60 laps. 60 years. 1 more goal met.

The smile says it all.

Every year on my birthday, I give myself an athletic challenge. This year it was to swim 60 laps, one for each year I've been alive.

This year, I announced my challenge on Facebook adding a little pressure but also opening myself up to fantastic support from friends I've met along the way. I was going to do the swim on my birthday, but we were under a heat advisory and at 106 degrees before 10 a.m. So I delayed and attempted it today, Saturday, the final day of my birthday week.

I got an early start. As with all big things worth doing, it's best to break them down.

After 5 laps: I thought just 12 more sets of 5. At 10 laps: 6 more sets. 20 laps: in a groove.

At 30, the halfway point: I started grinning. One more set of 30.

Laps 40 and 50: It's kind of like an out-and-back run, the return leg feels like I've done the work and everything else is gravy. Dig in, keep going.

And during laps 51-60: I started thinking about the literal meaning of those laps. Each lap was a quick up-and-back to review my life during the past few years. Cutting through the water, I was leaving those years behind.

And during my final lap, lap 60: I thought about what's to come, what I can make of my 60h year.

During that final lap, I set a couple of goals. Some people would call that setting my intentions. I call it preparing for my 61st birthday challenge.

Annual birthday challenge to myself

I've had a lot of great accomplishments in my life. I've done a lot of cool things. One of the things I'm most proud of is that as an adult I re-taught myself to swim. A strong crawl which got me through several triathlons and a couple of 5-mile races off of Waikiki. 

On my birthdays, I always do something athletic and I tie it to how long I've been alive. 50-minute run on my 50th birthday. 55-minute hike on my 55th. 

I've been swimming a lot these days, 30 laps 4 or 5 times a week. On Tuesday, I plan to swim 60 laps. One up and back for every year of my life. And after that, I want cake. Lots of cake. Happy birthday to me and thanks, in advance, for all of your best wishes.

Thank you Lord: Football season has finally arrived!

Are you ready for some football! 

Heading out early to find room at the table.

I can’t get enough of that phrase. Even if you aren’t a football fan, you can’t help but get caught up in the hoopla of football that sort of marks the official beginning of the fall season.

For me, it can be a little difficult when it is 115 degrees outside in Phoenix, but hey, I still put on my long sleeve Giants sweatshirt, turn down the air conditioner, plant myself in front of the TV and just veg for the day!

But it can also be a little bittersweet. It is also that moment every year when I remember my father. He passed away 17 years ago, but its still feels like yesterday, especially this time of year. You see, my father and I had a special bond. Come Sunday, football Sunday that is, my dad would bring all the TV’s into the living room and we would watch multiple games on multiple TV’s. There was no picture in picture at that time. Me and my dad, side by side, screaming and hollering and just talking football.

It was our time together, and this time of year I get a little sad thinking he’s not sitting here next to me, but in my mind I can still hear him yelling, and I thank him for taking his young daughter and introducing her to this game that has become such a major part of my life.

Warming up with  NFL Preview: Day 1.

So, today I will pull up to a poker table, watch about 10 screens of games on TV and scream and holler with my new football buddies. None of them can replace my dad, but they are helping to fill the void he left behind when he passed.

So today Dad, I think of you and I thank you for making sure that your daughter understands the importance of the game, the complexities of the game and has the ability to “talk smack” with any of the guys who think they know more about the game than I do. They don’t know I sat at my dad’s knee, learning everything I could about his love of the game and now my love!

Thanks dad for this gift! Now, lets play some football!

Sue, Phoenix

Setting my own bird free

Indigenous warrior Heard Museum, originally uploaded by RobinJP.

Ear buds in, Jill Scott cranked, comfortable shoes on, I head up Central.
(5 minutes free.)

I smile at office workers grabbing a quick snack and fly on by.
(15 minutes clear.)

My spirit jumps on behind the Kid on a long board.
(30 minutes grooving.)

I make the Heard Museum of Native Cultures and Art my turnaround point. Today is one like many lately. I push away from my desk, grab a bottle of water, set my watch and go.

It sounds so simple, but it's not. There are many locks to break, dragons to slay, before I can break free of the Oh So Important Things that have my attention.

The Heard, with its sculpture garden, was a good choice. My fast walk becomes a ramble becomes a wander becomes a lesson.

(60 minutes and my little bird is set free.)


Robin, with an Indigenous Warrior at Phoenix's Heard Museum

The boys of winter swing for the fences and never show their age.

You know, sometimes it is difficult to find anything to smile about, especially after a tough week at work. But today one of my former students sent me a link to a story that he just did and by the end I was not only smiling, but laughing out loud!

The guys in this story - Aging Northeasterners stay young in the winter by playing stickball - truly know the meaning of enjoying life to the fullest, and I love that they are able to do it by bringing a little of the past into the future.

I hope this brings a smile to your face as well!

Sue, Phoenix 

U.S. women really stole the show at the London Olympics 2012

Just wanna play ball.

I replayed this commercial a lot during the Olympics. It served to reinforce all the great athletics we were seeing on the screen.

Amazing fact from the 2012 London Olympics: Only two countries won as many gold medals at the 2012 Olympics as the 29 won by American women.

More on this from a story on Bleacher Report: US Women Stole the Show in London

"That's right, just two countries matched the American women in gold medals. China as a country won 38, while Great Britain took home 29, tying the U.S. ladies. I think it's safe to say that American women dominated these Olympics.

It gets better. The United States women won 58 medals in all, better than all but three countries (China, Russia, Great Britain).

And they topped the men both in gold medals won (29 to 17) and overall medals earned (58 to 45).

Way to hold down the fort, ladies."

Way to play ball, ladies!!

Robin, Tempe

My personal Olympic moment

my olympic moment, originally uploaded by RobinJP.

I had to get off the couch and go have my own Olympic moment today.

This is a photo of me after a 9-mile bike ride in 102 degree heat. Don't worry, I always turn red. A frozen water bottle pressed on my neck calmed that right down.

I felt strong. I was moving. I am an athlete, just like those on the world stage.

I was really inspired to get moving when the women beach volleyball started. Those women do not have couch-potato bodies.

Happy trails to us: Hiking in Payson, Arizona

Hiking in Payson, Arizona, originally uploaded by RobinJP.

We were hiking along a forest trail today outside of Payson, Arizona, and ran into these critters.

Usually in Arizona, hikers have to keep an eye out for snakes and an ear out for their rattle. But we came upon these two guys (and their friends) tethered to some trees.

There were no riders around, but they were with six other horses. All were tied and standing very still in the middle of our path.

We gave them a wide berth, walked on by and continued our beautiful, perfect day in the woods.

Robin, in Payson for the day

WNBA fans: We're loud and we're proud

Home opener Phoenix Mercury, originally uploaded by RobinJP.

Last week's home opener for the Phoenix Mercury was a disappointment for anyone wanting to see 1. the injured Diana Taurasi play much or 2. the team win.

But it was heaven for these two little girls .. and hundreds of others just like them sprinkled around the arena.

The team gave away shirts (orange, of course) and encouraged team spirit from starting whistle to the disappointing end (Sparks 99, Mercury 88).

These two really didn't care about the score. They shouted and bounced and spun on their seats. They copied the crowd, yelling "DE-FENSE" or "RE-BOUND" at the right times.

And since their mom was my source for Mercury news that night ("What injury knocked Penny Taylor out for the season?"), I'm sure these girls will be back.

The WNBA does a great job making the games fun for true basketball fans and people like me who enjoy watching the crowd as much as the game. I'll be back too.

Robin, Tempe

Go see a game:  WNBA 2012 schedules  

Life lessons on Opening Day - Play Ball, girls!

This young girl knows that baseball is
no laughing matter. Photo: Tim Sarnoff 

Every opening day, I remember this one big lesson from life.

One day in 3rd grade, we got word that the next day the boys would be able to bring in their transistor radios.

What?!  Boys?  Could bring in their radios?!

That's lifting one of the biggest rules in school -- no radios.  Back then, that was like saying no phones.  Yeah!  The principal was lifting a rule about one of the biggest distractions in school.

What the heck was this all about?

I did a little investigating and found out that it had something to do with baseball.  The next day was baseball's Opening Day and apparently this was big enough to break all the rules.

But what's this about the boys and not the girls?   Our principal was sending me and my posse the message that

1. we must not like baseball.
2. we had no interests important enough to change the rules over.

This was pre-Title 9 and I like to think that some of the ruckus we made that next day led to some of the breakthroughs for women that followed.

We did what 3rd-grade girls do best: We pestered the heck out of those boys.  There was no corner of the playground where they felt safe huddled, listening in Boyland to their radios.  We showed them that we could listen too.   We may not have been part of the gang in the principal's eyes, but we showed them we understood the excitement in the crack of the bat and roar of the crowd.

And we showed them that they could not keep us from listening.


Robin J. Phillips, Tempe

Totally Perfect Moment Weekend

The purpose of this blog was to point out Perfect Moment's as we work through our days. But this time I wanted to talk about my Perfect Moment weekend, a weekend full of moments that made me smile, made me outright laugh, made me "feel the inner light" made me envious and made me cheer out loud. Lets just say it was one amazing weekend!

It all began on Friday when I heard this giggle as I was walking through the mall. It was an indoor carousel. You always see those pictures in movies when a kid and their parents are riding on them and having the time of their lives. I can't say as I ever remember riding on a carousel, but I am always intrigued, and they always make me stop and watch. But this time it was the sound of this little boy that drew my attention.

He was all alone on this carousel with his mother, the only ones on the ride. And he held on to that horse and to his mom so tight and was just laughing and laughing. I couldn't help but wish I was on the horse next to him! His infectious laughter made me feel like a kid again, made me remember how much fun it was to enjoy something for the first time, that sheer wonder! I thought to myself, what an amazing way to start my weekend! I walked out of the mall with a big smile on my face!

Saturday I had my perfect day and just lounged around in my pajamas with the person I love watching bad movies. It was fantastic!

This joyful bounty of perfect moments continued on Sunday morning when I went to this yoga class. It was a class where we were concentrating on the heart. As I laid down on the mat, and listened to the instructor tell me to "invite the light" into my heart, I have to admit it gave me an amazing feeling.

I don't know what the heck was going on! You can read anything into it that you want, but what I can say is that I smiled, a big old smile! I couldn't fight this smile that started in my heart and then spread out to my toes and the top of my head. It was quite amazing! And then the class ended with us breathing, and my favorite song playing, Haleluhah! One heck of a Karma moment!

So, then I got in my car and was headed home and stopped at a light, and I was still smiling about my class, when I looked to my left and saw this ... a truck literally covered in mud. At this point I just broke out laughing! What the heck had this truck been doing all weekend that it was literally covered from top to bottom in mud??? All I could think about was it must have been a Perfect Moment for the two kids driving the truck! I wanted to play in the mud as well!

Then, it was time for the icing on my Perfect Moment Weekend... The Giants versus the San Francisco 49'ers.

Now, for those of you who don't know it, I am a huge football fan, especially love the Giants. So, today I did my "smack talking" as my dad would say.

I lived and died many deaths throughout the four-hour game which went into overtime, but lost it when the Giants made that field goal, and are now headed to the Super Bowl! I love this weekend, and wanted you all to share in it with me!

Sue, Tempe

Sometimes, you gotta go

I ran a 5K race last weekend. It was kind of a pain because the race was 45 minutes from home .. and that's in 5 a.m. traffic.  But when I got to the park, I couldn't find the event. Turns out the run was in the same park as the past few years, but at a totally different entrance.

With a little help from a friend who was also lost and my GPS, I did find it, but I was really running late. 10 minutes to start.

I was preregistered but had to get my number and racing chip.  6 minutes to start.

Really, really had to go, so I headed to the potties. 5 minutes to start.  

Two weeks ago, these same race organizers delayed a 5K because of a long potty line. I'll be OK. 

On your marks...   

My turn! Zipped inside one of those lovely blue bins. Hovered over the hole and ....  HOOOOONNNNKK!  

Well, that was a first. I've never been in the potty at the start of the race. A personal record, not necessarily a personal best. 

Thank goodness for racing chips.  Once out of the potty, I crossed the starting line and my own personal race began. 

Robin, Tempe

I got a feeling... ready for anything and heading to the water

I went for a long walk the other day. Early on a weekend morning, I enjoyed watching my neighborhood wake up.

As I returned home, I passed a house where a young family was packing up the SUV. It looked like two couples, maybe brothers and their wives packing the back of the car, putting in food and chairs. From down the street I could see the activity, legs and feet under the car and a child who was shooed away.

When I passed in front of the house, I saw the adults continue to pack up and the child among them had been sent to a safe spot. A little girl, about 4, was sitting on a rock in the front yard watching all the action.

Straight black hair pulled back in a pony tail, she sat as still as her little bouncing legs would let her be. And then I saw it. It brought a smile to my face. She was wearing her life vest, ready for the pool or beach, or lake. Wherever they were going, this little sweetie was ready. Sitting in front of her house in the middle of the Sonoran Desert, she was ready for a great day on the water.

I hope her day was as wonderful as she dreamed it would be.


Robin, Tempe

The Diamondbacks have their swagger on!

Go ahead, give it a shot. Stick your toe into the water and test it out. What am I talking about? I am talking about jumping on the Diamondbacks bandwagon!

Yes, those Arizona D-backs, the team that has found itself firmly ensconced in the cellar the past several years. The team that has lived well below the .500 mark for the past few years when it came to wins.

No, what we have here are the new D-backs, the new “first place” D-backs. Yes, I know, let’s just pause for a second and savor that line. I said “first place” D-backs! Today, for the first time since this time of year in 2008, the D-backs are in first place in the National League west!

They did it by stringing together some amazing wins against the Astros, the Rockies, the Twins and the Braves! Just a few weeks ago this team was heading to their usual place at the bottom of the west standings. But then something happened along the way… the team found its’ swagger.

The team found out what true fans have known all along, they are winners. They just needed a man who demanded the most out of them.

Coach Kirk Gibson knows what it’s like to want to win so much, you will it to happen. I don’t even have to remind everyone what happened when he limped up to the plate during the 1988 World Series and hit a clutch home run. No one expected he would be able to do it, but Gibson did.

And now it’s that swagger he has brought to this team that is making the difference. This team is not made up of a group of overpaid superstars. No, this team is made up of a group of guys with a passion to prove people wrong. They want to prove they belong in the conversation when it comes to talk about the best teams in baseball!

Passion! It is a beautiful thing. This D-backs team is full of passion. Right now they are full of confidence. They are trying things they haven’t done for years. Things like hit and runs, steals, and ballsy base running!

They are out there playing like a bunch of kids, kids who love what they are doing. But they are just following the biggest kid of all, Coach Gibson.

I tip my hat to every one of the players and coaches on this team that believed, that believed they could win, and they are doing it.

So folks, jump on this bandwagon because all I can say is it’s going to be a hell of a fun ride!!! Come swagger with them!

Sue Green, Tempe

Photo of Kirk Gibson and the boys in blue by Flickr user Mr. Littlehand | Dad and daughter at the game photo by Robin J. Phillips

Not for the faint of heart

May 28, 2011, tortoise or the hare?, originally uploaded by RobinJP.

Arizona Road Racers Club has a funny sense of humor. But I fall for it every summer.

Today was the first in a series of five summer running races. Today's began at 7:30 a.m. and it was nearly 90 degrees when we finished. The rest of the races in the series begin at 6:30 a.m., early to beat the heat, they say. There is no beating the heat.

My Perfect Moment was at the starting line. A first-timer was asking me about the route and the heat and the crowd.

We are both signed up for the full series. We're committed to get up early and run in the sun. To train some and show up.

"You're here. That's all you need to know," I told her. She grinned, took a deep breath and took off running.


Robin, Tempe

No one stares like a 4-year-old stares

I went for a run during lunch the other day. It was hot, but I had a great workout and I needed a good shower before changing and heading back to work.

I change at the YMCA about a block from work. By the time I got to the showers, the locker room was pretty empty, but I could hear the sound of kids taking swimming lessons.

"Quack, quack, quack," they called out as I piled my clothes on a bench outside the shower stall.

"Splash, splash, splash," I heard as I lathered my hair.

Then I heard: ... "Split, splat, split... " and "There's somebody in there!"

I looked through a small gap in the curtain to see a tiny tot just staring at me. I waved, smiled and pulled the curtain tighter. She just stared, wide-eyed. As I went about my business, a group of 3- and 4-year-olds joined her, but they weren't interested in me. They were "freeeeezing."


They all started shaking and shivering and whining ... yes, cute, but whining ... about being "freeezing."

A mom joined them and I was sure she'd turn on one of the other showers and warm them under the water, but nope. She'd been here before.

She drove them like a Border Collie toward two big wall-mounted hair dryers and popped the dryers on. Her gaggle of tots bounced around underneath, laughing and wiggling as they warmed up.

All this took about 30 seconds and then they were in the next room calling out the numbers on all the lockers. Mom was making a game of drying off and getting dressed. There they went.

And then there I went.

"Quack, quack, quack," all the way back to work, with a smile on my face.

Robin, Tempe

Swimmer photo by Flickr user jessebezz

Just Do the Distance

Feb. 6, 2011, Do the Distance, originally uploaded by RobinJP.

Central Arizona Project canals snake through Phoenix. These are great running paths in the winter. Hot ones in the summer.

As I ran along this path today, I remembered the words of a good friend and runner who always coached me: "Nevermind the speed, do the distance."

This photo is one in my 2011 One a Day photo project which I display on Flickr/RobinJP.

Robin, Tempe

New Year's Schmoo-Year's: Be awesome always

New Year's Resolutions

Or things that might make me feel good this year if I remember to do them.

1. Exercise. Move. My metabolism is slow.. and slowing. I like sweets. Gotta move. Gotta get out.

2. Be more diligent about saving, investing. Remember, I like sweets. And living indoors.

3. Meditate. 2010 was my year to get into guided meditation. I can fly.

4. Read children's books. Even without kids in the house, who can't lighten the mood with a quick round of Dr. Seuss?

5. Call my mother. I am so lucky. 55 and still have both parents. And my mom so loves phone calls.

6. Laugh out loud every day. And if it's going to be at someone, make it at myself.

7. Patience. Count to 10. Take a moment. Let it go. Re-focus. Mini-meditation.

8. Never ever ever go to bed angry. (Do go to bed hungry.)

9. Think more. Share less. Or share in a more focused way. Engage. Don't add to the clutter.

10. Drink more water. This one I can do.


And who needs a day to kick all this off? Let's just try to be awesome ... always.

Robin, Tempe

Sunday morning hike with music in my head

SouthMountain, originally uploaded by RobinJP.

Out early on a hike in the desert hills near South Phoenix. South Mountain has a wonderful loop that I love to run/walk. Part of it is along a flat access road. And more than half of it is up and down rocky ridges. It's grueling and fun.

As I took off today, I discovered my iPod was out of juice. I had only my own brain to entertain me.

That worked for about 45 minutes. Then I began a word-association game. The rhythm kept me bouncing down the hills.

This is how it went:

Brick.
brick house

House.
house sitter

Sitter.
sitter dog

Dog.
dog cat

Cat.
cat nap

Nap.
nap sleep

Sleep.
sleep eat

Eat.
eat love

Love.
love heart

Heart.
heart red

Red.
red brick

Brick.
brick house

Oh yeah.. it was fun. White-lady hip-hop.

I'm juicing my iPod as I write this.

Robin J. Phillips

You go, grandma

You go girl, originally uploaded by RobinJP.

I ran a 5K on Saturday morning. It was a killer. 94 degrees and humid in Tempe, Arizona.

The run is part of my campaign to get moving, lose a little weight, enjoy the peacefulness of the distance runner.

We all have our own reasons for being there. 764 people finished the race ... well, maybe 765.

I can't tell you who this lovely lady is. Bib No. 1186 doesn't show up in the race results from Saturday's Arizona Road Racers 5K Summer Series Race No. 4. But she did it. I saw her start. And here's her heroic finish. A Perfect Moment for us all.

And, thank god I beat her.

Robin, Tempe