Wednesday, September 25, 2013

Something Beautiful Today

Johnny hits the ice for his rehearsal in Sun Valley. 
This is about the happiest he looked the entire time, 
until he came to greet his waiting fans. The rest of 
his rehearsal was a quiet and intense tug-o-war 
between him and illness, fatigue, altitude, and smoky air.

Exclusive photo © David Ingogly.
Please click for beautiful full-size image.



UPDATE: Excerpt from Johnny’s
latest column, “Johnny’s World: Make-Up,”
for the Falls Church News-Press:

As I became more followed and well known, I learned that when you have bad or sad news to break you have to do it thoughtfully, and with process. You have to omit or lie to conceal the truth to the people who don’t know you personally, yet know you quite intimately, just until you’re ready, and while that may seem understandable, it’s still a lie that you must live with on a daily basis until the news can splash forth from your swollen eyes and puffy, reddened face. ...

I am someone who speaks from the heart 95% of the time, however, there are moments when I have to omit, fluff, conceal or propaganda the hell out of things. ... These little lies are life’s make-up and while necessary at times, they are exhausting. Starting with myself, I vow to speak from the heart, not the mind, and I’m washing off the make-up. Who’s with me? — Johnny Weir



Well, yes, we’re still waiting for a statement from Johnny, although personally I can wait forever or just be OK with him never making a formal statement at all (though I think that’s unlikely). I’m a firm believer in the freedom we all have to make our own choices and live our own lives, respectful of those around us, certainly, but with an equal amount of freedom to so live without defending or explaining anything, ever, to anyone. Just speaking for myself (your mileage may vary), I’m thrilled to have supported his journey up to this point—freely, happily, no strings attached, because everything I’ve done I chose to do as a gift, a small way to say thank you for all the beauty he brings to my world. So I’m just fine to plow ahead, looking forward with excitement to whatever he’s doing next whilst continuing to proffer up extensive picspam along the way, and yay we even have some of that to linger over right now at this very moment, which is good, because judging by my mail, there’s a definite mix of restlessness, confusion, and a tinge of sadness rippling across fandom these days, and there’s nothing like a bunch of Johnny pics to distract us from ourselves.

In the meantime, as I mentioned previously, I remain ever so totally appalled at the shrieking hysteria, ugly bashing, and even hate speech that’s gone on the last few months over Johnny’s adamant stance against boycotts of any kind related to the Sochi Olympics—though he’s far from alone in holding that opinion—and supremely disappointed in the US LGBT voices leading the bashing. I’m truly stunned at the lack of tolerance for diversity of opinion from within a community that seeks acceptance by asking the larger community to ... tolerate diversity.

As my lovely friend Tatiana Edrenkina succinctly summed up, “So far, it seems, the only person who was able to hear other people’s opinions, was Johnny.”

This.

For some eye-opening background/context, please see Nicholas Benton’s powerful and thought-provoking national affairs column: “Gay Movement’s Major New Voice,” if you haven’t had a chance to read it yet. And please be sure to check out Nick’s new book, Extraordinary Hearts: Reclaiming Gay Sensibility’s Central Role in the Progress of Civilization, a “compilation of one hundred essays previously published under the noted column ‘Nick Benton’s Gay Science’ from October 2010 through September 2012 on the website of the Falls Church News-Press.” Loved that column, and am excited to catch up on the ones I missed via Nick’s book. For more info, please visit the book's Facebook page.

Also, just FYI: Sir Ian McKellen has now added his voice to the anti-boycott chorus (thank you to dear Beatrice Zenk for the link. See also: “Out Actor Ian McKellen Echoes Johnny Weir: Olympic Boycott Would Be ‘Cruel’ To Athletes). Seriously, if you’ve got Gandalf on your team....

And now, onto the picspam. Because—just speaking for myself again—I need something beautiful today.



Johnny in Sun Valley:
Rehearsal, Part 1.

The following series of photos covers just the first three minutes of Johnny’s rehearsal in Sun Valley. We knew he wasn’t feeling well from his tweets, and he looked pretty miserable throughout, as you’ll see. 

And his skating was absolutely gorgeous and thrilling, as you’ll also see, though it’s hard to do it justice even with stunning pics and video. Seeing him skate right in front of you, hearing his blades slice through the ice... there’s just nothing like it.

As always, please click any photo to open the full-size image in a new tab. These are mostly wondrously huge. Only a few captions, because he was very quiet and very focused, like these photos, and we mostly sat in hushed awe as we watched.

Exclusive photos © David Ingogly.















Stopping to chat briefly with 
Brian Boitano and Ryan Bradley.


























Going into a jump...



...and landing it.





















With Ryan Bradley and Jozef Sabovcik.




































And in just three minutes, he’s warmed up enough 
to shed the jacket and reveal an amazing tank...



...and then he heads back out 
into the unrelenting Idaho sun...



Exclusive video!! Highlights from Johnny’s practice 
captured by Anastasia Pryanikova
Simply gorgeous...



Exclusive Sun Valley photos © David Ingogly.




From Johnny’s latest column in the Falls Church News-Press:


Growing up skinny, socially awkward and with a weird craft, I always wanted to be cool. I always wanted to be popular ... I wasn’t prepared however, for the flip-side of popularity. I wasn’t prepared that everything you say will have a 50/50 response, that complete strangers hate you for no reason aside from the fact that you didn’t believe the same things they did. I wasn’t prepared. ...

Every shooting star has a fleeting moment when everyone can see it, before its luminescence is burned up. I now know what it’s like to be loved and hated on an international scale.


My own personal hope is that I continue to grow in a way that helps me understand the mistakes of my life and learn from them, more so than wallow in what might have been or what was. — Johnny Weir

Read more here.
Johnny’s columns are published every Thursday
in the “National Commentary“  section—
don’t miss a single one! 



Also on the blog: 
“Sun Valley Sneak Peek: 
‘A Rare Human So Breathtaking....’ ”
Johnny debuts his Schindler’s List program 
in this stunning simple white costume. 
Exclusive pics and HD video.
Exclusive photo © David Ingogly.



Photo essay of 40+ starkly beautiful 
black-and-white pics featuring Johnny at rehearsal 
as young skaters watch, spellbound.
Exclusive photo © David Ingogly.



Quiet photo essay of exclusive black-and-white pics 
paired with Johnny’s quotes from his 
Exclusive photo © David Ingogly.



A number of Johnny’s auction items have been relisted
which means if you missed out the first time around, 
you’re in luck: It’s not too late to own a piece of Weir Gear! 
Go check it out and see what treasures you could take home!



Patti has posted a message 
on Johnny’s Comeback Gift Fund website, 
with her thoughts on 2013 Nationals 
and what lies ahead for next season. 
Please go read it now!



Please alert absolutely everyone you’ve ever met 
to “like” and follow the new 
on Facebook, Twitter, and Tumblr
Because he should be on all the things. 
With or without ice. 
But definitely with Viacheslav.



HE REALLY, REALLY IS!!  Landing quads and kicking ass! Read his comeback statement  and the update on his website!



Please click to vote for Johnny 
once a day as “Best Sportsman”
Because he retweeted Luisa Lotka  to tell us he wants us to! 



Need to see Seasons 1 and 2 all over again?  Watch episodes online anytime on Logo!
Please be sure to check in with GetGlue anytime you’re watching the show...  or thinking about watching the show....  or wishing you were watching the show....



At last: Pop Star On Ice is now available on DVD!
Order yours today from the Pop Star On Ice website!



Johnny tweeted:
“Buy my single,’Dirty Love’ via iTunes.
Tell all your friends to as well. The more copies sold
takes me one step closer to making a video! №1!”
IN THE SAME WAY THAT IT NEEDS AIR.
You know what to do.
Please buy the song from Johnny’s website,
or just click the “Buy” button on the player at the top of the blog!



Hey, Welcome to My World also is available
as an eBook! More info on Johnny’s website!


copyright 2013 / Binky and the Misfit Mimes / Lynn V. Ingogly / all rights reserved

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