Friday Jams

The folks at Sport Kilt had a good story on their Facebook page yesterday about Bill Millin, the lad who carried his bagpipes with him to the beaches of Normandy on June 6. This is the part of the FB that I really enjoy, people sharing interesting things and bringing them into your life.

Here’s an excerpt from Bill Millian in Voices of D-Day, a book by Jonathan Bastable

At that time the War Office had banned pipers in action. Lovat told me he was not bothered about the War Office and that I would be the only piper playing at Normandy. I took it as an honour.

I like that. Bravery takes on a new meaning when you enter a war with Bagpipes as your weapon.

Enjoy the weekend.

O my Luve’s like a red, red rose,
That’s newly sprung in June:
O my Luve’s like the melodie,
That’s sweetly play’d in tune.
As fair art thou, my bonie lass,
So deep in luve am I;
And I will luve thee still, my dear,
Till a’ the seas gang dry.

Robert Burns

Training Log

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Enough!

This…

This…

TheAthleticBuild.com

This…

Enough. Fucking enough. This whole “athletic build” bullshit that is going after women, giving them the “okay” that being athletic is the new sexy, strong, whatever. Enough.

Buy into this and you are the new generation of buying into the crack model look. SRSLY. Are we so incredibly stupid that we don’t understand that the above pictures feed an unhealthy seeking of whatever we aren’t? Are we? Really? Really.

Stop. Are you in the gym? Are you training? Are you tweaking your food so that YOU will be the best YOU? Then post your pictures (if you must) and be happy and fulfilled.

But believe that you must do everything you can to fit into this mold and you’ve just regressed into an 8th grade wanna be. Enough. When I was a young teenager, I wanted a body like Brook Shields. SRSLY. The fact that I was only 5’6″ and curvy be damned.

This…

…is what I wanted to be. So I was dissatisfied that I wasn’t. Tell me how women going after this…

…is different. Is it justified because these chicks work out? Bull shit. Enough!

SRSLY. Enough.

I didn’t discover curves; I only uncovered them.

Mae West

Training Log

Posted in Uncategorized | Leave a comment

Game Day Eats

I’ve paid close attention and received some help on how to approach food on Games day. Lot’s of protein with some carbs each day going into the weekend and a bigger meal on Friday night. I’ve been doing okay in past games but it’s a battle.

First of all, I have to force myself to eat on Games day (nerves:) and I didn’t do a good job of that this past weekend. The nice thing aboot being on the road for these events is that I rely on the hotel breakfast to fuel me and do a pretty good job of it. Eggs, fruit, oatmeal, some espresso and a little water and I’m good to go.

For some reason on Saturday, the later start time and maybe just being at home threw me off a bit. I usually wake up with a sense of urgency that keeps me focused but having over three hours until go time kept me more relaxed. That’s not always a good thing. I had some protein and some pasta salad from the night before but I didn’t eat enough of either and by the time we were scheduled to start I was hungy. Not good. We also were going to pack some sandwiches and bring more of the delicious pasta salad Clay’s wife, Jenn, made for us but forgot. So the only thing I had in my bag was a crappy protein bar.

We waited a little longer than usual so that the crew could get the field set up and I noticed that when warming up for the Braemar, my tummy was already growling. Crap. One of the crew members was kind enough to make a huge pan of cornbread and supplied honey butter which was awesome to have on hand but I needed to watch to make sure I didn’t eat too much and have a carb crash when I was walking up to the trig. And so went my day, more corn bread; a coke; a taste of my McBob’s haggis sausage and egg roll and I was completely dragging by the end of the day.

Which brought us to the weight over bar event where I really wanted 14′ again and I had nothing in the tank. I won’t say that is the only reason I missed 14 but it contributed enough to make sure it never happens again. I quickly ran off the field to get to a sword tent with the Oz man before they closed up so he could get a “musketeer” sword he’d been eyeing all day; came back to our tent and all but passed out in my chair. This was the most exhausted I’d been in any games and though our large group meant lots of standing around all day, I’m blaming my crappy food plan. Lesson learned.

No matter how much I don’t want to eat more breakfast, I will. I will make sure I have snacks of some carbs but ensure there is protein in there too. I’ll pack a lunch. I don’t like rushing off, waiting in line, and then having 10 minutes to scarf down food I don’t want to eat in the first place. If I don’t have an opportunity to pack a lunch, I’ll get whatever is closest and eat it. As much as I can anyway. I’ll bring a couple of cookies which was a huge helper in Minnesota and Springfield (and I’m going to take advantage of being able to eat a cookie.) Yeah cookies! And I’ll make sure I still have gas in the tank at the end of the day.

Word.

Vegetarians are cool. All I eat are vegetarians-except for the occasional mountain lion steak.

Ted Nugent

Training Log

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Something in the Water

The first time I came to ‘tosa to visit, Bigg brought me to the local wine and Spirit shop, Ray’s.

I was so enamoured by the Whiskey corner that I barely noticed the incredible beer selection. Then I moved here and wanted a good beer. And boy does Milwaukee deliver.

After being stuck in small town Texas where beer selection is between Sam Adams (which is fine for an every day beer), Shiner Bock (which is less than fine but you adjust when it’s the best on tap most places), or corporate shit beer; you come to appreciate the large selection of craft breweries here in SE ‘sconsin.

I quickly picked a favorite, Milwaukee Brewing Co. Why? They have a wide variety of beers and each one is unique in flavor; has depth with a smooth finish; fun packaging (yes, it matters) and is local. ‘Nuff said. These guys are good. They have tours that is on the ‘to do’ list this summer but in the mean time, we are frequent fliers to their beer. My favorite? Black Iron of course…

Last night a few of my favorites (Ray’s; MKE; Bigg) came together for an awesome event. We went to MKE’s beer class.

Mike and Jim from MKE gave a great presentation on the history of the brewery and their beers. They talked story on how some of the beers came to be named along with an interesting history lesson of local brewing in general. When I made the comment that I’d been here for a year and the people of Milwaukee are VERY SPOILED with good beers, Jim (part owner) says, “Yes, because the water is so good here. Good beer comes from good water.” Huh. Makes sense.

Yes, I realize that good hops; malts; blueberry tea (Weekend @ Louie’s) helps, but good water is key. As if I needed another reason to love Lake Michigan.

If you’re in the area, I can’t recommend Ray’s tasting events enough. Very economical and we even came home with MKE prizes. Score!

Milk is for babies. When you grow up you have to drink beer.

Arnold Schwarzenegger 

Training Log

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , , , | Leave a comment