A New Years Goal

A New Years Goal is hatching in my brain.

I got inspired by a story I was reading in The Surfers Journal magazine about two young men (early twenties) who paddled from Santa Barbara to Mexico. They used paddle boards which are designed for paddling either on your stomach or on your knees. They packed all their gear onto the boards and camped on beaches along the way. The Surfers Journal is packed with fun adventurous stories like theirs.

The idea of adventure for the sake of adventure appeals to me immensely. When I was a kid I loved comic books and reading about the characters various adventures. I remember asking my Dad one day "Daddy, when will I have adventures"? He was a big adventurer himself, being a pilot by trade and loved traveling to foreign countries. I also love endurance events and especially love an event that few people are interested in. That's probably why I love ultra marathons so much. But long distance running is not happening for me right now, due to healing up this knee. So, why not Stand Up Paddle from Laguna Beach to San Diego?

The first thing is, I don't own a Stand Up Paddle board. The second thing is, I've tried it only once, with a rented board at "Baby Beach" in Dana Point. Baby Beach is pretty much what the name implies.

I spoke to my husband, Kerry, about the idea. He is the quintessential water man, so he was all over it. I checked into the mileage. It's 65 miles. That doesn't sound like much to the ultra running community where races are routinely 50 or 100 miles. But being out in the ocean, with no control over the elements? Paddling through San Onofre where the three Great White Sharks, Sparky, Archie and Fluffy live? (yes, they have names) Sounds like an adventure to me!

Angela, my darling, you have to work. So, unless she can get time off from work...... We will probably take a week off to enjoy the adventure. I personally don't know anyone who has done this on an SUP, though I think there must be. We are eager for suggestions as to how to make the journey. We will have to paddle through Camp Pendleton Marine Base as well. Does anyone know the rules on that? Daddy, I think I found my next adventure!

Start of Week Four "Mind Power Smoothie"

They say the first thing to go is the memory. And the second thing to go? Well, I forgot what that was!

Welcome to week four of our high phytochemical, high energy, holiday out of control eating counteracting, smoothie diet.

This morning I made the "Mind Power Smoothie" for brain function featured on page seven of Jeff Primack's book Smoothie Formulas.

This drink is made using corn, raw pumpkin seeds, goji berries, lemon, ginger and cilantro. I have to admit that I was a bit skeptical of this drink because I am not a huge fan of cilantro. But not to worry. This was one of the best tasting smoothies so far! Perhaps I put too many goji berries in. Whatever the case, the cilantro was barely noticeable and the drink has a wonderful creaminess to it, due to the pumpkin seeds.

Cilantro. Personally, I don't really like it, but we just have to have it. Why? Because we live in a world filled with toxic chemicals and poisons. Cilantro has been used to successfully remove mercury and lead from people suffering from heavy metal poisoning. Perhaps even more amazing is the fact that cilantro has been successful in helping people with Alzheimer's and Autism actually reverse it.

So, raise your glass with me in a toast. Who knows, maybe this drink will finally help me remember just where I left my black coat.

Chris's First Day Surfing

Let me just say that my BFF Chris is a stud!

Today was his first day ever surfing. He expressed an interest to me in learning to surf and asked me, "should I wait until summer"? My prompt reply was nothing less than to shame him mercifully because I started surfing four years ago in the winter!

When my surfer boy husband, Kerry, and I left the house this morning to meet Chris, it was a balmy 49 degrees. I know everything is relative folks, but gimmee a break, I grew up in Miami! The water temperature was about 57 degrees, thus proving the refrain that I hear over and over here in California in the winter: "It's warmer in the water than out of the water" Yeah, well tell that to me today, when I forgot my wetsuit at home and had to wear my husband's baggy, spring wetsuit! Let's just say that by the time we got out of the water, I was more than ready to drive to Angela's apartment complex which features a nice warm jacuzzi. We probably spent 45 minutes surfing and an hour in the jacuzzi to get our (my) body temperatures back to normal.

All in all, a good time was had by all. Especially at Carlos's Mexican restaurant where we enjoyed a wonderful breakfast of huevos rancheros. I know, it's not on the diet, but heck, it's not quite time for New Year's resolutions.

The week between Christmas and New Year's.........

The week between Christmas and New Year's.........is always a fun one. The parties are starting to wind down, but the New Year is still not here, so where's the motivation to keep up with our diet and fitness plan?

We've been to at least seven Christmas parties so far these past couple of weeks. The pies, the chocolate, the dancing, the fat, the sugar, the wine. Yes, I partook in all of it. But the program continues. This week we are focusing on some of the cancer preventing smoothies from Jeff Primack's book Smoothie Formulas.

This morning, after much chocolate and wine last night, I made the "Cancer Crusher V4" featured on page 9 of the book. It contains purple cabbage, beets, lime, apple, carrot, ginger and basil. I also threw in some fresh rosemary because my next door neighbor has this really big rosemary bush that I have been "pruning" for her over the past couple of weeks. Rosemary gives the drinks a nice minty taste. Rosemary also improves brain function, which I am going to need so I can remember "which party was it where I left my black coat"?

Of the many wonderful ingredients in this smoothie, I want to focus on beets. Beets work in your body to purify the blood, which is the core of healing any disease. Anyone who wants to stay healthy, but especially those who are dealing with cancer, need the healing power of beets.

The drink tasted wonderful. We've yet to come across one drink so far that hasn't tasted great. Tonight I am going to relax by the fire after a nice long hike and walk on the beach with the dogs. Gotta be rested up for tomorrow's dawn patrol surf session. My good friend Chris bought his first surfboard today and we are giving it a trial run in the morning. See you in the lineup!

Breaking News from the National Enquirer

In a bizarre twist of events, a woman gives birth to a 3 pound 7 oz. baby chihuahua. Some say it's a holiday miracle, others claim it's a hoax. Expiring minds want to know. Was it an immaculate conception? Perhaps A.I. ? (you have to be an equine enthusiast to understand that abbreviation) The facts are not exactly clear but Mother and Baby are doing well. The woman, who prefers to remain anonymous, will only tell us that she was minding her own business in a cantina in Guadalajara, Mexico, when in walks a traveling salesman who also happened to be a good looking Chihuahua. (she later confided that he was a bit of a dog) Family members have mixed emotions. The woman's 13 year old nephew, Liam, describes the situation as "Disturbing" A baptism for the baby whose name is Victor Jose Snaggles is scheduled for December 25th at Our Lady Of Perpetual Tears Catholic Church.

editors note: this story was inspired by the photograph taken last night at our Christmas party. Happy Holidays to All!

I can't run but I can paint......

The Avalon 50 mile race is scheduled for January 16th. Yes, I am signed up for it. No, I will probably not be running it. I've crossed the finish line there seven times so far. Running long distances is my passion. My idea of a perfect day is spending a good six hours running trails. It's been a crazy year injury-wise. It's not was I was expecting when I started out 2009, but then again, the best laid plans.......

So I decided to take up painting. I've never done anything like this before and when our local community magazine came around advertising events here in town, I saw the beginners painting class and thought, why not? I needed something that was not dependent upon running for enjoyment. It is a lot of fun! My 'studio' is our deck overlooking the ocean. The lighting is pretty good there. My 'Muse' is our little black cat named Ruby who loves to sit in the chair beside me while I paint. From the ashes, sometimes something new can be born.

I still plan on going to Avalon and according to how the body progresses, I would like to at least hike the first 25 miles of it. I will let you know how it goes. Join me if you'd like!

Lower Heart Disease While Enjoying Life!

After my pity party yesterday, I got up this morning and went to Shelley's spin class. What a much needed endorphin fix! I desperately needed to remember the good stuff about my workouts, so I got out some of my race medals collected over the past several years. I may not be running 50 miles tomorrow, but I will be doing that again soon!

Angela got a bit delayed on the Smoothie Formula Diet as she had to borrow the Vita Mix from her sister, but finally got it going. She made her first drink this morning, the Pineapple Enzyme Smoothie, and loved it! Now we are a team. It always helps to have a workout and diet buddy to motivate each other.

Tonight it's off to San Shi Go in Laguna for dinner with surfer boy. I am looking forward to some healthy seaweed, of course wrapped around the other good stuff. There's a reason why cultures who eat seafood and sea vegetables have a much lower incidence of heart disease. Do you think it also has to do with the sake? Maybe we should find out!