30 Day Challenge - Day 20

Day 20 - A picture of somewhere you'd love to travel

Atlantis!

This is my absolute dream vacation. I've wanted to go here since the Mary-Kate and Ashley movie 'Holiday in the Sun.' I better go here on my honeymoon or else I'm not marrying my husband. :P Just kidding. No, really though....

Britain after Beth

I've been watching a lot of sport this week- The UK athletics world trials, The swimming world Champs, The Covegirl Classic. If one thing is clear - athletes in all disciplines are focusing their sights firmly on London, with 1 year to the opening ceremonies the starting gun has been fired.

GB's top gymnast Beth Tweddle has re-iterated in recent interviews that she wants to peak and wrap up her successful career at the games. The question is where will her departure leave British gymnastics after the games. 'Queen Elizabeth' at Rewriting Russian Gymnastics made a great comment in her latest post on the Russian team.


A gymnastics team is only as good as its reserves; if a team cannot win without its leading performer, then the chance of leading the sport more than momentarily is pretty poor.

The same stands for the GB team. Their stocks have been rising in the last olympic cycle, largely due to Beth's medal success and leadership. The difficulty will be maintaining this overall success and delivering new stars on the way to Rio 2016.

Hopefully some of the current crop of gymnasts (such as Hannah Whelan) will stick around and lead the younger gymnasts on for a few years. GB has the coaching expertise to develop new talent (albeit focussed in a few main gyms) and plenty of youngsters who could add more difficulty over the next few years.

GB is a long way off contending with the big guns (China, USA, Russia) at the moment but below that are a lot of nations whose positions can shift based on who has an 'off-day'. With enough strong all-around gymnasts and some special talents on individual apparatus, a Beth-less team could still continue to contend.

Where the US keep talking about bars as their 'weak' event. GB's scores could rocket if we could get a crop of strong vaulters capable of something bigger than a full-twisting yurchenko!

We're not there yet, but I think we will be soon...

Team 2012-2016

back row L-R - Lizzie Beddoe, Ruby Harrold, Jess Hogg, Billie Mackenzie, Ruby Straw, Loriah James... 

front row L-R - Amy Sharp, Venus Romaeo, Laura Mitchell and Rebecca Tunney

Vales Emerald

I had a little helper yesterday assist me removing these from their container, while the sun smiled down on us.

Come supplied with dirt, at no extra cost LOL.












It's not quite The Good Life but it certainly is great growing your own food and knowing exactly where it came from, what is in it. Mmmm.

Yesterday

...all my troubles seemed so far away. The weather across Sheffield and North East Derbyshire was marvellous - the most summery day since my return from Thailand. Just after midday, our ancient friends - Tony and Fiona - arrived from Hull and we ate our lunch out on the decking. Salad, pork pie, Stilton and broccoli quiche, stoneground pizza and mugs of tea. The garden looks lovely at this time of year with plants at their peak between winters - illuminated by sunshine glaring down from big blue gaps in wispy summertime clouds.

At two fifteen, we jumped in the car and headed to Chesterfield where our beloved Hull City were to play the last of their pre-season warm-up games at the new B2Net Stadium which has replaced Chesterfield's dilapidated old Saltergate ground. I was wearing the tiger T-shirt I had bought in Thailand with a day such as yesterday in mind. By the way, just in case you didn't know, Chesterfield's nickname is The Spireites. This strange term alludes to the town's famous fourteenth century crooked spire which twists outlandishly above St Mary's Parish Church.

Last week our lads beat the mighty Liverpool 3-0 and then in midweek we subdued Bradford City 3-1 so yesterday it was The Spireites' turn to be obliterated by the black and amber tsunami-army with goals from Matty Fryatt and a beautiful looping header from central defender - James Chester.

After the game we drove back to Sheffield and being hot and thirsty dropped in at "The Hammer and Pincers" at Bents Green for cooling drinks in the beer garden. Later, I booked a table at Sheffield's best Turkish restaurant - the Zeugma Ikki on London Road. Beforehand I ordered a taxi and more cooling drinks - in "The Crown" - a rather down-at-heel city pub frequented on match days by multitudes of Sheffield United fans. Last evening it was more or less empty.

The meal in "The Zeugma" was delightful. I had Albanian lamb's liver followed by shish kebab with rice and salad. We all agreed it had been a great meal but a tiny irritation -we brought two of our own bottles of wine and got charged £3.95 x 2 for "corkage". Both bottles had screw tops. Still I guess it was better than paying £15.99 a time for the restaurant's own bottle of sauvignon blanc.

After the meal, we strolled up Sharrow Lane to Sharrow Head where we had planned a further drink at "The Stag" but in the end we decided to carry on walking a further ten minutes to "The Psalter" on Psalter Lane where we sat outside to chat and drink some more. Then it was on to my local - "The Banner" for last orders. How quiet it was in there. There were days in the not too distant past when the place would be heaving on a Saturday night - standing room only - but last night it was so deserted that I expected tumbleweed to blow through the taproom.

Back at home, we watched fragments of "Top of the Pops" from the 1980's - Yazz, U2, The Communards... and then around 1am Tony nudged me. Apparently, I had been snoring.

30 Day Challenge - Day 19

Day 19 - A picture and a letter (choose any photo and write short entry to explain why you've chosen it)

Oh boy.

Dear 15 Year Old Caitlin,

Real love isn’t perfect…but perfect love isn’t real.

The greatest revenge is doing something someone say you cannot.

If you're not sure, sleep on it. Don't make decisions right away. Think about it, plan it out in your head and involve yourself in it before you make the wrong choice.

Time will heal the wounds you do not work to mend yourself.

Don't judge yourself against other people. We're all meant to be different.

If he doesn't treat you like a princess, get out now.

Your first instinct is almost always the right one.

Just because everyone else likes something, it doesn't mean you have to too. You can't choose what you like, but you can choose what you do.

When you think everyone is watching you, chances are they probably not. Stop worrying what they're thinking of you.

At the end of the day you are the only one who has to deal with your own actions and there are consequences.

Most of it doesn't matter.

The loudest noise in the world is the sound of people whining. No one wants to hear it.

Don't lie. Ever. About anything unless it's a white lie.

You're never going to complete your to-do list. It'll still be there when you die.

Your friends and family are the most important assets you have in life.

Things have to end so that better things come along.

It's okay to be YOU.

Stand up for what you believe in.

It's okay to be wrong.

It's called work for a reason.

It's okay, even good to fail sometimes.

You know as much as everyone else.

Never settle for second best.

If you constantly want someone to change then you should not be in the relationship.

Listen to your parents, they are almost always right. And they are just trying to protect and love you.

People don't pay as much attention to you as you think they do. They are too busy worrying about themselves.

Remember you are hardest on yourself. Others (generally) see you in a better light

It's often easier, quicker and more pleasant to simply do what someone asks rather than argue about why you shouldn't have to

Relationships are not supposed to be hard in the beginning

Say what you mean and mean what you say. And don't beat around the bush. People cannot read your mind.

Sincerely,

The older, wiser, Caitlin who has fallen in love, gone away to college, worked really hard only to fail, hit some major road bumps, fallen out of love, learned the hard way, has had her heart broken, and who has gotten some big bruises and scratches over the past 7 years.

(I do not wish that I would've known all of these things at 13 because then I wouldn't have learned the hard way and become as strong as I am now. Those experiences were very important in my youth I believe.)

...On Directing WEIGHT

The day of a show usually goes like this:

Wake up, the first few seconds are normal, and then there is a sudden, sharp realization: I am performing tonight!

Excitement is followed by extreme panic. 

For the next two minutes I wonder if it's too late to leave the country.

It is.

And then I remember: I love doing this. No, love doesn't cover it. I am obsessed with it. If someone said: Here's a theatre, but you can't leave it for the rest of your life, you have to be here every day, and for many days in a row you might not see the light of day, but you will create theatre with integrity, love, and purpose; I would say, Lock me up. Tie me down. There is nothing else I'd rather do with my life. 

I have been doing this since I was four years old; performing, creating shows, making other people do what I want, making other people watch what I've created, and seeking, always seeking, an opportunity to bring a character to life. I am not a story-teller, I am a story-liver (as in, life liver, not body organ liver). Even when I tell my cousin's daughters a story, I do it as if I were acting out a play, taking on the character's voices and acting out all the actions. I usually end up a sweaty mess and, if the intention was ever to put the child to sleep, I fail at it miserably. They are as wound up as ever by the time I am done, because I am most alive when I am acting, and life is contagious. They love it. They need it. We all do. We all need stories to be lived in front of us; we ache for that exposure of the human heart.

Tonight the play I directed opens. How is directing different than performing? Multiply the above experiences by a thousand. And then put on the pressure to be the one who is calm, in control, patient, and knowledgeable.

WEIGHT was written by my soul sister, Kerri Campbell Evans. She showed it to me one day, and I had a vision. We looked at each other, and it was done: I'd be directing WEIGHT.

I have directed things here and there since I was a child; it's easy for me because, as my brother and cousins can attest, I like telling people what to do. But I have hesitated to call myself a director. I am so madly in love with being on stage, with communicating a character's soul to a live audience, that I often wonder if directing can be as fulfilling.

What I've learned is that it's fulfilling in an entirely different way. This play was important to me; I fell in love with the characters and felt a need to tell their stories. I saw my role: I would be the one creating the environment for my actors to bring their characters to life. I would give them what they needed, whether they knew that they needed it or not, in order to rise to their character's worlds.

In this life of odd day jobs here and there, I discovered two jobs outside of the theatrical business that I was suited for: teaching and tour guiding. So it made sense that I would fit right into my director's chair. I see the potential in people and then I make it my mission to guide them towards it. Because I know first-hand what that "a-ha!" moment feels like for an actor- the moment when the character clicks, when you understand something that could only be understood by living through it, when you feel with absolute certainty that there is a force much higher than yourself that takes you to this place of raw truth- because I know that this is what we live for, I have found it incredibly fulfilling to be part of the process that takes them there.

I am a mother tonight, watching my baby take its first step, speak its first word, and look out into the world for the first time, knowing that it is theirs.

I am so proud of my girls, and I am so excited to see our play, which we rehearsed in living rooms and pieced together bit by bit over the course of four months, being given to others tonight. That is the final step- giving the creation over. No matter how many times I do this, I will always feel the butterflies in my stomach. Like the early stages of falling in love, I cannot help but let excitement clash with nervousness, and hope that my heart's desire to love will be met with another open, willing heart.

Send your positive energy to our beautiful play and, if you're around, come support our magical journey.


WEIGHT opens tonight at the Strawberry One-Act Festival.
Hudson Guild Theater
441 W. 26th St. (btw 9th and 10th aves)
7:00pm

30 Day Challenge - Day 18

I love how you can set up when you want posts to be appear. Since I am going to be away this weekend I have set up the next few days of my challenge.

Day 18 - A picture of your biggest insecurity

Being Accepted

I've thought about this for a while and I would have to say that pleasing everyone goes hand in hand with being accepted and that is my biggest downfall. I have a hard time dealing with people who don't like me. I know you can't please everyone and that some people aren't worth it, but I do think that is my biggest insecurity. I absolutely hate when people are mad or upset with me and I used to always give

 in to everything just to ease the tension, but I've been getting better since I've been in college.

Aside from looks what are your biggest insecurities?

Inexperience

Here are some things I have never done. I have never seen even one James Bond film. "Octopussy", Odd Job and 007 himself mean nothing to me - I am not interested in espionage or car chases, motor gadgets or the lechery of suave secret agents. And I have never seen any of the "Star Wars" sequence of films either. For some reason, I am usually attracted to stories drawn from real life - not from fantasy. That may be the reason that I have also never seen a Harry Potter film or read any of the Harry Potter books. I tried one - really I did but a couple of hours with "Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone" left me bored to tears and unable to turn another page. The writing seemed formulaic and predictable, the characters paper thin. Sorry JK!

Over the years I have visited just about every notable place in the British Isles but I haven't been to Cardiff, John O'Groats, Ipswich, Wolverhampton, Blackburn, Burnley or Reading. Am I missing anything? I have never voted for any other political party but Labour and I have never eaten frogs' legs, truffles or sweetmeat - which is the culinary name for testicles. I have never owned a dog or a motorbike and have never attended a horse racing event of any description.

I think that I am lucky to have travelled to many different places around the world but I have never been to Russia, Alaska, Japan, Egypt, Mauritius, Tristan da Cunha, Australia, Kazakhstan, Antarctica or New Zealand. There are numerous other enticing places I could mention.

I have never drunk any alcopops or worn women's clothing, dropped litter or subscribed to "Sky". And I have never owned a mobile phone or tweeted on Twitter or had even a glimmer of interest in joining Facebook. Never had an i-pod or run a half marathon or scaled Everest or seen a stag or a golden eagle in the wild. I've never read "A Tale of Two Cities" or "The Tenant of Wildfell Hall" or anything by Jeffrey Archer, Maeve Binchy or Jackie Collins.

The more I think of it the more things I realise I haven't yet done. Statisticians say that in "The United Kingdom", male life expectancy is on average seventy eight years. That means - if I am very lucky and can successfully dodge The Grim Reaper through to 2031 - I have twenty years left to tick off the above items. But I shall need sponsorship... please!

30 Day Challenge - Day 17

Day 17 - A picture of something that has made a huge impact on your life recently

Friends & Family

Aside from work nothing is really taking over my life at the moment. I'm going to take that as a good thing because a lot of bad things could be happening. Granted things could be better and more exciting, but I'm so thankful for the INCREDIBLE people in my life that I have been blessed with. 

Only Challenge Day #16 How Can That Be?!

I feel like I've been doing this "30 Day Photo Challenge" for longer than 16 days. I mean I've got to be more than halfway done, right? But, I am determined to finish it and not give up. Here goes:

Day 16 - A picture of someone who inspires you

Shawn Johnson

For those of you that don't know who this is, Shawn is a competitive gymnast who won the Silver medal for the All-Around event at the 2008 Olympics. She suffered a knee injury last year and is currently working to make it back big time! She is such a smiley girl with an addicting energy and optimistic mood! She works SO hard to do what she loves and the passion she has for gymnastics is so inspiring. You can tell her heart and soul are into this sport because she shines.

What I'm Loving Wednesday

Inspired by Jamie's blog and other fellow blogger posts today, I now present you with: 

I'm loving that it's already 4pm on a Wednesday! Seriously where did this week go?! My weeks ALWAYS drag on forever, but this week is flying and I'm so thankful! 

I'm loving that today is my last day in the office for this week. Tomorrow I will be working from home and then Friday I leave to visit my college town for the weekend to reunite with some great friends!!

I'm loving dresses like these with belts:

I'm also loving running. It's absolutely freeing. Don't you agree?

I'm loving Taylor Swift (and becoming obsessed with the songs 'Mine' and 'Enchanted' all over again) and the fact that I get to see her up close with two great friends next Saturday!

I'm loving my fabulous friends who inspire me everyday & constantly make me smile. Thank you. <3

London 2012 - The Medals

We didn't like the logo, there was a mixed reception to the torch. 

I quite like the medals- mixing traditional with dynamic. Nothing too weird and wonderful!

Rain, My Life!

As I Lift Up My Head
And Look At The Rain
It Drenches My Face And,
It Takes Me To The Magical Place. 


My Eyes Cherishes The Rain
Rather Than Blinking Very Often. 
It Wet My Lips And Gives Me The Chance
To Taste, The Breath of New Life. 


It Drips off My Heart

And Gives A New Life To My Soul!

With Wide Opened Arms
I Welcomed The Rain !!

I Heartily Welcomed The Rain....
To Be My Ever Loving Friend And, 
Rain! I Love You....My Dearest Friend :) :)

Image Courtesy :- Google.

PS :- Dear Bloggers, Thanks A Lot For All Your Cherishable Compliments For The Previous Post,  "An Angel In My Life".

Larisa Iordache (Romania) EYOF

Videos are arriving almost instantly from the European Youth Olympic Festival. This young Romanian talent is too young to help out her team at Worlds this year but look out for her in London in a years time. She currently leads the all around competition with a score of 57.800. That would have put her 7th at Worlds 2010 and 1st at Europeans 2011.


(Vault), (Beam), (Bars)

Signage

I spotted this sign near the doorway of the Choeung Ek Genocidal Centre Museum in the southern suburbs of Phnom Penh. Of course I had no intention of smoking as I find that filthy habit most distasteful. No trendy baseball caps - so good - I could still wear my knotted white handkerchief! No cameras - bah! Why do some museums ban photography? But I could live with that. No mobile phones! - Good! I don't own one and to me they are one of modern life's biggest irritants. No shoes! - No problem - I was wearing sandals!

Then in the bottom left hand corner I see that handguns and hand grenades are also banned. Phew! What a relief! It meant I didn't have to leave my Browning Automatic Rifle at the door. I mean - those things can be dangerous - what would have happened if a child had got hold of the thing? For some reason the museum cleared of visitors as I entered and I was able to view the ghastly exhibits in unhindered peace.

The sign has inspired me to design a similar one that I shall affix to the wall near our front door. These are the things that are banned - cigarettes, dogs, people with body odour, double glazing salesmen, junk mail, woodlice, Conservatives and LibDems, "The Sun", Norwegian mass murderers, dark chocolate and women with verbal diarrhoea. What will you put on the sign near your front door?

London 2012 - 1 year to go!

In 366 days (2012 is a leap year) the games of the XXX Olympiad will be underway. The milestone is being marked by a number of events including Tom Daley making the first diive in the aquatics centre. The medal designs will also be unveiled and there will be a celebration in Trafalgar Sq where the world's athletes will be formally invited to London.

30 Day Challenge - Day 15

Day 15 - A picture of something you want to do before you die

Skydive!

Gone

Have just seen the final Harry Potter. Wow.

Can't believe it's all over now (sniff).

Covergirl Classic on Youtube

Youtube user and regular poster of gymnastics events, Olympicgymnastics2 has posted the full universal sports coverage of the Covergirl Classic from last weekend. Great news for those of us outside of the US who missed out on watching the live feed.



Part 1 (of 7)

Being Martha

It's about that time of year again, the time of year where we all like to put on our predicting hats and guess who Martha Karolyi will give a golden ticket to Worlds! Granted we haven't seen everyone out this season, and even fewer of those who compete all-around, have. But that's all part of the fun, right?

Here is the objective:
Tokyo, October 7th 2011
Six gymnasts required (NB for the olympics it will only be Five!)
Five compete on each apparatus in qualifying, Top four scores count.
The goal- Top 8 finish (ideally much higher) --> Olympic Qualification.


Anyway, if I was picking my world team, this is what it would look like...
(I got a bit carried away with this and had a bash at USA, GB, Russia, Romania and China.

Jordyn Wieber	VT	UB	BB	FX
Rebecca Bross	(VT)	UB	BB	(FX)
Chellsie Memmel	(VT)	(UB)		(FX)
Aly Raisman	VT	(UB)	(BB)	FX
Alicia Sacramone	VT		BB	FX
Another Bar Worker		UB	(BB)

 I haven't yet stuck my neck out and named the last member of the team, that's up to who puts out the best consistent bar routines at Nationals. My smart bet would be Mackenzie Caquatto as she already has worlds experience and is also a decent all-arounder, but it also might be an opportunity for a new face like Gabrielle Douglas or Sabrina Vega. 

The events in bold are my picks for the team final, where Team USA want to take advantage of Russian injuries and wrap up their normal pre-olympic team title. The good thing about this team is that it allows for the injury status of Rebecca Bross, If she is fit she could compete all-around but equally she would be a valuable asset on bars and beam only, with Aly Raisman or Chellsie Memmel both potentials for all-around competition.

Next year, as many have said, with one less person on the team Martha will likely have to choose between Aly Raisman's all around potential or Sacramone's shot at an olympic vault gold. Unless Aly's bars steps up several knotches there just isn't room for all of them.

I'll add to this post later with my picks for other teams.
What do you think Martha?

RIP

RIP Norman 1962-2011. That's him above on his wedding day in 1991. He was a "private man" who lived for his family and his dogs. We said farewell to him at York Crematorium today. His mother and father, his sisters, his wife and his sons were naturally distraught. There was no singing, just piped music, including this song by Snow Patrol:-

We'll do it all

Everything
On our own

We don't need
Anything
Or anyone

If I lay here
If I just lay here
Would you lie with me
And just forget the world?

Afterwards, we went to "The Marcia Inn" at Bishopsthorpe on the south side of York and ate sandwiches and sausage rolls, washed down with ales and soft drinks. When a man of forty nine dies, in the very middle of his adult life, it just doesn't seem fair and the religious promise of the presiding vicar seemed tired and hollow. I shall go out now and drink a couple of pints in memory of Norman. He wasn't my best buddy or anything like that. I only knew him through family connection and we rarely met but I always felt comfortable in his company and we could chat happily together for ages. I knew him for twenty two years and now, tragically, he's gone. Cheers Norman! The rest of us will be joining you before long old son!

30 Day Challenge - Day 14

Day 14 - A picture of someone you could never imagine your life without

My Mom

I know family doesn't really count, but I've lost friends and boys I've loved (not literally) and I am doing just fine. I couldn't possibly imagine life without my Mom. I don't know what I would do if she wasn't able to be there for my wedding or be a grandma to my kids one day. She's my rock.

"When my head is down, you remind me to look up. Thank you blue skies, oh without you, where would I be?" 

Something old, Something new

As it is prime wedding season I thought a wedding inspiration post would be festive! I have a fascination (or obsession per-say) with anything to do with weddings! I'm pretty sure when I find Mr. Right and get engaged, my wedding will be already be entirely planned and documented in my head and on my computer. Crazy right? Here are some of my favorite saved ideas throughout the years!

So much purple, I know! Sorry!

What are some of your favorite things about weddings? 

30 Day Challenge - Day 13

Day 13 - A picture of your favorite band or artist

Hunter Hayes

He's not my absolute favorite (how can you pick just one?!) but he is new and not so common so I thought I would post this. This kid has an amazing voice and can play just about every instrument you put in front of him.

My favorite bands/artists are: Diana DeGarmo, Daughtry, Taylor Swift, The Band Perry, Jason Aldean, Thompson Square, Sugarland, Rascal Flatts, Zac Brown Band, Selena Gomez, Alanis Morissette, Barenaked Ladies, Beverely Mitchell, Luke Bryan & Kenny Chesney.

Dunderhead

This is Anders Behring Breivik. I turned him upside down because that is what he has done to Norway. Blonde-haired, fit as a fiddle and blue-eyed - not the stereotypical image of evil. Not only did this egotistical monster callously destroy the lives of some of his country's most promising young people, he simultaneously concocted a sadness that will seep through the fissures of Norwegian society for many years to come. What was he thinking of and who the hell did he think he was? I picture him sitting smugly in his cell, smirking as he imagines that he has single-handedly shifted the direction of Norwegian politics, striking a blow against multiculturalism, standing up for old conservative values. What a dunderhead!

His Viking forefathers devised various methods for disposing of wrongdoers such as the "blood eagle" torture in which the victim's ribs would be cut at the spine and then forced out laterally in imitation of an eagle's wings. His lungs would then be pulled out of the chest cavity with salt sprinkled on the resulting wounds. Even though Breivik is clearly completely mad, the "blood eagle" ending would surely suit him fine - instead of twenty one years in a warm, dry Norwegian prison with a flat screen TV, games of pool and three square meals a day.

His killing spree will no doubt quietly strike a chord with other right wing extremists whose perceptions of the world are equally warped. My heart goes out to Norway, to the grieving parents and friends, to the shattered tranquility of a quiet and civilised country. Anders, Anders, Anders...what have you done?

In Henrik Ibsen's "An Enemy of the People" (1882), Dr Stockmann says "The strongest man in the world is he who stands alone." But Ibsen's character was just as wrong as Breivik was on Friday afternoon. The strongest people are those who stand together for the things that matter - for freedom, family, kindness, life itself and the future of humanity.

Covergirl - Results and Musings

Aly Raisman may be the USA's version of Hannah Whelan. Not the most virtuoso performer or standout on a single apparatus, but capable of consistently throwing out high all-around scores.

Raisman thought she might have waved goodbye to the all around title in Chicago last night after a disaster on bars, but upgraded strong tumbling and a successful amanar vault gave her the title and likely reminded Martha Karolyi and the fans not to rule her out for the national title in a few weeks time.

Likely the happiest camper though was comeback kid, 2003 World Champion Chellsie Memmel. Whilst the other members of the 2008 olympic team have tentatively dipped their toes in with one or two events, Memmel came back all guns blazing with a complete all-around performance. With all the pre-meet publicity being on Shawn Johnson, Memmel has again amazed us with her longevity in the sport and ability to rise to the occasion.

Third place went to the always lovely but often under-the-radar Sabrina Vega, top of all the debut seniors here. These are the new faces grappling to impress Karolyi and join the big guns in the world team selection battle.

As I mentioned before, Shawn Johnson didn't have the picture perfect return, having stumbled on her bars dismount she then had a wobbly outing on the balance beam, falling on her back layout somersault. Great however to see she still took it as a positive experience and is all the more determined to perform well at Visas in 3 weeks time. In all honesty the worlds this year may be a step too far, but she's a valued presence all the same.

Looking ahead the future is still difficult to predict. Jordyn Wieber is very likely to bring her A-game to the national championships in a few weeks time.  Rebecca Bross is still struggling with her injuries but will not want to be counted out. Mattie Larson and Bridget Sloan have been out of the scene since worlds but should never be counted out, and Chellsie Memmel has tasted success and wants more....

Roll-on Visa Championships!

Covergirl Classic Results

1.	Alexandra Raisman	Brestyan's	6.5	15.100	5.7	12.450	6.2	15.000	6.2	14.700	57.250
2.	Chellsie Memmel	M&M	5.0	14.200	5.6	14.400	6.1	14.700	5.3	13.650	56.950
3.	Sabrina Vega	Dynamic	5.8	14.600	5.7	13.500	6.1	14.500	5.7	14.250	56.850
4.	McKenzie Wofford	Zenith Elite	5.0	13.150	5.9	14.600	6.3	14.800	5.1	13.050	55.600
5.	Sophia Lee	WOGA	5.0	14.100	5.6	13.200	5.6	14.250	5.1	13.400	54.950
6.	Bridgette Caquatto	Legacy Elite	5.0	14.200	6.1	14.900	5.6	13.350	5.5	12.300	54.750
7.	Jessica Howe	WOGA	5.0	13.650	5.3	12.900	5.4	14.300	5.1	13.200	54.050
8.	Casey Jo Magee	Capital	5.0	13.650	4.7	13.200	5.9	14.200	4.8	12.100	53.150
9.	Brandie Jay	GK	5.8	13.800	6.0	14.200	5.2	13.150	5.1	11.650	52.800
10.	Hallie Mossett	West Coast	5.0	14.100	5.0	13.100	5.3	12.900	5.2	12.700	52.800

30 Day Challenge - Day 12

Day 12 - A picture of something you love

Chocolate covered strawberries/ Surprises/ Edible Arrangements

I love surprises! Some people say they don't, but I secretly think everyone loves surprises. I've wanted an edible arrangement for what feels like forever. They taste amazing and look so pretty! Plus, I absolutely love chocolate covered strawberries, yum!

Sad times...

2 falls for Shawn Johnson and no live feed in the UK for me.

Not the most successful evening then...

Bonne Nuit!

Classic - Jr Results

2010 US Junior Champ Kyla Ross took the title in the Junior Ladies event at the Covergirl Classic.

(Photo- Greg Long)
Follow the Senior event on Twitter and blogs with the Couch Gymnast and Gymnastics Examiner who are actually there, as well as Full Twist and yours truely who will be doing the nightshift (UK time) watching in the comfort of our own homes!

Twitter: @Going4GoldBlog
 @Full_Twist
@Double_Front  
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The Couch Gymnast on Facebook. 

Sadly the reigning US champ Rebecca Bross pulled out of the competition earlier in the day.Tt doesn't look like that ankle is fully back on form yet.  The All Around title is open for the taking. Smart money would be on Ali Raisman (Jordyn Wieber is due to only do bars and beam) but there is plenty of buzz about the return of Chellsie Memmel, as well as youngsters Gabrielle Douglas/ McKayla Maroney making their senior debuts. 

Can't wait to see Shawn Johnson either!.....

Here are the junior results (USA Gymnastics)
1. Kyla Ross 58.850
2. Lexie Priessman 58.050
3. Katelyn Ohashi 57.950
4. Sarah Finnegan 56.650
5. Brenna Dowell 55.350

Saturday Night Thoughts

A few comments and observations:

• 27 is far too young to die. It sadly didn't come as a surprise to hear Amy Winehouse has been found dead but nevertheless you have to concede that despite her troubles she was extremely talented.
• As of yesterday LL is on summer holidays for around 6 weeks. He's now finished at the Infant school and in September, the start of year 3, will transfer to the Junior school.
• I've been offered a job, after so long looking. All being well I start this coming week. Am feeling excited at the prospect, although starting early once again may come as a shock to my system.
• Still not quite sure what has happened to the summer weather. Downpours one minute, glorious sunshine the next.
• The death toll from Friday's Norwegian bombing and shooting spree now stands at over 90 confirmed. Can't imagine the horror.
• I've heard rumours the rent-a-house round the corner is due to be filled with students again from September, grrrrr. Please can we have some quiet, sensible ones this time?
• Just as I feared, the new series of Torchwood has so far proved to be a poor shadow of it's former self.
• I've been eyeing up Kindles, iPads and similar of late. Is that bad of me?

Today at the park.

Oh No Moments

image from here

Forrest Gump immortalized it: Shit Happens.

Some of my Oh No Moments that still make me cringe...

• Spilling red wine on the white couch of a couple I was visiting for the first time. Ugh ugh ugh. 

• Opening the door to a cafe and hitting a child on the face. The poor little guy fell on the ground, sobbing, while his parents gave me "You asshole" looks and a girl at the counter said to her friend, "Oh my god that's like my worst fear, hurting someone else's child." Yeah. Thanks. 

• Leaving my building and hearing my doorman run after me to tell me my skirt was caught in my underwear in the back. I still can't look that doorman in the eye. 

• Calling/texting/showing up at an ex-boyfriend's door after severe inebriation. Usually followed by extreme crying on the street and a week-long hang-over. 

• Telling my cousin's daughter she doesn't have to wait for the "go light" to cross the street. Boy, I'm never gonna live that one down. 

• Turning in a paper to a teacher in high school and accidentally leaving in a love poem I'd written for a boy between the pages. Teacher thought the poem was meant for him. Big uh-oh moment. Pretty much awkward for the duration of my high school career.

• Talking about how I absolutely can't stand so-and-so to a guy I didn't know had dated her. Apparently, they were still on good enough terms that he recounted our conversation to her. Boy, she does not like me now. 

• Getting a tattoo on impulse. Ended up with a "ladybug" that looks like a cockroach. Forever.

 

There are more, but one can only take sharing a few of these at a time...

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30 Day Challenge - Day 11

Day 11 - A picture of something you hate

I've been trying to think of something better for this post for a while now. I know there are tons of things, but nothing is currently coming to me at the moment. I'm sure I will think of something nifty after this post or even tomorrow. That's something I hate: having the perfect thing/person/idea/etc. AFTER the fact. It always happens to me when I play Apples to Apples. I always draw the perfect card after I put down a card for the category.

Anyways, voicemails. Why do I hate voicemails? The truth? I hate that stupid, obnoxious icon that appears on my cell phone in the top corner telling me I have a voicemail. It doesn't go away until I listen to it. I don't mind voicemails from people I don't know informing me of something, responding to an inquiry I've made, etc. But, when it's my friends or family it kinda irks me. I know it shouldn't, but it does. I can SEE that I have a missed call from you. I will call you back when I am available. You don't have to leave me a message saying, "Hey it's so-so at this time. Call me back when you get a chance!" I know who you are you, I know what you time you called and I see that you want to talk to me from the missed call. Voicemails are so unnecessary sometimes!

Sayings

We frequently absorb words and sayings without knowing where they came from or even what they really mean. Often their origins are obscure and much-debated. From my mother I am sure that I inherited many words and sayings and even snippets of songs. She was a great one for singing and when she was in a good mood, I would often hear her tuneful renditions of wartime favourites as she ironed, sewed or lugged baskets of washing into the garden:-

We'll gather lilacs in the spring again

And walk together down an English lane

Until our hearts have learned to sing again

When you come home once more.

In September 2007, at mum's funeral, I was so happy that as the wine-coloured velvet curtains closed on her coffin, her assembled friends and loved ones heard Vera Lynn's version of "The White Cliffs of Dover". It was one of her favourites and of course this song meant a great deal to her because she was in the WAAF (Women's Auxiliary Air Force) during World War II and had known a good number of young fliers who gave their lives for Great Britain and freedom.

Mum was no shrinking violet. She'd take people on directly if she felt they were in the wrong and her temper could be quite fiery. Police officers, schoolteachers, shop keepers all felt the lashing of her tongue. Demure and coquettish she was not.

One of her favourite oaths or mild curses was "blood and sand". I have often used it myself. You know - when you hit your thumb with a hammer or you hear Cameron or Clegg's weasel words on the television - "Blood and Sand!" The other day I was wondering what on earth this expression means so in a website called "The Phrase Finder" I discovered this:-

It's the title of a Spanish novel about bullfighting published in 1909 by Vicente Blasco Ibánez (the Spanish title is "Sangre y arena"). It has been filmed several times, most famously starring Rudolph Valentino. It lends itself to use as a mild imprecation, along the lines of "Hell and death!"

So there you go. All this time both Mum and I were unwittingly referring to an obscure Spanish novel. How the phrase seeped its way into the English language is another story that would take a detective of the calibre of Sherlock Holmes to clarify.

Another phrase I explored was "cold enough to freeze the balls off a brass monkey" and was disappointed to discover that the usual explanation is most likely fanciful. It probably doesn't allude to iron cannonballs on warships jumping spontaneously off little brass deck trolleys called monkeys because of the differing effects of cold temperatures on metals. Ah well. But what about the mild insult "Wally"?

When I was sixteen at the Isle of Wight Pop Festival, I was sitting one sunny afternoon in a crowd of half a million. It could be hard to get back to your place once you left it. You had to remember homemade flagpoles nearby or you'd end up getting completely lost. In a gap between acts, I noticed a young man tiptoeing through the crowd a few yards from me. He was looking this this way and that as if lost. Then from several yards further back one of his friends called out , "Wally!" Wally looked around but still couldn't find his friends. Another called out, "Wally!" and then some unconnected wag sitting in front of me yelled "Wally!" just for mischief and before you knew it a thousand people were yelling "Wally!" from various parts of the field. There was great hilarity but finally young Wally found his mates.

As far as I know, before that day in August 1970, the name "Wally" had never been used to describe an idiot, a buffoon or a nitwit. Later, the Wally notion even spawned a series of comic books and a cartoon series. The Isle of Wight connection has been suggested elsewhere and in my mind, until someone proves otherwise, I believe I witnessed the birth of a new "saying" though of course I myself might be a Wally! I certainly feel like one sometimes.