LIVING HOMES: Last night I had the pleasure of touring fellow LA Tri Clubber, Steve Glenn's Living Homes house-building project. What an impressive undertaking!!

They say these homes are "Good homes that are good for you." This house is very beautiful. It's a modern design which is build from healthy/green materials. The sections of the house are built off-site & are moved piece-by-piece to construct the home. It's been two weeks (in the photo, above), and Steve says his home will be built by June which means it will be done in less than 90-days. That's amazing!

Some walls of this house are movable -- MOVABLE. Which means, as your family grows or your needs change, you can make rooms bigger/smaller, etc. to accommodate the new need. Additionally, these homes have less of an impact on air, soil, water & energy, making them environmentally cleaner and healthier for the community.

Just really impressive. I'm very excited for Steve and his Living Homes team. Way to go! I can't wait to see the finished house this Summer -- and I sure hope that anyone interested in building will consider this alternative to traditional construction.

If you want to check this out for yourself, just click here: http://www.livinghomes.us/

From a NON-YOGI: Last night I had a great Yoga class experience at YAS. The teacher was a gal named Jeanine. At first, I was just not into the class... but I felt I HAD to go since I've been sick with first the flu, then something intestinal (I'll spare you the details) for about the last two weeks (basically, since I got back from CT). So, there I found myself, trying to touch my toes, which just seem to get farther and farther from me.

It was one of those classes where something just CLICKED. So much has been on my mind with the start of the triathlon season, the maybes of this season, my work life, my personal life, and other projects I've selected to take on... that it's hard for me to turn my mind off and focus internally .. and staying balanced is something I struggle with.

Often, I find myself stressed at Yoga class because trying to turn my mind off can be frustrating for me. BUT, last night, there was a body & mind connection. Very cool & even emotional. I wanted to remember that session because I hope to repeat it. I also wanted to Thank Jeanine here for sharing herself last night with the class. She is a gem and YAS is lucky to have her! http://www.go2yas.com

I'm looking forward to renewing my commitment to get to Yoga a few times a week. I certainly hope to repeat that same sense of peace and renewal that I achieved last night!

Happy Birthday Rikako!! You are a star. Big hugs... (above: dani, me, heather & the beautiful birthday girl)

HAPPY 6TH ANNIVERSARY BlackNLA.com!!!

Cherice, I'm very excited for BlackNLA's success

and very proud to be associated with

such a wonderful organization.

Congratulations on the last 6-years &

here is to many, many more

successful years to come.

I Love You!

I just came back from a five day trip to Connecticut to visit my Mom, Grandma, Aunt Mary and my brother, Matt and niece Merete who drove up to join us from D.C. What a nice trip. Too bad I missed the big Spring bloom by what was probably only a few days… but it was still really beautiful with many of the daffodil and crocus bulbs in bloom.

My Grandmothers’ place is like a child’s fantasy. She lives on a few archers and her house is beside two brooks which run together under the bridge to her front yard. Her house is flanked on the other side by a steep hill covered in trees. Between the brook and the hill run many squirrels, birds and gophers which drive my Aunt Mary mad because they eat her garden. Grandma is not as mobile as she once was, and now she spends most of her time in front of a large bay window looking out over the yard. It’s a magical place that my brothers and I have always loved to visit; and this visit was really special because my niece is old enough now to really enjoy exploring the yard with us. I got such a kick out of watching her play around the brook and chase the ducks.

JOSHUA TREE: I went rock climbing for the first time over the weekend. Awesome. I can't wait to go again! Pictured above, Damian, Evan, Chris, Clara & then Mike. Below them is the whole group at the campsite and then having lunch at the cars.

I could not have gone anywhere if it were not for these guys who guided Clara and me through our first real rock climbing experience. THANK YOU!! I had so much fun with you. You are total studs for mastering this scary, challenging, fun and exciting sport!

Here, you will see a beautiful Joshua Tree, and the "pro" aka Protection -- that kept us safe on the first climbs (Day 1: a 5.6 was first, followed by a 5.7). Chris did all the trad climbing (traditional climbing) and played guide on this trip. Thanks for getting me out there Chris!

Here I am with Evan, who was showing me how to tie a proper climbing knot. And, to the right, you see me on the rock for the first time. YES, I did fall.... but, I got right back up there. Since leaving the park, I've imagined climbing more aggressively in the future & I'm stoked to try it again sometime soon!

whew. I'm sore all over my back & I left some skin on the rock. They say, first timers have a tendency to be totally unrelaxed on the rock, tensing all their muscles. I'm sure I did that >> my back is even sore >> and my hands are a little tender.

Day 2: wind. cold. Where is our sun? BUT.... I climbed a 5.8 today! This was HUGE for me. I was soooooo super scared. This English fellow was standing at the top of the next rock telling me to "trust your rubber" >> which was of course what all my buddies were telling me, but I was somehow better able to take his coaching from the top of the climb there. I already forgot the term for this type of climbing... but basically, it's where you climb undulations in the rock, rather than deeper holds >> you kinda scurry up the rock in your "sticky shoes". Crazy!!


Joshua Tree was GREAT! We hung out with the coolest people >> Mitch & crew.... I can't wait for our sky diving trip! YES, we'll have to plan one this year. Maybe I'll get into these adrenaline sports after all... hummmm...