If the Shoe Fits....

Damn right I'll wear it!! I received the mother load of shoes!!! My Nike Shox showed up last last week (just in time for my run with the Nike folks on Sunday)and it felt like running on pillows. Shox are the shoes that people seem to either love or hate. I'm not a hater! Today I found a nice little package on my front porch containing these...(all courtesy of the man).


A little bright you say? Just the way I like em! I want to make sure you see me when I'm comin!Zoom Air 1000GRS. The heel fit is the best and they are extremely comfortable.
These are my favorites! I know, some of you are wondering what was I thinking... some of you may be a little jealous, and others could be flat out dizzy from looking at them. Well, either way I think they're beautiful and tomorrow I'll be sporting a pair! Look for me, you'll see me coming!

Live passionately!

Stay cool & have a bitchn' summer...

It never seems to slow down, does it? I've been consciously making an effort to make at least one weekend day a completely lazy one. It helps to resonate there was a break in there, you know?

This week was a busy one. I've been at the gym (a little later) everyday and it feels good! I started to journal my workouts again which may seem lame for what I do, but it makes me feel like I've accomplished something and helps me switch things up when I need to. All my cardio on any piece of equipment is set to interval. When I'm on the spin bike I've got to do the timing work so most often I find myself back on the elliptical to make it easier.

Mon: 30 min elliptical/ avg HR 138/ 40 min weights legs
Tues: 45 min elliptical/ avg HR 133
Wed: 30 min elliptical/ 30 min weights back & chest
Thurs: 45 min elliptical/ avg HR 129 (back in the eve) 45 min elliptical avg HR 132
Fri: 30 min elliptical/ 20 min arms & shoulders

Every year we have a dealer appreciation event which all the managers choose 2 dealerships they'd like to host at The Pageant of the Masters in Laguna Beach. It's a 'live art' production set in a small intimate outdoor amphitheatre. If you're ever in Laguna Beach this time of year, get tickets!
The show consists of live models in costume and makeup, who reproduce the artwork and from the audience, you'd swear you are looking at the actual piece. It's really amazing.




Here I am with the finance director of the dealership (courtesy of his wife @ the helm of his new IPhone). One incredibly good dinner, Pageant and 2 dealers (with very happy wives) @ the end of the night. Mission accomplished!

Thursday was an award luncheon for another dealership and last night was the big one...my 30th class reunion. It sounds so bizarre to say 30th!! I was never the cute, popular girl in high school. Any one that knew me (including last night) knew me by association with one of my 5 brothers. There were 4 of us in high school at the same time and all of them played football. I was Chuck, Marshall, David, Sean of Bob's sister. Funny though, it never really bothered me and I kind of like blending in (and moving on). This was my first reunion. I was pregnant on my 10th, my husband was very sick when the 20th rolled around and this one timed out just right. I went more for curiosity sake and to see a very good friend I had. Funny how some things don't change....everyone looked at my name tag then asked, are you Chuck, Marshall or David's sister..... yes..... ;)

Some people seemed to be in time warps. Still very close friends with people from school which is cool, but I felt like I was back in 1977 and not much had changed. I only recognized most folks by their name tag photo. Finally my friend Esmeralda came and it was great to catch up with her! Five minutes and we were laughing just like it was 1977. It's great when some things don't change!

Funny how our lives change and where it takes us. Live with substance & passion, respect the process and have fun! Oh yeah... Stay cool & have a bitchn' summer! Time to let that go. ;)


Live passionately!

I LOVE surprises!

I am very lucky that Mike keeps me well stocked in Nike gear. My favorite new shoe is the Nike Air Zoom DGRS. I bought these beauties my last trip to Portland and asked Mike to pick me up another pair. I have incredibly flat feet and a wide instep, so it's tough to get the right fit. The Nike Free and Shox have been my shoe of choice, so I was thrilled to find another pair I liked. Mike checked the employee store but no luck, they were all out.

I met the Nike running group this morning and ran 4.4 in 42 minutes. Everything felt good. I hung out in the store for some water, fruit and a bagel and spied these babies. They might not be much to look at, but when I put them on.....I fell in love. Just the right width and I nice big toe box. I mentioned my find to Mike and this afternoon he called me to say he'd picked them up for me and is sending them down. What a great guy I have!

Spent the afternoon getting ready for the new week and now spend some time reading. Hope your weekends were great and you go into the new week healthy, happy & thankful!

Live passionately!

Roll with it.

As I read blogs from people all over the country, I'm in awe of their ability to roll with it. Here in So Cal I could ramble on a list of 'not so positives'....but the weather is not one of them. Yes, it can get a little boring and not really much change in seasons but that's why a lot of folks move here to call it home. Although I was born and raised here, I've lived in other parts of the country and prefer a little change in the seasons. I'll get plenty of change once I'm make the move to Oregon.

We get spoiled here, and dare I say a little 'prissy'. If it rains, I'm not likely to go for a run (and neither are very many other folks), or jump on my bike and sometimes not even leave the house for that matter. Mike & Steven head out regardless of the weather and probably get some of their best training in. It really is mental isn't it?

Well, this week was pretty good for me. I rolled out of bed at my new 'late as possible' time of 5:30, got the gym and did my thing. 30-45 minutes spin everyday and lifted Tues/Thurs. Tomorrow morning I plan to get in an early 60 minutes on the elliptical then head out for errands and lunch with a friend. Sunday I think I'll head over to run with the Nike group again. I don't have the weather issues a lot of you have, but kudos to you for making it happen! Me? I'll just keep rolling with it.

Have a great weekend...

Live passionately!

Get a life.

I am convinced that life in a physical body is meant to be an ecstatic experience.

Shakti Gawain


Do you ever train and take it for granted? I mean your health...your abilities. I do. I take a lot for granted and do my best to be grounded & aware, but sometimes I let it slip away from me. The joy of it all needs to be met head on, with full appreciation each time I enter a room or step outside my door. I am happier when I live it.

It's been a good week. Wednesday mornings I meet at the local coffee shop with my women's group. We've been meeting for about 3 years now and I still look forward to it. I really love these gals.

Thursday I jumped on the elliptical for 30 minutes, lifted for 45 min then stretched for 15. Friday I rode a spin bike for 60 min, avg HR 142 for 10.67 miles & felt good. Sat I took a break and today I headed over to the local Nike store to run with the group there. I'm hot and cold on the running thing, but I want to start back up. It's like anything, the easier it gets, the more I'll like it. When I get up to Portland, it'll be a nice way to drag Mike out for a long painful slow run! ;) The positives far out way the negatives.

It's actually pretty cool. You meet at the Nike store @ 9AM while rest of the mall is still closed. An employee/coordinator asks me if I'll be running, walking or both on the 2.8 mile loop. I say both. Since it's been a while, I'd rather under promise and over deliver. There were about 15 people, with 4-5 serious runners. I heard a few people say they doing 4, 5 & 7 mile runs. I started out with a goal to run the entire 2.8 if possible. I've been spinning like a banshee for crying out loud, this should be do-able. After about the first mile I felt pretty good, so I set my eyes on the 2 runners going 4 miles and followed them. Well, it was more than do-able...it was pretty darn good. 4 miles in 41 minutes. My avg HR was a little higher than I'd like @ 159, but that's OK. I felt great afterwards. No aches, pains or winded. When we got back to the store they had bagels, fruit and drinks. Very nice set up and all free. This will be a nice addition to my weekly workouts and most of the runners seemed to be regulars.

I do love to celebrate my gifts. Life can give us tickets to a pretty bumpy ride, but when it's over...who can remember? We move on and if you keep your eyes fixed on the the incredible gifts you have, they just keep coming. I have a lot to be thankful for, and at the top of my list is Mike. He (and we) continue to just get better and not in my wildest dreams would I ever have thought my life would end up this way. I am blessed. Happy Birthday Mike!

Live passionately!

GET UP!

I have to exercise in the morning before my brain figures out what I'm doing.

~Marsha Doble


This is me.

I got such great rest on vacation....is there such a thing as too much?? Naaaaaa.
The problem is that I'm such a creature of habit that after a week of sleeping in, it's been hell to get back on track. If I don't workout in the morning, it just doesn't happen. I also discovered there's a button on my alarm clock that says snooze!. What a great idea!! I'm not technically savvy, but I got that one figured out real quick. ;)



Well, it had to come to an end and I really needed to get back to some form of exercise. Yesterday was tough....real tough. I hit the button a few to many times, but was still able to get to the gym & do 20 min on the elliptical then 45 min weights. This morning I made it happen with 45 min on the spin bike. Now it's become a game. Exactly when is the latest possible time I can sleep until & still get to the gym and get a workout in? I think I'll be working in this one for a while.


Live passionately!

Gotta love this woman!

I just love this woman. Here she is with Helen Keller....what a pair of ladies, huh? Eleanor has always been one of my hero's. She reminds me very much of my grandma. Salt of the earth...'say what you mean and mean what you say' kind of gals. I just finished My Day and thought it was awesome. This quote really stuck with me.

People grow through experience if they meet life honestly and courageously. This is how character is built.

Eleanor Roosevelt, My Day
US diplomat & reformer (1884 - 1962)

Can I get an Amen!!



Live passionately!