Really Living

Always looking for that Golden Opportunity?

2008-02-11T13:28:00.000-08:00

"The golden opportunity you are seeking is in yourself."
--Mary Engelbreit

Surviving Breast Cancer

2007-12-12T12:06:00.000-08:00

There are no coincidences in the world and if you are reading this and don't quite understand how or why you found this blog -- there's a reason for it.

A few months back I found out about a man named Robert Moss. I heard him being interviewed on a talk radio show. I liked what he had to say. He was promoting a book he had written called, The Three Only Things Dreams, Coincidences and Imagination. Several weeks went by and I searched his website to find that he was going to do a talk and book signing at a small bookstore about 15 minutes away. I was so excited.

I went, got his book, and had the chance to ask him one question as he was signing my book. The question I asked was what do I do when coincidences happen. What do I do with that information. He answered by saying, "Think of it as a secret handshake from the Universe." I loved that answer.

In his book he mentioned a woman named Wanda Burch who had also written a book called, "She Who Dreams." I quickly got my hands on this book and so enjoyed it. You know those kinds of books you just wish wouldn't end? It was one of those for me.

I feel this book should be read by every female. The basis of this book is centered around Wanda's journey of discovering she had breast cancer, trying to convince a doctor she had breast cancer, and then the whole process of surgery and chemo.

I think as a woman you'll find yourself empowered when you read it. I hope that as you get into this book you'll reclaim your own personal intuition and maybe look at your dreams with the possibility that they can help you.

We live in such a busy society now where it's hard to take a moment to ourselves to listen to what our gut/heart is telling us. We get so caught up in the ugly news that surrounds us on a daily basis, we've got work in and out of the home. You know what I'm talking about. BUSY BUSY BUSY.

Taking a few quiet moments to ourselves can actually make us healthier and quite possibly save our life.

Jane Stillwater -- At it again.

2007-12-04T10:14:00.000-08:00

No Jane isn't headed to Iraq again...yet (just give her time). But she is on yet another adventure. I can so relate to this woman at times. Right now she is off on a little vacation to Puerto Vallarta for a week or so. Sounds nice right? You're probably thinking that you wish you could go take a little trip right about now.

Well before you get too much into your head, let me explain that Jane got a really good deal on a plane ticket to PV and couldn't pass it up. Basically that's all she can afford (read the full story here). She has no place to stay and has no idea where she'll sleep. Most likely on the beach and she has about $300 in her checking account.

This woman has GUTS. But I can so relate. I've traveled more than once with no idea where I was going to stay, and with very little money in my pocket.

I'm sure Jane will find some how to blog her adventure and I'm looking forward to her updates.

On another exciting note I'm going to finally be able to meet Jane. She just lives down the Interstate a ways. She's agreed for me to interview her. This is going to be so much fun. I'll post the video as soon as possible.

Which brings me to asking you a question. If you know of any women in California who live their life out of the box so to speak, please tell me about them. I've love to interview them.

And good luck to you Jane

Setting Your Spirit Free

2007-12-01T20:27:00.000-08:00

Let me ask you a question. Describe to me your spirit? Don't confuse spirit with personality. When you describe your spirit tell me all those things you enjoy doing. Basically when you're doing these things you aren't thinking about anything else in the world. You're living in the moment, happy, and content.

If I was to describe my spirit and what it likes to do to you I'd say it loves to go to bookstores, it loves art supplies, it likes to play tricks on people, it loves to ride motorcycles, it loves to run really really fast...

I'm starting to realize more and more how much energy I put towards squelching my spirit. We all do it. The older we get it seems the less our spirit is able to really show it's face.

Today for example I was taking my walk through the park and I hit this small downhill part and I had this intense desire to run...really fast. My first thought was, "What if I fall?" My second thought was, "If someone sees me running like this their going to think a bear or a mountain lion is after me." See the thing with letting your spirit go is that our ego/mind is always eager to jump in and sit on spirit and squelch it. It's really rather sad. But today I didn't let that happen. I ran as fast I could. For as long as I could. And it felt so good. For just a few short moments I was totally in the moment, and as happy as I could be.

When you let spirit out to play, you have to put ego away. And that isn't easy to do. Above you saw a picture of a chalk drawing I made about a week ago. I've had this weird desire to create with sidewalk chalk. I've also had a desire to create mandala's. So I put these two ideas together and went to a park and started to draw. It wasn't easy for me to do this. I don't feel like I'm an artist in any sense of the word and going out where I might be in front of people creating something made me nervous.

So I picked an out of the way park, and went to a section people weren't going to really be walking by and drew. I LOVED what I created. I wanted to sit there for as long as possible and take it all in. The picture doesn't do it justice. The colors were much brighter and you could really see a lot more definition. I had a blast. My spirit was totally fed by doing this.

Below is another example of feeding my spirit. This past summer I did something I've wanted to do for a really long time. I took a surfing lesson. Yes I had my doubts, was scared and felt a little foolish at first...well let me show you instead.

DANGER

2007-11-26T09:36:00.000-08:00

Yesterday I was out taking my usual walk in a local park when I noticed someone had written on a rock the word Danger. I was at first a little concerned because the arrow was pointing in the exact direction I was headed. Even though I had walked this path several times before, I started to second guess myself and wondered if MAYBE there was danger ahead.

Well I threw cation to the wind and continued my walk...toward the DANGER. Turns out there was no danger. Typical!

How many times are you faced with the possibility of doing something but stop because it feels dangerous? Dangerous because someone else says it's something to be feared or it's just sounds scary. Then your mind goes into overdrive starts churning out all types of terrible possibilities if you try such a thing?

My experience has been that it's never as scary or horrible as we make it out to be, and can actually turn out to be a pretty cool opportunity.

Giving girls the chance to play ball...or whatever sport she wants to play!

2007-06-29T15:26:00.001-07:00

Came across a great article in the Carroll County Times by Bob Blubaugh and it got me to thinking more about girls and sports.

WHY don't more girls play sports?

So then I came across another great article called, "Why don't more girls play sports?"

Below you'll see an article taken from the Women's Sports Foundation called, 25 Benefits of Girls Playing Sports. It points out that girls who play sports are less likely to get involved in smoking, drugs, and will wait until later for their first sexual experience, among other great benefits.

My question is this...once girls get into high school how many sports can they pick from? Compare that to the guys choices. Also girls playing sports in high school drops off dramatically from junior high. Our girls are becoming women, they should act like one right?! Not like a tomboy anymore. AND YET, playing sports will by far be the best thing a young girl can do for herself.

What's so ironic here is that we see and KNOW there are benefits to girls playing sports, yet we don't want them to get hurt. However we're more likely to let the boys get hurt. That doesn't seem to bother us as much.

Another thing is this, what female sport role models do our girls have to look up to? Who are they, where are they?

I feel the best thing we can do for our girls is to expose them to as many female oriented athletes that we can. Take them to games, get them excited about playing sports.

I was talking to one of my co-workers the other day about going to a WNBA game and he said that he actually liked watching women play basketball because it's more about the game instead of all the antics and tricks that you see the guys do.

This month try to make it a priority to take your daughter, niece, sister, your friends daughter...whoever you can, and take them to a professional woman's game in your area. I think you're going to enjoy it a whole lot more than you though you would.

25 Benefits of Girls Playing Sports

1. Sports are FUN.
2. Girls and women who play sports have a more positive body image than girls and women who don't participate.
3. Girls who participate in sports have higher self-esteem and pride in themselves.
4. Research suggests that physical activity is an effective tool for reducing the symptoms of stress and depression among girls.
5. Playing sports teaches girls how to take risks and be aggressive.
6. Sport is where girls can learn goal-setting, strategic thinking and the pursuit of excellence in performance and other achievement-oriented behaviors - critical skills necessary for success in the workplace.
7. Playing sports teaches math skills.
8. Sports help girls develop leadership skills.
9. Sports teach girls team-work.
10. Regular physical activity in adolescence can reduce girls' risk for obesity.
11. Physical activity appears to decrease the initiation of cigarette smoking in adolescents girls.
12. Research suggests that girls who participate in sports are more likely to experience academic success and graduate from high school than those who do not play sports.
13. Teenage female athletes are less than half as likely to get pregnant as female non-athletes (5% and 11% respectively).
14. Teenage female athletes are more likely to report that they had never had sexual intercourse than non-athletes (54% and 41%).
15. Teenage female athletes are more likely to experience their first sexual intercourse later in adolescence than female non-athletes.
16. High school sports participation may help prevent osteoporosis.
17. Women who exercise report being happier than those who do not exercise.
18. Women who exercise believe they have more energy and felt they were in excellent health more often than non-exercising women.
19. Women who are active in sports and recreational activities as girls feel greater confidence in their physical and social selves than those who were sedentary as kids.
20. Women who exercise miss fewer days of work.
21. Research supports that regular physical activity can reduce hyperlipidemia (high levels of fat in blood).
22. Recreational physical activity may decrease a woman's chance of developing breast cancer.
23. Women who exercise weigh less than non-exercising women.
24. Women who exercise have lower levels of blood sugar, cholesterol, triglycerides and have lower blood pressure than non-exercising women
25. Regular exercise improves the overall quality of life.
-- Compiled by the Women's Sports Foundation 1999.For full citations please contact the Women's Sports Foundation (800) 227-3988.Copyright(c)WSF

My First WNBA Game

2007-06-17T19:16:00.000-07:00

I was able to go to my very first WNBA game and I'm wondering why it's taken me so long to actually go. What got me to go to this particular game was I've recently wrote an article that included Sheryl Swoopes. The more I researched her the more impressed I became. Swoopes has played for the Houston Comets for as long as there has been a WNBA (about 11 years now).

Her past has included winning three Olympic Gold Medals and is a three-time WNBA MVP. She is frequently referred to as the "female Michael Jordon" and is the first woman basketball player to have a Nike shoe named after her. Pretty impressive if you ask me.

I was so excited to watch her play at Arco Arena against the Monarchs. Well on Thursday I found out she was out due to an injury. I almost didn't go to the game, but went anyway and I'm so glad I did. It was such a blast.

First off it was very cool to go to a sporting event where there were more women attending than men. It was also really neat to see young girls at a sporting event really getting into the game and cheering their team on (which happened to be the Monarchs).

It really dawned on me while I was at this game last night that our daughters have very few women athletes to look up to and admire. The Olympics come around every few years which gives girls the opportunity to find some new heroes. I remember Mary Lou Retton in the 84 Olympics. I was so impressed with her.

And why did Mary Lou Retton decide to become a gymnast? Well she was inspired by watching Nadia Comăneci on television. If you don't remember much about Nadia she was a Romanian gymnast, winner of five Olympic gold medals, and the first to be awarded a perfect score of 10 in an Olympic gymnastic.

The WNBA struggled in the beginning with low turn outs and not a lot of support, which is so sad. I'll be honest, I'm not a huge basketball fan myself, but after going to this game last night I've had a change of heart. First off the game was a blast to watch, and second I'm bringing my girls next time so they have an opportunity to see some women athletes in action. I think the more our daughters get the opportunity to see female athletes the better.

If there's a WNBA team in your town -- go see a game. Take your daughters, granddaughters, nieces, mothers, aunts and whoever else will come. You won't be disappointed and it will give our young ladies the chance too see that there are some great opportunities out there for them that they may never have realized before. Who knows what dreams that might dream.

Summer Reading Ideas

2007-06-15T08:37:00.000-07:00

The National Geographic has come out with their top 100 Adventure Books Of All Time. There were just a few books about women and adventure. Here they are...

# 18. Travels in West Africa, by Mary Kingsley (1897) She went by steamboat and canoe, accompanied by native crewmen, up the Ogooué. She fought off crocodiles with a paddle, hit a leopard over the head with a pot, and wrote with equal charm about beetles and burial customs. Other African explorers were more daring, none more engaging. When she died, the British buried her at sea with full military honors. National Geographic Books, 2002.

# 33. A Lady's Life in the Rocky Mountains, by Isabella L. Bird (1879) Bird was no lady in the conventional Victorian sense but a world traveler. She ventured through the Rockies when they were still wild, met up with grizzly bears, and climbed Longs Peak when it was thought impossible for a woman to do so. She had to thaw her ink on the cabin stove to write, and she wrote delightfully.Hardcover edition from University of Oklahoma Press, 1999.

# 65. Annapurna: A Woman's Place, by Arlene Blum (1980) Ask a woman climber what inspired her and she's likely to name this book, the story of a 1978 ascent of Annapurna by a team of women, two of whom died. "What's a nice girl from the Midwest doing up here all alone?" the author asks herself at one point. Surviving. Blum's depiction of the team's Sherpas irks some climbers, but there's no denying the book's impact.Sierra Club, 1998.

(I've actually read Annapurna. It's an incredible book. If you haven't read it yet, this should be your first book on your Summer Reading List.)

#82. Terra Incognita, by Sara Wheeler (1996) Now that Antarctica has been explored, is there anything more to say about it? Ask Wheeler, who went down to find out and came back to write this excellent book, in which she recounts some of the old Antarctic stories and tells many new ones, too.Modern Library, 1999.

#95. I Married Adventure, by Osa Johnson (1940) And so she did, when she wed wildlife photographer Martin Johnson, who took her to Africa and the Pacific and into a very exciting life indeed. She tells their story in straight-on American gee-whiz style; it would have the feel of Oklahoma!, say, if those weren't real, and very angry, elephants chasing them up trees.Kodansha, 1997.

Helping our daughters become more self-confident

2007-06-14T19:59:00.000-07:00

A major study done by the American Association of University Women did a national sample of more than 3000 students in grades 4 through 10. They found that not only did boys have higher self-esteem in elementary school than girls but that the gap between them widened in high school. In elementary school, 60 percent of the girls and 69 percent of the boys agreed with the statement, I’m happy the way I am. By high school, only 29 percent of the girls and 46 percent of the boys felt that way.

The teen years suck – there is no mistaking it. We can all think back to those years and thank God that we don’t have to relive those years. But the question I have is what is it that makes the guys feel a bit better about themselves than girls?

This got me to thinking…

I feel as parents it’s our job to find out what it is our daughters really enjoy doing. If math isn’t her thing don’t go on and on about how you wish she was better at it. Spending so much time on what our girls do wrong isn’t going to help them become a more confident young woman.

Each daughter has different interests. As parents we sometimes cringe at what are daughters might enjoy doing. Maybe they want to actually play football. Yikes, what will the friends and relatives think if our daughter plays football? Or maybe she wants to learn to play the electric guitar but you don’t own one, and the cost is more than you can afford.

It’s important we allow our daughters to bend the gender roles whichever way they need to if it’s going to make them a stronger more confident young women. Again, it’s not about what we as parents want and what we enjoy and think our daughters should be doing. No, it’s all about them, their interests and what they were born to do.

Finding out what our girls enjoy, and then figuring out a way to afford these interests might seem rather challenging. But when you see the results where your daughter is doing something she actually enjoys, and excels in…You’re going to have a very happy confident young woman on your hands who is going to be able to say very proudly with a smile on her face – I’m happy just the way I am.

Liz Halliday takes on Le Mans for a third year!

2007-06-14T16:08:00.000-07:00

This weekend 165 drivers will be racing in the Le Mans that is held in France. Out of those 165 racers one of them is a woman. Her name is Liz Halliday. She's 28 years old from California, however she is currently based in the UK. This will be Liz's third year entering the le mans race.

“I feel really privileged to be able to do Le Mans three years running” says Liz. “Its always been a special race for me and my family and it has such a long, illustrious history behind it. The whole week is just incredible and I don’t think there is another motor race on the planet that can compare with it right now. This really is the big one and it is definitely the highlight of my year.”

Liz has two mighty ambitions: to become the first female driver to win the famous Le Mans 24-hour race and to claim a place on the US Olympic equestrian team.

This extraordinary sportswoman has already taken the first few steps towards one of these goals with her rapid and impressive ascent up the motor racing ladder. In just two full seasons of international racing, Liz has become the most successful female driver ever in the history of the American Le Mans Series (ALMS), America’s most prestigious sports car racing series.

From humble beginnings in historic racing with a vintage Datsun 510, Liz graduated to the Kumho BMW Championship for the start of the new millennium and was named ‘Driver of the Year’ in 2002 before claiming her first win, at Croft in England, in 2003, breaking the track record in the process.

The same year she added to her growing reputation by making her sports car debut, becoming the first female driver ever to win a round of the British GT Championship, as well as competing in the famous Bathurst 24 Hours in Australia and the Spa 1000kms in Belgium.

2004 saw Liz return to the USA to race in the Rolex Grand-Am Sports Car Series, taking a podium at Homestead, Miami, whilst she also made her ALMS debut, entering the Petit Le Mans and Laguna Seca in a Porsche 911 GT3 and took part in her first round-the-clock event, the Spa 24 Hours.

Perhaps even more exciting for Liz in 2005 was her debut in the Le Mans 24 Hours. Despite leading the P2 class for nearly half the race and edging closer to one of her personal goals, the race ultimately ended in disappointment, after engine problems forced an early retirement approximately eleven hours in.

2006 saw Liz continue her run of success, taking three more wins and seven further podiums in the American Le Mans Series, to finish as runner-up in the P2 driver’s championship. These results made her the most successful female driver ever in ALMS history, whilst she also finished her first Le Mans 24 Hours, although gearbox and engine problems meant the car just missed a podium placing, finishing fourth in class.

The 2007 season saw Liz become the first woman to race the Aston Martin DBR9 on the international scene, securing a class podium at the 12 Hours of Sebring and a fourth place finish at Monza. For the Le Mans 24 Hours however she returns to the LMP2 class at the wheel of Del Bello Racing’s Courage LC75-AER.

On the equestrian front meanwhile, Liz’s drive to mount the top step in the Olympics will also be helped or hindered by ‘horsepower’.

Liz currently has three horses which she feels will help her get closer to her ultimate Olympic goal with the right training regime and the luck that every sporting star needs. Despite the challenge of competing in both sports simultaneously, Liz is equally determined to succeed as a driver and equestrian, and is prepared to work hard and make sacrifices to reach her ultimate goals...

As Liz herself says: "Everyone tells me that I am mad to have this twin sporting focus in my life, but I find that one complements the other. The cars demand focus, accuracy, and strength. In Eventing it’s the same but the horses, as well as the rider, must possess these attributes in order for the two to work as a successful partnership."

JUST A LITTLE ABOUT LE MANS

The Le Mans is a famous sports car endurance race that has been held annually since 1923 near the town of Le Mans, Sarthe, France. Commonly known as the Grand Prix of Endurance, it is run on a circuit containing closed public roads that are meant to not only test a car and driver's ability to be quick, but also to last over a 24 hour period.

Last Day of Boot Camp

2007-05-18T11:44:00.001-07:00

Wow, I don't think I've felt this physical fit and mentally good in I don't know how long. This camp has far exceeded what I ever hoped to get from it. I went to get better looking abs and came away more in shape than I've ever been, and my outlook on life has shifted a little.

My plan is to continue boot camp. Not five days a week though. I'll stick with the three. If there's a boot camp in your area I would HIGHLY recommend checking it out and giving it a try.

One of the reasons I took this class was because of my interest in becoming a lifestyle coach. I really believe that getting yourself mentally healthy can be better done if at the same time you're working on your physically well being too. This camp has totally proved this for me personally. In both small and big ways.

One change I've noticed is this. We are tested twice during camp. In the first week and then the very last day. This way we are able to see our progress. I'll be honest with you, I hate tests. As soon as I'm being tested, my mental well being takes a nose dive. On that first mile run my mind was working against me the whole time. Thoughts like, "I think I have to stop now, what if I can't make it, I'm not any good at this...on and on...

Today when I ran my outlook was different. I've been reading more life coaching articles out there and I came across this one suggestion that said every time you have a negative thought come in your head, replace it with something positive. So this time when I ran today I just kept telling myself that I'm a runner and that I can run fast.

The other thing I did was the night before I thought about how I was going to run this mile. The camp is held at a campground/park. We don't run on a nice even track. It's more like a dirt/gravel road that has a up and down hills. I made my plans on how to attack the hills and today it pretty much went how I planned it.

The first week I ran my mile in 8 min. 40 seconds. Today 7 min. 26 seconds. I so wanted to run in the seven minute range today, that was my goal and I reached it.

You need to know I don't enjoy running. I'm good at quick sprints, but long runs...not my thing. So this hasn't been easy for me. Which I thinks makes the results even sweeter.

Below you'll see a picture of where our boot camp takes place. It's outdoors and it overlooks vineyards and hills. Not only is this camp a physical experience for me, but it's also been a spiritual experience as well. As we're working out there's deer feeding around us, blue herons flying over, rabbits running all over the place. On our hikes we come across salamanders and wild turkeys. And then their are the sunrises. It hasn't been a bad way to start my day.

Women Pilots

2007-05-12T10:52:00.000-07:00

There's a story I love to tell. I believe I came across it in one of the Chicken Soup For the Soul books I believe. It's basically about a young girl in the 50's who told her teacher that she wanted to become a pilot. The teacher basically told her women didn't do those types of jobs so forget about it.

This girl tried to forget about it and thought of other careers she could do. Well she finally came across a teacher in high school who changed her whole life. She was given an assignment on what she wanted to do with her life. She put things like waitress, wife etc. The teacher handed back their assignments and asked them to rewrite their paper with the following criteria. If they could be or do anything, money wasn't an object etc...what would they be. Well this girl went crazy and wrote down that she wanted to be a pilot. That teacher said, "Then DO IT"

This girl went on to be one of the few first female pilots out there. LOVE this story.

Today I came across an organization for women pilots called Nintey-Nines. I saw that they were having an air rally and landing contest. You can read the whole story here.

There still aren't a lot of women pilots out there. Which is why I think this is such an awesome organization. If you ever thought about flying or currently fly and would like to meet up with other women pilots out there, check out the Nintey-Nines!
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In other Women Pilots News...

Maj. Gen. Teresa M. Peterson is set to leave the Air Force in September, retiring as the commandant of the joint National War College in Washington, D.C.

Peterson’s aviation career earned her a long list of firsts. In 2000, she was the first female pilot to become a general officer. (Currently, there are four female pilots wearing brigadier stars.) In 1990, she was the first woman to command a flying squadron, the 42nd Flying Training Squadron at Columbus Air Force Base, Miss.

When Peterson was commissioned in 1973, after graduating from Southern Illinois University in Carbondale, the Air Force didn’t allow women to pilot aircraft. She spent 4½ years as a maintenance officer. Soon after women were allowed to fly mobility and training aircraft, Peterson entered the student pilot program in 1978 at Williams Air Force Base, Ariz.

(The above was taken from airfortimes.com)

My Four Week Boot Camp Experience

2007-05-11T09:21:00.000-07:00

For about two years now I've wanted to take this four week adventure boot camp course for women that is given in my area. I gave myself several reasons why I couldn't go over the past several months. Money being a huge reason, the second was I have a bad knee that tends to act up after a few miles of running and the other good reason is that I'm not a morning person and this camp starts at 5:30 in the morning and goes for one hour. That's early. Especially for someone who tends to go to bed around 11 PM at night.

A friend of mine at work is really the one who got me to sign-up for it. I mentioned it once and the next thing I know she has paid and registered and she had the nerve to keep asking me if I had registered yet.

At that point money was a huge factor for not taking this class. It's $300 for four weeks and I didn't know how I was going to do it. But I managed to scrimp and save and come up with the money a few days before class started. Again, if it wasn't for my friend pushing me to do this with her, I probably would have never taken this class.

TIP: Stay away from the negative friends and find ones that motivate you to be a better, healthier person.

THE NIGHT BEFORE CLASS STARTED!

I was a wreck. I was so nervous the night before my first class. I didn't know what to expect. Thoughts like, "WHY am I doing this?" ran through my head. Wouldn't you know it the first morning of class my alarm never went off. At 5:15 my friend called and wondered why I hadn't picked her up yet. Amazing enough I made it to class on time.

THE FIRST WEEK

The first four days I was so sore I could barely move. Sore and tired. The third day I was emotional and in a really bad mood. I didn't think the pain my body was feeling would ever go away and that most likely I would feel this way for the whole four weeks.

By the fourth and fifth day I was a new woman. Weird as it was the pain was pretty much gone from my body. There was hope for me yet!

One the last day of the week we did some timed tests. At the end of the four week course we'll time these again and hopefully see an improvement. My 1 mile time was 8 minutes 40 seconds. Not bad!

THE SECOND WEEK

The one thing that came from the second week was emotions. I felt so emotional this week. It's odd what comes forward when you start working out.

Still pretty tired. Wish I could get more sleep. I go to work and I just want to curl up some where and sleep for awhile. I try to catch a quick nap when I got home from work. All I need is 5 min. and I feel so much better.

THE THIRD WEEK

I feel myself getting so much stronger. It's amazing. We did a time test run on Wed. and I ran a 8 min. 6 second mile. I see myself running faster and faster. I'm a sprinter, hate long distance. I keep wondering what I can do with this? I've had such issues with my knee hurting and locking up on me after a few miles. I've noticed my knee getting stronger though and not bothering me. I didn't think that would be the case at all. I find this very odd.

I'm still very tired though. I think I need to get more sleep. Go to bed earlier. I know if I wasn't so tired, I'd feel really really good.

I do love how I'm feeling and how much stronger I'm feeling. I don't want to loose this. I can't afford to keep going to this camp. My friend and I are thinking of doing this on our own three days a week instead of the five days we've been doing and meet at 6 AM instead of 5:30 AM. I know this won't be easy. It's so hard for me to get up in the morning.

WEEK FOUR

To come!

Update On Jane

2007-04-09T18:46:00.000-07:00

I have to admit that I've been eagerly anticipating Jane Stillwater's daily blog entry of her experience in Iraq. So far Jane hasn't got out of the green zone in Iraq, however in her post today says that she'll be able to get embedded with the Army. No the US Army, but the Iraq Army.

She says the following:

PPS: I'm so totally excited! I went to another press conference today wherein an Iraqi general briefed us about the Iraqi Army's new Operation Imposing Law and, during the Q&A, an Iraqi journalist asked the general how come most of the 15 journalists killed on these missions were killed in front of the Iraqi forces. The general replied that the loss of these outstanding professionals was a great loss to Iraq. Then the general added, "When we go out on our missions, we take the media with us." Oh? Really? I wanna go!

So I am now signed up to go out with the Iraqi Army on Wednesday to cordon off and search some neighborhoods. I am totally jazzed!

This woman is something else that's all I can say. I just wish her all the best in her newest adventure. I'm sure she'll have quite the story to tell when she gets back from this, there is no doubt there.

Jane's got Guts...that is for sure!!

Women's Adventure Magazine

2007-04-03T11:13:00.000-07:00

FINALLY!! I've searched high and low for this type of magazine and it's finally out there. I picked up a copy at my local REI this past weekend and have really enjoyed it. You can get a FREE copy by visiting their site at: http://www.womensadventuremagazine.com/

PLEASE subscribe, I'd like this magazine to be available to women for a long time to come

Jane Stillwater -- History Maker

2007-03-30T10:30:00.000-07:00

I have come across a story in my SF Chronicle that is delivered to my door about five days a week. Sometimes I don't get a chance to read them, and sometimes....well they start to add up in a big pile on my front porch. BUT TODAY, as I was taking a pile of the papers from my front porch to move them inside, one story jumped out of me. Thank the goddess it was on the front page. I can't tell you how excited I am about this story. It was so good that as soon as I read about it, I had to blog about it myself.

It's about a woman who lives in Berkley Ca, just around the corner and down I80 from me. We all know there are some pretty eccentric people who live in Berkley. However if you've seen the movie Infamous you'll already know that eccentric people are actually just interesting people who are a lot of fun to be around. And Jane Stillwater happens to be one of these people.

Jane is a young 64 years of age. She lives in section 8 housing and eats peanut butter sandwiches so she can save up her money to do things like, go to Iraq for three weeks to get embedded with a military unit so she can blog about the goings on over there. Last year she went to Afghanistan on a Global Exchange tour. This is the first trip she's taken solo, but she's not scared.

Jane is in Kuwait as I write this waiting for a flight to Baghdad. She left the States on Wednesday. She didn't take a computer with her and plans to blog from Internet Cafes. She doesn't know if she'll actually get embedded. She does have all the qualifications to make this happen, but there are so many journalists over there right now, it's hard to find a spot.

She has already started blogging, her first was from a Kinko's in Kuwait. This woman's writing style is such a delight to read. I have a hard time believing she is 64 years old. Jane seems to have the belief that I do that the Universe will take care of her, and whatever happens, will happen.

Less than a week before she left she put a plea out on her blog that someone might let her borrow some Kevlar. I don't think she actually got any, she hasn't mentioned it.

This is one woman who has decided to live her life by not following the set rules that everyone THINKS they are supposed to follow. Jane is NOT a well behaved woman, that is for sure, and I wish her all the best on her adventure. I can't wait to read her blog.

You can read all about Jane and her adventure at: http://www.jpstillwater.blogspot.com/

A Lady Ump?

2007-03-29T21:01:00.000-07:00

This last Thursday (March 29) Ria Cortesio was the first woman to ump a major league game since 1989. Ria is a great example of not giving up on a dream, and doing something you love.

The following link is a story that was written about her in 2003, check it out!

http://www.sptimes.com/2003/04/07/Floridian/Behind_in_the_count.shtml

Attention Ladies in Northern California

2007-03-29T20:19:00.000-07:00

Announcing:The benefits of Wilderness for Women
Free Panels in Northern CA, April 12, 14 & 15th

Introducing three extraordinary women for a discussion of the benefits of Wilderness for Women

Discover a world of wilderness, joy and hope in your own backyard. Join Amy, Catriona, and Susan as they speak to the benefits of wilderness for women. In a world of ever increasing demands and widening circles of communication, women struggle with the balance of home and family, relationships, work, technology, cultural pressures, community, social causes, and personal goals. More and more women are turning towards the wilderness, inspired by a desire to evolve a more satisfying rhythm, or to reclaim what is missing in the busyness of our lives.

Women embrace the solace of the wild places for many reasons. They go seeking personal empowerment, to conquer their fears, for spiritual illumination, for the growth of consciousness, for a time of solitude, or simply to reclaim their own inner peace.

We find again some of the joy in the now, some of the peace in the here, some of the love in me and thee which go to make up the kingdom of heaven on earth.
-Anne Morrow Lindberg –“Gift from the Sea”

Catriona MacGregor experienced a profound spiritual awakening at age 12, in the forests near her home. Since then, she has dedicated her life to sharing her vision and helping others to work with the transformative power of nature, to find their inner voice, live more creatively, and carry out their life’s purpose, on an international, national, and personal level. www.naturalpathfinder.com.

Catriona is the co-author of Healing the Heart of the World: Harnessing the Power of Intention to Change Your Life and the Planet along with Masaru Emoto, Carolyn Myss and others.

Amy Racina, ultralight solo backpacker, faced one of the greatest challenges of her life in August 2003. 140 miles into an extended trip, the ground crumbled beneath her, and she fell sixty feet onto rock. Utterly alone in deep wilderness, with both legs shattered; Amy kept her body and spirit alive for four days and nights. Hear the story of Amy’s miraculous rescue; share her joy in living, and her enduring love of the wilderness. Amy’s essays and short stories have been printed in numerous publications, including the best-selling award-winning anthology Healing the Heart of the World. “Angels in the Wilderness” is her first full-length book. www.AngelsintheWilderness.com

Amy Racina’s inspirational story has been featured in The Times (London), The San Francisco Chronicle, The Press Democrat, and on The Montel Williams Show.

Susan Alcorn, author of We're in the Mountains Not over the Hill: Tales and Tips from Seasoned Women Backpackers, began backpacking when she was 48 years old. She set out to climb Mt. Whitney, at 14,196 feet, the highest peak in the lower 48 states. Since that time she's completed more than 1,000 miles of the Pacific Crest Trail, 900 miles of ancient pilgrimage trails in Spain and France (Camino Chronicle: Walking to Santiago), and reached the summit of Mt. Kilimanjaro (19,340 ft.) in January 2007.

Susan is a motivational speaker who has encouraged and inspired thousands to discover for themselves the rewards and challenges of wilderness exploration. She believes that the wilderness has important lessons for us – for example, even the highest mountains are scaled by moving forward one step at a time – lessons that serve us well in our day-to-day lives. And, we discover that the simplicity of life on the trail provides us with the opportunity to quiet our minds and frees us from the demands of our "everyday" lives. Finally, Susan encourages wilderness travel as a means of finding moments of great joy – seeing beautiful wildflowers, alpine sunsets, and roaring waterfalls – that most people otherwise never experience in their entire lifetime.

Dates and locations for Women and the Wilderness

April 12 (Thursday)
6 - 8 PM
Panel discussion
Fairfax Women’s Club
46 Park RdFairfax, CA 94930
FREE Light refreshments will be offered

April 14 (Saturday)
11:30 AM - 2 PM
Introduction & hike
Samuel P. Taylor State Park is 15 miles west of San Rafael
on Sir Francis Drake Boulevard. Parking fee applies(415) 488-9897
FREE Light refreshments will be offered
For info: catriona.macgregor@comcast.net

April 15 (Sunday)
1:30 AM - 3:30 PM
Panel discussion
Sebastopol Community Center – Youth Annex
425 Morris StreetSebastopol CA 95373
FREE Light refreshments will be offered www.seb.org

For info: aracina@sonic.net (707) 433-6686

For more info, and to reserve a seat, contact Catriona MacGregor catriona.macgregor@comcast.net Amy Racina aracina@sonic.net (707) 433-6686Susan Alcorn backpack45@yahoo.com (510) 339-3441

Seating is limited and reserved on a first come basis

More Females Playing Football

2007-03-10T19:20:00.000-08:00

The first EVER football camp for girls sponsored by the NFL and the Independent Women's Football League has finally happened. About 150 girls went to the event at the New Jersey's Giant Stadium and made history.

More and more girls are playing football. Girls are wanting to get into this sport. So the NFL has taken noticed and actually started a football camp for girls to go to.

Women have actually been playing on all women's football teams since 1950. The IWFL was developed some years back and now boasts a roster of 35 all-female teams.

I say go for it girls. If you love playing football, why shouldn't you play? I get a chuckle when I see girls in my town who are all dressed out in a football uniform who play with the boys. They basically don't have a choice since there aren't all girl football teams. These girls must REALLY want to play ball.

Life is a great big Canvas!

2007-02-14T08:21:00.000-08:00

Life is a great big canvas; throw all the paint on it you can. - Danny Kaye

Go Chicks GO!

2007-02-12T08:22:00.000-08:00

So did you watch the Grammy's last night?! Even if you didn't, I'm sure by now you heard that the Dixie chicks just couldn't STOP winning awards.

What I think was the funniest was when they won in the category of best country album and country performance by a duo or group with vocal. All this when MOST country stations have banned them. If you watch their documentary, Shut Up And Sing, you'll see that the chicks didn't even really know what category of music they belonged in once country started to disown them.

I just read on www.dixiechicks.com that following:

CMT has announced that the Dixie Chicks’ “Not Ready to Make Nice” video is a first round nominee in three categories for the upcoming 2007 CMT Music Awards: Video of the Year, Group Video of the Year, and Video Director of the Year (Sophie Muller). Fan voting to narrow the eight initial nominees in each category down to the final four nominees takes place through Feb 23rd . You can vote HERE.

I can't wait for the CMT awards. NOW that should be an interesting show to watch!!

Just goes to show you that if you love and believe in what you're doing...don't give up! EVEN when it looks darker than you ever thought possible. Believe in yourself, believe in your dreams....AND ANYTHING IS POSSIBLE! Just ask the Dixie Chicks!

Photo by: Mark Seliger

The Secret

2007-02-11T17:42:00.000-08:00

There's a concept I've held now for several years. I've read about these ideas in books like The Game Of Life And How To Play It and Think and Grow Rich.

Ideas and concepts like you should visualize what you want in your life. To be grateful for what you have, and believe that you deserve to live a happy successful life.

Recently I became aware of a video out there called The Secret. I watched it once and I knew this was a video I probably should watch a few times a month. This last week the people who came together to create the DVD The Secret were on Oprah.

I've started to use the principles in the Secret and I'm actually starting to see results in my own life. I talk to other people about this idea and over and over again I hear that it sounds like a great concept but it's just so hard to keep in that frame of mind and have that positive attitude all the time ESPECIALLY when you're down and depressed.

Why is it so much easier to be negative? Why does are mind so easily flip to the worse that could happen instead of us thinking about the good that can come from a not so favorable situation?

I think what I like about this DVD so much are the people who are in it are very open and honest about the past they came from. They aren't people who have always been happy and financial well off. They are drug dealers, those who came from financial poverty and others will a very low self-concept of themselves. At one point in each of these peoples lives they came to believe they were worth all the good there is in life, and they started visualize what they wanted to come into their life, and those things started to happen.

The other thing I like about this DVD is that once you watch it, you don't have to buy anything else. You just have to live the principles that are presented to you. It's that simple. You can even watch this video online.

If you're looking for a positive change in your life in 2007 check out The Secret Video: http://www.thesecret.tv/

Ladies on Arabians

2007-01-29T18:05:00.000-08:00

I came across an interesting story today. Now I've heard of women getting awareness for something they feel strongly in by riding a walking, running, riding a bicycle/motorcycle, or flying a plane somewhere. But I can't remember of ever reading about a lady doing this on horseback.

There is a group of 7 women in the gulf who plan to spread awareness of Arabian horse traditions and raise money for charities. This trek will be about 250 miles.

As I read this story more I saw that these women actually had to be trained to ride for this trip. I'm wondering how much riding experience they had?

So these ladies will be visiting the seven Emirates on their 15 day trek (that's how long they think it will take. Here's more information about Emeriates taken from Wikapedia: The United Arab Emirates (also the UAE or the Emirates) is a Middle Eastern country situated in the southeast of the Arabian Peninsula in Southwest Asia on the Persian Gulf, comprising seven emirates: Abu Dhabi, Ajmān, Dubai, Fujairah, Ras al-Khaimah, Sharjah, and Umm al-Quwain.

In each emirate the women will plant a palm tree as a tribute to those who lost their lives in the Arab world to war, famine and disease.

The seven equestrians come from seven Arab countries and are mounting Arabian horses which are widely regarded as among the finest breeds in the world.

The women taking part in what organisers have dub-bed the Love and Faith Trip apparently had to acquire horse riding skills in a short period of time. The women were trained at the Al Ahli Horse Riding Club in Dubai, the main organisers of the trip.

This would be a great story to follow for the next 15 days. I wonder how it'll go?

You can read the full story at: http://archive.gulfnews.com/articles/07/01/28/10100094.html

How To Be Secure

2007-01-23T09:56:00.000-08:00

Only in growth, reform, and change, paradoxically enough, is true security to be found.
- Anne Morrow Lindbergh

2007-01-22T11:30:00.001-08:00

"I'm in to win. And that's what I intend to do." -Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton on her run for president.

Great Resource Site For Ladies of ALL Ages

2007-01-16T08:44:00.000-08:00

Here's a great site with lots of great articles and upcoming female action sports for ladies of all ages. It's called, Girls Learn To Ride.

The following is taken from their FAQ:

What is Girls Learn To Ride?

Girls Learn To Ride (GLTR), the original series of female-only action sports clinics and camps, is designed to give females of all ages the basic skills and confidence necessary to participate in skateboarding, surfing, snowboarding, wakeboarding, motocross, bmx and mountain biking. In this program, skilled professionals provide hands-on training with an emphasis on safety and skill development. Now in its seventh year, GLTR has taught tens of thousands of girls and women a new action sport. The program will host a number of events throughout the United States and Canada in 2006.

This year, Girls Learn To Ride launch “GLTR – online source for Female Action Sports.” The website is now an online magazine where you can find out about upcoming events in your area, Interviews with top athletes, Lifestyle stories & features, product reviews and an online store featuring the top gear for each sport.

Check it out at: http://www.girlslearntoride.com

Dust to Glory

2007-01-12T09:36:00.000-08:00

I have no idea why I've taken so long to watch this DVD. I'm overwhelmed with emotion after watching this. This race is like no other. Any man or woman that enters this race is right up there in my book.

In the Indy and Nascar races you've got cars on a nice smooth track that is the same...for the whole race. AND NO ONE is allowed on that course during the race.

The Baja 1000 is a different bird all together. You're riding 1000 miles either on a dirt bike, truck, buggy, quad, and yes...there are even VW BUGS, who race on and off road both in the day and night. Most racers ride as a team, but there are a few iron men and women who ride the whole race.

This movie covers mostly the men who race, but there's a few moments where they talk about the women too. Many of the woman race because they were tired of watching their husband, dads, brothers race. So they've decided to join in the fun too.

Some of the women mentioned in this movie were Kate Sutton, Bekki Freeman, Amy Thomas and Kelly Clement. Kelly's husband talked about how since Kelly's been racing she's happier and healthier than ever.

I ride a motorcycle, not even a dirt bike, and have to constantly be aware of anything that might cross my path, and I rarely ride at night. I can't imagine riding a dirt bike 100 + miles an hour with bystanders just inches away, dogs and cows in the road...oh yeah the roads or "track" is never shut down to just racers. When they're racing on road there are non racing vehicles all over the place. When they're off road there's pot holes, cliffs, just the natural terrain that is anything but flat and completely unforgiving. Oh, don't forget the cactus's. There was scenes of a guy pulling those out of his arms.

Then there's the dust or silt that bikes and vehicles get lost in, it's so deep. I would think if you lost your bike in that you'd have a hard time finding it again. That's rough in the day time, but to do that at night....with bikes and vehicles in front, behind and to the side of you.

You've got people with broken vehicles, motorcycles, body parts...who continue to race. Yes, it's about winning, but it's also about finishing the race. Finishing that race is a HUGE accomplishment.

As I mentioned the racers ride during the night. You think bystanders would go home for the night but it seemed like more people came out to watch. It would be 4:30 in the morning and there were people out there cheering them on.

Oh and the chase cars...they're helicopters.

After you watch the movie be sure to watch the Behind the Scenes clip. Really awesome on how this movie was shot and just like the race itself it took some major determination to create this DVD.

After watching this I went back and read Anna Cody's/Iron man account of her race.

As some of you may or may not know I crossed the finish line of the Baja 1000 on 11/17/06 somewhere around 4:20pm. It was the hardest thing I have ever done in my life, I rode for 33 hours and 35 minutes, the longest break I took was 1 hour, and that was around 2:30am after my bike nearly got ran over by a trophy truck, I had to sit down and get myself together. I was just outside of Loreto when a silt pocket swallowed my XR650 I came up out of it only to dump it over on its side in a two track road with the rear wheel hanging in the tracks, the lights flickered off and I tried to pull the bike out of the way when I suddenly heard the roar of the trophy truck, suddenly I could see everything I worked so hard for go down the drain, in an instant I threw myself in front of the bike waiving my arms up and down, the co driver saw me and motioned to the driver, who than pitched the truck sideways into the bushes, the truck went sideways and missed my bike by about one inch, I had such an adrenaline rush I grabbed that bike and pulled it 25 feet off the course and picked it up, I peed my pants and than started the bike and went on to pit 14 for a well deserved break...

You can read the rest of her story at: http://www.blinkinteract.com/2006/12/anna_cody_first_woman_to_solo_1.html

I also know that Anna Cody is putting together a DVD of her race. Hopefully it will be out soon!!

Amy Racina on Montel Williams

2007-01-10T13:04:00.000-08:00

Here's some pictures from yesterday when Amy was on Montel Williams. This was a great segment. Even had her reanacting her fall.

Everytime I see Amy I'm always impressed by this quiet peace about her. This is a woman who knows what it's like to be so close to death, yet has the determination to survive no matter what.

On the show Amy talked about how she felt everyone holds inside of them this determination to live no matter what. Montel didn't agree with her though. I think he sees something special about her too, something you just don't see in people all the time.

It was interesting how Montel started out the show too. He said, "There's all these bad guys out there and you go hiking by yourself?! What are you thinking?" Amy's simple reply was that the farther out in the wilderness you go, the less chance there are of bad guys."

I wonder how many thoughts of "bad guys out there" keep women from doing things they only dream of?

Mother Teresa...another rebel!

2007-01-10T12:43:00.000-08:00

The other night I rented the DVD Mother Teresa. If you're like me and don't know a lot about how Mother Teresa got started or much about her story. I highly recommend this movie. I was very surprised at what this woman had to go through to help the poor in Calcutta.

There's a line in the movie where Mother Teresa is torn between wanting to be a Nun no matter what, but also feeling called to help these extremely poor people. Imagine a church not wanting their people to help the poor, because it just didn't look good?! Anyway, there's a line where Mother Teresa is praying and says, "Lord Help Me! Why can't I be like other nuns?"

While I've never prayed to be a Nun, I know I've prayed a similar prayer like that more than once in myself. Being who we are sometimes go against the grain of what others think we should be. For Mother Teresa, thank goodness she kept true to herself, and went after her dream of helping these people. She changed lives! Even the church finally saw it her way, although it wasn't easy.

Hillary Swank Gets Her Star

2007-01-09T08:57:00.000-08:00

I've always been a big fan of Hillary Swank. When she received her Oscar for Boys Don't Cry I was amazed at her acceptance speech she talked about coming to Hollywood with her mom with only $75 to their name. They lived out of their car while Hillary tried to find work as an actress.

Two Oscars later, and a new movie coming out called Freedom Writers, which I'm looking forward to seeing, this woman had a dream and went for it. Congratulations on your Star Hillary!!

Photo: AP/ Nick Ut

Watch Montel Williams today Jan. 9th, 2007

2007-01-09T08:39:00.000-08:00

Received the following from Amy Racina...


Amy Racina "Angels in the Wilderness" on The Montel Show

Tuesday, January 9, 2007

On Tuesday, January 9, The Montel Show will be featuring a story about
me, my wilderness survival tale, and my book "Angels in the
Wilderness."

The Montel Williams Show is a national daytime talk show with 11
million viewers. My episode includes photos, some  re-enactment
sequences (I didn't actually have to fall off of any more cliffs) , an
interview, and discussions with two survival "experts."

www.montelshow.com

Check for local air-times in your TV guide, or at www.MontelShow.com

Thanks for your support!
-Amy

******
Amy Racina
Author: Angels in the Wilderness
ISBN: 0971088896
www.Angelsinthewilderness.com

A 60-foot fall onto granite. Both legs shattered. Off-trail. Utterly
alone in deep wilderness. Backpacker Amy Racina’s compelling new memoir
“Angels in the Wilderness” chronicles her terrifying true-life ordeal.

See Amy on "The Montel Williams Show" www.Montelshow.com January 9,
2007!

Nancy Pelosi - From Stay-at-Home Mom to Speaker of the House!

2007-01-09T08:08:00.000-08:00

I can't help but look at this picture taken by Stephen Crowley of The New York Times and smile. Nancy surrounded by her grandkids, other peoples grandkids and children...it makes you proud to be a woman/mom/grandmother/stay-at-home mom/executive...whoever and whatever you might be. Pelosi is an incredible example of what a woman can achieve.

Nancy was a stay-at-home mom, mother of five, and didn't even enter the political arena until her last child went to college. That made Pelosi 47 years old when she started her career and now at the age of 66 is the FIRST LADY Speaker of the house.

It feels good having a woman in such a influential role in government who KNOWS what it's like to be a stay-at-home mom, who KNOWS what it's like to be a woman living in this country with all it's biases, glass ceilings...and yet Pelosi has shown us by her own example that we can do and become ANYTHING we set our mind to. The only thing that stands in our way as women, is many times our own thoughts that we are limited in our opportunties.

The last Sunday I was able to attend Glide Memorial Church in San Francisco and much of the sermon preached by Pastor Douglass Fitch, was centered around the fact that we CELEBRATE Nancy Pelosi. How good it feels that she right where she's supposed to be right now and change...it's a coming! Personally...I can hardly wait!

Nancy Pelosi is sworn in as the first woman speaker of the house!

2007-01-04T08:11:00.000-08:00

Nancy Pelosi, 2nd in line to the President, after VP Cheney

Becoming the first woman speaker will send a message to young girls and women
across the country that anything is possible for them.
- Nancy Palosi Wed. Jan 4th, 2007

Kite Snow Boarding/Skiing

2007-01-03T20:06:00.000-08:00

I like to fly a kite now and then, and I've seen people on boards in large bodies of water who use a kite to pull them around. So I shouldn't be all that surprised that kite snowboarding/skiing is starting to become popular.

I do remember reading in the book by Ann Bancroft and Liv Arnesen called No Horizon Is So Far that they used kites to pull them along at times. Sometimes it worked and other times...it wasn't pretty. Above is a picture when it was working.

But with good conditions (no crevasses or strong gusts of wind to knock you around) this might be actually kinda fun. What do you think?

Women in the Wilderness Winter Expedition Weekend in Waterford, Michigan

2007-01-02T15:09:00.000-08:00

Ladies if you live in or around Waterford Michigan check this out! AND it's only $65 for the weekend.

Jan. 20 & 21
Women in the Wilderness Winter Expedition at Independence Oaks. Join us for a weekend of fun in the snow and learn about winter outdoor recreation opportunities. Recreation clinics and overnight camping. Clinics include: Gearing up for the Winter, Winter Outdoor Survival, Winter Hiking, Snowshoeing, Cross-country Skiing, Winter Mountain Biking, Ice Fishing, Winter Camping, quinzee hut building and geocaching. Co-sponsored by SOLAR, REI and Women's Weekends, Inc. $65/person. Click here to regisiter.

http://www.oakgov.com/parksrec

Zorbing anyone?

2007-01-02T14:33:00.000-08:00

So there's a new sport that has started in New Zealand. I first learned about it on a show called, "Bay Area Backroads" and was a little bummed when I found out I'd have to travel to New Zealand to Zorb. Well in doing a little research I found out that Zorbing is coming to the US. It will be opening early 2007 in the Rocky mountains.

This looks like so MUCH FUN!!

You basically are in this huge bouncy ball (I believe there's some water in there so it's really slickery inside) and then you role down a hill. It looks like a total blast if you ask me. I think at this point I have a better chance of making it to the Rocky Mountains than I do New Zealand, but hey...you never know.

If I get to Zorb...I'll tell you all about it!!

Anna Cody, Ironwoman of Baja 1000

2007-01-02T09:36:00.000-08:00

So until a few months ago, I had never heard of the Baja 1000 and to be totally honest with you, I still don't completely understand it. What I do know though is that I wish I could be at the next one in 2007 to see it, and write about it. Because the stories I keep hearing about it are just incredible.

I first became aware of the Baja 1000 when I came across Kathy Jarvis's site. I followed her this year via the Net. She wasn't able to finish the race in 2006, but I have a feeling she'll be at it again in 2007.

Then today I received an email from a gentleman named Dan who told me about another woman, Anna Cody, who was in this race. And she raced on motorcycle. If you read anything about Anna Cody, read this post about her personal account of the race. It's just incredible.

Also, check out Anna's website at: http://www.codygirlracing.com

And thanks so much Dan for bringing this to my attention!!

Hi,

I recently read your blog post about Kathy Jarvis attempting to
become the first woman to solo the Baja 1000 in a truck.

As inspiring as that is, the real story should be about Anna Cody.

"[In 2006] Anna Cody became the first female to ever solo and finish
the Baja 1000 [on a motorcycle even!]. She is Ironwoman [the term for
solo finishers]. She etches her name once again in the Baja history
books. Cody and Lillie Sweetland were the first all-female team to
finish the Baja 1000 back in 1990. After Sweetland succumbed to
cancer in 2001, Cody didn't have it in her heart to ride with another
teammate again and that was the impetus behind her solo run. I
suspect she probably helped Cody pull this one off too."

from: http://www.motorcycle-usa.com/Article_Page.aspx?ArticleID=4116&Page=5

Anna not only finished, she finished solo, on a motorcycle!

Here is her blog post about it: http://www.blinkinteract.com/2006/12/anna_cody_first_woman_to_solo_1.html

keep up the good work,
- dan

Another --- She shouldn't be alive

2006-12-28T22:40:00.000-08:00

A story very similar to the Amy Racina story has just come to my attention today. Her name is Danelle Ballengee. She's an adventure racer and considered the best female adventure racer out there.

On Dec 13th of this year she was out on a normal 2 hour training run in Utah with her dog Taz. One misstep though and she slipped and fell about 60 feet where she bounced off rocks and boulders like a rag doll and ironically landing on her feet. She soon crumpled to the ground though due to pain. Danelle, was out in the middle of nowhere...with no one around. It was just her and her dog.

She crawled for five hours the first day getting about a half mile. She endured temps reaching into the 20's. She found a small puddle frozen over with ice she was able to break and drink a little water from.

She soon realized her only hope of survival was her dog Taz. And she basically told him that. After those words came out of her mouth Taz hit the trail...barking all the way. (I'm not a big dog fan, but this just warms my heart and almost makes me wish I had a dog). Taz would run back and forth, checking on Danelle for the next few days.

A search party was sent out on the third day. Taz was reconized by one of the individuals looking for her. They tried to catch the dog, but he wouldn't let them near him. They finally decided to just follow him. And after tracking him for about 6 miles, they found Danelle....ALIVE!

She was rushed to the hospital where docters were totally amazed that she was still alive. Despite the freezing temperature the types of injuries she had...most people die within 8-12 hours, not alive after three days! She was in surgery for 6 hours to fix her shattered pelvis and two fractured vertebrae.

And yes, Danelle still plans to be able to run again. Maybe not race at the level she once did, but she will remain active...I'll bet you anything.

TAZ (Photo by Pam Mindard)

If you want to read the full story on Danelle go to: http://cbs4denver.com/topstories/local_story_361142746.html

Story By ESPN: http://sports.espn.go.com/outdoors/general/news/story?id=2704879

Michelle Thompson finishes 2,400-mile bike ride for her brother!

2006-12-26T20:40:00.000-08:00

When a friend or a family member becomes ill, we often want to do something...whatever that might be... for them. It's so hard to just sit there and watch them go through the different stages of a disease.

Michelle Thompson wanted to do something about her brother who had been diagnosed with oral cancer (8,000 + people die from this disease a year). She knew her brother was in a battle with this cancer and she wanted to join in that battle. Plus she didn't want other people and family members have to watch their loved one get this cancer so she decided to raise awareness and raise funds for her brothers medical bills.

She set out on Oct 21st from Glen Ellyn, Illinois and arrived in Costa Mesa, CA at 5 PM on Christmas day. So far she has raised $10,000 for her brother. Since she doesn't have a non-profit status, Michelle is depending on "everyday people" to contribute what they can.

Michelle has taken time off work to do this for her brother. I also want to add that Michelle wasn't an experienced bike rider before this, but this adventure has changed things. I can imagine she must have had some major thinking going on during that ride. Michelle's outlook on life will never be the same after this big adventure.

For more information on Michelle, her trek and her fundraising endeavor visit: http://www.route2outsmartcancer.typepad.com/

This is a great site. Look at her pictures, read her posts. What this woman did...ALONE...is just awesome.

Update On Kathy Jarvis Protruck Race

2006-12-15T21:11:00.000-08:00

“JINX” IS JINXED
But Kathy Jarvis Still Holds The Distinction Of Being The Only Woman To Solo Attempt The Race In A Protruck

La Paz, Mexico (November 20, 2006) – Kathy Jarvis was exasperated. Months of practice could not prepare her for the numerous technical difficulties that her Protruck would endure in the first day of the SCORE International Baja 1000. After successfully maneuvering 328 miles through silt beds, mud bogs and whoops she was forced to pull out of the race because of electrical problems with “Jinx.”

“Finishing this race was my goal,” said Jarvis, “but I haven’t failed. We I pursued my dream and I’m still pursuing it. Women need to know that they are strong enough to blur the gender lines and accomplish anything that they can dream. Sometimes there are things that are just out of your control and on this day there wasn’t anything else that we could do to get that truck to finish this race. That doesn’t mean I’ll give up.”

“I pre-ran the entire course in my stock 1998 Toyota Tacoma. I honestly believe that I could have finished the actual race in that Tacoma. It really speaks integrity of the truck,” Jarvis said.
The off-road race is held on a 1,052 mile stretch of rugged terrain leading down the Baja peninsula into La Paz, Baja California. It is the final race of the SCORE International Desert Series and the event routinely draws an impressive entrant list composed of celebrities like Paul Newman, NASCAR’s Robby Gordon, “Grey’s Anatomy” star Patrick Dempsey, Mike Metzger of motorcross fame, Julia Roberts’ husband and cinematographer Danny Moder, and Jesse James from the show “Monster Garage.” This year that list expanded to contain its first solo woman Protruck driver Kathy Jarvis.

Protrucks are full blown high performance race trucks that are disguised underneath a stock body and they are just one of several different vehicles that race in the BAJA 1000. Motorcycles, buggies, ATV’s and Protrucks all tested the limits of human possibility as they barreled down the rugged terrain of the Baja Peninsula.

Unfortunately for Kathy, there were several instances that she was careening down the peninsula in a shroud of darkness. Kathy’s alternator failed for most of the race causing her instrument panel, radio and GPS navigation to go blank.

“There were points where I really had to dig down and keep focused. I realized what was at stake for female professional racing. Every couple hundred feet there was a different hazard to avoid. The course tests your versatility as a driver, so my training as a stunt driver came in handy,” said Jarvis after the race.

Off-road legend Ivan Stewart was very encouraged with Kathy’s attempt and he tried to get Kathy to look at the positive. “She showed a lot of courage and professionalism in a form of motorsports that is very male-dominated. Her knowledge and appreciation of off-road racing makes her a very marketable force in our community,” Stewart said.
Jarvis, a professional stuntwoman by day, has been no stranger to hazardous and life-threatening experiences. She has jumped a minivan in a Taco Bell commercial, flipped a
flaming Chevrolet Suburban, crashed through buildings and performed many high-risk vehicle stunts and chases. Kathy has also been a stunt double for actresses Meg Ryan, Meryl Streep, and Anne Heche in blockbuster films like City of Angels and Six Days Seven Nights.

A few years ago, Stewart encouraged Kathy to start her own female Protruck team but that dream was derailed when she was diagnosed with a pituitary gland tumor that would require surgery. A botched procedure led her to decline synthetic drugs and embrace holistic treatments like Qi Gong, an expanded yoga program and acupuncture. Not one to sit idle for too long, Kathy continued working as a stunt professional and in February of this year she attended the Team O’Neil Rally School to hone her driving skills. Excited about rally racing, she entered and won her first National rally race, the Main Forest Rally in July of 2006.

“This was another big step for women in professional racing,” Jarvis said. “I’m excited to come back next year and compete against other determined and talented drivers and finish, I know I can finish.”

An interesting Christmas Fact...

2006-12-15T20:43:00.001-08:00

According to the Alaska Department of Fish and Game, while both male and female reindeer grow antlers in the summer each year, male reindeer drop their antlers at the beginning of winter, usually late November to mid-December. Female reindeer retain their antlers till after they give birth in the spring.

Therefore, according to EVERY historical rendition depicting Santa's reindeer, EVERY single one of them, from Rudolph to Blitzen, had to be a girl.

We should have known... ONLY women would be able to drag a large man in a red velvet suit all around the world in one night and not get lost.

Shut up and Sing?! Not the Dixie Chicks!!!

2006-12-14T22:12:00.000-08:00

A few weeks ago I was able to go see the Dixie Chicks documentary, "Shut Up And Sing" and I LOVED IT. I've been a Dixie Chick fan for a very very long time. This whole new CD they've created is just awesome. The "Shut Up And Sing" song is my personal favaorite. It's amazing what's happened since the little comment that basically shut down the Chicks business.

And now the Chicks have been nominated in all general catagories they could be nominated in...which is pretty awesome. Especially once you watch this documentary and see how the world pretty much turned on the Chicks.

If you get a chance, watch this movie. It's about women who believe in themselves, who aren't about to give up what they love doing, and have one heck of a come back.

Could be the first woman president of the USA

2006-12-05T09:12:00.000-08:00

She's throwing her hat in, while it's not totally official, it looks like it's the direction she's heading in. I think if any woman had a shot at this, it's going to be Hillary!

I have to admit, I'm pretty excited about this!! We've got Pelosi as the speaker of the house, now we need a lady IN the house!

Katie Hnida

2006-11-29T19:47:00.000-08:00

I was watching Larry King last night and learned about a woman called Katie Hnida. Katie's this tall, blonde, good looking woman who used to be a kicker for a college football team. It's not everyday you see a woman playing on a men's football team, so I took note. I also did some research on her today and found this quote by Katie.

"Football is what makes me breathe." - Katie Hnida

Katie followed her talent and passion for football, but it was anything but easy. Here's a short excerpt from a Sports illustrated article on Katie.

On her first day of practice Hnida found out how welcome she was. She says five teammates surrounded her and verbally abused her, making sexually graphic comments. During the season players exposed themselves to her "at least five times," she says. "They'd go, 'Hey, Katie, check this out!'" One player came up from behind, she says, and rubbed his erect penis against her.

Sometimes when the entire team was huddled up, Hnida says, players stuck their hands on her crotch or groped her breasts under her shoulder pads. "She endured more abuse than one person should have to bear," former teammate Justin Bates says. Even as she practiced, players called her vulgar names and one fired footballs at her head.

Katie is now coming forward and talking about being raped by a team member.

Is this what we as women have to endure from men to follow our dreams?

Well Katie had had enough. She became very depressed, dropped out of CU after her sophomore year.

She says she was depressed for two years, suffered from insomnia and gave up kicking....

Katie went into therapy, enrolled at a junior college and then had the guts to walk on at New Mexico in 2002. Last August she became the first woman to score in Division I football history when she kicked two PATs in the Lobos' 72-8 rout of Texas State-San Marcos...

So why is Hnida, 22, telling her story now? "Because all the news sent me back into that nightmare," she says. "It made me literally sick. I realized that until I tell my story, I can never heal."

I think this is a story that should be heard more often. I have two daughters who have their own dreams and goals and as a parent I wonder about what they'll have to endure to make those dreams come true.

My wish is that whatever gender, race, religion, or lifestyle...a person should be given the opportunity to follow their dreams without prejudice.

I highly recommend you read the rest of the article from Sports illustrated

Katie has also written a book titled Still Kicking: My Dramatic Journey as the First Woman to Play Division One College Football.

Really living!

2006-11-29T19:07:00.000-08:00

How does one go about finding their differences in a world that strives to be the same?

No one wants to be the odd man out! No one wants to be laughed at for being different. And yet finding your differences is what you'll need to do to find true happiness.

We may want to look and act the same, but when we do this we are slowly killing our souls.

There isn't enough make-up, diets or sweet smelling perfume in the world to cover up the ugliness or the stinch of trying to be someone else.

Celebrate YOU! Celebrate your differences. Celebrate what it is that makes you YOU!

Take It Step By Step

Finding out who you really are is the first step. Second step is you've got to accept it. Third and final step is to truly live it. Live your authentic self as honestly as you can!

Nancy Pelosi -- First Woman Speaker of the House!

2006-11-08T07:09:00.001-08:00

Tonight we have made history; now let us make progress. - Nancy Pelosi

Over the weekend a horse Pelosi said the following outside a Philadelphia campaign stop. ''It says to women everywhere that not only a glass ceiling but a marble ceiling can be broken and that anything is possible."

Here's a great article on Pelosi in the Miami Herald

What makes you rush into the the day wanting more?

2006-11-02T14:45:00.000-08:00

Since 1997 I've been helping women find a home business they love. Note...I said LOVE, not what will make them a ton of money. I've always felt that the key to making money is to enjoy the way you make it. I wrote the book, The Stay-at-Home Mom's Guide To Making Money From Home and it was all about finding that thing you can get really excited about.

I've always preached, "Find that one thing you love so you when you wake up in the morning you'll jump from your bed exclaiming to the world, "I get to go to work TODAY."

Right now my focus isn't on home business, but that same principle can be used in so many areas of your life. Take staying fit for example. It's going to be a whole lot easier to stay in shape if you find a way to exercise that you enjoy.

I came across a great quote a few weeks ago. I saw this quote in a quote book at a store and kicked myself for not getting the book because it had so many great quotes in it. This weekend I made my way back to San Francisco to the bookstore I found it in and bought it.

This quote right here is so powerful and has a great message. I'm so happy I can finally share it with you.

It was the feel of cold hard rock biting into the tips of my fingers that made me rush into the day wanting more. - Susan Fox Rogers, Rock Climber

So the question is...what's that one thing that makes you rush into your day wanting more???

TIRED?!

2006-11-02T10:38:00.000-08:00

The only Tired I Was
Was Tired Of Giving In.
- Rosa Parks

Fu Hao -- a very unusual heroine from Ancient Chinese history

2006-11-02T07:58:00.000-08:00

One of my daughters is learning about the Shang Dynasty and brought to my attention a woman in her book called Fu Hao.

Fu Hao (pronounced FOO HOW) or Lady Hao was a mother, wife, military leader, politician and shaman. She led 13,000 men to war, a remarkable occurance in ancient China, and she ruled her own town. Unlike most other Sang leaders, she succeeded at being remember in history because records about her life have been preserved in her tomb.

Another interesting thing about her tomb...Fu Hao’s tomb has yielded over a hundred weapons. This is very unusual for a woman’s tomb, and shows her status as a military leader.

CLICK HERE TO VIEW HER TOMB

Kathy Jarvis Heads to the Baja 1000

2006-10-24T22:17:00.000-07:00

I received the following email today from Kathy Jarvis:

Hey Liz Thank you for posting my story on your blog. I am leaving for Baja
in a couple of days to start my adventure on becoming the first woman to solo the SCORE Baja 1000. A little nervous for it is going to be a really
tough race and hopefully I get it done in 24 hours. My head is bothering me
some and I need to get that truck to last for 1052 miles and I need to last
for 1052 miles.

I think what Kathy is doing is really awesome. I'm always impressed by women who are trying new adventures for themselves. I wanted to ask her a few questions and she was kind enough to get back to me right away.

Liz: in a couple of days you're going to start your new adventure on becoming the first woman to solo the SCORE Baja 1000. You're driving for 24 hours and 1052 miles right? How do you feel being the first woman to enter this race?

Kathy: Well, I am not the first woman to enter a lot of women drive with other teams and there are a few female teams that trade off the driving responsibilities. I just hope to be the first woman to drive all 1000 miles of this race, the Granddaddy of all off road racing. In 1972 Judy J Smith did it in a single seater buggy, a lot of respect goes out to her. It was sactioned by NORRA and they had different rules. This race is a non-stop race with no restarts everything we do is part of the race, from getting through the pits quickly to changing navigators to changing parts if something should break.

Liz: Who's your inspiration/hero's you look up to?

Kathy: I look up to those women who are strong and can speak their mind with out fear of how one will interpret it. I look up to those who can honor everyone’s point of view without judgement. I look up to those who live their lives true to who they are.

Liz: Anyone ever say anything negative to you? How did you respond?

Kathy: Yes, many people have said many negative things to me. I live in a world where jobs are coveted and people will say things to make themselves feel better. Most times I don’t say anything, and most times I wish I had. However, it is never good to mix words, to hold one’s head high, and not let it become personal is the only way to protect oneself from the negative energy. Most negative things said our fears that person has, so I try not to take them personally.

And Kathy's Favorite Quote:
“Be the change you wish to see in the world” - Mahatma Gandi

Kathy...good luck and we're all cheering for you. Can't wait to hear how your adventure goes!!!

CLICK HERE TO WATCH A VIDEO OF KATHY IN ACTION ON YouTube

Click here to Visit Kathy's Website

Well Behaved Women Shirts

2006-10-22T21:41:00.000-07:00

For more great stuff visit the Doing It Her Way Store

Great Thought For The Day

2006-10-22T20:19:00.000-07:00

Heard this in my 12 step meeting today and LOVED IT.

Don't die with your song still inside of you!

This was such a powerful statement. We are all so creative. We might not think so, but each of us have something special inside of us that should be shared with the world. From artists like painters and writers, to other people who have a passion for saving the environment. It doesn't necessarily have to be something you make a living doing, and don't think you have to be a professional and perfect in every way to do it.

If you don't know what your particular song is...I suggest you get busy and discover it. The universe will be a better place when you share your song with the rest of us. Honest!

Hanging up the running shoes...for now!

2006-10-22T19:04:00.000-07:00

A couple of days ago I ran two miles. About the middle of the run my knee started hurting very bad. And once I was done running...it was really giving me fits. As much as I would like to start trail running...for now that dream needs to be put on hold until I can get this knee fixed. A few years back I twisted it and it's never been the same since.

Now I'm going to be really honest here. I hate running. I can see myself trail running...just because I love hiking so much. But the actually running part...I hate. Now I can get on my bike and ride for miles and be so happy and think life is the best. But when I run, every part of my body cries out, "Why are you doing this to me Liz?!"

Well I'll tell you why I've done it. Because for some reason in my head I feel that I'm not really working-out unless I'm running...at least a few days a week.

I've decided that's a crazy idea. Because if I don't like it, I'm going to end up not working-out and then well...I'm out of shape and the whole good feeling I get when I exercise is shot as well.

So biking, swimming, stretching, yoga are all the things I enjoy and I plan on doing on a regular basis.

It's interesting all these theories and ideas we think are true are just simply ideas and have no real truth to them at all. AND they can keep you from things we should be doing for ourselves.

My two cents for the day.

The secret to looking and feeling young!

2006-10-20T07:02:00.001-07:00

It doesn't come in pill form, it's not a liquid you drink called Veta Vita Vegimen that Lucy tried to sell, and you don't have to run 10 miles a day...which is good news in my book.

No it's swimming. I'm amazed at how good swimming is for our bodies. These last few months I've started to really pick up my exercise. I'm doing a little running, and am really enjoying riding my bike. I've wanted to do more swimming, but in order to do that now...during this time of year...it would require me to join a gym. But it might be worth it...let me explain.

According to a study done by a research team at Indiana University, regular and moderately intensive swimming can substantially delay the decline of such age markers as blood pressure, muscle mass, blood chemistry and pulmonary function. With access to an indoor pool, anyone (young and old) can take advantage of the many health benefits of swimming year-round.

In addition to being healthier, swimming helps improve physical appearance by toning muscles and helping to control weight and appetite. A number of studies have found that even in middle-aged or elderly individuals, body image is an important factor affecting self-esteem, especially in women.

The problem about going swimming though is we have to get half naked to swim, and usually it's at a health club or public pool. Because of this, we loose out on the benefits of swimming. However the benefits to swimming a good two to three times a week for 30 mins each is really overwhelming.

I had a friend who was complaining about flab under her arms. She started swimming and very quickly noticed the flab was turning into a very nicely toned arm. So I know it works.

Now to find a pool to go swimming in!!

Why we can't look like the women on magazines and billboards

2006-10-19T11:20:00.000-07:00

Check out this video. It makes a great point!!!
http://www.campaignforrealbeauty.com/

To think that so many of us strive to look like these women, and the truth is...these women aren't real!

Today Show and the New York Marathon

2006-10-19T09:37:00.000-07:00

I don't usually get to watch much morning show news. But today I caught something I found very interesting. There's two ladies being profiled on the Today show who are training for the New York Marathon. They both have blogs so you can read about their progress. They've just got a few weeks to go before the big race. So if you're thinking of running your own marathon...their stories of what's worked and what hasn't could be a great help.

Here's their blogs:

Natalie's Blog
Karen's Blog

Cool Interview

2006-10-18T08:33:00.000-07:00

I read an interview in my local paper today that I found very inspiring. It's an interview of a young entrepreneur named Brooke L. Dunton who chose a field mostly dominated by men.

Here's a short excerpt.

What is the biggest challenge your business has faced? I think being young when I started and being a woman. I entered an industry dominated by men and it was tough at first to get started and gain the respect of others in the industry. Now I just laugh about it when office supply reps come in and ask for Mr. Brooke or for the owner and repeat their question even after I tell them I am the owner!

You can read the full interview at: Napa Register

First Woman MP in Bahrain

2006-10-17T22:22:00.000-07:00

Bahraini Latifa Al Gaoud has made history by becoming the Gulf's first woman MP after she was elected unopposed from her constituency.

"When I entered the elections race in 2002 as a candidate for constituency one in East Riffa, I reached the second round against MP Jassim Al Saeedi. I had hoped to win, but lost by a narrow margin. But I didn't give up.

"People will be looking up to me as the first woman MP, and hopefully I will not let them down. she was quoted as saying by Gulf Daily News. She added that, "The most important thing is raising the standard of living for Bahrainis."

Living the Width of Life

2006-10-17T07:43:00.000-07:00

I don't want to get to the end of my life and find that I lived just the length of it. I want to have lived the width of it as well. - Diane Ackerman

Because There Were no sports for girls In her town

2006-10-16T21:56:00.000-07:00

Last Friday morning I saw just a BLIP on the news about this little girl in a country far away (I really wish I had been paying more attention to this story. I've searched around the Internet trying to find this story with no luck).

Anyway...this little girl roller skated under this car, while doing the splits. Not an easy feat to say the least.

At the end of the story they explained that this little girl did this because there were no sports for girls in her town.

Now You Can Get Your Own Well Behaved Women Bumper Stickers

2006-10-15T21:41:00.000-07:00

I know many of you are looking to get your hands on your own Well Behaved Women Rarely Make History Bumper Stickers. You can get your own stickers and other cool products by clicking here or on the bumper sticker sample above.

Wisdom teeth pulled, or go swimsuit shopping?

2006-10-08T19:44:00.000-07:00

58% of women would rather lose their jobs than gain 75 pounds.

56% of women would rather have a smaller waist than a higher IQ.

Over 25% of women would rather have their wisdom teeth pulled than go swimsuit shopping.

(Taken from Women's Health Magazine Oct. 2006)

Living LIFE...like you'd die tomorrow...

2006-09-28T19:17:00.000-07:00

I received the following email from a dear friend today. This email filled me with so many emotions. I'm not going to say anymore, I'll just share it with you...

One of my unexpected birthday gifts was a wonderful shirt from one of our customers named Marc. He's a lovely guy, married...don't get any ideas. He surprised me with it, no man has ever bought me anything...that fits and suits me.

Marc lives with cancer. He has a plastic tube stapled to his stomach. They told him he only
had 2 years to live, it has been four...

Last week his blood tests results were bad. He has to take the train up to another city,
because he is the guinea pig on this new experimentation....I think, when he got back he got
news he did not want to tell us. He suddenly decided to buy a motorcycle and get a new tattoo
he knows will enraged his wife.....then he went and got me this present. I was a little uneasy
about it, but today I talked to him and got the feeling he knows what we don't...he simply said:
At this point, I will do everything that pleases me....and giving you this gift pleased me. You
are a great mother to your daughter, you are broke and couldn't do this and I can..........!

Talking about being left in the dust. Marc humbles me in a very strange humanly serene way.

Katie Makes History

2006-09-05T23:09:00.000-07:00

Tonight on "CBS Evening News," Katie Couric made history as the first solo female anchor of a broadcast network evening newscast. She's the first woman hired to anchor one of the three network nightly newscasts on her own. Other ladies like Barbara Walters, Connie Chung and Elizabeth Vargas only got their jobs in partnership with men.

Check out Katie's blog at: Couric & Co

Great Bumper Sticker...

2006-09-02T20:53:00.000-07:00

It Simply read: Fail Until You Succeed

She MADE IT!!

2006-09-01T14:15:00.000-07:00

It's official. Jane Tomlinson has made it to New York -- her final destination. So far I can't find any US news reporting this. But I did find these stories : Tomlinson Completes US Trek
Emotional Jane Pedals To Victory

Hopefully I'll be able to get some pictures of this up soon.

Update On Janesappeal.com

2006-08-31T18:21:00.000-07:00

9:45 Battery Park, New York this Friday Morning

Jane will be there

Jane's ride is almost over with. I can't believe this woman. To see the latest blog visit: http://janesappeal.com/?m=2006&w=35

This is one of those times I wish I could be there to see this woman end her long journey. She is such a great example of what a woman can accomplish when she sets her mind to something...no matter how bad she feels.

GO JANE -- We LOVE YOU!!

For the Motor Woman In You!!

2006-08-31T18:08:00.000-07:00

Here's a great site I came across today. The lady that started it, Kathy Jarvis, just won the National Rally America run in Ojibwe Forest, Bemidji, MN. I can honestly say I've never heard of these types of races, but they sure look like fun.

Check out her website femmefatale motorsports

Who is Kathy Jarvis?

Kathy has been a professional Stunt Woman for the past 13 years working in the feature film and television industry. She has performed many high-risk vehicle stunts: from turning over a completely flame-engulfed Chevy Suburban in Chill Factor, to jumping a Minivan 8 feet high, 82 feet long for a Taco Bell commercial. She has crashed through buildings and into glass atria. She has performed many high-speed chases. She has deliberately (and safely) hit people, and slid sideways into, over and along the side of cameras and crew.

In 2001 off-road driving legend Ivan Stewart, encouraged Kathy to start a female Protruck team. Sadly, that year she was diagnosed with a pituitary tumor and suffered consequences from a botched surgery, which caused a brain aneurysm. The tumor was left intact, and the aneurysm and surgery cased trauma to the pituitary gland. This created many other health problems. Kathy’s Protruck pursuit vanished as she concentrated on her health.

To promote her healing, Kathy turned to a holistic medical approach and declined synthetic drugs. She expanded her yoga program, embraced Qi Gong, NET chiropractic and acupuncture professionals for treatment---she nurtured her femme.

While healing she continued working as a stunt professional. In February of 2006 Kathy attended Team O’Neil Rally School to continue honing her driving skills. During the 4-day program she embraced Rally racing, Three months later she bought and personally prepped and raced in her first race at STPR, known as the fastest and toughest rally to finish in North America.

Kathy is now on a mission of making her Protruck dream come true. She will drive a Protruck in the 2006 Tecate SCORE Baja 1000. Kathy will take it one huge step further. She will attempt to finish the Baja 1000 driving solo, to become “Ironwoman”!

Check out her website femmefatale motorsports

Yeah......oh bummer...

2006-08-31T17:34:00.000-07:00

You ever get totally excited about finding out something and then get the biggest let down?...that TOTALLY happened to me today.

I never know where my searches on the Internet will go, and today I thought I found it. A MAGAZINE that sounded so wonderful it sounded too good to be true.

YES you're seeing that right. A Sports illustrated For Women I was so excited. Yipee...then I saw it.

Sports Illustrated Women magazine (highest circulation 400,000)
- Launched in March 2000
- Ceased publication in December 2002 because of a weak advertising climate

AGHHHH.....

But then...I did find this....Sporting Woman Quarterly It's something I'm definitely checking out more of. I've only really been able to view it in Explorer. It's okay, but not quite what I'm looking for.

Where's the Media????

2006-08-28T18:29:00.000-07:00

Okay, I've talked about Jane Tomlinson in my other blogs and on my website doingitherway.com Jane has terminal cancer. She is doing this ride across American for two reasons, She's raising funds for various cancer research and she rides to show that people with a terminal prognosis can still lead an active and fruitful life. Death doesnÂt arrive with the prognosis. Jane was told she had 12 months to live back in 2000.

As she rides these last few days completing her 4000 mile bike ride in New York -- the media has pretty much avoided her story. Why? This is the biggest endurance event done by someone with terminal cancer in the world!

There's a good chance if you're reading this someone you knew or know, has cancer. I had a good friend pass away from cancer at it was not easy seeing her so sick. Jane is so brave, still very sick, and just completing chemotherapy just a few weeks before she started out on this endeavor. You know this is something very dear to her heart.

Please read her travel diary from today: http://janesappeal.com/?m=2006&w=35

If you can contribute, even just a little -- it will make a difference. If you know she's coming through your town, let the media know. Cheer her on these last few days that she has on this ride. Let's show her how proud we are of her determination and her desire to give hope to others who are suffering from Cancer.

To donate visit: http://janesappeal.com/?page_id=5

That Troublemaker Florence Nightingale

2006-08-26T12:48:00.000-07:00

Can you imagine saying to your daughter, "I can't believe you want to be a nurse. I'm so ashamed. What are people going to think?"

Well that's what Florence Nightingale heard from her family when she told them how badly she wanted to be a nurse back in the 1800's. During this time only poor women, sometimes homeless or prostitutes were nurses. Not upstanding citizens of the community.

Florence's desire to be a nurse was even stronger when she met Elizabeth Blackwell. Dr. Blackwell was the first woman to qualify as a doctor in the US. You can imagine what Dr. Blackwell had to go through and the prejudice she endured to become a doctor. I can just imagine her talking to Florence about her desire to become a nurse -– and the pep talks she gave her.

Florence had to actually sneak to study nursing because her family was so horrified of this interest she had. Thanks to Florence's determination to do what she loved to do - nursing - it would take Florence 6 years to get her fathers permission to become one. Now Florance is widely known as a pioneer in nursing and hospital reform.

What would have happened had Florence given it to alridiculeiducle for wanting to be a nurse so bad. What would have happened to nursing as we know it? And what would have become of Florance?

Isn't it interesting that now we look at Florence Nightingale as someone to admire. Weird how that works isn't it?!

Jill Carroll

2006-08-25T09:17:00.000-07:00

For the last two days I’ve been reading the account of Jill Carroll’s 82 day hostage ordeal. This woman first had some real guts going to Iraq to be a freelance journalist in the first place. That in itself is not an easy job. She explains that she didn’t want to be stuck in a cubicle writing articles, so instead went to cover the war in Iraq.

To get her stories in Iraq she would have to brave riding around to interview government officials as well as everyday Iraqi citizens. With people being kidnapped, and bombs blowing up cars on a daily basis, you’ve got to be a pretty strong individual.

One of the many videos Jill made pleading for her life.

To help you understand this even more, moments before Jill was taken hostage she was leaving an interview appointment that never actually happened. A truck was backing out making it impossible for her car to leave. Men appeared with guns by this large truck, and at first Jill thought nothing of it. Seeing men with guns was a regular occurrence as far as she was concerned. But these men with guns weren’t trying to get this truck backed out, they were there to take Jill hostage. In a few moments her translator was killed right in front of her, she was kidnapped, and no one knew exactly where she was for the next 82 days.

Jill Coming Home -- AP PHOTO

If you have the time, I highly recommend you read Jill’s account of what happened at:

http://news.yahoo.com/s/csm/ojilloneintro

If you do anything, watch the last three video clips on this page. They are very short, but very powerful.

http://www.csmonitor.com/specials/carroll/multimedia/part9.html

If Rock Climbing Is Your Thing...

2006-08-23T08:35:00.000-07:00

Now I'll admit, rock climbing really isn't my sport. I did it a few times in college, but it just didn't blow my hair back.

But there are some of you out there who LOVE it and are quite good at it.

So I'm letting you know that Katie Brown, former world champion, well known climbing writer and one of the best rock climbers in the world, has started writing a blog about her climbing life and adventures for YourClimbing.com. "Katie Brown's Rock Talk" debute this month on the new online community site for climbing enthusiasts.

The blog can be found at www.yourclimbing.com/blog/katie

I found something rather ironic in one of her blogs. Katie talks about how she doesn't like hiking that much (which I'd rather do any day than climb a rock wall) and how she hated it as a kid. You can read it at: http://www.yourclimbing.com/blog-some_kind_of_rest_day In the same year when Katie's mother finally didn't make her go with her on her hikes anymore is when Katie really got into climbing and quickly gained international attention.

About Katie Brown

Based in Boulder, Colorado, Katie is a professional climber and a Rock Climbing Ambassador for outdoor clothing company Patagonia. In addition to serving as enthusiast-in-chief for YourClimbing.com, she writes a regular climbing column for the Boulder Daily Camera newspaper and her writing regularly appears in the pages of climbing magazines. She is currently finishing up a book about the top climbers of her generation, for Falcon Press.

Katie started climbing in a gym at age 12, and quickly gained international attention for her talent by winning the Junior Nationals in 1995 and the World Junior Championships in Laval, France, a few months later. She's well known as being the first woman to on-sight a 5.13d, Omaha Beach in the Red River Gorge of Kentucky, in 1999. As a teenager, she won both the World Cup and the prestigious ARCO Invitational and was considered by many climbers to be the "world's best female sport climber."

In her 20s, Katie has traded competition for traditional climbing. Recently, she freed Yosemite's West Face of the Leaning Tower (5.13b A0) with climbing legend Lynn Hill. She was one of the climbers featured in Chris Sharma's film, Pilgrimage, about a bouldering pilgrimage by Sharma, Katie and Nate Gold to a sacred village in India where thousands of unclimbed boulders sit amid ancient Hindu temples. Other recent exploits include a trip to the Mediterranean island of Malta for deep water soloing, climbing sheer cliffs over the ocean with no protective gear.

Katie is a strong advocate for environmental protection and sustainability, and she believes in the importance of climbers doing their sport responsibly. "Climbing involves a careful balance between us and the environment, so we want to always be sure to take care of our resources so that we can continue to climb in areas that we love best," she says.

Talk About Frustrating!!

2006-08-22T09:05:00.000-07:00

I'm always on the look out for cool sites for women. And I think I probably found one. There's only one problem with it, it's not in English. It's called Female Living

If you're lucky enough to be able to read it, enjoy!

8/20/06 Liv and Ann are at it again!! YEAH!!

2006-08-21T07:15:00.000-07:00

A few years back I read the book, "No Horizon Is So Far" about Liv Arnesen and Ann Bancroft's journey across the Antarctica. I LOVED this book. The courage and determination of these women is awesome.

COLD?? I'd say a little...

I forget the weight of those sleds but they are like double of what they weigh...if not more. When it was flat, these ladies would actually be pulled by large type kites along the ice. They actually hoped to do that a lot more, but weren't able to because of the rough conditions.

And here they are at the South Pole. You go girls!!!

Now in March of 2007 they are planning another journey across the Arctic ocean. I pulled the following from their site... Bancroft Arnesen Explore which I highly recommend you check out.

Ann and Liv will begin their journey from Ward Hunt Island in Canada in March 2007. From there they will ski unsupported to the Geographical North Pole. The projected skiing route is approximately 850 kilometers long (about 530 miles). The expedition will be unsupported. I.e. no materials or supplies will be delivered to Ann and Liv; everything needed during the 2-months trek will be in Ann and LivÂs sleds from the starting point. The women will get resupplies at the North Pole and the exciting challenge for the team is that they will not know how long the total expedition will be, before they get closer to the North Pole and learn how and where TARA has drifted. The plan is to reach TARA in May and have transportation off of the ice the time TARA will change crew and scientists for the following year. Ann and Liv plan to have millions of kids follow their journey and learn about dreams, preserverance and courage. Join Liv Arnesen and Ann Bancroft by logging on to www.BancroftArnesenExplore.com for updates from the ice, Journey's Toward Peace K-12 curriculum and classroom activities to participate in during the expedition.

Here are some pictures of them training for this trip...

Camping in the Arctic Twilight

Now that's beautiful!

I'll be talking more about these ladies in the coming months. I can't wait for their new adventure. What's so cool about these ladies is they call in daily with reports etc for students around the world. So we can also get the benefits of this as well.

8/17/06 Buzzard, Bat, Bumblebee

2006-08-21T07:14:00.000-07:00

Someone emailed me this today and I really liked it. I don't know who the author is, but it's got a great message....

BUZZARD

If you put a buzzard in a pen that is 6 feet by 8 feet and it is entirely open at the top, the bird, in spite of its ability to fly, will be an absolute prisoner. The reason is that a buzzard always begins a flight from the ground with a run of 10 to 12 feet. Without space to run, as is its habit, it will not even attempt to fly, but will remain a prisoner for life in a small jail with no top.

BAT

The ordinary bat that flies around at night, a remarkably nimble creature in the air, cannot take off from a level place. If it is placed on the floor or flat ground, all it can do is shuffle about helplessly and, no doubt, painfully, until it reaches some slight elevation from which it can throw itself into the air. Then, at once, it takes off like a flash.

BUMBLEBEE

A bumblebee, if dropped into an open tumbler, will be there until it dies, unless it is taken out. It never sees the means of escape at the top, but persists in trying to find some way out through the sides near the bottom. It will seek a way where none exists, until it completely destroys itself.

PEOPLE

In many ways, we are like the buzzard, the bat, and the bumblebee. We struggle about with all our problems and frustrations, never realizing that all we have to do is look up. Sorrow looks back, worry looks around, but faith looks up.

8/16/06 Women and Boarding...

2006-08-21T07:13:00.000-07:00

A friend of mine at work today talked about a local event happening called Board Stock (www.boardstock.com) I thought it sounded interesting and started to do a little investigation. I tried desperatly to find something about women participating. One of the big events is wakeboarding.

In my little search I came across this article and found it very interesting. I guess this is where I get so frustrated with women in sports and the lack of coverage and opportunities to compete.

Women walking around wearing little bikin's are just fine and quite wonderful. Yet that same little bikini wearing babe wants to play with the boy's, everyone gets a little nervous and a woman finds there isn't a lot of opportunity out there playing like the boys.

Now this story is was written in 2003, maybe things have gotten better. But here's a quote from this story.

"During the past two years, the Pro Tour cut many of the stops for the women. The women went from having six or seven events to the present number of two. There used to be a Women's Pro Tour Champion, but they stopped awarding that in 2001."

This is really very sad to me. The gentleman who wrote this story I think did a pretty good job in saying..."What the hey people? We really need to get on the ball here and do more for women who rock at wakeboarding."

To read the whole article visit: Respect For The Women

BUT THERE IS GOOD NEWS....

In writing this blog I JUST came across something very cool and gives me hope. It's called: BoardFest

(I just have to say this, it's very odd I found this site. I thought the name of the event going on this weekend was boardfest and I typed that in, instead of boardstock. This is just how my life works, and it's pretty cool if you ask me.)

This event is happening over labor day weekend in Huntington Beach, CA. It doesn't include wakeboarding, BUT it does include skating, surfing and yes they're brining in the snow for snowboarding!

BOARDFEST’S UNIQUE ALL-GIRL EMPOWERMENT AND ACTION SPORTS FESTIVAL RETURNS TO THE HUNTINGTON BEACH PIER OVER LABOR DAY WEEKEND

HUNTINGTON BEACH, Calif. – Boardfest ’06, the largest and most unique empowerment experience of its kind for GIRLS, returns to the Huntington Beach Pier over Labor Day Weekend, September 2 to 4. The surf-skate-snow inspired festival showcases music, fashion and interactive exhibits along with underlying themes of health, beauty, fitness and charity. More than 100,000 spectators, primarily ‘tween, teen and kids, attended Boardfest in 2005.

Where action sports, music and life collide, Boardfest ’06 (www.boardfest.com) offers something for every level of involvement, synergistically weaving professional and amateur competitions featuring 100 high-caliber women athletes, beginning and intermediate surfing and skateboarding clinics, makeovers, live bands, education, games, activities and attractions while spreading the important message of staying active and healthy. The vast majority of Boardfest is open to the public free-of-charge.

Separate Boardfest “Zones” for Entertainment (music, fashion shows, performers, motivational speakers), Kids (games, rides, activities), Surfing (competition, clinics, exhibits), Skateboarding (competition, clinics, exhibits), Snowboarding (demonstrations, technology, exhibits) and Interactive (displays, attractions, education) clearly define the Boardfest venue and afford substantial branding and messaging opportunities.

The Boardfest ’06 footprint stretches from ocean to boardwalk, and is more than a football field in length. Nestled against Surf City USA’s landmark pier and the heavily trafficked Pacific Coast Highway, Boardfest capitalizes on a world-class recreational facility which offers parking, restrooms, refreshments/food and spectacular viewing. Nearby surf shops, historical landmarks (Surfing Walk of Fame and Surfers Hall of Fame) and hotels (Waterfront Hilton and Hyatt Regency) further enhance the experience.

“In providing myriad avenues for inspiration and empowerment, Boardfest affords our sponsors and partners with a fresh and potent experiential marketing vehicle to endear their brand to new and existing consumers,” said Event Director Cherie Whyte. “Dynamic initiatives, dramatic events, exciting motivational speakers, potent media story angles and critical strategic alliances will evolve Boardfest and the girl’s empowerment message to a new and higher plateau.”

Entering its third year, Boardfest ’06 is a Boardom, Inc. property. For consumer information please visit www.boardfest.com or call (714) 375-1132. For sponsorship opportunities or press information contact MKM at (714) 375-2188.

8/13/06 Life Is Good

2006-08-21T07:10:00.000-07:00

This morning I was in the Castro in San Francisco. I went to a little eatery and had myself a bagel and coffee. I was on a mission to work on some of my AA homework -- my resentment list. I was going all great guns and writing like crazy. Then in walks this really messed up (mentally challenged) woman to buy a cup of coffee. She wasn't really all there. I felt so sorry for her. She was having all sorts of troubles with her coffee, at one point I thought she was going to cry because she couldn't find the a coffee holder to put around her coffee.

While she's working on her coffee issues, two police officers come in and arrest her...again, apparently. The way they talked this had happened before. They handcuffed her and said they were taking her to jail this time. The lady didn't seem to surprised and the officers didn't say why they were hauling her off. She asked if she could take her coffee with her, she explained she had paid for it. Nope, she had to leave it without it...and then she was gone.

I sat there and thought to myself, " I am such a smuck." It really put a damper on writing my resentments. Here I am listing all these resentments and getting ticked off with life... when I realize restements or not, my life is really good. The truth is life happens and it can get ugly at times. But I'm HEALTHY, both mentally and physically. I'm not in jail or have any reasons to be going there anytime soon. I have two beautiful daughters. I have a job and a car that takes me whever I need to go. I'm still relatively young with a lot more life to live...I am so blessed and have so much to be grateful for.

8/12/06 Finding My Potential

2006-08-21T07:06:00.000-07:00

“Every time one person on the planet reaches beyond
a perceived limitation and expresses their deepest potential, we all benefit.”
– From a site promoting the book “Take 10” a book and its author’s I’ll be talking more about in the coming weeks.

When I started my website, wilddreamcoach.com, I didn’t really know in what direction it was going to go. I just knew I wanted to somehow write about women doing incredible things -- big and small.

The sad truth is there’s a lot of bad news out there. I’m set up to receive news alerts and one of the words I asked for alerts on in the news is for the word woman.

Here’s just a few of the story headlines for one day:

Woman pleads guilty to sex with 14-year-old

Police search for homeless woman after 2 men push her in river

Woman's sight damaged by drugs bought on Internet

Woman charged over baby body find

After plowing through a lot of yuck…I’ll find a gem of a story. One that I can link to on my site, and to possible contact to see if I could write a story on them for my site and other publications.

There aren’t enough motivating stories about women out there. The good stuff rarely makes the headlines. If it bleeds, it leads type of mentality we live in today is depressing, and what good does it really do for us? How many sad depressing stories can we hear before it starts to impact our lives personally?

The thing is there are women out there doing some pretty incredible things. I want the opportunity to get those stories out. I feel the more stories we can read about women doing something challenging (no matter how big or small) it will inevitably make us better women.

Since I’ve sold my work-at-home mom Internet business, I’ve been on this journey to see what my next venture in life would be. What’s so interesting is what I want to do now, isn’t that far from what I’ve done in the past. My focus then was on working with stay-at-home moms to help them find their perfect home business. What I’m doing now is very close to being the same concept. It still comes down to women finding their passion in life. Finding that passion can open so many doors giving us this added energy and zest for life.

About three in a half years ago I stopped drinking. I was a daily drinker and I “thought” I really wrote some great stuff when I had a nice buzz going on. Once I stopped drinking, I thought my writing life was over with. I found it painful to write sober. Coming up with ideas to write about -- felt impossible.

Just in the last few months my passion for writing has emerged again. I finally have a focus and a passion when it comes to writing. I’ve been blessed to have come in contact with some pretty incredible women who I’m able to write about. It’s like everything is finally starting to fall into place. It’s not happening overnight, but the process is happening.

The women that I’ve come across in the past few months have a few things in common. They love what they do and because of that they have a fierce determination to accomplish their goals.

Another thing I see in these women is happiness. Who wouldn’t be happy doing something they enjoy? The key is doing what personally makes us happy. Not what other people think we should enjoy. We’ve got to be true to who we are. We are diverse with so many different interests.

In the ten plus years I’ve helped women find their perfect home business, I would ask them one question. What’s something you consider fun, what do you enjoy doing. More often than not I would get the, “I don’t know” type of answer. We’re good at knowing what we don’t like to do, but when it comes down to listing what we enjoy doing, we can be at a total loss.

If you ask me, life is way to short not knowing what it is you enjoy doing. What’s cool though is it’s never too late to find that one thing that makes you jump out of bed in the morning. You find that one thing, you’re life with change. You’ll find new happiness, you’ll become healthier both mentally and physically and best of all you get to have a whole bunch of fun.

8/6/06 Women and the X Games

2006-08-21T07:05:00.000-07:00

Don't know if you've heard, but the X games in LA have been going on. Maybe you've been watching it on TV. I watched about 15 minutes of the guys competing today.

Women are doing pretty well as far as the Winter X games go, but the skateboarding part of the Summer X games there isn't much hype as far as women are concenred. And Women are rockin! So what's the deal I ask? The winning purse for women in skateboarding is low and they never get any airtime. However, things are changing.

Cara-Beth Burnside poses with her gold medal after winning the Skateboard Vert Women's final at X Games 12 in Los Angeles on Thursday, Aug. 3, 2006. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong)

A few of the women skateboarders met with the ESPN executive vice president for content, on the eve of this year's X Games and made quite impression. They came away from the meeting feeling pretty good.

Instead of a purse totaling $8,000 for women's Street and Vert, they got a deal that pays $15,000 for first, $10,000 for second and $5,000 for third at this year's event. They also laid the groundwork for the women to get some TV time for the first time at next year's X Games. YEAH!!

The truth is...there aren't a lot of women skateboarders. According to the National Sporting Goods Association, of the 10.3 million skateboarders in the United States, only 2.6 million (25 percent) are women. This might not seem like a lot, but it's more than three years ago when women made up only 15 percent of the total number of skaters.

Thanks to women skaters like Cara-Beth Burnside who says, "We believe in it (women's skateboarding) and we just want to make changes for the future so we can make sure there is a future."Mimi Knoop, this year's Vert silver medalist and Karen Jones who took bronze, are making their voices heard.

Thirty three year old (yes I said 33, and she just won the gold medal for the Skateboard Vert Women's final) Cara-Beth is considered a pioneer of women's skateboarding as well as snowboarding. Maybe you've seen her competing and winning at the Winter Olympic games where she was snowboarding. So if it's Summer...she's skating. Winter....she's boarding!

Cara-Beth Burnside competes in the Skateboard Vert Women's final at X Games 12 in Los Angeles on Thursday, Aug. 3, 2006. Burnside took the gold. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong)

8/03/06 My Dream Magazine

2006-08-21T07:03:00.000-07:00

For the past several months I've been looking for a particular magazine. I feel I have blogged about this a little before, but it's really driving me crazy. I'm searching high and low for a "Real Womans" magazine. Not these pansy ladies magazines where the lady on the cover is so perfect...matter a fact she is perfect. She doesn't even look like that in real life because she's been edited and whatever to perfection.

AND don't even get me started on the articles that are in these magazines. On how to look good for your man and how to have the perfect body and how to fit into your bikini this summer.
I want a magazine about women who aren't afraid to get dirty. I want to read about women who have the guts to step out of the box and try something wild and crazy...even when people think they're nuts for doing it. I want to read motivating stories of ladies who are dying of cancer and yet their riding their bike across the united states, who play on a all womans football team, or base jump....where the hell are these stories at?

There are these adventure mags...but they all cater to the male. They apparently can get dirty and have fun while their women are home getting their nails and hair done. But yet there are so many women doing these fabulous things...more women need to hear their stories. Sometimes it just takes hearing that someone else is trying something for the first time, even though they are scared, that can motivate you to possibly try something you've always wanted to do.

The more stories out there of empowering women...the better for all of us.

Last night I was all comfy in my bed, getting ready to drift off to sleep land when it hit me. Create the cover of your magazine. A few days ago this gentleman and his wife were sitting next to my partner and I as we were eating breakfast. I don't remember why he said this, but it's stuck in my head and it won't leave. He was talking about all the things there are to do in San Francisco. He went on to say that if he just put a little effort into finding something to do -- he would find so many wonderful things out there. Things he didn't even know were an option. I kept going back to what he said at the start though...you just have to put in a little effort first and then see what happens.

So I jumped out of bed last night and decided to create the cover of my magazine that I want to find and hopefully write for. Here's the first rendition of it.

I so don't want to start a magazine. I mean there's a part of me that would. The best I can do at this point is just to work on a online magazine. I've been so blessed in the last few months to come across some very incredible woman who are willing to let me write about them. I need to get started and get their stories out there one way or another.

It must happen!!

7/29/06 Geocaching

2006-08-21T07:00:00.000-07:00

Now here's a really cool idea. I've never really wanted a gps unit ever...but then I read about this geocaching and now I'm tempted to go out and get my own unit so I can start doing this. It looks like so much fun. I typed in my little town and Napa and was surprised at all the caches just waiting for me to find. What else is cool is you can also create caches. AND when you find a cache you get a little prize that was left by someone else. But when you take something, you've got to leave a little something too.

"Anywhere on Earth -- it's a sport. It's a hobby. ItÂ's certainly an adventure. And for a growing number of outdoor enthusiasts, itÂs becoming an obsession. Geocaching combines the mental challenge of a scavenger hunt with the physical challenge of hiking through unknown territory. According to geocaching.com -- the online worldwide headquarters for geocaching -- the derivation of the label is straightforward enough: 'geo' as in 'Earth' and 'cache' -- as in the French verb cacher which means "to hide". Geocachers crawl all over the Earth to find items hidden in everything from caves to tree trunks to roadside guardrails. Here's how it works. Members of the geocaching community hide treasures or caches. Since the community is worldwide, the treasures could be a couple of miles or a couple of continents away. As of this writing, there are approximately 290,000 caches hidden in 222 countries."

A really cool thing is this is a great sport for women to get into. Lynn Black of Hershey, Pennsylvania is the worldÂs top geocacher. With a over 16,000, she has found more geocaches than anyone else.

To check it out visit:

www.geocaching.com

7/26/06 Today's the best day ever!

2006-08-21T06:59:00.000-07:00

If we are ever to enjoy life, now is the time, not tomorrow or next year Today should always be our most wonderful day. - Thomas Drier, Author

For so much of my life I always held the notion that my life would be better when...

* I had more money.
* More education.
* Lived in the house of my dreams.
* Drove that car I've always wanted.
* Was in better shape....

I was always about being happy later, like next month or in a few years....That if I finally had all these things I could maybe allow myself to be happy and content.

Over the few years I've learned how important it is to be happy today. Because today is all I have. I even struggle with okay, I'm happy today but then I try to think about all the issues I'm dealing with and I almost try to make myself feel unhappy and so overwhelmed with life. Like it's unnatural in a way to just be content with this very moment, that I'm right where I'm supposed to be in my life today and it's okay!

7/24/06 Wise Words

2006-08-21T06:58:00.000-07:00

Gloria Steinem once advised women that they should strive
to become like the men they had always wanted to marry.

7/22/06 Live Like You Were Dying

2006-08-21T06:56:00.000-07:00

Jane Tomlinso

I came across two stories today that made me do a little pondering...Survival of the Fittest was a story about a woman named Jane Tomlinso. Jane is two weeks into her 4,200 mile ride across American. She's out to raise money for charity. Sounds like a big venture, but something that isn't all that crazy. What is a little out of the ordinary though is Jane was told in 2000 that her breast cancer had spread to her lungs and bones and there was no hope of a cure. She would have 12 months to live. Six years later, Jane is alive and kicking. Well more than kicking Jane is an animal when it comes to exercise and something that might very well helping be Jane to stay alive as long as she has. Yes, she does take some great drugs that's increasing women's life expectancy now when they have cancer as opposed to say in the 70's. Jane also has a very positive outlook on life as well!

Jane just had a sesion of Chemotherapy just 8 weeks ago and suffers excruciating pains in her spine and pelvis where the cancer has attacked her bones...and yet she rides...not little hour or two bike rides around town...but 4,200 bike rides...

When Jane was told she had cancer she had a big turning point in her life. Before she was diagnosed, she was not even a sports woman. In 2003 she completed an Iron Man triathalon, she's ran in several marathons and many long bike rides.

Her 4,200 ride is being billed as the greatest endurance feat undertaken by a cancer sufferer.

Check out Janes site, check on her progress, read her blog, and make a donation: http://www.janesappeal.com/

Marla Streb

The other story I ran across today was about someone I just learned about last week when I was at the mountain bike races in Sonoma. Her name is Marla Streb. She is one of the luna racers and as I started to read about the racers this Marla woman kept standing out. She was very funny for one thing. You could tell by her biography down to a picture of her on her bio card. She's riding a bike with a cell phone in hand. She seems to love danger and the faster she can ride her bike the happier she is. I found out she was married and had just had a baby and I wondered if she would be racing. I went to the races on Sat. and didn't see her. My partner when on Sunday who happens to be a photographer and I asked if she could get some pictures of her which she did. You'll see them below(pictures coming soon).

Then I came across a story of her today Dave Albee: Streb's latest challenge - mountain-biking mom In this story I found out that Marla wasn't always into mountain biking. 15 years ago Marla was working as a cytogeneticist at Duke University and found out she had tested positive for the AIDS virus. She was having to deal with the thought the she didn't have long to live. So she quit her job and traveled to California with her boyfriend in a VW Bus and lived a pretty crazy life for awhile.

The good news was that once in California Marla got retested and found out she didn't have aids after all. She tested a false positive. She started settle down a bit more and got a job. Her mode of transportation was riding her bike to and from work. She fell in love with riding and started racing bikes...

LIVE LIKE YOU WERE DYING

These stories find me just a few weeks after one of my co-workers sister who was in her early 20's went to the hospital because of a really bad headache. She died that same day...the doctors haven't totally found out what happened. Life can be taken so quickly.

I find us humans interesting folk. I so wish, "we all could live life like we were dying"...(great country song by the way) but it usually takes something major in our life to make us realize that we really don't have THAT much time here on earth and we want as much opportunity as possible to live that life we were born to live... to it's fullest... How would you start living your life if you found out you didn't have that long to live?

7/18/06 Mark that off my list of things today...

2006-08-21T06:54:00.000-07:00

If you've ever spent any time in San Francisco there's a good chance you've seen these little yellow go-cart type cars running around. Everytime I see one I always say someday I'm going to rent one of those...just because.

Well yesterday was that day...and I have to say I had more fun than I thought I was going to have.

7/15/06 Cougar Mountain Classic -- Infineon Raceway

2006-08-21T06:53:00.000-07:00

Yesterday I was watching the local SF news and a story came on about this guy who races mountain bikes. His thing is the downhill races. Sounds normal, but this guy is blind. A rider rides behind him and is basically his eyes. The guy lost his eyesite several years ago due to diabetes, but it hasn't stopped him down one bit.

So this had my curisity up to say the least, and I found out more about where he would be racing and realized it was right in my neck of the woods at the Infineon Raceway. I decided that today (Saturday) I'd head over there early and check things out. My other motivation for going was to find some interesting stories about women riders. I've never been to a mountain bike race in my life, have no idea how they work and the different types of races. Let alone who are the big names in the industry. So this morning about 7:30 I hoped on my motorcycle and headed for the raceway in search of some stories and not sure what I was going to get myself into.

Well I found out there were basically three types of riding. There was some road races going on, cross country mountain bike races, and then the downhill mountain bike races. I watched a little of all three and really enjoyed myself. My main goal was to find a woman who I could interview for a possible story. I didn't know where I'd find her, or how I'd find her...I just knew I needed to keep my ears and eyes open.

After watching all three races, the last being the downhill races I made my way back to the concession and racer tents. It's so motivating to be around all these healthy people who are riding their bikes all over the place. These people must really love to ride their bikes because they never get off of them.

I spotted a lady I had seen up at downhill race track and immediatly knew I needed to talk to her. I knew she had to have done the downhill race, downhill racers (after they race, plus their bikes are a little different) are very dirty and dusty looking as compared to the other racers. So here I am trying to track this woman down who is riding her bike all over the place, I finally find her back at her racing tent and go up and talk to her. Once I started to talk to her and her other team members I KNEW I had found an awesome story.

What was so cool about these women is they aren't spring chickens. The three ladies I talked to where Dana Beckstoffer 40, Nancy Harris 49 and the youngest one... Kim Gilchrist 39. They admit they break a lot of things...like their bones, but they really love what they do and it shows. There aren't a lot of women downhill racers. Out of the 200 that were racing there were probably 10 women total. Nancy Harris said it takes a certain woman to race downhill...like lots of testosterone. The truth be told, many women down hill racers aren't straight but these three were which I found rather interesting.

I plan to immediatly start working on a story about these ladies. They all have different reasons for racing downhill and different backgrounds. I think the really fascinating part was their age. You'd think more like a 20 year old would be doing this kind of racing, not someone who is about to turn 5o years of age. I just found it to be so motivating just to be able to talk to them the short time that I had.

Here's a picture of them...

From Left to right, Nancy, Dana and Kim and a dude!

Check out their website at: http://www.nobrakes-racing.com/

Here's a picture of a part of the downhill course
You can see at the top left side some people standing at the top of the hill
and the course zig-zags down the moutain.

Again I didn't know anyone from Adam who was racing, but as I was walking around I saw this guy with a huge video camera wanting to interview this guy and girl below. So I stuck around to see what was up. Well apparently these two are are married. They both race for Subaru and their specialty is cross country mountain biking.

The guy on the left is Jeremy Horgan-Kobelski. I did a little research about the both of them...

JHK is the most prolific American mountain bike racer of the last decade. His 2005 cross country National Championship victory was his forth in a row. His resume also includes three short track National Championships. Before turning pro in 2000 he was 4-time Collegiate National Champion and 2-time Collegiate Cyclist of the Year.

And his little lady on the right...

Heather Irmiger: As winner of the 2005 NORBA NMBS cross country at Brian Head and sixth place overall finisher in the Series, She is a former Collegiate National Champion and as a professional has consistently finished on the podium despite the fact that she was working a full time job. Now she has a full factory sponsorship and can focus completely on racing.

So all in all it was a great day. I met some great people, got some great story ideas and learned a little about the world of mountain bike racing. I can't wait to go to another race!! And by the way, I never saw the blind man race, but I'm glad I heard about him because it got me to go check out something I probably wouldn't have otherwise.

I also want to mention that as I was leaving the event (which by the way is in the middle of no where) there were two ladies riding off down the road -- to who knows where. Once back in Napa I saw three other bikers who racing that weekend (I could tell by their bikes bib numbers) riding back in the direction of the raceway. It's amazing to watch people who really love doing something and feel passionate about it. Like I said, these people do not like to get off their bike, it seems they are more comfortable riding their bikes than anything else.

7/14/06 Are you living your life in the wrong direction?

2006-08-21T06:51:00.000-07:00

I’m in the middle of reading a book I’m thoroughly enjoying. It’s called eat pray love by Elizabeth Gilbert. Right now in the story Liz is in an Ashram in India. She is taking a year out of her life two visit three different countries, learning a little about herself in each area.

What I found rather comical is Liz has decided she should be more silent at this Ashram. She feels she talks too much to everyone. To the point where she is trying to make lunch dates with various people and she feels this has been what she was doing back in the states. So she decides to become silent. She plans to buy four of these badges (not just one) that she can pin on her clothes that says, “I’m in Silence.”

The next day as Liz is scrubbing the temple floors (everyone gets a job they have to work at for several hours a day and Liz is scrubbing floors) she gets a message that she needs to visit the seva Office (seva is a Sanskrit word for selfless service). So Liz heads off to the office to find out she won’t be scrubbing the temple floors for her selfless service. They have a new job for her, Key Hostess.

Key Hostess is basically the person that gets to know everyone and makes sure they are happy. If they have a problem, they are to see the Key Hostess…

I guess what got me here was how we THINK we should act a certain way…even if it doesn’t really suit us and is the farthest thing from our personality. Being silent isn’t what Liz was good at…talking to people, getting to know everyone and making others feel comfortable in new surroundings (being in an Ashram learning yoga and meditation in India isn’t something easy to take on) is something Liz was a natural at and everyone knew it.

Liz says, " I could only laugh later when many of them came out of their meditations to tell me that I had appeared to them during the retreat as a "silent gliding, ethereal presence." So this was the Ashrams's final joke on me? Once I had learned to accept my loud, chatty, social nature and fully embrace my inner Key Hostess - only then could I become the Quiet Girl in the Back of the Temple, after all?

Are you living your life in the wrong direction? Do you think you should be acting differently than who you really are? Isn't it about time you embrace and enjoy who you are instead of who you think you should be?

Just a thought…

7/12/06 What's Going To Happen If I...?

2006-08-21T06:49:00.000-07:00

Taking on a challenge will inevitably change your life in one way or another. And change can be a little scary. Scary enough to pass on the idea of maybe you want to try something new. I do warn that if you do this, the only person you’ll be hurting is you. You were born with your own personal destiny to explore and discover, and it’s never too late to start discovering what it was your were born to do.

The other night I watched a movie called Julie Johnson. I found it very enlightening how this movie portrayed what can happen when a woman decides to take on a particular challenge to better herself. In this instance Julie simply wanted to take a computer class. That’s it, but it changed everything!

See for months Julie had been reading as many science magazines she could get her hands on. She was like an alcoholic who hides their bottles of booze around the house. Only Julie’s hides her magazines in various parts of her kitchen (the last place her husband is going to do much looking).

All Julie wants more than anything is to take this computer course. She asks her husband and gets a resounding “NO, absolutely not”. Well Julie takes the class anyway and her teacher is amazed at her intelligence.

Julie doesn’t even have a high school diploma and is encouraged to take her GED so she can go to college to become a computer scientist.

Sounds good right?! What husband wouldn’t be excited for their wife to pursue bettering herself? Julie has to fight tooth and nail to get what she wants. She ends up leaving her husband, looses all her friends she has grown-up with, becomes a single mom, but still works toward her goal despite the lack of support.

I believe this is why many women don’t step out of their comfort zone to try something new. The thought that friends and family might not support you, that you could loose some friends along the way and people might think you’re crazy. And you know what? You’re might be right. Any or all of those things could happen.

But the question is do you really need friends who won’t support the idea of bettering yourself? Usually friends or family who don’t support your ideas are simply jealous. They don’t have the guts to try something new and they don’t like the idea of anyone showing them up. Who knows, your courage and determination might get someone you know to try something new.

The bottom line is this. Do you want to see life pass you by, simply because of what others might think of you? Or would you rather grab life by the horns and take the ride of your life?

6/15/06 Miracle Woman -- Amy Racina

2006-08-21T06:47:00.000-07:00

Last night I had the wonderful opportunity of going to an REI event where Amy Racina was presenting. She is the author of the book, Angels In The Wilderness. If you haven't had a chance to read this book yet, run...don't walk to your nearest library or bookstore. Amy is a true miracle. By all accounts this woman should not be alive today. Amy is an incredible example of what a determined woman can do when life looks a little on the hopeless side.

I think what I get out of Amy's story the most is that bad things happen in life, no matter what. It doesn't matter if you're a good person or a bad person -- things just don't always go your way. What makes life interesting and ultimately how your bad situation is going to turn out, has to do with your attitude. Amy's attitude is upbeat, positive and just plain grateful and because of it -- she's alive today.

Time after time after time, in Amy's survival story -- there's something good. From not breaking her back or arms in the fall, the fact she could scootch her body down a rocky ravine, the people who found her -- almost didn't go hiking BUT did, to the fact that the paperback book she took along to read was of the Aztecs. What's interesting about this was it was a historical fictional novel about the bloody wars of the Aztecs. The fact that Amy had a gaping wound seemed rather normal after reading about dismembered Aztecs running around.

When listening to Amy last night she commented on all the good things that happened to her during her ordeal and she said, "I don't believe in coincidences." I personally don't either. I firmly believe everything happens for a reason. I had this light bulb moment hit me last night when she said this. I came across Amy's book by chance a few months ago as I was going through my custody battle. Her ideas, faith and outlook on life was just what I needed to hear when I would get discouraged and start to loose my faith. Everything does happen for a reason, sometimes it doesn't make a bit of sense at the time, but as time goes by...the pieces of the puzzle fit naturally and start to make a bit of sense.

Here's a picture of Amy with her original backpack(on her left) she wore the day of her fall. At the bottom of the picture you'll see a little titanium cooking pot. This is the pot she banged on like crazy to let her rescuers know where she was. The bottom of this pot has dents all over it, but she says she still uses it and it works great.

I feel very fortunate to have been able to meet Amy face to face and hope to chat with her more in the near feature.

Check out Amy's website at www.angelsinthewilderness.com
to see if she's presenting in your area. Before you go though I highly recommend you read her book, Angels In The Wilderness it'll make the experience of actually meeting her fact to face -- even better.

5/19/06 Motorcycle Down

2006-08-21T06:46:00.000-07:00

A few days ago I was driving to a job I saw an accident that had just happened, police were just arriving to the scene. As I drove slowly by I could see a mini van type car really smashed up. And then I saw it, a huge motorcycle down. After looking at the messed up car, I knew that the person who was riding that bike probably wasn't alive anymore.

I hate seeing this. Just the day before I had been riding my motorcycle on that very same road.

Later that day I found out that a 60 + year old man was killed riding his motorcycle. At the time they were investigating and didn't have much information. All that was being said was the lady driving the car drifted into his lane, but no answers as to why. It's so amazing how fast a life can be taken.

I've found out tonight a little about the man that was killed. He had just taken up riding motorcycles about five years ago. Didn't like riding in traffic and thought it was safer riding in the morning hours. He was killed at about 9 AM in the morning. The woman who was driving the car has been booked for felony driving under the influence of prescription drugs and vehicular manslaughter.

I write this because it feels good to get my feelings out on paper, but I also write to let you know that any adventure you take on, means taking some type of risk.

There are a lot of people who give me a hard time for riding a motorcycle. But I love to ride. When I'm riding -- everything is good in the world. This last week I was able to take a ride for a few hours. I rode out to a local lake near by. There's nothing that clears my head like a ride. So is it worth risking death to ride?

Well...for me...it is. Riding a motorcycle is my thing. I'm just so thankful I've found my thing. I could sit around and wish it was something else and wonder why I couldn't be content baking cookies. Asking why is a waste of time. It is what it is.

About a week after I bought my motorcycle a young woman was killed riding home her bike from a restaurant. She was riding with a friend of mine who had just waved goodbye to her. She turned left right into an oncoming car (this intersection does not have one of those signs that explains that you need to yield to oncoming traffic) This accident shook me up a bit. Here I was about to live my dream of owning my own motorcycle and this young woman was killed.

I can't explain my love for riding motorcycles. All I know is I hope to do many solo trips on my bike in the future. I want to discover the world on my motorcycle. It's one of my personal adventures.

My hope for you is that you'll find your personal adventure and no matter what...You make it happen.

5/02/06 Wow, it's been a rough two weeks...well months...

2006-08-21T06:41:00.000-07:00

Wow…it’s just been a tough few weeks, well months if you want to get really honest here…but these last few weeks have been really hard. I’m currently going through a custody fight and these types of events in our lives are never pleasant or something you hope to do again in the near future or ever for that matter. Friday it should be over with.

My mind, body and soul is tired. I hate fighting, it wears me out. But when you believe in something strongly, you sometimes have to do things you don’t enjoy doing.

Today I was able to get out and ride my motorcycle for awhile. I haven’t been able to ride it much at all these past few months and wow, do I feel incredible. I LOVE riding my motorcycle. I can’t tell you how calming I feel when I ride.

Everyone has their thing that they love to do that can change a bad day into an incredible day. For some it’s rock climbing, for others it’s a walk on the beach, and then there are those who love to just get out and hike, run, swim…everyone is different and everyone has their own outlet so to speak.

What’s your outlet? If you don’t know or can’t remember it’s time to take some personal time to figure it out. It will change your whole life. I was so amazed when just getting on my bike for a few minutes I was energized and excited about life. I totally forgot what riding my motorcycle does to my psyche.

Here’s to finding your thing….

The Journey

2006-08-21T06:32:00.000-07:00

A few months back I FINALLY got into blogging and I have to say I LOVE IT. I wish I would have done this much much sooner. I had started my blog, but at the time didn't know in what direction I would be going with my blog or with my website.

Well..the good news is, I've finally figured it out. The bad news is I'm going to have to transfer some of my information from my old blog, to this new one. BUT that's okay! I'm not going to complain.

So while the next several posts will look like they have the same date, you'll see at the start of each blog, the actual date it was posted .