Merry Christmas

I just returned to Seattle for the holidays and was greeted by an unusual site in Seattle: a foot of fresh snow.  Training in the snow is one of my favorites parts of the season.  The air is always quite and cool and I feel very relaxed.  But then again, walking around in ice and snow with shoes that have absolutely no traction can get tiresome quickly.  My training has come together a lot in the past few weeks.  The step back I took in November has been translating into continued progress recently.  Coach B told me on Friday that my general strength and fitness level are both great right now, creating collateral improvements in my throw.  Unfortunately, I cannot update you on my training distances since the winter weather in Kamloops and Seattle has kept me throwing inside against a wall (temperatures have consistently been hovering between 0º and -10º Fahrenheit).  I’ll be posting some distances once the snow melts.

In the other side of my life, I have officially completed my studies.  I completed the final classes I needed to finish my LLM degree in Taxation Law earlier this month.  I was able to pursue this degree thanks to a generous scholarship from D. Wayne and Anne Gittinger, as well as the understanding flexibility of Professors Sam Donaldson and Dwight Drake.  As part of the program, I entered the American Bar Association’s Law Student Tax Challenge last month.  My partner and I prepared written tax planning advice for a fictional client.  Our entry was recently chosen as one of four finalists from across the country and, as a result, we have been invited to defend our position orally in New Orleans on January 9th.  Next month will be a busy travel month for me since I also will be flying to New York to be sworn into the bar.

As Christmas approaches, I have also become sentimental about all the individuals who have helped me make my pursuit of the Olympic dream a reality.  First and foremost, my parents, sisters, grandmother and other relatives have always been supportive of my efforts and done everything possible to assist.  My coach and training partners make working out the highlight of each day.  Harold Connolly has been an essential mentor throughout my athletic career that has always believed in me and provided me with an immeasurable amount of inspiration.  I have even recently met a wonderful woman that has somehow managed to make me even happier in my pursuits.  (And this list is not meant to exclude others who helped me athletically or the even greater number that have helped and mentored me in the other aspects of my life.)  I would like to thank everyone and wish them a happy holidays!