But First, Olympic Trials

The Clues

I've said it before.  My husband is really good at giving gifts.

On Christmas morning on of my presents was decent sized gift wrapped box that was so light I thought it was empty.  I shook it and heard something rattling around inside, but what?  He didn't make it easy for me to figure it out.  I opened layers of boxes until I found a curious stack of cards with names on them.  Being the America's Next Top Model fan that I am, I immediately recognized each name as America's Next Top Model winners.  I had to put them in order from 1st ANTM winner to last ANTM winner, flip them over, and then use the pictured clues to discover my gift.  I'm bad at deciphering clues so it took me a while, to figure out that MJ had given me the most amazing gift ever.  Tickets to U.S. Olympic Trials.  Not just for me, but for my mom and my little sister.  It was so cute and thoughtful the way he put it all together.  He knows I love ANTM and gymnastics.

This weekend is bittersweet.  I leave for San Jose today to watch Olympic Trials for my favorite sport with my family.  I'm so so excited, but also sad because when I get back I don't know how much longer I have before MJ leaves.  He could be leaving (or not) any day now and I don't like missing out on whatever time we have left together.  I'm usually the one taking him to the airport so this is weird.  He was supposed to be gone a long time ago so I kind of don't even believe he's leaving.  How can I process it when he's been "leaving" since January and his travel plans are still up in the air as we speak?  I am beyond annoyed by this situation hanging over our heads, but this is how the military operates, and we have no control over any of it.  He knew he might not be able to go to trials with me so he set everything up to make sure that I would, and there aren't words to describe how much I love him for that.

In case you've been hiding under a rock the Olympic Games are next month.  There is a Zika virus alert in Brazil.  The venues are incomplete and they are still working on a much needed rail line to transport the hoards of people that will descend upon on Rio, but the lead up to Sochi was an even greater disaster, and I don't think an Olympic Games has ever been cancelled.  The selection process has begun, teams have been named, and adds have already started airing.  The show must go on.  I've included a few sappy promo clips to get you in the Olympic mood and I challenge you not to tear up.  All three of them got me. I also included an interesting documentary about Bela and Marta Karoly's ranch in Texas that has become the training center for the USA National Team.

I'm going to cry my eyes out when MJ leaves.  Then I'm going to cry my way through the Olympics, but first...Olympic Trials and a fun weekend with my family.  I'm probably be crying at trials too when they announce the team.  For the ones who make it and the ones who don't.  I'm just a big old emotional mess!! 

Look for me on TV.

NBC will carry live coverage of the 2016 U.S. Olympic Trials for women's gymnastics from 9-11 p.m. ET on July 8 & 10. It will be streamed live through NBCOlympics.com and the NBC Live Extra app.  It's on at 8 pm both nights in my neck of the woods-West Coast.

 
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