Hi everybody! Thanks for visiting my site. I hope you like the new look. I’ve also decided to add some new features, including regular blog updates like this one. Things are going well here in Russia. I love my teammates and am having a ton of fun getting to play with Ann and Edwige. Of course the two hottest topics in my life this week are my new “do” (I’m a brunette now!) and my return to the States for NBA All-Star in Phoenix this weekend. First things first, the hair… well, I’ve been thinking about making a change for a while. I’ve been blonde since high school. And finally I just decided to go for it. Of course that was after a few of my friends said I was too chicken to do it, so you know me, don’t tell me that I can’t!! So, I stopped by a little grocery store close to my apartment and bought hair dye, 3 boxes because I have very thick hair! No worries though, we only ended up using 2!… The way I figured it, if I didn’t like it, I’d be making a quick trip to the salon, and it’d be back to blonde for me!! Of course the instructions were all in Russian… So I quickly called up one of teammates to come help me, she came over and I was brunette in a matter of 30 minutes! Everyone of course asks me why I didn’t go to a salon, but if I actually had to plan this, it never would’ve happened. If it wasn’t completely random and on a dare, I’d still be “having more fun.” But to be honest, when my hair came out of that towel– omg!! I was hyperventilating slightly, thinking what did I just do to myself!! It’s normally not a good sign when I look in the mirror and want to laugh and cry at the same time! So I sent a few pictures out to family and friends, and my teammates (Ann was speechless for a few minutes) and the early responses were almost all thumbs up to the brunette, except my Dad and Grandfather who apparently prefer the blonde.. which goes to show, you can’t please everyone.. Sorry, Dad! And I’ll admit, it’s a bit shocking at first, but hopefully it’ll grow on you, like it did me!

The other bit of exciting news is that my club here in Moscow has agreed to let me go and shoot in the All Star game this coming weekend in Phoenix! It should be a lot of fun again! Last year Tim and David were absolute gentlemen and very sweet! They definitely are the nice guys that they’re labeled to be! I’m sure their backs were a little sore trying to bend down in all the photos we had to take together.. Me standing next to them, haha, talk about a picture that makes me want to laugh and cry at the same time-but mostly laugh! What a sight! Hopefully, we’ll be able to shoot the lights out this year again.. Let’s just say no one picked us to win it last year, especially if you saw our practice round! I think we clocked in at just under four minutes!! So we made a few adjustments, switched the shooting order a little, and well-ahhh we were walking away with the hardware! OK, so I threw up a few prayers too, but hey, goes to show you He does hear you!! Almost as much as the All Star game I’m so excited to be back in the States, where there’s a Starbucks on every corner! YESSSS!!!! And what I’m probably most excited about is being able to see some of my family and friends.. it’s a short period, but I’ll take whatever time I can get with them!

That’s it for now. Don’t forget to check out the new pictures I’ve posted for everyone. Hope you enjoyed the update. Tune in to TNT this weekend to catch Tim, David and I defending our title, and check back soon for another update. Until then… Poka, Becky