Happy 2011

HAPPY NEW YEAR!

Wishing you and your family all the best in 2011

 Let's make it great!

A sincere thanks to everyone that follows me and for sending along your messages of love and support during the year. It means a lot to me when you stop by, I do my best to stay in touch and keep it real. Maybe too real...

But guess what? I can't wait to do it all again in 2011 and I hope you'll join me again for the ride!

XO

Perdita

Santa To Me

Thanks for my peeps who remind me to blog when it gets to the point that I sometimes forget. A lot of changes the last few weeks have taken much of my focus.

Change is good sometimes, right? Ya its what I am telling myself.

Training is going well, I can't believe I'll be racing in a months time. Where does the time go? It's my favorite time of the year and I am doing my best to enjoy it. But I do admit I had way more fun with Christmas when I was a kid, I could care less about giving, simply receiving was my cause.

When I was eight I really wanted high top sneakers, that is all I would ask for. When I was nine I remember wanting a jean skirt. I guess showing my legs was all I could dream of. I usually got what I wanted, and thankfully it was always something affordable.

My mom still has the very first gift I ever bought her with my own money (that she gave me). It was a figurine of a house I bought at a bargain store in 1987. I never bought her a card, but the bottom of it was lined with green felt and in black marker I wrote the date, Merry Christmas and that I loved her. Anytime I see it (which isn't often), to hold it makes me remember what life was like for us back then, and that makes me tearful and grateful.

It didn't matter how many things were under the tree, or if we had a tree or anything to put under it. I knew from an early age Santa wasn't real. Or at least he wasn't an old man with a big gut and long beard. It was a woman I watched work night and day who never showed any signs of giving up. She'd wake me up when it was still dark outside, but let me sleep again on her lap when it was time to comb my hair. We'd walk in dark silence for half an hour to my sitters, and everytime she'd kiss me, tell me to behave and I'd watch her leave. She'd take the bus for hours even in the freezing cold, or pouring rain to work. Taking great care of other people's children, to make sure she could provide and take great care of her own.

I knew how hard it was for her to leave me every time and even though I was extremely young we were so well connected that I could feel her burden. I saw her cry many times and remember telling her it was "OK", and knowing that if I at least behaved, as she asked me to, I would be doing the only thing I could to help her.

So when I think of Christmas or this time of year I don't think of Santa, or Christmas trees. I think of the wonderful mother God gave me and how this time of year reminds me of how blessed I am to have her. And hope I can bless my own children with her resillence, devotion and gift of sacrifice. So when I think of Christmas I think of love and all the wonderful memories I have with her but mostly because of her. And how many of the most poignant ones come to mind around this time of year or just if I'm walking after dark in bitter cold.

MERRY CHRISTMAS!!!

Wishing you and your family the most joy and peace!

Perdita

PTV-2 Hurdlers 5 Questions

Hey World,
My YouTube page has been missing me, so I've uploaded a new video. It's from my camera during an interview with Priscilla and I in July in Toronto with E-talk. Hope you like it.

I'l also be updating @

PTV- My YouTube Channel & My Official Facebook Page 

So check them out, when work is not the business! ;-)

Have a great one!

XO

P.

Re-Discovering Perdita

Just so it's clear there is still no cable or TV action in my life.

How's it going you ask? Pretty good actually, though I spend a lot more time online.  Family Feud on Facebook standup!

I've now settled into a routine and Coach Randy and I are finding our way as coach and pupil. We've been friends for years and I have to say it's been a very easy transition. I appreciate his leadership when we are on the track, and how attentive he is to all the athletes under his watch.

Now anyone who has ever coached me will say a few things about the athlete that I am:

1) I ask a lot of questions--all the time--everyday--even if I probably know the answer.

I'm sure it's annoying, tedious, redundant--the works! But I've always been a very curious pupil. I want to know the purpose of why we do what we do, and why another way is simply not the answer today.

Luckily I've never had a coach with an ego and they have all indulged me. Every single time. But I have to say my new coach must feel like he is having a pop quiz every day. I'm glad he knows me (and has seen this in action with my former coach good old Gdub) and he patiently explains away. That I believe is a sign of a good teacher, and I've been blessed to know a few.

2). I find GREAT joy and pleasure in the teeniest victory. I don't care what it is, or how small the feat seems to be. If I did something that was asked of me, (regardless if all the other parts were crap!) I'll celebrate what I did do right, to the fullest extent of the law my space.

So anytime Coach Randy graces me with any kind of praise or positive reinforcement I dance like it's the second coming. Mainly because I love progress--in ANY form. (Yes. I literally break out in dance or do a Ryu Street Fighter "All You Can!" upper cut in the air). I know he has seen this before when he wasn't my personal coach, but he still looks at me crazy and says: "Hold  on...hold on, you haven't arrived yet!" as he ponders my foolery. To which I say: "But--I'm pulling up in my new whip coach---beep beep". (This action must be mimed out).

Another thing I appreciate in my new environment is it is acknowledged that I do somethings very well. Certain technical elements I do are world class and I could very well be the prototype for them. (OK you got me. No one has EVER said that last part to me, but it's my blog and that's how I'm gonna frame it, OK. So please be a good teacher  reader and indulge me). ;0)

Anyways as a world class athlete there will always be a level that I can reach with basic effort. But it's time for me to expect precision in my reps and have more of a sense of urgency with the time I have left in my career. If I have become subconsciously complacent, when I step into this mans practice such a trance is not welcome. It not an environment where perfection is expected, so much as an athletes passionate belief and respect for their own ability.

I'm learning to challenge myself and while I'm good, I don't just want to be good enough. And that is a decision that the pupil makes (all over again) not the coach.

Hope you can bring some of what I'm discovering to your own venture.
Thanks for reading.

Perdita

**Also please stop by the new Official Perdita Felicien Facebook Page. This will be another way I'll be updating on what's new in my world!**