Alligator Alley

On an island in the sun
We'll be playing and having fun
And it makes me feel so fine
I can't control my brain

We'll run away together
We'll spend some time forever
We'll never feel bad anymore

Weezer

When the plane touches down at your final destination it's always a good thing. When you spend an afternoon getting on and off a plane still attached to the terminal, wait on a flight crew to arrive and then spend time de-icing and waiting for the runway to be plowed, it's even sweeter. After a four plus hour delay I was really happy to land in Tampa, probably not as happy as half my plane who had endured being cancelled the day before. It wasn't exactly Florida warm when I arrived but it beat the hell out of what I had left behind.

First stop Wednesday morning was the quaint Tampa Bay Downs racetrack. There is nothing I enjoy more than a day at the races, sitting on a bench outside, soaking up some sun and watching the horses run. I think I lasted about 3 minutes or so 4 or 5 times I ventured out. It was in the 40's with wind blowing. It must have sharpened my mind a bit as I had a nice day at the windows.

I got to spend the afternoon with my Uncle John and Aunt Betsy who much like his father, my grandfather, is a horse owner/breeder. I try to forgive them for their undying loyalty to a certain school in Durham that they both matriculated from. However, I will take some solace in the fact that in the 36 hours or so we spent together Duke lost their first basketball game of the season.

After a day at the races, it was a two hour drive south to my parent's home in Venice Beach. I had not seen my parents in almost exactly a year. Way, way too long. I really love their house, love the little pool in the backyard, love sitting outside on the lanai, love seeing the sandhill cranes meander by, love watching the golfers as the play their shots into the green and on one occasion into the house. It is as peaceful a spot as I know. It's a very short drive to the beach. One of theses days I have to come visit in the warmer months and really take advantage of all that is near by....that or just move back in with them...just kidding mom. I am glad this trip was under better circumstances than the last one and happy to report that my father is hanging in pretty well and thanks to his dvr gets to see the end of all those basketball games he would fall asleep watching. We got one Terp win and one bad Terp loss on the trip, but it was sure fun to complain about free throw shooting together again. I wish I had taken a picture of the bed I slept in. It's been awhile since I spent a night in a twin bed. With my feet hanging off, and quite certain I would fall off the first time I rolled over it took me sometime to feel comfortable. In fact I think I finally felt comfortable when I was packing up. As always, I can not say enough about my Mom.

High on my list of things to do on this trip was eat seafood. Now I know that getting Maine lobsters in Florida is kind of defeating the point of getting fresh seafood from the Gulf... But it's lobster and I do love my lobster. We had the The Twin Lobster Shack steam us up 8 of these beauties. They were so sweet and so tasty, just like you would expect lobster to be. Jacky was so jealous of my lobster pic that we did it again when she arrived. So of the 5 nights I spent in Venice, 2 of them were surrounded by these yummy treats. I also had some shrimp, scallops, and grouper while on the trip.

Also high on the list was get outside, enjoy the sun and warmth, and get some exercise. I would love to say I got to play some beach volleyball on a 80 degree day with the waves of the gulf rolling in. But I did get to walk around the net while walking on the beach and collecting some rather cool shells. Just another reason to come back when it's warmer. I did hike the two bridges in town as well. They didn't seem quite as high as the last time I hiked them, and no one stranger stopped to see if I was okay or needed a ride. I consider that to be measurable progress :)

I got to do some laps in the community pool. It was a little cooler than what I was used to but I actually think the mid 80's is a really good lap temperature. Not another soul in the pool area the entire time I was there. Lot's of golfers zooming by in carts but peaceful, serene, and of course musical with my swimmp3 player on.






I am happy to report that I was not in violation of rule #14 when I used the pool. Shockingly there was no explicit rule against open puss oozing lesions, or projectile vomiting. Perhaps rule #14 could just be omitted under the common sense clause.

I spent one day driving 3.5 hours south down to Ft Lauderdale to spend the day at Gulstream Park. I hadn't been to Gulfstream since the late 80's when I was working at Hialeah racetrack. It has certainly changed. Completely rebuilt with a open air mall attached to it, a casino, a simulcast center, and loads of bars and restaurants. The weather was a little nicer, I got a little sun, and I gave back the money I made at Tampa. Spent a few hours that night at the Naples Greyhound track. I used the system of picking dogs that looked like my greyhounds. And even though both my dogs are within 5 lbs of their racing weight they sure don't look as skinny as these girls. The Florida greyhound tracks have all been given new leases on life thanks to the legalization of poker. I can promise you they are not pumping any of that money back into the facilities as they look like they did 30 years ago. Not that the 100 or so people paying attention to the dogs really cared. It was a pleasant night to sit outside and laugh at the people in Wisconsin at that moment. I also made a stop at the Sarasota greyhound track later in the week and so the same exact situation, an overflowing card room and a few handfuls of dog bettors. Not bad though for me. 4 tracks in 6 days is my idea of a vacation :)

The flight home was uneventful. Stepping off the plane was breathtaking as the temperature was freezing and I could see my breath the entire walk up the jetway into the terminal. I am home for just about 3 weeks and then off to Utah for a month. It's going to be a long week listening to Bears and Packers fans argue back and forth. But the NFC championship means only two week until the Super Bowl party. Lots to look forward to. Peace, Love and seafood, Jim

Sunshine State

You gotta grow, you gotta learn by your mistakes
You gotta die a little everyday just to try to stay awake
When you believe there’s no mountain you can climb
And if you get it wrong you’ll get it right next time (next time).
Gerry Rafferty

One week into January, forty some bowl games watched, a new football coach at Maryland, a Republican house working hard to accomplish nothing but show, no real snow on the ground, a doctor telling me my knee seems mostly healed and my normal $125 bill costing me zero to hear those words, some really good movies watched, a plane ticket purchased for Utah and hotel reservations for March Madness, and most exciting to me, next week I get to be at my parents' house in Venice Beach, Florida.

So the "lazyman's" ironman triathlon we are doing is almost wrapped up. We have to finish by Monday and happy to report one of us is done and the other two will finish easily. I have 3 miles left to get done on the treadmill. I finished my 2.5 miles of swimming this week. I have a new friend at my gym, the exercise bike. I love it and have been spending more and more time on it. As of today I have done 190+ miles on the bike, and topped out Thursday doing 42 miles. 23.3 miles in 82 minutes and 18.7 miles in 61 minutes. My hamstrings hurt but mot as much as my butt. But truthfully it is a really good pain because it comes from pushing myself further than I ever imagined. This challenge has been really rewarding. I never imagined I would be writing I rode a bike for 42 miles. Thanks to my fellow competitors for inspiring me to keep moving.

I have seen some really good movies recently. I really liked True Grit. I loved The Fighter. And I thought I would hate The Black Swan but I didn't. True Grit is really well done and all 3 leads in the movie do a wonderful job. I was certain that it would be my favorite movie of the year, then I saw The Fighter. It's the best boxing movie I have ever seen. Christian Bale, who plays the brother to Mark Wahlberg's lead, gives the most amazing performance I have seen in a long time. You can pencil his best supporting actor Oscar in right now. And while I hate movies that mix reality with dreams and hallucinations (Inception), I thought The Black Swan did a manageable job of making it work. Go see all of them. My next movie trip is to see The King's Speech and I am really excited for it too.

The NFL playoffs start this weekend and that means only one thing....4 weeks 'til the return of the annual Super Bowl Party, which took a one year hiatus last year due to my Utah/CNBC adventure. And even though there has been a request to pare the guest list by the hostess, if you're going to be in Madison on February 6th, I will make sure you get in :)

I leave Tuesday flying into Tampa. Get to see my old college roommate that night and spend the following afternoon at Tampa Bay Downs watching real live horses run around in circles. I will be in Venice that night at my parents, whom I haven't seen in a year. Very excited. Plus my aunt is flying in and my uncle is driving in, my middle brother is driving in and Jacky is joining us on the weekend. It usually takes a funeral or wedding to get this many of together at one time. Happy that I get to see all family members.

Took today's blog song from the very talented but extremely troubled Gerry Rafferty. Best known for Baker Street, Right Down the Line, and Stuck in the Middle with You, he sadly passed away this week at the age of 63... Big game Monday night, in fact the only NCAA game played in the last month that really means anything. Shame on the BCS, Shame on the NCAA, and Shame on the Big Schools that a playoff still doesn't exist. But I got to root and one team has a QB who shouldn't be playing because his dad thought auctioning his son to the highest bidder was ok. The other wore 12 different uniforms this year. It helps the old budget when Nike writes your university a blank check. So give me the ever changing green and gold and black and white and silver of Oregon. Go Ducks!!! Peace, Love, and Sunshine, Jim

Happy New Year 2011

Have you ever thrown a fist full of glitter in the air?
Have you ever looked fear in the face
And said I just don’t care

It’s only half past the point of no return
The tip of the iceberg
The sun before the burn
The thunder before lightning
And the breath before the phrase
Have you ever felt this way?
PINK

Another Christmas gone, another new year started. Christmas is always a fun time of the year for me, although for the first time I think I am taller than my Christmas tree. I am going to chalk that up more to a smaller Christmas tree than to an amazing growth spurt.




With the new year comes of course the annual making of resolutions. But let's face it resolutions

aren't exactly the best way to attack the year. I prefer to work on goals for the upcoming year. And if I don't write down my goals... actually put them in ink, then they are just nice thoughts in my head. I think goals need to be specific, measurable, appropriate, realistic, and timely.

So let's talk about some goals for the upcoming year.

1) I want to get my knee properly looked at and I have an appointment to get that done on Thursday.

2) I want to swim in the ocean and play volleyball
on the beach.

3) I want to arrive at the Ridge weighing less than I have ever arrived weighing before.

4) I want to hike Saddle, and not die when I am on that trail.

5) I want to do at least one tri and two 5k 's in Wisconsin this year

6) I want to go on a 25 mile bike ride

7) I want to do at least 25% of the 60 hikes shown in the book above.

So I thought I would give you an update on the ironman competition we have going on. Let me just start by saying this competition has kept me motivated the last two weeks to work out. No conceivable way I would have done all this work and gone as long and as hard I did if not for the fear these two girls were going to destroy me in this challenge. I have done a few things I have never done before including doing a marathon on my stationary bike. It took me 90 minutes and 20 seconds to do this and I did it to kick off my year on January 1st. I am now just over 108 miles into the bike portion of the event. Again let me reiterate that

anyone who does this in a day is super human. I certainly will finish it out this week :)

I hope everyone had a great New Year's. I watched Kathy Griffin and Anderson Cooper bring in the new year and actually stayed awake just past midnight here in Madison. And I certainly hope you all had better New Year's Days than the Big Ten football teams. Congrats to TCU for proving that you don't have to be in a big conference to play great football and I'm not certain but I think Alabama just scored again on Michigan St. Peace and New Year's Love, Jim

best.christmas.ever

O! Holy night! The stars, their gleams prolonging
Truly He taught us to love one another,
His law is love and His gospel is peace
Adolphe Adam

Merry Christmas!!!

As always when I wake up Christmas morn I am eternally grateful for all the blessings that I have, all the joy the previous year has brought me, and all the excitement that lies ahead. 2010 was a magically wonderful year, full of joy, accomplishments, and most importantly fabulous new friends that have impacted forever my life.


Winter has begun in earnest here in Madison and in the spirit of Christmas I am going to say some nice things about it. First off winter brings Christmas and Christmas music and I do love both of them. It brings Christmas shoppers into Sunshine Daydream and I always feel nice knowing that some happy little hippie is opening up a peace sign tie dye and smiling Christmas morning. I like that when I leave my water bottle in my car it is really cold in the morning. I like that the start of winter means spring isn't too far off and that means March Madness in Vegas with my best friends. And this winter means FLORIDA for me. I booked a flight to the Sunshine state to see my parents in mid-January and I can't wait.


I talked a little about not making this a winter that tacked on additional shake to my bowl
full of jelly. So I signed up to do an ironman triathlon. 2.4 miles of swimming, 110 miles on the bike and 26.2 miles on the ground. Now before you fall over laughing let me say that I have 30 days to finish it :) I have elicited the help of two of my favorite ridgers in this challenge Lisa and Betsey and I am happy to report we have all made great strides at knocking this thing out. I actually did a full sprint triathlon on Wednesday
of this week 3 miles on the treadmill, followed by 10 miles on the stationary bike, and a 1/2 mile in the pool. There was 6 miles of driving between the bike and pool but I'm not counting that :) So as we trudge forward towards the January 10th deadline I am confident we will all get this full "tri" done, but let me say for the record whomever can do this full ironman in one day is not really human.

I miss a lot of things in winter time. I really miss my toes in the sand and my eyes watching a volleyball coming over the net. I miss my family, as I can not remember the last time we spent a Christmas together. I really miss waking up Christmas morning with the ones I love. I miss the feeling of climbing in the hot tub and the joy it brings me. I miss being able to go see my terps live. I miss my extended ridge family. I miss daylight after 4:30 in the afternoon. I miss not worrying about the road conditions. I miss walking outside, headphones blaring Sara, and climbing that damn mountain in snow canyon with my friends and getting my picture taken at the stop sign.

I am excited for 2011. Each year gets better than the one before it. I try not to spend much time blogging about my political beliefs because I believe people can have heartfelt beliefs that are the polar opposite of mine and in fact I used to have beliefs that are completely opposite of mine now. But I thought now would be a really good time to talk about one area that I firmly believe is lacking in this country. Health care is something that every society should guarantee its citizens. If people are sick they should be cared for. If people are injured they should be fixed. People should never have to face decisions where they have to choose remedies based on their ability to pay. If a society does not treat all of it's members equally when it comes to the basic welfare of of their health they are failing its citizens. Why the rant? Beginning January 1st I will have something I haven't had since I graduated Law School in 1992. And it's not because I didn't want it, not because I wasn't willing to pay a fair amount for it, not because I didn't think it was a necessary. It simply was unavailable to me. I will have a basic health insurance plan. I shouldn't have had to wait 18 years for it. And I am sorry some people are still waiting.

I hope everyone has a wonderful Christmas day, Christmas week, and New Year. I can't say it enough but I am so thankful for all of you. Thinking about the impact on my life that started when I started this blog makes me as happy as I can be. Peace to All and all my Christmas Love to you, Jim

December Baby

Merry Christmas darling
We're apart that's true
But I can dream and in my dreams
I'm Christmas-ing with you

The Carpenters

I thought I would kickoff this Christmas season with my all-time favorite Christmas carol. I have been writing this for now 3 Christmas seasons so I am certain I have written about Merry Christmas Darling by the Carpenters before, but just like the radio stations this time of year; it's always nice to get reacquainted with some old friends.

I will not lie from Thanksgiving through the thaw has always been my most difficult time of the year, especially since moving to Madison. My activity level decreases, my tv watching increases, my time outside dwindles down, stupid stuff that I wouldn't eat the rest of the year happily and repeatedly goes down my gullet in the name of Christmas. I swear this year I am not gaining weight through the holidays. I will go back to the ridge weighing less than when I left. I struggled through September and October this year, got some renewed energy in early November and hopefully can change some of theses winter habits.

So how do I make this more than lip service, and another failed promise to myself? I go back to some of the things that have helped in the past. I called my workout partner and made sure we could get serious again at her gym, and made that happen this week. I called my gym and extended my membership thru mid-February. I walked in the mall this week. I signed up again for weight watchers, where they have an entirely new program. Not that I actually follow the program that much but something about getting on the scale in front of that blue-haired lady who weighs 1/3 of what I do scares me. And I shipped my wife to Cancun for 5 days so that at least for those five days I know I wont smell Christmas cookies and pumpkin cake emanating from my kitchen :)

My knee has felt better. Not perfect by any stretch but it doesn't hurt when I walk. The jumping and running is on temporary hiatus, but everything else is a go. I spent Thanksgiving morning walking the course of the 5K here in town. I'm tempted to play some indoor volleyball but haven't given in yet. But I will. It feels good on the treadmill, I am using incline more than speed to get the heart rate up. I'm the first to admit that I have failed many more times than I have succeeded, but I never give up hope or stop trying.

It's December 3rd here in Madison and we have not had more than a few flurries of snow and the temperatures have made it impossible for me to shake my head at the silly ice fisherman, sitting on buckets in the middle of a frozen lake. That all ends tonite :( First significant snowfall of the year is headed my way. I would love to tell you that I will be curled up in front of a fire with my Christmas list checking things off it, but more likely I will be watching football and college basketball. I have moved my weight bench into the living room and my goal is 100 sit-ups during each halftime for every game.

I'd love to say that I have lots of exciting things planned for the next couple months but as of now it's really just the same old routine. In fact, I don't even have a ticket in hand for any future concert nor do my beloved Terps make any trip to the midwest this year so that's not on the schedule either. I do have a trip planned for February to... wait for it....it may shock you.....Utah/Vegas!!! but that's it. But you know what. That's still awfully exciting for me.

I will leave you this week with something fun and new that happened for me last night. My crazy waffles trivia team went 23 for 23 last night in our answers, The first time ever for us. I'll give you some of the questions to see how you do. Music....Adam Sandler in his 2nd Hanukkah song said my mom thinks this singer is Jewish? Science True or False water is H2O but Ice is H3o? This player in 2006 was the fastest player ever to 100 touchdowns in the NFL? This recording duo was originally called Tom and Jerry? This country's southern most point is Indira Point? What is a kapok? What city did the show 30 something take place in? And after the Yankees this franchise has won the most world Series? Have at 'em!! I hope everyone has a great first week of December. I hope it's warmer where you are :) Be that Utah, Vegas, Auburn, TCU, Oregon, Maryland, or Cancun..... Peace and Love, Jim

Thanfully thankful

I've heard it said
That people come into our lives for a reason
Bringing something we must learn
And we are led
To those who help us most to grow
If we let them
And we help them in return
Well, I don't know if I believe that's true
But I know I'm who I am today
Because I knew you...
Glinda from Wicked

Another Thanksgiving and another year where I have been blessed with so much good fortune, so many new friends, so much joy and laughter, so many volleyball wins, so much wonderful live music, so much media exposure, so many wonderful trips and just so much love, I can't even begin to quantify it. Here are some of the many things that I am thankful for this year.




I love water. I love the pool at the ridge and am really at home there.But, I really love the hot tub. I could live in that thing. I just really enjoy the way I relax and the way everything feels better when I am in the hot tub. Why don't I just get one for Wisconsin? It wouldn't be the same. Something about being out west, the bubbles engulfing me, and the warmth of the air that makes me so thankful for the hot tub.





Zenyatta. It took me a long time to warm up to this mare but she was legit. Owned by the M of A&M records, and not as quick as my girl Rachel, she is the best filly to run in quite some time. I really like the heart she has, love her charging style, and love how she knows how to win. I am so thankful she ran second in the Breeder's Cup
because I cashed a really nice ticket on the race.

Speaking of awesome fillies; I am very thankful that I got to spend some time with my Mom. I sure wish we lived closer and by closer I mean I was closer to her, the beach and the warm weather of Florida. Love you, Mom

Two more of my favorite girls of 2010 were Glinda and Elphaba. Wicked is the best show I have seen. Granted my pool of live theater shows is small, but I am in love with this show. Grab someone you love, and go see this show. I don't care if you have to travel it's so worth it. If that's not possible your friendly blogger may be willing to hook you up with a dvd copy, if one were to exist. Although there is no official release of a Wicked DVD that doesn't mean you can't click heels and wish.

Thankful for sweater vests and their slimming effect :)

Thankful for Gary Williams. He makes my favorite college basketball team and his alma mater competitive every year. Fear the Turtle!!

Thankful for sunsets and race numbers. I don't think I ever really thought I'd be grabbing four safety pins and adorning my shirt with a race number, but I did it 3 times in 2010. Not bad for a guy that would have lost a race with a turtle to the corner. not saying I'd win now, but it'd be competitive.

Thankful that the NY Times called my articulate and sympathetic. And thankful that CNBC thought my story was worth investing so much time and money on. Not so thankful that More Magazine's writer distorted her stay and relationship with me. Two out of three ain't bad.

So happy that after 13 years Sunshine Daydream has a new address, in a better location, in a larger, newer spot, and with a spiffy new sign to boot. Thankful it has exceeded my expectations. And thankful that my brother Jay was so helpful in opening the store and that Jacky has been so great at making it successful.

Thankful that Jacky puts up with me being gone so much in Utah and out so many nights in the volleyball sand.. And that she makes the store run so well and the 3 apples of her eyes Maggie Daisy Jane and Chille so happy and loved. We are about to Celebrate our 15th Thanksgiving together and very thankful that the Gravy boat won't explode like it did at the first one. Happy Thanksgiving Mrs T.

I really feel at home in the sand. I forget I am old enough to be most of my teammates really cool older uncle :) I'm competitive as hell and they accept that. They make me better in the sand and better everywhere else. They inspire, motivate, and push me. They all hate to lose and they make sure I don't very often. 6 nights a week may have been a little too much as my knees finally said enough, but I sure want to do it all again next summer.




Thankful for Boobies and Pink. Glad I could do my part to make the world a safer place for them :)

Happy for the newest addition to our home. Chille, fresh of two Acl surgeries, has been adopted and is now a Trudeau. Maggie welcomes her to the family with a friendly game of tug o war. Thankful all 3 of the puppies make me smile.

Thankful that Ingrid Michaleson makes great music and is so nice to me and the store. I adore listening to all her tunes. Passes to shows, visits backstage, and stage shout-outs. She makes me smile. Please buy her music, it will make you smile too.

Thankful that I rode a bike again this year. And really thankful that the bike I bought has a bigger cushier seat than the one in Utah.

Thankful, that I could jump better, spike better, and and just play better this year. Happy that Nicole and Mary and Max joined the Sunshine Daydream volleyball teams. Not sure they knew what they were getting themselves into, but I know they had a good time, as did I.

Happy that my trivia team keeps my mind sharp and full of mundane crap. The Crazy waffles continue to make at least one night of my week better cause I spend two hours laughing with them and answering questions about stuff that happened before they were alive....all the way back in the 70's :)

What can I say. So thankful for my fellow triathletes. especially the 3 in the picture who did it all again this fall. You guys continue to inspire me. I owe you guys another completed tri and I will deliver. I love you more than you know.

.



So thankful for my annual trip to Vegas for March Madness. It was extra special this year. In fact March in Vegas was as good as it gets, if you don't include the November trip which actually was profitable and good. I love hanging out with my friends and watching all day college basketball. I can't wait to do it all again this spring. What happens in Vegas stays there but the good times make me smile everyday.






Thankful for Brooks shoes. They make my feet so very happy. The best shoes out there and if you are wearing anything else to work out you are making a mistake.

Thankful for Fitness Ridge. The adventures never stop. I am constantly learning new things and remembering things I haven't done in forever and learning to do them again. This has been an exceptional year. So many new life long friends. So many memories, smiles and inspiring moments.

Thankful the Tanya and Tim thought enough of my friendship that they invited me to officiate their wedding. Thankful that I didn't sweat into a puddle at their feet. It was a very special day one I will never forget.







Thankful for all the wonderful music I saw this year starting with this guy Jackson Browne. Add in Sara Bareilles, James Taylor, Jack Johnson, Steely Dan, Carole King, Ingrid Michaelson, The Eagles, Jack Johnson, Jason Mraz, Dave Matthews, The Dixie Chicks, and Neil Young. But no song made me happier to hear live than Running on Empty by Jackson.








Thankful that my good friend Eric Jackson is the general manager at the ridge. He has made the place so much better. Really happy that he got to see his Bears win live and very happy that he got to Madison this year.

Thankful that these are some of my very best friends. They put up with me in the sand, at trivia, and still include me in their parties. I have known these people just over two years and they have changed my life in Madison. And glad that Allison is back from her year in South Korea seeing as North Korea may wipe them off the map soon.








Really thankful that this guy is in my life. he has been a mentor, he has been a friend, he has been a teacher, he has been a counselor, he has bought me beers and yelled at me for picking losers in Vegas, he has lamented the upcoming downfall of Wisconsin at the hands of the Republicans with me. He has rooted for me at Volleyball, drug himself to trivia where he on occasion throws a sports answer at me, he loathes Duke basketball, Notre Dame football, the Yankees, the Cowboys, Rush, crappy waitresses, no ncaa football playoffs, terrible sports radio hosts, and losing. He is my best friend in Madison and he owes me because I introduced him to Vegas and he now spends 51 weeks a year dreaming of that week he will be there. My life has changed in so many ways. Paul is one of the reasons it's much better.

I hope everyone has a wonderful holiday. I hope you have many things to be thankful for. I am thankful you check in on my blog every once in awhile to see how I am doing. Peace, Love, and Turkeys....Jim

Wrap-up

I dig it when you're fancy dressed up in lace
I dig it when you have a smile on your face
This inspiration's got to be on the flow
This invitation's got to see it and know
It's just warm love
And it's everpresent everywhere
To the country I'm going
Lay and laugh in the sun
You can bring, bring your guitar along
We'll sing some songs, we'll have some fun

Van Morrison

I wanted to wrap up my most recent trip to the ridge. It was trying to say the least on many different levels. There is no such thing as a bad trip to the ridge. But let's just say that some work out better than others. This one really didn't. But I'm still really glad I went. As always I met wonderful people, got inspired by all the others there working their butts off, hung out with the fabulous staff, and lost double digits weight.

I did something on this trip that I haven't done in the past. I set up a private meeting with one of the dietitians. Rachael, is the newest addition to the ridge staff and is available virtually all day to talk to you about food and food issues. She is easy to spot as she is the best dressed person in the dining room everyday. I have a nice history of completely losing my mind thanksgiving and keeping it lost until Christmas or more likely New Year's Day or even more likely Super Bowl Sunday. So we spent a long hour discussing food issues, planning meals, and talking about strategies to push forward. I could have actually used about 3 days. Strategy number 1.... Stop eating in bars :) Not too hard to do since I spend a whole lot less time in said venues in the winter with no volleyball :( but I really do want to limit my eating out because the calories I consume outside the house is way too high.

One thing I am certain we can all agree on is that I took way too few, and in general, mostly terrible pictures on this trip. But we can also agree that there are no bad pictures of my fitness ridge love....the pool. Big plans seem to be underway at the ridge. The building project manager, who has broken my heart in the past, assures me that on my next trip I will see a whole bunch of progress. First thing on the table is a new gym/lecture hall/social area. Now they have been promising me and I have been promising you guys enough that they should call me Peter Wolf, but I have some faith this time. Much like Charlie Brown's never ending faith that Lucy will hold that ball down.

I did have a really good last week. I was very happy I finally got an off road hike in. Got a ton of laps in. Got to see a whole bunch of newbies complete a triathlon. Got to play a little bit of basketball, ( where even hobbled still beat Seth and Eric :), had an awesome Friday afternoon in the pool, peeled like a snake in the desert, and got to tell my tan story by request and am actually living it as I am easily the most naturally tan person in Wisconsin in November. I followed that up with some fun times in Las Vegas. Oh and for the first time ever I am coming back heavier in the wallet and lighter on the scale.

I wanted to say thanks to the people who took the time to write and comment on this trip. I am really happy to report that I spent a few moments this week chatting with Caroline and she is on the road to recovery. She did seem concerned that her accent hadn't come back yet. I wasn't sure if she meant New York, South Africa or the combo plate she normally talks with. She made me laugh and I was very thankful for that. I hope everyone has a great week, and a very Happy Thanksgiving. It's one day, enjoy yourself. And I will leave the ridge by giving you a picture of the one thing everyone agrees on. Peace, Love, and Pumpkin delights, Jim