Okay kids... it's Year in Review time!!!

 

I wasn't sure how to best approach this, so to simplify things I am highlighting month to month - the good, the bad, and the ugly... edited for appropriate content, of course!

 

JANUARY 2006

* Decided I was going to compete in Fitness for the 2006 season

* Got back together with my trainer - Fitness Guru Martha Lombardo

* My gymnastics girls started competing and kicked butt at their VERY first competition in Airdrie

* Started personal training at World Health Club

* Red Deer weekend - wine, vending machines, and eggs benny - fun, fun!

 

FEBRUARY 2006

* I got married on February 4th at a lady's house with just us and our witnesses!!!

* We got our puppy Maggie

* I turned 24

* Adult Gymnastics began at Stampede City - and it's STILL going (promote, promote, promote!!!)

 

MARCH 2006

* Went to Montreal - while dieting - and managed to gain 14 lbs in one weekend (that's a lot of red wine...)

* Noah won the 2006 Alberta Gymnastics Provincial Championships!!!

 

APRIL 2006

* Lots of dieting this month - got into the 150's

* First try at Hot Yoga - so hard!!!

 

MAY 2006

* Sorry - my life is boring when I am in the month before I compete - I think I just trained and dieted all month!!!

* One thing though - Wedding Crasher weekend!

 

JUNE 2006

* Had an emotional breakdown at work!!! Sorry Jared!

* Competed at Provincials - slightly off-peak - placed third in Fitness Tall and qualified for Nationals!

* Highlighted my own hair - NEVER AGAIN!!!

* Volunteered at the Provincial Figure Show and was my friend Mel's personal assistant! So fun!

 

JULY 2006

* Placed Third at Nationals!!! My best placing so far in Fitness - very exciting.

* Gained 35 lbs - said I wouldn't - but totally did!!!

* Lost a good family friend to an unexpected heart attack

* Tried out Capoeira - different and fun!

* Completed my Mount Royal Personal Training Certificate

 

AUGUST 2006

* Got my letter of acceptance to the Arnold Amateur Fitness Competition

* Started my Fitness and Figure seminars at World Health

* Honeymooned in the Mayan Riviera, Mexico

 

SEPTEMBER 2006

* Heather's 25th Birthday...

* Alberta Gymnastics Annual Banquet and Tanis & AP's First Annual E-Town Gongshow

 

OCTOBER 2006

* I lost my wallet... again

* Lethbridge weekend

* Lindsays 19th Birthday (no dot, dot, dot after this one!!!)

 

NOVEMBER 2006

* Started dieting for the Arnold

* Taso turned 36

 

DECEMBER 2006

* Dad turned 50!!!

* World Health Club's Christmas Party - I am glad I still have a job!!!

* Lost a former teammate

* Holly turned 26!

 

I'm sure there was more... but this is what I recall when I think back on the year!!! I didn't expect this year to be all that eventful and I was surprised at how it turned out (in more ways than one!) Anyways, Happy New Year to everyone - be safe and have fun!!! (Do I sound like your mom???)

It's two special birthdays today!!! My dear friend Holly and my baby Maggie's!!! Maggie doesn't read this... so Holly I hope you have a wonderful day today - you deserve it!!! Hopefully we'll get to meet up tonight!

I just learned of some terrible news today...

 

A girl who used to be in my group when I competed in gymnastics named Courtney passed away just before Christmas with her one year old daughter.  I'm not saying we were inseparable best friends, in fact I haven't seen or spoken with her in over two years... but it hit me pretty hard today.

 

Gymnastics was not and is still not an insignificant part of my life. I have spent the greater part of my life in a gymnastics gym, and the memories I have of gymnastics are pretty intense. Despite the petty adolescent fighting and bickering, the bond that a group has who spends 20+ hours a week together over a period of years is unexplainable.

 

My heartfelt wishes go out to her family and friends; what they must be going through right now is unimaginable.

 

Just makes you think. Nobody is guaranteed tomorrow...

 

I know that I take for granted that there will always be another opportunity to right a wrong, or to make up for something. Sometimes there isn't. We're human - and we certainly can't live in fear or with constant regret - but maybe we get wake-up calls once in a while to remind us to appreciate what we have and all the wonderful people in our lives that we get to share each day with.

 

Sorry if that sounds preachy - but right now I know I am guilty of not acknowledging how lucky I am, and how much I have because of the amazing people in my life right now. I have today to thank them for that and let them know that I appreciate them. Courtney does not.

 

So for anyone reading this, thank-you. My life is what it is because of great people. Plain and simple. I hope that one day I can return the favor. 

 

For all you people I snapped at when you whined because it wasn't going to be a white Christmas - remember your despair as you scrape your windshield in the mornings and rush your way onto the Deerfoot only to be stuck in traffic for an hour...

 

It's supposed to snow - and I may have some bitter feelings about that!

 

Anyways - Christmas was good - New Years is just around the corner - and training is still in full force... I'll be glad when 'Tis the Season' is over for all dieting purposes. If it's not all around me 24/7, I feel less deprived! I was spoiled again this Christmas - thanks again to everyone!!! I'll be doing lots of shopping shortly here... And was there a memo sent out that I love Lululemon??? Because I am going to be a very happy girl there for a while!!! Thank-you, thank-you, and thank-you again!!!

 

Slow at the gym this week - good for me trying to burn off the extra Christmas calories that shouldn't have been there in the first place!!! It's tough when you spend holidays with your husband's Greek family... especially when there is baking around. Secretly, I think Greek baking may have had a major influence on why I am married!!! Ha ha! I am not weighing myself until after the holidays - I am not off by too much, but the fluctuations play tricks with my mind, so I am just going to get all my workouts in and follow my diet as closely as humanly possible! I have a weight I have to be at when I see my trainer Martha on January 20th - and my mind will be focussed on that!

 

My music is done for my fitness routine, and I am starting on my routine tonight. I actually feel great about my logistical preparation for this year. After the routine is out of the way I will have my costume, all my suits, and my shoes. I'll just need the bod and we'll be good to go!!! And I promise everyone I will NOT be highlighting my own hair the night before (although it did make for a good and dramatic story!!!) And my competitive Fitness and Figure girls... I'll be harrassing you next month!!! Enjoy your New Years ladies!!!

 

Oh, and I have also added a training section to my site (finally) let me know what you think or what to add - it's just a resource for my clients or anyone starting or working on a program. I am hoping that a certain client of mine (ahem - you know who you are!) can send me a testimonial for next month... he's amazing and I hope he chooses to share!!!

 

 

Soooo, nothing else to report as of yet... I hope everyone is having a fantastic holiday!

Soooo, I just checked the mail and what did I receive as a 2006 Christmas present???

 

How about my wallet that I had lost in Amsterdam in October of 2005!?!

 

Ummmm... thanks? I mean, that's awesome that they sent it back, but I don't have much of a need for it now!!! And that's right, I've had a habit of losing my wallet for a while now!!!

So I just finished coaching at the gym... and I don't work again until Boxing Day!!! What the heck am I going to do??? Don't get me wrong, I am enjoying the thought of these days off far too much - but then I feel obligated to get everything in order as well as I possibly can before it's back to the grind!

 

Number One on the list is to SLEEP! I love sleeping - and these days I can't get enough of it! I am the gym opener every day at 5am, and I love my clients and being at the gym, but it makes for a long day! And my weight fluctuates in a bad way when my sleep cycle is off. I'm burnt out and my body is not being as efficient as it could be - bad news 10 weeks out from competing!

 

Number Two on my list for the weekend is to do a complete overhaul and 'clearing out' of CRAP!!! Boxes and Boxes of junk and old clothes are polluting my home and I just have to let things go that are cluttering my life!

 

Number Three - I need to go back to Hot Yoga - I've been meaning to for too long. Hopefully there's a class tomorrow.

 

That's the plan so far... I don't want to waste this time off - but I am aware that I may need some rest and relaxation in my life as well! Thankfully I was finished my Christmas shopping so long ago though - driving near the malls today - it was disgusting!!! Have fun, boys!

Hard to believe, isn't it??? I'm not stressing... of course I got all my shopping done and got everything out of the way... I only face parking lots and malls if I absolutely have to!!! I'm dieting - so the Christmas party phase is said and done - thanks World Health Club - it was a fun night for my last hurrah! And PS - there will be no pictures posted from that night, so quit checking!

 

The gymnastic club had their party yesterday. My kids and their families spoil me every year, and they are so cute too (most of the time ;)) they had some pictures put in a card - and on the card attached to the bag they wrote To Tanis - From your little nightmares!!! Too funny! I also got a jacket from the club that looks fantastic! The embroidery is great and it's actually a jacket I would wear when I am not coaching... unlike some past years!!! There was this great one in the early 90's... when fluorescent was SOOOOO cool!!!

 

And Kylie's back! Yay!!! And I LOVE her Nebraska accent!

This is cute...

 

Kids say the Darndest Things

(1) You got to find somebody who likes the same stuff. Like, if you like sports, she should like it that you like sports, and she should keep the chips and dip coming.
– Alan, age 10

(2) No person really decides before they grow up who they’re going to marry. God decides it all way before, and you get to find out later who you’re stuck with.
– Kristen, age 10

WHAT IS THE RIGHT AGE TO GET MARRIED?

(1) Twenty-three is the best age because you know the person FOREVER by then.
– Camille, age 10

(2) No age is good to get married at. You got to be a fool to get married.
- Freddie, age 6

HOW CAN A STRANGER TELL IF TWO PEOPLE ARE MARRIED?

(1) You might have to guess, based on whether they are yelling at the same kids.
– Derrick, age 8

WHAT DO YOU THINK YOUR MOM AND DAD HAVE IN COMMON?

(1) Both don’t want any more kids.
– Lori, age 8

WHAT DO MOST PEOPLE DO ON A DATE?

(1) Dates are for having fun, and people should use them to get to know each other. Even boys have something to say if you listen long enough.
– Lynnette, age 8

(2) On the first date, they just tell each other lies and that usually gets them interested enough to go for a second date.
– Martin, age 10

WHAT WOULD YOU DO ON A FIRST DATE THAT WAS TURNING SOUR?

(1) I’d run home and play dead. The next day I would call all the newspapers and make sure they wrote about me in all the dead columns.
– Craig, age 9

WHEN IS IT OKAY TO KISS SOMEONE?

(1) When they’re rich.
– Pam, age 7

(2) The law says you have to be eighteen, so I wouldn’t want to mess with that.
- - Curt, age 7

IS IT BETTER TO BE SINGLE OR MARRIED?

(1) I don’t know which is better, but I’ll tell you one thing. I’m never going to have sex with my wife. I don’t want to be all grossed out.
- Theodore, age 8

(2 ) It’s better for girls to be single but not for boys. Boys need someone to clean up after them.
– Anita, age 9

HOW WOULD THE WORLD BE DIFFERENT IF PEOPLE DIDN’T GET MARRIED?

(1 ) There sure would be a lot of kids to explain, wouldn’t there?
– Kelvin, age 8

And the #1 Favorite is……..

HOW WOULD YOU MAKE A MARRIAGE WORK?

(1 ) Tell your wife that she looks pretty, even if she looks like a truck.
– Ricky, age 10