I finished my first week of P90X on 8/31. It was hard, but I made it. Here are a few things I noticed:

1) My upper body is made of rubber bands. I have a pull-up bar, but I’m not at the point of getting good use from it yet. For now, I’m using resistance bands and using the pull-up bar as an anchor. I sure hope I can get to the point of using that pull-up bar for real. That would rock.

2) My abs are made of Jell-O. That Ab Ripper X is….WHOA! I think that Tony Horton says that the workout has over 300 reps. I’m having to make modifications and take breaks here and there. It is a killer workout for 16 minutes.

3) Plyometrics is A LOT of jumping. If you have knee issues, be forewarned. I have mushy knees that creak and pop. I sounded like a breakfast cereal throughout this entire workout. Talk about sweating!

4) Kenpo is sort of like Turbo Jam & Tae Bo & Chuck Norris all rolled into one. I think I enjoyed that workout the most.

5) Yoga is LONG, LONG, LONG. I just couldn’t make it through 1.5 hours of yoga. I know that people adore yoga and it has a ton of benefits. I just can’t see myself doing more than an hour. Sure, I felt great afterwards, but I can only do so many Warrior #1, before I get bored.

6) Shoulders & Arms – Legs/Back aren’t that bad. I used 6lb weights in the beginning of the week, and graduated to 10lbs this week. I CAN DO THIS!

I’m guilty of not doing the Stretch video yesterday. I’ll probably do it for my 2nd week. My muscles just needed the day off for rest. I was busy with tons of other activities, so I wasn’t sedentary for my day off. I just needed a break.

Today was Day 8 on the program. I did Chest & Back + Ab Ripper X. Maybe it was my attitude this morning, but I felt stronger doing the push-ups. I really did. I still have “old lady teacher arms”, but I felt stronger using them today. I felt like my push-ups were going lower. I felt more confident. It could be my imagination, but who cares? Even if this program only tones my body a bit, and makes me more confident in my body, it was worth it.

As for my eating, I’ve been really trying to lower my carbohydrates (I’m a carb junkie usually) and increase my fruits/veggies/protein/water consumption. I traded one meal a day for a homemade smoothie. Here is the recipe:

2 T whey or protein powder
1 T ground flax
1 scoop Green Vibrance
7-8 frozen strawberries
1 c frozen blueberries
1 T rolled oats
1 cup of green tea (you can buy this in the bottle or just brew some and keep it in the fridge)
1 packet of Equal or Sweet ‘n Low (or agave nectar if I’m feeling especially health conscious)
Dash of cinnamon
Ice (3-4 cubes)

Blend for about a minute and enjoy!
(Note: I usually break up and freeze overly ripe bananas to add to my smoothie too. If you find berries or fruit in season, chop them
up and keep a big bag in the freezer just for this purpose.)

I know that these extra pounds didn’t come on overnight. It will take A LOT OF WORK to get them off. Yes, I’m impatient, but I’m also practical. Just take one day at a time.
Tomorrow is Day 9. By November, I’ll be a new me. November isn’t that far away, right?

My brother recently told me that I needed to work on my muscles. I have read that women over 40 start losing muscle mass at an alarming rate. Not doing strength training a few days a week is asking for bad posture, bone loss, and possibly that “grandma slump”. I don’t want that. To me, just looking good in a bathing suit would work. Not being self-conscious in a sleeveless top would be great too. Look good naked and be proud of my body? Where do I sign up?!

We’ve all seen the infomercials about exercise programs. The ones that promise that their gadget will make you skinny overnight. I don’t buy into those. I KNOW that it takes hard work, eating right, staying hydrated, and getting enough sleep. Fad diets and gimmicky equipment don’t work. Hard work and persistence is always the answer.

I have seen countless posts on Sparkpeople & other fitness sites about P90X and their results. The before/after pictures are amazing. Overweight folks just like me worked their tails off and got to the end more toned, lighter on the scale, and full of confidence. Many exercise programs are all about cardio. I’m a testament that running a ton won’t make you skinny. I’ve done 3 marathons, 5 halves, and countless little runs. 100% cardio doesn’t make you skinny. It just doesn’t. Maybe throwing in strength training along with cardio would help? Hmm…why not give it a try.

I lucked out and bought the P90X disks one at a time on Ebay. I found the resistance bands & pull-up bar on there as well. All of it with shipping was around $90. Not bad. I found the literature (calendar, workout schedule, and nutrition) online. Time to get my head on straight, and commit to this for 90 days. That means working out 6 days a week AND eating right.

The first day is Chest & Back, but I didn’t have that DVD in yet. I used Shoulders & Arms instead. I started off with 6 & 10lbs weights. The workout was a challenge, but I made it through. Next up was Ab Ripper. One word: OUCH! I had to do a modified version of almost every exercise. I did stick with it, but it was really tough. I know I will get better with this, but my stomach is a bowl full of jelly right now. Day 1 down with 69min of exercise.

Day 2:
I started off the morning with Plyometrics. I had no idea what this one was about. One word: Jumping. This 55min workout is FULL of squats, lunges, and jumping. My shoulders & back were sore this morning. I’m sure my thighs are going to be hurting tomorrow. Plyometrics gets your heart rate way up there. You also sweat a TON. Once again, it was tough, but I made it through. Only 88 days to go.
I’m off to make a recovery smoothie for breakfast.

Chocolate (the milky, melts in your mouth kind)
Creamer (coffee just isn’t coffee without it)
Cookies (my husband buys these darned things when he is in town)
Chips (see Cookies)
Creamy & Crunchy peanut butter
Candy (I’m usually good w/this unless it is Halloween)
Cheese (melted, shredded, in chunks…yeah. Dangerous stuff)

I know that this is my imagination, but it seems like foods starting in “C” are my DANGER foods. How can I avoid these foods? I just thought of it!

“C” is for CELLULITE

No thanks, C-foods. I usually stick with the motto: “Everything in moderation”. However, I really need to be careful with you guys. Just because I “SEE” you, doesn’t mean I have to “EAT” you. emoticon

I think we all have experiences in our lives that have formed who we are today. Some were amazing and some were awful. You know what? We are getting better with time. We are far better than we were yesterday, but are not quite there compared to tomorrow.

I was thinking of a way to encourage this childhood friend. What have I learned over the years? What advice would I give to my younger, teen self now? What will I try to pass on to my teen son before he goes out into the world? This is my list. If you have others, feel free to post them!

1)Learn from mistakes in your past. If you regret the outcome, don’t do it again!

2)Not everyone will like you in this world, no matter how hard you try. You can’t change others. You can only change yourself and how you react to the world around you.

3)Bullies are EVERYWHERE. They take your lunch money on the school ground, are in the locker room in high school, take the guy/girl you worship in college, and are in the office cubicle or adjacent church pew when you are an adult.

4)Stay true to yourself and stand for what you believe in. Even if you are the only one in the room that feels that way.

5)What goes around ALWAYS comes back to you. Make sure that it is good coming your way.

6)Tell those that you love how much they mean with words AND actions EVERY DAY.

7)Think before speaking. Those nasty words can never be taken back.

8)Be happy with the little things in life. Financial tragedy can come at any time. Enjoying a board game, playing in the sprinkler, or watching falling stars doesn’t cost anything. Be thankful for what you have. Someone ALWAYS has it worse than you do.

9)Forgiveness is hard to give, but it is crucial. When there is hate and anger filling your heart, you can’t give all of your love to others. Let it go. Nothing/no one is worth all the negative anger, sleepless nights, etc. Let it go!

10)It is NEVER, NEVER, EVER too late to change your path. If you don’t like where you are right now, CHANGE IT! Go back to school, move to a new place, get a different job, start exercising & eating right, etc. JUST DO IT, ALREADY!

11)Life is too short to be surrounded by people you don’t like. If the people around you aren’t enhancing your life, they don’t need to take up space in your life. This is ESPECIALLY TRUE with those that put you down or make you feel badly about yourself. Yes, some of these people can be relatives. This statement applies to them too. If your aunt makes you feel badly about yourself, STAND UP AND TELL HER. Tell your aunt you love her, but you DO NOT DESERVE how you are being treated. Sometimes, distancing yourself is what is best for YOU.

12)Realize that you influence the lives of many – treat yourself with love and respect too. Be a friend to yourself. Pamper yourself. Love you for what you are.

The first day was EXTREMELY difficult. Ok, that is an understatement. Hard, hard, hard. I found that I had a splitting headache at the end of the day. I had nothing but fruit smoothies (berries, banana, kiwi, peaches), and fresh squeezed veggie juice (spinach, kale, parsley, cucumber, beet root, carrot, celery).

Let me just say that I eat healthy 95% of the time. Honestly, I do. I don’t drink caffeine or soda. I don’t eat white flour. I don’t add sugar or salt to my foods. I eat lots of whole grains & brown rice. I drink between 8-12 glasses of water a day. I could eat more fruits & veggies, but I do have a homemade fruit smoothie for breakfast most mornings. I don’t eat chips and rarely eat cookies (I can go off the wagon now and then and have a cookie binge, but it rare). I usually eat fish/chicken/turkey and rarely eat red meat. I love eggs but eat them in moderation. I love to run, and I do that 3-5 days a week. I try to sleep, but have a hard time getting in 8 hours when my husband is out of town. I do eat chocolate. That is my downfall. I don’t go crazy with it though. I buy Hershey’s Sugar Free syrup and add that to unsweetened almond or fat free cow milk. I buy chocolate chips and measure out a small amount when I have a chocolate emergency. I thought eating nothing but fruits/veggies wouldn’t be that hard. I was wrong.

On the second day, I woke up with a headache. A MASSIVE headache. What is wrong with me? I had lots of water the day before. Maybe I just needed to eat. I continued with a fruit smoothie for breakfast, and veggie juice for snack. By noon, my stomach was rumbling like a 8.2 on the Richter Scale. I needed *CRUNCH*! I pulled out the salsa and dipped celery stocks into it. Nope. Not enough. I steamed mushrooms and garlic and ate those. I had a banana. I had more veggie juice for afternoon snack. I grilled: zucchini, mushrooms, asparagus, and sweet peppers along with a few chicken breasts(for my family) for dinner. I was planning on eating just veggies, but the chicken was calling to me. I gave in, and had a breast. I swear that after 20min, I felt GREAT after eating the chicken. GREAT!

I woke up on the third day with a “this is the last day, make the most of it” attitude. I had a fruit smoothie for breakfast. I started to guzzle water. I had dandelion tea (tastes like bitter coffee) with unsweetened almond milk & agave nectar in it. I had a glass of veggie juice for snack, and left over grilled veggies for lunch. Afternoon snack were 1/2 a banana (my dogs love the other half) and 1.5 cups of blueberries. For dinner? 1.5 cups of black beans swimming in salsa, and fresh fruit salad. I threw in the towel and had some vanilla ice cream for dessert. I didn’t go crazy with it. I just had a small cup. It was like finding water after wondering the dessert for 40yrs.

So, what is the verdict? I can tell you that I have been cranky for the last several days, and have made countless trips to the bathroom. I know that celebrities swear by juicing, but it isn’t easy. Our bodies NEED carbohydrates. I try to be creative with artistic projects, and I am constantly thinking hard about my next move. My brain isn’t meant to function without energy. I found that when I had carbohydrates (i.e. black beans), I felt better.

Summary: Fad diets and depriving yourself IS NOT THE WAY TO LOSE WEIGHT. Let me say that again: Deprivation will lead to binging (or falling off the wagon with a cup of ice cream). I think that eating in moderation and exercise is the way to go. Putting yourself on no carbohydrates, no protein, etc. is NOT healthy for your body. I definitely proved to myself that well balanced eating works better for my body.

Will I do this again? Nope. Smoothies and fresh veggie juice is great, but give me lean proteins and whole grains/legumes too. I never stepped on the scale before/after this experiment. I just wanted to see if I could make it through the 3 days. Tomorrow is a new day. I’m back to healthy, well balanced eating, AND fruit smoothies & fresh veggie juices. Everything in moderation, Shan. Everything in moderation.

Happy, healthy eating to you!

“You’ll pray for me? OK, then, I’ll think for you.”

I know her to be a liberal, and highly educated woman. I also know that whenever someone says anything regarding Christianity (or a world view she doesn’t like), she gets upset. I thought about her comment, and against better judgement, I threw out my response:

“Can I just throw in something that will probably get me booted? Please don’t be offended when someone says they will pray for you. Hear me out here. We all have different ways of coping with hardships that our friends/loved ones are experiencing. Some of us think good thoughts. Some of us will say a prayer. Some of us will hold your hand and be there at 3am when you need to vent. We all handle things differently. THAT is what makes us all unique. That is what makes this world an amazing place.

When someone says they will pray for you, it means they care about you and want good to happen to you. They aren’t trying to shove God in your face. They are trying to say that they care for you. Personally, I don’t get offended when someone says they will think good thoughts for me. I wouldn’t be hurt if someone offered to light a candle, smoulder some incense, or even do a jig for me. They might not believe in God and prayer, as I do. That’s okay. I’m just honored that they even think of me in a good light at all. So, when someone says they will pray for you, all you have to say is “thanks”. You don’t have to believe like they do. Just be thankful that they care enough for you to want to see good things come your way.”

THE RESPONSE:

“When people are out there praying for the death of Obama and Mel Gibson is beating the crap out of his ex while considering a sequel to the Passion of the Christ, it tends to give a bad name to those who “pray for us”.

Clearly my previous comment didn’t hit the mark. So, I got this off my chest:

“I agree with you. However, there are bad/good people in EVERY FAITH (or no faith at all). Don’t you think? I strongly believe in “what goes around, comes around”. There are people that are condescending, self-righteous, and do not practice what they preach all over the world. We see them on the news. We have them in places of authority. We listen to them on talk radio. We see them in magazines. They author best selling books. We may even see them on a pulpit.

My faith says that when my life is done, I will answer for how I lived and treated the world. I try not to judge others by what they believe, who they voted for, who they are with in the privacy of their bedroom, and what they put into their body. I may completely disagree with what they have said/done, but I am not their judge/jury. I go about my life doing the best I can for my world & the people around me. That is who you are. This is who I am. We share this world. We are different in so many ways, but we need to get along. When my life is done, I would like others to say that I backed up my promises, loved/cared for everyone – no matter their color, age, sex, religion, political views, financial status, etc.

So to finish, I do agree with you. I think people lie to us ALL THE TIME. I do believe that we reap what we sow. No matter which side of the fence we are on. When we become dust, what will others say about how we lived? As the saying goes, make every day count. I plan on doing that. For me, that includes being a caring person that makes a positive impact. Yes, I do pray for others. I do it because I care for them. I don’t feel that I am better than anyone else. I am just going through each day making the best of what I have. Prayer helps me get through my life. It gives me comfort through the bad times and helps me to be thankful during great times. My faith helps make me who I am. It isn’t for everyone. That’s ok. That’s what makes each one of us special.”

CONCLUSION: It doesn’t matter if you don’t agree with your neighbor. Just respect that we are all given the right to believe what is in our hearts. We don’t have to agree with every idea. We just need to respect those that have them.

(This is also one of my pages, but I thought I would post it in my blog as well)

I’ve had people ask me over the last few years for running tips. Sure, I’m an overweight, slow runner. However, I have learned some valuable information that I would like to share. The extremely dedicated runner (you know who you are…at the front of the race…in the seeded position….) probably won’t need to read this. That’s okay. This goes out to the rest of us. The runners that are at the back of the pack with the strollers, and are running just for the hell of it (and to keep the Love Handles away).

SHOES:
1) You need to find out your foot shape. This determines the TYPE of sole you will need in a running shoe. There are several ways to do this. The easiest is to go online. Try:
http://www.runnersworld.com/article/0,7120,s6-240-319-326-7152-0,00.html

You can also go to a local running store. We have Runtex here in Texas. I’m not sure if you have something like that where you are. They will test your foot in their store, but they will also expect you to spend $200+ on shoes. Beware of that. You probably don’t need $200 shoes.

Once you have determined your foot type, you will need to get shoes that compliment your foot. For example,
I roll my foot to the outside. I am more prone to shin/knee/hip injuries because of it. My shoes have a thick
outside sole to compensate for how my foot lands. I also have to replace my shoes more often. When I was training
for the WDW Goofy races, I went through THREE pair of shoes in 6 months. Yup, THREE pair @ $70/pair. Cha-ching!

For long distance running, I suggest getting 1-1.5 sizes LARGER than you normally wear. Your feet will swell up when you are running long distance. Larger shoes give your foot more room (i.e. less blisters, injury, etc.) I buy New Balance shoes.
I also buy men’s (if you wear a 9 in women’s, you would wear a 7 in men’s). That is just my preference. I like lots of toe room in my running shoes. I wear a 9, so I buy a woman’s 10.5 or a men’s 8.5.

If you find a brand you like, GREAT! It is a trial and error sort of thing. As I said, I like New Balance. I buy mine online with www.joesnewbalanceoutlet.com You can find shoes online, at your local sporting store, Ebay, etc. If you find a style that you adore, go online and buy another pair or go back to where you originally bought them. Unless on sale, you will usually find a better price for your shoes online. NOTE: You will need to replace your shoes at 300-400 miles OR when you are starting to notice shin/knee/hip pain. DO NOT (seriously, DON’T!) skimp here. Buy the shoes when you need them. Don’t buy the $20 shoes on sale either. Get the ones that are $50+. Your body will thank you.
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SOCKS:
I buy Thurlos. They are my absolute favorite because they “breathe” and they have lots of cushioning. Same thing applies
with running shoes & socks. Find what you like. Buy several pair. You will be surprised at how much good socks cost. I think my
Thurlos were something like $9-$11 a pair. Yikes!
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CHAFFING:
If you experience body chaffing, invest in a sport stick (Body Glide, etc.). Many folks use Vaseline too. I find that it stains
my running clothes. I had to resort to using sport tape with my last marathon season because I was rubbing myself to bleeding.
If you start to notice chaffing (i.e. waistband, armpits, breast area, etc.) buy a
sport stick.
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CLOTHING:
WEAR SOMETHING COMFORTABLE THAT BREATHES! Did I say that loud enough for you? I prefer wearing running tights, lycra long/tight shorts, etc. The Lord blessed (cursed?) me with less-than-model-perfect thighs. I prefer clothing that won’t
rub me raw. Believe me, nothing hurts more than being on a long run and having your legs chafe. It sucks. Believe me, I’ve been there.
For my tops, I prefer breathable/wicking shirts. Yeah, you can wear a regular old t-shirt, but when the temperatures get up there, you will be more comfortable in a shirt that doesn’t hold moisture in.

MEN: Seriously consider wearing compression shorts for long runs. I know that many men like wearing simple running shorts. They may have an inner lining, but will that support you for 10, 15, or 20 miles?

WOMEN: Get a GOOD sports bra. I’m really top heavy for a woman runner (36DD). I wear Moving Comfort Maia or Helena running bras. I’ve tried Nike, Saucony, and several “just squish ‘em down” bras. It doesn’t matter if you are large or small chested, find a COMFORTABLE & SUPPORTIVE bra to fit you. The two of you will be putting down lots of miles together. Make sure that the bra you wear isn’t too tight or too loose. Either one can rub you to bleeding. THAT is something every woman runner wants to avoid.

When it is really hot (like yesterday @5pm being 104 heat index here in Austin, TX), I wear a kerchief and wicking/dryfit hat. I get both WET before I go run. If the weather is going to be extremely hot, I may even get my shirt wet first too.

In cold weather, I wear gloves and a light, running jacket. After a mile, I usually put my gloves into my fanny pack and tie my jacket
around me. Winter temps don’t usually go below 27 degrees here. I tend to get warm after the first mile of running. You may be different.
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HAT:
Wear one. Period. It doesn’t matter if it is overcast. Wear one. Your eyes/skin will thank you.
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SUNSCREEN:
*See Hat (well, not your eyes, but you get the point ;D LOL!)
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FOOD:
When I go on a really long run (I consider over 6 miles long), I eat a light carbohydrate. Usually this is a banana, Clif bar, or 1 cup of orange juice. I also take an Ibuprofen or two. I find that taking these little pills helps me not be as sore afterwards.

When I come home from my run, I shower and then eat a HEALTHY meal. Healthy I mean: oatmeal, whole wheat toast w/sugar free jam, fruit, egg-whites, 100% juice, fat free yogurt, etc. Research is showing that if you eat a protein within 30min of a strenuous workout, you cut your recovery time in HALF. Eat protein!

While training, you want to eat healthy. Many folks will push food on you with the “You are running so much, you can eat anything” approach. This is NOT true. There are many runners out there that think they can just eat and eat. That’s a great way to pack on the extra pounds. You still need to watch your calorie intake. When I am in training, I usually consume between 1700-1900 calories a day. That is when I am running AT LEAST 25 miles a week with strength training. Running less than that? Keep your calories around 1400-1500. Men need to eat around 2000 calories a day when they are not training. They will need to consume 200-500 more if they are.

When I train, I try to eat: brown rice, whole grain pastas/cereals/breads, fat free yogurt, milk, and cheese. FRESH fruits & vegetables (I also love steamed, broiled, or grilled veggies). natural Peanut Butter, almonds & walnuts. Egg whites, fish, chicken, turkey, and lean cuts of beef (I don’t eat much beef because it is heavier on the system). Stay away from processed/diet meals as they are full of sodium. Try to
make your meals as much as possible. Limit alcohol and caffeine too.

Foods to avoid before a long run: sugar free gum (seriously…this will hit your system and you will need to rush to the porta potty at the worst possible time), heavy spices or salsa, lots of leafy greens (same thing as gum).
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WATER:
Buy a sports bottle, and wear it for anything over 3 miles. When I am doing light training, I have a fanny pack that fits a 16oz bottle beautifully. When I go over 6 mile runs, I wear my Camelbak Hydrobak. This is just my personal preference. You don’t have to run with water strapped to your side. I get very thirsty on long runs, and love my Camelbak.

Just a note: If you decide to put something into your water, consider Powerade or Gatorade G, or a GOOD electrolyte drink. Long distance runners need something more than water. They need to replace salts that they are sweating away. Also, these drinks have sugar which also help with energy levels.

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ENERGY WHILE RUNNING:
There are TONS of sports foods out there. I prefer gel when I run over 8 miles. I really like the Hammer Gel Chocolate. I also like Clif Blox or Jelly Belly electrolyte beans. They work great too. This is sort of a personal preference thing. You have to remember that you will probably need something, but want to make sure that it is something that is easy for you to consume.
You will have a dry mouth (mostly) while running. You don’t want to be eating a granola bar or crackers. Many during running foods contain sugar and sodium. Sugar for energy and sodium to replace what your body is sweating. Make sure that your during run food (I use 1 item on a 13 miler and 2-3 on a marathon) fits into that category.
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CARE OF YOUR BODY AFTER A RUN:
Take a nice, warm shower or bath. Many runners take an ice bath after a marathon (or a very long run). I know…it sounds insane. However, I did this for my last 3 halves & 2 marathons. It does wonders. Sure, it feels HORRIBLE when you are in the tub, but you won’t be as sore the next day.

The day after your longest run, make sure to take a rest day. Your muscle tissues need to repair themselves. A great thing to do on this day is yoga or light stretching. Don’t run more than 5 days a week. I have also found that doing strength training (especially CORE MUSCLE building) works wonders for my running time. As you get tired, you will tend to lean forward. Strengthening your tummy & back will help you run upright longer. Using a stability ball, hand weights, or bands are great aids for these exercises. I recently bought a weight vest too. I put it on when I am doing chores around the house. When I bend down to pick up socks, for example, I am using my tummy/back muscles. My vest is 10lbs. It doesn’t take much weight to get your muscles working hard. I found mine on Ebay for something like $20 + shipping.

The thing with most of these items is trial and error. You want to make sure that you are wearing comfortable shoes & clothing. As your race draws nearer, there will be other preparations to make.

Find a running schedule that is designed for first/intermediate time runners (Hal Higdon or Jeff Galloway are my favorites). If you miss a run day, don’t freak. Try to do something for exercise that day. You could speed walk, put in an exercise DVD, jump rope, do squats/lunges & crunches, etc. Just can’t fit in any exercise one day? It happens to us all. Continue with your schedule the next day.

One more thing, running isn’t always about how fast you get to the end. When I am training, I run 10 min. miles. During a race, I run 9 min. miles (sometimes less, but that is usually my pace). That’s slow for most dedicated runners. You know what? WHO CARES?! Getting to the finish line is what matters. You can walk, jog, skip, sprint, or crawl to the end. The journey is half the fun. YOU WILL DO GREAT!!!

Two silly kids

The wonderful thing about my husband’s job, is that our family is blessed with tagging along on a few of his business trips throughout the year. In 2009, we went to NYC (I went 2x), and Boston. This year, it is Chicago and San Francisco.

I wasn’t sure what to expect from Chicago. Sure it is big and populated, but what about the feel of the place? Will it have the charm that NYC has? Will I see street venders? Will I hear countless languages spoken on the street? Will the museums blow my socks off? Will the food be worthy of mention?

Our family started our week off with a 6am flight (*groan*) on Tuesday. My husband had to be at the Chicago office by noon. The flight was uneventful, thankfully. I’m not a fan of flying. Yes, yes, yes. I KNOW it is the safest way to travel, yadda yadda yadda. All that scientific data doesn’t convince my irrational fears. If I only had the ability to nod my head like Samantha from Bewitched….*sigh*

Our ride from the airport was around 45 min. on the “L” train. I just want to interject that the NYC subway system is MUCH SMOOTHER than the Chicago “L”. I felt that my fillings were rattling out of my head on the Chicago train. Do they purposely make the train car rattle so you can’t sleep through your stop? Sounds like a Transportation Dept. conspiracy to me. Next, they will have electrified seats to keep us awake!

We were staying at the Hilton near the Chicago “Loop”. The hotel is magnificent for temporary lodging standards. It had a grand entrance, revolving doors, FedEx, Starbucks, ballroom, and an amazing gym/pool. Their Diamond Status (those that spend way too much time using guest towels and complimentary soaps) dining area was a bit drab. You get really tired of bagels after eating them daily for a week. Of course, I’m comparing it to the Tokyo Hilton. Sorry Hilton, Tokyo rules. Might I suggest that you offer that same service to ALL of your locations? Thank you for your cooperation.

The Loop is the area of Chicago that you see on the brochures and commercials. HUGE skyscrapers. Businessmen/women with their laptop bags. Hustle and bustle and the “L” train, oh my! It is also speckled with museums. Our son and I had 3.5 days to peruse the various museums, take lots of photos, learn lots of facts, and make my feet ache beyond words.

Just a FYI for those going to big cities & doing LOTS of sightseeing: GET THE CITY PASS. Period. You will save a TON of money, and be able to cut right to the front of the museum/attraction lines. The Chicago City Pass was $69/person. That may sound like a lot to fork out all at once, but think about this: Most museums/attractions start around $25 for admission. The City Pass usually lasts 7-9 days. If you want to see just 3 attractions, your pass is paid for and then some. Trust me. Get the pass.

Where's the Butter?

As Tuesday was already half over, our son & I decided to walk around the Loop and sightsee. This area of town is what you would expect in a typical business/touristy area. Streets are lined with: Starbucks, Dunkin’ Donuts, copy shops, trinket shops, upscale clothing stores, and bustling restaurants. The highlight for me was walking into Dick Blick. If you aren’t an artist, you probably have never heard of them. They are an artists Toys ‘R’ Us. The Chicago store is two stories of creative bliss. The lower level has blank canvases, and paper craft supplies. Have you ever walked into a store and thought: “Oh Yeah! I could get into some serious financial trouble in here!”? That was EXACTLY how I felt. I shuffled along the lower level while our son went up the escalator to the 2nd floor. He quickly texted me saying: “Get up here, NOW!” I have a confession to make. When I got to the 2nd floor, I had tears in my eyes. THIS was my store. I was surrounded by my friends: Prismacolor, Staedtler, Koh-i-Noor, Faber-Castell, Caran D’Ache, Winsor & Newton, Holbein, Canson, Strathmore, Arches, Liquitex, Daler-Rowney, and Da Vinci. Hello, old friends. I would love to take you all home, but my husband would kill me. I can’t believe that I got out of there for under $30. Michaels & Hobby Lobby stores can’t hold a candle to Dick Blick. Thank goodness for mail order catalogs.

That first night, my husband treated us to traditional Chicago-style pizza at Giordano’s. The difference between NYC pizza vs. Chicago is the SAUCE PLACEMENT. Your typical pizza chain usually offers NYC style with the sauce UNDER the toppings. Chicago pizza has the sauce OVER the toppings. Chicago pizzas are called pies for a reason. They take about 45 minutes to cook because they are literally dough/cheese/meat pies. The thick crust is crunchy, and the inside is ooey-gooey, burn the hell out of your tongue goodness. Once you cut off a slice, the rest of the pie does a landslide in that direction. Although NYC wins my heart over, Chicago pies are a close runner up.

The following day was the beginning of our whirlwind museum tour. Our first stop was the Shedd Aquarium. Did I mention that Chicago schools are approaching the end of their school year? Did I mention that EVERY SINGLE SCHOOL IN CHICAGO was going to local museums this week? I didn’t? Let me just say, I like kids. I really do, for the most part. I had a daycare with 8 boys for 3 years. I am a mother, and an aunt. With that said, WHY do some children have to act like orangutans and scream in public places? Manners, children. Use them! Other than the rambuctious school kids, and the shark exhibit being closed, the Shedd Aquarium was a joy. I could name about 90% of the tropical fish (20yrs. of fish tank experience here). They had a large interactive area for small children. They had penguins, otters, seals, crustaceans, amphibians, deep ocean creatures (did you know that there is an animal in the ocean that looks like a giant Rollie Pollie?), and TONS of fish. We stayed until lunch, and then went to our next destination: Adler Planetarium

Nice View!

Many people are space dreamers. They secretly wish that NASA would call them for a job interview. They know a ton a trivia about space, stars, planets, black holes, and the Big Bang. I look at our galaxy and beyond and think: “God sure knows how to make some dazzling stuff”. My little brain can’t grasp the expanse of space. I’d like to think that our Creator made other populated planets. Maybe my son or grandchildren will meet them one day. All I know is that each time I see a new photo from space, I marvel at the greatness of it all. Our son and I feel the same way about space. We went into the Adler Planetarium optimistic and hoping to learn something new. We were sadly disappointed. This museum is quite small. It felt like we were walking through a 3-D encyclopedia. There were facts plastered on walls, but very little “hands-on” for visitors. Our admission allowed us to see Journey to the Stars in their theater. I must confess, I fell asleep. Truly. Maybe it was Whoopi Goldberg’s voice. Maybe it was the boring atmosphere. I wasn’t impressed. The highlight to our Adler visit was the ball-vortex demonstration, and the front door guard asking us about our visit. You know it is bad when the size of the gift shop makes more of an impact than the displays.

That night, my husband’s company allowed our son and I to accompany them to a Spanish Tapas meal. For those that have never had this type of meal, I can describe it as a spanish dim sum on steroids. We had: octopus, veal, salmon, chorizo, potato/egg casserole, bruschetta, different cheese, and tiramisu. It was a wonderful, stomach-bursting meal. The waitress filled my glass with sangria THREE times. Let’s just say that I was glad to be able to walk off some of the meal/alcohol on the way back to our hotel.

Our third day in Chicago started off at the Museum of Science and Industry. We hopped on a local bus and arrived just before opening. My husband’s co-worker mentioned that it wasn’t an impressive museum. The reviews online suggested differently. I am happy to report that it was a WONDERFUL experience. FYI: Plan ALL DAY here, and bring a sack lunch. A meager lunch for the two of us was close to $20. There is a little something for everyone at this museum. Highlights for us were the retired: train, U-boat, airliner, and several war planes. Their two-story weather exhibit is fascinating and quite impressive. The miniature Chicago downtown with model trains running through it was a delight. The Human Body area was a fountain of information. The IMAX movie “Hubble” was stellar (no pun intended). The only disappointments were the Chemistry area, and simulated Coal Mine exhibit (the line never moved, so we left without seeing it). This museum was very “hands-on” and family friendly. There was something for everyone. We really enjoyed it.

Walking on Air. Sort of.

After my husband got out of class, we headed to the Willis (I still think of it as the Sears) Tower. Our City Pass allowed us to get to the 103 floor. I wasn’t planning to go up with the guys for two reasons: (1) I’d been to the Empire State Building & they hadn’t, and (2) I’m afraid of heights. My husband firmly encouraged (which is a nice way of saying he made me do it) me to go up with them. Our timing was perfect as there were very few tourists around. You get a 360 degree view of Chicago. It is quite beautiful, and a great place to take photos for your scrapbook. The highlight for most people are the glass viewing platforms that allow visitors to look through the floor to the street 1,353 feet below. I did say most people. Remember that whole heights thing? Ummm…yeah. My guys loved going out on the boxes (there are 4 of them) to look below. I did put on a brave face and backed up just enough to have my picture taken in one of them. No. I did not look down. Yes, I am proud of myself for doing it.

For our last day in Chicago, my son and I went to the Field Museum of Natural History. This museum is HUGE. The only downside to the museum being so large, is that many of the exhibits are spread out. It may look big, but there aren’t that many exhibits in it. We were fascinated with the: rocks & minerals, the fully-intact T-Rex skeleton named Sue, Earth Sciences, animals from around the world, and the Underground Adventure (you walk through an exhibit where you are smaller than ground creatures). The Egyptian exhibit was nice, but we had seen the King Tut travelling show in 2009 and this just felt wanting. We got through the museum in 3 hours. We didn’t see everything, but quite a bit of it felt familiar so we didn’t go through those exhibits.

We met up with my husband just after lunch. We had seven hours to kill before heading back to Texas. As the Federal Reserve of Chicago was just down the way, we headed that way. It is pretty cool that you can visit a government facility like this. Their visitor area isn’t large, but it is fascinating. They have quite a display of American currency from the past. They have an area where you guess which bills are real, and which are counterfeit. There is a small theater, several displays showing you what $1,000,000 looks like (in $1 bills and $100). I learned that this one facility destroys $23.2 MILLION a day in old bills. Wowwie!! Where does that money go? They let you take a free souvenir baggie full of shredded bills totally $364 with you. Pretty cool souvenir. Thanks, Uncle Sam.

Our last hours were spent visiting the famous “Jelly Bean” Cloud Gate. We also saw the Crown Fountains, and Navy Pier.

SUMMARY OF CHICAGO: I know we only got to see the Loop in Chicago, but it did make an impression on me.

1. I was happy to see that such a large city had quite a few parks. The ones that we walked through were well-maintained, and lush.
2. There were quite a few individuals asking for spare change. It seemed to me that there were many more than in NYC. However, I did not see any cardboard houses like you see in NYC.
3. There were quite a few overweight people in Chicago. Maybe this is the trend of the U.S. People are getting larger. I just happened to notice quite a few obese folks here.
4. There isn’t as much of a melting pot in Chicago as in NYC. I expected to see more than I did.

I’m glad that we visited Chicago. I can now mark this city off of my list. Thanks Chicago for the pizza, museums, and views. Loved your jelly bean and spitting fountains. Wasn’t thrilled with your planetarium. Adore your art store.

My life has been so crazy over these last five years or so. We’ve gone through job changes, family crisis, travel, illness, and homeschooling. I’ve neglected everything that was cosmetic (for me and our home), in hopes that I would find the time and energy down the way to tackle them. I’ve been motivated lately to see to beautifying our home as we will be having guests over the summer.

My first project was to confront the jungle on our side yard facing the street. The trees and shrubbery have overgrown to the point that you couldn’t see half way up the side of the house. My trusty shears and I spent the better part of an afternoon on the side yard. I was literally a botanical beautician. I finished up my hours of labor with a self-appointed pat on the back. Job well done, Shan!

Fast forward a few hours into the evening. *Scratch scratch* My elbow itches. Wowwie! It itches like mad! Did I get bit by a spider when I was working outside? Sadly, no. I could only dream of an overzealous arachnid munching on my arm. No, my itch was from the green pest – The Poison Oak plant.

I’ve found out that the oils from Poison Ivy, Oak, and Sumac leech into your system. Some speculate as soon as 10 minutes. Others say you have up to two hours. All I know was that I was too late to get the oils off of my skin before they went into my blood stream.

In a little over a week’s time, I have weeping welts ALL OVER MY BODY. Well, my heels, palms, ears, and scalp seem to be safe…for now. I found that Benadryl helps for a bit. Of course, I don’t really feel like itching when I am in a Benadryl-induced stupor. Calamine lotion helps for a bit too, but doesn’t take away the itch for long. Honestly, nothing but time and muttering under your breath can take away this stuff.

This gets me to wonder about a few other life forms in our world that really have no purpose. At least, I can’t understand why they are important. Sure, they could be food for other things, but, what are they REALLY doing here? Can someone give me a good reason for:

*Poison Oak, Ivy, Sumac
*Cockroaches
*Earwigs
*Silverfish
*Mosquitoes
*Those little lawn plants with stickers that get caught in your socks
*Parasitic worms (Tape worms? Really? Eww!)
*Thorny bushes without fruit (Saw Greenbriar here in Austin, I HATE YOU!)

Don’t get me wrong. I know that there are some life forms that people hate (i.e. bats, piranha, leeches, Venus Fly Traps, lawyers, maggots, and sharks to name a few). I have a healthy respect for those critters, and don’t really mind them. On second thought, I lied. I really hate maggots too.

Most life forms are treasured for their unique qualities and what they offer our world. They have a purpose. I’m referring to being more than just food (I’m talking to you, Mosquito). Can someone explain to me why a should appreciate the Poison Oak? Don’t let the emerald greenery fool you. It is NOT a good plant. Begone from my yard, oh wicked botanical!!!