tosabarbell

What better way to head out of 2014 than by saluting it. All of it, the good; the bad, and the ugly. It’s almost surreal, how fast time goes. Last year at this time I was finishing up my first block of training, thinking ahead to The Arnold; a wedding; a honeymoon; a full Highland Games season; trips; family time; fun; off-season, and the holidays. And here we are. Wierd.

So, we salute you 2014. Overall, you were quite grand but some significant losses were had, I’m sure for many of us. And I suppose that’s life, perhaps it gets more pronounced the older we get. We appreciate a little more, and take the losses more to heart. Dunno.

Here’s our 21 Gun Salute to 2014 (no, there’s not actually 21 items. It’s a metaphor, get it?):

13. Friends

It is nearly impossible for me to grasp the amount of friends we’ve either made, solidified, leaned on, laughed with, cried with, hugged, kissed (Hans and Marcel do three kisses, others get two), and yes, have even found some to be disappointing when we relied on a friendship that wasn’t actually there in depth this year. There is an ebb and flow to friendship and I’ve found it’s best to roll with it. Be a good friend; grab hold of the good ones, and wish others a friendly farewell. You all are so dear to us and each of you hold a special place in our hearts. Thank you so much for being you and making our lives so much better for being in it.

But mostly, my salute is to my beautiful friend Veronique. She brought beauty; and love; and french cooking; and perspective we so desperately needed; and laughter; and giving; and an attitude in life that even when disease is winning it’s battle, you never conceded the war. I miss you. I am so proud of everything you stood for. The world is a little less pretty without you in it. Aloha friend.

12. Games

We have attended Highland Games; football games; LAX games; hockey games; soccer games; t-ball and baseball games, and I’m pretty sure there have to be a few others I’m missing. Suffice it to say, athletics is a part of our life and we’re better for it. I cannot say “this” Games or “that” Games is my favorite or least favorite because each one has brought us joy (well, the rain-out of Cherry Valley brought a little less joy;) and a little bit of pride for working towards doing well in all of them, for all of us. Cheers sports, we’ll see you as soon as tomorrow since it’s deadlift/bench day.

11. Travel

Again, to try to pick one destination as our favorite is completely impossible. Each trip, whether it be in the car or on a plane, is something we’re very fortunate to be able to do.

10. Food

I’ve written before how much we’ve enjoyed food around the world and right here on our old stove. Not tracking it for even a week has put me in a bit of a chubby bind but I won’t sweat it until the 2nd. Heh. That we have food and the ability to get it without too much trouble is a gift, and I’m thankful for it. To be so picky so that it fuels us (normally) over anything else is the biggest gift of all. Matt said it best today, “Poor countries don’t worry about a Paleo/Vegan/Zone diet, they worry about eating.” Word. That we have so much enables us to be high maintenance about it. Kind of sad fact.

9. Strength

I am still in awe of people who don’t value strength. What happens to us that it no longer (or never was) is viewed as a need. I’m thankful I found my way to having strength a priority and I can’t imagine what would happen in life that it no longer would be. I’m happy that I can have a good day in the gym, find a meet two weeks later and add 61 pounds to a total without much work. After my first block of off-season training I’m feeling better than I have in months and it has laid down the foundation for, hopefully, some great training and performances in 2015.

Strength. Don’t haz it? Get it. Please.

8. Programming

Since we’re talking about strength, let’s not forget effective programming. What works for you may not work for me but if you follow a solid program that keeps your ability; your life; your challenges and your needs in mind, you’re already far ahead of mindless random exercisers who have never been told how important setting a program and sticking can be.

7. Home

There have been times in my life where the question, “Where are we going to live that I can afford and provide a good home to my kids” was asked. We always found a way, through the help of friends or family looking out for us, to be safe but I do believe we were one of the lucky ones. It’s a cold world out there folks and if you want to sit on your thrones and judge those who are working their asses off and STILL can’t afford all of the wonderful things you have like food and gas for your car, you can GFY. I don’t want to know you. Every person has a story, usually that goes deeper than appearances. I read a story of a woman who drove her Mercedes to the county WIC pick-up. Know why? Cuz both she and her husband both lost their jobs and this was the only car that was paid for. They actually contemplated trading it in and taking a car payment on so people would stop judging them. Really. Do you know how hard it is to walk into a county WIC pick-up without added stress? I do. And I’m not going to judge anyone else on how they drive up to do it. Judge less, dig more. Homes are a gift, I’m thankful for ours.

6. The 50’s Plus

These ladies. The ones who have had fight and plead (maybe not plead but at least ask profusely) to play in the Games. The ladies who have been at this for so long, they can list every Games they were not allowed to throw at while we walk up without even a thought that we may not have been invited. They have done more for the rest of us who want to throw for records; and winnings; and championships than I can even imagine. I believe I heard that there were something like 45 women throwing just in the Master’s World Championships in Scotland this past September. More than ever. With many thanks going to Karyn and the rest of the 50’s plus.

Yo girls? You da man.

5. Marraige

May 10th will always hold a special place in my heart. Sure, it’s that day we got married. But it was more than that, so much more. It was the day where so many of our friends and family traveled to tell us how much they loved us. The Blessings we received that day are still so completely overwhelming. Each person had such a beautiful impact to the beginning of our life together and I’m so thankful for it.

And our marriage is perfect so that’s a bonus. Whut? Don’t believe me? Ya, you shouldn’t. Not surprisingly, challenges in relationships that are present pre-marriage don’t magically disappear. It’s work. Hard work, some days more than others. But it’s worth it. SO worth it. With each challenge comes clarity and closeness. I’ll take it, every day of the week thank you very much. I am so proud to be married to Matt and everything we’ve achieved together this first year. Yeah us, so far we’ve made it. Heh.

4. The Girls

I have so many wonderful pictures with the amazing women I threw with all season but honestly, the snow picture wins. It was freezing. It was wet. It was freezing. And yet here we are at the end of it all smiling. I bailed on the snow angel picture though, I was just so very cold. This was the first time I threw with many and I’ll just never forget them. I’m always afraid of naming names because I forget one and I feel bad but here goes; Mona, Michaela, Josee, Willow, Shawna, Stephanie, Tracey, Dawn, Sue, Ruth, Terri, Teresa, Victoria, Edie, Melanie, Karyn, Amy, Bonnie, Margaret, Katie, Elissa, Jessica, Michelle, Kim, Katie, Topaz, Annie, Candice, all of the amazing women in Scotland and every person I’m missing (this is why I hate naming names.) You all represent Highland Games in a beautiful light. Thank you.

3. Family

All of them. Really! Heh.

2. My Big Boy

I still miss him. So much. Even though we knew it was probably coming, not having him here with us sucks. It just really sucks.

1. My Bigg Boy

Well, my Bigg man really. That we made it out of 2013 and into 2014 was a gift. That we’re rolling into 2015 together tonight is a joy. An honor and a joy. Love you Bigg.

Happy New year to everyone. I hope you’re safe; and fed; and warm; and can find some happiness, even when it’s hard. See ya next year…especially if you’re the Wanat’s cuz I think we’ll see you tomorrow. Heeheee.

Love and Aloha. Peace out 2014. You were grand.

Be at war with your vices, at peace with your neighbors, and let every new year find you a better man.

Benjamin Franklin

The Oz man got to fly to Texas this past weekend to hang with his Wichita Falls BFF and family. Which is pretty much Oz’s second family. He’d stay with them each time I went on a work trip and blends in as one of their own. That he and Andrew, the BFF, can pick up every time right where they left off a year ago brings warm hugs to this Ma’s heart.

When we told him that he had to fly as an unaccompanied minor again, he groaned. He abhors having to do this. Being treated like a kid (uhhhh, you still are dude), having to have a Delta dudette cart him around the Atlanta airport instead of doing it himself. Yuck. Oz would much rather give half a wave to me at security and have his own adventure…unsupervised. And I’m ok with that. It’s what we want for him, for all of our kids.

Anyways. After he got on the plane Friday morning, I sat with another couple who’s 12 year old daughter was flying on her own for the first time. Dad was fine, Daughter was fine, Mom was struggling. A stream of “what if’s” were flying and Dad headed them off at the pass. By the time the plane finally pulled away from the gate, I was getting concerned that she was going to bust through the window and chase the plane down. True story.

As they made their turn and started towards the taking off part of the runway (that’s a pretty technical term right there) she turned to me and said something along the lines of, “How do you do this and not be terrified?” Here’s what I said, “In my opinion, you are giving your daughter one of the greatest gifts you can. Independence and adventure. Every time she does something like this, she’ll gain a little more confidence in herself, and her ability to deal. You’re doing great.” No, that didn’t bring her a lot of comfort. But she did smile, turn to her husband and took a big breath.

And at the end of the day, that’s what I want for my kids. I want them to embrace adventure with an “I can do it Ma” attitude. I don’t want them holding on (this may not be working with Zandra. Her moving in TEMPORARILY to get her feet on the ground and caught up in life enough to finish school seems to have backfired in that now her “I’m never leaving” seems to gain conviction with each utterance.) But not really. She’s just finally not struggling every moment of every day to survive and I’m pleased.

There seems to be a strong desire these days by parents who want their kids to ALWAYS need them. That’s a shame. Raising children who won’t shake off Mom’s hand and say, “I’ve got this” into their 30’s. Oz did that when he was 3 walking into the church nursery. He’d turn around very seriously and put his hands up, “NO! I can do this.” Well, ya dude but I still need to go and check you in. He hated it.

So, no. Not every kid can get on a plane without mom and dad and we’re very fortunate that both mom and dad have points we can use. But you can send them down the street, carrying their own backpack telling them what an adventure walking without mom is. You can send them to work at their first job telling them, no, you won’t be there to pick them up. You got the job, figure out how to get there and if it includes me driving you, you’ll be giving me gas money out of that check of yours. Or, “Here’s your bus pass, you’re welcome.”

As it does, the time in Texas went way too fast and I imagine they’re heading into DFWville right now. But the stories coming from mom, Tina, are priceless and hopefully we can get Andrew up here this summer for some more adventure. OH! Since Oz has some of his own money, he gets to buy his own airport breakfast…

…Coke Zero and Cheez-it’s. Breakfast of Champions..

Independence and adventure. It’s a gift. Pass it on.

Life is either a great adventure, or nothing.

Helen Keller

Training Log

After I moved to Wisconsin, we were dealing with house projects Matt’s brother was “finishing”; two room-mates who moved out while Matt was on the road which meant stuff they didn’t want to take they just left for us to deal with; a kitchen that had a refrigerator in the middle of it that hadn’t been cleaned out in forever (really. Forever), and oh by the way? A truck and a trailer full of my stuff to  unload. To say it was chaotic is the year’s understatement.

As happy as I was to be with Matt, I was incredibly overwhelmed at the state of my new home. That we made it out of that summer intact was a plus, heh. Things have improved since then. I’d say drastically; however; with Zandra’s arrival brought a basement full of boxes which cuts down our living space by a third. She’ll be digging into those in the new year…or I will. True story.

Anyways.

The house is getting more love now than it has in quite some time. New doors; new paint; more cleaning; more dog hair, the important stuff. And while our kitchen is actually a great size (not too big, not too small) it is definitely outdated. Including our old stove. I was talking to friends about the kitchen the other day. Their advice? Don’t touch it unless we know we’re staying put for another 10 years (which we’re not. Hopefully.) We’ll never get our money back.

It got me thinking. Even though a shiny new fridge and stove would be so much fun, we’ve done pretty darn good with this old stove. We’ve made many meals on it which kept us healthy and strong. Matt almost burned the house down when he put my Texas Bluebonnet oven mitt on it with a burner still going (you still owe me a Texas Bluebonnet oven mitt Bigg guy.) We’ve made some meals that were quite delicious and adventurous. We’ve made steaks in that cast iron and finished them in the oven. We’ve made meals that have fed friends and family (and dogs when the food falls on the floor) that has brought a lot of love and laughter in our home. The pounds of bacon and ground hamburger that have been made on this stove number somewhere in the 100’s I’m sure.

The old stove has served as extra counter space when needed and somehow we’ve been able to keep over seven dishes going at once with some careful juggling. It is the center of the universe for us most days and I’m thankful for it. Even our old fridge which is actually in rougher shape almost always has food in it (when I’m alone for a week or two while Matt is traveling it holds a few salads and 5# of chicken in it but that’s all I need.) There is almost always some scrumptious beer ready to be enjoyed and while Oz is here the pepperoni and Snackables seem to come out of nowhere.

So I’ll take it. And I’ll appreciate our old stove. But I never want to see what’s behind it or in between the wall and the stove on the side. That’s a horror story waiting to be written I’m sure.

True story.

Health is the greatest gift; contentment the greatest wealth, faithfulness the best relationship.

Buddha

Training Log