Platinum Award

On February 14, I earned my second Platinum Award from The President's Challenge. I earned my first Platinum Award back on March 13, 2012.

Since 2012, I have earned another Bronze, Silver and Gold Awards in three months. To earn a Platinum Award, you must accumulate 1,000,000 points. I earned those points by running, doing aerobics, walking, doing household tasks and shoveling snow.

It took me 23 months to earn my second Platinum Award. I hope to have another in just under two years.

Lent

Today is Ash Wednesday. Which is also the first day of Lent. Lent is forty weekdays starting with Ash Wednesday and ends the day before Easter, April 20.

Every year I give something up. One year it was pop.  I didn't start drinking it again until years later. I occasionally have a pop now, but it wasn't like it was in the past. I might have one once a week. I have also given up chips, cookies and chocolate. But I have always gone back to eating those regularly.

This year I'm giving up snacking in between meals.  When I lost all my weight back in the 2010, that is what helped me do it. The reason I'm doing that this year is because I find myself in the kitchen a lot eating chips or cookies for no reason. It is just a habit. I hope these next 40 days can break that mindless ending habit.

Books read in 2014

Death's Acre: Inside the Legendary Forensic Lab the Body Farm Where the Dead do Tell Tales, William Bass & Jon Jefferson
The Big Roads, Earl Swift
Never Suck A Dead Man's Hand: Curious Adventures of a CSI, Dana Kollmann 
Confessions of a Surgeon, Paul A. Ruggieri M.D.
Lincoln's Grace Robbers, Steve Sheinkin
Why Your Prescription Takes So Damn Long to Fill, Drugmonkey
Beyond the Body Farm, Dr. Bill Bass & Jon Jefferson
The Big Year: A Tale of Man, Nature and Fowl Obsession, Mark Obmascik
True Hollywood Noir: Filmland Mysteries and Murders, Dina Di Mambro
Island of Vice: Theodor Roosevelt's Quest to Clean Up Sin-Loving New York, Richard Zacks   
Mortal Evidence: The Forensics Behind Nine Shocking Cases, Cyril H. Wecht
Amelia, Nancy Nahra
Priceless: How I Went Undercover to Rescue the World's Stolen Treasures, Robert K. Wittman & John Shiffman
 
Currently Reading: The Fault in Our Stars, John Green

Big Ten Indoor Track and Field Championships

mgoblue.com

The Big Ten Indoor Track and Field Championships took place over the weekend at the SPIRE Institute in Geneva, Ohio.

The Penn State Nittany Lions won the women's title over Michigan by 10.5 points. Penn State accumulated 114.5 over Michigan's 104 points. The Wisconsin Badgers men's team won by a closer margin over Nebraska, 122.5-118. 

The Michigan Wolverines women's team did have some individual title winners. Cindy Ofili won the 60m hurdles. Ofili set a new SPIRE Institute record and set a PR with a time of 8.08 seconds. Erin Finn set a SPIRE Institute record and broke a Michigan record in the 5000m run. Finn won the race in 15:52.11. Michigan won another Distance Medley Relay in 11:12.52 with a team of Sami Mitchell, Danielle Pfeifer, Jamie Morrissey and Maya Long. Erin Busbee won the long jump with a leap of  20-4.25.

Mike Bradley

On the men's side, the Wisconsin Badgers had some individual titles also: Reed Connor won the men's 3000m in 7:51.78. Mohammed Ahmed won the 5000m and set a SPIRE Institute record in 13:44.32. Japheth Cato won the heptathlon with 5837 points. Cato is the first ever four-time Big Ten heptathlon champion.

The next event is the NCAA Indoor Championships in Albuquerque, New Mexico on March 14-15.

Women's results
1. Penn State          114.5
2. Michigan            104
3. Nebraska             92
4. Minnesota           64.5
5. Purdue                 53
6. Ohio State           51
7. Michigan State    50
8. Iowa                    49.5
9. Illinois                 47
10. Indiana              46.5
11. Wisconsin          29


Men's results
1. Wisconsin           122.5
2. Nebraska             118
3. Penn State           72
4. Illinois                 71.5
5. Purdue                 61
6. Minnesota           57
7. Ohio State           55
8. Michigan State    51
9. Indiana                 40.5
10. Iowa                   30
11. Michigan            23.5

The Art of the Louvre's Tuileries Garden

I attended the exhibition of The Art of the Louvre's Tuileries Garden at the Toledo Museum of Art last week. This exhibition shows the art, design and evolution of the famous Paris Tuileries Garden. It includes paintings, sculptures, photographs and drawings.

My personal favorites of the exhibition were the four marble statues that were displayed in the center of the first gallery. Those marble statues were commissioned by Louis XIV. I also loved the daguerreotype photography.

The Art of the Louvre's Tuileries Garden will be on display until May 11. Prices for adults is $8.50 and students is $5.50 and for seniors over 65 it is free. The Toledo Museum of Art is located at 2445 Monroe Street. Hours are 10 am-4 pm Tuesday and Wednesday; 10 am - 9 pm Thursday and Friday; 10 am -5 pm Saturday; Noon to 5 pm Sunday and is closed Monday.

Books read in 2014

Death's Acre: Inside the Legendary Forensic Lab the Body Farm Where the Dead do Tell Tales, William Bass & Jon Jefferson
The Big Roads, Earl Swift
Never Suck A Dead Man's Hand: Curious Adventures of a CSI, Dana Kollmann 
Confessions of a Surgeon, Paul A. Ruggieri M.D.
Lincoln's Grace Robbers, Steve Sheinkin
Why Your Prescription Takes So Damn Long to Fill, Drugmonkey
Beyond the Body Farm, Dr. Bill Bass & Jon Jefferson
The Big Year: A Tale of Man, Nature and Fowl Obsession, Mark Obmascik
True Hollywood Noir: Filmland Mysteries and Murders, Dina Di Mambro
Island of Vice: Theodor Roosevelt's Quest to Clean Up Sin-Loving New York, Richard Zacks   
Mortal Evidence: The Forensics Behind Nine Shocking Cases, Cyril H. Wecht
Amelia, Nancy Nahra

Currently Reading: Priceless: How I Went Undercover to Rescue the World's Stolen Treasures, Robert K. Wittman & John Shiffman

Dale Jr.

NASCAR/Getty Images/Chris Trotman

In the late hours of Sunday night, after a six hour rain delay, Dale Earnhardt, Jr. won his second Daytona 500. Earhardt Jr.'s first Daytona win was in 2004.

This victory ended Earhardt Jr's. 55 race drought that goes back to 2012. Junior lead six times for 54 laps. There were 42 lead changes and four multi-car crashes. A crash with seven laps to go by Austin Dillon, who was driving the No. 3 car for the first time since Dale Earnhardt's 2001 death, set up a two lap shootout. Earnhardt Jr. was able to get a jump on Brad Keselowski and had teammate Jeff Gordon following him. Denny Hamlin was able to charge to the front and challenge Earnhardt Jr. for the lead. Earnhardt was able to hold him off.

Earnhardt Jr. said in Victory Lane, "Winning this race is the greatest felling that you could feel in this sport besides accepting the trophy for the championship. I didn't know if I'd ever get the chance to feel it again and it feels just as good."

I loved the photo that Junior posted on his Twitter account this morning. I bet your Dad is happy.

USA Indoor Track and Field Championships

Kirby Lee

The USA Indoor Track and Field Championships concluded Sunday in Albuquerque, New Mexico. The championships served as a selection process for the upcoming 2014 IAAF World Indoor Championships in Sopot, Poland, March 7-9.

Day 2

Bernard Lagat won the 3000m race in 7:46.01. Lagat ran the fastest time by an American in meet history. Lagat started his kick with 200m to go and ran away from everyone. Galen Rupp finished second in 7:48.19 and will join Lagat in Poland for the World Indoor Championships.

The women's 3000m didn't go as smoothly as the men's race. Gabe Grunewald, the race winner, was disqualified when she clipped and impeded the stride of Jordan Hasay on the final lap. Shannon Rowbury placed second behind Grunewald in 9:25.49. Sara Vaughn was third in 9:26.46. Hasay didn't recover after being clipped, finished fourth. After several protests once the race was concluded, Grunewald was disqualified and Rowbury was declared the race winner. Sara Vaughn was then moved up to second, but will not go to Poland. Vaughn didn't run a qualifying time this season, but Hasay has.

Kirby Lee

Late Monday afternoon, Jordan Hasay withdrew her protest. Gabe Grunewald was reinstated as the women's 3000m winner. Gruenwald and Rowbury will represent the USA in Poland. Jordan Hasay said, " As with all of the competitors who lined up on Saturday, I desperately wanted to make the team to represent the United States at the upcoming World Indoor Track and Field Championships. Since Saturday evening my emotions have ranged from despair to determination to go to Poland and represent my country as best I can. After much thought and consideration, however, I have decided to withdraw my protest as I do not want to make a national team under these circumstances. I wish all members of USA team going to Poland my best and look forward to continuing to train hard and competing to represent the USA in future World Championship and Olympic Games."

Gray Horn won his first heptathlon title by setting a new PR with 6,071 points. That places Horn fifth in the world.  Women's pentathlon winner Sharon Day-Monroe set an American Record winning her third title with 4,805 points. Day-Monroe broke the previous record of 4,753 that was held by DeDee Nathan and Hyleas Fountain.

Other winners from Day 2 was Erik Kynard clearing 7-6.50 to win his first title in the high jump. Tyron Steward leaped 26-11.75 to win his first title in the long jump. Tori Polk won the women's long jump with a PR of 21-11.75. AG Kruger was the best in the weight throw. Kruger's winning toss was 77-9.25. Winning the men's pole vault was Mark Hollis. Hollis cleared 18-2.50Gwen Berry won the women's weight throw with a toss of 78-1.75. Tim Seaman won a close 3000m race walk over John Nunn. Seaman won in 11:40.75 over Nuun's 11:40.95. Maria Michta was the winner of the 3000m race walk in 12:47.79.

Kirby Lee

Day 3

The third day of competition started with the women's triple jump. Amanda Smock won the title with a leap of 45-3.75. The men's shot put was won by Ryan Whiting with a huge toss of 72-11.25. Mary Saxer unseated Jenn Suhr to claim the women's pole vault championship Sunday. Saxer cleared 15-5.50 to win over Suhr's 15-3.50. Inika McPherson won the women's high jump going over the bar at 6-3.25. The women's shot put was won by Michelle Carter. Carter threw 60-6.50. Taking the final field championship was Chris Carter in the men's triple jump. Carter went 56-3.25 to win.

Mary Cain was the class of the women's 1500m field. Cain pulled away from the pack after following Heather Kampf during the beginning of the race. Cain won her second 1500m title in 4:07.05. Cain's teammate Treniere Moser was second in 4:09.93. My Oiselle teammates Amanda Winslow and Amanda Mergaeart placed 4th and 14th. Winslow's time was 4:14.38 and Mergaert finished in 4:28.32.

The men's 800m was won by Erik Sowinski in 1:47.86. Sowinski won his second indoor title. Coming in second was Robby Andrews in 1:48.44. Nick Symmonds was third in 1:48.48. Andrews hasn't run a qualifying time in the 800m this season, but Symmonds has. Symmonds will join Sowinski in Poland.

Coming from behind to win the women's 400m was Francena McCorory. McCorory won the race in 50.85 over Joanna Atkins in 51.13. The winner of the men's 400m came from the slow heat. Kyle Clemons won the 400m title in 45.60 over heat two runner David Verburg, who ran 45.62.

The women's 800m had another come from behind victory. Ajee Wilson passed Chanelle Price just before crossing the finish line. Wilson won the title with a time of 2:00.43 over Price who finished in 2:00.48. My favorites Molly Beckwith, Bethany Praska and Phoebe Wright finished in 4th, 5th and 6th.

The men's 1500m was a great race as well. Lopez Lomong won in 3:43.09. Will Leer tried to chase down Lomong to get the win, but fell short. Leer was second with a time of 3:43.21.

Tianna Bartoletta won a very close women's 60m race. Bartoletta finished in 7.08 over Lekeisha Lawson in 7.09. The women's 60m hurdles were won by Nia Ali in 7.80. Janay DeLoach Soukup was a close second in 7.82. Kevin Bracy defeated veteran Trell Kimmons to win the 60m title. Bracy won the race in 6.48 to Kimmons' 6.49. The men's 60m hurdles was a super close race. Omoghan Osaghae won in 7.56 (7.553) over Domini Berger 7.56 (7.556). Long time hurdler Terrence Trammell was third in 7.56 (7.559).

The championship weekend was fantastic. The USA is sending a great team over to Poland. Looking forward to a great World Championships in March.

Syracuse vs Duke: Round 2

goduke.com

Syracuse Orange made the trip to Cameron Indoor Stadium Saturday night to play Duke Blue Devils. The first time these two teams played on February 1, it was a great game. Syracuse beat Duke in overtime 91-89.

This game was just exciting as that game and the outcome was different. Duke Blue Devils defeated Syracuse Orange  66-60. If a deciding call wasn't made in the final seconds of the game, the outcome could have been very different.

With Duke up 60-58, Duke's Rodney Hood drew a charge from Syracuse's C.J. Fair. After the charge was called, Syracuse head coach Jim Boeheim ran unto the court to argue with the officials. It was then Boeheim was called with a technical foul and then ejected from the game. Duke's Quinn Cook made three of the foul free throws to make the score 63-58 with 10.4 seconds left.

If Boeheim would have stayed off the court and out of the official's face, who knows if Duke would have kept their lead once they got the ball back. With Boeheim storming the court, that gave Duke four free throws to seal the victory.

I thought the rematch was a great game, until the charge was called. I'm hoping for another Syracuse vs Duke rematch in the ACC tournament.

Books read in 2014

Death's Acre: Inside the Legendary Forensic Lab the Body Farm Where the Dead do Tell Tales, William Bass & Jon Jefferson
The Big Roads, Earl Swift
Never Suck A Dead Man's Hand: Curious Adventures of a CSI, Dana Kollmann 
Confessions of a Surgeon, Paul A. Ruggieri M.D.
Lincoln's Grace Robbers, Steve Sheinkin
Why Your Prescription Takes So Damn Long to Fill,Drugmonkey
Beyond the Body Farm, Dr. Bill Bass & Jon Jefferson
The Big Year: A Tale of Man, Nature and Fowl Obsession, Mark Obmascik
True Hollywood Noir: Filmland Mysteries and Murders, Dina Di Mambro
Island of Vice: Theodor Roosevelt's Quest to Clean Up Sin-Loving New York, Richard Zacks   
Mortal Evidence: The Forensics Behind Nine Shocking Cases, Cyril H. Wecht
 
Currently Reading: Amelia, Nancy Nahra

Books read in 2014

Death's Acre: Inside the Legendary Forensic Lab the Body Farm Where the Dead do Tell Tales, William Bass & Jon Jefferson
The Big Roads, Earl Swift
Never Suck A Dead Man's Hand: Curious Adventures of a CSI, Dana Kollmann 
Confessions of a Surgeon, Paul A. Ruggieri M.D.
Lincoln's Grace Robbers, Steve Sheinkin
Why Your Prescription Takes So Damn Long to Fill,Drugmonkey
Beyond the Body Farm, Dr. Bill Bass & Jon Jefferson
The Big Year: A Tale of Man, Nature and Fowl Obsession, Mark Obmascik
True Hollywood Noir: Filmland Mysteries and Murders, Dina Di Mambro
Island of Vice: Theodor Roosevelt's Quest to Clean Up Sin-Loving New York, Richard Zacks   

Currently Reading: Mortal Evidence: The Forensics Behind Nine Shocking Cases, Cyril H. Wecht

Clogged

My husband made dinner for us on Valentine's Day. We had Doritos taco salad. I was craving it earlier in the week. That evening we went grocery shopping and decided to have that for dinner.

My husband made the meal and I was going to start the dishes before we started eating. I was cleaning the pan in the sink, when I noticed that water was not draining. I turned on the garbage disposal to help drain the water. That didn't do anything. Water was rising in the sink. My husband tried to help. He got a plunger to see if he could break up whatever was stuck in the drain. The plunger didn't help either.

My husband went into the bathroom and saw that that sink was filling up with water. The kitchen and bathroom share the same pipe leading to the drain. My husband said after dinner he would go buy Drano to pour down the drain. After we finished eating, we left the plates on the counter because we didn't want to fill the sinks up more. I went to bed and my husband went to buy the Drano.

When I woke up Saturday morning, I asked if the drains were fixed. My husband said they were still clogged. I said that I would call a plumber that my husband uses frequently. I called the number later in the morning and left a message. I received a call back within five minutes. I was told that they don't unclog sinks over the weekend and we would have to wait until Monday.

I received a call from the plumbers Monday and set up an appointment for the afternoon. An hour and half after the plumber came over to the house, the drain was unclogged. There was a blockage way down in the pipe. The plumber used a 35 foot electric drain snake to break up the blockage.

Going without two sinks on the main floor of the house was a inconvenience. Thankful that we had another working sink and the clog was just a simple fix.

Billy Joel

Detroit Free Press/Jarrad Henderson

My husband surprised me on Christmas with tickets to see Billy Joel at the Palace of Auburn Hills outside of Detroit on February 15.

Our seats were very good. We sat on the right side of the stage and were not too far away from the stage. During the concert, all I could think about was what great photos I could have taken if I was allowed to bring my personal camera. I had to settle with my camera phone. My camera phone did take some pretty nice photos.

Billy sang Movin' Out, New York State of Mind, Piano Man, It's Still Rock and Roll to Me, Vienna, Everybody Loves You Now, Zanzibar, River of Dreams, A Room of Our Own, Big Shot, Only the Good Die Young, So It Goes and others. I was disappointed that he didn't sing We Didn't Start the Fire and My Life. But what he sang was awesome and he put on a great show.

I included a few of my camera phone photos.

Millrose Games

Kirby Lee

The 107th Millrose Games took place Saturday at the Armory in New York City.

Bernard Lagat broke a 33-year-old record in the 2000m run. The record was set in 1981 by Steve Scott. Lagat won the race in 4:54.74. Finishing behind Lagat was Cam Levins in 4:55.35.

Will Leer came from third place on the last lap to win the Wanamaker Mile. Leer passed leader Lawi Lalang and Nick Willis to come across first in 3:52.47. Lalang was second in 3:52.88 and Willis third in 3:53.02. Retiring Alan Webb finished 11th in 4:06.11.

In the women's Wanamaker Mile, Mary Cain went to the lead with two laps to go. Cain was able to run away from the pack and win the race in 4:27.73. Cain defeated a great field of ladies including: teammate Treniere Moser (2nd-4:28.86), Nicole Sifuentes (3rd -4:28.97), Sarah Brown, Emma Coburn, Morgan Uceny, my Oiselle teammate's Amanda Winslow (9th-4:35.58) and Lauren Penney (10th-4:35.71) and one of my favorite collegiate runners Florida's Cory McGee (12th-4:37.32).

Kim Conley won the 3000m in a breakaway in 8:48.35. Behind Conley in second was Betsy Saina in 8:50.60 and Abbey D'Agostino was fourth in 8:51.91. France's Pierra Ambroise Boose defeated Erik Sowinski and Nick Symmonds in the 1000m run. Bosse won in 2:17.63. Sowinski claimed second in 2:18.63 and Symmonds in 2:18.87. In the women's 800m, Ajee Wilson held off the field to win in 2:01.81. Finishing in 6th place was Amanda Eccleston in 2:04.40. I covered Eccleston when she ran cross country and track in high school. It was great seeing her run on national TV.

In the shorter races, Terrence Trammell won the 60m hurdles in 7.57. Janay DeLoach Soukup won the women's 60mH in 7.91. That is a world leading time. In the men's 60m, Marvin Bracy was the winner in 6.50 and Tori Bowie took the women's 60m in 7.14.

More track will be on TV this coming weekend. The USA Indoor Track and Field Championships will take place in Albuquerque, New Mexico on Saturday and Sunday. It will be on NBC Sports Network and Universal Sports.

Valentine's Day

Happy Valentine's Day! Especially to my wonderful husband. Also, happy birthday to my sister Diane.

Millrose Games

Track fans: The Millrose Games will take place Saturday at the Armory in New York City. The meet will be broadcast on NBCSN from 3-5 p.m. EST. After the NBCSN broadcast log on to USATF.tv to watch more from 5-7 p.m.

A few big named athletes will be running in the meet:  Matthew Centrowitz, Main Cain, Nick Willis, Morgan Uceny, Wallace Spearman, Bernard Lagat, Isiah Young, D'Angelo Cherry, Ameer Webb, Duane Solomon and Nick Symmonds.

Click to view the entire meet schedule.

Horses II - Sand Creek, MI

Books read in 2014

Death's Acre: Inside the Legendary Forensic Lab the Body Farm Where the Dead do Tell Tales, William Bass & Jon Jefferson
The Big Roads, Earl Swift
Never Suck A Dead Man's Hand: Curious Adventures of a CSI, Dana Kollmann 
Confessions of a Surgeon, Paul A. Ruggieri M.D.
Lincoln's Grace Robbers, Steve Sheinkin
Why Your Prescription Takes So Damn Long to Fill, Drugmonkey
Beyond the Body Farm, Dr. Bill Bass & Jon Jefferson
The Big Year: A Tale of Man, Nature and Fowl Obsession, Mark Obmascik
True Hollywood Noir: Filmland Mysteries and Murders, Dina Di Mambro

Currently Reading:  Island of Vice: Theodor Roosevelt's Quest to Clean Up Sin-Loving New York, Richard Zacks

New Balance Indoor Grand Prix

Photorun/Andrew McClanahan

The New Balance Indoor Grand Prix took place Saturday at the Reggie Lewis Center in Boston. Two major things happened at the meet: the US All-Star 4x800m team set a world record and  Mary Cain once again lowered her world junior record for 1000m.

The US All-Star relay team of Richard Jones, David Torrence, Duane Solomon and Erik Sowinski set a world record for the 4x800m in 7:13.11. The previous record was set in 2000. The US-All Stars finished just ahead of the NJ/NY Blue team (7:13.22). Coming in third was the Brooks Beast team in 7:18.52.

Mary Cain lowered the world junior record for the 1000m when she won the event in 2:35.80. Chanelle Price finished behind Cain in second in 2:36.93. Sarah Brown was third (2:36.90) and Molly Beckwith was fourth in 2:37.19.

Jenny Simpson didn't have the day she planned on in the 2 Mile. Simpson miscounted her laps and passed Sally Kipyego who was leading the race. Simpson thought she finished and stopped. Simpson saw Kigyego continuing to run, so Simpson started running again. Kigyego won the race in 9:21.04, Simpson was second in 9:26.19. Simpson's time put her three seconds off the American 2 Mile record. Placing in third was Jordan Hasay in 9:36.0.

Photorun/Andrew McClanahan

In the men's mile, Nick Willis won in 3:57.41. Galen Rupp stopped running with two laps to go. Rupp said that his left leg was sore. Pat Casey finished second in 3:58.18 and Nate Brannen was third in 3:58.37.

Other winners at the meet was Marvin Bracy in the 60m dash (6.53). Tianna Bartoletta won the women's 60m dash in 7.17. Jenn Suhr won the pole vault clearing 15-5 feet. Kim Conley won the 2000m in 5:41.10. Joseph Kovacs won the shot put with a throw of 70 feet .5 inches. Tori Bowie won the long jump with a leap of 6.67 meters. Hagos Gebrhiwet won the men's 3000m in 7:34.13. American Ryan Hill was third in 7:34.87. Natasha Hastings won the women's 400m in 52.05. Jarrin Solomon won the men's 500m in 1:01.84.

Books read in 2014

Death's Acre: Inside the Legendary Forensic Lab the Body Farm Where the Dead do Tell Tales, William Bass & Jon Jefferson
The Big Roads, Earl Swift
Never Suck A Dead Man's Hand: Curious Adventures of a CSI, Dana Kollmann 
Confessions of a Surgeon, Paul A. Ruggieri M.D.
Lincoln's Grace Robbers, Steve Sheinkin
Why Your Prescription Takes So Damn Long to Fill, Drugmonkey
Beyond the Body Farm, Dr. Bill Bass & Jon Jefferson
The Big Year: A Tale of Man, Nature and Fowl Obsession, Mark Obmascik

Currently Reading:  True Hollywood Noir: Filmland Mysteries and Murders, Dina Di Mambro