I take a lot of pics.

Thank goodness, sometimes it's like a diary.

I posted these pictures so I could blog about them on 10/24.  It's been a weird and busy few weeks.  Since I can't elaborate at this time, here is some pics of things happening a couple of weeks ago!

Serious cuteness.  Family parties aren't the same without those little nieces and nephews.  

Jakes girlfriend Emily getting a shot at the birthday quarters.  

Nothing like car wash money for a year!   Thanks Dad!

My oldest brother teaching my youngest nephew about this old string pull top.  Charlie LOVED it! 

Lisette looking for some coin to wash her wheels. 

Denied by dad.

That's OK, she'll watch football.

Bam!  Talk about some good genes!

Good run to check out the hip.  Easy couple of laps around Sugarhouse Park.  Hip feels good!

I have no idea why these small hills kill me. It was a beautiful day and it's a beautiful park.

Way too many ducks.  Fat ducks.  Bringing kids to feed the ducks doesn't always turn out like the movies.  

work.  natch.  Lots of it.  Lots of interesting flights.  

Keeps me thinking about the things I should be grateful for.

Back to Paleo and I have been feeling great.  I took a few days off around Halloween - more about that later - but it always helps to look up new and fun recipes to keep me motivated.

Cooking with plantains.  Who knew?  I knew there was a difference and now I know for sure.  They are bigger! 

I made this twice.  Once with a regular banana and once with a plantain.  I'm not sure which one I like best.  The banana one was moister (that is a horrible word, if a word at all) but the plantain one was almost like bread and I could put almond butter on it.

I also made an amazing pulled pork Hawaiian salad.  It's HEAVEN!

Ted wasn't interested AT ALL.  Guess the delicious veggies out smelled the pulled pork. I've actually never really liked pulled pork but I found one in the bottom of the freezer.  I had a recipe that my pilots make with Dr. Pepper in it.  I didn't have Dr. Pepper so I threw in Fresca with a can of Fire roasted tomatoes.  BEST ever!!

Complimentary messy room pic!! 

Life doesn't change much and then it does. 

I have gone to my physical therapist and my massage therapist and had them work on my hip.  My left hip is weaker and doesn't stay as stable when I run causing me pain.  My PT changed up my exercises and "grastoned" my hip/thigh and my MT really worked the muscles.  I'm bruised.  But the hip feels good.  The good news is that my form is doing wonderfully!  There are going to be some hiccups in a new form and things that will change as I go from running in pain to running correctly.  Totally worth it!

Tomorrow we leave for the LAS VEGAS RAGNAR!

I'm runner 8 and I'm ready for it!  Hopefully it's not nearly as freezing as last year but I know it will be a good time.  

Anyone running the Vegas Ragnar??

Blog on................

Just things, running and stuff

It's been a really odd month.  Ever had one of those?  Nothing really to explain just blah.

This month did include some serious bread.  The off duty nurse, Jen, went on a bread making kick and I woke up from my safety nap to this.  I had one of the little pretzels and it was amazing.  She made some sort of sweet bread.  The next morning when my medic and I got back from a call she had french toast ready for us.  So delicious, I couldn't say no. 

When I had my braces I found these gems.  I haven't been able to wean myself off them.  Excellent dental health is important!

I taped my foot.  After pilates one night I had this pain above the bone on the outside of my ankle.  I know that I overdid it on a couple of moves and I wanted to support the ankle a little while it strenthens.  All my pain and soreness is associated with the peroneal nerve and tendons, which were not associated with the surgery.  I am just more aware of the soreness without the extreme pain from my other foot problems.  I taped it for peroneal tendonitis and it seems to be helping a lot.  That and ice/rest.

I watch a Nova show called "Marathon Challenge".  It you can find it, watch it.  It's especially moving after all the Boston stuff.  One of the tests they did on the runners included a V02max test.  Now I want one.  I think it would be fun and interesting.  In the show all the runners showed improvement within just a few weeks of starting their running plan.  The UofU Pulmonary Services will test for 80 bucks.  I'm going to start saving my pennies!

A couple of awesome runs at the park.  I was getting ready for the Idaho Famous Potato 5K (which I already blogged about).  Beautiful weather and lots of people out enjoying the spring.  I love it!

My son and I have decided we have a problem.  30 bucks a week in nuts (Dry roasted/salted) and we go through them worse then candy.  Guess I'm going to have to wean myself off of them a little.  They are just so delicious!  Dang you Whole Foods!

I spent last week in orientation for my part-time job in an ICU at a hospital close to my house.  (St. Marks)  Unfortunately I don't do well in classroom situations and ended up eating too much dark chocolate Dove bars.  At least they had some life lessons inside.

Or just plain creepy information!

So as you can see, pretty lame.  I spend a lot of time in bed reading, studying or watching TV.  Jammies at 6pm?  Yes please! 

Do you have days when you can only think about when you can get in your jammies?

Blog on............

Blog or Life change

I've been reading a lot of blogs lately.  A lot of running blogs.  I am always craving more information and finding people that have the same struggles that I do.  Although there doesn't seem to be many blogs about the challenges of a middle aged woman with kids of legal age, a blossoming career and the struggles of keeping the peri-menopausal body and mind under control.  Plus, I love running.  I love reading all things running.  I also love blogging about my daily life. I can look back and see how things were and what I've learned.  It's the best journal out there.  Once in a while my husband will peruse my posts. Imagine it's like reading my mind at times.  Magic. 

I'd like to re-name the blog.  Let's face it.  It's more about me then my crew.  Although I love my family dearly and they warrant mention on here occasionally, they are a busy crowd.  I can be home for three days straight and see the two kids that live here for a total of an hour each.  I just don't know what to re-name it.  I guess I could call it "middle aged woman in peri-menopausal crisis that runs....and flies".  

I understand that I have mentioned menopause twice, well now three, times in two paragraphs. If you have to ask, you don't understand.  Mother nature is very angry.  No one warns you either.  You just wake up morning after morning thinking, "you've GOT to be kidding me"!!   Don't ever say I didn't warn you.

RUNNING!

I love running.  Around March I got all sassy and thought I could run without my inserts.  I had new shoes and was sure I could do some short treadmill workouts.  I thought it would strengthen my foot.  I was wrong.  I was so wrong.  Welcome back plantar fasciitis!  I missed you (NOT).  I took one year off running and limped for over 2 years fixing my last round with it.  I immediately went to my favorite podiatrist, who was the only one that fixed it.  Not physical therapy or anything else, only the custom inserts and strict instructions to wear only good solid shoes.  (Yeah!  new running shoes!)  My podiatrist, who has very little personality and even less sense of humor, laughed at me!  Yes, laughed!  He readjusted my inserts, giggled again and then told me I know what to do and to do it.  I have written about the shot of cortisone I endured about 3 weeks ago but besides that I have committed to a super serious regime of plantar healing.  Massage, ice, elevation and bio freeze.  Everyday my friends.  Everyday.  So far it's working pretty good.  Nothing wrong with sitting around with your feet elevated.  

On that subject (not really) I bought a new paddle brush from Aveda and I love it, love it, love it.  Sometimes I just brush my hair to brush it.  Plus I get to count and admire my grey hair that needs a touch up.  

Speaking of getting old.   I am blessed to have the red neck (teehee) of a high school student straight out of the back seat covered in hickeys.  Poikiloderma is the name.  My only treatment, because I am cheap, is bleaching cream and lots of sunscreen.  Because of this my face washing steps have quadrupled.  Soap, toner, lotion, sunscreen, bleach cream and occasionally some retinol cream to ninja block some wrinkles.

It's not a rumor, I love Saucony brand running shoes.  I have 5 pairs right now.  That may not seem like a lot BUT I have only been running in them for about 8 months. I was an Asics girl before and even briefly cheated with New Balance and Brooks, but now I've settled down and made a commitment. Yes, yes, it's love.  

I did buy Daniel some shoes.  He has some awful feet!  They are as flat as Fred Flintstones, horrible pronation along with collapsing ankles.  It hurts to watch him walk barefoot.  I've taken him to an orthopedic surgeon twice!  Only thing to do is get sensible shoes.  Daniel is 17.  He hasn't seen a sensible shoe since he was a toddler.  Big skate shoes whose laces are never tied is what he prefers.  Finally, after complaining for the 100th time that his feet hurt and for the 100th time me telling him he has to wear good shoes and inserts he is coming around.  He promised to wear these lovely size 13 Nike's.  Recommended by the running shoe guy and on sale for only 88 bucks.  Daniel better wear them!

Today was a rest day.  Thank god too!!  After speed work on Friday I thought I would survive a Pilates Reformer Jump class.  Holy Hannah did my quads burn.  From about jump 3, they started burning.  Then I told my instructor she was short.  Pain doesn't bring out the best in me.  I made it through but I cancelled a regular Reformer class this morning.  I have a long run (13 miles) tomorrow early AM and I would like to not die.  I am eating cashews and popcorn though...you know, to carb load.  

Blog on............

Rockin the Rock

I love my job! So unpredictable. This is a few pictures of my first 24 hours this week. I am staying from Thursday to Tuesday and getting two weeks worth of work done in one drive. Oh yeah.
BTW - I was up for the full 24 hours and flying for 10 of them. So I'm a little tired, and itchy. Somewhere in Idaho is a bunch of fully satiated Mosquitoes.

Being lazy in the plane while my medic checks our equipment and the pilot and mechanics check the compass.

Yeah, we even have to calibrate our compass.

We pulled the plane out (WE is a very loose term) and the pilot drove (cause he didn't fly it) over to the FBO where we did circles.

While this guy (with the black case) stood outside with a calibrated compass. Safety first people! Safety first.

That is my medic asking him questions.

My job does not suck, now does it??

I dragged my medic and pilot to the "Boot Barn".  I was just curious as to what you put in the Boot Barns tent sale.  This weekend is the National High School Finals in town so lots of people are here and lots of stuff going on.  Plus, it's good for the community to see us and our badassness!

Sunset in the hot tub after my workout.  Very short lived.  I stayed on for the night to fly with the night shift nurse to take a aortic balloon pump.  

I was the pump nurse.

We had to fly to SLC to pick up the pump, which our program manager brought to us in his truck.  Here is two pilots, a nurse, paramedic and manager getting it into the plane.  it's heavy and we are in a loaner plane that is FAA approved to carry it, we (again, using the term loosely)had to get it fully secured.

If you notice a theme here, the company that manages our pilots and aircraft, AirMethods has very strict rules and follows all FAA mandates completely. Unless you have a plane or around a lot of planes it's difficult to even comprehend the safety that goes into air travel.  I have never felt unsafe in one of AirMed's ships.  The pilots are awesome!  They keep us informed and do such a great job.  This night I had 5 take-offs and landings.  FIVE!  Smooth as butter, all of them.  

Lucky girl, I am, working for such an awesome program at such an awesome hospital.  I wouldn't trade it for anything, even when I do fly all night.  The best thing about this flight is that we were able to transport a patient, with a IntraAortic Balloon Pump (Large balloon sits in the descending aorta to help with cardiac output) safely to a hospital better to care for his particular heart disease.

And that is what counts.

Blog on..................

Day in the great life!

I'm at work today.  In Rock Springs.  I drive here once a week, stay about 48 hours and then I'm done until the next week.  Ideally, I fly (fixed wing) a couple of patients every week.  I like to fly 3 times, in the day.  It doesn't work out that way but I wanted to just say it out loud, every time I work, just so everyone is aware!


The drive to Rock Springs isn't bad - it's just the staying awake!!  Even if I sleep well all night, I get so sleepy on the road.  Coffee, snacks (paleo!), music, comedians and pod-casts...all to no avail.  I stopped at Little America and walked around to wake up and then bought some earrings. Unfortunately  no one complimented me on them today, so I took them out. I want to switch them from post to dangly. I'm sure Pinterest has something on that!




(granted this post is a little jumpy)




They finally got one of our planes back with the new paint:

It's too red.  Way too red.  It's going to fade and then be pink or orange.  I had my input...Now it's named Clifford.  I'm sure when it fades it will be named Nip.  We aren't flying in this plane yet.  It's still getting things done to it that the FAA wants done and all our mechanics do.  Air Methods (our plane/pilot peeps) takes care of all that with a full time staff of A LOT of plane men.  I feel extremely safe, but this bad boy/girl is in the back of the hangar for who knows how long.  Rock Springs crew is in our loaner plane.  Sssk SSkkk.  That is my nickname for it.  It's tail number is 116SK.  Makes me think of Dane Cook comedy about loafers and crabs and dreams.  Ssssk  SSkk








We waited for an hour for a cab after we transported a patient to the U.  That is not very glamorous.  Then just before takeoff we were heading to the runway and 2 F-16's took off.  They are very loud and super fast.    It was great to watch!!  Following that kinda show makes us feel very very SLOW!


View from take off:

Looks shiny, like it's snowing.   Love it.  


Home (The Rock) just in time:


I finally ran hills tonight.  I found a not so steep hill and planned 4 sets of 400's up it as fast as I could.  Then i would walk a minute then jog back to the start.  Beautiful night, nice and cool:

Love the reddish sky. It seems Rocks Springs sunsets are a little more red then elsewhere.  Either that or it's the smoke from all the fires.    The hill looks pretty good eh?  View from the top. 


So I did it:

I forgot my Garmin so I used Mapmyrun, which is great, but it doesn't auto-stop when I stop and so the times aren't accurate as far as I'm concerned.  I tried pausing it while I waited for the lights, but I didn't do it, twice.  Once was while I was taking a picture.  From what I can tell I did the hills around 9 min miles.  


After my last hill I walked 1 minutes then ran it back to my car.  I was going at a pretty good clip and felt great until the last .20 miles.  I pushed it and by the time I got to the car i was pretty out of breath.  Then I almost puked  First time. ever. from a run.  Maybe I ate the pre-run apple too soon before the run.   Not sure.  I didn't puke and I never want to after a run.  I hate puking.  Feeling passed after a couple of minutes and I made it back to the apartment.  


What a day!  Now to sleep........


Blog on.............

Running? Running.

My plans for running yesterday were foiled by a beautiful flight to southern Utah and back up to SLC and then back to Rocks Springs.  I was planning a hill training session at 815pm - since that is the time the pilots time out and I'm less likely to get a call - but alas, I was called to serve.  It was a great flight, the patient needed to be transported and it was beautiful although a little bumpy.  

Pulling out the plane...sssk..ssskk.

(Reminds me of the Dane Cook comedy where he talks about his dream about being a crab and makes that sound - "sssk sssk".  

Landing in SLC.  The sun was just setting and the temperature was perfect.  A little windy - but fantastic!

Luckily I was back to base and in bed, all charted, by 1am.  No flight through the night and I slept like a rock.  YEAH - that means a productive day today!! I got home by 2pm and I actually ran 3 miles, but just from the front door. It was slow too!  I stopped to tie my shoes and usually my Garmin stops when I stop but the clock kept going!  I know I did it in less then 10 min/miles - but then again - 10 min/miles have been my goal for years!  Now it is 9 min/miles.  Giggity Giggity!

Then I went to a Pilate's class.  My hammies cramped over and over - but I did get a good workout!  I may do the first leg of the Salt Lake half marathon relay with Tera and Nicole and it is UPHILL.  I drove past it today, but I think I can do it.  I have two months to train for 4 miles uphill.  

The next two days will prove tough to get a workout in.  Teaching ACLS, Def Leppard concert, work staff meeting.....I'm busy and I know it!

PS.  Tera gave me a gift certificate for Lululemon for my Birthday!  WATCH OUT!  I'm going broke!!

Blog on.........