Fall Fishing

Fall Fishing.
Not usually as good as spring fishing. The fish aren't quite as hungry as they were in the spring and summer. The water is getting cooler, and their metabolism's are slowing down. If you take time to enjoy the scenery (which is more than half of what fishing is all about) it's not so bad if you don't catch anything. Afterall, a bad day fishing is better than a day at (work, school, soccer games).

Rainy Camping Days

Fishing in a puddle pond. Suggested gear: rain boots. rain coat. fishing pole with bobber (no hooks please). Add a good imagination. Mix together for lots of rainy day camping fun.

Running and karma

Fate. Destiny. Loosely translated, Karma is what happens to you in life. I like to think I can guide my karma. Overcome hurdles. Get myself going in a better direction. At my current stage of life, my focus is more physical than spiritual. My big eye-opening, oh-shit moment came as my 39th birthday quickly approached. I had lost 25 pounds in the last 3 years, but was starting to jiggle again. And I could either celebrate 40 in another year and watch myself go further down hill, or get my act in gear and kick 40 in it's ass. I chose the latter. I joined the gym. I take classes like "extreme fitness", "power sculpt" and one hour spin classes. And... I love it. I also run. Not the one mile runs that helped me lose the 25 pounds. 5k (3.2 miles) runs that make me celebrate 39.

Here's my run this morning. Strap on my running shoes, my running bra, a pair of capris and my iPod. Walk downstairs to the treadmill. Set the treadmill for speed 3 (20 minute mile) to walk and warm up. Flip on iPod. Scroll to songs -> Playlists -> running tunes and hit play. "Rubberband Man" comes on for my warmup. Funky. That describes the first 3 minutes of warm up. Getting your mind set. Then comes a remix of "Sugar Sugar". The treadmill goes up to a jogging speed 5 (12 minute mile). The next 3/4 miles are the hardest. My first thought is oh crap. Robin Benfatti (now married with a different last name) taught my Power Sculpt on Friday. We used to swim together in high school. Robin is now the fitness director at the gym. Robin kicked my ass on Friday. Literally. It was burning. That's what I feel now in my warm up jog. My ass. My ankles. My shins. "Sugar Sugar" ends and a remix of "Born to Be Alive" comes on and helps me finish my first mile. My lungs have adjusted to the fact that they are going to work today. My legs are warming up, the blood is pumping, I'm starting to think I can have a good run today. Another remix... "Should I Stay or Should I Go" kicks my run upto a speed of 5.5, just under a 11 minute mile. I love my remixes. I love iTunes and my iPod. A remix of "Long Train Running" comes on at 1.25 miles. They say the runners high kicks in right about now, and I believe it. I feel better than I did at 20 years old. I turn my treadmill up to a speed of 6.2 (9.8 minute mile) and settle in for the next mile with a few more thumping remixes... all around 160 beats per minute. At this point, it's all about the music. As my spin instructor would say - let the music guide your cadence. My feet pound the treadmill deck to the beat. I feel so good that at 2.5 miles I slow down, lower my heart rate, grab the dog and head out into my neighborhood. I run the whole 'hood. Hills and all. Today, I have looked at 40 and kicked it the ass.

Can you change your Karma? No. Can you change the things around you and direct your Karma? I like to think so.