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Friday, December 10, 2010

I don't bend in half

So, I realize this has been a theme throughout my blog, but I am NOT the "normal" pole dancer.  Pole dancing has BLOWN UP in the last couple of years.  The dancers who compete are training with aerial circus acts, contortionists and gymnasts. 

I can't even do a back bend. 

I have a goal to be able to invert by April.  It doesn't even have to be a good invert.  I just want to be able to go upside down and not fall on my head.  I'm working hard to lose weight and get strong.  Will that be good enough?  If I can't fly through the air with the greatest of ease like the other girls (and boys) do, will I still be happy?

I sure hope so. 

I just wanted to write this so I could include a couple of really cool videos from YouTube.  Someday...I will be this amazing.  Someday!!!!!

Steven Retchless practicing...UH-MAZE-ING!!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3kBmVXRoYMo

Miss Pole Dance Australia 2010 intro...More AMAZING!!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ce7HgItK4Vs

P.S.  The Twirly Girls calendars will be printed soon!  The price is $15 (add $2 for shipping).  Please contact me if you are interested in pre-ordering and I will give you an address.  All of the proceeds will go to support the National Kidney Foundation on behalf of our very own, Lovely Rita!!  We have sample photos on Liquidpulp Photography's fan page on Facebook.  Don't miss out...we've had a lot of interest and we're only printing 250 calendars! 

Thursday, December 9, 2010

Lookee meeee -- PoleSkivvies Interview!

http://poleskivvies.com/2010/12/pole-dancer-lori-myers/


Pole Dancer Lori Myers

Pole Dancer Lori Myers
This week, meet the lovely Lori Myers, a protege of Twirly Girls Pole Fitness!

How did you get started learning to pole dance?

A few years ago, I went to S Factor in San Francisco and took one of their intro classes. I had heard some of their instructors on a local radio show. I loved it, but the studio was difficult for me to get to (almost two hours commute each way with city traffic). Flash forward to October of last year … my friend received an e-mail about Twirly Girls Pole Fitness in Pleasanton, California (only about 25 minutes away from my house). My friend, Rita, and I set up a taster class for November and we were signed up for full time classes by December.

How do you learn (pole dancing classes, DVD, Youtube …)?

I take classes one to two times a week with Bel Jeremiah at Twirly Girls, but I also have a pole at home and have a couple of Jamilla Deville’s DVDs. I took one of Jamilla’s workshops at the studio this year. She was so beautiful to watch, a lot of fun, and had great information for those of us just starting out (even though I’m almost a year in, I still consider myself somewhat of a newbie).

What do you like to do when you’re not pole dancing?

I love photography and horseback riding, although I had to give up my horse last year. I am spending a lot of time at the gym lately (to lose some recently-added weight and get stronger for pole dancing). I work for a law firm to pay the bills, but I definitely don’t like to define myself by my job. I love using my blog as an outlet. It started as a pole dancing blog, but I write about health and exercise in there a lot since they are so much a part of my life (I had gastric bypass almost seven years ago and lost 165 pounds).

What is your dream for yourself in pole dancing?

I see videos of the famous pole dancers and envision myself doing everything they do. I recently saw the introduction for Miss Pole Dance Australia 2010 (Felix Cane starts it out). I thought, I want to do ALL OF THAT. Realistically, I may not be able to, but in my mind, I’m already there. I also saw a photo of Jessalynn Medairy at Pole Summer Camp in the Caribbean with Milan Pole Dance Studio. The bend in her back is amazing. Again, in my mind, I look like that. Realistically, not so much! My current dream is to invert within six months. I am spending a lot of time at the gym losing weight and gaining strength to get there.

How would you describe your personal style?

I think most would describe me as a down and dirty rock chick. I like loud, fast rock songs. I am working on slowing things down and being more sensual.

Favorite makeup tip:

I am all about false eyelashes. If I don’t want to spend a lot of time on make up, I put in my purple contacts and false lashes and I’m good to go. Otherwise, on a daily basis, I’ve stopped wearing make up. Only when I want to go out or feel like I have someone to impress (like myself).

Barefoot, sneakers, or platform heels?

I am more comfortable barefoot. I have five or six different platform heels and I’m trying to practice in those, as well. I performed at a dance recital to benefit the National Kidney Foundation Walk in San Francisco earlier this year. The video below is of me practicing in my shoes; I feel clunky and slow. When I did it for real, I went barefoot and felt a lot better about it (although I was still less than six months into dancing, so I am definitely not a professional).

Favorite grip enhancer:

I have Mighty Grip in my bag, but I try not to use anything (and am not yet able to do the tricks where it might be more necessary).

Pole dance move that made you proudest to learn:

Last night, for the first time, I was able to hold myself up for kind of a sad-looking boomerang. I was pretty excited about that.

Pole dance pet peeves:

I make funny faces and do weird things with my hands. While I’m dancing, I don’t always notice it but I see it in the videos, so I’m trying to be more aware of my entire body (and yes, Jennifer, I’ve watched your videos on the subject). :-)

Favorite treatment for bruises and sore muscles:

Rest and an epsom salt bath.
Pole Dancer  Lori Myers

Who would you most like to have in the audience when you pole dance?

No one. I get really, really nervous dancing in front of people. I have a hard time making eye contact and would love to always dance in the dark! I’m a much better dancer if I think no one is looking.

Who is your hero or role model?

I adore my instructor, Bel. She is so supportive and really creates a safe, family-like atmosphere at Twirly Girls. I have often found when you gather a lot of estrogen into one room, you get a lot of cattiness – but Twirly Girls is not like that at all. We are all at different levels and there is no jealousy. Everyone is supportive and we all celebrate our small victories when they happen. I’ve never really witnessed anything like it in my life and I’m excited to be part of this amazing group of ladies. What I love most is that we laugh and have fun while we’re learning.

What are your favorite words of encouragement?

“Whether you think you can or can’t, you’re right!” Look, I’m a big girl – 6 feet tall and over 200 pounds. I GET that I physically won’t be able to do ALL of the moves I want to do. But I am trying not to limit myself right now. I’m setting small goals and hoping I can either get myself there or at least find an acceptable modification for whatever move it is.

Favorite pizza toppings:

Pepperoni and black olives. Sometimes sausage, too.

Cupcakes or ice cream?

CAKE! CAKE! CAKE!! I LOVE CAKE! I’m a foodie. It’s one of my downfalls. And it’s something I have to work to avoid. There is no one bite when it comes to cake. It’s all or nothing. So I try not to have it around much.

Favorite music to pole dance to:

Rock music. Fast and hard. Right now I’m going to start working on a routine to Slash and Fergie’s Beautiful Dangerous.

Weirdest place you’ve ever poled:

My house. Whodathunk I’d ever have a pole in my house?! Oh yeah, and that one time I was in Texas and I tried to turn Neptune’s arm into a pole (didn’t work)!

Pre-performance rituals:

I don’t really have any … although I’ve really only performed for small audiences at our studio. I just get really nervous and have to force myself to get out there.

Strangest pole dancing question/comment you’ve ever received:

I can’t really think of the strangest but most definitely the most irritating is: So you’re a stripper?! My response is usually: I WISH! If I had the body and moves, I’d be grabbin’ those dollas! :-)

Anything else you’d like to share:

I’d love for everyone to participate in our Twirl Around The World. We are asking for pole dancers to send us their photos and locations so we can add to our album on Facebook! Also, we will be doing another benefit for the National Kidney Foundation next year. If anyone is interested in getting involved, have them add me on Facebook or get in contact through my blog.
We are doing another fundraiser to benefit the National Kidney Foundation (our very own Lovely Rita is a three-time kidney transplant recipient … she wasn’t supposed to live past 20 and she’s about to celebrate her 45th birthday!). Bel would like to get more pole studios involved, so we are asking anyone with a pole studio to get into contact with us if they are interested in coordinating. The fundraiser isn’t until April but we wanted to start early to get other people involved.
Lori is a pole dancer filled with enthusiasm for dance, life, and helping her fellow pole dancers. Visit her on her blog!

Wednesday, December 8, 2010

Couch to 5k program

In the past, people have suggested I try the Couch to 5k program.  I've always said no...I don't really enjoy running so why am I going to make something I hate part of my weekly workout routine?  I "do" 5k's (or, for Annie, I do the little-more-than-three-miles) with Brazen Racing, but I walk/jog them.  If it's a flat course, I can do that in about 45 minutes.  If it's really hilly or muddy, then maybe an hour.  I am slow.  I know I'm slow.  I walk slow.  I jog slow.  I  meander.  John can do Half Dome in six hours.  AJ did it in eight.  It took me 13 hours -- both times.  John would always try to give me advice to move faster -- put on fast music and just move to the beat.  Doesn't work for me.  I'm just a sloth.  And I'm ok with it.  So, any time someone has suggested I run, I'm like, NAW!

I recently had a change of heart.  A group of Twirly Girls are planning to do the Bay to Breakers in San Francisco next year (it's the 100th annual).  It's a 12k (about 7 miles), and I understand there are some pretty nasty hills.  So, I decided I need to learn to move a little faster (hip and back problems are getting better, so it's good timing).  We may not run any of it...but I don't want to be the one holding up the group.  And I imagine the Couch to 5k program is my best bet for being able to walk/jog a 7 mile hilly course.  The program takes you from basically doing nothing to running for a full three miles non-stop.  You follow the program three days a week for nine weeks, and it starts you walking for a bit, then jogging for a bit.  Then you work up until you are jogging for 30 minutes straight. 

I don't set New Years resolutions because I don't want to feel like a failure if I don't meet them.  So, this is my goal for January.  If I finish that in two months and feel good, I can start working on their 10k program.  I will have five months until the Bay to Breakers, so it will give me plenty of time to lose weight and get in shape.  It will also help me reach my goal of inverting on the pole by April. 

Has anyone else tried the program??

Monday, November 29, 2010

Twirly Girls Calendar Photo Shoot

The calendar photo shoot was yesterday.  We are so excited.  The shoot went really well.  The photos look like they're going to be AWESOME!  I am working on some funding to pay for the printing of the calendar and I think we're going to make some decent money for the National Kidney Foundation.  Current projections are about $3,000 from the calendar alone.  We haven't even made it to our fundraiser day in April yet and we're already looking to beat last year's donations! 

Thank you, thank you, thank you to everyone who participated.  We had 27 Twirly Girls and Boys who were photographed for the calendar.  We had an amazing photographer and make-up artist helping us out.  We had a lot of fun.  And I can't wait to do it again!!!

Check out some photos on my Facebook page:

http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=48809&id=100000107566031&l=d1aedfbcdb

Here is my open letter of thanks to all of the people who helped us yesterday:

Lori Myers November 29 at 9:34am
I know Bel sent an e-mail already and I apologize for overfilling your e-mail boxes, but I just wanted to thank everyone who participated yesterday.

Andrew Fryxell of Liquidpulp Photography very generously donated his time yesterday. If you ever have a need for a photographer, please consider him. http://www.liquidpulp.com/

Anh Thu Tran also generously donated her time to come and do make up for a lot of the girls. She went way above and beyond the call of duty and completely made over a good number of the girls (including myself). I can't thank her enough for helping us. If you are in need of a make up artist, please get in touch with me and I will give you her e-mail address or cell phone. (She's on my friends list on Facebook if you'd like to send her a message now.)

I want to thank Kristin for helping keep everything moving smoothly, posing and making announcements. Thank you to Bel for being so giving of her time and studio (especially now when she has so many Groupon classes taking over her life). Thank you to Rita for being the subject of our fun day and keeping people fed!

I also want to thank all of the girls for coming out with their costumes and great attitudes and posing for the calendar. I'm sure there are some things we could have changed but I thought the day went fairly smoothly and I was very pleased considering that was my first try at a calendar shoot!

Now to the business side of things: We hope that all of our Twirly Girls will be willing to buy and sell calendars. Calendars are going to run $15. If you already know you want one (or ten), please e-mail me and let me know. We are about to choose a printer and we want to make sure we order enough. We are asking that you please drop off the money for the entire order when you pick up your calendars. Although we trust you all, it's easy to lose track of calendars and every dollar we miss is a dollar that we can't give to the National Kidney Foundation. Christmas is coming and it would be a lovely stocking stuffer!!!

Also, if you own a local business or know a local business owner, we are still looking for funding to print the calendar. We are looking for 9 businesses to donate at least $100. We would then print your business card in the back of the calendar. Please let me know if you're interested. The photos should be ready in a couple of weeks and we'd like to have the funding set up by then. Again, the more sponsors we get, the more money we can give directly to the National Kidney Foundation.

Don't forget the Lovely Rita Fundraiser will be April 17th. Another fun day of classes, a dance recital and a silent auction/raffle. If you'd like to donate anything for the silent auction or raffle, please let me know. We are working to get hair and make up set up for those girls who want to participate in the dance recital. Start planning your dances now, ladies. We also plan to have a DJ there to run music. It should be another amazing day.

May 7th is the actual Kidney Walk in San Francisco. It's a 5k down the Embarcadero. We'd love to have other Twirly Girls join us.

A group of Twirly Girls will be doing the 100th annual Bay 2 Breakers on May 15th in San Francisco. Sign up for your Twirly Tuff classes to start getting in shape. It's about a 7 mile walk/jog and there are some tough hills, I hear. If you've never been (like me), then it's something to experience! We will be wearing our Twirly Girls shirts to represent!

On another side note, we are throwing around the idea of doing a pin-up photo shoot at the studio. We'd do a package deal for make up, hair and photos. If this is something you'd be interested in, let me know and I'll start pulling prices together. I am hoping to keep the cost under $100 per person (which is still a great deal for all three services). Start thinking of your costumes now! :-) You don't have to be a Twirly Girl to participate in this event. Might be a nice Valentine's Day gift if we get enough interest!

Thank you again for everyone who participated yesterday!! We had such a fun day! And next year, we'll start planning earlier so expect to start shooting in August or so. ;-)

-------------------------------------------------
=^..^=
 
 

Wednesday, November 17, 2010

Ask and ye shall receive

So, last Friday, Bel puts a note on my FB page:  Let's do a Twirly Girls calendar!

Well, okay!

Two hours later, I have a photographer lined up and I've sent an e-mail out to the Twirly Girls asking for volunteers. 

Less than a week later, we have our date set for the photo shoot, our list of groups and costumes for each month, and a list of possible printers for the calendar.

Don't mess around with me when things need to get done!

I'm REALLY excited about this calendar shoot.  This will be part of our fundraiser for the Lovely Rita's National Kidney Foundation 5k walk.  I think we should be able to keep the cost of printing the calendar to under $5 per calendar.  If we sell even 250 calendars at $10 each, that's already over $1,200 to the National Kidney Foundation!  That's over 1/3 of what we made last year and we haven't even gotten to the actual fundraiser day yet with our silent auction and raffle! 

I have about 20 girls willing to participate.  And Andrew, of Liquidpulp Photography, is graciously donating his time to do the photos.  I even have some people offering to help with hair and make up so that we can get dolled up.  

I think for January, we will highlight Mama Bel in a winter setting.  February will be Valentine's Day.  Lots of red and hearts.  I already have five girls in that group.  March is St. Patty's Day and I think this will be Rita's highlight month...to show off her silly side with all of the awesome green stuff we bought for St. Patty's Day last year.  April is Easter.  We will have the ladies of Rita's Fever dance in black and white, along with an appearance by the infamous Easter Bunny!  May will highlight Doug and the ladies who endure Twirly Tuff.  June will be the men of Twirly Girls.  They will all show off their "Pole Dancing is Not a Crime" shirts.  July will be Independence Day.  We have four ladies in this group so far.  August will be some of the ladies of the Wednesday night 6:30 p.m. class.  We will be in corsets.  September is back to school!  I have three ladies so far.  October will be Halloween.  Anyone with an awesome costume that doesn't feel like they fit in anywhere else can wear it here.  I have five ladies signed up.  November will highlight Marilyn's Tricks Are 4 Chicks class.  I know Sam is participating but I'm still waiting to hear from others.  December will be the holidays.  Mostly, I have ladies wearing Santa Baby costumes.  However, Jenelle has stepped up and will wear a white winter princess costume with a blue sash to represent Hanukka. 

I am really excited about how quickly this is coming together.  I hope the photo shoot goes well and we are able to get this to a printer.  If anyone is interested in purchasing the final product, please let me know!

UPDATE:  WE ARE LOOKING FOR COMPANIES WILLING TO HELP US PAY FOR THE COST OF PRINTING OUR CALENDAR.  WE WOULD GIVE YOUR COMPANY AN ADVERTISING SPOT ON THE CALENDAR.  PLEASE CONTACT ME IF YOU ARE INTERESTED.  THIS WILL ALLOW MORE MONEY TO GO TO THE NATIONAL KIDNEY FOUNDATION.  WE ARE NOT TRYING TO MAKE ANY MONEY FROM THIS CALENDAR -- THE ENTIRE PROFIT WILL BE DONATED.

https://sites.google.com/site/twirlygirlfundraiser/

Tuesday, November 9, 2010

CALLING ALL POLE STUDIOS!

Earlier this year, most of you may remember Twirly Girls held the Lovely Rita fundraiser to benefit the National Kidney Foundation's 5k walk in San Francisco.  [See this blog entry:  http://lolorashel.blogspot.com/2010/04/lovely-rita-fundraiser-was-huge-success.html.]  We're still six months away from the second annual benefit (we are shooting for a Sunday in April), but we want this one to be HUGE.  Last year, we were able to raise almost $3,000.  This year, let's TRIPLE IT! 

So we are calling ALL POLE STUDIOS around the United States (or even world?!) to participate with us.  Commit to a day of pole activities and/or open house, silent auction and raffle, bring great press to your pole studio and raise money for a great cause. 

If you know a pole dancer, pole studio, newspaper/TV/other media member who can help us get the word out, please contact me (tazzie2010 at yahoo dot com).  If you have a business that you'd like to promote and have a product or service you'd like to donate, please let me know as well.  Remember, donations are a tax write off!

Twirly Girls is planning to have another day of classes and an open house, silent auction, raffle and dance recital to benefit our very own Lovely Rita and the National Kidney Foundation.

If you want to get involved, let me know!

https://sites.google.com/site/twirlygirlfundraiser/

Tuesday, September 21, 2010

I'm guest blogging again!

I submitted another blog to The Pole Dancing Shop!

http://www.thepoledancingshop.com/news/62/Have-Pole%2C-Will-Twirl-%252d-A-Pole-Dancer%27s-Search-For-Motivation.html


Have Pole, Will Twirl - A Pole Dancer's Search For Motivation

Posted on 20th Sep 2010 @ 6:21 PM

Lori Myers Pole DancingWhat do you do when you don't have the energy to motivate yourself to do anything?  I mean, you work out (You HAVE to, right?!  Otherwise, how are you strong enough to do all those cool pole moves?!), go to your job (gotta pay the bills), make dinner (trying to eat healthy, so all of that working out pays off), clean the house (clutter makes us crazy)...but you have NOTHING LEFT.  No inspiration for pole even?!  Pole is what I love to do, but sometimes I can't even motivate myself to do what I love!  Maybe it's the fact that I have to shower with my special soap and not use lotion that day, so it's not always something I can do without planning.  Maybe I'm scared I won't nail a move, and then I'll feel discouraged.  Maybe I'm not feeling my music or my outfit.  Maybe the sun is shining outside or there's a full moon and it's throwing me off.  The point is, sometimes I don't even need a reason to feel like I'm not in the right mindset.

I think women especially are expected to do everything.  We work (and yes, taking care of your children is a job!).  We take care of families and households (my "kids" are my boyfriend and two cats).  We are also supposed to go to run all of the house errands, cook, clean, take the kids to their appointments and practices -- oh yeah, and find some time for yourself in there too, will ya?!  Then we are supposed to come home, fall into bed and do it all over again tomorrow.  What is the point of this life?  There is a breaking point.
I am at that point.

I have lost control of my life and I don't even have children to blame it on.  I go to the gym in the morning, commute to work, work a full day, come home, go to bed.  Rinse and repeat.  I haven't been on the pole in a month.  I had to take some time off from classes because of commitments I made with my time.  I told myself it was no big deal because I can practice at home.  I've practiced once.  I miss class.  I miss my fellow students.  I miss my instructor.  Yet, I still don't have the time to return (should be back in the next couple of weeks though).

For most of my life I've been able to buck up, wipe the sleep out of my eyes and just make it work.  Maybe it's because I'm getting older, or maybe everyone needs to slow down sometime, but I can't pull it together to keep up with my own schedule.  Between work, working out, pole and family/friends...something's gotta go (lately, besides pole, it has been family/friends).

I already know the mind is a powerful tool.  Heck, I even wrote about it on this very blog awhile back.  [http://www.thepoledancingshop.com/news/40/Powerful-bodies%2C-Even-more-powerful-minds-by-Lori-Myers.html]  But my brain is winning the war and it's making me take a break from a few things right now.  I know I am not the only busy person in the world.  How does everyone else juggle their activities so they can fit in life necessities along with their passion for pole?

Lori Myers
Student at Twirly Girls Pole Fitness Studio in Pleasanton, California
http://lolorashel.blogspot.com/

Wednesday, September 8, 2010

What price do you pay for a calorie?

Have you had one of those 100 calorie snack packs?  Who even thinks twice about 100 calorie packs?  100 calories sounds so small.  Those stupid packs are so small.  They almost don't seem worth spending 100 calories.  Yet at the same time, 100 calories doesn't sound like a lot, does it? 

What is the cost of eating 100 calories over your daily allotment every day though?  An extra 100 calorie pack doesn't really seem like a big deal.  But eating only 100 calories over your limit every day will lead to a 10 pound weight gain at the end of a year. 

And a calorie is a calorie when we're talking about going over.  Whether I've eaten a carrot, watermelon or candy, if I go over what I should be eating on a daily basis, I'm going to gain.  Don't get me wrong.  I have always been an "everything in moderation" girl and am now a recently reformed "bread is bad" girl.  But I don't know that it necessarily leads to weight gain.  Does a bread calorie really carry more weight than a veggie calorie?  I don't think so.  I just know that I FEEL better when I'm off the sugar and bread. 

I've been keeping a careful eye on my daily food intake and usually don't beat myself up if I go over by 100, 200 or even 300 calories.  Now I'm going to be a little more strict with myself.  There's no point of getting up every morning at the butt crack of dawn for the gym if I'm just going to eat like a little pig and ruin my hard work.  

How is everyone else doing?

Thursday, July 22, 2010

Swapping Problems

So what happens when you try to be a good girl and not go shopping every weekend?  Your pants get tighter.

Wait.  What?

I've talked about it before but it is seriously affecting my life right now.  Addiction transfer.  It was something I was hyper aware of before gastric bypass.  I knew that food was no longer going to be my friend so I had to be very careful about shopping or drinking alcohol (or doing drugs, or having sex, or pick any number of things we can become addicted to).  And shopping definitely became my new drug of choice.  I have often likened a shopping binge to a drug binge -- waking up from a weekend of whirlwind shopping with receipts clutched in my sweaty little hand instead of a needle in my arm.  I could easily throw down thousands of dollars in a weekend.  On crap.  Nothing I ever needed.  Most things I didn't even want after I had them.  Then I'd feel guilty.  Guilt makes me feel bad, which just made me want to shop more. 

Rob and I got together almost a year ago.  We just moved in together and, although we don't share a checking account, we pretty much consider all of our finances to be joint.  So, I have been really good about not going shopping -- not spending OUR money.  Other than a couple of small items, I haven't bought myself anything in quite awhile!  So, now that explains why I'm getting fat.  Clearly I've just re-transferred my addiction back over to food!!  You don't have to eat an entire cake or visit McDonalds three times a day to have a food addiction.  It can be very sneaky.  And I consider myself food obsessed, so thinking all day about dieting and watching my calorie intake really just makes me want to eat more food. 

I'm four days into this candida cleanse.  I had to alter it a bit to make sure I'm getting the nutrients I need post-gastric bypass.  And I've had a bit of a headache, but I feel like I'm doing pretty well on it.  Today was my first slip up.  I had part of a donut.  I bought them for my boss for his birthday.  And I smelled them for two glorious hours.  Then I gave in.  But at least I didn't eat the entire box, right?

This week has been great.  I've come to realize some things.  First was realizing that my hip pain is most likely being caused by scar tissue (and I've been feeling better lately since Keith started working on breaking that up)....who knew scar tissue could do that?!  (Although I do have an MRI scheduled for tomorrow to confirm this.)  Second was realizing that my pants getting tighter had much to do with my old demon rearing its ugly head again.  Third was realizing that toxic people are a waste of time and should be removed from my life (although the extraction process might cause some issues and I'm still working on that).  None are earth shattering but the combination should make my life somewhat more comfortable very soon. 

Now what do I do with this information?  Just because I'm aware of a problem doesn't mean its automatically fixed.  On the contrary, sometimes being aware of a problem almost makes it worse for me. 

My short term goal is to continue with the candida cleanse for a month (I have an appointment with a nutritionist next week to confirm I'm doing it the right way) and get back to the gym with my early morning friends (Rob and I have determined that we aren't on the same sleep or workout schedules, so P90X is out for me...I need social interaction to have feel motivated at the gym).  That's all I can do for now.  And for now, that has to be enough.

If anyone has any suggestions, I'd love to hear them. 

Friday, July 16, 2010

I guess you can't make everyone happy all the time

So Creepy Tree got a write up on Claycord yesterday!!  Claycord is a local blog/news source that basically covers the Walnut Creek/Clayton (plus some) area.  It was really exciting at first.  But now I'm reminded of what I hate about the internet.

It is SO easy to sit anonymously behind your computer and write mean shit about other people.  Strangely, within the last day or so, people were whining on Claycord's Facebook page about how there haven't been any positive stories lately.  So the guy posts about a story about a tree and now all the assholes come out to talk about how stupid it is!  I don't know...maybe they just caught me on a bad day, but they're all lucky that Claycord hasn't posted their addresses so I can go vandalize their properties (little bit of an inside Claycord joke...I don't really want to ruin anyone's property).

Anyway, at the end of the day, all of the haters can cry and hate all over themselves.  I would rather have a Facebook fan page about a tree than be checking out child porn.  Yes, maybe a fan page for a tree is stupid but its all in good, CLEAN fun.  And to the girl who calls herself Twat, you are aptly named.  I have no children and taking a photo or two of a tree isn't taking away from the rest of my life whatsoever. 

I don't want to dwell on the negative.  On the positive side, Creepy Tree's fan page gained about 100 new fans overnight.  So, I thank Mr. Mayor of Claycord.com for posting a positive story about a beautiful tree that I still love even though some of the people on his website think I am stupid for doing so.  I guess I should be used to it since I know some of my own "friends" have been talking behind my back because of Twirly Girls.  I'm trying to just hold my head high and not let those kinds of people waste my time, but clearly I need thicker skin (or some Pamprin). 

Claycord.com website comments:

The “creepy tree” in Clayton, on Seeno’s property on the hill

by Mr. Mayor on July 15, 2010 · 27 comments
This “creepy tree” is in Clayton, but the cool story about this tree is that some CLAYCORDIAN has set up a facebook fan page for it, and they take pictures of it (almost) daily.
Here’s what the creator of the “creepy tree” facebook fan page had to say….
Every day when I leave the house, I pass the Seeno property. It’s this gigantic house perched on top of a hill. And it’s surrounded by trees and animals. On one side of the hill, there is a lone tree, which I dubbed Creepy Tree. I started taking a picture of him every day and posting them on Facebook. I was (and still am) amazed at how many people loved Creepy Tree too!!
Anyway, I now take photos of Creepy Tree daily. He speaks to me — kinda. It just puts me in a good mood to take my daily photo and think about what Creepy Tree might want to say to his fans on Facebook that day. I try to put forth positive messages, to start each day on the right foot. I love hearing that people look forward to the photos of him every day.
This is awesome, we love the “creepy tree”, too!
To visit the tree’s fanpage, and view other pictures of it, please click HERE.
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{ 29 comments… read them below or add one }
1 Anonymous July 15, 2010 at 4:04 PM
that was creepylicious
2 Love that tree July 15, 2010 at 4:07 PM
Really love that tree :)
3 Lori Myers July 15, 2010 at 4:09 PM
Creepy Tree does rock!! Thanks for talking about him! I hope he gains many more fans on Facebook! I have moved from Clayton and can now only post occasional photos. So if others in the area wanted to help pick up the slack, it would be greatly appreciated!!
4 La Grinch July 15, 2010 at 4:15 PM
Very cool! Anything that can help the rest of us stop for a moment and appreciate the nature that is all around us (especially the nature that doesn’t move around) is a good thing. Take a breath – and thank that Creepy Tree and his kin for the oxygen!
5 Anonymous July 15, 2010 at 4:15 PM
I love that tree. It’s historic.
6 Anonymous July 15, 2010 at 4:34 PM
Thats pretty funny. I love neat old trees :)
7 funnnnn July 15, 2010 at 4:38 PM
me and my friends used to play in that tree when we were kids 30+ years ago. we used to move all the salt licks for the cattle around the tree. the good old days of Clayton.
8 Anonymous July 15, 2010 at 4:40 PM
Being that it’s on Seeno property, I’m surprised it hasn’t been plowed under for 2-by-4s already.
9 Anonymous July 15, 2010 at 5:14 PM
When I went to Clayton Valley in the 80′s that tree was a great place to hang out. Long before all the hills became houses. We ran from a few mad cows up in those hills!
10 Radar July 15, 2010 at 5:23 PM
Beautiful pic, keep on taking them!
11 Anonymous July 15, 2010 at 5:25 PM
Beautiful!
12 lorrielovesparties July 15, 2010 at 5:32 PM
Makes me look forward to Fall! Yeah, Yeah, Yeah Yeah!
13 Ck July 15, 2010 at 5:41 PM
That tree is beautiful.
14 Amanda Borenstadt July 15, 2010 at 6:19 PM
That is too cool! We have a special tree we can see from our house that lives up on Lime Ridge that we visit regularly.
15 Anonymous July 15, 2010 at 7:14 PM
Love the tree! It’s an oak, right?
16 shygurl July 15, 2010 at 7:30 PM
The tree is cool as shit! I love it! Thanks mr mayor for including it!
17 Shasta Daisy July 15, 2010 at 7:45 PM
I love photos like this…..so peaceful. Thank you for sharing.
18 Annie July 15, 2010 at 9:00 PM
Creepy tree is really quite insightful, also.
19 Me July 15, 2010 at 9:02 PM
I’m really confused. … I grew up in Clayton from 1982 and just moved to concord this year. There are literally 100 trees like that between downtown Clayton and Seeenos hill. What’s the big deal no offense? Don’t get me wrong I love big oaks. My buddy has an a two story deck in his bavkyardbuilt around an oak in Clayton. Someone just tell me what’s special about this one? Doesn’t look anymore different or creepy then the ones in the creek. I have a great pic of an oak with a fall blue dusk night sky in the background that is bad azz
20 Shadowgirl July 15, 2010 at 9:12 PM
I like the Creepy Tree. I can picture a big full moon behind it and a little fog. Perfect for Halloween!
21 Chainsaw Lover July 15, 2010 at 9:44 PM
I’m planning on cutting Creepy Tree down. Take pictures while you can, it won’t be long now.
22 Lori M. July 15, 2010 at 10:01 PM
Me — There is no big deal. I lived next to this tree and started taking photos of it and “Creepy Tree” gained a fan base on Facebook. You don’t have to get it. I only started taking photos for me anyway. :-) Shadowgirl — There are some pretty cool photos on the Facebook page. I think that’s why it became a big deal to me. How many photos could I take of the same tree that look so different? :-)
23 Anonymous July 15, 2010 at 10:10 PM
Lame
24 Jason Wheeler July 15, 2010 at 10:53 PM
We used to have a tree on a hill like that in pleasant hill. Used to call it hangmans.
25 EdiBirsan July 15, 2010 at 11:13 PM
A Tree with a Face Book Page, got to make you laugh/ reminds of a story about a “live web camera” web site of fermenting wheels of cheese somewhere in Wales or England.
26 Anonymous July 15, 2010 at 11:49 PM
Really it a tree a tree people what a lame story
27 TwitTwat July 16, 2010 at 12:07 AM
There is already so much crap on the internet, especially on Facebook, why the hell are we wasting fanbook pages on a tree now? Are people that desperate for anything to do on the internet that they have to “fan” a tree? I think people need to spend less time on the computer, their iPhone, the Wii, Xbox, PS3, and their iPod and more time with their families, especially their kids. Be a “fan” of your spouse and your children and get off the damn internet for a few hours you idiotic fools!!! Love your family and leave the tree hugging to someone single!
28 Lori July 16, 2010 at 9:13 AM
Your comment is awaiting moderation.
Talking about a tree is nicer than the economy or state of the world these days. It’s not a 24 hour job. Maybe you shouldn’t have taken the five minutes away from your kids to write this message, Twat.
29 Lori July 16, 2010 at 9:37 AM
Your comment is awaiting moderation.
Twat, I don’t have kids so I guess its ok for me to be a tree hugger. I guess if I was on the internet looking at child porn, you’d be happy I was using the internet appropriately. ------- Facebook comments:
17 hours ago via twitterfeed · · · Share this
Lori Myers
Lori Myers
Thank you!! I'm glad you share my love for Creepy Tree! :-)
17 hours ago ·
Beth Kopec Twilegar
Beth Kopec Twilegar
We used to call that the Hanging tree growing up in Kirkwood!
17 hours ago ·
Sharon D Capps
Sharon D Capps
Love that tree
17 hours ago ·
Lori Myers
Lori Myers
Please join the Fan Page and help me take photos! :-)
17 hours ago ·
Gerri Baker
Gerri Baker
I love that tree. It's historic... so don't let the city of Concord take it down.
17 hours ago ·
Lori Myers
Lori Myers
They're trying to take him down?!
17 hours ago
Rita Pearson
Rita Pearson
You need creepy tree!
17 hours ago 
CLAYCORD.com
CLAYCORD.com
I don't think anybody's trying to take him down.
16 hours ago ·
Lori Myers
Lori Myers
I figured he was safe. He's not in Concord anyway.
15 hours ago
Gerri Baker
Gerri Baker
I know. It was in jest to the city taking down the smokestack.
11 hours ago ·
Gerri Baker
Gerri Baker
I see Concord and Clayton politically connected.
11 hours ago ·
Lori Myers
Lori Myers
I'm sorry they took your smoke stack down. :-(
10 hours ago
Sylvia Snell Lundy
about an hour ago
Lori Myers
Lori Myers
He is Creepy Tree. :-D

Wednesday, June 2, 2010

A picture is worth a thousand words

I love photography.  Landscapes.  People.  Weird things.  Cool things.  Beautiful things.  Sunsets are the best!  The ocean.  Horses. 

Ansel Adams is one of my favorite photographers.  I have five or six of his photos in my house.  I love the black and white landscapes.  So simple yet so striking.  My all-time favorite is a photograph of a graveyard.  I understand it was a time release photograph, so the moon is high in the sky, yet the grave stones are still lit up as if they were in sunlight.  I love it! 

My friend, Andrew (Liquidpulp Photography), takes amazing photographs as well.  He also takes beautiful landscapes.  And when he photographs people, he is often looking for a look that is interesting, more than something beautiful by society's standards. 

I've always loved photography.  I have a camera in my purse at all times.  I am constantly snapping photos of the sky with my iPhone as I'm driving down the road.  This is how my love affair with Creepy Tree started.  One day I took a picture, posted it on Facebook, and now Creepy Tree has his own fan club!

I dream of one day buying an expensive digital SLR and traveling the world to photograph cool and interesting places.  In fact, if I am one day blessed by the lotto gods and win my $350 million (wait, $317 million), that is exactly what I will do!  Until then, my fantasies and little camera will have to do.  :-)

 Sunset while driving home from Alameda (Oakland), California

Full moon from Concord, California a couple of years ago

The flag in Las Vegas, Nevada (outside of Mandalay Bay) in July 2009

Sunset and Creepy Tree's cousins in Walnut Creek, California

Creepy Tree in Clayton, California with no leaves in late 2009/early 2010

Creepy Tree with the sun peeking through in early 2010 (and growing leaves now!)

A photograph Andrew took of me in March 2010

Tuesday, June 1, 2010

Let the insanity begin...P90X

After three weeks of talking about it, Rob and I finally got our front room cleaned up a little and started P90X yesterday.   I know a few people who are following this program and they talk about how hard it is.  Luckily, I am the queen of modification, so I am only following it to the best of my ability (for right now).  Yes, this probably means I am not pushing myself as hard as I SHOULD but, with Rob there watching, I am pushing myself harder than I normally would while working out alone. If you're a member at Beach Body, add me!  Here's my profile

I took my Day 1 photos in a bikini.  YUCK.  I offended myself.  I am so unhappy with how I look.  My lower back is all swollen out and my thighs are fat and dimply.  Once I see some results, I will post the photos.  But not yet.   

So, the first day on the program is chest and back (with the ab ripper at the end).  I actually didn't have heavy enough weights.  The heaviest weight I have is 12 pounds.  So, it was kind of easy.  I need to go pick up 15's and 20's.  Also, we haven't found the brackets to set up the pull up bar.  So, we tried to use bands to simulate a pull up.  It wasn't enough.  They want you to hook it to something in the ceiling, so you're pulling down.  We didn't have anything to attach it to, so we were more doing chest presses than pull downs.   I was kind of aggravated about it yesterday, because I felt like we didn't properly prepare.  However, when you go from doing very little to working out six days a week, any activity will be a benefit.  So, I'm over it today.

This morning, we did the plyometrics DVD.  It was 5:00 a.m. and, even though we are on the bottom floor, I was scared that two of us jumping around might be bothering our upstairs neighbors.  So, I modified some of the exercises.  My heart rate averaged 160.  I burned around 520 calories.  Normally, a good workout for me is 600 calories burned.  A great workout is 800.  So, once I get into it and feel more comfortable, I will bump up the intensity.  I've realized that even if you can't do high impact, you can often do things to make the workout more intense. 

P90X is definitely an intense program, and not for the faint of heart.  Beach Body offers many programs to help people get in shape.  My plan isn't to get completely ripped.  I am currently not planning to follow the food plan.  I just want to lose my 25-45 pounds and feel better about myself.  I workout to eat yummy food.  As I've said before, I try not to overindulge too often but I definitely don't want to feel like I'm on a diet.  I am closely tracking my progress through weight, body fat, measurements and photos. 

P90X is a 90 day program.  Interestingly enough, it ends on my birthday.  So, I hope to still hit my weight loss goal (set earlier this year) right on time!

If anyone else is doing P90X (or another Beach Body program), I'd love to hear about your experience!