The Bigg man and Oz had so much fun last New Year’s Day doing the Polar Bear plunge into 42 degree Lake Michigan that they’ve decided to do it again this year!
But they’ve postponed it until July. Stay tuned for pics.
Happy New Year!!
Sometimes too much to drink is barely enough.
Mark Twain
2013 has been a pretty full year over here. To list so many of the highlights would be a bit obnoxious. Needless to say, it’s been a good one.
But not all. As life tends to do, it’ll shine your weaknesses right in your face until you finally come to terms with the fact that you’re not perfect. What a bitch, eh? If you’ve hung out here a while, you have seen some of our tough patches. That’s okay. We’re human, and like I said before, I have a blog…I don’t keep stuff inside. Heh. Lucky for me my Bigg guy is cool with that.
But all in all, as of 11:59pm tonight, I can look life square in the face and give ‘er a wink. We’ve made it. Those I love the bestest are still going strong. Yes, there are a few in danger right now, that is always on the forefront of my mind. I want their demons to go away and leave them to be the very best they can be. But as long as they wake up in the morning, there’s a fighting chance. I start and end every day with that thought. Just make it through the night, please.
I am so very thankful for so many of you. My dear friends here in Cheese and Beersville who quickly embedded themselves into our hearts. My Highland Games peeps who have given me so much; knowledge, laughter, perspective, and hangovers. All of our local training peeps that I get to see here and there when I venture out of the garage. All of your good, strong energy will propel us to an even better year starting tomorrow. All of our strong friends who we only get to see on the Facebook when we’re not actually at a competition, from coast to coast and across the pond…we’re so thankful for you and are sending out strong wishes for as successful year for you and we’re hoping to have here. Those of you who are walking tough paths right now and keep working and growing through it, just keep walking, the light gets brighter as you go.
We’ve been tremendously blessed, and we know it. We live a somewhat charmed life over here. The opportunities we have for 2014 are beyond what I would have ever dreamed for myself. We’ll get to kick it off in Brooklyn in a few weeks with two of my dearest friends Paulie and Becca (AoD!) that will include lifting, drinking Manhatten’s, and enjoying some awesome Brooklyn eats. But mostly just being with good friends…can’t wait!!!
Thanks to all of you for reading, even when you disagree. I’m cool with that. Just know that whenever I DO go off the deep end, I’m probably not talking to you. But maybe I am…tricky eh? Special thanks go to my family, the Z’s, the Oz man and Dan. Much of what I’ve been able to do this year is because of your support.
But most of all, my Bigg guy. The fiance’ (what a dorky word.) He’s the captain of the ship over here and has steered us in the direction that will give us the best chance of success we can have. Here’s to keepin’ it classy for another year baby…
The reason we’re successful, darling? My overall charisma, of course.
Freddie Mercury
As previously mentioned, Bigg and I headed over to Hutch for one last Mai Tai night before Bill and Mary shut down the Gold Coin. We’ve had plenty a crazy nights whilst consuming those Mai Tai’s and it was so nice to share with good friends one last round. A huge bonus was that friends from Denmark were in town and came up to chat for a while (Mum is originally from Hutch.) Chris (mum) has four girls who each are more stunning than the next and it just goes round and round in a vicious circle.
Another bonus was having my girl there who has just enjoyed getting out to Mai Tai night with her guy and friends. I snapped this quick pic of Michelle and Zandra and I just love it. All our girls are working so hard to make a good life for themselves. Scraping for gas money, going to school, working, and always finding time for some puck or some hunting or fishing. If our future were set by hard work, they’d be good to go. As we all know, it’s not. But hard work is step one and their future is looking so bright…
you gotta wear shades. Heh.
I’ve been thinking of that since I took this picture and THEN I got an adorable Christmas card in the mail of three little boys of dear friends who own one of the strongest and best equipped Black Iron CrossFit gyms in the country, CrossFit Retribution. Angie keeps us pretty entertained of tales of here three little Musketeers on The Facebook so having their angelic smiles on our fridge makes me smile. But the message on the card of our holiday being merry & BRIGHT is something I really love.
A bright future, isn’t that a nice goal? Bright for our children, for us, for our loved ones. Free from struggle or pain. The problem is, we live in the real world and tough times can sucker punch us from out of nowhere at any time. Life happens. What can we do to be prepared for it?
Bigg and I have worked very hard this last month at getting some key issues straightened up. Finances, communication, projects around the house. We have already reaped the benefits and could spend time kicking ourselves for not doing this sooner but have just decided to be thankful we made it through that particular tough patch to work on it now. So the future is looking particularly brighter not because we’re taking in more money, we’re just on the same page on where it’s going. Helpful.
We both have very particular goals for our sport this year. My games season will start with The Arnold in March and I’m doing all I can do in twenty below weather to prepare for that. Which means lots of indoor drills. Just keep working the movements, just keep spinning that hated hammer. Do what I can do. Bigg has been getting under the Iron and working his pulling harder than I’ve seen him do since I’ve known him. He’s looking around for a powerlifting comp for something fun and different to do and if Clevenger has his way, he’ll get the Bigg man throwing in a few games this season. Yeah!
But we’ll do what we can to prepare. Eat right, get plenty of good sleep, and train hard. We are not guaranteed to be disease free, but by gawd disease will have to fight hard to get into this body. Food is a huge part of that and we’ll do our part to have a bright future.
We’ll continue to cultivate friendship’s that are healthy, positive and fun. We’ll continue to scope out new places and new food as we’re able. We’ll enjoy small victories, cuz some days that’s all ya get.
But with each new day, whether the date is the 1st of January or the 10th of May…we have an opportunity to make that day bright. Leave the failures and disappointments of yesterday to yesterday. The carry over may still be there today, but so is the chance to make things right. And live brighter than the day before. SRSLY.
When obstacles arise, you change your direction to reach your goal, you do not change your decision to get there.
Zig Ziglar
Last Song of the Year…Echo Lake.
Which has made me think of wishes for the new year. I don’t do resolutions…obviously. I DO do goals. I have some big ones.
First, do everything I have control over to stay healthy. Deadlift for a strong back; eat for strength and anti-inflammation; train to stave off this aging thing that seems to happen each year . Throwing drills while the snow wins the whole “can I throw out in the cold without slipping on the ice and falling on my arse” deal. Sleep 7-8 hours a night. Lot’s of water…lot’s of wine.
Second, be patient in my ventures. Whatever they look like. Be it relationships; chaos; things not going as I’ve pictured; my throwing, be patient. It is something I’ve always lacked.
I’ll get married…cuz why not?
3rd…understand I can’t do everything. I can’t be everywhere. I can’t do it all. I really want to. I’ve really expected myself to. But can’t. No one can. I’ll have great days and bad days but hopefully mostly good days. Good days are good. I’ll take ’em.
Next, I’ll keep learning. About Art, and Books, and Cars, and Dogs, and Food, and Drink, and Volunteering, and Training, and Throwing, and Loving, and Parenting, and Being. I’ll just keep learning.
Even more, I’ll let go. Of hurts; of disappointments; of others shitty energy; of stinkin’ thinkin’; of non productive people; of others silliness that I let creep into my life; of unrealistic expectations of not only others around me, but of myself.
What I’ll CONTINUE to do is…
Hug
Love
Laugh
Be silly
Make my Bigg man laugh
Pet my dogs
Train
Try
Rant
Experiment (with food, not drugs)
Help
Shovel
Plant
Watch hockey
Cuss
Be thankful
Call Bullshit (see cuss)…on myself and others.
Appreciate my friends
Do the Mom thang
Compete hard
Cheer harder
Be spazzy on competition day
Smile when my man rubs his back on the door jam
Listen to my Oz man talk in his Russian accent
Be proud of my little girl’s hard work
Hope for my Zac
Visit with long lost friends
Make new friends
Appreciate each day.
Give me a firm spot on which to stand, and I shall move the earth.
Archimedes
