And it's off to another work week! I felt so worn out by the time Friday came along, but I still got all my workouts in last week, so I'm quite pleased with that. And I didn't miss anymore meals either! My title for the job is Transaction Coordinator, which is a big name for a...well...big job. I have a ton of responsbilities and have several computer programs to learn. I worked my way through one of them on my first day. It was actually quite easy. And I went to a training session on another one, and I know I'll figure that one out in no time. I love working on the computer!

I've had some great workouts recently. I felt really inspired by seeing Monica Brant come in so lean and ripped and muscular to the Figure Olympia, and though she didn't take home a first place trophy, in my eyes, she won, for she earned the respect of her fans. That's most important to me. I'm no longer competing to earn a certain placing from a judge. I'm competing to earn respect from myself, and if I continue to go in softer, I won't be happy. I won't be striated and massive like a bodybuilder. That's just asking to lose the show, but I will make sure that I have my conditioning exactly where I want it. I'd much rather be too lean than too fat.

I step onto that soap box so easily, don't I?! Lol!

Hmmm...let me move on to Vegas stuff. Okay, those hotels are humongous. And I'm not saying that because I'm so small. They really are huge! I visited the MGM Grand, which is the largest hotel on the strip and even possibly in America. The Mandalay Bay, where the Olympia was held, was huge and so confusing. I could never find my way around that place. I swear, you turn this way and see slot machines. Turn that way and see more slot machines. Turn another way and see a cloud of smoke and, you guessed it, more slot machines. Speaking of which, the smoke was absolutely awful. I think I have a case of lung cancer after that trip! Every single hotel was filled with smoke.

I went into the Luxor, which I really liked. I saw an IMAX film called, "Haunted Castle." With the 3D goggles on, you felt like you were actually moving. Well, at the Caesar's Palace, there is an IMAX ride where your seat actually does move, and I would have liked for that to have last longer. If I were to visit Vegas again, I would stay at either the Luxor or the Caesar or the New York New York, which was also quite cool with a Coney Island fun park full of arcade machines and a roller coaster, which I did not venture onto but had friends who did and loved it. I seem to be rambling, but there really is no sense of order or organization when talking about Vegas.

And if you want to stick to a diet there, forget it! I can't even begin to discuss the number of all-you-can-eat buffets there are, and the prices are terrific! The Luxor had an excellent one for just $16.99, and had yummy food! And Ceasar's Palace definitely had the best shopping. But I had no money...alas! I did play the slot machines and ended up pretty much even. I just don't see the point of paying money to lose money. That just isn't fun to me.

Where else did I go? The Bellagio has a beautiful show of fountains in front that plays to the tune of a Frank Sinatra song. The Venetian looked incredible, but I didn't get a chance to go inside. It's designed after an Italian city. The Excalibur is pretty cool, but it was one of the smokiest that I visited. And I think that was about it for the hotels I went into.

Will I go back next year? Sure. But I'll stay at the Luxor, which is next door to the Mandalay Bay, and I'll only stay long enough for the actual show. I'd rather spend a vacation on a beach with the warm sun beating down on me and the waves sprinkling water onto my toes and ankles and where they bring drinks to me with umbrellas in them and I can go snorkeling and visit the wildlife and see the natural landscape rather than so much glitz and glam. Vegas is just so overpowering on the mind.

Speaking of the mind, I'm tired and am heading off to bed. I have sprints to do tomorrow evening and a bit of cardio after that, but luckily I have the morning off. My birthday is Saturday, so that'll be my next cheat day. My parents are coming over, and I'm making fajitas, and my mom is making her homemade salsa...yum!

New pictures will be up soon. I sent the captions for the behind the scenes photos for the Junior Nationals to my webmaster, so he should have those finished soon. There are some funny ones! And I do believe there is another photo gallery from Steve Hendrix that will be up along with those.

Thanks for keeping the board active, though I do know there are many more members than there are talkers on that board. Remember...the more, the merrier!

Enjoy your week, and I'll pop in to the journal in a few days!

Jodi :)