Monday, November 29, 2010

In Celebration of Older Chicks

“It’s not like the old days.”

I used to hear that a lot from one of my old bosses, back when I was practicing law. Richard was a master of the side-step, so it was a suitably vague phrase, but his intent was usually pretty clear. “Move along,” he meant. “Get with the program. No use bitchin’ about the way things used to be.” An admonition with a dollop of lament on the side.

But in a different context, “it’s not like the old days” is an affirmation and a challenge.

Back in MY old days–at least where I grew up–middle-aged women didn’t climb icefalls, run marathons, shoot rapids, ski glaciers, bomb down rocky cliffs on tricked-out mountain bikes or rocket around banked tracks on bicycles with fixed gears and NO BRAKES. They didn’t bloody their hands working crack-intensive toprope problems or shred the glades at Breckenridge. They sure as hell didn’t surf. Or base jump.

Not that the middle-aged ladies of the last century didn’t have fun. My grandmother loved a good canasta game. My mom played bridge and, on rare occasions, a round of golf. The Altar Society meetings were good for a laugh and a bit of gossip. And who could forget that Friday night sexy/cool Man From U.N.C.L.E.? Ahhh, it was a quieter time.

Not now. A generation of women are unselfconsciously kicking ass as (peri)menopausal adventurers and athletes. All the more amazing when you realize that a lot of us (especially the pre-Title IX crowd) didn’t discover “sports” until later in life.

If you’re one of those women, tell me what you’re doing. Send me a link, a photo, a video. I want to share your awesomeness.

If you’re in the demographic–or even just tiptoeing up to it–and you haven’t even TRIED anything terrifying yet, ask yourself: Why not? Maybe you don’t have the money, maybe you don’t have the time, maybe you’re raising your grandchildren instead of enjoying reproductive retirement. These are legit roadblocks, but they can be nudged in the name of adventure, IF you want it badly enough.

I count myself one of the lucky ones because I found the fun before it was too late. So what if I’m 55 and my knees are falling apart and every sixth hair is coming in gray and I wake up five times a night hot/wet/freezing and I can’t read a map or a menu in low light or remember much of anything? That just means I’m old enough to appreciate what I can still do. Every run, every ride, every pitch is another little miracle.

Not like the old days, indeed
.

Sunday, November 28, 2010

Let's Go!



note the outfit about half way through.

Sunday, November 21, 2010

Brave Heart

An act that takes tremendous courage for one person might be someone else's "no big deal," or even their day job. For me, doing an unsupported Handstand is an act of courage, yet I'm unfazed by stuff that terrifies others-speaking in front of a thousand people without notes, for instance, or facing my own anger. And, of course, each of us has a different edge, a psychological precipice beyond which lies a personal abyss. Your edge could be the 500-foot drop below a mountain footbridge. It may be the fear of career suicide that keeps you from speaking out about corporate wrongdoing, or the fear of losing your partner's love that paralyzes you when you try to convey certain truths about yourself. Your edge might be very subtle indeed-it might be, for instance, the moment your boundaries dissolve in meditation. The point is that each of us, sometime, will be asked to step past the borders of the known world and do something that scares us. Courage is that quality of heart that lets us do it.

from Yoga Journal full article here.

Thursday, November 18, 2010

Winter 2011 Women's Adventure Magazine


Winter 2011 Women's Adventure Magazine

Click on the link above and it will take you to the latest Women's Adventure online Magazine. I just love turning the pages.

Tuesday, November 16, 2010

From a GLOW gal at Trinity

Carrin and Lisa,

As people who are passionate about women, I thought you might be interested in this. Please feel free to share this invitation with your circle of friends!

I want to invite you to something that I am working on with a couple of friends – TEDxStillwater. If you are familiar with the TED organization, you know how incredible TED talks are. If you haven’t heard of TED, check out their web site http://www.ted.com to see how they live out their mission “riveting talks by remarkable people, free to the world.” TED grants licenses to local sites around the world to host events as a part of its TEDx program. Some friends and I had the dream of hosting a TEDx event here in Stillwater. Recently, we were approved to host a live viewing party for the upcoming TEDWomen conference. I am really, really excited about this!

Here is the invitation:

You are invited to join former Secretary of State Madeline Albright, Facebook’s Chief Operating Officer Sheryl Sandberg, a Masai father and daughter, and many other incredible leaders from around the world as we explore how women and girls are reshaping the future.

Right here in Stillwater, we will be hosting a LIVE video streaming of the first ever TEDWomen Conference in Washington, D.C. To learn more about the conference itself, please see the TED.com web site at http://conferences.ted.com/TEDWomen/

Details:
Tuesday, Dec. 7 1-9 pm
Wednesday, Dec. 8 7 am – 3 pm
Thursday, Dec. 9 6-9 pm

Location: Trinity Lutheran Church, Stillwater, MN
Cost: $75, includes all meals during the conference (catered by Kowalski’s)

I know you are busy and may not be able to clear your schedule for the entire event. Please invite your friends and come join us for as much of the conference as you can. It will definitely be worth your time!

To REGISTER online, go to:
https://www.regonline.com/builder/site/Default.aspx?EventID=900592

Peace,
Siri

Sunday, November 14, 2010

Women on the Shred- Snowboarding!

Sunday, January 9, 9:30 am – close
$55 includes lift ticket , snowboard, boot and helmet rental and a free group lesson
We will meet at church and carpool to Trollhaugen Ski and Snowboard area and we will snowboard, just try it! It will be fun. I know I am going to wear the wrist guards. If you are an experienced snowboarder, you are welcome to join us and get the group rate and encourage the rest of us beginners! Michelle Houle will inspire us to shred! Click here to go to the Trollhaugen website, then click here to register!!

Wednesday, November 10, 2010