Coach Kirstin

Do you ever get so comfortable with just the way things are?  And just the idea of them being any different is uncomfortable? That’s me.  I like my life just the way it is.  I like my training during the weekdays and Saturday mornings.  I usually grab groceries on the night I sneak out a little early.  I give Thursday night, Saturday night and Sunday to my friends.  Almost every Sunday I have brunch with my friends at about the same time in the same place.  I try to take care of all my chores before I go so I can just hang out with them.  And it’s easy.  We catch up and laugh and I look forward to it.  Even if Im not feeling chatty, I can just hang with them.  The core group of people in my life, actually restore my energy.  Even as introvert.  But that’s my life and I like it.  And when something comes in to change it, I resist like a 3 year old throwing a temper tantrum.  Im doing this...

Death. It's this crazy eventuality we all face. I live my days with complete disregard for it. Unless I get on a motorcycle and then it's like we are in a pre-fight stare down. But it does get us. All of us. We can not avoid it. We can not pick it. Or we aren't supposed to but some of us have or have tried. I have known for the last ten years my Nanny (you may call her a grandma), has had numbered days. She was diagnosed with emphysema. It's not cureable, just treatable to a certain point to postpone the inevitable. I am the one that primarily takes care of my grandparents, though I am fortunate enough to have an uncle that is local and helps out a ton. Otherwise I may have packed them up and moved them into my house. Back to my Nanny. This lady is tough as nails. To live with my Papa for 50+ years you would have to be. But I have watched her slowly decide that she is ready. That she is done fighting. Even if I am not. She made the decision to stop taking prednis...

I'm not sure which is my favorite part of sushi: the wasabi or the soy sauce. The sushi is just a conduit for eating my two favorite parts. I also love any sushi that uses cucumbers. So this week in my green grocer delivery, I had 6 cucumbers. And since I can't seem to get enough "sushi" lately, I decided to pick up some wasabi and eat cucumbers dipped aka soaked in soy sauce and wasabi. It's honestly been the highlight of my day. Minus the bite that had a little too much wasabi and made my nose burn. Ah wasabi.

It's a song by Kid Cudi. Loved it the first time I heard it. But it hit home for me last October. It was after my fight and I was on the way to the gym. I was coming off a win and was supposed to take the week and rest. But I had a jiu jitsu tournament that weekend, aka a wrestling tournament for me. It's not really my thing but I do it for the practice. The experience. The adrenaline control. But that day the lyrics that sunk in were: Imma do just what I want lookin' ahead no turnin' back if I fall if I die know I lived it till the fullest if I fall if I die know I lived and missed some bullets I'm on the pursuit of happiness and I know everything that shine ain't always gonna be gold I'll be fine once I get it, I'll be good So simple. But at that moment, when I didn't want to rest, I just wanted to be better, I knew I was on my pursuit of happiness. I'm an amateur. But I love this stuff. It means the world to me. But you can't tel...

I love vinegar coleslaw.  Probably more than creamy coleslaw, maybe because it’s not as common.  I had thought on several occasions that I would make my own, but I never got around to it.  Well two weeks ago in my Green Grocer delivery, I had two heads of cabbage.  I also had a ton of zucchini so I made a lasagna that week and still had the cabbage, so my first attempt at coleslaw.  I modified a few recipes I read through based on what I had on hand.  What I used: <![if !supportLists]> ·          <![endif]>Splash of red wine vinegar <![if !supportLists]> ·          <![endif]>1 ½ cups of regular vinegar <![if !supportLists]> ·          <![endif]>¾ cup sugar <![if !supportLists]> ·          <![endif]>½ cup of vegetable oil <![if !supp...

So most people close to me know but I was trying to take a job in Afghanistan.  Largely for financial reasons.  I was looking to quickly get out of debt that I had acquired through some bad choices.  Good lessons, bad choices.  But it appears the era of easily getting  a job there has ended.  I had a job, was all set to give my notice and the company was put on a hiring freeze.  It may get lifted but based on speeches and political climates, I for see a very near end to our time in Afgh.  So after a bit of shock this week and putting the stop on a few things I had in motion, I finally can say I pulled my self together.  I was also slightly prodded by a good friend who told me I'm wasting my potential with talent in my career. And now the reality, I have my first Muay Thai fight in 6 weeks.  I have a lot of work ahead of me.  When I thought I wasn't going to be here, I decided I wanted to spend my time eating out and drinking with ...

So Sammy is my cat. He is a Maine Coon, which if you have never experienced one its like having a dog that looks like a bobcat. He's my little man and he's spoiled. We end every night with me petting him until I pass out or he gets fed up. This is also how I wake up. He's up at my head as soon as the alarm goes off and I pet him until the snooze goes off again. I didn't realize it until tonight but he helps me unwind and be ready for bed. His routine is also my routine and signals to my brain it's bed time. It's one of my favorite parts of my day.