Category Archives: going the distance

ANNOUNCING EXCITING NEWS

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Happy Sunday. I am in the Holiday spirit, my town home apartment is a work in progress but feeling more like home. I am getting adjusted to my new place of living. San Francisco is an amazing place to be and I choose to embrace it with both arms.

I have exciting news for this project, which I will be announcing a day or two before the clock strikes midnight on New Years Eve

In the meantime I am out for now. Have a wonderful rest of your weekend. Love and Light to all.

Namaste’

Rose

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MAKING CHANGES IN 2015

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Good Morning, love and light to all. Yesterday’s post was a raw emotional one for me, sharing my  new reality as I navigate myself here in the San Francisco Bay Area. I too, have bad days but those bad days for me are a sincere call for change. I do not like my job. The people are lovely and welcoming and it is a means to an end, but it is not for me. Too many long hours and six days has made it difficult for me to transition my healthy lifestyle I built in Los Angeles.

Ok, so I recognize a need for change and I have only been here a month. I will start with January. In the New Year I am going to state I need two days off a week. Then my plan is to either look for a job closer to home to work, or continue on there for a little while. Waiting tables is money for me, not a career.

The full plan is to free up my time a little so I can restart My Changeforaten, my fitness milestones, weight loss and charities, and  eventually get certified in fitness as well as yoga. The long term plan is to work in fitness and leave waiting tables for good. I started waiting tables when I went to college for Theater, and it stuck because of the fast cash and flexibility. With time, it has worn on me and the nights and weekends no longer fit with the new life I have built since I started this project in Los Angeles. My plan is to work in fitness, work on this project, and be able to have time for my poetry and artistic endeavors.

That is the plan. In the meantime I will survive this month, this transition and try to find some calm within the chaos. Much love and light to all.

Namaste’

Rose

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WEIGH IN, PLATEAU? STRUGGLING

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Photo Linda Monteleone’
My Mood this morning
My optimism is shrouded in a veil of grey
Just for today
I am Human
Afterall



Good morning to all, I am so happy it is Friday. I woke up, brewed my coffee and got on the scale with high hopes. I feel lighter, but that damn scale said I stayed the same. Still holding at 20 pounds. I am so frustrated I could scream, but instead I will try to address the issue and forge forward. I need to make it to the New Year with a few more pounds off. I am not splurging at all.  Come to think of it, I noticed the last few days I am not eating that much. I bet I am hovering at about 1,000 calories a day, not good. I always forget eating too little will stall your weight loss. I am reconsidering splurging on Christmas Eve and Christmas. I may start a food journal again and track my points, it helps me to make sure I am eating enough.

Eating too much, eating too little, dieting feels like a science experiment and I am the lab rat. I am grateful for how far I have come, I am 30 lbs lighter than I was at this time last year but I want to go all the way, and I am so competitive with myself and lately I feel like I am letting me down. Or that is how I feel at this particular moment. This fleeting feeling will pass, and I will take this as a challenge to work harder. I am buying a pedometer with a heart monitor so I can track how far I run and walk and get my heart rate up. Also, I am going to go to the gym and have my fat and measurements done. I will post those as soon as I have the chance to check. I have to hang in there, and work even harder.  I will work out like a fiend tonight. I wish my glands did not feel swollen.

Ok , so a second cup of coffee is needed. I am hoping it is a short shift so I can run before the sun goes down, today the high is going to be only 64. 
I feel like crying or screaming just a little.
Breathe in, breathe out.
I need to meditate.
Namaste’
Rose


MONDAY AND IT’S COLD OUTSIDE

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Photo credit Linda Monteleone’

Good Monday Morning. I am freezing as I drink my coffee, and the heat is on. I am not letting this LA cold spell slow me down, I am out daily running and walking, but I have to admit it makes it harder to wake up so I am in a bit of a rush this morning.

I have changed my weigh in day to Friday, I like it so much better. It seems to make more sense to me. I am holding steady so far at twenty pounds. My announcement for my charity will be very soon.

Here is a poem I wrote on a frigid NYC morning, taking the train and dreaming with a cup of hot coffee warming my soul and body. Stay warm wherever you are…Love and light to all.

Namaste’
Rose

 

MONDAY

It’s another monotonous morning,

birds are chirping, but spring

has hardly paid a call or visit.

I drink my hot coffee, gripping

the cup like it holds liquid gold.

Fatigue sets in, mentally, physically;

a rat races inside my head.

I am emotionally, physically

drained from running mundane

marathons to empty destinations.

I imagine a kiss, a zealous kiss

that would bring summer

to my wintry body and soul.

Instead I sip, caffeinated tepid cafe;

and long for lips that scald,

daydreaming of a moment

that could warm all of my seasons.

 (c) Rose Bruno Bailey

WORKOUT, YOGA, REFLECT, REPEAT

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Good Thursday Morning to all and a very Happy Birthday to my husband James. I owe so much to him, and everything I have evolved to be is because of his influence. We are two adventurers of life, never knowing what destination we will call home. I love living life like it is a big adventure. Happy Happy Birthday Jamesy!!

We are Palm Springs bound tomorrow, so I will take lots of photos and share them. I am so excited to have a get-a-way, and I look forward to eating healthy yet delicious. I did promise my husband James I would eat some Birthday cake, even though he wants to me indulge more with him but I am not giving in. My first real cheat day is Thanksgiving. My healthy lifestyle does not slow down for weekend get-a-ways. That does not mean I will not enjoy myself, but within reason and with healthy and delicious choices.

James and Rose 1998 at The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in Cleveland Ohio

Yesterday was my workout with Mike, and it is now getting harder. He actually said he has never seen me sweat like that. No complaints though, I know when things start to get too easy or simple it is so important to climb to the next level even if the challenge makes you feel like you are right back to being a beginner. We did the circuit machines and the TRX, and I planked on my arms with the TRX in my legs. I thought I was so good at planking, and then a new challenged fed me humble pie, it was so so hard. We ran, and we keep running more and more each time and I think I may be improving. I still struggle with my breath but I think it may be getting a little better.

I love the park at that time of night, it is dark but the whole park is illuminated my lights. People are there doing their own personal workouts or practicing softball. There is the distraction of dogs everywhere. As we were running my eyes caught this beautiful black lab leap mid air for a softball. Right there was inspiration, grace in motion from a canine. There is a feeling of camaraderie, that spirit envelops the air you breathe and you almost feel like you are a kid playing outside after hours. I am so grateful for Mike, not only does he take the time to train, motivate and teach me, but working out with him is just plain fun with lots of laughter and it never feels like a chore. 

I love feeling like a kid again, and I believe since I have moved here to Southern California I have truly become the epitome’ of a Californian. I wonder if a lot of the New Yorker in me is fading. I am a true outdoor girl now. I am making progress and that makes me very happy indeed. Life is always evolving, and it is never ever to late to learn something new and be a better version of yourself. I will continue to always have this zest for life no matter how old I get. I love life, living, and the people and animals that make it so worthwhile.

Tonight I am just doing some cardio after work than getting ready for our weekend trip, and hanging out with that cats and James. 
Wishing everyone a beautiful Thursday of love and light.
Namaste’
Rose




WEEKDAY HURDLES

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Good Morning to all, and it is Wednesday which means the weekend is almost here. I love this silent time of the morning, when James is showering and the cats have settled down. It gives me time to get in my head. The marine layer is out, and I wish I did not work today so I can go somewhere and just write some new poems. Funny, I am very outgoing and a tend to be a talker, but there are times when I really enjoy silence, you have to really know me to know this. When I get quiet James always calls me cranky, but it is not crabbiness but a stillness that comes over me at times, the best moments to write poetry.

I worked out with Mike, my trainer and friend and it was great and challenging as usual. We actually got at the park when it was getting dark, but everything was illuminated from the park lights and people were gathering for their practice for whatever sports they play. Trees are everywhere, I have this little obsession with trees, so I love that.  I always notice everything around me, and I can feel the positive energy of the park even after dark.

As soon as I get the new shoes I need and my ankle is completely better we are going to resume jogging and up my intensity. We did more TRX, and today I am a bit sore but not nearly as sore as I was last week. We also did a lot of core work, and I laugh at myself because I actually do it in the grass without a mat and I am ok with it. Since moving to California I become more and more of an outdoor person, and it is amazing coming from an east coaster whose only outdoor time was a sidewalk cafe at brunch in Manhattan or Astoria, Queens.

I am very grateful to Mike for training me, and I am really beginning to get positive comments from people. I will have more information about him as he progresses in his fitness training goals. He said I am his protege’ and I am happy to be that. I have a long way to go to get to where I want to be but this is giving me the foundation to build upon. I want to be in the best shape of my life and I am thankful and I know Mike has the expertise to get me there. I cannot wait to buy my leotard and head to ballet class, but not until I feel ready. I am on my way.

Tonight is yoga with Nicole at Pink Iron. She is so fantastic, and I love her class. She also has a company Honu Yoga, which makes tee shirts for the stylish yogi. I have a few, so as soon as I get a chance I will post some updated photos of me in my bright colored Honu Yoga tanks. 

I am off for now, I have coffee to drink and then I have to get ready for work. I wish everyone a beautiful day full of lots of illumination and radiance.
Love and Light
Namaste’
Rose

ENTHUSIASM AND HUELL HOWSER

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I have been contemplating my quest as of late, and I realized I could not do this without enthusiasm. It gives you that extra spark and energy to go forward. Ever notice when you are around enthusiastic people it spreads like a California wildfire. There is a reason cheerleaders are present at football games, everyone loves to be cheered on and to join in on the enthusiasm of the moment.

Yesterday I worked out with my trainer and friend Mike and today I have to say I am so sore this morning…. but in a good way. He helps me keep my enthusiasm up even when I find some of the exercises challenging or awkward. My ankle feels completely good as new. Exercising in the outdoors is a completely different experience and I love it. I will improve, I love a challenge and I am so enthusiastic about getting stronger as time progresses. Enthusiasm inspires, and keeps us moving in the direction of success.

I started thinking of one of the most enthusiastic people I have ever seen on television. I was first introduced to Huell Howser on PBS when we moved from NYC to Los Angeles. His enthusiasm was so electric, we were hooked. Now when I think of everything I am trying to accomplish, I look to people like the late Huell Howser for inspiration. 

I wrote this tribute to a man I would never have the honor of meeting, but he impacted my views of life here in California. I will go forward with My Change For A Ten with the same enthusiasm as he displayed in his wonderful television shows.



TRIBUTE TO CALIFORNIA’S GOLDEN BOY HUELL HOWSER

Moving from New York City to Los Angeles, California has definitely been a whirlwind of an adventure, but it happened so quickly that I hardly had time to process the magnitude of the move. One morning in late September 2010 I had breakfast in my beloved big apple, and in just a few hours I set foot in the City of Angels. What made it even more interesting was the fact that I was moving to a state I had never visited, not even once.
My husband and I, along with our two cats made the trek from LaGuardia airport to L.A.X. and lastly to our new home in West Hollywood, C.A. The move went off without a hitch, we had rented a furnished apartment so we were able to just unpack and settle in with ease. The swiftness of the move didn’t give me much time to think about what I left behind, that would come later when the newness of my adventure had worn off. I had left N.Y.C in the wake of the jet stream, and embraced L.A. full speed ahead. It was like a snow globe had shook up my world, but I would not feel the after effects til much later.
We soon started exploring this blissful state of the magnificent Pacific and we were in love. Eventually though, the brand new feeling would subside and the realization that everyone we knew and loved were three thousand miles away would start to take its toll. I started to romanticize about the life I left behind. The Manhattan lights, the energy, the amazing vibe that fueled my poetic soul. I started to compare and I am ashamed to say I began to take my majestic new home for granted.
I began spending time looking back at my life in N.Y.C. instead of looking forward to all the riches my new home offered. I would see N.Y.C. on television and openly complain I wished to move back.I felt that feeling when you leave a lover behind. NYC was like that lover, too fast and dark for my own good but there really isn’t anything sexier than a lover who never sleeps.

In the midst of wallowing in my woes and missing the life I once led I  was given a gift. Yes, N.Y.C. is a special one of a kind place, but I was living in another equally special city in arguably one of the most beautiful states in the continental U.S.A. This gift would be given to me from a man I would unfortunately never have the opportunity to meet.
When we moved here we discovered a local celebrity Huell Howser, an American television personality best known for California’s Gold, and Visiting…With Huell Howser, his travel shows 
based in Los Angeles at KCET for California PBS stations. The archive of his television shows chronicled the history, people, and diverse cultures of California, and his enthusiasm was unparalleled. We first saw his show months after the move and we were smitten from the first episode we watched. My husband and I loved his unpretentious way of showcasing all of the gifts California offered; the people, the places, the unsung heroes of small towns to the glorious city attractions. He visited landmarks as well as little lesser known spots that were popular amongst locals. Hollywood, Palm Springs, San Francisco, as well as smaller cities one may have never known existed. Huell Howser put these people and places on the map, and he did so with such a genuine reverence that one could not help but to smile, especially when he said the word amaaazing. I can never say it again without hearing his melodic Tennessee twang. The way he loved California was contagious, and I had caught the bug. My days of looking behind at once was would be replaced with the present I was given by an unlikely source. My future was looking as sunny as the California skies above, Huell Howser had opened my blind eyes to the lovely illumination right in front of me. 
I started taping his various television shows, and keeping a log of my favorite episodes. I wanted to see what he saw, visit what he visited.My husband and I are planning our Anniversary dinner at the famous Musso and Franks restaurant in Hollywood, an interest we found after we saw the replay of the 1995 episode of Visiting… All of a sudden I realized I was living in paradise, a place most people dream of visiting let alone calling home. Huell Howser to me was more than a television host; he was a kindred spirit, a storyteller, a historian, a teacher. He was the epitome’ of a true Californian, a role model of appreciation of the beauty of the everyday gifts of life as well as the grand. He loved sharing the human aspect of his visits, he was a humble human fascinated with the people of California and the untold stories of their lives. Every time he appeared with his microphone and camera person people  seemed to come out of the woodwork to meet him. I wish I could have been one of those people, unfortunately that would not come to be.
It was November of 2012 that Huell Howser had announced his retirement and the fact he would no longer be shooting new episodes. We were  shocked at the news that he decided to stop future taping, we had become such fans of his work in the short time we lived here.  In early January 2013 we were extremely saddened to hear of his untimely passing. He was a mere 67 years young, but his legacy and his shows would live on forever. His entire body of work has been donated to Chapman University, and they established the Huell Howser Archive, when digitized will offer free public access to the collection of his life’s work.The collection will be available through the university as well as the Internet.
Inspired by a person I would never meet, I plan to visit many of the places he chronicled and to keep a journal or a blog of my  California adventures. I am now a proud resident of Los Angeles, C.A. and I owe my new found love and enthusiasm of my new home to Huell Howser. Living in the golden state is truly amaaazing, as amazing as Huell Howser was as a human being. He was truly California’s Golden Boy and forever my California inspiration.
(c) Rose Bruno Bailey

MONDAY MOTIVATIONAL QUOTES

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 Beautiful large tree in West Los Angeles shared with me by a friend who knows my love of trees.



Good morning, another Monday is upon us, and another weigh in for me.  I feel so confident I did well this week. I have kept up on all of my diet and exercise and have not given in when people have tried to tempt me to eat something I do not want to eat. I will post my new weight tomorrow. I definitely feel lighter and my work clothes are already getting big on me, which is wonderful. I know I have a long way to go though but I will keep forging forward. As of last week my weight was 196. It helps knowing so many people inspirational people. We are never in it alone.

My wonderful friend Ally asked me to post some quotes, I have often written quotes along with my poetry for years and she has as well. We have posted them on our Facebook pages for inspiration and motivation so I decided to share a few here. Melissa and I have talked about writing a positive affirmations type of book together after my poetry book is done. I hope you enjoy some of my own quotes I have written over the years. Happy Monday Love and Light to all.
Namaste’
Rose

Pick and choose your role models carefully. Remember the one quality in common all Disney princesses possessed, they were kind to all creatures of the universe. The practiced giving and they were never demanding. In fact I think it was always witches or wicked stepsisters that displayed selfish and mean tendencies. Rose Bruno Bailey

Take the time for others, pay attention. Life is a gift, and sharing kindness should be a given. No one should ever be treated as invisible. Rose Bruno Bailey 


Never take no for an answer, you hold the keys even if they do not fit. When a door locks, shatter a window!!! Rose Bruno Bailey

Explore the world, your dreams, yourself. Rose Bruno Bailey

Regrets are a waste of energy and emotion. You can pirouette in circles and spin out of control if you do not choose to live your true authentic life.

I  was born on December 21st, the winter solstice, shortest day of the year with the least amount of light, yet I have always felt enveloped by the saffron wonder above. Rose Bruno Bailey

Revisit yesterday’s passions and reinvent them into today’s resolutions. Be patient in your quest, remember to crawl before you walk. Enjoy the process of realizing your dreams and eliminating past regrets. As long as you are breathing you have the opportunity to begin anew.  Rose Bruno Bailey

Take a deep breathe and try to find a little calm within the everyday chaos. Rose Bruno Bailey

Change your perspective, go on new adventures, meet new people, it will enrich your soul and transform your life. Rose Bruno Bailey

I am in awe of the trees in Los Angeles. I live in an area where all you see are Bentley’s, Ferrari’s, and Lamborghini’s yet I am more interested in the beauty of the majestic trees. Nature holds more wealth than gold,  Walk barefoot in the grass, look up at the trees past the buildings, gaze at the azure blue sky, lay on your back and watch the clouds float by. Take time to notice the natural wonders we tend to take for granted. Rose Bruno Bailey

Organize your space, organize your thoughts. A clutter free home equals a clutter free mind. Rose Bruno Bailey


A visit to the ocean is the best cure for anxiety. There is nothing like diving in head first into crystal clear waters, it will clear your head in seconds. Do not be afraid to get your hair wet, it is well worth it in the end. No ocean nearby? Find a lake, a river, a pool. Just get in there and swim like you did when you were a kid.   Rose Bruno Bailey








STAYING THE COURSE

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Last night we went to an early dinner and I am so proud that I stayed on track. I even got my hour long speed walk done between dinner and our movie. That meant no time for a shower or time to change for the movie, I am dedicated!  At the movie I drank bottled water, and did not succumb to the buttery popcorn that seems to make a movie all the more fun. It was a scary film too, and the popcorn would have been a delicious distraction but I did not give in.


I started thinking about days off from exercise. I need to ask Melissa or Mike this as soon as I can. Do I need a day off from my hour long speed walking? Are rest days only for hard core working out and not for cardio? Today is Sunday and it would be my rest day if I decided to do so, but I feel I need to keep the momentum going so I will do my  speed walk sometime this afternoon.

Tomorrow is weigh in, after work. I wish I could weigh in before work since I hate eating before weigh in. I admit on Mondays I fall into my bad little habits before weigh in. This is going to take dedication on a daily basis, and that means not allowing myself to give in to distractions and temptations. So far I am winning the battle, but I need to take it one step at a time. There is no room for impatience on my program. I will choose to take a deep breath and go the distance.

Namaste’
Love and Light 
Rose