What Doesn't Kill You will Just Hurt You Real Bad

Fitness:
I have determined after watching my belly shake (I am sure to the envy of Santa) that my workout regime must be kicked up. No more running two days a week and random third days. I will run 4 days every week from now on (barring vomiting, gushing blood, headaches that want to make me gouge my eyeballs out or death). I completed my first four day week last week with much success. Monday was a short two miles, Tuesday 4 miles (dreadmill), Thursday almost 5 miles (road), Friday 4 miles (road). In addition I biked about 32 miles with my long bike being Sunday of a 9.50 and a 6 mile rides. I also did one spinning class, two power hour classes and some lifting. So far this week I logged in 2.75 on Monday, Today was suppose to be a straight 4 miles but I just couldn't get going so I switched over to 1/4 mile intervals. Running 10.35 minutes per mile on my running and then reducing to a very fast walk on the alternationg .25 mile for a total of 4 miles then I did a steady 12 minute mile cooldown MILE for a total of 5. Very little knee and foot discomfort so it is getting better. I have been riding my bike back and forth to the Y because I have a theory. My theory: If I ride then run and it hurts real bad, then on days when I just run it should only hurt a little. I have yet to test that theory. In about another month or so of the biking/running combo I will give it try and drive to the Y to do the Thursday climate run...perhaps I will be able to stop and do some shopping at the VP while I wait for the others.....
Question: Am I the only one that suffers and thinks they are dying while running?

Trivia: It has been proven by science that I actually am hotter and more tired then the other woman I run with (okay I am talking temperture) According to Runner's World the larger you are the more surface area you have to cool and of course the larger the area the harder your body has to work to cool itself thus spending my precious energy supply not on speed but on cooling. So see I am really suffering far more then they are....it is not just whining...it is science.

Strange and Unusual Sighting: A very slender man, whose wife is constantly perplexed that he eats like a pig and NEVER gains a pound, was seen at the Y WEIGHING IN! I advised that his spouse would be most unhappy if she saw him weighing in and he covered by saying "I am trying to go up!" Ha I say I bet he has a secret stash of carrots and cauliflower at the office and that is how he stays thin.

Grandchildren:
Eldest Grandchild: Went to Ty's football game and though they lost he played mighty hard and had some good plays. He was covered from head to foot in mud. He then came back to my house where we played a game of scrabble (his choice). I am so happy I have a grandchild that loves scrabble! He then played Teken with his Grandpa and that ended our day. He is ready for this weekend's Scrabble tournament so lookout family!

Middle Grandchild: Miss Carissa is quite a beauty! She loves books and Doodle Bops (which are the most demented people/characters I have ever seen). She still likes to do "the monster" to make Grandma laugh and she now no longer is scared of the wagon.

Youngest Grandchild: Happy happy boy. Smiles and his face lights up. He loves to do "the muscle man" for Grandma (will post video of that later). Will not go to Grandma if Grandpa is around. Loves to ride in his little red wagon! Thinks Grandma is his napping cot. Thought he had chicken pox but just a false alarm. He had one of those baby "mystery rashes".

Oldest Niece: Getting closer to baby time...end of December. She is having a girl (good thing as before she even knew the sex she had purchased every pink baby item she could get her hands on, this was also fueled by the soon to be Grandma (who I might add was saying "I don't know why Amanda is buying all pink so soon" while Grandma herself was buying a pink bassinet). I am so glad she is having a girl as our men folk don't pull off pink so good.

Middle Niece: Smart, funny, and currently in a crap load of trouble with her Mom. Keep it up girlie and your college fund will be used for Bond Money....just kidding Amber....they probably won't let you post bond....just kidding....hahaha don't bad mouth me on you site cause you know I love ya...

Youngest Niece: Abby Abby where do I begin...ah my young niece has a fascination with Underdog, not the current underdog but the Underdog cartoon that her Mom and I use to watch as girls. She watches it ALL the time and every time she comes over here she requests to watch it even though I have a tons of other videos. So for those of you that are lacking in Underdog education I will educate you. Underdog is a mild mannnered dog until someone is in peril. When the need arises he takes his super energy pill (which somebody pointed out means Underdog uses drugs) and he becomes caped crusader UNDER DOG with super hero powers. Underdog has a girlfriend Sweet Polly Purebred who is constantly being, kidnapped, bound, gagged, blindfolded and either tied to railroad tracks or dropped from buildings by Underdog's arch enemy (whose name eludes me at this time). Underdog always saves Sweet Polly. Personally I think Underdog should tell Sweet Polly to get in the weight room and lift and then she would not get in these situations. I also note that Underdog will not share his "stash" so that Sweet Polly could have super hero powers too. However, our hero does love love Sweet Polly and he seems happy to fly to her rescue. So upon hearing Sweet Polly Purebreds shrieks of terror and cries of "Help Help, Save me Underdog" Underdog pops his pill and and rescues his damsal in distress. So our dear sweet Abby in her obsession over Underdog has begun binding, blindfolding and gagging her stuffed animals....my sister said she looked over on the dresser and there was poor little stuffed animal blindfolded with his feet bound and paws bound behind his back. Now I know if we were nice adults we would say "Abby it is not nice to bind and blindfold your stuffed animals" but I think it is funny as heck and have been laughing my butt off everytime I think about it. I think next time Abby is doing her villineous deeds that Denise should photograph it so I can blog it. Oh...I bought her the new release of Underdog on DVD for Christmas....

The Slug: Is slowing coming back to life as she begins her walking regime.

Husband: After 6 doctors, xrays, bone scans, nerve blocks and constant trips to the doctor to treat RSD we have found that he has TORN LIGAMENTS AND TENDON. He does not have the crippling disease that he was original diagnosed with! TORN LIGAMENTS AND TENDONS! It will definetely be a long healing process and he absolutely detests his air cast but he is wearing it.

My dumb brunett moment: I thought my car was broken...would not start....had my husband take me to work. He calls me at work and asked me who taught me to drive (actually it was him!) and said I did not have my clutch pushed in all the way when I tried to start it. In defense of myself I have to say that the floor mat had crunched up behind the clutch not allowing me to clutch all the way...it wasn't like I was all weak and delicate and unable to push the clutch in.


Pumpkin Push Conflict: The Pumpkin Push is the same day as the Feast so I will not be able to do the Push but perhaps I can find a 10k before or after that.

Scrabble Tournament: The first annual Kaufman/Groleau Scrabble Tournament. This weekend! Food Served. Prizes Awarded. I have been walking around stupid all week to save my brain power (see dumb brunette moment above). I also bestowed upon Tyson my Scrabble strategy so he may be a force to be reckoned with.

More Birthday Fun

Despite not wanting to hang out with the birthday boy because "He will slobber all over my toys", Abby is having fun!

Special Treats made for a special birthday boy! Grandma (me) made the brownie pops...tasty but alot of work!

BEING BLUE CAN SOMETIMES BE GOOD

Happy Birthday to Adam. One year old!

Are my shoes the only ones that do this?

The Merry Go Round Does Not Stop

I have been a most busy woman, at least it seems to be that way. It is more likely that I just do not use my time wisely so it appears that I am busy. So where did I leave off? Ah the Bun Run! Since then I have had my 27th wedding anniversay...yes kids I know you can do math! My beloved bought me a spiffy new coffee maker because he knows I love my coffee (plus he hated my old one). From me he received a gift of hours of pleasure...yes the 1st season DVD of Mash. Hours of fun! In addition, he received some man scent....I love Curve for men! Aside from that my last several Saturdays have been spent training for that elusive 11 minute mile. The first Saturday of August we did hills. Up the hill, down the hill, over and over and over. Not to mention we had our 1/2 mile warm up before the hills and our cool down was a mile. Jill and I discussed, rather I griped and Jill listened that the 1 mile could not be a "cool down" as it has a big giant hill at the end and then once over the hill and to the edge of the parking lot we sprint. But she is a good friend and listens to my gripe while still keeping me going. The hills in August were much more successfull then the hills I did in July as this time I actually finished both sets of 5 without stopping to walk. GO KIMMIE! However, by the end of the day I could barely walk and had to be pulled out of my Saturn. Last week we did Sprints (for the first time) and it was quite a workout. No sprints or hills this weekend because I am heading to Cincinnati/Newport for a girls weekend with my daughter and daughter in law.

Biking: Went biking with Jill and Barb last friday. Mapped it out and it was a bout 12 1/4 miles. They have real bikes. I have a Walmart bike. The result is me about a mile behind them pumping like crazy just trying to keep them in my sight. I feel like the little fat kid that is always yelling, "Hey guys wait up". After the last ride I decided I needed a helmet, front light and rear lights (0n account of some weird hillbilly in a beat up old pickup truck honked and made a rude gesture to me) So now I am visable and I was so proud of myself for buying a helmet and actually wearing it (because I look like a goober in it). That is until somebody I know asked me where did I get my helmet and I said Walmart and he rolled his eyes and said "Oh so you wanna die slowly" So I guess that means I need to go to the bike shop and get me a real helmet, which I am sure means "expensive helmet". While I am at it might as well get an expensive bike. So kids there goes you inheritance....no post death trip to Hawaii for any of you!

The heat and humidity have been high making workouts hard. On Thursday's climate run we had to stop and walk twice to cool down. But I have to say kudos to me because last year I would not have even set foot out the door in this weather. I spent all last summer in on the dreadmill. So progress has been made.



Grandma and Grandpa spending their money at Menards: We went shopping at Menards and came home with one baby swing and one red wagon great for pulling small children in!
He loves the red wagon and had lots of fun being pulled thru the park!

Upcoming Girls Weekend:

The plan is to leave early Saturday and head out to the Newport/Cincinnati area. So far we have planned to go to the aquarium. I sure my daughter and daughter in law are doing the aquarium to humor me but....but Kendra did perk up when I told her they had penguins. To balance out the aquarium we are going to a comedy club for dinner and a show. Hopefully we will find some good outlet malls because Christmas is right around the corner! Girls Just Wanna Have Fun!!!!!!!

Jerry's Leg: The doctor has now said he does not think Jerry has RSD (which is a very good thing as RSD is a very bad thing). However, he said he has no idea what is wrong with his leg. So my poor husband has been pushed off onto another doctor. This makes 6 doctors now and no diagnosis. He goes for an MRI (which I have questioned before why they have not done one) I had to push for a bone scan. MRI is set for tomorrow and then he goes to the doctor to have it read on Wed. Keep him in your thoughts! If it proves to be my diagnois I will be hanging my shingle on the door and accepting new patients shortly!

Okay I am tired and am heading off to bed. I did my first bricklet this morning 1.7 mile bike and 1.2 mile run and then 1.7 mile bike. Tomorrow is a baby brick 1.67 bike, 3 mile run 1.67 bike. Okay that last bike will be after lifting weights so I don't know if that technically counts. I guess since Saturday I will be traveling I better get a run in on Friday then I can take Saturday off and then just swim and do the eliptical at the hotel Sunday morning (cause I know my roomies at the hotel aren't gonna be getting up at 5:30 to work out with me. So over and out for now my friends!

Question of the Week Uttered by Yours Truely: "Jill, you're doing this to beat Amy.... why the heck am I doing this? Asked during our discussion about sprints and determining why we were putting ourselves thru such pain and agony. There was no answer.

Quote of the Week by Jill: "You need to work on consistency" Nice way of saying "Quit being a slacker Kim"

You gotta love a friend that will tell you like it is but in a nice way!

I WILL RUN FOR FOOD

Bun Run 5k: 84 Kim Kaufman 35:04 11:19
Far better then my zoo run run which had an average pace of 12:25
This all goes to prove my theory that when food is involved I work harder....as shown in the example above...see the bun run was at the HOT DOG festival. A festival which glorifies the all american goodness of the absolutely no redeeming food quality of the HOTDOG. Another example: I beat my son at bowling. Why because we were bowling for steak! I, who bowls maybe once a year, beat (by alot) my son who has bowled on leagues. I bet if we had a Cookie Run I would come in first because I am passionate about cookies. I am only ehhhhh about hotdogs but cookies...I bet I could run a 2 minute miles for cookies.

Thank goodness for my young friend because she kept me going when I thought I was going to stop. Matter of fact my heart rate got up to 191 and I slowed down and walked for one minute and then got it back down to the 160s and started again. Total walk times in this run...less then 4 minutes total. Which if I had not taken those and just slowed down I probably could have gotten in in 33 minutes. Something about the race scene just freaks me out because I do 5ks all the time without walking but for some reason when I get in a group setting I get freaked out, which is why I am trying to do all the 5ks I can find to get use to it. However, I do note that my heart rate accelarates alot so I am actually in the anaerobic stage of exercise which is not all that great and effective for training. So seeing as I am making such crappy process I am going to try and do some heart rate training. It has been said that this is much more effective training so we will give it awhirl. My max heart rate should be 175 and 85@ would be 140. So I am going to be working on that theory for awhile...except for 5k races which will be just about better my time..but for now training will be set at the heart rate goal. The article also said when you are in anaerobic state you are not burning fat supplies but rather "Your aerobic range runs from 70-85%, 85% representing your anaerobic threshold, or the point at which your body can no longer provide enough oxygen to the muscles to satiate the demands, so your body engages what is called your Adenosine Triphosphate/Phosphagen System (ATP/Phosphagen system), also known as your Anaerobic pathway. The body is now burning sucrose-based ATP in your muscles because its monosaccharide (one bonded carbohydrate per molecule) is a very simple form of energy, and burns very quickly." So now I am going to apply science and caloric control to my weight loss endevor. Back to measuring food and now I will be measuring my heart rate...sigh...
Well better get going I had vowed to do some work before church this morning and so far the ONLY things I have done are take a bath, blog and throw some toilet bowl cleaner in the toilet. I figure it is cleaning itself while I am blogging....

Will post pictures soon.

Drop and Give Me 20

Well the Y is closed this week due to maintenance. I am having Y withdrawl...so bad in fact that my friend Jill and I met in the Y parking lot Monday morning to do a workout, which consisted of a 5k run (actually a little further as Jill and I sorta missed a turn and had to back track), about every 3-4 blocks we would stop and do pyramid push ups. Which means the first time we did 5 then next stop 10 and so on up to 25, then we worked our way back down to 5 and then back up to 25. It was a good workout because even though she is much faster she can go run ahead and then run back to get me when it is time to do pushups. This particular workout has been named, "Mike's Tour of Duty". ****Mike had us do this workout one day when he was subbing. I think it must have looked quite funny to see a big brawny man running with a group of pudgy 40 year old women waddling behind him****At any rate it was a good workout and my heart rate stayed in the 170s pretty much consistently. Jill did great as always and I as always pathetically and slowly trotted far far behind her.

Updates:
Zoo Run Run: Horrible, for some reason EVERY time I do a run I bail. I don't know if it because I am by myself or what...but I start running and the next thing you know I am walking. I need to learn to quit freaking out! My zoo run run turned into a Zoo Run Walk run walk run walk. The Bun run is this weekend and I will be having a person pace me to keep me from walking. I finally found a runner just my speed...granted she is in highschool but hey I need a pacer and she is a pretty terrific kid (as is her sister!). I guess that is because they have really nice parents.

Pedicure: After the Zoo Run Walk Run Walk I got my very first pedicure compliments of my son and daughter in law. It felt really good and my piggies look glorious with their white tips...wellllllll maybe glorious is not the most apt description...perhaps less doglike....well they just look better then they did. I think the poor lady was in shock when she found she was going to have use a black and decker sander on my callouses.

Birthday: My daughter/her mother in law/her sister in law had a cookout/get together/birthday party and it was really nice. I got a heart rate monitor/calorie monitor which I had been eyeballing for awhile. I really want the nice little garmin but until I can hold an 11 minute mile I am not worthy and just am worthy of the heart rate monitor. I do love my new toy. While experimenting with it I found that office workers according to their caloric burning should not be consuming more then one greenbean and one grape.

Michigan: Went to Michigan this weekend for my inlaws 40th wedding anniversary celebration. I ate my weight in pastries every morning for breakfast, then would promptly go back to the room and sleep off my pastry induced coma. I would then spend the entire day complaining to my husband that I am the fattest person in his family. Next time I am staying at a hotel where NO PASTRIES are served. I have no self control. I am a big glutton. Even when I am full I just keep stuffing the danishes down my throat because "I won't get to eat this stuff again until my next trip" So I guess I am operating under the Bear/Hiberation/Food concept. Aside from my pastry overdoses I had a really nice time. However, I am now back at the jiggle when I run stage again.

House: I hope I don't die anytime soon because this house is a mess and I don't want people to say, "I can't believe she lived like this"

Things people will ask/say upon my untimely death:

Why does she have rubber chicken in a shoe box

Why does she have 10 pair of running shoes but only one pair of high heels

Ooooohhh yuck her sports bras are gray, I ain't touching those.

How come she has over 100 cookbooks but only cooks chicken, hamburgers and cubed pork on the grill.

Is it really neccessary to have canceled checks all the way back to the 1980's.

How many cans of green beans does one person need

Wow....Poison, Guns and Roses, Shakira, Gwen Steffani, Lorretta Lynn, Conway Twitty, Woodland Indiana Flute Music, and Scottish Bagpipes...was she a multiple personality?

Who's gonna cook Thanksgiving dinner?

Do you think she wants to be buried in her gym shorts, Y volunteer tee shirt, and running shoes (the answer is yes!)

I told her not to attempt that second mini marathon.

Upcoming Events

Bun Run this Saturday morning.
Tasha's birthday on Friday
Grandma Casey's birthday on Friday
Hair Coloring on Thursday...I know this is not an event of great family importance but I gotta look good for the bun run.

Grandmas and Kid Do Run Run the Zoo Run Run

Zoo Run Run is tomorrow and my 9 year old grandson will be participating as is the other Grandma and his father. What fun! I don't know how well I will do as my foot and knee have been difficult but I am going to muster through! I would at least like to do 33 minutes but if not that is okay. The weather should be nice, however, I just don't like 8:30 runs. What is wrong with the people in this town that they can't do a nice 6:30 or 7:00 am run? Actually I like 5:30 am. runs but I know NOBODY in this town would go for that.

Weight: Down 2 1/2 pounds this week but that may have changed as we ate dinner out last night for my birthday and my friend at work treated me to a Greek Chicken Wrap for lunch. Which I must say was one of the yummiest things I have ever had. No birthday cake untill after the Zoo Run Run though. May not even have it then as I am not a big cake fan.

Workouts: 1/2 mile on Monday, spinning and power hour, 3 miles on Tues(average pace 11.35 per mile), lifting and 3 mile bike ride in evening, Wed swimming, Thurs 4 1/2 miles (not sure of pace but I can absolutely say it was slow), lifting, today I am teaching power and because most of us are doing the Zoo Run Run we will keep it simple and easy...we are playing DODGE BALL! Yeah I love dodge ball!

Last Weekend! Hung out with two of my most favorite buddies: Tyson and I went to see fantastic four and then Adam came over about 6:30 pm and spent the night with Grandma so Mom could go to a BBQ. At 4:00 on Saturday I met my friend at the Y and put up our before and after bullentin board. She decorated and I got to use the stapler (0ne account of I have zero creativity). It looks fantastic and it has gotten lots of attention.

Tyson our overnight will be coming up soon...maybe we can go camping out at Grandpa's camp site and have a fire and do some fishing! Maybe the last weekend of July. We have a table set up so we can even play some cards!

Better get ready for the Y....I will update you after my run with the animals or should I say my trot with the animals.

HELP WANTED

HELP WANTED: Looking for someone to walk one slug like Grandma. No benefits, no pay, lousy hours. She is vicious and will bite if she smells fast food on you. However, if you enjoy hearing whining, moaning and crying...this is just the job for you! No experience necessary. Uniform provided.

The Broken: The slug a/k/a Grandma a/k/a my mom has broken her patella and severely strained her arm and shoulder by falling up the stairs (don't forget she just had to go to the hospital for her sciatic nerve). So now the exercise nazi a/k/a yours truely has deemed her a mobility/stability risk and has made her give a true promise that she will start walking and working on her healthy back exercises. Now we all know that the slug has the very best of intentions, however, her intentions don't always make it to the completion stage so I will be looking for some volunteers to "Slugercise" with her. Which means nothing hard...just 10 to 15 minutes of walking and about 10-15 minutes of stretching. We won't be able to start for awhile as her knee needs to heal but I think she really needs some support to make this a go. Just once a week would be great...so hopefully will get her to do at least 5 days a week! I would even be willing to make a tee shirt for the workers that says " I Love to Slugercise"

The Bloated: There is nothing more icky feeling then trying to run with about 3 pounds of water weight. I felt like a big old fat tick. Does anyone know when Menopause is suppose to start? Will I still crave cookies after Menopause? Will I start to look more like Jessica Simpson? Will I run like the wind because I do not have bloating?

Babys Got Tooth: Adam has his two bottom front teeth! He also had his first "Pepe's" experience and he loves rice but not as much as he loves "El Popo"

Ouch: Jerry got his nerve block today and advised that it is the WORSE pain he has ever felt in his life. Multilple shots in the back to deaden the nerve. He said NEVER AGAIN! However, his foot does feel better now. Next step physical therapy!

BIG LOSER JR: James is looking FANTASTIC as his weight loss journey begins. From the looks of him I would say down at least 25 p0unds.

KUDOS: Big Thank Yous to Kendra and Tasha this week for shuttling our injured to and fro this week.

I thought I would Die but did not: Last Saturday Jill, Bob and I went to the West side and did some hill training. While they did much running.... mine was like a little run, a little walk....a little run...a little walk...the circuit was 10 times around. Let me tell you 10 is not alot when counting cookies or m&ms. It is a lot when counting times up a hill. HOWEVER, before we started we had to warm up. The warmup was suppose to be a mile. That is until they saw the look of horror on my face. I about had heart failure when I heard a mile warmup then hills. They quickly revised it to 1/2 mile warm up (thank goodness for Jill who said "We can't make her so tired that she can't finish the hills"). I still attempted to wiggle out of 1/2 mile warmup by telling them I would "just run around the parking lot" while they did their warmup. That was not met with approval and so I was unsuccessful with my trying to avoid the 1/2 mile warmup. They said they would go slow and true to their word they trotted faithfully by my side. What goods friends to trot when they can gallop. We completed our hills and we sorta jogged back to the car where we stretched a little. They then advised "Okay time for our cool down" WHAT! I thought STOPPING was COOLING DOWN but oh no a cool down in the runners world is ANOTHER ENTIRE MILE AFTER DOING ENDLESS HILLS. After a little prodding, okay alot of prodding, I did the mile and what did we find during the mile cool down but yet another hill. Bob did say we were suppose to take the bigger hill but I am pretty sure he thought I would throw myself down on the ground and cry if he took the bigger hill so he turned up the smaller one. The fat little runner said "Thank Goodness!" I am glad I went even though I despise hills and I thank Jill for making it sound like "fun" and Bob for coming along to make sure we did not get lost or injure our selves in the attempt to do "hill workouts" So I made it through and am looking foward to trying conquer the "Mountains of Pain and Agony"

Random Thought: If this is not making me look like Jessica Simpson why the heck am I doing this? My thought while hill training.

Quote of the Day

"Did you take some kinda pill"

Spoken by my husband for my extreme housecleaning mode. Back up at 6:30 a.m. to organize my videos and DVDs by catorgories, dusted my living room (now Jerry will just have to guess my thoughts since I have no place to write), scubbed bathroom sink, tub and toilet (uck), cleaned my side of the room (big stack of books, magazines, 4 pair of running shoes, 1 pair of hiking books, one pair of slippers, two pair of jeans and threw all the stuff off the top of my nightstand into the nightstand drawer..a favorite cleaning trick of mine), wiped out the fridge and threw away things I thought might give me food poisoning, emptied the box of stuff I had from when I switched jobs, vacuumed the computer room and "straightened" it up, did dishes, and cleaned out the dogs ears (yet another argument against having future pets), attempted to get Lizzie (who is very ill) to take her medicine, repeatedly poked it in her mouth when she kept spitting it out...and NOW I am blogging and having a much deserved cup of joe. As soon as my laundry is dry we will be heading out to Walmart....

Update: I obtained a Walmart headache while in Walmart. I hate the new Walmart. I love the old Walmart. From now on I will drive to the old Walmart even though it is farther away. The people were driving me nuts. They were IN MY WAY AND THEY WOULD NOT MOVE. I need to rent out Walmart so I can shop by myself.

Baby Adam. He has a tooth. I can feel it. He will not let me see it. Even when I offered to trade him a yummy yummy enfamil bottle for one little peek of this tooth he would not open his mouth wide enough for Grandma to see. I told him no cookies till I see proof of tooth!

Bacteria Cocktails All Around!

Tuesday I started coming down with the flu by Wednesday I was in bed...not eating....cramping, achy, felt like one of the Sopranos worked me over. Little did I know that my sweet sweet granddaughter had whipped up a bacteria cocktail for Grandma.... which was passed to an unknowing loving Grandma via kisses...so Carissa's kisses packed a wallop. The Bacteria Family Tree is as follows: Sunday before last Adam projectile vomits at Indiana Beach...he was there with his parents and his Aunt Natalie, Cousin Tyson and Cousin Carissa....by Tuesday Baby Adam's parents are sick.....then the following Sunday (father's day WELCOME TO THE PUKING SIDE OF FATHERHOOD BRAD) Carissa begins the vomit festival, Monday Tyson joins in, by Tuesday her father, and I am sick and then Wednsday poor Natalie who is still recovering from open heart surgery is sick. What is ironic is that I am the only who wasn't vomiting all over the place. See there is something to be said for leading a healthy exercising life. The bacteria tried to take me down but only took down my front forces...my back troops stood firm. It took me two days and then I was pretty much over it beside a residual nausea. Despite being sick Tuesday and Wednesday, Thursday I was able to get a good lift in and I did 4 miles at 12 minute mile pace. Not bad for a girl that was bed ridden and unable to eat or drink for two days. I did bail on the Thursday climate run because I did not think I was up to 5 miles and I did not want to actually puke on Puke Mountain.

NEWS: Baby Adam is having a tooth break through...will keep you updated on this great breaking news!

KUDOS: My son James is on his way to being a big loser! 18 pound weightloss so far! Go Jamie Go! I will see you at the Mini next year!

Misery and Pain: My poor husband's foot is still not healed. If it is what they think it is he is in for alot of work to get this healed up if they can heal it at all. They suspect it is a nerve disorder...his nurses opinion"You will wish you just had a stress fracture"...ouch more to come on this topic after his Monday appointment with the rheumotoid doctor...which he will then likely be sent to a Nuerologist. They have tossed around RSD which if you go out on the web you will see that it is going to be no picnic for Jerry, if this is in fact what he suffers from.

Sewage: Every blog should discuss sewage at one time. My pipes have once again backed up and I cannot blame the King of Dookie since he is no longer living in the house a/k/a Jamie. So I guess it must be tree roots and other nasty nasty things. shudder.......So my husband once again (this has become twice a year pleasure), rented an electric eel and began the disgusting job of unclogging the drain pipe out to the road. Running an electric eel is not easy and takes quite a bit of strength and a very strong stomach. My husband has now vowed to take a chain saw to our neighbors tree and cut it down to keep it from working its wily roots into our drain.

Lady of the Night: I am a lady of the night. That is a carpet cleaning lady of the night. Seeing as I have no life my friday night was spent by shampooing my living room carpet. Of course I was looking fine as I was wearing my best attire for this roaring fun....my old running shoes, mens gym shorts and a tee shirt. I am surprised my husband could keep his hands off me as I was so drop dead gorgeous...dab a little lemon pledge behind my ears and who knows where the night might lead...... okay the running shoes, gym shorts, tee shirt and not even the lemon pledge caused my husband to whisk me away...so on with carpet cleaning.....It is 11:41 pm. I just finished the carpet and am contemplating whether I can dare have any more fun...perhaps I could dust my banister or the furniture. However, if I dust my furniture I effectively shut down my form of communcation with my husband as he can leave correspondence to me on the coffee tables and endtables. What an awesome way to save the trees! I really think house work is overrated but when I do it it is either very late at night or very early in the a.m. (night practically). Every once in awhile I will do a night time cleaning jag but overall I intensely dislike the whole house cleaning experience. Yes I like a clean house, yes I like order...yes I want someone else to do it for me...and thank goodness I married a man who likes to clean and is good at it (a gene passed down to my oldest son Brad..who vacuums his curtains and was excited to get a swiffer wet jet for his birthday)

My reason for disliking housework are:
1) If I dust I am disturbing the delicate balance of our ecosystem. Did they not teach us in school that we should leave nature as we found it?
2) House work causes injuries...the last time I was mopping. I got all into the mopping groove and drove the mop handle into my own face.
3) Everyone knows that a clean house is a sign of a boring woman
4) Running burns more calories then running the sweeper
5) I almost killed myself with a chemical mixture of comet and bleach. I thought this would be an awesome toilet cleaning solution...what it did was make a giant mushroom cloud of toxic fumes which caused my lungs to burn and my eyes to water and all I could smell was bleach for two days afterwards. I also think it gave my face a chemical peel.
6)Of course there is always the old standby..why clean it when it will just get dirty again.
7) I will have time to clean when I am retired
8)If you clean more then two days in a row people expect it all the time.
9)I don't think people feel comfortable in a house that looks like it should be in Better Homes and Gardens. At my house people don't hesitate to plop their feet up on my coffee table..even my 18 months granddaugher does this (and it is adorable).
10) Nobody ever had a headstone that said "She kept a really clean house"

Other News or Thoughts that are of no interest to anyone but me:

There is a run in Hell Michigan. I think it is like 5 miles. You get a shirt that says "I've run thru Hell" I want that shirt!

Since I have been slacking on the workouts my belly jiggles when I run. I don't like it. I have now kicked into high gear so I can be jiggle free for the Zoo Run Run.

My thighs are gigantic and I suspect it might not be all muscle.

Just because I think I look like Jessica Simpson does not mean other people do. ( I still think they are wrong though!)

I think it is okay to stop and have a cookie afterwork on Friday nights because it is better then stopping for a beer.

The scales were down 1 1/4 pounds on Wed.

Poison makes me run faster (not like arsenic but the group).

Well that is all for tonight. I think the lady of the night shall retire to her quarters.
Pictures to follow soon...one especially will bust a gut for those of us who can laugh at ourselves.

Just call me Monk

Well maybe I am not Monk on cleanliness because I could careless if my house is dirty and I embrace dust and disorganization. HOWEVER, I am a Monk when it comes to my schedule. I like to do the same things at the same time every day! But the month of May has been most hectic. Not that I mind because my family is my number one priorty and always will be BUT if I am not in my routine I have no discipline at all with food or exercise or anything else. So I am going to consider this week a write off and will start afresh this new week. My goals:

Resume being at the Y at 5:15 a.m. as opposed to dragging my sorry butt in every day *except Thursdays* at 6:00 a.m.
Quit Slacking in the weight room and yacking my jaws to my friends instead of pumping iron
Resume spinning and power hour with a vengence
The running will be 3 days with the long run being 5 miles. Probably do 3, 5 and 3 while my foot heals.
Lean to swim like a dolphin...okay maybe a penguin.
Not sitting on the couch in the evening but trying to do a least 30 minutes of house/yard work a night THEN going on my bike ride....oh resume nightly bike rides.
Resume afternoon walks at work

Biggest Loser: We are doing a bigger loser contest at work. The weigh in was Wednesday (honor system on account of no one wants to give up their numbers). The weigh in are every Wed and we have to chart our own progress. Again this is the honor system. Every week we put a $ in the kitty and at the end of 16 weeks the winner gets the pot. I have not yet heard if this is based on body percentage or just straight pounds. In order to be fair it should be body percentage. Perhaps this will give me an incentive to control my weekend food and get the rest of this chub off me. Because I really feel like the key to running is to get off 25 pounds...then I know I will be sleek and fast....like a race horse...well more likely a draft horse...but hey they are pretty fast when they get moving.

Hog Jog: This Saturday. My foot and knee hurt AND it is going to be hot as blazes. I have not yet determined if I will actually run it. I might bale on the 10k and do the 2mile. If you remember from last year the Hog Jog was a fiasco. It was hot. I was ill prepared. I was scared I would be last. I was miserable and I used vulgar language when I passed my son who was holding the video camera. He then attempted to blackmail me with the video with threats of showing my Grandma. That did not work. I told him he could show it to Grandma, he could show it to my mom, he could show it to the entire church and I DID NOT CARE b/c I WAS MISERABLE. This year....it will be hot...I am ill prepared (due to limited running b/c of knee and foot pain), my vulger language vocabulary has grown, and I know I will be last because I bet that guy that was last last year will not come anywhere near the hog jog. So there you have it...a receipe for disaster.

Self Loathing: I am in a high swing of self loathing. I look at myself and the first thing I think is DISGUSTING. Yes I have lost a lot of weight but I still have futher to go. Being overweight for years has done a lot of damage to my body and no amount of weight loss will fix that. I look like a candle that has had a lighter run around its outside. I guess that is the best way to picture my abdominal damage...I look melted. As for my thighs they are huge...I have giant quad muscles and it is not attractive..will dropping weigh reduce my quad size...and let me not begin with my donkey calves. My arms...yuck...again I don't think weight loss is gonna do a whole lot about that....I envy woman that can wear tank tops and sleeve less dresses...sigh......okay enough of the pity party...I guess Kim at this size is better then the size 28 Kim. But even if I could by chance become a size 10 Kim I would never look like a "normal" woman because I have to much damage..to my skin. Okay enough about that.

Upcoming events: Father's day and July 4th and then July 20 and July 21 Grandpa and Grandma Kaufman will be having their 40th wedding anniversary party/reunion

The BIG QUESTION: Will I suck it up and do the hog jog and realize that there is no shame in lastness?
Forecast: Will likely do it...will likely be last...will spend the next two months whining and complaining about the trauma of being last....

My weird thought: There is shame in lastness but that only pertains to me...when other people are last I am so proud of them for hanging in there...does this even make sense?

Not at the Y this morning as resting for my potential hog jog...so now I will jump in the tub and commence the beautifying so that I may stun my co-workers with my incredible beauty. (It is 6:15 now...I have to be at work by 8:00...the beautifying process is quite lengthy)

Pictures

Two peas in a pod.

Abby getting instruction from cousin Jamie on the proper use of foam blow dart guns. At least he bought her a foam blow dart gun. Aunt D bought Brad and James a real blow dart guns when they were like 14 and 15. I told her they would shoot each other. She says, "They are not stupid they won't do that" All night I heard from upstairs"Dude....Ouch!"

The sisters and the mothers. Grandma Mae, Me, Aunt Snoozy, Gma C, and Aunt D.

Amanda (and baby), Aunt D, Grandma Mae, Amber and Abby.

Tasha, James and Grandma Mae.

Natalie, Tyson, Brad, Carissa, and Grandma Mae.

Poor Kendra, Lucas and Adam have no family picture as Adam was at home throwing up!

Flu Bug Enters Town

Yikes...I stopped over to see my little buster brown (a/k/a Baby Adam) on Sunday and two hours later he was puking at Indiana Beach. I am assuming it was not Grandma kisses that made him sick but the flu bug. Yes indeed it was the flu bug because yesterday at work I get a phone call...a weak little voice says, "Mom, what are you doing". I respond that I am at work and then the most pathetic little voice says..."Oh I am puking and Lucas is pukings" She sounded so sick and weak! The calvary rode in a/k/a Grandpa (he had a light schedule) and he picked up the little guy so Mom and Dad could puke in peace. This was Grandpa's first day by himself with Adam! I came home on my lunch break and they were doing just fine. Matter of fact he said I was disturbing them as I made Adam cry and whine when he saw me because he wanted Grandma to hold him. Grandpa changed diapers, Grandpa gave the baby a nap, grandpa made a baby fort to keep baby corraled. The corral was an elaborate set up of coffee table, couch, toy box, baby saucer and a gate made of his baby rings. Adam and Grandpa made their first fort! Grandpa and Adam also went to Walmart where they bought a new disc for the camera and a spiffy new teething ring that vibrates when it gets chewed on. Grandpa says Adam is a chick magnet. When I got home from work Adam and Grandpa were sitting on the porch swing just happy as clams. I called to check on Kendra she still had a fever and the chills so I told her I would keep Adam overnight and then Grandpa would bring him home in the morning on his way to work. She was most appreciative! I get the play pen set up in our room and put in his favorite blanket in preparation for bed time. So now...will Adam sleep all night so that Grandma may have her wits about her when she goes to work..or will Adam stay up all night, demand that he be in Grandma's and Grandpa's bed and then kick and roll all over Grandma and Grandpa all night? I an happy to report...Adam slept...in the play pen...only woke up once...I promptly stuck his plug in (pacifier) and he went back to sleep...He did not want to go to sleep at first because we had the light on and the TV on. He crawled all over us, all over the bed..we put him in the play pen....he was not happy...put him next to me on the bed...he thought we were playground eqipment. Grandpa final turns off the TV and the light and goes downstairs to watch "Glen Beck". He tells Adam "Goodnight it is your bedtime". Baby puts his head down and falls asleep and the transfer to the play pen was successful. Now lets just hope Grandma and Grandpa avoid the flu bug. I hope Adam did not send his flu bug to Florida via Grandma Mae.

Cute things are children have done:Abby and Tyson: Played military...we were short on GI Joes so the military consist of a few GI Joes, mini babies, little care bears, little fisher price people, and Kelly dolls. Tyson says to Abby "Lets play war" and Abby says she does not know how. Tyson then proceeds to fill her in on military strategy and such. He was very serious about the ways of war! Abby says to me "Aunt Kim babies are in the military" hmmm out of the mouth of babes. At any rate Abby's army of babies and one GI Joe was totally destroyed by the army of two GI Joes, care bears, fisher price people and the kelly dolls. Evidently Fisher Price people are much more fierce then they appear. Upon the destruction of Abby's Army she threw her self back in the chair and sobbed.

Carissa: Drama Queen to the Extreme...she works the crowd...she is destined for Hollywood. She does this thing called, "The Monster" Picture above..."The Monster" looks funnier when she is not covered in mac and cheese. She does "The Monster" on command and just when ever it strikes her and has found it a fine way to get laughs. The adults are all sitting in a circle and Carissa does her monster (which makes Grandma laugh like crazy) and while she is doing it she is swiveling around so the whole family can see it. Aunt Suzie says she needs to stop because people are going to think something is wrong with her. Grandma loves it! I love that she goes up to random people and does "The monster".

Mae: Mae made it safely back home! She said she had a great time! We did as well! My dad would have found it quite funny that we took his diamond bedecked wife to a tavern/pub for lunch and yard saling.

Time to get ready for work...missing the Y since we have Adam but will be back in the swing of things by next week...providing my knee and foot improves...otherwise it will be alot of swimming.

My Knee Hurts and Other News

Tyson defeats Abby's Military of Baby....she is not happy....Tyson is.

My knees hurts as does my foot....it started a couple of weeks ago and it is taking its time getting better. The Sunday before last I tried to wrap both knees and run. It hurt so bad I was crying so I started walking. Last week I ran one mile on Tuesday and did 3 miles on the eliptical...no pain. Thursday I skipped the climate run and used the treadmill so I could stop when it started hurting. I did 3 miles with insignificant (not to be confused with none) pain. Today I tried to run my knees, my foot hurt (the same pain as last year), matter of fact my entire body hurt. I am going to chalk it up to exhaustion and try to ice and take tylnol in hopes of making the pain go away.

Grandma Mae is returning to Floriday today. We had a wonderful visit!

Recap of events:

Thursday: Mae arrives...went to Arnis for dinner. I ate like a pig.

Friday: Hooked up with Mae and went to Battleground to TC's at lunch for a killer tenderloin...then had a family gathering of around 19 people in the evening. I kept it simple...hot dogs, hamburgers, (hand spanked by your's truely), pasta salad, watermelon and chips. My family kept saying, "Where is all the food" I told them after going to TC's and having a giant tenderloin that I was not hungry so cooking for 19 did not excite me much. We ended the night by playing scrabble.

Saturday: Started the day with Biscuits and Gravy at Aunt Denises...then took Mae on a yard sale excursion. We told her we did not good bargins because she was bedecked in diamonds so the people thought we had money and therefore would not go down in price so that we could afford yet more jewelry. I told her it is the yard sale way to wear just plain jeans and tee shirt...no jewelry....that way people will think we are destitute and much more likely to bargin with us... Went to Aunt D's for a family birthday/reunion party...However, Mom ended up in the hospital that night and was unable to attend...neither did her hospital helpers...Kendra, James and Tasha. Mom came back to spend the night at my house while she came down from her morphine high.

Sunday: Chicken and Noodles at Aunt D's house....just sat around till around 9:30 chatting and such.

Monday: Dinner at my house. Hahahahah I was in control of the meal...the food Nazi...no carbohydrate festival of noodles, potatos and rolls...we had Grilled Chicken, Baked Potatoe, Corn on the Cob, watermelon and a beautiful tossed salad...and diabetic jello cake for dessert. I have found if you do not set out potato salad the family will actually consume greens...of course I had to lure them to the salad with shredded cheese and bacon bits...but at least I was able to sneak greens in on them.

Okay more details later:

Busy Life

The Penalty for waking up Grandma at 6:00 am. His first 5k walk!


Yesterday 3 mile run (in the middle of the afternoon no less) granted it was on the treadmill but that I actually followed thru with a missed morning workout was amazing! Then 8 mile bike ride in the evening. As you may or may not know, my daughter in law had open heart surgery a month ago. She has had a rough recovery but hopefully is on the mend. This week I took a vacation week to give her sister a break. Her sister has been absolutely fabulous coming over every day to help take care of Nat and the baby. I have been going over on Tuesday and Friday mornings which means no morning workout...which equals flabby thighs and tummy. Today my plan is to swim after I leave their house today. Tomorrow morning her sister will be coming in the morning so I don't miss my climate run and I need to go get my drivers license reviewed.





Lessons I have learned:





After the mini do not get pumped up and do even more workouts then normal. I did this because I was suffering from the mini high...now I am paying for it with sore knees. I am having to ice, wrap, and stretch because the hog jog is coming up and I don't want to miss it.





Babies do not care if you are tired when they wake up when it is time to get up it is time to get up (you would think I would remember that after 3 children...but the memory fades).....and they do it so cute how can you not get up. I made the BIG error of bringing Adam to bed with me at 3:00 am. At 6:00 am he stuck his little face in mine and when I ignored him he pulled himself up on me....by my hair. Okay so I was awake at that point. He had coffee with Grandma then he did a 5K walk. Matter of fact he took total walks over the weekend of 6 miles....go Adam!



Tyson: Has informed me he wants to do the Mini when he is 12 and he needs to start training. This should be interesting as he hates running. However, I have done and will do the Mini for 2008, his paternal Grandma said she is doing the mini now, and his uncle and brother will be doing it next year...so Ty has the Mini fever. He has asked me to start coming over to take him for little runs...I will keep you posted. I advised him that it is hot, sweaty and hard to run...he says he does not care...so Tyson get ready.....

Oops time to get to Nat's...will post more later...suffice to say...I need to get some hard workouts in because the Hog Jog is right around the corner.

Mini Pictures

A picture of a picture of the mini...don't ask me why.


My after mini ride back to Lafayette. Good thing I wasn't driving.

This is how crappy somebody looks after running 13 miles. Jerry would not let me wear my medal to church despite my pleas.

Look how tired and happy I look. My friend Leo is the tall gentleman in the dark blue running next to the crowd.


Yes, while I am out running the mini...this is what my family is doing.

Long Promised

Adam giggling. He must have a secret. NOTICE the hair growth!

Hanging out the Uncle James and Aunt Tasha

A triathelete in the making. He can swim, he can bike...now he's gotta run.

Adam says, "Come in Carissa spring me from this contraption Grandma keeps putting me in".

Only the real cool grandmas do this.

Grandma and Carissa getting ready for a swing

A Little Light on the Workouts/Ended with a Bang

Last weekend was a grandchildren packed weekend. My little guy spent Friday night and Saturday day with us. He was initiated into the world of garage sales and he did GREAT! He hung out with Grandma and Aunt Tasha all morning! He did not start getting cranky until about 12:30 when we went to the grocery store. So to be out from 8:00 am to 1:00 being carted around without being in the least bit cranky was awesome. I did find that it is very hard to hold a baby and push a full shopping cart...I guess my big honking biceps come in handy.

Monday: 4 miles and power hour....no evening exercise...spent time with grandchildren

Tuesday: Watched my grandchildren in the morning ( my daughter in law had surgery and needs a little help with the children till she is recovered), nothing in the evening due to rain.

Wed. Lifted and Swam.

Thursday: 5 mile climate run...56 minutes, 1 1/2 mile walk in the afternoon

Friday: nothing in the morning (grandchildren), 1 1/2 mile walk in the afternoon, nothing in the evening due to being grouchy.

Saturday: Dejunked my upstairs room because I have been promising my husband I would do it "after the mini". It took all day but you can now walk thru the room and the Goodwill received my unwanted junk

Sunday: I hope to do 5-6 miles this morning and if I don't take my granddaughter to Aunt Hee Hee's picnic will ride my bike there.

I AM BACK....HA did 6.05 miles in 67 minutes...averagepace per calculator 11.4 per mile. whoooo hoooo but no wonder I felt like crap at the end....the end was puke mountain.....thought for sure I wasn't going to make it...but no stopping up the hill....chugged up it like our old Dodge Ram use to then did a slow jog cool down around my block to make my total of 6.05! Finished my run...ate some breakfast and off to church.
Home from church, over to Aunt Hee Hee's for Amanda to tell us all the good news that she is expecting a baby! Congrats Amanda and Roger!
Back to church in the evening...biked there and back for total biking miles on Sunday of 6 miles.
Found that with biking to church I was able to stay away all thru the Sermon...I think I might be on to something...stationary bikes for worship!
Time to go to power hour...I am not slacking on the workouts like I did this last week...since I can't work out Tuesday morning. I am going to drag my tired butt to the Y after work. I'll update you all on the results of THAT!
Have a great day!

My Head Doth Explodeth!

Good day I say!
1: Awesome Climate Run...setting a personal best for Kimmie 5 miles in under an hour! Go Kim Go! Leo said 54.? . I hope he is right and his little gadget is not broken! If so don't tell me!
2: Got Kudos from the Powers that Be at Work!
3: Got told that my pants were getting baggy!
I am now very full of myself and intolerable to be around. By the time I left work my head was so big I could barely make it thru the elevator doors and now my neck hurts because the strain of holding up my big head has been exhausting.
Totals for today: Ran 5, walked 1 1/4, Biked 6 1/2 and did a little lifting.

This weekend is mother's day...so I am ready....Children, Grandchildren....I am ready to be adored and cherished and treated as a queen (something I most certainly deserve on account of my wonderfulness).

I will be posting pictures soon. I have some incredible cute ones to post!

Upcoming events: Amber will be in a show this weekend. You can buy tickets at the door on Saturday night! Grandma Mae arrives June 7 and will stay thru Tuesday! Save some time for Grandma Mae! I will be taking off Friday and 1/2 day on Monday. Aunt Denise will be off 1/2 on Thursday. Hog Jog 10k for Me on June 14? Zoo run 5k in July, and the Kossuth Street 5k in July, Grandma and Grandpa Kaufman in Michigan will be having their 40th anniversary.
Birthdays (May/June/July): Amanda, Amber, Grandma Casey, Grandma Mae, Grandma Sue, Natasha (in alpha order).
July 4th (fireworks at my house, carryin lunch/dinner).

That's all for now folks!
Quote of the day, "I am loser tee hee tee hee" I can't really explain this but it was funny as heck and you just had to be there....spoken by Jill in reference to my self disparaging persona.

Mini Magic

Okay I have determined that either A)I did not work hard enough at the Mini or B) There has been some major mini vodoo magic going on. Other then Saturday of the mini (when I fell asleep in the van on the way home and then got in the door and took a 2 hour nap) I have felt all kinds of energy. Sunday got up at 6:00 am went to the grocery store, returned home by 7:30 am to take a shower, eat breakfast and get ready for church, returned home from church watched not one but two grandchildren (and a great time it was!), then returned one grandchild home, kept one to take to church with me, went to evening service, returned home, played with the remaining grandchild till his mommy and daddy returned home around 9 ish. Monday, started a little sluggish, half heartedly walk/ran 1 mile, half heartedly did ab work, then by the time I got to work the energy kicked in...went for a mile walk on my lunch break, came home ate dinner then went on a 6 mile bike ride. Tuesday got up did a little lifting, ran 3 miles (at my fastest time in quite awhile! and I could have run further!), came home after work took a 6 1/2 mile bike ride (and picked a route with two killer hills), took Baby Adam for about a 3/4 mile walk, came home packed my lunch and got ready for tomorrow...now I am blogging. I thought after the mini I would be worthless for a week but I feel pretty good...the real test will be the climate run on Thursday! If I make it then I know I am stronger! Okay better get to bed...no use pushing the envelope....

I FINISHED WITH A SMILE

I DID IT! I DID IT! I DID IT! I would jump up and down but my knees are stiff. It was incredible and painful and I am doing it again next year. Mile 1-5 felt pretty good. I could breathe, nothing really hurt and my 5 mile was like 1:01 which is about average for me now. Suprisingly no real problem controlling my breathing...oh and side note I ran with NO MUSIC. After much encouragement to just enjoy and relish the experience. I left my headphones in the car. Headphones to me are like a pacifer to a baby! So it was a tough call to leave them behind. I did not regret it until the last mile and looking back I think even if I had them it would be unlikely they would have helped. The track miles were horrendously tedious. Nothing to look at but track and other tortured souls. My husband asked if I kissed the brick. I told him there could be no brick kissing because I would have probably laid down and taken a nap. Every once in a while I would glance over to the sidelines at the track to see the perky young teenage cheerleaders cheering for us. The cheer I liked the most was when they said something like "walk it run it we don't care" and then something about just doing it. I was in my "Kim far away zone" at that point... its the same look I get when I am on the treadmill or my Thursday runs. Any way I just walked thru the water breaks up to that point. After the track it started to get rough. That was right in the 8-9 mile part. It was very helpful that Leo marked it for me in Lafayette miles. He would be like okay we're at the 4th Street hill mark on our Thursday run. Then he would say okay were at Teal Road. That really kept me from panicking! The last couple miles I had to walk some because my legs felt like lead. Strange though...the breathing that has been an ongoing problem for me was not a problem today....The last 1/2 miles was very rough then the last 1/4 mile all I remember is I was smiling and thinking "I am gonna finish..I gonna finish", I could see the finish line and they called my name over the loud speaker! I had to ask Leo is that our finish...because I could not believe I was finally there. I felt like bursting into tears when I crossed under. I am so happy that my friends encouraged and encouraged me to do this...because this I was filled with this incredible feeling of joy! Next year my goal is 2:40 and I will not start in Corral V.

Highlights:

Dinner the night before: Hooked up at PF Changs with Leo, Maggie, Jeff, Karen, Glenn and two other couples that I can't remember their names. I think one was Leo's nephew....I am tired right not I can't hardly think....Good food and excellent company!


Stay girl stay: Leo parks me in the corral. Points to a spot tells me to stand right there while he goes to the back to give something to his nephew in a back corral..yes there were just a few corrals behind us. I see Dana, Mike and Cathy they wave and yell. I run over to them all excited to see my friends. I get hugs and well wishes! OH NO I have let my spot. When I look over Leo has returned and is standing in the spot shaking his head! I bid Danna, Mike, Kathy and Russ farewell, asked Danna and Kathy to please drag me to the finish line if I collapse (and to please make sure my shirt stays down to retain my modesty) and high tail it back to my spot with explanation as to why I strayed. Hahahahahaha

I was not looking around at the start of the mini just walking to the start line staring ahead, trying to decide what on earth was the matter with my brain for signing up and I glance over and there was my family! I was so excited to see them.

My shirt: I had several people comment on my fat picture on my shirt and it was most encouraging and made me not want to quit. Thank you to Rebecca for coming up with my logo!

The bands were great on the sidelines! I heard some Guns and Roses, Mellencamp, Poison, Areosmith...all the music that makes a girl of the 80's happy. We did hear one band and ohhhhh they were horrible.

I was advised by Leo at the beginning there would be lots of hooting and hollering and laughter but after the track it would be silent just the slapping of shoes on the pavement. It was true! No laughter, no hooting, no hollering...just slap slap slap...it was very strange.

Silence of the Kim: Few words were spoken by Kim on account of I had to concentrate. But my friends are use to that...they know when I am done I will make up for the running silence. Maybe someday I too will be able to chatter! I think this is the longest stretch I have gone with out talking aside from my dental surgeries.

Big Girls Galore: I found my big girls. I was content.

My family: I love you so very much and am the most blessed woman in the world for having you! Thank you for all your love and support. Especially thank you to my husband who has put up with my training for months and months and listening to me rattle on about my corns and callouses (yes Honey I am gonna get that pedicure). And putting up with my early to bed early to rise schedule. Thank you Kendra for doing dog duty...thank you Tasha and James for sleeping on the fold out so I could sleep in the nice cushy hotel bed and thank you Jerry, James and Tasha for sitting for hours waiting for me to finish!

Proud of all my Y Friends. I am beaming with pride for all my Y friends! I love each and every one of you and you have greatly enriched my life! Thank you for encouraging me to be all that I can be!

Giant Dessert: On the way home from Indy we stopped to eat and I had a giant dessert and then felt sick sick sick. A couple of times I thought I was going to have to ask Jamie to pull the van over but I paid 5.00 for that dessert and I did not want to waste it by throwing it up. FYI: try the blonde brownie from Applebees....

Things I have Gained/Learned from the Mini:
Gross Item: If you are constipated...run a mini!
Thursday climate runs do pay off.
I will not die after doing 13.1 miles
10k's no longer scare me. I might still be last but the distance no longer scares me.
I wanna do another...not anytime soon though...but I am gonna work my butt of this summer and get stronger.

Random Thought while doing the Mini: Every time I saw a pit stop I kept thinking "This is just like in Georgia and Florida when you see all those Stops that sell the Oranges and Pecans" I think this thought might have been oxygen deprivation or dehyrdration induced.

Scary moment: After the finish I went to go to the bathroom (see Gross Item above) and then I started to get dizzy and bleck feeling. My blood sugar went bump so I had to sit down...hoping I could hold off on that bathroom issue...and eat some jelly beans. It took a minute to get my brain wrapped around that I had to get the jelly beans out of my pocket and into my mouth and about 7 minutes to recover and then I was as right as rain! I kept looking around thinking boy I wish my family was here because I really don't feel good and that I should have had someone at the finish have my meter. Next time I will eat some jelly beans at the last 5k mark.
Okay that is all for now cause I am tired. My son has my finish on video and he is putting it on his blog. I will let you all know when it is up so you can see what pain/happiness looks like!
Signed
13.1 miles and happy!

I am gonna make a great looking Corpse

Am I ready for the Mini?

Maps generated
Suitcase mostly packed (spending the night in Indy tomorrow)
Fat Girl Tee Shirt Ready ( made a shirt with my fat picture on it and the logo "One More Reason to Run")
Lucky food packed (peanut butter and honey)
Lucky socks packed
Lucky Sports Bra currently in the washer ready to go in the dryer
Lucky Shorts...packed (are you starting to see the trend....I don't have skill so gotta have luck)
Hair Colored..........why did I need to get my hair colored and cut? cause when I sweat all my gray roots stand out and because I wanna look great in my casket after I keel over dead 20 feet from the finish line. If someone sees me laying on the ground please roll my corpse to the finish line so I do not get a DNF.
So I guess that means I am ready for the mini (that is once I get my lucky bra packed).

Current Mood: Slightly panicked. I did feel a little light headed for a few minutes when I saw the mini coupe but I managed to overcome it by thinking thoughts of non mini things.

Quote of the day: Kathleen my hairdresser, "Color by Kathleen, Body by the YMCA". Said upon my quip that she should put an advertisment on my shirt for the mini.

Mini Meltdown

Every time I think if the mini I feel faint. For that matter every time I hear the word mini I feel faint. Seeing mini things makes me feel faint. I almost sure the stress and fear prior to the mini is going to kill me. I am scared for the following reasons:

I won't be able to keep up with Leo
I will have to walk more then run
2 burly men will exit the slow bus and grab me and forcibly shove me into the "You ain't moving fast enough" bus.
It will be hot
I will have to walk.I will have to walk I will have to walk. I dont wanna walk. I guess after writing this I have my fear narrowed down to fear of failure....I think walking is failure...therefore I will fail because there is no possible way I can run the whole thing. Okay what happened to my I am going to walk/run the mini and be proud of it? Ahhhgggggggggg
Time to go do my 3 mile run.....

11.33 miles

Today, despite being tired and unmotivated and dehydrated I drug my rear out of bed for a run. The first half was very strong only 3 1 minute water breaks and then somewhere around mile 7 I lost it. I ran out of water, I was thirsty so thirsty (my own fault I only took about 8 ounces of water with me). Managed to get in 11.33 miles average pace of 13.3 minutes per mile. The last mile was mostly walking with my tongue hanging out of my mouth but I finished. I really think for long runs I need to have someone with me to help me keep a slow steady pace. So after the mini I will be begging one of the climate run teams to go on longish runs with me 6-8 miles on Saturday or early Sunday morning! It is lonely running that long by myself...its not that I want to talk but I just want someone there. Maybe I should get a dog...no a dog is too fast that would kill me.
During this run: I was thirsty, tired, my music was driving me crazy, I wanted to hear it then I didn't (headphones off, headphones on...over and over and over), my cell phone (in my pocket) banged against my quad and gave me a little bruise, my foot hurt, my knee hurt, my head hurt. I ran past someone's little yard pond, thought about sitting in it, decided they would call the police if they saw a middle aged sweaty woman with headphones sitting in their pond. Ran past burger king, thought the smell would make me puke. People kept staring at me. I wanted to scream at them "Hey can't you see I am striving for health and fitness" "Fat girls need exercise too!" Chanted to myself "I am never doing another mini again" Told the FAST runner that went past me that I was too fat and old to do this. He smiled gave me a thumbs up...I wanted to break his thumb off and slap the smile off of his face, but he was going to fast. At mile 9 thought about calling my daughter to pick me up. Mile 10 started to cry and whine and moan outloud. Mile 11 began to believe I was actually going to make it (by this time my running had become a walking/very little running). However, the "I am never doing another mini chant" became louder and faster in my head. Final.25 mile wondered why on the eath I was doing this and wondered how much I could get off ebay for my mini entry and hotel room, and also wondered why I didn't cut thru VP drive to get home faster. I see my house give one final groan of pain and sprinted toward my steps. Final Destination (home) began to think about how to improve next years training.

GI BABY

Baby Adam is now 7 months old and he is army crawling all over the place. However, he will scream at you if you do the following: continue to move the item he is crawling for over and over and over...he is smart...he knows we are messing with him.

Jerry and I bought new bikes last night...alas they are not nice bikes just a level above the cheap cheap bikes...but it is a bike none the less. We are looking forward to getting some rides in. Hopefully I will find a bike buggy this summer at yard sales so I can take Adam for a ride! I get tired and bored with walking at night so biking will be a nice change. I don't think I have had a new bike since I was a kid.

Running: 5 miles on Thursday, again, I hope not to jinx myself, but I actually enjoyed it more then it hurt (not alot mind you). No stopping and I went so much faster up 4th Street Hill...slow compared to other people but very fast for me! Probably the fastest ever! This summer I am going to work work work so at least I don't hold people up! My mini panic has set in. I think I am nuts and they don't let you WEAR HEADSETS! So this Saturday I am going to try to run without my headset...okay maybe it will be in my pocket but Iam gonna try not to use it.

Scales: Tra LA LA and the scales have been moving in a downward direction....yeah! I am within spitting distance of hitting my first mini goal...matter of fact I may spit and reweigh....perhaps that little bit of saliva will push me back!

Question of the Day: "Do you run naked" No that was NOT a question as to whether I have been running up 4th street hill in all my naked glory but rather a question about whether I eat before I run. Question by Karen. The answers are No and Yes, in no particular order. I will leave you to figure out the order. Hint: There have not been floods of people exiting the town in a panic. The Eye Doctors (yes I can't spell the real term this early in the a.m.) have not been overbooked due to a rise in sudden blindness....hope that helps.

Gnawing My Arm Off

I am making a valiant effort to lose 20 pounds. So far 5 down and not one but two people noticed! Now that is a morale booster. One person mentions in then you think yeah right who can tell, but two people...now that is validation...go Kimmie! However, the side effect of attempting to lose weight is an unending hunger. I am so hungry I could gnaw my arm off...except for I got one big honking bicep and I think it might be a little stringy and tough. I woke up in the middle of the night starving and just had to lay in bed because I HAD enough to eat at dinner and there was no reason for me to eat anything else. So I laid in bed and counted the hours till I could get up and have a cup of carb controlled hot chocolate...very little fat, trace sugar.... but very yummy. These are the following changes I have made to try to shed some of my fatness....keep in mind...small changes...because I am already suffering in my yummy food deprived life: Red Meat once a week...fish, chicken and pork the rest, gave up my whipped cream on my sugar free pudding, make my sugar free pudding with 1 cup of skim milk and 1 cup of water (instead of 2 cups milk), count my pretzels for snacks..I get 25 mini pretzels (20 is a serving but I really love pretzels), not eating my weight in desserts on the weekends, avoiding multiple dining out experiences on the weekend, No bacon at all during the weekdays...Wed is always eggs and bacon night...I have eggs and whole wheat pasta and vegtables, No more graham crackers, resumed afternoon walks at work, and finally I do not go back for mulitple helpings of meat under the "I need protein to make me run faster theory" (this theory has been proven utterly useless but I still insisted on standing by it!)Those are my changes and while they are not much I am grateful that the scales have gone down 5 pounds and am anxious to see the other pounds follow behind it.
Signing off
Food Deprived and Suffering!
SOS: I need a cookie!

Daytime Victory

Yesterday 7.23 mile mostly running and 2.65 walk. Well this weekend I had every intention of doing a long run. However, the IRS stood firmly in the middle of my path. Taxes are due tomorrow (due to today being emancipation day) but my taxes were not completed. In fact they were not started, not my 2007 quarterly or my 2006 personal. I knew that if I waited till after my long run then I would be too tired and worn out. If I did them before it is likely I would bale on my long run...which is exactly what happened. So Sunday morning I got up, realized my check book at 100 + error and I had bills to pay...again long run first then too tired to do my financials or financials then risk not getting my long run in because I will get drowsy in church and be to tired to go later. I had every intention of leaving right after church, took my clothes and everything, but when I got out I was overcome with this almost like hangover type of exhaustion ( I call it my sitting in church syndrome)so I opted for coming home and napping. I napped for an hour and a half then decided I had to get my slacker rear up and if nothing else go for a long walk. Well I got out and started feeling better so I was able to do 7.23 mile run which was mostly running. I even, on my own choice, came up 4th street hill to come home. I MADE IT UP IN BROAD DAYLIGHT! The hill is NOT easier in the daylight! I thought it might be, but it looked just as horribly long in the daylight as it does at 5:30 in the morning. So anyway I got home, took a 15 minute bath, then immediatly hoofed it to church which was how I got my 2.65 mile walk in. I was suppose to walk home too but they had a VBS meeting that went till 8:00 and so by that time I was starving for dinner so did not think I could wait to eat till I walked home. This morning, due to my late afternoon run and walk, I am kinda stiff so I think I will hit the water.
Saturday night: Baby Adam went to his first Miller Carnival. He had a great time. He won the cake walk two times, won two prizes in the kids raffle, I won 15 worth of movie gift certificates and free popcorn and drink coupons, a golf shirt, and a blue ink pin. We were there for around 2 1/2 hours, then we trooped back to my house to have Chili, german chocolate cupcakes, and the turnovers that Baby Adam won in the cake walk.

Accomplished this weekend: 2006 Taxes, 2007 quarterly taxes, Miller School Carnival, a little laundry done, Checkbook Error found and corrected, Bills paid, Filing done, Grocery shopping done, church attended...so I guess I had a pretty good and busy weekend.
Oops once again late to swimming!

Beginning Meltdown

Yesterday I got in the mail: MY MINI CONFIRMATION BOOKLET. I held it in my hand and there was no panic. Until I opened the booklet and begin to read. 13.1 miles what was I thinking? Am I insane? There was information on first aid stations, hydration stations, what to do in case of emergencies both human and weather, how to find you family amid thousands and thousands of people. It also included the dire results of losing your mini confirmation book, starting the mini early, losing your chip AND going slower then the required pace of 18 minutes per mile. By the time I was done reading my booklet I was feeling faint (good thing I was in bed in my pjs), I felt like I was going to puke and I had a desire to flee far far away from Indy. So now I am having some SERIOUS doubts. Not even the lure of free cookies and country music at the end of the route has made my terror abate.

Tax Meltdown: I finished our personal taxes from 2006. They are ready to sign and insert my check for payment because evidently claiming 0 all year long is not adequate to cover my tax liability. Uncle Sam wants me, no demands me, to deplete my meger savings to give him more money so our Congressmen, Senators, and the President can live like kings and dine on exotic foods and expensive wines, while I live in the middle of gang territory and eat generic hotdogs. No..just kidding... I know my money goes for good....like studies of the mating habits of Honey Bees..... So now that the personal taxes our done I have begun our first quarter 2007 taxes. After staring at the Estimated Tax Worksheet I have decided that my brain hurt and I went to a tax site and found tax software that will do all the thinking for me. I just have to data entry.
Runs: 3.25 miles on Tuesday...pretty good..no stopping...last mile was by far the fastest (don't be impressed I don't go that fast in the beginning!) 5 miles on Thursday and it felt...dare I say it...not as painful.... no stopping.....I did not struggle with my breathing as much...wasn't any faster but I could actually breath during portions of this run and was able to occasionally burst furth with a sentence or two. I am mostly a silent on my five miles...I can either breath or talk but am incapable of doing both. I am constantly amazed by those that can chatter way during their runs...oh and really really jealous.

Okay off to the Y for Power Hour. I was gonna swim but I have swam the last couple of weeks and I am starting to feel like sponge bob. I think if someone hugs me I am gonna squirt water out of every pore.
Long Run/Walk this weekend. Wish me luck! There will be no gatorade.....

ANNOYING ISSUES and DAMAGE I HAVE DONE

It is true. I am a walking Shleprock and I have PMS misery:

1) Burnt popcorn at work so that our entire office reeked and people kept asking what was that smell.
2) Been canceled by my homeowners insurance due to our being the victim of vandalism
3) Been denied by companies because of my vandalism claim
4)Possible lost a parking permit (that does not belong to me) (not sure if I lost it or it was never given to me). I had to go up and beg a replacement before the person I borrowed it from gets back in town...but not even sure if she even gave it to me or we just talked about it....grrrrr
5)Got pulled over by the police for speeding...though I did not get a ticket but a stern talking too.
6) Was publicly humilated by being pulled over as it was on 4th Street and numerous people I knew saw me and passed the word around.
7) When getting pulled over told the police that my purse was in my trunk...so had to open my trunk...which then everyone that passed me thought my car was getting searched
8) Had to have baked potato while my husband had bacon. This cause alot of emotional distress. Further distressed when baked steak day I had baked fish. (I need to lose 10-15 more pounds)
9)Have lost numerous things this week that I have just laid down for a MOMENT!
10) Had a doctor's appointment for a check up. Despite losing weight I have a severe doctor/scale phobia.
12) My car needs lubed so my car creaks and moans the entire time I am driving it...It is annoying and embarrassing
13) Been generally cranky and short tempered and not willing to joke or kid around....my poor husband has had to bear the brunt of this as he has been in a playful mood and I HAVE NOT! He was joking with me the entire walk we took on Monday and all I did was whine and snarl at him. I say this to him "DO NOT POKE THE BEAR"
14) Found out I have to pay 830 in federal taxes despite us claiming 0 exemptions. Does it not stand to reason if you are claiming 0 that you should at least break even?
AND FINALLY FINISHED OFF MY WEEK WITH THE FINALE
15) Almost killed my dog and injured my husband.....I gave her a piece of chicken breast..which normally she would eat no problem(yes I know you are not suppose to give the dog table food but she is in kidney failure and has a bad thryoid and has lost tons of weight and we have to get her to eat anyway we can...and she turns her nose up at the very expensive food we bought from the vet that is suppose to help her...so she is losing even more weight) Well come to find out that she is losing teeth...we found one on the floor the other day.....so she could not chew up the chicken breast chunk that I give it to her and she swallowed it whole...where it got stuck....she was heaving, frothing at the mouth, gasping so hard her rib cage was totally sunken in and dying in front of my eyes. My husband (who stays cool in the throes of trauma) tried to give her doggie heimlech (spelling?) and then he and I turned her upside down and shook her...nothing...she was frothing at this time...he tried to pull it out but it was too far down her throat...which when he was doing this got bit very hard!. Finally he prayed and then started rubbing her throat trying to push it up and then she gagged and coughed it up. I was terrified! After this we determined that she likely has not been eating the expensive dry stuff because she can't chew the hard pieces... she does not have many back teeth...however those canines are sharp and still there...that is proven by the holes in Jerry's hand! So now she is on wet dog food and I am not giving her any table food unless it has been put through the blender first. Suprisingly enough she still loves me after my attempted doggie manslaughter. Poor girl...she is such a sweet loving dog!
This was not a good week for a woman with major PMS issues!

My runs were good this week.
3.25 miles on Tuesday...no stopping to walk
5 miles on Thursday no stopping to walk (though it was a tremendous feat just to drag my rear out of bed...the only reason I did was that I cannot tick off the one person that is going to help me thru the mini)
10.85 miles yesterday. There absolutely WAS walking during this one. I also have determined there is not one place in town to go where I am not going to get hills. I did not set out till 8:30 a.m. so it was very hard for me because I am not use to running at this time of day. I am an under the cover of darkness person. The sun never hits my face. So I was contending with Mr. Sun in my eyes and baking down on the top of my head AND people staring at me. They were probably wondering if they should stop and call for medical help as I am sure I looked like I was dying. I also made the mistake of taking gatorade with me which made me cramp up really bad. The last time I drank gatorade was at the Zoo Run and it did the exact same thing to me. I guess I better just stick to water and lifesavers for the sugar. I am also tring to find a little bottle to transport honey as my stomach can handle that. I always eat a tablespoon of honey before my Thursday runs.

Well I better get cooking. I invited a few people over for dinner and I don't think they will be impressed if I served bologne sandwiches and pringles. So I better get the turkey breast cooking.

Running out of Time

The mini is so very close and I am so ill prepared. This weekend I have a 10 1/2 mile scheduled. It was suggested that from now until the mini I do my long runs at the same time as the mini is that way I get use to running at that time. I can see the logic in that. So instead of running under the cover of darkness as is my usually practice I will be setting out this Saturday at 7:30 a.m. Blah! I have been promised that at the mini I will have fun, that I won't be last, and that I will want to do it again...hmmm I am somewhat skeptical.

Spring Fling: Spring Fling went well and all the children seemed to enjoy themselves! This was Adam's and Carissa' s first Easter Egg Hunt! Poor Tyson he is the oldest child in the family and he is looked upon with total adoration by my neice Abby, so she follows him around and around. He is not so thrilled with that but will put up with it. He is already followed around by his little sister and pretty soon Adam will likely be following him around. I told Tyson when he was little he use to follow Amber around and she too hated it. And years ago......Amber use to follow Kendra and Amanda around...yes they hated it too. At any rate..I had a wonderful time being surrounded by my grandchildren and neices. Baby Adam spent the night with grandma and we had a fun time. However, he has Grandma pegged in that if he whimpers and looks up at me with his big big eyes slightly filled with tears that Grandma will pick him up and cuddle him no matter what time of the night it is.

Time to go swimming....