Mandasaurus Roars!

Inspiration (and its result)

2009-10-28T18:18:00.001-07:00

70.3 miles! A team of 20 women with diabetes (like me!) swam, biked and ran 70.3 miles as a team.

Team WILD - Women Inspiring Life with Diabetes - completed the Austin Longhorn Triathlon. It's almost unbelievable, but it's true and so awesome. You can see their blog, though, and you'll know it's for real. Team WILD coordinated women with diabetes, doctors, diabetes educators, dietitians and trainers to make this enormous feat and all the training needed for it workable with diabetes.

Here's a wonderful radio piece about Team WILD. It made me cry.

I'm inspired now to do something challenging for me - a half-marathon (the distance Jennifer ran - but she also biked and swam) in January as part of a Winter Warriors training program. I'm so excited I can do this - yay! I'm ready to bundle up and rock out. And I know I can do it.

Sorry to be so very cheesy, but I'm feeling warm and fuzzy about this. Go diabetes, go me!

Reverse that.

2009-10-14T21:10:00.000-07:00

I just watched a clip from Bill Maher's interview with former Senator Bill Frist. Senator Frisk is a cardiologist and a republican. Bill Maher is a liberal, to some extent, and well-regarded by lefties around town.

I usually wouldn't watch such a match up. I know what I believe in, I don't need to hear bottled arguments and I don't listen to a lot of political talk.

I did listen to this conversation because it touched on the flu shot, which I'm getting soon. But what I heard flipped my opinions around completely.

Republican Bill Frist advocated for flu vaccines as well as the H1N1 vaccine. Bill Maher said he doesn't really believe in vaccines and that he thinks people shouldn't get flu shots and won't die from the flu.

WHAT?!?!

Seriously. Flu vaccines are killed vaccines, that means you can't get sick from them. H1N1 is a huge threat to different populations than the seasonal flu, which is why healthcare workers try to get the word out about the vaccine. Vaccines, by the way, have been around since the 1800s and have eradicated smallpox and nearly eradicated polio, Guinea worm, measles, mumps, elephantiasis, rubella, and many other viruses. This isn't small potatoes.

When people say things about medical advances and healthcare initiatives without any basis in science they're causing trouble and being stupid. Certainly you can decide if you want a flu shot (I do) or a H1N1 shot (I do!). It's up to you to decide what you put in your body. You also can decide if you want to eat crappy food, drink whiskey for breakfast or smoke cigars all day long.

But scaring people about scientifically tested vaccines is way worse than the flu. It's just stupid.

Back up, jerks!

2009-10-07T22:02:00.001-07:00

I'm happy to see that Chicago supports patients seeing doctors without harassment, as evidenced by this new Chicago City Council measure.

When women visit Planned Parenthood or any other health center they should be free to enter and exit without bother. There are safe, specific rules about where people who oppose health services to stand and speak their minds. Those rules, including the FBI's Freedom to Access Clinic Entrances Act, are incredibly important.

I find anti-choice/pro-life protesters particularly frightening and I cannot imagine how women in desperate situations feel. Even riding my bike by a clinic where protesters stood with signs made me so angry - I felt my whole body clench up as I pedaled by. What if I was trying to walk in to see a doctor?

People who protest aren't just speaking their minds though - and it's not just a freedom of speech issue, obviously. It's an issue of harassment - sometimes assault or stalking or murder. Pro-choicers can be (as demonstrated by Dr. George Tiller's murder in May) stealthy. Certainly most protesters are not criminals - but the damage that the criminal pro-lifers do is horrifying.

My mom's best friend escorts women at a Planned Parenthood clinic. She walks them through gangs of protesters who yell at them as they leave the clinic. I'm so thankful for her, and all the people who push back on behalf of women's rights - keeping women safe as they make their own choices about their own healthcare.

Thank you, Chicago City Council.

AH-CHOO!

2009-10-07T19:53:00.000-07:00

Today I learned that I have allergies.

How can this happen? Well, I'm figuring this all out so I can tell you:

I'm really just hypersensitive to whatever crap happens to be hanging out in the air. It's not like it's really hurting me (like how peanuts can really hurt people who are allergic to peanuts). It's just bothersome sneezing and runny nose fun.
I've heard (and cannot find any backup to this on Wikipedia just yet) that I can outgrow my allergies. I love that idea, and I'm hopeful that I'll toughen up some and stop being bothered by this.
I can take some pretty remarkable medicines to help me out. I promised CVS that I wouldn't make meth out of Claritin D and soon I should be "symptom free" according to B who is hypersensitive to environmental allergens sometimes. That's pretty amazing.

Those are my allergy facts, or allergy bits of possibly factual information. Gesundheit!

How could they?

2009-09-30T20:57:00.000-07:00

I'm not a big television watcher.

We don't have cable so our options are limited to the networks, which happen to be plentiful in this digital age. We can watch three different PBS stations, three of each major network and about six possibly-religious station which I completely ignore.

Probably 90 percent of the television B and I watch is Seinfeld. But that's all changed.

Someone, somewhere decided that The Office (which I understand is a fine, funny show) should replace Seinfeld at 6:30 p.m. and that TMZ (the worst show ever, even seeing the commercials make) should replace the 11:05 p.m. Seinfeld.

What?!?

I shouldn't take this too, too seriously, but it's definitely cramping my style. In the moments between school, studying for my first test tomorrow, work, sleeping, eating and getting outside I'm watching:

The Good Wife - on television or online. It stars the amazing Juliana Margulies with her awesome eyebrows. And it's in Chicago. And it's about law, smart women and Mr. Big being bad/good.
Law & Order - on DVD from Netflix. Duh-Dum! The only problem with Law & Order on your own schedule is that you can't figure out how much is left and how many more twists are on the way.
Lost - on DVD from Netflix. With B. We're both catching up/watching it all. It's awesome, but takes a lot more concentration than other shows so gets less of my time.
30 Rock - on DVD from Netflix. Hilarious.

But I really miss Jerry, Elaine, George and Kramer.

Hulk Smash Diabetes!

2009-09-28T19:57:00.000-07:00

Friends! I'm so excited that the annual Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation Walk for a Cure is coming up. It's the coolest.

Every year I harass everyone I know and shake them down for money for JDRF. My friends kindly step up and donate dough (as do I) and JDRF keeps moving toward curing diabetes. It's all-around wonderful.

This year I've promised (as a favor to myself and for the amusement of others) to run, bike or walk a mile for every $1 donated to JDRF for me. Yikes!

Turns out, even in a recession, my very amazing friends and family give a lot of money. Therefore I'm running, biking or walking 500 miles. Crap.

I added a list feature at the bottom of the blog so I can track my milage. Check it out! I might even have to start using my AARP pedometer.

I better get moving!

Fall is here and where am I?

2009-09-12T08:51:00.001-07:00

I've been everywhere but home lately. Here's my schedule this last week - with some highlights:

Monday (Labor Day) Sox-Sox game. Very fun! We tailgated outside Sox Park with beer, brownies, Mrs. Fisher's Potato Chips, and sandwiches on Veinna bread. Delicious! Red Sox lose to White Sox, but beautiful weather and wonderful company make this Red Sox fan OK with outcome. After the game we traveled from Red Line to Blue Line to B's mom's for a birthday shindig. Then we took the bus home. Phew!
Tuesday - work, run, school.
Wednesday - work, President Obama's awesome health care speech, trivia.
Thursday - work, school, Target.
Friday - work, donate blood, shop, pizza & beer, home.
Saturday - lounging at home then off to DeKalb for some football tailgating and Huskie fun.

I loved the health care speech - especially that President Obama just stomped on Congress for jerking around for so long. I'm really hopeful that reform will come. I personally have great health insurance and receive awesome care from my doctors. I want everyone else to have that too.

Oh, busy life!

2009-09-02T19:35:00.000-07:00

I'm catching up with myself today (and tomorrow and the next day) as summer winds down, fall semester begins and I take a sneaky half-day at work to go to see the Cubs beat the Astros.

Lots and lots going on these days though, including:

I just started Chemistry 100/121 (Intro to Chemistry) at Truman College. Truman's pretty close to home and is the place to be for people who might be, maybe interested in a medical/nursing career.
I went to the Cubs game today! Sunny and 75 in the bleachers - great fun with my parents and their friend. And, Cubs win! Delightful.
My Tuesday-Thursday class is moving trivia to Monday nights. Phew.
I'm looking for a job - any ideas, friends?
We're heading to the Sox-Sox game on Monday with my parents and my brother. My brother is attending as a Red Sox fan, two days after attending the NIU-Wisconsin game. Impressively he is attending two games over one weekend and cheering for the away team without hopping on an airplane.

Go Cubs Go!

More whatever-these-are-called, please

2009-08-16T19:17:00.000-07:00

One of Chicago's best inventions is best explained by this photograph.

It's a fire hydrant rigged to act as a drinking fountain with a bucket (which I imagine a pup might enjoy a drink from) to catch extra water.

I've only seen them twice, always in front of Chicago Fire Stations. I love these inventions.

I really, really, really loved it yesterday when mid-stroll I stumbled upon one. It had a nozzle, not a continuous stream of water. That just goes to show you how varied this awesome invention is.

The water was cool and refreshing, plus I got to splash B in the face by turning the nozzle while he was getting a drink. He liked it because it was almost 90 degrees out.

Best invention of the summer!

Trustee Mandasaurus

2009-08-03T17:02:00.000-07:00

As a University of Illinois alumna I'm slightly annoyed about the recent scandal about clout influencing admissions.

Clout, my friends. CLOUT! (That's how I read it in the Chicago Tribune, which is utterly and completely obsessed with the subject of clout.)

Sure, I think that letting people into my alma mater (which features the wonderful Alma Mater statue) for silly reasons like connections or connections to connections is uncouth. It's more than a little slimy that some rejected applicants were able to schmooze their way into the University of Illinois. I don't like it. I don't like it one bit.

But I'm quite sure it happens at all universities, and that fixing slimy practices like this takes more than rotating out this batch of connected well-to-do trustees for a new set of the same connected well-to-doers.

I do think that ousting University of Illinois President B. Joseph White and his cohort Chancellor Richard Herman is fine. (I've met Chancellor Herman before and he's a smoooooth talker, for real. He almost sold me some waterfront property in Urbana!) Surely those fellas can take their dirty hands elsewhere, and more surely there are less-shady folks who can replace them and administer the school more thoughtfully and wisely.

I am quite sure I'd make a great trustee. Here is why:

I love the University of Illinois. Really. It's awesome.
My dad went to U of I, but I got in on my own credentials. My 26 ACT sure wouldn't get me in today, but it sure did in 1998.
I know many of the words to many of the songs. I'm willing to learn all the songs, too.
I wear orange and blue proudly.
I even have Illinois pants, a garbage can, a rug and a football helmet chip-n-dip container (heirloom). I won't insist upon bringing these items to trustee meetings, but I do own them. I also have several shirts. I look good in orange.
I'm smart.
I keep my checkbook balanced at all times. What a fine example for any institution.
I have absolutely zero clout. I don't have any connections to anyone at all.
I'm a school adminstrater so I'm already all experienced with tuition rates, recruitment and admissions. For real!
I'm cheap and this would be very helpful to the University of Illinois' budget --> Help with the budget means less reliance on lobbying --> Less reliance on lobbying decreases shadiness at University of Illinois. --> More good in Illinois. Less evil.
I'm good with the press, but I can also say "no comment" in several roundabout ways.
I enjoy folders.
I love learning. I think it's the best. I'm always looking out for learning and learners.
I'm not shady.
I think that ripping off students with exorbitant textbook costs is wrong.
I also didn't like paying however much I paid for the "Athletic Fee" when I was in school. Let's check that out, Board of Trustees.
I like change.
The Board of Trustees introduced squirrels to the Quad for student enjoyment. That's totally something I would do. (Aside: Did you know that there is a squirrel hunting season in Illinois? True. Squirrel season just opened and you can only "bag" 5 squirrels per day.
I'm available.

So, Gov. Quinn, you interested?

Let's go tubing.

2009-08-03T15:40:00.001-07:00

Does anyone have means to go tubing? I guess that's just at tube, actually.

I know many people (including my rowdy parents) who have tubed. Unlike riding an inner tube behind a boat, this tubing is lazy. You just float down a river in a tube with friends and beer.

I'm quite certain the nearby Chicago River is not up for my tubing plans. Whatever shall I do?

Maybe....

2009-07-27T16:34:00.001-07:00

An awesome friend of mine is doing the Chicago Triathlon this year. He seems to think this is something I should try. There's a Sprint Triathlon that I could quite possibly do.

A Sprint Triathlon is (in this order):

Less than a half-mile swim in Lake Michigan
13.64 mile bike ride
3.1 (5K) run

I'm thinking about it, but a little nervous. I think a triathlon might be insane and I'm a dab worried that I'm not a hardcore athlete like that. Any advice, friends?

Deal after deal!

2009-07-26T16:35:00.000-07:00

My stay-cation was a complete delight and I cannot believe I go back to work tomorrow, but I feel awfully refreshed so I'm ready!

Over my stay-cation I spent a few days in Rockford, rode my bike quite a bit, finished my class, made many treats for a wonderful graduation party and attempted to clean up much of my life.

In Rockford my mom and I did some excellent shopping at the mall and at some wonderful garage sales. I found a Tang pitcher to make sun tea in ($1), a dog that blow bubbles that might not actually work (a poorly spent $2), a pre-lit green aluminum Christmas tree ($3), and two little tiny Bears outfits for two babies I will soon know.

Garage sales are the best! Back to work for me - I gotta earn my dough to buy a better bubble dog.

Snap-beans, snap-dragons, snap-summer!

2009-07-22T15:43:00.000-07:00

I'll admit it. B and I go to the farmer's market sometimes. And I like it.

I like picking out fresh food from places nearby. I love the boxes that berries come stacked in. I like the surprise of what's new at the market (even though I'm pretty sure my beloved berries are on their way out - boo-hiss!).

B and I have made some delicious green bean dinners and I've consumed approximately three pints of blueberries in just a few weeks.

Summer makes me remember my Grandpa Ed's garden. He shared a plot in a community garden in the middle of his block. He grew corn, green beans, zucchini and other veggies. My Grandma Mary Lu, if I'm recalling correctly, grew flowers. I remember kneeling to look at colorful snap dragons.

And I remember roses. My grandpa and grandma grew roses next to their backdoor. The roses were pink, red, yellow and peach. They bloomed like crazy - wide, happy, open roses - and smelled so good, like how roses are supposed to smell.

My grandpa and grandma shared the goodies from their garden like crazy. We'd get a paper sack of green beans when we visited. And neighbors and friends would get roses in vases with my grandpa's address labels stuck on them (so you could return the vase after the roses were done). Today B brought home some blueberries from Michigan his boss shared with everyone at work.

This summertime notion of sharing and passing along what you have is a pretty nice one. Anyone want to help me snap some beans?

Awesome learning!

2009-07-22T10:17:00.001-07:00

If you have an iPod or access to Podcasts (which you can listen to online or on an MP3 player) I have a suggestion for you.

Julie B told me about Stuff You Should Know and I'm over the moon. Stuff You Should Know is an audio program with two men discussing various topics. So far I've learned about the Body Farm, recycling, litter on Mt. Everest and going over Niagara Falls.

There are at least a hundred different topics to learn about - what a delight!

If you don't have an interest in bopping around town listening to these (which is exactly what I do) then check the website that started it all: HowStuffWorks.com.

Enjoy!

10K today!

2009-07-19T10:32:00.000-07:00

I ran 6 miles today and I feel wonderful.

Today was the Fleet Feet Women's 5K and 10K races at Montrose Harbor. It's a really fun run - all women. (B loves this run so he can "sightsee" but I think he's actually a little intimidated by all the running women.) There's a lot more comradery and cheering than most races and that's pretty fun.

Last year I ran the 5K (3.1 mile) and this year I did the 10K, which was terrific. I ran the whole time (that's how I do things) and tried to take longer strides, stand up straight and zen out with my iPod shuffle. I ran 11:35 minute miles which is awesome for me and awesome to hold that pace for 6.2 miles. Hooray!

This is my fastest time yet! What's next?

Stay-cation!

2009-07-16T20:22:00.000-07:00

Hi friends,

I'm really excited to say that I'm taking 4-5 days off work (still can't decide if I'm going in on Monday... perhaps I'll post a poll....) for my very own stay-cation. Here's what I'm up to during this break from my crazypants work, jerky boss and 5:15 a.m. wakeup calls:

Apply for new jobs.
Watch 30 Rock, my new favorite Netflix show.
See the new Harry Potter movie.
Hike up to Madison for some healthcare observations and family fun.
Figure out how to work my grill. (Step one is definitely buying propane.)
Watch and love Supreme Court nominee Sonia Sotamayor.
Start Christmas shopping. Seriously.
Organize my life.
Run.

Hooray!

What to do?

2009-06-24T19:01:00.000-07:00

I'm on a mild-mannered job search right now.

I'm looking... sort of. I look over job postings on a few hospital websites and apply when I can. I have literally no idea what I'm looking to do, at least not as far as what a job title might say or where to find such a job. I know what I want, or at the very least what I do not want.

This calls for a list.

I want a job where I can learn.
I want to be part of a team, with people who discuss things and ask questions and act.
I want to help people. I'd like to help in a healthcare field. I'd like to help people who need help.
I do not mind getting dirty or gross stuff. Today I cleaned up puke. Twice. (Separate pukers even!) I do not mind this whatsoever. I'm strong-stomached, weak-nosed and (to be very honest) I get paid more than most of the other puke-cleaning candidates so I should glove-up and take care of the puke.
I like to organize things. I worked late today just to create files (though my color-coded system was thwarted by a lack of green file folders). I'm good at organizing things. I use a delightfully smart system of folders on my PC's desktop. Seriously.
I like a challenge.
And I also don't mind stupid work including answering phones, lifeguarding, or organizing mal-organized things.
I work well with people - people who cry, people who whine, people who are stupid, people who are confused, people who are upset.
I'm very capable at communicating. I can make dweeby newsletters, write letters, create "Lice Alert" signs, edit a newspaper, etc...
Also, at this very moment I'm sipping wine out of a monogrammed glass with a letter "R" on it. That is because I'm rad.

So, anyone hiring?

How to have an A+ summer

2009-06-23T19:42:00.001-07:00

The biology class I'm taking is both simple and challenging for me. Science makes sense to me, but I need to really listen, write it all down, read it out, re-explain it, think it through to get it. Very nerdy, yes.

We received our grades from our first test - a tough set of essays and a rather random mix of true/false question. Out of 112 points possible (including bonuses) I got 100! An A!

After looking over the tests we started learning about antioxidants (we're done with carbs, proteins and fats). We learned about how evil, yucky ozone and other nasty free radicals which cause aging, disease and just mess up your cells like crazy. Antioxidants come in berries, avocados, coffee and other good stuff. Free radicals come all manner of cells that lose an electron.

I'm still learning about antioxidants, so I might not be spot-on about every bit of this. But I do know that the ultra-violet radiation from the son gets wrapped up with ozone and causes skin cancer, wrinkles and nasty damage.

This means I'll keep spraying SPF 45 while I'm outside, continue to slather myself in SPF 40 every morning (rain or shine) to kick these free radicals' tails. You should too.

Pass the SPF 50!

Happy June

2009-06-17T21:20:00.000-07:00

So much going on, friends!

I'm taking Biology 107 at Truman College (a 20-minute walk from home!). It's hard with all sorts of science, but I really love it so far. I'm learning about evil trans fats, why kinked fat molecules wreck you, calories, and lots more! It's a little weird to study, but it's also pretty neat.
I'm actually still running a bit. At least I'm running enough to leave my iPod Shuffle in my shorts' pocket, wash and dry it. But - it still works!!! Amazing. I want to write to Apple, but I'm a little embarrassed to admit I did such a bad job checking pockets.
Two weekends ago and this weekend I'm camping! Whoo-hoo! I love camping and I'm psyched to spend some time outside.
We're a little delinquent with the whole digital cable thing, but I'm on it! After camping, running and class. Promise.

Terrorism

2009-06-04T20:05:00.000-07:00

I won't go on and on about it, promise.

Attacking licensed medical doctors performing legal medical procedures on people who ask for them is terrorism.

It's also terrorism to attack clinics where women (and, in some cases, children and men) receive medical services. It's terrorism to harass doctors, nurses, clinic staff, and the people who come to clinics for healthcare.

Whether you support choice or not, whether you'd want your sister or your mother or your friend or yourself to be able to see a doctor in safety. You'd want to be able to receive whatever services you needed - according to medical science and conversations with your doctor. The idea that it'd be dangerous to go to a clinic to talk to a doctor about birth control or ask for an abortion is frightening.

The fact that a brave doctor was murdered in his church is terrorism. And we shouldn't stand for it. Dr. George Tiller was brave enough to do for women what so few others would. He was brave enough to stand up to protesters, pass them each day and to push back when asshole Bill O'Reilly mentioned him on the O'Reilly Factor 28 times.

We owe it to Dr. Tiller to push back too, and to fight terrorism like this - especially when it hits a place where we go to feel safe.

Thank you, Dr. Tiller.

2009-05-31T12:16:00.000-07:00

Dr. George Tiller was killed on Sunday.

He was shot as he served as usher at his church, passing out bulletins. His wife was singing in the choir.

Dr. Tiller was an obstetrician and gynecologist. He was a licensed doctor and a veteran. He performed abortions, including late-term abortions which account for a very small percentage of abortions in the United States. He was one of the only (as in one of four or so) doctors in the United States who performed late-term abortions. Women travelled great distances to his clinic - their thank you notes lined his clinic walls.

If you think late-term abortions are horrifying I beg you to read this Boston Globe story about a woman who actually had one.

The late-term abortions that Dr. Tiller performed were legal, thoughtful and safe. Dr. Tiller would help a woman diagnosed with cancer decide whether to end a pregnancy in order to get cleared for chemotherapy. Dr. Tiller would counsel a girl who was raped and didn't realize she was pregnant. Dr. Tiller would provide abortions for women who longed to be mothers only to find that their pregnancy went awry - a fetus with severe neurological defects or with fluid in its brain. Dr. Tiller did what very few new doctors today do - he provided safe abortion services.

According to Planned Parenthood. four facilities in Illinois provide abortion services. Four. One in Champaign, one in Aurora and two in Chicago. That's not a lot of clinics, and that's definitely not an overabundance of abortion resources. Planned Parenthood flies a doctor to South Dakota from Minneapolis to provide women there with abortion services. In light of Dr. Tiller's murder, that doctor is now protected by U.S. Marshalls.

I find myself tearing up as I read about Dr. Tiller's work and his steadfast commitment to women's rights. I think about what abortion rights mean for women in America, and I think about what it means that a doctor who helped women through their hardest moments day after day was shot at his church.

Rest in Peace, Dr. Tiller.

I did it!

2009-05-28T20:26:00.001-07:00

On our way we passed the Field Museum. Julie doesn't care about taking photos of the dinosaur wearing a hockey jersey.

Ready to run! I think I need sportier shades, maybe.

Here I am running (whether it looks like running or not!) toward the ramp to Soldier Field. Cindy, Brian and Julie cheered me round the bend!

Past the finish line on the 50-yard line! Go Bears! Go me!

Phew!

I felt great after the run and didn't finish too shabby - an hour and 59 minutes (meeting my under 2-hour goal!). Next I'm going to try to do a faster 5K!

Ready!

2009-05-21T20:05:00.000-07:00

I'm ready!

I did my last run on Tuesday and my lifeguarding class is passed and all done! Tomorrow is lots of rest, lounging and enjoying the spring breeze!

I have to do a whole bunch of preparation to do - set up my shuffle, pin my number 3421 to my shirt, get my glucose tabs in my little pocket and psych myself up!

Hooray for that! I'll write about the race afterward.

Lunch break!

2009-05-18T18:30:00.000-07:00

I'm trying to be very on top of eating decently all day long especially since this is a busy week.

I'm running 10 miles on Saturday and doing lifeguard training all week too. Lifeguard training isn't terrible and it's actually nice cross-training. I passed my prerequisites, which is dandy (5 people in my group didn't!). Just let me know if you ever need someone to pick a brick up 8 feet underwater and swim 20 meters with it. I'm your gal.

So, I'm trying to eat a wholesome, filling lunch that doesn't make me starved by 4 p.m. Today I had a grilled cheese and a banana. Tomorrow I'm packing my own concoction, with the help of lunch maniac B. He recommends (and packs for himself):

Frosted Mini-Wheats
Clif or Luna Bar
Peanut butter sandwich (or toast)
Yogurt (I might bring berries for mine - yum!)
Grapes

When I was in middle school my dad made our sandwiches. My brother and I were troublesome to pack for even though we both ate PBJs. I'm a creamy PB, grape jelly gal; my brother is a crunchy PB, strawberry jam guy. My mom also dealt with these preferences but my dad was always really puzzled by it.