Finding myself in Crown King

Well, exercise did not happen today.  $5.35 a gallon gas DID happen, many new friends were made and I'm contemplating moving up here.

Here is Crown King, and I'm writing this in the historic saloon.  They're begging me to stay for trivia night.

My new friend Chris.

Chris and I met at Becky's birthday; we met today to work out future business ventures.  While I knew it was a long drive on a dirt road way out in the mountains, I didn't plan on leaving my keys in the car and locking the door.

The first attempt at noon.

Which was ok...since we had work to go over.

At the bar.  No, I didn't fall off a stool.

By 4:30 several mountain men were on the project, utilizing wire coat hangers, slim jim's, screwdrivers, wedges and a long pink hook.

Monty and his pink hook.

Ben, the man of the hour.

So I bought a round...

Success!

Crown King.  I'm ready to move up to this mountain town and join the 88 residents.  The King of Athletics of the Central Highlands will love it-we're coming here in June.

I cannot wait.

Driving up here, I thought I knew how my day would work out; where I would go, what I would learn, what my next steps would be.

Then a simple accident; which while not life threatening and just inconvenient, it changed things.

I sat on a boulder, praying they could get it open.  As hours went by and it looked more and more likely I was going to have three hours (versus one) of mountain roads ahead of me, I did the no-no of throwing out a fleece.

As if the keys locked in the car wasn't enough of a sign.

For the non-religious, "throwing out a fleece" means promising God you'll do something in exchange for answered prayer.  Preachers advise against it; I've personally never tried it.  But I've been looking for signs...right or wrong...I wanted God to show up.  Prove something.  As the hours ticked by and more mountain men failed to succeed, I found my faith tossed and caught by the people around me.  When the tide turned, and success was nearly assured, my heart questioned the fleece I'd thrown (probably why preachers advise against it!)

Despite the cloud cover, I could probably see for over fifty miles.

Driving home, I stopped to appreciate the view.  My plans for the day were waylaid, and in good conscience I could not pick them back up.  

This drive is fantastic, by the way.  Absolutely loved the adventure.

New plans had emerged, new dreams were dreamt.  Puzzle pieces came together, and after months of trying to figure out the picture, I saw it clearly now.

He stood in my way.

With a clear goal now before me, I began to strategize.  The drive home went quickly, and the King greeted me with hot pizza.

It's probably because he signed me up for CrossFit Prescott.

Today did not go as I planned.  It was better.   Who knew I'd find myself in Crown King.

Top Gun Day 2015

I am beside myself.  Top Gun Day?  How had I not heard of this before?

My excuse monster!

I was so excited, I changed my clothes and earrings.

The F-4U Corsair earrings are the finishing touch, don't you think?

As a happy coincidence, I had already planned to hike Constellation trail with Chris.  It being named after a plane just rocked.

I even found aviators.

We live here!!

The entire day (which started off painfully, I woke up with an eye ulcer) has taken on a joyous tone.

How could it not?

Hiking with Chris was fun-I made him do all the typical spot photography.  You know, for comparison purposes.

I cannot believe I've been at this three full months now.

Of course, when I get home, I find this picture, too:

Because whatever are friends for, right?

So we have a great time hiking, and as we come to trail's end we meet a man wearing nothing but shorts, heading out on the trail.

Only in Arizona are they this hardcore.

Yep.  Arizona.

 Did I mention it's Top Gun Day?!

Little date tonight-it's all about the nuclear bombing of Japan in WWII.  As Lad and I are scholars of WWII, we were greatly looking forward to it.

But first, let me take a selfie.

Indian food!!!  Loving Taj Mahal.

Thankfully, the lecture took on revisionist history with verified facts, and my son didn't mind my sweatshirt.  In fact, we spent most of the evening talking about F-14 Tomcats and gleefully told everyone who's listen it was Top Gun Day.

All day, my eye has felt like it's had a needle sticking out of it (eye ulcer's suck.). My hand is extra ouchie, the pinched nerve is tweaking.  Yet my attention wasn't on me, and how I felt.  My attention was on others, and on the silliest of things.  Not only did it make the day bearable, it made it most enjoyable.

The amazing things you learn on a quest.

Exercising while Injured: Kickstart Boot Camp for Women

"When are you going to stop keeping score?"

Sgt Steve of Kickstart Boot Camp for Women

That was Sgt Steve's first comment to me this morning, after I told him about yesterday's fail.  "Why does it have to be a fail?" he asked.  "So you ate chips-so what?  When's the last time you did that?"

Not recently, but the gravy fries AND chips in the same weekend, PLUS all the food at Beck's birthday party?

Sgt Steve dismissed it.  "So you feel 'fat' today.  Instead of beating yourself up, get back on track.  Stop keeping score.  It's ok to indulge if you are consistently eating right and working out-which you are."

My broken hand has wrecked havoc with my weight; hiking causes it to swell, so I took a week off.  Without the additional calories being burned (and the copious amounts of really yummy food) my weight had creeped up a pound.  Or two.

 Or three...

So it's cardio carnival.  Early, I had posted this:

Bacon was on my mind.

I dreaded today's workout.  I didn't want to be breathless.  I wasn't keen on sweating.

Then I went.

Coach Troy likes to say no one ever regrets a workout.  We argue about that; I say there have been many workouts I regret, and I rarely, if ever, feel good at the end.

Wrong.

Dang it.

Just had to be right, didn't you Troy?

For the very first time in my life, I was fitter than the workout.  What was strenuous and difficult in February was a pleasant half hour in May.  My heart rate elevated, but I didn't gasp for air.  I easily handled it (but I need to do more kegels-lol!  All that jumping...) and I felt good afterwards.

A breakthrough.

Other highlights today?  Bowenwork works for me.  I have the best girlfriends on the planet, willing to talk me off the limbs I keep testing.

You all know why I love you so much ❤️ 

Other exciting news?  Javelina Leap's Chenin Blanc is delightful with smoky grilled pork chops and asparagus roasted in cumin oil.

Interesting how a good workout makes for a good day overall.

Well, right until I had to post these.

Same pants and location; pitching those gray yoga pants tomorrow.  

Hmmm... I was wrong again.  You can see a better difference.

Will wonders ever cease?

Yep, it's been a pretty good day.

Tired and mad.

Today, I worked.

In patriotic clothing, of course.

No workout.

No hike.

My hand really hurt.

I was careful of my fuelings until...well until 7:30pm when I ate a half a bag of chips with three beers.

Due to emotional distress, of course.

And a strawberry creamsicle.

Tomorrow is another day.

A Very Long Day

Today started at midnight (like it does every day) but for a change, I was awake.

Laurie's getting married!!!

No, I didn't break my hand again.

Everyone was genuinely concerned that might happen, especially the King.

I was fine.

I am genuinely interested in how many calories dancing burns, since I decided to have gravy fries at 2am.

Chris had chicken and gravy fries.  This was before the golden Tutankhamen chick came in with her glitter shower.

I got home just shy of 3:30am.  I think Red Bull had something to do with my stamina.

Amazing stuff, that Red Bull.

So, dogs don't understand "sleeping in."

Up at 7am...and we are off on a hike.  It's my first in a week; we did the ridge line across the road.

Our house is in the far distance.

We went three miles, and I admit I was pretty sore heading up some of the hills.  We hiked through BLM land, and had a (thankfully) uneventful encounter with four bulls and a herd of cows.  What is remarkable about the hike is we both forgot to bring water, and I was fine.

It's Mother's Day, and one of my children decided to go against my wishes and celebrate it.

Parry got me DUKE'S!!

For the uninitiated, Duke's Mayonnaise is only available in the Deep South.  I am addicted to the stuff.  Parry also roped her brother into a dance routine to "Shut Up & Dance"-my current favorite song.

I danced with Lad, too.

Mother's Day.

Ugh.

19 years ago, it was my very first.  I remember waking up and seeing this beautiful, dark haired, three month old baby girl in her cradle by my bed.  She was still sleeping, and my heart broke as I watched her sleep.  Her daddy was dead.  

The depth of grief that broke from my soul lingers every Mother's Day since...I have never been able to reconcile it.  I have but one hang-up left from being widowed at 24:  a dislike of Mother's Day.  To me, more are hurt on this day than are made joyful.  My first Mother's Day was the most disappointing day of my life-for indeed, it is the father of your child who makes it special.  Mine was newly in the grave.

My kids laugh at it, and my mother hates that I don't like it.  I do try, but it's hard.  Every year I am taken back to that moment; it's an interesting side effect of being widowed so young.

So being Mother's Day, the King takes me to brunch at The Local.

Carrot Cake with Cream Cheese frosting!

My friend Sheryl is co-owner, and the pimento grilled cheese was just as fantastic as she promised!!!

We headed to the Wine Festival downtown immediately after, and meandered through the art fair.

Page Springs Cellars was a favorite for us both.

I started fading on the way home; I laid down at 4pm for "just a quick nap."

Yep.

I woke up at 8pm.

My hubby & kids had gone to see my mother for Mother's Day, I had a vague memory of them leaving.

Happy Mother's Day, mom.  Sorry I crashed this afternoon!

Parry made me a bacon and provolone sandwich when she got home, and I know I'll likely see midnight again tonight due to my prolonged nap.  

It's been a long day.  

But an extremely good one.

The Morning After (Captain's Log, supplemental)

Regret is not a word that describes me.

I love to live-I cannot change the past.  The only "what if" I can change is the one right in front of me today.

Last night we celebrated Becky's birthday-it was awesome to gather in celebration.  I think we all may need to do it more often.

Hiking partner Becks blowing out her birthday candles.  It's a cheesecake!!

Last night I ate cheesecake, corn, potatoes, kale & a Bloody Mary burger at her birthday party.  I regret none of it.  When I chose to do something, I go all out.

This morning, I am all about my legs

Oh, I am a vain girl when my legs are deliciously sore.

For two weeks, I've been limited with the broken hand.  Hikes had to be less intense as I need my trekking poles for tough ones (and my hand makes that impossible), workouts have been nonexistent while I lined up new trainings to fit around my broken hand.  I've tried to remember to do at least 45 squats a day (without weight) but this past week I even missed those.

So while the King of Athletics of the Central Highlands may give me a wry smile when I delight in my 65lb barbell squats (I did 60)- I am beyond thrilled.

I didn't lose everything when I broke my hand.

I didn't forget my form.

My core was much stronger than before (and I used it!)

I held a plank for 45 seconds without crying (six times.)

My reward is sore thighs today; my glorious calves (oh, I'm pure vanity today) don't feel any different.  They're not sore as they already rock.

I can feel my gluts, my hamstrings and my quads; tight from the workout. 

I absolutely love it.

I love that when I struggled near the end of each set, I remembered to engage my powerhouse and push through.

I love that I did more than I thought I could (oh, I know it's baby stuff.  But it's MY baby stuff.)

I love that I now know it wasn't a passing infatuation with lifting.  I love it.  This has GOT to be a regular part of the Quest.

And I want my son to join me.

He ate too many Nastee Dogs yesterday.

I am very proud of the relationship we have; I'm the only mom I know with a son who puts his arm around his mom at the age of 14.  We do monthly little dates to Embry Riddle for Aviation History lectures, but the last one is this week until fall.

What if he becomes my lifting partner instead?

The King likes the idea.  I love the idea.

I don't want to compete-that's too in the box.  My son well knows I'm getting fit and want to stay fit so I can hike with HIS son, which is not even a possible reality for another 20+ years (if ever.) In the meantime, I've only got him in my life daily for the next four years.  So to little date at CrossFit?  I don't think I'd ever regret that.

I like that.

A lot.

Time to get the King to call The Professor.

 

Exercising while Injured: CrossFit

I woke up at 4am, and drifted back to sleep at 6am.  Thankfully, I thought to set an alarm for 7:45am.

Of course, that gave me just 15 minutes to get ready to go...

Yeah, I know maize isn't attractive, but it was cold, and it covered my butt.

Today I was back at CrossFit Prescott, and curious how The Professor could modify a training for a broken hand.

At least he was smiling.

Despite the desire to return, I had still dreaded walking in.  Perhaps this is a throwback to school yard pick-ems when I was always being picked last?  Now injured, seemed even more apparent I "didn't fit in."

Oh, yes, my wingman showed up.  Hadn't seen him in over a month, but there he was.

It took Joey a few minutes to figure out my workout-he was very aware of the limitations and possible further injuries that could occur, and worked within those limited parameters.  In the end, I did five sets of modified shoulder squats with chains (stabilizing both up and down, Joey explained), the agility ladder with hands at stomach, plank and butterfly sit ups.

We did video.  I erased 2/3rds of it.

I was soooo done-I still had two sets to go!

Today took quite a bit of modification, trial & error.  Tonight my legs feel that slight twinge of exercise-I admit it's a good feeling.  (My shoulder, however...argh.  Totally tweaked all day.). I was delighted to be back at the place I wanted up be; even though limited.  I left a sweaty mess, and something in me liked that.  I *know* I actually worked out today; I don't always feel like that.

Let's chat a minute about the "exercise high" that some people feel.  I rarely feel good after exercise-and I wonder if only the 20% actually feel good when it's done.  I do admit I am on a high at the end of every Canyon hike, but after an hour workout?  Not very often.  I believe the brain must be engaged in the activity to have it-and I'm not often in compliance!

Frankly, I'm far more concerned with what type of princess I am.

I want to be at CrossFit, but I love Pilates.  To fuse the two together would be incredible-because I know how much I'll love my sore legs tomorrow.

It was a bad camera day.  I think when I tweak my shoulder, everything else goes to pot.

Tonight we celebrated Becky's 39th birthday; enjoying good food and great friends.

Cheesecake birthday cake!  

On the way home, it snowed.

On May 8th.  Really.

During the night I awoke many times from my dreams, all involving classrooms and teachers.  My legs had become deliciously sore-the result of a perfect workout.  My dreams shifted to a blackboard, filled with quotes.  I started erasing many of them to please the teacher, and began to write my own.

No, I couldn't read it.  It was just a dream.

No hikes this week, did you notice?

So much to figure out...