I am back

Sorry about the lapse in posts. Since the car blessing I have been blessed by a new job that utilizes my degree in psychology. I spent Christmas Eve with my favorite girls, Nikki and Casey. I spent New Years Eve and day with my favorite friends, Gina and Janelle. My mother is progressing with her recovery from knee surgery and moving well. My father celebrated his 80th birthday and I have bounced back from a rather yucky respiratory which kept me down from training for awhile.

I am now officially registered for the half marathon and am buying a new pair of running shoes this week. This is now go time so you will be hearing a lot more from me!

<3 you all and hope you are all blessed!

B

I NEED YOUR HELP

The past couple of weeks have been filled with some chaos in my world.  My mother had knee surgery a couple weeks ago and my father and I have been helping her with her recovery.  The day of her surgery my father and I arrived home and my car died, I had it towed to the dealership and was told that they could not get it to the car until this past Wednesday.  When my parents heard that they allowed me to use their vehicle to travel back and forth to work and my best friend from college, Gina, allowed me to crash at her house.  This past Wednesday I received a call from the dealership where I was informed that it was the timing belt and that the car just needed that; once I told them to proceed he said it would be done for me by this coming Tuesday.

Fast forward to this past Friday.  I was almost done with work when I received a message from the garage.  I was anticipating them telling me that the car was done early and for me to come over and pick it.  It was a huge shock when the head of the service department proceeded to tell me that they had put the belt on, started the car and that I would need a new engine for the car.  What started at as a $500 procedure quickly turned into the man telling me it was going to $4700 to get my mode of transportation back on the road.  To say that I felt punched in the stomach was an understatement.  Not only had I wasted two weeks not moving forward by not looking for a another mode of transportation but I was not sure what I was going to do.  So, I went to work at my other job and when I finished there I ended up stopping to grab a coffee.  I just needed to clear my head and try to figure things out.

I ran into my friend, Nick, and was waiting for Dave.  Nick and I sat in the corner and he was going through Craigslist when an acquaintance of mine walked up and sat down next to us.  He is a person who has been living in the area because of the energy boom that is going on in Pennsylvania.  He is from Canada and has been a staple in the community since he arrived.  Always very soft spoken, always very respectful and just a very caring person.  He asked what was going on because he overheard part of the conversation I was having with a person who had advertised a vehicle on Craigslist.  I asked Nick if he would be able to go and check out the car for me and   the gentleman and I started talking.  He told me a little about his family and living in Canada.  When I mentioned some of the medical expenses I had incurred because of various things.  He told me about how he went home and his mother had a medical situation occur. The first thing he asked his family was how much it was costing.  They reminded him that it was Canada and the medical expenses were covered.

It was getting close to the time for me to leave so I excused myself to wash my face.  When I got back to the table the gentleman was on the phone.  I said goodnight to Nick and was putting my coat on.  When got off the phone and told me had called another acquaintance  of mine and they were on the lookout for a car for me.  I walked out of the store feeling a little bit better and decided that I was not going to worry about things until Monday when I would be able to get to the dealership.

It was about an hour after I left the store I received several messages from one of my friends, Allison, telling me that the gentleman I was talking with wanted me to meet him at the store at noon on Saturday.  She said that it was imperative that I be at the store at noon because he really needed to speak with me.  The feeling of relief that came over me was immediate.  I knew he had found something that I could afford.  I had no idea at this point that I was about to be blessed by one of the greatest acts of random kindness I have ever experienced.

Saturday came and I arrived at the store a little early.  He is a very busy man and I did not want to take a lot of his time.  I was planning on getting the contact information for the vehicle and then spending the rest of the day checking it out, crunching numbers and coming up with a plan of attack.  I walked up to the counter, grabbed an iced tea and sat with a group of my regulars and waited.  It was about 10 minutes before I saw him walk into the door.  He waved and I walked up to speak with him.
He looked at me and told me he had gotten me a car.  ”It is used and high mileage but I think it will get you over the hump.  We need to wait for the person I called last night and we will talk.”  While I was standing next to him I asked him what he wanted for it and what the next step was.  He stated “Sometimes you forget how lucky you are so it is always nice to do something for someone else. It is my birthday and I want to do this for you.  Please just do something for someone else that needs it.”  We sat down and to say that I was overwhelmed by everything would be an understatement!  Nobody just gives someone a car!  The other gentleman walked in, sat down and told me about the car.  He asked when I was done on Monday because we would then go and get the title and tag signed over to my name.  How do you say thank you for a gift that is so far above and beyond what a person might give to another?  I am still stunned and dazed by the kindness of the people in my world.  I mean I serve coffee for a living.  I would never have thought I would be the recipient of such an AMAZING and SELFLESS act of kindness.  Now I am on a mission to pay this kind act forward as much as possible!  For those of you who read this little blog please forward it onto those that you know.  I would like to use this forum as a catalyst for people to do random acts of kindness to those people that truly need someone to just lift them up a little bit.  While many people start to think about things this time of the year my goal is to take my angel’s kindness into something that can carry on as long as possible.  So for that to happen I NEED YOUR HELP!

This needs to reach as many people as possible so that the acts can start happening.  I am not saying it needs to be anything like what my angel did for me.  Sometimes the smallest kind gesture can mean the most to another person.  Maybe sitting with someone if they need to talk, helping out with a charity, dropping clothes or toys off at a shelter.  The sky and your imagination is the limit.
THANK YOU ALL!!! I am truly blessed!
<3
B

I could not have said it better

This is a link to Robert Brockway’s blog.  Upon reading it I HAD to share!  I hope you find it as enjoyable and realistic as I do.  Be well

and please remember to do something super special for yourself!!

<3

B

http://www.cracked.com/blog/4-stunning-revelations-idiot-has-about-running/

Thankful

I am thankful for the following:

My parents, brother and sister in law

The girls(Nicole Marie and Casey Kathleen)

Gina and Janelle

Pete, Missy and Nor

Tom

Kaleb

My Health

My jobs

but most importantly that my blessings always far outweigh my burdens.

 

Be well and make sure to tell someone that you love them today!

<3

B

Team member #2

In previous posts I have stated that there are several medical issues that I deal with daily.  The biggest one being a pacemaker that I purchased new off the lot when I was 26.  I was living in Washington, DC at the time and had the most amazing team of physicians working with my case.  It is because of the care that I received there I became very vocal about advocating for my health care.  When I moved back to the Williamsport area I needed to find a primary care physician for my health insurance.  I had no idea where to go since I was still travelling the 4 hours to DC for all my appointments when I needed them.  I really did not want to change Dr.’s but my employer was requiring me to have a local physician.

I finally succumbed to the HR director and set out on the task of finding a local Dr(whom I had absolutely NO intention of using for anything other than a once a year physical to keep the powers that be placated.) I called the Physician Finders Hotline and took the first number that was given to me.  I called them, they were accepting new patients, I made the appointment and finally sat in the waiting room irritated that I was wasting my time on all of this.  What I did not realize is that I had set the wheels in motions and I would soon be meeting the most AMAZING Dr and person imaginable.

Dr. Andrew Haussmann is my physician.  He has been there through some very serious health issues over the past 9 years.  From respiratory infections to various colds, injuries, anti inflammatory issues he has been an active part in me controlling and improving my health.  I was at a point with the respiratory issues that the pulmonary specialist actually sent me to a group informational session on Gastric Bypass surgery.  I sat in that meeting mortified at what I was hearing.  There were people there who had never even gone into a gym and they were looking at this major, surgical procedure as the cure all for them.  When I returned to Dr. Haussmann I asked him his thoughts.  He told me that while I was overweight bypass is a difficult operation and that if I were his sister he would not recommend it.

That is the kind of Dr. he is.  He does not try to get you to go through procedures that are unnecessary but is always there and tells it like it is.  He is the first physician I have respected in a long time because he truly listens and is not influenced by the latest pharmaceutical rep that just walked through his door.  With that respect in mind I immediately called him when I was even toying with the idea of running this half marathon.  I left a message with Deb and asked her to call me back when he had a chance to respond.

If you think that his response was that of encouragement and elation that this overweight woman was about to take on one of the biggest physical challenges of her life you would be wrong.  His response was more of a hesitant caution.  The message was that he did not think that me running the Historic Half was a realistic goal.  His biggest concerns were my respiratory condition combine that with the skeletal issues and he was saying that he really did not think it would be possible.  Now, Dr. Haussmannn, does not do things to discourage things of personal growth.  I stated that I just wanted to complete it with an 18 min mile whether it be walk, run or roll across the finish line.  With that he gave his guarded consent and stated that if I have ANY problems to get into his office as soon as possible.

With that he became Team Member# 2

Just a quick note

Sorry for the lapse in posts.  There are a couple of things going on with the family that are taking my time.  I am still training and realized on Sunday that I need to up my iron and protein intake or I am going to do more damage than good with this journey. So that is where I am at…

taking care of some family stuff

training

and trying to figure out a way to really boost my iron(my mother suggested liver to which I was immediately slammed back to my childhood.  She would make the god forsaken dish on the night we wanted to go to the fair…still makes me shudder)

I will write more tomorrow night and will introduce you to team member #2!

Sleep sweet!

<3

B

Team Member Number 1

I have been doing some research on team building since starting on this venture.  Unfortunately,  in today’s culture the team building discussed deals with building a successful work place team or sports team and how to develop cohesiveness there in those situations.  There is not a lot out there that discusses building our own personal teams for our life journey which is something that we have done every day since we were first introduced to the playground as children. It is the one skill that effects every aspect of our life yet we are not taught how to strengthen our skills in that area and it is all learned by trial and error.  While the value of building personal teams is a subject that needs to be addressed more, I am only going to discuss the process of building my team for this endeavor.

Who knows maybe personal team building development might be another venture and another blog for another one of my personalities to embrace:)

I have to introduce you all to the team member who put all of this into place and his name is Tom Froelich!

This is Tom, with his sons, after he completed that Historic Marine Half this past May.  Tom and I met when we worked at the same elementary school.  He was an outside wrap around and I was working as a students aid. He is married to Tracy.  Tracy and I took ballet classes together as children and were in the high school band together.  To be very honest I would never have dreamed that it would be him that would challenge me to such a thing.  Yet, he is the one who jump started this journey and he and Tracy are encouraging me every day with what needs to be done to achieve the goal.  Tom was challenged last year to do it by a friend and then ended up running it by himself.  When he had seen my post on Facebook about my weight loss he payed the challenge forward.

Honestly, he has taken away every argument that I had about doing this.

Me: well I need to join a gym

Tom: No you don’t. I have the gym at my house and my gym is your gym.

Me: I have a crazy schedule and would not be able to workout at normal times sometimes.

Tom: You just let me know when you need to use the gym and you can.

Me:  Silently thinking to myself….You are insane if you think I can do this.

Tom speaking outloud:  You can so do this and the feeling of accomplishment will be overwhelming.

His energy and words of encouragement keep me going and make me realize that this is a goal that can be reached.   Thank you, Tom!

Ok everyone, it is a beautiful fall day outside, get out there and move!  Remember that I am blessed to have everyone of you in my world whether I have met you yet or not so go out and do something for you!

<3

B

Beautiful

Things that make me go OUCH!!!

Yesterday was a good day.  It was my friend, Gina’s, birthday so last night after work her and I got together for dinner.  We went out for Chinese and I was able to give her the fabulous present that I procured for her on a trip to Ithaca, NY.  While we were at dinner I made sure I had green beans, mushrooms, some peel and eat shrimp along with a tiny bit of general tso’s chicken.  I know it does not sound particularly healthy but ever since I started watching my diet I promised I would not deny myself anything as long as I watched portion control and planned the rest of my caloric intake for the day.  After we arrived back at her house I got changed into some work out clothes and headed out to walk.

I was walking at a brisk rate, the course was a little challenging but not excessive and half way through I realized that maybe I should not immediately work out after Chinese:(  The sodium that is in the food caused a leg cramp  add a little of gastro intestinal distress and the last half of the work out consisted of me just praying to arrive back at my destination without any sort of unspeakable disaster occurring. I am happy I can report that was a success.

This is definitely a learning process.  Things that I never thought about before are becoming more prevalent in my thought processes.

Am I getting enough water?

Is there to much sodium in this food?

What is the food cooked in and how will it affect my body?

As I stated in my last post, up until 2 years ago my only requirement for food was that it looked semi edible not appetizing or appealing.  Now I am constantly assessing what I put in my mouth…not to be obsessive about it but to make sure that I do not do anything food wise that will impair me reaching my goal.  Trust me, there is a veritable potpourri of  things I can do and will do that will affect my performance; I refuse to let abuse of food be one of them.

 

So here is to being able to outrun a serial killer with a chainsaw and surviving the impending Zombie Attack!

 

I will be back with you tomorrow and team member number 1 will be introduced.  Blessings to all of you and please remember to treat each other the way you want to be treated.

 

<3

B

 

 

WHAT THE HELL!!!

Today was a very challenging day for me. What it boils down to is the fact that I am frustrated with myself for EVER getting this far out of shape. Holy shit while in high school I could at least run a couple of laps around the gym now it is a chore to make one 1/4 mi pass down the road from my house then the next pass is walking and so on. I did manage to get through a measly two miles and then my right hip started to tighten up so I came in and finished the rest of the work out on the stability ball(that is the one thing I truly enjoy doing). I mean, rationally, I am telling myself I am still in the baby steps of this but emotionally I am just a train wreck because I just want to go. The one thing that I am happy about is that I did not let the image of me waddling down the road in front of traffic keep me from trying to run;  I just kept telling myself that I am improving my chances of survival in the post apocalyptic zombie attack.

In my first post I had mentioned the fact that I have some skeletal issues but to be very frank those are not the only physical issues that I have they are as follows

weak ankles from softball and basketball injuries in jr high
pacemaker that I received in 1996
two disks fused in my neck resulting from car accident
my right pelvic bone will rotate on me
top that all of with a mild case of asthma and I am good to go.

I know you are thinking I should suck it up and deal….blah blah blah….and I will. Tomorrow I will get up and do this all over again because I am looking at completing this as a chance for me to emotionally and physically start out with a clean slate. For the past 15 years(ever since I got the pacemaker) I have been on a self destruct mode. Some times it has been in hard core mode with me partying way to much and not giving a shit about who I hurt in the process and some times it has been a milder me stuffing my face with anything that look half way edible. It was not that it even looked appetizing it just had to look edible. With that being said I have already started to reach out to some people that I did not treat well while on that path. Whether they accept my apology or not I need to give it to show them that I am aware of the person I was at that time.

You have all been very encouraging with your posts and comments but I want to be honest with you and let you know upfront that I have not been a nice person to some people and that I have done things that I am not proud of doing. By completing this I am hoping that those 13 miles will be me a step closer to being the person that I want to be.

Alright everyone….go out and do something nice for yourself!

Love Ya!
B