"No man is lonely eating spaghetti..."

Approximately 15 or so years ago, I decided that I was a vegetarian. I had never really been a big meat eater, but I had grown up with smothered steak, pork chops and hamburger meat in many forms. I didn't eat a lot of it, but at least every meal at my family's house had a meat portion. It wasn't until my early 30s that I decided to stop eating meat as much. I wasn't a true vegetarian though, because I had the occasional meat product as long as it was well-done. I ate salads, just about all vegetables, lots of pasta, quite a bit of bread and way too much chocolate. I thought pasta, vegetables and salads were the best things for me. When I took up cycling, this idea that carbohydrates were best was validated by the carbo-loading dinners offered by organizers of big bike rides. So, before every big ride, I ate what I thought I was supposed to eat -- spaghetti. And, it worked. Or, at least I thought so. In preparing for my upcoming surfing trip, I searched through "The Complete Guide to Surfing" to find out what I should be eating. There were not dietary suggestions listed. It's not even a topic in the index. However, I know from reading about how to get flat abs, I need to eat protein. Now, instead of just a potato or salad with pasta, I'm adding meat. I feel better and healthier than ever. After years of not eating much hamburger meat or steak, I've reintroduced them whole-heartedly back into my diet. I hope the flat abs follow. I know it takes more than just diet, but it's a start. Every once in awhile, though, I revert back to my old self and just want a big plate of spaghetti.


"No man is lonely eating spaghetti; it requires so much attention."
Christopher Morley
American Writer (1890-1957)

Locker room chatter

In the 7th grade, we junior high girls had to "dress out" for the first time in gym. It was an awkward experience for all of us, except for the occasional popular girl who felt completely comfortable in or out of clothing. Most of us, though, found ways to change our clothes without actually taking our clothes off. No one wanted to be naked...and we were only 12 or 13 at the time. If we had only known then how silly we were being about it all, we would have been a little more comfortable. Body image? It seems to be a lifelong problem for women. While changing clothes at my grown-up gym recently, I started to notice that many of the women -- grown women -- were changing their clothes the way we did in junior high; changing without really removing clothes. I made a conscious effort to stop this about six months ago. I refuse to change my clothes like that anymore. And, although I know I don't have the perfect body, who cares? I'm in a gym locker room! I have to believe in myself. I had a conversation with a friend recently who wouldn't shower in the gym until she had a terry-cloth robe to wear from the dressing room into the shower, made all the more awkward by trying to keep it dry. This is crazy. Men seem to have no problem with changing clothes in the locker room. Although I've never really been in a man's locker room, I remember the hoopla when women sportscasters began going into them for post-game interviews. Men would be traipsing around even then without much on. I asked several reliable sources about it and found out, just as I suspected, nakedness is not a big deal in the men's dressing room. As one of my sources put it, "It's a locker room, you're supposed to be naked."

So, what does this have to do with learning to surf? Nothing? or Everything? It seems that most of my life, gaining the confidence to do something has been the key to actually doing it. Although surfing didn't start as a woman's sport, it is one now. More than swimming skills or upper body strength, perhaps the first thing I need to surf successfully, is to believe that I can.

Another cold ride - Just do it!

Winter riding can be miserable. Getting warm and staying warm can be difficult. To continue training for surfing, I must keep up my normal activities, so although it was quite chilly, I managed to bundle up for a 60-mile bicycle ride today. Arm warmers, knee warmers and a vest made the start of the ride a little more comfortable. About ten miles in, though, I had to get rid of the vest. The wind was cold, but every once in awhile, the sun would peak through just enough to warm me up for a few moments. The group was big, probably because of those training for the upcoming MS150. A bigger group means more people to help pull in the paceline. We definitely go a little faster as a group. Although I managed to stay with the 21 mph group most of the way, I eventually pulled out to wait for friends. Today's ride was definitely about finding the right spot in the line. Being too far back, can easily cause a rider to be dropped. That's what happened to my friends. They weren't able to find the right spot in the line. I suspect that catching a wave while surfing will also have to do with timing. Throughout life, much of what happens can have to do with where you are at a particular moment just like in the ride. Finding the right spot at the right time is sometimes beyond one's control, but, often times, we have the ability to choose our spot. I need to remember that being in the right place at the right time can, occasionally, be up to me.