You just don’t know where someone has been or what their life is like. This is just one example.

How did you get your first bike? Did you get an allowance as a child? I didn’t get an allowance. My parents told us that we were a family and we needed to work together to make ends meet. Our allowance was food on the table and a place to sleep. I got my first bike by saving money from birthdays, working as a paper route sub, and baby-sitting.

How did you get your first car? I was lucky enough to have my parents sign a bank note for $800, I had my first car loan. I worked a lot of hours while in high school to pay off that loan and to save for college.

I paid for college. No my parents were not able to help me with books or tuition. I was lucky to live with them while studying and working. It took me a few years to get my associate degree but I got it free and clear. Going away to college was a dream that I couldn’t afford. Cutting loose and partying is something I kind of regret not doing but it was a good choice to stay at home and work.

Working is something I have done since I can remember. I learned the valuable lesson of buying what you can afford. Sometimes it takes a long time to save.

How old is your car? Mine is over 9 years and has over 136,000 miles on it. I take good care of it and it is running like a champ.

Someday I’m going to be driving a BMW or something else that is nice. I’ve been saving a long time. Think what you want but not all people with nice things are jerks. Not all people are just given things...some work really hard and can afford them and appreciate them.

It is time to make a deal

The deal is the facts. Yes, the honest truth is the deal. I have a difficult time losing weight. My resolve is strong, I like to exercise, and my diet is healthy. Now is the time to write it down and figure it out. I have a polar heart rate monitor that tracks my exercise and a new app for my phone to track calories eaten.

The plan is to workout at the gym 2-3 times a week and burn 1,000 calories each visit. In edition to the gym I want to add 1-2 workouts at home or on the weekend. My goal for total calories eaten is 1,200-1,500 daily. I would like to follow this plan for a month and see what happens. If I lose weight no further action is required. This will mean that I’m back on track. If not, back to the doctor. The last time I lost weight I had to follow a special very low cal diet that I got from a naturopath. I don’t want to do that again unless it is necessary. I’m so afraid of becoming anorexic. I get very frustrated with my situation and feel so out of control. The only way I feel in control is to eat very little. I know that is not healthy.

Check this out

Check this blog out

www.fatcyclist.com

I was listening to my favorite radio program today (the story) and heard about this blog. The Fat cyclist is a blog about bikes, life, and raising money to fight cancer. You should check it out if any of this is interesting to you.

The story is a radio program on NPR. It is about people from all walks of life. The interviewer is Dick Gordon is great! He asks the question you want to ask. If you don't have a public radio station to listen to I think the program can be downloaded as a podcast. The Story is one of my favorite things and I'm sure the fatcyclist.com will soon be a favorite as well.

www.thestory.org

This is the good life and I'm sticking to it!

OK this is the deal. I have issues with my pituitary. I don’t know why that is so difficult for me to admit. Embarrassment is a funny emotion. 10 years ago I was diagnosed with a little problem with my pituitary. I will need to take medicine for the rest of my life. In the grand scheme of life this is no big deal. I’m lucky there is a drug to treat my problem and thankfully I don’t have cancer.

Losing weight is difficult for me. Last year I worked really hard and lost 25lbs with the help of a doctor. All seemed great but I was still seeking relief from chronic dizziness. The medicine that I take to help my pituitary may cause dizziness. Feeling really good about my self and my general health, last fall I took a break from my meds. I was trying to fix the dizziness. It was a risk. It didn’t work. The dizziness remained and my hormones crashed in April. I felt like I had lost control of my body. While my hormones are slowly regaining balance the dizziness remains and it is depressing. All of this has effected my confidence and other activities (climbing).

I miss mountain biking! I miss my biking friends. They will always be my friends but I miss the lifestyle of racing and being with like minded people. Biking was my happy place, my escape, and it made me feel strong. I used to feel tough and powerful. I was really good at it too. The dizziness has hidden this refuge from me and I don’t know how to find it. As a positive I did realize that I’m more than my bike. I’m creative. I like to draw and take photos and I like school and learning.

Once again I’m going to try to climb the mountain of dizziness and fix this problem. I just want to be free. In October I’m going to see a neurologist. This means more tests and feeling like a loser. I feel so stupid at the doctor’s office but something is wrong and I’m not giving up this time. I’m lucky to have the time and support to tackle this problem. Now I just have to do it!

I should get back to writing

I'm going to try and post at least once a month. At times I think it helps me work out ideas if I write them down. Taking better care of myself is on the agenda and in some way this counts. Staying positive is one of my goals. I will try...
b

Good luck Mr. Baseball

Good luck Uecker! Wow, heart surgery...here is to a speedy recovery.

Olympic fever

I have watched a lot of the Olympic coverage, skiing, ice skating, snowboarding, and speed skating. Surely someone else has watched more but I can’t stop watching. The personal stories are fascinating. I love to hear about their lives and what kind of challenges they have faced. A pairs ice skating couple that is husband and wife have lived in a dorm for years. They have given up so much of life to skate in the olympics. One skier representing Canada is a recovering alcholic. So many people, so many stories, not just competition or maybe just another reflection of life? It seems to be a fine line between success and total destruction. So many athletes past and present have struggled with obsessive behaviors. It is a fine line between prominence and loser.

Thanks

I want to say thanks to all of the people that helped me heal. Thanks to John for taking good care of me for weeks after my surgery. He did laundry, cooked, and cleaned. Not to mention he was driving me around too. Marriage is a partnership and I have the best partner.

I would also like to thank Karen J and Karen Z for getting me out to see movies and to appointments. Thanks so much for being good freinds!

My Mom also deserves thanks. Mom took me to buy groceries and run errands. Thanks!

Thanks to all for helping me heal. Without these people I would not be walking and feeling so good.

9 weeks tomorrow

Well, I was going to write about my ankle and the progress I’ve made but I have soooo much on my mind. Maybe I need to blog more. Sometimes writing helps me to organize my thoughts. If one had to follow that crazy path it would wind all over the place. Later in the week I can write about other stuff.

Ok...The ankle is doing great! I’m really ahead of schedule thanks to taking good care of myself before and after my surgery. I’m lucky to have the knowledge and will to take the time and effort to live well. I was walking in a few days and now I just want to get back to lifting some weights and running. No running for a long time but I can do other stuff. No weight for awhile either. It maybe time to try something new or get back to something I’ve missed. For the last 10 years I’ve been practicing yoga. It helps me focus and clear my mind. Being a very physical person I deal with life and the ups and downs of life by working out. Yoga reminds me that I have options and to breathe. Time to get back to yoga.

Happy New Year!

I love New Years! This is a great holiday because everyone is on the same page. Everyone’s calendar changes tonight. I love the feeling of starting over and reflecting. I’m hoping for a clear sky this evening. There is nothing so breathtaking as peering into a winter sky with all of the stars twinkling. This is another day to be thankful for the love, the health, and the great life that I live. I’m so lucky! So here is to another wonderful year!

Cheers

I'm doing well

The surgery was a success. Things are going well, very little pain or swelling. It turns out there was a piece of unattached cartilage in the joint. It was removed and the bone was fractured so it would bleed. I guess that causes the body to generate new tissue. Because of the micro fracture I can not put weight on my foot for 6 weeks. I will be on crutches for 6 weeks and then I don't know what will happen...more info after Wednesday.

Good thing I have been working out. My legs, core, arms, and back are strong which makes getting around on one foot a lot easier. All of the lunges and squats are really paying off! Thanks NX level for helping me get strong!

Big thanks to my friend Karen J for coming over and Saturday and staying with me. John had to go to a family xmas party and I needed someone to help me out for the evening. Thanks!!!!

FYI
Now accepting visitors and rides places! I'm a little slow but I need to get out of the house for short trips.

Photo from the rampage

Santa rampage

The Santa cycle rampage was awesome! John and I had a blast! What is more fun than a bunch of crazy people biking in Santa suits? Cars would stop and people would take our picture...Lots of laughing and smiles! I'm not a christmas person but I want to make this a tradition...It was sooo much fun!

one more thing

One more thing to think about...All the money in the world, a beautiful spouse, a great talent, and smarts...Doesn’t always make one happy. I wish you luck Tiger....Happiness is something money can’t buy

Random

I need to get back to yoga. I really miss it. As of late I have been really anxious. Maybe it is my up coming ankle surgery, maybe it is the end of the semester and I have to finish stuff a little early to get ready for said surgery...maybe I just need to get back to yoga.

Yoga reminds me to breathe and be patient with myself and the world. I don’t see this as a religious quality but a human one. This is where I could talk about my agnostic views but maybe another day.... Ok...just a little... why can’t people just be nice to be nice? Why does there have to be a carrot of some kind?

Blogging is for spilling my guts...no worries about complete thoughts or things that always make sense or being spelled correctly...I try but I’m not a scholar, a rocket scientist, or a writer. I love the randomness!

Thanksgiving

Thanksgiving is upon us. I actually like this holiday. This is a celebration of thanks no doubt but it is not or should I say doesn’t have to be a holiday cluttered with religion. This holiday is about giving thanks to people of all walks of life. This is a simple day no matter what your religious practice. Being thankful has no limits or controls.

I have much to be thankful for...Love, health, family, and friends.

Thank You!

Veteran's Day

Thank you!

To all that have served our country...Thank You! I’m grateful for my many freedoms.

food

I rarely shop at Pick n save. The quality of the food is...well...shity. I like to eat fresh veggies and fruit not to mention organic meat. I know that puts me in the minority. Think about this...I rarely get sick and in the last few months I have been able to go off of my bromocriptine. That is a major accomplishment! Organic meat just tastes better. I know it may be more expensive but so is going to the doctor and buying medication.

I was at Pick n Save tonight. I can’t believe the stuff in carts!!! Sugar and crap of all colors and shapes....soda, juice boxes, chips, not a vegetable in sight! White bread and lots of other empty calorie foods filled the carts. Here is the deal...if I’m going to pay for health care stop parking so close, take the stairs and try to eat something that is in its original state.

Try this kind of fast food. An apple...you don’t even have to unwrap it!

Good day in the forest

What a great day for a walk in the woods. Today we picked John's brother up and went for a hike in the kettle moraine. I wanted to get more activity today but Dan doesn't get a lot of exercise and we have to watch his foot. Dan doesn't feel pain like most people. Let me tell you pain is a very important part of life. It can keep you safe and healthy...

a great harvest

Ah, Fall...I love this time of year! For dinner tonight we are having grilled garden fresh veggies and chicken. Yum! I would love to eat like this everyday. We eat well all year....but getting fresh veggies from John's parents is the best!