Well, hello everyone! It certainly has been awhile since I blogged, so I thought I would check in while we are on this long road trip and fill you in on what's been going on.

Since starting off the trip with a 7-hour layover in the worst terminal in the Phoenix airport, things have definitely picked up, starting this roadie 2-0! Let me just tell you about our adventure…right at home! We got to the airport around 10 a.m. on Saturday, got on the plane, and everyone was all pumped about the 36 direct tv channels which would make the 5-hour flight a little less painful. We all couldn't believe that there was no ABC to watch the WNBA All-Star Game, though! Seriously, they had the Food Network, MTV and not ABC?!

Keshia was my plane partner and I was really trying to avoid digging into my lunch until we at least took off, but I heard her bag rattling and could smell her sandwich, and just as I went for mine, the pilot came on the intercom.

“Well ladies and gentlemen…” Everyone knows, that always leads to bad news! Off the plane we went, and we ended up sitting at the deli for 7 hours in the Jet Blue terminal until 6 p.m., when we finally left.

One thing that was accomplished during that time span was the debut of the Mercury 5 (Bridget, Keisha, LeCoe, Tan, Sticks), which was performed in front of the entire terminal before take-off. Amazing!

Needless to say, New York was a whirlwind first game, considering our 4 a.m. arrival, the time difference, and playing an early game. Good thing Cappie and Dee arrived the night before, and we got enough rest to get the W. It didn't take us long to find our groove again, and start the trip off on the right foot. Sidenote: I will take 115 degree weather over humidity ANY DAY!

NYC was also cool because my brother got to see me play for the first time in my WNBA career, and a lot of my family was there too, which always is nice when we head East. Unfortunately, my shooting woes continued in that game, but thank goodness I shot out of my little 'slump' against Connecticut. My brother kept telling me to “let it rain,” sooooo I do apologize for Brick City the few games prior to Connecticut, but I will always keep letting it go! :) Never fear X-Factor!

Hopefully, all of you saw the Connecticut game on ESPN2. We played really, really well. There were some moments that all of us looked at each other on the bench and just said, “Wow!” Here are a few reasons why the trip has started off so well…

1. We are 2-0!

2. No one lost luggage yet (despite the bus driver taking off with the luggage compartment wide open the other day

3. No one wants to kill anyone

4. We are heading to the Swanier residence today for some home cooking tonight

5. Trainer Tamara still has all of her hair

6. Everyone had a good smile on this morning

7. Cappie has a great new haircut

8. Mercury 5 debut

9. No one got lost in the Mohegan Sun

10. My first blog of 2009 (on this lovely bus ride on the Peter Pan)...

I will check in again later. Talk to you soon X-Factor! And let me give a little shout out to Mizo Pecs X-Factor. Thanks for your long distance support of the Mercury.