tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22910908182035516222024-02-19T05:53:03.187-05:00My Next 50 YearsSwingsethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08977812625256576736noreply@blogger.comBlogger33125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2291090818203551622.post-86950931638902717742011-01-12T18:44:00.003-05:002011-01-12T18:49:43.489-05:00Happy New Year!This year I’m trying a different approach to setting resolutions. In the past I would make lists of things I felt I needed to work on or to change. After a month or two life would just get in the way and I would soon forget about what was actually on my list. <br /><br />My new approach this year is to come up with three words that I can use to measure my actions against to keep on track, to help identify my areas of weakness, and to help measure any goals up against. I got the idea from another blogger I like to follow: <a href="http://readingrisa.wordpress.com/ ">Reading Risa</a>. Last year, rather than come up with a list of resolutions for 2009, she identified <a href="http://readingrisa.wordpress.com/2010/01/08/three-words-for-2010/">three words</a> to help her attain measureable goals. At the time I didn’t think I would be able to reduce my usual list of resolutions down to three words – but after mulling it over for a year – I found I was able to come up with my own set of three words to use to measure my actions and plans up against for this new year. <br /> <br />SIMPLIFY | FRUGAL | EVOLVE<br /><br />One of the reasons I think I was able to come up with my three words is because I have wanted to make some major life decisions for the past two years – but have found myself stuck in a place that prevented me from doing so. I started thinking about what types of things I could do – or would need to do – that would help me get beyond this wall I’ve run smack up against. <br /><br />Simplify came first. I need to make my life less complicated so that I can focus more on the things that are important to me. I am working to reduce the clutter in my life both figuratively and literally. <br /><br />Frugal was next. Over the past several years I have not been financially responsible. Nor have I managed my time well. Time to make a change.<br /><br />Lastly – and this is the hardest one – was Evolve. I finally had to admit to myself that I need help moving forward and being productive. I started therapy last week.<br /><br />I am looking forward to this new year and the new changes it will bring with it as I work on these three areas of my life. I do want to acknowledge two important women in my life – whom I have never met in person – but whose writings have taught me that it’s okay recognize when you might need help, that you are not a failure when setbacks occur, and that less is more. Thank you <a href="http://readingrisa.wordpress.com/">Risa</a> and <a href="http://heyitsmekristi.blogspot.com/ ">Kristi</a>!Swingsethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08977812625256576736noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2291090818203551622.post-55044670458642305022010-09-08T21:43:00.002-04:002010-09-08T21:49:16.606-04:00Bad BoysSome days everything falls into place perfectly. <br /><br />It is illegal to sell or purchase fireworks in New York State. In Pennsylvania, however, it is not. Over the summer my husband took my son to a Lacrosse tournament in Philadelphia. Guess what they came home with.<br /><br />When they came home from the tournament, my son tried to discretely bring into the house, and into his bedroom, something concealed in a large plastic garbage bag. When I asked him what was in the bag he wouldn’t make eye contact with me and just said it was nothing. Of course I immediately assumed it was a present for me and he was simply hiding it in his bedroom. <br /><br />A few weeks later I learned they had bought fireworks while at the Philly Lacrosse tournament and had every intention of setting off those fireworks during a birthday sleepover with two of my son’s friends. I strongly stated my objections to my husband but they fell on deaf ears.<br /><br />The morning of the birthday sleepover, my husband took our son and his two friends to a local water park for the day. Chance would have it that my daughter was invited to a sleepover as well and so I had a rare day to myself. The weather was beautiful that day – sunny, warm, not too humid – and I was enjoying working outside. My quiet afternoon was suddenly interrupted with loud sirens going off! These sirens sounded like the air-raid sirens you hear in WWII movies. After about a minute the sirens stopped and a loud announcement was heard: “This is an emergency. Ithaca College campus is under a state of emergency. Please go to a designated shelter immediately and stay inside until further notice.” The sirens would then resume – with both sirens and announcement repeated several times before stopping. Ithaca College is about two miles from my house – and I later heard from friends that the sirens and announcement were heard up to 5 miles away. This emergency notice was repeated at least 2 more times until early evening.<br /><br />My husband and the boys got home about 9:30 that evening. The four of them immediately grabbed the fireworks and headed out to a nearby field. We live in the city – but on the outskirts so we are in walking proximity to a lot of open fields and wooded areas. <br /><br />I heard one, two, three sets of loud bangs as the ‘boys’ had their fun. After the fourth firework went off – guess what? A loud air-raid like siren went off for about a minute. Then a loud announcement was heard. Of course, if you happened to be in the act of setting off fireworks in a state where such an activity is ILLEGAL then you might be so scared and running home so quickly that you might not have heard what the announcement actually was. So an announcement stating an end to a campus emergency might sound like something entirely different - it might sound like the police with a bull horn coming after you. And when more sirens went off you would probably start running even faster.<br /><br />Within minutes the ‘boys’ came bursting in the front door. Did I hear those sirens? Did I see any police? Any patrol car lights? How could the police have known so quickly? Did I think that the neighbors may have called them? <br /><br />Oh what a sweet moment. <br /><br />They told me that they were so startled at first that they simply ran and left my son’s backpack (which has his name in it) and all the fireworks behind. My son rushed back to grab them. Then his friend realized he left his jacket (with his name in it) behind and rushed back to grab it. What a slap-stick comedy skit it must have looked like. I was so enjoying this.<br /><br />The next day my husband reads to me from the paper that there was a state of emergency on Ithaca College campus and that was why the sirens went off. Really, I said?Swingsethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08977812625256576736noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2291090818203551622.post-39101810335589176122010-09-07T22:20:00.002-04:002010-09-07T22:26:44.849-04:00Enough!I have issues. I keep putting off posting because it's been a while and then I have to think of the perfect post to start back up again but keep putting that off and in the mean time - well - time just keeps going by. So. No segue. Tomorrow I start again. Just like that. I'm also looking for a good therapist to help me with my procrastination and perfectionist issues. Any recommendations?Swingsethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08977812625256576736noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2291090818203551622.post-11141108478790620742010-01-08T16:18:00.002-05:002021-06-05T15:54:45.008-04:00The Bigger PictureIt’s been a while. I took on an overload of classes last semester and it ended up consuming all of my time. I would equate the extra courses to picking up a 20 hour part-time job on top of a 40 hour full-time job. Why did I do this? I’m struggling to answer this question.
I have a very difficult time maintaining balance in my life. I tend to embrace one thing and pursue it single mindedly – to the exclusion of other things. In an attempt to prevent myself from these single minded pursuits, one of my last posts before I disappeared was a list of daily goals – all of which were designed to help me strike a balance between work, family/friends, and me.
It is just like me to recognize what I need to work on, make lists of where I need improvement, make schedules to factor in time, and then go about doing everything possible to ensure that it doesn’t happen. Hence the list of daily goals and then taking on such a work load that there was no way I would be able to actually DO any of those daily goals.
Then I started making a list of resolutions for this New Year – and realized I was making the same old resolutions all over again. Yes – I did accomplish some from last year – and I don’t want to ignore those accomplishments. I did do three triathlons – which kept me exercising. I managed to maintain my weight loss – but I hit a plateau and did not lose any more weight this past year. I did not eat very healthy. I did not take care of my health - nor my personal or my spiritual growth. I feel as if I just let my relationships coast this past year. And all this came to a head last fall by taking on so much at work that it prevented me from having to do anything but – well - work.
Once I realized my resolutions were repetitions of years gone by, I started taking a good long look at myself. I THOUGHT I already did this two years ago with my whole “I’m turning 50 and the next 50 I’m turning my whole life around” rhetoric. I think that I hit a plateau not just in my weight loss but also with my own personal growth and how that extends outward in my professional, social, and family life.
As I’m reflecting on my struggle to maintain balance and realizing I’m not really making the kinds of changes I want to in my life – I’m hit with a huge realization. I’m an Avoider. I create situations where I have to “this” (“this” being something I HAVE to do) before I can do “that” (“that” being something I might really WANT to do or would ENJOY doing). I’m not afraid to take risks; I’m not afraid of learning or experiencing new things; I’m not afraid of failure. This avoidance behavior prevents me from maintaining any kind of healthy balance in my life. I understand this intellectually – but I need to work on the reality of it.
Then two seemingly unrelated events occur as I’m struggling with my resolutions. The first was when talking to a friend about a course she teaches about the cognitive behaviors of diufferent cultures. The focus of the course is on how Asians and Westerners (us Americans) think differently. We think differently I asked her? How do we think differently? And I was fascinated with the answer she gave me. So much so that I ordered her text book to read for myself. It’s called “The Geography of Thought” by Richard E. Nisbett. I didn’t even get through the introduction before I saw some parallels to my struggles with balance in my life. I never look at the whole picture! I look at problem areas as if it were an isolated issue to be “fixed” and devote all my focus to that area. I need to start taking a holistic approach to the whole issue of balance in my life.
The second event is in regard to my husband deciding to lose weight. Diets are very difficult to sustain with our lifestyle. So he decided to try counting calories as a means to lose weight rather than try a diet. His intent was not to deny any certain foods but to just watch how much he ate. He found a website that tracks your weight loss with a graph – and calculates a daily average weight based upon your actual weight from day to day. The philosophy behind this is to show overall weight loss over time. Since your weight might fluctuate up or down from one day to the next – the chart is a visual demonstration that over time you are indeed showing steady progress in losing weight. I read everything the author wrote about this approach on his website and realized this was putting into practice what I started reading about in the book “The Geography of Thought.” Again – looking at the bigger picture. What a concept!
These two events have changed my whole approach to my next 50 years. I’m going to try a more holistic approach and look at the “bigger picture” in all aspects of my life. I’m examining my avoidance tendencies and trying to determine why I have them and how to eliminate them. I have much to work out. My first step is to rework all my resolutions – but with a very different focus now.
And once I get my house clean I’ll be ready to get started on the New Year!Swingsethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08977812625256576736noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2291090818203551622.post-7022900703227507962009-09-09T21:43:00.002-04:002009-09-09T21:46:30.301-04:00Different Points of ViewYesterday was the first day of classes for me. My husband stayed home with the kids since they don't go back to school until tommorrow. He also watched two other kids in the neighborhood as there are no camps this week for working parents to send their kids to before school starts. My 13 year old son greeted me when I got home. As I was walking up the driveway with him, I looked all around the yard and the front patio – and saw baseball bats, baseball gloves, baseballs, footballs, bikes laying on their sides, bike helmets, lacrosse rackets, scooters, etc. I turned to my son, sighed, and asked, “What do you suppose the neighbors think when they see this mess in front of our house?” He looked at me and said, without pause, “They think healthy active kids live here.” <br /><br />He won that one.Swingsethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08977812625256576736noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2291090818203551622.post-25272688284441908862009-09-04T11:12:00.006-04:002009-09-04T13:00:02.223-04:00TeamworkTwo weeks ago my husband and I took the two youngest kids white water rafting on a 5 mile Class 1 (the easiest) stretch of the Genesee River. This was designed for beginners – and there were families there with children much younger – and smaller – then ours! It was the first time for all of us – and we had a blast. In reflecting back on the experience, there was something about the excursion that I enjoyed just as much as the thrill of doing it. It was the teamwork needed to navigate the river.<br /><br />Everyone who had signed up for this (about 40 people) had the choice of navigating their boat with or without a guide. I leaned over and whispered in my husband's ear that maybe we should opt for a guide in our boat. You know, since it was our first time and we had two kids with us and all. My husband gently whispers back "NO (insert swearword here) WAY!" So – if you opt out of having a guide in your boat then you need to appoint one person as the leader. This person sits in the back of the boat and tells everyone else what to do. My husband thought I’d be good in this role. <br /><br />However, at my insistence, my husband was appointed the leader of our boat. I grew up in central New Jersey. I have no experience with boats in water. He grew up in the Finger Lakes region of New York. He has lots of experience with boats in water. It turns out I made the right call. <br /><br />Everyone needed to work together to get through the spots where the water ran faster and rougher. Everyone also needed to listen to the boat leader – who had the more global perspective of maneuvering through the water from the back of the boat. It was these two factors – listening and working together - that made this event such a great learning experience for each of us.<br /><br />My youngest daughter is a natural leader – only at age 10 she hasn’t yet refined this skill enough to add diplomacy to it. She had to learn not to be on the lookout for what her older brother might be doing wrong, that it wasn’t her role to correct him if she thought he was doing something wrong, and not to contradict the boat leader’s instructions if she disagreed with him. Simply put, she had to learn she couldn’t be the boss (or bossy – whatever fits).<br /><br />My youngest son does not like to be told what to do. Nor does he like to be wrong in any way. He is 13. He had to learn to not be defensive when being told what to do. He also had to learn that just because he was being told to do one thing and then – quick – do something else instead (as in “paddle FORWARD – now BACK, HOLD!) didn’t mean he was doing something wrong - just do it. <br /><br />This was an eye opening experience for me. I loved how we had to work as a team to negotiate the river – and had to depend on each other to do his or her part. I loved watching how my two youngest had to get over their desire to constantly annoy each other and instead work together. There was no time for arguing, no time for blame, no time to monitor who did more or what wasn’t fair. No arguing at all – just learning to work together. <br /><br />I’ve always tried to work on teaching my children how to work as a team – but being kids and all – they are more interested in monitoring what the other one is doing. And reporting loudly about the unfairness of what each one got stuck doing. You can’t do that when your raft is stuck on a rock and you’ve all got to work together to get off the rock. <br /><br />I saw my role as a parent in a whole different light. I also saw what I was missing. It isn't just about teaching your children how to navigate rivers on their own. It's also learning/knowing what baggage you need to get rid of in order to work together to accomplish a goal. I'm struggling to put this in words - but I do know that I need to provide more of these type of real life experiences to help them. <br /><br />~SwingsetSwingsethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08977812625256576736noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2291090818203551622.post-62521196520580629512009-08-24T17:35:00.004-04:002009-08-24T17:48:42.156-04:00Daily GoalsThe fall semester starts next week. As I prepare the goals for the classes I'm teaching this next semester, I started thinking about setting some personal goals of my own. One of the issues I've been examining for my next 50 years has been how to find balance in my life between my career, my family, and my self. So I came up with a set of daily goals for myself:<br /><br />1. Write every day.<br />2. Draw every day.<br />3. Exercise every day.<br />4. Listen to music that I want to listen to every day.<br />5. Encourage my children every day.<br />6. Let my family know that I love them every day.<br />7. Do not work after 5:00 pm on weekdays.<br />8. Do not work on weekends.<br /><br />I don't have any answers yet - but creating this list might get me on the right track. I'll work on why I have a tough time finding balance tomorrow.<br /><br />~SwingsetSwingsethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08977812625256576736noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2291090818203551622.post-1959668526562099482009-08-21T21:26:00.002-04:002009-08-21T21:30:34.459-04:00Caramel ApplesMy kids love to go to the grocery store with me. Why? Because they know that by distracting me they can get me to say yes to all kinds of goodies. They are masters at this. They also offer to help by going off on search missions for items on the list. They bring back the desired item and slip in extras. They know what snacks are my weakness and will also bring these back to the cart. I am defenseless against this type of tactic.<br /><br />So tonight we had to go get something for dinner. I was determined to be strong. I said no to everything. I didn’t let anything slip past my eagle eye. Then they tried a new tactic. They asked permission. They actually asked me if we could make caramel apples. They actually asked! How could I resist!<br /><br />So my daughter and I just took two caramel apples out of the oven and are waiting for them to cool. This is such a great snack! I might actually save those Pringles I stashed under my bed for another time.<br /><br />~SwingsetSwingsethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08977812625256576736noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2291090818203551622.post-39520364871233645412009-08-20T21:37:00.007-04:002009-08-20T22:27:16.836-04:00Booking Through Thursday: Recent BestThis weeks <a href="http://btt2.wordpress.com/">Booking Through Thursday</a> posting asks what is the best book you've read recently. It would be <a href="http://www.kathrynstockett.com/#"><span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;">The Help </span>by <span style="font-weight: bold;">Kathryn Stockett</span></a> - which I just finished two days ago. This was our most recent book club selection - and I highly recommend it. The book examines how three courageous women from Jackson, Mississippi in 1962, rise above the roles they were born into during a time when our nation was struggling with segregation and racism.<br /><br />It will soon be my turn for a book club selection and I still haven't decided what I'm going to pick. Any suggestions?<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://btt2.wordpress.com/"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5358681761651136018" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; WIDTH: 100px; CURSOR: pointer; HEIGHT: 34px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBMOZWZrn0rnCvOLHXm95WCENEBtMHsgksbhOpvDmOG3e7YVFr2Sq_6LAR9-sU2S6BOl9wjyiFih0r1wBuAprTuzPk1DnO2X-Omn78RC4Ph4C5vG2v8Mxe0sQtEBH6r23F2wEpY3dnEmY/s200/btt2.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br />~SwingsetSwingsethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08977812625256576736noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2291090818203551622.post-21759257175965905292009-08-16T17:53:00.005-04:002009-08-16T18:02:49.698-04:00ZombiesOne of the courses I developed teaches students how to write code for computer games on a cell phone. When we get to the part where you learn the code to move an animated character around the screen, one of the animation examples I use is a green zombie. <a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEO0lc7683w3NBUiAzYxtWHw4jHXjelVBtOyfoY5TIB5tYDYA-jf28WCyP6aLuWSpBfN0bsW0VcgbOc2VUoTNxSrlxTiwm1H0-uU1Pf5PBwo5jMcm1osryKQ_FRaJl7ZOB3k3z9zX8kaw/s1600-h/walkS3.png"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: left; cursor: pointer; width: 96px; height: 96px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEO0lc7683w3NBUiAzYxtWHw4jHXjelVBtOyfoY5TIB5tYDYA-jf28WCyP6aLuWSpBfN0bsW0VcgbOc2VUoTNxSrlxTiwm1H0-uU1Pf5PBwo5jMcm1osryKQ_FRaJl7ZOB3k3z9zX8kaw/s200/walkS3.png" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5370683938632807410" border="0" /></a>When developing the example, I did a Google search for zombies and came across a blog that posed the following question:<br /><br />You are backed into an alley by a pack of zombies. You have:<br /><br />1. One weapon<br />2. One song blasting on the radio<br />3. One famous person to fight alongside you<br /><br />Me:<br /><br />1. A crowbar.<br />2. <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UYnySGM9dQA">Bad Moon Rising</a> by Creedence Clearwater Revival. <br />3. Buffy. I never got the whole Edward/Twilight attraction thing when the movie came out. When I saw this <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RZwM3GvaTRM">video</a>, I knew I’d want Buffy by my side when the zombies attack. Buffy rules.<br /><br />How about you?Swingsethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08977812625256576736noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2291090818203551622.post-22237705267253009472009-08-14T10:46:00.005-04:002009-08-14T12:51:51.842-04:00SocksSo – I was putting some socks in my sock drawer today thinking I needed to get some more socks. As I tried to shove the clean socks in the drawer, poking in those socks that were sticking their little heads out the top of the drawer and gasping for air, I realized that I must already own about 100 socks. <br /><br />There is a reason for this. <br /><br />In 6th grade I only had one pair of socks that didn’t have holes in them. They were a pair of white polyester knee socks. We had a music teacher who taped a scale of piano keys (starting with C) on the floor at the front of the class. Each day she would call on a student to come up, take off their shoes, and stand on the first key in the scale. She would then call out a note and you would then move to step on the corresponding piano key. <br /><br />I wore those white polyester knee socks to school every single day until my name was called to take my turn on those piano keys. To this day I can not identify the keys on a piano. My daughter – when she was 7 – tried to teach me but I was incapable of remembering. I am, however, prepared for the event that I may have to take my shoes off at any given moment.<br /><br />~SwingsetSwingsethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08977812625256576736noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2291090818203551622.post-21849690501555392872009-08-13T13:22:00.009-04:002009-08-13T16:37:36.437-04:00Recent Worst Books<p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family:verdana;"><span style="font-size:100%;">Today’s <a href="http://btt2.wordpress.com/2009/07/09/unread-2/#comments">Booking Through Thursday</a></span><span style="font-size:100%;"> topic asks for the worst book you’ve read lately. <span style="font-size:+0;"> </span>I belong to two book clubs and most books I would list as the worst I’ve read would be book club selections. <span style="font-size:+0;"> </span>I like being exposed to books I might not normally choose – and some of my favorite books have been book club selections – but the same can be said for the worst.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family:verdana;"></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family:verdana;"><span style="font-size:100%;">Here are the most recent:</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family:verdana;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold"><span style="FONT-STYLE: italic"></span></span></span></p><blockquote><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family:verdana;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold"><span style="FONT-STYLE: italic">The Orientalist</span> by Tom Reiss</span> – This book was great for the historians and anthropologists in my book club. <span style="font-size:+0;"></span>It was a tough read for the rest of us.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family:verdana;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold"><span style="FONT-STYLE: italic">Eat Pray and Love</span> by Elizabeth Gilbert</span> – I couldn’t get past her narcissistic self-indulgence. Although I tip my hat to her ingenious idea.<?xml:namespace prefix = o /><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family:verdana;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold"><span style="FONT-STYLE: italic">Exposed: The Toxic Chemistry of Everyday Products</span> by Mark Shapiro</span> – Too redundant.<span style="font-size:+0;"> </span>Reading one article on the internet summed the entire book up quite succinctly.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family:verdana;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold"><span style="FONT-STYLE: italic">The Other Boleyn Girl</span> by Philippa Gregory</span><span style="font-size:+0;"> </span>- Just didn't grab me.</span></p></blockquote><p class="MsoNormal" face="verdana"><span style="font-size:100%;">Rather than end this with a list of the worst books I’ve read recently, here is a list of some of the best books I have read recently:</span></p><blockquote><p class="MsoNormal" style="FONT-FAMILY: verdana"><span style="font-size:100%;"><o:p></o:p><span style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold; FONT-STYLE: italic">City of </span><?xml:namespace prefix = st1 /><st1:city style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold; FONT-STYLE: italic"><st1:place>Thieves</st1:place></st1:city><span style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold"> by </span><st1:personname style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold">D</st1:personname><span style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold">avid Benioff </span>– A great and grim story.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><span class="ptbrand" style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold"><span style="FONT-STYLE: italic">Memoir From Antproof Case</span> by Mark Helprin</span> – Wonderful tale. Thrilling descriptions of flying a bomber plane. The main character loved his women fantastically.<br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><st1:personname style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold; FONT-STYLE: italic">D</st1:personname><span style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold"><span style="FONT-STYLE: italic">ivisadero</span> by Michael Ondaatje</span> – A beautiful and poetic story.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold; FONT-STYLE: italic">She Got up off the Couch: And Other Heroic Acts from </span><st1:place style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold; FONT-STYLE: italic"><st1:city>Mooreland</st1:city>, <st1:state>Indiana</st1:state></st1:place><span style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold"> by Haven Kimmel</span> – Joyful, tearful, and inspiring.</span></p></blockquote><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:100%;"></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><o:p></o:p>~Swingset<o:p></o:p></span></p><blockquote style="FONT-FAMILY: verdana"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://btt2.wordpress.com/"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5358681761651136018" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; WIDTH: 100px; CURSOR: pointer; HEIGHT: 34px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBMOZWZrn0rnCvOLHXm95WCENEBtMHsgksbhOpvDmOG3e7YVFr2Sq_6LAR9-sU2S6BOl9wjyiFih0r1wBuAprTuzPk1DnO2X-Omn78RC4Ph4C5vG2v8Mxe0sQtEBH6r23F2wEpY3dnEmY/s200/btt2.jpg" border="0" /></a></blockquote><span style="font-family:arial;font-size:100%;"><br /></span>Swingsethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08977812625256576736noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2291090818203551622.post-69741671774231654262009-08-12T17:37:00.005-04:002009-08-12T18:33:14.746-04:00Women Swimmin' at Cayuga Lake<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJ7mtXUx78l7lQq6hW-ABZZdW7rSXkPD7gUpzX1F9t9GGp6qb5Hh7td0jHC-yIKbqDcy6VjYT52X6O53HKbR3L-2ipyTssOkGbXZWXtMOthDpKyAKKScRTAjJDmaIg2IXK8o2aEZ8hcgc/s1600-h/groupSwim1.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 112px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJ7mtXUx78l7lQq6hW-ABZZdW7rSXkPD7gUpzX1F9t9GGp6qb5Hh7td0jHC-yIKbqDcy6VjYT52X6O53HKbR3L-2ipyTssOkGbXZWXtMOthDpKyAKKScRTAjJDmaIg2IXK8o2aEZ8hcgc/s200/groupSwim1.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5369195384035250770" /></a><br />On Saturday I participated in a fundraising event called <a href="http://www.womenswimmin.org/">Women Swimmin’ </a>for our local <a href="http://www.hospicare.org/">Hospice Care Center</a>. After my oldest son’s death I went to grief counseling at the Hospice Center. I wanted to give something back so I decided to sign up for Women Swimmin’ this year. So on August 8th, along with almost 300 other women, I swam the width of Cayuga Lake. We had to raise a minimum of $125 to participate in this event. It was a 1.2 mile swim – with lots of kayakers along for support. <br /><br />The swimmers were divided up into two waves. Each wave was divided up into pods of about 15 women each. A huge two story boat took one wave at a time from the dock at the Ithaca Yacht Club over to the shore at Ivy Point – on the other side of the lake. Each pod took turns jumping from the boat into the lake. Kayakers were there waiting for us and escorted us the 1.2 miles back as we swam.<br /><br />I loved being a part of this community event. I can’t find the right words to describe how it felt to be one of the women who participated in this swim. It was exhilarating, emotional, and empowering. I was in the second wave of women and as we boarded the boat we were cheered on by all those who came to watch us swim. My mom and step-dad were there – as well as my husband and my two youngest children. When the boat left the dock, all the women on board let out huge cheers of joy. It brought tears to my eyes. We passed the first wave as they were swimming back – and many of them stopped in the water to cheer us on. It was amazing seeing these women bobbing in the water and waving to us! When the boat reached Ivy Point all the women on board let out another cheer of joy! There were about a hundred kayakers in the water waiting for us and they enthusiastically returned our cheers! <br /><br />I was pretty confident I could do the swim – but it was also comforting to know that I could rest at any point by hanging on to the end of one of the kayaks escorting us. When I first leapt into the water I couldn’t see when I surfaced . I couldn’t figure out what happened – did I loose my goggles and my contacts? I immediately panicked – how would I be able to see to swim back? It took me about a minute to realize that I still had my goggles on – but they were filled up with water. I emptied the water out and tried to start swimming but I was still panicky. I couldn’t relax – and my goggles kept filling up with water. My pod was pulling away from me and calling for me to catch up. I started thinking that this was the most foolish thing I’d ever attempted – I didn’t eat enough to keep me strong. I already felt weak. My arms were already tired from struggling. What was I going to do?<br /><br />I know this sounds silly – but I was so panicky that it took me about five minutes before I realized that my goggles were too loose! It finally occurred to me that all I had to do was make my way over to a kayaker for help. One had already spotted me struggling – and was making his way over to me. He asked if I was alright - so I asked him if I could come over for help. He tightened my goggles up for me, introduced himself (Jeff), and said he would stay with me for the duration of the swim. He must have pegged me for a hysterical swimmer (which I was at that point). <br /><br />By this time my pod had long left me behind. I was alone. I just put my face in the water and swam. Jeff stayed to my right. There was a strong current that, along with the wind, pulling me to the right – but with Jeff on my right I stayed on course. I quickly learned not to fight the rolling waves and let my body roll over them as I swam. Once I started to swim, I swam the whole way without stopping to rest. I felt strong and was never out of breath. I stopped only once when I passed a marker to ask Jeff if it was the half-way point – which he confirmed. When I passed the ¾ marker I knew I was about a quarter mile out so I picked up my pace. I can’t describe how it felt to be coming in close to the dock and seeing everyone there cheering.<br /><br />This wasn’t a race – but I did time myself to see how long it would take me. From my leap into the water until I climbed up onto the dock it took me 1 hour and 4 minutes. Given that I probably lost 10 minutes to my initial difficulties, I estimate I did the 1.2 miles in 54 minutes. <br /><br />Allow me to strut a minute. I swam the width of Cayuga Lake without stopping. Two years ago I was 49 and never thought this kind of feat was achievable. I am now 51 and I swam 1.2 miles across Cayuga Lake without stopping. <br /><br /><strong>::</strong><em>chin up, shoulders back, struts to and fro</em><strong>::</strong> Oh yeah – I’m bad.<br /><br />~SwingsetSwingsethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08977812625256576736noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2291090818203551622.post-8760057947738607302009-08-11T21:51:00.018-04:002009-08-12T17:46:42.623-04:00Cayuga Lake Triathlon - Post Race Report<p class="MsoNormal">This was my best race yet – and it rained the whole time!<span style=""> </span>My overall time was 2 hours 21 minutes and 41 seconds.<span style=""> </span>I finished 345<sup>th</sup> out of 359 – so I wasn’t last!<span style=""> </span>I finished 17th out of 20 in my age group – so I didn’t place last here either!<span style=""> </span>I also finished 175 out of 214 women.<span style=""> </span>This race also included some of the worst pictures ever taken of me!<span style=""> </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p><span style="font-weight: bold;">Swim</span>:<span style=""> <a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKqGCyia5mI8LuvIu7V1Gn8nOGmQdYtvgdfS2xUmAPP-8-_nIYmF8_WXZmh_Ijl1OqR0PazBktQZmV9b7vPJDMc0lqZXjvalgywdUe-ug-_tB8TY9vSyRi_-X17qWxIG91Yn6efTGe73o/s1600-h/pjSwim.png"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 104px; height: 152px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKqGCyia5mI8LuvIu7V1Gn8nOGmQdYtvgdfS2xUmAPP-8-_nIYmF8_WXZmh_Ijl1OqR0PazBktQZmV9b7vPJDMc0lqZXjvalgywdUe-ug-_tB8TY9vSyRi_-X17qWxIG91Yn6efTGe73o/s200/pjSwim.png" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5368889659125956706" border="0" /></a> </span>I didn’t even need to get used to the water.<span style=""> </span>My only hesitation was to wait to let the pack of swimmers in my heat get ahead of me.<span style=""> </span>I didn't think I'd be able to hold my own with the faster swimmers so my strategy was to let the pack go first. This was a mistake.<span style=""> </span>It added about 3 minutes on to my swim time.<span style=""> </span>In retrospect, I would have been fine in the midst of all the swimmers. I did the 750 meter swim in 24 minutes and 41 seconds – I swam the whole time and never once stopped to rest.<span style=""> </span>I was very pleased with this swim.</p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-weight: bold;">T1</span>:<span style=""> </span>I am so happy with my transition time here!<span style=""> </span>I peeled off that wetsuit and got my sneakers, socks, shirt, and shorts on in a whirlwind of 3 minutes and 56 seconds!<span style=""> </span>This includes running from the water to the transition area!<span style=""> </span>I knocked 5 minutes off my usual T1 time!</p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p><span style="font-weight: bold;">Bike</span>:<span style=""> <a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi20alWbgZQdhzlNudUYpJvIAhHB7rehnquiQdtqJl3IvwslAbv0NhPwqeA0mbOHvLKInT7WdchCIOVzN8ZWraP-G_YdtGTOIB0X-iPxH3qviE1vq1eCuzPKIi2ZW3ZIbePDEymTw5hwXY/s1600-h/bike3.png"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 104px; height: 154px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi20alWbgZQdhzlNudUYpJvIAhHB7rehnquiQdtqJl3IvwslAbv0NhPwqeA0mbOHvLKInT7WdchCIOVzN8ZWraP-G_YdtGTOIB0X-iPxH3qviE1vq1eCuzPKIi2ZW3ZIbePDEymTw5hwXY/s200/bike3.png" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5368891675883457730" border="0" /></a></span>I had biked the course three times prior to the race – and each time I improved my time.<span style=""> </span>The day of the race was my best time ever.<span style=""> </span>The course starts out with a two mile hill with a 7% uphill grade.<span style=""> </span>I think I could have done it even faster but the rain made the road very wet on the downhill.<span style=""> </span>I went slower then I normally would have for the last two miles – but I’m just not experienced enough to go any faster then I did in the rain.<br /></p> <p class="MsoNormal">I am still very pleased with my 12 miles in 1 hour 12 minutes and 49 seconds.</p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-weight: bold;">T2</span>:<span style=""> </span>Another best for me!<span style=""> </span>1 minute and 10 seconds from bike to run!</p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Run</span>:<span style=""> </span>The run was my slowest event.<span style=""> </span>I had trained really hard for both the swimming and biking - and as a result, I had let my training for the run lapse too much. <span style=""> </span>It took me 39 minutes and 6 seconds to run the 5K.<span style=""> </span>Much too slow.<span style=""> <a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj60h30SMaLjWzCs0VS5GjKuwZIsGphoe-eASEu5LuV3HF8qiX5xlQSUHBrsOuGiRE3CYxPXVCg3zy-fJoT57nkp_U10Q2kfK465TGqhDon9IwRXBukWmLVbQLz9hEdXE_xPayYDXTOjGY/s1600-h/run2.png"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 106px; height: 153px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj60h30SMaLjWzCs0VS5GjKuwZIsGphoe-eASEu5LuV3HF8qiX5xlQSUHBrsOuGiRE3CYxPXVCg3zy-fJoT57nkp_U10Q2kfK465TGqhDon9IwRXBukWmLVbQLz9hEdXE_xPayYDXTOjGY/s200/run2.png" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5368892356519491906" border="0" /></a> </span>However, I ran with integrity – never once walked – and actually passed a few runners!</p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p>I am sad that this is the last triathlon of the season for me.<span style=""> </span>I am already planning how to train better this year for faster times next year!</p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p>None of my family was able to be at this race – so I didn’t have anyone here to cheer me on.<span style=""> </span>It was strange – and emotional - being by myself after I finished.<span style=""> </span>Never in my life could I have ever imagined myself doing this kind of thing.<span style=""> </span>I kept thinking how symbolic it was to wrap up the season going to the last race on my own.<span style=""> </span>I started this journey of learning to run and swim as a personal accomplishment – and this milestone saw me celebrating my achievements alone.<span style=""> </span>I was okay with that.</p>~Swingset <a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7O6tTGhKt6B-mI5e3qScyLk0C3InTHlqOjuljJOmRfBF5RzZCrrjgvAg7E1xINCIT73nP4Yx5eo4TDRDmPGtDgeBBX9rXschA63jvyJmfjCUlWhvtafaZAY-mM5ad4CSYtyXuskUs7i4/s1600-h/finish2.png"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 104px; height: 153px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7O6tTGhKt6B-mI5e3qScyLk0C3InTHlqOjuljJOmRfBF5RzZCrrjgvAg7E1xINCIT73nP4Yx5eo4TDRDmPGtDgeBBX9rXschA63jvyJmfjCUlWhvtafaZAY-mM5ad4CSYtyXuskUs7i4/s200/finish2.png" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5368892595929579314" border="0" /></a>Swingsethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08977812625256576736noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2291090818203551622.post-36771626315261935022009-08-01T21:56:00.002-04:002009-08-12T17:45:49.344-04:00Cayuga Lake Triathlon!My last Triathlon of the season tomorrow! Can't sleep....Swingsethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08977812625256576736noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2291090818203551622.post-52658607409429763132009-07-15T09:37:00.006-04:002009-08-12T17:48:30.288-04:00UnRead<p class="MsoNormal">It’s been a few weeks since I’ve done <a href="http://btt2.wordpress.com/2009/07/09/unread-2/#comments">Booking Through Thursday</a>.<span style=""> </span>I just love this topic!<span style=""><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"></p><blockquote>“So here today I present to you an Unread Books Challenge. <strong>Give me the list or take a picture of all the books you have stacked on your bedside table, hidden under the bed or standing in your shelf – the books you have not read, but keep meaning to.</strong> The books that begin to weigh on your mind. The books that make you cover your ears in conversation and say, ‘No! Don’t give me another book to read! I can’t finish the ones I have!’ “<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://btt2.wordpress.com/"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 100px; height: 34px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBMOZWZrn0rnCvOLHXm95WCENEBtMHsgksbhOpvDmOG3e7YVFr2Sq_6LAR9-sU2S6BOl9wjyiFih0r1wBuAprTuzPk1DnO2X-Omn78RC4Ph4C5vG2v8Mxe0sQtEBH6r23F2wEpY3dnEmY/s200/btt2.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5358681761651136018" border="0" /></a></blockquote><br /><br /><p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">These are the books by my bedside – and some have been in this pile for many years.<span style=""> </span>When I do finish one from this stack I replace it with a book from a whole other shelf containing “books on the queue!”</p> <p class="MsoNormal"><b style=""><i style="">The Elegance of the Hedgehog</i> by Muriel Barbery:<span style=""> </span><span style=""> </span></b>Since I read before falling asleep at night this bedside book is one that I’m actually reading right now.<span style=""> </span><span style=""> </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><b style=""><i style="">New Orleans Morning</i> by Julie Smith</b>:<span style=""> </span><span style=""> </span>I don’t usually read mysteries but this was about New Orleans and I couldn’t resist.<span style=""> </span>I’m saving it for a light read – which I need occasionally.</p> <p class="MsoNormal"><b style=""><i style="">Carved in Sand</i> by Cathryn Jakobson Ramin</b>:<span style=""> </span>I heard the author interview on NPR and had to get it.<span style=""> </span>It’s about all the different things you can do to enhance your memory.<span style=""> </span>Once I remember to read it I’ll be all set.</p> <p class="MsoNormal"><b style=""><i style="">Love Medicine</i> by Louise Erdrich</b>:<span style=""> </span>I love Louise Erdrich.<span style=""> </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><b style=""><i style="">Birds of America</i> by Lorrie Moore</b>:<span style=""> </span>I try to keep up with a book club I used to belong to when I lived in Syracuse.<span style=""> </span>I haven’t got to this one yet.</p> <p class="MsoNormal"><b style=""><i style="">Zorba The Greek</i> by Nikos Kazantzakis</b>:<span style=""> </span>I try to mix up my books with a classic now and then.</p> <p class="MsoNormal"><b style=""><i style="">The Story of Edgar Sawtelle</i> by David Wroblewski</b>:<span style=""> </span>This one is for my vacation read.</p> <p class="MsoNormal"><b style=""><i style="">The Reindeer People</i> by Peirs Vitebsky:</b> <span style=""> </span><span style=""> </span>I saw this in a <a href="http://www.salebooks.com/">Daedalus</a> <span style=""> </span> flyer and had to have it.</p> <p class="MsoNormal"><b style=""><i style="">We Were the Mulvaneys</i> by Joyce Carol Oates: </b><span style=""> </span>I enjoy her books.<span style=""> </span>She’s lecturing in town this summer and I plan to go see her.</p> <p class="MsoNormal"><b style=""><i style="">The Ghost Stories of Muriel Spark</i> by Muriel Spark</b>:<span style=""> </span>Who couldn’t resist a book of ghost stories by the author of “The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie?”</p> <p class="MsoNormal"><b style=""><i style="">Three Cups of Tea</i> by Greg Mortenson:</b><span style=""> </span>I actually started this for book club but haven’t finished it yet.</p> <p class="MsoNormal"><b style=""><i style="">Total Immersion</i> by Terry Laughlin</b>:<span style=""> </span>This is a work in progress.<span style=""> </span>It has changed my life.</p> <p class="MsoNormal"><b style=""><i style="">A Shooting Star</i> by Wallace Stegner</b>:<span style=""> </span>I love this author but haven’t gotten to this one yet.</p> <p class="MsoNormal"><b style=""><i style="">An Artist’s Way</i> by Julia Cameron</b>:<span style=""> </span>Just because I want to be an artist someday.</p> <p class="MsoNormal"><b style=""><i style="">Pictures at an Exhibition</i> by Sara Houghteling:</b><span style=""> </span>My sister lent this to me and I’ve finished it.<span style=""> </span>I like to keep books that I’ve finished by my bedside (before moving them to the "read" shelf!) so I can look at them for a while.<span style=""> </span>Each time I look at a book I’ve read some excerpt will pop into my head.</p> <p class="MsoNormal"><b style=""><i style="">Freddy and Fredericka</i> by Mark Helprin:</b><span style=""> </span>I just love this author too.<span style=""> </span>I’m hoping to start this one soon.</p> <p class="MsoNormal"><b style=""><i style="">The Lives They Left Behind</i> by Penney and Stastny</b>:<span style=""> </span>I heard about this book in our local newspaper.<span style=""> </span>The story haunted me so much that I had to have the book.<span style=""> </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><b style=""><i style="">Tuesdays with Morrie</i> by Mitch Albom:</b><span style=""> </span>This was a “used book gift” one of my book clubs does during the winter holiday time from two years ago.</p> <p class="MsoNormal"><b style=""><i style="">Vinegar Hill</i> by A. Manette Ansay</b>:<span style=""> </span>Another “used book gift” from three years ago.</p> <p class="MsoNormal"><b style=""><i style="">Klutz Juggling for the Complete Klutz</i> by John Cassidy and B.C. Rimbeaux</b>:<span style=""> </span>Because someday I want to learn to juggle.</p> <p class="MsoNormal"><b style=""><i style="">Collected Works of Ralph Waldo Emerson</i>:</b><span style=""> </span>There is an essay in here that my husband recommended I read.</p><p class="MsoNormal">~Swingset<br /></p><p class="MsoNormal"><br /><span style=""> </span><span style=""> </span></p>Swingsethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08977812625256576736noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2291090818203551622.post-12008605835909435042009-07-14T16:06:00.012-04:002009-07-14T17:51:18.587-04:00Better DFL then DNFOh – it’s been too long since I’ve posted – and I want to post about my last race. I did not finish last!<br /><br />The triathlon took place in one of the most beautiful lakes I’ve ever seen. Green Lakes State Park has two <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Meromictic_lake">meromictic lakes</a> – one of which the swim portion of the triathlon took place in. A meromictic lake is a lake that does not turn over in spring or fall – therefore the upper and lower layers do not mix. As a result, the two lakes are a beautiful turquoise green. There are only 7 of these types of lakes in the United States – of which 6 are naturally occurring.<br /><br />There were 20 competitors in the Empire State Senior Games and I placed 17th with a time of 2 hours 12 minutes 21 seconds. We were the last heat in the swim (we were tagged onto the end of the Syracuse YMCA Triathlon). I spent a few minutes getting used to the water and getting comfortable with front crawl breathing before the gun went off.<br /><br />I have to say – the swim part of this race was a bit tough. It was early in the year so I didn’t get much lake swim time in the weeks prior to the race. While I had no problem with the distance in a pool – I found it tough in the lake this time. My arms got tired and I had to side kick more than I’d have liked to simply due to fatigue. It is tough to get lake swim time in CNY before June 20th – many of the lakes nearby are simply too cold even for a wetsuit. However, I still had a reasonably well swim time – and was happy to come in 16th at 19 minutes 11 seconds.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7ldT0unpk1pr4kXBvYiDUKU3wN1kNx2tlfzqp53cwKMTyPVwPbRIhLGzaJEycWnXQWIuiRQHNIk-PM0cePMMLFX7APAl7-9KsCHx4L8-5neS5RNvcuBvk8D6j3EiPhK038Wef8mkX7cA/s1600-h/waterFinishSenior09.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 186px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7ldT0unpk1pr4kXBvYiDUKU3wN1kNx2tlfzqp53cwKMTyPVwPbRIhLGzaJEycWnXQWIuiRQHNIk-PM0cePMMLFX7APAl7-9KsCHx4L8-5neS5RNvcuBvk8D6j3EiPhK038Wef8mkX7cA/s200/waterFinishSenior09.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5358410702378202498" border="0" /></a> Here I am coming out of the water and taking off my cap.<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />I was ready for the bike part – had spent time both in spinning class developing strength and time on the road getting better at shifting gears and doing hills. This course had a lot of up and down hills. There were two very long up-hill sections where participants were getting off of their bikes and walking them up the hill. I was determined not to do this – and there were times when I was biking slower than some were walking. Now that I know what to expect from this part of the course I will be better prepared to deal with short, steep up and down hill climbs. I did the bike in 1 hour 7 minutes 59 seconds – putting me at 19th out of 20 for this portion.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg64TlzWXLpb42cdEtLwle91u8ROQSCr4nxfAVDtHqb1Kt0C4XJlErHjBoqI-ttbzwtETjD8RPFTHg63mtk3AV7II06r8K4kc_M5tBdivEnq9jRDm1Qm1erZgbkpLxkBefNBKGRqelA0f0/s1600-h/bikeStartSenior09.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 104px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg64TlzWXLpb42cdEtLwle91u8ROQSCr4nxfAVDtHqb1Kt0C4XJlErHjBoqI-ttbzwtETjD8RPFTHg63mtk3AV7II06r8K4kc_M5tBdivEnq9jRDm1Qm1erZgbkpLxkBefNBKGRqelA0f0/s200/bikeStartSenior09.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5358411071159331170" border="0" /></a><br /><br />Starting out on the bike.<br /><br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVdHKoS5vXOXXsuIKAvgIBOLs2TOMe9caKFLrlEwNQPld41m6u8E3tBo22p8DRn2nvvDTA1K6lpmc4M-1vT4JDLa3udkQphMPp_t_o5RUU7YIn8nwfHk3-HDla4TgIipoaoLVbOAlBEf0/s1600-h/casualBike.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 125px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVdHKoS5vXOXXsuIKAvgIBOLs2TOMe9caKFLrlEwNQPld41m6u8E3tBo22p8DRn2nvvDTA1K6lpmc4M-1vT4JDLa3udkQphMPp_t_o5RUU7YIn8nwfHk3-HDla4TgIipoaoLVbOAlBEf0/s200/casualBike.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5358411297977594514" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br />I may look casual here – but in reality I was frantically looking for the start of the bike race!<br /><br /><br /><br />The run was still tough for me. I have to start doing some interval and pace training to improve my speed here. I was also tired at this point. My time for the 5K was 37 minutes and 18 seconds – placing me at 17th in this category. There was this one unbelievably steep hill in the run – with three wonderful cheerleaders at the top who cheered and encouraged me all the way to the top!<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgseYEn-i7-9uwp1rno319Rv7d2gDNmPOreyVHiEFRZRMiSiFNPvbBfaX4Uv-EKi0ej6noxWHlNfmOU81s2CX365F82GwdwnEsPUidmS8x2R5CrrJgw3JMwKkPUyhMY03_u_7GDsvrT2x4/s1600-h/rearFinishSenior09.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 158px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgseYEn-i7-9uwp1rno319Rv7d2gDNmPOreyVHiEFRZRMiSiFNPvbBfaX4Uv-EKi0ej6noxWHlNfmOU81s2CX365F82GwdwnEsPUidmS8x2R5CrrJgw3JMwKkPUyhMY03_u_7GDsvrT2x4/s200/rearFinishSenior09.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5358411535785082178" border="0" /></a>I just crack up at this picture of me running! I really look like I’m dragging my butt to the finish line here! Yes I was tired – but my posture wasn’t quite that bad at the finish. Something about that angle and the color blocks on my shirt make me look like I’m really hunched over!<br /><br /><br />I think I can knock about 25 minutes off my time for next year – which might actually enable me to place in my age bracket! I need to strengthen my arms for the lake swim, work on a quicker swim to run transition, and run more prior to the race next year. A racing bike would also give me a tremendous improvement in my biking time.<br /><br />Here’s Coach John trying to look tough as he delivers the “Go get ‘em” speech!<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSsUvpNUX3RFYDpAcMic-ynmqu5Wl8GmFd1MSJdGeDBu8Ca5UXhjj4ciuzuX0ZE9s6e3xuWFsV-PT5vMUmlgnkSGZc9qmM6MJy9HbiIrQvQc8FqwlNBNRJEAF9_vSKx8s8xOjKMwUisHU/s1600-h/coachJohn.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 173px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSsUvpNUX3RFYDpAcMic-ynmqu5Wl8GmFd1MSJdGeDBu8Ca5UXhjj4ciuzuX0ZE9s6e3xuWFsV-PT5vMUmlgnkSGZc9qmM6MJy9HbiIrQvQc8FqwlNBNRJEAF9_vSKx8s8xOjKMwUisHU/s200/coachJohn.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5358411868974809282" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />~SwingsetSwingsethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08977812625256576736noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2291090818203551622.post-13744001857678651362009-06-20T06:15:00.003-04:002009-07-14T16:30:49.253-04:00Empire State Senior GamesI'm heading out for my second triathlon of the season. The New York State Senior Games! Am I nervous? You betcha!<br /><br />~SwingsetSwingsethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08977812625256576736noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2291090818203551622.post-29534485568983001272009-06-11T10:53:00.006-04:002009-06-11T20:02:21.549-04:00Niche BooksI’ve just discovered a blog devoted to books and I am completely smitten with this site (I just love that word – smitten!)! The blog is called <a href="http://btt2.wordpress.com/">Booking Through Thursday</a> and it posts a weekly question about books. This week’s posting is related to niche books:<br /><br /><blockquote><span style="font-size:85%;">“There are certain types of books that I more or less assume all readers read. (Novels, for example.)<br /><br />But then there are books that only YOU read. Instructional manuals for fly-fishing. How-to books for spinning yarn. How to cook the perfect souffle. Rebuilding car engines in three easy steps. Dog training for dummies. Rewiring your house without electrocuting yourself. Tips on how to build a NASCAR course in your backyard. Stuff like that.<br /><br />What niche books do YOU read?” </span></blockquote> <br />What a great question! I love books about Art. I have several categories of Art books – on techniques (drawing, painting, and clay), works by artists, and biographies of artists. Most recently I am studying <u>A Drawing Manual</u> by Thomas Eakins and Cedric Emanuel’s <u>Canberra Sketchbook</u> – both of which I’ve picked up at a used book sale that occurs twice a year here in Ithaca. My most favorite book that I refer back to time and time again is <u>The Creative Habit: Learn It and Use It For Life</u> by Twyla Tharp. I’ve <a href="http://next50blog.blogspot.com/2009/01/staying-on-track-with-twyla.html">blogged about this book</a> in the past.<br /><br />I also love gardening books. The two I’m referencing most right now are <u>Labyrinths</u> by Virginia Westbury and <u>Gardens of New Orleans</u> by Douglas and Hardy. I have hopes to convert my backyard into one that has an NO look and feel to it – a wrought iron backdrop with a foreground consisting of decadent shades of viridian and orange – and a large labyrinth of stone to walk when seeking peace.<br /><br />I’m going to try to participate in BTT each Thursday. What are your niche books?<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://btt2.wordpress.com/"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 100px; height: 34px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZqtYDlNIL3VktjUVyQcfRlI2ipyVffuh7VraGt-gH6Zgz-qrcjz4avEHyCgf6SLXKsKJPBDL9G6vsxzKYxEuTwHb32GFxRkTIkTjSLPOQbwiz7JGyJnVpRyIjDXlumtsXz0ATn_2Y2l8/s200/btt2.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5346086638129727826" border="0" /></a>Swingsethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08977812625256576736noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2291090818203551622.post-79993984829187004192009-05-28T08:03:00.001-04:002009-05-28T08:09:05.446-04:00Note To SelfI will not acquire any more effin' pets that require aquariums, large amounts of water, filters, pumps, heating elements, UV lights, warming rocks, bedding of any kind, or water bottles. <br /><br />No pets that poop in a cage. <br /><br />No cute little bunnies, cool turtles, nifty tadpoles that morph to fantastic frogs, caterpillars that become butterflies, entertaining hermit crabs, bearded dragons, lizards, salamanders, fish, baby ducks, geese or chickens. No birds. Even if they sing. <br /><br />Note to those who live with me: Intervention may be required.Swingsethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08977812625256576736noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2291090818203551622.post-37096893709029197332009-05-03T11:27:00.004-04:002009-07-14T16:32:00.053-04:00First Triathlon of the year: AftermathI'm home in time for Sunday Breakfast! The rest of my family went out for breakfast while I did the biking portion of the triathlon. But I hate to miss my bacon and egg Sunday breakfast - so I cooked it for myself when I got home from the race.<br /><br />This year's YMCA triathlon was much more difficult for me than last year's race. I was much better prepared - and in much better shape - last year.<br /><br />This year I got really sick about two months before the race. I came down with a sinus infection with a fever that lasted 5 days. Then I developed bronchitis. I was unable to train for about 4 weeks - and then I was so winded as I tried to swim or run.<br /><br />I almost didn't do the race. My husband encouraged me to try anyway - that it didn't matter how long it took me - that finishing in itself is an accomplishment - not how quickly you do it.<br /><br />So I did it. And I finished. I might have come in last again this year - but I finished. And it was really tough. <br /><br />The swim was good - it was a short 9 laps. (I can't believe I just wrote that! Last year this time I was just able to do the 9 laps and had just learned to breath properly.)<br /><br />The biking was tough at first - my thighs would scream at me up each hill. However, I got in a rhythm about 3 miles in (15 miles total) and my legs just kept pumpin' away.<br /><br />The run was really tough! It was 4.7 miles of sheer determination to finish. My legs were like rubber at first, then they turned to lead. <br /><br />The credit for finishing really goes to those I love.<br /><br />J - my husband - for encouraging and supporting me every step of the way. I kept hearing him say to me - what are your goals?<br /><br />DJ - my oldest son who taught me to keep going no matter what you are faced with. He never let his disabilities get in the way of his joy for life.<br /><br />E - my oldest daughter whose recent <a href="http://akashicdream.blogspot.com/2009/04/good-times.html">trek to New Zealand </a>inspired me to keep taking one more step. I can always do one more step.<br /><br />A - my youngest son who has true athletic ability. I had to have something to do with that, didn't I? Say yes!<br /><br />M - my youngest daughter who has sheer determination and true grit. This little girl has an amazing ability to pick herself back up after a fall and keep going.<br /><br />Okay - I know I'm getting all sentimental and gushy. I am allowed to do that today. <br /><br />~SwingsetSwingsethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08977812625256576736noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2291090818203551622.post-89477124169416648052009-05-03T05:55:00.002-04:002009-08-12T17:49:48.398-04:00First Triathlon of the year: YMCAI'm off to my first triathlon of the year.<br /><br />~SwingsetSwingsethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08977812625256576736noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2291090818203551622.post-71619810137363887722009-04-30T10:25:00.015-04:002009-05-03T11:25:24.453-04:00My own literary diversityI love books. I love the opportunity to talk about books. I came across a series of questions designed to identify whether or not one's reading is diverse from a blog, <a href="http://alonewitheachother.blogspot.com/">Alone With Each Other</a>, that I occasionally drop in on. Many of the books listed below were selections from book clubs I’ve been in or am currently in. However, in many cases I've enjoyed the author's writing so much that I continued to read other books by those same authors. <br /><br />So when I came across this list of questions in another blog, I couldn’t resist posting my own here – and added the books I listen to on tape (I have an 85 minute commute):<br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">Name the last book by a female author that you've read.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">Audio</span>: Gosh, most of my recent audio books have been by women! <span style="font-style:italic;">To Kill a Mocking Bird </span>by Harper Lee; <span style="font-style:italic;">Monsters of Templeton</span> by Lauren Groff; <span style="font-style:italic;">Jane Eyre</span> by Charlotte Bronte; <span style="font-style:italic;">Paint it Black</span> by Janet Fitch. I’ve listened to all of these from September 2008 up to two weeks ago – when I finished <span style="font-style:italic;">To Kill a Mocking Bird</span>.<br /><br />Every one of these books was a wonderful experience to listen to.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">Books</span>: <span style="font-style:italic;">The Lace Reader</span> by Brunonia Barry (January 2009); <span style="font-style:italic;">The Daily Coyote</span> by Shreve Stockton (December 2008). I tend to read more books by women. It’s not a deliberate choice – I just seem to be drawn in more by the story.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">Name the last book by an African or African-American author that you've read.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">Audio</span>: <span style="font-style:italic;">Always Outnumbered, Always Outgunned</span>, <span style="font-style:italic;">Walking the Dog</span>, <span style="font-style:italic;">Devil in a Blue Dress</span> all by Walter Mosley (Fall 2006); <span style="font-style:italic;">The Number 1 Ladies Detective Agency</span> by Alexander McCall Smith (February 2007)<br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">Books</span>: One of my favorite authors is both African-American and a woman. I love Zora Neale Hurston’s writing. I was first introduced to her through a book club pick – <span style="font-style:italic;">Their Eyes Were Watching God </span>(August 2006). I loved her writing so much that I later picked up <span style="font-style:italic;">Seraph on the Suwannee</span> (October 2007). I’ve also read and enjoyed <span style="font-style:italic;">The Known World</span> by Edward P. Jones (May 2005), and <span style="font-style:italic;">Tears of the Giraffe</span> by Alexander McCall Smith (June 2007).<br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">Name one from a Latino/a author.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">Audio</span>: <span style="font-style:italic;">Zorro</span> by Isabel Allende (December 2006)<br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">Books</span>: Another easy one for me. Isabelle Allende is another one of my favorite authors. I started with her book <span style="font-style:italic;">The House of Spirits</span> (another book club selection August 2003). This one is on my list to read again. I was so thrilled with her writing I went on to read<span style="font-style:italic;"> Daughter of Fortune</span> (May 2006) and <span style="font-style:italic;">Portrait in Sepia</span> (April 2008).<br /><span style="font-weight:bold;"><br />How about one from an Asian country or Asian-American?</span><br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">Audio</span>: <span style="font-style:italic;">The Good Earth</span> by Pearl S. Buck. <br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">Books</span>: I just finished reading <span style="font-style:italic;">SnowFlower and the Secret Fan</span> by Lisa See. It was last months book club selection. One book that I have read by choice was <span style="font-style:italic;">A Good Scent From a Strange Mountain</span> by Robert Olen Butler. This is a compilation of short stories about Vietnamese immigrants in New Orleans. Vietnamese immigrants in New Orleans? Who could resist that? I read this book in July of 2006 and I am still haunted by images from some of the stories within. From Spring of 1995 to 2001 I read a lot by Amy Tan.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">What about a GLBT writer?</span><br /><br />Well – I didn’t know what GLBT meant. And I live in Ithaca. And I couldn’t even make a guess based on the blog I found these questions in. So I googled GLBT and found it stands for Gay Lesbian Bi-Sexual Trans-Gender. Okay – but I still didn’t know of any authors I read that fit into this category – until I found a list of GLBT authors. <br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">Books</span>: Willa Cather. I love her writing and have been working my way through all of her novels since I first read <span style="font-style:italic;">My Antonia</span> in October of 1999. Another book I still think about and want to read again is <span style="font-style:italic;">The Country of the Pointed Firs </span>(August 2004) by Sarah Orne Jewet. Like Cather, Jewet is a master at creating vivid descriptions of the setting her novels take place in. Other authors include, but are not limited to, David Sedaris, Anais Nin, Virginia Woolf, William Carlos Williams. Tennessee Williams, Truman Capote, Edna St. Vincent Millay, and Gregory Maguire. <br /><br />Lastly, there is another blog I follow, <a href="http://you-would-think.blogspot.com/">You Would Think</a>. I love the author's writing style and point of view on life and am eagerly awaiting to read her first published work. <br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">Why not name an Israeli/Arab/Turk/Persian writer, if you're feeling lucky?<br /></span><br />I read <span style="font-style:italic;">Reading Lolita in Tehran</span> by Azar Fafisi in Spring of 2005. Middle East novels seem to be a popular theme with both the book clubs I’m currently in – and I’m beginning to feel like I’ve been reading the same story (albeit well-written) too many times. In the past year alone I’ve read <span style="font-style:italic;">The Kite Runner</span> and <span style="font-style:italic;">A Thousand Splendid Suns</span> by Khalid Hosseini, <span style="font-style:italic;">The Space Between Us</span> by Thrity Umrigar<br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">Any other "marginalized" authors you've read lately?</span><br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">Books</span>: If Native American is considered marginalized, then I’d include Louise Erdrich. I read <span style="font-style:italic;">The Master Butcher’s Singing Club</span> in July of 2002, <span style="font-style:italic;">The Painted Drum</span> in September of 2006, and have her <span style="font-style:italic;">Love Medicine</span> in the queue.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">Your turn....</span><br /><br />~SwingsetSwingsethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08977812625256576736noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2291090818203551622.post-81181313727204378702009-04-30T08:35:00.001-04:002009-04-30T08:37:40.206-04:00Feeling OverwhelmedIt’s been a long while since I last posted. There are several reasons for this. <br /><br />First, I’d been experiencing a feeling of overwhelming doom that started after my oldest son died that just kept getting worse. I’m learning that this is a common symptom of grief. I’m starting to feel better. It was gradual – where I’d have a day or two each week where I didn’t feel that way. The past month or so has been much better. <br /><br />The other reason is because this semester has been an extremely busy one for me. I was asked to serve as Interim Chair of our department while our Chair was on sabbatical. In addition, I kept my normal course load because we needed the extra money. I’ve had very little time for anything extraneous.<br /><br />I’ve turned the corner on my work load and am managing my grief better – so I’m ready to return to the things I love. Spending more time with my family, my artwork, and my new blog.Swingsethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08977812625256576736noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2291090818203551622.post-9566347719864602562009-01-28T20:41:00.009-05:002009-08-12T17:51:12.333-04:00My first goal for my next 50When I moved to Ithaca in August of 2006, one of the first things I noticed was how many runners there were here. I was not particularly athletic and I was also overweight. I thought I might give this running thing a try. My very first attempt was that fall – under cover of night. I didn’t want anyone to see me run.<br /><br />Night 1: The sun sets. It is pitch black outside. I talk my two youngest kids into going with me. I start running down the street and the first thing that happens is I wet my pants. I go home humiliated. Remember – I have had four children.<br /><br />Night 2: The sun sets. I try again – better prepared. I talk my two youngest children into running with me (they were 8 and 10 at the time). I run down the street – which is all downhill. I go about 1/8 of a mile and turn around. I now have to run uphill. As I’m huffing and puffing up the hill, my children are skipping sideways along side of me. It is also garbage night – so they run off to inspect everyone’s garbage and run back to me – chattering away. I cannot answer them.<br /><br />Night 3: There is no more running.<br /><br />Night 4: I take up Tai Chi.<br /><br />My next attempt at running was in May of 2007 – I decided to try running a quarter of a mile on a trail by our house. It was tough! I was out of breath and I wanted to quit - but I made myself finish. I thought I’d try again the next day. After about two weeks, when I realized that it was getting easier, I decided to make a little rule: I had to add a bit of distance on to each run – or - run at least as far as I did in the previous run. By the end of the summer I found I could run almost 3 miles. When I realized I was almost running the same distance as a 5K race – and there were certainly a lot of 5K races around this town - I decided to sign up for one that September.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1zWHSLKfDhzLjUBTuxJ2l0g2qsEJbSUqVvPrsV9Wom0L2pJIByMyAa0Qh7-i5zVf1OhdCXFrVMQmvKQLvmdrP-VbhmyRkJI6OTN8wrcfc7OTKaAm8mSFTC34Z0fZFBjRohK3lg0-utUI/s1600-h/pjCortlandASPCA5k.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 126px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1zWHSLKfDhzLjUBTuxJ2l0g2qsEJbSUqVvPrsV9Wom0L2pJIByMyAa0Qh7-i5zVf1OhdCXFrVMQmvKQLvmdrP-VbhmyRkJI6OTN8wrcfc7OTKaAm8mSFTC34Z0fZFBjRohK3lg0-utUI/s200/pjCortlandASPCA5k.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5296526829875103394" border="0" />My first race - for the ASPCA</a><br /><br />I was so nervous – I couldn’t sleep the night before the race! I came in third to the last – I beat the two walkers. But I finished!!!<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYaRXB-L1siDUxIpAOm8T9EwLam71wDECZJv4nB7gLTVhLbnPNmvcN6pO6EeQVXs2qBBLNar4KDeR_bxcK7VghXeyVmjBx5yV_FS2wR7GQkfWxD073ACMNC36r0OMbVhi7Y4puU-VE3X0/s1600-h/pjIthacaMile08Small.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 138px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYaRXB-L1siDUxIpAOm8T9EwLam71wDECZJv4nB7gLTVhLbnPNmvcN6pO6EeQVXs2qBBLNar4KDeR_bxcK7VghXeyVmjBx5yV_FS2wR7GQkfWxD073ACMNC36r0OMbVhi7Y4puU-VE3X0/s200/pjIthacaMile08Small.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5296527908958835906" border="0" /></a><br />So I tried another race a month later!<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYaRXB-L1siDUxIpAOm8T9EwLam71wDECZJv4nB7gLTVhLbnPNmvcN6pO6EeQVXs2qBBLNar4KDeR_bxcK7VghXeyVmjBx5yV_FS2wR7GQkfWxD073ACMNC36r0OMbVhi7Y4puU-VE3X0/s1600-h/pjIthacaMile08Small.jpg">Finishing hard!</a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />I was also turning 50 that fall and had been thinking about setting some goals for my next 50 years. I thought that if I could learn to run then maybe I could learn to swim. I started my first swimming class at the local YMCA in the fall of 2007. I just kept taking their swimming class over and over again all winter until I learned how to front crawl. Then I learned about a triathlon that the Y holds each May. I thought that if I could be comfortable with the breathing – and be able to swim 8 laps in 15 minutes – then maybe I could do the triathlon. I started practicing swimming twice a week (in addition to continuing with the swimming class) to become comfortable with the breathing and make the time requirement. I started running further so I could run the 5 miles. I knew how to ride a bike but had barely ridden on one in 20 or more years. So as soon as the winter weather subsided, I started bike riding. I ran, swam, and biked all through March and April of 2008.<br /><br />On May 4th, 2008 I raced my first triathlon! I came in last – but I finished!!!<br /><br />Then I started looking at what could be next. Triathlons with lake swimming. Half mile distances in lakes. I needed a lot of work to be able to swim a half of a mile in a lake. The Finger Lakes Tri was on September 21st at Canandaigua Lake. I practiced swimming all summer. I practiced biking all summer (well – not as much as I should have!). I started running longer distances. I ran 5 mile distances two mornings during the week and 5 to 9 mile distances on Sundays. This race also offered a triathlon for kids - so I signed both of my children up (ages 10 and 12 at that time).<br /><br />The morning of September 21st found me in a wetsuit in Canandaigua Lake waiting for the gun. The swim was the scariest thing I’ve ever done. I fought panic for about 3/4’s of the swim. But I did it – and finished last in this race too! My children had a great time too! It was so cool to have them be a part of this journey!<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWstabMqFUO_V6KL6LKhNvSIU1V3TQekP8JzkXYNs_drMDkMPzYlPwkarh17MQwEu-pEObdmp4bn5oPC5uWKuH1MDk7Et-k_GN79OdAO1FwGu9OhYHd9ai7iTWt7q634pABmuOuYf9mTE/s1600-h/FLTri.jpg"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 100px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWstabMqFUO_V6KL6LKhNvSIU1V3TQekP8JzkXYNs_drMDkMPzYlPwkarh17MQwEu-pEObdmp4bn5oPC5uWKuH1MDk7Et-k_GN79OdAO1FwGu9OhYHd9ai7iTWt7q634pABmuOuYf9mTE/s200/FLTri.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5296529250683752978" />Coming in last place at the Finger Lakes Tri</a><br /><br /><br />I had the support of my husband, my children, and two of my neighbors (who have since become my very good friends) – and could not have done any of this without any of them.<br /><br />My husband provided me with both emotional and motivational support from that first day I decided to try running. My children were very concerned about me running alone in the early mornings. All that summer they would get up with me no matter how early it was – and my son would run by my side while my daughter would ride her bike.<br /><br />My two neighbors were the runners who inspired me to run in the first place. I couldn’t let anyone see me run in the beginning – so for a long time I wouldn’t run when these two neighbors were out running for fear of letting them see how slow I was. I did finally I overcome that fear and started running with them. These two incredible women – Brenda and Cindy - provided me with a lot of advice and support.<br /><br />Brenda is a marathon runner and during her early training we ran many mornings together before the sun came up. It is because of her encouragement that I started running distances greater than 5 miles. She gave me a training program to follow and taught me how to interval train. She ran by my side for my second 5K (The Zeppy Run) when she could have easily left me in the dust. Brenda counted my swimming laps for me at the YMCA Tri and again ran by my side during the run part of it. When I got home from the race I found a gift from her on my front porch – a recovery drink and a bottle of wine!<br /><br />Cindy is a runner and a swimmer. She gave me a lot of advice about how to get the hang of this breathing thing when I was learning to front crawl! She is also a registered sports dietician - and gave me nutritional advice to keep me strong and healthy and to help me maintain the endurance I needed during the races. Cindy also ran the first 5K that I ran, and helped to ease the nervousness I felt. Since I had never run a race before I did not know what to expect and she assured me I would be able to finish.<br />I talked Cindy into doing the YMCA triathlon too! She and I did a lot of training for that together. The YMCA was also her first triathlon – and she shared all my angst and nervousness regarding the magnitude of what we’d gotten ourselves into! On the morning of the YMCA-Tri Cindy made sure I had my sports drink, water, gel packs. Check, check, check, I said. Then she scotch-taped two red licorice twizzlers to my bike handles. I loved that – two red twizzlers! She also did the Finger Lakes Triathlon with me and her son participated in the Kids Tri with my two children.<br /><br />Oh – I almost forgot! I’ve lost 30 pounds since the day I started to run! 15 more to go!<br /><br />I owe my success to these two amazing women, my children, and my husband. I still think back to those first few weeks after moving here and seeing my two neighbors going out for a run…. and marvel at the chain of events that has transpired since then.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5punG8cUr3-xJLFfCdDD8HGStjdKKYTKlmLz9Lbjzz5d7uoAAcr95DK8XTqRsoe3gwb1c8u0PfmFO5y0HVKZGtJRyVAObNbBtH-8uttNT-Iugc-WEBs94FrvIPqsNK_NeyhLwyxql_ek/s1600-h/wwSmall.png"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 182px; height: 161px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5punG8cUr3-xJLFfCdDD8HGStjdKKYTKlmLz9Lbjzz5d7uoAAcr95DK8XTqRsoe3gwb1c8u0PfmFO5y0HVKZGtJRyVAObNbBtH-8uttNT-Iugc-WEBs94FrvIPqsNK_NeyhLwyxql_ek/s200/wwSmall.png" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5296529739773526562" /><br /><center>Me, Brenda, and Cindy</center></a>Swingsethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08977812625256576736noreply@blogger.com0