#22 Jam out at the Roller Derby

Maybe a good look for me?

If you’ve seen the movie Whip It then I know you’ve at least had some sort of urge to throw on some quads and face paint and go knock some people around. I found it quite humorous that people’s first response upon hearing I was at the derby was, playing or watching? Now I’ve had my share of aggressive hobbies, a little roller hockey with the boys in the cul-de-sac, some rail sliding and grinding on the in-lines and then, of course, the tragic wrestling match in college that left me with a concussion. I’d like to say that I’m older and wiser now but that’s just too cliché and honestly just one bad (fun) idea away from being untrue.

So in the spirit of trying new things, JP and I headed to the Pavilion for a double header derby match, Dames of Destruction vs Victorious Secrets and Greenville Derby Dames vs Gate City Roller Girls. I was halfway expecting to experience a complete new sub culture of Greenville. True there were some interesting characters to be seen, no seriously there were actually 3 guys dressed as Storm Troopers, but for the most part the people seemed normal. Parents cheering on their children, husbands cheering on wives and I’m sure a few proud kiddos too. I know if I ever did decide to start a career as a derby chick, my parents would definitely be on the front row. Dad would probably even sponsor the team.

Speaking of destruction, I hope everyone survived the storms this past week. All can rest assure there’s one thing that I will never try, storm chasing.

On a side note, the 30x30 are nearing completion. I have most of the remaining 30 things lined up but I’m always open for suggestions. Just because the list ends, doesn’t mean the mischievous adventures have to as well.

#21 Start a Vegetable Garden

Tomato baby

For many years I avoided raw tomatoes. I’d watch in disgust as my mother and grandmother would slap a thick slice of tomato on two slices of bread (slathered with mayonnaise, salt and pepper, of course) and just eat away likes it’s the best thing since well, sliced bread. I would even order a BLT, hold the T. I just didn’t see the magic in tomatoes, unless of course they were processed into ketchup or spaghetti sauce. A few years ago I let my guard down and tried a caprese salad. I guess the tomato stars were in alignment that day because the combination was like a gravitational pull that wouldn’t let go.

Baby lettuces

So it only makes sense that growing tomatoes be a part of the 30x30 adventure. And for good measure, I  threw in some herbs and mixed lettuces as well. If you’ve never grown lettuce might I suggest that you try. My little plants are only a few weeks old and are several inches tall. Plus if you have purchased one of those $3-$4 bags of mixed greens lately, you can definitely appreciate the cost savings.

If only they made a bacon tree then I’d have the perfect garden. I just don’t think I’m quite ready for my house to become a complete pig sty, despite how it may look from time-to-time.

My favorite ways to eat a tomato:

Absolutely delicious

•  Straight up BLT with lots of mayo
•  Caprese on a baguette: toasted baguette slices topped with buffalo mozzarella, heirloom tomato, basil and a mix of salt, pepper, olive oil and balsamic vinegar
•  And yes, a Tomato Sandwich: tomato, mayo, salt and pepper

Snap dragons, lettuce, tomatoes,
herbs and morning glories (eventually)

By the way, special thanks to Mom and Dad for their help on the new garden. It was our special project during their visit last month. 

#20 Fruit fast

AKA My Life as a Fruit Bat

Preparation

Wallet in tow, I headed to Whole Paycheck Foods to stock up for my 3 day fruit fast. The contents of my countertops and refrigerator are the following:

6 oz raspberries
12 oz blackberries
6 oz blueberries
2 lbs strawberries
1 bunch green grapes
8 bananas
3 honey tangerines
2 grapefruits
1 pineapple
4 avocados
3 lemons
2 heirloom tomatoes
1 carton grapefruit juice
2 coconut water juice boxes
4 IZZE pomegranates
2 bottles sparkling water
1 box herbal (decaffeinated) tea

Day one

I started the day by waking from a dream where I was going through a buffet line only to have to dump the entire tray out. Rude awakening for a gloomy Monday morning. 

First meal: ½ grapefruit and herbal tea

Second meal: Mixed fruit – blackberries, blueberries, strawberries, pineapple, grapes

Third meal: banana

Fourth meal: Mixed fruit, banana, honey tangerine and coconut water

Fifth meal: Herbal tea, mashed avocado with lemon, heirloom tomato, 1/2 banana, raspberries

(I added olive oil to the avocado and tomato. I figured olives are technically a fruit so using their oil isn't technically cheating)

Day two

I'm starting day two with a level of confidence that tells me I can do this. I started this morning as usual with a walk with Maddox, then 20 minutes of meditation followed by herbal tea and half a grapefruit. My energy level is still pretty high which is encouraging. Now I'm at the office, I have eaten a banana and a little of my fruit medley.

These are my strategies thus far:

• Stay full to avoid any temptation
• Designate certain foods for certain meals (for me avocado and tomatoes = supper, raspberries = dessert)
• Drink lots of fluids

So at the end of day two I'm starting to feel the grip on my sanity slipping. I get home and I'm exhausted and still have 60 minutes of yoga and 20 minutes of meditation to complete. My meal of avocado, tomato, banana and raspberries isn't really inspiring much to be honest. Plus I'm starting to notice how many food advertisements there are on television, the web, etc...This is getting brutal.


Day three

I can finally see the light and no, it's not from the glowing golden arches of a McDonald's sign. Fasting is totally a mental game and I'm pretty positive that I have at least 15 hours left of fight in me. I also mixed a few raspberries into my fruit medley this morning as a treat to myself. Going for some hot yoga tonight at Southern Om. Watch me spend half the class in child's pose sweating out fruit cocktails.

And we're done

I made it without cheating! At 12:01 am last night I had 5 multigrain saltine crackers topped with cheddar cheese and I was grinning like a cheshire cat. I've been good this morning having 1/2 a grapefruit and some herbal tea around 6:00 am. It's almost 9:00 am now and I've about finished off a few cups of fruit and a Kashi bar (oh, how I missed those).

Two funny things about a fruit fast. First since fruit carries a lot of water, it tends to make you pee A LOT. I'm the type of person that can make an 8 hour drive without a bathroom stop, so you can only imagine how hourly bathroom trips start to wear on my patience. Second, apparently fruit carries a lot of air as well. I was practicing yoga at home on Tuesday and as I went into a prayer twist a huge (very ladylike) burp erupted from my body. (yes mother, I can feel how proud you are of me at this very moment)

It is said a fasting can be like the spring cleaning equivalent for the body. With that said,  I'm thinking I may incorporate it into my lifestyle now, maybe twice a year.

Finally....Thanks to all the other "transformers" out there. The email chains have really brought some levity to the last few days. I hope everyone has an easy transition back to normalcy!

More on #19: Transformational Class

Week three of my 40-day transformation is coming to a close and I'm as calm as a Hindu cow. Well that's not entirely true, but I have experienced a calmer more balance sense of self. The most positive part of my transformational experience has been a reconnection with my brother, Josh, who's currently in yoga teacher training. (read about it @ downward facing squirrel). Over the past two weeks we've really connected through stories of our ups and downs. He was my savior this week when tension in my IT band started to hinder my practice and provided some much needed humor upon his creation of the pose/phrase, downward dripping big mac. This is much improved from our childhood days of him beating me in the head with a meat mallet and knocking me unconscious with a golf ball. (Okay, I may have taken some creative liberties here)

Here's a brief look at the schedule I've been following:

Week One: 5 minutes meditation twice a day, 15 minutes of yoga daily
Week Two: 10 minutes meditation twice a day, 30 minutes of yoga daily
Week Three: 15 minutes meditation twice a day, 45 minutes of yoga daily
Week Four: 20 minutes meditation twice a day, 60 minutes of yoga daily
Week Five: 25 minutes meditation twice a day, 75 minutes of yoga daily
Week Six: 30 minutes of meditation twice a day, 90 minutes of yoga daily

I kick of the beginning of week four with a fruit fast which I will count as #20 on the list as I have never attempted a fast (and will probably never attempt again).

#18 and #19: 40 days of fun (or something like that)

I wanted to give a sneak peak into my next two adventures but be sure I will keep everyone posted on my progress, or lack thereof.

I can't ever remember giving up anything for lent. Can you? Well this Lenten season I will give up one thing and take on another. The next 40 days just may break me and if they don't, I'll be a heck of a lot stronger for surviving them.

What I'm giving up for Lent:

#18: Give up dirty words

Holy sh#t! (no pun intended) It's true. For the 40 days of Lent I will be giving up those 4 letter words that have always brought so much joy to my life. This was my mother's great idea. I had originally planned to give up either sweet tea or mayonnaise.

What I'm taking on for Lent:

#19: 40 Days to Personal Revolution

Starting March 6 I will be embarking on a 40 day journey, courtesy of Southern Om Hot Yoga Studio, to discover clarity of mind, body and spirit. I will learn more this Wednesday but essentially my next 40 days will include daily yoga practices, meditation, a cleansing eating plan (scary) and healthy thinking.

I'll be sure to update these posts as things develop. So keep following!

#17 Acupuncture

Not as painful as it looks...

I've spent the last few weeks planning out the rest of the 30x30 list. The tasks ahead are daunting, or maybe it's just the completion of them that is. And, moment of truth here, I had my first tremblings of an "almost 30" freak out. I hear they say you can have a quarter life crisis at twenty-five, so is thirty a third life crisis? And if so, where do these third, fifth, eighth...whatever crises end??? If I run into a fifteen year old complaining of a 1/6th life crisis, I will have no choice but to slap him or her.

With that said, I felt the need for some balance in my life. I'm still working on my yoga practice and #18 on the list will also be an effort to center my life. However this Thursday I decided to try yet another Eastern approach, acupuncture.

A clinic co-located with my gym offers "Group Acupuncture" several times a week. I know. Acupuncture sounds scary enough, why does it have to be a group thing. And no, there's no needle sharing going on.  It's just a circle of six lazy boy recliners in a room. I was the only patient for most of the time but was later joined by several other characters.

Baby needle in my hand.
Those are NOT my feet in the background!

So here's the scoop. After an assessment of your needs and issues, the therapist applies the hair-thin needles into the nerve points that coincide with your needs. I ended up with 7-8 needles from the base of my big toe to the top of my head. At insertion it feels like being poked with a pine needle but afterward its just a feeling of pressure.

The result. I felt enlightened and definitely more focused. Am I a newfound acupuncture junkie? Well, that's yet to be seen.

# 16 Riding a Bike

Look mom, no shoes!

Growing up, I was the kid that always had some type of cut or scratch (stitches, concussion, bruises, what have you). The one most violently burned into my memory was that of my first bike ride on my brand new big girl bike.  Most girls can easily picture the bike. It was a Huffy one-speed with a banana seat accessorized with pom-pom streamers on the handlebars, a basket, and those damn clinky things on the spokes.  This was well before Xzibit and Pimp My Ride existed but I think he’d be impressed even now.

That's not chocolate on my lip.

On our virgin voyage, the fancy new bike and I went for a tumble. Being the speed demon I’ve always been, I took a turn too fast and face planted into the asphalt. The end result, a busted front lip as well as some nasty knee and palm scrapes. I did ride again but handed over the bike for rollerblades as soon as I could.  So some 20 years later and in the spirit of new adventures, I climb back on the bike for the ride of a lifetime. (Someone please punch me for saying that).

On a recent trip to San Francisco, I thought that a bike ride across the Golden Gate Bridge would be a great idea. After hitting up Wikipedia, I learned that the bridge itself is only 1.7 miles so we’re looking at 5 miles max in my mind. NOT TRUE. The entire ride was 8-9 miles which still isn’t that far. But like any good tale, there’s always some mischief involved.

First of all, I am by myself on this ride without clearly marked paths and one very misleading map. A few miles in and I take a wrong turn and venture up a very steep San Francisco hill. Not sure of my move, I asked a few transportation workers their advice and well, they were wrong. After a few miles I knew this couldn’t be right so I found my way back to the original path. The only problem was that this involved picking up the bike (I’m guessing 30 pounds) and carrying it down several very steep flights of stairs. By this point I am beyond angry and a part of me wanted to just throw the bike down the stairs but I didn’t. I conquer the stairs only to find myself at the base of a monstrous hill. The idea of calling a cab starts floating around in my head. That was, of course, the first of many calf-screaming hills and not the last time I thought about calling a cab.

I made it across the bridge and down to Sausalito without incident and celebrated with a heavy beer and a sandwich on fresh sourdough.  Good times!

Fake smile!

Almost there!

I'm on the bridge!

And done! (real smile)