Well...it's a grey humid day in Tampa Bay!!!
it's a nice relaxing Sunday after a long day working the HURRICANE BAY bodybuilding show promoted by Tim Gardner. It was an awesome event. Tim pays great attention to detail and his team looked incredible. The physiques, routines, attention to detail are a definate reflection of Tim! I am sure he is proud of them!!!

I expedited this year with Jose Santiago and MIke...they were awesome team mates. The only stressful part of the job was the "technical difficulties " withe sound system....but Jose was right there with a solution to the problem.

It was great meeting new Body Techers and seeing old ones!!!!!

I just love Tampa...looking forward to a day of rest before heading back home and getting ready for the O!!!!!

Check in with me!!!
C

It is another GORGEOUS fall day in the northeast....my tribute to my MOM in Atlantic City was just what I wanted and I am sooo sure she would have been sooo pleased. I was very happy with my physique..I was sooo dry that I really couldn't even function on Friday and the pictures on Musculardevelopment.com don't do me justice....I was shredded!!! Let's face it though...11th place as good as I can be....just way small for the pors....
Thanks to Colette Nelson for helping me keep it into perspective..."we do this for other reasons" (other than winning)...we just have to remember what those reasons are and it is all good! This trip was totally for my mom and she got me at my best...Steve Stone was nice enough to put her picture ont he stage withme and announce me as giving a tribute to my mother...she would have been crying...between the blinged out suit that CJ wanted me to have to the Big Spender routine with voice over to the spicture on the stage...it was perfect....I did get a bit emotional half-way through and forgot what I was doing but I kept moving and Marvelous Melvin said he never would have known...that was sweet coming from him of the MARVELOUS posing!!!! Congrats also to he and Lisa Aukland for their wins in AC...both genuine, down to earth, cool ass people!!!!!

My PROTAN crew worked their tails off!!! Lena joined the crew this weekend and last...poor Mary, Ike was hitting Houston as she was slaving over the sprayer!!!! Thank God upon return home she found things all intact!!! Big Boss Stacy was in town for this showing an dthe PROTAN model search so that was cool...It's always better when he is around.....I am looking forward to the Olympia....

Today I will be jetting off to Tampa to work the Hurricane. I am also guest posing...and to be honest I have not been eating well...I just can't seem to get full...although I have gained back all the weight that I lost for the show already...I am hoping some of it is water!!! It's unusual for me to have problems getting back to eating right ...but then again this year has been all off!!1 I guess I should just take it easy on myself and RELAX!!!! If I don't feel like eating right or don't feel like training or whatever...take a damn breakm, right!!!! I have gotten my cardio in..and I have taught 2 body pump classes!!! so atleast I have done something...I am sore , tight, creaky....my body needs rest!!!!!

I am hoping that while I am down in Tampa I wll be able to get my clients in the book for October as well as plan my vacation back down to Tampa for about a week of rest!!!!!!!

Peace out and enjoy the gorgeous sunshine today!!!
C

It is 9/11....7 years from the fated Twin towers collapse...before I feel blessed for this day I honor the heros and pay omage to the families left behind.....

It is beautiful today...it's sunny, clear, dry and very bright with just a twinge of crispness in the air...you can tell that fall is around the corner...I feel so blessed to be here today on my way to Atlantic City to honor my MOM.

I am waiting for NIcki to get here so we can make the drive down to Jersey. When I decided to do this show (after Tampa) it just seemed like the thing I needed to do. As the process continued and the date drew close I found myself overcome by emtion and missing my Mom. It is so hard to believe that she is gone...she was here with me not a year ago. I was packing snacks and loading her O2 tank in the car and wheelchair and this year...I don't have to deal wiht any of that but there is such a hole in my heart..."was she even here?"...Her purse is still on her dresser with money in it...she never wanted to be without a few dollars in her purse..her things are still all over the house....I don't talk to her every day...it's very strange. I look at pictures from last year and it's almost hard to believe that she was on this earth. I hope she is with me...everyone says she is...maybe she is just having a great time in heaven...I truely miss her...it's so strange how life is here...then GONE!!!! FOREVER GONE!!!!!

So let me enjoy this day, RIGHT NOW!!!! that is really all we have....

Safe travels to all this weekend and enjoy the sun
Ciao
C

Good Morning NYC!!!

I am sitting in the Marriott Downtown where I have spent many a weekend at a Tribeca bodybuilding show as I write this. Out of my window I can see the Statue Of Liberty between 2 big skyscrapers. It's hazy and humid today but very warm. It will never cease to amaze me the wonders that NYC has. Nicki and I drove down yesterday (the time passed so quick with her in the car!) to get ready to work the Team U show. It is spread out as there is no real host hotel and checkins are very informal and held out of a room at the Embassy Suites. Sot here isn't a big fanfare and press converging and all that.

When we went to check in with Stoner and Kimmie Bev Francis was there as well (it's her show afterall) and we started talking about the Ms. Olympia when it was held at the Felt Forum. The joy that lit up her face as she spoke ow this was incredible to see. She is a very humorous engaging woman and it struck me what a special thing I was a part of being able to listen to her up close and personal talk about her competitive years in the mid 80's!!! I am so blessed to be exposed and introduced top the people I have been in this sport. I am really a fan first and competitor second!!!

The numbers are down compared to the last few years but this isn't surprising given the cost of staying in the city. With the way the check-ins were set up we decided to leave some product and go check into our hotel and do cardio. We took a great walk outside through battery park and all up the batter. There are beautiful gardens and walkways and artwork all along the batter, people and family's out with picnics, people walking their dogs, executives outside at the bars after work. It is just full of life. Me and Nicki used out time to catch up and "bond" before busting our butts backstage. It was a nice start to the weekend.

I am going to lay low this weekend except for work...I am really hitting the wall and feel extremely tired and hungry. My muscles and joints are sore...so I know this is almost time to rest now. Hopefully I will get to hang out a bit with Brandie and Tim and that is about it. I also want to have a photo shoot with Dan Ray down at the wall street bull like Kia Greene did in the last MD issue. It was a hot layout with him and the city in the background, all done in black and white!!!! I am in shape enough where it would be impressive and there is no one on the streets on NY Sunday am!!

Well, I guess we get on with the day and see if there will be time to hit the gym before we are backstage with our gloves on!!!!!

Peace
C

GOOD BEAUTIFUL MORNING!!!!!

I've been up since 5..at the gym now on a break between clients and trying to get some work done. I definately seem to get more done when I stay put for a few hours in one place (hard to do these days).

The weather in the northeast the past couple weeks has been soo beautiful...I wished it could be like this EVERYDAY!!!!! I know that some would say if that was the case then I wouldn't appreciate it when it does get nice but believe me ....I would love to give it a try. I am in such a better mood even if I am dog tired when it is beautiful and sunny. How can one person be so driven by the weather!!!!???

I am definately feeling this last couple weeks of prep for the Atlantic City show. My body is just starting to give out on me...my mind wants to keep going but....I guess it's time for a rest.
Huge congrats out to Brandie Gardner for turning pro in Cleveland at the North Americans by winning the overall masters figure!!!! She was BEAUTIFUL!!!! Also big ups to the other mighty one...Lori "Ripitupbaby" Steele...for taking her class. That's 2 for 2 at the national level...you go gurl!!!! On to nationals???? She needs a mental break and then we will see but if she goes to the ATL expect her to give the lightweights a run for their money!!!!!! Also a huge shout out to Darrell Terrell for looking the best he has ever looked under the tuteledge of Tim Gardner. Darrell took a 3rd in a heavily contested class of heavy weights.....Champions all of them!!!

Nicki comes in tonight and we head to NYC for the TEAM U...it will be a big show as always so I better reserve some energy!!!!
I am looking forward to NIcki coming in as she will be staying straight through till the Atlantic City and then we drive down there.

Me? I am really looking forward to a break...I want to be able to sleep until my body is rested and not worry about being on a schedule!!!! I guess I still have the rest of this month before I can do that!!!! I cannot believe that the summer is ending...it is September and almost a whole new year is peaking it's way around the corner! It was only months ago that Mom was still here with us...I miss her so much, the little things she did every day to make my life easier. She was truly interested in everything I did and I gave her a hard time for asking so many questions!! I have been feeling bad about that...all of a sudden I am wondering if I did enough and was enough for her...I never felt that I was when she was alive and even now in her death..."did I do all I should have" for the one and only person who has been truly interested in me and my life....I don't know why these thoughts are entering in my mind???? I guess I just miss her...I get a little teary alot more often....Dad is getting so much older...life can be hard sometimes. You have to "hold on loosely" as my client said to me today....

enjoy these beautiful September days everyone...enjoy your friedns an family EACH day...really that is all we have...THIS MOMENT!!!!!!
Peace
C