Hello everyone!!!! I don't know where to begin......I'll start with how I placed at Team Universe Nationals. I ended up in 6th place! I scored very well in the routine round, and not so well in the physique rounds....Those girls were BIG! I am very symmetrical, but I have a lot less muscle than most of the competitors on a national level. I scored 3rd in my routine round, which made me so happy, because quite frankly I wondered if the judges saw me at all..... I literally walked on stage in the physique rounds to find ALL of the judges looking at their score sheets. Not one made eye contact with me. It was very frustrating. The callouts before me were all girls who had been to national level contests at some point this year. I guess this is the part in my fitness career where I find out how political it can be at times....Oh well, I have to pay my dues just like all the other girls. Many fitness competitors have to compete at the national level a long time before achieving their pro cards. Anything worth having is worth working hard for. I had a great time in NY with my mom and husband. The 95 degree weather and 100% humidity were difficult at times, so I stayed in my air conditioned hotel room a lot before the contest. We did the whirlwind tour of Manhattan on Sunday and Monday. Times Square is incredible! Little Italy was so much fun on Saturday night (not to mention the food!) We had dinner with 3 of my fellow competitors (who are from the northwest), and laughed till we hurt! I have so much more I could write, but I must go do some cardio- so my body doesn't completely go nuts with all this real food..... I currently have 8 lbs of water retention at this time....holy crap! I am pounding the water like there is no tomorrow! I'll write again tonight and tell you all more. Talk soon,

Tami