Done and Done!

Well the Florida camp is finally over.... oh man, I am pretty sure I have been hit by a few trucks and then they have backed up and hit me again....
All in all it was a pretty great camp, the weather finally warmed up, as terrible as I felt in the water, I had some pretty kick as* sets. A few of them I am really not all that sure how in the good heavens I did it. One in particular I thought I was going to strait up die right there in the middle of the pool, and the only thing left to do at the end of it all was get out of the pool lie on the deck and cry! You know it's been something great when that happens. I have to say it really is quite the feeling to know that there was nothing else left in my body after that and I truly gave my everything.
I am pretty stoked to race next weekend and see how I do. We have the CIS university championships. My last ever race as a university student, and a T-Bird, pretty sad when you come to think of it. Although I have only been a bird for 3 years, it has been quite the experience. The lady birds are just awesome, and although we aren't going to come up with a 12th title, we will die trying and I am proud to be apart of it. (Calgary just has too many girls for us to compete with, I think they have 28 more races than us, and when it's all scored that is just too much to catch up, especially when they've got some pretty amazing girls who I know are going to have phenomenal races)
One good thing about being here has been staying on the beach, the hotel was a little sketchy but the beach was AWESOME! Us girls had a bit of a dance slash picture party so here are some lovely pics for you to enjoy.
Haylee and I
Sisters looking pretty oh so pretty
And Even prettier here... hee hee
The Breaststroke girls,, team tb
Look at our talents,,, so much more than swimming, and yes that is me the one having trouble getting both feet up..
Our new friend Bro, we wanted to steal and keep forever!
Toodaloo Florida! It's been a slice, and now I must go to bed cause a 3:15 am wakeup call is coming and that SUCKS!!!
xoxox

25 Random things about me

This is a facebook post that is going around but its got some interesting stuff about me so here ya go....
Well for those of you who know me most of these things are not going to come as a surprise or anything new, I am perhaps a bit of a talker and sharer.

1. I love to talk; I love meeting people and can pretty much talk to anyone anywhere. Some people may think this is a bad thing but I love it, I love encountering new people, and talking to them.
2. I have never been shy a day in my life, and love being in front of people, I think I was born to be on stage
3. I absolutely LOVE to shop. Another thing I was born to do, and I think I am pretty good at it. I love finding a great deal, or an amazing buy.
4. On the above note,,, I HATE when people copy me,, it is one of my biggest pet peeves. My mom says I should be flattered but I love trying to be an individual so when I buy something kind of unique it really makes me mad when someone sees it and tells me oo that’s nice and then goes out and buys the same thing.
5. My friends and family are the most important people in my life, they are AMAZING!!
6. I have realized that life doesn’t always go to plan and can be pretty tough sometimes, but that being said I wouldn’t change my past at all, it has made me who I am today.
7. I hate school, always have. Love learning but hate when you are told what you need to know and studying
8. I do not apply myself when it comes to school, I squeak by and figure that is good enough
9. I know I am going to be successful in life because I am too driven and stubborn not to be. When I want to do something I pretty much never give up (this is sometimes not a good thing)
10. I am very disorganized, mostly because I procrastinate and somewhat because I am lazy.
11. I believe in fairytale love, it hasn’t happened yet but one day I know it will.
12. It had been my dream since I was 6 years old to make it to the Olympics, after 18 years it finally came true and was mind blowing.
13. My favorite moment of the Olympics was seeing my family after my 100 breast prelims and my dad was so excited he cried. This just showed me how much it meant not only to me but to my family after all I had been through
14. Swimming is my life, it takes priority over pretty much anything. I love being in the water and training, it makes me feel like home.
15. My goal is to get the tri-fecta that my coach talks about
16. I am a crier. I cry when I am happy, sad, mad, excited, or completely exhausted (kind of like today)
17. My dream job would be being either a movie star or fashion designer.
18. I not so secretly wish I were a singer; I am terrible this I know but it makes me happy and I sing all the time, everywhere no matter who hears me. (It’s a good thing I’m not shy) I love all types of music, especially country, and if I ever was a singer my dream would be to perform as Cossette in Les Miserables
19. I do not have the best eating habits, I love junk food and chocolate. I wish I didn’t have such a sweet tooth
20. I can be a very girly girl, and love the color pink, and wish I owned one of those amazing tutu’s prima ballerinas have.
21. When I grow up I want to live in either New York, Paris, Dublin or Vancouver.
22. I think traveling is one of the greatest things ever, and have been lucky enough to travel this world and have many the adventure.
23. I love Disney and kids movies. I think this comes from having so many little sisters, I always had an excuse to watch little kid movies Peter Pan is my favorite
24. I love reading a great book, I get so into them, and often laugh out loud or cry if necessary. I am also a very speedy ready
25. I should be studying for an English midterm that I am supposed to write tomorrow, but instead I am doing this….

Well hope you enjoyed
xox

I'm BACK!

After a 2 month hiatus, and much begging from my beloved fans,,,, I am Back!
It’s been a while I know so with a quick recap this was the past 2 months....
Went to Vegas, had a phenomenal time (apart from the snow that showed up.. who knew it snowed there? that and the blisters that did such damage to my feet I still have the scars 2 months later)
Went to Canmore for Christmas.... Had some amazing family time, got spoilt rotten, ate some delicious food, trained a little (went to the pool one day and there were 3 Olympians training, how cool is that? myself, Zoe Hoskins-Light- rower, and Simon Whitfield- triathlete medalist)
Came back to Vancouver to more snow than they have had in oh maybe EVER!!! What the hey? I so did not move to Vancouver for snow,,,
Had training camp here in Vancouver, went alright, way better than last year, didn't end up with any injuries wooo hoooo
New Years,,, WOOP WOOP welcome to 2009, can't believe it is already 2009, 2008 flew by so fast, but wow what a year it was, absolutely amazing.
Classes started again, ugh,, but actually in some pretty interesting classes, including a children lit class that I get to read Harry Potter in. Who could ask for a better class.
Then life got a little bit boring, school, swim, eat, sleep, and repeat
24 started!!!! Oh I LOVE LOVE LOVE Jack Bauer and Tony Almeda!!! They are so bad ass, what an amazing show.
We had our Can West championships in Victoria, the T-Birds had a pretty awesome meet, but Calgary just has so many more swimmers than us, they out scored us by a mile. I was pretty impressed with how I swam there, both of my races were faster than my results from CIS last year, which at the time were both Canadian records, so pretty good times to start the year with.
We have had some death training lately, I swear the better I get the harder Joe gets with me. I know this is a good thing but it doesn't make it any easier. It does however get me pretty pumped for the season ahead.
The weekend after Can West we had the annual BC Sr champs, with a top prize of 2500$ for the top swimmer of the meet. Your best 2 swims prelims and finals were added up and averaged. I ended up winning by about .5 of a point. WOO HOO, I can pay the bills for another month. Gotta love being an athlete in Canada, money just flows in..... (cough*cough)
Since the beginning of February I have been down in Ft Lauderdale Florida training with our National center swimmers. Things are going well, apart from Florida being the coldest it has been in years.... (I think I have bad luck with weather this year) Feeling pretty dead, but I know it will be worth it in the end. We have our university national championships in a week and a half, I am pumped! I love CIS and this is my 5th and final year racing as a T-Bird, one of the best parts is it's on home turf and almost my whole family is going to be there and countless amounts of friends!!
Well I guess that is all for now, enjoy the recap and stay tuned for incoming posts
Toodaloo
xox

oops

oh yes, and DJ helped decorate my fabulous cake.. and it wouldn't have been anything special without the decorations so props to him :) thanks
hee hee
Counting down the hours till Vegas, I don't know how I am going to pack, so many fabulous outfits, and shoes, I am so not a light packer, and four days oh man that is like 10 outfits.... ok well maybe not quite, but the tricky thing is you never know what you are going to feel like wearing. Such a dilemma haha, life must be good when the biggest thing you have to worry about is what clothes to pack for vacation...
Life is good right now, I get to go home in 10 days and see my family, most of them I have seen quite a bit lately but not my older brother :) and he is bringing his girlfriend Dannie home for the holiday, (and she is just fabulous) so we are all really excited. Plus Christmas is the best, we are wild and crazy and I love it.
Well back to the books
Toodaloo
xox

In the swim of things... Finally!

Well I finally feel like this whole swimming thing is coming back to me. I have actually had some good workouts the past 2 days and not only good for me but good under Joszef standards. Last night we did this set, that last year totally BROKE me, and I mean broke me I was done for a few weeks after it but last night I dominated it and it was way easier than ever before.
5x200 long course breast pull with fins and paddles, they have to be under 2.30 and are on 3 mins. My times were, 2.27, 2.24, 2.24, 2.23, 2.22
then a bit more easy swimming and then all over again this time without paddles, and my times were, 2.24, 2.22, 2.22, 2.20, 2.16!
Pretty awesome to go that fast and not completely break from it, my stroke felt really long and smooth too, and my breathing actually was pretty good. I am discovering that if I breathe almost every second stroke and only out through my nose then I actually can breath. woo hoo!
Other than swimming, just been trying to study away for my exams. Have 2 left, one hard and one mediocre. Can not wait to be done cause on Monday... I am off to VEGAS eee hee hee. Just a little holiday with some friends, it is going to be awesome.
Well back to the books...
Toodaloo
xox
ps. had a fabulous Birthday weekend, with the best friends ever. My friend Susan made me quite the delicious and fabulous cake. (I am sure she would be up for hire if there was enough of an incentive)Some of my lovely friends celebrating my quarter day with me :)

Reached a Quarter

Oh my goodness! I can't believe that I am a quarter of a century today! Where has the time gone. I hope the next 75 will be just as amazing.
Thanks to all my friends and family for the birthday wishes
xox

Wisdom

Had the past 2 days pretty much off swimming, had to get in today and splash around. Mainly it was time to recover from the weekend and get ready for the next block of training.
I've had a bit of a hard time dealing with some bad news the past couple days, but I think in times like this you really have to think about all the good things you have and cherish every moment in your life. My massive crazy family that I don't know what I would do without xox


I have two quotes up on my wall that really means a lot to me-
"Life is not measured by the breaths you take, but by the moments that take your breath away"
"Dream as though you will live forever, Live as though you will die tomorrow"
I have discovered in the past few years that the choices and decisions we make every day shape the way our lives are going to turn out, so why not try to have as many breath taking moments as possible. My advice,,, You never know what is going to happen tomorrow, so make today count, and never regret.
xox