Miss America

I've been watching this for as long as I can remember: Miss America. I remember sitting in front of the TV with my sisters watching the competition. As I got a little older, I would write down the scores from swimsuit, talent, evening gown and on-stage question to figure out the winner. I don't know if I ever picked the correct winner.

Saturday night TLC will be showing the 2010 Miss America Pageant live from Las Vegas at 8 p.m./EST. I will be watching. Last July, I was photographing the Miss River Raisin Festival Scholarship Pageant for work and Miss Michigan 2009 Nicole Blaszczyk helped host the pageant. Nicole performed her talent of a lyrical dance for the crowd. It was wonderful. She is a beautiful dancer. Last night, Nicole won a preliminary award for talent on the last night of competition for the 2010 Miss America Pageant. I'm hoping she will will make the top ten and have a chance for Miss America 2010.

Photo: Nicole Blaszczyk on stage at the 2009 River Raisin Festival Scholarship Pageant.

Oakwood Cemetery statue - Adrian, MI

Random things

I was putting dishes away yesterday and a plate fell from the dish rack. I didn't want it to break the plate so I put my left foot in its path. My foot did the job I wanted it to. It stopped the dish. In the process, the side of the plate landed on the top of my foot. It hit where my toes crease near my big toe. It instantly hurt and left a mark.

It still hurts and I was actually limping this morning. I was thinking will I be able to run today? It took a while, but the limping went away. I will be running later today. If I didn't let plantar fasciitis stop me from running, do you think I would let a plate falling on my foot stop me? The answer is no.

Besides losing weight, I'm trying to improve something else as well. Its time. I'm working on my posture. My posture is horrible. Most mornings you'll find me slouched down in my chair at work or I'll slouch sitting at my desk at home. I'm trying to be aware how awful it is. If I catch myself doing it, I will sit up straight. I noticed that when standing, I still slouch. I'm learning to keep my shoulders back.

I think this is the year I will try improve everything about me.

One step at a time

People say every new year that they want to lose weight. I've probably said that since 1998. I'm finally doing something about it in 2010.

What really motivated me to finally lose weight was a photo. It was a family photo that my brother-in-law took of me on Christmas. I couldn't believe how big I looked. It was then that I knew I wanted to do something about it.

I already had one key element of losing weight down: exercise. I run six days a week and sprinkle in some push ups and crunches. The other element that I needed was to look at what and how much I ate. I thought that since I ran so much I could eat a little bit more. Wrong. It wasn't helping me. I was just maintaining my weight.

Since the beginning of January, I have been watching what I eat. My husband and I are trying to lose weight together and now we eat smaller portions of food. We had dinner out last Friday as a reward. It was the first time all week I ate out. I ordered a steak, sweet potato fries and coleslaw for dinner. I usually finish everything on my plate but this time I didn't. I had to get a to-go box. And that made me happy.

So far on my weight loss journey, I have lost 8 pounds. Besides stepping on the scale, I can tell that I have lost weight. All of my pants are loose now. I love that feeling. I know it will take a long time to lose all of the weight that I want to. I know once I get to my goal weight, I want to stay there for a long time.

Books read in 2010

Bobby and Jackie: A Love Story, C. David Heymann
Fletch, Too, Gregory Mcdonald
American Legacy: The Story of John and Caroline Kennedy, C. David Heymann
Tis Herself: An Autobiography, Maureen O'Hara and John Nicoletti
A Woman Named Jackie: An Intimate Biography of Jacqueline Bouvier Kennedy Onassis, C. David Heymann

Currently Reading: John F. Kennedy, President, Hugh Sidey
Up Next: Oswald's Tale: An American Mystery, Norman Mailer

Pray - Tecumseh, MI

Chipped - Adrian, MI

Miles run in 2010

I'm so excited that my running is going so well this year. One reason that my running in going well is that I'm injury free so far. Last year's plantar fasciitis held me back. Another reason I think my running is going well is I've lost some weight. I want to lose more and I hope with my weight loss that my race times will go down. But I will take one step at a time and I will keep running.

2004: 22.2
2005: 29
2006: 27
2007: 30
2008: 52
2009: 64
2010: 103.1

Faded sign - Adrian, MI

Random things

One of my New Year's Resolutions was to lose a few pounds. I have been sticking with my resolution and lost some weight. I have lost 6 pounds so far. I have really been watching what I eat and I have been running, as usual. It feels good to step on the scale and see lower numbers then I have seen in years. I know this is something I can do and I hope to continue losing more weight.

I've been wanted to do this for a couple of years. I finally sat at my computer and wrote the email earlier this week. I emailed the local director of a national organization to volunteer my services. I received a reply back from the director within the hour. She asked if I would be willing to help out at an event. I said yes and she said she would add my name to the list. I won't reveal the organization until I know more about the event and the date it will take place.

I think 2010 is starting out to be a great year.

Berlin Wall graffiti - Boston, MA

A section of the Berlin Wall at the John F. Kennedy Presidential Library and Museum.

Mausoleum door detail - Adrian, MI

Frost - Adrian, MI

Books read in 2010

Bobby and Jackie: A Love Story, C. David Heymann
Fletch, Too, Gregory Mcdonald
American Legacy: The Story of John and Caroline Kennedy, C. David Heymann
Tis Herself: An Autobiography, Maureen O'Hara and John Nicoletti

Currently Reading: A Woman Named Jackie: An Intimate Biography of Jacqueline Bouvier Kennedy Onassis, C. David Heymann
Up Next: Library trip

Help Krista

My blogger pal Krista needs your help. She signed up for the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society's Team in Training. Once again she is raising funds to help blood cancer patients by running the Rock 'N' Roll San Diego Marathon on June 6, 2010. Krista's fundraising goal is $4000. She currently has 15% of her goal. Please help her out by making a donation to this worthy cause. Click here to read Krista's Team in Training web page.

Railcar wheels - Adrian, MI

G around the corner - Adrian, MI

Hot Chocolate Hustle

I will be running in the Hot Chocolate Hustle 5K on February 6. This is the first winter race I will have ever run. The good news is the race will be run on city streets. The bad part about the race is the streets could be snowy. Who knows what the weather will be on that Saturday morning.

There is another February winter race in town, but I will never do that one. It is a five mile trail run. I will never do that race because I'm afraid of running on snowy trails and twisting my ankles. Also, I'm a huge nerd and I'm not a fan of getting my shoes and socks wet.

See you outside on February 6.

Stairs & door - Adrian, MI

Miles run in 2010

This is the fastest I have ever gotten to 50 miles. For the last two years it took me most of January to reach it. Beyond that it took until February. I'm really proud of what I have accomplished with my running. The last couple of years, I was happy to run around 20 miles a week. Now I try to get above 30 miles a week, running six days a week. Maybe in the future, I will try to reach 40 miles a week.

2004: 10
2005: 17
2006: 15
2007: 14
2008: 31
2009: 35
2010: 57