Resolutions?

And we are up and running....

 

Ride Scottsdale made money this weekend:)

Greenie is back on her home turf and we are learning the ropes.  We launched one, this week two more, and then there's the peaceful coup.

So that means I can start exercising again.

 

I'd rather kitten cuddle, but....

It's been two months since I did Pilates.  How this happens I do not know, as I was so faithful for seven weeks, my legs looked amazing and my abs had reappeared.  Then we got busy and I went to a conference and found my tribe and hiked to the top of a butte and then went balls to the wall on Ride Scottsdale instead of Ride Prescott and pulled the trigger and wow.

How is it almost October?

Football!!!!  It's time for football!!!!  And Dutch Bros;)

At work, I'm writing letters of intent (meaning I plan on submitting for a grant) and I'm intrigued by possibilities.  With Ride I'm trying to keep my head above water, coordinating two locations at once and hoping both are successful...and we've already had challenges.

 

 Good lord.  Do not mess with me.  Kyle can testify I'm not to be trifled with;)

So with the successes and challenges, my body reminds me it needs a break from the stress.

 

This did help.

 

As did making these...

But in truth...I need to get outside.  I also need to get serious about regular exercise.

Again.

Because as much as I hate it--it helps.  As much as I rebel--it's a necessary evil.  

I contend that I simply need a partner, a cheerleader.

 

Not a cheerleader?  Sigh.

So once again....

https://g.co/kgs/EW0nIw

Pilates.  This week.  Really.

And maybe a good hike as well....

Master Plans

One of the many blessings in my life is the unquenchable desire to learn.

 

I've recently learned that hair like fire suits me wonderfully:) 

At work, that translates into me seeking to do more:  in this case, grant writing. 

 

Of course I added bridges...it would be visually stunning.

Health & wellness, the impact of trails in a community, bicycling and walking have moved up on my priority list.  I find myself applying the 80/20 principle to the data and continually see stunning regularity in the results.  With this in mind, I am challenged to create a proposal not from the perspective of the 20% elite, but rather the 80% who would supposedly benefit.

It's a lot harder than you'd think.

 

Meet Harbaugh & Cuda, the latest additions to the family.

These two silly kittens continually make me smile.  Their antics delight me, and I have no clue what mischief their curiousity will bring them to next.

Kinda like work.

Curiousity of the world of grants has not necessarily brought out the best in me.  I am somewhat appalled by the elitist call to conformity that so many bow and scrape to....all to gain that almighty free dollar.  

Free dollar.  Much of it actually the hard earned taxes of the American worker.

 

Hard work:  these flowers brought no wealth to the worker, but instead pride, scent & beauty, which was then freely shared with others.

So when I heard about plans for a Year of Healthy Communities?

Sigh.

Mischief.

 

I have an eye infection I'm really hoping my boss doesn't pick up on...too much to do!

I'm toying with calling out the 20%.

Across the board.

The exercise freaks, the cultural elite and the nerds.  The health nuts, the free spirits and the entitled.

 

If this a rebellion, I rebel.

Conformity?  Just to win a grant?

Can't do it.

There's a fire in my belly.

Maybe it started with my hair :)

Red

It's fall.  Which means it's time to go red.

 

Before.

I love my summer ombre...but I need red.

Flame red.

On fire red.

Ready to light up this city red.

Whistle at me 'cause my hair begs for attention red.

 

Jean Grey red...

 

Black Widow red....

The kick your butt I'm here red....

So I was inspired by this:

 

Knowing I want ombre...I don't look great with too much red.

But, oh.  To have rooster tail red!!!

What does red hair have to do with fitness?  It took me three months to decide to bite the bullet.  Jump off the cliff.  

I had to prepare my mind first.

This is "please give me attention" hair...was I wanting that?

 

Um...distracted thinking of Cap in the prior picture.  Isn't this the absolutely best scene in any movie ever?!?

Attention.  I want everybody's.

I'm starting a business and I'm go for launch...all systems go and the countdown has begun.  I will use every marketing ploy I know of--including my height by adding heels and dying my hair as fiery as the Sun.

Eight years ago, my ego was struck hard.  It's taken years to recover, and I admit, it's still not back...the confidence I once had to command a stage, the bravado I could muster in an instant.  Like fitness, it's easy to fall from such heights, and it's easy to resist returning.  It's easier to stay down. 

Where they told you belonged.

But I remember....

 

Please note the scepter;)

I've been thinking...a lot.

The only thing keeping me from success in fitness or life is my mind.  I'm conditioning my mind to return to business, to dare to put myself in the spotlight again.  To do what I know I'm very good at, despite prior setbacks.  Red hair and heels?  Props to help me accomplish it. In reality, it's all in that I choose to do this.

For me.  For them.  For us.

Fitness?  

I'm thinking again...working to prove my theory that the mind must be trained to have success.

 

My hair is on fire.

So is my spirit.

I will rise.

Missing my abs

Kyle, who is adorable and the best business partner ever, does not mince words when I ask him questions.

 

He's notorious for pointing out what I need to do.

So when I moaned and complained all weekend about my abs, he was ready with the truth I needed to hear.

"You stopped doing Pilates," he said.

Ugh.

The past week I've been upset about this sudden pooch.  I hadn't gained any weight, everything fits but poof!  There it is.  A pooch.

 

This is Cuda.  Sitting under the pooch.  We get her this week!

Exercise. 

I've been so stressed with Ride launching I've not had time to exercise, nevertheless actually exercise.  My children claim I'm not around as is, and now I'm supposed to add something in?!?

 

They used to love me!

So today I'm on cloud nine, as our soft launch made me happy.  Kyle, maybe not so much, but it went as I suspected.  We have a timeline and a plan for our grand opening October 1st (which hopefully involves golf carts being raced!!) and I'm feeling really good.

 

Saucy.  Sassy.

Did I mention I'll have flaming hair soon?

Exciting!!

But I digress.  I'm supposed to be exercising?!

 

Yesterday's rant on Fitness Quest...

I don't hate exercise.  Well, loathe maybe....

I just find it flipping amazing that talking about it positively put me in the mood.  While talks of hikes has been mentioned lately, and a sudden pooch has appeared, I feel no need to "just do it."

If only I had been born in that 20%!!

 It's like exercise is a large elk haunting me...

I now have SMART goals for Ride:

 

And they are all based on two things:  the opening and the Princess graduating:)

Should I have SMART goals for exercise?  I'd like to announce they don't work but I know they could.

 

Ok, I need her gown and cloak.  I also need her to explain why exercise wasn't necessary up until 100 years ago (much like breakfast) and how we aren't evolved enough to crave it unless we are of warrior blood (I am clearly not) and it's really ok to be part of the human race designed to survive famine and disease.

Really.

You know, you wouldn't see a pooch in that dress.

Pilates.  I must return.  I must get back on track, especially with Ride in launch.  It's just...

 

I have rocks in my yard I didn't know about:). Squirrel!

It's just...

I know it's the right thing to do.  I know I'm capable of doing it.  

I just want a cheerleader.

 

My Ride Prescott cheerleader and I.  It's not fun, I cry too much, but we are go for launch October 1st because he never stopped cheering me on.

While I know I can do it myself, I'm simply aching for a partner.  A reason to show up.

From now on, my abs need to be my partner.  They've gone missing, and apparently I can find them at Sol Pilates Studio twice a week.

Or in a five song workout.

My SMART goal?

Just to show up.

You 20% have no idea.

 

SMART:  SMART is an acronym that represents a framework for creating effective goals. It stands for five qualities your goals should have. They should be specific (get abs back)  measurable (abs reappear) achievable (ugggghhhh) relevant (I hate the pooch) and time-bound (really?!?  There's no dress this time!!!!  But there is an opening.  Hmmmm.). The SMART method is one of the most popular and effective tools for creating realistic and achievable goals. You might be at the helm of a 300-person organization or you might be a small business entrepreneur. Or, you might be somebody who simply wants to shed 20 pounds. Regardless, learning how to set SMART goals can improve your chances of success.

What if I want to wear a certain dress to MY grand opening?

Fitness quest.  Keeping it real 😎

Traditions & New Beginnings

Sixteen years ago today, I was in labor at the church Labor Day picnic.

Manchild is Sweet Sixteen today.

 

He's holding a very sharp weapon.  I made him put it away very quickly!

Being Territorial Days in Chino, I had to get him up early to open presents.  I'm big on birthdays--if I take the time I can recall a memory from almost every one I've had--and it pains me that I had to work.

 

Even though the weather is gorgeous, and it's all hanging out outside....

Chino's parade had been described to me as "a weird Chino parade."  I found it to be utterly delightful-it was a tailgate!!!

 

For two miles--tailgating parade goers.  Never seen anything like it.

They've done this for 30+ years....the only thing I'd change?  Add a few flyovers and make sure everyone in town knows about it next year.  It's a tradition that should continue (along with the 66th annual Corn Dinner) for years to come.

Traditions:  as a historian I love them.  The continuity they provide is foundational in the lives of a family or a community.  Whether a family tradition of getting up early to open gifts (the Viking War Hammer also proved quite popular this morning) or a community parade on a country road; these are things that can be counted on to continue.

Until you get divorced.

Thankfully, the King & I have a great relationship; indeed, I think the best thing we ever did for our marriage was end it.  In all the years of spoiling him with gifts and travels, giving him back his bachelorhood seems to be his favorite.  For our children, however?  My heart aches.

This year his dad was here when he got up.  Next year?

I remind myself he'll be out of the house in two and a half years anywise....and look for the things that can be constants.  

Like our family love of Michigan football....

 

Before the disastrous BWW Bowl in 2013.

And love of warbirds....

 

Manchild as a child, in the nose of a B17 in flight.

And sci-fi....

 

My kids refuse to cosplay!!! But they still love sci-fi!

Today is our soft opening of Ride Prescott, having committed to a huge insurance bill as of yesterday.  My beloved business partner will be manning the wheel this weekend, and I'll join him tomorrow.

 

We are sooooooo not ready for a hard open.

This new beginning reminds me that there is always a time and place to start something new.  It might be shaky at first, but you'll get your bearings.  Years from today I hope to be celebrating a successful company anniversary....right now I'm just nervous, excited and scared all in one.

 

Kinda like falling in love, but not quite as rewarding! 😜😂😘

There are plenty of unknowns in my life right now, but the constants of family, faith and tradition keep propelling me forward.  I can control certain things (although I'm beginning to suspect exercise is NOT ONE OF THEM) and others I simply must have the grace to be patient with.

 

Like waiting in line for three hours so the Princess and her BFF could met musically boy Hunter Rowland.

Happy birthday, Manchild.

 

The joy you bring is immeasurable.  I love being your mom.

Just remember, I get to pin on your wings!!!