Starting off 2014 Right!

I feel like my 2014 has gotten off to a good, albeit slow start.  The "Polar Vortex" kept us cooped up and unwilling to do much of anything.  That usually happens when you're freezing in a house with no power and wind chills are deep in the negatives.  We obviously survived and found ourselves immensely grateful to have a house with even a modicum of heat (my lowest was 50), grateful for neighbors who let us crash at their place for the day, and grateful to have enough clothes to pile on.  I found my ski goggles and found them to be a huge help in keeping the face protected.  I dare say, my face was warm under all of that.  Fingers and toes, fingers and toes....that's what gets cold.

 So I felt like my 2014 began AFTER the polar vortex tore through the area.  It was actually kind of nice to start after the "rush" of the new year.  Things I'm going to do this year include the 52 week money challenge and getting out of debt, well, at least a lot out of debt.  With my truck payments ending soon, this is the year it can happen.  I need to make it happen.

T25 is happening.  To spice up my running and include some cross training, I started T25.  I have done P90X in the past but the 25 intense minutes that comes with Shaun T's workouts keeps it going and soon, you're done!  Sore and tired but done.  I like how a lot of what he focuses on and stretches are the same muscle groups and actions we use when we ride.

Riding-Anthony and I are going places this year.  Possibly to Florida this winter to ride with Nancy for a week and even some shows.  He's a good guy.  Weird, lacking in trust (but chose me?), but so crazy athletic and smooth.

And work....so far, getting lots of projects done after it became tolerable to be outside.  :-)

Getting things done.  Going places.  :-)







Video of the "tundra" of Camp Tecumseh:

Tied or Untied??

Something you may or may not know about me and now you know the reason why.....

Haha, those of you who have spent any time around me may, at some point, realize something.  I rarely, ever, tie my shoes.  Not in the unsafe manner where my shoe laces are dragging the ground...I don't want to ruin my shoes!  :-)  I never trip and rarely lose my shoes.  I haven't always kept my shoes untied but now it's an unconscious act.  It's so much easier to slip your shoes on and off if they aren't tied.  I won't step on the heel of my other shoe to take it off and bending over and tying them and then having to retie them minutes later.  With my job, I will not wear my shoes inside the house.  Even if the bottoms of the shoes look okay, knowing what I've been in that day compels me to drop my shoes at the door wherever I go.  If I'm going to be running or walking a day of trail rides, I will tie them....usually.  I don't think it's a big deal.  However, I sat next to someone the other day who remarked to me, "Hey, your shoes aren't tied!" to which I responded, "No, they aren't" and didn't do anything about it.  I got the strangest look.  "You don't tie your shoes.....??"  "Nope."  (Insert ensuing discussion as to why I don't.)  I don't think they'll ever tell me again that my shoes are untied....I think I blew their mind without trying to.  :-)  There you have it.

Looks good...until you dig a little

So I've read a few interesting articles this week that have really got me thinking a bit.  An article was posted earlier this week by someone on my FB page that, on the surface, sounds great.  Who can argue with it?  But, in my opinion, if you dig at it a little, it falls apart due only to the foundation on which it's built.  This is one of the articles here if you want to read it.....Chivalry is Out of Style....like I said, sounds good.  And really, it is good.  As a woman, I truly appreciate a guy who, for example, waits a few extra seconds at the door if they see someone else coming and holds it open for them.  Anyone can appreciate a person who'll give up their seat to their elder or one who truly needs the opportunity to sit down...it's showing respect.  It's a rare sight to find a guy who'll stand until a woman is seated and it's cool to still see that from time to time.  I feel that there is respect within that act, whether it's toward a woman or an elderly man.  It feels good when a guy shows respect in that way.  I hope that it is respect, and only respect, that propels those acts.  If those acts have another idea or foundation behind them, I think the waters get a little murky.  I am not offended when a man does things for me and offers to help out or opens the door for me.  The question that got brought up in my mind due to the articles was, "Are you opening the door because you are a decent human being who respects others and has common courtesy OR are you doing it to show that I am stronger than you and here's a way to show it?"  Obviously, the first reason makes perfect sense and is a great reason to open the door for someone else.  The second....well, there might be a slippery slope in that way of thinking.  Here are a few points within the article and from there you can draw you own conclusions. First point:

"The meaning of “chivalry” has evolved, but its roots can be found in the oath that Crusader knights were made to take as part of their consecration, or “dubbing”. A knight swore “to defend to his uttermost the weak, the orphan, the widow and the oppressed; he should be courteous, and women should receive his especial care”."  

I completely understand that anyone, regardless of their gender, should come to the aid of those who need help.  What could be dangerous is that women are lumped into the same category as the weak a little later on in the article.

"Chivalry calls for the strongest to serve and honor the weakest, realizing that the other option is for the strongest to dominate and abuse the weakest. Chivalry is one of the things that separates us from gorillas and wolves and rats. We, as chivalrous men, are called to use our strength in service to women, children, the infirm, and the elderly."

I understand that physically, men are, more often than not, stronger than women.  I'm not blind to the physical boundaries (and other differences) between men and women.  It's how we were designed.  But does it really make someone weak simply because they aren't physically as strong as you are? There are very strong people who are very much physically weak but I see them as strong as anyone else.  I realize that the author says that the idea is NOT for the strong to dominate the weak within that act of chivalry but I for one do not want to be referred to as weak and it's so easy to go down the road where physical strength leads to superiority; superiority leads to dominance; dominance means power.  I see relationships where the woman acts or truly is weak and doesn't do things for themselves or asks the man to do everything. Within the comments one woman writes that if her "fiancee neglected to open the door for her, she would stand staring at the door until he realized his mistake."  Wow, dude, you need to run now because she is not someone to stay with.  Feeling entitled is a dangerous path to travel down and a very unhappy one.  We live in an entitled world where we "deserve to have that door opened for us."  But that's not how we should live because we don't live for ourselves.  Maybe she really is that weak or maybe it's easier to ask someone else to do it for you.  I can't answer that question for anyone. I've seen really really cool awesome guy burdened down with a wife who can't seem to do anything for herself and I see the drain it takes on them.  I'm strong and I've been on my own for a while, no man to help me with everyday life so life has made me be quite capable and independent.  But I'd love to be in a relationship where we work together, using our various strengths in harmony, being better together than apart.  I know the limits of my physical strength and I have no issues asking a man to help me out or taking their assistance when they ask if they can help.  Folks will tell me that women are to subject themselves to the authority of a man however that seems to only be within the confines of marriage and I'm not married.  The Bible does not tell me that I am weak.  The Bible does not tell me that I am helpless.  (I can hear you out there and I'll answer you right now....I am weak, definitely, that's why I need Christ. And I am helpless.... to enter heaven without His grace.  Please realize I'm talking about another kind of weak and helpless.) I've been told by those within the church that since men want to feel special that you should allow them to do things for you, things you are capable of doing all by yourself and you should pretend you can't (really, I was told that!).  While I understand letting guys do something for you to some degree (see below), I also don't think I should fake or lie just to make someone feel better while denying who and what I am.  I have stepped aside and let the men help us with a job and let them have fun and show off to one another.  They have fun and we usually get a few laughs out of it.  No harm done.

This is not a bash against men at all but against the reasons presented in the article and comments.  Men are awesome, cool, and they balance us out just how God designed and goodness knows I love having them around!  There are a lot of great men in my life through family and camp and if I've ever been in trouble or need back up to get unwanted guests out of the way, I'm grateful that they come to my aid.  Is it because I was weak?  Not necessarily, I just needed help; maybe I was weak at that moment. And that's the point.  We are all weak at some point while others are strong and can lift us up.  We do need each other.  We all need help sometimes. Common courtesy, putting others second, respect for our fellow man, showing love as Christ has commanded.....this should be our foundation for our acts of love and service to all of mankind-men, women, children, elderly, sick, and even the strong....everyone needs to feel the love of Christ through our acts of service.  The weakest of all of us can serve the strongest through their love and service.

The second article I was referring to is here:  Relationship not leadership and it's mostly the last paragraph that connected the two articles for me.  It's actually about horses.  :-)

Camp's Fall Colors

I've taken some cool shots around camp of the fall colors lately and thought you'd might like to see them.

Happy Trails

During the kid's fall break, we decided to experience Amie's "new" RV for the first time.  While it wasn't ready, and we weren't ready, to take it out far, we were ready to take it virtually to our back yard and camp out for the night.  So we headed across the river to Keith's house and parked it by his barn.  I made a fantastic 1 match fire, we made hobo dinners and roasted marshmellows, and finally settled into our spots in the RV.  I got the spot above the front seats.  Small but warmer than the rest of the RV.  It did get warmer once the space heater got going.

A great campfire breakfast of eggs and french toast capped off our camping trip, a mere 2 miles from home!






The next day, Amie and I took the kids on their very first Winamac trip.  We'd been talking about the day that might happen and it finally happened!  I rode Max, Braydn rode Haddie, Gavin rode Clifford, and Amie and Reagan rode Dude.  The kids were troopers and we rode a good 2 hours.  It was an amazing day and so much fun to take the kids with us.

Traverse City Travels

After a long summer and a busy start to the fall, it was time to GETAWAY!  I was going to be going by myself and I decided to have a completely unplanned, alone, vacation.  All I did was decide on a destination and booked a hotel.  It was going to be 4 days of getting up when I wanted, deciding on what I was going to do that morning, and if I passed by something that looked interesting, I was going to stop.  Fun to go unscripted every once in a while.  After a busy weekend, I loaded up my truck with several bales of hay to go to Ben and Carrie's in South Bend (they have two of our horses) and make the first two hours of the trek.  A couple of good hours at the Modlin's and some dinner and I make the next 5 or so hours of the trek.  For as tired as I was, I was feeling pretty good about the drive.  Easy, good gas mileage.....until I start to get low on gas.  It appeared there were several big towns ahead and surely there were gas stations.  Of course there were....they just weren't open and they didn't leave their pumps on.  So the first town I got to I drove around a bit but didn't find any open station.  My light wasn't on yet so I decided to go for the next town.  Next town, station but pumps aren't on.  Bummer.  As I sat there, at midnight, trying to decide whether to keep going or try to find something open, I prayed and decided to keep going.  As I left the station, my light did come on (Come on!) but I felt like the only option was to keep going.  There was nothing inbetween the towns and the area kept looking desolate.  I accelerated slowly and coasted down the hills.  Still going....still going....then bam!  A bright, lit up, oasis in the middle of nowhere.  A huge Shell station.  Coasted in and filled up my next to empty tank.  Turns out, I was 7 miles from Traverse City.  Wouldn't have made it anyways though.  I pulled into the Travel Lodge around 1 am and was in bed by 2.  Slept in really late and then made my first plans of vacation.  Sleeping Bear Dune here I come.  Or so I thought.  Turns out it was closed due to the government shutdown.  :-P on the government.  However, I noticed a semi-full parking lot and the barricade had been moved.  I guess the public decided to take back the land.  :-)  I enjoyed a good 3 hours hiking the dunes with the other families-everyone from grandparents to kids, everyone was enjoying their time "trespassing"-and making the 3 mile trek to Lake Michigan.  

Next stop, Stocking Scenic Drive.  Also closed.  But never fear.  Why drive when you can walk it?  Once again, several folks were in the parking lot and I asked them what they did and they had walked around some.  Turns out, it was a very long walk and I ended up cutting off part of it.

Even the drive back to the hotel was gorgeous.  Fall colors were beautiful and the sun was just right.  I stopped at a gas station to pick up dinner (I brought all my breakfasts and lunches so I just had to get dinner-very economical).  Stopped a few times on the way back to snap some pictures of those beautiful colors.

That night I rested my very weary calves and looked up a few places to go for the next day.  The Yuba Creek Natural Area was first on my list.  I spent some time hiking in absolute quiet, lying on my back watching crazy cloud formations, and watching a hawk float through the sky.










Then on up to Old Mission Peninsula to see the light house up there.

 That night, I decided to look up a restaurant unique and well known to Traverse City and landed on Bubba's Bar and Restaurant.  Very good, very unhealthy, and, since it was down pouring, a wet excursion.  I sat at the bar next to an older local who loved to talk.  All in all, another great, unplanned day. :-)

Wednesday wasn't the most successful day as I couldn't find a few of the places I was wanting to visit but I did get to take a hike through parts of the Leelanau State Park as I waited for the lighthouse to open on Leelanau Peninsula.  It was a very rainy, windy day.

 After the park and lighthouse, my next stop didn't pan out so I headed on out to Grass River Natural Area, a good hours drive.  It was completely desolate as sundown was approaching.  Their trails weren't mapped out well and I didn't stray too far.  On my way back to the hotel, I stopped at a local diner for some food.  It was my last night in Traverse.

The drive home was very rainy and I went home through Holland.  As I got closer to South Bend, I made the very impromptu decision to try to stop and see some of my relatives.  I surprised two of my aunts and spent time talking to them.  Then two more hours and I'm home.  All in all, a good vacation.  :-)

Warrior Dash 2013

Good day blog world.  After another hiatus from blogging (summer camp was entirely too draining), I am finally back.  Before I go into how our summer ended, I should bring you up to speed on my adventure from last Saturday.  After much prodding from a friend who had signed up for the Warrior Dash in Crawfordsville, I decided to finally sign up myself in June.  I've never done anything like this before and while it sounded fun, I was hoping I wasn't going to get hurt or that it wouldn't be too much for me to handle, especially since I hadn't trained at all for it.  But I decided to do it even as the days counted down, I found myself not wanting to do it.  Then Sara backed out and the person who had persuaded me to try it wasn't going to be with us as we conquered the course.  Alex and I bravely (?) soldiered on and decided to do it.  I have done two races in my lifetime and I hated it both times.  A 5K at the Indy Mini-Marathon and a 5K at Faith a long time ago.  I had no inclination to do another.   But obstacle courses are fun and I thought that this was worth a shot.  I read up about what to expect, what to wear, etc and by 11 am Saturday I am headed on down to Crawfordsville to meet up with Alex for our 1:30pm slot.  When we meet up, we are both like, "Why the hell are we doing doing this??"  But we decide to continue on and enter into the madness.  We check in, get our timing chips, check our bags, and wait in line for the 1:30 wave.  Above is what we looked like before the race started.....it was the cleanest we'd be for the rest of the day.          
We start off in the second portion of the 1:30 wave and pretty soon we're running up hills, mounds, through creeks (and marking them all as "obstacles" in our heads), and then we hit the first obstacles of crawling through mud tunnels under barbed wire.  Up and down some muddy slopes, over and under walls and barbed wire, a rope crossing over a ravine, and finally we are maybe halfway through.  A few water breaks here and there and we were ready to conquer the next half of the course.  Lots of crawling through mud and crawling up walls with a slippery rope.  There were a lot of waits at the walls and at the mud pit but everyone else seemed to be having a great time, helping one another out and cheering when they made it.  At one wall, the wait was so long that the mud began to dry on us, making a nice hard layer.  I was proud of how well I did at the walls concerning that 1) I'm a girl and 2) Most of the girls were struggling.  I try not to brag but I thought I did a fine job climbing up the walls.  I had a rough go at the monkey bars with my wet/muddy hands.  I decided to just drop into the water/mud pit which looked to be about 6-7 feet from the water but I didn't know how deep the water was.  When I dropped in, it turned out to be much deeper than anticipated and at first I thought I blew out my knee but thankfully, a few strides later, it didn't hurt nearly as bad.  A little sore later but definitely not what I thought at first.  At the end we had a few more walls to go up and over, a few boats to go up and over, another hill, a swim through the lake, a few modest jumps over fire, then one last swim through mud under barbed wire.  I finished the race smiling and knowing that I'll probably do this again.  I was very proud of my medal.  Alex and I washed off in the lake, redeemed our chips for a free (nasty) beer which we didn't drink much of, then we were off to home with wet, muddy, nasty clothing.  I honestly had a blast and want to sign up for next year.  There was a definite thrill to knowing I could handle those obstacles.  Before I leave, I have a few pictures to share of the experience.  Fun fun fun!