Great May Long

Well I am back now again from GP/Fort St John. The weekend was really nice. I drove down to Calgary Thursday afternoon. When I got there I visited some of my dad's side of the family. I haven't seen them since I was 14 so it was a good visit and a lot of catching up to do. The next morning (really early) I dropped my car off at my Unlces and I was driven to the airport and I caught my plane at around 9 am. I flew to Edmonton where I waited for 3 hours! I found a nice quiet spot where I watch Live and The View. Both shows were very good. I finally caught the final ride to GP to be greeted by Frank and Julia. Awesome welcome home. I then spent supper with Mama and then I was whisked away by Frank and a crowd of my friends to Fort St John where we spent the next 3 days hanging out and experiencing the South African culture. Wow did we eat a lot! I mean wow! The friday night we got there we BBQed and then went to bed. The next morning we had breakfast then we went out on the Lake in Kayaks and Canoes and Jerico and Marc tooka rubber dingy out with the cooler. But the dingy had so many leaks that it was patched up with duct tape everywhere so when they got out to the middle of the lake they had to go back before they sank. They then returned to us in a canoe and we just drifted out there and drank and suntanned until the sun went away and we went in. We then went to have a fire and we got rained out so we went in our tent trailor and waited it out...we then attempted it again but it didn't work so we went in to watch TV. Then supper began to start and this was going to be our first South African supper. Oh and we made a town run for Taco Bell too...funny stuff. Anyways we all went to the fire (it stopped raining) and we sat around and BSed and drank and just talkd for the longest time. Then this wonderful supper was served and then we were all tired and we went in to bed. The next morning we got up and made another great breakfast and then we went to go sailing in their boat. We set up the boat and then Julia, Katie, Marcia, and Marc had to leave. So it was just Jerico, Frank and myself for the afternoon. We had another great South African supper with even greater food than the night before (if thats possible) and then we watched Star Wars episode 1. Pretty good movie. Then we went to bed. The next morning the boy went golfing super early and I stayed in bed. Then they came back and we had a champagne breakfast which was amazing! We then went and almost finished Star War episode 2 but then they had another tee time at 2:30. My first time ever doing a round of golf. We only did 9 holes but I think it's n ot the game for me. Not much happens and you need a lot of patience. Plus the whole Aunt Norah golfing stigma didn't happen so its was okay. We then went back packed up and left for home finally. When I got home Mama was there and we chatted for a bit but then one of my really goof friends showed up and I was so glad to see him. Let's just say I'm so proud of him and he is doing great! Then I went home and spoke to my old coach Janusz ans set up a training camp kinda thing with him...I am staying there with him in vancouver for a month! right after Mel Zajac until Club Nats. I'm really excited. I find I can't stay still for very long lately so I need to keep moving and doing things. Okay well then Mommy and I went for a run togther this morning and now I'm home. I need to swim and workout and apply other places tomorrow....quite excited! Training...hard training starts now! What fun this will be.

Almost 10 days Later

Wow okay so much for me keeping updates over the week. It turns out the super fancy hotel we were staying in didn't have wireless so I pirated some signal all week. Plus I had to leave my computer in Taylor and Cori's room because I couldn't get a signal from my room. They took advantage and just used it for porn. By's will be boys. I really enjoyed the week with them. There was John Lapins, Kevin Gilesspie (sp?), Cori Harper, and Taylor Graeme. They were all really funny. When we got our rental van we found a DVD of the Ninja Turltles in French )hence we were in Montreal) and we watched it while we drove to the hotel. That was my first sign that they were going to be fun. I stayed with a girl from UCSC and she was only 16. Pretty young but still nice. She was jealous about the boys though. Anyways, the meet was okay. I didn't swim the greatest...I miss my walls. Plus this was my second long course meet ever! I got reminded of that when Brad asked me. I couldn't believe it....my first was Olympic Trials in 2000! So I didn't fret too much. I made second swims in my 100 and 50 breast. I was pretty happy with them. I got to see all the amazing hot guys that swim for our country! Wow are they amazing! I mean...WOW! I didn't know you could be so hot! So anyways the week went by pretty fast. I got my long course swimming in as much as possible. I loved the pool and I can't wait for Mel Zajak. Anyways, Team Alberta dinner on saturday night...quite nice. I didn't go to the after party because I had none of my girls there and I didn't want to be part of the "picking up hoochies" that night. So Brad and I cruised St. Cathrine and St. Laurent and wow were the crazies out!! I mean wow that city can party. That night was quite eventful for phone calls. Before I left Julia and Frank phoned me to congradulate me, then I got a phone call from Taylor when the came home drunk...funny as hell, and then my friend Evan phoned me drunk from GP to speak to me and my boobs. I've saved the email and will forever. I missed the phone and so he left me a huge messege. I love it and it made my day. I also got a ,ot of emails and text messeges and phone calls throughout the week from my family and friends, whcih I loved and they helped me stay focused. So Sunday we all went down to the place where they are holding the World Championships, we broke into the new deck area of the pools. We got kicked out by a french rent-a-cop. He was pretty upset, but we have been the only ones who got on the deck. It was really nice and huge. Anyways we then went to Old Montreal where we walked around for a bit. We then borke off from the rest of the group and Richard and I went exploring somemore and then met up with his aunt who took us for breakfast. Oh so good. I had crepes...withchocolate and coacoa powder. Yummy. Then she took us down to St.Cathrines and dropped us off where we shopped for a while. Well Dick shopped I just walked with him. We then ate supper and went back to the hotel. I had such a great time. I think that city is huge, but still very nice. The whole experience made me want to learn some french. I learned minimal french and can sorta understand it sometimes. Well I am off to bed. I have to swim in the am...super am. Okay night y'all.

World Trials Tomorrow

Okay so I arrived here in Montreal yesterday. I met up with the guys at the airport. We then went back to the hotel and unpacked then went to supper. Wow ordering has never been so hard for me. I needed help on everything. Luckily Cori and I are the only ones who don't speak or understand french so we had lots of help. I went back and met my roomate. I'm rooming with a girl from UCSC.

The next morning we were off for practice and wow the pool is nice. When I walked in I was so shocked. There was Rick Say, Mike Mintenko, and so many faces that I recognized that I was a little thrown. I didn't feel the greatest in the pool but it was my first swim there so I didn't think much of it. We then got changed and went for lunch at some huge Mall. I want to go there on sunday for some shopping or some day if I don't make finals.

I the went shopping with Mr. and Mrs. Lapins while the boys went back to the hotel. We got a little lost but eventually made it. We got back and I got a phone call from Cori and Taylor...and I'll tell only a select few what happened then, but you'll have to ask me.
We then headed out to the pool again for our second workout. This time the pool was getting set up for tomorrow and the big screens were up and they were putting up the surrounding boards. The hype has begun! This meet is going to be huge! I got videotaped while I was swimming to be put up on the big screen. I know the guy and he made me wave. They make a collage of clips and then put music to it during warm-ups. They did it at Trials too....I remember that very clearly and I always wanted to be up there. Tomorrow I am. Oh and we had a special gues drop by the pool...Michael Phelps. I saw him and I didn't think it was him but I knew I recognized him. From what we can guess he's here to check out Montreal for the actual World Trials. We are hoping he might swim an event...just for show.

I am now sitting in the boys room. They are shaving down...and let me tell you ladies...you would be jelous. I just don't count I guess because they freely walk around 95% naked. I guess I just see them like that too much for them to be censored around me. Lol. Anways I'll write a daily progress report so you guys can keep track of whats going on. Plus you can keep track of me on the swim canada website too...results will be posted there. Okay I'm out!

Off To Montreal

Okay everyone this is going to be a short one for the fact that I have to get to bed. I am taking off to Montreal tomorrow. I am driving to Calgary and then flying there and will arrive around noon. I am taking my laptop so hopefully I can pick up a wireless internet connection there so I can add to my blog everyday about what I am up to and how I am doing. Wow...World Chamionship Trial...sounds weird to me...but I can handle this. I think I would feel better with people from my team there with me. But all you guys, friends and family, have been so supportive of me I am so lucky. Thank you so much. I will talk to you guys through here or phone the select few sometime this week! See ya later!

Okay well it has been awhile since I've written an entry. I have gone to GP and come back already. When I got there I went out with jaclyn for her birthday. I tricked her and told her I hadn't made it home...but then I showed up at her house. I had a great time and got to see a lot of my old friends. I spent some time with my family too. My Dad is visiting my mom so I was happy to see him. I went out again with Jac on saturday too...but first went to a movie, then drinks. I wanted to go dancing so we scooted over there and did some dancing where I saw even more friends and they made my night. On sunday I went swimming with Mom at noon, then after I went home for a nap where I then was invited to a BBQ at Franks. He went to EKI for the weekend so he was back and I wanted to go over to watch the new TV. I got to see Frank and Julia and I left early because I was tired. I swam monday morning with GPP and it was nice. I miss training with Frank and having Kris coach me. After practice I had a coffee date with Julia so I quickly went home and packed up my car. We went to Starbucks and she paid...such a nice friend...plus I am amazingly broke. I owe her big time. After coffee, I went to go say goodbye to Mom..but of course I got held up. We went over some swimming stuff that is really important. Anyways, we then went to Costco because Mom is the greatest and she wanted to buy some food for Sarah and I. I love her oh so much. I owe her my life! After we ran some more errands. I finally made it out of town to Edmonton. I hung out with my sis and we had a light supper. We watched TV, which I don't do very well anymore. In the morning we went for coffee and had an amazing heart-to-heart. I started out for my last stretch and I was really tired and I stocked up on an X-large coffee...but then I saw this guy hitch-hiking and he looked very friendly so I pulled over. He was SO nice. He did an amazing job of keeping me awake too. His name is Adam and he's from Nova Scotia. He started out in Nova Scotia last Thursday. He got so lucky with rides and he made it way ahead of schedule. I dropped him off in Calgary and made it to Lethbridge right in time for 3%2