This is the journal of

AMANDA WILLIAMS

February 28
Dear Diary,
everything is going well. Our topo team kicked butt at the tri meet, they won by a huge margin, i'm so proud of them. I think i'm competing later this week and i'm really excited. I haven't been to a comp for a while, so i'm probably a bit rusty, but hopefully experience will take over on the day
Love Amanda

February 21
Dear Diary,
training went pretty well today although my wrists are a bit sore. I think i've been doing too many roundoff backflips! I'm going to head down to Grandma Bennis so she can give me some lotion to put on them and then i've got a tonne of homework to do. Who knew maths could be so demanding?
Love Amanda

February 20
Dear Diary
we just got the results of the squads alive meet back. Opilly won against Pop, although we did have the advantage of a couple of extra girls. I think i came fourth overall with an aa score of 35.85. Tomorrow we face off against Lilly, who won against Tiger. I hope we can do well.
love Amanda

February 15
Dear Diary,
sorry i haven't writtne for so long. It seems like everytime i write to you i'm apologising. Well, i really have no excuses, i just plain can't be bothered. Nothing much has been going on, i'm pretty bored. I have to admit i've been pretty slack in training lately. Better snap to it if i want to be competitive when topo is updated. Anyway, off to do more v snaps
Love Amanda

February 12
Dear diary,
sorry i haven't written in so long, but i really couldn't be bothered. Things are going well at the moment, coach lois has been really busy, i hope she can catch up, but i understand how hard this must be for her. Anyways, i got to go
Love Amanda

February 7
Dear Diary,
Sorry i haven't written for so long, but i've been really busy at school and training. We had a couple of essays due for english, we only had one night to do it and these were like 1000 word essays! anyway, i'd better go, i have some training to catch up on and can't think of anything to say
Love Amanda

February 2
Dear Diary,
hey, i'm so tired today. I couldn't get to sleep and then i had to wake up early because i wanted to get in some extra conditioning before the squad workout started. I'm doing pretty well, the squads alive meet has been postponed for now, which is pretty good from my point of view. As much as i love competing, too much of it leaves me tired and stressed sometimes.
Love Amanda

February 1
Dear Diary,
wow, it's already February, i can't believe nearly a month has passed since i came back to Topo. I'm so much into the swing of things it feels like i never left. We've gotten the results of the Bridgeview meet. Topo didn't do too well. Topo 2, the team i was on came 5th, but we still beat the other Topo Team, Yay! I got 9.250 9.525 9.450 9.250 for a total of 37.475, which i have to say is an improvement on my previous scores this year. Anyways, i've got to go
Love Amanda

January 30
Dear Diary,
wow, i'm so stressed at the moment. You would not believe the day i've had. First, i stacked nearly everything in training, i just couldn't stick. Eventually, Coach Michael told me to just forget about training today and go get myself together mentally, whatever... Then, i got dizzy trying to do my english reading on the bus and was carsick the rest of the way into town, i slipped on the snow and was late to class, i got a detention. There was a hair in my food at lunch, eww. The heating was broken in my maths class and then, i whacked my head on the glass door!
Maybe i'll have better luck tomorrow
Love Amanda

January 20
Dear Diary,
sorry i haven't written for so long, but i've been kind of busy. In a way, it's a good thing because Coach Lois is falling behind a bit and me not sending stuff in will probably end up being a good thing for her. I don't really have any news, training is going well, as is school. I'm having fun and plan to do something with my friends this weekend. Anyway, i better go
Love Amanda

Jan 27
Dear Diary,
sorry i haven't written in so long, but i had a huge poetry assignment due in english so i've been concentrating on pouring my thoughts into that. I think i did pretty well on it, but some of the poems were pretty lame as i couldn't think of anything to say. I ended up writing a whole lot of stuff about gym and presser, training and blisters etc. It's not all true, but hey, its called poetic license. I hope she buys it. Anyways, i've gotta go, i'm going to check the calendar to see when i go to Bridgeview.
Love Amanda

January 23
Dear Diary,
not much to report today, like most days, my life is so boring! Anyways, i today went like most days in my life went. Slept through my alarm, went to breakfast, training, shower, change, bus, school......ugggggggggg. In other news, at lunch a really scary dog came onto campus. It was growling, snarling and biting peoples shirts and stuff. Finally, the pound was called and not a moment too soon, cause i swear it was ready to attack! I'm glad my doggy, Putz, isn't like that. He's so friendly when you let him off the leash he lets anybody pet him with a wag of his tail
Love Amanda

January 22
Dear Diary,
hey, nothing much to report today. I had a good workout but am having trouble with bars. I really need to get my sv up but i just don't know what to do! I'm constantly thinking up new skills and combos but am unsure if i have the ability to execute them consistantly. I'm going to ask the coaches for help if i can remember. In other news, i seem to have developed a bout of insomnia. No matter how early, or how late i go to bed, i just can't seem to get to sleep. When i finally do, i'm awoken by my alarm what seems like seconds later and am tired the rest of the day! Maybe i should invest in some sleeping pills or warm milk
Love Amanda

January 21
Dear Diary,
hi, wow i'm tired today. I overslept, luckily ash noticed i wasn't awake and screamed at me until i got up. I only just made it into morning training, lucky i wasn't late. Coach Michael hates it when we're tardy. Anyway, it went pretty well and i tried out a new combination i'm thinking of using in my bar routine. It goes clear hip 1/2, giant 1 1/2, giant 1/1, gienger, pak. It felt a bit weird, but i think i got the hang of it in the end. Anyways, i'd better get going, i have a tonne of homework to do.
love Amanda

January 20
Dear Diary,
nothing much to report today. I'm getting back into the swing of things since returning to Topo. I had a good training session today before heading off to school. I didn't miss much while i was away but we're doing number planes and polygraphs in maths and i don't really understand it. So i 'm going to see a tutor in study break today. I've always been an average student, but it's getting into the business end of my studies now. I really have to pick up my grade point average if i want to seriously consider having a good pick at college.
Love Amanda

January 19
Dear Diary,
well, we got the results for the TGF. I didn't do as well as i wanted to. I came 26th out of a field of 29. At least i didn't come last, right? Anyway, i scored a 9.300 8.600 9.200 9.175 for a total of 36.275. I don't know if i made any finals, but we'll just have to wait and see. The topo team did pretty well though. My room mate, ash, came 3rd in the junior field. And topo seniors sarah, jennie and eva swept the senior field. They came 1,2,3, respectively. Well, i'm sure one of them made the finals so i'm gonna go cheer them on. GOooooooooooooo topo!
Love Amanda

January 18
Dear Diary,
well, day 1 of competition of the Texas Flyers Invitational is over. I was a little nervous but hopefully i've done alright. Let's hope i made some finals and can improve my standing on the second day. In other news, i've just received word that i'm going to be competing in a new meet. It's the Bridgeview Classic Invitation in New York! There are two topo teams, i'm in one with Ash, Elizabeth, Alyssa, Kelly and Jennie. The alternate is Em and our coach is Michael. I'm also fourth in the rankings, my highest placing since my return to Topo. I'm really excited
Love Amanda

January 17
Dear Diary,
I am writing this from my room in Houston. Yes, i'm here at Texas about to compete in the first round of the Flyers Invitational. The trip over was alright, i slept most of the way and the room i have is nice. You can see right across the city, it's a beautiful view. I've just been to my morning training session and the gym is fabulous. Very modern, great equipment, although it still doesn't measure up to Topo. I'm really excited about competiting here. It will be a chance to showcase my new routines and see what the other girls have to show for themselves
Love Amanda

January 16
Dear Diary,
Well, today was my last training session at the gym before the team heads out to Houston for the Texas Flyers Invitational. I'm really excited as this competition will be the first time i perform my new routines. I'm looking forward to seeing how i do and seeing how everyone reacts to them. Anyways, it looks like a get to miss out on another day of school! Which, believe me, is not a bad thing. Although i will miss my friends. Because the competition runs for more than one day i won't be able to catch up with them on the weekend either. But i'm still young, there's plenty of time for that
Love Amanda

January 15
Dear Diary,
Guess what! I got selected to compete in the Texas Flyers Invitational. I'm really pleased because you could only get in if you reaced a certain amount of points and this proves that my work is paying off. I had a pretty good training session today, although i do have to work on my leaps and flexibility. I'm a bit tired at the moment though and one of my friends called yesterday to warn me there might be a pop quiz in history so i crammed on the bus. Luckily i think i went alright. I'd better go, i'm starving and i can smell the food from my room. mmmmmmm looks like meat loaf tonight
Love Amanda

January 14
Dear Diary,
wow, am i tired today! I had a long workout and only just made it onto the bus for school. Luckily, i was able to catch some zzzs and finish my breakfast on the way. School went alright, i got a new lab partner, his name is Mike Hunt. Everyone pays him out because of it. But he seems really nice. I seriously don't know what his parents were thinking when they named him though! Anyways, we had to do this experiment with copper sulfate and some girl got it in her eye! It went puffed up and it was all red! poor girl. Anyways, i got to go
Mike Hunt.........hehehe
Love Amanda

January 13
Dear Diary,
well, my parents drove back yesterday and i miss them already, but it definitely was a boost to my self esteem to have them here for the weekend. In other news, i returned to school today. Everyone else started a week ago, but i was having private tutoring to try and catch up with what everyone else was doing while i was in chicago. It was great to see all my friends again, although i must admit i didn't miss the cafeteria food that much. So much has happened since i've left. We've got a whole bunch of new teachers and students and my group has expanded so much. I'm looking forward to meeting and getting to know everyone again.
love Amanda

January 12
Dear Diary,
hey! i've just finished training and i'm running late to meet my folks so this will be a quick one! Guess what! I've FINALLY decided on what to do for my routines. In bars, i'm chaning my giant 1 1/2 to a stalder 1/2 to el grip but im still unsure whether to do the bi because then i might be over bonus. On beam, i've changed my front aerial rulfolva combo to a front aerial back tuck. This just makes it easier for me and i've also added a tuck jump full. Anyways, enough gym talk, today me and my folks are going ice skating at the local rink. Angie is also going and she's going to show me her ice hocky moves!
Love Amanda

January 11
Dear Diary,
Hey! guess what? I just found out what squad i'm in. I've been placed in the Opilly Squad. Our coach is Michael Klacie and my team mates are Elizabeth Jarvis, Brittany Maddux, Lindsey Matthews, Shannon Rowling, Keshira Smith, and Emily Yim. I'm really excited because they are all great girls and i'm sure we can do well and have a successful year as a team. In other news, my family arrived today. They watched me train and then we went into town for lunch. We spent the day chatting and catching up, we even made snow angels...dorky yes, yet strangely fun and bonding. Anyway, they're staying the night in a hotel and i'll catch up with them tomorrow
Love Amanda

January 10
Dear Diary,
wow, i'm so tired at the moment, even though i went to bed really early, i couldn't actually get to sleep until around 1 and i'm really sleepy now! Workout went well and did a whole heap to wake me up but i got sleepy again as we were cooling down. Anyways, in other news, i'm really looking forward to my family coming, they arrive tomorrow. My sister tells me that in the off season (she doesn't compete swimming in winter) she's taken up ice hockey. Which she should be really good at considering how violent she can be sometimes.....hehe. I'm sure she'll do well though, the local team hasn't won a championship since 1990 and they need a couple of good enforcers. Hopefully, this will be their season.
love Amanda

January 9
Dear Diary,
Guess what! we got the results of the interquad back and i placed 9th. I got a 9.400 9.100 9.475 8.850 on vault, bars, beam and floor respectively for a total of 36.825. I'm really happy, although a whole lot of luck probably had a part in my top ten finish, i'm glad that i proved to myself that i can still mix it with the best and am now looking forward to moving into the top 6, hopefully.....fingers crossed. Anyways, moving onto other news, my family is plannign to come up and visit in a few days and i'm really excited to see them again. I've missed them a heap and am looking forward to showing them my new dorm and the new and improved topo!
Love Amanda

January 8
Dear Diary,
Wow, i can't believe how nervous i am today. It's my first intersquad back as a Topo gymnast and i have to admit i'm feeling the pressure a little bit. I'm really hope i do alright, i know i've been training pretty well, so that helps, but there's always that feeling, that feeling in the pit of your stomach that you're going to stack every routine. But i'm concentrating on pushing that out of my mind at the moment, so what if i don't come first, i'd be really happy with a top 10 finish, but with the way the forms are working at the moment, i don't even know if that is possible. Anyways, positive thoughts
Love Amanda

January 7
Dear Diary,
I have some exciting news today. I've moved dorms. I don't exactly know why, but i don't really mind which dorm i'm in, i'm just happy to be back at Topo. It's a good thing i didn't really have time to unpack, cuz then i didn't have much trouble moving. My new room mate is Ashley Cardiff. She is new to the gym, i haven't had that much time to talk to her, because we're all so busy training, but she seems nice. To other news, i think i might be coming down with a virus. My glands are really swollen and it hurts to eat sometimes, but it might just be a cold. I'm just going to take some cough medicine and go grab some of Grandma Benni's famous chicken soup just to be sure
Love Amanda

January 6
Dear Diary,
i really can't think of that much to say today, so this entry will be pretty short. I'll start by telling you what i did today. I got up early for training, we started the day off with a jog, outside, in the cold! But it was so pretty i actually started to enjoy it. can you belive it? me, enjoying jogging? We also had a killer strength workout, my abs are burning, but the definition of my six pack is coming back. I can't wait till summer when i can show it off! Okay, that sounded really gay. Anyways, i better go, i have a lot of studying to do.
Love Amanda

January 5
Dear Diary,
It's my second day back and with each passing moment i'm beginning to remember why i love this place and this sport so much in the first place. Training is still hard, but it's getting easier with each repitition. I still have to change my bar routine, i'm thinking of putting in a stalder 1/2 to el grip instead of the giant one and a half. That'll fulful all my requirements and i think i'll be starting out of a 10 too. There are a lot of new faces here and it's really great getting to know everyone again. Anyway, i better go, there's a game of keepings off going on and it's calling my name.
Love Amanda

January 4
wow it's been a long time since i've written. I guess I'll start by telling you what i've been doing in my time off. Well, after Topo closed i was feeling a bit disillusioned about my career. I hadn't had a very good year and after constant training since the age of five really needed a break. So i went back home to chicago and spent the better half of a year acting like a "normal" kid. I still went to the gym though, to keep my fitness levels up, but i have to admit at that time i was seriously contemplating quitting. But then, Coach Lois called with the news that Topo was reopening and i just couldn't resist giving it one last crack. So, I'm back. I know i'm older and admitedly much unfitter than most of the girls here but deep down i know i can make this work. I had my first training session today! WOW, i'd forgotten how much elite gymnastics takes out of you. Give me a couple of weeks though and i think i'll get back in the swing of things........i think. I still have to make some fine tunings to my routines. My bars is missing a special requirement, but other than that i think i'm out of a 10 on everything. Anyway, got to go catch up with everyone.
Love Amanda

---

August 18
Dear Diary,
well, we got the results for last week's intersquad. I came eleventh, which i think is a pretty fair assessment because i really didn't do that much last week. We're all anxiously awaiting the play by play commentary for nationals which will be coming up over the weekened. I'm so excited, i really hope i managed to pull it all together and come up with a good, solid score, but if i didn't i can understand why. anyway, i've got to go, i'm really tired and i need to catch up on some zeees. got to go,
Love Amanda

August 10
Dear Diary,
sorry i didn't write yesterday, i was in such a rush. we had the senior comp, i hope i did well, then almost straight after we had to fly back for the apparatus masters. guess what! i'm 16!!!!!!!!!!! woohoo, my family met me at the airport and i drove back with them. they're going to watch me in the comps and then drive back in a couple of days. i'm so excited, of course the celebrations will have to be toned down a bit, i have to compete the next day! but this morning they took me out for breakfast after morning training, it was really beautiful. wohooooooooooooo!
Love Amanda

August 8
Dear Diary,
well, it's my first day here in Paris, pronouced without the s, hehe. it's really wonderful, we're cheering on the girls competiting in the junior comp and preparing for the senior comp ourselves. i've been working really hard, i really want to do well in this meet, especially because i did so poorly in the last one. i really want to show everyone that i'm still competitive, even though there are a lot of younger girls coming though. oh well, i guess it just depends on what happens on the day! anywyas, i've got to go. this city is so beautiful, i want to see some more!
Love Amanda

August 7
Dear Diary,
i'm writing this on the plane to paris. very exciting. so far there has been no turbulance and i don't think anyone has been sick. i got the results back for the Tropical Storms meet, i didn't do so well i got 27th place with scores of 8.95, 8.7, 8.3 and 9.150 for a total of 35.1. quite a disappointing meet, i didn't make any finals, but jennie won the aa, so i'm very happy for her, good to see a topo gymnast walk away with the title. hopefully, i'll do better in in the senior paris meet. i'm still working on changing my routines by the way. 3 days until i'm 16!!!
Love Amanda

August 4
Dear Diary,
what exciting news to tell. i'm upgrading almost all of my routines, so at the moment, i'm in the process of thinking up new skills that i could do and piecing it all together so that it's a 10. i love doing this, cuz sometimes i get bored without a change and some of my routines are getting a bit awkward to do. anyway, i'm thinking of starting up my website....again. i know i do this a million times, but oh well, it's quite amusing for me for a while, then i get sick of it and never update. oh well, who cares? off to work on the codes and stuff
Love Amanda

August 3
Dear Diary,
i do apologise for being so slack with my journal entries these days. it's not that i'm really that busy, it's more like i just can't be bothered! besides, there really hasn't been that many interesting things to have happened to me. i'm really tired, even though i slept nearly 10 hours today. maybe i have an iron deficiency or something. mmmmmmmmmmmm i really feel like some meatloaf, but alas, our cafeteria makes none. i've just had a couple of pieces of salami, mmmmm i love salami. now i feel like some cheese. i am ruled by my stomach!
Love Amanda

August 2
Dear Diary,
hey, wow is this going to be a busy week for me! i've just looked at my schedule and it is jam packe! first of all, we leave for Paris tomorrow! paris, can you believe it, me in france? then we come back in time for apparatus masters, which i hope to be in and you'll never guess, but that comp is on my birthday! i can't believe i'm going to be sweet sixteen, my family can come up for the comp and for the night and i can FINALLY drive! my dad's rule, can't drive till i'm 16. i've also petitioned to compete in US nationals, which promise to be very exciting!
4 days until i'm 16
Love Amanda

August 1
Dear Diary
ouch, it's me! god, sometimes my friends can be so annoying. the ouch i've written refers to my shoulder. Imagine having at least 20 of your friends do the "pinch and a punch for the first day of the month" to you at different intervals today. it's not pretty, i think i'm actually getting a bruise. oh well, at least i got them back, even if they said the "and a slip and a slap you can't do it back" part. anyways, that's probably the most exciting thing in my day today. how boring! i've got to go now, my stomach is rumbling and the food in the cafeteria smells great.
Love Amanda

July 31
Dear Diary,
hey, two months of summer already gone. wow, doesn't the time fly? i can't believe i'm going to be one of the upper classmen at school. how weird? of course, i'm still going to be the shortest one in class! Sometimes i HATE being short, but it comes in handy at home when i say i'm too short to reach the shelf and dust, here though, there can be no excuse, there's always a stool lying around. Anyway, i've got to go. we've just decided what to get my friend for her birthday, but i'll tell you another time.
Love Amanda

July 30
Dear Diary,
ahhhhhhh, the hassles of present buying. it's my friend chrissy's birthday in a couple of days. i've been racking my brain for what to get her. since me and my other friend are a bit short on cash, we decided to combine what little money we had to get her something decent. the problem is, what? so far, we're thinking a photo frame, maybe a poster. i know she needs a wallet or a hand bag, but i think her parents are getting her that. i know she doesn't want a CD, so that leaves me with little options. i've gotta go call my friend to run through ideas
Love Amanda

July 29
Dear Diary,
Well, after a solid night's rest, i'm feeling much better. i went easy at training and didn't do as much conditioning. arika was really understanding though, she's been so sweet. I'm so excited though cuz IRL, i've been watching the commonwealth games. and australia is winning!!! Yay. only i don't know if i missed the AA, cuz i fell asleep.
Anyway, i've gtg
Love Amanda

July 28
Dear Diary,
Today STUNK. Training stunk, and to tell you the truth, I stunk. Maybe it's because I puked a little on myself! A digusting confession: I NEARLY BLEW CHUNKS ALL OVER ARIKA'S BED! (Yikes!) On the brighter side, I feel *way* better now. I was talking to my cousin from Australia and she was telling me all about the food she had been eating (it was her birthday and they had a feast/banquet type thing to celebrate. Of course, this only made me fell worse. Thinking about it now, makes me feeel awful. Well, I better go...I need to find Arika and explain about the damp spots on the floor...
Love, (sick-as-a-dog) Amanda

July 27
Dear Diary,
i'm so sorry for not having written for so long, but a lot of stuff has been going on. My friend, Jane, just got dumped by her boyfriend and all us girls have been rallying around her, trying to cheer her up. he is such scum, she deserves so much better. she caught him making out with another girl at HER birthday party. she spent the rest of the night crying in the bathroom, i can't believe he did that to her. If i was bigger and not so afraid of getting beaten, i'd go give him a piece of my mind. anywyas, got to go do some more cheering up.
Love Amanda

July 25
Dear Diary,
hey, i had a pretty tough workout today, but that's alright. no pain no gain, right? anyway, we got the results for the intersquad back today. good results for me, not so good for opilly. we came last out of the squads, the first time this has happened this year i think. although, we didn't have sarah, so all scores had to count, although i guess that's really no excuse. i came 10th, which i'm really happy about, i think it's the highest i've been ranked all year. i hope i can continue to improve. damn, i just wrote a really good workout, only my computer is stuffed so it won't send. guess it's the slacker workout for me today
Love Amanda

July 24
Dear Diary,
i am sooooooooo tired today. i must admit, i went to bed pretty late and then i couldn't get to sleep for ages cuz it was SOO hot. but i managed to and before i knew it, it was morning again and i had to drag myself out of bed for workout. then i was so buggered i didn't want to do anything else excpet lie on the floor and sunbake while my friends went totally hyper around me. i must have zonked out cuz i woke up with a major tan!
GTG catch up on some zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzs
Love Amanda

July 23
Dear Diary,
hey. well, the summer is nearly over and i'm sort of bummed out. i never want to go back to school, but i realise life would get pretty boring without it. Me and my friends are really trying to think of what we want to be. kristen wants to be a teacher, emily wants to be a dentist and Vicky is convinced she's going to be a fashion designer at one of the leading coture houses! i really don't know what i'm going to be. A judge maybe, or a coach. but i'm starting to think that maybe there's more to life than gym. Not that i'm thinking of quitting or anything, i'm just thinking.
Love Amanda

July 21
Dear Diary,
hey, sorry i didn't write yesterday, but i was kind of busy. Guess what, i'm trying to re open my website. as you'll all have noticed, the link doesn't work so right now i'm just working on getting everything together and hopefully pretty soon i'll have a brand new site to show for it! Anyways, i've got to go, the workout today was pretty gruelling and my friend Kristen said i could go over for a dip in her pool. Woohoo, relaxing cool waters here i come! i'll give anything to get out of this heat.
Love Amanda

July 19
Dear Diary,
i feel like such a lazy slob today. but hey, it's the summer and i'm entitled to do whatever i want! so, i got up to do my training, then went straight back to bed! i slept for a couple of hours, then watched soap operas for a while until i had lunch and then did my afternoon workout. it felt great to remain so inactive for once. i could do it everyday if i wasn't training. but i know that it's probably bad for me, but a nice day of lounging around is good for ME every once in a while.
Anyways, i've got to go
Love Amanda

July 18
Dear Diary,
hey, i feel so alive today. after a brief morning workout, i decided to go exploring. me and my friends found a path in town before and we didn't know where it went. so today, we all took a picnic lunch and went down it, just to see where it led to. it turns out, it's a path to the park! you come out near those leafy greey trees just beside the sandpit! it was so exciting, but sometimes scary. even though we know nothing would ever happen to us, we still act like little girls sometimes. anyway, i'm back now and my ears sting. like they need to be popped. i'm gonna go lie down.
Love Amanda

July 17
Dear Diary,
well, we got the results for Sunday's intersquad yesterday. i'm afraid i didn't do very well. opilly won and i'm happy about that, but i finished in a dismal 20th place. oh well, i'm thinking now, the only place i can go is up! Anyways, i better head out, i want to go do some jogging to improve my endurance.
See ya
Amanda

July 9
Dear Diary
Sorry i haven't written for a while. there was a bit of a family emergence back in Chicago. my doggy got run over and he had to have an emergency operation, so i flew back to see him. i know it sounds like i went a bit overboard for a dog, but he really is just like part of the family. i can't remember if exactly how long i went away for. maybe it hasn't even been a week, if so, i'll feel really stupid cuz i sent coach all these messages saying it's alright if she kicked me off the gym and stuff. oh well, i'm back now, but very sore after workout! i guess i'm just gonna have to get used to it
Love Amanda

July 7
Dear diary,
hey, sorry i haven't written in a while, things have just been a bit hectic. i think i'm developing an allergy to dust or something. my neck is really itchy and my eyes have gone all puffy. i went down to grandma benni today to get some eye drops and moisturisor but it's still pretty bad. i think i'm just gonna go wash my eye out now.
Love Amanda

July 5
Dear Diary,
hey, i feel so guilty. i made one of my friends cry. i must sound like such a bitch. we have this little rapport, me and her. we do a lot of play fighting and i guess in hindsight, i do annoy her a lot. but it's only because she's such a good friend to me. i guess today i must have pushed it to far. i pulled out her hair and then she ran off and when i went to give her back her hair tie she started crying. i feel so bad, i didn't mean to upset her. i hope she can forgive me. she said it was alright, but i just have this feeling things will never be the same again.
Love Amanda

July 4
Dear Diary,
well, today was independence day! it was great to wake up this morning. there were red, white and blue streamers everywhere and when i went into town there were american flags hanging proudly from many a town window. it's great to see all this community spirit going around. i even got caught up in it myself and i found myself holding back a few tears when we sang the national anthem. the fireworks were so beautiful. we watched them from a top the hill. so many different colors. sometimes it felt like the lights were falling down on us!
Love Amanda

July 3
Dear Diary,
boy, did a lot of exciting things happen this afternoon. coach lois got attacked, well not really attacked by the pop squad snake. apparently it was crawling around the practice gym and gave her quite a scare! from now on, no live animals are allowed in the gym. oh well, i guess this will help us to concentrate on our gym! i'm so excited, all the girls from the moscow gym are coming to visit us this afternoon. then we'll have a sleepover tomorrow night! it will be great to see them all again. i made some good friends on our brief trip to Moscow.
Love Amanda

July 2
Dear Diary,
we got the scores back from the intersquad, i got a 37.375. i'm happy cuz i improved since last comp.
i'm so tired, i slept in today. my alarm didn't go off! arika came in to wake me, she didn't even notice i wasn't up. i always sleep with my head under the covers, so it's hard to tell whether it's me or if i just didn't make my bed! awwwwwwwwwww, i'm so hungry, i feel like a juicy hamburger mmmmmmmmm. i'm gonna go into town and get one. i wish the cafeteria still served them, but i guess the health kick is good for us.
Love Amanda

July 1
Dear Diary,
well, we're officially into the later half of the year. it's the first day of july and finally i'm starting to get back in synch with myself. my gymnastics is getting back on track, i'm finally mastering my new code routines and this summer break is really rejuvinating me. i'm planning to work really hard when school starts in september. it's time to start thinking about my future, i guess. i don't know, it's just always seemed so planned out, gym at topo and then a scholarship at university. but i'm starting to realise life isn't as simple as that
Love Amanda

June 30
Dear Diary,
hey, well today was the big day! we spent most of the afternoon decorating jen's pool and preparing the food. it took longer than we expected, but the end result was great! very hawaiiany. heaps of people showed up and it was great to see everyone again. i hadn't seen so many faces since we'd got out from school. the music was great and so was the food. everyone had a great time. there was one funny incident where a girl had her period and someone pushed her into the pool. her bikini turned red! pretty funny, but not for her, i guess.
Love Amanda

June 28
Dear Diary,
we got the results back for our intersquad! i came tenth and i'm soooooooooo happy. it's been a while since i've actually improved my ranking and i'm wrapped! it's so great, i'm sure i'll have so much fun this weekend! the party is in full swing and so far it feels like the whole grade is coming! everyone is super excited. jen is really looking forward to seeing everyone again. oops, that's the phone, i have to go and try to calm her down. she was hyperventilating last time i saw here!!
GTG
Love AManda

June 26
Dear Diary,
we got the results for the intersquad back today! Opilly came in second. i got 13th aa, which i'm a bit disappointed about, but i got a good beam score and i'm happy about that as i've been worried about that apparatus lately. Opilly scored a 186.275 more than a point behind Tiger. I got 36.875. oh well, i guess i'm still in a "building" period. whatever that means. anyways, gtg call my friends about the par-tay!!! it's going ahead this weekend good thing the intersquad's on friday so i won't have to go to bed early!
Love Amanda

June 25
Dear Diary,
nothing much to report today. it was actually pretty boring. after training, i had a nap and i woke up with a MASSIVE headache. so, i took a panadol and went to bed and i've only just woken up! wow, i've been asleep since 1 o clock this afternoon. that is a WHOLE lot of nap time.
well, gtg call my friends. see what they got up to today
Love Amanda

June 24
Dear Diary,
i'm so tired today. i went to visit my friends and we spent the entire day walking around town. my feet kill! anyway, we bought some stuff for the party and we drew up some invitations. then we went to visit my friend, who was working. her dad owns a local hardware shop, so we got all the nails to hang up our streamers for free!
GTG
Love Amanda

June 23
Dear Diary,
well, we're back at topo after a very enjoyable comp at the pet power festival. we're still waiting for the resutls, but i'm hoping i can improve on my ranking of 11 at last week's intersquad. it was so sad to say goodbye to all those wonderful people i met and the fantastic pets we sponsored. it was so fulfilling to see someone adopt my sponsored pet. a rabbit called Zealand. i hope he'll be very happy at his new home. His new owners seem like great people. they own a farm in kentucky. i hope he has fun running through those famous green fields.
Love Amanda

June 22
Dear Diary,
well, i'm here at the pet power intersquad and i'm having a great time! today, we got to go to the fesitval and see all of our sponsored pets! it was so much fun. i've met so many wonderful people here. i'm glad we're supporting a good cause. the competition is tonight and i'm a bit worried about my performance. i'm gonna go and train really hard and try to VISUALISE doing a good job!
gtg
Love Amanda

June 21
Dear Diary,
i'm writing this as all of us topo gymnasts journey to hamilton. we're so happy to be a part of this pet power meet. i hope to improve my ranking, but i don't think i will as i missed a couple of workouts this week. i'm so looking forward to meeting my pet, a fat bunny! i love rabbits, they're so cute! especially fat ones! i'm looking forward to the bbq we're getting tonight. it's gonna be so fun and i'm gonna wear my new skirt! and i can't wait for the meat and kebabs!
gtg call my friends about the hawiian party
love amanda
PS. wish me luck for the meet

June 20
Dear Diary,
i'm so bored at the moment. i have nothing to do and no one to do it with. most of my friends have gone away for the summer. lucky them, sometimes i wish i could go on a holiday, but i know that all this work will be worth it some day. anyways, my other friends and i are planning a massive pool party! my friend jen has a pool in her yard and we're gonna have this whole hawaiian lay theme. there's gonna be hula dancing and funky music. i can't wait. i'll keep you updated on the plans. right now, i have to go for a jog!
Love ya
Amanda

June 19
Dear Diary,
we got back to topo a couple of days ago. i'm feeling pretty good, but still a little tired. we had our first squad workout today. alyssa has joined opilly and tia has moved away. i'm disappointed to see such a talented gymnast go, but alyssa is great and i'm sure we can do better next intersquad! i came 17th overall and 11th out of the topo gymnasts. that's pretty much where i've been all year, but i'm still a little disappointed. i got an 8.75, 8.75, 9.65, 9.8)for a total of 36.95. i'm going to work really hard to get my form back.
Love Amanda

June 18
Dear Diary,
sorry i haven't written for a couple of days. i've just been swept away by the excitement of Moscow. We haven't got much time untill we'll have to go home again. :( oh well, i guess it will be good to be back at topo. my team for the intersquad is Lindsey Matthews, Ling Lan,Melina Melinskova, Emily Yim. we haven't got the results yet. Hopefully, we'll do well.
Love Amanda

June 15
Dear Diary,
today is the day before the big comp. teams are being announced soon, i wonder who i'll be with? We had another great day in russia. we had lunch at a trendy cafe and dinner in a hip club/restaurant. afterwards, we went to see the Swan Lake. it was so beautiful. if i wasn't a gymnast, i'd love to be a ballerina. i'm extremely nervous about the competition. hopefully, i'll get over it
Love Amanda

June 14
Dear Diary,
we had another gruelling session with the russian coaches today. but i'm getting used to their coaching tecniques and actually starting to enjoy it. we also had a banquet, which was really fun. we got the full russian meal treatment. there were so many courses and so many dishes to choose from! there were also some speeches and stuff. then we went to see i am sam. it was funny to see the american actors speaking russian! the mouths didn't quite match up to the words!
Love Amanda

June 12
Dear Diary,
today, we had our first actual training session with the russian coaches. it was so cool. their way of doing things was a little different, but a change is always good! i made some friends and went into the city with them. it was great. like one big adventure!
Love Amanda

June 11th
Dear Diary,
we got the scores back from our summerfest meet. here are mine 9.650 9.325 9.200 8.900 37.075 for the order of vt, ub, bb and floor, i think. i did pretty well, although floor really let me down. i must do more work on that.
Gtg
Love Amanda
mmmmmmmmmmmmm i feel like some cake. mmmmmmmm, cake.

June 10th
Dear Diary,
Sorry i didn't write yesterday, but i was so caught up in the hustle and bussle. we arrived in moscow yesterday. it's so nice here and everyone is so welcoming. the gym here will be our home until friday and i'm so excited cause i've never been to russia before. the language and culture is so interesting. got some results back from the summerfest. opilly got 3rd as a team overall, i couldn't find my results on the aa, so i guess i mustn't have done very well. oh well
Love Amanda

June 8
Dear Diary,
there was nothing to do today so after training, i spent time working on my web page. i know the link isn't working in my dorm and that's cuz i deleted my old one. i'm trying to make a new one at the moment, but i'm a bit too lazy to get it started plus i'm scared of all that copy right stuff. my teacher in info tech was saying all this stuf about how the owner of the picture can sue you and stuff like that and it really made me think.
anyway, gtg
Love Amanda

June 7
Dear Diary,
hey, guess what you know how i told you about the interview for the paper! well, it's been published. i sent a copy to my family and my mom said she was gonna frame it, how embarressing! oh well, it was a lot of fun and it was so interesting to read about my team mates. well, i've got to go, my friend Susie came over and we're gonna go play on the trampolines for a while then head over to town and go swimming!
Love Amanda

June 6
Dear Diary,
i'm pretty bored at the moment. i'm writing this as my friend tries on bikinis. she's been in there for 15 minutes now. i'm so bored. we've been shopping for over 2 hours and been in at least a dozen shops. i'm getting a headache, i wish she'd hurry up. but i guess i shouldn't complain, you should see me when i need to buy something! i'll just keep waiting here, it's not so bad, i wouldn't have had time to write to you otherwise. hang on, a girl i know just walked in so i'm gonna go talk to her.
Cya
love Amanda

June 5
Dear Diary
we got the results for the intersquad back. i came 8th! i'm so happy, it's a big improvement for me and it shows that if i work hard, i can achieve my goals. unfortunately, opilly could only manage 2nd this week, i guess our run had to come to an end some how. this shows that we shouldn't rest on our laurels, whatever that means. We need to keep on working hard and stay united as a team. Coach Lois has mentioned this great meet we're participating in. it's to raise funds for abandoned pets. we all got to sponser one. i got a bunny, it's so cute, i hope it gets adopted by a good family soon.
love Amanda

June 4
Dear Diary,
I have had a great day today! I got up in the morning and my squad mates and i were all very excited to see an interview from a sports journalist taped up. i've never been interviewed for anything before, i can't wait to read the article, my mom and dad will be so proud! hopefully, i didn't say anything too stupid. anyways, i'm off to see my friends. we're gonna go horseriding at her ranch and then for a picnic. i can't wait, her mom makes the best bbq.
See ya later
Amanda

June 3
Dear Diary,
we got the results back for the duel meet against woodland. i got 6th overall, which i'm not disappointed with as it was a tough day for me. i'm really happy with vault though, i got a 9.675 average which is fantastic! i haven't scored that high in ages and vault has been one of my weaker apparatus lately, but who cares, i hit and i won, well tied won that event.. WOOOOO HOOOOOO. i fell on my double double but that's a pretty new skill, so i'm not that suprised! topo came in second, which is unfortunate, but i'm sure we'll do better next time.
till next time
Amanda

June 1
Dear Diary,
nothing much going on with me. i had a good training today and i went to see Star Wars with my friend. OMG, it was so embarressing, she kept yelling out, "marry me Hayden" during the movie. people were staring at us, it was not good. i had to duck behind the seat, i swear, i'm never taking her out in public again!
gtg
Love Amanda

May 31
Dear Diary,
hey, i'm feeling a little down today. the intersquad is tomorrow and i really don't feel at my best. i had a bit of a bummer day in training today, i kept on falling and i couldn't work out what was wrong, it was really frustrating for me as usally i can fix what it is. hopefully, i'll pull through and opilly can come up with another win tomorrow! on the up news, school is out and i'm gonna go hang with my friends tommorow. an entire summer of freedom, i can't wait for the sleep ins.
Love Amanda

May 30
Dear Diary
hey, wow, i'm on such a high today. my friend's mom brought their new puppy to school today. it's sooooooo cute and so playful. i got a few scratches though, but it's still the sweetest thing you've ever seen. It makes me miss Putz even more, i wish i could go home, but i'm too busy training at the moment. i think it's time for my family to come up and visit me again.
Love Amanda

May 28
Dear Diary,
hey. guess what, i got selected to compete in the woodland duel meet. i'm so excited, i'm gonna try work really hard to be in top form for the comp. i'd better send in my routines too!
alright
gtg
Amanda

May 27
Dear Diary,
we got the results for our intersqaud today. i came 12th, which is about the same as last week, maybe a place lower. so i know what i have to do to improve my ranking. no excuses. tia won again, congrats to her and so did opilly. i guess it helps to have so many talented gymnasts on my squad, it will certainly inspire me to try and lift my standard this week. gtg
Love Amanda

May 26
Dear Diary,
Sorry, i haven't written lately. i have this really important science poster due soon and i've only just started it. so far, i've only done the heading and the border, which took me at least an hour! oh well, it has to look good i suppose. anyways, got to go to the library to look up potassium. could it get any more boring? stupid science teacher. well, got to get started
Love Amanda

May 22
Dear Diary,
hey, sorry i haven't been writing much lately. i'm sorry to be so neglectful, it's not like anything much has been happening, i'm just being lazy! anyways, opilly won the intersquad. YAY US!!! i came 11th, which i normally would be disappointe about, but i know i didn't really try my hardest last week, so i'm ok with that. the disappointing thing is, i've missed out on competing in the duel against snowflake. by one or two places, so i'm a bit down about that. i haven't represented topo in ages, so that is my new goal!
See ya
Amanda

May 16
Dear Diary,
So sorry i haven't written for so long. I've been on a bit of a break. Topo was closed for spring renovations, so i went to Hawke to train for the meantime. And silly me forgot to pack you! don't worry though, nothing much has happened since i last talked to you. i'm so glad to be back at topo, things are a little different, but i think the change is for the best. I gtg
See ya
Amanda

March 24
Dear Diary,
Hey, guess what! while one of my friends is finding misery in her job another one of my friends is finding happiness! She just got offered an interview to work at view. which is like where i get all of my clothes from. It's the coolest shop and they pay heaps, so she's really wrapt.
GTG
Assignments to do
Love Amanda

March 23
Dear Diary,
Hey, nothing much happening. My friend just rang and she's really pissed off. She just got fired from her job for no particular reason. Well, anyway, she can only work on weekends cuz she's too busy with school and stuff so she asked her boss, but he refused. she couldn't work weekdays so he told her to work until the end of the week, then "cease to be employed" there. What a tightarse. But she wanted to quit anyway, so now she got her wish!
GTG
Love Amanda

March 22
Dear Diary,
i feel so sick today. i skipped lunch, then ate it at 4, then i did a really hard workout and then i had a bbq lunch with my friends. now i feel full, but not full. Do you know what i mean? anyway, i have two assignments due next week and i gotta start them.
Love Amanda

March 21
Dear Diary,
i had heaps of fun today, i finished my media assignment. THank GOD!!! but we stuffed up a bit, we forgot to put music on with our audio dubbing, so now we just have to play it when we show it. the teacher said it wouldn't matter though, anyways, nothing much happening here. i got selected for the buny hop classic. which is good. a bunny, i want a bunny, they're so cute and fluffy. i'm make mine extra fat and it would follow me around everywhere. i miss my doggy, it's extra fat too, but he's all the way over in chicago.
Goodbye
Amanda

March 20
Dear diary,
wow, it's been a long time! coach is back from the clinic now and she's updating all the time, it's really fun! i'm so relieved today cuz i spend a good part of last night frantically writing my english essay and i got it finished in time to hand it in. I'm so happy, it was so hard, hardly anyone understood it, but i think i did a good job. Anyway, i've got a media doco due tomorrow and i haven't finished it. But it's not really my fault, i haven't done media before and i've been away a lot. No one else has finished it either, so i hope we get an extension.
Love Amanda

March 7
Dear Diary,
nothing much to report today. my tooth hurts for some reason, so i'm gonna lay off the sweets today. I have nothing to say, so i'm gonna go. By the way, the chicks that had a fight the other day both got suspended. It was so funny, both of them brought their lawyer dads in to try and get out of it, but they should have thought about it before they launched into a full scale attack in front of half a dozen teachers!!!
Love Mandy

March 5
Dear Diary,
Sorry i haven't writtne i ages, i've been really busy with school and stuff. I've been neglecting my training a bit and i'm really disappointed with myself. I'm in 7th in the ranking and i'm lucky i haven't slipped down to last. I'm trying to fit everything in, but it's hard, being a sophmore is tough and even though my program is slightly easier due to gym, i'm still doing it hard. I'm gonna catch up with everything this weekend and keep on top of things!!!
Love Amanda

March 4
Dear Diary,
I'm so tired, i had a late night last night, but suprisingly, it didn't affect my training. I know that's all i've been saying lately, that i'm tired and stuff and if you could talk, you'd probably be screaming just go to be earlier. But i don't care if i'm tired, cuz i have a free tomorrow morning, so i don't have to go to school till 10 and that means............. i can sleep in!!! Anyways, nothing much is happening, there was a big bitch fight in the toilets, over a bag. Kasey had just bought Alison's bag and they had a big fight about kasey being a tag along and shit like that. it was really funny, only i was so busy watching it, i missed my bus home so was late to arvo training. it was worth it though
Love Amanda

March 3
Dear Diary,
I'm so tired, i really want to go to sleep, but i know that if i go to sleep, i won't be able to sleep. Am i making any sense here? yep, i didn't think i was. i don't think i have any homework, but i have a feeling i'm missing something. i'm just feeling all over the place today. training didn't go that well, yurchenko doubles were a little off and i just couldn't concentrate. i left early, there was no point in me doing anything cuz it was just so c#ap. anyways, i gtg, i'm hungry and i feel like some soft drink.
Love Amanda

March 2
Dear Diary,
hey, i'm sooooooo stressed at the moment. i have a film review to do on apollo 13, but i wasn't exactly paying attention to the movie. I can't go all the way into town to rent it, cuz i've got to train, so i need someone to tell me the plot pronto. Of course i know the story of the moon, disaster, yadda yadda yadda. But i need info on the lighting and sound and stuff. I'm gonna go on the net to see and i'll ask some of the girls too.
Love Amanda

March 1
Dear Diary,
A pinch and a punch for the first day of the month. Yes, February is over and a new month has begun. What have i achieved? Well, i placed in the top ten at the classic, so now i have time to consolidate my routines for worlds trials. I was lucky to make it in, but now i'm pretty bored, so i'm gonna do something else. Sorry for being so inconsistant with the writing, i've had a lot of assignments to do
Love Amanda

February 26
Dear Diary,
well, it's rotation three of the topo classic and i've dropped back to 8. I know i shouldn't be disappointed, cuz i didn't train as hard as i should have in the lead up, but it still gets to me. I know i can do better, so i'm just hoping i can pull it together in the final rotation. I've got to go talk to coach about my routines.
See ya
Love Amanda

February 25
Dear Diary,
i missed writing to you yesterday, and i'm really sorry, but i had sooo much work to catch up on, plus competiting in the classic, so something had to give. I'm sure you understood though, seeing you're not even alive. Anyways, i was tied fourth with jess at the classic after the first rotation. I only scored in the high eights for beam in the second, though, so i'm not sure how i'll fare then. I have a suspicion that coach is actually using my new old code routines, not my new new code routines, so i'll fix that up after the comp.
GTG
LOve amanda

February 23
Dear Diary,
well, i had such a good night's sleep last night and the best workout this morning as a result! My vaults are going so well, after three days break, i'm really happy about that. I'm doing my yurhcenko one and a halfs so easily i'm upgrading to yurchenko doubles soon. I can already do them into the pit pretty well, so i just have to do a few more drills and practices to get them good enough to try on a crash mat.
I gtg
Love Amanda

February 22
Dear Diary,
Well, i'm back from camp and boy am i buggered! I didn't get much sleep, so i had a nap on the way back and another one before my workout. I didn't do as much cuz i was really tired, boy, i didn't think going hiking would be that tough!!! Camp was fun though, we stayed up and told ghost stories and gossiped about girl stuff. My friends are soooooo obsessed! the food was okay, not much can be said about string beans and brussel sprouts! We were bored one day, so we made up the boys! they looked so funny with lipstick and eyeshadow! So much has happened since i came back. i found out that sarah hughs won the figure skating, slutskya came second and kwan came third. I wanted kwan to win, but it didn't happen. Sarah deserved it anyway.
Well, gtg
i need sleep!!!!!!!!!!!
love amanda

February 19
Dear Diary,
I'm so excited at the moment. I guess i kind of neglected to tell you, everythings been going so fast. But anyway, i'm going on camp. I got back just in time to book a place. It's gonna be so cool, we're going over to the snow!!! It's gonna be so much fun, i mean, it's snowing over here, but still, it's a mountain. I'm planning to learn some snowboarding tricks, the winter olympics have inspired me. hehe So, this will be the ast thing you hear from me for a while.
See ya
Love amanda

February 18
Dear Diary,
Guess what, i'm number 5 in the rankings!!! Yay, i've achieved my first goal sooner than i thought. my aim now is trying to be consistantly in the top 8. Boy, my mouth hurts, i accidentaly bit the side of it while i was chewing, it bled and now it stings. i can't eat, which is good and bad i suppose. Good cuz i've been eating too many sweets lately and bad because it hurts to eat and i'm missing out on all the nutritious food!
gtg
Love amanda

February 15
Dear diary,
hey, i had the most fantastic day. My school had a social, so i went!! it was so much fun, i got dressed up really nicely and i went with a whole bunch of friends. the music was great and the decorations were fantastic. they even had a smoke machine and one of those light things. it's been ages since i've been able to just let my hair down and it was great to be able to go out with my friends.
GTG
Love Amanda

February 13
Dear Diary,
nothing much happened today. I'm soooooo tired though, training was tough and i had a late night last night. I couldn't sleep, i had a ton of homework, so i had to stay up late. It was pretty chilly as well, so i had my electric blanket on to 3 and 5 blankets on top of me too!!!
Anyway, i gtg

it's valentines tomorrow, i bet the whole school will be filled with roses!!!
Coolio
Amanda

Feburary 12
Dear Diary,
it's my second day back and i'm finding things a bit tough. I guess it's just hard getting back into the swing of things. At the moment, i'm placed third last, i guess it's really up to me to turn the tables around, i'll just wait to see what happens when the points are cleard next week. I'm gradually easing myself back into training, i'm doing a lot of strength work, building up my muscles and some dance stuff too. i'm back to doing my required workouts, but i'm not going to do extra workouts for a while, i don't want to push myself too hard. I've got a tonne of homework to do.
Love amanda

February 11
Dear Diary,
Who is it?.........it's Amanda. Yes amanda williams, i'm back........finally. Chicken pox was hell, but i'm really glad i'm back now. So many interesting things happened while i was gone. Like, TOPO WON GOLD AT THE OLYMPICS. Can you believe it, i'm actually a gold medallist. I'm so happy, it's like all my dreams come true. Now that that goal is out of the way, my next obstacle is getting into the hall of fame. I have to be in more competitions to get more points, which means i have to train really hard. But i have to pace myself, cuz my immune system is still a bit down. And yes, i do have some scars. Battle scars from my spots.
hehe
Amanda

January 18
Dear Diary,
this will be my last entry for a while. I got back from the Canadian Cup and i felt really quesy. I thought it was just nerves, but it wasn't. I went straight to the doctor when i got back and he confirmed i had chicken pox. i'm going home and my mom's going to take care of me for a while. All my family's had it except for me, so they're all imune. I can't stay here incase i infect anyone and i think i'll be taking a couple of weeks off just to let my body fight the infection. I don't want to push myself and wear my body down. Well, i've got to go
A feverish and soon to be spotty Amanda

January 17
Dear Diary,
well, today's the day of the canadian cup. I've just done my morning workout and i'm trying to keep loose at the moment by jogging on the spot. The competition starts soon. i'm visualising my routines at the moment. My hair is a disaster, it went all frizzy, so i had to put a tonne of hairspray in it, my head feels like a rock. But i guess, i should be concentrating on my gymnastics. Anyway, onto other things. On the plane ride over i felt a bit queasy, i still do a bit now, it must be nerves, i hope i can kick it off in the competition.
Love Amanda

January 16
Dear Diary,
hey, well, i'm pretty bored today. I have a massive headache, well, not really, it's just that i'm a bit tired today. Anyway, moving on, i made the team for the Canadian Cup. It's part of the illusion invitational series, i only just made it though, cuz i'm number 5 in the rankings and there are only five spots in the team. So i'm pretty happy i get to compete. Now that the olympics are over, my goal is to get into the hall of fame. I don't know how many points you need to get in, i must be a long way off, so every competition counts.
love Amanda

January 15
Dear Diary,
Hey, well, my mouth really hurts. I got an ulcer and now whenever my teeth rub against it, it stings. I'm putting medicine that will numb it on soon. Anyway, school is harder than i thought it would be. The first day i got back i got the "you're growing up, think about your future" speech. It got me thinkings, i've decided i want to get no lower than a B all semester. It'll wear me out trying to do it, but if i don't got the smarts, what have i got? A gym career that will end when i get injured or when my body can't handle it anymore? Enough being down on myself. I'll deal with that when it happens, one step at a time
Love Amanda

January 14
Dear Diary,
well, everyone got really annoyed at me cuz i wouldn't stop singing my song. But i can't help it, i love it so much. Once again, it goes "moustache, monobrow...................turkey neck" and repeat. Hehehehe, it's sooooooooooooo funny lalalal. I'm pretty hyper at the moment. Guess what!!! Today, they had these cool giant cookies in the cafeteria. seriously, they're like as big as your hand and one inch thick. I managed to eat one quarter, my friend had the rest. It was soooooo yummy, the choc chips were the best.!
Love Amanda

January 13
Dear Diary,
Hey, guess what, i made up a song! It goes moustache, monobrow...............turkey neck. It's really funny, well, it must be only funny to me cuz i made it up while i was really hyper. I kept laughing and siniging outloud. Everyone was staring at me, they probably thought i was crazy, but i don't care because i made up a funny song. Mounstache, monobrow..................turkey neck. It doesn't look funny in writing, but it is, you had to be there. Anyway, i had a massive know it my hair this morning, it took me 15 minutes to get it out!!
love Amanda

January 12
Dear Diary,
Hey, i got pretty bored so i curled my hair and then i slept with the curlers and left them on for a while and then i took it out and i had such an afro! and then i got bored and brushed it out. It took so long and so much hair came out, boy that hurt, then it like went 10cm bigger. It was sooooooo funny, i can't imagine how people with curly hair manage, i mean straight/wavy hair is hard enough. Anyway, as you can see, i have nothing to do, i better go train or something, lalalal, i'm so bored i'm so bored. lalala, ok, i'm leaving now
Amanda

January 11
Dear Diary,
Hey, guess what, TOPO placed third at the illusion internationl meet. I'm really happy about that, i think i got a 37.8 all around, which is alright, though i didn't make the all around finals. I think i came fifth in the floor finals though. i'm really happy about that, i've been working really hard on that apparatus and everything is starting to come together. I'm pretty bored now, my eye is really itchy. It's gone all red, puffy and veiny so i'm going to go wash it out. Hopefully it will go back to normal after that.
Love Amanda

January 10
Dear Diary,
Well, it's been a trying day today. After morning workout, it was straight off to the airport and onto a plane for the illusion international in Canada. I was really excited, as were all of my team mates. I've only been to Canada a couple of times, so i was really excited about going again. The plane trip went alright, excpet for a little pocket of turbulance and the food. The airport was chaos, so many people and all the waiting. But our hotel is great and there are so many people waiting to see us compete, i can't wait, i hope i do well.
:Love Amanda

January 9
Dear Diary,
Well, i'm up to number 4 in the rankings, but i probably won't stay there too long! anyway, i'm gonna stop complaining cuz anyone who's reading this is probably getting really annoyed. Anyway, i'm going to a the first in a series of meets called the illusion international. we all get to compete AA, so that should be fun. i'm really looking forward to competiting, I want to prove to everyone that my selection into the olympic team was no fluke! Anyway, since i've just started back at school, i have a lot of work to do. everything is going to be so hard now after that break.
Love Amanda

January 8
Dear Diary,
I've decided to take things a little bit easier for myself from now on. I'm only going to do required workout and diary and maybe letters home too. I just don't see the point when i'm working my @@##$ off and i'm still down the bottom of the rankings. I know i sound like a total pratt, but anyways. I also know that there are less people in the gym so even if i'm 8th, it seems much lower. But, i'm just going to see how my ranking goes with me just doing this. I'll probably change my mind pretty soon. I just feel like with the olympics over, i have no motivation. But i'm determined to make the hall of fame. Because after i retire, i want to be remembered.
Love Amanda

January 7
Dear Diary,
Well, the olympics are over, they're gone. what great memories i had though, i'll always remember. When i'm an old lady, i'll be able to tell my grandkids that once, i was one of the best, i went to the olympics. Oh well, the closing ceremony was so fantastic. All the teams came out for a march on, then there were the fireworks, the music, the floats. it was so great, i'll never forget it, i spent most of the time recording it with my video camera. i had such a great time, i wish i could go back, but oh well. I'm still waiting for the results. I've slipped to 8 in the rankings, everyone must be working really hard, i'll just try to keep being consistant.
Love Amanda

January 6
Dear Diary,
hey, i wanted some down time after competition, so i hired Remember the Titans to relax me! I love that movie, but it's so sad how.............don't worry, i won't tell you what happens, even though you're not real so you won't really care. I was watching survivor too. Noooooo, Teresa got voted out. Oh well, at least all the Boran members are going into the final, that's the team i backed, i can't believe they got through, i always pick the losing teams. GO BIG TOM woooo hooooooooo. Anyway, i gtg check if the final results are up yet. I bet they're not
Love amanda

January 5
Dear Diary,
Hey, Guess what! I just found out that topo qualified second into the finals of the olympics! I'm so excited, i trained really hard today so i can help my team to maybe a one better placing in the finals. Fate may be on our side too, Topo qualified second into the worlds final and then came out and won! Let's hope history repeats itself. Anyway, i've got to go. My mom and dad want to know how i've done and my sister won't stop bugging me until i tell her every single detail about the competition. I wonder if i've qualified to AA?
Love Amanda

January 4
Dear Diary,
Well, it's the second last day of the olympics, i think. It's silly of me really to not know the schedule, but you know how i can be sometimes. anyway, i have just been informed that the results of rotation 1 and 2 have been up. Isn't it amazing, i must be so doey, but i just realised we're in rotation 3 so we won't be up yet, i think! Anyways, i really should start checking the ifga more often.
Anyways, i gtg, by the way, i had a great night's sleep, i feel refreshed.
Love amanda

January 3
Dear Diary,
Wow, what a busy past couple of days i've had. The olympics are finally here, we don't know how we did, we probably won't know for a long time, but i hope i've don't well. We've still got three days of competition to go anyway. i'm so tired, i was so excited these past couple of days i could hardly sleep, not good for gymnastics! I'm just going to go to bed early and hope i can sleep it off. Anyways, got to go, i have to hit the pillow.
Love amanda

December 31
Dear Diary,
HAPPY NEW YEAR. Well well well, the time has come for me to say, "Goodbye to 2001 and Hello to 2002" It just amazes me how fast the past year has flown by. I can remember myself, a young 14 year old, standing at Topo. and now, a year later, i'm practically a veteran!!! I love new years, i love the sparklers and the fireworks, and the singing! i love how everyone's happy, united. I love seeing that silver ball drop and i love the unified counting, 10,9,8,7,6,5,4,3,2,1 HAPPY NEW YEAR. Oh well, my new year's resoloution is to keep working hard and to stay positive. Help me remember it
love amanda

December 30
dear diary,
well, the last two rotations of the prep meet have been posted. I'm happy with my performance overall. For vault, i earned an average of around 9.475. That's really good, seeing as my vaults are only out of 9.8 anyway. For bars, i earned my highest score, a 9.625. My hardwork on that apparatus must be paying off. I was a little confused though, because the report said i didn't have a 10 SV, but i'm sure the routine i sent in had a 10 SV. Maybe Coach hasn't got my routines yet and is still using my OLD OLD ones. I don't want to send anymore in though, in case she already has them. Oh well, i'll wait a couple of days and see what i'm going to do. new years is soon. I can't wait.
Love amanda

December 29
Dear Diary,
hey, today we had an olympic prep meet. the topo olympic team against some of our squad mates. so far, only two apparatus are up, or maybe that was all we did, i'm a bit confused. anyway, the olypmic team won, yay!!! but i didn't do too well individually. i got a 9.525 on beam, the highest score, i think. i was reasonably pleased with that, although i thought i could have done better. My floor really was my downfall though. i scored only in the 9.2s on one of my fave apparatus. i don't know what went wrong, but i did extra sets of it in practice today and i think it's better now
love amanda

December 28
dear diary,
hey, gosh, my fingers hurt. i got bored today, so i decided to paint a landscape. i went outside, sat down and painted the snowflakes falling down onto the snow. i held the paint brush so tight i nearly got cramps!!! i can't say the painting is good, art is not my forte, but it's better than previous attempts. anyway, i'm waiting for it to dry so i can hang it up, my pride and joy hehe. anyways, i'm second that's so great. i can't believe it, but it's really close, there's one point between me and jess, she's third. well, i gtg
love amanda

December 27
dear diary,
i had an absoloutly fantastic training session today. i did my yurchenko double fulls so many times it hurt! i didn't get them right around on most gos, but 5 times out of 100 they were okay!!! My beam and bars are okay, floor is good. I have to keep focussed. I can't remember when olympics are, but they are soon and i have to be ready, i have to do well, i will do well. Anyways, i gtg. My friend Kirstin is having relationship problems and she's always asking me for advice, and my sister and friends back home want to know all the goss about what's happening here.
love amanda

December 26
dear diary,
well, today's boxing day. that's when we're supposed to open our presents, but who can wait that long? i'm pretty bored, but training is going well. i realy want to do well in these olympics, so i have to start working a little bit harder. i'm number 5 in the rankings now, i want to stay in the top 7. that's my goal. although, maybe i should set it a bit harder, maybe top 5. but i can get too lazy sometimes. oh well, top 7 it is. i've had a lots of sweets today, so i have to eat a healthy dinner to make up for it. gtg
love amanda

December 25
dear diary,
well, it's christmas. i'm pretty bored. i trained today, skills are going well and i sent in my routines again. i have to go, i have to give out presents and stuff.
love amanda

December 24 #2
dear diary,
the sleepover was awesome. Grandma Benni had a taco bar and that was so fun. we decorated cookies. i dressed up as an elf! i can't wait until christmas day.
i gtg
love amanda

December 24
dear diary,
well, topo is back from our trip. the first thing i did when i got back was train. i really want to be able to to my double full by olympics. anyway, it's christmas eve and i can't wait to get my presents tomorrow! i love christmas! anyways, i gtg. we're having a sleepover in the gym. i'll tell you about it later
love amanda

December 23
dear diary,
hey, well it turns out pop did compete and we won!!! i competed floor, vault and bars. scoring reasonably well, but not fantastic. i'm so happy, it proves once and for all POP ROCKS!!! woo hoo, tomorrow, we head back to topo. awwwwwwww. but we still get to have a sleepover in the gym! how exciting. i have to go, i want to go around taking photos, so i remember all this.
love amanda

December 22
dear diary,
today, the final of the squads alive meet was held. i don't know how i did, onr if pop was even participating. i know i should, but i'm still very confused! anyway,it's christmas time in a few days, i can't wait. i got to go give jess my email for the secret santa
love amanda

December 21
dear diary,
hey, it was so much fun today. we started with a morning training session at indy gymnastics school. that went well, yurchenko double fulls are coming along nicely. then we met these kids from riley christmas hospital. they are so inspirational, they've been through so much but they're still so happy. i made friends with a girl called annie, she's being treated for leukemia, i can't even spell it, imagine how it would be to go through it. then we did an exhibition for them. it was so much fun, so exhilirating. then we had evening workouts and then we went back to the hotel
love amanda

December 20 #2
dear diary
hey well, i'm writing at the end of the evening. after i last wrote, we boarded the bus, then we arrived at circle city mall. where i did my christmas shopping. i was gonnna visit santa, but i'm too chicken! then we went to the hotel, i'm sharing with cameron, jess, marissa and some other girls as well as coach lois! the hotel is so beautiful, shiny and new! i don't want to touch anything incase i break it! then we went caroling. nothing much happened there, except i may have swallowed a fly! gross. i spent the rest of the day exploring the hotel
love amanda

December 20
dear diary,
well, today's the first day of our christmas trip! i'm so excited. we leave in half an hour, so this is an early entry today. merry christmas
love amanda

December 19
hey,
nothing much to report. i made some major changes to my website, cuz i was soooooo bored today. it's pretty drastic, the front's gone from happy blue, to dramatic black! if anyone's reading this, they should go check it out cuz i think i stuffed up the counter. i may or may not have made a guestbook, it's impossible to know! but if i have, i would appreciate it if visitors would sign it. so everyone could know how many friends i have. joking. anyways, i better go. one last test before it's all over red rover.
love amanda

December 18
dear diary,
hey, i had such a blast today. i went into town a while back and bought a little minature christmas tree. it's so cute and it smells like pine! anyway, today i decorated it. arika helped me, it was so much fun and now our room looks so cheery and festive. all it needs is for some presents to be put under it! we hung a wreath on the door and put fake snow on the windows, tinsle on the roof, bells, angels, stars. all day we had teh cd player going with the christmas albums. awwwwwwwwwwwww, santa claus is nearly here with his bag of christmas cheer
love amanda

December 16
dear diary,
i had so much fun today! because my finals for english are done, ms lewis, that's my teacher, decided that since we'd been such a good class all year, we could go outside and play in the snow! it was soooooooo much fun, me and my friends made a monster snow man and then we had a massive snow ball fight, man, those things sting when you get hit in the face! but i got my own back, believe me. some of the guys in my class had red marks all over their faces! then me and kirstin made snow angels and went sliding down the hill at out school. i love winter and i love the snow
love amanda

December 15
dear diary,
sorry i didn't write yesterday, but i was really busy and i didn't have the time. don't worry, you didn't miss out on much anyways, all i did was train, eat, watch tv, hang out and you're getting the picture. today, i went shopping for my family's christmas presents, since they haven't to my knowledge sent me a list, i picked for them. i got my mom a foot spa, my dad a tie and a Santana CD and my sister a make up kit. they look pretty good and i'm really excited now, cuz i can go wrap them! i love wrapping gifts, it's so much fun. only nine days until christmas.
love amanda

December 14
dear diary,
hey, nothing much is going on here. we're doing this cross culture thing in geography with this class from a school in australia. it's heaps of fun. i got a girl named emily, she's my age and on holidays right now! she lives in Sydney, that's where they had the olympics last year. anyways, she sent me this really funny video in her last letter. it's called the Wog Boy. it's about a dole bludger, don't you just love that word! anyway, i had a blast watching it, now i have to send her a video from here. i think i'm gonna send american pie 2, cuz it's only coming out in the cinemas there.
love amanda

December 13
dear diary,
hey, nothing much happening here. my family sent me some dvds and games, cuz i was complaining so much about being bored all the time! that was nice of them, now if only they would send a christmas list! hint hint. anyways, if they don't send one by tomorrow, i'm gonna get them what i feel like. after all, christmas is barely a week away. i have got the biggest headache right now, it's been going on for like 2 days already, i think i'm just tired, but i've been sleeping in, maybe it's stress. although i don't have anything to be stressed about!
gtg
love amanda

December 12
dear diary,
hey, today was a whole heap of fun! my friends and i and like 2 free periods today, cuz my pe teacher is having a baby and there's no relief, we went into town and played mini golf all day! it was so much fun, i love those windmills that go round and round, even though it's almost impossible to get the ball through the hole, that is unless you're tiger woods or something. anyways, i ended up coming last out of my friends, there were 10 of us, so that's pretty bad, but at least i have gym and that's what i told them, but i don't think they'll ever let me hear the end of it! i'm so tired, i'm gonna hit the mattress
love amanda

December 11
dear diary,
i'm pretty bored, and i'm up pretty early this morning. i just can't get to sleep. i'm hoping to get my christmas shopping done sometime in the next week. i'm on the hunt for some great presents at low prices. the best thing about shopping is finding that perfect gift for the lowest possible price. i still haven't received the list of wants from my family, if they don't, they're just gonna be stuck with whatever i find for them and if they don't like it, i'm sure i'll be more than happy to take it off their hands. hehehe. only joking
love amanda

December 10
dear diary,
hey, nothing happening. i'm getting really bored, i have absolutely nothing to do except train and study and watch tv and read and write to peoples. i have absolutely no life! don't worry, i go though periods like this once or twice a semester. i wallow in self pity and whinge and whine for at least a couple of days, then i pick myself up, ring my friends, go out, have fun and return to my normal self. well, enough babbling for one day, i'm going to go check the letter box, see if i got a reply from my family saying i can get my belly button pierced!
love amanda

december 9
dear diary,
guess what! i went to see Harry Potter today! it was pretty good, although it didn't measure up to my high expectations from reading the book. throughout the film, i found myself making mental notes of events missed, things i imagined to be different and how i imagined the actors to act. as i said, it was a pretty good movie though, i especially liked the quidditch scene, the sweeping green field combined with the quick action images of the players combined for an interasting picture. i sound like a film critic! maybe i can get into journolism after gymnastics!
love amanda

December 8
dear diary,
nothing much happened today, it's now 17 days to christmas, i think. hey, i'm not so good at maths, gymnastics is my forte. i'm so excited, ss still isn't up, but who cares if it never comes up, christmas isn't about presents, or is it, it's about giving and love, but isn't that about presents? no, christmas is about Jesus, it's His birthday! well, i'm babbling quite a lot today, i do that sometimes when i can't think of anything to say, look, i've made a rhyme, lets see if i can do it another time, hey, i did, i'm a pig!
gtg
love amanda


December 7
dear diary
hey, nothing much is happening here. i'm so bored, i spent like an extra hour in the gym today cuz i had nothing else to do. i had a great time playing on tramp and playing hide and seek with the girls though. i'm such a loser, to think i don't have anything better to do sometimes. oh well, i still have tonight, in about one hour, i 'm going to the movies with my friends, we're gonna see Harry Potter, coolio.
anyways, i've got to go
things to do, shower, makeup , clothes
love amanda

December 6
dear diary,
hey, i'm pretty bored right now. can you believe i actually asked my parents if i could get a belly button ring! awwwwww. they're so gonna kill me! i haven't done it yet, but i'm seriously thinking about it. my friend donna, who's got one, says it doesn't hurt that much, but i'm not so sure. besides, i'd never do anything if my parents wouldn't approve, well, most things anyway. the SS haven't been finalised yet, but i suppose we still have 19 days to finish them
gtg
love amanda

December 5
dear diary,
hey, we found out the results for the pop vs tiger meet. unfortunately, pop lost. i guess all of us girls spent most of our time and energy preparing for trials and just forgot about the squad meet. i'm really disappointed, but i'm not making any excuses, next time, if there is a next time, were gonna kick butt! also, experience points have been updated, i'm currently on 46, but there are all the olympic prep comps and the actual games to remember. hopefully, i'll reach 60 soon, i'd love to get into the hall of fame, it's a way i can always be remembered when i retire.
love amanda

December 4
dear diary,
i had a great day today. i had a fantastic training workout and a great day at school. it was my friend alicia's birthday. i brought her these beautiful gerberas. she had so many flowers, it was hard to see her under all the petals. her boyfriend bought her the most gorgeous silver locket with a picture of them inside, how sweet. so, this weekend,there's gonna be a double celebration, me going to the olylmpics, and leeci's birthday. i can't wait, i think i'm gonna wear that new top, you know the one i was yapping about ages ago. can't wait again.
love amanda

December 3
dear diary,
hey, well, i'm still coming off the incredible high that was olympic trials. i'm so excited, but by no means am i going to start slacking off now, just because i've achieved a part of my dream, doesn't mean i'm all the way there. this training program i've been on has really been helping me, i'm getting good results, i'm feeling good, i'm going to stick to it. other news- all my friends at school were so excited when i told them about the trials, we're all going to have dinner on friday to celebrate, i can't wait. Eva has left the gym, i know it must be hard for her, i hope she comes back when she's sorted things out.
love amanda

December 2
dear diary,
GUESS WHAT! i made the olympic team! i'm so happy, it's my dream come true. lara was with me when i found out, she screamed, she was so happy. she's been reassuring me for days when i thought i wouldn't make it, so she was all like, "i told you so" and i was so happy, i didn't even argue with her. gosh, i still cant believe it, the team for olympics is jess, jennie, sarah and me AA. AA, can you believe it, i'm competiting AA, i have a shot of standing on the podium, oh my god! then there's marissa and vaa who are competing on two events each. i'm so happy, it's a fantastic team, i'm sure we can emulate the success of the worlds team. Arika is the alternate, i know she'll be really disappointed, i hope she doesn't leave like she's been saying, she's a great member of the topo team, it would be a shame. i'm so happy though, i gotta call everyone i've every met right now, they'll never believe it. I'M GOING TO THE OLYMPICS
love a very happy, excited and teary amanda

December 1
dear diary,
hey, so sorry i didn't write yesterday. or did i? i really can't remember. the trial's last rotation haven't been posted yet, so i'm here, just chilling, waiting for them to be announced. today, i borrowed shrek and miss congeniality to cheer myself up and keep from going insane! they were so funny, i love sandra bullock and that donkey! i might go shopping tomorrow, i have to see what i'm gonna get everyone for christmas and compile my own want list. i'm thinking of cutting my hair, what do you think?
love amanda

November 29
dear diary,
hey, well, it's the fourth rotation of trials. the results haven't been posted yet, so i'll just have to keep hanging on to see if i made the team. i had a bit of spare time today, so i gave myself a manicure! you can imagine how bored i was if i had to resort to that! i painted my fingers a really pretty blue glittery polish. it looks great, pity though, it's not going to last long. it'll probably come off tomorrow when i do my bars work. anyways, i'm gonna go now, i have to do my maths homework
love amanda

November 28
dear diary,
hey, well, yesterday was the last day training could be counted for the last rotation of olympic trials. coach hasn't posted that yet. the most recent one is for the third rotation. i'm currently in 6th position, the last position to qualify for the team. i really hope i can hold on, but it doesn't seem very realistic. by the last rotation, everyone will have been training really hard already, they will probably overtake me and i'll end up 7th, or worse. alternate again, or not even on the team! i'm depressing myself, i gotta get out of here
love amanda


November 27
dear diary
guess what! lois just posted the results for the second rotation of trials, and i'm number 4! lets hope i can keep up my position. even though i know that i trained hard, i also know some of the other girls slacked off a bit during that time,so it should get more interesting in the final rotations. well, i'm pretty bored right now, i have a major french test tomorrow. right now j'ai etudier pour le grand examen. that's french for i have to study for the big exam. let's seeee, je hope- i don't know the word, je fais bonne! does that make sense?
ohwell, better go hit the books
love amanda

November 26
dear diary,
hey, coach lois finally updated. she posted the routine for olympic trials. it's going to be based on rankings over the past couple of weeks, so maybe i'm in with a chance. i think i'm in 5th position after the first rotation, so i hope i can maintain that. top six make the team. i really hope i make it, i know it will be based on the hard work i've put in, i know i've trainined to the best of my ability all year, so hopefully, that will count for something. oh please God, let me get in'
love amanda
gtg

November 25
dear diary,
i'm soooooo bored. and tired. and hyper. that doesn't make any sense, does it? i feel really tired now, but i was sooooo hyper before and now i'm bored and tired. there, does that clear it up? i'm just rambling, i know, but there is seriously nothing else to do. i miss my doggy, right now, i could be playing catch with him, but he's back at home, and i'm here, like 2000 miles away, probably less, i'm not that good with geography or mathes!
got to go do my home ec assignment
love amanda
hehe

November 24
dear diary,
hey, i had a heap of fun today. after training, i went into town and i got myself a new necklace. it isn't much i know, but keep in mind, i had a limited amount of spending money. it's really pretty, a clear chain, with a really little diamond cross pendant. it's soo cute. i know, i know, i should be concentrating on my gym, practicing every day, every spare hour blah blah blah. but the truth was, i just couldn't stand to be in there one single minute longer. everyone is all about how we might not go to the olympics, and fighting over journals, it's just so petty considering we should be concentrating on our training. i must sound like such a priss to anyone reading this, and i've skipped my share of training, believe me, it's just different this time. topo is the first gym i've really felt at home in, i don't want to lose it.
love amanda

November 23
dear diary,
hey, i'm so tired today. i felt really sick after training, which was fantastic by the way. i think it's just nerves mixed with fatigue, which isn't a good combination, believe me! i'll be fine though, just a nice, long sleep will do me fine. i think i'll skip the rec room tonight, i'm just going to go say night to the girls and get an early night. see you in the morning, hopefully, i'll be feeling much more chirpier.
love amanda

November 22
dear diary,
i had a great day today. nothing much happening though. my friend went to the orthodontist. she's gonna get braces! how exciting! i've always wanted braces. i know it sounds daggy, but i just want to change the colors. but, unfortunately, i don't think it's gonna happen. my teeth are pretty straight anyway, and i don't think my parents could afford it. gym costs sooooo much!!! not that i mind, just wishful thinking. anyways
gtg
love amanda

November 20
dear diary,
hey, nothing much is going on here. everybody is working really hard. spending many hours in the gym doing extra workouts and dance to get prepared. it's great, because now i have some training buddies. usually, it's just a couple of girls and they're too wrapped up in gym to joke around with me. i suppose i should be more like that. lol.
anyways
gtg
love amanda

November 19
dear diary,
i had a great workout today. i'm really trying to concentrate on peaking at the right time, at olympic trials. i really want to make this team, i know i can, i just have to keep training and doing my best. even if i don't make it, i love gym, like i've said before, i'll come to that road... i can't remember the rest of that saying!!! anyway, i went really hyper today, i think i had one too many lollies!!! you should have seen me, shouting and laughing at nothing at all. my friends thought i'd seriously lost it!
love amanda

November 18
dear diary,
hey, i had a great day today. i did all my workouts and finished them early, hey! everyone needs a break now and then. then i headed into town with my friend kirstin. yes, we made up. it's great. we had a blast shopping. i got the coolest new top and i'm thinking of getting myself a bikini. show off my six pack. hahaha.
anyways,
i've got homework to finish;
love amanda

November 17
dear diary,
hey, nothing much happening today. i had a fight with my friend kirstin from school. it was over something really stupid as well. i feel really bad because looking back, i can't even remember why i should be angry! i think i'm gonna write her a letter and tell her i'm sorry. i'd hate to lose her as a friend
love amanda

November 16
dear diary,
hey, nothing much is going on today. i had a great training workout, boy am i biggered. buggered, i love that word. well, the trials are on soon, in about 10 days or so. anyways
gtg
love amanda

November 15
dear diary,
hey, nothing much happening today. i had a great conditioning workout. i really feel a lot stronger and i have more endurance than i thought. i did a few aquathon workouts. 100m swim, 1/2 a mile run, 100m swim. that was so tiring, but at least my swimming's improved. training went alright, every apparatus is looking good, my only concern would be my triples are a little short, but i'm going to work on them extra hard tomorrow to get them back on track.
love amanda

November 14
dear diary,
something funny for you! coach updated the comments page and i was reading it. i found one referring to a gymnast who apparantly was 38 pounds. i know that is me, because that's what it says in my dorm. i think it's great that the girls care about me, but incase any of them are reading this. don't worry, i'm not, in any way anorexic. i though the form was in kilos when i put it in, me being from aus IRL. i have no idea if that's correct weight for a gymnast my height if you convert it into pounds, so if anyone wants to help me, mail me.
love amanda

November 13
Dear diary,
nothing much is going on here at topo. everyone is working really hard towards olympic trials. i've moved down in the rankings, i'm doing everything i usually do, so i guess everyone is just training that extra bit harder than usual. i'm not letting that worry me though. as long as i keep up my routine, train hard and remain relaxed and injury free, i'll be fine. if i make the team it will be great, if i don't, well, we'll think about it when it happens. right now, i just want to enjoy being alive and being a gymnast.
love amanda

November 12
dear diary,
hey, well, after my particularly depressing and down putting letter yesterday, i wrote my parents and went to see the counseller. i talked to her about my problems, my self doubts, my fears, she assured me that everyone has those thoughts every now and then, everyone feels down sometimes. she really helped me understand where these fears are coming from. i think i'll go see her again, though, sometimes i just need someone to talk to, someone who isn't involved in gym.
love amanda

November 11
dear diary,
hey, nothing much happened today. i trained really hard, olympic trials are drawing nearer and i'm starting to have panic attacks. there are so many talented girls here at the gym, all of whom deserve to make it, but only 6 get to go, it's so unfair. what if i don't make it? how will i cope if i don't? what will everyone think of me/ here i am, cosistantly ranking in the top 7, yet always crashing and burning in major comps. oh my god, i'm getting myself worried and depressed, i'm gonna go write to my mom, then i'm gonna go see the therapist, i think i need some help
love amanda

November 10
dear diary,
hey,nothing much happening, school is finished for another week and i have only one assignment to do! life is good. i finished training early and had loads of free time, so i went to the rec room, hung with the girls, talked to the coaches and got a chance to update my website!!! finally, i here you saying. it's been awhile, i updated my team mates and am adding the photos my family sent me from ages ago to my family and friends page. look out, because i'm going to be updating a lot from now on. well, i'll try.
love amanda

November 9
dear diary,
hey, i'm feeling much better, maybe it's the change in the weather!!! anyway, i had great workout and i think i'm back to my normal, cheery self. i'm thinking of adding another vault to my reportoir, did i spell that right? anyways, i might try a tsukahara layout or a half on or something, either that or i'll upgrade to a double twisting yuchenko. either way, it's unlikely i'll perform it at trials, if i even upgrade at all! trials, ahhhhhh getting closer each day, i really hope i do well, i'm maintaining muber 5 in the rankings, so that's good.
well gtg
love amanda

November 8
dear diary,
hey, there's nothing much going on today, as usual. this week seems to be going very slowly. maybe i'm just getting bored with my routine, i could try shaking things up a little and doing things differently, but, oh well, i'll survive. i'm sure you don't know what i'm talking about, i often think no body can understand me!!! don't worry, i'll understand me. what am i talking about? you're just a book, not an actual person! i'm going crazy! i think i'm spending way tooooo much time inside, i think i'm going to get some fresh air.
gtg
love amanda

November 7
dear diary,
i'm a bit down today, it's just one of those days where everything seems to go wrong. first, i was late out of bed so had to have a rushed breakfast, then a shortened conditioning and then i was running late from school. the only ting that went well was gym training, which was the highlight of my day, how sad....... anyways, i've got stuff to do
love amanda

November 6
dear diary,
nothing much happened today. training was okay, we had a pop quiz in maths, i think i just passed. i'm leading a very boring life. gtg
love amanda

November 5
dear diary,
hey, it's my second day back from topo and i did a great training session today. the team for the green gables invite was supposed to be announced today, but nothings happened, i guess coach must be really busy. either way, i don't think i'll be competing since i just had the americana a few days ago. i'm happy, cuz then i'll be able to commit to olympic trials, i really want this, it's my dream to go to the olympics, but if i don't make it, i'll just pick myself up and do it again. anyways, i've finished one assignement and one speech and my teacher said i could get an extension on that newspaper thing. it's all good.
love amanda

November 4
dear diary,
hey, i'm back at topo. we left cascade locks ages ago. gosh, i'm really glad to be back home, i just finished my training for the day, so that's good. now i have to catch up on all the homework i missed while i was competing. this week is going to be hell, i've got this newspaper thing to do for history, a poster for french, a major maths test, a science test AND an english speach. why do teachers always gang up???
gtg
work to be done
love amanda


November 3
dear diary,
today is the last day of competition for the senior elite americana. i don't know if i'm in the event finals, which are on today. in real life world championships, the romanians took the team title, followed by russia and the usa, go team!!! in the aa, khorkina won, followed by ziganshing (a russian one two!) then raducan. go andreea! i'm really excited to be coming back to topo, i don't know if it'll be today after competition or tomorrow. i'm really looking forward to sleeping in my bed again1 although it's been really fun, i'm missing my dorm room and the gym.
love amanda

November 2
dear diary,
hey, well, it's my second day of competition at cascade locks. we don't have any results yet, so it's quite a tense wait. but i did get some good news today, we found out the results for pop's squads alive meet. we won against lilly, and that's really good since they've been undefeated until then. we're back on track for that title. Sarah top scored on beam, bars and vault, but i got the top score on floor, a 9.75. i'm really excited, even though we only had four girls, lindsay and kelly are injured, we came out and kicked some butt, like i knew we could!!!
gtg
love amanda

November 1
dear diary,
hey, i'm pretty tired today, i had the trip over to cascade locks yesterday, then the halloween party tricks and an early workout today as well! the comp is on in a few hours, so we're just going over a few visualisation drills and then we're gonna get some free time before it's time for us to start pre meet warmups and limbers, that sort of thing. i know what i'm going to do, go back to sleep! no, actually, i'm not reallly tat tired, but i figure the extra zzs will do me good. i'm really looking forward to the comp, i hope topo kicks butt!
gtg
love amanda


October 31
dear diary,
it's halloween and with it comes some good news. i actually won the worlds team game! that's right, i won. my team of sabina, svetlana, tasha, allana and esther scored 147.084 total in the real life comp. yay yay, this is the first time i've won any game before. woo hooo. and it's doublely good cuz this is halloween. ohhhhhhhh scary. i just watched lost souls, it's about the devil, it seriously freaked me out, looks like i'm not gonna get much sleep with all the stories and me being scared as all hell and all.
gtg
love amanda


October 30 #2
dear diary,
well, it happened again, i got the dates mixed up! so anyone reading this will be wondering why i'm like two days ahead, but this is today's date.......i think. hehe. well, i had a great workout today, i got my triple twists back. and as i passed by the coaches office i looked at the board and guess what! i'm in a meet. its one of those CLC meets or whatever, i'm in the team with cameron, vada and keshira, yay i get to compete again! training starts tuesday. i really hope i do well!!! gtg
love amanda


October 30
dear diary,
i'm so excited, training went well today, but that's not it. it's halloween tomorrow. that's right, all hallowes eve, i can't wait. it's going to be different because we can't go trick or treating, or can we. maybe we girls can have a big trick or treat fest in each other's dorm rooms. maybe we could even build a haunted house? who knows? i love halloween so much. we williams used to all go as a group and then we'd come home to our always fantastically decorated haunted house and tell ghost stories into the night. gtg
love amanda


October 29
dear diary,
hey, nothing much is happening here today, but i'll tell you what did anyway. i moved up to number 5 in the rankings, yay me!!! i wonder if i'll keep this trend going and move up next time? training was okay, i had a bit of a sore shoulder, so i'm icing it right now and i rested it from inverts and other strenuous exercises. i'm gonna go write to my family now, maybe they can come up and visit me! that would be nice, i really miss them.
gtg
love amanda
talk to you later

October 27 #2
dear diary,
hey, not much to say today, except i'm really tired from the workouts and late night and early start i've been doing. i'm going to go to sleep extra early, and get up extra late, well, maybe at 7 anyway. guess what, lara got accepted to topo so i get to see her all the time now. well
gtg
love amanda

October 27
Dear diary, I had a great training session today, and I got my English test back, you know the one I spent all night studying for, well, it turns out, it was worth it, I got an A. but next time, I think I won’t procrastinate so much and just do the studying spread out the week before. I’ve just started on my English assignment, and I got it done in a couple of hours, isn’t that great! So, now, I have all this free times, coz I’ve finished training and homeworks all done, what’s a girl to do? I think I’m gonna go watch some tv in the rec room and then catch up on some 40 winks. Maybe then I’ll go visit lara and some of the other girls. Love amanda

October 26
dear diary,
i had a great training session today, and get this, i might, just might be adding a two and a half punch layout into my rouitne, but i think i'd rather stay on the safe side with a punch front. oh well, it's nice to know you can still bring out the big tricks if you want to. well, i'd better go, i have a BIG english test to study.
well,
cya
amanda

October 25
dear diary,
we got the results for our squad's alive meet, unfortunately, pop squad didn't come out on top. we scored 114.075, with opilly on 115.25. i ended up competing on bars and beam, where i scored 9.5 and 9.3 respectivly. while it would have been great to win, one team had to lose and i'm sure this loss will inspire me and the other girls to train harder in anticipation of next meet. it is hard though, with 3 girls on each apparatus and all 3 scores counting, strategy really comes into play. well, enough yakking on from me, i got to go and do my homework.
cya
amanda


October 24
dear diary,
today was the pop squads alive meet, i'm waiting for the results, i think we did well, but i just need some confirmation. hopefully they'll be up soon. also, it was moranda's birthday! i have to pop down to the shops to get her a present and then it's morgan's birthday tomorrow too! i might as well double up now! gee, they're coming thick and fast now, arent' they! i re submitted my new code routines yesterday, and i'm submitting my old code ones today too. i just have to fix my bars routine, it needs another.2 in bonus before it's a ten.
gtg
love amanda


October 23
dear diary,
nothing much to report, i trained really hard today because of the squad's alive meet tomorrow. i really hope pop does well, it would give the whole team a boost if we win. i have no idea who's competing or on which events, but rest assured, whether i compete or not, i'll be out there cheering for them with all my heart. well, i'd better go, i've got french homework to do
a bientot
amanda


October 21
dear diary, sorry if all the dates are mixed up, i have no idea what i've been doing and since i've missed two days this week it's even more confusing, but i'm back on track now. i had a great workout, i didn't fall on beam once, the only let down were my giengers, which were a little too close and had some leg separation, but i think it just needs practice. i also figured out all my routines, again. i just have to double check the svs and then i'm submitting them, i also updated my routines for the old code, incase we have to use them again. i basically have the same skills, but hey, who cares!
gtg
love amanda



October 19
dear diary,
hey, it's welcome back to me for the second time in as many days. i had a great time on the field trip, but i was so tired that i skipped training yesterday, oops. but i figure that you'd better do something right and put in 110% than do a half job. i had a great training session today, i also figured out the changes to my routine and i have to put some other changes into the routines i have for my old code.
gtg
things to do
love amanda

17 october
dear diary,
hey, i'm writing this in my down time, i'm going to leave in 2 hours so i'm putting it to good use. i had a great workout today, while it wasn't really long, i feel that quality counts and my training was really top quality today, if that makes sense. i'm so excited for my trip! while science isn't exactly my favourite subject, this field trip sounds really exciting! anyway, i'd better go,
love amanda

October 16
dear diary,
hey, i had a bit of an easy go of it today. i did a dance workout instead of an extra workout! it was still pretty tough though! i just found out i'm going on a retreat for science on thursday! we're going up to the river to take samples of the soil and water there, so i'll be gone for another day! lucky me, so many days off, i'll do extra workouts tomorrow to make up for it, although all that trekking through the bush should be workout enough.
gtg
love amanda
see ya

October 15
dear diary,
i had a fantastic workout today, i went back to doing full strength workouts and had a good run on both vault and floor, although bars and beam weren't that bad either. i had a bit of down time, so i watched my gwg tape. i imagined it was me up there, doing my routines in front of that big crowd and with world the world's best gymnasts. i guess it could be me one day, if i work really hard, it will. i'm not looking forward to going back to school tomorrow though! i only just finished my science experiment report today. grrrrrrr. i've still got a personal develepment assignment to do too.
gtg
love amanda

October 14
dear diary,
well, after a relaxed and well deserved break, i'm back! and i came home to such wonderful news, topo won the world champs! i'm so proud, the girls worked so hard and got what they wanted, it just goes to show that if you want something bad enough, and work really hard to get it, you can achieve your dreams. i also got the results for the duel meet, i tied for 3rd AA and came 3rd on floor, i'm really happy with these! vada came 2aa, 2ub and 1bb she had the best comp! arika and marie both came 2nd on vault. topo didn't win, but i'm sure we'll do better next time. by the way, my new house looks so good. it's really nice on the inside, it looks really homey thanks to my mom, but the outside is still a bit of a mess, none of the landscaping's done and the equipment is still out there, but it's just a matter of time. i had a great time by the way, the moving was so exciting and i got to catch up with my friends and family.
gtg
love amanda

october 10
dear diary,
today was the day of my meet against vega twisters. i think i did alright, but i won't know for sure until the results are up, so i'll just have to hang on for a bit. i won't be writing for a while, because i'm going back home for around 5 days to help my family move into our new house! that's right, it's finally finished, so everyone's really excited. i can't wait to get back home! i really miss everyone, i haven't seen them in ages. well, i better go pack. see you in a few days.
love amanda
ps, have a good time while i'm away!

October 9
dear diary,
only one day until the comp and i'm not as nervous as usual, hopefully, that's a good sign. i did my workout with the team again, i also did my required workout, but i'm not sure if i'm supposed to do that, so i'll ask arika or jess or something.
gtg
love amanda

October 8
dear diary, hey! i found out today that i'm on the team for the duel against vega twisters. i'm so excited, this will be my chance to prove myself after all my hard work. we had our first workout as a team today. i feel really good about this. also, my ankle is heaps better, it doesn't hurt, but i've got it taped to give it extra support. i did 3 workouts today, can you beleive it. my required, my one with the team, and then an extra one on my own. i really hope i do well this comp. love amanda

October 7
hey, what a depressing morning i've had. i rolled my ankle while bustling about this morning, so my extra workout was pretty limited. i decided to keep up my training schedule, but i rested my ankle a bit. that meant, vaults into the pit, no dismounts, tumbles of full twist on beam today. i was a little disappointed, as i really felt pumped today. my bars got a good workout though. i'm gonna go see the physician, make sure it's nothing serious. i'm icing it right now an it doesn't feel that bad. some tape and a good rest and it should be good as new tomorrow love amanda

October 5 #2
dear diary, hey, guess what! i've decided to update my routines, again. i know it seems like the thousandth time, but i've found some places where i can make up even more in bonus elements, so, i gotta figure out the svs then hand it in to the coaches. i'm really excited! i'm gonna go play the new game, we get to complie a worlds team with us choosing the gymnasts! gtg love amanda

October 5
dear diary,
guess what! today, the workmen built the mail box for my new house! angie says it looks really good, my mom's painting it so it looks like a miniture version of what our new house will look like when it's finished. i know it sounds a bit tacky, but it's the little things that count, right! anyways, i had a bit of a headache today, so i spent most of my free time in bed with a good book. i've nearly finished reading the fourth harry potter, but i better start on my english novel soon, the essay's due next week!
gtg
love amanda

October 4
dear diary, i had a fantastic workout today, i feel great. the coaches have put up a new game so i'm gonna go play it. i love picking who i think should be in the real life world team, especially since we get to pick gymnasts from different countries! gtg love amanda

October 3
dear diary, boy, am i tired today! i woke up earlier than i would have liked to get my conditioning done. i was okay when i was out there, but i was really tired when i got back. i ended up having 45 minutes to spare, but i couldn't get back to sleep, so i ended up buying a mag and reading until it was time for breakfast. then i had my required workout in the afternoon and i wasn't quite at my normal standard. i've just got back from helping jess and arika paint the signs for worlds. you'll recognize mine, they're the ones with the extra bright paint and sparkles, they look better than i expected!
gtg
love amanda

October 2
dear diary,
it was my sister's birthday today! she's having a massive party tonight. i rang her early this morning before workout and we had a chat. she is over the moon. she can't believe she's finally a teenagar! anyways, she loved the presents and i'm really happy for her
gtg
love amanda

October 1
dear diary,
a pinch and a punch for the first day of the month. that's right, it's october! the month of milk and honey, just joking. guess what, it's my siter angie's birthday tomorrow! i already got her present. some new swimming goggles she wanted and a really pretty top. she'll love it. better go mail it now
love amanda

September 30
dear diary,
today was the last day of the month, and it came with me finally getting many of my skills. i was able to do my double double off the uneven bars onto a crash mat. and i actually attempted the roundoff flick two and a half twist off beam, and i was withing a 1/4 turn of hitting it. i think that's pretty darn good considering that's the first time i've tried it on the mats. i also had a great game of baseball with the girls. i scored the winning hit, smashing it out of the park, so to say
gtg
love amanda

September 29
dear diary,
today was one of those days where nothing could spoil my mood. i woke up in the best state of mind and that showed throughout training and school work. i was so pumped that i even did extra strength and my routines were 100% perfect. well, to me anyway. i feel on top of the world. these are the days gymnasts dream about, when they feel that they could go on until they were 100 if they felt like it. i also went to the movies with my friends. it was the perfect end to a perfect day. the movie was good too
gtg
love amanda

September 28
dear diary,
nothing much to report today. i had a great training session, all of my routines are coming together really well. i might go out with some friends from school tomorrow. Katie said her brother would drive me and we're gonna go have dinner, then have a movie. i'm really excited, it's been ages since i've been out.
gtg
love amanda

September 27
dear diary,
i had a great workout today. i only trained new skills and boy are they getting a whole lot better. my roundoff flick double full off beam is looking especially good, i may be able to add the extra half twist on in a couple of weeks. so far, i've been keeping up with the rigerous (spelling?) training routine i've set for myself. i want to make sure that by the next comp, i'll be in top form and be on top of the podium, and that's a promise
love amanda

September 26
dear diary,
i did a massive workout today1 there were lots of repeats of skills and i mean lots. i have a heap of work to do now, though. i have two assignments and two tests as well as a speech tomorrow. got to go
love amanda

Setpember 25
dear diary,
the results for world trials are up, i missed out on the team by one place! i'm co alternate with Brittany. Morgan, Jess, Caitlyn, Madison, Arika and Sarah made the team. I know i didn't expect to make the team, but being so close and yet so far really hurts. oh well, i suppose i have the winter olympics to look forward to. i'm determined to make that team, now more than ever. i'm going to work so hard, i'm going to be the best, you wait and see. got to go training to do
love amanda

September 24
dear diary,
i did a really long workout today, and i feel great for doing it. i did my required workout, as usual. then i did an extra workout, concentrating only on my new skills. my beam is looking great and my full pirouette from one arm from el grip to el grip is much better too. i'm only having trouble with my catleap double, but that should come with practice. i treated myself to a double scoop of chocolate fudge icecream. it was delicious. i'm still thinking about it.
got to go
love amanda

September 23
dear diary,
nothing much happened today, i watched the tribut to Heroes concert yesterday. it was really touching. it's nice to see everyone pitching in to help
got to go
love amanda

September 22
dear diary,
today we had world trials. i think i did okay, i won't know if i made the team until tuesday. i was training really well in the few days until the comp, so hopefully, i hit. i didn't do an extra workout today, as i already had a comp. i'm so nervous, if i make it, it will be my first major comp.
got to go
love amanda

September 21
dear diary,
i'm so excited, and i just can't hide it!!! sorry, i'm quoting old songs, but i'm so excited i could burst. i don't actually know why, i just woke up this morning and i was all ready to go, you know how i usually am in the mornings, but not today. it was like i was on a permanent sugar high all day, it showed in my training.i didn't get as tired as i usually do, and i was really powerful and expressive. i wanted to get out there and do everything, i didn't even mind doing my strength.
well, got to go
love amanda

September 20
dear diary,
i'm training really hard in preparation for world trials. i hope i do well, i'm not necesarrily expecting to make the teamt though, with all the talent at topo right now, it's going to be tough. not only are the veterans in top form, but the young girls are coming through too. it's going to be tough. i bought some postage stamps today, i ran out from all those letters i wrote! i also went swimming today, it was really fun. i did some diving, i wasn't that good, but i didn't belly flop, so that was good.
love amanda

September 8
dear diary, i got the results back for the HGVA invite today,well only the preliminaries, but the finals will be up soon. Topo cam 11th as a team, we didn't qualify to finals, i also didn't qualify to all around. i came 41st with a 8.9 on vault, 9.275 on bars, 9.125 on beam and a 9.7 on floor. i'm really happy with the last score, hopefully i made event finals on floor. i also submitted my new routines to the coaches. I'm really happy with them, especially my floor and bars routine. i think my floor especially is much more elegant than what it was before.
got to go
love amanda

September 7
dear diary,
i was really tired from a long week of competing and learning and training new skills, so i only did one workout today. My skills are starting to come together nicely. i'm still waiting for the results of my comp, but i guess these things take time, i think i did okay. My cousin Lara injured her ankle, i feel really bad for her, but she's resting it and it will get better soon.
got to go
love amanda

September 6
dear diary,
hey i did another extra workout with new routines only today. only it came up with cannot find server when i sent it, so i don't know if it got through, then i was too lazy to type it out again, so i don'tknow if i got points for it. my onodis have improved to no end, i even did them on low beam today. i also did handpsring front layouts onto a crash mat and my two and a half punch front series on floor. it was also my aunty's birthday today. i have to go send her some birthday greetings.
see ya
love amanda

September 4
dear diary,
i had a pretty good day today. i did an extraworkout where i worked all of my new skills only. i trained for about 3 hours so i got lots of practice with all my new skills. i got back from the invite today, i'm still waiting for the results though.
anyways,
got to go
love amanda

August 15
dear diary,
only one day until nationals and i'm so excited. i did an extra workout, my dance workout and a required workout. i feel in top shape. i haven't had a chance to have my press interview done so i'm going to talk to coach lois today. it's my cousin lara's birthday tomorrow. i can't wait to see her cuz she's coming up for nationals. i got her a copy of bring it on, cuz she loves that movie so much. i better get going
love amanda


August 14
dear diary,
today i got another letter from my cousin lara, i'll be writing back soon, when i have the time. today, i was spotted on some two and a half punch fronts on floor and some two and a halfs off beam. i finally did them, yay. we also got a new gymnast here at topo. marie frenetti. she moved up from kimball park. i can't wait to meet her. in fact , i think i'll go drop by her dorm now see ya
love amanda


August 13
dear diary,
hey, i got the results for the room mate rumble intersquad. me and arika finished third! and lara and shannon finished second! In the prelims we finished equal third with lara with a 74.850 and the finals were a little worse for me, we got a 74. 900. i'm so glad, my forms is looking up see ya
love amanda


August 12
dear diary,
hey, nothing much is happening. still waitin on results for interdquad. press interviews for nationals are on soon. i have to upgrade my routines for the new code. better get started see ya
love amanda


August 11
dear diary,
hey sorry i didn't write yesterday but it was my BIRTHDAY. my whole family came down and we went out to dinner together, they even stayed today to watch me compete. it was great, i got a new leo and the latest n sync album. it was soooooo great to see them. the room mate rumble was today, we're still waiting for the results, but i'm sure me and arika went well.
love amanda


August 9
dear diary,
i got a letter from my cousin, lara today. did i already tell you that? anyways, i'm really excited cuz i may be seeing her soon. she could be coming up here to compete. i can't wait. i registered for the nationals today. i'm training really hard, so i'll be in top form when the time comes. the room mate rumble the day before should be really good practice for me. i worked really hard on my bars today. i got back to basics and did a lot of swing and giant work. my timings still a little off, but hopefully it will be back to normal by nationals
love amanda


August 8
dear diary,
today was the last day of our stay in orlando. we had a great pool party, but then it was time to leave. i will always remember my time there. once i got back home i immedietely checked the announcements. i can't wait for the room mate rumble. i hope arika and i do well. i got right back into training today. i did my required and my extra. i'm determined to do well now. a picture of me training was training pic of the day. i'm gonna send it to my family, to show them how hard i'm working. got to go
love amanda


August 7
dear diary,
after yesterday's disappointment, i was ready to get up and cheer for my team mates today. i only did a light workout today and i plan to concentrate all my energies on nationals when i get back to topo tomorrow. anyways, onto the comp, danielle came in 2nd and keshira 5th. i'm so happy for them. we had the medal presentation in the ballroom of our hotel. everything was decorated so beautifully and it was all so formal. danielle was practically glowing. can't wait for the pool party tomorrow
love amanda

August 5
dear diary,
well, this was my last training before the comp tomorrow. i'm really nervous. i feel like everything is going to go wrong. my fllor and beam are looking especially bad. andy they're my best apparatus. in floor i'm worried i'll get too tired and make my moves look sloppy and in beam i'm worried i'll let my nerves get to me. oh well, i'm going to go do some more training and then i'm going to get a good nights sleep so i'll be fresh for tomorrow.
wish me luck
love amanda

August 6
dear diary,
i had a really disappointing meet. Topo came fifth in the team prelims and didn't make it to finals. i finished last in individual prelims with a 9.496 on vault, 8.6 on bars, 9.473on beam and 9.4 on fx. i finished with a 36.969 total. fortunately my team mates did better than i did, Keshira and Danielle both qualified. oh well, i've gotta have a bad meet sometime. i can only get better. tomorrow is finals so i'm going to cheer everyone on. yesterday was great. we're staying in a 5 star hotel and we went to disney land! i met mickey mouse!
better go
love amanda

August 4
dear diary,
i did my first pre meet workout today. it felt really good. but then i couldn't remember if i put it down for my required workout or not. so i did that again too. so sorry if i sent in that twice.
got to go
love amanda

August 3
dear diary,
i had a good workout today. i did drills for the new skills i'm planning to include. i'm also doing research on my results so i can update my page. better go
dinner is calling
love amanda

August 2
dear diary,
i talked to my cousin lara today. she is really excited to be at kimball park. i had a great workout today. i went to the local gym for some conditioning work. i did aerobics and weight training. i feel really good, really stong. i also tried some two and a half twist punch fronts and some triple twists on tumble trak. they were pretty messy, but i got them round.
see ya
love amanda

August 1
dear diary,
hey. i have some great news. i just heard work from my mom that my cousin lara has joined topopolilly's training gym, kimball park. this is so good, we've always been pretty close, both of us being gymnasts and all. i'm so escited, maybe i'll see her over here sometime soon. i've also just found out that i'm on the team for the tsg tropical island playground comp in orlando on august 6th. i'm so looking forward to it, maybe i can go to disney world
love amanda

July 30
dear diary,
i had the best workout today. the doc said my ankle was fine to do full workouts on, so i did all my tumbles, vaults and dismounts for the first time in a couple of days. i know it doesn't sound like much, but i'm a pretty easy person to please
see ya
love amanda

July 29
dear diary,
my ankle is looking much better today, but the doctor advised me to rest it today so i can do full workouts tomorrow. the only good thing that's come out of this, is my dance and my leap series are looking great, cause they've had so much practice lately. i learnt some great tricks to do to people today
i'll tell you later
love amanda

July 28
dear diary,
i hurt my ankle today, nothing too serious, just slipped on some stairs. i had to keep it light at workout and that annoyed me a bit, but better than make it worse. i'll go to the doctor later to get some tape for it. i also got the results for the squad meet, pop came in first with a .7 margin. i scored 9.275 -- 9.325 -- 9.45 -- 9.625 --37.675.
better go
love amanda

July 27
dear diary,
i just found out my results from the duel meet against tropical storms. i did well and i'm very pleased with my results. overall topopolilly junior elites finished first with a total of 115.634. i had good scores of : 9.700-----9.555------9.500-----9.475---with a total of 38.230 to place third.
well, better go
love amanda

July 26
dear diary,
i practiced really hard today. doing all my required workouts as well as an extra and a dance workout. it's really great up here. the competition atmosphere is really uplifting. i can't wait to see how i go.
see ya
amanda

July 25
dear diary,
you will never believe what happened today. well, i was woken very early this morning, at first i was a bit grumpy, you know how i am in the morning. well anyway, i was happy i got up because it turns out i've been selected to represent Topopolilly at the duel meet against tropical storms. i got ready really quickly and was actually on time for the plance which left at 8 am. i'm a bit nervous, but i'm sure all the comp experience i've had will serve me well so i can do my best.
well, better go do some training
love amanda

July 24
dear diary,
today we had the intersquad meet. i hope i did okay, i haven't got the results yet. anyways, i was really nervous this morning, but now i'm fine. coming down from competition nerves was tough, i think i must have drunk 100 lemonades.
well gotta go
love amanda

July 23
dear diary,
i'm so excited. the intersquad is only a day away. i did my workouts today and i've never felt better. i think i'm coming into form in just the right time. it's exhilerating. right now, i'm going to spend what little free time i have just relaxing and trying to get rid of all the excess energy i've accumulated while working out.
got to go
stuff to do
love amanda

July 22
dear diary,
boy am i sore today. i did my regular workout and then an extra one as well as a dance workout on top of that. i'm pretty tired, but i feel really pumped up. i really hope i do well on the intersquad in a couple of days.
well, i'd better go
lots to do
love amanda

July 21
dear diary,
so, i finished my web page. i emailed the link to coach lois yesterday. all that's left is to get my comp results up when i have the time. right now, i'm putting all my energy into the intersquad coming up in a couple of days. i'm going to start doing some extra workouts and take some dance classes to improve my choreography. but today, i'm going to relax. i might go into town to see a movie, or i'll borrow a video.
later
amanda

July 20
dear diary,
yesterday i had my first workout as part of the Pop squad. it was fun and challenging at the same time. i think i learnt a lot from my fello team mates. if things keep going like they are, i might upgrade my beam dismount to two and a half twist and pike front vault to pike front half out.
see ya
amanda
ps i might email my line to coach lois today, so watch out for my site

July 19
dear diary,
we just got the results of the POP-off intersquad. unfortunately, i didn't make it through to the second round. the top ten advanced and i placed 13th with a score in the 9.2s. i'm a bit disappointed, because i know i can do better than that as beam is one of my best apparatus. i guess i wasn't at my best. i'm going to do some extra workouts later to improve. i went into town yesterday and bought some new pjs. they kick ass. my website is up, i'll email the address to coach lois. be warned, you may have to click on the links several times to get the right page
love amanda

July 18
dear diary,
i did my usual workouts today. nothing much is going on. i need new pyjamas, i've worn holes through the pants in most of them. Nan is wondering what i've been doing with them all! so i'm going into town to buy some later. my website is going well, some of the links don't work properly and i still have to get it published.
well, i'd better go
love amanda

July 16
dear diary,
i've just looked at the coaches notes. remember how i was telling you about all the new squad changes and stuff, well, now i'm in Pop squad, which is so cool. i'm team mates with lindsay, grace, kelly, sarah and cameron, they are just so much fun and i'm sure they'll teach me heaps. i just finised my dance workout and it feels great, it's been too long since i've been dancing. i tried vainly yesterday to get a website up, but i just can't figure out how. it's too compicated for my small mind. if anyone can help me, i need it
love amanda

July 15
dear diary,
pretty boring today. i did my usual workout and i'm thinking of doing a dance workout after i'm finised writing this. i'm also thinking about making a web site for myself. i know a lot of other gymnasts have and the ones i've visited are great. now all i have to do is get a book on it from the library or find some info on the internet. well, i'm really excited about it now, i'm gonna get on it soon. i'll let you know how it goes
cya amanda

July 14
dear diary,
i've just read the announcements and am a bit confused, all this stuff about top squad and pre meet training is hard to understand. but don't worry, i'll learn more about it and get used to it as time goes on. my ranking has slipped to 16. that is a real shock, but i guess i've only been doing the minimum so it shouldn't be so suprising. i'd better start doing some more stuff to get it up. i'll do it tomorrow, i'm such a procrastinater. i just realised yesterday was black friday!! nothing spooky happened though
love mandy

July 13
dear diary,
i've run out of deoderant and soap and stuff, so i'm going to pop down to the gym shop to pick stuff up. that is pretty much going to be the highlight of my day. i'm so boring. i haven't talked about my new house in ages, so heres the update. it isn't going to be finished for a while yet, although mom and dad have finally contracted a reputable architect and builder. hopefully, the outside structure will be finised by christmas, at least that's what mom's hoping for
got to go
love amanda

July 12
dear diary,
nothing much happened today. i did my regular workouts and then i went on the internet and looked up gym stuff. there's heaps of cool stuff on there, i even got chatting to some kids from Ohio who were into gym.
got to go
love amanda

July 11
dear diary,
yesterday i had my first workout as part of the lilly squad. it was great. my team mates were there, cheering me on when i couldn't go on and when i finally got that skill and vise versa. it was great to feel part of a team again. although i do miss the girls from the now defunct junior squad, we still catch up now and then
got to go
love amanda

July 10
dear diary,
i will be coming back to topopolilly soon. i've spent the past couple of days relaxing in the malibu sun, since i wasn't competing in the event finals. speaking of which, amy and alexa did qualify for them, and i went to watch. they both did extremely well, i think amy placed second on something.
well, i'd better go
love amanda

July 9 #2
oh i forgot
we also had the team meeting yesterday. i didn't make it, but lindsey told me what they discussed. it sounds pretty interesting having the two worlds and two olympics and stuff, we'll have to see
love amanda

July 9
dear diary,
today i signed up for the pop off intersquad. i hope i make the cut, i want to see how i rate against my fellow gymnasts here. there's a new rule for the top squad, that they must all stay in the top ten. maybe that will make it easier for aspiring TOPS to get in the team
love amanda

July 8
dear diary,
yesterday i competed in the all around finals of the malibu comp. i came 7th in a field of extremely talented gymnasts of 20. i scored a total of 37.7125 with scores of 9.3, 9.075 and 9.1875 on vault, a disappointing 8.95 on bars, an improvement on preliminarys of 9.775 on beam and a meet high for me of a 9.8 on floor. i was really excited and spent most of today just chilling out and coming down from that incredible high of elite competition.
love amanda

July 7
dear diary,
i just found out the results for my prelims at the malibu comp. i placed fourteenth and qualified for the all arounds in which i hope to improve my placing. i scored a total of 37.325 with scores of 9.4,9.3 and 9.35 on vault, a 0.05 on bars, 9.25 on beam and a 9.675 on floor. my finals are today, so i'm really nervous.
got to go
i have practice to do
love amanda

July 6
dear diary,
today was beach day for us gymnasts at the malibu comp. i got to show of the swim wear i bought while on the topopolilly tour. it was great fun. i checked back at the gym and found out that i'm now in the lilly squad, which is great. i'm sure i'll get along great with my new squad mates, i already know most of them really well. i'm still waiting for the results of my prelims. hopefully i've done well enought o qualify for the all arounds tomorrow.
fingers crossed,br> love amanda

July 5
dear diary,
today was pretty boring compared to the excitement of yesterday. i just did my training for the malibu comp. i think we leave tomorrow, either that or on the weekend. i finally finished the little princess. it was really good. i'm thinking of renting the movie to see the comparisons. anyways, better go
love amanda

July 4
dear diary,
sorry i've written so late, but i've had such a day today. as you know, it's july fourth, which means independence day!!! i still had to get up early for workouts and conditioning, but at night, there were a few suprises. after dinner, we went outside for an outdoor supper. we could hear the bands playing from in side of town. and at 9 o clock, the fireworks started going off. at first they were very little and quiet, but they built up until at the end, the sky was filled with a rainbow of blue, red and white. my ears are still ringing. today, i felt proud to be an American.
love ya
amanda

July 3
dear diary,
nothing much exciting happended today. i played a game of volleyball. it was so good. i was on fire, but then i had to come back and do workouts. oh well. i'll play againg tomorrow
got to go
love amanada
,br>July 2
dear diary,
so, i got the results for the summerfest comp. i didn't make it into the finals, but i'm not too phased. i've still got the malibu madness meet to look forward to and that is on the same day as the summerfest finals anyway. the coaches are reorganising the training squads since the upgrading of all the juniors to elite. i'm working on upgrading my ranking this week so i can be sure to get in a good team. i'd better go
cya
amanda

July 1
dear diary,
today we had preliminarys for summerfest. still waiting to see if i made the finals. i'm really nervous. my nails have been bitten down to the quick. to take my mind off things, i bought jessica's birthday present. i'm not telling you yet, it's a suprise
cya
mandy

June 29
dear diary,
nothing much to say today. i did my required sorkout and i also did my summerfest training. my press intervies was really exciting, i haven't had one of them before.
got to go
love amanda

June 27
dear diary,
sorry i haven't written for a long time. i got sick on the last day of the tour and couldn't participate in any of the activities. it was disappointing, but i'm better now. anyways, i'm been upgraded to elite! it's so exciting, i've been waiting for this for a long time, and the time is finally here. now i'll be able to compete in all the competitions. i'll have to get my ranking up, it's a little low at 20. today, i did my workout for summerfest and my required workout. i'm a little nervous about my vaults and my beam dismount. fingers crossed
love mandy

June 23
dear diary,
today we left for lincoln, Nebrasca at 6 am. i normally would have slept in till the last possible minute, but today, i woke up early and couldn't get back to sleep. since no one else was up, i explored the hotel. it was really fun. we stopped for lunch at 11:30 before we arrived the hotel at 3. then it was off to workout at the Marble Lee Hall. it was so exciting, that gym is like one of the best in the country and all the equipment is brand new. i was like a kid in a toy shop! at 7 we had dinner and at 7:30 we practised for the competition. i'm just showing my comp routines. i was disappointed i couldn't make some new ones up, but i didn't have the time. at 9:30 we headed back to the hotel and i was soooooo hyper. i was pretty annoying.
love ya all
amanda

June 22
dear diary,
i had the most fun day of the tour so far today. we went to the six flags park in denver for the day. it's been an age since i've been to a fun park. the last time was when my family went to disney world three summers ago. anyways, it was so fun. i went on all the scary rides. my favourite was the xlr8r. it was so cool. my tummy was doing flips half an hour afterwards. after i'd finised on these, i went to the waterpark. it was so cool. the water slides were so steep and the tree house was way way too mad. we got to our hotel at ten and i talked, read and then went to bed
love amanda

June 20
dear diary,
today, i woke up and packed my stuff cause we're leaving today! then i had morning workout and i attended the vault workshop. since vault is my worst apparatus, it was a big help. we had a subway party sub for lunch. it's been ages since i had one of them. then i helped set up for the meet, i set out chairs and brought out the apparatus. i was disappointe i didn't get to compete, but i still have the summerfest and that should be good. then we went to the olive garden for dinner. it was yummy. then we got on the bus for cheyenne.
love amanda

June 19
dear diary,
today, i woke up early to pack up my stuff from camping. then i prepared for the long hike down. it was okay actually, i didn't fall over and it was very peaceful and serene. great view! we had leftovers from dinner last night for lunch. it was better the first time if you ask me! when we go