Fifty Days

In Life / we celebrate / ...There are milestones, celebrations, acknowlegements that are not celebrated by award shows, parades, parties. Some things are celebrated by hours, days, weeks, months. Today is Fifty Days. Fifty days being AF. And here I am. Not yours. Yet, on a day where day finds me frustrated / irrated. The AF life has been great. Actually has me seeing things more clear and slighty less tolerable I don't want to be that person. Sometimes you take step back Gratitude / Work Ethic - where did it go? My words are out there but not finding the place to use them. today everything has / seems to have to be awarded for acceptance by fancy award shows, elaborate parades, and fancy parties. yet most of the biggest milestones are by hours, days, weeks. months. 50 days - 1200 Hours.

funny... feels like I should start this entry with.... "it's been awhile since my last confession...." No lie. It has been almost a year since I have put my thoughts into words. Sounds strange but it is really difficult putting into words all the crazy, screwed up emotions twirling around in your head and actually get them down on paper. Even more so where people can either relate or just understand maybe the basis of what you are dealing with. Sounds like a quote from "The Breakfast Club".

Creek Road

There where many days my girl friends and I would lace up our running shoes and head out for a run on Creek Road. Some days, we could only make it to the red barn because time was limited but some days, we would "run like Forrest" when training for that race we had coming up and run for hours!! Then we had days we would run because a friend needed some advice, needed to vent (about anything) or just needed someone to be there, in silence, while trying to sort out personal thoughts. But no matter what the reason, our runs on Creek Road were sacred.

I saw one of my running girlfriends today on my way to pick up my oldest from camp. Although we have communicated on facebook, maybe a text here and there over the summer, seeing her today, albiet through our driver side windows, made me realize how much I have missed her and our runs on Creek Road. School starts in a few weeks and I am very much looking forward to seeing my girlfriends again, running shoes and all, on Creek Road!!!

"Running is the classical road to self-consciousness, self-awareness and self-reliance. Independence is the outstanding characteristic of the runner. He learns the harsh reality of his physical and mental liminitations when he runs. He learns that personal commitment, sacrifice and determination are his only means to betterment. Runners only get promoted through self-conquest." ~Noel Carroll, Irish track trailblazer

new day

well, my commitment of "blogging" every day went down the tubes from day one. Oh well. I did also say that might be more like once a week. I think that is a bit more doable and more my style!!

yesterday I started a new medication for my RA. the idea of sitting in a chair with a needle in my arm for over 6 hours doesn't exactly sound like the best way to spend a day, but it really wasn't all that bad. I did manage to catch a couple cat naps, read some magazines and even passed a few levels on Angry Birds.

All is good so far. I will go in for a second infusion in two weeks and that should be it for at least 6 months. Can't complain too much really. I was able to get up this morning and run 6 miles with my running buddies along Town Lake which always makes me happy! The only complaint I have is that I am retaining alot of water from the infusion. me no likey! :o)

I'm Posting Every Day in 2011!

I’ve decided I want to blog more. Rather than just thinking about doing it, I’m starting right now. I will be posting on this blog once a day (or at least once a week) for all of 2011.

I know it won’t be easy, but it might be fun, inspiring, awesome and wonderful. Therefore I’m promising to make use of The DailyPost, and the community of other bloggers with similiar goals, to help me along the way, including asking for help when I need it and encouraging others when I can.

If you already read my blog, I hope you’ll encourage me with comments and likes, and good will along the way.

Signed,

Kelli

Arthritis Foundation

looking forward to my meeting with a representative from the Arthritis Foundation here in Austin Hoping that we can make some things happen to raise money for Arthritis Awareness!!!

Keep you posted!

The Message

It's kinda ironic really. There I was sitting at the airport where people come from all over to travel yet, I didn't even leave my seat for what happened next. In less than 30-seconds, I was whisked back to grandma's house where I spent many summers growing up.

As I listened to the message my cousin had left just moments ago, my mind flooded with images of Blue Spruce trees, sounds of logging trucks on the highway and remembering the tart rhubarb that grew like weeds along the fence in grandma's garden. I remembered that every summer, there was always a new kitten on the back porch meowing for food yet never starved for attention. I remembered that there was always a pot of coffee brewed for that friend that's "just saying hi" on their way into town. I remembered how the back screen door slammed, the musky smell of the basement and the saddles that hung in the corner by the glass jars used for homemade jelly.

The message may have lasted only a few seconds but the memories it brought are endless. "love ya"

Short list of Friday Flip-Off's!

It's been a pretty great week so not many "flip off's" today. Let's get started:

~ Austin traffic. Enough said.

~ To the Austin Parks and Rec employees who replenish the bathrooms at Town Lake. You have been slacking. Twice in two weeks, no "TP" in the ladies restroom??? NOT COOL!

~ Haven't mentioned this in awhile but to my RA. Flare-up. Really?

~ Did I mention Austin traffic?

That's it! Told it was a pretty great week!

Happy Friday!!

October 1st edition of Friday Flip-Off's!

Its time for Friday Flip-off’s and I’ve got a few:

To people who don’t follow directions.
To people who don’t do what is asked of them and then I have to put out “the fires”
To mosquitos and chiggers. My legs are not your personal buffet. I look like I have chicken pox!
Prejudice People and Hate Crimes. JUST. NOT. COOL!

Without further ado I will extend my tallest member of my hand at you!

Have a great day

Friday Flip-Off's!!!

It's Friday Flip-off time   So, let's get started....

Rheumatoid Arthritis:  You seem to be on my list every time.  You are a pain in my ass and I really don't like you.  You have also reared your ugliness in a friend of mine and he's just 10.   Just not fair!  Go away already!!!  

The Ball of my Foot:  OK.  what gives?  You've been so nice to me the past year or so and now that I want to train for another marathon, you start giving me trouble again?!  Ugh.  I may have to lay blame on the running shoes but I will still need a shot of cortisone to make it bearable to run for now.   

Red light runners:  Pay attention!  I saw two cars run the same red light within 5 minutes of each other.  Scary!! 

Texting while Driving:  Yes. I see you!   PUT YOUR 'EFFING PHONE DOWN!!!!!   Do I need to post pictures of my husbands car that was TOTALED by a driver who was texting and driving?  Oh and let me also mention, she didn't make it!!!!  

Tropical Storm Hermine:  Thanks for all the rain (no, I truly mean that) but the mess you left behind is not welcome!  

Tree-Hugging Bitches:  Who don't know how to mind their own business!!!  GET OVER IT!!!  

 So as I extend my tallest phalange..... flip off! 

Much better!  Have a great weekend!!  

Oops!

Wow!  I'm really behind on my blog.  Sorry about that.   See, August arrived and well, when  you live in Texas and have a son (or daughter) that plays football and or cheers, then you know summer vacation ends the first week of August.  Now, mind you, kids are still out of school, but football practice and cheer practice has officially begun and your out of town vacations (and free time) are pretty much over!!  
And if I wasn't already busy enough, I also sit proudly as a board member of our community youth football program as a fundraising commissioner AND I am a cheer coach.  Whew!!  See, now hopefully you can cut me some slack!

My training has officially begun for the 2011 Austin Marathon in February.  I will (try)  keep a journal of my progress especially dealings with my RA as the training intensifies.  This year, I am going to focus on speed drills, plyometrics and diet.  My training, in the pas,t has been to just finish but I'm going for a PB/PR this 26.2 mile go-around!  Looking forward to seeing what the end result will be with a more regimed training schedule.

Stay tuned!  Friday Flip-off's are just a couple days away and boy, do I have some things to get off my chest!!

Friday Flip-off's on Saturday?

You bet'cha (said in my best Sarah Palin voice) and since I'm a day late and always a dollar short, let's get to flipping off....


To our new hometown HEB:   Where is the "cafe on the run?"  In every HEB I've been too (newer stores and or remodeled stores anyway) there is a "cafe on the run!"  Just because we are a "small town community" doesn't mean we don't want an awesome store.  And the wine selection.  REALLY?!   Us "country folk" like to drink more than Alice White or Yellow Tail.  Give us a little more credit please!!!


To people and/or kids  who think they are better than everyone else:  Sorry but NO!  You are  just like everyone else  and yes, your shit does stink.  So does mine.  So does my dogs.  You are NOT special and you will be treated like everyone else!  


To my RA:  Again?  I thought I flipped you off last week?   Stop flaring up already.   You are really starting to hurt my career as a hand model.  Ok maybe I wasn't really a hand model but I could have been.  Right?!  


To the makers of dog food:  (I know, random)  Stop putting "by-products" in dog food.   For example: "Chicken by-products include head, feet, entrails, lungs, spleen, kidneys, brain, liver, stomach, bones, blood, intestines, and any other part of the carcass not fit for human consumption,"   Why would you feed that to your dog?!   If you have a dog or a cat, read the label of the ingredients of the food you are feeding them.   You'll be shocked if not disgusted at what you are feeding your family pet. 


To squirrels:  Cute, yes, but only when climbing trees.  NOT stealing my tomatoes of the vines before I do.  Grrr..


So as I extend my tallest phalange..... flip off! 



Enjoy the rest of your weekend! 

My First Friday Flip-offs (get your hands up!)

This is my first attempt at Friday Flip-off's but before I get started, I want to thank Erica at alabaster cow for turning me onto Friday Flip-off's  and for Gigi at Kludgy Mom  for being the  the brains behind this brilliant idea.   

And so it begins... 

To my Rheumatoid Arthritis:  you have been rearing your ugly head all week and I'm done dealing with you.  Calm down already.  I can only take so much prednisone before I turn into a total bitch (and a bloated one to boot! - NOT pretty!) 

To people who STILL text and drive:  Please STOP ALREADY!!!  A young lady lost her life while texting and driving by swerving into my husband's lane,  smashing up my "dream car" and almost killing him as well (thank GOD for BMW's engineering or I would be a widow)  

To people who drive with  small "designer" dogs on their laps:  This is as bad as texting and driving.  You are a distracted driver!!!  Yes, it's cute but it isn't going to be so cute when you have a wreck!  Put IT in the front seat next to you or in the back seat but GET IT OFF YOUR LAP SO YOU CAN DRIVE!

To those people who try to pull into the parking spot RIGHT NEXT TO YOU while you are opening your car door.  HELLO!  Can you please just wait until I'm out of the car first or maybe park someplace else?! I'm pretty sure there are plenty of other spots!!!  Ugh!  

To the administrators who create school supply lists:  Really?  60 - #2 Ticonderoga pencils?  WTF?  First of all, what is a "TICONDEROGA pencil"  anyway? Oh wait, they are the same as any other #2 pencil!  (a pencil by any other name is still a pencil) And for me to purchase the absurd amount of 60, it will cost me approx. $21.00 - FOR PENCILS!!!  AND... if you have say 20 kids in your class and each kid brings in 60 pencils, you will have 1200 pencils (yes, I know.  I'm a math genius) What the hell are you going to do with 1200 pencils?   School supply lists are great, I do understand that, but come on...  let's be real!! 

So with my tallest phalange extended as straight as it can be...   FLIP OFF!!! 

Wow!  That felt great!!!  I'm going to come back and do this again next Friday.  Have a great weekend!!!    

The Gentle Barn

www.gentlebarn.org

This is an amazing program that I recently found via the Ellen Show.  I only wish I lived closer to be able to help hands-on!!!     

The Gentle Barn Foundation is a nonprofit organization that was founded in 1999 as a safe haven and place of recovery for abused farm animals and children. We are home to over 120 rescued animals and we are host to at-risk, inner-city and special needs kids.

Our unique treatment philosophy rehabilitates animals and connects their stories of survival and healing to the personal experiences of at-risk and special needs children who have suffered physical, mental or emotional trauma.

Through the interaction with our animals, the children learn forgiveness, courage, strength, leadership skills, trust, empathy and kindness. The healing that takes place is truly miraculous!

Be sure to click on the link below and meet the guests of the Gentle Barn and read their stories!!!  :o) 

http://www.gentlebarn.org/virtual_barn.php  

Infusion Day

Infusion Day. Not always the best day for me but necessarily the worst day either.  This particular visit has me 2-weeks past my regularly scheduled appointment, due to a recent strep/sinus infection.  For those who don't know,  I get an infusion of Remicade every 6-weeks.   "REMICADE is a biologic therapy that recognizes, attaches to, and blocks the action of a protein in your body called tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-alpha). TNF-alpha is made by certain blood cells in your body."   Most days, since my diagnosis, I'm have a pretty up-beat, easy-going, deal-with-the-cards-I've-been-dealt kind of attitude but today, not so much.  


"Mrs. Baumann", the nurse calls as she opens the door.  I smile.  "You ready?"    "As I'll ever be." I say.  So with that, I put on my "happy face" and walk into the infusion room.  The infusion room isn't much to brag about.  It's a small room that holds 4 hospital-issued, blue recliners, a couple desks for the nurses and a nurse workstation.  For our entertainment, however, they have a 13" tv mounted on the wall which, btw, doesn't get the best reception.  We make small talk while they are taking my vitals, poking my left arm with the IV needle (I prefer the left side so I can still use my right hand) and setting up my IV stand with my meds.  The drip starts and now I sit.  Being hooked up to an IV machine for 2.5+ hours was not in my "long-term",  or "short-term" for that matter, life plans.  I didn't ask for this.  I don't want this.  I'm certainly not feeling sorry for myself because that isn't going to make me feel better or make this RA go away.  I just get ANGRY at what this "disease" can do to people. 


I also watch.  I watch people come into this small room with pain on their faces.  Some walk with a limp because RA has effected their hips.  Some use a walker because they just can't walk without help.    Others have issues with their hands, back, and shoulders.  And then there is me.  I can walk fine.  I can still use my hands, with some limitations,  so I should be thankful, Right?!  But  I can't help but wonder what lies ahead.  What is going to be taken away from me as I get older?   Will I be able to do ALL the things  I enjoy most?  Running?  Stand-up Paddling? Yoga?   Are my hands going to be deformed?  Will it make me ugly? (Yes, I know that sounds vain but... )  Deep sigh!  My thoughts are taking me down a road I don't like to visit often.  Now I'm sad.   I hold myself together until  the infusion is finished but when I get into my car, the tears begin to fill my eyes.  They start slow but then quickly it turns into a good ol' fashion, sobbing, soul-cleansing  cry.   


"Damn it, Kelli", I say, "pull yourself together!"    And just like that, I wipe my tears and pull myself up by my running shoes.   


I believe that I have been given a voice to raise  the awareness of rheumatoid arthritis.  Now, how I'm going to use that voice?  That is what I'm going to figure out but I'm pretty sure it will have something to do with running and our stand-up paddling!   


to be continued.....  

No Ordinary Day

Sometimes I have to go to the doctor.  You know, the "primary care" doctor.  This probably happens twice a year at most, but yes, it does happen.   Though my throat had been hurting for a couple days, I went about my life, ignoring it;  thinking it would just go away.  But then, the unthinkable happened. I woke up with more than just alittle throat pain.    I couldn't smile or even open my mouth to make more than an "ahhh" sound.  Crap!!  Not today I thought. 

Let me back up just a bit.  This particular day was no ordinary day.   This particular day was my daughter's 10th birthday, my niece was coming into town for a week and on THIS particular day, we were heading out for an  overnight camping trip in our new travel trailer.  NOT the best day to try and squeeze in a dr. appt let alone be sick.

Dr. confirmed my worst fear!  Strep throat and a sinus infection.  Great!  Prescription in hand, I head to the pharmacy for a z-pack and a couple boxes of kleenex.  Relief is on the way.  Right?!

Feeling like I had been hit by a ton of bricks.  Scratch that.  Feeling like I had been  hit by a dump truck full of a ton of bricks, I get home and continue packing up the trailer for our birthday outing  with a smile on my face, head full of "gunk" and my ears echoing every sound anywhere near me.  

A week has since past.  My ears are still echoing, my head is still full of gunk but the strep has cleared, the camping trip was a huge success (a little wine helped that happen) and my daughter had a great birthday!   Yeah.  No ordinary day but a pretty good day over all. 

 

What's your wager??

The school year is winding down yet it seems my schedule is busier than ever.  I am looking forward to the lazy days of summer.  No set schedules and pajama days however, I have a gut feeling those days will also be filled with complaining, whining and pouting.   
I am willing to bet that the statement, "I'm bored" will escape from my kiddos mouth within one week of summer vacation.   Do you have children?  How long do you give them before they say they are bored??   

SUP

Today was a gorgeous day.  Lots of sunshine and temps in the high 80's. (it's great living in Texas!) A great day to be on the water and SUP.  What is that you may ask?  Well, SUP is short for Stand Up Paddling and  it has quickly become my new water sport obsession.  

SUP'ing is an awesome core and upper body workout and you get to enjoy some time with your freinds on that lake to boot.  The experience is very zen on a calm day or a bit more of a challenge on days with some wind. 

Looking forward to my next SUP workout! 

30-day shred

here we go! I'm going to document my workouts for the next 30 days (well, actually until Memorial Day Weekend) as well as my diet to see what happens. Sticking with it is going to be my biggest challenge but I'm hoping that by keeping my blog updated, it will keep me accountable as well.

Make it a great day!