Reconnecting with Family

Lots of people are pissed about the privacy stuff going on around Facebook these days. I say "take the time to reset/check your settings, be careful what you post about yourself, pick your friends carefully, and use the place wisely". Because right now I believe the benefits outway the risks.

I haven't seen my half-sister in over 10 years. We didn't grow up together and her life has had lots of ups & downs (most of which I heard about third hand from our father). Recently we "found" eachother on Facebook. And this week, while in San Diego for a conference, we gathered together for a short visit. Our dad and his wife drove down from the LA area, and my mom joined us for dinner.



Jackie & I still don't have much in common (except some facial features and half of Dad's genes, including the one that doesn't show our true age) but as we all grow older we learn to value the benefit of family ties. I hope it's not 10 more years before we see each other again.

CrossFit in San Diego CA

With the growing popularity of CrossFit, it's becoming easier to find a box in most major cities. When traveling I look up affiliates and with this trip to San Diego was fortunate to find that CrossFit Invictus was only 4 short blocks away from my hotel.











They were very welcoming (if you're already an affiliate member, you can drop in for any group coaching class). Monday evening we worked on Push Jerk (I'm not a natural at the split but managed 5 reps at 105# x 2 sets - just need to work on widening my feet on the landing) then pushed my thrusters up to 65# for 20 reps in the WOD (previously been doing 55#). Monday was also Sage Burgener's birthday. She dressed appropriately.

On Tuesday morning was a fun set up Deadlifts, Box Jumps and Sprints...worked on continuously improving my time for each set. And pushed a couple of people who were lifting/jumping near me so they got better times (which makes me work harder).



That lesson/habit is one of the things I love about my affiliate, CrossFit Las Vegas - we are encouraged to push each other. You're not done with the WOD until the last person in the class is done. I love the support I get from the better athletes, and I enjoy working side-by-side with newer folks as they finish their sets.

This past week marked the one year anniversary of my first CrossFit WOD (in Balad, Iraq). When I started it was just a means to help lose weight. But it quickly became a lot more. I firmly believe I'm now more fit and healthy than 20 years ago when I was teaching aerobics, jogging, and even when doing short distance triathlons when I lived in San Diego. And I look forward to staying "young" with a healthy lifestyle for as long as my genetics allow it.

Wednesday is a rest day. Looking forward to future WODs and learning new things about what my body can do.

Catching Up With An Old Friend

Some time in the late 1980's I was doing temp work as a receptionist in family planning at a San Diego cemetery. One day a dozen roses were sent to me. Had to do a little detective work to find out they came from a young man from a Hillcrest mortuary. Later that week we went out, stayed up all night talking, and started a 5 year friendship.

In 1992 I left San Diego for my dietetic internship in Salt Lake City and our paths never passed again.

Until this past December when he looked me up on Facebook. Six months later we finally reconnected in person, and I could introduce him to my husband (and vice versa).

Gregg, me & Ray

Yay for renewed friendships!