Repair

Later this afternoon, the NordicTrack repair guy will be visiting my house. We've had this treadmill for four years, A2550. This is the first time we needed a service call. I noticed that the belt was slipping when I was running last week. When I say slipping, it felt like I was running on ice. I told my husband, who told me to adjust the belt. I adjusted the belt and it worked.

After the belt was adjusted, it started moving on the rollers a day later. Instead of staying in the middle, the belt shifted over to the left. I had my husband adjust the belt back to center. Besides the belt being messed up, the left side was slanted down. It felt like something was broken underneath and making it an uneven surface. Last Tuesday, my treadmill was injured for good. While running on the hurt treadmill, the belt started to fold up on itself. When the belt does that, your use of it is done. I was mad because I wasn't able to finish my run. I decided to dress in layers and go outside and finish my run.

The next day, I ran on a local bike trail. I dressed in layers again. On the first half of the run, I was warm. I got cold on the second half. I was sweating a lot and running into a cold headwind. I almost called my husband to tell him to pick me up. I didn't and continued on with my run. It took me the rest of the day to feel warm again.

Since I didn't want to be cold again, I opted to pay money to run on a treadmill at a local hotel. I had the fitness room to myself, which was nice. Instead of being cold like the previous two days, I was sweating to death. It was very stuffy in the fitness room. Every 20-30 minutes, the air would kick on and blow some cool air. I ended up running 16 miles on the treadmill. Sweat dripped everywhere. I wiped the machine down with a towel. I also needed a towel to absorb my sweaty clothes. My tank top and shorts were soaked with sweat. It was like I stood outside during a storm.

Unless the weather is in the high 30s or 40s, I will be opting to run on the hotel treadmill until ours is fixed or we get a new one. I should enjoy running outside, but I don't. When I run alone, it is difficult for me to gauge how fast I'm going. I own a Garmin 101, the first one ever made. I was looking at the pace while running the other day, and it was jumping all over the place. I didn't know what to believe.

I do like running outside when entered in races. I have people around me, people to pace me, people to catch up to and pass. I like running on the treadmill. I can come home from work, change my clothes, head down into the basement and start running. I have my water right in front of me and a bathroom one floor away. I can do speed and hill workouts with a touch of a button. I don't have to watch for cars or low spots in the road that could twist my ankles. The treadmill has helped me run consistently, lose weight and become faster. I miss my personal treadmill.

We will find out today if we need to order parts to repair our current treadmill or if we need to buy a new one. I don't care what the outcome is, I just want a working treadmill at my house. The sooner the better.

Top photo: NordicTrack A2550 (my current treadmill)
Bottom photo: NordicTrack Incline Trainer X9i (the treadmill we will buy if the current one can't be fixed)

Favorite photos of January 23-27, 2012

11 Randoms

Eleven random things about me.

• I can't stand clutter. My desk at work is spotless. The only items on my desk are my computer monitor, computer tower, keyboard, mouse, mouse pad, telephone and calendar.
• I wear a knit hat at work. Except in the warmer months.
• Besides wearing a hat at work, I wear a coat or jacket inside all year. I'm always cold.
  
• I like to chew on pens. I usually have a pen sticking out of my mouth.
• I like to grocery shop early on Saturday morning. In the early morning hours, I always have the best bananas to choose from.
• If someone knocks on my door at home, I usually won't answer. I will only open the door if I know someone is coming over to visit or if my husband is home. It is difficult to hold back two barking German Shepherds and open a door.
• Before touching my work computer, I will wipe everything down with a disinfecting wipe first.
• I have yet to use my Kindle. The reason is because I received a handful of books for Christmas. I wanted to read those books first before reading books on the Kindle.
• I am one of the few people who love running on a treadmill. The only time I run outside is for races.
• My favorite cookies are oatmeal raisin.
• My goal is to be in bed by 8:30 p.m. If I can do that, I can sleep for almost 7 hours.
  

This idea came from Morgan.

One year readings

I bought a One Year Bible over the weekend.

Before I bought this one, I did receive a Bible back in high school when I was confirmed into the church. I have always kept that Bible in a drawer. Probably in all of the years I have had it, I probably have only opened it up less then 10 times. I have never really read it because the print is small and the Bible is a very long book.

I was recently talking to my husband about the Bible. I said that even though I went to catechism class until I was confirmed as a freshman in high school, that I had no idea who people are and events in the Bible. That got me thinking. At my church, I'm involved in three ministries: Altar Server, Sacristan and Eucharistic minister. I figured that I should have knowledge as to what I'm hearing in Mass every weekend.

I bought the One Year Bible because it helps you read the entire Bible in one year. Each day has a schedule reading that comes from the Old Testament, New Testament, Psalms and Proverbs.

I bought this book a couple of weeks after the start of the new year. That means I was already behind on the readings. I sat down with this Bible Monday and read. I am caught up with the current reading.

As I'm reading this as an adult, I hope I can hold on to the information and remember. Unlike when I attended catechism class, I really didn't pay attention. This is my opportunity to finally pay attention.

Books read in 2012

Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, J.K. Rowling
Winter Season: A Dancer's Journal, Toni Bentley
Chasing the Runner's High, Ray Charbonneau
The Perfect Mile, Neal Bascomb

Currently Reading: Cleopatra, Stacy Schiff
Up Next: Kindle purchase or library visit

Afternoon in Detroit

My husband and I traveled north to Detroit over the weekend. We went to the Detroit Institute of Arts Museum.

At the DIA, we saw the exhibitions, Rembrandt and the Face of Jesus and Detroit Revealed: Photographs 2000-2010 .

Following the DIA, we were supposed to travel about three miles down the road to the North American International Auto Show at Cobo Hall. We ended up skipping it because of the snow storm. When your 70 miles away from home and the forecast calls for 2-5 inches of snow, you want to be back home. Not driving on the interstate.

Seeing Rembrandt van Rijn's works of art up close was wonderful. Anytime I can see famous works of art in person that I saw in a book is wonderful. His 64 works were in three galleries. My husband and I went to the DIA on a Friday afternoon at 2 p.m. We didn't expect to see the museum was packed with people. Most of the people were there to see the Rembrandt exhibition.

Alongside of the beautiful paintings were sketches from Rembrandt and his students. As an art major, I loved seeing the sketches. I liked how you could see the work that went into creating the masterful paintings. I learned that Rembrandt was the first Western artist to show Jesus as a Jewish person. He used a Jewish model for his face of Jesus.

After seeing Rembrandt, we went to see the Detroit Revealed: Photographs 2000-2010. This exhibition brought together photographs and video taken in Detroit. My favorite photos were of the urban decay of a plant and workers on the line of the auto factory. Not surprising, I love urban decay and documentary photography. One of the walls had a huge photograph of an area of decay in the River Rouge Plant. I wanted to take it home with me. It was so beautiful.

I was pleased that my husband and I were able to get up to Detroit to see both of the exhibitions. If you are in the Detroit area, the Rembrandt exhibition ends on February 12 and the Detroit Revealed ends April 29.

Painting: The Supper at Emmaus/Rembrandt van Rijn
Print: Christ Healing the Sick/Rembrandt vin Rijn

Favorite photos from January 16-20, 2012

Models

I have been watching some candid reality shows about modeling. These reality shows give an inside look to the world of modeling.

When I was growing up, my first love was drawing. I would look forward to looking at the Sunday paper because of the models. The ads I really liked looking at were the drawings of the models wearing the items on sale. The company that ran the clothes ads, used drawings instead of photographs. I would love to draw pictures all of the pretty models.

Fast forward to the present, instead of drawing models, I would like to photograph them. A couple of years back, I had a session with a model. It was fun. We had several clothes and location changes. Since I don't have models banging down my doors for me to photograph them. These reality shows are the closest I'll get to models.

The first show that I watch is Scouted. This show follows girls that are scouted by model scouts and are sent to New York City to try to break into the modeling world. The model scouts that are a part of the show are from California, Texas, Virginia and Utah. Once the girls are scouted, they are sent to One Management in New York City. They then meet with a team consisting of a creative director, director of scouting, an image and style consultant and a model mentor. First there is a meet and greet, trying on a wardrobe, hair, makeup and then the photo session. The girls then meet back with the team and the president of One Management to find out if they will be signed to the company.

The other show I watch is Remodeled. The show follows Paul Fisher as he travels to different agencies that are in The Network, which are small-town model agencies that Fisher controls, to help them find more talent and make more money. In the first episode, Fisher was able to help turn around an agency in Minnesota and sign some models. Besides Fisher working with the modeling agency, employees of Fisher's took a group of four models to New York to book them for Fashion Week. We get to watch as they go on castings. What was really refreshing was one of the models was a male. Usually on model shows, you never see a male model. They do exist.

I don't know if the show will always split time between Fisher and the working models. It may just stick with Fisher working on the small town agencies. But I find it interesting. Besides the working models, it is nice to see the model scouts do a little bit of work also. The show just premiered on Tuesday. So I will have to keep watching to see what happens.

Miss America

It is no secret. I love pageants. I have been watching them since I was a little girl. I would make paper sashes and wear them around the house until they ripped apart. Now as an adult, I have been photographing local pageants for work since 2000. You could say that is really the only girlie thing about me.

The 2012 Miss America Pageant was held Saturday at Planet Hollywood in Las Vegas, Nevada. And I watched it live, of course. Laura Kaeppeler, Miss Wisconsin, was crowned Miss America 2012 by Teresa Scanlan, Miss America 2011. Kaeppeler beat out first runner-up, Betty Thompson, Miss Oklahoma.

Kaeppeler started the competition off wearing a white bikini. During the evening gown portion, she wore a stunning black beaded gown with lace on top and short sleeves. Kaeplleler said the inspiration of her gown came from Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge's wedding gown. I could see the similarities in the lace. For talent, Kaeppeler performed a beautiful operatic rendition of "Il Bacio". The last part of the competition was the onstage question. Her question was whether Miss America should declare their political affiliation. Keappeler answered, "Miss America represents everyone, so I think the message to political candidates is that they represent everyone as well. And in these economic times, we need to be looking forward to what America needs, and I think Miss America needs to represent all. "

Kaeppeler's platform is Circle of Support: Mentoring Children of Incarcerated Parents. She wants kids of incarcerated parents to feel less alone and to have mentoring and a relation with their parents. Her father, Jeff, served 18 months in federal prison for mail fraud when she was starting college.

Betty Thompson, Miss Oklahoma, was the first runner-up. Her platform is Milk: It Really Does a Body Good. Thompson started the competition as ABC's America's Choice pick. She was chosen online by viewers voting for their favorite contestant. Thompson wore a red bikini in the swimsuit competition and a white sequined dress in the evening gown competition. During the talent portion, she performed an Irish step dance to "Warriors" . Her onstage question was whether the government should weigh in on what we feed our kids. Thompson said, "I believe that parents should be the ones who are teaching their children how to eat and then it wouldn't be the government's responsibility to step in".

I was disappointed that two ladies didn't make it into the Top 15, Miss Michigan Elizabeth Wertenberger and Miss Kansas Carissa Kelley.

Wertenberger performed at a local pageant I was photographing last summer. She was intelligent, charming and could dance. I thought she had a chance of making it far into the competition. Wertenberger didn't walk away from Miss America empty handed. She was second runner-up for the Quality of Life award, which is for community service. She also won the Duke of Edinburgh award - Young Americans' Challenge. This award was created in 1956 by Prince Phillip, Duke of Edinburgh. The Young Americans' Challenge is a non-competitive, self-development program for young people ages 14-25.

As for Kelley, Saturday was the first time I had ever seen her. When she said she came from a state that had some characters like Amelia Earhart I instantly liked her. I am fascinated with Earhart. How did she just disappear without a trace? Anyway besides mentioning Earhart, I thought she was a stunning woman. Kelley's platform is "No Kid Hungry". A partnership between the Miss Kansas Organization and Numana, Inc., which holds food packaging events and sends meals to areas of greatest hunger, was set up. Kelley visited Haiti recently to meet with over 200 children who received the Numana meals. Besides the children in Haiti, she also has worked in food banks in Kansas.

After Kaeppeler's win, she has already started her year of service as Miss America 2012. Kaeppeler will travel the country to encourage all young women to pursue a college education and will focus on interest in the arts, science, technology, engineering and math, also know as STEM. She will also travel almost 20,000 miles every mouth to speak about her platform Circles of Support and as the official National Goodwill Ambassador for Children's Miracle Network Hospitals.

First photo: Miss Wisconsin Laura Kaeppeler reacts after being crowned Miss America Saturday at The Planet Hollywood Resort & Casino in Las Vegas. (Associated Press/Eric Jamison)

Second photo: Miss Oklahoma Betty Thompson competes during the 2012 Miss America Pageant Saturday. Thompson was named first runner-up behind winner Miss Wisconsin Laura Kaeppeler. (Associated Press/Eric Jamison)

Third photo: Miss Michigan Elizabeth Wertenberger (Alan Carson)

Books read in 2012

Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, J.K. Rowling
Winter Season: A Dancer's Journal, Toni Bentley
Chasing the Runner's High, Ray Charbonneau

Currently Reading: The Perfect Mile, Neal Bascomb
Up Next: Cleopatra, Stacy Schiff

Olympic Marathon Trials

The Olympic Marathon Trials were held Saturday in Houston, Texas. The event wasn't carried live on NBC, but tape delayed. I needed to know what was going on. I followed the trials on twitter. I watched the whole replay Sunday morning.

The top three men and women's finishers will represent the United States in the upcoming summer Olympics in London.

The men started 15 minutes before the women. It was exciting from the start. Ryan Hall took the lead and laid down some super fast miles. Some of the splits for the early miles were 4:50, 4:51 and mid 4:40s. Close to the finish of the race, the lead pack was down to three. With less then two miles to go, Meb Keflezigihi ended up pulling away from Hall and Abdi Abdirahman, winning the trials in 2:09:08. Ryan Hall finished second (2:09:30) and Abdi Abdirahman was third in 2:09:42.

Shalane Flanagan won the women's marathon trials in 2:25:38. Coming in behind Flanagan, was the 2011 Boston Marathon runner-up, Desiree Davila in 2:25:55 and rounding out the team was Kara Goucher (2:26:06). Unlike the fast start of the men's race, the women's race started slow. The first mile was run in 6:11. Davila went to the front after the slow first mile and picked up the pace. The second mile was run faster in 5:49 and the third mile dropped down to 5:34. The pace continued to fall and the lead pack started to break up. By the fifth mile, the huge pack was down to nine runners.

I'm excited for the six team members. The US is sending the best team over to the Olympics. It would be awesome to have them medal. Besides feeling happy for the six runners, I was heartbroken for the fourth place male and female runner's.

Dathan Rizenhein ran with the lead group for a long time. He ended up getting separated in the later part of the race. Near the finish line, Ritzenhein closed a 30 second gap between him and third place Abdirahman. Ritzenhein finished only 8 seconds behind to finish in fourth. I felt so bad for him when he cried after the race. Amy Hastings was running with the lead group until about the 20 mile mark. She lost contact with the lead group and finished 1 minute 39 seconds behind Flanagan in 2:27:17.

Top photo: The top three men finishers, left, Ryan Hall-second, center, Meb Keflezighi-first, and Abdi Abdiraham-third pose after the U.S. Olympic Marathon Trials Saturday in Houston. (Associated Press/David J. Phillip)

Bottom photo: The top three women, left, Desiree Davila-second, center, Shalane Flanagan-first and Kara Goucher-third, pose after running the U.S. Olympic Marathon Trials Saturday. (Associated Press/David J. Phillip)

Favorite photos from January 9-13, 2012

Favorite photos from January 3-5, 2012