Xavierism

Rose 'Sporty Diva' Coates

Rosie 'Rose~Sporty Diva' Coates on The Today Show - April 2008

***Random Play

*Kerrie Roberts: Self Titled CD

*The Script: Science & Faith

*Sophie Ellis-Bextor: Make a Scene

*Will Young: Echoes

*Andrea Marchant: Counting Down

*Goyte: Making Mirrors

The Internet can be a beautiful thing. It has a way of weaving and bringing people together. I remember reading various articles on the Runner's World site, I came across an article about a remarkable woman that lost 110 pounds. Anyone that puts their mind to making such a change to better their lives is on my Inspirational List. This woman was/is Rosie 'Rose-Sporty Diva' Coates. I immediately remembered she was featured on The Today Show years ago and was thrilled to see that she continued to live her dream and inspire others. I immediately reached out to her and we have continued a friendship ever since.

Rose has a long term goal - "to compile the profiles and stories of various people to be turned into a book to be sold on Kindle with proceeds going to a charity that centers around health and wellness (to be determined at a future date)." I'm honored that Rose reached out to me so that I can share my story. I'm so thankful for all the wonderful people that have entered my life while on this journey to better health and a healthier Life.

Rosie's Site: SportyDiva.com

Rose has made 'commitment to blog about various health and fitness related topics once a week and to include stories about people who have overcome their weight and exercise challenges OR who are in the process of transitioning into a healthier lifestyle.'

Sporty Diva's 98445 Blog

So please visit Rosie's Site & Blog. Let's work and help one another reach our fitness goals.

*****CHEERS!***** 

Current Music: Sophie Ellis-Bextor's Not Giving Up On Love

Current Mood: Healthy, Thankful & Happy!

A Collection of Thoughts

***Random Play

*Idina Menzel: I Stand

*Jamie Drake: When I Was Yours

*Jonny Diaz: More Beautiful You

*Tara MacLean: Passenger

*Lamb: Between Darkness & Wonder

*Amanda Marshall: Tuesday's Child

We're already into April of 2012. When I was in my 20's and enjoying Life's thrills and surprises, I never once thought about how Life would be while in my 40's. Now I find myself asking God to slow down the Wheel of Time. Older I get the more I realize how valuable moments really are & embrace the joy for each breath that I'm allowed and given.

This coming Saturday, I will be running the Hollywood Half Marathon. This will be my 5th Half Marathon this year and 11th overall since I took up running last year. I look forward to running through the streets of Hollywood.

I took up running again for the sole purpose of losing weight. So many times I've lost weight over and over again through proper nutrition and running...only to stop completely and continue the Yo Yo Dieting Syndrome. This time I have stuck to the program and can finally state that this has become a lifestyle. I've worked so hard to turn back. I've ran so many miles only to gain all the weight back and lose self confidence. I have a great support group of friends and fellow runners. Mornings when I don't want to run, I remind myself how lonely I felt when I was overweight. The weight gain always affects my social life. I feel heavy and overweight, I avoid social outings with friends. I'm blessed and thankful that I haven't felt this way in over two years.

One of the joys of running, in my opinion, is facing your demons through self meditation and therapy during runs. It's just me and the open road. Music is usually playing very low but when the voices in my head start to overwhelm my thoughts, I have no choice but to deal with situations head on. I find that I'm not as stressed as before. There's nothing like running or playing tennis and working up a good sweat.

I'm not a great runner so I can't give tips on running but I feel I am qualified to share the simple joys of running. I will never win a race. I will never be at the top of my age division. I will however be listed as someone that completed a race. I will take joy that the weight continues to stay off. At 47, I'm more determined to take care of this body than ever before.

I so wanted to run this morning but decided to lay off and save the fresh legs for Saturday's race. I want to run a good race. I know I have it in me.

Holy week is always so special. Easter brings back so many wonderful memories from my childhood. I can remember the beautiful Easter baskets filled with chocolate goodies that would be waiting for us after Sunday Mass. I will have a few chocolates on Easter as a reward.

The older I get the more I relish in the simple joys of Life. Countless Blessings are all around me.

Current Music: Jamie Drake's Beautiful

Current Mood: Thankfully thankful for This Very Moment!

Grand Canyon University's Run to Fight Children's Cancer 5K- Spring Edition

***Random Play

*Harry Connick, Jr.: Only You

*Joni Mitchell: Both Sides Now

*Natalie Merchant: Retrospective 1995-2005

*Julia Fordham: That's Life

*Jamie Drake: When I Was Yours

*Gavin Rossdale: Wanderlust

It's 77 degrees at 5pm on this beautiful Sunday afternoon. I'm currently writing this post beside our pool in the backyard. I see God's Love shining all around me. It's a beautiful thing to see & feel!

This will be a quick update. I really wanted to share the news of yesterday's 5K race. I've never ran very well in 5 and 10K races. My person PR for a 5K is 29:24. My 5K Race PR was 33:31 but that changed as of yesterday. I completed the Grand Canyon University's Run to Fight Children's Cancer 5K - Spring Edition Race with a time of 32:59. This meant a great deal to me since the last 5K race I ran in December was a miserable 36:07. I was telling friends that I often feel like the Sasha Cohen/Johnny Weir of running. I do well while training but always screw up during races. So this latest race gives me Hope. I feel as though I'm heading in the direction with this running thing. I look forward to my next Half Marathon race on Saturday. My body, legs and feet are feeling great. My right ankle injury is no longer a problem. I'm ready to train my best so that I can avenge my last half marathon time of 2:44:42.

Sunday evening will include a homemade pizza and movie night...another quiet night at home with my Umbrella Cockatoos. Life is a blessing!

*****CHEERS!*****

Current Music: Gavin Rossdale's Forever May You Run

Current Mood: Fresh & Easy

Recollections

 

***Random Play

*Francesca Battistelli: My Paper Heart - Deluxe Edition

*Whitney Houston: I Look To You

*Matt Dusk: Two Shots

*Judith Owen: Here

*Sophie Ellis-Bextor: Read My Lips

*Will Young: The Hits

Great weekend. I kept to myself for the most part. I did enjoy a Saturday morning run and breakfast with friend, Lark. I attended early Mass on Sunday and returned home and meditated, prayed & spent time recollecting precious moments from my past. I sorted out boxes and boxes of old photographs, letters & cards.

I thoroughly enjoyed the 84th Academy Awards. I am happy that Meryl Streep took home the Oscar for the Best Actress for her role as the Iconic Conservative Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher. I wasn't too fond with how the movie show cased the former leader as senile but Meryl was superb during Thatcher's peak years. I was quite happy to see that recognition was given to a woman that portrayed the Life of an amazing woman of the 20th Century. The Academy got it right this time!

I'm ready to start training for my next half marathon: Six Tunnels to the Hoover Dam Half Marathon. My right foot feels good. I'm so ready to prove to myself that I can run a better race after that last half marathon.

A close friend of the family passed away last weekend. This woman was part of my childhood memories. She had 3 children but I was close to the oldest daughter that was a year younger than myself. She was diagnosed with Cancer and after her long battle of illness, she was never quite the same. I had various conversations with her during the last of her years and she was simply tired. When I last visited with her, I didn't see the 73 year old woman but rather the young woman she was that I remembered during my grade school years. She was a strong and fierce woman. This served as a reminder that we are all apart of one another's lives.

This week I reconnected with former best friends during two very rough periods of my life. I'm so blessed to have these 4 people back in my life. Ann was a dear friend of mine just before I came out. We parted ways because she was engaged to her then boyfriend and didn't like our relationship. The three male friends became my best friends during the years I came out. They were there for and with me through the beginning of my 'gay' life. I don't know how I would have made it this far without them. Kim, Rodney & Harry were true gifts of friendships. Love or hate Facebook, it has the power to reconnect with the ones you've truly missed in your life.

I treasure the friendships I currently have and those I lost for one reason or another. Last Summer I was constantly praising three people for their friendship. Turns out I'm no longer friends with those three individuals. Sad but Life goes on. The blessings that resulted from those friendships were two people that are still in my Life - Patty & Arriana. I am thankful that my inner circle consists of the same friends as always. 2012 started off rocky but I feel the tide turning. I'm ready to get back on track and follow the detour so that I can get back on my path to this journey called Life.

Ben Rector recored an outstanding cover of Whitney Houston's ' I Wanna Dance with Somebody' on January 15th, 2012. This cover is special because he recorded this before the Woman with 'The Voice' passed away. He played all the instruments & sang the back up vocals. Love how musicans turn an amazing song and mold it into a song of their own. Hope you enjoy this cover as performed by Ben.

Simple Joys are all around us - they're like little treasures. Take a moment and search - you'll be surprised at what you'll find.

****CHEERS!****

Current Music: Judith Owen's Here

Current Mood: Wide Awake & Thankful for this Moment!

The IMS Arizona Half Marathon

 

Melissa & I with Smiles & Our Finisher's Medals!

***Random Play

*Jennifer Knapp: Letting Go

*Will Young: Echoes

*Diana Winter: Escapizm

*The Script: Science & Faith

*Adele: 21

*Julia Fordham: The Julia Fordham Collection

Slowly but surely, I'm adjusting to so many Life changes. I'm back on track with better eating habits and choices to help me lose the 8 pounds I've gained. I'm not happy to share this but if I put it out there, I know I can't hide from my own words.

This past Sunday, I ran the IMS Arizona Half Marathon. I wasn't expecting much from myself since I haven't been running that well due to pain in my lower right foot. Prior to this race, I have never ran a half marathon race with pain. This time around was the first time I fought the nagging pain and earned my Finisher's Medal. Official time: 2:44:42. I'm not happy with time but proud I finished. Best part of this race was seeing the smiling faces of good friends from our running group. Gotta love the comradery.

My running mentor came over last night and taught me how to properly use a foam roller. Initially I thought he was out to KILL me! After stretches, I felt a great deal better. I'm not walking injured like an overworked Vegas hooker so that's a good thing.

A huge thank you to our running group and good friend, Melissa, for keeping me calm at the Start of this race. I had to wave Melissa goodbye at Mile 3 due to pain --- that Melissa is a fast little rockin' roll diva!

Time to put this race behind me and gear up for the Six Tunnels to Hoover Dam Half Marathon next month. I'm excited about this destination run/getaway trip. I have somethin' to prove to myself.

*****CHEERS!*****

Current Music: Jennifer Knapp's Dive In

Current Mood: A Bit Disappointed & Content all at the same time...

A Moment with Kylie

 

Kylie watching a TCM Classic, The Constant Nymph, featuring Charles Boyer and Joan Fontaine.

Over 1000 Miles!

Early Monday morning and I'm ready to tackle the day. Weekend was very kind: an evening with good friends and much needed quiet time at home with our Umbrella Cockatoos. The older I get, the more I appreciate the fact that I am my own best friend. It's been a challenge now that my Life Partner/Soulmate is living in different state. We celebrated 12 years together on January 26th. It's only been a few weeks since he moved to accept a great job in Oklahoma City. This long distance relationship is hard but I know we'll be together again once Ro is able to find comparable job here in Phoenix.

Download A Tender Moment with Kylie : A little clip featuring Kyle whispering and chatting with me. ***I could only seem to play this clip using Apple's Quicktime Player.

More than ever running has become an active sanctuary for my peace of mind and self therapy. This past weekend I have officially ran over 1000 miles. As long as I've had an online blog, I never thought I would ever write about my running life, moments & races. If I were given a sneak peek 7 years ago into the future and learn that I took up running, I wouldn't have believed it. Running has always been a passion but always had excuse for not following through.  I'd run a few miles one day, a few miles days later and the I wouldn't run again for months at a time. Now I look forward to my morning runs...how did I get to this point? Regardless of the answer, I've got to admit that I love my life. I'm ready to head out for a run soon. I look forward to my adventures through the next 1000 miles.

 

*****CHEERS!*****

Current Music: Empire of One's If I Let Myself Dream

Current Mood: Coffee Happy

Welcome 2012!

Enjoyed the first day of 2012.

 

*Enjoyed a lazy late morning in bed.

*Spent the day with Rodan

*We met up with a friend at Lux Central

*Attended Mass

*Enjoyed a late afternoon run

*Chilled on the couch with our cockatoos

A Perfect way to start off the New Year!

****CHEERS!****

Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas...

Celebrate the True Meaning of Christmas, Be thankful for all Blessings; big and small and Feel the Love & Joy of the Season. Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas...

My Personal Review of 2011

Alana Davis - 32 Flavors

I learned so much about myself throughout this year. I've always wanted to be a Runner.  If running around the block or two every now and then qualifies me as a runner then that was me. Although I wanted to be a runner that actually entered running events and actually stuck to goals and program. I'm not a great runner but I get out there and run. Early in the year, I felt a great ease while running. It wasn't till I ran a trail 10K run in April that slowed me down. For most of the Summer I felt a bit sluggish. I also realized that with anything in life, one must have a plan. I allowed myself to veer off that path and take the easy road. That was definitely a wrong turn. I'm now doing my best to get back on track and get ready for a New Year of great running. I want to see results and improve my Personal Records.

Without one's health, you're nothing! Thanks to running I'm in better shape than I've ever been in my life. If only I didn't wait till I turned 46 to understand all of this. Now that I am 47, I want to feel at my best. Two major surgeries and another Cancer scare during the Summer didn't stop me. Moral of this chapter? If you're not feeling well or something doesn't feel quite right, have it checked out by your Doctors. Don't wait! Better to correct the problem than to face the consequences head on.

Like any other year, I learned a great deal about friends and acquaintances. Funny how one can feel so connected to certain people and minor events happen that allow their true colors to show. Miki Howard wrote a very powerful quote: "Everyone who says they're a friend doesn't mean they're your friend." Thanks to running I have gained so many wonderful and supportive friends. Running connects us so again I am thankful that I am able to get out there and put one foor in front of the other. Overall I am thankful for the true friends in my life.

Rodan and I have added another year. We will soon celebrate 12 years together. It hasn't always been easy but it's definitely been worth it. 

Omar, Kylie & Baby Ella continue to be the Feathered Angels of our house. Each bird has a personality of their own...just like children. I will have to post most clips of our babies throughout 2012.

Praise God, my Patron Saints and Angels for allowing my Faith & Sense of Humor to get me through the rough patches. My good friends are like tiny treasure...priceless. So I thank those that have been there for Rodan and myself.

To those that read my blog or stumble upon this blog post, I do Wish you and your loved ones a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year. I look forward to sharing in 2012!

*****CHEERS & LOVE!*****

Current Music: Alana Davis' 32 Flavors

Current Mood: Simply Blessed