Why North Star?

Posted on October 20, 2026 by tosabarbell
It’s a bit AI sloppy but the final logo will be perfect. It’s a work in progress.

A couple of years ago, Brian Hare asked me if I would be interested in taking on the running of a decade old Highland Games fling at a local winery in the western suburbs of Minneapolis held every Father’s Day. Cautiously, I agreed with the caveat that Brian stick around and walk me through it. Though I had been throwing for a while now at many different Games around the country including a few international Games, I didn’t know anything about actually running a Games.

Personally, I view running a Games very differently than throwing a Games. First off, I’m taking on a Games with tradition where the man who started the Father’s Day Fling, Jeff Bryan, was at the time someone I admire and hold a great respect for. Sadly, Jeff passed away this year. It is a great loss to our Games community as well as his loved ones. He is missed. I admire and respect Brian Hare. I don’t want to let them down. I knew that a few others had filled in for Brian as Athletic Director over the years but didn’t take it over. I don’t know why, I didn’t ask. Sometimes throwers want to keep throwing. I’m one of them. New knees aside, I’d still like to be considered a thrower. I’d still like to throw here and there. But to be honest, my passion for the big tosses have passed. I love the Games and I would still like to be a part of them in some role. Opportunities presented suggest that maybe the A.D. role is one I should take more seriously.

We’re taking a slight detour here to color commentary the state of throwing in our region at the time, the Dakota’s and Minnesota. I’d add Wisconsin since even a Milwaukee trip is only five hours from us and I miss throwing with the Wisconsin crew. My last few years in Milwaukee I was unable to throw due to how bad my knees were. It made me very sad. I threw my first Schram Winery Fling when we still lived in Wisconsin. It was the perfect Games for little miss Limpy here. Few events to throw and wine. I loved it. Shortly afterwards, we knew that getting to Minnesota to be closer to the grandkids was becoming a reality. That is when I began to get more involved in the state of affairs with the throwing group locally in Minnesota.

It quickly became apparent that there was not a lot of organization in the region. Jeff Bryan had “passed down” the equipment to the throwing group and it became a mish mash of a few standard items and the throwers started bringing their own implements to the Games. For those new to the Games, this is not ideal. It CAN give an unfair advantage, for obvious reasons, to the thrower. Also, the actual weight of each implement is assumed, not completely known. I once threw a world record at the Portland Games in the heavy weight for distance. It was a thrill, but the weight still had to be officially weighed at the post office on their scale. Sad story, it came in light by a few ounces. The A.D. felt horrible but put a spin on the bright side and said that I’ll need to do it again at Enumclaw (the North American Championships) where I can win some money for the record. So, I did. I have my record and I brought home some cash. Yeah me. But it was a solid lesson that just because we believe the weight is “legal” to count in a world record, it may not be and always needs to be weighed officially. When others bring their weights, few want to hand it over to an A.D. that can live a state a way to be weighed. Not ideal.

Anyways, back in 2023 or so, there were a handful of people here in Minnesota attempting to organize. A young couple up north, Alan and Alex, led the charge and really gave a valiant effort. A lot, I mean a LOT, of research was done to determine if the region could support a 501(c)(3) non-profit group to run our regional Games under. I believe strongly that where we are today is due in large part because of the groundwork Alan and Alex laid that propelled us forward. We all owe them a huge debt of gratitude.

The main drawback of having a young couple take the wheel on such an endeavor, is that they are a young couple with young babies and are extremely busy. Extremely. They are in a completely different season of life as some of us and this burden is big. Big enough that the day comes where the choice becomes clear, someone else needs to share the load. I believe that’s where we were in the spring of this year. We have two amazing young men who began to identify holes in our equipment kit and one, Ben in North Dakota, who even makes equipment. To those new in the Highland Games, this is a huge asset. Huge. Like, remember when Julia Roberts drops in on the mean girl bitches in Pretty Woman with her thousands of dollars of new clothes? That’s how huge having your own equipment welder in your group is. Big. Huge. Well, I’m off for more shopping of weights! Heh.

Jacob Nowak, our Thrower of the Year for 2026 also works with Ben to throw the regions first Games in North Dakota in May. I’m so excited for 2027 because I get to go and be a thrower and throw the Games for the first time ever. Yeah! Jacob knows Highland Games equipment backwards and forwards. He is a throws coach and a wealth of knowledge. Again, we are very fortunate to have two young throwers who care so much about the Highland Games. The future is bright! We also have a Masters + (the + is a nice way to say old guy, you’re welcome, Mark;) thrower who also has the knowledge, tools, resources, and time (it’s limited, but still), storage capability, trailer, and enough OCD to give what equipment we have enough TLC to know the group’s equipment is tucked in safely each night with bedtime stories. Also, Mark makes Cabers. Even those new to the Highland Games understand how important good Cabers are. At our inaugural Games here in Hutchinson in September, the town showed up for the Caber toss event. It was amazing. Mark makes Cabers like I mow the lawn. Meticulously and painstakingly. We have some of the best Cabers in stock and he’s already talking about making more. We are a spoiled group. To the throwers with less than 10 years’ experience who really haven’t ventured out beyond our regions boarders please know, we are spoiled.

In my eyes, our group just needed that final chef to pull all of this progress together. With the Minnesota Scottish Fair A.D. stepping down after this past summer (thanks Lee for your years of putting together this Games!), there became a huge opportunity to look at our regional Games and try to pull them under one Scottish umbrella. There became a group of people that stepped up. Awesome people who want to see the Games thrive. Aren’t we the lucky ones to have people care so much? After an initial meeting where they laid out their objectives and plan, it became clear that we (I and them) were approaching things differently. I didn’t want to be a part of another board of directors under a non-profit. I am already on the board of USA Masters for weightlifting and as much as I love it and feel confident that I’m contributing to furthering weightlifting among masters’ athletes, it’s enough. I want to run Games and believe that I have a gift for it as far as acknowledging the needs of the Games, the athletes, and even the spectators but I don’t want to be involved in collecting dues, worry about a membership, or anything else on that front. I want to focus on existing Games and bring more to the region. There’s my mission statement. Short and sweet.

Also, the elephant in the room is the equipment. No one in our region “owns” the equipment. Mark Law is the equipment manager. He has taken this on full force. If possession is 9/10th of the law, Mark owns it. Heh. But there is still that 1/10th. Many of us are donating and contributing to the equipment kit to fill it out, but there is still no owner. I believe strongly, most strong, the strongest actually, that it is not up to one individual or group to “adopt” ownership of this equipment but rather to contribute towards its maintenance and growth through contracting it for any of our Games. The two Games I ran this year, I paid Mark for his hauling, storing, maintenance, and time spent on caring for the equipment kit. The hourly rate was probably around $2 an hour but hey, back in high school, this would have been above minimum wage. I expect other A.D.s to contribute to the group’s equipment kit. We’ve made great progress and I expect we’ll continue to round out our kit. But we need donations and that brings us back to present day.

In August, I told the HHH that I wanted to throw a Highland Games here in Hutchinson. We have the perfect field for it and in September, our town is filled with shoppers for our annual craft fair. It is usually (not this year unfortunately) a gorgeous weekend and perfect for a Highland Games. Because the property that I wanted to use actually belongs to the city, I needed city permission to use it. I approached our local Chamber of Commerce and the one city council member who’s name I knew and away we went. Our Chamber President, Valerie, really was the force behind making this happen. I am indebted to her for her support. We got permission from the city, who thanks to Valerie’s pre-game promoting the possible event, with great enthusiasm on August 25th and threw the Games on September 19th. Three and a half weeks.

I sent my salesman HHH off to gather donations and boy did he and the community deliver. A donation came in late one night from the wife of a thrower that was completely amazing and generous. Thank you, Claire! We actually broke even for the event this year other than the portable, all-weather P.A. system I purchased. Yeah us. This section of the post also gives me an opportunity to proclaim my belief that a Highland Games should never be run solely on the thrower’s backs. For me, it is up to me as an A.D. to provide a Games with a reasonable entry fee. Yes, throwers can and should contribute a small fee for perhaps t-shirts and field rental, even for backyard Games. I differ in this approach than others in the region. I’m okay with that as I’m sure they are from differing from me. Personally, I would never pay $50 for a non-Championship Games. If others do and they get the money, good for them. Hopefully you’re contributing a good chunk of that to our equipment manager. Enough said on that subject.

After the Games, I told Matt everything I wanted to add for next year. While I want growth and a full Games, I want to accomplish this in a responsible and reasonable manner. What can we afford? Not a lot. (By the way, no one is getting rich throwing Highland Games. If you are, you’re a rarity and I’m guessing there’s a little fancy footwork in your bookkeeping.) I don’t want a non-profit, but I do want to ask for donations where you need a non-profit. Tricky, eh?

Enter, again, the great community of Hutchinson. Under the Hutchinson Center for the Arts, a cultural program or organization may partner with them and be run under their non-profit number. For real. There are no downsides. You have the support of an entire community network and can begin grant shopping from the get-go. For real. Our local newspaper reporter (actually, Kay does everything to keep the news flowing in Hutchinson, but I’m already running long here so I’ll just say, “reporter”) suggested this program to me. I’m still in the process of applying for partnership but we’ve already met and I’m so grateful for the opportunity.

And now back to, Why North Star? Our region’s throws group is called the Minn-Kota Highland Athletes and is basically a Facebook page. A few of you may have heard of a little engine company called Minn Kota. I’m really not interested in butting up against their trademark, thank you very little. Also, I’d like to build more Games. Do I do this ONLY in Minnesota or the Dakotas? I don’t know but I don’t want to limit myself. So here we are. North Star Highlanders. I started with North Star Highland Games Association, but I don’t want to be an association. I just want to be North Star. The addition of Highlanders gives an identity; North Star gives us a location. EZPZ.

Our first Highlander (combo of Highland Games and Strongman) event back when Matt was still tearing biceps and I could fit into a medium kilt.

Of course, none of this happens without the constant fundraising by the HHH. By fundraising I mean working but it all comes out in the wash. This wouldn’t happen without his support and I’m always thankful for it. Rest assured, as insane as I am training for athletic competitions, I will be equally insane trying to run the best Games athletes have ever thrown. My hope is to give athletes in our region and beyond opportunities to throw in high level Games which turn into opportunities to throw at Championships around the country. There. That’s my strategic mission. Short and sweet. I have been, and will continue to, reach out to Athletic Directors around the lower 48 (and soon the Hawai’i Games) to continue learning and ensuring that any judges at our Games are fully knowledgeable so that there is never a question as to whether throws are being judged correctly. (Judges who receive a “crash course” should never be on a field. You can mentor a new judge with an experienced one, but our athletes deserve to be judged correctly and fairly.) Now I believe I’ve gotten in all of my passive aggressive needling necessary. You’re welcome.

North Star Highlanders will continue to evolve. Hopefully for your benefit as a community and as a thrower. I hope I have the support of the throwers; I need it. A Games doesn’t happen without them, and we have some of the best in the country here. Aren’t we the lucky ones?

Justice is like the north star, which is fixed, and all the rest revolved about it. Confucius

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Mini Kilts & Sports Bras

Posted on October 14, 2026 by tosabarbell
Photo from Mens Kilt Outfit

A couple of months ago, I had a Facebook discussion with my dear friend down in Texas about a men’s Gym that was exclusive to men only to remove the temptations of barely dressed women that can ensue in globo gyms around the country. For the record, we were on opposite sides of the conversation. See how that works? Friends disagree on a topic and remain friends. We’re old school that way.

I was in favor of the men’s only gym. She believed (to paraphrase) that if men can’t have the self-control necessary in public, perhaps they should work on that. To note, I don’t wholly disagree with that point of view. However, I’ve been to many gyms in my life. Many. It’s why I train at home. Public gyms are not for me. They are filled with poorly behaved adolescents; poorly behaved men; women who use every trick in the book to gain attention that includes, unsurprisingly, to be dressed as little as possible.

As the HHH and I are given opportunities to travel, we need to make do when we need to train. Often times, a hotel gym with some dumbbells and cardio equipment is enough. But there are times when we need a real gym. There have been times in Milwaukee when we trained at a real gym, most of those interactions are pleasant but we know that there will be scantily clad women. Very scantily clad women. In fact, I’m being generous. I try to do that more as I’ve aged. Many women dress specifically to gain attraction and yes, if you’re in a bodybuilding gym, it’s even worse. I have watched these women and girls go after men for attention or more, even the HHH, from across the gym. To me, it’s mostly funny. Mostly.

Photo from Kilt Man Kilts

To many of you, it is inconceivable that women really are this bold and/or desperate. I love that for you. To live in that world where you can believe everyone treats public spaces with respect to just getting better or stronger. Encouraging, supportive, where you can put your head down and train and then get out of the gym and go on with your life. Countless people do this every day. Just last weekend we were in a half-weightlifting, half-strongman gym where many men and women came in, trained, had some fun, and went home. See how easy that is? Women were dressed, one Islander woman even had a pareo tied around her waist while she trained. She was amazing by the way, I wanted to go over and get a picture with her but since I’m twice her age, it’s probably a little creepy that Tutu wants a picture with you while you train. Anyway. It was clear from everyone who trained at this gym, even in Southern Cali that clothes are a part of the daily uniform. See how easy that is?

Gratuitous picture of badass weightlifters of all shapes and sizes and ages. Wes at West Coast Weightlifting has built something very special.

And this brings on the topic of mini kilts. At any given Highland Games, you will see a variety of kilts. Very rarely do you see the same kilt on the field even where there are close to 75 athletes. I’ve shared the field where a woman was dressed in a kilt, a bustier (bold during the hammer throw), and thigh high boots. She actually didn’t last long on the field because she wasn’t “having fun.” Before she exited; however; she got a dig in on me that I wasn’t having any fun because I wanted to throw far. I told her that I always have fun winning. I could have been bitchier. For real. In Tucson at the 2019 Scottish Masters World Championships, I threw with a woman I’d never met before who was a full-blown Scottish Lady and she wore a full Scottish garb with a sash and heavy kilt. Kudos to her, I was boiling in the heat, and she kept her cool the whole time. As it turns out, you can buy a 1 sq ft by 1 sq ft plot of land in Scotland and be considered a Lord or a Lady since you own land. She was nice but did have a difficult time moving in her full regalia. Poor thing.

Then there are the mini kilts. Now, I’ll say this, a mini kilt on a 5’1 hobbit thrower is very different than a mini kilt worn by a 5’10” thrower with stilts for legs. Sorry not sorry. I’ve seen some pretty short kilts on the field. It attracts the attention that those wearing them seek. Way to go. I like attracting attention by throwing the farthest but hey, to each their own. For the most part, mini kilts are fairly harmless. I once threw in a big Games that banned mini kilts. I’ve always been a bit curious as to how that rule came about. Like, how bad was your mini kilt that all those that came after you are banned from wearing one. It must have been bad.

Also, there are the sports bra throwers. The women. Men keep their shirts on. I have never thrown at a Games where a man has taken his shirt off. Now, cutting up Games shirts is very common. Kate Burton Jacobson was the queen of cutting up Games shirts. One of my Kate Burton Enumclaw t-shirts was so fashionable, that I still have it exactly as it was. Men will often cut their shirts so that there is as little shirt as possible. I don’t begrudge these men and women cutting up their shirts. Many Games have rules that you must be on the field in their Games shirt so getting creative while throwing in 100+ degree heat is always to be admired. Outright taking off your shirt and throwing in your bra is different. That said, I can’t say that I’m against it. I wouldn’t do it. As an athletic director, I wouldn’t allow it on my field, but I do understand it. It’s hot. There used to be a thrower (maybe she still is, I’ve been out of the big Games loop for a while) who would throw in her sports bra and have her mini kilt pulled up just under her bra and have shorty shorts on. It was quite an outfit. It never bothered me, that doesn’t mean it wouldn’t bother a family there with 10–12-year-old boys watching.

I once threw with a woman whom I respect deeply and is an amazing thrower who, on this certain day in the 100+ heat, asked me if I thought it was bad that she was in her sport bra. I told her to do whatever she wanted. If the A.D. had a problem, he’d say something, but it was a backyards Games. Do you, boo. In college, she was a distance sprinter. I have no idea how old she is now but I’m guessing her legs are still fabulous. Talk about fabulous legs…

Nearing 60, I am very happy with how my legs have held up. They have less muscle mass than I’d prefer after two knee replacements this year but I’ll work hard at getting some of that back. Even in my prime, I did not have these legs. If I had, I would have mini kilted like a mother-trucker.

There are times where a Highland Games female athlete can be dressed provocatively enough that it just makes me shake my head. The difference between a Highland Games and the gym is that if you try to rub up against another HG athlete, people will notice and those women don’t tend to last long on the Games circuit. The gym is different. It’s enclosed. There are less clothes, even less than a sports bra and a mini kilt. Yes, even less than a sports bra and a mini kilt. As a thrower in the North Star region, the good news is this…

…throwing in Minnesota in the late spring will rarely bring out the mini kilts and sports bras. Heh.

At the end of the day, the skimpy outfits in the gym portray a lack of self-confidence. A need to be seen, in fact, only to be seen by men. It is a behavior I pity. While I didn’t dress like this in the gym, ever, I was young once and lacked self-esteem and was most definitely self-destructive in other ways. It’s not a fun place to reside. I didn’t have social media temptations, thank goodness. The opportunity to showcase your body for clicks has not been positive for many women. That is a shame. Moving from the internet to in person was a logical step. That is a shame. Shaming men for looking at barely dressed twenty somethings when men are doing exactly what you wanted was the next logical step. Being called out for this isn’t bad unless doing it in the first place is bad. Can’t have it both ways, gals. Sorry not sorry.

Put a shirt on, ask your gym crush if he’s read any good books lately and strike up a conversation. If he doesn’t want to talk to you, move on. A gym crush rarely turns into anything meaningful unless it happens at the Wichita Falls Athletic Club and 16 years later your hot hunky crush is your Hot Hunky Husband. Aren’t I the lucky one? Heh.

Someday, if you’re very lucky, you can match kilts with your gym crush;)

You yourself, as much as anybody in the entire universe, deserve your love and affection. Buddha

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Ode to The 21

Posted on August 27, 2026 by tosabarbell

I recently realized that starting next year, I will no longer be throwing the 21# weight for distance and WOB in the Scottish Highland Games. You see, when you get old in Heavy Events, the weights get lighter. Aren’t I the lucky one? At 60 years old, yes 60, my heavy weight goes down to 14#. I have no idea how to throw a 14# WOB, it will be interesting. My light weight goes from 14# down to 9#. 9 pounds, practically a wiffle ball. It’s already hard enough to feel the 14# weight, I can only imagine the amount of time it will take me to learn how to throw a 9 pounds weight. Uffda.

I threw a world record here in Portland but the weight came in slightly lighter than 21 pounds. So I threw further the next weekend at Enumclaw where I got paid for that World record. Yeah me. Also, 10×10 squats are shit on your hormones but disco on the legs. photo credit: Victoria Wechter

Since I won’t be throwing this year due to the new knees, my time with “heavy” in the sport of Heavy Events has come to a close. I’m not too happy about that but I know the day will come when I am. It took me a while to love the 21# from the 28#. I loved the 28 pound heavy weight. I loved being able to consistently throw it over 40 feet for years. I loved being in my 50’s and still throw the 28# further than real throwers (I wasn’t a real thrower. I started throwing in my forties with zero experience and a hard hate for the word, “orbit”, when other stupid throwers kept telling me I had to put an implement in the right ‘orbit’ without telling me how the fuk to do it) who were, at times, nearly 20 years younger than me. I liked that. I know, we’re supposed to be humble and wave away accomplishments that come from hard work and great coaching from the sport’s best. But I like the truth and the truth is, I fucked shit up with the 28 pound weight. Score one for the old lady.

In 2016, I threw in the Women’s World Championships (senior women, not Masters.) My weights showed I belonged. Also, I bombed out on WOB. THAT, was humbling. photo credit: Mr. Macdonald

My first full season of throwing the Highland Games was in 2013. The year before that, I dabbled a bit with a Games here and a Games there and decided that I liked it. But I was green. Brand new. Didn’t know many people and knew even less what I was doing. I had the advantage in that the first time I threw a full Games was down the road at the Wisconsin Highland Games. I received coaching from some of the greatest to throw the Games. Kerry Overfelt, Mark Valenti (his now wife, Erin, at one point was annoyed enough with him that she took a running start and tackled him out of his chair. It was one of the first hints that the people in Highland Games are a bit nuts, in a good way.) Jeremy Gillingham, Craig Smith, Coach Mac. I walked away with an understanding of the events and an even bigger understanding that I didn’t know what I was doing and had a lot to learn. I realized that I loved the work and had the world’s greatest supporter in the (now) HHH.

At this time, I had no knowledge of the Masters World Championships. I had no knowledge that there was a storm brewing with Masters women throwing the 28 pound heavy weight and some throwing a lighter 21 pound heavy weight. All I knew was the 28 and I was throwing in Wisconsin, Illinois, and Minnesota where the Masters women were also throwing the 28. There was nothing on my radar about some infighting on which Masters women classes should be throwing the 21 vs the 28. I was blissfully unaware that I was about to step into it by supporting the organization that throws the Masters World Championships (by the way, the boss gets to make the decisions. You may not like it, it may piss you off, and if it does I highly recommend you start another organization where YOU get to make the decisions that piss other people off. Have fun.)

When Matt and I saw that the 2014 Masters World Championships were scheduled for Inverness, Scotland in 2014, we looked at each other and said, “hot dog!” Or something like that. Matt was still traveling internationally for work and we could put a trip together where I met him across the pond for a week of throwing and visiting strong friends from Matt’s time competing in Strongman Champions League. HOT DIGGITY DOG! It was my first championship, in Scotland, with my new husband. What could be better?! Around the time that we started fishing around for plane tickets, I noticed online that there was a brouhaha about master’s women throwing the 21# weight for the first time at a world championship. However, since it was brand new, the athletic director chose to have the women in the 45-49 age group and above throw the 21 pound weight and the 40-44 throw the 28.

SIDEBAR: The Highland Games does not have a governing body. There are many fantastic regional associations and such who run the Games; have their own judging clinics; and do all of the work for the rest of the world to come and play. Some are highly organized, some have minimal communication, so when you throw in their Games, you have to be comfortable with winging it. Many are not comfortable with winging it but we got used to it in our region so learned to just go with the flow and if it were annoying enough, we just didn’t sign up for those Games. See how easy that is? I believe, more so each year, that because there is no governing body with a specific set of rules that each and every Games must follow across the nation, throwers tend to get their panties twisted fairly easily when a decision seems off the beaten path by those who disagree. There is very little bend for a sport where very heavy weights and telephone poles are involved by people who also may be having some bevvies while competing. Also, it is a sport where many “athletes” join in the fun later in life with very little experience of how athletes actually behave. Anyone can buy a kilt and step on the field, that is a good thing. However, a small percentage of people actually invest their time and personal finances to make these Games happen so maybe slow your roll about decisions you find repugnant and see how things shake out. Thank you for attending my Ted Talk.

Anyways. back to the hullabaloo of the 21/28. When the A.D. decided to split the weights among the women’s classes, the Hiroshima sized shit hit the fan. Ooooooo, chicks were pissed. How DARE he! The audacity! My opinion was that he kinda got to do what he wanted; if you can’t throw the 28# very far or very high at the spry age of 40-44 you, should probably get a bit stronger and STFU about it. I commented a nicer version of that on a thread on the topic, or at least I thought it was nicer (take note, I can always be more direct or as others say, “bitchy”) until I gave the A.D. a break from being the target of “hate” (we can say that when people disagree with us it is “hate” which is stupid and moronic but it works both ways so I get to use it too;) and suddenly I was the bad guy. Which is fine, it’s a role I’m familiar with. This social media shitstorm got big enough among the masses that the word, “lawsuit” entered the conversation which set off the A.D. enough that he posted if there is any hint of a lawsuit for his decision for HIS Games, he’ll shut down the entire meet.

Now, I know where that comment came from. It was posted by a husband of one of the throwers, not by a thrower. Kevin’s (Kevin is the A.D. He is also a competitive weightlifter and he and his wife are two of my favorite people. I didn’t know them at this time, hadn’t even met him, but have been fortunate enough to spend some time together and I try to be nice enough to him to receive some of his world famous homemade Mead. It’s amazing) post received even more backlash and claims that the word “lawsuit” was never uttered. Those posts were wrong. The word was uttered on a private Facebook chain, by a Bro whose wife wasn’t even going to Scotland and was old enough to throw the 21# weight so why are you even involved dude?

One of our judges with the first 45-49 age group to throw the 21# in a World Championship.

Kevin kept to the plan, everyone in Scotland had a blast and no one died from the women throwing different weights in Scotland. Well, actually, one of the women almost died but that was from a car wreck heading to the field and Erica Hay made it and kicked ass in spite of her broken nose. Ouchie. Other than that, we survived, had an amazing time, and outdrank our local pub of their Scotch of the month in one weekend. Yeah us.

I continued to love to throw the 28# weight for years afterwards. I didn’t mind throwing the 21# at times, it went further than the 28 and that’s always fun. Eventually, the 21# became the norm and I practiced with the 28# less and less. In 2019, when I wanted to a World Championship in two different strength sports a few months apart, I was happy as could be to throw the 21# because I only had a few weeks to get my throwing together and even the 14# light weight felt heavy. Now the 14# IS my heavy weight. Life is funny.

I had a good run with the 21 pound weight. I hit some good numbers, set some world records with it and I was recently pleasantly surprised to see that I actually still have a record! It will fall, records always fall. But it has stood far longer than I thought it would and for today, I’ll enjoy it.

I don’t know what my future as a thrower is. I think I need more time to build myself back after getting the new knees. I’m getting more involved in being one of those pain in the ass Athletic Directors where now people can bitch about me throwing Games instead of my beating them at throwing. How fun for me. I do know that I’ll still throw the 21# for a little while on the practice field. I have committed to donating a 21# weight to our throwers group equipment inventory for distance and WOB but I may walk back my offer of donating MY weight. I’m not ready to say goodbye to being strong enough to throw it. Maybe tomorrow I’ll be ready but not today. Perhaps my body will be ready by next year in spite of my brain agreeing to it (more likely because I just cramped up my spine erectors from a stretch. We’re at that point.) Dunno.

In 2015, I won Athlete of the Year during our Masters World Championships in Chesterfield, MO. To date, it is the biggest thrill of anything I’ve done athletically. I set three world records; ate my bodyweight in sushi afterwards; and have my name on a Trophy won by the likes of Dan McKim.

Looking back, I could say that I did well with the 21# but I’m not quite ready to see it in the rearview mirror. So I’ll take advantage of this beautiful weather and throw it around as I can. I’ll buy a 9# lightweight to play with and as I write this, I’ve just realized that in my head, I’m just not ready to NEED to throw those lighter weights. I’m only 59, I’m way too young. Heehee. Today, I’ll tip my Stetson to the 21. So long friend, you were grand.

Age is no barrier. It’s a limitation you put on your mind. Jackie Joyner-Kersee

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Comfort Food

Posted on July 2, 2026 by tosabarbell

The last 9 days around here have been days of super fun, and super ick. Matt’s folks and Uncle were in town so mom and I got to do some Uptown lunch and a Patina run (IYKYK.) We dined by the lights of a North America Curling center which was pretty fun.

The Chaska Curling Center serves as the national training center for USA Curling.

The crew came out to the house the next day and after some deck bevvies, we treated them to the fine dining of our local Elks Club that Matt and I have recently joined. There was lots of love and lots of laughter, and a Jules who was barely hanging on. On Wednesday, I didn’t feel great. Not sick, but not not sick. On Thursday morning, my stomach was doing somersaults. Again, not really sick but not healthy. By Friday evening, I was a hot mess. We had one more something fun to attend the next day to celebrate our Grandson’s birthday in the cities and then I came home and went right to bed. Where I stayed. For days.

Until Monday afternoon where I couldn’t take the pain and the constant, erm, bowel irregularity (I ai’d how to describe that delicately) after four days. Anyways, it was bad. I was able to stomach a piece of toast per day now for 5 days. Working with my bonus daughter who is a nurse, she said I needed to go in. Urgent Care first and if they decided I needed the ER, they would send me over. I did and they did. One of the questions the nurse had was about food poisoning. I didn’t think this was it. I’ve had food poisoning. Bad food poisoning that was no bueno and this wasn’t it, especially the timing of it. So tests, an IV that helped a lot, some pain meds that helped more, but briefly. A tummy CT scan with some concerning results. Concerning enough that the doctor wanted to transfer me down to the cities until I could be seen and get some more tests. Now, the biggest thing I know about hospitals is that they are a very good place to go if you are very sick but the risk to reward starts to blur when you’re “pretty sick.” I was pretty sick and I knew my strong immune system was beat down enough that whatever additional germs I was about to walk into at a major hospital were not the best thing for me. The next offer was staying in the local hospital. Nahhhh, it’s less than a mile from my home. Might as well go back home with some meds and a plan for future action.

I won’t know if that was the best decision. It was certainly not the easiest. It would have been much easier to take a ride into the cities with lights on the vehicle; been taken care of; and had the tests and doctors face to face. Instead, I came home with promises to follow up in the morning with scheduling appointments and tests and more pain. EZPZ. Except it’s not. Even with doctor referrals in the system, it’s taken me no less than 7 phone calls and I believe more to get the right departments. I’ve been hung up on twice, forwarded to nothing at least twice. Given appointments by specialist scheduling only to be told that “I” scheduled with the wrong person and had the appt. canceled.

Thankfully, a final test out of the hospital showed that I actually did have a bacterial infection, likely from bad chicken, and antibiotics were prescribed. I’m on day 3, and I hope, turning things around. At least, I’m finally confident to walk more than 100′ away from my bathroom. And I’m hungry. Like, super hungry. Like, I want all the food. But it’s scary, cuz, it’s been a lot. I do not want to pay for eating food. But I daydreamed about food and if I could eat without thought, what would it be?

Loco Moco is my #1 comfort food every day of the week.

My top food that would fill my sad tummy and be followed directly with a long nap is Loco Moco. It has everything good in life. Also,

The best biscuits and gravy I have ever had was in Cody, Wyoming the morning we set up camp in Yellowstone. It kept me going all day and was absolutely delicious.

biscuits and gravy. Basically anything with some carbs, gravy, meat, and eggs. On THAT note…

Shit on a Shingle. God Bless America.

As it is, I don’t get a comfort meal yet, But I got some soup from our local diner and it wasn’t toast, so it was the best thing I’ve ate in a week. I’ll take it.

A humble bowl of chicken noodle soup. We’ll take baby steps here in introducing the tummy solid food.

Do you have a kinder, more adaptable friend in the food world than soup? Who soothes you when you are ill? Who refuses to leave you when you are impoverished and stretches its resources to give a hearty sustenance and cheer?… Soup does its loyal best, no matter what undignified conditions are imposed upon it. You don’t catch steak hanging around when you’re poor and sick, do you?” — Judith Martin (Miss Manners).

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