An Open Letter to My Dog, Maddie

Dear Maddie,

We have been together for what... 5 years now? I still remember picking you up and saving you from your 10 crazy brothers and sisters when you were 6 weeks old (thanks for not peeing on me on the way home, by the way. That showed a lot of class). Well, I think it's time we sat down and had a little chat.

I admit that there were times that I wasn't the best Mom in the world. So maybe when you were a puppy I messed with you a little bit. Took away your toys, messed with your ears, put my hands in your mouth, pulled your tail. And ok, maybe I tied your back legs together with your collar a couple times and made you hop around like a bunny for a few seconds. But I told you it was because I needed you to get used to the unpredictable since you were going to be around kids and babies. And you have to admit that nothing the little nieces and nephews do to you surprises you now, does it?

Ok, so maybe I also left you to spend 5 months with grandma and grandpa when you were young because I had to go out of the country. In that time you were horribly abused, I'm sure. Made to eat leftover ice cream and popcorn. Forced to go on long walks, and snuggle on the couch. For that, I am sorry. I will try not to do it again. I don't think either of us wants to go through the running and diet that was required to get you to lose the 15 pounds you put on in that time anyway.

Overall, however, I think we've developed a pretty good relationship. You put up with my long hours, I put up with your coffee ground addiction and weekly trash binge. You put up with me sitting on the trainer, I deal with your temper tantrums. You let me sleep in, as long as you can jump in my bed at 7am. Even though airplane tickets are cheaper than driving these days, I always drive to grandma and grandpa's so that you can join me and hang out with your Milwaukee friends (Murphy, Ellie, Bailey, and Zoe). I even drive the whole way with one hand so that you have a human "arm rest" to lay your head on. And I also let you hang your head out the window at 75 miles per hour because I know how much you love it.

You always get fed and walked twice a day. We go to the park regularly. I offer to take you on runs with me. Once a year, I take you to your favorite place, the vet, where everyone gushes over how sweet you are. So I'm good to you, no?

In response you've been a pretty good girl. Haven't had an accident in the house since you were 8 weeks old, you don't bite, you play well with the kids in the neighborhood, come when you're called, yada yada.

But Maddie-Bear, there is just one thing that has to stop

It's about the underwear. I know that you enjoy it, but you have to stop eating the crotch out of my panties. How many have you ruined now? 50, 75, 100? Do you realize the financial implications of your habit? And it's not like they are just sitting out (well, ok- sometimes they are). You actually knock open the door with your kung-fu doggie kick and ravage my hamper. Right when I think you're over your addiction and I stop the daily routine of slamming and reslamming my door to get it to latch right, it happens again. And seriously, how do you know which ones are my favorites? Can't you just take the granny panties for a change?

Really, if you can just stop this one little behavior, we will be totally cool. But now with med-school starting, I'm just going to be too busy to be running to the mall to buy replacement undies. So please, have some mercy. Go in roommate Matt's room instead.

The No Training Zone

No Training

You have now entered the No Training Zone. For the next several months, not a word will be uttered of heart rate zones, structured workouts, or bricks. There will be no racing, no taper, no recovery weeks. No Garmin data, no swimming sets, no hill repeats.

There will be exercise and cycling, and swimming and weights, and core body workouts. But they will only occur when I damn well please. And for as long as I feel like. If I want to go out and ride 150 miles, I'll do it. If I want to ride 12 miles and make that ride take all day, I will do it.

I'm glad we all got that straight

:-)

Today I had a wonderful 50 mile bike ride with the Shaker Cycling group. I was the token woman again. Why aren't more women into cycling? (Discuss amongst yourselves. I'm baffled by this). But it was a great ride. I love going out with them. It's such a nice group of people and I'm really pushed hard, since I'm definitely one of the weakest cyclists who shows up. For the first 2 hours I hang on for dear life at the end of the paceline, little legs flailing, lucky to get a sip or two of gatorade between hills. For being 13 days out from IM, I'm feeling remarkably recovered, though. The only real weak point was climbing out of the valley. I got dropped in a major way. A little bit of a reality check, but I'm a bit amazed I held on to the group as long as I did. I hope I can ride with them every once in awhile after school starts. It's a great fitness boost every Saturday!

Tomorrow I'm going out on a smell the roses Sunday tour of Chagrin Falls. Average speed 13-14 miles per hour with breakfast at the end. What a nice change of pace that will be!

Then for the rest of the week... who knows! Whatever comes up I guess. But whatever I do, I won't call it training.

Need some help thinking of a band name...

So for the 4th my parents bought me tickets to see this amazing band. Thing is, I can't remember who it was. I was thinking you bloggers might be able to help me out. Was it Korn? Limp Bizkit? Bon Jovi? BareNaked Ladies? I just can't remember. Anyone out there recognize them?



Here's a close-up of the lead guitarist. Help anyone?

He made it!

My sister in law, Heather, and I took my 2 nephews to see the new Pixar film Ratatouille today. It was Ashton's very first movie in the theaters. His parents both thought we were totally nuts for attempting to take their 3 year old son in a public place where he had to be quiet for 2 hours, but I had a good feeling. We spent a solid hour this morning warming up watching pixar clips on youtube, so I knew that he was totally ready for the challenge:



(as a sidenote- I actually do have hair! I realize that I have my hair either in a ponytail or in a hat for 99% of the pics I put on this blog, even though I wear it down 100% of the time I'm not training)

So we get to the movie and buy the greatest kid diversion of all time- POPCORN. Ashton didn't want to wait for our purchase so he broke free and cruised over to the counter and started eating the popcorn that people had dropped right off the counter. It was when he started cleaning the floor that we had to scoop him up and find our seats.

We all get situated, me on the end, then Ashton, Casey, and Heather. We bought the hugemongous tub of popcorn and Ashton demanded that he be the one to carry it to the seats. He sits down, tub of popcorn as big as he is, and he starts to eat.

and eat

and eat

The movie starts.

He eats

and eats

and eats

We get an hour into the movie and I'm just amazed he's still watching and quiet. Then he appears to get a bit uncomfortable. Mind you, this not quite 3 year old kid has now eaten more than 1/2 a large tub of buttered popcorn.

He leans towards me, gives me a big smile, and lets one rip. Good thing he was wearing diapers because this was a fart to be proud of. One that could clear out a theater.

Then he goes back to watching, leans the other direction, and lets one go again. This guy has a future as Al Bundy, let me tell you!

So after 15 minutes of raucous gas, we decide it's maybe time to jet. We almost made it through the movie, and I'm so proud of my little nephew!

GOALS

Okay, finally time to lay down some goals for the next year. If I put them out in the public I'll have to stick to it, right?

1- Get healthy

- This means, first of all heal the knee. I won't even attempt running until July 24th (one month post IM). If it keeps bothering me, I need to get an MRI and figure out what I did to the darn thing

- Lose this dang weight! I have to get the 15 pounds off that I gained during training. I think a lot of it is muscle mass in my legs from all the cycling after I hurt my knee. But I have plenty of fat to trim too. Need to eat healthy. This is complicated by med-school where I'm lucky to have time to eat, and there is an abundance of crap food compliments of the Drug companies.

- Exercise for fun. Go to yoga, swimming, do core strengthening, bike for fun, go to aerobics classes, go hiking, exercise with absolutely no agenda for a few months. No watches, no schedules, no stress


2- Work on running

- Once the knee is better I need to slowly build up my running mileage. I would like to do some early season 1/2 marathons with the goal of 1:45 or less.

3- Tri- Season 2008

- My required rotations (translation- crazy work hours and call) end in March. Then I should be able to start building for my tri-season. I'm thinking a half in July and IM Moo in September.

Time goals-

Half- 5:15
Full- 12:00

I feel like since I've done the distances now, I can start making time goals. It will be a tough year to train, so we'll see how realistic it is. If I actually keep the weight off and work on my running, they should be manageable.

4- Survive med school without looking like an ass

- I haven't been in a med school class since 2003. I took my boards 4 years ago. I'm pretty much going to be "that girl". I'm sure I've forgotten 95% of the pertinent medical information I ever knew. Should be an entertaining year.


In other news- Taking the munchkins to see Ratatouille today! It will be my 3 year old nephew's first movie, so we'll see how long we last. He has a pretty killer attention span, just not sure how he will like the dark theater. Should be an interesting night either way!

And here are some gratuitous kid pics from yesterday

We were playing with the kids with the sprinkler. My dad was turning it on and off as the kiddos would get close. It was a riot!



Pizza for dinner! (did I mention how fat I feel right now?)


Hiding under the piano


Daddy (brother Andy) playing some tunes for baby Ava

You asked for it!

They are blurry, and gross. But since you all wanted it, here it is. I'm going to have to blog early tomorrow morning to get this off the top of the page!








Oh, guess what? I can walk today!!!!!!!!!!!

Wooooohooooo!!!!

:-)

Random crap and pics!

Soon I'll put up a post about my goals for next year, but there's just so much going on here! My brother from Kentucky just arrived with his wife and son and daughter, and my other brother was here with his son and it was kid central! So much fun!

First some randomness...

- I feel like big fat slug. I'm still limping around because the left knee is FUBARed. Thankfully I can ride, so today I did something I should go to bike hell for. I put Mike Honcho outside on the trainer and rode in the sun for an hour. I didn't have anyone to ride with and I'm not so comfortable riding alone here in Milwaukee... and I felt like such a slug I just NEEDED some exercise. I figure it was ok because I still got to enjoy the wonderful weather

- My pinkie toe underwent a metamorphosis yesterday. The big questions here people...

Do you want to see the pics? I'm leaving this one up to you. The skin of the whole toe came off and took the nail with it. It was quite the spectacle, let me tell you. And of course, yours truly captured it on film. I suggest you decline this generous offer, but I run this blog on popular vote.

- I am being held captive in the land of diet sabotage. Like I don't feel fat enough already, weighing in 15 pounds heavier than I was in February, I have to be surrounded by a world of sugar and saturated fat. M&Ms, donuts, banana bread, chips, dip, Popsicles, pizza. I am just lucky that I've lost the taste for most of that crap. But I will never, NEVER I tell you, lose my taste for peanut M&Ms. I'm like a junkie here with an easy fix around every corner. My will power is only so strong. Give me strength!!!!

Ok, now some pics!

The cousins, Casey and Ashton together for the first time since Christmas:


My brother taught them this trick ;-)


How cute is this?


Splish Splashing by the pool

Grandpa with baby Ava. She will be celebrating her first birthday on the 13th... the same day as her Daddy's


Maddie wanted to get a closer look. Yeah, that's her ON THE TABLE. She just loves kids. The younger the better.



And this is happening right now. I'm the no-talent addition to this family. So I just sit back, listen, and occasionally sing along

Happy Sunday everyone! I hope everyone else is enjoying their family as much as I am! These kids are awesome. I have to put up a video of my nephews laughing. It's too much!