rent-a-car in California

On July 5, 2012 By Rick McIn friends, gymnastics2 Comments

How many times have I had the pleasure?

Many times.

Driving south on 99, the full moon bright, 4th of July fireworks exploding overhead, listening to NPR.

This doesn’t suck.

California is a paradise for motoring.

I celebrated the 4th with Debbie Broderick Rodriguez and her family. 🙂

Destination — Woodward West Gym Camp.

visiting Debbie Broderick

On July 4, 2012 By Rick McIn friends, gymnastics, travelLeave a comment

I was one of Debbie’s coaches back in the day at Altadore Gymnastics.

In 2012 she and her husband Eli own one of the top rated clubs in the States, Byers Gymnastics, Sacramento.

I visited her at the gym yesterday.

… Today, July 4th, I’m meeting her for Crossfit training. (Wish me luck.) And then a family get together for the holidays.

Later today I’ll head into the Sierra mountains via Highway 108, a road I’ve never visited before.

Kyle Shewfelt runs a marathon

On June 2, 2012 By Rick McIn friends, health & fitnessLeave a comment

The 2004 Olympic Champion in Gymnastics spent decades fine tuning his anaerobic capacity. … And then switched to aerobic sport after retirement.

Yeesh.

A great read on his blog – Marathon: The Finish Line

My only Marathon was the same one — Calgary. I limped in near the cutoff time. 5hrs plus …

Turd-buster 3000

On May 14, 2012 By Rick McIn friends, humourLeave a comment

Kate and Rockin’ Ronnie shopping for a new toilet:

… “We need a toilet with a big … capacity,” he boomed.

I went crimson. “We have a dog,” I added hastily. …

Kate of Late – Talking about the big white telephone

… Another of the crazy things folks get up to on the left coast of Canada. I told them to get a robo-dog in the first place.

Kyle Shewfelt at 30

On May 10, 2012May 9, 2012 By Rick McIn friends, health & fitness, philosophy1 Comment

I recall the day I met Kyle. He was age-6 or 7.

… seems just a few years ago.

Kyle:

On May 6th, I turned 30. In celebration, I ran 33km’s. It was my longest run yet and it felt pretty awesome. …

While running, I had some time to think and ponder what entering my 30’s means to me. …

In my 30’s, I will:

Be FEARLESS

Be decisive

Let go of my perfectionism

Manage my time and energy more wisely

Make health and activity my #1 priorities

Take on new scary audacious challenges

Stop trying to please everyone

Have more productive screen time

Simplify email: I’m checking it twice a day and that’s it.

Take BIG risks

Create opportunities rather than wait for them to happen

Do things rather than think about doing them

Publish books

Finish what I’ve started

Re-organize and down-size

Take more pictures

Have more dinner parties

Have less stress

Be more appreciative

Enjoy my life

KyleShewfelt.com – Thirties Manifesto

Wise beyond his years.

Clossons in Egypt

On April 22, 2012 By Rick McIn friends, travelLeave a comment

Camels and Pyramids

running the Memorial Drive stairs

On April 9, 2012April 8, 2012 By Rick McIn friends, health & fitnessLeave a comment

Better Kyle Shewfelt, than me.

Kyle:

… I both hated and loved the next 45 minutes of my existence. I hated the fact that it was cold, slippery and lonely and that my eye balls were being pummelled by snowflakes. But I loved the fact that I was out there pounding through my sets and feeling the burn. With each journey up the stairs/hill, the layer of snow got thicker on the ground, but my mission got more empowered. …

read more – Hardcore Hills!

Abby’s school video

On April 4, 2012 By Rick McIn friendsLeave a comment

From Anne Farries via email:

The grade five/six class at Abby’s school made a pro-environment video.

They hope to win a prize for the highest number of votes. Each view counts as a vote, so feel free to pass the link on.

That’s Abby’s Nova Scotia school in the background 🙂

PS you can also “like” it on Facebook; that counts as a vote, too.

Clossons in Thailand

On April 3, 2012April 3, 2012 By Rick McIn friends, travelLeave a comment

Kim and Karen continue their family world tour. On a quiet Thai island they had free internet, catching us up on the travelogue:

… Koh Lanta is on the west coast of Thailand, about 70 kilometers from Krabi bordering the Andaman Sea. The temperature was between 35 -40 degrees daily, … the sea temperature was between 26 – 28 degrees so it wasn’t as cool and refreshing as you needed at times. The island only has 20,000 people

… The agenda was pretty simple: Planning for the rest of the trip, swimming, drinking pineapple shakes and watching some of the best sunsets I have ever seen while eating supper at the beach restaurants.

There is not too much to do on Koh Lanta and needless to say, we found it very relaxing and reflective and we enjoyed the down time before we ramp up for India, Jordan and Egypt.

We did do a snorkeling day trip to Koh Rok, a small island 45 minutes away. We snorkeled at 3 different places and enjoyed lunch on the island. There were big monitor lizards lounging around the lunch tables, waiting for scraps. It was this islands version of a begging dog. …

Monitor Lizard ??

Beaches and Sunsets in Thailand