A Message For Jennie

I know I've been a little lax on my updates and I need to catch you up on the outcome of Relay, but today I want to spread a little love to my friend, Jennie Grimes. She was feeling a little down today and I thought this post would lift her spirits a little. Her mets (metastatic cancer) friends are losing their battle one by one and it's taken its toll on her. I just wanted to let Jennie know how much she's loved.

My dearest Jennie,

You are an amazing woman. I'm not sure you realize how much you mean to everyone, especially to me. You make me want to fight harder for things; to not let my own disease dictate my life. I want to live life to its fullest; to not worry so much about what will happen, but what can I do right now and make this day amazing. 

My butterfly fundraiser to fight this horrid disease was a success. Your butterflies are here in San Diego. You are flying endlessly with them. This video is for you. 

With all my heart,

Deb

Frustrated

Ugh. I just want to scream and pull someone's hair out!!

I found out that my former employer never canceled my health insurance after they let me go a year ago. So now it's affecting my current medical bills. They won't charge my current health insurance because it's technically my secondary. I'm not the subscriber, my boyfriend is. They have my primary insurance as the one from my old work which I don't have. I need my Remicade infusion today. It's something I cannot miss.

So now I eagerly await the phone call from HR at my former job and hope they can retroactive the termination date to Feb 2011. This is not cool (enter company name here).

Feeling Crappy But Happy

So I seemed to have caught a cold a couple days ago and I woke up this morning feeling SUPER crappy. The last thing I wanted to do was wake up and go to the gym.

But I did it.
Yes. That's right. I went to the gym for the 2nd time. Wow. Go motivation. I don't know where it's coming from, but if I can somehow drag myself there while sick, then I think I can do this regularly while healthy.

I'm hopeful this lasts. Many thanks to my friends for their encouragement and support. It means a lot.

My GI doc called me today with good news. All my blood tests came back with good results. I'm no longer anemic, no thyroid issues, and no gluten intolerance. I'm celiac free. Woo! He did say that I should continue my food diary and keep up with the exercise and as long as I get my Remicade infusions regularly and don't miss any, I'll stay healthy. YES! That's what I like to hear.

Now if I can only lose some of this weight...

Gym Day 3. Here I come!

Motivation Needed

So it's been a while since I've actually entered a gym. I know. Why pay for a gym membership if you don't use it? I can picture myself using it on a regular basis, but never really get around to it. It's like the motivation for gym use comes in spurts. When I get the urge to go, I'll actually do it. Regularly. But when the motivation is lacking, it is lacking. I think mainly in part because the use of weight machines leaves something to be desired. I know that using them will definitely help in gaining my strength and muscles back, but if I don't know how to use it, then I probably won't go out of my way to ask someone for help. I'd rather stick to the cardio equipment.

The idea of getting a personal trainer would be awesome. Unfortunately, it's not monetarily friendly. Especially if you need a trainer more than once a week. I've looked into a trainer at my gym, but right now, I can't budget it in. So I've found other ways to get the strength training in. I've got my kettlebells at home, which I still need to upgrade to a heavier weight.

It's funny how if you don't show up at the gym regularly, and the people that work there don't know you on a first name basis, they just assume you're new and try and talk you into meeting with a personal trainer. I think I've been going to this gym for at least 6 years, off and on, and there's always someone who stops me and tries to set me up with one of their PTs. Thanks, but no. If I need one, I'll contact you.

So today, I decided that I need to listen to the doctor and actually go to the gym and use the treadmill and/or stationary bike for at least 40 mins. I'm hoping this recent burst of motivation will continue for a while. I've been maintaining my weight for some time now, but not losing. He mentioned that at my current state, I need to focus more on aerobic/cardio. Walking the neighborhood with Zoe just isn't cutting it anymore. Apparently I'll get a better workout at the gym on a treadmill with a steady pace, then I would if I walked Zoe for the same amount of time. I can see that. Zoe stops me regularly to pee, so I wouldn't have the workout pauses.
I did pretty well today. 30 on the treadmill and 40 on the bike. I'm so glad I have some great workout music, otherwise it would have been a very boring hour. They have TVs, but not all the earphone jacks on the equipment work, so it's one of those trial and error and knowing which machine to stay away from. With my little iPod shuffle, I don't have to worry. Best investment I made years ago.

I came home starving. Made some food and then took Zoe out for a walk. She always looks so sad when I leave the house and don't take her with me. Especially when I have my workout clothes on. This dog seriously knows if I am going to workout. It's like she can sense it and gets super excited as soon as I pull out my sneakers. Smart dog, that Zoe.

Tomorrow is another day. Hoping to wake up with that motivation. Either way, at least Zoe gets her walk.

Ginger and Spice

Blogger world, meet the most adorable puppies ever.

This is Ginger. She has some gorgeous eyes.

Ginger

And this is Spice. She bonded with my dad right away.

Spice

I stopped by my parents' house on the way home tonight to get a glimpse of the puppies. They are truly adorable and have such great temperaments. My sister thinks they are Aussie shepherd mixes. Definitely the perfect size for my folks. They've been talking about finding a dog around Zoe's size, and I think they've found them.

I'm excited for Zoe to meet them tomorrow. Not sure if she'll get too overwhelmed with their puppiness, but I'm hoping that the introduction goes well. I really want them all to be besties.
Then we'll work on the puppies with my kitties. That should be interesting...

Kida

My poor gecko is sick. I feel like such a bad gecko mom. I missed the shedding issues he was having and didn't catch the eye problem in time. He's on some medication now for the next 10 days, but the vet isn't optimistic about his eye. I might have a pirate gecko soon.

Kida is 10 years old.  The first reptile I've ever owned. He's super docile and loves to be held. Unfortunately, he's gotten sick and isn't eating. I'm hand feeding him baby food with a syringe. The swelling behind his eye makes me sad. If the swelling doesn't go down at all, the vet mentioned surgery to have the area removed so it doesn't spread to his jaw and cause more problems. I'm not sure I would go that far. He's lived a good long life. Granted, they live 15-20+ years, but I've given Kida the best life (up until now, apparently). But I'll cross that bridge when I have to. . .

I love dairy

I had a doctor appointment today. More blood work. Aside from the normal blood tests, he's also testing for thyroid issues and celiac. No bueno.

I've been diligently working out at least 5 days a week for the past couple months, but I'm not really getting anywhere with results. I know that weightloss is a slow process, and I've come to terms with it, but I should have something to show for my consistency. And I've got nothing. It's really frustrating. I may have lost 5 pounds, but I'll gain it back and then lose it again; like a yo-yo. I'm eating better AND exercising. Granted, I feel like I'm getting some of my leg muscles back, but that's pretty much it.
My doctor said that aerobic exercises are what I need to focus on. He said that if I have access to a treadmill or stationary bike, then I should do that 3x a week for 40min. I have a gym membership that I never use, so I guess it's about time I go back and get my money's worth.

I was talking with my nurse today on my way out about how even when I exercise regularly, my joints still hurt. I'll wake up in the morning and my muscles will be fine, but I definitely feel the tenderness in my joints. It's the arthritis and unfortunately, that won't change. It's just something I have to deal with. At the ripe age of 32, I am healthy enough, yet have to deal with the "grannie" arthritis. It makes me feel old.

My gyno suggested the next time I get blood work done from my GI, that we test for thyroid. Funny enough, I hadn't mentioned it yet, and in our conversation today, my doctor asked if we had tested the thyroid. I'm glad we are on the same page. If it is indeed a thyroid issue, that could be a reason why I'm having a hard time with the weightloss. But I'm not sure about the celiac test. Dr Haynes said that when a patient mentions gas and bloating, they first test for a lactose intolerance and also celiac disease, in case of a gluten intolerance. I really hope that's not the case. That is a HARD diet to keep. I've tried and failed. Gluten-free bread is not tasty. Plus, I have a hard enough time not eating dairy.

I love dairy products. Milk, yogurt, and cottage cheese are staples in my fridge. Not being able to eat them for 2 whole weeks is going to be torture! Well, not completely, but it's going to suck; big time.
I did it last year per a different doctor's request, but it was unnecessary. As hard as it was, I came out of it with a love for Almond Milk. Especially, chocolate almond milk. It has now become a MUST HAVE in my house. Like tonight. I was craving something sweet and instead of grabbing junkfood, I grabbed a large glass and poured myself some milk. It definitely hit the spot.

So here goes the lactose-free 2 week trial. Almond milk and tofu cheese, here I come!

First Place Feels Good

On Sunday, my mom and I went to an event for our Relay called A Survivor Soiree. This was a free event honoring survivors and their caretakers. My dad didn't want to go. He felt it was too much of a female thing and didn't want to bother getting dressed up. I, on the other hand, always look for an excuse to wear a pretty dress. My NYE dress needed another opportunity to be worn. :)
They had a fashion show (Project Relay) and all the models were either cancer survivors, caretakers, or relay participants. It was really sweet. The dresses and suits they wore were amazing.
There were also dancers from a local ballroom dancing school. They called it Dancing with the Survivors. After the professionals did their show, all the survivors in the room congregated on the dance floor and the rest of us were able to dance with them. My mom LOVES to dance and danced with one of the professionals. It was so cute to see her out there twirling in her dress.
The event also had a silent raffle. My mom scored. She won 2 of the prizes. She went home super happy.
This was the 3rd year our relay committee put this on. It was so amazing and inspiring, I'm definitely looking forward to seeing what they come up with next year.

My lovely mom and I at the soiree

 Relay is 31 days away. I can't believe how fast the calendar is moving. Time is seriously flying.

My team has had 2 successful fundraisers, raising a total of $58.67. Though it doesn't seem like a lot, for fundraisers at eateries, it's actually not too bad. Besides, every little bit helps; even the 67 cents.

I had a Team Captain meeting tonight. It turns out that I am the top individual fundraiser ($857) and our team is in 2nd place ($1919). How exciting is that?! I feel truly blessed to have such an amazing and supportive group of friends. Thank you all!! I've almost reached my goal. Let's keep it up!

If you haven't donated and would like to in honor or memory of your loved one, I would greatly appreciate your support. Head over to my fundraising page and donate what you can. Every little bit helps!

Last Chance Butterflies

My Relay for Life team is doing amazingly well! I'm so proud of us. We are in 3rd place having raised $1,751. We've had 2 team fundraisers in the last couple weeks. And working on another one. Not sure how much we raised during the froyo fundraiser, but with Rubio's we were able to raise $33.67! Thank you to everyone who came out!

We have another one coming up next week at Souplantation. Let me know if you want to come out and support us and I'll email you the flyer to bring in.


There's still time to get in an order for butterflies. The deadline has been extended until Sunday, April 15th. I received a nice influx of butterfly orders after my post about my friend, Jennie Grimes. She has some very supportive and amazing friends. I'm excited to release the kaleidoscope of butterflies in her honor from everyone!
If you'd like to purchase a $6 butterfly in honor or memory of your loved one(s), please go to my Relay fundraising page, and leave me a note with how many butterflies you'd like and for whom they are. I will make sure that each one is labeled with your love ones' name.

They will look like this when I get them.

 And as I open the envelope, the butterfly will stretch its wings and fly off into the San Diego sky.

It's a beautiful sight. I'd like to try and take video this time. Last year, it was a little overcast, so the butterflies hung around a while before warming up and taking flight. Though it was great because there were many photo opportunities with them.

I hope you've all had a great week. Don't forget to donate. Save a birthday. Cancer Sucks!

Vegan food isn't as scary as I thought

Over the weekend, my boyfriend suggested we have dinner at Loving Hut. It's a local restaurant I've been wanting to try. I've been a little hesitant AND excited only because it's vegan food. Not that there's anything wrong with that. From what Hollywood and movies have described as vegan, I was expecting a menu full of raw vegetables and foods I'd normally gawk at. But I was pleasantly surprised. The menu was more focused on Asian cuisine. There were a lot of noodle, vegetable, soup and brown rice dishes. They even had a couple sushi rolls! And I love sushi.

My first thought upon seeing vegan sushi on a menu:
How good is a sushi roll without fish?
Actually tasty. And I'd definitely get it again.

So what did I get for a main dish?
It was called Grilled Sensation; a grilled soy veggie fillet with brown rice and side salad. My thoughts: delicious.

There are a few other dishes on their menu that I'd love to try. One being the ginger tofu plate. I love ginger and I've taken a new liking to tofu. Arnon eats tofu a lot and so I'm learning to cook with it and like it. Favorite part - the tofu takes on the flavor of whatever seasonings you add to your dish, and it just adds some extra protein to your meal.

I know that I couldn't be a vegan, mainly because I love fish, chicken, and the occasional burger, but I definitely am willing to eat vegan food. It's not as scary as I thought it'd be. I'm a picky vegetable eater, so this was a nice surprise.

You know what else was a surprise?! Vegan strawberry cheesecake! I love cheesecake, and so I took the chance to try a version of my favorite dessert. It's not as creamy, but the consistency and flavor of it was similar. I probably couldn't give up "real" cheesecake, but I am willing to eat this if I ever find myself at an event or dinner party with vegan desserts.

I think at dinner, eating healthy like that, really got me thinking about my "get back into shape" journey I've been on the past couple months. I need to start incorporating more veggies or salad into my meals. At least vegetables I'll eat. I'm not a big salad eater, nor am I a lover of the "healthy" salad dressings. In the past I've always been one to reach for the ranch dressing. I need something with flavor. I found a dressing I'll actually use, a raspberry vinaigrette. It's tasty and adds that extra something to the ever bland salad.

Yesterday, our grocery shopping trip to Sprouts was fun and exciting. We filled the cart with lots of fresh fruits and vegetables. I'm really going to push myself to do this. It's easy to say "I'll eat a salad every day" but it's another to actually do it. Now, I'm not committing to consuming a salad EVERY day, but I will commit to munching on fresh fruits and vegetables regularly. I can't let the fresh food we buy end up in the trash, and it happens frequently. We have a tendency to over-buy vegetables and never get around to eating them, which really is both a waste of food and money.

So here begins phase 2 of a "new" me.

I found my favorite PB at Sprouts, which I thought I could only get when I was in NY. Needless to say, I was super excited when I came across the Peanut Butter & Co. brand.

And so today, I made a snack of some fresh celery and PB.

My fav PB and fresh veggies

 What are some of your favorite healthy snacks? I'm always looking for new ideas and recipes.

My First 5K of the Year

5:00am came way too early. I really would have rather hit the snooze button indefinitely, but I forced myself out of bed. It's been a while since I've had to get up that early. So glad that I laid everything out the night before so I could pretty much just roll out of bed and put on my race clothes.

The race started at 6:45am which is really early for a 5K. Generally they are more around 8/9am. But my friends and I made it there without a morning coffee. This race, the Hot Chocolate 5K, sold out with 7,500 people. When we lined up, you couldn't even see the start line.

Start line is around the corner and up the hill

Making our way up to the start

I have to say, the workouts that I have been doing the last 30 days or so, seemed to have helped with this race. Though my face was completely flushed at the end, I survived. The course was filled with hills. I definitely didn't expect that. Though I shouldn't be completely surprised; it is downtown with some crazy hills.

Beautiful San Diego morning (downhill)

I did beat my 5K walking time by 3 minutes. It's not a lot, but it's an improvement since my injury last year. Once I'm given the OK to run again, I plan to work on getting a 5K PR from running. Last time I tried running a 5K, I think I finished in 44min. I've been working out now, so I know that I can do better. I can't wait for that day to come. But until then, I'm walking.

2011 Iron Girl 5K time: 55:26
2012 Hot Chocolate 5K time: 52:58
2012 Iron Girl 5K time: TBA in October

Thanks to my girls, Cristal and April for walking with me. They could have run, but instead chose to walk with me. That's my support system. They are awesome. And after the race, we indulged in some Ghirardelli hot chocolate and fondue breakfast.

In line for our finishers breakfast

Breakfast of champions

Me and the girls

The rest of the day I plan to relax. Take a nap and veg out.

Workouts begin again tomorrow morning.

Yoga with Bob

So as per suggestion of a friend, I decided to finally try out the yoga DVD I bought last year. It's one of the DVDs from the Biggest Loser line, with Bob as your instructor. Yoga For Weightloss. I wasn't sure what to expect. I've tried yoga twice in my life. The first time didn't go over so well. I couldn't do anything. Miss Unflexible here. And the second, well, let's just say that I slept through it. It was instructed at such a slow pace, that I literally fell asleep at the end. A little embarrassing. And I haven't tried it since.

So here we are. The day I tried yoga again. Now, I've heard good things about it. It's great for strengthening your body and helps you get back to that flexible 10 year-old-you. This DVD actually wasn't so bad. Surprisingly I got a good workout out of it. At least my legs did. They were sore from yesterday, and so when I chose to do yoga I figured it would give them a nice break, but nope. Completely wrong. It actually worked them to that shaky feeling you get when you push yourself to the max. But, it was nice to change my workout routine.

One thing I learned, I am not a graceful yoga balancer.
Did I fall? Yes.
Did it hurt? Not so much. I chose to do it in a bedroom with carpet which totally helped.
Are my muscles sore? Yes!
Will I try yoga again? Yes. It wasn't so bad.

I have to say, Jillian on Biggest Loser is totally different from her personal workout videos. She's much calmer. Still intense and pushes you even through your TV, but much calmer. Bob is the same. Sweet, caring, calm, yet motivating. Though I could feel that way because it was a yoga DVD and yoga is calm and relaxing.

Anyways, thank you, Jesi, for the suggestion. It wasn't all that bad. My legs are sore, but I feel good.

Tomorrow I walk the lake.

Butterflies for Jennie

Last year we had one of the most interesting and amazing fundraisers for Relay. Butterflies. Yes, I said butterflies. Our event teamed up with a butterfly farm where we purchased butterflies to be released during opening ceremonies instead of the usual white doves. It was a great idea. Granted the weather was overcast and chilly, so it didn't go off as hoped, but that was okay. They butterflies just hung around a while before they warmed up enough to take flight. It was beautiful.

My friend, Jennie, is an amazing person. Having been diagnosed with stage 4 breast cancer, at such a young age, she lives life to its fullest. I am astounded daily by her strength and courage to take on each day at full strength even when she is at her weakest most vulnerable state.
I purchased a butterfly for her last year.

It was truly a wondrous experience to open an envelope and have a butterfly emerge from it. A Painted Lady. A beautiful creature, just like my friend.

And I plan to repeat this. Again and again.

This year, my hope is to get the support of all my friends who know Jennie (even those who don't) and get a kaleidoscope of butterflies to release in her honor. I think it would be such a magnificent sight to see these butterflies fly free, spreading Jennie's spirit all around San Diego.

If you would like to donate $6 in honor of Jennie or your loved one, please visit my fundraising page.
http://main.acsevents.org/goto/deborahderr

Deadline for the butterfly order is April 7th. I hope that you will join me in not only honoring my friend, but the fight against this horrible thing we call cancer.

 

Kudos to me

Since I re-started this blog and decided to regain the muscle I lost while ill, I have to say that I'm very proud of myself. Being one that doesn't get excited about exercise in general, I've pushed myself to get out of bed every morning and workout.
After these past few days, I think I now know why people work out regularly. Not because it energizes you or that it's a great way to stay healthy. But merely, it's a way to eat whatever you want and not feel completely guilty about it.
These past 7 days consisted of a lot of eating and drinking!

• Lunch and wine tasting (a lot of it) in Temecula with good friends.
• A and I have been wanting to try this restaurant, Poseidon and fortunately, I had a $50 Groupon for this place. We finally made it in a couple days before it expired. I was impressed with the food and wine suggestions from waiter, but his service lacked a little. Though I would go back again for a special occasion and try some of the other items on their menu. It's a little pricey for us to go on a regular basis.
• Alfonso's in La Jolla with A's old co-worker, Luigi and his wife. Mexican food is awesome and so are margaritas.
(Side note: Luigi is the typical American girl's dream guy. Over 6 feet, chiseled features, Italian former male model and loves to cook. He is the Italian McDreamy, ladies. I love A, but I couldn't stop myself from staring at him throughout the night. Oh, and his wife is hot too. She's American and the story of how they met is even a romance movie!)
• A food fest at a friends' place for our regular Fringe night. UH-MAY-ZING rice crispy treats compliments of Cristal.
• Sushi. I LOVE sushi and tried a new place down the road with some friends. This place had a good ratio of meat and rice. I hate places where they serve too much rice in the rolls and skimp out on the meat.

And I will most likely have a glass of wine tonight to wind down the weekend. I didn't go overboard, but I definitely am feeling like I ate more than I should for the amount of workouts I did. I don't have the drive to work out for 2 hours a day to cancel out whatever I eat, but I have been trying to get hour workouts in so that I can have that whole wheat bagel and cream cheese in the morning or go out for frozen yogurt with friends in the evening.

I'm still getting used to this new "exercise" lifestyle. But I can see that I'm happier, less depressed, and more energized.

Holy mother of sore muscles, Batman!

The boost of intensity yesterday really kicked me in the butt. Literally. My butt is sore. My legs are killing me. Muscles in my body I didn't know existed are hurting.

Don't worry, I didn't give up exercise today. I actually did the 5 mile walk around Miramar Lake. Aside from the wind, it was beautiful out. One of my favorite littles and her mom, joined me today.

Walks with friends make it that much better. And when the little one keeps saying in her adorable squeaky voice, "Silly Zoe," I die. It really is the cutest thing. FYI, these photos are from last month, but I had to share a photo of how precious Julie is.

We had a run-in with geese. They were everywhere. I actually thought Zoe would have chased them. Her prey drive at home with the crows is on full speed, but just the opposite happened at the lake. She kept her distance. Good thing, too. They were nasty little suckers. The giant geese hissed at us. They honked for food and then if you got too close, they'd hiss. Weird. And of course, I got it on film.

  

They practically took up the whole sidewalk. You'd have to walk through them in order to continue on the path. And it didn't help that a mother/daughter duo kept feeding them on the walkway.

I've been stretching a lot today, but it hasn't helped any. I drank a glass of coconut water, a glass of chocolate milk, and ate a banana after the lake. Trying to get my body filled with potassium and vitamin D. I'm hoping tomorrow to not wake up in as much pain as I did today.
I'm thinking that I might go back to level 1 on the DVD; switch off regularly between the levels so as not to overwork my body. Rebuilding muscle is tough.

What do you do post-workout to help alleviate sore muscles?

Intensity

So I upped the intensity of my workout today. And I am definitely feeling it.
I chose the Level 2 workout on my DVD. It definitely pushed me hard. I did what I could and as best as I could and for the things I couldn't do, I improvised so that I didn't stop moving. Ugh. My legs probably got the most workout. Lots of squats and lunges.

I think I need to get a heavier kettlebell so that my arms get the full workout as well. Guess I'll have to check Marshall's on a regular basis for one. I tried yesterday but all they had were 5lbers, which is what I currently own.

I'm up .1lbs from last week. Gotta keep this exercise thing going. It WILL work. Right? ...

A Slow Process

 

I know it's only the 3rd week into my new weightloss/exercise plan, but it's even more clear to me now how tough this journey is going to be. I've been working out around 5 days each week for at least 30-60min, which is awesome for me, but results so far are barely there. I became so complacent as a couch potato, granted a lot of it had to do with my health, but now that I'm back to 100% I can't stay at this weight. I need my muscles back. I know results will come later, but it's hard to see where you want to be right now and you can't snap your fingers to make it happen.

If only I had my own personal genie...

• I'd have my own personal trainer
• I would make the time to workout a couple hours a day
• I would have a personal chef to make sure I eat all the right foods
• My ankles would be good as new and I'd be able to run again

What would you do if you had a genie?

What does one do with an extra day?

Leap year comes but once every 4 years. It's really just an extra day to work, get paid, or whatever it is that you do. So what did I do?

There are a lot of things that I could have done, but instead I chose to spend some quality time with my favorite person. He had the day off work today, so we slept in, ran errands, went out for lunch, and played some video games. It doesn't sound all that exciting, but his work schedule usually has crazy hours and he's always tired after work, that meaningless stuff with him is awesome.
Lately, he's been obsessed with Mass Effect 2, so I veg on the couch with him and watch him play. It's not as boring as one might think. The game has a great story and lots of action. Very Sci-Fi-ish which I'm totally a nerd for. It reminds me of those Choose Your Own Adventure books I read as a kid. Loved them. This game has aliens, hostile takeovers, inter-species romance - it's just all around awesome. Maybe I'll get around to trying it out someday, but I'm horrible at video games that aren't just button-pushing. Today he beat the game for about the 3rd time. This would be the first I've seen of the ending and he was able to keep the entire crew alive. Good for him.

Tonight is going to be fun. My friend, S, and I are driving up to Disneyland for their 24hr promotion. The park has been open since 6am and closes at 6am tomorrow. Kind of excited to ride Space Mountain at 3am. Disneyland is a genius for planning such an awesome event. An extra day of Disney fun. Boyfriend and I were just talking at lunch about how Disney and Apple will probably take over the world and we will let them. Now it's a race to see which company will create a space station. How awesome would it be to have an amusement park in space? It'll take Space Mountain to a whole new level!

Well, I hope you all do something fun tonight with your extra time. I'm pulling an all-nighter. It's not going to be as easy in my 30s as it was in my 20s or teens. We'll see how I fair.
Caffeine. That will have to become my friend tonight.

Try the kettlebells

Kettlebells are awesome. I just wanted to put that out there. You should try them if you haven't already. I used one today with my workout. I felt the burn. Everywhere. Even my butt muscles hurt by the time I was done.  I have a feeling I'll be sore tomorrow.

And on that note, I leave you with this:

Just Another Monday

I hope everyone had a great weekend! I decided to use the weekend to let my body rest from all the workouts this past week. My hamstrings were killing me. Today they feel much better. Of course, they are a little painful when stretching, but better.

I was planning on getting up early to workout, but I had a job interview this morning and decided that it would be in the best interest of the company for me to get that extra couple hours of sleep. I'll work out later today, but inside as it is definitely raining full force right now.

I bought a kettlebell this weekend to use with the new Jillian Michaels DVD that I have. I've been using a dumbell, but I'm thinking that since the workout is geared for a kettlebell, that I should see if I get a better workout with it. And that is what I will find out later today. Has anyone used kettlebells? I hear they give you a crazy workout. I'm looking forward to trying it out.

5 Days in a Row

That has to be a record for me! Seriously. I never workout like that. But I'm determined to get this prednisone weight off. My goal is 30 min of exercise a day. So far, I've been averaging about an hour. I think it helps that I have a dog that needs to get outside every day.

Tonight, boyfriend and I took his parents out for dinner (for their anniversary) to this amazing restaurant, Roy's. It's seriously like a foodgasim there every time. And this was only my 2nd visit!sX UH-MAY-ZING. That's all I have to say. If you haven't been there, you really should find it in your area and check it out. The staff are super friendly and helpful, especially when you can't make up your mind about what to try. Props go out to my waitress tonight. She suggested some fantastic dishes. Oh, and I had one of the best mojitos tonight. Pineapple ginger mojito. So good I had to have a 2nd. If you don't like sweet drinks, then it's probably not for you. As boyfriend's dad put it, "It's a girly drink."

And that was pretty much my night. Aside from the jaunt over to the bookstore after dinner. Boyfriend and I bought a book. I found too many I want to read. Boyfriend made a point to ask if they were books I needed to own or just read. Mostly, they are books I want to read, so I'll have to see if the library has them.

I hope you all have a great weekend!

On A Roll

In honor of my 4th day, I am posting a video of LMFAO's Sexy and I Know It.

Just because "I work out!"

It's getting easier. I try and make it the first thing I do when I wake up. Otherwise, I'll probably procrastinate and never get around to it. I know I should, but I usually find something else to distract me. But I'm on a roll, so we'll see how long this lasts.

Dog Walk Day

Exercise day 3. This is going to be tough.
I think the worst part of this weight-loss journey so far has been stepping on the scale. I know it's super early to even see results, but this morning, it's like the scale said "Fuck You" and raised the numbers. I eat fairly well and I try and do at least 30 min of exercise each day, but the scale hates me. And I hate it. I hate the meds that I had to take last year which put me at my heaviest weight of all time. Granted, I'm healthy now and they were a life-saver at the time, but I still hate that this is where I am. I think that's why this is so hard. I don't lose weight easily.
I gained 30lbs in college and it took 1.5 years to get it off. My mom got me to join Weight Watchers with her. The program works, but it's the after part that was hard for me. I just didn't stick with the point counting. I did for a while and I've been on and off the program the last few years, it's just costly if you're not within your goal weight. I got defeated and didn't want to pay for the program anymore. I can do it on my own, but it's the lack of discipline that holds me back. I'm an awesome weight maintainer though!

And that brings me to now. I'm trying this app a friend told me about, My Fitness Pal. It's a calorie counting program. I've never counted calories, but I have had food diaries in the past, so it's not completely foreign. So far I like the app. You can add your friends and their activities will show up on the home page with yours, so everyone can help each other out. If you can't find a specific food, you can either add it yourself or there's an option to use the scanner on the barcode of whatever you're eating. It's nice if you want to be completely specific with your food. This app also tracks your exercise, which I have been doing. I'm trying to hold myself accountable this time around. I'm healthy, but I need to get back in shape. My muscles atrophied last year when I was sick and stuck in bed or a wheelchair, so I'm trying to get that back as well. It's a process, but I know I can do it. I have the support of my family and friends.
Today I walked. I took Zoe out and walked around the neighborhood. We did 2.59 miles in about 45 minutes. And the weather was beautiful! I wasn't expecting it to get so warm. The jacket I brought was completely unnecessary. It was relaxing. I didn't saunter. I kept a good pace, but it was still peaceful, even with the music blasting in my ears. It was a good start to the day.
Not sure what I'm gonna do for Day 4, but I'm in the rhythm and I plan to see this goal through. If I get off track for any reason, please put me back on track. Motivate me. Push me. I know I'm going to need it. It's only day 3 but I see it's going to be a long journey...

Working Out At Home

Day 2 of getting back on the exercise train. It's been a while since I did some form of exercise 2 days in a row, and I did it today. Woo! It was nothing special, but rather than force myself to go to a gym, I pulled out one of the exercise DVDs I got at Big Lots. $5 for a DVD is not bad, especially if it's one you will use frequently. I normally wouldn't buy exercise videos but I loathe the gym. I really do. Granted, I have a membership to the little gym across the street from my house, but I rarely use it. I think I keep it around for those days where I actually want to get on to an elliptical machine or treadmill. They have classes, but mostly at inconvenient times for me, at least the good ones are.
So I bought a couple Jillian Michaels' DVDs. Not too shabby. Today I opened one I bought last year. It utilizes a kettle bell (which I don't have) or in the absence of one, a hand-weight (which I do own).
I wasn't sure what I was going to get myself into with this video, as a previous one I've used of hers was brutal. A total body workout that made me sore for days! Luckily, this video wasn't as intense. Definitely worked my legs and arms, but I could walk away unscathed. I felt the burn and survived.

I have to say, the only thing that bugs me about Jillian's workout videos is that they put her in these athletic pants that barely cover her. I feel like if she were to bend down you'd see her butt crack. And don't get me started on the front of the pants. They are so low that you can almost see the top of the nether-region. I would NEVER wear anything like that to exercise in. It's great that she has a killer body, but it's like she's taunting you. Jillian's body is so amazing I want to rip her head off and put my own in its place. I wish I could be addicted to exercise like she is, hell, even like some of my friends are. But I can't. I enjoy outdoor activities, like running and soccer. That's how I tried to stay in shape. But since my ankle injury, I've been banned from all running/soccer activities for a year. I think I miss soccer the most. I started playing at 4.5yrs old, loved it and hadn't stopped playing since. My ankles have been damaged enough and I think they had it and gave out on me last year. So I'm being nice, listening to the doctor, and I'm giving them the rest they deserve. Only 3 more months until I can try jogging again and see how well my ankles hold up.

Now that my rant is over...
I did the dancing Wii game again. And walked to lunch and back today. Exercise x3. Go me! Tomorrow, maybe I'll try going to the gym just to shake things up. Eh. But these home workouts are turning out to be more fun.

Just Dance

So I bought this Wii game, Just Dance 3. It's actually quite fun. And I must say, a great workout. 45 min of dancing. These are the best workouts. When you know you're having fun and time just flies by. I sweat enough and hard enough for my face to get flushed and super red. Once, after a soccer game, someone stopped me on my way to the car to ask if I was sunburnt. Nope. Just flushed from playing soccer. My fair skin will turn red when I workout/run hard.

Anyways, I definitely recommend this game if you're my one that likes the gym or even to exercise. You don't really feel like you're exercising. Plus if you get your friends involved, it's that much more fun!

Best Gift Ever

My boyfriend got me the best gift today. Actually he bought it earlier but it came in the mail today. And I had to share with you.

A new iPhone case. Best gift ever.

Cancer Fundraising

And the fundraising race has begun!

I finally started to send out emails to my family and friends about the 24hr relay I'm doing again this year for the American Cancer Society. I can't believe it's been almost 10 years since I first joined in on this fight. And this year marks the 3rd year that I'm fundraising for my mom. She was diagnosed in Feb 2009. The week of my grandmother's funeral. It was probably the worst timing ever for her doctor to call and tell her. Yet, at the same time, it was good because she was surrounded by her close family and friends to help with the emotional support.
I think because my mom never showed how fragile it made her feel, it helped me help her. She is a fighter. My mother always had a smile on her face. Even through chemo, she made it seem effortless. To be honest, I was worried every day, but the strength in her made me feel better about whatever the outcome. Thankfully, chemo and surgery worked and she's been in remission for a couple years now. And will for a long time.

I know that cancer has affected all of us in some way. I hope that you can find it in your heart to help save some birthdays with a donation, large or small. Instead of buying that cup of coffee, donate the $5 and help save a life. I set a fundraising goal or $800 which is totally attainable but only with your help.

Thank you to Jeff and Rob for your awesome donations! Love you guys!

You can find my fundraising page here. Thank you in advance for your help.

Happy Naked Flying Baby Assassin Day

I hope you all had a great Valentine's Day with whomever you were able to spend it with.

Normally my boyfriend works on evenings such as this, but I got a treat. He had the night off. We spent it watching a horror movie, eating pizza and drinking some vino. It was a great night snuggling on the couch, crushing his hand with every suspenseful moment. Hoping to repeat this again next year but I can't hold my breath. That's the one thing about hospitality you never really get; a regular schedule. So I take what I can get and tonight was awesome.

What did you do with your loved one or loved friends?

Heart-shaped pizza!

Vino and pizza with my valentine

Finding My Groove

Boyfriend got me off my butt tonight. It's been a pretty lazy day, so getting out of the house was nice. Even Zoe was just sleeping the day away. It was nice that someone in the house took initiative to get us out.
What was originally supposed to be just an out and back walk, turned into a 1.5 hour walk. 4.91 miles. Fairly leisurely. I think we averaged an 18 min/mile. I think at my best I've done 5 miles in just over an hour, but I was training for a race. This was merely a "let's get out of the house and enjoy the weather" kind of walk. And it was definitely nice to NOT walk by myself. I love Zoe's company, but we can't have conversations other than her wagging her tail to let me know she's having a good time.

I'm now exhausted. I think I might have pushed myself a little too far, but at least I got out. Most likely, I'll be sore tomorrow, but I'll use it as a day to stretch and recover and then get back out there. Getting back into the groove of exercising is really hard. Especially when you've had a 7 month hiatus. Word of advice, don't sever your ligaments. It takes you out of commission for a lot of things. Exercise in particular. Now I find that I'm fighting with myself everyday to convince my body to get out of bed and create some endorphins. Problem is, the warm bed usually wins. And I put of getting back into shape for another day. In my head, I see me running (which I can't do yet) and slowly taking off the weight that the meds made me gain. I have a goal to achieve by October. It's realistic and attainable, but I really have to step up to the plate. I currently can't rely on training for half marathons to reach it, so I need to find another way to keep the motivation going.
I have some amazing friends that have offered to walk with me a couple times a week, which I will definitely be taking them up on. Exercise with friends makes the workout more fun. At least in my experience.

So here it goes. Today I walked 4 miles. I'll stretch tomorrow and take Zoe out for a walk. Not 5 miles, but a nice neighborhood walk. I'm always looking for new ways to shed some pounds so please feel free to send me your suggestions or what you do to keep in shape.

Smiley Happy Puppy

The winter weather here in San Diego has been awesome! 70 degrees and sunny. Can't ask for a better winter!

Zoe and I went out and enjoyed it. A walk and lunch outdoors. She couldn't help but show her excitement. Jumpy, smiley and super happy.
That was my special dog.

TV Taping Junkie

One of my favorite things I did in New York I didn't mention before was our TV taping of the Anderson Cooper show. We got free tickets to be part of the audience which taped at Lincoln Center.
It was an early morning for us. We had to be there by 9am, which most people would say isn't that early, but on Jesi's dog walking schedule, it is. Normally she's not up until 11am. When I come, she makes the exception. Thanks bestie!

The show we taped aired yesterday about OCD. I think they lied to the woman to get her on the show. But don't quote me on that. It's just my assumption from the interview with her and the woman from the rehab center. She apparently was told that she could exercise for an hour every day in rehab and during the interview, they said that they'd have to assess her before any exercise could be done. So in the "what happened after the show" the Anderson show said that rehab lasted 24 hours. Not surprising.
Check out the episode if you get a chance. It's not light, but really eye opening.

Jesi and I got great audience seats. 2nd row. You can see us at least 11 times throughout the hour. My lovely friend took photos of us every time we showed up on screen. I'm going to share. Our expressions are priceless; like OCD is ruining OUR lives.

Then yesterday, my friend, C, had tickets to a taping of Conan O'Brien and asked if I wanted to go. That's a no-brainer! It was an all day thing. A fun road trip up to LA and back. We got up early enough to get decent seats. The 5th group of people. We ended up in the 3rd row. And I appeared on TV again! Just for a minute when Conan was making fun of the audience with Craigslist ads, but you can see me. And funny enough, I'm wearing the same outfit. Maybe it's my lucky TV taping top. If I wear it, the cameras will come. Hehe.

There I am! In the bottom corner. So funny.

I loved watching Coco do his thing! He shook my hand. I was going for a high five when he came by singing to the audience, but then he stopped in front of me (I put my hand down) and he belted out and then reached out to shake hands and said "It's very nice to meet you." And then he walked away. So awesome!!

Even though neither show gave out free stuff, I had the best time. I'd really love to get tickets to Ellen, but those are hard to obtain. I submitted my request, so we'll see if it's accepted.
Anyone have TV taping hook ups they want to pass my way? I'd be so very grateful.

There's No Place Like Home

As much as I love to travel, I really do enjoy coming home. There truly is no place like home.

The week I spent in New York was fabulous. I went there to visit with my best friend and ended up also visiting with friends I haven't seen in over 15 years! That was a treat.
I definitely got in a lot of exercise, walking that is. I love that you have to walk everywhere (or take the subway). The neighborhoods in New York are so amazing in that you can pretty much walk out of your apartment and find something fun to do. Be it, shopping, going to the theatre (film and stage), and eating. I LOVE the 100s of options of food places in NYC. I stopped into to some of my favorite bakeries, tried new restaurants, and saw a few more that are opening soon which will be a stop on my next visit out.
I made sure to have a "real NY moment" before I left. Eating pizza on the stoop of a brownstone with a dog.

Eating a slice of pizza with Badu

Survivor Tree

Today's main event was the 9/11 memorial. It's not completely finished, but most of it is open to the public as long as you reserve a ticket time slot. It's free, but they won't let you inside without a reservation.

The process to get inside the memorial is quite tasking. It's exactly like going through TSA security at the airport. Though they were a lot nicer when the alarm went off as I walked through. There's no pat down. No invasive body searches. The security guy just asked me to lift up the bottoms of my pants. I have a feeling it was just my jewelry that set it off. I didn't have a concealed weapon so he let me pass.

There are two pools that they constructed in place of the original twin towers. They looked bottomless. It was quite eerie. Each pool is surrounded with names of all the victims from the attacks, including the ones from the Pentagon crash and the plane that crashed in PA. The North pool also had names from the first attack back in 1993.

There's a museum still under construction which will include remnants of the towers and objects and victims' belongings. It should be open later this year.

On our way out we saw a crowd of people around a fenced tree. Some people were tossing coins at the bottom of it. Curiosity led me to a volunteer who told us the story of this "miracle" tree.
This is a Callery pear tree that was planted back in the 70s when the world trade center was first built. It is the only living vegetation that survived the 9/11 attacks. It was discovered in Oct 2001 with burnt branches, snapped roots and a blackened trunk, by the gardener who used to work at the center. It was transported to Van Cortlandt Park in the Bronx for recovery and then brought back in 2010.
They call it their survivor tree. People throw coins at the bottom of the tree for luck and as a donation to the memorial site. You can touch the tree. If you are lucky enough to see it, the trunk has 2 different textures. The bottom half is rough while the top half has smooth new branches from the last 10 years of regrowth. It really is quite a miracle.

Once the memorial is finished there will be over 400 oak trees planted to provide a peaceful canopy of new life. Granted it will take years for those trees to envelope the whole site, but for our children or children's children that are lucky enough to see it, I'm sure it will be quite beautiful.

When I get back home, I'll post the pictures I took at the memorial. In the meantime, here is the Survivor Tree.

Callery pear "survivor" tree

Dog Walking

The title says it all. My bestie, who lives here in NYC, is a dog walker. I got the pleasure of following her around while she worked. It was a lot of fun. Though my feet are killing me right now! I even wore comfortable boots but it didn't matter. This is not the type of walking we do in So Cal.
In NYC, everything is pretty much in walking distance or you hop on the subway. We Californians do a lot of driving. Short of training for a half marathon, I haven't walked this much in over a year. It's really sad. And I've trekked up her apartments 4 flights of stairs twice. I'm beat. Hail to the New York dog walkers.

Jesi, the NYC dog walker

Trying my hand at dog walking :)

Today I've been uptown and downtown. Did some shopping in SOHO - probably more than I should have. But I'm a giver and I love buying gifts for my friends.
We saw some interesting things/people. Ate some amazing peanut butter sandwiches too. All in all, it was a great day. Tomorrow we have a fairly free day. Only thing on the list is our tickets to the ground zero memorial site. Definitely looking forward to that. Pictures will be taken.

Have a great weekend!

Jesi, dog walking in action

Dog walker in training

Washington Square Park right before rush hour

Hello New York!

That's right. I'm in NYC. It's definitely been a long day. The plane ride was actually nice. I was expecting a full flight and to be sandwiched in my row (got stuck with an middle seat), but as luck had it, the row of seats in front of me end up completely empty. So the guy that was supposed to sit in the window seat took a seat in the empty ones and I scooted over to enjoy my first choice of plane seats.
They showed Footloose for our in flight entertainment as well as the sneak peak of the new NBC show, Smash. Which is amazing, by the way! I love musicals having gone to a performing arts school. I can't sing but that doesn't stop me from belting out my favorite songs in the car.

I got adventurous and took the AirTrain/subway into the city. Normally I would just take a shuttle but my friend said this would be faster. Not so bad. Just annoying with luggage.

Anyways, now that I'm here, I expect to get in a lot of walking during my week stay. My bestie is a dog walker so I'll be joining her for that. Plus she lives on the 4th floor in her building and there is no elevator so my legs will definitely be getting a workout on the stairs. I've already done it at least 3 times so far. I'm definitely out of shape. My first trek up with my suitcase was the worst. I could barely breathe. It's a good wake up call. I should be able to walk stairs easily. Granted a suitcase makes things more challenging. Maybe if I lived in the city permanently I would be like J and walk them effortlessly.

First meal in the city was ...
Shake Shack! They have amazing food for a burger joint. Just saying...

So let the New York adventures begin!

And then the clouds parted...

I really do love the day after it rains. The sky is perfectly blue, clouds like fluffs of cotton candy and the air is so crisp. A perfect day for a walk outside with my overly excited dog. Zoe has psychic powers. She knows when I plan on taking her for a walk. She and my tennis shoes have an unspoken language. I put those on and Zoe runs around the house like a toddler on a sugar high. Her enthusiasm reaches its pinnacle as soon as I get to the front door and grab her leash. Needless to say, Zoe was a happy camper.

Hanging out at the library

I love when I can multi-task. Take the dog for a walk, return a library book, grab a coffee and head home. And then the monotonous task of doing laundry. I leave for NY on Thursday and clean clothes are a must. At least I got out of the house for a little while.

Rainy Day

The rain was insane today. Southern Californians don't know how to drive in the rain. I know I'm generalizing here, but I truly find that people here in San Diego freak out as soon as something wet hits the ground. Within 5 minutes of rain, there is at least one accident. I got stuck in one on the freeway. I was stopped on the freeway for at least a good 5 minutes before I found out from a friend where the accident was. The cops had pretty much cleared the freeway, but all the "looky-loos" were slowing the rest of us down. The road was completely clear after you got past that one area. Ugh.

Didn't get a lot of exercise in today because of the rain, but I did get to visit with a friend from out of town. She's a new mom, so I was able to see the newest member of her family for the 3rd time since her arrival in October. Little S is so adorable.

Unfortunately she was sleeping most of the time I was there, but I did get to witness her rolling over for the 1st time. That was pretty exciting and a great way to end my visit with L.

The rain finally took a breather by the time I got home, so I was able to take Zoe out for a walk. I'm pretty sure she appreciated it, as she was cooped up inside all day. So we both got a little exercise on this rainy day.

Do you exercise on rainy days? What do you do?

The Wonders of Dogs

On my walking adventure with Zoe today, I had this thought cross my head. What makes a dog want to pee in a specific place? Seriously. I don't get it. There are some dogs that will just go outside and pee, but then there are others that seem like they strategically pee in certain areas or on certain things. My dog being one of them. She's strange enough as it is; Zoe pees like a boy. She has no aim, so she will position herself as close to the tree/fence/bush as possible. On top of that, she doesn't just relieve herself in one spot. Zoe has to save whatever pee she has in her to last the entire walk. And when there is nothing left in her, she still tries to squeeze out a drop or two. It is so weird. Am I the only one who has a dog like this?

I love my dog to death, but she is so weird sometimes. 

Quest For Shoes

So I went on a shoe quest today. I'm going to New York next week and the one pair of walking shoes I have to take with me are not so comfortable anymore. It's probably because I've worn them out from all the past running I did. And the only other pair of sneakers I have are not the best for NYC walking, since you walk pretty much everywhere. My best friend, Jesi, is a dog walker in NY and I usually join her during the walks. So my feet definitely need some comfort.

I started my journey at my local DSW and found some really cute heels by Dr Scholl's. Totally not what I needed but it was so hard to resist them. They were 70% off, so I had to get them.

Comfort to the max!

I found some other casual shoes, but decided against them. I'm going to go back this weekend with my mom to get a second opinion. She recommends that I go for casual shoes rather than sneakers, but that's only because she has a hard time wearing shoes like sneakers that hug her feet.

I ended up at Kohl's and got a new pair of running shoes! My Asics have pretty much seen their day, so I'm very happy that I found a replacement. I know I can't run right now, but I can speed-walk and work my way up to jogging to test out my ankle.

They make me want to run again

I'm loving the magenta in my new shoes! My last pair were blue which has always been my favorite color, but I'm diggin' the pink.

So I have 5 days to prepare my outfits for NY. I hear it's still in the 40s so this Southern California girl has got to find some warm outfits. Layers. That's the key. My wardrobe consists mainly of t-shirts and tank tops; not something I can really wear on the East Coast. So the clothing scavenger hunt in my closet begins...

Plugged Up

I wish I could breathe. My nose is still all plugged up. Boyfriend got me a humidifier which he is in the process of setting up. He's so awesome. I'm hoping it helps. I'm doped up on sudafed, vitamins, and water. Though we did drink a few glasses of wine tonight. Totally relaxed me. And now I'm ready to pass out.

Needless to say, this cold is kicking my butt! Didn't get out and exercise, but I plan to make up for it tomorrow, health permitting.

Come on, energy!

Cuteness Overload

So I came home from today's walk with my boyfriend and Zoe, and this is what happened after I sat down on the couch to check my email.

Gertie (L) and Elliot (R)

Elliot was determined to sit in my lap, but I forced him off and instead he curled up on Gertie. When I find them sleeping together, it is so cute I almost want to vomit.

Do you have those "too cute" photos of your furry friends? Please share.

I Got The Sicks

Ugh. I caught a cold. Again. Second time this year. And we're only in the 3rd week of January! Bleh. I can't breathe out of my nose. I sound super congested and I have very little energy. But you'll all be proud of me. I have been walking. At least with Zoe, my dog. Since catching the sicks, I've been trying to get out and walk my dog before my energy is completely gone. So far it's worked. She's happy and I get a little sun, which is actually really good when you're sick. Your body needs that vitamin-Sun. :)

Zoe, sporting her scarf, ready for a walk

I'm thinking that for exercise and to keep me motivated, maybe what I need to do is sign up for a bunch of 5Ks. I can't run a half marathon (I'm saving my return to those next year), but I can train to walk a 5K. I'd rather run it, but I have to listen to the doctors this time. It's probably how I ended up with the severed ligaments - not letting my ankle injuries heal completely. So I'll be good and not run. But I can learn to walk super fast, right?

There's a really cool 5K coming up in March called the Hot Chocolate 10K/5K. I'm thinking I'll sign up for that. I love chocolate, and I'll get some exercise and make it worth eating the chocolate at the finish line. Who's with me?!

Starting Over

2012 has been off to a rough start. I caught a cold which left me feeling crappy for the first few days of the year. Luckily I recovered fairly fast, just in time to spend a couple days up in Anaheim at Disneyland with my good friend, S. She's a teacher and rarely gets a chance to get up there, so we took full advantage of her time off.

S and me in our Stitch beanies

In the two days that we were up there, we walked a ton! Good exercise. My feet were screaming at me by the end of the 2nd day. I actually came home and soaked them in hot water. 

Not much exercise has been done since I injured my ankle last year, so even just walking for 2 days, I feel out of shape. I applaud all the women who walk in the 3-day, granted they train for it, but still, my feet hurt after 2 days, imagine 3... I had an MRI done of both ankles and it turned out that I severed a ligament completely in my right ankle. Doc said no running or soccer for at least a year. It's been quite boring these past 9 months. I tried going to the gym and using the bike and treadmill, but it's just not the same as being out doors. I've been working on strengthening the ankle so I can walk my dog for a few miles during the week. I feel like it's getting much stronger, but I won't know for sure unless I try out running. 3 months to go! The countdown begins. Until then, I'll continue to work on strengthening the rest of my body. My muscles atrophied and I need to build them up again.

Relay for Life has started up again. I've registered our team and we just had the first Team Captain's meeting tonight. Our theme this year is Hollywood. So many different ideas come to mind, but I need to bounce them off my teammates and get their input. My goal is to raise $3500 this year. Last year we raised just over $33K so I know that this is a goal we can achieve. We have an earlier start at fundraising and team member recruitment. Ideally, I'd like 12 teammate so no one has to walk more than 2 hours (of course they can walk more if they want!). So if you want to join in on the fight against cancer, please let me know. I'd be happy to have you join our Purple Cancer Eaters team. :)