One Half Down...

Well, if you haven't seen the Facebook, Instagram or Twitter posts in the past 48 hours...well then you are way behind and clearly not a techie.  I completed the 2nd Annual Iron Mountain Road and Trail Half Marathon this past Saturday.  And, I'm pleased to report, that despite my lack of training/readiness/conditioning, I finished just 9 minutes off my PR.  That's something I'm pretty darn proud of.  Here's a breakdown of how the run (I'm not calling it a race because it was just a "training" run for me. Yep.  That's what it was) went:

It was a beautiful, crisp fall morning in da UP.  Temp was about 40 degrees but the sun was out, no clouds and no precipitation.  The makings of a perfect run, weather wise.  And I felt good, which is really the most important thing.  But again, this was just a training run for me.  I had no illusions of running the entire route or placing in my age group (unless they had the over 35 but joints of a 70 year old category, which, sadly they didn't).  So the gun went off and away we went.  I knew I would be near the back of the pack which was totally fine with me. 

My strategy in this run came courtesy of my BRF (and kind of life coach) who suggested running staggered time intervals.  So I started with run 10 walk 1, then run 9 walk 1, run 8 walk 1 and so on.  I had tried this is one previous training run and didn't do so hot with that but I was optimistic.  Oh wait...I'm failing to mention a key point here.  Genius here (read: MK) decided two nights before the half marathon to do a weights workout.  Now normally that wouldn't be an issue except I had been spending all of my time focusing on running and hadn't done a weights workout in weeks.  So needless to say, Friday morning I could barely move my arms or legs.  Yep...I'm a genius. 

Back to the half - my goal initially was to do the staggered intervals for the first 4 miles.  That would be the longest I had run since the Princess Half in February.  I made it through the first 4 miles and actually felt really good.  After about 4 miles, the course went into Fumee Lake.  That's  wooded area surrounding two non-wake lakes.  I've run there several times and it's absolutely beautiful.  Anyway, as I started to enter Fumee, there were runners who were exiting as I was entering.  Boy did that make me feel slooooooooooooooooooooooooooow.  But again, I was not racing, right? 

I did well on the trails at Fumee until about mile 6.25.  That's when I felt a pain in my right hip.  That would be the hip I had surgery on in 2012 in Memphis.  Hmm....this isn't good.  It wasn't the same kind of pain as previously felt so I knew it wasn't cartilage.  Regardless, I decided I needed to walk a little more because, again, this was just a training run and I wanted to be healthy for Belgium.  Well, as healthy as I can possibly be with two bum hips.  So I walked for about a mile or so and then ran/walked the rest of the route in Fumee and up the obnoxious hill that comes out of Fumee.  Those of you that live here know what hill I'm referring to.  Those of you who don't, I will show you the next time you visit.  It's seriously obnoxious.  I started running again about mile 8.75 or so.  That's when my muscles (that I had aggravated by said weights workout on Thursday) decided to cramp up.  So the last 4.1 miles of the route I was in complete agony and had to stop and stretch every half mile or so.  Now, I will say this.  The agony of those cramping muscles was nothing compared to the hip pain last February.  So it was a good tradeoff as far as I'm concerned.  That doesn't mean it was enjoyable by any stretch of the imagination.  So I did a lot of walking and some running.  Running might be a stretch.  More like jogging. 

And, of course, the last 1/4 mile was uphill which was brutal.  But I made it to the finish line and got my shiny medal.  I'm going to fess up and say that those medals are kind of why I run these races.  :)  Not that I'm competitive or like shiny things in any way. 

Now, if you recall from my last post, the whole purpose in running this half marathon was to determine how to run the Brussels Half in three weeks.  And I did figure that much out.  Here's what I figured out...

1. I need to have training runs longer than 3 miles between now and October 6
2. My BRF's suggestion of staggered time intervals really works well unless the pain starts and then all hope is lost and I just have to push on
3. I really do love running the half marathon distance if for no other reason than to prove to myself how tough I really am!

So I leave for Brussels in just over two weeks.  I can't believe it's almost here!  I have a busy schedule until then.  I'm doing a 5K Run or Dye race in Green Bay this Saturday with one of my friends from Madison.  It's like a Color Run but it's a different organization.  I'm excited about that one though I'm not sure how much running we will actually do!  But it ends at Lambeau Field which is pretty cool in itself. 

Then I'm off to Chicago for a few days for work then back to the UP for about 4 days then back to Chicago for work and then off to Brussels!  Holy cow! 

So I will do my best to blog over the next two weeks before I leave for Brussels, especially after the Run or Dye.  I should have some great photos from that run too.  And I will have my iPad in Brussels so I will definitely be blogging there. 

Until next time, I will leave you with this quote:

"Racing teaches us to challenge ourselves.  It teaches us to push beyond where we thought we could go.  It helps us to find out what we are made of.  This is what we do.  This is what it's all about."

                                                                                             -----Pattisue Plumer

I Really Am Half Crazy!

I've been having this conversation with myself for the past few weeks (are you really surprised I talk to myself?)  What kind of run am I going to have in Belgium?  For those of you who are runners, you get it.  For those of you who are not...well...there's not really a good way for me to describe it so you will understand.  Let's just say that every runner, regardless of their ability, plans out their race in terms of pace, fluid intake, supplements (gels, blocks), etc in order to have the best race possible.  Throw in coming off an injury/surgery and it gets a bit more complicated. 

Here's my conundrum (gosh I love that word!).  I know I'm not going to be physically able to run the entire race.  Even if I was healthy, I haven't been training to run the whole race and haven't had enough time to do so.  That option is off the table.  So then the question becomes: what kind of interval am I going to run?  Am I going to run time intervals or distance intervals?  My running, to date, has been time intervals and that's been because that's what I was allowed (read: only way I was going to get to run) to do by my surgeon and PT.  Not that I'm complaining.  It's been a great way to ease back into the sport.  My intervals, however, have only gotten up to Run 6 Walk 1.  That's going to drive me crazy if I do that for 13.1 miles!  And we all know I don't need any help in the crazy department.  So my other option is to run distance intervals ie: run a mile walk a half mile, etc.  The question is do I have the lung capacity back to do that?  I don't have to run that mile fast but I'm certainly going to push myself. 

The decision I've reached is running distance intervals but how do I practice this?  I mean, sure.  I could do it during a training run.  But really?  Am I really going to do that?  Well, I probably would if I really took the time.  However! There is another option.  Yep...I registered today for the Iron Mountain Half Marathon.  This will allow me to test out my running distance intervals theory and see if I really can do it while still allowing myself a few weeks to recover before Belgium.  The catch in all of this??  Oh yeah...the Iron Mountain Half Marathon is NEXT SATURDAY.  As in 8 days from today.  And the most mileage I've run since being back is 2.5 miles.  Umm...last time I checked 2 1/2 miles is not anywhere close to 13.1.  Boy oh boy this will be interesting.

My War with Delta, Part Two

Well, I guess it's actually Part 1 since it was my experience with Delta on the way to Key West. In fact, it started way before I ever got on a plane. Back in June, on a visit to San Fran to see my folks (a trip by the way that was on Delta and delayed due to mechanical problems and got me to SF about 9 hours after I was supposed to) I got an email from Travelocity. That is who I had used to book my airfare and hotel for Key West. Said email informed me that "There had been a change in my itinerary and I needed to call them right away." So I called and got the run around and placed on hold for 15 minutes so I finally hung up.

Okay...before i type anymore i want to go on record saying i did start this earlier this week but time got away from me. What with all of the TV watching, hair appointment, running, TV watching.  so i will finish now (since im sitting in Chilis at the Minneapolis airport). 

Fast forward to mid-July/ late August.  I received another email from Travelocity about the flight change and needing to call them right away, etc etc etc. so I finally do. And they tell me that the flight from Green Bay to Atlanta was changed by, seriously, 10 minutes and now I was not going to make the connection in Atlanta. Fine, I say. When is the next flight from Atlanta to Key West? Well, it leaves Atlanta at 3:30 and gets to Key West at 5:30. Yeah, sorry dude. That's not going to work for me. My traveling companion is meeting me in Atlanta and we are on the same flight. Is there an earlier flight to Atlanta from Green Bay? I swear I was being nice to him. Ok, maybe not super nice but I wasn't yelling yet. Well you can leave GB at 5:45 am through Detroit and get to Atlanta at 12:30 pm. Are you franking kidding me dude??  You are missing the point. The flight to Key West leaves at 9:41 am so why the hell would I want a flight that gets to ATL THREE hours after my flight to Key West?? At that point, I was done being nice. So long story short, I get him to let me talk to Delta and we decide to book me on a flight from GB to ATL the night before so I will make the flight the next morning to KW. Lucky for me, I have a gazillion hotel points and I got a room for free in ATL.  

Now...I would like to tell you that was the end of the horrible experience with Delta but c'mon now. I may overreact but to overreact at that would be a bit much, even for me. 

So Aug 22nd arrives. The day I am to fly from GB through MSP to ATL. I was in lower Michigan that week for work so on the 22nd, I drive 7 hours from lower MI to the UP, drop one bag at home, pick up the other and drive 2 hours to GB. The flight from GB was delayed just a few minutes, which is fine. But that means that I have to hurry to my gate in MSP. For the record, MSP is not laid out well and you have to walk a mile between some concourses. So fine.  I rush to my gate in MSP. We board. Things are looking good. Oh wait...I spoke too soon. 

Planes completely boarded. Boarding door is closed. We are sitting. 

"Uh, folks this is your captain speaking." --- NEVER A GOOD SIGN

"So it appears as though there was a maintenance issue earlier with this plane and the maintenance department deferred it which is normal. However, the deferral only lasts until midnight and we are scheduled to arrive after midnight. So we are waiting to hear from the higher ups as to what we are going to do. I apologize folks. This is a case of  mis-management and I wish I cold tell you that rarely happens with this company. But it happens all the time". 

Okay, seriously?? Did he just diss his own employer to a crowded plane? That does to bode well for us. 

So we sit on the plane for God knows how long while they wait to hear from management. Now, as someone in a management/leadership position, I am never quick to bash those in same positions. But you need to call those m-fers and wake their asses up and tell them to figure this shit out. Because, oh by the way, the option right now if we don't leave is to leave in the morning. After all I went through to get to ATL in time for the 9:41 flight, there is no other option but to get there tonight. I'm not lying or joking or pulling your leg or any thing like that. 

After about an hour or so, they let us get off the plane while they figure this out. After who knows how much longer, they tell us we are leaving but on a different plane so we have to go to a different gate. Fine. No problem. So we FINALLY leave. We arrive on ATL at approximately 2:30 am Eastern time. By the time I get to the hotel (that's an entirely different story because the cab driver was a moron), and get to my room, it's about 3:15 am. I have to wake up at 7:00 am to get back o the airport. Remember when I said I used points to get the room? Yeah, thank heaven I did because if I had paid $100 for 3 to 3 1/2 hours of sleep, I would have been livid. Okay...more livid. Livider??? Is that a word?? 

So I get up and am getting ready and I get a text from Bill.  His plane taxied away from the gate and then they discovered..........YOU GUESSED IT!! A MAINTENANCE PROBLEM! 

At that point, I decided that after my trip to Memphis (this weekend) I was finished with Delta. 

But we remain optimistic and hope that they fix it in time to get the flight to ATL in time for the 9:41 flight that, again, I worked so freaking hard to be on. So I get to the airport and we are texting and I'm at the gate waiting with fingers crossed. They start boarding and I'm still hoping. And then this guy that is NOT Bill sits in Bill's seat. Hmmm....this doesn't look good. 

Billy's plane landed literally 2 minutes after they closed the boarding door. So he didn't get to Key West until 5:30 pm. I was not a happy camper. 

Now I'm not gonna lie. Once I got on the beach with a cocktail in hand, it lessened the pain a little bit. But not enough to make me hate Delta less. And then the return trip happened (see previous post). 

So there you go.  That's my war with Delta. I tweeted my previous post and put in on Facebook. I'm pretty sure someone at Delta read it because I used their twitter handle in my tweet. Of course, I'm also sure nothing will come of it. 

I refuse to say anything about my current flight because I'm not to my destination yet. Stay tuned for updates. 

In the mean time, here's some shots from Key West. 

My War with Delta

I've said it before but this time I'm doing everything in my power to stick to it. Delta Airlines is terrible and I have absolutely no use for them. I have one more booked flight and then it will take an extreme situation for me to ever use them again. I am currently sitting in the Detroit airport at 9:30 pm. I was supposed to land in Green Bay almost an hour ago. But because Delta apparently doesn't understand the purpose of a maintenance department, I once again missed connections. For the third time in 4 flights since June 22nd, I have had flights significantly delayed because maintenance wasn't done or they found something at the last minute or there was a light that wouldn't go off or something along those lines. And I've had enough. The company's lack of care or concern for their customers time or travel/vacation plans has left me bitter, furious and robbed of quality time with family and friends. When you are so geographically distant from said family and friends, losing 5-9 hours of time with them is a BIG FREAKING DEAL!!!!  

Today's situation went something like this...flight from Key West to Atlanta was a bit delayed but that was due more to passenger issues and not maintenance. So I had to quickly get to the gate for my 2:50 pm flight to Detroit.  Fine. That happens. But then we get on the plane and push back from the gate relatively close to on time. Once we push back, and sit on the tarmac for a good 5-10 minutes, the captain comes on the overhead and says "well folks, we pushed back okay but we have a light indicator that has not gone off and we can't leave until it does. So we have a call into maintenance to determine if we can fix it without going back to the gate?" Are you freaking kidding me??? Again??? This is unbelievable. Actually, I take that back. Given Delta's track record of late, it is completely believable. 

Another 10 minutes later, we are informed that we have to go back to the gate to get it fixed. So we do and then after about 20 more minutes, we are told everyone is to deplane and wait in the gate area. Seriously?? Fine, whatever. So we deplane. At that point it was 3:55 pm when I got off the plane. The captain comes out and tells us it will be about 4:30 before we can board again. Do we believe him at this point?? So eventually we board and then we sit there ...........

Turns out that because some passengers had been sent to another flight because they were going to miss their connection, the weight of the plane had changed and so they had to re-calculate weight distribution, gas etc. ARE YOU FEAKNG KIDDING ME???  And then, apparently, the control tower re-routed them so they had to spend another 30 minutes redoing all of that. So what time did we leave, you ask? Oh about 6:00 pm.  And remember what time we were supposed to leave?? 2:50 pm. 

Needless to say, that 3 hour layover in Detroit was obliterated. We landed in Detroit 7 minutes before my flight to Green Bay was leaving. Color me absolutely freaking furious at this point. Well "luckily", if you can even call it that, there was another flight to Green Bay leaving at 10 pm. That flight (which I'm now currently sitting on the plane but not going anywhere) gets me to GB at 10:30 Central time and then I have a 2 hour drive home. Oh and I have to go to work in the morning. 

As I was sitting in the gate area, the gate agent tells us (and this is honest to God what she said) "The crew wants to get to Green Bay early so we are going to board early and go." Okay, so let me get this straight...because the CREW wants to leave early, then that's ok. But you can't hold a plane for a paying customer for a few minutes because her incoming flight was delayed by 3 hours for a maintenance issue??? Really?? Oh and it is now 10:02 pm and our flight was scheduled to leave at 10:06 pm so are we really leaving early? (Update: we are officially in the air and my clock reads 10:27pm. We pushed back at 10:15 pm which, according to my math, means we did not in fact leave early or even on time.) 

The ironic thing, well maybe not ironic just interesting to note, is that at the beginning of their "safety video" the CEO of Delta talks about how great the employees are and the "Delta Difference." If that guy really thinks so highly of his employees, he clearly has never spent time in the maintenance department. If he has, then he and whoever the head of maintenance is need to be fired. I know some great maintenance people that would be happy to take their places. 

Needless to say, I am not happy. Not happy at all.  I have another flight on Delta this Friday to go to Memphis for the weekend and so help me God if any of my flights are delayed for any reason other than weather...well they will understand the power of social media. 

So what is the point of this rant, you ask? Well, I needed to get it off my chest but mostly to hold myself accountable. While it means always having to drive to Green Bay and flying through Chicago, I will no longer be booking flights with Delta, unless it's an emergency. Since Delta is the only airline in and out of Iron Mountain, I will just have to deal with the drive to and from Green Bay to fly United or American (which will be my preferred carrier). 

I know I said in my last post that I wasn't going to rehash all my troubles with Delta last Thursday and Friday. After today's issues, though, I am going to rehash it. However, I will have to do that tomorrow because I just can't do anymore tonight. 

So if you are a co-worker and I seem grumpy, grouchy or just plain bitchy tomorrow, I apologize in advance. You can thank Delta for that. 

Americans vs Europeans

Yes it's been a while since I've blogged. Turns out running your own business on top of working 40 hours a week at another job plus training for a half marathon doesn't leave you much time for anything else. However, since I am currently (and recently as of a few hours ago), on vacation, I thought I'd take some time to blog. Here's the thing...most of you know what's been going on lately so I won't rehash it. Instead, I will share some vacation insight with you. 

First...apparently the older you get the more refined your hotel tastes and your willingness to pay ,ore for a hotel increase. Example: Waldorf-Astoria (2013) versus Best Western (2010). Now, I will say the I got a get deal both times and that may have been the driver. But....the last time I was not on the beach and did not have beach side waiters to bring me libations and othe...oh excuse me. I got distracted by eye candy on the beach. Damn! He's with a girl!!!  What was I saying??  Oh yeah...something about being refined...

Second...Delta Airlines sucks...well...you can insert an adjective/noun/profanity here. But I digress because I'm refined and shit. 

Third...and here's the epiphany I've had since lying in the beach. Brace yourselves because I don't have epiphanies often. We, as Americans, are way more insecure about our bodies than any other country.  There are numerous Europeans here on this beach who do not have the "ideal" body and don't seem to give a rats ass about it. I, on the other hand, am sucking in my stomach and am self-conscious about my bi-lateral hip scars. Not really a big deal in the grand scheme of things but what is it that makes us so insecure? Is not like other countries don't get the same movies and TV shows that we do that show hard bodies (or at least decent bodies) so what is it???  Are we born with that need to be perfect? Do Europeans feel superior and not care? It's hard to say, I suppose. 

I used to say when I was growing up that I didn't like being so thin. I know, it's a terrible problem to have. And as I've aged (and had a hysterectomy that has completely changed my metabolism) I think back fondly on those days and laugh at my naïveté.  I also said that I would never stop eating what I want even if it meant working out every single day. Well...that's changed too! Clearly. 

Ok...so there are people who should be insecure...mainly hairy men...and perhaps insecure is the wrong word. I mean who am I to judge them and their hairiness. 

So...lesson learned today...MK is philosophical when drinking and MK should not blog when drinking. 

More to come...

No Excuses

I've got nothing...no good reason that I've been gone from the blog for so long.  I'd like it say it's because I am so busy I just don't have time.  And while I have been a very busy person, it's not like I can't blog from my iPad which I generally have with me all of the time.  So really, I don't have a reason.  I know I keep saying I'm going to be better about it and I really do mean it every time I say it.  So if I've lost all my readers, the few that I have, it's really my own stinking fault.  But I will keep blogging and who knows, maybe one of these months I will have more than one post.  Fingers crossed!

Since we last checked in with the crazy adventures of MK, there have certainly been some adventures.  I really have been gone a lot which I wasn't anticipating this summer.  I knew I had trips here and there but they all seem to run together.  Ahhh, running.  How I miss you so.  But we'll get to that in a minute.  My birthday this year extended into July which was fabulous because July meant it was John Mayer month!  For those of you who have been around a minute or two know that John Mayer really is and always has been my boyfriend.  When he first hit the scene, I even had a playlist on my iPod called "My boyfriend John Mayer."  Now, I will admit that when he went off the deep end, I was a little more than disappointed.  But, he seems to have found the right path again and is back blessing us all with his music.  My BFITWWW (best friend in the whole wide world) got us two tickets to see John in Kansas City this month and it was such a great concert.  I don't remember how many times I've seen him (at least 5 or 6) and he never disappoints. 

But what was even better, is that his keyboardist on this tour is the same one I met in Denver all those years ago when I may or may not have been stalking John Mayer at his hotel.  If I've never told you that story, well then, remind me to tell you sometime.  It's a doozie of a story!  It was so great to hang out with Janet!  We hadn't seen each other since we got back from Europe last July.  A WHOLE ENTIRE YEAR!! That is just way to long for besties to go without seeing each other.  So she's coming here in September and I can't wait!  She hasn't been here since April 2012 when she helped me move so it's long overdue.  Watch out Iron Mountain is all I will say!

The week of John Mayer was a very busy week for this ole gal.  I flew out of Iron Mountain on a Tuesday afternoon to KC.  Concert was on Wed then flew back to Mount Fun (JB that's for you!) on Thursday, ran home, dropped off one suitcase, picked up the other and hopped in the car to go to Chicago for the weekend and the Ride for AIDS Chicago.  Of course, I had to work on Friday which meant getting up early and making the commute from Andersonville to Westchester.  Yeah...I've been living in a small town way too long because that drive really gets to me.  An hour out and an hour and a half back.  BLECH! 

Saturday morning we were up at the crack of dawn.  So here's my thing...every time I visit my brother for one of his sporting events I seem to be getting up on a weekend at 5am.  WTH?  Runners don't even start that early.  Well, okay, except for the Disney race in February (sorry MOM!) But seriously?  For those of you who I didn't already educate about Ride for AIDS Chicago (RFAC), it's what is known as a "double century" bike ride.  200 miles in 2 days.  Don't worry.  I'm not the crazy one who was actually riding in it.  I was riding in the support/cheerleader car with my Chicago bestie Lauren (that's a funny story too.  Drives my brother crazy that we call each other bestie and she refers to him as her bestie's brother!) We had so much fun, if you couldn't tell by the Facebook posts and the pics here and below.  We basically drove along the route cheering out the window and squirting them with squirt guns and blowing bubbles on them.  We even set up camp along side of a back road in Wisconsin with a cooler of beer and everything.  Of course, it wasn't so funny when the local patrol car came by and slowed down right in front of us.  Either he didn't see our beers or he thought we were too cute to say anything about it. You decide...makes for a great story, though!  So it was a great weekend but boy was I tired and I didn't even ride the 200 miles. 

And then I fell...yep.  You read that right.  I fell.  5 blocks from the car after the closing ceremony of the RFAC.  Seriously????  What is the freaking matter with me?  And I knew in mid-air that it was going to f&^% up my hip and boy did it hurt like a bleepidy bleep bleep bleep.  Luckily two guys were walking in front of me and they came to help me.  I told them to call my brother (who had ridden his bike up ahead of me) and tell him I fell and hurt my hip.  And then the Evanston police showed up...and a series of random cars stopped to see if I was okay.  Yeah.  My ego was bruised almost as much as my hip.  The good news, though, I didn't really do any damage beyond aggravating it a little, which is about right because I was aggravated too.  And, of course I tried to hide it from my PT which lasted about 3 minutes on the elliptical and then I had to come clean.  He was a little frustrated that I didn't fess up right away but, c'mon now, are we surprised in anyway that I didn't fess up?  I was going on the theory that if I don't tell him, it won't hurt.  Yeah, yeah..i know.  Anyway, it's much better these days.

As most of you probably saw via Facebook, I went camping last weekend with Tania and Lynea.  It was so much fun being out in the woods again.  And kayaking all day Saturday.  Yep.  I absolutely love my kayak.  Just need to get a better rack for my car because the one I have it too labor intense and doesn't really do much good anyway.  We had a great time, though.  That is truly one of the things I love about living in the U.P.  I don't always enjoy small town living but being able to go camping so close to home or taking my kayak out on Cowboy lake which is like 5 minutes from me is just amazing. 

I'm up to 5 minute power-walking intervals and as you can see by my "Daily Mile" update to your left, I'm doing a pretty quick pace too.  I'm getting so close to jogging I can hardly stand it.  I go to the surgeon this week for my 3 month follow up and I am confident he will let me jog.  Okay, maybe I'm not confident.  Maybe hopeful is the better word.  I don't even care if I can only jog short intervals.  The point is I WANT TO JOG!!  I think I've been a pretty good patient the past three months.  I have not worn heels at all (which is also driving me cray cray) and to not be able to run or wear heels is like taking my identity away! 


So my brother started a blog (yeah, I think he's a copy cat but again, he doesn't read my blog so he won't even know I'm calling him out) about his journey to become a published author.  Unlike him, I do read his blog on a regular basis and recently it got me thinking.  Not about anything serious, of course.  That's actually what I was thinking, though. His posts are full of deep thought, reflection and the meaning of life and it made me question my posts and why mine are not like that.  And then I remembered why I started this blog.  I started it to share my life adventures as I started in a new place with a new job and new people.  Not that there is anything wrong with either of our blogs or the purpose behind them.  I'm just not a serious person, really.  I mean, I am at work and when I really have to be.  But I also really try not to have deep thought and reflection.  Does that make me a shallow person?  I'm not sure that it does.  I think it's who I am and it would sound forced, I think, if I were to have deep and meaningful posts.  Plus, he is on a different journey than I am and I think his blog is helping him figure out his journey where as mine (again mine came first ;)) is just to catch everyone up on what's going on in my life.  Because apparently Facebook doesn't do that. 

Wow...that was kind of deep and reflective...I gotta stop that! 

This week starts another busy time but I am excited because in less than a month, I will be in Key West for a few days.  So excited!  One of my favorite keys ever is the West key.  Hahahaha.  Yep, I'm a dork!

I don't have any new music artists to recommend to you but I just bought the new Sarah Bareilles album last week.  It's great, as all her albums are.  She is such an amazing, emotional singer/songwriter.  Love love love her stuff! 

I'm sitting here wracking my brain to come up with a piece of trivia for you, because I know how much you love to learn new things when you read my posts.  Since I couldn't come up with anything, I went to Google.  BTW...have I told you I created a new word?  I actually created it about a year ago.  "Googleable"  def. if you can look something up on Google it's Googleable.  Anyway, I digress.  I turned to Google and typed in Random Facts and found a Twitter feed that I now follow.  (Yep, I'm a tweeter now.  Good lord.)  Most of the random facts are a bit too risqué for me to share, mostly because Moms and Pops read this and I don't want them to blush.  So here is your PG trivia for today...

• For every human killed by a shark, humans kill two million sharks.

Blows your mind, huh?  Okay, maybe not but I did find it interesting.  And with that, have a great week, dear reader(s), and I promise I will try to do better. 

Living the Dream

Holy cannoli!  It's been a month since I posted anything.  Wow...I am not a good blogger.  I have thought about posting many times and just never seemed to get around to it.  You know how it is.  Life just gets in the way sometimes.  So here's where we are with all things MK.

Hip progress is slow but steady.  It's been incredibly frustrating some days with the great weather FINALLY!  I've been cleared to "power walk" in intervals.  Yeah, I was not designed to power walk.  But it's all I've got at this point so I guess I will suck it up.  The first time I went for a power walk was last Tuesday.  I didn't make it .8 miles before the pain started.  Boy oh boy was I frustrated.  So I was talking with the PT Assistant at the clinic I go to and she asked me if I had been stretching.  Of course I hadn't been because no one told me it was okay for me to do.  So yesterday, I did some stretching and what a difference that made.  I was able to go 2 miles before the pain.  It was WONDERFUL!!  Oh the simple joys in life sometimes. 

I made a trip to sunny San Francisco to go to my 20th MLB ball park with mom and pop.  It was a great trip despite the travel delays and having a terrible head cold. 

I won't go into the boring details of the travel problems.  Let's just say that I decided to fly out of Iron Mountain for the first time in about 6 months and that was a mistake.  It's worth it to drive to Green Bay.  Delta is quickly becoming my least favorite airline.  UGH...

In other news, my business is starting to take off.  I have two full time clients (2 times a week each) and one client that is paying as she goes so I'm not sure how often she will be training.  It's a pretty cool feeling knowing that I am actually doing this and that people are signing up.  I can only imagine what will happen when I advertise.  I'm currently working on that and hope to have some kind of add in the newspaper or on the radio by the end of July, if not sooner.  I keep telling people that if I could make the same amount training that I do at the VA, I would quit my job tomorrow and just train full time.  I love it that much!! 

I have a new music recommendation for you.  Her name is Ivy Levan and she's sings what she calls "Swamp Hop."  It sounds kind of 50s/60s-ish with a modern twist.  She just released her first EP and it's very good.  All four songs are very catchy and I think she will be a big hit soon. 

I think that's about it for now.  You would think I would have more since it's been so long.  And I probably do but it's escaping me right now.