I'M ON THE TOP OF THE WORLD LOOKING DOWN ON CREATION....

Today Lori and Jarmila and I did a hike together (without a guide even...) We told Lori she earned her "yellow jacket"... which is the color the guides jackets are - when she took us on a climb up Gallute - a hike she'd been on earlier this week...
This is the two of them on the tippy top!


This is me... and my knees are knocking if you really want to know!

If you zoomed in on this ~ you'd see me flashing a victory sign... as I'm not too crazy about heights... and even with daily elevation climbs - I have certainly not over come that fear~...

All is well here at FR... Only 2 more days... (it's bitter sweet)... but I'm so excited about coming home and continuing my hikes and workouts at home!... "TAWANDA"... as Dawn would say!!!!

My neck and shoulders are ready to go to bed tonight... whew - we worked them in every class I had today... so they are begging for an ice pack and some advil!... There is a huge sand storm happening right now... I can hear things whipping through the complex... and it sounds like big tumble weeds are smashing into everything... (should be an interesting sight when I get up in the morning...) which I remind you - will be at 5:15 a.m..... (4:15 pacific time!)... Tomorrow's my last full day of exercising... I've got to get my power nap in before then... ha-ha...

LOVE YOU ALL! xxoo r

STILL CELEBRATING AFTER ALL THESE YEARS!

These Flowers are nearly bigger than me! And yes - my hair is wet - I just got out of the swimming pool!!!! ha-ha

A sort of embarrassing moment when the entire place sang happy birthday tonight during dinner to me... (I really loved it though!)

These is Lisa and Corne' (their tulips are in the center of the table!)... They are my sweet friends who just are absolute grace and kindness in every sense of the word... It's a better place in the world because of them ~ and I am blessed to be their friend.

These are photo's of the Vortex - Shadow People! (ha-ha)

This Is Camel Back - Climbing up The Humps

First - I want to give a shout out to my mother... who gave birth to me ... Oh so long ago... ha-ha... Thanks mom - for teaching me how to be a good mom... and how to love... and for loving me so wonderfully all these days of my life!!!! And to my wonderful Aad ~ for encouraging me to take this journey - and being so supportive along the way!... And of course to my children who my heart knows no boundaries... and our sweet grand kids who bring joy into my life every time I just think about them!... And my little twin and younger brother "Bob" who has had to put up with me as long as you have mom... THANK YOU ALL for helping me celebrate this amazing life I live!...

Secondly for my Dutch Family who started texting me early this morning... and my sweet Uncles and Aunts who've e-mailed and left messages and my dear cousin Cyndee who reminded me just how old I am! ha-ha... (ok Cyndee Lu --- You know I'm NOT as old as YOU!)... And to all of my dear friends who stopped to remember me by texting, e-mailing, or leaving me phone messages today... THANK YOU!!!!!

This morning was wonderful... I got up around 5... and was at Pilates at 6... right after that - I went in to breakfast - and my sweet friends Lori and Corne' had brought me some beautiful purple tulips and birthday cards!!!! We did our hike and the class afterwards... it was time for lunch - but instead - I got to go to the Dentist for my new tooth... (still the wrong color)... but the dentist and my dentist at home put their heads together - and found out a solution so I can get my tooth fixed at home... At least they glued the crown in so I'm not looking like a wild mountain woman!...

When I got back I had an afternoon of wonderful classes ~ and then a card came from Mom & Vernon (and even one from BEAR)... And then I had a beautiful bouquet at the front desk from Seth... Our dear dear buddy who started out with us all a month ago... He was here only 2 weeks ~ but he touched each and every one's heart ~ He was amazing... he knew everyone by name the first day (that included the housekeeping staff) ~ we all just loved him ... he sends out inspiration e-mails to about 60 of us everyday... and word leaked out that it was my birthday (THANKS to CORNE' and LORI) - so he sent some flowers... (I think they were actually to all of us because we are all leaving this week... but he just sent it on my birthday so I'd feel special! ha-ha...) I'm keeping them at the front desk so the entire population here can enjoy them!...

THEN.... At dinner... the staff surprised me with a "Happy Birthday" Song and a candle on my fruit skewer ~ it was a day filled with birthday high-fives and lots of hugs... A really great day!!!!

THANK YOU TO EVERYONE!!!!!! I feel blessed to be alive... and absolutely so positive about life and what I've done here and intend to do for myself as far as fitness and health for a lifetime. It's been an amazing opportunity....

I'm feeling ready to come home... and yet sort of sad - because it's only 2 1/2 more days of classes ~ and then saying goodbyes... But I know that the relationships that we've formed will be lasting... having the common thread that we've all shared... along with the amazing experience will keep us interested in the progress of each other's journey ~ and we know that we each have the other's back... it's a pretty great thing really! I guess it's true what they say... Those who Sweat Together - Stick Together!

MUCH LOVE TO EACH OF YOU! xxoo r

Home on the Range...

Always needing to make my space feel comfy - I brought some special things from home...

It's nice to have my family here along with me!

Pictures of My Parents and Brother helped me make it through those toughest days!

This is my room... It's very nice - but a bit thin-walled... as many nights I will hear snoring or tv's when I'm trying to sleep...

This is the view from my bedroom window... I think it's lovely!

This is the view from my Room!

This is my dorm... I'm the window straight from the gate - bottom floor 2nd from right...

One of the guest re-enacting his John Travolta moves from Dance Class... (Sundays we get delirious from hunger and boredom!)

The Aerobics Room --- Kick boxing, Spinning, Mat class - etc...

The Gym...

Hot Tubing Anyone?

This beautiful pool gets a lot of action!

For some reason - the previous post wouldn't let me add any more pictures... so today's post might seem a little piece meal... anyway - this is where I've lived for the past 3 weeks... Not too bad for Boot Camp!

Gotta run... Love and Kisses to you All! xxoo r

Sand Storm and Tumble Weeds

Wow is it ever windy today... There are tumble weeds the size of cars blowing across the road and through the parking lots... I've never seen anything like it!... At least the sun is shining ~ it's just cold and windy today!... I thought I'd give you a peek at what this place looks like... Where I'm spending the days when I'm not out on the trail...

This is Travis... He reminds me so much of Quinn - It's amazing.... Even in the way he moves and talks. He was the first person I met when I got to fitness ridge - as he had the responsibility of picking us up from the airport.


This is the Media/Reading - relaxing room
a very great place to just hang out and visit with folks in the evening.




These 2 pictures are the entry way of Fitness Ridge... What a great Place to walk into and feel welcomed. There are often folks hanging out and visiting here in the evenings as well.

Saturday Stop Sign and Goodbyes....

Well... The best news about today is that it didn't start storming until the hike was over today ~ and oh boy it's been a downpour of rain and hail... and the wind would blow any light-weight off their feet! It's a good day to cozy up with a good book - which is what I've been doing! These are pictures of my sweet friends ~ Today we had to say goodbye to Tamara (The one doing the Gene Simmons Impression)... and will say farewell to Patti (The one licking the envelope - I accused her of being so hungry she was licking the paste off of envelopes!... and dear Carrie - The far left of the group picture!... Corne', and Lori and I will be the ones to continue until next week together.... (Oh Thank God)... Lori is the cute little redhead in the aqua t-shirt and Corne' is the beautiful woman with the rainbow headband. They are really my sole-sisters! I will miss all of them when I leave.

Corne' is from Vancouver, BC - but originally from South Africa - So it's been fun being able to speak Dutch and Afrikaans together. These women have been with me every step of the way - supporting each other through laughter and tears... I love them all ~ it's hard to believe that it's only 1 more week and we'll be going home to our families... I know we all miss our loved ones so much ~ It will be so wonderful to be home next Sunday... but still sad to leave this all behind ~ because it's been so meaningful to all of us...

Well... Graduation is in a few minutes... I need to get along now... I'll write tomorrow ~ since it's my down day - and then post more photos of my room etc. and the surroundings - (if it's not too stormy!)

Sending Much Love and Gratitude Out To All Of You! xxoo r

Fantastic Friday!

Well... It was a great day again today... and yesterday too... THE SUN decided to make an appearance... It was cold yesterday - but the sun was out... and today - there was an essence of warmth as it shone down upon us!!!! YES!!!! We all have been walking around in Long Pants, Long Sleeved Jackets to go from class to class... Brrrrrrrrr baby it's been cold out side!...

My hike today was actually a walk back from snow canyon park where we always take off for our hikes - back to fitness ridge... so I could be back in time to catch a taxi to take me to the dentist... It was to be a quick trip back and forth... However, I got to the dentist and he put the crown on... and then he gasped and said... "oh my goodness - it doesn't match your teeth"... at that point I grabbed a mirror and sure enough it was as if someone had put a piece of chalk in my mouth next to my teeth... So instead of taking a chance that the lab would get it right - I suggested that I maybe should go to the lab - so they could see what the really need to match my tooth to in person... so it was off across town to the dental lab... and the technician who considers himself an artist - was thrilled with the opportunity to make the masterpiece my mouth deserves... so hopefully next week I'll have the "perfect tooth"... I sort of feel like Cinderella waiting for the right shoe to appear! ha-ha... Anyway - even with all the running around I did - I didn't miss more than 15 minutes of a cardio class - which I just hopped right back into when I returned...

The afternoon was a lecture - then Total Body Toning (yuck), Circuit Intervals (I love this class)... and then my most favorite class of the day was Cardio Disco Jam... Where we danced like John Travolta wannabes and had a blast!... I'm not back in my room - digesting my dinner of Turkey Loaf... (which was mostly LOAF) as I feel it laying in the bottom of my stomach like a loaf of brick! However - the best chocolate pudding imaginable - which was made out of Tofu of all things! I could have licked my plate... (and I know every other person in this place felt the same way!)... YUMMMMM!

Tomorrow morning I have the timed and dreaded "stop sign hike"... which I actually don't mind doing at all because it's a beautiful but Long Uphill Hike... and then a Cardio Circuit Class - another favorite of mine... Then I've scheduled myself a facial!... Everyone has been raving about them - so I decided I deserved to give it a whirl!... (So no need to feel the least bit sorry about me tomorrow afternoon!)...

I'll try to take some pictures of my "lodging" and around campus for you to see where I do things and what I see each and every day. I'm getting sad about saying goodbye to some of my sweet friends tomorrow... but I know that the connections that we've made will last a lifetime... because they are such great people!

I'm ready for bed... so Good Night and Sweet Dreams to All of You! xxoo r

P.S. Have Fun In Mexico to all My Sweet Grandchildren and their mamas and papas! Catch a curl for Oma!!!!

Yes Rachelle... There Really is a Tooth Fairy!

YIPPEE...

My stub has a temporary cap on it now! ~ After going for 23 hours with just a nub ~ a very sweet and VERY YOUNG dentist stayed after hours to make me a little cap for my tooth... I'm now a happy camper! I did cardio all day trying to only breathe through my nose - and talked with my hand over my mouth all day ~ I'm sure everyone thought I was really weird... ha-ha...
So I'm back smiling ~ which I really can't help because I really do love the feeling of health and strength that runs through me as I'm doing my workouts.

Nothing much to report today - other than it was very cold... and wet... and snowing ~ Fortunately for me - I wasn't sure when the dentist was able to fit me in... so I did my 2 1/2 hour hike in the gym on an elliptical. I actually did 2 1/2 hours straight of cardio! It didn't kill me as I would have thought it would! (I'm surprised everyday with these new discoveries!)

My friends and the staff here are so great ~ I've never been around more positive, supportive and funny people ~ Maybe we all just bring the best out in each other ~ or maybe it's that we all have a common thread that bonds us together in our search for health ~ fitness and balance in our lives... Whatever it is - it's great! I just wish I could take them all home with me!
Take care of your sweet selves... Know that I love you and miss you all! xxoo r