Fond Memories of 2011

I am being honest when I say I survived 2011 by the skin of my teeth. This past year is not one to brag about, and I hate say the hardest times, the heartbreaking times unfortunately outweighed the good times. Knowing a family member is fighting, and then loses her battle with cancer isn't anything to smile about. Though, there's no reason to believe that there weren't some happy times. I'd like to mention those days. I know it's easier to focus on the bad, but sometimes, you need to dig deep inside and remember the good days, even if at that time they seemed to be moments you wouldn't believe to remember.

1. Having dinner at my sister's house on her 32nd birthday. It was a very long time before that night that I got be with her on her actual birthday. It was a quiet night at home, she had made cup cakes for everyone, and my niece, then 1 years old, refused to eat any. She's not much of a sweet foodie.
2. Attending the Miss Sprint Cup Unveil party at Whisky River. I know, this seems silly to say, but, it was a night out, and I did meet new people. It was a networking opportunity for me, and I'm glad I went.
3. My friend M's 32nd birthday was a fun night. I thought it was cool to dress up, and go out to a nice bar we normally wouldn't hang out at on any other given night.
4. My 35th birthday. I spent it with my niece, and we just kicked it around the house. She tried on every shoe in my closet! I also ended the  night with two friends at a nice wine bar here in town. It was a quiet, uneventful nice, and relaxing day.
5. My very first press conference for the All Star Race announcement at the Whisky River with Kasey Kahne. That wasn't my favorite day, but, in the midst of all the chaos and sadness, I had one amazing hour. You never forget the first, star-celebrity athlete you get to interview for an article you are writing about. I am very thankful I had that one hour off, it was short, sweet and very much needed in the middle of a tear-jerking, hectic work day in Corporate America! This was one of those days that taught me: even if you're having a bad day, something good can really happen, which is why it's important to live in the 'NOW!'
6. Attending the Nationwide race in Bristol, Tennessee. What an awesome race track that is! I also had the chance to meet (then) fellow contributor to Skirts and Scuffs Whitney. I honestly hope to have the chance to go back to Bristol, that is a weekend of fun that I know is well worth it.
7. My niece's 2nd birthday. I had the chance to see her earlier in the day, and we took her out by the lake; the most memorable moment was when she ran around in circles as fast as she could. The wind was blowing fiercely, and for a moment,  she looked like she was going in slow motion. What I remember the most about that moment, was that she looked so free, so happy, so innocent, and so positive. She gave me inspiration that day. I'm thankful I moved here, to see her often.
8. Dale Earnhardt Jr's press conference at the Charlotte Motor Speedway when they showed off the largest HDTV screen at a race track. I was so nervous, and so excited. I didn't get to talk to him, but I did get a lot of picture's. Later that same day, I have to admit, I visited someone I knew  (who works for Hendrick Motorsports) at the shop; he gave me a tour of HMS, and I did get to see a lot of amazing things. I am thankful that I had the opportunity to experience the turn of events on that particular day.
9. The All-Star Race: I had the chance to meet Skirts and Scuffs photographer Debbie; and writers Melissa, and Rebecca. I was excited to be there, especially since I had won the four tickets, so it was a free night out. My friend Nicole also met a man. They have been dating since! I'm so happy for them.
10. The Coca-Cola 600 was my very first race event as a member of the media. Trust me, I don't think that I've had a happier first day/weekend then I've had that entire weekend. The entire weekend tops some of the better days of my life, such as the first time I competed as a fitness model, but I wouldn't say that it was better than the birth of my niece. I'll never forget my first weekend.
11. The first time back in NH, after a year of absence was in July, for the NH race. I finally attended my home track as a member of the media, and that too was an experience of a lifetime. All three days were amazing, and I'll cherish my memories forever.
12. One random Saturday, Labor Day weekend, my family and I went on a boat ride on Lake Norman. We went so far out on the lake, it was seriously a good day, and nothing especially exciting happened either. It was just the six of us enjoying a hot summer afternoon on the lake. Well, my niece did an awful lot of cute things, but this blog would turn into a novel if I were to mention everything she did!
13. The Bank of America 500 was my third race event as a member of the media. I'll never forget that Thursday night when I walked into the media. I felt a huge rush of relief, and happiness. I felt like I was in the right place, and that I belonged there. That entire weekend is filled with memories I will hold near to my heart forever.
14. Christmas morning with my niece. She is starting to understand what is happening, and that morning was one to remember.

So that's that. I have listed more good memories then I thought I would've. I look forward to putting the year away, and starting a whole new journey come 2012!

In the end...

It is the end of the year, there’s only 12 more days until 2012. Around this time I sit and reflect on the past year, and today I can honestly say I am not the same person I was last Christmas.

I will not tell you 2011 was an absolute wash, but, it certainly wasn’t the best year of my life. We’re told to always count the blessings, and not the hardships. We’re told to learn from the bad, and the mistakes we’ve made. So I figured I’d put a list of things I’ve learned this year.

Valuable life lessons:

1.     You can’t take advice from people who do not have what you want in life.
2.     You can’t be offended if someone doesn’t want your advice.
3.     Bad news can come during the best moment of your life.
4.     Terminal illness can happen to the healthiest person.
5.   You live what you learn.
6.   Just when you think you can trust someone, they can deceive you.
7.   It is possible to love someone too much.
8.   It is possible to want it too bad.
9. Your friends and relatives may want the best for you, but they may not know how to help you.
10. If the only time you see your friends is when it’s time to party or get drunk, they may not be your real friends.
11. Only you know what’s right for you.
12.  It doesn’t matter if you have a good attitude, you treat people with respect, or if you work hard, bad luck can happen.
13. Most people only look out for themselves.
14. The “Don’t give a shit about no one,’ attitude is actually positive, only you can make your life better.
15.  Those that mind don’t matter and those that don’t mind matter.
16. Just when you didn’t believe your heart could break anymore,  it actually does.
17. You honestly do not know what it’s like to be in someone’s shoes.
18. What’s right for you may not be right for someone else.
19. The person that hurt you the most, is the one person you may never be able to hurt in return. 
20. Your dreams can come true, but not necessarily how, or when you want them to.

In the end, we learn something new everyday. We change everyday, and if we still see life the same way we did last year, if we don't allow ourselves to change, we're not growing.
Have a Merry Christmas!

Life lessons I've learned from NASCAR

Lessons I've learned as a NASCAR fan, and writer. I believe everyone could benefit from these lessons in their day to day lives.

In the past two years, I've grown fonder of the wonderful world of auto-sports. I've learned a lot this year, and I feel closer to the sport then I've ever felt to anything I've done in my past. Sure, I'm still a fitness enthusiast and I still feel passionate about working out, yoga, running and all things exercise related. As a fitness competitor, I learned a lot about myself, commitment, hard work, self-motivation, self-discipline, and self-respect. These lessons have helped me in many ways in my life, but the lessons I've learned just being a committed NASCAR writer, and fan, are more valuable than I expected, I’d like to share these with you.
 I mean it from the bottom of my heart, everyone can learn from this.

It's not where you start, it's where you finish.
In a race, drivers qualify for their starting position. Although it's awesome to start the race on the pole, there is no guarantee that you'll finish first. Although starting up front is beneficial, and you may have an advantage to staying up front, sometimes starting in the lead takes a lot more energy. You can get caught up in wrecks; you can even blow an engine. 
In life, starting on top does not always guarantee finishing on top. Sometimes, you need to work for what you have and if you're always running in first, not passing drivers, or working to move ahead, what lessons are you really learning?
The historical Championship win by Tony Stewart is proof that working to make it to the top is sweet. He had nothing to lose from his starting point. At the beginning of the Chase season (also known as the ‘play off’ season for you non-NASCAR fans), he didn’t believe he deserved to be in the Chase, and told media he was taking someone's chance to win the title. From that point on, Stewart went on to win back to back races, he won four before the season finale and then, he won the last race to tie the points, and because he won the other 4 races, he won the Cup title. Had he wallowed in misery about his lousy season and the fact that he started the Chase behind the other 12 drivers he would’ve lost. Instead, he took what he had and ran with it, finishing in a spot most thought was unrealistic.
Carl Edwards was the points leader for 21 weeks in a row, and he finished his season in second place because he only won one race.
Lesson to be learned: Don't always assume those ahead of you will always finish ahead of you. Don't let that stop you from finishing first in your own life.

It's not over, until it's over.
I learned this while covering the race in the media during the Coca Cola 600 at Charlotte, North Carolina. Dale Earnhardt Jr. was finally up front, and so was Kasey Kahne. It was an exciting re-start, two drivers looking to break losing streaks, and then Kahne runs out gas on the first turn. Earnhardt Jr. pulls ahead and leads the race, until he runs out of gas on the final turns, and Kevin Harvick passes him for the win. Kahne and Earnhardt fans were heartbroken.
There are other incidences that I could write about. On the same day of the above mentioned race, during the IZOD INDY series race at the Indy 500 in Indianapolis, another driver sponsored by the National Guard (Earnhardt Jr. is sponsored by the National Guard) was leading the race and aiming for the win. He was a rookie, and he'd win a historical race, the 100 year anniversary, but on the last turn he made a bold move to pass the trailing driver, as he did this, he crashed his car, and lost the race. 
Ten years ago, on the final lap, legendary driver, Dale Earnhardt (Senior) was in third and was protecting his team, his son, and a driver named Micheal Waltrip, it would've been 1-2-3 finish for Dale Earnhardt, Inc in the Daytona 500, but Earnhardt was involved in a crash that ended his life. 

Those three incidences prove, no matter what you do, it’s not over until it’s over. Mistakes can be made along the way.
In life, don’t give up on a bad start to your day and assume it’ll end bad. Good things are always ahead, just like sometimes, bad things can happen on a good day.


If all else fails in your life, help someone less fortunate than you. It’ll make you a better person to help someone who may not have the chances and luck you do have.

Why NASCAR?

I've been asked many times by some people, "Why do you want to write about NASCAR?"
The questions aren't coming in as often as they did when I first started to write about it back in the spring of 2010.
This past year, I've spent time writing for a website, Skirts and Scuffs. I was fortunate enough to be a part of NASCAR Citizen Journalist Media Corp and I'm proud of that accomplishment.
At the beginning of the year, I started to write a memoir. It was really meant to be a research project to help me out with the fiction story I have written already. I have out-done myself to say the least. I now have novel, movie script, memoir and journalism writing under my belt and I pride myself in having that.
The question still remains, why NASCAR? Because I connect with it in a way I'm unable to explain. I understand it and I love it.
The best feeling in the world is knowing you are doing what you are meant to be doing.
In my life, I have done a lot of different things. I've worn many hats. In all that I've done, I can say that my heart is in writing and it's about this sport.
In my memoir, which I hope to have published in the Spring of 2012, you'll learn a lot about me and my different interests. You'll learn how I love to learn. You'll learn a lot about my favorite interests in many different topics and you'll also learn why I have a hatred toward men; which seems contradicting because I love male dominated sports. I've been through a lot in my young life and this past year has been a whirlwind of good and bad.
This past year, a lot of good dreams came true, and a lot of bad dreams came true too.
It is amazing how writing about your own life teaches you so much about yourself, and the world around you.
I'm a sensitive person, and I wear my heart on my sleeve. I'm serious when I say it irritates the shit out of me when those around me have rude and insulting things to say about what I'm doing with myself. It's really none of their business but people love to make things their business.  For the record, the negative people did not win. Life is not a game, this is my life. Although today I invest more time and energy into my writing, I still exercise, eat healthy, and for a 35 year old, I look good; not to mention, I have more energy, stamina, and I'm a lot more flexible then a lot of women ten years younger, and women my age.
So on to answer the question, why NASCAR? I want to say that when I'm writing or involved with what I'm doing, I don't care what everyone else is saying.
I get lost in the sport.
This past year, I participated in press conferences with Kasey Kahne and Dale Earnhardt Jr.; I was in the media for Charlotte's Coca Cola 600; New Hampshire's Lenox 300; Charlotte's Bank of America's 500; the Hall of Fame 2012 Class of inductees, and I also participated in many phone pressers. I had an opportunity to turn a journalism goal into a reality and I ran with it.
The first time I walked on stage to compete as a bikini model in 2003, I was nervous and I was scared; I wasn't sure how I felt but in the end, I knew those were the best days of my life.
The first time I drove through the tunnel at Charlotte Motor Speedway to be a part of the media, I was ecstatic. The happiness I felt was unbelievable, it seriously compared to the day my niece was born. The day beat out my competition days by a large landslide and I know I'll never forget the first time in the media center; I sure as hell hope there are many other times.
As the end of the NASCAR season nears, so does my memoir and the story is filled with a lot of stories.
I followed Earnhardt Jr.'s career and wrote about him the most but in the story came a lot of other drivers.
My first real interview with a driver was with Kahne during the All Star press conference at the Whisky River in Charlotte last March.
I've learned to throw away the fan card and not look back. I've fallen in love with the competitive side to getting the story out there and I want to do it more. I've learned a lot about NASCAR as well as other series such as Indy racing and MotoG.P. (Motorcycle Grand Prix). 
This past year, I've also learned a lot about life, death, love, and loss. My story is one to be told and there's a lot to say. As I wrap up the loose ends and edit the story, my perception of this past year is one of success. Sure I'm not rich nor am I where I want to be financially or personally but I am in a much better place today than I would be had I stayed in New England or in New York. As a NASCAR journalist, I may never see the financial success that some of friends who chose careers in engineering, nursing, law or business management, but when I'm at the track I'm happier than a a pig in shit.