Recently my cousin got engaged and at his engagement party he and his bride to be, in lieu of gifts for the guests, made a donation to the Heart and Stroke Foundation.  The reason behind this was a few years ago, my uncle (his father) passed away from complications following a stroke.  Apparently this is becoming more common at all types of events, even birthdays - and I thought it was a wonderfully thoughtful idea.  First of all, it saves my mantle from one more dust collecting bowl/vase/knick knack and actually, it inspired me when it came time to plan my holiday party at my yoga studio.

So here's the deal, to help celebrate, I'm doing a holiday fundraiser.   Here's what I'm doing for my "I ♥ YOGA" day:

• 1. I'm asking my students to do some fundraising, they can collect pledges the old school way with that envelope (you remember the one) from all their friends and family or we have this nifty, easy online way and they can win all sorts of prizes for being the top fundraiser.....
• 2. Wednesday December 17 all the classes at Stratusphere will be FREE with a donation (we suggest a minimum of $10 so you can get a tax receipt - which is still a deal as a single class is $18)....
• 3. And then in the evening we are having a holiday party so all the teachers and students can mingle and instead of gifts we are asking people to make a donation.....

As I planned this event with the folks from the Heart and Stroke Foundation, I learned some fascinating things that just drove me to want to do all that I can to continue to raise funds for this foundation.  First of all, heart disease is the number one killer in Canada and America and you know what, that is amazing to me because this is something that be prevented or controlled through something that I have spent my whole life promoting - healthy living.  So I apparently have a few million more to spread the word to! 

Anyhoo, I don't want to go into a bunch of facts and figures with you guys, but one thing the lady from the HSFO told me about that really resonated with me was about a drug that actually reverses the effects of a stroke and you know, it made me think - these fundraisers, like my event, or even a little bake sale - really are making a difference.

So, then I thought - and it was the combination of a couple things - first,  the high level of doubt from (me) and all you in my stratusphere and my universe - that 10, 000 + voters didn't make a difference in a certain voting poll recently ( I know, let it go), and second, lately you guys have been asking me what you should send me for Christmas - 'kay, the answer, seriously is nothing! Oh my god, I really do mean it when I say, don't send me anything - just your love - I know, it sounds cheesy, but I mean it, your support over this past almost decade (wow, totally aged myself) is a gift that will last a lifetime (okay I got chessy - but I mean it!).  So, then it got me thinking, how about we do a little experiment and see exactly how powerful our stratusphere and universe really is...

Its kind of crazy but think about this - if everyone just here donated even only $1 - we could easily raise over $3500 'just like that' (*snaps*  hey, remember that lol!) - which is crazy! But, if everyone donated the minimum of $10 that I'm asking from everyone at my studio - wow ... I'm getting goosebumps!!

Okay, I don't want to go all Sally Struthers on you (shoot, aging myself again!) but, if you are so inclined to give, whether it is for the good of the cause, 'tis the season, you need a tax write off, or in lieu of Christmas gifts or even cards (think about it a card cost $5 then you gotta send it ALL the way to Canada- let's just donate and post greetings here!) or even for my Birthday - what? Oh, did I just let that one slip - hehe! Okay, here's where you can help me reach my goal:

My Donation Page

And, by the way you are all invited to my holiday party at my yoga studio if on WEDNESDAY DECEMBER 17 you happen to be up this way in ... Canada ... Ontario ... Vaughan ... my Stratusphere .... umm, but let me know, I'll have to get more finger foods probably ...

And, I thought about it, since we won't be doing a shoot for the non-win (meh!) ... maybe I'll show you mine if you show me yours - support that is!!  A photo shoot  in red, or hearts  -symbols not organs - there I go again - what's with me wanting to expose my organs to you ...man, we've gotten close!....

Let's see what the stratusphere and the universe can really do ...

Love you all!

~T....

So the results are in, the votes have been counted ... okay, I didn't win but, I just gotta check, am I still hot oooor - how does that work? 

Now I've heard the 'this is an outrage!' 'I demand a recount' comments, also the network conspiracy theories, the non inclusion of international votes, etc, etc, but meh - no biggie!  Honestly, I am honored just to have been nominated and actually even suprised, I mean, although I am totally hot - lol just kidding, but a wrestler with a Gemini nomination - just that is pretty cool, no?

I mean it wasn't like I was nominated for a 100% ASS KICKING BABE, GREATEST WOMEN'S CHAMPION EVER award - 'cause you know I would have taken that home PLUS, the names of the other nominees!! What?? Yeah!!

I have to say again, I know you keep hearing from me but, I want to say THANK YOU because I truly believe that it was your support that got me to the Top 5 and the final? Well, who knows, it is kinda hard to believe that your guys' support PLUS the support from the my myspace was topped (I don't even think some of these nominees even have a myspace, and you know they don't have the support of the universe!) Oh, and sorry about taking up so much of your time with all the voting, cramped fingers and stuff - ow!

You know the one thing I am kinda bummed about was having the opportunity to  publicaly acknowledge the fact that along with that win, many of my successes of my career have been due to all of your support and that I couldn't have done it without you - and well, that still applies!

And, I'm glad you all liked my dress - i loved it ... it was perfect for me to eat extra dessert at the gala - yummy!

Hey everyone ... so, I got my dress - yay!  I love it, its so purdy, i was thinking of showing you guys a pic - but that would ruin the surprise hehe - plus, i still gotta get my hair did!  Its crazy - you don't realize it, but a lot of time goes into getting ready for one friggin night!  I guess its like with a wedding - a whole year of prep of one day - crazy!

So, dress - check

Hair - check

Booked my make up artist - check

Shoes - my dress goes to the floor so not that important - hmm, think i could get away with wearing my comfy boots ...I depise heels - serioulsy what cruel joke just stuck? Think about it your toes are supposed to contort into a pointy V - everyone look at your toes, squeeze your pinky toe to towrds the big one - comfy? I think not!

Speech - I'm not going to think about it too much - I'm going to wing it - straight from the heart

And, last but not least, I want to give you all a pre-win (yes!) THANK YOU!  The only reason I'm doing the above list is because of you and all your support, your votes and like most all times in my carreer - I wouldn't have gotten here without you - you guys are all a part of my stratusphere

Let's go win this baby!

I'm figuring out a way to get you guys updates right away ... I'm thinking, I thinking ...

Oh, and on a side note - if I don't win ... I demand a recount! Seriously, who has a universe and a stratusphere like this!  I'm just sayin'...

You know when you bite a jelly doughnut (that's how we spell it in Canada - I know, weird huh?) and the jelly oozes out, or you take a bite of your hotdog and the ketchup oozes out of the other end of the bun or - okay, maybe its not exactly right to be comparing the love I'm feeling to gooey food items - but what I'm trying to say is - the love is just oozing outta this wwe universe - its crazy and I love it!

I've been here for not even 24 hours and I have over 1000 friends, growing by the minute - so it seems you guys have missed me huh? LOL! I gotta say, its been so awesome to hear from everyone and well, I'm trying to keep up I want to let you know...See, I was reading some to the messages and have been responding but its seems an almost impossible feat - as I reply to one, I get like 5 new ones so at this rate - well, you get it. 

If this keeps up - when people ask what I'm up to I'm soon gonna have to say "well, I'm in social networking" I've literally been on this computer for hours reading, replying and now I just had to blog and let you know that it is awesome to be able to get back in touch with everyone through the wwe universe - I really can't believe it has been over 2 years! In fact, it was just recently (Nov. 18) exactly 7 years since I won the belt for the first time - wow, time flies! So, if I don't get back to you - I'm working on it - or just know I am at least reading ...seriously, I haven't even done my yoga today, my back is getting all  crickity hovering over this computer - and I think I may be developing a slight case of carpal tunnel syndrome just from today - is that possible??

And, by the way, many are asking what I've been up to - so first of all - didn't you read the article on wwe.com?! They gave a little update with my show Stratusphere that I was shooting - it is on the air right now on travel+escape  and next year it will be on Discovery HD (in Canada only - sorry kind of a tease if you don't live here - but hopefully, it will be available all over the world eventually - stay tuned!). And I also in between the travels I built a new house (YES, another one! Well, my hubby is a builder ... again this is a tease if you're not in Canada - but it is on MTV Cribs ... in Canada - maybe you could write to MTV and they would air it for you guys in the US).  And, one of my proudest feats - I built a yoga studio, it is also called Stratusphere (you can check it out at www.stratusphereyoga.com) - if anyone is ever in Toronto (Vaughan actually, just north of the city) come and check it out!  And the other thing (yeah, I've been just a little busy!) that is new is my nomination for a Gemini Viewer's Choice Award! Sorry, I couldn't resist (I'm super excited about it - and I want that trophy dammit!) ...I have your attention now, so when your done reading this - go vote, it's the last day of voting!

 www.geminiawards.ca/vca08/

Before you go vote (hehe)...I just want to say its been nothing but love since I entered the wwe universe and its really awesome to feel - so I thank you for the support, still - even though its been over 2 years since I delivered Statusfaction (except briefly to Jillian - she still hasn't shut up, huh? She probably needs another dose!)...okay, you can go vote now!

I'm going to go do some downward dogs...

 ~T

Well, hello…long time no speak!

It feels like Babe of the Year voting all over again – except this time I have social networking to actually deliver a great big “THANK YOU!”

I have to admit, I’m new to this whole world, a world riddled with posers and fakes – you know who you are!  I only recently entered this world - I finally entered the myspace world (www.myspace.com/trishstratus).  I was contacted by myspace canada who asked if I’d be interested in taking over this one page that had a lot of friends (a lot of people talkin to a fake me!), and it was the one page they had gotten the most amount of reports about that it was a fake (some people know me well – luckily better than this poser).

So, I agreed and – voila! Suddenly there I was blogging, connecting with fans, people who were glad to see I finally made it into the myspace world!      

Then along came a nomination for a Gemini Viewer’s Choice Award – which unless you are Canadian means nothing to you – but the Gemini is the Canadian equivalent to the U.S Emmy Award – so yeah, I’m kinda psyched to say the least! I did in fact do a happy dance, and yes, I have been voting for myself ever since I found out (what? you would be too!).

So then, a couple of things happened, first I of course posted on myspace that I had been nominated and please show me some love and vote for me.  Second, I confirmed to some devout fans that that this myspace was in fact me – and bam – next thing you know, I made the top 5!  Coincidence – I think not!

When the folks at WWE.com contacted me about an interview regarding my nomination – and then invited me to be part of the WWE Universe – I couldn’t refuse because I know its you guys that have made the difference in everything that I have been a part of and this was a way for me to finally say directly to you “THANK YOU”.

Let’s review, just to name a few (ha, I made rhyme):

1. 3 time babe of the year – your voting
2. Cover of DIVAS mag – your voting
3. The will to go out every week and deliver stratusfaction to the best of my abilities– your vote of confidence
4. Top 5 nominated for a Gemini Award – your voting
5. Winner of the Gemini – oops, did I get ahead of myself ….

I know when I won the babe of the year you guys got a photo shoot out of it and if I win the Gemini well, I get a trophy … not exactly a win-win situation, so, kind of in keeping the tradition alive – here’s the trade – you guys vote for me and I’ll do a Gemini Viewer’s Choice Award photo shoot …maybe I’ll pose with my little statue (why?)… and I’ll post it right here for the WWE Universe, what do you think?  100% Stratusfaction Guaranteed!

Vote now at www.geminiawards.ca/vca08/