*** DEAD COVERAGE *** After the fact musings.

[anglicanbeachparty]

Even though this great weekend of the 2009 North Americans is over, and already a fading memory, I would like to share some of my memories, perceptions, and photos of the event.

This was my first time attending this event, which is a travesty, considering what a reasonable drive from Detroit it is to Cleveland. I brought my 15-year-old son, Eliot with me. (In my family, we have division-of-labor thing in our fandom - I focus on the Women's BB and Figure, Eliot focuses on Men's BB and Bikini, and my wife and daughter love Fitness the best.)

One of the best parts of any good show is meeting people, and this year's North Americans was no exception. Here I am meeting industry giant, self-avowed schmoe, and internet phenom, Tre Scott:

http://pics.livejournal.com/detroitfather/pic/002b54tz.jpg

I found Tre to be very personable, engaging, and generous with his time. One thing I have to mention is that he is a great listener. He listens to you with such intensity, that it actually makes you choose your words more carefully. I appreciated that.

Some of the other folks I got to meet (but no documentary photographic evidence of the meetings exists) were: Vicki Nixon and her husband, Dave Pulcinella, and Michelle Brent and her husband. All fabulous people!!

Well, I do have a few pics of Michelle, but from when she was on stage:

http://pics.livejournal.com/detroitfather/pic/002azz18.jpg

... to be continued!

[scottnva]

hey paul glad you had a good time!

[anglicanbeachparty]

We sat pretty far back during pre-judging on Saturday morning, but still got some "okay" photos with our point-n-shoot camera. I vowed, though, not to take so many photos during the evening finals, because you miss the show trying to watch it through a viewfinder.

Margaret Negrete

http://pics.livejournal.com/detroitfather/pic/002asz1e.jpg

Tammy Patnode

http://pics.livejournal.com/detroitfather/pic/002atqqx.jpg

Pam Wentz

http://pics.livejournal.com/detroitfather/pic/002aw4aq.jpg

Michigan bodybuilder Cheryl Faust

http://pics.livejournal.com/detroitfather/pic/002ax59b.jpg

Jody Wald

http://pics.livejournal.com/detroitfather/pic/002aycke.jpg

[anglicanbeachparty]

I got to meet Jill Theobald, and she was super-nice.

http://pics.livejournal.com/detroitfather/pic/002b0h70.jpg

I felt stupid for not recognizing Robyn Mentgen ... I think she had blonde hair when I saw her at the 2008 Jr. Nationals. I loved her look:

http://pics.livejournal.com/detroitfather/pic/002b11hw.jpg

Monique Jones was ultra-impressive ...

http://pics.livejournal.com/detroitfather/pic/002b294c.jpg

... as was Zoa Linsey ...

http://pics.livejournal.com/detroitfather/pic/002b37s8.jpg

So, they were doubly impressive standing side-by-side on stage!

http://pics.livejournal.com/detroitfather/pic/002b4ekf.jpg

[AirHarp]

REALLY nice pics!
Sorry you had to take a pic w/ Tre... better luck next time.

I kid, I kid...sorta

[dvsness]

Glad you and your family enjoyed the show!

[anglicanbeachparty]

Downtown Cleveland was architecturally interesting ...

http://pics.livejournal.com/detroitfather/pic/002b6e5w.jpg

Next year, I may employ some "hired gun" photographer to do a photoshoot with one of the competitors in front of this Presby church (right across the street from the venue) ... because it would make a heckuva painting ...

http://pics.livejournal.com/detroitfather/pic/002b7b0k.jpg

I apologize that I am not sure about the name (someone clue me in!) of either the competitor or the photographer here ... I do not apologize for taking advantage of the scene they were creating to snap this pic, however!

http://pics.livejournal.com/detroitfather/pic/002b80b0.jpg

Some people do not allow themselves to be photographed (cough cbdetroit cough), so I had to arrange for a stand-in to take this individual's place:

http://pics.livejournal.com/detroitfather/pic/002b9xdp.jpg

Others, thankfully, were not so camera-shy. This is the very personable rjcleveland (http://www.siouxcountry.com/member.php?u=2671) and me:

http://pics.livejournal.com/detroitfather/pic/002bh4eh.jpg

I knew I was going to forget some people, and already, I am guilty:

I forgot to mention that I met the incredibly lovely Rita Kaya ... and IFBB judge (and IFBB Pro!) Martha Sanchez. Martha seemed a bit surprised that I asked for her autograph.

I apologize if I've forgotten anyone else. I didn't list folks like the inimitable Tom Nine, since I had already met him at other shows ... I really enjoy talking to Tom.

[anglicanbeachparty]

REALLY nice pics!
Sorry you had to take a pic w/ Tre... better luck next time.

I kid, I kid...sorta

I instigated it; he merely acquiesced.

(Pics came out okay, 'cause I copied your "monopod" idea!)

Glad you and your family enjoyed the show!

THANKS!

[anglicanbeachparty]

I "pretty much" kept my promise (except during the Men's BB) of not taking too many photos during the evening show. Still, I got a few. Like this one of Tammy Patnode, winning the LWs (and her IFBB Pro Card!) quite convincingly. I like this photo not only for its revelation of Tammy's leg development, but also for the look on the expediter's face, peering over his reading spectacles ...

http://pics.livejournal.com/detroitfather/pic/002bap95.jpg

I should mention that this is the first national-level event I've ever been to where I sat through the Figure classes in their entirety. It was great ... much more interesting than I thought. I did not get bored.

When it came to the Overall awards for Figure, my first thought was: I'd hate to be a judge for this ... they all look spectacular! But then, my 2nd thought was: How can they go wrong ... every one of those competitors looks absolutely like a winner. In a partisan sort of way, I was pulling for Michigan Competitor (Class C Winner) Pamela Soper. I also thought (I mean, were it up to me) that I'd have given the nod to Kat Ramirez. But, as I say, they all looked like winners to me!

http://pics.livejournal.com/detroitfather/pic/002bfybs.jpg

http://pics.livejournal.com/detroitfather/pic/002bb9y1.jpg

http://pics.livejournal.com/detroitfather/pic/002bchd0.jpg

http://pics.livejournal.com/detroitfather/pic/002be606.jpg

Lest I forget, there was some kind of Men's event at the end, after most of the audience had left (j/k) ... I'm trusting Eliot to fill me in later on what that was all about. Here is a picture of IFBB Fitness Pro Julie Palmer, and a couple of guys who apparently had something to do with the Men's event ...

http://pics.livejournal.com/detroitfather/pic/002bg853.jpg

[Siouxcountry]

Thanks Paul for these awesome photos! :awesome:

[anglicanbeachparty]

hey paul glad you had a good time!

Thanks, Scott.

Thanks Paul for these awesome photos! :awesome:

You're welcome!

I'll just wrap this up as briefly as I know how: We had a blast!

Really, the only down-side was that I was basically awake for 22 hours straight, including 6 hours of driving. But that was strictly a cost-saving thing. After getting a private viewing of one of the 14th-floor hotel rooms, I am planning to save up my nickels and dimes for next year. The plans is to bring both my kids and a laptop. That way, I can report some stuff before the Monday after the event.

And I had this cool idea: Quite a few of the competitors are moms ... and I am thinking of having my daughter offer a baby-sitting service (for a reasonable fee, from which I promise to take no commision ... LOL), right there in the host hotel. How convenient would that be?

Lastly, I forgot to say that Eliot thoroughly enjoyed the Bikini division. I'll post a photo of our fave competitor sometime after lunch.

[KP DIVA]

Great pics Paul!!! Luv your commentary also!!!

['Lil Dynamo]

Nice job Paul! I, too love your commentary!:):)

[cray17]

Great pics, Paul! :respect:

[CSI]

CBDETROIT wants to be a man of mystery?


Downtown Cleveland was architecturally interesting ...

http://pics.livejournal.com/detroitfather/pic/002b6e5w.jpg

Next year, I may employ some "hired gun" photographer to do a photoshoot with one of the competitors in front of this Presby church (right across the street from the venue) ... because it would make a heckuva painting ...

http://pics.livejournal.com/detroitfather/pic/002b7b0k.jpg

I apologize that I am not sure about the name (someone clue me in!) of either the competitor or the photographer here ... I do not apologize for taking advantage of the scene they were creating to snap this pic, however!

http://pics.livejournal.com/detroitfather/pic/002b80b0.jpg

Some people do not allow themselves to be photographed (cough cbdetroit cough), so I had to arrange for a stand-in to take this individual's place:

http://pics.livejournal.com/detroitfather/pic/002b9xdp.jpg

Others, thankfully, were not so camera-shy. This is the very personable rjcleveland (http://www.siouxcountry.com/member.php?u=2671) and me:

http://pics.livejournal.com/detroitfather/pic/002bh4eh.jpg

I knew I was going to forget some people, and already, I am guilty:

I forgot to mention that I met the incredibly lovely Rita Kaya ... and IFBB judge (and IFBB Pro!) Martha Sanchez. Martha seemed a bit surprised that I asked for her autograph.

I apologize if I've forgotten anyone else. I didn't list folks like the inimitable Tom Nine, since I had already met him at other shows ... I really enjoy talking to Tom.

[anglicanbeachparty]

CBDETROIT wants to be a man of mystery?

Shhhhhhh! You didn't hear it from me!

[IslandGirl]

Great pics Paul! Looks like you had a lot of fun!

[rjcleveland]

Glad you had a great time in our city!

Did you get a chance to go to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Museum? Lots of great places to shoot along Lake Erie there.

Hope no one tossed their cookies with seeing me in a pic.

R.J.

[ripitupbaby]

WOW Paul, really great pics! Thanks! :)

[SBT]

You got some really great shots Paul!! :awesome:

[jbigfoot]

Hope no one tossed their cookies with seeing me in a pic.


Well, my camera's still taking pictures after taking one of you...! :angel:

And I echo my fellow Clevelander's thanks about the commentary on our city. It was a real shithole when I left many years ago but they turned things around. So even though I've lived in Columbus for many years, I still consider myself very much the Cleveland stock.

[STL Joe]

Well, my camera's still taking pictures after taking one of you...! :angel:

And I echo my fellow Clevelander's thanks about the commentary on our city. It was a real shithole when I left many years ago but they turned things around. So even though I've lived in Columbus for many years, I still consider myself very much the Cleveland stock.

Out of 15-20 trips to Columbus, about 4-5 to Cleveland, and 2 to Cincinnati, I can say I've never had a single negative experience in an Ohio city. I love Ohio cities.

[jbigfoot]

Out of 15-20 trips to Columbus, about 4-5 to Cleveland, and 2 to Cincinnati, I can say I've never had a single negative experience in an Ohio city. I love Ohio cities.

Glad to hear this! I hope things continue to go well for you (and everybody else) in the Buckeye State.

The only bad experience I had during my trip to St. Louis (besides getting sick) was some young drunk I ran into on the way to the party. :spit::nuts:

[anglicanbeachparty]

Glad you had a great time in our city!

Did you get a chance to go to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Museum? Lots of great places to shoot along Lake Erie there.

We didn't have time to do it justice, I don't think.

Hopefully, next year! :awesome: