Books read in 2013

Between Here and April, Deborah Copaken Kogan
Bleed for Me, Michael Robotham
The Making of a Royal Romance, Katie NichollPrince 
Philip: The Turbulent Early Life of the Man Who Married Queen Elizabeth II, Philip Eade

Currently Reading: The Black Box, Michael Connelly

At the moment

 I saw this on another blog. I thought it was a neat idea. So I borrowed it.

At the moment
January 30, 2013

Inside I feel like I: I should be doing something else.

A goal I’m working on right now: Refocusing on weight loss.

The last gift I bought for someone: Christmas gifts for my husband

The last CD I bought: The Pretty Reckless, Light Me Up

My current favorite song: Touch Me from the TV show Smash

The last movie I saw in a theater: Jack Reacher

The last book I read: Prince Philip: The Turbulent Early Life of the Man Who Married Queen Elizabeth II by Philip Eade

The last DVD’s I watched: Gilmore Girls Season 2

The last person I talked to on the phone: My mom

What I’m wearing right now: V-neck sweater, white t-shirt and khaki pants.

What I ate for breakfast: A Kellogg's fiber bar and a Fiber One bar.

What I thought I’d be doing at this age: When I was younger, I wanted to be a art teacher or commercial artist.

Something I’m saving up for right now:  My trip to Wisconsin. I will be running a 100K.

Someone I think about a lot: My Dad who passed away in 1998.


The last person I helped: My husband. Helped him carry in groceries.

The last thing I apologized for: I apologized to my dog when I stepped on his foot.

Something I’m worried about: A new opportunity.

What my plans are for the rest of this day: Run, read and photograph a wrestling match.

Pink Zone 5K Final results

The final results of the Pink Zone 5K from January 19 were posted this week.

I officially finished in 25:56.2 good for 12th place overall. I was the seventh overall female and was 4th overall in the 30-39 age group. If the age groups were broken down to five years (30-34), I would have placed third. Rats.

Favorite photos from January 21-25, 2013

Toledo Musuem of Art III - Toledo, Ohio

Winter

Winter has found its way to Michigan this week.

After a lovely Saturday with 40° weather, Sunday took a nosedive into the 20s. The cold, frigid air was here to stay. The start of the week greeted us with low temperatures, wind chills and snow. The snow that fell over the city was just a dusting. The area is supposed to receive snow late Thursday into early Friday morning. This time it will be more then just a dusting. The weather is predicting about 1-3 inches of snow.

Along with the very cold temperatures is the wind chill. This morning with the wind chills it could dip down into the -15° region. It really felt that way out there. I was wearing gloves, but my hands were so cold. It felt like I wasn't wearing any at all. I'm thinking this should be the last day of extreme weather.

After dealing with the cold for this week, the weather will change again. Starting over the weekend, the temps will climb up to freezing. That will feel like a heat wave compared to what we are dealing with now. Looking at the 10 Day Forecast, there is a chance of high30s/low 40s. I'm not a fan of winter, but that is the winter that I can tolerate. I am already looking forward to spring. Bring on the warmer weather.

Books read in 2013

Between Here and April, Deborah Copaken Kogan
Bleed for Me, Michael Robotham
The Making of a Royal Romance, Katie Nicholl

Currently Reading: Prince Philip: The Turbulent Early Life of the Man Who Married Queen Elizabeth II, Philip Eade

Pink Zone 5K

I ran my first race of the year Saturday. The Pink Zone 5K was held across town on a college campus. All of the profits from this race will be going to a local cancer center.

The weather was lovely for January 19. It was 38°, sunny and windy. The winds were about 20 mph. I decided to start in the second row. Usually I don't start that high up, but most of the other runners were hanging back. They didn't want to be near the front. The starting pistol failed three times before we actually started the race.

Very early after the start, I found myself getting closer and closer to two guys ahead of me. Before I know it, I was catching the guys and ended up running between them. I was hoping they would pull ahead of me and take the lead. They didn't. I actually got in front of them and left them behind.

When I reached the mile marker, I just heard the volunteer say 44. I thought it was 8:44. I looked at my watch and it read 7:44. I had no idea that I was running that fast. I wanted to hold that pace, but I knew I wouldn't be able to. Shortly after, one of the guys that I passed early in the race, was side-by-side with me. Us running together didn't last long. He ended up pulling ahead of me and creating a gap. I was trying so much to stay with him.

I was pretty much by myself during the second mile. Running alone is something I do well during a race. I'm too slow for the fast runners and too fast for the slower runners. When passing the second mile marker, the volunteer wasn't calling out times. It didn't occur to me to actually look at my watch. Which I should have but I was more concerned about the two ladies that just went by me. I knew when they went past me, that I was finish the race without more people passing me. My very fast first mile had taken its toll.

The last part of the race took us into a subdivision. I mentioned the wind at the beginning. As soon as we entered the subdivision, the wind was hitting us in the face. That was some pretty tough wind. I ran with my head down, kept my arms and legs going. I could feel the wind slow me down even more. When we entered the subdivision, we had to a do a loop. I could hear someone coming up behind me. By the way that they spit, I knew it was a guy. He ended up passing me and I couldn't keep up to him. I was losing steam.

Finishing the subdivision loop, we then headed to a hill which led to the finishing line. Running up hills at the end of races is hard, but it makes it more difficult with 20 mph winds hitting you in the face. I wanted to sprint going into the finish line, but my tank was empty. Probably much more so with the strong wind.

I finished the race in 25:56. I'm not 100% sure with seeing the final results, but I think I was the 7th overall woman and 4th in my age group. The results should be posted online this week. I'm pleased with my first 5K time of the year. I wish I didn't go out so fast in the first mile. I guess I was so excited to finally be racing again. I'm hoping that 2013 is another great racing season for me.

Favorite photos from January 15-18, 2013

Painting with a Twist

paintingwithatwist.com

I was an art major in college. I took art history, drawing, graphics and photography classes. I shied away from ceramics, sculpture, metalsmithing and painting. It did that because supplies were expensive. I was a college kid working three part time jobs. Buying a camera, film, photo paper and drawing materials was a lot of money. I didn't need the added expense of buying paint, brushes or canvasses.

Looking back at college, I wish I had taken a painting class. My husband bought me a two paint by numbers for Christmas. They were of horses. I told him that when I was younger, I loved paint by numbers. I painted quite of few horse pictures back then too. I actually finished painting one of them a couple of weeks ago. I like what I did. It was fun painting. But I want something that is my own creation.

I read a blog a couple of weeks ago and it mentioned a painting class. This painting class is open to all skill levels, it is called Painting with a Twist. If you want to attend, you pick which painting you would like to do through a calendar online. The fee covers the instructor, paint, canvas and brushes. When arriving at a class, a instructor guides you step-by-step of how to do the painting. Everyone in the class paints the same thing, but each will be their own painting.

I would love to take this class. I mentioned it to my husband that it would be fun to do together. It could help push me in the direction of learning to paint on my own. If I did learn to paint, then I could stop regretting not taking a class in college.

Toledo Musuem of Art II - Toledo, Ohio

Books read in 2013

Between Here and April, Deborah Copaken Kogan
Bleed for Me, Michael Robotham

Currently Reading: The Making of a Royal Romance, Katie Nicholl

Miss America

missamerica.org

Miss America was crowned live on ABC Saturday at Planet Hollywood Resort & Casino in Las Vegas, Nevada.

Miss America pageant started a competition back in December called America's Choice. All 53 MAO contestants made a video and the public could vote for who they liked. I watched most of the videos. My choice was Miss Wyoming - Lexie Madden. I picked Lexie because her video made me smile and she is a farm girl. I am also a farm girl. I lived on a hog farm for 21 years. Besides hogs, my father grew corn and soybeans. I don't remember if it was in the America's Choice video, but Lexie was a pig wrestler. I never wrestled with my hogs, but I did enjoy hopping in the pen with them, petting them and playing with their tails.

Lexie's platform as Miss Wyoming is 'Raising Awareness of the Importance of Physical Activity in Youth'. Hadden said, "Obesity rates have tripled in the last three decades, so it’s definitely something our society has to change. I just want to promote it to kids and show them physical activity doesn’t have to have a negative connotation, it can definitely be something fun for them.”

After completing her degree at the University of Wyoming, Madden hopes to earn a doctorate in pediatric physical therapy and administer rehabilitation care for children as a pediatric physical therapist.

Associated Press/Isaac Brekken

When the competition started Saturday, Miss Montana - Alexis Wineman was named America's Choice. Joining Miss Montanta in the Semifinals was Miss Texas - DeNae Couch; Miss Utah - Kara Arnold; Miss Oklahoma - Alicia Clifton; Miss Wyoming - Lexie Madden; Miss South Carolina - Ali Rogers; Miss Tennessee - Chandler Lawson; Miss Alabama - Anna Laura Bryan; Miss Maryland - Joanna Guy; Miss Illinois - Megan Ervin; Miss Indiana - Merribeth Cox; Miss New York - Mallory Hytes Hagen; Miss Florida - Laura McKeenman; Miss Kentucky - Jessica Casebolt and Miss Iowa - Mariah Cary.

Getty Images/David Becker

A twist in the competition was thrown at the judges. After the semifinals were named, the judges were told to come to a consensus on one more contestant. After deliberation, the judges decided to give Miss Washington - Mandy Schendel another chance. The first competition of the night was the swimsuit. The ladies wore Catalina Swimwear.

Following the swimsuit competition, more cuts were made. The following ladies made the Top 12 and went on to compete in evening wear: Miss Washington - Mandy Schendel; Miss Maryland - Joanna Guy; Miss Texas - DeNae Couch; Miss Alabama - Anna Laura Bryan; Miss New York - Mallory Hytes Hagen; Miss South Carolina - Ali Rogers; Miss Indiana - Merribeth Cox; Miss Tennessee - Chandler Lawson; Miss Oklahoma - Alicia Clifton; Miss Wyoming - Lexie Madden; Miss Illinois - Megan Ervin and  Miss Iowa - Mariah Cary.

Twelve ladies were on stage, but only ten of them performed their talent. The Top 10 was Miss Texas - DeNae Couch (baton) ; Miss Tennessee - Chandler Lawson (vocal) ; Miss Illinois - Megan Ervin (dance) ; Miss Oklahoma - Alicia Clifton (tap) ; Miss Wyoming - Lexie Madden (piano) ; Miss Maryland - Joanna Guy (vocal) ; Miss New York - Mallory Hytes Hagen (tap) ; Miss South Carolina - Ali Rogers (piano) ; Miss Iowa - Mariah Cary (tap) and Miss Washington - Mandy Schendel (vocal).

 These final 10 ladies were now vying for a chance participate in the onstage question. The ladies who made the Top 5 were: Miss Oklahoma - Alicia Clifton; Miss South Carolina - Ali Rogers; Miss New York - Mallory Hytes Hagen; Miss Iowa - Mariah Cary and Miss Wyoming - Lexie Madden.

Once the scores were in from the judges; Miss America was named. Miss Iowa - Mariah Cary was fourth-runner up. Third-runner up was Miss Wyoming - Lexie Madden. Receiving a $20,000 Amway scholarship was second-runner up Miss Oklahoma - Alicia Clifton. First-runner up was Miss South Carolina - Ali Rogers. Rogers received a $25,000 Amway scholarship. That left Miss New York Mallory Hytes Hagen as Miss America 2013.

Mallory Hytes Hagen now begins her one year reign as Miss America. Hagen will travel 20,000 miles each month and speak about her personal platform: Stop it Now - Child Sexual Abuse. Besides her personal platform, Hagen is also the official National Goodwill Ambassador for Children's Miracle Network Hospitals. She will also be the spokesperson for Education and focus on science, technology, education and math (STEM) this year. Hagen who is a student at The Fashion Institute of Technology will receive a $50,000 scholarship provided by Amway.

The Miss America Organization is the world's largest provider of scholarships for young women. More then $45 million was given away in scholarships last year.

Top photo: Miss New York Mallory Hytes Hagen, is crowned Miss America 2013 by Miss America 2012 Laura Kaeppeler at PH Live at Planet Hollywood Resort & Casino on January 12, 2013 in Las Vegas, Nevada.

Middle photo: Miss South Carolina Ali Rogers, left, and Miss New York Mallory Hytes Hagan, right, wait for the announcement of the winner during the Miss America 2013 pageant on Saturday, January 12, 2013, in Las Vegas. Hytes Hagan won the competition.

Bottom photo: Lexie Madden, Miss Wyoming, competes in the evening gown competition during the 2013 Miss America Pageant at PH Live at Planet Hollywood Resort & Casino on January 12, 2013 in Las Vegas, Nevada.

Favorite photos from January 8-11, 2013

Toledo Musuem of Art I - Toledo, Ohio

Books read in 2013

Between Here and April, Deborah Copaken Kogan

Currently Reading: Bleed for Me, Michael Robotham

Oakwood Cemetery II - Adrian, MI