Weekend plans

My husband and I have fun plans for his Labor Day weekend.

This weekend the Michigan State Fair returns for its second year. The fair will be in Novi again this year. My husband and I went last year. I was thrilled to see and pet the animals. There weren't too many of them. But I loved it. I was happy to see piglets. They were adorable. The other animals at the fair were hogs, sheep, horses and steers. I'm hoping more animals will be on display this year.

After the fair, we plan to eat at Michigan's only Cheesecake Factory. The Cheesecake Factory opened in Novi a few weeks ago. The only time we eat at The Cheesecake Factory is when we visit Chicago. The last visit at the restaurant, I finished off my meal with Red Velvet cheesecake. I can't wait to find out what they have to offer this weekend.

If we have enough time, we will probably walk around the Twelve Oaks Mall. If we walk around the mall, I might actually be able to use the gift cars my husband gave me on my birthday. I've been holding on to them. I actually wanted to get some clothes for the fall and winter. Now that it is almost September, hopefully the winter clothes will be on display.

Books read in 2013

Between Here and April, Deborah Copaken Kogan
Bleed for Me, Michael Robotham
The Making of a Royal Romance, Katie Nicholl 
Prince Philip: The Turbulent Early Life of the Man Who Married Queen Elizabeth II, Philip Eade
The Black Box, Michael Connelly
The Painted Girls, Cathy Marie Buchanan
The Drowning House, Elizabeth Black
Killing Kennedy, Bill O'Reilly
Argo, Antonio Mendez & Matt Baglio
Mad Women: The Other Side of Life on Madison Avenue in the '60s and Beyond, Jane Maas
Marilyn Monroe: A Case for Murder, Jay Margolis 
Amelia Earhart: The Truth at Last, Mike Campbell
Alfred Hitchcock and the Making of Psycho, Stephen Rebello
Brain on Fire: My Month of Madness, Susannah Cahalan
Detroit: An American Autopsy, Charlie LeDuff
Top of the Morning, Brian Stelter
A Private Disgrace: Lizze Borden by Daylight, Victoria Lincoln
Iron War: Dave Scott, Mark Allen and the Greatest Race Ever Run, Matt Fitzgerald
Waiting to be Heard, Amanda Knox
Behind the Candelabra: My Life with Liberace, Scott Thorson & Alex Thorleifson
The Good Nurse: A True Story of Medicine, Madness and Murder, Charles Graeber
The Astronaut Wives Club: A True Story, Lily Koppel
The Great Railroad Revolution: The History of Trains in America, Christian Wolmar
Banksy: The Man Behind the Wall, Will Ellsworth-Jones
Detroit City Is the Place to Be, Mark Binelli 
Wreck of the Wabash, Laurie C. Dickens  
Hidden History of Detroit, Amy Elliott Bragg
The Devil in the White City, Erik Larson
Kate: The Biography, Marcia Moody
Orange is the New Black: My Year in a Women's Prison, Piper Kerman
Teardown: Memoir of a Vanishing City, Gordon Young
This Town, Mark Leibovich

Currently Reading: City of Scoundrels, Gary Krist

Calvary Cemetery IV - Toledo, OH

Treadmill solution

nordictrack.com

 

We received the email last week that said that our treadmill was going to replaced. The company said that since the part couldn't be fixed on our current treadmill, we had a choice of money back or a replacement. In a heartbeat, we chose a replacement.

It didn't take long for my husband and I to pick out our next treadmill. Since I run everyday, we went with another commercial grade treadmill. It has everything that our current treadmill does: 0-12 MPH speed, 0-15% incline, -3-0% incline, and iFit Technology. Some new features are a  adjustable cushioning tread belt, HD video workouts and a wireless chest pulse strap.

It will probably take a couple of weeks for it to be delivered to my house. I wish it could be here today. The weather has gotten warmer. It will be in the low 90s/high 80s and very humid all week. This is the week I wish I was running on my treadmill. I will be taking it easy since I will be running outside.

Only a few short weeks until I can run on my brand new treadmill. I can't wait.

From the NordicTrack website:

1750 Commercial Series 
"Somehow, we found a way to improve the award-winning Commercial 1750 treadmill. It still has the integrated tablet Powered by Android™ and built-in speakers for workout-inspiring sound. We kept the 1-Touch™ speed, incline and decline controls. It's got the same 3.50 CHP commercial motor for quiet, smooth treadmill training. What's new? Runners Flex™ adjustable cushioning, our most innovative deck cushioning, an integrated iPad® holder, and awe-inspiring HD video workouts."

Favorite photos from August 24, 2013

Cross Country Preview

I will be photographing my first sporting event of the fall 2013 season tomorrow. It is also one of my favorite events: the county Cross Country Preview.

The Cross Country Preview meet is four different races instead of the usual two. The races are split up into Freshmen and Sophomores and Juniors and Seniors. The day always begins with the freshman-sophomore races followed by the junior-senior races.

After all of the races are final, the scores are added up. Whoever has the lowest total for both gender races will win the title.

Even though it is the first race of the season, it is always competitive. You can always tell who ran miles during the summer and who didn't. I can't wait to see how well the county runners do this season.

Calvary Cemetery III - Toledo, OH

Books read in 2013

Between Here and April, Deborah Copaken Kogan
Bleed for Me, Michael Robotham
The Making of a Royal Romance, Katie Nicholl 
Prince Philip: The Turbulent Early Life of the Man Who Married Queen Elizabeth II, Philip Eade
The Black Box, Michael Connelly
The Painted Girls, Cathy Marie Buchanan
The Drowning House, Elizabeth Black
Killing Kennedy, Bill O'Reilly
Argo, Antonio Mendez & Matt Baglio
Mad Women: The Other Side of Life on Madison Avenue in the '60s and Beyond, Jane Maas
Marilyn Monroe: A Case for Murder, Jay Margolis 
Amelia Earhart: The Truth at Last, Mike Campbell
Alfred Hitchcock and the Making of Psycho, Stephen Rebello
Brain on Fire: My Month of Madness, Susannah Cahalan
Detroit: An American Autopsy, Charlie LeDuff
Top of the Morning, Brian Stelter
A Private Disgrace: Lizze Borden by Daylight, Victoria Lincoln
Iron War: Dave Scott, Mark Allen and the Greatest Race Ever Run, Matt Fitzgerald
Waiting to be Heard, Amanda Knox
Behind the Candelabra: My Life with Liberace, Scott Thorson & Alex Thorleifson
The Good Nurse: A True Story of Medicine, Madness and Murder, Charles Graeber
The Astronaut Wives Club: A True Story, Lily Koppel
The Great Railroad Revolution: The History of Trains in America, Christian Wolmar
Banksy: The Man Behind the Wall, Will Ellsworth-Jones
Detroit City Is the Place to Be, Mark Binelli 
Wreck of the Wabash, Laurie C. Dickens  
Hidden History of Detroit, Amy Elliott Bragg
The Devil in the White City, Erik Larson
Kate: The Biography, Marcia Moody
Orange is the New Black: My Year in a Women's Prison, Piper Kerman
Teardown: Memoir of a Vanishing City, Gordon Young

Currently Reading: This Town, Mark Leibovich

Treadmill issues

I was running on my treadmill about two weeks ago when it started making noise. Every time I would strike the running deck with my left foot, it would sink and feel soft like their wasn't any shock absorption. It also sounded like medal was scraping against each other. I continued running for a few more laps and stopped. To me it seemed that the shock absorbers on the left side of the treadmill had failed.

After lunch, I asked my husband to go down and test it. I wanted to see if he agreed with me if the shock absorbers needed to be replaced. He got on the treadmill and ran for a bit. He thought it was the shock absorbers too. My husband called the treadmill company and described the issue to customer service. They agreed it was that the shock absorbers needed to be replaced and would send us new ones.

The new shock absorbers arrived at the house last week. My husband got his tools out and replaced them. When he finished, he got on the treadmill to test it out. The new parts didn't work. It was still making the scraping metal sound and felt soft when his left foot touched the tread deck. He lifted up the treadmill deck to look underneath. It was then he saw the real damage. A thin metal piece of the treadmill that was attached to the frame had completely broken off. The left side of the treadmill wasn't secure and that is why it felt soft and was making noise.

My husband called the treadmill company to see if that could be replaced and schedule a service technician. When he described the problem to customer service, they asked if my husband could take photos and send them to the company. The service operator said she would forward the photos to the appropriate people. The people she is sending the photos to would determine if the part could be replaced or if we would receive a brand new treadmill. The treadmill I'm running on is just over a year old. This process is supposed to take 5-10 business days. Which is agony to me.

Unlike most people, I love running on the treadmill. I love that I can just run long or mix it up with hills or intervals. The treadmill has helped me over the years lose weight and help me run faster. I see the treadmill as the greatest tool to help me succeed.

I have running outside since my treadmill can't be used. I have been running around town and at a local college track. I have been switching it up. It's been going OK. Most of the runs have been with sunny or partly cloudy skies. I did gut it out and run in the rain twice. So until my current treadmill is fixed or replaced, I will be running outside. I have to wait another six business days until we find out what is going to happen. For me, that is the longest wait.

IAAF World Championships

The IAAF World Championships in track and field wrapped up on Sunday in Moscow, Russia.

Day 4

Associated Press/Alexander Zemlianichenko

It was a big day for the United States. Four medals were won. USA's LaShawn Merritt defeated everyone to win gold in the men's 400m. Merritt won the event in a personal best of 43.74. Teammate Tony McQuay claimed the silver medal in 44.40 and the Dominican Republic's Luguelin Santos got bronze.

Nick Symmonds finished second in the men's 800m in 1:43.55. Symmonds gave the United States it's first medal in the 800m since 1997. Symmonds finished behind Mohammed Aman of Ethiopia. Aman won the event in 1:43.31. Ayanleh Souleiman of Djibouti was third in 1:43.75. Duane Solomon of the US was sixth in 1:44.42.

Jenn Suhr finished in the silver position in the women's pole vault behind Russia's Elena Isinbayeva. Suhr cleared 15-9.75 to finish second. Isibayeva was the only vaulter to clear 16-0.5 to win. Cuba's Yarisley Silva was third. Silva cleared 15-9.75 on her third attempt. Suhr cleared it on her second, giving her the silver medal.

Associated Press/Alexander Zemlianichenko

Day 6
The United States won another four medals on the fifth day of competition. The American women 400m hurdlers went 2-3. Dalilah Muhammad passed teammate and training partner Lashinda Demus in the final stretch to win the silver medal. Muhammad finished the race in 54.09 and Demus finished third in 54.27. Zuzana Hejnova of the Czech Republic won the race in 52.83.

In the men's 400m hurdles, Michael Tinsley battled Trinidad and Tobago's Jehue Gordon at the line. Tinsley came up short and Gordon won the race in 47.69. Tinsley had a personal best time of 47.70. Finishing third was Serbia's Emir Bekric in 48.05. American Kerron Clement finished the race in eighth in 49.08.

2011 World Champion Jenny Simpson was unable to pass Sweden's Abeba Aregawi down the final stretch of the women's 1500m. Aregawi won gold in 4:02.67 and Simpson finished in 4:02.99. Hellen Obiri of Kenya was third in 4:03.86. Mary Cain was also in the final. Cain finished 10th in 4:07.19.

Placing fifth in their events was Erik Kynard and Evan Jager. Kynard finished fifith in the high jump with a leap of 7-7.25. Jager finished the 3000m steeplechase in 8:08.67.

Day 7

sportsarena.com.sg

On Day 7, the men's 4x400m relay won gold. After only winning silver at the London Olympics, David Verburg, Tony McQuay, Arman Hall and LaShawn Merritt ran away from the field to win in 2:58.71. Jamaica finished second in 2:59.88 and Russia was third in 2:59.90.

Ryan Whiting took home the silver in the shot put. Whiting best throw was 70-9.25. Germany's David Storl won the event with a mark of 71-3.5. Reese Hoffa of the US finished just out of the medals in fourth with a throw of 69-3.5

In the women's 200m final, Allyson Felix suffered a hamstring injury and did not finish. Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce of Jamaica won the 200m in 22.17. Murielle Ahoure of the Ivory Coast was second in 22.32 and Nigeria's Blessing Okagbare was third in 22.32. Jeneba Tarmoh was fifth (22.78) and Charonda Williams was sixth 22.81.

Mo Farah of Great Britain completed the double in the men's 10,000m and 5,000m. Farah won the 5,000m in 13:26.90. Bernard Lagat was sixth in 13:29.87, Galen Rupp was eighth in 13:29.87 and Ryan Hill finished 10th in 13:31.27.

Day 8

USA Today/Kirby Lee

Brianna Rollins is having a great 2013 season. Rollins won the NCAA championship, USA championship and World Championship in the women's 100m hurdles. Rollins defeated Australia's Sally Pearson to win gold in 12.44. Pearson finished in 12.50. Great Britain's Tiffany Porter claimed the bronze in 12.55. Dawn Harper was fourth in 12.59, Queen Harrison was fifth (12.73).

The women's 4x400m relay was defeated by Russia. The Russian relay team won the event in 3:20.18. The US team of Jessica Bear, Natasha Hastings, Ashley Spencer and Francena McCorory finished in second in 3:20.41. Great Britain was third in 3:22.61.

Brigetta Barrett won the silver medal in the women's high jump. Barrett cleared 6.6.75. Russia's Svetlana Shkolina cleared
6-8 to win the gold medal.

Usain Bolt of Jamaica won the 200m race in 19.66. Bolt's teammate Warren Weir was second in 19.79 and US runner Curtis Mitchell was able to break up a Jamaican sweep in the race by winning the bronze medal in 20.04.

Meseret Defar of Ethiopia won the women's 5,000m in 14:50.19. Kenya's Mercy Cherono finished in second (14:51.22) and Almaz Ayana of Ethiopia was third (14:51.33). American's Molly Huddle and Shannon Rowbury finished in sixth and seventh. Huddle in 15:05.73 and Rowbury in 15:06.10. Kim Conley was 12th in 15:36.58.

Day 9

Associated Press/Martin Meissner

The US won five medals on the last day of competition. Matthew Centrowitz won the silver medal in Centrowitz finished the race in 3:36.78. Asbel Kiprop of Kenya won gold in 3:36.28. Johan Cronje of South Africa was third in 3:36.83.
the men's 1500m.

Brenda Martinez won the first ever medal in the women's 800m for American women. Martinez placed third with a time of 1:57.91. Eunice Sum of Kenya won the race in 1:57.38 and Russia's Mariya Savinova was second in 1:57.80. Alysia Montano lead most of the race and finished fourth in 1:57.95 and Ajee Wilson was sixth in 1:58.21. Wilson set an American Junior record with her time.

Will Claye took home the bronze medal in the triple jump. Claye also won bronze at the 2011 World Championships. Claye's best jump to placed third at 57-5.75.

The US women's 4x100m team crossed the finish line third behind Jamaica and France, but later were given the silver medal. France was disqualified. The relay team of Jeneba Tarmoh, Alexandria Anderson, English Gardner and Octavious Freeman crossed the line in 42.75. Jamaica won the gold in a World Championships record in 41.29. Great Britain was third in 42.87.

The men's 4x100m relay team also claimed silver behind Jamaica. The team of Charles Silmon, Mike Rodgers, Mookie Salaam and Justin Gatlin ran 37.66. The Jamaicans ran 37.36. Canada was given the bronze medal after Great Britain was disqualified. Canada finished the race in 37.92.

The US finished the World Championships with 25 medals: 6 Golds, 14 Silver and 5 Bronze.
 

Calvary Cemetery II - Toledo, OH

Fifteen years

John Wayne Clark
April 15, 1942 - August 15, 1998

Fifteen. I can't believe it has been fifteen years since my Dad passed away suddenly. It still seems like it was just yesterday. Our lives have moved on without you. You have missed so many important parts of our lives. We know you were there in spirit. We always think about you. And you are loved and missed.

Below is one of the songs we sang at my Dad's funeral. When it is sung at Mass occasionally during the year, I always think of him and that day.

We Remember

We remember how you loved us to Your death, 
And still we celebrate for You are with us her. 
And we believe that we will see You when you come in Your glory, Lord.
We remember, we celebrate, we believe!

Here, a million wounded souls
Are yearning just to touch you and be healed;
Gather all your people, and hold them to your heart. 

We remember how you loved us to Your death, 
And still we celebrate for You are with us her. 
And we believe that we will see You when you come in Your glory, Lord.
We remember, we celebrate, we believe! 

Now we recreate your love,
We bring the bread and wine to share a meal;
Sign of grace and mercy, the Presence of the Lord.

We remember how you loved us to Your death, 
And still we celebrate for You are with us her. 
And we believe that we will see You when you come in Your glory, Lord.
We remember, we celebrate, we believe!

Christ, the Father's great "Amen"
To all the hopes and dreams of every heart;
Peace beyond all telling, and freedom from all fear.

We remember how you loved us to Your death, 
And still we celebrate for You are with us her. 
And we believe that we will see You when you come in Your glory, Lord.
We remember, we celebrate, we believe!

See the face of Christ revealed in every person standing by your side.
Gift to one another and temples of Your love.

Books read in 2013

Between Here and April, Deborah Copaken Kogan
Bleed for Me, Michael Robotham
The Making of a Royal Romance, Katie Nicholl 
Prince Philip: The Turbulent Early Life of the Man Who Married Queen Elizabeth II, Philip Eade
The Black Box, Michael Connelly
The Painted Girls, Cathy Marie Buchanan
The Drowning House, Elizabeth Black
Killing Kennedy, Bill O'Reilly
Argo, Antonio Mendez & Matt Baglio
Mad Women: The Other Side of Life on Madison Avenue in the '60s and Beyond, Jane Maas
Marilyn Monroe: A Case for Murder, Jay Margolis 
Amelia Earhart: The Truth at Last, Mike Campbell
Alfred Hitchcock and the Making of Psycho, Stephen Rebello
Brain on Fire: My Month of Madness, Susannah Cahalan
Detroit: An American Autopsy, Charlie LeDuff
Top of the Morning, Brian Stelter
A Private Disgrace: Lizze Borden by Daylight, Victoria Lincoln
Iron War: Dave Scott, Mark Allen and the Greatest Race Ever Run, Matt Fitzgerald
Waiting to be Heard, Amanda Knox
Behind the Candelabra: My Life with Liberace, Scott Thorson & Alex Thorleifson
The Good Nurse: A True Story of Medicine, Madness and Murder, Charles Graeber
The Astronaut Wives Club: A True Story, Lily Koppel
The Great Railroad Revolution: The History of Trains in America, Christian Wolmar
Banksy: The Man Behind the Wall, Will Ellsworth-Jones
Detroit City Is the Place to Be, Mark Binelli 
Wreck of the Wabash, Laurie C. Dickens  
Hidden History of Detroit, Amy Elliott Bragg
The Devil in the White City, Erik Larson
Kate: The Biography, Marcia Moody
Orange is the New Black: My Year in a Women's Prison, Piper Kerman

Currently Reading: Teardown: Memoir of a Vanishing City, Gordon Young