Keep In Mind…

Posted on May 21, 2013 by tosabarbell

A few years ago, I drove the Oz man up north from Texas to spend the summer with his Pa in Minnesota. We took a different route this time so I could spend the weekend with my BFF from forever in Columbia, Missouri. This was the first time we took this route so the unfamiliar roads were a far cry from the oft traveled 35W North. We were somewhere in the middle of nowhere, Missouri when I noticed tons of garbage and debris on both sides of the Highway. I thought, ‘Geez people, take some pride in your land. Clean up.’ And away I went.

A while down the road it hit me, I just went through the outskirts of Joplin weeks after their devastating tornado. I’MaBitch. Fact.

I felt horrible. It was a life lesson in that no matter how busy or stressful my little life is, I need to keep in mind what’s going on around me.

Yesterday was another reminder. So while I sit here and stress about everything that is fairly easy and rewarding to find solutions for, there are others who’s solutions are far, far away.

We’ll keep those folks on our minds today while we appreciate that many of our problems aren’t quite so mountainous.

With the new day comes new strength and new thoughts.

Eleanor Roosevelt

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Monday Bacon: Family Time

Posted on May 20, 2013 by tosabarbell

Growing up, family time with the Peterson’s meant a couple of things. At 5pm, if I weren’t at swimming, I’d watch Hogan’s Hero’s with my dad. He loved Sgt. Shultz and those who know my Dad’s laugh can imagine it. We had a cabin up north so family time usually meant a stressful packing of the car (my Dad was, and probably still is, the master packer. I’ve inherited the crazy on that one, thanks Dad;) and then hanging out on one of the best lakes in Minnesota. (Everyone says that about the lake they grew up on.) Some family time was fun, lots wasn’t but hey, it’s family.

Fast forward to now and my new love for Highland Games. My Oz man is usually in attendance and even got put to work shagging weights this weekend in Springfield.

Shagger of the day

Which was fun for him until he got pretty hot and tired. Heh.

After we parked our chairs in the morning, the Sciscoe family waltzed in. I first met Anita (the Ma) at the Shammies in March. She immediately started giving me Sheaf lessons and was full of fun energy all day long. I saw her youngest, Noah, walking around that day going back and forth alternating watching her throw and then going over to the Men’s group where Glenn (the Pa) and Andy (big brother) were competing together. Now THAT’s family time!

This past weekend in Springfield, Anita talked A.D. Merl Lawless into hosting a Junior’s division so Noah could go ahead and compete. Another junior competitor signed up and the two of them spent the day with us ladies. They were amazing. Hard working and having fun, with Noah giving his Ma a run for her money on the Sheaf. The two of them were the last two standing and I asked him, “How bad to you want to beat your Ma.” His reply, ‘Very bad!’ Heh. Good boy.

It was very special to watch Anita’s interaction with Noah. She was teacher; coach; cheerleader; mom; competitor; and fun through it all. Both she and Noah placed first in their groups and Glenn and Andy placed in their groups setting the stage for what better be this year’s Christmas card…

I’ve seen a lot of pics of youngsters trying to mimic proud folks with various lifting equipment. But the Sciscoe’s? Their kids mimic them right into the trig. That’s awesome. I like it. Spending time with them all day was a treat. Thanks Sciscoe’s!

Women’s natural role is to be a pillar of the family.

Grace Kelly

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Friday Jams

Posted on May 17, 2013 by tosabarbell

My Pipes playing; stone throwing friend, Clay, had this on his training log one day. I like it. It’s a bit of a dreary day and I’ve got lots to do before we head down to Springfield for this weekends Highland Games so I need a push to get me going. Push It from Static-X and their album Wisconsin Death Trip.

Enjoy the weekend.

It would seem that the Watergate story from beginning to end could be used as a primer on the American political system.

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To Reiterate…

Posted on May 15, 2013 by tosabarbell

Over a year ago, I wrote on how food and diet beliefs are as ingrained in many of us as religion. Tell someone that Soy is a highly processed piece of yuck and you risk a friendship. Telling someone else that you don’t want a lot of sugar snacks or chips kept around the house and the minute you leave the room, the shit talk starts. It’s very curious to me.

Why do unhealthy people have such strong opinions on MY not wanting to eat like them…on a daily basis? Do I eat dessert? Hellz ya! If it’s tasty, I love it! Do I eat breaded and deep fried cheese? Hellz ya! I live in Wisconsin, to not to is a sin against cheese. Do I eat those two things at one sitting? Uhhh, no. Yuck. Do I eat them every week, or even month? Uhhh, no. Yuck.

Do I eat a snackable? Hellz ya, that’s processed food fun in a box. With a cookie! Do I eat a delicious Highlander burger after three straight days of training and throwing? Oh ya, that is one earned Highlander. But we don’t eat like that at home, day after day. See how that works? It’s quite possible to live in the world without being a complete food nazi. It’s also quite possible to live in the world and not eat as a complete fat arse. Yes?

Meat, vegetables, fruit, dairy, and bacon. How hard is that? The combinations are endless. A little cupcake thrown in? Sure, once in a great while. A pizza? Yup, not nearly enough. Heh. A whole meal of processed carbs and crap. Yup. WHAT?! 

Yup. Enjoy it while you eat it, you’ll feel like garbage in about an hour and remember why you don’t eat like this all the time. If you feel normal the next day, your daily diet sucks. Stop it.

But bag on ME because I lift, throw, and choose not to keep crappy food in the house? Uhhhh, okay. And for those of you who can say with a straight face, “We have to keep this sugary food in the house for the kids.” SRSLY. Who runs this show? Those of you who have had years of weight trouble due to using shitty food as a reward NOW want to pass this down to your kids? Uhhhh, okay. Awesome.

But ya, come at me bro with your shitty diet and talk about how sad we are that we don’t eat like you.

Number one, like yourself. Number two, you have to eat healthy. And number three, you’ve got to squeeze your buns. That’s my formula.

Richard Simmons

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