July 28 Update

Hello!!

It has been so hot here for such a long time. Working during the day is so draining. Must drink tonnes of water!

I just got Accel's timers back from Browers main office in Utah. They are already to go for next season.

I did not get to do much training this week. Working very late at night. I feel guilty! I will get back into my routine next week!

No golf either!! I hope to play this weekend!

Bye for now .

Doug

July 23 Update

Hello Everyone,

Is it ever hot here! 40 degrees C!

I have been a slave working on Kitchens. I worked right through the weekend. I will take 2 days off during the week though.

It was Our exchange students birthday on Saturday. She turned 17. She is having fun! Tajanna is also having Fun in Quebec!

We had a good dinner last week. There was a golf tournament at my dads golf club. One evening during the week the corse had a free dinner to the people of Kelowna. Roast Beef and salads. It was great.

I am still focusing on leg strength for training. That and stomach and back.

Good luck! Bye for now.

Doug

July,9 Update

Hi again,

Ok I did not shoot so good. For 9 holes 43. I had to buy my dad a beer . That is our bet for the game.

I also saw Thomas Grandi will be racing again next year! Good news for Canadian racing. Allison Forsyth too!

More later.

Doug

July 9 Update

Konichi wa!!

It was a great day off! Slept in and went to my dads to take him a long ladder for his cherry tree. I then took him and Makaiya out to a golf club for breakfast. We ate on the clud house sun deck. Great food and view.

Then home to watch the World Cup Final. I was hoping France would win but not to be. I read a good article in a news paper on some of the Italian players. The players took part in a mental process called the mind room. The boi feedback equipement was invented by a Canadian company. "thought Technology"The players lie on a reclining chair, bodies strapped to the pre comp device. It measures brain waves,muscle tension,breathing , heart rate and so on. The steps they go through are to maintain their Ideal perforance state. The players watch thier games on video and see mistakes they have have made. They practice staying in thier IPS even during the mistakes seen on the video. I found it very interesting.

www.thoughttechnology.com

I am golfing tonight with my dad. I will let you know how I do later.

We had a huge rain shower this afternoon.

Bye Bye

July 7 Update

Hello!

How exciting World Cup Final tomorrow. I finally have a day off too. I have had to work weekends lately. I am pretty tired! I will start saying no to do some jobs. My family never sees me in the winter so I can at least take weekends off.

I have noticed in Japan it has been rainy and cloudy. Kelowna has been hot. we did have 2 days of thunder showers this past week.

Tajanna is enjoying her time in Quebec! Melissa the girl who is staying with us is also enjoyng! She is still a little shy but has come out of her shell a little.

I am going to help my dad tomorrow pick a cherry ttree he has in his yard.

Good night. Bye for now.

Doug

July 3 Update

Hello Everyone,

Boy, this summer seems to be going by so fast.

I am going to start a different system of training now. Heading into wieght training. Going for aroung 18 reps, 3 sets. I am still workimh on my core strength. I have some wieghts at home I am going to use. Squats , lunges, calve work. No arm work outs now for me. I am busy with work too. I feel leg work outs are what I would like to focus on.

Makaiya had her dance performance last week. They would not allow us to take pictures though. Bummer!

Tajanna is in Quebec now for 6 weeks, We havea girl from Quebec in the exchange. The first day here we took her out one my freinds boat. It was fun! I did a liitle water skiing. I haven't done that in years.

Bye for now.

Doug

June 23 Update

Hello Hello,

Just a quick note. Yes, I am busy installing cabinets. Although I do get time off during the week at times. For example this past week I could not work because the house I was to work in was being painted. So I called a friend how is a pilot who laso had time off and golfing here we come. Hee Hee! I shot a 84. Not bad! I have only played 18 holes twice this summer. The first time I played I shot a 84 too.

Oh, here are some pictures from Golf in Japan and Tajanna's play. Enjoy!

Doug

June18 update

Hi Everyone,

I still have jetlag. And my cold! It is dragging out.

It was Chrissys Moms Birthday today. We went for dinner and dressed Makaiya and Taya in the Kimonos I bought them from UNIGLO in Japan.

Makaiya and I did so fun jumping exercise today!

Bye for now.

Doug

June 14 Update

Hi Everyone,

Want to show you a chin up bar I made for home work outs. I like working out at home cause it is more convenient than going to the gym. I do not have enough time between work and family time. I hope you can all see different ways to improve your strength for the upcoming season. Set a new bar of exercise for yourselves.

Bye for now.

Doug

June 13 Update

Hi Everyone,

I have made it safely back to Canada.

Great to see all of you that came to the ICI fair, and at other functions in Japan! Wish I could have played golf with you guys on the Sunday. I did have my responibilties at the ICI Fair though.

I have a very bad cold now. I caught it in Japan. At least a can speak now. I am going to take a few days off though.

Good luck with your summer training!

More Soon!

Doug

June 2 Update

Hello Every0ne,

It has been such a busy few weeks. My work and life in Canada has been very hectic. I did managae to make it to my flight to Japan. Hee Hee!

So yes, I am in Japan again and went to a ski goods fair at Desente, close to Mejiro eki. It was interesting. I was great to see those of you that came.

I am staying close to Megero eki and have a great running route already. there is a very beautiful park close by with trails running throughout it. Also lots of kids play grounds. I was up a 5:30 am this morning. Jet lag! So I went for my daily run. There were lots of others in the park that early. Mostly elderly people. Some looked in very good shape! One of the things I love about ski racing is the way it helps me to push myself to stay in strong physical condition. Of course I have learned from experience we all perform better and have a less chance of injury if we are in good shape and are flexible. But, the problem! Once I entered my adult life I suddenly had more responsiblilities. Time at work, family, and so on. One thing I have struggled with is balance. Arranging my time to fit activitys that are important to my sanity! I must admit in the past I did not organize my time in a way that I had balance in my life.

Everyday I feel it vital to "sharpen my personal saw". Physically, through excercise, nutrition , and rest.

Mentally, through reading ,writing ,challenging ,and taking time to think.

Socially and emotionally, through making "deposits in peoples emotional bank account" Meaning Being Kind, keep promises, be loyal, apologize and have clear expections. To be a giver!

And Spriitually, Through reading or thinking about things that motivate us and spend some time in Nature.

It all sounds good but the challenge for me is to slot that time in my day. I have been pretty good latley. And to tell you the truth I feel great! It is not easy though. Life habits are hard to change.

I just wanted to share my challenge with all of you. More soon !

Doug

May 16 Update

Good morning,

Just a quick note. It is so, so , so hot here in Kelowna! Yesterday it was 35 degrees C! Summer is here already. Shitusdo is very dry so the heat is barable,

More later.

Doug

May 11 Update

Hi Everyone,

Today before my work day I took a truck load of garbage to the Kelowna city dump. In the truck I had a old chair of my moms, a broken plastic table and so on. Enought o fill the back of my work truck. The total cost was $6! Unbelievable huh? I have heard Japans disposal cost is much more.

More soon.

Doug

May 10 Update

Happy Birthday Tajanna!!!!

It was Tigi's b-day yesterday! We had family and some of Tajanna's friends ovr for an amazing dinner Chrissy prepared! Mussels, Greek salad, Maui ribs, chicken screwers, lemon potatoes, pita bread, 3 birthday cakes. There were 20 people here so thats why we had so many cakes!

It has been very sunny here in Kelowna. In the mountains it has snowed recently though.

I have been busy working and doing spring cleaning around our house. Very busy! Even on Weekends. Not much time for play. I have played a little bit of golf. Shot a 84. PLayed 9 holes a few times with my dad at his club on Sunday evenings. That is always fun. Great to do something with my dad.

Makaiya has a cold now. Runny nose , and coughing

Chrissy is doing well.

I will be coming to Japan again in the beginning of June for the Goldwin, and ICI Fair. See you soon!

Bye for now.

Doug

May 10 Update

Happy Birthday Tajanna!!!!

It was Tigi's b-day yesterday! We had family and some of Tajanna's friends ovr for an amazing dinner Chrissy prepared! Mussels, Greek salad, Maui ribs, chicken screwers, lemon potatoes, pita bread, 3 birthday cakes. There were 20 people here so thats why we had so many cakes!

It has been very sunny here in Kelowna. In the mountains it has snowed recently though.

I have been busy working and doing spring cleaning around our house. Very busy! Even on Weekends. Not much time for play. I have played a little bit of golf. Shot a 84. PLayed 9 holes a few times with my dad at his club on Sunday evenings. That is always fun. Great to do something with my dad.

Makaiya has a cold now. Runny nose , and coughing

Chrissy is doing well.

I will be coming to Japan again in the beginning of June for the Goldwin, and ICI Fair. See you soon!

Bye for now.

Doug

May 2 Update

Hello,

Today I finished a kitchen I have been working on. I think it looks good. I like the island in it!

Makaiya and Taya had a soccer practise today they did great. They go every Tuesday and Thursday.

I had a short but very good work out. I skiped for 15 minutes. During that time I did 4 sets of pull ups to failure, and 3 sets of different types of situps. I feel like a lead wieght right now though.

I hope you like the pictures!

Doug

April 28 Update

Good Morning,

Ok, The past few mornings I have not gone for my run!! I have been going after work though. I personally like mixing up my routine. Also want to do some cycling as well as running. If any of you have bad knees or ankles cycling is the way to go. At least 40 minutes per ride. When you do your first rides it is a good idea to stay on flat terrain and "spin". Gear your bike to an easy gear and "spin". Higher repetitions! For the first 2 wekes or so. Build your endurance.

Still doing situps everyday. Just over 100 per day. I do not take any breaks for that amount.

Makaiya has started soccer. On Tuesdays and Thursdays. Ballet on Monday.

Tajanna is inanother play at school. She has one of the main roles. She has bee putting alot of her freee time into that. She has also told me she wants to come with me to Japan in the future. After she graduates from High school. She loves Japan! She once told me if she could be a different race for a day she would want to be " Japanese"!

Chrissy is Good! She has been exercising quite a bit and lost 20 pounds over the winter! I am very proud of her! Also watching what she is eating. She has helped me out installing kitchens the past few days. That was fun! She was very helpfull. Today she is preparing for a garage sale we are doing on Saturday. My Mom , brothers family and mine are doing it. What you do at a garage sale is put all the things you do not want any more. Usually in your driveway in front of your garage. People drive around on the weekend searching through many garage sales looking for bargins. Many times the things that are put out should be just thrown in the garbage. But sometimes there are good things. I will let you know how it goes.

Hope you have a good day.

Doug

April 25 update

Hello Everyone,

I am back installing kitchens . It is so busy in Kelowna now. Many homes and new condos are being built. I have many companys asking me to install for them. I am helping my father inlaw now though. He has 3 kitchens waiting for me.

Last week Chrissy and I went for a run along a beautifull creek. It is called Mission creek. Anyway, we drove our car to the location and went for our run. When we got back someone threw a big rock through our back passenger side window. They searched through the car and stole Chrissy's purse, that she hid under the seat. Needless to say Chrissy was very upset. we had to pay $300 to fix the window. The next day Chrissy did have someone call in saying they found her purse. All of her I.D. was in it so she was lucky in the that respect. The lesson for us is to never leave any valuables in the car.

Time to go. Must instal those kitchens!

Doug

April 19 update

Hi everyone,

It was a hot day here in Kelowna 19 degres C!

Since I have been back in Kelowna I have been running before work in the morning around 40 minutes with stretching after. My pace when I run is so I am able to talk if I have too. Chrissy is also running with me. I run faster than her but often run back to her from certain mark points along the run. I want to be stronger for next season. You guys are getting too fast and may catch me soon!!! Well, and the season is long and I do not have many days off so the stronger I am the better. My focus now is to strengthen my lung capacity and heart. Longer runs and bike rides! I am also doing at least 100 situps of different types every day. Must Have a strong stomach and back for phase 3 of the turn.

I love ski racing for how it helps motivate me to be healthy! Mentally , physicaly, spititually , Lots of challenge and friends! Lets push to challenge ourselves I all areas! 30 to 40 minutes per day can make a huge difference!

You can all do it! Good luck.

Bye for now.

Doug