Fan 960 Interview

Fan 960 Interview

Counter tops are IN!

I can't believe this is MY house! I keep going in to the kitchen and bathrooms and gliding my

hands across the counter tops! They are absolutely perfect.

It's amazing how much a counter top can change the look of a room. My place feels like an

entirely different condo.

The tile guy is coming tomorrow to do the backsplash so I will definitely post some pics of that as well!

Yipppppeeeee!

K.

Reno Update - Waiting for Counter Tops

Kitchen

Nook

Kitchen

Cool Cabinet door in Kitchen!

Spare Bath

So now it's time to just sit back and wait. The counter tops are coming on Wednesday, the tile backsplash is going in on Thursday and the appliances are being delivered on Friday. The plumber comes on Monday to hook up the dishwasher, sinks and faucets...and then all we have left is to paint the floors!

Holy crap! It's almost done!

This next week is going to be awesome! And the 'Show off my Reno' party that I am going to have when its complete is going to be even more awesome!

Kyle

10 km's to feeling great!

I have taken up a new activity and it's something that I never would have thought in a million years that I would enjoy.

Are you ready for this??

It's R.U.N.N.I.N.G.

It's funny because as a gymnast, the longest distance that I ever ran was 24.65 meters - and that was full speed ahead down the vault runway. In fact, 3 running steps was ingrained into my brain since I was 6 years old (for those of you who don't know, 3 running steps is what guys are supposed to take into their tumbling passes).

So, to my surprise, I have become a little bit addicted to the activity of running.

I don't remember how I started to run. I think it was something that I thought I was "supposed" to do to work out like a normal person and feel like I was staying in shape. But running has become so much more than just a fitness regime to me. It has literally been a sanity saver.

One of my life requirements is to move my body. I don't think I really realized how important this was to me until I retired from gym and I wasn't training for 6 hours a day. In fact, I used to be able to lie on the couch all night after second training and not feel an ounce of guilt because I knew I had earned it! Haha. But now, I no longer live a life of flipping, twisting, swinging, tumbling and iron-crossing. I am now sitting in front of a computer, I am having meetings, I am standing in front of audiences, I am in front of the camera ect. None of these things are all that physically exerting. In fact, I feel like I am getting a pancake ass half of the time because I spend so much time sitting on it.

Anyway, one thing became very clear to me: my thoughts are not clear and concise and I turn into a real A-hole when I haven't taken some time for me to simply move my body. It's amazing the difference it makes in my mood and my overall sense of accomplishment in a day. Running helps to ease my mind, it helps to clear my thoughts, it helps me to sort things out, it helps me feel consistency, it helps me feel improvement...just like yoga, I have never returned from a run and felt like it was a waste of time.

But one thing I realized about running is that I can't just do it for the sake of doing it. I want to do it well. I need a challenge and I need a goal. I need something that I can work towards or I will make every excuse in the book to get out of it! It's embarrassing to admit, but sometimes I make deals with myself - I think we all do it - and I try to convince myself that tomorrow will be a better day to take action. Boo! In fact, it was the same way in training. If I didn't know what I was working towards then I felt lost and my purpose was blurry, but as soon as I found a meaningful goal then I could turn it on and make every day count.

So, knowing that I needed something to "run" towards, I decided to sign up for my first 10K race in May and it was the Mother's Day Race here in Calgary. This was a really big step for me.

I absolutely loved the race! I ran it in 49:01. My goal was to beat an hour so I felt pretty awesome. But what I loved the most was the feeling I got afterwards when I knew that I had set a goal and accomplished it. It gave me momentum. It gave me purpose. It affected my confidence and it started to trickle into my daily life.

I also noticed the competitor coming out from inside of me. I was setting people as targets through-out the race and I would set little goals to run past them. When I did then it was on to the next. I felt a sense of determination that I haven't felt since I was standing in the corner of the floor ready to compete in Beijing. I felt like I was pushing myself far out of my comfort zone and I felt like I was connecting with the "athlete" version of me. It felt good. And it wasn't like I passed the people and tried to trip them; I would pass them and give them a big smile, a thumbs up and a mouthed "keep going, you're doing awesome"!

So my first race led to my second which happened this past weekend. It was the Stampede Road Race. I had a goal to beat my time from May.

Well, guess what folks. I did it! 46:45! YES!

I also convinced Kristin to run her very first 5 Km race. Her goal was to run the whole time without stopping and guess what?! She accomplished that too!

It was a pretty productive and powerful way to start off a Stampede Sunday. Most people would be hung over as hell, but we were out there kicking our goal's asses. Not too shabby!

So, I have come to the conclusion that running more than 25 meters is a good thing for me. In fact, it's a great thing that I am really enjoying!

Now, if only I had booked a massage for the day after....

Kyle

Sprouting

I promised a garden update, so here it is!

Our beans, peas, cucumbers, green onions and carrots have started to poke through. In fact, they really came up over the past couple of days!

I know that this might seem super boring to post updates on something as simple as a garden, but I am really trying to use this project as a gauge for my personal progress as well.

As this garden grows I am reminded that even though things might not feel like they are changing instantaneously, they are still indeed changing. I think the trick is this: sometimes you need to take a little break away from the action to actually notice the difference.

Kyle

Presenting Barrett Manjak!

Check out this amazing video of my nephew, Barrett Manjak! He is my former coach Kelly Manjak's son and he LOVES gymnastics!

I wonder where he learned those corner parts??? I think Uncle Kyle played a little role in those:) Apparently Barrett watches old videos of me all the time and tries to reenact my moves and corner parts! I love it!

I also know another little terd who used to be obsessed with gymnastics and would try to copy the people who he saw on tv...yup, that would be me!

Awesome work Barrett! Keep pointing those toes and paying attention to your fingers! Those small things will make a huge difference one day.

I'm a very proud Uncle right now,

Kyle

Pretty Kitchen - Pretty Lady

This is what the kitchen is looking like so far!

The picture is of Kristin last night; making sure everything is perfect. My perfectionism is wearing off on her! Mwahahahahahahaha...that means my evil plan is working!

More updates to come as lots of progress is being made today. I can hear the nail gun popping in the background!

I love shiny pretty things,

Kyle

ps- We have decided to PAINT the existing tile to give it a more of a modern and fresh look...that could be opening a brand new can of worms!

Blinds!

Renovation update...

I got my blinds today! They look so friggin awesome. And yes, that is my patio furniture piled up on my patio in the picture...everything is in chaos at the moment. But it's also at that point where it seems like things are getting closer and closer to COMPLETION! Eeeeeeeeeeeeek! (That was my Robert Pattison induced 13 year old girl scream!)

Cabinet update: they are half way installed. I almost cried when I saw my upper kitchen cabinets. They are high gloss white and almost the sexiest thing I have ever seen. I am in love. Like, actual love.

I almost had a heart attack today when the installer was nail gunning and I was working in my office. I wasn't expecting the loud bang and I jumped 2 feet off my chair! Holy sh*t was it ever loud!

Ah, the fun of living in a renovation, but it's so fun to see it all starting to come together!

Kyle

If you're in Calgary...

If you're in Calgary, check out this event that I, and many of my fellow athletes, will be attending on July 13th!

It's gonna be a good time....

And one of my favourite local bands, The Dudes, is playing too!

I hope to see you there!

Kyle

I had the "Olympic" jitters today

I had a very important opportunity come about this morning. I am not at liberty to discuss what it was exactly, but let's just say that it was an audition for something that I've always thought would be a great fit for me.

I was nervous and I found myself experiencing the "Olympic" jitters. My heart was pitter pattering and I felt the adrenaline pumping in my veins. My hands were sweaty, I had a lump in my throat and my mouth got really dry. It was one of the first times that I felt that 'real' buzz since being a competitor.

You know when you leave an experience and you don't know if you rocked it or if you completely bombed? You start replaying the scene back in your head, wondering if you could or should have done something differently? I don't know how I fared exactly. I think I did pretty good. I hope I did. I think I came off as confident, witty, enthusiastic and genuine. Those were kinda my key words/characteristics that I was trying to evoke.

All I really know for sure is that when I left I just knew that this is something I want. I knew that this was important to me. I cared a lot about this one...and that was a huge boost of confidence. I am moving forward. One step at a time.

I'll keep you updated on how everything progresses...

Kyle

A true duck tale

This was an email that I got from a good friend. I usually don't read forwards, but this was too fun to pass up!

Enjoy!

Something really cute happened in downtown Edmonton this week. Michael R. is an accounting clerk at the Bank and works there in a second story office. Several weeks ago, he watched a mother duck choose the concrete awning outside his window as the unlikely place to build a nest above the sidewalk. The mallard laid ten eggs in a nest in the corner of the planter that is perched over 10 feet in the air. She dutifully kept the eggs warm for weeks, and Monday afternoon all of her ten ducklings hatched.

Michael worried all night how the momma duck was going to get those babies safely off their perch in a busy, downtown, urban environment to take to water, which typically happens in the first 48 hours of a duck hatching.

Tuesday morning, Michael watched the mother duck encourage her babies to the edge of the perch with the intent to show them how to jump off. Office work came to a standstill as everyone gathered to watch.

The mother flew down below and started quacking to her babies above. In disbelief Michael watched as the first fuzzy newborn trustingly toddled to the edge and astonishingly leapt into thin air, crashing onto the cement below. Michael couldn't stand to watch this risky effort nine more times! He dashed out of his office and ran down the stairs to the sidewalk where the first obedient duckling, near its mother, was resting in a stupor after the near-fatal fall. Michael stood out of sight under the awning-planter, ready to help.

As the second one took the plunge, Michael jumped forward and caught it with his bare hands before it hit the concrete. Safe and sound, he set it down it by its momma and the other stunned sibling, still recovering from that painful leap

. (The momma must have sensed that Michael was trying to help her babies.)

One by one the babies continued to jump. Each time Michael hid under the awning just to reach out in the nick of time as the duckling made its free fall. At the scene the busy downtown sidewalk traffic came to a standstill. Time after time, Michael was able to catch the remaining eight and set them by their approving mother.

At this point Michael realized the duck family had only made part of its dangerous journey. They had two full blocks to walk across traffic, crosswalks, curbs and past pedestrians to get to the closest open water, the River , site of the famed "River Walk." The on looking office secretaries and several Edmonton police officers joined in. An empty copy-paper box was brought to collect the babies.

They carefully corralled them, with the mother's approval, and loaded them in the container. Michael held the box low enough for the mom to see her brood. He then slowly navigated through the downtown streets toward the River the mother waddled behind and kept her babies in sight, all the way.

As they reached the river, the mother took over and passed him, jumping in the river and quacking loudly. At the water's edge, Michael tipped the box and helped shepherd the babies toward the water and to the waiting mother after their adventurous ride.

All ten darling ducklings safely made it into the water and paddled up snugly to momma. Michael said the mom swam in circles, looking back toward the beaming bank bookkeeper, and proudly quacking.

At last, all present and accounted for: "We're all together again. We're here! We're here!"

And here's a family portrait before they head outward to further adventures..

Like all of us in the big times of our life, they never could have made it alone without lots of helping hands.

For you, Mom!

I was the keynote speaker today at the National Sport School Closing Ceremony (essentially Grad, but Closing Ceremonies is a way better way to describe it!) and it was an awesome time.

I spoke about "Change" and how it keeps us moving forward, growing and learning. I asked the question: Is today the end or is it a new beginning. I reiterated the importance of positivity and how attitude and perspective are a choice. Based on the feedback I got, I think it went really well.

I love speaking. I still get the butterflies before I go on and it gives me that buzz that you so rarely get in life! I am definitely defining myself as a speaker more and more which is awesome because I enjoy it so much.

On another note, I never actually had a graduation of my own. My high school career was quite the roller coaster ride of random courses here and there over 8 years that finally wound up in me graduating from the National Sport School in 2004. 4 years late. But I was busy doing some other stuff on the side like, oh, living my dream!

Anyway, I got to wear the grad gown today and I made sure to snap a shot...right at the beginning of my talk which I think everyone enjoyed. I HAD to do it!

This one's especially for you, Mom!

After my talk was done I got a special surprise from the NSS. They called me up and let me walk the stage! It was pretty awesome.

Thanks to principle Cam Hodgson, all of the faculty and staff and the Graduates of NSS 2010 for such a fantastic day.

Kyle

ps- When I went out to my car, Impark ticketed me $95 for being 10 minutes over time. What the hell? The parking ticket dude was probably just waiting for me to be a minute over. Lame! Sorry folks, I'm not paying that one. It can go to the collection agency. I had too awesome of a day for it to be ruined by something stupid like that!

Community Garden

Kristin and I took on another project recently (we like projects! Or maybe I like them and then I boss her around to do them with me ;) ). We got our very own urban garden plot from Community Crop. Community Crop is a not for profit organization in Calgary that provides gardening opportunities to people living in urban communities.

I have always loved gardens and the taste of fresh vegetables! I can remember being a little boy and going to Manitoba where my Auntie Betty had the most amazing garden I have ever experienced. It was always such a special treat being able to eat carrots with a little bit of dirt on them. Yum.

The process of growing something is really important to me right now. I guess it's quite reflective of the stage of life I'm in. This garden is giving me a lot of comfort right now and it is serving as a reminder that once you plant a seed you must water it everyday, be patient and it will grow. It's a simple process, but I think we often take for granted the importance of organically letting things unfold. In our culture, the culture of NOW, it's hard to be patient while waiting for something delicious to grow. This garden is reminding me that some of the yummiest things need time and care. The longer you wait, the bigger the vegetable and the richer the flavour!

Of course, we got the plot a little late in the season (we lucked out because someone gave theirs up last minute and we were on a waiting list) so we had to buy some pre-planted veggies, but there are some that are germinating right now.

Here is what we'll have in the end:

Carrots

Green Onion

Broccoli

Peas

Beans

Cucumber

Lettuce

Green Pepper

Yellow Pepper

Cherry Tomatoes

Japaleno Pepper

and possibly acorn squash and a baby watermelon if everything works out!

"Did the tomatoes grow?" is the first question I ask Kristin everyday. What can I say, I'm a little OCD, but we all knew that.

Gardens are FUN! ]

Grow baby grow,

Kyle

Are those cabinets I see??

Yup, they sure are!

They were located and delivered. Put on the HOT LIST infact. Still missing a few, but they are on their way. Hooray!

OK. This makes my day better...

Kyle

Bad Day

Have you ever rolled out of bed and went directly into the wrong state of mind? You start thinking about everything that 'isn't' rather than everything that 'is'. You start picking on yourself and making sure that you turn all your thoughts and ideas into an instant negative. You start kicking yourself and focusing on missed opportunities.

This morning I got up and I was self-destructive. I went right into that bad place and started questioning what I am becoming. Today I have no idea.

Some days I miss structure. I miss having to "be" somewhere. I miss accountability. I miss working towards a goal that is super meaningful. I miss feeling important.

Some days I feel like I am totally in control of this transition thing and that I know exactly what direction i'm heading in. But then there are days when I feel tons of resistance and I can convince myself that any idea I have is a bad one. I can be very self sabotaging and I've determined that it is something that is so easy to do when you don't exactly know what your purpose is.

I try to set myself up right. I try to create plans, make goals and lists, prep for my day ahead the night before, but there are just some days when I can't get that little negative voice out of my head. It drives me nuts and I feel like the only way to get rid of it is to write about it or go for a nice long run, but those are the hardest things to actually do on days like this...

I guess what I am craving is just a sense of belonging. I want to feel like I have somewhere to be, something to do and that, at the end of the day, I am working towards something and making progress.

Transition is hard. Becoming something new can be frustrating. Some days I feel like I am making leaps and bounds forwards, but other days I feel like I am taking massive steps backwards. Let GO! Let GO! Let GO! Move on! Move on! Move on! Who do you want to be and what do you want to do?! It's time. It's time. What do you want life to be like and how are you going to create that?

Maybe I should just STFU, put my runners on and just get moving...that'll help to clear out the clutter in my mind.

Kyle

And just like that...

Oh boy!

I think I jinxed myself yesterday.

The cabinets didn't come in on the truck as scheduled. It appears that there has been a delay of some sort. Kristin is putting her best investigating skills into action. Shiza!

So, I reiterate, you need to have patience during a renovation!

Remember when I did hardwood in my last place 2 years ago and the stress that was causing me? Thank goodness I am not preparing to compete in the Olympic Games right now or I might be losing my sh*t!

But really, when it all comes down to it, there's not much I can do about it, right? I am not going to let it rent space in my head because I have more awesome things to concentrate on. I just need to sit back, relax and enjoy the process!

Kyle

Renovation

I am in the midst of a GIANT renovation and restyling of my new place. Before and after pics are to come, but here is the chaos that exists right now...

I did the second coat on the kitchen this morning. Looks good, right?!

We have to rip out the counter tops, mirrors and sinks (in the kitchen and both bathrooms) and then I believe we are ready to roll with the install of the *NEW* stuff!

The cabinets are being delivered tomorrow and then installed on Friday/Monday. Then comes the countertops, then the backsplash, then the new sinks and faucets, then mirrors and final couple of lights and then FINALLY the new appliances (Stainless steel and super awesome!)!

I am learning that patience is virtue when it comes to a renovation, but I am LOVING the process of seeing my house become a HOME and transform into something that really reflects me. I have also never felt as manly as I did on the day when I was unscrewing the existing cabinets and lifting them out without my shirt on *insert manly grunt here*.

I must say a big thank you to my love, Kristin, for her expert design abilities (she's a designer at Superior Cabinets) and hard work to get everything lined up. She is something special! Not only does she deal with my one-thousand thoughts a minute, she is also able to keep everything moving forward at a calm pace. Her family has also been the most incredible team of assistants. This project would have been impossible without them and their amazing generosity, kindness and help. No project has been too big or too small. I am very lucky!

I'll keep posting updates over the next couple of weeks so you can see the transformation unfold.

Happy Renovating,

Kyle

New Photo Shoot!

I'm doing a new photo shoot tomorrow at the Altadore Gymnastics Club with my good friend and amazing photographer, Phil Crozier. Check out his site!

It's going to be edgy, sexy, sophisticated, stylish and creative. We're hoping to take some shots that aren't your average "athlete" shots and push some limits.

I am ready to move into the next phase of my career and I believe it's important to have some new photos that are going to reflect this new maturity and confidence that I'm gaining.

I am more than just an athlete. In fact, I wouldn't even list "athlete" in the top 5 things that I 'am' now. I remember hearing Mark Tewksbury speak at a Post Olympic conference and he mentioned something similar and I thought it was so weird. But now I am starting to understand...

This is a big step for me. It has taken me a long time to decide that I want to push forward. And in order to do so, I need to start making moves in that direction. I need to start being who I want to become. I have so many plans and so many fun things in the works. I am ready to move to another level. It is definitely time!

Stay tuned for some awesome shots that come from the shoot. I am super excited to see what we can create!

Thanks again to Altadore Gymnastics and Phil for their generosity and partnership in this project.

Strike a pose,

KS