birthday that evening. Did you see Project Runway was nominated for an Emmy in the best reality show category? I had a great time when I was on the show. Congratulations to Heidi and Michael. They deserve the nomination. The week in Bora Bora was terrific. I had been to Bora Bora last year as part of a cruise. It was a great time for a vacation. It was very relaxing and the islands and beaches were beautiful. I spent a lot of time jetskiing, reading books, snorkeling and swimming among the fishes. The fish were so beautiful. The water was perfect and we had so much fun. With two weeks off it’s always a little tough to get back on the ice. But I do Pilates and a lot of running. I love moving around and when there’s any downtime I at least get on the treadmill. I must go but will write in the next few days. I can’t wait to share an update with you about the movie I’m in. Sasha
Whew! I'm ready for a fun, relaxing vacation! June 12, 2006 Hi everybody! There is so much catching up to do and such a short time to do it. I am taking a break from unpacking and packing again. I have just come home from the tour in Wisconsin this weekend. And I am going on vacation. I am sooo looking forward to the time off. I have a new commercial on my Web site. Take a look at it and let me know what you think. It’s for Simply Saline, a nasal mist that I use every day. It works well and other skaters also use it. During the commercial I had to skate at one end of the ice because the lights and cameras were located there. The other end was where I would warm up. The commercial was easy and it was a lot of fun to make. My horseback riding lessons went really well. I learned how to ride English style. I had the same horse for each lesson and we got along real well! I took a couple of acting lessons and the coach told me I was a natural. I take my lines with me everywhere and study them each day. Sometimes I practice them on the bus with other skaters. When I get back from vacation we will shoot the movie in Canada. I lost my voice one day last week and had to take it easy for a couple of days. But all is well now. I was invited to give a speech at Disneyland. I thought it went really well. I might have been just a bit nervous at the start but after I started talking about my life experiences it went smoothly and fast. There was a question and answer session and the questions asked were very good. The speech was for a group of employees who worked at the park in different capacities. I never thought when I was going to Disneyland as a child that I would be asked to give a speech! I had a new photo shoot done during a break while touring. It was done at a photographer’s house in Santa Monica. I wore so many outfits. They ranged from jeans and a t-shirt to the gown I wore at the White House last month. I was supposed to get them back today but I will look at them when I get back from vacation. I think you will like them when I get a chance to post them. Wow! I get tired just reading over all the things I have done in the past few weeks. I am starting to get some mail about horseback riding, acting and the different things I am doing. I will answer as many as I can when I get back from vacation and shooting the movie. Sasha
'Idol' was great, but now who to vote for? May 24, 2006 Natasha and I went to “American Idol” tonight and now I am in a dilemma. I went to the show wanting Katharine to do well but I think Taylor did a great job tonight. I don’t know whom to vote for now. I don’t think it’s ethically right for me to vote unless I’m sure whom I favor. Anyway, I really liked Chris. When I heard him sing I thought, that’s it, no question he’s going to win. I was disappointed when he was voted off two weeks ago. I thought Katharine was good but not great tonight. I still love her voice and she has that star image. Taylor did great. It’s a tough choice. There were a lot of stars at the Kodak Theater, where the show was held tonight. Stars from Sex and the City and all the previous Idol contestants were there. Natasha and I had a great time. We’ll probably watch the final show Wednesday night. During commercials and breaks a guy would pump up the crowd. Afterwards we did a little shopping. I bought some earrings and sunglasses. Then we had a nice dinner together. I had my first riding session on a white English-bred horse today. It was fun. I learned how to post the horse. I asked the instructor the horse’s size and he said it was a medium-sized horse. I have another lesson on Thursday. It was a pretty good day. Sasha
I'm going to 'Idol' Tuesday and will be in a movie! May 23, 2006 I’m going to be in a movie. I’m very excited. And Tuesday I’ve been invited to “American Idol”. It sure feels good to be home, though. I arrived at 1 a.m. Monday morning. |
Hi everybody. I’ve got a busy schedule ahead and have been quite busy the past month. I received a lot of e-mails and cards wishing me a Happy Birthday. I can’t believe so many of you remembered and took the time to think of me!