#6

Hey guys I am back. I am sorry it took so long but I have been kind of lazy. All my chess playing and talking to Ash on the webcam has taken up most of my free time. I better be getting better at chess because I have played quite a few games since the trip started. Eric still has the lead 13-9 so I still have some work to do. Anyway I know you arent reading this blog to hear about my chess playing. Safari night was really cool and we saw all kinds of cool animals like different kinds of deer, rhinos, hippos, giraffes, tigers, lions, hyenas, and wolves. I will not be posting any pictures though, apparently wild animals dont like the flashes from our cameras so the park told us we were not allowed to use them. I tried to take some other photos without the flash but they were black blobs and I dont think you guys want to see that.

Safari night was a lot of fun but probably the best part of the night was on the way home on the bus. The bus was like a regular coach bus with a bunch of seats but they had this little downstairs with a couch and two chairs, it looked a little bit like a limo but not that nice. Anyway they had a tv screen and some microphones and a bunch of the swimmers were doing karaoke. That was really entertaining. I will never think of "Hotel California" in the same way ever again. Honestly I think we have been gone so long that people are getting really bored and very stir crazy.

Last night we had our rookie skit night. The people who have never made the Olympics get put into groups where they have to make up and perform their own skits. Most of the time they just make fun of the older members of the team (ie. Dara Torres). Its all in good fun and every has a pretty good time doing it. I will have to say the best was Cullen Jones performing as Steve Urkel. Their group did a version of the Dating Game. Cullen was Urkel while the other members of his group were members of the team. For those of you that dont know Cullen he is usually very stylish and sleek so I would not expect him to be that great at playing Steve Erkel. He was amazing and really dorky and funny it was great and people loved it.

So that is basically what has been going on around here. Training is good, more of the same. I am sorry to let every know but this is my last post until after the Olympics is over. The USOC has some restrictions on blogging during the Olympics so I am going to follow all of their rules. If I can get back on then I plan on it but if not Ashley will be taken over my duties. She is going to start posting when she gets to Beijing so every will still be able to know what is going on. I am sure she is going to do a great job, she happens to get herself into some interesting predicaments.

Since this is the last time you hear from me, I would like to tell everyone thanks! Everyone has been very supportive since I put up this blog and sending me great messages. It does mean a lot to me especially when I am away from most of you for so long. A lot of us dont get to see each other much so its great to get your well wishes and it is greatly appreciated. On top of that I have to say thanks again for all the support that you have given me throughout my career. I honestly believe that without the support of my family, coaches, and friends that I would not have had the success that I have had today. Everyone should feel very much a part of my Olympic experience. Only seven days until I swim and I expect everyone at home to be cheering for me. I hope everyone is well and I will do my best to bring home the gold!