Just Sayin'

This popped into my head the other night just as I was going to sleep. 
I'd been speaking with my son earlier in the day about school. He's finally hooked onto something he wants to set his sights on. 
As always, money comes into play. For him, it's school or the car. Not sure he'll be able to do both.
So I sent him an email the next day:

"If you don't take the leap, you'll never know how far you can jump!"

Connecting the Dots

Been a journalist almost all of my life. 

It started when I was nine. I had this affinity for writing down cool quotes on scraps of paper. Things people said. In person. On the TV.

I’d bundle them up into a pile and there they would sit.

Sometime later I’d write something. Picking and choosing the relevance as I went along.

My time in newspapers and magazines has come and gone. Same with television.

I’m here now. In the blogosphere. Still tuning in though.

Last year I caught a re-run of an in-person interview with The Right Honourable Paul Martin. The topic was Aboriginals.

It wasn’t long after I had returned from a volunteer experience in Uganda. Documenting the hope. Helping out in an HIV/AIDS clinic.

It struck me hard. Here we are, so many of us – travelling overseas to help out when we have some serious issues, very similar to what’s going on in Africa for example, in our own backyard.

What are we doing about them?
Are we helping to restore clean drinking water? Building schools? Teaching English?
Nope.

Which had me asking the question.
How can we?
So I contacted the Right Honourable Paul Martin’s office.

Education initiatives, funding, establishing that kind of assistance to help the growing population is all in the works.

But what can I do? 

Like, you and me.

It took a while (six months actually). Last week, I heard back.

The answer.

Inspire.

I do media. I write. Take pictures. Currently I’m studying Electronic Media Design.

The Right Honourable Paul Martin’s assistant suggested I contact the Regional Chief and then some nearby Aboriginal schools and go in and speak with the students.

Educate and inspire them in what I’ve done with my life, so hopefully they’ll want to finish school and carry on. Find hope for their future.

That’s easy I thought to myself after I hung up the phone.

It’s not making clean water or getting rid of mouldy housing. But maybe in a small way it will help.

Give them hope for living.

For life.

Training Love

Can hardly wait for the weekends. Not just because it’s the weekend.

Because I know I can get in a long ride and not feel rushed.

This morning I booted out the door at 5:30am for a Bikram Yoga class. The plan is to set myself up for the pedal to the metal by aligning and strengthening my flexibility.

Balance and core are also key to the build up of mileage. 

It was magic this morning. I become more tuned into my body each class. I don’t have time for everyday. When I go, it counts.

Since sourcing training programs and speaking with pals, those in the know I’ve come up with a regime that time permitting I plan to stick with.

Doesn’t matter the weather. The weekend rides, back to back slow go, build the base are the light in the sky.

This morning as I bent over eyes to my thighs, sweat rolling down between my legs, head to my knees, I asked my temple to take me there.

I also asked for forgiveness for any bad I’ve done in the past.

There’s only good from now on.

Training love.

Spin Spun Fun

Facebook has it’s advantages. Like planting seeds.

In your head that is.

Somehow I got a LIKE on the new Cadence Spin Studio in Vancouver.

Not sure which “Friend” led me there.

Seems the rage these days. They’re popping up everywhere.

Which is great.

More folks are cycling. Gearing up for the RBC GranFondo Whistler or Kelowna.

Or like me, the Enbridge Ride to Conquer Cancer.

Cripey, I started spin classes at the YMCA in Victoria a few years ago now. Remember my son’s father saying, “You’d love them.”
Sure enough, rather then intervals on some side street in the rain - spinning inside is the next best thing.

Pumping tunes. Pedaling energy all around. You’re amongst like-minded passionate cyclists.

They’ve got to be.

Only thing is - the cost.

First class was free for me today. To give the studio a try. I got a wicked Wednesday wake-up with Becky.

Sure I sweat buckets. Loved the new bikes. Music was great. I got a banana afterwards.

But $22 for a drop-in? For 45 minutes.

Yikes.

No question, the rush you feel afterwards is addictive.

As a student, I’ll have to weigh in on my weekly allotment of exercise expenditures.

Minus one Bikram Yoga 90 minute class for one 45 minute spin?

On the positive side, at least you can do drop-ins on either. 

Lower LOVE

Spent two hours in the gym today.

It was miserable outside.

Started off with a spin on a stationary. Got to the fat burn heart rate, which for my age I guestimated to be 114.

Hung out for half an hour. Then hit the mat for some stretching, core, back and the dreaded push-ups.

Pretty pleased I had the time.

Got to the planks and concentrated solely and the flab in the mirror. Not the clock.

Going to get there. I am, I am.

Not like “Sam, I am.” Like I have a goal and I’m going to get there.

Weight Watchers On-Line to peel the bouncy stuff. Constant consultations with pals and those in the know for a training program.

Consistency. Consistency. Consistency.

Most importantly, making the time.

Went to the lower leg weight routine. I spun off some squats, lunges, presses, curls, calves and left the hip abductors to last.

I LOVE the hip abductor machine.

My hips scream at me after a long ride. I do Bikram Yoga to balance everything back out. Seems to work the best for me.

But this hip abductor machine.

We are going to be hanging out a lot.

LOVE working the lowers.

With weights that is.

N.B. Since searching more information on the hip abductor machine on-line, I've since learned the hip abductor exercises are better done standing up with rubber bands. Less strain to the spine.