Made it! even though today is a holiday and I am definitely still sick...I got my butt up and made it to the gym with time enough to do cardio for 15 and ready to roll. This congestion showed in fatigue as Adam started me out on some new exercises...but we marched on....
It is the 13th day, and while I try not to buy into all that superstition mess, I may decide that 13th is actually good fortune as we weighed in this am...and...drum roll please.....I have lost EIGHT pounds to date! yep! I have given birth to a mini me..my weight at the time of my birth has been expunged from my body! I was elated as was Adam! that is 27% of my first goal of getting under 300...and 8% of my total goal! Moreover..it is less pull on my heart and lungs and more heart health! that was quite a lift before I was put on the rack...I mean the exercise machines! :)
today we learned about ropes, balls, and pulleys in a little lesson I like to call Cirque de SoBO! It was not enough that I had to stand on the half ball and feel the fires of hell on one foot....now I got to stand on the half ball...both feet squarely planted and squat...yes, that's right..butt out...back straight...balancing on a ball...and squat. Oh the joy that was that moment in time...those repetitions...the fire burning from the feet up the legs and into the..well. butt! :)
Then, I got to kneel and pull a rope like a greek model doing a pose for a sculptor..knee down closest to the machine....other knee straight out...pull down..arms straight out...and then straight across keeping arms straight....then switch the other side.
Just when I thought that there could be no more fun for today...Adam got out the big blue ball (leave it alone!). I asked him if those had ever popped under the weight of a person and with a complete deadpan..he said " not yet, but we will see" Love the sense of humor! Then he got dumbells and showed me how I was to sit and then roll myself out so that my legs were in front of me and only my shoulders and neck where on the ball...then I would do exercises with the dumbell by taking them 90 degrees to a straigth up touching position and back.....Oh yeah! (I thought, as I visualized myself rolling off that thing and hitting the floor).....but...wait for it...I DID IT! and not only did i do it...we went up to the 15 pounders and that was comfortable! we also used the ball for me to sit on and do pull downs under my chin...and again..increased the weight! I was elated! I have to tell you...each time he brings out something new it is scary, but when i figure I can do it...it is amazing...He keeps reminding me that slow and steady...building muscles to do more exerices...will "win the race". You don't have to kill yourself. You do have to keep that heart rate up and work those muscles..but you have to build to it. Today was about balance and doing things to work all sorts of areas that a stationery machine could never do.
Lastly we did the fly thingys on the floor where I lay on my back and lift one arm and then the opposite leg at the same time and then the opposite and then every third i left all together...It was amaizng how much better all that is! The first day I could barely do any..now i just do them! He also had me do crunches where I was reaching for a target with my hands...
So, no high wire act...but I did have a good work out..and I pray that this cough and congestion will leave soon!
I have attached the "aware" program below that Adam gave me. It is really helping me with my eating. Already I am starting to see some of my paterns and triggers and it is awesome to be able to start some corrective resoposes.
I am in today with a brief outing so that I can fully recover from this cold thingy! But looking forward to Cardio tommorrow!
A.W.A.R.E. Program
Food is the number one building block, but sometimes the toughest battle to defeat when trying to reach your fitness goals. When you look at or use food in a negative way, it will cause you great strain on your goals. You need to be aware of your eating habits and train your mind to make the nutrition portion of your goals the easy part of your program.
To develop a healthy relationship with food that keeps you healthy and fit, it's imperative to become consciously aware of what you believe about food, and how you use food outside of your physical needs.
I believe that emotional eating - although it may appear very complex and challenging to overcome at first - is really a very simple problem revolving around two primary issues:
1) Our beliefs about what food means to us.
2) the simple fact that we sometimes eat for reasons other than to satisfy physical hunger or physiological needs.
In other words, we sometimes eat for all the wrong reasons.
10 Common Reasons For Emotional Eating:
1) To obtain a good feeling
2) For comfort
3) Out of sheer boredom
4) Out of habit (for example, every time you watch TV)
5) For social reasons
6) To cope with stressful events
7) To fill a void or missing need
8) To recapture a feeling or memory associated with a food
9) To cope with depression
10) To cope with other feelings such as anger, loneliness, frustration, disappointment, grief, lack of control or anxiety
Sometimes eating for other reasons are caused by peer pressure, such as a social event, family get-together, birthdays or holidays.
There are five simple steps to this process, which I call the AWARE Program
1) Become AWARE of your emotional eating behavior patterns
2) WATCH out for the thoughts, emotions, events and situations that trigger those behavior patterns
3) ARREST the patterns when they happen
4) REPLACE the old emotional eating behavior with more constructive alternatives, outlets or coping mechanisms to satisfy the emotional need.
5) ESTABLISH new beliefs about food and the right reasons for eating, then repeat them as affirmations until they're hard-wired in as the new pattern. (This is the most important step)
STEP 1 - Become AWARE of your emotional eating patterns
Awareness is the starting point of changing ANY behavior. One of the biggest challenges with emotional eating is the fact that you may be unaware that it's even occurring.
We all can make choices and use willpower, but at the same time, almost all of our behaviors ever day are automatic. It's called habit.
The majority of behaviors you carry out on a daily basis are habits. Habits are actions or repetitive behavior patterns that are carried out under the direction and guidance of your subconscious mind.
For example: When you get up in the morning, you do certain things in a certain way time and time again. You get dressed, tie your shoes, shower, brush your teeth, drive your car to work and so on.
All of these are habit patterns. You don't have to think about them anymore or use willpower because they've been repeated so many times, they're now unconsciously carried out.
Well, guess what? Your eating behaviors all day long are also habit patterns.
Eating habits typically form at a young age and your patterns will continue unless you are aware of those patterns and can break those habits with substitutions.
It is absolutely critical to pay attention and become acutely aware of your habitual eating behaviors, until new behaviors take over and become the new habits. Some people call this "conscious eating" or "mindful eating" and it is the opposite of "mindless eating" or "impulse eating," and it is the first step to end emotional eating.
EXERCISE: Make a list of behaviors you repeat every day that have become habit patterns. Focus on your eating and exercise behaviors, but take your time and think hard about every little pattern that you can. This way, you will begin to become aware of and respect the power of habit.
EXERCISE: Keep a food journal that includes nutrition information as well as a diary of your personal thoughts and feelings, for at least 4-12 weeks, at least once, when you first begin changing your lifestyle. Keeping a food journal for life is not necessary, but in the early stages when you are first developing new habits, there is absolutely NO substitute for a food journal. It not only readies your awareness of what you've been eating, it's an education in nutrition that simply cannot be obtained in any other way.
STEP 2 - WATCH out of for thoughts, emotions, events and situations that trigger emotional eating.
Every person has different emotional eating triggers or cues. Some people have many. So it's time for a little investigation. What are your emotional eating triggers? Where will the "scene of the crime" be? Keep in mind that common triggers can include emotions, events and even places.
For example - triggers can come from:
1) Stress
2) Loneliness
3) Boredom
4) Anger
5) Frustration
6) Sadness
7) Depression
8) Feeling unappreciated or ignored
9) Parties
10) Buffets
11) Restaurants
12) Television
13) Your workplace
14) Specific people (who "push your buttons")
EXERCISE: Make a list of all the things, people, places and events that "push your emotional buttons."
When you've identified and written down all your most likely triggers, you've already raised your awareness level and you'll be more conscious of these triggers when they happen. This also allows you to draw up a battle plan and shore up your defenses to eliminate their influences on you in the future.
For example, you can set up your environment - your refrigerator, your kitchen, your home, and your office - to give you the greatest chances for success. For starters, you can keep unsupportive foods out of your house. You can't eat what's not there and what's out of sight is out of mind. Make it extremely inconvenient to get access to comfort foods. Do not kid yourself, if your kitchen or office is stocked with junk food, YOU WILL eat it when the opportunity presents itself. Keep lots of what you DO want to eat well stocked and out in plain view. Place large bowls of fresh fruit on your countertop, keep raw vegetables in the front of your refrigerator and keep jugs or bottles of pure water always within arm's reach.
If certain people or places are triggers for inappropriate eating, come up with a strategy in advance so you can be prepared to handle them when they happen. For example: It helps if you anticipate peer pressure such as invitations to eat too much or eat the wrong foods, by planning a "rebuttal" for every comment you are likely to hear in those situations.
Here are some ideas:
1) "Well, maybe it does taste good, but nothing tastes as good as being lean feels."
2) "Eat more food? Are you kidding? I already have enough calories stored on my butt and thighs. No thank you."
3) "It's not important that I EAT with family, It is important that I BE with family."
4) "It's not about missing out on sweets, it's about missing out on the life I deserve as a lean, healthy person."
5) "It's not about losing freedom to eat whatever I want, It's about not being a slave to food."
EXERCISE: Think about situations where you know you will be pressured to eat inappropriately by other people in your social circle. Write down the things that they may say to you, and write several rebuttals for each one.
STEP 3 - ARREST the pattern when it happens
Once you've begun to develop conscious AWAREness of your behaviors and yours WATCHing out for the feelings, events, places and people that trigger them, you can interrupt or break the pattern the moment you realize it's happening. I like to call it ARRESTING the pattern.
When you feel the urge or temptation for the inappropriate behavior, that's an important moment of decision. When you've been alert and WATCHing for your common triggers, you now have the opportunity to "think before you eat."
Start by simply saying STOP!!! and use some creative procrastination to remind yourself what this kind of eating will do to you.
For example: "Am I eating this because I'm hungry and need to feed my muscles and boost my energy or am I eating for another reason? If the latter, ask yourself why you are eating.
Continue asking yourself some questions that will make you realize you were about to eat mindlessly. One that works for me is: "Do I really want this processed junk to become a part of every cell in my body, my biceps, my brain, my lungs or my stomach." Then I ask myself, "How will I feel after I've eaten this?"
Some other example questions to ask yourself are: "Is eating this worth it?" or "Is eating this going to move me closer to or further away from my goal?"
EXERCISE: Write down your top ten questions to ask yourself when in this situation that will motivate you and drive you closer to your personal fitness goals.
STEP 4: REPLACE the old behaviors with positive alternative or more constructive outlets that give you the same feeling.
If you are eating to obtain a certain positive feeling, or to cope with a negative feeling, it's important to realize there are ALWAYS alternatives and more constructive ways to obtain or satisfy ANY feeling. Remember, it's not about the food, it's about getting a feeling. You may have a belief that it's only food that will make you feel better, but is that really true? I am positive you can REPLACE that belief if you'd like.
For example: "I used to believe that eating would make me feel good, but now I realize that overeating only made me feel sluggish, bloated, fatigued and guilty afterwards and it wasn't worth it for any short-lived pleasure I got. What really makes me feel good is being in control and the victory I feel from becoming fitter, healthier and better than the me of yesterday."
Try out that belief and find other ways to get that "good" feeling in its place.
Some examples:
1) When some people get upset, they will reach for food to cure the upset feeling. Others will workout by hitting the gym, go for a run, punch a heavy bag, or take a kickboxing class.
2) When some people get stressed, they reach for food to suppress the stress. Others find ways to relax, meditate, do yoga, go for a walk or simply remove yourself from the stress.
3) When some people get depressed, they drown in their sorrows with alcohol or binge eating. Others reach out to their friends and loved ones to talk their way through it with the help of a sympathetic and supportive pair of ears.
It is simple when you simply understand that there are always alternative behaviors, you will never feel trapped again. Changing you settings can greatly increase the change in your feelings. Exercise and physical movement are some of the best ways to change your feelings. Other way are to simply break focus away from whatever was troubling you and change your focus and your thoughts to something different and something positive.
EXERCISE: List as many positive REPLACEMENTS as you possibly can that you will and want to engage in when you have become AWARE of your triggers and ARRESTED the problem.
STEP 5: ESTABLISH new beliefs about food and the right reasons for eating, then repeat them until they become your new pattern.
The single most powerful strategy for ending emotional eating or any other negative behavior or undesirable habit is within the power of your beliefs.
Why is it that vegetarians with strong beliefs are not even tempted to eat meat? Why is it that natural health advocates with strong beliefs are not even tempted to eat artificial sweeteners or drink diet soda? Why is it that non drinkers with strong beliefs are not even tempted by a sip of wine? Why is it that an elite athlete is not even tempted to break his or her dietary regimen leading up to a competition?
It's not that they feel the temptation and have some superhuman will power that lets them easily say no. When the belief is truly strong, there is simply no temptation. It's not even an option. If a certain behavior violates your beliefs or values, you won't have to stop yourself from doing it using willpower, you simply won't be able to do it anymore. Doing it would feel totally impossible. It's almost like your neurology short circuits before you can act against your beliefs.
People don't always do what they say, but they will always do what they believe and value.
Most people are unaware of their own beliefs, but the power of a metaphor describing your beliefs can have a great impact on your life in all facets. If you believed your body was a "gift" a "temple" and a "lean, fine-tuned machine," how do you think that would affect your behavior? I have never met anyone who talked about their body with this type of language, had a challenge with inappropriate eating behaviors or obesity. Think hard about that.
Using metaphors to describe your beliefs are powerful ways to help you develop new beliefs and toss out the bad habits. Not only to strengthen your beliefs, but metaphors are great ways to describe healthy food.
Examples:
1) Food is like fuel to your body
2) Food is like a powerful drug
3) Food is to the body like bricks are to a building
4) Eating small meals frequently is like stoking your metabolic furnace
5) Fresh whole fruit is like natures candy
6) Lean protein is the lean muscle builder
EXERCISE: If you use metaphors to describe your body and the food you eat, whether they are positive or negative, write them all down so you begin to become AWARE of them. If you don't use metaphors yet, make a list of all the positive metaphors you could start using today. "My body is like a ________." "Food is like_________." ***Remember, your brain is the most incredible super-computer with almost unlimited capacity to learn and to make new associations and neural connections. You can create neural associations between eating healthy, nutritious foods and positive feelings. You can learn anything. You can create new meanings. You can develop new beliefs. You can express those beliefs with new metaphors.
While we are talking about metaphors, why not change your choice of words when it comes to behaviors.
For example: If you are angry and you describe your state as "boiling mad," why not change it to "I'm a little irked at the moment," or "I'm a wee bit peeved." (It might even break your state and make you laugh)
Other examples:
1) "Stress is an essential part of like because that's how we grow. Without stress we never grow. I embrace stress because stress is a stimulus for growth."
2) "Stress is okay. What's bad for me is continuous stress without release. So when I feel constant stress is starting to put pressure on me, that's my signal to rest, relax and recover. I work hard and sometimes it's stressful, but then I play hard and relax!"
3) "Use food when I feel stressed? HECK NO! food is good for fuel and for feeding muscles, but it's a terrible way to de-stress because if you eat inappropriately, you only feel MORE stressed afterwards."
4) "It's not food that I really want or need when I feel over-stressed, it's rest and relaxation...I just need a better balance between stress and relaxation.
***If you change your perspective, you can change your behaviors.
Having strong beliefs about your body, food, eating, exercise is enough to deal without willpower, but adding your value system to the mix will out willpower out of its misery.
We may have completed this exercise before, but answer these questions to bring out your value system in your goals. You answer on your own, but I placed examples in to get my point across.
What's important to you about reaching your goal of reducing your weight from 185lbs to 135lbs?
Answer: If I look better, I will feel better physically, have more energy and I will feel better about myself.
Questions: What's important to you about looking better physically, having more energy and feeling better about yourself?
Answer: I will feel more confident and especially in interviews so I can advance my career and get the type of job I want. I will feel more attractive and be able to approach men more easily.
Question: If you get the type of job you want, what is important about that?
Answer: I will make more money and won't hate my job.
Question: What is important about making more money and not hating your job?
Answer: I won't have to worry about paying the bills and I will have the freedom to do what I want, when I want and with whom I want.
Question: So when you reach your ideal weight goal, you will feel better physically, you will feel better about yourself, you will be more confident, you will attract men, advance your career and make more money?
Answer: YES!
That is a very powerful list of motivators that dictate what your values are so you can dig deep within yourself to program your subconscious mind with your new beliefs.
EXERCISE: With the same technique as above and to find out your true beliefs and values that most importantly consist of your health goals, answer these four questions and dig really deep.
1) What do you believe food is for?
2) What do you believe about your body?
3) What do you believe about eating?
4) What do you believe about exercise?
You may come up with many answers for each one, but after you have dug really deep to find your beliefs and values, ask yourself which beliefs are going to get your toward your goals. Once you narrowed down your beliefs, act as if you are a lawyer in the courtroom and question that belief, weaken it, dismantle it and grab that belief and put it on the stand. Challenge that belief and try to find evidence that it is not true, consider where you got the beliefs and if they are your beliefs or someone else's. If the belief's aren't serving you and will help you reach your goals, replace it with something that will. There is a law that states that when you remove something from your life, something else will take its place unless you put something in its place. Replace it, don't remove it.
EXERCISE: PUTTING YOUR BELIEFS TO WORK
When you narrow down your empowering beliefs, your goal is to keep it, strengthen it and reinforce it. You do that by putting your beliefs in writing and turning them in to "Affirmations" (some people may call them "declarations")
Write your affirmations just like you would for any other goal except you don't need to include a deadline, as a belief is something you want to hold on to as long as it serves you.
Remember these four points: Specific, Personal, Positive and Present Tense.
So just as you did with your goals, write your affirmations down on paper every day and read them to yourself throughout the day. Read them in the morning, whenever you can in the afternoon and just before you go to bed. Just as your goal card, you should carry these affirmations around with you where you are reminded of your beliefs every time you reach in your pocket or in your purse.
Examples: Here are 4 core beliefs about food that highly fit and lean people have, which if you follow and believe, you will be one of those people too.
1) Food is construction material for the body - "Good food is "construction material...what I eat is building material for my muscles and every other cell and tissue in my body."
2) Food is for energy/food is fuel for the body - "Good food is fuel. I will only be as energetic as the fuel I put into my bodily engine."
3) Food is for stoking the furnace of your metabolism - "When I eat good food in small, frequent meals, it stokes my metabolic furnace."
4) Food is for creating optimal health - "Food is the most powerful drug. Good food contains every nutrient I need for perfect health."
Example: 10 beliefs and affirmations about food for balance, happiness and long term success
1) "It's okay to eat for enjoyment or social reasons if I do it consciously and mindfully and I stay within the compliance and quantity limits I set for myself in advance."
2) "I am totally conscious and aware of my beliefs about food and the reasons I eat."
3) "When I feel stressed or depressed, I already have or I can easily find alternate coping mechanisms to deal with those feelings."
4) "Healthy food that helps you burn fat and build muscle can be prepared in delicious ways."
5) "I realize that good can be one of life's great pleasures and that completely denying myself of foods I enjoy is not productive in the long term."
6) "If I set a compliance rule for myself, then there's really no such thing as forbidden foods. As long as I obey the law of calorie balance and eat only small amounts of my favorite treat foods, I can still be healthy, develop a great body, and enjoy my foods in moderation."
7) "I don't have to be perfect. If I eat healthy, natural, fat-burning, muscle building foods 90% of the time or more, I know I will get good results."
8) "If I want better results, faster, I realize that I may need to tighten up my nutritional compliance and I'm willing to do it if that's what it takes."
9) "Everything I eat will have some effect on my body but I realize that what I eat once in a while doesn't impact me that much."
10) "What's most important is what I eat habitually, every day, week after week, month after month, so I'm very cautious about what I eat repeatedly. I understand and have great respect for the power that of habits."
In closing, remember that all beliefs have an effect on you either in a positive or negative way. Sometimes you follow all the steps of the AWARE program, but you still struggle with eating, goals or exercise, maybe you have a larger or global belief that is like an umbrella which covers and blocks your ability to believe in this program 100%. Follow the same steps in to creating a belief that allows you to replace that belief with a much more positive one and you will succeed.
Always remember that belief power is 1,000 times stronger than will power. I believe in this program and so do hundreds of my clients who have changed their beliefs and are walking around "right now" at their goal weight and feeling very good about themselves.
Monday, January 18, 2010
Sunday, January 17, 2010
Day 12 of the new Journey: See Less of Bo: The Cape Fear Heart Walk Journey with Adam Freeman and O2 Fitness
I always love putting up the title of a post becuase wen I begin typing "day" it comes up automatically with the title of "Day 1".. a good reminder that it is a day at a time and that each day is in fact a new begining!
I had a dear friend who is on this journey talk about betaing herself up because of a "sugar slip"...I totally sympathize..cause even the slightest diversion from the plan can bring that monster that says I have to be "perfect" and the other monster that wants to say "see I told you you could not do it". Well, first, there is no wood on my back and things are going to happen, and secondly, there is no failure if I am doing what i need to do for myself one day at a time...it is PROGRESS NOT PERFECTION, PROGRESS NOT PERFECTION, PROGRESS NOT PERFECTION! I LOVE (sarcastic) how my brain can try and set me up for failure by presenting those either or propsitions....sorry brain...there is a lot of grey friend..and in that grey is where my humanity makes for a lot of progress and good things! I was so grateful for her sharing with me and keeping these things "green for me" and also for a post from a dear person who shared she is begining this journey as well!!! It is so powerful!
As I said yesterday, I have some sort of bug...I did not do cardio yesterday and stayed wrapped up. I was so pleased as well that I did not do anything bad food wise. I did not want to cook so Michael went to pita delite and got me the chicken fajita salad...i was almost all the way through it when I realized that the dressing was not on it! I was enjoying so much I just did not need it! the only fat came from the feta, and I was ok with that cause I had done so well throughout the day and week. I did give myself an extra sugar free ice cream sandwich...being mindful that sugar free does not mean low calorie or low fat! All in all a successful day!
Today, I woke with the same congestion and sinus. I skipped church and a lunch with a dear friend....but somewhere in the early afternoon I got fidgety and while it may have been stupid, I went in to do my cardio. It was not as bad as I thought it woudl be and it did open me up..but I felt good about doing this for myself. My heart rate was higher than normal because of the congestion...but never too hgh that it shot way above my range...and 30 minutes later..I was done! Right now I am not feeling so hot..but when I got home, I took a eucalyptus bath and am in the for the rest of the day with lots of fluids and vitamin c.....so hopefully this will pass quickly.
truth be told, I may have gone in part becasuae of a call i got earlier that informed me of a person I have known for serveral years through a board I serve on that died this morning from a massive heart attack. It was a real shock. She was a hard worker and someone who had a very very tough job...not overwieght at all..and I was so saddened to hear of her passing. I can only imagine what this woman has endured over the years doing the work she has been involved in. She stuck with it and as the person who called me said, she was very good at what she did.
In my ripe old age of 43, I have learned that you just never know when you will be called, but it just got me thinking and as I worked out on that eliptical...I kept thinking about her. I pray she has peace and her family as well.
Such sudden death brought me back. The first person I remember dying unexpectedly of a massive heart attack was my grandmother lois. My dad got the call..i must have been around 14. I was with him on summer break. We were told just to come over to her home. As we turned up the street, I saw the ambulance and police and neighbors standing around. I remember jumping out of the car before it stopped and running into, past all the men standing around, the side porch and as I entered the den, I was enveloped by the soft arms and perfumed laced embrace of my Grandmother's best friend Dorothy. I knew she was gone. I knew what had happened...it was just too much to bear. As I calmed down, I found out that she was at her vanity removing her makeup when it happened....and had Dorothy not checked on her...well, may not have known for a much longer time. I saw what heart attacks could do....
Things have happened since, not withstanding Windell's death such a short time ago...but this morning was another reminder. It does not mean that I have to live in fear. I know that is no life at all....but it is more motivation..more life affirming incentive to be the best I can be today and treat that remarkable muscle in my chest with more care and love...treat me better in other words.
I have to say as I left I saw one of my favorite people who is in her 70s as I left the gym...she is someone who has cared enough about me to give me good advice over the years and she is an amazing friend...and this morning she became a grandmother again. I love her with all my heart and it was so great to see her working out! she is a great power of example. Her daughter too..and with our sharing about the baby, it was the balance that is in the world...Haiti is still tragic, so much is going on and there is so much need, and a life passed suddenly...but there was the birth of a great new life, she and I were in the gym doing good things for our lives, and the possibilities for more of a great day lay ahead....all in all...Life is Good....and always, in all things, in all times, in all ways, God is good!
I had a dear friend who is on this journey talk about betaing herself up because of a "sugar slip"...I totally sympathize..cause even the slightest diversion from the plan can bring that monster that says I have to be "perfect" and the other monster that wants to say "see I told you you could not do it". Well, first, there is no wood on my back and things are going to happen, and secondly, there is no failure if I am doing what i need to do for myself one day at a time...it is PROGRESS NOT PERFECTION, PROGRESS NOT PERFECTION, PROGRESS NOT PERFECTION! I LOVE (sarcastic) how my brain can try and set me up for failure by presenting those either or propsitions....sorry brain...there is a lot of grey friend..and in that grey is where my humanity makes for a lot of progress and good things! I was so grateful for her sharing with me and keeping these things "green for me" and also for a post from a dear person who shared she is begining this journey as well!!! It is so powerful!
As I said yesterday, I have some sort of bug...I did not do cardio yesterday and stayed wrapped up. I was so pleased as well that I did not do anything bad food wise. I did not want to cook so Michael went to pita delite and got me the chicken fajita salad...i was almost all the way through it when I realized that the dressing was not on it! I was enjoying so much I just did not need it! the only fat came from the feta, and I was ok with that cause I had done so well throughout the day and week. I did give myself an extra sugar free ice cream sandwich...being mindful that sugar free does not mean low calorie or low fat! All in all a successful day!
Today, I woke with the same congestion and sinus. I skipped church and a lunch with a dear friend....but somewhere in the early afternoon I got fidgety and while it may have been stupid, I went in to do my cardio. It was not as bad as I thought it woudl be and it did open me up..but I felt good about doing this for myself. My heart rate was higher than normal because of the congestion...but never too hgh that it shot way above my range...and 30 minutes later..I was done! Right now I am not feeling so hot..but when I got home, I took a eucalyptus bath and am in the for the rest of the day with lots of fluids and vitamin c.....so hopefully this will pass quickly.
truth be told, I may have gone in part becasuae of a call i got earlier that informed me of a person I have known for serveral years through a board I serve on that died this morning from a massive heart attack. It was a real shock. She was a hard worker and someone who had a very very tough job...not overwieght at all..and I was so saddened to hear of her passing. I can only imagine what this woman has endured over the years doing the work she has been involved in. She stuck with it and as the person who called me said, she was very good at what she did.
In my ripe old age of 43, I have learned that you just never know when you will be called, but it just got me thinking and as I worked out on that eliptical...I kept thinking about her. I pray she has peace and her family as well.
Such sudden death brought me back. The first person I remember dying unexpectedly of a massive heart attack was my grandmother lois. My dad got the call..i must have been around 14. I was with him on summer break. We were told just to come over to her home. As we turned up the street, I saw the ambulance and police and neighbors standing around. I remember jumping out of the car before it stopped and running into, past all the men standing around, the side porch and as I entered the den, I was enveloped by the soft arms and perfumed laced embrace of my Grandmother's best friend Dorothy. I knew she was gone. I knew what had happened...it was just too much to bear. As I calmed down, I found out that she was at her vanity removing her makeup when it happened....and had Dorothy not checked on her...well, may not have known for a much longer time. I saw what heart attacks could do....
Things have happened since, not withstanding Windell's death such a short time ago...but this morning was another reminder. It does not mean that I have to live in fear. I know that is no life at all....but it is more motivation..more life affirming incentive to be the best I can be today and treat that remarkable muscle in my chest with more care and love...treat me better in other words.
I have to say as I left I saw one of my favorite people who is in her 70s as I left the gym...she is someone who has cared enough about me to give me good advice over the years and she is an amazing friend...and this morning she became a grandmother again. I love her with all my heart and it was so great to see her working out! she is a great power of example. Her daughter too..and with our sharing about the baby, it was the balance that is in the world...Haiti is still tragic, so much is going on and there is so much need, and a life passed suddenly...but there was the birth of a great new life, she and I were in the gym doing good things for our lives, and the possibilities for more of a great day lay ahead....all in all...Life is Good....and always, in all things, in all times, in all ways, God is good!
Saturday, January 16, 2010
Day 11 of the new Journey: See Less of Bo: The Cape Fear Heart Walk Journey with Adam Freeman and O2 Fitness
today is a good day...but unfortunately I have a bug..yuck..i knew I was getting something sinus wise...but got up at about 7 this morning and I was full fledged bleh.... the cool thing is that i know this time I do not have to eat crap all day cause I feel bad...and this hit on my day off, so hopefully I can get better fast and not have it interfere with my new routine. the whole point to all this is to intergrate healthier living into normal life..and getting a bug here and there, particulary since I work around students all the time, is part of normal life...so...i will keep a good outlook.
I am snuggled up and watching good shows..have had my normal health breakfast and an orange that tasted actually better than unusal casue I don't feel so good...much better than the carrot cake and chips that used to comfort me when I got sick.
So, sorry for the short entry today..but I am going to rest and drink fluids, treat myself well, and see you tomorrow!
I am snuggled up and watching good shows..have had my normal health breakfast and an orange that tasted actually better than unusal casue I don't feel so good...much better than the carrot cake and chips that used to comfort me when I got sick.
So, sorry for the short entry today..but I am going to rest and drink fluids, treat myself well, and see you tomorrow!
Friday, January 15, 2010
Day 10 of the new Journey: See Less of Bo: The Cape Fear Heart Walk Journey with Adam Freeman and O2 Fitness
MADE IT! Oh yeah...big man rolling at 6:15..and the cool thing was I had such a good night sleep. I totally flaked on an event I bought tickets for last night for Phoenix Employement Ministry...but at least I bought the tickets..I just SOOOOOO needed a night to chill and be at home and we had a great night. Michael teaches late on tuesdays and thursday and I get the house to me a little after work...some quiet time. then experimented with the chicken...tried to make chicken tenders..with no oil..so I put then boneless chicken pieces in a bad with progresso bread crumbs, salt and pepper and sage and did the old SHAKE AND BAKE Thing! :) i sprayed a pan with pam and cooked at 350 for 25 minutes..turning them once. Not the best veggies to go along with them..but, I wanted white corn last night and I was itching for potatoes. I thought that those dehydrated potatoes would be low fat and low calorie...but NOOOO...however, the delmonte potatoes are 0fat....so...we had a nice meal. The chicken was not perfect..but it was good. and teh cool thing once again was it was almost no fat...and satisfying! I am determined to come up with 30 low fat, high protein, ways to make chicken that we love to have with vegetables and no rice or starch before the month is over.
But I digress...so yesterday I was dragging because, for one, it has been an intense week, for two, there has been a lot going on emotionally and in things I am involved in. Last night after dinner, we just settled in and watch Prince Caspian and turned over everything in peace...I drifted off and had such a great night of sleep.
This morning at the gym..i got on the eliptical and Adam actually had to get me off and I still wanted to go on it more! LOL! Love it!
As we began, he mentioned that my blog yesterday sounded like I had a bad day. I told him that I was just tired. Now, I am not pollyanna...or as I was once called..pollyanna with a deep voice..but I have not had a bad day in over 20 years..but I have had bad moments in blessed, good days. I began, as I worked out with Adam, to share what was on my heart...what was going on..it was amazing how freeing I felt...how light I became as I released so much of that. As I processed my physical, I also remember that I am NOT IN CHARGE and that I have a God that is in full charge! it was wonderful! Adam talked (and counted and kept my form!) and it was amazing! What a great morning session. using my workout not only to keep in priority my health, but using it to cleanse the distractions and the causes for concern was such a boon.
I have to report at the end of the first full week and the end of what is almost two weeks, this is the blessing of a lifetime! Today I met Heather..another trainer at the gym..what a lite of life and love..shining with health and openness..friends, strangers, and so many have been sending me notes of encouragment...people are telling me they are reading this and folllowing the journey and I know of at least four people who are on this journey with me! My Director at work allowed me to adjust my work schedule slightly so that I can tain and then shower and get here after mwf...and I can work later those days...I am supported by everyone at owrk and my associate director who is an amazing athlete now into his 60s is so helpful with tips. Michael joined the gym and is my rock and someone I share EVERYTHING with! I have the best mother in the world and step dad..heck...my cousin in the mountains is on this journey too!! The Heart Association is amazing and anyone that does not believe Ashley Miller is not the biggest heart, has not met her..get those daggum HEART BALL TICKETS FOLKS! http://www.americanheart.org/presenter.jhtml?identifier=3064396 I have Kristi rooting me on and supporting me everyday...and with all that is on her plate that is one hell of an effort..second only to my own mother..Louise is right there with me and let me tell you..that is one woman for inspiration..Miss Kathy being a power of example..Andy Hight being someone to show me how it is done!...I just cannot tell you how amazing it is..and If I can say..becasue so much is coming through Adam and Aimee's blog from Kayliegh, I feel like I have a small part of the priviledge of the blessing of the angel that is Kayliegh now. I cannot tell you how special it is to have someone message me and say they came from Kayleigh's blog. From that life, that abundant spirit brought two parents with such loving and giving hearts that made so much happen for so many others...like me...I do understand..at the same time..for anyone coming to this...that may feel like this kind of support is not in place. or this support is not in place for you..then use this...so much love is here..take it..that is what this blogging..that is what this being so public about is all about..use it! Ok..so I am going off today becuase I am so full...it is so overwhelming and I am so very grateful! thanks be to God and thanks...just thanks!
Remember to visit and support the Cape Fear Heart Walk
http://www.startcapefearnc.org/
It's all about Adam Freeman and his amazng training!
http://o2fitnesstraining.blogspot.com/
Please join and support the amazing folks at O2 fitness! Grateful, does not begin to describe!
http://o2fitnessclubs.com/
But I digress...so yesterday I was dragging because, for one, it has been an intense week, for two, there has been a lot going on emotionally and in things I am involved in. Last night after dinner, we just settled in and watch Prince Caspian and turned over everything in peace...I drifted off and had such a great night of sleep.
This morning at the gym..i got on the eliptical and Adam actually had to get me off and I still wanted to go on it more! LOL! Love it!
As we began, he mentioned that my blog yesterday sounded like I had a bad day. I told him that I was just tired. Now, I am not pollyanna...or as I was once called..pollyanna with a deep voice..but I have not had a bad day in over 20 years..but I have had bad moments in blessed, good days. I began, as I worked out with Adam, to share what was on my heart...what was going on..it was amazing how freeing I felt...how light I became as I released so much of that. As I processed my physical, I also remember that I am NOT IN CHARGE and that I have a God that is in full charge! it was wonderful! Adam talked (and counted and kept my form!) and it was amazing! What a great morning session. using my workout not only to keep in priority my health, but using it to cleanse the distractions and the causes for concern was such a boon.
I have to report at the end of the first full week and the end of what is almost two weeks, this is the blessing of a lifetime! Today I met Heather..another trainer at the gym..what a lite of life and love..shining with health and openness..friends, strangers, and so many have been sending me notes of encouragment...people are telling me they are reading this and folllowing the journey and I know of at least four people who are on this journey with me! My Director at work allowed me to adjust my work schedule slightly so that I can tain and then shower and get here after mwf...and I can work later those days...I am supported by everyone at owrk and my associate director who is an amazing athlete now into his 60s is so helpful with tips. Michael joined the gym and is my rock and someone I share EVERYTHING with! I have the best mother in the world and step dad..heck...my cousin in the mountains is on this journey too!! The Heart Association is amazing and anyone that does not believe Ashley Miller is not the biggest heart, has not met her..get those daggum HEART BALL TICKETS FOLKS! http://www.americanheart.org/presenter.jhtml?identifier=3064396 I have Kristi rooting me on and supporting me everyday...and with all that is on her plate that is one hell of an effort..second only to my own mother..Louise is right there with me and let me tell you..that is one woman for inspiration..Miss Kathy being a power of example..Andy Hight being someone to show me how it is done!...I just cannot tell you how amazing it is..and If I can say..becasue so much is coming through Adam and Aimee's blog from Kayliegh, I feel like I have a small part of the priviledge of the blessing of the angel that is Kayliegh now. I cannot tell you how special it is to have someone message me and say they came from Kayleigh's blog. From that life, that abundant spirit brought two parents with such loving and giving hearts that made so much happen for so many others...like me...I do understand..at the same time..for anyone coming to this...that may feel like this kind of support is not in place. or this support is not in place for you..then use this...so much love is here..take it..that is what this blogging..that is what this being so public about is all about..use it! Ok..so I am going off today becuase I am so full...it is so overwhelming and I am so very grateful! thanks be to God and thanks...just thanks!
Remember to visit and support the Cape Fear Heart Walk
http://www.startcapefearnc.org/
It's all about Adam Freeman and his amazng training!
http://o2fitnesstraining.blogspot.com/
Please join and support the amazing folks at O2 fitness! Grateful, does not begin to describe!
http://o2fitnessclubs.com/
Thursday, January 14, 2010
Day 9 of the new Journey: See Less of Bo: The Cape Fear Heart Walk Journey with Adam Freeman and O2 Fitness
So, working out does not mean that you have a better memory off of the calendar on your phone..got off work and went to the health department at 5:30 and the meeting was not till 6:30...at this point of frustration and driving across town..i would have stopped at chic filet..but guess what! I called michael..told him we would not be able to cook..he could have a free night (he was OVERJOYED...cause he got to have a pizza! LOL!) and I came home..made tuna..took a few minutes to chill and went back and had an amazing board meeting with amazing people. We gave out our first granst for the foundation to 5 amazing projects and got the ball rolling for this year's golf tournament and I was still home BEFORE 8 o'clock! how's that for a good night! :) Had a salad and a sugar free/low fat treat..chilled and went to bed with The Adams Family movie!
I got up this morning..dragging a little..but I GOT UP! Yeah! still cheerleading that one! My butt is getting up and that is awesome! Got out the door and down to o2....My Ipod had not charged and I was not happy cause no music and i grabbed some ear plugs and decided I would watch the news...spent time with my favority morning folks..Bob and Kim on WECT...and as I was struggling at 15 minutes to get to the next 15..today came out and all the news from Haiti played out..all of a sudden my big tail struggling on an elipitcal seemed VERY insignificant! VERY! each stroke of those handles..each pedal was a pray for that devastastion..that horror...it was..well you all know..you are watching it too. It is staggering and our response must be equal to that...prayer adn watching followed and before I knew it...30 minutes had passed and I felt really good!
My session ended even better because my friend susie came in and i found out she works there..it was great to see someone I know again and leave with love from the gym..
work has been tough a little so far today....I have felt a little weak/tired today..but it is late in the week and I have been going hard. Issues and things that are in my life have not stopped because I am doing this..but I have to say...I am putting this first..this whole...I am going to take care of myself thing...the physical as well as the mental and spiritual...it is all a day at a time. progress not perfection...progress not perfection is my mantra...today..I have eaten well so far...I have shown up....I have my head on straight..my heart open..trying to think before I act and speak...ok...so...being a little tired..not so bad...just can't use that as an excuse to eat a snickers right now..that won't help! HA! but...maybe..this evening..it may give me rights over a mineral bath and quiet time with Michael!.....
anyhoo....I am off till tomorrow folks!
Before I go...I will signing off each day with this EVERYDAY from now on. I should have been including these links in every post, but I will correct that now! These folks, these places are making the difference in my life and they can make the difference for you....I am so very grateful to and for!:
Remember to visit and support the Cape Fear Heart Walk
http://www.startcapefearnc.org/
It's all about Adam Freeman and his amazng training!
http://o2fitnesstraining.blogspot.com/
Please join and support the amazing folks at O2 fitness! Grateful, does not begin to describe!
http://o2fitnessclubs.com/
I got up this morning..dragging a little..but I GOT UP! Yeah! still cheerleading that one! My butt is getting up and that is awesome! Got out the door and down to o2....My Ipod had not charged and I was not happy cause no music and i grabbed some ear plugs and decided I would watch the news...spent time with my favority morning folks..Bob and Kim on WECT...and as I was struggling at 15 minutes to get to the next 15..today came out and all the news from Haiti played out..all of a sudden my big tail struggling on an elipitcal seemed VERY insignificant! VERY! each stroke of those handles..each pedal was a pray for that devastastion..that horror...it was..well you all know..you are watching it too. It is staggering and our response must be equal to that...prayer adn watching followed and before I knew it...30 minutes had passed and I felt really good!
My session ended even better because my friend susie came in and i found out she works there..it was great to see someone I know again and leave with love from the gym..
work has been tough a little so far today....I have felt a little weak/tired today..but it is late in the week and I have been going hard. Issues and things that are in my life have not stopped because I am doing this..but I have to say...I am putting this first..this whole...I am going to take care of myself thing...the physical as well as the mental and spiritual...it is all a day at a time. progress not perfection...progress not perfection is my mantra...today..I have eaten well so far...I have shown up....I have my head on straight..my heart open..trying to think before I act and speak...ok...so...being a little tired..not so bad...just can't use that as an excuse to eat a snickers right now..that won't help! HA! but...maybe..this evening..it may give me rights over a mineral bath and quiet time with Michael!.....
anyhoo....I am off till tomorrow folks!
Before I go...I will signing off each day with this EVERYDAY from now on. I should have been including these links in every post, but I will correct that now! These folks, these places are making the difference in my life and they can make the difference for you....I am so very grateful to and for!:
Remember to visit and support the Cape Fear Heart Walk
http://www.startcapefearnc.org/
It's all about Adam Freeman and his amazng training!
http://o2fitnesstraining.blogspot.com/
Please join and support the amazing folks at O2 fitness! Grateful, does not begin to describe!
http://o2fitnessclubs.com/
Wednesday, January 13, 2010
Day 8 of the new Journey: See Less of Bo: The Cape Fear Heart Walk Journey with Adam Freeman and O2 Fitness
Ok, so maybe it is silly to be so excited about making it to the gym each day..but I AM! especially this morning cause last night was a marathon of two board meeetings, then to the grocery store after, and not home until right at 10..making for a 14 hour day...I did not get to sleep till right at Midnight just from winding down..but the cool thing was, I did not stuff my face last night from fatique..I ate a salad when I got home with michael, had a sugar free ice cream sandwich as a treat and really relaxed. Throughout the evevning, I did what I had planned for and had the tuna I had prepared and did not have the MandM's and chips at one of the board meetings that are always there..I actually ate the CARROTS! novel huh?
Part of all of this is those board meetings...I get to be involved in such amazing work for things I care so passionately about! Coastal Horizons has mental health and substance abuse treatement as well as rape crisis and the youth shelter..heck yeah I want to be healthy and continue being involved in an agency..a non-profit that makes that kind of difference in SO many lives! What was I thinking by treating myself the way I was? Oh well, for today, that was in the past...Last night I was at that table, a board member and active..and I had been at cardio in the morning, had eaten well, and it felt good. Left there and went to Wilmington Interfaith Hospitality Network and heard about the success stories of folks going from Homelessness to sustainability! working with a board that are so grounded in service and committed! What a blessing! My cup..well you know..you get it? right? I left those meetings wanting even more to do this for myself..I left renewed.
Anyway, I digress...I woke up this morning....and yes..it was a little harder to...i was tired..but I did. Got in and did 10 min cardio on MY eliptical (its MINE NOW! LOL!).
Adam got there and we began.....
sneaky fella that he is...he increased the weight on the cross thingy for the exercises for the pulls. He just smiled like gomer pile making the sargeant angry....but I did it! :) Pulling across, down, and up! That is one way to wake up! :) Of course before that..had to get on the half ball for balance and my ankles..have to make sure to stay on one foot and not let my other foot cling to the leg...I am better already at standing without holding on to something and it does not burn as much as quickly.
Then to the MAT! Lord do I LOVE to get on that floor in the middle of that GYM! YEAH! NOT! :) But this time he was really have fun by having my big tail get on all fours and he said "Stick one arm straight out and the opposit leg out at the same time"...I just paused and looked at him for a second to see if he was going to start laughing....he did not laugh...he was serious...so....I buckled down..and did it! then rotated...and did it agin..then he said...now look up...and when I did..he took a picture and said "smile!"....Oh the joy that these trainers must have! he assured me that I will treasure that moment someday....YEAH...someday! :)
Got on my back and did the leg to...well try and touch the opposite hand...touch! But...I did it!...see, I keep saying I did it..cause..well, I did...and it is amazing to me! so grrateful...
We did the squatty thing..the pushy thing..and the pully thing in rotations and reps of 15..and of course with MORE WEIGHT! oww! but did it!
Today we also got to play with LEGOS! YEAH! they are these building blocks that you get to step up on..repeatedly...and thatnks to a liberal arts education..all I could think of was sisyphus..but what was actually happening was me keeping my heart rate up to contiune the work out so that I am still in the zone...In fact..the one lego was not enough..we have to add height with othere legos! Oh FUN! and then I was really in the zone! and oh no....wait...I then got to Raise a leg like I was in the opening number of the Music Man.."Seventy Six Trombones..Etc"...boy though..I don't remember that number working my backside quite so much though! :)
The thing that got me was on the pull down..once again..I was looking in the mirror monitoring how far my arm should go down and I saw my stomach and then my face...I heard in my head..."you know..you are too old..43..its too late for all this. Your are just to fat Bo...this is useless" I said " damn" outloud and Adam asked if I was alright..I told him what I just thought and how this negative crap was in my head and how I was amazed by it..after all these years..after all the gratitude and understadings of blessings to still hear crap like that...He totally understood..The Devil in my brain..those attitudes that keep me down..those old tapes..whatever it is..NOT ANY MORE!....
that converstaion ended me on a positive note with Adam Stretching me and us talking about the Aware program that i will link here..It is more of my homework...Amazing blessings.
Today is work..Rotary (gotta just have the salad at Rotary and not the pasta..kind of funny our rotary meets at Carraba's huh?! HA!) and then Public Health Foundation meeting and Home for a quiet eveing and dinner with Michael...see ya'll tomorrow!
Part of all of this is those board meetings...I get to be involved in such amazing work for things I care so passionately about! Coastal Horizons has mental health and substance abuse treatement as well as rape crisis and the youth shelter..heck yeah I want to be healthy and continue being involved in an agency..a non-profit that makes that kind of difference in SO many lives! What was I thinking by treating myself the way I was? Oh well, for today, that was in the past...Last night I was at that table, a board member and active..and I had been at cardio in the morning, had eaten well, and it felt good. Left there and went to Wilmington Interfaith Hospitality Network and heard about the success stories of folks going from Homelessness to sustainability! working with a board that are so grounded in service and committed! What a blessing! My cup..well you know..you get it? right? I left those meetings wanting even more to do this for myself..I left renewed.
Anyway, I digress...I woke up this morning....and yes..it was a little harder to...i was tired..but I did. Got in and did 10 min cardio on MY eliptical (its MINE NOW! LOL!).
Adam got there and we began.....
sneaky fella that he is...he increased the weight on the cross thingy for the exercises for the pulls. He just smiled like gomer pile making the sargeant angry....but I did it! :) Pulling across, down, and up! That is one way to wake up! :) Of course before that..had to get on the half ball for balance and my ankles..have to make sure to stay on one foot and not let my other foot cling to the leg...I am better already at standing without holding on to something and it does not burn as much as quickly.
Then to the MAT! Lord do I LOVE to get on that floor in the middle of that GYM! YEAH! NOT! :) But this time he was really have fun by having my big tail get on all fours and he said "Stick one arm straight out and the opposit leg out at the same time"...I just paused and looked at him for a second to see if he was going to start laughing....he did not laugh...he was serious...so....I buckled down..and did it! then rotated...and did it agin..then he said...now look up...and when I did..he took a picture and said "smile!"....Oh the joy that these trainers must have! he assured me that I will treasure that moment someday....YEAH...someday! :)
Got on my back and did the leg to...well try and touch the opposite hand...touch! But...I did it!...see, I keep saying I did it..cause..well, I did...and it is amazing to me! so grrateful...
We did the squatty thing..the pushy thing..and the pully thing in rotations and reps of 15..and of course with MORE WEIGHT! oww! but did it!
Today we also got to play with LEGOS! YEAH! they are these building blocks that you get to step up on..repeatedly...and thatnks to a liberal arts education..all I could think of was sisyphus..but what was actually happening was me keeping my heart rate up to contiune the work out so that I am still in the zone...In fact..the one lego was not enough..we have to add height with othere legos! Oh FUN! and then I was really in the zone! and oh no....wait...I then got to Raise a leg like I was in the opening number of the Music Man.."Seventy Six Trombones..Etc"...boy though..I don't remember that number working my backside quite so much though! :)
The thing that got me was on the pull down..once again..I was looking in the mirror monitoring how far my arm should go down and I saw my stomach and then my face...I heard in my head..."you know..you are too old..43..its too late for all this. Your are just to fat Bo...this is useless" I said " damn" outloud and Adam asked if I was alright..I told him what I just thought and how this negative crap was in my head and how I was amazed by it..after all these years..after all the gratitude and understadings of blessings to still hear crap like that...He totally understood..The Devil in my brain..those attitudes that keep me down..those old tapes..whatever it is..NOT ANY MORE!....
that converstaion ended me on a positive note with Adam Stretching me and us talking about the Aware program that i will link here..It is more of my homework...Amazing blessings.
Today is work..Rotary (gotta just have the salad at Rotary and not the pasta..kind of funny our rotary meets at Carraba's huh?! HA!) and then Public Health Foundation meeting and Home for a quiet eveing and dinner with Michael...see ya'll tomorrow!
Tuesday, January 12, 2010
Day 7 of the new Journey: See Less of Bo: The Cape Fear Heart Walk Journey with Adam Freeman and O2 Fitness
HA! I just posted my facebook status and I cheated myself out of a day! LOL! It is day 7, not day 6! How cool is it to already be losing track....ha!
Got up this morning for Cardio (sounds like I was off to have a catheter put in..oh, wait, that is what I am trying to avoid!) Little sluggish. the boy cat was laying on top of me and the down comforter felt SOOOOOO good...and I worked soooooo hard yesterday....wait, no, I HAVE to get up..this is my commitment...Cat flying through the air...me on my two feet and into my shoes and out the door I went (I did put on clothes just in case you were wondering! I did not want to scare the villagers).
Got there...straight to my machine...hopped on like a pro and decided, "what the heck....I 'll set it for 30 minutes and see what happens". Well, 30 minutes later, at my target rate...after trying to convince myself I could stop about 8 times, I MADE IT....and I DID NOT DIE! I DID NOT DISSOVLVE...and it felt ok!
Adam came in as I was finishing and I felt like a 3 year old that had just used the potty for the first time adn I was like "look what I did" all wide eyed and proud...he gave me the approprate amount of praise! :) It did feel good and as I went down the stairs I felt like I owned the place. I went outside into the cold in my shorts and shirt (I love the polar plunge of it all) and it was sooo nice!
I do have to tell on myself since this blog is hopefully about sharing the experience so that others might walk this journey too..when I got home, got showered and was heading out the door, I looked in the mirror and I looked at my stomach in the mirror and I called myself fat and said, "see, no change..why bother"...I was so glad that almost immediately, the voice in my head, said shut the F up!!!, its been 6 days!! how dare you, you have done a great job and are on your way..it took you time to get here, it is going to take time to make change..be blessed this is happening!" I swear to you..that I looked up from my stomach, at my face..directly into my face and for a moment I really and truly felt at peace...it was a good moment. The old tapes..the negative stuff will not succeed. it was a good moment...on to many more.
Today is a long one..I know I can do it...I have much to be thankful for, but there are two board meetings after work that take me almost to 9! It is just the time when i would have stopped at the fast food place and picked up whatever I could grab or eated the cookies and mess at the meetings. NOT TODAY! I am going home for lunch and will prepare some Tuna and some things for me to take this evening, so that if I get hungry...I will have what I need with me. NO FAST FOOD EVER! NEVER! I am just never going to do that to myself again! If you see me in a drive through..you have my permission to slam into me! I have full coerage! HAHA! ...no, i have to do this..but you get the point. I just have to prepare for these things...if I am going to be active and involved, I have to take care of myself...duh! Seems so simple, right?
speaking of so simple...Michael came home last night..he got a membership to o2 fitness while I was at my appointment...he wants to do this with me! talk about a blessing..support..love...I cannot even describe what that felt like!!!
Ok...break is over..gotta go!
Thanks be to God for All the blessings fo this life today and always!
I am blessed way more than I deserve!
Got up this morning for Cardio (sounds like I was off to have a catheter put in..oh, wait, that is what I am trying to avoid!) Little sluggish. the boy cat was laying on top of me and the down comforter felt SOOOOOO good...and I worked soooooo hard yesterday....wait, no, I HAVE to get up..this is my commitment...Cat flying through the air...me on my two feet and into my shoes and out the door I went (I did put on clothes just in case you were wondering! I did not want to scare the villagers).
Got there...straight to my machine...hopped on like a pro and decided, "what the heck....I 'll set it for 30 minutes and see what happens". Well, 30 minutes later, at my target rate...after trying to convince myself I could stop about 8 times, I MADE IT....and I DID NOT DIE! I DID NOT DISSOVLVE...and it felt ok!
Adam came in as I was finishing and I felt like a 3 year old that had just used the potty for the first time adn I was like "look what I did" all wide eyed and proud...he gave me the approprate amount of praise! :) It did feel good and as I went down the stairs I felt like I owned the place. I went outside into the cold in my shorts and shirt (I love the polar plunge of it all) and it was sooo nice!
I do have to tell on myself since this blog is hopefully about sharing the experience so that others might walk this journey too..when I got home, got showered and was heading out the door, I looked in the mirror and I looked at my stomach in the mirror and I called myself fat and said, "see, no change..why bother"...I was so glad that almost immediately, the voice in my head, said shut the F up!!!, its been 6 days!! how dare you, you have done a great job and are on your way..it took you time to get here, it is going to take time to make change..be blessed this is happening!" I swear to you..that I looked up from my stomach, at my face..directly into my face and for a moment I really and truly felt at peace...it was a good moment. The old tapes..the negative stuff will not succeed. it was a good moment...on to many more.
Today is a long one..I know I can do it...I have much to be thankful for, but there are two board meetings after work that take me almost to 9! It is just the time when i would have stopped at the fast food place and picked up whatever I could grab or eated the cookies and mess at the meetings. NOT TODAY! I am going home for lunch and will prepare some Tuna and some things for me to take this evening, so that if I get hungry...I will have what I need with me. NO FAST FOOD EVER! NEVER! I am just never going to do that to myself again! If you see me in a drive through..you have my permission to slam into me! I have full coerage! HAHA! ...no, i have to do this..but you get the point. I just have to prepare for these things...if I am going to be active and involved, I have to take care of myself...duh! Seems so simple, right?
speaking of so simple...Michael came home last night..he got a membership to o2 fitness while I was at my appointment...he wants to do this with me! talk about a blessing..support..love...I cannot even describe what that felt like!!!
Ok...break is over..gotta go!
Thanks be to God for All the blessings fo this life today and always!
I am blessed way more than I deserve!
Monday, January 11, 2010
Day 6 of the new Journey: See Less of Bo: The Cape Fear Heart Walk Journey with Adam Freeman and O2 Fitness
could not believe it when I woke up at 6am! It felt good and I was so glad! Made tea and got a shower. had enough time to get my head on straight and say a little prayer and head out the door with a tea cup in my hand.
funny, it was 6:30 when i left the house and I was worried about being too early...would that be ok?
got there right at 6:40...got out of the car in the ice cold in my shorts and t-shirt and went inside and straight up to the leonardo dicapprio elipitical! (the one on the balcony..remember! LOL!) Love that machine...it felt right and I felt so good having just made it this mornign. I was so nevous last night about getting there..it is so HALF the battle.
Put "I'm going to the meeting" on in on my Ipod. turned on the TV...turned on the machine..and off I went...oh and there was Lori from the lower cape fear hospice talking on the news..one of my favorite people talking about one of my favorite places...I was jammming out and frankly...while I felt it...it was not as bad as the first day and before I knew it, it was 10 minutes! I was psyched..saw adam come in...and did not stop..kept going and got a in 17:54! :) and still could walk and talk!
Today is a training day..and he asked me about my weekend and we got started. First on the half ball...a little better than before..ecspecially with these New Balance Shoes! tough though..still not quite there..but, it really is the first day of the first full week..so felt good.
Then to a mat...ugh...tried to stay positive...but getting my big tail on the floor in front of people in the middle of gym was not my idea of a good time and I knew what was coming....Crunchy things!!!!
Because of my back issues, I cannot lift both legs of the ground at the same time. Adam had me raise one leg in the air and the opposite arm to come up and try (and I do mean try ) and touch it...with my head and stomach crunch as I did it...then the other side..doing that in rotation several times...OOOOOOO that feels sooooooo....well...it feels! :)
Then he had me face down on my stomach and lift one leg and the opposite arm, then the opposite, then both legs and both arms.....not as bad..but damn you find out how weak..I persisted though and felt good about that..What was frustrating was how uncoordingated I felt, but he walked me through it..the point was to feel the core work, not to get it perfect each time...We did this for a while, then I was allowed up...
back in the stirrups...and OH NO, the orignal weight was not good enough...and OH NO..not I had to get at 90 degrees....so with the sun coming up in my face...I push and did the sitting squats in that machine with more weight at a greater angle..and daggone if it did not happen! what a great feeling!
Then to the cable cross. with the extentisons up, across, and then down..all keeping the form right with a straight arm..not worrying about the number...he handles the count...i just worry about doing the form.
Then to the push....amd again...form down..so more weight...ouch!..but not too bad! Just me being silly! It actually felt fine and I did it! : Same with the pull downs! Felt so good!
Came to work and had my egg and canadian bacon with english muffin and polaner all fruit, Harnery's Earl Grey and for a snack, Kate Brought in these amazing clementines! what a great morning!
walked home for lunch...NEW RULE...if no lunch appt..then I walk home for lunch...left over chicken and salad with low fat dressing. Had a diet coke (ok..that is something i have to get rid of...but it was in the fridge!)...relaxed a little..then walked back...tried not to run the world in my head on the walk..you know what I mean? I caught myself writing letters telling off the head of the HOA, correcting this and that and then it hit me..I am WALKING in all this BEAUTY on a brisk day and LOSING this by being in my head...so I stopped and got it together and just paid attention to the moment!
busy the rest of the afternoon...
now off to an appointment...quick dinner with Michael
then to Ashley's for committee work for the Heart Associaiton and hopefully be by 11!
See ya'll tomorrow!
funny, it was 6:30 when i left the house and I was worried about being too early...would that be ok?
got there right at 6:40...got out of the car in the ice cold in my shorts and t-shirt and went inside and straight up to the leonardo dicapprio elipitical! (the one on the balcony..remember! LOL!) Love that machine...it felt right and I felt so good having just made it this mornign. I was so nevous last night about getting there..it is so HALF the battle.
Put "I'm going to the meeting" on in on my Ipod. turned on the TV...turned on the machine..and off I went...oh and there was Lori from the lower cape fear hospice talking on the news..one of my favorite people talking about one of my favorite places...I was jammming out and frankly...while I felt it...it was not as bad as the first day and before I knew it, it was 10 minutes! I was psyched..saw adam come in...and did not stop..kept going and got a in 17:54! :) and still could walk and talk!
Today is a training day..and he asked me about my weekend and we got started. First on the half ball...a little better than before..ecspecially with these New Balance Shoes! tough though..still not quite there..but, it really is the first day of the first full week..so felt good.
Then to a mat...ugh...tried to stay positive...but getting my big tail on the floor in front of people in the middle of gym was not my idea of a good time and I knew what was coming....Crunchy things!!!!
Because of my back issues, I cannot lift both legs of the ground at the same time. Adam had me raise one leg in the air and the opposite arm to come up and try (and I do mean try ) and touch it...with my head and stomach crunch as I did it...then the other side..doing that in rotation several times...OOOOOOO that feels sooooooo....well...it feels! :)
Then he had me face down on my stomach and lift one leg and the opposite arm, then the opposite, then both legs and both arms.....not as bad..but damn you find out how weak..I persisted though and felt good about that..What was frustrating was how uncoordingated I felt, but he walked me through it..the point was to feel the core work, not to get it perfect each time...We did this for a while, then I was allowed up...
back in the stirrups...and OH NO, the orignal weight was not good enough...and OH NO..not I had to get at 90 degrees....so with the sun coming up in my face...I push and did the sitting squats in that machine with more weight at a greater angle..and daggone if it did not happen! what a great feeling!
Then to the cable cross. with the extentisons up, across, and then down..all keeping the form right with a straight arm..not worrying about the number...he handles the count...i just worry about doing the form.
Then to the push....amd again...form down..so more weight...ouch!..but not too bad! Just me being silly! It actually felt fine and I did it! : Same with the pull downs! Felt so good!
Came to work and had my egg and canadian bacon with english muffin and polaner all fruit, Harnery's Earl Grey and for a snack, Kate Brought in these amazing clementines! what a great morning!
walked home for lunch...NEW RULE...if no lunch appt..then I walk home for lunch...left over chicken and salad with low fat dressing. Had a diet coke (ok..that is something i have to get rid of...but it was in the fridge!)...relaxed a little..then walked back...tried not to run the world in my head on the walk..you know what I mean? I caught myself writing letters telling off the head of the HOA, correcting this and that and then it hit me..I am WALKING in all this BEAUTY on a brisk day and LOSING this by being in my head...so I stopped and got it together and just paid attention to the moment!
busy the rest of the afternoon...
now off to an appointment...quick dinner with Michael
then to Ashley's for committee work for the Heart Associaiton and hopefully be by 11!
See ya'll tomorrow!
Sunday, January 10, 2010
Day 5 of the new Journey: See Less of Bo: The Cape Fear Heart Walk Journey with Adam Freeman and O2 Fitness
it's sunday and the official day off.
I still felt like I needed to do something and with all the stuff that needed to get done in the house, it was a perfect opportunity to see how to use some of this cardio on getting the house in order. I was not able to get my heart rate up to the target, but it did get up and I got all our christmas put away and really feel good about the house in general! I have to admit I had more energy today and felt pretty good about it.
Saturday and Sundays in all my previous attempts to change my eating habits have always been hard for me. Today was no exception. If I am not busy..I am thnking about food or wanting to nibble...at least during the week with work and voluntering my mind is distracted. But on the weekends I sit with me. Frankly, today, i thought maybe it was a good thing. I like feeling hunger. I like really enjoying the taste of something because it is not following somethign else so close behind. again...it is mental and frankly, spiritual. Today I asked for help and recieved it. Seems silly to ask for that kind of help when there is so much greater need out there...but I cannot do this alone...I need help. I have known I am not alone for a long time...it is time to start realizing that in all things, I am loved..I have to be willing. Today I was.....right now I am.
I got shoes..and when i say shoes....we will work on the mortgage later after buying these things! LOL!...but they are awesome! actually they are not that expensive..but after one day in them, I can see why folks take the time to get the right shoes. They are New Balance from Dave Boseman's store...an incredibly helpful staff got me into the right pair and Adam said I had to get something that would support me in the days ahead....
speaking of support...o2 fitness already has a new member..michael looked at me yesterday and said "bet this woudl be good on cardio days if we were together....would you like that"...I was overwhelmed. I said yes. He said, "where do I sign up..I want to be there to support you and get healthier too!". What a blessing. I guess this week sometime we will get that taken care of. But it just was another gift along the way.
as for food...I am writing about this for me to make sure I remember these things I have been cooking cause we LOVE THEM! I have the diet from Heidi....but recipies in the cook books are not always what I want. I know that I need to:
get more vegtebles in my diet, particularly broccoli and spinach
get less fat in my diet
get white bread out of my life
get rid or pasta, rice, and potatoes (white)...
and as busy as I stay, yet I need to cook (especially since we are committed to not going out to eat for the rest of the month)...I need recipes that are easy and that we both like.
So, I last week I made an awesome turkey chili with black beans, kidney beans, progresso tomotoes, and a spice mix that kicked butt!
I made a mistake when I went to costco and instead of buying chicken breasts in these seperated packs, I bought chicken tender strips...well, it turned out that it was no mistake, casue I dont have to cut them and I have made two dishes that are AWESOME!
one: I put the tenders in a nonstick skillet on a little higher than medium heat with salt and pepper, turned them and when they were cooked through, removed from pan..then took a package of frozen spinach, ran it under water to thaw...rang out the water...and put in the hot skillet with a jar of paul newman tomota basil marinara (I love paul newman cause it is so straight forward and no high fructose corn syrup). I cook to heat the sauce and spinach, re-enter the chicken..and walla..dinner.
We did not even need a salad and it was thick enough....we dot miss pasta or rice. So good and the spinach was so tasty in the sauce and the chicken was cooked with NO oil or butter!
the second I did tonight..I wanted sunday dinner type food. I steamed broccoli and sprayed it lightly with the I can't believe it is not buter and then sprinkled with lemon pepper.
I then did the chicken pieces like about..but season with rubbed sage, salt and paper and when I turned it deglazed the pan with a tiny bit of lemon juice. Then at the finish, I poured on a jar of Boston Market Chicken Grazy, that is low fat and low everythign. it gave the chicken a coating, but I served the chicken as pieces with hte broccoli and a salad so not swimming in the gravy...it was soo good!
So I start the week, knowing that I can cook for us.
I start the week knowing that I can show up for my appointments to exercise.
I start the week knowing that I can meet my commitments.
But most importantly, I start the week, reminded how supported, loved, and how many friends I have. It is overwhelming. It is a blessing.
I am grateful.
Thanks be to God!
I still felt like I needed to do something and with all the stuff that needed to get done in the house, it was a perfect opportunity to see how to use some of this cardio on getting the house in order. I was not able to get my heart rate up to the target, but it did get up and I got all our christmas put away and really feel good about the house in general! I have to admit I had more energy today and felt pretty good about it.
Saturday and Sundays in all my previous attempts to change my eating habits have always been hard for me. Today was no exception. If I am not busy..I am thnking about food or wanting to nibble...at least during the week with work and voluntering my mind is distracted. But on the weekends I sit with me. Frankly, today, i thought maybe it was a good thing. I like feeling hunger. I like really enjoying the taste of something because it is not following somethign else so close behind. again...it is mental and frankly, spiritual. Today I asked for help and recieved it. Seems silly to ask for that kind of help when there is so much greater need out there...but I cannot do this alone...I need help. I have known I am not alone for a long time...it is time to start realizing that in all things, I am loved..I have to be willing. Today I was.....right now I am.
I got shoes..and when i say shoes....we will work on the mortgage later after buying these things! LOL!...but they are awesome! actually they are not that expensive..but after one day in them, I can see why folks take the time to get the right shoes. They are New Balance from Dave Boseman's store...an incredibly helpful staff got me into the right pair and Adam said I had to get something that would support me in the days ahead....
speaking of support...o2 fitness already has a new member..michael looked at me yesterday and said "bet this woudl be good on cardio days if we were together....would you like that"...I was overwhelmed. I said yes. He said, "where do I sign up..I want to be there to support you and get healthier too!". What a blessing. I guess this week sometime we will get that taken care of. But it just was another gift along the way.
as for food...I am writing about this for me to make sure I remember these things I have been cooking cause we LOVE THEM! I have the diet from Heidi....but recipies in the cook books are not always what I want. I know that I need to:
get more vegtebles in my diet, particularly broccoli and spinach
get less fat in my diet
get white bread out of my life
get rid or pasta, rice, and potatoes (white)...
and as busy as I stay, yet I need to cook (especially since we are committed to not going out to eat for the rest of the month)...I need recipes that are easy and that we both like.
So, I last week I made an awesome turkey chili with black beans, kidney beans, progresso tomotoes, and a spice mix that kicked butt!
I made a mistake when I went to costco and instead of buying chicken breasts in these seperated packs, I bought chicken tender strips...well, it turned out that it was no mistake, casue I dont have to cut them and I have made two dishes that are AWESOME!
one: I put the tenders in a nonstick skillet on a little higher than medium heat with salt and pepper, turned them and when they were cooked through, removed from pan..then took a package of frozen spinach, ran it under water to thaw...rang out the water...and put in the hot skillet with a jar of paul newman tomota basil marinara (I love paul newman cause it is so straight forward and no high fructose corn syrup). I cook to heat the sauce and spinach, re-enter the chicken..and walla..dinner.
We did not even need a salad and it was thick enough....we dot miss pasta or rice. So good and the spinach was so tasty in the sauce and the chicken was cooked with NO oil or butter!
the second I did tonight..I wanted sunday dinner type food. I steamed broccoli and sprayed it lightly with the I can't believe it is not buter and then sprinkled with lemon pepper.
I then did the chicken pieces like about..but season with rubbed sage, salt and paper and when I turned it deglazed the pan with a tiny bit of lemon juice. Then at the finish, I poured on a jar of Boston Market Chicken Grazy, that is low fat and low everythign. it gave the chicken a coating, but I served the chicken as pieces with hte broccoli and a salad so not swimming in the gravy...it was soo good!
So I start the week, knowing that I can cook for us.
I start the week knowing that I can show up for my appointments to exercise.
I start the week knowing that I can meet my commitments.
But most importantly, I start the week, reminded how supported, loved, and how many friends I have. It is overwhelming. It is a blessing.
I am grateful.
Thanks be to God!
Saturday, January 09, 2010
Day 4 (addendum) of the new Journey: See Less of Bo: The Cape Fear Heart Walk Journey with Adam Freeman and O2 Fitness
Day 4 of the new Journey: See Less of Bo: The Cape Fear Heart Walk Journey with Adam Freeman and O2 Fitness
went in this am (and yes sir it is saturday thank you very much!) with a load of unbelieveable encouragement from family, friends and a whole bunch of new folks from Adam blogging about what is going on at http://o2fitnesstraining.blogspot.com/2010/01/see-less-of-bo-one-amazing-journey.html
Today is a cardio day, the first one and the first one without Adam. I cannot tell you all how much it means and how grateful I am!
funny how quickly i revert back to high school entering a place without a "friend" next to my side. With Adam there, I felt like there was a buffer between me and all those healthy gym people. Today, I was the newbie...all thumbs, and frankly...scared out of my mind. Oh...but I opened my eyes..a little, and there were people just like me in the place...and I remember why I was there....and frankly, who cares if I am not sure how the machines work...its BEEN THREE DAYS! and I CAN ASK FOR HELP! LOL!
I went into the amazing Cardio Room they have at o2 fitness that is built like a giant theater...dark, quiet, so serene...and I went to the first balcony and got on the eliptical....Taize blarring in my ears...I began. heart rate up to 140 in 2 minutes and I was off. I have to get my mind right. I was trying to fight it the whole time...wanting to get off over and over. finally I closed my eyes and listened to the Taize Chants..and while I could feel my muscles still...it was so freeing...at 9 minutes..as if it was timed, when I was really fatiqued, "oh lord hear my prayer" came on and I pushed through....and at 15 minutes, I new to stop. It felt SOOOOOO good to get there and I knew that if I keep it up, I will be able to do more.
I walked around for a minute then came back and went up to the third tier were they had tred mills. Adam has not put me on one of these, but I did not feel I had done as much as I could and I got on..3.0 at a 4.0 tilt for a while and 3.0 at no tilt. Stayed at 140 heartbeat...and went at it for 20 minutes.
When I left, I felt accomplished.
Now to get something to eat and enjoy the rest of this cold, but wonderful day!
Today is a cardio day, the first one and the first one without Adam. I cannot tell you all how much it means and how grateful I am!
funny how quickly i revert back to high school entering a place without a "friend" next to my side. With Adam there, I felt like there was a buffer between me and all those healthy gym people. Today, I was the newbie...all thumbs, and frankly...scared out of my mind. Oh...but I opened my eyes..a little, and there were people just like me in the place...and I remember why I was there....and frankly, who cares if I am not sure how the machines work...its BEEN THREE DAYS! and I CAN ASK FOR HELP! LOL!
I went into the amazing Cardio Room they have at o2 fitness that is built like a giant theater...dark, quiet, so serene...and I went to the first balcony and got on the eliptical....Taize blarring in my ears...I began. heart rate up to 140 in 2 minutes and I was off. I have to get my mind right. I was trying to fight it the whole time...wanting to get off over and over. finally I closed my eyes and listened to the Taize Chants..and while I could feel my muscles still...it was so freeing...at 9 minutes..as if it was timed, when I was really fatiqued, "oh lord hear my prayer" came on and I pushed through....and at 15 minutes, I new to stop. It felt SOOOOOO good to get there and I knew that if I keep it up, I will be able to do more.
I walked around for a minute then came back and went up to the third tier were they had tred mills. Adam has not put me on one of these, but I did not feel I had done as much as I could and I got on..3.0 at a 4.0 tilt for a while and 3.0 at no tilt. Stayed at 140 heartbeat...and went at it for 20 minutes.
When I left, I felt accomplished.
Now to get something to eat and enjoy the rest of this cold, but wonderful day!
Friday, January 08, 2010
Bo Dean's Blog In Wilmington North Carolina: Day 3 of the new Journey: See Less of Bo: The Cape Fear
made it throught the snow and ice this morning to the gym...oh wait..there was none...silly me! LOL! but I did make it! yeah!! even got there 10 minutes early as asked to warm up on that death machine..I mean that wonderful joy ride called the ELIPTICAL...oh, what a joy and fun that is at 6:50 in the morning...seriously..it is not that bad..just had to get started..and with Taize's "Oh Lord Hear My Prayer" playing on my IPOD and an Oxy Clean Infomerical on the screen, I got in 8 minutes at my target heart rate before Adam got there and wanted to get started.
we started on balance and small muscles..had me standing on a half ball to get my muscles in my ankles and areas that are typically week built up. Man...my feet did not like standing on one foot on that ball...high arches...but I did it and Adam was awesome in encouraging me. Need shoes as well to support my arches.
Then we went to the resistance machines...the sit down squat thing made me realize what women must feel like in stirrups! A little embarrassing given all the windows in the place..but again, Adam made me feel ok...made sure I was pushing from my heels to work my upper legs, butt etc. not my caves and ankles.
Then the cable crossover...form is the most important...slow...no need to go fast..reps don't even matter if form not right. arms straight..feet an angle to get maximum stretch to stregthen core...maybe, just maybe if I keep at it, not more back issues. if I do it right...
Saw old friend David out of the corner of my eye...david is older than me and was working it like a champ on the weights..definitely a power of example and again, a comfort to see a friend in the gym...what a great person! He was so encourgaging to me...so grateful!
went over to the push outs..making sure to be 90 degrees to start...not easy..but ok
then to pull downs...stopping when at end of elbow..making sure not to hurt rotator cuff...again..form...pay attention..
then I was stretched!
my blood sugar this morning BEFORE breakfast was 214! I was shocked. I have been treating myself so badly this year. It is going to take a while to get it in range again.
Before lunch it was 170..not good, but better than 214.
I am eating well with the diet prescribed by heidi kaufman at Wilmington Endocrnology....for me, as a type two Diabetic, it is about getting that sugar down and managemeble. I believe this is the path.
Food is almost a seperate blog...but suffice to say, if both things are not in sync, it won't work..and I am willing today.
Adam has a blog as well http://o2fitnesstraining.blogspot.com/ so much he has to offer to the world to help. I am so blessed. I cannot even describe how priviledged I feel to be revieving this gift!
we started on balance and small muscles..had me standing on a half ball to get my muscles in my ankles and areas that are typically week built up. Man...my feet did not like standing on one foot on that ball...high arches...but I did it and Adam was awesome in encouraging me. Need shoes as well to support my arches.
Then we went to the resistance machines...the sit down squat thing made me realize what women must feel like in stirrups! A little embarrassing given all the windows in the place..but again, Adam made me feel ok...made sure I was pushing from my heels to work my upper legs, butt etc. not my caves and ankles.
Then the cable crossover...form is the most important...slow...no need to go fast..reps don't even matter if form not right. arms straight..feet an angle to get maximum stretch to stregthen core...maybe, just maybe if I keep at it, not more back issues. if I do it right...
Saw old friend David out of the corner of my eye...david is older than me and was working it like a champ on the weights..definitely a power of example and again, a comfort to see a friend in the gym...what a great person! He was so encourgaging to me...so grateful!
went over to the push outs..making sure to be 90 degrees to start...not easy..but ok
then to pull downs...stopping when at end of elbow..making sure not to hurt rotator cuff...again..form...pay attention..
then I was stretched!
my blood sugar this morning BEFORE breakfast was 214! I was shocked. I have been treating myself so badly this year. It is going to take a while to get it in range again.
Before lunch it was 170..not good, but better than 214.
I am eating well with the diet prescribed by heidi kaufman at Wilmington Endocrnology....for me, as a type two Diabetic, it is about getting that sugar down and managemeble. I believe this is the path.
Food is almost a seperate blog...but suffice to say, if both things are not in sync, it won't work..and I am willing today.
Adam has a blog as well http://o2fitnesstraining.blogspot.com/ so much he has to offer to the world to help. I am so blessed. I cannot even describe how priviledged I feel to be revieving this gift!
Wednesday, January 06, 2010
Day 1 of the new Journey: See Less of Bo: The Cape Fear Heart Walk Journey with Adam Freeman and O2 Fitness
walked into 02 fitness, excited and frankly afraid. the first person I saw was Diane Steelman...what a great way to start...fellow committee member and she looks amazing. Put me at ease.
Met Adam Freeman in person. As a personal trainer, you can see why he is so successful. He is a personable and as any person you would want to meet. He and his wife's story and the story of why he wants to work with the Heart Association and train me so that I can share this experience is nothing short of captivating and amazing. I will share that later. Needless to say..it is just one blessing after another.
02 is awesome. Staff is amazing. Machines are top of the line...and the amazing cardio room that is so serene...wow!
we spent most of our time this evening letting Adam get to know me and what has gone on: Quit smoking in 1998, got a desk job, went inactive, changed meds, type two diabetes, went from 36-38 waist to 54....from 230 to 350. Seems like overnight..but it was insidious. Huge family issues with Heart Disease, both grandmother's passed, Dad with extensive issues, and then there was friend who literally died at my feet of a massive heart attack. I just want to get in better shape and be healthier.
The biggest conversation was schedule...I tend to stay a little busy..But I have to get my priorities right and be honest. I cannot get up at 5:30 in the morning and working out in the evening sucks. While i am willing to be flexible, it was amazing how, it was open to start at 7. I can get there at 7. Done.
My homework was to get heart monitor (polar) and copy of diet from Heidi Kaufman (the dietician).
Tomorrow at 7am..we start cardio. I have to learn what my fat burning level is. given how much I have worked out, it probably won't take much.
I am grateful for this beyond words. I will earn this gift and share what I learn and maybe, others will learn from it to! here's to the next "one day at a time" for this journey...but thank God for Today!
Met Adam Freeman in person. As a personal trainer, you can see why he is so successful. He is a personable and as any person you would want to meet. He and his wife's story and the story of why he wants to work with the Heart Association and train me so that I can share this experience is nothing short of captivating and amazing. I will share that later. Needless to say..it is just one blessing after another.
02 is awesome. Staff is amazing. Machines are top of the line...and the amazing cardio room that is so serene...wow!
we spent most of our time this evening letting Adam get to know me and what has gone on: Quit smoking in 1998, got a desk job, went inactive, changed meds, type two diabetes, went from 36-38 waist to 54....from 230 to 350. Seems like overnight..but it was insidious. Huge family issues with Heart Disease, both grandmother's passed, Dad with extensive issues, and then there was friend who literally died at my feet of a massive heart attack. I just want to get in better shape and be healthier.
The biggest conversation was schedule...I tend to stay a little busy..But I have to get my priorities right and be honest. I cannot get up at 5:30 in the morning and working out in the evening sucks. While i am willing to be flexible, it was amazing how, it was open to start at 7. I can get there at 7. Done.
My homework was to get heart monitor (polar) and copy of diet from Heidi Kaufman (the dietician).
Tomorrow at 7am..we start cardio. I have to learn what my fat burning level is. given how much I have worked out, it probably won't take much.
I am grateful for this beyond words. I will earn this gift and share what I learn and maybe, others will learn from it to! here's to the next "one day at a time" for this journey...but thank God for Today!
Monday, September 28, 2009
Cameron Art Museum Haunt Party!
This will be a Blast!
Get your Tickets today folks!
Get your Tickets today folks!
All Proceeds go to the Educational Programs at CAM! What better way to SCARE up some cash for great things for our community!
Sunday, September 27, 2009
Sunday, July 12, 2009
Published: Saturday, November 29, 2008 at 6:00 p.m.
Last Modified: Saturday, November 29, 2008 at 6:00 p.m.
Last Modified: Saturday, November 29, 2008 at 6:00 p.m.
EDITOR: In the redistricting vote story, the story mentions that the two dissenters, Dorothy DeShields and Nick Rhodes, are "the two black members." Given that the dissent was over socioeconomic issues and lack of diversity, does this mean that it is their personal race that dictates why they vote?
Or perhaps it is because they believe, as their new colleague-elect, the white Republican Elizabeth Redenbaugh, that the best opportunity for our youth comes from their ability to know and be known by the world they inhabit and experience it at its fullest - equally, equitably, and in an environment that is suited to development.
I guess we will never know with this board. Perhaps future articles we (explore) beyond race as a motivator, and a desire for the best for all children, as apropos.
L.S. "Bo" Dean Jr.
Wilmington
Change sales tax distribution rules
http://www.starnewsonline.com/article/20090428/ARTICLES/904289996
Letters to the Editor April 28, 2009
Published: Tuesday, April 28, 2009 at 3:30 a.m.
Last Modified: Tuesday, April 28, 2009 at 12:57 a.m.
Last Modified: Tuesday, April 28, 2009 at 12:57 a.m.
Change sales tax distribution rules
EDITOR: In these hard times, I commend the New Hanover County commissioners for seeking voter approval of the measure to raise income with the quarter-cent sales tax increase (which puts the burden on all and not just property owners), but I say let’s work together to say yes to this only if the commissioners will agree to changing the formula for sales tax distribution for the city of Wilmington.
To date, the city gets the least benefit from sales tax but generates the most income in the county. If we raise the sales tax, then we at least ought to have a better distribution method. So, band together and say yes to the quarter-cent only if the commissioners will work together with the city to have a better distribution of sales tax.
Then everyone wins, and we all succeed!
Lenwood S. “Bo” Dean Jr.
Wilmington
Saturday, July 11, 2009
Greenways - for the economy, for us
Bo Dean thinks you might be interested in this.
Link to the article:
www.starnewsonline.com/article/20090304/ARTICLES/903044001/0/opinion
Bo Dean: Greenways -- for the economy, for us
Published: Wednesday, March 4, 2009 at 1:22 p.m.
Last Modified: Wednesday, March 4, 2009 at 1:36 p.m.
Last Modified: Wednesday, March 4, 2009 at 1:36 p.m.
How would you like to walk or bike out your front door and get on a greenway that will take you to Maine? How about Key West? That's the vision of the East Coast Greenway - and its planned route runs right through the heart of Wilmington via the Cross-City Trail.
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The East Coast Greenway is part of a long-term vision for recreation and for transportation. Some people will travel it for a grand cross-country adventure (and visit Wilmington while they're at it). Others will use shorter sections of the trail to commute to work, to shop, and just to enjoy the outdoors.
Because greenway trails can create jobs and revamp our transportation system for the 21st century, the N.C. Coalition for Trails and Active Transportation is urging that at least $8.1 million of the transportation funds coming to North Carolina from the federal economic stimulus package be set aside for six "shovel-ready" greenway projects, including $2 million for a three-mile section of Wilmington's Cross-City Trail.
That "shovel-ready" section stretches from Shipyard Boulevard to Randall Parkway. Soon these three miles will stretch to 10 and make it possible to bike and walk to three major shopping centers, three primary schools, five city parks, UNC-Wilmington, the Cameron Art Museum, and Wrightsville Beach. And from there the trail will eventually run north to Maine and south to Key West.
Building this trail would provide immediate, much-needed jobs in construction and in manufacturing materials such as concrete, asphalt, bridges, boardwalks, signs, hand tools, and heavy equipment. In the longer term these trails will help transform our region's transportation network to meet the needs of the 21st century and provide other benefits as well. A great trail and greenway system in Wilmington can:
Improve public health - Walking is the most popular type of exercise. Research shows that people with easy access to trails and greenways are much more likely to get out and walk. Greenways are a great investment in a country with escalating health costs and rising rates of obesity from lack of exercise.
Reduce global warming and dependence on foreign oil - Every mile walked or biked rather than driven means less foreign oil used and less carbon produced.
Increase tourism - Trails and greenways can be important components of a tourist economy. A recent NC State University study found that $6.7 million spent to build bike paths and wide road shoulders on the Outer Banks has an annual economic impact of $60 million in increased tourist visits and expenditures.
Improve quality of life - People want to live near greenways and trails. Studies all over the United States show that home values are increased near greenways. Forty homes adjacent to a regional greenway in Apex, were priced $5,000 higher than the rest of the homes in the development and were the first to sell.
Seventy years ago, at a time of when America was battling the Great Depression, our leaders invested in job stimulus programs that have had a lasting impact for our country. One of the most successful and most treasured projects built at that time is the Appalachian Trail - world famous, and now hiked by more than three million people each year.
As we find ourselves in another troubling economic time, we must remember the importance of providing for both present and future.
This is a great time to invest in Wilmington's Cross City Trail and the East Coast Greenway.
Bo Dean is the chairman of Wilmington's Parks and Recreation Advisory Committee.
Tuesday, January 27, 2009
Wednesday, November 26, 2008
Annual Thanksgiving Tradition
9 Years ago I started a list because a lot of folks I encountered were having a hard time or shared that they did not see a lot they could be grateful for in this area. I had learned about writing gratitude lists to generate for myself the good around me and keep it first in my heart and mind and sent out a “gratitude” list of 100 things I was grateful for in Wilmington that year. It was met with great success!
I decided, and have kept up that each year, I would do the list but make it equivalent to the number of years I had been doing it!
This year, I am at 900, and I am so glad to be able to have this exercise. I have stopped including names in my list as I don’t want people to focus on the number, but instead have included groups, things, organizations, and places. I have also brought it back to some of the things these lists started with; remembering to be grateful for some of the very basic things in my life…lest I never take it for granted how blessed I am.
Regardless of what someone might think of this list, regardless of what my circumstances might be, regardless of what events may occur in my life, it is a tradition I will continue, because, I/we am/are blessed and it is worth remembering, offering thanksgiving, and sharing with each other! I hope it will spark a list of your own and feel free to steal mine!
I am grateful for….
1.) God in my life, first and foremost always2.) My Family 3.) Our home 4.) Health and continued, day at the time reprieve…5.) Being employed6.) Friends, amazing and loving friends7.) The Life of Frank Harr8.) The Life of Windell Daniels9.) The Karl Davis Leadership Wilmington Alumni Award10.) The Life of Dr. Elizabeth Betsy Ervin11.) Being able to be with those I love at the last 12.) Living in community with such amazing people13.) Being able to be a part…14.) The Wilmington Housing Authority15.) WHA Staff16.) WHA Commissioners17.) The Hillcrest Community Campus18.) UNCW Public Service19.) UNCW Sociology Students 20.) UNCW Sociology Faculty21.) UNCW Social Work Students22.) UNCW Social Work Faculty23.) UNCW Elementary Ed Students24.) ITSD Department at Community Campus25.) UNCW Surplus26.) Community Campus Reading Program27.) GED Program at Hillcrest28.) Job Placement Program at the Community Campus29.) Cape Fear Community College30.) Cape Fear Community College Foundation31.) UNCW32.) Office of the Chancellor33.) Academic Affairs34.) Leadership Education and Service35.) Athletics36.) SeaHawk Club37.) The Honors Scholars Program38.) The Honors Scholars Students39.) The Honors Scholars Office Staff40.) Honors Scholarships41.) UNCW Foundation Scholarships42.) UNCW Board of Trustees43.) UNC Board of Governors (especially making a woman chair this year!)44.) Center for the Support of Undergraduate Research and Fellowships45.) Travel Abroad Grants46.) Qeno47.) Travel Grants from the Chancellor for Research48.) Honors Scholars Association49.) Student Honors Advisory Committee50.) Honors Teas 51.) Honors Community! 52.) Honors Fish!53.) UNCW/CITY Task Force54.) Carleton Place HOA Board55.) Carleton Place56.) College Acres57.) Mayfaire! 58.) Autumn Hall59.) The New Bike/Hike trail60.) Fresh Market61.) Harris Teeter Pharmacy62.) Fast Frame Art 63.) Boca Bay64.) Brasserie65.) Ciccetti Osteria66.) All Hampton Inns!67.) Stargell Tournament68.) New Kidney Screen Mobile Unit69.) Stargell Nursing Scholarship at UNCW70.) Stargell Scholarship at CFCC71.) McColl and Associates72.) McColl Scholarship at CFCC73.) The BOND PASSING FOR CFCC74.) CFCC BOD75.) The Daniels Scholarship at CFCC76.) The Daniels Scholarship at UNCW77.) The Ada K. Dean Nursing Scholarship at UNCW78.) The Bruce/Levy Scholarship at UNCW79.) The Myers Scholarship at UNCW80.) The Women’s resource Center at UNCW81.) The Betsy Ervin Honors Scholarship at UNCW82.) The Vagina Monologues83.) Coastal Horizons Inc84.) The HAARTS Program85.) Substance Abuse Counseling and Treatment from Coastal Horizons86.) The Rape Crisis Center87.) TASC88.) The New Brunswick County Coastal Horizon’s Center89.) Methadone treatment from CHC90.) All the staff of Coastal Horizons91.) The amazing Board of Coastal Horizons!92.) The Youth Shelter of Coastal Horizons93.) HIV/AIDS screening from Coastal Horizons94.) The Domestic Violence Shelter95.) Vintage Values96.) The Bargain Box of Wilmington97.) The DVS Ads for Father’s Day98.) Community Engagement from New Hanover Regional Medical Center99.) Public Health Dept Men’s Health Screenings100.) NHRMC Foundation101.) The New Betty Cameron Children’s Hospital102.) Leadership Wilmington103.) Hands on Wilmington104.) The Greater Wilmington Chamber of Commerce105.) The Wilmington City Council106.) The Wilmington Manager’s Office107.) The Wilmington City Staff! 108.) The Wilmington Parks and Recreation Department!109.) The Wilmington Parks and Recreation Advisory Board110.) Olsen Park111.) The Wilmington Tennis Association112.) Cape Fear Soccer113.) Friends of Maides Park114.) The MLK Center115.) Fit for Fun Center!116.) Halyburton, Halyburton, Halyburton!117.) Our alligator at Greenfield lake118.) The paddle boats at Greenfield lake119.) The Japanese gardens at the arboretum120.) Enchanted Airlie121.) Our Aquarium! 122.) Kure Beach and all it’s splendor! 123.) The pier at Kure Beach124.) The annual beach sweep at Kure beach125.) Carolina beach boardwalk126.) Dreams of Wilmington127.) WRAAP128.) Naming Lakeside after Mary Mosley! The Great Mrs. Mosley!129.) 1898 Memorial finally being up and dedicated130.) Taylor Homes being open and dedicated131.) New County Commissioners 132.) The Public Health Foundation of New Hanover County133.) Public Health Workers and Staff134.) The Mobile Dental clinic135.) New Hanover Regional Medical Center136.) The Daniels Heart Walk 2008137.) William Hooper Apartments138.) Daniels Company139.) Pear Girls140.) LINC inc.141.) Boys and Girls Club142.) First in Families143.) Arc of North Carolina144.) Special Olympics145.) The amazing folks her for the Leukemia and Lymphoma society146.) Central Rotary147.) WHAT148.) YWCA149.) Commissioning of the USS North Carolina 777!150.) The Mayor’s Ball151.) The Liberty Bell’s in Thalian Hall152.) The Naval Reception 153.) Secretary of the Navy in Wilmington!154.) Spectacular Fireworks for Everyone!155.) The Commissioning Ceremony156.) The crew of the submarine! What amazing men!157.) Southeastern Alliance for Community Change158.) Be Your Own Hero159.) The Farmer’s Market on Saturday’s 160.) Art for the Masses161.) The Randall Library Book Sale162.) The NHC Book Sale 163.) The NHC Library164.) The NHC Archives 165.) Thalian Hall166.) Hannah Block Center167.) Nan Graham’s Commentary’s 168.) WHQR169.) WHQR Gallery170.) WECT 6pm news!171.) Frans Fans172.) Buddy Check173.) Mrs. K. Weller on that Motorcycle for Breast Cancer Awareness174.) WECT Community Engagement175.) Rhonda’s Show on WAAV176.) Christmas Music on GNI177.) Star News 178.) Star News Editorials in Particular179.) Wilma (and what a good pic for covers!)180.) Greater Wilmington Business181.) Encore Magazine!!!!!182.) Atlantis Magazine at UNCW (AMAZING!)183.) Blue Tone Media184.) Dock Street Printing185.) Casey’s Buffet186.) Chicken Pastry at Casey’s Buffet! 187.) Collards at Casey’s Buffet!188.) Did I mention Casey’s Buffet? 189.) Castle Street Antique District190.) Michael Moore Antiques191.) The New Jester’s Café!192.) The Gateway Project193.) The Riverwalk194.) The Convention Center195.) Level 5196.) The Red Barn theater197.) The Brown Pub acts and shows198.) The aesthetic of downtown199.) The History of this region200.) The cape fear river201.) Sunsets on the cape fear202.) Pelicans at Kure beach203.) Azaleas in spring204.) Wisteria205.) Long Leaf Pines on UNCW’s Campus206.) The beauty of UNCW’s Campus207.) The windows in 1st Presbyterian208.) The labyrinth in the floor of church of the servant209.) The Cameron Art Museum’s Stained Glass Window 210.) The Wilmington Children’s Museum211.) The Old St. Thomas Building for Functions212.) The City Club of DeRossett213.) The Oaks on Market Street214.) The walking path into the woods at Halyburton215.) The programs at Halyburton with Birds of Prey216.) The Holiday Parade Downtown217.) The Oldest Living Christmas Tree218.) The Christmas Tree at the Foot of Market219.) The Christmas Lights downtown220.) The Christmas lights on pleasure island221.) The Azalea Festival Parade222.) The Azalea Festival223.) Fourth of July fireworks on the river224.) Fireworks on opening day at UNCW225.) Fireworks for the commissioning226.) New Years Eve Fireworks 227.) Hangers cleaners228.) Freshmarket229.) Clark Construction230.) Mazzarone Construction231.) Mckinley Dull Construction232.) Tise Archictects233.) Shipman and Associates234.) Roundtree etc. at law235.) Good Sheppard Ministries236.) Wilmington Interfaith Hospitality237.) Macedonia Baptist238.) Union Missionary239.) 1st Baptist240.) AME Zion241.) AME Zion Affordable Housing Coalition242.) The office of Mike McIntyre in Wilmington243.) The office of Senator Boseman244.) The office of the Mayor of Wilmington245.) Unitarian Universalists246.) Unity Christ Church247.) Church of the Servant248.) St. Jude’s MCC249.) Martin Luther King Day Parade250.) Juneteenth251.) New Hanover County Democratic Party252.) Precinct Chairs of the NHCDP253.) Volunteers of the NHCDP254.) Voter registration folks 255.) Wilmington Symphony256.) UNCW Gospel Choir257.) Halloween on Front Street258.) Police in Wilmington259.) Leadership of Police in Wilmington260.) NHC Sherriff’s Office 261.) Private Security in our neighborhood 262.) My bicycle 263.) The path to ride in the neighborhood264.) The fence in the neighborhood265.) My hammock266.) Our magnolia tree267.) Our Holly trees268.) Our David statue269.) My cherub bird bath270.) The cardinals visiting271.) Our rock garden272.) Having the best side neighbors ever!273.) How moderate this area is274.) How sensible people can be275.) Randall Library 276.) The Special Collections of Randall Library277.) The Art of Randall Library278.) The School of Nursing ground breaking!279.) The School of Nursing at UNCW280.) The Ed building and its beauty281.) The leadership in the Cameron School282.) Miller Motte Massage Therapy School283.) John Sakel Massage Therapist284.) The art of Fritz Kapraun285.) The art of Virginia Frierson286.) The Art of Ned Irvine (particularly the logo for the new PHF)287.) The art of Bates Toone288.) The art of David Norris289.) The writing of David Norris and his new book!290.) The writing of Nan Graham!291.) The writing of Clyde Edgerton292.) The writing of Tim Tyson293.) The writing of Dana Sachs!294.) The art of Harold Hodges295.) The art of Rick Mobbs296.) The art of Andrea Dingeldein297.) The art of Caitlin Brooks298.) The writing of Niki Leone299.) Creativewilmington.com300.) Cuculourus301.) The Film Industry 302.) Orange Street Festival303.) Film Incentives 304.) Film Commission305.) It’s a Wonderful Life being shown by the FS Progam at UNCW annually306.) Leadership of the Film Studies Department307.) The Life of Frank Capra Jr. (God Love and Rest his Soul!)308.) Little Britain being here!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!309.) Books on Front Street310.) Two Sisters Books 311.) The Full Belly Project312.) Cape Fear Bio Fuels313.) Green Building Alliance314.) Tuesday Morning315.) Homegoods316.) Pita Delight317.) The Owners of Pita Delight318.) All Small Business owners 319.) Hibachi Bistro320.) Schewan at University Landing321.) Pizza at Krazy’s! 322.) The Italian Deli on College! 323.) Meatball Wedge’s at the Italian Deli324.) Two Guys on College325.) Breakfast at the farmhouse326.) Breakfast at Saltworks327.) Jessamine 328.) The Thai Place on North Fourth329.) HIV Consortium 330.) HIV Clinic at New Hanover Regional331.) HIV Consortium Board332.) HIV Clinic Staff and Nurses333.) Public Health Nurses and Clinicians334.) Rabies and Animal Shelter Staff and workers335.) Carolina Canines336.) The Helper Dogs from Carolina Canines337.) The board of Carolina Canines338.) Wrightsville Family Practice339.) Delta Behavioral 340.) Krispy Kreme341.) Krispy Kreme being far enough away from my house that it is an effort342.) Jean Beasley being this year’s Schweitzer Recipient! 343.) The Karen Beasley Memorial Sea Turtle Hospital344.) The art of J. Madison Smith345.) Mother Hubbard’s Cupboard346.) Tileston Clinic347.) Pedestrian Art348.) The Mural of AA historical figures in the Creekwood Community Center349.) Dreams Installations on Castle Street350.) Photos of Jaime Moncrief351.) Photos of Caroline Cropp352.) Marketing and Communication at UNCW353.) Wilmington Wine Shoppe (I don’t drink..but those guys are AWESOME!)354.) Best of Wilmington in Encore Magazine355.) USS North Carolina Battle Ship!356.) The new floating docks 357.) Wilmington Walking adventures with Bob Jenkins358.) The downtown Synagogue359.) The architecture of downtown churches360.) The beauty of Landfall 361.) The great Christmas display on the little house on 17th street362.) Carolina Place363.) Our District Attorney’s Office364.) Our District Court Judges365.) Our Drug Court!366.) Papa John’s! 367.) The giving spirit and community involvement of Domino’s! 368.) JTV Management369.) The Willie Stargell Office Complex370.) Verizon!!371.) Qunitiles!372.) More jobs with living wages in our region373.) Our Wilmington Planning Commission374.) Sunset Park Neighborhood Association375.) The New Sunset Park Historic Website376.) Sunset South Development377.) The New park coming to Sunset South378.) Parks written into the Gateway project379.) Parks written into the north side expansion380.) New park opening in January 381.) Olsen County/City Park Group working together! 382.) Airlie Seafood Company383.) Sweet and Savory384.) Sweet and Savory baked goods! 385.) Our new bookcase386.) The cape being so close 387.) The city council opening up the selection process to all388.) The city for being so thoughtful about annexation389.) The protestors who stood up for the forest390.) Those educating on Titan 391.) Those protecting our environment392.) UNCW and CFCC EVS and Biology Profs393.) Research and Studies on our local watershed394.) Preservation of greenspace 395.) Preservation of wetlands396.) Cape fear river watch 397.) Cape fear builders assoc (nope, no contradiction if you work together!)398.) Those who build consensus399.) Marine Science center 400.) Healthy Carolinians401.) Obesity Prevention Program (missed that one, but working on it)402.) Health and Applied Human Sciences Faculty403.) Health and Applied Human Sciences Students404.) Health and Applied Human Sciences Community Engagement405.) Annual Pottery Sale at UNCW406.) Annual Pottery Sale at Halyburton407.) Efforts on Closing the Achievement Gap in New Hanover County408.) Voices trying for Diversity on the School Board409.) Senior Projects at Ashley 410.) Cape Fear Academy Young Democrats411.) New Hanover High School Young Democrats412.) Hoggard Young Democrats413.) Middle of the Island Catering414.) Bowman’s Seafood! 415.) Fort Fisher 416.) Not having to pay to park to go to the beach at Kure417.) Not having to pay to park to go the beach at Fort Fisher418.) Beautiful beaches 419.) The view from the MLK parkway of the swampy area420.) The way the MLK was built not to encroach421.) The splash pad at the north side pool422.) The community garden at Creekwood 423.) The dogwoods in bloom on college acres drive424.) The gold fish outside of original La Costa425.) The Lilly’s in the fountain at the arboretum 426.) The garden’s at the aquarium427.) The eel room at the aquarium428.) The fountain in Lumina Station 429.) The lawn in front of hoggard430.) The municipal golf course431.) What’s left of the woods behind our house432.) the amphitheater at Greenfield lake433.) Elderhaus434.) The amazing clients at the Elderhaus435.) The staff and directors of the Elderhaus436.) The greenery on the bellamy mansion at Christmas437.) The lights on the bushes in front of UNCW during the holidays438.) The wind before a rain 439.) The mild temps in early spring and late fall440.) The moon over the ocean 441.) Access to the ocean whenever I want it 442.) Lack of traffic 443.) Ogden Optical444.) BB&T Oleander Branch445.) Suntrust446.) First Citizens community involvement447.) Kate Bruce being named professor of the year!448.) Blood sugar under 120449.) Health Insurance450.) Blood pressure being moderate!451.) Our annual Christmas party with friends452.) Little crystals to share453.) Our annual holiday CD454.) Christmas cards455.) Giving gifts456.) Photographs of friends457.) Mother’s genealogy work458.) Facebook459.) Email forwards from John Myers460.) Email forwards from Ann Boseman461.) Beth’ Robert’s Halloween Costumes462.) UNCW PRIDE Student463.) Office of Diversity and Inclusion464.) Centro Hispano465.) Multicultural Office466.) The Boseman TenHusein Scholarship467.) UNCW College Democrats468.) Hosting the 1st Senate Debate Here at UNCW469.) Hosting the 1st Lt. Governor Debate here at UNCW470.) Lt. Governor Meet and Greet471.) Obama Rally at UNCW!472.) Hillary Downtown in Person!473.) Meeting Hillary and talking to her about Poverty and Important Issues!474.) Students for Change!475.) Precinct 24 get out the vote476.) The leadership of PRIDE477.) The Leadership of the College Democrats478.) A sense of place in this community479.) A deeper understanding of the community around me480.) Those who care enough to tell me the truth 481.) NAAP482.) NAACP Banquet483.) Human Relations Commission484.) The greeting I get going into Pita Delight485.) The good customer service at BB&T486.) The good phone service from the Honors Office487.) The great customer service at Hangers on College Road488.) The Personal attention we get at Brasserie 489.) The warmth we feel when we go any event at CFCC490.) The amazing follow up and attention from the CFCC foundation491.) How special one is made to feel at the City Club492.) The attention to detail at DeRossett493.) The great food at Carabbas 494.) Stephenson Honda!495.) Stephenson Honda Service496.) Our Element (ok…really MY element..but I kinda share)497.) that we have two cars498.) my garage/creative space499.) ability to paint a little from time to time500.) to be able to just stay at home and enjoy being together501.) to be able to just to watch tv from time to time502.) to be able to watch a movie503.) to sleep on a bed 504.) to sleep well!505.) To not regret my past506.) To have time to enjoy 507.) Mayfaire Cinemas!508.) To read 509.) To play from time to time510.) To have our books511.) Our DVDs512.) To have time to play backgammon513.) To share with others our interests514.) To share with each other our interest515.) To just have a day off516.) To pray as we desire without fear517.) To vote without fear518.) To feel safer than before Nov. 4th519.) To have food in our cabinets520.) To have electricity521.) To have clean running water522.) To have a tax base that ensure the best for everyone523.) To be able to share 524.) To be able to be involved with those who share and give525.) To live out of a sense of abundance rather than scarcity526.) To have more than one set of clothing 527.) To have new clothing528.) To be able to wash that clothing in our home529.) To be able to dry that clothing in our home530.) To be able to refrigerate our food531.) To have a rodent free home 532.) To have a small yard in which to enjoy533.) To be able to take a hot shower534.) To be able to take a hot bath535.) To be able to entertain536.) To be able to brush my teeth537.) To be able to use an indoor bathroom538.) To be able to have a sanitary please to prepare food539.) To have a sanitary place to eat food540.) To live in sanitary surroundings541.) To live in relatively safe surroundings542.) To live without fear of death or harm each day543.) To have lights on my street that stay lit544.) To have lawns that are mowed 545.) To have streets that stay cleaned546.) Having access to food easily547.) Having access to medicine easily548.) Having access to basic needs easily549.) Having my spiritual needs met550.) Having books and resources to learn551.) Having access to information552.) Having the ability to read553.) Having the ability to write554.) Having the ability to speak standard English555.) Having the full function of my mind and body556.) Being able to remember each day 557.) To be aware of my motives558.) To be challenged by those who care about me when I might be wrong559.) to have my mother and step dad in town and have them proud of me560.) to have my dad knowing what I am doing and proud of me561.) to truly understand what it means to have a “best friend and partner”562.) for the experiences I learn from those who have come before me 563.) for the lessons I learn from the youth that surround me564.) Boseman Gallery in the union565.) Stonewall Democrats566.) OutWilmington Continuing and going strong567.) The work of the board of OutWilmington568.) The Programming of OutWilmington569.) Wilmington PRIDE570.) Wilmington Peace Meet up571.) WHA Property Managers572.) UNCW/WHA Community Campus Grand Opening573.) UNCW Women’s Basket Ball team574.) Gang Task force575.) 10 year Plan to end Homelessness Group576.) Youth Violence Task Force 577.) Affordable Housing Coalition578.) Food Bank of Eastern North Carolina579.) Youth Build 580.) Intracoastal Realty 581.) Intracoastal Realty Teacher’s Fund582.) Intracoastal Realty Honors Scholarship583.) Burbage Scholarship584.) Corbett Honors Scholarship585.) Women’s Club Honors Scholarship586.) Porta Nails Scholarship587.) Rotary Scholarships (East, West and Downtown!)588.) Friends Scholarship589.) Moore Scholarship590.) All the folks who make scholarship a priority to help students! 591.) Kenan House592.) Wise House593.) Landfall Foundation594.) Wilmington One595.) Wilmington Executive’s Club596.) Living so close to work 597.) Opportunity to serve598.) Able to go to places easily from here. 599.) To stay connected with people so easily600.) To be reconnected with people from years ago601.) To be 41 and not afraid of cameras602.) To make webpages for people for causes I care about603.) The honors house community604.) The honors house605.) The schwuites!606.) The scholars lounge607.) Honors mid year medallioning608.) Honors spring graduation ceremony609.) Flowers for the Elderhaus610.) Four Seasons Trophy Shop611.) Coastal Engraving612.) The geraniums from the Plant Place 613.) The poinsettias from the plant place614.) The staff council poinsettia sale615.) The staff council scholarship616.) The staff council617.) Budget managers meetings618.) CAB theater 619.) CAB Concert hall620.) Shinn Plaza621.) The Schweitzer Honors Scholars 622.) UNCW Magazine623.) Peripulus624.) The Facebook Honors Group625.) The facebook Chamber Group626.) The facebook Honors Alumni Group627.) The facebook NHCDP Group628.) The facebook College Dems Group629.) The Facebook OutWilmington Group630.) The facebook CFCC Bond Group631.) The facebook Senator Boseman Group632.) E-Jude633.) News 14 Carolina634.) The government channel635.) Watching city council on tv636.) Watching the school board on tv637.) Watching county commission on tv638.) Watching the planning commission639.) Watching the county planning commission640.) The parking decks downtown641.) The trolley’s 642.) The horse drawn carriage 643.) The sanitary water dispensery at the foot of market644.) The kenan fountain645.) Flu shots at the Public Health Department646.) Flu Shots at UNCW647.) Public health nurses in schools648.) Public Health Foundation first golf tournament at the Muni649.) Monthly sustainers for Coastal Horizons650.) Monthly sustainers for any non profit in the region651.) To be able to type652.) For steak at texas roadhouse…yes, texas roadhouse!653.) For being indulged in my blue crystal obsession654.) For the opportunity to have influence and interaction with youth655.) for the opportunity to decorate at Christmas 656.) to have the kinds of things I want to decorate for Christmas657.) to share our home at Christmas and the love that comes with it658.) to have the students over at Christmas659.) to be able to cook and share that cooking!660.) The path through the neighborhoods to Mayfaire661.) The ease of getting around town662.) The WHA offices 663.) The WHA Employee Appreciation Ceremony664.) The WHA Annual Meeting and Scholarship Awards Ceremony665.) The opportunities that are on the horizon for affordable housing666.) the GED Program at Rachel Freeman667.) The GED Program at the Community Campus668.) The Job Placement Program at the Community Campus669.) CFCC Basic Skills Program670.) The Cornerstone Laid at Maides Park with Mrs. Moseley671.) The Ground breaking for the expansion of the Maides Park Facility672.) Pawn USA 673.) Razor Walker Awards674.) Travel department at UNCW675.) Purchasing Card Department at UNCW676.) ARA Catering at UNCW677.) The Plant Place678.) Eddie’s Floral Gallery679.) Union Missionary Baptist Transitional Housing 680.) Ladies of Legacy Dinner 681.) Stepping Stone Manor682.) Shriner’s Fish Fry 683.) Lobster Fest at Church of the Servant684.) Democratic Women of New Hanover County685.) Unity Banquet686.) Obama Team in New Hanover County687.) Hagan Team in New Hanover County688.) The Dog Park at Empie 689.) The Skate Park at Greenfield690.) The cypress knees at Greenfield691.) The deer at Fort Fisher692.) Jervay693.) Homeownership programs694.) HUB Contracting at UNCW695.) New Hanover Community Action696.) Thanksgiving dinner for seniors at Taylor697.) The pointe at Taylor Homes698.) The Pointe at Taylor Homes being completely leased up699.) The glass cases at Randall Library 700.) The thirsty tome series701.) The silent movies at Randall702.) Cinematique703.) Arts in Action at UNCW704.) Episcopal Campus Ministry705.) Facebook Session with the students in Tri-house706.) The Rachel Freeman Award707.) The legacy of Rachel Freeman708.) The naming of the new tennis complex after Althea Gibson709.) The dog park at Empie710.) The accessible recreation folks711.) The fundraiser for the miracle field712.) The fundraiser for the playground at Olsen713.) The Kiwanis714.) Wilmington downtown Inc715.) The leadership of Wilmington downtown inc716.) The wonderful candles on the riverwalk717.) Pilot house718.) Deluxe719.) The culinary students at CFCC cooking for us720.) Cape fear wood turners721.) CFCC North Campus722.) The kingoff clock being back on the street723.) The Schwartz center724.) The pancakes from the Kiwanis725.) Our new library at home726.) My warm chair to relax in 727.) To be able to go with Michael where he wants to go728.) Barnes and Noble729.) Target730.) Best buy731.) the apple store in durham is only a highway away732.) the cats chasing each other733.) or chasing the laser light 734.) or laying against my leg735.) watching him sleep736.) being awake before the alarm goes off737.) the smell of coffee in the morning738.) having coffee at the office made by others 739.) having a work environment that is so supportive740.) working together741.) seeing students grow and develop as people 742.) Seeing students grow and develop as scholars743.) Watching students success despite great odds744.) Being a part of what makes a difference745.) The crew who tend our landscape 746.) the neighbor cat guarding our front door in exchange for a treat747.) each day748.) each moment749.) the chamber legislative agenda750.) local legislators bringing home needed funding for us here751.) our elected folks listening and working with us so closely and willingly752.) to be able to speak up and out753.) communities in schools754.) filling up the bus755.) the creekwood back to school program 756.) the elks lodge757.) the many who give so generously to back to school for the children758.) the magnet schools in the area759.) cape fear center for inquiry760.) issac bear early college761.) the issac bear early college PTSA762.) the New Hanover County PTSA763.) those little college park 5th grders and their questions764.) the research for our elders by our dept of gerontology765.) College Road Animal Hospital766.) That animal hospital by tidal creek that sees animals after hours!!!767.) Apple Annie’s at Landfall768.) Ok..any apple annies!769.) Community Solutions Southeast!770.) Community Solutions Southeast expanding and becoming larger 771.) Hooks Security Systems772.) Enterprise Rental Company773.) Our postal worker774.) Our trash men (who do an amazing job)775.) The folks at the cable company at the mall who are very helpful776.) The maintenance folks at UNCW777.) The friendliest folks you can imagine at the coffee place in Randall Lib.778.) The crepe myrtle outside our house779.) Our twisted juniper at the door780.) The frogs song on a summer’s night781.) The wind on my face in summer on the beach782.) The rush of wind before a bad storm 783.) The cleansing rains of spring 784.) The cold of the short winter here and the comforter to keep us warm785.) Fresh collards after the first freeze786.) The little green lizards on the window tht drive the cats crazy787.) Picking strawberries788.) Picking blueberries789.) That there still is a place to pick in the area! 790.) Whitey’s restaurant791.) Sitting at sonic and watching the traffic792.) Nofo 793.) Build your own salad at Nofo794.) Salon beyond basics795.) Bangz796.) FSBGLAD797.) FSBGLAD Potluck798.) BGLAD training at UNCW799.) New faculty800.) New staff801.) Cape Fear Memorial 802.) Phoenix Employment Ministry803.) Sunshine coming through the skylight804.) The artifacts in the entrance to randall library 805.) Our classroom for the honors program806.) Our poster printer to support our students research807.) Undergraduate research day at UNCW808.) The chancellor’s fund to support undergraduate research travel 809.) The money for supporting students traveling abroad810.) Move in each year811.) All the volunteers for move-in each year812.) Leakey speaking at UNCW813.) E.O. Wilson Speaking at UNCW814.) The Evolution Learning Community at UNCW815.) Honors SeaHawk Links816.) UNCW Ambassadors817.) UNCW SeaHawk Specialists818.) UNCW Admissions staff819.) Henry’s 820.) The meeting being there on Monday821.) Friends who have been there 822.) The staff at HEO823.) Our intern at HEO this year824.) Having leo dauwer in Wilmington to guide us825.) The WHA Christmas Gathering and Meeting826.) Circe pawing at my face827.) The veterans memorial being almost compete downtown828.) The marker at the foot of dock on the slave route829.) The Tree Commission award for Taylor Estates830.) The Tree Commission831.) Upcoming Park Awards832.) Casper’s Swap meets833.) The boot sales at St. Jude’s834.) The yard sale this year and meeting new neighbors835.) Watching Serial Mom for the 1000th time836.) Knowing its Christmas because we watched the Ref837.) Going to sleep with Murder by Death on for the 1000th time838.) Watching Fringe because I know he loves it839.) Watching Judge Judy because he knows I love it840.) The internet841.) The City of Wilmington web site842.) UNCW’s Website843.) Coastal Horizons’ Website844.) Public Health Foundation’s Website845.) Board of Elections Website846.) The NHCDP Office on Randall Parkway847.) Boseman’s sporting goods848.) Starbucks on south college849.) La Costa’s food850.) La Costa’s live music on the weekend’s 851.) Indocine 852.) The garden’s at Indocine853.) The Ivy Cottage854.) Port City Properties855.) Chadworth Columns856.) Best western downtown857.) Coastline Convention Center858.) Donn Ansell’s new TV show on CBS Sunday Mornings859.) CONA’s election forums860.) Chamber election forums861.) WHQR election forum862.) Early voting sites863.) The amazing poll workers 864.) MOI Pork Chops865.) Lifeskills866.) Wilmington in Black and White867.) The 1898 foundation868.) The Wilmington 10 survivors869.) Partners for Economic Inclusion870.) Small Business Incubation 871.) More incentives to come for small businesses in our community872.) Development of incentives for infrastructure for our neighborhoods873.) Green building being so prevalent on builders’ minds874.) Nan graham’s southern dinner at Casey’s with the students875.) Nan’s Christmas dinner for her class876.) The Cultural dinners for students in Wilmington877.) Caitlin Brooks New Children’s book878.) Playing santa this year879.) For showing Senator Hagan affordable housing issues880.) Affordable housing being developed881.) Interest in workforce housing and support for it882.) Lowe’s produce883.) Cheap baked goods after 7884.) Our annual trip to get our Christmas angel885.) Belks at the mall886.) The butterfly’s at the Dudley887.) Magnolia blossoms on campus888.) Spanish moss in the trees889.) An amazing city890.) A great city of people who either bless me or teach me891.) A great city of people who allow me to participate and be a part892.) A community of folk who care and care for each other and the community893.) A place where we can disagree but still get things done894.) A place where we can have divergent beliefs but find common ground895.) All of the teachers in this community who do the hand to hand each day896.) A community who boast a number of veterans and thank them897.) A county that is pink..not red! in southeastern north Carolina898.) A county that is the hub for so much good in the region899.) A nation that has taken a hold of itself and is on a new and better day
900.) To know that the loss of anything above, only means that a new list can be created, if I choose to see what blessings, what abundance I have rather than what I do not have.
I decided, and have kept up that each year, I would do the list but make it equivalent to the number of years I had been doing it!
This year, I am at 900, and I am so glad to be able to have this exercise. I have stopped including names in my list as I don’t want people to focus on the number, but instead have included groups, things, organizations, and places. I have also brought it back to some of the things these lists started with; remembering to be grateful for some of the very basic things in my life…lest I never take it for granted how blessed I am.
Regardless of what someone might think of this list, regardless of what my circumstances might be, regardless of what events may occur in my life, it is a tradition I will continue, because, I/we am/are blessed and it is worth remembering, offering thanksgiving, and sharing with each other! I hope it will spark a list of your own and feel free to steal mine!
I am grateful for….
1.) God in my life, first and foremost always2.) My Family 3.) Our home 4.) Health and continued, day at the time reprieve…5.) Being employed6.) Friends, amazing and loving friends7.) The Life of Frank Harr8.) The Life of Windell Daniels9.) The Karl Davis Leadership Wilmington Alumni Award10.) The Life of Dr. Elizabeth Betsy Ervin11.) Being able to be with those I love at the last 12.) Living in community with such amazing people13.) Being able to be a part…14.) The Wilmington Housing Authority15.) WHA Staff16.) WHA Commissioners17.) The Hillcrest Community Campus18.) UNCW Public Service19.) UNCW Sociology Students 20.) UNCW Sociology Faculty21.) UNCW Social Work Students22.) UNCW Social Work Faculty23.) UNCW Elementary Ed Students24.) ITSD Department at Community Campus25.) UNCW Surplus26.) Community Campus Reading Program27.) GED Program at Hillcrest28.) Job Placement Program at the Community Campus29.) Cape Fear Community College30.) Cape Fear Community College Foundation31.) UNCW32.) Office of the Chancellor33.) Academic Affairs34.) Leadership Education and Service35.) Athletics36.) SeaHawk Club37.) The Honors Scholars Program38.) The Honors Scholars Students39.) The Honors Scholars Office Staff40.) Honors Scholarships41.) UNCW Foundation Scholarships42.) UNCW Board of Trustees43.) UNC Board of Governors (especially making a woman chair this year!)44.) Center for the Support of Undergraduate Research and Fellowships45.) Travel Abroad Grants46.) Qeno47.) Travel Grants from the Chancellor for Research48.) Honors Scholars Association49.) Student Honors Advisory Committee50.) Honors Teas 51.) Honors Community! 52.) Honors Fish!53.) UNCW/CITY Task Force54.) Carleton Place HOA Board55.) Carleton Place56.) College Acres57.) Mayfaire! 58.) Autumn Hall59.) The New Bike/Hike trail60.) Fresh Market61.) Harris Teeter Pharmacy62.) Fast Frame Art 63.) Boca Bay64.) Brasserie65.) Ciccetti Osteria66.) All Hampton Inns!67.) Stargell Tournament68.) New Kidney Screen Mobile Unit69.) Stargell Nursing Scholarship at UNCW70.) Stargell Scholarship at CFCC71.) McColl and Associates72.) McColl Scholarship at CFCC73.) The BOND PASSING FOR CFCC74.) CFCC BOD75.) The Daniels Scholarship at CFCC76.) The Daniels Scholarship at UNCW77.) The Ada K. Dean Nursing Scholarship at UNCW78.) The Bruce/Levy Scholarship at UNCW79.) The Myers Scholarship at UNCW80.) The Women’s resource Center at UNCW81.) The Betsy Ervin Honors Scholarship at UNCW82.) The Vagina Monologues83.) Coastal Horizons Inc84.) The HAARTS Program85.) Substance Abuse Counseling and Treatment from Coastal Horizons86.) The Rape Crisis Center87.) TASC88.) The New Brunswick County Coastal Horizon’s Center89.) Methadone treatment from CHC90.) All the staff of Coastal Horizons91.) The amazing Board of Coastal Horizons!92.) The Youth Shelter of Coastal Horizons93.) HIV/AIDS screening from Coastal Horizons94.) The Domestic Violence Shelter95.) Vintage Values96.) The Bargain Box of Wilmington97.) The DVS Ads for Father’s Day98.) Community Engagement from New Hanover Regional Medical Center99.) Public Health Dept Men’s Health Screenings100.) NHRMC Foundation101.) The New Betty Cameron Children’s Hospital102.) Leadership Wilmington103.) Hands on Wilmington104.) The Greater Wilmington Chamber of Commerce105.) The Wilmington City Council106.) The Wilmington Manager’s Office107.) The Wilmington City Staff! 108.) The Wilmington Parks and Recreation Department!109.) The Wilmington Parks and Recreation Advisory Board110.) Olsen Park111.) The Wilmington Tennis Association112.) Cape Fear Soccer113.) Friends of Maides Park114.) The MLK Center115.) Fit for Fun Center!116.) Halyburton, Halyburton, Halyburton!117.) Our alligator at Greenfield lake118.) The paddle boats at Greenfield lake119.) The Japanese gardens at the arboretum120.) Enchanted Airlie121.) Our Aquarium! 122.) Kure Beach and all it’s splendor! 123.) The pier at Kure Beach124.) The annual beach sweep at Kure beach125.) Carolina beach boardwalk126.) Dreams of Wilmington127.) WRAAP128.) Naming Lakeside after Mary Mosley! The Great Mrs. Mosley!129.) 1898 Memorial finally being up and dedicated130.) Taylor Homes being open and dedicated131.) New County Commissioners 132.) The Public Health Foundation of New Hanover County133.) Public Health Workers and Staff134.) The Mobile Dental clinic135.) New Hanover Regional Medical Center136.) The Daniels Heart Walk 2008137.) William Hooper Apartments138.) Daniels Company139.) Pear Girls140.) LINC inc.141.) Boys and Girls Club142.) First in Families143.) Arc of North Carolina144.) Special Olympics145.) The amazing folks her for the Leukemia and Lymphoma society146.) Central Rotary147.) WHAT148.) YWCA149.) Commissioning of the USS North Carolina 777!150.) The Mayor’s Ball151.) The Liberty Bell’s in Thalian Hall152.) The Naval Reception 153.) Secretary of the Navy in Wilmington!154.) Spectacular Fireworks for Everyone!155.) The Commissioning Ceremony156.) The crew of the submarine! What amazing men!157.) Southeastern Alliance for Community Change158.) Be Your Own Hero159.) The Farmer’s Market on Saturday’s 160.) Art for the Masses161.) The Randall Library Book Sale162.) The NHC Book Sale 163.) The NHC Library164.) The NHC Archives 165.) Thalian Hall166.) Hannah Block Center167.) Nan Graham’s Commentary’s 168.) WHQR169.) WHQR Gallery170.) WECT 6pm news!171.) Frans Fans172.) Buddy Check173.) Mrs. K. Weller on that Motorcycle for Breast Cancer Awareness174.) WECT Community Engagement175.) Rhonda’s Show on WAAV176.) Christmas Music on GNI177.) Star News 178.) Star News Editorials in Particular179.) Wilma (and what a good pic for covers!)180.) Greater Wilmington Business181.) Encore Magazine!!!!!182.) Atlantis Magazine at UNCW (AMAZING!)183.) Blue Tone Media184.) Dock Street Printing185.) Casey’s Buffet186.) Chicken Pastry at Casey’s Buffet! 187.) Collards at Casey’s Buffet!188.) Did I mention Casey’s Buffet? 189.) Castle Street Antique District190.) Michael Moore Antiques191.) The New Jester’s Café!192.) The Gateway Project193.) The Riverwalk194.) The Convention Center195.) Level 5196.) The Red Barn theater197.) The Brown Pub acts and shows198.) The aesthetic of downtown199.) The History of this region200.) The cape fear river201.) Sunsets on the cape fear202.) Pelicans at Kure beach203.) Azaleas in spring204.) Wisteria205.) Long Leaf Pines on UNCW’s Campus206.) The beauty of UNCW’s Campus207.) The windows in 1st Presbyterian208.) The labyrinth in the floor of church of the servant209.) The Cameron Art Museum’s Stained Glass Window 210.) The Wilmington Children’s Museum211.) The Old St. Thomas Building for Functions212.) The City Club of DeRossett213.) The Oaks on Market Street214.) The walking path into the woods at Halyburton215.) The programs at Halyburton with Birds of Prey216.) The Holiday Parade Downtown217.) The Oldest Living Christmas Tree218.) The Christmas Tree at the Foot of Market219.) The Christmas Lights downtown220.) The Christmas lights on pleasure island221.) The Azalea Festival Parade222.) The Azalea Festival223.) Fourth of July fireworks on the river224.) Fireworks on opening day at UNCW225.) Fireworks for the commissioning226.) New Years Eve Fireworks 227.) Hangers cleaners228.) Freshmarket229.) Clark Construction230.) Mazzarone Construction231.) Mckinley Dull Construction232.) Tise Archictects233.) Shipman and Associates234.) Roundtree etc. at law235.) Good Sheppard Ministries236.) Wilmington Interfaith Hospitality237.) Macedonia Baptist238.) Union Missionary239.) 1st Baptist240.) AME Zion241.) AME Zion Affordable Housing Coalition242.) The office of Mike McIntyre in Wilmington243.) The office of Senator Boseman244.) The office of the Mayor of Wilmington245.) Unitarian Universalists246.) Unity Christ Church247.) Church of the Servant248.) St. Jude’s MCC249.) Martin Luther King Day Parade250.) Juneteenth251.) New Hanover County Democratic Party252.) Precinct Chairs of the NHCDP253.) Volunteers of the NHCDP254.) Voter registration folks 255.) Wilmington Symphony256.) UNCW Gospel Choir257.) Halloween on Front Street258.) Police in Wilmington259.) Leadership of Police in Wilmington260.) NHC Sherriff’s Office 261.) Private Security in our neighborhood 262.) My bicycle 263.) The path to ride in the neighborhood264.) The fence in the neighborhood265.) My hammock266.) Our magnolia tree267.) Our Holly trees268.) Our David statue269.) My cherub bird bath270.) The cardinals visiting271.) Our rock garden272.) Having the best side neighbors ever!273.) How moderate this area is274.) How sensible people can be275.) Randall Library 276.) The Special Collections of Randall Library277.) The Art of Randall Library278.) The School of Nursing ground breaking!279.) The School of Nursing at UNCW280.) The Ed building and its beauty281.) The leadership in the Cameron School282.) Miller Motte Massage Therapy School283.) John Sakel Massage Therapist284.) The art of Fritz Kapraun285.) The art of Virginia Frierson286.) The Art of Ned Irvine (particularly the logo for the new PHF)287.) The art of Bates Toone288.) The art of David Norris289.) The writing of David Norris and his new book!290.) The writing of Nan Graham!291.) The writing of Clyde Edgerton292.) The writing of Tim Tyson293.) The writing of Dana Sachs!294.) The art of Harold Hodges295.) The art of Rick Mobbs296.) The art of Andrea Dingeldein297.) The art of Caitlin Brooks298.) The writing of Niki Leone299.) Creativewilmington.com300.) Cuculourus301.) The Film Industry 302.) Orange Street Festival303.) Film Incentives 304.) Film Commission305.) It’s a Wonderful Life being shown by the FS Progam at UNCW annually306.) Leadership of the Film Studies Department307.) The Life of Frank Capra Jr. (God Love and Rest his Soul!)308.) Little Britain being here!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!309.) Books on Front Street310.) Two Sisters Books 311.) The Full Belly Project312.) Cape Fear Bio Fuels313.) Green Building Alliance314.) Tuesday Morning315.) Homegoods316.) Pita Delight317.) The Owners of Pita Delight318.) All Small Business owners 319.) Hibachi Bistro320.) Schewan at University Landing321.) Pizza at Krazy’s! 322.) The Italian Deli on College! 323.) Meatball Wedge’s at the Italian Deli324.) Two Guys on College325.) Breakfast at the farmhouse326.) Breakfast at Saltworks327.) Jessamine 328.) The Thai Place on North Fourth329.) HIV Consortium 330.) HIV Clinic at New Hanover Regional331.) HIV Consortium Board332.) HIV Clinic Staff and Nurses333.) Public Health Nurses and Clinicians334.) Rabies and Animal Shelter Staff and workers335.) Carolina Canines336.) The Helper Dogs from Carolina Canines337.) The board of Carolina Canines338.) Wrightsville Family Practice339.) Delta Behavioral 340.) Krispy Kreme341.) Krispy Kreme being far enough away from my house that it is an effort342.) Jean Beasley being this year’s Schweitzer Recipient! 343.) The Karen Beasley Memorial Sea Turtle Hospital344.) The art of J. Madison Smith345.) Mother Hubbard’s Cupboard346.) Tileston Clinic347.) Pedestrian Art348.) The Mural of AA historical figures in the Creekwood Community Center349.) Dreams Installations on Castle Street350.) Photos of Jaime Moncrief351.) Photos of Caroline Cropp352.) Marketing and Communication at UNCW353.) Wilmington Wine Shoppe (I don’t drink..but those guys are AWESOME!)354.) Best of Wilmington in Encore Magazine355.) USS North Carolina Battle Ship!356.) The new floating docks 357.) Wilmington Walking adventures with Bob Jenkins358.) The downtown Synagogue359.) The architecture of downtown churches360.) The beauty of Landfall 361.) The great Christmas display on the little house on 17th street362.) Carolina Place363.) Our District Attorney’s Office364.) Our District Court Judges365.) Our Drug Court!366.) Papa John’s! 367.) The giving spirit and community involvement of Domino’s! 368.) JTV Management369.) The Willie Stargell Office Complex370.) Verizon!!371.) Qunitiles!372.) More jobs with living wages in our region373.) Our Wilmington Planning Commission374.) Sunset Park Neighborhood Association375.) The New Sunset Park Historic Website376.) Sunset South Development377.) The New park coming to Sunset South378.) Parks written into the Gateway project379.) Parks written into the north side expansion380.) New park opening in January 381.) Olsen County/City Park Group working together! 382.) Airlie Seafood Company383.) Sweet and Savory384.) Sweet and Savory baked goods! 385.) Our new bookcase386.) The cape being so close 387.) The city council opening up the selection process to all388.) The city for being so thoughtful about annexation389.) The protestors who stood up for the forest390.) Those educating on Titan 391.) Those protecting our environment392.) UNCW and CFCC EVS and Biology Profs393.) Research and Studies on our local watershed394.) Preservation of greenspace 395.) Preservation of wetlands396.) Cape fear river watch 397.) Cape fear builders assoc (nope, no contradiction if you work together!)398.) Those who build consensus399.) Marine Science center 400.) Healthy Carolinians401.) Obesity Prevention Program (missed that one, but working on it)402.) Health and Applied Human Sciences Faculty403.) Health and Applied Human Sciences Students404.) Health and Applied Human Sciences Community Engagement405.) Annual Pottery Sale at UNCW406.) Annual Pottery Sale at Halyburton407.) Efforts on Closing the Achievement Gap in New Hanover County408.) Voices trying for Diversity on the School Board409.) Senior Projects at Ashley 410.) Cape Fear Academy Young Democrats411.) New Hanover High School Young Democrats412.) Hoggard Young Democrats413.) Middle of the Island Catering414.) Bowman’s Seafood! 415.) Fort Fisher 416.) Not having to pay to park to go to the beach at Kure417.) Not having to pay to park to go the beach at Fort Fisher418.) Beautiful beaches 419.) The view from the MLK parkway of the swampy area420.) The way the MLK was built not to encroach421.) The splash pad at the north side pool422.) The community garden at Creekwood 423.) The dogwoods in bloom on college acres drive424.) The gold fish outside of original La Costa425.) The Lilly’s in the fountain at the arboretum 426.) The garden’s at the aquarium427.) The eel room at the aquarium428.) The fountain in Lumina Station 429.) The lawn in front of hoggard430.) The municipal golf course431.) What’s left of the woods behind our house432.) the amphitheater at Greenfield lake433.) Elderhaus434.) The amazing clients at the Elderhaus435.) The staff and directors of the Elderhaus436.) The greenery on the bellamy mansion at Christmas437.) The lights on the bushes in front of UNCW during the holidays438.) The wind before a rain 439.) The mild temps in early spring and late fall440.) The moon over the ocean 441.) Access to the ocean whenever I want it 442.) Lack of traffic 443.) Ogden Optical444.) BB&T Oleander Branch445.) Suntrust446.) First Citizens community involvement447.) Kate Bruce being named professor of the year!448.) Blood sugar under 120449.) Health Insurance450.) Blood pressure being moderate!451.) Our annual Christmas party with friends452.) Little crystals to share453.) Our annual holiday CD454.) Christmas cards455.) Giving gifts456.) Photographs of friends457.) Mother’s genealogy work458.) Facebook459.) Email forwards from John Myers460.) Email forwards from Ann Boseman461.) Beth’ Robert’s Halloween Costumes462.) UNCW PRIDE Student463.) Office of Diversity and Inclusion464.) Centro Hispano465.) Multicultural Office466.) The Boseman TenHusein Scholarship467.) UNCW College Democrats468.) Hosting the 1st Senate Debate Here at UNCW469.) Hosting the 1st Lt. Governor Debate here at UNCW470.) Lt. Governor Meet and Greet471.) Obama Rally at UNCW!472.) Hillary Downtown in Person!473.) Meeting Hillary and talking to her about Poverty and Important Issues!474.) Students for Change!475.) Precinct 24 get out the vote476.) The leadership of PRIDE477.) The Leadership of the College Democrats478.) A sense of place in this community479.) A deeper understanding of the community around me480.) Those who care enough to tell me the truth 481.) NAAP482.) NAACP Banquet483.) Human Relations Commission484.) The greeting I get going into Pita Delight485.) The good customer service at BB&T486.) The good phone service from the Honors Office487.) The great customer service at Hangers on College Road488.) The Personal attention we get at Brasserie 489.) The warmth we feel when we go any event at CFCC490.) The amazing follow up and attention from the CFCC foundation491.) How special one is made to feel at the City Club492.) The attention to detail at DeRossett493.) The great food at Carabbas 494.) Stephenson Honda!495.) Stephenson Honda Service496.) Our Element (ok…really MY element..but I kinda share)497.) that we have two cars498.) my garage/creative space499.) ability to paint a little from time to time500.) to be able to just stay at home and enjoy being together501.) to be able to just to watch tv from time to time502.) to be able to watch a movie503.) to sleep on a bed 504.) to sleep well!505.) To not regret my past506.) To have time to enjoy 507.) Mayfaire Cinemas!508.) To read 509.) To play from time to time510.) To have our books511.) Our DVDs512.) To have time to play backgammon513.) To share with others our interests514.) To share with each other our interest515.) To just have a day off516.) To pray as we desire without fear517.) To vote without fear518.) To feel safer than before Nov. 4th519.) To have food in our cabinets520.) To have electricity521.) To have clean running water522.) To have a tax base that ensure the best for everyone523.) To be able to share 524.) To be able to be involved with those who share and give525.) To live out of a sense of abundance rather than scarcity526.) To have more than one set of clothing 527.) To have new clothing528.) To be able to wash that clothing in our home529.) To be able to dry that clothing in our home530.) To be able to refrigerate our food531.) To have a rodent free home 532.) To have a small yard in which to enjoy533.) To be able to take a hot shower534.) To be able to take a hot bath535.) To be able to entertain536.) To be able to brush my teeth537.) To be able to use an indoor bathroom538.) To be able to have a sanitary please to prepare food539.) To have a sanitary place to eat food540.) To live in sanitary surroundings541.) To live in relatively safe surroundings542.) To live without fear of death or harm each day543.) To have lights on my street that stay lit544.) To have lawns that are mowed 545.) To have streets that stay cleaned546.) Having access to food easily547.) Having access to medicine easily548.) Having access to basic needs easily549.) Having my spiritual needs met550.) Having books and resources to learn551.) Having access to information552.) Having the ability to read553.) Having the ability to write554.) Having the ability to speak standard English555.) Having the full function of my mind and body556.) Being able to remember each day 557.) To be aware of my motives558.) To be challenged by those who care about me when I might be wrong559.) to have my mother and step dad in town and have them proud of me560.) to have my dad knowing what I am doing and proud of me561.) to truly understand what it means to have a “best friend and partner”562.) for the experiences I learn from those who have come before me 563.) for the lessons I learn from the youth that surround me564.) Boseman Gallery in the union565.) Stonewall Democrats566.) OutWilmington Continuing and going strong567.) The work of the board of OutWilmington568.) The Programming of OutWilmington569.) Wilmington PRIDE570.) Wilmington Peace Meet up571.) WHA Property Managers572.) UNCW/WHA Community Campus Grand Opening573.) UNCW Women’s Basket Ball team574.) Gang Task force575.) 10 year Plan to end Homelessness Group576.) Youth Violence Task Force 577.) Affordable Housing Coalition578.) Food Bank of Eastern North Carolina579.) Youth Build 580.) Intracoastal Realty 581.) Intracoastal Realty Teacher’s Fund582.) Intracoastal Realty Honors Scholarship583.) Burbage Scholarship584.) Corbett Honors Scholarship585.) Women’s Club Honors Scholarship586.) Porta Nails Scholarship587.) Rotary Scholarships (East, West and Downtown!)588.) Friends Scholarship589.) Moore Scholarship590.) All the folks who make scholarship a priority to help students! 591.) Kenan House592.) Wise House593.) Landfall Foundation594.) Wilmington One595.) Wilmington Executive’s Club596.) Living so close to work 597.) Opportunity to serve598.) Able to go to places easily from here. 599.) To stay connected with people so easily600.) To be reconnected with people from years ago601.) To be 41 and not afraid of cameras602.) To make webpages for people for causes I care about603.) The honors house community604.) The honors house605.) The schwuites!606.) The scholars lounge607.) Honors mid year medallioning608.) Honors spring graduation ceremony609.) Flowers for the Elderhaus610.) Four Seasons Trophy Shop611.) Coastal Engraving612.) The geraniums from the Plant Place 613.) The poinsettias from the plant place614.) The staff council poinsettia sale615.) The staff council scholarship616.) The staff council617.) Budget managers meetings618.) CAB theater 619.) CAB Concert hall620.) Shinn Plaza621.) The Schweitzer Honors Scholars 622.) UNCW Magazine623.) Peripulus624.) The Facebook Honors Group625.) The facebook Chamber Group626.) The facebook Honors Alumni Group627.) The facebook NHCDP Group628.) The facebook College Dems Group629.) The Facebook OutWilmington Group630.) The facebook CFCC Bond Group631.) The facebook Senator Boseman Group632.) E-Jude633.) News 14 Carolina634.) The government channel635.) Watching city council on tv636.) Watching the school board on tv637.) Watching county commission on tv638.) Watching the planning commission639.) Watching the county planning commission640.) The parking decks downtown641.) The trolley’s 642.) The horse drawn carriage 643.) The sanitary water dispensery at the foot of market644.) The kenan fountain645.) Flu shots at the Public Health Department646.) Flu Shots at UNCW647.) Public health nurses in schools648.) Public Health Foundation first golf tournament at the Muni649.) Monthly sustainers for Coastal Horizons650.) Monthly sustainers for any non profit in the region651.) To be able to type652.) For steak at texas roadhouse…yes, texas roadhouse!653.) For being indulged in my blue crystal obsession654.) For the opportunity to have influence and interaction with youth655.) for the opportunity to decorate at Christmas 656.) to have the kinds of things I want to decorate for Christmas657.) to share our home at Christmas and the love that comes with it658.) to have the students over at Christmas659.) to be able to cook and share that cooking!660.) The path through the neighborhoods to Mayfaire661.) The ease of getting around town662.) The WHA offices 663.) The WHA Employee Appreciation Ceremony664.) The WHA Annual Meeting and Scholarship Awards Ceremony665.) The opportunities that are on the horizon for affordable housing666.) the GED Program at Rachel Freeman667.) The GED Program at the Community Campus668.) The Job Placement Program at the Community Campus669.) CFCC Basic Skills Program670.) The Cornerstone Laid at Maides Park with Mrs. Moseley671.) The Ground breaking for the expansion of the Maides Park Facility672.) Pawn USA 673.) Razor Walker Awards674.) Travel department at UNCW675.) Purchasing Card Department at UNCW676.) ARA Catering at UNCW677.) The Plant Place678.) Eddie’s Floral Gallery679.) Union Missionary Baptist Transitional Housing 680.) Ladies of Legacy Dinner 681.) Stepping Stone Manor682.) Shriner’s Fish Fry 683.) Lobster Fest at Church of the Servant684.) Democratic Women of New Hanover County685.) Unity Banquet686.) Obama Team in New Hanover County687.) Hagan Team in New Hanover County688.) The Dog Park at Empie 689.) The Skate Park at Greenfield690.) The cypress knees at Greenfield691.) The deer at Fort Fisher692.) Jervay693.) Homeownership programs694.) HUB Contracting at UNCW695.) New Hanover Community Action696.) Thanksgiving dinner for seniors at Taylor697.) The pointe at Taylor Homes698.) The Pointe at Taylor Homes being completely leased up699.) The glass cases at Randall Library 700.) The thirsty tome series701.) The silent movies at Randall702.) Cinematique703.) Arts in Action at UNCW704.) Episcopal Campus Ministry705.) Facebook Session with the students in Tri-house706.) The Rachel Freeman Award707.) The legacy of Rachel Freeman708.) The naming of the new tennis complex after Althea Gibson709.) The dog park at Empie710.) The accessible recreation folks711.) The fundraiser for the miracle field712.) The fundraiser for the playground at Olsen713.) The Kiwanis714.) Wilmington downtown Inc715.) The leadership of Wilmington downtown inc716.) The wonderful candles on the riverwalk717.) Pilot house718.) Deluxe719.) The culinary students at CFCC cooking for us720.) Cape fear wood turners721.) CFCC North Campus722.) The kingoff clock being back on the street723.) The Schwartz center724.) The pancakes from the Kiwanis725.) Our new library at home726.) My warm chair to relax in 727.) To be able to go with Michael where he wants to go728.) Barnes and Noble729.) Target730.) Best buy731.) the apple store in durham is only a highway away732.) the cats chasing each other733.) or chasing the laser light 734.) or laying against my leg735.) watching him sleep736.) being awake before the alarm goes off737.) the smell of coffee in the morning738.) having coffee at the office made by others 739.) having a work environment that is so supportive740.) working together741.) seeing students grow and develop as people 742.) Seeing students grow and develop as scholars743.) Watching students success despite great odds744.) Being a part of what makes a difference745.) The crew who tend our landscape 746.) the neighbor cat guarding our front door in exchange for a treat747.) each day748.) each moment749.) the chamber legislative agenda750.) local legislators bringing home needed funding for us here751.) our elected folks listening and working with us so closely and willingly752.) to be able to speak up and out753.) communities in schools754.) filling up the bus755.) the creekwood back to school program 756.) the elks lodge757.) the many who give so generously to back to school for the children758.) the magnet schools in the area759.) cape fear center for inquiry760.) issac bear early college761.) the issac bear early college PTSA762.) the New Hanover County PTSA763.) those little college park 5th grders and their questions764.) the research for our elders by our dept of gerontology765.) College Road Animal Hospital766.) That animal hospital by tidal creek that sees animals after hours!!!767.) Apple Annie’s at Landfall768.) Ok..any apple annies!769.) Community Solutions Southeast!770.) Community Solutions Southeast expanding and becoming larger 771.) Hooks Security Systems772.) Enterprise Rental Company773.) Our postal worker774.) Our trash men (who do an amazing job)775.) The folks at the cable company at the mall who are very helpful776.) The maintenance folks at UNCW777.) The friendliest folks you can imagine at the coffee place in Randall Lib.778.) The crepe myrtle outside our house779.) Our twisted juniper at the door780.) The frogs song on a summer’s night781.) The wind on my face in summer on the beach782.) The rush of wind before a bad storm 783.) The cleansing rains of spring 784.) The cold of the short winter here and the comforter to keep us warm785.) Fresh collards after the first freeze786.) The little green lizards on the window tht drive the cats crazy787.) Picking strawberries788.) Picking blueberries789.) That there still is a place to pick in the area! 790.) Whitey’s restaurant791.) Sitting at sonic and watching the traffic792.) Nofo 793.) Build your own salad at Nofo794.) Salon beyond basics795.) Bangz796.) FSBGLAD797.) FSBGLAD Potluck798.) BGLAD training at UNCW799.) New faculty800.) New staff801.) Cape Fear Memorial 802.) Phoenix Employment Ministry803.) Sunshine coming through the skylight804.) The artifacts in the entrance to randall library 805.) Our classroom for the honors program806.) Our poster printer to support our students research807.) Undergraduate research day at UNCW808.) The chancellor’s fund to support undergraduate research travel 809.) The money for supporting students traveling abroad810.) Move in each year811.) All the volunteers for move-in each year812.) Leakey speaking at UNCW813.) E.O. Wilson Speaking at UNCW814.) The Evolution Learning Community at UNCW815.) Honors SeaHawk Links816.) UNCW Ambassadors817.) UNCW SeaHawk Specialists818.) UNCW Admissions staff819.) Henry’s 820.) The meeting being there on Monday821.) Friends who have been there 822.) The staff at HEO823.) Our intern at HEO this year824.) Having leo dauwer in Wilmington to guide us825.) The WHA Christmas Gathering and Meeting826.) Circe pawing at my face827.) The veterans memorial being almost compete downtown828.) The marker at the foot of dock on the slave route829.) The Tree Commission award for Taylor Estates830.) The Tree Commission831.) Upcoming Park Awards832.) Casper’s Swap meets833.) The boot sales at St. Jude’s834.) The yard sale this year and meeting new neighbors835.) Watching Serial Mom for the 1000th time836.) Knowing its Christmas because we watched the Ref837.) Going to sleep with Murder by Death on for the 1000th time838.) Watching Fringe because I know he loves it839.) Watching Judge Judy because he knows I love it840.) The internet841.) The City of Wilmington web site842.) UNCW’s Website843.) Coastal Horizons’ Website844.) Public Health Foundation’s Website845.) Board of Elections Website846.) The NHCDP Office on Randall Parkway847.) Boseman’s sporting goods848.) Starbucks on south college849.) La Costa’s food850.) La Costa’s live music on the weekend’s 851.) Indocine 852.) The garden’s at Indocine853.) The Ivy Cottage854.) Port City Properties855.) Chadworth Columns856.) Best western downtown857.) Coastline Convention Center858.) Donn Ansell’s new TV show on CBS Sunday Mornings859.) CONA’s election forums860.) Chamber election forums861.) WHQR election forum862.) Early voting sites863.) The amazing poll workers 864.) MOI Pork Chops865.) Lifeskills866.) Wilmington in Black and White867.) The 1898 foundation868.) The Wilmington 10 survivors869.) Partners for Economic Inclusion870.) Small Business Incubation 871.) More incentives to come for small businesses in our community872.) Development of incentives for infrastructure for our neighborhoods873.) Green building being so prevalent on builders’ minds874.) Nan graham’s southern dinner at Casey’s with the students875.) Nan’s Christmas dinner for her class876.) The Cultural dinners for students in Wilmington877.) Caitlin Brooks New Children’s book878.) Playing santa this year879.) For showing Senator Hagan affordable housing issues880.) Affordable housing being developed881.) Interest in workforce housing and support for it882.) Lowe’s produce883.) Cheap baked goods after 7884.) Our annual trip to get our Christmas angel885.) Belks at the mall886.) The butterfly’s at the Dudley887.) Magnolia blossoms on campus888.) Spanish moss in the trees889.) An amazing city890.) A great city of people who either bless me or teach me891.) A great city of people who allow me to participate and be a part892.) A community of folk who care and care for each other and the community893.) A place where we can disagree but still get things done894.) A place where we can have divergent beliefs but find common ground895.) All of the teachers in this community who do the hand to hand each day896.) A community who boast a number of veterans and thank them897.) A county that is pink..not red! in southeastern north Carolina898.) A county that is the hub for so much good in the region899.) A nation that has taken a hold of itself and is on a new and better day
900.) To know that the loss of anything above, only means that a new list can be created, if I choose to see what blessings, what abundance I have rather than what I do not have.
Tuesday, February 05, 2008
Thank you.
MIssing him, but so glad and so proud he is a part of America and made his message a part of the dialogue..it is up to us to keep it alive! Up to us! Up to us!
Tuesday, May 15, 2007
the passing of Jerry Falwell
So Jerry Falwell is dead. Such an empty end to all those years of hearing his steady voice of judgment pronounced against that which he deemed immoral. His death, unfortunate for those who loved him, is most unfortunate in that his passing was only a blip on the screen still riddled by those who prosper by the misuse of religion, and more specifically the Gospels of Christ; misinterpreting historical contexts for moral perimeters, assuaging blame for current events from ancient stories, and judging others by the faulty translations filtered by politics and human design.
Of this man and his message, he did have an impact on me. By being resolute in his beliefs, he caused me to think and to search hard in my soul to be sure about who I am. I wish for other generations that they would not have to come to know themselves by learning what they are not but rather being loved for who they are, but this was my path. As a result, I am closer to my maker and more sure of myself because of that inspection and introspection, and while it was hurtful and felt at times like hell itself, I am a better man because of it.
Now that he is dead, he can no longer hurt me or others, and I am glad he will now know the truth I have known for some time. He will know that unconditional wonder that is our maker. He will know the peace and salvation that is open to and for us all. I wish that he had known that here on earth and that he could have shared it rather than all the harm he caused.
Pax Vobiscum Jerry Falwell. Pax Vobiscum.
Of this man and his message, he did have an impact on me. By being resolute in his beliefs, he caused me to think and to search hard in my soul to be sure about who I am. I wish for other generations that they would not have to come to know themselves by learning what they are not but rather being loved for who they are, but this was my path. As a result, I am closer to my maker and more sure of myself because of that inspection and introspection, and while it was hurtful and felt at times like hell itself, I am a better man because of it.
Now that he is dead, he can no longer hurt me or others, and I am glad he will now know the truth I have known for some time. He will know that unconditional wonder that is our maker. He will know the peace and salvation that is open to and for us all. I wish that he had known that here on earth and that he could have shared it rather than all the harm he caused.
Pax Vobiscum Jerry Falwell. Pax Vobiscum.
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