Every Year, after the Emerald Cup, I head up to Merry Christine's house up in the woods behind Monroe, WA....

...I have mentioned in previous entries to check out HER BLOG: http://merrychristine.com/blog/

Merry & her husband, Dave open their home and their refrigerator to a plethora of hungry post show bodybuilders, photographers, judges and athletes and "normal folk" alike! They are the MOST generous people on earth, and I wanted to take a moment to say, THANK YOU!

For those of you who do not know (only because you haven't read her blog), Dave is a Captain of a Boat up in Alaska (and beyond!) and risks his life every day on the open sea (but he's an incredible veteran Captain!) to bring us all of our fish and crab to our tables. It was a pretty rough year for us here in the Pacific Northwest, right?! Can you imagine how BAD it was UP THERE in the Bering Sea????!!! Just wanted to give props and credit to one hell of a guy....Thanks Dave!

Now, Merry weathers rough seas down here on the mainland with all of you Athletes! Orders upon orders, she Single handedly creates these elaborate pieces of arts for you to wear on stage. Each teeny tiny crystal placed with care in the perfect spot.... At this point I would recommend everyone to let her do her work and not call to bug her..."can I get my suit early?"...LOL....It comes when it's done. That's one thing I've learned over the years...you must let go and give FULL creative freedom to your artists in your life. YOU may have ideas, but only the artist can truly realize what's going to be the perfect vision....

Merry.....can.....cook! Oh boy can she cook. She's like the Swedish Chef + Martha Stewart + Emril (BAM!) + Jack (The juice man) Lalanne + a touch of Hulkamainia going on in the kitchen! She's amazing to watch and that's what we normally do...gather around the kitchen, socialize and watch her work her magic!

Dave....can BBQ! That man is the grill master! From Flank to Marinated Chicken to Roasts to the most perfect Ahi Tuna you've ever tasted! He's got  a million stories from the SEA, and has one hell of a sense of humor....you definitely get a good giggle going! Dave also graciously puts out a couple of 40 lb. boxes of King Crab for all of us to enjoy! Let me tell you....I'm spoiled rotten because of him! I eat Crab twice a year...once at the Ecup after party, and another on the 4th of July - Because we're at their house! Thanks again Dave!

Merry makes....THE BURGER......okay...THE BURGER is the size of a loaf of bread, and she has to put giant skewers into it before she cuts it because it would be destroyed otherwise....It's simply, the best! The only rule of thumb - YOU CANNOT EAT IT WITH A FORK! Doesn't matter, those are the rules!

Photographers Jim Wallingford, Gene X, and James Cook came up this year! We had  Figure Competitors and continued eating until we literally were all stuffed to the Gills!

~Trainer Shannon