March 18, 2011

La Fin.

Friday, March 4, 2011

"If you limit your choices only to what seems possible or reasonable, you disconnect yourself from what you truly want, and all that is left is compromise."  - Robert Fritz

I have always called myself an "extreme tourist".  If there is an experience, an opportunity, or an occasion to do something "more" than what is allowed or thought possible, I will take it.  This sort of thinking has actually ended in some very unique and sometimes scary situations. 

When I was 17, I was cheerleading for the Calgary Stampeders (this was before they became a tits and jiggle show).  On one particular occasion, we had been invited to our provincial rival's stadium to cheer for a game.  In the early 90's there was still a great deal of rivalry between Calgary and Edmonton sports teams and football was no exception.  This evening was "student" night at the stadium and Commonwealth Stadium was filled to capacity.  It was louder than ever and as we began cheering in earnest for our team, the fans began to cheer "Calgary Sucks, Calgary Sucks".  A positively deafening tone fills the outdoor stadium and as the evening progressed, the cheers turned from "Calgary Sucks" to "Calgary Sluts". 

Somewhere around the 3rd quarter a decision was made to remove the Calgary Stampeder Cheerleaders from the field.  Fans were belligerent, throwing garbage at us, and creating a very unsafe situation.  The Eskimo Cheerteam actually came to our side of the field to help us get off the field safely. 

As we were being herded off the field, I looked back and saw that one of the students had "fallen" out of the stands.  (Later we would find out that his friends thought it would be funny to push him over the side of the bleachers).  Obviously hurt and laying on the ground in agony, I, without thinking ran back to help one of the many fans that had hurled insults at us for 3 quarters of football.

What happened next was amazing.  I don't remember the story the way it was told to me, but then, I wasn't focused on the crowd.  My only concern was for this young boy who was clearly hurt and no one on the sidelines seemed to notice.  My coach told me that she turned to watch me run back the way we came, she called for me and I didn't notice, but she was too afraid to follow me back out to the field.  She told me that as I was helping the boy and calling for help in the midst of all the noise, the crowd in the section began to quiet, the insults were gone the garbage wasn't being thrown and the cameras panned to the cheerleader helping the fan on the sidelines.  When the team medic came, I immediately remembered the threat to my safety and got up to run back to the change rooms and join my team.  Instead, I was met with a standing ovation from grateful fans.

"Ben" and I were photographed for the Edmonton Sun the next day.  His leg was broken and he was grateful to me for the support I gave him.

How ironic that 2 months later, I would be laying on the frozen field of Commonwealth Stadium with a fractured ankle.  This time, the fans did not throw garbage.  Instead, they threw their jackets over the railing to keep me warm while we waited for an ambulance (the one on the field was for players only).  The fans continued to support me with their applause and words of support as we waited. 

I will never know if the fans knew that it was me, or if my actions only two months earlier changed minds, changed hearts, but I'd like to think that the world got just a little better because we choose to not be afraid and do what is right.

Wednesday, March 2, 2011

"I arise in the morning torn between a desire to improve the world and a desire to enjoy the world. This makes it hard to plan the day." - Elwyn Brooks White

Jo Dumont Fitness Training has a new challenge this month based loosely on the game of Life.  (http://www.unclesgames.com/product_info.php?ref=3&products_id=596&affiliate_banner_id=1).  I was pondering participating in this challenge because I like to be challenged and possibly and more ironically I appear to be challenged by life.

But it's for that same reason that I likely won't participate in the Game of Life Challenge at Jo Dumont Fitness Training.

Tuesday, January 25, 2011

"And I hear them saying you'll never change things, and no matter what you do it's still the same thing.  But it's not the world that I am changing.  I do this so this world will know that it will not change me." - Garth Brooks "The Change"

One of my closest friends is a 43 year old man who lives half a world away with a beautiful wife and three beautiful children.  He has an amazing job and is incredibly successful.  From the outside looking in, you would think that he has everything, and yet, every time we speak, send an email or otherwise communicate, he says "thank you for choosing me today."  I found this odd because why would he care if someone from Buttfuck, Alberta was his friend?

So I asked him about it one day and he told me that every day that I wake up, I make a choice.  I "choose" to be his friend.  It isn't something that he can force me to do and that my choice is important to him.  That every day we speak, it causes him to want to be a better friend, a better parent, a better husband and that he is grateful for the changes in his life that have happened because of our friendship.

I never really thought about people making a choice to be my friend.  I am the sort of girl who used to "buy" my friends, be over accommodating, and determined to be the "best friend ever", when really, the people I call my friend are the ones who choose to be mine every day, not because of what I do for them, but because of what being my friend means to them.  I don't want them to choose me because of what I can do, but because being my friend has intrinsic value in their life.

Thank you for choosing me today.

Monday, January 24, 2011

"I have always believed, given another chance, I could defeat anyone I had ever lost to, even someone who had defeated me twice." - Rich Franklin

Happy New Year and all that...once again and hopefully for the last time I will apologize for my extended absence from blogging.  Let me see if I can catch everyone up:

• My boss was diagnosed with colon cancer - bad news
• Potential opening for Interim Executive Director position - good news
• Potential position thwarted by evil boss off on sick leave - bad news
• New boss is previous peer - good news
• New boss has quite a swelled head about the new position - bad news.
• My aunt, after a long battle with cancer passes away - good news/bad news
• My brother doesn't speak to me at the funeral - good news/bad news
• My cousin's father-in-law passes away unexpectedly - bad news
• It's Christmas - good news
• My mom and dad come out for Boxing Day - good news
• Had a great new years with most of the cast of JDFT that I see most often - good news
• Back at work after a week off - bad news
• Work seems to be okay - good news
• Rock Star at JDFT - good news
• Workouts slow down in new year - bad news
• Work isn't so bad this week - good news

There you are all caught up....now for the great news!

I am going to Las Vegas!  Hooray.  I am going to see UFC 126 where Rich Franklin is the co-main event fighting Forrest Griffin.  The main event is Anderson (hate your guts) Silva fighting Victor (kick Silva's Ass) Belfort, but I am not as interested in that event.

I am all about Rich Franklin.  I think not only is he a tremendous fighter, but he is also a tremendous person who has a kind heart and treats his fans well.  I had the awesome pleasure of meeting him a few years ago, and truly, he gave me his complete and undivided attention. There was no attitude, no "look at me", just a really honest individual who is grateful for the opportunities that life has given him.

Now don't get me wrong, but I LOVE this man.  I sit on the edge of my seat for every one of his fights, I am elated when he wins, and devestated when he loses.  I had a great email chat with his wife today and if she doesn't think I'm a total lunatic and stalker, I may meet her when I'm in Vegas next month. 

Always looking for the next great life experience!