Merry Christine

I went to the State Fair yesterday to check out the Draft Horse Extravaganza. Since I have a Percheron, and feel somewhat like an outsider in the Equestrian world, I was hoping to run into someone that had Percherons. I did. WOW!! Now, I know it seems impossible, but I am even MORE in love with my Tankus.

Anywaaay……….I was cruising the exhibits with my horse buddy Kim, and overheard someone saying the redundant words “I don’t need to go to a stupid gym, I do enough yard work I don’t need to.”

Now, there is an enormous difference between work and working out. Yardwork IS work, shoveling crap out of horse stalls is work, chopping wood is work, laying bricks, work………………When you work, you are doing the SAME movements, and that is why there is always some specific area on your body that hurts, and eventually becomes chronic pain, ESPECIALLY when you get older. Why can I be righteous when I say this?….. Because I am 50 years old, and in the past, oh, decade, I have many people in my life that have rolled their eyes at me for years when I tell them they should be resistance training, so they can keep their bodies evenly fit. As they are getting older, NOW they are asking me about resistance training. Either that OR they are constantly complaining, and for the most part I am polite enough to not say I told you so.

Anytime you are doing specific physical work, like chopping wood, you are favoring specific muscles and neglecting specific muscles. Therefore you would have overtrained, then undertrained muscles. The worse part of that is it could be an overtrained left pectoral, latisimus dorsi, biceps etc, and undertrained right of the same group. Eventually you are going to be completely messed up. If you spend a day shoveling, you are stressing the lower back area, and even the trapezius and shoulders. It is just common sense that this happens, and an Advil, or Vicodin is not going to really solve the problem.

Three days a week of a good overall resistance training session, even if it is just the machines, will help immensely. You don’t have to be a maniac like myself, or most of my peers. Anything is better than stoving up.

Oh yea,………….and NO I kept my mouth shut and said nothing to the statement at the fair!

JAMES BOND WAS A BODYBUILDER???

Ten years ago when I won the Washington State Ironman Women’s Masters Bodybuilding, I wrote an article for a natural bodybuilding website about bodybuilding and steriods. I am going to touch on the topic in the same way I did back then, for I, for some reason am getting quite a lot of people asking me questions on this topic. Recently, there have been a few television shows on women and steriod use. Unfortunately, they are interviewing extreme female bodybuilders, covering why they do it, what their life is life off stage, and various other obsessions involved in that type of lifestyle.

They never cover the female bodybuilders that do not take steriods, and have muscular physiques, that DON’T have freaky faces and voices, like myself.

Now since I have made that statement, let me make myself clear. Between the years of 2003 – 07, I dabbled with various thyroid drugs, some Winstrol and Primobolin, but never any hardcore testosterone drugs. I will say that I was doing fine, for “myself” before I messed up my thyroid. But because I have been practicing “resistance training” since I was a teenager, I know for a fact that the muscle that is on my frame is tried and true through discipline from the exercise, and nutrition, especially red meat and dark leafy greens. At fifty years old I can kick ass as I always have.

HOWEVER, this does NOT mean I am against anyone that chooses to use steriods, providing they are old enough to truly understand the side effects. I have always been an advocate to discourage anyone under the age of thirty to touch the drugs, for I had people in my life when I was that age explain to me why “I” didn’t want to do them (even though they did), and to this day I am forever thankful. In fact, when you hear about any tragedies involving steriods, it is always teenagers. Poor kids are already messed up with hormone confusion. That mixed with mega hormones is always a cocktail for tragedy.

Most of the time when you hear about the terrible deaths of adults involving steriods, 98% of the incidents, chances are there are other drugs (recreational) involved. I know, unfortunately, many deaths of people that happen to do steroids that died tragically, but it always involved some severe recreational drug.

So lets touch the pro bodybuilders. These are NOT sports competitors. No one is running faster, jumping higher, dancing better…….. These people are artists. As I say, and have always said on my cover page of my site, the body is a canvas. The food, training items, and discipline create the product of the canvas. Then you go on stage and you have a dozen judges deciding which one they happen to like better on that given day. Don’t think for a second there aren’t favorites, especially in the pro level. As long as the person using is keeping it to themselves, and not pushing the idea of doing to anyone, there should not be a problem. IT IS AN ARTFORM!

It is interesting how it is sort of okay for musicians, actors, writers, and other artists to be alchoholics or drug abusers. It is common knowledge that it expands their creativity. This is okay? But someone who is doing another type of drug that enhances their physical abilities to create a physical artform is deplorable?

Okay, so what about people like me, the majority of “resistance training” junkies who are put in the same category as bodybuilders, who you see around with accentuated delts and biceps? It is ALWAYS the same questions; “Are you a bodybuilder?” “Do you take steriods?” It never makes me angry (especially since I have played with stuff in the past,,,,,briefly), but it gets so redundant. People like me most likely (especially at my age) choose to go this route for many reasons. 1. NATURAL endorphine high. So let me appologize right now to all of my casual friends who find me completely boring since I don’t get high or drink. I prefer to do it in a way that doesn’t destroy my mind or liver. OR self esteem. 2. Injury prevention. 3. Hygiene. 4. Overall health. 5. YES, to look good in whatever clothes I want. These are the reasons for the average person that likes to “work out”. Understand…of the 34 years I have been resistance training, only 9 years did I compete in bodybuilding. Not to say I won’t again, but so far only 9 years on the stage.

There is another category of people that have found solace in resistance training. I know many people with diabetes that find it wonderful, for they have to eat carefully anyway, and when you are preparing for a bodybuilding competition you have to eat pretty much like a diabetic. I know people that have had deblitative accidents that have almost completely healed themselves, when told they would never be the same. Even people in wheelchairs are going into gyms to “pump iron” and love it.

There are many, many people now that have turned to exercise instead of pharmaceutical drugs to make their life better. It is such a horrible thought to be at the mercy of a doctor and the government to just prescribe a drug and say you’ll be better as long as you spend the money and “take this” for the rest of your life. Oh yea, and never tell you it will slowly kill your liver. Not being paranoid, its just a fact. Don’t attack me on this. I understand that there are a lot of people that have to take the medications, its just that their are a lot of people that are finding out the “cocktails” prescribed can be reduced significantly.

As an avid exercise enthusiast/bodybuilder, let me just say; You can pick on me all you want, I have heard it all so at this point it goes in one ear and out the other. After 34 years of training, I am confident enough to know I am still healthy, I don’t break, and still love what I do.

And I am always inspired and excited about my clients and friends that compete in the bodybuilding/fitness world, for they are always content with thier lives and LOOK HEALTHY AND HAPPY!!!

A PEARL IS A TEMPLE BUILT BY PAIN AROUND A GRAIN OF SAND.
WHAT LONGING BUILT OUR BODIES AND AROUND WHAT GRAINS??……Kahlil Gibran

After a couple of weeks of strange depression, I am finally coming out of my hole. I had to categorize everything in order to figure out why I could not function in my normal standard. One of the subjects that was making me crazy was my lack of desire to drink coffee, and MOST of us know that is an important part of a morning.

Months ago I got rid of my countertop espresso maker. After around 12 years of making espresso in a Starbucks machine, it was going nowhere with me. Instead I started using my stovetop European Espresso maker. I only use light roast, for it has the most caffeine. Still, it was bothering me. I have tried every coffee locally you can buy, and even the light roast has a bitter taste somewhere as it passes your tongue. As far as dark roast, besides the fact it has less caffeine, to me, it is like eating a charred steak, YUK!!! HATE IT!!

When in New York, the first place we hit was the grocery store to put food in the apartment. I forgot that every grocery store has a European section. When I glanced up at the cofffee’s, a stong surge of nostalgia hit me when I saw the Dallmayr coffee. Of course I immediately grabbed it. Sure enough, the next morning I made that coffee and it was like a wisp of clouds flowing past my tongue…..Oh what a wonder! At last! Heavenly coffee. Needless to say I looked forward to every morning.

After coming home I was back in my droll state every morning. Going for days without a cup of coffee, for I don’t believe one should suffer to get a morning kick, I started searching for the lightest roasts I could find of ANY brand. FINALLY a light bulb went off in my head and I went online and found a site that is nothing but European coffees. I not only bought the ones I know and like, but purchased any of the lightest roasts they had. Mostly from Austria and Germany.

When that package hit my doorstep the first thing I did was rip it open and make a spot of coffee. ALAS!!! smooth, light, no bitterness, and no lingering aftertaste! Seriously, there are no coffee’s like this here in the great Northwest. Amazing, considering it is a self proclamed coffee capital of the ………..U.S., I guess.

It made ponder, I must be out of my mind not to enjoy the way we roast our beans here. The NW takes such amazing pride in thier incredible coffee, and just about everyone that lives here is completely addicted to coffee. You walk into a Starbucks and they go out of thier way to make you feel inferior if you cannot request your coffee with the proper descriptions.

I have never understood what the deal is with the super dark, over roasted beans. All I can say is, as American as I am, I wish someone here knew how to make the coffee as well as the good old Europeans. Until then, I will be ordering all of my coffee online.

As I sit here with a wonderful breeze passing though my shop, with the blazing sun shinning outside, I no longer question anything, especially the word fate.  From the hysteria of my work, to people who actually mean something to me, it has all been in my space in a cluster for the past 5 or 6 weeks. 

I first get a visit from my darling close friend, Dina, whom is one person I can totally trust my life with, and in fact has saved my ass a number of time, and really does take care of me.

Dina

This is one of my favorite pictures of Dina. She came up for the weekend to work on a special project with me.  When figure first started she was one of the top 5 Pro figure competitors in the industry.  Alas, she had a lot on her plate and business was more important.  She never looses her amazing physique and is constantly hounded for photo sessions.  Photographers that would not even touch a figure competitor.Then a friend, Sheila Bleck came for a whole week.  I have been making her suits for bodybuilding since she won her first suit at the Emerald Cup back in 2000.  She finally deservedly got her pro card at Nationals in 2008, took 2009 off, comes into the NY Pro, takes second, missing the win by ONE point, but got into the Olympia.  So I just figured she could chill while I worked.  NOT!  She was too much fun.  We got along great, like the same stuff so we did everything from TRYING to rollerskate, taught her to shoot weapons, and put her on my horse.The night I dropped her off at the airport, I went to Auburn, a town right by Seatac, and hand delivered a suit to a client of mine named Colleen Kulp.  Her husband is from here so they were here on family business so I got to put her suit on, and set the hooks myself.  I love it when I can be in charge of putting the hooks on and doing hands on explaining of how to wear the suits.  Along with her very kind husband Jeff, she had a TOY Australian Sheppard named Jessse.  I think I found a little dog I would consider owning.  What a funny, crazy DAWG!. As I was leaving Colleen gave me a beautiful statue of a Stallion from Herself, Kate, and Amanda.  I was extremely humbled by the gesture.

Shiela and I THOUGHT we could skate!!

Now it is time for cramwork  I had one week to get 7 suits ready for the NY Pro/Team Universe this coming weekend.  That also included 4th of July.  Took the 4th off for great fireworks, thanks to my buddy Jeff Harrison.  Back to work the next day (my 50th birthday), where my dear Shannon sat here with me and finished the suits. THAT is what I have been up to……next blawg I promise I will get more entertaining.

Captain Dave an I just got back from beautiful Manhattan.  We stayed in Midtown on the east side, near 30 Rock.  An absolutely GREAT place to take someone who has not seen the city before.  Extremely safe and pretty damned quiet.  Well, on our block anyway.  I treked him from Wall St. to Spanish Harlem.  Covered half of Central Park.  He now knows the subway system.  And even knows how to work the sidewalks.  I have not been back to the city for 17 years and it was like I never left.  The girls are wearing the same kind of clothing!  Ballet flats with ruffled mini skirts.  The only thing different is….NO shoulder pads…THANK GAWD!!  Went to all of my suppliers, fabric, crystal, trimming, …makes a huge difference when you can talk to the people and physically see and touch the things vs. just buying online.  LOTS of new colors of fabric and even MORE crystals on thier way. 

I spent time with my friends back there.  Susan Kaslowe, my longest girlfriend, Mike Cherry, whom I have known longer than Susan and used to work with him at Dean Witter in the 5 World Trade Center.  Mimi Bowman drove down from upstate.  Davana Medina Dente, with her gorgeous daughter Davella.  

Then we drove out to Stoneybrook L.I. to spend time with my baby sister Julianne for her graduation.  We all went out to The Hamptons, where my dearest friend Frank Bickley closed his pet store to drive us around all day showing my family East Hampton, Amaganset, and Montauk.  He took me to an old favorite, The Farmers Market in Amaganset where I had some nostalic of favorites from there that they still make after all these years, strawberry rhubarb pie, banana bread, and a new favorite, chocolate coffee cake!  The land out there is so beautiful it is impossible to describe. 

My baby sis, Julianne had a beautiful graduation.  She is now officially out of college and on her way to the Navy in Virginia.  I am so proud to be her sister.   I can’t wait to hear from her after her first month in the military!  OGHT to be interesting.

We ended the eight days by heading back into the city, where we hooked up with William and Emily, who were also there for Juliannes graduation and had lunch with them at the 30 Rock courtyard restaurant. Took them into St. Patricks Cathedral, where a wedding was about to take place.  How crazy and exciting it would be to have your wedding there, on a SATURDAY!  They have to clear all the tourists out right before, and then coming out to get to your limo, dodging all the tourists.  Crazy.

I have to say this about New York,……..  Truly the most friendly place to be.  There is an energy there that eminates like nno other place.  You can be anything you want to be and there is no one that will try to prevent you from being.  It is what it is.  You can wake up at 2AM and walk outside and find something to do within blocks of your residence.  There is infinity of information, all you have to do is a bit of research on where to go to find what you are searching for. 

One thing Capt. Dave noticed is how few fat people were on the streets.  That is because everyone there has to walk to get to where they are going.  You are walking to the bus, walking to the subway, walking along the streets to catch a cab, walking up and down stairs….   We will be returning next year.  The year after, and after that, and so on, and so on……………….

So I will be brief, for I am so short of time, lately. 

I took a flying launch off of Magnum, the Thoroughbred in mid flight jumping over the trenches up back.  How you ask?  Well….in a dressage saddle.  NOT suppose to jump in them.  My intentions were not to jump but have a nice ride up back and on the way home I just couldn’t control myself and let him go.  Well, so did I.  Off that saddle into mid are and landed elbow, shoulder, hip.  NO………of course I am not hurt!  Just pains me no one was there to enjoy the cartoon. 

Got my side saddle for Tankus.  What an amazing saddle!  Made in 1925, treeless, for a draft or warmblood, or SOMETHING big, Gawd only knows back then.  It is stamped Champion and Wilton, By Appointment to his Majesty, the King.  Whatever that means.  I am intriqued and have no idea, for Champion and Wilton is no more.    Anyway, I put it on him every time I get back from our ride to get use to it.  I am not comfortable enough to ride up back and over the trenches, but getting better..

Dont judge me yet! bad posture, reigns to high...SHUT UP!

I will get back to some physical fitness talk.    Like I have said before, I jog and pump iron as consistent as brushing my teeth.  But when it comes to the extra cardio, I get bored like anyone else.  For the past few weeks I have had a lot of orders to fill, so not going to gym, I use my stepmill, and use the free weights here.  I finally have time to go to the gym, and when I got there I decided to use this Nordic Track.  I needed some sort of challenge and it is the only machine that I have not used, or, at least not used in the past twenty something years.  Soooooo….I get on this thing, strap myself in, figure level 4 since I am an amateur, 60 mins, and start……Uh, about 3 minutes into it, I stop, clear, and reprogram at 60 minutes, level ONE.  I gotta say, that kicked – my – ass!  It does not matter how fit you think you are, if you haven’t used it, you are sure to have your ass kicked.  The funny part about this is, I bought a beautiful Ishmash, Russian Biathlon rifle two years ago with every intention of getting into cross country skiing so that I could enter a local amateur Biathlon.  I live one hour away from Steven’s Pass, which has a cross country course.  However I have conveniently always been too busy, for the beginning of the year my order file is FULL, plus the horses.  Well, I am humbled, and thrilled, and I will use that damned thing everytime I go to my Granite Gold’s, and my goal is to get to at least level 6 in two months, for 60 minutes.  Then MAYBE I will not be afraid to get that cross country ski package.  And keep shooting. 

NOT – Finished.  Here’s the best one.  I have three different breeds of horses to ride, and just about every type of saddle one can imagine, for I see it the same way a car enthusiast would purchase various cars.  For the ride.   Every type except a side saddle.  So I started doing some research, bought many books, for I know this is not something you can just jump on and go.  Surprised, all that know me???  NO, I am not THAT crazy!  I have five different books and went online and bought a cheap side saddle made in Pakistan.  When I got it, I realized this will only fit my skinny withered Thoroughbred Magnum.  Fine.  Then even reading the books the girth totally confused me.  So I researched some more online.  Found www.sidesaddle.com .   Of course they have consignment side saddles, so I clicked on.  There, before my eyes was a draft horse side saddle.  Yea, I bought it.  The best part was the lady, Linda, filled me with a plethera of information.  So I will be getting that saddle, a Champion and Wilton, extremely rare saddle….THIS COMING WEEK!!  So today, I decide it is time to suck up and put the Pakistan side saddle on Magnum………….Oh boy…..humble, humble, humble, …HUMBLE TWICE IN LESS THAN 24 HOURS!!  I have never felt insecure on a horses back.  We walked around a bit and he was just as nervous as I was.  As soon as I got my legs into the position Linda told me to, my gracilus and adductor muscles were fried in less than two minutes!  I was comfortable with my balance, but my inner thighs were in agony.  Hehe….Then to boot, Magnum decided to freak out and I know it was because of the new girth and the next thing I knew I was in the barn in one of the stalls!  Okay, I get some credit because I DID NOT FALL OFF!  The whole entire incident I was trying to figure out HOW to fall off.   So after I got Magnum to calm down, we came back out of the stall, out of the barn, and walked around a bit more, just so he knew it was all good.  He and I will both learn slowly and again, like the Nordik Track, I will conquer this, oh, I say in a few weeks.  On top of that, I am SURE the Champion and Wilton, on Sir Tankus will be  much easier to learn on. 

Mark my words, by June for sure, I will be riding up back in the woods side saddle.

LIFE KISSES US ON BOTH CHEEKS DAY AND MORN,

BUT LAUGHS AT OUR DEEDS EVE AND DAWN.

A while back, I was out on my front porch and I looked over yonder.  There was a strange, beautiful black dog at the far end of my front yard.  I quietly told him to go home, for I did not want my Lucy and Lola to see him.  He barked a couple of times and ran off.  Periodically, he would return and I would watch him.  Each time he would come further into my yard.  I still did not want him to get use to the place, for one, I did not want to have to clean his shit off my lawn. 

Then one day I came home from the gym and as I drove up the driveway, I interrupted him sleeping on my front lawn in the sun.  He took off when he saw me, but I sort of felt bad, for he was so relaxed until I came home.  It turns out he lives across the road in a little white house that is in a center island between my road and the road that runs along the lake.  Not much of a yard and no fencing.  So now I was feeling like he needed my space to feel free and relaxed. 

As I drove past his house one day I saw a girl in the front yard so I stopped and asked his name.  It was Oliver.  I let her know he was crossing the road and it could be deadly someday with the traffic going by.  He continued coming over.  But now I know his name.  Finally the inevitable happened.  Lola saw him.  Now I have both Lucy and Lola following him to the edge of the property.  My girls are smart enough not to go to the road.  One of the mornings he came up I gave him a milk bone.  Another day he came up when I was ready to take one of my horses up back and he went with me!  Now I am liking him VERY much!  Another morning he comes up early enough to run with us.  So here I am running with 5 dogs and he is just the best mannered boy.  My girls and my moms puppy are terrorizing him and he is just as happy as can be to let  them do so. 

It has come to the point where he comes almost every day.  Walks right into my office, eats the dog food in the bowl demands his Denta Bone, Milkbone, and Chicken strip, takes naps with my dogs, like he is one of mine.  He is beautiful, black, shiny, muscular, and so sweet AND he loves to run up back with me.  I enjoy him soooo much and one thing I have learned from the past is, I will enjoy the time he is here, feed him and treat him well, and never get to know his other side.  If the family that owns him doesn’t give a crap where he goes when he is let out the door, then it is not my place to let them know.  And if I did, who knows, they might chew my ass out for even letting him into my space (Been there before).  But the way I look at it is, my dogs would NEVER leave my place because they KNOW where their home is and how much love there is here.  Any dog that strays, is looking for attention because it is not given in thier own home.

Made me realize that goes the same for some humans out there too, and I have known some in the past….

Oliver

Local hitchikers

Whale hanging out for a while by the boat

Typical work day for these guys

Captain Dave and his catch!

Ice flows. This makes it difficult to find the crab pots

This ice builds up from fog and spray from the ocean. They have to beat it off with baseball bats.Local hitchikers

Well, my husband, Dave,  just had his birthday on the 7th.  He spends his birthdays the same way every year, in the middle of the Bearing Sea.  He is the captain of a crab boat.  This is the time of year they catch Opilio, better known as Snow Crab.  This is the fishing that the show Deadliest Catch refers to.  However, he also fishes for Cod this time of year also.  He has been up there since December 26th, and most likely won’t be home until the beginning of April.  Being an artist, and an over active person, the time actually fly’s by for me.  I am the PERFECT fisherman’s wife.  I love being by myself because I can always complete my agendas. 

Back to Dave.  I know without a doubt the reason our relationship is so solid is because I have the highest respect for him. I love him, but I know the respect for one another is just as important for a healthy relationship.  When he is home, he takes care of our domestic chores, AS WELL as my mothers.  She lives on the property next to us so he has duel “honey do’s”

Anyway, I wanted to put some pictures up of what it is like where he works.  As a captain, he not only has to find the catch, but he is responsible for the lives of his crew.  He is the medic, when there are injuries, and the babysitter when they start to loose it being out there for so long.  He has to know every engine and motor that runs the vessel.  He has to know all the computerized units in his wheel house.  The unique thing about my husband is that he knows more than most captains up there because he is humble enough to learn new things, meaning he would have to put himself at the bottom of a totem pole with humble ability.  And he does just that.

So this blog is a tribute to my husband.  For if it was not for him and the work that he does, I would not be able to do what I do.   So all you girls need to know that!

That is what my life is. 

I have never had any fondness for the French, and Karl Lagerfeld is one designer that just scares me.  However, I happened across a low budget documentary on him last night, and I found, well, I really enjoyed hearing his opinion on everything.  He is very strange, extremely creative, and his creativity he credits to loving his time alone.  Cool Froggy.

Speaking of Frenchie frogs………I sure love my horse.  Turns out he likes champagne.  So I bought him his own champagne glass.  (I think I have mentioned before his breed comes from La Perche, France.)  He always surprises me with something new.  We are back home now and I cannot express how thankful I am for the lessons.  We are both better for it.  I must say, he AND I are definitely an outdoor duo.  Weather not being an issue.  We can handle it all.   I might add more pictures of Tankus here when Janelle sends over the ones she took.

I don’t really have anything to say right now.  I am way too crammed with work.  So with that, training, working with Tankus, keeping the property up, I have not had an oportunity to ponder much.

However, I DID get pulled out of my house by my darling Adam and his girl Janelle.  They took me to see Avatar.  It is the one movie that every human being needs to see.  I hope, and bet it gets every academy award it has been nominated.   Wow, wow, wow, wow

Uh…..Oh yea, here, I wrote this down a week or so ago watching  William Shatners “Raw Nerve” interviewing Larry Flynt.  Apparently he was close to Jimmy Carters sister who is an Evangelical.  So Mr. Shatners asks him how his experience with religion went.  He took a deep breath and said “All religious people are bipolar.  All they need is a little lithium and they will be fine.”

Don’t get all roughed up on me, I believe in God.  I just thought that was funny.  Maybe true.