tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28213105749130779692024-02-20T23:33:36.301-05:00these hungry dragonsa tale of 2 girls on a quest to compete in world dragon boating championshipsLhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03876789779483382483noreply@blogger.comBlogger134125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2821310574913077969.post-79937800582939705472015-08-27T14:50:00.003-04:002015-08-27T20:02:07.216-04:002 Ways to Supercharge Your Fitness This Weekend<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1EUubezgPFE8sK7_HghHl4U6k5rOPOD5Qhc5EHcIQuW5oA0RPbAXg0_iq2H06HwQk2RlJ0CfO1AIO-InGqCi8FOOCFjH2hbVAljZ4DRXOXCYz_iO2H8iuOrCYA4uqhsRCXVrS_QGngFw/s1600/11221739_771925642921752_852684363852472141_o.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1EUubezgPFE8sK7_HghHl4U6k5rOPOD5Qhc5EHcIQuW5oA0RPbAXg0_iq2H06HwQk2RlJ0CfO1AIO-InGqCi8FOOCFjH2hbVAljZ4DRXOXCYz_iO2H8iuOrCYA4uqhsRCXVrS_QGngFw/s400/11221739_771925642921752_852684363852472141_o.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Malians at the 2015 Summer Splash in Montreal</td></tr>
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Local to Burlington, VT? In a fitness rut? Sick of just [insert activity here] day in day out?<br />
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Or maybe you're training hard but without any great purpose... in which case, try these two things:<br />
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<ol>
<li>Come down to the Burlington Waterfront on Saturday, August 29 between the hours of 9am and 12 noon. Put yourself through one of Malia Racing's classic fitness evaluations and see how you stack up! Top men's and women's results will get a free month of training and paddling with the crew!</li>
<li>Join one of the Malia practices Monday and Wednesday nights. We launch at 6:00pm from the Lake Champlain Community Sailing Center. If you've never tried dragon boat before, you'll be in for a treat (not to mention a full body workout that will test both your cardio endurance and muscle strength)!</li>
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That's it - simple really. Come down and try this dragon boat thing before the season ends and we're forced indoors! (More info: <a href="http://maliaracing.com/">maliaracing.com</a>)<br />
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<br />Lhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03876789779483382483noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2821310574913077969.post-84034319179173065592014-04-16T21:06:00.001-04:002014-04-16T21:33:20.728-04:00How to make your dreams come true in 10 easy steps<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdIxd4ajZ9WS4GvCYSq0Z0-MKvISbAeoDqlQk7oS5Kp6RA5ZgEj7rvdALl74byTJbKOD8vwUyg7uagfQv9yE0cSdLf1r3npVF8daPvaXP0SzHasJ2q4YEN2on2M2mxsNQkDO2NvlfqQIA/s640/IMAG2093-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdIxd4ajZ9WS4GvCYSq0Z0-MKvISbAeoDqlQk7oS5Kp6RA5ZgEj7rvdALl74byTJbKOD8vwUyg7uagfQv9yE0cSdLf1r3npVF8daPvaXP0SzHasJ2q4YEN2on2M2mxsNQkDO2NvlfqQIA/s640/IMAG2093-1.jpg" height="177" width="200" /></a>Well.... Ok, maybe not exactly <i>easy</i>, but I will let you be the judge.<br />
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Step 1 - Buy an old house and fall head over heels with it<br />
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Step 2 - Chuck existing, fairly lucrative and way too safe career, move to VT and enter graduate school in order to learn how to care for said old house properly<br />
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Step 3 - Join local fire department dragon boat team on a lark to raise money for charity but mostly for an excuse to have rowdy, splashy fun<br />
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Step 4 - Meet your future BFF and long-lost twin (pay no mind that she's darker, shorter and speaks with an accent quite unlike yours, she's definitely kin)<br />
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Step 5 - Get told "who are we kidding, you're not an athlete" but join elite dragon boat club with your new BFF anyway, and cross a border 2-3 times a week to do it because you can<br />
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Step 6 - Suffer through bikram yoga to train for competition in Hong Kong; make up a new on-your-butt steering style to make sure you don't flip boat in one of busiest harbors in the world; and manage to win world championships with 22 now-sisters-for-life<br />
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Step 7 - Ignore naysayers who try to squish your big ideas and start your own dragon boat club with BFF, with huge support from those who truly matter<br />
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Step 8 - Earn a spot on Team USA dragon boat team and represent your country (along with BFF no less!!)<br />
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Step 9 - Marry your (former) coach and personal trainer<br />
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Step 10 - Put in for a shot at coaching a national team - and GET IT. Actually, you get TWO teams. And the best part. WITH YOUR BFF!!<br />
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And there you have it. All you have to do is buy an old house.<br />
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Ok, so there are a few things I left out but the bottom line is, this week G and I learned that we were selected to coach two USA national teams: the U24 Open (men 18-24) and the U24 Women (women 18-24). We are thrilled, honored, excited, humbled, crazy excited, breathless, happy, super excited and just... WOW. Words cannot express how we are feeling right now. Here we are, as unlikely two friends as ever there could be, who met by chance by a fence in a field by a dilapidated old building (hmm... I'm beginning to sense a theme here), who fell in love with a sport they had never even known existed, who followed their hearts, who learned and watched and soaked up every little thing they could, who paddled and trained and coached and paddled more and trained harder and just went for it. That's the lesson here. You gotta <b>go for it</b>. But if you want to buy and love and care for an old house I highly encourage that too. Because old houses are just as awesome as dragon boats.<br />
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">G & L at opening ceremonies in Szeged, Hungary this past summer.</span></div>
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1. We each qualified for the USA National Dragon Boat Team - G in Senior A women's division, L in Premier Women's and Premier Mixed divisions.</div>
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2. We wore the Team USA uniform in Hungary and netted four glorious medals. EACH.</div>
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3. We started our own competitive dragon boat racing club (www.maliaracing.com)</div>
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4. We took a ragtag bunch of complete novices (sprinkled with a few dormant and even some not-so-new) paddlers and guided them to glory (first season on the water and we medal in a tough division).</div>
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Also - two things that weren't part of the plan but came about in amazing and wonderful ways anyway: </div>
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L got married (to her and G's first Montreal and fellow Malia coach/co-founder - such a reach this sport has on people's lives!) - G now has to share L a little bit ;-)</div>
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G discovered a new passion and fierce talent for drumming and leading group exercise.</div>
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SO what's next?</div>
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1. We're presently working hard working Malia members SUPER hard and recruiting new members to complete our men's (premier), women's (premier) and Grand Dragons (50+) mixed teams. (Know anyone or want to join? Let us know!!)</div>
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2. We're also working hard back at the gym ourselves, trying to make sure we're on the roster for Club Crew Championships in Ravenna Italy with our Montreal team (roster will be announced in February).</div>
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And the rest of the plan .... we'll leave for another day. This is PLENTY to focus on for now!</div>
Lhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03876789779483382483noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2821310574913077969.post-88627185473498143362013-09-30T08:28:00.001-04:002013-09-30T08:38:38.246-04:00A dream come true: representing our country at world championships!<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuf-d8gPHuholbTUldW8VMQxhmu4dFnnE7ZrJY5ThjnrJ8LAvQImTMpFzLofb-h7TL-WBHsrRzCsDPXU20XbfQcTFZWbiooRWSNBqTI5mY59gbxOgI_-CUsoisXqijbjQbpBYgSVitxPg/s400/IMAG1022-1.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="375" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">We MADE it. Vermont girls who went off to train in Canada in order to make Team USA. The gamble paid off (if those smiles are any indication at all)... here we are at opening ceremonies at the World Nations Dragon Boat Championships in Szeged, Hungary earlier this summer. </td></tr>
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This has been such an exciting summer... it's been a whirlwind of activity: so much so that I've been unable to keep up! In my last post we'd just made the national team... and here we are in the thick of autumn already - the boats are out of the water, paddles have been put away, and flip-flops have been traded for sneakers as we begin our season of intense indoor training. Over the next few weeks, I'll be chipping away at getting caught up! </div>
Lhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03876789779483382483noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2821310574913077969.post-30244317938219417492013-06-27T07:15:00.001-04:002013-06-27T07:15:24.016-04:00How to render a border guard speechlessSo I'm crossing the border, alone for once, and roll up to be greeted by a tall, young, fresh-faced guy. I've only seen him once before, but I'm apparently quite familiar to him.<br />
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"Dragon boating again?"<br />
"Yes sir!"<br />
"Are you going to end up in the Olympics or what?"<br />
"Hell yeah! My team won at worlds last year and I just made the US National Team!"<br />
"Get OUUUUUUUTTTT!.... I was just kidding. For real?? Seriously?"<br />
"Yeah! Why else would I do this back and forth shit so much? Oops, sorry..."<br />
"Oh that's fine, I say shit all the time."<br />
[chuckling]<br />
"REALLY?" he continues. "National team?"<br />
"Yup. We're competing in Hungary next month."<br />
"Wow."<br />
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And thus, suitably impressed and enlightened that this is not just a cute little hobby but a kickass, serious sport, he gave me a big smile and wave and sent me on my way. I should have tried to recruit him for our club. Next time I'll have my poster and "come try dragonboating" flyers ready.. (I wonder if there are any laws against trying to solicit government personnel ... )Lhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03876789779483382483noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2821310574913077969.post-51239783855991521122013-06-23T07:52:00.001-04:002013-06-23T07:52:15.214-04:00OC Training - Hungry Dragons style!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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So, we have this incredible friend who let us use her OC1 to train on. She lives a little off the beaten path, so her crazy-amazing-inventor husband rigged up their golf cart with a hitch, crafted a trailer, and devised the most fun way in the world to move the thing around.<br />
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Here are G and I coming back from our first session with this whole getup. Not sure what we enjoyed the most... the paddling or the zipping around with the cart!<br />
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<br />Lhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03876789779483382483noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2821310574913077969.post-32508629297415087952013-06-23T07:46:00.001-04:002013-06-23T07:46:26.666-04:00Made the cut for TEAM USA!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
OMG so much has been happening!! So, we trained like mad, went to Tampa to check out and paddle with members of past USA national teams and other hopefuls like ourselves, then had our own crew's training camp in Myrtle Beach, then trained some more back in Montreal... and then did qualifying time trials on an OC1 (outrigger canoe) to see if any of it had paid off. </div>
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IT HAD.</div>
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We BOTH made the cut for Team USA.</div>
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I was in the garden, doing a bit of weeding and whatnot, when my teenager ran out of the house yelling.</div>
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"Mommmm!! Aunty G is on the phone. She's crying. I think something's wrong!"</div>
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I bolted out of the bushes and grabbed the phone with my grubby, dirt-caked hands. G was SOBBING uncontrollably.</div>
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"Breathe, woman, I can't understand a word you're saying!" I said. "WTF is going on?"</div>
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"Did.. you.. sniff.. get.. sniff... an email... hic hic sniff...?"</div>
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"No, I'm in the garden.. what happened.."</div>
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"OMG L... I made it. I made T-sniff-E-sniff-A-sniff-M USA!" (more wailing and sniffing)</div>
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"HOLY SHIT, we just tested yesterday!"</div>
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We hung up, I checked my messages, and called her back.</div>
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"MEEEE TOOOOO!! And apparently I need to go to freakin' Philly and retest because my time was close to what they're looking for for Premier. Double Holy Shit!"</div>
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Blah blah blah, lots of yelling, sniffing, choking, laughing, disbelief, etc. Hard to believe that when we first decided to set out on this journey we were told not to kid ourselves, that we weren't athletes. Just goes to show - if you believe in something, and want it bad enough, you can DO ANYTHING.</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhacH_xo4Zt1hA4N4oTv4QSTAbRpY3bJC1KxR2_Uo3xyoTxx_WfoiYr8qado31DGoz-O7WikyTHCACB0uOp7XBLgxBouTEizxGFuAoHT1RAi8rA2Avuf3loldOXe_IyQxejWeuR1IPchEs/s1600/team+usa2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhacH_xo4Zt1hA4N4oTv4QSTAbRpY3bJC1KxR2_Uo3xyoTxx_WfoiYr8qado31DGoz-O7WikyTHCACB0uOp7XBLgxBouTEizxGFuAoHT1RAi8rA2Avuf3loldOXe_IyQxejWeuR1IPchEs/s1600/team+usa2.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">But you can't do it alone. Look what a couple of our biggest supporters did for us! Flowers, hair pieces, a paper towel banner, flags to wave and guide us all up their driveway... you'd think we brokered world peace or something. So awesome to have people behind us and to share each accomplishment with us :)</td></tr>
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<br />Lhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03876789779483382483noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2821310574913077969.post-8814562400552752852013-03-27T20:27:00.002-04:002013-03-27T20:27:58.780-04:00L & G's amazing adventure is about to pick up speedSerious Speed.<br />
<br />
But more about that later.<br />
<br />
This week we decided to have fun. All week long. Coach A gave me a cool new book of exercises and I've been making up our weight routines. Our bodies hurt in a whole new dimension!! And we're having a blast. And to cap it all off - today our friend Adam was in the gym at the same time, and put us through some incredible ab work to finish off our workout. That was awesome.<br />
<br />
Life is sooooo good.Lhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03876789779483382483noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2821310574913077969.post-21025064532425099992013-03-06T16:30:00.002-05:002013-03-06T16:30:25.616-05:00How to do assisted pullups properly<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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In this month's program, we have, surprise surprise, pullups. No matter how many of them you do, they're still hard and not much fun. Luckily, coach said we can use assistance to get back up this week. So we decided on this method. Efficient (both of us in one shot) and damn cool to boot! Bet no one else has a super-awesome-strong gym friend like us :)Lhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03876789779483382483noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2821310574913077969.post-92019535374642506772013-03-05T07:23:00.006-05:002013-03-05T07:23:46.144-05:00Less than 2 weeks to another fit test<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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We've got another fit test on the horizon, and then training camp, and we've been working our you-know-what's off to be ready.<br />
<br />
So this morning when I saw this cartoon as I was trying to motivate myself to ignore my throbbing head and instead get it together and go train, I was instantly reminded why we do what we do :)<br />
<br />
Off to the gym I go then!Lhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03876789779483382483noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2821310574913077969.post-87006978020981680962013-02-13T21:58:00.004-05:002013-02-13T21:58:47.529-05:00best border crossing everOk so maybe it's just the best one of 2013 - so far. But it was hilarious nonetheless.<br />
<br />
I drive up to the booth. New (to me) guy greets me and we go through the preliminaries.<br />
<br />
"Where are you going?"<br />
"Home, to Burlington."<br />
"Where are you coming from?"<br />
"Montreal."<br />
"What were you doing there?"<br />
"Dragon boat training."<br />
<br />
He does a visible double take, turns to look at me closely, eyebrows raised.<br />
"Dragon boat? Do you ever sink?"<br />
"No!" I say, adding a little indignance (and maybe just a tad of "you idiot") to my tone. I'm about to tell him I paddle with a world championship team thank you very much, when he cuts in.<br />
"No? Aren't they made of cardboard?"<br />
"Cardboard? No way!" I don't know who is more surprised at this point - him or me.<br />
"Ok, well what IS a dragon boat then?" <i>Keep it simple girl</i>.<br />
"A 40-foot, fiberglass war canoe."<br />
"OH COOL! I thought they were made of cardboard."<br />
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There's a first for everything right?Lhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03876789779483382483noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2821310574913077969.post-5969685054750883482013-01-23T21:31:00.001-05:002013-01-23T21:33:56.691-05:00Missing my twin :(<p>G is in sunny Miami (while I am stuck in this stupid deep freeze in VT) to run her annual half in the marathon.... And I am a wreck without my bff, training partner, sister, twin. Weird. Is it a full moon or something? Good luck G!!!!!! I know you can beat your previous time and then some, you little rhino!</p>
<div class='separator' style='clear: both; text-align: center;'> <a href='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidW7wRdUYrXy4Hxn1SyhpD9KrKUFpyTDR7Fq_biIc0z7bG8dD-J_Of9NLyptKLB-YZdm5gwXU7kw13R9mfGOGtMfb7-IDhZBcIjeSKfZJDtLC4hxwLCYIGNP2YxY7x3Byni8T7qaZW_XU/s1600/IMG951167.jpg' imageanchor='1' style='margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;'> <img border='0' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidW7wRdUYrXy4Hxn1SyhpD9KrKUFpyTDR7Fq_biIc0z7bG8dD-J_Of9NLyptKLB-YZdm5gwXU7kw13R9mfGOGtMfb7-IDhZBcIjeSKfZJDtLC4hxwLCYIGNP2YxY7x3Byni8T7qaZW_XU/s640/IMG951167.jpg' /> </a> </div>Lhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03876789779483382483noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2821310574913077969.post-60090342654139558312013-01-22T20:41:00.000-05:002013-01-22T20:41:12.233-05:00Our debut appearance on TV!Psyched to share this fun piece with you highlighting our amazing journey, our awesome sport and our beloved team... check it out, we're featured just a few minutes in. Thank you Vermont Public Television!!<br />
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<div style="background: transparent; color: grey; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; margin-top: 5px; text-align: center; width: 512px;">
Watch <a href="http://video.pbs.org/video/2327793824" style="color: #4eb2fe !important; font-weight: normal !important; height: 13px; text-decoration: none !important;" target="_blank">Episode 3</a> on PBS. See more from <a href="http://www.vpt.org/show/19709" style="color: #4eb2fe !important; font-weight: normal !important; height: 13px; text-decoration: none !important;" target="_blank">Out & About.</a></div>
Lhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03876789779483382483noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2821310574913077969.post-38185515355611079222013-01-17T23:30:00.001-05:002013-01-17T23:30:03.213-05:00What do we have in common with The Biggest Loser?<p>Bob's workout!! For a little variety we decided to model our circuit on Bob Harper's deck of cards workout this week. My daughter M joined us. Halfway through as we were sweating hard we all thought "shit, if 400lb people can get through this without dying so can we." And we did. Then for good measure we did it again!</p>
<div class='separator' style='clear: both; text-align: center;'> <a href='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4zxG91DTe295k9siyk5RW1evbig0c8oLk98JVjqbmw49pSo8MpJUmI9PubZxcAZn1HnvAKrJ7mBDrU7fS2RlwcuktwPZ9pFetJSclX2KUtItaZGTVoG2e9d-IvXPefFAX8ZxoA6iJ2oU/s1600/IMAG0346.jpg' imageanchor='1' style='margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;'> <img border='0' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4zxG91DTe295k9siyk5RW1evbig0c8oLk98JVjqbmw49pSo8MpJUmI9PubZxcAZn1HnvAKrJ7mBDrU7fS2RlwcuktwPZ9pFetJSclX2KUtItaZGTVoG2e9d-IvXPefFAX8ZxoA6iJ2oU/s640/IMAG0346.jpg' /> </a> </div>Lhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03876789779483382483noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2821310574913077969.post-37417476245623522822013-01-02T22:36:00.000-05:002013-01-02T22:44:36.633-05:00HAPPY NEW YEARWell we worked hard in 2012 and rewarded ourselves with a good party New Year's eve. We gathered at G's, flashing 2013 glasses and hats and noisemakers - the whole nine yards. R rewarded all our work with a big bottle of Johnnie Walker Blue Label - which we polished off very happily. It was an event planned to the last detail. G's mom made a big steaming pot of that Latin classic, Sancocho and I was charged with dessert.<br />
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"Make flan," A said.<br />
"Yeah riiiight," quipped I. "I'm going to make flan for the Puerto Ricans. That's suicide!!"<br />
<br />
So I texted G.<br />
<i>What do you want for dessert?</i><br />
<i>Flan.</i><br />
<i>You're as crazy as A! You're gonna rip me apart!</i><br />
<i>And make it properly. With condensed milk and everything.</i><br />
<i>Fine. You're on.</i><br />
<i><br /></i>
And on she was. I laughed in the face of danger (her AND her mother) and went for it. A, bless his heart, helped.<br />
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Our first crack at caramelizing the sugar was a bust. The recipe I found called for regular white sugar. Well, that liquified, then solidified and turned back into sugar again. And stayed bright white. BUST.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">yay, success!</td></tr>
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"Try brown sugar" he said, citing a Filipino recipe. So after wiping up the mess, we tried again - with the brown. We'd figured out the ideal temperature to simmer it at by this time, and it worked beautifully.<br />
<br />
I mixed up some condensed milk, eggs, vanilla and a few other secret things, and poured it into a pie plate, on top of the waiting caramelized sugar. Just to make sure i didn't create some awful tasting disaster, I made extra in a few custard cups. Into a pan of water and into the oven the entire thing went - with a small prayer to the kitchen goddess that my oven would actually burn at the temperature it was supposed to.<br />
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40 minutes later - out it came, looking fabulous. And it tasted pretty good too. I sent a picture to G.<br />
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<i>OMG. OMG. OMG you dared and it looks AMAZING. I am glad M is not coming. I am going to eat her piece.</i><br />
<br />
Of course I decided I needed to bring it on a fancy platter - which was too big and caused the thing to slide all over the place. But A, balancing it on his knees the whole ride over, took it all in his regular, relaxed stride. Me on the other hand, had tasted so much sugary gooey-ness in the making of this masterpiece that I had a fashion/body meltdown and went on a closet rampage minutes before we had to leave. I'm very thankful nobody trussed me up and threw me INTO the closet. Boy was I ugly there for a moment.<br />
<br />
Anyway, I found an outfit, fixed my hair, breathed in and out a few times. We all got into the car and headed over to G's.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">yup, she ate it all. with a big-a** spoon</td></tr>
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She dove into it the minute we stepped inside. Her mom too. Great - I didn't even get to have a first drink to settle my nerves.<br />
<br />
"OMG, that's so good," was G's verdict.<br />
It was her mom's opinion I was afraid of though. I barely dared look her in the eye as she went in for a taste. She took her time. She swirled it around, then swallowed, then opened her mouth to speak. I was a nervous wreck (thank goodness for the nice big glass of Blue Label right now).<br />
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"It's good!" Phew. "A little too much.." <i>oh crap, what!? What!? "</i>vanilla. But otherwise very good."<br />
<br />
Quick as a flash, A came to my rescue.<br />
"It's Filipino leche flan, that's why there's vanilla." Dude, I can't wait to marry this man. I fair fell on the floor with relief and gratitude.<br />
<br />
"Ah, Filipino flan..." mom muttered. And that was that, vanilla explained. (For the record, I didn't think there WAS all that heady a vanilla-ing, but what do I know, I've never made this stuff before nor do I eat it on a regular basis. In fact, I think I've had it twice in my still young life.)<br />
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Tastes completed, we danced, ate the sancocho, digested a few seconds and dished up proper servings of flan. And then waited for the glittery ball to drop and announce 2013. Toot toot!Lhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03876789779483382483noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2821310574913077969.post-89510890521712532442012-11-23T23:50:00.001-05:002012-11-23T23:50:55.864-05:00How to survive a fitness test<p>New season, new attitude. Tomorrow we are going into the first fit test of our new season confident, calm and ready. We are not stressing about any of the numbers (scale, bench weight, chinups, erg time, etc). We're just gonna go in, do our job, and get out. It's about winning the mental game now.</p>
<p>(We'll see how that works out. Stay tuned!)</p>
<p>Also we found the light switch for the sauna. No more scaring little children with our nudity!</p>
Lhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03876789779483382483noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2821310574913077969.post-25922898749062391072012-11-22T20:52:00.001-05:002012-11-22T20:52:00.657-05:00While some trained, others ate<p>We skipped our Montreal weekly session tonight, and feasted instead. Sometimes family, friends and laughs are exactly what a body needs...especially right before the first fit test of the season. Happy Thanksgiving!!</p>
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The regulars at the gym have been taking notice of our workouts of late. </div>
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"Wow, you girls are really hitting it hard lately!"</div>
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"I love to see you two in here lifting every day."</div>
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"So I hear you had a really great summer. What's next?"</div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Ahhh... I could fall asleep in here <br />
(not recommended!)</td></tr>
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What's next indeed? Hopefully representing the USA in Hungary come summer that's what. And making sure we hold onto our spots with our Montreal team - because nothing is a given. Five new girls are trying out - and coach is going to be making some cuts in the next few weeks already. Why? There's no way to keep 28-30 of us on the roster: we don't all fit in the paddling tank and we have to switch out constantly - which makes it tough when coach is trying to put us through an endurance, multiple-set workout. Don't get me wrong - we manage, but it's not ideal. For us or for our coach. Neither do we fit into our circuit room. Especially when we're benching with regulation-size bars. One of those in the thigh or head is not pleasant! And when you're doubled over in pain trying to suck in all the air you can - but it's all sweaty, hot, polluted air.. well, you tend to keel over ;-)<br />
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So anyway, back to the story. We've upped our game already, this early in winter training - simply because we have to. We have to hold onto our seats. We have our first fit test Thanksgiving weekend. We are going to be competing against women from across the country for the US national team next spring. And after a really welcome almost 2-month break (from paddling, not training!) - we're re-energized and ready to go.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDh3xIKvRz6dTvXJYetA5GPnjbcZQV_PkSPxp3IF8JLehD4I-tQkcXheLinBDGIEAuHzExcjIy1xdwWkvlv2Dc23LOTRODYixpkJQGwBrcYysHtPiJ5k6foIER3EpW3ETNAv7RVXLGuvQ/s1600/IMAG0021.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDh3xIKvRz6dTvXJYetA5GPnjbcZQV_PkSPxp3IF8JLehD4I-tQkcXheLinBDGIEAuHzExcjIy1xdwWkvlv2Dc23LOTRODYixpkJQGwBrcYysHtPiJ5k6foIER3EpW3ETNAv7RVXLGuvQ/s320/IMAG0021.jpg" width="180" /></a><br />
<br />
We have a new, 2nd assistant coach who is already not hesitating to kick our butts. He did that this morning, and then coach P alleviated all the pain Coach Y inflicted upon us with stretches that made us scream and squeal ... After a hot shower all I wanted was a looong nap. Til at least Tuesday. But I can't, because tomorrow G and I have a date to go get some wet heat therapy... splishy fun in the hot tub followed by languid stretching in the sauna. Heaven! And not just fun - but important. So we can keep coming back and working hard... [and getting noticed.. yeah, we sorta dig that :) ]<br />
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Lhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03876789779483382483noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2821310574913077969.post-3599358167643474962012-11-01T20:13:00.000-04:002012-11-01T20:19:14.708-04:00We're Back and We're NakedBig workout today. MONSTER. So big in fact that a gentleman who'd been valiantly working away on an elliptical machine for an interminable time before he decided to go hit something heavyish came up to us as we were axe-chopping our way through a stack of weights on the cable machine.<br />
<br />
"Man, I can't wait to do shoulder exercises like you."<br />
<i>Hmm...okay....</i><br />
"I saw you hitting it hard over there.."<br />
"Yeah," I laughed, "today's a big shoulder day!"<br />
"I had rotator cuff surgery six weeks ago, and one pound hurts like mad."<br />
<i>Aaaah.... the post injury workout attempt. I understand that one. It sucks.</i><br />
<i><br /></i>
Interesting mix of folks in there with us today. An especially memorable pair were two 20-something hot tamales, in full make-up and pricey-looking outfits. I think they worked out their mouths and eyes more than any other parts of their bodies - though I did see them do two gym-lengths of walking squats with a 5lb dumbell in each hand. Afterward they plopped on the mat and "stretched." Chuckling, we left them there to their social event. They reminded me of me, twenty years ago, when all I had at home were 2lb, 5lb and 8lb pretty pink dumbbells and I thought my Billy Blanks Tae Bo VHS set was badass. Is it wrong to channel an old Virginia Slims ad? Ah to hell with it - WE'VE COME A LOOOOOOONG WAY BABY!<br />
<br />
Anyway...spent, we hit the sauna. Naked of course. We laid towels down to protect our cheeks and plopped our bums down on the top bench. G looked right, I looked left, our eyes connected and.... we dissolved into fits of giggles.<br />
<br />
"Here we go again.. we're back! Winter training has begun."<br />
"Did you even SEE the summer? It was like zoom zoom zoom HONG KONG zoom zoom zoom END OF SEASON."<br />
"Yeah, I have no idea where it went. It just whizzed right on by."<br />
"Yup we're back. And we're naked."<br />
"Hey G.. could you build a sauna please? So we can enjoy this with our men?"<br />
She squinted at me. "So you can hang it out with my husband?"<br />
<br />
More giggles.<br />
<br />
"Oh right, yeah, probably not," I said when I could breathe again.<br />
"Actually, he wouldn't care. He'd be down with it." Hmmm.. would A? I'll have to ask him later.<br />
<br />
The sauna door is glass, and looks out onto a hallway that leads to the sinks, toilet stalls, lockers and the pool. It's a heavy traffic area. Right on the inside of the door is a lamp. It has a very bright bulb in it. So bright, that if you are sitting on the top bench inside, which we do, you are illuminated brilliantly and, your nakedness is, shall we say, not hideable. Not that we give an iota. We stopped caring a loooong time ago. So we're hanging out, chatting, laughing, glistening all over as the heat melts away all our aches and tension... and suddenly we see the pretty girls approach the door. And turn abruptly away right before reaching it.<br />
<br />
Yet more giggles.<br />
<br />
But within 2 minutes they were back, tightly toweled and hiding behind their still-fresh-from-the-laundry sport bras. We did the only thing we could do. Clamped our knees and draped the corners of our towels over the tops of our thighs. Courage summoned, but keeping their eyes averted, pretty girls came in, slunk over to the corner, and carried on the same conversation they'd been having in the weight room. We eavesdropped for a while, trying desperately not to laugh too obviously.<br />
<br />
G turned to me, eyes wet with contained tears. "So, L, that pumpkin K carved..."<br />
"What? Is it rotting now?"<br />
"Well yeah, but it was soo funny..." and she collapsed into a fit of giggles. Which was contagious and seeing as i was ready to bust at the seams anyway I joined in. The pumpkin actually wasn't the real joke - because if you've seen it you will see it is the ultimate in coolness.<br />
"I just needed to say something so I could laugh," G mouthed at me. "Yeah pumpkin!" she said louder, and we dissolved into laughter again.<br />
<br />
I think they spent about 10 minutes with us in there, consoling themselves about a multitude of inane things, and departed to study and eat. Ha.<br />
<br />
We flung off our towels, relaxed our knees, let our shoulders drop a little bit more, and laughed and snorted until we could snort no more.<br />
<br />
Yeah. We're back. And we're staying naked!!Lhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03876789779483382483noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2821310574913077969.post-43895696820452979012012-10-31T22:26:00.001-04:002012-10-31T22:43:10.633-04:00Happy Halloween<div>
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<img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiDeSyTECDnP_suRHEU52YXJbnv4k-PJc8fp20DCFN48NV-x43v-aGyAtOQksCJthePuaA8h_ts54NfoJOYgf558jLhnLhE2NRYK6asIu95MvL9NOOtBjPNIJb3x1kc_5P_d27brSEtFo/" /></div>
Monkey Arms and Rhino. Two of our lesser known nicknames... well, G's is pretty well known now, since she officially adopted hers (bestowed upon her by one of our northern pals). The little latina rhino that charges into everything with immense gusto, sometimes without really thinking it through and then having a good laugh about it later.<br />
<br />
And monkey arms? Where does that one come from you ask? That one came from Ms. K - her attempt at complimenting me on my sculpted shoulders and arms... I think she was going more for the powerful gorilla visual but instead the first image I got was of a spindly lemur leaping about tree to tree vine to vine stopping every once in a while to delicately peel a banana and stuff its sweet little cheeks. Still, it stuck, and that's pretty much that.<br />
<br />
All the same, I think it's damn awesome. Especially when you consider K carved us into this jack-o-lantern for all eternity. Ok well maybe just a week or two - the poor thing is already starting to rot and cave a little... but the image, memory and wonder of it will last much much longer. Some people have bobblehead dolls. Or lunch boxes. Or hand towels. We got the coolest, one-of-a-kind, hand-crafted, tribute ever. Love it.<br />
<br />
First fit test is coming up in less than a month. Crap. Guess I better put that candy BACK in the jar and walk away. Fast. Straight to the gym.<br />
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Lhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03876789779483382483noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2821310574913077969.post-33240154753282536952012-10-21T22:52:00.000-04:002012-10-21T22:52:01.318-04:00what's next? a movie of course!As if we weren't having enough fun... now we get to be in a movie too!<br />
<br />
I may have mentioned this earlier this summer - at one of our Montreal competitions footage was taken for an upcoming documentary about our sport. It will include a lot of athletes, but our team will have an extra special focus as I understand it. Check out <a href="http://vimeo.com/50492682#">this trailer</a> - it's just beautifully done. Can't wait to see the full thing!<br />
<br />
And while we wait, we continue to train. Coach has cranked things up for us... the workouts are killer. Today I wanted to die.. and give up (for a moment anyway).. and then I remembered what I was doing all this for... and suddenly giving up was no longer an option.<br />
<br />
On Friday, my daughter joined G and I at the gym - it was G's birthday and we decided to have a little fun with it. So when I saw a Zumba class on the schedule, I thought why not? G was enthusiastic. "YEAH!! We can shake it up on my birthday! Woohoo!"<br />
<br />
When my kid heard what we were plotting, she was all over it too. "I love Zumba! I wanna come!" Ok, she had no school, so sure why not.<br />
<br />
But first she had to endure a weight workout with the twins.<br />
<br />
I think we got her to try the bench press once, and she managed a set of 10 assisted chinups. And a few medicine ball tosses and squats, but for the most part she just watched us do our thing, and helped time our planks. I think she got a new appreciation for her mom and auntie that day... :)<br />
<br />
After our workout we rested a little and double checked the schedule.<br />
<br />
"Hey G?" I said, "what does Zumba Gold mean?"<br />
"Old."<br />
"No not old, GOLD," I clarified.<br />
"It means OLD. Don't tell me you picked Zumba Gold for us!"<br />
"Um, well, yeah, it's the only one on the schedule..." Sheepish grins followed by loud bellowing laughter ensued. My 16-year-old looked horrified. "Really? It means THAT?"<br />
"Are they gonna let us do it mom? Are we too young?"<br />
HAHAHAHA. Sweet kid.<br />
<br />
Sure enough, it was Zumba with the senior crowd, but I think that may have actually been a blessing in disguise. Slower pace and less intimidating. I have two left feet when it comes to any sort of choreography... you should have seen me in the 80s trying to keep up with exercise videos in my living room... ugh. Anyway... this was marginally better. (NO they didn't throw us out, they welcomed us with open arms.) I only hit the equipment stacked up at the perimeter walls three times I think. My neighbor, a sweet lady with a tolerant smile got fed up at that point and tried to move a few stacks of aerobic steps out of my way lest there be a fourth hit.<br />
<br />
"This is a great workout!" G mouthed at me. My kid was smiling, her fear gone, tho later she said to me "I didn't really get a workout mom, and you and G were sweating!" When I reminded her that she couldn't hack our earlier workout... then it was her smiling rather ruefully. Hee.<br />
<br />
Of course G wants to go back -- and to the high energy regular class, that is pretty much packed wall to wall with coordinated bodies. Guess I better find me some youtube videos and practice ...Lhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03876789779483382483noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2821310574913077969.post-38800347556939826172012-10-14T19:24:00.003-04:002012-10-14T19:24:26.566-04:00Vacation's over - we're back in the gymTrue or false? We love:<br />
<br />
<br />
<ul><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2NDGNTmwc31ZRVdES8Kr3yP8IsBhrrCkRf4RA7040NzukUqsHSWk_6Yc7CUYF8aOfGPsXy0NhhBupiX9uiZIMtHK5m9CYnqdvKmJkb1L5t5A0qLm7oK7GQnxyOUYe1-cw6nNbrcBPfxs/s1600/squat-rack.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2NDGNTmwc31ZRVdES8Kr3yP8IsBhrrCkRf4RA7040NzukUqsHSWk_6Yc7CUYF8aOfGPsXy0NhhBupiX9uiZIMtHK5m9CYnqdvKmJkb1L5t5A0qLm7oK7GQnxyOUYe1-cw6nNbrcBPfxs/s200/squat-rack.jpeg" width="163" /></a>
<li>chinups</li>
<li>the paddle erg</li>
<li>deadlifts</li>
<li>squats</li>
</ul>
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TRUE!! (ok maybe not the first two so much, but we're back at it and if we didn't love it we wouldn't do it right?)</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
We were planning on meeting at the gym, but they had a large power outage so we decided to do the workout at G's instead. We had to improvise a little, as she doesn't have either a cage or a cable machine, but we had plenty of options. The only less-than stellar part of either the home gym or the real gym is having to do chin-ups with elastic straps. And since our workout had high reps, there was no way we were going to accomplish them without the straps. What's the problem with getting a little assistance? I don't know about boys, but those darn elastics near cut a girl's vagina in half. It's really not a pleasant experience!</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
No matter, we muscled and groaned and grunted through a killer workout in anticipation of Thanksgiving weekend. Not so much for good turkey and pumpkin pie - but for our first fit test of the new season. Who needs a food coma anyway - bring on the chinups!</div>
Lhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03876789779483382483noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2821310574913077969.post-29388494061084873352012-10-12T07:34:00.000-04:002012-10-12T07:39:17.653-04:00Nexus Trusted Traveler!!So, back in June, after one too many times waiting in a loooong line at the border hoping we'd make it to practice on time, and watching the odd car zoom through the Nexus lane and be on its way with barely a pause, I decided to get my own "Trusted Traveler" card. The name reminds me of the days I used to fly alone, yo-yo-ing between parents in different countries. They'd hang a "young traveler' tag around my neck, give me a bag of stuff to entertain me in-flight, and send me off down the ramp with an immaculately dressed, beautifully made-up and coiffed stewardess. (Yes we were allowed to call them stewardesses back then, when political correctness hadn't even been thought of as a concept yet.) My favorite part of those trips was collecting the little wing pins they'd give you - you had to amass a certain number to get cool stuff - and getting to go in the cockpit and hang with the pilots. Try doing that nowadays. One pilot even let me push buttons. I was terrified of sending the plane into a careening spin, almost wet my pants as I reached out to put the plane on autopilot, but we all survived.<br />
<br />
Anyway...I have digressed. So I applied for this Nexus card, and waited. (You apply online, and you have to keep going back into the online system to check on the status of your application. They don't send you a message that you've been approved.. that's too easy. They make you work for it. If you don't check, you won't see that you've been conditionally approved, won't get to select an interview date, won't see that you have a conditional approval in the system that you need to print out and bring to your interview... etc. So you have to write down this insanely long and pointless-to-try-and-remember username and password (and hope you don't lose it because trying to get it reset is an exercise in futility) and remember to check where things are.)<br />
<br />
I went to Hong Kong while my application was pending. When I got back and checked on it, there a few alerts in the system - I needed to respond and pick my interview date pronto or I my application would be terminated. Argh! So I picked a date. The first available was... early October.<br />
<br />
On the appointed day, I drove to Champlain, New York, and followed the strange instructions on my letter. "Drive around to the building marked X (it didn't say X it said something else but I've since forgotten). Don't drive up to it, park your car in the lot, walk up to the building, go through the second set of sliding doors.." buckle your seatbelt three times, turn around twice, you get the idea. Anyway, I made it, I walked in, I got to sit in a cubicle with a nice US agent, then moved over three feet to chat with a Canadian agent, and we were done. "Do you want to go get your retinal scan now?" was the final question. "Uh...?" Oh sure, what the heck, I was already there and I don't have any privacy anywhere anymore anyway, what's a retinal scan gonna do?<br />
<br />
So I got back in my car, hopped back on the highway, crossed into Canada ("you're going to that building, but don't go over to it there, go right here, then take a left at the THIRD stop sign, then go around to the side entrance..."), parked the car, shimmied myself between a jersey barrier and a bright yellow security gate thing, and marched up to a side-door (hoping it was the right one and I wasn't going to be met with pistol-wielding border agents).<br />
<br />
Blah blah blah, got my eyes scanned, had a laugh, and off I went. Crossed back into the US and was on my way home again in less than 10 minutes.<br />
<br />
So.. on Tuesday, with my brand new card, I decided to give it a whirl. I approached the border, saw that lane 5 was the Nexus lane, and pointed my car at it. Shit - there was the scanner thing and I'm rolling too fast and don't even have my card out of the protective sleeve yet! I pulled it out quickly, scanned it as I rolled by, thinking 'yeah, that wasn't even close to the 3 seconds pause they told me to make, oops' and continued to roll up to the booth and the lift gate/barrier. It's a booth identical to the other lanes, but it's empty. Instead, there is a little box on it, like at the Burger King drive through, with a note taped to it. "Press red button to speak to an agent."<br />
<br />
Now I don't know about you, but in my advanced age, I find it helpful to mutter and read instructions and things out loud to myself. It gets the point across better somehow. So there I am, looking perplexed at this thing and wondering what the heck I'd gotten myself into.<br />
<br />
"Press red button... I see a silver button, there is no fucking red button.." and just as I realized I'd sworn out loud at this box, a nasally crackle came through it.<br />
<br />
"Bonjour madame!" Shit!<br />
"Bonjour monsieur!"<br />
<br />
Luckily the agent wasn't offended. Instead, he asked me a few questions, pressed his own button to lift the gate to let me pass, and wished me a nice day. Next time, I know what to do. (Keep mouth shut, press silver button, don't embarrass self.) Now if G would hurry up and get HER card too, we'd be all set.Lhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03876789779483382483noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2821310574913077969.post-57142647758454740142012-09-09T23:29:00.000-04:002012-09-09T23:29:26.156-04:00Last competition of 2012 coming upWe're less than 7 days away from our last competition of the year. Aptly, it's on our 'home' turf in Montreal. We'll be racing the 200, 500 and 2000m. And, for the first time, I'll not only be paddling, but also steering the women's crew that I coach in their first competition as a team. I'm super excited for that!<br />
<br />
Haven't seen G in about 3 weeks... she had family stuff going on, then I was away working... tomorrow we'll meet in the gym for the first time in what seems like forever! Can't wait - it's time to get back to the business of lifting heavy stuff because our first fit test will be upon us almost as quickly as this cool fall air seemed to hit. I had to throw on a sweatshirt and socks for the first time at home today. I even closed the windows a bit, the breeze was just a tad too chilly for me. I also succumbed to the grocery-checkout-line-marketing ploys and bought a collection of hearty soup recipes. Yup - summer is ending, the boats will be coming out of the water soon, and we'll be paddling in the indoor tank sooner than we want to admit. But we have absolutely no complaints. It's been an amazing season - our first international championships (where we showed the world what hard work and determination can accomplish); our most successful national championships ever; and too many amazing memories and experiences to list.<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />Lhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03876789779483382483noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2821310574913077969.post-55876988951385317472012-08-03T09:18:00.001-04:002012-08-03T09:25:08.678-04:00Champions of all the world and...CANADA too!!<br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxmSMiFCqEc2DB7u1luxxyohujZytmJEdsksV-5Mi9DTMUXlffqq3oZouqRnlDmSxx_dJxNaKiXdDs6NP7ShGbnOPUmqhD28TzBiNda3v83rQv8NWuvyEx1Vxcz8ZScwED_dzPiBPaGdY/s1600/silver_and_gold.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="191" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxmSMiFCqEc2DB7u1luxxyohujZytmJEdsksV-5Mi9DTMUXlffqq3oZouqRnlDmSxx_dJxNaKiXdDs6NP7ShGbnOPUmqhD28TzBiNda3v83rQv8NWuvyEx1Vxcz8ZScwED_dzPiBPaGdY/s320/silver_and_gold.jpeg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Silver for the Mixed SA Division; Gold for the Women's!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
So we competed in the Canadian National Dragonboat Championships this past weekend... we went in determined to win (not only because we're a super competitive bunch of women but also because it would be mighty embarassing to have earned the champion-of-the-world title only to be beaten by a home-grown team...) and danced out of there with not one, but TWO medals. Silver and GOLD!<br />
<br />
But I get ahead of myself.<br />
<br />
So, for Hong Kong we had hoped to put together a mixed (i.e. co-ed) team but for a number of reasons and logistics it couldn't be pulled together in time. Instead, the team (dubbed the "all-stars" - which has such a nice ring to it) gelled for the National Championships. Even so, it was a rather hasty effort and we were only able to practice twice as a team. Because of travels and conflicting training schedules, some of the crew really only were able to get in one practice. So, for us to walk off with a silver medal in our division, and beat some premier and U23 teams in the process, was incredible. (We won our first 500mm and 200m heats, but were edged into the 2nd place spot in the finals by the teeniest of a dragon's nose-hair. We placed 3rd in the 2K, but racked up enough points between all races to place second overall. As you know my math skills aren't stellar, so don't ask me to explain the point system please.) Almer was our on-water coach, with Mike and Jon analyzing and strategizing on-land. The speed we moved at was awesome - and having A yelling at and pushing us hard (especially in the 2K, I don't think he let up on us once) was great, we didn't have time to be tired or lose motivation. Everyone had such a great experience that there are plans in the works to not only make the team a permanent fixture next season but to also earn a berth for the 2014 Club Crew World Championships in Italy. Hooray!<br />
<br />
Where we were almost "relaxed" with the mixed boat, it was a very different story with the women's. We had a title to defend. A big one. On day one, we raced the 500m. In the initial heat, we placed first by almost two full seconds. We were elated, but knew that nothing had been won yet. What counted was the final. If we didn't place first in the final, we wouldn't be going home with our favorite color bling. Coach gave us pointers, instructed us to warm up well, keep loose in the marshalling area, get our focus on, and nail the shit out of the race. And nail it we did...we crossed that finish line a FULL 3 seconds ahead of the second-place boat. Can you imagine the jumping and yelling??<br />
<br />
We enjoyed our win for an hour, then focused on the 2k. This was going to be brutal - though not as bad as Hong Kong. This at least was flat water, though shallow in areas, and sans current. A big improvement! And tough it was.. we had a few challenges, and I think we racked up a 5 second penalty for something (it is a dragon boat demolition derby after all) and placed 3rd. Coach was bullshit. Coach was not pleased with us. At all. "That was NOT your best race," he said. And that was the nicest thing he could muster. I've blocked the rest of his post-race speech, but suffice it to say it was not pretty, we all felt dejected and broken, and I recall leaving the event site mad as hell. Mostly at him. Damn - I worked my ass off in that race, and I know my girls did too. Urgh. Ok, put it aside, and refocus. It was now up to the 200m the next day - it was win or go home in shame.<br />
<br />
So day 2 dawned, and we were on freaking fire. Our drummer corralled the burn and we screamed down the course in the initial heat. Excellent work - but again, it's the final that counts. Enjoy it for an hour, Coach said, and then be ready to go again. I've said it before, but we're pretty damn good at doing what we're told. In this case it was to be more aggressive on our start, to really nail the first 5 strokes and get the heck out of the gate, and pull away from the other boats right away. Well shizzle... we did it. We bombed down that course and when we crossed the finish line, there was this palpable pause, as we all glanced left, then right and, seeing that there was CLEARLY nobody there with us, we started screaming like tweens at a Bieber concert. Ok maybe we sounded a little more mature, but you get the idea. "That what you meant?"we asked Coach when we got off the boat. He could only grin. Thank goodness. I for sure didn't want to see cranky coach again. Him I don't like so much.<br />
<br />
Oh yeah and in the middle of all of this, as if there wasn't enough excitement going on, there was a film crew taking footage for a dragon boat documentary. And guess who the focus was? But that's a story for another day...Lhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03876789779483382483noreply@blogger.com0