Obsession On A Whole New Level ...

So I know that this is now my personal blog, and I have my separate gymnastics blog, but I just wanted to blog about this so I can remember this crazy day by the next Olympics. WAG Qualifications were yesterday .. Sunday, July 29th, and I was determined to see each and every Subdivision (there were 5) show both on Live streaming as well as on NBC coverage on TV.

So I got up around 10am Saturday. I watched the MAG Qualifications via Live Extra and freaked out with people on Twitter and got ready for work. I planned to work until around 9, then come home and go to bed right away, since the first Subdivision (3 Mixed Groups and Brazil) started live at 3:30am. Well, as it turned out I was too excited to sleep. I decided to watch every meet of 2012 leading up to Trials (since there are no vids of Trials online) starting with American Cup and ending with Visas. Around midnight I started getting really tired so I decided to nap for 3 hours. I got up at 3 to make sure everything with Live Extra was working right. The first Subdivision was exciting for me because I love seeing the athletes who compete for the countries who don't have teams (Visiliki Millousi, Ana Sophia Gomez, Dorina Boczogo, etc) but can still get into the AA or EFs. Also with the 3 Mixed Groups was team Brazil. There was only about 20 minutes between Sub 1 and 2, so I didn't nap. Sub 2 was 2 more Mixed Groups along with teams Italy and Austrailia. I love Lauren Mitchell and Vanessa Ferrari and I forgot to mention -- Brazil's leos were GORGEOUS and I loved Italy's too! Between Sub 2 and 3 (USA's sub) there was a good 2 hours so I was able to nap. Obviously the USA's night ended with a huge shock .. I planned on napping between Sub 3 & 4 but it was just impossible, I was on Twitter and it was like exploding!! Sub 4 was Russia, China, Germany, and another Mixed Group. Obviously USA and my girls from the team are my #1 favorites but I love Aliya Mustafina of Russia .. I've loved her since 2010 Worlds .. she is such a little diva and she was so adorable on camera Sunday oh my goshh. Komova is starting to grow on me however, I don't like the remarks she's made towards the US. There was another 2 hours between Sub 4 and 5 but at that point I wasn't really tired anymore. Sub 5 I paid least attention to. It was Romania and Japan and two Mixed Groups. I watched the Romanians routine feed, because I do like Ponor and Iorchade. At this point I was scrambling around Twitter and the net like crazy trying to figure out what scores would bump Americans out of EFs and freaking out. LOL.

Sub 5 ended around 4:30 and between that and the 6:00 start coverage of Prime Time I started working on the blog post for my gym blog, and tweeted. I was seriously so irritated that it didn't start until 8:00 .. I don't watch swimming, diving, or really any other Olympic sport and don't follow any of the athletes so I don't really pay attention to that. Around 7:00 I started FB chatting with one of my friends from Twitter who hadn't watched live that morning and I was just like BURSTING trying to keep in what happened. After the women's coverage ended around 10:00pm we kept chatting until around 12-12:30, and at that point Qualifications was re-aired again and we were up til 3am watching it .. her for the 2nd time, me for the 3rd time. By the time I went to bed I'd been up for 41 hours with 5 hours of naps.

It was seriously the most fun experience and I loved it. Gymnastics is one of my passions and I love sharing it with people. At different points during the day my mom, sister, sister's boyfriend, best friend, best friend's sister, and my other friend from work texted me asking me questions they had about different things, the girls, scoring, etc. I missed the Men's TF live today because I was sleeping but I can't wait to watch tonight and also for the remaining Women's events this week. I'm sure this is an Olympic tradition that I will continue for many years to come :)

100 Question Survey .. Part 1 of 4.

I'm so bored waiting up for WAG Qualifications so I found a 100 Question Survey. This is the first part, I didn't feel like doing it all that once -- I'm not THAT bored.

1. Are you young at heart, or an old soul?

I feel like I'm kind of both. I look younger than I am and feel younger than I am, yet I've always kind of gravitated towards older people as far as friends go (at least in the last 5 years or so). One of my best friends, Beth, is my mom's age. My closest friends from work are in their 40's. I was also the youngest student in my nursing clinical group last semester and my best friend from school is in her 40's. 

2. What makes someone a best friend?

Always being there no matter what and giving back as much as they take in the relationship. Don't let one person do all the giving. Be a good listener and have empathy and compassion.

3. What Christmas (or Hanukkah) present do you remember the most?

Oh gosh this is hard!! I am going to list a few. When I was 8 we got a puppy, when I was 12 I remember legit EVERY gift I got was Green Bay Packers related,  when I was 17 my mom replaced my class ring that I had lost but couldn't afford to purchase again.

4. Tell me about a movie/song/tv show/play/book that has changed your life. Movie: The Sound of Music is the number one reason that I sing. Song: a number of Christian tunes I listen to. TV Show: Everwood. Play: Wicked. Book: Off Balance by Dominique Moceanu.

5. Name one physical feature that you like about yourself, and one you dislike. I like my smile and I dislike my always pink cheeks. LOL.

6. Would you like to reconnect with any friends you’ve lost contact with?

Not really, they're not in my life for a reason.

7. What’s more important in a relationship: physical attraction or emotional connection? Emotional connection.

8. Name a movie that you knew would be terrible just from reading the title. The Birds.

9. What holiday do you most look forward to?

Thanksgiving because I am so grateful for everything in my life.

10. How is the relationship between you and your parents?

Amazing, I love my parents more than anyone in the world along with God and my husband.

11. You’ve got the TV on, but you’re not really watching. What channel is the TV on? A TV show dvd is on, most likely Everwood or The OC.

12. Name a song that never fails to make you happy.

Christian music. It is so uplifting and a reminder of what really matters in life.

13. You know at least one person named Michael. Tell me about him.

I do. I have an Uncle Mike, and he's my favorite uncle.

14. Have you ever read the “missed connections” on Craigslist? Have you ever posted one, or wanted to? No, don't even know what that is.

15. If you could pick anywhere to live the rest of your life, where would it be? If my family was there, San Diego, CA.

16. Can money buy happiness?

It can for some people.

17. Do you drink? Smoke? Do drugs? Nope. 

18. Is there anyone close to you that you know you can’t trust? You don’t have to give names. No, because if I couldn't trust them I wouldn't be close with them.

19. Where was your favorite place to go when you were a little kid? Over to my Nana & Papa's for dinner every Sunday night with our entire family.

20. Have you ever spent a night in the hospital? Yes, but for someone else. I wasn't the one in the hospital.

21. Do you enjoy being with only one or two friends, or with a large group of people? One or two friends.

22. Do you like the type of music your parents listen to? Do your parents like the type of music you listen to? No on both counts.

23. Have you ever been bullied? Have you ever bullied anyone else? Not really to both.

24. If you could only eat one thing for the rest of your life, what would it be? Pasta.

25. If your partner wanted to wait until marriage before having sex, would you stay in that relationship? Yes.

All About Me

1. How long have you been blogging? And what got you started on blogging? Has your blog changed? 

I started this blog in July of last year. I had a LiveJournal already but I liked the layout of these blogs better, and it seemed easier to upload pictures as well. This blog hasn't changed much, but my friend Caitlin did make me a beautiful layout and I just recently started a second blog devoted to my number one obsession -- gymnastics :) http://forevergymnasticslove.blogspot.com

2. Did you go to college? If so where, and what did you study? 

I have been to 2 different colleges. I attended a WI university right out of high school, where I majored in Education. After taking 4 years off I decided what I really was interested in was health care, and I now attend GTC and am majoring in Nursing.

3. Where have you traveled? 

I have been many places in the United States. I would say I've probably been to/visited around 25 states. As for out of the country, I've been to Niagara Falls in Canada and also to Cozumel, Mexico.

4. If you won the lottery, what would be the first thing you would buy? 

Definitely a house. And most likely a new car.

5. What are your 3 biggest pet peeves? 

1. Incorrect grammar and spelling.

2. 85% of the people I work with. All of them.

3. Spoiled and conceited people. It's a tie, I can't decide which I hate more.

6. What is your favorite movie?

I have a lot of favorites but my favorite movie of all time is The Sound of Music.

7. What is your drink of choice; wine, beer, or liquor. Or Water, Soda, Tea?

Out of wine, beer, or liquor probably wine. I drink beer but I prefer wine. Out of water, soda, and tea I choose tea because I'm an iced tea fiend. 

8. What is something you enjoy to do when you have me time?

Read, relax, watch a chick flick, social network it up, sleep.

9. If you could have a $10,000 shopping spree to one store, which store would it be?

Target. Hands down.

10. Share with us an embarrassing moment of your past? Or present.

Hmmm .. umm, one is not coming to mind right away. I do and say dorky things on a daily basis, so I'd just count those. I just laugh them off anyway.

11. What day would you love to relive again?

My wedding day :)

12. If your life was turned into a movie... what actor would play you?

Ayla Kell :) 

13. What are the jobs you had in high school/college/the early years?

McDonalds from age 15-19 (which honestly wasn't as bad as you'd think).

Hallmark from age 19-20 and Quiznos age 19-20.

Olive Garden age 20-28 .. yikes :/ Less than 9 months to go! Hopefully less!!

14. Show us a picture from high school or college.

I don't have very many pictures of me alone but anyway, this was one of my husband's and my engagement pictures, I was in college at the time though.

15. If you could travel anywhere in the world, all expenses paid, where would you go?

Probably Europe -- Austria, Switzerland, France, Germany and all the countries in that area.

16. Show us the most current picture of you or you, or your family, or anything of meaning to you.

My mom, brother, sister and me.

My dad, sister, brother, and my stepmom.

17. Where do you see your life 5 years from now?

Graduated and working as an RN and close to going back to get my doctorate and become and NP. Hopefully living in our first home as homeowners with two children. :)

July Happenings

I suppose it is about time I do an entry that is not related to gymnastics. This is my personal blog, after all. I will be starting a gymnastics blog soon! I'm very excited, I have so many ideas for posts but have neglected to post them here since this is supposed to be a personal blog.

Okay, so July has been flying by. I sprained my ankle walking out of work on July 1st. I ended up getting X-rays, wanting to make sure I didn't have any hairline fractures, but everything was fine. It is JUST finally beginning to get back to 100% this week.

My brother was home from Phoenix June 29-July 8 so I spent a LOT of time with my family. We went out to dinner a few times, did all of the July 4th activities, and went on a Brewery Tour in Milwaukee. It was a super fun week, and again it flew by.

My family (and brother's friend) at the Brewery Tour.

Me, my sister, and my daddy.

UGH. I look so bad in this my ankle was in so much pain.

Yesterday, Donaldo and I made a surprise dinner for my mom. Donaldo made guacamole, chicken and steak on the grill, and I made rice, chex mix, and caramel swirl brownies :) She was very surprised and we had a nice movie night. Tonight I went to dinner with my friend Melissa, whom I haven't seen since her wedding last October. She moved to Milwaukee recently so it's a lot harder to plan get togethers. We had a lot of fun though. Tomorrow I'm going to get my nails done with Beth, and we're going to hang out at her place for awhile then time with Donaldo at night .. then Thursday, Friday, & Sunday work. Saturday is Donaldo's cousins Quincenera .. its a huge party kinda like a wedding with no groom haha so hopefully that will be fun! Have a good weekend everyone! 9 days til Qualifications ahhh.

All Around the World

I am getting so incredibly impatient waiting for the Olympics to begin!! Since I'm bored, I decided to do a blog about other gymnasts from around the world that will be involved in London. Obviously Team USA are all my absolute favorites and I want them to win all the gold medals and as many medals as possible, but whatever they don't win, these gymnasts would be the ones I would want to win them.

Aliya Mustafina -- Russia

Aliya is probably my favorite non-USA gymnast right now. She is seriously such a diva, but that is her personality and I love it! I also love how she always seems to wear purple leos. Aliya was the 2010 World Champion in the All Around, and was poised to win many more titles, however, in 2011 she tore her ACL and MCL on her Amanar vault landing. She is fully back from the injury. I haven't seen any videos of her this year, but I've heard that her first meets back have been shaky. I am really hoping that at the Olympics she does well, I definitely think that she is a contender for the UB title, her bars routine is crazy good. 

VIktoria Komova -- Russia

Viktoria Komova was the 2011 World AA silver medalist. I was so happy that Jordyn won, but I felt so badly for Viktoria because it came down to the LAST routine, and she really seemed to have thought that she did enough to win it. She is the World Champion on the UB, and I also love her bars set.

He Kexin & Deng Linlin -- China

I included the Chinese only because they will most likely be in the running for a medal. I will never like anyone on the Chinese team because they cheat. I don't care that they were "CLEARED" by the FIG. It's crap. These two pictures were taken at the Beijing Olympics in 2008, in which these girls were supposedly 16 years old. THERE IS NO WAY .. they should be disqualified and the Americans should get the gold medal. It already happened once in 2000, and the Chinese were stripped of their bronzes and the American team was awarded them .. 10 years later. So, at this year's Olympics these two (the only veterans on the team) are supposed to be 20 years old. Yeah, right. I don't understand how this kind of blatant cheating is allowed. 

Victoria Moors -- Canada 

My favorite Canadian gymnast, Peng Peng Lee, was injured and had to pull out of the competitions leading up to the Trials. However, I also like Victoria Moors. Canadian gymnasts usually don't make many event finals, but I wish her the best of luck.

Lauren Mitchell -- Australia

I love watching Lauren although, again, as a team Australia usually does not do very well. She is amazing on FX and she won the World Champion title on Floor in 2010. She's also amazing on BB.

Beth Tweddle -- Great Britain

Beth is a veteran who is amazing on UB. She came in 4th place in the event finals in Beijing, but has been World Champion on bars in both 2006 and 2010. She is also great on Floor. The team from Great Britain is rumored to be very strong going into this Olympic games. I also like Hannah Whelan and Imogen Cairns, both veterans as well.

Larisa Andreea Iorchade -- Romania 

Iorchade is a first year senior and I'm really excited to see how she does in her first Olympics. She placed 3rd at the American Cup this year, and was FX Champion at the European Championships. Sandra Izbasa and Catalina Ponor are the veterans for Romania and they will be interesting to watch as well.

"Dreams do come true ..."

I titled this post quoting McKayla Maroney, one of the five girls named to the US Women's Gymnastics team headed to London, on Sunday night in San Jose, California.

This year, a rule was made to go back to the team announcement the way it was prior to 2004. In the years before that, the team was named immediately after Trials were over. I remember in 2000 watching Trials, it took the Selection Committee about 20-25 minutes to decide the team and I was completely dying. Last night it did not take that long and finally they made the announcement ... 

ALL OF MY GIRLS MADE IT<3

Okay, now that I'm done freaking out ... The Trials were held Friday night and Sunday night in San Jose, CA. There were many amazing moments of Trials, and a few shaky ones. In an upset, Gabby Douglas edged out Jordyn Wieber for the All Around. I have to say though, the team I thought that would be named was, and so there weren't very many surprises. I am so happy for my girls, but also heartbroken for my girls who didn't make it, most of whom I've been watching for over 8 years.

The 2012 US Women's Olympic Team

Jordyn Wieber -- Twistars

2012- American Cup Champion

2012- Finalist for the 2011 James E. Sullivan Award

2012- Pacific Rim Championships AA, Team, FX Champion

2012- Secret US Classic Beam gold

2012- US National AA Champion

2011- American Cup Champion

2011- City of Jesolo V, AA, BB silver

2011- CoverGirl US Classic BB and UB gold

2011- US National AA, UB, and FX Champion

2011- World AA Champion and Team gold.

2010 Pacific Rim Championships Team gold & Junior AA, FX, and UB gold

2010 CoverGirl US Classic AA Champion

2009 American Cup Champion

I believe that Jordyn is America's greatest hope for an All Around gold medal. She is great on all 4 events, and has even recently upgraded her dismount on her "weakest" event, the Uneven Bars, to a full twisting double layout. The only opportunity I think she has to improve is on balance beam in really nailing her connections. I believe that they will use her for all 4 events in the team final, the very nerve racking "3 up, 3 count" format.

Aly Raisman -- Breystan's 

2012- American Cup AA silver

2012- City of Jesolo AA and FX silver, UB bronze

2012- US Nationals Championships bronze

2012- US Secret Classic AA Champion

2011- American Cup AA bronze

2011- City of Jesolo Team, FX, BB Champion and AA bronze

2011- CoverGirl US Classic AA, FX Champion and BB bronze

2011- US National Championships AA, FX bronze

2011- World Championships: Team gold, FX bronze

2010- American Cup AA, FX, BB silver and Vault gold

2010- City of Jesolo Team, AA, Vault, FX gold, BB bronze

2010- Pacific Rim Championships Team gold,  and BB, FX silver

2010- US National Championships AA, BB, FX bronze

2010- World Championships Team silver

2009- US Junior National Championships AA bronze, BB silver

2009- Pan American Games Team, V, FX gold and AA bronze

Aly brings calmness and focus to team USA. Anytime that you see her in competition she has on this stone faced look of complete and utter focus and determination and concentration. She rarely shows many facial expressions, but that is part of the amazing part of her calmness. I think that she should be the captain of this team, she has the most experience both in the US as well as internationally and I think she would be the best leader for these girls.

Gabby Douglas -- Chow's 

2012- Pacific Rim Championships Team, UB gold

2012- US National Championship UB gold, AA silver, FX bronze

2011- City of Jesolo Team gold, FX silver, BB bronze

2011- World Championships Team gold

2010- CoverGirl US Classic Junior Division BB bronze

2010- US Junior National Championships BB silver

2010- Pan American Games Team, UB gold

Wow, just making this entry reminded me that Gabby just began competing in Elite meets in 2010. She moved to Iowa from Virginia Beach specifically to train with Liang Chow, Shawn Johnson's coach. Its amazing that she has so much less experience than all of these other girls yet here she is on the same team they are and a legit threat for an AA gold medal in London! How amazingly exciting for her. 

Kyla Ross -- Gym-Max 

2012- Pacific Rim Championships Team, BB gold, UB silver, and FX bronze

2012- City of Jesolo AA, BB, UB gold and V bronze

2012- US Secret Classic AA, BB silver

2012- US National Championships UB silver

2011- City of Jesolo AA, BB gold and UB, V silver

2011- US CoverGirl Classic Junior Division AA, UB gold, V silver, and FX broze

2011- US Junior National Championships AA, BB, UB silver and V bronze

2010- Pacific Rim Championships AA, FX, UB silver, V gold

2010- US Junior National Championships AA, BB gold, and FX, V bronze

2009- American Classic Junior Division- BB gold, AA silver, and V, FX bronze

2009- US Classic Junior Division AA, V gold

2009- US Junior National Championships AA, BB, V gold, FX bronze

I have to say that Kyla is my favorite of the 5 girls. I love them all but she is just so special to me. All 4 of the other girls on the team are more "power gymnasts" where she is more of an "artistic gymnast" -- she has beautiful lines and her best events are Uneven Bars and Balance Beam. I think what impresses me most about her is that obviously, you can see she has a lot of experience behind her, however, she's a first year senior and has really only had a few major meets as a senior. That doesn't rattle her focus at all, she said in an interview that it feels no different to her competing as a senior. She won't challenge for the All Around in London but I am hoping and pretty sure that she will be used on both UB and BB and I hope that she can make event finals in those events! And this is irrelevant but her birthday is the day before mine :D<3

McKayla Maroney -- All Olympia

2012- City of Jesolo Team, V gold

2012- US Secret Classic V gold

2011- City of Jesolo Team, AA gold

2011- US National Championships V gold, AA silver

2011- World Championships Team, V gold

2010- US CoverGirl Classic Junior Division V silver

2010- Pan American Games Team, V, FX gold

2010- US Junior National Championships AA bronze, V gold

2009- US Junior National Championships V bronze

McKayla was the one "specialist" that was chosen for this team. Most likely they will only use her for vaulting, but she is World Champion on vault, one of the ONLY gymnasts in the world able to score above a 16, which is just incredibly huge. Not only does she do the Amanar better than anyone in the world, she has also upgraded her second vault to a Mustafina, and it is honestly just extraordinary to watch her vault. If she doesn't get injured and competes to the best of her ability, the Olympic Vault gold for her should be almost a given. There's simply no one in the world who is close to her in terms of her D scores. 

The Alternates/Replacement Athletes

Anna Li -- Legacy Elite

I'm really really happy that Anna gets to go to London, even as just a replacement athlete. I am so proud of her for continuing to try for the Olympics at her age, and her bars routine is amazing, I believe the best on the entire team. I'm glad that she gets to end her Elite career this way. It is definitely not a failure by any means and I'm sure she is stoked to be going.

Sarah Finnegan -- Gage

OH MY GOSH. This girl. She is seriously adorable and not only that, she's an amazing gymnast!!! I'm so glad she was chosen for an alternate, but I really hope that she is going to keep going for the 2016 games because she is just getting started!!! I love everything about her gymnastics and if she didn't have a chance for '16 I would've been pushing for her to make the team this year as well. I saw a video of her after and she is just TOO MUCH. I'm honestly in my mind already thinking '13 Worlds haha.

Elizabeth Price -- Parkettes

Okay, so I know A LOT about gymnastics, obviously. However, not gonna lie .. no IDEA where this girl came from! Never seen her/heard her name before and all of a sudden she's like in 3rd at one point during Trials. I feel really really bad for her though because she performed really really well at Trials but unfortunately its not just Trials that counts it's also everything up to it .. I enjoyed watching her though and I hope she has a successful collegiate career, I think thats what she said she was going to do after London.

Unfortunately, no one from Beijing in 2008 was able to make it to London. Chellsie Memmel's petition to Trials was denied, Shawn Johnson retired in June before Nationals, Bridget Sloan injured her shoulder before Day 2 of Trials, and another girl in the mix following Beijing, Becca Bross, has been plagued with untimely injuries for the past two years. However, the 2 women who completed Trials and whose careers ended Sunday night finished the most classy way any Olympian would.

Nastia Liukin -- Not enough time.

At the 2012 US Secret Classic, everything looked wonderful for Nastia as she delivered a solid beam routine for the first time in 4 years. Unfortunately, in the next two meets nothing went well for her. Sunday night was about proving to herself that she could get through her bar routine, not about proving anything to anyone else. Sadly, she missed her Gienger and landed face first on the mat. I honestly wanted to cry for her. I feel like she did her comeback the right way and gave it all of her heart, however, I just think it came down to her simply not having enough time. She only announced her comeback last October after being out of gymnastics for 3 years. Had she began even a year earlier, things could be different. What I'm most proud of her for is pulling herself up off that mat and actually getting up and finishing the routine. That is a true champion. I'm glad that she got a standing ovation after that, because she truly deserved it.

 Alicia Sacramone -- No regrets. YOU DID IT.

Alicia has always been one of my favorite gymnasts. My heart broke for her when she didn't make the Athens team in '04 and I was so psyched for her to go to the '08 Beijing games. I honestly cried for her during all her mishaps in the Team final. I never thought she'd comeback to gymnastics, and she proved me wrong. Her comeback WAS successful, even though she didn't make London. She was finally crowned Vault World Champion in 2010 and helped the team win the silver medal at those same championships. The following year she was the leader of the 2011 team headed to the World Championships in Tokyo. In training floor, she tore her Achilles and was pulled from competition and had to have surgery. An Achilles tendon is a potentially CAREER ENDING injury for a gymnast not to mention a gymnast of her age. She was awarded a team gold medal from Tokyo, making her the most decorated World Championship gymnast in American history. And yet, she kept going, training for London. I am so so so proud of her and she is honestly a role model and an inspiration to me as well as many others to keep going no matter what. I can't wait to see what post-gymnastics brings for her.

My lineups for Team Final : 3 up 3 count

Vault

McKayla

Jordyn

Gabby

Bars

Gabby

Kyla

Jordyn

Beam

Jordyn

Aly

Kyla

Floor

Aly

Jordyn

Gabby or McKayla

Congratulations to my girls. :)