We have heard so many times and in so many ways that each of us is unique.  There is no one else like us anywhere in the universe.

Well, think about it for a moment.  Our genes, how mom and dad raised us, the experiences we've lived through, and our reactions and actions in response to any stimuli we've encountered... soooooo many variables that just can't be duplicated - not in a quadrillion eons.  Each one of us is indeed unique, and therefore special.

Still, being convinced of this is difficult.  Peer pressure growing up created clones who hung out together, belonging.  We so desperately needed this as adolescents and teenagers.  Then it was keeping up with the Joneses in cookie cutter homes and white collar jobs.  Being cast out of any group or clique can be devastating, if our minds are not prepared.  Being totally different and against the 'norm' is a challenge like none other.   The potential for being alone is great.

Yet, the knowledge that you are you, not someone else, is highly rewarding.  Being free to think and act autonomously despite influences and passed judgments, is a natural high in perfection.  Reaching the place where this knowledge thrives is a hard-earned right of passage - a passage that much of this planet's population must find and walk down.  The greatest gifts one can receive?  Strength of mind and spirit, the latter most especially.  Again, if the body and mind are prepared.

This blog, my Ambit, is my contribution to that preparation, both for myself, and for all who enjoy it.  Thoughts for inspiration; images to produce calm and meditation.

Interspersed amongst these will be articles and stories to help with your preparation toward strength of mind and spirit.

Cameron took off to a friend's house (such is the life of a 17-year-old), so it was just Val and I tonight.  I am extremely fortunate to have a wife who enjoys working out with me and is excited about the progress she's making.

After 9 weeks she's noticing how strong she's becoming and how her shape is changing.  I'm very proud of her and my son (we're still working on the consistency trait).

After 3 rounds of warm-ups, Val used her 12kg and I my 24kg. 

Today called for 5 ladders with 3 rungs each.  A piece of cake.  And very tempting to try to use my 28kg, but after reading a post about lessons learned over on the Dragon Door forum, I decided to stay with the "light"-ness of Monday and stick to the plan as she is wrote!

We move quickly through our Clean and Press ladders;  Clean and press right, clean and press left, walk to the pull-up bar and one pull-up.  Val does her pull-up and back to the bells for 2 C&Ps right, 2 C&Ps left, two pull-ups for me, two for her, then back to the bells; 3 reps right, 3 reps left, 3 pull-ups for me, 3 for Val, then rest for one minute.

After our minute rest, back to one rep and so on until we finish our five ladders.  There's no dawdling here.  Do the reps, rest for the appointed time, and finish the sequence.

I should mention that I've been getting a sharp pain in my right forearm when I've been doing my pull-ups, lately.  I usually do shoulder-width and close-grip pull-ups (with a false grip).  So today I figured I'd try something different by using a wide grip (outside my shoulders). 

Bang.  No forearm pain.  I'm not sure what the deal is so if anyone else knows, feel free to comment.  I think I'm going to start using a wrist-roller to supplement my grip strength, though.

Once our ladders are complete, we rest for 2-3 minutes, then jump right into our snatch workout.  Val moved down to her 8kg to practice her form.  I stayed with my 24kg Russian Red today.  In our workbook, the dice roll for today was a 10.  Meaning we snatch for 10 minutes.  10 reps right, 10 reps left, rest for 1 minute.  We followed the prescribed reps scheme and got 100 reps at the 9 minute mark.

Val jumped on her bike and did a quick lap of our neighborhood with our 8-year-old while I did my Janda sit-ups and straight-leg sit-ups.

When she returned, we stretched out and poured a glass of wine as we started dinner.

I'm not sure what I'm going to do tomorrow.  I'm planning on helping a friend tear out her old kitchen cabinets and take measurements for a new one.  So we'll see what kind of time we have left in the day.

To get your own Russian Red Kettlebell, visit the Dragon Door website:

As I've said in previous posts, it's important to be flexible and to accept the fact that sometimes you can't get a workout in due to other commitments.

Well, Saturday is going to be one of those days, so we moved this week's heavy day to Friday.

Today we up the volume again, by climbing 5 ladders with 5 rungs each.

We did our usual 3 circuits of warm-ups, although with the hot weather, it almost seemed unnecessary.

Val stuck with her 12kg for her sets, while Cameron switched between the 24kg and the 16kg.

I used my 32kg, 28kg and 24kg.  Like Wednesday, I used the different bells for different reps.  For my first ladder, I used the 24kg exclusively to make sure my shoulders were properly warmed-up.  Then for ladders 2-5 I did the following:

32 kg - 1 rep right/1 rep left

1 pull-up

28 kg - 2 reps right/2 reps left

2 pull-ups

28 kg - 3 reps right/3 reps left

3 pull-ups

24 kg - 4 reps right/4 reps left

4 pull-ups

24 kg - 5 reps right/5 reps left

5 pull-ups

Rest 1 minute (2-3 minutes towards the end)

Repeat for 4 more ladders.

I have to tell you that this was one of the toughest workouts I've ever done.  As we pushed through our fourth and fifth ladder, we really had to rely on each other for motivation and support.  It was hot, the bells were heavy, and none of us were looking forward to our swings.

As it was, the dice roll called for 3 minutes of 25 rep sets with 5 seconds of rest between them.  Val used her 12kg, Cameron used his 16 kg, and I used my 24 kg.  After 3 minutes, Val and I did 85 reps, while Cameron pushed past the 3 minute limit and got 100 reps. 

I did my best to swing that bell as fast and as hard as I could, but I just couldn't break through to the 100 rep mark.  And the minimum called for 110 reps.  Maybe if I was using the 16 kg. 

I finished with my 20 Janda sit-ups, 15 straight-leg sit-ups, stretched and jumped in the pool.  Now that was refreshing.

Anyway, we did it. and we're done until Monday.  I might post something in the interim, so pop back and check, ok?

For many at Mt. San Jacinto College, graduation is a celebration of obstacles overcome

By GAIL WESSON
The Press-Enterprise

HEMET - Some new graduates of Mt. San Jacinto College describe overcoming obstacles, including doubt and insecurity about whether they were college material, and for others, earning the degree was a matter of persistence and carving out time to take each class.

Amid what Dennis Anderson, the college's interim vice president for instructional services, called some "amazing stories," the Class of 2008 reached their community college goals Friday.

A record 1,046 students received associate degrees or certificates, up from 852 students in 2007. College officials estimated about one-third of them participated in the ceremonies under balmy skies at the Ramona Bowl Amphitheatre in Hemet.

Diane Boss, 62, started her college education in 1970 and over the years took classes to enhance her job skills for different careers.

She received an associate's degree in business administration but figured she had taken enough units at Mt. San Jacinto and UCR that "I could have had my bachelor's if I focused on just doing one thing," she said by phone earlier this week.

"I never really had the opportunity to just go to school. I always worked full time," said Boss, an administrative associate for the college's fundraising foundation. She took career-oriented classes, and as her career changed so did her classes. She earned a public relations certificate at UCR and a fundraising certificate at Mt. San Jacinto.

The country-western dancer and kayaker, who lives in the country south of Hemet, will take a break next semester before setting more college goals, she said.

Among those who did not participate in the cap and gown ceremonies was Anthony Carbajal 20, who chose to work his pizza restaurant job to earn money for expenses to transfer to Loyola Marymount University in Los Angeles. He plans to major in business with a minor in communications. He earned a management certificate at Mt. San Jacinto.

"I'm trying to save up money. I'm trying to pick up shifts," he said by phone earlier in the week.

Carbajal echoed remarks made by graduation speaker Julian Alcazar, thanking their mothers for support and describing learning obstacles. Alcazar took advantage of math tutors, and Carbajal got help in math and English at the college's Learning Resource Center.

Carbajal credits counselors, faculty and tutors with influencing his college success. "I've just grown so much at Mt. San Jacinto. Leaving high school, I just wasn't ready for college," said the Murrieta High School graduate. "I worked my way up, and they helped me achieve confidence."

California Secretary of Education David Long in his commencement address talked about the importance of setting priorities in 840 months, the average person's lifespan. Long is a former superintendent and county schools chief in Riverside County.

In an emotional moment during the ceremonies, the college awarded an associate's degree in computer information systems posthumously to Timothy Waters, 51, of Hemet, who battled a brain tumor and died within a day of completing his last college assignment March 13. His only son, Brad Waters, accepted the degree on his behalf.

Reach Gail Wesson at 951-763-3455 or gwesson@PE.com

Watch Video here.

So, yeah, that  happened ...

Do YOU have an, umm, interesting prom pic you want to share (or equally humiliating story)? We'd love to see 'em!

Опитах се да покажа на Х, че трябва да направи съзнателен избор. За съжаление, той непрекъснато прави избори, продиктувани от ирационални страхове, от стремежа да си спести неудобството и болката. Когато човек е воден от тези съображения, възможностите му за избор се стесняват, страховете му да не се сблъска с нещо извън смаляващия се кръг на възможностите расте, а животът му става все по-ограничен и посредствен.

Мисля, че това не е типично само за Х. Това е резултат от цялостната ни култура, инфантилната култура на удобството и незабавното задоволяване на желанията. Хората очакват, че като правят живота си все по-удобен и безболезнен, незабавно задоволяващ желанията, ще станат по-щастливи. Напротив. Те стават все по-soft, все по-неспособни да отложат удоволствието, все по-нетърпящи неудобства. Т.е. човечеството се движи не напред към зрелостта, а към инфантилното, бебешкото състояние.

Има една подробност, обаче – растящите капризи и раздразнителност се облекчават с непрекъснато нарастващо удобство и скорост на задоволяване на желанията, но това струва пари (примерно). Въпросът е кой ще плаща сметката.

В България хората се радват на дълго детство на издръжка на родителите си. Вярва се, че излизането от него бележи края на “най-хубавите години”. То е като изгонване от Рая. След това някои се опитват да си възвърнат Рая като изкарват сами пари, но ... хората продължават да страдат, защото не искат да пораснат.

Да, хората бачкат здраво в определени периоди, с огромно отвращение, за да заплатят за удоволствията си. И колкото по-голямо е отвращението, толкова по-голяма се очаква да бъде наградата. След което наградата никога не изглежда достатъчно голяма; удовлетворението не настъпва никога.

А ако хората умееха да дават истински, те щяха да могат да се отпуснат в каквото и да е и да са щастливи да вършат дори работата, която не е предназначена за кеф, понеже са се впуснали в нея като в игра. Вместо това, те обикновено са заети с роптаене срещу неудобството и опити да го ограничат, да дадат по-малко, да платят по-ниска цена – което е част от поведението им на купувачи – всеки търси най-добрата сделка и гледа да не се мине да плати и стотинка повече.

По този начин се определят и взаимоотношенията между хората. Те подхождат един към друг като консуматори, които са твърде заети да пресмятат, да сравняват, да внимават да не дадат повече, отколкото ще получат.

Каква е моята алтернатива? Алтернативата на човека който от малък мечтае да порасне. Това е желанието да ставаш все по-могъщ – знаещ и можещ. Нямам предвид манията на Тигъра. Искам да разбирам света и себе си, да виждам моделите, които ни движат, да живея в хармония с вселенските акони, а не да господствам над всичко. Искам да еволюирам, да стигна до съвършенството, т.е. да открия щастието в себе си и да видя дали има нещо отвъд. И все пак живея в свят, в който повечето хора вървят в обратната посока.

Може би винаги е било така – масите са вървели по посока на удобството. Имало е индивиди, които са вървели обратно на течението. Те са пробивали в неизвестността, създавали са временни неудобства и хаос, и ако са имали късмет, масите са решавали, че новооткритото ще направи живота им по-удобен и са инвестирали в него. Ако са смятали, че няма да доведе до такава полза, са отхвърляли откритието, а понякога да наказвали откривателя. След време човечеството е преоткривало някои отхвърлени идеи, понеже е стигало до етап на развитие, в който може да ги оцени. А как е стигало дотам? Благодарение на плуващите срещу течението, на ходещите по ръба на хаоса.

Мисля, че желанието да пробиеш в неизвестното е нещо, с което се раждаме. След това започваме да осъзнаваме, че морето е дълбоко, но много от нас не се научават да плуват, а си остават на брега, където са останали родителите им и повечето им познати и приятели.

Липсват модели – мъдри възрастни, които са направили своите пътувания, които могат да хванат младите за ръка и да ги поведат към техния right of passage, да им покажат и други светове, да ги блъснат във водата.

Аз искам да направя своето пътешествие и като се върна, да разкажа за него. Всъщност пътешествието не е само едно. Качвала съм се на лодката и съм пътувала и съм се връщала, и съм разказвала. Може би ще направя още много пътувания – все по-надалече, в различни посоки, ще добавям още и още острови на картата – някои го правят под формата на романи. Интересно докъде ще стигна.

Може би прекарвам твърде много време на брега, за да оправдавам пътуванията си. Все пак се налага – нали трябва да осигуря екипировка и supplies – и това ме свързва с хората, не само споделянето на моите открития. Може да е досадно, но за да пътувам, се налага да се уча да надхитрявам хората от време на време. Например да ги заблуждавам, че не съм чак толкова различна, понеже е рано да им покажа колко са подобни на мен.

Животът е като игра. Пътешественикът понякога е и трикстер. Може би това ме отличава от героите на Пауло Коельо – доколкото си ги спомням, на тях никога не им се е налагало да хитруват.

Животът е весел. И все пак ми е тъжно за децата, които стареят на брега.

Ако те кефя, гласувай за мен тук.

If you'd like to hear David's acceptance speech just watch this video taken by Beth (who was also very pleased to be at the ceremonies in Calgary!)

David took part in the 5th annual JUNO cup while he was in Calgary playing on the NHL team as their goalie - also a thrill!

Last, but not least, David was part of the first ever presentation of classical music at JUNOfest. David was honoured to narrate for JUNO nominee, cellist Matt Haimovitz for his performance of "After Reading Shakespear"

The awards will take place on Saturday, December 1 at the Canadian Museum of Civilization in Gatineau, Québec Canada

for more information on the Canadian Folk Music Awards, check out their site at http://www.canadianfolkmusicawards.ca/cfma/

Right of passage is David Francey's much anticipated, all new, all original material CD. The first since Waking Hour in 2004. An exquisite new CD!

Join us for the CD release party at Hugh's Room in Toronto, March 2 and 3

Right of Passage is an intimate recording of thirteen original David Francey songs, backed by a stellar cast of musicians. Craig Werth, Geoff Somers, Shane Simpson and Julia Davie joined David at Signal Path Studio in the beautiful town of Almonte, Ontario. The time spent in the studio was joyful. The sessions were filled with excitement as the new songs were captured one by one.
Right of Passage reflects the passion and emotion with which David views his world - a world where he and his pal "laughed [their] words in steady streams", where he dreamt of his wife while sitting "under a sky of hodden grey" and where a smile "filled the emptiness".
We are very proud that Right of Passage is truly home-made. The songs and music are by David. Many of the practices took place in our home. The recording was done less than an hour from our home. Our daughter Julia is singing harmony on two songs. Our daughter Amy did a beautiful job on the artwork for the CD. Our son Colin was extremely patient through the whole process. Many of the photos are by David or myself (Beth)...and the CD is on our label, Laker Music, run out of our home! How's that for an indie label! Made in Canada!

You can order your copy directly from us online at Laker Music. Liner notes and more available for Right of Passage