tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-62689595040562826582024-03-13T10:51:22.861-07:00Dream BigDyslexic to the core, the English language is my enemy. However, I'm happy to report that an uneasy alliance with words has been formed, and I'm now having a blast writing. I hope this blog will inspire you to dream big and think differently.Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09897908401241970252noreply@blogger.comBlogger47125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6268959504056282658.post-5259670902656043342016-07-19T20:15:00.001-07:002016-07-20T12:02:28.525-07:00Additional Detail for C&K Female Kayaker of the Year <!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<o:DocumentProperties>
<o:Revision>0</o:Revision>
<o:TotalTime>0</o:TotalTime>
<o:Pages>1</o:Pages>
<o:Words>824</o:Words>
<o:Characters>4700</o:Characters>
<o:Company>Big Dreams</o:Company>
<o:Lines>39</o:Lines>
<o:Paragraphs>11</o:Paragraphs>
<o:CharactersWithSpaces>5513</o:CharactersWithSpaces>
<o:Version>14.0</o:Version>
</o:DocumentProperties>
<o:OfficeDocumentSettings>
<o:AllowPNG/>
</o:OfficeDocumentSettings>
</xml><![endif]-->
<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:WordDocument>
<w:View>Normal</w:View>
<w:Zoom>0</w:Zoom>
<w:TrackMoves/>
<w:TrackFormatting/>
<w:PunctuationKerning/>
<w:ValidateAgainstSchemas/>
<w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>
<w:IgnoreMixedContent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent>
<w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>
<w:DoNotPromoteQF/>
<w:LidThemeOther>EN-US</w:LidThemeOther>
<w:LidThemeAsian>JA</w:LidThemeAsian>
<w:LidThemeComplexScript>X-NONE</w:LidThemeComplexScript>
<w:Compatibility>
<w:BreakWrappedTables/>
<w:SnapToGridInCell/>
<w:WrapTextWithPunct/>
<w:UseAsianBreakRules/>
<w:DontGrowAutofit/>
<w:SplitPgBreakAndParaMark/>
<w:EnableOpenTypeKerning/>
<w:DontFlipMirrorIndents/>
<w:OverrideTableStyleHps/>
<w:UseFELayout/>
</w:Compatibility>
<m:mathPr>
<m:mathFont m:val="Cambria Math"/>
<m:brkBin m:val="before"/>
<m:brkBinSub m:val="--"/>
<m:smallFrac m:val="off"/>
<m:dispDef/>
<m:lMargin m:val="0"/>
<m:rMargin m:val="0"/>
<m:defJc m:val="centerGroup"/>
<m:wrapIndent m:val="1440"/>
<m:intLim m:val="subSup"/>
<m:naryLim m:val="undOvr"/>
</m:mathPr></w:WordDocument>
</xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:LatentStyles DefLockedState="false" DefUnhideWhenUsed="true"
DefSemiHidden="true" DefQFormat="false" DefPriority="99"
LatentStyleCount="276">
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="0" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Normal"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="heading 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 7"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 8"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 9"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 7"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 8"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 9"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="35" QFormat="true" Name="caption"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="10" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Title"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="1" Name="Default Paragraph Font"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="11" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Subtitle"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="22" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Strong"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="20" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="59" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Table Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Placeholder Text"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="1" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="No Spacing"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Revision"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="34" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="List Paragraph"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="29" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Quote"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="30" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Intense Quote"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="19" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Subtle Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="21" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Intense Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="31" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Subtle Reference"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="32" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Intense Reference"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="33" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Book Title"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="37" Name="Bibliography"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" QFormat="true" Name="TOC Heading"/>
</w:LatentStyles>
</xml><![endif]-->
<!--[if gte mso 10]>
<style>
/* Style Definitions */
table.MsoNormalTable
{mso-style-name:"Table Normal";
mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0;
mso-tstyle-colband-size:0;
mso-style-noshow:yes;
mso-style-priority:99;
mso-style-parent:"";
mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt;
mso-para-margin:0in;
mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt;
mso-pagination:widow-orphan;
font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:"Times New Roman";
mso-fareast-language:JA;}
</style>
<![endif]-->
<!--StartFragment-->
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
Weighing in Again! I can’t help it. The ladies included in Canoe and Kayak’s
top female kayakers of the year absolutely blew me away. Please click <a href="http://www.canoekayak.com/canoe-kayak-awards/vote/female-paddler-of-the-year/">here</a> for
the full list. It’s an incredible selection of amazing paddlers. And although
many people poo-poo this as a popularity contest, I totally disagree. A single
vote for any of these ladies is a vote for all female kayakers trying to better
this grand sport.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I feel bad though, I do have some comments to make… <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Nicole Mansfield’s description was pathetic. To simply list
this lady’s expeditions is so far off the mark of who Nicole is and her
contributions to this sport. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Let me start right off with a quote from Nouria Newman, the lady
I’ve already defined as the most accomplished male or female kayaker ever
(please click <a href="http://sarahleithbahn.blogspot.com/2015/07/canoe-and-kayak-female-paddler-of-year_9.html">here</a> for that post): <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
“Nicole isn't just one of the very best paddler I know,
she is an amazing person. I feel incredibly lucky to be her friend because she
is always there for her friends. When things get sketchy, she is right there to
grab your lifejacket before you have time to yell help. When you're having a
bad day, she will always find a way to cheer you up and make you laugh. </blockquote>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
On the river she has a steezy style and she can go very
fast, but she is too humble to even realize it. She values adventures with
friends, quality whitewater and overnight missions over any competition. She
loves kayaking and she is always willing to share her passion for the sport and
take people down the river. </blockquote>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
I believe that being a great kayaker isn't just about
winning races and running the gnarliest rapids. It's also about having a
positive attitude on the river, making safe decisions for you and your team,
watching out for others, having the most fun...Nicole's got it all!”</blockquote>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Let me grab onto one of the main comments Nouria made, “She
is always willing to share her passion for the sport and take people down the
river.” I don’t know Nicole super well. I float on the skirts of this elite
group of White Salmon boaters, but when I find myself standing next to her, she
makes me want to train for the Little White race. And let me clarify something—<i>I have absolutely no desire to run the
Little White</i>. But Nicole’s love for the river, her ability to guide people
through rapids, and her incredible attitude makes this old washed up slalom
racer want to get back on the river every day and start getting better again. Nicole
clearly believes this is not an exclusive sport for only an elite few. She
makes every person she paddles with believe they can one day be as good as the
best in the sport. She is not only going big and often, she is <i>inspiring</i> and <i>helping</i> others do the same. And as Nouria has so often and so
beautifully pointed out, inspiring and encouraging others is also true
greatness. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
And it’s not just Nouria and I that feel this way about
Nicole. To find more proof I went to Jo Kemper, another elite female boater,
and asked her a few random questions. Please note Jo had no idea I was writing
this piece or even asking about Nicole.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
Sarah’s Question: “Who is responsible for teaching you the
lines on the Little White? And really helping you become confident on that
run?”<o:p> </o:p></blockquote>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
Jo’s Answer: “Nicole definitely took me down and gave me the beta several
times. I’ve only gone a few times without her.”</blockquote>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
Sarah’s Follow-up Question: “How many people do you think say the same about her on both
the Truss and the Little White?” </blockquote>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
Jo’s Answer: “A lot, she’s so rad about taking people down!”</blockquote>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<!--[if !supportLineBreakNewLine]-->
<!--[endif]--><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Enough with the fluff, not only is Nicole fostering
other boaters, she is also a technician with beautiful lines and perfect
strokes. However I will say that if she made a training plan now and worked on
finding more power in her forward stroke, she might be able to take Nouria down
at the Little White Race. Come on Nicole, you can’t let a little French girl
beat you;)<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Need proof on Nicole—click <a href="https://vimeo.com/164956769">here</a> for an awesome clip on her
and her buddies doing what they do best. Charging the Little White, making it
look easy, and most importantly, making everyone want to go paddle (at 3 mins you can see those perfect strokes I'm talking about).<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Now I should close out this post, but I can’t. There is
another female kayaker on this list that I want to talk about, Ashley Nee. And
let me be clear, with this one I’m a 100% bias. My earliest memories of Ashley
is her paddling up the feeder canal on the Potomac River barely able to see
over her cockpit rim, but already this little punk charging and training as
hard as the boys. Every time I think about her going to the Olympics, I get all
teary eyed. Ashley has pushed through so many injuries, so much political
garbage, and so so so many workouts. Finally this incredible athlete will be
walking in the Opening Ceremonies at the Olympic Games. But like Nicole, Ashley
is so much more than just an athlete. She has been a camp counselor, an
instructor and a motivational figure for so many girls in the sport of
kayaking. Ashley is now a woman and married, but to me, she will always be that
little punk kid that paddled so hard she’d turn beat red at the end of every
full length. I truly hope that every boater in this country will join me in
cheering for her at the Olympics because I promise you, she’s just like all of
us—a kid who loves the river. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Bottom line: Voting ends tomorrow for Canoe and Kayak’s
Female Boater of the Year. Vote for one of these amazing women on this
incredible list, as a vote for one of them is a vote for all female kayakers.
Click <a href="http://www.canoekayak.com/canoe-kayak-awards/vote/female-paddler-of-the-year/">here</a> to be taken to Canoe and Kayak’s female kayaker of the year vote.<o:p></o:p><br />
<br />
Sincerely,<br />
Sarah<br />
<a href="http://www.bahncamperworks.com/">Bahn Camper Works</a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<!--EndFragment-->Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09897908401241970252noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6268959504056282658.post-21976107490986965192015-09-09T14:48:00.002-07:002015-09-09T15:03:56.585-07:00Epic First Kindergarten Day<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">It started off the same as it does for new kindergartners,
pictures in front of the house. However Wyatt insisted it be in front of Ryan’s
huge truck. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman;"><span style="font-size: 19px; line-height: 21.466665267944336px;"><br /></span></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;"></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-w0R2cHmx2yI/VfCmHO5OdfI/AAAAAAAABOg/nj9jNR0LcQI/s1600/FullSizeRender-8.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-w0R2cHmx2yI/VfCmHO5OdfI/AAAAAAAABOg/nj9jNR0LcQI/s320/FullSizeRender-8.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">Bahns have a weird truck/engine obsession that I will never
understand. Next stop school!</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Ryan and I decided the night before that Ryan should drop
Wyatt off without me. As I would most likely sob at the doorway of his
classroom and make a scene. Wyatt did great. After one big hug from Ryan, he
marched into his classroom.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">2 o’clock rolls around. Schools out, but Wyatt won’t be
getting off the bus till 2:30. The bus stop is literally a three minute walk to
the top of my dead end street, but I get there 10 minutes early, paranoid I’ll
be late. I’m the first parent standing on the corner. I even have time to take a selfie with my dog.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman;"><span style="font-size: 19px; line-height: 21.466665267944336px;"><br /></span></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;"></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-HYaBwC1qlfg/VfCm5HYN69I/AAAAAAAABOs/oINwoNs4IBw/s1600/FullSizeRender-5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-HYaBwC1qlfg/VfCm5HYN69I/AAAAAAAABOs/oINwoNs4IBw/s320/FullSizeRender-5.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">Other parents slowly start
showing up. The bus finally pulls up and all the adults have their phones out
to take a picture of their kid getting off. I already have tears in my eyes
thinking about my precious 5-year-old on his first bus ride! I’m scanning the
windows hoping I can spot him. One by one each kid gets off, no Wyatt.
The bus driver is about to close the door and drive off. “Wait, my son’s
supposed to be on this bus!” I said. Bus driver looks at me, “Sorry, I don’t
have a Wyatt,” she said and drove off.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">I’m left childless and surrounded by other parents hugging
their kids while I envision my tiny blond boy, lost and alone in a bathroom
stall in his new huge school or worse kidnapped! <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">I race back to my house, grab my sleeping Finnegan, drive up
to the school and practically run up to the secretary’s desk. A nice woman, who
is not the secretary, is answering phones. I let her know what’s happened. She
calls the bus barn—I don’t even know what a bus barn is—but they don’t pick up!
She tries again, still busy. She says we will have to wait until she can get
through to them. But I’m a mom with a lost child! Waiting is not in my genes.
I’m the type of person that when I miss a connection flying, while “waiting” in
line to talk to the flight officials at the desk to get re-booked, I’m on the
phone working my way through automatic answering service hoping to speak to an
airline representative before I even get up to the desk while giving my husband
the stink-eye for not doing the same. Point is, I don’t wait well. I ask the
lady, “Can I start looking for my son? Can I go look around where he was
supposed to get on?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">I think my frantic questions alert the Principal whose
office is right there. He comes out and calls the bus barn himself—still busy.
Wyatt’s teacher comes around the corner now and swears she personally put Wyatt
on the bus. I swear he’s not on it! Teacher repeats, “I know he’s on bus 22. I put him on it myself.” <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Wait, “22” I say, “He’s supposed to be on 3.” </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Teacher goes
white. “You live on Prospect, right. I checked his bus route. Prospect kids get
on 22.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">“We live on <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">West</i>
Prospect. It’s this little dead end street that has nothing to do with Prospect.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">The teacher feels awful and to her credit, on Wyatt’s file
his street is only labeled as W Prospect in very small letters. The Principal
tries the bus barn again—still busy. Principal says, “I’m going to go find
him.” I have no idea what he means by that, but I see him reach for his keys
and motion me to follow him. “Let’s go drive after bus 22,” he says. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">So the Principal and Wyatt’s teacher take off in their cars
in different directions hunting down bus 22! I’m following the principal in my
own car. We drive up and down neighborhoods, no bus. Finally he gives me a
thumbs-up from out his window, but I still see no bus and no Wyatt. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">We turn the corner and on the side of the road I see Wyatt
standing there with his teacher. His teacher had caught up to him first. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">I scooped up my precious 5-year-old and gave him a huge hug.
And I’ll have you know—I didn’t cry!!! I can’t believe it! The mom who cries at
the Anheuser-Busch beer commercials when the Clydesdale horse is looking for
the dog—didn’t cry! I think I was just too relieved to find Wyatt, but I also
didn’t want to freak him out. Wyatt seemed to think he was on his normal bus
route—probably a good thing he’s going to school to get a little smarter.
Principal reassured him that bus routes shouldn’t be over an hour. Teacher gave
Wyatt a pat on the back and we drove home. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">I have to say, my kid might have been put on the wrong
bus—innocent mistake that anyone could make—but how many principals and
teachers go driving off after one of their students! Oregon might be suffering
with low funded schools, huge classes (Wyatt’s class had 30 kids until his
school petition to get a 4<sup>th</sup> teacher), but after my first experience
with my Oregon school there is no doubt Wyatt is extremely cared for at his
school. Thank you to Wyatt’s Principal, Teacher, School Secretary and Bus
Driver who were very calm, prompt and patient with a frantic Mama! <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<o:DocumentProperties>
<o:Revision>0</o:Revision>
<o:TotalTime>0</o:TotalTime>
<o:Pages>1</o:Pages>
<o:Words>744</o:Words>
<o:Characters>4247</o:Characters>
<o:Company>Big Dreams</o:Company>
<o:Lines>35</o:Lines>
<o:Paragraphs>9</o:Paragraphs>
<o:CharactersWithSpaces>4982</o:CharactersWithSpaces>
<o:Version>14.0</o:Version>
</o:DocumentProperties>
<o:OfficeDocumentSettings>
<o:AllowPNG/>
</o:OfficeDocumentSettings>
</xml><![endif]-->
<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:WordDocument>
<w:View>Normal</w:View>
<w:Zoom>0</w:Zoom>
<w:TrackMoves/>
<w:TrackFormatting/>
<w:PunctuationKerning/>
<w:ValidateAgainstSchemas/>
<w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>
<w:IgnoreMixedContent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent>
<w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>
<w:DoNotPromoteQF/>
<w:LidThemeOther>EN-US</w:LidThemeOther>
<w:LidThemeAsian>JA</w:LidThemeAsian>
<w:LidThemeComplexScript>X-NONE</w:LidThemeComplexScript>
<w:Compatibility>
<w:BreakWrappedTables/>
<w:SnapToGridInCell/>
<w:WrapTextWithPunct/>
<w:UseAsianBreakRules/>
<w:DontGrowAutofit/>
<w:SplitPgBreakAndParaMark/>
<w:EnableOpenTypeKerning/>
<w:DontFlipMirrorIndents/>
<w:OverrideTableStyleHps/>
</w:Compatibility>
<m:mathPr>
<m:mathFont m:val="Cambria Math"/>
<m:brkBin m:val="before"/>
<m:brkBinSub m:val="--"/>
<m:smallFrac m:val="off"/>
<m:dispDef/>
<m:lMargin m:val="0"/>
<m:rMargin m:val="0"/>
<m:defJc m:val="centerGroup"/>
<m:wrapIndent m:val="1440"/>
<m:intLim m:val="subSup"/>
<m:naryLim m:val="undOvr"/>
</m:mathPr></w:WordDocument>
</xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:LatentStyles DefLockedState="false" DefUnhideWhenUsed="true"
DefSemiHidden="true" DefQFormat="false" DefPriority="99"
LatentStyleCount="276">
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="0" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Normal"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="heading 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 7"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 8"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 9"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 7"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 8"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 9"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="35" QFormat="true" Name="caption"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="10" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Title"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="1" Name="Default Paragraph Font"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="11" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Subtitle"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="22" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Strong"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="20" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="59" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Table Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Placeholder Text"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="1" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="No Spacing"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Revision"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="34" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="List Paragraph"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="29" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Quote"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="30" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Intense Quote"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="19" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Subtle Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="21" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Intense Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="31" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Subtle Reference"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="32" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Intense Reference"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="33" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Book Title"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="37" Name="Bibliography"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" QFormat="true" Name="TOC Heading"/>
</w:LatentStyles>
</xml><![endif]-->
<!--[if gte mso 10]>
<style>
/* Style Definitions */
table.MsoNormalTable
{mso-style-name:"Table Normal";
mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0;
mso-tstyle-colband-size:0;
mso-style-noshow:yes;
mso-style-priority:99;
mso-style-parent:"";
mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt;
mso-para-margin-top:0in;
mso-para-margin-right:0in;
mso-para-margin-bottom:10.0pt;
mso-para-margin-left:0in;
line-height:115%;
mso-pagination:widow-orphan;
font-size:11.0pt;
font-family:Calibri;
mso-ascii-font-family:Calibri;
mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-hansi-font-family:Calibri;
mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;}
</style>
<![endif]-->
<!--StartFragment-->
<!--EndFragment--><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Whew! Glad that epic first day is behind us. Only wait, Wyatt’s
got to figure out how to get on the <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">right</i>
bus tomorrow… I think I'll write "Bus 3" on his forehead, he won't get teased for that, right?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Oh and in case you're wondering how Finnegan's first pre-school day went--here's the only picture I could capture of him which is just his preschool teacher fist pumping the air as he <i>sprinted</i> past her into school. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman;"><span style="font-size: 19px; line-height: 21.466665267944336px;"><br /></span></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;"></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-oXgi6UlSCGo/VfCnGsqpGII/AAAAAAAABO0/HgwpXddVDY4/s1600/IMG_6924.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-oXgi6UlSCGo/VfCnGsqpGII/AAAAAAAABO0/HgwpXddVDY4/s320/IMG_6924.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09897908401241970252noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6268959504056282658.post-26830786631437774482015-07-09T14:11:00.002-07:002015-07-16T15:49:43.159-07:00Canoe and Kayak Female Paddler Of The Year: Nouria Newman. But Why Was Jessica Fox Not Included?<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">Okay, it’s that time
of year when Canoe and Kayak asks the public to pick who’s the best female and
male paddler. But honestly, this vote is like comparing apples to oranges or in
this case rodeo to extreme racers to slalom racers to ambassadors—extremely
different categories that are incomparable. Regardless Canoe and Kayak wants us
to, so let’s do this!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">Who will I vote for?
Simple. Nouria Newman. Why? Simple answer again. She is the most diverse and
accomplished female paddler this world has ever seen.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">Okay let’s start
with possibly her most famous extreme achievement: Site Zed. Her line through
this famous and terrifying rapid should be a Visa commercial—the inspirational
kind you see before the Olympics. So few women have ever done something this
extreme in <i>any</i> sport with such incredible talent, grace, and perfect
technique. Whitewater kayaking rarely gets the spotlight, but regardless of the
lack of hype around this moment, history was made on the day Nouria ran Site
Zed.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">Let me take you to
the Stikine, a river that should give even the best paddlers in the world
nightmares. You enter a canyon so remote and so desolate. If some one dies in
there, their buddies will have to hike the body out if they can find it—no one
is coming for you. And I’m not trying to be dramatic, it’s the truth. And then
enter Site Zed. Halfway into the trip you come across a rapid that very few
paddlers, all male, have ever paddled. This is not a waterfall anyone can huck
their meat off and hope for the best. It's a rapid that can only be paddle by
the absolute best technical paddlers in the world. And Nouria not only paddled
it—she styled it. Case closed—she’s the best female kayaker in the world.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">Oh but wait there’s
more: Nouria is also a member of the French National Women’s Slalom Team. The
dedication, the intense mental and physical training it takes to make the
French Women’s Slalom Team is possibly one of the single hardest things for a
female kayaker to achieve in the grand sport of kayaking. The French slalom
women are the absolute best of the best. Absolutely no one can doubt their
technical perfection on the river. If you find yourself on a podium surrounded
by French women you have achieved greatness in the sport, and Nouria is a
member of this elite group. Again, case closed—Nouria’s the best kayaker in the
world.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">Oh—I can’t believe
it—there is still more. Nouria has won two Slalom World Championship medals.
Now we can say Nouria is the most accomplished paddler in the world—male or
female. I believe the only two men that have as diverse of a resume are Mike
Dawson and Vavra Hradilek. And yes, any video (click </span><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L_sbtV-YdMs"><span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">here</span></a><span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;"> for an awesome one)
of these boys makes my heart flutter at how incredibly amazing and <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">hot</i> these two are, but sorry boys
Nouria’s cuter and I’m pretty sure at least one of you has not run Site Zed and
the other has no World Championship medals;) <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">Wait again, there is
still more—Nouria placed 8<sup>th</sup> in the North Fork Payette race, yes the
race that takes a boater through Jacob’s Ladder and Golf Course—rapids that
make most boaters look for the nearest bathroom after they scout them because
they literally scare the poop out of you. She beat famous paddlers like Nick
Troutman and Rush Sturges. Let me repeat myself—she beat Rush Sturges one of
the most accomplished boaters in the world for the past decade. Again, case
closed—she's the best.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">However, before I
close out this post, I would like to call out a serious misstep in this list.
The fact that Jessica Fox was not included means that whoever created this list
should pack up and go home.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">It kills me, but I
wasn’t there when Jessica Fox became the first person—male or female—to win
both C-1 and K-1 at a single World Championships, but don’t fret. Kara Weld, my
hero and role model in the sport when I was growing was there and can tell the
story.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<br /></div>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">Last September, I got
to witness Jessica Fox make slalom history by winning the 2014 World
Championships in both C-1 and K-1 in Deep Creek, MD, USA. This was not only
remarkable in her skills and fitness in both disciplines, but in her ability to
handle the tremendous amount of pressure as the last K-1 run of the day. Adding
to the intensity, 25 years earlier, her mother and father had both won gold
medals in the last World Championships held in the US on the nearby Savage
River. </span><span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;"><o:p> </o:p></span> </blockquote>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">All eyes were on
Jessica and she stomped out a flawless run to take the win. I'll never forget
watching her finesse and determination as she seemed to be building momentum
for the win gate after gate. I knew she was going to nail it, without a single
doubt. You could just sense it. I've stood by the side of a slalom course
a huge portion of my life. I've seen a lot of spectacular runs and a lot of
ruined dreams. I'll never forget that day, that run and what the air felt like
while witnessing excellence to that extreme.</span></blockquote>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">In my opinion,
Jessica Fox's performance at the 2014 World Championships was arguably one of
the greatest achievements in the sport of kayaking. She should have been
included on this list. Please click </span><a href="http://www.redbull.com/us/en/stories/1331708741138/how-does-a-kayaker-keep-doubts-out-of-their-mind"><span style="color: #0000e9; mso-fareast-language: JA;">here</span></a><span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;"> and </span><a href="http://www.redbull.com/us/en/stories/1331708654141/red-bull-focus-episode-6-daniel-ricciardo-and-jessica-fox-talk-about-pressure"><span style="color: #0000e9; mso-fareast-language: JA;">here</span></a><span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;"> (scroll down past Formula 1 Driver) to see
some quick clips of Jessica. I love her quote, “You can get carried away with
the thought of winning. Sometimes you want it so much you can be blinded.”
<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">But even if she was
included on this list would I have voted for her over Nouria? I asked Kara Weld
the same question and here is her response:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<br /></div>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span style="color: windowtext; font-style: normal; mso-fareast-language: JA;">Given that, Nouria would still get my vote this year. She is
pushing the boundaries of women in the sport more so than any other female
paddler. Running Site Zed and her performance in the NFC to me are unparalleled.</span></blockquote>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">For me, it would
have been a really hard decision between Nouria and Jessica. Comparing Nouria’s
Site Zed and NFC to Jessica’s K-1 and C-1 victories is like comparing a NASCAR
driver to a Formula 1 driver. With that said, Nouria gets my vote because of
her vast spectrum of accomplishments in both extreme and slalom kayaking. But
hopefully we get to see both Nouria and Jessica racing at the 2016 Olympic
Games and let the clock decide.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">It’s interesting to
note that the </span><a href="http://www.worldpaddleawards.com/"><span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">World Paddle Awards</span></a><span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">, an organization that also recognizes the
greatest male and female athletes in paddlesports, nominated both Nouria and
Jessica (only overlap in Canoe and Kayak’s and World Paddle Award’s lists was
Nouria). But Nouria didn’t even make the finale and Jessica, although a
finalist, didn’t win. Please click </span><a href="http://www.worldpaddleawards.com/news/2014-winners-announced-at-world-first-ceremony-in-augsburg"><span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">here</span></a><span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;"> to see the World Paddle Awards winners. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">Both the World
Paddle and Canoe and Kayak Awards are great because they honor many talented
athletes in this great sport, but no one person, no one organization is the authority
on who’s the best. In my cheesy opinion it’s only the rivers that truly know and
no one is getting them to reveal their secrets.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">Please join me in
honoring the women nominated by Canoe and Kayak by voting <a href="http://www.canoekayak.com/canoe-kayak-awards/vote/female-paddler-of-the-year/">here</a>.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">Additional Video
Clips:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">Nouria Newman’s Site
Zed run can be viewed </span><a href="https://vimeo.com/104917244"><span style="color: #420178; mso-fareast-language: JA;">here</span></a><span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">. And just to add a quick note. Videos always
make the river look smaller. This rapid is huge and scarier than meeting a
great white shark up close. I</span><span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;"> can’t find video
coverage of her silver Slalom World Championship run, but </span><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=enJQ0zfI3mw"><span style="color: #420178; mso-fareast-language: JA;">here </span></a><span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">is an interview of her after. </span><span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">For another great
video of why Nouria kayaks please click </span><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oZYSY5vqGVo"><span style="color: #420178; mso-fareast-language: JA;">here</span></a><span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">.</span></div>
<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<o:DocumentProperties>
<o:Revision>0</o:Revision>
<o:TotalTime>0</o:TotalTime>
<o:Pages>1</o:Pages>
<o:Words>1224</o:Words>
<o:Characters>6983</o:Characters>
<o:Company>Big Dreams</o:Company>
<o:Lines>58</o:Lines>
<o:Paragraphs>16</o:Paragraphs>
<o:CharactersWithSpaces>8191</o:CharactersWithSpaces>
<o:Version>14.0</o:Version>
</o:DocumentProperties>
<o:OfficeDocumentSettings>
<o:AllowPNG/>
</o:OfficeDocumentSettings>
</xml><![endif]-->
<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:WordDocument>
<w:View>Normal</w:View>
<w:Zoom>0</w:Zoom>
<w:TrackMoves/>
<w:TrackFormatting/>
<w:PunctuationKerning/>
<w:ValidateAgainstSchemas/>
<w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>
<w:IgnoreMixedContent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent>
<w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>
<w:DoNotPromoteQF/>
<w:LidThemeOther>EN-US</w:LidThemeOther>
<w:LidThemeAsian>JA</w:LidThemeAsian>
<w:LidThemeComplexScript>X-NONE</w:LidThemeComplexScript>
<w:Compatibility>
<w:BreakWrappedTables/>
<w:SnapToGridInCell/>
<w:WrapTextWithPunct/>
<w:UseAsianBreakRules/>
<w:DontGrowAutofit/>
<w:SplitPgBreakAndParaMark/>
<w:EnableOpenTypeKerning/>
<w:DontFlipMirrorIndents/>
<w:OverrideTableStyleHps/>
<w:UseFELayout/>
</w:Compatibility>
<m:mathPr>
<m:mathFont m:val="Cambria Math"/>
<m:brkBin m:val="before"/>
<m:brkBinSub m:val="--"/>
<m:smallFrac m:val="off"/>
<m:dispDef/>
<m:lMargin m:val="0"/>
<m:rMargin m:val="0"/>
<m:defJc m:val="centerGroup"/>
<m:wrapIndent m:val="1440"/>
<m:intLim m:val="subSup"/>
<m:naryLim m:val="undOvr"/>
</m:mathPr></w:WordDocument>
</xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:LatentStyles DefLockedState="false" DefUnhideWhenUsed="true"
DefSemiHidden="true" DefQFormat="false" DefPriority="99"
LatentStyleCount="276">
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="0" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Normal"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="heading 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 7"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 8"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 9"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 7"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 8"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 9"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="35" QFormat="true" Name="caption"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="10" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Title"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="1" Name="Default Paragraph Font"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="11" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Subtitle"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="22" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Strong"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="20" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="59" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Table Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Placeholder Text"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="1" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="No Spacing"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Revision"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="34" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="List Paragraph"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="29" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Quote"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="30" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Intense Quote"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="19" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Subtle Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="21" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Intense Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="31" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Subtle Reference"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="32" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Intense Reference"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="33" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Book Title"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="37" Name="Bibliography"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" QFormat="true" Name="TOC Heading"/>
</w:LatentStyles>
</xml><![endif]-->
<!--[if gte mso 10]>
<style>
/* Style Definitions */
table.MsoNormalTable
{mso-style-name:"Table Normal";
mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0;
mso-tstyle-colband-size:0;
mso-style-noshow:yes;
mso-style-priority:99;
mso-style-parent:"";
mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt;
mso-para-margin:0in;
mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt;
mso-pagination:widow-orphan;
font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:"Times New Roman";
mso-fareast-language:JA;}
</style>
<![endif]-->
<!--StartFragment-->
<!--EndFragment--><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">PS: I haven't seen
Jessica Fox since she was three and I've never met Nouria before. Please just give these ladies a huge hug and high five for me and thank them for being such an inspiration. <o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;"><br /></span>
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;"><u>ADDED 7/15/15</u></span><br />
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;"><br /></span>
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">I'm honored that Nouria responded to this post. She sums up beautifully what greatness truly means: </span><br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span style="color: #10131a; mso-fareast-language: JA;">Sweet
blog post about the <a href="https://www.facebook.com/canoeandkayak"><span style="color: #2d4486; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">Canoe &
Kayak Magazine</span></a> Awards, thanks for the support Sarah Leith Bahn.</span></blockquote>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span style="color: #10131a; mso-fareast-language: JA;">Reading
this blog post made me realise it's been a great year paddling but it's also
been one of the hardest year of my life. I can deal with the hard times at
school, bad slalom races, shoulder surgery, rehab, not making the team...it's
okay. But loosing friends on the river hurts way more than anything else.</span> </blockquote>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span style="color: #10131a; mso-fareast-language: JA;"></span><span style="color: #10131a; mso-fareast-language: JA;">If I
had to vote a female paddler of the year I would pick Louise Jull. Because it's
not all about racing fast, running big drops or any other personal success but
also about what you're able to give, how you interact and inspire people.
Anyone who knew Lulu know how big of an inspiration she was, still is and will
always be.</span> </blockquote>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span style="color: #10131a; mso-fareast-language: JA;"></span><span style="color: #10131a; mso-fareast-language: JA;">I
might never go to the Olympics and I might never win a race again but I will
follow my dreams, make sure I live life to the fullest and spend as much time
as possible with the people I love. I will live rad like Lulu and this is way
better than any award.</span><span style="color: #10131a; mso-fareast-language: JA;">Miss
you Lulu, thanks for being such a good friend and inspiration. </span><a href="http://youtu.be/fTGpC59w8aw" target="_blank">Lulu</a> </blockquote>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<o:p></o:p></div>
<div style="color: #141823; display: inline; font-family: helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px; margin-top: 6px;">
</div>
</div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09897908401241970252noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6268959504056282658.post-869350328872111822014-08-21T21:49:00.000-07:002015-07-16T15:48:46.827-07:00ALS Ice Bucket Challenge!You know what's inspiring? The fact that the social media ice bucket challenge has raised $22 million dollars for ALS. That's amazing!<br />
<br />
Six months ago I thought ALS was a disease that affected old people. I thought it was a disease that ran in families. And I had no idea that a diagnosis of ALS was a death sentence.<br />
<br />
Since this challenge I have learned that ALS is a disease that mostly affects people between the ages of 40-60. Ninety percent of the people diagnosed have no family history of the disease. There is currently no cure for this horrific disease that steals you of your muscles which eventually includes your lungs - your ability to breathe. And I learned from a friend, Jen Hart who lost her uncle to ALS, that it doesn't affect your mind - so although you are fully aware of your body dying around you - your mind thankfully remembers the people you love up until the last breathe you take.<br />
<br />
There are critics out there that think this challenges is doing nothing other than annoy people when they check Facebook. I think those critics are unloved people that need a hug!<br />
<br />
Not only has the challenge raised my awareness to this disease, it has educated me about it, and made me realize that because of how "rare" of a disease it is, its very unlikely the bio-medical field will invest the millions and billions it will take to find a cure. As Dan Diamond with Forbes said best, "ALS is technically an "orphan disease" - it afflicts about 30,000 Americans, or about 2 in 100,000 people. That means there's little incentive for pharmaceutical companies to pour billions into R&D and pursue the market." In plain and simple - without private donations the needed funding to find a cure for ALS will not be achieved.<br />
<br />
Some critics have argued that even the $22 million raised won't do anything to help fund research to find a cure. I refuse to believe that. In addition, I don't think this ice bucket challenge is even far from over - I think world is prepared to raise at least another $22 million for ALS.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
I'm thrilled to have been nominated for the Ice Bucket Challenge and I was honored to donate to the ALS foundation at <a href="http://www.alsa.org/">www.alsa.org</a>. Here's my video and here's what I wanted to say (I screwed up a lot of words - my dyslexic mind at its best with poor word retrieval on the spot and I was a little nervous about the boys jumping in after me.)<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dya4_tjLmckiYIFe-SOiCNfh970jt7BqekVsoVcVO5QzVA2Y8cczSyUtp8yzUIbEPwTc9Cb_CFr6_GG3AK1Xw' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div>
<br />
"I was nominated for the ALS bucket challenge by my most beloved and inspiring friend, Harriott Lumpkin who is a stage three breast cancer survivor and has experienced first hand what all these donations can do to forward medical research.<br />
<br />
As one of our own within the Proctor family has been diagnosed with ALS, I've chosen to nominate three of my most favorite Proctor people: Corbett Leith, Dougo Houston and Katrina Roski-Pearl!<br />
<br />
This is the White Salmon River, which is fed by glaciers coming off Mt. Adams - its basically a river full of ice. This jump and my donations are in honor of Eric and Heide Johnson and their two daughters."<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #37404e; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px;"><span class="text_exposed_show" style="display: inline;"><br /></span></span>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09897908401241970252noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6268959504056282658.post-42791772575844845862014-02-07T15:14:00.000-08:002016-07-20T14:45:48.266-07:00Is It Worth It?I had a close friend ask me the other day – “Is it worth
it?” I knew immediately what she was referring to even though she didn’t define
it. She was asking, was it worth training for the Olympics even though you
didn’t make it.<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
With the Winter Olympics here, I too find myself thinking
about the solid 12 years I spent trying to make the Olympic Team in the sport
of Whitewater Slalom. I think about the countless hours I spent on the river
dodging poles and pulling with all my strength. I think about the shoulder pain
I endured for years and the ridiculous amount of Advil I took. I think about
how, despite my dedication, I didn’t have the perfect athletic genes and was
nuts to think I could have ever achieved such a goal. I think about how
incredibly hard I was on myself workout after workout. I think about how truly
demoralized I could make myself feel when I didn’t race well. I think about all
those lost opportunities I could have pursued had I not raced – an MBA, better
career, more money. I think about all the times I spent away from friends and
family to get just one more workout in, go to one more training camp, or make
one more race on some far corner of the world…<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
And then I think about how for a decade-plus everything I did
was to achieve one goal – make the Olympic Team and how I failed. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
So – was it worth it? <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Absolutely
– every second</i>. Many of my moments of training were hard and painful, but
so many more were great and amazing. I might not be the perfect specimen of an
athlete, but I am truly driven and to have had the opportunity to channel that
drive into a sport that took place on majestic rivers around the world was an
absolute dream come true.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
But almost more importantly, now that the dust has settled
and my mind has aged, I think about how failing to achieve one of my greatest
desires was still truly a beautiful moment in my life. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Despite Whitewater Slalom being a summer Olympic Sport, the
2000 Olympic Team Trials were held on a freezing early spring weekend in Tennessee.
I remember low hanging thick clouds threatening to snow. I remember walking up
to the start gate, placing my ultra-slick, little-white kayak in the water, and
feeling the cold river lap up on my toes and shocking my body. And I remember being scared shitless. I was so nervous.
I wanted puke. I wanted to cry. And I wanted to get the hell out of my boat and
drive away. I hated start gates, but the Olympic start gate brought on more
bile acid and fear than anything I had ever experienced before. And start gates
for Whitewater Slalom races were already rattling at best. Often the water of
the river was swirling underneath the hull of your boat while you tried to keep
yourself steady and focused on the course before you that drop down into huge
waves and holes with little tiny poles that hung down from the sky that you had
to duck and dive your kayak under and around… Whitewater Slalom was intimidating
enough and with my dreaded fear of the start gate, I have no idea why I ever
entered any races. But here I was, at Olympic Team Trails absolutely freezing
cold and painfully sick to my stomach. But as soon as I heard go, and got to
the other side of the start gate, my stomach released and my mind was free. I
knew I was where I belonged – in the race. I paddled my little white kayak as fast as I could and
although in one split second at the bottom of the course I screwed up, the
other 99% of my run was as perfect as I could have dreamed for. 99% of my run
was perfection and 1% wasn’t, and although that gut wrenching 1% cost me the
Olympics, fourteen years later I truly see the beauty in the fact that I went
through the start gate and participated. (See <a href="http://www.sarahleithbahn.blogspot.com/2013/06/plans-suck.html" target="_blank">Plans Suck</a> for a more detail
account of my actual race run).</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I’ve always struggled with start gates in every aspect of my
life. I remember lying in a hospital bed in searing labor pain with my first
son Wyatt, and the doctor telling me to push – in my opinion, the official
start gate to motherhood. I didn’t want to push! I was so scared to
become a mother. When the doctor told me a second time to push, I yelled at
her! “I’m not doing this! I’m leaving." But thankfully, because of my
swollen belly and inability to walk, I had no choice and Wyatt entered this
world and gave me the greatest title in the world, Mama. As soon as I held
Wyatt in my arms, I was living the dream – I was participating in motherhood. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Publishing my first book was also the same way. Writing the
book was fun, but entering the start gate was horrifying – sharing my book with
readers and letting them judge my work was an extremely terrifying start gate. I
remember it well – I was sitting in my parent’s kitchen, it was mid-night on
December 21st. It was just my computer monitor and the Christmas tree lights
lighting up the room. It took me many second guessing and sickening minutes to hit the enter button on
my keyboard and make my book available online to the world to purchase and
download, but as soon as I hit the button, I felt a huge release. I was in the game. I was
participating and it felt amazing. And by no means I now find success as an
author – far from it – but I am still in the game and able to channel my drive
and desires. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
My point to this post is, our goals and desires can be
incredibly hard to achieve, but the biggest hurdle and most scary part is the
start gate. Just get to the start gate, close your eyes, bite down hard, and get through it. Once you get through the start gate you can start living,
and even when you fail, you can still find greatness in participation. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Don’t get me wrong, till this day when I see a start gate –
regardless of whether it’s the enter button on my keyboard, the long walk from
my car to the front door of my new job, the turning of a doorknob to a new house in a new state, or the actual start gate at a race – I get nauseous.
I’m still so scared of going through a start gate, but every time I do its 100%
worth it.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Over the next two weeks, NBC is only going to show you the
victories. They are going to paint dramatic pictures of athletes that achieve
greatness and are awarded shinny medals. And these moments are inspiring, but
it’s so far from the whole picture. Every single one of these athletes are just
like all of us – when they enter the start gate they have no idea what the
outcome will be – and just like we have the ability to do in our own lives with
our own dreams – they go through the start gate.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
As my Dad has always said, “Just get in the game!” <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<o:DocumentProperties>
<o:Revision>0</o:Revision>
<o:TotalTime>0</o:TotalTime>
<o:Pages>1</o:Pages>
<o:Words>989</o:Words>
<o:Characters>5640</o:Characters>
<o:Company>Big Dreams</o:Company>
<o:Lines>47</o:Lines>
<o:Paragraphs>13</o:Paragraphs>
<o:CharactersWithSpaces>6616</o:CharactersWithSpaces>
<o:Version>14.0</o:Version>
</o:DocumentProperties>
<o:OfficeDocumentSettings>
<o:AllowPNG/>
</o:OfficeDocumentSettings>
</xml><![endif]-->
<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:WordDocument>
<w:View>Normal</w:View>
<w:Zoom>0</w:Zoom>
<w:TrackMoves/>
<w:TrackFormatting/>
<w:PunctuationKerning/>
<w:ValidateAgainstSchemas/>
<w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>
<w:IgnoreMixedContent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent>
<w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>
<w:DoNotPromoteQF/>
<w:LidThemeOther>EN-US</w:LidThemeOther>
<w:LidThemeAsian>JA</w:LidThemeAsian>
<w:LidThemeComplexScript>X-NONE</w:LidThemeComplexScript>
<w:Compatibility>
<w:BreakWrappedTables/>
<w:SnapToGridInCell/>
<w:WrapTextWithPunct/>
<w:UseAsianBreakRules/>
<w:DontGrowAutofit/>
<w:SplitPgBreakAndParaMark/>
<w:EnableOpenTypeKerning/>
<w:DontFlipMirrorIndents/>
<w:OverrideTableStyleHps/>
<w:UseFELayout/>
</w:Compatibility>
<m:mathPr>
<m:mathFont m:val="Cambria Math"/>
<m:brkBin m:val="before"/>
<m:brkBinSub m:val="--"/>
<m:smallFrac m:val="off"/>
<m:dispDef/>
<m:lMargin m:val="0"/>
<m:rMargin m:val="0"/>
<m:defJc m:val="centerGroup"/>
<m:wrapIndent m:val="1440"/>
<m:intLim m:val="subSup"/>
<m:naryLim m:val="undOvr"/>
</m:mathPr></w:WordDocument>
</xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:LatentStyles DefLockedState="false" DefUnhideWhenUsed="true"
DefSemiHidden="true" DefQFormat="false" DefPriority="99"
LatentStyleCount="276">
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="0" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Normal"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="heading 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 7"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 8"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 9"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 7"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 8"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 9"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="35" QFormat="true" Name="caption"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="10" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Title"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="1" Name="Default Paragraph Font"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="11" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Subtitle"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="22" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Strong"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="20" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="59" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Table Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Placeholder Text"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="1" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="No Spacing"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Revision"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="34" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="List Paragraph"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="29" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Quote"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="30" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Intense Quote"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="19" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Subtle Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="21" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Intense Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="31" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Subtle Reference"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="32" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Intense Reference"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="33" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Book Title"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="37" Name="Bibliography"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" QFormat="true" Name="TOC Heading"/>
</w:LatentStyles>
</xml><![endif]-->
<!--[if gte mso 10]>
<style>
/* Style Definitions */
table.MsoNormalTable
{mso-style-name:"Table Normal";
mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0;
mso-tstyle-colband-size:0;
mso-style-noshow:yes;
mso-style-priority:99;
mso-style-parent:"";
mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt;
mso-para-margin:0in;
mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt;
mso-pagination:widow-orphan;
font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:"Times New Roman";}
</style>
<![endif]-->
<!--StartFragment-->
<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Happy Olympic Days
Everyone! Much Love, Sarah </span><!--EndFragment--><br />
<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12.0pt;">For those of you who are curious about whitewater slalom click <a href="https://vimeo.com/14843615" target="_blank">here</a> for a great video on the sport.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><br /></span>
<span style="background-color: white;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20px;">To view Sarah's middle grade fiction book click here: </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20px;"><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Ancient-Realm-Sarah-Leith-Bahn/dp/1468124013/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1371594665&sr=8-1&keywords=sarah+leith+bahn" style="color: #45b0e2; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">Paperback</a></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20px;"> and </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20px;"><a href="http://www.amazon.com/The-Ancient-Realm-ebook/dp/B006OHLSJK/ref=tmm_kin_title_0?ie=UTF8&qid=1371594665&sr=8-1" style="color: #45b0e2; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">Kindle</a></span></span>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09897908401241970252noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6268959504056282658.post-60191283275117204822013-09-07T10:04:00.000-07:002015-07-16T15:49:43.169-07:00I ain’t scared<!--StartFragment-->
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
Two days ago I posted the following statement on Facebook:</div>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
Seeking Advice: Finn (1-year-old) has been sleeping in our
closet his whole life. We were thinking its time to move him out of the
closet... And into Wyatt's room with Wyatt (4-years-old). Wyatt will not be
moving into the closet just incase that needed to be clarified. This shouldn't
be complicated. I know I should just throw Finn in with Wyatt and hope for the
best, but SLEEP - its a precious commodity I don't want to lose any more of.
Current problems: (1) Wyatt sleeps with the closet light on, Finn sleeps in the
pitch black. (2) Wyatt basically jumps around his crib (yes he still sleeps in
a crib) making boom banging noises for about an hour before he falls asleep.
I'm not sure Finn will stay sleeping during Wyatt's reenactment of Lightning
McQueen's beat down of Francesco. (3) It's not unordinary for Finn to wake up
at 5:30 whaling (it's such a wonderful moment when Ryan and I lovingly look
into each others eyes and peacefully decide who's getting up, NOT). Wyatt
sleeps till 6:15. Any advice on making the transition to the boys being in the
same room will be GREATLY appreciated.</blockquote>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Although there were multiple hysterical and informative
replies, one reply stuck out from the rest, Cyd Franken’s who is the wife of a
wonderful man, Tao “Richter” Franken – a true adventurer with a devilish smile
who passed away very recently at much too young of an age. Cyd wrote:</div>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
Tao and I chucked Trina into Kai’s room early… As Tao would
say, I ain’t scared.</blockquote>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Let’s rewind here to four years early when I probably last
spoke to Richter by phone. I was pregnant with Wyatt and walking along the
wooded and richly green C&O canal just outside Washington DC. For reasons I
can’t remember he had a few questions about Potomac Festival, a local
whitewater event<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>– those were
quickly answered and small talk ensued. Being as I was waddling along in my
oversized state, and honestly, a little scared about what was growing in my
belly, I asked Richter if I would survive parenthood. “Parenthood?” Richter
balked. “That’s easy.” I laughed. Richter didn’t. He meant it. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I hung up the phone a little confused. Richter for all
practical purposes had earned the right to have an opinion on parenthood. He
had two kids that were at the time of the conversation a toddler girl and a
young son who was already boofing waterfalls. He had earned his stripes. And
yet, he was the only one out of all the parents I knew that was telling me that
parenthood was easy…</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Cyd’s reply to my Facebook post two days ago finally made
Richter's answer of four years earlier make sense. <i>“I ain’t scared,”</i><span style="font-style: normal;"> a phrase I heard Richter say countless times from the back
of the Proctor High School kayak van where he and my brother – two wild and
untamed teenagers – would sit dreaming of their college days ahead when they
would run huge waterfalls in between classes.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And I’m sure as the years went by Richter said it on his
approach to the world’s tallest peaks and the deepest canyons. It too became a
motto of my brother’s and mine. We would often quote Richter with an equally
devilish grin before we headed out into the backcountry of Wyoming for a ski
adventure, or at the put in of some wild river. But as the years went by I said
it less and eventually forgot it completely.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
When my brother called me a few months ago and could barely
talk in between sobs telling me that his best friend, his roommate for years,
and his true brother had died of sleep apnea next to his son in their tent on
an innocent camping trip I was shocked. I didn’t move. I didn’t talk. I just
let the gushing sobs from my brother bring me into his misery. I thought about
his wife, his son, his daughter and I too sobbed at the simple fact that he was
gone.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
As I sit here now, I realize with no doubt in my mind that
Richter greeted death with his wonderful grin and said, “This is much too
early, but I ain’t scared.” And thanks to Cyd, I am reminded of how powerful
this simple phrase is. Fear is toxic – it prevents love, it prevents humor, it
prevents the true joy that can be experienced in life.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Before I posted about moving Finn into Wyatt’s room, I was
scared! I was DREADING the pure exhaustion that would ensue from potential
sleepless nights of worrying over whether Wyatt would smother Finn with a
pillow, or chuck a toy at Finn’s head leaving him with a gushing wound, or
simply if the boys would sleep. It’s the same stupid fear that consumes me at
the entrance to the grocery store with both boys in tow knowing the all-to-soon
melt down from Wyatt will emerge when I tell him we can’t buy six boxes of
cookies. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
But Richter’s phrase, “I ain’t scared,” snapped me out of
this worthless state of fear. Upon seeing Cyd’s post I immediately went into
action. I took a few necessary precautions by removing from the boys’ room all
pillows and sharp-pointy toys that could suffocate or impale, threw the boys
into the same room, and merely chuckled when I left their room and closed the
door to their first night of sleeping together. And yes, I didn’t sleep. And
yes, the boys barely slept. And yes, both boys and both parents were cranky
monster after a night of no sleep, but the boys <i>did</i><span style="font-style: normal;"> have a blast laughing and playing together, and Ryan
and I </span><i>did</i><span style="font-style: normal;"> laugh the next morning
despite the fact we had to call the doctor at 5AM because we overdosed Finn on
Tylenol. By all means it was a miserable night, but because I wasn’t scared I
could embrace humor and the love from my crazy boys and as a result have the time of my life.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I will never again forget Richter’s phrase because when
Wyatt gets his drivers license or worse his motorcycle license – I just
shivered and gagged – I will chant, “I ain’t scared” and beat back fear with a
whopping bat. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Richter, I still don’t believe you – parenthood is hard, but
it is a lot easier, and more importantly, full of a lot more love, fun and
meaning when you’re not scared. Thank you Richter for always giving me that devilish
smile above huge waterfalls and saying, “I ain’t scared.” At times I thought
you were crazy. Now I know you were just smarter than the rest of us. I love
you and I miss you.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
To dear Cyd, thank you for reminding me of your husband’s
most perfect phrase. From here on out, this Mama ain’t scared! </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
For those of you that have been touched by Richter's life like I was a fund has been set up to help support Richter's two children, Trina and Kai. Please click <a href="http://www.bombergear.com/news/support-franken-family" target="_blank">here</a> for more information.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.bombergear.com/sites/default/files/131313_10151304382339191_416195514_o%281%29.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img alt="" border="0" height="176" src="http://www.bombergear.com/sites/default/files/131313_10151304382339191_416195514_o%281%29.jpg" style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px;" width="264" /></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #4c4c4c; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20px;"><img alt="" height="178" src="http://www.bombergear.com/sites/default/files/547032_10151266581024140_1822276630_n.jpg" style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px;" width="238" /> </span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #4c4c4c; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20px;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-KMSpi4N7j6Q/Ui3reWu1NjI/AAAAAAAABAQ/dACSHh5VSkk/s1600/photo-59.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-KMSpi4N7j6Q/Ui3reWu1NjI/AAAAAAAABAQ/dACSHh5VSkk/s320/photo-59.JPG" width="225" /></a></span></div>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 13px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit; line-height: 17px;">Impossible is just a big word thrown around by small men who find it easier to live the world they have been given, rather than to explore the power they have to change it. Impossible is not a fact. It is an opinion. Impossible is not a declaration. It is a dare. Impossible is potential. Impossible is temporary. Impossible is nothing. - John Maxwell</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial, sans-serif; line-height: 20px;">, </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit; line-height: 20px;">Tao-Richter's favorite quote</span></span></blockquote>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #4c4c4c; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20px;"></span><br />
<br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20px;">To view Sarah's middle grade fiction book click here: </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20px;"><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Ancient-Realm-Sarah-Leith-Bahn/dp/1468124013/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1371594665&sr=8-1&keywords=sarah+leith+bahn" style="color: #45b0e2; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">Paperback</a></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20px;"> and </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20px;"><a href="http://www.amazon.com/The-Ancient-Realm-ebook/dp/B006OHLSJK/ref=tmm_kin_title_0?ie=UTF8&qid=1371594665&sr=8-1" style="color: #45b0e2; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">Kindle</a></span><br />
<br />
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<!--EndFragment-->
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09897908401241970252noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6268959504056282658.post-57363504192306011202013-08-06T15:20:00.001-07:002013-08-06T20:31:43.343-07:00Pop Turns 70 - It's All About the Adventure!<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<o:DocumentProperties>
<o:Template>Normal</o:Template>
<o:Revision>0</o:Revision>
<o:TotalTime>0</o:TotalTime>
<o:Pages>1</o:Pages>
<o:Words>617</o:Words>
<o:Characters>3521</o:Characters>
<o:Company>Big Dreams</o:Company>
<o:Lines>29</o:Lines>
<o:Paragraphs>7</o:Paragraphs>
<o:CharactersWithSpaces>4324</o:CharactersWithSpaces>
<o:Version>11.1539</o:Version>
</o:DocumentProperties>
<o:OfficeDocumentSettings>
<o:AllowPNG/>
</o:OfficeDocumentSettings>
</xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:WordDocument>
<w:Zoom>0</w:Zoom>
<w:DoNotShowRevisions/>
<w:DoNotPrintRevisions/>
<w:DisplayHorizontalDrawingGridEvery>0</w:DisplayHorizontalDrawingGridEvery>
<w:DisplayVerticalDrawingGridEvery>0</w:DisplayVerticalDrawingGridEvery>
<w:UseMarginsForDrawingGridOrigin/>
</w:WordDocument>
</xml><![endif]-->
<!--StartFragment-->
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
My Dad turned 70 last week! My Mom threw a nice party with local family and friends in Huletts Landing, NY. And I just couldn't help myself - I had to toast the Pop we love! Here's the toast I gave my Dad at his 70th:</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
One of the greatest qualities my father has is his ultimate
sense of adventure.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Dad made everything an adventure - everything - even our pit
stops at the no-name gas stations on our 12-hour car drives to Lake George,
Florida or Roanoke, VA. On any random stops we'd here a "Psst" the
sound of Dad's trademark call meaning adventure this way. "Everyone
out!" He'd say, "I saw a river and I'm sure there's swimming hole."
And sure enough, on the side of the road, somewhere between Michigan and Lake
George there was a river with even a cliff to jump off of. It was as if the
greatest swimming holes and the best rope swings would just magically appear
for Dad. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
By far one of my favorite adventures with Dad was when I was
in third grade. Grandma and Grandpa Corbett took us to Bermuda. We rented these
little scooters that allowed us to pull off the road and explore any beach we
saw. And in true Dad fashion at every single roadside beach there was fun to be
had. But at one of these little beaches there was a path.... And before we knew
it we heard his trademark call, “psst - this way.” And we were off - tiptoeing
with excitement. The path turned into a cliff wall. We were scaling huge rocks,
passing crabs the size of buses. We could see gigantic turtles, and sharks, and
octopuses swim below us while we all clung onto the rock with our tiny fingers.
It ended at a point with 50-foot waves crashing against the cliff. Dad told us
we couldn't go back the way we came. We had to jump off the cliff and swim in.
But we couldn't just jump - we had to time our jumps with the waves. Dad
strictly instructed us that we could only jump when he said go and when he said
go we had to jump - absolutely no hesitation. And when we hit the water, Dad
told us to swim as hard as we could back to the beach. Never in my life had I
felt so alive, never in my life had the sky seem so bright, the sun so pure,
and life just that great - It was my first truly epic adventure. Now looking
back, I am sure we weren't actually scaling cliffs and the jump was probably
only 10 feet with maybe 3 foot rolling waves washing in - but in my memory - in
my imagination - everything was epic - everything was amazing because we were
with Dad.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
It didn't matter if we were running around the baggage carousels
in the Atlanta airport at the 3AM in the morning, it didn't matter if we were
at the Grosse Pointe Park doing the dinky little exercise circuit, it didn't
matter if we just in our backyard - my Dad could create the greatest adventures
to be had. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I've kayaked all over the world, I've paddled the Grand
Canyon, I spent winter after winter living in Coast Rica kayaking a river
infested with horrid snakes, I've paddled huge waterfalls, I've hiked deep into
some of the most beautiful wilderness in the world. AND I know for a fact that
I would have never had the guts to go on any of those adventures if it hadn't
been for my Dad - he is the one that created that spirit inside me and in turn
created my burning desire to show my own sons that every single day no matter
where we are - no matter what we are doing we can create the greatest adventure.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Some people don't understand the adventure spirit and that's
fine, but for my Dad I think it was his way of teaching us that we can’t
achieve anything by sitting on the sideline. It was only by getting into the
game - climbing out to random point in Bermuda, jumping off the high dive at
GPYC, and swimming in an unknown river that we would be able to really see what
we were made of and what we were capable of achieving. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
My father still amazes me - even though he's 70 he still
puts on a slick ski-racing suit and joins the ranks of the best US Skiers in
the country and races the town downhill in Jackson Hole. For those of you that
don't ski, this means he reaches speed on his skis faster than you drive on a
regular road. He skis some of the hardest terrain in Jackson Hole and rides the
lift back up with the young bucks that star in ski movies. And here at Lake
George when Corby and I are back on the dock with him, it only takes him a few
minutes before we here, "Psst - adventure this way!"<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Happy Birthday Pops and thank you for always including me on
all your adventures! We love you.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-VJgU2ZLzBpk/UgF2L-TvqgI/AAAAAAAAA_I/Ig-KgNUMuH8/s1600/photo-49.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-VJgU2ZLzBpk/UgF2L-TvqgI/AAAAAAAAA_I/Ig-KgNUMuH8/s320/photo-49.JPG" width="254" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
Me and Wyatt toasting Pop:)<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20px;">To view Sarah's middle grade fiction book click here: <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Ancient-Realm-Sarah-Leith-Bahn/dp/1468124013/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1371594665&sr=8-1&keywords=sarah+leith+bahn" style="color: #45b0e2; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">Paperback</a> and <a href="http://www.amazon.com/The-Ancient-Realm-ebook/dp/B006OHLSJK/ref=tmm_kin_title_0?ie=UTF8&qid=1371594665&sr=8-1" style="color: #45b0e2; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">Kindle</a></span></div>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<!--EndFragment-->Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09897908401241970252noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6268959504056282658.post-37973456071808755752013-06-18T15:24:00.001-07:002015-07-16T15:49:43.162-07:00Plans Suck<!--StartFragment-->
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
Plans suck, but its June and everyone is graduating and
everyone needs a plan!</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I’ve always thought it was extremely important to have a
plan. I don’t know if it was my parents, teachers, or coaches that told me
this. Or maybe I heard it in my commencement address… Regardless, I thought
plans were important. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
When I graduated from high school at 18 – with the sun
shinning on me while I sat charged and excited all dressed in white – I came up
with the following plan while tuning out my commencement speaker:</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Graduate from college with a 4.0 and make U.S. Olympic Team
by 23-years-old. Retire from sport. Work fulltime for three-five years. Get MBA
at Sterns School of Business before 30<sup>th</sup> birthday. Then become the
best financial analyst the world has ever known. That was my plan, and I was
going to stick to my plan. Everyone sticks to their plan, right?</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
It wasn’t until I was 33 and in labor with my first son that
I realized plans are <i>worthless</i><span style="font-style: normal;">. You see,
when you’re pregnant the doctor tells you to write out a labor plan that will
detail how you want your labor to go. Perfect I thought – this is what I want:
(1) No drugs – I’m super tough, how hard can labor really be? And, (2) I want
my husband at my side caressing my head and counting the seconds during each
contraction. Easy, right? Contractions are suppose to last about 60-90 seconds
and then you rest for about a minute while your husband gazes lovingly upon you
before it starts all over again. Labor was going to be like a 10-hour intense
and painful mountain climb with my devoted husband at my side. </span><i>PLEASE</i><span style="font-style: normal;"> – at 7AM contraction number one started, and never
stopped, or so I felt. After wanting absolutely NO ONE to touch me, talk to me,
or even look at me, I had a baby in my arms at 9AM. I didn’t breathe through my
two-hour-long single contraction – I screamed at the top of my lungs. Remember
how I said I was tough and didn’t need drugs? Well I screamed for drugs while
literally foaming at the mouth! My husband said I sounded like a crack addict
begging for anything to just take the edge off, and no one brought me anything,
and I was pissed! </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
My labor plan, just like all my plans, was worthless. Let’s
scroll back to my original plan because as you can see having a kid at 33
wasn’t part of that plan. It was 2000, I was 23, and the Olympics were in three
months, but first I had to make the U.S. Olympic Team at U.S. Team Trials. In
the sport of whitewater slalom (my sport) one female from the U.S. would be
able to race in the big games. U.S. Team Trials, day one: I crossed the finish
line with the fastest time. I was in first. A good start to a three-day race.
Day two: I had another great run going. In the last 30 seconds I crossed a
wave, caught my edge, and flipped over – breathing water in the sport of whitewater
slalom is not fast. My dreams of making the Olympic Team were over. Literally –
in that split second when I flipped the first part of my plan I’d had since I
was five-years-old was gone – <i>gone.</i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
At the finish line I was embraced by my brother who said,
don’t worry there is always the next Olympics. I nodded. He was right. Maybe I
could just extend my plan to include another four years of training. I was only
23. Why was I rushing off to Wall Street? I had about 60 undergrad credits
left. I could finish college while training for the next Olympics <i>and</i><span style="font-style: normal;"> then get a job </span><i>and</i><span style="font-style: normal;"> then get an MBA </span><i>and</i><span style="font-style: normal;"> then become the best financial analyst in the world.
It was settled – that was what I was doing.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Again – plans are worthless. Trying to make the Olympic Team
and go to college at the same time was a stupid plan. I half-fasted both. I did
graduate with a 3.98, but I missed out on key internships that would have
greatly increased my career in lieu of World Cup competitions. And my training
suffered greatly too. I showed up at the 2004 Olympic Trials a shadow of what I
was in 2000. I still ended up second, but my rival who had beaten me in 2000
ran away with the Olympic spot and went on to win the Silver Medal in Athens (click <a href="http://sarahleithbahn.blogspot.com/2012/01/monthly-goodness-life-is-not-always.html" target="_blank">here</a> for my rival's amazing story).</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Less than two weeks after racing at Olympic Team Trials in
Athens, Greece, I started working at the Securities and Exchange Commission
(SEC) in Washington DC. I was 27. I still wanted to get my MBA before I was 30,
but I couldn’t get into a top MBA School without at least three solid years of
work experience before applying. My plan was pushed out – I would work at the
SEC till I was 30 and then head off for my MBA.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I’m laughing out loud right now – that plan was completely
worthless. The ultimate plan ruinner happened – love. I fell in love with Ryan,
my best friend and started dating him in early 2005. Ryan, having tried to make
the Olympic Team as well, wouldn’t be done with his undergrad for another three
years. I wasn’t willing to get my MBA in Washington DC. I wanted to get it in
NYC where I would eventually walk Wall Street as one of the best, so my MBA got
pushed back again. A marriage and pregnancy later, I realized that I was never
moving to NYC to get my MBA.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
In 2009, at 36 weeks pregnant, I threw out all plans when my
husband and I moved to Hood River, Oregon, a tiny town on the Columbia River. I
had my last day at the SEC on a Friday, got on a plane to Portland on Saturday,
and waddled off the plane with my swollen belly determined to come up with a
new plan. Surely I could still become the best financial analyst while living
in Hood River with no MBA and a newborn…</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Four weeks later when my labor plan completely failed me, I
had my glowing revelation that plans are not only worthless, they suck. And I want to tell everyone this
because its June and in June everyone graduates from either college, high
school, middle school, elementary school, and even pre-school and each kid has
to come up with a plan – their next move – their path to success. I have a
great buddy that’s 14-years-old. He will be a Freshman in high school next year
and he has to decide right now whether to take Algebra II and Geometry together
during his Freshman year. If he doesn’t, he will not be able to take Calculus
his Senior year, and if he doesn’t take Calculus his Senior year he might not
be able to get into his college of choice, and if he doesn’t get into his
college of choice, he might not be able to get a top engineering job, and if he
doesn’t get a top engineering job, he might not be able to invent disappearing
dog poop spray, and if he can’t invent disappearing dog poop spray, he
definitely won’t be able to invent disappearing cat poop spray… (Did you ever
see that stupid moive?) The later example is supposed to shed light on how
quickly plans can get silly. Try this on for size: My 14-year-old buddy doesn’t
take Algebra II and Geometry at the same time, and he doesn’t get to take AP
Calculus his Senior year, and he doesn’t get into MIT, but he does get into
University of Washington, and because he went to University of Washington and
not MIT he met his best friend, and together with his best friend on one random
night when neither of them had any plans of any sort they figure out how to
reverse the acidification of the ocean and save the Great Barrier Reef. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
My point is: Dare to imagine your next achievement when your
plan doesn’t work.<i><o:p></o:p></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Now, if you really most know – I still make plans because I
do believe plans are important - doesn’t mean they don’t still suck - but they
guide us, push us, and inspire us. However, if you are like me, be prepared to
ditch them because all plans expire the second you take action. And in the
second they expire, keep your mind open so you can see the next opportunity
that <i>is</i><span style="font-style: normal;"> dangling in front of you.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
PS – when your plans don’t happen the following side affects
may happen:</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
1) Tears – its devastating when plans don’t work out. Many
tears were shed when I didn’t make the Olympic Team. However, thanks to my
failed Olympic attempt, I am that much more devoted to seeing my plans to
become a writer come true.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
2) Humble Pie – It doesn’t taste good, but when your plans
don’t work out you usually get a slice and often emerge a better person. This
year when my son attended Pre-School Graduation, my plan for the night did NOT
entail my perfect three-year-old son taking a closed fist to<i> </i><span style="font-style: normal;">a little girl’s head and making her sob. When I told
my friend – who happens to be the mother of the 14-year-old that I mentioned
above – she said the sooner you realize parenting is the most humbling and
unplanned journey of your life, the better and more understanding parent you
will be. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
3) Revelations – Failure is a good thing. Every single time
you fail, you do emerge with more knowledge and better chance of success in
your next plan. Remember: Dare to imagine your next achievement when your plan
doesn’t work.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
4) Listen to your commencement speaker: I bet if I had
listened to my commencement speaker she probably had mentioned something about
the perfect plan never working out and how that’s a good thing:) </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Wingdings; mso-char-type: symbol; mso-symbol-font-family: Wingdings;"><span style="mso-char-type: symbol; mso-symbol-font-family: Wingdings;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-rofGCsxru50/UcDb-QK5VHI/AAAAAAAAA-E/gucItQ8ahbI/s1600/Sarah+Leith+Olympic+Trials+2004b.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="189" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-rofGCsxru50/UcDb-QK5VHI/AAAAAAAAA-E/gucItQ8ahbI/s320/Sarah+Leith+Olympic+Trials+2004b.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
Me racing at the 2004 U.S. Olympic Team Trials.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-khw9tbnSh6M/UcDdWjWI3sI/AAAAAAAAA-Q/hUWO4cbJjBE/s1600/sarahryanand+vernon.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-khw9tbnSh6M/UcDdWjWI3sI/AAAAAAAAA-Q/hUWO4cbJjBE/s320/sarahryanand+vernon.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
Me and Ryan in 2005. And yes, Ryan came with the 90 pound wolf-like dog.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
To view Sarah's middle grade fiction book click here: <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Ancient-Realm-Sarah-Leith-Bahn/dp/1468124013/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1371594665&sr=8-1&keywords=sarah+leith+bahn" target="_blank">Paperback</a> and <a href="http://www.amazon.com/The-Ancient-Realm-ebook/dp/B006OHLSJK/ref=tmm_kin_title_0?ie=UTF8&qid=1371594665&sr=8-1" target="_blank">Kindle</a> </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<!--EndFragment-->
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09897908401241970252noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6268959504056282658.post-55582359327607560952013-05-18T09:45:00.001-07:002013-08-20T14:17:01.509-07:00A Personal Rambling Review of Lean In - An Equal Myth To Having It All<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<o:DocumentProperties>
<o:Template>Normal</o:Template>
<o:Revision>0</o:Revision>
<o:TotalTime>0</o:TotalTime>
<o:Pages>1</o:Pages>
<o:Words>1779</o:Words>
<o:Characters>10141</o:Characters>
<o:Company>Big Dreams</o:Company>
<o:Lines>84</o:Lines>
<o:Paragraphs>20</o:Paragraphs>
<o:CharactersWithSpaces>12453</o:CharactersWithSpaces>
<o:Version>11.1539</o:Version>
</o:DocumentProperties>
<o:OfficeDocumentSettings>
<o:AllowPNG/>
</o:OfficeDocumentSettings>
</xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:WordDocument>
<w:Zoom>0</w:Zoom>
<w:DoNotShowRevisions/>
<w:DoNotPrintRevisions/>
<w:DisplayHorizontalDrawingGridEvery>0</w:DisplayHorizontalDrawingGridEvery>
<w:DisplayVerticalDrawingGridEvery>0</w:DisplayVerticalDrawingGridEvery>
<w:UseMarginsForDrawingGridOrigin/>
</w:WordDocument>
</xml><![endif]-->
<!--StartFragment-->
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>I
said no to a publishing house. I’m crazy! What was I thinking? I’ve
dreamed of the day that my series, <a href="http://www.amazon.com/dp/B006OHLSJK/ref=tmm_kin_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&sr=8-1&qid=1368978057">The Ancient Realm</a> finds a publishing house
it can call home. And, I just let that dream go…</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Let
me take you through key factors I thought about when making my decision and how
Ms. Sandberg’s book made my blood boil during this process.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<b>Factor #1: </b><span style="font-weight: normal;">My
sons: 1-year-old Finnegan and 3-year-old Wyatt. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none; text-indent: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none; text-indent: .5in;">
My husband’s one piece of advice to me was do not
base your decision off of the boys. He said, “If you need more hours to write
to meet the publishing house’s deadlines, we will make it work.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none; text-indent: .5in;">
I really appreciated my husband giving me this
freedom – really I did – but it was still incredibly hard not to think about
the boys when making my decision. Let me give you some background: this past
year I became a mother of <i>two</i><span style="font-style: normal;"> boys, and
it was the most challenging year I’ve had as a mother. Finn had horrible acid
reflux and cried for at least one hour after every single feeding. I was
averaging a maximum of five hours of sleep for ten straight months – I was
delusional and miserable at best. I won’t even go into all the health issues we
had with Wyatt during this year as well. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none; text-indent: .5in;">
But now, now the sun is shinning! Finn is so happy
and so easy. He’s this snuggle nugget. He’s my little buddy that fits perfectly
in my arms and just smiles, smiles, smiles. Wyatt is finally medication free –
he’s healthy – he’s growing – he’s firing up the jungle gym like a 3-year-old
should! My time with my boys is now awesome, and just now when I’m not getting
barfed on every five minutes, I’m going to put them in daycare and leave them…
In just one year, both of them will be in preschool and then I will have plenty
of time to write, but the publishing house was offering me a deal now, <i>not
in a year.</i><span style="font-style: normal;"> <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none; text-indent: .5in;">
So I was excited to hear about the book <i>Lean In</i><span style="font-style: normal;">, by Ms. Sheryl Sandberg. Knowing Ms. Sandberg is a
working mom, I’d hope her words would glow with advice for me about my mixed
feelings of giving up my boys’ young years to a daycare facility.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none; text-indent: .5in;">
I will just tell you straight up, Ms. Sandberg
completely alienated me. If her goal was to piss me off, she succeeded. I am
riled up! <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none; text-indent: .5in;">
Okay first, Ms. Sandberg is making a fortune at her
job – a <i>fortune.</i><span style="font-style: normal;"> She can hire the </span><i>best
</i><span style="font-style: normal;">help this world has to offer: a cook, a
gardener, a nanny, a driver… When she leaves for work – she’s not packing up
lunches, herding kids out the door, strapping kids into car seats, and rushing
them off to daycare where the germ packed snot running down the kids’ faces is
thicker than mayonnaise. When her kids were babies, I bet she was leaving the
house solo with her kids still possibly in their pjs while her nanny was
washing the dishes leftover from breakfast. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none; text-indent: .5in;">
Ms. Sandberg stated when she feels bad about not
being home with her kids, she thinks about the times her son got to fence with
Mark Zuckerberg (Founder of Facebook) and how wonderful of an opportunity that
was for him. <i>Please,</i><span style="font-style: normal;"> how is any normal
working mom going to relate to that. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none; text-indent: .5in;">
My personal favorite of Ms. Sandberg’s attempt to
relate to other moms is when she went to a conference with her kids via the CEO
of eBay’s private plane and how freaked she was the whole time because her kid
had lice. Again – private plane, CEO of eBay… Yes, her kid had lice (mind you,
I’ve had it three times and its not the end of the world), but come on! I’ve
ridden on a private plane once in my life and let me tell you – it doesn’t
matter if your kid has lice – it is out-of-this-world easier than flying
commercial. Most moms in this situation would have been dealing with the
extreme pain-in-the-ass head-ache of flying commercial: finding parking at the
airport, checking in, security, waiting at the gate and waiting and waiting
some more, flying packed like a sardine, arriving to wait some more for bags,
catching a taxi – all with a kid with lice. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none; text-indent: .5in;">
Don’t even get me started about the fact that her
husband got to move his company closer to her job so it was easier on their family.
Yes, that is very practical for Ryan and I. I will just ask the CEO of Boeing
to move 90% of their unmanned aircraft industry to Washington DC so I can
continue my first career (one I worked very hard at for five years) at the
Security and Exchange Commission as an Investigator.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none; text-indent: .5in;">
Ms. Sandberg, in a rambling chapter nine, makes a
prophet’s claim that we cannot have it all and we need – no, must – stop
attempting this impossible feat. Why thank you so much for this inspiring
statement! Perfect, I thought, I couldn’t wait to stop trying to have it all. I
desperately read on to see what she expected me to give up, and yes, I was
greatly disappointed yet again. My favorite example – organizing the linen
closet. Second favorite – volunteering at her kid’s school. First, I don’t have
a linen closet. Second, great – lets just continue to leave the volunteering
jobs at our kids’ schools to stay-at-home moms because they really have so much
time, not.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none; text-indent: .5in;">
Ms. Sandberg can pretend that she’s said something so
important to us moms by telling us we can’t have it all, but she’s completely
missed the point. (A) Let’s be real, Ms. Sandberg is still trying to have it
all and she’s lying to herself and her readers when she tells you she’s not.
And, (B) most of us just want two things (we gave up organizing linen closets
long ago): to create the best family and to create the ultimate career for
ourselves – we will happily give up almost everything else to achieve this
feat. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none; text-indent: .5in;">
Long story short, I stuck my tongue out at Ms. Sandberg’s
book – yet another piece of literature that falls into the classic pitfall of
having working moms facing off against non-working moms. However, I am slightly
impressed – she dug deeper and pitted top female executives against young
working women just setting out in their career. Yes, lets just continue to pit
girls against girls – love it, not.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none; text-indent: .5in;">
None-the-less, with a heavy heart I heeded my husband
advice and did not base my decision off of our sons. My husband and I are
extremely fortunate. In our small town there are a couple of in-home daycares
that would have been great for Finn. Wyatt wasn’t an issue because he’s already
in preschool. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<b>Factor #2: </b><span style="font-weight: normal;">My
legal rights to my book<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none; text-indent: .5in;">
In the contract I was presented I signed my rights
away completely - I no longer owned ANY rights to my book – a book I created, a
book that I’d poured my heart and soul into for years – rights gone, completely
gone. A common practice with writers and publishers, but one I’m not ready to
accept. Could I be <i>Leaning In </i><span style="font-style: normal;">by
demanding more…? Did I just give Ms. Sandberg some credit?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<b>Factor #3:</b><span style="font-weight: normal;">
Publisher’s costs above the line, mine below<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none; text-indent: .5in;">
I was going to receive 50% of the profits after the
publisher’s expenses were deducted, but not after my expenses. I don’t make
anything as an author – nothing – but currently my only cost is my time. To
meet the publisher’s deadlines I would have had to incur at least $700 in
daycare expenses a month. That adds up for our house, especially when I am not
contributing to the bottom line. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none; text-indent: .5in;">
Maybe this is where Ms. Sandberg would have told me
to <i>Lean In </i><span style="font-style: normal;">and ask for my expenses to
also be deducted out of the profits before either the publisher or I get paid.
But again, Ms. Sandberg alienated me here. When speaking up for herself, Ms.
Sandberg used an example of when she was nine months pregnant she walked into
the founder of Google’s office and demanded a parking space up front because
she was too pregnant to walk from the back of the parking lot. I cheered with
her in this example, but I found no personal relief. When I was nine months
pregnant I was working in downtown Washington DC. I had gained 60 pounds on my small
frame (picture below) and I could barely walk five feet without having the urge to pee, but I </span><i>never</i><span style="font-style: normal;"> had the option to walk into a CEO’s office and
demand this. And in my current situation, I knew little me - a first time
author - would merely burn the bridge with the publishing house for asking for
this right. It wasn’t an option for me to </span><i>Lean In. </i><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<b>Factor #4: </b><span style="font-weight: normal;">Commitment
to the series <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none; text-indent: .5in;">
The Ancient Realm is a series of three books with the
first one already available on <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Ancient-Realm-Sarah-Leith-Bahn/dp/1468124013/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1368982020&sr=8-1&keywords=sarah+leith+bahn">Amazon</a>. The publishers wanted to re-edit book 1
and re-publish it six months from now. Book 2 would be published six months
later, and book 3 another six months. Ultimately, I told them I would agree to
their contract as is if they guaranteed we could write out books 1-3 and
publish them all at the same time. Currently young readers like to download all
the author’s books in one sitting. They don't like to wait for the next one and
often forget about the author if they do have to wait. The publishers said no.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none; text-indent: .5in;">
I denied the contract over three weeks ago and I’m
still wondering why. Having had a publishing house tell me my book was worth
their time felt like a warm blanket had been wrapped around my shoulder and I
was now a Star Bellied Sneetch being invited to sit at the campfire – I had
been accepted – an industry professional believed in my writing. How did I turn
my back on this? Easy, I told myself. You see, I had been there before, just in
a different venue. When I was trying to make the U.S. Olympic Team in
Whitewater Slalom the best coaches in the world told me every day they believed
in me. But when I got into the start gate at the U.S. Olympic Team Trials and
heard <i>three, two, one, go</i><span style="font-style: normal;">, I was completely
alone with only what I truly believed. I know this because everyone’s cheers
and roars during my race runs did not get me on the Olympic Team. It was my
self-doubts, and my self-doubts alone that prevented me from making it. The
same is true today – the publishing house’s belief in my writing provides zero
grantees. With a contract unevenly waited between publisher and author, I do
feel confident in my decision to continue writing on my own.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none; text-indent: .5in;">
Ultimately staying self-employed is the only avenue I
have to create a working schedule that allows me to strive for my two ultimate
goals: create the best family and create the ultimate career. Ms. Sandberg
clearly implies that the reason why there are so few women at the top is
because we don’t have the ambition to get there. F@*# you, Ms. Sandberg. No
working mom, unless they are the boss or are self-employed can <i>Lean In</i><span style="font-style: normal;"> and create a working schedule where they will be
able to thrive as a mom and a professional. Ms. Sandberg your book merely sells
us an additional bullshit myth to the original myth that we can have it all.
Until society realizes that when children’s school schedules do not meet
working schedules (yes, it could be that simple), moms will not be able to lean
in, and will continue to be torn apart – literally torn apart trying to be both
moms and professionals and that is NOT healthy for society. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none; text-indent: .5in;">
Bottom line: I gave Ms. Sandberg’s book five stars.
Don’t get confused, she pissed me off, but she made me think. She made me think
about the career I did give up to have children (future post). She presented
horrid facts about how truly ripped apart a working mom is – how truly hard it
is for any parent (both mom and dad) to climb the corporate ladder. And for the
alone fact that Ms. Sandberg’s book truly inspired my 70-year-old mom, an
original pioneer of Title IX and a gym teacher, I thank her for taking the time
to write <i>Lean In </i><span style="font-style: normal;">(despite all the help
she has, I assure you, she is still stretched to a very unhealthy tension). <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
I do, however, encourage everyone
to read Ms. Slaughter’s article in The Atlantic Journal, <i><a href="http://www.theatlantic.com/magazine/archive/2012/07/why-women-still-cant-have-it-all/309020/">Why Women Still Can’t Have It All</a></i><span style="font-style: normal;">. I personally felt that
Ms. Slaughter is the very first professional to talk to me as opposed to down
at me. I found incredible wisdom, relief, and courage in her article. Thank you
to my dear sister-in-law, Tara Bahn who sent me the article when I was
frustrated with Ms. Sandberg’s book. Tara is one of the incredibly talented
females in today’s environmental legal field and a mother of two very young
children. She’s on the front lines every day fighting for her career and her
family. Now that </span><i>Lean In,</i><span style="font-style: normal;"> the
fairy-tale version of a working C.O.O./mom has been published, I hope someone
like Tara will write their story about what its like to be a working mom in the
trenches. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-style: normal;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-jURucR5TcnM/UZevs0djYlI/AAAAAAAAA9o/fGEnyfJYjk0/s1600/IMG_1425.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-jURucR5TcnM/UZevs0djYlI/AAAAAAAAA9o/fGEnyfJYjk0/s320/IMG_1425.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
One of my best friends, Brent Wiesel perfectly dubbed this bathing suit, the shower curtain:) This is me, weighing in at 180 - about 8 months pregnant.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20px;">To view Sarah's middle grade fiction book click here: <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Ancient-Realm-Sarah-Leith-Bahn/dp/1468124013/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1371594665&sr=8-1&keywords=sarah+leith+bahn" style="color: #45b0e2; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">Paperback</a> and <a href="http://www.amazon.com/The-Ancient-Realm-ebook/dp/B006OHLSJK/ref=tmm_kin_title_0?ie=UTF8&qid=1371594665&sr=8-1" style="color: #45b0e2; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">Kindle</a> </span></div>
<!--EndFragment-->Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09897908401241970252noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6268959504056282658.post-21337166008880113472013-05-17T13:38:00.003-07:002013-08-20T14:17:28.365-07:00Mother's Day Cleanse My series, The Ancient Realm has a lot of underwater scenes. Some of the new scenes I'm writing take place on the river bed floor. So this Mother's Day I felt like it was important to do some research by taking a dip in the river and touching the floor of the river bed.<br />
<br />
Me Before:<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-dFPJglJebdI/UZaSx7zHjDI/AAAAAAAAA9Q/R1vTtjBxzbg/s1600/photo-41.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="278" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-dFPJglJebdI/UZaSx7zHjDI/AAAAAAAAA9Q/R1vTtjBxzbg/s320/photo-41.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
Me after:<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-WvbFyvhiWz0/UZaSy3-UCuI/AAAAAAAAA9Y/FhE7i7XogCw/s1600/photo-40.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="239" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-WvbFyvhiWz0/UZaSy3-UCuI/AAAAAAAAA9Y/FhE7i7XogCw/s320/photo-40.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
It should be noted that I felt great afterwards - perfect Mother's Day Cleanse - but it was so cold. I did not stay in long enough to dive down to the river bed floor. In my next life I will have super powers similar to the River Duchess and be able to comfortably swim in any river. (Safety Note: please do not jump into a river. I have spent my whole life on a river and know when it is safe enough to swim).</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20px;">To view Sarah's middle grade fiction book click here: <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Ancient-Realm-Sarah-Leith-Bahn/dp/1468124013/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1371594665&sr=8-1&keywords=sarah+leith+bahn" style="color: #45b0e2; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">Paperback</a> and <a href="http://www.amazon.com/The-Ancient-Realm-ebook/dp/B006OHLSJK/ref=tmm_kin_title_0?ie=UTF8&qid=1371594665&sr=8-1" style="color: #45b0e2; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">Kindle</a> </span></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09897908401241970252noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6268959504056282658.post-54198411680923154442013-04-19T20:07:00.000-07:002013-06-19T14:37:48.673-07:00I Am The Colorado River. <blockquote class="tr_bq">
I have run these canyon for six million years<br />
I have traveled from the rocky mountains to the deserts<br />
Through scorching heat and freezing cold<br />
From the land of the dinosaurs to fields of food. </blockquote>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
I lend my hand to seven states,<br />
Two countries,<br />
Nine national parks,<br />
And 36 million people across an arid west. </blockquote>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
I am not the strongest,<br />
Or the largest,<br />
But I am the hardest working. </blockquote>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
People love me.<br />
My playfulness,<br />
My beauty,<br />
My power,<br />
My life. </blockquote>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
But I don't think I can offer anymore.<br />
I am tried, tapped, and tied. </blockquote>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
Of the hundreds of major rivers in the world,<br />
I am one of the few who no longer kisses the sea. </blockquote>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
Battles to harness my soul have been won and lost. </blockquote>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
Use me wisely, and <i>I will sustain you</i>.<br />
Use me like you have, and<i> I will break</i>. </blockquote>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
My name is Red, the Grand Red River, the American Nile, the Canyon Maker. I am the Colorado River. And I am the most endangered river in America. </blockquote>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
Become part of the solution.<br />
<a href="http://AmericanRivers.org/Colorado">AmericanRivers.org/Colorado</a> </blockquote>
American Rivers created an epic, awe inspiring <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mqYcC7jEe44&feature=youtu.be">video</a> that leaves me scared, very scared. I've said this before and I will say it again, we are in a battle to save our fresh water sources. I don't know who will win, but I thank American Rivers for all that you do to protect the rivers that feed me, nourish me, and provide me and my family with life.<br />
<br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20px;">To view Sarah's middle grade fiction book click here:</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20px;"> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20px;"><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Ancient-Realm-Sarah-Leith-Bahn/dp/1468124013/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1371594665&sr=8-1&keywords=sarah+leith+bahn" style="color: #45b0e2; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">Paperback</a></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20px;"> and</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20px;"> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20px;"><a href="http://www.amazon.com/The-Ancient-Realm-ebook/dp/B006OHLSJK/ref=tmm_kin_title_0?ie=UTF8&qid=1371594665&sr=8-1" style="color: #45b0e2; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">Kindle</a></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20px;"> </span><br />
<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09897908401241970252noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6268959504056282658.post-59642739052362368632013-04-18T09:50:00.003-07:002013-06-19T14:38:03.218-07:00Corbett Leith, Corby!My amazing brother is my hero. He is the reason why I've climbed so many mountains, kayaked so many rivers, jumped off so many cliffs, and surfed endless waves. Everyone and anyone would tell you that Corby is all about adventure. You spend a day with Corby and no matter whether you are in the bowels of a city, the depths of a forest, or the top of a mountain you are in for an adventure. I love him. He is the best.<br />
<br />
He is also the illustrator of my cover! He's a professional artist and specializes in large abstract oils. Visit a museum with him sometime - truly one of the best adventures you can go on. His ability to explain a painting and walk you through any gallery in the world is one of the greatest rides. Click <a href="http://www.corbettleith.com/video">here</a> to watch a video that takes you into Corby's world in his own studio. Enjoy!<br />
<br />
Here is a picture of my brother - he's the one of the bottom left. And yes, he's the one that just decided on a random day (actually the morning of my wedding) that we should do a water ski pyramid - that's Corby - any and every idea is up for grabs and worth pursuing. More importantly, to Corby every idea is achievable. When you stand next to him you think anything is possible.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-FDZXiyfMNxA/UXAjQ00GFkI/AAAAAAAAA8E/oFPjOgA_QHc/s1600/IMG_0764.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="256" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-FDZXiyfMNxA/UXAjQ00GFkI/AAAAAAAAA8E/oFPjOgA_QHc/s320/IMG_0764.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20px;">To view Sarah's middle grade fiction book click here:</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20px;"> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20px;"><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Ancient-Realm-Sarah-Leith-Bahn/dp/1468124013/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1371594665&sr=8-1&keywords=sarah+leith+bahn" style="color: #45b0e2; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">Paperback</a></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20px;"> and</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20px;"> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20px;"><a href="http://www.amazon.com/The-Ancient-Realm-ebook/dp/B006OHLSJK/ref=tmm_kin_title_0?ie=UTF8&qid=1371594665&sr=8-1" style="color: #45b0e2; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">Kindle</a></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20px;"> </span><br />
<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09897908401241970252noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6268959504056282658.post-56352405977315161262013-01-23T14:32:00.000-08:002016-01-20T09:07:39.659-08:00School Visit - Mid-Columbia Seventh Day Adventist SchoolI had a fabulous visit with the 1st-4th grade class of the Mid-Columbia Seventh Day Adventist School. We jumped up and down on one foot, we talked writing, we talked books, we had a blast. This is a rough outline of what I said - I try hard not to read from the paper, but with two little boys running around my feet these days I don't have as much time to practice my speeches.<br />
<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<o:DocumentProperties>
<o:Template>Normal</o:Template>
<o:Revision>0</o:Revision>
<o:TotalTime>0</o:TotalTime>
<o:Pages>1</o:Pages>
<o:Words>525</o:Words>
<o:Characters>2993</o:Characters>
<o:Company>Big Dreams</o:Company>
<o:Lines>24</o:Lines>
<o:Paragraphs>5</o:Paragraphs>
<o:CharactersWithSpaces>3675</o:CharactersWithSpaces>
<o:Version>11.1539</o:Version>
</o:DocumentProperties>
<o:OfficeDocumentSettings>
<o:AllowPNG/>
</o:OfficeDocumentSettings>
</xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:WordDocument>
<w:Zoom>0</w:Zoom>
<w:DoNotShowRevisions/>
<w:DoNotPrintRevisions/>
<w:DisplayHorizontalDrawingGridEvery>0</w:DisplayHorizontalDrawingGridEvery>
<w:DisplayVerticalDrawingGridEvery>0</w:DisplayVerticalDrawingGridEvery>
<w:UseMarginsForDrawingGridOrigin/>
</w:WordDocument>
</xml><![endif]-->
<!--StartFragment-->
<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
I’ll start my personal adventures of when I was in 4<sup>th</sup>
grade. I was living in Grosse Pointe, Michigan. It was a really hard year for
me. In the classroom I didn’t feel very good about myself. I was the worst in
the class – the worst. In my class we had a chart with all our names on it. Every
week we took a spelling test. If we got a hundred on our spelling test my
teacher would put a star next to our names. All my classmates had at least
four or five stars next to their names for getting a hundred on their spelling
test, but not me. I never got a star. My chart stayed blank the whole year.
During reading hour, when we finished our assignment we could go up to the
teacher and get a candy sucker. I always finished last and by the time I got to
pick a candy all the good flavors were gone. In the classroom I felt stupid,
really stupid.<br />
<br />
In 5<sup>th</sup> grade we moved to Boston Massachusetts. I
started at a new school, with a new teacher where I had to make new friends. On
one of my first days in school my teacher asked me to read out loud in front of
the whole class. I just sat at my desk and looked at the book because that was
all I could do – I couldn’t read – I didn’t know how to read. I felt even more
stupid. But, my teacher was wonderful. She took me aside and had me tested by a
professional for learning disability. My results said that I was reading and
spelling on a first grade level and was dyslexic – a common learning disability
that affects people’s ability to LEARN. I was told that being dyslexic did not
mean that I couldn’t read and spell – it meant that I had to learn how to read
and spell differently. With this new knowledge my teacher and after school
tutor taught me how to read and spell. I didn’t learn overnight. It was years
of hard hard hard work, but by 8<sup>th</sup> grade I finally caught up. I was
finally reading and spelling on an eighth grade level. In high school I
graduated near the top of my class and a member of the National Honor Society.
In college I graduated near the top of my class with a near perfect grade point
average of 3.98 and was awarded the highest academic honor available to an accounting
major.<br />
<br />
I am so proud to tell you that I am dyslexic. I believe it
is the greatest gift I was given because it forced me to learn how to work
really hard. If school had been easy for me I don’t know if I would have ever
learned how to work really hard. And it’s through my hard work that I have
found success. You see, starting at age of 13, I had the goal of making U.S.
Olympic Team in the sport of Whitewater Slalom Kayaking. And through my hard
work in sport I ended up on the US National Team, ranked second in the country,
a world championship silver medalist, and the first alternate to two US Olympic
Teams.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><br /> </span><br />
My point is this: our greatest weaknesses – mine being
reading and spelling – we can all find something that will help us become
better at whatever we set out to achieve.<br />
<br />
I would have NEVER in a million years thought I would stand
in front of you as an author. Even though I worked so hard to over come my
dyslexia I am still really scared of words! Commas, nouns, adjectives – grammar
in general SCARE me. But, I had a dream – I wanted to write a book, so I put
aside my fears and worked really hard to write this little book. And again, if
I hadn’t been dyslexic, if I hadn’t learned how to work really hard in school, I
would have never been able to write this book.<br />
<br />
So to sum up my personal adventures I truly believe that my
greatest weakness in life – being dyslexic - truly became my greatest strength
because it taught me how to work really hard. </blockquote>
A huge thank you to Stacey at Mid-Colubmia SDA School. It is amazing teachers like you that help unlock the wonders in every book. Thank you - Thank you - Thank you!<br />
<br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20px;">To view Sarah's middle grade fiction book click here:</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20px;"> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20px;"><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Ancient-Realm-Sarah-Leith-Bahn/dp/1468124013/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1371594665&sr=8-1&keywords=sarah+leith+bahn" style="color: #45b0e2; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">Paperback</a></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20px;"> and</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20px;"> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20px;"><a href="http://www.amazon.com/The-Ancient-Realm-ebook/dp/B006OHLSJK/ref=tmm_kin_title_0?ie=UTF8&qid=1371594665&sr=8-1" style="color: #45b0e2; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">Kindle</a></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20px;"> </span><br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
</blockquote>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<o:p></o:p></div>
<!--EndFragment-->Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09897908401241970252noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6268959504056282658.post-14504629831002850322012-10-27T11:46:00.001-07:002013-08-20T14:17:28.363-07:00Dump Trucks and Princesses <!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<o:DocumentProperties>
<o:Template>Normal</o:Template>
<o:Revision>0</o:Revision>
<o:TotalTime>0</o:TotalTime>
<o:Pages>1</o:Pages>
<o:Words>1162</o:Words>
<o:Characters>6624</o:Characters>
<o:Company>Big Dreams</o:Company>
<o:Lines>55</o:Lines>
<o:Paragraphs>13</o:Paragraphs>
<o:CharactersWithSpaces>8134</o:CharactersWithSpaces>
<o:Version>11.1539</o:Version>
</o:DocumentProperties>
<o:OfficeDocumentSettings>
<o:AllowPNG/>
</o:OfficeDocumentSettings>
</xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:WordDocument>
<w:Zoom>0</w:Zoom>
<w:DoNotShowRevisions/>
<w:DoNotPrintRevisions/>
<w:DisplayHorizontalDrawingGridEvery>0</w:DisplayHorizontalDrawingGridEvery>
<w:DisplayVerticalDrawingGridEvery>0</w:DisplayVerticalDrawingGridEvery>
<w:UseMarginsForDrawingGridOrigin/>
</w:WordDocument>
</xml><![endif]-->
<!--StartFragment-->
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
“MAMA! STOP!” These were the words spoken by my then
one-and-half-year-old son, Wyatt when we were driving home one day. My heart
about stopped. I thought I had just run over a squirrel, or ran a stop sign, or
did something horrible because the shriek in his voice was so urgent that you
would have thought Wyatt was going to die if I didn’t stop. I quickly realized
that nothing terribly wrong had happened; we merely drove by a construction
site. Nonetheless if we didn’t stop and take a look at all the big machines
driving around in the mud, Wyatt was going to start WW III with a world-class
temper-tantrum.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I pulled the car over, got Wyatt out of his car seat, and in
the rain (it’s always raining in Hood River, OR), we walked over to the fence
line to see dirty – rusty – loud machines backing up, “beep, beep, beep, beep.”
Going forward. Backing up, “beep, beep, beep, beep.” Leveling dirt. Backing up,
“beep, beep, beep, beep…” I rolled my eyes – boring. Surely Wyatt felt the
same, but when I looked down at Wyatt: his eyes, his face, his
open-mouth-with-drool-coming-out look said it all – he had never seen anything
so cool in his life. Dump trucks, skid steer loaders, forklifts, crane trucks –
Christmas had come early! The site was a one-year-old gold mine! </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Wyatt tugged on my shirt, insistent I sit down so he could
curl up in my lamp and watch the amazing spectacle before him. Wyatt didn’t
move and this was unheard of. He’s normally bouncing off the walls. If I’d let
him, he would have sat still for hours watching these machines. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Visiting the construction site became part of our daily
routine and I started getting into it. Wyatt would get his “big machine” fix
while he sat in my lap so transfixed and so subdued that you would have thought
I’d drugged him, and I would have about 15 minutes to check my email and
social/media news sites on my phone – win-win for both of us.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Soon our house was FULL of toy construction equipment: the
books we read, the music we listened to (Truck Tunes – check it out, “Forklift
Boogie” is my personal favorite), Wyatt’s clothes – everything had a dump truck on
it. And I didn’t think twice, I embraced the construction toddler obsession
phase with open arms.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-oFEnKIKu8Ps/UIwnf1X3gRI/AAAAAAAAA5I/ttPnCgB1QsY/s1600/photo-28.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-oFEnKIKu8Ps/UIwnf1X3gRI/AAAAAAAAA5I/ttPnCgB1QsY/s320/photo-28.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
That is until one day at the construction site one of the
workers came over to talk to us. Wyatt started quivering with excitement – you
would have thought this guy was Santa Claus. I was going to have to get him to
autograph our copy of <i>Good Night Construction Site</i><span style="font-style: normal;">. Our conversation went like this:</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“I
see you guys here every day,” the big construction worker said.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“Yes,
my son thinks you and your machines are the coolest thing ever.” Wyatt is still
in my lap trembling with excitement.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“Well,
tell your son to stay in school so he doesn’t end up like me,” and the big
construction worker turned around and walked away. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Wyatt, not really understanding the English language, merely
kept watching. I on the other hand sat rather dumb founded. My initial reaction
was: that was really harsh, I doubt he’ll sign Wyatt’s picture book. But as I
sat there, I started to agree with him. If I could choose my son’s career, a
dump truck driver was not in the top ten. Mind you, I believe machine workers
have a legitimate career. They are the backbone of our society – they build our
roads, our schools, our firehouses… But, its grueling work that probably takes
a heavy toll on one’s body. We packed up and drove home.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Since that interaction I’ve often thought about Wyatt’s true
obsession with dump trucks. He created this obsession. I did not. Dump trucks
were one of the very first things he ever cared about. If his plastic dump
truck was comfortable, he would use it as a pillow. And yes, I encouraged it by
our daily visits to the construction sites and purchases of dump truck toys
galore. But his obsession with big machines was all him. Which got me thinking
about what I was obsessed with as a toddler. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I didn’t have to think long: princesses! When I was Wyatt’s age I wanted to be a princess. And
believe me, my Mom did NOT embrace this obsession, or encourage, or create it.
My Mom was a gym teacher, an original supporter of Title IX, and a proud tomboy.
She cried with joy when I didn’t make the cheerleading squad in 6<sup>th</sup>
grade – trust me – she hated everything pink and princessy. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
And despite my mother’s beliefs, I claim that my princess
obsession (present tense, I still have it) is healthy. As a girl, when I was a
pretending to be a Princess, I wasn’t just prancing around in a pretty dress –
I was kicking butt and taking names as well! From my top bunk while wearing my
rhinestone tiara, I was leading the free world! I was giving speeches that made
grown men quake because I was going to take over the world and make it a better
place! What were these speeches about? I don’t know – but that rhinestone tiara
I wore made me believe my words were powerful and bold and were going to
inspire millions to fight with me to save the world and then some. And as a adult,
It has inspired me to worship amazing leaders, who whether or not they have a
Princess title, are royal: Princess Diana (with grace and poise required
by her British Royal Title, hugged children and adults infected with HIV at
a time when most wouldn’t be in the same room with an infected human. She got
in the mud and helped unarm numerous landmines littered across Angola), Michele
Obama (regardless of one’s political beliefs, is an amazing leader who is
using her title and power to attack childhood obesity), Sylvia Earle (A true
queen of the oceans nicknamed, “Her Deepness,” has used her powers to
accomplish numerous environmental achievements) – the list of outstanding royal
women is endless. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
And yes I agree with my mother, these obsessions can quickly
become unhealthy – buying everything “princess” Disney makes is not good, and
buying everything “dump truck” that Amazon sells is also unhealthy. Peggy
Orenstein, an amazing writer, does an excellent job documenting how toxic the
princess world can be. Please click <a href="http://peggyorenstein.com/blog/category/princesses-2">here</a> to see her blog. And she’s right, so
many<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“princess” toys are awful.
But as mothers, we have the choice not to buy that stuff. We have the choice to
guide our daughters’ princess obsessions to real princesses who are amazing.
Just like I have the choice to guide my son’s dump truck obsession, by refusing
to buy him every dump truck toy he sees.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The point of this post is: toddler obsessions are crazy. I
have no idea why my son loves dump trucks, but he does and no matter what I do
when we drive by a construction site he is going to scream to stop, and
sometimes we stop and sometimes we don’t. And when I was a toddler, regardless
of my mom’s persistent desire for me not to be a princess, I wanted to be a
princess and rule the world. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
A lot of girls want to be princesses, and a lot of boys want
to be dump truck drivers, and is that so wrong? I don’t think so. I’m a proud
adult that still wants to be a princess so I can use that title to save the
world. And as an author, I write about an amazing eleven-year-old princess who,
I hope, will inspire other young kids to become world leaders that fight for
our dear planet. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
So this Halloween I ask you not to roll your eye at every
girl dressed as a princess. One of theses little girls you see with a tiara on
her head might one day stand in a beautiful suit in front of Congress giving a
speech that will for generations be thought of as some of the most powerful
words ever spoken. But if you can’t help yourself, and you truly hate the
princess obsession, then I ask you to only be fair and also roll your eyes at
all the little boys who would be dressed up as a dump truck if their mom’s
could figure out how to make such a costume. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Happy Halloween Everyone! </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Big Smile,</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Sarah<br />
<br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20px;">To view Sarah's middle grade fiction book click here:</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20px;"> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20px;"><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Ancient-Realm-Sarah-Leith-Bahn/dp/1468124013/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1371594665&sr=8-1&keywords=sarah+leith+bahn" style="color: #45b0e2; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">Paperback</a></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20px;"> and</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20px;"> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20px;"><a href="http://www.amazon.com/The-Ancient-Realm-ebook/dp/B006OHLSJK/ref=tmm_kin_title_0?ie=UTF8&qid=1371594665&sr=8-1" style="color: #45b0e2; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">Kindle</a></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20px;"> </span></div>
<!--EndFragment-->Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09897908401241970252noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6268959504056282658.post-18141223609660379712012-10-14T19:11:00.003-07:002013-06-19T14:39:22.485-07:00Burger Tour – Columbia Gorge 2012<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<o:DocumentProperties>
<o:Template>Normal</o:Template>
<o:Revision>0</o:Revision>
<o:TotalTime>0</o:TotalTime>
<o:Pages>1</o:Pages>
<o:Words>870</o:Words>
<o:Characters>4959</o:Characters>
<o:Company>Big Dreams</o:Company>
<o:Lines>41</o:Lines>
<o:Paragraphs>9</o:Paragraphs>
<o:CharactersWithSpaces>6090</o:CharactersWithSpaces>
<o:Version>11.1539</o:Version>
</o:DocumentProperties>
<o:OfficeDocumentSettings>
<o:AllowPNG/>
</o:OfficeDocumentSettings>
</xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:WordDocument>
<w:Zoom>0</w:Zoom>
<w:DoNotShowRevisions/>
<w:DoNotPrintRevisions/>
<w:DisplayHorizontalDrawingGridEvery>0</w:DisplayHorizontalDrawingGridEvery>
<w:DisplayVerticalDrawingGridEvery>0</w:DisplayVerticalDrawingGridEvery>
<w:UseMarginsForDrawingGridOrigin/>
</w:WordDocument>
</xml><![endif]-->
<!--StartFragment-->
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
I wish it was a book tour, maybe someday. But yes, you read
it right: Burger Tour, as in a lump of ground beef, two white flour buns on
either side with a lot of ketchup, and if I feel adventurous a wedge of pickle.
After all, I am conducting this tour with the Pickle Princess herself – Tonia
Farman of the Farman Pickles. Few people realize that Tonia is from a pickle
dynasty. She is more famous for her creation of Athletes 4 Cancer, an
inspirational non-profit that helps cancer survivors rebuild their lives, but
on food tours she’s the Pickle Princess in my mind. Let’s be real, I can’t
conduct a food tour without a Princess in tow.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Let me give you a background. The first food tour I ever
took part in was with the Pickle Princess herself in La Ventana, Mexico - a
tiny tiny town that sits on the Sea of Cortez on the Baja Peninsula. Down there
when the sky gets dark – I mean really dark – there are no city lights to dull
the black nights, these little hot-dog carts roll out of nowhere and set up
shop on random corners throughout town. They hang a glaring light bulb that
dangles over the hot-dogs and precious toppings. With five gorgeous babes and
one Pickle Princess at the wheel of a suburban that would never pass a state inspection
as its missing at least one door, a few windows, and probably never had seat
belts, I experienced my first food tour – the La Ventana Hot-Dog Tour. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Since neither the Pickle Princess nor I is heading down to
La Ventana this year we are brining the Food Tour to the Columbia Gorge and we
have chosen to tour the burger joints. If you don’t like meat – stay tune – our
next tour will be chocolate deserts<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Wingdings;">!</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
First stop, McDonalds. Well let me clarify – I just drove
by. Their parking lot is not even worthy of the Pickle Princess, and I’m not
ruining my palate with make-believe beef. But, I have to at least acknowledge
that there is a McDs in the Columbia Gorge. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Second stop Trout Lake, WA Chevron Gas Station:</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
There is not much in Trout Lake, WA with a population of 848
people, but as you drive into the little town with big Mt Adams towering over
there is a Chevron gas station. Attached and just around the back is a little
restaurant with no name and a big wooden door with a crack at the bottom that oozes smells of burgers,
bacon, and grease. I’m sure the place has a name, but the
Pickle Princess and I couldn’t find the sign. Inside there are about four
tables and bar with another six stools for seating. The walls are lined with
license plates and old pictures of the White Slalom River flooding the town. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
We went there on a random Wednesday night and the place was
packed! Well, packed for Trout Lake – there was about ten people in there, the
Pickle Princess and I rounded the count up to 12. Seating was slim pickings and
with everyone staring at us we wedged ourselves into a little corner table. I’m
undecided if the stares were friendly. Since I was with the Royal Pickle
Princess they could have just been staring at her in awe that she was gracing
their presence, but I’m thinking they were just a little shocked to see two
girls with pony tails dressed in cute jeans and colorful tops invading their
little-one-restaurant town. Nonetheless, people quickly returned their
attention back to the burgers and the waiter brought us some menus with a nice
smile on her face. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="color: #1a1a1a;">It’s important to note that
there are different categories of burgers: gourmet, classic, and grease. And on
this occasion we were most definitely exploring the grease category. Prior to
even ordering you could feel the film of grease soaking into your skin – YUM! <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I had the vision of asking where the meat was from, but the
Pickle Princess made a good point, do we want to know? Alas, we never asked the
questions. Instead, armed with numerous napkins we dug into the greasiest,
juiciest burgers ever. I seriously went through ten napkins and washed it down
with a huge chocolate milkshake! And yes, a pickle came on the side and I
nibbled on it in between bites.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-IofWMi8mBok/UHtvsdkao7I/AAAAAAAAA4g/V2kvcKsq_q0/s1600/photo-26.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-IofWMi8mBok/UHtvsdkao7I/AAAAAAAAA4g/V2kvcKsq_q0/s320/photo-26.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Without further ado our results are as follows:</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Tonia – the Royal Pickle Princess’s Results:<span style="color: #1a1a1a;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="color: #1a1a1a;"><b>Atmosphere: </b></span><span style="color: #1a1a1a;">Priceless! Okay, scale of 1-10, I give it a 7.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="color: #1a1a1a;"><b>Service: </b></span><span style="color: #1a1a1a;">4 - We were not exactly "welcomed" warmly; got
the drinks after the burgers.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="color: #1a1a1a;"><b>Burger (grease category): </b></span><span style="color: #1a1a1a;">8 - Temperature good, patty covered almost the entire
bun, bacon was crispy & quality, cheese was a good cheddar, great bun, good
green leaf lettuce and tomato was quality, just a little too much juice -- or
was it grease-- dripping from it?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="color: #1a1a1a;"><b>Fries: </b></span><span style="color: #1a1a1a;">3 - Too chewy and a bit thin for my liking for how chewy
they were.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #1a1a1a;"><b>Extras: </b></span><span style="color: #1a1a1a;">Chocolate Milkshake gets a 10!!</span><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Sarah’s Results:<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b>Atmosphere:</b><span style="font-weight: normal;"> 9 – I
loved it! I’m a total sucker for the country store feel where there is barely
enough room to turn around.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b>Service:</b><span style="font-weight: normal;"> 4 – I’m
with the Pickle Princess on this one. To their credit, however, the place was
packed and we got there 40 minutes before they closed. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b>Burgers (grease category):</b><span style="font-weight: normal;"> 9 – I wasn’t over exaggerating, I went through at least ten napkins.
Grease was dripping from my fingers, covering my lips, and coating my taste
buds! It will be interesting to see if any other burger in the Columbia Gorge
can beat these guys in the grease category. And I agree with the Pickle
Princess – good leaf of green lettuce.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b>Fries:</b><span style="font-weight: normal;"> 2 – I didn’t
finish them and if I don’t finish my plate of fries you know they are not good
because I always finish my fries. They were the skinny kind and just didn’t
have that salty, crisp goodness. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b>Extras: </b><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>10 - Chocolate Milkshake was AMAZING!
The best one I’ve ever had – seriously – AMAZING! Pickle was very good too:
crisp and crunchy with just the right amount of dill. (You might be wondering
why the Pickle Princess didn’t rate the pickle – it’s too much of a conflict of
interest for her. Being from a pickle dynasty, she understandably cannot be an
impartial judge of a pickle.)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-6OVpPOhFBg0/UHtvulfPC6I/AAAAAAAAA4o/be_6Yq3YN6U/s1600/photo-27.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-6OVpPOhFBg0/UHtvulfPC6I/AAAAAAAAA4o/be_6Yq3YN6U/s320/photo-27.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Stay tune for Burger Food Tour number 3! Location is top
secret but it has been decided! <o:p></o:p><br />
<br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20px;">To view Sarah's middle grade fiction book click here:</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20px;"> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20px;"><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Ancient-Realm-Sarah-Leith-Bahn/dp/1468124013/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1371594665&sr=8-1&keywords=sarah+leith+bahn" style="color: #45b0e2; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">Paperback</a></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20px;"> and</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20px;"> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20px;"><a href="http://www.amazon.com/The-Ancient-Realm-ebook/dp/B006OHLSJK/ref=tmm_kin_title_0?ie=UTF8&qid=1371594665&sr=8-1" style="color: #45b0e2; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">Kindle</a></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20px;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<!--EndFragment-->Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09897908401241970252noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6268959504056282658.post-40615565026505632292012-09-29T14:18:00.002-07:002014-03-07T09:49:14.076-08:00The Wilderness Society <!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<o:DocumentProperties>
<o:Template>Normal</o:Template>
<o:Revision>0</o:Revision>
<o:TotalTime>0</o:TotalTime>
<o:Pages>1</o:Pages>
<o:Words>408</o:Words>
<o:Characters>2330</o:Characters>
<o:Company>Big Dreams</o:Company>
<o:Lines>19</o:Lines>
<o:Paragraphs>4</o:Paragraphs>
<o:CharactersWithSpaces>2861</o:CharactersWithSpaces>
<o:Version>11.1539</o:Version>
</o:DocumentProperties>
<o:OfficeDocumentSettings>
<o:AllowPNG/>
</o:OfficeDocumentSettings>
</xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:WordDocument>
<w:Zoom>0</w:Zoom>
<w:DoNotShowRevisions/>
<w:DoNotPrintRevisions/>
<w:DisplayHorizontalDrawingGridEvery>0</w:DisplayHorizontalDrawingGridEvery>
<w:DisplayVerticalDrawingGridEvery>0</w:DisplayVerticalDrawingGridEvery>
<w:UseMarginsForDrawingGridOrigin/>
</w:WordDocument>
</xml><![endif]-->
<!--StartFragment-->
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<a href="http://wilderness.org/">The Wilderness Society</a> recently requested their <a href="http://www.facebook.com/TheWildernessSociety?fref=ts">facebook</a>
followers to share a great kid’s wilderness book. Which got me thinking about
what book inspired me to get out into the wilderness. I really had to think. I
had read so many great books, but I really wanted to share the one that
inspired me the most.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The first book that came to my mind was C.S. Lewis’s <i>Lion,
Witch and the Wardrobe</i><span style="font-style: normal;">. Narnia might not be
a real wilderness, but it was real to me. I climbed through the wardrobe with
Lucy. I felt the fur coats turn into pine trees. I saw the bright green grass
fighting its way through the snow. From then on, every forest seemed like
Narnia and drove my desire to go deeper into the forest to find beaver dams
where perhaps Mr. and Mrs. Beaver lived or possibly catch a glimpse of the
White Witch riding by in a sleigh. Although, CS Lewis’s adventures in Narnia
were incredible it wasn’t my favorite. I kept thinking…what was my favorite
book that had me running outside… And then it came to me.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i>The Secret Garden</i><span style="font-style: normal;">, by
Frances Hodgson Burnett first published in 1911 – my all time favorite book
that truly sent me exploring.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The secret garden Mary finds is a fenced wilderness in her
own backyard, but she also meets a boy named Dickon who is as pure as the
greatest wilderness:</div>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
‘Would you make friends with me?’ Mary said to the robin,
just as if she were speaking to a person. ‘Would you?’…[she] spoke in a tone so
soft and eager and coaxing that Ben Weatherstaff was as surprised as she had
been when she heard him whistle. </blockquote>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
‘Why,’ he cried out… ‘Tha’ said it almost like Dickon talks
to his wild things on th’ moor.’ </blockquote>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
‘Do you know Dickon?’ Mary asked, turning around rather in a
hurry. </blockquote>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
‘Everybody knows him. Dickon’s wanderin’ about everywhere.
Th’ very blackberries an’ heather-bells knows him. I warrant th’ foxes shows
him where their cubs lies an’ th’ skylarks doesn’t hide their nests from him.”</blockquote>
<div class="MsoNormal">
For me it was Burnett’s12-year-old Dickon that inspired me
to run outside and try to talk to a bird or plunge into a deep lake with my eyes wide open so I could blow bubbles with
a fish. As I got older it was still 12-year-old Dickon that inspired me to
kayak the Grand Canyon and explore the woods of Grand Teton National Park. And today, it
is still 12-year-old Dickon that has shown my heart that we can see the spirit
of a tree, hear a river breathe, and fall in love with the soul of a mountain.
Dickon only exist on paper, but his spirit – the wilderness he represents –
inspired me to cherish each moment I get in the wild and to forever fight to
protect it. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Thank you Wilderness Society for making me think of what
book inspired me to get outside the most. It was a fun trip down memory lane.
You should try it! And if you have the time, please share with me here or on
facebook what book inspired you to play outside cause I want to read it!<br />
<br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20px;">To view Sarah's middle grade fiction book click here:</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20px;"> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20px;"><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Ancient-Realm-Sarah-Leith-Bahn/dp/1468124013/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1371594665&sr=8-1&keywords=sarah+leith+bahn" style="color: #45b0e2; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">Paperback</a></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20px;"> and</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20px;"> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20px;"><a href="http://www.amazon.com/The-Ancient-Realm-ebook/dp/B006OHLSJK/ref=tmm_kin_title_0?ie=UTF8&qid=1371594665&sr=8-1" style="color: #45b0e2; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">Kindle</a></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20px;"> </span></div>
<!--EndFragment-->Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09897908401241970252noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6268959504056282658.post-79987532477128845962012-09-16T21:27:00.002-07:002013-06-19T14:40:01.620-07:00<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
We celebrated Wyatt's third birthday this weekend tailgate style.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
Lot's of dirt, bikes, and cupcakes!</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-0nc0uHpJvIs/UFamCtA0oII/AAAAAAAAA38/aXWN2H0hGCc/s1600/IMG_0608.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-0nc0uHpJvIs/UFamCtA0oII/AAAAAAAAA38/aXWN2H0hGCc/s320/IMG_0608.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
I'm a mother of a three-year-old - CRAZY!</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20px;">To view Sarah's middle grade fiction book click here: <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Ancient-Realm-Sarah-Leith-Bahn/dp/1468124013/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1371594665&sr=8-1&keywords=sarah+leith+bahn" style="color: #45b0e2; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">Paperback</a> and <a href="http://www.amazon.com/The-Ancient-Realm-ebook/dp/B006OHLSJK/ref=tmm_kin_title_0?ie=UTF8&qid=1371594665&sr=8-1" style="color: #45b0e2; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">Kindle</a> </span></div>
<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09897908401241970252noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6268959504056282658.post-12357524906781759832012-08-26T12:36:00.000-07:002013-06-19T14:40:17.741-07:00Is America Capable of Achieving the Impossible Again?Neil Armstrong - a true hero - achieved the impossible. He walked on the moon.<br />
<br />
America achieved the impossible when Apollo 11 landed on the moon.<br />
<br />
Is America capable of achieving the impossible again? Are we as individuals capable of achieving the impossible again? I hope so, and I dream that the next giant step for mankind is a world fueled by the sun and wind. I hope and dream that America puts the same energy it put into landing on the moon toward a complete commitment to clean energy. Imagine an America where we achieved the impossible again - not just an independence from foreign oil, but from all oil, coal, and gas.<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">The next giant step for mankind - a world fueled by the sun and wind.</span></b></blockquote>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20px;">To view Sarah's middle grade fiction book click here:</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20px;"> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20px;"><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Ancient-Realm-Sarah-Leith-Bahn/dp/1468124013/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1371594665&sr=8-1&keywords=sarah+leith+bahn" style="color: #45b0e2; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">Paperback</a></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20px;"> and</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20px;"> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20px;"><a href="http://www.amazon.com/The-Ancient-Realm-ebook/dp/B006OHLSJK/ref=tmm_kin_title_0?ie=UTF8&qid=1371594665&sr=8-1" style="color: #45b0e2; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">Kindle</a></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20px;"> </span>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09897908401241970252noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6268959504056282658.post-82369648880598099852012-08-24T14:11:00.001-07:002012-08-24T14:13:43.582-07:00<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-vyd1bL2AzEA/UDfsTs4Z_FI/AAAAAAAAA3Y/uqxIyVbdm_4/s1600/P6080040.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-vyd1bL2AzEA/UDfsTs4Z_FI/AAAAAAAAA3Y/uqxIyVbdm_4/s320/P6080040.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
Join me for one last summer read!</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
The Ancient Realm is</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
FREE</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
on Kindle from August 24th -28th</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
click <a href="http://www.amazon.com/dp/B006OHLSJK">HERE</a> to download a FREE copy.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-7DmU1wbMFm8/UDftAjo1AxI/AAAAAAAAA3g/buCfrVWAjAE/s1600/P6080031.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-7DmU1wbMFm8/UDftAjo1AxI/AAAAAAAAA3g/buCfrVWAjAE/s320/P6080031.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
Agnes Island, where it all started:) </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
Please note that you can still read Kindle books even if you don't have a Kindle: <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">There is also a program called <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/feature.html?ie=UTF8&docId=1000426311&tag=googhydr-20&hvadid=7290968457&ref=pd_sl_92i9zans8g_b" style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; color: #eb4025; font-size: 14px; font-style: inherit; font-weight: bold; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: left; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank"><b>Kindle for PC</b></a> that will allow you to download it from the Kindle store and read it on your PC, a program called <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/feature.html/ref=red_lnd_shrt_url?ie=UTF8&docId=165849822" style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; color: #eb4025; font-size: 14px; font-style: inherit; font-weight: bold; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: left; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank"><b>Kindle for Android</b></a> that will allow you to download it from the Kindle store and read it on your Android device, and a program called <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/feature.html/ref=kcp_mac_mkt_lnd?docId=1000464931" style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; color: #eb4025; font-size: 14px; font-style: inherit; font-weight: bold; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: left; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank"><b>Kindle for Mac</b></a> (available from Amazon and <a href="http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/kindle/id405399194?ls=1&mt=12" style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; color: #eb4025; font-size: 14px; font-style: inherit; font-weight: bold; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: left; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank"><b>Apple's App Store</b></a>) that will allow you to download it from the Kindle store and read it on your Mac computer, iPad, or iPhone.</span></span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09897908401241970252noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6268959504056282658.post-41109380125837950522012-08-22T12:53:00.000-07:002013-06-19T14:40:51.820-07:00<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
Instead of blogging on Sunday I went surfing at the Oregon coast... sorry, but it was really fun:)</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-nor3VOi8KD0/UDU3xtyMdLI/AAAAAAAAA2w/EyfSKpc_JjA/s1600/photo-18.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-nor3VOi8KD0/UDU3xtyMdLI/AAAAAAAAA2w/EyfSKpc_JjA/s320/photo-18.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
Wyatt thought about trying to surf:) </div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-pIpbp2l6pi4/UDU30IzRdWI/AAAAAAAAA24/YaJ3JerHJn4/s1600/photo-19.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-pIpbp2l6pi4/UDU30IzRdWI/AAAAAAAAA24/YaJ3JerHJn4/s320/photo-19.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
Finnegan spent most of the time sleeping in the ergo:)</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-O65Ty-6gBxs/UDVBmgi96wI/AAAAAAAAA3I/Rw8M1cJBg3Y/s1600/photo-20.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-O65Ty-6gBxs/UDVBmgi96wI/AAAAAAAAA3I/Rw8M1cJBg3Y/s320/photo-20.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20px;">To view Sarah's middle grade fiction book click here: <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Ancient-Realm-Sarah-Leith-Bahn/dp/1468124013/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1371594665&sr=8-1&keywords=sarah+leith+bahn" style="color: #45b0e2; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">Paperback</a> and <a href="http://www.amazon.com/The-Ancient-Realm-ebook/dp/B006OHLSJK/ref=tmm_kin_title_0?ie=UTF8&qid=1371594665&sr=8-1" style="color: #45b0e2; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">Kindle</a> </span></div>
<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09897908401241970252noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6268959504056282658.post-4850335242602322112012-07-01T21:17:00.001-07:002012-07-12T15:18:25.647-07:00I absolutely LOVE Nancy Tillman's work. I believe her books will be enjoyed for generations. Although they are pictures books, her words are ageless and her messages are beautiful. Here is one of my favorite passages:<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
From your very first day, you were chosen to glow in a very big way! With your crown made of glittering, high-flying things, you've got wind in your pockets, your wishes have wings. You can run like you mean it...so, let the wind blow...There's no telling how high you can go! Whatever it is you choose to do, no one can do it exactly like you. Ride on the big slide! And if you fall down, remember your glorious, marvelous crown. It won't flicker or fade. It won't dim. It won't leave. ALL YOU HAVE TO DO IS BELIEVE. <i>The Crown on Your Head, Nancy Tillman, Feiwel and Friends</i></blockquote>
Have a great week everyone! Big Smile, Sarah<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
</blockquote>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09897908401241970252noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6268959504056282658.post-80873232792426748842012-05-20T11:13:00.000-07:002013-06-19T14:41:23.718-07:001 Girl to 3 Boys - The Story of My Life<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="font-family: Times-Roman; font-size: medium;">My
number is a ratio - 1 girl to 3 boys. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="font-family: Times-Roman; font-size: medium;">I
grew up with my older brother and two older boy cousins on the banks of Lake
George in upstate NY. Most days I could be seen standing alone on the dock
watching the boys way off in the distance paddling away in the canoe - the boys
having successfully ditched me. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="font-family: Times-Roman; font-size: medium;">I
learned how to sleep with one eye open and one eye closed, so when the boys
snuck out early in the mornings to play “King of The Dock” (a particularly
brutal game with no rules, except one, last man dry on the dock won) I would not miss it!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="font-family: Times-Roman; font-size: medium;">On
the rare occasion when I successfully retired for the night bruised and
battered from climbing rocks, jumping cliffs, swimming long distances, and
running as fast as I could to keep up, I never laughed so hard or had so much
fun than I did with Corby, Kevin, and Scott. Instead of proper bridesmaids
at my wedding, I named them my three bridesmaids. My brother, maid of honor, stood next to me and held my bouquet. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="font-family: Times-Roman; font-size: medium;">On
May 10<sup>th</sup>, 2012 history repeated itself. I gave birth to my second
son, Finnegan Leith Bahn and again became a family of 1 girl to 3 boys! <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="font-family: Times-Roman; font-size: medium;">Scott,
the oldest of the four of us from the first generation, called it - he said
there was no way I was having a girl! I was born to live with all boys my whole
life. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="font-family: Times-Roman; font-size: medium;">My
repeat of life with boys truly hit home, when my husband was sitting at the
table with our first son Wyatt, holding 3-day-old Finnegan in his arms and said
to me, “Don’t mind us Mama, the boys are hanging out.” I dropped everything I
was doing and came running, “I can hang too,” I glared.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="font-family: Times-Roman; font-size: medium;">The
irony of it – between Scott, Kevin, and Corby they have almost all daughters!</span><span style="font-family: Times-Roman;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"> Kevin has one girl and one
boy, with I am sure, another girl on the way. HA - Good Luck with those
absolutely gorgeous bomber girls! </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 16pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times-Roman;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-family: Times-Roman;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20px;">To view Sarah's middle grade fiction book click here: <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Ancient-Realm-Sarah-Leith-Bahn/dp/1468124013/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1371594665&sr=8-1&keywords=sarah+leith+bahn" style="color: #45b0e2; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">Paperback</a> and <a href="http://www.amazon.com/The-Ancient-Realm-ebook/dp/B006OHLSJK/ref=tmm_kin_title_0?ie=UTF8&qid=1371594665&sr=8-1" style="color: #45b0e2; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">Kindle</a> </span></span></span></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09897908401241970252noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6268959504056282658.post-17074786208224339352012-04-29T13:35:00.002-07:002013-06-19T14:43:47.883-07:00Winners and LosersHaving recently watched the Olympic Trials for my old sport, white water slalom I started thinking about the days when I raced and trained. I dug up my old training journal and found one of my favorite quotes:<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
The message seems to be that life is made of winners and losers. If you are not #1 or top five you have failed. </blockquote>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
There doesn't seen to be any reward for simply succeeding at the level of doing one's best. Success is how you collect your minutes. You spend millions of minutes to reach one triumph, one moment. Then you spend maybe a thousand minutes enjoying it. If you are unhappy through those millions of minutes, what good are the thousand minutes of triumphs?</blockquote>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
I doesn't equate. <i>Author Unknown</i></blockquote>
Enjoy the journey:)<br />
<br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20px;">To view Sarah's middle grade fiction book click here:</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20px;"> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20px;"><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Ancient-Realm-Sarah-Leith-Bahn/dp/1468124013/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1371594665&sr=8-1&keywords=sarah+leith+bahn" style="color: #45b0e2; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">Paperback</a></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20px;"> and</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20px;"> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20px;"><a href="http://www.amazon.com/The-Ancient-Realm-ebook/dp/B006OHLSJK/ref=tmm_kin_title_0?ie=UTF8&qid=1371594665&sr=8-1" style="color: #45b0e2; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">Kindle</a></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20px;"> </span>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09897908401241970252noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6268959504056282658.post-2737896561798260142012-04-25T18:46:00.000-07:002013-06-19T14:43:33.617-07:00Corbett, OR Grade School VisitToday I visited with all the 3rd, 4th, 5th, and 6th graders at the Corbett, OR Grade School. I was so honored to be asked to visit their school. My heart absolutely MELTED when I saw so many kids holding my book. I was truly touched when one boy told me he loved King Torin and thought I should write 51 books about him! Another boy told me that he thought Torin should be nicer to Agnes because it seemed like Torin liked Agnes... Very insightful kid!<br />
<br />
I've spent so long writing <i>The Ancient Realm </i>and there were so many moments when I wondered why I am doing this... no one is ever going to read this book, much less like it. But those 30 minutes I spent with the Corbett, OR Grade School, made all the hard work I put into this book 100% worth it. Thank you Corbett, OR Grade School for making my dream come true by reading my book, telling me you loved it, and groaning when I told you I hadn't completed book 2 yet.<br />
<br />
Below is the speech I gave (please excuse poor grammar - the best part about giving a speech is the written form doesn't have to be grammatically correct;):<br />
<br />
<div style="font: 12.0px 'Times New Roman'; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;">
<blockquote>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Ever since I was a little girl I dreamed of going to the Olympics. In 5<sup>th</sup> grade we had a career day and everyone dressed up as what they wanted to be in the future. I dressed up as an Olympic athlete. </span> </blockquote>
<blockquote>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Starting in my freshman year in high school, I spent over ten years training in the sport of Whitewater Slalom Kayaking for a chance to compete in the Olympic Games. For most of my career I stayed ranked 2 in the US with multiple top ten finishes in the World.</span></blockquote>
<blockquote>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">I really really wish that I could sit up here and tell you how amazing it was to make the Olympic Team. I wish I could tell you how unbelievable it was to walk into a huge stadium with all the best athletes in the world. I wish I had a shinny Olympic Gold Medal that I could show you. </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> </span></blockquote>
<blockquote>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">But, I never won a gold medal and I never made the Olympic Team. In Whitewater Slalom only one female athlete per country gets to race in the Olympics. In 2000 I placed second at Olympic Trials – one spot away from the team. Four years later in 2004 I placed second again at the Olympic Trials and again missed the Olympic Team by one spot. </span> </blockquote>
<blockquote>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: black;">I retired from racing in 2004 having never fulfilled my childhood dream of making the Olympic Team. Every four years I am a little sad watching the summer Olympics on TV knowing I will never get to compete in such a special event. </span>BUT, I am living PROOF that it is far better to have dared, to have tried, to have gone after my dream and to have failed than to have never tried at all.<span style="color: black;"> </span>At the end of the day I realized I that even though I was heart broken I didn’t make the Olympic Team, I was still incredibly happy and very thankful for the opportunity to train for ten years, travel around the world and racing against the best people in my sport. </span> </blockquote>
<blockquote>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">I’m currently trying to pursue a new dream – the dream of becoming a successful author. As you heard earlier, I recently published a <i>The Ancient Realm</i> an action and adventure book written for your age. But it is still yet to be determined if I am a good writer, it’s yet to be determined if <i>The Ancient Realm</i> will become a successful book – I only published it four months ago. </span> </blockquote>
<blockquote>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">It’s funny because this dream of trying to become a successful author is almost more of an impossible dream than of my first dream of trying to make the Olympic Team.</span> </blockquote>
<blockquote>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">When I was your age I was reading and writing on a 1<sup>st</sup> grade level and the teachers didn’t know why. Finally right before I entered my 6<sup>th</sup> grade year I was tested for learning disabilities and the results came back that I was dyslexic. </span> </blockquote>
<blockquote>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">I spent the rest of my middle and high school years working my tail off trying to catch up. And I did catch up – I went on to college to graduate amongst the top of my class with a 4.0 GPA.</span> </blockquote>
<blockquote>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">But even though I had done well in college, I’m still scared of reading and writing – dyslexics to do not think of words as their friends. But I love dreaming up stories, I love imagining characters, and I love the mission of my book – the mission to show readers how incredibly precious the Natural World is. <b style="color: #2c26f9;"> </b>And I’m here today having a great time</span> <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">trying to become a successful author.</span></blockquote>
<blockquote>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: black;">I might fail again – just like I didn’t make the Olympic Team – I might never become a successful author. </span>But I know from experience, from my past failures, that happiness isn’t defined by our end results – its defined by all the time we spend trying to achieve our dreams, our goals<b>. </b></span> </blockquote>
<blockquote>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">If the day comes when I have realized I will never become a successful author I will be a little sad, but I will be far happier having tried than having not tried and spent years wondering “What if – What if I could have become a successful author." </span> </blockquote>
<blockquote>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">If there is one thing I hope you take home from listening to me today it’s this:</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">None of us should ever leave our dreams on a shelf for fear of failure. We should all GO for them – no matter how impossible they seem. None of us have any idea of what we are capable of until we try. And I promise – life really is about the journey not the destination – not the final result. SO go for it and see what your capable of! </span></blockquote>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20px;">To view Sarah's middle grade fiction book click here: <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Ancient-Realm-Sarah-Leith-Bahn/dp/1468124013/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1371594665&sr=8-1&keywords=sarah+leith+bahn" style="color: #45b0e2; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">Paperback</a> and <a href="http://www.amazon.com/The-Ancient-Realm-ebook/dp/B006OHLSJK/ref=tmm_kin_title_0?ie=UTF8&qid=1371594665&sr=8-1" style="color: #45b0e2; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">Kindle</a> </span> </div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09897908401241970252noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6268959504056282658.post-35903493705374306562012-04-22T14:02:00.002-07:002013-06-19T14:43:15.116-07:00Earth Day!<div class="MsoNormal">
Your mission today - get outside! If it’s already dark, take your parents' hand and ask them to show you the stars. Enjoy the earth today and appreciate its beauty.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
John Muir, father of the National Parks and founder of the Sierra Club wrote:</div>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
“When we try to pick out anything by itself, we find it hitched to everything else in the universe.” <i>My First Summer in the Sierra</i>, John Muir (Boston: Houghton Mifflin, 1911) </blockquote>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Today on Earth Day look around and think about what John Muir wrote in 1911. The land that we step on, the water we drink, the air we breathe, the sun we feel on our skin – everything we see is connected. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Happy Earth Day!<br />
<br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20px;">To view Sarah's middle grade fiction book click here:</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20px;"> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20px;"><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Ancient-Realm-Sarah-Leith-Bahn/dp/1468124013/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1371594665&sr=8-1&keywords=sarah+leith+bahn" style="color: #45b0e2; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">Paperback</a></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20px;"> and</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20px;"> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20px;"><a href="http://www.amazon.com/The-Ancient-Realm-ebook/dp/B006OHLSJK/ref=tmm_kin_title_0?ie=UTF8&qid=1371594665&sr=8-1" style="color: #45b0e2; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">Kindle</a></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20px;"> </span></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09897908401241970252noreply@blogger.com0