Blue Skies and Gentle Breezes: Good Intentions, the Truth, and the Spirit of Chri...: Every year, as Christmas draws near, I am taken back in time to my youth...back to high school, back to 1973. I was a junior that year, wi...
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Monday, December 19, 2016
Sunday, October 30, 2016
Blue Skies and Gentle Breezes: Once Upon A Cold Dark Night...
Blue Skies and Gentle Breezes: Once Upon A Cold Dark Night...:
With Halloween just around the corner, many here in J-Land are sharing scary stories. Sandra, owner of Sandra's Scribbles often finds ...
With Halloween just around the corner, many here in J-Land are sharing scary stories. Sandra, owner of Sandra's Scribbles often finds ...
Monday, October 3, 2016
An Open Letter... (re-awakened)
Blue Skies and Gentle Breezes: An Open Letter...: Diamond Rio "I Believe" To My Devine Creator: With each passing day I learn. These lessons you place in my path for a reason....
Friday, July 8, 2016
Personal
"I am a person that believes in the personal dignity of every human being. I am known for my authenticity, honesty, and clarity in my interactions with others. I am firmly committed to the well-being and life of community and will use my gifts of critical reflection, organization, passion, and speech to foster unity and well-being in all the communities to which I work and belong."
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Wednesday, April 13, 2016
My View...Between the ears
About a month ago, a friend of mine ventured into the world of blogging. And when she asked me if I would be interested in writing about my trail riding experiences for her blog, I could not turn her down.
Last month I took my first trail ride on AJ, the horse who bucked me off a year ago. An experience I chose to be my first entry for her blog. It can be found --->, Happy Trails and Tales
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Tuesday, March 15, 2016
Of mortals and marriages
In any conversation involving my love for horses and my husband, the same question always surfaces.
"So, Dona, does Sam ride, too?" There's always a hesitant pause between the word 'so' and my name. Leaving me to wonder if the person asking is afraid I'll knock their block off.
Answer: No, he does not.
And nobody ducks.
Yes, there was a time when Sam rode horses. He's even gone on overnight horseback camping trips, something I've never done (add that to my bucket list). Thing is, he doesn't share my passion for horses. Truth be told, he's not really a passionate person. He's more the quiet reserved type, who prefers to observe, listen and respond if needed.
Like many couples, we have our shared interests; the outdoors, camping, being outdoors, traveling, watching certain television shows, eating, riding our four-wheelers, fishing, boating. And each other, of course. But that's pretty much where it ends.
He loves to hunt. I do not. It's not my thing. I don't have that killer instinct and prefer to shoot animals with my camera. I went hunting with him twice. The first time I asked what I now believe to be the stupidest question I have every asked anyone in my life. Hunting involves a lot of waiting. And walking. And waiting. And more waiting. I'm a patient person but at one point I turned to him and, believing him to be the resident expert on deer behavior, I innocently asked, "What time do they usually show up?" Looking back now, not my finest moment. Sam may be a quiet man, but I know many a belly laugh erupted in the company of his friends when he shared that little memory with the guys.
Okay, so I have my flaws. I openly admit them. Nothing to be ashamed of, it's common knowledge, we are all entitled.
Now, he's not prone to snappy comebacks. Nor does he like to boast. He's not arrogant, but more mild mannered. Doesn't talk a lot.
I often think he's the guy who inspired that now famous slogan from the 70s and 80s, "When E. F. Hutton talks, people listen."
You get the picture.
A couple of years after I got Duke the question got asked for the umpteenth time. Sam is a patient man, but every one has a breaking point. I don't recall exactly where we were at the time, but the air immediately changed when the question smacked the atmosphere. This time, his usual silent shrug off transformed into a simple statement. A very flat, yet concise statement.
"No." I smiled as he spoke, half expecting it to end there. But no--he had something up his sleeve. His face beaming with pride, eyes alight with devilish delight as he announced for all to hear, "I never put anything with a brain between my legs."
Oh.
Really?
So stunned was I at the utterance of those few words, he completely caught me off guard. Did my ears betray me or did my quiet, mild-mannered husband just have a little fun at my expense? I didn't know what to say. His response was so far removed from what I expected, so uncharacteristic of him, I felt speechless. And I let it go. Let him have this one moment. Awkward as it was, funny for several others, it was one of those classic moments in marriage everyone who has ever spent years with one partner encounters. It's going to happen. At least once.
But then, it happened again. Only this time I was too far away to retort. Oh, I had decided after that first time, it would not repeat itself again. And if it did, I would have the last word. Fair is fair.
The opportunity presented itself a third time while attending the grand opening of the newly constructed veterinary clinic and hospital built by Duke's vet, David Rustebakke. Sam and I were chatting with another couple in the equine examination area. Sam worked with the man, Lynn, who shared his love of horses with his wife Patrice. During the exchange of stories and adventures, Lynn asked the question. Or dropped the bomb, depending on your point of view.
His eyes twinkling with delight, Lynn asked, "So, Sam, with Dona riding all the time, when are you going to get a horse of your own so you can join her?"
I felt a smirk draw on my face. Wait for it...
Tilting his head slightly to the side in a dismissive manner, Sam slowly took a sip of his fruit punch, shrugged his shoulders and said, "I'm not."
Lynn furrowed his brows, exchanged confused glances with his wife, and I saw the silent question dash between them. Followed by the, 'Don't all couples share this love together like we do?' look on their faces.
"Why not?" Lynn asked, puzzled. Patrice edged in slightly closer, body leaning forward in anticipation.
Here it comes. Oh, I can't wait because this time I am ready!!!!
Standing tall, chest puffed out Sam announced (not so quietly), "Because I never put anything with a brain between my legs." The smile on his face was enchanting. Pity I was about to wipe it off his face.
Two sympathetic heads turned in unison at my direction in awkward confusion.
Slowly I reached my hand up and placed it on Sam's upper arm. "If that's what you truly want, then I can arrange it for you." Chin up. Big smile. Pride goeth before the fall.
Two sets of eyes and a pair of heads turn from me to Sam. Without saying a word Lynn and Patrice took one large step back, putting a good two feet between the four of us. More space to fill the awkward silence, no doubt.
"So, Dona, does Sam ride, too?" There's always a hesitant pause between the word 'so' and my name. Leaving me to wonder if the person asking is afraid I'll knock their block off.
Answer: No, he does not.
And nobody ducks.
Yes, there was a time when Sam rode horses. He's even gone on overnight horseback camping trips, something I've never done (add that to my bucket list). Thing is, he doesn't share my passion for horses. Truth be told, he's not really a passionate person. He's more the quiet reserved type, who prefers to observe, listen and respond if needed.
Like many couples, we have our shared interests; the outdoors, camping, being outdoors, traveling, watching certain television shows, eating, riding our four-wheelers, fishing, boating. And each other, of course. But that's pretty much where it ends.
He loves to hunt. I do not. It's not my thing. I don't have that killer instinct and prefer to shoot animals with my camera. I went hunting with him twice. The first time I asked what I now believe to be the stupidest question I have every asked anyone in my life. Hunting involves a lot of waiting. And walking. And waiting. And more waiting. I'm a patient person but at one point I turned to him and, believing him to be the resident expert on deer behavior, I innocently asked, "What time do they usually show up?" Looking back now, not my finest moment. Sam may be a quiet man, but I know many a belly laugh erupted in the company of his friends when he shared that little memory with the guys.
Okay, so I have my flaws. I openly admit them. Nothing to be ashamed of, it's common knowledge, we are all entitled.
Now, he's not prone to snappy comebacks. Nor does he like to boast. He's not arrogant, but more mild mannered. Doesn't talk a lot.
I often think he's the guy who inspired that now famous slogan from the 70s and 80s, "When E. F. Hutton talks, people listen."
You get the picture.
A couple of years after I got Duke the question got asked for the umpteenth time. Sam is a patient man, but every one has a breaking point. I don't recall exactly where we were at the time, but the air immediately changed when the question smacked the atmosphere. This time, his usual silent shrug off transformed into a simple statement. A very flat, yet concise statement.
"No." I smiled as he spoke, half expecting it to end there. But no--he had something up his sleeve. His face beaming with pride, eyes alight with devilish delight as he announced for all to hear, "I never put anything with a brain between my legs."
Oh.
Really?
So stunned was I at the utterance of those few words, he completely caught me off guard. Did my ears betray me or did my quiet, mild-mannered husband just have a little fun at my expense? I didn't know what to say. His response was so far removed from what I expected, so uncharacteristic of him, I felt speechless. And I let it go. Let him have this one moment. Awkward as it was, funny for several others, it was one of those classic moments in marriage everyone who has ever spent years with one partner encounters. It's going to happen. At least once.
But then, it happened again. Only this time I was too far away to retort. Oh, I had decided after that first time, it would not repeat itself again. And if it did, I would have the last word. Fair is fair.
The opportunity presented itself a third time while attending the grand opening of the newly constructed veterinary clinic and hospital built by Duke's vet, David Rustebakke. Sam and I were chatting with another couple in the equine examination area. Sam worked with the man, Lynn, who shared his love of horses with his wife Patrice. During the exchange of stories and adventures, Lynn asked the question. Or dropped the bomb, depending on your point of view.
His eyes twinkling with delight, Lynn asked, "So, Sam, with Dona riding all the time, when are you going to get a horse of your own so you can join her?"
I felt a smirk draw on my face. Wait for it...
Tilting his head slightly to the side in a dismissive manner, Sam slowly took a sip of his fruit punch, shrugged his shoulders and said, "I'm not."
Lynn furrowed his brows, exchanged confused glances with his wife, and I saw the silent question dash between them. Followed by the, 'Don't all couples share this love together like we do?' look on their faces.
"Why not?" Lynn asked, puzzled. Patrice edged in slightly closer, body leaning forward in anticipation.
Here it comes. Oh, I can't wait because this time I am ready!!!!
Standing tall, chest puffed out Sam announced (not so quietly), "Because I never put anything with a brain between my legs." The smile on his face was enchanting. Pity I was about to wipe it off his face.
Two sympathetic heads turned in unison at my direction in awkward confusion.
Slowly I reached my hand up and placed it on Sam's upper arm. "If that's what you truly want, then I can arrange it for you." Chin up. Big smile. Pride goeth before the fall.
Two sets of eyes and a pair of heads turn from me to Sam. Without saying a word Lynn and Patrice took one large step back, putting a good two feet between the four of us. More space to fill the awkward silence, no doubt.
Tuesday, March 1, 2016
Someone is not in the kitchen with Dona (revisited)
This entry is from November 2005.
Contrary to popular belief, I am not a domestic goddess.
No siree. Far from it.
Okay, so there is evidence that every now and then I venture into the kitchen and emerge with homemade goodies. But, truth be told, I really don't shine in the kitchen.
The first time I made jelly by myself, I almost burned down the house and ruined a brand new stove. Just the year before I had learned how to make grape jelly at the home of my friend, Bona. And she warned me, more than once, don't try to make jelly by yourself. You should always have someone helping, especially once the fruit, sugar, and water mixture starts boiling.
So one fall evening a couple of years ago I wanted to make some more grape jelly for Christmas gifts. Bona was supposed to help, but her back was flaring up and she was down for the day. Same for Sam, who had put in a doubly full day at work and was physically drained. Fresh grapes are only fresh for a short time, and I had picked these grapes days before, so I decided not to wait any longer. I gathered all the necessary tools and ingredients and got cookin'.
I turned the solid grapes into liquid, and ended up with about 12 cups of juice. Into the pot goes 8 cups of juice and 5 cups of sugar (shock! yes, 5 cups). Set heat to high and wait for mixture to boil.
They say a watched pot never boils. Oh, it does. The second you take your eyes off it.
I'm keeping one eye on the mixture while I get the jars ready to receive the hot liquid. The jelly pot is close to boiling when I turned my back just long enough to line up some of the jars so I can begin to spoon the jelly into them. Both my hands are full of glass jars when out of the corner of my eye I see the liquid level in the pot quickly rise to the top...and begin to spill over. In horror I put the jars down on the counter, shut off the burner and remove the pot from the heat, after grabbing two pot holders, of course. Safety first, you know. Too late. Our stove is electric, not gas, and is one of those solid surface types that take forever and a day to cool down after the heat element is turned off.
The pot is no longer into a rolling boil, but now smoke is billowing...quite profusely I might add...off the stove top. Thick, grey sugary sweet smoke.
SHIT!
Switch on the overhead exhaust fan. Forget trying to wipe the sugary mess off the stove, the heat has now crystalized the sugar and bonded it to the stovetop, which is still pretty hot and doing a mighty fine job of filling the kitchen with smoke.
SHIT!
Run around the kitchen, opening every window and the door. The stove is still smoking and the exhaust fan isn't exhausting. My heart is pounding and my mind is racing while visions of fire fighters rushing into my home armed with axes and fire hoses immediately come to mind.
This would be an appropriate time to panic before the smoke detectors start going off.
Run around the house, calling out to the hubby who is downstairs in the family room. Continue to open doors and all available windows...continue to panic. The living room is now filling up with smoke.
It's a rather eerie feeling to open the front door of your home and literally watch thick, grey smoke being sucked outside. A tad unsettling as well.
Walk back to the kitchen and banish the thought of trying to cover up my little faux pas. I'll never get away with hiding the evidence now. Busted! The look on Sam's face when he walked into the kitchen was....well, in a word, indescribable. And I won't repeat what he said. I've choosen to forget.
An hour later, the smoke finally cleared. Two hours later Sam finished scraping the burned grape syrup off the brand new stove top. That was my version of 'How to break in a new appliance.' And a darn good hootin' job I did of that if I may say so! When all was said and done, I called Bona, knowing she could use a good laugh.
To this day I can't stand in front of that stove and watch something boil without thinking back.
I now own a very tall stock pot which I use to make my jelly in and I never fill it more than one-quarter full. The jars get set up before I make the jelly mixture. And to look at the stove, you'd never know what happened three years ago. Not a trace of burned sugar remains.
What happened to that batch of jelly? Well, it became grape syrup; it never got the chance to become jelly. A lot of work goes into turning solid grapes into juice and I wasn't about to toss all that work down the drain. Pissed as I was at myself, I just couldn't throw that stupid stuff away.
Looking back, I probably should have and written it off as an offering to appease the kitchen muse.
Contrary to popular belief, I am not a domestic goddess.
No siree. Far from it.
Okay, so there is evidence that every now and then I venture into the kitchen and emerge with homemade goodies. But, truth be told, I really don't shine in the kitchen.
The first time I made jelly by myself, I almost burned down the house and ruined a brand new stove. Just the year before I had learned how to make grape jelly at the home of my friend, Bona. And she warned me, more than once, don't try to make jelly by yourself. You should always have someone helping, especially once the fruit, sugar, and water mixture starts boiling.
So one fall evening a couple of years ago I wanted to make some more grape jelly for Christmas gifts. Bona was supposed to help, but her back was flaring up and she was down for the day. Same for Sam, who had put in a doubly full day at work and was physically drained. Fresh grapes are only fresh for a short time, and I had picked these grapes days before, so I decided not to wait any longer. I gathered all the necessary tools and ingredients and got cookin'.
I turned the solid grapes into liquid, and ended up with about 12 cups of juice. Into the pot goes 8 cups of juice and 5 cups of sugar (shock! yes, 5 cups). Set heat to high and wait for mixture to boil.
They say a watched pot never boils. Oh, it does. The second you take your eyes off it.
I'm keeping one eye on the mixture while I get the jars ready to receive the hot liquid. The jelly pot is close to boiling when I turned my back just long enough to line up some of the jars so I can begin to spoon the jelly into them. Both my hands are full of glass jars when out of the corner of my eye I see the liquid level in the pot quickly rise to the top...and begin to spill over. In horror I put the jars down on the counter, shut off the burner and remove the pot from the heat, after grabbing two pot holders, of course. Safety first, you know. Too late. Our stove is electric, not gas, and is one of those solid surface types that take forever and a day to cool down after the heat element is turned off.
The pot is no longer into a rolling boil, but now smoke is billowing...quite profusely I might add...off the stove top. Thick, grey sugary sweet smoke.
SHIT!
Switch on the overhead exhaust fan. Forget trying to wipe the sugary mess off the stove, the heat has now crystalized the sugar and bonded it to the stovetop, which is still pretty hot and doing a mighty fine job of filling the kitchen with smoke.
SHIT!
Run around the kitchen, opening every window and the door. The stove is still smoking and the exhaust fan isn't exhausting. My heart is pounding and my mind is racing while visions of fire fighters rushing into my home armed with axes and fire hoses immediately come to mind.
This would be an appropriate time to panic before the smoke detectors start going off.
Run around the house, calling out to the hubby who is downstairs in the family room. Continue to open doors and all available windows...continue to panic. The living room is now filling up with smoke.
It's a rather eerie feeling to open the front door of your home and literally watch thick, grey smoke being sucked outside. A tad unsettling as well.
Walk back to the kitchen and banish the thought of trying to cover up my little faux pas. I'll never get away with hiding the evidence now. Busted! The look on Sam's face when he walked into the kitchen was....well, in a word, indescribable. And I won't repeat what he said. I've choosen to forget.
An hour later, the smoke finally cleared. Two hours later Sam finished scraping the burned grape syrup off the brand new stove top. That was my version of 'How to break in a new appliance.' And a darn good hootin' job I did of that if I may say so! When all was said and done, I called Bona, knowing she could use a good laugh.
To this day I can't stand in front of that stove and watch something boil without thinking back.
I now own a very tall stock pot which I use to make my jelly in and I never fill it more than one-quarter full. The jars get set up before I make the jelly mixture. And to look at the stove, you'd never know what happened three years ago. Not a trace of burned sugar remains.
What happened to that batch of jelly? Well, it became grape syrup; it never got the chance to become jelly. A lot of work goes into turning solid grapes into juice and I wasn't about to toss all that work down the drain. Pissed as I was at myself, I just couldn't throw that stupid stuff away.
Looking back, I probably should have and written it off as an offering to appease the kitchen muse.
Sunday, February 21, 2016
Blue Skies and Gentle Breezes: In My Eyes...
Found it!!! Now I'm off to riding lessons!
Blue Skies and Gentle Breezes: In My Eyes...: This morning at the gym I witnessed a sight so warm, so true, so magical I think it could easily carry me on for days. Even now, hours ...
Blue Skies and Gentle Breezes: In My Eyes...: This morning at the gym I witnessed a sight so warm, so true, so magical I think it could easily carry me on for days. Even now, hours ...
Blue Skies and Gentle Breezes: Animal House (revisited)
Taking a long trip down memory lane in my neglected but not completely forgotten blog, looking for an delightful, heart lifting entry about ageless love (I WILL find it!) and I came across this from March 9, 2006...
Blue Skies and Gentle Breezes: Animal House: It's official. My home has been taken over by animals. Dogs, to be exact. Three of 'em. There are days when I feel I exist solel...
Blue Skies and Gentle Breezes: Animal House: It's official. My home has been taken over by animals. Dogs, to be exact. Three of 'em. There are days when I feel I exist solel...
Monday, February 15, 2016
Lessons in Life: Open me up
You never know where a book will take you.
Even after you've opened the cover and listened to the music of the pages turning, you never truly know. Until one day it hits you.
Right now the only thing that's going to hit you is the realization that this is a very long entry. For those of you with 2 second attention spans, may I suggest you cozy up with a recap blog or something shallow you can wade through without getting your ankles wet.
Twenty years ago I discovered a book that later would open doors I didn't even know existed. From the moment I first saw Diana Gabaldon's novel, Outlander, in the monthly Literary Guild catalog it pulled me like the moon's power over the ocean tides. And I bathed in every aspect of it. I had to read it. From the opening line on the very first page, it consumed me. I've read it numerous times...I've lost track of how many. The cover art grabbed my attention. The synopsis spoke to me. Everything about it appealed to me.
It's the kind of story you don't want to end, you know?
But this isn't an entry about the book or the story. There's plenty of blogs on the internet devoted to everything Outlander. Google it, I dare you...you'll be gone for hours, days...hell, you'll never make it back here to find out where I'm taking this. What I want to say, right here, right now, is how this book created the bridge over which I walked to reach a childhood dream.
My childhood was filled with lofty dreams. And yes, if you've read past entries you know that wasn't always the case, there was another side to my 'formative' years. A darker side. What-ever. From that darkness emerged a spark of wild imagination. A passion for life fueled by a thirst to live. This desire to restore and rebuild the core of my existence. To be wild and free, bold and bright. Like wildfire, this spark of life in me, spread.
Only one thing was missing. The vehicle that would carry me, propel me, and deliver me. Only one creation on this earth possessed the magic to mesh with all that breathed inside me, bringing wind to be wild, speed to be free, thunder to be bold, and spirit to be bright. No other animal encompasses all that and more...but the horse. Pat Parelli once said, 'The horse is nature in its finest form.' Simple words of a simple truth.
So now, we have a book. And a horse. The two fundamentals on which my childhood was built. Books and horses. Sitting here now I am smiling from ear to ear because now I see how it all came together. Looking back, I had no idea when I bought Outlander the instrumental role it would play in my life. That it alone would be the catalyst to tie everything together.
After all, we are all connected.
So let me tie it all together. In my youth, having a horse in my life--one I could call my own--was my one desire. Unfortunately, it wasn't practical and my parents said no. I pushed and pleaded, begged and dreamed, but the answer was always no. We can't. So I pushed that dream to the back burner and left it there to steep for about forty years. Then in May 2008, time and circumstances turned in my favor and Duke, a then 13 year old bay Morgan gelding, entered my life. Followed four years later by AJ, a then 5 year old palomino Quarter Horse.
Fast forward to August 9, 2014, the day Starz network premiered the much anticipated television show, Outlander. From the opening scene, and narration, I knew the show would be spectacular. I watched it three times that day, flushed with satisfaction, like a teenager bingeing on a pepperoni pizza. Everything aligned, creating a harmonious feel to the production. Within Starz, a team banded together, bringing to life a beloved story and it's characters. Pure. Magic.
Who knew sitting there on my couch, watching Sam Heughan and Caitriona Balfe breathing life into Jamie and Claire, would breathe life into my inner desire to get off that damn couch and get moving? I certainly didn't!
The first spark happened a couple of months later. In early October, I took AJ to his first horse show. We entered a couple of classes to keep it simple. I was wearing a beautiful show shirt custom tailored and sewn by my sister, styled in a slimming fashion. My friend Hillary took a photo of me. Everyone complemented me on that shirt, but all I saw in that picture was my muffin top bulging out above the waist of my jeans.
At that time I weighed 160 pounds, and I was miserable, health wise. Walking up stairs hurt my knees, but I always took the stairs instead of the elevator; it's a habit I formed long ago. Having horses means having hay, and hay bales weigh between 50 - 75 pounds a piece, and horses eat a lot of hay. Every summer I buy seven ton, and every year I struggled to unload and move the hay. I was severely out of shape. Painfully out of shape. And I hated that! But my love for all things Outlander would put me on a journey back to fitness.
Through the Starz Outlander Facebook page I started noticing posts about the main actor, Sam, and his passion for fitness. In December I saw posts about reaching your peak. Shortly after the New Year, he revealed an event to take place on March 14-15 called My Peak Challenge (MPC) and invited anyone interested to join in the fun. The idea behind MPC was two-fold, 1) help raise money for his chosen charity, Bloodwise UK while 2) challenging yourself to reach your peak. Did someone say challenge? I'm in! The peak could be anything, but many participants chose a physical challenge, such as marathons, climbing, swimming, and hiking. To raise money, those interested could purchase a package from a UK clothing company, Bear Strength Clothing, which included items such as a t-shirt and a wrist band commemorating the event. Between January and March everyone was tasked with preparing for their own challenge, while Sam and his fitness coach, John Valbonesi provided access to guidance, tips and fitness tests. Without knowing exactly how far in advance Sam planned the event (maybe the fall after shooting for Outlander completed?) support for My Peak Challenge grew as news spread among fans and enthusiasts.
Besides my weight, my biggest challenge was being out of breath while doing anything, especially loping either Duke or AJ. Three laps around the indoor arena was the most I could pull without having to stop to catch my breath. So, I selected two challenges: lope AJ more than three laps around the arena without getting winded, and ride my bike over 8 miles in one day. Two tasks that twenty or thirty years ago would have been everyday activities. And we all know what time and neglect often does to the body.
First I needed a plan and words of motivation. At work I keep an acronym close by for those days I need a little extra something to keep me aligned with success. The acronym is F. A. S. T., which is Focus, Accountability, Support, and Time limit. I started working out on the elliptical at home. In the beginning all I could muster was a paltry four minutes before my lungs started burning and my knees screamed at me. But I set reasonable goals, adding 2 minutes every few days and by the end of January 2015 I was putting in 30 minutes on that machine. No problemo! Focus...check!
As luck would have it, I learned a cousin of mine is a Beachbody coach, so I contacted her about the fitness programs available, a topic she had brought up a few times before but I hadn't chosen to pursue. We chatted and she signed me up for the 21 Day Fix program, invited me to one of her groups, and the ball was now in motion. At the same time, I discovered a group of Outlander fans involved with MPC on Facebook. My experience with fan groups always leaves a bad taste in my mouth. Since one summer night watching television in 1965 when the Beatles performed live in Shea Stadium, the word fan makes me want to quickly run for cover. I don't do fan groups. Period. However...my gut instinct nudged me forward and so I cautiously ventured over to the group, known as 'The Peak Posse' and asked to join. Between the Beachbody group and The Peak Posse, I now had Accountability and Support in place. All the remained, was the Time limit, but that was already determined and set for March 14. All systems go!
Through those two groups I learned so much and quickly realized how my eating habits affected my health, which translated into my life style. I participated in a one-week clean eating challenge with my cousin, which became a major turning point in my shopping decisions. Through that challenge I learned about cooking with coconut oil and adding almond butter to my snacks, and I keep both stocked in my kitchen at all times.
For the next two months I woke up 45 minutes early every day, popped in my 21 Day Fix DVD and worked out for 30 minutes, five to six days a week. It was tough at first and I didn't push myself too hard, but by the end of the first month I felt myself getting stronger and feeling better. I looked forward to the morning workouts. One day I noticed I wasn't fighting that 3 o'clock crash at work. I felt better, healthier, and happier. The weight and inches came off. By the time MPC weekend rolled around, my steps were light and my lungs were strong. I made both my goals, with a slight delay on loping AJ which required a creative approach to address a bad habit I created for him. I video taped both events for prosperity. I made the 8 mile bike ride, up and down hills no less. I loped AJ 13 laps around the arena before stopping. I wasn't even winded. And I felt vindicated.
Better yet, I lost twenty pounds and five inches from my waist. But this isn't where the story
ends. Here is where my goal to build up my stamina to lope AJ would tie everything together. While attending a local horse expo in late March I heard news of a newly formed equestrian drill team in the valley. Now we're talking folks!! This is exactly what I had been dreaming about. Dancing to music on horseback. Point me in the direction and sign me up!!!
A month later, on April 20th my friend Erica told me the drill team was practicing at a local arena and I should come watch. I did. And I wanted in on the fun. But some of the manuevers scared me. I wasn't sure I had the confidence to ride a drill. And I thought it over. Should I join? Could I control a 1,000 pound free spirit with one hand while holding a flag in the other? Did I have what it takes to ride a drill? And if not, could I live with the regret if I didn't? Two weeks later on May 4, I loaded Duke into the trailer and showed up at the arena to ride. Just as the drill master was calling the team together, I chickened out and spent the time riding Duke in an adjacent smaller arena. But the following week, I came back, mounted up and rode with the group. I haven't looked back. The manuever that scared me then, is now one of my favorites.
This is a competitive drill team. We don't ride every Monday just to have something to do. We ride to compete. Last year Silver Creek Drill Team performed in several local parades, taking first place in the Horse division in all but one parade. This summer, our first drill competition is in May. I can't wait! I've since switched to riding AJ since he's younger and doesn't break gait as Duke tends to do. AJ loves drill. It's a great match for the two of us. Looking forward to the competition season, I'm nervous and excited all at once. But I know, standing in formation, waiting to enter that arena my stomach will be tied in knots and fluttering all at once. The music will begin, we'll go through the gate and just like every other competition I've attended everything else will fade away...it will be just AJ and me, with our team mates, dancing with the wind and the rhythm. I'll be living my dream...finally. After all these years.
So, thank you Diana Gabaldon for challenging yourself to see if you could 'just write a book.' That book basically changed my life. Thank you Sam Heughan for challenging me to take my health and fitness more seriously. You built the bridge I needed to cross over from misty sometime dreams to solid fulfilling reality.
You know, I could easily have told this story in a couple of lines or paragraphs. Reading Outlander led me to watch Starz Original series Outlander which got me involved in My Peak Challenge so I could get fit enough to ride my horse in competitive drill, which I dreamed of doing as a child. But I'm a story teller, not a kindergarden teacher.
Want to get in on the fun? Join My Peak Challenge 2016 today. Become a part of something big, help yourself while helping others and get healthy. The MPC team raised the bar for 2016 and created an inclusive package to get you on track to better health. Check it out today. You won't be sorry, but you will be happy.
You can also help Bloodwise UK. Make a donation, or learn more about what you can do to help.
And don't forget to get geared up at Bear Strength
13,697
Even after you've opened the cover and listened to the music of the pages turning, you never truly know. Until one day it hits you.
Right now the only thing that's going to hit you is the realization that this is a very long entry. For those of you with 2 second attention spans, may I suggest you cozy up with a recap blog or something shallow you can wade through without getting your ankles wet.
Twenty years ago I discovered a book that later would open doors I didn't even know existed. From the moment I first saw Diana Gabaldon's novel, Outlander, in the monthly Literary Guild catalog it pulled me like the moon's power over the ocean tides. And I bathed in every aspect of it. I had to read it. From the opening line on the very first page, it consumed me. I've read it numerous times...I've lost track of how many. The cover art grabbed my attention. The synopsis spoke to me. Everything about it appealed to me.It's the kind of story you don't want to end, you know?
But this isn't an entry about the book or the story. There's plenty of blogs on the internet devoted to everything Outlander. Google it, I dare you...you'll be gone for hours, days...hell, you'll never make it back here to find out where I'm taking this. What I want to say, right here, right now, is how this book created the bridge over which I walked to reach a childhood dream.
My childhood was filled with lofty dreams. And yes, if you've read past entries you know that wasn't always the case, there was another side to my 'formative' years. A darker side. What-ever. From that darkness emerged a spark of wild imagination. A passion for life fueled by a thirst to live. This desire to restore and rebuild the core of my existence. To be wild and free, bold and bright. Like wildfire, this spark of life in me, spread.
Only one thing was missing. The vehicle that would carry me, propel me, and deliver me. Only one creation on this earth possessed the magic to mesh with all that breathed inside me, bringing wind to be wild, speed to be free, thunder to be bold, and spirit to be bright. No other animal encompasses all that and more...but the horse. Pat Parelli once said, 'The horse is nature in its finest form.' Simple words of a simple truth.
So now, we have a book. And a horse. The two fundamentals on which my childhood was built. Books and horses. Sitting here now I am smiling from ear to ear because now I see how it all came together. Looking back, I had no idea when I bought Outlander the instrumental role it would play in my life. That it alone would be the catalyst to tie everything together.
After all, we are all connected.
So let me tie it all together. In my youth, having a horse in my life--one I could call my own--was my one desire. Unfortunately, it wasn't practical and my parents said no. I pushed and pleaded, begged and dreamed, but the answer was always no. We can't. So I pushed that dream to the back burner and left it there to steep for about forty years. Then in May 2008, time and circumstances turned in my favor and Duke, a then 13 year old bay Morgan gelding, entered my life. Followed four years later by AJ, a then 5 year old palomino Quarter Horse.
Who knew sitting there on my couch, watching Sam Heughan and Caitriona Balfe breathing life into Jamie and Claire, would breathe life into my inner desire to get off that damn couch and get moving? I certainly didn't!
The first spark happened a couple of months later. In early October, I took AJ to his first horse show. We entered a couple of classes to keep it simple. I was wearing a beautiful show shirt custom tailored and sewn by my sister, styled in a slimming fashion. My friend Hillary took a photo of me. Everyone complemented me on that shirt, but all I saw in that picture was my muffin top bulging out above the waist of my jeans.At that time I weighed 160 pounds, and I was miserable, health wise. Walking up stairs hurt my knees, but I always took the stairs instead of the elevator; it's a habit I formed long ago. Having horses means having hay, and hay bales weigh between 50 - 75 pounds a piece, and horses eat a lot of hay. Every summer I buy seven ton, and every year I struggled to unload and move the hay. I was severely out of shape. Painfully out of shape. And I hated that! But my love for all things Outlander would put me on a journey back to fitness.
Through the Starz Outlander Facebook page I started noticing posts about the main actor, Sam, and his passion for fitness. In December I saw posts about reaching your peak. Shortly after the New Year, he revealed an event to take place on March 14-15 called My Peak Challenge (MPC) and invited anyone interested to join in the fun. The idea behind MPC was two-fold, 1) help raise money for his chosen charity, Bloodwise UK while 2) challenging yourself to reach your peak. Did someone say challenge? I'm in! The peak could be anything, but many participants chose a physical challenge, such as marathons, climbing, swimming, and hiking. To raise money, those interested could purchase a package from a UK clothing company, Bear Strength Clothing, which included items such as a t-shirt and a wrist band commemorating the event. Between January and March everyone was tasked with preparing for their own challenge, while Sam and his fitness coach, John Valbonesi provided access to guidance, tips and fitness tests. Without knowing exactly how far in advance Sam planned the event (maybe the fall after shooting for Outlander completed?) support for My Peak Challenge grew as news spread among fans and enthusiasts.
Besides my weight, my biggest challenge was being out of breath while doing anything, especially loping either Duke or AJ. Three laps around the indoor arena was the most I could pull without having to stop to catch my breath. So, I selected two challenges: lope AJ more than three laps around the arena without getting winded, and ride my bike over 8 miles in one day. Two tasks that twenty or thirty years ago would have been everyday activities. And we all know what time and neglect often does to the body.
As luck would have it, I learned a cousin of mine is a Beachbody coach, so I contacted her about the fitness programs available, a topic she had brought up a few times before but I hadn't chosen to pursue. We chatted and she signed me up for the 21 Day Fix program, invited me to one of her groups, and the ball was now in motion. At the same time, I discovered a group of Outlander fans involved with MPC on Facebook. My experience with fan groups always leaves a bad taste in my mouth. Since one summer night watching television in 1965 when the Beatles performed live in Shea Stadium, the word fan makes me want to quickly run for cover. I don't do fan groups. Period. However...my gut instinct nudged me forward and so I cautiously ventured over to the group, known as 'The Peak Posse' and asked to join. Between the Beachbody group and The Peak Posse, I now had Accountability and Support in place. All the remained, was the Time limit, but that was already determined and set for March 14. All systems go!
For the next two months I woke up 45 minutes early every day, popped in my 21 Day Fix DVD and worked out for 30 minutes, five to six days a week. It was tough at first and I didn't push myself too hard, but by the end of the first month I felt myself getting stronger and feeling better. I looked forward to the morning workouts. One day I noticed I wasn't fighting that 3 o'clock crash at work. I felt better, healthier, and happier. The weight and inches came off. By the time MPC weekend rolled around, my steps were light and my lungs were strong. I made both my goals, with a slight delay on loping AJ which required a creative approach to address a bad habit I created for him. I video taped both events for prosperity. I made the 8 mile bike ride, up and down hills no less. I loped AJ 13 laps around the arena before stopping. I wasn't even winded. And I felt vindicated.
A month later, on April 20th my friend Erica told me the drill team was practicing at a local arena and I should come watch. I did. And I wanted in on the fun. But some of the manuevers scared me. I wasn't sure I had the confidence to ride a drill. And I thought it over. Should I join? Could I control a 1,000 pound free spirit with one hand while holding a flag in the other? Did I have what it takes to ride a drill? And if not, could I live with the regret if I didn't? Two weeks later on May 4, I loaded Duke into the trailer and showed up at the arena to ride. Just as the drill master was calling the team together, I chickened out and spent the time riding Duke in an adjacent smaller arena. But the following week, I came back, mounted up and rode with the group. I haven't looked back. The manuever that scared me then, is now one of my favorites.
This is a competitive drill team. We don't ride every Monday just to have something to do. We ride to compete. Last year Silver Creek Drill Team performed in several local parades, taking first place in the Horse division in all but one parade. This summer, our first drill competition is in May. I can't wait! I've since switched to riding AJ since he's younger and doesn't break gait as Duke tends to do. AJ loves drill. It's a great match for the two of us. Looking forward to the competition season, I'm nervous and excited all at once. But I know, standing in formation, waiting to enter that arena my stomach will be tied in knots and fluttering all at once. The music will begin, we'll go through the gate and just like every other competition I've attended everything else will fade away...it will be just AJ and me, with our team mates, dancing with the wind and the rhythm. I'll be living my dream...finally. After all these years.
So, thank you Diana Gabaldon for challenging yourself to see if you could 'just write a book.' That book basically changed my life. Thank you Sam Heughan for challenging me to take my health and fitness more seriously. You built the bridge I needed to cross over from misty sometime dreams to solid fulfilling reality.
You know, I could easily have told this story in a couple of lines or paragraphs. Reading Outlander led me to watch Starz Original series Outlander which got me involved in My Peak Challenge so I could get fit enough to ride my horse in competitive drill, which I dreamed of doing as a child. But I'm a story teller, not a kindergarden teacher.
----------^----------
Want to get in on the fun? Join My Peak Challenge 2016 today. Become a part of something big, help yourself while helping others and get healthy. The MPC team raised the bar for 2016 and created an inclusive package to get you on track to better health. Check it out today. You won't be sorry, but you will be happy.
You can also help Bloodwise UK. Make a donation, or learn more about what you can do to help.
And don't forget to get geared up at Bear Strength
13,697
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