Pittsburgh: Day 1

After a slight 5-hour detour in Richmond, we arrived in Pittsburgh at 10:00 p.m. last night. The detour is a result of my co-competitors' car losing oil pressure and dieing on the 295 interchange. Waited for 1 hour for the tow truck...waited 4 hours at the Ford dealership to hear it wasn't fixable...waited 30 minutes to rent a car. Ugh....but we made it.


Started off the morning with a shower, shave, and exfoliation, followed by coat 1 of JanTana. After that dried, I went to the host hotel to check in, get my badge, and scope out the competition. #262 is my contestant number....and how cool is this? Psalm 26:2 says, "Examine me, O Lord, and prove me; Try my mind and my heart." (Thanks to an amazing friend for this affirmation). :D

I'll talk more about my photoshoot later....because it is worth spending time describing. I will say that I felt like the most beautiful woman in the world. Jeff Binns was the photographer, and he got some tremendous pics. Can't wait to post them!! After the shoot, I met 3 more photographers, and I have 2 more shoots set for Sunday morning. COOL!!!

I'm about to get my 2nd and 3rd coats of JanTana in a few minutes...just returned from watching my friend compete in the Men's Masters prejudging. Never in my life have I seen so many bodybuilders in one place!! The classes were HUGE!! Not sure what that means for figure, but it doesn't matter. It's my dream, darnit. lol

Speaking of dreams, I have to say a word to my good friend and client, Suzie. She is competing in her first figure comp tomorrow morning. I started working with her about 4 weeks ago to help her prepare for this amazing first-time experience on stage. Over the last 6 months, she has lost a good deal of weight and has made tremendous changes. But I know she's scared right now. It is frightening, doing this thing we do. There are girls who will blow her away, and there are girls that SHE will blow away. One never knows...but I'm so freakin' proud of her. This is her dream....and I want her to show the world exactly how far she has come. Placing or no placing...trophy or no trophy...she is a winner!! GO...SUZIE!!

And now, it's time for me to prepare for myself. I'm excited, nervous, anxious, and oh so tired. But I feel good about tomorrow. The venue is interesting: a ballroom with a stage. Much different than the auditoriums I'm used to competing in. And there are high-rise stairs for me to climb...IN HEELS. Oh, gee-wiz. lol

Day 1 is complete. Day 2 is yet to come.

For His glory....always, for His glory.