Brittany C

End Of Year Wrap Up

2011-12-31T11:03:00.001-08:00

Long time no blog! I've been kinda busy lately so don't hate. It's so hard to believe today is the last day of 2011! It has been a pretty exciting year! We welcomed a new family member, our dog Tucker (who will be a year on the 5th of January), the Babcock family welcomed 3 new babies giving us a grand total of 15 nieces and nephews! I gained a new God daughter when my friend of 23 years gave birth to her beautiful baby girl Isabella! A lot of new additions! At the beginning of the year I had a pretty rough start, dealing with too many new stresses and emotions. I found myself in a dark place and really learned a lot about myself.

I got the privillage of going on a couple of vacations, with and without my husband (which he hated me for). Of course I travel around North America for work so that was normal. I got to go to Mexico with a couple of my teammates from last season and that was incredible! I got to travel to Myrtle Beach for a weeklong get away with my husband, his parents, my parents & siblings, my aunt and uncle & their kids and Ryan's brother and his wife. Carpooling down with Tommy and Kelsey was a life lesson, don't let the men drive! I also got to travel out to Calgary for 3 days when we placed 3rd! I also got to go shopping in Beverly Hills! Well, window shopping that is. Never in my life have I felt that poor! And Vegas for the athletes banquet weekend? I'm not gonna lie, I forget about most of the weekend!

Work brought several new changes for me. I started out the year playing for one team and am ending on a new team. I have made so many new friends this year and am finding this season much enjoyable! I've gone on so many roadies with the ladies on both teams and 2011 was the year for new experiences! In January our bus broke down on the way back home from Montreal and we stayed in the biggest dump I had ever seen! We had stayed at new hotels, went to new bars (the gay bar was the most fun I had in a while!), partied it up in New Orleans during Marti Gras again (I think I wanna go down yearly!), and let's be real, when we actually got free time in LA who didn't enjoy themselves!? I can only look forward to the rest of the season with my new team and build on what we have done!

So 2011 there was a lot of excitement! Chloe ran away from home but returned after giving me a heart attack for days! And a ton of other stuff. Mainly, a dream came true.... NKOTBSB BABY! My childhood loves, New Kids on the Block and my teenage loves Backstreet Boys came together and made the aPOPalypse! I know if your not a fan you don't get it, 'what's so special', but when your that little girl who was convinced you were gonna marry Donnie Wahlberg at age 3, and you were the one who would try and stalk Nick Carter around your city everytime he was in town, you'd get it. Both bands played a huge role in my childhood. I listened to their tapes and CD's everyday, their faces and hot bodies were plastered all over my walls, I knew every lyric to every song, I knew what their favourite colours were or what their ideal date was (I spent so much money on magazines!), and for me to see Donnie and Nick on stage together goofing off, was the best thing ever! This is my weird analogy on NKOTBSB... it's like losing your virginity. You find out their doing a tour together and you freak out! It's like getting your first crush on a guy, your so excited and can hardly wait until anything happens! Then you see them perfoming on TV, and it's like seeing them but knowing it's only a glimpse into the future. Then you wait to get your ticket (those were some painful months I had to wait!) and it's like waiting to hear the words from your crushes mouth, "I like you too." Then you finally get the ticket and the chior is singing in the background! It's like you scored the date! Then your seeing them more and more, just like your crush. Next thing you know it's the night before the concert and you can't sleep, your just so excited, just like the night you know your gonna lose it with him. You get there, your looking all nice, your so excited you go to the bathroom like 6 times to ensure you won't miss anything and BAM! They all come on stage (*tee hee*) and BAM it feels like your having sex for those 3 AMAZING hours! And then once it's over your like, "That was freaking awesome!" I know it sounds cheesy, but let's be real, when you think about it it's true! But the best part is that it was 9 guys (10 if you were at the LA show) and it was the time of your life staring at that penisstage waiting to see what they'll do next! There was singing, dancing, humping, sweating, fooling around, serenading, jealousy (if you were watching your fave bsb member serenading some other chick who scores a closer seat then you), happiness, a little tears, goosebumps, stripping, wet bodies (Fenway people!) and over all non stop excitement!!! It was my highlight of the year!

Another highlight of the year was meeting so many new friends on Twitter! After I got a follow (after how many freaking years of waiting!) from Donnie, I made so many new fellow Donnie girls! When I decided on making a pic for NKOTBSB, I made over 200 new followers and so many new friends with similar interests but yet so distant away. That's part of why I love Twitter. You make so many new friends from around the world and you slowly discover how many new people there are who are just like you! It was incredible meeting all of my tweetpeeps on Twitter! I love you all and you helped me get through a lot, so thank you!

Like I mentioned earlier, 2011 was a rough start for me and I learned a lot about myself. It's true, and I owe it all to my husband for getting me through the year. We celebrated our one year anniversary, which was a huge step in our marriage. I personally feel that the first year is so important in a marriage and we had a blessed one! Ryan is my best friend and my lover all in one. He is my rock. I trust him with everything and I know we will always be there for each other. We both had our quirks this year, as we do with anything, but we were able to not go a day without speaking towards one another. Let me tell ya, when we first got married I was not the cook, and I still sort of am not, but now I am so much better in the kitchen! Now I can fix something up and surprise him with dinner or experiment with new dishes and he can give me feedback or even help me out with everything. It's fun now that we can live off of other foods and not just pasta! And now that I'm home more I've become quite the housewife! I cook, clean way more, redecorated rooms in our house, take care of our dogs, do his laundry (before it was fend for yourself, now we don't even care) and overall I'm home more and can actually spend time with him. I love falling asleep and knowing I don't have to wake up at 3 in the morning and fly out somewhere, which I still do just not everyday. I also love welcoming home from work everyday with a meal on the table and arms open for a bear hug. (I know, it's corny).

2011 has also been a rough ending for me and my family. We just received news that my grandfather has been diagnose with three different types of cancer and he is having an extremely difficult battle with it. Knowing we don't have much time with him kills me, he's my grandfather and I'm so close with him. It pains me to see him go through this because he is such an amazing man, and I could only wish to spend more time with him. Hopefully 2012 will bring good news and an easier battle.

At the same time that has been going on Ryan and I found out WE'RE PREGNANT! Finally we are expecting a baby, and are due June 17th 2012, so mark it down people! We are thrilled to be having a baby. Both of us have wanted a baby so badly and we are blessed and humbled to finally be pregnant! We don't know what we're having and we plan to keep it that way, but we are both sort of hoping for a boy. Names? We can't decide and we have time to discuss it. So we are very blessed, humbled, thrilled, nervous, excited and hopefully ready to be parents!

2011 has been quite the year and I hope 2012 brings even more happiness and joy. May you all have a great new year filled with lots of love, happiness and laughter. Please be responsible tonight, don't drink and drive! And I'll get back to ya in the new year!
Happy New Year everyone,
Brittany xoxo

Chloe!

2011-09-05T13:59:00.000-07:00

So the last few days have been nothing but busy and emotional! Why? Because my dog Chloe ran away! On friday we had a BBQ with the Babcock's and around 10 we were saying goodbye to the last of the family, we normally hold Chloe during this time, but we didn't/ As they are walking out of the door, a thing of thunder went off, and Chloe, who is petrified of thunder, ran out the door and thru a huge bush that a person can't even jump over that leads to another street.

So Ryan had to run down the street and around, and by that time she was gone. I'm sorry, but she is 3lbs and black. How are you gonna see her at night? Ryan, his brother Tommy and his brother in law Dwayne all stayed up and looked while I made calls and all that stuff. We didn't go to bed until 4 in the morning! So yeah, we looked all day saturday and still nothing.

I was a mess, bawling, sobbing, all that stuff! At 1am that night we got a call from a family saying that they found her! Agailn, I did not sleep that night, only because I was so excited to get my baby home! The father had said that the kids wanted to say goodbye to Chloe and do the right thing themselves, and I was so happy to let them do that!

So at 10 am the next morning we went to the address that the family had given us. The first thing we saw after introducing ourselves was the 4 young kids holding and petting Chloe, and then they handed her over. It was so cute! It made me so emotional. I scooped her up and just held her. I'm sure the kids must've thought I was crazy or something. But anyway, I was so happy to see her!

Beth and Dean, the parents, let the kids say goodbye and explain what they had learned about this experience. They had said that they learned to do the right thing. They learned all the steps of what to do if they ever have that happen again and it was so amazing to hear how much they learned. Such good citizens at such a young age! I had also done a thank you speach to them and let them know how much it meant to me that they did that and took such good care of Chloe. We also tried to give them a reward but they wouldn't accept it, so we got the kids an icecream at the icecream truck that day, and are taking Beth and Dean to dinner. We actually got along so well and made new friends! Who knew!?

Thank you to all who sent their best wishes and prayers! Ryan and I greatly appreciated it! We are so happy to have Chloe back at home with us. We missed her so much! Ryan was amazing with me during those tough days. He felt bad that my baby was gone, especialy cuz he gave me her for Christmas so he knows how much she means to me. I still need to make him the most awesome sandwhich ever to thank him. That's just the way we are. We thank eachother by giving them the things we like, especially if the other person makes it for us.
Thanks for reading,
Brittany!

News, news, news!

2011-09-01T17:52:00.000-07:00

Ha! I'm updating! What what? Yeah, usualy when I say I'll blog about something in another blog, I never end up updating (like my wedding), but anyway, I am! So since we last left off I had recieved the news that Toronto is starting yet another team based out of the beautiful city and I was one of the very lucky ladies to accept the position! I will be playing libero, a position that plays only back row for usually the tall people who can't pass because they can't get low enough to pass, and is used as a free sub whenever they want for whoever they want. So yeah, that's me and what I do for a living.

Upon accepting the position on the team I have started my pre-season work outs. And let me tell ya, volleyball training is not nice! What happens when we do pre-season training is you baisically do cardio for an hour, do some running, stairs, eliptical, ladder exercises and bike. Then you do weights for an hour. Then afterwards you usually do a yoga or pilates class to centre yourself and gain core muscles and improve them, because passing uses a lot of your core. And that is every other day, and on the days we have off, we do 4 hours of practice. And that is what I do most days of the year.

As much as I love the work outs and feeling the pain, I really can't stand the pain the I get when I truley haven't done anything that intense for months. Your back begins to hurt, along with all your muscles and your mentally changing again to keep your focus. Our new coach is pretty good and we have a great technical staff and support team and trainers. Speaking of which, I would like to congratulate my trainer Dana on her first pregnancy! I am very happy for her and wish her and her husband all the best.

As for teammates, I am not sure who I have yet. I know I have Shrimpy on my team which will be awesome! I have Stacey, Paige, and Kayla also returning. Other than that, I am not sure what happens from here. All I know is I have fittings for uniforms and track suits and jersey's on the 8th and there I will meet everyone, and we start practicing. I am so stoked!

Not only has my life started to get back to the norm, for us anyway, I have been busy helping my best friend Katie plan her wedding! It's not until June but you know how it is planning a wedding. By the way, she is the reason why I am not going on the New Kids On The Block cruise, so you can thank her for that haha! I am her MOH, and am veryhappy for Katie. She's had some rough relationships and I am glad that she has finally found her true match!

Also most recently my one sister in law and I have been getting into it a lot. We have a long and bad past with eachother. She didn't like the fact that I was dating her baby brother and she had a problem with me. Words have been exchanged ovber the years and I really try to get along with her because Ryan and her get along great, but she keeps it up. A few weeks ago she said something that will haunt me forever and just a few days ago at a family BBQ, she apologized yet again, face to face, and is starting to show some improvement! I am thrilled that she is starting to try to get along with me. As I always say, for having 8 sister/brother in laws, and to only have one hate me isn't that bad.

So that is the big news! A lot is going on right now and I wouldn't want to have it any other way. Since my summer days are winding down, I think I am going to take advantage of what I have in my life. I tried new things this summer and had a blast! I am looking forward to a new season and can't wait to get back on the court. Sure Ryan and myself aren't going to be parents anytime soon, we are looking forward to doing things while we're still young that we wouldn't be able to if we had a baby. (ex. my job). It just gives me something to look forward to in my life, and a new goal to push for over time.
Thanks for reading!
Britt :)

A New Direction in Life

2011-08-25T10:14:00.000-07:00

Hey readers, if there are any, haven't blogged in a while, been busy lately. I've been keeping up with Zumba and being fit. Been spending a lot of time with family and friends and just enjoying the summer weather! This summer has been great and I'm sort of looking forward to going back to work.

During the summer I had received the news from Shrimpy that my contract for my team has been up, and that I'm a free agent, and now I need a new team. It is part of my job, I get that, but it's hard for me to leave Toronto. I was born and raised a proud Torontoian! I have all my family down here, and this is where my husband and I live. I don't want to leave him!

Toronto (where my team practices and is based out of) has not yet offered me a position back on the team. And as my teammates have said, "you'd think they'd want to keep their captain and best player". Well, best player-shut up, I am not, just the smallest. Since I am a free agent, I have now been getting offers from Boston, Pittsburgh (both teams offered me a spot after university), Arizona, and Montreal. Yes, that's close and in Canada, but that's the RIVALRY TEAM! Hell no I'm not playing for them.

This whole experience is putting a strain on my relationship with my husband. We have had several arguements about what we are going to do. Ryan has worked so hard to get to where he is now at work. He wanted a permanent position at a highschool where he could teach both his passions, and also be involved with coaching and being athletic. He finally received his wish a few years ago and I won't let him give all that up and go through the troubles of getting to where he needs to be again.

But he is saying that he wants to go with me and that he'll find a new job. But I'm not stupid, I know how the economy is. I had even suggested for me to just quit since I'm getting up there in age and most teams don't want "old people" on their teams. Tho I'm almost 26! I said that I would be willing to even come home whenever I can and we can try a long distance thing for a season. So we don't know what we're gonna do.

I don't even know where I'll be playing yet! If all goes as I would hope and pray, that I would get a last minute offer to stay with Toronto. I don't know what's gonna happen, but I would really love it if Toronto makes me an offer! There was a reason that I accepted their offer the first time, and I would take it again! Regardless, I am more than ready to get back on the court and continue with this chapter in my life, and see what happens next. Will keep you readers updated,

Britt xoxo

The Importance of Family

2011-07-24T12:52:00.001-07:00

Words cannot express the importance of family, and I can't say it enough. After being able to see some of my extended family that I don't ever see unless at wedings, funerals and showers, I truley realized how important it is to cherish your family, and the time that you spend with them.

It all goes way back to my family in Greece. My grandmotherand her family were both very distant from eachother. Especially because she married a Greek man (she was masadonian). Then everybody started to move to Canada. My grandfather had come up with his family, and at the same time, his sister came up with hers, and his brother with his. They al began to add more to their families since the move. My grandmother on the other hand never really kept in touch with her family back home. Eventually some of her family had come up to Canada, they could even live down the street from one another and they would never talk! My grandfather still calls his brother and sister in Greece everyday to keep in touch.

As their families grew up and soon started to create their own families (starting with my birth!) they had grown farther apart. My grandfather still met up often with his brother and sister, and even his mother when she moved up to Canada. I guess when I became a toddler none of teh cousins had really seen eachother. For the most part I had just seen my dad's 2 brothers and my grandparents, and from occasion, my great aunt and my great grandmother. As I mentioned earlier, we only really see the extended family on my dad's side at funerals, weddings and showers. It's a shame we don't ever see eachother outside of a church or a reception hall or restaraunt.

Then you look at my mom's side, where we see eachother all the time! She grew up with a group of her first cousins from both sides (two brothers maried to sisters) who were like her brothers, she had 3 sisters. When I was young and they were all in their early 20's they'd get together a couple of times a week to catch up and spend time with eachother. I think that's great! Sure they don't spend much time together nowbecause once they started having babies they had a new priority-understandable. They go on trips together, we go camping together and we always see eachother for big celebrations! But they always pick up the phone and say hello, or email. My dad's side is not like that at all, except for with his immediate family.

Ryan and his family are all extremley close! He's the youngest of 9, with only 1 brother 15 months older than him. He and his sisters call eachother at least once a week, he talks to his parents everyday, adn his brother all the time! He still see's his cousins from time to time, and is always making an effort to see them whenever possible. What is really nice to see though, is that Ryan really makes an effort to be close to all of his nieces and nephews, all 13! The kids love him, and consider him the cool uncle, and I am glad that I can be apart of such a big/close family! All of his nieces and nephews were extremly welcoming to me, and treat me like I've been around for their whole lives, which for some-I haven't.

And a close family is what I strive for! I know that I don't live at home anymore with my mom, dad, brother and sister, but I always try to get out as much as I can. I love my family to death and I would do anything for them! Even with such a big age difference with my sister (11 year difference) and brother (13 year difference), I make it a priority to be the best older sister that I can, and to be as close to them as possible! They were both in my bridal party at my wedding! (Oh my God my brother was the cutest thing on my wedding in his suit!).

It's important to me to be close to them, and to let them know that even thought I'm out on my own with a husband, that they should never be afraid to come over, or call. Heck-my brother calls Ryan all the time to talk! Besides, Ryan is his brother now (haha!). And for Ryan to be so close to them means the world to me. And for being almost 28, he sure can act like a kid sometimes! I'm even glad that he get's along with my family and vise versa. I also want to be there for my little cousins, and be around with them to see them grow up, like I would've if we were closer in age.

So my point of this blog is; stick with your family, their all you got and you need to cherish your time with them! You never know what's around the corner. You don't want to have a distant relationship with your family. You should stay in touch as best you can. Sure people come and go, or change, at least make the effort, and if they don't put the effort in, at least you gave it a try! When my aunt was dying of cancer, my mom went to the hospital every single day to spend time with her, even with young toddlers at home, because she knew that time was limited. My great uncle told me today, "I made a mistake for being so distant with my family for all these years. I should've gone and visited or phoned but I never did. And now that we're all getting up there and everyones passing away, it is my biggest regret." Thos words wil forever stay with me. I don't want that in the future.

Life is short, break tghe rules, forgive quickly, kiss slowly, love truley, laugh uncontrollably and never regreat anything that made you smile. Make memories and cherish them! Family is forever,

Brittany xoxoxoxo ♥

Reflection & my grandmothers 1 Year!

2011-07-22T09:10:00.000-07:00

Today is the one year anniversary for my grandmother, or as I called her, my bubba yaya. Bubba means grandma in masadonian, and yaya means grandma in Greek. I can't believe that it has been a year since her passing! So much has happened in a year! Most importantly the birth of the final grandchild Zach, a week after her passing.

To think that a year ago today I was at training thinking about my grandmother, I had gotten a call from my mom to go over and see her, so I went over with Ryan. We walked in, and my little cousin Lucas was there and greeted us. We were happy to see him and be greeted by the little cutie. Then my mom came out with it telling me that she passed away. I immediatly bawled. My dad, being the jokester he said, and supposedly this was true, "Wow, she reacted faster than all of us. She cried instantly, we all at least waited." People in Greece knew before I did! I was the last to know! So of course, my aunt was there with my mom making plans for her outfit and flowers, while my dad and his brothers planned other things with my papou (grandpa in Greek).

It was a hard week that week. She passed on a thursday, and a week later we were going to Newfoundland! So we were crunched for time. The day before the viewing I had found out that one of my previous coaches lost her fight to breast cancer (she was re-diagnosed & it had also spread). That night my whole family, minus Ryan and my aunt and cousin, all watched 'Death at a Funeral' to prove that the one for my grandmother won't be like that. It also gave us a chance to all be together and have a good laugh. The day of the viewings was very busy. I had to play in a beach tournament (I'm sorry, I earned $2,000 just for playing!) and I really had no choice, me and my partner threw the tourney so I could make it to the second one. I missed the afternoon one, and was lucky to make it to the night one.

The funeral was a long day! Greek funerals always are. There's an early morning service, our priest was late because he was sipping coffee downstairs. There was also drama because the cake had different icing on it, that was meant for the 6 month service. The bakery had messed up on it, and my uncle got blamed because he picked up the cake. My thia (aunt) is a very opinionated person and really yelled at him! Throught out the day there was fights between my aunts-go figure- and let me tell ya, I was in the middle always!

A tradition in the Greek church is that you have wine, wheat and bread. I got the honour of bringing them all up to the front of the church during the church service. My thia from my greek side was the one carrying this big bowl of wheat to the front and a candle. My aunt on the masadonian side (my grandmothers sister in law) said we had to wait until the casket get's there. My thia was half way to the aisle, while my other aunt was holding me back, and yelling at my aunt. They were pulling me back and forth! There was more to it than that, but still, it was insane!

The priest also messed up during the service, embarassing the living crap out of me! He was saying, "Stella was a daughter, a sister, a sister in law, a mother, a grandmother and great greatgrandmother." Everybody looked at me because I am the oldest and was a newly wed at the time. My aunt, who was 2 weeks over do from her due date was like, "Uh Britt," I had to mouth to my whole family, I'm not, he messed up. My dad looked like he was gonna have a heart attack! His face was actually priceless. Then when the family was walking by sending their condolence, everyone was like congratulations. Ryan and I had a good laugh, sorta.

It was nice to see my extended family because we never really see them. I even got to meet my cousin who I've never met before! The restaraunt part was interesting. I had to do a speech saying that I wasn't pregnant, and the priest apologized. Also, the restaraunt knew that there was 4 grandchildren at the time, and the one was bringing someone (Ryan). So the waitors brought over a plate of a kiddie meal to Ryan and myself! They thought we were kids! My grandfather laughed so hard. It was delicious, I must admit! Never thought at 25 years old that I would get a kiddie meal.

So much has happened since my grandmother passed away. There's not a day that I do not think about her. I miss her so much! I am glad that you are no longer in any pain and are up there with the angels watching over us all proudly. I love you and I miss you so much!

So now this weekend we have to go to church to celebrate her 1 year. I feel better now that I have reflected on her funeral, it definatly makes me feel better about everything and makes me remember that funerals and deaths are a bad thing, but you always make new memories after they are gone. I feel glad to get that out. I know it sounds weird, but talking about thing's or writing about things make me feel better.
Thanks for reading!

Brittany x0x0

Family Camping!

2011-07-04T18:35:00.000-07:00

Well another Camping Trip with my family has ended. Usually I always look forward to camping, this year I was a bit hesitant in going. My cousins are all at that stage in their lives where they rather go hang out with friends or go clubbing than go camping with their family. And addicted to their blackberry, or phones. So I wasn't sure who was going to be there, and how social they were going to be. Sure enough, I was wrong.

Getting up there after about 3 hours (listening to Backstreet Boys the whole way), we quickly set up our tent and was ready to relax. Just getting to catch up with everybody and see everybody is so nice. My grandma's sister and my grandpa's brother married eachother, and their family of 3 boys was like brothers to my mom and her 3 sisters. So for years now they have gone camping together with their families. It gives everyone a chance to see eachother, catch up, do something different, and get away from civilization so to speak. So baisically we just talked all day, and had a kick ass camp fire at night. It was also freezing that night!

Also, we brought the 2 dogs up! (For those who don't know, we just got a new 5 month old puppy named Tucker!) Everyone knew and loves Chloe and were happy to meet Tucker. He is at an awkward stage in his life, he's only 5 months and still developing. His hips are pathetic (like mine), and he's so clumsy! My aunt and uncle have a dog so we were introducing them. Then, the damn dog started to attack Tucker and jumped ontop of him! Tucker is under a table trying to get up and I was ready to kill my aunt and uncles dog! That's my baby! So anyway, while this is going on Chloe was barking away, trying to beat up my cousins dog! Chloe is 3lbs, Tucker is 40lbs, and my cousins dog is 30lbs! She's a fiesty one alright!

Saturday was a hot one. The day started out over cast, and was calling for thunder storms all day. After an hour of over cast the sun was bright and shining. My mom, uncle, cousins, nanny, great uncle, great aunt and myself all played horseshoes. We are all competitive so it was pretty funny how into it we got. My one cousin had to work and her older sister was going to a party that night so they had to leave unfourtunatly. My mom's sister, her husband, and 2 oldest kids had to leave because my cousins best friends mom passed away and it was the day of the funeral. Totally understandable! So they would be back at the end of the day.

Next we went down to the pond where everyone else was fishing away. Ryan had no worms to use, so he put a grape, that's right, a grape on the end of his line and no word of a lie, 30 seconds later he caught a 5lbs fish! It was the funniest thing! We always fish when camping and now have a fishing trophy that the winner get's to keep for the year and then brings it back the next year for the new winner. So far we were winning!

The rest of the afternoon, my uncle's 2 kids (I hate the one of them) came up for about 3 hours! The point was to stay up over night, not 3 hours. The female cousin talked to us for about an hour then went in a trailer alone for the other 2. We were playing Botchie Ball and Lawn Darts. Ryan was really having fun with the kids, aka my brother and my twin cousins his age. My cousin and her boyfriend had to leave aswell, so again, my cousins were all leaving. My great grandmother and great aunt came up for the day aswell.

Once everyone was really starting to leave and get dinner started, me and my cousin/teammate Shannon went on a walk down the street. We were both not impressed that everyone was leaving so we both vented. She also wanted to leave because she had to go to her summer job the next day, but felt like she had to stay since no one else was. She is one of my cousins closer to my age and we grew up together, so we've always been close. If it wasn't for her being there I would've died. Yes I talked with my aunts and uncles, but I'm not that close with them, and it was sort of awkward at points.

For dinner we had a huge BBQ and everyone provided something. It was so nice to have everyone that was there eat a meal with eachother. For dessert my great grandmother made Rice Pudding and once it was brought out all of my mom and her cousins raced to go get some like savages! It was so funny. While they were all fighting for some food, all of my generation was like 'what the heck is so great about Rice Puddin?'. The rain clouds came, but no rain yet so we all quickly cleaned up! It always rains when we're camping so we're used to it. We had thunder and lightning but no rain. Just my aunt and uncle came back, leaving their older two at home-thank God-they don't socialize what so ever so it's not like we were missing them that much. Supposedly there was a huge storm going on and everyone was texting us, and we had nothing but a few bangs, and lightning!

We had a short camp fire. But while that was going on, the prank war started! My brother and twin cousins put a frog in my fucking tent! And it was in my fucking bag! I hate bugs and frogs and snakes (which we all saw!). So they got it out. Then before my brother and the twins bed time (they were all in a tent together), Ryan snuck into their tent and jumped out and scared them! I had a great laugh! In the morning when we were cleaning up Ryan threw a fucking dragon fly in our tent and held the zipper so I couldn't get out! What an asshole! (We love eachother so much haha!).

We ended up staying longer then planned, went canoeing, floated on a raft, and Ryan won his fishing trophy, he was the only one who caught a fish! We left, got ice cream (I love brownie ice cream!) and we stopped in at my great grandmother's for a bit. Then we got home. It was nice being away but damn I missed my bed!

In the end I had a great weekend and want to go camping again! Family is so important and I can't stress it enough how much you should take these opportunities while you have them. I know it may not seem as cool to hang out with your family, but it's all you got in the end. It gives you a chance to catch up, see people you don't usually see, do something different and have a great weekend. Not to mention get a tan! And mosquito bites....my bum is covered (the one place I didn't spray!). Both Ryan and I loved it!

Thanks for reading my blog and finding out how my long weekend was! I hope everyone had a great time with their families this beautiful long weekend! It's time for me to take a break from this blog, and prepare for my surgery tomorrow morning. It's nothing big, just fixing a plate in my nose (long story!). Can't wait to catch up with you all soon,

Brittany xoxo

My Sister's Graduation!

2011-06-28T17:44:00.000-07:00

Well my sister did it! She graduated grade 8 and is officially a miner niner! It seems like just yesterday she was a little girl going to school the first time. Yesterday I got the privillage of going with her to get her hair done and get ready for her big night. She looked amazing! Her blue dress really accented her eyes and made them pop, her make up made her look so much more beautiful and her hair-that was just to top it all off! You became a true lady last night.

Nicole, you were once the quiet little girl who was always determined, smart and ready for a challenge. Now, your still the same, but older and more of a woman. You have also finally come out of your shell! I can remember you trying to tie your shoes at age 4, sitting on the first step until you finally got it and was satisfied. Now, your trying to learn the Pythagrian Theorm. You were also the little girl who didn't need her mommy on the first day of school, you were more than ready. Now, your off to highschool! Your off to the big leagues kid. I hate to say it, but my little girl is growing up!

Last night my sister was honoured with 3 major awards; Valedvictorian, the J.D. Memorial Award, and the Principle's Leadership Award. All are such great honours to receive. Not only were you successful with your leadership opportunities both outside and inside the classroom, you were successful in achademics. Nicole also won 1st class honours! Yeah, she's always been very smart.

Since she was valedvictorian, she had a speech. Her peers had voted for her to be the female valedvictorian, along with one of her close guy friends to be the male. The students didn't know until they announced their names, and they were all very happy she won. I knew she had been selected previous to the ceremony, and I think I was more nervous than she was! I was shitting bricks for her. My sister nailed it, and I was so proud!

If anyone saw my tweets or facebook status', you would notice that I was constantly saying: "I'm so proud of her!". I also told her that a million times last night and today! Last night alone I got to see the beautiful transformation of a once young girl, to a beautiful woman. I am sure she will be very successful in the future.

Not only was I proud of her, and my family, but Ryan was extremly proud. Ryan and Nicole get along so well. They always joke around with eachother, always in disscussion, and always kind to eachother. Ryan is the youngest of 9 children, and never had a younger sister, just 7 older one's. So Nicole is truley like a little sister to him, and he to has witnessed her transformation over the years. He was "wooing" with me last night everytime she was mentioned. It was cute to see how excited he got for her. And now that she too is going to the highschool that he teaches at, along with our cousin, he could possibly be her english teacher, and will be seeing her in the halls, making sure she's out of trouble and out of reach from boys. (I'm protective alright!)

Nicole, I'm so proud of you for graduating, and all your success over the years. You may say that I am a role model to you, but your my role model. I love you so much and wish you all the best in the future! Congrats to the grad!
from the proud big sister,
Brittany xoxo :)

My Big Fat Greek Weekend

2011-06-05T16:46:00.000-07:00

So this weekend was my Big Fat Greek Weekend, literally. On saturday my little cousin Zach got baptised. Since it was on the Greek side, he had a greek baptism. There are quite a lot of differences between the Anglican way and the Greek Orthodox way. I also learned a lot about the Greek church. I got in trouble for crossing my legs in the church, women are not allowed to cross their legs in church because it isn't proper ediquite. So that was new to me.

The baptism was very long. The ceremony took forever and afterwards you go to a restaraunt and eat and celebrate. The food wasn't that good, the Greek salad was amazing-and I don't like Greek salad at all, and I got a steak which was good. But the rest was bad. At my table I had my parents, brother and sister, uncle and papou, Ryan and my little cousin Lucas. So we spent our night making sure he eats. It was fun.

Then today we had my uncle's fiancee's bridal shower. The Greeks do everything big so she had about 50-60 people at her bridal shower! It was at a restaraunt which was lovely, I really liked it, and sat with my mom, sister, cousin, and aunts. My great aunt-my thia is very rude and I was ready to kill myself and her! She is the women who will yell at people telling them that things aren't right. She ruined my grandmother's funeral last summer because she wanted to do it the Greek way, when my grandmother is Masadonian.

The bridal shower was much different from mine. I had no idea about mine, which was cool because I enjoyed the surprise and not having the added stress about it. She planned it herself and I must admit it, but she did a kick ass job! My mom planned mine and surprised me, and my mother in law did one for me with the Babacock side. The played cute games, like at mine. But it was very anti-social because you were stuck at your table and we only knew those at our table. It was also very emotional and touching because both my uncle and his fiancee lost their mothers so they made sure that they were involved too. She wrote a beautiful speech and we were all bawling!

At the table we were all comparing the weddings and how they all had Greek weddings. I didn't. I'm baptised Anglican, not orthodox, and I don't have a Greek first name so I couldn't be as a baby. Plus, Ryan isn't Orthodox so why would we have a Greek service if neither of us were baptised Orthodox. I understood that it would've meant the world to my papou-grandpa-and my dad but they understood. We did add traditions to the service and reception, because it was important to me that my Greek heritage was involved with my wedding. We had dancing which was fun, and all my mom's family, Ryan's family, and our friends had a good time because they don't go to Greek weddings often.

My thia didn't understand why I didn't have a Greek wedding and was offended. But it's not your place to say anything, and the only reason she was invited was because she is my papous sister in law. And the one thing that my uncle said that he will be doing at his wedding is a memory table, where we had a picture of a loved one the we wished was able to attend our wedding in person and lit a candle that stayed lit all night in memory. We had one for my grandfather, my aunt, his grandparents that have passed and aunts and uncles. My uncle told my soon-to-be aunt about it and she said she wants to do that aswell. Which is cool for me to hear that people liked that touch.

My uncle also asked me (he showed up at the end) about this video that we did at our wedding. We had a slideshow of pictures of us together throughout our relationship and childhood, and then we had a video of interviews like on tv. We had our families be interviewd about our relationship and what they thought of us, and we were interviewed on ourselves and how we met. So he asked me about that, so I'm sure that'll be funny.

When my uncle came out he brought basketball jersey's for the bride and the bridesmaids. He loves basketball! Which is what I had done but with tshirts. There was one that said Bride on the back, MOH, Maide # so and so, and the same with the groomsmen. And the parents got one, and the grandparents got one too. My grandma got one that said G-ma cuz my nanny is a G! haha!

So that was my weekend. I'm excited for the wedding coming up and the upcoming family events. Of course now that I got marraige out of the way, my family was teasing me about a baby this weekend. At the baptism Ryan was so awkward when people would tease him about it or ask. He's very shy when it comes to my extended family and acts responsible and like a grown up. So I guess that's next for me. And to enjoy my summer!

Britt :)

Family & Friends What More Do Ya Need?

2011-05-23T10:59:00.000-07:00

So it has occured to me that I officailly love my family and friends like you would not believe. I have been blessed with such amazing people in my life and I'm so thankful to have them with me. This weekend I have spent time with my family and some close friends and I just thought I'd like to share what went down this long-beautiful-weekend.

Friday I spent time with one of my best friends Julia, who just had a baby girl, my God Daughter Isabella. Again, being there to witness her birth was so unreal. It was so neat, and a bit awkward to be in the delivery room, but it just makes me excited for when its our time to start our own family! I also had the best webcam chat with Paige who is living back in Texas with her hubby and beautiful kids. Her back is still killing her, but I'm excited to see her this week in New York for a banquet. That night Ryan and I got together with some of our friends who he works with and we went to dinner. Great couples night!

Saturday was beautiful! Had a sleep-in for once, and got to tan! That afternoon we had a barbeque with his family. And with Ryan being the youngest of 9 children, there was a lot of people. Usually we have barbeques at our house because its big, and we have a pool, hot tub, and a huge backyard for the kids to play in. But we had it at his sister Carol's house. The kids played at the park they live literally right next to, so it was pretty much just us hanging out, having good time. The traffic on the way there was insane! Why the heck anyone would close the major highway on a long weekend beats me. Their crazy I tell ya! I think Ryan flipped off every person there and I was screaming at the dumb drivers. I'm sorry but it is illegal to talk on the phone while driving here, so stop doing it! Grr! Anyways....

Yesterday morning I went out to brekfeast with my daddy and we had a good time. I always get along with my dad, we're cut from the same cloth. Then I went out shopping for a BBQ that we were hosting that night with my dad's side of the family. So my papou, uncles, aunt, cousins, parents siblings, and to my surprise my nanny from my moms side came on out and we had a nice afternoon. My one little cousin Zach, who is 9 months cannot leave his mothers side, and I actually stopped him from crying and even fed him! I felt so happy because he didn't cry with me. (Hey-it's an accomplishment!)

And today I have been on and off with my volleyball friends from around the place. There's a huge banquet in New York on Thursday so I'll see my team again on Wed when we get down there. Shrimpy and I are going down together. I'm excited to see the girls because it's only been 2 weeks and I haven't seen them, just briefly talked to them. It doesn't hit you that the seasons over until they walk out the door or you drop them off at the airport. Talking on the phone sometimes just doesn't do it justice, or on web cam sometimes.

Anyway, Ryan's at the golf course with his buddies so I'm having a relaxing day. I love just being by myself after being around so many people for a few days. I like my privacy. So that was my weekend and what I had so say about my family and friends. Thanks for reading,
Brittany xoxo :)

2011-05-08T18:15:00.000-07:00

Well my last game with the team was today, and I'm very mixed about it. I mean I'm glad that its over and that we can get a break and everything, and I can spend so much time with my family and Ryan. But I'm leaving my sisters, and their leaving me. We have been so close together and it was an amazing season. And this tournament in Quebec was a good ending to the season.

We headed up on Wed. with my mom, Megan and her mom. Since we were playing on mothers day, by the way, happy mothers day! we thought we should bring our mothers to come along for the ride. They all enjoyed themselves a bit too much. It was funny, I think they bonded a lot more than the team. They went to dinner and had drinks and just had fun.

All day thursday we had press and interviews and all that fun stuff with sports tv stations, local stations for the french, and some magazine. It was so much fun! We also ate real French Poutine! So full afterwards! Than we had opening ceremonies, which is like the Olympics. We only had 5 of us there though. Plus, we lost 2 players, so we were down. Friday we went on walks and shopped, I went crazy and got nothing!

On Friday when playing we lost all our games. Afterwards I bonded with Shrimpy while our parents went out. Girl talk is so easy for us. It was a rollercoaster ride. And with some not so nice words from my coach, I was not impressed. Saturday we walked around the neighborhood, bonded in our rooms and played. I had lunch with Shrimpy while our parents were adventuring the city. We won one of our games, and almost won another. I also got to watch my men's team play and see them, which was always fun! After we had a team meeting for the coaches and gave them presents. We got our coach beer and all that stuff. And we went out to dinner and had a few drinks-some more than others!

Sunday we went to brekfeast and had literally no time to prepare! So we went on and almost won. We played our hearts out and unfourtunatly lost. I had fun and that's all that matters. We didn't really care about the money, we were there for an extended season and a good time. We went home a little disappointed but I think happy.

I hope my mom had a good time with us this weekend and had a happy mothers day! I got to get off this computer and continue with these emails! I'll be busy helping my friend with her wedding, and my other friend is about to give birth to my godchild anytime now! Lot's to look forward to! Thanks for reading,
keep on rocking,
Britt xoxo :)
(@TotalBlocksicle on Twitter)

The end of another season

2011-04-23T08:59:00.000-07:00

Well I can't believe yet another season is over. Hard to believe that just in August we were doing drafts and trades. A lot has happened this year and I think it helped change me as a person. I learned a lot about myself, and others. Looking back it was such an up and down year for my life that definatly changed me.

Looking back to our first practice as a team we were all ready to come back together and kick ass this season, unlike last year when we never got the chance. The bonding was back, the laughter was back, the drive to succeed was back, and most importantly the skill. With some new editions to the team I believe that we were more than welcoming to our new girls.

Sure there was some drama between one of players last season, but she changed for the better and as a team we all got along great with her. Sure we all pulled her leg about everything, but it was pretty funny. Last year we really didn't have any drama, this year, we started off to a bad start. One player on our team, has a reputation of being the 'cancer' on the team. Tons of people have told me but I never believed it, when I should have.

After many therapy sessions with the team, and bonding we pulled through it and was able to have a much better season than last year. Once we got on a good role, I however did not, with a huge injury that knocked me out for 8 weeks-or something like that, I can't remember. Ankle injuries suck! As the girls said, they were lost without their captain on the court, being on the bench was so different. I had a lot of damage to my ankle and emotionally. I did go through some tough stuff about myself and the recovery process was extremly difficult. My coach wasn't supportive and was trying to push me to do things I was not capable of doing.

It was frustrating for me to go to practice and mess up on something that normally I wouldn't of messed up on, and get yelled at for it. In volleyball everybody knows that you messed up and the last thing you need is for people to yell at you, you already feel bad enough. I tried a new amazing thing called MAT, which got me back to normal in no time! And caused a bit of hip and lower back pain to come back more than it normally does.

But anyway, we also got some cool opportunities this season! We went to Cuba to play internationally, we met the Prime Minister again, we travelled to new places, won more games, had more press, and I even got to go to Mexico with Nicole for a 2 day press event while the rest of the team was going through the hell of passing practices (truley your legs cannot work after 3 hours of doing that position!) I loved it! And we lost a player Paige due to a back injury.

In play-off's we did alright during the first 2 days in New York, but day 3 we dominated! It was all about teamwork. We went around the city, ate together, did everything with people on our team. I think I spent so much time with Shrimpy, Meg and Kim. Even Kally and Katie. And our families even came to watch in New York! My parents, siblings and Ryan all came down to see us play! It was so much fun to see the look on their faces during the coast finals when we were at game point.

Our first game was so strong! We came out as a team, we worked hard and we proved ourselves! I like to call us the 'Come back Kids' because truley we did comeback! Normally if we get down on ourselves or start losing points, ,we can't have a comeback. But all it took was one good hit or serve and we were on a roll and would win the games! It was amazing! And you know what? We even came 3rd in the East coast! We went in ranked like 16th. I don't know about you but I was proud!

Since we placed 3rd in the east coast, that meant we travelled to Edmonton Alberta! I have only been there for a maximum of like 2 days, and I really want to go back. Sure it was frezzing cold and there was snow, but we had a blast! Hell, we even had a snowball fight! It was great. Sure we lost and placed 6th overall, I was pissed that we lost, but for a team that wasn't expected anything, we killed it. And I am so proud of us as a team!

And as our last dinner comes up, I have one thing to say, I am so proud of you ladies! I really mean it! I was so honoured to be captain yet again this year and to be a part of this amazing team. I think we grew as a team and as individuals. We all learned new things about ourselves and eachother, and was finally able to put aside our differences, act like friends off the court and truley act like sisters on the court! And in true team form, we fucked that shit up!

And I am honoured to say that our team was selected for the tournament in Montreal in a few weeks, I can't wait to dominate there too! We decided to take a week off, you know, spend time with family, spend easter with them, spend time with your kids-for those who have, and just take a break from volleyball for a week. But come wednesday, I'll see you all in the gym in the am. I bet you we'll all die when we get back. Thanks for reading and I'll definatly keep you posted,
xoxo,

Brittany, #10 (@TotalBlocksicle on Twitter)

Play-off's Right Around The Corner

2011-04-10T15:53:00.000-07:00

Okay, I am the crappiest blogger in the world! I know I don't do well on updating, but whatever. So play-off's are quickly approaching and the madness is soon to begin! This year we are heading to New York for round 1, there we will play in our east coast pool, sorta like the olympics kinda. Then depending on how we do, we could either go home or go to Edmonton and continue on to round 2! I don't know about you but I want to go to Edmonton! The week before play-off's start is always busy. You literally work out all day to prepare yourself for keeping up the energy even when you've given it your all. The morning starts out with a session in the gym, weightlifting, muscle conditioning, and all that stuff for an hour. Then we do the longest stretch ever. Then lunch, usually healthy. Then we spend about 2 hours actually playing with balls. Maybe at night you'd do yoga or pilates, or get a massage-their amazing! Or you would be like Shrimpy and myself and spend some extra time on the court. The other day we had passing for 4 hours straight, that is a terrible thing! Staying in ready position for that long will kill you! Thankffully I only had 2 and a half hours, then I had an interview. Sucks for the rest of my team! Not only is the training intense, but your meal plan is so healthy, even health itself would need a junk foos break. Typically your meal would look like this; a large healthy brekfeast, (eggs&all that fun stuff) smoothie, organge juice and fruit. Then a snack, fruit and granola, with this nasty healthy drink. Lunch is usually with meat and a whole lot of vegetables with water. Afternoon snack is typically the same as the morning, but with vegetables. Dinner is usually something with a lot of meat and carbs, always eat something with a lot of carbs before you play or do physical activity. And your night snack is again, something, and drinking lemon tea to relax you for a good sleep and help your voice so you can have it for when you play. So we have a pretty structure day, and it might get to the point to where our coach get's us hotels so we won't get distracted. So we're not supposed to see our families and friends, but we all make time to anyway, cuz the play-off schedual is much worst! It's good to get yu focused though. What we also do at hotels is our coach could wake us up at anytime or take us to the court at anytime during the day to go play so you are always ready. And with our luck we most definatly will need it! Unfourtunatly this year we have an injury, Paige is out with a bad back injury which will prevent her from playing for the rest of the season. Its unfourtunate but I guess that's what needs to happen if we want her for later on this season. We're also on a watch for Shannon due to a fresh finger injury, like myself. Hopefully we won't get hurt anytime soon! Can't wait till play-off's start as much as I admit it. But it means that our season is coming to a close end and I don't want it to be over. Then again I need a break. I also will be travelling to play on a national division team in Thailand and quite possibly Brazil. Who knows what could happen there? Leaving for New York on Friday, can't wait to go kick some ass! Let's Fuck some serious shit up ladies! ♥ Brittany! :) (@TotalBlocksicle on Twitter)

Spring Break!

2011-03-20T08:54:00.000-07:00

Hey readers,
back home in Canada from my march break, or spring break in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina! It seems every other year we I go with my family to have a good time and to relax. Only this time, we had more family with us! Not only did my mom, dad, brother and sister come, but a few of my inlaws came too! My mother and father in law came, and Ryan's brother Tommy came with his wife Kelsey! And my aunt and uncle came with their 3 kids too! We left at 5 am, woke up late, and drove down with Tommy and Kelsey. We onlt drove to Raliegh, North Carolina, to have a break from driving and some much needed sleep! The second we all got there, the rents all went to the bar and had some drinks, the kids fell sound asleep!

When we arrived, we had instant sun, and great weather that would stay the whole week! We tanned and went to dinner at Pizza Hut, I love Pizza Hut! Monday was a fun day, we went out on the beach and walked to a pier, found sharkteeth and went shopping a bit, then tanned. Tuesday, we went to the beach and tanned, went shopping at Target, and I WOO'd! We also played beach volleyball in the morning, Team Campbell, vs Team Babcock. We lost! But it's all good, it was still fun! We also went to a huge shopping centre, and we went ape shit shopping. There was tns of athletic clothing outlets, and they all had sales, so being the athletic couple we are, we bought a ton of new stuff! It was fun. (I think you should know that I tanned for hours every day!) I also saw a few of my volleyball friends down there, it was weird to see them off the court and in warm clothing, while we were in shorts and t's! We also went bowling at the hotel, which I found out I'm better at 10 pin, I suck at 5 pin haha!

The next day, I woke up and I was pissed off, let me tell you. I had the shittiest sleep. So I go on Twitter and see I have a DM, I check and it was Donnie Wahlberg! I was so freaking happy he replied. After my celebration dance, and telling everyone, I showered, came out and checked my followers. Sure enough, he had followed me just as I went to bed! It made my vacation! So we went to one of our fave places to go in Myrtle Beach, The Ripley's Aquarium! It's always neat to go to it, even though nothings changed. We also walked around the boardwalk for a bit too. And had Ben&Jerry's icecream! My mom and mother in law made a great dinner for us all in our suite, and we all enjoyed ourselves.

Thursday, we went on a walk around town, and tanned all afternoon. Great food and great bonding. And since it was also St. Patty's day, the streets were nuts! And everything was on sale, and cheap, so the alcohol was a flowing! We went mini putting that afternoon, again, family vs. family. My dad won top score, as always. My sister was always bugging to go to an International House of Pancakes, and we finally went to one. She was so happy! Now, when you go to an IHOP, you should get pancakes, that's why 'pancakes' are in the name! My sister and I were the only ones who listened, and we ate beautifully, the rest who didn't, had a bad meal. So lesson learned. I was on a sugar high, and the buzz was kicking in. I ended up yelling 'Twinkle' down the halls of my hotel. It was a great night!

Friday, our last day. I personally was devistated! It was beautiful weather, we saw dolphins up close, it was a blast! So we checked out of the suite-we always get upgraded for some reason, and chilled by the pool until 1:30. We went shopping for a shirt really quickly, and said goodbye to the ocean. We ended up driving to Greensboro, NC to stay the night. The drive was about 5 hours, and we were so tired. During my tirn of the drive, I blared Green Day, and got coments from my family how they could hear my music. Who cares? The hotel was adorable! And the beds were comfy!

Saturday morning was even more depressing! We had a good sleep, and wanted to continue, but we had a 12 hour drive ahead! We left late, again, at 8, and drove! At 2, we stopped in Pittsburgh at a Pondersoa. A little steak in the afternoon couldn't hurt anybody. It actually did! My parents and inlaws got food poisening. But the rest were fine. When we crossed over the boarder, we were kinda sad, and cold. It was heartbreaking that we had to leave. And you know when your in the States you always crave Tim Hortons, but when your in Canada you don't. I still haven't gotten my Timmies fill yet! It's the last and first thing you do before/after the boarder.

The vacation was fun and we had some good laughs. Like, I ripped my pants 3 times, teased with my sister because of these HUGE granny panties, they coulda been a parachute! We saw some heavily obiest people, and were shocked at that, and that you could get a 50 or 100 pack of McNuggets at McDonalds! I also tripped over a 'Caution Wet Floor' sign. Also, on the way home yesterday, I went in the bathroom at a rest stop and couldn't find the toilet paper thing. I seriously can't find it, so I come out laughing, trying to get my sister or mom to help me find it. All I could say was, "Tell me I'm not stupid," and they were like what. So I blurt it out that I couldnt find it, so at age 25, my mom had to come in the stall and show me where it was! Under a box tin! I wasn't embarassed, just felt stupid that I couldn't find it! I swear you woulda thought I was high!

So that was my vacation, I can't wait until my next. Going to Mexico for 2 days to do a press thing, then I go to LA for a couple of days! I'll definatly be blogging then! Hope everyone had a great time on their break! But now, I gotta get my tanned butt to the store to go shopping for some healthy food, all I had was junk. Thanks for reading!
xoxo,
Britt! :)
(@TotalBlocksicle on Twitter)

A Tough Time

2011-02-17T16:26:00.000-08:00

Hey readers, how are you? I sure hope you all are well. I know I'm trying to be. Latley I have been having a very hard time coming back into the game that I love, and it'd driving me mental! I'm slower then I used to be, my jump sucks again, I can't move laterally yet, and my instinct still needs to kick in. I've been having a hrad time coming back into the swing of things (literally in some cases), and my team isn't making it any harder.

When I did my injury, I already felt bad enough, especailly when I got my soft cast. And for the 5 weeks I was in a walking cast, all I wanted was to play again. I waited a few weeks after I got it off to come back and start passing and nothing more. I went to this specail MMT, muscle 'something' therapist, which is a miracle worker, let me tell ya. It worked and I was able to play in the game the next day! I thought I played well, but my coach did not.

I think that my coach thinks that after being out for 9 weeks, he thinks that I can come back like nothing happened. Obviously he's wrong. I think he's on crack for thinking that! There is no way that with an injury like mine I would be able to come back after a 9 week break where I literally sat on my butt all day and did nothing, and come back and be normal. He snaps at me, tells me I'm doing thing's wrong, or messing up on things I shouldn't be messing up on!

And it drives me mental when I know I messed up on something that I would usually wouldn't mess up on. Why? Because it's stupid mistakes that I shouldn't be making, but I am. And he'll freak out. In volleyball, everyone knows you made a mistake, it's not like any other sport when people don't know you made a mistake. You make points off of people's mistakes. And I've been making several mistakes. I'm a starter, and that's added pressure for me, and when your starting outside messes up all the time, how does that look on you, especailly when your well known on your team.

My team is also falling apart. And that's the thing about being captain is that you need to be a leader, keep positive, and do the best you can. I have no problem with that, it comes naturally to me. But when I mess up and the whole damn team is yelling at me, I feel like crap, and I get down on myself. It's hard when the positive mind on your team isn't there and no one will step up to the plate. It's all negativity. And when your down on yourself or have no faith in yourself, it's damn hard to have faith in others and keep others motivated. I'm human, what more can I do?

I understand that I'm really sensitive latley, I've never been like this before. Eery little thing that is said to me, I snap and freak out. I can't tell you how many times I cry in practice or in games. The team is snapping on eachother, playing as individuals. People tell me to play my own game, but volleyball is a team sport, and everyone needs to play as one. It might be confusing to most, but they just don't get it. Personally I've been having a hard time, Shrimpy is too. We have a meltdown almost all the time.

About a week ago I sat on a plane for 3 hours with a team that is frustrated at me, and cried. My coach told me he didn't want me to play for him if I can't catch up in time. And knowing that the others on your team who want your position or don't like you, are loving that your falling apart makes it worst. It was a tough night. Thankfully some of the team is nice and I can talk to them. Shannon has been great, Shrimpy, Kim, amazing! But Nicole and Stacey have been a huge help. They truley know and understand what I'm going through. And my husband Ryan has been rockstar! God I love him! (And miss him!)

I hope we can move past this and start acting like a team again. We have a big game in Phily coming up and those Philly sports fans are truley sports fans. Which makes me nervous,. Their a great team, and I do not want to lose badly infront of them! If we lose, which I'm expecting we will, I hope it won't be that bad, haha! But like I always say, when life get's rough, hang tough! Thanks for reading,

Brittany #5
(@TotalBlocksicle)

Ottawa

2011-01-23T09:03:00.000-08:00

For the past 3 days I've been in Ottawa. On thursday I had a game up there and my sisterhad a tournament on the thursday and continuing on the Saturday. So Ryan and I decided to stay up and watch her play. So at 9 am we headed up, and considering having two pee breaks (sorry, when nature calls, you answer it), we made it up there in great time! So we chilled at our 5* hotel, it was suprisingly cheap and my family was staying at it. Also, what fancy hotel like that doesn't have free internet, but rents out umbrella's for $65?? Cheap.

So we go and play the game, winning them all! It's good that we won this game, not only for our stats, but because we have lost several games latley and we need to get rid of the drama that's been going on. So we win, then scoot over to watch Nicole play, running into my good friend from elementry school Jamie, whise sister is also on the team. The cool thing about this tournament is that I played in this tourney years ago, and nothing has changed. I also ran into my old coach, so I was talking to him for a bit. We went to dinner, then the pool and to bed.

Friday was the big day off, so we went to the gym, then while Ryan got showerd, I walked to Tim Horton's with Jamie, catching up. Then we met with the family and walked up to the Parliment Building's, which was right up the street from the hotel. So we see them for the millionth time. Embarassing moment: My dad was joking and said we should yawn the national anthem. So I did, and walking right behing me was a bunch of security guards and I had no idea that they were there, let alone laughing at me, until everyone turned around and died laughing harder.

Next trip was back to the hotel for lunch, then we were gonna drive around the city, and see the fancy houses. We did that and also drove over the bridge to Quebec and right back. So we saw those, and I have chosen my house for when I win the lottery! (yeah right). So next was to the Rideau Canal. It was my brother's first time going on, so the men went skating and the girls watched, were all there having a good time. A tradition of going to Ottawa is having a Beaver Tail, and that tradition will never die as long as I'm going! We got our beavertails finally and enjoyed them. Chocolate Hazlenut all the way baby! Seriously, if you haven't been, go get one! Next was dinner and fun at the hotel.

Saturday morning arrived and the girls were ready to play. They won their crossover, meaning they had to play a harder team in a harder level. So for the quarter semi game, they met a rep team! (My old rep team to makes thing's more ironic). Despite being nervous, they had their time and they did great. They lost the first set, destryoed them in the second, and now taking them onto a third. The girls cam a bit short and lost, meaning they had to go home a little earlier then we had planned. But without leaving empty handed, we made a pit stop to get more beavertails, yes, I am addicted!

The ride home was definatly not like the drive here. We hit a blizzard! So we were crawling along for a good 3 hours. It took us 5 to get home. Both Ryan and I were exhausted and a little cranky at the road conditions, but we made it back. I think Chloe, our dog, missed us a bit. Congrats to the girls for a great game! You played a fantastic tourney and I'm so proud of you Nicole. You deerved a medal for sure! I love you and I'm proud of you! What a way to end your season. And reflecting on this weekend, it was much needed family time/vacation, I had a blast! Thanks for reading,

Brittany (#5)
(@TotalBlocksicle)

The Trip From Hell

2011-01-16T12:11:00.000-08:00

Alright bloggers, I am officailly terrible at this, but whatever. I do when I can. So this Saturday we found ourselves in Montreal, a rival city for us. We were schedualed for a flight on Friday morning, but due to weather conditions our flight got cancelled, so that meant we were to drive. It's bad enough for us to drive down the street in this weather, but on a several hour drive, it took us forever. So at 7 pm on Friday we got on the 'partay bus' and left. And of course, Donnie Wahlberg was tweeting when I left, soon enough guys!

Fast forward to 10, we were just entering Kingston. The roads were fairly clear and only had a bit of traffic-score! But little did we know, we weren't even at Ottawa and the roads were absolutly crap! So we decided to pull over for a couple of hours so we could get some sleep. So we're at this motel in the middle of nowhere, literally, and we had to fit 4 to a room. So in mine, I had Meg, Nicole and Shrimpy. I didn't even want to check for bedbugs because I already assumed. We were grossed out completley and barley got sleep. Let's just say it was interesting.

So at 4, we got in the bus and travelled. Again, the roads were alright and we made it in time for the game. It took 7 hours to get there!!! Exhausted, we made it, and played a good game. We lost the game, and a little more then that. During the game, our girls were a little tired and fed up at eachother. We only had 7 girls there, but only 6 could play, since I'm still out on injury. Kayla flipped out on the girls and our assistant coach snapped on her, during a time-out! Kayla gave so much attitude and was so unsportsmen-like it was disgusting. I never did like her.

So at the end of the game she was yelling at us all and called out head coach Ian, who couldn't make it, to let him know she was 'resigning her position on the team'. Deep down I was thinking, good let her go, and the urge to punch her in the face. But being teh captain I was, I was holding back everyone else lol. So she storms out and went to a friends house, and I haven't talked to the bitch since, and to be honest, I don't want to. So the bus ride back was very akward and I didn't really want to say anything about it because knowing me, I would say something I would regret. And I was really missing my new hubby. What can I say? I'm a softie. Personally, when I'm mad that we lost, tired, cranky because I'm tired, frustrated because I felt helpless, in pain from injury, and dying to play, don't mess with me! And what did this chick do? That exact! But we all were. We got home at 1am Sunday.

Fast Forward to Monday night (last night). I show up at practice, and only 3 people who were there were there. And the other 3 had no idea what was going on. (Poor people, they missed the 'lovely' bonding). So we disgussed it and the drama makers weren't there. So I'm not looking forward to Wed. Today I saw the one of them, since it was tean check-up day, but she had another doctor.

Hopefully we can put this behind us and continue to have a great season, because I really want to succeed this year and keep a strong lead. Can't wait till I can play again either. And we have so many injuries! Me with an ankle, Meg & Stacey rotator cuff (had that last year), Nicole broken finger, and Kayla had a bad shoulder. So we had 4 girls playing with injuries on the weekend. Thursday's game will be interesting aswell.

But for now, I gotta get back to my email answering, stopped to re-do this blog. The first draft wasn't the nicest haha. Now that I'm more calm, I think I can say that everything was in-called for and childish. But the players were in the wrong, and to some degree so was our asst. coach. We'll see what happens. Thanks for reading! And sorry it took so long to update, I know I'm bad at it, from the mind of,

Brittany #5
(@TotalBlocksicle)

Family Trip

2010-08-21T13:33:00.000-07:00

So 3 weeks ago my family took a trip to Newfoundland for a family reunion that involved my mom's mom's whole family. And let me tell ya, it's a huge family! My mom has 37 first cousins on that said of her family, my nanny had 10 brothers and sisters in her family, so it's kinda big. We had an early flight at 6am, but had to be there for 3am, and we're flying within Canada! It was b.s. if you ask me, but whatever. My dad couldn't come because heabsolutly had to be at work, so he dropped myself, Ryan, mom, Nicole and Alex off at the airport and said his goodbyes. We were at the airport so early that only one store was open, and no one was there! That's how I like to spend my Friday morning's alright. We had a stop in Gander, then continued 20 mins to St. John's. I have never been to Newfoundland before and it was quite the experience! The airport was tiny, but actually nice, I loved it.

We stayed in St. John's visiting my aunt and her hubby and baby, and got a few thing's to get us by, and off we were to our cabin's we rented 45 mins away, just outside if Brigus. (The names they have there!). So we got ready and went to Bay Roberts, where my nanny is from and went to the infamous, 'Nanny Mercer's House'. Everybody talks about that place because it's where my greatgrandmother raised all the kids and was the family home, and still is. We had a night full of bug bites and early bed, the time change was a killer! The next morning we went back to the house and went to bears cove, right behind the house. Never in my life have I seen the ocean so calm before, and neither has anyone else. The boys went fishing and the girls shopped, until we had to go get ready for the dinner and dance we had that night. It was so much fun! We danced the night away, and yet...we didn't do the Newfie Jig. It's okay, I don't know how to do it anyway.

Then Sunday we went whale watching in the morning. what a morning it was! Fog beyond belief, and a small boat on te ocean. I hate boats but I sucked it up and had a death grip on the railing and Ryan, or whoever was beside me. We did see whales, and jellyfish and puffins! And we finally got reception to call my dad! Let me tell you that the phone service sucked!! So in the middle of the ocean we were talking to my dad. My brother even jigged, and my cousin cauhgt a Macoral for the Screeching in ceremony, because we couldn't get a cod. There was no way in hell that I was kissing a fish. But little did I know, I actually did! We had a picnic at the same place we had our dinner the night before and had Kentucky Fried Chicken. Everyone got the breasts, which are my fave to eat, and I got theighs, my least favourite. So I said, "Oh I love breasts," and everyone at my table and the table next to us started laughing. Typicall moment for me. We also played dumb games on teams and made fools of ourselves, but that's what families do. My team got pranked big time (I'll explain later), and caught it on video!

So anyway, before we all left, all the new bee's to Newfie, or Newfie virgins, all lined up and kissed the fish. And yes, it was yummy. haha. My friends are still making fun of me for that one. That night afterwards we had a bon fire at bears cove, which by the way sounds like beers cove when the newfie's say it, so that's how I say it. And the 'virgins' all had to eat peperment knobs, newfie steak (balony), salted fish (which I enjoyed) and my favourite, the screech or clingy. I got both haha! It was nasty. But to top it all off, we said embarassing newfie sayings, which I am not good at. And did you know that down there, cocky means buddy. I laughed hard when I heard that!

I had a blast that night roasting marshmallow's and hot dogs with the family. Every few minutes you'd have to move everything up because the tide from the ocean was coming. Onthe monday we went to one of my favourite places, and my grandpa's fave place, Mad Rock. What it is, is a hude place with rocks and trails that you go through and on, and can see the ocean. It was breath takingly beauitful and freaking freezing! Let me tell you, I showed up at Nanny Mercer's (our meeting spot) in short shorts with a change of pants, and everybody looked at me like I was on crack. Personally, it was the warmest day there, when you were far from the ocean anyway. Everyone down there was in shorts and tee shirts regularaly (but that day), and I was in a heavy sweater and pants. I'm not accustumed to the cold weather. After that exhausting day, we went to dinner, and warmed up. It was a great time!

The next day we went to my favourite place on the whole island, or at least the eastern part of the island, Hearts Content. The family was planning on going to the beach, so we went. Ryan even mud wrestled my uncle, who is about 300lbs. So funny! That and he was dunking my cousins and brother. After we got bored from that, we drove to Hearts Content. (We drove through a place called Dildo to get there lol!) When we got there, it had fishing boats and lobster cages at the bottom of the hill, but up the hill, was a lighthouse with a gorgeous view! We had a photoshoot with the lighthouse and went on a trail. Little did we know it was bee infested. I've never been stung by anything before, but my aunt got stung twice, uncle once, and little cousin got it too. We walked over a nest disturbing them, so we had to take turns on who was going over. Ryan ran with the kids on his back cuz they were freaking.

We planned a sunset picnic at the lighthouse, with a lovely sitting area with a bench over looking the ocean and picnic tables. After dinner, we were whale watching for 3 hours! I saw a few whales, and a light house, and a newfie dog (big labradour!), with newfies, all in one place! Can it get more newfie than that!?! If I was to ever get married in Newfoundland, that would be where I would go! Seriously guys, I had a blast! What a perfect way to spend your last night in Bay Roberts before heading back to St. John's.

The next day we left the cabins and headed to St. John's. The drive was very scenic, and we even stopped at a few places, with a very um...weird stop at a church. We stopped for lunch at a place called Conception Harbour, which sounds dirty, but the water isn't very. Nice spot. When we reached St. John's, we headed to Signal Hill, this time to climb it. Ryan stayed with my uncles and God son, while myself, sibs, mom, aunts and cousin climed the bloody thing! It took us forever to do the whole thing. I think I'm pretty fit, but damn was that thing long! At one point it looked like the great wall of China for crying out loud! But the relief was great once we got back the the car. The night was fun.

The next day was neat, we went to Bell Island, and to a mine. But before we caught that ferry, we found a church that turned into a antiques shop. Well boys oh boys did I find it creepy! It smelt like my papous house downtown, it was old, and full of creepy old objects. First thing you see when you walk in is a table across the room with a creepy old doll at the end, Chuckie! I was so freaked out, and the owner who lived upstairs yelled down and I thaught Igor would come hobbing down the stairs. Me and my sister made horror videos. And there was a black cat that would come around, does it get any more creepy then that? Yes. But I won't talk about it anymore, cuz I'm getting creeped out. The mine was cold, and neat, sorta boring. Then at a diner before we left, I come out of the bathroom and my sister comes running over yelling, "aunte had the baby!" My aunt was very preggers and we had expected it to be born when we were down there. So Zachary Peter was born when we were down there! We saw a pic via text, and called to congradulate. We ate our poutine, saw another small lighthouse and left.

Later on we went to Cape Spere, the most eastern part of North America. It was a great view, and we saw loads, and I mean loads of whales! This time right at the coast! Just before we got there, I saw the junior league hockey boys at their training camp, so I was watching with some of the coaches, so I guess I did a lot of scoping that day haha. My mom had never been there before so it was a new experience all together. We drove around downtown St. John's, which is crazier to drive in then Toronto! Went home and had a good last night there.

When Friday morning rolled around, a wake up from my God son made me feel sad to leave. A newfie breakfeast, and packing was what the morning consisted of. We dropped off te bags beforehand, since we were staying down teh road from the airport, and came back. Ian started walking, which was cool, and supposedly he hadn't stopped since! I miss it there. We were in a rush to leave, so we couldn't say goodbye to everyone unfourtunatly, but I know I'll be back! The ride home was so long! I had a great nap. We arrived, waited 45mins for luggage, saw my dad, went to his place, had McDonalds for dinner, and went to visit the baby and my family.

I had the trip of my life and would so go again. It was amazing, and can't wait to go back. Seriously readers, ifyou haven't gone, go! Because it is something you do not want to miss out on. Sure a sunny beach is nice, but so is Newfoundland. Just don't have too much screech, or you won't remember all the fun you had,
blog to ya later,

Brittany, #5 :)

The end of a season.

2010-06-23T18:28:00.000-07:00

Wow, I'm really bad at keeping thup with this, um, where do I begin? So much has happened since I last blogged. On May 15th I got married!! WOO!! That was the best day ever, I was so blessed to have had such a great day, spending it with loved ones and my new hubby. Love that I can call him that now! Thankyou so much for all the love and support through it and for all the great wishes I had received, you guys are awsome!! But not only have I been busy with the wedding, a few weeks before, my season had come to an end.

The girls travelled to Washington DC to play several other teams in the beginning of our play-off's. Since they run it differently compared to other sports, we had to go to Washington fpr a few days and play back to back games against the other teams. We had greay pool play, but unfourtunatly lost in the most important game to determine who goes to round two in Vancouver. That morning I remember waking up knowing we were either going to BC or back hime, and I think it was clear how that went down.

That last game was not a good one to end on. We had a great first set, defeating them then got too cocky and lost i the second. The ref was absolute shit! I can explain how much I hate this man, but I'll be nice about it. He was an idiot, messing up calls on our girls, and favouring the other team cuz they were from the same area. I sure did give him a peice of my mind. Some might call me a suck, but whatever. I'm like Crosby in a way, always eyeing down the ref, and could get sucky with him. But it's all good. I'm just suprised that I didn't get a warning. Kally, God love ya! She dove for that last ball, knowing she wouldn't get it, but she tried. The worst was seeing her curl up in a ball and cry on the court. And walking off the court crying with her with my arm around her shoulder was quite the picture.

Even though the season also went down with the coaching drama, we still kept our heads up high. For me personally, I was just as shocked as anyone that our own coach turned on us, but he had his reasons. He sat on the bench and didn't say a word, he wasn't calling time out's, or subs and when he did yell, he told me to step up and bea leader. Which was funny because, all I was doing was doing, when my team wasn't saying anything, I'm one person and in volleyball, one person can't do everything, it's a team sport. And we were a team up until that moment. I'm one person, what more can I do? That moment brought me to tears.

Then afterwards, when you shook the other teams hands, grabbed the ball bag and left without a word, you have big balls to walk out on your team like that. We were hurt, and we acted out at the McDonalds, that's what happend, and we're sorry for that. Thankfully we turned thing's around befre everyone began to head home.

It was so sad seeing the girls leave, Paige back to Tennessee, Alycia back to New York, and others going back to their homes, made me sad. Saying goodbye to you in the airpotr was a hard thing to do, cuz that's when it kicked in that this season was over. So now it's just me and Aarti here, continuing in our beach season, not as partners, but ats competitors. Ladies, I loved playing with you this year, you were a lot of fun, and I will miss you terribly. Thanks for your commitment, presence, skill, and love this year. I loved seeing you at the banquets and awards (that's a whole nother blog-will come soon, I promise). And I'll see you at training in a few weeks.

Well, now that I cought you up a bit with my vball, next blog will be about the awards and banquets, one of my fave parts of the year!
Love always,
Brittany, #5

My Latest Interview

2010-04-15T17:22:00.000-07:00

Long time no blog? So sorry, been busy latley, with the wedding only being one montha away! And ith play-off's, startinmg next Thursday in Seattle. So I'm a very busy person latley. And of coarse, right before play-off's I get injured. But you'll hear all about that in this blog, where I'm being interviewed today by a good friend of mine, Jenna Moore, from Penn. Enjoy :)

Play-off's are just around the corner, thing's are pretty heated right now between the team's, and we're ready to role, how's it feeling?
"Well, we're girls first of all, so we're gonna get heated (laughs), but um... I'm ready."

Now please share with me my dear, what is going on with the injuries on your team? First Aarti with a knee, Alycia with a wrist and now you with a shoulder, what's going on?
"I'd like to know that too actually, I kinda feel like the (Toronto) Raptors with all the injuries going on. It sucks, for sure it does, because you lose players and the team loses oppertunity. Aarti's coming back this week after a bit of a break due to a knee injury, and Alycia's had a bad wrist for a while now, so obviously we're hoping nothing serious is gonna happen, but it's not that big, so I'm confident."

And how about your right shoulder, when and how did this all happen?
"I'm honestly not sure. All I know is on Tuesday I was feeling a terrible pain everytime I would move my shoulder, so I go to practice that night and it's throbbing. Silly me, I practiced anyway, causing more pain. Plus we worked with medicine balls, so that was a mistake (laughs). But yeah, it was just a random pain, and now it's pretty bad."

What are your plans pn how to take care of it, hopefully being able to play in play-off's?
"Earlier this morning, I had an MRI done, because we knew it was an obvious torn tendon, so we needed to make sure nothing else was damaged. So I took a regular x-ray and now have the possibility of a fractured rotating cuff-it's complicated. I get the results Saturday, and I start rehab for a bit, and I'm positive I'll be able to play."

How do you feel, being captain, that the girls will do, and how they'll prepare for the worst?
"Nothing out of the ordinary, I mean, obviously we need to focus and bring our 'A' game to win and keep playing to reach our goal of winning. But it's the little thing's we need to focus on too, like our diets, our scheduale, our habbits, our sleep-every little thing in our lives right now need to be working on striving to that goal. And we'll do whatever it takes, thankfully we have dedicated girs willing to do that."

Are you a little worried about the jet-leg from the flight to Seattle?
"I am! Because we all have a long flight ahead of us, and we literally get off and drive to the stadium to play. The coaches get jet-legged a bit, some of us do, I most certainly do, so it'll be interesting how we take it."

One thing that your team seems to have a lot of with eachother that a lot of team's don't is patience. How did you guys become what you are now, as a team mentally?
"We are the way we are I guess. We most definatly have trust with eachother, and that's always a good thing, so with trust comes patience. Like you know if a ball is being placed in a certain spot and that person's not gonna get it, or 2 people are going for the same ball, you gotta trust eachother that someone's gonna step up and get taht ball. And if they don't, well they'll get it next time, you just gotta wait for them to make their mistakes and change them."

After the season ends for you guys, what's going to be happening as a team?
"The usual, the summer training, the beach teams, the trades, all of that stuff. And some of us are going on to a new team or taking a break, so it's how you make it. And then there's the personal changes."

Like what?
"Well Stephanie is taking a break to start her family, which I'm so thrilled about, um Paige is going back to the south to spend time at home with her family. Their all going home to spend time with their hubby's, and we're all growing up."

You miss Brittany have a wedding next month, congratulations!
"Thanks!"

So you've been dating him for a while now, and he was with you when you first got scouted for University, so what is it going to be like for you?
"Not really different. I mean, we still live like a normal couple, and we go on with our everyday lives. He's a teacher, so he goes and....teaches all day, and I play all day and some nights, so sports is always in the futre with us. (laughs)."

Any thaught on kids?
"Of coarse you would ask Jenna, oh my gosh, haha. Um-no we have not. We have our puppy Chloe as my baby now, so we'll wait a few years first before that step."

I love how you said "my baby"
"She kinda is, he baught me her for Christmas, so I guess you can say she is. So my summer is going to be us enjoying married life for a bit until we start training in August."

Are there any plans on moving teams?
"Nope. I've played on Toronto for 3 years, and will be for the next few years. I have a contract that I'm not breaking."

Your no strangers to offers though, back in your University days, you were origonally asked to play on..
"Phillidalphia, and I was so tepmted to play for them, but then an offer from Chicago came along and I sorta changed my mind a bit. Until Toronto suddenly offered, than I knew I had to play for them."

What in your mind made you want to stay in Toronto?
"My lifestyle made me stay. I had grown up here all my life, and had so much here that I couldn't possibly leave it behind. Like, I have a younger brother and sister who are still in elementary school and have some growing up to do, and I wanna see that. I want to make my family and myself proud for repreasenting the city I grew up in."

So your definatly not going on Boston?
"Gosh no! I love the city so much, go Red Sox, Celtics, but I'm not going. I just visit and pick up the accent."

That's another thing I wanted to talk to you about, is it weird for you to hear people say you have an accent because your Canadian?
"I'm used to it by now, I've been all arounf North America, and heard different one's myself. To tell you the truth, I actually love doing different accents, because I can pick up on them! So when we travel I always 'mock' the accent while we're there."

I do remember the popular New Jersey accent, I believe it was Stacey who showed me the video of you in the locker-room talking away, seems like you have a lot of fun.
"Yes I do, you gotta have fun when your doing something, otherwise it's boring."

You seem to somehow encourperate something fun with everthing you do, even if it's pissing people off with your partner in crime Jim...
"Ah Jim. We do do a lot of pranks on everybody."

Has there ever been a moment where it's gone too far, or where the tables have turned?
"Gone too far, no. But the tables have turned. I am the biggest chicken! And they love getting me back! Like April Fool's Day was the worst day ever because they all went crazy with the pranks, where I was smart and didn't get them at all. They hid my stuff, soaked them in the shower, um...put one of my bra's on the pole all practice, pop out and scare me-it's the popping and scaring me that I hate! Biggest chicken ever.....but I do get payback."

So karma's a bitch?
"Oh yes(laughs)"

But why wait for payback?
"Because they don't know where or when it's gonna happen. Nothing beats seeing their face after a ood prank."

What would you have to say is the best prank to pull?
"Um.....not sure, but one that I pull often is always classic. I always go to the front desk and ask for an extra key to a room. Then I sneak into the room and hide somewhere in the room. I might wait a bit until I pop out and then watch the crap themselves. (Laughs) Too funny!"

There you have it, a new prank to try from Brittany (laughs). Will they get in trouble?
"Nope, maybe just get hit,"

Love the sweet smile you just flashed, your actually very funny.
"Thanks. I really don't think I am, but people tell me."

Does it bother you what people say about you?
"Not really, I mean, I do take some words into consideration, so I do care for some words. Like all the negative bull crap, I don't care about. Positive thing's, I care for. But compliments to me mean so much. Like when people tell me that...they wish they could play like me...or that they like my leadership skills. To me, I find that so great that people care about how I'm like as a person. It's sweet!"

How do you take critisim?
"Um....from coaches I take it very well, and take it to consideration. But from other people in the audience or in a review, I shrug it off. Unless the words speak to me, then I'll think about it later."

To end thing's off, what would you like people to know?
"I would like you to know..... that Canadians are awsome...um... don't hate a book by it's cover and keep on rocking out."

Where's your typical line?
"This is what I say now....live this moment like your last, let's go out and kick some ass!! And SUCK YEAH!!!! (laughs)"

Thanks for reading guys!! And I'm sorry if you started and stopped haha!! And remember to follow me on Twitter if you want: @TotalBlocksicle haha.

Love ya,
Brittany, #5

My History With NKOTB

2010-04-02T16:38:00.000-07:00

Well, I think it's safe to say that this blog was long over due, sorry about the wait, been busy latley. On Twitter, all the blockheads have been tweeting about their nkotb stories, so I thaught, 'why don't I blog about em?' So now I am. haha.

When I was 3 years old, my cousin came over one day to babysit me, and braught these magazine's over to read when she's bored. Me being the curious kid I was, asked her about it. She explained to me who the New Kids On The Block were, she was heavily into Jordan Knight, at first she tried to trick me into loving him, but I wasn't that stupid. I thaught Donnie Wahlberg was where it was at.

So my cousin then gave me my first ever magazine, which I still have, and it was coverd with them. I was thinking, what's so good about them, until I heard them sing. It was hard to hear them sing at first, since my cousin couldn't resist herself from singing. But they were actually pretty good. A few months later I turned 4 and recieved a nkotb tape cassett.

Over their huge fame years, my room was litterally Donnie Wahlberg, you could've thaught he was actually there (I even had a lifesized poster!). They all were on my pillow, and my bed, and I had them everywhere. I would even play with them as barbies, it was good times making my and Donnie get married. When I saw them for the first time, I wore my nkotb jacket, and nkotb pj's, I fell asleep during the show-which was fine with me, cuz at least I got to see them.

As the group got older and made more mature music, my mom didn't want me to listen to them at all. Especailly when she saw the 'Dirty Dawg' video came out, haha.....yeah, she was not into the whole, 'bad boy' thing. Like the little rebel I was, I would somehow manage to still watch them. Sneaky, or at least I thaught I was. haha!

At age 9, 1994, when they broke up, it was like a huge part of me had died. They were the one's I watched on t.v., waited in line for hours to try to meet them, stayed up late to see them on an award or talk show show, the one's I listened to when I needed to feel like someone cared, they were my everything. When their the only thing you ever really loved in your life, how do you make a new love around that? I had nothing to really have fun with. All my friends were starting to move on from childish things and growing up fast, while I was still stuck on the break up.

Once 1999 came around, all the girls had moved on from the new kids, it was like they didn't even happen. Everyone was focused on the backstreet boys and n*sync. Instead of 'I'll Be Loving You Forever', it was 'I Want It That Way'. Instead of 'If You Go Away' it was 'Bye, bye bye'. Then you throw the Spice Girls in there, woo! you got something to talk about!

Thankfully, the year of 1999 crap was turned better when Jordan Knight became a solo artist! That album was my savior from all the crap they were playing. This time, I was in grade 8, and could actually see his video and listen to his songs. His voice came back, beautifully and better than ever, since he didn't sound like a chipmunk on the cd. Then Joey's cd.....boy did I break that one. I loved his solo work, and still do!!

Nothing beats the memory of hearing the news that nkotb were back. It was a moment where my heart sank so low into my stomach, and will never forget the feeling. I immediately called all of my blockhead friends and let them know what was up, it was obvious that we were going to there concert.

September 18 2008, the concert. The concert itself was nerve wracking! Waiting in the crowd for the loves of your childhood to come out and start something new. The anticipation of seeing them and hearing them again was so surreal. When those lights turned off the screams coming from these girls made me remember my first concert way back when I was 4 years old! A sound I missed, just like Donnie.

The concert was fantastic, I was off my feet the whole time, singing and dancing with my aunts, sister, mom and cousins who came that night. Then later that week I saw them again with my girls, and it was the same feeling! We all had a great time and couldn’t wait for more! And of coarse, arriving home, I had to tell Ryan about everything that had happened. He told me I was such a kid, and I know I was. He was one of those jealous guys that wanted to punch them in the face because they had it all, just like my friends back in school.

I saw nkotb a few times that year, and the same feeling came rushing back, all those emotions through out those nights. I remember crying during the Full Service tour, hearing Valentine Girl, and If You Go Away. I literally have no idea why, but it was still a moment I’ll never forget. Or being so close to Facetime, then the security was like, “okay, you guys gotta go” That security made 50 girls very upset that night, eh it happens lol.

Regardless, because of the new kids on the block, I have had so many memories, and made so many friendships, in person, and through Twitter. One day I am convinced that I will finally get a chance to meet you guys, and I can’t wait until that day comes! If it wasn’t for them, my childhood wouldn’t have been made properly. I still have all the merchandise, I still have your cassettes, and I still pretend that we’re married *Donnie*. I’ve been telling people we are all my life, so why would I stop now? Haha!

Thanks for the lifetime of memories that I’ll never forget. I still have so many more, but I couldn’t really fit it all in in this blog, I gotta stop now, gotta get back to working, blog ya later!!! Oh and you can follow me on Twitter: @TotalBlocksicle, haha just had to put that in there. :P,

Brittany, #5

Relay For Life

2010-03-20T14:09:00.000-07:00

Hey readers, how are ya? So over the past week, the lovely ladies in my family have decided that we are going to participate in The Relay For Life, for cancer research. I am super excited about participating and can't wait until June 25th! There's 10 of us on the team and I hope we reach our team goal of $1, 000!

First member is my mom Linda, she lost her father, her sister, her grandfather and 2 aunts to cancer and has already made $200 towards our goal! Then there's my mom's sister's Susan, and Maureen. My aunt Sue did it last year and made over $200 herself and raised over $1000 for her team, who she ditched because she loves us more ;). My aunt Maureen is joining aswell, and bringing her daughter Miranda along to beat the cure.

My mom's 3 closest cousins are joining to beat the terrible disease, they lost an uncle, an aunt and their own mother (at a young age). Auntie Chris is kicking butt and has also beat her personal goal. My aunt Judy is coming and bringing her daughter Melissa (21) to conquer, and are half way to their personal goal. Finally, my God mother/aunt Carol, she just celebrated her birthday on Mon and got a ton of money already lol.

I am more than confident that we'll beat the Team Goal and beat our personal goals and raise money. I lost the greatest people I know to cancer and wish that they were still here. I'm dedicating my walk to my aunt Karen, who passed of stomch cancer 1 week after my birthday. I'm also dedicating it to my grandpa, who battled cancer for 8-9 years! (I found out when they couldn't do anything to help him).

Right now I know 2 amazing ladies who are battling breast cancer at the moment. Their not in the best of shape and I'm hoping that they beat it! One I've known for maybe 12 years and the other I met a few months ago but have grown so close to her. Can't imagine what your going through ladies, and want nothing but the best for you. Your a great insparation to me and to a bunch of others.

If you are interseted in joing with a team of 10, google relay for life-sorry I don't have the link. You know, I'll just post the link next time lol. My bad. It's time for me to go reflecton my games over the past few days, I'll blog about em later-coach says, but might not happen. Love ya lots!!!

Brittany, #5

Blessed

2010-03-16T17:05:00.000-07:00

Over the past week, I have had a milion emotions running through my mind. On Tuesday, I received some very sad news, and I'm not gonna blog about it, sorry guys. I was crushed to hear the news, but all things happen for a reason, and it might be for the best (though I hate to say it). I spent the beginning of the week crying, and sobbing about the little things.

Not only was Tuesday emotional, I had a huge rivalry game that night, and we HAD to win. (I'm competitive and hate losing lol.) Usually before a game-I gotta be in the zone kinda, and I was a wreck. Being a rivalry game, I was already upset about seeing some people I already dont like, thankfully we kicked butt and won!! A huge pick-me-up!!

As the week got better and better, so did my attitude about everything. Having to tell my loved one's, and close friends was very hard. It wasn't until hearing the nice, kind, caring, strengthining, and heart warming words people had to tell me, I really knew how many people cared.

There was the countless amount of hugs and kisses, and amazing sayings. The number one thing that every single person told me was: everything happens for a reason. And I believe in that. It was a week of overwelming love and I thank every single person that had helped me and showed me love this week, I love you.

You guys are amazing people and I love you so much! You guys helped out a ton and truley made me feel blessed to have people in my life as great as you! I'm welting up in tears okay. Your support has been amazing, just like our talks together. I hope we can always stay this close!!

Anyway, gotta get started on something else, blog again soon, love you and thanks,

Brittany, #5

Random Things

2010-03-06T12:24:00.000-08:00

Sup readers! Ok so this morning I was reading my emails and I had one that was about your interests or your personality. Much better than the stupid Playtex Spot Tampon emails I get...ugh. So anyway....I'm very bored and I'm gonna post my answers, just because I want to lol.
Okay so yeah, have fun reading about me-again.

When are you.....Ugly: Depends on my day/Quiet: not a lot-but when I’m tired/Loud: all the time!!/Shy: never/Weird: most of the time/Selfish: never/Crazy: always ;)/Hot: whenever you think I am sexy ;)/Cute: I don’t know/Pretty: I don’t know/Sexy: always ;) (nope)/Nice: always/Mean: rub me the wrong way or give me attitude and say hello to other Brittany lol./Immature: sometimes/Rude: never/Cool: always :)/Brat: nope/Stupid: all the time!!/Caring: All the time/Mature: most the time/A Friend: always./More than a friend: to the one guy I’m with/

Talkative: HAVE YOU MET ME? Lol./Boring: depends on your personality/Beauitful: depends/Smart: At times, when I’m well educated in that subject lol/A Flirt: I don’t know/Fun to hang out with: ask the people I hang out with/Phyco: nope/Athletic: I guess so (my profession should answer that)/Confusing: sometimes /Sweet: most of the time/Gets Mood Swings: yup- especially at practice lol/Attractive: depends on who you are/Annoying: sometimes-when I’m hyper or tired/Funny: People say I am. /Hyper: YES/Laid Back: totally/Perfect: HA-NO!! Nobody’s perfect!

So then, I get an email that I always get called the Friends Survey. Personally, I always find the responses by everyone else so much fun to read, so I love this email. It just gets annoying when you get it a million times. So this is my reponse:

What's your full -name? Brittany Joanna C…. (It's a greek last name) What are you afraid of? A lot of things lol What is the most recent movie that you have seen? Dear John Place of birth? Ajax/Pickering Hospital-moved to downtown later on in life. Favorite food? PASTA!!! whats your natural hair colour? Reddish brown with Black underneath and blonde highlights

Ever been a Neat Freak? With some things lol What colour are your eyes? Blue! Ever been skinny dipping? Does being a baby count? lol How tall are you? 5’4 and a bit :D Love someone so much it made you cry? ….. If you could ask God a question, what would it be? Can you please bring my loved one’s that passed to life again?

Been in a car accident? Yupp-on my way back to York U Weird topping? Cheese and Ketchup on my pasta!! Croutons or bacon bits? croutons Biggest idiot you know? ME!! Favorite Day of the Week? Friday or Saturday Favorite Restaurant? Moose Wonooskies Favorite Flower? red rose. Weirdest crush? Dane Cook or this druggie that went to my highschool. What’s your take on alcohol? It’s yucky!! But does seem to help people look fancy and look like idiots.

Favorite drink? Milk Favorite Ice Cream? Triple chocolate Brownie Fudge (am I spacific or what?) If you could switch bodies with one person, who would it be? The wife of one of my famous celeb crushes lol! Warner Brothers or Disney? Disney-need you ask? lol Ever been on a ship? Yupp-even tho I hate them Coolest person you met? My mom!! What color is your bedroom carpet? Shades of Brown in stripes If you were a re-incarnation of somebody, who would you be? My aunt Karen, everybody says so

How many times did you fail your driver's test? Never!! Thank God!! lol Something you will never do? DRUGS!! Never ever! Before this one, from whom did you get your last e-mail? My coach asking about my next doctors app. A goal that won’t be beaten? To live forever What do you do when you are bored ? Computer & workout Bedtime? Uhh …when I’m tired-or 10 pm when I have a game the next day Favorite Television Shows? Friends, 2 and A Half Men, Entourage, TMZ-(I’m a loser) lol. And more!!

Last person you went to lunch with? Sabrina and Krysten Park or Zoo? Both :P Favorite color? Red, green or yellow How many tattoos do you have? 0!! I'm too chicken to get one! How many pets do you have? 1 puppy and a ton of fish lol Then Ryan has a cat who I dispise! Which came first, the chicken or the egg? Why must you ask again? What do you want to do before you die? Become a mommy Have you ever been to Hawaii? Nope I want to tho!!

Have you been to countries outside the U.S.? Yes-I live in one!! lol Ever in the Armed Services? Nope but some family is. If you could name your child any name, what would it be? I love the name Trevor or Jordan for a boy. For a girl, Kailey Elizabeth or Ella Rae Karen (Karen, after my aunt) Fan of rollercoasters? YES!! Scary movies? NO!! Do you like your job? Love it!!

Well thanks for putting up with my bordom, and terrible spelling. I'll blog soon, promise. But now I gotta go prepare for a party I'm throwing for my cousin, who's visiting from Newfoundland with her hubby and new baby. So all my family is coming over, and Ryan is sick, getting germs everywhere. So he's on bedrest, and is sleeping (and snoring!) Poor guy has a stuffy nose. Lol. I'm leaving you with a pic of Chloe. Later readers.

Brittany, #5

Ryan/Wedding

2010-02-08T17:28:00.000-08:00

Sup readers, what’s up? What’s poppin? What’s crackalackin? Okay, I know what your thinking, ‘I get, go on with the blog’, so now I am. So today, I’m going to tell you about the person who means the most to me, as of right now, Ryan. See, I wasn’t lying when I said in my last blog about the, “I’ll tell you next blog” thing. I’m smarticles at remembering the little stuff.

So I met Ryan way back in 2002, when I was at the tender age of 17 and he was 19. I was still playing volleyball and about to graduate when our rep coach needed a ‘player trainer’. What that is, is someone who practices and trains a player individually, mainly a player who is at a higher level. They do warm up’s with you, they stretch you, they train you in skills, and they basically do what you need to do to get better. So he was mine.

I go to know him very well through-out that season, I really got to know him. He was in University for teaching, specializing in phys. Ed and English. So he took his spare time to help me out. Not gonna lie, I did kinda like him at that point, typical teenager. He also looked like Joey McIntyre, which did help a bit, but not too much. *Wink*. I think that he thought that I was some kind of little kid who he had no interest in, like those typical older men. By the end of the season we had gained a great relationship as friends, then came his girlfriend.

I was crushed when they started to date, especially when he would come and bring her along to practice and get distracted looking at her. Made me so mad. I’ll never forget at one practice where we were working on our Cardio, and we were taking a run. Usually we wore our sports bra’s when running, and put a shirt on when we’d play. So we were running side by side and his girlfriend was getting pissed. We were talking, as we usually did, and what not. By the time we finished she came up to him and had a lovely chat. She asked him why he was constantly looking at my chest as I ran, making my spit out my water a bit, and blush like crazy. It felt good to know that he liked something about me other then me as a person. (I was 17 and hormones had the best of me okay?)

Let’s just say that it didn’t end well, and my coach got a little nervous. The last time I saw him was at the ‘End of Year Banquet’. We sat at the table together with the team, we congratulated each other and thanked each other, and I didn’t see him since. The next year I went to University, with a new life, and didn’t really know anyone there. That summer I entered the beach league with my partner, Laura, one of my good friends by the way. So we’re at Q Beach in downtown Toronto for this tournament, and I saw him at the beach with his friend, checking out the game.

It was weird seeing him, since I hadn’t seen him in a year, and it was so random. The next night we went to dinner, chilled just as friends. I learned about how much his life had changed since I had seen him last. Then, in the beginning of my second year of University, we realized we both went to the same school, so we hung out a lot more. Finally we started dating in 2006. Then in October 2009, he asked me to marry him at dinner one night.

At that point he had been hanging out with one of my friends that he had actually liked a few years back, and he said he wanted to go to dinner to talk. So here I’m thinking that he’s gonna break up with me, boy was I off. So we’re at the restaurant and he gets talking about my grandpa, since he had passed in June, 2008. So we went to visit him, and at the place he’s buried at has a little pond full of fish, it’s called the memory garden. So we’re sitting on a bench we dedicated to him, and he spills his heart out to me. Then he asked me to marry him-that’s when I bawled.

The best part was that my grandpa really liked him and said that he could see us together, and that he was the one. He was right. And when he passed away, I was a wreck and lost with out him, because we were so close. He had battled cancer for 7-8 years, and he really wanted to live my life with me, and dance with me at my wedding. It was very fitting for him to ask me there infront of him and on a bench we dedicated to him. Ryan knew how much it meant to me, and I’m glad that he understands that. (Wow, I’m crying now).

I have a big family, with all the aunts and uncles, but he really does, and they mean the world to him. He’s the youngest of 9 kids, to Thomas and Ellen. He has his sister Judy, her husband Ken and their daughters Kayla (9) and Jamie (6). His sister Jean, her husband Paul, and their son Josh (8). Sister Megan, husband Andrew, their kids Nick (7) and Jenna (4). Sister Carol, and husband Dwayne, their twins Isabella and Macey (5). His sister Kate, and husband Matt, their kids Hunter (6) and Hailey (3). Mary, and Mike, they are expecting a baby any day now actually!! And his brother Tommy and his new wife Kelsey, who got married in July. See what I’m marrying into? Lol, no offense, I love you guys!!

So I can tell that we’re gonna have a good life together full of family and friends. While I’m on that note… I’m just gonna talk about the Bridal Party for a sec. His groomsmen are his friend’s Steve, Ryan, Sean, and groomsman is his brother Tommy. My maid’s are my sister Nicole, my friends Lesley and Kally, my maid of honor is Katie, my soul sister! Known her since grade 4. Love her to death. Our ring barer is his nephew Hunter and flower girl is my cousin Emma. (I’ll explain how that works later).

Well, my hands are sore and I’m pretty much done. Ryan Is now a English/male phys ed teacher, he actually has my cousin in an English class. That is too funny and awkward. So that’s really it for now, can’t wait until the wedding-MAY 15th!!! Letting you know now, so you know. Didn’t make any sense-whatever! So I’m gonna go, and leave you now. Thanks for reading, and have a great day!!

Brittany (#5)

Hi

2010-02-07T18:17:00.001-08:00

Hi readers, my name is Brittany. I'm from Toronto, Ontario Canada, and I play pro volleyball. The whole purpose of this blog is just for anyone who wants to know about who I am, and what I'm like. So in this blog-my very first one (might I add), I'll be telling you about my background. Me personally, I'd like to know about the person who's life I'm reading about before I learn More about them. So here is goes: Um, I am 24 years old, born on October 29th, 1985. I am the oldest of three kids, Nicole, 13, and Alex, 10. My mom had my little sister Nicole when I was 11, and my brother was born when I was 14. I was very mature for my age, my guessing is because I was already into boys when I was 3 or 4. Convinced that I would marry Donnie Wahlberg, I still am. (All thanks to my older cousin Ashley).

I started playing on a volleyball team in grade 5, where I had the best coach in the world. He taught me everything I needed to know in volleyball, and in life. He is one great guy, and I still talk to him to this day. I give big props to Mr. Krane. Then I met my role model in grade 6, she was my teacher and new vball coach, love her to death. Honestly, she was the one who kept me a good person for my rough years. (I was a total Tom boy and rebelled a lot). So if it wasn't for her, I would've been suspended a lot for fights. (Did I mention I idolized bad boy Mark Wahlberg too)?When I was in 11 years old, I tried out for my first rep volleyball team, and made starting line. Granted, I turned 12 the next month, and was playing 13U. I continued to play throughout high school, and rep. Making team captain for both teams.

As I got to age 17, I was finally in grade 12, and ready for a change. During that rep/school season, I was scouted for a university team. (Scholarship baby!!) There, I played power hitter, still being super short, and moved to Libero. I played with them for all 4 years, majoring in Broadcasting. It is one of m dreams to be a talk show host, or to have my own radio station show. Everyone can tell you that I talk too much, I have the gift of the gab. After university, I was unable to move up in my volleyball level, due to my height. Hey-when your 5'4 and you play volleyball, thing's don't always work out. Not gonna lie, but I was crushed when they told me that I was too short, there's nothing you can do to change that. Right before graduation, all my 6 foot tall friends were getting ready for the National Team tryouts, lucky tall people. (The National team is one step below the Olympic level).

Instead of National team tryouts I had planned on trying out for a professional team. So I did, and actually made it! The team was so talented and tall, but none of them could really jump (sorry girls) so the coach took me, I have a good 8 inch vertical jump. I resume playing power or libero, and took the spot of team captain again. (I seriously don't know why I'm always selected). I'm also starting my second season this year. Now I'm playing with 9 of the most amazing ladies in the world! I love you: Kim, Shrimpy, Kally, Alycia, Nicole, Stacey, Piage, Stephanie and Megan!! I call them my old farts, cuz their all older than me too. HAHA! Right now I'm super busy planning my wedding with Ryan, (next blog). So that's really what you need to know, if you have any questions for me, you can tweet me, I'm known as @TotalBlocksicle. Or you can talk to me-I'm good with that, remember? I'm a twitterholic so you'll be sure to reach me there. lol. Thanks for reading, I'll post again soon.

Peace, Love & Rock 'n' Roll,

Brittany #5