Visit from WI

Today is a very exciting day. My Dad and Uncle are coming out from WI to spend Thurs-Sun with me here- and we are going to see the Dodgers play on Saturday. Have been looking forward to this weekend for a long time. Even though I was able to fly home for a quick weekend this past weekend. Was very happy to see my girlfriend Brooke, her family and my family. A quick but good weekend. Made me start to get a little more homesick...

Couple updates from out here- going strong every day at the Crossfit gym. Have actually gotten pretty close with the owners Alex and Richard. We are putting together a team to compete for the Crossfit Games, we have attended many shows/game events on the weekends together, they invited Brooke and I to their wedding (which we will be attending), and I'm also staying at their house to take care of their dog and house sit while they are away for a week. Will definitely be making regular trips back out here to stay in touch with them.

I'm jealous of the softball leagues starting up back in WI. Go Slammers!!

The Last Easy Day Was Yesterday...

Still staying strong on the Crossfit workouts.  I think I am getting more and more addicted every day!  The hot tub here at the hotel is definitely a life saver though!!  I have officially become a gym rat.  I go to school every day, and then after spend about 4 hours at the gym working out, or working on getting their gym ready for the big grand opening this weekend.  Put in about 14 hours of work over the weekend too.  Gym looks great!  Also today I passed the first complete Phase (Gas Phase) of my schooling today with a average of 94%...  Only 4 more phases to go...  VERY excited for Dad and Grant to come see me next weekend and go to a Dodger baseball game.  Then hopefully May I get to go home for my birthday... One month at a time!  Miss everyone!!

Happy (late) Easter to all!

I hope everyone had a great Easter!  I missed being able to spend time with the family, but duty calls!  I did my typical weekend activity of golfing a couple rounds, and I did have some ham in my omelet for breakfast so I got that covered...

Workouts are going well.  VERY sore this week!  Getting all those new muscles worked out and its giving me lots of recovery time needed in the hot tub!  But again that soreness is a good thing and means the workouts are working.  Again for all my cross fit people out there- We did the famous or should I say "infamous" Fran workout yesterday.  Posted a time of 7:07 for a first week cross fitter.  I was happy.  Also posted a 2:47 min 800 meter and a 9:52 "Karen" time which was a killer...

I've made Crossfit Anacapa's website.  Check out my California friends @ http://crossfitanacapa.com/

As for School we just finished up our block unit on Starters, Alternators, and Air Bags.  Got a 96%.  Very excited for all the useful info I am learning- and am excited to put it all to use!

Take Care all-

Bored... So I joined a gym!

I have always been hearing things about these "Crossfit" gyms for some time now, and low and behold I get the "Crossfit Master" for an Instructor during the unit of my schooling.  He has shared lots over the past 2 weeks, and we have bounced our daily workouts off one another, etc.  So this Monday I joined this newly opened Crossfit Gym and let me tell you- I am sold!  The are ALL about my same notion of useable strength over "gym-strength".  Very similar mindset and workout styles I have done for years at my local gym in Madison called Monkey Bar Gym.  Amazing place.  Crossfit's only difference is they incorporate more olympic style lifts in addition to the body weight stuff.  Admittedly the first 2 workouts I have struggled with these, but will get there!  Loving it all already.  I did my first "muscle up" ever in the first 10 min of my first Crossfit workout.  Anyone who does crossfit or monkey bar gym workouts knows what that is and how hard it is!  Was pumped about that.

This new Crossfit gym literally opened up yesterday when I joined.  These 2 went off from the gym my instructor workouts at and I'm sure they never would have thought their first member would be a Wisconsin resident!  Husband and wife team run it together- super nice couple.  I really enjoy these smaller town gyms where everyone gets to know each other in a personal way, etc.  I have worked out there only two nights, but felt compelled that with my ample free time here after class, that on my recovery day tomorrow I would come and help them finish painting their walls, building platforms, boxes, etc.  as they are not quite all set up yet.  That lead them in turn to graciously accept but only if I come to their house on Sunday for Easter dinner.  I also graciously accepted.

After tonights workout we went over lots of nutrition and recovery stuff.  Really enjoyed that too since honestly these aspects are even more important than the workouts themselves.  I have came to learn that the Crossfit community is very into the Paleo diet, and I have to say after hearing about it I like it and am going to try it!  In all my years working out at Monkey Bar Gym they always pushed eating Vegan- which I see some of the benefits, but that was never for me.  This Paleo diet has the same foundation as the Vegan diet of trying to get back to the roots of our ancient ancestors diet and way of life (which I have always believed in) but also incorporates meats, fish, etc. which as you all know I need those!  If anyone is interested google the Paleo diet or feel free to send your questions!

Well I have my big Unit exam tomorrow on the Electrical System and components of vehicles for my training to move onto the next unit of Starter Systems, Air Bags, and Chassy systems... So I better get studying to brush up!  Goodnight to all.

All work and no play?!?!?

You can't have all work and no play. I am in Southern California! I'm staying at a pretty fancy hotel here, and there have been a lot of outdoor weddings here- frankly every weekend there is one on Friday and Saturday night. So last night while I was sitting at the bar having my dinner (grilled salmon and veggies-yum!) there was a wedding going on outside. Unfortunately for everyone attending that wedding it started to downpour- bringing everyone rushing inside to the bar. Of course anyone who has ever been to a wedding knows the first thing everyone does when the wedding ceremony is over... head to the bar. In the mad rush of all these people coming to the bar to get drinks a few started to chat, etc. and especially this one particular Mom. She asked what I did, why I was there, etc. and upon hearing I was there for military, she immediately called over her two sons who were in the wedding party. Came to find out they served in the Army and Navy, and just about everyone in the wedding had some kind of connection with the military. Both these sons have received purple hearts for their time in Iraq, and so this Mom obviously had a soft spot and great pride for those who serve (wish more shared her views.) Well as the drinks flowed more and more and the longer we chatted and shared stories she came up with the great idea that I should join them all at the wedding. Many around her shared this great idea and after some convincing they dragged me in there- Open bar and free food, who am I to say no. So there I was in the middle of a very classy wedding complete in my plaid shorts, black t-shirt, and boat shoes. Good thing this was a family wedding that liked to party! All in all we danced the night away, had a great time, I was even in the fight for the garter belt, and the bride thanked me for joining them as I left. Felt like I was straight out of the movie wedding crashers. This morning was a little rough getting out of bed, but just finished 18 holes on the base golf course, and now off to start my run on the beach. Slow recovery run! Sundays are a day to let the muscles recover from the long week... and I suppose my headache has something to do with it being a recovery day too...  Below a pic of the place I am staying and the view I get out my window every night.