I ask myself, do I have those muscles?

Just a little check in to share with you a bit about my first 30 days with Grant Smith.

Remember, Grant?

My personal trainer.

Yes, the man or psycho who inspires me to get up every morning and go the gym.

I've found muscles in my body that I am quite sure do not exist or haven't until now.  One of them.  The rhomboids.  Do you have them?  Do you know where they are?  I didn't up until recently. Yes, they in your back. They may actually keep my shoulders from shrugging or they may help them shrug.  I'm not quite sure but yesterday I did shrugs. Successfully.  

It's about form, he says, it's about pace. 

It's about time I remember I am woman. I don't have rhomboids.  Men, do.  

I love it that he counts my reps for me.  I love it that he hands me my weights. I love it that he racks them, stacks them and makes me play patty cake with them.  

I have quite a bit of fun at the gym. Grant believes it's because of his workouts he creates for me, the way he screams out "BOOM" at the end of my reps and his motivational skills.  Quite the contrary.

My mind is in training mode. I love cardio.  I am learning how to lift. I signed up for my first triathlon.  I have another century next month.  But that's not the fun of it.  It's because I EAT CARBS!

Yes, I eat carbs.  Many tell me, including Grant, "Carbs bad!"  Not me, "Carbs good...in moderation."

I am in love with pasta, brown rice, all things potato (could be the Irish in me) and I was just given the go ahead to eat them BUT not after 4 pm.  

A little known fact...they are fat.  What's not to love about fat.  Yum.  Fat creates smartness.  Do you know that if you cut out carbohydrates all together, your brain can't function?  You have a difficult time remembering things? Your body wants to move but your mind is slow? Some people have been terminated from their jobs because they aren't productive.  All because they quit eating those little carbs.  

So, I say, eat carbs.  Just remember, you have to use muscles you never thought you had and you have to increase your lifting weight so your body doesn't get used to it.  Don't be like me and say, "lower the weight."  In personal training circles, that means, "increase weight."  I like to cheat every once in awhile.  Grant doesn't let me. On a scale of 1-10 (10 meaning - STOP), I'm usually at an 8.  

Call him for a good time - Grant Smith, 509-863-4343

And, for women who think lifting weights will make you bulky or it costs too much- that is simply not true. Do you really want to end up looking like this too early? (PS, that's osteoporosis - or another term:  lack of rhomboids!) 

Help! This woody is driving me crazy

Did I get your attention?

It's been 9 months.

I haven't birthed a child.

I have a pecker.

A woodpecker, everyone.

He/she/it has a nice penthouse suite 35 feet high on the side of my house that I have no access to.  Several people ask:

Have you called an exterminator?

Have you tried to spray him with water?

Have you called the National Wildlife Reserve?

Have you connected with a contractor?

Have you tried renting a ladder?  Better yet, a cherry picker?

Have you tried calling a painter? A window washer? 

The answer to all of these questions is YES.  Short of calling the fire department, I've tried everything...really!

But my saga began one morning back in the spring of 2010. It was 4 am.  Tap. Tap. Tap. Am I dreaming?  Tap. Tap. Tap.

I looked out the window and I knew without question, I had a woodpecker. So, I put on my bathrobe, walked outside and looked up and there he was.  I turned on the hose and he took off.  Nice. I got him.

I fell back to sleep. 

Next morning.  He came back.  I continued to spray him every morning.  He liked it.  A little morning shower.  And every morning after that he came back.  My NRA friends and you know who you are would say, "shoot him."

Allow me to pull out my rambo skills and shoot him...right.  Like I have a gun handy.  So, I called the federal government for some assistance.

"Maam, you know the woodpecker is an endangered species? You will be fined if you shoot it or perform violent acts to them."

Oh great. I pounded on the wall to scare him.  Ha!  He was a smart one. I've learned since then, it was his mating call.  I probably was the one he was courting. Oh and by the way, No, I don't have bugs in my house like several have commented. 

I was able to have a contractor fix the inside of the hole but no one has a ladder to fix the outside with the the steep incline.  All summer I watched the hole get bigger.  And then he left.  Snow came early and other than the hole in the side of the house, all was calm.

That was until five weeks ago.  Enter, baby Woody.  Yes, it's a baby woodpecker.  Same spot. You have spawned.  

I've called friends. No luck.  I've called neighbors.  No luck.  

I had to take this one on myself.  

Enter, Harold at the General Store.  He's taken out several living items in his time, I can tell.  I walked up to the gun counter. Purchased a BB gun and learned how to shoot it.  

I've gone crazy.  The BB gun is still in the box, hasn't been used  and Woody hasn't returned.  KNOCK or TAP on wood.  Maybe all I needed to do was use my nagi and the power of the mind to scare him.  Thank you Karate Kid.

I still need my siding fixed so if you have a 35 foot ladder or a cherry picker...I could use your help. 

Why Gen Y?

I am a "gen xer." Born in 1970.  

We have been called, the lost generation, overtly negationist punk subculture or referred to as the "baby bust" generation because of the drop in the birth rate following the baby boom. 

William Strauss and Neil Howe  (authors of Generations) call our generation the "13th Generation" and define the birth years as 1961 to 1981.  

I like to call us the hard working, dedicated, pop culture heroes of the 20th and 21st century.

We know big hair, 80's music, movies and dress the part to this day.  In fact, our styles are back; leggings, tights, wide legged jeans and off the shoulder tees and sweatshirts.

Unlike the Millennial Generation (or Gen Y), my generation, has been shaped by the events, leaders, developments and trends of its time. The rise of instant communication technologies made possible through use of the Internet may explain the Millennials' reputation for being somewhat peer-oriented or ethnocentric. 

Instant gratification, online gaming and environmental awareness are keys to understanding their personalities.

So, I ask my Gen Y's - Why?

1.  Why do you want a text message returned within 30 seconds?

2.  Why do you tweet and Facebook the same message at the same time within 10 minutes of one of each?  Yes, even I didn't understand that.

3.  Why (and you know who you are) do you text, email, IM and show up at my doorstep at the same time?

4.  Why do you balance work with life in such a fashion? I mean come on, it's about work, work, work!
5.  Why don't you call me?
6.  Why do you think you can do it yourself?
7.  Why do you change jobs every six months?
8.  Why do you get your masters degree while you are working on your bachelors degree?
9.  Why do you have the right answers?
10.  Why do you make me smile?

Please know I love you dearly and cheers to your talent, enthusiasm and ability to depict a level of environmental action and awareness.  Here is a picture for you to remember who you are just in case you've forgotten (since my blog wasn't written with 140 characters but 3004). 

It's basketball season, baseball is here and hot dogs everyday

Hot dogs.

Vegans eat hot dogs?

This vegan does.  Especially, a loco dog.  You may have to drive a while because Cheney is so far away (the locals think the 17 mile drive from Spokane is soooo far) but the jaunt to this community of 20,000 people (and home to the EWU Eagles) is a great place for a hot dog.  I was the first one to answer their trivia question on Friday to their Facebook question.  "Who is the voice behind our new TV commercial?"

No question.  Larry Weir.  The voice of the Eagles.  I will keep my comments to myself here as this is a family friendly post.

Witness for yourself:


So, whether you are a meat eater, a vegan, a baseball lover or just someone who craves hot dogs nightly.  Check out Loco Dogz.  They are super friendly, have a big screen TV and an air hockey table.  And, it's only 17 miles west, Home of the EWU Eagles and my alma mater.  PS, yes, dear friends, they have vegan dogs - a wheat bun with brown mustard and onions.

Y - O - G- A - a day in the life of responsibility

Y - Yawn

O - Ouch, I've got to get up, it's 5 am

G - Gargle, yes, headed to the gym

A - Ahhh, made it to my car

Hello, you've met the day.  Most people wonder why I get up so darn early.  I love mornings. Crazy? Maybe, but it is so nice to get up and get my day started.  I love the quiet time, I enjoy the peace.  It's like a yoga class.  

Namaste.

If I'm not meeting my trainer, I entertain myself by doing cardio.  I am a bit ADD so I bring my iTunes or a set of headphones to watch the TV on the machine.  I enjoy the KREM team in the morning.  Mostly, Laura and Grace.  They are a bit kooky like I am.  I can say that about Laura because she is a good friend of mine; Grace, I don't know but she is guilty by association.

I get to work by 8 am. Lunch at noon.  This day I have lunch at Noodle Express on Sullivan. It may be the best little fast food restaurant ever.  Yes, tofu osaka bowl with a bit of ginger sauce - a new little fancy delight suggested by a good friend.  I get it with brown rice.  Quite delicious.

After several meetings, I head to my car at 5 pm. 

It's called work-life balance. I am quite content with my yoga inspired life.  I breathe often during the day. Enjoy my surroundings.  I am grateful for my place and smile and laugh often. I like to play Scrabble on my iPhone with friends and check in with my family.

In fact, this morning when I was buying chocolate for the workplace, I laughed thinking about throwing oranges in the grocery store with a friend who would reciprocate.  Having fun and enjoying life is the yoga way.

Y - Youthful

O - On top of the world

G - Ginger, my new found friend

A - Always positive

Believe me, there are bad days but sometimes you've got to stop and laugh.  Have lunch with a friend.  Get a mani/pedi after work (even boys should do this). Volunteer for a non profit. Play simulator golf in a two-person scramble to get ready for outdoor golf and...

Just be.

Your top five reads for spring...March 1 is here

Hi there book fans.  Take time to read.  Believe me, it helps. 

It's the start of March Madness and in honor of the best month ever, (except for my birthday month of May) I'd like to suggest the following book:

Hoop Dreams by Ben Joravsky - a true story of hardship and triumph

If everyone could live this book, the world may just be a little bit better:

The Four Agreements by Miguel Ruiz - a wisdom book

If I could only write like this man:

Me Talk Pretty One Day by David Sadaris - witty and charming

It's a good movie but even a better book:
Caught between a Rock and a Hard Place by Aron Ralston - narcissism and bravery

And do you want to know how to embrace your fears and live your dreams?  Well, I can't tell you but there is a fantastic read that can help find your passion:
Hug the Monster by David Miln Smith and Sandra Leicester - it's just like mountain climbing one page at a time

And there you have it...Barb's recommendations for your pleasure reading.  Have fun.