People photos

Taking portraits is intimidating to me. One of my goals in completing the 365 project is to become more comfortable with portraits.

How am I going to accomplish that? By starting with a familiar subject.



And, up close to an unusually still dog, Maggie.



Finally, my personal favorite of the day....



Wish me luck! My ultimate goal is to complete this.

31 things to do before 32

1. learn to sew

2. purchase a pair of rain boots

3. complete a yoga teacher training

4. start a stranger project (www.100strangers.com)

5. take a photograph every single day

6. practice yoga daily

7. eat golden tomato sauce made with produce from my garden

8. apply for senior

9. race my bike

10. send mailart

11. plant bulbs in the fall

12. own a bike with a basket

13. turn my photographs into postcards

14. go to a tulip festival

15. paint the two bedrooms

16. take an overnight bike tour

17. be a guerilla artist

18. fill a jar with positive affirmations

19. host a game night

20. pick apples in the fall

21. learn to knit flowers

22. attend at least 5 live performances

23. become a pet partner with finn through the delta society

24. build a snowman

25. learn 2 new constellations

26. volunteer with big brothers/big sisters

27. play in the leaves

28. ride my bike to the berry farm and pick berries to bring home

29. finally open a flickr account. done

30. learn to crochet

31. pick fresh flowers

Personal Space

Why?

I am sitting in an entirely empty coffee shop on one of their comfy couches on this gorgeous Tuesday minding my own business and working on a couple of projects. This older man comes in, scouts out the place, and sits right next to me on the couch with nary a word. Um, excuse me?

Why not sit in one of the other empty couches? Why must you sit with me in an empty coffee shop?

Why?

Rain, Rain, Go Away...

A fitting title after my last post from far too long ago, I know...

We had a record breaking snow fall this winter which has led into a record breaking flood. I have been sandbagging this week, trying to help protect the town and the university from complete inundation. I am off to go do some more sandbagging today, but thought I would provide links for you all to follow along with me from afar.

http://www.press-citizen.com/apps/pbcs.dll/frontpage

http://www.gazetteonline.com/

http://www.kcrg.com/

http://www.icgov.org/default/?id=1874

http://uiflood.blogspot.com/

I'll update as I can with more information and pictures...

Snow, Snow, Go Away...

I am tired of all the snow. It is just ridiculous. According to the local paper, we have had 51.5 inches of snow before this storm today which was supposed to add another 5 to 8 inches of snow upon us. More than double the normal amount of snow for the season. And we still have at least 4 weeks of winter. How has this affected everyone? Here's some happenings that are just odd to me...

1. I have a studded tire on my bike for commuting.

2. The muffler fell off my low riding car from plowing its way through unplowed streets.

3. One of my classmates is wearing shoe chains on her shoes whenever she leaves her house.

4. I am seriously considering buying an avalanche shovel to store in my car. It seems that would be far more effective than the broiler pan I have used to this point.

Is winter over yet? I am more than ready for it to be...

Ice Storms and a Bike

Winter Wonderland no. 1

And, to deal with the inclement weather better than my fun little single speed was meant to handle, a new bike that is set up much better to make it through all this slip-sliding fun...

A beautiful day in New Mexico

Tent Rocks National Monument

Towards the beginning of the hike...

At the top...

Peek-a-boo

Bandelier National Monument, New Mexico

Albuquerque

The vibrant colors of Albuquerque

Recap

It's been a while again, I know. A lot going on, too busy, not enough time to do nearly the amount of stuff I want to get done or to the quality that I want it done. Not complaining, as most of it has been good, so I'll recap it for you.

• Got a 93 on my last organic test, which was a high A with the curve. Not so well on my physics test...55 on that sucker, which was still a B with the curve.
  
• Won a trophy in the last cyclocross race I did. It's a 3rd place trophy, and it's actually a girl on a bike.
• I'm allergic to the trees...Or so says my doctor. I'm not buying it. After 3 sets of antihistamines and 2 of steroids, I'm definitely ready for a different answer. And, not one that involves the trees or more drugs.
  
• Selling my car as I just can't afford it when I've sliced my income to roughly a third of what it was before I went back to school. Bummer to sell my car, as I really love it. But, there's so many other things I'd rather do with my money. Saving for a house, paying for school, traveling...
• Speaking of traveling...I'm sitting in the airport on the way to Santa Fe to visit my dear friend Annie. It's my birthday treat, my escape from school (although school is following me since I have 2 tests the week I return), and my reunion with Annie and Ben whom I haven't seen since March and April.
  

That's the brief recap for now. I hope to add some pictures and stories with this coming trip to Sante Fe. Enjoy the day.

Thank You to the Street Cleaner

Commuting on a bicycle has given me a whole new appreciation for the people who clean the streets. Having a clean road to ride on makes the commute so much safer and easier. So far, I have seen the street cleaner on my route 4 times. Each time, I sit up, wave my entire arm, and yell "Thank you." I'm sure the guy driving the machine can't hear me, but I wonder if he understands what I'm trying to tell him. I sure hope so.

Update

It's been a tad bit, I know, but I do have an update. Finn's results came back and his tumor is benign. Thank goodness. It hasn't been all rosy, though, as his wound (it's about 2.5 inches in length) dehisced, leading to infection, emergency vet fees, and the like. Ugh...But, he has gotten the drain out, and (I hope) he'll be getting his sutures and staples out next Wednesday. He's slowly returning to his normal self, so I think we're on the road to recovery.

I also made it through my first series of exams. I got an 85/100 on the first organic chemistry exam, and the results are still pending for my physics exam.

I also did my first cyclocross race of the year. I got last in the field, but I felt pretty good when I was done. I definitely have some work to do to get my fitness up, but I also had fun. Here's a picture of a part of the course that scared me initially, and I rode it during every lap of the race.

Finn and Leif

Bit of a rough day here. Finn, my buddy, had surgery today to remove a tumor from his chest. The vet said that the surgery went well, that Finn tolerated it well, and that they sent the tumor to Iowa State University for analysis. I should find out in about a week what's going on, what kind of tumor it is, etc. Meanwhile, his lab work was within normal limits, the vet thinks I caught whatever it is early, and his prognosis should be good. I'll rest a lot easier when the verdict comes back from ISU...

As some of you know and some of you don't, I had another Norwegian Elkhound before named Leif. I lost him at the much too young age of 2 due to cancer, an aggressive, rare form of cancer that strikes dogs most commonly under the age of 2. I'm scared that the nightmare is happening all over again...

Leif, my beloved.

Punk Rock Cycling

I met some of the strongest, most independent, and beautiful women this weekend when I went to Des Moines as part of this newly formed women's cycling team. We all met at this club (seriously, I had no idea Des Moines could have such a cool night spot...) called Liar's Club. All of us dressed per strict specifications for the team photo shoot. We met each other and some of the sponsors. We talked about the upcoming season and plans for the year. It was an awesome night.

I have not been this excited about riding, racing, and women's cycling in a long time. I feel as though this is long overdue. We have an amazing group of women who are all dedicated to making this happen and want to see women's cycling promoted in the state. We have support from our sponsors. We have a team manager/director who wants to see us dominate and I'm confident that he will help us do just that.

What an inspiring and empowering evening...

Training and A Trophy

Today, after my morning classes, I was walking across the river from the east side of campus to the west side to go to the gym. It was a windy day today, the kind the campus is notorious for, especially in the winter when everyone dreads having to cross the river. The wind just whips through there, chilling you to the core. Today, the wind was whipping my hair across my face so much I could hardly see where I was going. I had just tossed my hair back and was trying to tame it with an elastic when I saw a guy sprinting past on a bike in hospital scrubs. He looked familiar and it took me a minute to place him. He's an anesthesiologist that races with the team I used to ride for. The last time I saw him was at a time trial I did over in Illinois. We both won trophies that day. I had to leave early and missed out on collecting my trophy. Somewhere, he has my trophy. I was thinking that I'll have to get it one of these days.

Nah, I'll just have to win some more this year.

Adventure Racing

Never even heard about this sport called adventure racing until a bunch of friends started doing it. They've done a couple now, but nothing as intense as the one they did this weekend - a 24 hour race full of trekking, mountain biking, paddling, rappelling, and orienteering. It started at midnight Friday night and went until midnight Saturday night.

A friend and I went to go pick up the 2 teams of 3 each that we knew Saturday evening. The winning team did the 24 hour race in 13 hours and 17 minutes. Teams straggled in the entire time that we were there and the stories were just amazing. (As were the stars that we got to see while waiting.) One team got stalked by a mountain lion while they were orienteering in the dark. One of the points they had to find was in a field of stinging nettles. They paddled past tug boats and barges to find islands in the middle of the Mississippi River. One of our guys fell in a sink hole bigger than him when the edge of the bank gave way underneath him. Two got their hands stuck in the rope rappelling into a natural amphitheater.

The best stories come from the drive home. One of the teams refused to let me drive them home, so I rode back with the other team. They insisted that they were fine, and they seemed to be fine. At the time. On the way home, sleep deprivation hit and the hallucinations started. They saw owls sitting outside their window on the interstate, went 40 mph on the freeway, and stopped more than a half block back from stoplights in town. This morning, every single one of the said, "I don't know why we didn't let you drive."

Next time, I'm driving home, even if I have to fight them for the keys.

Goals For The Year

It's been an intense past week with juggling the return to school, trying to maintain my level of performance at work, and riding in preparation for the upcoming races. It's a lot to manage, and the procrastinator in me is struggling with time management yet again. With that in mind, I wanted to publish my goals for the year in the hopes that you all will help keep me on track when I start slipping. They're lofty, but I do better with challenges, so here it goes...

1. Straight A's in my courses. Organic Chemistry and Physics.

2. Top 1 or 2 tier MCAT score.

3. Learn to do a track stand.

4. Stay with the pack in local/regional races.

5. Revamp the student program at my hospital.

6. Become a certified brain injury specialist.

7. Travel abroad for 4 weeks.

Alright, there you have it - two goals each for school, work, and riding plus a goal for myself. Time management will definitely be key in getting them all met. Wish me luck!

Ride-By's

There were a lot of people out riding tonight despite the wind. (The wind sucked, by the way. One of those days where it's easier to ride up the hill because you have the windbreak than it is to ride on the flats or even downhill.) A lot of people out riding apparently equals a few crazies.

A girlfriend and I were out riding on a high traffic road. We were riding a fair pace with the wind at our backs, but certainly not pushing any speed envelopes. I saw another biker coming up behind us as I was staring at the livestock out in the fields and told my friend "Biker back" as we were riding two abreast. I didn't really pay too much attention as he passed us until he had pulled ahead a bit. Then, I turned and looked over at him and my riding partner. He was leering at us. Seriously, full body turned toward us with the most disgusting leer on his face. I don't know how to describe it better than that. My friend had turned towards me and was cringing at me. We slowed the pace way down to let him get far ahead of us, and I almost feel off my bike laughing. The combination of this nasty guy leering at us and my friend cringing was a picture of extremes that I only wish I had a picture of to share with you all.

So, a couple of notes to people out there who ride upon a couple of girls that you perhaps find attractive.

1. Don't leer.
   
2. Wear a jersey. Especially if you have a mat of chest hair that could be better described as a rug over a pot belly. It's not attractive.
   
3. Try starting a conversation. I promise it works out much better to pick up a couple of girls by talking to them versus leering at them. Seriously.
   

Cars

I took my 2 year old car in for its 60,000 mile service the other day.

I got it back to find that someone had reprogrammed all of my radio stations to completely new ones.

Why???

On My Mind

Two funny patient interactions...

• This cute, tattooed, and pleasantly confused older man leans into me and whispers in my ear as I'm walking him to the bathroom, "They put a worm in my penis, and I've been trying all day to get it out." He was referring to his catheter. I smiled, tried not to laugh, and explained what it was and why it was there.
  
• My other cute, demented guy wearing a bright blue trucker cap who pointed at my nose ring as I was asking him orientation questions. "What's that?" he asks, and then fake sneezed 7 times in a row.
  

One staff interaction...

• I had just talked with the charge nurse and care coordinator for clarification for an order I had received. I was walking away when I heard, "Hey, you! Come back here!" I kinda half turned around, wondering who she was talking to like that, only to realize that she was talking to me. First, I've been working here all summer. Second, I have a name. Third, who addresses others like that, especially a colleague in a professional environment??? "Excuse me, but my name is Christina. I would appreciate it if you addressed me that way." And, I walked away.