Barefoot Blue Jeans Night

I know I wrote last week about my love for yoga pants. Call me fickle, but I am also in love with another material item...its name is Beevo.

Beevo is my Jeep Wranger Unlimited. Beevo gets his name because he is "University of Texas" orange and looks like a bull. There was no other fitting name!!

I mean look at it...

It's definitely not taking any crap from anyone!!!

If you are a forward, well “backward” thinking person you know that copper is the original color of The University of Montana. I like to think of my Jeep as a throwback rather than supporting UT.

Beevo is not just an automobile, it is my first “car love” realized. The only automobile I have ever wanted of my own is a Jeep. I told Mighty when we were on a family trip my fifth-grade year I wanted a Suzuki Samarai. He said "If you’re going to get anything like that it will be a Jeep" yep, QUOTE!

He’s regretting it a little now…

When I was ready to get a car of my own there weren't any inexpensive and good condition Jeeps to choose from. I ended up with the Gray Ghost, a 1989 Toyota pickup. The Ghost lasted me through college and two years in Seattle, as well as umpteen years with Trainer.

Since the Ghost I have driven a 3/4 ton Chevy 4x4 and three Nissan Xterras.

I liked my first Xterra, LOVED my second, but could not get over number three being a replacement. Number two has the best story I will tell at another time.

After last year being so miserable I have looked for any way to cleanse the bad mojo. Clifford (number three) was an easy target. He was gained due to unfortunate circumstance and was never really my friend. In fact, I HATED driving Clifford.

Last year I HATED to drive anywhere. Now I’m like a teenager begging for a reason to get out of the house. Shell gasoline has made a mint since June 1!!!

Beevo has brought back my enjoyment of Texas Country as well. Driving down a Texas highway listening to Red Dirt Music cranked up over the sound of the wind is pure. For a few minutes/hours everything is right in the world.

The best part of owning Beevo is that it can literally change my mood in an instant.  If I am cranky and someone asks me about my Jeep I smile and express how much I love it! I can’t help it. I could be ready to kill someone and BAM! It’s like being hit over the head with a happy stick. It is probably the best stress management tool I’ve ever invested in.  

The evenings in the last couple of weeks have blessed Southeast Texas with incredible weather for a Jeep girl.

After two weeks plus of solid rain it was about time!

One night last week, after a night with the girls, I realized the air was fairly dry and cool, so down went the top. Believe it or not, but I actually woke up the next morning with a smile on my face for the first time in days. I can't get over how great it feels to have the wind in my hair. I don't even mind the tangles anymore. Of course great hair products help.

I have been blessed with so many great things in the last 34 years, but being able to make my own dream come true is something I am most proud of.

I didn't ask permission. I actually didn’t tell anyone until I had the keys in my hand.

In all honesty, I would have been happy driving a Jeep when I was younger, but I appreciate the fact I have worked hard and earned this bit of happiness for myself. It wasn’t just handed to me.

Hopefully I can drive Beevo back to the Northwest next summer and then Mighty won’t regret his statement so many years ago.

I jam the inspiration song for this blog it in the evenings driving around Texas. I always have my blue jeans on and my toes are unoppressed (new word) by shoes. Ok, I have flip flops on, but you get the visualization!

Here is to the last few days of summer for most of us! I hope you can find a simple joy that brightens your day with just a mention of its existence.

Inspiration Song…Barefoot Blue Jeans Night by Jake Owens

Pants on the Ground

I'm in love!!!

No, it is not a man. Although there is one man that given the chance I would (another story for another day).

I'm in love with yoga pants. Yes, yoga pants.  

I never in my life thought I would ever say those words. They were always for “skinny” girls. My legs and bottom would “never” look good enough in a pair of yoga pants. Then I started working. I literally worked my hind-end off and feel comfortable sporting a nice pair of workout pants.

There really is nothing like a good pair of yoga pants to lounge in, to exercise in, or just to be in. Thank you Nike for sparking the flame towards women’s workout gear and the dri-fit era.

There are companies popping up all over with comfortable-fit gym-appropriate clothes. Shoot, Tide laundry detergent has even teamed with Febreeze in a line of soap to help with the sweat smell in workout clothes (I use it regularly, daily)

This may come as a huge surprise, but I am not a huge fan of Lululemon. For me the brand seems made more for the smaller breasted women. Obviously this is not a problem I have. I know I said yoga pants and not tops, but I needed to throw my two cents in about Lulu. I have not tried on a pair of pants. Mostly because I’m scared I will like them. I already have a fabulous love with another brand.

Before that I need to mention Lucy. Lucy is a great brand for a couple reasons. The clothes are super comfortable AND the tops have a little extra fabric that acts to suck in the gut! It’s a nice bonus for those just starting out and not 100% comfortable with their bodies yet. I was fortunate that TMAM was able to hand me down her old pants and tops. This speaks to the quality, because they survived a year with her and a year with me. I am sending them on to SandPile and I have no doubt they will last with her.

My biggest love of the exercise clothes/yoga pants is Athleta.

Let me repeat, I LOVE Athleta.

Their tops have a lot of support for larger women and are just plain comfortable. I have (gasp!) even used a couple tops without a bra. Maybe a little TMI, but they really do hold up. I wouldn’t try running without a sports bra, but for just chilling out, not problemo.

The colors are fun too; lots of purple and turquoise. The fabric stretches, but maintains the natural shape of the body. Some might not like this, but it’s in a flattering light. Even my ginormous calves and legs look good in these things!

It doesn’t hurt that Athleta is tied into Gap Co. and in turn Banana Republic. If you know me at all, you know I have an addiction to BR. So, when I can use my BR card, which has always been figured into my monthly budget, it is a win-win.

Some think it’s ridiculous to spend a ton of money on workout clothes. My argument is this…I LIVE in them. I am fortunate my job allows me to wear workout pants to work. And as much time as I spend in the gym or lounging around I need quality.

The clothes I buy need to hold up to sweat and movement and infinite washings. The fabric has to be sturdy to not stretch out at the first sign of water. Nothing more embarrassing than pulling your pants up while running 6.5 mph on the treadmill!

No, I think of spending money on my exercise clothes as an investment. You wouldn’t think twice of spending $100 on shoes, right? That is important equipment. The clothes are the same. Yes, it’s mostly a vanity thing, but as I said, you don’t want to be pulling up your pants while running!

NO PANTS ON THE GROUND!

Whichever brand you choose wear it proudly. You work hard. You have put time in on your body to make it better today than it was yesterday.

Find something that you feel comfortable in and make it a motivator to get your hind-end up and moving. Ok, obviously your health should be the major motivator, but a pair of pants never hurts.

Have fun my friends! Wear bright colors and express yourself! Love yourself! Treat your closet!

Inspiration song…Pants on the Ground by General Larry Platt

The Smile

I am NOT an English major. Contrary to what a friend thinks, not all people who teach are English majors.

No, I'm a gym rat. I watch sports for a living.

I'm partial to fiction if there is a good love story involved...50 Shades of Gray does NOT count...

I'm too literal to really understand many works of literature.

It may be surprising that I do, in fact, have a favorite poem.  It should come as no surprise that I found the author to this poem from a movie about baseball.

I think we can all agree that one of the best baseball movies is Bull Durham. Susan Sarandon and Kevin Costner nail baseball in the minor league!

My sophomore year of college I could not go to sleep if I hadn't watched BD. I was in love with Crash Davis. I even named my goldfish after Kevin Costner’s character.

There is a scene where Annie, Susan Sarandon’s character, barges in to Crash's house and they have a huge argument. This is a key point in the movie and one of my favorite scenes. She flips an ironing board over for goodness sakes!

During this argument, and before she admits her true feelings to the handsome catcher, Annie quotes William Blake. Now, I don't remember the quote, but I certainly remember William Blake.

Stay with me, there is a point, I promise.

That same sophomore year I flew to Portland to stand outside the Mormon Temple while a friend from high school got married. I was technically a bridesmaid, but since I'm not Mormon I had to wait outside with the other non-Mormons, including the bride's parents. It was pretty crappy, but I held her mom's hand and acted silly to keep everyone happy.

After the "ceremony" the non-Mormons toured Portland and ended up at a used-book store. With William Blake's name in my head I decided to see what he was about.

I flipped to a couple poems, but I saw one simply titled "The Smile". I was drawn to this as one of my best features at the time was my perpetual smile.

The poem follows:

There is a smile of love,
And ther is a smile of deciet,
And there is a smile of smiles
In which these two smiles meet.

And there is a frown of hate,
And there is a frown of disdain,
And there is a frown of frowns
Which you strive to forget in vain;

For it sticks in the heart's deep core,
And it sticks in the deep back bone.
And no smile that ever was smil'd
But only one smile alone,

That betwixt the cradle & grave
It only once smil'd can be;
But when it once is smil'd,
There's an end to all misery.

I was recently reminded of this poem and read it for the umpteenth time. It is so lovely.

Yes, there are many smiles and a certain Cheshire Cat I know definitely has the market on the two Smiles meeting.

The frown of frowns is interesting, because whether you are the cause of, or the one bearing the frown  you try to forget but it lingers.

But there is only one smile that ends all misery. And the beauty is that ONE Smile is different to each person. I like to think of it as the smile when you are with a person who fulfills you.

TMAM may think to the first time she saw her beautiful children smile.

Regardless, it's the smile of true love.

So many of my friends are struggling with that smile lately.

There are fantastic men who feel like parts of them are dead because of a woman. I really REALLY wish it was one, but I pluralized "men" for a reason.

As a single girl I used to think it was men who “sucked”. Now, I’m not so sure. People can be cruel regardless of sex. I will say the few women I have in mind for my fabulous male friends really do stink as human beings. However, I think it’s just that guys don’t deal with the crap as well. They don’t talk about stuff that bugs them. They are taught as little boys to “suck it up” and “deal with it like a man”. Some things you just need help with. How do you get your smile back when all you think about is the hurt?

I am the biggest supporter of therapy and talking feelings out. I am fortunate to have an amazing network of friends who help me by listening and offering strong advice when I am ready to hear it.

Everyone should have that.

Everyone should have an outlet for the crap.

As Mr. Blake promises there is a smile. It will be smiled, and when it is there will be an end to the misery.

Heads up my friends! Talk about the crap when you need to. Let people listen…

And until you do find THAT smile...fake it.

Inspiration poem...The Smile by William Blake

Eyes Wide Open

Experience is a funny thing. For the most part it's an educational tool.

When we were younger we learned by doing things. If it didn't "give hurt" (a phrase used by Jack London in Call of the Wild) and it worked we knew to repeat the same process. If, however, we ended up getting punished or it didn’t work we adapted and tried another approach.

How many times do we have to make mistakes before we make those adaptations though??

It should come as no surprise I am now going to segway into my seemingly endless task of trying to find another human being to share my life.

Here it goes.

You can say I have a "type" and follow certain patterns. In my 20's I only wanted to be around rodeo cowboys. I was young and single and not horrible to look at. They were young, for the most part single, and not sticking around very long. I was not interested in settling down.

How could I be when every night was a party?!?

That part of my life was fun and exciting! I lived an impulsive lifestyle and don't regret a single moment of it.

I realized a couple years ago the drifter lifestyle needed to be shelved…or did I?

So now my newest “type” seems to be a divorced single dad. Oddly, they have all had sons, not a daughter among them. The second oddity is the son’s name usually starts with a C. This is consistent to the fact that two out of three dads share the same name.

(I really thought I was more adventurous than this)

The two with the same name have been well documented on this site and I don’t feel like rehashing at the moment.

There is a third, and this one cracks me up because he is literally every man I’ve ever known rolled into one tall handsome package.

I could be tempted to fall back on past behavior and really like this guy. However I have decided my job is to learn from past experience and not make the same mistakes.

Such.a.tall.order.

Not that tall…

He lives five hours away. Apparently I like my men not only emotionally unavailable, but physically as well.

I know where this will end.

I did this to myself.

I knew I would like this man.

I knew leaving him would be hard.

I still did what I wanted because that’s who I am.

This is where I realize why Sweetness changed and went POOF. It was a way to prepare me for this latest adventure. If I had not had my experience with him I would be inclined to really screw up.

Women have a natural tendency to want to talk to the object of our affection…a lot. That is probably one of the reasons Sweetness vanished. It was too much. I was too much. I didn’t back the EFF off.

I have to rely on my past experience and not make the same mistakes. I have to play it cool. Let the cards fall where they may. I still want to maintain a friendship with this man.

I did not walk into this situation unknowingly. My eyes were wide open. All the negatives were standing tall among all the positives.  

The great thing about waking up every morning is we have a chance at something great every time we do it. Maybe this is the experience that will propel me to a bigger and better adventure…

Inspiration Song…Eyes Wide Open by Gotye

Have I Made and Impact???

A friend once told me she was at a point in her life where she "needed to be needed". Of course this was as she was showing me how to take care of her athletes because HealthSouth decided to pull six athletic trainers from the Seattle public schools this leaving her out of a job.

At the time I didn't understand it, but it made an impact as I am talking to you about it almost 10 years later.  I knew there would be a time in my future where I would feel the same way.

That time has come.

One of my New Year’s goals is to be a better friend to those who love me. I need them to need me and want me around. I need to add value to their lives and do better by them. I hope to this point in the year some would argue I have, but I feel last night I did something far greater than just being a better friend.

If God has me on this planet after almost being crushed to death then I feel there is a bigger plan for me.

If I don't get to live the life of a white picket fence and 2.3 kids there BETTER be a bigger purpose for me to be on this planet.

Maybe last night was a start.

May 22 finally arrived.

The night of the Be the Match registration drive.

The drive I have been talking about so much.

The drive to see if by chance someone in our community could be a bone marrow match to BigBrother.

It's just as important now as it was six weeks ago when BigBrother was first diagnosed. See, his numbers have improved a great deal. His good blood cells are starting to come alive on their own, and the bad blood cells (blasts) have decreased 10%.

Yay, right?

Not so much.

He still has a tough road. He found out today he will have to go through a second bout of chemo. Blech!

I know his body will respond positively as it did last time. We knew this road was going to be hard. There is no "instant fix" with cancer.

He, most likely, will still need a bone marrow transfer. The Community of Langham Creek stepped up last night as they have so many times already. We registered FIFTY, that's 5-0 people!

That is fifty chances to save a life!

Fifty more people in the world who could make a major impact on another person.

I used to joke that by surviving being crushed meant I was going to save a life one day. I would love the opportunity to be the person who had their narrow sucked out, but if I helped someone by getting a person registered or if by talking openly about it I am able to, then RAD.

My life meant something.

I was needed.

To those of you unable to make it to Langham don't fret you can still register. Please go to www.bethematch.org and click on "Join the Registry".

SWAB + DNA = SAVE A LIFE

Share this blog with your community. Post it on your facebook or any other social network site you prefer. Open the lines of communication.

To date 52 people have registered through Be The Match just in my little world. Think of the impact we can make if we all shared a little!

Inspiration Song…Have I Made an Impact by Steve McConnell

Be a Winner

There are so many things I need to tell you Blogosphere world!

Such as how I am able to wear a size 8 short and take them off without unbuttoning them.  (Super Rad)

The cute guy from the apartment complex finally noticed me and introduced himself at the pool this last weekend. (Rad)

And that this journey is definitely not without some setbacks. (not even a little Rad)

I’m not going to spend much time on those things today. I want to talk about my brand new exercise machine!

Have I told you about the ElliptiGo?

Oh.my.goodness!

What in the world is an ElliptiGo?!

The ElliptiGo is newish exercise equipment on the market. There are three levels depending on how many gears you are looking for; a 3-gear, an 8-gear, and an 11-gear. I won the 3-gear ElliptiGo.

     **Here it is sitting in my driveway!

I will tell you this honestly, the ElliptiGo is probably the hardest thing I have ever done!

I spent five minutes on it the first day and was seriously out of breath. Last night I gutted up and went around the apartment complex for 30 minutes and my heart rate got up in the 140-155 range, same as being on a spin bike or running on the treadmill.

The selling point to the ElliptiGo is the fact it simulates outdoor running without the high impact on joints. My friend at a local University uses a couple for rehabilitation on track athletes who are unable run. The athletes are able to get outside, but not sustain further repetitive impact injuries.

There are some limitations to the build. I won’t be able to use it when I am working contract athletic training gigs, it can only be used on paved surfaces, no gravel or grass. You have to have good balance to work this thing. Turning is really hard with a shallow wheel base and standing on a rickety surface. I think that will come as I get more comfortable though. I’m not comfortable taking my hands off the steering bars just yet either. I tried…I fell.

Before I go on any long rides I will have to get a helmet to protect my coconut. Even though I am only 5’6” it is still a long way to fall and hit my head.

I am excited to bring it to school next week and show off. I am finally comfortable enough not to look like an idiot.  

So how did I end up with one of these crazy things?!?

I WON IT!!!

On either the iPhone or Droid there is an application called “Be Fit Stay Fit Challenge”. It’s a free application that allows you to track the number of days in a week you exercise.

Key word…challenge…

Here is how it works: Say you go for a 30-minute run on the treadmill on Thursday. That is now your start day of the week.  Log that activity in the application and you have had a “successful day”. My favorite part, one of the icons at the bottom of the screen turns from green to yellow! I cannot stand to have any green left at the bottom of my screen.

     **There is no extra credit by doing more than one activity during the day, but it’s interesting to track how many hours you are actually doing activity, so I log everything.**

Now, if by the next Thursday you have five successful days you have earned a successful week.

A successful week enables you to be entered in a drawing for various prizes. Prizes include a TRX strap, a scale that measures weight and body fat, a home exercise kit with some exercise tubing and an exercise ball, or the now explained ElliptiGo.

I have no idea what week I actually finished and earned my name being in the drawing. I opened my Yahoo email account in early April and there was an email claiming I was a BFSF winner and the prize was an ElliptiGo 3C. All I had to do was send my shipping information. No credit card, not payment information. The company was sending me a free machine! All I have to do is take a picture of me on it and tell people how I earned it.

Here I am telling you about it Blog-o-world, now I just need a picture of me ON it. I have a picture of me. I have a picture of it, not me ON it. That will come.

All this came from trying to find a way to track my exercise and keep motivated. I NEVER thought I would actually be a winner. Now I can boast I am not only a winner, but a winner of the top valued prizes (it runs a cool $1,800).

I have logged more than 102 hours of activity since I started this in February or March. It’s a great way to track the different activities I complete. Also, I hate leaving a week with any green icons at the bottom of my screen, so my motivation stays high. If there is a week I haven’t been able to make it to the gym and its Thursday and there are not athletic events that night I make sure I get my hind end out and do something.

The beauty is the “something” can now be in my own apartment complex and not inside on a treadmill!

I highly recommend you checking out the BFSF Challenge on your smart phone or tablet. You never know if you will be the next winner. I didn’t think I would be!

Whatever your dream…be a winner…

Inspiration Song…Be a Winner by Hunter Hayes

Karma

I have been trying to write a post based on this song for quite a while...and I really want to be more positive with my posts.

We all go through down times and I appreciate you sticking with me through mine!

Here's the good news, things are looking up...

No, Sweetness hasn’t mysteriously come back into my life and I haven't heard if Jerkface has caught a disease that gives him boils all over his face.

I just feel like getting back to myself.

Here is a breakdown of some awesomeness:

I was able to talk to BigBrother today!! He is tired and fighting multiple side effects from the chemo, but sounds pretty good. I wish I could do more to help. Hopefully the Bone Marrow Registration drive May 22 (put it on your calendar) will help.

Raising awareness AND finding a possible match can’t be a bad thing, right??

I’ve been talking to BabbyMamma quite a bit this week. She is due any day now! I appreciate that she is honest about the fact she hasn't enjoyed pregnancy as much as she thought. Some women just don’t like it that much. She’s not the first mom to think that. I admire her so much for this journey she's on. It's not easy, but she is smart and young and STRONG!

I'm selfish that I just want to hold little man and spoil him rotten!!

Yes, things are good. I can even feel the coaches relaxing around me. It may have helped that I actually had some drinks with them the last couple of weeks.

It’s about time…I've been in my job for eight months.

A few years back a cousin told me the first six months of any new job are the hardest. If you get to six months you will feel everything click into place. As great as I felt at the beginning of this school I know that is absolutely true. The last few weeks things have “clicked”. The coaches know me and more importantly I know HOW to talk to them. Since communication is the key to everything, learning how to do it is the first step!

I surround myself with constant reminders of my positive attitude and life changes.

And keeping with the theme of the post...I wear a new “Karma” bracelet that reminds me what goes around, comes around. I know the good things I have done and am doing in my life will be rewarded in the long run. It’s pretty too, which helps me feel pretty, which in turn makes me feel better.

The other thing that makes me feel GREAT is a bit of knowledge I received on Tuesday…I am officially down to my goal weight loss of 20 pounds and my body fat has dropped 5% since January.

Huge numbers!

If that isn’t a reason to be excited I don’t know what is!!!

I’ve decided not to stop here. I still have 5% body fat to go and hopefully another 20 pounds, but I look pretty damn good in jeans.

My favorite Scotsman is coming to town this weekend as well. I can’t believe it has been THREE years since we went camping in the Davis Mountains. It does not matter what name you give him; friend, brother, whatever, I canNOT wait to see his wonderfully ugly mug back in Texas!

So, there you have it. Although I try to put a funny polish on things and have worked to maintain a positive attitude some days have just sucked. Now it is time to take the sucky days and push them aside.

It is time to count the blessings. Every night I write one thing about the day that was positive or a “win”. It’s amazing there is always something positive to say about the day.

I think today's will be "I was able to write a second blog in the same week!"

Inspiration Song...Karma by Alicia Keys