Fallen Leaf Lake-The Ultimate Zen Experience

I am lucky enough to have very dear long time friend that graduated from Stanford University. Their Alumni programs are second to none and my favorite, which I am attending now, is Stanford Camp at Fallen Leaf Lake. Session 5 rocks.

Fallen Leaf Lake is nestled in the Tahoe Lake area and happens to be one of the most beautiful blue, crystal clear, pristine lakes in the area. It is about a ½ hour drive from South Lake Tahoe if you are trying to locate it on the map. The drive from the commercialized South Lake Tahoe area to Stanford Camp triggered many old childhood memories.

My parents took us kids to the mountainous rural lakes outside of Spokane. The pine trees grew as large as the red wood forest or at least it seemed like that to me and the smell of the pine permeated the air. We played near the lake shore where the ground was covered with pine needles and cones and squirrels scampered around trying to steal food where ever possible. When the lakes were calm or better yet early in the morning they were always as smooth as glass with a bit of low hanging cloud just over the surface. A childhood experience that is indelible and forever in my memories

My girlfriends and I start the day at 6:30am rowing. No, not the typical old row boat you think of associated with a summer camp but the one the rowing teams use in the Olympics. They are called skulls. Very cool and not very easy to row. It will be my third day tomorrow and I think I am getting the hang of it.

Then off to a yoga class that is held in an open air chalet at the top of the a hill that commands a view of the lake to die for. Our cute young yoga teacher is so adorable in his zen like yoga positions. We all follow along and actually do OK with this class.

Breakfast is fantastic and I chose a healthy start with yogurt, oatmeal, nuts, and fresh fruit. Yum yum but not very low in calories. Oh well we are at camp right!

The rest of the day includes stand up paddle surf, kayaking, hiking, sun bathing, lectures from guest speakers, games with wonderful friends and then it's time for happy hour. We over 50 crowd do know how to enjoy ourselves. We exercise, eat, socialize, eat some more, maybe take a nap, always have happy hour and off to eat again.

Ahhhh. Stanford camp. I love you and what a perfect Zen week.

 

Older Women Look And Act Younger Now

Cougar: Women who are 40 or older dating younger usually significantly younger men. Here I thought a Cougar's age started at 50 not 40. Oh well girls, whatever age...go for it! Younger guys are hot.

Cougars have taken Hollywood by storm. Cheri a film currently playing in the theaters is about an aging but absolutely sexy courtesan who romances a man half her age. Thank you Michelle Pfeiffer and at 51 you are gorgeous.

Cougar Dream, a self-titled album being released in August, by Cooper Boone is an ode to a lady who's “a Demi Moore double”. Demi you are my idol and Ashton can eat crackers in my bed any day.

Cougar Town, a TV show coming out this fall is about a divorced single mom back on the dating scene. Watch out world, here we are. Courtney Cox hardly fits the “cougar” stereo type. However if Cher was starring in the TV show, I could bite off on the Cougar title. Didn't she start this whole thing with some guy by the name of Rob?

Cougar: A Guide for Older Women Dating Younger Men is written by Valerie Gibson, a relationship expert. She says “Suddenly aging isn't so awful. Women were supposed to shut down and be invisible and go away and drop off a cliff. Try telling that to women today. It just isn't in the books. Cougars are desirable and sexy.” A Must Read.

I have mentioned Demi Moore and Cher but Madonna has to be thrown into the mix. That girl has a different boy toy on her arm in every photo. Madonna does not act or look 50 and she makes any age gap disappear. If Madonna can date a 28 year old then 45 is not that far off base for me to try! Right??

Time for a reversal of roles. Normally you see an older guy with a younger women. The shoe is on the other foot and we have lots of material to draw from. We Cougars will set the standard for what it means to be single and dating in today's world.

Being Elected and Serving The Public

Driving to see visit one of my friends tonight, I starting thinking about Sarah Palin. I am sick and tired of all the negative news media blitz, newspaper articles, e-articles, the “Republican” white/fat/rich Washington beltway campaign managers (Carl Rove), and past campaign staffers all getting their day in the sun speculating on Sarah's decision to step down from the Governors position in Alaska. Love or hate the lady, enough is enough.

I am reacting to my 14 year “run” at serving in the Nevada Legislature and all the crap and BS I went through. Yep, I had ethics complaints filed against me, negative newspaper articles written, ugly nasty emails that should never have been sent, male stockers, nasty mean people calling me all hours of the day and night and Republican men that hated me. I am OVER IT.

Thank goodness I did not raise to the level of importance to have a SNL skit spoofing my intelligence, family and speaking ability. How embarrassing is that? I had the unions though. They hated me and sent mailers to my voters saying I was “On My Way To The State Prison” and compared me to politicians that ended up serving time in prison. That is public humiliation and most people think where there is smoke there is fire. In the public's eye I will always be guilty of something.

Serving the public is not all it's cracked up to be. I think Sarah was in over her head going National so quickly in her political career and as far as I am concerned, her political handlers are to blame.

I don't expect this ugliness to stop and I don't expect Sarah to quit and go away either! God bless you girl, I wanted out...

The Real Birth Date

One must think about how they wish to celebrate their birth date. Is it to hide in the closet, hire a stripper, or make reservations for a quite dinner with incredible wine and your sweetie at our side. Expectations are not met if you aren't pro active about it. I did not think this through completely. Typical for the Type A personality that I am. Damn the torpedoes and full speed ahead.

First I decided to celebrate my birthday with an elaborate party 4 days before my actual birthday. The party was a big success and many of my eclectic friends who came to my new house to not only look at the house but to clink the champagne glass for a toast, watch illegal fireworks in the back yard and dance the night away with a wonderful DJ spinning classic songs. Of course the alcohol was flowing.

I received many emails and phone calls after the party telling me how great I look (youthful/oh know you can not possibly be that age, etc)and what fun they had at the party. That lasted another couple of days. I am milking this birthday....
When it actually got to my birth date the phone calls and emails had stopped and my mom did not even call me. Boo hoo. What happened to the ME day. I called in all my political capital too early. Darn.

To cap off the birthday evening, my girlfriend and I are going to a local Italian joint to drink wine, talk smack and maybe share an appetizer or two. What a quiet way to end this drawn out birthday celebration.

I really wanted a few special old loves and even a couple of new loves to call me today. Not to happen. Watch out for unspoken expectations to sneak up on you.
Maybe my lesson to learn here is that I had expectations of a guy to be associated with my happiness on my birthday celebration.
Plan your birthday if it is a special day for you, watch your expectations and don't peak too early.

Just to end this blog on a high note, check out this birthday card from my girlfriend. It will put a smile your face.


Rattlebox – Free Birthday E Cards - Free Funny Birthday Ecards - Birthday E Cards Rattlebox

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Kayak Trip for a Zen Day

Lake Mead Nevada has many day adventure tours and one of the best is a Kayak trip with your best girl friends down the Colorado river. Forget the spa day, there is nothing like being on the water in a 2 person kayak viewing the bottom of the river through the clear water and looking skyward to view the moutains cliffs extending into the bright blue sky. Just look at these pictures!

You are looking at Hoover damn in the background. The base of Hoover damn is the entry point of the tour and you paddle down the river for about 4 hours. There are various destinations along the way such as beaching on the sandy shore line for a snack/lunch, climbing into the ravines to experience a three tiered hot mineral water spa (awesome) and viewing of mountain goats that you don't see in Nevada very frequently.







There are caves that you can stop and climb up into or this cave you just kayak in. You either back your kayak into the cave or carefully turn it around inside because the best view is looking back out onto the river like you see here. Isn't this simply awesome?




Nothing like a unique Zen day with the girls.

Happy Birthday To Me

Yesterday was my big 6-Oh birthday party and it's onward and upward from here, hence the name of my blog.... Showing Up For Life. How did I get there from here??? Goodness, my mom would be the first to tell you from birth I was tah dah! Here I am and still am today. My friend Lisa (blog), who lives in Paris, is staying with me while her Visa is being renewed. She is a blogger, facebook, twitter expert and my inspiration to share past and future life experiences and adventures. My hopes are that women of my generation will have inspiration and confidence that we are the new 40's. Throw out those old myths and replace them with stories about dating Cougar Bait, being a grandmother, kissing lots of frogs to find that person to fit your needs and desires, and I could go on and on. For those guys out there, you may join the stories and provide some insightful comments and adventures of your own. So, I start the journey of E-sharing and please join me along the way.


Here's a picture I would like to share of my birthday party: