love without expectation

2012-01-18T14:04:00.000-08:00

life-changing moments

2012-01-18T12:20:00.000-08:00

there are few real life-changing moments. i mean, little things happen now and again that set your course, but every once in a while, life is changed. this rock changed my life in an awesome way. i love this guy, i know i want to partner up in this crazy life with him, and now it's set in stone (or rock...haha). i'm a blessed girl.

the story from my perspective...
it was to be a beautiful, 70 degree january day, so minh suggested we take a motorcycle ride to the south bay. we usually take 280 straight down, but he suggested highway 1 to make it a casual ride along the ocean. as the slow rider, i always lead the way and i missed the first exit to get the full ocean ride...but we decided to keep going and get on 1 at our next opportunity. we rode down 1 for a bit and i eventually turned off onto a road that i thought took us to the beach - but it didn't, so we got back on 1. we ended up missing all ocean stops (i have a feeling that was where we were meant to end up), and headed up to Skyline (see previous post about my new favorite road). it was an absolutely gorgeous day and after riding for a bit, minh suggested we pull over and enjoy some sun.

we sat and chatted for a bit...i'll confess that i was a bit frustrated with our future plan as a couple, or lack thereof...and suddenly he pulled out a ring and asked if it'd help. shock and awe. how could this be happening?!? is it for real?!? what do i do?!?

after some tears and speechlessness, he said, "is that a yes?" i said yes. he asked me to try the ring on...i have to admit that it freaked me out and it took some coaxing for me to put it on, but it was perfect. so sparkly. so beautiful. so much better than anything i could have described or dreamed about. and completely unexpected.

surreal. now what? :-)

my new favorite road

2010-09-07T15:03:00.001-07:00

is skyline, aka 35 - it's freakin' beautiful (and not too windy...i'm still a beginner, afterall)

i got a motorcycle!

2010-06-20T09:10:00.000-07:00

it's insane...and insanely fun...and i think i'm more surprised that i followed through with this than many of my family and friends.

i bought it a couple tuesdays ago, drove around the neighborhood tuesday night, ventured up central expressway wednesday night for dinner...and saturday we loaded up and headed over to highway 1 for a day-long adventure. too much too soon? probably, but what the heck...

it was freaking gorgeous! we started out early enough that there was limited traffic on 17 - which was good, 'cause i wasn't quite comfortable, yet. riding got easier as i relaxed and thought less about what i needed to do (more natural instead of forced). we drove south a bit on highway 1 until i needed a break and some breakfast - minh found an awesome place on his gps - the cadillac cafe. there were already a bunch of bikers there, so it was perfect. (i don't fit in with harley chicks)

we continued down highway 1, stopping every 30-45 minutes to enjoy the scenery or take a break. my bike isn't really made for loooooooong rides, so i get tired and sore and need to rest for 5 minutes. not a big deal along the coast - there's always a view.

we started out around 8am and arrived in Morro Bay around 5:30 - it was perfect. we parked our bikes, checked in and headed downtown to find some dinner. we ended up at a little bar for the whole night - ordering in some pizza. we're friendly folk, so we shared some farmer's market kettle corn, which led to being best friends with everyone in the bar for the night. my favorite guys were a dad & grandpa who flew out from michigan to bike with their son down the coast. the dad had raced Triumphs back in his day, so he was THRILLED that i'd purchased a Triumph. plus, we had our midwest connection. needless to say, it was a night of fun, laughs and pizza. the next morning we actually ran into them on the way out of town and rode for about 20 miles together.

sunday was suuuuuuuuuper foggy and chilly all day - i'd brought the clothes to stay warm, but it wasn't nearly as pretty of a drive (though fog rolling up the hills is somethin' beautiful to see). we stopped at the Hearst Castle for a tour, which was fantastic. we then continued up the coast, making it home around 6:00. i was beat, but what a great weekend!

i learned a lot on this trip - it may have been too much, too soon - but i think it was worth it. we hit traffic, so i learned how to ride in first for a while, i'm better at shifting, can handle a corner and, overall, feel much more comfortable on the thing. granted, it's a bike, so i'll never feel that safe and understand how dangerous it is...but i can also see why people love it. as mccarthy said, it's like i have a vacation in my garage, ready to go at any time!

one of my favorite lessons - bikers wave at each other as they pass. i've joined a friendly little cult and i love it! harley drivers aren't always friendly and only wave to other harleys, but most don't care...the dad & grandpa told me it's just a special two-finger wave when it's harley-harley...everyone else gets the full hand. we decided i should do a pointer-finger wave as a Triumph rider.

i like my new hobby. as a matter of fact, i hope i get to ride again this afternoon.

i can also relate this hobby to golf - i hate putting because it's slow, detailed and hard to do...much like riding in town or in first on a bike - it's slow, harder to control and detailed...but those pieces are oh so important. practice, practice, practice!

paid vacation: day 32-33

2010-05-10T23:04:00.000-07:00

the long beach trip was fantastic! got up at the butt-crack of dawn to catch a flight and be down there by 9am. it was still foggy and cold, so we grabbed brunch on a patio until the sun came out. then it was an afternoon of laying on the beach, trying to get tan. (i'm peeling now, so it worked)

tuesday night we caught the Dodgers game - i can check another stadium off the list. the stadium was pretty great - hard to get to and big and old - but the fans were pretty awesome. there weren't many Brewers fans at all - not like the Bay Area when half the fans are there for the "enemy" - but there was some rockin' blue hair and Dodger gear. we even got free blankets for the giveaway! we ended up at Shade in Manhattan Beach for a cocktail and decided to stay there next time...it's got more action than Redondo Beach.

wednesday was a totally chill day layin' on the beach (sun came out at 10am on wednesday)...then a quick walk through Manhattan Beach for lunch. it was completely relaxing, a great getaway and the perfect end to a pretty great paid vacation.

though it would have been fun to go somewhere far away for a couple weeks, i'm glad i got to stick around and relax. i got to know SF quite a bit better, learned some public transportation tricks, kept on coachin' and had a great time doing it.

i finished my third day of work today - and i love it. consulting and it's craziness may just fit my personality to a 't'. we'll seeeeeeeeeeeee...

happy trails, friends! i hope y'all get a paid month of vacation some day soon, too...it was truly awesome. (though it's nice to have a routine again)

paid vacation: day 29-31

2010-05-03T16:33:00.000-07:00

what a wacky weekend. (weekends are my least favorite days, 'cause most other people have them off, too)

i went from motorcycle class to pole dancing to Shark watching with a lot of volleyball coaching mixed in.

friday was a beautiful day of gallivanting around as i pleased...until motorcycle school started at 4:45pm. and then i was in class for five hours - it was pretty interesting, as i know nothing about motorcycles - and went pretty quick. i was the second kid done with my test, scoring 49 out of 50! next weekend is the tough part, when we actually get on a bike. (i still don't know how i feel about all this, but knowledge is power)

saturday morning i was up early to get to Sacramento for Regionals. the girls played hard, but had an off day...and we lost a lot. sunday morning we lost some more...but that set us up to win two matches sunday afternoon! i guess it's ok to suck as long as you go out on a high note. ALCiS 14-1's in 2010 was a great group of gals - we had a fantastic time - and it's over. will i coach again? i have no idea...depends where my job is and what i'm doing. kinda crazy.

saturday night was boyfriend's sister's bachelorette party - what a hoot! a few of us were brave enough to go through a pole dancing class...which was quite comical for this white girl whose hips don't move. afterwards, we hit Asia SF. it's a drag queen show that's absolutely fantastic - and the food was pretty good, too! good times were had.

last night i chilled out with boyfriend & his roommate, watched the Sharks, ate some chinese food and crashed.

today has been the most perfect weather day ever! i went for a long run, biked all over SF, stopped by the TCHO chocolate factory to check that out (it's only open during weekdays, so this was my last chance), drove down Highway 1 and stopped at a dog beach to run around a bit, and ran some errands. now i'm gearing up to head to coffee and book club! woot!

tomorrow & wednesday round out my paid vacation with a quick trip to Redondo Beach. i'm looking forward to going "off the grid..."

paid vacation: day 26 - 28

2010-04-30T10:55:00.000-07:00

Wicked was awesome!!! it was fun, hilarious and well done. and it was a matinee, so the crowd was small. there was one gal there alone who must be artsy - at intermission and right afterwards, she called a friend and LOUDLY proclaimed how great the show was, how her knees wouldn't stop shaking and she just COULDN'T believe the twists at the end. i was entertained.

wednesday night was spent gallivanting around The Mission...eventually to The House of Prime Rib for dinner. i guess that place has been around for a while and i was craving red meat...it was delicious and a fun experience.

yesterday i dilly-dallied around home and hung out with the dog. i spent the afternoon at a coffee shop in Los Gatos to get out and decided i look forward to working from coffee shops as a consultant. it's just more fun. last night was our last practice of the season, so i got the girls some red velvet bundt cakes they'd earned (from Nothing but Bundt, or something like that).

today is another sunny day in San Jose - i'm riding my bicycle all over, enjoying lunch, frozen yogurt and some errands. tonight is motorcycle school - i'm not so excited about spending my last friday night unemployed in school, but i'm sure it'll be worth it. woot!

my time is drawing to a close...but i've done pretty ok finding fun things to do...

paid vacation: day 22 - 25

2010-04-27T21:12:00.000-07:00

fortune cookie: You will be rewarded for your hard work this past month.

hahahahahahahahaha

anyway, 'twas a great weekend in SF! friday i walked around Noe Valley and the Mission with boyfriend's sister all afternoon...then we all met up for dinner/drinks friday night. the afternoon brought perfect weather - we sat in the sun and enjoyed a couple tasty beverages.

saturday we hit up a Ro-Sham-Bo tournament in the afternoon. it was a fundraiser for the boys/girls' club of _____. brilliant, i say! i lost in the first round...twice (they let us buy back in), but it was fun to participate and watch. saturday night boyfriend & i volunteered at the SF Beer Fest. a dude in his condo complex had emailed out, asking for help because his son's preschool throws this beer fest - and i am so glad we decided to go for it. we ended up pouring a couple delicious beers, and became very popular as the rest of the booths shut down and we kept pourin'. what are they gonna do? fire us? needless to say, it was a complete blast.

i forgot to mention that we'd decided to venture out on our bikes on saturday - we cruised a big chunk of SF, going against traffic on accident, cutting cars off, almost getting hit...but biking as safely as possible. SF is hilly, man...my legs got a workout.

sunday was the most perfect day of my paid vacation in SF - absolutely gorgeous. we found a bar with a patio and hung out before thinking about monday (no big deal for me, but...). oh! the bar was named "Nap's," which happens to be my dad's nickname. random fun fact for ya.

yesterday i hung out in SF again - ended up at Fort Funston with boyfriend's dog to watch some waves and run around a bit. we also brewed our second batch of beer...here's hopin'!

today was crappy and rainy, so i turned it into errand/organization day. i have a receipt file, paperwork complete and the internet installed at home.

the fun is still coming! tomorrow afternoon i'm hitting a matinee showing of Wicked in SF with another unemployed friend - the tickets were half price! and next tuesday & wednesday i'll be getting some beach time in down south - JetBlue had a $9 flight to Long Beach and back, so we're taking advantage of the midweek special. $40 flights round trip!!! now, does anyone have a suggestion on where to stay/what to do in Long Beach for a day?

i love not working.

paid vacation: day 20-21

2010-04-23T10:22:00.000-07:00

i'm losing track of what day it is, but i think that's a good thing...and i think today is day 21.

yesterday i hiked Mission Peak for the first time, and it was awesome. pretty dang strenuous, so i'm quite sore today...but it was beautiful and a good workout and fun for the dog. he got to run free and chase squirrels like crazy.

that was the excitement of the day - otherwise, i coached and played some awesome volleyball last night. well, i kinda sucked when i played 'cause my legs were DONE, but it was fun, no less.

today i'm chillin' in SF, potentially going for a bike ride around Angel Island. we'll see what happens when i get off this computer...

happy friday! (i figured out what day it is)

paid vacation: day 13 - 19

2010-04-21T14:44:00.000-07:00

time flies when you're having fun! (and i want it to slow down, 'cause work does not sound fun)

friday was a fun day of randomness, ending up in the City for some entertainment.

saturday morning i went straight to Reno to coach for the next three days. this tournament is always a good time with the girls, parents and coaches. we played the best we've played in a while and ended up in 23rd place out of 120 teams (right where we started).

monday night i got back home, and spent most of tuesday resting. the highlight of this post is that i hit the Anchor Brewery Tour on tuesday morning with a couple great peeps. there's a 6-week waiting list to get in on this tour, so i was excited to hear there had been cancellations when i called to get in. the tour was pretty cool, i learned a little about brewing beer and tasted some goodness. we grabbed lunch after and i headed to my couch for the afternoon.

i need to start brewing beer. i have all this time on my hands...but when i'm home, i just want to lay on my couch. somehow, i'll find motivation this evening...i have a competition to win!

paid vacation: day 11-12

2010-04-15T14:24:00.000-07:00

woohoo, i live in an awesome area! yesterday i hit the gym, ran some errands and had a meeting all afternoon...but the weather was amazing and i had a great day. last night we went out and ended up buyin' a couple awesome bikes. i'm hopin' to commute with it a bit...and maybe get some exercise.

this morning i got up and headed to santa cruz for a beautiful run along the ocean...and then looked at the waves for a bit and grabbed lunch with brandy, a great friend.

now i'm sitting on my couch with my computer and a beer, watching a great movie. no worries, the door is open and beautiful weather is coming in...

i love not working.

paid vacation: day 5-10

2010-04-13T21:31:00.000-07:00

i am blessed. beyond belief.

friday we headed towards Tahoe...after swinging through the City to grab some delicious pizza dinner. got up saturday morning for some good skiing/boarding at Kirkwood, and on the way back to South Tahoe ran into a little adventure. the vehicle overheated..leaving us stranded with no cell phone reception. fortunately, a highway patrol came by after about 30 minutes and called a tow truck...the tow truck brought us to town and dropped us off at a maintenance shop...which had the part, but couldn't fix the truck until monday. as an unemployed person, i found this awesome. i was stuck in tahoe for an extra day...and snow was predicted. sunday we hung out in South Tahoe, shopping at outlets, eating and resting....it was fantastic. monday we gambled with Jim, the dealer...and he let us win quite a bit...and then we grabbed the Jeep and headed home...with a pit stop at Sierra for some awesome powder...like 18" of powder. the drive home was a little sketchy, with a quick spinout in heavy slushy snow. what's a trip without adventure, after all?

today i was back home - did some laundry, cleaned up, got a run in, had lunch...and then hit the San Jose Museum of Art. i'm tryin' to do things i normally wouldn't have the opportunity to do...and it's interesting. i'm not much of a museum person, but it was worth a shot.

i <3 not working.

paid vacation: day 2-4

2010-04-09T10:48:00.000-07:00

time flies when you're having fun! (and not on your computer)

tuesday was an awesome day lounging and shopping in SF with a great friend. i'm not supposed to shop, but i did...couldn't resist. and we sat and people watched for a while...and ate some delicious snacks. i also convinced becki to road trip with me on tuesday...which led to an exciting day 3 & 4...

we headed south to LA around noon on wednesday - it was a beautiful day for a drive (or the beach, but let's pretend driving in good weather is fun). we checked into our hotel and arrived at the ballpark to watch the Twins beat up on the Angels at exactly 7:05. the stadium is fantastic, night was pleasant and i had a delicious stadium dog.

thursday we woke up to get to Unique Nail. read the reviews, it's legit. if you're ever in the LA area, i highly recommend you go get your nails done. i posted some pics on facebook, but my nails are crazy awesome. we then drove over to Venice Beach, grabbed some lunch and hit the road again. it was a long day of driving, but totally worth it...

today i'm picking up after myself...and heading to Tahoe! there may be a stop in SF for the zipline, though...i'll let you know when i'm back online, updating my blog.

goooood times! i like not working.

paid vacation: day 1

2010-04-05T19:17:00.000-07:00

pretty perfect start to this month of not working...i'm definitely trying to figure out how to occupy myself and prevent boredom...it's a challenge and will be interesting. i'm not good at sitting around with nothin' to do and very few peeps to hang with.

i want to document this time off somehow...probably with this blog...'cause i'm not doing anything really big, but i don't wanna look back at it and feel like i wasted a free month off. i want to experience and do things - like spending a day in SF. maybe i'll take some pictures.

i spent the day in SF - walked boyfriend's dog, went for a run through golden gate park (it POURED rain on us), did some window shopping, got the dog washed, did some shopping shopping, ate some ice cream, did more shopping.

i'm going to have to stop spending money...i am getting paid for this month, but haven't ever had much spending money as it is.

now the Twins are on ESPN2 and that sure makes me happy. i was thinking about leaving this couch...but that's no longer possible.

a month off. a month with very few plans and no set schedule. do you have suggestions for hobbies or things i should do?

flibbertigibbet

2010-01-06T10:23:00.000-08:00

a new favorite word - flibbertigibbet.
A silly, flighty, or scatterbrained person, especially a pert young woman with such qualities.

i have to keep typing it to actually learn it...and pronounce it...and start using it...

karin introduced me to this word. yay!

g'bye 2009, hey 2010

2010-01-05T15:02:00.000-08:00

2009 was pretty insane...some good things, some bad things, some awesome times, some devasting times...i'm glad it's over. let's review my goals from january (CnP from jan '09) -
- learn to use the George Foreman grill
- failure
- run a marathon (july 26th, san francisco)
- done! and i beat oprah. and this kept me sane.
- eat less, work out more
- i ran way more...i ate a little less...we'll call it a success
- spend less, save more
- failure. though i moved back into a cheap rent house.
- learn to play tennis
- somewhat fail. i played tennis at least once...and bought a racket.
- suggestions?
- i did many other things.

2009 was the year for my family. my sister was hit with breast cancer, so i spent a LOT of time in minnesota (relatively speaking). it was awesome, yet devastating. exhausting. wearing. and motivating. she kicks ass...i always knew that, but now it's serious. she's my hero. and my family has grown through all of this.

i'm still contemplating 2010 - i really have no idea what it'll bring. i'm hoping for great memories, some more growin' up and a trip somewhere i haven't been.
- eat at home more (all the time in january to get in the habit)
- save more (eating at home will help a lot)
- try something new everything month

superbowl of fantasy football!

2009-12-22T10:26:00.000-08:00

i made it! crazy, eh? ("i heart drew brees" is my team)

goodbye, murray

2009-12-16T23:38:00.000-08:00

sorry - i hit publish before i even wrote anything. but we put Murray to sleep tonight and i need to write about it...so soon...soon there will be something posted.

short story - he blew out one knee earlier this year...overused the other one and blew it out this past weekend...we don't have $4k to do surgery on both knees, he's miserable, so we put him to sleep. saddest thing ever. so far, i've cried a bit, but ignored it a lot...writing will help me deal.

my father's daughter

2009-10-30T10:34:00.001-07:00

From DAD: “Mom wants me to be legal from now on - and I am trying - but it is not easy”

I am my father’s daughter. He confirmed it again this morning with that one little line in his email. For the past couple years, I’ve collected an assortment of parking tickets. They’re usually at junior colleges where I’m playing or coaching volleyball…and I’ve discovered that junior colleges really want their money…and they’re in cahoots with the CA DMV…so I can’t renew my license plates without paying outstanding parking tickets. Such a bummer.

After hundreds of dollars in parking tickets, one might think that I’d start parking legally…yet, I continue to park where I want to if there’s no real spot available…and usually I get away with it. Sometimes I get busted. Of course, there are other laws/rules I choose to ignore – I mean, if it doesn’t make sense, why abide by it? I bike like I’m a teenager that doesn’t realize I need to follow traffic laws, j-walk when I want, etc… As I’ve written, I live by the idea of “it’s easier to ask forgiveness than permission.”

Unfortunately, that generally doesn’t work with the law…which I need to remember…but it is not easy.

silicon valley half - lost a bet

2009-10-28T13:30:00.000-07:00

brightroom event photography

silicon valley half marathon

2009-10-25T16:35:00.001-07:00

i convinced myself to sign up for the silicon valley half marathon at the san jose rock n roll half marathon expo three weeks ago - i figured i could pull it off, and they offered a discount & t-shirt.

this morning 3000 of us gathered in san jose to start out on the trek. i believe 800 people (including four of my friends) were running the full, the rest of us cutting out at 13.1 miles. i was concerned that i'd feel like a wimp quitting at 13.1...but that's not the case. i kinda feel like the smart one 'cause it's stupid to run 26.2 miles (unless you're built for it, which i am not).

tono & i were tryin' to run fast...sub-2 hour half and sub-4 hour full marathons. according to our watches, we both beat it by 10 seconds - we'll see what the chip time is. because he beat 4 hours, i'm supposed to take trapeze lessons...but it's on him to make it possible.

peggy met me at the finish line so we could head over to mile 21 to cheer our friends along. i'd also set up a cooler for our own "water" stop - gatorade, OJ and beer. why beer? at mile 18 in the SF marathon, i was handed a dixie cup of beer...and it was the best tasting beer i'd ever had. i wanted to be able to pass that brilliance forward...and we did. i think only two runners actually took my dixie cups of beer, but several smiled and told me i was nuts. was it worth it? YES! one guy told me it was the best beer he'd ever tasted - brilliance passed forward.

all in all, it was a fun morning - it got hot, so the marathoners weren't as fast as they'd like to have been...but everyone finished. and we didn't have to go anywhere to enjoy another marathon.

(i'm still retired from the full marathon, for the record)

thankful

2009-10-24T07:44:00.001-07:00

yesterday i woke up to an email from my dad listing many of the things he's thankful for. it was a pretty great way to start the day, so today i'm tryin' to do one of my own...

i'm thankful for sleep, my cozy room, the beautiful day we're supposed to have, my many pairs of shoes, my awesome family, minnesota, my amazing friends, tivo, yoga, pasta, flip flops, Goofy, my car, nail polish, running, life, books, my job, coaching, volleyball, my car, softball, laughter, movies, beer, projects...

it's not as easy as i thought...but maybe it's too early and i'm reaching too deep. no less, i've got a lot and i'm thankful for it. and when i focus on what i do have, what i don't have doesn't seem so terrible. huh.

happy trails, all! tell someone you're thankful for something.

i take it all back

2009-09-28T13:51:00.001-07:00

i like favre. he's fun to watch play...and though he's old and should have retired, he's good. and my Vikings are 3-0.

and it's really fun to live in Niner-land today.

raising money

2009-09-08T16:14:00.001-07:00

go to this site & donate - http://www.active.com/donate/lv09norcal/vegas09JHenry

JJ's one of my favorite people ever. and if he raises $5k, he'll wear a skirt throughout the race.

friday ramblings

2009-08-21T09:41:00.000-07:00

this is not official, but i think i'm going to remain a Vikings fan this year. i really couldn't figure out what to do with having Favre on the team, as i hate him with such passion...but i've always been a Vikings fan...and i'm playing fantasy football this year, so i have to pay close attention to the NFL...so now that he's actually on the team, and this isn't just a dream, i think i'm gonna stick with 'em. as jbuck said, either Favre loses or the Vikings win - i win, no matter what.

i know i said i'd leave the Vikings if they took on Brett Favre...but I also said i'd never run a marathon. sometimes things happen. and i'll make this official, or not, before the season starts.

with that, i am in a "very serious" fantasy football league this year at work. i think i surprised them a little when i signed up, but it'll be fun. i've got a few cheat sheets to work off of, friends are willing to help and i think some players are cute. when all else fails, i'll go to the hotness factor. the boys i'm playing against will love it.

and i'm going to Vegas tomorrow to see Daughtry with some super fun peeps. we have plans to eat, drink, gamble, eat, daughtry, pool, eat, drink, gamble...it'll be fabulous.

ps i won a bet! lercher has started to fall apart - just after his 30th bday. i asked him to refresh my memory on our actual wager:
kristie44: do you remember our actual bet?
lercher: margaritas in mexico
lercher: you were complaining that 30 is when your body starts to break down
lercher: I said, I'm doing fine
lercher: you bet that I would start to fall apart, which I turned in to, going to visit the dr
lercher: loser has to buy margaritas in mexico
lercher: the next day, you said, since it was all inclusive, how would that work? I said, we'd leave the hotel and go to a bar
lercher: instead of an entire log of how the whole thing happened, I suppose I could have just said yes, I remember
lercher: and now you're posting this all somewhere, aren't you?

my Daughtry challenge

2009-08-17T09:34:00.000-07:00

i'm goin' to Vegas this weekend to see Daughtry in concert. after getting Daughtry's second album, i've decided he's really just an excuse to go to Vegas again...celebrate a marathon...and hang with fun friends. but i'm making an attempt to like his music. i listened to bon jovi & daughtry almost all day yesterday, and this morning i'm going to dig through his lyrics to find the brilliant cheesiness that JBJ uses. here we go...

~ i can't find any...i'll try again later ~

more running...

2009-08-13T23:53:00.000-07:00

my next race is the SJ Rock n Roll half-marathon...i ran it last year, and this year i gotta beat jj's time. this means i have to get fast...i'm not sure i can, but it's a good challenge. (and once i beat him, i'll hold all titles within our running group)

i also made another wager with jj...for which i was just called an idiot...but if he runs a sub-4 full marathon, i have to do another marathon. (i think i'm in trouble)

there's another wager that i haven't mentioned - brooke & i have an agreement that if i do run another full marathon, i have to wear a favre jersey. (now i'm really in trouble)

happy trails!

a click a day

2009-08-12T13:00:00.000-07:00

click daily to give free mammograms

a world without cancer...

2009-08-09T11:25:00.000-07:00

also - if you'd like a "raising money for Horvat's Hooter" tshirt, let me know.

woooooooooooooooooo!

2009-08-07T15:18:00.001-07:00

from my genetics counselor:

Dear Kristie,

I just got your test back = “NO MUTATION DETECTED”

Meaning that you do not have any of the known mutations in the BRCA1 and BRCA2 genes, including the one found in your sister. We call this a "True Negative."

chemo & genetics

2009-08-07T09:55:00.000-07:00

My sister’s going through her third chemo treatment right now…
She said she was feeling really good this past week, so I’m thankful she had a good week…but it’s rough to go back to square one in chemo side effects again. They’re mixing up her drugs a little this time to try to prevent some of the annoying side effects. I sure hope it works…

Unreal…my life continues as is while my sister and her family continue down the cancer path…or the making sure cancer is completely gone path…

Meanwhile, I'm waiting for the results from my genetics test to see how likely it is that I'll get breast cancer in my life...

Heavy stuff for a Friday morning. Mybad!

my marathon story

2009-07-27T13:28:00.001-07:00

When I got on the elevator at the hotel to head over to the start line, there was already a woman on it with her race bib on. I was nervously chatty, so I asked her how she was feeling – she said, “This feels like my final exam. Did I drink enough? Prepare enough? Will I do ok?” And that was the perfect way to put it. Man, I was nervous…questioning everything I’d done to prepare…wondering how I would do. I’d set a goal with my friends to Beat Oprah (4:29:20). As of race day, I hadn’t paced a long run to actually beat her…but I’d been promised that race day would be different. I’d be faster. I wasn’t feeling so confident that morning.

We strolled over to the start line and I exclaimed several times that I was wicked, wicked nervous. My friends that had run a marathon before had rituals they were going through…and I had no idea what to do. So I stretched a little, danced around and kept my nervous face on.

Five of us started out together…around 6:30am. Campy immediately took off…and at mile 2, Kevin had to take a pit stop, leaving me, Brandy & Toño to run. They were a great support – we made it up the first hill at mile 4-5 without much issue…and continued across the Golden Gate Bridge, fighting the crowd. I started to enter “the zone” on the bridge, but stayed with my friends for the most part (Kevin had caught up). Around mile 12, I truly entered “the zone” and took off. I turned my iPod on and continued with my strong pace. My dad had told me to run the race for me…Brandy had reiterated the idea…so I did.

Around mile 14, I realized that I had a chance to beat Oprah – and I was on pace with a giant triathlete who ran with me for a couple miles. Around mile 16, I realized we were still running uphill…so I let him take off ahead of me. His legs were too long to try to keep up with.

At mile 18, I felt like I woke up from a dream – had I really been running 18 miles all morning? The course started going more downhill, which sure helped my burnin’ quads…though my knees got a little angry with me. No less, I leaned forward and prayed my feet would catch me before I tumbled…

I knew I was still on track to beat Oprah…and I thought two of my friends were in front of me, so I continued to push forward. I started to hit the wall around mile 24, but truly crashed at 25…I still have no idea how I pushed that last 1.2 miles, but I did. Even though I knew I could walk and still beat Oprah, I couldn’t walk that final mile. I had to keep moving…and I crossed the finish line at 4:22:52. Wooooooot!

I walked a half-block and sat down to collect my thoughts…say a thank you prayer…and stretch. I texted a few friends, updated Twitter & Facebook and took a call from my awesome sister. My text had said, “I beat Oprah!” She called and said, “You didn’t just beat her…you kicked her ass!” It felt so good to hear…and it was perfect to have the first person I talked to after the marathon be my sister. Man, I love her.

Turns out I was ahead of everyone else I’d run with…I’m trying not to gloat, but…YEAH! (can’t help myself) It didn’t really matter until JJ got mad that I’d beat him by 30 seconds…then I decided it was pretty great.

I owe my two greatest marathon fans a huge thank you! Becki had made signs and Mike trekked around the City with her to cheer us on at four different spots…it was awesome. There’s nothing like a couple people cheering you on to make you continue running strong through the streets of SF… Mike was even ready to run the last couple miles with me, but I’d decided at 18 that I needed to do this myself – not that I’m independent, or anything. Truth is, I’d emailed my mom & dad on Friday to admit that I had woken up with a sad heart…there’s been so much going on, and I was just feeling sad. I asked them to pray for me so I could cheer up and run this race strong because I was running it for so many people. My ever-so-wise dad replied, said a prayer and finished with “Run for you, not others....” I needed this for me. And I did it...with God at my side (or all around me, I guess).

Anyway, I did it. I ran a marathon. And I beat Oprah. I’m hangin’ up my ribbon and retiring from the full-marathon…much to my friends’ dismay. I just think a half-marathon is long enough…and hard enough on my body…I don’t ever need to run 26.2 miles again.

Thanks, everyone, for supporting me through this! I think I’ll make “healthy” brownies for my Physical Therapist – he’s got some work to do tomorrow on my leg muscles.

marathon stats!

2009-07-27T10:29:00.000-07:00

4:22:52 (faster than oprah)

marathon weekend

2009-07-24T09:58:00.000-07:00

it's here! it's here! i'm supposed to eat lots of carbs today, so i'm hunting them down...yummmmmmmmm...

in case you want to track me sunday morning, i start around 6:45 and am hoping to finish by 11:15 (CA time)...
sign up to receive text messages - http://www.runsfm.com/raceweek/bazu.html
check online when you want - http://www.liveraceresults.com/liverc1/Default.aspx, bib 8118

in case you feel like donating money to something for this...
Team Fox - Parkinson's
a breast cancer 5k i'm doing - making strides
3-day breast cancer walk in SF - friends are doing it
MS Society
or you can just send me a check for my well-being.

i'll be staying at the Omni, SF on Saturday & Sunday night, in case you want to send an emergency care kit to me.

lots o' love! it's time to run, run, run...

vacation hangover...a new level

2009-07-22T20:48:00.000-07:00

the hardest part about returning from this past two week vacation to minnesota has been to realize that nothing has really changed here. i had a pretty emotional couple of weeks with my family, dealing with all that is going on there...and i feel like i've grown a bit. i'm watching my sister battle and beat breast cancer, and i can't help but want to see the world through her eyes. as she said, "i used to think i knew right and wrong...now i KNOW right and wrong. there's no gray anymore." how awesome would it be to be able to live through those eyes?!? when i was talking to her about something going on in my life, she said, "well, it'll work or it won't." there was absolutely nothing more she needed to say...and it was awesome.

i've got a bit of a new perspective on life...plus, i'm refreshed, relaxed and ready to go...yet, everything's the same here. how do i adjust back to this life without giving up what i learned in minnesota? how do i apply all that to my current life to get where i wanna go? and, really, where do i wanna go?

life. introspection. sometimes i'm too good at it...

there's a song about my sister!

2009-07-22T09:53:00.000-07:00

Bomshel on 6Lyrics.com

really...marathon!

2009-07-14T19:42:00.000-07:00

supposedly i'm prepared to run 26.2 miles in a row. my training schedule says so (hal higdon)...and i'm mentally prepared for it. i've run 20 miles 3 times...at least one of those times i felt like i could go 6.2 miles more. i'm ready to do this thang!

truthfully, i'm wicked nervous. so much could happen between now and july 26th...but i'll just trust that it won't. i've trained this hard - i'm actually gonna make it to the marathon. and then i'll finish it.

i do have a lot going on in life - mainly, my sister is going through chemo to completely get rid of breast cancer. i have found so much motivation because of her...and i am inspired beyond belief. she's strong, she's honest, she's hurting and she's asking for help. i wish i would win the lottery so i could just stay with her for a few months...but i have a life to live in california. i have a marathon to run. and i promise you that last 1.2 miles will be the easiest because they'll be in her honor. for the past couple months, my last mile has always been in her honor...and it's almost always been my fastest.

in the middle of one of my long runs, i had one of my most selfish thoughts. i realized that i started this marathon training a couple months before she found her lump...so though i'm running many miles in her honor, i've been working on my goal longer. maybe she needs to be inspired by me. (this thought is so ridiculous, i can't believe i even typed it...take it as further insight into my mind...if you want)

running has kept me sane. i can't imagine going through what jacque's going through...and i can't imagine being in my position without a stress release. i've been on many-a-run just to mentally work through the most recent cancer development...or to yell at God for a while...or to let Him tell me it's gonna be ok... this is why i run, folks - i love it because it's my kristie-time. it keeps me sane.

anyway, i'm gonna run a marathon. this tapering section of my training is my favorite...running 4 miles is suddenly a breeze...and only having to run 8 this weekend sounds awesome...

i guess i'm a little amazed and proud of myself. i have a tshirt to wear on marathon day - it says, "i said i'd never do it. i changed my mind." roommate, lercher & i decided that quote was a great example of the way i live life - i think some things are absolutely out of the question ridiculous - but then i do them.

my new "blog"

2009-05-20T15:52:00.001-07:00

http://www.caringbridge.org/visit/jacquehorvat

hopefully it's very temporary - hopefully this is over soon - but, for now, it's kinda like a blog

(unlike this one)

easter & thanksgiving

2009-04-10T09:34:00.000-07:00

these are two holidays that i love, but that often sneak up on me. i usually don't go to minnesota for them...so i forget to make plans out here...and then suddenly, it's a holiday! and i have nothing to do. hmph.

good thing i need a low-key weekend. i hope to hit the beach for easter...seems wise.

Details

2009-04-10T09:33:00.000-07:00

A few months ago I had to renew the “host” of www.hegman.com. For financial reasons, I made the switch from domainmonger to godaddy (it was half price). Unfortunately, I couldn’t figure out godaddy, so I just let it ride…thinking they’d magically transfer my settings from domainmonger over. Plus, I thought I read that somewhere – and when I don’t want to deal with something, I go until I find the answer I like and run with it. I liked the “we’ll magically take care of it for you” answer.

After purchasing some A’s tickets earlier this week, I realized that the *@hegman.com email had never come with my tickets attached. Lightbulb!!! I had never set godaddy up so my @hegman.com emails would forward to my gmail. Oops! Thankfully, Mooney saved the day and got it all set up…and the A’s customer service helped me find my tickets. Phew.

If you sent an email to *@hegman.com in the past few months, I’m sorry. I haven’t received it. Fortunately, I haven’t received any emails meant for @hegmanmachine.com, either.

ely is so funny

2009-04-01T10:59:00.001-07:00

april fool's!

bad ideas come to pass

2009-03-23T13:25:00.001-07:00

I hereby devote the next 18 weeks of my life to running. For the most part, anyway.

Today is the official start for SF Marathon training according to Hal Higdon’s plans. I like Hal – his plan makes sense to me. Friends would like me to run the Intermediate plan, but that requires 5 days of running a week and I’m not sure my body can take it. The Novice 2 plan looks comparable…and is only 4 days a week. I figure if I throw in a bunch of biking and elliptical, I should be a-ok. The goal is to Beat Oprah – 4:29:20 – so we’ll see how that goes. As we know, SF is hilly.

How’d I get to this point? I have no idea. On December 4th, 2008, I got an email from Jeff Galloway about a training program for the SF Marathon on July 26, 2009. I usually blow these off, but I guess I was lookin’ for something new to focus on. And I still love running. So I talked to some people and thought about it for a few days. On December 11th, I signed up (I blogged about it). I’d just had dinner with my “runner friends” and heard about Krtsay’s experience with the CIM. I was inspired…to end the contemplation, I signed up. Decision made.

Since then, I’ve conned 6 friends to go in on this with me, which is hilarious. Silly people. (I’m forever grateful to them, of course) All this running by myself would be tough. Granted, running is my kristie-time…and I love it for that…but running more than 8 miles at a time goes beyond kristie-time. At that point, I need help.

I also ran into a slightly major roadblock – my lower back’s been sore, so I went to a chiropractor to get adjusted, thinking it’d be good to have a medical person help me accomplish this goal with as little pain as possible. I now realize that a chiropractor was the wrong way to go…he’s freaked me out beyond belief and almost convinced me to stop running. I went to a med doctor to get a second opinion and have been convinced that some physical therapy and core exercises will get me through. If it gets too bad, of course, I have a roommate that will steal all of my running shoes to make me stop. (please don’t let that happen, aching back!)

I think I’m ready. Mentally, I’ve been preparing for a couple months. Physically, I’ve slacked a little, but stayed pretty dedicated for the first part of 2009. I refuse to calculate how many months 18 weeks is because it’s far too long…but in 18 weeks, I’ll see you at the end of a marathon! Hopefully, it’s my first and last.

G’bye, life – Hello, running shoes!

hockey games

2009-03-05T23:01:00.001-08:00

there are many things i love about hockey games.

they bring back memories of my childhood in the arena...playin' with my cabbage patch kids under the bleachers...cheering for my li'l bro...meeting boys...good times.

and then there's my dream of becoming the organ player. or one of the people that sweeps the ice or holds the bucket. there are so many ways i could retire in the arena.

the music also rocks. literally.

i love hockey. (go Wild!)

for the sporty people

2009-03-05T17:37:00.000-08:00

and, really, anyone.
101 things all sports fans must experience before they die

minnesota is mentioned several times - as a matter of fact, #40 is in my parents' back yard.

also, for those considering Bay to Breakers, read #84. this year is my first & probably only.

awesome

2009-03-04T23:20:00.000-08:00

(kruck found it)

fruit & veggies

2009-02-20T13:10:00.000-08:00

if you're in the Bay Area, check out Farm Fresh to You.

i got my first box of fruits & veggies yesterday and it is AWESOME.

wow

2009-02-14T12:07:00.000-08:00

every year i have a great birthday - lots of fun with friends and coworkers, thoughts from family, adventures, reflections on life, birthday cakes, etc. it's my favorite time of year. maybe it's because i get to be the center of attention - but, really, i just love it when people get together to celebrate and be happy. for whatever reason.

this year, again, takes the cake (haha). everything about it was perfect - so many incredible friends, plans worked out smoothly, so much fun, so many laughs, so many "holy crap, i get to live this life" moments. i'm thankful. so thankful.

i'm blessed beyond belief.

(and i'm pretty sure the prescription of prednisone got me through the birthday...this cold should have kicked my butt...even that little ER asthma experience was totally worth it)

the last five hours...

2009-02-11T19:18:00.000-08:00

...of being 30. i'm ok with that. pretty sure wings & He's Just Not That Into You will make it a fannnnnntastic last 5 hours.

illness is still doing what it can, but i can ignore that. tomorrow roommate & i head to the Happiest Place on Earth! (that's Disneyland)

life's good, folks. life's good. even at 31.

jinx!

2009-02-09T11:41:00.001-08:00

i totally jinxed myself and caught a cold over the weekend...i still live a ridiculous life, but it's not nearly as fun with a cough & stuffy nose. stinkin' illness.

it'll be gone by wednesday. i'm pretty sure i've never been sick on my actual birthday, so it has to be.

(i blame the cute 12 year olds in the pic below...)

a ridiculous life

2009-02-06T10:53:00.000-08:00

seriously. tahoe last monday...santa cruz this weekend...disneyland next week...a massage upon return...a great night out with friends singing karaoke...a weekend near yosemite...a trip to vegas...a trip to phoenix...

'09 is c-razy! i'm so fortunate the only word i can come up with is "ridiculous."

yay for birthday month!

wear red tomorrow!

2009-02-05T17:18:00.001-08:00

ALCiS 13-1's...the team

2009-02-05T09:26:00.001-08:00

it was sammy's birthday

how smart is your right foot?

2009-02-04T15:22:00.000-08:00

This will boggle your mind and you will keep you trying over and over again to see if you can outsmart your foot, but you can't. It's pre-programmed in your brain!

1. Without anyone watching you (they will think you are GOOFY!!) and while sitting at your desk in front of your computer, lift your right foot off the floor and make clockwise circles with it.

2. Now, while doing this, draw the number '6' in the air with your right hand. Your foot will change direction. I told you so!!! And there's nothing you can do about it! You and I both know how stupid it is, but before the day is done you are going to try it again, if you've not already done so.

ski boots to flip flops

2009-02-03T19:28:00.000-08:00

the weekend tourney was intense, and i took off for tahoe as soon as i could. the girls had worked really hard and i'm really proud of them...but we're not very good at winning games. and parents had a lot to say about it. and it's just intense.

after a full day on the slopes - legs completely worn out, arms sore from trying to stop my tumble down the mountain, cheeks pink from the sun - i realized how great my life is. i was going from my semi-comfy ski boots to my favorite flip-flops. i was refreshed, revived and ready to go. (but sleepy, so i needed coffee to make the drive home)

as i pulled in to my driveway, i realized that i'd completely avoided life for a day. it was fantastic.

now, how to deal with life...

doin' it for dad

2009-01-30T15:15:00.000-08:00

Me: I'd like to help with your wellness plan dad...what's the hardest thing for you to give up? I'll give it up, too.

Dad: THAT WOULD BE SWEETS FOR BREAKFAST- COOKIES, DONUTS AND ICKY ROLLS- YOU ARE ON- THANKS FOR THE HELP

what did i do?!?!?!? i'm so glad i had a donut yesterday.

31

2009-01-30T14:29:00.001-08:00

For the first year EVAR, I’m not ready for my birthday month to be here. 31 is scarier than any age before, and as Espi pointed out, people will know I’m not lying about my age. When you’re 29 or 30, people question it. When I say 31, there will be no questions (besides the, ‘I thought you were 22!’ exclamations).

It’s cool, I know. I love my birthday month…and I always will…and there ain’t nothin’ wrong with getting older…but I’m gonna head to Tahoe after the tournament this weekend to get away and get prepared. A day on the slopes for me. Yay, Kristie-day!

losing things

2009-01-30T14:11:00.001-08:00

You know how when you lose one thing, you’re not surprised when you lose another shortly after? (if this doesn’t make sense, just nod and smile) Last week I lost my check card – I knew it was either at my office somewhere or at espi’s house – so I gave it a couple days before canceling it. Of course, I got a call ten hours after I cancelled it to let me know it’d been found. I’m still waiting for that stinkin’ replacement card to show up (I realized that I spend less money without it, tho)

So this morning I realized I didn’t have my ipod at my desk. Nor my headphones. SUSPICIOUS! I told a couple people, dug around my desk, and decided it was gone. Ya know, I’m losing things these days…and it didn’t make sense that it would be anywhere else. My headphones are always by my computer so I can rock out to Pandora.com. This afternoon I told the Facilities guy about it, assumed we couldn’t do anything about it because I had left it out in the open for everybody to take, and continued on my way. He came to my desk a few minutes later and said, "i was walking away from our convo and thought, good customer service would go help her look. now, think like a woman...” So we scoured my desk area…finally, he asked if I’d had a jacket on, or anything…I looked at my fleecy jacket…checked both pockets, and there it was. I said, “Thanks for your help, Facilities Guy! I’m glad you decided to think like a woman."

Stupid ipod. Stupid me putting it in my jacket pocket and forgetting…and then not looking there when I thought it was gone. Oy vey.

All friends have been alerted that it’s found. I have an ipod, but don’t get to buy a new one. I guess that money should be spent elsewhere!

karaoke!

2009-01-29T11:33:00.001-08:00

Your 80s Song is "Walk Like an Egyptian"

If you were transported back to the 80s, your life would be all about having fun.

You love the wackiness that the 80s represented. Everything back then seemed a lot more colorful!

You'd peg your jeans, get a "totally tubular" hair cut, and even wear one sequined glove.

You would skateboard, play Pac-Man, and hang out at the mall. And of course, you would walk like an egyptian.

What's Your 80s Karaoke Song?

happy birthday, older bro!

2009-01-20T12:02:00.000-08:00

Older Bro & Mom couldn't decide on his age last weekend...he just emailed me: You think you are getting old when the woman that gave birth to you is not sure of your age. You know you are getting older when you almost believe her!

My family cracks me up.

forget bon jovi...

2009-01-14T13:36:00.000-08:00

...i want NKOTB for my birthday!
cruise

someone, anyone, please? it's selling out fast. :-)

wanna go for a drink?

2009-01-14T10:38:00.000-08:00

apparently i need to wear hooker boots to get a drink that's on fire...seems worth it.
(thanks for the forward, roommate!)

goals

2009-01-13T22:20:00.001-08:00

it seems i'm a goal-oriented person...who procrastinates (when possible). i'm way excited to be finished with my mba (my last huge goal) - and i managed to put off finding a new goal for a few months (as i had hoped to do)...but with a slight change in life, i signed up for a full marathon. silly, stupid, crazy, but i'm pretty sure i can do it, so why not? i ran two half marathons last year, so why not do a full? the ironic part is that i was very adamant against running a full marathon last year. i'm pretty positive that i said i would NEVER do a marathon. funny how life changes things.

anyway, goals. i like 'em. i like to work towards something. doesn't seem all that abnormal...

(so, jj, it's cool that you said you'd never run more than 19 miles. we can do 26.2)

Train of thought…

2009-01-08T15:58:00.000-08:00

Sometimes my train of thought amazes me. On my run this morning, I noticed the “earliest residents of San Jose walked over this spot” monument in the sidewalk. I think it’s funny that that exact spot is marked, but figure it’s cool to think about. Long ago, some peeps strolled through this area and thought it was great. Then I wondered who was living there before…if anyone…I assume there were people, though. Which made me think of the Pilgrims and how they found the Native Americans…I mean, who gave the pilgrims the right to claim the land? Just ‘cause they came from other “claimed land?” Is that enough? I guess so. “Civilized” takes over “uncivilized” all the time…but how come the Native Americans weren’t as “civilized” as the Pilgrims? Why hadn’t they developed guns and other stuff? I guess living off the land was enough… But why have some of us developed so much compared to other areas (US vs mid-Africa, for example)? What do we have that they don’t? Money, I suppose…and power…but how the heck did we get it? Why are we so special? Thanks to my ancestors, I guess…somehow they jumped on this train. Am I thankful, though? I have so much useless crap that I think I need…

And that’s what I thought about during part of my run this morn.

stupid numbers

2009-01-07T14:28:00.000-08:00

Esperanza: until 1999
Esperanza: how old were we then?
kristieh: 19?
kristieh: (i hate numbers)
Esperanza: 21
kristieh: hahahahaha
Esperanza Santa Cruz: i took out the calculator!

birthday!

2009-01-06T15:57:00.001-08:00

it's coming! soon! yay!

gift idea - here!

32 days to roommate's bday
36 days to MY BIRTHDAY
66 days to LercherVEGASH!

2009!

2009-01-01T22:26:00.000-08:00

ideas i'm throwin' around for this year...
- learn to use the George Foreman grill
- run a marathon (july 26th, san francisco)
- eat less, work out more
- spend less, save more
- learn to play tennis
- suggestions?

merry christmas!

2008-12-23T10:54:00.000-08:00

at the end of practice last night, we had the usual huddle and team cheer...and the girls always get to decide what to say. one of 'em piped up with, "merry christmas!" and the HR in me automatically freaked out, i thought about it, looked at the other coach and finally said, "ok...as long as everyone's ok with it..."

"1 - 2 - 3 merry christmas!"

i wish i didn't freak out about saying "merry christmas"

(happy hannakuh or chanukah, too!)

Twins!

2008-12-19T16:32:00.001-08:00

someone in minnesota needs to buy this:
See all games in the 2009 season for just $250 per seat... the best season ticket deal in the Twin Cities!

yum!

2008-12-19T14:00:00.000-08:00

You Are Pecan Pie Soda

Sweet, but totally nuts

What Jones Holiday Soda Are You?

hilarious!

2008-12-18T11:38:00.000-08:00

karin found this link

someone in my family needs truck antlers for christmas

a runner's facebook

2008-12-17T12:21:00.000-08:00

www.athlinks.com
it's awesome - you can find people, races, your results, etc.
my page

environmentally friendly?

2008-12-17T09:15:00.000-08:00

i love the environment. i do. i do what i can to keep it clean...

a couple months ago, my clinic switched my inhaler. i got a letter about it, but barely read it. (mybad) when i went in for a refill on my prescription, i noticed that the inhaler was pretty different...but assumed it'd work. ya know, help me breathe when i was strugglin'. sadly, it don't work. not only does it clog up from time to time, it doesn't fix my breathing! i have an attack, it does nothing for me. i ignored it for a month, thinkin' it was allergies...but then i had another really bad attack, got frustrated and emailed my doctor.

she said, "Yes, it's a similar complaint. We changed to the environmentally friendly inhalers. We were distributing the old inhalers until we ran out. You can get a nebulizing treatment in clinic if you need one."

seriously???? she wants me to take a ton of time to go in for a nebulizing treatment when my old inhaler woulda just fixed this immediately. stupid.

i gotta figure somethin' out here...

mani/pedi day!

2008-12-16T16:27:00.000-08:00

Roommate did a search for cool pedicures to get during the holidays and came up with this. Great ideas…I really like the snowflakes...but I can’t get past how ugly the toes are. (I hope the writer of the blog never reads this entry)

I hate feet. No one really gets to touch mine, and I touch no others. But my toes are much cuter than these ones.

marathon!

2008-12-11T22:58:00.001-08:00

why not, i say? 26.2 miles on july 26th. donate to Team Fox if you'd like - link.

run run run!

nephew AJ

2008-12-11T15:40:00.001-08:00

my sister just texted me to let me know the paper called her son, aj, to interview him about the Root Beer Float float. i can't wait to read the article!

he's the family's future stage performer, without question. yay!

holiday time

2008-12-11T14:56:00.001-08:00

it makes me want to party, party, party...which does not bode well for work.

i'd just rather be social, enjoying the time of year with friends, than sitting at my desk revising a powerpoint presentation ten times over.

christmas! christmas! christmas!

shopping with strangers

2008-12-10T09:32:00.000-08:00

As is often the case when I go purse shopping, I found two that I liked…didn’t love either of them…couldn’t decide between them. I was about to pull out my phone to email a picture to roommate for advice when a chickie next to me said, “go with the turquoise one.” Surprised, I looked at her, sighed with relief and said, “thank you.” I put the brown one down and walked to the cash register. My life was made so much easier by a stranger…

Of course, I ran into her at dinner across the parking lot and she asked me if I went turquoise – I said I had, thanking her again…then she tried to sell me on her “company,” offering me a job. She said we looked “bright and ambitious” and would be perfect for it. I explained that I love my job, so I’m not interested. (we finally got it out of her that it’s Primerica…enough said)

Sidenote: trendy purses are HUGE these days

the Merc says...

2008-12-08T17:08:00.001-08:00

The San Jose Mercury News has an article today about San Jose falling to #4 of safest cities to live in...I'm ok with living in #4.

ho ho ho hint

2008-12-08T09:00:00.000-08:00

i think i'm hilarious. after telling my dad that i'm out of pink golf balls (which he bought me), i said "ho ho ho hint." he's smart - he'll catch it.

email don't's

2008-12-05T15:27:00.000-08:00

interesting read
my favorite - "I don't want to discuss this in e-mail. Please give me a call."

crazy idears

2008-12-04T10:29:00.000-08:00

Since we moved downtown, I’ve noticed a few kiddos skateboarding around the neighborhood – some to get to SJSU (smart move, I say). It looks like fun…and way more efficient than walking…so I’ve decided I want one. It’s 3 ½ blocks to wings…and it’d be so much more fun to skateboard over than walk (in my mind). Plus, I could get those cool skater shoes, skater hair and maybe even skater clothes (probably not). Unfortunately, few peeps are supportive of this idea:

kristie44: why won't i survive a skateboard???
lercher: 1) you're 30
lercher: 2) coordination and balance, are not your greatest strengths
lercher: 3) they're dangerous
lercher: 4) you're 30
lercher: 5) the ground is very very hard, you are not
lercher: you should totally get a skateboard

this morning I got an email from Jeff Galloway, running guy, about a free marathon training program that starts in January. For some reason, I’m inspired and thinkin’ about it. It’s the SF Marathon in late July – I totally have time to get prepared and don’t have to worry about it conflicting with coaching in the spring so much. But it’s a marathon…I’ve been pretty adamant about never running a full 26.2 miles at once. But I’ve got this crazy idear…

I’m going skateboard shopping tonight. As for the marathon, I’ve gotta sleep on it for at least two nights before I commit…if I commit…

cranium!

2008-12-03T09:38:00.000-08:00

i'm not usually a board game person...i avoid them with my family, to my mother's dismay. but i went to the canadians' place last night to play cranium - and it's awesome! you should go buy the new one...'cause i didn't like the old one...but the new one's great.

in their words: The new edition of the smash-hit Cranium game with 46% more shouting, 84% more fun, and 100% more percentages! Featuring 15 activities, 600 all-new cards, and collectible, customizable movers -- with hats!

in roommate's words: perfect cranium night - "breast-stroke", putty, hawaii's coffee, youtube...

revelation #328

2008-12-02T16:39:00.000-08:00

i don't like to work, but i love my job.
(good place to be in life, since i gotta work)

happy thanksgiving!

2008-12-02T09:58:00.000-08:00

i had an awesome trip home to see the fam...thanks to brother kenny for frequent flier miles and first class!

one of the big events was creating a float for the Ely, MN Holiday Parade. it was last minute, as we'd thought there'd be a firetruck for the kids to ride on, but my sister is the macgyver of float-making. we took a couple electrical wire spools, a brown tarp, some clear plastic and tubing...and created a root beer float.

you can read about dorothy molter here, if you'd like.

and the kids...all seven of them...are pictured on flickr .

my sis texted me this morning to let me know we won a hundred bucks for our float float. exciting!

please?

2008-11-22T09:24:00.001-08:00

Ramen Noodle Salad (easy)

2008-11-20T21:32:00.000-08:00

Mix #1
1 lb bag of coleslaw mix
1 C. sunflower seeds
2 pkgs ramon noodles

Combine crunched up noodles, coleslaw mix and seeds

Mix #2: (dressing)
1/3 c vinegar
½ c. sugar
½ c. veg oil
2 pkgs. Seasoning from noodles

Pour dressing over mixture #1 just before serving

i don't know how people come up with this stuff, but my sister provided the recipe, i have it prepared and i'm bringin' it to the work pot luck tomorrow. i hope it's yummy!

seasons

2008-11-20T09:16:00.000-08:00

last weekend was summer - 80 & sunny
this weekend is fall - 65 & sunny, with changing leave colors
next weekend is winter - 10 & snowy
after that, i come back to "winter"

i planned this well...as long as i survive two winters in one "winter"
(i'm going to MN for both thanksgiving and christmas this year)

perspective

2008-11-17T11:43:00.000-08:00

life keeps getting put in perspective for me. it's tough to absorb, but good. some days i think i've got it so hard, but...relatively speaking, the things i complain about are ridiculous.

morning

2008-11-17T09:38:00.000-08:00

i hate mornings. i'm not good at 'em. i try not to talk to people at work before 10am. it makes things easier for all of us. :-)

this morning i had to start with new hires before 9, though...and i did ok. and then i went to get some coffee (which turned into hot chocolate 'cause i'm feelin' awake) and ran into a manager i need to recruit for. i asked a few questions and finally he said, "ya know, my head is still foggy - let me look think about it and get back to you."

i'm so proud that i was able to catch someone before they "woke up." last week i got burned pretty bad 'cause i wasn't functioning, yet and someone had a lot to say to me.

my glasses

2008-11-13T10:55:00.000-08:00

i've got three decent pair of glasses that i've collected over the years. one for my desk, one for my car, one for my purse. makes it easy and convenient, should i ever need to see better.

a few weeks ago, i stepped on the ones for my desk...and put off getting them fixed. finally, i got so frustrated yesterday that i took my lunch break to go get them taken care of. and now they're just about perfect. yay!

what'd i get frustrated with yesterday? the fact that i had to reach down into my purse to get glasses instead of just grab the ones i had sitting on my desk.

how lazy am i?

my sister, my hero

2008-11-13T09:51:00.001-08:00

she's awesome. truly awesome. i'd even say she's my best friend. wasn't always, but at some point, something changed, and i know i can go to her with ANYTHING.

anyway, she's a 4th grade teacher in northern minnesota near a native american reservation. that place is a mess...and she gets their kids. she's probably the only stable person that several of them have in their lives - and school is the one thing they can count on being there. the stories she has are amazing...and i pretty much stand in awe of what she can do. last year she potty trained two fourth graders by giving them stickers at the end of the day...

so there was a car accident on monday morning that killed a 9 year old boy...and his mom is in critical condition at the hospital. that boy was in my sister's class. it is rare that i hear my sister call out for help, but she has...which means i gotta do what i can. if you're the prayin' type, throw up a prayer for my sister and her class...and the counselors...and the school. i just can't imagine explaining death to a bunch of 9 year olds who have lost their friend. ugh.

sad post. sorry. my way of coping is by askin' others for help, i guess.

coaching '08-'09

2008-11-12T12:31:00.000-08:00

You may remember that last year I had the easiest tryout ever - signed 11 girls after tryouts, got 1 more without a problem. I was amazed. You may also remember that old club pulled some shenanigans with another coach that made me mad, and I decided it’d be my last season with that club. But then I forgot to do anything about it…

There has been so much more drama around coaching this year that I don’t even know where to begin…but I will. 

A couple months before tryouts, I emailed old club to see if I’d have a spot. My assistant had been helping with summer clinics and I hadn’t been asked, so I wasn’t sure. They said “it’ll probably work out that way, but we’ll confirm soon.” Three weeks before tryouts, I got an email telling me when tryouts would be for old club. I decided if I was going to coach for them, I’d go it alone and “dump” my assistant. I asked them if they had another spot for him in hopes that I could give him options. They strongly suggested I stick with him after being “completely shocked.” I talked to him, he talked to them, we all talked, I felt bad, I didn’t know what to do, I told the club that I’d just coach with him again and told him the same. I mean, what was one more year? Meanwhile, I was talking to a new club about the possibility of coaching for them (sneaky, I know). My assistant knew about it, but old club didn’t. For a couple weeks, I talked and checked it out and didn’t know what to do – new club is shiny, sparkly, fun and high quality. Old club is a known quantity, but I’d sorta made a commitment. A week before tryouts, new club & I decided that we probably had enough girls to have a 13s team, so I should go for it. I told old club that I wouldn’t be coaching for them again…then I told old Assistant. Oops. It’s not the nicest, most responsible thing I’ve done, but somehow it’s all worked out. (funny how that happens)

Old assistant has become head coach for old club and I think he’ll do great. And old club didn’t get screwed over too bad by my leaving so late in the process. (assistant woulda never done it had I left three weeks before tryouts – he woulda bailed, too – yay for procrastination)

I’m the head coach for a 13s team for new club. Of course, because change is usually hard, it’s been rough. I went from 4 girls to 16 back down to 6 up to 8, finally finishing at 12 at 10pm the night before signatures were needed. I’ve got some girls that are a bit rough around the edges…but they’re the ones that learn the fastest and grow the most in a season. I’ve got some really great girls that will lead the team in a lot of ways. I’ve got some involved parents that don’t seem overly involved, yet. I’ve got an “assistant” with 25 years of coaching experience, including college. The new club is so fun and so organized and so talented that I don’t know what to do with myself. We’re truly a team of coaches, tryin’ to teach some kids a great game – the support is amazing.

That was a lot of words…if you skimmed it, just know that I had coaching drama, got through it and am soooooooo excited about the coming season that I don’t know what to do with myself. And thanks to those who put up with my reactions to the drama…there was at least one very rough, long night.

www.alcisvolleyball.com

it doesn't hurt to ask

2008-11-10T16:57:00.000-08:00

last month i realized i was low on my monthly cell phone minutes, so i upgraded to the next highest plan. i knew it wouldn't kick in until the next billing period, but i thought i could make it just one more month.

i just checked my bill - and have an extra $75 charged for overusage. darn.

as the subject suggests, i called good ol' AT&T and asked if they could help me...and he's managed to find a way to knock $65 off my bill. i only have to pay $10 extra for my misjudgment. whew.

go AT&T and the iPhone!

donuts

2008-11-07T09:37:00.001-08:00

coming in to a fresh, glazed, warm donut on a friday morning is one of my favorite things ever

firemen!

2008-10-31T12:58:00.000-07:00

i knew firemen were men of many talents...and save people in many ways...but i had no idea that they help people who lock their keys in their car!!!!!

it's funny how i can suddenly start forgetting my keys in my car ALL THE TIME...

a revolutionary step

2008-10-30T12:17:00.000-07:00

i'm eating a tuna fish sammich for lunch.

i got bored with turkey, beef or chicken sammiches...so i moved on to the next option in the cafeteria...tuna fish. after a quick taste-test, i decided to jump all the way in. and it's yummy! i eat tuna fish sammiches now. it's been years and years and years.

last night i went to sushi...and am finding more and more sushi-type things that i'll eat - tofu sushi, shrimp sushi, etc. of course, my favorites are still teriyaki beef & chicken and veggie tempura, but my mostly-psychological-hate of fish is SLOWLY decreasing...

random thought day

2008-10-29T13:45:00.000-07:00

i've gotten enough sleep, have had my caffeine, am feelin' pretty good...yet, i'm still having those "so tired my mind is whack" moments.

bathroom stalls - because i'm tall enough, i usually grab the top of the door to close and lock it. what do short people do?

just an example.

cucumbers

2008-10-27T12:53:00.000-07:00

on one of those days that i wasn't totally with it, i accidently put cucumbers on my sammich. it was one of the most brilliant things i've done, as i now love cucumbers on my sammiches. adds a crunchy yumminess.

weekend

2008-10-27T12:05:00.000-07:00

i played some volleyball.
HSM3 was incredibly awesome. i hope to go again soon.
i played some kickball (a quick strategy session got me to 1st base...and the session is documented on facebook...it was a little nerve-wracking, as we didn't want to win and have to play kickball all day). we lost the game.
we curled my hair.
i became Kimmy Gibler for a night...while roommate pulled off an excellent DJ Tanner.
i ate delicious cajun food for breakfast.
i coached a little...and things are coming together for the '09 season.
i rested.

my car still needs to be cleaned in a serious way. sorry, pitter patter.

hope ya'll had a great weekend, too!

HSM3

2008-10-24T12:58:00.000-07:00

i am excited to see this movie...tonight...opening night...after all the teenyboppers have gone home to meet curfew.