I am back my friends!!!!!! My blog is finally working again!!!!!! I have so much to update you all on. Lets see.....where do I begin???? I went to the Emerald Cup in April and had a blast! I helped backstage on Friday night of the ladies Fitness and Figure competition, and then worked at the Evolution booth on Saturday all day. What a great time!!! I got to just hang out and talk to people (and talk, and talk, and talk:) I am such a social bug....my best friend Karen Patten and I walked around the expo seeing all the familiar faces and meeting everyone we could. I know I am a Pro and all, but I gotta tell you.....I get totally star struck around some of the other Pros:) I have been reading about these people in magazines for the last 10 years.....but I tried not to be a total dork when I met them.....hee hee hee

I have to say that Elaine Goodlad is absolutely STUNNING in person! I found myself staring at her all the time:) Troy Alves was such a great guy! His booth was beside mine, and he is such a down to earth, layed back person. I am amazed by how unaffected so many of these pros are by their fame. They are just really great "normal" people. Well, somewhat normal:) Anybody who does what we do is not "normal" ha ha ha

I had a great photo shoot with "her biceps.com". Karen Patten and I did the shoot together and had a blast. We were being total goof balls, and ended up giggling most of the shoot. We couldn't keep straight faces. On Sunday after Emerald, we both had a photo shoot with Tanji and 2 other interns of Tanji's. We just found out last week that the photos are going to be in the September issue of Oxygen!

Last weekend was the Oregon Ironman competition. We had so many girls from Central Oregon competing, and they did an incredible job!!! The following is a list of all the Central Oregon competitors and their placings:

Marla West 1st place Masters Figure
2nd place Open Figure 5'2

Kristy Titus 5th place Open Figure 5'2

Rachel Kim 4th place Open Figure 5'4

Jamie Olsen 2nd place Fitness Open
3rd place Open Figure 5'5

Ashley Cheney 1st place Open Figure 5'5 (my client!!!!!)

Sherry Christopherson 2nd place Open Figure 5'6" to 5'8" (my client and cousin!!!)
3rd place Masters Figure

Rebecca Timms 4th place Open Figure 5'6" to 5'8" (my buddy:)

Jessica Kaiser 1st place Open Figure 5'9

Kari Lynne 5th place Open Figure 5'9

GREAT JOB GIRLS!!!!! I am so proud of all of you:)

Ron and Susan Smith (who put on the Oregon Ironman) asked me to guest pose at the Oregon Ironman next year, and at the Seven Feathers contest this fall! I was so pumped after they asked me. I love these contests....they are where I got my start:) I am also going to guest pose at the Wenatchee show on September 23rd this year. I guess it's time to start working on my first Pro routine.....yikes!!! I have so many ideas floating around in my head. I don't know where to start! I have to get going on my theme and music first and foremost.

Just wanted to let everyone know.....I am helping clients with their contest prep, dieting, and posing. Anyone who signs up to train with me has the opportunity to sign up with my nutritionist Pete Grubbs at Evolution. He is giving my clients a deal of: no initiation fee, and $55 per month. Pete will do ALL of your diets (muscle gaining, leaning out, final contest prep). Anyone who knows me, knows how highly I think of Pete. He is the "man"!!! I have learned SO much from him. This is a great deal for anyone interested. Just e-mail me if you would like to sign up. Pete will begin putting your diets together, but I will be who trouble shoots and answers your questions. Pete's only requirement is this: if you come to him for diets, you must come to me for posing classes. You represent his good name, so he wants to know that you are looking your best at contests.

Tanji Johnson is announcing the "Save the Fitness" campaign. Tanji is going to be putting on workshops for "future" fitness competitors. She will go over every aspect of routine training: strength moves, flexibility, and dance. So many people think they have to be gymnasts to do these contests.....not true. Many of the pros today have NO gymnastics in their routines. Our sport is dying out....we must save it!!! The only way to save it, is to start training up and coming competitors! E-mail Tanji or myself if you are interested.

Well, that's all for tonight my friends:::: I have missed writing! I promise to make it up to you:) Remember.....train hard- no excuses! Love ya,

Tami