No Good Deed....

Goes unpunished, I think is how the saying goes.  Well that seems to be the case for my tri-ing to get back into shape. As I mentioned, I fell off my bike last week on my first real bike ride of the season.  I got a pretty nice bruise, but also apparently a pinched nerve in my lower back - UUG.  I must have twisted in my elegance as I tried to stand back up and am dealing with an incredibly painful left cheek, and numb left leg.


This week has been full of doctor's appointments, serious pain drugs, anti-inflamatory medication, and lots of pain. Who knew a pinched nerve could hurt so much?  I take back every less than empathetic thought I've every had about someone dealing with back pain.


I have to go to the spine doctor on Tuesday to figure out what to do next and am open to trying any and all non-invasive options to heal it. Chiropractor, acupuncture, herbs, I don't care - I just don't want to have stuff injected into my back if I can help it.


I've also realized how much for granted I take my healthy body.  I spend too much time being tough on myself for not being the perfect weight, and not enough time appreciating how lucky I am to be strong and healthy.  I am gaining a new perspective.


I am also a pretty crabby patient (just ask my family).  I need to get better fast so I can get back to training for this triathlon, and just doing my job.  I had to change a meeting tomorrow in Western MN because I can't drive or sit for more than a half-hour at a time.  I hate having to reschedule work - It is a part of my core to be on time and reliable.


Honestly, what I think I'm learning here is patience - Something I've never been particularly good at, so I'm sure this a lesson for me - I might have been able to learn it less painfully though!


I'll keep you posted, and hope to look back soon at this lesson with a more balanced perspective on strength and health - soon!

Tri - ing Again

So today it began.  I officially started training for the YWCA Triathlon I'm registered for in August, 2010.  I met up with a couple other women that I connected with on the Google site set up for the YWCA Tri and we did a 12 mile bike ride.  


I was pleased to do 12 miles on my first time out this year.  I got to ride my groovy new bike that Bill bought for me earlier this year, and I loved it.  I also had my first fall on the bike.  This bike has great bike shoes with clips, so it helps me go faster and bike more efficiently, but also doesn't let go as easily.  I have a nice scrape & bruise to show off this week - I think that makes me a real biker, right?


The kicker is that I was standing still when I fell.  Apparently, you can't take the klutz out of a person, even with a fancy new bike.  


I think the most important note for me today, is how much energy I feel by doing this.  I enjoyed the company this morning, and am still enjoying the bump I got from fitting in the exercise.  If only I could remember this every day!


So, I'll keep you up to date on the training, but it feels great to get started - I know I'll be ready when it comes time.

Pretty in Polka Dots

You know how sometimes when you have an event and you  think I have nothing to wear?  Well, I had that feeling last week.  Now don't get me wrong, I have plenty of lovely clothes, but as a seasoned dieter, I don't like to buy expensive clothes always sure I'll lose those pesky pounds before I need to spend the money.


So, I decided to try a new store in St. Paul called Second Debut.  It is a lovely, boutique store on University Avenue that sells used clothes.  There is also one in St. Louis Park that I have been to occasionally, so when one came to St. Paul, I headed over there.


The fabulous twist to Second Debut, is that it is owned by Goodwill and all the clothes are actually donated items.  Some smart person (probably a clothes savvy woman!) decided that it made sense to pick out the lovely, in many cases designer, clothes that people donate and bring them to this boutique venue for sale.  It's the perfect place for women (and men in St. Louis Park) to find that "something to wear" without spending a fortune.  The proceeds go back to Goodwill, so you are supporting that great organization as well.


In 15 minutes with the help of a great saleswoman, I found this beautiful polka dot dress that fit me perfectly for $22.00.  I wore it to the party and felt wonderful.


I love the idea of being able to find inexpensive good looking clothes, even if I'm not at the perfect weight yet - it always feels better to love what I'm wearing.


So check it out if you have time www.seconddebut.org

Fishing Opener

It is officially spring in my book.  This weekend in Wisconsin, it was the fishing opener.  Now, I don't take fishing terribly seriously, but I know many people who do.  For us this weekend, Charlie and his friend Yale bought the first tub of night crawlers and fished off the dock at the cabin.


The normal fishing stuff happened over the course of two days:  They realized rubber worms don't really work,  no actual fish were caught, but hooks & fishing line ended up in trees and everyone practiced casting and talking - the age old fishing routine.


The boys had a great time and I remembered fondly all those mornings in Maine fishing with my father.  We did catch fish most of the time and I am proud to say I can still put a worm on a hook and pick out a pretty good lure when the need arises.  


Hopefully as the summer goes on we'll have a few fish to fry up and I'm sure many hours of quiet contemplation on the lake will take place.


I'm happy that Spring has Sprung.

The Laughing Stalk

I went to one of my favorite Co-op's yesterday.  The Seward Coop in Minneapolis.  They happened to be having a CSA fair showcasing the multitude of Community Supported Agriculture farms in and around the Twin Cities.  A CSA is a local farm that typically grows and sells, in shares, produce to people like me on a weekly basis.  I have often thought about doing a CSA, I love the idea of supporting local farms and produce, but I've been intimidated a bit prior to now.


Usually, with a CSA, you sign up for a summer's worth of vegies, and it comes delivered in a box once a week.  I have taken shares for friends when they were on vacation - it's great, except that often the box is full of greens I'm not sure what to do with and the pressure is on to get them cooked before they go bad.  So I've opted for the farmer's market.


Yesterday, though, I was introduced to a CSA in Turtle Lake, Wisconsin that has a build your own box program.  I enjoyed talking to the farmers and signed us up for the summer.  The way it works, is I paid for a share - there are three choices, and I chose the least expensive to start, and I can choose my produce each week from a list they will email me and pick it up at the Midtown or Uptown farmer's markets in Minneapolis.  I'm in love.  I can support this new, small farm and choose vegetables I know I can cook each week.  


The CSA is called The Laughing Stalk Farmstead and I'm looking forward to a summer full of great produce.  I'll pass along some of my recipes as the summer progresses.

Keep Those Plates Spinning

I know I've been a bit absent from this blog of late, but I am glad for a few minutes to be back this morning.  As I mentioned, we had a marvelous trip to Europe and I truly enjoyed being away and exploring new cities with my family.


As it always happens, though, coming home has been a bit crazy.  Work is great, but I've not really caught up yet, so I'm burning the midnight oil to do that.  I went to an excellent weekend conference on the Enneagram last weekend, which I enjoyed, but felt like I had no time for anything else.  The kids are off and running with spring sports and the end of the school year, so I'm feeling a little panicky about summer plans.  In short, I empathize with the character above - I'm just trying to keep all those plates in the air.


I'm working today on breathing myself back down and putting it all in perspective - It will all get done, but I want to be sure I enjoy it along the way.


A little rant this morning, I think all of us at this certain age are experience some form of the plate spinning, so if you have suggestions or ideas to share on how to keep them up or just let some break, let me know.

Oh What a Trip

We arrived home on Saturday night from an incredible trip.  We took the boys to Paris and London for spring break.  It was truly a once in a lifetime trip.  We saw the sights, ate great food, walked our feet off and generally had a marvelous time.


In Paris, as Charlie said, it was all about the sauce.  The food was great and we tried a number of good cafes and a couple of real restaurants.  I marveled at the skill of the chef at a tiny restaurant near our hotel called Le Petit Tournneau - she cooked incredibly fresh, tasty fare in a kitchen the size of a postage stamp - an amazing feat.


We took the a bike tour in each city - the Fat Tire Bike Tours - an wonderful way to see the city, especially with two teenage boys - we rode, learned great history and had a ball.


In London, we went to see two terrific shows - Oliver and Sister Act.  We all enjoyed every minute.


The icing on the cake was having breakfast with Rick Steves.  We were enjoying our last breakfast at our B&B (The Aster House, a lovely place in South Kensington) and low and behold Rick Steves sat down next to us.  He was staying there and we enjoyed a lively conversation about both Paris & London.  The boys are hoping a couple of their suggestions make it into the 2011 London book - we'll have to see.


I'll post more pictures later this week, when we get the camera hooked up.