Weight loss

I stepped on the scale Tuesday and saw I number I've wanted to see for weeks. I finally have lost 55 pounds. During the last two weeks, there have been several times I was only a half pound away. I thought I would reach the milestone the next day, but I didn't. I ended up eating too much food. Especially at dinner. My husband makes too much delicious food and it is hard to pass up.

To reach the milestone, I've added more exercises after running. Besides the usual crunches and push ups I always do, I added bench using free weights, triceps extensions, side leg lifts, mountain climbers, stair climbing and t-push ups. The t-push ups are very hard. They are so hard, I can only do 10.

I have given myself until November to lose 25 more pounds. I know I can do it. I just hope it doesn't take until November.

Random things

I crushed my 10K PR Sunday. It was a humid day and I dropped my PR by ten minutes. That number could have been higher. After crossing five miles, I developed wicked side cramps. I tried to keep my pace up, but the side cramps hurt so much. It was in this last mile that a man and woman passed me. I did all I could to try to keep up with them, but I couldn't. I did run down a younger girl. The last stretch of the race to go and we are side by side. I started my sprint towards the finish line. The girl didn't come with me. If she did, I wonder if I could have held her off? I finished in 59:59. My first 10K ever under one hour. I hope to do it again Saturday when I run another 10K. It is not supposed to be as humid this weekend.

The photo of me waving was about 15 minutes before my race started. The second photo is me after I crossed the finish line saying "Yay" and wearing my dailymile shirt.

My husband and I finally decided on days were are going on vacation. He told me what days he got approved for. I was surprised. He asked me a couple of days ago, which week would be better for me. He misunderstood me and requested time off for an earlier week. He now has to request off the correct week. I'm hoping that his other co-workers haven't requested that time off. There is a new policy at his work. If someone else has already requested certain days off, no one else can ask for them off. It has been a struggle to plan this year's vacation. I'm hoping tomorrow he will tell me he got the time off. I really need some time away from work. My last real vacation was last October. Eight months is too long.

Photos by Lad Strayer

Indie Ink

My photo, Dead Bird, is featured on Indie Ink today.

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
John F. Kennedy, President, Hugh Sidey
Oswald's Tale: An American Mystery, Norman Mailer
First Ladies: The Saga of the Presidents Wives and Their Power 1789-1961, Carl Sferrazza Anthony
The Saga of the Presidents Wives and Their Power 1961-1990, Carl Sferrazza Anthony
Real Life at the White House: 200 years of daily life at America's famous residence, John Whitcomb
Amelia Earhart, Tanya Lee Stone
The Thirty-Nine Steps, John Buchan
Hungry, Crystal Reen with Marjorie Ingall
Harry S. Truman, Robert Dallek
The Murder of King Tut: The Plot to Kill the Child King, James Patterson
Shutter Island, Dennis Lehane
Duchess of Death: The Unauthorized Biography of Agatha Christie, Richard Hack
Alice: Alice Roosevelt Longworth, from White House Princess to Washington Power Broker, Stacy A. Cordery
Murder on the Orient Express, Agatha Christie
From Love Field: Our Final Hours with President John F. Kennedy, Nellie Connally & Mickey Herskowitz
After the Funeral, Agatha Christie
The Mysterious Affair at Styles, Agatha Christie
Best Evidence, David S. Lifton
The Secret of the Old Clock, Carolyn Keene
The Hidden Staircase, Carolyn Keene
The Bungalow Mystery, Carolyn Keene
The Mystery at Lilac Inn, Carolyn Keene
The Secret of Red Gate Farm, Carolyn Keene
The Message in The Hollow Oak, Carolyn Keene
The Whispering Statue, Carolyn Keene
The Haunted Bridge, Carolyn Keene
The Mystery of the Brass Bound Trunk, Carolyn Keene
The Secret in the Old Attic, Carolyn Keene
The Clue in The Crumbling Wall, Carolyn Keene
The Clue of the Leaning Chimney, Carolyn Keene
The Secret of the Wooden Lady, Carolyn Keene
Mystery at the Ski Jump, Carolyn Keene
Clue of the Velvet Mask, Carolyn Keene

Currently Reading: The Witch Tree Symbol, Carolyn Keene
Up Next: The Hidden Window Mystery, Carolyn Keene

Backstage view - Tecumseh, MI

Miles run in 2010

I haven't updated my mileage in a while. I figured I would wait until I crossed a big milestone. I crossed it last week. I have run over 1000 miles this year! In 2009, I passed 1000 miles in November. Running 40-50 miles a week this year really helped me reach it quicker. If I ran 1030 miles halfway through June, maybe I can make it to 2000 miles by the end of the year. Only time will tell.

2004: 151.6
2005: 191.2
2006: 241.8
2007: 229.4
2008: 495.2
2009: 460.5
2010: 1030.0

Change of seasons

After standing in the sun and humidity for 1.5 hours, the time had finally come. The spring sports season was over. The softball team I photographed lost 1-0 in the state semifinals Friday.

With the spring sports season over, we are already onto our new season: the summer season. The summer sports season started a couple of weeks ago. We cover three American Legion baseball teams and a collegiate baseball league over the summer. Their seasons last until August.

Soon after the summer season wraps up. The fall sports season is already upon us. Usually the second week of August, the local high school fall season teams start practice. It is only a few weeks later that the first contest is played. The county that I live in is very sports oriented. I think that there is rarely a week that a sports contest is not played somewhere. And where that game is being played, you'll find us there.

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
John F. Kennedy, President, Hugh Sidey
Oswald's Tale: An American Mystery, Norman Mailer
First Ladies: The Saga of the Presidents Wives and Their Power 1789-1961, Carl Sferrazza Anthony
The Saga of the Presidents Wives and Their Power 1961-1990, Carl Sferrazza Anthony
Real Life at the White House: 200 years of daily life at America's famous residence, John Whitcomb
Amelia Earhart, Tanya Lee Stone
The Thirty-Nine Steps, John Buchan
Hungry, Crystal Reen with Marjorie Ingall
Harry S. Truman, Robert Dallek
The Murder of King Tut: The Plot to Kill the Child King, James Patterson
Shutter Island, Dennis Lehane
Duchess of Death: The Unauthorized Biography of Agatha Christie, Richard Hack
Alice: Alice Roosevelt Longworth, from White House Princess to Washington Power Broker, Stacy A. Cordery
Murder on the Orient Express, Agatha Christie
From Love Field: Our Final Hours with President John F. Kennedy, Nellie Connally & Mickey Herskowitz
After the Funeral, Agatha Christie
The Mysterious Affair at Styles, Agatha Christie
Best Evidence, David S. Lifton
The Secret of the Old Clock, Carolyn Keene
The Hidden Staircase, Carolyn Keene
The Bungalow Mystery, Carolyn Keene
The Mystery at Lilac Inn, Carolyn Keene
The Secret of Red Gate Farm, Carolyn Keene
The Message in The Hollow Oak, Carolyn Keene
The Whispering Statue, Carolyn Keene
The Haunted Bridge, Carolyn Keene
The Mystery of the Brass Bound Trunk, Carolyn Keene
The Secret in the Old Attic, Carolyn Keene
The Clue in The Crumbling Wall, Carolyn Keene
The Clue of the Leaning Chimney, Carolyn Keene
The Secret of the Wooden Lady, Carolyn Keene

Currently Reading: Mystery at the Ski Jump, Carolyn Keene
Up Next: Clue of the Velvet Mask, Carolyn Keene

Indie Ink

My photo, Ballerinas, is featured on Indie Ink today.

Cool - Tecumseh, MI

I love the color of this photo. The color is due to the stage lights.

Then and Now

What a difference! Now that I see photos of myself side by side, I can see it. My face is thinner and I'm 50 pounds lighter.

The photo on the left was taken in June 2009. The photo on the right was taken today.

I really like how I look today. I will really like me better when I lose 30 pounds. I'm almost there and I can see the finish line in the distance.

True Blood

I didn't even know what HBO's True Blood was about two weeks ago. Now I do. I added Season 1's DVDs to my Netflix queue months ago and they finally came. After watching the first episode, I was hooked. It took about a week and half to watch Season 1. I had Season 2 on my queue. But deleted them. My sister said I could borrow her Season 2 box set. I watched Season 2 in two days. True Blood Season 3 premieres on Sunday and I can't wait. Unfortunately, I will have to watch it on Monday because it is on at 9 p.m. and by that time I should be in bed. I can't wait to see who kidnapped Bill.

As far as the characters, I like Sookie and Bill together. They are a cute couple. And they are engaged in real life. I wish Eric would stop trying to interfere with their relationship. I'm really excited that James Frain is joining the show. James is a terrific actor and I was sad when his character, Thomas Cromwell, was executed in The Tudors. Can't wait to see what he will bring to the show.

Smiles - Tecumseh, MI

I'm still editing recital photos, but I really liked this one. I love the smiles on all of their faces.

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
John F. Kennedy, President, Hugh Sidey
Oswald's Tale: An American Mystery, Norman Mailer
First Ladies: The Saga of the Presidents Wives and Their Power 1789-1961, Carl Sferrazza Anthony
The Saga of the Presidents Wives and Their Power 1961-1990, Carl Sferrazza Anthony
Real Life at the White House: 200 years of daily life at America's famous residence, John Whitcomb
Amelia Earhart, Tanya Lee Stone
The Thirty-Nine Steps, John Buchan
Hungry, Crystal Reen with Marjorie Ingall
Harry S. Truman, Robert Dallek
The Murder of King Tut: The Plot to Kill the Child King, James Patterson
Shutter Island, Dennis Lehane
Duchess of Death: The Unauthorized Biography of Agatha Christie, Richard Hack
Alice: Alice Roosevelt Longworth, from White House Princess to Washington Power Broker, Stacy A. Cordery
Murder on the Orient Express, Agatha Christie
From Love Field: Our Final Hours with President John F. Kennedy, Nellie Connally & Mickey Herskowitz
After the Funeral, Agatha Christie
The Mysterious Affair at Styles, Agatha Christie
Best Evidence, David S. Lifton
The Secret of the Old Clock, Carolyn Keene
The Hidden Staircase, Carolyn Keene
The Bungalow Mystery, Carolyn Keene
The Mystery at Lilac Inn, Carolyn Keene
The Secret of Red Gate Farm, Carolyn Keene
The Message in The Hollow Oak, Carolyn Keene
The Whispering Statue, Carolyn Keene
The Haunted Bridge, Carolyn Keene
The Mystery of the Brass Bound Trunk, Carolyn Keene
The Secret in the Old Attic, Carolyn Keene
The Clue in The Crumbling Wall, Carolyn Keene

Currently Reading: The Clue of the Leaning Chimney, Carolyn Keene
Up Next: The Secret of the Wooden Lady, Carolyn Keene

Weekend update

I enjoyed photographing a dance recital Friday night. All of the dancers were wonderful. I really got carried away this year. I can't believe I took over 1000 photos. That is as much or more that I used to shoot at weddings that lasted all day. The recital was only 2.5 hours.

I attended a Miss Michigan candidate's send off party Saturday evening. It was fun. First, we had a nice buffet dinner. On the menu was a chicken salad sandwich, broccoli salad, mixed fruit, vegetables and a cheese tray. It was so good. After we were all full, the candidate modeled her outfits for the week of Miss Michigan, the pageant and performed her talent. Her dresses were so pretty. Her evening gown for the pageant is breathtaking. The judges will either love it or hate it. I personally love the dress. It will be very different from everyone else. I had such a great time, I was there for three hours. This Miss Michigan candidate was in the top 10 last year. This year I hope she does much better.

Busy, busy

I had a pretty busy weekend. I had a pretty busy work day Tuesday. I worked a total of 12.5 hours. I got about four hours of sleep this morning and then my day started again. When the alarm went off, I got right out of bed. My first couple of steps this morning were staggering. What I mean by staggering, I was really staggering around my bedroom. I think it was my lack of sleep.

After working 5.5 hours this morning, I went home to run. I ran eight miles, showered, made lunch and waited for our new stove and refrigerator to be delivered. Once the items were installed, my husband and I transferred all of the food from the old refrigerator to the new one. Our new fridge is bigger and has an water and ice dispenser, which is nice.

A couple of weeks ago I planned to photograph a dance recital rehearsal tonight. I decided against going because I was so worn out. I stayed home to rest. I figured that was best because Thursday, I will be driving out of the county to photograph a district soccer game. On Friday, I will be photographing the actual dance recital and Saturday evening I will be attending a send off party for a Miss Michigan contestant. I decided a night at home with my husband would do me good.

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
John F. Kennedy, President, Hugh Sidey
Oswald's Tale: An American Mystery, Norman Mailer
First Ladies: The Saga of the Presidents Wives and Their Power 1789-1961, Carl Sferrazza Anthony
The Saga of the Presidents Wives and Their Power 1961-1990, Carl Sferrazza Anthony
Real Life at the White House: 200 years of daily life at America's famous residence, John Whitcomb
Amelia Earhart, Tanya Lee Stone
The Thirty-Nine Steps, John Buchan
Hungry, Crystal Reen with Marjorie Ingall
Harry S. Truman, Robert Dallek
The Murder of King Tut: The Plot to Kill the Child King, James Patterson
Shutter Island, Dennis Lehane
Duchess of Death: The Unauthorized Biography of Agatha Christie, Richard Hack
Alice: Alice Roosevelt Longworth, from White House Princess to Washington Power Broker, Stacy A. Cordery
Murder on the Orient Express, Agatha Christie
From Love Field: Our Final Hours with President John F. Kennedy, Nellie Connally & Mickey Herskowitz
After the Funeral, Agatha Christie
The Mysterious Affair at Styles, Agatha Christie
Best Evidence, David S. Lifton
The Secret of the Old Clock, Carolyn Keene
The Hidden Staircase, Carolyn Keene
The Bungalow Mystery, Carolyn Keene
The Mystery at Lilac Inn, Carolyn Keene
The Secret of Red Gate Farm, Carolyn Keene
The Message in The Hollow Oak, Carolyn Keene
The Whispering Statue, Carolyn Keene
The Haunted Bridge, Carolyn Keene
The Mystery of the Brass Bound Trunk, Carolyn Keene

Currently Reading: The Secret in the Old Attic, Carolyn Keene
Up Next: The Clue in The Crumbling Wall, Carolyn Keene