Heather Hodges

Kipping Pull Up

admin — Wed, 03 Dec 2008 16:52:20 +0000

I’ve been crossfitting for 8 weeks now. Last week I was able to do my first pull up unassisted. This is a big deal and I’ve been working towards it for nearly 2 months. I can’t believe how strong I’m getting; crossfit is amazing. My trainer says pull ups are a life saving skill. I supposed the next time I’m precariously dangling off a cliff I can pull myself to safety. Ha.

Art At New Downtown Restaurant

admin — Tue, 25 Nov 2008 16:11:24 +0000

There is a hip new restaurant in downtown Tulsa called Joe Momma’s. My friend Blake, who celebrated his 30th birthday today, is the owner and visionary behind this amazing new establishment. Joe Momma’s is renowned for it’s amazing brick oven pizza, live music, and of course - art. For the next week some of my large modern floral paintings will be on display there. Please come by to experience Joe Momma’s and view my floral art series. The restaurant is located at Elgin and 1st Street downtown.

On Tuesday, December 2nd from 5 - 6:30 Blake is throwing a “Happy Hour Art Show” party for all my collectors and art friends. Please consider yourself invited to Joe Momma’s next week for some art, and if you want - the best pizza in town !

“October Garden” 14 x 14 Set of 4 Acrylic on Gallery Canvas - $300

“Turquoise Garden” 30 x 40 Acrylic on Gallery Wrap Canvas - $500

“Vibrant Garden” 30 x 40 Oil on Gallery Wrap Canvas - $600

“Crimson Garden” 12 x 24 set of 3 Acrylic on Gallery Wrap Canvases - $375

“Sunflower Garden” 30 x 40 Acrylic on Gallery Wrap Canvas - $500

“Paradise Garden” 24 x 30 Acrylic on Gallery Wrap Canvas - $260

Climbing the Rope at Crossfit

admin — Sun, 16 Nov 2008 16:19:39 +0000

On Friday, our crossfit workout was a series of Barbell Thrusters and Rope Climbs. Wade is accusing me of being proud of myself for climbing the rope, and I must confess, he’s right. I climbed a 15 foot rope 16 times, while doing barbell thrusters sets in between sets of climbs. Crossfit is allowing me to do things that I thought was not possible. I realize now why ripped callouses and rope burns are a badge of honor. Want to see me shin? There’s a reason I wrapped my sweat shirt around my left shin for the climbs - ouch.

Congratulations to Ethlene who came with me on Saturday for her first crossfit workout. Way to go !!!!

Random Elijah Quote

admin — Wed, 12 Nov 2008 16:40:20 +0000

After playing with a newly made friend, Elijah said, “May the Force and the Lord be with you.”

And also with you, little man.

“Karen” kicked my butt !!!

admin — Sun, 09 Nov 2008 16:07:30 +0000

In crossfit there are notorious workouts that are all named after women. Today’s workout was named “Karen.” It was 150 squat wall balls with a 14lb medicine ball for women and a 20lb ball for guys. You do a deep squat while holding a medicine ball then on the way up you launch the ball towards a target on the wall. For guys the target is 10 feet high and for girls its 8 feet high. The first 10 felt really good and then after that my body and mind were both on auto pilot as I barely cranked out 140 more. My time was 11:04 and Wades was around 7 minutes (what a stud.)

If any of you are still intrigued with this “crossfit” thing I’m taking a few people to the Saturday 11am workout for beginners. It’s free, so come along!!!!

More incentive: I’ve been crossfitting for 5 weeks now and I’ve lost 10 over all pounds, lost 2% body fat and gained 2 pounds of lean muscle. It just works! Call me or email me if you want to go on Saturday.

1 Month Crossfit Anniversary

admin — Sat, 01 Nov 2008 16:00:37 +0000

I started going to the Next Generation Crossfit gym with Wade exactly 1 month ago today. I don’t have a before and after picture to share with everyone like Wade, but I will say that it is making dramatic differences in my life too. I was a college athlete and have gone through my share of grueling workouts, but crossfit is on a whole new level of fitness. It’s a cross between weight lifting, gymnastics, and endurance training. Every workout is different so your muscles are always confused about what’s coming next and you can never get bored. Each workout consists of reps and rounds of different movements (i.e. deadlifts, pullups, lunges, pushups, situps, squats, etc.) The trainer says “ready, set, go” and we all compete against the clock to post our best time for that workout. I have lost over 10 pounds in a month and more importantly I am getting much stronger. In fact during yesterday’s workout I finally beat Wade !!! This is no small accomplishment and I probably won’t be able to do it again for a long time. I’m finally feeling like a real “Crossfitter”; I started filing the callouses on my hands, I’m doing real pushups (and lots of them), kipping pullups are in sight, and I beat Wade for the first time !!!!! I love crossfit !!!

A Star Wars Halloween

admin — Fri, 31 Oct 2008 15:00:35 +0000

No surprise that the boys dressed up as Star Wars characters for Halloween. They love all things Star Wars and especially the new Clone Wars cartoon that comes on Friday nights. I think Caleb was Master Plo Kloon and Elijah was a Clone Trooper.

Remembering Grandma

admin — Thu, 23 Oct 2008 15:05:02 +0000

My Grandma Ola finally went home on Tuesday night. She would have been 87 years old on November 7th, and one of the things she and I talked about not long ago was how full her life had been. I’ve always seen her as a Renaissance woman; she had so many experiences in her life and has seen many many things. For example, in 1977 she traveled completely around the world. We were living in Isfahan, Iran at the time and she came all the way from El Paso, Texas by herself to see us. What an adventurous spirit! She helped my parents pack up our home and take care of my brothers and me as we took a circuitous route back to the States. We traveled from Iran to, New Dehli, to Bangkok, to Singapore, to Jakarta, to New Caledonia, to Fiji, to American Samoa, to Tahiti, to Bora, Bora, then home to the United States. I’ve just spent the last hour reading through her travel journal/photo album of this landmark trip. It was wonderful to read about our experiences in her own hand. I even saw some pictures I’ve never seen before. Here are some of my favorites (please excuse the quality).

Grandma “horsing around” at Persepolis, the palace of King Darius in Iran.

At the ruins of Persepolis. Yes, all three of us have a #12 t-shirt on, we were Cowboy’s fans of course.

At a luau in Bora Bora, French Polynesia.

On an outrigger in Tahiti.

Going through her albums reminded me of her lively nature and adventurous spirit. She was always ready to live big. Thanks Grandma for the lovely memories!

A Beautiful Fall Evening

admin — Mon, 20 Oct 2008 15:26:54 +0000

I’m sitting on my bed listening to Caleb and Elijah playing hide and seek in the yard with the boy from down the street. Wade is in the garage packing my van with recycling to be delivered tomorrow. The cat is purring at my feet. We just finished a good meal that my husband cooked (always a good meal.) The air is getting crisp, and the leaves are changing. What a beautiful fall evening.

Spending Time with Grandma

admin — Fri, 03 Oct 2008 15:50:19 +0000

This past weekend I was able to travel down to Abilene, Texas to care for my Grandma Ola who is nearing the end of her life. She has colon cancer, but is inexplicably in no pain. She is very anxious to “go on home” and is ready to leave this earth. I fought back tears as she told me this because of the pain it was bringing me.

She has been the most spiritually influential woman in my life. During my years at ACU, she and Grandpa lived in Abilene and I would often go over to eat a home cooked meal and do laundry. We would paint and talk for hours (she was also my art teacher.) She would tell stories, give advice, scold, pray over me and love me unconditionally. She always spoke wisdom wrapped up in love. It stung sometimes, but it was always what I needed to hear.

It won’t be much longer until she goes home. On Sunday afternoon when it was time for me to leave, I sat on her bed with her and finally cried the tears I’d been holding back for 3 days. I told her how much I loved her and we prayed one more time, “Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed me your name….Lord if it is your will, take my Grandma home soon. Hold her at peace in your arms. Amen.”