Knightchatter

12 things I couldn't live without

2010-07-20T20:33:00.001-07:00

I came across a list that Ralph Lauren did of the 12 things he couldn't live without.. I got me thinking.. While an Aston Martin won't be on my list I was surprised by what was. The only rule I applied was that Family, Friends and Steve where not allowed.. this forcing me to think a wee bit more!

Here we go!

1. Living close to water. A lake. An ocean. A river. A marsh. Even a pond! I get spinney without water near by.

2. A really good hair stylist, currently Roxi and I can't see that changing unless one of us moves. Good hair can change everything: TRUTH.

3. Cowboy boots. I think they keep me in touch with a younger piece of of my soul, that little piece of me that still believes beyond the shadow of a doubt I will one day own a horse.

4. Jack Johnson, Broadway and really good pop music. Basically music that I can sing along to REALLY loud.

5. My china. It may have come from a marriage that has long since disintegrated but I really love it. We eat off it every day and it makes me feel good. It's Design Naif from Villeroy-Boch.

6. An escape plan. That's not as sinister as it sounds! The moment I had a car a learned what freedom was, that has never left me. No matter where I am or what I am doing in the back of my mind I know where the escape hatch is and have a plan in case it needs to be used by myself and those I love.

7. The red chair. It sits in the corner of our livingroom and celebrates style, sophistication and a funky spirit.

8. Great pair of jeans. Need I say more? (I am also going to add a great jacket, purse, bathing suit, interview and night out outfit.)

9. Warm summer nights. Truly a gift.

10. Harvest table. A family heirlom that my Mom passed along to me over 10 years ago. She had it redone when I was a teen and it has 4 fabulous pressback chairs. With every style evolution I have had threw various homes it has always "worked" I love it.

11. Animal Friends. Dogs, marrmots, cats, horses, a walrus! Relationships with different species brings growth, responsibility and generosity of spirit!

12. An opportunity to make a difference.

OK.. let's see your list! You don't have to do 12.. but I want to know, what can you NOT live without!

Review: Joseph and The Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat

2010-07-19T14:05:00.000-07:00

Any dream will do..

As a believer in dreams this sentiment has always agreed with me. Enough that it chokes me up a bit when ever I hear the opening to “Joseph and The Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat” because I know what is to come.

Tears? Joseph? What? I know, I don’t get it either. Really Joseph is an energetic romp to tell a biblically story to children with song, bright colours and laughter.

Sure .. a few sad parts.. but tears?

Something about the pure joy that seems to be infused into every part of this show just make the waterworks want to turn on!

I am happy to report I managed to keep a grip on it, mostly for my friend Erin who was at the show with me, if It had been my husband Steve, I might have a different story to tell.

If you can still get tickets for the run of this show I encourage you to do so!

Randy Leslie (Artisic Director & Producer) announced at the beginning of the show that it was 92% sold out! (UPDATE: Only matinee tickets left!!)

Kelowna Actors Studio has tackled Joe before ~ 6 years ago and managed to reunited some of the performers from that run into this one.. Heidi Hewitt returned as the narrator and blew my socks off! I haven’t had the pleasure of seeing her perform before and I hope that I get the opportunity again! Nate Flavel reprised his role as Joesph. Seriously I think I am developing a crush on this guy because he never fails me. Sometimes performers seem the same in every role they play. Not Nate. He is more than a great voice, he can act. (Ok I also think he looks pretty good in this role as well ~ good grief spending most of the time on stage wrapped in nothing but a mini skirt must be intimidating!) Chad Abrahamson returns as the Pharaoh/Simeon. Chad rocked. Elvis impersonators I usually find boring and it’s my least favourite number in the shows I have seen past. Well, not anymore! Well done! Bob Heyworth is back as Jacob/Potiphar and Darren Scuffi as Reuban two more performers that stood out! The last returnee was Cassidy Janzen who was once in the kids ensemble and now as one of Jacob’s wives.. which I am sure caused an explosion of more than a few age spots for some of the former cast!

I would be remiss if I didn’t add two sparkling cows up to the multi talented Norene Morrow! The props on this show were OUTSTANDING!

Really for me.. not a weak moment in the show. (OK. Hump Phrey the camel did almost fall over but I think that was just opening night jitters!) I was carried on a journey that made me want to stand up and sing along ~ Thank your lucky stars that didn’t happen and I left it to an outstandingly talented cast!

This video ISN'T Kelowna Actors Studio! As soon as they have theirs done I promise to post it!

Show Times
Thursday - Sunday evenings:
Dinner - Doors open 6:20 p.m.
Dessert only: Doors open 7:30 p.m.
Show begins: 8 p.m.

Saturday matinee:
Doors open 12:30 p.m.
Show begins: 1:00 p.m.

Single Ticket Pricing
Dinner, Dessert & Theatre Tickets
Thursday, Friday, & Saturday Evenings
$66 Adult
$58 Student/Senior
Sunday Evenings
$62 Adult
$54 Student/Senior

Dessert & Theatre Tickets
Thursday, Friday, & Saturday Evenings
$42 Adult | $36 Student/Senior
Saturday Matinee & Sunday Evenings
$38 Adult | $32 Student/Seniors

www.kelownaactorsstudio.com for more info!

Guest blogger!! A great post from Suzi at Natures Fare!

2010-07-11T21:30:00.000-07:00

We don’t think there is anything better than Okanagan summers. Scorching hot days on the lake and at the beach melt away into evening BBQs with friends and nights playing golf until the sun goes down. I’ve been taking my PGX religiously for the past year knowing that over the next few months it will be too hot most days to wear anything but my bathing suit, and slowly but surely it is helping me to reach my weight loss goals. I’ve managed to lose three more pounds this past month and am looking forward to taking advantage of all the beautiful beaches and outdoor activities the Okanagan has to offer.

Summer presents its own unique set of challenges for healthy eating. The farmer’s markets and shelves at Nature’s Fare are already bursting with local, organic produce in all colours of the rainbow, which makes this season the best time to start incorporating more whole foods into our diets. However, it is also the season when it is all too easy to rely on quick, processed, and packaged foods for a day at the lake or on the boat. The convenience of these foods comes at a high cost. Processed foods are designed to have long shelf lives, and as a result, are often full of artificial ingredients such as MSG, preservatives, hydrogenated oils, genetically modified organisms, and artificial sweeteners. To top it off, they can be very high in calories and the wrong kinds of fats while offering almost nothing in terms of nutrition. On the other hand, whole foods like organic vegetables, fruits, and whole grains are full of micronutrient vitamins, minerals, antioxidants, and fibre. And as we know, fibre keeps us feeling full for longer, making it easier to resist cravings and stick to our healthy eating plans. Instead of grabbing for candy or a chocolate bar, consider a locally grown organic peach or nectarine to satisfy your sweet tooth. Replace your white bread with sprouted grain bread and your white rice with brown rice or quinoa, a Peruvian superfood packed with protein. Try some raw almonds or spicy kale chips instead of potato chips when you’re feeling the need for something crunchy or salty. Here is one of my favourite summer recipes – make a double batch so that you have enough for dinner tonight and enough leftovers for the beach tomorrow.

Grilled Organic Vegetable Whole Grain Pasta Salad (adapted from epicurious.com)

½ cup organic Italian parsley

½ cup organic fresh basil

1 large organic garlic clove

1.5 tbsp organic red wine vinegar

1.5 tbsp organic balsamic vinegar

½ cup organic extra virgin olive oil + 2 tbsp extra for grilling

2 large organic ears of corn, husked

2 large organic zucchini, cut in half lengthwise

1 large organic red bell pepper, cut into small chunks

1 large organic red onion, cut into three large rounds

1 pint organic cherry tomatoes, cut in halves

½ cup organic kalamata olives (or more, depending on preference)

½ cup organic feta or goat cheese, crumbled

¾ pound organic whole grain fusilli pasta (I like to use spelt or Ezekiel pasta for this recipe)

Directions:

Make vinaigrette by blending parsley, basil, both vinegars, garlic, and olive oil together using a blender or food processor. Season with sea salt and vinegar to taste.

Cook pasta according to package directions. Rinse under cold water and place in a large bowl. Toss with 2 tbsp of the vinaigrette.

Light barbeque and set to medium heat. Brush zucchini, corncobs, and onion with olive oil and sprinkle with sea salt and pepper. Grill until cooked through, turning often, about 10-12 minutes. When cool, cut kernels from corncobs and cut zucchini and onion into small chunks about the same size as the red pepper. Add grilled vegetables to pasta along with the red peppers, kalamata olives, and cherry tomatoes. Toss with vinaigrette and crumbled feta cheese. This salad tastes best at room temperature.

Thanks and hope to see you soon!!

Exciting Adventures Ahead!

2010-06-23T06:43:00.000-07:00

So.. It's been awhile since I have posted! Over the next couple of months I will be posting off and on.. but some exciting things are coming down the pipe! Super cool developments and even a new webpage that will go hand in hand with new adventures! Stick with me.. it's going to be cool!

Review! The Miracle Worker

2010-05-25T15:01:00.000-07:00

It’s review time again!

Show: The Miracle Worker
Where: Kelowna Actors Sudio
When: On till June13th.

Tickets:
Dinner, Dessert & Theatre ($51 - $69)
Dessert & Theatre ($36 - $45)
Saturday Matinee & Sunday Evenings ($32 - $41)
www.kelownaactorsstudio.com

The Miracle Worker is called an “American Theatre Classic” for a reason.

It is!

The story of Helen Keller and her teacher Annie Sullivan has been told on TV in the movies, in books, in classrooms and of course on the stage! It is such an inspirational and wonderful true story about determination and transformation about love and about honesty.

Most people know the story of Helen, we know about her struggle to learn sign and that a teacher who never gave up opened a whole new world to this girl, and in turn the world was gifted by her wondrous mind.

I was nervous going to see The Miracle Worker. While my faith in the ability of the cast and crew at Kelowna Actors Studio has rarely been given a reason to be shaken, I was apprehensive of how the story was going to be approached. Helen is important to me, as a child with serious learning disabilities I understand the moment when language becomes more than just a struggle, when language opens a new world, and I didn’t want to see such a victory in anyway tarnished.

Helen truly is a hero to me.

I didn’t have to worry. Both Patricia Burns who plays Annie Sullivan and Emma Magirescu who plays Helen are outstanding. I was captivated by the ultimate student teacher story once again. Another role that I truly enjoyed was Kate Keller played by Dorthy Dalba, her warmth and struggle to find the balance with both her daughter and step son was palatable and rang so true. When these 3 ladies were on stage together I forgot I was sitting in an audience and truly felt like I was part of the fabric of the play. (Until the lady sitting next to us passed wind.. but that’s another story.) Also kudus to Martha played by Brianna Lange, her timing was wonderful and was key to more than one “laugh out loud” moment. Casey Kneller rounded out the ladies in the cast with the part of Aunt Ev and did a wonderful job not getting lost in the light that was being cast by the others.

The ladies of this cast ruled the roust, with the fella’s falling a little flat. I was brought back to my seat more than once when the attention was turned from the energy of Helen and Annie. My attention was also turned by the “haunting” of Annie by her past and the sad story of her brother who she couldn’t save. When those moments came I wanted to grab my remote that has the “skip ahead” feature so I could get back to the good stuff!

The good stuff in Kelowna Actors Studio presentation of “The Miracle Worker” was very very good. I would encourage anyone to go and see it! It was lovely to look around the theatre before the lights went down and see all families that were in attendance, which is exactly what should happen with an “American Theatre Classic”

Congratulations once again Randy Leslie, and Nathan Flavel for another job well done.. and an extra congrats to Randy for adding to his resume the 2009 City of Kelowna Civic Award for Honour in the Arts!

Ever wonder what it would be like to be on the radio? Guest blogger!

2010-05-05T15:45:00.000-07:00

Hi, my name is Eric and I was morning show co-host for 2 hours.

Yesterday morning I had the extreme pleasure of sitting in the SUN FM studio and co-hosting the Breakfast Club with Susan Knight. I will never be the same. I, like so many people, completely take for granted my car radio. I do not have satellite radio in my car – possibly because Susan would kill me and make it look like and accident – but mostly because I have that opinion of why would I pay for something I can get for free. FM radio comes standard on a car (at least it does now. I had an AM jam in my car all through high school and was somehow able to survive that and become the man I am today) and all I have to do is start my car and it comes on automatically. In fact, it picks up right where I left off when I turned it off last – I don’t even have to touch that dial. Volume is even in the same place – at least it is supposed to be. Somehow it is always WAY louder when I turn the car on than I remember it being when I turned it off…

Anyway, I was that spoiled listener who simply assumed that my morning show would always be there for me when I took my daughter to school and drove to work – it has to be. It’s easy! I even through that being a DJ was the coolest job in the world for 2 very important reasons: 1) everyone knows you and loves you – you are on radio for goodness sake, and 2) because it is the easiest job in the world. When I was a kid it might have been hard cause they had to actually spin records – although my record player at home could hold like five or six 45s at a time and drop them one at a time, and I could do that when I was 7, so really how hard could it be? BUT NOW!!!! They have CD’s and MP3’s and itunes and all kinds of stuff. Computers can run it all!! DJ’s just have to push some buttons and be loved by everyone.

Turns out I might have been a smidge off base – which is surprising since my wife will tell that I am never wrong. I walked into that studio like a kid in a candy store and then sat wide eyed as I realized that Susan was watching 4 computer monitors on her right that showed her EVERYTHING that was going on currently and would happen during the course of the show. THEN, she had a fifth monitor on her left. She had a control panel in front of her that had more buttons than my grandmother’s sewing kit and more lights than my Christmas tree. Oh, and she was updating the station’s twitter feed and their Facebook page, as well as HER twitter feed and Facebook page. She was answering phones and while she talked to them she was simultaneously recording the call and then when she hung up she would edit the recording into a timed playback so she could incorporate that into the show. She was talking with me, both on air and off, AND running a live auction of a sweet little cooking class for 4 with wine pairings from RauDZ Regional Table with proceeds going to Kelowna’s Gospel Mission. That item when for a tidy $950 dollars by the way – which translates into over 450 meals being provided by the Mission to those in need in Kelowna.

She did all this on one cup of coffee at the proverbial butt crack of dawn too. Oh, and there was math involved all morning…I was under the impression that there would be no math.

To be honest, I may never listen to the radio the same way again. From now on I will turn my radio off as I get out of the car. I will do this so that in the mornings, I can get into my car, put my seatbelt on, start the car, and then – with the appropriate amount of reverence – turn my radio on and be amazed at the incredible amount of work and talent that goes into making my face smile and my head bob on the way to work.

Susan, I can never thank you enough for what you do for Kelowna’s Gospel Mission and the people of Kelowna. Nor can I ever thank you enough for the privilege of being shown how very wrong I was…though you are pretty much universally loved – so I was right on that. 1 outta 2 ain’t bad. That’s shooting .500 and that will make the all-star team in any sport!

Warmly,

Eric Frans, CFRE

Resource Development Director

Kelowna’s Gospel Mission

250-870-8679

Singing and Roaring!

2010-05-04T17:52:00.000-07:00

So I found myself walking the dogs late this afternoon singing this... Loudly.

Outside of obvious reason why this would be scary/hilarious on so many different levels it caught me off guard because truth be told that last couple of days has just stunk.

I have been moody.

I have been grouchy.

I have been unmotivated.

I have been generally feeling pretty darn hopeless.

I have been bursting into tears at the drop of a hat.

Not things anyone enjoys!

Like you, when faced with the ugly face of unexplained crisis I do the same thing, plast a smile on my face a soldier on! Truly life hasn't been that bad, great supportive friends, great family, great job, new opportunities.

I have just been crotchety.

You have an emotion that sticks in the "craw' more than others I am sure, mine happens to be frustration. Nothing frustrates me more than frustration! When that knot in my knickers is going to take some time to loosen, like a wrinkle that the hottest iron just won't get out, I don't deal very well. Of course at this time it always feels like everyone is also rubbing your face in it, making money hand over fist, losing weight by blinking, achieving that promotion because "gosh darn" they just deserve it.

ERGH!

So what had me singing about a beautiful morning late this afternoon. Well, along with a sense of "ha" which allows me to see myself for the imbecile I can be, It was indeed a beautiful morning! Eric Frans from the Kelowna Gospel Mission joined me on The Breakfast Club (Dan's on holiday's) and we raised almost 2 grand for KGM in just under 2 hours.

That leaves you feeling pretty good.

Plus we did it while having fun and sharing in laughter. (Truly it takes a Texan to teach you and the rest of Kelowna how to pluralize y'all.) Well, y'all I also came across this quote:

Courage doesn't always roar. Sometimes courage is the quiet voice at the end of the day saying,I will try again tomorrow. (Mary Anne Radmacher)

My running has been a tough go, my weight loss is stubborn, and I still haven't done my taxes..

I will try again tomorrow and will keep trying till I roar.

How to put on a duvet cover -- the fun way!

2010-05-03T20:54:00.001-07:00

OK.. my blogging has been a bit slow as of late!

But we are back on the blogging wagon!! We will start easy.. after 3 rounds with my duvet and duvet cover I had to turn to the internet for this fine advice..

Run Susan run.. unless you were supposed to walk..

2010-04-19T12:49:00.000-07:00

The Fresh Air Experience Run Clinic is going well!

We are a week in and I can tell you it's an amazing bunch of ladies! I am amazed at the different types of people who are looking for the same goal which is to get moving and get healthier! Everyone is at a different stage in this journey but the common thread is that we are all lacing up our runners and heading out the door.

The first night was last Monday.. I of course was sick, feverish and generally not feeling so good.. but I went to the intro chat and declined the run. You know what it's like when you can literally feel the colour leave your face. Yup that was me..

My next run time was Wednesday.. my schedule said run 6K. WOW. Run 6K already? In my 5K clinic? Well I had faith in my leaders and I headed out.. it wasn't pretty and I was disappointed because I only ran 5K cutting off a 1K loop I had planned (side note: It is exactly 5K from the pergola on Sunset just past Waterscapes to the bridge and back) I managed to stumble in the door, the only thing on my mind was a BIG glass of water and weather or not I would be able to stand in the shower.

*ring* *ring*

Amazing. I am in the door all of 30 seconds and all ready my cell phone ringth. It was a text message from one of the run leaders Melissa.. reminding me of the 6K walk we had to do today!

Wait.. let me read that again... WALK!

Well crap.

Another message followed inviting me to join her and another run clinic member to go on a 6K walk on the greenway with our dogs.

What the heck.

Off I went!

Wednesday I managed to do 11K. I hope that makes up for Monday..

Saturday morning I joined the group for our 35 minutes.. 3 minutes running and 1 minute walking. yes I was at the back of the pack.

I am SO slow.

But I had one of those lovely paradigm shifts! You see, as the person at the back I take it upon myself to make sure the backpackers are aware of when we should be running and walking and to shout encouragement when it looks like someone is about to throw in the towel..and at the end of the run one voice rang out "Susan, I want you to be my coach all the time you're great!"

No longer did I feel like the snail at the back.. the last in the line.. the slowest of the slow. I felt like I was making a difference and slow foot after slow foot I still managed to help someone else have a better day and do more than they thought they could.

What a truly wonderful feeling.

Once I could breathe again.

Review! Sweeney Todd; The Demon Barber of Fleet Street

2010-04-09T19:17:00.000-07:00

I have written and rewritten this review numerous times. Why? I think it’s because I am trying to write a review the way I think it’s “supposed” to be done. Since when do I do things the way they are “supposed” to be done. What was I thinking?!?

New approach.. Basically I am going to write, what I would tell you if you asked in general conversation.

Here goes:

You: So Susan, what did you think of Sweeney Todd The Demon Barber of Fleet Street?

Me: It was great!

You: Do you think I should check it out?

Me: Totally!

You: What is it about?

Me: You never saw the movie?

You: No.

Me: Ok. Basic story... wait.. if I tell you the basic story that would be a bit of a spoiler. Hmm.. It’s a story that takes place in London a long time ago, a guy gets set away and comes back really cranky, but he retakes up his profession as a barber, mostly to get revenge on the judge that sent him away and stole his girl. Things get a bit strange..

You: and..

Me: It was really fabulous.. dark.. but oddly funny.

You: Funny?

Me: Yup funny. You have to see it to understand. Do you like meat pies?

You: Yeah.. why?

me: You might not when it’s done..

You: What?

Me: Nevermind.. the singing is great.. You will really like the two leads! Neville Bowman was stellar as Sweeney and Kelly Whelan as Nellie Lovett was outstanding, fun, dark, zany and totally believable. I also really liked Darren Scuffi as the judges “henchman”, and Mark Wells as Pirelli!

You: You know if we were “really” having this conversation you would never remember everyone's names..

Me: Whatever. I have to say the person who really left an impression was Twyla Spittle who played the role of Tobias. I am sure that girl is going to have nightmares for the rest of her life.. she managed; funny, torture and endearment all in one role and did it all exceptionally well!

You: Nightmares?

Me: Just go see it. Oh! As always the sets were OUTSTANDING! I think the sets are always a good sign of the level of performance you are about to see and Kelowna Actors Studio always hits it out of the park! This set was multi leveled and spun around as locations changed.. kudus to Nate Flavel! The concept worked really well. I should also give a shout out to Sonja Janzen who did the costumes, perhaps some of the best I have seen at a KAS performance. (Special mention to Valeh’s leather boustier)

You: Leather?

Me: It’s hot... a la 1800’s British whore.

You: Sounds interesting..

Me: Basically you should most defiantly go and see it, it’s not for kids and it’s certainly not Oklahoma but entertaining through and through. I have seen a lot of shows at KAS and Sweeney Todd, The Demon Barber of Fleet Street is the best “overall” show I have seen, all the pieces went together from sets to costumes to principles to ensemble to lights to props to produce a fabulous evening of entertainment. Outside of one scene, the show held me all the way through which isn’t easy considering I get up so early in the morning!

You: So you have nothing bad to say?

Me: The only draw back for me, is that because the cast and ensemble is so strong when there is a weakness it stands out but those moments are brief and the strength of everything else makes those moments diminish quickly.

You: You went with Steve, what did he think?

Me: Steve.. what did you think?

Steve: The chemistry between Sweeney and Mrs Lovett was amazing, I really liked the story and the dessert was yummy.

Me: Thank you Steve!

You: I have a hunch there might be some deeper theme’s to this production...

Me: Of course, but the great thing is you can look deeper or not and either way you will have a wonderful evening.

You: Have you forgotten anything?

Me: Of course I have, but I can’t forget to salute Director/Producer Randy Leslie, Executive Director Nathan Flavel and Music Director Roslyn Frantz. Well done! Your continued passion brings such wonderful entertainment to Kelowna, I truly appreciate it!

You: So you liked it eh?

Me: Yes!

You: You know I’m just you right? No one else is really here?

Me: Of course I do... Wanna go get some dinner?

You: Sure.. meat pies?

Kelowna Actors Studio is a dinner theatre and dinner was very good.
It was a buffet that consisted of;

Shepard's Pie, Chicken, Sweet Potato, Bow Tie Salad, Spinach Salad, Mixed Greens and dessert at intermission was a cheese cakey kinda chocolate raspberry thing which as Steve pointed out was yummy.

Who: Kelowna Actors Studio
What: Sweeney Todd The Demon Barber of Fleet Street
When: April 1st - April 25 (Thursday - Sunday evenings / Saturday Matinee)
Contact info: www.kelownaactorsstudio.com

Ladies and gentlemen ~ Dr. Liz Easterling!

2010-04-06T13:38:00.000-07:00

Another member of "Team Susan!" (BTW: How is your team building going?) Dr. Liz will explain what this "Frozen Shoulder" I am always referring to is all about. If you suddenly recognize the symptoms as something you or someone you know is dealing with, please pay a visit to Creative Healing!

Adhesive Capsulitis- Frozen Shoulder

When I first started seeing Susan in spring of 2009, she had been suffering with a hugely annoying and painful shoulder problem for several months already. She had been seeing Kyla Feddersen, our fabulous massage therapist for a few weeks and figured she should try some Chiropractic treatment in addition, Susan had been planning a triathlon summer/fall of 2009 but swimming had become too painful. In fact, even getting a swimsuit on due to the pain was an ordeal, let alone to actually swim!

Upon examination I immediately recognized her shoulder condition as Adhesive Capsulitis - or Frozen Shoulder. As the name implies, the shoulder is usually painful for several weeks or months, and then gradually begins to stiffen, the range of motion is lost and the shoulder quite literally “freezes up”. Anybody who has suffered with Frozen shoulder can attest to the difficulties it can present in everyday life. Drying your hair, doing a bra-strap, reaching for a seatbelt and putting on a jacket can suddenly become a challenge. Also, the pain is often worse at night, so sleeping can likely become a nightmare!

The causes of Frozen Shoulder are thought to include trauma, tumours, radiation treatment and even mental or emotional stress. The term “Idiopathic” is commonly used related to the cause of Frozen Shoulder, a big medical term that means “unknown”! Typically Frozen Shoulders can take between six months to two years or more to resolve, depending on age, severity, the presence of arthritis etc.

It’s a little controversial as to what the best treatment is for Frozen Shoulder, but it is generally agreed that a combination of manipulation, mobilization and exercises seem to work best in terms of results. More aggressive treatment options are injections into the shoulder capsule and surgery. These treatments so carry a higher risk of side-effects or adverse reactions and should be considered after trying a more conservative approach first.

Susan, being Susan and very committed, dedicated and tenacious (aka stubborn!) decided upon the no quick-fix option of conservative care first.

And so the weeks and months of hard work begun, and with it the ups and downs both physically and emotionally. We mobilized and manipulated, stretched and rotated, pulled and pushed, and slowly but surely Susan’s right arm inched it’s way up again. There were certainly days that she needed more than just a little encouragement, but Kudos to Susan, she stuck with it and the sweat equity paid off!

A big turning point was in January 2010 when Susan started working with a personal trainer at Twist Kelowna, and really stepped up her training schedule. All of a sudden there was weekly progress, and although Susan’s shoulder still remains sore, her range of motions is up around 80%. She is now swimming, (a little lopsided perhaps) and she has resumed straightening her hair, after months of the “au natural look!”

Today, about a year later, Susan is finally thinking about her next triathlon. There is, as the expression goes, light at the end of the tunnel!

For more info you can visit Creative Healing’s website at www.creativehealing.ca or call us at 250-868-2010.

Happy Happy Happy!

2010-04-04T18:16:00.000-07:00

While working on prep for tomorrows show I came across this article and thought I would share, seems like a great read to start the week!

FIVE WAYS TO MAKE YOURSELF REALLY HAPPY

While some believe happiness is largely determined by a combination of genetics, health and other factors that are largely out of our control, researchers from the University of California, Riverside, have figured out five ways we can take charge of our own happiness -- and in the process actually boost it.

Be grateful -- How to do it: Write a letter of gratitude to someone who has helped you in some way. This can lead to a lasting increase in happiness over weeks or even months. You don't even need to send the letter to reap the reward. Just writing it can make you feel better.
Be optimistic -- How to do it: Visualize your ideal future, whatever that may be. Perhaps you long to find a loving partner or secure a fulfilling and challenging job. Imagine all the details and write them in a journal.
Count your blessings -- How to do it: Every week, write down three good things that have happened to you. By focusing on the positive, you'll remember reasons to be happy.
Use your strengths -- How to do it: Identify your greatest personal strengths and then try to use them in new ways.
Commit acts of kindness -- How to do it: Donate your time or money to a charity and you'll not only help others, but also yourself. People who give to others report a boost in their own happiness.

I'm going to add a number 6.. I find watching this video, or listening to the song also always seems to pick up my spirits. It's one of those tracks that should drive me nuts.. but it doesn't!

The week ahead...

2010-04-02T21:00:00.001-07:00

I'm working on a plan to make sure the blog stays up to date! Deadlines can really help. If you notice I am falling behind feel free to drop me a line and deliver a kick to the butt!

Post this week will include:

A review of the latest show at Kelowna Actors Studio "Sweeny Todd"

Why it's time to stop "connecting" the dots and become the dot!

Meet Dr. Liz! My chiropractor will explain what frozen shoulder is all about and my journey through it.

How and why to keep an emotional scratch pad.

Why haven't I posted any of these blogs today? Because I spent the afternoon finishing the book; "The Glass Castle" by Jeannette Walls.

What a wonderful read!

The author shares a story about poverty, growth, love, family and abuse which will engulf you until the last page. For me one of the most powerful chapters comes late in the book when Jeannette is confronted by a professor who asks her what she really knows about the life of the underprivileged? The truth, that she didn't share, was that she knew more than probably anyone else sitting on that class. It reminded me that everyone has a story and we spend far too much time making judgments on people, people begging on the streets, people getting plastic surgery, people wearing the wrong clothes. We all pass judgements and we so rarely know all facts. We build ourselves up by putting others down. It's a hard habit to break, it's one I struggle with everyday. "The Glass Castle" offers many lessons and much insight but for me it was a reminder that the person that asks you for change or the one you see digging through the garbage has a story, and that story might be far different than you can imagine. I will continue to fight against my preconceived notions that lead to judgments of others, be it superstars or the local homeless, please join in me the struggle.

Putting forth a positive energy like this on mass will truly make a difference that will be felt around the world.

Team Susan! Meet Suzi from Natures Fare :)

2010-03-30T17:36:00.000-07:00

“I nearly fell off my chair laughing reading about Susan’s “brass-band” gym experience caused by her new high-fibre diet. For all of us who have added more fruits, vegetables (especially those cruciferous veggies like broccoli, cauliflower, cabbage, and onions), beans, and other legumes to our weight-loss diets, an experience similar to Susan’s is almost a certainty while our bodies are adjusting to the increased fibre. Fibre, the indigestible component of plant foods, is particularly important for those wanting to lose weight as foods that are high in fibre take longer to eat and make us feel fuller, thereby decreasing the actual volume of food we need to eat at each meal. They can be more difficult to digest, however, which can lead to bloating and gas while our systems adjust. Don’t worry – your system will learn to love the fibre you’re giving it, and any symptoms that have the potential for embarrassment in social situations can be helped by taking digestive enzymes. A diet rich in fibre has also been attributed to a reduced risk of stroke and cardiovascular disease, lowered cholesterol levels, and prevention of certain cancers, so it’s really a no-brainer to up your daily fibre intake regardless of whether or not you’re looking to lose weight.

Even if I’m not in the same aisle as Susan, I always know when she’s in the store when I hear her laugh. Susan’s got one of those distinct, memorable laughs and I always look forward to it whenever she comes in to discuss health with me at Nature’s Fare. As you may have read in her blog, Susan is currently taking Slimstyles for breakfast every day. Slimstyles is a meal-replacement product that contains a new and unique form of soluble fibre called “PGX”. This completely natural, plant-based fibre was developed at the Canadian Centre for Functional Medicine in Vancouver specifically for the purpose of regulating insulin levels, reducing appetite, and for promoting weight loss. The clinical trials they’ve conducted have been a resounding success, with all trial participants experiencing up to 10kg of weight loss in a three month time period. Susan’s taking the Vanilla Slimstyles but it’s available in a variety of different flavours or even in a capsule form if, like me, you’re just not that into smoothies for breakfast. I’ve been back on PGX for two weeks and can already feel a difference. No matter if you decide to try this new fibre product or not, and no matter if you’re trying to lose weight or not, make sure that you’re including a wide variety of colourful organic fruits and veggies in your diet every day to make sure you’re getting enough fibre for optimal health.

Suzi Oberkirsch

Store Manager/Vitamin Manager

Nature's Fare Markets

4624 Lakeshore Road

Kelowna, BC

V1W 1X4

(250) 764-9010

Want to do a class at Twist with me next week? It's FREE!

2010-03-28T12:05:00.000-07:00

Next week at The Next Level Twist Kelowna we are offering all of our classes for FREE. Please come down and check out what we do and how our unique approach to training can benefit you! Spin, youth conditioning, adult functional fitness, golf performance training and outdoor conditioning classes will all be offered. All you need to do is call us up at 778-753-5545 and sign up or stop by and check out our facility. Our schedule is on www.twistkelowna.com as well so we hope to see you out there and you can try for yourself what Susan has been experiencing for the past few months. I am sure if you ask her she will be more than willing to share her experiences with you. The summer is almost here so let us help you get ready for it.

The Next Level Twist Conditioning Centre offers a wide variety of training service options to meet your needs. Whether you enjoy training on your own, with a large or small group, friend or teammate, staff members or maybe you`re not sure what you prefer, we have the program for you. For more information on each service please check out our website at www.twistkelowna.com or please give us a call at 778-753-5545.

Experience the Twist difference and let us help you reach your sport and lifestyle goals!

Kaalun Chatham, TSCC-BRONZE | Sport Conditioning Coach

| The Next Level Athlete Development and Twist Sport Conditioning Centre

| tel: 778-753-5595 |Kaalun@twistkelowna.com |www.twistkelowna.com|www.thenextlevelathlete.ca

This will put you in the right frame of mind to start a new week!

2010-03-21T17:15:00.000-07:00

It will take 16:23 of your time but what a wonderful way to start your week!! I had tears running down my face as it finished.. I'm not sure if it was because of the message or because someone said it reminded them of me! What a compliment!

Rox the owner of Roxi's Salon sent me this.. She is a member of Team Susan for more reason's than just making sure I have amazing hair!

Keep the ball rolling..

2010-03-15T17:42:00.002-07:00

It's one thing to get motivated, it's another to STAY motivated! I came across a link for @picsiechick on twitter to a "coach" blog CLICK HERE On that blog was a list of 10 ways to stay motivated.. all of which rang pretty true!

Condition your mind. Train yourself to think positive thoughts.
Condition your body. It takes physical energy to take action.
Avoid negative people. Don’t take anything that they say seriously.
Always remain flexible. No plan should be cast in concrete.
Act with a higher purpose. If it doesn’t serve your goal, it’s wasted effort.
Take responsibility for your own results. Don’t credit luck, good or bad.
Stretch past your limits on a daily basis. That’s how you grow and evolve.
Don’t wait for perfection; do it now! Perfection’s the enemy of good enough.
Be careful of what you eat. It takes physical energy to succeed.
Hang around motivated people. The positive energy will rub off on you.

I'm going to add one more to the list, it's always more fun to go to 11! Sorry sometimes you just can't help but to go for the Spinal Tap reference! My additional might seem a touch odd...

Organize one thing every day. Your pen cup at work, your utensil drawer in the kitchen your bedroom closet or sock drawer. Thus everyday you accomplish something, and over time those accomplishments add up, and it feels pretty darn good.

Really it's like burping a baby...

2010-03-11T15:10:00.000-08:00

I debated if I was going to share this little story with you, but in light of my determination to have open and comfortable communication with you about day to day life, things that we can all relate to even if we don't always discuss it with civilized friends, I must. Chances are good if you haven't had this experience yet, it's coming. You will either do it yourself, or have to deal with someone who has..

Good luck with that.

Yesterday was a lovely day! I was running a titch behind so instead of my usual "SlimStyles" shake for breakfast I had the breakfast wrap at Starbucks (230 calories and yummy!) and a coffee. (Slightly burnt taste or not still better than the station dredge.) We had fun with the show, got my production work done and headed home to make sure I ate something before heading to "Twist" for my work out with Kaalun!

So instead of my "shake" for breakfast I had it for lunch! Seemed like a pretty good plan, the shake has a good mix of everything I need along with the PGX which really does help me feel full and seems to be doing a great job leveling off my blood sugar levels!

This is Kaalun!

I stole the picture from Kaalun's facebook because the smile reminds me of when he is pretending to sympathise with my pain in the gym just before he makes it a whole lot harder! Yesterday was a "core" work out day.

This is what I am thinking of between sweating and wondering how you can breath and keep your "abs" or "ab" in my case tight at the same time...

OK.. Let's leave that fantasy land and explain what happened..

So we are working on a Bosu ball doing something that is supposed to look like this:

Let's just say. I try. Yesterday I was trying hard.. Kaalin is counting and being encouraging and I am doing the best I can.. my tummy is gurgling a bit and I feel slight "discomfort" but don't really think anything of it and keep on going!

Kaalun is called away for a brief moment, and I keep on going.. That funny feeling seems to be returning.. OH NO. Light bulb time! My SlimStyles does have a nice warning, about the fiber, which can make you need to use the bathroom a bit more and make you a touch gaseous.

A TOUCH!

Between the ab work and the SlimStyles I can sense an eruption of unlady like proportions on the way! I look around the gym. Empty! Thank goodness.. no sign of Kaalun. Good! I just might have a little "toot."

Nope.

No little "toot" here, you might as well break out the entire brass section! I did my husband proud as I let go of a good old school fart! As a matter of fact, I am pretty sure it had enough force to move my shorts a little!

Thank goodness no one is in the gym and it is odorless. Wait.. Just as Kaalun is heading back in I realize that odorless it is NOT! While part of me (the inner 5 year old) wants to laugh and lay claim, the very adult Susan is HORRIFIED.

Operation "Stop Kaalun Now" swings into effect.. I leaped up and headed off to the other side of the gym to meet him as he came in.. weaving just in case the smell was following me (see I have learned something from my husband!) Kaalun is looking confused. Here is how I explain it;

Kaalun: Hey! Are you done those crunches!

Susan: ummmmmmmm.. no..

Kaalun: Well let's get..

Susan: Remember how I told you about the shake I had..

Kaalun: (Looking perplexed) Yes..

Susan: Do you know how to burp a baby?

Kaalun: (looking more perplexed) yes...

Susan; Did you ever stop to think that crunches are like burping a baby..

Kaalun: (Looking even more perplexed)

Susan: But for the other end.

Kaalun: (light bulb moment followed by look of mixed horrification and amusement) OK.. Let's work on this side of the gym and move on from crunches..

*sigh*

So my friends, if you have ever experienced this, have worried about experiencing this, or have wondered if the person next to you in the gym just experienced it.. it does happen. Sometimes we need to listen to the inner five year old and just lay claim. Yup.. that belonged to me and I'm leaving it here for you to enjoy... and leave the room with your head held high.. while people pass out around you.

Maybe one day if your lucky I will tell you what happened to me in a hot yoga class!

Who is on your team?

2010-03-10T04:59:00.001-08:00

Goooooo Team!

Everyone deserves a team..
I have said it before and I will say it again,
YOU.. deserve a team!

Team Susan has been around for a long time, it's members change but the core stays the same, sometimes it's specific people, sometimes occupations but I have had a team for a longtime. At first I wasn't aware of it, but shortly after my first husband left me it came to my attention that even with a complete melt down I came out the other side OK. Why I wondered? So many friends took years, some have never really recovered and moved on after a break up like I had. What made the difference. There was a couple of things that did, but the big part of my recovery was TEAM SUSAN! I had a support system in place. I was lucky enough to have wonderful friends and family, but most of those had lived far far away for many years so I was more or less on my own. Unbeknown to me, I had developed a team of people without even thinking about it.. so when disaster struck I barely had to think in order to find the help I needed. Of course the first step is always knowing to ask for help but that isn't what I am addressing here, what I am talking about is the team.

(I also have to mention my amazing sister that came out from Ontario to be by my side and my dear friend Karen you dropped her birthday plans to also get to where I was, and Mandy who was by my side the moment the news hit.)

Who is on your team?

Take some time and make a list. Can you put a name and number beside the following?

Banker
Accountant
Tailor/seamstress
Shoe repair (you never know when you have to fix a broken heel on your favorite shoes!)
Doctor (all types)
Spiritual guide
Mechanic
Handy-person
Taxi service
Cleaning service

Can you locate:
Bus Terminal
Hospital
Library
University / Colleges
SPCA
Drug Store
Hardware Store
Recreation Centre
Laundry mat

I also suggest having a list of immediate family and close friends at hand with mailing addresses and phone numbers. You can also recruit for your team! See someone at work that always has fabulous shoes, glasses, clothes or office supplies? Ask then where they shop! Notice someone always has a sense of calm around them or handles certain situations in a way you admire? Ask them how they do it! Growth is a wonderful thing.. but you usually need some help to do it.. so go out and find it!

On occasion you will hear from members of Team Susan! Kaalun from Twist has all ready been posting, I expect to hear from my chiropractor and RMT, the crew at Natures Faire and Roxi's Salon.. who knows what other voices might pop up! Links to Team Susan can also be found down the right hand side of my blog!

If you are searching for an answer to a question, please feel free to leave a comment and maybe a member of my team will be able to guide you to an answer and in turn become a member of your team!

GOOOOOO TEAM!

My trainer from Twist Kelowna talks balance!

2010-03-07T21:25:00.000-08:00

This week we are talking about balance. Balance is an important, yet disregarded part of training that should always be integrated into your training routine. Balancing requires concurrent processing of inputs from multiple senses, including: vision and perception of pressure, and proprioception, while the motor system simultaneously controls muscle actions. The senses must detect changes of body position with respect to the base, regardless of whether the body moves, or the base moves. Now I know that may not have made sense to all but let`s say that balance is a crucial part of everyday life and sport.

When Susan first came to us she definitely impressed me with her balance, but obviously there is always room for improvement and in saying that, she was also surprised of how many ways she could be challenged with her balance. With static ( standing still ) or dynamic ( while moving ) balance, both are involved in a day to day basis, we just take it for granted. Susan is now doing exercises on the BOSU or Balance Board that she did not think were possible when she first started, and if I can recall correctly she said ``I feel like I am in the cirque du soleil ``...among a few other things. I am very impressed with Susan`s attitude when she comes here as she is not scared to try new things and that`s what allows her to continuously improve towards her goals.

The Next Level Twist Conditioning Centre offers a wide variety of training service options to meet your needs. Whether you enjoy training on your own, with a large or small group, friend or teammate, staff members or maybe you`re not sure what you prefer, we have the program for you. For more information on each service please check out our website at www.twistkelowna.com or please give us a call at 778-753-5545.

Experience the Twist difference and let us help you reach your sport and lifestyle goals!

Kaalun Chatham, TSCC-BRONZE | Sport Conditioning Coach

| The Next Level Athlete Development and Twist Sport Conditioning Centre

| tel: 778-753-5595 |Kaalun@twistkelowna.com |www.twistkelowna.com|www.thenextlevelathlete.ca

It's a small world after all..

2010-03-02T20:44:00.000-08:00

Skype ROCKS!

I have lived far far away from my family for a long time. I LOVE my family and even over the distance my sister and I have grown closer over the years.

I have used Skype over the years, but technology has gotten to a point where it is now just so easy to use. Today I set my computer up and turned on the skype.. It was left on for over 5 hours, I talked to all the kids, listened to songs and homework being done, I gave my sister a tour of our condo and introduced her kids to our dogs. In one afternoon this close family has become closer. Auntie Susie and Uncle Steve now have present day faces, not the ones that hang on the fridge door, but faces with a home and loved dogs, a new teapot and can make funny faces, faces that blew kisses into the computer as they scampered up the stairs to bed.

I truly have a hard time understanding people that must stay close physically to their families. I don't begrudge anyone that choice, it's just not one I understand, especially in a day and age when technology offers so many ways to shorter than distance between good night kisses.

If you are thinking of taking a big step and leaving shared geography with your family, take a chance, take a deep breath and go... remember two things.

#1. You can always go home if you need to

#2. The world is truly getting smaller.

Just for fun.. here is an old school picture of my sister and I.. I'm behind the wheel.. years later I actually taught her how to drive standard in the mountains of Squamish. I have NEVER laughed so hard...

Things I learned this week...

2010-02-25T15:45:00.000-08:00

I must write down blog ideas because if I don't when I sit down to blog I will forget them.

Embrace a good idea. Skype ROCKS and is super easy.

I can do a LOT of lunges and somehow I am stronger with Kaalun in the room compared to when he leaves for just a second!

My sister and I share an odd health issue and have for a decade, but we didn't know each other had it. (We also have matching moles)

I have (in some aspects) grown into my potential and it feels good when someone recognizes it.

That I would rather cheer FOR my country than AGAINST another.

I LOVE being a radio announcer and can't wait to start our new contest! FUN FUN FUN!

Canadian Tire commercials can make me cry and GM commercials can make me laugh.. I think I need a shammy.. *sniff*

I really miss owning a boat even more than I thought I would.

That I love our wee little condo and can't wait till it's all set up the way I want!

One day i want to get paid to do narration work.

Growing out my bangs is about to become, once again, a failed attempt.

What did you learn this week? Please share!

Guest blog.. answers to what "Twist" is all about!

2010-02-23T15:26:00.000-08:00

Hello to all that check out and follow Susan’s Blog, my name is Kaalun and I am currently training Susan at The Next Level Twist Conditioning Centre. We are new to Kelowna but have been involved in the Fitness Industry for many years. Susan came to us with experiences from different trainers and facilities in the past, so she knew what she was getting herself into...to an extent. Here at Twist, our style of training is slightly unique when compared to most other places. Yes we more known as an Athletic Performance Center, but that is not only what we specialize in. We offer Functional Training on a 1 on 1 basis, small group session, and classes. We apply what we call our Linked Strength System with the intent of connecting your body from toe to finger tip with an end result of making your body work together, rather than against itself. We involve Balance, Dynamic Warm Up, Movement Mechanics (Agility), resistance straining, and flexibility all without the use of any machines.

With my Blogs I will be letting you know how Susan is coming along and progressing her way to her goals, and of course anything else that I may feel is relevant. Already in the time Susan has been with us she has made amazing progress and as she increases her consistency with training along with her running, swimming, and biking, good things will come.

Kaalun Chatham, TSCC-BRONZE | Sport Conditioning Coach

| The Next Level Athlete Development and Twist Sport Conditioning Centre

| tel: 778-753-5595 |Kaalun@twistkelowna.com |www.twistkelowna.com|www.thenextlevelathlete.ca

Swifter, Higher, Stronger!

2010-02-18T16:04:00.000-08:00

Olympics get me excited. I'm not a big stay at home and watch hockey, baseball or football kind of gal.. but I LOVE sports like skeleton, bobsled, snowboarding, skiing, biathlon. I also enjoy the lack of a "season." You know who wins at the end of the event, usually wintin a couple of days at the most. Admittedly I watch with my hands over my eyes as my heart pounds with the excitement of the event itself and the potential heart break for the competitors.

I have had the privilege of talking with, watching, and even calling a few elite athletes friends. Truthfully their minds work a bit differently when it comes to competition.. it's a huge part of what makes them able to compete at a world level.

I am proud of each and everyone within the boundaries of their chosen sport. I'm not always proud of their actions outside of that sport, but while they are giving 110% to bring home a Gold or a PB my pride is palatable.

I get mad at people who yell at hockey players and coaches at games, I think it shows a huge disrespect and always makes those people look pretty pathetic.. really you think you could do better? Go ahead. Don't use the excuse they make enough money to handle my disparaging comments, they didn't choose the salary, they choose the sport.

You can imagine how I felt when I saw this tweet.

"Womens downhill sums up my frustration. US steps up to adversity Canada shies away from potential greatness. Vonn v Brydon"

ARE YOU KIDDING ME?? How dare you assume you have an inkling of an idea what it means to "step up or shy away" when it comes to charging down a mountain side! Both women are class acts, both are phenomenal athletes and both gave the best they could in that moment.

My point here is how easy it is to get caught up in the negativity of competitive sport, and the Olympics is the last event we should do that for.

Yes the Olympic motto is: "Citius, Altius, Fortius." These three Latin words mean "Swifter, Higher, Stronger."

But more importantly is the Olympic creed:

"The most important thing in the Olympic Games is not to win but to take part, just as the most important thing in life is not the triumph but the struggle. The essential thing is not to have conquered but to have fought well."

The only person that can answer if the athlete lived up to the Olympic Creed is the athlete them self.

I will always choose to believe that they do.

... on a totally different note, for the crew working on the diet, check out this great web site to help with proper portions! CLICK HERE!

10 tips for 10 pounds

2010-02-11T06:58:00.001-08:00

I can't remember where this came from.. but I cut and pasted it awhile ago and thougyt it was a good read..

1. If you usually drink full sugar fizzy drinks...stop!
Lose more than two pounds in a month without trying (estimating about 10 cans per week). One can of fizzy drink has 150-170 calories and no nutrition. Have ice cold water or a can of diet fizzy drink if you like but limit the diet stuff to one can per day.

2. Go for a walk
Take a brisk 15-minute walk twice a day and there goes a pound in a month.

3. Change the crisps to popcorn
One serving of crisps has 60 more calories than air-popped popcorn, and ten times more fat grams. Just changing this snack will help you lose half a pound this month. Better yet, switch to baby carrots and lose another half pound, for a total of a full pound!

4. Down-size me!
Order a junior-sized burger instead of the regular, and a side salad too. The junior size is plenty for most people and is mighty satisfying on its own. The original has 700 calories, the junior only 400 (eliminate the mayonnaise on the junior, and you're really getting somewhere!). Save 390 calories on one burger and, if you eat out twice a week or more, you'll drop at least three quarters of a pound just by switching from a large size to a smaller one.

5. Get on your bike!
Instead of sitting for hours in front of the television, get on your exercise bike and pedal. Each time an ad break comes on, pedal! You'll burn about 200 calories. Do it at least five evenings per week during your favourite programme (take it you'll be pedalling about 20 minutes a day) and lose another pound!

6. Switch from sugary muesli to bran flakes
Add a small box of raisins to liven things up. Switch from full-fat to semi-skimmed milk and save 70 calories - which is another half pound - without trying!

7. Do you add butter to your bread?
Do you add mayo to your tuna? Do you drink full-fat milk? How about full-fat ice cream? Just switch products. Today's lower-fat butters are great. You don't need to sacrifice the taste of butter and you can avoid trans fat too. Buy a spread labelled 'no trans fats' and save about 75 calories per table spoon. Low-fat mayonnaise is still tasty and you'll never miss the extra calories you'll save. Lower fat ice cream is superb. Just switch to the lighter choices and lose close to two pounds a month.

8. It's getting nice out!
Instead of sitting in the car as you go through the wash, do it yourself by hand. Spend an hour each week this month, save yourself some money, and lose half a pound.

9. Eat grilled chicken instead of fried
Frying food means you're cooking in fat. It can't help but be higher in calories. Tasty griddled, baked or grilled chicken without the skin is the better choice and is a delicious saving equal to about 200 calories, or about half a pound a month.

10. Be careful with your coffee
Your morning coffee can undo all the good efforts of the day before! A mocha latte with syrup and whipped cream has all the hallmarks of a decadent dessert, and can add 420 calories before you have even eaten breakfast. Instead, have a cappuccino with skimmed milk and a sprinkle of cinnamon, and lose up to three pounds in a month...and save a lot of money.

Sometimes all you need on a Monday is a smile...

2010-02-08T18:40:00.000-08:00

Otters holding hands cute Loutre zoo
Uploaded by yokatai. - Watch funny animal videos.

Yup I did it..

2010-02-06T13:32:00.000-08:00

When I first started "blogging" again I said that I would stand on a scale the beginning of February. I did. It wasn't pretty. If you're curious I'm down 4 pounds since I stood on the scale at the beginning of the week!

Here is my scale theory.. I agree that life isn't all about the number, being fit and healthy is far more important. I think that applies when you are within 15 pounds of a healthy weight but when you have a larger loss in the plans it is important to keep track of your progress.. what is working what isn't and it also helps you learn about the ebbs and flows of your body and knowledge does seem to be the key for long term success!

Phenomanal Friday!

2010-02-05T08:44:00.000-08:00

Academics were really tough for me when I was a kid. One thing I was good at was speeches and poetry reading.. my version of Garbage Delight by Dennis Lee was an award winner! I had so much trouble with tests that I would use every trick in the book to survive, often it felt like the information was in my brain, but it just wouldn't come out! My Mom taught me a trick. I would sit down to write the test, clear my mind and recite a poem that I knew off by heart in my mind thus reminding myself that I could remember information! It was a way to open the door to my mind and let the knowledge out when I needed it! I would like to report that this brought me great success in tests.. not really but it has become a useful tool when feeling unsure of myself when tackling a task. To this day I recite the first poem I ever memorized in my head if I feel myself starting to panic..

The Swing

How do you like to go up in a swing, Up in the air so blue?
Oh, I do think it the pleasantest thing Ever a child can do!
Up in the air and over the wall, Till I can see so wide,
River and trees and cattle and all Over the countryside -- Till I look down on the garden green, Down on the roof so brown-- Up in the air I go flying again,
Up in the air and down!

Robert Louis Stevenson

Dear Tread Mill..

2010-02-03T20:13:00.000-08:00

Dear Tread Mill...

I know it has been to long since we have spent any quality time together, but truthfully it's hard to be around you these days. It's been hard to be around you for the last year.

It started innocently enough an injury prevent me from visiting. I still thought of you, even missed you on occasion, but as time passed you drifted into the back of my mind representing another time, another place, another me.

But you have never left. Just the other day I found myself at your door, ready to go in and get reacquainted but I just couldn't go through the door. I saw you in the corner hanging with your friends looking all proud and representing a time that seems so very very long ago. I didn't even reach for the handle, I just turned and left.

Tread Mill, I want you to know that I think of you every day, your call is getting louder and more insistent. I warn you that when we meet up again you may be disappointed and embarrassed to see what I have become. Please be kind, and be patient as we begin our journey again.

The good news, because we have traveled together before we can avoid past mistakes and move faster down the road to health and well being.

I know, I just need to go stop by and say hello.. maybe we can go for a walk together.

Love, Susan xx

OK Go - Here It Goes Again from OK Go on Vimeo.

It was the best of times...

2010-02-02T21:22:00.000-08:00

"It was the best of times, it was the worst of times"

It's one of those quotes that just makes so much sense.. but for the life of me I couldn't remember who wrote it and where it was from!

LOVE wikipedia! Here is the info"

A Tale of Two Cities (1859) is a novel by Charles Dickens, set in London and Paris before and during the French Revolution. With 200 million copies sold, it is the most printed original English book, and among the most famous works of fiction.^[1]

It depicts the plight of the French peasantry under the demoralization of the French aristocracy in the years leading up to the revolution, the corresponding brutality demonstrated by the revolutionaries toward the former aristocrats in the early years of the revolution, and a number of unflattering social parallels with life in London during the same time period. It follows the lives of several protagonists through these events, most notably Charles Darnay, a French once-aristocrat who falls victim to the indiscriminate wrath of the revolution despite his virtuous nature, and Sydney Carton, a dissipated British barrister who endeavours to redeem his ill-spent life out of love for Darnay's wife, Lucie Manette.

The novel was published in weekly installments (not monthly, as with most of his other novels). The first installment ran in the first issue of Dickens' literary periodical All the Year Round appearing on 30 April 1859; the thirty-first and final ran on 25 November of the same year.

But here is my point.. life really is both all the time.. we just have to choose which side we are dealing with. Sometimes the "best" of times is the journey to survive the "worst" of times..

Phenominal Friday

2010-01-22T17:14:00.000-08:00

Once a week it's about inspiration! Which I am not feeling at the moment.. grumble grumble grumble.. I think I have been feeling frustrated about the "process" yes, I know, baby steps.. I would just like to take a lot of baby steps.. quickly! Truth be told, I am also a touch apprehensive about standing on that scale. I know, it's only a number, but it's a number that represents too much emotionally as well as physically. Still, I have committed to looking at that number and dealing with it, and deal with it I will!

So here is my "Phenomenal Friday" this week it is a quote. I don't think life really has a destination! We are always in motion always moving one way or another.. even if we are stuck in a rut we are being pushed all by the current that makes up the energy of life.. so why wait for a destination of happiness when truly a destination doesn't really exist!

“Remember that happiness is a way of travel, not a destination.”

Roy Goodman

2010-01-20T20:46:00.000-08:00

Been a couple of days..

I'm not doing badly but have hit a couple of bumps along the road.

The eating slowly is going ok.. Two things, first I REALLY have to think about it or I slip back into old eating habits and I REALLY like to mix up my food.. I like a pieces of salad mixed up with some rice and meat all on the same fork.. this is NOT working to my new eating ways!

Plus I hate to admit it but stress effects my eating. STOP rolling your eyes. I know that is a no-brainer.. but I have heard of these mythical creatures that get stressed and DON'T FEEL LIKE EATING! Not me, stress sneaks up and tickles my underbelly and presto, this girl wants FOOD!!

But I guess this is what the process is all about!

I came across some more interesting stats:

A new study by Skinny Cow low fat iced desserts reveals that the average woman burns 48,000 calories a year by shopping. Other findings:

- women make up to 132 shopping trips each year and burn approximately five calories a minute or a total of 47,700 calories over a 12-month period.

- women engage in 11 shopping trips per month: two are to buy clothes; five are to buy food and four are to a local store

- 70% of women say they feel completely exhausted after a shopping spree while 60% say it's a great form of exercise.

Interesting...

2010-01-18T10:36:00.000-08:00

The only proven way to lose weight and keep it off is to eat less. But how do you do that day in and day out? Just slow down. Don't eat so fast! Researchers from Laiko General Hospital in Athens, Greece, have concluded that eating a meal quickly curtails the release of hormones in the gut that induce feelings of being full. The decreased release of these hormones can often lead to overeating because your body isn't telling you to stop.

Weekends can be such fun!

2010-01-17T19:46:00.000-08:00

Which doesn't usually bode that well for better eating habits.

*sigh*

OK.. really it didn't go that badly! I had a great core workout at Twist on Friday with Kaalun (which I still am still feeling 72 hours later!) Friday night we had a Raclette party with some friends.. what's a Raclette? It is both a cheese and an appliance! Basically you grill veggies, prawns, and meat on top and melt Raclette cheese in little trays below.. combine on a craker and volia - cheesy goodness!

Having problems with picturing this? Here:

Good news: While cheese isn't high on the list of things to eat whilst watching ones weight, this system is excellent for portion control which has been my focus!

Bad news: Wine. Lots and lots and lots of wine.

*interesting note* "They" say organic wine helps prevents hang overs.. apparently not if it's only 1 bottle of organic wine.. and 5 of non-organic!

Good news: Dance Dance Revolution must of burned off a few calories!

I am a week and a half in at this point and I have to say I am please with the change in the eating habits, some weight has come off (I can tell with clothes) and I made it to Twist 3 times.. GREAT!

I was hoping to start with the running last week, but it looks like that will start this week, my muscles have been hurting a ton and I was just to tired last week.

This week I shall "suck it up!"

I am getting myself ready, by the end of the month I will not only stand on the scale but I will also start swimming again. I am very excited about that, Steve has even bought me a water proof MP3 player I can use while swimming laps!

Here's to a wonderful week ahead!

Phenomanal Friday!

2010-01-15T08:26:00.000-08:00

This is my friend Melissa.. why is this my inspiration? She is trying to get up on one ski.. she did it, and pretty quickly.. but wiped out with great style in the process! The smile, the pointed toe, the can do attitude! That is how I want to lead my life!

Survey Says!

2010-01-14T05:53:00.001-08:00

A new survey by Slimming World reveals that overweight workers earn less than fit workers and are more likely to be bullied or overlooked for promotions. Findings:

- 10% of male bosses have rejected a job candidate because of their weight
- 16% of obese workers say their colleagues are supporting them in their effort to lose weight
- 25% of obese employees have overheard another co-worker making fun of their size or weight.

The truth in that survey really stinks. As some one who has been almost 70 pounds heavier than I am now.. and who has also been 50 pounds smaller than I am now I have been at both ends of the spectrum. TRUTH: You get treated better when you are smaller. OK.. If you are a world of nasty by nature people won't treat you well big or small.. but right off the bat.. before anything besides the physical first impressions.. If you are smaller you are treated better..

Here's as Oprah say's an A-HA moment.. I treat MYSELF better when I am smaller.. OUCH.

As promised here is a picture of the jeans.. I LOVE these jeans. Gap size 6 curvy..

2010-01-13T21:39:00.000-08:00

It was Twist day! Where I had to tell Kaalun that yes, I was in pain after Monday! Biceps, quads.. OWIE! But I was back for more.. today was a cardio day, fun fun. Lots of running around, shuffling and hopping.. from bosu to bosu.. "Hey Look Bo, Sue fell down!" while stalling I was telling Kaalun about my goal jeans.. I need to fit into them before they go back out of style! I will have a picture for you tomorrow!

For today.. this is a neat video featuring all the movies from 2009.. about 342 of them I believe.. I think I only saw 5 of them.. but still REALLY well done!

Enjoy!!

Eat like a lady!

2010-01-12T21:42:00.000-08:00

My sister and I had a fun chat about my determination to eat slowly.. she understands the frustration .. it's a family trait! She told me a story about years ago deciding that she was going to "eat like a lady" to help her lose some weight.. she told a friend, who told a friend.. that friend lost 75 pounds using my sisters theory!

I did some Google-ing and came across these tips...

Here are some clever ways to use table manners to eat less:

1. Cut your food into dainty, bite-sized pieces, and chew each mouthful 20 times. This will give your brain time to register that your stomach is full, and you'll be less likely to overeat.
2. Set the table. This sends your family and friends a clear message that there'll be no mindless munching around the TV, and by interspersing mouthfuls with conversation, you'll also eat less.
3. Use chopsticks to slow yourself down. One reason why Asian nations have traditionally slim populations is that they eat many small courses slowly, over a longer time.
4. Use small plates, glasses and spoons to help you control portion sizes.
5. Use your non-dominant hand to eat. This way, you won't put food into your mouth so quickly.

Hmm.. I will have to be careful with number 5 because I will end up feeding dinner to my ear and I don't think the chop stick one will work for me.. I LOVE using chop sticks and will keep on eating just because it's fun...and I wonder why I have weight issues!!

Grumpy Day!

2010-01-11T17:24:00.001-08:00

Weird day.

Every year around this time I have one day where I am cranky, curlish, and moody. One day when I really have to work to be pleasant at all.. one day when I am spoiling for fight more than others.. this year that would be today.

Yes I am in a wonderful relationship with an outstanding guy!

But much to the surprise of many, I was previously married. I was in love and I had my heart smashed to smitherens when I was left for another women.

It sucked. What really stinks is the scars it left.. Another time I will tell you about the gifts it gave me.. inner strength blah blah blah..

Today it just makes me grumpy.

Therefore today's goals were/are: make it to Twist for my work out (done) No emotional eating (so far so good) and count the wonderful blessings in my life now.. especially that one that is taking me to the movies tonight! (In progress)

Love this... Have a great week!

2010-01-10T17:36:00.000-08:00

Small bite, put down food, chew, swallow, chat.. breathe.. small bite.. and repeat!

2010-01-09T14:14:00.001-08:00

All my life I have listen to people say, take small bites, chew your food, slow down when you eat..

I eat like a wild animal making sure no other predator can get my kill..

Usually I am the first one done at the table, well part of the new plan involves listening to the above advice and taking those small bites and slowing down. It's only been a couple of days.. but.. wait for it..

They're RIGHT!

It totally makes a difference! Yesterday I was full before finishing everything on my plate, this is not something that EVER happens to me.. I checked on line and found this device. While I don't think I need to go to this extreme I can see how it could work!

This is a totally different "diet" experience, I'm not so much changing the food I am eating as I am the habits surrounding the food.

Phenomanal Fridays!

2010-01-07T15:42:00.000-08:00

On Friday's I will post a picture, a poem, a saying, or a story that is special to me and brings me motivation is one way or another... For our first Phenomenal Friday. A picture!

It was at this moment I felt for the first time ever that I could do a sport. My ability in this area has never been "phenomenal" nothing ever felt like it came naturally, until this moment. It was tough to learn, but I mastered wake surfing in a proper time frame, became darn right good at it and have remained a solid surfer. While I don't have any 360's in my surfing repertoire, I can stand, ride and play in the wave for longer than most. This was one of my most liberating experience, this was a moment that reminded me no matter how old I was life's surprises could come in unexpected areas, even those areas I thought I had come to terms with and accepted that it just "wasn't my thing" turns out something was. Lesson learned: Being comfortable with your perception of your abilities is good, but never stop looking for that twist that could open the door to a dream.

An extra toe?

2010-01-07T08:08:00.000-08:00

A survey by Women in Fitness magazine reveals that 21 to 23 percent of women would spend a week in jail, shave their heads or trade in a decade of their life to reach their ideal weight. 85 percent of those surveyed said they would rather sprout an 11th toe than carry around 50 extra pounds.

I could TOTALLY handle an 11th toe! I might even go for a head shave... but give up 10 years of my life? Mind you I guess if you are 50 pounds too heavy you could be knocking 10 years off your life anyway..

I don't expect an 11th toe anytime soon so I guess I have to stay focused!

Thanks for the comments thus far.. Answers to a couple questions:

1. I will weight myself at the end of the month.. and as much as I am saying 60 pounds I am aiming for a comfortable size 8.. or size 6 at some stores :D

2. I still believe weight loss is about food and maintence is about exercise.

3. More info on twist: http://www.twistkelowna.com/

4. Frozen shoulder: Frozen shoulder, or adhesive capsulitis, is a condition that causes restriction of motion in the shoulder joint. The cause of a frozen shoulder is not well understood, but it often occurs for no known reason. Frozen shoulder causes the capsule surrounding the shoulder joint to contract and form scar tissue. (and mine is getting better now.. and fast!)

One toe in...

2010-01-06T15:54:00.000-08:00

One toe in... One toe out.. One toe in.. One toe out... That's not my style...

Here we go...

2009 was a year of drama for many. I am choosing to call it a year of "drama" to keep away from calling it a horrible, terrible, disastrous waste of 365 days! Truly there were moments of great good, fun, accomplishment and success! Plus lots of lessons learned *sigh* what would life be with out those lessons. Too make a long story short 2009 started with a house fire and progressed to include the passing of not 1, but both of our dogs, a frozen shoulder, no racing, weight gain, a real estate crash that lead us to selling our boat and other finical obstacles, and being homeless twice. On the other side of the coin, we made some new wonderful friends and spent more time with some we already had, had 2 new dogs come into our home that we are fostering, bought a wonderful new condo about 45 seconds from the beach and as Steve will tell you 254 yards to the beer store, i had a stellar year at work, started growing my "voice" work and mentoring business and learned that I have a wonderfully high pain tolerance!

So here we are at 2010.

Normally I'm not a big "New Year - New Out look" kinda gal. If it came down to a time of year my changes generally get put into motion in the fall. But this has been a different kind of 12 months, even with growth and a positive outlook I am very happy to see the door slam on 2009.

I have made some choices that will effect the rest of the year, choices that I will chronicle here. If you would like to join me on this journey I would be thrilled!

Basic concept. 8 months. Lose 60 pounds. Go to Costa Rica and learn to surf.

Good News. when I first really started a journey towards health almost 10 years ago I weighted in close to 250 pds. My lowest weigh since then was 145. I have always been able to the first 60 pounds of my weight loss off.. I fluctuate with the 55 or so in between. So I am taking a hard look at how I lost that first 60, what worked what didn't and why. I am going to apply the lessons learned. The most basic are. Drink lots of water. Get enough sleep. Small portion sizes. Take a multivitamin. Be active, always walk rather than drive if you can and never say no to doing something active over hanging out on the couch. I Listen to what all the "experts" say but decide for myself if it will work for me.

To start I went down to Nature's Fair in the mission and talked to Suzi. I am now taking a multivitamin amongst a host of other oils and minerals. I have started a pretty straight forward and simple 7 day cleanse, which will be followed by a 30 day cleanse to try to get the toxins out of my body. Plus some protein powder that goes into my morning smoothie.

I have continued with my training at "Twist" and will put into action the running and swimming so I can participate in a triathlon again this summer. I will have more details on this as it gets more organized and we see how far I can push my shoulder.

It feels good to be back, exasperating to be in this position, and motivating to know that I might help someone else find the answer to what seems to be a never ending hunt to health and happiness questions!

Bring on 2010!

What's in that glass..

2009-07-31T16:51:00.000-07:00

I recently read a quote:

" It doesn't matter if the glass is half empty or half full,
it matters what you do with what's in the glass.."

I am currently working with "what's in the glass." So I haven't been able to blog in a bit, but blog again soon I will! A reality TV Show, a house sale, a BIG forest fire and some vacation time is keeping me very busy.. but the stories will resume soon!

Love ya SK xx

Body Geometric Fit - sounds fancy!

2009-07-06T12:42:00.000-07:00

My work continues to get ready to start training for the half iron next summer.

Seriously it has been a crap load of work to just get ready to get ready!

Frozen Shoulder: The Creative Healing team is working on this one a combination of massage and chiropractic care along with exercises at home and some electrical stuff is all being applied. It does still hurt, sometimes I feel like it’s getting worse! But I think I have more mobility and just also seem to have more pain as the scar tissue etc breaks up.

Heart: Good news further to wearing the heart halter for a day I had a TON of blood work done and it all came back FABULOUS! yes my doctor used the works FABULOUS! Always nice.. but if cholesterol etc is all good.. what the blazes is going on?!? I have a date with a cardiologist and that will be explored. The doctor gave the go ahead on my training because monitoring of my heart plays such an important role in the philosophy behind the training with Chris Willett and ATP Endurance Coaching. Really when my zone is between 110 and 120 bpm on the bike and 120 and 130 bpm running.. my heart shouldn't be throwing a hissy fit of any nature.

Swim: I am watching from the beach until I get this shoulder moving, I am thinking about doing some flutter board work at the pool just because I like being in the water!

Bike: This is kinda neat! I had my bike properly fitted. I am not talking about the usual bike fitting at your local bike shop, I am talking something much more in-depth! Your flexibility is checked out, length of legs, what part of leg is longer, how your ankles bend, what your feet do when you push, your strength and weaknesses and then your bike is set for you.. and just for you! My seat was moved forward and tilted up, my handle bars were lowered and my tri bars tiled up. I also now have some lifts in my shoes, 2 on one side and 1 on the other. It took a good hour to get it all done, and it was pretty intimidating to have all these “expert” cycle dudes analyzing what I was doing on my bike.. I felt VERY uncoordinated and self conscience! But I noticed a difference on the ride home! I do have more power and felt like I had more room on my bike! One of my complaints had been I always feel to scrunched up on my bike.

I had an interesting conversation with the crew at Fresh Air Concepts about the fact that too many people let the intimidation factor get ion the way. It feels like a fitting like this is for the hard core elite athlete.

Sure it is.

But it is also for you and I, as a matter of fact it makes more sense to get it done early in your cycling life! Start right!! It will be adjusted as your skill level and body changes but why not start in the best possible way? You will have a better experience and in turn be more motivate to ride ride ride! I have found that cycling at a beginner level tough, every one seems so much faster and the clinics always seem to be for a higher fitness level than what I have.. but this bike fitting gives you the opportunity to get a better grasp of form, fitness, and the mechanics of your bike!

Book yourself an appointment TODAY at Fresh Air Concepts - which I think is the only place in town that does it! Ask for a “Body Geometric Fit.” Now.. you might find it a touch intimidating.. just take a deep breath, let Chris, Jim, Olaf or whoever is doing your fit know that you are feeling self conscious and go for it! Please leave me a note if you get it done and let me know how it goes - maybe we can go for a ride together one day!

Run: Still not moving too fast.. but now that I have more heart info back I can put together a plan and get moving!

Also on the go.. Dan is on holidays so I am running The Breakfast Club on my own - Lots of Fun and Steve and I are shooting a pilot of a reality TV show !! Plus Thursday night I MC the opening night of The Producers at Kelowna Actors Studio.. get your tickets now it will be a GREAT fun show! It opens Thursday and runs till early August.

Oh Canada!

2009-06-30T12:32:00.000-07:00

The shoulder is still frozen and the tears are not dry yet from saying good bye to Shillaleigh but I am Canadian and celebrate I must!

Canada Day is a holiday that makes me grin. We have such a silly nature, full of laughter and heart. Try as we might to wave our flag and send fireworks into the air it always pales in comparison to the loudly patriot nation next door.

But I love every minute of it.

As a country we are still striving to sing our own praises from the top of the parliament buildings and around the world, we would rather have other country’s speak of how great we are, so we can politely say thank you and determine how we could do it better next time.

I have been blessed with the opportunity to travel, and it is my travels that reinforced how truly wonderful it is to be Canadian. Other nations would open doors just a bit wider and go that one step further to make sure I felt welcome and comfortable simple because I am Canadian! What a thrill to realize that I came from such a respected land! A place know for peacekeeping, a land that nurtures laughter and who’s beauty is captured by artists around the world and hung at acclaimed galleries!

At one time in my life I had the feeling that we were looked down on as a nation of wimps constantly in a sate of identity crisis.

Not any more.

We are a strong people. We stand up for the underdog and will fight for our friends. We have the strength to question who we are, why we behave as we do and question if our choices are correct. Our Patriotic spirit might be quieter than other nations, but it is strong and like iron when called upon.

Our country is varied from coast to coast. Sometimes we are not very nice to each other, sometimes our provinces feel like foreign countries because of our celebrated differences. But we live in a country strong enough to hold together when cultures collide and struggle to find away to bring ourselves together as one nation, one nation that is made up of so many cultures, attitudes, and customs.

Yesterday I made a comment that one day I would like to be bored with arrogance rather than annoyed by it. I think that comment can be reflected in our country. A country that pushes boundaries of tolerance and understanding, a country that readjusts it’s personal boundaries so we can all thrive together within our geographical one.

It is so very exciting!

A maturing changing people in a land with vast resources and beauty fitting into an ever shrinking global community. What an adventures it is to be Canadian!

Canada is like the young child with an old soul. We might struggle but look a bit deeper and an ancient wisdom resides. A wisdom that knows better, a wisdom of truth and calm, a wisdom with a toothy grin and belly laugh, a wisdom of the ages weather we always recognize it or not.

A wisdom that you are part of if you can proudly call yourself Canadian.

Happy Canada Day, EH!

OK.. I also love our British influenced lives, sex in a canoe, moose, beer, hockey, lacrose, cottage country, The fact that we have the right to bare breasts not arms, and that we DO NOT have the right to free speech because some things should not be said!

I like frozen popisicles much more than a frozen shoulder!

2009-06-22T19:06:00.000-07:00

Thank you. So many kind words have made there way to us as news spread of our loss of little "bug." Truth told the tears haven't stopped and I still haven't been able to clean up her kennel, bowl or toys.. I am sure that will happen in time.

Tears over our little monster are not the only ones shed today. Ever heard of "frozen shoulder?" Here is the "official" definition:

Frozen shoulder, or adhesive capsulitis, is a condition that causes restriction of motion in the shoulder joint. The cause of a frozen shoulder is not well understood, but it often occurs for no known reason. Frozen shoulder causes the capsule surrounding the shoulder joint to contract and form scar tissue.

My definition: OUCH!!!!!

I didn't realize that the start of my training was going to be getting myself ready to start training! I thought I had that all under control! I had no idea the havoc my body has gone thru over the last 8 months. Enough that it is like starting all over again from 3 years ago.. but throw in a possible heart issue and this frozen shoulder business.

Let me clarify I don't have frozen shoulder... yet. But the process has begun, so I have a RMT (Kyla - who I have chatted about before) and a chiropractor (Dr. Liz - she is also at Creative Healing) both of which are working on my shoulder.. I have NEVER felt pain like that. The kind of pain that makes your whole body break into a sweat followed by the urge to "toss my cookies!" I didn't, but it was touch and go for a moment.

I have been told that I should have movement back within the next 2 weeks and we can work on the pain and strengthening after that. Which means I hope to be swimming laps again by the end of July!

Saying Good Bye is so very hard

2009-06-21T21:30:00.000-07:00

My tears just won’t stop.

Our little Shillaleigh who we called “Bug” bounded into our lives and she has now left. My heart is broken. Bug was a wonderful friend, she worked hard, she played with great spirit and made it clear she loved you. She was our little princess, she was our little clown and she was in our lives for too short a time.

We had to send Shillaleigh on her way. Our little Bug who brought us so much joy also had a darker side, no matter how hard she tried to deny the urge she just couldn’t do it and for what ever reason she was wired to fight. It always came on fast, it even took trainers by surprise.. no sign, no warning.. just all fight. Very early in her life she picked and won a fight that she should not have.. and never backed down again. As time went on very few 4 legged friends were left unscarred. Our poor Barkley took the worst of it.

This weekend it became clear that even with all our work, hers and ours, this was just getting worse. She couldn’t live 24/7 in a muzzle or in her kennel and we couldn’t safely re-home her any where. Her last fight with Barkley had Steve caught in the middle and he ended up with both hands chewed up enough that a trip to the doctor was in order.

We gave her the best life we could, all be it short.

Bug and I choose each other 3 years ago, and yesterday I had to say Good Bye, from here on every tear I cry no matter what that tear is for a touch of sadness will be there for her. I stayed with her to the end, her last gaze was on me letting her hear and feel the love that I felt for her. I would not and did not leave until it was confirmed that she had gone.

I want her back... but I will wait, and the next time we play it will be with true abandon and joy. She loved me, she trusted me and I had to protect others from her and her from herself. I don’t think I will ever completely forgive myself for not finding another answer.

Shelia at The Spotted Spa has this “poem” on her website and it brings me some comfort.

Just this side of heaven is a place called Rainbow Bridge.

When an animal dies that has been especially close to someone here, that pet goes to Rainbow Bridge. There are meadows and hills for all of our special friends so they can run and play together. There is plenty of food, water and sunshine, and our friends are warm and comfortable.

All the animals who had been ill and old are restored to health and vigor; those who were hurt or maimed are made whole and strong again, just as we remember them in our dreams of days and times gone by. The animals are happy and content, except for one small thing; they each miss someone very special to them, who had to be left behind.

They all run and play together, but the day comes when one suddenly stops and looks into the distance. His bright eyes are intent; His eager body quivers. Suddenly he begins to run from the group, flying over the green grass, his legs carrying him faster and faster.

You have been spotted, and when you and your special friend finally meet, you cling together in joyous reunion, never to be parted again. The happy kisses rain upon your face; your hands again caress the beloved head, and you look once more into the trusting eyes of your pet, so long gone from your life but never absent from your heart.

Then you cross Rainbow Bridge together....

Author unknown...

OUCH

2009-06-16T15:52:00.000-07:00

Today my RMT Kyla was determined to get my healing on the way.. It seems my shoulder is tight enough that when I lay on my back my shoulder is still tilted up! This does not make for a great front crawl in the water.. since I can't get my arm over and around it might lead to me swimming around in a circle! Not good if I want to be in the annual Swim Across The Lake, I did ask Kyla if I might be alright to do the breast stroke (she used to be a life guard!) I got the thumbs up as long as I am careful. Now I have to learn how to do the breast stroke again!! I don't think I have done it since I took swimming lessons 30 years ago! Please note that I am coming to terms with the fact that this might be the year that I don't do any triathlons.. I'm still holding out for "Summerland Sprint" at the end of the summer! If you would like to meet my "Mistress of Torture" sorry I mean Kyla CLICK HERE!

On the diet side of things.. I am down a pound and a bit.. I know... baby steps..

I am readjusting with my diet, back to making a point of having breakfast! Every night before bed I toss: 2 cups of frozen berries, 1 cup of OJ, 1 banana, 1 cup plain yogurt. This makes enough for 2 glasses so both Steve and I can grab breakfast and go in the morning! Admittedly I am grabbing and going 3 hours before his eyes even open!

Need a reason to quit?

2009-06-15T12:09:00.000-07:00

A friend asked me to share this with you. We were discussing smoking. I was a smoker for years, as was my husband. I have now been smoke free for 4 years and my husband for 2. The question most often asked is how and why. The simple answer - we got over ourselves. Smoking is probably one of the single most selfish acts a person can do aside from suicide.

Smoking does not do any good for anyone besides the smoker. NO one. I am not just talking about the appalling act of smoking if you have any interaction with children, I am talking about smoking at all. Facts are pretty clear, it doesn’t matter if you know someone that lived to 106 and was a smoker, smoking contributes to crappy health and usually death. The death is ugly and painful. Smokers will sometimes say, it’s there choice if they put themselves at risk to a deadly disease. Tru-dat. But what about everyone that it effects? On a broader sense we are talking tax dollars and strain on health care, but closer to home, I am talking about the child that sits in the hospital while the sun is shinning outside, waiting for you to die. Watching someone you love at any age die an ugly death is not something we would wish on anyone, yet every person who smokes doesn’t care enough about the people that love them to make sure that can't happen.

Are you really that selfish? Than you should be ashamed of yourself.

Click here for help

It often takes more than one try to quit.. please don't stop trying.

The plan starts to take shape!

2009-06-15T10:57:00.000-07:00

So here is the deal...

Next summer I will do a Half Iron Man.

Swim 2K
Bike 93K
Run 21.1K

I thought I would be in a much different place when I made this choice. I didn't think it would be after putting on weight, screwing up my shoulder and having my heart monitored for an odd beat.

But I have.

I have a little less than a year to get this train on the rails.

Thankfully I have the beginnings of a plan, which is to find someone else that can put together a plan for me!

Enter two very important people.

My RMT Kyla Feddersen (www.creativehealing.ca) who will help get this shoulder back into swimming shape and Chris Willett from Fresh Air Concepts (www.freshair.ca)

Updates to come soon!

Our life in Screw Balls

2009-06-03T16:02:00.000-07:00

So life has stopped throwing curve balls... and has moved on to screw balls!

WOW.. what a crazy while it's been!! Ratings at work, a house fire, a pregnancy scare, putting on a ton of weight, getting trapped in the real estate crunch, getting lumps removed from my head and a possible heart issue!

No wonder I had to take 2 weeks off and just stay at home!!

Once again I send out thanks and prayers for my wonderful family and friends! I find that you can get threw just about anything with the right team around you.. and it's so much easier when you have them at the start and don't have to build as you go!

One important thing my friends did for me in this round of excitement was make it clear that I was going threw plenty of stress and I wasn't being a total wimp for feeling the strain! Girlfriends sent cards in the mail, work friends gently inquired if I was going to be ok, and family picked up the phone when I called! Plus having a team of professionals to seek advice from certainly helped! I want to give a BIG thumbs up to Julie Weimer at RBC. Banks often get a bad rap when it comes to mortgages, well Julie and RBC have created a new form of yoga in the flexibility and creative thinking that has gone into getting us out of our jam! That's not without sacrifice on our part.. saying Good Bye to the boat as the temp soared to 30 degrees plus on my holidays had me in tears more than once.. as does the pending sale of my FZ6. More kudos this time to the gang at Rayburns Marine World for helping us sell the boat and Charles at Kelowna Yamaha that is sending people my way for the motorcycle!

So the long and short of the money stuff.. with some sacrifices on our part, and what will be a pretty tight year on the horizon, Steve and I still call Jones Street home and will have a rental available at Waterscpaes.. know anyone looking?? All the deets are in the posting a couple below.. we will be asking 1500, and will be ready for move in September 1.

On to the work stuff .... YEAH TEAM! SUN FM rocked the ratings! With two new stations in the market that is a VERY good feeling.. I get to keep my job for another 6 months!!!! :)

And the health front.. the lump in my head was a bunch of fat (insert fat head joke here) I have had a lump growing behind my ear for couple of years now.. last week I had it removed, after a night full of nightmares that the Doc would find worms in my head!! ewwwwwww.. weird part.. it did strangely look like a caterpillar when he pulled it out!! As for the weight stuff.. living in a hotel during the fire repairs did some nasty things to my body! Eating out was NOT good for me!! So I am refocused on the diet to bring down those calories (especially since some of the other stress is pulled back) and putting together a plan to get more competitive in triathlon.. at least I thought I was.. in the process of getting some testing done to figure out how I can train better some weird results have come back.. and some test are being done to see what's up with my heart.. which appears to have a rhythm all of it's own.. ha ha ha. I'm not in too much of a tizzy about it.. but I am concerned.. I will update you as the tests get done!

As a matter of fact I'm thinking this blog is going to turn into a bit of a diary for me.. Next post I will outline the goals and how i plan to get there. I will be an exciting couple of years ahead!

Hopefully you can gain something from my road to success, professionally, financially and athletically that will help you on your own journey!

SK xx

Never a dull moment - Let's pee on a stick!

2009-04-12T20:48:00.001-07:00

Life brings with it many unexpected surprises.. and we almost had one.

Let me explain. Steve and I had decided that we will not be having any kids. Not an easy decision, we both love kids and would of been proud to be called Mom and Dad.. but the bigger responsibility to having children is looking at your situation honestly and making a choice that is best for the child to be and not your yearnings to be a parent.. strangely enough the most parent like decision Steve and I have ever made is probably not to have kids. Therefore we took the proper action and Steve ended up spending a weekend with a bag of frozen peas on his crotch!

But that’s not the story that is to be told here.

Life has been pretty stressful and hectic with the recover from the house fire and the insurance company dragging it’s feet on paying us the money we had all ready doled out.. plus all the other ups and downs that life brings.. so I hadn’t really noticed that my “monthly friend” was no where to be seen..

(insert Hollywood type screaming here)

I hummed and haaed.. Thank goodness Steve and I have faith and felt pretty confident that if a baby was on the way it was a pretty special gift.. but still.

This was not the plan.

So what to do. My life has held many an adventure. I have managed to do so many things that so many have not. But never in all of my days have a needed to take a pregnancy test.

(insert more Hollywood screaming here)

I reached out to a few girlfriends .. after the initial “now wouldn't that be funny” I got lots of support.. and marched myself to the local Safeway pharmacy to purchase a test. Wanna feel like EVERYONE is watching you? Besides buying condoms or Preparation H this has to be up there.. I was just waiting for the “in-store” announcement..

“Welcome Safeway shoppers - today a fun surprise in the pharmacy! Please stop by to see local radio announcer Susan Knight purchasing a pregnancy test. If you hurry you can watch the blood drain from her face and sweat form on her brow. Thank you for shopping Safeway.”

Thanks to Tanya, a lovely pharmacist who moved quick as she watched me stumble around that section of the aisle, I purchased the test. There was a brief chuckle as she also had not that long ago filled Steve’s prescription for Tylenol 3’s after his snip.

So during this whole ordeal I had been trying to reach my sister in London Ontario, she has 3 kids, a good sense of “ha” and sound advice and I figured would be the go to gal... but no luck so Melissa stepped up to the plate. Did I mention girlfriends rock in a way your best fella just sometime can’t.

So she talked me home..

Meanwhile. I gotta go.. I mean I REALLY have to go.. I had a pee pee dance going that would make Nikko proud. So I storm in the house getting the DL from Melissa who has also had 3 kids and is a wonderful source of support, advice and seems to be holding in any laughter pretty well.. So I get the skinny.. no I don’t need to wait till tomorrow morning, just pee on the stick for at least 5 seconds. GOTCHA. Seems pretty straight forward.

And I am about to burst.

So I hang up the phone, rip open the package, glance at the instructions in case I missed something important.. sit and ... awwwwwww relief...

Yikes.. stick.. must make sure . Ok.. peeing on stick..

And

Than

The

Moment

The Stick Turned PINK. not pale pink.. not slightly pink. But HOT fuchsia PINK. the kind of pink that screams..

YOU ARE HAVING A BABY ....... IT”S GOING TO BE A GIRL!

*blink*

*blink*

*blink*

.... and sanity returns.

Turns out those people have a sense a humor that create these nifty little tests. Seriously of all colours to have a pregnancy test turn.. PINK?!? BRIGHT PINK?!?!

That just seems mean.

It turns out, after closer inspection of the instructions, you need to check for a + sign in another section of the stick.

We seem to be in the clear... but still no little “friend” we shall see what colours any future sticks might turn!

Puppy love

2009-03-21T10:54:00.000-07:00

Blessings come in so many different ways. I am a lucky girl because I have so many of them.

Two of the blessings in my life are my "fur kids" Barkley and Shillaleigh. Barkley is a malamute cross and Shillaleigh is a terrier cross. I love my dogs. It's hard to explain the joy that the pups bring me. I don't have "easy" dogs. Barkley is older and fiercely independent and while generally very passive he is a thinker and decides when and if he will do something. Shillaleigh is the baby, full of energy and love, she wants to be loved and played with and the centre of attention at all times. Shillaleigh was also a rescue which has come with an issue, she doesn't like many other dogs. She tolerates Barkley. Barkley is the closest friend she has with 4 legs but on occasion (like if Barkley has the crazy idea to come into the house) she will rip off his ears. So in our busy world the dogs continue to be a work in progress and do take up plenty of time. I will give it to them, because my heart belongs to those little family members. But with a busy life and demanding jobs you begin to appreciate the services that are available.

I want to introduce you to "Team Canine"

The Spotted Spa - Aunt Shelia and the crew are the kennel of all kennels! Room for my dogs to run, day camp or overnight stays, she does it all... plus she understands that one of my pups is "special needs" and makes sure that she has fun.. and the other dogs stay safe. Here is more info:
http://www.spottedspa.ca

Doggytopia - I use this place for the "do-it-yourself" bath. With two very hairy canines I can't afford to go to a groomer, and the groomer I love retired.. so I use these facilities to keep my dogs clean. AGAIN a great owner makes sure that the room is suitable for my little one that doesn't always play well with others. Here is more info: http:// www.doggytopia.com

Pawpular Pooch - This is a WONDERFUL doggy place.. little jackets, collars and the best of the best food. Shillalleigh has allergies.. and we do EVERYTHING we can to keep her in a good mood. So we have raw food for her that is dehydrated so we just add water, wait 20 minutes and serve - PERFECT! Plus Barks is a tad "big boned" so food that keeps his weight under control is there to! It also happens to be the best place to find presents for dogs and owners alike! http://www.thepawpularpoochboutique.ca/

Copper Boppers - My poop angel. Seriously.. they come and pick up the dog crap in my yard!!! Professional, fast, easy.. PERFECT!!! Check it out here:
http://www.copperboppers.com/xcart/help.php?section=caninewaste

While I am introducing you to a wonderful bunch of businesses that keep my family in good shape what I want you to take away from this is the team philosophy. You don't have to do it all yourself, you deserve a team. The only way I can have the joy in my life that comes from my dogs is to have a team of people, it is a balancing act because of finances but take a hard look at the time, love and peace that comes from the investment and determine if it's worth it. I don't utilize all of my team all the time, because I can't afford it.. but when push comes to shove I know that hey are all there and I can use there services to make my life easier - which bring alot of peace when times get tough, busy or full of unexpected surprises.

Could something in your life bring you great or more joy if you had resources or systems in place? Start looking at building your own team. You deserve it!

SKxx

Adventure!! This will be a blast!

2009-03-12T19:54:00.000-07:00

Life is an ADVENTURE.. OK it doesn’t always feel that way so YOU need to take steps to keep the fun, adventure and spirit in your life. What else do you need? Well add charity to the list and get involved with the Urban Adventure Challenge! I wish I could but I will be giving away a car lease to someone as part of SUN FX :( Seriously this is as close most of us will ever get to The Amazing Race!

Here is the info Ryan Watters passed along to me:

JCI Okanagan presents the fourth annual Urban Adventure Challenge (UAC) on Saturday April 25. The UAC is based around the reality television series “The Amazing Race.” Teams of two travel through Kelowna by foot or city transit to complete a series of challenges that test the Mind, Body and Spirit. The UAC is a charity event to help raise funds for the Kelowna Community Food Bank and JCI Okanagan, while at the same time the chance to win some outstanding prizes.

The UAC promotes fitness and the aspect of “Go Green” as teams must be prepared mentally and physically to complete the race by using their feet or city transit. Registration for the Challenge is on now at www.urbanadventurechallenge.ca Deadline for teams is April 15, 2009.

It is a fund raiser for the Kelowna Community Food Bank’s Tiny Bundles program which is a non-government funded program that supports pregnant Mothers and families with babies under one year. Participants of the Tiny Bundles program, categorized into pre-natal, newborn and post-natal, receive monthly hampers, gift certificates for baby supplies and weekly nutritional supplements, milk, eggs produce and fruit.

There are a number of ways you can help this event; 1) Become a Partner; 2) Participate - find a friend to join you and pick up your pledge forms on the website (www.urbanadventurechallenge.ca) under the “Register” tab; 3) Challenge your colleagues and friends; 4) Volunteer; 5) Donate prizes; 6) Pass this email on to others who might be interested... You will be glad you did.

This year's race has taken a new direction, new attitude and full of new Challenges.

For more information email - urbanadventurechallenge@gmail.com

JCI Okanagan is a non-profit, leadership organization that empowers individuals to achieve personal fulfillment and professional development within the community. JCI Okanagan’s mission is to contribute to the advancement of the global community by providing the opportunity for young people of develop the leadership skills, social responsibility, entrepreneurship and fellowship necessary to create positive change.

Swim - Ride - Run & Turn 40!

2009-03-09T13:55:00.000-07:00

OK I can no longer complain about the house fire.. OK just a titch because insurance hasn't paid us back yet and things are a touch tight.. but other than that it's life back to normal.. sooo.. lets complain about the weather!

It's amazing. The last couple of years I have run threw the winter no trouble at all. NOT this year. My get up and go has said NO to the chilly temps. Has it been all that colder than last year.. not really.. but once you give in to that inner wimp you are doomed!

Doomed no longer am I!

I am a women with goals! We will focus on the sporty goals this time.

The Oliver Olympic Triathlon is coming up fast, race date: May 24.. (Yes I know the Queens birthday and if we don't get a holiday we will all run away)

I need help.

One of the most wonderful things about being a problem solver or dare I say solution seeker I know what to do! For a change I will even do it! I am going to take my slightly tubbier than wanted body to Fresh Air Experience and sign up for the upcoming Tri clinic that is geared towards doing the Oliver Triathlon or Oliver Half Iron. Yes I will.. and I will do it full out! Why? Because I mentioned to the trainer of said clinic that I don't really have any idea what "full out" means.

I am the queen of consistency..

I always have something in reserve "just in case" need a plan B, C or D I am your gal! Well not this year. This year I am seeking help.. not to finish, but to Finnish as fast as I can do it. Lord knows that won't be breaking any new land speed records but it does mean that for perhaps the first time in my life I will push past that trap door that says "IN CASE OF EMERGENCIES ONLY"

Why Not?

This is my 40th year. A year that sings of rebirth and celebration of everything I have becoming to this point. The ground work has been laid and I am ready to test it.

Excited? You bet!!

Here's the deets on the clinic:

Start date: March 25
Race Date: May 24 or June 7 (half ironman)

Wednesdays @ 6pm, Saturdays @ 8am.

All levels welcome - Sprint to Half Iron distances covered
Cost -$130 for Sprint/Olympic, $180 for Half Iron

All disciplines covered - technique correction as well.

Info and sign up at Fresh Air Experience (Harvey behind Wendy's)

My 3 Favorite non people pictures!

2009-03-01T19:08:00.000-08:00

Bugs and Peanut Butter

2009-02-26T09:36:00.000-08:00

Yesterday was an exciting day on the radio.. first a phrase that shall remain nameless was dropped on air.. entirely my fault and it was a doozy.. but I will not tell that tale here, just in case the boss is a lurker.. but I have another story!

We do a feature called the "Water Cooler Quiz," it's fun trivia that we hope people can answer to win a prize. Yesterdays question was ...The US Food and Drug administration says there can be no more than 145 of theses in a jar of peanut butter. The Answer: There may be no more that 145 bug parts in a jar of peanut butter.

You would of thought we had said rat poison!

I barely heard boo about the obscenity that was dropped.. but bug parts in peanut butter!! I had a father leave a message on my voice mail ripping a strip off of me because his kids were no longer going to eat peanut butter and what was he to make them for lunch? He informed me I had to be more responsible about what came out of my mouth! ( I didn't have the heart to tell him the average chocolate bar has 7 insect legs.) Honestly I did feel a touch bad, based on the panic and unreasonable fury in his voice I would guess it had already been a tough morning - and The Breakfast Club's antics were the straw that broke the camels back. So what to do?

This morning The Breakfast Club ate Peanut Butter on air - straight out of the jar with a spoon!! *SHOCK* Yes we did.. bugs be dammed! Of course we had to do it from the hallway because one of our fellow announcers is highly allergic to peanuts *sigh* he's allergic to just about everything. But we turned up the microphones and ate the peanut butter - it made for some fun radio and hopefully helped a few Mom's & Dad's get the kids eating lunch again!

SK xx

This just smacked of truth..

2009-02-25T20:51:00.000-08:00

“We live in an amazing, amazing world, and it’s wasted on the crappiest generation of spoiled idiots.”

I have no idea what the proper ediquitte is in blog land to credit another persons blog.. so just check this out: http://tinyurl.com/dabrwn

I make an effort to stay positive .. always.. but this just smacked of truth!

ROAD TRIP!!!

2009-02-24T12:37:00.000-08:00

ROAD TRIP!!

I can be a bit of a paradox.. Truth be told once I am in a community tend not to get out of it a ton. Part of that is just the nature of the radio beast, plus I have lived in amazing communities where there is so much to do! My weekend are filled with fun work events, fundraisers, remotes, celebrations in one form or another and when i do get a weekend off I want to get out and do all the fun things my current hometown offers... but I love to travel, near or far nothing is better! Planned, spontaneous, by accident it's fun to go on an adventure! Steve and I plan for New Zealand and the South Pacific in the relatively near future and Europe when we retire (simply because we Europe is more toury and NZ and SP a touch more active!) I could do short road trip a plenty, but the week seems to be short a couple of days to get it all in!

The good news is.. we did finally hit the road. We turned on the radio, sang along and headed over the coquahalla to visit family and friends that are like family. How did we finally manage to take some to to get in a visit. It felt like God sent us a direct message, it went something like this:

knock knock knock.. (the knocking is from the inside of my head) ummm.. Susan.. GO TO VANCOUVER!

Me: I can't

WHY NOT

Me: stop yelling

I WILL STOP YELLING ONCE YOU CHOSE TO GO TO VANCOUVER

Me: Well, hows that for attitude!

SUSAN!!!!

Me: fine.. I guess I don't have any scheduled events this weekend.. the dogs are in daycare and being taken care of already, we can't move into the house on Sunday, and we should test drive the new wheels on the highway (1998 Volvo CX *LOVE*)

SUSAN!!

Me: Fine. Just let me call Steve.

This all happened on Thursday, as soon as Steve was done work on Friday we were on the road! Lucky for us we have wonderful friends that took us in at a moments notice and included us in already existing plans and it turned out to be out nephews 3rd Birthday party that we were able to attend! Silly us assumed that we would be able to visit all the family in one shot at the party and get in a few more friends (KARLA!!!) but no such luck because after seeing them all at the party we had to follow up with an individual visit for each! Considering how long it had been since lying eyes on the family it was all good!

It was fun visiting friends on short notice, you get to see them in their own element. We all "know" the people we care about, but it's fun to be part of an exciting story and not one that is being written with you in mind.

All and all it was a wonderful weekend away! We came home to our "home" which isn't totally finished but is done enough for the dogs to be joining us at home as of TONIGHT! The family will be whole again :)

sk xx

PS: Please if you are going to complain about something, including other peoples lack of involvement in changing the world make a point of the action YOU are taking, people will respond to you better - you won't come across as just another "do gooder whiner".

How to be that voice

2009-02-13T15:49:00.000-08:00

I am blessed with a circle of wonderful family and friends, oddly enough many of them have a belief system that is (on the finer points) polar opposite to mine. When I was younger it was easier.. I was supposed to be, expected to be.. out spoken and passionate about my beliefs! Forgiven if I was head strong and slightly belligerent in what I believed in because I was “young” and I would learn as time went on not only the full picture of what drove my beliefs but also perhaps a better way of presenting my views.

So, time presses on.. here I am at the other side. I have wonderful kids both teens and younger in my life who are passionate about their beliefs, as I am still today about mine. Here’s the quandary.. Many of these beliefs are far more conservative than mine! What?!? I know.. I though it was supposed to be the other way around to. It is pretty dangerous territory when the “child’s” beliefs are more conservative than the adults! I pondered.. and pondered.. and pondered.. I have wanted to say something.. to stand up and say.. hmmmm say what.. your wrong? In my soul that might be what I believe but age has taught me that it’s not always the best approach for the results you might want.

Outside of the superficial “I am right.. because I am right!” what is it that I do want? The pondering has brought me to this, I want people (kids and adults alike) to get the full story. Go outside of your faith, outside of your circle of friends, outside of your comfort zone, get facts and look at them like a scientist. People are bias. We can’t help it! Recognize that on both sides of the story. If the issue is important enough to you, pretend you are in a debate club and you have to fight both sides of the issue with the same passion and research. After that see where you sit on the issue. You might be in the same space, you might not be, but you will be more sensitive and wiser to the other side of the story and that is what will make the world a better place because that growth will make you a better person. We forget that our words have impact young and old, and those words can hurt someone far worse than we ever imagine, that shouldn’t quash what anyone has to say but it should effect how it is said.

I truly wish that the youth in my circle and the world will learn that lesson sooner than I did, because it truly makes a difference. I think I had to learn it because of my job, I do believe that I have a responsibility every time I turn on that microphone to think of every ear and heart that is tuned in.. sometimes I have to make a judgement call and know that I will impact someone adversely but I do try to stay within the parameters that my audience expects. In life, I find it harder. Very very few people get the unguarded Susan opinion (my sister is now rolling her eyes and laughing - stop it Cath!) but it’s true, someone has to know you and trust you very very very much to handle opinion, emotion and views unchecked.

Basically, just make sure that you truly understand all sides of the story not just the facts but also the compassion. You do have an impact - use that power for good!

sk xx

In like a lion out like a lamb.. hopefully!

2009-02-11T14:58:00.000-08:00

“In like a lion out like a lamb” that saying might apply to the month of March.. how about 2009? If so December is going to be a great month for us!

I’m having one of those days.. when the slightest thing could set off a wave of tears, it’s not that anything is all that bad, it’s just that a lot of little stuff is happening all at once!
Some of it really good stuff.. so lets do the run down!

We are still in the hotel. BAH! You would think it would be more fun than it really is. The 42 inch plasma TV at the end of the bed is pretty sweet, and I will really miss room service.. but home will be great. The other nice thing is that the staff here is really great, especially Lucky and the rest of the food and beverage crew, they have done so much to make us feel at home! If you haven’t yet I would encourage you to try the restaurant in the hotel “Industry” two thumbs up for the Buttered Chicken!

I was brutally ill Monday night and called in sick Tuesday morning - only the 2nd time I have called in sick since starting here in Kelowna.. I felt really bad for the people in the room next to us! Imagine having to listen to someone throwing up on the room next door! *shudder* I did joke that I now knew what it was to be a rockstar.. sleeping on the bathroom floor and throwing up in a hotel! A rockstars life is not for me!! I am shocked that we have now been out of the house for almost a month!

We have a ton of work stuff on the go.. tomorrow I MC the 2009 Sport Hero awards, Friday we will be “blowing kisses” for Valentines Day on The Breakfast Club, Saturday I MC the Wentworth Music concert, Wednesday it’s all about Healthy Baby Weight with a crazy baby obstacle course as we broadcast from the lobby at SUN FM, Wednesday night we host the on-ice for the Rockets game and Friday back to the lobby for The Breakfast Club as we wrap up the 100 push up campaign! By the time that all wraps up we are one week away from March - which is already booking up fast! This is just the business stuff, never mind the personal stuff such as.. getting our house finished, selling the house, Valentines day, My Mom’s 65th birthday and my 40th! All in the next 6 weeks! *whew*

Plus...

I GOT THE PART! Once upon a time a long long time ago in a kingdom far far away.. or at least a couple of provinces I thought I would be an actress. For a number of reason I will save for another blog I didn’t travel that route, but it has also been close! It looks like I might take a bit of a wander down that road again. I auditioned for Bumbershoot Children’s Theatre, it seems to have gone well. I will be the mouse from the kids book “Give a Mouse a Cookie” in my case a gluten free cookie but a cookie just the same. This play only has 3 characters.. and me being a fast talking mouse I have PLENTY of lines to learn...

enter stage right: TERROR

Not part of the play, but for sure part of pre production.. did a mention PLENTY of lines? Please, if you have ANY tips on memorizing pass them along! I live in a radio world of reading and improv.. and it never has been my strong suit.. Oh dear Mr. Glossop looking down on me (former drama teacher at ESA that passed away) please HELP!! Play date is May 2nd.. if you have kiddies and want to check it out please get some tickets, it’s also so important that we support theatre and the arts in general in out communities with all the cut backs on the go to keep this very important facet of our world shining bright!!

Also in the world of “performance” I might be doing some “inspirational” work with a women's weekend on the go at Predator Ridge in early March. It still needs to be confirmed but I think I will be tackling your personal “owners manual” and if you don’t have one what should be in it and how to get it done.

I have also been thinking of starting my own business called “When the Sh&t Hits The Fan” Simply put, when you need a solution.. fast.. call me. From advertising dilemmas to personal issues I do seem to be a problem solver.. sometimes a band aid sometimes a cure but either way I often seem to be a source of solutions.. maybe i should market it?? Thoughts?? Let me know!

I’m closing this entry with a “Happy Happy!” This morning on The Breakfast Club we got a call from a lady that was thanking me for my positive and optimistic attitude and that she really appreciated it. That call made me feel really good. A long time ago I made a pledge to myself to stay as positive as possible, I do believe you get what you give. Does it backfire sometimes.. yup. But overall I live a much happier life in even attempting to stay on the bright side!

sk xx

Another meme.. reading it? Consider yourself tagged! LOL

2009-02-05T10:52:00.000-08:00

Copy & paste into a new note with your answers replacing mine. Then tag a bunch of people for them to continue the trend. Make sure you tag me, too!

Where is your cell phone?.......Sitting beside me waiting to play "My Ding a Ling"
your hair ..........Dark brown the red undertones
Your father? ........Jim
Your favorite thing? ........ fun food gatherings
Your favorite drink? ...........mint chocolate milkshake
Your dream/goal? ...........25,000 people. one spot light. I'm in it. (Not sure why yet - working on that!)
The room you are in? ......The Green Room! My home away from home :)
Your fear? ......... not living up to my perceived potential
Where do you want to be in 6 years?... where ever life takes me
Muffins? .............gluten free
One of your wish list items?.......size 6 without effort (shallow but true!)
Where you grew up? .......... Mississauga and Oakville Ontario
The last thing you did? ....... ate an egg salad sandwich
What are you wearing?....... jeans, sneakers, brown and pink sweater
Your TV?........... clunky
Your life? .....non stop

Your mood? ........ happy but stressed
Missing someone?........ my sister
Your car?...... currently a 2008 Volvo.. soon to be a 1998 volvo
Favorite store?..... anything specialized.. hate BIG stores
Your summer? ......Swim, bike ,run, repeat... than wake surf!!!
Your pets? .......Barkley and Shillaleigh our dogs!
Your computer? ...MacBook Pro! *love*

Favorite color?....depends on mood
When is the last time you laughed? ...... this morning with Dan at work
Last time you cried? ....... yesterday - i cry easy
Three people who email me? .... Melissa, Dan, Cliff
Three of my favorite foods? .........Sushi, mac and cheese, POTATOES!
Three places I would rather be right now? ..... South pacific, Home, behind boat
Three people I think will respond? ....hmmm not a clue!

I think I am close to the edge.. I thinkI'm going to lose my head..

2009-02-05T10:25:00.000-08:00

Hotel living can you kick you in the pants.

I am SHOCKED at how on edge I am. I deal with crap well. I rend to roll with the drama of life at a pretty good pace! It seems that I am pushing that ball up hill at the moment and every so often it rolls over me and I have to run after it and throw my body in front of it to try to get it to stop, so I can start pushing again. Do I think at some point that ball will roll on top of me and balance upon my chest and not allow me to get back up? No. As a matter of fact; HELL NO! This is just life. No one is out to get me, the bigger blueprint of my life isn't filled with despair and doubt, and I'm just not important enough to be the target of anybodies conspiracy theory! Bigger picture all is very very very good.. but little picture.. this SUCKS!

Steve and I are still in a hotel, and the dogs are at day care. No one seems able to answer my questions fast enough, get work done fast enough or even give me a flipping time line so I don't feel like I am in limbo! I'm confused. The longer we are at a hotel the more it costs, why not get us out ASAP? Admittedly I am a touch of a control freak, so my real issues are that I just don't know what is going on and can't fix it myself.

Than I pile the rest on.. The reno still isn't done (outside of fire damaged stuff), my rec room and downstairs bedroom are still highly unorganized and a jumbled mess, money is tight as we try to get it all done and our new place that was supposed to be done in August 2009 won't be done till March 2010. Breath 1.. 2.. 3...

Ok GOOD NEWS! It looks like we have sold our place (once his finance are worked out!) The guy that is tentatively buying it is great! It feels so good to know that that house is being passed on to someone that will not only gain financially because of the location etc but will also love it because of the lifestyle it offers! Other good news.. The Breakfast Club is going to do a live show at Big White tomorrow morning, which means Steve and I will be on the mountain tonight and tomorrow night and we get to play!!! Snowshoeing, tubing, snowmobiling, snolimo etc.. woo hooo.. we need it so it will be so lovely to be in a hotel.. and using it the way it should be!! Some other fun plans are also underway at work.. we shall see which ones pan out and I will update you soon!

sk xx

Our Fur kids!

2009-01-26T13:08:00.000-08:00

I miss my dogs
Barkley & Shillaleigh

One of the toughest parts of not being at home is how much I miss my dogs! Steve and I don't have kids but we do have Barkley and Shillaleigh. Barkley has been with me for about 10 years and "Bug" as we call her is a new addition to the family who has only been around 2. While Barkley's hips are starting to give him trouble he is relatively no trouble, Bug is high maintenance.. she needs love 24/7.
I miss them both.

Sooo.. we had a fire.

2009-01-24T18:46:00.000-08:00

So here I sit in a hotel room watching "Harold the Duck." Not the usual way I would spend a Saturday night..

This is the part when watching a movie it would rewind.. or time shift indicating that we are now going to the beginning of the story.. and we will return to this point later.

So Monday was a fun day.. start of the week.. a great work out.. diet going well.. and a house fire. That's what I said. A HOUSE fire.

I was sitting on the couch after getting back from a run, working on the energy to get into a shower. Steve was in the kitchen getting ready for a bowl of moose chili fresh from the crock pot before heading out to play poker with the boys.

As I sat about the couch a heard the tell tale sound "zzzzz....errrrrghhhh.. POP!" The light goes out, the breaker flips and Steve heads downstairs to flip it back on, he flips and "zzzzz....errrrrghhhh.. POP!" At this point I am standing in the kitchen as Steve heads back up the stairs.. he climbs up on the chair to see what is going on. "YIKES" ok, perhaps he used another word, the light fixture was hot! He put on gloves and started to take it down. At this point I notice what appeared to be an ember fall from the ceiling, my mind was moving slowly.. an ember?? Steve asked me to go outside to grab the ladder, I moved FAST. As I came back in Steve has the light down and was looking at the ceiling asking me if I thought that was smoldering. Again, slow mind "smoldering?" It did seem to be a little red around the edges, somewhere inside my mind I was putting it together and went for the phone. Steve meanwhile had gone up the ladder, looked into the attic, saw flame, realized we had no marshmallows or supplies to make smores and hollered for me to call 911. Which by this point I was already doing!

Next.. everything you have learned about a fire.. before it's "stop, drop, and roll" time. The dogs were sent into the backyard and I was told to grab what was important and get outside. I briefly debated how to get the harvest table out the door realized that wasn't going to happen and instead made sure I had my wedding ring, grabbed both the laptops and the keys to the studio for work in the morning and got out the door. Steve was flipping off the power to the house and heading for the door. Once outside we alerted the neighbours, since we are in a duplex, to get out of the house as we had somehow set it on fire and moved the car and the motorcycle to make room for the fire trucks when they arrived.

And arrive they did... 4 BIG red trucks with lights and sirens came roaring down the street.

It seemed like it took forever!!

I am standing in the middle of the street in my work out clothes, watching the fire trucks storm towards the house, neighbours coming out the doors, the dogs barking and just trying to comprehend that it's our house, our house that is on FIRE! " F%^&K"

It all seemed very surreal, plus I felt remarkable old as theses baby faced firemen donned the gear and rushed into our house. I wanted to cry out.. STOP! Does your Mother know that you are rushing into burning buildings? Give me that hose you have the rest of your life ahead of you! I did have a moment to smile as I approached the crew that first arrived and the Captain said to me "Susan, is this your place? Hey guys this is Susan from The Breakfast Club." In that brief moment everything seemed OK. I was no longer Susan in her sticky exercise clothes, terrified that her house was going to burn down. That Captain released Susan Knight, the capable, always smiling and ready for what ever comes her way woman to bubble to the surface. Maybe, if you asked a shrink not the healthiest way to live.. but I could of kissed that Captain for reminding me that I had the personal resources for what ever was coming my way.

What a humbling experience. My neighbours are gracious and beautiful people ready to come to our aid, the fire crews were professional and caring all at the same time. The hotel clerk "Luke" didn't blink an eye as we stumbled into The Grand looking for a room. Only one co worker has been rude about my experience, everyone else at work including my boss Mark and my bosses boss Don have been wonderful. My co-host Dan Freeman was ready to do what ever he needed to to help as did many of our friends. Special mention to Melissa who manged to get my husband a grilled cheese sandwich that evening as he hadn't eaten that day and his moose chili was unavailable.

The fireman gave us a tour before the lights were shut off.. a REALLY big hole in the ceiling above the kitchen, and a rather larger knee hole in the hallway where a fireman had missed the strut and went threw! Also some water damage and smoke but all in all not so bad. But no way we could stay because power was being shut off.

At some point in all the excitement I had gotten hold of work with a heads up that I wouldn't make it in the next day. The next day was a busy one.. Insurance agents.. house tour.. insurance.. and realizing that we could of been dead. Truly dead. If things hadn't happen EXACTLY as they did, chances of us sleeping soundly as the fire started were good *shudder* thankfully it didn't happen that way. This thought did haunt me for the first couple of nights and I could only sleep about 25 minutes at a time. The night I finally did sleep, I slept like a rock and when I awoke couldn't move my neck.. at all. So I sit here 4 nights after the fire with my ice pack, unable to steal the converter from my husband watching.. "Harold the duck."

Part of me does chuckle. I believe in the power of prayer. Part of my prayers as of late have included a requested for some help in the housecleaning department as we got the house ready to sell. You should see the job that the cleaning crew is doing - OUTSTANDING! God does work in mysterious ways.

Important lessons:

Make sure your fire alarms are up and working
Make sure your insurance is paid up both content and building. Capri and Southern have been great -- Our adjuster has been AMAZING!
A fire safe is a very good idea
The Grand Delta Okanagan hotel while great the first night (thanks Luke!) got "uppity" and unhelpful after that, plus charge 10 bucks a night per computer for Internet access!
The Prestige Inn has been good. The rooms are nice, the Internet free and the restaurant "Industry" fab!
"The Spotted Spa" is a WONDERFUL kennel, taking on both my low & high maitenance dogs without a question.
Respect fire crews. You never know where that fire truck with sirens on is going - get out of the way!
Most importantly in times of emergency, work with whomever you are with. Don't panic and move quickly but with purpose.
Plus for me; not only do I have friends to treasure that will drop everything to make my honey a grilled cheese sandwich, cover me at work, or whatever else is needed, I have a husband that is everything a girl could need both on nights where the only excitement is Shillaleigh and Barkley eating dinner and on nights when a fire breaks out in the attic.

SKxx

Hunt for Happiness

2009-01-18T19:43:00.000-08:00

So this week is official "Hunt for Happiness" week!

What brings you happiness?

While I ponder what brings me happiness, leave me a comment and tell me where you find yours!

This hat has horns

2009-01-16T12:43:00.000-08:00

We all have different facets of our personality. If we had a scale at one end would be the person who always comes across the same and has no idea how to access that different facets of who they are and at the other end is someone dealing with a multi personality disorder and isn't fully aware of when a facet has completely taken over. (This is a non-medical opinion and just my perception)

Where do you fit?

When asked to do a survey for personality purposes I often ask which Susan whomever is asking would like to speak with. Because I have some very different and distinct personalities that come to the surface when required. The Susan who can stand in front of 2000 people and MC has different views than the Susan that stops talking to allow someone else a chance to shine. Recently I have been describing these facets with hats. You know, like when someone puts on there "mommy" hat or "carpenter" hat or "banker" hat to describe a skill they are using to get something done. I put on "personality" hats to describe the facet of me who is being used to deal with a current situation. My hats were designed by my survival instinct.

Lately it's been switching between the "getting it done" and "hat with horns"

I will save the "getting it done" hat for another post.

The "hat with horns" isn't the easiest to deal with. Slightly bitchy and won't take any crap. It's my enough is enough hat that helps me deal.. the step before I can move past a situation. Usually the "hat with horns" is short term. This hat is firmly placed on and isn't easily knocked off, it cancels out the compassion, empathy and ability to care about "their" side of the story. If you are coming face to face with me and I have on the "hat with horns" you don't have to worry because likely pretty soon you will be shoved back into the masses and be just another person that passes threw my day. But be prepared, because the skills I learned from people who built this hat for me have been sharpened. My "hat with horns" was brought out to deal with too many people believing that they are still playing at the schoolyard and are "king of the mountain." Failing to see that there is no schoolyard or mountain! Have a problem with me? I will care if you are someone I care about.. but somewhere in the process if you choose not to let me know what is going on, I will stop caring, part of that process is the "hat with horns" I become a sly bully that pokes and pokes and pokes, until you are about to break. But it's at that moment another hat comes out.. it's more of a hood and a cloak and in it lives shame. It's a frustrating moment. I don't want to take off my "hat with horns" it's empowering to know that you aren't hurting me anymore and I am preying on your weaknesses but the part of me that has fought for growth and compassion says enough is enough right back at me.

Now here is the crunch, the moment the cloak comes on I am transitioning.. There was a time when I would fight for every friendship I had ever put time into. Not anymore, as I grow stronger and wiser I recognize when walking away is a mercy killing not only for you, but also for me.

Sounds like a lot doesn't it? But the "hat with horns" is a hat I wear for less that 10 minutes a day. A hat that is about to be thrown back into the closet. I'm not thrilled that it had to be dusted off for use. But I am thrilled that I didn't need to wear it for long, and while it was firmly placed on my head I was aware and thinking about what I was doing and what the results would be.

So what hat now?

None.

I am at my best when hatless, because that means that I am not in "survival" mode. No need to fictitiously adorn myself with a hat to help me make it in and around a situation.

But I will tell you this.

Do not be afraid to put on any hat you may need to get threw whatever situation is causing you unease, put it on and dive in. Because the really cool part, is that down the road you will find that unexpectedly you are dealing with that situation again.. hatless simply because you can.

Another upside of that.. no hat head.

xx sk

Is that a cliff? Hey. How do I stop on these things!

2009-01-09T15:18:00.001-08:00

Just for fun let's talk fitness..

So I was cross country skiing the other day and really got to thinking about what I was doing in the bigger sense of the fitness world, why i got started and what has brought me to the point I am at now. It was either that or I would be focused far too much on my lungs which seem to be attempting to come out my nose while climbing a hill in very icy tracks with two long skinny pieces of wood attached to my feet! Even the ipod wasn't distracting me enough!

Here's the skinny.. hehe

I had been a "big" girl for awhile, how I got to that point is a story for another time. I began to slowly make changes, I was more active, road my bike to work, walked etc.. it really wasn't helping other than proving to myself that even at that weight I could move. I did try to alter the eating habits.. but it's really hard to figure out who is really just out to make a buck and who has some solid advice. I hate to say it but even your family doctor isn't a pile of help. I truly believe that a diet centre needs to be created that figures out what diet is right for you and than you go on it.. because the right diet will work for you.. and it might not be the same one as the person standing next to you in the Dairy Queen line up! The only thing I really learned is (for me) weight loss is about food intake - maintenance is about exercise & diet. My major weight loss happened after my divorce - nothing like a serious lack of appetite to get the ball rolling!

But no matter how it started, here I am now. I am a triathlete, I cross country ski, I wake surf and water ski, I ride a motorcycle, I lead an active life. Am I currently at my fitness goals? No. I need to drop 30 pounds and want to finish a triathlon before the 75 year old women ahead of me. I also want to run 10K consistently in under an hour, and do a 360 while wake surfing. But storming up that icy hill got me thinking.. why? Why do I really want this? Over the years I have had a variety of different answer, part of every answer is vanity - who doesn't want to turn heads while walking down the street. Another part is "ease of life." When you are in a plus size world.. and 5 feet tall shopping is NEVER easy. But the big motivator for me is simple, I like to do stuff. At the weight and fitness level I am at now, I can. Maybe not well.. or fast, but I can try. If you are thinking to yourself, it doesn't matter what weight you are at you can always try.. think again. I had to have a small enough butt to fit it in the kayak for my kayak trip, you have to be able to hold the basic positions for my Ashtanga Yoga class, you have to be able to bike up the mountain in order to learn how to ride down it. Yes there are ways around and we can all make it pretty.. but facts are facts - you need to be able to get to the starting line.

Ladies and Gentlemen: I have made it to the starting line!

I might be bigger than I thought I would be and no I can't keep up with most of my friends, but I am in the race. I love the fact that God gifted me with the ability to be brave and strike out on my own because right now that is where I am. Don't get me wrong I have an AMAZING support system, but at this stage of the game I am stronger than my friends that haven't reached the starting line and can barely make out my other friends who can sprint for the word "go". But I am here. Finally I am in the race.

So as my lungs past threw my nostrils and I gracefully slammed into a snow bank on those cross country skis I knew why. Because I just want to do stuff, I want body, mind and soul to be in running order at a level that will allow me to work, play and inspire with and in the world. The joy from that knowledge gave me the strength to climb out of the snowbank with a smile and continue down the icy tracks - it has taken me almost 40 years to get to the start line, but the "adventure race" that is my life is overall so much fun, right to the finish line. Thanks for cheering me on, it would be a whole lot harder to do without you!

BTW: If you have been waiting for the Great "Farting" New Years Eve blog. I promise it's coming! Also news on the 100 push up challenge and the 200 sit up challenge.

25 things about moi!

2009-01-04T14:52:00.001-08:00

So had one of these pass my way.. I have ignored countless, but it came from one of those hard to say no to friends.. so I figured I would share! I was kinda suprised after I read all 25.. what does this say about me? Not sure..

Once you’ve been tagged, write a note with 25 random things, facts, habits, or goals about you. At the end, choose 25 people (or however many you please) to be tagged. You should also tag the person who tagged you.

1. I have been a cab driver and a roofer.

2. I have never broken a bone - much to the amazement of many

3. I think being homophobic is the same as racist and think worse of you if you are either

4. I am very comfortable going out on my own

5. My dogs bring me great joy

6. I am possible the worst housekeeper you have ever met.

7. I value my friends and family more than they know even the ones I only talk to a couple of times a year

8. I still dream of standing ovations and owning a pony named Tallulah

9. I spell at the same level as a child in grade 4

10. Sometimes I run out of words and therefore don't answer my phone

11. My belief in prayer was confirmed due to meeting my husband

12. I have highly intelligent friends sometimes I worry about how I come across in deeper conversations

13. I went to 3 high schools and 2 colleges (Given the boot at 2 HS and 1 college)

14. My sense of direction is disastrous but it makes going anywhere an adventure.

15. If I could go anywhere right now it would be the South Pacific

16. The best two lessons I have learned in 2008 is that charity should hurt and I can't and don't have to fix everything.

17. I hate to admit it but slapstick really makes me laugh

18. Jokes that use other people as punch lines are cheap and easy. I don't find them funny and when I do I am ashamed of myself.

19. I have lost a lot of weight but it is a daily struggle to keep healthy and even close to the weight and fitness level I want to be at.

20. I fight my urge to be the centre of attention all the time

21. Once you have my loyalty chances are very high you will have it for life

22. I don't have many close friends but the ones I do are phenomenal people and generally very different from each other

23. Not being able to make a difference scares me

24. I won't go to a movie if I know it's going to make me cry.

25. I have a hard time getting warm once I am cold

Snow anyone?

2008-12-18T19:41:00.000-08:00

I have written about 5 blogs in the last week. I finally have the time to get them down and.... Nothing.. really nothing.. not even a bad joke. I blame the snow. Seems like the thing to do!

The main topic of conversation this week has been the crazy weather.. we have feet of snow which seems to have all arrived over about 72 hours.. with it wicked cold temps! Lots of complaining, including me one morning when the heat was busted at work and at 5AM I was working at 5 degrees.. ergh. It did get warmer, but not till about 7am. Just imagine if you had no escape.. which brings me to this: I challenged everyone that every time someone complained about the cold to donate a pair of socks to The Gospel Misson or a homeless shelter of your choice. How many socks got donated? No idea, but if it helped remind people of what was happening outside of their warm beds and closed doors it will have helped.

xx

Good Grief how many buses need stuffing?

2008-12-08T21:28:00.000-08:00

A BIG thank you to all who came out to "Stuff a Bus" for the KGM on the weekend! Good work! Please if you can drop off a package of clean socks to the Gospel Mission or shelter closest to you. I learned that the homeless often have to deal with "street feet" basically due to the wet and cold their feet can rot out from under them. Simply horrible. You can make a difference.. it's pretty straight forward. Go to local department store. Buy socks. Donate socks. Done. Can you imagine? Horrible. Boots are also needed. Another good point to remember is that when you live on the street to stay warm and dry you dress in layers, so if you are pondering what size to give (while anything is appreciated) bigger is better! More info on giving to the Kelowna Gospel Mission at www.30kclub.com

Now .. another bus is being stuffed! All week SUN FM is "Stuffing a Bus" for the foodbank! Dan and I are on location all week long. This morning we were at Mr. Lube.. OK we were supposed to be! Technology can be a huge PAIN to say the least!!! With the reno's happening at the radio station we think one of the antennas was amuck and the signals weren't connecting.. my hunch is an engineer would correct me.. but that's what I understood from the explanation! So we had to go back to the studio.. but tomorrow we will be at Kelowna Hyundai - look for the snazzy new building on 97. I hear if you donate 35 bucks worth you get a free oil change - NICE!

BTW: Recently we were talking about respect and how you know if you are getting it. My thought on this. Respect is in the details. When the little things are taken care of, when actions are followed completely threw (much like a good golf swing!) that is a sure sign of respect. If you feel the details are not being taken care of around you the question is: is it because you don't currently deserve the respect? Check the mirror and think about it. It could also be that you do deserve the respect, but for whatever reason the person in question is unable to give it to you because of personal failings of theirs that you have no control over. One of those options you can do something about.. the other perhaps not, but at least you can stand on a firm foundation of knowledge that will help you make rational decisions when you feel like ripping someones face off.. and 1,2,3, breathhhhhhhhh...

xx

OK class .. this week..

2008-12-07T22:08:00.000-08:00

So just for fun every week I am going to focus on something new. This week is a doozy.

Can you disagree, and I mean REALLY disagree, with someone and still not judge them? We know that judging other people is wrong. But it seems pretty tough to think someone is fundamentally wrong, yet not judge or feel superior to them. I recently figured out that you can forgive someone yet still be angry with them, so perhaps the same philosophy applies. What do you think?

The Shack.. and other lessons learned

2008-12-05T10:18:00.001-08:00

I LOVE holidays. I just spent the morning in bed finishing a book. LOVELY! What a book it was. Have you read "The Shack" by Wm. Paul Young? If not, please do. It's not a long read, and it's as deep as you will let it be for you.. really read it. I get very VERY frustrated with the "rules" of religion, they never made sense based on what I thought (& at one point was taught) that God was all about. It is truly thrilling to have someone put what I have felt for so long into words, not just words but a story, a beautiful story. I do want to clarify one thing.. just because it reaffirms what I have believed for so long.. and what my frustrations have been with the types of churches many of my family attend that does not mean I have been very good a "practicing what I preach," still PLENTY of work to do there! Anyhoo.. my point.. read the book. If enough people do of ALL faiths and nonbelievers it could change the world.

Onto some other stuff this brain has been working on!

I had a Program Director once named Geoff Poulton. Geoff loved his "self help" books and loved to put into actions things he learned from them.. Truly it was a joy. Stop rolling your eyes, I know the whole "self help" world can get a touch over the top but you can't kick a guy who's heart is in the right spot for trying. Try he did! He was VERY successful in many many ways. Some of his ideas backfired - BIG TIME, some of those backfires I am pretty sure he still isn't aware of, but other ideas were fabulous.. but even better.. he had ideas and tried to make the world a better place! I learned three very important lessons from Geoff that I still carry with me to this day, lessons that were just readdressed in "The Shack". First. We can't see in every ones backyard. Sometimes it gets pretty frustrating.. decisions are made that make no sense to you what so ever. You react with frustration and angry. But here's the deal. You only know what is happening in your backyard. I ran a promotions department at the time.. I knew pretty intimately what was going on in promo world.. and in programing to a certain degree.. but decisions would be made that didn't seem to make sense. Why? Because I couldn't see in every ones backyard. You forget that the person above you makes choices on a bigger picture.. and so on up the chain. If you can remember this it will help you deal with choices that you don't like, choices that you can do nothing about and/or present your distress in a MUCH better manner if you truly feel something in "your backyard" has been overlooked! This brings me to the second lesson.. Get the facts. We react so fast to a direct hit, we rarely get the back story.. that guy that blew the red light is rushing to the hospital where his daughter was just admitted.. BOOM that changes how much swearing you are doing in your car.. If we took the time to understand why someone is doing what they are.. or if we can't find out rather than assume they are morons assume that there is a reason life would be so much more peaceful! Number three. You are not as important as you think. Let me clarify: You are not any more important than the person next to you. This lesson started with Geoff and has evolved over time. Yes we can make an impact on peoples lives, but that doesn't make you anymore important than the next guy when it comes to the bigger picture. At this moment I am at a loss of words to explain what I mean without using another person as an example.. and that would be mean. Sometimes I feel weird about blogging because it seems a touch ego fed.. So let me ponder and I will fill in the blanks another time.

Have a great weekend! And please. read. The Shack.

xx

Hissy Fit 101

2008-12-04T15:48:00.000-08:00

Anyone know what is going on with the government? Here's what I have.. Harper is throwing a hissy fit! I would of been grounded for that behavior! Guess it's a waiting game at this point. I like the idea of a coalition government.. mind you I am happiest sitting on the fence. Push me off and I will kick your ass, but happiest on the fence!

Here is a link to a utube video that gives a pretty basic explanation of what's going on: http://ca.youtube.com/watch?v=g2y-VDf4T4U

xx

Day 1 of holidays Plus BRIT in Vancouver!!

2008-12-01T09:17:00.000-08:00

It's odd taking holidays the first week of December. Holidays usually go hand n hand with R&R. Not so much if it's the first week of December! Christmas shopping is waiting, house CLEANING is waiting, Christmas cards need to be sent, and in my family 4 Birthdays need to be addressed!! I didn't take holidays to relax.. nope, it's called survival!

I am having a tough time getting motivated. Christmas shopping has been started which is good.. but money is required to finish that.. which is bad. HA The house cleaning REALLY needs to be addressed as we are in the middle of a reno and it just keeps getting worse!! Plus we are putting the place up for sale in the early spring.

Tentative plan for today: Dog food - buy some. The pups are not pleased they don't have breakfast yet! Go for a run (5K) perhaps a swim and yoga tonight.. hmmm one of those will have to go. At the very least I will get the Birthday shopping done!

>>> Got in the swim, but was sidetracked by Christmas shopping and tiling the bathroom!! Here's some fun info for you!

CONCERT DATE: WEDNESDAY, APRIL 8, 2009
TIME: 7:00 PM
VENUE: GENERAL MOTORS PLACE
PRICES: CA $37.00 - $125.00, plus applicable service charges & fees

INTERNET ORDER PERIOD:
Start: TUE, DEC 2nd @ 8:00am
End: FRI, DEC 5th @ 10:00pm

*********************************************

TO ORDER YOUR TICKETS**:
1. Click on the link and follow the instructions to select your seats. The link will only be active during the INTERNET ORDER PERIOD.
2. When prompted, enter the following password in the Canucks Presale section and proceed with your order: IHEARTBRIT
3. Select your delivery type and make your payment to complete your purchase.
4. Once your order has been processed, a confirmation number will be provided. Keep this number on file for reference.

*********************************************

Password: IHEARTBRIT

*********************************************

**Specific seats have been assigned to this exclusive sale during the INTERNET ORDER PERIOD.
**This pre-sale is available TUE, DEC 2nd @ 8:00am to FRI, DEC 5th @ 10:00pm
**LIMIT OF 8 TICKETS PER HOUSEHOLD.
**Availability of seats is based on a first-come, first-served basis, and is restricted to areas defined by the promoter.
**Ticket prices, service charges, and availability of seats may be subject to change.

Ratings Day

2008-11-27T10:56:00.000-08:00

Woo Hoo! Great news in radio land!! The Breakfast Club is number 1!! SUN FM did really well!

I don't do well twice a year when our report card comes out. I get sick to my tummy, can't sleep and randomly bust into tears. The control freak in me has a really hard time waiting for something that I have NO control over!

The system for ratings is really ummmm.. unreliable, but it's all we have. Here is how it works based on the size of your market the BBM (Bureau of Broadcast Measurement) sends out "diary's" to pre-chosen people, those people fill out the diarys and write down what station they listen to in 15 minutes incriments. Those results are counted up and the BBM pops out a "book." The book lists what staions in a specific market are listened to the most, and break it down by demographics and time slots. For most radio announcers this is how we keep and/or lose our jobs, it is also what bonus's are based on. Many radio personalities don't make great salaries and depend on performance bonuses to pay off maxed out Visa's, so it's pretty important stuff to us.

When the specific numbers come out I will post them. For now it's happy happy happy :)

So let me repeat. WOO HOO. Great news in radio land, The Breakfast Club is number 1!

Back to blogging

2008-11-26T14:50:00.000-08:00

I just have to find a format that fits!

Welcome to my little world online, which really isn't all that little! It's pretty amazing all the growth that happens, that truth be told, not all that many people know about! People are slowly catching on, thanks a lot I think to facebook. What did we do online b4 facebook! I do have a couple of friends that refuse to hop on the fb wagon, it kinda stinks because they do miss out on some fun stuff! (Never mind the pictures of them that have been posted that they know nothing about! )

I am going to use this blog to not only let you know what's going on inside my brain and out of it - but to also clear out my head and hopefully get the ball rolling on the writing I have been working on for awhile.

My randomness today includes this: I woke from a dream the other morning, fairly frightened.. and quickly started to laugh. I never remember my dreams, but this one was so vivid! I was in a basement.. all the lights were on, someone had me by the arm and I knew this someone was a serial killer.. he had me by the arm and was attacking me.. with.. wait for it.. a hole punch. Yup one of those single hole hand held hole punches. He wasn't even trying to beat me over the head with it.. he was trying to hole punch my bicep! In the dream someone else was in the corner.. and Steve was coming down the stairs to rescue me! Than I woke up! I haven't even bothered to check a dream site to see what it could mean. I highly doubt "hole punch" shows up anywhere!

Knightchatter

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It was the best of times...

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Eat like a lady!

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One toe in...

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I like frozen popisicles much more than a frozen shoulder!

Saying Good Bye is so very hard

*OUCH*

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The plan starts to take shape!

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My 3 Favorite non people pictures!

Bugs and Peanut Butter

This just smacked of truth..

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ROAD TRIP!!!

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Another meme.. reading it? Consider yourself tagged! LOL

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Sooo.. we had a fire.

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Ratings Day

Back to blogging

OUCH