Proxense Squash

Here's Matt Davio's shoe. Matt is a partner at Proxense. He says Harrow is the best court shoe, for the record.

Proxense® LLCA Developer of “True” Proximity-Based Technologies and ProductsProxense’s cutting-edge proximity technology, TruProx®, is the engine behind the company’s revolutionary products targeting the Healthcare & eCommerce markets.

So, they will "Squash" their competition?

Thanks Matt, and good luck to Proxense. We'll keep our eye on you.

Gold Star for Deb!

She did it, she did it! She actually did it 4 and 1/2 times

One of my loyal readers, Deb, over at Weight for Deb set a goal for herself to do a real, full on, un-aided pull up. She did four and a half! And she posted a video to prove it.

Congratulations, Deb. You deserve this star, but more importantly, you deserve our respect. I can't even do a half pull up. Yet. Maybe I should work toward it.

Anyone want to join me in a pull up quest? Any hints Deb?

Beware the Insomnia Dogs

They wake you up at 2:00 a.m. with urgent potty needs. "How old are you? Aren't we done with this stage?" you ask in exasperation.

They suddenly need to throw up at 2:36 a.m.. So they do. "What's up with this?" you demand sharply as you jump out of bed, before you realize you have a Charlie Horse to beat all Charlie Horses, and jump around yelling "Ow! Ow! Ow!"

Sometimes they just need to stretch their legs, spin in circles, and dig a little nest in the blankets at 2:48 a.m. to calm themselves down. "Fine," you grunt, as you give up and get out of bed. "I'm up. What's your plan?"

They find each other, curl up into dog balls and fall asleep. It's 3:00 a.m., after all, and they're exhausted.

Who's Your Hero of the Day?

Remember when I told you I wrote a guest post on someone else's blog about Frances Kaszubski, a pioneer in women's fitness back in the 1950's? I said Frances was my Mommy Fitness Hero. Well, I wasn't sure if anyone actually read that post.

Turns out, at least one person did, and that was her son, Mr. Walter Kase. He said: "After reading your article on Frances Kaszubski, I wanted to let you know she is the person I refer to as 'Mom'. I am the 'healthy baby boy' referred to in your article. At 92+, she still has oomph, and she is still kickin’. Thank you for the honors."

This warms my heart. Thank you, Mr. Kase, for making my day.

Sometimes, I write and write and write and feel silly that only a few people read my words. And then, I'm reminded that telling little stories is worth the trouble, especially when you find a gem like Frances Kaszubski hidden inside Wikipedia and Google and can highlight her story for a day.

Everyone deserves a highlight. It's good to be remembered.

Who's story will you share today?

The Truth About Me and Gorp

I love Trail Mix. I've always loved it. Especially the M&M kind. Sweet, chewy, crunchy, colorful trail mix.

Just a glimpse of a Ziploc bag of trail mix cheers me, and conjures images of growing up in Eugene, where we called it Gorp and you bought it in bulk at the health food store and wondered why the chocolate tasted so weird, until your sister told you it was actually carob. Thank god someone got smart and put M&Ms in there and started selling it at Walmart instead.

Trail Mix has been with me during hikes up Half Dome in Yosemite, chair lift rides up mountain passes, while backpacking through Europe, and staying up all night writing papers in college. And of course, there have been years and years of picking out the chocolate during during "certain times of the month" when nothing else will do. Trail Mix and I have a long history together.

But Trail Mix has a deep, dark, secret: it is addicting. I can gorge on Gorp, I tell you. In fact, my name is Julie A., and I'm a Gorp Addict.

"Here's a trick," said Cathy, my sports nutritionist/Gladiator. "When you're on the go, carry emergency snacks, like Trail Mix, lean jerky and pretzels so you have a good balance of carbs, protein and fat to keep you from eating junk when you get hungry. Never miss a meal, never."

This is why I like Cathy so much. 'Trail mix' and 'don't get too hungry' aren't just music to my ears, they are Mozart Arias.

So I bought trail mix, against my better judgement. I know better. I should have worked a 12 Step Program against the bag, when it stared at me sweetly from the shelf at Costco. I should have lit a candle and chanted a mantra and done some zen breathing right then and there. But I didn't. I bought it.

Here's what happens when I give in and buy Trail Mix: I start out with the two tablespoons, like Cathy suggests. Have you actually measured out trail mix, to know how much you're eating? Maybe you shouldn't. It's just too sad to see what a real serving is. Two tablespoons? I doubt that would sustain Hansel or Gretel for more than 20 minutes. Even the birds need more than that.

So I eat the two tablespoons, all mixed together, and enjoy the lovely combination of textures and flavors mingling around in my mouth. Then I say "I love being a Gladiator! I've lost 6.5 pounds of fat and gained lean muscle. I'll be running a 10k by spring for sure, and I'll take Trail Mix with me!"

But then the trouble quickly starts. I finish my ration, then I pick out a few more M&Ms. Just a couple, mind you. Then just one M&M and two peanuts. Peanuts and chocolate? Duh. They're made for each other. Then, another little baby-sized handful of everything, so the raisins don't feel left out. Because you don't want a pile of raisins sitting there all alone at the end, right? Before long, the two tablespoons has turned into 1/2 a cup. Then 3/4, and so on, and so on.

It's a slippery slope and pretty soon I think I should be calling my sponsor. Does anyone out there know of a Gorp Addict 12 Step sponsor? G.A., Gorp Anonymous. I'm happy to start a GA group. I think I can find a church basement for us. Maybe we can meet there between a Jazzercise class and Mom's Group, so we can get more people to join. And we can pass a plate and collect $1 from everyone to chip in for snacks. But no Trail Mix allowed.

Send in the Clowns, Knock Down the Pins

There has been much bowling in Bend lately. We've seen evidence of secret family bowling events on Flickr and elsewhere. We pay good money to rent shoes such as these. We're not sure why.


There is talk of a Chubby Mommy Bowling Club being formed. We are hoping there will be trophies involved. Please let us know if you'd like to join us, or at least show up and take more pictures of lovely ladies in lovely shoes.


Maybe we can smuggle in some cupcakes?

When Dogs Brush Teeth

You can see the evidence, near the wall. There was a toothbrush involved. I don't know about the toothpaste, I haven't seen it, but someone's got something stuck on his tongue, it seems.

The old dog has stopped trying to fight it. Things like this are just going to happen when you bring an annoying puppy into the house, she reminds us, through exhausted eyes. It was not her idea.