Darn Tough

So I am becoming a bit of a sock enthusiast.  I recently came across a new brand called Darn Tough.  They are made in Vermont and come in all sorts of beautiful colors!


I normally stay away from wool.  However these are not itchy at all, like I feared they might be.  Instead your feet feel snuggly :)

These hug your foot in a nice way, but aren't too tight.  There are no seams  to dig in or create hot spots or blisters on your toes or ankles.

Click to see all of Darn Tough's socks!

They also stay in place and don't slip down into your shoes!  That's especially important in the winter months when snow could seep in.

I had no idea but wool is naturally antimicrobial.  It repels bacteria and therefore stink.  Those sheep know what they are doing!

Contrary to popular belief wool isn't always hot.  It keeps you warm in the winter and cool in the summer and they wick all year through.

Darn Tough sells socks for running, biking, hiking and just looking good heading to the store.  They make socks for men and women.

Merry Christmas from Me To You

Darby Smart Crafting

This is completely unrelated to yoga or running or just about anything I've covered before, but it does have to do with my craft obsession.  I recently found out about Darby Smart.  They are a subscription company that offers ready to make craft kits.

These craft kits come with everything you need to make a craft. I love that you are given just enough supplies to complete what you need. It's probably not the most cost effective way to purchase craft supplies, however, I don't have to spend time online shopping or driving around trying to find just what I need.

Each kit comes with instructions too so it's easy to try something you've never done before.  I was able to try my hand at glass etching with an easy to follow kit.  I really enjoyed it.  I loved that the kit didn't take hours or days to complete, it was something I could do while watching TV.  I have plenty of glass etching creme left over as well as the reusable stencils so this is something I can do over and over again now that I know how.

There are lots of kits from candles to tote bags to ring holders.  I like the kits that are designed for a set of friends to get together and create.  What an awesome party activity and favor in one!  The kits are affordable.  The cheapest was $19 and at the time I'm writing this they had free shipping too!

I want to try my hand at making soy candles next!

Inspiration

Baby It's Cold Outside.

Today's run was 5 degrees with the windchill. Roxy and I both had our winter finest on. It was amazing to see the sun on the sparking snow, feel the holiday spirit in the air and see Roxy's happiest as she frolicked in the snow. There are some reasons to love winter running.

We have been running all fall and as the temperature drops it takes a little planning to make sure I have the right clothes picked out.  I do a lot of checking the weather and hoping it doesn't ice over on the trails.  

I do make mistakes.  It's hard to remember the perfect outfit for every temperature. For example, I've been running without gloves.  Ooops.  About a mile in I couldn't feel my thumbs and I tucked them inside my jacket.

I have also felt a little cold on my legs, but without adding another layer, it's just going to be that way. And once I get into the groove of the run, it doesn't bother me that much.

I have put the Yak Trax on for the winter.  They are metal springs that wrap around the bottom of my shoes.  While I don't need them for every single step of my run, for the parts on ice and snow, they are perfect.  They really give you the traction that you need to be comfortable.

Roxy has been wearing her boots, much to her dismay.  She needs to wear them to avoid salt in her paws and possible cuts by ice.

There will be some days that I stay inside-super cold, icy or too dangerous to drive to the trails.  However, I remember every winter that I love being outside in the winter sun and experiencing everything New England has to offer.  It's a way to really get in touch with why you run.  

And while doing long runs isn't as feasible or fun in the winter, I will tell you that sometimes you push a little harder to get back to a hot shower, yummy latte or fleecy slippers :)

Back to Yoga

Due to traveling, health issues and scheduling I haven't been to yoga in….well….let's say a while.
I find that once you start not going to something you get out of the habit and then it becomes a stressor. You think about the fitness you are losing, the skills that are getting rusty and then, I got a little nervous about going back.  But, eventually I talked myself into it, packed up my mat and courage and headed back.

The first class was rough.  I won't lie.  I sweat a LOT and after just the warm up I could feel my arms asking why we had left the house.  However, a lot of the alignments, movements and balancing came back to me right away.  My mind was anxious but my body knew what it was doing.  And, I knew I always had the ability to take child's pose.

The day after I could hardly walk.  The second day after?  Let's just say my body was angry at me.  I was on a business trip and I took the elevated to my hotel room, something I never do.

However, I was already addicted again.  I went back a few days after I got home from my trip and this time was able to do more, and I wasn't wore at all afterwards.  I am modifying from where I was but I think the biggest lesson that yoga has to teach me is that it's not about pushing and reaching all the time.  Sometimes, it's about being and finding contentment.  I've always been a type a over achiever and it's hard not to take that onto my mat.

The thing I missed the most while I wasn't doing yoga?  The warm heat that comes off of you after you leave class. Yoga is the shaking of my life's Etch a Sketch, it erases all the chaos and stress that arise.
So, I'm fully addicted, all over again.

#ChildsPose

Just a few more reasons to get into #childspose

The Holidays

The holidays have always been one of my favorite times of the year. As long as I can remember I was enchanted by the lights, decorations and the feeling the season brings on.  My mom tells me that I used to want to put the Christmas decorations up the day after Thanksgiving.

For me, it was always about the special times with my family.  My grandmother would come to stay with us during the holidays and everyone would work all day to cook and then we'd watch movies together and play games, listen to music, play pool and relax.  I loved that interaction and those moments.

I don't remember a lot of gifts that I received as a kid. But I do remember all those times and some of the TV specials we watch and the food we ate.  That's what made my childhood special.

And now, I'm all grown up and I get to decorate So this year, we decorated the day after Thanksgiving.

I have a few mini trees too.  Our alma matter, The University of Maine releases an ornament every year and we have all of them.  I have a mini tree with our school colors in lights and garland, a mini mitten as a topper and some UMaine trees around the base.  The tree was once smaller, but it's grown as the ornaments got too heavy!

I also have a small Rhode Island tree. This is filled with ornaments that depict areas around RI.  This tree is very special as it was my grandmother's in the last years of her life.  I added some Cat's Meow buildings from my home town and some star fish to represent the sea.

And of course, we have a large tree.  This tree special too.  It was bought by my in laws the year before my husband was born.  It's so meaningful I'm pretty sure we won't ever get rid of it.  It does require a little repair every year though.  Oh and all of our ornaments are meaningful and bought to represent a new beginning or an event in our lives.  Putting them on every year is like looking at a photo album.

Overall I'm still loving the holidays and all they offer.  I wish I had more time with family, but the magic is still there.

Thankful

I know this is a tad late, but I wanted to do a blog post about the things I am thankful for in my life.
This is a list that won't be as complete as I'd like it and I could go on and on about some of these things.  However, I will keep it short and sweet for you.

1.  My career.  I love being self employed.  I all admit there are days where it is lonely, frustrating and downright maddening.  However, most days I love that I can be as ambitious as I want to be and I get to be creative, work with new people every day and travel.

Here is a picture from a recent business trip I took to Washington D. C.

2.  I'm so thankful for my husband.  He can make me laugh no matter what.  We get to work together which is sometimes amazing and sometimes challenging.  However, we are on a journey together and it's different every day. I love that we've been able to grow and change together over the years.

3.  I'm so very very thankful for my friends and family.  Without them, I would not be able to challenge myself, and be willing to explore.  I'm so thrilled that I have people supporting me and willing to listen when I have a bad day.  Social media has been a big part of this.

4.  Of course I'm thankful for Roxy.  She's my little furry angel and I love the way she follows me around, snuggled, runs with me and just makes like a little more joyful each and every day.

5.  I'm thankful for books.  I've always loved to read, but I've let it slip between the cracks for years.  Now I make time to read and have started enjoying series, characters and the excitement of a new book.  I LOVE the library, support it and use it frequently.  I believe in not having the clutter of books in my home and saving the Earth through less consumption.

6.  Running and yoga.  While these have taken a back seat this year due to illnesses, injuries and carter development, I still take joy in them each and every time I participate.  I love them and they bring me peace.  I know that I will be partaking in these activities for the rest of my life.

7.  I'm thankful for the state of Maine.  It's my home and I love to spend as much time there as possible.  I love camping at Sebago Lake and soaking in the sun on Vinalhaven.  I dream of these trips all year long.

Working Out Away From Home

I've spent a lot of this year on the road, at hotels and traveling for business.  It's not always easy to run when you're away from home.  Ideally, you'd stay in a great area where they have sidewalks and no crime.  However, that just doesn't happen.  When I visited New Orleans earlier this year I'm sad to say I told told by hotel staff that under no circumstances should I go out alone to run.  (A whole group was required.)

So, what do I do to stay healthy and fit when I'm on the road?  The first thing is knowing that some days are just too busy for a workout.  It will happen that I'm on the road for 12 hours, or presenting and working and it's just too much to fit into a day.  When I'm traveling for business, I need to be fresh, sharp and full of energy, so sometimes a workout isn't in my best interest.

Secondly, I always try to see the city so I end up doing a lot of walking around.  I do take public transportation when I need to cover a large distance but I'd prefer to see it all on foot.

I always check out the hotel gym before I leave home.  I try to plan out my workouts in advanced based on their equipment.  I check the hours of operation and any rules they have posted.  I also check if there is a pool where I could swim or classes to attend.

When I can run in a new city I make sure to take my GPS watch so I have a record of my time and distance traveled. Sometimes the hotel desk will give you a map of where to run. It's always a good idea to ask them. Also, tell someone where you are going for safety.

While I always bring workout clothes with me, some hotels have them to rent.  The Westin will bring you New Balance shoes and clothes to use for the day for just $5.

If all else fails, I bring a travel yoga mat and a prerecorded class taught by my usual yoga instructor and I try to carve out a piece of my hotel room to do yoga in.  It's not always perfect, but eating healthy, stain optimistic and really enjoying my travels makes it fun and keeps everything fresh and new.

Virginia Women's Business Conference

Recently I was lucky enough to speak at the Virginia Women's Business Conference.  This is the 5th year they have run the conference and it has grown in size every year.  They contacted me ages ago about presenting and I accepted as soon as I could.  As it does, the time flew and before I knew it the day arrived to leave.

We stayed at the Landsdown Resort in Virginia and it was lovely.  The hotel was enormous and can house multiple conferences, weddings and events at once.  With multiple pools, restaurants and even conference rooms, it was a huge building to navigate.  However, on day one I found a little niche of the lobby to enjoy my coffee and sit by the fire and get some work done.  Who doesn't love a hotel with free coffee all morning?

Me at sunset at Arlington

The newest memorial, decimated to MLK

I spoke in the afternoon to a large group of business women who had great energy.  The group had lots of amazing questions and were ready and willing to learn and dive right into my questions and activities.

I love presenting to people who want more information on getting organized.  Once they know that it doesn't require them to make their home look like Pottery Barn or give  up every waking minute to color code and label, they cam embrace it.  For most people, they have simply thought about organizing wrong before and it's changing their mindset that can be life changing.

Matt and I ate at some of our favorite DC restaurants (Gordon Beirsh, La Sandia, and even a local Thai place).  We toured the mall, visited the monuments and the museums.  It was COLD on one of the days so we even moved the car once to stay close and warm.

It was the 50th anniversary of the Kennedy Assassination so Arlington was packed but it was amazing to be there on such a historic event.

Arlington at sunset

The Capitol Building

Ron Burgundy's Famous Suit

We were also able to visit the temporary exhibit at the Newseum called Anchorman.  It showcases lots of costumes, props and stories from the original Anchorman movie.  While it's a parody on real news, it was a great exhibit, really fun to see and overall, the whole trip was kind of a big deal.

This is my last business trip of the year.  I'm already looking forward to booking speaking engagements all over the country next year!

Showers of Happiness

I was recently lucky enough to be asked to be in a bridal party.  The other bridesmaid and myself worked for months, hundreds of miles apart from each other to plan a bridal shower with a navy and pink nautical theme.  We had a lot of laughs and everything came together for us. Here are a few pictures from the big event.

Here I am with the bride to be and the Maid of Honor.  

I love these ladies!

This is the gift table.  We had scratch off tickets and a basket full of prizes to give away.  The favors were anchor shaped bottle openers.  We mailed out recipe cards and best wishes cards ahead of time and people returned them to us at the shower.  It was great reading what people wrote!  Some are serious, others funny and this group of ladies has some great recipes!

This was an idea I came up with after writing a blog post about inexpensive date nights.  Everyone wrote down their idea for a date night on a stick and we sent it home with the bride and groom.  Some are funny, others sweet and some are R rated!

I bought cupcakes from my favorite bakery.  Red velvet. I then topped them with home made navy and blue anchor picks.  

Noizy Headphone Review

We all know I love to run.  And I've been looking for a great pair of headphones for what seems like forever.  I finally got everything I was looking for in Noizy's blue tooth headphones.  

They connect to your phone, iPod or other music device via blue tooth so there are no wires.  They fit nicely in your ears and they come with lots of various earbud styles and "tips".  The headphones allow you to control your music (volume, play, forward, etc) and you can even make a phone call with these.  I love these for conference calls!  Instead of holding a phone to my ear I can take notes or type!  

I love that these don't get tangled in my dog's leash when I am walking her.  Many headphones are too long and with a leash, a jacket in the fall and winter and headphones, tangles become commonplace.  These are an amazing gift for someone looking to get fit in the new year or the runner on your list.  I love these, how light weight they are and how fabulous the sound is.  They are cute and even come in pink!

Toronto

Sorry I've been so quiet lately!  We've been out of the country :)
Okay, just Canada…but it was a great trip!

We started off in Niagara falls.  My husband had never been and it was a great place to see again as an adult.  (I hadn't been since high school.)

We had an amazing hotel room that overlooked the falls.  With the cold air and the mist, we actually had a better view from the room.  We ate dinner at an amazing Crepe place.

Then next day we moved onto Toronto and right before we hit the border I realized my passport was expired!  Turns out you can still cross the border, thank goodness!

We immediately started exploring and went to some Canadian stores :)
Our hotel room was in the heart of the entertainment and financial district so the restaurants were amazing.  We had so many great meals!

We visit the hockey hall of fame.  My husband loves hockey and he was thrilled!  This is in fact, a FAKE Stanley cup, but we still posed for a photo with it :)

At the CN Tower there is a glass floor that looks straight down at the ground.  It was really cool.  Not everyone wants to walk on it and their reactions are often hilarious.

My badge at the Professional Organizers of Canada Conference.  This was the real reason for our trip.  I spoke with another organizer on digital filing and organization.  The audience was great and I always love presenting.

This is just one example of an amazing meal we had.  This one, a chicken pot pie, was from a restaurant called Elephant and Castle.

Matt looking at the Stanley cup and soon realizing it's a fake.  

The view of Toronto from the CN Tower.  It was a great view and an amazingly clean city with healthy and friendly people.  We had a lot of amazing food, great views and we got to see the Red Sox win the World Series in our hotel room :)

Another great road trip in the books and another great speaking engagement.  I'm so thankful I have a fellow road tripper who loves coming along for the ride and that I have a career that takes me to such great places.  

Lock Laces

Okay I've talked about these before but they are worth mentioning again....

I have seen all sorts of lacing styles and laces.  You can see a few dozen styles when you head to a race.  I always tied my shoes using the "runners knot" and its worked pretty well.  However, when I first saw Lock Laces I was curious.  I was sent a pair and I put them on my road running shoes.  I was nervous about if they would loosen, if they would hold my shoes on my feet and if my shoes would be as comfortable.

I had nothing to worry about!  I took them out for a run this morning and did speed work.  They held perfectly!  My shoes were snug, but not tight.  Putting the shoes on to head out was quick and easy and made getting out the door a little bit faster.  In my morning fog I didn't have to get my laces just right.  When I got home, the shoes slipped right off and the laces didn't loosen at all.

I'm a big proponent of anything that saves time and energy and these laces do both.  I intend to put these on my casual sneakers and my trail shoes.  These laces are great for racers, triathletes, etc.  However, I think they will be most appreciated by the busy mom trying to squeeze in a workout.  I also know that they are great for kids who can't tie their shoes yet.  Special needs children and adults can also benefit from using these laces.

One of the best things about Lock Laces is that they are a feel good company.  They give back to the community, they are green and contract with a non-profit that provides job training for adults with developmental delays to assemble Lock Laces in the USA.  You can feel great about buying from them.

Their laces come in all sorts of colors.  You can get them in your child's favorite color, or to match your shoes.  I've worn Lock Laces for the years and the shoes always wear out before the laces.  Oh and I even bought some for my grandparents who had trouble bending and tying their shoes and they love them!

Visit their website to take a peek at the laces and the great work they are doing:

http://www.locklaces.com/

Chia Pods

Okay so I've been a big fan of chia seeds for a while.  However, they aren't always the easiest to get and find a way to eat or drink.  As they gain in popularity, there are more products incorporating chia seeds.

The Chia Co. has released the Chia Pod and it's almost dessert like.  Chia pods are small containers made up of 30% recycled materials.  They come with a little spoon so they are great on the go.

Each Chia Pod is made up of chia seeds, coconut milk and another ingredient that gives it the specified flavor.  They have blueberry, mango, banana and vanilla bean.

I originally didn't like the sound of the fruit flavors.  However, they were my favorite.  The unique fruit flavors add a tartness to the coconut milk.

The Chia Pods are a great snack that is dairy free and provides 25% of your daily fiber.  I think they also give you lots of energy and I love having one of these before I head out for a run.  Your entire day's omega intake is covered in a Chia Pod too.

I also buy mini packet of chia seeds from the Chia Co. They make it easy for me to take chia seeds with me anywhere!

Take a look at their whole selection on their website.

Coola Sunscreen Review

Coola Sunscreen  

Yeah, I'm a big fan of sunscreen and I love Coola's easy to wear and effective products.  Their new Plant UV Body Sunscreen with SPF 30 goes on easy and doesn't leave you feeling sticky.  It's 70% organic and is filled with ingredients like coco butter and coconut oil.  It leaves your skin feel smooth and soft.  

I love that it's easy to wear on a daily basis.  I wear this on my runs every day and I never feel sticky or gross.  And I know that I'm not only protecting my skin, I'm moisturizing it too!  

If you have one chapstick on your bag this winter, make it Coola's LIPLUX.  It goes on soft and smooth and the Peppermint Vanilla smells amazing!  It's not sticky or shiny (so even my husband has used it!) and it moisturizes while it protects with SPF 15.  I would love more of these in my stocking!  Okay, and here's my biggest beauty secret and it item I can't leave the house without every day.  

Coola's Face SPF 30 Matte Tint Sunscreen has everything a girl wants in one tube.  It mattifies your skin, moisturizes it, gives you an even tone through the tiniest tint, and protects it through broad spectrum SPF. It's organic and water resistant.  This makes my skin look and feel great all day every day (even after my runs!).

Easy Threes

Well, I'm running again.  The good news is that I feel as if i could go forever.  The bad news is that I can feel it in my chest for the remainder of the day.

So, I'm probably pushing it a little bit, but it feels so good to be back out there with my feet hitting the pavement (we haven't gone trail running yet) and breathing the fall air.

We're had some amazing fall weather here in New England.  Warmer than normal and bright and sunny-exactly what you picture fall in New England to look and feel like.

I've been dressing a bit too warmly. It's always a knee jerk reaction at this time of year to look at the thermometer and throw on pants instead of shorts at 50.  It's also easy to get chilled quickly after your runs.  (When stopping for a pumpkin spice latte of course!)

I've been going slowly and telling myself to take it easy. Sometimes it's hard not to get caught up in Roxy's quest for speed and want to go faster, but I'm telling myself to rein it in.

I'm also learning the difference between normal running "pain" and actual lung and breathing trouble.  Everyone is out of breath and everyone is tired and wants to stop. So I'm trying to differentiate between that normal feeling and my lungs truly need a rest.

And so I'm calling these first few days back my "easy threes"... I'm trying to get out a few times a week at least, with Roxy to do an easy three miler.  Thus far, we're both thrilled with the progress and being out together.

When we pull into the parking lot Roxy will actually let out a whimper of excitement and start licking my face.  She waits patiently while I get my music ready and have a last sip of water.  Then, I leash her up and she hops out, with her tail wagging the whole time.  She looks back at me from time to time when we run with a smile on her face.

 Roxy's been calmer and happier at home since we back at running.  It's amazing how it can do that for both of us!  Here's to a great fall and winter running season and officially starting "real training" again.

Thorlo Experia Multi Sport Socks

I was recently lucky enough to receive a pair of Thorlo's new Experia Multi Purpose Socks.

These socks are so soft when you put them on.  They are snug but not too snug.  They are lightly padded which gives you a smooth and comfortable run.  However, they aren't too thick so your feet get all sweaty and gross.

I like these because they work well with my "free" run shoes.  My shoes aren't barefoot shoes, but they are minimalist and adding a thick sock just takes away from the comfort of them.

They come up a bit higher than socks I traditionally wear.  However, I ended up really liking these because they could be pulled up over my yoga leggings or tucked under and I was able to avoid exposed skin that gets cold.  (In the winter, I've even gotten really dry skin in bands around my ankles from this!)

I like that these are great for hiking and biking too and are really comfy inside my spinning shoes.

I will also tell you they are really comfortable for hanging around the house too :)

They come in lots of colors and sizes to fit boys and girls.  Take a peek at them on Thorlo's website.

Sabre Pepper Spray Review

Sabre's line of Pepper Spray and Alarms is perfect for anyone who walks alone at night or in the early morning and wants a little more peace of mind.  Their pepper sprays come in all sorts of stylish cases. Many look so cute or sleek that you'd hardly guess they were pepper spray.  

Two of my favorites are their personal alarm and their pepper gel.  The personal alarm is a key chain that affixes to the outside of your bag, coat or keys.  At the push of a button there is a 110 decibels.  It comes in different colors so it's great for everyone.  Their Pepper Gel is great for college students.  It's pink and fashionable and can be put on keys or even a bag's strap over your shoulder.  The gel reduces the chances that the gel will be spread in the wind. It's quiet, easy to use and can even be used indoors if necessary.  

These are great gifts for runners, college students, people who work third shift, pet owners and really anyone who is ever walking along.  Sabre's products are tested, trusted and really affordable.  

I really like the Spitfire.  It has a really sleek design and can be fired with just the push of a button.  The fact that it comes in purple is pretty awesome too!  

Happiness is Fall Running

It is the start of October here in CT and the leaves are changing.  When a breeze blows the leaves fall like snow.  It's beautiful.  There aren't tons of leaves on the ground, but just enough to make the trail look pretty and start crunching under your feet.

The air is crisp at this time of year.  And I love wearing capris and a tank or shorts and a long sleeve shirt.  Roxy LOVES it when I open the sun room on the way home.  I love stopping for a latte on the way home too.

As I get back into running, I'm being reminded of a few important lessons:

The first is that I need to eat before I run.  I can't go out and run for 30-60 minutes and have nothing in my system.  It's not a good idea.  So I'm relearning what I enjoy eating before I head out the door.  I'm not a big breakfast person so a coffee and a piece of fruit is winning.  However, I am going to pick up some mini granola bars in case I don't have fruit on hand.

I'm working on my systems to carry my phone with me for my longer runs/woods runs, and have Roxy attached to my waist on her leash, have my iPod and headphones and car key. It will be easier with more layers and more pockets!

I'm remembering how hard it is to remember to foam roll too.  And how important it is!  Oh, and the LAUNDRY really adds up!!

Fall has always been my favorite time of the year to run.  However, this year I'm just to happy and grateful to be running again that it is even more amazing.

Oh and Roxy's training is going along extremely well.  We can pass people with no people or barking now.  I'm hoping she remembers this and keep up the good work!

Foam Roll Like a Pro

A Little Tougher

So this week has been a little tougher than last.  Last week everything fell into place and it was a breeze.  This week is a little more challenging.  Working in some dusty environments and doing some cleaning have left me a little stuffy and battling the asthma a bit more.  Also, there was a carnival setting up at the trail Roxy and I have been running on.  While that doesn't sound like a big deal, it means carnival rides, cars as well as carnival people and dogs walking and driving by us while running.  It's just too much distraction.  Even I wasn't enjoying myself.

Okay so since I have no great running strides to report, I want to tell you what I've learned.  First of all, eating gluten free is hard.  There is gluten in everything.  And, when you go out, you have almost no chance of finding things you can eat.  I was never trying to be completely gluten free.  However, reducing it is still hard.

Dairy is also in everything.  However, it is much easier to avoid.  Soy milk is available at lots of coffee shops.  Many restaurants have alternatives as well.  I even recently found a coffee "creamer" in hazelnut made of soy milk that I love.

Roxy is loving getting back out together and as if she wasn't attached to me before, she now won't leave my side.  She sits on half of my desk while I work.  She sleeps under my feet while I read and she constantly wants some attention.  I love it :)

So, I'm still eating healthy, foam rolling and working on my patience for this internal injury.  I think waiting for your lungs to heal is more difficult than waiting for something like a sprained ankle to heal.  You have no visual or physical indicators to go by, it's all about intuition.

So right now I'm trying to find that place between peace and pushing.  It's not an easy place to find.  You want to make progress, but still work hard.  Be a fighter, but learn the lessons presented.  Buddha meets a boot camp instructor....that's the battle that is going on in my mind.

However, I know I'm blessed to be back out there, enjoying the amazing fall New England scenery and on the road to recovery.