After the last training block in Montreal I flew back home to Calgary the night before the Canadian short track team trials were starting.

No, I was not skating in them -- the Olympic team gets a bye for this year and doesn't have to skate in this season's two team trials, as we are automatically on the national team for next year. Since the Canadian team consists of eight females and eight males, there are three spots left for the skaters to qualify for. So the Olympic trials had more on the line than just the Olympic team.

It's interesting but kind of weird to be a spectator when you're the one usually competing. I think it was the first trials I have watched and not been a part of. Of course, this year it wasn't a bad thing not to be competing, but I still felt lazy not to be racing! I think a part of me just missed it as I watched and I actually kind of wished I was racing too.

Who's more nervous?

In short track, when you look around in the stands, it seems obvious that many of the parents look a lot more nervous then their kids who are racing. I kind of understand because when my brother or sister race long track, I think I get more nervous for them then I do for my own races! It seems kind of silly but I look at it in a positive way. I'm nervous for them because other then saying good luck and supporting them, I don't really have any control over how they will skate or how well they will do.

In the other situation, of course I get a little nervous for my races. But if I know I have done everything in my control to prepare for the race, then there isn't too much to be nervous about. In the sport of short track, there are a lot of variables that you just can't control -- someone taking you out, stripping an edge, and so on, so to be confident the best thing is to be prepared and excited for the opportunity to exceed your expectations.

That is exactly how I want to approach the Olympics, which are coming up very fast! Everyone is telling me to expect the unexpected, so the best I can do is go in with a good game plan and be confident with it. I feel like I am just as excited today as the day I first found out I was going to be on the Olympic team. I think it's a great thing. I mean, it's something I've been looking forward to my whole life, so it seems kind of unreal that its happening in less then two months!