Monthly Archives: November 2008

Running is good for the soul

Posted on by
6
ReefRaff on Flickr

Photo: ReefRaff on Flickr

Ah, running… So good.

I’m not sure what it is that makes me love running so much. I don’t even mind doing it in the pouring rain – sometimes it’s even nicer like that. It does far more for me than just provide physical benefit.

I just went for my first run this morning in God-only-knows how long. I have been just dying to find more ways to work out… the video I bought is awful and I’ve had some trouble fitting it all in. And while big-man is no longer working out of town, it seems he will be working 12 hours a day for the next 6 weeks or so… with no days off.

So this morning I called my amazing mother in law (hereafter refered to as AMIL) to rescue me (again) and managed to eek out a 45 minute run in the rain while she walked mini-man around the neighborhood (hey, exercise is great for him too!) I was actually impressed that I was able to run for so long given how long it’s been, but it was like a million stresses all faded away instantly, and it was just me and my ipod.

When I’m running I feel like the person I want to be.

I’m strong, and healthy; a lean fighter. My mind and body both somehow recharge while my breathing plays a rhythm in my head. I feel joy and freedom, as if I’m doing something God intended me to do and I feel a little sad for those who can’t use their bodies in this way. I feel more energetic and better equipped to handle the challenges life throws at me. I feel peace.

Now that big-man will be home (and exhausted) in the evenings, I think I may just have to take a night or two each week and run after mini-man is in bed and big-man is passed out on the couch. And maybe my AMIL will continue to oblige a weekly Saturday morning jaunt through the neighborhood.

I wonder if it’s poor form to run to and from church on Sundays? It would mean I’m not really dressed appropriately (or clean) during the service, but I would be able to get in more run time that way. Besides, the bible even mentions running:

Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us. [Hebrews 12:1 ESV]

It must be okay then. Guess I’ll find out tomorrow…

Why run?

  • Calories burned
  • Increased cardiovascular health
  • It’s free; you just need some good shoes
  • You can do it anywhere
  • You can always go at your own pace
  • Each time is different
  • You can use speed and duration to vary workouts
  • It works your whole body
  • It’s good for the soul

What do you love about running?

I [heart] Fridays: Fun Finds

Posted on by
3

WOW. TGIF.

The lack of time to write has been killing me, but I’ve been helping a friend set up a new website, email marketing tool, youtube profile and such… about 40 hours in the last 3 weeks on top of working full time and being a mom to a 2 year old. BUSY!

But to share some of the things I would have written about had I had the time, I’ve decided to do a weekly entry noting all the funny, strange or interesting things I find online or that people email me, forward on Facebook or whatever. So welcome to the first edition of I [heart] Fridays: Fun Finds.

Here is a cool post showing a 20 year old model photographed as if she were 10, 20, 30, 40, 50, and 60 years old using wardrobe, makeup and lighting.

I might never be the same after watching this Zune Paint video on Make The Logo Bigger. Ew. Ew. Ew. Caution… if you watch this in its entirety you’ll feel dirty. And may need medication… or exorcism.

An online store in Japan is selling men’s bras.

I recently started getting followed on twitter by some seemingly odd people who all have 1960s looking profile images and names that just ring slightly familiar. Then I figured it out: the entire cast of Mad Men is on twitter. What a fantastic marketing idea – I can interact with the characters without ever having watched the show. Wonder if I can watch online somewhere…

This is more than fun, but I wanted to note it: Miss 604′s Best of 604: Best of Metro Vancouver Online. I’m sure this is going to bring a wealth of new reading material my way.

Oh yeah, and for the record, best rickroll EVER at the Macy’s Day Parade.

Quote of the week “I’m reaching out to shake your hand and you’re trying to put your tongue in my mouth.” From Chris Brogan’s When Not To Sell Me Something.

And I don’t know what it means, but when I logged in to YouTube the other day, my home page said it suggested the following video for me. I don’t know how to feel about that. Ironically (or, perhaps not so much so), I laughed my head off. I am completely juvenile, I know…

[Video] Enjoy!

The Pursuit of Passion: grousepark.com

Posted on by
1

grousepark-facebookI’ve been so busy as of late I haven’t had much of a chance to write anything here. One of the most exciting projects I’ve been working on is the new Grouse Park Sessions blog and the search for the next great snow industry bloggers who also happen to ride right here in Vancouver.

Have you ever thought about a future in the Snow Sports industry? Ever wondered what it would be like to work for EXPN, Transworld Snowboarding, Newschoolers, Snowboard Canada or SBC Skier? Do you want to build skills that will help get you on the road to where you want to go?

We’re looking for 5 great park riders – snowboarders or skiers, guys or girls – to hone their skills as Grouse Park Blogospondents and network with the best in the industry. [grousepark.com]

This idea came out of my trip to BlogWorld in Vegas in September. Last year’s Build Your Own Parks opened the door to having those conversations in public and really answering for our choices to a group of very passionate and vocal individuals. This new blog will give local riders an opportunity to voice their opinions in an even more detailed way than through surveys.

But for me this project brings me back around to the post I wrote about young people and their ability to change the world… I recognize that influencing some terrain park features isn’t changing the world, but these young people who ski and ride here have that potential and I like the idea of nurturing it and helping them to find their drive to do something great.

When I was a kid I had no idea what I wanted to do. I always felt like I was sort of average at everything – I wasn’t the best musician, I wasn’t a socialite, I wasn’t a stellar athlete and I wasn’t brilliant… well, except for in physics when I scored 100% on my final exam for advanced physics taught in French, but that was just weird. But I digress. I didn’t excel in acting class or writing; I didn’t like English literature; I barely understood calculus and chemistry was a complete unknown for me.

While I knew all these things I wasn’t good at, I never really figured out what I was good at.

There are great young minds out there who are struggling with those same thoughts… “What do I want to do with my life?”… “What could I do?”… “What are the options?”… “How can I turn something I’m passionate about into a career?”… just like Sean Aiken from One Week Job, and I’m hoping that Grouse Park Sessions will be an avenue for even one of these passionate idividuals to find their outlet and a passageway into the snow sports industry and a career they can embrace and enjoy.

So grousepark.com just went live on Thursday and received over 500 visits within 24 hours. By end of day Friday I’d received the first blogger applications. I find my work so incredibly rewarding in so many ways and this is just another example of why I want to share in the reward and help people find what drives them.

Now if only it would snow.

Motrin outrages mothers with latest ad campaign

Posted on by
3

Oh it’s going to be a bad day in the office for the folks at Motrin brand on Monday. Whoever thought their latest ad would be a good idea may have seriously done some damage.

I don’t know exactly when this new homepage video went live, but it’s 10pm pacific on Saturday evening and moms all over Twitter are outraged about it… so much so that #motrinmoms has jumped to #2 trending topic on Twitter Search.

I don’t consider myself an attachment parenting advocate, but I sure did use a sling to carry around my son. It’s convenient, and good for baby. Motrin has probably managed to offend just about any mom who chooses to watch this video or who has ever used a carrier of any type citing baby wearing “makes me look like an official mom”… what?!

Here you can see the full transcript of the audio.

Here you can see screen shots from Motrin’s home page.

Or, you can watch this video response from Instinctparenting:

Or read this blog about it.

I don’t suspect the ad will be there much longer, but this just goes to show how terribly wrong marketing can go and how social media can take it there.

The people have a voice; and the collective can be louder than we ever dreamed.

EDIT/ADDITION (November 16th):
Now you can watch the video on YouTube (for when it gets pulled from the Motrin home page):

Lynn Valley Black Bear Band Winter Concert

Posted on by
4

I’ve been asked to shamelessly promote the Lynn Valley Black Bear Band “Winter” (read: Christmas) Concert taking place Monday, December 8th.

The event will be held at the Kay Meek Centre in West Vancouver (attached to West Van High). It starts at 7pm and admission is by donation.

You’ll get at least 90 minutes of entertainment including some festive seasonal (PC) music, some not-so-seasonal music, and quite probably some vocal stylings by yours truly.

lynn-valley-black-bear-band-winter-concert

See you there!

Generation We: The World Is Shifting

Posted on by
4

Thanks to the guys over at One Week Job for bringing this video on Generation We to my attention. I felt compelled to repost it in hopes that the young people who read my blog can feel inspired by it.

I don’t know if today’s youth have any idea that, collectively, they hold the power to change the world.

If you’re under the age of 25, companies and organizations all over the world are looking to adapt to your needs; and if they aren’t yet, they will. And if they don’t, they’ll lose.

Companies like Deloitte are publishing reports like It’s 2008: Do You Know Where Your Talent Is? (PDF) in an attempt to understand and educate the changing landscape of the business world all because you are standing up for your wants, your needs, your dreams and you aren’t settling for less.

The Millennials, Generation Y, the Digital Generation, Echo Boomers…whatever they’re called, the children born between the years of 1981 and 1993 are shaking things up in the workplace. Unwilling to conform to traditional standards and yet surprisingly savvy about the way business and the world work, Generation Y is demanding that companies adapt to their needs.

When I look at this generation, I feel inspired. I feel inspired to keep up! I feel inspired to put on my best game face and show my skills. If I don’t, I will have some stiff competition by a new generation of very driven and connected individuals. I’m reminded every day by people like Nora Kleinewillinghoefer, like Jess Sloss, like VanCityAllie… that the talent and drive and knowledge and skill of this Generation We, even just in my own city, is endless. Just think what they could accomplish if they found a way to harness that energy for change.

Now is the time, my friends, to figure out your dreams. Know what you want. Go after it.

Be Who You Are

Posted on by
Reply

faces-of-michelle-evansBe Who You Are. That was the general theme of Gary Vaynerchuks Yelling vs. Whispering. Introvert or Extrovert.

I love Gary Vaynerchuk. I have said this before and maybe my obsession is verging on unhealthy, but I really just like what he has to say. I’m not a Wine Library TV watcher (yet, I suppose… I’m just not much of a wine drinker), but I love his business/marketing content and find I’m regularly searching my feeds for something new from him.

This Yelling vs. Whispering. Introvert or Extrovert post got me thinking about my personality and it prompted me to take another run through the Jung Typology Test. I’ve done these tests before and my results have been interesting and somewhat enlightening.

I am a Rational (NTs):

  • Rationals tend to be pragmatic, skeptical, self-contained, and focused on problem-solving and systems analysis.
  • Rationals pride themselves on being ingenious, independent, and strong willed.
  • Rationals make reasonable mates, individualizing parents, and strategic leaders.
  • Rationals are even-tempered, they trust logic, yearn for achievement, seek knowledge, prize technology, and dream of understanding how the world works.

All my past results have given me a profile of ENTJ – Extroverted-Intuitive-Thinking-Judging (The Fieldmarshal):

  • A little over 2% of the population
  • tireless in their devotion to their jobs
  • ever intent on reducing bureaucratic red tape, task redundancy, and aimless confusion in the workplace
  • root out and reject ineffectiveness and inefficiency, and are impatient with repetition of error
  • Hillary Clinton, Napoleon, Margret Thatcher, Carl Sagan, Bill Gates, Golda Meir, Edward Teller, George Benard Shaw, and General George C. Marshall are examples of Rational Fieldmarshals.

This time around, however, one of the results changed – I scored as INTJ – Introverted, Intuitive, Thinking, Judging (The Mastermind):

  • rare, comprising no more than, say, one percent of the population
  • Although they are highly capable leaders, Masterminds are not at all eager to take command, preferring to stay in the background until others demonstrate their inability to lead
  • Only ideas that make sense to them are adopted; those that don’t, aren’t, no matter who thought of them
  • they work long and hard and are dedicated in their pursuit of goals
  • much more definite and self-confident than other Rationals, having usually developed a very strong will
  • Alan Greenspan, Ben Bernanke, Dwight D. Eisenhower, General Ulysses S. Grant, Frideriche Nietsche, Niels Bohr, Peter the Great, Stephen Hawking, John Maynard Keynes, Lise Meitner”, Ayn Rand and Sir Isaac Newton are examples of Rational Masterminds.

So I am now considered introverted where I was once extroverted. Now, the result is pretty borderline either way, so I don’t really think I’m introverted OR extroverted… just sort of middle of the road, but definitely a blend of ENTJ and INTJ.

This overall description of the Rational (NT) really struck me:

Rationals don’t care about being politically correct. They are interested in the most efficient solutions possible, and will listen to anyone who has something useful to teach them, while disregarding any authority or customary procedure that wastes time and resources.

Yeah, that one can have a tendency to put those around me on edge a little…

I think overall these types of exercises are good for figuring out where you stand with regards to other people. When I read the descriptions I can easily see where I could rub some people the wrong way. I can also see how perhaps being in a small minority (between the two assessments I’m somewhere within a group of only around 3% of the total population) might make me hard to relate to, or, might make it hard for me to relate to others.

I have to be who I am, though. I mean, GaryV said so. I take great pride in being completely clear and open about who I am… my strengths and my failings, my goals and my views. I want people to know me for me and for, above all, my honesty and integrity. I’m not particularly polished, but what I do, I do well.

If I can’t do it well, I won’t do it at all.

Have you taken the test yet? Tell me about it.

Things Are Definitely Not in Balance

Posted on by
4
david.bunting on Flickr

Photo: david.bunting on Flickr

So, you may have already guessed. This photo is not of me. I know there is a resemblance and all, but no… I’m a little more… um, what’s the word… brunette.

I am in desperate need of a workout. When I say desperate, I mean I feel like I’m melting. I think I can feel the muscles turning into fat and the fat cells growing in size.

Big-man has been gone two weeks now and because of that, coupled with a few weeks of illness, work events etc. beforehand, I haven’t managed to work out once in about a month now. I’ve had to quit kickboxing for the time being and have not managed to fit in another activity.

The problem is complex but is really taxing my ability to feel like my life is in balance. Mostly because it’s not. I need to be more active than I am, and I absolutely need to find a way to make that happen.

I’m completely open to suggestions, but only ones that don’t include leaving my kid with a babysitter during his waking hours. See, he’s already in daycare 9 hours a day, 5 days a week. He sleeps 11 hours at night and, thus, is only awake 13… so subtract the 9… you can see where I’m going with this one.

I get up between 5 and 5:30 every day and have a cup of coffee and go online – check email, twitter and my feeds. At 6am mini-man is up and demanding my attention. I get him something to eat and let him watch TV while I get showered etc. Then I make lunches, get ready and leave for work by 8am.

At 5pm I leave work and pick up mini-man from daycare, get home by 5:30, give him dinner, play a little put him in the bath and put him in bed at 7pm. My after-7pm activities are dictated by the day of the week… Mondays is band, and Wednesdays is my church home group and those are the only two nights of the week I get free babysitting services from my amazing mother in law. If I want to leave the house after 7:30pm any other night of the week, I’ll need to pay a sitter to be home in my place for an hour or two… that would make each workout cost $10-$15 in babysitting alone. I suppose this isn’t a terrible option for maybe once a week – I could go for a run which wouldn’t add any other cost.

I’ve tried getting out with mini-man in the stroller after dinner, but there really isn’t time with only an hour and a half of awake time between daycare and bed. Besides, this weather means everything takes that much longer because we have that much more clothing to deal with. I’m also super afraid of trying to run while pushing 50 lbs. I run slow enough on my own thank you very much.

I may have to resort to the unthinkable: doing some kind of stupid-looking step-like workout video in my livingroom. Ick. I hate sweating where I live. Furthermore, being in a 2nd floor apartment means it has to include no jumping and I have to be able to do it in very little space; I have about 7′ x 7′ to work with. That doesn’t sound like much of a workout, but I guess anything would be better than nothing.

I can’t keep doing this. I need some exercise. I guess I’m off to find a DVD and a local babysitter.

Wish me luck! Maybe one day I’ll be hurling myself in the air for the spike and allowing someone to capture it forever.

The Effects of Aging

Posted on by
Reply
Arwen Abendstern on Flickr

Photo: Arwen Abendstern on Flickr

It finally happened. One little intrusive thought. I didn’t see it coming; it blindsided me in the middle of nowhere. Actually, it wasn’t the middle of nowhere; it was the middle of my rear-view mirror…

“Yeah, I should definitely get a little botox to fix that.”

Oh no! *covers mouth as if that thought actually came out* What is happening?! Where did that come from? I’m not old. I don’t think. Or am I? Maybe I am. I don’t know. What is old, anyway? Why do we worry about it?

Now I’ve had thoughts, as many other woman have had, like maybe I should get my fat sucked out and get my boobs done, but this was different. This was real. A real contemplation complete with justification in my mind.

Oh how vanity can grip us.