· November 2, 2005

Hi Everyone -

    Japan was a good meet. I really liked all the equipment but the only problem was that we really didn't have any time to practice at the gym before the meet began. It was kind of weird when we first walked into the gym because the equipment and mats and everything were all green. Oh, and the hotel rooms were so small that we couldn't share a room so Natasha and I had to have our own rooms. That was kind of scary the first night but it was okay. We had a lot of time to do some tourist stuff in Japan. We walked all over the place and went into lots of stores. Then we also got to go to that water park and watched a dolphin show which was really neat. The banquet was also really nice. I kind of didn't really dress up enough for it though - I wore my blue jeans and everyone else had on dresses but, oh well, at least I was comfortable! This was probably one of my favorite international meets so far. This is the sad part though - my plaque and my medals from Japan are all missing. Terry called USAG and they are going to try and talk to the people from Japan and see if they can get me replacements.

    Okay, this is pretty obvious, but... Brazil was not the best meet for me! A lot of things happened here. First the food was really, really, really bad!! So I basically lived on just mango and pineapple - they were terrific though! Also, well you probably know what happened on floor! Good thing Alicia can score so high on floor because boy did we need her score to get rid of mine! She is so good that she could probably do all her passes on a basketball court - and that is how hard this floor felt to me!! Oh, I guess there was one little good thing - my "gift" on vault! Everyone one gets a gift on some event every now and again, right - I wish I could have saved my gift though for a meet when we really need my vault score. With Alicia, Chellsie, and Jana all competing - we knew going in that we would not use my score. What a waste of a good gift! It was so, so, so hot in Brazil also. Also, we didn't really get any time to shop and do other stuff. We did get to see the Jesus statue though but it was a cloudy day and we couldn't see it too well. Also, since I never imagined I'd be going to Brazil, I didn't have any extra film with me so not many pictures! So, basically, I probably will not remember this as being one of the better competitions I have been to!

    Now the good part - I am back in the gym just training with no competitions until Flytz Classic and I get to just play and play and play with new skills! YIPEE I love to compete but it seems like I have been competing so much this past year that I haven't had a chance to learn anything new because I always had to be ready to compete. I am allowed to try and work on Yurchenko doubles - I bet BJ never expected to see that out of me! I am also working on some new bar connections and skills. I have one new release move that I am catching and it just has to go into my routine on double rails and then I have another release move that I am working on. I am excited for the second one because I don't think anyone (except maybe a couple of the guys) are doing it right now! It's not like it's a huge skill (like Morgan's def!) but it is pretty uncommon. I've really been wanting to do something that not everyone else is already doing, so if I can eventually get this new release, I will be so excited!!! On beam, I am working a new combination and a new skill, and I'm supposed to do a different dismount but I haven't been working on that yet. And then on floor - this is exciting - I have been hitting my Arabian double fronts! Oh, I am also getting a new floor and beam routine. I have had my beam routine since my first year as a level 10! I guess it's about time to change it but I have gotten really used to it and I'm not too sure that I want to change it. My mom hates it though so she will be pretty happy. My floor routine is only a year old but Terry already wants me to get a new one. I'm not sure who will be doing my new routines but I won't get them until after Flytz Classic.

    My mom promised me that we would be going to college Regionals this year! We will be going to see my teammate Bernie who competes for University of Michigan. If you get a chance to watch any of the Michigan meets, you need to watch her bar routine - it will really amaze you! I am so excited to go to a college meet and especially see Bernie. Oh, and this is so cool. At Michigan, you get some kind of a Michigan card - like a credit card - and it has a certain amount of money put on it every month and you can use it anywhere you want on campus for anything you want. Well, this is the best - there is a STARBUCKS on campus!!! So guess what, if I get to go to Michigan for college, I can get free Frappachinos every single day all day long!!

    Oh - CONGRATULATIONS to TIFF - she got her hecht!

    Okay, that's about it for now. As soon as I get my new bar release, I'll write again and let you know what my new bar routine is going to look like! Oh, and keep your fingers crossed for my vault - I would love to be able to do this vault in a competition next season!

    Oh - I can't forget the best - GOOD LUCK TO ALL THE GIRLS GOING TO THE WORLD TEAM SELECTION CAMP!!! I am so excited for you guys!!!

   Bye, bye