Women on the Edge

2011-08-22T08:00:00.002-05:00

Hey Paddlers--
Just to be clear, there WILL still be a Women on the Edge dragon boat team for which you can sign up in the spring, no experience necessary and paddle in the North Shore Dragonboat festival the last weekend in July.
The new team we're creating is for those looking to "step it up a notch". We'll be meeting and keeping in touch starting this fall and setting fitness gaols as well as working on paddling form and technique. If this is for you, contact us soon!

Karen and Lisa
kedmand@msn.com
yogadevo@gmail.com

Off the Edge Dragon Boat Team

2011-08-19T19:37:00.002-05:00

It happens every year, after the rush of the final heat, the murmurings begin that last day of July in Grand Marais at the Dragon Boat festival...What if we had a few practices...what if we worked together a bit more, could we win???

Ok, you competetive girls (and you know who you are!) let's cut the chatter and give it a go!! Let's meet this fall to set some fitness goals, plan some fun cross training and work on a little paddling technique. We'll start this fall with some fitness goals and paddling technique exercises, keep in touch via e-mail and a meeting or two over the winter and spring (hopefully getting out on some water!) and next summer: The North Shore Dragon Boat Festival in Grand Marais AND Phalen Dragon Boat Festival in St. Paul!

Don't let the thought of one more time commitment scare you away. This will be FUN! We'll have things you can do individually and a few group activities, too!

We need 20 committed team mates. Please email Lisa Ender yogadevo@gmail.com or Karen Anderson kedmand@msn.com by Sept 15 with any questions and we will let you know the secret location of the first meeting, where we'll have more details. Even if you aren't sure, you could still come to the meeting to check it out!!!

Paddles up!

Lisa and Karen

North Shore Dragon Boat Festival 2011

2011-07-31T18:37:00.000-05:00

Oh My Word, we had such a great time. 42 women, 2 teams, One Spirit. We hit the parade grounds all gussied up for a royal wedding as Princess Kate IS a Dragon Boater you know! We won the "Best in Parade" honors and this time we got a prize! Pie and Ice....scrapers! Yep, we won four pies from the pie place and they were DEEE licious !!

Now off to the races. There were 5 women's teams this year. Of course The Otters and the Birkies were there. And a new team, the BB's. They were formidable opponents! They were young and strong, but in the finals it was a 3 boat race. They edged us out by only .3 seconds. And the Otters were not that far ahead. They are totally beatable, wait til next year. Post race traditions were fully observed....

Hudson Bay Bound: Livin' the Dream: Downstream

2011-07-17T22:11:00.000-05:00

Hudson Bay Bound: Livin' the Dream: Downstream

Hudson Bay Bound

2011-07-17T21:50:00.001-05:00

Two young women bound for Hudson Bay, Check out their blog

Wednesdays Rock: Climbing With Women

2011-06-30T19:27:00.000-05:00

Wednesdays Rock: Climbing With Women: "The experience of a guy who pretended he was a woman (Well, not really. He just put on a wig.) and went climbing with a bunch of women. I li..."

Women on the Edge Gone Wild!

2011-06-15T09:37:00.000-05:00

New Adventure!!
Friday, August 26, 4:00 p.m. Sunday Aug 28
Learn fly fishing, dockside devotions, pontoon knee boarding and tubing, Yogadevotion, diving contests, yard games, ATV’S, exploration of Mud Hen Lake by kayak, all one hour away from your home! Prizes for the smallest and ugliest fish. All meals cooked on the campfire. What do you want for $99? Sign up and see what you get! Kellie Cardinal and Lisa Ender will host this event at Kellie’s cabin near Siren, Wisconsin.

2011-06-08T09:40:00.001-05:00

Hey paddlers!! July 29 is approaching! There are only TWO spots left for this crazy-fun event!

Next meeting: July 14, 7pm at St. Andrews

paddles up!

A Royal Gathering!

2011-04-25T17:21:00.003-05:00

Women on the Edge will hold the first meeting for the 2011 Dragon Boat Team this Thursday, April 28 at 7:00 in the Fireside Lounge in the Great Hall

That is the fact.

The freaky part is that the boat is already full and we are working on Team 2! I know, it's crazy.

Let that be an indicator to you, this event is fun. There is a sign up deadline of June 1,

but if I were you and I just might be, I would either sign up now, or come Thursday and sign up.

This is royally nutz.

and Carole, what the heck?

2glass, we need you.

Kneisl, are you onboard? Angie, Pepper Anne? Texas?

Here are the details and some downright convincing propaganda

Friday, July 29-july 31,
Be a part of the St. Andrews WOTE Dragon Boat Race Team! Once again, Grand Marais, MN and the shores of Lake Superior will be the stage for the Dragon Boat Festival. No paddling or parade experience needed. We will camp in the Municipal Campground. An info/planning meeting for all interested women: Thurs. April 28th 7pm St. Andrew's Fireside Lounge. Your fee of $125 reserves your spot in the boat.
Click here to register.

Here are some comments from last year

What a strong, crazy, fun bunch of women! The positive energy was vibrant, making me wish we could do this every month...if only MN winters didn't last so long and families weren't such a strong draw. Many thanks for all the love and good times. Great name for us Mary, "Girls with the Dragon Tattoos", very edgy!

I wanted to express my thanks for the absolutely WONderful weekend I had with you all. You were warm and inviting and darn fun to play with! And let me reiterate others' expressed sentiments when I say that I came out of this weekend having a new sense of personal accomplishment, as well as the enjoyment of sharing that communal experience with such great women. And yes, I'm wearing my tattoo proudly for all to see (and ask me about)!!
I do have a lot of photos and will forward some to you as I get them downloaded.
Thank you all again. I loved it

Thanks Lisa and all else, everyone had their place in making for a great time in the wonderous north. We are already talking about joining in again next year! "Sweet Pea"

Hey, Girls with the Dragon Tatoos- It was great to be paddlin' with you all up in the land we love! THANK YOU, organizers and cooks! Has the popcorn salad recipe been posted?
Peace, Mary Straiton
I wanted to tell you that all of my bookclub/college friends told me - multiple times - how much they loved being a part of Women on the Edge. They were thrilled to meet so many women in an atmosphere of such openness and acceptance.

"Also, so rejuvenating to be out with such lovely surroundings. Not to mention the extraordinary company. Looking forward to next year." - Sweet Pea

"As much as I hate using psycho-babble buzzwords, I came away from this experience feeling quite 'empowered' as a woman, and as an individual that can accomplish something difficult if I really try hard (and don't pass out)." - Jan

Tomorrow

2011-04-22T09:07:00.002-05:00

Come on up to the Great Hall at St. Andrew's. Troy from Gateway Cycle will give us a little info on preparing our bikes for spring riding and then we ride. Meet up at 9 am.

Lisa

Paddles Update

2011-04-19T21:28:00.002-05:00

Ok, Boat number one is full. On to Boat number 2. I would suggest to hurry up and decide. It's a boatload of fun you know.

DRAGONBOAT DATES UPDATE

2011-04-13T18:55:00.002-05:00

Hey Paddlers! It has come to our attention that in a few places (the registration page, the brochure) we put in the wrong dates for this trip so here it is: Women on the Edge Dragonboat team weekend is: Fri. July 29-Sun July 31 The boat is now more than 1/2 full--don't miss out!!!!!

Did I Mention?

2011-04-11T21:41:00.000-05:00

The Dragon Boat is half full, but the team won't be complete until YOU sign up! For once, put your event on the calendar in ink, let everything else fall around it.click here, it's easy. Click here.

Women on the Ledge- Basic Outdoor Rock-climbing

2011-04-01T09:00:00.000-05:00

Sunday, May 1 10:30 a.m.- 6:00 p.m.
$55
Climb into summer with an introductory rock climbing lesson at Taylor’s Falls. We will meet at St. Andrew’s and car pool to this destination climbing location on the beautiful St. Croix. Bring a lunch. All safety equipment and expert instruction will be provided by Vertical Endeavors. Please click here to register before April 20.

WoWie

2011-03-31T20:36:00.000-05:00

There are nine in the boat so far! Don't miss the boat, sign up at this link. On the registration form you may see some wrong dates, please disregard those. The event date is..July 30th- Aug 1.

North Shore Dragon Boat Festival

2011-03-15T09:25:00.002-05:00

Friday, July 30 – Sunday, Aug 1,
Be a part of the St. Andrews WOTE Dragon Boat Race Team! Once again, Grand Marais, MN and the shores of Lake Superior will be the stage for the Dragon Boat Festival. No paddling or parade experience needed. We will camp in the Municipal Campground. An info/planning meeting for all interested women: Thurs. April 28th 7pm St. Andrew's Fireside Lounge. Your fee of $125 reserves your spot in the boat.
Click here to register.

Here are some comments from last year

What a strong, crazy, fun bunch of women! The positive energy was vibrant, making me wish we could do this every month...if only MN winters didn't last so long and families weren't such a strong draw. Many thanks for all the love and good times. Great name for us Mary, "Girls with the Dragon Tattoos", very edgy!

I wanted to express my thanks for the absolutely WONderful weekend I had with you all. You were warm and inviting and darn fun to play with! And let me reiterate others' expressed sentiments when I say that I came out of this weekend having a new sense of personal accomplishment, as well as the enjoyment of sharing that communal experience with such great women. And yes, I'm wearing my tattoo proudly for all to see (and ask me about)!!
I do have a lot of photos and will forward some to you as I get them downloaded.
Thank you all again. I loved it

Thanks Lisa and all else, everyone had their place in making for a great time in the wonderous north. We are already talking about joining in again next year! "Sweet Pea"

Hey, Girls with the Dragon Tatoos- It was great to be paddlin' with you all up in the land we love! THANK YOU, organizers and cooks! Has the popcorn salad recipe been posted?
Peace, Mary Straiton
I wanted to tell you that all of my bookclub/college friends told me - multiple times - how much they loved being a part of Women on the Edge. They were thrilled to meet so many women in an atmosphere of such openness and acceptance.

"Also, so rejuvenating to be out with such lovely surroundings. Not to mention the extraordinary company. Looking forward to next year." - Sweet Pea

"As much as I hate using psycho-babble buzzwords, I came away from this experience feeling quite 'empowered' as a woman, and as an individual that can accomplish something difficult if I really try hard (and don't pass out)." - Jan

Training/How-To : New Balance - StumbleUpon

2011-03-12T15:33:00.000-06:00

Training/How-To : New Balance - StumbleUpon

Dragon Boat Fever!!

2011-03-11T18:17:00.003-06:00

It's starting to build!
Once again, Women on the Edge will be participating in the North Shore Dragon Boat Festival in Grand Marais, MN July 29-31.

Online registration is open click here

We'd love to fill two boats again and registering early will assure your place in one!
First meeting for this fun event will be Thurs. April 28th 7pm.

More info. to come!
Don't miss the boat!

Carrin, Lisa, Karen

Sacred ritual

2011-03-04T04:52:00.000-06:00

Sacred ritual

Women on Wheels! Bike Clinic and Ride

2011-03-01T08:49:00.000-06:00

Saturday, April 23, 9:00 a.m.
Learn basic bike maintenance for Troy of Gateway Cycle. He will show us how to get our bikes ready for spring riding and how to change a flat tire! I hope I never use that skill, but a gal should be prepared. Then, We will ride!

Running Values

2011-02-16T20:50:00.002-06:00

By Our Readers on February 15, 2011 | Ann Mehl, Running

Inspiration for marathoners and those just beginning
from Ann Mehl, annmehl.com

Over the span of 15 years, I have run more than 40 marathons – NYC, Boston, Chicago, Marine Corps (my favorite), the Washington, D.C., Berlin, Stockholm, Quebec City, St. Louis, God’s Country Marathon in Pennsylvania, the New Jersey Shore and the Rock ‘n’ Roll Marathon in San Diego, to name but a few.

Running grants me confidence and a positive outlook on everything. Even on my worst days, I gain inner strength and personal satisfaction simply from trying. Any single marathon is a triumph. Each time I line up for a new race, I feel nervous. But it is the feeling of accomplishment that I receive after having completed the event that keeps me coming back for more. Whatever your own personal marathon, I believe that the same mind-set I use in prepping for long-distance-running events may speak to you as well. These are not rules, but more a set of values to keep in mind when you’re setting out to accomplish any worthwhile goal.

Stretch. Not much happens of any significance when we’re in our comfort zone. Had I not dared to stretch myself beyond the one-mile distance, I may have never known my full potential. I ran my first marathon in Boston in 1993 to prove to myself that I am strong and capable. The marathon taught me that I could achieve anything when I put my heart and mind into something. Stretch yourself. Surprise yourself. Do one thing each day that scares you.
Make the time. Whether you want to run a marathon or write a book, it all begins with carving out the necessary time. We all have the same 24 hours in a day. So why do some people seem to do accomplish so much more? They do it by giving themselves the time. Create a short, achievable list of priorities, and then make the time.
Pay attention to the inner voice. It is your constant traveling companion, and it can be your greatest friend or worst enemy. Snag any limiting voice when it surfaces, and identify that it is your fear talking. Learn to identify negative self-talk patterns and replace them with more constructive inner dialogue. Whether you think you can or you think you can’t, either way you are usually right, to paraphrase Henry Ford.
Just show up. According to Woody Allen, 80 percent of success is just showing up. That means you can’t run a race if you don’t make it to the start line. Don’t be too easily swayed by your moods. Even when you don’t initially feel like doing something, just taking the very first step will usually help you get in (and stay in) the mood.
Tune out the noise. Modern living is full of noise – literally and figuratively. Too much of it, and it can distract you from what you need to accomplish. Learn to quiet down your internal and external environment to the point where you can truly hear yourself. It will help you to stay focused and conserve precious energy.
Take in the view. When I am running, I often have to remind myself to take in the view. A new city, changing seasons – there’s a lot to enjoy. Doing this helps me to stay in the moment and distracts me from whatever temporary discomfort I may feel. It also provides an energy booster when I look up and smile or talk to someone. Same as in life, as in running. As the saying goes, life is a journey, not a destination.
Sometimes you’ll stumble. False starts are central to the process of running. So you miss a day’s training or you go nuts on dessert. Big deal! Start over again tomorrow. Perfectionism only causes stress and anxiety and will eventually lead to burnout.
Buddy up. No man is an island, as John Donne once noted. Develop and nurture a healthy network of friends and partners who will support you in your endeavors. You will need them when the going gets tough. I believe that we carry one another in spirit. When someone falls down, go back and help them up. You may be able to do it all on your own, but you don’t have to. Model yourself after others if it will help you to move forward.
Laugh. Don’t take life, running, or yourself too seriously. And there’s a lot to laugh at (especially in the marathon!). One good belly laugh a day is essential for optimal mental and physical health.
Run your own race. Ultimately, only you decide how you will run the race. Nobody else can run it for you. Learn to listen to and trust your own intuition. You may take the counsel of those you trust, but don’t be afraid to disregard it if you feel you know better. Dare to listen to the beat of your own drummer. Nobody knows you better than you do.

Submitted by Ann Mehl. Ann is a certified Life & Career Coach through the Life Purpose Institute and Martha Beck’s NorthStar program. Learn more about Ann at

www.annmehl.com or contact her at ann.mehl@gmail.com for a free consultation

Friends of WI Interstate State Park

2011-02-09T20:42:00.000-06:00

This looks like fun!

Candlelight Night at the park is this Saturday, February 12 from 6:00-9:00PM. You can ski, snowshoe, or walk on trails by candlelight. Chili, Hot Dogs & Refreshments will be available at the Ice Age Center

Women on the Edge Sea Kayak, White Water Raft and Hiking Adventure

2011-02-01T09:11:00.000-06:00

Friday, June 3, 5 p.m. – Sunday, June 5, 5 p.m.
$160
We’ll arrive at Jay Cooke State Park on Friday evening, settle into camper cabins and take a expedition of our beautiful surroundings. On Saturday we experience the adrenaline rush of whitewater rafting. Don't miss the opportunity to enjoy a thrilling adventure on this remote, scenic, whitewater stretch of the St. Louis River. Later we will hike the Jay Cooke park trails which link up to the Willard Munger State Trail, checkout the wild flowers and experience the swinging suspension bridge high above the raging St. Louis River, with options to visit the historic cemetery and the gorge at Thomson Dam. We’ll worship under the stars Saturday evening. Sunday we will embark on a flat-water sea kayaking adventure on pristine Lake Carlton. A non refundable deposit of $50 is due upon registration, balance of $110 is due by May 7, 2011. Click here to register. Call Carrin Mahmood at 651-762-9119 for more information

2011-01-25T15:37:00.002-06:00

Lisa,

Thank you so much for organizing this trip. I am so glad I was able to be a part of it. I feel both renewed and empowered by the experience. It was a blast!

Please pass along my thanks to Carin and Karen. The three of you make a wonderful team. I look forward to joining you on future adventures!

Sincerely,

Natalie Hoppe

Couch to 5k will follow this program

2011-01-24T18:22:00.002-06:00

Check it out, click here

Thank you YMCA Camp Menogyn

2011-01-24T17:56:00.000-06:00

We had a fabulous time.

2011-01-15T12:03:00.001-06:00

Perfect conditions for Women on the Edge dogsled ski and snowshoe trip!

Kindred sisterhood: On the Edge everyday

2011-01-15T11:47:00.002-06:00

I work out at my local "Y" on a regular basis and happen to go at a time of day when many of the "Silver Sneakers" members are there. These older folks are there faithfully and usually stay after their exercise time is through for some camaraderie and conversation around the tables in the Commons area. More often than not, their discussions are peppered with laughter.

In the locker room with the older women, many in their 70's and 80's, I'm always struck by their resilience and tenacity. Those old bodies show a history, tell the stories of lives that haven't always been easy. There are missing breasts, scars from surgeries, canes, walkers, glasses, gnarled joints and yet, here they are. They bolster each other, listen, share stories. They keep showing up, keep laughing, keep moving forward.

These are true "women on the edge", in fact we all are! Life is tough and no one is given a free pass to avoid what is unpleasant or difficult, but what God has given us are the gifts of compassion for others and an amazing strength of spirit. Exercising those gifts, along with a healthy dose of laughter, can do wonders to help ourselves and each other keep on moving down this path of life.

Karen Anderson

2011-01-05T07:22:00.002-06:00

PLAY IN THE SNOW!!!

C'mon, you know you want to! Join us on Jan. 20th at Camp Menogyn on the Gunflint Trail for a weekend of good company, hearty food, lovely (indoor) accomodations and a wonderland of snow. You'll feel your senses wake up and come alive again!! This is your year--sign up now!

Still Trying to shred

2011-01-03T16:04:00.000-06:00

We are cancelling the Jan. 9th "Women on the Edge" snowboard event due to lack of participation for the 9th, but I found a new, even better, DEAL on Trollhaugen's website (see below for details). I think two or three women from St. Andrew's might go on 1/16. If you've ever thought about giving snowboarding a try, this is a super cheap way to try it and it would be fun to do with a group of WOMEN. (And if you're worried about your wrists, wear wrist-guards. I do! Same ones you use for roller-blading.)

Link: http://www.trollhaugen.com/news.php?nID=60 $15 for Lift, Lesson, and Rental - By reservation only, Limited Space Available! Ages 10+. Lift Ticket becomes valid after lesson completion. All those who complete the session will receive a voucher for a lift ticket, lesson, and rental for only $25. This program is for beginners only.

What a bargain! (Lift ticket alone normally costs $41.) I can't go 1/8 or 1/29, but I will definitely be at Trollhaugen on 1/16. This is filling up fast, even since just this morning. Please pre-register yourself with Trollhaugen's website or phone # (not thru me or St. Andrew's) and let me know you're going.

Michelle

Introduction to Snowboarding

2010-12-31T17:41:00.000-06:00

Sunday, Jan. 9, 9:30 a.m. – 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! 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!
Sign up by Sunday! ok??!

Happy New Year!

2010-12-29T17:12:00.001-06:00

“We will open the book. Its pages are blank. We are going to put words on them ourselves. The book is called Opportunity and its first chapter is New Year's Day. ” —Edith Lovejoy Pierce
There is still room for you on the Dogsled trip, Jan 20-23!

The Sisterhood of the Shrinking Pants

2010-12-26T08:30:00.001-06:00

February 13 and beyond……
Join this "Couch to 5K" program, we will walk, jog, trot, run and gradually transform ourselves from couch potatoes to runners. Our goal is to run a 5K race at the end of just two months. We'll start the program together February 13th and end with the "Cemstone Run for Others" 5K on April 16, 2011. Contact Michelle Houle for encouragement at gmhoule@gmail.com
Click here to register for the trainng and/or the 5K

2010-12-26T07:32:00.000-06:00

"To see a wren in a bush, call it "wren," and go on walking is to have (self-importantly) seen nothing. To see a bird and stop, watch, feel, forget yourself for a moment, be in the bushy shadows, maybe then feel "wren"-- that is to have joined in a larger moment with the world." -- Gary Snyder, Language Goes Two Ways, 1995.

Sharpen Your Senses

2010-12-25T10:16:00.000-06:00

...from Yoga Journal

When we spend time in the wilderness, it can be tempting to focus our awareness on "doing" something: taking pictures; getting a certain amount of physical exercise; traveling from point A to point B; naming all the species of birds we encounter. While nature photography is a lovely craft, and we need to exercise for good health, and understanding what lives in our environment is a valid part of deepening our relationship with the land, these activities can separate us from a more intimate experience of the natural world. It is all too easy to forget to actually experience with all our senses that which we are busily capturing and identifying.

The natural world invites us out of our world of fixed concepts and into a closer proximity with reality—what Buddhist teachings call "nonconceptual awareness." Experiencing the natural world with nonconceptual awareness means that, rather than seeing a small black bird and thinking, "That's a starling, a nonnative bird introduced from England several centuries ago," we stop and see each particular bird's incandescent blue-black velvet feathers, piercing amber eyes, and delicate, wiry feet. Instead of encountering the world through a filter of ideas, memories, and labels, we connect deeply with the unfiltered and vital pulse of life in that moment.

If we're not mindful, intellectual knowledge can easily cloud our direct experience. When we're guided through life solely by our intellect, by our ideas of what we know, we're robbed of a sense of discovery. A nonconceptual awareness allows us to approach each moment as fresh and new. A depth of wisdom can arise from such immediacy, and lead to greater wonder about the mysteriousness of life; we may realize just how little we can ever know

Travel and Peace

2010-12-16T17:04:00.000-06:00

Unscheduled Events

2010-12-15T16:18:00.000-06:00

from Spirituality and Health Magazine

We feel so good when we make plans and put our lives in order – it may even look as though we’re actually going to get everything done on time! But often life has other plans for us. For example, as many of you know, I had every intention of being in shape to participate in a triathlon in "August 2011". I was well into a good workout routine when I took a fall and dislocated my hip. After a month, I’ve just barely begun to be able to work out for a couple of minutes at a time, and now, with all the snow and ice, I feel a bit uneasy even going outside my front door.

The church I attend presented their children's Christmas program on Sunday; they’ve been practicing for weeks, and though I’d been really looking forward to it, I ended up in the ranks of those who couldn’t get there due to the blizzard - the snow plows hadn’t made it to our neck of the woods because the main roads needed so much attention.

Instead of getting upset, I decided I could take advantage of the situation by staying at home and making progress on a complicated computer class I’m taking – then the power went out at least ten times. Each time, the modem and router had to reset themselves and I had to figure out how to get back into the program. I had once told our minister that anyone who thinks that working on a computer isn’t a spiritual practice hasn’t had to do it very much! Part way through the day, however, I decided that I wouldn’t let myself get terribly frustrated or angry, but would enjoy the many breaks as an opportunity to cook, check on the weather, or read. I refused to give up my joy, and specifically chose to practice patience.

Our lives seldom follow the schedule we lay out, and this gives us the chance to understand ourselves better and to see exactly how our spiritual practices are carrying over into life’s unscheduled, and sometimes unwanted, events. Here’s a great suggestion from the book Impermanence: Embracing Change (Snow Lion Publications, 2008): “No matter what you are doing. . . the most important thing is what your attitude is towards what you are doing. So whatever you do, offer that to the universe so that becomes the universe.”

The lights just went off again! It’s nighttime and totally dark…but we’ve got flashlights! What an adventure! Whatever your weather, whatever your situation, whatever unscheduled events take place today that stretch your spiritual muscles, have some fun watching your reactions and adjustments!

I send you blessings.

Rev. Linda L Wilson, BS, MA, D.Div, is an ordained minister and holistic health practitioner. She is an inspirational speaker, seminar and workshop leader, and writer who enjoys performing weddings and ceremonies of union.

2010-12-14T21:51:00.001-06:00

"May today there be peace within. May you trust that you are exactly where you are meant to be. May you not forget the infinite possibilities that are born of faith in yourself and others. May you use the gifts that you have received, and pass on the love that has been given to you. May you be content with yourself just the way you are. Let this knowledge settle into your bones, and allow your soul the freedom to sing, dance, praise and love. It is there for each and every one of us."

- Snowshoe for a Cause

2010-12-14T20:57:00.000-06:00

- Snowshoe for a Cause

Pearls Lend Panache to Powder Days and Training Trips | The Vertical Woman: The Magazine for the Woman Alpinist

2010-12-11T08:04:00.001-06:00

From Vertical Woman Magazine

Lately, in the backcountry, I’ve been wearing pearls. Every day.

They’re a slender string of freshwater, cultured pearls given out as part of a goodie bag at the Salt Lake City Lupus Walk. You heard that right: the Lupus Walk gave out free pearl necklaces. Real pearls.

Confused? I, too, thought it was a little ridiculous, and in equal jest began to wear them constantly. This was in May, right before the start of my 2009 Outward Bound season.

I forgot to take them off before a training trip, and found myself trudging through snow, ice axe in hand… and pearls swinging from my neck. That evening I sat in my snow shelter cooking curried quinoa over a whisperlite, pearls peeking out of my down jacket. The juxtaposition was remarkable.

I felt that I had finally found my particular place as a woman in this world. It was reconciliation between my sparkly dresses and my Gore-Tex, my time spent in dance clubs and in crampons.

This first trip in those pearls was so entertaining to me that I had to make it into a consistent statement. I have since spent over 150 days in the field wearing my pearls. I wear them when I instruct as well as on my personal climbing and skiing trips.

I call them my “send hard” pearls, and treat them with as much care as I treat my skis (That is to say, I use them hard). One night this summer they broke in my mega-mid and shiny pearls danced in the folds of my sleeping bag. Terrified, I spent hours picking out each pearl by headlamp and threading them back on the line. I tied a bowline on the clasp and haven’t had any problems since.

Pearls and Peaks: Julie Weis and a friend in the North Cascades

Julie Weis is a skier and climber who has instructed for the Outward Bound School in Mazama, Wasington since 2008. In her years as an instructor, Julie has found the way to keep it classy in the backcountry. This story is about a small necklace that reminds her of her femininity and grace, even when she hasn’t showered in two weeks. Julie currently lives in Seattle and spends her time exploring the Cascades.

Would you be afraid? A surprising answer. Well, surprising and refreshing to me.

2010-12-04T16:37:00.002-06:00

This woman has been biking solo for 18 months and finds being a woman is very helpful. Here’s part of her response when asked, “Is it safe to be packing estrogen?”

“It’s the estrogen you see; a masterful diva of devotion, distraction and 24 hour road side assistance on a bicycle tour of foreign lands. The estrogen extravaganza, a festival of aid in which the men of the world bolt forward unsolicited with thoughtful assistance and not usually needed helpful action…Being a woman is the most useful of the safety plans and survival tools that I pack daily in my panniers/bicycle bag as I cycle around the world. A tool that so quickly melts all language barriers that at times I wonder why there is such an exaggerated stereotype of women travelling solo as unsafe especially if they are travelling independently by bicycle.”

Read here whole story at the link.

In Celebration of Older Chicks

2010-11-29T19:21:00.002-06:00

Posted on September 23, 2010 by Dara Miles

“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
.

Let's Go!

2010-11-28T18:57:00.000-06:00

note the outfit about half way through.

Team LUNA Chix | Local Teams

2010-11-22T16:15:00.000-06:00

Team LUNA Chix | Local Teams

Brave Heart

2010-11-21T21:31:00.000-06:00

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.

Winter 2011 Women's Adventure Magazine

2010-11-18T20:53:00.001-06:00

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.

From a GLOW gal at Trinity

2010-11-16T07:20:00.000-06:00

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

Women on the Shred- Snowboarding!

2010-11-14T08:28:00.002-06:00

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!!

People are AWESOME!

2010-11-10T10:46:00.001-06:00

The Beautiful Cup @ Backpacking Light

2010-10-31T07:11:00.000-05:00

The Beautiful Cup @ Backpacking Light

Tim Ferriss: Smash fear, learn anything | Video on TED.com

2010-10-30T22:07:00.001-05:00

Tim Ferriss: Smash fear, learn anything | Video on TED.com

Judge Not, or in other words, What I Learned When I Was Hanging From a Rock

2010-10-27T08:36:00.001-05:00

from
http://womeninthescriptures.blogspot.com
Thanks and credit to the author, this is really great.

On Friday my husband and I broke out our rock climbing equipment and took my sister-in-law rock climbing up the canyon by our house. It had been several years since I'd been rock climbing (I've been pregnant for the last few summers) and it felt so good to be back on the rocks. I love it. I am always amazed at how much "brain work" rock climbing requires. It really forces you to learn your body, unify your mind with your body and make hard choices quickly. Even though it looks physically hard it is really more of a mental game than it is a physical one. Rock climbing has taught me some important eternal lessons over the years and Friday was no exception.

We were climbing a fairly difficult rock but it didn't really look all that hard until you were the one actually climbing it. When I was the one belaying it seemed so obvious to me what route the climber should take, where they should put their hands and feet, and how they should get out of hard situations. I found myself yelling advice to the climber and wondering why they were having such a hard time. Yet as soon as I clipped in and approached the wall it was like I was facing a completely different rock than I'd been watching the others climb. It was a lot steeper, smoother, and higher than it had appeared from below.

I learned an important lesson when I watched my husband climb a portion of the rock that I had really, really struggled with. He did it very quickly and with little trouble. He found hand holds that I hadn't even seen. I wondered why he seemed to be able to do it so much better than I had. I felt a little embarrassed that I had struggled so much.

The next time I climbed I followed the same route that he had taken and when I got to the hard part I asked him where the hand hold was that he had used. He pointed it out and I saw that it was at least four feet above my head. I don't have the long arms and legs that my husband does (I am quite a bit shorter than him) and I knew that even if I was to stretch my body to its limit there was no way I would EVER be able to reach the same spot he had so easily reached. I would have to find a different way to get up the route.

When I got down from the climb I realized that even though I was climbing the same rock, using the same rope, and taking the same route as the others-- my climbs were totally different than theirs. My body was different, my flexibility was different, my experience was different, the connection between my mind and body was different, my fears were different and my weakness were different. I saw that there was NO possible way that I could judge another's performance based on my own experience-- even though it seemed like it should be very similar. I realized that any "coaching" or advice I could give from the bottom would be really subjective and that I shouldn't judge the choices they made or the route they went because I wasn't the one climbing. They would make different choices than I did and would have a different experience than I did because--- they were different than me.

I think I probably should have learned this lesson much earlier in my adult life, it would have saved me a lot of grief, but it has now been impressed upon my soul in a powerful way. I see now how impossible it is for me to make judgments about why people make the choices they do or why they are the way they are. I don't have enough information. My own experience, even though it seems similar, is not enough to base the judgment off of because I am a different person-- a different soul-- with different talents, abilities, and experiences. I think I now understand much better what President Thomas S. Monson said in his recent comments to the Relief Society,

“None of us is perfect. I know of no one who would profess to be so. And yet for some reason, despite our own imperfections, we have a tendency to point out those of others. We make judgments concerning their actions or inactions. There is really no way we can know the heart, the intentions, or the circumstances of someone who might say or do something we find reason to criticize. Thus the commandment: “Judge not.”… Mother Teresa, a Catholic nun who worked among the poor in India most of her life, spoke this profound truth: “If you judge people, you have no time to love them.”… I consider charity—or “the pure love of Christ”—to be the opposite of criticism and judging… charity that manifests itself when we are tolerant of others and lenient toward their actions, the kind of charity that forgives, the kind of charity that is patient… It is accepting weaknesses and shortcomings. It is accepting people as they truly are. It is looking beyond physical appearances to attributes that will not dim through time. It is resisting the impulse to categorize others.”
Judging is something I struggle with (don't most of us?) and I hope that I will be able to apply the lesson God taught me this weekend to my daily life. I've learned that I can do everything I can to help make sure other climbers are warned, safe, supported, loved and encouraged--if they ask for help I can give it-- but I can't judge their choices. I have my own climb to worry about.

2010-10-23T19:44:00.001-05:00

http://www.turkeyday-5k.com.prod.ngin.com/ Click this link for more info.

Climbing Devil's Tower- local gals, might look familiar

2010-10-19T21:55:00.001-05:00

Bloomington REI — Dressing for the Outdoors in Winter - Women's Workshop

2010-10-11T07:22:00.001-05:00

Date: 11/11/2010
Event Location: Bloomington REI
Event Fee: Free
Time: 7:00 p.m. - 8:30 p.m. (CST)
Presenter: Julie Hudetz from W.L. Gore

Description: In this free one-hour workshop, presented by professional outdoor athlete Julie Hudetz and brought to you by W.L. Gore the makers of GORE-TEX and WINDSTOPPER fabrics, you'll experience the latest in comfort science through hands-on demonstrations and learn how to dress to stay dry and comfortable for all your winter pursuits. Try on the latest women's outdoor gear and find out how top brands are incorporating activity-specific design and technology created for women to enhance performance. Plus, learn advanced layering tips and tricks to stay comfortable outside no matter what Mother Nature throws at you. Whether you are looking to bike, hike, or enjoy your favorite winter sports, grab a friend and join us for this fun and informative workshop so you can stay fit and enjoy outdoor adventures all season long. Don't miss the workshop raffle for a chance to win great gear from our premier partner brands.
Click here to go to the registration page

The Career Networking Group presents...

2010-09-16T09:46:00.002-05:00

Eric Evens: A Journey of False Summits
Thursday, October 7th @ 6:30 pm
Room 201 Santuary Building
St. Andrew's Lutheran Church in Mahtomedi

Eric is the founder and president of Peak Learning Companies Inc. He is a dynamic inspirational speaker who is a certified life coach and corporate team building facilitator. He also guides mountain climbing, rock and ice climbing and kayaking trips.

Eric believes that if you inspire the heart, the hands and feet will follow.

In this workshop participants will learn 5 values to find success in life and walk away inspired.

2010-09-12T21:06:00.001-05:00

Has anyone heard of Yoga ? LOL -- Beth Shaw of YogaFit is giving away a few FREE Yoga Training DVD Downloads. These are full DVD's and nobody even asked me to buy anything. I think someone forgot... LOL

P.S. The free downloads are kinda hidden look on the left for "Free Yoga Training"

Come see us at Rally Day Sunday!

2010-09-11T15:29:00.003-05:00

and find out about all the fun things we have planned this year!

2010-08-31T16:38:00.000-05:00

New Photos added to slideshow

2010-08-30T09:44:00.002-05:00

Take another look. I have added the photos contributed by Dick Hess, father of Patty and Anne, but not Pattianne.

106 women jump right in to help victims of abuse

2010-08-29T21:05:00.002-05:00

Personally I would jump from a perfectly good airplane, but these women did, they jumped clean off the Edge. Aging but Dangerous!!

Star Tribune
The sky above Baldwin, Wis., was filled with women Saturday.

As the centerpiece of a fundraiser, 106 women between the ages of 50 and 80 took parachute jumps to demonstrate, in the organizers' words, that "women can do anything they put their minds to."

The mass jump was organized by Aging But Dangerous, a Minneapolis-based advocacy group for women.

Proceeds from Saturday's event will be donated to Cornerstone, a Bloomington-based group that helps abused women. The amount raised wasn't certain Saturday afternoon, spokesman Marty Keller said.

Organizers billed the jump as a world record after contacting Guinness World Records and determining that a mass skydive by women hadn't been designated as a record category, he said
.

Mary Jackson says...

2010-08-29T15:38:00.000-05:00

I hope you are having a great summer! I wanted to share an excellent opportunity to bike and learn more about fixing a flat, biking in traffic, and finding scenic places to tour in Minneapolis!

You are invited to the Ladies Night Bike Clinic, this Tuesday, August 31 at 6 PM. This is free, NO CHARGE, a lot of fun AND the first twenty registered participants will receive a related bike tool or accessory.

More information below and site to register ...

Ladies Night Bike Clinic and Ride
Tuesday evening, 6-8 pm, 8/31
Location: Meet at Downtown Minneapolis YWCA (1130 Nicollet Mall)
Bring: Your bike, helmet, bike lights, and your questions!

Register: http://www.bikewalktwincities.org/ambassadors/event-registration

What: Fix your own flat and explore northeast by bike: 8.5 miles ... Build your traffic skills by riding to Nicollet Island, Boom Island Park, the Northeast Arts District, Central Avenue, and back to downtown.

I hope to see you there!

Muddy Buddy

2010-08-19T15:27:00.002-05:00

I ran this race in Boulder 2 years ago. It was a blast. I couldn't quite get anyone to do it with me this year. Oh well maybe next year. It is this Sunday Aug 22 at Afton Alps at 8 am. Maybe you should go check it out and see if you would like to do it next year!

As Long as it Works

2010-08-18T21:43:00.001-05:00

Many of us wonder how we’ve managed to get so stuck in our spiritual lives – how we just don’t feel as though we’re making any progress, even though we’ve tried to figure out what the blockages are, what particular aspect of our personal history we haven’t healed yet, who we may not have forgiven, or what deep, dark secret may still be hidden in our psyche. And while any one of those could be the reason we’re stuck, I’d like to suggest that there may be another, simpler reason: what we have, or what we are doing, still works for us!

Booth quotes a great observation on how long we are likely to remain in one of the stages by integral philosopher Ken Wilber: “We remain in each stage for however long it works for us – whether a few years, a few decades, or an entire lifetime. We usually work very hard to defend and justify where we are as the 'right' place and will criticize others who are at different stages.” (Unfinished Evolution, pg. 22)

We all know people who bemoan their lack of spiritual growth or progress, but who don’t seem to be interested in the discipline or consistency it would take for them to move forward. At times, we may find ourselves in this same position. But it doesn’t just happen in our spiritual lives - the same apparent inability to move on can be found in people who are in abusive relationships, or need to make a career change, or who need to make lifestyle changes for the sake of their health. Again Booth quotes Wilber (pg. 23) “…once in a great while, if we’re lucky, we run across new information or find ourselves in a new situation, or experience something that our normal way of seeing the world cannot accommodate, and we grow, often in spite of ourselves.”

I would encourage you to look at any new or

unexpected situations that may appear in your life at this time, even if they are uncomfortable, as grand opportunities to take a leap forward, even though your new landing-place might not yet be clear to you. It may be that where you are, or what you are doing, no longer works for you, and you’re about to be led to a new level of experience – one that you may have feared, and yet, one to which you’ve longed to transition!

You have nothing to fear; a door of opportunity has been placed before you. Center yourself, go to that place of peace within, and walk through the door knowing that you will find what you need to keep moving.

Next week, we’ll take a look at what that may mean for you. Blessings!

Rev. Linda L Wilson, BS, MA, D.Div, is an ordained minister and holistic health practitioner. She is an inspirational speaker, seminar and workshop leader, and writer who enjoys volunteering with Habitat for Humanity and performing weddings and ceremonies of union.

Although we work and evolve through some great changes, sometime transformations happen instantaneously and for reasons no one yet understands. Read more about these Quantum Changes.

Who wants to go?

2010-08-13T21:23:00.001-05:00

EVENT DETAILS

When: Saturday, August 21, 2010

Registration begins April 1, 2010

The NightOwl Classic is a non-competitive bike ride along the Mississippi River at dusk. The ride will start and finish at historic St. Anthony Main and tour some of the Twin Cities’ most well known landmarks along the river, all with the back drop of the twinkling skyline.

Three ride flights are offered with two start times:
A 3.5 mile "Mini-Hoot" at 7:00 pm
An 8.5-mile "Family Flight" at 7:30pm - – we encourage children, families and less experienced riders to take the 8.5 mile ride.
A 16.5-mile “Hoot Loop” at 7:30pm - – a longer rider for more experienced and city curious riders.

The parkways will be closed for riders, with the entire course re-opening to traffic at 10:00pm.

Adding frivolity to this mid-summer night ride:
• Pre-ride Festivities
• Music
• Food
• Prizes
• Trick Your Ride – spiff up your bike with streamers and crepe paper or build a whole new bike.There will be a prize for the best tricked out bike!
• Bike Safety Check – don’t let your bike ruin your ride. Tire and brake checks and helmet checks courtesy of area bike shops.
• Costume Contest – Where a costume and win a prize!
• Featured Pit Stops
• Post-ride specials at area restaurants

http://www.nightowlclassic.com/eventdetails.html

Liz's Popcorn Salad

2010-08-07T21:41:00.000-05:00

Popcorn Salad (for 20 people)

6.5 oz. bag Old Dutch Popcorn- air popped
2 c. chopped water chestnuts
1/2 c. chopped green onion
2 c. celery chopped

1 lb. bacon
2 c. shredded cheddar

Dressing:
2 c. mayo
2/3 c. sugar
3 TBSP white vinegar

Enjoy on the shores of Lake Superior with a bunch of spectacular women!

Gratitude

2010-08-04T16:25:00.002-05:00

Thanks Lisa and all else, everyone had their place in making for a great time in the wonderous north. We are already talking about joining in again next year! "Sweet Pea"

Hey, Girls with the Dragon Tatoos- It was great to be paddlin' with you all up in the land we love! THANK YOU, organizers and cooks! Has the popcorn salad recipe been posted?
Peace, Mary Straiton

I wanted to tell you that all of my bookclub/college friends told me - multiple times - how much they loved being a part of Women on the Edge. They were thrilled to meet so many women in an atmosphere of such openness and acceptance.

"Also, so rejuvenating to be out with such lovely surroundings. Not to mention the extraordinary company. Looking forward to next year." - Sweet Pea

"As much as I hate using psycho-babble buzzwords, I came away from this experience feeling quite 'empowered' as a woman, and as an individual that can accomplish something difficult if I really try hard (and don't pass out)." - Jan

What a strong, crazy, fun bunch of women! The positive energy was vibrant, making me wish we could do this every month...if only MN winters didn't last so long and families weren't such a strong draw. Many thanks for all the love and good times. Great name for us Mary, "Girls with the Dragon Tattoos", very edgy!

Hugs to All, Tamara

Greetings to you all!

I wanted to express my thanks for the absolutely WONderful weekend I had with you all. You were warm and inviting and darn fun to play with! And let me reiterate others' expressed sentiments when I say that I came out of this weekend having a new sense of personal accomplishment, as well as the enjoyment of sharing that communal experience with such great women. And yes, I'm wearing my tattoo proudly for all to see (and ask me about)!!

I do have a lot of photos and will forward some to you as I get them downloaded.

Thank you all again. I loved it.

Jan Shivers

(One of Mary Hosier's "girls")

2010-08-02T17:52:00.001-05:00

Megan and I had a great time with the Women on the Edge last weekend. What a great group of friends. We're heading home, tired and dirty but so in love with the north woods. God has blessed us in so many beautiful ways.
Peace and love,
Suzanne

Home Again

2010-08-02T11:33:00.002-05:00

Wilted houseplants.

No margarine. (Or bananas. Or tomatoes.)

Two tablespoons of milk in the bottom of its massive jug.

Dirty spaghetti bolognaise pots in the sink.

Empty toilet paper roll in the master bathroom.

My husband, caked in mud and sweat stood next to the mower, smiling. “Honey! I fixed the sprinkler system!” I braced myself, imagining Argonne and a backyard riddled with holes when the kids rushed over.

Maddie was first. “Mommy! Mommy! You got a medal? Dad! Come see! Mom’s got a medal!” Harry was next, gasping his shocked three-year-old gasp before looking up with awe. “You have a tattoo?”

I was home. Given the catalog of minor hiccups mentioned above, I’d say the weekend was a huge success. So what if the kids ate ice cream twice in one day? (Once for breakfast – and no, I’m not kidding.) So what if the bills are sticking to the kitchen table because it desperately needs to be wiped down? So what if there’s a pile of laundry the size of a Clydesdale lopped on my dining room table? At least it’s clean.

This morning as I drank my coffee, (my hubbie was wise enough to ensure that we had coffee) I walked around the house assessing the damage and forming my plan of attack. My thoughts turned to all of you. What would you encounter this morning on your first day back? Would you endure similar ‘hiccups’ or suffer major convulsions?

Whatever you’re facing this Monday, here’s my advice. Keep that medal nearby. If your boss drops you in it, you read an ugly, demon email, or your teenager reverses the car into the mailbox, it doesn’t matter. You are a Woman On The Edge. You, my dragon sister, can DIG deeper and vault yourself over any obstructions. You, o dragon heart, can REACH around any barriers blocking your way. Should things be grim, please, take a deep breath and COUNT TO TEN. We’ll be counting right along with you.

And, heaven forbid, these words don’t resonate because you’ve found yourself in a heap of trouble. Then, my dearest, close your eyes and listen. You’ll hear our voices singing:

In the summertime

Up in Grand Marais

In the summertime

We’ll be paddlin’ all day

We’ll be paddlin’, we’ll be paddlin’ we’ll be paddlin’,

We’ll be paddlin’ all day…

Just keep paddlin’. You’ll get there. You are a Woman on the Edge and I believe in you.

In much love and admiration,

-- ‘Cat’ McNerlin

2Glass the Paddle Nazi- Great Job!

2010-08-01T18:28:00.000-05:00

Thank you for the Paddles!

2010-08-01T18:18:00.000-05:00

Women on the Edge, finish with all paddlers in the boat!

2010-08-01T17:36:00.002-05:00

I feel another goal coming on! Click here for race results.

http://www.boreal.org/~durfee/dragonboat_7_31_10.htm

Greetings from Grand Marais,

2010-07-28T20:57:00.002-05:00

This summer there is major road construction in multiple areas in Duluth and
near Split Rock Lighthouse. Motorists have experienced delays and
frustrations getting through Duluth and this weekend the Tall Ships are in
the Duluth Port creating even more traffic through town. I highly recommend
taking a detour that will add 38 miles to your trip but it will go around
both construction zones starting at Cloquet and returning to Hwy 61 at
Beaver Bay. There is a fun video clip describing the detour on our tourism
website, www.grandmarais.com called the Scenic "Scenic" Route: On the road
with Jason Portman. There are things to see along the way including a Frank
Lloyd Wright gas station, Finnish Schoolhouse and old-fashioned family
restaurants.

The detour starts just south of Duluth off I-35. Exit on Hwy 33 north at
Cloquet, which merges into Hwy 53. Go east on Hwy 16, which turns into Hwy
15 as the Superior National Forest Byway. Then drop down into Beaver Bay on
Hwy 5 and you'll be back on 61 north again.

Paddles UP!

2010-07-27T19:20:00.003-05:00

The paddles are varnished, the t-shirts are printed, cowbells are poised and ready for ringing. The women have trained... (HA) Well, at least they are ready for a great weekend. Carpools are arranged, tents are being pitched. Half of us are thinking we need to bake cookies, half of us need to pick up a bottle of wine.

When the call comes "Paddles UP!" and the air horn sounds, we will paddle. We will paddle in awesome synchronicity . We will paddles untill we are spent, knowing that we already won our prize in the pre event parade! Now, just remember, Let's NOT create an emergency situation.

Good luck gals!

I got a letter today!

2010-07-22T16:08:00.001-05:00

Lisa,

I am Elliott Krizek the Community Outreach and Special Events Lead for The North Face in the St.Paul/Minneapolis area. In searching for local clubs and organizations to work with and I stumbled upon Women on the Edge and was quite intrigued. Following Christ myself and having worked with multiple churches in the area, I have never come across a group such as yours. I wanted to let you know of some up coming events Women on the Edge and others at St. Andrews might be interested in attending.

Aug. 5 at 6:30 The St. Paul Store will be hosting a Chi Running Event with Chris Fuller a certified instructor of Chi Running and Walking for information you can check him out at meetup.com here's his link: http://www.meetup.com/The-Sporting-Life-ChiRunning-and-ChiWalking/calendar/14166370/

Aug. 6 at 6 o'clock The Uptown store in Minneapolis will be hosting Dr. Ralph Bovard. Dr. Bovard worked at a Doctor at the base camp of Everest and is coming to the Uptown store to share his experience of Everest. Feel free to come Early and receive a complimentary massages from Mayfield Chiropractic.

Aug. 10 The North Face and REI are hosting a free showing of the newest National Geographic documentary "The Wildest Dream." The Film follows the journey of Conrad Anker and his discovery of the body of George Mallory, a mountaineer who is suspected of being the first to climb Mount Everest, even before Sir. Edmund Hillary. For more information visit www.thewildestdream.com, tickets are free and only available online at www.dream.inticketing.com code word "dream."

Anyone want to go?

Now, to work on technique...

2010-06-08T08:30:00.000-05:00

It's Official

2010-06-08T07:18:00.001-05:00

We are register to enter 2 teams in the Northshore Dragon Boat Festival. Our presence in the parade will be EPIC!! We still have 6 spots available. Sign up soon!

2010-06-07T21:53:00.001-05:00

How did she know....

2010-05-31T20:04:00.001-05:00

I just had to tell you about a premonition that I had. There are a bunch of really great women up in Grand Marais, Minnesota.
The weather is beautiful. The food and wine are plentiful. The laughter is contagious.

They are all in a great big huge dragon boat where no one knows what in the world they are doing, yet, the paddling is invigorating.
The smell of victory is in the air. We are there, and it is an absolute RIOT!!!!

Now- hurry and get to the website and sign up, cause I think that there may be something to this vision that I had.

Hope all is well with you,

Ann Bancroft ( not really I just changed the name to protect the writer)

(I haven’t gone before, but I hear it is a complete bag of fun!!) she is right!!

Women on the Edge Sailing Clinic

2010-05-26T08:22:00.003-05:00

Saturday, June 12, 8 am-5 pm at the White Bear Lake Sailing School

Our sailing adventure begins with a brief classroom time for fundamental sailing understanding. Then a day of fun, sun and sail. Coaches, boats, rescue boat and LUNCH are included, all for $80!
Sign up online at www.saintandrews.org

More Exciting News

2010-05-19T11:15:00.002-05:00

Ok, We filled one boat, but so many wanted to be on this years Women on the Edge Dragon Boat Team that we decided to have 2 Teams! So, if you are considering perhaps having a great time the last weekend in July, Sign up! If you could do it by June 1st, that would be great. Then you can spend the summer getting excited instead of trying to decide whether or not to go. It is a great idea. Put this event, in ink on your calendar and let the rest of the summers events fall around it!

oh, and we have paddles. Yes. our own paddles

Fit for Trips

2010-05-14T15:20:00.001-05:00

Click on this link for programs to help you prepare for your adventure vacation. I would write more but I have to go for a bike ride, I am leaving on my trip soon you know!

https://www.fitfortrips.com/adventurewomen.aspx

Big News!

2010-05-12T21:35:00.003-05:00

OK! We have 19 paddles, sponsorships are available for $40 and it will really add to our parade presence! and paddling of course! We also have quite a few paddlers signed up so if you want to be on the team, sign up now! When I get some awesome videos... I can't wait to use this!

2010-05-10T11:10:00.000-05:00

Meditate on Nature When we spend time in the wilderness, it can be tempting to focus our awareness on "doing" something: taking pictures; getting a certain amount of physical exercise; traveling from point A to point B; naming all the species of birds we encounter. While nature photography is a lovely craft, and we need to exercise for good health, and understanding what lives in our environment is a valid part of deepening our relationship with the land, these activities can separate us from a more intimate experience of the natural world. It is all too easy to forget to actually experience with all our senses that which we are busily capturing and identifying.The natural world invites us out of our world of fixed concepts and into a closer proximity with reality—what Buddhist teachings call "nonconceptual awareness." Experiencing the natural world with nonconceptual awareness means that, rather than seeing a small black bird and thinking, "That's a starling, a nonnative bird introduced from England several centuries ago," we stop and see each particular bird's incandescent blue-black velvet feathers, piercing amber eyes, and delicate, wiry feet. Instead of encountering the world through a filter of ideas, memories, and labels, we connect deeply with the unfiltered and vital pulse of life in that moment.

2010-05-08T19:22:00.001-05:00

Climb the mountains and get their good tidings. Nature's peace will flow into you as sunshine flows into trees. The winds will blow their own freshness into you, and the storms their energy, while cares will drop off like autumn leaves.
- Our National Parks (1901)

Last Call!

2010-05-07T07:05:00.002-05:00

If you want to go climbing at Taylor's Falls on May 16 sign up now! The deadline is May 10.

Click here to sign up

The Latest from Grand Marais

2010-05-07T06:57:00.001-05:00

Fun-Lov'n, Heart Thumping, Adrenaline-Pumping Dragon Boat A-C-T-I-O-N at the Harbor in Grand Marais. JULY 29-AUGUST 1ST, 2010. Don't miss the dragon boat. Sign your team up today. Registrations are cruising in. We DON'T want YOU and 22 Friends and Family to miss out! So come on, let's paddle. www.northshoredragonboat.com

This year has new and exciting family activites, events, artists, crafters and amazing food vendors.

Bring the family, stay for the weekend!

North Shore's Most Amazing Summer Destination...GRAND MARAIS, MN

Don't forget the Women on the Edge meeting Tues May 11 in the Fireside Lounge of the Great Hall at 7 pm.

Our Own Paddles UP!

2010-04-29T20:41:00.001-05:00

For the sixth year in a row, St. Andrews Women on the Edge is
participating in the North Shore Dragon Boat Festival in Grand Marais,
Minnesota. This is a “fun race” with the entry fee from each team
going to local non-profit organizations in the area. You can find more
information at www.northshoredragonboat.com. In addition to
our monetary contribution, this year our team will be adding our own
service project. With the current economy hitting the north shore
region especially hard, we will be contributing items to the local
food shelf.

Here’s why we’re contacting you: We would like to have our own team
paddles to use each year. While the paddles provided by the festival
are great for those northern lumberjack types, most are too long for
us women! So, for $40, you can “sponsor” a paddle for the team.
Your name (or business’ name) will be etched into the paddle’s handle,
for example: “generously and enthusiastically sponsored by…”. There
is no limit to how many you can sponsor. Our goal is to be able to
have 22 paddles for the team.
Please consider this one time donation that will be used for years to
come. Mark your calendars. This year’s festival is July 30 – Aug. 1.
Our first meeting is May 11 at 7pm in the Fireside lounge (Great Hall
building).

You can sign up online to be on this year's team at www.saintandrews.org,
and you want to sponsor a paddle, send a check for $40 to
St. Andrew's Lutheran Church-Women on the Edge
900 Stillwater Road
Mahtomedi MN 55115

REI Paddle Fest

2010-04-28T08:14:00.000-05:00

Roseville REI
Date: 5/8/2010
Event Location: REI Bloomington
Event Fee: Free
Time: 10:00 a.m. - 9:00 p.m. (CDT)
Description: Join us for this fun paddling event! REI will host paddling classes, local paddling groups, and paddling vendors. Participants will receive a 15% off coupon for a regular price boat too! Event Highlights: 15% off coupon for a regular price boat for all attendees, REI expert staff on hand to help find the right boat for you, and local paddling groups tabling from 11am - 3pm. Paddling Classes: Kayaking Basics - 11am, Finding the best boat for you - 11:45am, How to pick a paddle and life jacket - 12:30pm, Kayak & canoe camping & portaging a boat - 1:15pm, Local paddling destinations - 2pm, Getting your boat from the garage to the water - 3pm, Planning a Wilderness River Trip 3:30pm. It's time to get excited about the season for paddling!

Dragon Boat Team...

2010-04-27T09:43:00.002-05:00

thinking about buying our own paddles... what do you think?

Your Future is filled with....

2010-04-26T07:31:00.001-05:00

HOPE because God is working on your behalf.
In all things God works for the good of those who love Him. ROMANS 8:28
JOY because God has a plan for you.
"For I know the plans I have for you," declares the Lord, "...plans to give you hope and a future." JEREMIAH 29:11
PEACE because God will be wherever you go.
I am with you always. MATTHEW 28:20
LOVE because God deeply cares for you.
How wide and long and deep and high is the love of Christ. EPHESIANS 3:18
STRENGTH because God gives you everything you need.
I can do everything through Him who gives me strength. PHILLIPIANS 4:13
CONFIDENCE because God made you who you are.
God saw all that He had made, and it was very good. GENESIS 1:31
COURAGE because God can do more than you can imagine!
With God all things are possible. MATTHEW 19:26

Dragon Boat half filled signed up soon!

2010-04-22T07:53:00.002-05:00

Our first meeting is May 11 at 7 pm. Please sign up prior to the meeting online at www.saintandrews.org.

Also Rock climbing at Taylors Falls is Sunday, May 16. Please sign up by May 1.

Flat Tire Prevention for your Bike from REI

2010-04-22T07:51:00.000-05:00

Nothing is 100% effective in preventing you from getting a flat tire on your bike. You do, however, you have a number of options that can greatly reduce your likelihood of getting a flat. With this advice and/or products, you may never need to fuss with tube punctures or patch kits again.
Tire Pressure
Your first strategy should always be to make sure you are riding with the proper tire pressure.
Each tire has a preferred air-pressure range, which is measured in psi (pounds per square inch). Look on the tire sidewall for the recommended pressure. As a general rule:
Road tires should run between 100 to 140 psi.
Mountain bike tires should run between 30 to 50 psi.
Urban and casual bike tire should run between 60 and 80 psi.
Under-inflation can lead to problems with "pinch flats." This can occur when you hit a bump and your under-inflated tire compresses all the way to the rim, causing 2 small holes that resemble a snake bite. Over-inflation, on the other hand, doesn't cause flats although it's possible to blow out the tube in extreme cases.
Use a tire pump or gauge to check your pressure. Higher-end tire pumps will include a psi gauge, but if you have a lower-end pump, you'll need to carry your own tire pressure gauge. Be sure to know whether you have a Presta or Schrader valve stem (the slimmer Presta valve needs to have the top nut unscrewed before checking pressure).
Basic Tire Care
It's a good idea to periodically inspect your bike tires for embedded glass, rock shards or other sharp objects, especially after riding a route that has substantial debris. These small embedded items may not cause an immediate flat but can slowly work their way through a tire to eventually cause a puncture. Use your fingernail or a small tool to remove this debris before it causes a problem.
Periodically check your tire sidewalls and tread for excessive wear, damage, dryness or cracking. Tires with any of these symptoms increase your risk for a flat tire. If unsure about their condition, ask a bike pro at your local REI or other reputable bike shop to evaluate your tires.

Don't Miss the BOAT!

2010-04-20T07:45:00.001-05:00

Hey Women on the Edge!!! It's time to get out those summer calendars and save the date for the most fun weekend you'll have all summer! It's the Northshore Dragonboat festival, of course!! Team Women on the Edge is already registered and now you can,too. We'll fill the boat with 21 women and no previous paddling experience is neccessary. Just come with enthusiasm...we'll add the water!
The event: Friday July 30- Sunday Aug. 1
The 1st pre-event meeting: May 11, 7:00 pm in the Fireside Lounge
We'll give an overview of the weekend's events, the boat, paddling, the parade (yes, we get to be in a parade--warm up your batons, you old baton twirlers out there!), everything you want to know!
For more information: Contact Lisa email lender@saintandrews.org or 651-762-9139
To register online: click here to register
DON'T MISS THE BOAT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
your dragonboat leaders,
Lisa Ender
Carrin Mahmood
Karen Anderson

2010-03-31T10:31:00.001-05:00

Roseville REI — Light and Fast Backpacking Basics
Date: 4/5/2010
Event Location: Roseville REI
Event Fee: Free
Time: 7:00 p.m. - 8:00 p.m. (CDT)
Leader: Kim
Group Size: 40
Description: Do you want to try backpacking but worry about carrying a heavy pack? Or are you a backpacker who wants to lighten your load? An REI backpacking expert will provide excellent tips on lightweight backpacking techniques. We'll cover shelters, backpacks, food choices, and fuel efficiency to help you go light and fast on your next trip.

27 spots available

First Girls for The Dragon Boat Team!

2010-03-30T07:53:00.001-05:00

Yes, the competition has been won. Mary and Amanda from Souix Falls south Dakota are the First Girls to sign up to be on the Dragon Boat TEAM for 2010. 20 spots left! Let's see how fast we can fill this up! Make a commitment to YOUR summer time fun and let all the other activities fall into place around it.

Birthright

2010-03-24T20:58:00.000-05:00

Go Outside!

2010-03-21T09:29:00.001-05:00

It is a beautiful Day. Take your Sabbath in it!

2010-03-20T21:04:00.001-05:00

"Take the first step in faith. You don't have to see the whole staircase. Just take the first step."
-Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.

5K anyone?

2010-03-17T12:15:00.003-05:00

Click here to register!

Women on the Edge

Off the Edge Dragon Boat Team

North Shore Dragon Boat Festival 2011

Hudson Bay Bound: Livin' the Dream: Downstream

Hudson Bay Bound

Wednesdays Rock: Climbing With Women

Women on the Edge Gone Wild!

A Royal Gathering!

Tomorrow

Paddles Update

DRAGONBOAT DATES UPDATE

Did I Mention?

Women on the Ledge- Basic Outdoor Rock-climbing

WoWie

North Shore Dragon Boat Festival

Training/How-To : New Balance - StumbleUpon

Dragon Boat Fever!!

Sacred ritual

Women on Wheels! Bike Clinic and Ride

Running Values

By Our Readers on February 15, 2011 | Ann Mehl, Running

Friends of WI Interstate State Park

Women on the Edge Sea Kayak, White Water Raft and Hiking Adventure

Couch to 5k will follow this program

Thank you YMCA Camp Menogyn

Kindred sisterhood: On the Edge everyday

Still Trying to shred

Introduction to Snowboarding

Happy New Year!

The Sisterhood of the Shrinking Pants

Sharpen Your Senses

Travel and Peace

Unscheduled Events

- Snowshoe for a Cause

Pearls Lend Panache to Powder Days and Training Trips | The Vertical Woman: The Magazine for the Woman Alpinist

Would you be afraid? A surprising answer. Well, surprising and refreshing to me.

In Celebration of Older Chicks

Let's Go!

Team LUNA Chix | Local Teams

Brave Heart

Winter 2011 Women's Adventure Magazine

From a GLOW gal at Trinity

Women on the Shred- Snowboarding!

People are AWESOME!

The Beautiful Cup @ Backpacking Light

Tim Ferriss: Smash fear, learn anything | Video on TED.com

Judge Not, or in other words, What I Learned When I Was Hanging From a Rock

Climbing Devil's Tower- local gals, might look familiar

Bloomington REI — Dressing for the Outdoors in Winter - Women's Workshop

The Career Networking Group presents...

Come see us at Rally Day Sunday!

New Photos added to slideshow

106 women jump right in to help victims of abuse

Personally I would jump from a perfectly good airplane, but these women did, they jumped clean off the Edge. Aging but Dangerous!!

Star TribuneThe sky above Baldwin, Wis., was filled with women Saturday.

Mary Jackson says...

I hope you are having a great summer! I wanted to share an excellent opportunity to bike and learn more about fixing a flat, biking in traffic, and finding scenic places to tour in Minneapolis!

You are invited to the Ladies Night Bike Clinic, this Tuesday, August 31 at 6 PM. This is free, NO CHARGE, a lot of fun AND the first twenty registered participants will receive a related bike tool or accessory.

More information below and site to register ...

Ladies Night Bike Clinic and RideTuesday evening, 6-8 pm, 8/31Location: Meet at Downtown Minneapolis YWCA (1130 Nicollet Mall)Bring: Your bike, helmet, bike lights, and your questions!

Register: http://www.bikewalktwincities.org/ambassadors/event-registration

What: Fix your own flat and explore northeast by bike: 8.5 miles ... Build your traffic skills by riding to Nicollet Island, Boom Island Park, the Northeast Arts District, Central Avenue, and back to downtown.

I hope to see you there!

Muddy Buddy

As Long as it Works

Who wants to go?

Liz's Popcorn Salad

Gratitude

Home Again

2Glass the Paddle Nazi- Great Job!

Thank you for the Paddles!

Women on the Edge, finish with all paddlers in the boat!

Greetings from Grand Marais,

Paddles UP!

I got a letter today!

Now, to work on technique...

It's Official

How did she know....

Women on the Edge Sailing Clinic

More Exciting News

Star Tribune
The sky above Baldwin, Wis., was filled with women Saturday.

Ladies Night Bike Clinic and Ride
Tuesday evening, 6-8 pm, 8/31
Location: Meet at Downtown Minneapolis YWCA (1130 Nicollet Mall)
Bring: Your bike, helmet, bike lights, and your questions!