Category: Asylum Daybreak

THE THANG: Mosey to the Restroom walls to perform some Australian Nut Knockers, then 20 Bobby Hurleys, all out run up the grassy knoll to the level spot for 20 mkns then continue on up to top of hill, squats until 6 was up. Next were three rounds of 10 BBS followed by 5 mucho leggos running down the strip and back in between rounds. Dips until the 6 was up. ID a partner then mosey down to the level field High Heels mentioned was the wettest part of the park. All good for some wheelbarrows to tackle the length of the field with your partna. Mosey / Jog to the bowl performing some (B) side shuffles and Bernie’s along the way and hold a low plank til 6 up at base of bowl. Proceed with 3 laps fast as ya can around the bowl and doing 5 burpees at base and 5 at top each lap. Flutters and Big Boys until 6 was up. Indian run to the back beast hill, rear man performs 5 HR mkns and sprints to front of line. Quick pace up the hill to level spot to perform Apollo Ohno’s and Bonnie Blair’s. Quick pace mosey and return to AO

MARY: crab reachers, hello Dollie’s, Freddie mercuries Superman’s and gas pumps

ANNOUNCEMENTS: convergence starfish here 1/31

COT:Best Day Ever

Last year I travelled to Steamboat Springs, CO 3x, as many of you know to visit my sister Beverly, and brother-in-law Gary who is facing Stage IV Lymphoma. As an added bonus, Steamboat is quite a paradise all year long. Each time while on these trips I’d see stickers that said, “Best Day Ever.” I heard it was coined by a local guy revered by others for his positivity and efforts to get youth active in their community and enjoying all the activities Steamboat has to offer.

I didn’t really investigate it more, but still liked the phrase, so it always sat in the back of my mind. On this last visit I spent almost 2 weeks in CO and always when I go in the winter, I’m eager to hit the slopes. Unfortunately, there was very little snow when I arrived and so for more than a week, I just looked up at the mountain, hoping for some big dump to arrive and let me miraculously ski all the runs I could. Well, that did not happen, but we did get some snow for a few days in a row after Thanksgiving, enough to take a chance and hit the slopes. They basically had one run open the 1st day I went (they called it 2) and the 2nd day they had 2.5 runs (they called 5). For reference, when fully open, they have 184 runs, not to mention the ones you can make on your own through the trees or going out of bounds.

I generally try to strike up a conversation with folks when I ride up the chair lift. One guy asked me where I was from and when I said Knoxville, TN, he lit up & said he owes Knoxville and the 82’ World’s Fair for his career choice b/c it was when and where the Apple McIntosh was introduced and he spent his earnings from working the fair that year on purchasing one which launched his path into IT. But on another run up the lift I sat with an old man and a young lady who had never been there before. She asked about the conditions, and I said, well, considering there were basically two runs, we had very little snow and the visibility sucked, it could be better. But the old man said, “Best Day Ever!” I immediately responded, ya know, you are totally right. Without knowing all the back story on the phrase, I knew right then what it meant to that community. Savor every moment you have in nature, savor the days, months, years you have left to enjoy God’s creation and all the possibilities that lie in it. Just because there was only a couple runs open, it was still awesome, still wonderful, and I luckily had not paid the standard $289.00 lift ticket price, because I learned last season how to save. Point being, no matter what the conditions are, or what your favorite activity is, cherish the ability to do it, to live it, to share it with others and if you have a crazy or unfortunate event or story to tell, it at least makes you interesting at parties.

My trip home gave me that story…I booked a Lyft ride the night before for a 5 AM p/u and flight at 7 AM. Woke up, got ready, carried luggage downstairs and looked at my phone…no driver. Scrambled, freaked a bit because I wanted home bad. Then finally got an Uber p/u at 5:40 for what’s normally a 30 min ride to the airport, was much longer due to the blizzard that arrived for my departure. A nice Jamaican guy in an SUV picked me up and we got going only to get in a convoy of cars behind the snowplow which we followed slowly all the way to the airport. I arrived with no time to spare, got lectured by airport staff, but allowed to load my luggage, get through security and right on board only to wait 2 hrs. to leave (after watching an entire movie on the tarmac). De-icer broke and so once finally off, I knew I was going to miss my connection. I booked another flight while in the air (direct from Denver to Knox). I arrived thinking I had plenty of time, but taxiing was almost 30 min which left me 5 min to go 0.7 miles from gate B8-B58. In my skill set, ok I got this…but with wearing all the winter clothes, jacket, and backpack, it was not easy…I felt my chest pounding and eventually was out of breath. I even had to stop once to take a breather. Made it to the gate, the attendant cheered me on as she was about to close the door. Last one on the plane…I coughed for over an hour. But I made it home 4 hrs. early and grateful to be there. As many of you know, I went through a lot last year, but each day I wake up now I’ve thought about the term, “Best Day Ever.” Stay positive, even through the rut. It’s infectious. Make each day better than the one before it. It’s a state of mind in many ways, but who and what you surround yourself with makes the opportunity for an even better day possible. God has given us all this gift of life, use it wisely.