Podcast 007 had to do with the Year of the Rat, and also the Victim Loop. This is the Chinese Year of the Rat, and I find it easier to set “goals” (not “resolutions” —hate that word) on or about this time, with whatever the Chinese new year is supposed to signify as a subject goal. As you will hear in the podcast, this year is a year of the rat, which keeps a clean nest, is clever, knows when to get out of trouble, and is a guardian of abundance.

Oui, it is I, Solitaire, posting whilst on holiday with my James! It’s his birthday, and we’re driving down Highway 1 from San Francisco to Laguna Beach. Well, let’s say we HAVE been driving down the coast… I had great thoughts of blogging and podcasting my way down, and there has been absolutely N-O reception along the way. So, we’re here (Laguna Beach), after a bit of receptionist-wrangling (awful awful terrible dark room for our 3-day stay) and “stirring not shaking.” My James is off to get supplies (bless him) and so… here I be.

So what’s really on my mind now is Travel. I can’t get over how much easier it is to get out and about when I have my “gym bag” (with necessities) and my “makeup bag” all set to go. I took my own good advice (was that Podcast 3? Who can remind me?) and have put my contact lens fluid, conditioner, etc. in smaller bottles, and am dutifully chalking off the sides as we use them each day. I’m still working on the right bag for my makeup stuff, brushes, and the like. My dad gave me a bag for Xmas that I thought might work (because I want to use it… because he gave it to me…) and it’s just too big. Pfffft. Oh well.

Thusfar, we have stayed at an Inn in Carmel, and went to Clint Eastwood’s ranch/inn place for cocktails one evening. It was beyond a hoot. They do sort of cowboy karaoke, and most of the folks there are locals. If any of the pictures came out, I promise to burn them—oh, I mean post them. :-)

We went from there to Cambria, a WONDERFUL little town, and stayed at the J Patrick House. At their suggestion, we ate at Robin’s Restaurant — fab, fab, fab — at least we walked there so we could just roll ourselves home and spend a few calories at it.

Then we headed to Hearst Castle — a friend is the District Superintendent (read: Big Ranger Kahuna) at Hearst. He got us on a tour, and we were able to catch him between meetings. He said that Hearst was his first posting where he had to have “not one, but two tuxes.” Apparently the Governator likes to use it as his own private party spot, especially at Christmas. And who can blame him???

We met some folks at the Cambria B&B who suggested we stay at the Montecito Inn, in the “expensive part” of Santa Barbara. Lovely, lovely, though the walls were a bit thin. Amazing gym! We walked over to the Four Seasons/Biltmore Santa Barbara and had cocktails in front of their roaring fire—wow. We snuck in a “back way” so we didn’t have to come in the front door — we came in a side — and whether or not that really made a difference I don’t know.

If you have comments on this episode, call the Listener Comment Voicemail at +1 (206) 350-3537, e-mail doubleohsandy [at] yahoo [dot] com or leave a comment below.

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 007-The Year of the Rat and the Victim Loop [34:35m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

First and foremost, you gotta check out this website:

Quick, Say Something Nice!

It’s just too much fun, and the quotes are good for a smile. You can even add your own!

My publisher came up with Valentine’s Cards that go with the book—and the fabulous Sallie Goetsch is re-designing my BeABondGirl.com website, and has posted them right here on this blog.

Have a great one! And be sure to pamper yourself, and (if you have one) your James!

Soli.

This Bond Grrl coupon is a gift to yourself on Valentine’s Day. You know that being a Bond Grrl is (among other things) about being loving and supportive to your James. Being a Bond Grrl is also about discovering and creating your best self. If for whatever reason this Valentine’s Day will be spent without a James, it’s a great opportunity to support and enjoy yourself. As you become fEmpowered, you are choosing your image—deciding which parts of You you love and want to keep, and which parts you will help to fade away.

As discussed in Chapter 3 of the book, one of the best ways to “try on” your new image is via your new Bond Grrl name. Once you have your new name, think of some ways you can enhance, demonstrate, and celebrate that name. Valentine’s Day provides the perfect opportunity to support, love, and cherish your best Bond Grrl self by enjoying a luxurious bubble bath surrounded by candles, cleaning out your lingerie drawer until only those panties worthy of Bond Grrl status remain, dining with your closest Bond Grrl friends and/or enhancing your Bond Grrl image using some of the exercises or techniques discussed in Chapter 3.

Take a few moments to think about what you can do with and for yourself. Once you know, print out this page on a color printer and fill it in. Then cut it out and present it to yourself. Enjoy! And have a happy Valentine’s Day.

 Bond Grrl Valentine: Download

You know by now that being a Bond Girl is (among other things) about being loving and supportive of your James. When your James feels your support, he can be more comfortable showing you his softer, supportive side. Valentine’s Day provides the perfect opportunity to implement some of your favorite and perhaps newly uncovered ways to celebrate, love and support your James (or that special someone).

What you do could involve anything from whispering in his ear, giving him a tender and/or sexy massage, asking about and listening intently to his feelings and concerns, sharing a fun and sexy evening feeding each other your favorite foods, or jetting off to some exotic locale. What would you do or say to convey to him that he is loved and cherished, special, sexy and luscious? Take a few moments to think about what you can do to convey your feelings while celebrating your James. Then print out the card below and fill it in. Present it to your James on Valentine’s Day (or any day).

 Valentine for Your James: Download

This podcast follows on from podcast 5, and discusses more tricks to help you clear your schedule and your mind, to make room for your New Bond Grrl You. Let us know what you think of the new intro and exit!

If you have comments on this episode, call the Listener Comment Voicemail at +1 (206) 350-3537, e-mail doubleohsandy [at] yahoo [dot] com or leave a comment below.

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 006-More on Clearing Out: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

This Saturday, I attended the “Health, Etc.” conference where Dr Mehmet Oz was the featured speaker.

(the photos aren’t up yet)

What a fantastic event. I had imagined that Dr Oz would be “just as great” as he is on TV—but he definitely was. In fact, he stayed late to answer questions from the hall, and was just super. I have been to seminars and seen (and met) folks from TV/etc., and often they are not what they “seem” to be on TV. If anything, he seemed NICER than on Oprah.

One of the things that I also did was wait in the (very VERY LONG, but fast moving) line to have my Glucose, Blood Pressure, Cholesterol tested.

My Glucose was 102 non-fasting—which is normal (Less than 140). YAY!
My total cholesterol was 178—which is normal (less than 200). YAY!
My blood pressure was 139/93—which is WAY BAD and ABNORMAL. Yikes!!!!

As in, they said to see my doctor immediately. Then I talked with the doc who was there, who said that this had to be monitored and had to go down “like now,” b/c it was stroke-level (the bottom number is the “baddie” tho they are both bad).

115/75 is good
120-129 on top and 80-89 on the bottom is “pre-hypertension”
130-159 on top and 90-99 is “Stage 1 Hypertension” — the bottom number being the more important and “worse” one.
Then you are basically just about to die if you are over that.

SO ANYWAY, she said that I had to get back on exercising, b/c also my fat percentage was high. This does not surprise me, since after my wedding (oh, now 1.5 years ago!) my James and I have been the foie gras and wine and lolling King and Queen. But this freaked me out bigtime. No more red meat, blah blah, and NOW.

I heard once that it’s when you get a “wake-up call” that you really get serious. I never really thought that was going to apply to me. I know, what a dummy. But I’m definitely still slim, etc.—I didn’t know I had a time bomb ticking away.

So that’s my post for today—after I get the podcasts done that I’m working on on “Inner Game,” I’m going to be doing a few interviews with some doctors about health (Dr. Monte included—YAY!), and also a hypnotherapy induction for free. Hey—and I will use it!

Soli

It’s February! The perfect month to start coaxing out your inner Bond Grrl. It’s cold and rainy outside as I write this, and instead of getting cabin fever, I have taken my own advice from Chapter One of fEmpowerment. I’ve started making room in my life physically, for the blossoming that I know will come to my life in Spring!

As any grrl knows, February contains St. Valentine’s Day. If you have a James in your life, how about putting a few chocolate hearts in his coat pocket before he leaves for work, or sending him a few steamy texts? And who says that St. Valentine’s need only be celebrated on the 14th? What about making this St. Valentine’s month? It’s certainly a lot easier to get a date at a restaurant, hire a babysitter, and even buy cards and roses if you and your James decide that you will celebrate on a different day. Why let an arbitrary date stress you out? Being a Bond Grrl is all about Balance and eliminating unnecessary stress when you can.

If you don’t have a James in your life, no pouting! If you want one, he will come – when you’re truly ready. Is your house clean? Is your schedule ready to accommodate him? On Valentine’s, buy some yummy bubble bath, a small bottle of champagne or your favorite fizzy drink, a treat, and some wonderful flowers for the bathroom. Let your mind drift with the bubbles, and have delicious dreams about that James that’s just about to enter your life. Remember – no negatives, and no pouting! You get what you think about…

If you have a grrlfriend who is lamenting Valentine’s, now’s the time to pick up a copy of fEmpowerment for her. One of my clients said that she loved giving the book to grrlfriends, because it contains advice that she is too “politically close” to render herself. As she has been changing her life for the better, she can point to her own successes and the book, and urge her grrlfriends to do the same, without “preaching” to them. I love that!

I hope you’ve enjoyed the new podcasts. We will be opening up new Mastermind coaching groups soon – stay tuned!