In the Eye of the Storm!

In our lifetimes we are often blessed to have someone come along who makes life just beautiful!! Three years ago at a very sad time in my life….that person was Dustin. He was my ‘enchanted twist of fate’ coming into my life when I had given up most of my faith. For anyone that has asked about the writing on my lower back…this is what it says….this is the special soul who it was for!!

On saturday while I was at work and just before I was about to close the store for the night a girl walked in and was talking about a horrific accident that had happened on the wednesday before. When I told her I had heard of the accident but didnt know who it was….my heart stopped when I heard it was Dustin!

Holding back tears while I closed up the store….there were rumors involved in this story this girl had told…and they were breaking my heart. This beautiful young man had taken the road of severe alcohol abuse after we split…we have always remained friends…but sometimes in life the people you love the most…are not meant to be with you for life as more than just friends…Dustin will always be my enchanted twist of fate.

I called to find out as much information as I could…he was drinking and driving (thank GOD no one else got hurt…and IF he makes it out of this…he will have to pay his dept for driving in this state)….he hit a brick wall driving in excess of 110km/hour and was air lifted from our town to a bigger hospital in a city nearby. He has been in the surgical ICU since thursday morning. He is critical and barely holding on.

My children loved him….they both have prayers for him at their school. I have lite a candle and am keeping positive energy flowing! Please know that this is part of why I havent blogged in days. All prayers for this man would be so apreciated…even just a kind thought…is an energy prayer!

In the Heart and the Eye of the Storm

But Did You Say It?

You thought it, those words that touched you deep

You pictured them, playing over and over a thousand thoughts in your head

You dreamt it, while you slept, live, living color, peacful exciting dream

You heard it, whisper on the wind, gently pushing you to say it

But did you say it?

When you had the chance.

Did you let the sounds press past your lips

from your heart the way you dreamt it, saw it, thought it, felt it, pictured it, heard it on the wind.

But did you say it?

Sometimes…there are no words……

Today was the first workout that I lead in the Park!! I had decided that this summer I wanted to invite my clients, their children and my kids friends to workout ‘crossfit’ style on sundays at the local park!! These workouts are tough but with some modifications they are TOTALLY doable and extremely motivating!!

Docdru turned me onto this style of workouts back in September of last year and I am sold!! I love them!! They are tough as hell! And just the fact that I can bust them out and survive them keeps me going back for more punishment!! lmao

I’ve been restyling the workouts that I train my clients with to a modified version of these badass, bust hard, sweat buckets, puke at times workouts!! And with fantastic success!!

Doc helped me design todays workout (Thanks Gorgeous!!) and I met with 5 of the brave girls from my daughters class! (Next week we are meeting earlier in the day so that more of the families can make it!! We are also going to put up some flyers and see if we can get some more people enthusiastic about fitness!!)

For time we did:

400m Run

15 Pushups

10 Box Jumps

30 Situps (full)

400 m Run

10 Push ups

20 Box Jumps

20 Situps

400 m Run

5 Push ups

30 Box Jumps

10 Sit ups

400m Run

15 Pushups

10 Box Jumps

30 Sit ups!

Everyone made it through the first two rounds without needing to walk any of it out…a few of the girls had to walk the last two runs…but I let them know that as long as they are moving they are doing FANTASTIC!! Everyone finished in 25 minutes or less!! We were all covered in sweat and everyone totally wanting to do this again next weekend!! Although we will do a different workout!!

I’m also working on handstand pushups!! I was doing HS static holds last night and can hold for a minute 15 seconds!! I will master these!! Along with the pull ups!! The new gym I will be working at has an assisted pull up machine so the ability to work the correct lat muscles is finally within reach!!

AND…as Doc has now surpassed my leg press (YOU ROCK DOC!!) i’m gonna have to bust ass on the pull ups by June 2 to win this!! In fact, at this point we maybe at a draw! BUT…I’m going to match his 815lb leg press this week! AND…i’ll get those pull ups yet!!

I’ve also been spending time this weekend deep in the words of the Dalai Lama (my personal hero) soaking up the suns sweet rays and enduldging my spiritual path!!

Hope everyone is having a fantastic weekend!!

In the Eye of the Storm!!

‘How you do Anything is how you do Everything!’ Zen Saying

The Shikinaen Royal Garden is the most beautiful and peaceful little historical heaven in the middle of a great big modern city!! Built at the end of the 18th century it was the second house of the Ryukyu royal families!

To get to this little oasis on the island we drove some very twisted, hilly, teeny crazy streets through buildings and past a great valley of tombs! (I wish we had had more time to wander through the tombs…but my friend assured me there were a lot of snakes in amidst them…so that kind of detoured me….and since there wasnt enough time for everything….).

You walk through the gates into these gardens and feel as though you have walked through time….into the past…into the 18th century!!

Okinawa has the longest life expectancy in the world…and these gardens seemed to be taken care of by very beautiful elders!! They were all lean and working hard…but very quietly as we passed by each of them! I love that everyone bows in greetings! Such an honorable practice…and so easy to follow suit as I smiled and greeted each okinawan!

Between the two of us we took so many pictures of this little heaven! These are all the pics my friend took…mine just arrived yesterday in a box I sent!! So I’m taking them to be developed today!! YAY!! I shoot with a 35mm camera with film..so I have to get them on disc before I can share my work.

One of the funniest moments I had at this little place was turning to walk up a path that had ‘beware of snakes’ signs! Now if you have been paying attention to my long winded stories…i’m COMPLETELY freaked by snakes! Almost to the point of paralysis when I see them! (but apparently not when i’m in the water! lol)

So…with some hesitation, and a few pictures snapped of this little path…we were about to head up it when a little Okinawan elder told us…in very hard to understand gestures…to watch out for the snakes! My friend asked him if someone had reported seeing one recently….this little elder looked at me and said, ‘many snakes’…..OH GOD…i’m sure the look on my face must have been priceless at that point! I was ready to turn around and go back the way we had come!

THEN….with a big smile…this elder says JOKE! Just like that!! I laughed SO hard! He was soooo cute and adorable!! We smiled and laughed and then continued up the path! BUT…I was still weary…and I swear all the viney looking roots of the trees ALL looked like snakes hiding!

We ventured into an area that was closed to the public to see a beautiful water fountain! Friend looked around and made sure no one was looking first…then we snuck through the gate!

The whole day was just perfect!! The weather amazing!! We were exhausted by the end of the long day as we had been at the Royal Palace earlier!

I’m picking up the pics of the snorkeling adventure today!! So hopefully I will be able to share those too!! I will go back to blogging workouts at some point! My workout yesterday was intense! And today will be a ‘rest day’….NO NINJA…not a lazy day….i’m still belly dancing!

In the Eye of the Storm!

p.s…does anyone know how you go about becoming an airline attendant??? I think that might be a good travel job! lol

The nights in Okinawa are abuzz and alive on the little main trading streets!! Big neon signs are everywhere!! Bright, bold and beautiful!! What in the day time is a very green and lush looking little island, lights up at night in full neon splendor!!

My friend took me to Sam’s restaurant and we were treated to incredible food and drinks!! Our chief was so adorable as he made our meals right in front of us!! He smiled a lot as he cooked, flipped spice bottles in creative ways up and over and around his back! Catching them skillfully as he cooked!! At one point my friend took a picture to capture this moment and I think the flast caused the chief to loose his concentration and the spice bottle flung over his shoulder and hit the table in front of some women that sat across from us! He smiled and made a comment in Japanese that had the ladies laughing! (probably something like ‘dumbass americans are always taking pictures! lol)

After an incredible meal in a wonderful atmosphere we headed back out onto the streets again!! My friend rented a car both weekends I was there (they dont let most of the military men drive…not a cool rule…but this meant that I needed my International Drivers Licence so that I could drive!) I have to admit that the first day driving on the wrong side of the road in the wrong side of the car was CRAZY! I practiced on the base before I ever ventured out  onto Okinawa’s busy streets!

The cars in Okinawa are SO teeny tiny! And so cute! But the people of Okinawa are also teeny tiny….my friend however is not…so it made it comical see him towering over the vehicles before getting in! Even the trucks are like super mini versions of our long haul trucks in North America! The streets are 6 lanes…but the most narrow lanes you can imagine! There are no curbs and the people STILL park like there are! There are also many many scooters and motorcycles, and these guys will drive between vehicles! SO…it made watching for parked cars and motorcycles, while navigating crazy traffic THE most stressful event of my time in Japan! By the second weekend I was a pro!! No more close calls! And finally getting the hand of where the blinkers are versus where the windshield wipers are!! (something that i’m still adjusting to driving my own car back in Canada now! lmao….I think my heart is still in Okinawa and my driving skills are matching it!)

Friend took me down to a beautiful and lively street to see the many many shops and crazy neon night life!! There were people everywhere and finding a place to park was a little challenging!! But SO worth it!! We walked up and down the streets and enjoyed the culture and night very much!!

The little sketch of me was done by an adorable Okinawan man who spoke no english! We waited for almost an hour as he sketched another drawing! His artwork was displayed on the street and was just incredible, so we had no trouble waiting!! He did try very hard to ask me if I was European, and when I said yes…Italian…he smiled and said, ‘I knew’ lol. That was so sweet!! He also in his way told me I had beautiful eyes which was so sweet as communication with him was not overly easy!!

I got my friend to take a picture of the habu saki that is all over the island!! O.k for all of my fellow tequilla drinkers (i’ve had more worms than I can tell you!) THIS is NOTHING next to the habu saki!! And there is NO WAY I was trying this!! I am sooo ridiculously scared of snakes that even dead ones in alcohol had me completely freaked out!! Makes me wonder what they do with the snakes when they are done with the drinks????

AND…how many snakes are wandering around the little island?? Because these jars were EVERYWHERE! You would think they would be an endangered species!!

This was the most perfect night!!! So beautiful and so full of smiles, laughs and a few tears as my visit was coming close to an end. (there will still be a few more blogs of Okinawa as i’m waiting for the snorkeling pictures to come back!!)

Mothers Day!!!

Yesterday was a fun day!! My daughter for mothers day came with me to workout!! We did a leg workout from Crossfit that didnt involve any weights (Chelly is 14 and while i’m going to start her in the weights a bit…i didnt want to start her there just yet). We had a lot of fun even though we both worked til we were covered in sweat!

We did 3 rounds of what i’m going to call block runs (we ran around one city block), 100ft of lunges, 30 box jumps and 50 Air squats, back to back only resting when we were SO out of breath…and then we both kept moving!! SHE DID GREAT!! She kicked my butt running!! But then I kicked hers on the squats!!

This morning we are both suffering and cursing stairs!! But what an incredible feeling it is to have your children active and healthy and joining you in fitness!! Next weekend we are taking a workout to the park so my son can join in too!! And i’m going to invite two of my clients with kids in the same age group!!!

Hope everyone has an amazing monday!!

From the Eye of the Storm!

Shurijo Castle was one of the magnificant places that my friend took me to see on the Island of Okinawa! The Ryukyu kingdom is over 450 years old. This Castle was destroyed during the bombings of WW2 but the people of Okinawa have restored the Castle to its majestic beauty!

There is again an undescribable peacefulness that emminates from this incredible castle! There are moments when dispite the crowds you feel as though you could close your eyes and be in a scene from The Last Samurai (my all time favorite movie - except i’m too big a wuss to watch the end…i’ve only watched it once - shhhhh….chicks that lift arent supposed to be wusses right…lol).

What I would give to be alone in such energy and surrounding!! To be lost in meditation or thought and to be able to just let my creative mind cut loose and dance in the entrances or through the courtyards!! To bow at the kings throne and imagine what it must have been like 450 years ago!!

My photos are still not here (they were sent by mail - so next week with any luck) I’m dying to get them back too!! I will be scrapbooking and writing of this wonderful time!! I miss Okinawa and my friend very much!

Workouts this week are still suffering. I’m just not overly motivated yet. But will get there! I have decided to join a yoga class that is being taught by a Yogini from India!!! She is teaching the very very spiritual side of yoga!! YAY!! So i’m super excited!! I also am entrenching myself in the belly dance again!! I will do the crossfit workouts 4 days a week…but then I want to embrace the deeper spiritual side and the very exotic feminine side of myself that seemed lost in the chase of the stage!

Hope everyone has had a wonderful week!! And the mom’s who read me…HAPPY MOTHERS DAY!!

In the Eye of the Storm!

The Welcome Path The empty path welcomes you, fragrant with grass and little flower, the path paved with paddy fields still bearing the marks of your childhood and the fragrance of mother’s hand.

Walk leisurely, peacefully.

Your feet touch the Earth deeply

Dont let your thoughts carry you away,

Come back to the path every moment.

The path is your dear friend.

She will transmit you her solidity and her peace.

Thich Nhat Hanh

Peace Prayer Park was amazing! The park was created after the war as a symbol for the hope for World Peace. Walking inside Peace Hall was overwhelming! The statue of the Buddha standing 12m high and 8m wide took my breath away and made my knees go weak! The energy of this place was almost an intense peace (if peace can be intense).

I’m a Buddhist…standing in front of such a statue made me want to cry! Made me want to meditate in the warm energy! Made me want to ‘be the change I wish to see in the world’ and be a part of World Peace!

I looked up to the top of the statue and what looked like stars shining from the Cosmos radiated light down on the head of the statue! I gasped! How beautiful!! What wisdom to know that all that is in the cosmos and all that is in the world need to come together to create peace!!

My friend and I followed a sign that took us under this magnificant statue to a room called the ‘Sacred Stone Chamber’! In this room there were rocks and crystals from every country in the world!!! (I’m a huge rock and crystal collector…lmao…this was exciting!) To see all the countries that had placed stones under this statue with the hopes …or the symbol of hope for the whole world to know peace….was incredible!!

From deep within….from the Cosmos too…and then right in the centre of who we are…we need to bring peace one person at a time! To challenge ourselves always to ‘BE’ be that change! Be that person who does things differently!

The whole park was just beautiful!! From the incredible tombs, to the statues and monuments all over the park! The thousands of colorful fish flags floating around! The paper cranes all made into garlands and placed all over the statue and around the park! The breathtaking views of the magnificant Pacific Ocean….The day could not have been more perfect! More peaceful! More memorable!! I truly cherish the experience of having gone to the park!! (Thank you hun)

My wish one day is to be in the presence of the Dalai Lama! And just as my heart knew I would see Okinawa…my heart knows this too will happen! Dream big!! lol

O.k. my beautiful wonderful bb friends….my challenge to you is from Ghandi!

‘You must be the change you wish to see in the world.’ We have all heard this…or seen this saying! BUT…have you ever really stopped to think what that means!??

What change do you wish to see?? What change do you really wish to see?? More honesty?? More love?? More affection?? World Peace?? Great abs?? (had to go there! lol)

It is a FAR deeper question than the 12 words in the sentence!

Big hugs and smiles to you all!!

In the Eye of the Storm

P.S…these photos were all taken by my friend! He took FANTASTIC pictures!! Mine are still on their way from the peaceful, beautiful little island!

O.k. so today was the first day back in the gym since the trip! God it felt awesome to get in and train hard!!

I did a grooling 5 rounds of 500m Rows, 30 box jumps and 30 sumo deadlifts with high pulls for time!!! 25 minutes and hurled halfway through round 4!!! But still pushed through!! My legs are shakin and achin!! And now that i’ve mastered the squat position (thanks Doc!) my bootie is hurtin too!! YAY!! lmao

Do you think maybe a sign of ‘Fitness Crazies’ is when you are excited for shaking legs and puking water during your workouts??

AND…the other exciting news is my weight is only 3lbs higher than competition DAY!! I’m SO super excited! Because honestly it needs to be around that off season and go MUCH lower…well 10lbs lower to compete next time!! VERY exciting!!

Well ya’ll! Hope your workouts rocked!! See ya all in the blogs!!

That Storm!

Omg…i’m trying to upload some pictures from the Aquarium…and the uploader is giving me greif! Sorry guys! I’ll have to try this again later! The aquarium was amazing though and I want to share some more of the photos!

 I cant wait to get back the photos from the day my friend and I went snorkeling!! We literally saw most every fish that we had seen in the aqarium!! (which made sense as the aquarium is full of ‘native okinawan sea life!’ lol. Something I thought of later in the water as I suddenly remembered all of the sharks in the aquarium!)

Anyway, the day was Perrrfect for snorkeling! (actually in my whole visit it only rained twice…and the rest of the 2 weeks was just gorgeous!) I have never in my life snorkeled so this was such a neat experience! Getting my goggles on was the most challenging (even more so than the fins!) and my friend had to help a couple of times!

He carried the camera most of the time we were underwater. I was happy to have my hands free as I tried to learn the most graceful way to move through the water! The first crazy moment we had was seeing a Lion Fish! Just beautiful!! And a really big Lion fish!! Doc tugged at my flipper to point him out! We kept a respectful distance from him…but were able to really enjoy him!

I want to say most of the fish we saw was like a scene from ‘Finding Nemo’! lol. They were all sooo beautiful and bright!! We spent about an hour the first time out. Then came out and laid in the beautiful sun on the walk to dry off. The buildings of Okinawa are so neat…so I had asked my friend if we could walk around a bit so I could take pictures of them (these pictures are still coming….my friend mailed them to me as they are from a 35mm Nikon and I was worried about taking them through the security exrays). I’m fascinated with architecture and Okinawa did not disappoint for this at all!! I wish I could have left the base in the day and taken more pictures. But unless my friend was with me I wouldnt be able to get back on the base!

The second time out snorkeling was just as amazing! The tide had gone out more, so we made our way out to where we would snorkel a little more carefully. There are many many spikey little sea Urchins in amidst the coral. Water boots are a must to protect your feet!

There were about 30 japanese divers all enjoying the gorgeous day and glorious ocean along side of us! It was neat to be snorkeling above them.  And at this point I had realized that there could actually be sharks in this area…so I was relieved to have many other divers, snorkelers and a few guys hoping for waves with surf boards, all kicking around nearby!

We explored the shelves. Doc is a lot braver than I and would do some dives. I only braved that twice…soooo unsure of what might be lurking in the deeper waters. At one point I saw two longer looking ….what looked like a pretty black and white fish…as I was staring at them I felt a BIG tug on my fins…so I surfaced and Doc says, "Did you see the snakes?" WHAT! SNAKES! HOLY CRAP!! I’M SO OUTTA HERE! lmao

Apparently I had not swam that fast all day!! lol. Unfortunatly I had the camera at that point. And the sea snakes were way below us. My friend wanted to dive and take a picture…but when he looked back up from the water…I was GONE! lol I’m scared of land snakes…soooo the idea of snakes that are swimming….ewwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww!

We also swam close to jellyfish a few times. And apparently my hand almost touched one!

At the end of this snorkel adventure the tide was WAY out. So the water was extremely shallow trying to get back into shore. I was in a bikini and feeling like my abs were VERY vulnerable to the rough coral and sharp spikes of the sea urchins! It made me very nervous. As it would turn out I should have been more worried about my bumbum! As I tried to stand in the very shallow water to take off my fins….I fell on my ass! HOLY did that hurt!! My bootie stung SO bad! I knew it had to be bleeding! But I decided for the sake of not falling over again (it was a small wave that had knocked me on me bootie) so I just sat there and took off the fins.

My friend didnt see the bad ass coral rash until we got to shore! Then the exclamation on his face and in his tone of voice was PRICELESS! lol. I actually have a great picture of it! But you can see even in the pic with the navy hoodie the scars from my coral mishap!

Sorry for the long blog! I’m so excited to be able to share this wonderful adventure and beautiful land with everyone of you!! This experience was a dream come true for me!!

More to come as I get pictures to upload…..

In the Eye of the Storm

Nessa

My trip to Okinawa, Japan was unbelievable!! I am still so incredibly humbled by my friends bringing me over there and sharing with me the beautiful little island, life on base, and the peace of the Okinawan people! The two weeks went by WAY too fast! And I am missing both the beauty and peace of the island as well as my friend very much already!

BUT…I brought back with me many wonderful pictures and memories (although the best pics are on 35mm film being shipped over to avoid the exray machines at the airports…so they will be awhile….my friend has many wonderful pics from his MUCH nicer digi cam…so when he sends me them I will share a few more!!)

I dont even know where to begin about the trip! First, we had to overcome a few challenges to even get me there! He lives on base and they dont have very many places for visitors to stay! My tickets were already bought, and we didnt have a place! It was crazy! I think about a week before I arrived he secured a little room for the two of us! The next challenge was arriving late at night and getting a pass to get on base! He was told a day pass would work to get me on that night but then I would have to get a proper pass for the following two weeks the very next day. NOT SO! After the long flight over (I was SO excited it didnt feel long!) and being hugged tight on arrival, we got to the gate and were almost denied entry! A military police officer had to come to the gate and give special permission to me to be there for the night! CRAZY! lol

But all was good!! My friend spoiled me with beautiful restaurants!! Taking me to the little shops and showing me around several of the military bases on the island in the first few days. I met some of his wonderful friends! One a lady from australia who was an absolute sweetie and riot! The laughter when she and her awesome hubby were around was endless!!

My friend had to work while I was there, so he would go off to the clinic he works in in the mornings and I would head down to the beach!! Early morning in Okinawa is so beautiful and warm! Most days I was in my bikini by 8am! Collecting sea shells for my kids! Reading and meditating on the beach was wonderful!

I had to get back to the room each day for lunch (we only had one key for the room) and we spent lunch hours together which was awesome!! Then he would head back to work and I would be off to the beach again! I did go for a run one day in the afternoon! And he and I worked out 2 of the days I was there! He does the Crossfit workouts and introduced me to them. So I was dying to try some of them with his knowledge right there!!

And HOLY did he work me! I have never sweat SO much in the gym! VERY unflattering…but felt unreal good to work that hard! Although he would say that I was giving him the evil eye a few times! But he was an awesome coach! And I was thrilled to survive both of the workouts dispite the honest belief he was trying to kill me!

We rented a car for both of the weekends I was there! THAT was an experience! The cars in Okinawa are teeny tiny! So cute! BUT…you drive on the wrong side of the car…on the wrong side of the road! And they are CRAZY drivers over there! Especially the little moped and motorbike riders! They come from out of no where and are suddenly beside you!

The streets are tight! And the people park on the side pretty much right out in the lanes! SO…when you need to get around a parked car, in busy traffic…with scooters shooting at every angle toward you…it gets a bit nerve wracking! I’m sure my friend got his first grey hair (at 22…roflmao) from my driving! I shook for awhile the first day I drove. By the end of the first weekend I was getting better at not using the windshield wipers to try to signal lane changes (also on the wrong side of the steering wheel!). By the second weekend I was very comfortible and a pro!! I think I only mildly scared Doc once!

He took me the first weekend to the Aquarium which was amazing!! The dolphin show was spectacular! The scenary on the way to the Aquarium breathtaking! And then there was this garden at the aquarium that was full of orchids and water falls, a little tower that we climbed! SUCH a beautiful day! And what an incredible place!!

The next day we explored tunnels that the Japanese military had used during WW2! Very amazing!! As we walked through one of the rooms I could hear a silent whisper ‘we didnt want to die’ and I shared this with my friend (who knows i’m sensitive to spirit) and he showed me a plaque on the wall. The room was where many of the Okinawan military had commited suicide not wanting to be captured or surrender! The message I had heard made sense.

I’m going to call this ‘part one’ because I need to get ready for work now. Back to the real world again! God I would love a job that allowed me to travel around the world!!! Any ideas???

I am just absolutely in love with Okinawa! I still cant get over how peaceful and wonderful the little island is! The people! And just the incredible time I had!

Hopefully I will be over the jet lag soon! I did miss everyone on here! But was having the time of my life!! The beach picture above is the little beach I spent most mornings on at Kinser Base! Most days I was completely by myself when I was there which allowed for total relaxation and meditation!! A few times there were Marines working nearby…which just provided some site seeing! teehee