Category Archive:inspiration

45 Days and counting

August 30th, 2017 / Categories: Hear Me, inspiration, makin' my own fun, Moose Nuggets, Moosin Around / Comments Closed

What’s that you say? You thought the challenge was only 40 days? Well, you are correct, sir. Congratulations. However, why waste the start of a good thing is what I would like to know.

You don’t, of course. My goal is to continue this as a new lifestyle. There are changes just waiting to be seen.

For instance: my knees no longer hurt! I mean, seriously – they no longer hurt. Now, that is not directly due to the challenge. It is mostly due to Coach Nikki and I working hard at getting them to the point that they no longer hurt. She has been wrapping my knees with her voo-doo band whenever I’m in the gym. Now I do the wrapping and she oversees to make sure it is done correctly. After two minutes, the wrap comes off and I walk about in the gym making sure my toes are pointed forward instead of duck walking like I used to do. (especially with my right foot.) I can’t tell you how many times I would come home after a great workout and have trouble bending my knees to sit after standing in the shower, standing to dry my hair, standing to do my breakfast . . . this week I noticed that is not happening any longer!!! Whoot!!! Article on using voodoo bands

But, that is not even the biggest change. This one can pretty much be attributed directly to the past 45 days of learning to eat clean, reducing sodium and refined sugars . . . at my eye exam last week I discovered my blood pressure was extremely low (for me) at 88/54. Ummm, yes. You read that correctly.

I had to place a call to my doctor to see if she wanted to see me sooner than my normal time in October. Spoke with the nurse, scheduled an appointment for tomorrow. Then the nurse called me back yesterday and said, nope, an appointment is not needed. We will lower the dosage on one of your meds and see you in October, unless you feel you need to come in sooner.

After years of having my BP in the 135-140 range (top number) and 90s range (bottom number) I can only attribute this to the past 45 days. article on blood pressure

Now do you see why I intend to continue?

Thanks Coach Nikki and Crossfit Certitude!!!

Don’t say you’re sorry

December 28th, 2016 / Categories: Hear Me, inspiration, makin' my own fun, Moosin Around / 2 Comments »

“Sorry.”

“Don’t say you’re sorry,” said my coach. “You’re still learning. You’ll get this.”

I wasn’t too convinced that I would ever figure out what a “clean” was. Or a “jerk”. Or a KBS.

But that was then – about three years ago. I’ve discovered that within this nearly 67 year old body lies a beast waiting, raring actually, to come out and prove itself. Not to others, but to me!

I can do it; with commitment and hard work, and lots of 5:30 a.m. classes. I’m getting stronger. Bolder. CrossFit is fun. Yeah, I said it. Come play with me.
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Tara asked for 100 words with “Sorry” as the prompt. (Word says this is 100 – WordPress says 98 – we’ll go with this anyway)

If you’re ever in my neck of the woods, come play with me at CrossFit Certitude. 5:30 a.m. classes are a hoot. Really. Don’t believe me? Yeah, come play with me. You’ll see.

I have an idea

February 8th, 2016 / Categories: Hear Me, inspiration, poetry, talkin' to mahself, words / 6 Comments »

They scurry and scamper
On feet so spry – so fleet
Into one ear
Bouncing around in my brain
Then
Slipping quickly into
The nether regions of
My mind
Then out again
Into the bigger
Nothingness

I grasp and try to
Bring them back
These ideas
These flitting pieces
Of wisdom
Of brilliance
And then

I awake
They are gone
And I am left bereft
Missing them
Those tiny thoughts
That could be so
BIG!

The bulb dims
The candle flickers
What once was gray
Matter
No longer matters
Is no longer within
Reach

Memo to self
Write the brilliance down!

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100 words – in nearly as many lines – for the current 100 Word challenge by Ms. Tara. Now, you go on over and write your 100, won’t you?

God’s blessings

May 30th, 2015 / Categories: Alaska, inspiration, Moose Nuggets, praises, WOW! / 4 Comments »

A few weeks ago hubbymoose came home and found a man near our house who had sunk his truck (u-haul van) up to its hubs in soft mud. He offered to help. It took a few tries – hubby has an explorer – but eventually there was success. The man, who was down from Anchorage to work on a trailer, was grateful and offered to pay. Hubby shook his hand and said, that’s what neighbors do.

About a week later the man came down to our house to talk to hubby. “I see your house needs painted. I’m going to do that.” Hubby said we didn’t have the money to do that and the man shook his head. “I didn’t ask for money. I’m going to paint your house.”

And that was that.

We had about two weeks of drippy, rainy weather. We went about our normal work schedules and forgot about the offer.

A week ago Dexter showed up with a helper and began to scrape the house. They talked together and laughed – oh, how they laughed. That, in turn, caused hubby and me to laugh. We looked at each other and said, “at least they’re having fun.”

Two days ago they came back, armed with ladders, paint and equipment they would need. The taping began. More talk. More laughter. “Can we treat you to a pizza?” “No, Ms. Barbara. We fine. We fine.” The painting began. It met the neighbors approval. They came back yesterday and got the trim finished. We did treat them to Burger Bus and shared laughter around our table last night.

There is still a bit of finish work to be done. It will get done in due time.

We are humbled and blessed by these two men.

The sign on the side of their truck – GDEW. Hubbymoose asked the meaning . . . God Does Excellent Work.

Yes, yes he does. We are thankful.

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state of the house BEFORE Dexter showed up . . . last paint about 20 years ago.

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and, how it looks today. They even painted the bunkhouse behind the house!

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I spent this morning washing windows and curtains. Hubby asked me to make sure people know that you just never know people. You just never know how your kindness might be repaid. It is not why we do such things, but it is always a blessing when such things happen. I asked one of the men if they were believers. He said, “yes, Ms. Barbara.” I then told him how much he was blessing my husband’s heart by what they were doing.

Pass it on, folks. Pass it on.

Kenai Lake

August 31st, 2013 / Categories: inspiration, Moose Nuggets, poetry, trifecta, words / 13 Comments »


sun sifts morning clouds
lake ripples quietly soft
my heart is at peace

This picture was taken August 28th when hubbymoose and I drove to Anchorage for the day. Beautiful Kenai Lake. Post is written for Trifecta Writing Challenge: HAIKU.

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