endurance, veg, girl

New Blog, New location

2008-10-05T11:07:00.002-05:00

Hey Readers!

I do realize this is a long over due post. I've decided to start a new blog at a new site. I've decided to try to do a blog about what I spend the weekend doing- eating, cooking, running, and vegging out: here's the new link!

Kenosha Tri

2008-07-13T22:26:00.002-05:00

Okay, so it was a race morning that I've only heard horror stories of. To start Friday night was stormy. It was so stormy and I was so keyed up that I barely slept. When I did finally find sleep I had a nightmare that I was late for the race- so late that the officials wouldn't let me in the event. Which shouldn't be such a big deal, but the entry fees for these races are not cheep, and almost never give refunds- So in my fitful sleep I was ANGRY.

Once our alarms rang and MK and I sprung out of bed, we didn't have much time to get ready - but it was still storming and down pouring outside. Slowly we get ready, and plot the driest way to load the car. When we finally get in the car, and are getting on the highway I ask my co-pilot what the time is. Soon my nightmare becomes reality. We have less than an hour to get to Wisconsin. Panic strikes, and I take the little Honda Civic to speeds it never should legally see. Lucky for me the highway was patrol car free - phew!~

Somehow, we make it to the race, and pick up our packets with a minute to spare. We find parking, and I get my bike to transtion as the Olympic distance racers are starting their swim. As I fought with my wet suit, I hoped that I'd just be able to blend in with the next wave of swimmers and catch up. Which is what happened.

Lake Michigan was the coldest I've ever felt it (perhaps all the rain?). Seriously, there was a man taken to the hospital after the swim because he was so cold. Eventually I relaxed into the swim, caught up with the rest of the Olympic distance triathlets and came in fifth overall in the swim (which is about a mile!). Then it was on to the bike. Now, because of my hurried arrival I didn't set all my stuff up exactly the way I wanted it but I was able to find my shoes, helmet, and gloves. Off I went, five laps on a park course filled with mud puddles. I dropped to seventh- but because this is a very small tri I held on to some delusions of grandure. Once I put on my running shoes all illusions fell away, and I was happy to be two thirds done. The remaining folks on the course passed me, and I looked forward to brunch afterwards. Maybe I lost focus, maybe I started to hard and faded at the end. One thing is for sure, I have some very healthy fear about the half Iron Man. In the end I was one of the last folks to cross the finish line, but Matt & the guy with the medals were waiting for me and Matt cheered loudly as a completed the race.

So here's the breakdown:

Swim (.9 mi) time: 45.46
Bike (25 mi) time: 1.29.22
Run (6.2 mi) time: 1.19.33
TOTAL : 3:41.34
Place in class: 4th of 4
Place in Olympic Distance Race 50 of 52

Lesson of this race?
Well, I need to respect the distance, and I need to pace myself. I always get in trouble for laying it on to thick at the start then not having enough juice left at the end of the race. Most importantly, I learned to NEVER EVER EVER plan to drive for over an hour to a race on race day.

I like these smaller races because I got to be 4th and 50th in the same race. It's also nice, because they still let us in the race, even though we arrived to the race a half hour after packet pickup ended, with only five minutes left to the race start.

summer time and the living is easy.

2008-07-11T14:09:00.003-05:00

so it's been a while. sorry faithful blog readers. I've been indulging in reading lots of food and sports blogs at work, and have neglected writing my own posts.

Summer has blown by entirely too quickly! I managed to spend every weekend in June having some kind of Wisconsin adventure. A visiting high school friend of Matt's on leave from the Air Force for the weekend, a wedding, a bike ride, sand bagging flooded river banks (and visiting Adam's farm) kept me in Wisconsin almost every Saturday.

The weekend of July 4th Matt & I was a blast, and later deemed 'the best weekend ever!' Friday was a long bike ride, dinner with the Kings (it's a tradition now), followed by fireworks in the fancy North West Burbs. Saturday morning we visited the famed Evanston Farmers Market to load up on fresh bread, cheese, berries, and veggies for a picnic at Ravania (out door concert venue North of Chicago). Once we loaded up on our fill of picnic goods, we found a 50 Meter outdoor pool so we could get a swim workout in (and then play on their slides and high dive). That evening we joined forces with Matt's folks and good pal Stephanie for a live performance of Praire Home Companion. Jerry provided some fantastic wine, and Mother Nature provided a glorious evening to be outside- and some of the best strawberries I have ever eaten!

This weekend Matt & I are doing our first tri's of the season. Matt will be doing a sprint distance, and I'll be doing an Olympic at the Kenosha tri on Saturday. So far the weather is predicted to be stormy and humid- lets hope that it'll pass tonight, or it'll hold off until the afternoon.

Otherwise all is well. We've managed to only take on one home repair project so far- installing a ceiling fan to replace the gawd awful lighting fixture in our dinning room. It's been fantastic!

I'll post tri results Monday, and attempt to keep ya'all better updated on our happenings!

more press

2008-04-21T09:58:00.001-05:00

I've gotten enough press now this is just embarrassing, but this article probably sums Matt & my journey the best.

It's April things should be green by now.

2008-04-01T21:31:00.003-05:00

a before and after of our kitchen. We painted, added a new back splash, and added some new lights to brighten it up even more!

Happy Easter!

2008-03-23T22:13:00.002-05:00

Christ is risen!

Last night hubby and I stopped in to a bookstore, where I started looking at training logs for athelets. I love the idea of these books, and when thumbing through I hope to find pearls of wisedom without having to buy the book. One such pearl said to always have two training goals, a speed or PR (personal record) goal, and an endurance goal. While I haven't ever aspired to be fast, I did know what I wanted my next big event to be.

So I bit the bullet tonight and I signed up for my next BIG event. I'll be doing the 'half-extreme' distance because there are copyright infringement rules about calling something a half ironman. Lucky for me it's not until September, because after the way I forked in all sorts of fatty and yummy foods this weekend I'll really be needing to work on the preserve your joints diet I was on.

spring cleaning?

2008-03-21T13:18:00.004-05:00

So I googled spring cleaning today. Mainly because it's snowing in Chicago- I wanted to go for a long run on Saturday, but I don't want to be cold and wet. I was thinking that cleaning could count for decent exercise- but have you seen the lists some freaks have out there on what spring cleaning should include!?

Seriously, does anyone really do spring cleaning? Is it just some antiquated concept that my grandmother practiced, that no one does anymore, like darning socks?

it's been a while

2008-03-20T09:40:00.002-05:00

Hi There!
Work has slowed down.
I'm not training for any major event.
So I haven't had much to blog about lately.

The only thing that I'm working on right now is my recommitment to Weight Watchers. Yup, I re-enlisted. I feel good about my size and shape, but when I started kicking around ideas about what events I wanted to do this summer I realized that in order to be a faster runner, and if I was even going to play with the idea of doing a longer triathlon that I would need to take some impact of my joints (hello knees!). Blogging about my diet seems lame, but perhaps it'll keep me accountable. In the last five weeks I've lost 4.8 pounds, my target is just to take off 18.

For those familiar with the intricacies of WW, I’m doing the flex plan. Core is similar to how I want to eat when I'm not dieting, but the week I tried core I gained. I'm going to stick with the counting points and writing what I eat down until I get bored or weary.

Wanna Join me

2008-02-26T20:13:00.003-06:00

Okay Folks. It's February - almost March. I don't know about you but I'm really looking forward to the Spring time thaw. Thawing means that I can get off a treadmill and out of the gym! WHOOO HOO. So with the hopes of getting some running buddies, and for something to keep me motivated until the thaw arrives, the following is a list of sporting events I'm thinking about, or have signed up to do this summer. PLEASE JOIN ME!

Running

Ravenswood Run a 5K 4/27
The Solider Field Ten Mile 10 miles, 5/24
The Elvis is Alive Run (Andrew & I had blast at this evening run! There are Peanut butter & banana sandwiches afterwards, beer, and a concert by the King!) 5K 8/7
Chicago Half Marathon 13.1 miles, 9/14

Multi Sport

Splish Splash Dash swim with a 5K run 6/14
Napperville Tri a sprint distance tri (750m swim - 20k bike - 5k run) again women only,6/22
Danskin Tri a sprint tri, women only, 7/13
Muddy Buddy (I still need a buddy for this one) 8/3 - you have to see the link to get it.

Well that's my spring/summer list for now. I feel better just looking at it, sigh. I may not do all of these, but then again, I may do them all - plus events I haven't included yet. We will see as the summer progresses.

I just noticed that the first event isn't until the very end of April-which means that everyone has time to start training. You have plenty of notice.

Yes we can

2008-02-06T10:30:00.000-06:00

Yesterday was Super Tuesday. For the first time I voted in a primary. I don't think I cared a much about politics during the primaries. The candidates all seemed the same- and I would wait for the presidential election to cast my ballot. I've been an issue voter- but this time I have two candidates to pick from who are very similar on the issues that I care about.

All the talking heads on TV have been predicting that women will vote for one candidate, and that blacks will vote for the other. It's never that simple. I love that the candidates look different than past presidents, but is not why I am casting a ballot for either of them. I appreciate that the candidates bring with them the experience of not being white, or not being male. Perhaps there will be subtle changes in the way the media handles gender and race. (Although, as a feminist I will comment that they have been much more sensitive to race issues than gender issues.) I want both canidates in the White House. I want them to share the democratic nomination - until yesterday morning I was torn on who I wanted to have top billing.

I voted for the candidate who I believe has the potential to take our country in a positive direction, and to steer us away from the two America's politics that have plagued my perspective of the country and the people within it. (red/blue, rich/poor, war/ anti war, choice/life, gay rights / 'family values,' etc . . ) I hope that I've gotten over the dirty politics, and election fraud that lost the Democrats the last two elections. I hope that I am now able to see my friends for who they are, not for their politics. So this time, I'm voting for the one person who may be able to unify those rifts.

(you need to check that link out!)

2008-01-16T20:18:00.001-06:00

it's been a long time between posts. sorry.

Holidays, cold. work, work, work, work, and more work.
Here's the reason i blog today:
I blog today to say that finally after 13 months of being a perma-temp I'll become a Term of Project employee for the same company! Whoo Hoo! All of my team is being hired on, and I'm now an associate editor.

I think it finally became cheaper to hire us as salaried employees, than to keep us pay by the hour temps.

Flannel Sheet Haiku

2007-12-12T11:38:00.000-06:00

all day in my bed
flannel sheets keep cold outside
cozy here i'll stay

megan

The start-

2007-11-11T14:48:00.002-06:00

Hey Folks!~
It's been a week and I am still on a marathon HIGH from last weekend. I borrowed an idea from a friend I ran Chicago with last year, I took a disposable camera with me and got photos of each mile marker. Taking pictures kept me focused on just making it to the next mile marker, rather than the 25.2 miles to the finish line.
There are interesting things I captured from the first three / fifths of the race:

Mile 1. Verazanno-Narows Bridge, worlds largest suspension bridge. Burrow 1. Staten Island, the pre-start line hang out.

Mile 2. Welcome to burrow two, Brooklyn!

Mile three, and Jen the woman I started the race with.

KEEP SCROLLING DOWN-
TO GET ALL THE PICTURES UP I HAD TO POST MULTIPLE TIMES.

Mile 4 through 7

2007-11-11T14:48:00.001-06:00

Lots of water at mile four.

tiny little mile five sign.
One hour and fifteen at mile six- it's not Boston qualifying time, but it's a sunny cool fall day to run!

Mile seven, and some stranger doing something strange.

Mile 8 and on

2007-11-11T14:47:00.002-06:00

Mile eight

Mile nine

Mile- oh my, well there weren't enough port-a-potties. As a user of port-a-potties, I think that they could have used a good cleaning by the time I got to them.

Mile 10 through 14

2007-11-11T14:47:00.001-06:00

Mile ten coming from Brooklyn into Queens.

Hey! It's me!

An un-impressive bridge in Queens where the half way point was,

Mile 16 & The Queensboro Bridge

2007-11-11T14:46:00.000-06:00

This is the start of the bridge- we ran through it, which was dark, cold, and errie. One can sorta see the 15 mile marker ahead.

A view of Manhattan from the bridge.

Mile 16! So what does Manhattan look like? How about the Bronx? Or even photos of the remaining 10.2 miles- sorry ran out of film - I'll have to do this again to show you the finish line (or you could join me!)

Soundtrack for this race was provided by Andrew's iPod, seeing as I never actually put any music on Matt's podcast full nano. Thanks Andrew- but Mmm bop! really?

Thank you Toyota for Such a great experience! Also, they aren't pictured but thanks to all my Team Toyota friends for making this such a great event. I ran with Amy for a while before the 13.1 marker, and by mile twenty I found Denis and we finished the race together! There is a special place in my heart for the people who help drag my butt across the finish line, Thank you!

New York Rocks

2007-11-05T18:13:00.001-06:00

I finished! Pictures to come, New York was great- I'm still achey and sleepy- but I would do it again in a fully recovered from this marathon heartbeat. Plus I finished this race thirty minutes faster than last year- but Katie Holmes still beat me.

(I rounded my times to easier numbers- because I hurt from head to toe and everything in between right now)

NYC 2007 time: 5:45
Chicago 2006 time: 6:15

Thank you Andrew and Laura for trekking all across the country to come out for the race!

i do run run run I do run run

2007-10-24T15:26:00.000-05:00

Okay folks, It's that time agian- where I ask you to give me suggestions for songs to put on matt's iPod Nano (that is if he lets me borrow it) for the NYC marathon. My only requirements are that the music is up beat! Choose NYC related songs, good running songs, or just your favorite so I can think of you during the five-ish minutes it's playing!

running

2007-10-23T10:12:00.001-05:00

I had a wonderful run in Iowa with Andrew this weekend. Scenic and rolling landscapes welcomed us- as we hoofed through beautiful neighborhoods, and their lovely running paths. Paths took us by streams, rivers, ponds, and lakes-- as this watery portion of the run was also in the last half of the course- I lasted FOREVER! We had a lovely cool day, and Des Moines is far lovelyier that I imagined.

On a similar note, I am attempting to eat my last cookie for the next 11 days. For my sanity and love of cookies I will qualify that statement by saying any ohey goody cookie type substance that is over 100 calories shouldn't cross my lips until I cross the NYC marathon finish line. An eleven day cookie fast, shouldn't be soo bad. All these refined sugars really slow me down when I run- so here's to a better race. Wish me luck.

endurance

2007-10-17T16:03:00.000-05:00

RUNNING:
I received an e-mail today proclaiming that there are only 18 days remaining until the NYC marathon! Really? I can't believe it's so soon. Granted when I've trained for other events, it was six months from the race day, and this time I opted to start training maybe two and a half months before the race. After this weekend's last long run, I will offically begin my taper. For the first time in recent history I've been doing the majority of my training alone. While I enjoyed training with Mr. K this summer- I do enjoy the long runs alone. But if you ask me during that run, I may disagree with you. So this weekend rather than do a twenty-mile run alone, I'm going with Andrew to Des Moines. Where we have both registered for their marathon. Only I'm just going to run twenty miles, and let Andrew run the full 26.2. I'll get the crowd, the benefits of being in a race (water and Gatorade- I hope), and perhaps my only chance to do a marathon with Andrew.

SURVIORSHIP DUES:
I went in for my regular six-month poking from my oncologist (short story, all is good I'm okay, but annoyed). I've heard other cancer survivors refer to these visits similar to seeing a parole officer. I've never been on parole, but I imagine that it could be as annoying as the blood taking, the repeating medical history to the new intern so he doesn't have to read my chart, and then getting poked and prodded. This will only be aggravated by the huge medical bill I'll receive in three months for the fifteen seconds I actually saw Dr. Chen- and the ten or so words he may have spoken to me. What a rip off. Plus none of this will ultimately indicate to anyone if I've relapsed- a good ole' CT scan will. I'd like to skip my Dr. Chen visit and just get the CT scan, then have my radiologist, Dr. Minn give me the results - he's far more personable.

it was snowing at last year's marathon!

2007-10-09T18:17:00.000-05:00

First of all watching Andrew run in horrid conditions on Sunday along with countless other runners was shocking. I was at mile 8, 10, and mile 17. The first time I saw Andrew, he told me there was no water at the first two water stops, and promptly drained my water bottle. A handful of runners had gotten off the course at that point. Prior to proceeding on to my next spot to find Andrew, I filled my backpack with bottles of water and gatoraid.
At mile ten I missed seeing Andrew, but at this points sirens became a steady sound, and I saw two runners hit the ground. Lying on the pavement unable to move, or just sitting on the sidewalk waiting for a medic.
I was at mile 17 when the race was canceled, waiting for Andrew to pass. He was only minutes away when an ambulance rushed towards us, and stopped the steady flow of participants. A police officer gathered the crowd around and announced the hospitals were filling up with too many runners, and that the race was canceled.

I saw:
• At least four runners laying on the sidewalks,
• Handfuls of participants walk off the course at mile 8
• Sirens echoed from 10 AM until I took Andrew home at 2.
• Runners fetching their own water from corner stores!

As soon as I got to the runners fire fighters were opening hydrants that shot steady arches above the quite streets teaming with exhausted runners, and spectators searching for their friends and family. I moved towards the crowd of former runners, and after about a mile of searching found Andrew. Once I handed him and his running friends the water and Gatoraid, and followed them back to the start line. It was crazy! Ambulances were everywhere, volunteers didn’t look like they knew what was going on, and the crowds we’re hot, smelly, and unrelenting.

At the Team In Training tent, we witnessed a team member nearly pass out from heat exhaustion while waiting for over a half hour for medics to arrive.

I did an 18 mile run on Saturday in similar heat, but I carried my own water, and started about two hours earlier than the marathon did.

Weekend Warrior lives on

2007-09-20T12:49:00.000-05:00

Last weekend I did my last Tri of the season, the Devil’s Lake Challenge in Baraboo WI. This was a remarkable event for various different reasons;
a) Mr. K & I camped in the Devil’s Lake State Park the night before the race (it got to a snuggly 30 degrees overnight!)
b) Ma & Pa K trekked over to watch the event- that started at 8 a.m. on Saturday.
c) More Paquette’s came that I could shake a stick at—these guys are my Dad’s cousins, and an all round good time!

The race was small. I am learning that small races mean that my finish time won’t be as impressive because I’m outnumbered by super thin and fast gym rats and hard bodies. The swim was a warm quick quarter of a mile (the water was 72 degrees, the air closer to 50). The bike was a grueling 15 mi ride, with some of the hardest inclines I’ve tackled in a long time. I was wishing I spent more time working on cycling outside of flat Chicago. The run was a simple and easy 5k, where I accomplished a personal best of the summer with a ten-minute mile!

After the race I met up with my personal cheerleaders! Mr. K and I took down our camp, and then headed over to the Paquette’s cabin, for quality family time, laughs, stories, food, and one of the best showers I have ever taken! We also were treated to a duet of my Great Aunt Janey and her dog Lady singing (seriously! The dog sang. ) “Row, Row, Row Your Boat.” It was awesome!

All and all the race was nice, but the camping and the family time were top notch. Would I do it again? Only after some more time working on riding up hill, and if it meant more time at the Paquette cabin.

So I’m done swimming, cycling, and running for now. I’m training for the NYC marathon (Thanks Toyota!). I didn’t think that I would attempt another marathon so soon, but this was an opportunity I couldn’t pass up. In preparing for the race I’m hoping to shave about an hour off of my finish time from last year’s Chicago marathon. After a summer of running with speedy Mr. K and ‘Sweetie’ I’ve had to get faster, or eat their dust (no thanks). This may also mean returning to that diet I was working on in the spring. Why diet now? To avoid knee pain- last year my knees really hurt going up stairs after all the running, and one of the best ways to lower the impact of running on joints is to take off the extra pounds. I want to reduce the impact on my knees. So I should be returning to ‘Fatties No More’ soon, once I swallow my pride- reports to follow.

Feeling Beautiful

2007-09-10T07:47:00.000-05:00

When was the last time that you felt beautiful?
When is the last time you knew you were beautiful and that damned voice in the back of your head didn't argue with your knowledge?

Sunday could have started better, I was grumpy with Mr. K and almost forgot to feed the cat. Training this weekend meant getting a 14-mile run in, so I opted for 13.1 and did the Banco Popular Half marathon instead. Now I've relaxed from running after last year's Chicago marathon. Yes the tri includes a run portion but in the races I've done all the runs are about five miles (okay six) training for six miles is nothing like training for twenty-six!

The run was great, I found some team and training friends in the crowd, the weather was awesome, and the course was in a new neighborhood away from the tired Northside lakefront path, and away from downtown (read, Southside!). The run itself is always takes a good deal of mental effort to keep going, and I hurt like hell today, but once the race was over I felt beautiful. I was stinky, coated in salty film of dried sweat, stretching in the grass, eating a banana, lying there just knowing without a doubt that I felt beautiful.

What's next?

2007-09-05T12:25:00.001-05:00

Well the Big tri has past. I spent the last two weeks of training mulling over what I would do next. Lucky for me the day after Matt & I finished the triathlon Toyota gave me the opportunity (which I am taking) to run the New York Marathon. I'm hoping that the tri training will help with some of the really long runs that go into to training for a marathon. My goal is not to be fast, but just to do this event for fun (and reamain injury free!)

for the labor day weekend I put in a 7 mile run on the country roads surrounding LaRue, it was great!
This comming weekend I'm running the Banco Popular half marathon (13.1 miles), the following week will be a Sprint Tri in WI. After this marathon season, perhaps I'll join the Evanston Masters Swim team for the winter season.

We spent the long weekend in LaRue celebrating my father's 60th birthday. Like all good weekends in Ohio, there was an excessive amount of food, drinking, family, friends and pranks. Family from CO and OK flew in, and my nieces 7 and 6 mos from SC arrived. I had a great time teaching little Miss R all the fun of pranking, and showing some of the kids down the street how to TP a house. Perhaps the most important lesson learned from this trip was that fussy 6 month old babies should NEVER EVER be separated from their Mommy for more than 6 hours, and never 48 hours. It's good to be home.

Chi Tri

2007-08-28T07:42:00.000-05:00

We did it! Special thanks to all who supported us in our fund raising for Team in Training, and for listening to us talk about swimming, biking, and running all summer. Below are photos Andrew took on race day.
Quick Summary
We woke up at 3:00 am to get all of our stuff into transition and ready to go. Matt's swim wave started at 7:30 and he was off of the course (done swimming, biking, and running by the time I got on the bike). My wave started at 9:30, and we both finished with nearly the same time of 3:30.

Results
I was 3:26 with an class rank of 180/256, sex rank of 810, and an overall of 3135 of 3928 (swim 35:50, bike 01:29:40, run 01:12:03). Matt 3:30:29 overall rank 3249 of 3928, class rank 432 of 484, sex 2390(swim 35:52, bike 1:34:50, run 1:02:28). In looking at our results both of us are blow away by how the four minutes between our finishes made such a huge difference in our ranks!

Photos

We did it! Special thanks to all who supported us in geting

Long over due photos

2007-08-19T19:36:00.000-05:00

In case you were wondering, this summer I did take stop training long enough to share in these spandex - free moments:

This weekend we bought four new tires! Only after getting a flat on the expressway. We got the tire half way changed but had difficulty getting the old tire off. Good thing we finally took Sharon up on that offer to get us AAA.

Anniversary # 2 in Wisconsin.

Cherry Pickin'

Mr. Skitters not feeling guilty at all about the expensive trip he took while we were on vacation.

THANK YOU EVERYONE!

2007-08-14T15:03:00.000-05:00

We finally reached the fundraising goal! Thank you everyone!~

Toothless Wonder

2007-08-08T13:44:00.000-05:00

Yesterday I got an e-mail laced with hints of juicy family gossip from Mom (she is sooo bad). Of course, I had to call (I couldn't resist), and I was surprised to hear the syrupy sweet Southern seven-year-old drawl of my niece.

"Aunt Meg! I lost my top tooth!" proclaimed the toothless wonder. She rattled on about all the teeth she has lost, how she will need dentures soon, how she just called Mommy so the Tooth Fairy would be ready, then fun she's had at Grandma’s house, then she filled me in about the play that she was in several weeks ago. This toothless wonder is always filled with enthusiasm, excitement, and it's often difficult to get a word in edge wise.

Now, I'm far from the best Aunt in the world, and I don't call or visit as often as I should- but being able catch the excitement of 'The toothless wonder' really made my day.

Nothing much to report this week, the hubby is at camp. I'm sans car for the week which is fine, but getting to all the training locations is much more difficult (that is when I decide to try and swim in a pool, or have to make it to a group swim downtown). We have less than 20 days until the Tri (and about $350 more to raise-- thanks for your help)! I'm only mildly scared- we'll see how it goes.

Mostly, I'm aware that the Tri is the last weekend in August, and the end of summer (BOO HISS!). While I've been able to spend a lot of time out doors, and enjoy the longer days- I am trying to get myself mentally prepared for the fall. After an entire year of job hunting, I may throw in the towel. Last week I was approached to help lead a team in doing a read for the Reading Department. It’ll secure my position until at least January, and if all goes well there is a possibility of getting hired on.

Dynamic Duo? Us!

2007-08-01T15:03:00.000-05:00

http://www.windycitysports.com/article/?Guid=ffbcb9da-2e87-44bc-af7a-5ab078360c20&Page=10

Matt and Megan Hutchinson Krings, dynamic duo

You could almost say that it was love at first sight. At least that’s true for Megan Hutchinson Krings—and later her husband Matt—when she signed up for the Team in Training program at the 2006 LaSalle Bank Shamrock Shuffle. “It was at the expo that we saw the Leukemia & Lymphoma’s Society’s Team in Training booth,” Megan explains. “We talked to the folks staffing the booth, I all too quickly confessed, ‘Lymphoma! That’s what I have.” Matt and I shared our story, and I knew that once I was completely finished with treatment, I’d be joining the team.”
One month before Megan and Matt’s 2005 wedding, Megan was in a 15-passenger van rollover accident. As if that wasn’t enough, doctors discovered a baseball-sized mass in her chest later diagnosed as Hodgkin’s Lymphoma. She had to begin treatments two weeks after returning from her honeymoon. Not the best way to break into being newlyweds as Megan describes how she became more lethargic with each round of chemo and faced weight gain from the steroids she took for lung damage. “Pre-cancer I had always been really active—century bike rides, swimming, teaching water aerobics—but during treatment I was weak, restless and stressed out,” she says.

She started off slowly by walking the Shamrock Shuffle and then trained to finish the 2006 LaSalle Bank Chicago Marathon as a TNT member. But the marathon wasn’t enough and Megan had another goal she wanted to accomplish: the triathlon. “I’ve spent most of my teens and 20s as a swimmer and a cyclist, I felt I needed that season of running to become a runner,” she says. “I think I made it a goal when I was 19 to do a tri but the time I hit 30—I’m 29, and I’ll do four tris this year.”

And Megan’s bringing her husband along for the ride, first as her support crew and now as fellow racer. “I have never completed a race,” he says. “This is my first.” After speaking with the Team in Training staff at an expo in April while Megan registered for the team, Matt decided he could complete the triathlon, too. “I chose triathlon because I feel that the cross-training nature of the sport makes it an endurance event that I am less likely to suffer injury from,” he says. “I also really like spending time training with my wife.”

As for Megan’s health, she attributes last year’s marathon training to help her regain most of her lung capacity and doesn’t feel the disease inhibiting her as much—she had to run/walk the marathon. Her training is her therapy. “Now I use the disease as a motivation. I think about how relieved I am to be out of treatment.”

Mystery reader, you can cure cancer.

2007-07-31T11:37:00.001-05:00

Dear Mystery Blog Reader--

Thanks for your continued interest in me, and my rantings. While I think I may know most of you who read this, my mother keeps reminding me that there are many many more of you than I am aware of. In that case, I'm making a plea to you; please make a contribution to Team in Training. Matt & I have less than a month to our event, and about $900 more to raise. Your donation goes directly to Leukemia & Lymphoma Society's Team In Training- and will be spent on cancer research, or go to help people battling the disease. All donations over $50 will get a great photo of Matt & I in wetsuits, all donations over $100 will get a snazzy T-shirt.

Thanks!

http://www.active.com/donate/tntil/tntilMHutchi1

Again, Thanks to all those who have already given!

Now that the commercial portion of this blog has been addressed-- you can read about our vacation.

Lets do that agian!

2007-07-31T10:20:00.000-05:00

Matt & I had a swell weekend in Door County. We stayed with the Green Bay Krings Friday- and had a wonderful dusk dinner on their patio. It was great to see them!

The next morning we got up and drove up the Door County Pensula, stopping to see Al Johnson's famous grass roof - complete with four real live goats who live on top, and keep the grass trimmed. We also stopped to pick ripe 'sour' cherries on our way to Washington Island. After a ferry ride to the island, we set up camp at the only campground on the island after a ferry ride to the island. We made a yummy vegan dinner of 'hobo packs' with Setain and stewed freshly picked cherries!

Sunday morning, we went on a long run to the East side of the Island where we were greeted by flocks of egrets and cranes. Once we returned to camp we streched, ate, showered, then left for an afternoon of hikeing. We caught another ferry to Rock Island where we hiked for the afternoon, and toured their lighthouse. After an afternoon of activity we found the local bar, and sat down for happy hour. Get this, beer was 50 cents!!! (well it was happy hour from 3 to 6- we were very happy). Plus the bar sat next to the wheat feild that produced the grain of the brew we were consuming! Had Matt 'watered' the feild the way he wished, the wheat would have completed it's circle of life!

Yesterday we sadly packed up and headed home- tired, but happy!

Pre Vacation note-- a half hour before we leave the cat starts howling and acting like he is in great pain. We - like the responsible pet owners we are- to the furry thing to the vet for the weekend..

Post Vacation note-- It cost FOUR times as much to spring the kitty from the vet. (Anyone want a cat?)

VACATION!

2007-07-25T12:33:00.000-05:00

for the first summer in two years matt and I are actually getting a vacation that doesn't involve a wedding. We love weddings, we love going to, being in, and all the other lovely events that surround weddings. This summer we can actually get out of town and camp. In all the time I've known Matt, we've spoke about how much we enjoy camping. But we have never actually gone camping. A fact that became more pronounced as we moved all our un-touched camping crap for the second time.

We're headed up to Dork County (that's Door County Wisconsin) staying on Washington Island, and doing some hiking on Rock Island. Three nights of 'car camping' and a lot of not being at work! Whoo hoo--

Tri photos

2007-07-18T12:41:00.000-05:00

Here are some long over due photos-- With the lack of photos on my blog I feel a little more like a Luddite.

So much for second thoughts, after last week's weekday swim in Lake Michigan, our weekend training required one open water swim for a mini tri, and a brick workout of swimming and biking. Because of our proximity to the lake we opted to do the brick outside on Sunday, and had what I would call an excitng swim without a lifeguard- but perhaps a little too exciting for Matt. It seams that if one wishes to swim in water that isn't knee high, the lifegaurds will haul ones butt back to shore. Other beach goers recomended a nice private beach where we could get a decent swim in. I loved it, but the whole idea of swimming in deep, open water without a guard alarmed Matt. (I am well versed in all the reasons not to swim alone- and there is no excuse-- but it was fun, and a good swim). So in one weekend I managed to spend more time swimming in Lake Michigan than I have in the entire six years I’ve lived in Chicago!

Second Thought City

2007-07-12T09:50:00.000-05:00

Training Update:

For training yesterday we swam 1/2 a mile in Lake Michigan. Still on a high from last weekend I thought that this would be just as easy. WRONG.

It was cold. It was really cold. The waves kept pushing me off course, deeper into the lake, and occasionally into other swimmers. To add insult to injured pride, when I got out of the water I was smelly.

After last weekend's adventure, I'm realizing it's a little over a month to the Chicago Tri- and it's double the distance, with a swim in the great lake! Umm, so much for living in the second city, I think I’ll be spending some time in second thought city.

This weekend we're doing a 'min tri' with the team. We'll be getting our wetsuits, too - THANK GOD!

Fundraising Update:

Matt and I are almost two thirds of the way to our fundraising goal! Thanks everyone! Our deadline is quickly approaching. If you've been planning on giving, but haven't done so yet - now is the time!

With your generous donation you'll be earning our un-dieing gratitude, bragging rights, and shared status as a Cancer Ass Kicker.

Please see the Matt & Meg Training link to the right of your screen if you wish to donate online, otherwise shoot me an e-mail.

Thanks!

My first tri

2007-07-09T13:57:00.001-05:00

WOW! As a cancer survivor and a first time participant I was honored to start in the second wave of the Danskin Chicago-land Triathlon. IT WAS AWESOME! Lining up in the gates with other survivors was powerful. My eyes overflowed with tears as I looked at the swim course ahead of me, felt the strength within my body, and recalled that it wasn’t that long ago when an event like this was just an out of reach goal.

As the countdown to the swim finally began, I pushed the tears aside, shoved my goggles on, and dove in. The water was calming, clear, and cool, wonderful on such a hot morning. I was amazed that the lake wasn’t a crowded with swimmers as I feared it would be. Carefully I stroked on ahead of other swimmers with great ease, soon my goggles clouded and navigating the straight swim across the lake became more difficult. I was able to find one tiny spot in my left goggle that wasn’t clouded and used that spot to find the way to the end.

My transition from swim to bike was quick, and easier than I anticipated. I dried off my feet a dusted off the sand then shoved them in socks, pounded on my shoes, threw on gloves, helmet, sunglasses, and grabbed a power gel. I ran my bike out of transition and hopped on for the ride.

The course had a couple slight inclines and tight corners, but what no course map could predict were the strong winds. Cross-breezes and headwinds blew against my wheels with every mile. Shifting down to an easier gear helped me sped through some of the hardest winds. Each two miles a marker would appear with some great encouraging slogan. The mile two markers read “I ride for those who can’t” reading it filled me with strength. I thought of when I couldn’t ride due to the fatigue of treatment, those doing treatment now, and those who have recently been diagnosed. As my ride finished up and I drew closer to the transition area a powerful tailwind pushed me all the way to the end of the bike route.

As I climbed off my bike and walked it back to my spot, I was feeling aching in my quads, and a burn in my lungs, so I took my time racking my bike and taking off my gear. I slurped down another gel with water, and walked to the run start line. My run felt like a heavy trod as I smiled through mile one. I walked for a small section of mile two, then found a runner who I could keep pace with until I got back into my groove and sped into the last half of mile two and sprinted across the finish line!

I’m happy that I finished, and was impressed when I found my times latter that day.
Swim: 15:56 (rank 833! That's the top quarter overall!)
T1: 2:49
Bike: 45:10 (17.2 mph!)
T2: 4:54
Run: 33:31 (about an 11 minute mile)
Total 1:42:22
Overall rank: 1140 / 3919
Age group rank: 171 / 363
(I completed in the top half of both groups! - not bad for a first timer!)

Looking ahead, this sprint tri has me excited about the longer distance Olympic Tri I’ll do in August. My training plan will have lots of brick workouts that include biking then transitioning to running- exactly what I want to work on!

Danskin Sprint Tri Sunday

2007-07-05T15:06:00.000-05:00

My first triathlon will be this weekend! I'll be participating in the Chicagoland Danskin Women's Triathlon.

As a novice, I feel like I'm getting treated like a pro!
Let me share just a couple of the perks I've recieved for this event:

- As a cancer survivor I am invited to a race day eve breakfast (free meal, nice).
- On race day I get to join the survivor's start. The second wave of swimmers that starts the race (there should be more than 20 waves).
- Due to all of the things I mentioned above I get a really low race number! It doesn't mean anything, typically the numbers I get for races are typically in the thousands, and for this race I am 56! (Cool, but I recommend getting a low number the easy way, by getting a trainer and working your butt off to become a competor in the sport).
- I was invited to join Team Toyota, beacause of this race. So Saturday I'll do a Toyota Meet & Greet, and pick up all kinds of free stuff too!
- A fellow Team in Training member is letting myself and a friend stay at his condo, 20 minutes from the race for free. Phew, no pricey hotel!

corperate sponsor?!

2007-06-29T10:46:00.000-05:00

I have been approached to by a car company to be one of 160 a sponsored athletes. This is normally an honor that is reserved for the most elite athletes, not weekend warriors like myself. I won't be getting a big check, fancy car, a personal DJ, or any other really lucrative rewards stars receive, but for every media appearance I would make I'd get paid. I'd need to do 4 tri's this season (by October 31) . In exchange I'd get some free stuff (pricey tri apparel & a little more), plus the honor and privilege of being among the elite (the folks who will readily run over my ass when the start gun is fired).

Is this selling out? Selling my story? I can read the bi-line now, hometown girl on her way to becoming the next Lance Armstrong. All for a moment of glory.
I'd be endorsing is hybrid cars (who's against that!?)
I’m pretty excited by the possibility, and I’m trying to contain my enthusiasm until I can figure out if I'm really up for the challenge.

stop it.

2007-06-27T16:37:00.000-05:00

A good friend's husband just got diagnosed with brain cancer.

I am so mad that it happened again.
I'm mad it happened to them.
I'm sad that they have to go through all the crap I did.
I want to wrap my arms around them and tell them it will be okay.
I want to protect them,
I want to give them everything I learned.
Most of all I want for them never to have to go through any of this.

Suddenly becoming like the couple that helped us get through cancer makes sense to me. They were a couple from church who just went through breast cancer. Their passion, compassion, and wisdom helped us through the foggy roads we went down. I think this has got to be what survivorship means.

The Learning Curve of Gratitude, Mary Chapin Carpenter

2007-06-26T12:35:00.000-05:00

Weekend Edition Sunday, June 24, 2007 · I believe in what I learned at the grocery store.

Eight weeks ago, I was released from the hospital after suffering a pulmonary embolism. I had just finished a tour and a week after returning home, severe chest pain and terrible breathlessness landed me in the ER. A scan revealed blood clots in my lungs.

Everyone told me how lucky I was. A pulmonary embolism can take your life in an instant. I was familiar enough with the medical term, but not familiar with the pain, the fear and the depression that followed.

Everything I had been looking forward to came to a screeching halt. I had to cancel my upcoming tour. I had to let my musicians and crew members go. The record company, the booking agency: I felt that I had let everyone down.

But there was nothing to do but get out of the hospital, go home and get well.

I tried hard to see my unexpected time off as a gift, but I would open a novel and couldn't concentrate. I would turn on the radio, then shut if off. Familiar clouds gathered above my head, and I couldn't make them go away with a pill or a movie or a walk. This unexpected time was becoming a curse, filling me with anxiety, fear and self-loathing — all of the ingredients of the darkness that is depression.

Sometimes, it's the smile of a stranger that helps. Sometimes it's a phone call from a long absent friend, checking on you. I found my lifeline at the grocery store.

One morning, the young man who rang up my groceries and asked me if I wanted paper or plastic also told me to enjoy the rest of my day. I looked at him and I knew he meant it. It stopped me in my tracks. I went out and I sat in my car and cried.

What I want more than ever is to appreciate that I have this day, and tomorrow and hopefully days beyond that. I am experiencing the learning curve of gratitude.

I don't want to say "have a nice day" like a robot. I don't want to get mad at the elderly driver in front of me. I don't want to go crazy when my Internet access is messed up. I don't want to be jealous of someone else's success. You could say that this litany of sins indicates that I don't want to be human. The learning curve of gratitude, however, is showing me exactly how human I am.

I don't know if my doctors will ever be able to give me the precise reason why I had a life-threatening illness. I do know that the young man in the grocery store reminded me that every day is all there is, and that is my belief.

Tonight I will cook dinner, tell my husband how much I love him, curl up with the dogs, watch the sun go down over the mountains and climb into bed. I will think about how uncomplicated it all is. I will wonder at how it took me my entire life to appreciate just one day.

thanks for warming out house

2007-06-26T10:46:00.000-05:00

Wow! What a weekend, it’s Tuesday and I still feel like I’m recovering. It was a whirlwind. Thanks to folks who came out to our open house on Saturday, I had no idea that we could fit so many people into our one bedroom condo. We love entertaining, and Sunday morning I couldn’t help but start thinking of our next significantly smaller shindig. We had a great mix of old friends, new friends, work friends, and special others joining in the fun.

While I’m thrilled we were able to pull of the largest party we've thrown (second to our wedding) in our condo—I am pleased that the event provoked the completion of our bathroom repairs & projects! We now have towel racks, a chair rail, and a toilet paper holder along with some great art! Both Matt and I are really impressed at how well everything turned out. Especially considering every single step of the way we had serioius doubts. The party also forced us to hang art – something that we had done sparingly prior to the event and has really made the space feel homey. Finally, after much work, money, time, and nail biting, I think I’m a little house-proud. (Kitchen, take warning. You’re next!).

Additionally, through the generosity of our friends we have made it to the half- waypoint of fund razing for Leukemia & Lymphoma Society's Team In Training $2000! Whoo Hooo! Thank you everyone!

Cool Quotes from our Tri Coach

2007-06-26T10:44:00.001-05:00

You gain strength, courage and confidence by every
experience in which you really stop to look
fear in the face. You must do things that you think you can not.
- Eleanor Roosevelt

Nothing is particularly hard if you divide it into small jobs.
- Unknown

Nurture the dreams that allow you to go beyond your limits.
- Unknown

Be faithful to that which exists within yourself.
–Andre Gide

Never measure the height of a mountain until you have reached the top.
– Dag Hammerskjold

I love my cat.

2007-06-21T12:14:00.000-05:00

Perhaps my cat is psychic, or he knows when just a little bit of revenge might make me feel better. It’s been said before that he is a spiteful, mean, and vile creature, so perhaps he can tune into my energy and sense when he could help provide a suitable punishment.

As a part of wedded bliss that is typically unspoken, occasionally very loving couples have misunderstandings. Such misunderstandings can often lead to one party sleeping on the couch. When said party opted to sneak back into the shared bed, Mr. Skitters (now known as the best cat ever) was so moved that he tossed his cookies right into said parties' open sock drawer.
Somehow just a little bit of cat puke (even if I had to clean it up, he still is my cat) managed make this party feel much better about all the previous day’s transgressions.

MATT'S HOME

2007-06-18T15:33:00.000-05:00

YAH!
He arrived home safely yesterday with the 40-something others that he led back and forth to ASP and home. They did good work, kids had a great time, and adult volunteers had some really positive things to say when I saw them unloading.

Now that Matt's home we can work on getting things ready for our open house (see ya there!).

619

2007-06-18T15:13:00.000-05:00

I woke up super early on Saturday and made it out to the Splish Splash Dash, my first dualathon. The entire event was fantastic, the two highligths for me were when they wrote my number on both of my arms in thick black marker, the other highlight would be finishing (not because I performed badly, but I always have such a high after finishing anything with a real finish line, and meeting personal challenges always brings tears).

I was amazed! The water was warm in clear. We had an open start, which means all the swimmers line up in the water between the bouys that mark the start line. Here is always where I make my most fatal mistake, I like to line up near the front (must have something to do with overestimateing my ablity), but as soon as the "GO" is shouted I get run over. Never fails, on foot or on bike being passed by crowds is nervewracking, but not life treatening. In the water, being passed by schools of swimmers is scary. I didn't warm my arms up well, so the feeling of being stampeeded brought on a slight anixty arm cramp, and I really wondered if I would finish. Once I powered through my nerves, aches, and let the speedy folks get out of my way I did fine. As I've noted in previous blogs, this was my first open water swim in several years, the swim course had us go clockwise through the lake. As a trainied lap swimmer I don't swim in circles well, and I struggled with staying on course throughout the swim portion of the race. While fun, I was happy to get out in run.

The 5 K (about 3 miles) traced through a lovely residential area, filled with small rolling hills. I ran most of the course, but walked up all the steep hills (chicago is flat, so I didn't want to risk injury going to hard over the hills). The most impressive part of the run, was watching the other athletes as they passed me. My goodness, these folks are good shape! Some men were running in only their Speedos, some women ran only in their Tankini's -- I threw some shorts and my TNT singlet on with my shoes.

Overall, for my first dualathon I didn't do so badly, out of a total of 67 entered in my event I finished 59! In my age group I finished 7 out of 9 with a time of 1:20 *(about 25 minutes faster than I anticipated).
I look forward participating in anothter dualathon, which isn't on the books yet, but I sure do feel better about the Sprint Tri coming up in 2 (gulp!) weeks.

+.4 and holding

2007-06-15T14:38:00.000-05:00

I waddled in to weigh- in again yesterday. I spoke with the leader about my endurance sport weight loss concerns. She said exactly what everyone else said—don’t worry about trying to loose weight right now, but focus on not gaining. In August post triathlon, focus on loosening the extra lbs. Phew—I was a little worried about what she would say.
I was also encouraged to realize that my healthy weight range (who determines that by the way?) is a lot closer than I had originally thought. So perhaps there is a change that I can be in that range prior to my b-day.

For the moment I’m putting the weight loss topic on hold, dear bloggers I'll find other things to say. But I will return to that topic post triathlon. Again, I am really enjoying training, and finding it far more enjoyable than the marathon (which I found healing and I also enjoyed).

This weekend’s open water swim is at some small man-made lake near Wisconsin. Hopefully it will be cleaner and warmer than the Great Lake in my front yard.

Happy Weekend!

Gotta stop blogging or I’ll talk my self out of it. . .

2007-06-12T15:08:00.000-05:00

Super pumped— until I see what I signed up for.

So I’m single this weekend, I have a date on Friday and Saturday (with Andrew, and Shelley respectively).
On going journey of waking-up-earlier-on-the-weekend-than-I-would-dream-of-waking-on- weekdays, today I signed my Saturday morning away for an one mile open water swim, followed by a five-k run. It’s an event called the Splish Splash Dash at Lake in the Hills, IL (Hi, Tim!).

Note: I don’t have my wet suit yet, so this swim I’m doing with a Speedo and some skin (brr). I’m hoping the goose bumps will keep me going after that first half mile.

Also, I haven’t done a ‘real’ open water swim in about 8 or so-years (Hello college --remember when I used to lifeguard for Delaware Dam? Yeah, it’s been that long.) Wooo HOOO~!

Sure, I’ve been swimming with TNT, we did ½ mile last week. umm...

I think that this is some kind of sickness—seriously, even though I have plans to hang out with great folks all weekend, I can’t wait to swim, and I’m interested to see how a 5 K will feel afterward. This really is becoming my idea of a really good time.

Snack Attack (+1 lbs)

2007-06-11T09:32:00.000-05:00

Okay, so at weigh in on Thursday I was up another pound! The first five pounds I lost I swear melted off, getting to ten has been one uphill climb. Plus so many of the Team in Training coaches and staff LOVE to remind us that when training for an endurance event, it’s not a great time to loose weight; one, because muscle weighs more than fat, two, because you need to eat more to fuel your body for the exercise. So I’m proving all of my coaches’ right, I really can’t seem to loose weight right now.

A good pal recommended taking measurements and monitoring those rather than using a scale—good idea! I just need to find that darn tape. But it was exciting to try on clothes one size smaller this weekend.

I have made a few changes – not only am I packing my lunch everyday, now I’m packing my snacks too. My office snacking is way out of control, so I needed to address it and use those snacks as ways to get more fruit and veggies. So I’ve started combining things like soy cheese sticks with apples, crackers with grapes, a 100-calorie bag of microwave popcorn with pears, my cup of coffee with one measured serving of a high fiber cereal.

Here’s my diet question this week, how do you handle office snack attacks?

In other non-diet related news, Matt is at ASP this week. Lucky for me, old and new friends have gathered around to keep me busy.

yet another nutrition clinic

2007-06-07T13:34:00.000-05:00

Yes, Yes, Yes, Muscle weights more, way more, than fat. So I'm not expecting to drop any lbs this week, but my old size 12's have got some extra room, and I'm feeling pretty buff going sleeveless today.

matt and I did, yet another, TNT nutrition clinic for endurance athletes. Things we learned:
1) Eat a rainbow of fruits and veggies every day (that doesn't mean candy).
2) Eat 6 small meals a day to keep metabolism up
3) Drink lots of water, and the week before the event carb up by eating 50 to 80 bananas (that is if you're not a banana-hater like mr. matt).
4) When eating pasta to carbo load the night before the big event, keep in mind that some pastas 'come up' easier than others-- so stick to those! (gross! gross! gross! I, for one, have never hurled while doing endurance sports or enduring chemo-- but for those with weaker tummies this could be something of importance to know).

Mr. Matt is leaving for ASP on Saturday (for his 7th or 8th time)! Send him warm happy thoughts next week, and prayers, I'm sure he and the 40 odd teens and parents with him will need it!

Thinking of Linda *(laura’s mom)

2007-06-04T11:51:00.000-05:00

In a diet related / domestic duty this weekend I attempted to gather about 10 or so really good fall back recipes for dinners. A task that was sparked from WW meetings and the TNT nutrition clinic. The dietician at the clinic recommended having a back up of ten or so recipes, and keeping most of those ingredients on hand.

So I looked at the notes in my cookbooks (something I learn from Grandma), and went about making a list of really good healthy things. Keeping in mind the standard things that we receive from our co-op. (The majority of what I eat anymore is determined by the organic co-op Matt and I joined and LOVE! I’m sure if you’ve read this blog long enough, or spoken to us you’ve heard us rave about this!) Happily the task was much easier than I anticipated, and there is now a list on the frig of dinner ideas.

On a regular basis we get greens like kale, spinach, swiss chard, and beet greens—things I didn’t grow up eating! So in looking for recipes I’m looking for things loaded with veggies, spice, that don’t need a lot of cheese. This weekend I discovered kale with polenta, and a baked curried tofu with cauliflower—both yum!

What made the list?
Simple things like:
Canned soup (non-cream based), Salads, Quesadas, Rice and Beans, Bean Burritos, & stir-fries.
More Complex things like:
Curries with tofu, Sautéed Greens, enchiladas, pastas with pesto,

What's not on the list?
take out menus, heat and serve frozen stir-fries, easy mac, anything breaded that has to be baked, other items that are so loaded with preservitives that mold won't eat it, white rice, and white pastas.

Do you even have one?
What’s on your list (or menu)?

The shameful weigh in.

2007-06-01T08:29:00.001-05:00

I gained 1.6 this week.

Lesson learned: Even if one does ride their bike 80 miles in a week (Bike the Drive, plus 2 days of bike commuting) that doesn't give me a free pass to eat or drink whatever I want.

I really want to believe that my activity levels are high enough that I can eat whatever I want-- but hell, I believed that even when I was thinking 'Hmm, these pants are snug, I should loose weight.'

So Megan Myth of Weight-loss, proven here for you, even if you work out (a lot) you still can't eat whatever you want.

This week I've got my activity planed, but I don't have my menu together for the week-- I just have a really good idea of what's in my frig. Menu planning tends to happen on the weekend. I'll let you know where I'm at on Monday.

So hopefully the shame of tracking my success and shame here on the blog will help me this week lose my goal of 2 lbs.

I hope that this self improvement stuff is interesting to read, on the bright side I'm posting more so even if it isn't all that interesting, it changes.

an admission

2007-05-31T10:18:00.000-05:00

I’m going to admit something here for all you blog readers. Nothing too shocking, nothing monumental, but something that can be shameful, and something that everyone is always talking about; I am on a weight loss plan. (Not a diet, a diet would be that I’m a vegetarian, a diet is the food I eat daily, not the food I don’t eat because it’ll make me look chubby).

Yup. I’ve re-enlisted with Weight Watchers way back in February. I was doing WW way back pre-wedding days, and then well suddenly my weight wasn’t my highest priority.
Because I believe that my long-term health is dependent upon being at a lesser body weight- I’m forking over cash to the weight loss industry, to help me.

Thus far I’ve lost 9 pounds (25 more to go). (Weigh in is this evening, lets see how much damage I did with the Memorial day Weekend eat-and-drink-a-pollozia).

Typically I would want not to tell folks I am trying to loose weight. With the hopes that when I see you blog readers, you’d notice my success. BUT I think I just need to ask for your help. I need the accountability of using this space to talk about the struggles of taking this on. Plus I think that the battle of the bulge is something most folks can relate to. Through cancer, and through marathon training I realized that the hardest things I have to do require far more mental energy than physical effort. I believe that this to is a ‘mind game’ and that anything truly worth having is work. Thanks to you guys, this blog has become a space for me to think about how to tackle the hardest things I’ve faced.

So if you will, join me on this journey from size 14 relaxed fit jeans.

the Tuesday after a Long weekend,

2007-05-29T14:53:00.000-05:00

OUCH! it is hard to be at work. It's actually harder to do work at work. My eyelids are struggleing to stay open. Memorial Day weekend was a good time, great to see old friends, make new ones, and build stronger relationships with everyone in between. Propsective Chicagoians came to veiw the many possible places to live in this 'city of nieghborhoods.' I was floored by how graciously hospitable fellow chicagoians are! Now all the prospective residences have to figure out is where they'll find jobs (best of luck, and hopefully we'll see you in the 'hood soon).

We spent an evening with a cousin of Matt's. I had a great time, we went to more bars than I recall, and we were taunted by a Nunn.

somewhere in the middle of all that I was one of the thousands of bikers who took over Lake Shore Drive this weekend, and rode darn near close to 40 miles on my bicycle - just to claim for a couple hours a major chicago road for bikes! We skipped a BBQ we really wanted to go to, then talked Andrew into hosting one at the very last minute. And got some minor house projects done.

Summer in Chicago, I wouldn't miss it for the world-- it nearly makes the 6 to 9 months of hibernation and isolation worth it.

I heart training

2007-05-23T11:58:00.000-05:00

I really enjoy training for the tri. I get outside, I get to spend time with my honey, I get to meet new folks, I get to challenge myself, and perhaps the best part it just feels good (physically, and mentally). This stuff rivals therapy in its effectiveness.

Sure training buddy and I are getting up just as early (if not earlier) on Saturday. But there is always a nap involved later in the day. Plus tri training is something different every weekend-- new route, new activity (biking, running, etc), so I'm not experiencing some of the boredom I felt training for the marathon.

Today is Wed, swim day with the team. Seriously, I feel like a kid again. The former lifeguard in me yells, "don't run!" But I can't wait to get into the pool, to smell the chlorine, to feel the water between my fingers and toes. All day I'm squirmy sitting in my cube wondering, is it time to go to the pool yet. Luckily, my inner adult intervenes and says, "no, not yet. But lets' blog about how I feel."

As a way of training, and a way to avoid my not happy public transit commute, I have biked to work twice. Originally I was really scared that the high traffic roads with suburbanites in their SUV's would run me over. {They haven't come close yet.} I feel so smart, because my commute on 2 wheels doesn't cost $3.50 a gallon, and it takes me just as much time to go just as far (ten miles one way, takes me between 35 to 45 minutes).

Last week I signed up for the Danskin Women’s Triathlon in Pleasant Prairie WI. The event is to raise support for a really great breast cancer organization. When I filled out the entry form it asked some really odd questions, like is this your first tri? (Yes). Are you a cancer survivor? (Who wants to know? Yes!) Because I answered truthfully (which, I sometimes hesitate to do with a big C question), I will get to start in the second wave of the race! It’s a privilege that I probably won’t ever get again, but I think some of those big time tri ladies may just swim over my butt!

For those who like to remind me that i am proofreader not a proof reader, this quote sums up my job, and my feelings about it. (but hey, it's paying the bills.)

Devotees of grammatical studies have not been distinguished for any very remarkable felicities of expression.
- Amos Bronson Alcott

boyance

2007-05-10T11:06:00.000-05:00

Yesterday was our second swim practice. After the first I was tapped to be on the 'purple team' with two other experienced triathletes. I was thrilled! All those years of not being on swim team, but just swimming on my own had me psyched into thinking maybe I couldn't do this.

After suiting up, and getting in the pool I noticed that the other two swimmers on the 'purple team' were two hairy bigger guys-I kept up, no problem. In the lane next to our were slower swimmers, but they were all a bit more shall we say 'trim.' Just another reminder that fat floats, and in this leg of the triathalon, it's good to be buoyant!

The grass is greener!

2007-05-09T13:31:00.000-05:00

The last band-aid just fell off. My port was removed last week, and today the bandages fell off revealing a slit of a scar that runs the diameter of a red-ish purple circle that for two years held the instrument to inject chemo in to my body.

I am SOOO glad that the port is gone, I can deal with scars and scabs. It's magnificent to be on this side of the fence, and I admit the grass is much much greener.

Tri one on!

2007-05-02T13:01:00.000-05:00

It's coming . . . 30. While I wasn't yet in my twenties I hoped to do a triathlon before I was 30. So about decade has passed and what once was a far away age are closer, and such an un-attainable goal doesn't seem so far away any more. In fact compared to the marathon training of last summer, my new training regimen doesn't seem so bad.

I've re-enlisted the help of my pals At Team in Training, even more exciting good ole' Mattila opted to give it a tri (get it?) too! So far, believe it or not I'm doing shorter workouts than last summer, but training nearly daily. I'm excited to take on this new challenge, but I'm expecting lots of blisters, sunburns, and aching muscles.

I'm super proud of Matt, for signing up to taking on the tri. Training has just started, and it's been a lot of fun to do this together. We also have fund raising goals to reach in doing event with TNT, so I'm shamelessly plugging our up coming garage sale, open houses, and websites.

If you want to give, or learn more about what Team in Training is all about check out this link:

www.active.com/donate/tntil/tntilMHutchi1

Thanks guys!

VA Tech Shootings

2007-04-17T10:00:00.001-05:00

And I don't care what people think, to the left or to the right, there are too many guns in our society. Too many children have lost their lives in this great country.

Mayor Daley

We're IN!

2007-04-12T21:24:00.000-05:00

A belated BIG THANK YOU to all the friends and family who have gotten Matt and I into our new home. Painting, packing, cleaning, and moving none of it would have been possible with your help!
It's been nearly two weeks in the new place and we've managed to sort through the cardboard jungle and find the things we need, and a lot of the things we don't need.

We can't find the digital camera, so we can't post photos yet (and when we do find it, it's debatable if it works-- too many youth retreats).

Again thanks!

Office Space

2007-04-04T15:29:00.000-05:00

The highlight of my workday consisted of a co-working thanking me for stealing his red Swingline stapler.

Welcome Kierston Marie Jackson

2007-03-20T08:32:00.000-05:00

born March 15, 2007

7 lbs 15 oz

the new place

2007-03-15T09:28:00.000-05:00

This are photos of the new place. Consider this out 'before' pictures. We have windows all along the East side, so some photos are dark.

The living room.
bathroom-- the vanity, mirror, lights, and wall paper are on there way out.
living room

Master Bedroom--

The buildingthe kitchen -- consider this out 'before' pictures.
The kitchen
The kitchen,
dineing room-- check out that 70's light fixture.

The living room.

Pack-a-polluza

2007-03-09T21:02:00.000-06:00

Behold the wonder of moving. Everything that I forgot I have or have recieved has multiplied like bunnies in the three years it's habbitated at the current Casa Del la Krings.

I am spending my weekend purgeing the deep corners of all our closets. Thus far I have produced four large bags for donations all from my closet. Mattilla has already purged his wardrobe- which led to about two to three large bags. I have gone through the edible products in our pantry and donated a box of items to the food collection at the church. I'm a little scared to take on the hallway coat closet, and the rest of the pantry. Partially because I know what they hold, and partially beause even opening the doors or shifting objects in said spaces is taking ones life into their own hands.

We close on the condo on Thursday. We're getting the floors done the following week. Which will give us a weekend to paint, if I could decide what color to paint anything. Un-like my fav traveling salesman I have NO idea what to paint the majority of the rooms. I may have the bathroom and the bedroom figured out, which fortunately for me, is where most of my time at home is spent. I'm not feeling like it's a huge rush to decide paint colors, but I will be the first to admit the artist in me has way too much fun looking at the pretty colors, to bother imagining what they would look like in a room in varrious types of light with all our crap in it.

Manual labor requests are being made now for help painting, packing, and moving. Shoot Mattilla or I an e-mail for details. Food and adult beverages will always be provided.

crazy little things

2007-02-25T12:18:00.000-06:00

Oh beloved blog readers, I believe that I may have just written my final rent check! As far as things appear now (and they probably will change) but I looks like on the Ides of March Matt-illa the Hun and I may become property owners. Thus making March the last month of renting!

In sad news, the first Krings-mas was called off on account of poor weather. We were looking forward to seeing family, eating, drinking, and making merry. Weather forcasts predicted death if one were to go to Milwaukee and attempt to return to Chicago a mere six to eight hours later. So Matt-illa and I stayed home and celebrated Krings-mas alone. While we were very sad not to be spending Krings-mas with the fam but we sure did get a lot done around the house. Essentially the first day of Krings-mas gave us the gift of time: one more day to pack, clean, chill, and sell things on Craig's list (no takers on that crock pot yet, darn!).

(Just trying to keep the blog politically relevant and visually stunning)

crock pot anyone?

2007-02-13T10:11:00.000-06:00

Just to keep things similar in the blog-mosphere, Matt & I had our offer accepted for a nifty little condo in Evanston (photos to follow)! The entire decision to buy has been such an ordeal. Our saintly mortgage broker, Jeff held our hand and found the right mortgage for us. We just have all the super fun stuff to do now like; inspections, closing on the 16th of March, two weeks to paint (Yeah! no more apartment white walls), refinish floors, pack up our stuff, and haul it about five miles north. I think a Craig's list 'garage sale' may transpire soon (football shaped crock pot anyone?)

Chicago land has officially become an Arctic tundra this month. After zero and sub zero temps last week, we've been treated to 20 degree to 30 degree highs with blowing snow and potential blizzard conditions (depending on the weather person). At least Matt's ski trip won't be canceled this weekend due to lack of snow and 50 degree temperatures (like the one he had booked for January).

Even if the sun comes out tomorrow, it’s too cold to go outside.

2007-02-06T20:23:00.000-06:00

Chicago is in an icy abyss, and the depressed Bears fans cannot be avoided. We’ll be okay as long as Lake Michigan doesn’t become a quick moving glacier. Groundhog’s day promises spring, (depending upon who you’re favorite weather predicting rodent maybe). My top Earth rat is Buckeye Chuck, who did not see his shadow, so much to my relief an early spring is being called for.

I have spring fever. I believe that the perpetual state of anticipatory waiting for this crap to be over maybe the lesson that the Universe has been trying to teach me in this season of my life.

The hubby and I have been waffling on purchasing a condo. I kid you not, to date this is the hardest decision we’ve ever made together. (Stay tuned on that drama).

In other news, nothing has been heard from MSI, so thanks for all your good vibes – but I think next week I maybe receiving a ‘gee thanks, but no thanks letter.’ In the mean time I’m still honing my 3^rd and 4^th grade math skills at the textbook mistake factory.

Job Interview

2007-01-21T15:22:00.000-06:00

I have a job interview tomorrow at the Museum of Science and Industry; the position would be the Coordinator of Membership and Community Affairs. I’d be a go- between the Membership and Community Affairs departments, problem solving, event planning (fund raisers, trips for members, and assisting with board meetings), publication reading and writing. The tasks are a great mix of all the skills I’ve honed in the last several years, and a great chance to get my foot in the door in the Museum circuit of Chicago!

My temp gig is going well, but it’d be nice to be in a place with a little more security (not to mention benefits)!

So Nine A.M.- Noon, Monday send some good vibrations my way, or just cross your fingers!

It’s taken most of the folks I went to school with about six months to find a ‘real’ position after graduation—my six months is nearing a close, so I should be due to land something, but one never can tell.

Thanks gang!

HAPPY NEW YEAR!

2007-01-01T20:05:00.000-06:00

Thanks everyone for coming out for the 3 Kring-ing in the New Year!
We had a great time!

The first day of 2007 we struggled out of bed and spent the day with Zoppa (Mr. Krings- to you). We joined Andrew & Laura for some yummy yummy Indian food! It's always great to take Laura to the Indian (dot, not feather) areas because she gets this cute accent, she knows how to order all the food, and she eats it the right way with her right hand, sans utensil and without her left hand!

Good news! Friends & Family will be getting their holiday cards soon! We'll be mailing them when the post office opens again on Wednesday!

Rage Against the Fruitcake!

2006-12-08T20:50:00.000-06:00

Ahh the holidays are quickly approaching. Which can only mean one thing as a member of my family . . .fruitcake season.
As a peace loving, tree hugger, I try not to use my blog for political causes, but I must take this divisive, yet firm, stand against fruitcakes.
Far too many holiday party guests have been scared away, too many nights of one too many car accidents have been caused by drunken fruitcake eaters, and do not forget that America is in midst of an obesity epidemic! Worst of all fruitcake is bad for America, this potent mix of cake, fruit, and booze could be the root of terrorism. All of these reasons and many many more are why I'm not only the proud founder of the Society for the Alternative Uses of Fruitcake (SAUF); I'm a member of the society too!

So when you get your fruitcake (and I know many of you will), I urge you (and your intestines do too) to find an Alternative use for that fruitcake. If you don't know what to do with your fruitcake, and are rightfully too afraid to eat it here are some ideas:

Spare tires (work equally well on trailers)
The hubby & I have found that it makes terrific body armor if you happen to walk into a gang fight.
Really good bait for homeless folks with 'substance issues'
A hockey puck
A pillow for a seat - it is very comfy on your behind
Alternative housing. Collect fruitcakes until you have enough to build a new home. It works great as insulation. Beats straw bale and cardboard construction to pieces.
Use it to drive nails for hanging pictures when you can't find a hammer.
Christmas tree stand. It'll hold your tree straight and not tip over.
At your next company holiday party - Shove into the mouth of someone who talks too much.

Please post how you plan on alternately using your fruitcake!

What a weekend

2006-12-03T19:23:00.000-06:00

It's been a bit of a whirlwind weekend here.
Friday we got snow (in case you didn’t see the news), about a foot-- kindly when I got up at 5 a.m. to see the lightning with snow combo-- Matt let me take the car to work.. I was a dummy and drove in that mess, but made it with only nearly hitting a pedestrian. That evening we threw an impromptu Christmas party, where all who were invited were then forced to decorate our apartment for Christmas. While they did a great job, there is something about Christmas lights lining the ceiling of a room that reminds me of my days living in dorms.

Saturday, Matt made pancakes and then went to work to make cookies with Jr Highers. I stayed home, went on a run, helped Andrew buy a tree, purchased the most pathetic x-mas tree ever, made calzones for this weeks lunch, and to top it all off went to the Chicago Movie Club (or my friend Shane's "Secret Movie Club"). The Club was celebrating the birthday of Woody Allen. Good times!

Sunday, Church, lunch at the pastor's house (yikes!), train back to ‘civilization,’ then decorating Andrew's tree with Kurt.

I'm so glad the weekends keep me busy because my weekdays could lull someone into a comma.

quicky update

2006-11-27T20:03:00.000-06:00

I never ever imagined I'd get paid to read. Second I never imagined I'd get paid to read text books. Is this what having a full ride scholarship feels like? I wonder. Well for now I'm just repeating my third grade math lessons as a temp. Yup, I'm schelping to the burbs as a temp to read text books. Not my dream job, but I know someone folks who might dig it. It's a gig for the moment, and I'm really polishing up on my math skills.

Thanksgiving was fun, Matt and I hauled our butts to Green Bay to give thanks for all the new little Krings-lings (seriously there were 3 folks under 18 mos present). After much eating and drinking we made it to Matt's folks house for a day of what in the third world would be called 'free labor.' The Pa-In Law put Matt, his bro, & his sis to work. New to the family Nora wisely stayed out of the way, I prepared my 'dirt farm / worms for winter. Poor Matt didn't even get a chance to shower-- As projects progressed and mid day came and passed Matt made a mad dash for the car, and we snuk away (I love family, but I really love being home directing the husbands energy to tasks around our house).

More updates to come. I'm hoping to land a real gig soon

Enough!

2006-11-07T17:23:00.000-06:00

I LOVE this apartment.

It's huge, it's close to the lake, close to various forms of public transit, amazing diversity, and the A-man & T-dog are less than a ten-minute walk away. But I would pass this all up to get rid of my college-aged neighbors. I have no desire to relive dorm life every evening from 11 p.m. to 5 a.m. No Thank You!
Really, is it necessary to have band practice at midnight under my bed? Or to hear the others come home from the bar at 4 a.m. Then have a knock down drag it our top of your lungs argument, above? Really?
Additionally the one thing that made this apartment do-able was Matt's super cheap amazingly close parking spot. All along we've said it's a blessing, and have said without it we didn't think we could live here. In December our parking spot will become Condo's. Matt will return back to the rat race of circleing for parking every evening after his hour long commute home.

SO, could someone please give me a decent job in Chicago that I don't have to buy a car for? Please!? This way we can stop renting our lovely apartment, with the annoying neighbors above and below us, in the neighborhood that scares friends and family with no parking. maybe then we can finally buy a place, and stop renting.

2006-10-25T08:46:00.000-05:00

Just because the Marathon is over doesn't mean that you can't stop giving to Team in Training!
Here's my website:

http://www.active.com/donate/tntil/tntilMHutchi

Also if you think you may want to try training for a marathon, triathlon, or century bike ride check out Team in Training's program:

www.teamintraining.org

Thanks everyone for their support!

26.2 I did it!

2006-10-23T14:00:00.000-05:00

I kicked asphalt, and here are the photo's to prove it! I ran most of the race with my TNT friends. I did nearly the enitre race with the awesome Sara Cears (pronounced Cheers)! She's a real power house of good energy and can do attitude! Matt, Andrew, & my in-laws had one heck of a day watching the marathon and seeing all sorts of exotic Chicago spots!

I'm not in this photo. I may be a yellow dot in the far off distance-- I crossed the start line 22 minutes after the offical start. It seems as if my other 40,000 closest pals were in a hurry.

Jerry, Andrew, & Kathy enjoying brunch at Orange while I'm slechlping my way through the North side (and the first ten miles).

This is a little before the half way point. There were some really cool folks playing Bon Jovi's "Livin' on a Prayer" so all the runners I was with were yelling 'Ahh Half Way There.' AWESOME!

This is me at about the 20 / 23 mile marker visiting with veiwers Matt & Kathy. I like this photo because it has the Sears Tower in the background, and the hard working observers with myself.

This was me in the 'bite me' zone. I lost all my runing pals and my right foot was going "What the HELL are you doing to me?!?!" I didn't have the ability to stop and start to say hi, so I waved at the camara and kept going. Note all of the other walkers, this was about the 20 mile mark.

Shortly after the picture above I found Sara in the crowd, and we finished strong together! In fact we divereted from out walk 2 minutes run 3 plan at the end and ran the last mile (which is on an incline) together! She rocks!

OH MY WORD!

2006-10-20T12:52:00.000-05:00

Ahhhh!!! The Marathon is only 1 and a half days away!!!

6 months of training. check
gear laid out check
driven and visualized my self running the course. Check & Check
Figured out where to park down town CHECK

TO DO'S

carbo load- - fun & easy
pick up registration pack - no problem
get gear for running in the SNOW! - WTF!!!!
practice running in the snow - IT AIN'T HAPPENIN'

My friend's who forcast weather arent' being very nice!

Thanks for everyone's call and support as I did the job interveiw circut this week. I had two in person interviews, and two phone interveiws. All seem somewhat promiseing, but at this point I really don't know if anything will turn up. It's a matter of playing the waiting game at this point. Fingers & Fins still crossed.

If I'm able to type on Monday I'll give a play by play.

Interviews!

2006-10-15T11:51:00.000-05:00

Two job interviews this week and the marathon to boot!

Send happy thoughts my way as I interview on Monday morning and Thursday afternoon. Monday I'll be interviewing at the Shedd Aquarium for a grant writing postion, Thursday a similar postion for a domestic violence center.

I'm SUPER interested in writing grants for fish. So fingers (and fins) crossed everyone! Thus far I'm not too worried about the marathon, bigger fish to fry (pardon the pun) for the moment!

Fall Fun & Alter Boyz!

2006-10-11T11:22:00.000-05:00

I had a lovely weekend picking apples with Andrew & the lovely Laura in Michigan. I have more apples I can shake a stick at (see Andrew's blog for some terrific photos!), and thus have made a little less apple butter than I can shake a stick at. Michigan has been a place I've never spent much time, but our time in Coldwater was beautiful, maybe it was the open road, fall air, old friends, apples, margaritas, or the wine tasting but I came home filled with fall goodness.

How does one follow such a lovely weekend? Well, celebrating with even more old friends. I was thrilled and greatly blessed to welcome some LaRue-ites to the big city, as a high school and church play made his debut as a lead in the touring company off Broadway hit of 'Alter Boyz.' A hilarious musical about a catholic boy band! This role was MADE for Ryan, and he steals the show! So my theater buff friends, and my non-theater buff friends you simply MUST see the show, they are in town for three weeks, or you can catch them when they come to your town-- but you simply MUST see it! www.altarholics.com

So now that all that excitement has passed, I’m left with the daunting task of finding employment. (Sigh!) I've become a pro at getting my resume out there, but for every 20 résumé’s I send out I'm getting one 'gee, thanks for sending us this resume. Don't call us we'll call you' note. This finding a job business is not for the light of heart.

20 miles!!!

2006-10-01T12:03:00.000-05:00

This weekend was our longest run ever, 20 miles! All week I’d been preparing for pain and agony through out the hours I’d spend trekking the distance. I would break down the distance into sizeable chunks in my head, then imagine myself running it—and it worked! I made it! It was my best run to date, I totally felt like I could have squeezed another 6.6 miles in to round it into my first marathon. I’m feeling ready and excited, now all I have to do is wait another 22 days for the event!

On our 18 mile run, I surpassed a level of lazy runner, which few of my running buddies imagined. I stopped on a bench around the 15-mile mark, and I took a nap! The distance was great; I made a poor decision to run with a slight cold, and an even worse decision to tackle a distance that great after taking a Sudafed. The 18-mile run took significantly more time and effort than the 20 mile this weekend, in short - Lesson learned.

Sadly, Thursday was my last day at my summer gig, so the job hunt is hot and heavy. After some conversations with co-workers and friends I’ve been persuaded that many of my strengths would make me really good at fund raising/ development for a university or hospital, or Quality Assurance within a non-profit. In the meantime I’m hoping to temp around the city, it’s not great money but it’s an income better than slinging coffee, with better hours.

Also! I’m searching for the right soundtrack for the marathon for my Mp3 player—Suggestions?

blog guilt & lack there of

2006-09-21T22:49:00.000-05:00

I must admit not blogging for the last bit of time was nice. But then I still read and check and look for updates from my fellow bloggers, and I realize that I'm not playing fair.

Seeing as when I was posting every week or every two weeks I was reporting on health concerns- It's nice not to have to do that anymore. Sure I still see more doctors than the average person-- but to those without children, or who hope to, I say wait. Someday you're child will make you spend more time in an emergency room from repetivly shoving gum up their left nosteral, like my friend Amy Anderson's brother Tad kept doing in the second grade.

So now that I'm enjoying my health I continue to train for the marathon (ack! it's coming very very very soon!), and i'm job hunting (career leads anyone?). I've had a handful of interveiws, and I think I'll be having some more in the near future. I've unfortunatly discovered that I've obtained a master's degree that will enable me to somehow make less money than I did when I got out of undergrad. Perhaps I'm regressing through the payscale. So perhaps I need to return to what has worked in the past, lifegaurding. It's nice to know at least lifegaurds in Chicago make more than I did when I was a teenager-- but then again they do have an awfully long 'off season.' In all seriousness I'll be moving into the land of temps soon-- phew!

2006-08-12T20:49:00.000-05:00

So still not the best photo ever.
But here's a shot of me on the day of the big interview (not to air until after Labor Day at 11:30 a.m.).

my running hair

2006-08-12T20:36:00.000-05:00

Two completely different topics, but slightly related.

First:  I didn’t put any product in my hair the other night.  Other cancer survivors who re-grow their hair they get those ‘cute chemo curls’ or the hair they always wanted.  Grant me this moment of vanity—I LOVED my pre-cancer hair!  As a second grader I recall the hands of teachers petting the top of my head, and in college and beyond women would make envious statements.
Don’t get me wrong, my current hair is better than the No Hair of several months ago—and I’m grateful for what my follicles have been pushing out—but Follicles, can you dig deep and push up some of that old stuff?  With out product in my hair I have a white girl ‘fro.  It ain’t cutesy curly it’s foamy frizz. Think bad clown wig in blond.
Thank God for ‘product!’

Second!

Tomorrow is the Chicago Distance Classic a HALF MARATHON!

Thanks to everyone for their tremendous support.  Running has become a great gift, in fact it doesn’t suck nearly as much as it did when I first started. What I love about training with Team in Training is that I’m with other survivors, people touched by cancer, or people out there doing a good thing and pushing themselves to a new limit.

This entire year for me has been one of pushing myself to a new level.  One where I become the person I’ve always wanted to be, and I’m proud to be (even with my ‘fro).

Fairwell Jane Addams

2006-07-27T21:52:00.000-05:00

Last Thursday was my final grad school class! I’m done (well I’m waiting on my grades, but nearly certain that I’m done with school). Why haven’t I blogged about this earlier? Well, I was putting off important work projects in order to complete the necessary homework to complete the classes I’ve been taking. While my under grad experience was NOTHING like graduate school, the experience was good nonetheless, and hopefully now I can command a greater salary when I start that job hunt.

I’m at my current placement until Oct 31. It’s an okay position, but most importantly it meets all my job requirements: 1. Don’t work with people I strongly dislike (at least no more than 3) 2. Not having to own a car (in fact tomorrow I’m going to ‘bike commute’ for the first time—I can’t wait, I’ve been waiting so long for the opportunity!) 3. Doing something that I believe in or betters the world I live in some small way. If things work out so I can stay there longer, great. If not, that’s okay too- at least I know what’s important to me.

Otherwise I’m coping with a sudden sense of boredom that is somewhat panic free for the first time in nearly a year! What a rush!

news worthy

2006-07-18T13:44:00.000-05:00

I'm a little floored. The local ABC news station is going to do a story on me. They approached Team In Training wanting to do a story on a cancer survivor who is training for the marathon. The folks at TNT threw out some names, thought of me, and then gave me a call.

I'm flattered to be news worthy, and excited to talk about the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society-- also a little hesitant about being on TV. It's not the talking on TV that's the big deal but they want me to run. I know it's silly, but when I think about women who run on TV, I think of the intro to Bay Watch.

hot time summer in the city

2006-07-16T15:14:00.000-05:00

Sorry it's been soo long, between posts. As par for the course, everything always happens at once. Work is crazy nutty busy, and with only one week of classes (3 more assignments to more precise) standing between me and my MSW things are busy. Plus I firmly believe that there is some kind of link between nice weather in Chicago and me being too busy or otherwise occupied to truly enjoy it. Training for the marathon has definitely been a great way to build some 'outdoors' time in my normally indoors routine (office/bus/apartment/classroom).

This weekend I ran ten miles! My Team in Training Co-horts and I started a 7 a.m. in 85 degree heat. We run in the beautiful park near my apartment that follows the lakeshore. In addition to the heat the lake effect gave us some extra humidity. At the end of the run the temp was pushing low 90's and everyone I was running with was SOAKED in sweat. (I managed to do this in about 2 hours and 20 minutes) One woman looked like she had fallen in the lake her shorts were so sopping wet. By the time I walked myself home after the run, my knees were seriously considering filing for divorce. Luckily some ice, Tylenol, and a shower persuaded my patella to stay put.

It's Sunday now, and I'm attempting to work on the three projects to due this week. But the temp is 95 right now, and my attention span is nearly shot. So perhaps I'll do laundry. . or . . well. . Anything but homework.

2006-07-09T22:05:00.000-05:00

Me in March

Still Crazy

2006-07-04T00:29:00.000-05:00

Sorry for the delay's in posts. I really wanted to promote the party. Thanks to all who attended, together we raised $750! Good Job!

I had a strange realization a couple weeks ago that my life now has a renewed sense of freedom I haven't had in about a year. I don't have any doctor's appointments on the books until next month, and no tests planned between times. It's a relife but it's also odd. Do I really trust that my cells won't start going haywire again?

This last weekend was a blast! With the party on Friday, and all my immedate family in Chicago on Saturday, then tickets to see the AWESOME Paul Simon in Milwaukee-- Matt & I have neglected attending the proper 4th of July festivities in order to get some rest. (What's that? I have a grant for work, a paper for school, and about 8 miles of run / walking to fit into tomorrow- i guess today- plus a parade and pals!)

I know it's always something -- but these somethings still beat all the other somethings I've already endured.

PAR-TAY!

2006-05-27T11:40:00.000-05:00

Treatment is over, and now it's time to celebrate! So mark your calanders now!!!

~The Kicking Cancer's Ass Party~
(Invites to follow)

Friday June 30th 7 to 9 p.m.
at the Arlington Heights FUMC
All are welcome!

There will be a silent auction to benefit the Leukemia and Lymphomia Society
(for family-- Sharon & Guy will be migrating up, which is reason enought to come on down!)

Summer's here and the time is right!

2006-05-27T11:20:00.000-05:00

Counting My Blessings

I haven't had to go to the hospital in a week!
My eyebrows have returned to their proper locations
I no longer have to wear a hat to leave the house (although I do occassionally choose to wear some of the really cute ones I've recieved).
My ability to swallow has returned.
SUMMER IS HERE!!

The offical training for the marathon started two weeks ago. About the same time I stopped the steroiods. So I'm jsut begining to fathom what I've signed myself up for. I ran/walked 4 miles this morning, and while it took me a while to ease into it by the end I felt great. Body parts are aching, and I'm getting a start on my summer tanlines (look out bridesmaid dresses!).

Summer classes start next week, and who could forget the migration of Andrew (with STELLA) to a mere 3 ish blocks away! I need to mention that he has a steal of an apartment, and will be very lovely.

DONE!

2006-05-18T20:55:00.000-05:00

'nuf said

I'm glad i'm not a giraffe

2006-05-17T16:56:00.000-05:00

Hey guys! TOMORROW IS MY LAST RADIATION TREATMENT!!!!!!!!!!

Over all it hasn't been nearly as awful as chemo was, but it certainly isn't all too much fun. I've mentioned in the past that it's a drag to get over to the hospital daily, but as treatment as gone on the effects are begining to surface. The area that is being treated is from middle of my neck and throat to the bottom of my rib cage, and while most of this area feels normal over the weekend I developed a wicked mean sore throat.

Monday and Tuesday it's been a challenge to suck down water. When I mentioned this to all the medical professionals in Radiation i got a couple of high powered Rx's that will take the edge off, and provide for some good naps. This feeling is remincent of having my tonsils taken out, a sore acheyness that doesn't fade, like two scratchy velcro balls rubbing against each other. Even thought tomorrow is the last treatment, I can count on the side effects sticking around for another week or so afterward- gross.

Behold the end is in sight!

2006-05-13T06:44:00.000-05:00

I started Radiation a week ago Wednesday. This consists of getting up early, fighting traffic to the hospital, arriving at the hospital, changing into one of those lovely backless gowns, waiting for doctors, then actual treatment. The entire ordeal perhaps takes a couple hours if one factors in the commute and wait time. Radiation it’s self takes maybe ten minutes. It’s SO much easier than chemo. I trek down to the basement of the hospital down a long deep corridor, past two large metal doors, to a room that has soft music playing, a long cold table, and several pieces of large machinery. I lie on the table, where there is a smurf blue mold of my head that the radiation techs will secure me to ensure that I don’t move during the process, and needlessly radiate some perfectly good part of my body. I like to think of this as the worst pillow ever. Then my table is raised a good four feet in the air, where I lay directly under a big orb that looks like the biggest salon style hair dryer ever- except rather than the middle being hollow—the middle of this is filled with all the things necessary to shoot electrical radiation in precise points in ones body.

Once I’m secure, elevated, and all those stickers I’m still wearing are lined up, the tech’s leave the room, close the massive doors, and once they are a safe distance away, they start the machine. There’s a loud buzz for about a minute, and the ‘BEAM ON’ light over my shoulder turns on, then the hair dryer orb then rotates to my back side (this is why I’m up so high in the air), and shoots me from the backside. Soon afterwards the techs return to the room, lower me down, detach me from my smurfy mold, and I’m good to go. It’s a painless procedure, the only side effect I can tell, is that by the end of the day I’m beat—but adding another 2 hours of running around in anyone’s packed day, I think could do that.

Next Thursday will be my last radiation, and I’m finished with treatment!~

In other more domestic news, Mr. Skitters had a big week. Last Friday he insisted that we let him out at some crazy hour of the morning, and never returned! Matt & I placed posters around or building, but when a week had past, and our posters had been ripped down, we assumed that was the last we had seen of our cat.

Low & behold, yesterday we got a call from a local ‘no kill pet shelter.’ One of our neighbors turned our cat in, and another neighbor turned in our poster. And after a trip to the shelter, a couple fines (which were less than his average vet bills!), and some cat parent counseling Matt & I were reunited with our kitty!

Thoughts on Radiation-- or sympathy for a baked potato

2006-05-01T18:32:00.000-05:00

On par for the medical system, I was supposed to start radiation today, but because a scan they took 2 weeks ago didn’t exactly line up with the scan they took today. So the scar / mass / tumor / did not get nuked today, but maybe Wednesday.

Instead they marked me up like a frog about to be dissected by 8^th graders. Seriously – no cool tattoos, but a sharpie marker and some clear stickers from my upper chest to the bottom of my rib cage. With the warning not to ‘scrub too hard’ when showering.

If you gave me a much-needed hat this winter, this week I was able to pass on the blessing to other folks who are experiencing involuntary molting! Thank You!

Have you hugged a tree today?

2006-04-24T21:53:00.000-05:00

Hey the link to my website now works!

I have come to terms that my husband and I are bi-products of the 60's. This Saturday was Earth Day, and I didn't realize until the day had passed how Earth friendly I was. As many of you know we only have one car. Matt was on retreat all weekend, so I drove an I-Go car. I-go is a car sharing program through out several major cities (http://216.211.131.236/chicago-i-go/), I then took all our old computers to get recycled, before going home I picked up are organic produce at the co-op. I'd like to contend that it's easy and fun to be green!

You want to what?

2006-04-20T08:17:00.000-05:00

Last month I participated in the Shamrock Shuffle (a 5 k walk in downtown Chicago). Through this experience I encountered and organization that will train folks for a marathon, triathlon, or century bike rides, while people train they also fund raise for research on Lymphoma and Leukemia.

I went to an informational meeting last night, all the people sitting next to me were shuffling their chairs away as they showed a touching video that made me cry and talked about the impact their organization has had on the disease and on the lives of patients and families. Matt and I have been SO blessed through my cancer process to have AMAZING student health insurance that has covered nearly everything fully. By not having to worry about finances, I was able to fully focus on recovery. I can barely grasp the stress and frustration of folks who don’t have that option.

Can I do it? Well, minus some lung damage from the chemo drugs, I believe that I can. I’ll be doing a run / walk or a walk/run—my focus isn’t to ‘run’ the marathon, as much as it is to complete it, raise money for an important cause, and get back into my pre-cancer (or better than) shape.

One of my great motivators was learning last week that with radiation I’ll have be more prone to other cancers (especially breast, which is what my mother’s mother died of). The radiologist advised that diet and exercise are going to be my best weapons against the return of any future cancers. During chemo I couldn’t continue with my typical workouts, and I barely had the energy to get around during the day. So I’m so grateful to be able to workout again—and it feels great!

I’m still working on the link from here to my TIT site, but I’ll be keeping you posted on everything. (isn’t it exciting that the same place you read about my treatment, will also be the same place you can read about what it’s like to train for a marathon?)

things are happening

2006-04-12T16:27:00.000-05:00

Thanks for the prayers that I’ll get a job. My internship offered me a full time paid position to stay full time in my current role for the life of the grant that I’m working on. The grant will expire in the fall, with some small to slim chances that we’ll find the funds to continue on. The money is far from good, but better than working at Starbucks for another summer. It’ll be good networking, and we’re always working on new grants, so there is a possibility of promotions and raises depending on if we receive many of the grants we apply for.

Another plus is that the hours are supper flexible. I’ll be able to finish up my final two grad school classes. They’re willing to work with me with all my crazy doctor’s appointments. Heck, I may have the time to train for that marathon I’m still considering running in the fall.

Chemo is OVER! Radiation around the bend.

2006-04-05T21:41:00.000-05:00

Just celebrateing once again that CHEMO IS DONE! According to my oncologist, the cute yoda ish Dr. Chen, it's done enough damage. My lungs are permently scared, I've gained 20 lbs, lost the ability to grow hair for several months, had hair vanish, spent months worrying about every person around me was a germ carrier wtih super nova germs ready to knock out what remained of my immune system, and so much more.

sigh-- IT'S OVER!

Radiation will probably start after Easter. The side effects are minimal compaired to chemo. I'll go to the hospital every weekday, for how ever long the dr's deam apporpriate, treatment should only take a couple minutes (some compare it to an x-ray).

It's good to know that the worst is over and that the end is in sight!

just kicking some ideas around

2006-04-02T15:15:00.000-05:00

Sorry to have such a gap in posts recently. There hasn't been a ton to report.

Here’s an idea I’m kicking around: This weekend I completed the Shamrock Shuffle 5k walk, held in downtown Chicago. I signed up to do this month’s ago with the hopes of getting an idea of when other walks or fitness events would be this summer. While I did accomplish my goal of figuring out when other walks are I discovered a group called Team in Training. They train individuals for marathons, or triathlons while those participants raise funds for Lymphoma and Leukemia research. It's been a goal of mine to complete a marathon before I'm 30 (which is growing closer and closer). In order to go through the process I'd need to raise $2000. I'm wondering how receptive all you blog readers would be in sponsoring me as I train for the Chicago Marathon? Here's a link to the organization's website: http://www.teamintraining.org/

Health wise there isn't much to report, I've been returning to my position as a hospital lab rat. My oncologist wants to make sure he can track all of the chemo damage prior to starting radiation. I was hoping for radiation to have started by now, but at this rate I'm predicting it'll start sometime in April and stretch into May (just a guess from me).

There is a month left to this semester. Classes thus far have been a cakewalk, but all the projects for the semester are due this month-- so this next month should prove to be a little more difficult. I'm signing up for two classes this summer, and then I'll be done with graduate school. Any one know of some great job out there?

HEY WHAT' HAPPENED TO MY BLOG?

2006-03-13T21:55:00.000-06:00

i don't know what kind of malfunction came over my blog the last several days, but i think posting may fix it. shoot an e-mail at me if you have difficulty in the future.

There is a month left in the semester! Which will be a month of finishing group projects, and probably starting radiation. From what I've read and been told the most common side of radiation (and some group projects) is exhaustion. While the nearly 2 months off of chemo have been wonderful, i know that i certainlly don't have the energy i did before treatment. So I would apprecate prayers to help me: give cancer the final kick in the ass, finish the semester, and starting my career!

Thanks for the prayers thus far-- They've really helped Matt & I weather the worst of this.

My Hero- Capt. Duct Tape! (swoon)

2006-03-08T14:48:00.000-06:00

maybe the end is in sight?

2006-03-01T15:46:00.000-06:00

I've had a month without treatment, so that my body can produce the best results possible for the various tests I've had. I feel great, I'm definitely not in the same condition I was in pre treatment, but the best I've been in a while.

Matt & I visited Dr. Chen today. We went in with our expectations very low, we've learned from experience that this maybe the best way to handle doctors. I was expecting to hear that I'd need two more rounds of treatment plus radiation. As things stand right now, Dr. Chen is 'leaning' towards radiation and maybe no more chemo. February's tests indicate no activity in the mass. Yeah!

For the time being more tests are on the books, no chemo is scheduled, and I'll see the docs next week for a better idea of what we may be doing next.

It's great to think that maybe the end of this is all much nearer than I've imagined! Even better to think of getting on with life!