Unexplained Hiatus

Sorry for the hiatus. I've had a nightmare of a week. Saturday night my bottom wisdom tooth started hurting, and by Sunday night it was unbearable. Monday I spent all day trying to get an appointment but no one had any openings, and also Monday I went to the doctor for a kidney stone, which luckily I passed by the end of the day. Today I got in at a clinic, but they told me the tooth is too infected and they can't remove it until the infection is under control (hopefully tomorrow or Friday). Luckily my boss is AMAZING and covered all of my shifts this week (6 days) so I don't have to worry about that, but this has been a terrible week. I am just hoping and praying I'll be better for when school begins next Thursday.  As soon as I'm feeling better I will be back :)

100 Day Challenge - Day 14

A picture of your favorite store.

Target is so amazing!! I can spend hours and hours in there and buy so much stuff! I always buy my CDs from Target too, because they always have the lowest prices on new releases.

100 Day Challenge - Day 13

A picture of your favorite band or artist.

Can't choose just one, so bear with me ...

I have loved Mariah Carey since I was about 6 years old. My mom owned her first 3 albums and I'd listen to them CONSTANTLY, and when I was 12, her 4th album "Daydream" came out, and I received it as a Christmas gift, my first CD ever. I now own every single album she's ever released, including the compilation albums. I have no doubt that listening to Mariah from a young age gave me the passion and love for singing that I still have with me today, and will carry with me throughout my lifetime.

I don't care what anyone says about Britney Spears's past, present, or future, I love her always. I bought "Baby One More Time" at age 15, and I fell in love with her and her music. While her music has evolved a lot in the past 12 years, she still puts her heart and soul into what she does, and I love every album she has released, as they show her growing as a person. Seriously can't stand haters who were so down on her during the rough patch in her life .. but she has shown all of them and she is back on top where she belongs :)

Couldn't leave Katharine McPhee out! She is still my favorite American Idol contestant ever to this day, and she will always have a special place in my heart.

100 Day Challenge - Day 12

A picture of something you love.

Fall has been my favorite season my whole life. When I was younger, I mostly loved it just because my birthday is during Fall (October) but now I love it for so many more reasons. September and October are my most favorite months of the year. September because the heat from summer decreases immensely, school starts again (the "back to school" feeling), the start of the NFL regular season, and some very perfect days temperature-wise. October because of the leaves changing and falling, the amazingly gorgeous colors, the crispness of the air, the days getting shorter, and my birthday :) I wait for it every single year and there is no way to describe the happiness it brings to me!

100 Day Challenge - Day 11

A picture of something you hate.

I can't stand when people can't just be themselves, live their own lives, and have their own likes and dislikes. In addition I also hate when people won't stand up for what they believe in even if it goes against the norm, the standard, or what everyone else thinks.

100 Day Challenge - Day 10

A picture of someone you do the craziest things with.

My sister :)

Congratuations, Elise Ray!

On Friday August 19th, 2011, one of my favorite gymnasts ever, Elise Ray, was inducted into the USA Gymnastics Hall of Fame! I am completely happy and stoked for her. I have followed her career since 1999 and beyond .. her National Championship in 2000, her first place in the All-Around at the 2000 U.S. Olympic Trials, through all her disappointment and heartbreak in Sydney, and her remarkable collegiate career at the University of Michigan. 

Elise is really special to me because following her career turned me into the gymnastics superfan I am today. I did watch the Mag 7 in the '96 Olympics, but I never followed gymnastics outside of watching it in the Olympics until I became a fan of Elise Ray. Elise was great on all 4 events, vault was probably her weakest, but she excelled on the other 3, especially the uneven bars. Her bars routine(s) are still my favorites to this day, even with all the newer difficulty that has been added in the past 10 years, simply because she performed them so elegantly and gracefully but with such strength! This is her bars routine from the 2000 Nationals. Her pirouettes on the high bar are my absolute favorite, so gorgeous!

That helped make her the National Champion. Her floor was also spectacular, and beautiful. I've seen so many different versions of her floor routine, and I can't choose a favorite. This one is from day 2 of the 2000 Olympic Trials. She was a rock on beam in every single competition of 2000 up until Sydney. Her routine was so elegant and everything about it was beautiful. I love love the second video I posted below. It is her beam routine from day 1 of the 2000 Olympic Trials, and the commentator says "So far here tonight, it's been Elise Ray and everybody else." She dominated those trials and I watch them all the time :)

I was so so so super excited for the Sydney Olympics, mainly because of her, but also because I loved the rest of the team as well, seeing them all as I'd been following Elise's competitions. Unfortunately, Sydney was not a good experience for any of the team. They suffered 2 injuries before qualifiers even began (Jamie Dantzscher and Morgan White) and in qualifiers Elise's shoulder popped out of it's socket during her floor routine. She was able to continue, but the US made it to the team final barely, grabbing the last spot. The team final led to more heartbreak. The US had a much better showing than in qualifiers, but missed out on a bronze medal.

Elise made it to the All-Around, but the All-Around for her was disastrous. Many of the gymnasts had huge falls on vault (many were scary), and Elise was one of them. Midway through the competition, they found out the reason was that the vault apparatus itself was set 5 centimeters too low, and the gymnasts were given the option to redo their vaults at the end of the competition. Elise chose to, but the mental damage had already been done; she suffered a fall of the balance beam in the following rotation.There was a really scary crash in her warm up vault (in the video you can tell they're talking about it at the beginning) but I couldn't find a video of it. This is the first of her two vaults in the All-Around, you can tell clearly something isn't right.

After the Sydney games, Elise attended the University of Michigan and competed for them for 5 years. She won the NCAA All-Around title in 2001, beam in 2002, and bars in 2004. She was also 14-time All American. There's an article that was written about her on Michigan's website, about how many bad feelings and regrets she had about gymnastics and the Olympics when she came there and how her coach helped her let go of her regrets and love the sport again. This is a video of her on beam at the 2004 NCAA Regionals.

"Michigan saved me, in many ways, because of everything that it is," Ray said. "I got to live, experience the diversity, just stretch my wings and fly. I didn't realize how much I needed to do that until later. I still had gymnastics in my life, but it was fun again. I loved every minute of it because the pressure was different, and it wasn't anything negative."

Just last year, the Chinese team from the 2000 Sydney Olympics were stripped of their bronze medals because an investigation discovered that one of their team members was not of age to compete in the Olympics that year. The US was finally given some good memories to look back on, being awarded the bronze medals at the VISA Championships of last year. 

"When they put the medal around my neck, along with my teammates, I just started bawling -- straight-up crying," Ray said. "I don't know where that came from, I wasn't expecting that to be the way I handled things. It obviously was not the same as getting the medal in Sydney, during the Olympics, being on that podium, but somehow it ended up being so emotional for me. 

  

I was so happy for her and for all of her teammates, my 2000 Sydney babies :) They have such a special place in my heart, it was because of them that I fell in love with the sport and that I enjoy following it so much today. And to cap off the end to an amazing career, her induction into the US Gymnastics Hall of Fame yesterday. This is a video of her induction speech and it's so beautiful<3

"I went through a lot -- some really big highs, and some horrible lows. The biggest thing I can say is I am a survivor through it all, and honors like being in the Hall of Fame or getting an Olympic medal restore your faith in everything a bit."

Congratulations, Elise, on a wonderfully successful gymnastics career. 

You are an inspiration to me<3

100 Day Challenge - Day 9

I know that I'm a few days behind but oh well, I'm just going to keep going in order.

A picture of the person who has gotten you through the most.

My mommy<3

100 Day Challenge - Day 8

A picture of your most treasured item.

My engagement ring and wedding band<3

100 Day Challenge - Day 7

A picture that makes you laugh.

Apparently, Donaldo didn't know that we were supposed to put the cake in each other's mouths, so he grabs a piece and just pops it in his own mouth .. and I crack up. It was hilarious. We then proceeded to do it the proper way. LOL.

100 Day Challenge - Day 6

A picture of a person you'd love to trade places with for a day.

Shawn Johnson<3

I would love to be Shawn Johnson for a day. I used to be in gymnastics when I was younger and only stuck with it for a few years, but I'd LOVE to go through a day of her workouts, it'd be awesome!

*Random Freakout*

I just got the letter in the mail (2 weeks early, might I add ..)

I WAS ACCEPTED TO CLINICALS FOR THE SPRING 2012 SEMESTER!!!

Any of you who know me know what a HUGE deal this is for me, and I'm ECSTATIC! A friend on Facebook posted a disparaging status about our school on their status, so I figured she'd gotten her letter and it wasn't good, so I went down to my mailbox and saw a PACKET (vs the two envelopes I've gotten in the past) and I could NOT believe it. I was legit SHAKING opening the envelope and 10 minutes after!!! I called my mom first and she didn't answer so I called my dad and he was so happy for me!! I want to like TELL THE WORLD! I've been waiting a year and a half so far and by the time I actually begin (January) it will have been 2 years.

I AM SO EXCITED!

100 Day Challenge - Day 5

A picture of your favorite memory.

My wedding day was hands down the best day of my entire life. The whole day was incredibly magical and I've never had a better day in my life. I loved getting to marry my best friend and also to share the day with all of our wonderful family and friends. We feel so loved and blessed to have all of those people in our lives and you're reminded even more so on a day like that.

100 Day Challenge - Day 4

A picture of yourself and a family member.

Me and my Papa. 

 

He is so inspiring and he's been so strong these past few months through his illness. He is doing a little better and I hope he continues to get even better, I love him so much. I am so lucky to have him as a grandfather<3

100 Day Challenge - Day 3

A picture of the cast from your favorite show.

Everwood<3

If you need an explanation as to why I love this show so much, read my entry lower on this page (5 years, 1 month, and 28 days later).

100 Day Challenge - Day 2

A picture of you and the person you have been closest with the longest.

This is one of my best friends, Melissa. We've been friends for 12 years, wow, I can't even believe that and how much time flies! I met her when I was 15 and she started working at McDonald's after I'd been working there for about a year. One day in the crew room we just began talking, and became friends. Throughout high school she was one of two people that I would tell everything and anything to. She didn't go to my school so we hung out a lot nights and weekends.

My senior year she moved down to Illinois and lived there for awhile. I did go visit her there, and she eventually moved back and we were as close as we were when she left. Over the past 5 years we've gotten together regularly and she helped me so much with my wedding planning, and of course was one of my bridesmaids. We also worked together at 2 other jobs, and now her wedding is coming up this October and I'm a bridesmaid in hers.

I never thought I'd be friends with someone this long and I love the history of our friendship and how it has lasted half of my life. I am so grateful for it and her and I know that we will be friends forever :)

100 Day Photo Challenge - Day 1

A picture of yourself with ten facts.



1. Well, lets start with the obvious. I love the Green Bay Packers (& Brett Favre). I have been a super fan since I was 12 years old. At that time I could recite to you the jersey number of every player on the team. Yes, I'm a nerd.

2. Purple is my favorite color. Anyone who knows me knows it and how happy it makes me. My camera and Nook and phone cases are all purple. Love.

3. My only talent in life is singing, and I adore it. & anything to do with it -- ie Broadway, musicals, Glee, harmonizing voices. Wicked is my favorite musical in the whole world.

4. I am married and my first wedding anniversary is coming up on September 4th, 2011 :)

5. I love school and everything about it. I get ecstatic at the thought of buying my books and going back to school shopping, and I love studying. I go through probably 1,500 flashcards a semester.

6. My favorite time of the year is approaching! I love Fall and everything about it, I've always loved it because September and October (my birthday month) are my favorite months. Back to school, football season, leaves changing and falling and all the colors, the bite and crispness of the air, the days getting shorter. There's just a distinct FEEL of Fall and I love it.

7. I'm a bit of a perfectionist. It is annoying to me sometimes, but that's who I am.

8. I have the Chinese symbols for the word Inspiration tattoed on my right ankle. I was going back and forth over the decision but I'm so glad I decided to get it, I love it.

9. I can't stand people who think they're better than everyone else (& actually tell everyone so) when in reality they are not.

10. I am blessed with the best husband, family, friends, and inspirations in life and I thank God so much for them<3

100 Day Photo Challenge

I've been searching photo challenges on Google trying to find an interesting one to do, and I ended up finding a 100 day one on Livejournal that I want to do, so I plan to start it on Monday :) I'm excited, I did the 30 day challenge on my Facebook awhile ago and it was really fun and this one is so much longer!!

5 years, 1 month, and 28 days later.

Today the final season of my most favorite and beloved show is finally released. To it's dedicated and loyal fans like me, the wait (5 years, 1 month, and 28 days) for the 2nd, 3rd, and 4th seasons on DVD has been frustrating and uncertain, but I also believe it was well worth it. I would've waited 5 more years, gladly, if that's how long it took. 

Everwood aired on the WB (now the CW) from 2002-2006. I actually didn't begin watching it until mid-way through season 2, but I got hooked. Season 1 came out on DVD in the fall of 2003 and I went out to go buy it. In 2006, there was speculation about it being cancelled due to the merging of the WB and UPN 24 to form the new CW. Needless to say, despite a huge campaign by all of it's fans that members of the cast themselves actually attended, it was cancelled in 2006, at the end of it's fourth season. I've never cared so much for a television show before and I cried for hours. I was driving home from work and my ex-boyfriend called me and told me and it happened to be a Monday, the night the show was on and I cried all through the show that night.

After the cancellation, I awaited the release of the 2nd-4th seasons on DVD. I was a member of an Everwood forum back then, and we'd all talk about when they were going to come out. At some point Warner Bros. made it clear that they did not intend to release any of the remaining seasons, and we were seriously crushed. However, the persistence of the fans must have paid off because season 2 was released June 16th, 2009. I was SO EXCITED, not just because of the release of that season, but also because it gave me hope that the others would follow. Season 3 was then released a year later, on June 15th, 2010, and season 4 was supposed to follow suit and be released June 14th, 2011, but was moved to August 2nd because they are adding in the alternate ending that was filmed as a possible season finale if the show continued on. I am SO stoked to see it! As I am writing this post, I just got a text from amazon saying it shipped!

Everwood is incredible. It had an amazing cast, I honestly can say I love every single person in it. The storylines were interesting and believable. There is humor in it but it can also make you cry. It's my favorite show in the whole world and always will be, and I recommend it to everyone, especially now that you can go buy the DVDs yourself. If you do though, it's better to get them through amazon, because they're usually only in certain stores. So glad that the wait is finally over :)