I am looking to challenge YOU!  Everyone wants to start the year off with wellness and we all know that the gyms are just a little bit busier right now.  Sometimes, we get in a rut though.  Maybe we just don't want to do the same workout.  Maybe we do not want to go at all!  We need a push or a shove in some cases.  I know that I respond to support and people around me.  I have a perfectly good treadmill in my basement in front of a 92" ceiling projection movie theater.  I rarely use it.  Instead, I drag my butt to our local gym (I live in a small town).  I go to the New Richmond Centre which is a GREAT facility!  It has more of a community feel than many of the big box, corporate owned fitness centers.  Why do I go to the Centre?  I am more likely to push myself on that treadmill when someone is right next to me or behind me.  I am more likely to run longer and faster.  I assume they are all comparing themselves to me....which is probably just a bad case of narcissism but it works.  I love it when someone gets onto a tread next to me after I have started and hangs it up long before I am done.  YES!  I WIN.....it is just unfortunate that they did not realize it was a contest!

That push or goal can come in many formats.    If we set our own goals and have nobody to watch us or cheer us on, some of us might struggle to maintain them especially when the excitement of the new year has passed and we could lose sight of that resolution.

Back on 12/30, I posted about a site called FLEETLY.  I am currently doing the Winter 100 Mile Challenge.  For this one, I need to run 100 miles between January 1 and March 31.  It tracks your progress and gives medals for so many different milestones.

I think the neatest thing about this site is that you can link to friends.  That is a great way to hold each other accountable! 

I am asking for YOU....right NOW.....to go and join Fleetly and sign up for a challenge.  It could be a full year long challenge or something more immediately measurable and attainable to follow our SMART goal direction.

If you are a local here in New Richmond, sign up for a contest and tell me when you are headed to the Centre and I will do whatever workout you choose.  Possibly even Zumba at which I would struggle not physically but with coordination.  I will do whatever you choose. 

Even if you are not here in New Richmond with me, sign up and link to me.  Challenge me to a challenge with you!  We do not need to be together....we do not need to be at Hilton Head Health and we do not need Jeff, Adam, Amy or Amber to be there.  We can own this!

What are you waiting for?

Sign up 

Link to me (Lyle Orr) 

Let the games begin!

Lots On My Mind....But Nothing Big

I've had a ton of things on my mind lately but none big enough for their own post.

First off - the woman with octuplets. I know - Keep your laws off my body. But seriously - she has 6, lives at home and needs 8 more? I don't think it is a good situation for the kids. Her mom insists she is obsessed with having kids. Wow....I have 2 and feel like we cannot give them enough. Not just material things but time. She is a single parent. I guess I really only think in the long run she is short changing these kids' chances. Even the whack pack family that is always on TV with the 18 "J" kids...Jedediah, Jessie, Joshua, Jeez, etc - they are freaks too. China is not the answer with a 1 kid limit but maybe we need to draw the line at a dozen. In that family's defense, they are (supposedly) debt free and do take care of them although all the bonus freebies from being on the TV show sure did not hurt.

Next up - this frigging weather. I know this is closer to normal than we have been in a while but how many damn days do I have to see the temp in the range of -10 to +9? This is getting rediculous! Global warming....whatta joke! I see some old friends on Facebook living in Hawaii, Florida (hmmmm, both from Palisade...must have been some smart juice in the water up there). At least some of us had the sense to get out of this godforsaken land. I love my house. I love this town. When the kids are gone...all bets are off on whether we stay or not!

Lastly - Christian Bale. On one hand, I think this guy is a jackass. On the other - take out the references to "the set" or "Director of Photography" and this rant could be applied in ANY work setting. We all have our favorite people we work with that do nothing but get in the way and cause a distraction. A word to the millions of Orracle readers out there, this clip has a few F-bombs in it.



What a gem this guy is! You can hear his director even cowering at his feet. Who does he think he is?

I guess that is it. Here is hoping that we see some double digits sometime soon.

The Orracle

Why A Small Town?

We are a few days short of 2 years here in New Richmond. So many people I work with shrug their shoulders when I say that I wanted to live in a small town. They cannot believe the commute is worth it. Why oh why would you want that?

Tonight, I went to the boys basketball game. The Tigers of New Richmond vs. the Spooner Rails. Both teams undefeated. Somebody's "O" must go! It was a great game that we won. NR is ranked #6 in Div II at this point. More important is the fans. Seeing the same faces. People with kids in the game. People with kids in dance line. People that just like HS Sports and that sense of community. Even though I was mixed in with yucky Green Bay fans, tonight we shared the same side of the bench.

Last week was the band and choir concerts at the middle school. Our jazz band is better than many high school bands. Ashlie's solo was nothing short of chilling on Hey Jude. Would she have that opportunity in a big town? Maybe....maybe not.

We DJed a fundraiser dance for the marching band trip to Florida in May. Raised over $1000 and had a great time. The kids were so good!

On 12/8 (my birthday) Jess took me to the community theater to see Plaid Tidings and it was GREAT!

The more I do here, the more I realize I don't need Hennepin Avenue theater, Metrodome games and class AAAAA sports where you know hardly anyone in the stands. New Richmond is my home. Why would I want to live anywhere else?

Today's Notes

I think it was a fun day here in rainy Seattle, WI. Todd's (CIO) 40th birthday surprise. Pimping Ashlie's band stuff at work. Rushing home (a challenge with today's traffic) to get to the last NR football game.

These poor kids play their heart out. They won just one game this year. I think we have talent but the coaching is terrible. Reminds me of my coach in high school.

A girl from Ashlie's marching band was hit by a car in town tonight...rumors flying around did not sound good for her. You have to cherish every minute of your life and the people around you >>>> because one day, *poof*.

Big party on Saturday. Anyone want to come and help finish up the remaining tasks around the house? I am running out of time.

As you can see, no big news today....nothing "grinding my gears". Biggest decisions today were whether or not to take the back roads to avoid traffic (did not and should have) and whether or not we should go to Vegas in November.

Speaking of Vegas, if someone can lend me $100,000 so I can treat Jessa to front row seats at the Hattfield-Mayweather fight. She loves boxing and it is on my birthday (12/8 for those still shopping) so it really would be the perfect gift. Cash is accepted or tickets can be purchased directly from http://www.stubhub.com/boxing-tickets/?event_id=456104