My New Baby

I teased that my Saturday went to hell because I was shanghaied, this little minty baby is why.  I am now the proud owner of a 2011 Ford Focus!  Roomie Lori keeps calling it 'pistachio', which is technically accurate, but probably not the name I will ultimately choose - cars have to show a personality first. :)

My Mom and step-dad Bruce were the catalysts for this new purchase and were awesomely helpful - so yea to them!  We agreed with my brother Gordon on the precipice of going to medical school, he would have no time to keep nursing Bertha the Buick along to her inevitable end.  

I was hesitant, because it's a big purchase and a big decision and I had not done any research.  My parents just called and informed me, "We're car shopping."  Well, I couldn't very well let them go without me, since the vehicle would be mine.

We ended up at a dealership that will remain nameless, but the sales guy talked himself out of a sale by becoming more and more rude and belligerent.  The capper was when Bruce asked for a breakdown of the figures and the guy snatched the paper out of his hand and went, "Ugh, I guess I will HAVE TO DO THAT THEN!"  We stood up and walked out.  I was literally sick to my stomach after that and wasn't sure if I wanted to continue.

My parents pressed on and we went to Dewey Ford in Ankeny.  I wanted to be Ford for a number of reasons:  they didn't take Federal bailout money, the dependability is second to none - I have owned Ford and non-Ford and the former has been in the shop MUCH less and I believe if Ford can weather this economy so well, it will be around to maintain my car for its lifetime.

To say Dewey was much better was an understatement.  Their commercials say, "Do we treat you better?  We do, Dewey Ford" and yes, they do.  From the moment we met up with salesman Chris Leo to the after market rep to the finance lady to a sales manager, the experience was pleasant and best of all - above board. They showed us the invoice, we negotiated on a few fees and we had a deal.  They even searched for the best interest rate out there - not just Ford Motor Credit.  

Now I have a safe, reliable ride that can get me wherever I need to go!  Including, of course, the gym.  My new Focus has delivered me swiftly the last couple of days to the YMCA Healthy Living Center to meet with trainer Gwyn.  That's one of the best parts, I get to take care of me, while giving little thought to my car.  This is so refreshing.

Here's the picture:

Cute, huh?  So, thank you again to my brother Gordon for seeing me through to the end with the Buick.  Thank you to roomie Lori for lending me her car, often.  Thank you to my parents for helping me with a great deal.  And thank you to Chris Leo and the gang at Dewey Ford for an honest deal that helped me walk away with a smile, not a stomach ache!

Yours in Health,
Kate

A little braggin' - About my family

Family notes of the day that make me feel so lucky:

- I have noted before that my sister-in-law Annette is awesome. Today she was awesome in the race I was supposed to run - the AIDS Run/Walk. She finished in 34:05! That's despite the miserable and yes - snowy! conditions at race time. Congratulations Net!

- My nephew is brilliant. I know, I have said this before (and will again and again). But yesterday we were able to hang out for the afternoon and then go to a movie. We went to Barnes & Noble and had a treat and read books. He read half, I read half. Then we went to see "Nim's Island" - it was so much fun! About five minutes into the movie Caelen recognized that the island had a volcano on it. He leans over and says, "Auntie, is that a volcano?" "Yep." "It's going to erupt." "I don't know baby, I haven't seen the movie." "No, Auntie it is, you'll see." LOL. He hadn't read the book yet, or seen the film. But he had already deduced that if they were making a point of having a volcano, at some point it would blow. You see - brilliant!

Side review: I highly recommend the movie. It is a great adventure for kids and there were only three kind of scary parts. My 4.5 year old nephew weathered them just fine. The part that bothered him most is when the dad disappeared at sea. But the film's (and book's) theme of "Be the hero of your own story", really resonated with me. Abigail Breslin is wonderful, quite the actress already. Jodie Foster is so funny, I love when she does comedy, "Maverick" is one of my favorite westerns because of her. And Gerard Butler is dead sexy! It doesn't matter whether he is the adventurer or the amazing dad trying to return to his daughter, he is so handsome and fun. It's just a bonus that he can act!

- My mom and step-dad. Parents can drive you crazy, they're family, it's there job. But mine have been very supportive during this whole journey of mine so far. Today they were supportive of my job and came to see me at a remote at the Boomer Expo. Then they took me to lunch at Lucca. I am very lucky.

There you go, it's blatant, I am proud and I love them (and all of the others) very much and that's one of those good for my mental health kind of things.

Yours in (mental) health, Kate

Dehydration, it isn't pretty

I was busy today, apparently far too busy. When I went for my run tonight I paid the price.

It was only 85, but high humidity, so I started sweating almost immediately. I was about a mile and a half in to the run and I started to notice I felt funny. By the end of the second mile, I knew I was in trouble. Thankfully I had kept pretty close to where I had parked my car, so I slowed to a fast walk and made my way back.

By the time I threw myself into the car, I was quite clear on what was wrong, I was dehydrated. The thing is, I have worked out in much hotter weather and worked much harder for that matter and not had a problem. Today though, I had been busy and really slacked off on my water intake. Normally by the time I hit the road I have consumed at least 12 glasses of water, plus I will down another 16-20 ounces about 30-40 minutes before hand.

I looked back over today and if I drank 10 glasses, including the one I took in about an hour before my run, I am lucky. And, I hadn't packed water for after the workout, because I planned to head straight for Panera, where I planned to eat, just two blocks away. Normally not a problem.

Actually, I am lucky. Lucky I didn't pass out or end up even more incoherent than I did or worse yet, wreck my car. That's right, I was so out of it, I came up with the idea of driving down the street to said Panera. I made it safely, got out to stagger in to get water, locked the car, shut the car door and promptly realized the key to that door was sitting inside the change dish in my car.

That's right, I was so far gone, I locked myself out. Upside? I had grabbed my purse and could still buy water and dinner, plus an old water bottle to fill in the sink in the bathroom. (That way I could have some warmer water to start rehydrating more quickly, because I could take in more. Proof that my brain wasn't completely fried.) Downside? I had also locked my cell phone in the car and I had a meeting at 7.

I wandered in, filled the bottle in the bathroom sink, downed it, filled it again. Half way through the second bottle I found my sense of taste and threw out the rest of the West Des Moines tap and headed inside to order my dinner. (And more water.)

But first I figured I had better call for help on the locked car situation. The young lady, who offered kindly to help me with my order, gets my sad tale told to her as I drip sweat on the counter. She is very nice and offers what would become unlimited use of their phone.

My first call, as always, was to Lori. No answer, I left her a message. I tried my mom, she said she didn't think they had an extra key to my car, but I should call my step-dad Bruce. I think I am calling Bruce, but still out of it, I call Gordon. He says he will come get me. But surprisingly, before I agree to this, I realize that will only get me so far, because the house keys are also locked in my car. I promise to call him if I remain stranded. This time I really call Bruce and he informs me, no shocker, they do not have an extra set of my keys.

Okay, back to Lori, still no answer. I decide to breathe and get more water in me. I head over and another friendly Panera employee helps me get my dinner. (I sweat on his counter too.) I go sit down and plot to use the phone again in 10 minutes to continue my hunt for Lori. While I am eating and drinking God's gift - water - I start freezing from the dehydration and the air conditioning cooling my apparently unstoppable perspiration.

Well - to finish the story quickly - because I could go on as it continues, with more dialing and waiting and sweating.

I found Lori, she brought my extra keys (furthering her application for sainthood), I bought her dinner for her trouble and I was able to make my 7:00 meeting somehow. Another highlight, by the way, Gordon was extra sweet and called Panera to make sure things were getting handled, he's so great.

So, if you needed any other motivation to stay hydrated when losing weight and working out, I hope I have just supplied it. Because believe me, on this end, lesson learned.

Best always, Ms_H
Weight - 166 pounds (Yes, I lost 2 more!)

PS - I will be making a plethora of extra keys to sprinkle among my family tomorrow.

Running toward my goals

My day was redirected today when my step-mother called to say she had a migraine and could I keep Caelen tonight. Luckily for her the only must on my agenda was working out. Mind you I had no idea how I was going to cram that in with him along.

So I met my mom and step-dad for lunch with Caelen in a bit of a funk. Working out has become important to me mentally, as well as physically. (If you've been working out for a while, you know what I mean.) Well, they offer to take Caelen swimming that evening at the gym while I go upstairs and get in my workout.

It ended up working out well. We met them and Gordon and went on to the gym together. Mom and Bruce played with Caelen, who is becoming quite the swimmer for someone who isn't even 4.

Gordon and I went to the upper part of the gym with the machines and the track. I could tell that he really wanted me to run with him on the track, but something about that surface makes me a bit crazy. Though I did walk about a mile and a half on it, I got bored. So I headed for the treadmill, which I know is boring too, but I wanted a change.

I walked for a couple of minutes and then I did something I have been waiting for, I ran. Not just a block or two, but for 3/4 of a mile, non-stop, in 9 minutes. Then I cooled down with a walk and did a few leg machines, because I had already done my arms at home this morning.

I felt so empowered after the run. Now mind you, it was continuously flat terrain in air conditioning, so it was optimal. But I was impressed and damn it, that all that matters at the moment.

Best always, Ms_H
Weight - 176 (YES! I lost two pounds.)