no paparazzi, please!

It all started one fateful day in July... I was sunbathing by the pool when host dad told me he needed me to help him run an errand. I ran upstairs put some clothes on (over my swimsuit because I had every intention of going right back out to the pool) and we headed out. I soon found out that we were on our way to pick up host mom's truck from the dealer because she was taking it to NYC later that day. I told Mark (host dad) that I should probably go with her, you know, for moral support. He told me to call her, and she said I could come along! We got back and I had to change out of my swimsuit : ( and start packing : ) . Lynn (host mom) mentioned that it was an open audition, anyone and everyone was invited to show their stuff. Then all of the sudden both Mark and Lynn were trying to convince me to audition. I was like, "Are you people crazy! Heck no!" Then I finally caved and decided it would be a fun experience and I would do it.

We left late that evening and got into NYC at 3AM. There was a issue with check-in, but after we got that resolved we thought we were in the clear. We weren't! Finding a place to park an Excursion in NYC is not the easiest task...

I woke up a few hours later and went for a run... to Central Park.

Then went to Whole Foods and got some coffee.

AND soy!

This was our view, much better in person, but I think you get the idea.

We stayed IN Manhattan. Big deal.

Lynn walked me through all the steps to putting on make-up. It was a pretty intense process, I think i'll stick to the basics.

I insisted on some New York style pizza for lunch.

It was worth it.

My new $5 shades.

Thanks Lynn!!

We arrived at Central Casting early all pretty and ready to make a good impression. They sat us down to fill out some paperwork and then took a "mugshot." After that the woman looking for talent said, "Ok, I am going to play some music and you are going to dance. I want to see how well you can move." Let me just say that I do NOT dance. Ok, I can move my body, but it is VERY awkward.

We left. Lynn said she saw the lady write, "NO" in red pen on her paper.

I left feeling thankful I would never have to see the people in that office again (they were probably thinking the same thing about the awkward moving girl, me).

BUT much to my surprise on I got a phone call that would change my life (haha, jk). Central Casting called and asked if I would be available to be a part of the flashmob. I said, "What exactly do you mean by that?" She reminded me I auditioned for the flashmob (duh!) and told me they were filming on Thursday. I told her I would have to call her back (just playing hard to get...) I told Lynn and she said she got a call too!!!! That was it- we were going back to NY to be in a movie!

We left after soccer practice on Wednesday night around 9PM. We stayed in New Jersey (free, safe parking and only a train away from the city) Little did we know Newark has the most confusing highway system, EVER. We drove around for at least an hour trying to find our hotel. Finally we found it and got to bed at 7AM to wake up again a few hours later to get ready for our BIG DAY!

I'm getting a little worried about the color of my teeth with all this coffee I've been drinking.

So, I brushed.

Last minute prep before we checked in!

Non-SAG check in line.

Broccoli. Really?

Who decorated this place!?

All the flashmob-bers.

Times Square

So many people, so little space.

Ashley Wallen, the choreographer, slightly gay.

They brought out an actor and actress for us to get centered around. I was like, "Are you kidding me!? Who are these people? I'm going to be in a lame movie. GREAT..." Then out walk Justin Timberlake and Mila Kunis. Apparently they have people stand in for them to help figure out camera angles and stuff...?

I took a nap on those steps. Totally against my morals to lay on dirty, nasty public property like that, but at 430AM (my second night of no sleep) I DID NOT care.

thurs:

430 PM- check in Crowne Plaza, right next to the Hershey store in Times Square

530 PM- we met with the choreographer to learn our flashmob dance

6 PM- dinner (well we didn't really have time to eat. we got our plates and then were told to go back to rehearsing.

615 PM- wardrobe check (we were supposed to bring 3 different outfits)

730 PM- headed out to Times Square to start shooting

we got random breaks throughout the night, but they were short lived...

i'd say they probably took around 50 (?)takes of us doing our thing. There was lots of standing and dancing. I was wearing my Toms, which were definitely not the most ideal shoes to stand in for 10 hours straight, but I survived!

5 AM- "that's a wrap" we were finally able to go back to the hotel. they had pizza for us (it'd been too long since i'd had pizza for breakfast) and we checked out.

530AM- Starbucks stop on our way to the train

6AM- Almost missed our train back to NJ

7AM-11AM- SLEEP

12PM-8PM- trek home along the eastern shore

Friends With Benefits is the movie- I have no idea what it's about, but it sounds a little inappropriate.... Hopefully not because I worked hard to hopefully get my face, hand, arm, finger (anything!) in this movie!

it might be time for a real camera...

happy birthday, trygve!

my friend Trygve turned 6 on July 1st. i was in Florida with my family on his big day, so my siblings and i sent him some love via the internet. here's proof of our love:

don't be fooled... it may look bright and sunny in FL, but that's definitely the flash... it rained all 4 days i was down there...

stay tuned for an introduction to my 6yr old friend and his family (i obviously can't share now because #1 this is my 2nd post in one day (actually, hour...) and #2 it's a long story.

on the road again...

VA to Florida (vacation with family)

VA to Colorado (helping my mom and brother drive)

VA to Florida (last soccer game in Tampa)

VA to Pennsylvania (visit the grandparents)

VA to Florida (semi-permanent move...)

July is a busy month for me...

Coffee keeps me going!

my new passion

WAKE BOARDING

i don't know if i love it because: a) i enjoy being in/on the water b) it feels a lot like snowboarding c) i like being sore for days (due to a couple face plants...) d) i got up on my first try. maybe all of the above minus the being sore option... my goal by the end of the summer is to jump the wake- maybe i should try that after season is over...

Mary's Rock

Josh and I packed up the Element and drove 3.5 hrs to the Shenandoah National Park for an adventure in the "mountains."

We had planned to hike Old Rag, but passed the trailhead by 45 min.

(ooops)

After much deliberation we decided to forget Old Rag and conquer Mary's Rock.

When we got to Mary's Rock we missed the trailhead and hiked half the 5 mile route ON THE ROAD!? To make things better, Josh almost stepped on a snake.

Sometimes the unexpected can surprise you.

proud big sister

LISTEN UP.

"don't settle for mediocrity"

There are many disadvantages to living in a town that is mostly 55+. People over the age of 60 should not be able to drive. It's a risk every time i'm on the road with these oldies, ESPECIALLY on my bike. Also, old people can be a bit crabby and stubborn (scratch that... i know some 55- that are a lot more crabby and stubborn...) There are definitely many advantages.... No lines at the self-check out, not many people on the roads past 7pm (the early bird specials are long over by then), and the best of all... lots of wisdom.

On Wednesday's I play volleyball with my grandpa and a random group of people. Surprisingly it is quite a competitive two hours of bumping, setting and spiking. Last Wed a friend of my grandparents asked me about my "foot skills" so I told him I played soccer and was trying out for a team in Boston. He told me that he knows a coach who is somehow connected to the Olympics and he would call her and tell her about me (that's not the important part of the story though... and no, I won't get you tickets to the next Olympics because I won't be in them) This man is amazing- he's 80, a snowbird who splits his time between VA Beach and Sarasota, he still body surfs, and he claims to have invented beach volleyball. He also told me about his many trips all over the world playing and coaching volleyball. Anyway, after 20 min of him telling me about his world travels he said, "Rachel, don't settle for mediocrity in anything you pursue." In that moment I was ready to conquer the world.

I got A Million Miles in a Thousand Years by Donald Miller for Christmas (thanks, Aunt Bev). Not sure why it's taken me this long to read it(maybe because I wanted to read it slowly and consider all the thought provoking points it brings up OR most likely it's because i've been in FL and would rather be active than reading). ANYWAY, this book has also made me want to live a life that is meaningful. To live a story that makes an impact because i'm allowing The Author to "whisper a better story into my consciousness."

I graduated nearly 9 months ago and feel like this new chapter in my life is getting off to a slow start. Part of me wants my life to be normal... To have a job, house, a (tall, dark and handsome) mate, you know all that "normal" stuff. I want that eventually, but i'm so thankful for this time i've had to grow and experience different things. I wouldn't say that I am an overly cautious person, but when it comes to a job or a house or a mate I want to make sure it's a good fit; I don't want to settle for mediocrity. I struggle with expecting perfection in myself, in others, in life- I think the fear of failure is something that has been keeping me from pursuing different things in my life. Don had some good stuff to say about this in chapter 29: "When you stop expecting people to be perfect, you can like them for who they are. And when you stop expecting material possessions to complete you, you'd be surprised at how much pleasure you get in material possessions. And when you stop expecting God to end all your troubles, you'd be surprised how much you like spending time with God."

My aunt (grandma's husband's daughter) who i'm living with is a brilliant woman. She has a doctorate and she's a pharmacist AND she keeps a very clean and neat house, all of which are highly admirable. I love the nights that we sit and talk about life- her successes and failures, politics, religion, marriage, kids... She has imparted a great deal of wisdom to me. Not only that... she's a very good cook.

All that to say, part of me is sad to leave, but most of me is excited for my adventure that lies ahead. I am trying out for a professional soccer team in a week! How many people can say that (after they've spent two months getting tan and fit in paradise)!

Life is good. God is good. Now, get out there and "don't settle for mediocrity."

IMG Academies

SO, tryouts are in 18 days. It's feeling more real now that I am registered and have my plane ticket to Boston. I'm excited. Like really, really excited. I'm pumped to: visit Boston (for the first time), meet Tony DiCicco (coach), play with some talented girls, AND put to my two months of training to the test.

Everyday is different in terms of training, but I will typically workout anywhere from 4-7 hours a day.

Training Log- Sunday January 17

945AM- bike 4.2 mi

1015AM- boxing 1hr

1115AM- bike 4.2 mi

1245PM- bike 3.2 mi

1PM- beach workout:

10 reps: 20 yd dash

8: T agility 40 yds

6: 40 yd dash

4: 300 yd shuttle

2: 20 yd agility

fast foot work

2PM- bike 3.2 mi

4PM- bike 6.3 mi

430PM- PICK UP SOCCER

6PM- bike 6.3

That was definitely my most intense day, but usually I go to a workout class in the AM, maybe a jog in the afternoon and possibly another PM workout. It's hard for me to take a day off because working is all I do; my life basically revolves around it. I've been training on really great surfaces (grass, the place where I workout doubles as a gymnastics gym and the floor is bouncy, the sand is forgiving, and biking) not too much hard surface running.

If nothing else I am going to show up to tryouts fit, but I haven't been playing much. I do my own thing at the field, but I am only playing once a week. There is a place in Bradenton (about 20 min from where i'm living) called IMG Academies. It's world renown (at least among the wealthy) boarding school for athletes. Bollettieri, a famous tennis instructor opened it many years ago as just a tennis academy, now they have baseball, basketball, golf, soccer and football and lacrosse are coming soon.

Pricing:

PAYMENT OPTION #1

TUITION PAYABLE IN FULL ON OR BEFORE AUGUST 1

Available only to participants attending full program from 8-24-09 – 6-5-10

NON-BOARDING $30,180

BOARDING DORM HOUSING $42,540

As you can imagine the campus is pretty pristine- they have great fields/courts, a spa, nutrition clinic, amazing strength and conditioning facility, cafeteria that is supervised by the nutritionist on campus, and LOTS of other things.

So, the other day I decided that I would pay Bollettieri a visit and see if I could maybe train with them for the last 3 weeks that I am here. I thought maybe we could work something out where I could show up with my cleats for an afternoon session and have a little fun. Well, they wanted to charge me $500. haha, no thanks!

(grace, finally... this is why I wore something other than my workout gear)

foam roller

= life/bodySAVER

seriously. it's the next best thing to a massage.

waiting...

God wants you to wait on Him until He is ready to fulfill what He has promised. Waiting times are not wasted times with God.

::Roy Lessin::

Let all that I am wait quietly before God, for my hope is in Him.

::Psalm 62:5::

strengths finder 2.0

when you get a book called, "strengths finder 2.0" for Christmas it's safe to say that someone (or everyone) thinks you need a little bit of a push in the right direction. after my 30 min test i now know my top 5 strengths. DEVELOPER ("you see the potential in others"), EMPATHY ("you can sense the emotions of those around you"), HARMONY ("you look for areas of agreement"), INCLUDER ("stretch the circle wider"), POSITIVITY ("you are generous with praise, quick to smile, and always on the lookout for the positive in the situation"). well, great, i guess there's no denying that i'm very sensitive and like to please people...

these tests are always really hard for me. i'd like to say that i'm really relaxed and like an easy-going life, but i don't know if i am!? one of the questions asked if i'd rather sit and relax or clean. i wanted to cheat, but i had to be honest... i chose clean. oh boy, the truth is out- i SUCK at doing nothing and liking it. i'm an easy-going , structure loving, extroverted introvert who loves to make lists, has OCD tendencies, and likes going with the flow. hmm...

i don't feel much stronger after finding out my top 5- hopefully "strengths finder 3.0" is due out soon- maybe it will have more direction for me.