15 Books That Will Stick With Me

Saturday, September 12, 2009 by Michelle

The Rules: Don't take too long to think about it (15 minutes). Fifteen books you've read that will always stick with you. Tag 15 friends, including me because I'm interested in seeing what books my friends choose (as well as pick up suggestions for my reading list). To do this, go to your Notes tab on your profile page, paste rules in a new note, cast your 15 picks, and tag people in the note - upper right hand side). I will not be offended if you don't play. In no particular order: 1. The Color of Distance - Amy Thompson 2. The Left Hand of Darkness - Ursula Le Guin 3. Woman on the Edge of Time - Marge Piercy 4. Gate to Women's Country - Sherry Tepper 5. E=MC2: A Biography of the World's Most Famous Equation - David Bodanis 6. The Red Tent - Anita Diamant 7. Calculating God - Robert Sawyer 8. Everyday Acts & Small Subversions - Anndee Hochman 9. The New Rules of Lifting for Women - Lou Schuler, Cassandra Forsythe & Alwyn Cosgrove 10. Last Chance to See - Douglas Adams 11. The Christian Agnostic - Leslie Weatherhead 12. Call of the Wild - Jack London (must have read it a dozen times as a kid) 13. Sailing to Sarantium & Lord of Emperors - Guy Gavriel Kay 14. The Eagle and the Raven - Pauline Gedge 15. Calvin & Hobbes :-) Translation: I'm a fantasy/sci-fi loving feminist geek who likes to lift strong, LOL! Kathrin: I haven't finished reading your book yet because I have too many on the go, so it can't go on my list yet! Great stuff in there though!

A Weekend of Yoga

Monday, May 25, 2009 by Michelle

Other than one semester of yoga in Grade 9 P.E. class, I hadn't done any yoga before. I knew I really "should", but with an overwhelming number of styles and studios I just haven't. Last weekend that all changed. Yoga Outreach is a Vancouver-based organization that brings yoga to places where it isn't otherwise accessible, such as transition houses, prisons, treatment centres, etc. So my husband signed us up for their fundraiser weekend and off we went to lovely Brackendale. I got to try all kinds of yoga, eat yummy food, meet new people and enjoy nature - what more can a person ask for? The last session, I joined the laughter yoga people (my husband is an LY teacher, and was helping out), and we laughed our butts off. What a wonderful weekend. Now, I'm looking forward to trying out yoga locally at one of the supporting groups like Open Door on Commercial Drive. And I really hope to go to the retreat again next year.

How do we define ourselves?

Saturday, April 25, 2009 by Michelle

Read an interesting article today. It has some important truths in it, both inside and outside fitness. http://www.burnthefatblog.com/archives/2009/04/fat_blogger_or_shredder_which.php From now on, I want to define myself as: * I am an athlete * I am a strong woman * I am decisive (okay, that one will take work) How do you define yourself? What would you like to believe into your life?

25 Things…

Thursday, January 22, 2009 by Michelle

25 Random Things About Me Rules: Once you've been tagged, you are supposed to write a note with 25 random things, facts, habits, or goals about you. At the end, choose 25 people to be tagged. You have to tag the person who tagged you. If I tagged you, it's because I want to know more about you. Of course, you don't have to... but it's an interesting exercise so why not? (To do this, go to "notes" under tabs on your profile page, paste these instructions in the body of the note, type your 25 random things, tag 25 people (in the right hand corner of the app) then click publish.) 1. When I'm by myself, I lip sync to music and dance like a crazy woman. 2. I used to weigh over 200 lbs and couldn't climb the stairs without huffing and puffing, and now I have <20% body fat and can run a half marathon (thanks Warren!). 3. I've been married to my husband Toph (Chris) for more than 14 years. 4. On a dare from Toph, I once stepped outside of our tent onto a logging road buck naked. 5. I have a massage chair and I secretly love to see people jiggle all over while they are being pummeled by it. 6. I love silly practical jokes like scaring and startling people; makes me laugh so hard I can barely breathe! 7. I feel uneasy in bars/pubs and at parties where people are drinking more than just one or two drinks; I feel like it's my responsibility to make sure nothing bad happens and everyone gets home safe. 8. I absolutely love being a godmother and auntie. 9. I've always admired my sister's "don't take any shit" attitude and wish that I was as quick witted as she is. 10. I'm fiercely competitive, even with myself; it's sometimes hard for me to reign that in. 11. I believe that life is too short for boring underwear. 12. I occasionally write poetry, but am too afraid to do the serious stuff very often because it comes from too deep a place. 13. I find it difficult to not correct or point out spelling errors in signs, websites, emails, etc. 14. I can be really critical and judgmental, and with effort I stifle that part of myself. 15. Trust is very hard for me. 16. I enjoy watching people's calves when they walk or run - muscles in motion are amazing. 17. I love the autumn mostly because I love making soup. 18. I used to be religious, and am relieved to be free of that now. 19. I'm fascinated with how amazing the human hand is. 20. Poor sportsmanship annoys me to no end. 21. When I was young, I thought that once you started to read a book you had to finish it, even if you don't like the book and it takes you years to read. 22. I had emergency life/death surgery as an infant (was scheduled for the first kidney transplant, but they saved my kidneys) and was airlifted from my hometown in near-hurricane force winds. 23. Although I enjoy music, visual arts, textile arts, etc., it's photography that moves me on a profoundly deep level. 24. Despite not buying lottery tickets, I often fantasize about winning the big one and giving a ridiculously big fat cheque to Atira. 25. It's hard to be taken seriously when you sneeze like I do; it sounds like an Alvin and the Chipmunks version of a sneeze. Damned embarrassing.