The World of the Arnold Classic Expo According to Jodi

Gusty, warm winds greeted me as I hopped out of my friend's truck and headed into the DFW International Airport. With luggage checked and my rolling cooler packed with yummy (note the sarcasm) egg whites, all carefully wrapped in plastic sandwich baggies, a bag of frozen strawberries, six-ounce servings of chicken and ground beef, and several packets of Myoplex Lite protein powder, I was set and ready to embark on a busy weekend in chilly Ohio. Luck was on my side. The plane managed to take off and leave Dallas just hours before the winds turned into dark funnel clouds that eventually tortured the Dallas sky.

I actually felt safe on this plane ride. With the bodybuilding industry's freakiest and greatest accompanying on the trip, I knew that either this flight would be making major headlines if an accident were to occur, or I was in lucky hands. Charles Glass, training guru to many of the pros, sat just one row away from me. Lee and Cathy Priest helped to weigh down the back of the plane along with Branch Warren, who has the infamous tree trunks for legs and is reportedly due for a comeback before summer's arrival. Ronnie Coleman's family also filled many of the seats, along with Kevin Myles of www.bodysport.com. A top five heavyweight, by the name of Will, from last year's Nationals also made an appearance. This guy has a physique that is reminiscent of Dave Henry and is hoping to walk in those same footsteps all the way to the pro scene. I do wish him luck, for he seems like a really nice guy with a good head on his shoulders. Needless to say, I was in good company!

The winds pushed us forward and the flight lasted a mere three hours. On my way to the baggage claim, I bumped into our very own board's Stickman. Now, I had met Chad last year at the 2003 Junior Nationals, so it wasn't difficult to recognize him. He stated that he noticed right away I had made changes in my physique and was impressed, and that helped to make me feel very good! Thanks, Chad!

A few more star sightings occurred with the inclusion of Lena Johaneson, who had not been invited to the Arnold this year, and Ironman's Ruth Silverman, a gossip columnist who keeps up with all of the daily happenings in the fitness and figure industry. The day I make it in her column is the day I know I've made it in the bodybuilding world! She still doesn't recognize me, but I hope to change that this year.

As a stupid Texan, I had packed my jacket and instead wore a baby T and jeans. My skin quickly turned a lovely shade of purple and my hair was standing on edge. Ohio was freezing! I should have known that a state in the north would be much colder than a state in the south. No, I'm not blonde! Lol!

After checking into the hotel, I called Gene Carangal and made arrangements for our shoot that evening. I then hopped into the shower and re-did my hair and make up. Gene then arrived at around 7:30 p.m. and we rummaged through my suitcase to find the perfect outfits to use in my hotel room, which was actually quite spacious and had two queen-size beds and a wall of windows that overlooked downtown Columbus. Letting the woman at the desk know that she had the same name as my father definitely broke the ice during check in, and she warmed up instantly and offered that room since it already had a plugged in refrigerator into which I could transfer my food immediately, and it was at no extra cost, even though this room was bigger than the original one I had signed up for.

Gene had several creative ideas that he wanted to act upon, so with the choices made, we got started. I went into the bathroom and slipped on a black thong, fishnet stockings, a black tank top, and black platform stilettos that put me well into the 5' and above range! It's fun to be tall!

We worked through many shots in that outfit, and soon the tank top disappeared and the implied work began. Eventually, I had to return to the bathroom, slip off the black thong, slide the fishnet stockings back on, and return to the shoot. Now, the photos aren't X-rated, but they don't leave much to the imagination! There is one shot that Gene and I really liked, and I can't wait to see it once he has worked on it on the computer! I'm already brainstorming for titles to that gallery!

The next outfit was a babydoll negligee, and the photos were very soft, girlie, and feminine. I do think y'all will like these!

We also did a brief stint with red booty shorts and a matching halter top and red stilettos and then moved to something quite comfortable...a long-sleeved T-shirt and my big and fluffy Tigger slippers. Adorable! I'm a child at heart, you know.

Throughout all of the shoot, Gene took video footage and included some narration from me. He will take the next couple of months to put it all together and create a video clip that will include some very innovative ideas. I won't state too much, but I'm incredibly impressed and excited. On top of all of this, he and I will be working together in Chicago at the Junior Nationals and plan on using the downtown area as our setting. I'm also going to be looking to him to create more video footage and to design my business cards, which I'm in desperate need of.

The shoot came to a close around midnight. I crashed and slept so soundly and deeply that it was a good thing I set the alarm on both the hotel clock and my cell phone. Groggy doesn't even begin to describe how I felt when I awakened Friday morning.

And with that, I'm going to take a break and come back later to describe the events of the Arnold Expo.

Take care!!

Jodi :)